Excitement grows for new pickleball complex on US 31 Pickle!
By LOYD McINTOSH
The Picklr, a much-anticipated indoor pickleball complex on U.S. 31 in Vestavia Hills, is nearing completion.
The 28,000-square-foot facility, housed in the former Sprouts Farmers Market, is set to open in March, the owner said. The Vestavia Hills location will be The Picklr’s first in Alabama and will feature 10 courts, a pro shop and a restaurant. It will also host local pickleball leagues, tournaments and professional events. Pickleball enthusiasts say the new complex can’t open soon enough. Word of The Picklr coming to Vestavia Hills spread quickly through the pickleball community after the October announcement.
Journey to Miss America: Vestavia Hills native Abbie Stockard talks about being ‘authentically Abbie’
By JON ANDERSON
Abbie Stockard never competed in beauty pageants or scholarship competitions growing up.
Although she watched the Miss America competition with her mother and sister over the years, she never imagined she would one day hold the title herself. So when the 22-year-old Auburn University student from Vestavia Hills heard her name called and felt the crown placed on her head in Orlando on Jan. 5, the moment felt surreal.
“I entered my first pageant my freshman year of college on a whim,” she said.
She took part in the Miss Auburn University competition hoping to earn money to help pay for college. She came in
third runner-up but also gained determination to keep trying.
The next weekend, she participated in the Miss Cahaba Valley competition and won, earning her a spot in the Miss Alabama competition. She was third runner-up her first year in Miss Alabama in 2022, then fourth runner-up as Miss Trussville in 2023, and finally won Miss Alabama in 2024 as Miss Hoover.
But Stockard said she believes the key to winning isn’t competing in many pageants. “You win by going in and staying true to your unique and beautiful self, not conforming to what you consider is America’s idea of perfect,” she said.
MISS AMERICA | page 31
Vestavia Hills residents play pickleball at Wald Park. The new indoor Picklr facility hopes to entice many of the area’s residents Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
Miss Alabama 2024 Abbie Stockard takes a walk as the new Miss America 2025 in Orlando on Jan. 5. Photo courtesy of Houston M Photography.
Editor’s Note By Jon Anderson
Before this year, only three women from Alabama had ever been crowned Miss America.
Yolande Betbeze achieved the honor in 1951, followed by Heather Whitestone in 1995 and Deidre Downs in 2005.
Twenty years later, Vestavia Hills native Abbie Stockard became the fourth, cementing her place in history.
In this edition, we share more about Stockard’s journey to becoming Miss America, what the experience has been like so far, and what the year ahead looks like for her.
Make sure to check out the other cover story about the new pickleball complex set to open along U.S. 31
in Vestavia Hills, which will help meet pent-up demand for the sport. We also highlight Vestavia Hills’ Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year: Haley Wright, from Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights, and Ann Pickens, from the Vestavia Hills High School Freshman Campus. Happy reading, and happy Valentine’s Day!
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Introducing the Starnes Media Creator Collective
Apply to be a part of the inaugural class of aspiring high
By STAFF
school content creators
Starnes Media, publisher of Vestavia Voice, is set to launch the Starnes Media Creator Collective, a mentorship program designed to provide local high school students with hands-on experience in journalism, storytelling and media production.
“This initiative is personal to me,” said Tim Stephens, general manager and editor-in-chief of Starnes Media. “I’ve seen firsthand how mentorship opportunities like this can change the trajectory of a young person’s life, instilling confidence, developing critical skills and inspiring creativity. The Creator Collective will help students discover their passion for storytelling while producing work that resonates with their communities.”
Applications for the program will be accepted through Feb. 21. Eligible candidates include current high school seniors graduating in May, as well as sophomores and juniors who will be juniors and seniors
during the 2025-26 academic year. Up to six students will be selected from Vestavia Hills High School to serve as correspondents for Vestavia Voice.
Additionally, students who live in these communities, but do not attend one of the high schools listed above are welcome to apply as well.
Applicants are required to submit a completed application form, a writing or multimedia sample and a letter of recommendation from a teacher or mentor.
The selection process will evaluate candidates based on creativity, commitment to the program’s mission, potential for growth and availability to participate in workshops and cover events both remotely and within the community during the course of the academic year. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for video conference interviews scheduled Feb. 26-28 with final selections announced on March 5.
The program is set to commence in March and will run through
May 2026. Key milestones include an orientation in March, monthly workshops throughout the program duration, a graduation project this May and a final showcase in May of next year.
Participants will benefit from mentorship provided by seasoned professionals, gaining practical experience in producing articles, videos and social media content. The program also emphasizes life skills development, focusing on areas such as resume building, college and internship guidance, financial literacy, personal branding, networking and time management.
The Starnes Media Creator Collective is a mentorship program for high school students in Birmingham’s top public and private schools. Led by award-winning media professional Tim Stephens, students gain hands-on experience in:
• News writing, interviewing, and content creation
• Social media management, photography, and video production
• Professional ethics and responsibilities
• Students will produce content for Starnes Media’s six hyperlocal publications and receive structured mentoring from professional journalists.
Students will create print and digital content for Starnes Media, attend workshops on journalism, social media, and video and lead the May 2025 Graduation Special.
“We are thrilled to provide this opportunity for students to explore their passion for storytelling,” said Dan Starnes, founder and president of Starnes Media. “By investing in the next generation of journalists and content creators, we are contributing to their personal and professional growth and also enriching the quality of local journalism in our communities.”
An advisory board comprising industry professionals, educators and community leaders will provide strategic guidance and support to ensure the program aligns with industry standards and educational
goals. The board will also assist in pursuit of resources that create learning opportunities for participating students.
Businesses interested in supporting the Creator Collective through sponsorship or advertising opportunities are encouraged to contact Stephens at tstephens@starnesmedia. com or by phone at 205-313-1780.
“Partnering with local businesses is essential to the success of this program,” Stephens said. “Their support will enable us to provide valuable resources and opportunities to aspiring young journalists in our community.”
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Members of the Starnes Media editorial staff — from left, Jon Anderson, Sarah Owens, Savannah Schmidt, Tim Stephens, Kyle Parmley, Cady Inabinett and Taylor Bright — will serve as mentors for students selected to participate. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
Graceful Aging wants to help you move with confidence
The American population is aging rapidly, meaning that more and more people are living longer. Many of these seniors are seeking ways to maintain their health and increase the quality of their lives.
One thing is certain — they must exercise regularly if they wish to age gracefully, keep their independence and maintain a great quality of life.
That’s where Graceful Aging comes in.
“Our slogan is ‘Age with grace. Move with confidence,’” says Sarah Brumfield, a Certified Fitness Trainer and the founder of Graceful Aging.
Graceful Aging offers top-quality, in-home training to seniors to help them improve strength, balance and flexibility, to reduce fall risk and to increase longevity.
Serving Mountain Brook, Vestavia, Homewood and Hoover, Graceful Aging provides seniors in with individualized fitness programs they can enjoy in their own homes with professional trainers.
One-on-one sessions with trainers "ensure proper techniques and reduce risk of injury, but also build relationships that improve social and mental well-being," Brumfield says. “Our programs are individualized based off each client’s health history, current functional status and personal goals.”
Following such a personalized program “is essential for living a happy and healthy life," Brumfield says.
Routine fitness can help improve mood and cognitive function and "reduce the onset or frequency of conditions associated with aging, such as heart disease, Type II diabetes and osteoporosis," she says.
Brumfield is a certified personal trainer through the International Sports Sciences Association, specializing in senior fitness training, and is a licensed physical therapist assistant. A Mississippi native, she became a
physical therapist in 2005 and began helping seniors to regain their independence following injuries, surgeries and illness.
After 15 years of working in the recovery setting, Brumfield shifted her focus and found her true passion – preventative wellness and fall prevention.
“In working with seniors, I learned quickly just how detrimental a single fall could be,” she says. “Even for the fortunate few that do not sustain physical injuries from the first fall, the fear of recurring falls will lead to
Graceful Aging
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increased risk of falling. The fear itself can steal the quality of life from the aging adult. With my knowledge and experience, I am confident I can reduce the risk of falls by teaching proper techniques and providing strength, flexibility and balance training.”
A resident of Mountain Brook, Brumfield moved to the Birmingham area with her family in 2019 and opened Graceful Aging in 2021.
Birmingham native Michele Smith is also a trainer with Graceful Aging. A certified personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, Smith has specializations in functional movement training, overall wellness and endurance and strength training.
“Don’t wait until you have a decline in function or a fall to make health your priority," Brumfield says.
Many Baby Boomers in the Birmingham area are getting that message, Brumfield says.
“Baby Boomers seem to be more health conscious than previous generations,” she says. “They value lifelong learning and thrive to stay strong, both mentally and physically.”
Graceful Aging offers one-on-one 50-minute sessions, a monthly hybrid fitness training package, 25-minute add-ons for assisted stretching and mobility and home assessments. All equipment is provided. For more information, call 601-597-2442 or go to gracefulagingbirmingham.com.
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Former police officer announces bid for mayor
By JON ANDERSON
A former Vestavia Hills police officer said he plans to challenge Vestavia Hills Mayor Ashley Curry in the 2025 city election.
