Village Living
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| August 2011 |
neighborly news & entertainment for Mountain Brook
Missie Crawford -pg 7
MBHS Dorians
Volume 2 | Issue 5 | August 2011
- pg 10
Football team not satisfied with semifinals By WILL HIGHTOWER The 2011 high school football season is upon us. After a deep playoff run last year, the Mountain Brook Varsity Football Team is preparing to build on their success. The Spartans have to rebuild on defense but have nine returning starters on the other side of the ball. “It’s hard to make it to where we got last year,” said Head Coach Chris Yeager, who has been with the program for 13 years. “This year’s team doesn’t need to be satisfied with that. They need to want to get to another level. Human nature is to gravitate to mediocrity, so these guys need to avoid that.” An offense that averaged 28 points a game in 2010 will return almost everyone, including senior quarterback Edward Aldag, but will miss last year’s biggest playmaker, wide receiver John McCrary, who accounted for 61 catches for 1,337 yards and 16 touchdowns. Yeager said junior Patrick Sullivan and senior Coates Doss, along with a host of other wide receivers, are trying to fill the void. “Coates had a really good summer,” Yaeger said. “But at Mountain Brook, we have what I call a proverbial fence. A lot of guys are on it every year, and we get some surprises and some disappointments.
August Features Editor’s Note City Council Back to School Fashion Village Sports Kari Kampakis Tribble Reese on CMT PTO Presidents School House Business Spotlight Restaurant Showcase Calendar of Events Around the Villages
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Pleasant Grove restoration efforts include brick sale and more By MADOLINE MARKHAM
Senior Edward Aldag returns at quarterback for the Spartans, who will try to improve on a deep playoff run in 2010. Photo courtesy of Image Arts.
John was one of those guys last year that came out of nowhere. So any of the wide receivers could step up.” If Aldag can be the same facilitator he was last year, the Spartans will have a good shot at repeating their semifinal spot in the
playoffs. “He will have a bull’s eye on his chest,” Yeager said about Aldag. “Teams will be targeting him. So for him, the question is: how do you handle pressure? How does he improve on last year?”
See FOOTBALL | page 10
On July 14, representatives from the city of Mountain Brook met with Pleasant Grove Mayor Jerry Brasseale and other representatives from Pleasant Grove to determine how the cities can unite to aid Pleasant Grove in long-term restoration efforts in the wake of the April 27 tornado. “Pleasant Grove was very receptive,” Mayor Terry Oden said. “Our main mission was to see what they needed and not just do something to do something.” For now, the city will be raising money to help with Pleasant Grove’s long-term needs. “I hope that when we start the process that the people in Mountain Brook will be generous,” Oden said. Donate at Western For the months of October and February, Western Supermarkets in Mountain Brook will be accepting donations for Pleasant Grove restoration
See PLEASANT GROVE | page 14
The infamous Mrs. Plosser By RICK WATSON When we look back on our high school years, we recall certain teachers—not the ones who let us slide, but the tough teachers who somehow reached inside us and brought out an ability or talent we didn’t know we had. For many at Mountain Brook High School, that teacher is Diana Plosser. Plosser has dedicated 21 years there doing what she loves—teaching advanced thirdyear, advanced fourth-year and advanced placement Latin. “Mrs. Plosser is an incredible teacher,” said former student Ann Watford. “She had high expectations for each of us and made us feel that we could live up to those expectations.” For Plosser, teaching is not a job but a calling. “If I work hard, it encourages my students to work hard. There’s nothing worse than a teacher who expects the students to do all the work.” Every day Plosser spends three to five hours outside class daily grading papers and preparing for the next sessions. In the advanced placement courses, she assigns some 20 lines of Latin each night for students to translate. Afterward, she goes over every word on every paper to verify that the student understands the language and the concepts involved.
Mountain Brook High School teacher Diana Plosser. Photo by Rick Watson.
Each individual receives immediate feedback on troublesome areas, and if the larger group trends toward a common problem, she covers those topics the next day at the beginning of class. “I think it’s Mrs. Plosser’s focus on the individual student that sets her apart and helps students to keep up with the pace she sets,” Watford said. Although Latin and other foreign languages are considered electives in high school, most colleges require two years
Dysport Days in August!
of language study. Schools with more competitive admission require three years. Many students gravitate toward modern languages like Spanish or French, but the interesting thing about Latin, according to Plosser, is that through study of it students learn not only the language but events that happened in an ancient world and how they apply to life today. “These are universal truths and the wisdom of the ages,” she said. “Studying languages, in general, helps students learn to think on a higher level than they would otherwise.” Her initial decision to go into teaching was an easy one. “I love learning, and I love school,” she said. Even when she took off work a few years to raise her own children, she spent a great deal of time volunteering in educational settings: programs for the Junior League, workshops for United Way training and helping develop the walking tour for a local historical society. For Plosser, teaching is a reward made even more satisfying by seeing students succeed after they leave her classroom. She feels that the ongoing relationship with past students is one of the most satisfying things about her profession. “I’m always their teacher, and they’re always my student,” she
Whe
See TEACHER | page 8
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| August 2011 | Village Living
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Village Living | August 2011 |
Join us for lunch every month...
THIRD THURSDAYS CHIP COOPER
Meet renowned photographer Chip Cooper and hear about his latest work including his limited edition book featuring Alys Beach as well as his work in The Cuba Alabama Initiative. Book signing and lunch immediately after!
“You are a very great American photographer plus Georgia O’ Keeffe rolled into one…O’Keeffe because you have her eye. You paint with film.” -Harper Lee
Bring a friend 11:30 August 18th
call or email for your complimentary reservation The first 25 reservations enter to win a FREE Dash and Albert rug of their choice! The King’s House Oriental Rugs and Antiques 2807 2nd Ave S, The Pepper Place 205.244.1933 or kingshouseorientals@gmail.com
The Director of Photography at The University of Alabama for more than 30 years, Chip Cooper is now Artist in Residence in the Honors College and a faculty member in the College of Arts & Sciences.. A native of Huntsville, Alabama, Cooper earned his bachelor’s degree from the University in 1972 followed by post-graduate work in photography. He has published six books: Hunting: The Southern Tradition (Taylor Publishing), Alabama Memories (WH Smith Publishing), Silent In The Land (CKM Press), Common Threads (CKM Press), Crimson: The University of Alabama (Booksmith Group) and his newest book, Charlie Lucas: The Tin Man (University of Alabama Press). A member of UA’s Cuba-Alabama Academic Initiative, Cooper has traveled to Cuba more than a dozen times since 2001. Last year the Cuban Government asked him to work with their legendary photographer Nestor Marti. Their partnership resulted in a collaborative exhibition in Havana in May 2009 entitled “Side by Side.” Cooper and Marti are now working on a book with UA Arts & Sciences and Alabama Press that is scheduled for completion in 2012. Cooper won an award of excellence for his book Silent in the Land from Communication Arts Magazine and is a past recipient of an Artist Fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. His work is exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in numerous public, private and corporate collections.
Spartan Square
Invest in the future one brick at a time
Be a Part of History
Engraved bricks to be placed in front of City Hall Benefits: Tornado Relief and Help to Fund Future Leadership Mountain Brook projects MOUNTAIN BROOK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 32 Vine Street Mountain Brook, Alabama 35213 • 205-871-3779
Visit: www.welcometomountainbrook.com Click on the Spartan Square link
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| August 2011 |
Welcome Friends
Village Living
Camille Lassiter and Mary Jane Lassiter, along with other children, planted sunflower seeds with Billy Angell at the community garden across from Oak Street Garden Shop. The event was part of the Emmet O’Neal Library’s programs at the garden in partnership with Angell’s garden shop. The children also took home sunflower seeds to watch them grow. Photo by Jennifer Gray.
Staff & Friends Contributing Writers Susan Matthews | Christiana Roussel | Kari Kampakis Rick Watson | Laura Canterbury | Will Hightower Holley Wesley | Barbara Brewster
Editor’s Note It’s hard to believe that update on the city’s Spartans summer is over. Well, in helping Spartans and our Alabama, summer weather sticks partnership with the city of around until October, but once Pleasant Grove. You might school starts, it does feel like recall that Mountain Brook summer is officially over, doesn’t made a pledge to lend long-term it? I feel like summer gets shorter support to the tornado-ravaged each year. It’s already time for community. last minute trips to the lake or Also this month, we have beach, back to school shopping, some local residents’ stories that and getting kids back on a include brushes with stars or Jennifer Gray schedule. stardom. Missie Crawford is a Maybe you aren’t quite sure what to woman of many talents, all of which have do to get everyone ready for the start of brought her many amazing experiences school. Barbara Brewster, a second grade including working with a supermodel. teacher at Mountain Brook Elementary, has Former Spartan quarterback Tribble put together some teacher-recommended Reese is one of the competing bachelors tips for getting off to a good start. on CMT’s new reality show Sweet Home Teachers really are part of what makes Alabama. Read more about Tribble and for a great school year. Get a great teacher, what he has been doing since his football and you see your child get inspired and days in Mountain Brook and at Clemson challenged. Diana Plosser is one such University. teacher. Anyone who has had Mrs. Plosser We are also pleased to have Cathy for Latin at the high school will tell you she Still Johnson, Editor of Birmingham Home is all about passion. Make sure and read and Garden magazine contributing a our cover story on her. commentary piece called “Tips for Jesus” Remember your first day of a new this month. Make sure you read Cathy’s school year? If you were like me, finding piece on page 12. the perfect outfit to start off the new school For our September issue, we would year was essential. If you are looking for love to feature back to school pictures of a little back to school fashion advice, make local children. We’ve inlcuded our staff’s sure you read Susan Matthews’ Village photos from our school days for fun below. Fashion piece this month. Many of our This can be preschool all the way up local merchants have just the right outfit through high school. Please email me your for any age child. first day of school pictures with friends and With the start of school, it means it is neighbors at Jennifer@villagelivingonline. also time for football. The Spartans kick off com. Be sure to include a caption with their 2011 season against Shades Valley on everyone’s names. August 26. Don’t miss Will Hightower’s preview of the season and assessment of this year’s team. Speaking of Spartans, we have an
Staff school photos
School House Contributors Alison Gault -Cherokee Bend Lauren Fowler - Crestline Bama Hager -Brookwood Forest Sherrie Futch- Mountain Brook High School Hilary Ross - Mountain Brook Elem. & Mountain Brook Jr High
Contributing Photographers Image Arts | Alison Gault | Catherine Pittman Smith Photography
Intern Mia Bass
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Keith McCoy
Editor
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Contact Information: Village Living #3 Office Park Circle, Suite 316 Birmingham, AL 35223 313-1780 dan@VillageLivingOnline.com
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Village Living is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. Village Living is designed to inform the Mountain Brook community of area school, faith, family and community events. Information in Village Living is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of Village Living. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 370-0732 or by email. Please recycle this paper
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Editor’s Top 5 1. Grab a special back-to-school breakfast to celebrate the start of school at one of our local spots. Continental Bakery, Crestline Bagel, Gus’s or Another Broken Egg are great choices. 2. Tax Free Shopping weekend is August 5-7. Make sure and spend your money locally. Many qualifying items can be found in stores right here in Mountain Brook. 3. Show your Spartan Spirit. Attend the Spartan’s first game on Friday, August 26 at Shades Valley High School. Who says tailgating is just for college football? Bring a picnic and tailgate before the game.
Wear your green and gold and show your support for our team and community. 4. They say the dog days of summer arrive in August. Keep cool during this hottest of months with a cool treat from Mountain Brook Creamery in Mountain Brook Village or 32 Degrees in Crestline. Whole Foods also has great gelato. 5. Check out the classes offered this fall through Mountain Brook Community Education. Maybe you have always wanted to learn guitar or to paint. Let this fall be the time you try something new. Experts say it’s the best way to stay young.
