Bham Family Magazine - April 2020

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APRIL 2020

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LIVING Green Embracing Earth Day in Bham PAGES 20-30

FAITH IN ACTION Local minister celebrates 30 years of service

PAGE 36

Ap ril events at Ald ridge Gardens

Mad Hatter Tea Party FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 11AM-1PM Our very popular tea party for parent or grandparent and child. You will decorate a cup/pot, eat finger sandwiches and desserts, and have tea (or lemonade). We’ll play a game or two, take LOTS of photos, put soil in the pots and plant seeds to create a new home for the fairies in your garden or home. $35 members/$40 nonmembers (one adult/one child) Only room for 12 reservations so reserve early!

Let’s Talk Herbs

with Rip Weaver and Phyllis Giles THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 6-8PM Rip Weaver and Phyllis Giles give you the scoop on getting your herb garden rocking! They’ll talk making beds, soils, spacing, care (and neglect!), and maybe even plant marker suggestions. You can’t miss this!

Event will take place in the new Education Building. $20 members/ $25 nonmembers.

Seating is limited; register at aldridgegardens.com.

(205) 682-8019 | aldridgegardens.com 3530 Lorna Road, Hoover

2 Bham Family April 2020

Specializing in Children’s Wear Gifts & Accessories

Bham Family April 2020 3

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EDITOR’S NOTE

nterviewing people is a privilege. It’s an honor to meet so many diverse people in our community who are improving the lives of others and launching innovative projects. This month, I had the chance to learn just how caring and inventive our city is.

With the 50th anniversary of Earth Day this month, we decided to find out how families can be more environmentally responsible and learned what happens when one family decides to lead by example.

For all of us wondering how we can reduce plastic waste, “Doing Her Part” (page 24) is a must-read.

Mary Liz Ingram has paved the way for us to take action and, along the way, she began a movement called The Clean Up Project. Another trailblazer from Crestwood is helping families realize the beauty of our state’s natural resources through her nonprofit, Fresh Air Family. “Into the Great Wide Open” (page 34) describes how this organization is teaching

kids science through outdoor exploration and strengthening family bonds. And if you want to learn about ways to make your home more energy efficient, Jonathan Handey, owner of Eco Three, discusses steps you can take this spring in “Is Your Home Ready for Summer?” (page 20).

When we all work together, we are better, and that’s the refreshing thing about our town. There’s no shortage of ways for families to get involved and connect with others. Do you know someone doing something to make Birmingham a better place for families? Drop me a line at jeana@jbmcmedia.com.

It would be my privilege to hear from you.

Jeana Durst Content Director and Mom

DENTISTRY FOR INFANTS, CHILDREN, TEENS, AND THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Tabitha Jarman Gatrey, DMD

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LOCATIONS BIRMINGHAM 500 Cahaba Park Circle, Suite 100 MADISON 8490 Highway 72 W, Suite 100 TRUSSVILLE 117 North Chalkville Road TUSCALOOSA 4700 Rice Mine Road NE VESTAVIA HILLS 520 Montgomery Highway Bham Family April 2020 5

MADISON and VESTAVIA locations now open!

ABOUT US

Bham Family is published monthly by JBMC Media, LLC, P.O. Box 26432, Birmingham AL 35260.

14,000 copies are printed and distributed at more than 530 locations throughout 650 Jefferson and Shelby Counties.

DISTRIBUTION

If your business would like to make copies available to customers, please email matthew@jbmcmedia.com with your business name, address, point of contact, and number of copies you would like.

ADVERTISING

To reach the largest audience of parents in Birmingham each month, partner with us. Email matthew@jbmcmedia.com to get started with a partnership that will be a key part of your plan.

O U R A DV E RT I S I N G PA RT N E R S These folks are the ones to thank for our magazine’s success — spend your money with them, and tell them you saw them in Bham Family!

ACE Cheer Company BHM Alabama Auto Show Alabama Ophthalmology Associates Aldridge Gardens Applause Dancewear Backyard Adventures CakEffect Celebrate Hoover Day Children’s of Alabama Compact2020 Eyes on Chelsea Vision Care Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum Hoover Met Complex Jackie O’Neal School of Dance Kasey Davis Dentistry McWane Science Center Painted Personalities

Birmingham BirminghamFamily FamilyMagazine Magazine

@BhamFamilyMag @BhamFamilyMag

ABOUT THE COVER This month’s cover model is Loatsie, from Pell City. She is wearing a Bailey Boys dress from Jack n’ Jill’s in Homewood, and traditional white Nina Kids “Bonnett” dress shoes from Sike’s Children’s Shoes in Homewood.

Visit these sister stores, located at 2920 18th Street South in downtown Homewood. They offer a wide range of dresses, suits, and shoes perfect for Easter!

6 Bham Family April 2020

19 11 9 2 2 19 10 13 39 40 21 12 17 33 18 21 27

Pediatric Smiles Pigtails & Crewcuts Shelby County Arts Council Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Sike’s Children’s Shoes / Jack n Jill Single Barrel Barber Shop Southlake Orthopaedics The Whole Scoop Ice Cream Shop Then Again Children’s Consignment Urgent Care for Children Vineyard Family Services Virginia Samford Theatre Vulcan Termite & Pest Control WAY-FM Wee-Peat Boutique / LuLu’s Loft Wrapsody

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4 4 15 30 3 30 16 17 23 5 23 3 27 37 25 25

RECYCLE RECYCLE ME! ME!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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FEATURE STORIES

“Is Your Home Ready for Summer?”

How a local business is helping families conserve energy at home. p.20

“Doing Her Part”

Homewood mom Mary Liz Ingram shows us how easy it is to be plastic-free with The Clean Up Project. p.24

“Our Planet, Our Future”

Find out how you can celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day this month. p.28

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IN EVERY ISSUE

Arts

Events

Food Review

Sports

Magic City Arts Connection brings the arts alive with their interactive children’s exhibits. p.8

Comedienne Joy shares what makes her Eat. Drink.Ride Food Tour a dining adventure. p.10

Just for Dads

Ward Williams reflects on how fathers can impact their children’s faith. p.12

Education

Learn how students shine at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. p.14

Schoolhouse

Highlights from the Hoover School District. p.16

Join us for the first ever Bham Family Magazine Fam Jam in May to raise money for Hope for Gabe. p.31

LETT cultivates tennis skills while building character. p.32

Healthy Living

Fresh Air Family brings families together through science education and outdoor excursions. p.34

Faith

Celebrating the dedicated ministry of a Vestavia Hills Baptist Church leader. p.36

Kids Who Shine

A Crestwood Five-Year-Old Leads His Sister to Safety During a Massive House Fire. p.38 Bham Family April 2020 7

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ART IN THE PARK Magic City Arts Connection offers chances for families to interact with artists and participate in creating art.