Richard Cheatwood, a 53-year-old Vestavia Hills resident who served 19 years in the Vestavia Hills Police Department before being fired in 2017, said he believes he could do a good job leading the city.
He doesn’t think the city manager position is needed and believes current city officials waste money and don’t shop around enough for the best deal when buying items, such as motorcycles, he said.
He also didn’t appreciate city school officials trying to raise property taxes for schools last year, particularly at a time when inflation was pushing up the cost of so many things.
“Just because you have a little money doesn’t mean you want to spend it,” Cheatwood said.
He also would like to make it so that taxes going to schools are paid only by people who have children in schools, he said.
Cheatwood said the city needs to do more to solve stormwater flooding problems and should stop paying to have trash hauled to Montgomery to be sorted for recycling. He also would like Vestavia Hills to try to separate from the Jefferson County Personnel Board and re-establish a public safety dispatch team in Vestavia Hills instead of contracting out 911 service to Shelby County.
He also thinks the city needs to provide its own towing service for the Police Department because towing companies don’t treat people
fairly. Additionally, he believes the city of Vestavia Hills needs a new city attorney who does not also represent the Vestavia Hills school board.
Cheatwood said the reason given for his termination in 2017 was “conduct unbecoming of a police officer.” He said city officials claimed he threatened to shoot up City Hall but said that wasn’t true.
Cheatwood said city officials were trying to force him into retiring with disability and sent him to a psychiatrist to evaluate his mental and emotional health and determine if he was “fit for duty.”
He said he filed a federal age discrimination lawsuit in August 2017 after he wasn’t promoted from officer to corporal, but he lost that suit. He also had two hearings with the Jefferson County Personnel Board and appealed his case to Jefferson County Circuit Court but lost in each of those instances, he said.
Cheatwood said he was charged with intimidating a witness after he texted the city’s “star witness” in the case against him but ended up pleading guilty to harassing communications, a misdemeanor, because he felt that was his best option.
His decision to run for mayor is not a case of “sour grapes,” he said.
“I’m seven years removed from all that,” he said. Rather, he said he has spent 19 years in the city, has good relationships with residents, and thinks he could represent them well.
The 2025 city election is scheduled for Aug. 26. The qualifying period to run for office is June 10-24.
VINTAGE MARKET DAYS
Richard Cheatwood will run against Vestavia Hills Mayor Ashley Curry in the 2025 city election. Photo courtesy of Richard Cheatwood.
We started our new year with a very pleasant surprise: Miss Abbie Stockard, a Vestavia Hills resident, was crowned Miss America for 2025. However, the people who know her would tell you it’s not surprising at all.
Mayor’s Minute
By Ashley Curry
I am told that from her days at Vestavia Hills High School until today, she has always shown class, compassion and a willingness to serve. She will represent our state and nation well. Abbie plans to use the Miss America platform to raise awareness about cystic fibrosis. Congratulations, Abbie!
After the extremely cold weather we experienced last month, I suspect we’ll look forward to Groundhog Day on Feb. 2. Each year in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, thousands of people gather at Gobbler’s Knob to watch their beloved groundhog emerge from his burrow. According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather.
I am optimistic Phil will not see his shadow, and we can count on an early spring. By the way, Phil’s accuracy rate is about 40 percent, so I wouldn’t bet on the outcome.
Feb. 14 is Valentine’s Day. According to the Greeting Card Association, we send about 145 million Valentine’s Day cards each year, not counting the ones kids pass out in classrooms.
So, when you lick your stamps this year, know you’re participating in an age-old tradition—and not just a commercial one.
This month, your elected officials and city leadership will engage in our annual strategic planning session, during which priorities for this year will be addressed. In determining future priorities, we rely on results from our anonymous citizen survey. The priorities identified by residents will guide our focus for the year.
Some projects are already underway, including the Massey Road project, which involves lane widening and sidewalk construction. Additionally, we’ll hopefully see the completion of the pedestrian bridge connecting Wald Park and the library. Discussions about stormwater issues and our city’s sidewalk plan will also continue.
There will also be discussions about our city’s 75th anniversary this year. The city and the Vestavia Hills Historical Society are planning an event to recognize all that our city has accomplished since its humble beginnings in 1950.
On Oct. 24, 1950, 88 of 96 voters approved the incorporation of Vestavia Hills. With a current population of almost 40,000, we have certainly grown. I look forward to the coming year and the city’s continued success.
SCHOOLHOUSE
Vestavia’s Teachers of the Year known for knowledge, heart
By JON ANDERSON
Ann Pickens joined the teaching staff at Vestavia Hills High School’s Freshman Campus in January 2023.
It can be tough coming into a school in the middle of a school year, but Pickens hit the ground running like a rock star, her principal, Bill Mann, said.
“She made an impact in our school just as soon as she walked in the door,” Mann said.
She’s not only good at engaging with students; she has a special talent for recognizing strengths in other teachers and empowering them to have a voice, Mann said.
“She immediately became a collaborative leader,” he said. “She creates a more collaborative learning environment for teachers, which in turn provides a better learning experience for students. … That’s what makes her special. She makes everybody around her better. It’s just who she is. It’s not based on having been here a while.”
Pickens, who teaches world history, was selected as the Vestavia Hills City Schools Secondary Teacher of the Year for this year, while Haley Wright, a fifth-grade teacher at Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights, was named the system’s Elementary Teacher of the Year.
SECONDARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Pickens grew up in Hoover and got a taste of teaching while working as a summer counselor at Camp Winnetaska in Pell City. She enjoyed working with teenagers and wanted a career that helps other people reach their goals, she said.
She obtained a bachelor’s degree in history from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, and then a master’s degree in history from Baylor University in Texas. She moved back to Cleveland for her first teaching job and taught at Walker Valley High School for 15 years before moving back to the Birmingham area about four years ago.
She worked in the Shelby County school system for a year and a half before joining the staff at Vestavia Hills High School’s Freshman Campus.
“Teaching history is a really cool opportunity because you get to watch kids learn about the larger world and kind of engage in big questions like why our world looks like it does today,” Pickens said.
It’s more than just rote memorization of facts and dates, she said. It’s helping them understand the big picture of the way the world operates and how different parts of the world are connected.
She likes teaching freshmen because they often come into high school excited about new opportunities to challenge themselves, she said.
“We get to determine the tone of their high
school experience.”
She also enjoys getting to know students outside of the classroom and building relationships with them in different ways, like finding ways to serve others.
In Tennessee, she was the student government sponsor and developed a leadership class for students. At Vestavia’s Freshman Campus, she helped start a new Peer Helpers group that teaches students how to help their peers make healthy choices, solve conflicts and build better relationships.
Mann said Pickens is passionate about her content and understands how to get students engaged so they can learn.
Ben Osborne, a fellow world history teacher in his 24th year, said Pickens is one of the most competent teachers with whom he has served.
“She’s really great at working with her students. She’s great at making really solid connections,” he said. And she does that regardless of a student’s performance level, he said.
While she’s a great teacher, she’s an even better person, Mann said.
“She’s invested in her students’ lives beyond just content in the classroom, and that’s what makes her special and what makes kids gravitate to her.”
ELEMENTARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Wright grew up in Moulton in north Alabama
and first majored in engineering when she went to Auburn University, but “the calling for teaching was there in the beginning,” she said.
Her parents were both in education, and even as a student, she found she had a knack for helping explain things to her fellow students, she said.
She changed to elementary education and did her student teaching at Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park in the fall of 2013 and, after graduating from Auburn, got a long-term substitute job at Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights for a year.
She then taught four years at Liberty Park before moving back to Cahaba Heights, where she lives. She has taught third, fourth and fifth grades and currently teaches math, science and social studies to fifth-graders.
Her favorite subject is math. She grew up with not much confidence in her math skills, but teachers taught her that math is not so much about memorization and how fast you find answers, she said. “Problem-solving is a long process. It takes time,” she said.
Now, she hopes to give all her students the confidence that they, too, can do math.
Wright also said it’s important to her to teach the school’s core values of empathy, kindness, grit, responsibility, integrity and service.
“I want my students to leave being good people,” she said. “I care about them. They are what brings me here every day.”
Ann Marie Corgill, Wright’s teaching partner and a former Alabama Teacher of the Year, said Wright is a consummate professional. In a time when many people are focused on kids’ weaknesses, Wright has a talent for finding kids’ strengths and using those to motivate kids, Corgill said.
She is a great listener, Corgill added. “She’s one of those that listens not to respond to what you’re saying. She wants to understand with an open and empathetic heart. That’s rare in our world.”
Wright also leads professional development for teachers at the school, district, state and national levels.
“She’s not about learning for herself,” Corgill said. “She’s about spreading that knowledge and understanding so that all kids can benefit.”
Her principal, Kim Polson, said Wright has a great understanding of the best practices of teaching, but she’s never satisfied.
“She always wants to do more and learn more and then turn around and share that learning with others,” Polson said. “She just hits that out of the park.”
She’s very humble and empathetic, “and those values create a classroom experience for her students where they know that they’re safe. They know that they’re loved,” Polson said. “We’re very fortunate to have her in our building.”
