Volume 4 | Issue 7 | November 2016
VESTAVIA’S
Balancing act FRENCH (new)
School system, parents of Liberty Park and Pizitz students tackle the concept of ‘alignment’
LIBERTY PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL
LOUIS PIZITZ MIDDLE SCHOOL
GERMAN
GERMAN
(new)
GIFTED ENGLISH
GIFTED SCIENCE (new)
SPANISH
ADVANCED ALGEBRA
GIFTED SOCIAL STUDIES
FRENCH
GIFTED SCIENCE
SPANISH
(new)
Six houses sit on the block of Crosshaven Drive between Ridgely Drive and Valley Park Drive. Photo by Emily Featherston.
Business owner eyes Crosshaven land for communal gathering space By EMILY FEATHERSTON
C
By EMILY FEATHERSTON
ontext is key. That is what Vestavia Hills City Schools Superintendent Sheila Phillips got out of a series of meetings with parents over the past couple of months with regard to middle schools, student experiences and the word “alignment.” “We were saying the same thing — but not saying the same thing,” Phillips said. In early September, the Board of Education announced a series of public meetings about how the
See ALIGNMENT | page A30
The stretch of Crosshaven Drive between Ridgely Drive and Valley Park Drive in Cahaba Heights is currently populated by six houses, but a year from now, that location may look incredibly different. Jamie Pursell, a Cahaba Heights resident and the owner and operator of the Leaf & Petal garden shop at the back of the Summit, hopes to turn the roughly 2.5-area into a mixed-use development he said he thinks will create a gathering space for the entire community. Pursell said his goal is to “just create a place where people want to be.” The development would be comprised of three intertwined components: a new Leaf & Petal garden shop, a bagel shop and a Latin restaurant. The three businesses would be
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See SPACE | page A29
INSIDE
Sponsors .............. A4 News...................... A6
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Striking a Chord Students at Mason Music’s Rock Band League learn teamwork and life skills while living their dreams of becoming rock stars.
See page A24
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Vestavia Voice
About Us Editor’s Note By Sydney Cromwell I hope you’re not tired of me talking about elections, because I’m about to do it again. First, I want to officially welcome our new mayor and council members to their new positions and congratulate them on the upcoming inauguration. The staff of the Vestavia Voice looks forward to working with you as you determine the policies and direction of our city for the next four years and beyond. It’s also time to vote in our national elections, so be sure to head to the polls Nov. 8. I don’t intend to use this space to tell you which presidential candidate to pick. I simply encourage you to research the current field and pick the person who best represents your vision for the future of our nation and who is best suited to take us in that direction.
However, I do want to call your attention to two parts of the ballot. First, don’t let the congressional elections be overshadowed by the presidential race. If one of your Senate or House of Representative seats is up for election, the person who fills that
spot will also play a role in making your voice heard on a national level. Be informed, and choose wisely. Second, there is an important amendment to the Alabama Constitution up for vote on the ballot. Inside this issue we have a breakdown of the amendment and how it affects Vestavia Hills, so take time to brush up on that before Nov. 8. Elections are critical to the United States’ success and democratic identity, from Vestavia City Council chambers all the way to the Oval Office. Do your part, and go vote!
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
Vestavia Hills High School football players celebrate their double-overtime victory over Mountain Brook High School on Oct. 8 at Thompson Reynolds Stadium. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.
Publisher: Managing Editor: Design Editor: Director of Digital Media: Director of Photography: Sports Editor: Page Designers:
Dan Starnes Sydney Cromwell Kristin Williams Heather VacLav Sarah Finnegan Kyle Parmley Cameron Tipton Emily VanderMey Community Editor: Erica Techo Community Reporters: Jon Anderson Lexi Coon Jesse Chambers Staff Writers: Emily Featherston Sam Chandler Copy Editor: Louisa Jeffries Contributing Writers: Sarah Tuttle Leah Ingram Eagle Grace Thornton Gary Lloyd Caroline Carmichael
Advertising Manager: Matthew Allen Sales and Distribution: Warren Caldwell Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes Brittany Joffrion Rhonda Smith James Plunkett Jon Harrison Gail King Eric Clements
For advertising contact: dan@starnespublishing.com Contact Information: Vestavia Voice PO Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@starnespublishing.com
Please submit all articles, information and photos to: sydney @starnespublishing.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253
Published by: Starnes Publishing LLC Legals: The Vestavia Voice is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. The Vestavia Voice is designed to inform the Vestavia community of area school, family and community events. Information in The Vestavia Voice is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of The Vestavia Voice. 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) 313-1780 or by email.
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City
Council takes next step in Berry campus transition By EMILY FEATHERSTON The Vestavia Hills City Council continued the effort to transition the former Berry High School campus through a series of official actions. In late September, the council formally brought the 38.5-acre property within the city limits of Vestavia Hills, a crucial step in two ways. First, City Attorney Pat Boone explained at a City Council meeting, the property had to be formally annexed in order for the sale to close on the property. Hoover City Council de-annexed the property in May after voting earlier in the year to sell the property to the Vestavia Hills Board of Education for $11 million, of which the city of Vestavia Hills contributed roughly $2 million. Because of county segregation laws, U.S. District Court Judge Madeline Haikala had to approve the sale, which she did in mid-August. The second reason the property had to be annexed before finalizing the sale revolved around property maintenance, said Vestavia Hills City Clerk Rebecca Leavings. Unless the property is within Vestavia Hills city limits, the city can’t operate on or maintain the property to keep it in workable condition. The contracts surrounding the sale and its funding stipulate the sale should close before Dec. 30. In order to use overnight procedures to annex the property, rather
It took four meetings, but the former Berry High School property is now part of Vestavia Hills. Photo courtesy of Bluff Park Drone.
than the 90-day process with a waiting time of 180 days, state law requires only half the property can be annexed at one time when annexations back up to another city’s municipal limits, in this case, Hoover. This led the City Council to hold four public meetings from Sept. 26-30 to fully bring in the property. The first brought the majority of the buildings within city limits,
the second most of the athletic fields, and the third a rear access gate. The final meeting brought in the remaining embankment and interstate buffer. While the process seemed arbitrary, Boone said it is still state law and required by Title 11-42-21 of the Code of Alabama. Once the sale goes through, the future of the campus moves into the hands of the Board of Education.
Mayor’s Minute By Ashley Curry
As we approach Thanksgiving, I would encourage all of us to take time from busy schedules to reflect on the things for which we are thankful. I would like to share a few thoughts. I am thankful for Mayor Butch Zaragoza and council members John Henley, Jim Sharp and Steve Ammons. They have served our city well for many years. I am thankful for our city employees and the volunteers who serve on city boards and committees. I am thankful for our public safety personnel who are second to none. For those who don’t know me, my wife and I have lived in Vestavia Hills for more than 30 years. We have two children, Stuart and Anna, both of whom live in Vestavia with their families. I am proud that my children are VHHS graduates, and I’m pleased that my four grandchildren will attend Vestavia Hills schools as well. For most of my career (25 years), I worked as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I intend to approach the position of mayor with the same investigative skill set that served me well in the FBI. I will listen to the concerns of our citizens, I will determine the facts by reviewing all issues involved, and I will make reasonable, informed decisions to the best of my ability. I am thankful and deeply humbled by my election to the office of mayor of Vestavia Hills, and I look forward to serving our citizens. During my tenure as mayor, I will strive to unify our city, to maintain the quality of our school system and to continue targeted and sustainable economic growth. I am ready to hit the ground running this November, and I look forward to serving you over the next four years.
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November 2016 • A7
State amendment would keep 600 local laws on the books By EMILY FEATHERSTON When voters head to the polls early this month, there will be several things to consider. In addition to the presidential and congressional elections, as well as a few circuit and district judge races, Alabamians have to vote on 14 amendments to the state constitution, covering a range of topics including impeachment, age restrictions for officials and the allocation of state park funds. Of those amendments, Amendment 14 could have a direct impact on dozens of municipalities around the state. “Everybody in the state will be The vote for Amendment 14 is part of the general impacted by this amendment one election Nov. 8. Photo by Jon Anderson. way or another,” said state Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster. bill that would be affected by this,” Ward said. Ward was the sponsor of the Bills as far back as 1985 could be considered bill that was passed during the August special legislative session that brought about the vote. unconstitutionally passed, and any local laws Ward said the bill comes from an inconsis- affected would have to go back through the state tency between the state House of Represen- legislature in order to be back on the books. For Vestavia Hills, several local laws would tatives’ procedure and the state constitution regarding the required majority to pass a local be at stake, including the 2015 alcoholic beverage provision for entertainment districts, such bill before the state budget is passed. In December 2015, a Jefferson County court as the one where First Friday events in Rocky ruled that the process itself violated the consti- Ridge are held. Several county issues, such as tution. That decision is currently in the appeal the occupational tax and the setup of the transit process and set to go before the state Supreme authority, are also involved. At city council meetings in September and Court, but should the court let the ruling stand, over 600 local laws would be “thrown out” due October, outgoing Mayor Butch Zaragoza and Place 4 Councilor George Pierce strongly to a technicality, Ward said. The amendment would rectify the procedural encouraged citizens to vote “yes” for Amendinconsistency, and would grandfather-in any ment 14. The vote on the amendment is part of the past local bills that would otherwise be affected. “Every county in the state has some sort of local general election Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Fire Department Chief Jim St. John recognizes Lt. Ryan Farrell’s completion of the Executive Fire Officer Program during the Sept. 26 City Council meeting. Photo by Emily Featherston.
Firefighter recognized for continued education By EMILY FEATHERSTON Vestavia Hills Fire Department Chief Jim St. John recognized one of the city’s own at the Sept. 26 City Council meeting. St. John explained to the council that Lt. Ryan Farrell recently completed the Executive Fire Officer Program. The program is part of the U.S. Fire Administration’s efforts to provide professional development for senior fire officers, teaching them how to combat difficult or unique fire-related issues in their communities. The EFOP program requires participants to complete four graduate-level and baccalaureate equivalent courses, as well as a comprehensive research project. St. John said that of the 900 participants who have completed the program nationwide, four including Farrell have come from Vestavia Hills. Farrell thanked city officials for encouraging
employees to attend courses that improve their ability to serve. He also thanked his wife, in-laws and parents for their patience and accommodation when he had to travel to take the course. In other business, the council: ► Approved a conditional use for two urban hens at 724 Paden Drive; ► Approved the first stage of annexation for the former Berry High School campus and set two special meetings to annex the remainder of the property; ► Approved a rezoning request for 3017 and 3029 Cahaba Heights Road from B-3 and O-1 to B-1.2; ► Voted to approve the appointment of Jeff Slaton to the Design Review Board; ► Voted to amend the resolution that details the financing of city vehicles; ► Authorized the issuance of a refund of $98,746.95 to Charter Cable for overpayment of sales taxes.
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Despite reservations, City Council agrees to settle suit for $11K By EMILY FEATHERSTON At its Oct. 10 meeting, the Vestavia Hills City Council approved a resolution authorizing the payment of $11,000 to settle a race and gender discrimination lawsuit filed against the city in August 2015 by Eric Irons, a black man who was formerly employed as a public safety dispatcher. Irons’ position, along with several others, was phased out when the city consolidated its 911 services. He later sought a position with the Fire Department as an administrative assistant, but the position was filled by another candidate. Bentley Owens, attorney for the city in the case, explained at the meeting that when the consolidation took place, affected employees were encouraged and assisted in finding new jobs in surrounding areas, but that Irons wanted to stay with Vestavia Hills, despite being told there were no vacancies. In the lawsuit, Irons claimed that Fire Department Chief Jim St. John promised him the position if he passed the required test. He claimed that the city never contacted him about the position, and that he was denied the position because of his race and gender. He alleged that it being filled by a Caucasian female was evidence of habitual practice of discrimination and violation of the Civil Rights Act. Owens explained that the Jefferson County personnel board releases a list of eligible candidates for open positions, and when the
city obtained the list when looking to fill the administrative assistant job, Irons was not on the list. Owens said Irons took a different administrative assistant test, but still wouldn’t have been eligible. He said this was the reason the city initially tried to get the case dismissed. District Judge L. Scott Coogler denied that request. Owens also told the council that Irons initially filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, but that he was denied. “That didn’t deter him,” Owens said. Documents show that Irons requested a declaratory judgment from the court that the city discriminated against him; an injunction for measures such as requiring evidence that the city has implemented practices to avoid future instances of discrimination; and compensatory damages for his “irreparable injury” from the city’s alleged action. After the dismissal was denied and before the formal discovery process, Owens said the judge ordered the case into mediation, and Irons’ and his attorney initially asked for $150,000 in damages. The city countered $10,000, but the mediation fell apart. In late September, Owens said, they came back with an offer of $11,000. While he said that the city had a strong defense and a good chance of winning should the case go to trial, the cost of taking the case that far would be far greater than that of the settlement. He also pointed out that even if the city were to win, Irons could appeal.
Bentley Owens, the city’s attorney in a race and gender discrimination lawsuit, explains the situation Oct. 10 to the City Council. The council approved a resolution authorizing the payment of $11,000 to settle. Photo by Emily Featherston.
Mayor Butch Zaragoza said he had met with Irons and tried to encourage him to find another position in a neighboring municipality, like he and others did with all of the employees affected. “We did not want to leave them out in the cold,” he said, adding that Irons’ concerns that leaving the city would affect his pension were unfounded. Place 4 councilor George Pierce expressed his frustration at the city being “between a rock
and a hard place.” He said he was uncomfortable with agreeing to the settlement when the city had such a strong case, but that the potential cost of continued litigation was significant. Place 1 councilor John Henley said that based on his experience, going with a known cost is usually better than taking the risk. Owens agreed. “Elimination of the risk is worth something to the city,” he said.
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November 2016 • A9
Left: Residents view maps of ALDOT’s proposed project to reconnect Cahaba Beach Road. Above: ALDOT has five major alternatives for the route of the proposed Cahaba Beach Road reconnection. Photos by Sydney Cromwell and courtesy of ALDOT.
Residents share input on Cahaba Beach Road project By SYDNEY CROMWELL Traffic and environmental impact were among the top concerns for residents at the two public involvement meetings held in October on a proposed reconnection of Cahaba Beach Road. The Alabama Department of Transportation’s meetings included presentation of five major alternatives, some with minor variation options, to connect U.S. 280 and Sicard Hollow Road in the Cahaba Beach Road area, with a new bridge over the Little Cahaba River. Studies on the area for the proposed roadway were included in packets for meeting attendees. According to those results, the road would serve over 8,000 cars daily between Swan Drive and the river, and around 9,000 cars between the river and Sicard Hollow Road. The different road options vary in length from 8,400 to 11,100 feet, with most of them just over 9,000 feet. Depending on location, the bridge could be anywhere from 290 to 860 feet. According to the studies presented, none
of the alternatives would have an environmental impact on wetlands, streams, threatened and endangered species or archaeological and historic sites. Cost estimates ranged from $10 million to $21.6 million. The Cahaba River Society and other community members have expressed concern about the ecological and health impact of destroying the unused bridge currently on the Little Cahaba River and constructing a new one. This included Southern Environmental Law Center staff attorney Sarah Stokes, who attended the public involvement meeting. Stokes’ concern is that construction runoff into the river, plus the addition of pollution from thousands of cars passing over the river, could have unwanted consequences for the Little Cahaba River’s plant and animal life. She noted that the intake for much of the area’s water supply is downstream from the proposed sites. “I’m concerned about our drinking water intake,” Stokes said.
She added that connecting the road could encourage more development in an area that mostly remains wooded and untouched. As they looked at maps in the Liberty Park Middle School cafeteria, a few other attending residents voiced their opinion that the area should be left undeveloped. Brook Highland resident Mike Chanslor, who formerly lived in Liberty Park, said he would prefer to promote an environmentally conscious plan rather than prevent any development of the road. He recalled driving over the Cahaba Beach Road bridge as a kid and has taken his own children to enjoy the Cahaba River, so keeping the river clean is significant to him. “I feel like I’ve grown up in just this area,” Chanslor said. However, Chanslor said he felt “very positive” toward the idea of the project overall as long as the safety of the surrounding habitat was preserved. Residents at the meeting had multiple concerns about traffic. Some felt that the Cahaba
Beach Road project would bring more traffic to Sicard Hollow Road and the surrounding neighborhoods, adding congestion to an already busy roadway. Others were concerned that not enough drivers would need or want to use the road to travel to and from work or school, thus developing the area unnecessarily. ALDOT spokesperson DeJarvis Leonard said the goal of public involvement meetings is to gather exactly this sort of resident feedback “in order to make an informed decision” before a project moves forward. After gathering all public comments, Leonard said ALDOT would study the feedback to narrow down its alternatives for the project. “That decision would be based on the comments we received today,” Leonard said. The short list of possible sites for the project would be presented in another series of public meetings, likely in summer 2017 or later, he said. Comments from that second round of meetings would be used to make a final choice on the layout of the project.
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Vestavia Voice
Construction of a Publix grocery story continues in the Patchwork Farms development off Cahaba River Road. Brenda Reid, a media and community relations manager for Publix, said the development is still on schedule to open in December. Photo courtesy of Blackwater Resources.
Publix on schedule to open in December By SARAH TUTTLE The new Publix in the Patchwork Farms development off Cahaba River Road and Blue Lake Drive is on schedule to open in December, according to city and supermarket officials. The area around the development is already showing growth, with the retail, office and restaurant tenants filling up space. Vestavia Hills City Manager Jeff Downes said the new Publix should continue to encourage development in an area that was already exploding economically as the result of previous developments. “We are very excited about the opening of the retail shopping area located in Patchwork Farms,” Downes said. “When completed, the new total tax revenues to the city will be in the range of $1.4 million dollars per year.”
An artist’s rendering of the Publix at Patchwork Farms, set to open in December.