BY JEANA DURST For the past 36 years, Magic City Arts Connection has been introducing us to new artists, but what you may not know about this festival is that it’s a premier destination for families and more accurately described as a weekend “experience” than an art show. I recently caught up with Alex Kunzman, festival co-director, to talk about what’s on deck for this year’s event.

From April 24 to 26, Linn Park will be transformed into an arts destination where you will find everything from visual arts to culinary arts to performance arts and even cultural education. In addition to the visual feast from more than 200 juried artists in almost any medium you can imagine, this weekend incorporates something the whole family can appreciate—hands-on artmaking opportunities.

Head to the Northeast quadrant of the park across from the Birmingham Museum of Art, for the Imagination Festival, an integral part of the festival that recognizes that “children are natural artists.” At this spot, artists lead children through the process of creating. Example interactive exhibits from 2019 have included such ones as learning the art of paper quilling to exploring how “junk electronics” (that VCR that’s in your garage) can be repurposed into art. So whether your child just wants to go a little Jackson Pollock and splatter some paint or if she’s the type who’d rather learn about the art movement Ophism, which wedded bright colors and geometric form, the variety of exhibits make it easy to please every type of curious mind. “It’s all about being interactive—kids go home with 8 Bham Family April 2020

works of art, and they not only make art but if they explore the rest of the show, they are being exposed to the great talent all over the country, “ Kunzman says.

This year’s featured artist is Ellie Ali, a longtime NYC exhibitor and figurative painter, who has recently relocated to Lisbon, Portugal.

Many other artists hale from closer to home as well; local photographer Larry O. Gay will be featured as well. “We definitely share his mantra, ‘Art is where you find it,’” Kunzman says.

Some other items of interest for kids are sculptures created by high school students interwoven throughout the park and the Eyebeam exhibit, where members from the architecture, construction and art communities collaborate with children on an active themed installation.

“One year they were working with bamboo and built teepees; another year they worked with carboard and built elaborate structures and passageways,” Kunzman says. Also located in in the Imagination Festival area is the Backyard Production Stage, a place where kids can encounter dance, from ballet to belly dancing. It’s this type of cross-cultural experience that makes this festival essential for the creative child. And it’s all free for children. With that in mind, parents may opt to buy an extra ticket to the Corks and Chefs event happening at the festival, a tasting event which features 8 to 10 chefs and restaurants each day alongside wine sampling and local breweries.

“It’s a fun thing to explore the taste landscape that just exploding here in Birmingham,” Kunzman says. For more information, www.magiccityart.com.

PEDIATRIC EYE CARE

Jennifer Davidson, MD, Colette Jackson, MD, and Allison McKelvey, OD

Our pediatric eye care team specializes in a wide range of medical and surgical procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of:

• • • • •

Children that need glasses or contact lenses Children with inherited or genetic conditions Children with cataracts, glaucoma or blocked tear ducts Children and adults with strabismus (crossed eye) or double vision Special needs children with eye conditions

4 Convenient Locations Alabama Ophthalmology Associates, 1000 19th Street South Children’s of Alabama, Lowder Building, Suite 412 Grandview Physician’s Plaza, Suite 100 Montgomery, 2752 Zelda Road For appointments, call (205) 903-0700 Visit us online at Family AOAPC.com Bham April 2020 9

FOOD REVIEW

Hop on Board the Eat.Drink.Ride Food Tour Have you ever wanted to dine out but couldn’t pick just one restaurant destination?

My Eat.Drink.Ride Food Tour is a great way to try many different (and new) local eats in one evening.

Typically, guests board in the Joy parking lot of Brookwood King Mall, where we depart for a 5-stop dining excursion that always includes plenty of adventure, great food, and some adult beverages.

One question I’m always asked is, “Can I choose the restaurant?” I’m a professional foodie, so I urge guests to bring a hearty appetite, to be open to a fun time, and to leave the rest to me. Most food stops include a variety of offerings, including Mexican food, sushi, pizza, seafood, and, my favorite, chicken.

I even encourage everyone who eats chicken to clean their bones so I don’t “chicken shame” them.

(My personal belief is that you can’t trust someone who leaves too much meat on their chicken bones.)

Here’s a little secret: most of the items on the pre-fixe menu are items that I like. And you should know I’m a true “meatatarian.” Of course there’s plenty of music, so bring your dance moves as we shake it down while traveling about town.

You can meet new friends on a public tour or book a private tour for 10 or more people. Though there’s not a comedy show on the bus, I enjoy engaging with all the guests. Many times, they are the ones who make me laugh.

To learn about more local spots or hop on the food tour, go to diningoutwithcomediennejoy.com.

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JUST FOR DADS My wife and I have been in ministry for over 25 years, working with children, youth, and families. (We met and fell in love at a Christian camp for children.) A fantastic children’s pastor for almost 15 years, my wife has significantly impacted Ward the spiritual development of Williams many children. Even with our combined experience in ministry, we sometimes questioned if we were successful in spiritually leading our own children. We played worship music and watched Christian programs made for children. (In fact, our kids watched so many “Veggie Tales” episodes, I imagine my teenage sons may still think of Bible characters in vegetable form.)

Author George Barna has done extensive research on the spiritual impact parents have on their children. His research shows that parents understand that they have a huge spiritual influence on their kids, but are timid in teaching their own children. This is especially true with fathers, who may often believe moms should handle spiritual

conversations. However, it is important for dads to know the powerful effect we have on our children’s spirituality. A child’s view of their father shapes his or her view of God the father.

One of my prayers for my kids is that they never know deep evil, and I believe I’m like most dads in that regard. There is good news in the revelation that God cares about the spiritual development of your kids and has cared about them from the very beginning. Jeremiah 1:5 tells us that “before we were in the womb, God loved us and had a plan for us.”