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Village Living | August 2011 |
www.VillageLivingOnline.com
City Council and Board of Education recaps By MIA BASS
Mountain Brook City Council Meeting July 11 Board of Equalization nomination. Robert Thomason was nominated to the Board of Equalization for the city of Mountain Brook. Internet sale for excess Park Board equipment. Internet auctions will be used to sell the following items: two Grounds Master Toro Mowers, five Stihl weed eaters, three Redmax weed eaters, one Bush Hog, various computer monitors, printers and processors, three 19” HP flat screen monitors and one 19” CTX flat screen monitor. Mountain Brook repays Irondale. After the April 27 tornadoes, Irondale sent one truck and one worker for two weeks to assist Mountain Brook in debris cleanup. The Council agreed to pay back Irondale (the estimate between $8,000 and $10,000) for their assistance. Mountain Brook hopes FEMA will reimburse the City for this expense. RBC Bank approved for former Leaf ‘n Petal space. The Council approved a
A new RBC bank has been approved to be built in Mountain Brook Village where the Leaf ‘n Petal now stands. Photo by Mia Bass
conditional use for RBC to take down the existing Leaf ‘n Petal building in Mountain Brook Village and rebuild. The proposed new building will be less square footage than Leaf ‘n Petal, and there will be 6 onsite parking spaces in addition to 9 on the road. Leaf ‘n Petal will keep its location at the Summit and at Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Mountain Brook City Council Meeting June 27 Stop signs at Country Club Boulevard and Fairway Drive. Chief Ted Cook had heard concerns about traffic confusion on Country Club Boulevard at Fairway Drive. After consideration with the Council, the yield sign on Country Club Boulevard will be replaced with a stop sign, and a stop sign will be added on Fairway Drive. Spartan Square brick sales. James Cooper of Mountain Brook High School and Leadership Mountain Brook presented changes in the brick sales agreement in Spartan Square. Each engraved brick will honor, recognize or name at least one person who has lived in the City of Mountain Brook since the City’s incorporation in 1942. English Village parking. Discussion of the English Village Parking Lots lease renewals was postponed until the July 11 meeting. The lease on both $2 lots will be up on September 30. The Council is considering making the parking lots free 24-hour spaces intended for employees as well as the public. The police and parking committee are scheduled to meet and discuss this issue. Montevallo Road Bridge Project. The Montevallo Road Bridge Project had guardrails and fencing placed on June
28. The Council approved the change orders and the project is near completion. September 1 is the absolute last day of work on the project. Budget Request: Jefferson-BlountSt. Clair Mental Health Authority. James Crego approached the Council on behalf of the Jefferson-Blount-St. Clair Mental Health Authority. The Council informed him that $2,100 had already been set aside for the cause in the preliminary budget. Mountain Brook participates in 2011 Sales Tax Holiday. Mountain Brook will officially be participating in the 2011 Sales Tax Holiday, which begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 5 and ends at 12 midnight on Sunday, August 7. The City will exempt certain school supplies, computers and clothing from taxes during this time in accordance with the “State of Alabama Sales Tax Holiday.” Ollie Irene granted recommendation for liquor license. Ollie Irene, which will open in Mountain Brook Village near the Western, was granted a recommendation from the City to the State of Alabama, Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, for the issuance of a 020—Restaurant Retail Liquor License.
Board of Education Meeting July 18 Budget Update. To date, Mountain Brook City Schools is behind 2 percent from last year’s funding but is awaiting delayed support from Jefferson County. Seventyfive percent of the budget has been used thus far with expenditures. Superintendent Performance. The Board is pleased with Richard Barlow’s performance as superintendent of Mountain Brook City Schools. The E-School, Lead 2010 and Hitting Home programs were particularly successful and are exciting to look forward to as another school year begins. Student Transfer Policy. The same standard Mountain Brook has adhered to for the past two years was passed. Budget Hearing Dates. The first budget meeting will be held on August 12,
and the second will be held on September 12. Alabama Association of School Boards membership renewal. Mountain Brook City Schools approved the renewal of their membership with the AASB. New high school courses. As of this fall, Mountain Brook High School will offer Business Finance, Business Essentials and AP Art History. Look ahead. The 2011 Summer Technology Conference is held from July 18-22. New Teacher Orientation will be July 26-29 with the New Teacher Breakfast on July 29 at 8 a.m. The next Board meeting will be August 8 at 3:30 p.m., Institute Day is August 12 at 8:30 a.m. and the first day of school is on August 16.
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| August 2011 |
Village Living
July crime report By LIEUTENANT JIM COLE
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CABINETRY HARDWARE
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KITCHEN & BATH ACCESSORIES
Lt. Cole sends out a weekly crime vehicle and windows were broken to enter report email to interested residents. those vehicles. Last year during this same period, we Starting in this issue, Village Living will experienced 56 UBEVs, and most of those include his report each month. vehicles were not locked. During the same Burglaries South Cove Drive (Crestline) between period in 2009 we experienced 95 UBEVs. 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on July 7. The thief kicked in a rear basement door and entered Crimes solved As most of you know, our detectives the residence. An iPad and jewelry were taken from this home. The victim’s have an arrested Troy George from Leeds for burglarizing homes in and around alarm, but it has not been set up. Rockcliff Circle (East End of Old Leeds Mountain Brook. Since that arrest a few Road) at approximately 11:15 a.m. on July weeks ago, he has been connected with 12. The thief kicked in a rear basement door burglaries in Mountain Brook, Trussville, and entered the residence. The victim’s Birmingham , Jefferson County , Hoover, alarm was activated and no property was Gardendale, Irondale, Fultondale and Vestavia. taken. He has been connected to 21 home As you have noticed, our home burglaries have picked up over the past few burglaries so far, and it all started with a call weeks. We have been saved several times from one of our citizens about a suspicious because many of our victims are setting person. That call, patrol response and the their alarms. Some of us have alarms and follow-up of the detective division resulted are setting them, but some aren’t and have in the clearance of a substantial number of burglaries. paid a heavy price. Peacock Lane (English Village) between 4 p.m. on June 30 and 3 p.m. on More crime information from Ltd. Cole We have experienced 35 home July 4. The thief kicked a side door open and entered the residence. A laptop and burglaries so far this year. Only nine of jewelry were taken from this home. The those homes had their alarms set at the victim’s have an alarm, but it has not been time of the burglaries, and nothing was taken from six of those homes and only one set up. Cherokee Road (West End of item was taken from each of the other three Cherokee) at approximately 11:53 a.m. July homes. During the same period last year 7. The thief kicked in the back door of the we had experienced 43 home burglaries; 10 residence, and the victim’s alarm went off. of those homes had their alarms set at the The thief left the scene. No property was time of the burglaries and only one had an item taken. During the same period in 2009 taken. Woodleigh Road (just off Sherwood we experienced 33 home burglaries. Occasionally I will get a phone call Road between Brookwood Road and Cherokee Road) at approximately 12:04 about some rumor or email going around. p.m. July 7. The thief broke a window on I am happy to investigate these things and the rear patio and entered the home. He dispel any erroneous information. Recently grabbed a television and a pistol before he I was advised that a rumor is going around left the scene. This victim had his alarm set. that Mountain Brook has a large number of It went off, and did not suffer significant domestic violence reports. This is not true! In fact we have received only one domestic property loss. We have experienced 11 home violence call in the past six weeks and that burglaries in the past month (this doesn’t involved a couple traveling through our Brass is a family andsix domestic incident reports city.owned We had count the vacant houseBrandino where copper was in the same taken). Out of those, six had alarms set and providing operated business an time period, but those are often they suffered little if any losses. Three selection out justof arguments uncompromising hardware. with little or no physical contact between the individuals involved. of these 11 homes had alarmsWe thatsupply were not the finest home amworld, receiving more and more calls set, and two did not have alarms. design products from aroundI the concerning scams. The most recent No home burglaries were reported including... involved a scam by Winners International during the July 14-21 where they call residents and tell them they have won money in Las Vegas. If you Other thefts Stolen vehicle on Fairway Drive are contacted by anyone and it sounds too (Crestline) occurred during the night on good to be true it probably is. Don’t fall for July 19. The unlocked vehicle (2011 Toyota anything where you are required to pay Highlander) was located in the victim’s money to get money. If you are interested in information driveway, and the keys were in the vehicle. There have been no reported UBEVs about our new chief, you can go to our (Unlawful Breaking and Entering Vehicles) website at www.mtnbrook.org. Go to departments, click department in our city in the past 5Our weeks. 62-year history has led us to become oneonof police the regions ultimate then scroll right to personnel. We have experienced 58 UBEVs so far resources for architectural hardware ideas, guidance, and selection. To receive Lt. Cole’s weekly crime update this year, and 53 of the vehicles involved were not locked. The 5 vehicles that were email, email colej@mtnbrook.org. locked had items visible from outside the
Responses to Montclair Walmart Below are comments we recieved from readers regarding the potential plan for a Walmart Neighborhood Market on Montclair Road near Crestline. To read the full story from July, visit www. villagelivingonline.com.
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I live on Haygood Street, which is Cabinetry Hardware used extensively as a cut-through street between Montclair Rd. andLighting Montevallo Rd., even now. The addition of a business Decorative Hardware near the intersection of Haygood St. and Montclair Rd. & would increase traffic on my Kitchen Bath Accessories street even more. Please zone the area as residential only. -Susan Suter Please keep this issue in the forefront of our communities! The Super Wal-Mart currently on Montclair is not a pleasant place – unfriendly staff, dirty store and
parking lot as well as no involvement or contribution to our community. We do not need or want another establishment of this kind! Thank you again!!! -Heather Stuckey The old Western supermarket location off Monclair became a Thrift Store, Bruno’s closed, Century Plaza closed because of crime, Publix is too dangerous for the elderly to load their own groceries in the parking lot. The neighborhood does not need to introduce another shoplifting experience for thugs. Mountain Brook closed the Birmingham entrance to Beech Circle after multiple burglaries to homes behind John Carroll Field. Birmingham needs to think about quality of life issues if they expect to survive as a city. - L. Jordan
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Village Living | August 2011 |
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Missie Crawford: Style & substance By KARI KAMPAKIS Not many people can say they worked with Lauren Hutton on their 21st birthday. Or that they sat next to Valentino at a dinner party in his home. Or, most intriguing of all, that they spent four years as Cindy Crawford’s assistant, planning Cindy’s top-secret wedding and appearing in Self magazine as part of a “celebrity assistant” feature shot by famed photographer Francesco Scavullo. For Missie Neville Crawford, a Cherokee Bend mom of two, these events are part of a blessed career that began in New York and led her to Birmingham. While Missie says she wouldn’t change one second of the journey, her favorite job is raising a family with her husband, a Mountain Brook native. Today, Crawford works as a freelance photo stylist. Companies such as Southern Progress, Meredith Corporation (publisher of Traditional Homes and Better Homes and Gardens) and Birmingham Home & Garden hire her to visualize and style photo shoots. Whatever the subject—food, fashion, lifestyle or interiors—Crawford arranges the setting. Her responsibilities range from scouting locations and finding models to setting up tabletops and backgrounds. “My car is constantly filled with props,” she laughs. “The boys will get in and say, ‘You got a shoot today, Mom, and are we going to be in it?’” While Crawford’s career officially began in New York at J. Crew, her training began in childhood. Born to two creative parents, she grew up around fashion. Her father owned a men’s clothing store, and in addition to changing out window displays and wrapping gifts, she’d accompany him to Market in New York at a young age. “I remember standing in
Bloomingdale’s when I was eleven and thinking ‘Wow, can I move here?’” she said. Crawford’s mom expressed her creativity at home. She was always creating something—using apples to put block print on fabrics, making quilts from old men’s shirts. Several years ago, her parents went through a difficult divorce, and in the wake of that her mom began painting. She reinvented herself as an artist. Her work— carried locally by Atchison Gallery and by Gallery 119 in Jackson, Miss.—was used to help furnish homes for the cast on the movie set of The Help. The author of The Help, Kathryn Stockett, is a close childhood friend of Crawford’s. They grew up together in Jackson and reunited recently on a photo shoot in their hometown. Besides arranging the shoot, Crawford picked out Stockett’s wardrobe and produced the story. After graduating from high school in 1988, Crawford enrolled at the University of Alabama. There she met her future husband, and though she never knew him well, she can recall him “riding around campus on a red mountain bike.” Following a post-graduation trip to Europe, Crawford stopped in New York to visit her sister. She decided to look for a job there and gave herself a few weeks to find one. With the help of family friend Sidney Mashburn—a national style icon and former creative director for Land’s End— Crawford got an interview with J. Crew. She interviewed on Friday, and by Tuesday she was jet-setting to St. Barths for a photo shoot. She worked as a J. Crew stylist for four years. It was a wonderful opportunity that taught Crawford the ins and outs of the business. She was just starting to consider something new when a college friend called
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Missy Crawford on a photo shoot she styled. Photo courtesy of Jean Allsopp.
