Bham Family - February 2021

FEBRUARY 2021

Baking FOR KIDS Mother’s idea for son turns into classes

PAGE 10

Briarwood equips students now and for future PAGE 8

Better

Basics teaches kids reading & math PAGE 14

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EDITOR’S NOTE One of the things I’m most excited about sharing with my daughter as she gets older is my love for baking and decorating. Cakes, cookies, we will do them all. We already have matching aprons, and she’s a pro at taste testing — so I feel like we are off to good start.

Baking, cooking, and simply spending time together in the kitchen are all wonderful ways to create lasting memories with both friends and family.

Realizing these activities were not only fun but could also be a learning experience for children, Jessica Hamby created Itty Bitty Bakers, featured on page 10 and the cover. With baking classes and parties for a range of ages, Itty Bitty Bakers teaches children skills they can use the rest of their lives — like measuring, how to use kitchen utensils, and more.

Another group focused on giving children the tools they need to succeed is Better Basics, which you can read about on page 14. This nonprofit offers reading and mathematics programs for elementary-aged children, and they also donate thousands of books to children throughout the community.

The 77 Kids Foundation is another nonprofit working to better the lives of the children through the Birmingham area and beyond. This group gives underprivileged youth extracurricular activities, sports, and other ways to stay involved. The foundation has earned the attention and support of several SEC coaches and NFL players, and it will be easy to see why when you read about it on page 26.

Those are only a few of the amazing programs and people you can read about in this issue. There are also stories on kid-friendly eye exams, the ultimate stop for bird watchers and nature lovers, local golf tournaments, inspiring students, a school that focuses on students’ academic and spiritual needs, and much more.

I hope these stories fill you with hope and give you a glimpse into the important things in life, especially during these crazy times.

And as always, we love hearing from you. Let us know what your favorite article was or if you know of someone we should feature!

Lauren H. Dowdle Content Director and Mom contentdirector@jbmcmedia.com

4 Bham Family February 2021

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 February 2021 5

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE INSIDE EVERY ISSUE

Education Briarwood gives students a solid academic and spiritual foundation. p. 8 Food Review Little London Kitchen offers authentic British food. p. 13 Medical Spotlight What to know about children’s eye health. p. 16 10

Schoolhouse Updates from the Hoover School District p. 18 Faith Step by Step Golf connects golfers to God. p. 20 Families in Business Enjoy nature with the products and gifts from Wild Birds Unlimited. p. 22 Just for Dads Ward Williams puts life and relationships into perspective p. 25

14

Kids Who Shine Student builds life-size eagle’s nest, earning Eagle Scout rank. p. 30 FEATURE STORIES

Kids in the Kitchen Itty Bitty Bakers teaches children more than recipes. p. 10 Better Basics Nonprofit puts focus on reading and math. p. 14

26

Safe Haven 77 Kids Foundation connects youth to community and activities. p. 26 Bham Family February 2021 7

EDUCATION

DEVELOPING

Leaders PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRIARWOOD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

The private school has more than 1,680 students from K4 through 12th grade.

BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE

In a year full of uncertainties, Briarwood Christian School has kept the focus on its students and core values.

A ministry of Briarwood Presbyterian Church, the school’s mission is to provide a Christ-centered, transformational education that equips and inspires students to glorify God by maximizing their God-given abilities.

The school has more than 1,680 students from K4 through 12th grade, and the school’s leadership team prays for God to bring them the families he wants them to serve, says Stephen Steiner, superintendent of Briarwood Christian School.

“Students and families are known, nurtured, loved, challenged, developed, and shepherded,” Steiner says.

In his third year at Briarwood, Steiner says he’s focused on revisiting the school’s mission and vision. They have also created a graduate profile, which describes what a student should be like when they leave the school.

That profile focuses on students being responsible stewards, compassionate neighbors, and courageous learners. Having a better grasp on those three things — mission, vision, and graduate profile — dictates what the school does and where they allocate resources.

It’s clear that approach has worked. For students who complete the first grade at Briarwood, more than 50 percent of them also graduate from Briarwood.

“If we’re the only school they’re going to have from when they are a toddler to adulthood, there’s nothing that will compete with the time we 8 Bham Family February 2021

Briarwood equips students now and for the future

have with them,” he says.

