Vestavia Voice August 2024

BACK TO SCHOOL

By JON ANDERSON

The summer break from school is coming to a close, and for students like Kate Hurst, that means more interaction with friends.

“I love school mainly for my friends,” the rising senior at Vestavia Hills High School said. With high school starting back Aug. 7, Hurst is looking forward to senior traditions, such as toga day, and other activities with groups such as the Student Government Association, Vestavia Hills Ambassadors, Youth Leadership and Help the Hills Coalition, which promotes healthy living and discourages substance abuse, she said.

She’s also excited about the service projects that students at the school undertake each year, she said. But everything won’t be the same this year.

BACK TO SCHOOL | page 8

page 9 Class of 2025 faces big decisions as they enter senior year.

Kate Hurst, a rising senior at Vestavia Hills High School, outside the high school.

Photo by Steven Stiefel.

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Editor’s Note By Jon Anderson

This is my first time to write an editor’s note for the Vestavia Voice, though I have been writing stories for the paper for some time.

We’ve had some changes in staffing over the past year or so, and honestly we’ve been kind of tag-teaming guidance of the paper. From this point, I’ll be the community editor for the Vestavia Voice, under the leadership of our new general manager and editor-in-chief for Starnes Media, Tim Stephens, who is overseeing all six of the newspapers and news websites our company produces.

This month’s paper is our back-to-school edition, and we hope it gets all of those connected with our schools in a good frame of mind to begin the new year. The start of school is often an exciting time for many and a chance to start afresh, grow and learn new things in a variety of ways. Best wishes to those of you embarking on that journey!

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Starnes Media announces new general manager and editorial staff changes

By STAFF

Starnes Media, publisher of Vestavia Voice and five other hyperlocal media publications in the Birmingham metro area, has announced key new hires.

Tim Stephens, a veteran journalist, has been named general manager and editor-in-chief of Starnes Media. Stephens will oversee operations and the editorial vision for the company’s publications, including 280 Living, Hoover Sun, The Homewood Star, Vestavia Voice, Village Living and Cahaba Sun.

“Tim Stephens is a dynamic newsroom leader with a proven track record of helping teams achieve excellence across print, digital and social media platforms,” said founder and CEO Dan Starnes.

Stephens previously held newsroom leadership positions at the Birmingham Post-Herald, Orlando Sentinel, South Florida Sun-Sentinel and CBSSports.com.

Jon Anderson, currently the community editor of the Hoover Sun, will add duties as community editor of Vestavia Voice.

Cady Inabinett has been appointed digital manager for Starnes Media. A 2024 graduate of the University of Montevallo, Inabinett has experience as a data insights reporter at Open Secrets in Washington, D.C.

Other new additions include:

► Taylor Bright as the community editor for 280 Living and Cahaba Sun. Bright, an award-winning journalist, has previously worked at the Birmingham Post-Herald, the Huntsville Times and the Charlotte Observer.

► Sarah Owens as the community editor for The Homewood Star and Village Living. Owens, an Alabaster native, is a 2022 graduate of Milligan University and has worked as a multimedia journalist in Sarasota, Florida.

By STAFF

The Vestavia Voice won two first-place awards at the Alabama Press Association’s 2024 Media Awards, celebrated at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach in late June.

Contributing writer Loyd McIntosh earned first place in the in-depth news category for his story on the city's master plan for redeveloping the southern portion of U.S. 31.

Sports editor Kyle Parmley secured first place for the best single-event sports story with his coverage of the Vestavia Hills baseball team’s 7A state championship game over Central-Phenix City in May 2023. Parmley also won second place in the sports feature category for a story on the challenges coaches face when coaching their own children.

The Vestavia Voice competes in the

Alabama Press Association’s Division E, which includes associate member newspapers and free circulation products. Starnes Media publications, including Vestavia Voice, 280 Living, Hoover Sun, The Homewood Star, Village Living and Cahaba Sun, won a total of 57 awards in this year’s APA competition.

Jon Anderson, community editor for the Hoover Sun, won Story of the Year for a feature on the Food for our Journey nonprofit, which collects leftover food and distributes it to homeless people in Birmingham.

Anderson also won first place in the Freedom of Information/First Amendment category, which recognizes excellence in reporting that highlights the importance of a free press and open government.

For a complete list of awards won by Starnes Media publications, visit vestaviavoice.com.

Cahaba Valley

Cahaba Valley Imaging

The Vestavia Voice won first place for the October 2023 cover story on the redevelopment master plan for the southern portion of U.S. 31, written by Loyd McIntosh. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

Cady Inabinett Tim Stephens

Taylor Bright Sarah Owens

City applies for $136,000 grant for Altadena Valley Park trails

By JON ANDERSON

The city of Vestavia Hills has applied for a $136,000 federal grant to help develop trails at Altadena Valley Park.

The plan includes a new trail on the northern end of the park, trail connections around the lake and a new trail segment on the westernmost side of the park. The trail would be a 6-foot-wide asphalt trail for nonmotorized use.

The plan also includes repairs to a 70-foot-long bridge in the trail system and various amenities for the trails.

The total estimated cost of the project is $209,000, city records show. The city is seeking $135,909 in grant

money from the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program, administered through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

If awarded the grant, the city would have to contribute $33,977 as a 20% match to the federal money. Additional expenses not eligible for federal funding would total $39,149, putting the total estimated cost to the city at $73,127. Most, if not all, of those expenses would be expected to come out of the city’s 2025 budget, according to a memo from Melissa Hipp, assistant to City Manager Jeff Downes. The trail project is part of a master plan developed for Altadena Valley Park in 2021.

Vestavia Hills gets $10,000 grant for business marketing strategy

By LOYD McINTOSH

Vestavia Hills businesses will get some additional publicity thanks to a grant from the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham.

The $10,000 grant will be used for a new marketing initiative at Vestavia Hills city parks and athletic facilities to encourage visitors to patronize area businesses.

Vestavia Hills City Manager Jeff Downes said his team has learned much about traffic patterns at city parks and recreational facilities since installing a cutting-edge platform tracking cell phone locations in 2023. Downes said the data has enabled the city to learn about people who visit parks in Vestavia Hills during special events, such as athletic tournaments and city festivals.

“We identified where visitors are coming from to our parks,” Downes said. “Now, we want to capture

them and encourage them and give them tools to shop at our businesses.”

Assistant City Manager Cinnamon McCulley said the city realized it gets thousands of visitors to city parks every year, specifically at Wald Park, Cahaba Heights Park and the Liberty Park complex. "So during these tournaments, there are a lot of people from out of town, and so it occurred to us that when people come to our parks, they may or may not be familiar with our area," McCulley said.

The marketing plan, approved by the Vestavia Hills City Council on July 8, will pay for sign installation in parks and recreation facilities. Each sign will include a map and a QR code displaying directions to restaurants, shopping centers and other businesses.

The total cost of the marketing plan is $12,250, with the city contributing the remaining $2,250 beyond the RPC grant.

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The city of Vestavia Hills is considering new trail connections (shown in red) at Altadena Valley Park. Existing trails are shown in blue and white. Map courtesy of city of Vestavia Hills.

Hundreds of people attend the 42nd annual I Love America Night at Wald Park on June 27. City officials want to use a new marketing campaign to share information about Vestavia Hills businesses with attendees of I Love America Night, athletic tournaments and other events in the city Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

I hope you have enjoyed your summer and survived the 100-degree days that started in late June. It may have been that heat that resulted in our aquatic center having a record number of attendees this summer. On one occasion, we had over 1,100 people enter the facility.

Mayor’s Minute

By Ashley Curry

Our aquatic center has over 4,000 memberships. During the month of June, we averaged 538 people per day, and that number does not count the swim team participants (over 200) that come Monday through Friday from 7 to 10 a.m.

The same is true for our Civic Center. We continue to have record attendance for the gyms, exercise areas, the track and pickleball courts. There are over 1,700 active individuals with memberships at the Civic Center. Those memberships constitute family, individual and senior memberships. We have averaged 100 admissions per day for members walking the track or utilizing exercise machines. That number does not include the hundreds of people throughout the month that come in for pickleball and fitness classes.

There are over 500 individuals who have memberships at both locations.

We are truly blessed to have these two facilities that add so much to the quality of life that we enjoy.

