Vestavia Voice March 2024

2 Republicans vie to replace Palmer in Congress

By JON ANDERSON

The Republican race for Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District has shaped up to be a battle about term limits and who can better advance a conservative agenda.

U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, a Hoover resident who is nearing the end of his fifth two-year term in Congress, broke an earlier promise not to seek more than 10 years in office and decided to run again.

His two challengers in the March 5 Republican primary, Gerrick Wilkins of Vestavia Hills and Ken McFeeters of the Indian Lake subdivision in north Shelby County, have criticized that decision. Wilkins said Palmer has done more talk

than action and made poor decisions that do not adequately represent conservative Alabama values.

Palmer said he makes his decisions based on the right thing to do and doesn’t check to see how groups score politicians before he votes, but he said he has maintained a 95% rating from the American Conservative Union.

Palmer said he struggled greatly with the decision to run for a sixth term, but many people he admires encouraged him to do so, and he prayed about it and felt God leading him in that direction.

See REAL ESTATE | page A18

Vestavia Hills real estate market poised for a hot 2024

By LOYD McINTOSH

Despite higher mortgage interest rates, lower-than-average inventory and average home prices heading toward $600,000, area experts say Vestavia Hills remains one of the most in-demand residential real estate markets in the area.

In 2023, Vestavia Hills saw 610 homes sold, an 18% decrease from the 742 homes sold in 2022, according to statistics from the Greater Alabama Multiple Listing Service.

Lynne Dobbins, a staging coordinator, works with Jana Hanna, right, as they prepare a home for a showing on

U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, R-District 6, left, and challenger Gerrick Wilkins of Vestavia Hills listen to challenger Ken McFeeters of north Shelby County talk during a Mid-Alabama Republican Club forum for Congressional District 6 at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest on Jan. 13. Photo by Jon Anderson.

About Us

If you are reading this column, I know that you care about Vestavia Hills. And since you do, I don’t mind asking a favor from you.

We’re looking for a new community editor for Vestavia Voice. Maybe it’s you or someone you know.

There is some flexibility in how the role would work, depending on the candidate. It can be a contract or a full-time role. It can include writing, or not. You might also work on one of our company’s other publications, but that is not required. The pay and time required will vary depending on the number of responsibilities assumed.

The role does require systematic

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I don’t have enough space to publish the full job description here. If this sounds like you or someone you know, please send an email to me at dan@starnesmedia.com and let’s talk.

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Vestavia Hills approves controversial small-cell tower project

By LOYD McINTOSH

The Vestavia Hills City Council on Feb. 12 voted to approve the installation of controversial small-cell 5G towers for the Crossgate community.

The plan was approved unanimously after months of delays that occurred following opposition to the towers raised by many residents from Crossgate during a City Council meeting last summer.

Following passage of a federal law establishing 5G network access across the United States, telecommunications provider Crown Castle started seeking approval to install three 30-foot-tall towers on rights of way and easements on or near private property.

However, after hearing the concerns of residents, the City Council, on the advice of City Attorney Patrick Boone, asked for an opinion on the matter from Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. Among other things, the council asked Marshall whether the city can prohibit the installation of small-cell towers and whether the city has any influence over the exact location of the towers.

In late December, Attorney General Marshall returned his opinion stating that while the city has some limited role, such as requiring the towers to meet pre-existing and reasonable aesthetic guidelines, 5G towers are a matter of federal and state law and cannot be prohibited by the City Council.

Vestavia Hills Mayor Ashley Curry read directly from the opinion in an attempt to demonstrate that, despite city officials’ efforts, the city’s hands are tied, and the city must allow Crown Castle to move forward with the project.

“Question No. 1: Does the act allow the city to reject small-cell facilities from being placed

in city rights of way, and what conditions are valid reasons for such a denial?” Curry said.

“The attorney general stated Section 37-17-2 of the Code of Alabama does not allow a city to deny a wireless provider the right to place small-cell facilities in the city's rights of way provided that the provider meets the city's permitting and fee requirements and any other requirements adopted by the city that are not

in conflict with state law.”

“Question No. 2: … Does the act allow the city of Vestavia Hills to determine the exact location of the installation of a new or replacement pole on a city right of way?" Curry added. "Answer: The city may not determine the exact location of the installation or placement of a new or replacement pole.”

Despite the thorough explanation, several

Crossgate residents once again voiced their opposition to the plan, including Michael Fliegel, a former Birmingham assistant city attorney who asked the City Council if their opinions will change if and when small-cell towers are planned for Vestavia Hills’ gated communities.

“We’re going to have other neighborhoods that are going to have to deal with this, like Liberty Park,” Fliegel said. “What’s going to happen when the gated communities have to put up 35-foot, black cell towers? They are going to have a fit. We're only a hundred-house neighborhood, so again, we’re relatively small potatoes compared to Liberty Park. They are not going to be happy.”

The mayor responded that “if it arises in Liberty Park, we’re going to follow the same procedure we did with y’all. We won’t need to do an attorney general’s opinion again. I can speak to this myself personally. There won't be exceptions made for some other neighborhood just because it isn’t your neighborhood. The same rules that apply to you will apply to anybody else.”

Following three additional Crossgate residents who voiced their opposition and asked Crown Castle to consider moving the poles to less conspicuous locations, Crown Castle representing attorney Andy Rotenstreich said the telecommunications company has listened to the concerns of the residents and agreed to relocate two of the three towers and would continue conversations to see if further compromise could be reached.

“Crown has the right under those laws to do what they're doing here, but that doesn't mean the Crown or anybody else goes at this without trying to understand where the neighbors wanted the towers moved where it could work best for the neighborhood,” Rotenstreich said.

A simulated photo of what a small-cell tower would look like on Crossgate Drive in Vestavia Hills. Image courtesy of city of Vestavia Hills.

Vestavia councilwoman gets taste of national politics

By LOYD McINTOSH

Vestavia Hills Councilwoman Kimberly Cook had a chance recently to get a firsthand look at national politics.

As a campaigner for former presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Cook spent several weeks in Iowa working on the DeSantis campaign leading up to the Iowa caucus in January.

While DeSantis came in a distant second place to former President Donald Trump, the experience was eye-opening, providing Cook with a deep look into the political process at the national level, she said.

During her two weeks in Des Moines, Cook was involved in multiple aspects of the campaign, such as making calls and visiting undecided voters.

“It was incredibly busy,” Cook said. “There was phone banking and making calls to identify leads for caucus commitments. We were also asked to do the second round of calls to convince undecided voters and obtain commitments. The phone bank coordinator said these voters needed a little extra ‘Alabama TLC’ to come around to supporting DeSantis.”

Cook became interested in DeSantis as his profile was rising nationally due to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida. While his decisions to keep the state open and the state’s economy running were controversial throughout national media and political circles, Cook was impressed with his leadership and steadfastness during the onslaught of criticism in 2020 and 2021 as he chose to keep schools and businesses open, while other states took a different approach.

“For children, he looked at the data and saw they were at extremely low risk of serious consequences of the disease, and had the courage to open schools right away,” Cook said. “He saw the inconsistency of allowing some big-box stores to be open and liquor stores, but

not small businesses and restaurants.

“He realized the harm done to jobs and the economy was greater than the risk of the disease and chose to let people make their own decisions about going out and about, rather than having the government make it for them,” Cook added. “I had the same concerns myself as an elected official, so he became somewhat of a hero to me.”

JUMPING IN

Already a volunteer for Republican candidates at the grassroots level, Cook took notice of the seismic effect DeSantis had on Florida politics, especially his landslide victory over Charlie Crist in the 2022 gubernatorial election. She became involved in his campaign in Alabama shortly after DeSantis announced

his intentions to run for president in May 2023.

“I realized that whatever DeSantis was doing in Florida, his voters loved it. Under his leadership, Florida became No. 1 for in-migration from similarly situated blue states,” Cook added. “So, he got my attention during COVID, and Florida was a haven for freedom.”

As the 2024 election cycle approached in

Vestavia Hills Councilwoman Kimberly Cook, far right, traveled to Iowa to support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on the 2024 presidential campaign trail for the Republican Iowa caucus in January. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Cook.

2023, Cook got involved in DeSantis's presidential campaign. She received a call from friend and Alabama state auditor Andrew Sorrell, asking her for an endorsement of DeSantis and to join him as one of the leaders of DeSantis’s campaign in Alabama. She was then connected with Terry Lathan, the former ALGOP chairwoman, and Jay Town, the former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, to help recruit a full slate of 47 delegates that qualified four days after qualifying opened — making them the first campaign to do so in Alabama.

With the Iowa caucus on the horizon, Cook called the DeSantis campaign director to ask about volunteer opportunities in Iowa, then recruited a friend and made the 800-plusmile drive to Des Moines, where they hit the ground running upon arrival.

In addition to making calls and in-person visits, Cook was asked to speak at a caucus location in a remote part of the state, attend and help register attendance at meet-and-greet events, knock on doors and attend town hall and debate events. It was during this trip outside of Des Moines that a historic blizzard rolled in, bringing several inches of snow and near-record-cold temperatures.

“We were snowed in the hotel, only able to make phone calls for two days. Fortunately, we stocked up on food and had power the whole time,” Cook said. “I was also concerned about the battery on my car, so we got advice from an Iowa friend to start the car once at least every eight hours. My Alabama minivan did just fine in the cold, snow and ice, even driving on snowy, unplowed country roads.

“It gets so cold that when you breathe in, it

Vestavia Hills City Councilwoman Kimberly Cook’s volunteer work in Iowa for the presidential campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis happened in the midst of a severe cold snap and blizzard in the state Photo courtesy of Kimberly Cook.

disruption. She was able to alert security, who escorted him out of the hall, but others in his group eventually interrupted the town hall toward the end of the event.

“When it first started happening, the people just kind of rushed the stage, and they had some kind of a flag, and you couldn't read what was on the flag, but they were chanting ‘No oil money,’ and I thought, ‘What does that even mean?’ That's not much of a protest if you can't even understand what they're trying to accomplish.”

In the final days before the caucus, Cook said she and the other volunteers worked practically non-stop, making calls and braving the weather to knock on doors to convince donors to come out and vote during a once-in-a-generation cold snap. However, Cook said the lousy weather dampened voter enthusiasm, as only 15% of voters turned out for the caucus, compared to 30% in 2016 — the last time there was a seriously contested Republican caucus there.