So, the school wants to be strategic with what and how they teach these young people, knowing the knowledge and foundation they instill now will last well beyond graduation. Several of their students have been recognized for achievements, including one who received a 36 on their ACT. While the pandemic has certainly brought unique challenges for this school year, Steiner says that being a large, independent school — yet significantly smaller than the public-school district — gives them the ability to be nimbler in their decision-making.

“We want to be faithful without being fearful, prudent without panicking,” Steiner says. “We’re going to do it one day at a time.”

Their goal has always been to have in-person classes as local and state regulations allow, something their teachers, students, and families have helped them achieve.

“We’re looking ahead to the next school year, wanting to make the decisions we can to plan for it,” he says. “We’re excited and hopeful about what the future looks like.”

Preparing students to serve Christ in today’s competitive world, Briarwood Christian School helps equip children with a solid academic and spiritual foundation.

“While we’re in a time of uncertainty, we’re going to keep pressing on,” Steiner says.

“Regardless of the prevailing circumstances, we aren’t going to lose sight of our mission, vision, and graduate profile.”

For more information about the school or admissions, visit Briarwoodchristianschool.org.

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Heart health screenings include: Blood pressure Cholesterol

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During your visit your doctor will discuss ways to stay healthy including diet, exercise and healthy lifestyle choices to prevent heart disease.

Annual physicals and heart screenings are covered by most insurance providers.

To schedule your heart screening, call 855-93-HEART or visit CVAPC.com Immediate Appointments Available

Bham Family February 2021 9

FEATURE

BAKING WITH KIDS Itty Bitty Bakers teaches children more than recipes

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ITTY BITTY BAKERS

Cupcake decorating parties are great for birthdays and other special events.

BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE Anyone who knows how to crack an egg, measure a cup of flour, half a recipe, or decorate a cake wasn’t born with those skills — they learned them. Children around Birmingham master these techniques and more, while having a lot of fun, by going to an Itty Bitty Bakers class.

Jessica Hamby, founder of Itty Bitty Bakers, discovered her love for baking at a young age — and a little out of necessity. Diagnosed with celiac disease at 3, Hamby had to follow a gluten-free diet through her childhood.

“My mom would make me a rice flour cake 10 Bham Family February 2021

every year on my birthday, but other than that, I didn’t have anything baked to eat,” she says.

By middle school, Hamby wanted to start using rice flour to bake dishes like muffins and bread — and that’s when she began baking from scratch.

“Thankfully, gluten-free flours and gluten-free products have evolved tremendously since then, and many gluten-free baked goods can now be bought at the local grocery store,” she says.

She took that passion she found in the kitchen and became a registered dietitian with a masters in health education. Hamby worked as a clinical CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

dietitian for 11 years, the latter portion with a specialty in oncology nutrition at a cancer center.

Originally from Mobile, she moved to Birmingham after marrying her husband, Mark, where she worked as a corporate wellness analyst — before becoming a stay-at-home mother. And it was their son, Luke, who became her reason for starting Itty Bitty Bakers.

“When he was a toddler, I became interested in doing hands-on learning activities, sensory awareness experiences, and other early education interventions with him — just for fun,” she says.

“Since I loved to bake, I naturally started getting him involved with me in the kitchen. One day, he had a friend over for a playdate, and I let them pipe frosting onto cupcakes together. I watched their three-year-old little hands squeeze a piping bag, as well as their focus and determination on their task, and realized all the developmental benefits of such an exercise.”

Hamby shared the idea of baking classes with the playdate friend’s mother, and she loved the idea — and is now her business manager. Not only would the baking classes be beneficial for her son and his friends, but it would also allow him to meet new friends. Though, the business has certainly evolved since then.

Itty Bitty Bakers now has classes for ages 2 through 15, and the classes are currently all held from the teachers’ homes.

“For many parents, teaching kids to cook and bake is either not in their wheelhouse, or they simply don’t have the time,” Hamby says. “We’d love to help take the load off.”

They try to choose recipes that go along with the seasonal calendar or other current events. For example, they have done dishes like Elsa’s braided bread when Frozen 2 came out, mini blueberry Bundt cakes to kickoff summer, spider cupcakes for Halloween, and star-spangled blondies to commemorate Veteran’s Day. This February, they will create chocolate covered strawberry cupcakes, and in the fall, they plan to bake football brownies. Itty Bitty Bakers has also done savory baking recipes like basil cheddar crackers, pizza bombs, whole-wheat softbaked pretzels, and homemade bagels.