This year’s I Love America Day was outstanding. I would like to thank the Chamber of Commerce and our event sponsors for another successful event. This continues to be the most attended event in our city. This is

another example of the “quality-of-life” amenities that our citizens enjoy.

On Aug. 19, 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5847, declaring Aug. 21 as National Senior Citizens Day. This day was created as a day to support, honor and show appreciation to our seniors and to recognize their achievements.

“For all they have achieved throughout life and for all they continue to accomplish, we owe older citizens our thanks and a heartfelt salute. We can best demonstrate our gratitude and esteem by making sure that our communities are good places in which to mature and grow older — places in which older people can participate to the fullest and can find the encouragement, acceptance, assistance and services they need to continue to lead lives of independence and dignity.” — President Ronald Reagan, Aug. 19, 1988

Vestavia Hills will celebrate National Senior Citizens Day on Aug. 19 from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Civic Center. Musical entertainment will be provided by Razz Ma Tazz, and our guest speaker will be Sharon Pitts, Ms. Senior Alabama. There will also be vendor booths showcasing local services and products for seniors.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer.

SCHOOLHOUSE

WHO’S NEW?

Tonya Rozell, who has been principal at Vestavia Hills High School since 2020, has retired and is being replaced by Blair Inabinet, who has moved from Liberty Park Middle School.

Also, Vestavia Hills has lost some of its athletic rivals such as Mountain Brook, Homewood, Spain Park and Chelsea due to reclassification, Hurst said.

It’s definitely a year of change among many of the leaders in the school district, with six schools gaining new principals this year.

Rozell wasn’t the only principal to retire.

Vestavia Hills Elementary West Principal Kim Hauser and Vestavia Hills Elementary East Principal Mark Richardson also chose to retire this year, and Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights Principal Lauren Dressback was transferred to oversee the alternative school.

See more about all the principal changes on page 10.

WHAT’S NEW?

The Vestavia Hills school district also is putting a heavier emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math this year. The district is launching a new STEM initiative in all of its elementary schools — creating a specialty class alongside art, music and library classes that emphasizes construction, engineering, robotics and coding. Read more about that initiative on page A9.

Additionally, school officials are enhancing math instruction in the middle schools and health science and engineering education at the high school, Superintendent Todd Freeman said.

Another priority is hiring and keeping the best teachers and employees. To help with that, the school board in May approved raises for certain employees beyond the 2% salary

increase mandated by the state.

Teachers who have a bachelor’s degree will get another 2% raise with local money, and teachers with a master’s degree, educational specialist degree or doctorate will get another 3% above the state raise, Freeman said. Some teachers may get even more of a raise to make Vestavia Hills more competitive with competing districts, he said.

Day care supervisors are getting a 5% raise, while custodians are getting a 4% pay increase. Workers in the child nutrition department also received significant raises, officials said.

“Y’all are so deserving,” former school board President Jaclyn Hudson told employees when the pay raises were passed in May.

“We’re so excited to be able to do this.”

Freeman also got his annual salary boosted from $227,928 to $239,500, and Chief School Finance Officer Courtney Brown’s salary was raised from $125,042 to $152,000, according to school officials and records.

FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS

Several capital projects have been underway this summer, including replacing the artificial turf at Vestavia Hills High School’s Buddy Anderson Field and roadway, drainage and parking improvements at the athletic field at Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge.

Because school officials say they are strapped for money to make needed improvements, the Vestavia Hills City Council contributed $1.1 million to make those projects happen this summer.

The school board also is spending $275,689 to renovate the girls locker room at Vestavia Hills High School to provide additional showers.

School officials have identified an estimated $35 million of other facility maintenance improvements that are needed, including mechanical, roofing and water systems, plus more than $20 million of other general needs, Freeman said.

But “the reality is we do not have the budget or anticipated revenues to do that at this time,” Freeman said. “We’re being as creative and thoughtful as we can about how to get this accomplished.”

Revenues last year came in about 10% over budget, enabling the school board to improve its reserves and take care of some needs on a piecemeal basis, Freeman said.

OK, YOU’RE NEW?

For people who are new to Vestavia Hills, here are some key facts about the school system.

The Vestavia Hills school district has five elementary schools, two middle schools, a high school campus with grades 10-12 and a freshman center campus.

This past school year, Vestavia Hills City Schools had about 6,900 students, school system records show. While some previous projections anticipated significant growth with new residential construction, a new forecast by McKibben Demographic Research shared with the school board in March predicts the school district actually will see its enrollment decline to about 6,500 students in 10 years.

That’s because, in part, the population in Vestavia Hills is aging and fewer of those aging people are moving out of the city to make room for families with school-age children, Jerome McKibben said.

While new construction is taking place, it’s not enough to compensate for the rising number of empty-nesters in the city, he said. “You can’t build enough to make up that deficit.”

The positive side is it reduces the burden on school officials to build new facilities and allows them to focus on maintaining and improving their existing facilities, Freeman said.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Because Vestavia Hills voters rejected a proposed property tax increase to pay for new facilities and initiatives, the Vestavia Hills City Council has committed to continue helping the school district tackle certain projects.

Over the next two summers, the council has committed $2.4 million to help cover replacement of gym floors at Pizitz Middle School and the Dolly Ridge, East, West and Liberty Park elementary schools; replacement of basketball goals at the East and West elementary schools; track improvements at Vestavia Hills Elementary Central; new turf at the football/soccer/lacrosse field at Pizitz; and bathroom and concession improvements at the high school baseball field.

Steven Stiefel contributed to this story.

New turf being installed at Buddy Anderson Field at Vestavia Hills High School’s Thompson Reynolds Stadium on July 16. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

Above: Kate Hurst is a rising senior in the Vestavia Hills High School Class of 2025.

Photo by Steven Stiefel. Left: Kate on her first day of kindergarten at Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park in August 2012. Kate’s teacher that year was Miss Barnhill, and it was Ty Arendall’s first year as principal. Photo courtesy of Stacy Hurst.

SCHOOLHOUSE

Elementary schools to roll out new STEM program

By LOYD McINTOSH

The Vestavia Hills school system is rolling out a new science, technology, engineering and math initiative to all of its elementary schools for the 2024-25 school year.

The STEM program will be offered to all students in kindergarten through 5th grade and will be a weekly hands-on, experiential specialty class alongside art, music and library classes, said Brooke Wedgworth, the school system’s curriculum and instruction director.

The program will emphasize construction, building and engineering processes, robotics and coding and will be thoughtfully tailored for each grade level, Wedgworth said.

“I think for a lot of kids it’s just a great outlet for them and a great opportunity, even if they never choose to go into anything STEM-related,” she said.

The STEM program will be led by teachers tapped from within each school: Katie McDaniel at Dolly Ridge, Heidi Burgess at Cahaba Heights, Billie Jean Price at East, Martha Martin at Liberty Park and Noelle Bradshaw at West. Wedgworth said the group began planning for the 2024-25 school year in May and has spent many hours during the summer developing the STEM program’s curriculum.

The team didn’t have a template to follow, Wedgworth said. The teachers visited Madison City Schools to learn how its STEM program is structured but otherwise developed the Vestavia City Schools program from scratch.

“What we’ve been working on is planning what the whole school year will look like, month by month for each grade,” Wedgworth said. “All the kids will get different experiences in all those areas throughout the school year.”

The program’s launch follows a two-year pilot taught by Martin at Vestavia Hills Elementary

Liberty Park from 2021 through 2023. While data is still being collected on the pilot’s academic impact, Wedgworth said the program was successful in helping students develop soft skills and spurring interest in core STEM areas.

“We just wanted to see what the experience was like for the kids. Was it engaging? Was it positive?” Wedgworth said. “Ultimately we would like to see that it carries over to their academic classes as well as supports them in maybe finding a career or a hobby that is STEM-related.

“Obviously we want them to enjoy it and have fun, but we also want to see them develop skills like problem-solving and communication,” Wedgworth said. “So all of those skills were things that we were able to see happening in the pilot. Even if you take the science and technology out of it, they’re developing these important social skills.”

The school system originally planned to implement the STEM program during the 2023-24 school year, and it was to be funded by the 1Rebel 1Future tax increase plan. However, implementation was put on hold after the tax initiative was defeated in a special election in May 2023.