DeSantis captured only 21% of the vote, far behind Trump, and with his momentum slowing, he suspended his campaign ahead of the New Hampshire primary.

hurts. It actually hurts your lungs when you breathe air that cold, so you just have to cover up and make sure you have something over your face and have all your layers on,” Cook said. “Having never been to Iowa, I thought this was common, but I talked to people who were from there, and they said, ‘No, this was very unusual.’”

DEBATE EXPERIENCE

Cook also had the opportunity to attend the Republican debate featuring DeSantis and Nikki Haley, as well as the CNN Town Hall with DeSantis on Jan. 4, in which several protesters stormed the stage near the end of the event.

Cook noticed the person sitting in front of her was filming the town hall on his phone and realized he might be preparing to cause a

Despite the setback, Cook said the adventure has opened her eyes to the challenges of getting to the polls, especially on the national level. She also said the experience has given her a new perspective on her role on the City Council and how important civic engagement is to make progress and affect positive change.

“I realized how difficult it is to get votes and engage people in politics. You have to ask them for their vote. You can't assume that they know that you want their vote,” Cook said. “In order to get the very best for your city, you have to encourage engagement, and you have to push it because inertia is very strong, and so you have to puash, push, push.

“I do think that it's helped me as an elected official because it's made me realize how important local and state politics are to the people that are served, and the closer it is to people, the more it means to them,” Cook said. “It's made an impression.”

Business Happenings

NOW OPEN

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill is now open in Vestavia Hills City Center. The restaurant menu is rooted in classic Greek dishes, including gyros, hummus, spanakopita and falafel plates.

205-538-5262, thegreatgreekgrill.com

Salt & Light Speech

Language Services is now open at 400 Vestavia Parkway, Suite 135, to help clients of all ages improve their speech and language abilities. They have a speciality in addressing orofacial myofunctional disorders that affect the muscles and functions of the face and mouth. There is currently no wait list, and they offer after-hours appointments to make therapy more accessible.

205-582-7717, saltandlight-slp.com

NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Automation Personnel Services, a leading staffing agency based at 3500 Colonnade Parkway ,Suite 500, recently won the Best of Staffing in Client and Talent 5-Year Diamond Awards, for providing superior service to their clients and candidates for at least five consecutive years. The award is given by ClearlyRated.

Automation Personnel Services has branches in the Palisades Shopping near West Homewood and on U.S. 31 in Pelham.

205-733-3700, apstemps.com

Slice Pizza & Brew, 3104 Timberlake Drive, was recently named the winner of two prestigious categories in Pizza Today’s inaugural 2023 Pizza Industry Excellence (PIE) Awards, earning accolades for “Most Interesting Menu” and “Pizza Company of the Year by Region – Southeast.” The PIE Awards aim to spotlight the achievements of pizzeria operators nationwide. Independent and chain pizza establishments across the country vied for recognition in 24 categories, judged by a panel of leading pizzeria owners and culinary experts.

205-557-5423, slicebirmingham.com

PERSONNEL MOVES

Regions Bank, which has branches at 529 Montgomery Highway, 3172 Heights Village and 3390 Morgan Drive, has named Christian White as its Birmingham market executive. White also will serve as commercial banking district director for the Alabama, Mississippi and Florida panhandle markets. White joined Regions in 2003 and served in a number of positions within the commercial banking group in Birmingham and Mobile. White suc-

ceeds Alan Register, who has been elevated to serve as a commercial banking specialized executive. 205-766-8510, regions.com

George Ash Shauna Wesson and Betty Booker have joined the RealtySouth office at 2409 Acton Road, Suite 137, as real estate agents.

205-978-9000, realtysouthotmacton.com

ANNIVERSARIES

The Lili Pad, a children's boutique owned by sisters Susan Day and Katherine McRee, celebrated its 20th anniversary at 3138 Heights Village in February. The store started in 2004 with 1,700 square feet and through the years has expanded to 5,000 square feet in The Heights Village. In 2007, the Lili Pad expanded to open Gigi's, a tween store for girls. The store has won numerous awards, including Alabama Retailer of the Year in 2008, Vestavia Hills Business of the Year in 2017, Best of Vestavia designation, Birmingham's Best designation and the Dr. Charles A. "Scotty" McCallum Leadership Award for dedication to Vestavia Hills.

205-298-1811, lilipadbham.com

Business News to Share?

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A taste of the Mediterranean comes to Vestavia

By SARAH GILLILAND

A new fast-casual restaurant has opened its first location in Alabama.

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill opened on Montgomery Highway in the Vestavia Hills City Center Plaza in January. Owned and operated by Anil Patel and Anand Prajapati, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill is holding an opening celebration fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Alabama on March 1.

“We’re very excited about bringing new dining choices to the Vestavia Hills and Birmingham area,” Patel said. “I love being a part of this community and can’t wait to share fresh, flavorful cuisine made from scratch with the highest quality ingredients.”

The new dining establishment is a 3,150-square-foot restaurant with an open space with seating for around 50 to 60 guests inside and 20 to 25 guests outside.

Patel said he would consider the restaurant family-friendly, but it could also be a great option for adults seeking a healthier dine-out option.

Great Greek has locations in 20 different states, with more planned in the near future. The restaurant’s menu marries traditional Mediterranean dishes like gyros, falafel, Greek salads and rice bowls with a modern, fast-casual dining experience. The menu includes the signature Great Greek Gyro, the Athenian Burger and lamb, steak, shrimp and chicken souvlaki plates.

“We also offer a Four-Dip Combo that serves as the perfect starter and can be complemented by our popular classic Greek salad or rice bowls. For those with a sweet tooth, our homemade baklava is a must-have,” Prajapati said. Other sides and appetizers include spanakopita, stuffed grape leaves, lemon potatoes, feta fries and avgolemono soup. Aside from homemade baklava, the dessert options include rice pudding and baklava ice cream.

Patel and Prajapati are both friends and

business partners. Patel, a software-engineer-turned-entrepreneur with five years in the restaurant industry, expressed his excitement about bringing Great Greek’s Mediterranean cuisine to the area. Prajapati has a background in physics and advanced technology and shares a passion for offering nutritious and convenient food options that align with the Mediterranean diet.

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill prides itself on preparing everything in-house. Catering services are another highlight, providing

build-your-own gyros, souvlaki skewers and an assortment of dips and desserts.

Vestavia was chosen as the first location for the Alabama branch of the restaurant because of its inclusive nature and growing economy.

“Vestavia Hills is a lively, vibrant community. The city not only has a strong economy but is also culturally fascinating, so it captures the essence of the Great Greek Mediterranean Grill experience,” Prajapati said.

“We’re excited to announce our brand’s flagship Alabama location in Vestavia Hills,” said

Bob Andersen, president of the franchise. “Our outstanding partners, Anil Patel and Anand Prajapati, will spreadhead our development in the Birmingham area.”

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill is located at 700 Montgomery Highway, Suite 190, and is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Options for pick-up and delivery are available through DoorDash, EZCater, GrubHub and UberEats. For more information, visit thegreatgreekgrill.com.

A gyro plate and Greek salad are among the menu items at the Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, located at Vestavia City Center Plaza.

Photo courtesy of Great Greek Mediterranean Grill.

Care management

‘is a calling, not a job’

LifeCare Solutions, based in Mountain Brook, is the leading comprehensive care management service in the Birmingham area and helps families care for people of all ages who need help navigating serious health and lifestyle challenges.

Many older people have health concerns, both mental and physical, and even young people may have to cope with or recover from serious injuries, chronic illnesses or disabilities.

Regardless of age, they all need someone they can trust to help them find their way through a bewildering maze of healthcare providers and other services.

LifeCare Solutions is there with a holistic, client-centered approach.

“Our mission is to support, educate and provide on-going expertise and resources to our clients and their families through compassion, guidance and understanding,” says Christy Baynes, the firm’s Founder and CEO. “We are committed to helping our clients achieve their best quality of life while living with a chronic illness.”

“Working with families, our expertise provides the answers at a time of uncertainty,” says Taylor McElmurry, the vice-president of operations for LifeCare Solutions. “We guide our families to the actions and decisions that ensure quality care and an optimal life for those they love, thus reducing worry, stress and time off of work for family caregivers.”

The caring, well-trained staff at LifeCare Solutions can assess the client’s current needs and help the client and the client’s family plan for the future.

They can also help educate caregivers; help clients and families plan for crisis care; and connect families with other resources and providers, including help with legal and financial matters.

“We help navigate them through their care journey, and that covers basically everything they can’t do for themselves,” McElmurry says. “We recommend outside resources, like caregiving, home health, physicians, facilities and so many more local resources.”

Baynes started the company in 2012 when her professional and personal experience showed her the need for true continuity of care focused on the whole person, because care doesn’t stop when a patient walks out of the hospital.

“Care is our calling, not our job,” Baynes says. “Our own

► WHERE: 6 Office Park Circle, Suite 216

► CALL: 205-848-8400

► WEBSITE: lcscaresolutions.com

families and loved ones have endured many of the same hardships and challenges that our clients face.

“We choose team members with the right educational background, years of expertise in the industry, personal experience and — most importantly — the heart and passion to serve our clients and their families,” she says.

Baynes’ husband, Allen Baynes, serves as the company’s Chief Financial Officer, and Bragan Petrey — a certified registered nurse practitioner — serves as Assessment Specialist.

The company has grown steadily and now has 18 staff members with 250 years of combined experience.

“Our staff has backgrounds in areas such as nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, gerontology, speech pathology and social work,” McElmurry says. “Our expertise includes in-home care, home health, adult day care, support groups, assisted living and memory care assisted living, skilled nursing, and palliative and hospice care.”

LifeCare Solutions has also expanded its service area, recently opening an office in Opelika. The company now serves Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, the Auburn/Opelika area and their surrounding communities.

LifeCare Solutions is also a proud woman-owned business, and nearly 90% of the staff members are women.

“All of the wonderful women on our staff have servant’s hearts and use their expertise as well as compassion to guide our clients and their families towards a solution,” McElmurry says. “To our team, it’s personal!”

Women certainly bring some strong, positive attributes to the company.

“Women not only bring great wisdom and experience to the business world, but they also bring such understanding and compassion while doing so,” McElmurry says.

The work the staff does at LifeCare Solutions is very gratifying.