That takes some of the pressure off to know we are not alone. Because God created our kids uniquely for their own purpose, one of our goals needs to be helping our kids discern that purpose through the Bible, prayer, and a lifelong pursuit of God’s will.

The Easter season is a time when people tend to be open to spiritual engagement. I encourage all dads to take a moment for a “spiritual checkup” and make a commitment to engaging your kids spiritually.

Ward Williams is the founder and executive director of Vineyard Family Services. Contact him at ward@vfsdads.com.

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Bham Family April 2020 13

EDUCATION

Cultivating Top Talent U P D AT E S F R O M THE ALABAMA SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS

Students demonstrate arts education in action at the ASFA 2019 Open House

The mission of the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA), a diverse community of explorers, is to nurture impassioned students by guiding and inspiring them to discover and fulfill their individual creative abilities in an atmosphere distinguished by the fusion of fact and feeling, risk and reward, art and science, school and society.

Students at ASFA strive for excellence in the arts and sciences in one of these six areas: creative writing, dance, math-science, music, theatre arts, and visual arts. Included in the curriculum are comprehensive core academic classes that complement the pre-professional arts education.

With a faculty that includes many working artists, the school provides students a wellrounded, rich educational experience. For example, visual arts chair and alumni Darius Hill recently installed a sculpture at the Birmingham Museum of Art; creative writing faculty Kwoya Fagin-Maples and Ashley M. Jones (also an alum) both published award-winning books; and former music chair and current Director of Student Support Services Kim Strickland (Scott) reached #1 on the Billboard charts for her song and top album in smooth jazz.

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PHOTO BY BEAU GUSTAFSON FOR ASFA

THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE The Alabama School of Fine Arts is a junior and senior high school located in the heart of downtown Birmingham. It was created by the legislature in 1971 to provide tuition-free instruction for talented and gifted students from throughout the state. ASFA’s roots began in the 1950s and 1960s when various Birmingham parents and arts advocates appealed to state leaders about the need for a school for students interested in the arts. Then Governor Lurleen Wallace responded with an August 24, 1967, proclamation of the Alabama High School for the Fine Arts (AHSFA) pilot program and a discretionary startup grant of $10,000. On August 31, 1971, the legislature passed a joint resolution establishing the school, with a board of directors and yearly funding in the education department’s budget. The school added a math-science specialty department in the 1990s.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS ASFA is a public school, and admission is by application. Each of the six specialty departments has distinct application requirements. The

performing arts applicants are generally required to share a video and then an audition, while math-science applicants must submit an essay and transcripts, followed by on-site testing and a group interview. Creative writing and visual arts applicants require a portfolio submission and an on-site portfolio evaluation with a still life drawing or a writing prompt, depending on the focus.

STUDENTS OF NOTE James Shi, Akshat Yaparla, Carol He, Sofia Rabbani, and William Holland, members of the Science Bowl team, came in 1st and 2nd place in state competitions this year, and the first-place winning team headed to Washington DC in March to compete at Nationals on an allexpenses-paid trip from the U.S. Dept. of Energy.

Rachel Lockhart and Haley Winegarden, two 2019 dance graduates, now attend The Juilliard School, an extremely competitive program where only 14 spots are awarded for dancers each year.

Le’ronnie Bussey, a current dance student, was just accepted to Juilliard’s summer program.

Daniel Blokh, one of ASFA’s creative writing students, was named one of just 5 National Student Poets and traveled the nation as a literary

ambassador (he started at Yale this year).

Kah’lin Jordan, along with other recent grads, will be performing at Carnegie Hall for the second time this summer as members of the National Youth Orchestra 2.

CLASS MILESTONES The 71 graduates of the Class of 2019 (the biggest class to date) earned more than $11.8 million in college scholarships. Ninety-seven percent of the seniors won merit scholarships, compared to the national average of 15%.

The 2019 class received admission offers from 137 colleges, universities, art schools, and conservatories, located throughout the United States including The Juilliard School, Yale University, Brown University, Columbia University, The Cooper Union, and Carnegie Mellon.

LEADERSHIP CHANGES The ASFA Board of Trustees completed an executive director search last fall. Dr. Tim Mitchell will be starting on July 1. He comes to ASFA from Virginia. Ann Florie was the interim director this school year. She is a renowned Birmingham leader who recently retired from Leadership Birmingham.

Theater and Art Camps

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To enroll your child, call (205) 669-0044 or visit shelbycountyartscouncil.com Bham Family April 2020 15

S C H O O L H O U S E NEWS FROM HOOVER CITY SCHOOLS

Mayor Brocato visits Greystone Elementary

Principal Wins National Award Rocky Ridge Elementary School Principal Dr. Dilhani Uswatte has been named Alabama’s 2020 National Distinguished Principal.

The award is administered through the National Association of Elementary School Principals and honors outstanding elementary and middle-level principals who have demonstrated excellence in school administration. Dr. Uswatte will represent Alabama at a Washington, D.C. ceremony later this year.

Mayor Frank Brocato visited with Ms. Stacey’s second grade class on Thursday, March 5, as a guest reader.

The mayor read Dr. Seuss’ book, Wacky Wednesday. “After reading, I spent about thirty minutes with them answering all their questions—and they had some good ones! It’s great to see our students so engaged in the learning process.”

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S C H O O L H O U S E NEWS FROM HOOVER CITY SCHOOLS State Department of Education (ALDSE) Transportation examiners earlier this year. The inspection looked at 168 school buses. Hoover City Schools’ bus fleet can transport nearly 8,000 students daily. This includes transportation to and from 18 different school sites. This is the third year in a row the division has received superior marks.

Transportation Department Sweeps State Inspection Hoover City Schools Transportation Division was proud to receive a 100 percent perfect score after a detailed inspection by the Alabama

Career Connection Center Students Earn Accolades at State Conference Riverchase Career Connection Center (RC3) students participated in the 2020 HOSA (Health Occupation Sciences Association) State Leadership Conference in Montgomery in late February. These students competed against CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

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S C H O O L H O U S E NEWS FROM HOOVER CITY SCHOOLS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

hundreds of Health Science students from across Alabama. The students racked up awards in various health science competitions including forensic medicine, physical therapy, medical innovations, and more. RC3, Hoover City

Schools’ newest campus, will soon complete its first full school year. The new skilled trades campus in Riverchase serves students from Hoover, Spain Park, and Homewood high schools.