Funding from several alternative sources ensured the STEM program’s launch this year. The school system received $230,000 from state Senators Jabo Waggoner and Dan Roberts and Representatives Mike Shaw and Jim Carns, $150,000 from the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation, $10,000 from the elementary school PTOs and $20,000 each from SHIPT, Lathan and Associates and Schneider Electric.

Wedgworth credits Vestavia Hills schools Superintendent Todd Freeman for his tireless efforts to secure additional funding sources for the program.

“Some people were disappointed that it, obviously, didn’t happen last year, but I think they’re excited knowing that it’s going to happen, and I think kids are excited,” she said.

A student at Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park works on a project as part of a pilot STEM program in 2021. That STEM program is being expanded across the district this year. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills City Schools.

SCHOOLHOUSE

Vestavia Hills school system welcomes wave of new principals

By LOYD McINTOSH

The Vestavia Hills school system has a new crop of principals for the 2024-25 school year.

Blair Inabinet was appointed as the new principal of Vestavia Hills High School, following three years as principal at Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park and this past year as principal at Liberty Park Middle School. Lauren Dressback was named principal of the alternative school, after two years as principal at Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights.

Also, four women who have been serving as assistant principals have been promoted to the top role at their schools following several retirements and the transfers of Inabinet and Dressback.

Kim Polson is taking Dressback’s spot at Cahaba Heights, while Dori Hardee is replacing Inabinet at Liberty Park Middle School. Susan McCall is taking on the lead role at Vestavia Hills Elementary West, and Cindy Echols is leading at Vestavia Hills Elementary East.

All of those new principals have spent significant stretches of their careers in the Vestavia Hills school system. Here’s more about each leader:

BLAIR INABINET: VESTAVIA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL

A Georgia native, Inabinet earned three degrees from Georgia Southern University, including her bachelor’s degree in secondary social science education and a master’s degree in middle grades education.

After relocating to the Birmingham area seven years ago, she earned her doctorate in education leadership from Samford University.

Inabinet said she doesn’t intend to make any immediate sweeping changes at Vestavia Hills High School, which, she believes, has many of the best students and teachers in the state. In the short term, Inabinet said she will continue to focus on the traits that have made the school one of the top public schools in Alabama.

As for long-term goals, Inabinet said the future direction of Vestavia Hills School will be shaped by regular dialogue with key stakeholders, including students and parents.

“Those specific and concrete goals will come after many, many, many conversations with our families, our students and our staff about what their priorities and their goals are moving forward,” Inabinet said. “That’s really important to me to include the student voice, family voice and faculty voice in the decisions that we make, both in the short term and the establishment of long-term goals.”

LAUREN DRESSBACK: VESTAVIA HILLS ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL

Dressback has 21 years of experience in education, with 18 of those in Vestavia Hills City Schools.

She was named Vestavia Hills’ Secondary Teacher of the Year in 2015 and then served as an assistant principal first at the high school and then at Liberty Park Middle School, before being named principal at Cahaba Heights in 2022.

She was put on administrative leave in February and not allowed on school property, and then put in charge of the alternative school in May.

Dressback said in mid-July she still didn’t understand the reason for the transfer but is leaning on her faith and a desire to do the best job possible.

I’m a glass-half-full kind of person,” she said. “I very much believe that you bloom where you’re planted. … I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. I may not understand that reason, but I will let the Lord use me for whatever purposes he sees fit. … This is where I am in my life, and so this is what I’ll be dedicated to and passionate about, and I will work to give the students that come through the alternative school the very best scenario that they can possibly have.”

DORI HARDEE: LIBERTY PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL

Hardee’s career has taken her all over the country. Growing up in Maryland, Hardee attended East Carolina University and then moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where she began her teaching career.

She and her family then relocated to Grand Forks, North Dakota, where she worked as a personal trainer until the state passed a reciprocity agreement that allowed Hardee to get back into the classroom.

Following another move to Alabama, Hardee initially worked as a substitute teacher before landing full-time teaching jobs in Mountain Brook, Clay-Chalkville and Alabaster. Hardee said that Inabinet created a solid academic legacy at Liberty Park Middle School, and her primary focus is to build on that foundation of academic excellence while finding areas for improvement and growth. She also said character development will receive plenty of attention for these students at a pivotal point in life.

“Our staff put in a lot of work and a lot of heart and a lot of passion into moving our instruction forward,” Hardee said. “I don’t have a to-do list of changes. That’s really not in our best interest right now. Our best interest is to take the foundations of what we’ve already done and keep moving them forward.”

KIM POLSON: VESTAVIA HILLS ELEMENTARY CAHABA HEIGHTS

Polson has more than 20 years of experience as a special education teacher, beginning her career at Calera Elementary School in Shelby County. She spent time at Oak Mountain Elementary School and Brookwood Forest Elementary School before joining the faculty at Cahaba Heights six years ago.

During her career, Polson sought out

opportunities to mentor interns and new teachers, which helped her develop an interest in leadership. “I realized that I had been given a lot over the years, and I was ready to turn it around and provide support for other people,” she said.

Polson said the dynamic and unique character of Cahaba Heights has shaped the community’s elementary school. As principal, she plans to deepen those ties between the school, parents, the business community and other stakeholders, especially in character development.

“There is something happening here in the Cahaba Heights community,” she said. “Anything we ask, they support us. We’re working on a plan with community stakeholders to join us on our character journey. … We’re looking specifically at amplifying student voice, having multiple avenues for parents to provide input and also to just interact with us in the building more frequently.”

SUSAN McCALL: VESTAVIA HILLS ELEMENTARY WEST

After spending eight years as the assistant principal at Vestavia Hills Elementary West, McCall now takes over for outgoing Principal Kim Hauser. A native of Mississippi, McCall has 35 years of experience in education as a teacher, reading coach and administrator.

McCall earned her bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University, her master’s degree from the University of Georgia and her doctorate from Brunel University. As principal, McCall aims to build on the high levels of achievement attained while working with Hauser.

“Since I’ve been here eight years, I don’t have a huge agenda of things I want to change,” McCall said. “I feel like Kim was such an amazing leader, and she really brought me in as a co-leader from day one. So I do feel like

I’ve been able to have an influence all along the way.”

Like her colleagues, McCall said character development is as important as academic achievement, and she plans to continue the school’s focus on character education. “We will continue to focus on our core values, which is the West way — kindness, respect and responsibility — and just keeping that in the forefront of all that we do as we work with children.”

CINDY ECHOLS: VESTAVIA HILLS ELEMENTARY EAST

Echols, a Tuscaloosa native, is making her second appearance as a principal. She began her teaching career at Cahaba Heights Elementary prior to the community’s annexation into Vestavia Hills.

Soon thereafter, at the age of 29, she was named assistant principal at Hewitt-Trussville Middle School. Three years later, she earned her first principal position at Edgewood Elementary School in Homewood, a position she held for three years before taking time off to raise her children.

At Vestavia Hills Elementary East, she has been an assistant principal under Mark Richardson, who retired at the end of this past school year.

Among her goals are to ensure academic continuity in every classroom and to continue to invest in and empower the school’s teachers. “Mark and I have just led together. He’s been great in the way that he guided me and allowed me to make decisions, mainly in curriculum instruction,” Echols said. “So, I think we’re going to be working on our curriculum as far as being consistent in every classroom with effective teaching. … Our teachers are so involved and make so many decisions, and we trust them totally to do what they do in their classrooms, and we’re not going to micromanage.”

Blair Inabinet, Vestavia Hills High School.

Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

Kim Polson, Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills City Schools.

Lauren Dressback, Vestavia Hills Alternative School. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills City Schools.

Susan McCall, Vestavia Hills Elementary West. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills City Schools.

Dori Hardee, Liberty Park Middle School. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills City Schools.

Cindy Echols, Vestavia Hills Elementary East. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills City Schools.

Class of 2025 faces big decisions as they enter senior year

By SARAH OWENS

As the class of 2025 prepares for the first day of school, many are already thinking about the big decisions they’ll be making before graduation.

From college or trade school to joining the workforce or military, seniors have a variety of paths from which to choose. Counselors at Vestavia Hills High School are prepared to help students and their families talk through their options.