“The majority of the time, our clients or their families come to us lost, overwhelmed or in crisis mode because the healthcare

industry is so complicated, lacks unified communication, or there are just too many choices,” McElmurry says. ‘On top of all of that, caring for a loved one is emotional. We get to meet our clients at whatever stage they are at in their care and relieve them of their stress and burden so they can be family. To do what we do, you have to have a bleeding heart, but being able to see the relief that our service brings to our clients and their families is reward enough.”

People also need and want personal, hands-on care, so each client at LifeCare Solutions has just one care manager.

“We want to build that relationship of trust between the care manager and the client and client’s family,” McElmurry says.

LifeCare Solutions has tremendous expertise in caring for patients with dementia.

“Dementia care and support have always been at the forefront of our company’s focus,” McElmurry says. “Most of our care managers have worked decades with persons living with dementia.”

Baynes began her geriatric career in 1998 at UAB working as a research assistant in the REACH (Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregivers Health) Program.

In fact, the firm is the first PAC (Positive Approach to Care) Designated Organization in the state.

“Our organization incorporates PAC’s training and techniques in our staff training, family education and community outreach,” McElmurry says.

The Thoughtful Engagement Specialists at the company work with those living from dementia, and TEP features oneon-one personalized activities that “bring a client joy,” she says.

For example, one woman with dementia loved to collect antiques. “So we take her estate sale shopping,” McElmurry says.

“However, most of the time our clients just need someone to talk to and to be there to spend time with them,” she says.

LifeCare Solutions has also seen the age range of its clients expand over time.

“While geriatrics is still our specialty, we have been helping younger and younger individuals who need the same help as older adults, whether it involves a chronic illness, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse or mental health,” Baynes says.

For more information, call 205-848-8400 or go online to lcscaresolutions.com.

From left: Kathy Jones, Taylor McElmurry, Margaret Holland, Tracey Smith, Marsha North, Linda Bottoms, Nicole Crawford, Christy Baynes, Suzanne Kilpatrick, Bragan Petrey, Elena Leonard, Chrissy Cullum, Abbey Sheehan, Kathy Pope, and Leah Doss

Have

VHCS Hall of Fame induction ceremony

City leaders gathered at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center on Jan. 29 to celebrate the 2024 Hall of Fame inductees: Beverly Brasell, William “Bill” Clark, Jennifer Greer, Kym Prewitt and Jim Williams. Photos by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

25:

Want

The Liberty Park Middle School honor choir performs.

Hall of Fame inductee Jennifer Greer smiles for photographs with some of her students from Post Place.

Vestavia Hills City Schools Superintendent Todd Freeman speaks.

Beverly Brasell listens as fellow Hall of Fame inductee Kym Prewitt speaks.

Vestavia Hills City Schools Superintendent Todd Freeman hugs Kym Prewitt as Prewitt walks up to speak.

Left: Vestavia Hills Mayor Ashley Curry. Middle: Hall of Fame inductee Jim Williams speaks. Right: Ellen Clark, daughter of William “Bill” Clark, speaks on his behalf.

School board settles trademark dispute

By JON ANDERSON

It turns out that the Vestavia Hills Rebels aren’t the only ones who lay claim to the 1Rebel logo that the school system started using around 2016.

When the school system’s trademark attorney filed the registration for 1Rebel with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, he learned there was another company, based in London, England, using it as well, and it had already filed a notice that it intends to use the logo in the United States.

That company, One Rebel Ltd, is a fitness studio that uses an almost-identical 1Rebel logo in the United Kingdom, Australia and a few other places on its fitness apparel, equipment and training materials, attorney Marcus Chatterton told the Vestavia Hills Board of Education recently.

Its logo is “very nearly identical” to the one used by the Vestavia Hills Board of Education, Chatterton said. The font is slightly different, and their primary colors are black and white instead of red and blue, he said.

The Vestavia Hills school board could fight the London company’s registration attempt based on the idea that the Vestavia Hills Board of Education is the “senior user” of the logo in the U.S., but at the recommendation of the

London company, the school board chose a different route.

Instead of fighting to retain exclusive U.S. rights to use the logo, the Vestavia Hills school board on Jan. 29 approved a “co-existence agreement” that would allow both parties to use the logo in specific geographic areas.

Under this agreement, the Vestavia Hills Board of Education would have exclusive rights to use the 1Rebel logo within a 250mile radius of Vestavia Hills. This includes the Atlanta and Nashville markets, which could potentially be valuable to the London company if it decided to enter those markets, Chatterton said.

However, the London company would have exclusive rights to use its logo outside that 250-mile radius, Chatterton said. Each party would have to get approval from the other if they desire to have a brick-and-mortar logo usage in the other’s territory, he said.

School board Vice President Scott Brown asked Chatterton what that would mean for online sales and whether it would prevent a company with a license to sell Vestavia Hills branded merchandise from selling items with the 1Rebel logo to an alumnus in California.

Chatterton said he would not anticipate any such ban regarding online sales. The prohibition would be more focused on any

brick-and-mortar presence in the other party’s jurisdiction, he said. For example, the One Rebel Ltd company would be prohibited from opening a fitness studio with that logo within 250 miles of Vestavia Hills, he said.

One Rebel Ltd does have a website that sells some merchandise in the United States, but the company currently doesn’t have any brickand-mortar locations in the United States, Chatterton said.

Brown said the co-existence agreement would be a lot cheaper than litigation to fight the London company. “Hence the recommendation,” Chatterton said, noting that he has no reason to believe the company was copying the Vestavia Hills logo. Both parties apparently began using their respective logos at about the same time, unknown to one another, he said.

In other business, the school board heard a report about the district’s classroom sizes and teaching corps from Brooke Wedgworth, one of two directors of curriculum and instruction.

The Cognia accreditation group recommends that school systems have no more than 18-22 students per class in grades K-3, no more than 22-25 students per class in grades 4-6 and no more than 25-28 students per class in the core classes for grades 7-12, Superintendent Todd Freeman said.

According to Wedgworth, the average class

sizes in Vestavia Hills public schools are:

► Kindergarten: 14.4

► First grade: 17.5

► Second grade: 17.3

► Third grade: 18.2

► Fourth grade: 19.4

► Fifth grade: 21.4

► Liberty Park Middle School: 21

► Pizitz Middle School: 24

► Freshman Campus: 20

► Vestavia Hills High School: 20

Freeman said he is pleased with the class sizes in Vestavia Hills. Wedgworth said that in order to keep class sizes low, the school system has to hire more teachers than the state will fund. This year, Vestavia Hills pays the salaries and benefits for 110 teachers fully with local funds instead of state or federal funding, she said.

The quality of Vestavia’s teaching corps is also important, she said. The school system has 61 teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and 43 teachers with special certification for teaching math or science (better known as TEAMS teachers), she said.

Of all the teachers, 143 of them (24%) have obtained a bachelor’s degree, while 407 (67%) have a master’s degree, 39 (6%) have a specialist degree and 17 (3%) have a doctorate.

Left: Vestavia Hills City Schools’ 1Rebel logo. Image courtesy of Vestavia Hills City Schools. Right: One Rebel Ltd’s logo. Image courtesy of One Rebel Ltd.

REAL ESTATE

CONTINUED from page A1

However, the 2023 average sales price of $562,298 was 2% higher than the average of $551,365 in 2022, MLS statistics show.

Although the average days a house spent on the market ticked up slightly from 14 days in 2022 to 18 days in 2023 — a 29 percent increase — Vestavia Hills continued to be one of the most desirable communities compared to the 80-day average in Alabama.

Jana Hanna, a Realtor based out of the RealtySouth office on Acton Road, said the interest rate hikes in 2023 were responsible for the low inventory as many homeowners chose to hang on to their homes rather than put them on the market. However, Hanna said those who did sell in 2023 were in great shape due to the rapid appreciation in value that has almost doubled home prices in Vestavia Hills over the last five years.

“2023 was somewhat of a volatile market because we had a little bit of an interest rate hike, but overall it was a good sellers’ market for me personally just because of the low inventory of homes that were for sale,” Hanna said.

“The positive is, for the seller with very low inventory, that meant the competition was down among sellers,” Hanna added. “So if people were ready to buy, that was good for the seller because there were not a lot of homes on the market.”

Hanna said the most popular communities for potential homebuyers include the neighborhoods surrounding the Vestavia Hills Country Club, Countrywood, Coventry, Tanglewood and Liberty Park. However, she added that real estate in Vestavia estate communities is always popular for homebuyers, regardless of the community, due to the quality of the city’s schools.

“Obviously, Vestavia Hills is a wonderful place to live, but our school system is a driving force,” Hanna said. “People are relocating here, and one of the main things they look at is the high school, so that is a big push for Vestavia real estate.”

The 800-pound gorilla that affected the housing market in 2023 was, of course, interest rates. Rates for a 30-year mortgage rose to their highest level since 2000, topping out at 8% in November of 2023.

By mid-February, interest rates on a 30-year mortgage had fallen below 7%, and Hanna believes they will continue to drop periodically throughout 2024. While she doesn’t think rates will go as low as 2% to 3%, she said 5% to 6% is realistic and manageable for buyers interested in

Greater Birmingham Area Suburban Home Sales 2023

Suburban new and existing home sales in the greater Birmingham area, listed by city with average price and square footage.

Vestavia Hills.

“I think now that the sticker shock has worn off since rates aren’t at 8% and are coming back down,” Hanna said.

“I think it’s normalizing because, at the

beginning of 2023, it was really hot, and then the Fed kept cranking up interest rates,” Hanna said, “but now I feel like it’s at a more stable place, and buyers are feeling a little bit more confident going into the

marketplace. 2023 was down, but I feel comfortable going into 2024 that it’s going to pick back up.”

Craig Alverson of Liberty Mortgage in Vestavia Hills said 2023 was a difficult year

The Brayfield Townhomes at Liberty Park. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

$947.4K

for the mortgage industry, as homeowners took a wait-and-see approach to putting their homes up for sale. He said he expects inventory and demand to rise as rates settle during 2024.

“The default process is that as the rates continue to fall, inventory will start to increase as well as demand because a lot of people are sitting on the fence not wanting to sell because they’re thinking, ‘Why am I going to give up 3% on this house to go pay 6.5 on the next house right now?’” Alverson said. “‘I’ll have to buy less house than I have now in order to keep my payment the same.’ So there are a lot of people who are choosing not to sell at this point in time.”