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IS YOUR HOME

READY FOR SUMMER?

Learn how one company is improving home energy consumption and allowing families to breathe easier.

BY JEANA DURST Do you know how your home would score on a building airflow standard test? Didn’t think so. Between piano lessons, soccer games, work meetings, and the business of living, we simply may not have time to consider our home’s energy “report card,” even if we want to be conscious of our energy consumption. (And if you are like me, you may think of saving energy in terms of adjusting the thermostat and turning out the lights when you aren’t in a room.)

It’s not usually until we are uncomfortable or notice a problem that most of us take a closer look at these things. And that’s where Jonathan Handey and his team at Eco Three come in. For more than 10 years now, they have been making a dent in energy waste, one home at a time. With another sweltering Birmingham summer on the horizon, we thought it would be a great time to talk about what kinds of energy savings measures are available—before the heat sets in.

Handey was in the remodeling business for about 7 years before he realized a real need for the kinds of services offered by his company and launched Eco Three. “We would have clients from time to time who would request energy audits, and no one was doing that,” he says. At the same time, he also noticed more and more homeowners wanting to be energy conscious

because it’s the responsible thing to do. So on June 14, 2010, he started Eco Three, an energy efficiency contracting company based in Vestavia Hills, which serves homeowners and businesses by providing energy audits and performance services, including insulation installation and basement water-proofing, among many others.

But what makes their services unique is the level of informed analysis driving them. And an audit process just makes sense. In a day and age when our smartphone or Fitbit can analyze our health and prescribe recommendations and entertainment apps provide us with detailed dashboards of data, why would we approach a big investment like home improvements with any less precision? In other words, the days of throwing insulation or caulking at an airflow problem and hoping for change are gone.

Handey says Eco Three usually gets involved when homeowners notice some kind of discomfort, such as an upstairs that won’t cool down or a basement that’s freezing. That’s when he typically gets the call, and his teams begin their analysis by running a series of airflow tests.

“We take all of that data and put it into a sample report and provide a list of recommendations, prioritized by cost-effectiveness, and we tell the customer, ‘this is your low hanging fruit,’” he says. You can expect to pay for a full audit evaluation, but the cost will be applied to the CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

20 Bham Family April 2020

EXPERIENCE OUR LOUDEST GIG YET

Visit us at www.mcwane.org for more details What is Myopia?

Myopia is nearsightedness. Nearsighted eyes are usually too long, which makes far away objects seem blurry. Just like feet get bigger and children get taller, the nearsighted eye gets longer over time, and children often need stronger glasses every year as their eyes continue to grow. Myopia tends to grow between ages 7-18 My Child already wears glasses or contact lenses. Why control myopia?

Controlling myopia only prevents it from getting worse, as it can’t be cured. When the eye becomes more myopic, a person is at greater risk for serious complications like cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachments. These serious conditions cannot be fixed with glasses or contact lenses, so preventative measures are critical.

Facts About Myopia • Myopia grows at a rate of 0.50D per year – enough to need new glasses • Myopia is associated with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal detachments • For about 75% of children, myopia progression will stop by age 18 What are my choices for myopia control?

• Corneal Reshaping Contact Lenses. Similar to braces or a retainer from an orthodontist, these are worn at night to change the cornea’s shape so the patient can have clear vision all day without vision aids. They slow myopia down by bending light.

• Soft Bifocal Contact Lenses. These lenses, usually worn by those age 40+ to help with distance and near vision, are also shown to help slow down myopia.

• Atropine. Using this eye drop once a day helps to slow down the progression of myopia.

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ENERGY SAVING STEPS TO TAKE NOW We all know that weather stripping and insulation can help solve airflow issues, but Handey recommends the following less obvious things that homeowners can do now to kick-start savings.

From left to right: The Eco Three Expert Team: David Wilkerson, Jonathan Handey, Elizabeth Sanfelippo

energy upgrades you make—and you no doubt will reap it in utility bills right away. “We can do everything from weather-strip a door to completely air seal your attic,” Handey remarks.

By using data, they take the guesswork out of energy savings. One of the tests they run is a blower door test, an airflow test that puts the home under negative air pressure, which allows them to gauge if there is an airflow deficiency and, if so, to what degree. This test gives the homeowner a definable. “It creates a 20-mile-perhour wind blown on all sides of the house –we are pulling air from inside the house and pushing it out, which allows air from outside or wherever it’s coming from to infiltrate,” Handey says. Using a computer, they can give the homeowner an exact number, which can then be compared to a what’s called a building airflow standard number– basically a range number of cubic-feet-per-minute that air should move through the house based on a number of variables. “We have houses that sit 10 to 12 times outside of that,” Handey explains.

We wondered what the most common energy deficiency problems were. Handey and his team have isolated what they have deemed, “The Big Three,” basically a short list of the worst offenders: Insulation problems: Most people think their

insulation is adequate or more often than not, they just don’t know. “Clients will say, ‘I go up to the attic to grab our Christmas decorations, and I don’t give it a second look,’” Handy explains, adding that this is one of the easiest things to correct.

Leaky ductwork: “Ninety-plus percent of my

clients have never once thought of their ductwork being a problem, but I’ve evaluated more than 2,000 houses and it is very, very rare that we ever find one with ductwork that is properly sealed,” Handey says. This is especially important for families who have allergies or asthma and who may be extra sensitive to air quality disturbances.

22 Bham Family April 2020

Determine if your thermostat is outdated.

There are so many new options that are more accurate and programmable for remote operating outside of the home.

Don’t keep your interior doors closed. This can affect the airflow efficiency.

Change your air filters more often. Handey says don’t bother with expensive filters that promise to last for extended periods of time: “They are not as effective as buying the cheapest one you can get your hands on and changing it every 45 days.”

Take a peek at your insulation levels in your attic. It’s a simple step and only takes a few minutes. “Basically if you can see the ceiling joists, you need additional insulation,” Handey says.

Plus, over time these leaks could create a mold hazard as humidity collects.

Airflow issues: Specifically, attic spaces seem

to cause the most airflow problems. Handey elaborates: “When you have an attic that is able to communicate with the conditioned airspace in the house it causes all kinds of problems.” It’s a matter of basic thermodynamics—warm air will migrate to cool air, so when your air is running in the summer, it’s creating pressure changes in the house, and it can help hot attic air infiltrate the conditioned space, which creates an offset and humidity problems.

