06.18.2015

Otmj Trial by Fire Thursday, June 18, 2015

social

sports

over the mountain journal ❖ otmj.com

It’s a Firefighters’ Face-off at This Year’s Iron City Chef f What’s Cooking in the firehouse kitchen? page 24

Story by Donna Cornelius • Photos by Kaitlin Candelaria

You could call the 2015 edition of Iron City Chef “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.”

The Vestavia Hills Rotary Club’s annual fundraiser usually pits four professional chefs against each other in a hotly contested cooking competition. This year , the contestants don’t work in restaurants, but at fire stations. Iron City Chef: Firehouse Edition has four Over the Mountain firefighters hoping they finish the July 18 event in a blaze of glory .

Competing will be Lee Currie from Mountain Brook, Alexander Glover from Homewood, Edward Pegues from Hoover and Trey VanHooser from Vestavia Hills.

f What’s Cooking in the Iron City Chef Kitchen?

See Trial by fire, Page 24

Lee Currie

Trey VanHooser

Alexander Glover

Edward Pegues

inside

Patriotism and pork Fun Fourth of July events celebrate our nation’s birthday about town Page 4

Wedded Wingmen Couple finds love standing on the ‘moon’ weddings Page 29

A berry merry reunion Hoover school’s first graduates will reunite in June life Page 12

page 25

2 • Thursday, June 18, 2015

Opinion/Contents

Magic Moments Gives Families Weekend of Fun

murphy’s law

In May, Birmingham-based nonprofit Magic Moments hosted its 16th annual Family Camp at Children’s Harbor on Lake Martin.

Children’s Harbor is a camping and retreat facility built specifically for children with special needs. Each year, Magic Moments invites past wish recipients and their families for a weekend full of activities accessible for children of all abilities.

“Our annual family camp is the highlight of our year, not only for our families but for our staff as well,” Joyce Spielberger, executive director, said. “Family camp is like a reunion – we get to see our children grow up as well as many of our counselors who come back year after year.”

Each year, families arrive Saturday morning and check into their cabins. Saturday night features Journal photo by Kaitlin Candelaria a talent show where wish children and their siblings can show off their skills. This year’s show featured dancing, singing and even a unicycle rider.

On Sunday at this year’s event, families spent the day on the water.

With the help of volunteers, families could go boating and tubing.

The day was capped off with a dance Sunday night. This year’s theme was Dr. Seuss, and children got into the spirit by dressing up as their favorite book characters.

Monday morning, camp wrapped up with an awards ceremony.

Each child in attendance was recognized with an award unique to his or her personality.

This year was Magic Moments’ largest camp to date, with 60 families and 277 people attending. Among the families who attended were the Lee family and the DeLano family, all Hoover residents.

“For so many of our families, this is the only vacation or ‘break’ they get from the day to day of their child’s illness, and the fact that they are surrounded by others who know exactly what they are going through in a totally handicapped accessible environment lends an even greater meaning to the work we do,” Spielberger said. ❖

in this issue About Town 3 people 8 news 10 life 12 14 father’s day

social 18 Food 24 schools 28 weddings 29 sports 36

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Leif Murphison

managing equipment. Sometimes the workers weed and feed, sometimes Harold recently bought a new leaf they trim the shrubs, but every sesblower. He had been mooning over a sion finishes with the whine of at least new hoop-de-doo model in the hardone leaf blower. And these people are ware store for months, so being a supdiligent. I’ve watched them spend 10 portive spouse, I said, “Why don’t you minutes chasing down a single wayjust buy it?” ward leaf, buffeting the poor thing “I already have one,” Harold counfarther and farther down the driveway tered, but his feet did not move. until it is propelled outside their juris“Yes,” I added, “but…” I faltered diction. for a moment, trying to remember In my simple way of thinking, it’s why we might need a new leaf blower. hard to understand why the guys just “Our old one doesn’t have enough don’t bend over and pick the leaves power.” That was it. Power. up. One leaf, one downward motion. It “True.” Harold’s face lit up. “Look, seems like a no-brainer. But no, they this one has 550…”

Sue Murphy spend 10 minutes and a half-gallon of I quit listening at that point. I gasoline in the procedure, which knew the leaf blower was a done doesn’t seem like a good return on deal. You see, I’ve been through their investment. this leaf blower thing before.

‘I’ve watched them Maybe there are union rules Twice. In truth, Harold already spend 10 minutes against making actual contact with had two leaf blowers, an electric one with a cord that was never chasing down a single the leaves. Maybe the crews are from becoming that long enough and another that runs wayward leaf, buffet- discouraged personally involved since they’re on a battery that, even when fully ing the poor thing far- gearing up for the big autumn charged, sounds like me trying to blow up my grandkids’ wading ther and farther down assault season, when their entire job will be to propel the falling leaves pool. (A sad wheezing sound that the driveway...’

– unnamed – into someone else’s prompted Harold to buy an air comterritory. The yard crews blow them pressor, but that’s another story.) into the gutter. The street crews Harold really did not have an blow them up over the curb again. Back and forth, effective leaf blower. Still, maybe it’s a guy thing and back and forth. No one removes the leaves entirely.

I’m just not genetically wired to appreciate it, but the Somehow, the leaves are gone in the spring, but I’m compelling beauty of the leaf blower itself escapes not sure how unless they just spontaneously disinteme. It’s not that I haven’t had enough exposure. Every grate from continual agitation. day, Harold finds some reason to haul his leaf blower That won’t happen in our yard this year. No sirree, out of the garage. Even when it isn’t leaf season, there Bob. With Harold at the helm of his new whizbang leaf is always some wayward piece of bark, some clump blower that has 550…somethings…our property will of grass clippings, some slip of windblown newspaper be secure, 100 percent leaf free. that needs to be moved somewhere else.

“I’ll call it my Father’s Day present,” Harold Harold is not alone in his quest. The whir of leaf said as he wheeled the giant leaf blower box toward blowers is a constant in my neighborhood. It has the register. I followed at a respectful distance. OK, become the white noise soundtrack of our suburban sweetie. Whatever you say. Let’s just take our new lives. Every week, a fleet of landscape trucks rolls in baby home. ❖ and unloads mowers and edgers and other such lawn

On otmj.com

There’s so much happening in the Over the Mountain area, we can’t fit it all in the paper! Visit www.otmj.com for more stories and photos.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN

JOU RNAL

June 18, 2015

Publisher & Editor: Maury Wald Copy Editor: Virginia Martin Features Writer: Donna Cornelius Staff Writers: Kaitlin Candelaria, Emily Williams Editorial Assistant: Stacie Galbraith Sports: Lee Davis Contributors: Susan Murphy, June Mathews, William C. Singleton III, Emil Wald, Marvin Gentry, Lee Walls Jr., Bryan Bunch, Liz Ellaby Advertising Sales: Suzanne Wald, Julie Trammell Edwards, Tommy Wald Intern: Tyler Waldrep Vol. 25, No. 12

Over The Mountain Journal is a suburban bi-weekly newspaper delivered to Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County areas. Subscriptions for The Journal are available for $24 yearly. Mail to: Over the Mountain Journal, P.O. Box 660502, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. Phone: (205) 823-9646. E-mail the editorial department at editorial@otmj.com. E-mail our advertising department at ads@otmj.com. Find us on the Web at otmj.com.

Copyright 2015 Over The Mountain Journal, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Journal is not responsible for return of photos, copy and other unsolicited materials submitted. To have materials returned, please specify when submitting and provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All materials submitted are subject to editorial review and may be edited or declined without notification.

over the Mountain Views

What’s your favorite part about being a father?

“I always envisioned having having a son and sure enough, I had a daughter.

Now that I have one, I can’t imagine loving anything more than I love her.”

“My son is about two and the I love the fact that no matter how bad of a day I have, when I get home and hear him yell ‘Daddy’ it makes everything worthwhile.”

Matt Crump Homewood

Brian Gober Homewood

“Watching your children grow into fine young adults.”

Steve Boone Mountain Brook

“It’s taught me a lot of patience. Every minute I’m with them makes me enjoy life more.”

Levi Weinbaum Vestavia Hills

Thursday, June 18, 2015 • 3

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Beautifully designed homes, highly-ranked schools, swimming, parks, and a family-friendly neighborhood await.

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All information contained herein deemed accurate but not warranted. Liberty Park Joint Venture, LLP, Liberty Park Properties, and their respective builders and agents, are not responsible for errors or omissions. Plan information subject to change without notice.

4 • Thursday, June 18, 2015

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Fourth Fun: Patriotism, Pork, Fireworks and More OLS Festival to Serve Up 6,000 Pounds of BBQ

Over the Mountain residents are invited to celebrate the Fourth of July a few days early at the 34th annual I Love America Summer Celebration on July 1 at Wald Park.

This year, the celebration will begin at 6 p.m. with free swimming until 7:30 p.m. and a children’s entertainment area hosted by Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church.

Beginning at 7 p.m., the Shades Mountain Baptist Church Orchestra will present a Pops in the Park musical showcase and at 8:15 a free viewing of a special movie will finish the evening.

“I Love America Summer Celebration is in its 34th year and is a wonderful time to enjoy the beauty of our city while celebrating the freedoms we enjoy in our country,” Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce president Karen Odle said. “It is also a fantastic way to catch up with friends and neighbors and even make new friends under the stars as we enjoy a small slice of all that is wonderful about Vestavia Hills.”

Throughout the event, a business expo will be held featuring tents with games and giveaways provided by various Chamber corporate sponsors.

“We are blessed to be able to do this and we don’t want our community to take these freedoms for granted,” Odle said.

I Love America guests are encouraged to provide their own lawn chairs and blankets. No pets are allowed on the fields of the park and children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult while at the Wald Park Pool.

Admission to this event is free, but food and drink will be available for purchase.

For more information, visit www.vestaviahills.org or the I Love America Summer Celebration Facebook page.

Grill!

The executive directors from the three non-profits hosting Red White and Brews from left: Brooke Bowles of Triumph Services, Jeannie Colquett of The Bell Center and Sandy Naramore of Mitchell’s Place.

Sat., June 27 HOMEWOOD

Red, White and Brews Rosewood Hall at SoHo Square The Bell Center, Mitchell’s Place and Triumph Services present an Independence Day celebration complete with beer samplings, food trucks, music and dancing from 5-8 p.m. Tickets are $15 which includes a wristband and beer samples.

For more information, visit Red, White and Brews’ Facebook page.

Sat., July 4 MONTEVALLO

Independence Day Celebration American Village American Village will celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks, costumed historical interpreters, Revolutionary Army drills, 18th century games, an Independence Ball and more. Gates open at 11 a.m. and the events will start at noon. Admission will be charged and veterans and military may enter for free. For more information, visit www. americanvillage.org or call 665-3535.

—Emily Williams

It's tIme to

Red, White and Brews

HOOVER

Let the fireworks begin!

Photos special to the Journal

Annual ‘I Love America’ Celebrates Community, Freedom

Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church is gearing up for the 66th edition of its Fourth of July festival. This year, it expects to serve more than three tons of BBQ. The Trash and Treasure sale will start the day and will feature more than 6,000 donated items for purchase.

Beginning at 9 a.m., shoppers can peruse everything from furniture to pet supplies. Getting into the sale will be free from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For $5, shoppers can enter at 8 a.m. to get a jumpstart on the crowds.

The Knights of Columbus will begin preparing 6,000 pounds of pork on July 1 in advance of the festival.

Variations will include ribs, half chicken pieces, hot dogs, smoked sausages and pork sandwiches. Plates will include classic sides such as beans, slaw and bread. Pre-sales for bulk meat will begin on July 3 in the OLS cafeteria.

Bobby “T” Tanory will be on hand to provide entertainment and karaoke for festival-goers. Games such as fish pond, the doll booth, the cake booth, Hot Wheel races, ring toss, putt putt and bingo will be available for a fee.

Attendees can also enjoy cash raffle prizes and inflatables.

Proceeds from the festival will benefit the OLS church and school, the Knights of Columbus and other charities.

The festival will take place at the OLS church from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information, visit www.ourladyofsorrows.com.

—Kaitlin Candelaria

Freedom Fest Hoover Met Freedom Fest will begin at 5

p.m. with a car show and end with a fireworks finale which kicks off at 9 p.m. Families are invited to come out and enjoy free entertainment provided by “The Voice” contestant Jessie Pitts and Native Run as well as children’s activities and holiday-themed concessions. Parking will be free and on site. For more information, visit www. hoover.org.

HOMEWOOD

Fourth of July Celebration Downtown Homewood Two blocks of 18th Street South and one block of 29th Avenue South will be blocked off from 5:30-9:30 p.m. for an Independence Day celebration. Activities include inflatables, rides and a view of the Thunder on the Mountain fireworks display. Admission is $10. Proceeds from ride sales benefit the Homewood High School Band. Get updates on Twitter @homewoodparks.

BIRMINGHAM

Thunder on the Mountain Vulcan Park The annual Fourth of July fireworks display will begin at 9 p.m. and last approximately 20 minutes. The display will feature a variety of firework shells choreographed to a soundtrack of patriotic tunes and musical performances. For more information, visit www.visitvulcan.com. ❖

EXCITING SUMMER MATH CAMP Experience a week of challenging half-day Spirit of Math classes designed to inspire and elevate high performing students

Grades 2 - 6 July 27 - 31

Morning Programs: Spirit of Math Afternoon Add-on Option: Bricks 4 Kidz® For more information visit www.bricks4kidz.com

Vestavia Spirit of Math Campus

Park South Plaza • 1425 Montgomery Hwy., Suite 111 Mon.-Fri. 9 - 6 • Sat. 10-3 • (205) 822-9173

Inside the Birmingham International Church 1380 Montgomery Hwy, Vestavia, AL 35216 Contact us at: Phone: 205-460-3907 E-mail: vestavia@spiritofmath.com

Register at: spiritofmath.com/vestavia

June 18 - July 16 Thurs., June 18 BIRMINGHAM

S’mores and Pours Avondale Brewing Co. This fundraiser benefiting Camp Fire Alabama will begin at 5:30 p.m. The event will feature food, drinks, music and a silent auction.

Guest must be 21 or older.

Advance tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.campfireal.org.

HOOVER

Protective Life IT Charity Golf Tournament Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Oxmoor Valley The tournament will begin at 1 p.m. and benefits First Light and the Firehouse Shelter. A putting contest will take place from 10:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Admission begins at $85. For more information, call 268-3727 or email Sarah Slay at Sarah.Slay@protective. com.

BIRMINGHAM

Real Estate Professionals for a Cause World of Beer

Thursday, June 18, 2015 • 5

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Birmingham Real Estate Professionals will be the celebrity bartenders at this charitable networking event presented by Brides Against Breast Cancer. Proceeds will benefit the Health Support Network, which provides free cancer support services through its online resource center. Tickets are $35 in advance and $45 at the door. For more information, call 941-921-5539.

June 18-20 NORTH SHELBY

National Sacred Harp Singing Convention First Christian Church This 36th annual convention will consist of shape note singing from the Sacred Harp Hymnal, originally published in 1844, from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. each day. A covered dish lunch will be included. The event is free. For more information, call 879-1909.

June 19-21 BIRMINGHAM

for free each day. To purchase tickets, visit www.manshowal.com.

The Man Show Expo BJCC Exhibition Halls To celebrate Father’s Day weekend, AL.com is hosting an event celebrating men. Expo hours are 4-8 p.m. on June 19, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on June 20 and noon-6 p.m. on June 21. The expo will include live MMA fights, a Most Fit Man competition, a beer garden and more.

Tickets are $10 per day. Women get in

Fridays, June 19-July 31 HOOVER

Friday Night Flicks Veterans Park These weekly showings will take place each Friday and begin at dusk and feature a PG-rated film. Food vendors will be on hand supplying food and drink. This event is free. For more

information, visit www.hooveral.org.

Sat., June 20 BIRMINGHAM

Big Green Eggs in the Ham Regions Park Easter Seals of Birmingham will host the 3rd annual grilling event beginning at 9 a.m. In addition to over 40 cooking teams, the event will feature a kids’ zone and music from Magic 96.5.

Tickets are $15 and children ages 12

“We bought a house for our horse.”

June 19-20 NORTH SHELBY

QuiltFest Oak Mountain Middle School The Birmingham Quilters Guild’s biennial event will feature a raffle, free demonstrations and more from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. Proceeds from a silent auction will benefit the Lakeshore Foundation Lima Foxtrot project. Admission is $7 for both days.

For more information, email Becky Blair at beckyblair53@yahoo.com.

Apartment life didn’t work well for Ellie, the eighteen-month-old Great Dane of Jaclyn and Joerdan Simpson. The couple, both from Nashville, met in college at Samford. Their careers took them to Georgia, but an opportunity to move back to Birmingham allowed them to work with Michelle Creamer of ARC Realty to buy their first home. “Both our families came in to town to help shop,” says Jaclyn. “It was a whirlwind. Michelle did an awesome job managing our crowd.” Joerdan says buying a home was a great decision. “We plan to be here awhile, and this process has been a great experience.”

Michelle loves helping families settle in Birmingham. “The Simpsons have made wonderful updates to their first home together. With interest rates at historic lows, this is a great time to buy a house!”

A Relationship Company 4274 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 200 Birmingham, AL 35243 • 205.969.8910

www.arcrealtyco.com Michelle Creamer • (205) 999-8164 • mcreamer@arcrealtyco.com

6 • Thursday, June 18, 2015

Rehab Reality

by Jeff (Bonzo)

About Town and under enter for free. To purchase tickets, visit www.instagift.com/ eastersealsofbirmingham.

BIRMINGHAM

Is The Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

That's an appropriate title for an article on alcoholism and addiction, huh?