Alverson’s father launched Liberty Mortgage 35 years ago and has been with the company for more than 20 years. He said one trend he has seen many times during his career occurs every four years and will happen in 2024 in conjunction with the presidential election.

“We’re in an election cycle, so we expect the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates at their next meeting, which hopefully will transition back to mortgage rates as well,” Alverson said. “This isn’t a party-sided thing. If Trump were in office and we were having the same sort of economic issues to deal with and you asked me this question, I’d answer it the same way.”

While there are many mortgage options available, including adjustable-rate mortgages that can lower monthly payments for a time, Alverson warns against ARMs during this period of market volatility, especially if the buyer expects to live in the home long term.

“Anybody who’s going to finance money for extended periods of time with a believable history of being in the home for five to seven years would be foolish to do an ARM in this market because there is just no benefit,” Alverson said.

Alverson explained that ARMs include an index and a margin, which determine the mortgage holder’s actual interest rate. While most indexes, backed by either the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate or U.S. Treasury Bills, remain fixed between 2% to 2.5%, the margins can fluctuate wildly. During the current market conditions, Alverson said homebuyers should avoid ARMs and stick with a traditional fixed-rate mortgage.

“If you look at the indexes right now, some of those indexes still are at 8%. If you add a margin to that at 2.5%, and if nothing were to change, you would be looking at a realized rate that would be higher than what you can get on that fixed rate after the first adjustment. That’s why we would shy away from ARM derivatives.”

For homeowners and homebuyers who are still a little wary of the market, Vestavia resident Charles Black has developed a new website to help them navigate it. A software developer and CEO of the RES health care analytics company, Black became frustrated after he and his wife began looking for a second home and thought there had to be a way to make offers on homes that weren’t on the market.

“We thought we want to be in a specific community, and there are 300 homes in that area, but only a handful of them are for sale,” Black said. “That whole process made me sit there and say there’s got to be a better way.”

After months of development, Black launched Off Market Group, a website allowing homeowners to accept anonymous offers from potential homebuyers. The site — off-marketgroup.com — is a free service for both audiences, and he said he believes OMG is a potential game changer for the real estate industry, especially during a tight market like the last few years.

On the site, a homeowner can post their home and establish a minimum offer and allow potential buyers to make offers. The website automatically rejects offers under the established minimum but sends a notification to the homeowner of an offer at or above the threshold. At that point, the homeowner and potential buyer can begin negotiations.

“The goal with OMG is to essentially take it from where you — the real estate agent or the homebuyer — can go after 1% of houses to, instead, you — the real estate agent or the homebuyer — can go after 100% of houses. It’s that simple.”

Black said he set the site as a free service and makes no income from the site and doesn’t track any financial information.

The site recently had more than 3,000 listed homes, and Black said more than 130 offers have been made since the site went live in 2023.

ELECTIONS

CONTINUED from page A1

He said the country has been headed in the wrong direction under President Biden’s administration, and if Donald Trump is elected as the next president, “we’ve got a chance to really fix some things.”

Palmer said there has been a huge turnover among Republicans in Congress in recent years, and “we’re hemorrhaging in experience and institutional knowledge.”

As chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and a former member of the House Budget Committee, he believes his experience and background in policy matters, the budget and Congressional procedure will be needed.

It’s easy for his opponents to criticize his votes on certain things, but “they don’t know how things work,” Palmer said. “It takes a while to even learn how the process works. We’re having a hard time passing anything right now.”

UKRAINE WAR

Wilkins and McFeeters have criticized Palmer for advocating for spending billions of dollars to aid Ukraine in its war with Russia while the United States faces an “invasion” at its southern border.

“We need a representative to say, ‘No more — no more prioritizing foreign security over American security,’” Wilkins said. “There is a crisis at the southern border, and it has been neglected by this inept administration and allowed to flourish under apathetic Congressional leadership and oversight.”

Wilkins said Palmer seems “mired in the ways of the D.C. swamp.”

“He has been complacent with theorizing about policy and occasionally voting the right way,” Wilkins said. “Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District deserves more. We deserve a tireless advocate — a representative who goes beyond mere words, embodied with action and initiative. … It’s high time we elect a representative who prioritizes action and Alabama values over passive committee attendance and idle policy discussions.”

McFeeters said the U.S. government’s support of the war in Ukraine has baffled him.

“There’s absolutely no reason we should be in Ukraine,” he said. “Ukraine gives us no strategic military or financial advantage. We have no economic ties with Ukraine.”

Palmer said he voted against more recent bills to provide financial support to Ukraine.

Wilkins also faulted Palmer for voting to kill the Border Security and Immigration Reform Act in 2018.

Palmer said he voted against that act because it was a bad bill that would have increased the number of illegal immigrants coming into the country and given amnesty to too many already here.

PALMER

Palmer said the two most important issues to him right now are border security and the cost of living.

Nearly 7 million people have entered the country illegally since Biden came into office, and there have been 345 U.S. Border Patrol encounters with known or suspected terrorists or potential threats between U.S. ports of entry since that time, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It’s a threat to national security when you don’t know who is crossing the borders,

Ken McFeeters

► Party: Republican

► Age: 63

► Residence: Indian Lake in north Shelby County

► Political experience: Unsuccessful bid to replace David Wheeler in Alabama House District 47 in 2022; former president of Mid-Alabama Republican Club

► Professional experience: Has owned and run PAC Insurance Agency for 42 years (offices in Hoover, Bessemer and Roebuck)

► Civic experience: Legislative chairman for Alabama Independent Insurance Agents for 10 of last 20 years

► Education: Berry High School graduate, 1979

► Main issues: Redirect payments going to Federal Reserve to replenish Social Security; abolish the U.S. Department of Education; eliminate mRNA shots for infants and children; defund and withdraw from the United Nations and World Health Organization; change leadership in federal agencies; end U.S. involvement in Russia-Ukraine war

► Website/social media: Ken4America.com; X: @Ken35216; Facebook: Ken Abe McFeeters

Palmer said.

Trump’s “return to Mexico” policy needs to be reinstated as a law, as well as a requirement that people not be allowed in the country until it is verified they are not carrying viruses, Palmer said.

Pressure must be put on Mexico through trade agreements, and the United States must build a wall on its southern border and pay for better surveillance technology, including technology that better detects fentanyl, he said.

The government also has to get control of inflation, Palmer said. Under the Biden administration, inflation soared over 9%, and the cumulative impact of inflation was as high as 17%, based on the Consumer Price Index, he said. A family with a median household income had $12,000 less buying power because of the high inflation, and 64% of the increase in fuel costs in the last two years was due to higher energy costs, Palmer said.

WILKINS

Wilkins said government cannot overlook the pressing moral issues of the day.

“Our society faces an urgent call to safeguard the unborn, to counter child exploitation and eradicate the scourge of human trafficking that is pervading our country,” Wilkins said. “My commitment to the intrinsic value of everyone from conception to natural end remains steadfast and unwavering. I pledge to spearhead policies that

Gary Palmer (incumbent)

► Party: Republican

► Age: 69 ► Residence: Hoover

► Political experience: Elected to U.S. Congress in 2014 representing Alabama’s 6th District; now in his fifth two-year term

► Professional experience: President of the Alabama Policy Institute for 24 years; worked in engineering, as well as with Focus on the Family; chairman of the Republican Policy Committee; serves on the House Energy & Commerce Committee; previously served on the House Budget and Oversight Committees

► Civic experience: Rotary Club of Birmingham; member of Briarwood Presbyterian Church

► Education: Bachelor’s degree in operations management from University of Alabama in 1977

► Main issues: Better secure the U.S. border with Mexico; get control of inflation; open access to energy resources such as natural gas, critical minerals and Canadian oil

► Website/social media: palmerforalabama.com; X: @Palmer4Alabama; Facebook: Gary Palmer for Alabama

Gerrick Wilkins

Party: Republican Age: 46

Res-

idence: Vestavia

Political experience: First run for public office

Professional experience: Has worked in automotive industry more than 24 years; now is broker in sale of dealerships for Dealer Support Network

► Civic experience: Advisory board for Samford University Brock School of Business; on board for Mission Increase Alabama, which provides free counseling to nonprofits on a Biblical approach to fundraising; member of The Gideons International

► Education: Master’s degree in business administration from Samford University in 2016; bachelor’s degree in religion from Liberty University

► Main issues: Conservative representation; secure U.S. borders; safeguard the unborn; counter child exploitation and human trafficking; be fiscally responsible in Congress; balance the budget; support term limits; dismantle the U.S. Department of Education

► Website/social media: WilkinsforAL.com;

X: @WilkinsforAL;

Facebook: Gerrick Wilkins for Congress

nurture and protect life and confront the menace of human trafficking at its roots.”

Wilkins also said he will fight for fiscal responsibility in Congress, support a balanced budget amendment and push for significant cuts to the federal bureaucracy. The current national debt is $34.2 trillion, up from $31.7 trillion in 2020, according to the U.S. Treasury.

“At this point, if we don’t make some serious cuts to federal spending, then we’re not going to enjoy the same prosperous country that allowed me to be successful and that’s allowed so many to achieve the American dream. Interest payments on that debt alone will be the single largest budget item within just a few short years, and that’s a problem,” Wilkins said.

McFEETERS

McFeeters said he was drawn into this race because of the crazy government overreach during the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war and the false narratives being spun related to the Jan. 6, 2021, protests in Washington, D.C., in which Trump supporters forced their way into the U.S. Capitol to contest certification of his defeat in the 2020 election.

McFeeters said he opposes the Federal Reserve

banking system that was created by Congress in 1913 and doesn’t believe the U.S. government should owe money to a private entity like that. The U.S. government owed $5.4 trillion to the Federal Reserve as of the end of the third quarter of 2023, according to the Fed. McFeeters said it would be better to use that money to replenish the Social Security fund.

He believes power players are at work behind the scenes to create crises, such as wars and the border crisis in an effort to create debt for the government and general population. Government giveaway programs also are designed to add to this debt, he said. McFeeters also wants to do away with required mRNA vaccinations for infants and children, saying medical decisions should be left up to individuals.

All three candidates said they support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education.

The Sixth Congressional District includes the northeastern part of Jefferson County, a small part of Talladega County, as well as Shelby, Bibb, Chilton, Coosa, Autauga and Elmore counties. It includes Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Trussville, Clay and parts of Hoover and Homewood.