This is especially problematic in our warm extended summers. (Consider that one customer’s attic measured 144 degrees even in October). The humidity can also cause mold, creating serious health issues for those with respiratory problems. One of the most common issues for newer construction is related to walk-in attic doors upstairs. “When you have walk-in attics, you have a vertical knee wall, and those things breathe like crazy, Handy says, adding, “You do not want your attic talking to the conditioned space of the house.”

When you know better, you can do better.

And Eco Three is focused on helping us all do better by conserving energy. The bonus? You keep your family safe, and with increased comfort always comes savings.

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DOING HER PART Mary Liz Ingram leads by example, eliminating plastic waste with The Clean Up project.

BY JEANA DURST Did you know that the average American uses 500 plastic bags every year? And of the 300 million tons of plastic produced every year, almost half of that is single-use? Mary Liz Ingram, a mother of three, artist, and preschool director, is doing her part to make a dent in this problem by eliminating single-use plastics, one choice at a time. And her mission has evolved from her family’s quest to a movement that’s gaining traction.

The idea to give up plastics began one year ago during the Lenten season as Ingram considered what habits she might change. A natural environmentalist who had been organizing eco-projects since she was a young girl, she reflected on how much feels “heavy” in the 24 Bham Family April 2020

world today and decided to take one step. “I counted everything that was plastic in my house and was super shocked when I got to 600 hundred items—and I hadn’t even counted plastic bags or forks,” she says. I would wager that many of us can relate. Busy parents on the go may authentically care about environmental responsibility, but can feel so overwhelmed by obligations and the gravity of the issue, they may not know where to start. The Clean Up project is the story of what can happen when someone just “goes for it.”

As Ingram puts it, “I just did it because I felt like I needed to.” At first, she started by searching for glass products to replace products that come in plastic containers and made sure to bring her reusable bags to every store, not just the grocery store. She trained her family never to leave the house without CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

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their reusable water bottles. “After a while, my daughter would say, ‘Mom do you have your water bottle?’ ” Ingram says. And modeling good habits for her children is just one of the many benefits she has seen from adopting a plastic-free lifestyle. As her posts about her efforts gained attention on Facebook, she decided to officially launch The Clean Up Project online to share what she had learned.

At that point, Ingram moved on to replacing home cleaning products and personal care items.

“It took me a long time to find plastic-free deodorant. But now if you Google plastic-free deodorant on Amazon, you find at least five choices,” Ingram says. And that’s the beauty of The Clean Up Project: Ingram has done the groundwork for anyone wishing to follow her lead. On her blog, she reviews plastic-free products and recommends the best. “If they don’t work, I don’t put them on there,” she says.

Her blog showcases what is essentially a Hall of Fame of plastic-free items. Ingram has even found plastic-free fingernail polish remover that her teenage daughter uses. “I’m kind of like the guinea pig, so I will say, ‘these toothpaste tabs are great, but the rest are gross, so don’t waste your money,’ for example,” she says.

Ingram acknowledges that making a complete switch can feel daunting and doesn’t want anyone to feel guilty about plastic use: “You are almost trapped in it—the system is set up like this,” she says. But that doesn’t mean things can’t change.

In addition to inspiring change from inside her home, she speaks to schools and community groups and is implementing ways to motivate improvements from businesses too. For example, on The Clean Up Project website, you can print out educational cards to leave with your restaurant bill to help inform business owners.

And Ingram often gives shout outs to local eating establishments that are using paper straws, for example. Education and advocacy are important because, as she points out, we often have a warm fuzzy feeling when we recycle our plastics curbside, but the fact is that plastics can only be recycled so many times until their bonds break and they cannot be recycled anymore, unlike glass or aluminum which can be endlessly recycled.

One of the most unexpected benefits that Ingram has seen is how the plastic-free living affects her children, who are now learning to cook healthier snacks in lieu of reaching for something in a plastic bag. And it’s catching on.

26 Bham Family April 2020

PLASTIC-FREE STARTER KIT CHECKLIST Ingram recommends these easy ways to start reducing the single-use plastic in your home today: Instead of a plastic water bottle, bring your own reusable water bottle.

Instead of plastic shopping bags, bring reusable shopping bags.

Instead of plastic produce bags, go without or try reusable mesh produce bags.

Instead of a plastic straw, say “no thanks” or bring your own reusable straw.

Instead of a plastic toothbrush, try a bamboo toothbrush.

Instead of bottled shampoo, try a shampoo bar.

Instead of a plastic packaging, look for items in cardboard or glass.

Instead of individually packaged snacks, buy in bulk and choose recyclable containers.

Instead of individual bottled sports drinks, buy the powdered mix and use a reusable bottle.

Instead of plastic zip top bags, pack lunch in reusable containers.

Their huge West Homewood neighborhood parties have now become plastic-free, as families opt for reusable dinnerware. “It just takes one load in the dishwasher and we hardly have any waste,” Ingram shares that a lot of it is change of mindset: “We think we can’t add one more thing because we are so busy, but I have found it just takes a little bit of time.”

What kind of ripple effect could happen if we all adopted this attitude? “Life is simpler and richer and you feel like you are doing something good,” she says.

Ingram has also started to make some products of her own—soap, shampoo bars, lotion in solid form, lip balm in a paper tube. You can find her products at Alabama Goods, Escape Day Spa in Homewood and online at her website. For more information, visit www.thecleanupprojectusa.com or check out her regular segment “Living with Less Plastic” on Alabama Public Radio.

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Bham Family April 2020 27

Our Planet, Our Future EARTH DAY

Unique ways to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day This year marks an important anniversary of Earth Day, the annual event that begun in 1970 to demonstrate solidarity for environmental protection. Celebrated on April 22, this day now includes events coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries, but here’s how you can celebrate here at home in the months of April and May—and show your support for local organizations who work to protect our area’s environmental heritage.

What: 23rd Annual Earth Day at the Gardens Where: Birmingham Botanical Gardens—Blount

Plaza & Gerlach Plant Information Center When: Saturday, April 25, 2020, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Join the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens at this free, family-friendly event that will promote healthy communities, sustainable living, and human wellness through educational dialogue, informational displays, and outdoor activities.