With a health and nutrition background, Hamby says some people may wonder how that fits in with baking, which is generally perceived as eating sweets. However, baking includes both science and math, and the kitchen is a wonderful

Students learn practical kitchen skills, like how to use a can opener.

classroom, she explains.

“Teaching children to bake, even if it is sweets, helps them become comfortable and skilled in the kitchen, which lays a foundation for food and meal preparation into adulthood,” she says.

In addition to classes, they also offer baking or decorating-only party packages for children ages 5 and older who want to celebrate their birthday doing what they love with friends.

“We come to the child’s home or party location with all the supplies needed,” she says. “Our packages include a paper chef ’s hat the kids get to color and decorate, as well as either a recipe keepsake card or sprinkles mix for party favors.”

While they haven’t ruled out offering large baking camps this year, right now, Hamby says their goals is to keep class sizes at eight children or less and offer them out of homes.

“Parents can drop their kids off at a baking class and know they will be having fun while also learning something new,” she says.

With home economics programs dwindling in schools, children often enter adulthood without knowing how to use kitchen utensils or read recipes. Baking is also a great hobby with both emotional and psychological benefits. And of course, it’s fun.

“We hope children will come away from our classes with a love for baking, confidence in the kitchen and in themselves, and an experience where learning something new was a ton of fun,” Hamby says. “We also hope they come away with a new friend.”

For more information or to sign up for a class, visit Ittybittybakers.com.

Bham Family February 2021 11

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FOOD REVIEW

Let’s Go to London

Little London Kitchen offers authentic British food at their pub

BY JULIA SAYERS GOKHALE If you’ve been missing traveling the past year, consider taking the family to London — without having to leave Homewood. You can get the full British experience, double-decker bus included, at Little London Kitchen. What initially started as a roaming food truck, Little London Kitchen now has a brick-and-mortar pub in Homewood called The Little London.

Owned by Bea and Matthew Morrissette, Little London Kitchen immediately gained fame around town when their red double-decker bus, named The Duchess, began popping up at breweries and office parks. The couple adopted the vintage bus from Colorado, drove it back to Birmingham, and fixed it up to be a pub on wheels. It launched in 2019.

After six months (and long lines of diners wanting fish and chips and meat pies), the owners made a big announcement: They would be opening a pub in the former Homewood Diner space in West Homewood. After several months of renovations, the pub officially opened in August 2020.

Featuring dark wood, comfortable chairs, and rich patterned wallpaper, The Little London feels like a cozy pub in the heart of London.

The Duchess is often parked outside the pub (when it’s not around town) for diners to have a secondary seating option. The pub menu includes a full selection of British pub food, while the roaming truck has a limited menu of staple items.

Known, of course, for its fish and chips, Little London’s version features meaty pieces of cod in a light and crispy batter, served with thick-cut chips (fries). Another popular item is the rosemary beef pie, made from beef brisket stewed in a bone broth with vegetables for two hours and then wrapped in puff pastry. It’s comfort food at its best. Both items are readily available at the truck.

The expanded pub menu features hearty dishes like cottage pie (ground beef stewed in gravy with carrots and peas, covered with creamy mashed potatoes) and bangers and mash (authentic Cumberland sausage with mashed potatoes).

Most dishes include your choice of a side, from options like Yorkshire pudding, red cabbage salad, and pot pie pasta (farfalle pasta in a creamy sauce of chicken stock and thyme with onions, celery, carrots, and peas).

A good vegetarian option that’s also vegan is the vegetable massaman curry served with rice.

Curries are popular in British cuisine. You can also try it via the massaman fritters, which are deep fried nuggets bursting with massaman curry.

If you’re not full from all that belly-warming food, dessert options include the choice of white chocolate bread pudding or chocolate whirls (layers of puff pastry and homemade chocolate ganache, drizzled with caramel). As you dine on authentic food seated inside the warm pub or on the top level of the double-decker bus, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to London!

Bham Family February 2021 13

FEATURE

Dr. Kristi Bradford works with students on reading and math.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BETTER BASICS

Back to the Basics

Nonprofit gives students the tools they need to succeed with reading, math

BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE Books not only transport readers to new worlds, but they can also help give children the confidence and knowledge that can change their lives. To make a positive difference in the lives of local children and their families, Better Basics works to put books into their hands.