Blackwater Resources held the groundbreaking ceremony for the Patchwork Farms development in early February. The growth in this development means the city can help deliver what residents want and need. Blackwater Resources is working to make sure the Vestavia Hills community will enjoy the new offerings in the market,
Downes said. “The architecture and placement of buildings are designed to create a unique and remarkable space, one that will be a draw from the entire greater Birmingham area,” Downes said. Brenda Reid, a media and community relations manager for Publix, said the developer is in the final stages of the build-out. Though
the company has not confirmed the opening date yet, Reid said the development is still on schedule. “Publix is proud to be opening a store in a growing part of Vestavia Hills,” Reid said. “The new hospital and the upcoming assisted living facility add to the roof tops and increased traffic in the area. We look forward to serving customers in the community and becoming their supermarket of choice.” The addition of a Publix at Patchwork Farms will bring the popular grocery option along U.S. 31 to residents who may not frequent that part of town. “The Vestavia Hills community has always been great supporters of Publix along the Highway 31 corridor, and we feel that the success seen at that location will be replicated at the location in Patchwork Farms,” Downes said.
UAB eye hospital on Cahaba River Road set to open Nov. 1 By ERICA TECHO
Services at the new UAB Callahan Eye Hospital include adult and pediatric ophthalmology and optometry services as well as eye exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses, cataract evaluations, glaucoma screenings, diagnostic imaging and an optical store with eyeglasses and sunglasses. Photo by Erica Techo.
UAB Callahan Eye Hospital is opening a new full-service clinic on Cahaba River Road, just across the street from Heavenly Donut Company. The clinic, located in the Altadena community, is planning to open Nov. 1 and will offer the same services as the on-campus clinic at UAB. These services include adult and pediatric ophthalmology and optometry services as well as eye exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses, cataract evaluations, glaucoma screenings, diagnostic imaging and an optical store
with eyeglasses and sunglasses. “We are pleased to expand our pediatric and adult ophthalmology and optometry clinical services into the Cahaba River area and the surrounding communities,” said UAB Callahan Eye Hospital Chief Operating Officer Rett J. Grover. “This location will improve patient access to pediatric eye care and will also provide glaucoma, cornea and comprehensive adult ophthalmology services.” Patients can begin making appointments now by calling 325-8620 or by visiting the official clinic website, uabmedicine.org/locations/ uab-callahan-eye-hospital.
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November 2016 • A11
Chamber
Mayor Butch Zaragoza, center, thanked the outgoing council in October for their leadership and support during the past several years. Photos by Emily Featherston.
Zaragoza encourages unity, growth in speech By EMILY FEATHERSTON As the end of his eight-year term as mayor draws to a close, Butch Zaragoza started his final State-of-the-City presentation by thanking outgoing City Council members John Henley, Steve Ammons and Jim Sharp, as well as George Pierce, who will continue at Place 4. He also thanked City Manager Jeff Downes, and spoke to the support he has received from all the city’s staff. “I don’t do it by myself,” he said. During his speech at the October Chamber of Commerce luncheon, the mayor went through several projects the city has been working on or completed in the last year, including developments at Patchwork Farms, Liberty Park, the opening of Sprouts and Chick-fil-A and various other developments throughout the city. He said when he took office in 2008, he and the City Council decided to focus their efforts on economic development. In the years since, Zaragoza said reserve funds have grown, there has been a steady increase in commercial building permit requests and the city has had a positive balance at the end of the year. He also spoke to the one-year anniversary of the new City Hall, the additions that have been made possible in public safety departments and the other quality of life projects the city has been working on. He painted the picture of families having picnics on the City Hall lawn ― something he said was impossible at the old building ― and said it is a testament to what the city has been moving toward: making Vestavia Hills a place people and families want to stay for the long term. “We’re prospering,” he said, and encouraged the incoming council to continue to push for growth. To close, he did have a challenge for both the new council members and all Vestavia residents. He said that while the “family” and “prosperity” branches of the city’s motto have been bolstered, the “unity” aspect has suffered. In various ways, he said, the community has
Mayor Zaragoza gives his final State-of-theCity speech at Vestavia Country Club.
splintered over the last two years. “We need to get back to being unified,” he said. He said he thinks a lot of the problem has to do with social media ― people posting and sharing about their disagreements and problems without ever having a face-to-face conversation that he argues will better bring about resolution. “There’s a solution at the table,” he said, so “if you’ve got an issue, talk about it.” He urged the new mayor and City Council to work to bring the city back together, to unite behind residents, and for residents to unite behind their elected officials. Zaragoza’s remarks were met with a standing ovation from the chamber audience, and Chamber President Karen Odle presented him with a card signed by many of the members, as well as a video of his many interactions with businesses around the city. Zaragoza said he and his wife, Diane, won’t be settling in at home and disappear from the community, and that he is looking forward to the new ways they can serve the city.
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COMMUNITY NIGHT OUT By EMILY FEATHERSTON The sixth annual Community Night Out, which aims to bring together public safety officials and the residents they serve, teamed up with High Notes and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. High Notes started in 2015 at the dedication of the new City Hall facilities. Officials estimated between 1,500 and 2,000 guests attended the event, which included the concert, games for kids, booths with demonstrations by police officers and firefighters and other vendor booths. Donations were accepted benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Clockwise, from top: The Alabama Symphony Orchestra performs a variety of pieces, including some Disney and Alabama classics. Vestavia police officers present the colors and honor fallen officers around the country. VHPD officer Jimmy Coleman speaks with community members of all ages about the various things the department does. The Vestavia Hills Fire Department gives kids a look at a traditionally dressed firefighter and a Dalmatian. Photos by Emily Featherston.
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November 2016 • A15
Now Open
Anniversaries
Pure Fitness is now open at 1425 Montgomery Highway, Suite 115. The business originally opened in the Old Towne shopping center in Vestavia but was partially destroyed by a fire that started at Ichiban Japanese Restaurant. The personal training and group fitness studio offers a range of workouts and fitness programs. 420-1054, purefitnessllc.com
Jewels By Rose, 619 Montgomery Highway, celebrated its 40th anniversary Sept. 30. 979-5611, jewelsbyrose.net
News and Accomplishments
Salon 12, 8000 Liberty Parkway, Suite 110, is celebrating its third anniversary in November. 977-3812, thesalon12.com
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Susan Fitzgibbon, CFO and Realtor with ARC Realty, 4274 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 200, was recognized as the 2016 Outstanding Rookie of the Year by LuxuryRealEstate.com. She was presented with the award at the Luxury Real Estate fall conference in September in Aspen, Colorado. 969-8910, arcrealtyco.com
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Tim Hughes, executive chef at Snapper Grabber’s Seafood Market, 521 Montgomery Highway, Suite 101, has been named to the board of the Seafood Nutrition Partnership, a national public health initiative focused on educating communities about the positive health benefits of eating seafood at least two times per week as recommended by HHS and USDA dietary guidelines. 824-9799, snappergrabbers.com
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Berk Cleveland Rathmell Wealth Strategies, 1952 Urban Center Parkway, has announced it will start a new division focused on employer-sponsored retirement plans. 298-1234, bcrwealth.com
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New Ownership Town Village Vestavia Hills, a senior living community at 2385 Dolly Ridge Road, was sold recently as part of a large portfolio of properties to a group of investors including Cushman & Wakefield, Garrison Investment Group, Grand Park Capital Management, and Focus Healthcare Partners LLC. 979-2702, townvillagevestaviahills.com
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Club Pilates, 3169 Green Valley Road, celebrated its one-year anniversary in October. 777-7976, clubpilates.com/cahabaheights
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Right at Home In Home Care & Assistance, 1446 Montgomery Highway, celebrated its fifth anniversary in October. 460-1062, rightathome.net/birmingham
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ELM Construction, 4100 Autumn Lane, Suite 104, celebrated its eighth anniversary in October. 368-3109, elmbuilds.com
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Cahaba Heights Pediatric Dentistry, 4213 Dolly Ridge Road, celebrated its second anniversary in October. 490-6850, cahabaheightspediatricdentistry. com
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Cajun Seafood House, 2531 Rocky Ridge Road, Suite 107, is celebrating its second anniversary in November. 823-7395, thecajunseafoodhouse.com
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Hirings and Promotions ARC Realty, 4274 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 200, has hired Tiffany Bittner as a Realtor. 969-8910, arcrealtyco.com
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A16 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
Getting the ball rolling
Vestavia native opens meatball-themed restaurant in downtown Birmingham By ERICA TECHO Meatballs are rolling onto the food scene, popping up in concept restaurants around the country. After seeing a few during her time in New York City, Vestavia Hills High School graduate Mary Susan Cashio decided to bring one of those restaurants back to Birmingham. Owner of Cashio’s Meatball Market, which opened in Lakeview in October, Cashio said her goal with the restaurant is bringing a new spin on the typical meatball. “When you go to a restaurant and you order spaghetti, meatballs just kind of come with it,” she said. “Our menu, you can pick whatever meatball you want and build the dish how you want it. You have your way with them, and I think that excites people.” The menu at Cashio’s Meatball Market includes a range of red, white and pesto sauces, as well as meatballs ranging from traditional — a recipe from Cashio’s Grandma Angel — to catfish. Diners can also select sides including risotto, pasta, mashed potatoes and others to go under or next to their selection of meatball. “It definitely lends its options, if you wanted to branch out or not, but that’s definitely what we wanted,” Cashio said. “You can stick to as
Cashio’s Meatball Market owner Mary Susan Cashio, a Vestavia Hills native, stands outside the new restaurant in downtown Birmingham’s Lakeview district. Photo by Erica Techo.
Diners have the option of different meatballs, sauces and sides at Cashio’s. Photo courtesy of Jean Allsopp and Appleseed Workshop.
classic Italian as you want, or you can basically build meatloaf.” Chef Grayson Taft has free rein in the kitchen, and after seeing the success of his catfish meatball during the restaurant’s opening week, Cashio said she is excited to see his future specialty items. “That’s been a hit, so I definitely have even more confidence in him
Cashio’s Meatball Market • WHERE: 728 29th St. S., Birmingham • HOURS: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. • CALL: 578-6090 • WEB: cashiosmeatballmarket.com
going forward,” Cashio said. Because the restaurant is a small space, which seats about 30 people, Cashio said she aimed to use clean lines and mirrors to make the space
appear larger. With marble walls and pops of red throughout, the restaurant has a throwback appearance. “I didn’t really aim for it to look so retro, just the way I guess I described what all I wanted, when it came together, it definitely has a retro feel,” Cashio said. The bathrooms also offer a special look, with caricatures of musicians ranging from Amy Winehouse to Stevie Wonder. “My dad really wanted Frank Sinatra,” Cashio said. “He said we had to have an Italian.” Opening Cashio’s was a family affair, and although it took a little convincing to get her father on board, the experience has overall been a positive one, she said. In their first week, Cashio said they have had a
packed house each night, in addition to a few pickup orders. This reaction is something Cashio said she hoped for with a Lakeview location. “I definitely wanted to be in Lakeview if I was going to do something so risky as open a restaurant, having almost no knowledge of opening a restaurant,” she said. “Lakeview is so up and coming, and there’s so much foot traffic.” With hopes for the restaurant to continue to grow, Cashio said she is most excited to get to leave her mark on the city of Birmingham. “I’m looking forward to bringing something to Birmingham, finally,” she said. “I grew up here, so I’m glad I can finally contribute something back to Birmingham.”
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • A17
Pure Fitness reopens after fire By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Just six months after her business went up in flames, Erin Holtz is back to work as a personal trainer at her new location at Pure Fitness in Vestavia. After signing a lease in March, Holtz spent several weeks building out her original location. She already had begun training her personal clients there, and she was sending out invitations for her grand opening. When she arrived to work the morning of April 18, she arrived to devastating news. “I could smell the smoke off the interstate,” Holtz said. “My heart sank as I saw police officers in front of the shopping center, and I knew something was wrong. As I got closer, I got more worried.” Her intuition was correct and Holtz’s fitness studio, along with Ichiban Restaurant, had caught fire, resulting in a total loss due to fire and water damage. After grieving for about a month, Holtz decided it was time to start over. “It was depressing to watch something I had just built with my own hands be destroyed. I knew God had a plan, and that he would provide something for me bigger and better,” she said. Holtz thought she was going be able to rebuild with the same landlord, but the offer fell through, so she began looking for other locations. During the interim, she was able to continue training her clients thanks to some help from other locations in Vestavia, including the party room at Brewster’s Ice Cream, Shades Mountain Baptist Church and Vestavia Bowl.
Pure Fitness • WHERE: 1425 Montgomery Highway, Suite 115 • CALL: 420-1054 • WEB: purefitnessllc.com
Pure Fitness owner Erin Holtz works with Becca Brown during a training session Sept. 9 at Pure Fitness’ new location off U.S. 31 in Vestavia Hills. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.
“I couldn’t grow or have classes, but I could maintain my current clients, and they all stuck with me,” she said. After an extensive search for locations and a chat with Vestavia Mayor Alberto Zaragoza, things started to fall into place. “I saw the current location, but it was too big and was too much money,” she said. “I was out of options, so I called the Barber
Company (who leases the property), but as soon as I walked in the door, I knew this was it. It was perfect for a gym.” Holtz signed the new lease in July and completed the build-out in three weeks. Holtz began advertising and marketing and had the grand opening on Sept. 9. “The new place was a blank slate, and I created pretty much an exact replica of the other location, but
this one is twice as big,” she said. “I knew I’d have to move from the other building eventually, and God has provided for sure.” Since opening, Holtz has added a new employee, in addition to the four personal trainers on staff. She said the client response has been great, and the increased visibility to U.S. 31 has been a plus. “People know who I am, and because of the incident, my name is
out there,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of response from social media and the community itself. The city of Vestavia has been incredible.” Pure Fitness offers one-on-one personal training, as well as group classes, including boot camps, extreme fit, cardio sculpt, cardio dance and more. Plyoga classes are being added to the schedule, along with power lunch classes. A mom of a 2-year-old, Holtz also focuses on pre-pregnancy and post-pregnancy workouts. “We are trying to accommodate anyone’s schedule and all fitness types,” she said. “We also provide childcare as part of our packages. There are no membership fees, clients only pay for what they use.” Holtz said her future plans are to continue being involved in and networking in the community, helping out with fundraisers and events and adding new clients, classes and more staff members. She said she knew God had a plan for her, and He was a part of this whole process. “Even though I went through the devastation, he provided this new space. My friends and family helped me financially and physically. That was huge for me,” Holtz said.
A18 • November 2016
NOT JUST A SIDE:
Vestavia Voice
Tot Spot food truck transforms tater tots into specialty meal By ERICA TECHO
Seth Beisher works in Michael Cannova’s tater-tot food truck, Tot Spot, in June. Each tot is handmade, which Cannova said is a difficult process, but something that is worthwhile to produce a better product. Photos by Patty Bradley.
What goes with cinnamon sugar, white-and-red barbecue sauce, kimchi and Nutella? If you ask Michael Cannova, he’d tell you it’s tater tots — just not all at once. Cannova, who was raised in Cahaba Heights and now lives in New York City, launched his specialty tater-tot food truck, Tot Spot, in Birmingham in June, and he is working to bring any and every flavor to the popular potato-based side. “I’ve never heard one person say, ‘I hate tater tots,’” Cannova said. “There’s something fun about them. There’s something comforting about them.” Even after moving to New York City in 2006 to work in advertising, Cannova would return to Birmingham to visit family and started to see changes in the city, including with the food scene. “I just noticed that Birmingham was opening their mind,” he said. “They were just becoming more open to creative things in Birmingham, and this renaissance and resurgence kind of started with downtown.” Inspired by the food trucks he saw in New York, Cannova said he knew he wanted to open one of his own. As someone who enjoys interacting with a restaurant’s kitchen, Cannova said the openness of a food truck is what appealed to him. “There’s a more fun experience with a food truck,” he said. “You’ve got this interaction with people. It doesn’t feel stiff or stifled by having to go through a routine.” The next step was figuring out what food on which to base his truck. Because the food truck scene has grown significantly in Birmingham over the last few
VestaviaVoice.com years, Cannova sought something previously untapped — meaning no tacos, no seafood, no sandwiches. “The food truck scene, it needed something fun and new,” he said. He noticed tater tots cropping up on restaurant menus but said there were not many variations. That’s when his opportunities from advertising and passion for tots merged. “I’ve traveled the world in advertising, and I’ve eaten cuisines all over the world, and I just started thinking about how I could merge these things with tater tots,” he said. Cannova started by topping tater tots with his favorite foods — sweet potato tots topped with kimchi, russet potato tots with white-and-red barbecue sauce — and has since developed more than 100 recipes. When the food truck first launched, each tot was made by hand by staff. That soon became unsustainable, Cannova said. After turning customers in as little as an hour due to tot shortages, Cannova said they started outsourcing the tot-making process in order to keep up with demand. The Tot Spot menu will constantly rotate, Cannova said, and will not be dictated by normal meal times. That means there might be cinnamon-bun-inspired tots at dinnertime and buffalo tots first thing in the morning. “I want it to be kind of diverse because I’m one of those people where I eat the wrong foods at the wrong time,” he said. “I don’t have a schedule.” The sense of novelty that will come through tater-tot recipes is something Cannova said he hopes registers throughout the brand. The Tot Spot food truck, for example, is not wrapped in the typical vinyl — it’s one giant chalkboard. “Even before I made a first tot, it was, ‘How do I make this [food truck] interactive? How do I make this fun?’” he said.
“
November 2016 • A19
We’re going to have a lot of fun with this brand; we’re going to have a lot of fun with this food.
”
MICHAEL CANNOVA
Cannova got the idea of making the truck a chalkboard from the chalkboards commonly seen in restaurants. The truck’s side will be used to display that day’s menu, and he said he hopes to bring in local artists to help decorate. “We want consumers, whenever we don’t have art on the side of the truck, to come out and doodle on it,” Cannova said. “There’s something beautiful about the organic, like an old handwritten letter. There is a charm to something that is tangible.” Cannova will continue to live in New York and plans to return to Birmingham as often as possible to work with the truck. When he’s not in Alabama, however, he has Seth Beisher, the “man in the window,” and a part-time employee running the truck. Cannova continues to send over new recipes. “I’m sad not to get to be there the whole time, but they’re awesome people and well-equipped to deal with it,” he said. In the truck’s first few weeks, Cannova said they received great feedback from customers, and they are looking forward to bringing more recipes and more tater tots to Birmingham. “We’re going to have a lot of fun with this brand; we’re going to have a lot of fun with this food,” Cannova said. “We’ve got a lot of things in the works.”