Exhibitors representing organizations advocating for strengthened community bonds, environmental awareness, community education, improved waste management, and the physical and psychological benefits of our natural environment. Representatives of ZEOG (Zero Emissions Owners Group) of Birmingham and the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition will present displays of electric vehicles, solar panels, and zero-emission lawn tools and be available to answer your questions.

What: Big Cahaba Cleanup 2020 Where: 50 miles of the River from Trussville

to Helena. For more information on meeting locations, visit www.cahabariversociety.org.

When: May 2, 2020 This large, new event will not only clean more trash, it will also draw media coverage for widespread public education encouraging people and businesses to do their part to clean up and recycle their litter to keep it from getting into the river where it impacts drinking water and wildlife.

“River Teams” of 10 to 20 volunteers in canoes and kayaks will clean each section, with all groups putting in at roughly the same time at up to 7 different locations. These teams may be organized by businesses, churches, civic groups, universities, neighborhoods or other communities.

Each will be led by a “River Leader” skilled in paddling, river safety, and river trip organization.

Shore Teams will each have a “Shore Leader” and those teams will focus on supporting the River Teams while also cleaning up the river access sites.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

28 Bham Family April 2020

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Bham Family April 2020 29

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

What: Fly Fishing Film Tour Where: Avondale Brewing Company When: April 23, 2020, Doors open at 4 p.m., show starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $18 tickets and

available at Deep South Outfitters at www.fishdso.com.

All proceeds go to Coosa Riverkeeper and its mission to protect the skinny waters for flyfishing. Each year anglers of all ages gather in big cities and small towns alike to soak up films from around the world, spin a few yarns amongst friends and dream about casts yet unmade.

The Fly Fishing Film Tour is packed with remarkable films, topnotch stories and imagery.

What: Aldridge Gardens Annual Spring Plant Sale Where: Aldridge Gardens When: Members Sale: April 29, Noon to 5 p.m.

Annual Spring Plant Sale: April 30, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Annual Spring Plant Sale: May 1, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Annual Spring Plant Sale: May 2, 9 a.m. to Noon

Find the perfect plants for your container or garden spot. Volunteers and gardeners will be on hand to help with selections and to give advice about placement, care and maintenance.

Customers can buy a pass-along plant that with an Aldridge Gardens heritage. The main feature is always the “Snowflake” hydrangea, but shoppers can also choose from a host of others.

What: 2020 Darter Fest Where: Avondale Brewing Company When: April 19, 2020, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m

Benefiting Southern Environmental Center’s education programs at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve, which provides a home to unique populations of Watercress, Vermilion, and Rush Darter fishes. This event will feature Avondale Brewing Company’s seasonal Darter Ale, food trucks, live music, kids face painting, and more.

30 Bham Family April 2020

Jammin’

FAM JAM FESTIVAL 2020

WITH THE

FAM Inaugural Fam Jam Festival promises family fun while supporting a great cause.

BY MATTHEW ALLEN Bring your whole family—and your dog—over to Brock’s Gap Intermediate School in Hoover on Saturday, May 2, to join Bham Family magazine for some good grub and outdoor family fun. At our inaugural festival, you and your little ones can stroll while eating great food from a local food truck, visiting local vendors and artisans, and enjoy a day outside. Just for the little ones, we’ll have a “big truck area” as well. As you wander the festival, pick from a variety of wares, including arts and crafts, provided by our favorite local artisans and businesses. Along the way, be sure you say hello to our magazine staff — we love meeting our readers.

This event raises money for Hope for Gabe, a nonprofit founded by local parents of one very special boy, which seeks to end the terminal disease Duchenne — the most prevalent, genetically inherited neuromuscular disorder worldwide and the number one genetically inherited killer of boys. Join us in supporting this family’s fight for hope.

We’d like to give a HUGE thank you to our sponsors: America’s First Federal Credit Union, Urgent Care for Children, UAB Medical West Hospital, and Blue Spring Living Water. They are responsible for making this day possible.

The Fam Jam Festival takes place on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Brock’s Gap Intermediate School, 1730 Lake Cyrus Club Drive, Hoover, AL 35244. While the event will take place at a Hoover City Schools facility, it is not affiliated or endorsed by the school district. This event is free and donations will be taken at the gate for Hope for Gabe. For more information, visit bhamfamily.com, and follow the event on Facebook at facebook.com/FamJamFestivalBham.

WHAT TO EXPECT Sample some eats from popular local food trucks: Pazzo Big Slice Pizza, City Bowls, and Eugene’s Hot Chicken.

Savor a delectable dessert from The Whole Scoop Ice Cream or CakEffect.

Bring the little ones to the “Touch a Truck” area, which includes a Shelby County Sheriff’s Department helicopter; Hoover Fire Department fire trucks; and “big machinery” provided by Herc Rentals.

Blue Spring Living Water will provide water for all attendees. We are committed to reducing waste, so reusable water bottles that can be filled on-site will be provided for attendees.

Participate in family games and activities, and score some freebies from local vendors.

Other fun events and vendors will be announced on our Facebook page (search @FamJamFestivalBham).

Bham Family April 2020 31

SPORTS

FOR THE

Love of

Tennis

Area nonprofit serves kids in need and builds character on the courts.

BY JEANA DURST One of the most inspirational tennis players ever, Arthur Ashe, once remarked, “Our idea is to use tennis as a way to gain and hold the attention of young people in the inner cities and other poor environments so that we can teach them about matters more important than tennis ...

Through tennis, lives can be changed and spirits reclaimed.”

This is the guiding principle that drives the programs of LETT, which stands for Learning Excellence Through Tennis. As a youth development program of the Birmingham Area Tennis Association, LETT has been in action since 1998 and just last year was able to serve almost 400 kids. We caught up with program director Jennifer Dowdle to learn about this more than 20-year-old Birmingham mission.

Dowdle explains that LETT partners with the Birmingham City Schools as well as Better Basics at several Fairfield City Schools to teach tennis skills to children after school, sometimes even constructing a tennis court with portable nets in their gymnasiums. A typical after-school session often begins with a short character lesson and is led by one of their 18 coaches, mostly area college students who mentor kids by sharing their own educational path. One coach, Cameron Horton, has returned to the program after having attended himself as a child. “One thing that sets us apart from other tennis clinics is that we focus on positive feedback with any little win,” Dowdle says. She says that they want kids to learn sportsmanship and life skills, but the main goal is to build them up. “Sometimes the school days are hard for them,” Dowdle says.