Vestavia Hills City Schools offer many services to help prepare students for their futures. Their curriculum also requires career prep courses and offers multiple technical classes that provide students with career skills, but the main focus is on college preparation.

About 85% of Vestavia Hills High School students go to a four-year university, while 10% typically choose the two-year route, and 5% go straight into the workforce or the military or take a gap year, said Oliver Aaron, one of two college counselors at Vestavia Hills High School.

Other resources available to Vestavia Hills students include Advanced Placement and dual enrollment courses, ACT/SAT preparation, visits from college representatives and campus visits.

Teachers and counselors also offer recommendation letters, but a four-week notice is required.

“One of the things I really always recommend students do … is get to know potential recommenders on both an educational background and then professional background, too,” said Andrew Colson, the director of undergraduate admissions at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “Truly having that person be able to talk about the student as a person, ... that’s typically the type of references that really shine.”

The school’s counseling web page also

includes a year-by-year guide to preparing for college which can be found at sites.google. com/a/vestavia.k12.al.us/guidance.

Freshman and sophomores are encouraged to pay attention to their grades and consider how their selected courses may impact their academic progress. It is also suggested that they begin to participate in extracurricular activities.

Juniors and seniors are encouraged to focus on standardized test scores, set up meetings with their counselors to discuss future plans, visit schools, identify possible career paths and narrow down their college options.

All students and parents are also able to attend a College Information Night in September and a selective Out-of-State College Information Night in October.

“College visits are incredibly important. It’s

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one of the biggest deciding factors for any student,” Colson said. “Until you do a tour, you don’t actually really see the real-life campus. … That’s kind of what the whole point of a college tour is, to really help the student see if this place is going to be the right fit for them not only academically, but just socially.”

Aaron seconds that advice and suggests the visits should be a family affair, because “with the cost of college now, it’s a family decision,” he said.

Colson also recommends students gain leadership experience to help make their application stand out. This can be anything from sports or leadership in a school organization to work experience in a managerial role or community service.

His final piece of advice to students: get

High school senior to-do list

► Get organized: Stay on top of application deadlines and make sure you have all necessary documents.

► Talk to your school counselors: They offer resources to help apply to schools and are there to talk you through your options.

► Make campus visits: Seeing a college in person can be a deciding factor in choosing your future school.

► Get to know potential references: Having a list of people that can provide good, meaningful recommendations is helpful when applying to colleges or jobs.

organized and stay on top of deadlines. Several colleges in the state open their applications on Aug. 15, so Colson advises seniors to apply early.

Colson has a message for parents watching their kids step into adulthood this year, too.

“This is the time when our students will really start to need to be a little bit more independent,” he said. “This is a really good time for students to get prepped for taking care of affairs, keeping up with deadlines themselves, of course with help from the parents. But, we want to talk to the students just because we want to make sure they are making the right choice for themselves.”

The Vestavia Hills school system offers many resources to students to prepare them for college, including Advanced Placement and dual enrollment courses, ACT/SAT preparation, visits from college representatives and campus visits. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

SCHOOLHOUSE

By EMILY REED

The halls at Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park became a bit brighter this May when Huntley, the school’s new facility dog, made her first appearance.

“Watching Huntley interact with students has already been such a gift,” art teacher Laura Beale said. “I have loved to watch coworkers’ and students’ faces light up when they spot her coming. She is a ray of contagious sunshine.”

Beale is Huntley’s caretaker and has been caring for her over the summer.

“Huntley moved into a new home with a new family, started a new job and made hundreds of brand new best friends in a very short window of time,” Beale said. “It was a big transition for our girl. My students and I had some great conversations about empathy her first week at school. I am so grateful that we have had the summer to get to know each other a little better.”

The Labrador retriever came from Service Dogs Alabama, which is in Hope Hull (near Montgomery).

Ashley Taylor, co-founder and program director of Service Dogs Alabama, was Huntley’s trainer before she was certified to serve as a facility dog.

“The dogs have to be 2 years of age, so they are in training with us for two years,” Taylor said. “The dogs go through training, and they also spend two different times in a

female prison facility in north Florida to learn a bit more one-on-one professional training. After we work with the dogs, we make a decision if they will be better suited for service work or for facility work. In Huntley’s case, she was a bit more friendly, so we felt like she would

throughout the state, who annually interact with around 24,000 people at their schools.

The dogs are trained with 30 to 45 commands and cannot graduate from the program with Service Dogs Alabama until they have completed all the required training.

Taylor said there are many benefits to having a facility dog, including an increase in attendance, a

decrease of in-office referrals, increases in reading and math scores, stress reduction and the calming effect the dogs have.

Facility dogs work full-time in one place, while service dogs intermittently visit a variety of locations.

“A dog is very inclusive so no matter what social circle a child may fit in, that dog will interact with those students equally,” Taylor said.

“The dogs serve as a way to really bring everyone together.”

For the 2024-25 school year, Huntley will spend much of her time with Beale in the art studio, but she will also be available to any students who are in need of extra comfort or a break from their day.

“Huntley’s work may not always be obvious; for example, she may respond to anxiety, fear or sadness by lying near a student or asking for belly rubs,” Beale said. “Her proximity may alert an adult to a problem or simply help the student to regulate their emotions in the moment.”

Beale said Huntley has spent a good bit of her summer lying in the sunshine with her new brother and sister, Chester and Maple, Beale’s other dog and cat.

She is also eager to return to the classroom and see her host of friends at the school.

“I think my husband was the first to say, ‘Oh, she is just a dog,’” Beale said. “I’m not sure what we expected, but it is just so easy to be with and around Huntley. Her training is incredible, and she has the most tender demeanor. She is also just an adorable, silly, snuggly, tail-thumping, loud-snoring, kiss-giving, super-special dog. We are all crazy about our girl.”

For more information about Service Dogs Alabama, go online to servicedogsalabama.org. To follow Huntley’s journey on social media, visit @Huntleythevhelper on Instagram.

Third graders Asa Angert, left, Meeghan Moore and Vivian Knecht pet Huntley, 2, the new facility dog at Vestavia Hills Elementary School Liberty Park in May. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

In the Classroom

GET TO KNOW

French teacher Courtney Capocci

By STAFF

Courtney Capocci teaches French at Liberty Park Middle School and Mountain Brook Junior High School.

Q: How long have you been a teacher?

A: I have officially been a teacher for nine years. This upcoming year is going to be my 10th year.

Q: What inspired you to become an educator?

A: So, I was inspired to become a teacher because I loved the French language and I love children, and I just loved teaching my friends and family little phrases of French and figured I might as well combine the two and teach in the public school system.

Q: Tell us about your favorite teacher when you were in school.

A: Singing was my passion before French was my passion. So in high school, I loved Mr. Allen Gillespie. He was my choir teacher, and I was in a mixed ensemble at my high school. We traveled and sang at events, and that was my absolute favorite teacher and favorite class.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of being a teacher for you?

A: The most rewarding thing about being a teacher is when I see a student, maybe three or four years down the line when they’ve learned a big amount of French and can actually speak French. Seeing and knowing that I helped

contribute to that and maybe helped to give them the passion for the language — that’s the most rewarding thing.

SPOTLIGHT

VHHS grad gets grant for Riverkeeper internship

By STAFF

Grace Brindley, a 2020 graduate of Vestavia Hills High School and a recent graduate of the University of Alabama’s College of Communication and Information Sciences, has been awarded a scholarship grant for a summer internship with Black Warrior Riverkeeper in Birmingham.

Brindley will be doing advertising and public relations work for the organization, which patrols waterways, responds to pollution complaints, enforces environmental laws, educates the public and elicits public support for keeping waterways clean through petitions and volunteer litter cleanups.

“I am thrilled to serve as an intern for the Black Warrior Riverkeeper,” Brindley said in a statement. “From strategic communication to brand development, Black Warrior Riverkeeper interns gain valuable exposure to real-life advertising and PR responsibilities.”

Charles Scribner, the executive director of Black Warrior Riverkeeper, said his organization is grateful to have Brindley work with them before she returns to Alabama in the fall as a candidate at the University of Alabama School of Law.

“Grace has learned so much through her undergraduate and graduate programs at the University of Alabama’s College of Communication and Information Sciences, and as an intern at The Bama Buzz,” Scribner said.