Left: Ann Pickens, a world history teacher at Vestavia Hills High School’s Freshman Campus, was recently named Vestavia’s 2024-25 Secondary Teacher of the Year.. Right: Haley Wright, a fifth grade teacher at Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights, is the district’s Elementary Teacher of the Year. Photos courtesy of Ann Pickens.
Survey: Schools good on communication, need transparency
By JON ANDERSON
The Vestavia Hills school system is doing a good job of communicating with its stakeholders but could improve its transparency and trustworthiness, according to a communications audit conducted by the National School Public Relations Association.
Seventy-nine percent of parents and 83% of employees who answered a survey said the school district was doing an excellent or above-average job with communication, but only 45% of survey respondents from the broader community felt that way, according to survey results.
Nine percent of community respondents rated the district’s communication as below average or poor, as did 4% of parents and 2% of employees. The rest, including 45% of the community respondents, rated the district’s communication as average.
However, it’s worth noting that the survey given to the broader community Aug. 26 through Sept. 9 was completed by only 12 of 38,600 people surveyed—less than 1% of a community response. This creates a much higher margin of error.
Of 5,000 parents or guardians surveyed, 708 people (14%) completed the survey, and of 500 faculty or staff surveyed, 228 (46%) responded.
Between 75% and 85% of parents indicated school system communications were easy to understand, accurate, timely and trustworthy, but only about 63% of parents who responded described the communications as open and transparent.
Among school system employees, between 85% and 90% indicated school system communications were easy to understand, accurate, timely and trustworthy, while about 70% described communications as open and transparent.
Parents and employees said they felt more
informed about school events, safety and crisis issues, district achievements and student successes. However, they reported feeling less informed about district finances, facilities and leadership decisions.
Focus groups conducted Sept. 23 and Sept. 24 found universal pride in the school system and appreciation for district communication efforts. However, participants expressed a desire for school officials to take an active role in combating social media misinformation and rumors, as well as to improve the school system’s website design and accessibility.
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An audit conducted by the National School
Relations Association recommended the district develop a comprehensive communication plan, review its communication platforms, consolidate communication efforts, enhance the district website’s usability and accessibility, prioritize proactive and transparent communication, foster two-way communication, and provide professional development for consistent communications.
Superintendent Todd Freeman told the school board that in recent months, district officials have tried to release information more quickly when
safety questions arise.
“Less is not always more,” Freeman said. “That helps combat some of the misinformation that can get out there or rumors or speculations that can occur.”
He cited an incident in December in which school officials arrived at the central office to find a glass panel at the front entrance shattered. Multiple police vehicles were present as parents were bringing students to Vestavia Hills Elementary West, which may have raised concerns. In response, school officials decided to release a statement.
Public
Vestavia Hills Board of Education President Scott Brown, left talks with Superintendent Todd Freeman during a school board meeting on Jan. 6.
Photo by Jon Anderson.
SCHOOLHOUSE
School board, Hall of Fame honor Waggoner family
By JON ANDERSON
State Sen. Jabo Waggoner and his family have meant a lot to the Vestavia Hills school system over the decades — especially the baseball program at Vestavia Hills High School.
Naming the building that houses the baseball field’s concession stand, restrooms, dressing room and press box after the Waggoner family was fitting, school Superintendent Todd Freeman said.
Whether helping with athletic or academic needs, “he’s always just worked behind the scenes to support our schools,” Freeman said.
The Vestavia Hills school board made the decision on Jan. 6 when it approved a $2.3 million renovation of the facility, which will be called the Waggoner Family Field House at Sammy Dunn Field to honor Waggoner, his wife, Marilyn, and their children Scott, Mark, Lyn and Jay.
Jay Waggoner was a standout baseball player for Vestavia Hills, helping lead the school to its first baseball state championship during his senior year in 1991. He was a first-team All-American and also helped the Auburn Tigers reach the College World Series in 1994. He was then drafted by the Detroit Tigers and played in their minor league system for two years.
The current concession stand, restrooms, dressing room and press box are all outdated and in much need of renovation, Freeman said. The bathrooms are extremely small and dated, and the building’s design leads to crowded conditions around the seating area, Freeman said.
Perhaps most importantly, there are safety concerns with the building, and it needs to be brought up to current building codes, he said.
The Vestavia Hills school board is spending about $160,000 of its own money to cover
architect design fees. The city of Vestavia Hills, which routinely uses the field for its middle school program, tournaments and championship games, is contributing $1.2 million, and $800,000 is coming from grants through the lieutenant governor’s capital improvement fund, Sen. Waggoner and Jefferson County Commissioner Mike Bolin, Freeman said. The rest of the funding is coming from corporate and other private donations, he said.
Vestavia Hills Councilman Rusty Weaver
said Jay Waggoner is the only Vestavia Hills baseball player to have had his jersey number retired at the school. His father has always had a soft spot for the baseball program, and they have been talking about the needed improvements to the building since early 2020, Weaver said.
School board member Jay Stewart, who graduated from Vestavia Hills High School with Jay Waggoner and played baseball with him, said Marilyn Waggoner has supported the school and baseball program every step of the way as well.
Stewart said he remembers when thousands of people showed up for a championship baseball game, and there weren’t proper restroom facilities to accommodate them. “This has been a long time coming,” he said.
The Vestavia Hills Sports Hall of Fame has also selected Sen. Waggoner for induction into the Hall of Fame this year in the distinguished citizen category. Hall of Fame officials also decided to name the Distinguished Citizen Award after Waggoner.
State Sen. Jabo Waggoner, second from left in front, poses for a photo with family at the Vestavia Hills High School baseball program’s 2025 leadoff dinner at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center on Jan. 16.
Photo courtesy of Rusty Weaver.
In the Classroom
GET TO KNOW
Student assistance counselor Anna Gaston
By STAFF
Anna Gaston is the student assistance counselor for Vestavia Hills City Schools, assisting students across the district.
Q: How long have you worked in schools?
A: I’ve been a social worker for 27 years, and I’ve been a school social worker for the past 10 years.
Q: What inspired you to become an educator?
A: I was inspired to become a school social worker because of the opportunity to directly connect with so many different people. I provide direct support to children and their families, K–12, across the district. I’m also able to be a team member with faculty and staff as we all work toward the common goal of supporting students.
Q: Tell us about your favorite teacher from when you were in school.
A: My most favorite teacher when I was in school was Miss McClinton, who was my fourth-grade teacher at Edgewood Elementary in Homewood. She was the kindest teacher I had ever had, and she supported me both emotionally and academically.
Q: What is the most rewarding part of working in schools?
A: The most rewarding part of being a school social worker is the positive connections I am able to build through relationships with students, their families and staff. I’m able to watch growth in so many different areas.
ACCOLADES
Peace of Mind
Rebelettes take 1st place in state competition
By JON ANDERSON
The Vestavia Hills High School
Rebelette dance teams captured firstplace wins at the National Dance Alliance’s Bama Dance Championships.
The 15 varsity Rebelettes won first place in both their team performance routine and game day routine, while the 18 junior varsity Rebelettes took first place in team performance and second place in their game day routine.
The state championship competition was held at Hoover High School. Due to snow that weekend, it was a very small competition this year, with only two teams performing a varsity game day routine and two teams performing a junior varsity jazz routine, varsity sponsor Charity Jones said. Vestavia Hills had no competition in the team performance category, she said.
The varsity Rebelettes also received a technical excellence award for their team performance dance, while the junior varsity team earned an innovative choreography award for its team performance dance.
The Rebelettes now head to the NDA’s National Dance Championship in Orlando on Feb. 14–16, Jones said.
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Gaston
The Vestavia Hills High School varsity Rebelettes, top, and junior varsity, above, won 2025 state championships in the team performance category. The varsity team also won first place with their game day routine. Photos courtesy of Vestavia Hills City Schools.
BUSINESS
Business Buzz
BUSINESS HAPPENINGS
RELOCATIONS AND RENOVATIONS
River Bank and Trust is relocating its Birmingham region office from the Park South Plaza in Vestavia Hills to a site about 1.3 miles north on U.S. 31. The bank chose the former CVS Pharmacy building at 1100 Montgomery Highway, which will allow it to have a drive-through and almost double its space from 5,700 square feet to 11,000 square feet, Birmingham region President Brian Ethridge said. Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood is working on a redesign of the building and renovation plans, and the bank hopes to begin construction by May 1, Ethridge said. “We want to be in the fourth quarter of this year,” he said.
205-588-0500, riverbankandtrust.com
NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce on Jan.
14 handed out its annual business awards. The awards given and recipients were:
► Retail Business of the Year: Mudtown and The Ridge Eat & Drink
► Service Business of the Year: Jackson, Howard & Whatley, CPAs
► Nonprofit Organization of the Year: Vestavia Hills Methodist Church
► Member of the Year: Vestavia Dental
► Board Member of the Year: Kelly Atchison, Two Men and a Truck
► Volunteer of the Year: Kevin Wade, ITAC Solutions
► Dr. Charles A. “Scotty” McCallum Leadership Award: Tracy Thornton, Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce director of membership and marketing
► Chair’s Choice Award: Katherine McRee, Lili Pad & Gigi’s
► President’s Choice Award: Christina Babineaux, IRA Innovations
► Chairman’s Award: Clabe Dobbs, People’s Bank of Alabama
► Lifetime Membership Award: Ben Chambliss, Jackson, Howard & Whatley, CPAs
The chamber also installed officers and its board of directors for 2025. They are:
► Chairwoman: Keri Bates, Rocky Ridge Drug Co.