The winner of the March 5 Republican primary will face Democrat Elizabeth Anderson in the Nov. 5 general election.

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Rebels ready to follow up state championship

By KYLE PARMLEY

The Vestavia Hills High School baseball program reached the mountaintop last spring for the first time since 2000.

Now, the challenge is to stay there. The Rebels had a run of dominance in the 1990s, winning nine state championships in a 10-year span under legendary head coach Sammy Dunn. That would be impossible to replicate, but the Rebels at least feel like they are back where they belong.

“It was a special year,” Vestavia Hills head coach Jamie Harris said of the 2023 season. “I wouldn’t change anything about it.”

Harris and several coaches on staff were part of that dynasty as players, meaning the program carries an extra sense of importance to them.

“It’s not a job for us; it’s a huge part of our lives,” Harris said.

With that being said, Vestavia Hills will be looking this season to replace many of those key players who helped lift the Rebels to the title last year. But the standard has long been set and the expectations within the program remain the same.

“They know what a practice is supposed to look like, they know what the focus is supposed to be, they know what the pressure is,” Harris said. “Once you get it rolling and kids get the taste of a winning culture, that feeds on itself.”

There are only a few players returning to this year’s team who played a significant amount of time last spring. John Paul Head was the team’s starting third baseman but will move behind the plate and be the team’s catcher. He has signed to catch at UAB and should give the Rebels a strong option in that role.

“We had the luxury of having two senior catchers last year that made it where we could leave him at third,” Harris said. “He looks the part every day at practice.”

William Tonsmeire, a Southern Miss commit, started in left field as a sophomore. He is likely to man center field this spring and Harris believes he could be one of the top outfielders in the state.

Mason Perrigo is back for another year on varsity and has played many positions during his time. He should slot in at shortstop and will

be a bat the Rebels rely heavily on. Caden Taylor is an outfielder committed to Northwest Shoals Community College. He will also provide juice in the middle of the lineup.

The Rebels have 11 seniors this year. In addition to Head, Perrigo and Taylor, there is also Dean Walker, Charlie Ingram, Sam Snowden, Matthew Ledbetter, Cannon Cherry, Clark Dickerson, Miles Plugge and Will Bourland.

Harris is also high on a few of the junior pitchers expected to have big years: Bruce Littleton, Chase Rafferty and Colin Jones.

Vestavia Hills’ William Tonsmeire (35) hits the ball in game one of a third-round playoff series against Thompson in May 2023. Photo by Erin

“You can hem and haw about the guys you’re missing, but you can be excited about molding and shaping a new team. We’re doing the latter,” Harris said.

Vestavia knows as well as any program how difficult Class 7A baseball is in the Birmingham metro, between Areas 5 and 6. The Rebels are in Area 5 with Hoover, Thompson and Tuscaloosa County, and finishing in the top two to qualify for the playoffs is by no means an easy task.

“It’s going to be hard,” Harris said.

Nelson Sweeney.

April 16, 2024 at Vestavia Country Club

Keynote Speaker: Anna Curry Gualano

7:00 am Buffet Opens

GOING TO THE NEXT LEVEL

JOHN PAUL HEAD

JORDAN ROSS

▶ SPORT: Baseball

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: University of Alabama at Birmingham

▶ SPORT: Football

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: University of Tennessee

MARY RAINES HINELY

HAYES CATION

JACK DAVIS

▶ SPORT: Golf

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: Florida College

CADEN TAYLOR

▶ SPORT: Baseball

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: Northwest-Shoals Community College

CHARLIE INGRAM

▶ SPORT: Football

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: Mississippi State University

PIERCE BECKER

▶ SPORT: Golf

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: Point University

▶ SPORT: Soccer

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: Liberty University

LUCY SPISTO

ALEC PARAISO

By KYLE PARMLEY, Photos by ERIN NELSON SWEENEY

Vestavia Hills High School recognized 23 senior student-athletes on the spring National Signing Day, Feb. 7. Those athletes represent Vestavia Hills across 13 different sports and will continue to do so at the next level.

JACKSON WEAVER

▶ SPORT: Basketball

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: University of Alabama in Huntsville

KEOWN RICHARDSON

▶ SPORT: Golf

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: Troy University

▶ SPORT: Softball

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY:

Wallace State Community College

▶ SPORT: Soccer

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: Pfeiffer University

▶ SPORT: Football

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: Delta State University

MICHAEL BREWER

▶ SPORT: Golf

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: Shelton State Community College

TAIT DAVIDSON

DEVIN JAMES

▶ SPORT: Softball

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: University of Alabama at Birmingham

▶ SPORT: Soccer

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: Bard College

▶ SPORT: Soccer

HENRY STRAND

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▶ SPORT: Track and field

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: University of North Carolina

AUDREY VIELGUTH

RILEY McCLAIN

▶ SPORT: Tennis

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: Millsaps College

MAX ARMSTRONG

▶ SPORT: Volleyball

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: Southeastern Louisiana University

▶ SPORT: Track and field

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: University of Mississippi

BRAEDEN KRABLIN

BRAYDEN HELMS

▶ SPORT: Tennis

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: Wallace State Community College

Photo courtesy of Oliver Aaron.

KAITLYN WENDE

▶ SPORT: Track and field

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: University of Alabama at Birmingham

▶ SPORT: Volleyball

▶ COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY: Carson-Newman University

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Rebels softball focusing on consistency

By KYLE PARMLEY

Some things in life are simply consistent. They don’t change very often, and you know what you’re going to get.

Over the years, the Vestavia Hills High School softball program has proven to be one of those things. Year in and year out, the Rebels have been one of the top teams in the top classification throughout Alabama.

But then again, there are many teams in the Birmingham area that can say the same thing, so the task is never easy for a team like the Rebels to continue that success.

This year’s team will look to carry that torch once again, as Vestavia Hills comes off a 2023 season in which the Rebels won 42 games and advanced to the regional tournament.

Vestavia’s roster features five seniors this year in Tait Davidson, Lucy Spisto, Laura Faith Beard, Reese Johnson and Alexis Fizer.

Davidson is a standout pitcher, while Spisto, Beard and Johnson have been starters in past seasons as well. All five will be leaned on to help lead the team this spring.

One of the keys for the Rebels over the last few years has been health within the pitching staff.

Davidson, a UAB commit, headlines the rotation this year. She takes the reins following the graduation of Miah Simmons, who signed with the University of Mobile.

“Losing Miah from last year is going to put a little pressure on the pitching staff,” head coach John Simmons said. “We have a little bit

more inexperience.”

Davidson will get support from junior Elizabeth Yother, who pitched last season. Simmons also mentioned the potential of freshmen Hollon Gay and Haley McGill in the circle.

If the Rebels can remain healthy, Simmons is excited to see what those arms can bring to the table once the season progresses.

Yother, catcher EJ Bragan, outfielder Evelyn Splawn and Carmen

Owen are the team’s juniors. Bragan recently committed to Union University and is a strong option behind the plate. Owen transferred in this year and can play several spots on the field, including catcher to give Bragan an occasional break.

“All those kids that had some experience last year, they’re bringing a little bit more maturity,” Simmons said. “I’ve noticed that on the practice field. That’s what’s going to pay dividends down the road.”

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Simmons said he uses roughly the first month of the season as a time to try players in different spots, whether that be in the batting lineup or in pitching situations. Once the middle of March arrives, it’s go time.

“I always plan on March being an experimental time, getting people in different positions in the order, then we come out of spring break knowing who we are and what we’re going to do.”

Simmons would not rule out some of the freshmen and sophomores helping the Rebels out immediately this season, as well as a pair of eighth graders.

The Rebels are looking to reach their potential in order to make another playoff run this spring.

“I want to build consistency where we’re at, whatever that level is, whatever the height that we can be,” Simmons said. “We want to get to that ceiling every time we play.”

Left: Vestavia Hills’ Tait Davidson (23) pitches in a game against Thompson at the Vestavia Hills softball field in April 2023. Above: Lucy Spisto (8) catches a throw at first base in an area game against Hoover at Jim Brown Field in April 2023. Photos by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

Rebels boys finish 2nd at state indoor meet

By KYLE PARMLEY

The Vestavia Hills High School boys indoor track and field team picked up another trophy to add to the trophy case Feb. 3, finishing second in the Class 7A state meet at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

Nobody was catching Hoover, which posted 133.5 points to run away from the field. But the Rebels edged out the likes of James Clemens, Hewitt-Trussville and Oak Mountain to claim second. Vestavia scored 79 points, James Clemens scored 56.5 and Hewitt added 38.5

The Vestavia girls were a close

third, finishing behind Hoover and Hewitt-Trussville, but beating Auburn and Thompson by just a few points.

“All the things we needed to do, we did,” Vestavia Hills coach Richard Anderson said. “Then, we had some other kids step up.”

Anderson pointed to the boys 1,600-meter run as one of the key events for the Rebels, as the team got a combined 11 points from Mitchell Schaaf and Jackson Mize. Schaaf finished second and Mize finished sixth in a strong event for the team.

Max Armstrong had a big day

individually, winning the 800 in 1:54 and placing second in the 400.

Anderson knew going in that the Rebels had an opportunity to strike in the 4x800 relay. The Rebels did just that, setting a state record by winning in 7:56. In addition, the 4x400 team was second and the 4x200 team finished fourth.

Caleb Farrar posted a personal best clearance of 13 feet, 6 inches, to finish second in the pole vault, which was big as well. Jack Stubbs and Emory Carver each scored points in the long jump.

Schaaf also finished fifth in the 800, John Hayes was seventh in the

3,200, Tyler Dressback was seventh in high jump, Carver was sixth in triple jump and Chase Kaiser and Henry Drew each gained points in the shot put.

Anderson was also pleased with the performance from the girls team, which was expected to finish third based on projections entering the meet.

Riley Zeanah delivered a victory to the team, winning the 800 in 2:15. Kennedy Moreland and Krislyn Thomas swept the top two positions in the pole vault, as Moreland cleared 11-6 to win.

Reese Beckner was fourth in the

60-meter hurdles, Olivia Carroll was seventh in the 1,600, the 4x400 relay team was fourth and the 4x800 team finished fifth.