Seth Beisher assists customers with their order at Tot Spot. Cannova said his world travels inspired more than 100 recipes for his tater-tot menu.
A20 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
Embracing Mudtown Resident hopes to relate history of Cahaba Heights through apparel company
By EMILY FEATHERSTON The roughly two square miles that make up the Cahaba Heights neighborhood have a rich history. The community grew out of a settlement that, over the years, has gone by several names, including one that many have known, even if they don’t know its origin: Mudtown. There are varying reports on how the area that was once a trading outpost got the name, though most agree the area was originally settled by the Creek tribe, and its proximity to the Cahaba River and the landscape led to the descriptive name. Some feel it may not be the most flattering title. Others, such as Mudtown Clothing Company, have fully embraced it. Resident and entrepreneur Jeff Leonard said once he heard it, he couldn’t get it out of his mind. “The name just stuck with me,” he said. Leonard has been in the custom apparel business for 15 years, and he has worked on both the sales and production sides of designing clothing. “I always had this itch that I wanted to scratch to start a clothing line,” he said, but his previous
attempts never seemed to pan out. After contemplating the former name of his home, however, his creative side took over and the apparel business was born. “It was one of those moments as a graphic artist, where the name came about and the logo just kind of happened,” he said. Leonard said he sat on the logo for nearly a year, showing it to others in the industry and trying to decide what to do with it. Then, he said he saw a post in a community Facebook forum of an old Cahaba Heights car plate and residents wondering how they could get T-shirts made. He said he already had that design saved in his “ideas folder,” and had the resources to get the shirts up online to sell. “I feel that we got a pretty good response,” he said, with several residents ordering the shirts after he posted the link to the website. Right now, only the T-shirts are available, but Leonard said he hopes the brand will grow into more types of apparel. “I think people are looking for diamonds in the rough to support, and that’s what we feel like this community is,” he said.
Shirts like this one were inspired by a vintage car tag Cahaba Heights residents wanted to resurrect. Sales from the shirts will benefit the community. Photo by Emily Featherston.
Sales from the license plate shirts, which allow the wearer to show how much they think Cahaba Heights is “A good place to live,” will benefit the Cahaba Heights Community Foundation, the 501(c)3 organization formed in 2015. And he said that going forward, he is definitely open to the idea of using Mudtown designs to support worthwhile charities. From here, Leonard said, he wants to let the business grow organically, but he hopes it will spread to other iconic areas in Birmingham and beyond. “There are all these unique
pockets of Birmingham, and the Southeast for that matter, that carry such great stories, great community feel,” he said. With areas such as Avondale, Woodlawn and others already seeing revitalization, he said he would love to provide apparel that reinforces that idea. He said he is also interested in bringing back more iconic signs like the Cahaba Heights plate, such as the old Eastwood Mall sign and the Alabama Farmers Market sign, and making them part of the Mudtown brand. “Who knows where that will go? I would love to see it expand
into a greater brand,” Leonard said, although he added he will let demand dictate the direction. Overall, he said he hopes Mudtown Clothing Company will embody the small-town, trading post feel that the area had so many years ago. “We want this to be a brand of the community — so that people will want to be involved in making it grow,” he said. Information about Mudtown Clothing Company and available apparel can be found at the company’s Facebook page, as well as online at mudtownclothingcompany.itemorder.com.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • A21
WHAT’S COOKING
Mash up 2 favorites for your next tailgate By EMILY FEATHERSTON Alabama’s favorite season — tailgate season — is in full swing. Fall might be best known for its pumpkin-spiced delights, but every weekend, the turkey takes at least second place. For new Diplomat Deli co-owner Justin Gober, nothing goes better with a game of football than a pimento cheese sandwich and a cold beer. Gober and Joseph Hoskin took over Diplomat Deli on July 1 and have kept things pretty much the same. “We weren’t going to change anything,” he said, but admitted they have tried to add a few new things, such as a draft door for local beers as well as growler service. Gober said he has been in the kitchen for most of his life and recently left an eightyear stint at Bottega Café downtown. He said he and Hoskin had been eating at Diplomat Deli for years, and when the
opportunity arose to take over, they were thrilled. “[We said], ‘Yeah, let’s do that,’” Gober said. He said he likes being in the restaurant business because every day is different, and he enjoys meeting people from all over the community and making new friends. When it comes to tailgating with those friends, Gober said a go-to they serve at the deli would be the Pimento Cheese BLT. “It travels really well; it doesn’t get soggy,” he said. Gober also said it reminds him of his dad, who always made a batch for game day and other events. He said he hated to admit it, but he thinks the longtime pimento cheese recipe at the Diplomat Deli might be better than his dad’s and decided to keep it a secret. “It’s just a really good pimento cheese,” Gober said. Diplomat Deli is at 1425 Montgomery Highway. For menu information, go to diplomatdeli.com.
RECIPE:
► Pimento cheese (homemade or store-bought) ► Two slices of bread (Diplomat Deli toasts theirs) ► Two strips of bacon ► Two to three slices of tomato ► One or two leaves of lettuce ► A spoonful of mayonnaise
STEPS:
1. “I mean, it’s a sandwich,” Gober said. Diplomat Deli combines two iconic sandwiches into one for a tailgate treat. Photo by Emily Featherston.
A22 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
Chainsaw artists transform Vestavia tree into totem pole Justin Bailey carves a totem pole at Betty McArthur’s home. After the large red oak tree in McArthur’s yard was struck by lightning, McArthur instead decided to give the trunk a new purpose. Photos by Sarah Finnegan.
By SYDNEY CROMWELL The sound of a chainsaw and the sight of sawdust flying brought a lot of curious neighbors to Betty McArthur’s front yard in mid-September. The source was Justin Bailey turning a tree into a piece of art. “People bring their chairs up and sit and watch him work,” McArthur said when the project was still in progress. McArthur, a retired nurse, has lived in central Vestavia Hills since the early 1990s. It was her husband, Dr. Frank McArthur, who first lived in Vestavia Hills and loved it. He passed away in 2013. “He just loved how the house sits overlooking the valley, and the beauty of it and the quiet and the neighbors,” McArthur said. A large red oak in McArthur’s front yard was recently hit by lightning. The tree’s limbs had to be cut away due to disease, but the large trunk remained solid. Not wanting to simply remove the long-standing tree, McArthur instead decided to give it a new purpose. “Being an artist myself, I decided I would love to have a totem pole,” McArthur said. It was by chance that she met Justin Bailey and his wife, Heather, when they were demonstrating their chainsaw carving skills in front of Bob’s Power Equipment on U.S. 31. She was immediately taken with their work and purchased the eagle sculpture Justin Bailey was working on that day. Heather Bailey was actually the first of the pair to pick up a chainsaw in 2005, following in her mother’s footsteps. Justin Bailey met his wife while serving in the Marine Corps and decided to try his hand at sculpting in 2010. He picked up the skill quickly and decided to make a living out of it. Since then, he said he’s
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • A23
After the sculpture was completed in September, McArthur said the Baileys’ work more than lived up to her expectations.
found a surprising amount of versatility in what he can sculpt. “I haven’t found something yet that I can’t [carve],” Justin Bailey said. The Calera couple have different styles and strengths when it comes to wood-carving. When they’re given a project from a client, one will take the lead and the other will assist based on the client’s preferred style. “Hers are a lot smoother; they’re a lot cuter. Mine are a lot more, I guess gruff, more focused on form, that kind of thing. Hers are more focused on texture,” Justin Bailey said. However, they still make their projects a team effort when possible. “Whenever we do a piece, we’re partners in all of it. She’s as talented as I am with a saw,” Justin Bailey said. After meeting McArthur, Justin Bailey spent time at her house learning about her interests and the art that already decorates her home. He put together a sketch “that represented her and what I saw.” His vision for the totem pole incorporated McArthur’s love for Southwestern and Native American art with a bust of a Native American man. The pole also includes a raccoon, a bear, a deer and an owl at the top. “I told him I wanted something that reflected the animals that we see up here on the mountain,” McArthur said.
Having a fellow artist as a client made the creative process much easier, Justin Bailey said. “She has been wonderful. You couldn’t ask for a much better client. She understands art; she’s willing to let me pick the artistic inspire and run with it. That’s hard to find,” he said. Despite the large black streak where lightning had seared its trunk, the red oak in McArthur’s yard was still solid and no more difficult to carve than a regular tree. Justin Bailey said he decided to leave some of the lightning damage on the carved deer to represent its history. “I left a portion of that to kind of show the story of it,” he said. When the sculpture was finished in late September, McArthur said it more than lived up to her expectations. “The tree has just had so much character, and the project has turned out wonderful,” Justin Bailey agreed. McArthur said she wants the totem pole to be something her grandchildren and neighbors’ children can enjoy. While the Baileys were carving, she said her favorite part was “the joy of my neighbors’ faces when they see this.” “It’ll be here long after I’m gone for people to enjoy,” McArthur said. Learn more about Justin and Heather Bailey’s artistic work at woodlotartisans.com.
A24 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
Instructor Joseph Settine, center, coaches Max Ross, Gabrielle Metz and Faith Hagood during a Sept. 25 rehearsal of “Bennie and the Jets” at Mason Music in Cahaba Heights. Rock League Band is a 12-week program that puts kids into bands with six members and a professional coach, and over the semester, the students perfect their music skills while learning how to function as a band. Photos by Sarah Finnegan.
STRIKING a chord
Mason Music students learn teamwork, life skills while becoming rock stars By EMILY FEATHERSTON Reid Ramsbacher has taken drum lessons for two years, and at only 11 years old, he has performed multiple times in front of hundreds of people. That is thanks to Rock Band League, a program at Mason Music that gives kids the chance to not only dream about being a rock star, but
actually get a taste of what it’s like. The 12-week program puts kids into bands with six members and a professional coach, and over the semester, the students perfect their music skills while learning how to function as a band. CEO and co-owner Will Mason said starting RBL three years ago was a natural progression for Mason Music.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • A25 Left: Austin Evans, front, and Reid Ramsbacher play guitar and drums during band practice. Far left: Instructor Ryon Barnes explains a vocal technique to Madeline Stephens.
“One of our biggest aims as a company is to create community within our student body,” Mason said. “And we’ve always looked for ways to put students together in group-learning environments.” Mason said many of the teamwork skills kids learn playing group sports can be lost on those who only take solo music lessons. “This is kind of the perfect marriage of those two models,” he said. “We kind of take the youth sports league model and apply it to music.” Reid’s mother, Valerie, said the life skill of collaboration is something she has seen her son gain through the program, and it’s probably the most important thing he has learned. “It’s a lot of teamwork, and it’s a lot of supporting each other and getting to know each other,” she said. She said Reid has learned to agree and work
with other kids from other schools who may not have the same musical taste or skill set. “Each year, one of the good things Mason does, is they kind of mix the bands up a little bit,” she said, adding that this year, her son’s team has a girl member for the first time in two years. Matt Smith, a Cahaba Heights resident who has been a coach for the last year, said he also looks forward to the personal growth the kids go through, as well as their musical growth. “It’s just really a cool thing to see the kids get involved,” he said. “I’m really, this semester, looking forward to seeing the kids personally grow as musicians and as friends.” Smith plays music professionally, and he said working as a coach has reminded him about his love for music when he was 11 or 12 years old. “It’s refreshing, and it’s made me also fall in love with music again,” he said.
Smith said in addition to personal development and growth, the experience of playing in actual music venues sets the program apart in his mind. “It’s a unique experience,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.” Mason said the motivation of playing on a real stage in front of a real audience is one of the key components of the program. “It really builds their confidence being able to go onstage in a group setting,” Mason said. He said some of the kids in RBL may be hesitant to play alone at a recital or at their church, but the group performances allow them to work through their nerves, and that confidence is something Mason thinks will translate into other life skills such as public speaking. Mason said he also hopes that the program will inspire kids to get more involved with
music as a whole. “It’s such a great model for getting kids really excited for music lessons,” he said. In order to participate in RBL, students need to have relative proficiency in their instrument, and Mason recommends to parents that students take individual lessons for at least a year before joining the program. Valerie Ramsbacher said she looks forward to watching the season progress, since the first week experience is a lot different than the last week. “Just seeing the kids continue to grow,” she said, “that’s what’s exciting.” The student bands had their first performance in October, and will perform Nov. 20 at Saturn at 3 p.m. and in a finale performance and “battle of the bands” on Dec. 18 at WorkPlay at 3 p.m. For more information, go to masonmusicstudios.com.
A26 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
Addiction, recovery: Thinking outside the box By SYDNEY CROMWELL The 12-step program is how Steve and Pam Moore started on the road out of addiction. They have stayed sober for 26 and 29 years, respectively. Though it worked for them, they’ve seen too many addicts fail in a 12-step program and said they believe there should be more than one way to recover from addiction. “It’s hard to lose people,” Pam Moore said. “There’s got to be something for these people it’s not working for.” The Moores are licensed clinical social workers and started their own addiction treatment practice, now called the Moore Institute, on Dolly Ridge Road in 1996. It moved to its Cahaba Heights location at 4126 Autumn Lane in 1999. Steve Moore said it is common for recovering addicts to start a career in helping others fight the same battle. Being an addict gives them “instant credibility” with new patients, he said, because they intimately understand the mindset and struggles of addiction. “You have to have a lot of heart for this business,” Pam Moore said. After 20 years in treatment, the Moores said they see drugs become popular in phases. While alcohol is a constant among their patients, the Moores have seen crystal meth and prescription painkiller use spike in the past. Now, they said they’re seeing more young patients with heroin addiction. Heroin use and overdose deaths have risen in Birmingham for the past several years, but Steve Moore said he doesn’t believe there are more opiate addicts than before. Instead, he said, it seems that addicts began to switch from painkillers to heroin as prescription substances became more inaccessible and heroin became more common. However, the other dangerous substances often mixed in with heroin, such as carfentanyl, have made it easier to overdose.
Steve and Pam Moore started the Moore Institute, currently in Cahaba Heights, in 1996 to help others struggling with addiction. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
“Ten years ago, you’d be hard put to find heroin in Birmingham,” Steve Moore said. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, illicit substance use in the U.S. has increased from 8.3 percent in the teen and adult population in 2002 to 9.4 percent, or 24.6 million, in 2013. However, most of this was due to increases in marijuana use, and the NIDA’s survey results indicate that use of most other drugs has remained steady or declined. Both Steve and Pam Moore had worked in 12-step treatment facilities prior to opening The Moore Institute, as well as their own background in the program as addicts. Despite it being the most common form of treatment, different studies have shown 12-step programs to be effective in the long term for anywhere from 10 percent to 33 percent of patients. With the majority of patients failing the program, the
Moores received a grant to open the Addiction Research Institute in 2013 with the goal of finding alternative treatment methods. “There has to be a place for them, too,” Pam Moore said. So far, the ARI has developed two different forms of treatment. There is Refuge Recovery, which is based on Buddhist practices of meditation and mindfulness, and SMART (Self Management and Recovery Training), which uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help a patient understand and change the way they think and make choices. Steve Moore said these treatments attract different patients based on their personalities, often appealing to addicts who don’t like the approach or religious background of 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. Some patients participate in all three programs.
“They’re not mutually exclusive,” Steve Moore said. In October 2015, the Moores also opened the Caring Conscious Community room, which hosts everything from recovery meetings and parties to speakers, yoga and Zentangle classes. Use of the community room is free in order to encourage more community-building opportunities. Their goal is to change the perception that addicts who can’t recover in a 12-step environment are simply not trying hard enough or wanting it badly enough. Steve Moore’s ongoing project is creating a “multimodal” treatment program that can incorporate many types of addiction therapy. He’s particularly interested in developing an assessment test to determine what type of treatment is most likely to be successful before a patient tries out a program. “I think that has the possibility of changing treatment, the way treatment works,” Steve Moore said. He added he would like to see addicts and their families making more informed decisions about where to seek treatment than simply contacting the first location they find online, which may not be the right fit. “People find us how they find their hairdresser,” Steve Moore said. One of Pam Moore’s interests in addiction treatment is finding out why women are less likely to attend recovery meetings. The Moore Institute began offering free childcare for their Wednesday night meeting in hopes of making it easier for parents to attend. She also released a book this fall called “Unhook and Live Free,” based on their research at the Institute and what the Moores have learned about addicts’ thinking and decision-making. “It really has an opportunity to create change,” Steve Moore said of the different approaches he and his wife take to helping addicts successfully conquer addiction. Learn more about Steve and Pam Moore’s work at mooreinstitute.info.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • A27
Going the distance for Galloway’s legacy By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE In his 20-year tenure as band director at Vestavia Hills High School, Ted Galloway taught and inspired thousands of students. Upon his retirement in 1990, the Ted Galloway Scholarship Foundation was started in his honor. It is awarded each year to a graduating band student pursuing a career in music. Throughout the years, the scholarship money has been raised strictly through donations. This year, however, Galloway’s former assistant band director Phil Min is stepping up to raise additional funds. Min originally came to Vestavia in 1987 to substitute for a week and ended up staying 11 years. His first three were under Galloway. “Ted was a good mentor to me, as well as a friend. I learned a lot from him,” Min said, who teaches band at Bragg Middle School in Gardendale. After Galloway retired, Min stayed at Vestavia eight more years before going back to school for his doctorate. He worked as assistant band director at Mississippi State for a while but knew he wanted to live his retirement years in Alabama, so he took the job at Bragg. He said the students he taught at Vestavia probably wouldn’t believe he has turned into a long-distance runner. “I was overweight at Vestavia, and when I left there and went back to school full time, I decided to run and lost 70 pounds,” Min said. “I’ve been running marathons since 2000. I liked running long distances, and I’ve done 250 marathons or longer distances since then.” Min, who is on the Ted Galloway Scholarship Committee, decided last spring that he wanted to raise awareness and money in honor of his mentor. His plan was to run 100 miles. Although Galloway passed away in 2009, his widow, Joyce Galloway, said she is proud the scholarship foundation continues to be active and says it’s a wonderful tribute.
Phil Min is running a 100-mile race to raise money in honor of former VHHS band director Ted Galloway. Photo courtesy of Phil Min.