► Chairman-elect: Taylor Burton, Taylor Burton Co.
► Vice Chairwoman of Membership Development: Christina Babineaux, IRA Innovations
► Vice Chairman of Business Development: Andrew Burke, General Informatics
► Vice Chairwoman of Community Affairs: Kelly Atchison, Two Men and a Truck
► Vice Chairwoman of Programming: McDonald’s/ Black Family Restaurants
► Vice Chairwoman of Public Education: Ashley Moss,
Village Dermatology
► Immediate Past Chairman: Clabe Dobbs, People’s Bank of Alabama
► Director: Bob Barker, Big Color
► Director: Brian Fisher, Community Bank
► Director: Bridget Glasgow, ERA King Real Estate
► Director: Tyler Kime, Standard Heating, Cooling & Plumbing
► Director: Katherine McRee, Lili Pad & Gigi’s
► Director: Roger Steur, Method Mortgage
► Director: Grant Thomas, Thomas & Associates
► Director: Kevin Wade, ITAC Solutions
► Treasurer: Roger Jackson, Jackson, Howard & Whatley, CPAs
► Secretary/Legal Counsel: Mark Macoy 205-823-5011, vestaviahills.org
Do you have news to share about a business in Vestavia Hills or the greater Birmingham area? Let us know at starnesmedia.com/business-happenings
Vestavia Voice is spotlighting local businesses in print and online. Submit your business for consideration here: go.starnesmedia.com/business-spotlight
Christie Howell, a Vestavia Hills resident who owns the Wrapsody gift boutiques in Trussville, Homewood, Hoover, Auburn and Madison, has been elected to the Alabama Retail Association’s board of directors. Her two-year term began Jan. 1. Wrapsody employs 88 people at its five locations. Howell worked at the Auburn Wrapsody store while in college. When she purchased the business in 2017, Wrapsody was in Hoover and Auburn only. Over the next seven years, Howell moved the Hoover store and added three new stores. In 2023, with a Small Business Administration loan, she and her husband, Reel, bought several parcels of property on 18th Street and Linden Avenue in Homewood. Besides a store, Wrapsody’s warehouse and corporate office are in Homewood. Wrapsody has been a member of the Alabama Retail Association since 2005 and was recognized in 2023 as the Gold Alabama Retailer of the Year for businesses with annual sales between $5 million and $20 million. Howell is also part owner of Once Upon a Time, a children’s boutique in Homewood and Mountain Brook. Once Upon a Time has been an ARA member since 2007 and was recognized in 2016 as the Gold Alabama Retailer of the Year for businesses with sales of less than $1 million. 205-974-1388, shopwrapsody.com
Katherine Smith has been named the new CEO of the Birmingham Association of Realtors and Greater Alabama MLS. Smith has served as interim association executive since July following the departure of former CEO Amanda Creel to the Memphis Area Association of Realtors. Before that, Smith served as the Birmingham Association of Realtors' vice president of operations since March 2016. As the new CEO, Smith plan to spearhead initiatives focusing on promoting the values of the association and MLS and expanding communication efforts to members and subscribers, the organization said. 205-871-1911; birminghamrealtors.com
PERSONNEL MOVES
Patrick Warren, a Realtor with the Cahaba Heights office of ARC Realty, has been elected 2025 president of the Birmingham Association of Realtors. Other officers are Vice President Kevin Sargent of ARC Realty’s Trussville office, Treasurer Diane Knight of RealtySouth’s Chilton County office, Secretary Brandon Smith of RE/MAX Advantage South, Immediate Past President Chris Wood of RealtySouth’s Inverness office and Greater Alabama MLS President Kristina Knowles of Knowles Realty. Other directors include Kimberly Benefield of Sweet HomeLife, LaTonya Butler of EPI Real Estate, Stacy DeVoe of ERA King-Birmingham, Kyle Forstman of Embridge Realty, Janet Hamm of ARC Realty-Alabama, Lori King of Keller Williams Realty-Hoover, Ann March of ARC Realty-Hoover, Richard McLemore of ERA King-Birmingham, Stephanie Nelson of ERA King-Birmingham, Joy Stanley of Keller Williams Realty-Hoover, Timothy Taylor of Barnes & Associates, John David Terpo of ERA King-Birmingham, Shannon Wilks of Sold South Realty, Senia Johnson of Keller Williams Realty-Vestavia Hills (ex-officio) and David Lucas of eXp Realty-Central (ex-officio). 205-871-1911, birminghamrealtors.com
America’s First Federal Credit Union, with a location at 1112 Montgomery Highway in Vestavia Hills, has two nominees to fill vacancies on the credit union’s board of directors. They are Melanie McNary, who previously served on the board from 2017 to 2023, and Jim Dorris. McNary is vice president of human resources at Power Grid Components. She previously served as human resources director for BLOX, senior human resources consultant for Human Resources Management, and ice president and senior human resources business partner for Protective Life Corp. Dorris is a senior technology leader at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. He previously served as a strategic accounts manager and regional general manager at GE Capital IT Solutions. Credit union members are scheduled to vote on filling the vacancies at the credit union’s annual meeting on April 15.
205-582-5270, amfirst.org
Burn Boot Camp has promoted Brandi Davis to be the regional community manager for all four of its Birmingham area locations (Vestavia Hills, Homewood, Meadow Brook and Hoover). She has been a member of Burn Boot Camp since May of 2019. She taught first grade for 10 years at McAdory Elementary School and has been a substitute teacher for Hoover City Schools for many years. She also was the hospitality chairwoman for Gwin Elementary School and Hoover High School for years. Burn Boot Camp’s new Vestavia Hills location at 1425 Montgomery Highway, Suite 133, has brought in Brittany Swearengen as its head trainer. Swearengen has spent the past two years as a trainer at Burn Boot Camp’s Meadow Brook location and has a total of 10 years of experience in training and coaching. She has a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology with a concentration in exercise science from the University of Alabama at Huntsville and a master’s degree in health and human performance from University of the Southwest. Other staff members include certified personal trainer Michelle Awtry, support trainer Mary Catherine Roche, client experience manager Kortney Phifer, client experience representatives Michelle Colafrancesco, Libbi Isbell and Amy Anderson, and childwatch manager Roxanne Roddam 205-717-8805, burnbootcamp.com
Warren
Smith
McNary
Dorris
Danica Kempinski, owner, Hotworx in Vestavia Hills
By STAFF
Danica Kempinski is the owner of Hotworx in Vestavia Hills. In this interview, she shares what sets a Hotworx workout apart from other workouts and how she got started with the studio.
Q: Tell us about your business.
A: Hotworx Vestavia Hills is a 24/7 infrared fitness studio, meaning that you work out and exercise in infrared saunas.
Q: How did you get involved with the business?
A: I got involved with Hotworx because I actually have been a yoga instructor for more than 10 years. I teach other forms of fitness, and [Hotworx] holds a virtual instructor competition every year to look for their newest virtual instructors. I applied in 2020, ended up winning, and fell in love with the product, the brand, the people, the benefits, and decided to purchase one myself.
Q: What sets you apart from your competitors?
A: I find this question interesting because I don't really know of any competitors of Hotworx. I don't know anywhere else that you can go work out in an infrared sauna and experience that same experience. Compared to other fitness studios, we are adding another level of health and wellness.
Not only are we 24/7 with unlimited access, but we are affordable and we provide infrared therapy during our workouts. So, it's just a whole different type of fitness.
Q: What would your customers say they like about you?
A: They love the results they see. Our customers love the benefits they feel from infrared therapy and the results that they see and feel.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add?
A: I think it's important to note that your first session is free. This is like no other workout, so we want you to experience it, understand it, feel it, and see for yourself how it is.
SPOTLIGHT
Upward Behavioral Health offers small groups for insomnia treatment, other therapies
By STAFF
Upward Behavioral Health, based at 1952 Urban Center Parkway in Liberty Park, treats people who are dealing with insomnia, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, phobias, panic attacks, nightmares, adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, chronic pain and tic disorder.
offer group care that delivers results equivalent to those achieved in individual care,” she said.
The practice also offers comprehensive evaluations for autism and ADHD in children.
Upward Behavioral Health has one of only five board-certified behavioral sleep specialists in Alabama and two of only three Alabama psychologists listed in the International Directory of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia.
The practice offers cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in both individual therapy and small group formats, said Dr. Susan Rathmell, a licensed clinical psychologist on staff. Others on the team include Dr. Misti Norton (also a licensed clinical psychologist), Dr. Kathleen Ramsey (a clinical child psychologist) and Maegan McRoberts (a licensed mental health therapist).
Offering care in a group setting allows them to help more clients and offer assistance at a reduced cost, Rathmell said. “We are able to
Upward Behavioral Health offers in-person appointments in the Birmingham area and telehealth appointments to clients anywhere in Alabama.