Better Basics was founded more than 25 years ago by John Glasser, who saw the direct correlation between poverty and illiteracy.

Better Basics provides literacy intervention and enrichment programs for students in Birmingham and Fairfield City Schools, as well as Talladega County Schools.

The nonprofit works to help children learn to read, comprehend, retain, and ultimately learn — while also exposing them to multi-cultural arts and enrichment programs. They realized the most significant factor influencing a child’s 14 Bham Family February 2021

early educational success was the introduction to books and being read to at home. However, not all students have access to books at home, and children who are not reading at grade level are more likely to drop out and commit juvenile crimes.

To give students the knowledge and resources they need to be successful, Better Basics offers reading and mathematics programs for elementary students both during and after school.

Some of these groups are led by part-time certified teachers, as well as volunteers who work with students one-on-one, says Alisa Boone, director of development and communications.

“A lot of them have no books at home. If they have nothing to practice reading, that’s challenging,” Boone says. “I like seeing how much CONTINUED ON PAGE 15

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

impact we have giving these kids books to take home.”

During the 2019/2020 school year, Better Basics distributed nearly 50,000 books to about 22,000 students across 35 schools. Better Basics has more than 1,000 volunteers during a normal year.

Dr. Kristi Bradford, executive director of Better Basics, is a retired teacher and administrator, and they have volunteers who are certified teachers. They also have students from UAB and Birmingham Southern College who provide tutoring.

To adapt to the challenges COVID has brought, Better Basics went virtual this school year. However, they still raised money to purchase 9,500 new books and partnered with organizations that were offering feeding stations and child care to put those books into the neighborhoods they normally served during the school year.

“Every year, we hope to grow to more schools and students and put more books in the community,” she says.

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

They put book nooks with new and used books in various communities and are the Jefferson County affiliate for the Dolly Parton Imagination Station. Their special projects include Ready 2 Read, a partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Summer Brain Gain, and Books for Birmingham.

Better Basics also hosts Birmingham Reads each year (before the pandemic). Birmingham Reads is a one-day event that brings together local celebrities like Miss Alabama and TV personalities to go into about 600 classrooms to read books.

Each student also receives a copy of the book.

“It’s very exciting to see these people come into the schools and get the kids excited,” Boone says.

Their annual Love for Literacy fundraiser will be virtual this year, with luxury items and sponsorships up for sale. However, they plan to be back in person in 2022 for this popular event.

While this past school year has been anything but typical or easy, the need to teach students how to read hasn’t changed. Better Basics is always looking for more volunteers, donations, and support from the community.

Better Basics is located at 1231 Second Avenue South in Birmingham. For more information, visit Betterbasics.org.

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MEDICAL SPOTLIGHT

ASK A PHYSICIAN Keeping Children’s Eyes and Vision Healthy Q: At what age should children have their first eye exam?

A: The American Optometric Association suggests that infants receive their first eye examination at around 6 months old.

After that, children should receive an eye exam at about three years old and again at around five or six, right before they enter kindergarten. After that, at least every two years, or annual if he/she wears eyeglasses.

Q: Why is it important for children to have an eye exam?

A: It is important for children to have an eye examination to make sure they are seeing well out of each eye, and that they don’t have any underlying eye diseases. Children are amazingly adaptive. They may not even realize that one eye sees much better than the other, which leaves them in danger of developing a condition called amblyopia. This is where the brain picks the eye it sees best with, and slowly turns off the information transmission from the other eye. Amblyopia is best treated before the age of seven, when our visual system is fully developed. Also, when you catch a nearsighted refractive error early, there are ways to keep the myopia from worsening with the use of a special contact lens, or a certain eye drop. As with most things, you catch things early enough, there’s more we can do about it.

Dr. Jessica Palmer is a 2005 University of Alabama School of Optometry graduate. Her practice, Eyes on Chelsea, has offices in Chelsea and Sylacauga. She is joined at both by Dr. Rena Lewis and Dr. Judson Harrison.

Q: What can children (and parents) expect when the child comes for an eye exam?

A: The first part of an eye examination involves an assessment of your refractive error (or the need of glasses or contacts).

We also perform a short series of tests to make sure that your eye muscles are working together and side vision is intact.