her. She asked if Crawford was interested in taking her place as Cindy Crawford’s assistant. After one interview, Crawford was hired. Crawford loved working for Cindy
as well. She recalls Cindy’s efficiency and ability to separate herself from her brand, to look at as a businesswoman. “She had a great team that taught me so
See CRAWFORD | page 13
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| August 2011 | Village Living
Village Fashion By Susan Matthews
New Fall Styles Arriving Daily from Barbara Lesser Art of Cloth Bordado Nic + Zoe 600 West Sympli Vanilia and more! 74 Church Street • 871-7909 www.townandcountryclothes.com
Back to school trends On the first day of school, students are full of anticipation to see old friends and exchange stories of summer—and to see what everyone is wearing. Back to school time is a good reason to go shopping. I recall trying to convince my mom to buy me a certain top by saying, “I can wear this the first day of school.” I think it worked once or twice. This school year, color is back. Bold colors are a huge trend and a wonderful change from all the neutrals that dominated fashion last year. One method for showcasing color is through color blocking. For instance, a deep green tank top may be paired with a purple printed skirt. For the less daring, you may employ tonal color blocking, which is simply wearing two shades of the same color. As an example, wearing a light blue tank top with royal blue jeans. A daring fashionista could spice this blue look up with a pair of yellow flats. If the bright colors are too loud for your personal style, try touching on this trend with bright green or yellow nail polish. As a throwback to 60s style, long maxi skirts are replacing the maxi dress. This is a very soft, long flowing skirt. Whether you pick a solid or printed style, remember to keep the top fitted. A flowing top and a flowing skirt does a disservice to your figure; however, a fitted top will showcase your waist and offset the fullness below. A couple of trends that have been around a few seasons are the nautical look and rompers. To update the nautical look, try a yellow or orange striped top, rather than navy. Rompers are still so great because the look of one piece that flatters your waistline is effortless fashion. Throw on a pair of flats and a long chain necklace to complete the look. To update the overall look, try your romper in a bold color like royal blue or purple. The last back-to-school trend I want to mention, as far as clothing goes, is colored jeans. They are all over the runways and come in every color imaginable. For color blocking, choose a different colored top, but for a more subtle look, choose a neutral flowing top. I am personally partial to yellow or red jeans. I love the fresh look of both colors. If you don’t want to spend too much on clothing for a new look for back to school, you’ve always got your hair to spruce up. Fishtail braids angled to the side of one’s face are a fresh hairstyle that young girls are loving. Feather extensions are also a cute way to accessorize your hair. Wearing your hair in a new way each day is a fun and inexpensive way to feel stylish and on trend.
Lucy Redden, a 2nd grader at Crestline Elementary, is excited to wear her white jeans back to school. Photo by Susan Mathews.
Lealis Schilleci, 7th grader at the junior high, is thrilled to wear different accessories, like her blue beaded bracelet and woven belt. Photo by Susan Matthews.
Katie Jean Henry, a senior at the high school, loves bright colors for fall, which she displays here in her bright yellow sandals. Photo by Susan Matthews.
TEACHER
CONTINUED from page 1 said. “When we meet, I don’t necessarily want to know about their love life or other details. What I’m most interested in is exchanging ideas.” Plosser’s alumni say she also serves as a sounding board and encourager to her students—it’s not uncommon for them to come to her for advice about their future plans and decisions. “Mrs. Plosser wants us not only to get a good grade, but to understand the material,” student Mary B. Garrett said.
“She also wants to help us be successful at whatever we do.” Mrs. Plosser’s achievements have also been recognized outside of Mountain Brook. Last year she was a finalist in Jacksonville State University’s Teacher of the Year Hall of Fame. For Plosser, though, any recognition fades to the background in comparison to what happens each day in her classroom. “This is what I do,” she says. “This is who I am.”
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Village Living
| August 2011 |
Low-Country Boil for Children’s Hospital Football season never comes around fast enough, so Children’s Hospital gives a reason to break out the tailgating tents a little early. Boiling ‘N Bragging is a lowcountry boil and live music event that benefits Children’s Hospital. It will be held at Otey’s Tavern on August 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. and features the group The Hurlers. “It will really be a tailgating atmosphere,” said Otey’s owner Will Haver. Boiling ‘N Bragging will take place in
Otey’s parking lot, where everyone can set up their tailgating tents and enjoy the food. Big Al and Aubie will make an appearance for all the kids. They will host a corn hole tournament during the night, and Lance Taylor and Rock Star from WJOX will be celebrity bartenders. To register for the event or view more information, visit www.chsys.org/events. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Children 10 and under are free.
Cocktails in the Gardens to be held this fall Birmingham Botanical Gardens will host three Cocktails in the Gardens events this fall. Each features live music, signature cocktails and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. It runs 5:30-8:30 p.m. in the Hill Garden. Admission is free for BBG members and $15 for non-members. Caterer Imperial Catering will be providing a cash bar and heavy hors d’oeuvres based on the theme of each event: August 11- Surf on the Turf, Music by Jon Black, Sea Breeze signature drink September 8- Green & Serene, Music by Mathew Devine of Downright, Midori Melon Punch signature drink October 13- A Haunted Affair, Music by Rollin’ in the Hay, Caramel Apple Martini
signature drink “There’s not a more beautiful place to have a cocktail,” said Andrew Krebbs, Director of Marketing and Membership at the gardens. “There is a nice mix of people—not just young professionals. Everyone seems to have a good time once they are here.” This season, anyone can pay $25 for entrance to a V.I.P. area limited to 100 patrons. The area offers the graden’s most scenic views, an expanded menu an da more fully stocked bar. According to Krebbs, Cocktails in the Gardens provides a good opportunity to meet friends or coworkers after work, listen to music and stroll around the gardens afterward. This is the sixth year the events will be held.
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Camille Smith wins ASFA poetry division The Alabama School of Fine Arts 2011 statewide “Young Writers’ Literary Award” was given to Camille Smith in the Poetry High School Division. The contest received over 1000 entries from all across the state. Camille received a check and certificate. Camille’s poem will also be published in Mountain Brook High School’s The Muse magazine. At Mountain Brook High School, Camille is a member of National Honor Society, Concert Choir, Latin Honor Society, Thespian Honor Society and Natural Helpers. Camille also volunteers with Birmingham Belles, Relay for Life, Crisis Center and Hope Lodge.
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Mountain Brook High School student Camille Smith. Photo courtesy of Image Arts.
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Canterbury women knit for injured soldiers Canterbury United Methodist’s KnitWits knitting club made prayer shawls for injured soldiers and their families. The shaws will be placed in the cottages where the soldiers and their families stay at the Lakeshore Foundation as part of Operation Lima Foxtrot programs. The shawls also come with a card telling the soldiers they were prayed for during the making of the shawls. KnitWits member Gerrie Hansford. Photo courtesy of the Lakeshore Foundation.
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| August 2011 | Village Sports
Village Sports Junior High football preview
Berry, Homewood and Pizitz. Optional summer workouts (lifting weights, skill drills, agilities, and running) started on July 5, and continued every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday until July 28. Players were encouraged to condition on their own three to four times a week with specific activities including: running of all types (distance, sprints, hills, stairs), push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups and agility exercises with an emphasis on jump ropes. Equipment was issued before the first mandatory practice on Monday, August 1. Coaches emphasize the importance
of not missing practice. Important football playing information is given to players in a classroom setting at these early August practices. These first days and weeks of practice are most important for individual and team success. The head coach for the 7th and 8th grade teams is Greg Morrow. He is assisted by coaches Paul Hnizdil, Kelby O’Neill, Philip Holley, Matt Cain, Zach Skipper, Tyler Davis, Derek Jones, Chaz Tillman and Lewis Caldwell for both squads. Kristi Harris is the team trainer. Come watch the boys in action during the season!
MBJH 2011 Football MBJH football coaches and trainers.
By HILARY ROSS Mountain Brook Junior High 7th and 8th grade football teams are open to all eligible players who wish to participate, follow the team rules and give one hundred
percent effort in practices. Teams played in our area include the following middle schools: Helena, Bumpus, Thompson, Hewitt-Trussville, Liberty Park, Clay,
Date 8/18/11 8/25/11 9/01/11 9/08/11 9/22/11 9/29/11 10/06/11 10/13/11 10/20/11
Opponent Helena (Jamboree) Bumpus Liberty Park Thompson Homewood Hewitt Pizitz Clay Oak Mountain
Location Away Home Home Away Home Home Away Away Away
7th 5:00 5:00 5:00 5:00 5:00 5:00 5:00 5:00 5:00
8th 6:45 6:45 6:45 6:45 6:45 6:45 6:45 6:45 6:45
Dorians bring home Superior Trophy By AMBER BENSON
The Mountain Brook High School Dorians came away with tremendous honors once again this year as a result of their participation in Universal Dance Association’s summer dance camp. The camp was held on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and ran June 9-12. Led by Captain Rebekah Patterson and Co-captains Libby Hobbs and Cady Nelson, the girls spent four days learning various dance routines and polishing their technique skills. From 8 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. each day, the team split into groups to attend dance classes and participate in rich team-building activities. The girls continued their hard work each evening as they perfected routines back at Mountain Brook High School each night until 11p.m. In preparation for their summer camp experience, the team choreographed their own routine that they would perform during Home Routine Evaluations on the first night of UDA camp. On day four of camp, at the final awards ceremony, their dedication did not go unnoticed. They earned a Superior Trophy, and all 29 Dorians received blue ribbons in all three of their routine evaluations. Furthermore, nine seniors auditioned and were chosen as UDA All Americans. They are Alex Barnett, Callie Blitz, Mary Katherine Cook,
2011-2012 Mountain Brook High School Dorians Front Row: Seniors Anna Robbins., Josie Berman, Kate Donlevy,Carly Mason, Elizabeth Drake., Alex Barnett., Cady Nelson, Rebekah Patterson, Libby Hobbs, Mary Katherine Cook, Callie Blitz and Brinkley Edge (Not pictured: Florence Poynor). Middle Row: Lamar Cooper, Jennifer O’Neil, Isabella Keating, Jennifer Sirkin, Coach Amber Benson, Caroline Leak, Adelaide Miller., Laura Lou Patrick, Elizabeth Damrich. Back Row: Maggie Selesky, Dana Kahn, Laura Stagno, Caroline Lee, Ann Brooks Johnson., Rebecca Turnley, Melissa Kidd, Holly Struthers. Photo courtesy of Meme Hobbs.
Kate Donlevy, Brinkley Edge, Libby Hobbs, Cady Nelson, Rebekah Patterson and Anna Robbins. The team was also awarded the Super Spirit Stick in recognition of their positive attitude and work ethic at camp, and they earned second place in the Home Routine Competition. Libby Hobbs was recognized as the camp’s “Drill Down Queen,” the culmination of intense concentration and discipline in which camp participants execute fast-paced military
FOOTBALL
CONTINUED from page 1 Yeager did place an emphasis on running the ball first to set up the pass, a task that will fall on experienced running back Mark Rector. “Every good year at Mountain Brook we seem to have been a running team that uses play-action passes with a good short game,” he said. “The formula here at Mountain Brook is like the NFL in that it is a run-first offense to set up the pass.” Defensively, Mountain Brook needs to rebuild. A strong senior class that willed the Spartans to defensive victories is now gone. The 7-0 win over Vestavia in the playoffs was the defining moment for last year’s Spartan defense. The defense was “angry, discontent, had something to prove,”
according to Yeager, and led the team to more than a few of their 11 victories. Even with good memories of last season and most of the offense returning, though, critics will point out that Mountain Brook hasn’t beaten Hoover in a long, long time. The Bucs loom on the horizon with their October 21 date in Spartan Stadium. “If you are focused on Hoover, you don’t beat Hoover,” Yeager said. “If you are focused on being the best you can be and reaching your potential, you might beat them. I hope this team can build on last year and hopefully do even better than reaching the semifinals.”
commands spoken by the head instructor. The Dorians look forward to an exciting season this year. After attending Band Camp in Mentone in early August, the team will march in the Spartan Marching Band field show in the fall, which promises to be full of crowd-pleasing music and excitement. Their year-round season will continue as they perform for home basketball games and march in the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce
Holiday Parade. Also, be on the lookout for information regarding their fall dance clinic in November. Dance with the Dorians is open to elementary girls, kindergarten through sixth grade. The Dorians are coached by Amber Benson, a teacher in the Business Education department at Mountain Brook High School. This year begins Heather Wint’s tenth year as the Dorian faculty sponsor, and she teaches Spanish at MBHS.
MBHS Varsity 2011 Football Date 8/26/11 9/02/11 9/09/11 9/16/11 9/23/11 9/30/11 10/06/11 10/14/11 10/21/11 10/28/11
Opponent Location Shades Valley Away Vestavia* Home Pelham* Home Homewood* Away Grissom Away Spain Park* Away Oak Mountain* Home Thompson* Away Hoover* Home Buckhorn (Homecoming) Home Conference Game = *
Time / Result 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00 7:00
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Village Sports | August 2011 |
7U All Stars runner-up for Birmingham Metro
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Amy M Smith, Agent 3900 Montclair Road Ste 350 Mountain Brook, AL 35213 Bus: 205-870-8820 Fax: 205-870-8810 amy@amysmithinsurance.com www.amysmithinsurance.com The 7U Mountain Brook American All Stars came in runner-up for Birmingham Metro. Front Row: Andrew Kelly, Laurence Barringer. Second Row: Quinn Thomas, Jake Thompson, Nelson Crawford, Patch Lyman, Pierce Austin, Gray Statham, Jack Allison, Mem Webb, Cole Hofbauer. Back Row: Coaches Keith Austin, Scott Thompson, Charles Allison, James Lyman.