“He was just so respected by his students and the other band directors, and after all these years, it’s just heartwarming to know people care enough to want to do that and to see that it continues,” Joyce Galloway said. “I wanted to do something extreme, and what’s more extreme than 100 miles?” Min said. Min said people are needed, especially band alumni, to make a contribution in honor of Galloway. He said he would like to raise several thousands of dollars. He wants to make others aware, so they can donate.
“Most of his former students are now in their 30s, 40s and 50s,” Min said. “Part of the reason we’re reaching out is because many may not be aware of it.” Min recalls how much Galloway endured through his illnesses and was a inspiring individual. He cared tremendously, working even when he was sick. “When the kids came in, he would get up and go out and find some energy and work with them. He got something from them,” he said. Still well thought of in the community, Galloway reached many students through his
career, and he also taught at Berry High School and McAdory. Min was set to walk and run his 100 miles in The Endless Mile at Veterans Park in Alabaster starting at 9 a.m. Oct. 21 and ending at 9 a.m. Oct. 22, after the Vestavia Voice press date. He said it would be a challenge physically, emotionally and mentally, but wouldn’t have signed up if he couldn’t fulfill it. To contribute, make checks payable to: Ted Galloway Scholarship Foundation and mail to 3417 Wisteria Drive, Birmingham, AL 35216.
A28 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
Student brings TV competition to backyard By SYDNEY CROMWELL Alex Ferguson and his little brother Graham Ferguson spend a lot of time watching “American Ninja Warrior,” a TV obstacle course competition. When Graham Ferguson asked to replicate the course in their backyard for his 10th birthday, Alex and his father, Scott Ferguson, stepped up to the challenge. The Fergusons have lived in the Countrywood neighborhood of Vestavia Hills since Alex Ferguson, now a Vestavia Hills High School senior, was 7 years old. As they started planning a backyard Ninja Warrior course in summer 2015, Alex and his father found there weren’t blueprints of any of the popular obstacles online. “We thought, ‘OK, we’re going to have to do this from scratch,’” Alex Ferguson recalled. Through trial and error, the Fergusons put together a course of 10 obstacles to navigate by jumping, climbing or any means possible. The course is still put to frequent use by the brothers a year later. “It’s one thing to watch people do the show, and they make it look so easy. It’s another thing to actually do it. And then to build it is like its own thing, especially because we don’t
have any blueprints. We’re creating them,” Alex Ferguson said. Once they had completed the course, though, Alex Ferguson saw an opportunity. His father started his own medical software company, ChartCapture.com, and Alex Ferguson said he passed on the entrepreneurial streak. “I thought I’m sure there are other people out there that would like to build a course to train on, play on,” Alex Ferguson said. In September 2015, he digitized the blueprints from their backyard course and made his own online business, ninjawarriorblueprints.com. Scott Ferguson said he was immediately on board with his son’s idea. “I was like, yeah, you should totally do that. You know, make enough money to pay back the materials, buy some pizzas — that’s awesome,” Scott Ferguson said. The success of the website surprised them both. Over the past year, they have made about 500 sales to people in all 50 states and several other countries such as Norway and Australia. Alex Ferguson said his customers include people searching for new fitness options, parents with kids who watch the TV show and a few in training to try out for “American
Vestavia Hills High School senior Alex Ferguson builds a “warped wall” from “American Ninja Warrior.” The finished wall stands upright at 14 feet. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Ninja Warrior” in the future. “It’s almost become like a new sport,” Alex Ferguson said. “It’s got so much action in it, but it’s also a friendly competition.” His online blueprints include many obstacles that show fans will recognize: the Salmon Ladder, Rumbling Dice, Devil Steps, Cargo Net, Peg Board and more. Alex Ferguson said he offers the Salmon Ladder blueprint for free so people can test the quality of the plans, and many go on to buy the full set. All 10 obstacles will fit in about a 16-foot-by-9-foot area. “It’s still about the size of a play set, so it doesn’t take up the whole backyard,” Scott Ferguson said. So far, Alex Ferguson has seen a lot of excitement from his customers
when they are able to construct the course themselves and enjoy it. “I think it makes it real easy for people to do,” Alex Ferguson said. He noted that having his own online business is a lot easier than the average high school job. He spends about three hours a week sending emails, maintaining the website and social media and making sure everything’s in order. “My favorite quote was [when] he came home from school one day and was like, ‘Dad, you know what’s really cool?’” Scott Ferguson said. “I said, ‘No, what’s really cool?’ ‘Checking your email, and there’s money.’” This September, Alex Ferguson added to his blueprints with one of the most iconic Ninja Warrior
obstacles: the Warped Wall, a 14-foot concave construction for athletes to run up and attempt to grab and climb on top. Since his own backyard wouldn’t fit an obstacle that size, Alex Ferguson and his dad built the wall at Crossfit J19 in Hoover, where they both exercise. Alex Ferguson said he is looking at other Ninja Warrior obstacles to build, but not all of them translate well to the average yard. He’s hoping to maintain the business after graduation and even try out a couple other online business ideas. “It’s nice. I would definitely take this over any other job,” Alex Ferguson said. Learn more at ninjawarriorblueprints.com.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • A29
SPACE
CONTINUED from page A1 serviced by the same parking lot, and the restaurants would make use of the outdoor space surrounding the garden shop with patios and outdoor seating. The style will be as natural as possible, Pursell said. “We don’t want it to feel like a commercial operation at all; we want it to feel the exact opposite of like a Home Depot greenhouse or a cheap, commercial greenhouse,” he said. “We want it to feel like something that’s been there for a long time.” To accomplish that “patina,” he said, they plan to use a lot of reclaimed wood, gray metals and plant elements like vines in the design. Pursell said his inspiration came from a 2013 trip to Petersham Nurseries in London, where he and his wife traveled before the birth of their daughter. The nursery, which Pursell encouraged those interested to look up online, is a mixture of antiques, interesting features and the flora and fauna the nursery sells. But for Pursell and his wife, one element in particular stood out. “It was the tea house that was so inspiring,” he said. The idea of combining a tea or coffee shop with a garden center was one he said stayed with him even after the trip ended. Pursell said he had already been looking to move his business elsewhere, because its current location at the rear of the Summit shopping center only allows for 13 parking spaces, and the area can get easily congested — not allowing for the community feel he said he aims for. In contrast, the new development would have 106 proper parking spaces. At the Sept. 8 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, the request to rezone the six lots that make up the proposed development from residential R-1 to mixed use B-1.2 and to allow Pursell’s purchase of the properties to be finalized, was unanimously approved and sent out to the Vestavia Hills City Council for a final vote. City Engineer Christopher Brady said the
Jamie Pursell, above left, hopes to move his Leaf & Petal shop to an area off Crosshaven Drive — increasing his inventory space while creating a community gathering space in the process. The design of the development, though still fluid, ties together three businesses. Photo by Emily Featherston. Rendering courtesy of Jamie Pursell.
proposed design was within the requirements for the city’s codes as far as landscaping buffers, water run-off and drainage requirements, parking and lighting restrictions. With regard to traffic, Brady said, the results of the study showed that there would not be considerable change in traffic flows on Crosshaven Drive. “There is no change in that level of service,” he said. Brady also said city officials determined the project is within the scope of the most recent Cahaba Heights master plan. Not everyone was convinced, however. The commission received 15 letters requesting for the commission to deny the rezoning request, and 19 people signed an online petition protesting the development. Their concerns, given at the meeting and posted on the petition page, centered around traffic on Crosshaven Drive, cut-through traffic on Ridgely Drive and an adjacent street, Paige Lane. Some were also concerned with the proximity of dumpsters to houses behind the property,
as well as the impact of noise and light on nearby homes. Others stated they didn’t want any commercial development in that block, requesting that the council leave the area as it is currently zoned. Pursell said he has made every effort to meet with the would-be neighbors of the development, especially those living right behind it. “I want to get the feedback,” he said. “I want to hear their concerns, and anything that’s reasonable that I can change, I want to do it.” He said, for example, he heard the concerns about the dumpster and moved it to the side of the property adjacent to Crosshaven Drive, away from the houses. He said he was happy to do the full traffic study the city required and that he doesn’t want to “add a single car” to the congestion residents are already frustrated with in the area. The newest design plans also include a steeper curve leaving the property onto Ridgely Drive, as well as “No Left Turn” signs that Pursell said he thinks will deter drivers from using
the neighboring roads and push them back out on to Crosshaven. He said he is also planning to work with the homeowners directly behind the property on the 15-foot landscape buffer, to make sure they are comfortable with the types of plants used. That buffer, as well as a fence and the fact that the development will be elevated on a plateau, should mitigate any noise or light disturbance to residents. “We want everybody to know that we’re going to do everything possible to not create any kind of nuisance whatsoever,” he said. He said he understood their concerns about development in the community. “I’m like everybody else: I want to make sure it’s done right,” he said. Pursell cited his 10 years as a Cahaba Heights resident, saying he only wants to improve the community, and make the type of place people want to frequent. “I plan to stay here. I love this place. It’s my home, and I care about this place like everybody else does.”
A30 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice Eighth-grade parent and Liberty Park resident Anne Sipel said wholesale alignment brings up more questions than it answers. Sipel said she is worried the solution may not be as simple as simply adding classes to Liberty Park. Photo by Emily Featherston.
ALIGNMENT
CONTINUED from page A1 former Berry Middle School property and other school properties would be used once Berry had been purchased. At the first of those meetings, Phillips said, she realized she and parents were on different pages. But the topic of “alignment” — particularly between Vestavia’s two middle schools, Louis Pizitz and Liberty Park — was brought up across the board.
SEEING THE FOREST THROUGH THE TREES
In an attempt to better hear concerns from parents, Phillips said she and her staff realized they needed to have separate, designated meetings about middle school alignment and set those in late September. At the first meeting, Phillips outlined the various ways the school system had been working toward what it defined as “alignment,” which was a broad-brush tactic of aligning the entire district at a foundational level, and moving out from there. “For us as a school district, and the way Phillips we go about our work, the context of where we started — actually in October 2013 — is a big deal to us,” she said. At that time, she said, the majority of the system was operating as eight or nine different entities, with each school keeping mostly to itself. This wasn’t a problem, Phillips said, because schools were strong. “Because of the level of education of our families, because of the expectations of our community and of the school system over many, many years, you could do that,” she said. However, as the district began gearing up for the accreditation process and she and others began to look more closely at things such as standards and continuing education for teachers, she said the district realized there was no overall “framework” for how to do things — and that aligning the school system was something to work toward. “If you don’t approach your work on that continuum, then it can become fragmented,” she said. “That’s what we were finding was happening.” When AdvancedEd, a nonprofit, non-government accrediting agency, assessed the school system in 2014, Phillips said they were taking a different approach — one that would help in the school system’s alignment efforts. Phillips said when AdvancedEd came in, it affirmed the system’s strengths, but it also recognized the problems Phillips and her team had noticed and gave them a starting point. When state compliance monitoring began shortly after, she said, they started building from there. “It was quite an adjustment,” she said, citing changes in things such as what elementary teachers call lab equipment, making sure to use the same terminology as high school teachers. When Phillips presented what the system had been doing to pursue alignment, reactions in the first meeting were, as Phillips and others put it, heated. She said it quickly became clear the biggest concern parents had was course selection. “Those are two separate things,” she said. “But they do go together.” She said because she and her staff had been looking at alignment in a bigger, broader context, they didn’t realize that for parents, the main concern was the availability of certain classes at Pizitz Middle that weren’t available at Liberty Park. “It was very evident that what we were calling alignment didn’t align with what the parents were calling alignment, even though we were working toward what I would suggest is the same goal,” she said.
DIFFERENCES
Concerns about differences in course offerings between Pizitz and Liberty Park primarily revolved around the availability of honors and advanced classes as well as foreign language options — and how the availability of those options and the way courses are structured affects a student’s experience. For example, at Pizitz, students have the
BY THE NUMBERS: LIBERTY PARK AND PIZITZ METRICS Student/teacher ratio: Student/counselor ratio: Locally funded units: Athletics:
Liberty Park
Pizitz
1:15 1:33 16 346
1:17 1:37 13 483
78% 63% 75% 82% 78% 81% 66%
77% 75% 79% 87% 79% 71% 79%
2015 ACT ASPIRE RESULTS (Students at or exceeding content standards)
Sixth-grade reading Seventh-grade reading Eighth-grade reading Sixth-grade math Seventh-grade math Eighth-grade math Seventh-grade science
SOURCE: VESTAVIA HILLS CITY SCHOOLS
option to take gifted and advanced English in seventh and eighth grades, respectively, whereas Liberty Park only has gifted English in sixth. At Pizitz, students have the choice between Spanish, French and German for their foreign language, whereas Liberty Park only offers Spanish. Other parents were concerned with elective options at each school. While students at both schools can only take one elective, Pizitz has digital photography, coding and robotics, and girls’ choir classes that Liberty Park does not. There are other significant differences between the schools as well. Pizitz Middle has been around since the 1960s; Liberty Park was built less than 10 years ago. Pizitz has more than 1,100 students; Liberty Park has roughly 500. Liberty Park is geographically removed from the center of the city; Pizitz is in the heart of town. Liberty Park uses a five-block schedule rather than Pizitz’s eight-period format. In aligning the two schools academically, some parents at the meeting expressed their concern as to what else that would change in order for the experiences to be equitable.
SIMILAR, BUT NOT THE SAME
For eighth-grade parent and Liberty Park resident Anne Sipel, wholesale alignment brings up more questions than it answers. “Really, my biggest concern is that in focusing so much on some specifics, we are losing sight of other things, maybe other benefits,” Sipel said She said she has been aware of the schools’ differences since she was on the PTO board
when Liberty Park was created in 2008. Sipel has three sons, and with the oldest in college, the middle a senior at Vestavia Hills High School and the youngest in eighth grade at Liberty Park, she has had a child at the middle school every year since the beginning, apart from one. “I’ve always known about the differences,” she said, but explained she didn’t realize the details of those differences until the alignment conversation got started in-depth this summer. She added that she thinks there are misconceptions among parents as to the degree of differences and equitability between the two middle schools. For example, Sipel said she thinks some of those concerns are unfounded, such as students being unable to test for the Seal of Biliteracy without starting a language in middle school — which she said she knows to be untrue because her senior is doing just that. But more than that, Sipel is worried the solution may not be as simple as simply adding classes to Liberty Park. “What I would like for them to do as they’re looking at any changes they need to make in order to get alignment — I’m not saying they shouldn’t have some sort of alignment plan — but I think they need to look at best practices, rather than saying, ‘Everybody needs to do what Pizitz does now,’” Sipel said. She gave the example of a subject that already has been aligned — the math placement tests. Before, she said, Liberty Park students didn’t have the option to be in a lower-level class. There were only regular and advanced classes. For her and her children, she said, the way that Liberty Park had done things on its own was preferable.
Phillips said the goal of creating a standard math-placement test was to create vertical alignment: making sure students at both middle schools are getting the same academic support as they prepare for high school, no matter their current academic level. Sipel said she agrees that having the same teaching methodologies is a good idea; her concern is that forcing the two schools into the same framework might not be the best plan. “I don’t think that the experiences are similar, and I don’t think that that’s necessarily a bad thing,” she said. She gave the example of Liberty Park’s smaller size allowing the teachers to know most if not all of the students by name. Sipel said a major area in which she does not want to see a change is the way math and English are taught at Liberty Park, where students essentially get “double math, double English,” because of the block schedule. “I think we do really well on our test scores because we have the double math, because we have the double English,” she said. However, Sipel said, she doesn’t advocate making test scores the most important benchmark. She is pointing out that teachers have the time to teach students well without adding extra stress. In the 2014 and 2015 testing periods, test scores for both schools were well above state and national averages, with most of the schools’ scores being within a few percentage points. In 2015, however, Liberty Park eighth-grade students tested a full 10 percentage points higher in math over Pizitz students. For seventh-grade English, where Liberty Park has no advanced option, the opposite was true, with Pizitz students scoring 12 percentage points higher.
EXPERIENCES AND PERSONALITY
Phillips addressed the concern that alignment would mean an attempt at making the schools identical. “You want similarities, so you’re not acting as different entities, but you also respect what has been established within each of those naturally,” she said. Like families and communities, Phillips said, each school has its own personality that can’t be replicated at another school. “It’s not about trying to make one school look like the other,” she said. “Because when you have one school with 500 children and you have another school with 1,100, there are going to be differences in the way that you’re going to be able to approach it.” And that’s where the next steps begin, Phillips said.
NEXT STEPS
Throughout the month of November, Phillips said teachers from both schools will meet to dissect what happened at the public meetings, what is best for students and what is the best way to move forward. “Collectively, how do we make sure that the alignment for both schools, both student bodies — how does that look?” Phillips said. “And we let the teachers brainstorm. We’ll talk about not only courses, but we’ll talk about scheduling, talk about what they’ve already done.” From there, she said, they would move forward with what works best for both schools, adding and changing courses as it makes sense, because that is what the parents have requested. Then, she said, sixth-grade teachers will meet with fifth-grade teachers, and eighth-grade teachers will meet with ninthgrade teachers, as the alignment discussion moves vertically. That work won’t be easy, but it will have to progress steadily in order for the course offerings to be ready in time for students to sign up in early spring, Phillips said. Though her son won’t be affected by the changes as he advances to high school, Sipel said she will continue to watch, as the alignment discussion indirectly affects the entire school system. She said she hopes Phillips and the Board of Education will focus on best practices that will benefit both schools and protect the good things that each has to offer. “I think there’s a lot of good work that could be done if it’s looked at the right way,” she said. And Phillips encouraged parents to continue the dialogue as the process moves forward. “We’re peeling back the layers and determining how to take a great thing and make it even better,” she said. “It’s hard work; the conversations can be tough at times; it takes a lot of time, a lot of effort, a lot of thought, but I think we are the model community for how you don’t do education alone; you do it as a community; you do it together; you push the envelope with one another.”