“The care Upward offers is relationship-focused, evidence-based, data-driven and delivers measurable results in a reasonable timeframe,” Rathmell said. “Our providers have had decades of experience in treating a wide array of mental health and behavioral concerns. Clients who engage in care with Upward should expect to receive gold-standard treatment for their condition, consistent monitoring of progress and measurable movement toward their goals within two to three months.”
Visit upwardbehavioralhealth.com to schedule a free consultation with one of the practice’s licensed providers.
Kempinski
TherapySouth providing ‘Hands On Care, Close to Home — and Work!’
Q: What makes TherapySouth stand out in the physical therapy industry?
A: TherapySouth is a private, physical therapist-owned practice that has been serving the greater Birmingham communities for over 15 years. Our numerous convenient locations across the metro area allows us to live out our message of providing “Hands On Care, Close to Home — and Work!”. Our staff develop relationships with each patient and truly make the clinic environment feel like a family. With access to quality physical therapy care, we believe we can help our community live better, healthier lives!
Q: Why should someone see a physical therapist?
A: Most often, patients are referred to one of our clinics by their orthopedic surgeon or primary care physician to assist with recovery from an injury or procedure. But, physical therapy is beneficial to anyone seeking pain relief and improved function. The physical therapy approach is to evaluate the neuromuscular and musculoskeletal systems and address movement limitations or malalignments that are affecting mobility and causing pain. When patients come to physical
THERAPYSOUTH
therapy first, they can often avoid unnecessary surgery and medication. Through intentional exercises and hands-on treatment,
patients can get back to their hobbies, everyday tasks and more.
Q: Do I need a doctor’s referral to schedule an appointment at
► WHERE: 1944 Canyon Road, Suite 100
► CALL: 205-822-7607
► WEB: therapysouth.com
TherapySouth?
A: Patients are able to schedule an appointment without a physician’s referral. Your therapist will perform an initial evaluation to determine if therapy is appropriate for you. They will work with your primary care physician, or physician specialist to create your best care plan. To schedule an appointment, patients can call the clinic directly or visit our website to check appointment availability and set up an initial visit.
Q: What would you like potential patients to know about your practice?
A: We take our core values very seriously. We are a company based on faith that believes in family, integrity, service, compassion, fitness, perseverance, and giving. We try to instill these values in all our employees and encourage them to live them out not only at work as professionals, but also in their personal lives.
Renew Dermatology at Greystone promises high-level care, same-day appointments
RENEW DERMATOLOGY
Jennifer Bares, a board-certified dermatologist at Renew Dermatology, may have studied dermatology under world-renowned doctors in New York, but when it came time to set her roots, she knew she would return to Alabama with her husband.
“We just wanted to be closer to family when we started having kids, and we decided to move back because both my parents and my husband’s family are here in town,” Bares said.
Upon returning, she joined Renew Dermatology, which has offices in Homewood and Greystone.
Renew Dermatology, established in 2018, recently expanded to Greystone in August 2023 to meet increasing demand. In addition to Bares, co-owner Kristy Curl and nurse practitioners Caroline Wilson and Taylor Holsombeck serve the Greystone office.
“Greystone was an obvious choice for us because I had already seen patients in that area for seven years prior to opening Renew,” Curl said. “After a brief hiatus while establishing the Homewood office, I wanted to be able to move closer for those established patients who had been making the trek down 280 for me. With my ties to the
► WHERE: 2827 Greystone Commercial Blvd. in Greystone and 1651 Independence Court in Homewood
► CALL: 205-580-1500
► WEB: renew dermatology.net
Greystone community, and with Dr. Bares family ties, it was an easy decision.”
The Greystone team is excited to be able to serve the area and other communities further down 280.
“It’s been such a pleasure to be back,” Curl said.
The Greystone clinic focuses on a mix of medical and cosmetic dermatology.
“We do all types of medical dermatology from run-of-the-mill acne, warts, and pediatric eczema in addition to mole and skin cancer checks,” Bares said. “On the cosmetic side, we take pride in our expertise with the injectables including botulinum toxins and dermal fillers.”
Bares said she enjoys seeing a wide range of patients and loves the variety dermatology affords her.
“I might have an acne patient to start the day. And then I move into doing a skin check, making sure someone doesn’t have any skin cancer,” she said.
Bares also emphasized accessibility at Renew Dermatology.
“Sometimes dermatology gets a bad rap, because it can take months and months to get an appointment,” Bares said. “You hear people say ‘I need to see a dermatologist, but they couldn’t see me until next year.’ That’s not actually the case with us. Because we brought two new providers on last fall, myself and Taylor, our nurse practitioner, we are actually able to get even new patients in usually within a couple weeks. If there are people out there that feel like they need a dermatologist and need one sooner rather than later, we’re available.”
For Bares, the opportunity to get to know people in the community and help them in a variety of ways is what she enjoys most.
“Seeing the different patient ages, being able to follow them. And then, as well, being able to do a little bit of that creativity and artsy side with the cosmetics is one thing I think makes dermatology the perfect specialty, because it pairs all those things together.”
Community calendar FEB
Keysys 5K
► Where: Cahaba Heights, 3928 Cypress Drive
► When: Saturday, Feb. 1, 8 a.m.
► Call: 205-421-1700
► Web: keysys.io/5k
► Tickets: $25
► Details: The Cahaba Heights Run Group and Keysus software company invite runners and walkers to a 5K race and 1-mile run/walk through the Cahaba Heights. The 5K and 1-mile race start and end at the Keysys office, where there will be activities for kids such as inflatables and local vendors. Participants will receive a long-sleeve race T-shirt. All ages are welcome, including runners with strollers and pets. Awards for the top three male and female overall runners and age group winners.
Liberty Park Women’s Conference
► Where: The Church at Liberty Park
► When: Saturday, Feb. 1, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
► Call: Tori Gill, 205-969-1236
► Web: libertypark.org/women
► Tickets: $30
► Details: The Church at Liberty Park is holding a women’s conference that will focus on how to have a life-giving 2025 and cover topics such as simplifying schedules, cultivating faith-filled relationships and abiding in God’s Word, said Tori Gill, the women’s minister at the church. It is designed for women of all ages and stages of life. In addition to a large group session, there will be small group breakouts, worship time and food.
Unmasking the Stigma Masquerade Ball
► Where: Vestavia Hills Civic Center Ballroom A
► When: Friday, Feb. 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
► Web: facebook.com/ events/625398246810956
► Tickets: $85 for adults; $25 for students and $40 for Miss Alabama Miss and Teen title holders.
► Details: Miss Vestavia Hills Teen Allie Grace Broadhead is holding a masquerade ball to “unmask the stigma of mental health” and raise scholarship money for children of a Vestavia Hills police officer and firefighter. The evening will include conversations about mental health and suicide prevention, stories of resilience and hope, resources, support services, music, a silent auction and mask competition.
City Strategic Planning Session
► Where: Vestavia Hills City Hall Council Chambers
► When: Feb. 24-25
► Call: 205-978-0100
► Web: vhal.org
► Details: The city of Vestavia Hills is inviting the public to observe a strategic planning session for city officials as they discuss what projects they want to prioritize this year. Officials such as the mayor and the rest of the City Council will take into consideration public feedback that has been received through a survey. Almost 400 randomly selected residents had responded to the survey as of Jan. 13, City Manager Jeff Downes said. A schedule of speakers was still being decided at press time.
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‘Better now than we’ve ever been’
Lady Rebels senior class striving to finish career on top
By KYLE PARMLEY
The resurgence of the Vestavia Hills High School girls basketball program over the last several years has been impressive to watch.
Laura Casey, who served as the head coach for much of the 2010s, saw it coming. She saw the potential of the group led by twins Emma and Ally Smith when they were in elementary school.
She forecast greatness for the future and was spot on.
John David Smelser took over as head coach ahead of the 2018-19 season and has guided the program to those lofty heights. Emma Smith rewrote the record books at Vestavia, eclipsing 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds and graduating as the leading scorer in program history. She also led the team back to the state final four and came within one game of a state championship in her senior year.
But Emma Smith’s class was only the tip of the iceberg. Vestavia Hills once again has one of its most capable teams in program history in the 2024-25 season, thanks to another strong class. This year’s six seniors have kept up the winning ways and have their sights set on a blue map in their final season.
But she’s one of six seniors on this year’s team, and all six together make this version of the Lady Rebels capable of winning it all.
“We know this is our last run together, so we’re taking it all in,” Gordon said. “We’re all up here in the mornings, putting in that extra effort, because we know it’s our last time.”
This year’s team is led by Sarah Gordon, who recently became the new all-time leading scorer in Vestavia Hills history. She crossed the 2,000-point threshold in early January and took the top spot a couple of games later.
Gordon, Emma Gordon, Jordan Madsen, Jill Gaylard, Grayson Hudgens and Rosemary Gill have certainly already made their mark on Vestavia basketball and have a few more weeks to add some more high notes to their final chapter.
Many of them have played together for as long as they can remember, with Sarah estimating that at least four of them played on the same
team in third grade. On senior
the best way to reminisce over the past several years was a shared photo album, since so many of their basketball photos involve each other. That connection translates to the basketball court as well.