While with The Bama Buzz, Brindley featured the Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s staff member, Nelson Brooke, in a story about his 20th anniversary with the organization. Brindley has a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in advertising and public relations. The grant that is funding her internship is from the Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation, which has supported Alabama’s Advertising and Public Relations Department with scholarships for water conservation internships since 2008.

Courtney Capocci teaches French at Liberty Park Middle School and Mountain Brook Junior High School. Photo courtesy of Courtney Capocci.

Grace Brindley, a 2020 graduate of Vestavia Hills High School, was awarded a scholarship grant for a summer internship with the Black Warrior Riverkeeper. Photo courtesy of Black Warrior Riverkeeper.

Katherine Lewis, MS, RD, Erin Rowell, MD, Thomas Lewis, MD, Carson Rowell, MD, Brytney Cobia, MD

Business Buzz

NEW OWNERSHIP

COMING SOON

The Girl Scouts DreamLab is planning to hold a grand opening in mid-August. The facility is located above Newk’s in the Vestavia City Center, in the location formerly occupied by Redstone Church. The space is designed to contain a multi-use auditorium and event space, media center, climbing tower, labs for art and science experiments and social areas for scouts to talk and plan. For more information on the DreamLab, visit their website. girlscoutsnca.org

RELOCATIONS AND RENOVATIONS

Dear Emmaline is moving from its current location on Canyon Road to the Vestavia City Center across the street. The new location will be near Newk’s Express Cafe and Karen’s Hallmark. The store carries children’s clothing, accessories and more. Dear Emmaline is open weekdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 205-842-1544, shopdearemmaline.com

The Palm & Pig is now under new management, and the restaurant has changed its name to Hillside Music & Que. The restaurant at 633 Montgomery Highway serves family meals, cocktails and more in a fun and laid-back atmosphere. Live music is played weekly featuring local talent, trivia is on Wednesday nights and every Sunday boasts a Bluegrass Brunch. Customers can come by Tuesday through Friday from 3 to 9 p.m., and on the weekend beginning at 10 a.m. Follow Hillside Music and Que on Facebook for updates. 205-747-0286

UAB Health System has acquired Ascension St. Vincent’s for $450 million. UAB will gain ownership of all St. Vincent’s sites of care, including primary care clinics on Montgomery Highway and Cahaba Heights Road and the hospitals at Birmingham, Blount, Chilton, East and St. Clair. The transaction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024. 205-934-4681, uabmedicine.org

NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Davenport’s Pizza has been voted 2024’s Best Pizza in AboutTown magazine. Davenport’s has two locations, with one in Mountain Brook and the newest location in the Vestavia City Center. The restaurant is known for its sauce and crust, made daily in-house, and fresh toppings. Stop in for a pizza Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. or Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. 205-407-4747, davenportspizza.com

An affiliate of Nephrology Associates, Kidney Properties of Alabama, recently bought a one-floor office building in Vestavia Hills. The building is near Renew Dermatology, just off U.S. 31. With over 16,000 square feet, the building is set up to potentially house a health care office. The property was purchased for $1.5 million, and there is no confirmation yet of what will eventually occupy the building.

205-226-5900, nephrologyassociatespc.com

ANNIVERSARIES

Balance Chiropractic, 1070 Montgomery Highway, is celebrating 16 years serving the Vestavia Hills and Birmingham areas. Dr. Nicole Ussery specializes in chiropractic care and wellness, including full spine chiropractic techniques, corrective exercises, lifestyle advice, nutritional counseling and spinal screenings. She provides care for all ages, including infants and expectant mothers. The practice is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon and 3 to 6 p.m. and on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon. 205-823-7890, awellnessstudio.com

Youth Leadership Vestavia Hills is celebrating 21 years of gathering the “best and brightest” of the community to lead. Leadership Vestavia Hills is an independent, nonprofit organization that aims to enrich the quality of leadership in Vestavia Hills, beginning with graduates who desire to be leaders in their community. leadershipvestaviahills.com

Michelle Hawkins: President and CEO, Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce

By STAFF

Q: Tell us a bit about you.

A: I live in Vestavia Hills, and I have lived here for two years and am currently president for the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce. I have lived in the Birmingham area for 30 years, prior to which I grew up in the Atlanta metro area.

Q: What’s the best part about living in Vestavia Hills?

A: The best part about living in Vestavia Hills is the community. I love the community. … I live in the Tanglewood neighborhood, which is so friendly, very walkable. I love the convenience to everything. It’s so close to Birmingham, and there’s so much to offer here in Vestavia Hills.

Q: How did you decide to pursue your career?

A: My career started as an entrepreneur. I had my own business, which was a PR firm, and then later started from scratch a publication called Alabama Weddings magazine. I sold it 20 years later and then got the role I’m in now, which I’m thrilled about, as president of the chamber. My goal always has been to serve other businesses and really to see small businesses succeed.

Q: What’s something about you that most people might be surprised to learn?

A: I was born in Merritt Island, and it was during the time of the space race in the late ‘60s, and my dad was part of that. He worked at

Cape Canaveral, and he worked on the mission that took the first man to walk on the moon, so I think that’s kind of cool.

Q: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

A: If I could change anything, it would be to go back to college and really take my second language studies more seriously. I wish I could speak two languages, but it’s not too late. I can still do it now.

SPOTLIGHT

High-tech hoops: Shoot 360

By CHARLES VAUGHAN

Shoot 360, a national franchise that opened an area location late last year, is a new way to get a workout in Vestavia Hills.

The basketball training facility integrates sports science and technology with hands-on coaching and development. Their “Splash Zone” shooting system boasts many clients, including several NBA players.

But Shoot 360 isn’t just for upcoming stars.

Owner Jonathan Carter describes the facility

as being “for the 6-year-old beginner, the 27-year-old pro basketball player who’s in their prime, the 41-year-old adult that loves basketball and everyone in between.”

Anyone can sign up for a free one-hour workout with a coach, and all athletes get equal access to coaches and technology.

Shoot 360 is at 2301 Old Columbiana Road, Suite 200, and is open Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m.. You can visit their website at shoot360.com/birmingham.

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Shoot 360 in Vestavia Hills. Photo by Charles Vaughan.

Michelle Hawkins. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce.

Sips and Bites

Conor Plyler: General Manager, Taziki’s Mediterranean Grill

By STAFF

Q: What’s your favorite item on the menu and why?

A: My favorite item on the menu is the beef feast by far. Our beef is just — it’s to die for. It’s beef chuck shoulder, so it comes right off the shoulder, and if you cook it perfect, it’s just very juicy, very tender. We also serve it as a gyro as well. It’s very non-fatty. It’s very easy to eat. You don’t feel too full afterwards. The cut’s very tender.

Q: What sets you apart from your competition?

A: My staff. We have one of the most hard-working and loyal staffs. They just do everything I need them to do. Also, the management around here is what keeps our employees wanting to come to work. … This store is special because we are one of the only ones that does catering events around here. … We’re all about customer service. … We do whatever we’ve got to do to impress our customers to get ’em to keep coming back. We’re all about the quality food, too. I would say it's’ more like a southern Greek Mediterranean kind of food quality.”

Q: Is there anything new or upcoming?

A: Our falafel — we started it [a couple of

months ago], and we’re keeping it as a menu item now because it became so popular. And we’re starting a new salad that’s going to be called the watermelon spinach salad. And we’re starting one of our new lamb burgers that’s called the whipped feta lamb burger. We’re very excited about that.

Taziki’s Mediterranean Grill is located at 1425 Montgomery Highway #199 in Park South Plaza.

WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR HEALTH

ENT Associates of Alabama, P.C.Experience Matters

If you suffer from allergies or other ear, nose, throat or hearing problems, we don’t want you to treat your healthcare lightly or ignore symptoms that could lead to more serious issues.

For a complete and thorough evaluation make an appointment today to see one of our 15 board certified physicians, 4 highly trained, licensed PA’s, or 16 clinical audiologists – all available to serve your needs at any of our 10 locations.

At our practice, your health comes first; and we strive to treat each patient as a person, not just another case. Our goal is to deliver a positive personal experience along with a positive outcome.

For your convenience, we have same day appointments available, as well as early morning, evening, and Saturday appointments. Please call 1-888-ENT-5020 (1-888-368-5020) for more information, visit us on our website at www.entalabama.com, and scan the QR code below to follow us on social media.