The program is highly focused on excellent tennis skills too. (LETT is also a community tennis association of the USTA, the United States Tennis Association, and a chapter of the NJTL, National Junior Tennis and Learning, network.) All programs 32 Bham Family April 2020

Children in the LETT program are paired up with mentors in their after-school programs.

follow USTA net generation lesson plans.

Another key feature of LETT is that their programs are open to all interested participants including those with disabilities—they have worked with students with developmental delays, autism spectrum disorders, learning differences (dyslexia and ADHD) and those with physical limitations. The Alabama Department of Education has visited LETT’s programs and noted it as one of the only known sports programs in the state that places students with disabilities alongside able-bodied students instead of segregating them.

Partner schools in Birmingham include Epic, Putnam, and Avondale among others, but kids from any area can participate in LETT’s Saturday youth tennis clinics. LETT also hosts a weeklong summer camp and is planning a Skills Challenge on May 5 at the Highland Park Tennis Center (where many of their programs take place). At this event, LETT students compete for top rank in certain skill areas. The day also includes lunch and an educational speaker.

Recently, LETT partnered Spring Valley School, a school for students who struggle with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, and other learning differences, to launch their first tennis team. “Only one of the players on that team had every played tennis before,” Dowdle says, adding how proud she is of their swift progress. She shares that seeing the confidence that the LETT delivers is one of her favorite parts of the job. But beyond confidence, the program gives kids a sense of purpose. “We want the kids to not just say ‘I can play tennis, but I am a tennis player.’ There’s a difference,” Dowdle says.

Jackie O’Neal Summer will be heating up soon at Jackie O’Neal School of Dance in Vestavia Hills.

Established in 1948, this iconic school of dance will expand its summer options for students this year.

Send your little one to Preschool Princess classes June 8-11. Students will be able to dress up as a princess and learn ballet, acro, arts and crafts, and the week will conclude with a parent show on June 11.

Summer Intensives, which are for advanced dancers only, will be June 1-4 (Summer Intensive I) and June 8-11 (Summer Intensive II). Any students who attend both sessions will receive a 20% discount off the second session!

New for 2020 is our recreational dance camp from July 20-22 for ages K-5th grade.

Jackie O’Neal is one of the most respected names in dance in Birmingham, teaching dancers in the genres of ballet,

acro, pointe, tap, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop, ballet, and tap.

Join us for our recitals on Saturday, May 16 at the Alabama Theatre, where admission is free. The preschool show is at 10:30am, the junior show (K-5) is at 12:30pm, and the senior show (6-12) is at 6pm. For information on all our activities, call (205) 822-6212, or email jackieonealdance@aol.com.

Summer Activities

June 8-11: Preschool Princess classes June 1-4: Summer Intensive I (advanced dancers only) June 8-11: Summer Intensive II (advanced dancers only) July 20-22: Recreational Dance Camp (K-5)

(205) 822-6212 | jackieonealschoolofdance.com 3336 Rocky Ridge Plaza, Vestavia Hills

Bham Family April 2020 33

HEALTHY LIVING

Into the GREAT WIDE OPEN Fresh Air Family takes kids outside for unparalleled adventures, using science and environmental education to build critical thinking, give children a place to belong, and strengthen family bonds.

BY JEANA DURST One thing I think we parents can all agree on is that we would like to see our families unplug and spend more quality time together. Fourteen years ago, Verna Gates had the vision to anticipate this need when she founded the 501c(3) nonprofit Fresh Air Family. We had the chance to catch up with this busy journalist for coffee and learned that while her organization certainly serves families in this way, it is much more than that.

It started with a painful realization. “I was working for Reuters and did an investigative report on the underage sex trade and thought, ‘oh my, we have got to strengthen our families and help our children,’ ” Gates says. Even though she has been a writer all her life, she is a selfconfessed “science geek” too. “I thought science 34 Bham Family April 2020

is the way to do it because science teaches you a way to think,” Gates says.

She had the idea that Fresh Air Family could teach children to make good decisions by providing an organization that believes in them. In 2018, the organization served 7,500 children (not counting the ones who participate in weekend hikes) and employs two part-time staffers and a host of freelance educators, including Ph.D. scientists providing expert instruction, and former program participants who are camp counselors. “I’ve had children who have grown up in the program come back and help out,” Gates says. They host 400 weekend events annually, summer Gross Out Camps, and a varied menu of educational outings—all cell phone free. And the beauty of it is that no one ever asks about using their phones. “You have nothing to

do but be together and learn something together,” Gates says.

It’s a simple formula, really. “When families do things together, they grow together,” Gates says.

She explains how many children are left behind in the current way that education is conducted, through no fault of well-meaning teachers, and sites an example of how Fresh Air provides an identity for the kids: “Dr. Jason was telling me a story of an elementary boy in the Gross Out Camp who was the best scavenger he had ever seen, and in Gross Out Camp that is a big deal,” she says. His mother pulled up to pick him up and this kid was walking across the lawn with a group of kids following him and his mother burst into tears. When asked what the matter was, this mother explained that usually her son was all alone at school. “I’m hoping that this year in school that kid knows that somewhere he is the leader and somewhere he belongs— that can sustain a kid for a long time,” Gates remarks.

This kind of belonging is not the only way Fresh Air Family is impacting lives. They bring real science education to children at the moment they are interested. For instance, once when a young man stuck his hand inside a pile of mulch on a hike, they dropped the pre-planned curriculum to explore the science of hypothermals. The idea behind this concept of “unschooling” is that you can teach kids what they are interested in—and at precisely the moment they become interested.

And you can do that when you have the kind of instructors that Fresh Air Family has. They include Ph.D. geologists, former UAB Medical School instructors and the first African-American woman in the southeast getting a PhD in wildlife molecular biology.

With interactive instruction that sometimes happens in a creek bed, the kids barely notice that they are learning a lot because it is so fun.

For example, where else would you learn science by hosting a seed party? For example, instructors dump out a tub with a bunch of different

materials and talk about the ways that seeds are dispersed, and the children have to use what’s given them to create a way for the seed to cross the tissue paper to get to “the seed party.” Gates reports that one child (who happened to come from a failing school) built an elaborate incredible tunnel with hoses and complex systems. We said, “It looks like we have an engineer here, the child said, “I’m not an engineer I just like to build stuff.” After learning that that was indeed what engineers do, this young man’s eyes lit up as he realized a goal he could work toward. “Design thinking is really where we’ve gone,” Gates says.