Chase Webb, Graham Gwaltney, Niklas Volkoff, Wilson Holt, Hollis Smith, Brady Ferrell, Emily Spooner, Abby Allen, Finley Becker, Kaitlyn Wende, Claire Spooner, Barclay Brown and Addison Armstrong also competed in individual competitions.

“I’m just proud of the way our kids show up when we’re not exactly supposed to do certain things, and they manage to get the job done,” Anderson said.

Vestavia Hills boys indoor track and field team with the AHSAA Class 7A state runner-up trophy following the state indoor meet at the Birmingham CrossPlex on Feb. 3. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

Rally Sports Camp coming to Cahaba Heights

By LOYD McINTOSH

Cahaba Heights Park will host the 2024 Rally Sports Camp this summer.

Offered to children ages 5 to 11, Rally Sports Camps are designed to mimic the energy and relaxed atmosphere of recess or physical education classes. During the weeklong camp, kids play six sports such as wiffle ball, volleyball, soccer, flag football and basketball. The camp allows children to explore and practice sports to which they may never have been exposed in an environment where they are not being evaluated on performance.

“The concept of Rally Sports Camps camp is we want sports to be fun, and we want to create them in a way that, sure it can be competitive, but it doesn't have to be life-altering,” said Caleb Schmidt, vice president of sponsorships for Knight Eady, a Birmingham-based sports management and marketing company that started the camps in 2020 to fill a void in children’s sports created during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

“These are kids, and the thing we forget sometimes is that sports are supposed to be fun, but we end up making them more fun for the parents than we do for the kids,” Schmidt said. “There’s nothing wrong with competition, but it’s about balancing it in a healthy way.”

With their own business slowed due to the pandemic, the Knight Eady leadership realized they had the experience to address the need for children’s programming during the pandemic, Schmidt said.

“Knight Eady looked at that and said, ‘We're a professional sports event management company. Surely we can figure out a way to run a fun sports camp,’” Schmidt said.

Knight Eady operated the first Rally Sports Camp in 2020, while working with several nonprofit organizations to offer scholarships to kids from underserved communities. During that first week of camp, Schmidt had an idea to help broaden the horizons of young people throughout greater Birmingham to the vast career opportunities in sports.

“I had this vision of creating a brand new sports nonprofit that was built around the idea of creating experiences, preparing kids and ultimately creating a more equitable playing field for them with regards to careers in sports,” Schmidt said.

“A lot of kids from underserved communities

grow up thinking that if they want to be impactful and want to have a career in sports, they have to be an athlete,” he said. “I wanted to show them the path toward finding well-being for themselves, providing for their families and being present in the lives of their communities, and that there are opportunities in sports to do that beyond just being an athlete.”

Schmidt launched the Zero Zero Foundation in the fall of 2020 and brought the Rally Sports Camp under its umbrella. Since then, the organization has expanded its mission, including making sports accessible to kids from all socioeconomic backgrounds and providing a sense of excitement and adventure that Schmidt said has been lost to the over-structuring of youth sports. The camps allow kids to learn about

teamwork, interpersonal skills and cooperation, with an emphasis on simply having fun.

“We think that, unfortunately, sports have become way too privatized and have become way too professional,” Schmidt said. “At an earlier and earlier age, parents are committing them [kids] to one sport, and they’re playing that sport year-round, and by the time they're in sixth grade, many of them are totally burned out because all they’ve ever done is play that one sport.”

According to Schmidt, one of the additional benefits of the Rally Sports Camp is the resurgence of the pick-up game. Schmidt said he has seen an interest in kids getting together to play informal neighborhood games — a trend he is happy to see, especially considering the amount

of time kids spend on electronic devices each day. Schmidt said the Rally Sports team seeks to encourage kids to make friends and to get together to play sports at home.

“I’ve already started to see this in my own kids. I’ve got a 7-year-old, a 6-year-old and a 4-year-old, and you almost have to be intentional about giving them time in a day where they’re not immediately going to gravitate toward the screen,” he said. “Sports is an avenue to build community and to just release that inner kid inside of you. We’re trying to cultivate something that they can take from the camp and say, ‘How do we bring that home with us?’”

Program coordinators Emondre Johnson and Kalil Stroud help with the camps and the Zero Zero Foundation, each with an eagerness to instill the camp’s values into children from all over Birmingham.

Johnson lost his mother at an early age and said that experience has given him a heart for service and a desire to give back to his community, even establishing his own nonprofit providing toys for underprivileged children.

“I love hearing the success stories that each kid and families get after being in our programs and being involved with our services,” Johnson said. “It’s been pretty rewarding, and I’m blessed to be here.”

Stroud graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and learned about the Zero Zero Foundation while interning at Knight Eady during his senior year.

“After hearing a little about the Zero Zero mission, it really started to sound like my life,” he said. “Growing up, we really thought that the only way we were going to be successful and to have a career and make it out was professional sports. If it wasn’t that, then it was probably going to be something negative.

“I actually ended up visiting Zero Zero for the first time, and it just touched my heart,” Stroud said. “It felt like a really natural place for me to be.”

The 2024 Rally Sports Camp is scheduled for July 8-12 from 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at Cahaba Heights Park. Registration is $195 per camper with a $25 multi-child discount for paying families, but the camp is free to qualifying campers. Registration is open through the spring of 2024.

Learn more and register online at rallysportscamp.com.

Children participate in the Rally Sports Camp in July 2023. Photos courtesy of Knight Eady.

Varsity Sports Calendar

BASEBALL

March 4: @ Gardendale. 4 p.m.

March 6: vs. John Carroll. 4 p.m.

March 8: vs. Pinson Valley. 5 p.m.

March 11: vs. Cullman. 4:30 p.m.

March 12: vs. Helena. 4:30 p.m.

March 14: vs. Hueytown. 4 p.m.

March 16: Doubleheader vs. Alexandria. Noon.

March 19: vs. Shades Valley. 4:30 p.m.

March 27: @ Baldwin County. 7 p.m.

SOFTBALL

March 5: vs. Pleasant Grove. 4:30 p.m.

March 12: @ Briarwood. 4:30 p.m.

March 13: @ Clay-Chalkville. 5 p.m.

March 18: @ Calera. 5 p.m.

Rebels cheer teams capture state titles

The Vestavia Hills High School varsity and junior varsity cheer teams recently captured Class 7A state championships, taking the titles in the Bill Harris Arena at the Birmingham CrossPlex on Dec. 12.

The varsity team’s performance at the state championship followed consecutive wins at the AHSAA Central Super Regional on Nov. 9, the Magic City Regional on Nov. 22 and the University Cheerleaders Association Tennessee Extreme Regional on Nov. 19.

This is the first state championship for the

March 21: Doubleheader vs. Woodlawn. 4 p.m.

SOCCER

March 1: Boys @ Pelham. 7 p.m.

March 1: Girls vs. Vestavia Hills. 7 p.m.

March 5: Boys vs. Indian Springs. 6 p.m.

March 6: vs. Parker. Girls at 5:30 p.m., boys at 7 p.m.

March 8: Girls vs. Albertville. 7 p.m.

March 11: Girls @ Minor. 5 p.m.

March 11: Boys @ Minor. 6:30 p.m.

March 13: Boys vs. Thompson. 6:30 p.m.

March 15: Boys @ Hoover. 5 p.m.

March 15: Girls vs. Mountain Brook. 6 p.m.

March 18: @ Jackson-Olin. Girls at 5 p.m., boys at 6:30 p.m.

Sports Editor’s Note By Kyle Parmley Rising tide lifts all boats

In the eight years I’ve been the sports editor at Starnes Media, I have perhaps seen no greater overall growth in any sport as I have in girls basketball at the high school level.

Don’t get me wrong. When I started here, Homewood was in the midst of an extraordinary run, winning two state titles in a three-year span. Hoover was getting set to take off again after hiring Krystle Johnson, and the Bucs have won five Class 7A state titles in the last seven years. And the two years Hoover didn’t win it, Spain Park did.

Parmley

But if you take all 11 schools in our coverage area, nearly all of these programs are either on the rise or have recently elevated to a new level.

(Author’s note: This column was published during this year’s state playoffs, so the 202324 postseason results were not yet known.)

Johnson has made Hoover the premier program in Alabama once again, sending stars like Aniya Hubbard and Reniya Kelly to major Division I college programs.

Hewitt-Trussville, under the direction of Tonya Hunter, has been to a pair of state championship games in recent years. The Lady Huskies have become a fixture in the postseason, buoyed by stars like Amiya Payne, Jordan Hunter and others.

John David Smelser has taken the Vestavia Hills program to great heights as well. The foundation was set up for success when he took over, and stars like Emma Smith have put the Rebels in the upper echelon, where they have remained in recent years and brought home a state runner-up trophy a couple seasons ago.

Chelsea is another program that has

Vestavia Hills varsity squad since 2017.

The Vestavia cheer teams are coached by Leslie Coleman, who is assisted by Madison Sullivan and Shelly Sumner. Alex Evans serves as stunt coach.

Captains of the varsity squad are Mallory Fore, Brennan Martin and Kennedy Vincent. Captains of the junior varsity squad are Elise Ball and Cece Ferguson.

The varsity and junior varsity teams also competed in the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championships at the Walt

ascended under Jason Harlow. The Lady Hornets have sustained their status even after the bar has been raised, and they do so with incredible defense and an allaround solid game. They’re well on their way to another great year.

Kevin Conner has ClayChalkville firmly back in the conversation as one of the best teams in the state, a place the Lady Cougars have not been since Mike Chase was there more than 15 years ago. If ClayChalkville wasn’t dealing with the behemoth that is Hazel Green in the regional tournament, the Lady Cougars would be a near-lock for the state final four.

As far as programs on the rise, Briarwood’s Lorie Kerley and Mountain Brook’s Sara Price deserve high marks. They have made the regional tournaments a realistic and regular expectation for those programs. Homewood’s Gavin King inherited an extremely young program and has made the Lady Patriots a little better each year, winning a bunch of games in the process. It won’t be long before postseason success follows.

Oak Mountain has been on the doorstep of the regional final a couple times in recent years, and John Hadder has done an excellent job of starting the rebuild at Spain Park this season.

It’s great to see so many girls basketball programs in this area continue to raise the bar. It’s almost as if quality leadership matters.

And it’s true what they say: a rising tide lifts all boats.

Kyle Parmley is the sports editor at Starnes Media.