Most alcoholics or addicts see the glass as perpetually half empty. Either from outside influences or from abuse inflicted upon oneself or both, a person in active addiction has a pretty bleak outlook on the present and the future.

The continual numbing of emotions and feelings makes the possibility of finding future happiness seem like an impossibility.

Does going to treatment and getting sober automatically make that glass half full? I wish I could say it does, but I'd be lying especially with some of the rehabs out there.

What treatment and the subsequent sober lifestyle will do is help an alcoholic develop a new way of thinking and living.

Despair and hopelessness will gradually stop being the orders of the day.

Real emotions like joy will return. A person in recovery will start liking the face he/ she sees in the mirror again.

This is why Bayshore Retreat was created. Our small homelike environment has proven to be the best answer for most. With your effort and our help, you can forget about the bottle with a questionable amount in it for good.We can and do help. With only 6 clients at a time we ensure that the individual attention is achieved for each one.

Together, we can do this.

850-687-6831

www.bayshoreretreat.com Destin, FL Healing water front setting Licensed & court approved

Patti Callahan Henry Launch Party Full Circle New York Times best-selling author and Mountain Brook resident Patti Callahan Henry will host a launch party in honor of her new book “The Idea of Love.” The event will take place from 5-7 p.m. and book donations will be collected for The Literacy Council of Birmingham.

For more information, visit www. patticallahanhenry.com.

HOMEWOOD

Teen CPR and First Aid Training Homewood Public Library The Homewood Fire and Rescue Service and Homewood Public Library will offer an American Heart Association-certified CPR and basic first aid training class. The cost is $5. For more information, visit www. homewoodpubliclibrary.org.

June 20 - Nov. 21 MOUNTAIN BROOK

Junior Master Gardner Birmingham Botanical Gardens This international youth gardening program educates children in gardening and developing an appreciation for the environment through hands-on experiences. Registration is $45 per class and $365 for the entire series. For more information, call 414-3950 or visit www.bbgardens.org.

Mon., June 22 NORTH SHELBY

Happy Birthday, Mt Laurel Library Mt Laurel Library From 1-7 p.m., the Friends of the Mt Laurel Library will celebrate the first year in their new building with cake. For more information, call 991-1660 or email mtlaurellibrary@gmail.com.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Tuesdays, June 23 - July 7 BIRMINGHAM

Movies at Avondale Park Avondale Park The Forest Park South Avondale Business Association and REV Birmingham present the 4th annual movie series each Tuesday in June and the first Tuesday in July at 7 p.m.

Movies include Willy Wonka, The Muppet Movie and Back to the Future.

Parking is available on the streets surrounding the park and security will be on hand to guide movie-goers. For more information, contact silvertroncafe@ hotmail.com.

Wed., June 24 MOUNTAIN BROOK

Flicks Among the Flowers Birmingham Botanical Gardens Find a spot on the lawn, spread out a blanket and view a free showing of “Ghostbusters.” Gates open at 6 p.m. and the film will begin at 8 p.m.

A cash bar will be available along with a selection of movie snacks provided

by Kathy G. and Company. No pets are allowed. For more information, visit www.bbgardens.org.

BIRMINGHAM

Thurs., June 25 BIRMINGHAM

Art on the Rocks Birmingham Museum of Art Fri., July 10 The second installment of the summer series, presented by Dale’s Seasoning, will feature live music by Shadowboxers, art, giveaways, food and more. The event begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for BMA members and $25 for non-members. For more information, visit www.artsbma.org.

“Magic in the Attic” Levite Jewish Community Center The two-week summer theater camp program will culminate with a performance of “Magic in the Attic” at 6:30 p.m. The performance includes a selection of classic fairy tales with an added Jewish or Yiddish twist. For more information, visit www.bhamjcc.org or call 879-0411.

hosts a 5K or 1-mile walk. Activities begin at 7:30 a.m. and the walk will start at 8:30 a.m. To register, visit www. birminghamheartwalk.kintera.org.

Sat., June 27

Sat., July 11

BIRMIGHAM

Heart Walk Uptown Entertainment District The American Heart Association

HOOVER

Hypertufa Workshop Aldridge Gardens This hands-on workshop teaches how

direct importer of french antiques new shipment arrives next week!

to construct a hypertufa - an English watering trough that can withstand freezing temperatures - out of cement, perlite and peat moss. This class is limited to 12 participants. Registration is $46 for members and $55 for nonmembers. For more information, contact Audrey Ann Wilson at aawilson@ aldridgegardens.com or call 682-8019.

July 14-15 MOUNTAIN BROOK

Mountain Brook History Scavenger Hunt Mountain Brook City Hall Catherine Pittman Smith, author of “Images of America: Mountain Brook” will hold two children’s camps from 9 a.m.-noon each day. Children will learn about local history through a an interactive scavenger hunt. For more information and registration, call 492-3350 or email catherine@ catherinepittmansmith.com.

Fri., July 17 HOMEWOOD

3101 3rd Ave. South Birmingham, AL 35233

205.323.6033 www.lolofrenchantiques.com

Alzheimer’s in Alabama: Present and Future Dawson Baptist Church Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama’s annual Conference for Caregivers is from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, call 871-7970 or visit www. alzca.org.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

‘One-on-One Time’ McCants and The Arc to Host Special Needs Football Camp

UAB isn’t the only one bringing football to Birmingham; NFL-player Matt McCants is partnering with The Arc of Jefferson County to offer a football camp for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

McCant hails from Mobile and played football at the University of Alabama at Birmingham before being drafted to the New York Giants in 2012. He now plays for the Oakland Raiders.

“Initially the idea came about from Mike Mitchell, who works for The Arc (as senior vice president),” McCants said in a phone interview from Oakland, California. “When he presented me with the idea, I was very intrigued by it. I’ve never been a part of a camp of that sort and I thought it would be very unique and very beneficial to that community.

I’m just trying to provide something that will allow them to participate and have fun doing it.”

Scarlet Thompson, who serves as The Arc’s director of development, already has registered her son, Cade, who was diagnosed with autism as an infant, for the camp, which is called Ability Academy.

“It’s so important that my son has every kind of experience that any other typical person would have,” Thompson said. “Right now, my son is very obsessed with NFL football, so it’s a double win for us because not only is he very interested in it, but it’s something he doesn’t normally get to participate in. To that point, this kind

Photo special to the Journal

By Kaitlin Candelaria

Sat., July 18 MOUNTAIN BROOK

14th Annual Market Day Mountain Brook Village This European-style sidewalk and tent sale will take place from 8 a.m.5 p.m. with discounts up to 75% off.

For more information, visit www. welcometomountainbrook.com.

Save The date

Matt McCants

of camp understands the unique abilities of each person who participates and caregivers who are on site with us.”

Thompson said that, although her 12-year-old son enjoys sports, they can sometimes be difficult for him.

“He doesn’t get to focus on even the most basic things that you would learn in P.E. sometimes because of his limitations,” Thompson said. “This is his chance to have one-on-one time with an NFL athlete. I’m hoping that other families will take the opportunity to register and do this with us.”

Ability Academy will focus on skills such as catching, passing, running and stretching as well as the fundamentals and rules of football.

“I want to make it an annual event because it’s important to me and it’s important to Mr. Mitchell and I think it’s something that needs to be addressed,” McCants said.

Ability Academy will take place June 27 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and it is open to children and adults ages 10 and up. It costs $20 to participate, and each child and caretaker will be provided with lunch. Those interested in registering can visit www.arcofjeff. org. ❖

3477 Birchtree drive

Full Brick Beauty in the Heart of Hoover - Great Price!

Full Finished Basement, Spacious Back Yard

Low 200's

For more information go to JamesHarwell.com

James Harwell

President, Bham Assoc. of Realtors

Over the Mountain Office 1220 Alford Avenue • 205.281.4731

Thursday, June 18, 2015 • 7

About Town

July 18-19 BIRMINGHAM

SlossFest Sloss Furnaces This two-day music and lifestyle event will feature over 30 bands on three stages from 1 p.m.-midnight each day.

Featured artists include Modest Mouse, The Avett Brothers, Band of Horses, St. Paul and The Broken Bones and more.

For more information and ticket prices, visit www.slossfest.com.

Sat., July 25 HOMEWOOD

Carroll Weekend Basketball Clinic John Carroll High School The Atlanta Hawks’ DeMarre Carroll will hold a special edition basketball clinic in celebration of the Carroll Weekend, presented by Carroll Family Foundation. Youth ages 7-16 are invited to learn basketball skills from noon-3 p.m. Registration is $65. For more information, call 322-4197 ext. 107. ❖

I Love America

Summer Celebration Wednesday, July 1

Presented by:

Bring your or lawn chair blanket

Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce & Vestavia Hills Public Services

Rain D July ate: 9*

*In case of rain, Pops in the Park will still take place on July 1 at Shades Mountain Baptist Church at 7:00 pm.

Many Thanks To All Our Sponsors Gold Sponsors ADT Security Services * Advanced Mower * Adventure Travel * Alabama Rental Managers Alliance Publishing Group * America’s First Federal Credit Union * Ascend Web Development BB&T * Bradford Health Services * Brookwood Medical Center * Bruster’s Real Ice Cream Butler Snow LLP * Cahaba Fitness * Cahaba Heights Pediatric Dentistry Cellular Sales of Verizon Wireless * Champion Cleaners * Digital Trends * Donatos The Elliott Firm * Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers * First Partners Bank Fleet Feet Sports * Greater Birmingham AMBUCS * Jackson, Howard & Whatley, CPAs The Jimmie Hale Mission * Jimmy John’s * Kidz Closet * Liberty Park Joint Venture Life Time Fitness * The Lili Pad * McDonald’s * Moe’s Southwest Grill * Norris Orthodontics OnTime Service * Promotional Creations * Regions Bank * Rocky Ridge Hardware * Salon 12 Sentry Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Generators * Slate Barganier Building Soccer Shots of Central Alabama * Spectrum Reach * Spirit of Math Standard Heating & Air Conditioning Company * State Farm Insurance-John Henley Agency Stein Mart * Summit Express Urgent Care * The Swanky Stork * TransAmerica Printing Turner Food Systems * Vestavia Hills Rotary Club * Vestavia Voice * Vision Financial Group Wayne’s Environmental Services * Williams Blackstock Architects * Xceligent Silver Sponsors Carl Walker Orthodontics * Central Alabama Roofing * Colonial Grand at Liberty Park Contri Bros. Gift Basket * The Dermatology & Skin Care Center of Birmingham Haynes & Haynes, P.C. * Kwik-Kopy Printing-Vestavia * The Maids * Meld Financial Pinnacle Bank * Renta Landscape Architects * Roofing & Painting Contractor~Oswaldo Sialer Shades Mountain Baptist Church * Vestavia Hills Parks & Recreation Foundation Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church

8 • Thursday, June 18, 2015

people

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Check Mates

Hoover Resident Teaches Chess in a Digital Age

Balagee Govindan has accepted a challenge that would daunt others.

In a world of computers and rapidfire video games, Govindan has a passion for teaching another kind of activity to young people. Govindan’s game of choice doesn’t make much noise, and people don’t stand in line waiting to purchase a new version of it at the neighborhood electronics store. All the game requires is a board and 32 pieces.

It’s called chess.

Govindan, a native of India who now lives in Hoover, is a United States Chess Federation certified coach who teaches the game to all ages, but primarily to children and

Sunday, june 21, 2015

‘My mantra has always been, if we can get a kid to stop whatever they are doing for 30 minutes and give chess a try, we can get them. We want them to think of chess as exercise for the mind. ’

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teens. He developed his love for chess as a youngster in India, where he made his own chess boards by painting checkered squares onto planks of wood.

His interest in the game revived after moving to Alabama 10 years ago, when he taught his son Vikhram – only six at the time – how to play.

Govindan was surprised how quickly interest spread. Friends asked him to teach chess to their children, and a program grew.

“First I was teaching one kid, then two, then it became 100,” he said.

“Before I knew it I was teaching more than 300 kids.”

So after going through the proper certification, Govindan organized ChessKidsNation, which competes in chess tournaments across the country.

Among his star pupils is Rochelle Wu of Bluff Park, age nine, who finished third while representing Team USA in the World Youth Chess Championship in South Africa in 2014.

ChessKidsNation offers group, individual and online classes. The online students come from 18 different states. There also are classes for those with special needs.

So how does Govindan promote a comparatively sedate, thinkingperson’s game to a generation raised in a culture of instant entertainment?

It may not be as tough a sell as many might assume.

“My mantra has always been, if we can get a kid to stop whatever

Photo special to the Journal

By Lee Davis

Balagee Govindan, a native of India who now lives in Hoover, is a United States Chess Federation Certified Coach who teaches the game to all ages, but primarily to children and teens. He’s been getting his students ready to compete in the Alabama Quick and Blitz Chess Championships to be held Saturday, June 27 at Samford University.

they are doing for 30 minutes and give chess a try, we can get them,” he said. “We want them to think of chess as exercise for the mind. And when they see the trophies that they can win, they often get hooked.”

And yes, there’s a vanity element, as well, Govindan admitted.

“Kids can say that if they play chess, it means they are very intelligent,” he said, laughing.

Govindan, who is a software engineer for hospitals, said he uses a tactics technique in teaching the game to beginners.

“Chess is divided into three data metrics – the opening, the middle and the end,” he explained. “Kids can pick up the first five to ten moves very quickly. The middle part of the game is tactics – and 99 percent of success in chess is because of good tactics. I teach 22 different tactics that can work to put together a winning strategy.”

“Most first-time players see the chess board the same way,” Govindan said. “Initially, they are looking at 64 squares on a board. The key is to look at it like a family. How can one chess piece help another one that is in trouble? In many ways, life is nothing more than a giant chess board.”

Govindan said it is important for players of any age not to get overly caught up in winning or losing a particular match.

“If you are satisfied that you played a good game and did your best, that should always be enough,” he said.

And for Govindan, his work with chess is about far more than merely teaching a game.

“It’s about making a difference, and sometimes I can see it with my own eyes,” he said. “Once I taught a special needs child. His mother came to me and said that chess was the first thing with which the child had really connected. That’s what keeps me moving forward.”

His ultimate goal is to have a chess club or program in every school in Alabama.

And although that day hasn’t arrived yet, there are still plenty of talented young chess players throughout the state and the southeast. Many

of them will be competing in the Alabama Quick and Blitz Chess Championships to be held Saturday, June 27 at Samford University. There will be numerous categories for competition and trophies will be awarded.

For more information, the official website is www.chesskidsnation.com.

Balagee Govindan doesn’t have to make his own chess boards anymore, but he’s determined to make Alabama a giant chess board in its own right. ❖

Hoover Resident Wins AMP Writing Awards Nancy Dorman-Hickson won eight first-place awards in the Alabama Media Professionals’ 2015 Communications Contest.

Dorman-Hickson freelances as a writer, editor and speaker. She spent 17 years with Southern Living and Progressive Farmer magazines.

She is the co-author of Joanne King Herring’s memoir, “Diplomacy and Diamonds: My Wars from the Ballroom to the Battlefield, The Nancy Real-Life Texas Dorman-Hickson Socialite Behind Charlie Wilson’s War.” Dorman-Hickson, who placed first in every category she entered, won for a news story, a feature story, five specialty articles and a public relations magazine.

Her stories covered agriculture, business, education, public health, the environment and social issues.

The subjects of her works include Lou Wooster, the 19th century madam who helped save Birmingham from cholera; a UAB scientist using crowd funding for gun research; the societal and personal cost of addiction and recovery; and agriculture, including hunting, agricultural education and farming.

Dorman-Hickson’s winning entries now will compete nationally in the National Federation of Press Women contest. ❖

Thursday, June 18, 2015 • 9

people

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Distinguished Young Women Program Set for July 17-18 High school seniors hailing from all corners of Jefferson County will compete July 17-18 for the Distinguished Young Woman of Jefferson County title.

Over the Mountain schools are well-represented with 14 young

women participating.

The program, formerly known as Junior Miss, will be held at the Wright Center on Samford University’s campus. Twenty-five high school seniors representing 11 schools will be competing for scholarship money as well

as the chance to represent Jefferson County in the Distinguished Young Women of Alabama program, being held in Montgomery in January.

This year’s theme is, “You’re never fully dressed without a smile.”

Participants will compete in catego-

ries such as talent, fitness and selfexpression.

Hannah Walter, Distinguished Young Woman of Jefferson County 2014, will perform each night of the competition; 2008 Jefferson County Junior Miss Sydnii Todd will serve as

mistress of ceremonies; 1993 Jefferson County and Alabama Junior Miss Ashley Halfman will host the finals portion of the competition.

Other titles up for grabs include first-alternate, second-alternate and overall category winners.

Tickets are $15. For more information, visit www.distinguishedyw. org. ❖

Abigail Albritton, Vestavia Hills

Rachel Blackerby, Hoover

Sophie Brint, Mountain Brook

Andrea Burris, Vestavia Hills

Morgan Cheney, Vestavia Hills

Kate Dorsten, Mountain Brook

Catherine Grindle, Vestavia Hills

Katharine Henley, Vestavia Hills

Kennedy Hicks, Vestavia Hills

Anna Kate Lucas, Vestavia Hills

Addy McCraw, Homewood

Ashleigh Rye, Hoover

Katie Sinclair, Vestavia Hills

Katherine Splawn, Hoover

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In addition to being President of ASPS, Grotting has served as chair of the Society’s education commission and is a board member of the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation, a non-profit research and education arm of ASAPS. He serves

on numerous editorial boards and is the author of five major textbooks in the specialty of plastic surgery. Dr. Grotting has also provided free plastic surgery for children with facial deformities in developing countries through Operation Smile since 1987.