The second portion of the exam focuses on eye health. This is where we look at the external and internal structures of your eyes under a microscope to look for any diseases or abnormalities. Your doctor may instill a dilation drop, which temporarily causes your pupil to enlarge, to help get a better view of the back of your eye. At the end of your exam, your eye doctor will discuss their findings with you and make any recommendations. If you are dilated, your near vision may be a bit blurry for a few hours after your visit.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

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To prevent eye strain, adults and children are encouraged to follow the 20/20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at an object in the distance for at least 20 second to allow your eyes to have a small break.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

Q: What are ways you and your office help children feel more comfortable while they’re there?

A: Our doctors have over 45 combined years of pediatric experience. Dr. Rena Lewis was a pediatric optometrist and clinical professor at UAB School of Optometry for over 30 years. I think our education and personalities make children and parents feel comfortable in our office. In the exam room, we use various small toys and lights as distraction tools. For nonverbal patients, we have instruments that we can use to obtain his/her glasses prescription. I think experience has taught us to adjust to any obstacles that may come up during an exam to make a child feel more at ease with us.

Q: What are signs children are having trouble seeing?

A: Signs of eye trouble can range from blurriness, double vision, eye strain or fatigue, to headaches, poor grades, or seeing halos around lights.

Most often, children won’t have the specific complaint of blurry vision at distance or near but may be reflected in his/her grades or classroom conduct. With headaches, most primary care doctors will recommend an eye examination

first to rule out the need of eyeglasses. This is especially the case if the headaches occur more while in school and toward the end of the day.

Sometimes a child may say that his/her eyes get tired eyes after reading for an extended period of time. These vague complaints are another reason why early eye examinations are recommended.

Q: What should children be doing at home to keep their eyes healthy?

A: We recommend children and adults limit their time on electronic devices. We follow the 20/20 rule: Every 20 minutes look at an object in the distance for at least 20 seconds. These small eye breaks can make a difference in preventing eye strain. Adjust the blue lighting on your electronic devices, especially before bedtime, as studies have shown that blue light can mess with your sleep patterns. There are also coatings that you can have on your eyeglasses to filter out some of the blue light. In addition, make sure you have good lighting when you are reading a book; next to a window or an incandescent lamp bulb is best.

Finally, we recommend wearing sunglasses or transition lenses, even for children. Most of the sun damage that we obtain from UV exposure occurs when we are young. UV exposure is linked to cataract formation, macular degeneration, and skin cancers.

Sunglasses can help protect children’s eyes from harmful UV rays.

Bham Family February 2021 17

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

Theater upgrades on tap The HCS school board is considering spending $11 million for a new theater at Hoover High School, and $1 million to upgrade the existing theater at Spain Park High School. No timeline has been set, but the board plans to use money from a $1.25 billion state bond issue earmarked for schools.

Bumpus sweeps cross country championships The boys and girls cross country teams at Bumpus Middle School took the 2020-21 Metro Championship trophies.

The meets were held at the Birmingham Crossplex in January.

Registration coming soon!

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

Kelli Lane wins state award Kelli Lane, the instructional services coordinator for HCS, was honored with the “Making IT Happen” award for 2020 from the Alabama Leaders in Educational Technology organization. The award recognizes a person who demonstrates commitment and innovation in helping educators leverage instructional technology in the classroom. Her colleagues nominated her by focusing on her efforts to improve educational technology processes.

Giangrosso is 2021 “Friend of Languages” Spain Park principal Larry Giangrosso was selected as the 2021 Friend of Languages, an honor given by the Alabama World Languages Association to those whose leadership has strengthened the status of world languages in his or her local school system, who has worked at improving the quality of world language teaching, and/or who is an advocate of world language study.

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FAITH

Fairways and

FELLOWSHIP Step by Step Golf helps connect golfers to God

There are golfing events for all ages and skill levels.

BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE For anyone who has ever watched professional golfers on the television and wished that could be them, there’s now a way to have that same experience here in Birmingham.

Step by Step Golf added Local Tour events this year by offering a tour-like experience close to home for golfers of all ages and skill levels, says Todd Gober, founder and volunteer with Step by Step Golf.

But there’s much more to this golfing program than scorecards and putters. With the purpose of “connecting golfers to God, one step at a time,” Step

by Step Golf shows that golf can be an avenue for people to share, support, and pray for one another.

20 Bham Family February 2021

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STEP BY STEP GOLF

The idea for the program started in 2002 during one of Gober’s buddies golf trips. Gober, who has been playing golf since he could walk, wanted to create a program that would allow men to come together and fellowship.