Disney World Resort, Feb. 9-12, in Orlando, Florida.

Members of the varsity team include Evey Hill, Cate Marek, Brennan Martin, Kennedy Vincent, Eliza Thornton, Mallory Fore, Lucie Reid, Emma Traylor, Blakely Williams, Ann Ellison Crawford, Meredith Bochnak, Riley Shadrick, Emily Appleby, Lauren Christian, Wynn Stoffregen, Campbell Sparks, Campbell Moore, Elizabeth Rohner, Maci Rutherford, Hayes Huntley, Callie Johnson, Rebecca Evans, Olivia Stone, Julia Bochnak and Ella Hodge.

Members of the junior varsity team include Cat Massengale, Courteney Martin, Savannah Skrabo, Maggie Dennie, Cece Ferguson, Elise Ball, Jody Mai Bailey, Lillie Armstrong, Kate Threadcraft, Mallory Jonas, Bradford Williams, Addison Peters, Piper Luccasen, Paige Prier, Baker Martin, Caroline Walburn, Caroline Powell, Grace Brown, Grace Ann Swift, Camryn Tate, Campbell Basgier, Hannah Grace Johnston, Henley Banta, Averee Vickers, Claire McJunkin and Payton Shadrick.

– Submitted by Herb Vincent.

The 2023-24 Vestavia Hills High School varsity cheer squad, far left, and junior varsity cheer squad. Photos courtesy of Herb Vincent.

Events

Vestavia Hills events guide

March 1: Great Greek Mediterranean Grill Ribbon Cutting. 11 a.m. to noon. 708 Montgomery Highway Vestavia Hills. For more information go to business.vestaviahills.org/events.

March 12: Vestavia Hills Monthly Luncheon. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vestavia Country Club, 400 Beaumont Drive. Network with other chamber members and hear speakers on a variety of topics. Lunch will be provided. Reservations $25. vestaviahills.org.

Library in the Forest

CHILDREN

Tuesdays: Toddler-a-Go-Go. 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Community Room. Ages 18-36 months.

Tuesdays: After-School Adventures. 3:30 p.m. Children’s Program Room. Grades K-2.

Wednesdays: Story Friends. 10:30 a.m. Children’s Program Room.

Thursdays: Book Babies — Treehouse. 10 a.m. Ages birth to 18 months.

March 2 and 16: Ms. Courtney’s Library Stop.

10:30 a.m. Community Room. All ages.

March 5: After-School Adventures. 3:30 p.m. Children’s Program Room. Grades K-2.

March 6: Twelve Below. 3:30 p.m. Children’s Program Room. Grades 3-6.

March 9 and 23: Kreate with Kelly. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Children’s Program Room.

March 12: Family Night. Dinner at 6 p.m., show at 6:30 p.m. Community Room. All ages.

March 13 and 20: Twelve Below. 3:30 p.m. Children’s Program Room. Grades 3-6.

March 27: Graphic Novel Book Club. 3:30 p.m. Children’s Program Room.

TEENS (GRADES 6-12)

Fridays: Open Gaming. 4 p.m. Community Room.

March 6: Writing Group Go for the Gold. 4 p.m. Historical Room.

March 12: Tabletop Gaming Group. 4 p.m. Community Room.

March 13: Art Group — Leprechaun Sketch Artist. 4 p.m. Makerspace.

March 20: Game Party. 4 p.m. Makerspace.

March 23: Dungeons and Dragons — One-Shot Paddy’s Shamrock. 10 a.m. Historical Room.

March 26: Nailed It! Cookie Wars. 4 p.m. Community Room.

March 29: Super Smash Bros Tournament. 4 p.m. Community Room.

March 30: Weekend Craft — Daisy Chains. 10 a.m.

ADULTS

Thursdays: Beginner Tai Chi. 2 p.m. No registration required.

March 4, 11 and 18: Belly Dance with Bethany. 6 p.m. Community Room.

March 6: Crafters Inc. — Braided T-shirt Keychain. 11 a.m. Community Room.

March 13: Read & Feed Book Group — “The Art Thief” by Michael Finkel. 6 p.m.

March 26: Sisterhood Circle. 5:30 p.m.

March 28: Sean Dietrich. 10:30 a.m.

Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest,1221 Montgomery Highway. Community Room. Presented by Friends of the Library. Join us for a morning of storytelling with Sean Dietrich. Nicknamed “Sean of the South,” Sean is an American writer of books

and newspaper columns. Tickets on sale for $25 at the Adult Services desk at the library. For more information, visit vestavialibrary.org.

MAKERSPACE

March 4: Intro to 3D Printing. 4:30 p.m.

March 12: Teardown Tuesday. 4:30 p.m. Ages 10 and older.

March 14, 21 and 28: Open Maker Lab. 2-6 p.m.

March 18: Intro to CNC Milling w/ Nomad 3. 4:30 p.m.

March 26: Soldering 101. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Ages 10 and older.

TECH

March 7: Microsoft PowerPoint. 4-5:30 p.m. Electronic Classroom.

March 14: Intermediate Microsoft Excel Part II. 4-5:30 p.m. Electronic Classroom.

March 19: All Things Apple iCloud. 4-5:30 p.m. Electronic Classroom.

March 26: HTML Coding for Newbies. 4-5:30 p.m. Electronic Classroom.

Life Actually By Kari Kampakis

Help your teenager manage their emotions

One challenge of raising teenagers is teaching emotional regulation.

Psychologist and author Dr. Lisa Damour says that teenagers often have the right feeling on the wrong scale. They need help bringing their feelings down to size.

As parents, we do this by naming their feelings, talking about them and using a tone that conveys warmth and confidence in them.

It sounds easy, but in the moment it can be hard, uncomfortable or irritating to witness a teen's unpleasant emotions. Personally, I want to rush through them. I want to give my teens pep talks or life lessons. I’ve told them how they should feel before listening to how they do feel. I’ve expected them to master emotions that still elude me.

I didn't realize my tendency until my daughter told me one day, “You and Dad are always like, perspective, but I’m allowed to be upset over dumb things for five minutes.” She was right. While my instinct is to “fix” emotions that make me uncomfortable, my kids benefit more when I let them feel what they feel. After all, emotions buried alive always resurface.

At the same time, I know emotions can make or break a person. They affect every relationship that they have. We all know adults who don’t have emotional regulation, and it’s detrimental to their relationships.

So how do we let our teenagers vent and unload — yet also teach them to take raw emotions to a more evolved place? How do we help them identify their triggers and know when to walk away?

Here are a few ideas.

► Remember that a teenager’s response to the world is driven by emotion, not reason. Dr. Frances Jensen, author of “The Teenage Brain,” says that during adolescence, more than any other time, emotions rule our lives.

“Teenagers are usually up or they’re down,” she says, “and they are very rarely something in between. As parents we sometimes experience our teenagers’ emotional highs and lows as frighteningly out of control, and because our teenagers are as of yet unable to smooth things out using their frontal lobes, it’s up to us to be the filter, the regulator, to provide the sense of calm their brains can’t yet provide.”

In other words, they need us for their reality check, a voice of reason and calm in the chaos.

► Love your teenager and let them vent — but don’t be their punching bag. Teenagers push limits, and sometimes we take more than we should because we sympathize with their struggles, we hate fighting or we’re scared of losing them.

But if you tolerate disrespect, you set a bad precedent. One day it won’t be you who your child is coming home to; it will be their roommate, spouse, child. It’s OK to vent, but not if you disrespect someone else in the process. Expecting respect as a parent is an act of love that will help our teen.

► Watch for rumination. It’s good to talk through problems, but dwelling is another story. There comes a point where enough is enough, and it’s time to move on. In today’s culture of self-focus, teenagers can get so wrapped up in their

feelings that they ignore the feelings of those around them. One cure for this is service or an act of kindness to help your teen get out of their head.

► Encourage self-care. Controlling emotions is easier when you feel good. When life is a flurry of too much stress, too little sleep, poor eating habits and an overload of screen time, your child’s defenses are down, and, like all of us, they’re more likely to snap.

► Remind them to avoid technology when they’re in a feisty mood. We all get angry and overreact at times, but keeping these moments private (and undocumented) can prevent your teen from burning bridges. People don’t forget the accusations, attacks or passive-aggressive remarks that fly in heated moments, so remind your child to stay off technology until they’ve cooled down. Otherwise, they may channel their emotions into a keypad.

► Encourage one-on-one resolution. Most people never learn conflict resolution. When they feel hurt, they blow up or bottle it up. They give the offender a piece of their mind, or they pretend they’re fine while letting the truth seep out through passive-aggressiveness.

Issues can often be resolved (or partially settled) when two people talk without accusations. When one can calmly say, “Hey, this wasn’t like you, but it really hurt my feelings when you kept teasing me. I don’t want this to come between us, and that’s why I’m telling you, because I value our friendship,” this approach makes a friend more likely to listen and less likely to get defensive. It keeps little

issues from turning into big ones.

► See conflicts as opportunities. Emotional intelligence grows best in loving relationships. Your teenager may not realize that not everyone thinks like them until their blunt honesty makes someone cry. If they hold grudges, they may not value grace until someone forgives them. Through conflict, your teen gets exposed to different viewpoints that can expand their heart, mind and soul.

As parents, we can only take our kids as far as we have come. To raise emotionally healthy teens, we must be emotionally healthy too, always growing our intelligence and setting a good example.

When your teenager feels emotional, let them talk freely. Stay calm and give words to their feelings. Assure them they are normal, and help them find healthy outlets and coping strategies. Most importantly, encourage them to pray and get quiet before acting on knee-jerk responses. Help them work toward measured responses that lead to peace and stronger relationships.

Kari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a Mountain Brook mom of four girls, author, speaker and blogger. Kari’s newest book, “More Than a Mom: How Prioritizing Your Wellness Helps You (and Your Family) Thrive,” is now available on Amazon, Audible and everywhere books are sold. Kari’s bestselling other books — “Love Her Well,” “Liked” and “10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know” have been used widely across the country for small group studies. Join Kari on Facebook and Instagram, visit her blog at karikampakis. com, or find her on the Girl Mom Podcast.

Sean of the South By Sean Dietrich Birmingham Rain

It’s raining in central Alabama. I am on my porch, barefoot, watching the rainfall, hypnotized by the sound.

Rain can do strange things to a man.

I come from a long line of rain-watchers, horse thieves and used car salesmen. We are a barefoot people.

And although my wife keeps telling me to put on shoes because it’s so cold outside that ketchup takes a week just to come out of the bottle, I am a Florida man. Shoes are for going to town.

There is a specific cadence to Alabamian rain. The tone is wholly unlike the rain from my home state. This is the kind of thundershower you can only get in the foothills. There’s a different ring to it. It’s similar to the difference between a clarinet and a kazoo.

Birmingham is in the mountains. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. People from more precipitous states such as, say, Colorado, will outright laugh when you suggest that Birmingham has actual mountains.

“Those aren’t real mountains!” Colorado people will say while chewing their gluten-free granola. But don’t listen to these people. Their brains have been pickled by generations of Coors abuse.

This city definitely has mountains. They might not be the huge peaks of

Wyoming, but they could inspire American hymns nonetheless.

Birmingham lives in the Jones Valley, flanked by parallel ridges that run northeast to southwest. These iron-ore hills are the tails of the mighty Appalachians. They are short. They are the Danny Devitos of the alpine world.

Still, to a guy from Florida, they are Mount Kilimanjaro. I come from a long, flat, state, also known as the Tourism State. Our main crop each year is Midwesterners. There are no mountains in Florida. Even our singing is flat.

The highest point in the whole state is located in my home county: Britton Hill. Britton Hill’s summit is 345 feet above sea level, slightly higher than a residential water heater.

By contrast, the highest point in Birmingham is on the Red Mountain Ridge, clocking in at 1,025 feet. And I can tell you, after hiking Red Mountain yesterday, it’s a real mountain. I took a short walk to the top. I wheezed

until my face turned the color of an infected zit.

Red Mountain Park is 1,500 acres on the Red Mountain Ridge, with miles of trails and a couple of arresting city overlooks.

The park was busy. I saw lots of people on the trails. Most were in superb physical shape, unlike yours truly. They wore activewear, they bicycled, they walked behind their well-groomed dogs, carrying tiny bags of poo.

When I reached the summit, I stood and gazed at the Magic City’s skyline from a thousand feet. The view was astonishing. I was overcome with the fact that I am now living in an actual city.

I’ve never lived in an actual city before. Which is probably why every time I leave our house, I feel like I’m on a minor expedition. I am constantly being reminded that I’m in an urban environment. I am incessantly doing battle against SUVs, always seeing something brand new, always feeling this new ache in my heart.

The ache must be homesickness.

Don’t get me wrong, I love it here. But

the rain in central Alabama sounds different to my ears. Rainfall on the Gulf Coast has a unique lilt to it, like the voice of your mama. This mountain rain sounds wilder and … just different.

All this makes me start to wonder. How will I fit in here? Will I make new friends? Or will I eat in the lunchroom alone? Will anyone invite me to play on their baseball team? How about birthday parties?

I’m a middle-aged man with a receding hairline. These things are harder to figure out as you sprint toward your golden years.

How will the big city change me? How will I adapt? I wonder what I will be like in two years. Five years. Fifteen years. Is this where I will grow old and eventually die? Will I be lucky enough to grow old?

Does anyone miss me back home? Is anyone thinking about me the way I’m thinking about them? Is Britton Hill still 345 feet tall? Am I a barefoot fool for wondering these things? Maybe.

Rain really does do strange things to a man.

Sean Dietrich is a columnist and novelist known for his commentary on life in the American South. He has authored nine books and is the creator of the “Sean of the South” blog and podcast.

Dietrich

Kids take the spotlight

Virginia Samford Theatre

Virginia Samford Theatre introduces kids and teens to the joys of creating musical theater at its STARS Camp Virginia Samford Theatre and STARS Summer Studio in June.

STARS Camp Virginia Samford Theatre allows beginning and intermediate performers ages 7-15 to explore all aspects of live theater, including dance, voice and acting.

Students will show off what they learn in a fun showcase at week’s end.

“They’ll share their favorite scenes, dances and songs with parents and friends on Friday afternoon,” says Jenna Bellamy, director of the STARS Program.

For the second year, Virginia Samford Theatre will present its STARS Summer Studio for campers ages 12-18 with prior theater or performance experience.

“The Studio engages advanced students in workshop-style masterclasses to take their theater knowledge to the next level,” Bellamy says.

The Studio has been expanded to an allday experience this year with new morning classes in production design, stage management and directing.

Both camps offer participants “a joyful week of creativity, learning and making new theater friends,” Bellamy says.

The camps will be held for the second year on the beautiful arts campus at Mountain Brook High School.

“It’s a wonderful facility to work and learn in,” Bellamy says.

There will be two one-week sessions of

WHERE: Mountain Brook High School

WHEN: June 3-7 and 10-14; STARS Camp from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and STARS Summer Studio from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

AGES: 7-15 for STARS Camp and 12-18 for STARS Summer Studio

CALL: 205-251-1228

WEB: virginiasamfordtheatre.org/ vststars/camp-vst plus STARS Summer Studio returns

Camp Virginia Samford Theatre, Monday-Friday, June 3-7 and June 10-14, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There will also be two oneweek sessions of STARS Summer Studio on the same dates from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuition is $300 for the week and Virginia Samford Theatre offers scholarships and sibling discounts. Register today at virginiasamfordtheatre. org/vststars/camp-vst.

Open to all experienced theatre students to take your skills to the next level. Ages 12 to 18

Red Mountain Theatre Summer Camps, to be held May 28-Aug. 2, give kids ages 4-18 an outlet to use their creativity in dramatic ways at all ages and skill levels. It’s not just about singing and dancing, it’s about teaching teamwork, focus, discipline, confidence and so much more. Red Mountain Theatre’s camps allow students to dip their toes into the theater world by learning basic performance skills, or become fully immersed with intensive camps for students who are already enthusiastic about musical theater. Most sessions end with a short “sharing” for students to show off what they’ve learned to parents and friends.

For our youngest students, ages 4-6, half-day Play Making camps use a familiar book like “Where the Wild Things Are” as a basis to explore storytelling and creative play. Theme Camps, for ages 7-12, allow creative students to immerse themselves in a favorite book world like Hogwarts, Narnia or Arendelle and cultivate their own original characters. For theatrical 7-8 year-olds, Red Mountain Theatre offers Summer Sprouts, where students will learn 3-5 Broadway-style production numbers to perform for family and friends. The fast-paced Blast Camps ask 9-14 year-olds to learn an entire 30-minute original script,

plus music and choreography in just one week to share with a supportive audience. For young people aged 9-18 who are serious about musical theater, Red Mountain Theatre

offers intensive musical theater camps like Broadway Bootcamp, featuring theater professionals from across the U.S. Red Mountain Theatre’s educators are Teaching Artists — highly skilled instructors who have both practical theater experience and teaching experience. All our professionals meet exacting safety and learning standards to provide students with a safe environment in which to learn, grow and express themselves. Pricing starts at $195 for half-day camps and $350 for full day camps. Payment plans and financial aid are available. Before- and after-care as well as lunch programs can be added on for students.

Guaranteed tired, dirty children

Gross Out Camp

We believe that a child’s natural habitat is the great outdoors.

At Gross Out Camp, that’s exactly where you’ll find us. We’re in the woods, in the creek, in the mud, turning over rocks, looking for bugs, seeking salamanders and catching fish — because actually experiencing the world that lies just beyond our doorstep is far more interesting than watching it online.

Gross Out Camp is an award-winning science camp that provides a safe opportunity for kids to learn the way they are meant to learn, in motion and hands-on.

Come explore with us in McCallum Park this summer. Join us as we scramble for salamanders, hike to the water-fall, catch bugs, play educational field games and do so much more!

Plus, Dr. Matt’s amazing animal show will return this year, giving campers the chance to see and hold reptiles, turtles, bunnies, and other animals.

Held outdoors at McCallum Park in Vestavia, Gross Out Camp is for children entering grades 1-4. For older kids, entering grades 5-7, we offer the Counselor-in-Train ing (C.I.T.) program. C.I.T.’s participate in the same activities as the campers, while learning leadership by assisting the campers with lessons, games, and other camp needs.

Gross Out Camp starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 5pm. Early drop-off at 8am and late pick-up at 6 p.m. is available.

Camps run every week from May 28 through Aug. 2. Camps are limited to 20 campers per week, to ensure that each camper gets the most out of their experience.

WHERE: McCallum Park in Vestavia

WHEN: May 28-Aug. 2, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with before and after-care available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

AGES: entering grades 1-4 and Limited Counselor in Training (C.I.T.) spots for grades 5 - 7

COST: $150-325; Scholarships are available for those that need financial assistance.

WEB: grossoutcamp.org

Best of all, at Gross Out Camp, we guarantee tired, dirty children.

Move and create with dance

The Dance Foundation

Founded in 1975, The Dance Foundation is a nonprofit whose services reach far and wide in the Homewood and Birmingham communities.

The Community In Motion program is at the heart of The Dance Foundation’s mission, with classes for students at dozens of schools and social service agencies such as the The Bell Center, YWCA and many others. Through this program, dance is used to build coordination and motor skills, inspire creativity and curiosity, and enhance academic learning.

The Studio Program provides tuition-based dance classes for toddlers to adults with live piano music an essential and unique element for most classes. A variety of dance styles are taught including: creative movement, ballet, jazz, modern, hip hop, tap and musical theater.

Summer programming at The Dance Foundation includes weekly classes (June 3-Aug. 3) and creative half-day camps, including: Once Upon a Fairytale Camp for entering 4K and 5K, Once Upon a

WHERE: 1715 27th Court S.,

Birmingham

WHEN: June 3-Aug. 3

AGES: Entering grades 1-12

CALL: 205-870-0073

WEB: thedancefoundation.org

Ballet Camp and Adventures in Enchanted Lands Camp for entering grades 1-3, Dance Exploration for entering grades 3-6, and a Dance Workshop for entering grade 6-12. Each class and camp is led by professionally-trained teaching artists.

The Dance Foundation has been a gathering place for learning with and through dance for almost 50 years. Become a part of the family by joining a class, experiencing a performance, booking a space to move and create, volunteering your time, or donating to the mission to teach the art of dance to all.

Every body is a dance body.

CAMPS FOR 4K-12TH GRADE

WEEKLY CLASSES

JUNE 3-AUGUST 3 FOR AGES 1 TO ADULT

DATES, DESCRIPTIONS,