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • A31
SECTION
B NOVEMBER 2016
Sports B4 Events B12 School House B25 Real Estate B29 Calendar B30
PIRATE PRIDE
Student-led committee works with community to establish Pizitz Middle School mascot
By GRACE THORNTON
Christian Swaid, a seventh-grader at Pizitz Middle School in Vestavia Hills, said he really likes everything about the school’s new pirate mascot. But there’s one thing he loves the most — the pirate’s huge grin. It’s an expression Swaid has been wearing himself ever since the new mascot came charging out to a screaming crowd at the school’s last pep rally of the year Sept. 29. “It was just phenomenal,” he said. “It was such a grand surprise.” The surprise hit the student body in the sweet spot, but it was not something that caught Swaid off guard — he’d been working toward that moment ever since he’d been elected as the seventh-graders’ SGA representative at the beginning of the year. After the idea of a mascot got thrown around with friends, Swaid formed a committee and began to work on drafting a business plan to make it happen. “It was an amazing challenge,” he said. But it didn’t stop there. As Swaid and the committee talked with various school and school board leaders, it quickly became apparent that this wasn’t just a good move for school spirit — it could be great for the community, too. They wanted their sister
See MASCOT | page B9
The new Pizitz pirate mascot was unveiled at a late September pep rally, where Andy Carpenter, the assistant principal for curriculum and instruction, donned the costume. Photo by Emily Featherston.
B2 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • B3
B4 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
Sports
ANDERSON at the TOP
VHHS football coach surpasses Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant as winningest coach in Alabama history By GARY LLOYD There was beauty in his annoyed expression, but the question had to be asked. Vestavia Hills High School head football coach Buddy Anderson already had answered questions about the 18-yard field goal that gave his Rebels a 17-14 win in double overtime against Mountain Brook on Oct. 7. He already had lauded his defense’s superb effort. He was smiling. But when it came time to answer the question about his 324th career win, one more than former University of Alabama head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, making Anderson the winningest coach at any level of football in the state, that grin straightened. “That doesn’t make any difference,” Anderson said. “These kids are what make the difference.” And with that, Anderson was on to thinking about rival Hoover the following week. His players sang his praises instead after the win. Running back Toliver Chatwood said it was an amazing accomplishment. Offensive lineman Patrick Nuss, who blocked a Mountain Brook field goal attempt in the game, said the feat was great. It seemed to sink in for Nuss as he spoke. “I mean, I’m playing for the winningest coach in all of Alabama football, so I mean, that’s pretty fun to say right there,” Nuss said.
When asked about his 324-plus wins at Vestavia Hills, Buddy Anderson deflected the credit to his players. Photo by Todd Lester.
Anderson’s staying power and numbers are incredible. He has been the head coach at Vestavia Hills since 1978. Since that time, he has won 70 percent of his games and 16 region or area titles. The 324 wins in Anderson’s 39 seasons break down to 8.3 wins per season. Under Anderson, Vestavia Hills has notched
15 seasons of 10-plus wins. Keep in mind, high school regular seasons are only 10 games. His teams have made it to the playoffs and fared well. Of 38 completed seasons as head coach, his Vestavia Hills teams have made the state playoffs 30 times, a state record. His playoff record
as a head coach is 47-28. The other seven head coaches that comprise Class 7A, Region 3 have combined for 48 playoff wins at their current schools. Oak Mountain head coach Cris Bell has matched up against Anderson’s Rebels three times as the leader of the Eagles. Oak Mountain came out on top 14-7 in 2014 and 34-7 earlier this season. Vestavia Hills won 35-26 in 2015. “Coach Anderson is simply a great football coach,” Bell said. “His passion for the game and young people is what has allowed him to have the success he’s enjoyed. I’m proud to call him a friend.” Mountain Brook head coach Chris Yeager has faced Anderson’s teams 12 times in his 11 seasons as the Spartans’ leader. The Spartans are 5-7 in those games, seven of which have been decided by a touchdown or less. “From getting to know Coach Anderson through the years, I’ve discovered that he is a very purpose-, principle- and conviction-driven man,” Yeager said. “I believe football is not a profession to him, but a calling. He has invested a generation using this game to teach and change lives. “Win, lose or draw, I’ve never coached in a game across the field from Coach Anderson that I didn’t learn something and walk away a little better coach. Like so many people, my life has been enriched because of my relationship with him.”
VestaviaVoice.com
Vestavia Hills senior offensive lineman Patrick Nuss started receiving letters from various universities after the Rebels’ first game during his junior year. Photo by Frank Couch.
Nuss: ‘I serve my teammates so we can win’
As college life nears, senior Rebel focuses on improving himself, others By GARY LLOYD
Vestavia Hills High School senior offensive lineman Patrick Nuss plays with a chip on his shoulder. “Winning is everything to me,” Nuss said. “I can’t stand losing. Winning, and I would have to say disrespect, drive me. I’ve felt pretty overlooked for some time, and I definitely used that to drive me.” Nuss has played football since first grade, a sport he participated in since all his friends did, too. He became a varsity football player as a sophomore, and since then he’s played on the offensive line. The 6-foot-7, 260-pound Nuss possesses obvious attributes as a Patrick Nuss leapt high for a critical field goal block in football player. an Oct. 7 victory over Mountain Brook. Photo by Sarah He has the size and strength to Finnegan. dominate the man in front of him. The hard work paid off Sept. 24 when Nuss He has played on both sides of the offensive line. Against Mountain Brook on committed to Western Kentucky over scholarOct. 7, he jumped high to block a 46-yard field ship offers from the University of Alabama at goal attempt midway through the first quarter. Birmingham and Air Force. “I really loved the campus when I visited,” He is one of the smartest players around. But two of his best qualities are his focus and Nuss said. “The coaches send me what seems like 100 letters a week and have always made leadership skills. “All I think about is how I’m going to do my me feel wanted from day one. It’s a great offenjob and protect my backs,” Nuss said. “I tell sive system and a good step toward the next myself I’m going to destroy the guy in front of level. I want to be a part of and help a program that is still fairly new to D1 football. It’d be me and do whatever it takes to win.” He knew as a junior last season that he could great to create a legacy.” Nuss said the first six or seven years of his play at the collegiate level. He started receiving letters from various universities after the life were spent growing up beside Hoover High School. Up until middle school he lived Rebels’ first game. “What really solidifi ed it was meeting in Spanish Fort. At Vestavia Hills, he’s been a coach [Nick] Saban and [Mario] Cristobal team leader. “My best attribute would have to be my when they came to visit my junior year,” Nuss said. “And I knew I could do it because leadership,” Nuss said. “I love getting the my high school coaches were pushing me guys ready for the game and giving a pre-game harder and harder and telling me the things I speech every game. I also love doing everycould accomplish. I also gained the skills and thing I can to have all my teammates ready for confidence needed after working with Chris the game, and when we are in the game they Gray. Without him I wouldn’t be where I am can always come to me for help and questions. I serve my teammates so we can win.” today.”
November 2016 • B5
B6 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
Hess works to become imposing figure in secondary By KYLE PARMLEY While the summer sun was still making football players everywhere miserable during workouts, Jonathan Hess was executing his plan. The Vestavia Hills football player decided that, following his sophomore year, he was going to fully maximize his potential for his junior and senior seasons, whatever that meant. “Really, I just wanted to become a better player and do whatever I could to help my team,” Hess said. Hess plays the “star” position in the Vestavia defense, which acts as a strong safety or outside linebacker, depending on who you ask. He turned into a figurative star on and off the field in the offseason. He said he accomplished what he set out to do. “I gained probably 15 pounds, and that was my goal. I got a little faster, so I’d say so.” Hess has contributed to some big points for the Rebels this season, most notably a touchdown he scored in Vestavia’s monumental upset win over Mountain Brook on Oct. 7. With the Spartans already deep in their own territory, the Rebels brought pressure on the punt attempt and blocked it. Hess scooped up the loose ball and ran it in for the score to tie the game in the second quarter. He also grabbed an interception against Huffman and has gained attention by his play from people that did not see the effort put forth in the offseason training regiment. Rest assured, his relentless work ethic was not lost upon his teammates, who knew a successful season on the field was already in the works. In the preseason, seniors Tucker Queen and Patrick Nuss joined their head coach, Buddy Anderson, at the Rebels’ media day session. Near the end of that session, the two players were asked to think of a player that had impressed them that would surprise people this fall. Neither batted an eye before answering
Hess’ imposing 6-foot-4 frame combined with his athleticism make him a perfect fit for Vestavia’s “star” position. Photo by Todd Lester.
with Hess’ name. “He was a player for us last year, but Jonathan Hess,” Nuss said at the time. “He’s a workhorse in the weight room. He’s football 24/7. He’s one of those guys that gets you excited to play.” Queen, a player who makes the most of his 5-foot-10 frame at the free safety position, made reference to Hess’ physical traits. “It’s his size and frame for his position,” Queen said. “He’s 6-4 and plays outside linebacker.” Queen has been a major part of Hess’ growth,
and the progression of the Rebel secondary as a whole. “Tucker and I started last year together, and we’re on the same side (of the field), so that’s good,” Hess said. “We’ve got Tucker at free (safety), but everywhere else, we’ve got a really young team. We’ve grown but still have more growing to come.” Although the Rebels’ game against Hoover did not go well for Vestavia, Queen did recover a critical fumble in the first quarter of the game, igniting a spark for the team at the time. “We were super excited,” Hess said.
“Anytime we get a turnover, that’s huge for us. We want to do whatever we can to help our offense out. We’re always trying to get turnovers.” As Hess now begins preparation for his senior season, he considers his strengths as a player to be getting off blocks and setting the edge. He admits he still needs to work on the mental portion of his game, especially now that he will be forced to take on much of the leadership Queen provided during his career. He will attempt to add that attribute to his arsenal for next fall.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • B7
END OF THE SEASON The Vestavia Hills High School volleyball team has concluded its 2016 fall season and will say goodbye to eight seniors: Avery Kampwerth, Emma Grace Harris, Jenna Hogan, Mejra Shea Merritt, Katie Larson, Sophie Losole, Caroline Dutton and Manon Burris. Those seniors laid the foundation for Mandy Burgess’ return to the helm of the Rebel volleyball program after holding the job previously from 2000-12. Current varsity members Anna Langley, Mary Quinn Carter and Hannah Vines will be looked upon to spearhead and continue the program’s growth next fall. Clockwise, from above: Katie Larson; Hannah Vines; the squad celebrates; Anna Langley and Jenna Hogan. Photos by Kyle Parmley.
B8 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
Will Macoy has found juggling school and sports to be difficult in college, but he expected the challenge. Photo courtesy of Auburn Athletics. Right: Macoy was a successful student-athlete at Vestavia Hills, playing basketball and setting the Class 7A state record in the javelin throw. Photo by Ted Melton.
Vestavia Hills’ Will Macoy juggles academics, sports on the Plains By KYLE PARMLEY When choosing a college, student-athletes must sometimes choose between athletics and academics. Will Macoy found a place he could do both. The ultra-successful former Vestavia Hills High School student-athlete, adept on the hardwood or the concrete circle, was a multisport athlete with the Rebels and is now one at Auburn University. At Auburn, Macoy has walked on to the basketball team and will throw javelin for the outdoor trackand-field team. “Right now, it’s pretty good,” Macoy said. “We just started [basketball] practice a couple weeks ago.”
He’s also found that being a collegiate “student-athlete” means devoting a great deal of time to both sides of that hyphenated word. “It’s really hard, trying to balance your schoolwork with sports,” he said. “I expected it though. I came in knowing it was going to be hard and that I was going to have to work harder at my school.” Macoy said he knew he wanted to play basketball in college. He had the option to attend Spring Hill College in Mobile or Samford to do so. But he wanted to go to a large school and move somewhere an easily accessible distance from home. Auburn also had his preferred major of engineering. He is attempting to decide whether to pursue an
industrial or mechanical path. Macoy is spending a large amount of his time with the Auburn basketball team this fall, and he said he is impressed with head coach Bruce Pearl, one of the other factors in his decision to attend Auburn. “It’s great. I love it. I wanted to come to Auburn because I thought that [Pearl] would teach me a lot about basketball, and I could learn from him,” Macoy said. While Macoy cannot control whether he sees much playing time as a freshman walk-on or travels with the team to away games, there are a few things he has power over. “I just wanted to come here and be a good example on the team. I wanted to come in and be the hardest
working guy on the team,” he said. Macoy already has witnessed firsthand the growth of the Auburn program, with Pearl now in his third year. He mentioned being impressed by the incoming talent of players such as Mustapha Heron, Jared Harper and Danjel Purifoy. The Vestavia Hills native is “knocking out two birds with one stone” in terms of his spring plans of throwing javelin. The conditioning
program the basketball team is working through is similar to what the outdoor track-and-field program is doing. Macoy said he has already put on some weight that will help him improve on his high school career, one that saw him set the Class 7A state record and win the state championship the past two years. He’s wasted no time hitting the ground running at Auburn.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • B9
in which they handled themselves,” she said. “I am proud to support their initiative. This is an example of the quality of student we serve CONTINUED from page B1 in Vestavia Hills.” school — Liberty Park Middle — to share the And those students felt the success of their experience with Pizitz. plan in a deep way when that pirate ran out Liberty Park already had a mascot — the onto the basketball court, hands raised, while Lancer — but Swaid partnered with a friend, cheers filling the gym. “It just feels like I’ve LPMS student Marshal Grayson, to find out a made an accomplishment that’s going to be way both schools could get some new blood remembered,” Swaid said. in the mascot department. It was a fun, kid-initiated idea, said Andy “We decided to try to work out a cleaning Carpenter, assistant principal at Pizitz. “Everyopportunity,” Swaid said. one loved it,” he said. “It was a really fun thing So, he contacted Vestavia’s Watkins Clean- for the school.” ers to see if owner In the future, students Danny Watkins would will try out to wear the be willing to clean both mascot costume, but for middle schools’ mascots the pep rally, Carpenter Any time we can each year for free. was the one to put it on get the two middle He was. In fact, he and run onto the court. said he’d do it twice a “I can’t really tell schools working year. “Watkins Cleanyou what it looked like together on ers will be more than because I could barely happy to support Chriswhatever project see,” he said with a tian and the Vestavia laugh. “But it was a very [with] our students school system with this exciting moment for the and with our matter,” Watkins wrote students.” to the school board. The new mascot is teachers, we are Kacy Pierce, prina “unifying symbol,” always thrilled when cipal of Liberty Park according to Pizitz PrinMiddle School, said cipal Meredith Hanson. that happens. she was excited about “The excitement the KACY PIERCE the collaboration. mascot created was “I am thrilled to see another example of our students from both our creed — characmiddle schools working ter, excellence, family; together,” she said. “We’ve had a costumed where Pirates lead, others follow.” mascot here for about eight years, so we were In keeping with that, before the mascot so excited to help Pizitz in their planning made his debut, Swaid made him a gold-chain and working out how to have these costumes necklace that says “Respect.” cleaned and go together. Any time we can get “That’s our main motto this year at school,” the two middle schools working together on he said. whatever project [with] our students and with In the coming days, Pizitz students will put our teachers, we are always thrilled when that on fundraisers to pay for the pirate costume, happens.” paid for with a loan from Swaid’s family, so Sheila Phillips, superintendent of Vestavia they could have it in time for the pep rally. Carpenter said the mascot could be “a ralHills City Schools, said she was impressed lying point” for students. with the way the whole thing transpired. “I think it’ll be great for the future and will “I wish everyone could have seen the plan presented by this special group of young men offer kids ways to be involved in the spirit in a ‘Shark Tank’-style forum and the manner and culture of the school,” he said.
MASCOT
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Andy Carpenter, Pizitz Middle School’s assistant principal for curriculum and instruction, said the mascot could be “a rallying point” for students. Photo by Emily Featherston.
B10 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
HOMECOMING VESTAVIA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL Photos by Todd Lester and Sarah Finnegan.
Homecoming Queen Ally Cross is hugged by her father, Jason Cross, at halftime for the Vestavia Homecoming football game on Sept. 23.
Vestavia Hills High School celebrated its 2016 Homecoming Week from Sept. 19-24 with various class competitions. Events such as the powder puff football game, the student/faculty basketball game and the pep rally brought out the students’ school spirit and competitive sides.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • B11
Clockwise, from left: Students participate in a game of tug-ofwar during the pep rally Sept. 23. Juniors and sophomores compete during the powder puff football game Sept. 20. Students compete against faculty during the student/faculty basketball game Sept. 22.
B12 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
Events Vestavia Hills churches host holiday markets Left: Saint Mark Holiday Market cochair Joan Purse, Judy Weismann, Sara Oliver and cochair Peggy Patterson hold handmade items sold at the 2014 market. Below: A shopper browses items for sale. Staff photos.
By SARAH TUTTLE Christmas shopping can often become overwhelming when searching for one-of-a-kind items. Local marketplaces are a great way to find those special gifts. Two Vestavia Hills churches will host holiday markets in November. ► Holiday Market: Nov. 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saint Mark United Methodist Church. The Holiday Market of the Saint Mark United Methodist Women is going on its 10th year and continues to directly support local missions and charities. Last year, about $13,000 raised from the event was given to local charities, said organizer Carol Moats. Saint Mark takes a different approach from many markets and instead of having vendors, most of its items are either donated or handmade. “We have had several workshops over the summer to make our handmade items,” Moats said. “We have added many new jewelry and Christmas items as well as some new items from our ladies who sew.” Every year, the Holiday Market makes a few changes with new people donating items. Some, however, show up and help year after year, she said. “We are hoping to have some take-and-bake frozen food items this year,” Moats said. We will also sell ‘opportunities’ to win an American Girl doll with clothes and an armoire for $5 each, which will be on sale until noon.” Claire’s cafe will return with lunch and snacks. It is named in honor of a church member who passed away last year. “We do this every year because we love to be able to give money to these local charities,” Moats said. “We are making money for our missions.”
For more information, go to saintmarkumc. org. ► Magical Marketplace: Nov. 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church. The 18th annual Magical Marketplace will include all of the same vendors from last year as well as 17 new ones. Organizer Ruth Grissom said the vendors will include jewelers, unique potters, woodworkers, painters and more. “Last year we had some very interesting vendors, including a printer who made unique place mats as well as a mother and daughter painting team,” Grissom said. “They both
made very interesting Christmas gifts as well as others who will be back this year.” The market continues to evolve and the products constantly change to suit the customers. The vendors always aim to keep their items new and unique for the market, Grissom said. All of the funds go toward the Mitchell’s Place scholarship fund, which helps children with autism spectrum disorder. “We had a great response last year, and we hope we can continue to build because this event is run for a great cause,” Grissom said. For more information, go to their Facebook page.
VestaviaVoice.com
Vietnam veteran to speak at November chamber luncheon C.H. “Stretch” Dunn, PE, is a 1966 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a distinguished graduate of the Command and General Staff College, an Army War College Fellow and a professional engineer. He served in three Infantry divisions, earned the Expert Infantryman Badge and four awards for valor including the Silver Star in Vietnam. He co-invented the Dunn-Kempf war game used to teach a generation of small unit leaders war fighting techniques. Later, he headed a 900 soldier combat unit and a 3,500-person engineering and construction management organization with 40 field offices in the southeast United States and Latin America. Following retirement after 26 years in the U.S. Army, Dunn served 11 years in corporate America with BE&K, an international engineering and construction firm based in Birmingham. After his second career, he co-wrote two books on professionalism and patriotism and for the past decade offered corporate and university seminars on “Being the CEO of Your Life,” “Professionalism Under Stress,” “Doing the ‘Harder Right’” and “Do You Want the Make the Senior Leadership Leap?” Dunn serves on the board for his West Point class, several boards in the Birmingham area, the National Leadership Congress, Life Leaders, the Support Committee for the Alabama National Cemetery and the Norton Board at Birmingham Southern College. His fourth career is to actively serve the community through his Veterans Leadership Ministry, whose mission is to “provide a safe haven of acceptance and healing for those quietly suffering from the hidden wounds of war.” He enjoys singing in his church choir, the West Point Alumni Glee Club, [at] weddings and patriotic events. He lives in Birmingham with his wife Joan, has two married children, both teachers, and five grandchildren. His personal mission is to live life as an obedient servant leader. – Submitted by Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce.
November 2016 • B13
Junior League’s Market Noel moves to BJCC Big changes are coming this “Made in the Deep South is always looking for a way that year for one of the Birmingwe can enrich our community ham area’s biggest holiday fundraisers. and other communities that The Junior League of Birreach out to us,” said Swafford. mingham is moving its Market The shopping begins at 7 Noel shopping event back to p.m. Nov. 30 with the Preview Noel party with hors d’oeuthe Birmingham-Jefferson vres, signature swag bags, Convention Complex. The return to this larger shopping private shopping and a silent venue will feature more than auction featuring big ticket 100 vendors, including a few items from Bromberg’s and from Vestavia Hills. Alabama Outdoors. Diamonds Direct will sponVestavia Hills residents sor the popular Diamond Drop, may already be familiar with the popular local jewelry line where one winner will walk away with a diamond penMade in the Deep South. The jewelry line was founded and dent valued at $5,000. While designed by local Michela the ladies shop, the men are Swafford. This will be her invited to a biergarten in the fifth year to sell her designs at “Man Cave.” The biergarten Market Noel. will feature regional craft beers “The rest of the year we and hometown favorite, Good strictly do ‘to the trade,’ wholePeople Brewing Company. sale shows. [Market Noel] is Those looking for something a the one time a year I get to A model wears Made in the Deep South jewelry little harder can enjoy a bourengage with the actual clients designed by Vestavia Hills resident Michela bon tasting provided by Dram and really, truly listen to the Swafford. Photo courtesy of Made in the Deep South. restaurant. amazing ladies wearing my General admission shopping designs,” said Swafford. “The takes places Dec. 1 through experience sparks my imagiDec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. nation, leads me to changes for the better and reignites my on Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. enthusiasm for design.” on Saturday. Shoppers visiting Market Noel can expect to see other Highlights of the week include a girls’ night out with a unique, handcrafted art, clothing and goods from across the beauty bar from Tonya Jones Salon and a chance to win a South. treatment package from Dr. Jason Jack of Plastic Surgery In recent years the league held Market Noel at the Cahaba Specialists at Market Bliss on Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Grand on Highway 280. Earlier this year the Church of the A fashion show, “Rock the Runway – Couture for a Cause” Highlands purchased the Cahaba Grand, and the Junior will be hosted by Lilly Pulitzer and will take place Saturday. League decided to move its annual fundraiser to the BJCC. Visit marketnoel.com to purchase tickets and review a Market Noel is also a little later this year with the show complete listing of participating merchants and event details. running from Nov. 30 through Dec. 3. Follow on Facebook at facebook.com/MarketNoel, InstaProceeds from Market Noel will benefit the Junior League gram @jlbmarketnoel and on Twitter @JLBirmingham. Tickof Birmingham’s 35 community projects that work to ets are available at the door. All special event tickets include improve the lives of women and children throughout the Bir- admission for shopping. mingham area. Swafford said the charitable goal of Market Regions is the presenting sponsor of Market Noel. Noel is a big reason why she returns year after year. – Submitted by Junior League of Birmingham.
B14 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
Opinion LETTER TO THE EDITOR Amendments to give communities control
Photo courtesy of the Assistance League of Birmingham.
Little Black Dress Luncheon set for Nov. 2 By SARAH TUTTLE The Assistance League of Birmingham will host the Little Black Dress Luncheon and Fashion Show Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. at a private club in Vestavia. This annual event will include lunch, holiday vendor shopping and a fashion show all serving the children and seniors of the community. The proceeds will benefit three philanthropic programs of Assistance League: Operation Literacy, Operation School Bell and Prime Time Treasures. Assistance League of Birmingham uses these philanthropic programs to help clothe children, tutor children in reading and serve senior artisans. This year’s luncheon will celebrate 40 years of Assistance League serving the Greater
Birmingham community. Also, it will honor its past presidents, according to Jan Service, director of community relations for Assistance League of Birmingham. “We hope to continue to raise money for our programs and also increase community awareness of who we are and what we do to serve the community,” she said. The Assistance League also hosts a holiday open house on Nov. 6, 1-3 p.m., at 1755 Oxmoor Road in Homewood. The event includes season décor, crafts, toys, jewelry, clothes and furniture. Tickets for the luncheon are $45 at The Shops of Assistance League (1755 Oxmoor Road in Homewood) or at assistanceleaguebhm.org. For more information, visit their Facebook page.
Four state amendments that will give control of local government to the communities involved will be on ballots in November. State amendments 3, 4, 5 and 6 resulted from a statewide nonpartisan commission chaired by former Gov. Albert Brewer. Amendment 3 restricts legislators from forcing all voters in the state to vote on an amendment that affects only one county. In the first vote on a local amendment, legislators will decide if the amendment has merit. If they approve the amendment, then they will vote on whether it will be on the ballot of only the county affected. This is a change from current practice in which a single legislator voting against the merits of a local amendment, forces it to a statewide vote. Amendment 4 gives components of local government to the communities by allowing counties to establish programs, policies and procedures related to county government. The amendment will not allow counties to increase or levy new taxes, nor will it allow counties to amend or repeal an existing local law. This is a change from current practice in which local governments
must rely on the Legislature, through constitutional amendments, to establish programs and procedures related to county government. Jefferson County is exempt from this amendment because of legal activity still pending about the sewer rate schedule, but the amendment will be on Jefferson County ballots even though it won’t apply to Jefferson County. Amendment 5 will simply modernize the language in the Constitution by renaming the “departments” of governments into “branches.” Amendment 6 provides that two-thirds of the Senate must vote to approve an impeachment, a change from the current constitutional language which does not specify the percentage required for impeachment. Amendment 6 also will bring the Constitution in line with current practices by limiting the list of those who may be impeached to elected officials, removing an appointed position from the list. We hope your readers will vote “yes” on all these amendments. Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform ► Brunson White, Vestavia Hills ► Lenora Pate, Birmingham ► John Northrop, Homewood ► Nancy Ekberg, Vestavia Hills ► Kate Nielsen, Mountain Brook
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • B15
INDEX
B16 • November 2016
GRAND HIGHLANDS APARTMENTS.................. B16 THE UPS STORE - CAHABA HEIGHTS ...............B17 THE BLUE WILLOW .............................................. B18 SMITH LAKE RENTALS & SALES ...................... B18 NOBLEBANK & TRUST ........................................ B19 FLIP-FLOPS & WHAT NOTS ............................... B20
Vestavia Voice
GREAT CLIPS OF CAHABA HEIGHTS ............... B20 CLUB PILATES ...................................................... B21 BIRMINGHAM PHYSICAL THERAPY ................ B22 CHICKADEE BOUTIQUE...................................... B22 CAHABA HEIGHTS PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY ....B23 ARC REALTY ........................................................ B24
GRAND HIGHLANDS APARTMENTS
Unbeatable convenience, charm Don’t be fooled by the name — the Grand Highlands at Mountain Brook apartment complex has been part of the Vestavia Hills community for years. In fact, its Cahaba Heights location is one of its most prominent selling points. “We have a really good location,” Grand Highlands Community Manager Summer Ponce said. Grand Highlands appeals to potential tenants because of its Vestavia Hills school zoning and easy access to U.S. 280, I-459, downtown Birmingham’s business district and the Publix and Winn-Dixie grocery stores within walking distance. The complex’s 392 apartments — which range from one to three bedrooms — are also surrounded by trees. Ponce, who has worked at Grand Highlands for three years, said the staff makes an effort to get to know every resident personally and address them by first name. The complex also hosts regular resident events. “I like the fact that we are a built-in community,” Ponce said.
Residents of Grand Highlands have access to two swimming pools, two regulation-size tennis courts, 24-hour fitness and laundry centers, a lounge and coffee bar and outdoor cooking areas. The apartments also feature stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, walk-in closets, energy-efficient windows and faux wood flooring. “It’s luxury living with affordable pricing,” Ponce said. Leasing agents at Grand Highlands are customer-service oriented and the apartment community also offers same-day emergency maintenance. Grand Highlands is zoned for Vestavia Hills Elementary – Cahaba Heights, Liberty Park Middle and Vestavia Hills High School. Grand Highlands’ current move-in special includes free application and no administrative fees, plus an additional $300 off. Some restrictions may apply. For more information or to contact a leasing agent, call 538-2771 or visit grandhighlandsatmountainbrook.com.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • B17
THE UPS STORE
The UPS Store goes the extra mile for customers, Cahaba Heights community The traditional anniversary gift for the 15th year of marriage is crystal. Scott Pylant and his wife decided to forgo tradition for their 15th anniversary in April 2013 and instead purchased The UPS Store in Cahaba Heights together. “It was our 15th wedding anniversary gift to each other,” he said. “At that point, we moved the location just down the sidewalk into a freestanding building and upgraded the store for the first time in years.” Pylant said The UPS Store is not just for dropping off packages or shipping an item — their repertoire extends far beyond what is commonly known. “We can handle any small business need including all kinds of printing, T-shirts, graphic design, binding, notary and much, much more,” he said. “If your business has a need, ask us — we can help you find the answer. Other shipping stores or mailbox entities do not offer the wide range of services that The UPS Store does. Time is valuable, so start at The UPS Store.” Pylant, in communicating with his customers, often finds ways to assist them in ways they had no idea The UPS Store could help. “I am constantly asking customers about their businesses or work life and never fail to find some area we can easily help them with that they had no idea about,” he said. Pylant loves the neighborhood feel of Cahaba Heights, he said. “Cahaba Heights is a wonderful community full of small businesses doing unique and excellent work and is strategically located to serve many businesses in the Birmingham OTM
area,” he said. “We were thrilled when The UPS Store in Cahaba Heights became available for purchase. We have loved being a part of this growing and vibrant neighborhood.” Pylant and his team make a conscious effort to get to know their customers and anticipate their needs. “Our customers often express how much they love coming in and appreciate the friendly attitude our service representatives greet them with,” he said. “We love getting to know our customers and try to look for any way we can be of service to them.” And Pylant loves to hear when his team goes the extra mile. “My favorite compliment is when a customer lets me know that our service representatives made a diffi cult situation easy for them,” he said. “When I hear a customer share that they received service that went above and beyond the expected, I am
pumped.” The UPS Store, in addition to serving their customer base, serves the Cahaba Heights community as well. “One of my favorite things about being a neighborhood store is serving as a dropoff point for a number of philanthropies,” Pylant said. “We have had diapers, coats and blankets collected at our store and then sent out to those in need.”
It all fits in to The UPS Store’s mission of helping the Cahaba Heights community — and its residents who frequent the store — be the best they can be. “We are here to help your business be successful and look forward to working with you,” Pylant said. Store hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The store is closed on Sundays.
B18 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
THE BLUE WILLOW
SMITH LAKE RENTALS & SALES
Find the perfect unique gift When it comes to gifts for babies, birthdays, housewarming and holidays, The Blue Willow has products you can’t find anywhere else. “We always are striving to have unique gifts. We try to have items that other people don’t have,” owner Anna Barnes said. The Blue Willow has been in business in Cahaba Heights for 16 years, but Barnes was a frequent customer and bought it from former owner Cyndy Kiel about five years ago. “It’s been fantastic. I have a great staff,” Barnes said. “I love being able to help customers find that right gift.” The staff at Blue Willow is one thing that sets the store apart, she said. They are not only friendly but also knowledgeable about the products and can help customers find exactly what they need. “Sometimes [customers] know exactly what they want when they walk in the door,
and sometimes they’re not sure and they need suggestions,” Barnes said. The Blue Willow sells a variety of products for babies, home décor, seasonal products, college gear, jewelry and accessories, candles and more. They also offer gift-wrapping and ways to personalize products such as monogramming, engraving or etching. Outside products can be brought in for monogramming. The products at Blue Willow are constantly changing to keep the shelves fresh, Barnes said. Every department is always on the lookout for exciting new vendors or the latest products from their popular brands. “We’re your one stop shop for any gift need,” Barnes said. The Blue Willow is located at 3930 Crosshaven Drive and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call 9680909 or find them on Facebook.
Smith Lake Rentals & Sales offers vacation rentals and property sales on one of the cleanest lakes in the country Back in 2003, when Jeff Thomas and his wife, Maura, decided to officially start Smith Lake Rentals, there was only one house for rent on the entire lake. Now, in 2016, there are over 100 — and Jeff and his team represent about one-third of them. The Thomas’ built a cabin on the lake in 2001 and started renting it out immediately. Within a year, they were renting out for others. Three years ago, Jeff left the corporate world to operate Smith Lake Rentals full time and added property sales. “Because of my knowledge of the lake and houses on the lake, I started selling lots and houses as a buyer’s agent,” he said. “Buying property on the lake is very, very different, as there are things you have to consider on the lake that you do not have in your primary residence. It’s hard to beat having the lake as your office.” With the help of his wife, Maura, and reservations manager Andrea Moates, Jeff runs
the dual business of vacation rentals and sales on Lewis Smith Lake — the second cleanest in the country, behind only Lake Tahoe. For rentals, the company likes to take the work of renting lake property off of homeowners’ shoulders. “We really work to be the easy button for the owners,” Jeff said. “There are a lot of do’s and don’ts in renting a house out, and we eliminate the don’ts.” Concerning purchasing property on the lake, Jeff said, “If you are buying property at the lake, you need a buyer’s agent to watch out for you as there are a lot of pitfalls at the lake. In addition, knowing property values and not having ties to the sellers allows me to aggressively negotiate the price.” For those interested in renting, visit SmithLakeRentals.com or call 800-7690757. For those interested in buying, visit BuySmithLake.com or call 205-492-3211.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • B19
NOBLEBANK & TRUST
Community bank focused on needs of families, businesses
In 2004, a group of community leaders saw the need for a new locally owned community bank. They had a common vision: to establish a financial institution based on Biblical principles. They envisioned a bank wherein all business endeavors and decisions would be handled in a Godly manner while meeting the needs of the community — thus, NobleBank was born. Today, NobleBank & Trust has grown to five
locations in Alabama. Here in Birmingham, our office is located at The Summit. NobleBank aims to build value — for its customers, employees and shareholders — by serving the financial services needs of the community in a friendly, proactive and professional manner. We work to exceed customer expectations with every contact and every transaction. Relationships with customers, community and
employees are important to us. We invest time and resources accordingly. NobleBank values honesty and integrity while striving daily for continued profitable growth. In Alabama, small business owners and budding entrepreneurs alike make up more than half of our state’s work force. Small businesses have many diverse needs and NobleBank & Trust has several options to help smaller companies grow and thrive.
At NobleBank we are focused on the needs of local families and businesses. Our bank officers at our Summit location are accessible to small businesses on-site. The decision-making on business loans is a quick process because decisions are made locally. Whether you want to start a new business or work with a local bank on financial decisions for your family, NobleBank is here to help you be successful. Member FDIC.
B20 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
FLIP-FLOPS & WHAT NOTS
Service with customers in mind Kathleen Roberts has worked in retail almost her entire life. She opened her store, Flip-Flops & What Nots, on Halloween in 2005. Flip-Flops & What Nots carries boots, clothes, jewelry, handbags and more. The store is much smaller than a regular department store, giving a very personable shopping experience. “Our store has a very relaxed, fun vibe,” Roberts explained. “Many of our customers tell us they feel like they should be going on a cruise or to the beach.” Roberts decided to open her store in Cahaba Heights because she loved the area and proximity to everything. She said she loves the small town look and feel. Flip-Flops & What Nots works with customers to give then a personalized shopping experience. Because of the small size of the store, Roberts said they know their inventory and vendors very well.
“We work with our customers and do our very best to help them find exactly what they are looking for, sometimes pushing them out of their comfort zone to try something new that we know they will love because we have gotten to know them,” Roberts stated. “In bigger stores you don’t get the one-on-one interaction you get with a small business like ours.” Roberts takes her customers’ needs into consideration while picking out items for her store. She picks out all of the shoes and clothing carried in her shop with customers in mind, she said. “I encourage Cahaba Heights shoppers to explore the small businesses we have here, find your favorites and consider spending your money locally!” Flip-Flops & What Nots is open MondaySaturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information call 967-7429 or go to flipflopsandwhatnots.boutiquewindow.com/ InStore.
GREAT CLIPS OF CAHABA HEIGHTS
Great Clips proud of family-friendly business Sixteen years ago, John Destefanis opened Great Clips of Cahaba Heights — the first Great Clips opened in Alabama. Now, there are more than 35. “We are a family-friendly salon — no appointment necessary,” he said. “Many families have been coming for years and we have literally watched children grow from toddlers to high school.” Great Clips has been voted “Best Children’s Salon” many times in Parent magazine, Destefanis said, and their return rates for adults are extraordinarily high for the industry. “Seeing teens drive up for a haircut and remembering that these same teens came with their parents 10 to 15 years ago is neat,” he said. Great Clips offers the lowest prices in the area of any chain — $14 for adults and $11 for children and seniors. Police, fire and military — active or retired — receive a $2 discount. Great Clips’ stylists average over 10 years experience and routinely go for additional training, Destefanis said. Online check-in is offered and services are 100 percent guaranteed for satisfaction.
“We are here for [customers] and don’t profess to be perfect, but we will do everything we can to make them happy,” Destefanis said. “I hope to be here and continue growing for another 16 years.” Cahaba Heights is an ideal location for the business, he said. “Cahaba Heights is the perfect location for a family service because of the stable community and their willingness to support business that gives back to the community,” Destefanis said. “I have been involved with churches, schools and numerous sports teams over the years.” Destefanis and his staff know most customers by first name, as well as their family. “Seeing the same customers and families is rewarding, and I got to know many of them over the years,” he said. “Teasing the teens when I show them their team picture on the wall from 10 years ago always gets a laugh.” Great Clips, 3175 Green Valley Road, is open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Call 969-1140 for more information.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • B21
CLUB PILATES
Club Pilates offers affordable, accessible workouts Lindsay Booker opened Club Pilates in Cahaba Heights in November 2015 after falling in love with the concept of the Club Pilates franchise. The concept is affordable, accessible Pilates offered seven days a week. Booker also had the inspiration to open up her own studio because of her busy lifestyle. “I became interested in Pilates a few years ago when I was a working mother with two small children,” Booker said. “I found great instructors, but because it’s traditionally offered in a private or small group setting, it’s expensive and I couldn’t find class times that worked with my schedule.” The atmosphere of Club Pilates is inviting and nurturing to all ages, shapes, sizes and fitness levels. Club Pilates offers over 40 classes a week as well as private and semi-private lessons. Club Pilates also has a central location for all Cahaba Heights residents. “Cahaba Heights and the surrounding areas are full of awesome women and men who want to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle,” Booker said. “It was the obvious choice for where to put the studio!” The classes at Club Pilates strengthen the spine and abdominal core. The classes are meant to help better posture, balance, flexibility and strength. “We offer a wide variety of classes and our affordable unlimited package is a true unlimited. You can do more than one class a day,” Booker said. “Clients love to follow a challenging, upbeat class like Cardio Sculpt, Reformer TRX or Reformer Barre Fusion with 50 minutes of Stretch-ilates.” There are different levels in classes offered. The first level is for beginners and meant to build a Pilates foundation. Balance challenges are introduced in the intermediate level, and advanced movements from the original Joseph Pilates repetoire are introduced in the highest level.
“We are constantly evaluating our group class schedule to ensure our clients have at least one option that fits their schedule every day of the week,” Booker said. The instructors at Club Pilates have all completed a minimum of 500 hours of training on Pilates apparatus, as well as TRX, Barre and Trigger Point. They have also been trained to work with those who are injured and/or have limitations.
“Club Pilates is for everybody. We keep our group classes safe by using progressions and offering modifications,” Booker said. Booker said her favorite moments from opening the studio have been connecting with clients and hearing how Club Pilates has healed them physically and mentally as well as provided them with the community they were looking for. Club Pilates is having their one year
anniversary celebration Nov. 7-12. There will be daily raffles and giveaways, as well as free demo classes. For more information, go to clubpilates. com/cahabaheights. Club Pilates, 3169 Green Valley Road, Birmingham, AL 35243, is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. On weekdays, there are classes as early as 5:30 a.m. Call them at 777-7976.
B22 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
BIRMINGHAM PHYSICAL THERAPY
CHICKADEE
Shop for fall, the holidays
Personal support during rehabilitation Ellen Hamilton practiced physical therapy in many settings after college and always dreamed of opening her own clinic. In July 2005 she opened Birmingham Physical Therapy. “I love to help someone who has been injured or in pain to recover and get back to an active lifestyle,” Hamilton said. Hamilton chose to locate the clinic in Cahaba Heights because the village is full of great people and is convenient to everything. The building can be difficult to find, but look for it right behind Doodles Italian Ice. Birmingham Physical Therapy evaluates and treats all types of movement and musculoskeletal disorders. They specialize in hands-on therapy, such as joint and soft tissue mobilization. Dry needling, cupping, golf and running evaluations and pre-sport fitness evaluations for gymnastics, dance, track and soccer are all offered at
Birmingham Physical Therapy. “We give our patients a thorough evaluation and then work with them one-on-one rather than delegating their care to support personnel,” Hamilton said. “Each person gets to know his or her physical therapist and receives personal support during the rehabilitation process.” You do not need to have a referral from a physician to come and be evaluated by one of its physical therapists. If you think you may have a problem, call and ask for either a five-minute free screening, or its more in-depth 20 minute screen. Birmingham Physical Therapy, 3234 Cahaba Heights Road, is open Monday-Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information call 205-298-9101 or go to birminghamphysicaltherapy.com
The team at Chickadee in Cahaba Heights wants to help you decorate your home for the holidays. The inventory at Chickadee represents the style savvy employees and owners of the store. “We love an eclectic look with an assortment of modern and traditional pieces,” said Kelly Neely, the in-house designer at Chickadee. “The owners, Kate and Carolyn Hartman, do a great job of incorporating a mix of style and price point to satisfy any customer’s needs.” Neely and store manager Sarah Bryant are proud and passionate about the store’s inventory. From furniture and home décor to personal accessories, baby and gifts that spans the ages, Chickadee can offer something to every customer, especially during the holiday season. The store has a wide variety and selection
of fall and holiday merchandise. “We have everything to decorate tabletops, mantels or any other area of your home,” Bryant said. “We will also go to customers’ homes and decorate for the holidays using our merchandise and items they already own.” Chickadee hopes to connect with holiday shoppers by hosting several events this fall. “The holiday season is always busy around here,” Neely said. “We love hosting unique events to engage our customers.” “Made in the South is an exciting event in November that we host every year,” Bryant said. “We carry a lot of local and Southern vendors, and we like to showcase their work. We actually bring the makers in the store so people can meet the artist making the products.” For more information, call 205-969-3138 or visit chickadeebirmingham.com.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • B23
CAHABA HEIGHTS PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
Cahaba Heights Pediatric Dentistry brings fun into dental care The dentist’s office is usually not synonymous with the word fun — until Cahaba Heights Pediatric Dentistry came along two years ago. “Our office is kid-friendly with a relaxed, welcoming environment,” Dr. Andrew Richardson said. “We have plenty of toys, books, iPads and TVs to make every visit fun. For most patients, the worst part is having to leave our office at the end of their appointment.” Richardson and his team are committed to providing their patients with the best possible visit every single time, he said. “Whether it’s preventative or restorative dental care, we go the extra mile to ensure that infants, children and adolescents have a friendly, upbeat dental visit in an environment that’s fun,” he said. Richardson said he always liked working with his hands to create, so the restorative part of dentistry interested him. He has also always had a passion for helping people. “Pediatric dentistry allows me to help kids learn good oral hygiene habits to prevent cavities,” he said. “If they do happen to develop cavities, I enjoy having the opportunity to put them at ease and have a positive experience while getting them filled.” Sometimes Richardson has to overcome patients’ negative past experiences at the dentist. “[It is a] challenge that we gladly accept and do a great job of overcoming,” he said. “The extra training a pediatric residency provides, as well as having two young kids of my own, really helps in understanding what can be scary and how to change it into a fun, more relaxed experience.” Richardson and his team also battle against the fear of the unknown. “Having patience to explain and communicate on a level that our patients relate to is something that we strive to excel at in order to make our patients feel at ease and understand
what we are doing,” he said. Even before he opened his practice, Richardson and his wife lived in Cahaba Heights during dental school. “We thoroughly enjoyed the community and what Cahaba Heights offered,” Richardson said. “When it came time to look for a practice location, my first choice was Cahaba Heights. These past two years of being involved in community events with the local elementary school and with neighborhood families has shown what a close knit, supportive environment Cahaba Heights is, not only for businesses, but
also for raising young families.” It is important for Richardson and his team that every patient grows up enjoying going to the dentist and learns good habits that last a lifetime. “One thing that sets us apart is that parents are always welcomed back with their child for both cleanings and work appointments,” Richardson said. “I believe this builds a great foundation for a long-lasting relationship where the parents and I can work together in helping their child in every aspect of their dental care.” Richardson and his staff genuinely care about the well-being of their patients, their
families, and the Cahaba Heights community. “While there are many choices for their child’s dental care in the metro area, we are truly invested in not only our patients, but our community as a whole,” he said. “We love to give back and volunteer within the community, and we strive to spend time with each family, keeping in mind our ultimate goal of creating happy, healthy smiles one child at a time.” Cahaba Heights Pediatric Dentistry is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They can be reached by phone at 205490-6850 or on the web at chpedo.com.
B24 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
ARC REALTY
Personalized real estate service from a tight-knit company ARC Realty opened in 2013 to provide personalized real estate service and counsel to clients in Central Alabama. Since their opening, they have become one of the fastest growing brokerages in Alabama. Their services include residential sales and development, relocation and comprehensive move management, commercial brokerage and luxury real estate. ARC Realty also connects buyers with beach, lake and vacation properties. President and Qualifying Broker of ARC Realty Beau Bevis leads the company with more than 15 years of real-estate experience. He has many Alabama roots as he earned his master of real estate development from Auburn University and his bachelor of science in finance/real estate management from Samford University. He has over 190 agents and has managed more than $1 billion in closed transactions. ARC Realty’s leadership includes more than 100 years of combined experience in the industry. The leadership is able to give agents and clients tools to deliver relevant data and industry trends. With Bevis and the leadership at ARC Realty they were able to generate a sales volume of more than $324 million in 2015. Despite their recent successes, ARC Realty is always working to grow. “Our biggest challenge is we are always subject to changes in our economy and the lack of housing inventory,” Bevis said. Bevis and his co-founding partners, Tommy Brigham, Mechelle Wilder and Dale McIntyre,
decided to open shop in Cahaba Heights because of their connection to the area. They knew Cahaba Heights was a location where a customer could get anything and everything they wanted. “We are fans of the growth in the area and feel the location is most centrally located in the Birmingham metro area to serve our agents and clients,” Bevis said. Over the last four years, ARC Realty has focused on creating a true sense of family and portraying that to their customers. The way they have established themselves as a company has set them apart as a brokerage. “We are locally owned and we form partnerships with our agents and staff, which differentiates us,” Bevis said. “We focus on making sure our culture is driven relationally and you can feel that when you walk into our office by the way agents interact.” Bevis is continually encouraged by the support from the community in Cahaba Heights. He said the best compliment to his company is when ARC agents recruit other real estate agents to come to work with them. When looking for them, ARC Realty is in the building next to Cahaba Heights United Methodist Church with Boom Foods and Higher Ground Coffee. For more informtation, go to arcrealtyco. com/about-us, facebook.com/ARCRealty/, twitter.com/ARC_Realty or instagram.com/ arc_realty/. ARC Realty, 4274 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 200, is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call them at 205-969-8910.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • B25
School House
The Impulse Dance Company class performed political-themed dances Oct. 17 for their first project. Photos by Sarah Finnegan.
VHHS Dance troupe takes on politics By EMILY FEATHERSTON Politics may be a topic of conversation some avoid, but one group of Vestavia Hills High School students is taking the big issues head-on. The Impulse Dance Company, a new class for second- and thirdyear dance students, used its first performance to interpret the big issues of the 2016 presidential election. Faith Lenhart, chair of the performing arts and dance departments, said the company class gives the students the chance to be involved in a dance project from the concept stage to the performance — from composition and staging to costumes, production, music editing and critiques. The class is for junior and senior students and has 19 dancers this year. For the political performance Oct. 17, the students were required to go home and ask adults what issues they were considering as Election Day drew near. “After a few days of collecting the responses, we discussed all the topics that were listed and how they would translate in a dance performance,” Lenhart said. Of the issues, she said the class narrowed it down to three: terrorism, abortion and police brutality. “The dancers were allowed to select the topics that they were most interested in creating a dance around,” she said. As a large group, Lenhart said the class discussed how the issues could be boiled down into a single word or phrase as a starting point for creating the choreography.
Lenhart said the dancers were required to show both sides of the argument, which she said was challenging at times. Once they determined how to handle the theme, the dancers created their compositions, going through multiple critique sessions with one another, self-assessing and making adjustments. The dancers also had to select their costumes as well as find and edit their music. The goal, Lenhart said, was to introduce the dance students to all aspects of the art, and in this case, challenge them to take a difficult topic and incorporate it into a performance, rather than just choreographing to a particular piece of music. “They’ve really enjoyed it,” she said, and added that the dancers even worked outside of class to practice for the performance, and they are really proud of their work. The Impulse Dance Company will have two more projects, one for the holidays in December, and then one focusing on film after returning from the break.
B26 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
A PTO legislative executive asks a question at the Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills PTO legislative forum in 2014. Staff photo.
Mountain Brook, Vestavia PTO to host legislative forum By CAROLINE CARMICHAEL Legislators will gather at Vestavia Hills City Hall to discuss education in the Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook school systems on Nov. 17 from 8:30-11 a.m. “This is the 12th annual,” said Katherine Taylor of the Vestavia Hills PTO Council. “We have paired up with Mountain Brook’s PTO — their legislative representative and Vestavia’s PTO have paired up — to hold this forum.” Taylor is the legislative representative of the Vestavia Hills PTO Council, which oversees the PTOs of each of the city’s schools. “The state senators and state legislators from the Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills area come to this forum,” Taylor said, “and we’re so thankful that they do.” The legislators meet with school
representatives from both cities to discuss issues presented over the course of the previous year. This year’s speakers will include senators Slade Blackwell and Jabo Waggoner, as well as representatives Jim Carns, David Faulkner and Jack Williams. Last year’s discussion included such topics as the general fund, the education trust fund, and even home-school athletics. “They’re dependent upon what’s going on at that time [in Montgomery],” Taylor said of the legislation covered in the meetings. The forum expects a wide variety of attendance. “Anyone can attend,” Taylor said. The invitation also extends to surrounding schools outside the Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook school systems. The meeting will conclude promptly at 11 a.m.
Vestavia Hills Elementary West. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills City Schools.
Vestavia Hills Elementary West named National Blue Ribbon School By SYDNEY CROMWELL Vestavia Hills Elementary West (VHEW) joined the ranks of the top schools in the U.S. on Sept. 28, as it was named a National Blue Ribbon School. VHEW is one of five schools in the state and 329 in the nation to receive this honor in 2016. National Blue Ribbon Schools must rank in the top 15 percent in their state on student assessment results. VHEW was nominated by the state Department of Education as an Exemplary High Performing school due to its testing results. “We could not be more proud of this recognition on behalf of West Elementary and Vestavia Hills City Schools,” Superintendent Sheila Phillips said in a release. “The
faculty and staff are most deserving of this honor. This award affirms what we know about the level of excellence in education our children receive.” The Blue Ribbon Schools will be honored at a ceremony in November in Washington, D.C. VHEW will receive a plaque and a flag for its achievement. This is not the first Vestavia school to receive such an honor. The high school was named a Blue Ribbon School in 1990 and 2009, Pizitz Middle received the award in 1994-96, Vestavia Hills Elementary East received the award when it was still Vestavia Hills Elementary School in 1985, and Cahaba Heights Elementary was a Blue Ribbon School in 1984 when it was part of the Jefferson County School System.
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November 2016 • B27
Vestavia Hills Elementary West students celebrate Patriot Day with activities Photo courtesy of Mary Rembert.
Britton Rembert of Troop 76 receives Eagle Scout rank Britton Rembert of Vestavia Hills earned his Eagle Scout rank in December of 2015 and was recognized at a court of honor in May of 2016. On his way to earning the Eagle Scout rank, Britton earned 21 merit badges and served in several leadership positions including assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, Chaplin and assistant senior patrol leader. Along the Eagle trail, Britton hiked more than 100 miles, camped more than 50 nights and accumulated over 400 community service hours. His Eagle Scout Project benefited Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Ensley. In addition to attending class, each student at Holy Family works an entry-level job provided by over 90 Birmingham businesses. Their work experience provides the opportunity to pay their tuition, which enhances their motivation to attain a quality education. Britton planted trees, improved the grounds, painted and cleaned areas of the school and the gym. As a result of his fundraising efforts, Britton raised over $1,800 to pay for costs of his project and donated the remaining funds to Holy Family Cristo Rey. Britton is a junior at Vestavia Hills High School. He plays baseball for Vestavia Hills High School and Excel Baseball in Oxford, Alabama. He is the son of Britt and Mary Rembert of Vestavia Hills. – Submitted by Mary Rembert.
On Friday, Sept. 9, students at Vestavia Hills Elementary West celebrated Patriot Day during their P.E. classes with patriotic-themed activities and music. The gym’s climbing wall became Mt. Rushmore, and students on balancers held Statue of Liberty torches. In salute to the country’s military, students also participated in army crawls and pull-ups. Using scooters and paddles, many kids re-enacted Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River. While they rotated from one activity to another, students also learned interesting facts about America. – Submitted by Alice Elmore.
Students at Vestavia West learned about America and Patriot Day during patriotic-themed P.E. activities. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills City Schools.