Softball All-Star team wins state
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Gymnasts qualify in regional competition
Front Row: Caldwell Flake, Blaire Clanton, Evelyn King, Abby Murphree, Hollis Clay, Celie Field, Kate Amberson, Sara Frances Berte, Anne Ross Bethea, Leah Mancuso, Margie Cashio, Cooper Cashio. Back Row: Greg Cashio, Jimmy King, Carter Clay, Jared Flake, Lee Clanton. Photo courtesy of Jared Flake.
By WILL HIGHTOWER Never in Mountain Brook all-star softball history has a team won the state championship. Until this year, that is. The 8U Mountain Brook National All-Star Team capped off a spectacular season with a National Softball Association (NSA) State Championship. Jared Flake served as head coach, while Carter Clay, Lee Clanton, Jimmy Kin and Greg Cashio helped as assistant coaches. The girls were selected to be on the National All-Star team because of their play in Mountain Brook rec league. National is the top level of all-stars in Mountain Brook. The team’s record was an incredible 28-3, including a number of tournament wins. The girls started off by winning the Mountain Brook Invitational and after that began playing towards the NSA
State Tournament. The NSA is a national softball organization that runs leagues and tournaments throughout the country. The team won NSA First Pre-Area and finished second in NSA Second Pre-Area. They were then placed in the NSA North Central Area, which consisted of Mountain Brook National, Vestavia Blue, Hueytown and Oak Mountain. The girls beat out those three teams and won the area, leading to their number one seed in the NSA State Tournament. The team beat Limestone, Monrovia, Hayden and Chelsea to advance to the finals, where they had to beat Hayden again to become the first state champions in Mountain Brook all-star softball history. Congratulations to this group of coaches and girls.
Mountain Brook Gymnastics 2011 regional qualifiers. Back Row: McKenzi King, Whitney Webster, Shelley Wise, Mary Margaret Nanos, Brooke Kelly. Middle Row: Ashley Sharff, Mallie Lundberg, Kate Dodson, Caroline Lahurd. Front Row: Claire Chandler, Cummings Nelson, Tricia Davis. Photo courtesy of Alisa Nadler.
Mountain Brook Gymnastics’ competitive teams completed their seasons with many accomplishments. Twelve athletes in levels 7-9 qualified for regional competitions, more than any other gym in the state of Alabama. Brooke Kelly, a level 9 qualifier, placed fourth all-around in the nation and was national champion on the floor and regional champion on vault, beam and floor. McKenzi King, Claire
Chandler, Ashley Sharff and Cummings Nelson were level 7 qualifiers, and Tricia Davis made the level 7 state team. Mary Margaret Nanos and Kate Dodson, regional vault champion, were level 8 qualifiers, and Mallie Lundberg and Caroline LaHurd made the level 8 state team. Other level 9 qualifiers were Whitney Webster, regional floor champion and Shelley Wise.
Cheerleaders earn top honors at camp The 2011-2012 Mountain Brook Varsity and JV cheerleading squads earned top honors at the UCA Cheer Camp held at The Beach Club in Gulf Shores June 8-11. More than 15 schools from throughout the Southeast were represented. Both squads were honored jointly with The Tradition award (Top Banana) given to the best overall squad at camp. The Varsity received first place in Home Pom (dance) while placing second in cheer and X-treme. The JV squad competed in the small varsity division and received first place honors in Home Pom (dance) and X-treme while placing third in Cheer. Varsity squad members include seniors Bynum Albritton, Sarah Dodson, Virginia Farlow, Katie Jean Henry, Allison Ingram, Laine Lidikay, Hannah Patterson and Morgan Russell. Juniors are Lily Bowron, Virginia Bullock, Keelyn Callaway, Mary Glenn Culp, Mary Eleanor DeRamus, Mary Carolyn Garcia, Maggie Keller, Virginia Kennedy, Meagan McDowell, Sarah Reed,
Kate Register and Sawyer Underwood. All eight seniors were named All-Stars. Captains Ingram, Lidikay and Russell received invitations to participate in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The JV Squad is made up of sophomores and they are (* selected as All-Stars) *Mims Bruhn, *Everette Dawkins, *Maggie Greene, *Elizabeth Haberstroh, Elizabeth Hymer, Virginia Jordan, *Elizabeth Letzer, Piper Miles, *Katie Seeger, Mae Rose Tyson, Virginia Wilson and Anne Baxley Winn. Jordan and Miles serve as captains. In addition, Bynum Albritton and Laine Lidikay were invited to be staff members on the UCA staff for the summer of 2012. On Friday, September 9, the cheerleaders will host the annual Cheerleading Clinic for elementary girls. Registration forms will be available in all elementary schools when school resumes in the fall.
Cheerleaders recognized as All Stars at UCA Cheer Camp. Front Row: Mims Bruhn, Elizabeth Haberstroh, Katie Seeger, Elizabeth Hymer, Everette Dawkins, Maggie Greene. Back Row: Katie Jean Henry, Laine Lidikay, Bynum Albritton, Morgan Russell, Allison Ingram, Sarah Dodson, Hannah Patterson, Virginia Farlow. Photo courtesy of Marilyn Ingram.
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| August 2011 | Village Living
Tips for Jesus
By supporting Mountain Brook’s local businesses, you strengthen our community & our local economy. Please ‘think local, buy local’ when you consider internet purchases, and visit http://shopmountainbrook.com to plan your purchases in person or online.
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To list your business, call 205.250.9037
Cathy Still Johnson pictured with daughters Alyson and Catherine. Photo courtesy of Cathy Still Johnson.
By CATHY STILL JOHNSON I’ll admit it. I haven’t been to church in a while. I’ve turned into one of those holiday church goers. You know, the kind that the regulars pray for—the kind that the preacher calls out on those holidays to remind us that we’re welcome anytime. Yes. I’ve been feeling the guilt, and I am on the verge of church shopping (I am!). For a time, I was one of those regulars. I visited (almost) every other Sunday and never missed a Wednesday night. But life got in the way—work, divorce, kids, drinks and dinner with friends. Before I knew it, church was no longer a consideration. My Sunday mornings became “me” time, and Wednesdays, well, they were just too much of a hassle. But, when God wants to give you a wake up call, He shouts. I’m just thankful it was a small epiphany instead of a tragic accident (Thank you, dear God!). My wake up call came on Easter Sunday. I was visiting my parents in Oxford, Miss., and as usual, I was trying to beat the chimes. I had two girls to dress, our Easter chickens to feed, I couldn’t find my shoes, my mom was telling me to hurry—I was in a fluster. It was 10 ‘til. Grabbing my purse, I was out the door. My final thought, “Shoot! I forgot
my tip money.” Tip money? Try offering. You don’t valet at church—at least not in Mississippi. I found my faux pas quite hilarious until I paused to listen to what God was trying to tell me. I hand tip money to valets, bag boys, concierges, grocery baggers, yard guys, babysitters. It’s usually just a couple of bucks here and there, but I do it without a second thought. How much have I given to those people who have served me? I’m quite sure it adds up to much more than I’ve put in the offering plate this year. Not that they don’t deserve it—by all means. The point I took was this: God serves me every single day. He serves my spirit, my family, my friends, my health, my life. And what do I tip him? How often do I hand him my money, offer my gratitude, and say thank you. I’ll keep giving tips, no doubt. People work hard and deserve them. But, I need to be just as effortless when I give to God. If anybody deserves a tip and a thank you, it’s Him. Cathy Still Johnson is a Mountain Brook mom of twin daughters. She is the editor of Birmingham Home & Garden magazine. She is still looking for a church to call home.
Smart investing programs begin at library By HOLLEY WESLEY I’ve often wondered why certain topics, useful and needed every day of an adult life, are not more widely available in an average education. I took pre-calculus and linguistics, but where were the classes on household budgeting, investing and saving for retirement? Why are these subjects not offered as standard fare in high school and college? All I can say is they weren’t available when I was in high school. Where can one go now to get the basics in these very important financial lessons? The management and staff of the Emmet O’Neal Library are pleased to be able to help out in that department. Thanks to a grant from the American Library Association and FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, we’ll be offering a yearlong mix of programming for all ages called Smart Investing @ EOL. On Thursday evening, September
8, you are in for a treat. Make plans to join us in welcoming award-winning storyteller and actress Dolores Hydock for an evening of folklore and fun as she presents Money Talks: Stories about Cold, Hard Cash. These stories will showcase the ways in which people manage, and are managed by, their own money. After this kickoff program, look for Smart Investing programs the first Thursday of each month. These programs are free and open to the public so don’t miss this opportunity to improve your financial literacy! For more information about these or any of our other regularly scheduled programming, you may call us at 4451121 and find us online at www.eolib. org, blogging at www.eolib.blogspot. com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ emmetoneallibrary and on Twitter at @ eolib.
Emmet O’Neal Library August events Teens 8/5- Game On! Monthly video game program. 4:30-6:30 p.m. We’ll be playing Super Smash Bros Brawl. Adults 8/6- Knit & Knibble. 2-3:30 p.m. All crafts welcome. 8/9- The Bookies Book Club. 10 a.m. Book selection: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. 8/16- Documentaries After Dark, 6:30 p.m.
Overfishing in world oceans. 8/18- Third Thursdays at Dyron’s Lowcountry. 4:30-10 p.m. The restaurant donates 10 percent of the proceeds to the library 8/30- Genre Reading Group. 6:30 p.m. Topic selection to be decided. Children There is no scheduled programming for the month of August. The Children’s Department staff are gearing up for fall.
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Village Living | August 2011 |
LifeActually
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Just a minute
“Just a minute.” “Hang on.” “I’m coming.” “Be patient.” “I’ll do it when I can.” “I’m busy—not now.” “Give me a second, will you?” How many of these parenting clichés ring a bell with you? Do they spill from your mouth automatically, buy you extra time to finish the task at hand? If you’re anything like me, the answer is a resounding, “Yes.”. And while I’m not particularly proud of this, I do cut myself some slack. Waiting is a part of life, and the sooner my kids learn they’re not the center of the universe, the better off they’ll be. Even if I could be at their beck and call, drop everything whenever they needed me, that’s not how the real world operates. We all know adults who grew up so catered to that they expect attention at the snap of their fingers. They don’t understand why people get put out—and often struggle to sustain healthy relationships. Who wants to create that monster, right? In all seriousness, I’ve never thought much about how often I ask my kids to bide their time. After all the hours I log on the mothering wheel, I feel entitled to jump off periodically. But an email I received from a father I know opened my eyes wider to the holes in my logic. I’d put a post on Facebook asking for column ideas, and within minutes he sent me a message. His story was brief yet compelling. “I was putting my five-year-old daughter to bed,” he wrote, “and trying to hug her. She kept pushing my arm away. I asked what she was doing, and she replied, ‘You can hug me in a minute.’ I started laughing—until she said, ‘That’s what you tell me all the time when I ask you something. ’ ” “Now every time I start to say that,” this father’s email continued, “I think about what’s important.” The first time I read his message, I felt a little pang in my heart. After a moment I realized it was because I, too, was guilty. That scene could easily play out in my house, and the fact that it hadn’t surprised me. I imagined this father to be more patient and attentive than me. If his daughter said
it to him, what were my girls thinking? I didn’t want to know. Then again, I did. So I asked Ella, my eight year old, and a friend she had over how often they heard the words “Just a minute.” “My mom says it all the time,” her friend replied. Ella nodded. “Yeah, and when adults say ‘Just a minute,’ they really mean an hour.” I wish I had a magic solution on how to balance the demands of dependents with a million other obligations. The challenge has eluded parents for generations, and while it’s easy to say we should simplify, only so much scaling back is possible. As my dad says, these are our “working years,” and in addition to raising kids we must pay for them. The financial burden requires a dedication to work that takes time and energy—two valuable resources that, ideally, we’d like to reserve for our families. There are times I have four kids crying for me at once. It becomes a competition, a test of whom I love most. As I sputter, “Just a minute…Mommy’s not an octopus!” I silently discern who needs me first. Should I clean the baby’s blow-out, listen to the daughter who has “something important to say,” or administer Tylenol to the one with a fever? How quickly can I do all three and get back to the column I’m writing? It’s a helpless feeling to have my dearest passions pulling me in opposite directions. I’m attuned to the advice dispensed by parents older and wiser than me: Treasure their childhood, they grow up fast. One day they won’t need you, and you’ll be sad. Savor small moments. These, too, are parenting clichés, words that will gradually replace the “Just a minute” phrases I now throw out. I doubt I could go a day without telling someone to hold their horses. I could, however, stop what I’m doing more often and tend to my kids. Sometimes, all they really want is proof that they’re important. When I look at it that way, can I even blame them? Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Mountain Brook mom of four with a background in PR, writing and photography. Visit her website at www.karikampakis.com, find her on Facebook and Twitter, or email her at kari@karikampakis. com.