“We all play off each other’s strengths. We know what everybody’s going to do before they actually do it. We’re all best friends outside of
Sarah
night,
From left, Vestavia Hills girls varsity basketball seniors Sarah Gordon (33), Grayson Hudgens (12), Jordan Madsen (31), Rosemary Gill (15), Emma Gordon (32) and Jill Gaylard (2) after a win against Oak Mountain on Jan. 15.
Photos by Savannah Schmidt.
basketball, too. We’re all so close that it makes it easy,” Sarah Gordon said.
Sarah Gordon is headed to the University of Pennsylvania next year to continue her basketball career. She said she never set out to play college basketball, and there was never any sort of dream school. When she first received the offer from Penn, she never thought it would eventually turn into her reality. But after going on an official visit and talking things over with her family, she was convinced it was the right move for her.
“I never really thought I would, because it’s so far away, but I can now see myself going there, and I’m excited about it,” she said.
All six seniors have been in the program for many years. Sarah Gordon, Gaylard, and Hudgens saw some varsity time as eighth graders and have been playing starter minutes ever since.
Madsen is a multi-sport athlete who is set to play beach volleyball in college at the University of New Orleans. Smelser said she “holds the team together” and has the highest basketball intelligence of anyone on the team.
Gill returned to the lineup this season after missing last year with a knee injury. Smelser said she “didn’t skip a beat” coming back this year.
One of Smelser’s favorite stories is that of Emma Gordon, Sarah’s twin sister. Emma played on the junior varsity team as a freshman and has spent the last three years carving out a role on the varsity team. She’s always in the right place, doing the right thing, at the right time, according to her coach.
Smelser said that once this storied class moves on, he will have an endless supply of stories to share with future players.
“There’s examples with all six of them that
I’ll be able to use down the road with kids,” he said.
The road has not been, and will not be, easy for this Lady Rebels squad. They are in an area that features Hoover and Hewitt-Trussville.
The three programs are arguably the top three in Class 7A girls basketball over the last five years. Only two of them will advance beyond the area tournament, and a maximum of one can advance past the regional tournament to the state finals.
But Smelser believes his group has what it takes to potentially emerge once the dust settles.
“This group just keeps developing and keeps getting better. We’re better now than we’ve ever been with this group, and that’s a testament to them not being complacent. Even though they’re having a lot of success, they understand we’re not where we need to be yet,” he said.
Smelser can tell a story similar to the one Casey told for many years. Upon taking the job in 2019, he watched a group of middle schoolers playing and had an inkling of what might be possible.
“I didn’t even know them yet, but I was excited. You could tell they could play, you could tell they understood the game,” he said.
He knows the group he has is special. He feels fortunate to be along for the ride. He, like the rest of the Lady Rebels, will be soaking in every moment the rest of the way.
“I’m just lucky to be their coach, but I’m fortunate to have them,” he said. “It’s definitely a special group that you don’t get much, maybe once in my career?”
That “special group” has one thing left to achieve.
“They want to win a state championship. That’s their goal and vision,” Smelser said.
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Left: Vestavia's Jill Gaylard (2) dribbles the ball during the Vestavia vs. Oak Mountain basketball game at Vestavia Hills High School on Jan. 14. Right: Vestavia’s Emma Gordon (32) shoots the ball.
SPORTS
Under the Lights
BASKETBALL
Feb. 4-6: Area tournaments. TBD.
Feb. 17, 20: Northeast Regional Tournament. Jacksonville State University.
Feb. 27, March 1: State tournament. Legacy Arena.
WRESTLING
Feb. 7-8: North Sectional. Birmingham CrossPlex.
Feb. 13-15: State tournament. Von Braun Center.
BASEBALL
Feb. 14: vs. Helena. 4 p.m.
Feb. 15: Doubleheader vs. Chelsea, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa. 10 a.m.
Feb. 17: @ Chelsea. 1 p.m.
Feb. 19: vs. Helena. 4 p.m.
Feb. 21: Doubleheader @ James Clemens. 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 24: vs. John Carroll. 4 p.m.
Feb. 26: vs. Tuscaloosa County. 4 p.m.
SOCCER
Feb. 6-8: Girls at Southern Shootout. Foley Sports Complex.
Feb. 7: Boys vs. Huntsville. 7 p.m.
Feb. 8: Boys @ Jasper. 11 a.m.
Feb. 11: Girls vs. Prattville. 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 11: Boys @ Southside-Gadsden. 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 14-15: Girls at Rick Grammer Invitational. Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex.
Feb. 14: Boys vs. Florence. Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex. 7 p.m.
Feb. 15: Boys vs. Westminster-Atlanta. Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex. 1 p.m.
Feb. 18: @ Pike Road. Girls at 4:30 p.m., boys at 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 20: Boys vs. Crossville. 7 p.m.
Girls vs. Cullman. 6:30 p.m.
Boys @ Hewitt-Trussville. 7 p.m.
Feb. 27-March 1: Warrior Invitational. Thompson High School.
TENNIS
Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Frostbite Invitational. Pelham Racquet Club.
Feb. 3: vs. Thompson.
Feb. 11: vs. Tuscaloosa County.
Feb. 18: @ Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa.
Feb. 24: @ Florence.
Feb. 25: @ Hoover.
Feb. 28-March 1: Auburn/Huntsville. RTJ Grand National.
SOFTBALL
Feb. 14-15: Red & Blue Classic. Wald Park.
Feb. 18: @ Calera. 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 20: @ Mountain Brook. 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 25: vs. Moody. 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 27: vs. Spain Park. 4:30 p.m.
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Mountaintop Church grows with kids’ addition
By JON ANDERSON
When many churches run out of space, it’s often in their sanctuary. But at Mountaintop Church, they’ve been overrun with young families and children, Lead Pastor Carter McInnis said.
That prompted the Vestavia Hills church to recently open a new 16,000-square-foot children’s area.
They have about 270 to 300 children show up on typical Sundays, from birth to fifth grade, and they needed more space to take care of them, McInnis said. The children have a large group worship time and also break off into smaller groups.
“We’ve had three small groups in one room talking over each other,” he said.
So the church did a fundraising campaign to build the $8.5 million addition, said Jake Davis, the church’s creative and digital pastor. The new space includes nine rooms for nursery and preschool children, each with a bathroom, and a lobby, he said. The project also included converting some outdoor space into an outdoor gathering area with patio furniture, as well as about 40 more parking spaces, Davis said.
The existing 10 rooms where the children have been meeting will now be used for older children, Davis said.
“Our church is working hard for our next generation and partnering with parents,” McInnis said.
“Parents need all the help they can get these days.”
Mountaintop has an outstanding kids’ ministry team led by Kids Pastor Melissa Sanderson and outstanding volunteers who work with the children, McInnis said.
Reaching the next generation is key, Davis said.
“If we’re going to pass down our faith through ministry, it’s going to happen with the next generation,” he said. “We want to raise a generation that loves and follows Jesus. We believe that life is better with Jesus.”
Construction on the addition began in the spring. While complete enough to open Jan. 12, additional touchups have continued.
Mountaintop, established in 1992, has an auditorium that can seat about 1,600 people, Davis said. Currently, about 1,400 people attend the two services at 9 and 11 a.m., so there is still room to grow, he said.
Being in Vestavia Hills, the church draws a lot of people from Vestavia, but there also are
Daniel and Kolie Sanford check in their children in a new 16,000-squarefoot children’s addition at Mountaintop Church on Jan. 12.
many from Hoover and others from areas such as Pelham, Alabaster, Calera, Mountain Brook, Homewood and Crestwood, McInnis said.
The church is eager to spread the news about Jesus with the metro Birmingham community, Davis said.
“For far too long, churches have been known for what they’re against. We just want to be known for what we’re for,” he said. The church is for Birmingham, for families and for one more person to
know Jesus, he said. McInnis said they’re glad to welcome people to the new building, but it’s really not about the buildings.
“Buildings are going to come and go. It’s really about the opportunity to change lives inside those buildings,” McInnis said. “We’re really excited about the facilities, but more excited about the relationships and community that will happen inside those walls.”
and Stephanie Harding,
Photo by Jon Anderson.
Faces of Vestavia Hills
Marilee Howard unites fiction and flowers
By SAVANNAH SCHMIDT
Marilee Howard only loves one thing more than flowers—literature. A year ago, she opened her flower and book shop in Vestavia, The Elinor, named after the protagonist from Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility.
“I have dreamed of opening a bookstore since the 1990s,” Howard said. “And I have worked with flowers for over 20 years.”
Howard keeps the walls of the flower shop stocked with literature and also hosts a book club. She wants to give students and adults a place to relax outside of work.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, Howard encourages community members to shop locally for flowers.
“At a grocery store, you can’t have someone tailor your arrangement the way you want,” Howard said. “A specialist, on the other hand, can make the arrangement more personal.”
During the season of love, Howard sees lots of pink and lavender colors in the orders. Contrary to popular belief, she said that roses are not the flower of choice for most women.
“My advice is to ask her or see what flowers she buys for herself,” Howard offered.
“I love seeing when people are happy with my work,” Howard said. “Your local florist is important because they are with you for births, holidays, graduations, dances, and weddings.”