“We want to be that place where you feel safe and comfortable connecting with others,” he says.

Following a few Memorial Cup events, the group became known as Step by Step Golf in 2008 and has continued to grow since then.

They provide an outlet for the average golfer to experience competitive play, while also forming lasting relationships.

During the golfing events, the players have CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

their names announced, there’s live online scoring, and it’s streamed live on Facebook for their friends and families to watch.

“The fact that we do tournaments with such a real experience keeps people coming back,” he says. “We provide a place where average golfers can feel like a pro.”

They offer multi-day, team match play tournaments at courses like Pinehurst, Bay Hill, and World Golf Village. There will be Major events in both February and June this year. The targeted number of players for the team events is 40. Step by Step Golf also has events for children ages nine to 18, as part of their Joshua Cup. The Birmingham Local Tour doesn’t have a maximum number of participants, opening up the events to more people. They will hold five, one-day events, with the first one on March 6 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Oxmoor Valley. The Local Tour events will also be held at Timberline Golf Club March 27, Horse Creek Golf Club April 17, Ballantrae Golf Club May 1, and Limestone Springs Golf Club May 8.

Participants in the Local Tour can expect to find food, fun, fellowship, and fairways. While the events will still provide a tournament feel, Gober says they have softened the rules some to help make it more playable and fun. There’s also the option for golfers to sign up for the fellowship division, where there won’t be the pressure of competition.

So, whether someone hits the green every other day or simply with friends, there’s a place for them within Step by Step Golf.

For more information about Step by Step Golf and to sign up for tournaments, visit Stepbystepgolf.org.

THE MAJORS Feb. 13-14 Joshua Cup Jr. Team Match Play Championship, Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill Golf Club Feb. 15 Dogwood Cup Adult-Child Championship, Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill Golf Club June 3-6 Memorial Cup Men’s Team Match Play Championship, Barefoot Resort & Golf June 3-6 Legends Cup Sr. Men’s Team Match Play Championship, Barefoot Resort & Golf

LOCAL TOURS March 6 The Opener, Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Oxmoor Valley March 27 The Two-Man, Timberline Golf Club April 17 The Dogfight, Horse Creek Golf Club May 1 The Best Ball

Golfers can find friends and fellowship with Step by Step Golf.

Bham Family February 2021 21

FAMILIES IN BUSINESS

Bird Watching

Wild Birds Unlimited carries items from bird food to gifts

PHOTOS COURTESY OF WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED

In addition to nesting boxes, they also carry decorated bird houses.

BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE Watching out the window as birds fly by, peck at a feeder, or take a splash in a bird bath can be a fun way to pass the time for both the young and old. Wild Birds Unlimited makes sure residents have everything they need for their bird feeding and watching hobbies.

Doyle and Tracy Hill purchased the Wild Birds Unlimited in Hoover during the summer of 2019.

They’re the third owners of this franchise, which has been in the city for three decades. Tracy began as an 22 Bham Family February 2021

employee and later served as manager of the store.

So, when the previous owner was ready to retire, she says she knew she was the right one to take over.

“I just felt that no one else could love it like I do,” Tracy says. “This hobby has been my passion for years, and my love of it only grew as I became more involved at the store. Doyle and I enjoy sitting on our deck watching the birds at our many feeders.”

Since purchasing the store, they have made a few CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

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Wild Birds Unlimited has been in Hoover for 30 years.

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updates customers might notice. They added new signage, display areas, and increased shopping spaces, all of which made the shopping experience even better.

“It is a lovely and peaceful store, and we hear all the time from our customers that they enjoy their visit because of that,” Tracy says. “It is our goal, and that of our six employees, to provide the most exceptional customer service in town. We know many of our customers by name, and we find that they appreciate the effort we make to help them create a sanctuary in their own yard.”

Wild Birds Unlimited carries everything someone would need for their bird-feeding hobby. They have exclusive and private label feeders, exclusive blends of birdseed, bird baths, hardware for hanging feeders, and a variety of nature gifts.

Not only do they offer a wide variety of items, but they also provide fresh products. Something many people might not realize is that bird food is a perishable item.

“So, when it is purchased at a big box store where it has sat in a warehouse for weeks, you are not getting a quality product,” Tracy explains. “Our seed is blended for the birds in our area and delivered fresh every week. That really makes a difference in the number and variety of birds you get at your feeders.”