VHHS German teacher receives national award By ERICA TECHO Vestavia Hills High School German teacher Laura Buder was recently selected for a national teaching award from the German Embassy in Washington. Buder is in her fifth year of teaching at VHHS and was nominated for the German Embassy Teacher of the Year Award by the Alabama Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German. Her nomination stemmed from her work to develop instructional strategies that focus on growing student’s individual proficiency of German language and culture. The German Embassy in Washington, in partnership with the Goethe-Institut and AATG, selected Buder as one of three teachers nationwide to receive the German Embassy Teacher of Excellence Award. The Goethe-Institut is a German language and cultural education organization. “I’m thrilled and honored to be one of the few chosen, especially considering that this award is open to teachers throughout
Laura Buder is in her fifth year of teaching. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills City Schools.
the U.S.,” Buder said. As an award recipient, Buder will travel to Boston in November for the AATG awards ceremony. She will also take part in professional development with the
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Next summer, Buder will also travel to Germany for a two-week professional learning trip that is hosted by the Goethe-Institut. Teaching students German opens up a range of opportunities for students, Buder said. “There are nearly 70 German companies in Alabama and hundreds more in cities like Atlanta, Chattanooga and Greenville,” she said. “By studying German language and culture, students have the opportunity to use it in a career, travel or even to live and work abroad.” Buder said the award validated the commitment VHHS’ world language faculty has toward creating student-centered, proficiency-focused learning environments. “This is something we’ve all been working on together, and I hope this professional development will give me an opportunity to bring back some knowledge and encouragement that we can all benefit from,” she said.
B28 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
Community Yanosky Orthodontics awards funds to schools foundation Jenny Yanosky, left, of Mark Yanosky Orthodontics, and Janet Ball. Photo courtesy of Elaine Yancey.
Mark Yanosky Orthodontics presented the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation with a check for $1,825 at the foundation’s September board meeting. The funds were contributed through Yanosky’s “My Smile, My Community, My Child’s Future” partner in education program. “My Smile, My Community, My Child’s Future” was created by Yanosky in 2012. Every time a child from the Vestavia Hills community starts orthodontic treatment, a $25 donation is made to the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation. “Our schools are in constant need of additional funding from outside sources” stated Yanosky. “Local school foundations such as the Vestavia City Schools
Foundation are able to fill this void through donations from their citizens. The purpose of our “My Smile, My Community, My Child’s Future” program is to fulfill one of our practice missions — to give back to the community that trusts us with the orthodontic care of their most precious asset — their children! To date, we have been able to give back over $30,000 with a long-term goal to give much more.” Dr. Mark Yanosky is a board-certified orthodontist who has been practicing in the Vestavia Hills community since 2001. Yanosky has received numerous awards including the Dean’s Medal from the UAB School of Dentistry, the school’s highest honor. Yanosky has lectured nationally and internationally on
several different topics in orthodontics and serves as an adjunct assistant professor of orthodontics at the UAB School of Dentistry. “The Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation is very grateful for the partnership with Dr. Yanosky and his family,” commented Janet Ball, VHCSF board president. “With their support, VHCSF has been able to grow the endowment to $2.5 million and has to date given back $784,000 to the eight schools in Vestavia Hills.” For more information on how you or your business can support the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation, visit our website at vestaviafoundation.org or email director@vestaviafoundation.org. – Submitted by Elaine Yancey.
Coronets Dance Club holds fall luncheon Coronets Dance Club members recently met for their Fall Luncheon at Vestavia Hills Country Club. President Nancy Becker presided at the board and business meetings following the luncheon. Evelyn Ringler read the minutes from the Coronets’ spring meeting, while treasurer Shelley Watkins gave the treasurer’s report and introduced assistant treasurer Linda Wood. Vice President Shirley Palmes introduced Carol Powell, dance chair for the fall dance. Powell’s committee includes Edna Alderman and Jackie Webb. Co-chairs for the spring dance are Debbie Visintainer and Patty Echols. New yearbooks were distributed at the meeting by Joy Wilkes, yearbook chair. New members were also announced at the meeting, including Cheree Carlton, Patty Clay,
Glenda Jones and Dot Wingett. The luncheon was planned by Dot Renneker and Una Ray Barnett. Arrangements of fall flowers were on each table, and wonderful food and conversation were enjoyed by all. Individuals in attendance included charter member Jean Burnett as well as Edna Alderman, Una Ray Barnett, Nancy Becker, Sue Belcher, Nancy Boone, Redonda Broom, Marti Buck, Carolyn Delk, Shirley Evans, Nelle Freeman, Pat Garlikov, Jean Hendrickson, Marsha Hire, Margaret Howell, Rusty Kirkpatrick, Nell Larson, Joanne McConnell, Betty Miller, Shirley Palmes, Carol Powell, Dot Renneker, Evelyn Ringler, Karen Tucker, Shelley Watkins, Jackie Webb, Linda Wood and Janis Zeanah. – Submitted by Carolyn Edge.
Coronets Dance Club officers, from left: Shelley Watkins, Evelyn Ringler, Nancy Becker, Shirley Palmes, Nancy Boone, Carolyn Delk and Linda Wood. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Edge.
VestaviaVoice.com
November 2016 • B29
Vestavia Hills Real Estate Listings MLS #
Zip
Address
Status
Price
764725
35216
4737 Christie Lane
New
$167,500
765057
35216
3212 Tyrol Road
New
$239,900
765047
35216
309 Heritage Drive
New
$292,900
765040
35216
1853 Cedarwood Road
New
$379,900
764999
35216
2963 Wisteria Drive
New
$214,900
764913
35216
2204 Chapel Hill Road
New
$139,900
764899
35216
1130 Winchester Cove
New
$755,000
764758
35216
4221 Ashwood Cove
New
$142,900
764514
35216
916 Haviland Drive
New
$179,900
764417
35216
1440 Panorama Drive
New
$563,987
764376
35216
3146 Renfro Road
New
$349,900
764355
35216
1208 Forest View Lane
New
$369,900
764787
35216
1230 Parliament Lane
New
$529,000
764167
35216
3426 Countrywood Lane
New
$445,000
764083
35216
3024 Panorama Trail
New
$399,700
763826
35216
2046 Montreat Circle #2046 B
New
$59,900
763651
35216
2241 Garland Drive
New
$545,000
763418
35216
1654 Crossgate Drive
New
$489,900
763305
35216
2700 Watkins Glen Drive
New
$779,000
763253
35216
2166 Montreat Parkway
New
$184,900
Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on Oct. 17. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.
4737 Christie Lane
1230 Parliament Lane
B30 • November 2016
Vestavia Voice
Calendar Vestavia Events Nov. 1: OLLI of Greater Birmingham Presents: Healthcare in the Senior Years. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Vestavia Hills Civic Center-Senior Center. Dr. Andrew Duxbury, Professor of Gerontology, UAB discusses Theories of Aging. Course continues Nov. 8, 15, 22 and 29. Visit olli.ua.edu. Nov. 2: OLLI of Greater Birmingham Presents: Science for Non-Scientists. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Vestavia Hills Civic Center-Senior Center. Instructor Gene Byrd, Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astronomy, UA. Course continues November 9, 16 and 30. Visit olli.ua.edu for more information.
Nov. 4: Artists Incorporated, First Friday Reception. 5:30 p.m. Artists Incorporated. Featured artists: Amy Collins, Nelson Grice, Nancy Walton, Cathy Jo Wheeler and Libby Wright. Wine, hors d’oeuvres and live music. Visit artistsincorporated.com. Nov. 4: Rocky Ridge First Friday. 5 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Bands, artists, kids’ zone and more. Visit vestaviahills.org. Nov. 5: Lakeside Hospice Drumstick Dart 5K. 8 a.m. Shops of Grand River. 5K, $30; Fun run, $20. Register at active.com.
Nov. 7: OLLI of Greater Birmingham Presents: The Civil War and Reconstruction in Alabama. 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Vestavia Hills Civic Center-Senior Center. Instructor: Guy Hubbs, Professor Emeritus, Birmingham-Southern College. Course continues on November 14, 21 and 28. Visit olli.ua.edu for more information. Nov. 8: Vestavia Chamber Monthly Luncheon. 11:30 a.m. Vestavia Country Club. $18 advance, $25 late reservations. Network with other chamber members and hear speakers on a wide variety of updates. Visit vestaviahills.org.
Nov. 17: 12th Annual Legislative Forum. 8:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Vestavia Hills City Hall and Council Chambers. Hosted by Vestavia Hills PTO and the Mountain Brook PTO. State senators and legislators from these areas come and discuss legislation that pertains to our schools. Nov. 17: Heal Alabama Wrap Party & Auction. 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Heal Headquarters, 1360 Montgomery Highway, Suite 116. Sips, appetizers, auction and custom gift wrap. Visit healalabama.org.
Vestavia Hills Library Events Children Mondays: Maker Mondays. 6 p.m. Something for everyone, but adults must accompany children. Tuesdays: Together with Twos. 10:30 a.m. Join Miss Kristin for a rollicking toddler time of stories, songs, finger plays and movement. Ages 18-36 months. Tuesdays: PJ Storytime. 6:30 p.m. Children’s Program Room (except the 3rd Tuesday, which is Family Night). Wednesdays: Story Friends. 10:30 a.m. Join Mrs. Lisa for great stories and songs plus a surprise visitor or two. Ages 5 and under. Thursdays: L.I.F.T. (Library in the Forest Time). 9:30 a.m.-noon. Enjoy special play equipment in the program room for preschoolers and their caregivers
Thursdays: Book Babies. 10 a.m. Ms. Lisa’s story time for babies up to18 mos. Registration required. Nov. 5 & 19: Family Yoga. 10:30 a.m. Class for the whole family. Nov. 8: Ms. Olivia’s Evening Reads. 6 p.m. Historical room. Discussing “The Dinner” by Herman Koch. Nov. 12: Small Fry Gym. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Learn healthy exercise habits. For ages 6 and under.
Teens Fridays: Open Gaming. 4-5:30 p.m. Enjoy video games on the Wii U, PS4, board games to play with fellow teens. Snacks served. Nov. 1: The Playlist. 4 p.m. Monthly YouTube playlist. Snacks served. Nov. 2: Teen Art Group. 4 p.m. Snacks served.
Nov. 14: After School Craft & Snack. 3:30 p.m.
Nov. 8: Harry Potter Fandom Night. 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Celebrate all things Harry Potter. Snacks and butterbeer served.
Nov. 15: Family Night with Ms. Kit’s Bubble Mania. Dinner at 6 p.m. and show at 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 9, 22 & 30: Teen Writing Group. 4 p.m. Snacks served.
Nov. 19: Minecraft in the Forest. 3 p.m. Create, build and dominate. Registration required.
Nov. 15: Otaku Time. 4:30 p.m. Read, discuss and exchange manga. Snacks served.
Nov. 28: Afterschool Craft & Snack. 3:30 p.m.
Nov. 16: Coastermania! 4 p.m. Turn ceramic tiles
into unique coasters with your favorite comics or Instagram images. Snacks served. Nov. 18: Mario Kart Tournament. 4 p.m. Compete to win a Gamestop gift card! Snacks served. Nov. 22: Anime Movie Night. 4 p.m. Engage with fellow otaku and watch the anime of choice. Japanese treats served. Nov. 26: Lego Wars. 11 a.m. Adults Nov. 3: OLLI of Greater Birmingham Presents: Bay of Pigs Debacle. 1:30 p.m.- 3 p.m. Community Room. Presented by Howard Jones, Professor of History, UA, and author. Visit olli.ua.edu for more information. Nov. 3: The Ridge Eat and Drink Book Group. 6-8 p.m. Eat, drink and discuss “The Summer Before the War” by Helen Simonson.
Offer Expires 11/30/2016
VestaviaVoice.com Nov. 4: First Friday Fiber Arts. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Knit, crochet, cross-stitch, crewel, embroidery and smocking. All skill levels welcome. Nov. 8: Apple Mobile Devices Workshop. 2 p.m. Learn how to organize apps, manage passwords, improve battery life, sync with iCloud and manage email. No registration required. Nov. 9: ABCs of Medicare. 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Independent Benefits Advisor Karen Haiflich provides simple and straightforward answers to all your Medicare questions. Free. Nov. 9: Tai Chi in the Forest. 4:30 p.m. Biweekly class taught by a certified instructor. No registration for this free class. Ages 18 and up. Nov. 10: Health Matters Series: Cancers. 6:30 p.m. UAB Professor Amy Badham, M.P.H., will be covering a range of cancer related topics including how to help prevent, manage, recognize and support someone with cancer. Lecture followed by
November 2016 • B31 a Q&A. Nov. 16: Page Turners in the Tree House. 10 a.m. Nonfiction book group will discuss New York Times bestseller “Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget” by Sarah Hepola. Nov. 17: Friends of the Library. 10 a.m. Motivational speaker and author Bob Lujano, a paralympic athlete, will discuss his book, “No Arms, No Legs, No Problem.” Nov. 17: OLLI Presents: Life in Birmingham in 1916. 1-3 p.m. Get a glimpse into the past from news, stories and advertisements gleaned from newspapers published in 1916. Nov. 18: Upcycle City: Let’s Tangle! Zentangle Series. 7 p.m. Artist Darla Williamson will be teaching “Holiday Dangles.” Materials, light snacks and wine will be provided. 21 and up. Registration required.
Area Events Nov. 1: 10th Annual Out of the Darkness Walk, 2:30 p.m. at Heardmont Park. Registration at 1 p.m. Nov. 2: UAB Jazz Ensemble Concert. 7:30 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. Free. Visit alysstephens.org. Nov. 2: Dia de los Muertos Festival. 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Cahaba Brewing Company. Day of the Dead Festival. Visit barehandsinc.org. Nov. 3: Birmingham Art Crawl. 5 p.m. Downtown Birmingham. Meet local artists and performers. Visit birminghamartcrawl.com. Nov. 3: 27th Annual Wine Auction Benefiting Alabama’s Children. 6 p.m. Wine tasting and silent auction. $75 per person. Visit tumtumtreefoundation.org. Nov. 3-6: Christmas Village Festival. BJCC Exhibition Halls. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. $12 adults, children 6-12, $5, 6 and under: free. Visit christmasvillagefestival.com. Nov. 4: Bonnie Raitt. 7 p.m. BJCC Concert Hall. Tickets $129 and up. Visit vividseats.com. Nov. 4: Jeff Dunham Perfectly Unbalanced Tour. 8 p.m. BJCC Legacy Arena. $51. Visit jeffdunham. com. Nov. 4: Alabama Symphony Orchestra Coffee Concert. 11 a.m. Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. $19-$36. Complimentary coffee and pastries before concert. Visit alabamasymphony.org. Nov. 4-5: Alabama Symphony Orchestra EBSCO Masterworks Series. 8 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. $25-$74. Visit alabamasymphony.org. Nov. 5: Vulcan Run 10K. 8 a.m. Boutwell Auditorium. $40 race fee. Visit runsignup.com. Nov. 5: Miles vs. Tuskegee football. 5 p.m. $25$30. Visit milesgoldenbears.com. Nov. 6: Estampas Portenas. 7 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. Buenos Aires Tango Company. $28-$45. Visit alysstephens.org. Nov. 7: BAO Bingo. 7 p.m. Birmingham AIDS Outreach. $15 for 5 games. Visit birminghamaidsoutreach.org. Nov. 7: Brand New. 7:30 p.m. Alabama Theatre. With guests The Front Bottoms and Modern Baseball. $31-$46. Visit fightoffyourdemons.com. Nov. 7: UAB Percussion Ensemble. 7:30 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. Free. Visit uab.edu.
Yakov Kasman, piano. Free. Visit uab.edu. Nov. 11: Veterans Day Parade. 1:30 p,m, Downtown Birmingham. Visit nationalveteransday.org. Nov. 11: Gucci Mane and Friends. 7 p.m. Legacy Arena at BJCC. $28.50-$78.50. Visit bjcc.org. Nov. 11: Kip Moore with special guest Jon Pardi. 8 p.m. Alabama Theatre. $28.50-$32.50. Visit alabamatheatre.com. Nov. 11: UAB Computer Music Ensemble Concert. 7:30 p.m. Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Free. Visit uab.edu. Nov. 11: Magic Men Live! 8 p.m. BJCC Concert Hall. $22-$77. Visit magicmenlive.com. Nov. 11-12: RMTC Veterans Day Celebration. RMTC Cabaret Theatre. Performance by Three on a String and The Seasoned Performers. 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $15. Visit redmountaintheatre.org. Nov. 13: Basetrack Live. 7 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. $28. Visit alysstephens.org. Nov. 14: Carrie Underwood. 7 p.m. Legacy Arena at the BJCC. $44-$74. Visit carrieunderwoodofficial.com. Nov. 14: UAB Gospel Choir presents “The Classics” 7 p.m. $7 general admission, $6 UAB students, faculty and staff. Visit uab.edu. Nov. 15: Bob Dylan and His Band. 8 p.m. BJCC Concert Hall. $62 and $92. Visit bobdylan.com. Nov. 15: UAB Piano Studio and Piano Ensembles Recital. 7:30 p.m. Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Free. Visit uab.edu. Nov. 16: UAB Student Recital. 12:20 p.m. Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Free. Visit uab.edu. Nov. 17: Chamber Music @ AEIVA. 5 p.m. UAB Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts. Reception and concert. Free. Nov. 17-18: UAB Opera presents “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” 7:30 p.m. $10-$20, $5 with student ID. Visit uab.edu. Nov. 18: Alabama Symphony EBSCO Masterworks Series. 8 p.m. Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. $25-$74. Visit alabamasymphony.org. Nov. 23: The 1975. BJCC Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $39.50-$52. Visit the1975.com.
Nov. 8: UAB Jazz Combos Concert. 7:30 p.m. Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Free. Visit uab.edu.
Nov. 25: Festival of Praise Tour 2016. 7:30 p.m. Legacy Arena at the BJCC. $29-$59. Visit festivalofpraisetour.com.
Nov. 9: UAB Brass Chamber Ensemble concert. 7:30 p.m. Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall. Free. Visit uab.edu.
Nov. 25: Casting Crowns with Matt Maher and Hannah Kerr. 7 p.m. Boutwell Auditorium. $25-$75. Visit premierproductions.com.
Nov. 9-19: Vinegar Tom. Alys Stephens Center. Nov. 9-12 and Nov. 16-18 at 7:30 p.m.; Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. Visit alysstephens.org.
Nov. 25: Moon Taxi with The Soul Rebels. 8 p.m. Alabama Theatre. $25.50-$35.50. Visit ridethemoontaxi.com.
Nov. 10: UAB Faculty Recital. 7 p.m. Alys Stephens Center. Featuring Denise Gainey, clarinet and
Nov. 27: Goo Goo Dolls. 7:30 p.m. BJCC Concert Hall. $36-$61. Visit googoodolls.com.