Statewide Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Service
Marilee Howard arranges a bouquet of flowers at the Elinor in Vestavia Hills. Howard also sells books and names her arrangements after literary characters. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
Life in Vestavia Hills
BACK WHEN GET TO KNOW
By STAFF
Meredith Montgomery is the executive director of the Megan Montgomery Foundation. Her sister, Megan, was a victim of domestic violence, murdered by her estranged husband in 2019, and the foundation was created to educate young adults on healthy relationships.
Q: What is your role in the organization and how did you get involved?
A: My role in the organization is executive director, and I've been doing it for about a year. My parents and I are the ones who founded the organization. They were basically running it, and they're both retired. And so I was doing something else at the time, and then it was just one of those God things. I asked my mom if they needed help with the foundation and she said, “I thought you would never ask.”
Q: Who does your organization serve?
A: Our organization serves anybody and everybody. But, basically, it's anyone that's college or high school aged that's getting into relationships, going on dates for the first time, but also teachers, faculty, law enforcement judges — anyone and everyone that could benefit from healthy relationship education.
… And it needs to be taught just like algebra or science or history. Our mission is to prevent
domestic violence before it starts. And that is by educating boys and girls on the healthy and unhealthy aspects of relationships.
Q: How can people get involved?
A: You can contact us on our website contact page, but you could also introduce us to anyone in the school system, a college where we could possibly go and talk to them about implementing healthy relationship education at their organization or school. Learn more at megansfoundation.org.
Wald Park’s historical service to the community
By SAVANNAH SCHMIDT
The pickleball courts at Wald Park frequently fill with players from around the city. Pickleball courts are a new adaptation for most recreational complexes, but the development of similar facilities inside Wald Park began in the 1960s.
Wald Park opened in 1963 off of U.S. 31 with a swimming pool and other amenities. In 1965, an overcrowding problem in Vestavia Hills Elementary prompted ideas for renovations. Without adequate space, students were lacking supervised places to play.
In a 1964 survey, 563 students from Vestavia signed a petition to build a community house in Wald Park. The petition cited how the absence of an indoor facility forced children to socialize in high-traffic areas like streets or shopping centers.
Additionally, they expressed concerns about investing in the health of American children, reflecting the fear of communism during the Cold War. The petition stated that “the physical fitness of America’s youth is bad, and the newspapers report that we
are falling behind the Russians in physical fitness.”
The city council devised a plan for a civic center, which opened in April 1969. The center included a gymnasium, library, recreation room, craft room, meeting rooms and reference areas.
Though Wald Park’s recreational facilities have changed over the years, new developments reflect the city’s response to the community’s wishes.
Montgomery
Wald Park’s playground and sign before its renovation in 2021. This redevelopment was one of many since 1963. Photo courtesy of Wald Park Facebook.
On the Mainstage
GET TO KNOW
Artisan jeweler Angela Morris
By JON ANDERSON
Vestavia Hills resident Angela Morris makes artisan jewelry, including beaded crosses, bracelets, necklaces, necklace pendants and earrings.
Q: How long have you been a jeweler?
A: I’ve been doing this a long time. 2019 is when I actually started my Etsy site [etsy.com/shop/ AngelaMorrisDesigns].
Q: What spurred your interest in jewelry?
A: I’ve always been interested in making things. I did all kinds of crafts and things. I used to paint, and then I had children. It was too hard for me to paint, so I started messing around with wire and started doing silverware that had wrapped wire and beads on it. Then I went into the [beaded] crosses, and it morphed into the jewelry. … I use all different kinds of metal. I use copper, silver and actually a thing called German silver, which is kind of like silver but it doesn’t tarnish, and I also use aluminum, and I actually use some brass, too. The last couple of years, I went to take a class with a silversmith, so I also do things with sterling silver, and I’ve incorporated stones, like turquoise and lace agate.
Q: Do you have any other passions?
A: I do like to travel. I do like to go to the gem show in Tucson, Arizona. That’s a lot of fun to see all the rocks and crystals and fossils. I just recently went on a trip with my daughter out West. We went to Albuquerque, we did the Grand Canyon, we did Sedona. I travel with my husband. I have a little dog who spends a lot of time with me. He’s constantly next to me while I’m working. His name is Bear. He’s a Parti Yorkie.
SPOTLIGHT
Mason Music: Providing music education for 12 years
By STAFF
Mason Music has offered music lessons for more than 12 years, teaching guitar, drums, piano and voice.
The company has five locations, including one at 3187 Cahaba Heights Road. The business emphasizes personalized instruction and a structured approach to teaching called the “Mason Music Method.”
“Mason Music is different because we have the area's best teachers, we make it fun by teaching exactly what you want to play from day one, and our studio admin team makes it easy from our conveniently located studios to working with your busy schedule, even finding spaces in your calendar for you,” said Kennedy Ward, Mason Music’s marketing manager.
The Mason Music Method involves matching students with teachers based on individual goals and personalities, teaching theory and technique, and celebrating milestones through events like the Rock Record Challenge and parent-teacher conferences. The business also offers performances, camps and recording sessions.
Mason Music recently introduced Animal Adventures in Music, a preschool curriculum designed for children ages 3-6.
“These weekly 30-minute private lessons are
tailored to mini musicians … through character-filled workbooks, silly games and practice,” Ward said.
The studio also started offering free 30-minute trial lessons.
Ward said the studio often receives positive feedback. “The compliments we are proudest of are how much our teachers and staff really care about their students, as musicians and people, and how they make learning music fun and approachable,” she said.
For more information, visit masonmusic.com or follow them on Instagram and Facebook at @ MasonMusicRocks.
Morris
Photo courtesy of Mason Music.
PICKLEBALL
CONTINUED from page 1
Alli Ammons, one of the area’s top senior players and a sponsor of the Vestavia Hills High School pickleball club team, said The Picklr will help meet the growing demand for courts in Vestavia Hills and attract players from the greater Birmingham area.
“I’m thrilled about it. I’m always looking for dedicated pickleball courts. I am an avid pickleball player and play all over, so I am always searching for courts and, a lot of times, I have to go outside the area to find courts,” Ammons said.
“Courts in Vestavia are few and far between, so it’s great to know that we’re going to have dedicated courts in our area,” she said. “I think it’s been a long time in the works, and I’m just really excited.”
The new Picklr franchise is the result of a public-private partnership between the city and the private development group Altera AIP-Vestavia. The franchise will be owned and operated by Patrick Denney, a real estate developer, Vestavia Hills resident and principal of Altera AIP-Vestavia, and his wife, Shannon.
The partnership agreement includes several economic incentives, such as an initial $300,000 grant from the city and additional payments over 10 years equal to 50% of the sales and non-educational property tax proceeds each year. The incentive agreement covers the entire shopping center, including leased spaces occupied by Chipotle, Jersey Mike’s and Supercuts.
Sprouts vacated the building in late 2018 but continued lease payments, leaving the space vacant for six years. The Denneys said the building stayed empty due to a complex financial arrangement that made subleasing virtually impossible. Patrick Denney said the city of Vestavia Hills had to get involved to make the deal a reality and fill a space that had become a sore spot for the City Council.
“Without those incentives, we would not have been able to do the deal,” he said.
Denney approached partners in Dallas — where pickleball’s popularity has soared in recent years — to purchase the shopping center outright.
“There were a lot of hurdles just to figure out if you could do it or not. It was just too much for just anyone to overcome, and the only way we could do it was to go the acquisition route,” he said.
The site on U.S. 31 in the heart of Vestavia couldn’t be a better location, Shannon Denney said.
The Denneys began researching pickleball franchises after noticing tennis and basketball courts being converted to pickleball courts at their gym in Vestavia Hills. Patrick Denney sensed an opportunity to meet the growing demand for courts, even as he became frustrated with the lack of space to play tennis and basketball.
“Patrick started getting frustrated. He’s like, ‘You know, this is ridiculous. It’s everywhere,’” Shannon Denney said. “Then he started digging into it, and he thought, ‘Somebody’s got to figure this out. We’ve got to figure out a solution to this.’”
Their research led them to The Picklr, a franchise headquartered in Kaysville, Utah, which Shannon Denney said stands out as the best. Since its founding in 2021, The Picklr has expanded to more than 275 locations nationwide.
“We started researching these different pickleball franchises and really, the Picklr was the only one out there that we would even consider,” she said. “It’s just the elite
“
” I think everybody’s starting to finally catch on and realize that it is a sport that everybody can do.
ALLI AMMONS
pickleball franchise. There’s nothing else that even compares to it at this point.”
ORIGINS OF PICKLEBALL
Pickleball was developed by Joel Pritchard, Barney McCallum and Bill Bell, friends from Bainbridge Island, Washington, in 1965. The sport quickly gained popularity in Washington state before gradually spreading nationwide by the early 1990s.
Originally marketed as a sport for seniors, pickleball is now played by people of all ages, including high school students.
Ammons said the Vestavia Hills High School club team struggled during its first year to meet the 24-player minimum required for the state tournament. Now, more than 70 students participate.
Ammons said they are negotiating with the Denneys to play home games at The Picklr, but regardless of the location, she is optimistic about the sport’s future.
“I think everybody’s starting to finally catch on and realize that it is a sport that everybody can do,” she said.