Fresh Air Family makes sure that children who need this most have the opportunity. With a remarkable $43,000 awarded in scholarships to 213 kids in 2018, it’s clear that diversity is an organizational value. It’s so important because “how will the kids ever care to protect what they haven’t seen?” Gates asks. An environmentalist, she explains how conservation is part of their mission, citing the Cahaba River as an excellent example of one of our state’s natural treasures.

“Because it was never glaciated, the plant and animal species were never wiped out by the cold, making it one of the most biodiverse rivers in the world,” Gates says. Fresh Air Family teaches children about science—and how to take care of this beautiful place we have been given.

Fresh Air is funded through grants and donations (and one unusual fundraiser – The Wacky Tacky Holiday Light Tour. Last year they guided 1,200 people on 48 buses for 4 days to the city’s most bizarre homes at the delight of the homeowners, so mark your calendars now.)

There are many ways to get involved – families can join in weekend hikes, go on geology tours that explore Birmingham’s history, summer camps, fossil hunts, and a host of other activities. “We have had whole families show up with four generations on our hikes,” Gates says. To find an event or make a donation, visit www.freshairfamily.org.

Bham Family April 2020 35

FAITH

A Faithful Servant

Nancy Akins marks 30 years as the Children’s Minister at Vestavia Hills Baptist Church.

BY JEANA DURST

the job on the recommendation of a staff member at Huntsville Baptist Church (who also bought her the suit When we think of our careers, I bet she interviewed in), many things have most of us have changed jobs several come into focus for Akins. And as times over the years, and maybe have she talks about her long career, she even changed careers. Bham Family laughs remembering how the advisers thought it was remarkable that Nancy at seminary told her she Akins had served children “I am better when I can would most likely work at at Vestavia Hills Baptist a few different churches Church for 30 years and work with others.” before finding her church is continuing her devotion NANCY AKINS home. “I said, I’d really like to the ministry. I talked to go somewhere and stay with her to find out how for a long time,’ and so here her long career serving I am 30 years later … I felt God and children came like Vestavia was where I about and what keeps her was supposed to be,” Akins motivated. recalls.

Akins started her Her work extends ministry at the church beyond serving the on January 2, 1990, after children, too. “I felt attending The Southern specifically called to work Baptist Theological to encourage families to Seminary in Louisville, participate in the church Kentucky. In the beginning, and to make church a she was following God’s curriculum for their call to ministry but did not family and not just an yet know where that would extracurricular activity,” lead her. “I met a lot of Akins says. She makes sure people who knew what to provide resources for they wanted to do, but I families to use at home wasn’t sure,” Akins says. to extend the children’s Along the way, she met learning. “I believe that parents are the primary with professors and mentors who advised her to Christian educators of their children along with trust that God would direct her to a profession as the church, but it’s in the home where children she moved through seminary. “At the time, I had experience consistency, grace, and forgiveness no idea and I didn’t know there was such a thing from their parents,” Akins says. as a children’s minister,” Akins says. However, When I ask about what keeps her going, Akins an inspirational instructor, Katherine Chapman, remarks how she loves collaboration and sites whose holistic approach to ministry and lessons the incredibly talented staff and volunteers at in child and spiritual development, helped Akins Vestavia Hills Baptist Church. “I am better when to find her path. “I learned about different parts I can work with others,” she says. Spoken like a of the church and ways that it can be such an true faithful servant, Akins embodies humility important foundation for families,” Akins says.

Since she first applied and was accepted for and the character of a leader.

36 Bham Family April 2020

business

BREAK w a y f m . c o m / b r e a k

Bham Family April 2020 37

KIDS WHO SHINE

THOMAS PITTMAN, 5

“Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you would rather have talked.” Mark Twain

There’s one thing five-year-old Thomas Pittman’s father says to him every day before he leaves for school: “Have a good day, be nice, and listen—listen to your teachers.” This remarkable boy took those words to heart, and it made all the difference when his Crestwood family recently experienced a massive house fire.

January 26, 2020, started out as a normal Sunday afternoon—the family had just woken up from an afternoon nap when they began to smell smoke, noticed their electronic thermostat was blank, and then detected a small amount of smoke coming from an outlet. Thomas’s father, Clay Pittman, followed the smell to a vent and moved a play kitchen to investigate further. When he did, a large plume of black smoke filled the room in the one-story ranch house. Next, Clay opened the door to the basement—it was at that moment when Thomas took matters into his own hands. Without a second thought, Thomas led his 3-year-old sister Elle outside to safety. His parents followed, and, fortunately, all family members made it out unharmed. All of this happened in the blink of an eye (about 45 seconds, they estimate). “Thomas knew before we did that we should get out,” Clay says.

In the span of 5 minutes, the house was completely engulfed in an electrical fire, including the couch where the children had just been. The Birmingham Fire Department was there swiftly to respond. It was not until later that evening when

Thomas’s parents were talking that they realized the leadership that Thomas had taken that day.

Both of them thought the other one had directed the kids outside during the split-second chaos.

“We just looked over and they were on the porch,” Amanda, Thomas’s mother, says. When his parents asked Thomas about this, he said, “The fireman came to my school and told me to do that.”

That Thomas remembered the lessons he learned when the Trussville Fire and Rescue had visited his preschool underscores the importance of fire safety education and the significant role that our fire safety officers and educators have.

NorthPark Baptist Church, where Thomas attends school (in close proximity to where his mother teaches at Clay Chalkville High School) has been providing this type of education for years now under the leadership of Noah’s Park Weekday Education, Kandy Cole.

Thankfully, the Pittman family has been able to move into another home that they were remodeling before the fire occurred while they work on the Crestwood home. As for Thomas, he was honored at a surprise ceremony at his school and became an honorary member of Trussville Fire and Rescue, alongside the Birmingham Fire Department first responders. Thomas had his photo made by a red ladder firetruck. He says, “The fireman gave me a badge,” adding, “that was my favorite fire truck.” And, yes, he has worn that badge to school every day.

To nominate a child for Kids Who Shine, email matthew@jbmcmedia.com.

38 Bham Family April 2020

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