Dr. Grotting is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Association of

Plastic Surgeons, past president of the Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and is a traveling professor for both the Plastic Surgery Foundation and ASAPS. He is the founder of CosmetAssure, an insurance program that covers unexpected financial exposure for patients from complications in cosmetic surgery. ❖

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News

10 • Thursday, June 18, 2015

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

u Over the Mountain

Police Departments Working Together on Rash of Robberies

By Kaitlin Candelaria A recent rash of robberies has some Over the Mountain residents on edge.

However, police forces are working diligently to address the issue.

Vestavia Hills kicked off 2015 with several high-profile armed robberies, including a gas station holdup and a man being robbed at gunpoint during a Craigslist meet gone wrong in January, a man being robbed at gunpoint in the Vestavia Hills City Center parking deck in March, followed by a woman being robbed at gunpoint on Vestavia Parkway, and a late-night armed rob-

several of its own high-profile robberies this year, including a resident falling victim to armed robbery in his driveway in January, as well as two others being robbed at gunpoint in parking lots in the area. Police officials said that, although robberies are up, they don’t think a specific area is being targeted.

“It’s a crime of opportunity if they see something that fits what they’re looking for,” Lt. Jay Williams of the Mountain Brook Police Department said. “The same people that robbed Mountain Brook residents in their cars have also been responsible for other

bery at Miss Myra’s BBQ in May. Although the last case still remains open, arrests have been made in all of the others, Lt. Brian Gilham, Vestavia Hills police officer said.

“No community is completely immune to this type of criminal activity and we take this type of criminal activity very seriously,” Gilham said.

“We strive to prevent, apprehend and hold accountable those who commit these crimes.”

Gilham drew the distinction between robbery, which is when someone uses force or the threat of force to take property from an individual, and burglary, which is when a person illegally enters a building with the intent to commit a crime. “In the comparison of (January to June) of 2014, robberies are up. However, burglaries are down,” Gilham said.

Mountain Brook has experienced

robberies. So yes, we’ve seen a little spike, but it can be the same group of people causing the spike. Once you catch them, you solve your problem.”

The perpetrator arrested in the armed robberies in the Vestavia Hills City Center parking deck also was accused of the car robberies in Mountain Brook. He also was charged with robbing a Homewood resident in her driveway, as well as committing two armed robberies in Hoover in the Galleria parking lots and other incidents in Jefferson County.

“If robberies increase around us, there’s always a chance they’re going to increase for us,” Williams said.

“When you break it down and compare it to what happens in other places, it isn’t as bad as it appears. Of course, we don’t accept it because we don’t want any crime.”

Williams said his department has

Journal photo by Kaitlin Candelaria

The perpetrator arrested in the armed robberies in the Vestavia Hills City Center parking deck also was accused of the car robberies in Mountain Brook. He also was charged with robbing a Homewood resident in her driveway, as well as committing two armed robberies in Hoover in the Galleria parking lots and other incidents in Jefferson County.

Lt. Brian Gilham with the Vestavia Hills Police Department advises citizens to ‘call at the first hint of suspicious activity.’

been working in conjunction with other Over the Mountain forces to address the issue.

“Information sharing within the police department and between us and other police departments is very important,” Williams said. “You’ve got the same criminals and you’re usually interested in the same suspects. If Homewood had a certain crime that happened yesterday, we make that information available to our patrol officers so they can be looking for that sort of thing.”

Tips to avoid becoming the victim of a robbery include always being aware of your surroundings, especially when sitting in your vehicle or returning to your vehicle. Police officials also say to avoid sitting in your

u vestavia hills

“A Life Above” Photo Competition to Celebrate Grand Opening of New City Hall The city of Vestavia Hills will celebrate the opening of the new City Hall this fall and the inaugural High Notes Alabama Symphony Orchestra concert by hosting a photography competition.

Photographers in the “A Life Above” Photo Competition are invited to “capture the beauty of Vestavia Hills – however you may interpret it” by the city’s website.

Contestants will be competing for cash, gift cards and a display within the new City Hall.

Submissions can be entered in the professional category, the adult amateur division or the student division. A judges panel will be composed of Mayor

Butch Zaragoza, city manager Jeff Downes, representatives of the Vestavia Hills Beautification Board, professional photographer George Ritchey and other professional photographers.

City officials said they encourage pictures depicting scenes and landscapes, and any compositions showing close-up images of children or other vulnerable populations must include a release from the subject’s guardian.

The deadline for submissions is Aug. 14. For more rules, visit www.vhal.org.

—Kaitlin Candelaria

vehicle for an extended period of time because it’s easy to become distracted by another activity – texting or playing on your phone – and lose track of things going on around you.

If you do become the victim of an armed robbery, Williams said it’s important to never fight for your property.

“Just give it to them,” he said.

“There’s nothing that you have that’s worth endangering your safety.”

Williams also advises citizens to follow their gut and to always call the police at the first sign of trouble.

“If you come home and see a strange vehicle in your driveway and you think someone’s breaking into your house, don’t leave the car,” Williams said. “Call the police. If

u hoover

Chamber Sets Job Fair at the Hyatt The Hoover Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its inaugural job fair at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham, formerly The Wynfrey Hotel, on June 19.

This event will be free to the public and feature professional workshops throughout the day as well as free health screenings. More than 35 businesses will be represented.

The Hoover Belles, the Hoover Chamber Ambassadors and the Hoover Ambassadors will work as volunteers during the event.

For more information, visit www.hooverchamber.org.

you walk up to your door and see someone has kicked in your door or broken a window out, call the police.”

On their side, police officers are staying alert and staying visible.

“We use persistent and consistent patrol,” Gilham said. “We pride ourselves on our response times. We strongly encourage citizens to call at the first hint of suspicious activity.”

Williams agrees.

“The biggest thing we can do is just to be out there and be visible,” he said. “Let people see that we’re out rolling through the neighborhoods and business areas. High visibility is the best thing we can do to discourage people from committing crimes.” ❖

u homewood

Arts Council Event Features Gallery Opening The Homewood Arts Council will host an event at Rosewood Hall on June 18 from 6-8 p.m. in honor of the inaugural exhibit of the Homewood Community Gallery.

The gallery includes both past and present photos of Homewood. Winning entries from the Council’s Faces, Places and Traces of Homewood photography contest will be featured in addition to pieces collected by the Historical Society. For more information, visit the Homewood Arts Council Facebook page.

u mountain Brook

Emmet O’Neal to Celebrate 50th Birthday The Emmet O’Neal Library will be celebrating its 50th birthday in September.

To celebrate, the library is challenging patrons to read 50 books between now and then.

Participants who complete the challenge will be eligible to win a $50 village gold gift card.

Forms are available for pick up at the library. Winners will be announced September 12.

For more information, visit www. eolib.org. ❖

news

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

u Over the Mountain

Stores Vie for 2015 Retailer of the Year Mountain Brook Tops List with Most Nominees in State The Alabama Retail Association has released the 2015 Retailer of the Year nominees, and Mountain Brook is home to more nominated businesses than any other community in the state.

The award is presented each year in conjunction with the UAB Collat School of Business. Students from the school’s program will be invited to attend the award ceremony to witness and interact with the business community in a real time setting.

Mountain Brook nominees include Paige Albright Orientals, Little Hardware, Little Lavender Consignment, Smith’s Variety Toy & Gift Shoppe, Otey’s Tavern, Taco Mama, Lamb’s Ears Ltd., Ollie Irene, Harrison Limited, Vino, Marguerite’s Conceits, A’Mano, Tracy’s Restaurant, Steel City Pops and Crestline Bagel Co. Other mentions in the Over the Mountain area include, in Homewood: Chicken Salad Chick, Dreamcakes Bakery, Nadeau: Unique Wood Furniture Store, Savage’s Bakery, Steel City Pops and Soho Retro.

In Vestavia Hills: Newk’s and In the Making Deep South Fibers. In

Journal photo by Maury Wald

By Kaitlin Candelaria

Marguerite Ray, owner of Marguerite’s Conceits in Mountain Brook Village was excited to learn her store had been nominated for Retailer of the Year.

Birmingham: Slice Pizza and Brew, Mayer Lighting Showroom, Carl’s Tire Service Auto Tread, Books-aMillion, Hot and Hot Fish Club, Gus Mayer, Avondale Brewing Co., Levy’s Fine Jewelry, Dreamland Holding Co. LLC, Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market, Silvertron Cafe, Norton’s Florist, Jim Reed Books: The Museum of Fond Memories, Hibbett Sports and Bottega.

Companies were nominated by their cities’ chambers of commerce,

developers, city officials, fellow retailers, employees or the general public.

To be considered for an award, the retailers must submit entry information by June 19.

An awards ceremony recognizing winners will take place Oct. 6 at the annual Alabama Retail Day luncheon.

Guest speaker Stu Crum, chairman and president of Bridgestone Retail Operations, will speak.

For more information, visit www. alabamaretail.org. ❖

Thursday, June 18, 2015 • 11

life

12 • Thursday, June 18, 2015

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Photos taken from the 1965 Berry High School yearbook courtesy of Jane Gore Graham.

A Berry Merry Reunion Hoover School’s First Graduates Will Reunite in June

By Kaitlin Candelaria

B

erry High School’s first graduating class swapped their tassels over in 1965.

Now, they are gearing up for their 50th class reunion.

“Even though a lot of us live in the Birmingham and the Atlanta area, we don’t see a lot of each other,” said Jane Gore Graham, planning committee member. “It’s still a special treat.

There is a specialness about our class – because we are the first class, we created the first traditions. We started everything.”

The original Buccaneers, which will include both the class of 1965 and 1966, will be hosting a two-day affair June 26 and 27 starting with a gettogether at the Marriot Courtyard in Riverchase Friday night. On Saturday, members of the two classes will attend a graduates’ lunch at Margarita Grill in Pelham before the main event Saturday night at the Riverchase Country Club.

There will also be an area where mementos such as football programs and prom invitations will be displayed. Many former teachers and staff members will attend the event.

Graham said she is anticipating a good time.

“We have yet to fail to keep the band later than we’re supposed to,” she said. “We may be approaching our 70s, but we still like to have a good time and see each other.”

In addition to the band, attendees can enjoy

a photo booth and food options such as a shrimp and grits bar, a stir-fry bar and a buffet.

This year’s reunion will be extra special in light of the Hoover City Council’s recent decision to purchase the old Berry High School campus.

The facility served as a high school until 1994.

Since then, it has been a middle school and now is a school for children in Hoover City Schools’ Crossroads program.

The council is still awaiting a decision from the Hoover Board of Education on whether or not it will sell the campus.

“We’ve always had our reunions and taken the money we can raise and donated it to organizations like the Finley Foundation,” Graham said. “This year, we are going to donate money towards saving the mural. It’s all we’ve got left.”

The mural is a tile mosaic designed by 1965 senior class president Kerry Buckley. It was completed in 1965 and shows five multi-colored figures. Each figure is holding aloft a symbol that correlates with a specific field of education. The mural also depicts a large torch, which Hoover City Schools later used as inspiration for its logo.

The torch isn’t the only thing from the first classes still in use. In fact, Graham said the first classes are responsible for most of the Hoover High School traditions still in place today.

“We picked out everything from the band uniforms and the cheerleading uniforms to the colors,” she said. “It makes us feel proud to see

many of those things still in use today.”

Planning committee member Tommy Pearson agreed.

“We created the first traditions,” he said. “We were bonded. It made us closer.”

The first classes also are responsible for helping Berry High School earn accreditation.

“One thing about us gaining that accreditation was that we all wanted that advanced academic diploma, and the majority of our class got it and they used it,” Graham said. “We had a very high percentage that went to college and a high percentage that graduated from college, so that was a success. I think that’s the reason the Hoover school system finally did buy Berry and turn it into a Hoover school. It was already a very wellestablished academic and sport-oriented school.

We created that Hoover mentality.”

Both Graham and Pearson said they are most looking forward to seeing everyone who attends the reunion.

“I love to hear everyone tell their stories -- I never get tired of hearing them,” Graham said.

“We have fun. We love each other. I feel like I could pick up the phone and call any of these guys, and they’d be there -- that’s how close our class was.”

Those who are interested in attending the Berry High School 50th reunion can contact Graham at 668-2930 or send a letter to Berry High School Class Reunion, P.O. Box 1433 Pelham, AL 35124. ❖

‘Even though a lot of us live in the Birmingham and the Atlanta area, we don’t see a lot of each other, it’s still a special treat. There is a specialness about our class – because we are the first class, we created the first traditions.

We started everything.’

Jane Gore Graham

Thursday, June 18, 2015 • 13

life

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Good Times

By Lee Davis Jack Barnacastle coached future Olympian Billy Forrester and several future college All-Americans in his days as a swim coach.

He coached many more future husbands, fathers, wives and mothers.

They were all special to him.

For four decades, Barnacastle was one of the top swim coaches in the Birmingham area, but with his modest nature, he won’t talk much about it.

“I’ll always believe that Jack never got the recognition of other coaches because he wouldn’t toot his own horn,” Mike Curington, who swam for Barnacastle before earning All-American honors at the University of Alabama in the mid1970s, said. “He just wasn’t the kind of guy who wanted to draw a lot of attention to himself.”

With Barnacastle, his swimmers always came before any self-promotion. An all-star swimmer at Shades

With Barnacastle, his swimmers always came before any self-promotion. An all-star swimmer at Shades Valley High School and Florida State University, Barnacastle helped found the Birmingham Swim League soon after graduating from college in 1965.

Valley High School and Florida State University, Barnacastle helped found the Birmingham Swim League soon after graduating from college in 1965.

“Things were a lot different than they are now,” Barnacastle said. “The high schools didn’t have any real swim programs, and you had only a handful of local summer leagues.”

So Barnacastle and others worked to develop a winter program as well, which meant finding an accessible indoor pool. The BSL found a home at the YMCA and YWCA branches in Birmingham before eventually moving to the pool at the then-new Homewood High School for the winter months and Wald Park in Vestavia Hills for the summer.

“We were moving everything to the south of town,” Barnacastle remembered. “But we still kept the name ‘Birmingham’ for the league.

When we traveled out of state for meets, we wanted everyone to know we were from Birmingham, Alabama.”

Barnacastle’s coaching was interrupted by a stint of military duty during the Vietnam War. After he returned, Barnacastle went back to

coaching and also got a job teaching biology at Homewood.

His long work hours and dedication to coaching amazed even his greatest admirers.

Stan Farrell, a Vestavia Hills businessman who swam under Barnacastle’s training for years, thought his coach almost never left the Homewood campus.

“On Monday through Fridays, we would meet at the school pool for practice around 5:15 a.m.,” Farrell said. “Then after practice, Jack would go into school and teach biology all day. After school, he was right back at the pool coaching kids until well into the evening. I always wondered when he ever went home.”

Barnacastle said that being involved in competitive swim – either as a coach or a swimmer – requires a special commitment.

“If you are going to be a swimmer, you’re going to have to coordinate with your school, family and social life, and it isn’t easy,” he said. “It’s definitely not for everyone.”

Curington said that, while Barnacastle was tough and demanding, he also knew the limits.

“I think one of Jack’s best assets was that he was flexible,” he explained. “He realized you could only push people so far. Jack had the ability to adapt with the times and to the needs of the individual.”

The coach rarely showed emotion during practices or meets, but Curington remembers one example of drawing Barnacastle’s wrath.

“We were swimming at Wald Park, and I was wearing goggles because most public pools had a lot of chlorine,” Curington said. “And bear in mind, this was in the 1970s, when most swim goggles were made of glass. He got upset with me about something and shattered my goggles.

I don’t think he ever did anything like that again.

“I was pretty mad at him for smashing my goggles,” Curington added, laughing.

Barnacastle was always coming up with new ways to help his swimmers, according to Curington.

“Swim training is a 12-montha-year process, but during that time you stay out of the pool for about six weeks,” he explained. “Jack came up

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Birmingham Swim League Celebrates 50 Years, Honors Unsung Coach Who Helped Form BSL – and Future Champions

Above: Jack Barnacastle, left, was a special guest at a party celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Birmingham Swim League on June 6. Others former swimmers and coaches in attendance included, from left: Russell Black, Chip Hobart and John Barnacastle. below: Mike Currington, Brett Lindquist, Will Matthews, Jack and David Mayer.

Barnacastle was appreciative of the with some great dry land exercises party,Antique but hemaps characteristically deflected that really helped keep me in shape the credit for the BSL’s success in other when we weren’t in the pool.”

Barnacastle retired from coaching in directions.

“There were plenty of other coach2001. He was a special guest at a party es, parents and others who worked so celebrating the 50th anniversary of the hard to make this work,” he said. “I Birmingham Swim League June 6.

“We just wanted to do something to was just a small part of it.”

• Tues.

- Sat. 10-5 Jack Barnacastle may not like to show Jack and the other coaches how 802-5800 tootSquare his horn, but his legions of former much we appreciated what they did for SoHo Homewood swimmers are happy to do it for him. ❖ us,” Farrell said.

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14 • Thursday, June 18, 2015

life

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Father of the Year

Father’s Day gift guide

m

The Can’t Miss Top 20

Awards Dinner to Benefit Diabetes Association

Joe Jr. from Kamado Joe is a premium 13.5” ceramic grill with sturdy stand and built-in thermometer. $549.

Alabama Gaslight & Grill, 870-4060.

Reverend Mark Correll

Milton Davis

Bart Hall

Davis, director of industrial business development for B.L. Harbert International; Bart Hall, manager of community relations for CTS Computer Technology Solutions and Jason Junkins, MD, vice president of clinical affairs for Alabama and Florida regions for American CareSource.

According to the council, these men were selected because they display passion in every aspect of their lives and each has worked hard to establish himself both professionally and in the community.

“It is a huge honor to be nominated for this award,” Junkins said. “My family is the most important thing God has given me after he gave

Four Birmingham-area businessmen are being recognized as Alabama’s Fathers of the Year.