“Our goal is just to continue to introduce kids to the sport,” she said. “It’s growing
By the Numbers
► Players in the U.S.: 13.6 million
► Growth: 51.8% from 2022 to 2023; 223% since 2020
► Known places to play: 11,885 locations (98 in Alabama)
► Total courts: 50,003 (410 in Alabama — 258 outdoor, 152 indoor)
► Pickleheads members: 340,100
► USA Pickleball members: 78,766
► New paddles and balls in 2023: 1,185 paddles and 92 balls approved
► Facility investment in 2023: USA Pickleball was involved in developing over $300 million in new facilities in 2023, including more than 35 regional venues.
► National championship: Nearly 3,500 players and 50,000 attendees at the 2023 Biofreeze USA Pickleball National Championships. The peak day drew over 9,500 fans. More than 2.6 million TV viewers tuned in for more than 20 hours of coverage on ESPN, Tennis Channel and PickleballTV.
SOURCES: USA PICKLEBALL, SPORTS & FITNESS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION, PICKLEHEADS
leaps and bounds. It’s just really taking off, and I love it that our youth are so excited about it.”
The Basics
Pickleball is a game to eleven points, win by two points.
► The serve must be hit underhand and bounce into the opposite diagonal court.
► The return of serve must bounce before the ball can be hit by the receiving team.
► After the first two hits, the ball can be hit in the air or after the ball bounces once.
► The goal is to rally the ball back and forth until a team mishits.
► A point is scored only with the serving team.
The court:
► A pickleball court is less than one third of a tennis court.
► The net height is 36 inches at the ends and 34 inches in the middle.
► The court is striped similar to a tennis court with right and left service courts.
► The 7-foot non-volley zone in front of the net is referred to as the “kitchen.”
Mishits include:
► Hitting the ball out of bounds.
► Hitting the ball into the net.
► Hitting the ball before it bounces while standing in the non-volley zone.
Non-volley zone:
► The non-volley zone is the 7-foot zone on both sides of the net.
► You cannot volley the ball in the air while standing inside the non-volley zone.
► You can only hit the ball when standing inside the non-volley zone after the ball has bounced.
Serving:
► The team that serves first to start a game, only one player serves (“zero-zero-start”).
► Afterwards, both players on each team serve.
Scoring:
► Call the score in the following order: server’s score, receiver’s score, then the server number.
► For example, if the score of the serving team is 3 and the score of the receiving team is 6, and the second server on the side is serving, the score is 3-6-2.
SOURCE: UPSTATEPICKLEBALL.COM
Where to Play
► The Picklr: 1031 Montgomery Highway, Suite 101 (10 indoor courts)
► Life Time Fitness: 3051 Healthy Way (8 outdoor courts)
► Vestavia Hills Civic Center: 1090 Montgomery Highway (6 indoor courts)
► Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex: 4851 Sicard Hollow Road (6 outdoor courts)
► Wald Park: 1973 Maryvale Road (6 outdoor courts)
► Vestavia Hills Methodist Church: 2061 Kentucky Ave. (3 indoor courts)
► CrossFit Shades: 2301 Old Columbiana Road (2 indoor courts)
Shannon Denney, one of the owners and operators of the new Picklr facility, holds a pickleball paddle at the Wald Park pickleball courts.
Left service area
Right service area
Non-volley zone (or kitchen)
Vestavia Hills residents play pickleball at Wald Park. Photos by Savannah Schmidt.
MISS AMERICA CONTINUED from page 1
Especially in today’s social media-driven world, where people can use technology to manipulate pictures of themselves, it can be easy to fall into a trap, Stockard said.
“It’s so easy to look at the influencers you see on Instagram or the models on TikTok, and you start to get in a little spiral of think ing that’s what you have to look like, that’s the standard you have to meet in order to be considered beautiful, and that is just such a false perception of reality,” she said. “I would encourage young women to take a step back from social media and realize that you are beau tiful, you are valuable just the way you are. You don’t have to conform. You need to embrace your differences because that is what makes you authentically beautiful.”
DETERMINATION AND GROWTH
Stockard’s parents described her as a very driven, focused, and determined person.
“Abbie’s a hard worker. She’s a perfectionist,” said her mother, Kim Stockard. “She won’t just do something halfway. She will go at it full force until she gets it right. She was like that as a child. If she took tennis lessons, she was going to be the best at it. That’s just her personality.”
Her father, Brad Stockard, said Abbie is a very resilient person who has a positive attitude and always tries to look for the best in everything.
“She went through a pretty difficult time when her mom and I got divorced, and I think she just made a decision at that point in her life that she was going to overcome that and be the best person she could be and be a light to those around her,” her dad said. “I think she’s just an extremely hard worker. She doesn’t let obstacles get in her way. She’s very determined, and she has the ability to see something that she wants and figure out how to get it and not be deterred.”
Stockard said her parents’ divorce when she was 9 was a key event in her life that helped shape who she is today.
“I was not always the happy and joyful Abbie you see today,” she said. “When I was little, I was in a pretty dark place and honestly didn’t know if there would be a light at the end of the tunnel. That was just a crucial moment in my life, and it showed me that your attitude shapes your entire perspective. … Going through all of that and just being in a dark place and having to go to counseling — it was really hard, and I had to make a decision. Was I going to let this moment in my life defeat me and go down a darker and darker hole, or was I going to rise above it? That is why my tagline in life is ‘Choose joy.’”
It’s easy to look at things we don’t have in our lives and forget how truly blessed we are, she said. She has an amazing relationship with both of her parents, she said.
“It’s just a reminder that hope always shines bright, even in the darkest moments,” she said.
She believes her experience with hardships and not having a perfect life will help her be more relatable to people as Miss America, she said. Being vulnerable and going beyond surface issues will help her be more impactful, she said.
Diane Westhoven, Stockard’s childhood friend and college roommate for their sophomore and junior years, said Stockard is the most positive person you’ll ever meet — very uplifting and exciting.
“She’s up for any adventure, and I think that’s what kind of thrust her into this [spotlight],” said Westhoven, who was the 2024 winner of the Miss Alabama USA competition, a separate but similar competition to Miss Alabama. “She’s such a go-getter. I think that her family has shaped her, her friends have shaped her, but also her own determination — where she wants to go.
… She is so deserving. I don’t know anyone that works as hard as her.”
CIVIC AWARENESS
Stockard said she did indeed do a lot of preparation for Miss America, working out daily to stay physically fit, practicing her dance routine daily for her talent, and doing extensive preparation for interviews and on-stage questions.
“The judges’ one-on-one interview — they can ask you anything, so I spent the past six months educating myself on social and political issues, making sure that I could formulate opinions basically to anything that’s happening in our nation, but also globally,” Stockard said. At first, it was overwhelming, she said. “I’m a nursing student. I’m not super into politics,” she said. “But I just took it one day at a time, and I realized it was all part of the journey, and
I had to learn to embrace it. … I used those times of disappointment and discouragement to grow and learn and used it as an opportunity to better myself and better my knowledge because it is important to know what’s going on in the world.”
For winning Miss America, Stockard received a $50,000 scholarship, bringing her total scholarships from competitions to more than $89,000. She had to take a year out of
school as Miss Alabama, and now that will be extended with a year as Miss America. She plans to return to Auburn to finish her undergraduate nursing degree and then obtain a doctorate in nurse anesthesia and become a pediatric nurse anesthetist.
Stockard also will be using this year to further shine a spotlight on cystic fibrosis and the need for a cure. Her best friend has cystic fibrosis, and raising awareness about it and money for
research is a passion for her.
“I have a heart of compassion and joy and service, and so I have found that I have the greatest sense of fulfillment when I’m giving of myself to others,” she said. “That’s when I’m at my personal best, so that’s what I want to make the focus of my year — serving others and truly using this position of influence to touch the hearts and the lives of the people across our nation.”
Miss Alabama 2024 Abbie Stockard takes a walk as the new Miss America 2025.
Abbie Stockard as a young girl. Miss Cahaba Valley 2022
Miss Trussville 2023
Miss Hoover 2024
Miss Alabama 2024
Miss Alabama 2024 Abbie Stockard is crowned Miss America 2025.
Miss Alabama 2024 Abbie Stockard, left clutches Miss Texas Annette Addo-Yobo moments before Stockard was announced as Miss America 2025.
Miss Alabama 2024 Abbie Stockard is swarmed by delegates from other states after being crowned Miss America 2025.
Photos courtesy of Houston M Photography, Abbie Stockard and Kimberly Stockard.
These Wedding Gurus Found Their Perfect Match
Michael and Linda Adler know a thing or two about tying the knot. As the owners of the Barn at Shady Lane, a wedding venue here in the Birmingham area, they make dreams come true all the time. We’re proud to have done the same for them when we helped match them with their new 2025 Volvo XC60. As creative people with a passion for music, the Adlers love the refined Scandinavian design and excellent sound system on board their new XC60. For every ride there’s Royal!
There’s way more to the 2025 Volvo XC60 than meets the eye. This midsize SUV comes with AWD standard. Its mild hybrid powertrain means using less gas and fewer tailpipe emissions with no loss of performance. Plus, it’s brainy to boot, with Google built-in to make your drive smarter than ever. Test drive yours where I-65 meets Highway 31 in Vestavia.
Michael and Linda Adler with their new 2025 XC60 B5 AWD.