Another thing that makes Wild Birds Unlimited special is the level of customer service the staff provides.

“As a small business, we appreciate the effort made by our customers to seek us out when other options might be easier for them,” Tracy says. “Their reward is being helped by a staff of people that truly love the hobby and have been trained to answer their questions.”

Tracy and her staff enjoy hearing about the birds their customers have seen and helping in any way they can.

24 Bham Family February 2021

“I have witnessed our employees spending an hour with a customer, asking and answering questions, putting together systems and taking them apart again, tweaking until it is exactly what our customer envisioned,” she says. “It is incredibly rewarding to have someone leave our store excited about what we have helped them create and knowing that we have made a new friend.”

She encourages people to stop by and look around. Even if they aren’t interested in feeding birds, the store also offers many unique gifts, including Corinthian Bells wind chimes.

“It’s always great to have a source for great gifts, and we are constantly on the lookout for new and interesting things,” Tracy says.

There are things for both new and seasoned hobbyists. Since the start of the pandemic, many people have taken up backyard bird watching to escape the stressful conditions around them — and not only adults. Tracy says they have seen many children become actively involved in this hobby, as well.

“It’s wonderful to see so many people appreciating the beauty of the world in their very own yards,” she says. “It’s a peaceful and wonderful hobby and great for all ages to enjoy.”

Wild Birds Unlimited is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They also have an online store at Birmingham. wbu.com where shoppers can place orders for store pickup, curbside pickup, and delivery. Delivery is free with a $75 purchase, and they make many of the local deliveries themselves. Customers can also call to place orders.

“We will do whatever we need to do to service our customers,” she says. “Our customers are absolutely the best, and it is a pleasure to see them every time they visit. I love everything about our store.”

Wild Birds Unlimited is located at 1580 Montgomery Highway in the Hoover Village Shopping Center.

JUST FOR DADS It has been a year since COVID-19 started to affect our lives. There was a point last year when we realized our lives had become too busy, and the initial shutdown was a good time for reflection.

COVID officially hit Ward our household on New Year’s Williams Eve when I came down with symptoms, and my son got the virus four days later. We are a family filled with extroverts who like to stay busy and surround ourselves with friends and family. We have always opened up our house to our children’s friends and worked hard to make them feel welcome.

Our spring schedules have always been full of honor band weekends, dance competitions, and theatre performances. During this time of quarantine, we have found ourselves more isolated and longing to connect with people.

February is a month when people are thinking of relationships with the upcoming holiday of

Valentine’s Day. The pressure of the holiday can try to make us focus on external things like gifts and creating a perfect evening. If COVID taught me one thing, it would be to slow down, take time, and have real conversations with those around me.

It is the little things that matter, not the expensive gifts and extravagant dinners. Take time every day to invest in those around you. In our family, investment looks like walks after dinner, building a Lego set, playing with our dog, and making and eating brownies almost every night.

This last year has shown me the importance of having life-giving relationships that bring energy, joy, and comfort. Hopefully we get back to the point where we do our competitions, go to honor bands, watch our kids in a play, and have a house full of teenagers empty our pantry.

We realize how important those relationships were and that they were not just activities that filled up a time slot — but things to enjoy with our kids.

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FEATURE

SAFE HAVEN 77 Kids Foundation keeps youth involved with sports, activities, and community

PHOTOS COURTESY OF 77 KIDS FOUNDATION

The 77 Kids Foundation provides youth with sports, activities, and other ways to get involved with the community.

BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE As the Bible — and Byron De’Vinner — say, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” That’s why he wanted to start a program that would keep children and teens busy with the right kinds of activities.

De’Vinner, a Calera native, started the 77 Kids Foundation in 2019 to create an avenue for youth development across the southeast through sports and community involvement.

The nonprofit does that by offering children ages 5 through eighth grade affordable ways to better themselves through extracurricular activities. Having this outlet helps keep them off of the streets and out of harm’s way.

“We have a high crime rate in the Birmingham 26 Bham Family February 2021

area, so we want to give them a different avenue to get involved in,” De’Vinner says. “I want to keep their minds encouraged and involved in the community.”

De’Vinner wanted to create the foundation to offer underprivileged children — like he was growing up — opportunities to keep them off of the streets. He also wanted to start something that would honor his grandmother.

“It was a way of giving back to her for what she did for me and the community,” De’Vinner says.