Ranch House Makarios Family Restaurant

By CHARLES VAUGHAN

The Ranch House Makarios Family Restaurant, a staple of the Vestavia Hills community since 1991, offers one of the city’s most unique blends of culinary options.

Ranch House Makarios serves Southern-style breakfasts, meat-and-three lunches and Greek Mediterranean classics, all under the same roof. Customers can follow their bacon and eggs with falafel or shawarma. The unique combination was implemented after an ownership change in 2014 and is reflected by the restaurant’s sign.

Ranch House Makarios fields a deep menu of Southern classics, including grits, vegetables, pulled pork, fried chicken and waffles. Their Mediterranean menu offers Lebanese meat grape leaves, Greek spinach pie and tawook fattoush, a fresh salad mixed with toasted pita bread.

Ranch House Makarios is located at 2931 Columbiana Road and is open Monday and Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can visit their website at ranchhousemakarios.com.

Conor Plyler. Photo by Jon Anderson.

Ranch House Makarios Family Restaurant in Vestavia.

Photo by Charles Vaughan.

Reading between the lines is our specialty.

There are so many things that go into making sure the lights turn on when you flip the switch. With their vast experience and training, our team of experts approaches every situation by taking in the information and reading between the lines to find just the right solution. We are always ready to take on new challenges and find innovative ways to strengthen our grid. With over 60 weeks of training under their belts, our lineworkers are out in the field, delivering reliable power, rain or shine. Together, we work to power a better Alabama.

EVENTS

Vestavia Hills events guide

Wednesdays: Vestavia Hills Farmers Market. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Scout Square, 741 Montgomery Highway. The farmers market will take place every week through Sept. 11. The market includes fresh produce, baked goods and more. The market is a mission of Vestavia Hills Methodist Church, with funds from the market used to supply the church’s food pantry with fresh fruit and vegetables.

Aug. 10: Vestavia Hills Community Cornhole Tournament. 2-5:30 p.m. Vestavia City Center. A cornhole tournament benefiting Vestavia Hills first responders, Vestavia Hills City Schools, student programs and scholarships, Children's of Alabama and the Critical Care Transport Team. To register your team, visit vestaviarotary. org/cornhole-tournament.

Aug. 13: Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce Monthly Luncheon. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vestavia Country Club, 400 Beaumont Drive. Network with other chamber members and hear a speaker. Reservations are $25. For more information, visit vestaviahills.org.

Aug. 23: BHC Homeschool Field Day. 1-3 p.m. McCallum Park, 3332 Rosemary Lane. Families are invited to connect with the Birmingham Homeschoolers Community. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or new to homeschooling, there will be something for everyone. Kids can engage in activities to meet new friends, and parents will have the chance to engage with others in similar stages of the homeschool journey. Visit birminghamhomeschoolers.com to register.

Library in the Forest

Register for events online at vestavialibrary.org/tech or call 205-978-4679.

ADULTS

Aug. 7: Crafter’s, Inc. — Painted Canvas Wall Clock. 11 a.m. Community Room. Ages 18 and up.

Aug.14: Read & Feed Book Group. 6 p.m. Community Room. Ages 18 and up. Join us after hours for refreshments and a lively discussion of “Bear” by Julia Phillips.

Aug. 15: OLLI Presents Southern Rivers. 2 p.m. Community Room. Ages 18 and up. Speaker R. Scot Duncan will discuss the importance of the rivers of the Southeast and his new book, “Southern Rivers: Restoring America's Freshwater Biodiversity.”

Aug. 16: Craft*Lab — Matted Color Art. 7 p.m. Community Room. Color artwork and mat the masterpiece, perfect for framing. All materials provided, including snacks and prizes. Contact Terri at terri.leslie@vestavialibrary.org.

CHILDREN

Aug. 3: Back-to-School Outdoor Festival. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Liberty Park. Ideal for elementary and middle school ages. Come kick off the school year at the library’s outdoor festival. Enjoy field day games and activities, crafts, bouncy house, kiddie pools for the little ones, pizza, Kona Ice and much more.

Aug. 10: Back-To-School Outdoor Festival. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cahaba Heights Parks and Rec. Ideal for elementary and middle school ages. Come kick off the school yearl at the library’s outdoor festival. Enjoy field day games and activities, crafts, bouncy house, kiddie pools for the little ones, pizza, Kona Ice and much more.

TEENS (GRADES 6-12)

Fridays: Open Gaming. 4 p.m. Community Room. Board games and console games with other teens. Snacks served.

Aug. 6: Writing Group. 4 p.m. Historical Room. Come sharpen

your writing skills.

Aug. 10: Dungeons and Dragons One-Shot — A Happy D&D Birthday. 10 a.m. Historical Room. Registration required. To register, contact Daniel at 20-.978-3683.

Aug. 13: Tabletop Gaming Group. 4 p.m. Community Room. Games and snacks provided.

Aug. 14: Art Group Emoji Madness. 4 p.m. Makerspace. Snacks served.

Aug. 17: Teen Craft Lab. 10 a.m. Makerspace. Variety of supplies provided to those wanting to learn a new skill, so feel free to come as you are and enjoy snacks while meeting fellow crafters.

Aug. 20: Game Party. 4 p.m. Historical Room. Play interactive party games with other teens. Phone or mobile device recommended. Snacks will be served.

Aug. 24: Dungeons and Dragons: The Journey Continues. 10 a.m. Historical Room. Join the Teen Department as it continues its D&D campaign and play this classic tabletop RPG with other teens. Snacks served. Registration required. Contact Daniel at 205-978-3683.

Aug. 27: Podge Party. 4 p.m. Makerspace. Use Mod Podge and magazine clippings to make customized clipboards, notebooks or coasters.

Aug 30: Super Smash Bros. Tournament. 4 p.m. Dominate the competition and fight to win an Amazon gift card. Snacks served.

MAKERSPACE

Aug. 12: Intro to 3D Printing. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Makerspace. Learn how 3D printers work and the basics of finding and preparing models to print.

Aug. 19: Beginner 3D Modeling w/Tinkercad. 4-5:30 p.m. Makerspace. Ages 8 and up. Get started rendering your own 3D models with Tinkercad, a web-based design platform designed for beginners.

Aug. 26: Tote-ally Awesome. 4-5:30 p.m. Makerspace. Ages 10 and up. Learn how to make customized canvas tote bags using the makerspace vinyl cutter and heat press.

TECH

Aug. 8: All Things Apple — iCloud. 4-5:30 p.m. Technology Classroom. Learn how iCloud keeps your data backed up and ready to go. Bring your Apple device.

Aug. 13: Advanced Excel: Pivot Tables & Dashboards. 4-5:30 p.m. Technology Classroom. Use pivot tables and pivot charts to turn your data into an interactive dashboard for sharp, clean business reports. Prior Excel use required.

Aug. 20: Microsoft PowerPoint. 4-5:30 p.m. Technology Classroom. Create a dynamic slideshow.

Aug. 29: Zoom 101. 4-5:30 p.m. Technology Classroom. Learn how to use Zoom.

Business

If you have news to share with the community about your brick-and-mortar business in Vestavia Hills, let us know! Share your business news with us at starnesmedia.com/business-happenings

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Rotary cornhole tournament to raise funds, spirits

By LAUREN H. DOWDLE

Community members will show off their bag-throwing skills to support local organizations during a cornhole tournament hosted by two local Rotary clubs.

The Vestavia Hills Rotary Club and Vestavia Sunrise Rotary Club will come together at the Vestavia City Center on Aug. 10 at 2 p.m. for a cornhole tournament. This will be the third year for the tournament, said Kent Howard, who’s been a member of the Vestavia Hills Rotary Club for more than three decades.

Howard co-chairs the cornhole tournament, along with Lori Moler from Vestavia Sunrise, and said it was created as a way to better connect the Rotary clubs across the state.

“We’re a collection of more than 37,000 Rotary clubs around the world with more than 1.2 million members,” Howard said. “Everyone is on the same page: we want to make the world a better place, and that starts locally.”

The cornhole teams collect donations leading up to the tournament, and the teams that raise the most are rewarded with prizes from sponsors.