These men were selected by Birmingham’s Father’s Day Council, one of 35 across the nation. These councils were created as a collaboration between the American Diabetes Association and the National Father’s Day Council and are comprised of community leaders.

Their goal, according to the American Diabetes Association’s website, is to strive to heighten the meaning of fatherhood while raising funds for philanthropic purposes.

The four honorees are Reverend Mark Correll, evangelist at Mark Correll Ministries; Milton

Jason Junkins, MD

me eternal life. To receive this represents one of the greatest accomplishments of my life.”

All four men will be recognized at the fifth annual Father of the Year awards dinner June 18 at Region’s Field. Proceeds will benefit the American Diabetes Association.

“I am honored to be recognized as a Father of the Year just for loving my children and my wife,” Davis said. “My family has been a blessing to me and they are the true honorees for their support, love and inspiration not just to me but to others as well.”

For more information, visit www.diabetes. org. ❖

Following in Father’s Footsteps services took off. My dad has over 30 years Taking Care of Family of experience in the banking world, so he can

because of their unusual business model.

“Growing up, I would help out downstairs in the actual bakery and see the hard work that went into each and every item we make,” Scott said.

“It’s rare to find a bakery today that still starts its recipes from basic ingredients, which is more time consuming and more work, but it is all worth it once you take a bit of yellow cake or have a freshly baked meltaway.”

Many of the employees who worked at Savage’s during Scott’s childhood are still there today.

In 2011, Scott accepted a full-time position at Savage’s after moving back into town.

“I decided to move home to be with my family, and I believe it was the best decision because I fell into a great opportunity to work side by side

with dad and to begin learning the business all around,” Scott said. “I help manage the business so dad can take time away from work and enjoy his time doing all the things he loves like fishing, hiking, gardening and working out.”

Scott said she’s always admired her father, Van Scott, for being an honest businessman and for helping those in need. One example she gives is her father’s younger brother, Charlie, who is special needs and has worked at the bakery for more than 34 years.

“Over the past few years, my dad and I have become closer than ever,” Scott said. “Work doesn’t even feel like work most of the time. My goal is for my dad to enjoy this time in his life especially after all the hard work he has put into our family.”

—Kaitlin Candelaria

From left: Chandler, Cameron and Gary Bishop with Cameron’s daughter, Avery.

Sweet Memories Margaret Scott and her two sisters grew up working part time in their father’s bakery. Savage’s Bakery is a hometown favorite for many Over the Mountain residents and, according to Scott, it’s

Journal photo by Kaitlin Candelaria

Van Scott’s daughters frequently worked in his bakery growing up. Now, his youngest daughter, Margaret, works in the bakery full time.

difference a banker can make on the life of a client beyond just their financial condition,” Cameron said.

However, Chandler said he never thought he’d end up in the banking world.

“My views have changed since I began business school,” he said. “Once I declared my major as finance, my interest in banking and financial

answer nearly any question I have.”

The two boys both say they admire how hard their father has worked throughout the years to provide for their family.

“He has always provided for his family,” Chandler said. “I have always admired how he was able to graduate from UAB in three and a half years while working, commuting and paying for college all by himself.”

Both boys said they have learned many things from their father over the years.

“I’ve learned to always work hard and be consistent,” Cameron said.

Chandler agrees that his father has always been a great example of hard work and has instilled the same in both of his sons.

“My brother and I started working at 16 because we were responsible for paying our own car payments,” he said. “It was hard working during high school, but it’s payed off. I feel like I am far more prepared to enter the workforce after college.”

—Kaitlin Candelaria

Photo special to the Journal

Hoover resident Gary Bishop never imagined his sons would follow in his footsteps, but he’s pleased they have.

“It makes me very proud to see that my sons have decided to pursue a career in the banking world,” he said. “I always encouraged them to pursue their own interest. I never pushed them to become bankers but I am excited that they have taken this path. I think they both will be successful.

They have always been very responsible young men.”

Bishop, who has served as a private banker at BBVA Compass for more than 30 years, is father to Cameron, 28, of Vestavia Hills, who is employed as a private banking officer at ServisFirst, and Chandler, 20, a rising senior at the University of Alabama who has recently accepted an internship at First National Bank of Central Alabama.

The two young men had very different paths leading to their choosing banking as a career.

“I grew up hearing stories from my father about banking relationships and it was easy to tell the

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

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Doug Brown and his volunteers take innercity children to Oak Mountain State Park, where they are taught the basics of riding a mountain bike.

Hot on the Trail

Program Gets Inner-City Kids out into Nature

By Kaitlin Candelaria It’s probably hard to imagine a childhood that didn’t involve learning to ride a bike, but for many inner-city kids, it’s an opportunity that never presents itself.

That’s what inspired Vestavia Hills resident Doug Brown to start Alabama’s first and only chapter of Trips for Kids.

Brown, who spent more than 35 years in the insurance brokerage business, was inspired after reading an article about Trips for Kids. He immediately contacted Trips for Kids founder Marilyn Price and began taking steps toward creating an Alabama chapter.

“I went up and rode with the Charlotte chapter on one of their rides

Thursday, June 18, 2015 • 17

life

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

and came back, did the paperwork to get a 501c3 status,” Brown said. “We raised some money and our first ride was June 2013. I talked to people and I could never see a blockade that I couldn’t get around.”

Price founded Trips for Kids in 1986. According to the organization’s website, she was inspired after riding up Mount Tamalpais. Price, who was a frequent volunteer at St. Anthony’s Dining Room, looked down on San Francisco and thought of how much she would love to bring the children she served at St. Anthony’s on a bike trip up the mountain. It was then that the idea for Trips for Kids was born.

Brown and his volunteers – who work with groups such as North Star Ministries, the Downtown Y Youth Center and Big Brother/Big Sister

programs – take the children out to Oak Mountain State Park, where they are taught the basics of riding a mountain bike. Participants are fitted with bikes and helmets before riding the 2.5 mile trail with the volunteers.

Afterward, lunch is served and volunteers facilitate a group discussion about mountain biking, exercise, the environment and anything else the group wishes to discuss. All costs are covered for the children except transportation.

“It’s kids who wouldn’t have the opportunity to do this otherwise,” Brown said. “It introduces these kids to Oak Mountain, it gives them a chance to be mentored by volunteers and it’s something that most of them have never done before. It’s a challenge and when they complete it, they feel like they’ve really accomplished something.”

In the future, Brown hopes to continue fundraising to introduce other aspects of the nonprofit to Alabama’s program, such as the Earn-a-Bike program, in which children can participate in bike mechanic and bike safety workshops to earn credits toward their own bicycle, or the Re-Cyclery, where people donate bicycles and bike parts to be sold. Trips for Kids participants can work in the Re-Cyclery part time, and the shop provides more funding for bike rides.

In order to bring life to his plans, Brown plans to continue fundraising and building the Trips for Kids brand in the Birmingham area, he said.

“Overall, it’s making Birmingham a better place,” Brown said. “It has changed lives for a lot of kids.” ❖

FaTher's Day Is sunDay, June 21

Time for Dad

To: From: Date:

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Photos courtesy RDMoore Photography

social

From left: Bob and Grace Bentley, Gracie Hawkins, Katherine Hawkins and Beth and Robert Corey.

Floral Festivities

above: Virginia and Bo Grisham. below: John and Sarah Pinehardt with Rebecca and Chase Wise.

Ballet Guild Presents 55th Annual Ball of Roses

T

he Ballet Guild of Birmingham hosted the 55th annual Ball of Roses at the Country Club of Birmingham May 30. Custom embroidered crests adorned the entrance to the ballroom where the main event of the evening was held.

Designed by Carole Sullivan of

Lagniappe Designs, the decorations included large displays of pale pink and creamy roses, white hydrangeas, lilies and greenery illuminated by the soft glow of the candles. The ceiling of the East Room was brought to life with an intricate lattice of elaeagnus, with ornate spherical rose arrange-

ments suspended below.

The evening began with a pas de deux from “Flower Festival” by performers with the Alabama Ballet, which was followed by the introduction of the 2015 Ball of Roses presentees. This year a record number of 60 debutantes were presented at the ball.

After the presentation, the band City Heat entertained the partygoers.

A seated dinner for the private patrons of the Ballet Guild of Birmingham was held prior to the presentation ceremony.

Sarah Norville Peinhardt was the 2015 Ball of Roses chairman. Mary Cox Brown co-chaired the event.

Those attending the 55th annual event included Mary Bradley and Frank Anderson, Grace and Bob Bentley, Mary Jean and Thomas Boulware, Beth Corey, Lindsey and Patrick Druhan, Miller and Josh Girvin, Kay and Bo Grisham, Mary Margaret and Jeffrey Hendry, Ashley and Steven Jackson, Emily and Matt Menendez, Mariellan and Billy Morris, Fontaine and Lee Pope, Ashelynn and Andrew Smith, Garland and Lathrop Smith, Bettie Boyd and Brian Sullivan, Libba and Turner Williams, Rebecca and Chase Wise and Rita and Drew Wright. ❖ Mary Margaret Hendry and Margaret Pope.

/bhm Photos special to the Journal

Thursday, June 18, 2015 • 19

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

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Tasting Party Guests Sample Gourmet Foods at Parkinson Association Fundraiser

The Parkinson Association of Alabama treated guests to an evening of gourmet tastings April 23 at its annual fundraiser.

Taste for a Cure was held at Old Car Heaven.

The event began with a selection of tastings provided by local chefs Chris Hastings of Hot and Hot Fish Club, George McMillan III of FoodBar, Mauricio Papapietro of Brick & Tin, Chris Zapalowski of Homewood Gourmet, Aman Judge of Taj India and Chris Cullen of El Barrio and from The Pantry by Stone Hollow Farmstead.

Tastings were accompanied by wine and beer pairings.

Rusty Stewart, vice president of the Parkinson Association of Alabama, welcomed everyone to the event. Dr. David Standeart, a UAB neurologist and lead Parkinson’s disease researcher, gave a speech.

Rick Journey was the auctioneer for a live auction. The event also included a silent auction.

Taste for a Cure raises money for the Parkinson Association of Alabama and UAB to improve the quality of life for Alabama patients, caregivers and families affected by Parkinson’s disease.

Executive Director Mary T. Miller, Mimi Major Bittick, Dan Thomasson and Rusty Stewart were in charge of planning the event.

International Wines provided wines, and Good People Brewing Co. supplied the beer.

Florists Margot Shaw, Sybil Sylvester of Wildflower Designs, Mary Cox Brown of Marigold Designs, Leah Hazzard, and K2 designs donated floral arrangements for the tables.

Hosting Committee members included Charles Bittick, Maggie and Will Brooke, Elizabeth and Tom Broughton, Mary Katherine and Gerry Cabaniss, Rebecca and Russ

Chambliss, Paige and John Daniel, Stewart Dansby, Mary and Ed Finch, Lisa and Jared Flake, Idie and Chris Hastings, Mallie Ireland, Cathy and Paul Jones, Alice and Wam Major, Suzie and John McCoullough, Ashley and Cliff Nail, Carolyn and Henry Ray, Margot and Gates Shaw, Leslie and Elton Stephens, Carol and Rusty Stewart, Alice and Carl Thigpen, Carey Thomasson, Marsha and Rainer Twiford and Sherry and Lloyd Wilson.

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social

1963

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

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FLICKS AMONG THE F L WE R S Photos special to the Journal

June 24 • July 15 Visit bbgardens.org/flicks for this year’s movies!

Formal Garden in front of Conservatory Formal Garden

8 p.m.

ADMISSION gates open at 6 p.m. FREE in front of Conservatory cash bar • concessions

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From left: Robin Davis, Terri Lorant, Linda Mason, Terry McBride and Jane Christopher.

Patio Party

Vicki and Don Smith and LaVonda and Perry Keel.

Go-Gos Gather to Welcome Summer, New Members

The Go-Gos Dance Club welcomed both new members and the arrival of summer with a cocktail gathering on the patio at Avo & Dram.

Members and their dates mingled while sipping and sampling a selection of hors d’oeuvres prepared by the restaurant’s culinary team.

New members welcomed at the event include Jane Christopher, Robin Davis, Terri Lorant, Linda Mason and Terry McBride. ❖

Off to the Races

Gaieties Gather for Derby Party

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Participants receive supervised exercise training 3 days per week for 14 weeks with certified trainers in the UAB Center for Exercise Medicine, and free assessments of health and functional status, body composition, and fitness. funding: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging (Grant #1R01AG046920)

Gaieties members celebrated spring with a Derby Party May 1 at the Country Club of Birmingham. Gaieties president Becky Bates, with her husband David, and party chairman Judy Feagin, with her husband John, welcomed guests. The Ray Reach Jazz Band played throughout the evening.

Robert Logan decorated the East Room with life size horses, stables and cutouts of colorful jockey jerseys.

Tables were covered with bright orange, lime green and turquoise satin toppers with a wooden racehorse centerpiece flanked with a wreath of roses, hydrangeas and carnations.

Guests enjoyed a buffet dinner of New Orleans-style barbecue shrimp, sugar glazed ham with apple butter and homemade biscuits, parmesan cheese stone-ground grits, steamed asparagus with a lemon dill sauce, a mixed baby greens salad and Kentucky Derby pie.

Gaieties members and guests enjoying the festivities included Barbara and Winfield Baird, Coquette and Bill Barnes, Becky and David Bates, Nan and Otha Carter, Marie and Mike Cole, Margie and Sidney Davis, Brownie and Barry Evans, Judy and John Feagin, Carolyn Featheringill and Ivan Rich, Majorie Forney, Louise and Sharp Gillespy, Janie and Jimbo Henderson, Anne and Barrett Hicks, Joanie and Carey Hollingsworth, Dottie and Raleigh Kent, Susie and Ed Kissel, Barbara and Bobby Klyce, Dena and Bill Leitner, Marcia and Ken Little, Joyce and Jim Lott, Jackie and Bruce MacClary, Dana and Pete McCarn, Betsy and Harry Miller, Betty and Charlie Northern, Bette and Crawford Owen, Valerie and Tom Panky, Sandra and Terry Oden, Kathleen and George Petznick, Betty and Bill Phillips, Natasha and Richard Randolph, Margaret and Tommy Ritchie, Gale and Charlie Sharp, Elaine Smith, Mary and Terrell Spencer, Mary Steiner, Rosalyn and James Stroud, Cindy and Andy Strickland, Virginia and Tom Tucker, Betty and Albert Tully, Jeanne and Lee Walthall and Doris White and Joe McCracken. ❖

Principal Investigators: Marcas Bamman, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham Charlotte Peterson, PhD, and Phil Kern, MD, University of Kentucky

Photos special to the Journal

to learn more: Complete the questionnaire at www.uab.edu/masters-trial (preferred) or call 205-934-6231

Judy Feagin and Kathleen Petznick.

Ivan Rich, Carolyn Featheringill and Jackie MacClary.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

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The Antiquarian Society celebrated the finale to an active year with a spring luncheon May 13 at the Country Club of Birmingham.

Martha Lee Culp was hostess and chairman of the annual event.

Guests were welcomed with mimosas, scrapbooks on display and music by pianist Shea Summerlin, a Miss Alabama contestant.

The festivities ended with President Nan Teninbaum installing new officers.

On the luncheon tables were antique silver bud vases holding white and pastel-colored roses.

Menu choices included chicken piccata and shrimp and grits.

Janeal Shannon gave an invocation on friendship and camaraderie as experienced by Antiquarians.

After the luncheon, Teninbaum thanked retiring board members and presented them with tea tow-

Photos special to the Journal

Festive Finale

Above: From left: Anne Gibbons, Mary Ann Jones, Lynda Robertson and Harriet Maloof. Above left: Sandra Holley.

els as mementos of their service.

Past President Rebekah Taylor expressed the organization’s appreciation for Teninbaum’s leadership in 2014-15 and presented her with a gift.

Officers for 2015-16 are Carolyn Satterfield, president; Kirke Cater, first vice president; Sara Jackson, second vice president; Marjorie Forney, corresponding secretary; Judy Long, recording secretary; Meridith Peeples, treasurer; Angela Comfort, historian; and Nan Teninbaum, past president.

Among members attending were Barbara Baird, Martha Bartlett, Kirke Cater, Elaine Clark, Kay Clark, Angela Comfort, Gera Comfort, Martha Lee Culp, Cece Dillard, Carolyn Drennen, Shirley Evans, Marjorie Forney, Joann Fox, Anne Gibbons, Betty Noe Gonder, Annie Green, Judy Haise,

Student Showcase Drama Winners Perform at NSAL Banquet

The National Society of Arts and Letters Birmingham Chapter held its annual Career Awards Banquet April 17.

The event featured presentations by winners of the 2015 Drama Competition.

Birmingham Country Club glittered with Catherine Rogers’ creations of mixed flowers, ferns and other greenery in crystal vases on silver trays and mirror mats surrounded by votive candles and silver sprinkles.

Performing at the event were first-place winner Bobby Skelton from Westminster School at Oak Mountain, second-place winner Alex Damman from Altamont School, third-place winner Forrest Gamba from BirminghamSouthern College and fourth-place winner Nicole Vaughn from Altamont School.

Skelton will represent the NSAL Birmingham chapter at the organization’s national competition.

Also at the event were scholarship winners and their guests: Bobby Skelton with Loree Skelton, Rhela Skelton, Kathee Parks, Elizabeth Parks, John Palmer, Alex Damman with Tom Damman, Jenny Damman, Alice Clews, David Clews, Walter Waldman, Forest Gamba with Addison Rains, and Nicole Vaughn with Andrew Vaughn.

NSAL Birmingham Chapter members and their guests who attended included Edie Barnes, Edith Bauman, Peggy Carlisle, Cindy Free, Phil Free, Judith Hand,

Judith Hand, Bernice Hill, Sandra Holley, Rosemary Jager, Mary Ann Jones, Nancy Jones, Lena Knight, Sahra Lee, Rose Lofton, Judy Long, Harriet Maloof, Bitty Mason and Nancy Mason.

Also in attendance were Rebecca Mason, Nancy Morrow, Betty Northen, Nelda Osment, Sue Patrick, Meridith Peeples, Helen Mills Pittman, Gail Pugh, Peggy Ragland, Kathie Ramsey, Carolyn Reich, Julia Alice Rice, Lucy Richardson, Lynda Robertson, Janeal Shannon, Babs Simpson, Nan Skier, Jan Smith, Rhetta Tatum, Rebekah Taylor, Nan Teninbaum, Carole Thomas, Barbara Wall, Liz Warren, Lynda Whitney, Elouise Williams, Margie Williams and Janis Zeanah.

Guests included David Comfort, Mignon Watt of Montgomery and Scott Purkey. ❖

Ruth Jenson, Virgil Jenson, Cara Ross, Peyton Ross, Melva Jones, Rayburn Jones, Nancy Jones, Ed Jones, Gail Ledbetter-Hill, Patti Manning, Jeannine MeElroy, Mary Frances Reed, Robert Reed, Mel Robinson, Catherine Rogers, Brown Rogers, Dr. Carolyn Satterfield, Bill Satterfield, Barbara Shepherd, Joseph John, Mildred Allen Taub, Dr. Edward Taub, Maxine Williams, Keith Williams and Janis Zeanah.

The Birmingham Chapter’s 2015 Rosamon Henderson Service Award honored Ruth Jenson.

After joining the chapter in 2004, Jenson served two terms as treasurer and was also corresponding secretary, chaplain and a member of the telephone/reservations committee and the audit committee.

Jenson was presented with a red rose, the chapter flower and a certificate. ❖

Photo special to the Journal

*Must spend over $50. Choose any service available in our dealership.

This exclusive offer not valid for insurance work, warranty, over the counter sales, other offers or service specials. Must be redeemed at one visit. Has no cash surrender value. Expires 7/15/15.

From left: Peggy Carlisle, Forest Gamba and Dr. Carolyn Satterfield.

social

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Thursday, June 18, 2015 • 23

Membership Meeting

Photos special to the Journal

Hoover Service Club Hosts Annual Coffee

From Left: Linda Corliss and Nancy Richard.

Paula Campbell, Janell Coleman and Veronda Garner.

The Hoover Service Club hosted its annual membership coffee April 9 at Aldridge Gardens in Hoover.

Sixty-three members welcomed 22 guests as potential members in the organization.

Outgoing president Treva Medbery and incoming president Betty Daigle welcomed members and guests and talked about the club’s mission and goals.

Organized May 5, 1975, the Hoover Service Club con-

tributes over $20,000 to community charities and awards more then $15,000 in scholarships to Hoover and Spain Park High School graduates.

The club meets at 11 a.m. on the second Thursday of the month September through May at the Hoover Country Club.

For information about joining, visit www.hooverserviceclub.com or email Betty Daigle at bettyd4768@yahoo. com. ❖

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food

24 • Thursday, June 18, 2015

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Trial by Fire From page one

‘We’ve had great participation from restaurants and chefs in past years.

This year, someone suggested using firefighters.’

Kent Howard

Vestavia Hills fire chief, and he liked the idea – in fact, he said he already had a guy in mind to compete. He helped introduce us to the other fire chiefs.”

Iron City Chef combines elements of Food Network’s “Chopped” and “Iron Chef America.”

All four contestants will prepare a main dish, starch and dessert and serve samples to those who attend.

The two chefs whose food gets the most votes from guests will move on

Jerry Tracey from Alabama’s 13 is the emcee of ICC and Western Supermarket will host a wine tasting during the event.

July 18, 6 p.m., Jefferson State Community College Culinary and Hospitality Institute

to a head-to-head battle, which will be judged by former Iron City Chef contestants. The top two must incorporate an ingredient provided for them into their finale creations.

“The ingredient is always a protein, like pork or fish,” Howard said.

The finalists also are provided with fresh foods and pantry items that they can use in their dishes.

The kitchen clash is fun for Birmingham-area foodies but has a charitable purpose, too. Iron City Chef benefits Jefferson State’s Culinary and Hospitality Institute, Vestavia Hills High School’s math and debate teams, and local and international Rotary programs.

Howard said Chef Joseph Mitchell, the culinary and hospitality institute’s executive director, is a strong supporter of the fundraiser.

“We use Jefferson State’s space, and Chef Joseph gets his students to help our chefs set up and prepare their food,” Howard said.

Each competing chef is assigned a Jefferson State culinary student as sous chef. The winner’s sous chef gets a $1,000 scholarship from the Vestavia Hills Rotary Club, Howard said.

While the food face-off is the headliner, Sweet Licks will provide entertainment and Western Supermarket will host a wine tasting during the event. Jerry Tracey from Alabama’s 13 is the emcee.

“We couldn’t do this event without Western, Jefferson State and Alabama’s 13,” Howard said.

Tickets are $55. To buy tickets and for more information, visit www.rotarytoast.org. ❖

Journal photo by Suzanne Wald

The event is at 6 p.m. at the Jefferson State Community College Culinary and Hospitality Institute, 4600 Valleydale Road near Spain Park High School.

Kent Howard, Vestavia Rotary’s Iron City Chef chairman, said firefighters were recruited to participate this year “to do something different.”

“We’ve had great participation from restaurants and chefs in past years,” Howard said. “This year, someone suggested using firefighters. We talked to Jim St. John, the

Iron City Chef organizers from left: Kent Howard, Vestavia Hills Rotary Club and Iron City Chef Chairman; Edward Pegues, Hoover Fire Department; Rusty Lowe, Hoover Fire Department; John Wingate, Hoover Fire Chief; Trey VanHooser, Vestavia Fire Department; Jim St. John, Vestavia Fire Chief; Alexander Glover, Homewood Fire Department and Joseph Mitchell, Program Director Culinary & Hospitality Institute, Jefferson State Community College.

Meet the Chefs Lee Currie

Firemedic, Crestline Station No. 1 Lives in: Alabaster

How did you get interested in cooking?

I enjoy a good meal, and the fire station when I started had lots of great cooks.

What’s your favorite thing to cook at the station?

Breakfast!

What’s your favorite thing to cook at home?

Grilled or smoked food. My kids love it, and it puts us on the porch outside just relaxing.

Best cooking tip:

Season well. Most foods need it to bring out their best flavor.

Favorite restaurants:

Texas Roadhouse – I love a good steak – or Mikee’s Seafood at Gulf Shores – can’t beat it.

How are you preparing for Iron City Chef?

pan with melted butter.

Add a large can of fruit filling or can of fruit in heavy syrup (Currie said he likes peaches), or mix fresh and canned fruit.

Bake till golden brown.

Just mentally prepping to make sure I don’t skip any steps or get stressed out. It’s just cooking.

Cobbler

Lee Currie said you can serve this dessert with or without ice cream. We vote for “with.”

He also said you can “stump your toe on the sugar and flour.” That’s a “country way of saying you can add a little more than a cup,” he said.

Ingredients

Alexander “Xan” Glover

Apparatus operator, Homewood Fire and Rescue Service Station No. 2 Lives in: Bluff Park

1 stick of butter 1 cup sugar 1 cup self-rising flour 1 cup whole milk 1 large can of fruit filling or can of fruit in heavy syrup

How did you get interested in cooking?

Directions

Homemade pizza.

I can remember bugging my mom for supper to be finished, and she would have me help to speed things up.

What’s your favorite thing to cook at the station?

Put a stick of butter into a 9 x 12 glass pan or large cast iron skillet. Bake at 400 degrees until butter melts.

Mix sugar, flour and milk and add to

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What’s your favorite thing to cook at home?

A version of chicken cacciatore.

Best cooking tip:

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Don’t over-season.

Favorite restaurants:

There are too many to name, but if I had to pick two today, it would be a toss-up between Highlands Bar and Grill and Gianmarco’s.

How are you preparing for Iron City Chef?

I am wearing out my crew by experimenting with some different ideas.

Glover Cacciatore

“I don’t really have any recipes I use; most of the things I cook come from my head unless I am baking, and then it’s an exact measurement,” Glover said, adding that he doesn’t bake often. But with dishes like this one in his repertoire, it’s no wonder he leans to the savory side.

Ingredients:

1 whole chicken, cut up 1 pound Italian sausage 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 large onion, sliced 1 large bell pepper, sliced 2-3 cloves garlic, chopped 1 large can whole tomatoes 1 can tomato sauce 2 tablespoons oregano; adjust as needed for taste 2 bay leaves Salt and pepper to taste Pasta of choice Parmesan cheese Chopped parsley Directions:

Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then sear it with the sausage, olive oil, onion and bell pepper. Add garlic, tomatoes and tomato sauce.

Then add oregano and bay leaves.

Bring temperature up until the liquid begins to boil. Then cover it and reduce to low heat. Allow to cook for a couple of hours (the chicken should fall off the bone). Serve over pasta and garnish with freshly-grated parmesan cheese and parsley. A nice warm crusty bread goes well with this, too.

Going into unchartered waters with this type of competition, from cooking for 300 to possibly preparing a dish in the finals with unknown ingredients presented, I’ve been basically just thinking of mass producing the two dishes the crowd will eat because I never write down the recipe for a dish I’ve made in the past. Plus, I’m watching the original “Karate Kid,” because you can do anything after you watch that classic.

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Pegues may draw inspiration not just from “The Karate Kid” but from a celebrity chef he met a few years ago.

“Paula Deen came out to the station, and a few of us got the honor to meet her and cook along with her,” he said.

He’s also been on Fox 6’s “Flip My Food” show.

“Chef Jeff Henderson and I cooked together for his TV show that they filmed at the station last fall,” Pegues said.

Ingredients:

Boneless chicken breasts (flattened to about ¾ inches) Brine for chicken: ½ cup sea salt and ¾ cup sugar Fresh baby spinach Tomato Sliced provolone cheese Onion rolls Your favorite condiment Directions:

Mix brine with water in a container and marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours in the fridge. Remove chicken from brine and rinse.

Grill chicken on the grill until done.

Place cheese on top of chicken to melt.

Place chicken on the split onion roll.

Top with baby spinach, tomato and condiment.

Trey VanHooser

Edward Pegues

Firemedic apparatus operator, Hoover Fire Department Station 4 Lives in: HooverPark

How did you get interested in cooking?

I started cooking for the 10 guys on my shift a long time ago, and it became a routine every third day.

Plus, I love to eat.

Firefighter/paramedic, Vestavia Hills Fire Department Station No. 2 Lives in: Pinson

How did you get interested in cooking?

Watching my grandmother cook when I was a child. Then when I started in the fire service, everybody cooks, so I fig-

ured I might as well get competent at it.

That is when I realized I loved to cook.

10 large tortillas 8 ounces Colby Jack cheese 1 pint whipping cream

Red beans and rice with Mexican cornbread.

Directions:

What’s your favorite thing to cook at the station?

What’s your favorite thing to cook at home?

Lasagna with garlic bread.

Best cooking tip: Keep it simple, especially while spicing. Too many spices can mess a meal up faster than anything else. Also, plan ahead. The biggest mistakes I’ve ever made in the kitchen were when I didn’t plan ahead.

It will prevent you from overextending yourself.

Favorite restaurant:

Joe’s Italian in Alabaster. The food they put out is great.

How are you preparing for Iron City Chef?

Right now, my prep is planning the menu and figuring out timing for the dishes. Chief Jim St. John and assistant chief Marvin Green have given me every resource available to be successful in this competition. I want to represent Vestavia Hills Fire Department well and put the best dishes I can in front of the judges.

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Boil the chicken until cooked through.

Let cool enough to handle, then shred the chicken.

Medium dice the yellow onion.

Heat the tablespoon of butter in a pan over medium high heat. Sauté the onion until softened and translucent.

Add the cans of diced peppers and black olives to the onions and let cook for 1 minute.

Add the shredded chicken to the mixture of onions. Lower the heat to medium. Stir in cream cheese until completely combined and the mixture is even.

Place even amounts of mixture into tortillas and roll into enchiladas.

Place the enchiladas into a large pregreased Pyrex dish.

Grate the Colby Jack cheese and put on top of the enchiladas.

Pour the whipping cream on top of the cheese evenly throughout.

Place in oven for 45 minutes. The sauce will be thickened. ❖

Good People Brewing Co. is celebrating its seventh birthday July 4 with a backyard barbecue.

Culinary The event, from Community 1 p.m.-midnight, News and Events includes the official opening of Community Hall, the Birmingham brewery’s new taproom and gathering space.

Those who attend can have barbecue, burgers, hot dogs and ice pops from 1-4 p.m. before the Birmingham Barons’ game at 6 p.m. at Regions Field.

Guests also will have a bang-up view of the Thunder on the Mountain fireworks show, which starts at 9 p.m.

The birthday bash includes beer special releases and live music. Tickets aren’t needed to attend.

Good People is at 114 14th St. S. in downtown Birmingham.

Spirited Class: Learn About Vodka at The Gardens

Participants in a Birmingham Botanical Gardens class can learn about the history of vodka – and, even more fun, how to make summer cocktails using the popular spirit.

Birmingham bartender Clair McLafferty will lead Plant It, Pick It, Drink It! June 18 from 6-8 p.m. in The Gardens’ Plant Adventure Zone.

Featured drinks include the Moscow Mule; the Berry Smash with mint, lime,

See bbg, page 26

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

“This is my wife’s favorite thing that I make,” VanHooser said. “She insisted that I send this recipe.” Smart man.

2 pounds of chicken breasts 1 medium yellow onion 1 tablespoon butter 1 can diced green peppers 1 can diced black olives 8 ounces cream cheese, softened

Spectacular home on a beautiful lot with huge westerly views! Every detail has been thought of in this stunning lake home. Natural stone and wood exterior against a backdrop of wide open lake views make a huge impact as you drive up.

Spacious home with 8 bedrooms and multiple family spaces- ideal lake property for entertaining large groups of family and friends!

What’s your favorite thing to cook at home?

I love cooking just about anything on my smoker and Kamado Joe ceramic egg.

Best cooking tip:

The Bright Star.

How are you preparing for Iron City Chef?

Here’s what the contestants plan to serve in the first round of this year’s Iron City Chef cooking competition.

Guests will sample each chef’s food and then vote for their favorite. The top two vote getters will move on to face each other in the finals.

• Lee Currie was choosing between two menus at press time: Boston butts with macaroni and cheese or meatloaf with mac and cheese and turnip greens.

Either way, he’s adding fried cornbread. For dessert, he’ll make a cobbler.

• Alexander Glover will dish up pasta shells stuffed with beef, Italian sausage and cheese and topped with a red sauce. He plans to offer key lime pie for dessert.

• Edward Pegues will stir up shrimp and grits as his main course with banana pudding for dessert.

• Trey VanHooser will serve herb-roasted roulade stuffed with apple chutney, goat cheese and mashed potatoes with focaccia bread and, for dessert, bananas Foster bread pudding ❖

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It’s a hybrid red beans and rice, jambalaya and gumbo. We nicknamed it “beans,” and it goes great with cornbread. I only cook it when it’s cold outside.

Favorite restaurant:

What’s Cooking in the Iron City Chef Kitchen?

Birthday Bash: Good People Will Host July 4 Barbecue

Ingredients:

What’s your favorite thing to cook at the fire station?

When cooking meats and poultry, let them rest a little while before serving.

Thursday, June 18, 2015 • 25

food

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Contact us to schedule your tour of this and other Lake Martin properties!

Becky Haynie

Broker / realtor (334) 312-0928 Becky@HomeonlakeMartin.com

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Happy Hour!

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26 • Thursday, June 18, 2015 Special guests are outdoor cooking expert John Henry and Martie Duncan, a “Food Network Star” finalist.

Tickets are $15. There’s no charge for children 12 and younger.

For ticket information, visit www. eastersealsbham.org.

From page 24

Tasting Party: Boys Choir Benefit Features Top Restaurants

seasonal berries and simple syrup; and the Cucumber Basil Gimlet (above).

Cathead Vodka is this class’s featured vodka.

The cost is $20. To register, visit www.bbgardens.org.

Big Green Event: Cooking Teams Will Compete in Easter Seals Fundraiser

Teams will turn into mean, green cooking machines at an outdoor fundraiser.

Easter Seals of the Birmingham Area will host the third annual Big Green Eggs in the Ham from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

June 20.

This year’s event, presented by ABSCO Fireplace and Patio, has a new home: Regions Field in downtown Birmingham.

Forty cooking teams will participate.

Those who attend can taste samples by visiting team stations or stop at a food truck. There also will be a Trim Tab Brewing Co. beer garden and Steel City Pops treats.

A kids’ zone will have moonwalks, face painting, glitter tattoos and popcorn.

Some of Birmingham’s most popular restaurants are taking part in this year’s Taste of Birmingham.

The fifth annual Birmingham Boys Choir fundraiser is from 6-9 p.m. July 30 at The Club. In addition to food samples, the event includes drinks and entertainment.

Tickets are $75 in advance and $85 at the door.

For more information or to buy tickets, call 767-9219 or visit www. thetasteofbirmingham.com.

Burger Boosters: Birmingham Restaurant Is Part of James Beard Contest

Galley & Garden will participate in the James Beard Foundation’s Better Burger Project, a nationwide contest and challenge to make, as one might imagine, a “better burger.”

The concept of this effort to amp up one of America’s favorite foods is for chefs to blend ground meat with finely chopped, cultivated mushrooms to create a tasty, healthy and sustainable burger.

At Galley & Garden in downtown Birmingham, Chef James Boyce will feature the #betterburgerproject Burger, a grass-fed beef and shiitake and oyster

Red Mountain Theatre Company Presents

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POPPINS

mushroom burger topped with crispy onions and barbecue aioli. The burger is $12 and will be available through July 31 at brunch, lunch and dinner.

Diners across the U.S. can vote for their favorite burgers through an Instagram-based social media challenge.

To vote and to support the Better Burger Project, visit participating restaurants until July 31 and order the “better burger.”

Next, post a photo of the burger on Instagram using the hashtag #betterburgerproject and the handle of the restaurant and/or the chef who created the burger. Share your opinion about what makes the burger better in the caption.

When the promotion ends at 10:59 p.m. July 31, the five chefs with the most photo uploads on Instagram will win a trip to New York City in October to cook their “better burger” dish at the James Beard House.

Visit www.betterburgerproject.org for a list of participating restaurants.

Other participating Alabama restaurants are Cork & Crust Pizzeria + Wine Bar in Madison and Villagio Grille in Orange Beach. You can follow #betterburgerproject on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Galley & Garden is at 2200 Highland Ave. S.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

BBQ and Brews at the Zoo

Full Moon, Good People Join Anniversary Event The Birmingham Zoo, Good People Brewing Co. and Full Moon Bar-B-Que are teaming up for a festive food and drink event June 20.

Zoo, Brews and Full Moon Bar-B-Que will celebrate the zoo’s 60th anniversary and the Year of Alabama Barbecue.

The family event is 5-8 p.m. at the Junior League of Birmingham-Hugh Kaul Children’s Zoo. It includes music by The Whigs, animal greetings and walkabouts, a bouncy castle and train rides.

The first 1,000 guests ages 21 and older will receive complimentary memorabilia cups.

“Full Moon Bar-B-Que is proud to team up with the Birmingham Zoo to help bring families and communities together to celebrate and raise funds for an organization that is not only a must-see attraction of Birmingham, but brings great joy to many,” Joe Maluff, Full Moon owner, said. Food, tea and water are included in the ticket price. There’s an additional cost for brews and soft drinks.

The zoo will close at 4 p.m. June 20 to get ready for the event. Zoo attractions will close that day at 3:45 p.m.

Event tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for ages 2-12.

All proceeds will be used for the care of the zoo’s animals and for its educational programming, zoo officials said.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.birminghamzoo.com.

— Donna Cornelius

New in Lakeview: Sky Castle Plans to Open This Fall

Sky Castle Gastrolounge is set to open in Birmingham’s Lakeview district this fall.

The restaurant’s owners are Jeff, Chris and Jason Bajalieh, co-owners of Slice Pizza and Brew and Sol’s Sandwich Shop and Deli.

Sky Castle Gastrolounge will be a full-service restaurant and bar on the ground floor of the 29 Seven building in Lakeview.

The eatery’s concept gets its inspiration from a bit of Birmingham history. In 1955, WSGN, the city’s first Top 40 radio station, had a remote studio on Seventh Avenue South in Lakeview. Deejays took requests from their “sky castle,” a glass-walled booth over Ed Salem’s Drive-In. Teenagers

Journal file photo

bbg,

food

cruised in to order burgers from roller-skating carhops and then hung around to watch DJs play their favorite hits. (We’re betting “Rock Around the Clock” and “Mr. Sandman” got a lot of requests.)

The Bajalieh brothers will partner with Birmingham chef Haller Magee to offer a Southern progressive menu featuring high-quality, seasonally driven ingredients, sourced locally whenever possible.

“I am thrilled to collaborate with the Bajalieh brothers, given their community-wide respect and connections,” Magee said. “We are all excited about the menu and what we will offer Birmingham – something it truly has not experienced before.”

The Sky Castle Gastrolounge interior will mix sleek tables and comfortable couches in an open concept.

Banquettes will resemble 1950s Chevy seats. ❖

Jul. 10–Aug. 02, 2015 at the Dorothy Jemison Day Theater at ASFA

Join everyone’s favorite practically-perfect nanny and her beloved pal Bert as they take the Banks family on a high-flying, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious musical adventure.

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for more information please Call mike wedgworth: 205.365.4344

From Arugula to Zucchini J&S Produce Brings Its Bountiful Harvest to Homewood

If you ask Jason Davidson what fruits and vegetables you’ll find at his Homewood produce stand, you may want to pull up a chair.

It’s a pretty long list that ranges from arugula to zucchini.

“Almost everything we sell is grown by my family in Chilton county,” Davidson said.

He and his wife, Sheila, live in Clanton. But on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for the past three years, their J&S Produce stand has been a regular fixture at Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood.

“My father, Bennie Davidson, has had a produce stand in Bluff Park for 20-some-odd years,” Jason Davidson said. “Some of the church people here at Trinity had been buying from my dad for a long time and wanted us to open a stand here.”

Growing veggies and fruits comes naturally to Davidson, he said.

“My family has been farming all my life,” he said. “I got out of it briefly and did carpentry work. When the housing industry got bad, I came back to farming.”

He’s happy that he decided to return to his roots, he said.

“We’re in our third season at Trinity now, and our business has been progressively growing every year,” Davidson said. “Trinity has been awesome to us.”

The stand is in the parking lot between Trinity and Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, drawing people from both churches, he said.

“Dawson folks have been good to us, too,” Davidson said.

All J&S Produce customers can find plenty of choices. This time of year, tomatoes are front and center

– and not just regular red versions but also green and grape tomatoes.

Chilton county peaches are plentiful, too.

“Just looking at our stand and going down the line, we have cucumbers, squash, mushrooms, cauliflower, broccoli, Vidalia onions, eggplants, and red, green and yellow bell peppers,” Davidson said. “We have bicolored corn and Silver Queen corn, and we have fresh-shelled peas.”

Fruits include watermelons, cantaloupes, plums, cherries, lemons and bananas.

“We also have organic lettuce, kale and arugula,” Davidson said.

“There’s a younger generation of customers here in Homewood, a lot of exercising people, and they like the organic stuff.”

Another J&S product has been a sweet success.

“The demand is so big for our peach blossom honey,” Davidson said. “The hives are right next to our peach fields in Chilton County.”

His favorite thing about operating the produce stand is “our customers,” he said.

“Almost every day, somebody’s going to stop by and bring us something to eat,” he said.

That may be a bit like bringing coals to Newcastle, but it’s a neighborly gesture that Davidson appreciates.

“I really love this community,” he said. “In the three years we’ve been here, we’ve never had a problem with anybody.”

J&S Produce is at Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, check out the company’s Facebook page. ❖

The board of directors of the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation last month approved grants of $382,776 for library, professional development and technological enhancements in the school system.

The grants will help provide a Chromebook cloudbased device to all Mountain Brook High School students, continue employing a math coach at the elementary level and fund the Institute for Innovation, among other projects.

The foundation approved the requests during its board meeting May 18, according to a news release. The foundation, which has an endowment valued at about $8 million, helps to bridge the gap between the school system’s annual needs and the amount it receives from local and state sources.

Of this year’s grant money, $175,776 will fund the school system’s website, replace classroom projectors, continue to fund MBTV with EduVision, an internet broadcasting company, and offer a new technology bundle to all Mountain Brook High School students.

The foundation’s underwriting of the new technology bundle, paired with technology fees paid by families during registration, will arm each student with a Chromebook and provide school system management, tech support, customer care and email and content filtering.

“The foundation has been the catalyst to help determine which way the school system should go in terms of devices,” Dicky Barlow, Mountain Brook school superintendent, said in the news release.

A research committee consisting of administrators, faculty, students and volunteers helped determine what technology was the best option for students and faculty at the high school.

School officials said the Chromebook will have everything loaded that students need to complete classwork, do research, communicate with faculty and each other, and take tests. Because Mountain Brook Schools cannot securely monitor individually owned electronic devices, the school cannot allow students to take tests on their personal devices. Providing students with a monitored device puts all students and faculty on an even playing field.

“Usually the system requests funding for technology and then gives it to the teachers with a directive to implement its use,” Barlow said. “This time, the teachers have asked for this very important technology initiative. This change in the request process is evidence of the difference the foundation’s support is making.”

In addition to the technology funding, each of the system’s six school libraries will receive $2,000, which will enable them to buy books, magazines, subscriptions and software.

“Due to the large demand by students, this funding

Photo courtesy Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation

Journal photo by Kaitlin Candelaria

Foundation Approves Mountain Brook School System Requests for $382,776

Jason and Shelia Davidson, above, have operated their J&S Produce stand at Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood for the past three years.

By Donna Cornelius

Thursday, June 18, 2015 • 27

food/schools

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Mountain Brook Junior High seventh grade English teacher Jennifer Nelson works with her students through a combination of traditional and technological methods.

will enable librarians to purchase more eBooks, so more than one student can check out a book at one time,” Dr. Missy Brooks, director of curriculum and instruction, said in the news release.

Furthermore, $195,000 was awarded for the continuation of partial funding for a math coach at the elementary level, summer professional learning stipends for all faculty members and a virtual learning space through the Institute for Innovation.

“We cannot take students on weekly field trips around the world, but we can provide them with an alternative,” Mountain Brook High School foreign language teacher Jessie Creech said during a board programs and needs committee meeting. “With projectors, Google Earth and motion controls, we can bring the world to our students by immersing them in a virtual world.”

The latest grants bring the foundation’s donations to Mountain Brook schools to almost $6 million since its inception in 1992.

“It is exciting to hear how our teachers are using these resources and rewarding to see their enthusiasm for the new initiatives,” Alice Womack, Foundation board president, said in the news release. “The foundation is making a difference for all of the students of Mountain Brook."❖

‘Warrior Princess’ Coming to Vestavia

Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation Announces Luncheon Speaker Leigh Anne Tuohy, above, dubbed a “warrior princess” by author Michael Lewis in his best-selling book “The Blind Side,” is the inspirational matriarch of the Tuohy family.

The chronicle of the Tuohy family’s life, Michael Lewis’ New York Times number one best-seller, went on to become a record-breaking Hollywood blockbuster that earned more than $300

million at the box office. The film boldly depicts both the struggles and triumphs of building a blended family; Sandra Bullock won her first Academy Award for her portrayal of Leigh Anne in the film.

Tuohy will be the keynote speaker at the second annual PNC Bank and Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation luncheon October 8.

The luncheon will be held at the

Vestavia Hills Country Club and tickets were scheduled to go on sale June 15.

The foundation provides financial support to Vestavia Hills schools and has set a goal of raising to reach $5 million of endowed funds.

For more information, email Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation executive director Ashley Thompson at director@ vestaviafoundation.org. ❖

28 • Thursday, June 18, 2015

schools

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Murphy Hits the Ground Running as New Hoover Superintendent

By Kaitlin Candelaria

‘Hoover is a very good school district but there’s so much more we can do. I want to see academic improvements – I want our students to leave our district college-ready if that’s their choice. If not, I want them to be career-ready.’ Dr. Kathy Murphy

Photo special to the Journal

School is not out for summer for Dr. Kathy Murphy.

The tasks have been plentiful since Murphy began her position as Hoover City Schools’ new superintendent on June 1. However, when she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, Connor, 22, who recently graduated from Troy University. Murphy is also an avid nature and sports lover.

“I love the outdoors,” Murphy said. “I love sports, particularly jogging and running. That is really a catharsis for me after a long day of sitting and processing and working through the challenges and the opportunities that come to you throughout the day as a superintendent.”

When jogging isn’t enough to clear her head, Murphy said, you can find her at her cabin, which sits on a 40-acre parcel of land.

For this summer at least, the cabin may have to wait. Murphy has jumped in feet first and is already tackling tasks such as filling the

that I engage with them not only in groups but, also one-on-one.”

Murphy comes to Hoover from Monroe County, where she served as superintendent through the end of May. Although Monroe County

ing,” Murphy said. “We want to fill those positions as soon as we can, but we also want to get those leadership positions right.”

Murphy credits Hoover City Schools’ human resource department

Dr. Kathy Murphy began her new role as the Hoover City Schools superintendent on June 1. She previously served as the Monroe County school system superintendent.

vacant principal positions at Bluff Park Elementary School and Spain Park High School.

“It’s been very busy, but so excit-

schools are very different from Hoover’s, Murphy is up to the challenge, she said.

“Good leadership is good leadership whether you’re leading a school district with 3,600 students or 14,000 students,” Murphy said. “That’s not to say that there will be no challenges or that I don’t have a learning curve ahead of me but I am confident.”

Long term, Murphy wants to help the school system rise from good to great.

for their hard work, which has made her transition smooth. She has not only been working to interview candidates for the two principal positions, but also on creating relationships in the central office as well as across the school system.

“Certainly included in my short term goals is engaging with the other stakeholders in this school district – the Hoover community, the parents, the principals, the instructors and more,” Murphy said. “It’s important

other school in history through the JDRF Kids Walk Program.

After teaming up with JDRF to host a walk and educate students on type 1 and type 2 diabetes, VHEW exceeded its fundraising goal of $3,000 by raising $11,000.

Kindergartner Caden James is one of many students who participated. James was diagnosed as a toddler with type 1 diabetes.

HMS Debate Team Places Third in High School Division Homewood Middle School’s debate team finished up the school year with a 13-5 record in the high school division, finishing third.

The team, which swept the middle school division awards in 2014, chose to debate in the high school division this year for a more competitive schedule.

Two team members finished in the top 10 of the 2015 Birmingham Area Debate League, which includes more than 120 students. Keefer Boone took home 7th place and Mac Wooley finished 8th.

The debate team is coached by Austin Bonds, Mike Janas, David Marshall and John Curtis.

The Korduroy Krocodile Wants You! Independence Day Sale

Homewood’s Unique Consignment Shop 2912 Linden Avenue • Homewood • 879-0030 Open Tues. thru Sat. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Deer Valley Students Aid Earthquake Victims Students at Deer Valley Elementary School banded together to raise $1,500 for victims of the recent earthquakes in Nepal.

Samantha Seymour, a former Deer Valley Elementary teacher, now lives in Nepal and works through an organization called Mountain Call. She works at the Kathmandu International Study Centre, where the money raised will be sent.

Over $800 was raised by first-grader Austin Freyer. Freyer set up a lemonade

Photo special to the Journal

OLS Students Earn Duke TIP Recognition Duke University’s Talent Identification Program has recognized four seventhgrade students from Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School for receiving high scores on the ACT or SAT. Ana Lowery, Savannah Meikus, Amelia Pugh and Charlie Stokes were recognized at a ceremony at the University of Alabama.

In addition to receiving medals, the students also were invited to the Academy for Summer Studies programs offered by Duke.

The Duke Talent Identification Program holds ceremonies in 16 states to recognize students for outstanding test scores.

BWF Celebrates 50 Years Duke Talent Identification Program representative Andrew Fenton recognized Amelia Pugh at a ceremony at the University of Alabama. Pugh was one of four students from Our Lady of Sorrows recognized by TIP. stand in his neighborhood as well as an online GoFundMe campaign called “Lemon Aid.” Students raised additional money by using funds from the student council budget and collecting donations.

Vestavia West Helps Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Vestavia Hills Elementary School West recently raised more money for the Alabama chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation than any

Bluff Park WindoW Works f Wood window restoration and repair

To: f Sash replacement, rot repair From: OTMJ f Replace broken and fogged glass Date: June 2013 f Wood insulated, putty glazed, and

composite vinyl replacement sashes This is your ad proof for the over the mountain Journal for the June 27, 2013 issue. Please approve, initial and fax to 824-1246 or contact Deer Valley Elementary students Austin Freyer, Lake Hendricks, Harris Downs, LocaLLy owned and your sales representative as soon as possible to make changes.

Lincoln Dooley and Grey Hendricks worked a lemonade stand to raise funds

Call 205-542-6094

operated

please initial and fax to 824-1246 within 24 hours.

If we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the friday

“Hoover is a very good school district but there’s so much more we can do,” Murphy said. “I want to see academic improvements – I want our students to leave our district collegeready if that’s their choice. If not, I want them to be career-ready.”

Murphy also stresses the importance of each student having a place to belong in the Hoover school system.

“We want to make sure we’re meeting the needs of all of our students, as diverse as they may be,” Murphy said.

“We want to support their interests and find a place for them to belong, whatever that might look like.”

All in all, the honor of being named the new superintendent is all hers, Murphy said.

“I am so grateful that the parents are trusting these precious students to us,” Murphy said. “I think that’s the greatest compliment a parent can give you – to trust you to have their children in your school. I respect the role of a parent because I am one and I want our parents to understand that we want the same things they want for their children.” ❖

for victims of the recent earthquakes in Nepal.

Brookwood Forest Elementary celebrated the 50th anniversary of the school with a weekend of events for the BWF family.

The festivities started May 24 when the principal and assistant principal kicked off the school day with a special broadcast featuring trivia, pictures and a promised surprise regarding the school’s birthday party.

The surprise was a parade led by the high school marching band through the halls of the school. As the band passed each classroom, students and teachers joined the parade out to the field behind the school.

Once there, the students made a “birthday card” for the school by lining up in the shape of a 50 and having an aerial picture taken while singing “Happy Birthday.”

After a full day of fun, members of the community, alumni and former faculty and staff were invited to a reception on May 26 featuring scrapbooks and artifacts from the history of the school.

During the event, sixth graders gave tours of the school to share student work and updates to the building with guests of the event.

In addition to providing an opportunity to reconnect with old friends at the reception, Francis Mitchell, an original BWF faculty member, cut the ribbon to unveil the school history hall, a timeline created to honor people and accomplishments that have helped shape the history of the school. ❖

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

weddings

Thursday, June 18, 2015 • 29

Not only are Lieutenants Will and Jenny Hyden partners in life, they are both members of the United States Air Force. Will is a 19th Special Operations Squadron Pilot and Jenny is a 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Officer.

Photos courtesy of Erin Lindsey Images

Mother of the Bride Terry McBride, above, places the finishing touches on Jenny’s wedding gown. In honor of her late father Jenny requested that his signature be featured in the lining of her wedding dress, below.

Wedded Wingmen Will Hyden and Jenny McBride Find Love Standing on the ‘Moon’

By Emily Williams

L

ieutenants Jenny and Will Hyden “aim high,” not only in their professional lives as members of the United States Air Force, but in their love lives as well.

Though both hail from the Birmingham area - Jenny from Mountain Brook and Will from Pelham - the two did not meet until their sophomore year of college through their Air Force ROTC program.

“I was at Samford and he went to UAB but we did ROTC through the detachment at Samford University, which is where we met,” Jenny said.

Because they were cadets in the same detachment, the two got to know each other through their classes and friends and eventually began dating.

One of Jenny’s favorite memories from their time spent dating was their “moon date.” The two created a bucket list of sorts - appropriately called the to-do list - that included the task of standing on the moon and looking at Earth.

One night, Jenny said she left a detachment meeting and found a package in her apartment.

“I opened it and there was a ‘letter from NASA’ with a flight suit and a time hack,” Jenny Hyden said. “Long story short, Will showed up in his flight suit and whisked me away to the ‘moon.’”

The makeshift moon landing consisted of a blanket spread in an empty lot and one phone displaying a Google Earth image of the world.

“It was pretty creative, he comes up with cool

knew about the planned proposal, as did his two best friends.

“I told some of her closest friends the day of, when I knew they couldn’t accidentally let it slip,” Will said.

Though Jenny was kept in the dark, she said she was not blind to the imminent proposal.

“I had made it a practice to suspect a proposal at every turn,” she said. “Even if we weren’t together I was expecting him to show up randomly at work or at my friend’s house when I was on a trip and propose.”

On Dec. 27, 2013, the couple became engaged while also marking another experience off of their “to-do list” by climbing a water tower.

“It’s more difficult than you would think to find a water tower that isn’t blocked off,” Jenny said. “We’d been trying for the better part of a year to find one.”

Blinded by the excitement of finally finding a climbable tower, Jenny said she was not the least bit suspicious as Will handed her the to-do list, so she could cross off the item.

“I turned around to use the water tower as my writing surface and went to cross it off when I saw, ‘Climb to the top of a water tower,’ followed by, ‘Say yes to the rest of our lives together,’ “ Jenny As the couple exited St. Paul’s Cathedral, friends and fel- said.

After she accepted the proposal, the low members of the military performed the Arch of the Sabers, a tradition in military weddings. couple began planning a wedding that spoils like that every now and again and I love them,” Jenny said.

After four years of friendship and a year and half of dating, Will began planning his proposal, asking Jenny’s siblings for their blessings in September 2013. He then asked Jenny’s mother, Terry McBride, for her permission on Oct. 22. Will traveled all the way to Austin, Texas to suprise his future mother-in-law at her birthday lunch.

Before he proposed, Will said, his family also

Will said was the best party of his life. The two married on Nov. 22, 2014, at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Birmingham in a ceremony officiated by the Rev. Bob Sullivan from St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.

Jenny stood at the altar with seven bridesmaids, including her sisters Kelli and Laura McBride serving as maids of honor, while Will stood with six groomsmen, his friends Jake Leurck and Luke Webb serving as best men.

“My mom, Will’s parents and my two sets of grandparents were all a part of our ceremony,” said Jenny. “It was so wonderful to have so much of our family present and part of our ceremony.”

In honor of her late father, Robert R. McBride Jr., Jenny and her family prayed a decade of the rosary before the ceremony and Terry McBride per Jenny’s request - had her late husband’s signature stitched into the lining of the wedding dress.

Both agreed that their favorite part of the ceremony was just before Jenny was led down the aisle by her brother, Charlie McBride. The couple’s friend Debbie Flax sang an a cappella rendition of “Ave Maria” to signal the beginning of the procession.

Though there is a certain amount of protocol to follow in regard to military uniform, customs and decorum, Jenny said the event was not restrained by her and her husband’s involvement with the military.

“The fact that we had a saber arch was a little detail that set us apart from non-military weddings,” Jenny said.

The Arch of Sabers ceremony takes place as the newlywed bride and groom exit the wedding ceremony venue. A group of four, six or eight officers in uniform form an arch with their sabers and welcome the bride to the military as the couple passes underneath.

“It was cool to see our military friends and family dressed in uniform,” Jenny said. “It brought a sense of history and pride together in one place and reminded us to be grateful for the ones who were unable to make it because of that commitment to service.”

Following the ceremony, guests traveled across town to the McBride’s home for a backyard reception by the pool.

The couple said that the real showstopper at See wingman, page 32

30 • Thursday, June 18, 2015

Weddings & Engagements

Kettig-Wade

Katherine Barrow Kettig and Michael Douglas Wade Jr. were married March 21 at the Country Club of

A Brides Wish A Little Girl’s Dream A Flower Girl

2423 Canterbury Rd Mtn. Brook Village 205.871.6611

Smythe-Heyer

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Coley

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Birmingham. The Reverend Lindsay Michelle Wade, sister of the groom, officiated the ceremony.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Morgan Kettig of Mountain Brook. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Kettig Jr., the late Mr. Samuel Earle Hiden and the late Mrs. Barrow Gore Ryding, all of Birmingham.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Douglas Wade of Vestavia Hills. He is the grandson of the late Commander and Mrs. Aredus Buck Wade Jr. of Memphis, Tennessee, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hill McDougal of Winona, Mississippi.

Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore an ivory Chantilly lace cap sleeve gown with a ruched bodice

and scattered beading on an A-line skirt with covered buttons to the end of her train. Her dress was designed

by Kelly Faetanini of New York and bought from the Carriage House. Her veil had been worn by her mother and sister. She was attended by her sisters, Laura Kettig Beasley of Memphis and Anne Kettig Lary of Mountain Brook.

The flower girl was Marley Rae Wade, daughter of the groom.

The groomʼs father served as best man. Ring bearers were William Taylor Beasley and John Kettig Beasley, nephews of the bride, of Memphis.

Music for the ceremony was provided by Charles Richard Byrd IV. A reception followed at the Country Club of Birmingham. After a wedding trip to Costa Rica, the couple live in Birmingham.

Smythe of Birmingham announce the engagement of their daughter, Dorothy Katherine Smythe, to John Tays Heyer, son of Dr. and Mrs. Richard Leroy Heyer Jr. of Tupelo, Mississippi.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lester Clifford Longley Jr. of Chattanooga, Tennessee, the late Col. and Mrs. William James Dobson of Arlington, Virginia, and the late Capt. George Winfered Smythe Jr. of Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

Miss Smythe is a graduate of Vestavia Hills High School and Auburn University, where she received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in collaborative special education. She was a member of Alpha

Gamma Delta sorority. Miss Smythe is a special education teacher at Crestline Elementary.

The prospective groom is the grandson of Mr. John Franklin Collins Jr. of Tupelo, Mississippi, the late Mrs. Lisa Nash Collins and the late Mr. and Mrs. Richard Leroy Heyer Sr. of Corinth, Mississippi.

Mr. Heyer is a graduate of Tupelo High School and the University of Mississippi, where he received a bachelor’s degree in biology. He was a member and served as the 2009 president of Sigma Chi fraternity. Mr. Heyer is employed with Amazon as a workforce staffing specialist.

The wedding will be July 18 at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church.

Summers-Clifton

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Lynn Summers of Mountain Brook announce the engagement of their daughter, Katherine “Katie” Ellen Summers, to Austin Michael Clifton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Michael Clifton of Kennesaw, Georgia.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Dr. David Jack Rowland and the late Mrs. Rowland of Jasper, and the late Mr. and Mrs. George Carson Summers of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Miss Summers is a 2014 magna cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama, where she received a bachelor’s degree in commerce and

business administration in accounting with a specialization in professional accounting and a minor in Spanish. She received her master’s of accountancy degree in 2015 from the University of Alabama. She was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi social sorority, Omicron Delta Kappa, Blue Key Honor Society and the Cardinal Key Honor Society. She was presented at the Poinsettia Debutante Ball in 2012. Miss Summers will be employed with Pricewaterhouse Coopers in Birmingham.

The prospective groom is the grandson of the late Mr. Henry Wade Thurmond III and the late Mrs. Anne Lynn Pomorski, both of Dallas, and Mrs. Billy Michael Clifton and the late Mr. Clifton of Killeen, Texas.

Mr. Clifton is a 2014 cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in commerce and business administration in marketing. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and was a cadet major in the University of Alabama ROTC. Mr. Clifton is plant manager for Atlas Welding Supply Co, Inc., in Tuscaloosa. He is a 2nd lieutenant in the Alabama Army National Guard.

The wedding will be Oct. 3 at Canterbury United Methodist Church in Mountain Brook.

To have our wedding & engagement forms sent to you, call 823-9646.

Angelo–Bullard

Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Anthony Angelo of Vestavia Hills announce the engagement of their daughter, Mary Elizabeth Angelo, to Edwin Andrew Bullard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Alvin Bullard of Florence.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mrs. Jacquelyn Brooklere Milazzo and the late Mr. Joseph John Milazzo of Vestavia Hills, and Mrs. Elizabeth Levio Angelo and the late Mr. Phillip Claude Angelo of Vestavia Hills.

Miss Angelo is a 2007 graduate of Vestavia Hills High School and a 2011 cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama, where she received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in computer technology. She received her master’s degree in marketing from the University of Alabama’s Manderson Graduate School of Business in 2013.

Miss Angelo was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi social sorority, Golden Key, Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Lambda Delta, Sigma Alpha Lambda and Alpha Pi Sigma honor societies. She was presented at the 2009 Poinsettia Debutante Ball.

Miss Angelo is employed as a senior recruiter at Robert Half Technology in Greenville, South Carolina.

The prospective groom is the grandson of Mrs. Walter Clyde Scott and the late Mr. Scott of Opelika, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Wallace Hayes of Florence.

Mr. Bullard is a 2007 graduate of Florence High School and a 2011 summa cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He was a four-year member of the University of Alabama football team. He was a member of the 2008, 2009 and 2010 SEC Academic Honor Rolls and recognized as a University of Alabama Football Outstanding Senior Scholar in 2010. He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Tau Sigma, Tau Beta Pi, Golden Key and Sigma Alpha Lambda.

He received a master’s degree in business administration from the Culverhouse College of Commerce and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama in 2013. He is employed as a project engineer with BMW North America in Greenville. Mr. Bullard is also a partner of Spicy Vines wine company in Napa, California.

The wedding is planned for Aug. 22 at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Birmingham.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Thursday, June 18, 2015 • 31

Weddings & Engagements

Bromberg’s For high quality and luxury jewelry, Birmingham residents can come to Bromberg’s, one of America’s oldest family-owned businesses for fine jewelry, watches, custom jewelry design, premier bridal registry and giftware.

“We are Alabama’s oldest business,” Ricky Bromberg said. “We have been retailers since 1836.

One could say we have more experience in the wedding registry business than anyone else around today.

“We offer the largest and finest selection of china, crystal and silver in the Southeast, and so much more. We also offer brides many incentives such as our gift card system and completion program, discounts on wedding bands and attendants’ gifts and a free gift when you register. And that’s not all--when a bride receives or purchases seven place settings they get the eighth one free.”

Bromberg’s is located at 2800 Cahaba Road in Mountain Brook, 871-3276, and 131 Summit Blvd. at The Summit, 969-1776.

“We have been retailers since 1836. One could say we have more experience in the wedding registry business than anyone else around today.” ricky bromberg, Bromberg’s

Catherine Ryals Couture

custom one-of-a-kind design that is as unique as they are.

Catherine Ryals Couture designs and makes any kind of ladies’ garments, particularly mother of the bride and groom gowns, as well as providing alterations services for wedding gowns.

“We make sure the gowns we create are marked by impeccable craftsmanship, attention to detail and high-quality materials and laces imported from all around the world,” Catherine Ryals said. “We’ve been in business for about 11 years. We started off doing just wedding dress alterations. Over time, though, our business has developed and we began designing and making wedding dresses under the Stella Reese label.

“In the past couple of years, we’ve branched out into designing and making custom gowns for the mothers, in addition to more everyday wear and less formal dresses. ““I really get to know my clients and their personalities and we work together to create a

‘The best advice I can give to a bride is don’t lose weight during the last week before the wedding. It’s frequently too late in the game for alterations, not to mention being a pricey emergency.’ Catherine Ryals, owner “The best advice I can give to a bride is don’t lose weight during the last week before the wedding. It’s frequently too late in the game for alterations, not to mention being a pricey emergency. You don’t want to be that bride who is pulling on your dress.”

Catherine Ryals Couture is located at 2839 Culver Road, Suite 204 in Mountain Brook, 3290024.

Cr C Ca therine

r yals Couture

Specializing in: Designing and Making Custom Ladies Clothing & Wedding Gown Alterations Call for an Appointment: 205.329.0024 Located Above DG Restaurant 2839 Culver Road Suite 204 Mountain Brook Village

32 • Thursday, June 18, 2015

Weddings & Engagements

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

The Blue Willow

The Birmingham Zoo

The Birmingham Zoo has six event facilities that can accommodate 10 to 1,000 guests for bridal teas, luncheons, rehearsal dinners, wedding ceremonies and receptions.

“With accommodations ranging from the Zoo Lodge, a rustic stone house nestled in the woods to our Trails of Africa Safari Peak which overlooks our exhibit of African bull elephants, the Birmingham Zoo offers a truly unique experience for your guests,” say Lindsey Coley, special events coordinator, and Courtney Sanak, special events manager, from left.

“The zoo also offers extra events including animal demonstrations, greetings and walkabouts that will leave your guests talking about your wedding for months.” Sanak said. “With catering options ranging from African safari to formal elegance, we can help make your event a success.”

The Birmingham Zoo is Alabama’s must-see attraction. About 950 animals of 230 species call the 122-acre zoo home.

“By choosing the Birmingham Zoo as your venue, you help spread the zoo’s mission of inspiring passion for the natural world,” Sanak said.

For details, visit www.birminghamzoo.com.

The Birmingham Zoo is located at 2630 Cahaba Road, Birmingham, 397-3859.

The Blue Willow is the ultimate one-stop shop for those who want to add a touch of Southern charm to their life and home, said Anna Barnes, owner, below.

From home décor and gifts to jewelry and unique baby items, The Blue Willow has some of the area’s most fabulous finds and well-known product lines, she said.

“It’s the perfect place to find a heartfelt gift for any wedding, birthday, baby shower, hostess gift or when you might just want a little something special for yourself,” she said.

The Blue Willow offers monogramming, etching, engraving and personalization to transform a gift into something extraordinary.

“Knowing that a bride’s wedding day is one of the most important days in her life, The Blue Willow strives to make it even more memorable,” she said. “Our bridal consultants are there every step of the way.”

The Blue Willow makes registering a piece of cake and offers brides a wide selection of dinnerware and pottery, unique accessories to coordinate with place settings and one-of-a-kind home decor pieces to personalize the couple’s new home, Barnes said.

“We also offer 10 percent off all hostess/bridesmaids’ gifts and items left on a registry after the wedding, free gift wrapping for purchased gifts and a $25 Blue Willow gift card for bride referrals.”

The Blue Willow, 3930 Crosshaven Drive, 968-0909.

The Scribbler

The Scribbler in Homewood specializes in stationery, wedding invitations and custom fine paper. Ginny Hutchinson bought the shop in 2008, and after several years as a stationery and gift shop in Crestline, she moved the shop to Linden Avenue in Homewood. The Scribbler offers in-house napkin printing and is an excellent source of printed wedding/party items, such as personalized cups, koozies, match boxes, napkins, hotel bags for wedding guests, wedding programs, itineraries and much more.

“Shorter retail hours allows me time to set private appointments and be more responsive to my paper customers,” Ginny said. “ After years of being a gift shop with paper, we decided to eliminate the majority of the gifts so we could focus on what we love -- fine paper! We love spending time with each client to enable us to find the perfect fit for their needs. The Scribbler is a dealer for many fine paper lines, including Crane, William Arthur, Smock, Bella Figura and Vera Wang. Visit the shop online at www.

ScribblerPink.com.

The Scribbler is located at 2919 Linden Avenue in Homewood, 271-8135.

William Arthur William Arthur

William Arthu Wedding Wedding William Arthur

Special Special Wedding Wedding Special Special 25% off* 25% off* reply card sets reply card sets thru 7/19/15 25% off* thru 7/19/15 *good towards wedding reply card more; sets orders of 100 or *good towards wedding thru 7/19/15 does notof apply to more; truly orders 100 or

25% off* reply card set Open weekdays 10 til 3 & by appointment 205.271.8135 2919 Linden Avenue thru Open weekdays 10 til 7/19/15 3 & (Homewood) by appointment does notalbum. apply to truly *good towards album. wedding orders of 100 or more; 2919 Linden does not Avenue apply (Homewood) to truly album.

2919 Linden Avenue (Homewood) 205.271.8135

205.271.8135

Open weekdays 10 til 3 & by appointment

wingman, From page 29

*good towards weddin orders of 100 or more does not apply to trul their first married year would be when me, Will and The Fab spent apart. Due to their military Five - my family - got up on thealbum.

obligations, Jenny has been stage with the band and sang residing in South Carolina while the of Aretha Franklin’s To:last partScribbler the wedding reception was the Will is stationed in Florida.ph., ‘Respect.’”

From: Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 dance floor, which was packed Living apart for the first year of After sharing a final slow 205-824-1246, fax for almost the entire evening. marriage exemplifies their devodance, the Hydens exited the Date: June 2015 Will said that his favorite tion to the second core value reception through a path of is your from the over the mounta moment at the reception was, of the United States Air Force: fireworks andThis headed to the ad proof “the dance-off between the guys June issue.Before Please fax approval or chang Self.

Excellence Resort in Playa18, 2015Service and the girls. We had an epic “It’s been a honeymoon Mujeres, Mexico, for a weekdance off and the men clearly every time we getall to see each long honeymoon. please make sure information won - in spite of the rigged vot“It was awesome not to have other,” Jenny said. ing.” including address and Their lives apart will comephone a care in the world,” Jenny said.

The Pat Patrick Band from to a close very soon as Jenny “All-inclusive resorts are the Nashville provided live music willinitial be able and to move Floridawithin 24 way to go for your honeymoon. please faxtoback for the reception.

October, saidofisthe theFriday before We hadn’t had that much timehave notinheard If we fromwhich you byshe 5 pm “That dance floor was out first step in their big plans for devoted to just us before.” your ad will run as is. We print the paper Mond of control in the best way postheir lives together.

The couple said that they Thank you forto get your prompt atte sible,” Jenny said. “I loved it “We want our own relished their time together, as plane one day and give people joy rides, have a bunch of kids …”

Jenny said. Will interrupted to correct her and said that they would be having three kids.

In addition, Jenny said that they hope to make an adventure out of every assignment they get from the military.

Jenny said, “We’ll duck, dive, dip and dodge with whatever life throws our 2841 Cahaba Road • Mtn. Brook Village • 879-5277 • M-F 10-5 • Sat 10-4 way.” ❖ www.thecookstoremtnbrook.com

2919 Linden Avenue (Homewo 205.271.8135

Open weekdays 10 til 3 & by appointm

Experts on:

Happily Ever After 3930 Crosshaven Drive 968-0909 www.thebluewillow.com Find us on facebook

Bridal registry available We deliver locally

Levy’s Fine Jewelry “Levy’s Fine Jewelry is the largest estate and antique jewelry dealer in the Southeast,” Jared Nadler, above left with his mother Rhoda Link and cousin Todd Denaburg, said. “We specialize in estate, antique and modern jewelry.” All three are members of the family that has owned the business since 1922.

“Our bridal selection is extensive,” Nadler said.

“We have rings dating back to the Victorian era.

The older rings are so beautifully made with such intricate detailing done by hand. Made with filigree detailing or engraving, each is a one-of-a-kind piece.

“The rings from the Art Deco era are edgy and bold, have sharp lines and use different color combinations such as onyx, sapphire or emerald. We also have gorgeous estate wedding bands with beautiful engraving. Some of these still have wedding dates or names of the couple engraved on the inside, which makes them so special. With these pieces you get to imagine what the women who had them

Thursday, June 18, 2015 • 33

Weddings & Engagements

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

before were like and make up your own story.

“We also have a large modern bridal area. There are so many different styles such as classic Tiffany settings, halo settings, vintage reproductions and many others. We have rings set with a diamond already or you can choose from one of the many semi mountings that allows you to choose the size diamond you want for the center.”

“If we don’t have exactly what you are looking for or you would like to alter one of the designs you have seen, one of our four award- winning jewelers can help you design whatever may be the perfect ring for you,” Denaburg said. “We guarantee that you will leave feeling ecstatic in your choice and that once you propose, she will be the envy of all her friends.

“Our motto has always been ‘It’s Like Having a Relative in the Jewelry Business’ because we like to think all of our customers are an extension of our family. Our trained GIA staff works to give you the information you need to find what works best for her lifestyle and your wallet.”

Levy’s Fine Jewelry is located at 2116 Second Ave N., Birmingham, 251-3381.

For over 90 years, Levy’s has been Birmingham's Specialist in Antique and Estate Jewelry as well as Fine Diamonds, Art and Antiques.

The White Room

The White Room redefines the couture bridal experience.

“Our passion is to make the day you choose your wedding gown as memorable as the day you wear it,” Cathy Kelley, owner, said.

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“Our boutique hours are always by appointment, so that we may provide each bride with an intimate personalized experience in a quaint, yet luxurious setting,” Cathy said. “We are open Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Platinum appointments may be booked for after hours, Sundays and Mondays while the boutique is otherwise closed, for a nominal $250.00 charge.

Champagne and sweets will be served during these appointments.”

The White Room offers many exclusive designers not carried anywhere else in the state.

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Sareh Nouri Trunk Show, July 31-August 1.

Judd Waddell Trunk Show, August 21-22 Be sure to check the calendar of events page online for future events.

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2415 Canterbury Road, Mountain Brook ~ 970-6767

34 • Thursday, June 18, 2015

sports

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Cannon Fire

By Ian Thompson

Cannon had a share of the lead after round one with Matt Johnson.

He then led the rest of the way on his own as he successfully kept his challengers at bay.

Martin, the reigning State High School 7A individual champion, recent Spain Park High School graduate and soon-to-be freshman on the Vanderbilt golf team, put some pressure on Cannon, getting within two shots on multiple occasions, but could get no closer in what turned into a two-horse race.

University of Alabama rising senior and Mountain Brook resident Tom Lovelady fired the low round of the day, a 66, to move to five-underpar overall and a third place finish.

Cannon’s UAB teammate Taylor Eyster, who played for Mountain Brook High School and will be a sophomore for the UAB Blazers, finished in fourth place.

But it was Cannon’s day. After

Leading after every round, defending champion Will Cannon successfully defended his title in the 99th State Amateur Championship at Mountain Brook Club on Sunday.

The UAB rising senior and Hoover resident had rounds of 65-68-72-68--272, good for 12-under-par 272, and a four-shot win over Patrick Martin (68-71-6968--276).

He becomes the first player since Montgomery resident and former University of Alabama golfer Hunter Hamrick to win back-to-back State Amateurs, with Hamrick doing so in 2009 and ‘10. Cannon indicated he hoped to go for three in a row next year when the 100th State Amateur will be hosted by the Country Club of Birmingham. Sam Farlow is the only player to have won three in a row (1986-88).

three pars to open his round, he caught fire with birdies on Nos. 4, 5 and 6. After a bogey on hole 8, he rebounded by a birdie on No. 9 to go out in 33 and lead Martin, who started with three birdies in his first five holes, by three.

Cannon played the back nine in one-under-par with bogeys on holes 10 and 15 against birdies on 11, 13 and 18, to close out in style in front of a large group of spectators.

“It really is very special to win the State Amateur,” a jubilant Cannon said. “It makes all the hard work I put in worthwhile. This is why I do work hard…for days like this.

“Patrick put a lot of pressure on me and I was glad to hold him off.

I was trying my best to not worry about what he was doing and to play my game, stick to my game plan, but he made it tough. He just didn’t make any mistakes.”

Photo Courtesy of Alabama Golf Association.

Hoover Native Successfully Defends His State Amateur Title

Will Cannon successfully defended his title in the 99th State Amateur Championship at Mountain Brook Club on Sunday. The UAB rising senior and Hoover resident had rounds of 65-68-72-68--272, good for 12-under-par 272, and a four-shot win over Patrick Martin (68-71-69-68--276).

Martin was pleased with his performance.

“I hit a lot of good shots, but it was tough to get at pins. I’m

pleased though with my game and my consistency. I only missed two greens (in regulation) today. I got close to Will, but couldn’t get close enough.” ❖

BUSA 04 North Elite Win State Cup in Decateur

Photo special to the Journal

Photo special to the Journal

From left, front: Maggie Windle, Ava Mueller, Ellen Anderson, Sarah Simon, Millie Yerkes and Katy Dykes. Back: Ellie Campbell, Isabel Smith, Lillie Lowery, Kate Methvin, Rayna Mastin, Reagan Waggoner and Coach Ivy Duggan. Not pictured is Elise Andrews.

From left: Sam Goldasich, Homeowod golf coach Keat Litton and Crawford Flach.

JUNE

20 2015 5:00H 8:00pm

adult ticket:

$15 | child ticket (2-12 years old): $10 birminghamzoo.com

Homewood High Students Sign for College Golf Two Homewood High School golf team members have signed on to play collegiate golf.

Sam Goldasich has signed with Lipscomb and Crawford Flack has been signed on at Samford University.

Keat Litton, head coach, said he is proud of these two students and their accomplishments.

“I’m looking forward to what they will do in their college careers,” he said.

Get Ready!

The 2015 OTMJ High School Football Preview Coming Soon!

Thursday, June 18, 2015 • 35

sports

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

The Haynes Brand

By Lee Davis

As a young girl, Leigh Haynes gave several sports a try.

Basketball was fun, but she tended to foul out a lot. Her hustling, aggressive nature earned her the name “Bulldozer.” In a different mode, Haynes tried ballet, but it wasn’t for her. Something about the speed and aggressiveness of soccer made the game a perfect fit.

“I started playing Sunday afternoon soccer at the age of three,” Haynes recalled last week. “After that I played in a recreational league until I got to the competitive level. Soccer was always the sport I felt most comfortable playing.”

Choosing soccer may be the best decision she ever made. Haynes, who just graduated from Mountain Brook, was recently named the 2015 Gatorade Alabama Girls Soccer Player of the Year. She was the spark that led the Lady Spartans to a long reign as the top-ranked team in Class 7A before being eliminated in the playoffs by eventual champion Oak Mountain. “It was exciting – and humbling – to win the Gatorade award,” she said. “So many great players have won it before. But I couldn’t have done it without the support of my teammates and coaches.”

tigers,

From page 36

10-inning bout with UCLA to claim one of the final four spots in the Women’s College World Series. The Florida Gators ended up eliminating the Tigers in extra innings the following day.

Harper said there was a lot of pressure in those last two games. She said that even though the stakes were high, the coaches reminded the play-

baseball, From page 36

going back to Alabama.”

The duo from the Capstone weren’t the only two area players drafted. Former Spain Park standout Alex Close of Liberty University was drafted in the 26th round by the Kansas City Royals. Close played catcher and first base, and he pitched for Liberty. He is projected as a catcher in professional baseball. Close batted .342 with seven homers and 46 RBIs. On the mound, Close posted a 2-2 record with an ERA of 2.21.

Often used in a relief role, he led his team with six saves.

While White, Salem and Close are making decisions about their baseball futures, two important baseball coaching vacancies have been filled. Longtime Vestavia assistant Jamie Harris was elevated to the head coaching slot by athletic director Jeff Segars last week. Harris replaces Tommy Walker, who abruptly resigned shortly after

Haynes, a midfielder, scored 14 goals and passed for eight assists in 2015. She also was named All-State, All-Metro and Mountain Brook’s Most Valuable Player. Her college destination is Wake Forest University, a perennial women’s soccer power in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“I’m excited about pursing my dream of playing college soccer,” she said. “I’ve always tried to set high goals for myself, and I’ll continue to do that at Wake Forest. Playing at an ACC school will make it challenging to get playing time during my freshman year, but I have a great support system to help me.”

As impressive as Haynes’ high school numbers were, they could have been even better. She would actually ask the Spartan coaches to take her out of one-sided Mountain Brook victories so less experienced players would have a chance to get on the field.

“I really didn’t care about building up statistics just to build up statistics,” Haynes explained. “When asked if I wanted to stay in a game to score more goals, I always said ‘no.’ It was more important that the younger players had an opportunity to play.”

Haynes’ intense work ethic is her trademark and probably will increase her chances of making an immediate

impact at the collegiate level. She practices about three hours a day, several times a week on her own – in addition to club team practices. “If I wanted to achieve my goals, I had to do more than just the required practices,” she said. “Being a successful midfielder involves being able to read the field and know where to play the ball at all times. I don’t consider myself an outstanding midfielder, but rather someone who is working to become an outstanding midfielder.”

Her work ethic extended to the classroom as well, where Haynes produced a 3.65 grade point average.

To do so, she made the ultimate sacrifice for any teenage girl in 2015 – no music and no cell phone.

“When I was playing club soccer in Georgia, the radio and cell phone was turned off to Atlanta and back,” she said, smiling. “It’s amazing how much school work and studying can be done in that length of time.”

Haynes had many great games and moments in her career at Mountain Brook, but the one she declared as the highlight may provide the best insight into her character.

Last season, the Lady Spartans dedicated a game to Sid Ortis, a Mountain Brook Junior High student who is battling cancer. Haynes doesn’t remember her statistics from

ers that this was a reward that they should enjoy.

“Every girl dreams of playing in the Women’s College World Series and we were able to make that dream a reality,” Harper said. “I know this is only the beginning of something big for Auburn softball.”

Shea said the lessons she learned playing at Mountain Brook have stayed with her. She said one of the most important things she learned is the value of respecting others. “[Respect and] hard work will take

you a long way,” Shea said. “I think that has definitely helped me a lot, not only in life, but also playing here at Auburn.”

Harper also said that she benefited from lessons her high school coaches taught her. She said she cannot thank them enough for how well they prepared her for college.

“I learned that it takes hard work to achieve what you want in life,” Harper said. “A good work ethic and good attitude will pay dividends in the long run.” ❖

the top-ranked Rebels were eliminated from the state Class 7A playoffs last month.

Harris, who coached hitting and infield as an assistant, graduated from Vestavia and played for the legendary Sammy Dunn in the 1990s, at the peak of the program’s incredible run of nine state championships.

“Of course there’s pressure to carry on Coach Dunn’s legacy and the tradition of Vestavia baseball,” Harris said. “You can see it in our recreational youth leagues. We’re never going to let that well run dry.”

The cupboard won’t be bare for Harris. The Rebels return a crop of talented players for 2016, including ace pitcher Sonny Potter.

While Vestavia stayed in-house for its baseball hire, Oak Mountain went outside in replacing Brian Breeze, who was released after the Eagles failed to qualify for the post-season last spring. Derek Irons is the new Oak Mountain coach. Irons comes from Charles Henderson in Troy, where he led the Class 5A Trojans to

consecutive state crowns in 2013-14 and compiled a seven year record of 221-62.

“Only a special opportunity could make us choose to leave Charles Henderson, but that time has come,” Irons said.

While Irons isn’t likely to be daunted by his new challenge, he can’t help but notice the lay of the baseball land. Oak Mountain competes in Class 7A’s Area Five, which includes defending state runner-up Thompson and the always formidable Hoover Bucs. The Eagles also regularly face the likes of Vestavia, Mountain Brook and Spain Park, all of which spent most of last season in the Class 7A top five.

It’s interesting how Vestavia and Oak Mountain went in opposite directions in hiring a baseball coach. The Rebels stayed within their “family” to maintain a tradition, while the Eagles brought in a big name from outside to build a new legacy. The following years will reveal the success of the two different approaches. ❖

Photo special to the Journal

Spartan Midfielder Named Gatorade Player of the Year

‘I really didn’t care about building up statistics just to build up statistics. When asked if I wanted to stay in a game to score more goals, I always said ‘no.’ It was more important that the younger players had an opportunity to play.’

Leigh Haynes

the game, but she does know why it was important. “Although I don’t know him personally, seeing the community rally behind him has made an impact on me,” she said. “When I learned we were going to play a game in his honor, it was exciting that our team was able to show our support along with everyone else in Mountain Brook.”

Haynes isn’t allowing herself any down time during the sum-

mer months. She’s training six days a week, following a Women’s Professional Soccer League regimen as well as getting private training so she will be primed and ready when she heads for college.

“When it’s time to go, I’ll be prepared,” she said. “I’m nervous too, but it will all work out.”

Picking soccer over basketball and ballet definitely worked out for Leigh Haynes. ❖

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C

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Sports

Spartan Midfielder Named Gatorade Player of the Year Page 35 Cannon Claims 99th State Amateur Golf Championship Page 34

One for the Record Books

Photo courtesy Auburn Athletics

OTM Athletes Help Propel Auburn to the Women’s College World Series

By Tyler Waldrep

A

uburn University softball did not end the season with a title, but the historic run will not be forgotten by the program or the players anytime

soon.

Four of those players represented area schools. Former Spain Park student Madi Gipson and Mountain Brook’s Courtney Shea were joined by a pair of Hoover alums, Madison Dickey and Marcy Harper.

Shea said she enjoyed all of the support the team received recently. She said the team recognized its own potential from the very beginning.

“It’s amazing!” Shea said. “Knowing that Auburn has never made it this far and that our team will be in the record books is unexplainable.”

Auburn survived a high-scoring,

Clockwise from top: Madi Gipson; Courtney Shea; Madison Dickey and Marcy Harper.

lee davis

Talkin’ Baseball

Draft, Coaching Changes Make News The early days of June usually are a comparatively slow news cycle for Over the Mountain athletics.

Not this year, as baseball news seems to be everywhere. Perhaps the best news of all came to former Spain Park star Mikey White. White, who had just completed his junior year at the University of Alabama, was drafted in the second round by the Oakland Athletics.

A standout shortstop, White led the Crimson Tide with a .339 average, scoring 48 runs and a slugging percentage of .537. He batted a solid .308 in his three seasons at Alabama.

White is a former Over the Mountain Journal Boy Athlete of the Year.

Also drafted was White’s Crimson Tide teammate Georgie Salem. Salem, a former football and baseball star at Vestavia Hills, was taken in the 39th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

An outfielder, Salem batted .276 with 12 doubles and 17 stolen bases.

Salem also set a Crimson Tide record by playing in 86 consecutive games without committing an error. He is also a former Over the Mountain Journal Boy Athlete of the Year.

Salem said he had spoken with representatives of the Diamondbacks, but didn’t necessarily expect them to draft him. He also didn’t rule out returning to Alabama next year.

“I’m not 100 percent sure what I’m going to do,” he said. “I had a certain number in mind as far as when I would be drafted and how much money I’d be offered. So we’ll just have to see. But I’d have no problem See baseball, page 35

See Tigers, page 35

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