The name for the foundation is also personal to him. De’Vinner played football at Calera High School and at UAB, and he wore No. 77. So, it’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

fitting that the foundation has received so much support from other football players, including stars Marlon Humphrey, Corn Elders, Casey Hayward, and many more. Last spring, former Tennessee Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt spoke during their luncheon, and De’Vinner says he hopes to host another SEC coach this March.

“It means a lot to the kids. I’ve seen kids grow up from not having anything to getting to a point where they’re successful out there in the community,” De’Vinner says. “A lot of them are doing it because of what they did through the 77 Kids Foundation. It teaches them to give back and pay it forward to other kids.”

The nonprofit works with about 500 to 1,000 youth a year, ranging from the metro area all of the way across the state. Families hear about the foundation through word of mouth, searching online, and through the different activities they offer in the community — like their toy and backto-school drives.

They also offer mentoring programs where they talk about adverse problems the youth are facing. “We want to give them someone to talk to,” he says.

Once the pandemic is over, De’Vinner says they hope to have volunteers read in various schools, as well. Now in their second year, De’Vinner wants the foundation to double their efforts and also find creative ways to engage children.

“These kids still need us, even with the pandemic going on — more so now than it was,” he says.

So, it’s no wonder his favorite part of the foundation has been seeing the smiles on the children’s face.

“These kids don’t know you at all,” De’Vinner says. “But, they appreciate just knowing someone cares about them and wants to help them. Maybe we gave them school supplies or food. Those kids come back and say, ‘thank you,’ and appreciate what we’re doing for them.”

He says the foundation wants to help however it can, especially during the pandemic. “We know it’s a tough time for a lot of families,” De’Vinner says. “We want to do anything in our power to help. We want to be a vessel for the community.”

Children and their families can view and sign up for activities on their website. People can also make donations to support the foundation on the site. For more information, visit 77kidsfoundation.org.

The foundation holds back-to-school drives to support the youth in the community.

Bham Family February 2021 27

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Bham Family February 2021 29

KIDS WHO SHINE

DYLAN MORGAN, 14

BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE It seems fitting that the service project that earned Dylan Morgan, a freshman at Spain Park High School, his Eagle Scout rank was a life-size replica of an eagle’s nest.

He built the interactive nest on the Treetop Nature Trail at Oak Mountain State Park. The nest is perched on the trail between the Alabama Wildlife Center and the elevated boardwalk, which features the birds of prey.

Dylan completed his service project last spring when he was 13 — years younger than the average age of Scouts who achieve Eagle Scout rank. He was awarded the prestigious rank, which only about 8 percent of Scouts achieve, two days before he turned 14.

“It felt really nice,” he says.

A member of Boy Scout Troop 367 at Riverchase United Methodist Church, Dylan joined the Scouts when he was 5 years old.

“My dad was a Boy Scout when he was a kid, so I decided to check it out,” Dylan said of his father, Quentin. “And I loved it.”

Dylan started his project by researching eagles’ nests on wildlife websites, then sketching out what the nest would look like and what materials he would need. He used 4-by-4 pieces of wood to create the internal structure, along with bridge trusses for stability. Then, he covered the structure in plywood.

Originally budgeted for $250, the project ended up costing $625. That increase was, in part, because he planned to use PVC pipe, but the material ended up making the nest too large. So, he switched to using backer rods instead.

He also ensured all of the screw heads were fully covered with nail putty to keep spectators safe. For the finishing touches, he spray-painted the structure to look like a nest.

“It was much harder than we thought it would be,” Dylan said. “There were several regulations we didn’t know about beforehand.”

In addition to his father, about 10 boys from his troop also helped him complete the two-day project.

“I’d have to say my favorite part was being able to lead and coordinate the steps with everyone who came to help me,” he says. “It led to better friendships with the boys.”

His advice for others trying to achieve their 30 Bham Family February 2021

Dylan Morgan achieved his Eagle Scout rank at only 13 years old. He designed and built a 6-foot-wide eagle’s nest for Oak Mountain State Park.

goals is insight all ages can appreciate.

“I’d say, ‘Don’t give up, and do the paperwork,’” he says. “That’s what stops a lot of people. There’s a lot of writing you have to do.”

Now that he has become an Eagle Scout, Dylan plans to get involved with other aspects of the Boy Scouts, including Order of the Arrow and Venture Scouts.

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