The money goes to support Vestavia Hills first responders, the Children’s of Alabama critical care transport team, Vestavia student scholarships and student programs including math, debate and robotics.

“Coming together for a good cause is the best part for me,” Howard said.

About 30 teams compete each year, ranging from pairs of friends or family members to coworkers or classmates. Cornhole is something all ages can enjoy, Howard said, as the bags used are lighter than equipment used in games like horseshoes. Besides staying hydrated while playing, he encourages participants to have fun and not get stuck on one bad move.

Teams

at

Teams are separated into pools to compete, and the top two teams from each pool advance to the next single-elimination level.

“It feels a lot like March Madness,” Howard said. “People can come and watch and go to different restaurants to grab a drink and some food.”

The first-place and second-place winners of

“There’s always a chance to make up for a bad toss on your next one,” Howard said. “Don’t sweat it, and have a great time.”

the tournament will flip a coin to decide which one will represent the Vestavia Hills Rotary Club and which will represent Sunrise Rotary Club in the statewide Rotary tournament, which will be held Aug. 17 at Otey’s Tavern in Crestline Village. Greenhalgh Insurance Agency won the tournament last year, and Speegle Construction came in second.

From church groups and businesses to

community members, anyone who lives, works or worships in Vestavia is encouraged to participate, Howard said.

“Come out, have a great time and enjoy the community and the competition,” he said.

The deadline to sign up is Aug. 1 or when there are 32 teams, whichever comes first. There is a $50 registration fee. Register online at vestaviarotary.org.

compete

the 2023 cornhole tournament put on by the Vestavia Hills Rotary Club and Vestavia Sunrise Rotary Club at the Vestavia Hills City Center. This year’s tournament is set for Aug. 10.

Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills Rotary Club.

SPORTS

UNDER THE LIGHTS: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Expectations still high for reloading Rebels

By KYLE PARMLEY

Since Robert Evans took over at his alma mater two years ago, he has not been shy about his intentions to elevate the Vestavia Hills High School football program to an elite status.

After spending many years as one of the most respected defensive coordinators in the state at Hoover and Mountain Brook, he brought plenty of ideas and determination back to his former team.

The Rebels have posted a combined record of 16-8 over the last two seasons, advancing to the second round of the Class 7A playoffs each year. They’ve posted some big wins and are a tough team to face.

This year’s team will look a little different. Star defensive end Jordan Ross and productive quarterback John Paul Head are among the key players the Rebels have to replace, but the Rebels hope the strength of the program shines through as the season goes on. Vestavia currently has nearly 150 kids in grades 10-12 in the football program.

“If we can just get in [the playoffs] by the end of the year and be healthy, we’ll be a dangerous team in November,” Evans said.

OFFENSE

The Vestavia Hills offense will look a little different than it did the last two years, with dual-threat quarterback John Paul Head having graduated.

Under the leadership of offensive coordinator Josh Franklin, the Rebels have averaged 34 and 33 points per game over the last two seasons. The challenge will be making the pieces fit together again this fall to post similar numbers.

Sophomore Charlie Taaffe is set to take the reins of the Rebels’ offense. Evans doesn’t expect him to run nearly as much as Head did, but he will be utilized in the running game in addition to the passing concepts.

William Tonsmeire will provide Taaffe a veteran to lean on in the backfield, as the senior running back returns following a productive 2023 season. Evans calls Tonsmeire, a University of Southern Miss baseball commit, the fastest player on the team.

Bruce Littleton is also a Southern Miss baseball commit, and he can handle a few different roles on the offense. He can play fullback and tight end, or could even take direct snaps to help get tough yards. Carson Purdue is another name to watch in that role.

Chase Webb and Luke Stubbs are skilled and speedy receivers expected to lead the way on the outside.

Landon Page, JD Livingston and Caleb Boyle return as starters on the offensive line,

as those three make up a strong interior. The battle is on for which guys can step up and earn the job at the tackle spots.

DEFENSE

All eyes centered on slowing down defensive end Jordan Ross in the last few seasons, but Ross has now graduated and moved on to Tennessee.

Linebacker Jacob Watson and safety Spence Hanna have stepped into the role as leaders of the Vestavia Hills defense, which is now led by new coordinator Chad Merrill.

“They’re exactly what you want them to be. They’ve both played a lot of football, and it’s the first time in my tenure here that we’ve had guys coming back that have made calls and checks,” Evans said.

Merrill is a Vestavia Hills native and returns to the coaching staff after a stint at Mountain Brook. Shawn Raney has retired after spending the last two seasons as the Vestavia defensive coordinator.

“He brings a lot of good ideas and good

energy into our program,” Evans said of Merrill.

Grayson Bruno is a returning linebacker who has made significant strides. Cross Tonsmeire has moved over from the offensive side of the ball to linebacker.

Along the defensive line and in the secondary, though, there is plenty to be decided in the weeks leading up to the season.

“There’s a lot of competition between the other three secondary spots and the other three spots up front,” Evans said.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Vestavia Hills is fortunate to still have Owen Simpson, who enters his third year contributing for the Rebels on special teams. Evans believes he will be a kicker in college in the future.

Long snapper and returner are still open positions for the Rebels.

SCHEDULE

Winning at the rate Vestavia Hills has in the

last couple years has made it more difficult to find non-region opponents. The Rebels begin this season at the Cramton Bowl on Thursday, Aug. 22, playing Carver-Montgomery as part of the AHSAA Kickoff Classic.

The Rebels then travel to 7A power Auburn the following week and conclude the regular season at home against reigning 6A champion Clay-Chalkville.

Region 3 appears to be as tough as usual this fall. Vestavia Hills will host Hewitt-Trussville, Thompson and Tuscaloosa County in region play. The Rebels will travel to face Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Prattville, Oak Mountain and Hoover.

Looking for more Under the Lights? Check out the podcast to hear weekly breakdowns of local high school football: youtube.com/ @UnderTheLightsPod

Charlie Taaffe (19)

Photo by David Leong

William Tonsmeire (1)

Photo by Barry Stephenson

Spencer Hanna (1)

Photo by Richard Force

SPONSORED CONTENT

Lakeshore Foundation opens new cutting-edge, data-driven Sports Science and Performance Center

The Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham has emerged over the last four decades as a world leader in fitness, recreation, research and health promotion for people with disabilities, including veterans and seniors.

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Last year, the foundation reached an even higher level in serving athletes in adaptive sports when it opened its new, cutting-edge, data-driven Lakeshore Sports Science and Performance Center (SSPC).

By combining the foundation’s decades of experience in adaptive sports with the help of experts, Lakeshore SSPC aims to greatly expand the opportunity for all athletes to take advantage of advanced sports science research and to achieve peak performance.

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technology companies to bring mental wellness into the training routine. For example, the facility recently added software that does brainwave measurements for concussions and other aspects of mental wellness.

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COMMUNITY

Former Vestavia Hills resident wins prestigious genetics award

By SARAH GILLILAND

Dr. Bruce Korf, a resident of Vestavia Hills for the past 22 years, recently was awarded the prestigious David L. Rimoin Lifetime Achievement Award from the American College of Medical Genetics’ Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine.

Korf is a professor and associate dean for genomic medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The award he received is the foundation’s highest honor. It recognizes individuals whose careers have significantly contributed to the field of genetics and genomics and whose characteristics embody those of Dr. Rimoin, for whom the honor is named.

“I was exposed to genetics for the first time between my junior year and senior year of high school,” Korf said. “I worked in a medical research lab back in 1969, and medical genetics was a pretty young field at the time.

“I had a job at a local hospital during the summers while I was in college, and I did a genetics project while I was in college, so I actually became interested [in medical genetics] pretty early on, and that seemed to be the direction that I was going to be headed,” he said.

When asked to describe a medical geneticist in simple terms, Korf said, “I am involved in seeing patients with known or suspected genetic disorders, trying to find correct diagnoses, offering counseling to the families and, where possible, treatments [for these disorders].

“In a broader sense, I have been active in trying to help integrate genetics and genetic testing into routine medical practice because, increasingly, it’s important not only for the management of rare genetic disorders but also contributes to the management of common medical conditions,” he said.

Upon learning he was the 2024 recipient of the lifetime achievement award, Korf said he was honored and moved, particularly because he knew

Rimoin as a friend and colleague.

“To have an award named for someone who I worked with and admired made it extra special,” he said.