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CONTINUED from page 7 much,” she said. “We were all loyal, because she’s an honest person who’s real. She’s very smart but fun, too. When we traveled, she’d allow us to enjoy ourselves, to take advantage of wherever we were. We might visit a museum, go antiquing at a local market in Argentina or run into a Prada store and each pick out a treasure.” Cindy’s philosophy to “work hard and enjoy where you are” is something Crawford incorporates in her business. “When I get overwhelmed by work, I have to stop and get on the floor to play with my kids. I learned that from her. You have to remember what’s important.” The weekend after Cindy’s nuptials, Crawford attended a wedding in Memphis. She went on a blind date with college acquaintance Sims Crawford, and by the end of the weekend they knew they’d be together. Crawford moved to Birmingham the following February and married Sims in November. “It was a tough transition at first,” she said. “I left my friends, my career and my city. But the tradeoff is beautiful because now I have this family and a wonderful lifestyle. Birmingham has a great publishing and creative outlet, and that
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allows me to continue doing what I love.” While Crawford stays busy as a photo stylist, she’s expanding her services into a business called SPRUCE, which she started with friend and colleague Libba Hardwick. “SPRUCE is a natural extension of what I’ve been doing,” she said. “We simplify lifestyles through home organization, getting your house partyready or opening up a second home for summer.” It all sounds glamorous, but once you meet Crawford, you realize how down-toearth and unaffected she is. “Through age and life’s journey, I’ve learned to embrace my family and faith above everything,” she said. “That’s what it’s all about. It’s important to me to build a hedge around our family, and to keep the kids grounded because they grow up so quick. We jump on the trampoline together. We ride bikes. We get on the floor and play UNO. They keep me and my husband in check, and I’m grateful for that. I’ve been very, very blessed.” To learn more about Crawford and her work, visit www.missienevillecrawford.com or email her at mncstyle@gmail.com.
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| August 2011 | Village Living
Get Your Ears Lowered for Back to School
New high school signs posted
Treadwell Barber Shop Serving the Mountain Brook Community Since 1962 2700 Culver Road Mountain Brook Village (205) 870-9210 This new sign directs drivers to Mountain Brook High School via Overton Road off Highway 280. Photo by Madoline Markham.
Village Living Telling the story of Mountain Brook neighborly news & entertainment for Mountain Brook
In your mailbox each month, Always online. www.VillageLivingOnline.com To inquire about advertising, contact Dan Starnes, publisher, 370-0732 or dan@villagelivingonline.com
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New signs directing drivers to Mountain Brook High School have been placed below existing street signs. The project was initiated by a group of high school juniors and seniors in Leadership Mountain Brook: L.C. Carmichael, Grace Friday, Betsy Webster, Emily Meisler and Tommy Bruhn. When asked to come up with a project to help the city, they recognized the difficulty that even
Mountain Brook residents have finding the school and devised a plan accordingly. The signs direct drivers on three routes to the school: one from Crestline, one from Highway 280 and one from Overton. After presenting their plan to City Council, the city adopted it, and the Public Works Department printed and posted the signs.
PLEASANT GROVE CONTINUED from page 1
efforts when you check out at the register. This provides an easy way for you to make a contribution. Schools helping schools In addition to this meeting, Mountain Brook City Schools Superintendent Dicky Barlow joined with Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Phil Hammonds and Crestline Elementary School principal Laurie King to visit the schools in Pleasant Grove. They met with the principals and assistant principles at their elementary school, middle school and high school to let them know Mountain Brook and its students want to help Pleasant Grove students. “We are trying to create a long-term relationship,” Barlow said. None of the Pleasant Grove schools suffered damage to their buildings, but many of their students were affected. The school leaders discussed possibly planting trees in Pleasant Grove and having children from the schools be pen pals to encourage the elementary school students in Pleasant Grove. “What we do really will be based on what they tell us they need,” Barlow said. “We hope when they begin to realize what their community needs are that they will contact us.” City Hall brick sale A portion of the proceeds from a
customized brick sale will benefit the Pleasant Grove efforts. The bricks will to be placed around City Hall in the area where the fountain used to be. Bricks must be named in honor or memory of someone who has lived in Mountain Brook. Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce intern James Cooper is heading up the brick campaign project, which he originally planned this spring with his group from Leadership Mountain Brook: Kendal Jaffe, Kathleen McKee, Robert Byrne and Caroline Bell. The brick sale is scheduled to start in August and end in October. The goal is to sell at least 1,000 bricks. They are currently determining the price and number of lines and characters that will be available on each brick. You can find updates on the campaign on www. welcometomountainbrook.com. Also on the website, you can print an order form online and send the completed form and a check to the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce. For more information on any of the Pleasant Grove efforts, contact the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce. In all these efforts, Mountain Brook has high hopes for both cities. “We feel like we’ll gain as much if not more from this experience as they will,” Barlow said, “because there is something powerful in understanding the needs of others.”
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Representatives from Mountain Brook and Pleasant Grove at the July 14 meeting. Back Row: Pleasant Grove council members Philip Houston and James (Pete) Mosley, Pleasant Grove Mayor Jerry Brasseale, Mayor Terry Oden, First Baptist Church Pastor Daven Watkins, Pleasant Grove council member William (Skeeter) Bullion, Pleasant Grove. City Clerk Karen Duncan. Front Row: Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce Project Manager Hannon Davidson, Pleasant Grove council members Paula Johnson and Terrie Hicks, Jefferson County Board of Education President Jennifer Parsons, Executive Director of Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce Suzan Doidge. Photo courtesy of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce.
Village Living
www.VillageLivingOnline.com
| August 2011 |
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Former MBHS quarterback on CMT’s Sweet Home Alabama By MADOLINE MARKHAM 2004 graduate Tribble Reese built his confidence playing quarterback for Mountain Brook High School and Clemson University, a confidence that carried over to his competition on reality show Sweet Home Alabama. The CMT show is a country boy vs. city boy version of The Bachelorette set in Fairhope, Ala.on Thursdays at 8 p.m. on CMT. The first episode aired July 14. “I have lived what you call an awesome life,” Reese said during the first episode. “I mean, if I want this girl, no one’s going to stop me from winning this girl.” Reese admits that, especially after having played years of football, he thrives on competition. “I came in to the show pretty confident,” he said. On the show, 10 “country boys” and 10 “city boys” compete for Devin Grissom, a student at the University of Alabama. Reese said the rivalry between the contestants was very real and not orchestrated by the show. “At first it was pretty intense,” he said. “All these guys were trying to protect our territory. A bunch of cocky guys (the “city guys”) were coming in. After getting to know them, we realized they were pretty much normal guys like us. There were still a couple of rivalries. There was always competition to spend time with Devin.” When we asked Reese about Grissom, of course he spoke of how attractive she is. “She looks great in pictures, and she is an absolutely gorgeous specimen,” he said. “When you actually get to know her, she’s real mature and has a good head on her shoulders.” The show was filmed for five weeks starting in June. The contestants stayed in a house on the bay in Point Clear. “There were plenty of down-home Southern activities to do around there,” Reese said. A Birmingham connection, Zoës Kitchen co-founder John Cassimus, recommended Reese to the casting director for the show. “I am single and don’t have that much responsibility
now,” he said, “so I thought I’d take a risk and live a life experience I might never get to do again.” Reese was also a finalist to be on reality show Survivor in 2010. Reese moved to Mountain Brook at age 4 and attended Crestline Elementary, the junior high and high school. His parents, Diane and Herb, live in Crestline, and his sister, Bess, 31, lives in English Village. He comes back to visit family and friends—now including fellow Sweet Home Alabama contestant and new friend Collin Varallo—several times a year. He fondly recalls his senior year football season playing under head coach Joey Jones. “We had a good run in the playoffs,” he said, “During the homecoming parade while I was on the float, I got my scholarship offer from Clemson.” Reese also racked up a college application achievement list, acting in Little Shop of Horrors, serving as an editor of the yearbook and staying active in Key Club, FBLA, SGA and Habitat for Humanity. He was on the football team at Clemson and graduated in four years with a BS in marketing before transferring to Charleston Southern University to play a fifth year of football and earn his MBA. In 2008 Cosmopolitan magazine named him “The Most Eligible Bachelor“ for South Carolina. After playing arena football in Charlotte for a year, Reese moved to Atlanta to be closer to home and in a more central location. Now he is working a daily deal iPhone application during the day with partners he knows from Clemson; it is set to launch in September. He also works special and charity events for Grey Goose and bartends on the weekends. What’s next for Reese? “Right now I am living life one day at a time and enjoying the moment,” he said, noting that one day he might want to be an on-camera personality. While in Charlotte, he had hosted an entertainment show for an online startup.
Isn’t that a nice change?
Tribble Reese is on Sweet Home Alabama, which airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on CMT. Photo courtesy of Tribble Reese.
And for the moment, he is encouraging everyone to watch Sweet Home Alabama and follow him on Facebook, Twitter (@TribbleReese) and his website, www.tribblereese. com. “This is different than anything that’s out there,” he said of the show. “It’s really entertaining TV.”
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| August 2011 | Village Living
Meet this year’s PTO Presidents By MIA BASS
Bridget Sikora Brookwood Forest Elementary About Bridget: I have lived in Mountain Brook for 16 years. I am married to Steven, who went to Brookwood Forest, MBJH and MBHS, and we have three boys, Jack (14), Max (11) and Austin (9). I am originally from Atlanta, Ga. and went to UGA. I am a realtor with RealtySouth in the Crestline office. How PTO uses the funds raised: In recent years monies raised by our PTO have been used to make up for state proration because we do not want our children or teachers to do without anything they need in the classrooms. We have helped the school purchase Smart Boards, computers and computer carts. Goals for this year: We are excited to welcome our new principal, Nathan Pitner. Our main goal as a PTO will be to make sure that even though we will likely face state proration again, our children will have up-to-date technology and not have to go without anything. Kaye Emack Crestline Elementary About Kaye: I grew up in eastern North Carolina and attended UNCChapel Hill. I have lived in Mountain Brook for 23 years. I am married to Jim and have two boys, Henry (twelfth grade) and Carter (sixth grade). School PTO events: We sponsor an annual Boosterthon Fun Run in September and a fall festival. We are grateful to have the support of our Cougar Contributors. We also offer outreach opportunities that
benefit our partner school, Brookville Elementary in Jefferson County. Goals for this year: We are looking at more effective ways to communicate with our families by offering a variety of meeting opportunities and increasing communications through technology. It is my hope that every family feels welcome at Crestline and wants to be involved in their child’s education. Meg Hightower Mountain Brook High School About Meg: My husband Price and I grew up in Mountain Brook and attended Cherokee Bend, MBJH and MBHS. We attended Auburn and returned to Birmingham after graduation. We live in Cherokee Bend with our two children, Will, who will be a senior at the high school, and Maggie, who is entering eighth grade at the junior high. Price and I teach high school seniors at Brookwood Baptist Church and love it. How PTO uses the funds raised: We exist to support the activities that the school provides. All the fundraising money goes directly to the school and classroom. Last year the PTO purchased iPads for teachers to use for classroom instruction. We also collect PTO dues that help with basic operations such as grounds improvements, awards receptions and teacher appreciation. Goals for this year: In this time of continued state school budget cuts, our goal for this year is to continue helping the high school meet its goals of providing excellent education and programs for our students. Including our parents in this process is exciting because it creates a unified approach (teachers, parents and students) for MBHS continuing its path as
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a progressive and innovative public high school. Tzena Gaulden Mountain Brook Elementary School About Tzena: I have been married to Tom for 20 years. We’ve lived in Mountain Brook for 17 years and have Josie, (tenth grade) and Eliza (sixth grade). I have been a substitute teacher in the Mountain Brook system among other jobs. I am currently associate deacon at Mountain Brook Baptist Church. School PTO events: We host the 4th annual Boosterthon Fun Run in the fall, which raises money through sponsors. Lancer Sponsors including individuals, families and businesses may make a donation, and they will receive free advertisement at all our school functions. The PTO also holds a Halloween carnival each fall. Goals for this year: The mission of MBE Lancer PTO is to ensure that all students possess the foundation they need to reach their highest potential and become lifelong learners. Our three-year strategic plan has five main objectives: enhance communication, promote community, improve facilities, enrich curriculum and support teachers. Our PTO website will be live before the start of school.
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Amy Roberts Cherokee Bend Elementary About Amy: Randy and I have lived in Mountain Brook for 15 years. We have two sons, James (11) and Alex (6). After working in engineering, I enjoy teaching children’s I direct the children’s choirs at
Canterbury Methodist Church and teach piano lessons. How PTO uses the funds raised: Science and technology projects are key to ensure that our kids stay current. Donations to our school library as well as classroom enrichment tools create valuable learning opportunities for our children. We also support our Fair Oaks Adventure Curriculum. Goals for this year: I would like to extend a welcoming atmosphere to all parents and show all the opportunities available to support our school. We are grateful for any time that parents commit; it truly makes a difference. Elisabeth Branch Mountain Brook Junior High School About Elisabeth: I moved to Mountain Brook when I was 2, and I have lived in Crestline ever since. I attended Crestline, MBJH, and MBHS. I have four children, Charles (22), Christoper (19), Hunter (15) and Janie (12). I have also been the owner a business in Crestline, Bug’s Boys, for the past 21 years. School PTO events: We sponsor the magazine sale and the Spartan Spirit Cards. The magazine sale takes place in September. You can order new magazines or renew magazines. The online option for magazines has allowed participants to order all year round. The spirit cards last all year with discounts and the sale takes place in January. Goals for this year: I hope that we can continue to raise money that we can give back to the school. I want the Junior High to be a pleasant place for both students and parents, and we can help our teachers with anything that they might need.
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School House
| August 2011 |
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Teachers’ tips for starting school By BARBARA BREWSTER Believe it or not, the 2011-2012 school year is about to begin. Just like their students, Mountain Brook teachers have been enjoying summer’s relaxed pace too. However, what many people may not realize is that over the summer many Mountain Brook teachers meet to plan and design lessons that will engage their students and help them be successful academically. While well planned lessons and strong curriculum are important elements in planning for student success, there are other factors that will help parents ensure that their child’s school year gets off to a smooth start. As an elementary school teacher, I have a few tips for that age group. Also, I invited Kathy Byrd, an English teacher from Mountain Brook Junior High, and Cindy Rysedorph, a special education teacher from Mountain Brook High School, to add their suggestions for students at the secondary levels.
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Authorized Hello Kitty Dealer MBJH teacher Kathy Byrd
Elementary tips from Barbara Brewster: Mornings can be hectic for elementary aged children. 1. Start going to bed earlier during the week before school starts. 2. Get your backpack organized the night before. 3. Eat breakfast every morning, and remember to wear or bring gym shoes for PE. Junior high tips from Kathy Byrd 1. Get organized early. 2. Keep track of your assignments in your agenda. 3. Get involved, find your niche (sports, band, choir, clubs, organizations) and, most importantly, memorize your locker combination.
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802-TINY(8469) • Monday - Friday 10-5 • Saturday 10-2 www.atinykingdom.com MBHS teacher Cindy Rysedorph
High school tips from Cindy Rysedorph 1. Before the first day of school, have all of your supplies organized by class so that you will have everything you need when walking into the classroom on the first day.
Crestline prepares for more kindergarteners
2. Have a plan of action for how you will manage nightly homework, short-term and long-term assignments and extracurricular activities. Assignment books and monthat-a-glance calendars are helpful! 3. Once you have your class schedule, it is helpful to come to the school and walk through it several times before the first day.
MBE teacher Barbara Brewster
Local Cub Scouts earn badge at BWF Crestline second grade teachers prepare for the new school year. Photo by Mia Bass.
By MIA BASS
Some of the Cub Scouts who have cleaned Brookwood Forest Elementary grounds include Luke Black, Andrew Putman, Jack Armstrong, Jack Alexander, Michael Putman and Mike Mullen.
By BAMA HAGER Local Boy Scout dens participated in a cleanup project at Brookwood Forest Elementary. Over the course of several weekends, scouts helped pick up trash and tidy up the area where many use the fields for local sports games. Second graders in Wolf Den #9 and third graders in Bear Dens #6 and 7 participated. The Bears
have earned their “Leave No Trace” patch, and the Wolfs will earn their patch by next month. This project was instrumental in them earning the patch. Families from around Mountain Brook often play soccer games at BWF, so the work of the scouts is appreciated by many.
Crestline Elementary’s mission is to promote learning for life in a caring environment dedicated to the whole child. This dedication is certainly helping the school grow. Principal Laurie King and the rest of the school’s staff are excited to welcome another kindergarten unit to the school. They have hired a seventh kindergarten teacher and are looking forward to more kindergarteners this fall. There will also be another eight new staff members starting at Crestline this fall. Class lists for all students can be found online on August 8, and transfer students will get the chance to see the school on August 16. On that Tuesday, new students will be paired up with another student in their grade and will have the chance to tour the school and hear about things from the perspective of a peer. That afternoon, kindergarteners will be invited to Crestline to tour the school and meet their teachers. Crestline’s PTO also sponsors a teacher
luncheon on August 16 as a way to honor the teachers at the start of a new year. During the summer, teachers were encouraged to form small groups that met throughout June and July. These groups planned lessons and exchanged ideas for the coming year. The Mountain Brook School System also put on a number of workshops and conferences this summer that Crestline’s teachers had the opportunity to take. For instance, the system put on a technology conference at Mountain Brook High School in mid-July to accommodate all grade levels and ability levels. Lessons included information on powerpoint presentations to smart board usage. The first day of school for students is August 17. Crestline Elementary is located at 3785 West Jackson Boulevard and can be reached at 871-8126. Visit their website, www.mtnbrook.k12.al.us/ces for more information.
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| August 2011 | School House
MBE ready for students
Mountain Brook’s oldest existing school stands ready for students to return.
BY HILARY ROSS Mountain Brook Elementary is the oldest existing public school in the Mountain Brook area and is ready to begin its 82nd year of service to the community. They expect to welcome approximately 560 students and four new teachers to the school this year. The vision of Mountain Brook Elementary School is to be a community of learners committed to growth, reflection and high levels of academic achievement for all students. The principal is Belinda Treadwell, and the assistant principal is Lisa Walters. During the summer, teachers had professional learning experiences that focused on quality questioning, training for the new math program (Investigations), technologies for 21st century learning, student engagement: theory to action and behavior strategies. There are 30 grade-level classes in kindergarten through sixth grade that make up MBE. In addition to the grade level classes, students take art, music, physical education, computer and Spanish. MBE has approximately 83 faculty and
MBE Student Council returns
staff including 49 certified teachers who will return to school on Monday, August 8. They will be involved in a number of professional learning sessions the week of August 8-12 as they ready to welcome students. On August 15, MBE will host a Kindergarten Open House from 9 until 10:30 a.m. The Newcomer Party for students who are in grades 1-6 and are new to MBE will be from 10 until 11 a.m. Students and parents will be able to “meet and greet” their teachers (students with last names beginning with A-M will be from 12:30 until 1 p.m. and N-Z from 1 until 1:30 p.m.). On the evening of the 15th, kindergarten parents will also have a meeting at 6 p.m. with their child’s teacher. The first day of school is August 16. Parents will receive more information in the first school-wide email in August. MBE is located at 3020 Cambridge Road and its phone number is 205-871-8181. Visit the school website at www.mtnbrook. k12.al.us/mbe for more information.
Adventure camp at CBS
Fifth and sixth grade students at F.O.A.C. camp led by Rick Hedrick. MBE 2010-11 Student Council: Ella Cobbs, Champ Lyons, James Gillespy, Grant Griffin, Price Pewitt, Parker Garrison, Jackson Lightfoot, Virginia Leak, Margaret Shufflebarger, Annie Phillips, Jackson Sharman, Jack Martin, Sarah Yates, Gracie Carmichael, Jennings Briley, Emma Brown and Grant Little.
By HILARY ROSS Mountain Brook Elementary reinstituted a Student Government Association during the last school year and is looking forward to hosting new elections when school resumes in August. The Student Council is for fourth, fifth and sixth graders. At the beginning of the year, students vote for their homeroom class representatives. There were 16 members on the Student Government Association during 2010-11 school year. Fourth grade members were Grant Griffin, Price Pewitt, James Gillespy, Champ Lyons and Ella Cobbs. Fifth grade members were Parker Garrison, Sarah Yates, Jackson Sharman and Margaret Shufflebarger. The sixth grade had two representatives from each class: Virginia Leak, Jackson Lightfoot, Jennings Briley, Annie Phillips, Jack Martin, Emma Brown and Grant Little. The Student Council members discuss
school issues and set goals for achievements during the year. Officers elected for 2010-11 were President Jack Martin, Vice President Parker Garrison and Secretary/ Treasurer Ella Cobbs. The main project this past year of the Student Council was Red Ribbon Week, which is an annual program devoted to making students aware of the dangers of drug and alcohol use and encouraging students to stay “drug and alcohol free.” The Student Council also assists with school service projects and fundraisers. Members of the Student Council attended a Mountain Brook City Council meeting to observe the process of a formal meeting. The officers and representatives of the MBE Student Council also listened to great ideas given by students for future use. Being the first SGA in many years, many of the ideas will be used in the years to follow at MBE.
By FRANCES WATTS In July, a group of fifth and sixth grade students at Cherokee Bend Elementary participated in a weeklong F.O.A.C. (Fair Oaks Adventure Curriculum) camp led by Rick Hedrick. During the school year, every student at Cherokee Bend attends weekly F.O.A.C. classes. In F.O.A.C., Mr. Hedrick leads students in activities which require teamwork and cooperation.
Students have fun while learning to value themselves and others. The camp took place on the school’s rope course. Some of the activities included were the cat walk, the two line bridge, the zip line, the giant swing and the multivine. The camp concluded with a cookout on Friday where campers enjoyed hotdogs and hamburgers prepared by Mr. Hedrick.
Mountain Brook City Schools 2011-2012 Calendar 8/8-15- Professional Development 8/16- First Day for Students 9/5- Labor Day 10/14- End of 1st Nine Weeks 10/17- Professional Development 11/11- Veterans Day 11/23-25- Thanksgiving Holidays 12/20- End of 1st Semester 12/21– 1/3- Winter Holidays 1/4- Professional Development
1/5- Students return to School 1/16- Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2/20- Professional Development 3/9- End of 3rd Nine Weeks 3/19-23- Spring Break 5/25- Last Day for Students 5/28-Memorial Day 5/29- Professional Development Make Up Day #1 5/30- Professional Development Make Up Day #2 5/31- Professional Development Make Up Day #3
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School House
New Vice Principal to start at CBS
| August 2011 |
19
Clever... Very Clever!
Mr. Paris and Mrs. Bell busy planning for the upcoming school year.
By FRANCES WATTS Cherokee Bend Elementary Principal Betsy Bell is welcoming new vice principal Chad Paris. Mr. Paris comes to Mountain Brook from the Auburn City Schools, where he most recently taught Physical Education and was an acting Hal Moore leadership supervisor. He brings to Cherokee Bend over nine years of experience teaching grades K- 12. “Let me start by saying what an honor it is to have been chosen as the new Assistant Principal at Cherokee Bend School,” Paris said. “I am humbled, yet
eager to begin this stage of my professional journey alongside a wonderful staff. The Mountain Brook School System sets very high standards for all of its employees, and my goal is to work together with all stakeholders to exceed those expectations. My family and I know how blessed we are to have been chosen to be a part of your school and your community.” Former Cherokee Bend Elementary vice principal, Nathan Pitner, is the new principal at Brookwood Forest Elementary.
MBJH prepares for school year and record size 7th grade
Backpacks, messenger bags & more The sales tax holiday is August 5-7
Crestline
871-2662
Mountain Brook debaters place nationally MBJH faculty and staff Assistant Principal Catherine Waters, Counselor Sharon Lyerly, Principal Ben Hudson, Administrative Secretary Kay Teschner, Assistant Principal David Knott and Administrative Aide Gail Magnus.
By HILARY ROSS Mountain Brook Junior High educates grades 7 through 9 and is excited to welcome its students back to school. The original building of MBJH was built in 1956, and over the years improvements and additions have been made to accommodate the expected 1059 students this year. One hundred ten faculty and staff are currently employed at MBJH and class averages vary from 16 students to 24 students in the core classes. The mission as a school community is to challenge each student to learn, grow, and reach his or her potential. To accomplish this, MBJH models its school values, maintains an effective, challenging, and engaging curriculum and promotes professional learning among the school community so students can confidently meet future challenges. The vision of MBJH is to be a student-centered school which uses innovative teaching practices to achieve excellence in all areas. This year, registration will take place on August 8 from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. for all three grades in the main gym of MBJH. Registering students will receive their schedules, pay appropriate fees, have an opportunity to add money into their lunch accounts and purchase Spartan athletic cards. School supplies will be sold in the lunchroom, and students may also pick up
textbooks in the library. Spartan Day is Wednesday, August 10 The day is designed to help incoming 7th graders transition to the junior high. On Spartan Day, the new 7th grade students walk through their class schedule, eat pizza with classmates, and participate in the W.E.B. Program (Where Everybody Belongs). Spartan Day begins at 8:40 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m. MBJH will begin classes this Fall Semester on Tuesday, August 16 with the largest 7th grade class ever! Lockers will be assigned at that time as well. The MBJH Open House is Thursday, August 18. Open House begins at 5:30 p.m. Parents will have the opportunity to meet with the teachers listed on their child’s schedule. Parents will report to the first period teacher’s classroom at 5:30 p.m. where they will view a school-wide video and will continue to rotate through all the classes scheduled in ten minute segments. This allows the parents to become familiar with MBJH and teachers while stepping into the routine of their child’s class schedule. The principal of Mountain Brook Junior High is Ben Hudson. MBJH is located at 205 Overbrook Road and its phone number is 205-871-3516. Visit the school website at www.mtnbrook.k12.al.us/mbjh for more information.
Philippa Straus, Evan McCarty, Lee Quinn and Coach Jeff Roberts.
Top competitors from a pool of more than 3,200 students were recognized in Dallas, Texas, for their outstanding accomplishments in speech and debate. The announcement of honors concluded the weeklong Lincoln Financial Group / National Forensic League National Speech & Debate Tournament, the world’s largest academic event. The Mountain Brook High School Policy Team of Lee Quinn and Evan McCarty finished third place overall,
which is the best finish for Mountain Brook High School in team history at the National Championship. Also, Philippa Straus finished as a semi-finalist in Congressional Debate. The tournament was held June 13‐18 and drew visitors from across the country and as far away as China. Qualifiers to the tournament competed for more than $200,000 in college scholarships. The Mountain Brook Debate Team is coached by Jeff Roberts.
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August 2011 | Village Spotlight
Business Spotlight
Mountain Brook Sporting Goods |
By MIA BASS
66D Church Street 870-3257 Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
If you’ve watched a little girl in a Mountain Brook Spartans cheerleading uniform or been to a little league game recently, you’ve probably seen Mountain Brook Sporting Goods’ merchandise put to use. Pride in the Spartans is something you can feel from stepping in the store, and it’s something that is equally important to owner Mike Morrison. “Everyone in Mountain Brook makes it possible,” he said. Mountain Brook Sporting Goods has called their location on Church Street home since 1990 when Dave Arnold opened the business. Morrison bought the store in 2003. Morrison taught and coached at Mountain Brook High School in the late 1970s, then spent 25 years in pharmaceutical sales before taking over Mountain Brook Sporting Goods. “We are so appreciative of our Mountain Brook family,” Morrison said, “They could choose to shop anywhere, and we want to give them a reason to come here.” That’s where Morrison’s custom orders come in. He says that’s just one of the benefits of having a small shop. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, they will work to fit the needs of their customers. They also offer screen printing, custom design and embroidery. Mountain Brook Sporting Goods offers a wide variety of items for Mountain Brook sports fans like game day chairs, blankets and sweatshirts. They provide seat cushions for Friday night games, fans to keep you cool for sticky August games and flags to support your team. They also
Rick Morrow, Assistant Julia Holt and Owner Mike Morrison in Mountain Brook Sporting Goods. Photo by Mia Bass.
sell cheerleading uniforms, jerseys and other gear for Alabama and Auburn fans to set you up for every Saturday in the fall. Backpacks and other bags for sports equipment are sold and can be monogrammed. Nike items, golf and fishing shirts are always available as well as tennis shoes and cleats. One of Morrison’s associates, Rick Morrow, is a former football and basketball player for Arkansas who has been a large asset to the store, especially when it comes
to equipment fitting. They sell lacrosse gear, football equipment, tennis racquets, baseball bats and lesser known items and equipment. In 2007, Morrison also opened the Team Store in Altadena Square. Dave Arnold, the original owner, runs the team store full time. “Dave has really worked to make us successful,” Morrison said. With three road salesmen, including Morrison, more than 100 schools come to the team store for their uniforms, from youth teams
to varsity teams. “It’s a lot of fun, a lot of work, and you wear many hats,” said Morrison. He loves working with his “Mountain Brook Mamas” (employees) and tries his best to employ students from Mountain Brook, especially during summer and holiday breaks. Mountain Brook Sporting Goods is looking forward to the start of school and football season for the Spartans.
HEIRLOOMS HEIR HEIRLO LOOM OMS S IN BLOOM BLOO en ha n c in g l if e w it h p l a n t s
Alabama’s Premiere Antique Show Featuring Nationally Recognized Dealers Benefiting Birmingham Botanical Gardens
New for 2011: V.I.P. Area
2011 Sponsors
5:30-8:30 p.m.
Red Diamond Lecture Series proudly presents
Charlotte Moss
acclaimed interior designer
August 11
October 7 • 10:30 a.m. • $30 Tickets: bbgardens.org/antiques
featuring
Jon Black with War Jacket September 8 featuring
Matthew Devine of Downright
October 13 featuring
Scan the tag for a video about the event.
Rollin in the Hay General Admission: $15 Members of The Gardens: FREE* Cash Bar • Complimentary Hors d’oeuvres
Get the free mobile app at
http:/ / gettag.mobi
2 0 5 .4 1 4 .3 9 5 0 b b g ar d ens.org/ cock ta ils
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Friday, October 7, 10-5 p.m. Saturday, October 8, 10-5 p.m. Sunday, October 9, 1-5 p.m.
205.414.3950 bbgardens.org/antiques
General Admission: $10
enhancing lif e with plants
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Restaurant Showcase
Village Flavor | August 2011 |
Crestline Bagel Company |
66-B Church St. 871-4583
Monday – Friday, 6 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. The scratch-made bagels at Crestline Bagel have become a local staple, but they also draw people from around Birmingham and the region. One man from Anniston takes five dozen bagels back home with him at a time, and requests come in to ship bagels to Mississippi, Georgia and Tennessee. Former New Yorkers attest that Crestline has hit the mark with the taste of their bagels. Jennifer Yarbrough, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Ralph, said she has tried every bagel store in New York while visiting her sister there and brought back ideas over the years. Crestline has expanded their flavor selection—power (with dried cranberries and pecans), chocolate chip, sun-dried tomato, whole wheat everything—to that beyond what most New York shops offer, so her sister takes special flavors back to her friends at home. Walk in their storefront any day of the week, and you can choose from 15 regular bagel varieties and 12 homemade cream cheese flavors. There are also seasonal bagels like pumpkin as well as seasonal cream cheese available. The Eggel (egg, cheddar and sausage cooked in a bagel) and Eggwich (sandwich with egg, cheese and meat) are both popular. Each morning the restaurant serves six varieties of Higher Ground coffee, made in Birmingham. “We like supporting someone local,” Yarbrough said, “and they deliver the coffee right after the beans are roasted.” Any time of day, seven days a week, you can see one of five trained bakers mixing, boiling and baking bagel dough—
Crestline Bagel Company owner Jennifer Yarbrough. Photo by Madoline Markham.
all made from scratch using natural ingredients. They’ve each learned the little things to watch for to perfect the dough, like how much yeast to use depending on the time of year, the texture it should be after mixing, and how buoyant it should be after boiling. Each variety is a little different depending on the particular ingredients. The staff say they never get tired of their food because there are so many ingredients in the store. For that matter, customers can create a custom sandwich as well. Still, some people have ordered the same item, seven days a week, for seven years. “We have created a cravable item,” Yarbrough said. Originally opened as a Chesapeake Bagel chain in 1996, Crestline Bagel evolved into independent restaurant and has changed its bagel recipe over the years to become its own. Yarbrough and her husband had their eye on the store long before they bought it in 2007. It was their favorite place to eat,
and she had worked as assistant manager there just after graduating from college before going into medical sales. Once a year for five years, she called former owner Thad Lepkowski asking him to sell it to her before he finally agreed. Yarborough said the job gives her flexibility with her two children, ages 1 and 4, whose pictures are on the walls of the restaurant. Since they started running the shop, the Yarbroughs have expanded the lunch menu. I tried the Magic City BLT with the baked potato salad, which does taste exactly like a cold version of a decadent loaded potato. One of Yarbrough’s favorites is the Pesto Chicken Pizza Bagel with grilled chicken, roasted red peppers, goat cheese and pesto. Like any good lunch place, they make chicken and egg salads and pimiento cheese. There are also vegetarian options like the Roasted Veggie sandwich. Their meats come from Boar’s Head, and Deitz and Watson. During the summer, they get tomatoes from Green Acres in
21
By MADOLINE MARKHAM
Irondale, and Yarbrough sometimes brings cucumbers or blackberries for cream cheese from her garden at home. The staff is always experimenting with sandwich combinations, and customers can request their choice of available ingredients on a variety of bagels and breads, including house made sourdough. “If you can think of it, it’s been ordered before,” Yarbourgh said. She even recalled one request for a pizza bagel on chocolate chip. While preparing the menu for Yolo Dessert Bar, now open in Colonial Brookwood Village and in Mobile, the owners used the bagel store as a test kitchen for the desserts, particularly the cupcakes they now sell both at Yolo and Crestline. At the end of each day, they donate all of our leftover bagels to The Daily Bread, an outreach program in conjunction with Canterbury Methodist Church. What’s next for the bagel business? Crestline is getting a Panini sandwich press and developing a 300-calorie menu. They are experimenting with a cinnamon crunch and cheese varieties, which Yarborough said is trickier with their from-scratch boil and bake method.
Magic City BLT on an everything bagel served with loaded potato salad. Photo by Madoline Markham.
Come in and see our new upholstery line
2925 18th Street South • Homewood 205-871-0585 • www.harmonylanding.com
22
| August 2011 |
Music & Arts
Village Living Calendar
8/7- Jazz in the Park. Features the Neo Jazz Collective, Kim Scott and Keith Williams.
5-8 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Admission: free. More information: www.magiccitysmoothjazz.com.
8/11- “Picture of Health” Gala. Presented by Birmingham Bombshell, this ovarian
cancer research benefit and calendar release gala includes food from local restaurants and music from DJ Rafa. 7-11 p.m. Old Car Heaven, 115 35th Street South. Admission: $25. More information: www.thinkoflaura.org or call 2438590.
8/12-14- Birmingham Arts and Music (BAAM) Fest. Features more than 200 local and
regional artists in different genres. 6-10 p.m. Venues include the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, McWane Science Center, Birmingham Museum of Art and ArtPlay. Admission: $15/day, $35/weekend. More information: baamfest.com.
8/14- Jazz in the Park. Features the Neo Jazz Collective, Tena Wilson, Goodfellas and
On Purpose. 5-8 p.m. Vulcan Park. Admission: free. More information: www. magiccitysmoothjazz.com.
8/14- Children’s Dance Foundation Community Fest. Activities for the family
including kids’ craft zone, face painting, outdoor moonwalk and a silent auction. 2-5 p.m. Children’s Dance Foundation. Admission: free. More information: www.childrensdancefoundation.org or call 870-0073.
8/20- Ben Folds. Listen to the music of singer-songwriter Ben Folds. 8 p.m. Alys
Stephens Center. Admission: $40 (general admission) $20 (UAB students only). More information: www.alysstephens.ua.edu/events.
8/21- Jazz in the Park. Features the Neo Jazz Collective, Overfloe and Jose Carr. 5-8 p.m. Tom Bradford Park, intersection of Diamond Head Drive and Edwards Lake Road. Admission: free. More information: www.magiccitysmoothjazz. com.
8/25- The Taste of Birmingham. Showcasing the best flavors of our city that benefits
the Birmingham Boys Choir with a portion going toward the Children’s Hospital of Alabama. 6-9 p.m. The Club, Grand Ballroom. Admission: $100. More information: www.thetasteofbirmingham.com.
8/26-28- Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival. A festival for independent filmmakers in
downtown Birmingham. Friday: 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. Locations include: Alabama Theatre, Carver Theatre, McWane Science Center and Red Mountain Theatre Company’s Cabaret Theatre. Admission: $80 (sidewalk film and party pass) or $225 (VIP). More information: almovingimage.org.
8/28- Jazz in the Park. Features the Neo Jazz Collective, Foxy Fatts and RAW Jazz
Trio. 5-8 p.m. Sidewalk Film Festival. Admission: free. More information: www. magiccitysmoothjazz.com.
Family Fun
8/6- Allstar Weekend. Known for “Suddenly Yours,” released last year, this band
showcased on the Disney Channel specializes in pop-rock. 8 p.m. Alabama Adventure. Admission: $35.99 (general) $25.99 (children and seniors), children under three are free. More information: www.alabamaadventure.com.
Mountain Brook Events 8/6- Wake-up with the animals. If you want to see the Zoo when the animals first wake up, this is your chance. Enjoy breakfast at Safari Café and everything the zoo has to offer. Space is limited. Birmingham Zoo. More information: 8790409.
8/6- Independent authors’ book presentation. Authors will present their books
from various genres and facilitate a question and answer session. 10-11:30 a.m. Emmet O’Neal Library. Admission: free. More information: call Reece Sherman at 213-2620 or email reece.sherman@gmail.com.
8/11- Cocktails in the Gardens. “Surf on the Tuft” will feature the music of Jon
Black and signature drink Sea Breeze. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Hill Garden. Admission: $15 (for non-members). More information: www.bbgardens.org.
8/11, 8/13, 8/14, 8/18, 8/20, 8/21- Big the Musical. A musical of the 1987 movie
will be performed. 8/11 and 8/18: 7:30 p.m., 8/13 and 8/20: 8 p.m., 8/14 and 8/21: 2 p.m. Levite Jewish Community Center. Admission: $12-$15. More information: call 879-0411 or visit www.bhamjcc.org.
8/16- First Day of School for Students. 8/20- Teddy Bear Clinic. Bring a stuffed animal in for a checkup with UAB medical students. Have up-close encounters with the animals and have your face painted. Birmingham Zoo. More information: www.birminghamzoo.com/ events.
8/21- Celebrate Hope. A BBQ dinner and silent auction will benefit House of
Hope, a Christian ministry for women. 6:30-8:30 p.m. 2106 Cahaba Road. Admission: $15 (reservation required). More information: for reservations, call 639-1360 or email brownchar@bellsouth.net.
8/26- Mountain Brook High School v. Shades Valley. Support your Spartans at their season opener. Shades Valley High School. More information: www.mtnbrook. k12.al.us.
8/26-8/29- Hope for Gabe Sale. An upscale consignment sale for children from
SPORTS
newborn to tween sizes. Friday: 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday: 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday: 1-7 p.m., Monday: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. 2131 English Village Lane. More information: email Cindy Ogletree at cindy.ogletree@yahoo.com or visit www.hopeforgabe.org.
8/5, 8/6, 8/7, 8/8, 8/9- Birmingham Barons v. Jackson Generals. 8/5, 8/8 and 8/9:
8/27- Zoo Olympics. See how you do against the animals in physical strength and
7:05 p.m. 8/6: 6:30 p.m. 8/7: 5 p.m. Regions Park. Admission: starting at $7. More information: web.minorleaguebaseball.com/schedule.
participate in a scavenger hunt. Birmingham Zoo. More information: www. birminghamzoo.com/events.
8/16, 8/17, 8/18, 8/19, 8/20- Birmingham Barons v. Montgomery Biscuits. 8/16-
8/31- Debra H. Goldstein book signing. Come out for a brown bag lunch booktalk.
8/19: 7:05 p.m. 8/20: 6:30 p.m. Regions Park. Admission: starting at $7. More information: web.minorleaguebaseball.com/schedule.
Special Events/Ministry 8/5-7- Alabama Sales Tax Holiday. Tax-free school items for a new school year. Begins
at 12:01 a.m. on Friday and ends at 12 midnight on Sunday. More information: http://www.ador.state.al.us/salestax/salestaxhol.htm.
8/28- Southern Bridal Show. Meet with wedding professionals including caterers, florists and planners to plan your wedding day. 12-5 p.m. BJCC Exhibition Hall. Admission: $10 (includes a year’s subscription to Brides Magazine). More information: www.bjcc.org/events.
Do you know of events in our community? We would love to include them. Please email Jennifer@villagelivingonline.com by the 15th of each month for the publication in the next month’s issue.
12:30-1:30 p.m. Emmet O’Neal Library. Admission: free. More information: www.eolib.org.
Food & Wine 8/4, 8/11/ 8/18, 8/25- Western Supermarket. Wine Tasting. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Admission: $5. More information: 879-8784.
8/4, 8/11/ 8/18, 8/25- Piggly Wiggle Wine Tasting, Crestline. 4-6 p.m. Admission: $5. More information: www.pigglywigglybirmingham.com.
8/5, 8/12, 8/19, 8/26- Whole Foods Wine Tasting. 4:30-6:30 p.m. Admission: free. More information: www.wholefoods.com or 912-8400.
8/19-28- Birmingham Restaurant Week. Features different fixed price selections at $10, $20 and $30 at various restaurants in Birmingham. Restaurant hours vary by location. More information: www. bhamrestaurantweek.com.
Market Day 2011 Frances and Hunt Hill
Josh and D.Y. Menendez
The tenth annual Market Day in Mountain Brook Village was held on July 23, a festive and somewhat overcast day of sales and celebration. Photos by Catherine Pittman Smith Photography and Dan Starnes.
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Around the Villages | August 2011 |
Around the Villages
23
By MIA BASS
Tracery moves to new location
Overton Frameworks fundraiser
Tracery Interiors, which operated on Petticoat Lane for several years, has moved to the former Vanity location on Montevallo Road in Mountain Brook Village. They previously shared space with Paige Albright Orientals and celebrated the move on July 27 at the new location. The change in location will allow Tracery to offer more space to create and serve the community with more furniture and
Overton Frameworks joined with 10 local artists to raise money for tornado relief. They have previously done fundraisers for Hurricane Katrina victims and tsunami victims, raising between $1,000 and $2,000 for those causes. Artists have donated original pieces of art, ranging from oils to acrylics and mixed media, and each piece has been custom-framed by Overton Frameworks. Some paintings have been done by a paraplegic artist. All proceeds from these works of art will be donated to the Red Cross for Alabama
lighting selections. This interior design firm specializes in upholstery, furniture, lighting and work by local artists. Many designs have been featured in publications nationwide. Tracery is located at 2405 Montevallo Road and is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 4146026 or visit www.traceryinteriors.com.
New Vino Restaurant and art gallery Vino Restaurant and Gallery 1930 will open in mid-August. The space will function as two businesses; the art of Meredith Keith will occupy the front of the establishment. Laura Vogtle, Meredith’s sister, is opening the gallery with furniture in addition to her sister’s art. Vino‘s menu is Mediterranean with a hint of Italian at an affordable price. Entrees include Capellini Vino, Spinach Lasagna
and Filet Panisse, but the menu will change often. The restuarnt will be open for dinner Monday through Saturday, including a a Saturday brunch. Debra Stone Creamery will be offering a market on Sundays. It will feature patio space that owner Al Rabiee would like to use as community space for craft and farmer’s markets and yoga classes.
tornado relief and will end on August 31. In addition to this relief effort, Overton Frameworks offers art by local artists that includes pottery, jewelry and folk art. They specialize in framing diplomas, photos and your child’s artwork. Overton Frameworks is located at 3150 Overton Road, across from Publix, and have been in business for over a decade. They are open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For questions or more information, call 969-0830.
Grand Jete Summer Soiree The Summer Soiree at Grand Jete was held on July 23 in English Village. This casual summer open house featured fruit popsicles, spa water and chilled white wine. Guests were invited to try the barre fitness class and then enjoyed shopping
and meeting other guests while giveaways were presented every hour. Everyone left with bags full of Grand Jete products. Owner Laura Armistead coordinated this event for 135 guests with music and an island feel.
Neighborhood Hops and Vine Neighborhood Hops and Vine opened in early July. They offer a wide selection of beer and wine that isn’t ordinarily found in grocery stores. “We try to champion small production craft beer and wine,” said owner Chandler Busby. They seek out value from high-quality producers and local producers like Good People Brewing Company and Avondale Brewing Company. They specialize in packaging draft beer to go in half-gallon and gallon sizes. Neighborhood Hops and Vine also offers
Higher Ground Coffee and is planning on providing gift baskets beginning this fall. Baskets will include a choice of wine and beer with local touches like Alabama cutout coasters and Sloss bottle openers. Neighborhood Hops and Vine is located at 1109 Dunston Avenue. They are open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday-Monday from 12-6 p.m. For more information, call 870-8881 or visit www.neighborhoodhopsandvine.com.
Amanda Jones, Reynolds Harper, Vicki Poellnitz, Marisa Mitchell, Kimble Vardaman, Susie Youngson, Lisa Matchett and Andrea Miller-Pound at Grand Jete. Photo courtesy of Grand Jete.
| August 2011 |
F ine homes deserve fine representation. At RealtySouth, we pride ourselves on earning the trust of those we serve, maintaining discretion and delivering exceptional service. Consider RealtySouth as your representative in the buying and selling process. With more than half of the current luxury home listings in our portfolio and a 55-year history of integrity and character, RealtySouth is the obvious choice. 2700 Old Trc, Vestavia Hills 2723 Cahaba Valley Rd, Indian Springs Village 2965 Briarcliff Rd, Birmingham 2960 Shook Hill Pkwy, Mountain Brook 3505 Salisbury Rd, Mountain Brook 3874 Lockerbie Dr, Birmingham 7109 Founders Pl, Vestavia Hills 7309 Kings Mountain Cir, Vestavia Hills 4506 High Court Cir, Hoover 2567 Altadena Rd, Birmingham 2968 Briarcliff Rd, Mountain Brook 1996 Ves Trc, Vestavia Hills 428 Club Pl, Mountain Brook 3208 Sterling Rd, Mountain Brook 3206 Rockledge Rd, Mountain Brook 2900 Mountain Brook Pkwy, Mountain Brook 2970 Briarcliff Rd, Mountain Brook 700 Carnoustie, Birmingham Eight Mile Ridge Dr, Mountain Brook 3453 Brook Mountain Ln, Mountain Brook 5212 Queensferry Ln, Hoover 2701 Lockerbie Cir, Mountain Brook 845 Reynolds Trl, Vestavia Hills 5246 Greystone Way, Hoover 3700 Old Leeds Rd, Mountain Brook Cullman Co Saintfield Ln, Birmingham 2844 Surrey Rd, Mountain Brook 7468 Old Overton Club Dr, Vestavia Hills 3301 Cherokee Rd, Mountain Brook 794 Killough Ln, Talladega 710 Sunset Dr, Pell City 3333Dell Rd, Mountain Brook 1590 Tee Rd, Equality 2104 Lake Heather Way, Hoover 5048 Greystone Way, Birmingham 2834 Shook Hill Cir, Mountain Brook 4552 Dolly Ridge Rd, Birmingham 3 Hazeltine Walk, Birmingham 1433 Legacy Dr, Hoover 760 Burton Loop Rd, Altoona
5206 Mountain Ridge Pkwy, Birmingham 8015 Castlehill Rd, Birmingham 1246 Greystone Crest, Hoover 416 Full Circle Rd, Childersburg 7314 Kings Mountain Cir, Vestavia Hills 311 English Cir, Homewood 30625 Harbor Dr, Orange Beach 30625 Harbor Drive, Orange Beach 4392 Kings Mountain Ridge, Vestavia Hills 30497 Ono Blvd, Orange Beach 30497 Ono Blvd, Orange Beach 4054 Greystone Dr, Birmingham 1162 Legacy Dr, Hoover 2750 Pump House Rd, Mountain Brook 825 W Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores 5200 Greystone Way, Hoover 2500 Crest Rd, Birmingham 2000 Morris Ave, Birmingham 2855 Surrey Rd, Mountain Brook 1068 Royal Mile, Hoover 2821 Shook Hill Cir, Mountain Brook 2117 Eastern Valley Rd, Bessemer 5124 Greystone Way, Hoover 4262 Old Leeds Rd, Mountain Brook 4232 Caldwell Mill Rd, Mountain Brook 4200 Antietam Dr, Mountain Brook 2230 English Village Ln, Mountain Brook 1641 Panorama Dr, Vestavia Hills 2602 Caldwell Mill Ln, Mountain Brook 808 Legacy Dr, Hoover 2123 Lake Heather Way, Birmingham 3456 Westbury Rd, Mountain Brook 126 Smyer Lake Way, Leeds 5000 Old Leeds Rd, Mountain Brook 4 Hidden Hills, Birmingham 7931 Hwy 39, Altoona 1079 Legacy Dr, Hoover 329 Poinciana Dr, Homewood 2741 Abingdon Rd, Mountain Brook 1017 Lake Heather Rd, Hoover
For more information on these fine properties, search www.realtysouth.com by address.
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