Dr. Nancy Mendelsohn, president of the American College of Medical Genetics Foundation, said Korf demonstrates true leadership in defining the medical discipline of genomics.

“He is a dedicated teacher, championing genetics education and training, and an inspiring and devoted educator,” Mendelsohn said. “He is an international leading authority as a clinician and scientist on the underlying pathophysiology, diagnosis and clinical care of patients with neurofibromatosis.”

Though the award is for leadership in medical genetics and genomics, Korf said education has been, and continues to be, a large part of his work.

“I wrote the first edition of a textbook [about medical genetics] close to 30 years ago when I was the co-director of a genetics course at Harvard Medical School and wrote a textbook based on that course, and we’re now working on the fifth edition,” he said.

As an encouragement to the next generation of medical professionals, Korf said that, despite concerns about obstacles like paperwork and bureaucracy, there’s never been a more exciting time to be involved in medicine and watch these developments take place that can transform the ability to provide health care.

“I think anybody who has aspirations of going into the field should be encouraged to find their niche and realize the huge opportunity that they have before them,” he said.

When he is not in the lab, seeing patients or teaching a class, Korf enjoys traveling, photography and astronomy. His work travels have taken him to every continent except Antarctica, which he crossed off his list during a tourist trip shortly after moving to the Birmingham area and beginning his work at UAB. He recently retired and moved back to Cape Cod in Massachusetts.

Dr. Bruce Korf, genetics professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Photo courtesy of UAB University Relations.

Secret teenage marriage turns into 75 years together

By LAUREN H. DOWDLE

Kenneth and Colleen Hayes started their marriage in secret, but they marked their 75th anniversary surrounded by family. The couple celebrated with a party on July 3 at the Cahaba Ridge Retirement Community in Vestavia Hills.

Kenneth, 94, and Colleen, 92, met in high school in Aliceville, when he was a taxicab driver. With fewer civilian cars available due to World War II, many turned to taxis in the 1940s. Colleen recalled walking past a taxi stand and meeting her future husband.

“He whistled at me and waved, and then walked over to talk to me,” she said. “I kept walking past there after that. In a few days, he asked for a date.”

Their first outing was to a rodeo in Meridian, Mississippi, but Colleen said it took a little while for her to decide that he was the one. However, once they decided, they didn’t want to wait to get married.

Kenneth had graduated high school and was getting ready to move to Birmingham for a job, while Colleen was still in high school and barely 17 years old. They decided to drive over to the next county in Columbus, Mississippi, and find a justice of the peace to marry them. But they didn’t tell their parents.

“We thought we were keeping it a secret for almost a year,” Colleen said. “Lowndes County was just across the border from Aliceville, so it was convenient. But my grandparents lived in Columbus, Mississippi, and the Columbus newspaper printed the wedding licenses. My grandmother read that we got married and told my mother, but she didn’t tell me. When we decided it was time to tell them, they already knew. We look back at that as a silly teenage thing.”

Like all marriages, theirs took work. Besides having patience, Kenneth said the secret to a long-lasting marriage is always working out issues before going to sleep.

“If you go to bed, make sure you’ve cleared everything away,” Kenneth said.

Their faith has also played an important role in their relationship and lives. The couple attended and

worked at Crestway Baptist Church in Birmingham for 63 years.

“The biggest thing that has kept us together has been our love for Christ,” Colleen said. “We tried to follow Him and bring our children up in a Christian home.”

The couple have two children, Deanna Lucas and Ken Hayes. Lucas, who also lives in Vestavia, said she appreciated how involved her parents were with her children, as well as the example they’ve set with their marriage.

“You can take it for granted until you’re old enough to appreciate what 75 years means and the ways marriages ebb and flow. Not many people are blessed to watch that or be a part of it,” Lucas said. “A lot of people can’t weather those storms. It’s a big deal to appreciate someone who can. They have such a history that they know they can depend on each other.”

Above: Kenneth and Colleen Hayes celebrated their 75th anniversary with family at the Cahaba Ridge Retirement Community in Vestavia Hills and with dinner at the Bright Star restaurant in Bessemer. Left: The couple in 1975 Photos courtesy of Deanna Lucas.

Life in Vestavia Hills

BACK WHEN GET TO KNOW

Jamie Lee: Director, Parks and Leisure Services

By JON ANDERSON

Q: What do you do, in a nutshell?

A: I’m the director of not only all of our passive parks and our athletic venues that we have recreation in, but also I help manage and direct this Civic Center building with event space, with rental space, private parties, that kind of stuff, … and the recreational side of not just youth athletics, but also we have some adult recreational sports that we manage and work with.

Q: What do you like best about your job?

A: I like the fact that when I come to work, I might have a plan, but I don’t always get to that plan because maybe something came up during the night, or maybe something might come across the table first thing in the morning. There’s just sort of a new challenge every day. I like that I get to meet a cross-reference of a lot of people that are residents of Vestavia Hills, from children that we see to senior adults.

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?

A: When I get spare time, I like to play golf, and I enjoy spending time with my wife and daughter. I’ve got a 26-year-old daughter that lives in town.

Q: What’s your favorite place to play golf?

A: I guess in this area it would be Robert Trent Jones at Oxmoor Valley.

Q: If you weren’t doing this job, what would be fun to do?

A: I coached boys basketball for 22 years, and then I was with the Alabama High School Athletic Association for five years in an administrative role. If I were not doing this, I would be helping someone in a coaching role.

Photographs and memories

By STAFF

Robert Evans is the head football coach at Vestavia Hills High School. He shared the story of a special photograph from his playing days with the Rebels.

Q: What’s the story behind this photo?

A: So the story of this photo is, it showed up in my office when redecorated a few months ago with some family mementos and pictures of when I was in high school playing here at Vestavia instead of coaching. I'm sure it came from my wife or my mom from some random box in an attic somewhere. It's a picture of me and my dad celebrating a big win over Hoover at the Met, my senior year in high school.

Q: What was going on at the time of this photo? What was happening in your life?

A: This photo was from the fall of 1998 which was a great season of life. Most seniors probably enjoy their senior experience. I was no different. I had a really good group of guys that I grew up playing with and we were able to compete at a high level and win a championship. And then also I was just trying to figure out what the future looked like, whether you're going to play football or baseball or where you're going to go to school.

Q: If you could go back in time and talk to yourself here, what would you say?

A: What a great question — probably would tell myself to enjoy the experience and trust God's sovereignty. I didn't go where I wanted to, which

was Auburn or another SEC school. I wound up at Samford but wound up with lifelong friends who I still do life with today. And I probably also would have told myself to buy some Apple stock. I wouldn't have known what that was at the time, but that seems like it would have been good advice.

Q: What’s something people wouldn’t know about you from back then?

A: I didn't have a car. Most of my friends had nice cars and trucks but every day I rode with my dad in a 1982 Caprice Classic that was missing two hubcaps. We pulled into the parking lot and thankfully we got here most days before everyone else did. Humble roots. But it makes me appreciative to actually have a decent truck now, pulling up into work.”

Gift on your birthday and Christmas

Jamie Lee is the director of the Vestavia Hills Parks and Leisure Services Department. Photo courtesy of City of Vestavia Hills.

This photo with his dad after a big win during his senior season at VHHS now sits in the office of Rebels football coach Robert Evans. Photo courtesy of Robert Evans.

Helical Piers

We recently had the pleasure of helping Mr. Calvin “Speedy” Wilburn of the Rick & Bubba Show find his perfect new truck here at the corner of I-65 and Highway 31 in Vestavia! After all the laughs over the years, it was an honor to put him behind the wheel of a brand new 2024 GMC Sierra 1500.

We love Speedy, but you don’t have to be a radio legend to get the Royal treatment here in Vestavia Hills. For everyone who loves to laugh, there’s Royal!

2024 GMC Sierra 1500 is ready for whatever summer can throw at you. Power is Sierra’s specialty with best-in-class standard engine torque*. Available Super Cruise™ Driver Assistance Technology can make your commute safer. And best-in-class crew cab front head and leg room† means you can do it all and then some in comfort. Test drive your perfect new truck at Royal Buick GMC where I-65 meets Highway 31 in Vestavia.

Calvin “Speedy” Wilburn with his new 2024 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT