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THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019
King Chambliss and Queen DeBuys Reign at 52nd Annual Beaux Arts Krewe Ball
Masters of Ceremony
R
oyalty reigned at Boutwell Auditorium on March 1 as the Beaux Arts Krewe celebrated its 52nd Krewe Ball. The event benefits the Birmingham Museum of Art and the Krewe Acquisition Fund. This year’s theme, “Under the Big Top,” celebrated a night at the circus. Reigning over the ball was King Russell Warren Chambliss Sr., joined by his wife, Ann, and Queen Madeline Lysbeth DeBuys, escorted by George Sage Lyons III.
Photo by Hank Spencer
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
See KREWE BALL, page 12
Above, Krewe Ball pages. Right Russell Warren Chambliss Sr. and Madeline Lysbeth DeBuys.
NEW LUXURY CONDOMINIUM and TOWNHOME RESIDENCES COMING SOON to MOUNTAIN BROOK and VESTAVIA. With private garages, gated entry, high end finishes, and walkability to shopping, parks and restaurants, Overton Village’s TWENTY-THREE CONDOMINIUMS and EIGHT TOWNHOMES are a MUST-SEE.
Learn more o n page 3 !
2 • Thursday, March 7, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
OPINION/CONTENTS
Inside
Murphy’s Law
Home Delivery
L WORKING DOGS Puppy Love Keeps Customers Going Back to Mountain Brook Village Shops PAGE 10 THE BAGEL TRADITION Homewood Couple Turn Hobby Into a Growing Business PAGE 28
ABOUT TOWN 4 8 NEWS 10 LIFE 12 SOCIAL 17 WEDDINGS
HOME FOOD SCHOOLS FASHIONS SPORTS
20 28 31 32 36
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
ast week, as I was slogging through the aisles at the big box stores, other people went merrily about their business while a professional personal shopper selected their cans of green beans. Later, when they were good and ready, they pulled into the store’s drive thru lane and a kindly vested person loaded the groceries into their trunks. They didn’t even have to get out of the car. In fact, if they didn’t even want to get into the car, they could have the whole mess delivered. It’s a new world, my friends. If you don’t even want to plan your meals, you can have a week’s worth of food delivered to your house in kit form. The ingredients are pre-planned, pre-measured and pre-chopped. You still have to cook everything, but I’m guessing there will come a day when a chef comes included. If they’d throw in a followup tech to do the dishes, I’d sign up for sure. Maybe, like me, you want your food to arrive already cooked. Pizza delivery is standard, but now just about anything you get a hankering for can be whisked right to your table. Steak and baked potato, salmon salad or pie a la mode? Just ask. The a la mode part would have to be transported in a special cooler, but these are professional delivery people, so I’m sure they have that all worked out. Of course, no one lives on pie alone, a la mode or otherwise. A body needs clothing and tools and cute little knick-knacks to set on the coffee table, and amazingly, you can have all that delivered, too. Rose bushes? Duvet covers? Knobs for your kitchen cabinets? Sure. You can procure all that in your pjs. If you sign up for subscription service,
you don’t even have to remember to order them. There are fruit of the month clubs and ink cartridge of the month clubs and wine of the month clubs (not in Alabama, sadly) that will do your restocking just in time. Because my life is always a bit askew, my ordering is done on a piecemeal basis. My last Amazon order included a box of English Breakfast K-Cups, a two pack of refrigerator air filters and an off-season copy of the movie “Holiday Inn,” a grouping that would have been a sure disappointment for a porch pirate. Honestly, I don’t understand those guys. Sure, you’re getting something for nothing, but what? Their take can’t be that good most of the time. I suppose some people order gold jewelry and big Sue Murphy screen TVs but the rest of us get deliveries of mundane items, shampoo and funny T-shirts Because my life is always and bouillon cubes they don’t carry in our a bit askew, my ordering local grocery store. Take a chance on jail time for a big box of things you might not be able is done on a piecemeal to sell or even use? It doesn’t make sense. Now, if you followed one of those car basis. My last Amazon company trucks that deliver cars to their new order included a box owners, you might have something. The of English Breakfast delivery people probably don’t just leave the car sitting in the driveway with the keys in K-Cups, a two pack of the ignition, though. Never mind. refrigerator air filters I recently saw two halves of a prefab and an off-season copy home traveling down 280 on twin flatbed trucks. Home delivery of your new home. of the movie “Holiday That’s the best one yet. As soon as the techniInn,” a grouping that cians glue the two halves together and put the would have been a sure numbers on the mailbox, the homeowners can order a pizza. disappointment for a Home delivery. I love it, although I have porch pirate. to wonder how much you should tip the driver when he delivers you a house.
Over the Mountain Views
What are your plans for Spring Break?
Publisher & Editor: Maury Wald Copy Editor: Virginia Martin Features Writer: Donna Cornelius Staff Writers: Ingrid Howard, Emily Williams Editorial Assistant: Stacie Galbraith Sports: Blake Ells, Rubin E. Grant Contributors: Susan Murphy, Jordan Wald, June Mathews, William C. Singleton III, Emil Wald, Marvin Gentry, Lee Walls Jr., Bryan Bunch, Sam Prickett Advertising Sales: Julie Trammell Edwards, Laura Lane, Tommy Wald, Suzanne Wald
Vol. 28, No. 15
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 mwald@otmj.com. Find us on the Web at otmj.com. Copyright 2019 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.
“We are going to Charleston to visit family.”
“We’re going to Park City, Utah for our first ski trip.”
Jonathan Brown and Jennifer Lacewell Homewood
Bryan, Laurin and Tucker White Homewood
Have you been missing out on local news and events?
With everything that’s happening “Over the Mountain,” it can be difficult to keep up. That’s why we have launched the new OTMJ newsletter.
Published every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - we’ll give you a quick recap of the latest news, sports and social events as well as a heads up on upcoming events so you won’t miss any of the interesting and fun happenings in the Greater Birmingham metro
area. To sign up for our newsletter, visit otmj. com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, @ overthemountainjournal, for daily updates on what’s going on around town, too.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, March 7, 2019 • 3
OPINION/CONTENTS
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4 • Thursday, March 7, 2019
Best-selling author, radio host and Christian commentator Eric Metaxas will speak March 18 at Samford University as part of the Percy Cook Ratliff Lecture Series. Metaxas is a prominent Christian faith ambassador on the national stage. In 2012, he was selected as the keynote speaker for the National Prayer Breakfast. His take on current and faith-based affairs can be heard over the airwaves on his radio program, The Eric Metaxas Show, and he is the founder and host of Socrates in the City: Conversations on the Examined Life. His biographies of Christian figures such as Martin Luther and
MARCH 7 - 21 Thurs., March 7 Birmingham Botanical Gardens 2019 Spencer Lecture
What: Spend an evening with Barbara Paul Robinson, author of “Heroes of Horticulture: Americans Who Transformed the Landscape” and “Rosemary Verey: The Life and Lessons of a Legendary Gardener.” A book signing will follow the free lecture. Books are available for purchase at Leaf & Petal. Registration is required. When: A 5:30 p.m. reception in the Hodges Room, followed by a 6 p.m. presentation Where: Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Linn-Henley Lecture Hall Website: bbgardens.org
March 8-10 The Sleeping Beauty
What: Alabama Ballet presents The Sleeping Beauty, choreographed by Marius Petipa, featuring spectacular sets, vibrant costumes and the beautiful score by Tchaikovsky, performed by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. When: March 8, 7:30 p.m.; March 9, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and March 10, 2:30 p.m. Where: BJCC Concert Hall Website: alabamaballet.org
Sat., March 9 Photo courtesy Samford University
Kiwanis Club Pancake Day
Eric Metaxas
Dietrich Bonhoeffer have earned him spots on the New York Times Best Seller list. Metaxas’ writing has also been published in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The New Yorker. Additionally, he has authored more than 30 children’s books. Metaxas’ recent contribution to the humor genre is broadening his audience to include younger adults. Metaxas’ website, ericmetaxas. com, describes his recent book “Donald Drains the Swamp” as a “whimsical and hilarious parable for the current political moment.” Metaxas lives in New York City with his wife and daughter. Tickets for the Percy Cook Ratliff Lecture Series are available at samford.edu/go/otmj. Opportunities to meet Metaxas are available through VIP packages. Proceeds from the lecture series go toward the Orlean Beeson School of Education Legacy Scholarship and the Jewel Littleton-Williams Annual and Endowed Scholarship. —Sarah Kuper
What: The Homewood-Mountain Brook Kiwanis Club hosts its annual Pancake Day featuring all-you-caneat pancakes, sausage, coffee and other beverages. The event will include a silent auction, door prizes and a Kid Zone. Proceeds benefit the Homewood-Mountain Brook Kiwanis Club service projects focused on serving children throughout the greater Birmingham area. When: 7 a.m.-noon Where: Exceptional Foundation Website: homewood-mtbrook-al. kiwanisone.org
Village 2 Village Run
What: The annual 10k run through Mountain Brook will also feature a shorter 7.5k option. An after party, at the finish line in front of the Grand Bohemian Hotel, will include champagne, chocolate strawberries, massages, live music and more. When: 7:30 a.m. 10k start Where: Lane Parke, 2525 Lane Park Road Website: mtnbrookchamber.org
Paws for the Cause
What: This certified 5k off-road cross-country race through Veterans Park benefits the Shelby Humane Society. New this year, the Tail Waggin’ Trek is a onemile “obstacle” course run for individuals or teams and adults, kids and dogs. Obstacles are suitable for all ages.
Journal file photo by Jordan Wald
New York Times Bestselling Author Coming to Samford Series
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
ABOUT TOWN
Fri., March 8
From left, Drayton Nabers with Katherine and Scott Stone enjoying the fun at last year’s Schoolhouse Rock event.
Schoolhouse Rock
What: Cornerstone’s Junior Board hosts the 14th annual adult-only fundraiser featuring live music from Just a Few Cats, a live and silent auction, event giveaways, cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres. All proceeds benefit the students of Cornerstone School. When: 7-11 p.m. Where: Regions Field Website: csalabama.org When: 8 a.m. Where: Veterans Park Website: shelbyhumane.org
Taste of Teal Gala
What: Laura Crandall Brown Foundation presents its annual fundraiser to benefit the foundation and its research focused on early detection of ovarian cancer. The event features a seated dinner and cocktails, live and silent auctions, casino games and music. When: 6 p.m. Where: The Wynfrey Hotel Website: thinkoflaura.org
An Evening with the Author: Madeline Miller
What: Join the Emmet O’Neal Library for a free lecture and book signing with the acclaimed, bestselling author of “Circe and the Song of Achilles.” Books will be available for purchase. When: 7-9 p.m. Where: Emmet O’Neal Library Website: eolib.org
Sun., March 10 Gray Ghost Gala
What: Weimaraner Rescue of the South presents its annual gala featuring a silent auction, heavy appetizers, beer and wine. All proceeds benefit the organization and its mission to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome Weimaraners in need in Alabama, Mississippi and parts of Tennessee, Louisiana and Georgia. When: 3-6 p.m. Where: Gabrella Monor Website: weimrescue.com
Tues., March 12 Harmless vs. Hazardous Workshop
What: This event is a collaborative event between All in Mountain Brook, Vestavia and Homewood. The workshop will cover Prescription Medication Abuse and Prevention, Vaping: What Parents & Professionals Need to Know and Addiction: Warning Signs and Resources. When: 5:30-8 p.m. Where: Samford University, Brock School of Business Website: mtnbrookchamber.org
Thurs., March 14 Hoover Easter Basket Community Service and Flora Mae Pike Award Presentation
What: Hoover Service Club will hold its community service project - preparing baskets for the Green Valley United Way Food Bank - and the Flora Mae Pike Award presentation. The award is presented annually to a Hoover resident to recognize outstanding volunteer service. Lunch is available following the meeting. Reservations required. Call Winnie Cooper, 979-5699. When: 11 a.m. Where: Hoover Country Club Website: hooveral.org
March 15 and 17 Tosca
What: Treat yourself to magnificent melodies and nonstop action as Opera Birmingham presents Tosca, Puccini’s dramatic and beloved masterpiece in a tale of love, lust, deceit and murder. A tragic and political love story, Tosca explores sacrifices made for love. Sung in Italian with projected English translations. When: March 15, 7:30 p.m.; and March 17, 2:30 p.m.
Where: Samford University, Wright Fine Arts Center Website: operabirmingham.org
March 15-17 Two Henrys
What: Two Henrys explores secrets and shame, guilt and grief, perceptions and prejudices - and the urge to find family. A bittersweet, funny, hopeful new American play from the author of Red Mountain Theatre Company’s 2018 hit Alabama Story. Strong language and adult themes. When: Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sun., 2 p.m. Where: RMTC Cabaret Theatre Website: redmountaintheatre.org
Sat., March 16 Red Shoe Run - Rockin’ 5k
What: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama invites their supporters to channel their inner rock star for their annual run. Runners are encouraged to don outfits inspired by their favorite rock bands. After the race, supporters will enjoy a block party in front of the Ronald McDonald House complete with music, vendors and more. When: The 5k portion will begin at 8 a.m., 1 mile run/walk 8:10 a.m. Where: The run will start and finish at Ronald McDonald House in Downtown Birmingham Website: rmhca.org
VHHS RISE-Rebel Run
What: Vestavia Hills High School presents a color 5k and fun run. Run into a new color each mile. Runners receive a complimentary packet including an event t-shirt and goodies from businesses throughout the community. All
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Cherry Blossom Festival
What: The Japan-American Society of Alabama hosts the 2019 Sakura Matsuri. Included in the lineup of guests will be ACT Defense, Alabama Bonsai Society, Alabama Multicultural Organization, Briarwood Church Japanese Children’s Choir, a calligraphy booth, Robin Ray Crafts, Sister Cities Quilts and more. When: 10 a.m-4 p.m. Where: Birmingham Botanical Gardens Website: “2019 Cherry Blossom Festival” Facebook page
Pink Palace Casino Night
What: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama hosts a casino night in support of their mission to fund local breast cancer research. Guests will enjoy Vegas-style casino gaming, hors d’oeuvres by Kathy G. and Company, a complimentary beer and wine (cash bar available) and live entertainment from II da Maxx. When: 7-10:30 p.m. Where: Soiree Website: bcrfa.org
works highlighting aspects of the human rights experience. The event will include playwright Q&A sessions, staged readings of new works, community conversations and commissioned pieces from young artists. When: check the website for events and times Where: RMTC Website: rmtchumanrights.org
Sat., March 23 Rumpshaker 5k
What: Rumpshaker hosts the 11th annual 5k run/walk to benefit the organization’s mission to raise colorectal cancer awareness, raise funds to fight and treat it and provide hope for colorectal cancer survivors and those fighting the disease. When: 8 a.m. 5k start, 9 a.m. fun run start Where: Regions Field Website: rumpshaker5k.com
Auburn Coach Being Honored During Tee It Up Fore Life Auburn University mens basketball coach Bruce Pearl has been named honoree for this year’s Tee It Up Fore Life event. The American Cancer Society event is presented by Medical Properties Trust and will be June 10 at Old Overton Club in Vestavia Hills. “We are extremely excited that coach Pearl will serve as the honoree for this year’s Tee It Up Fore Life event,” said Winston Busby, volunteer chairman of Tee It Up Fore
Photo courtesy Auburn Athletics
proceeds will benefit Children’s of Alabama’s oncology department. When: 9 a.m. 5k start, 10 a.m. fun run start Where: Vestavia Hills High School. Website: vestaviahills.org
Thursday, March 7, 2019 • 5
ABOUT TOWN
Pearl started the Autlive program at Auburn in 2015-16. Autlive raises the awareness of cancer prevention and detection.
Life. “His passion and energy are contagious, and we are grateful for his participation this year. We are looking forward to fighting cancer and supporting a wonderful cause.” Proceeds from Tee It Up Fore Life will benefit the society’s mission of saving lives, celebrating lives and leading the fight for a world without cancer. Specifically,
Sun., March 17 Three Choir Festival
What: Saint Mark United Methodist Church and the Birmingham Boys Choir will host a concert featuring members of the choir’s Concert Choristers, the church’s Godspeed Youth Choir and the Florida State University Singers. When: 4 p.m. Where: Saint Mark United Methodist Church Website: birminghamboyschoir. com
Thurs., March 21 American Values Luncheon
What: The Boy Scouts of America Greater Alabama Council is pleased to announce the 2019 American Values Luncheon, featuring keynote speaker Nick Saban, accompanied by Master of Ceremonies Eli Gold. Funds help provide a scouting experience for inner city youth. For more information or to reserve a seat or table contact Kim Thomas at kim. thomas@scouting.org. When: noon-1:30 p.m. Where: BJCC North Hall Website: “American Values Luncheon Boy Scouts of America” Facebook page
March 21-24 RMTC Human Rights New Works Festival
What: Red Mountain Theatre Company hosts a festival that seeks to inspire, engage and transform audiences with powerful
L uxury Living SEE IT. LOVE IT. LIVE IT. 2 2 0 0 2 N D AV E N U E S O U T H • D OW N TOW N B I R M I N G H A M 205.58 8.1362 • B I R M I N G H A M W H O L E SA L E .CO M
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one of the programs that will benefit from the golf tournament provides patients with transportation to and from treatments. Pearl started the Autlive program at Auburn in 2015-16. Autlive raises the awareness of cancer prevention and detection while T-shirt sales and donations raise money to benefit cancer patients and their local hospitals. In four years as head coach at Auburn, Pearl has led the Tigers to 70 wins, a Southeastern Conference Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament this past year. In his 23 seasons, he has guided his teams to the NCAA Tournament 18 times. He ranks second among active SEC coaches in winning percentage as an NCAA head coach at .720. For more information about Tee It Up Fore Life, visit teeitupforelifebirmingham.org or contact Meredith Rodgers at meredith.rodgers@cancer.org.
6 • Thursday, March 7, 2019
ABOUT TOWN
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
The Sound of Irish Music
Photo special to the Journal
Photo special to the Journal
Popular Group Coming to Hoover for Two Shows
The St. Patrick’s Day parade lineup, Irish dancing and refreshment specials begin at 11 a.m. in the Southern Research Institute parking lot. Chick-fil-A will host the Kids Area from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day Three Days of Events Planned for Birmingham’s 35th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
By Kennedy McJunkin
The 35th annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration begins Thursday, March 14, with the Irish flag raising at Chick-fil-A in Five Points South. The ceremony, a function of the Birmingham Irish Cultural Society, starts at 5:30 p.m. Following the flag raising, a procession of bagpipes will lead the crowd to Brennan’s Irish Pub for a toast to the health of Birmingham. Birmingham Irish Cultural Society chairman Marty Connors hopes to gather as many people as possible for Birmingham’s largest St. Patrick’s toast. “A significant number of people have Irish and Scottish ancestry, and maybe they should be reminded,” Connors said. Guinness pints will be available for $5 with the option to get a name etched on the glass.
The celebration continues the night of March 15 with the 39th annual St. Patrick’s Dinner Celebration at Pine Tree Country Club from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. “It is amazing how much this dinner has evolved,” said Connors. “What started off as a keg party is now a white tablecloth fundraising dinner.” Proceeds will be donated to Kid One Transport and the Norma Livingston Ovarian Cancer Foundation. Traditional Irish cuisine, drinks and music will be provided – except for green beer. “You will not see green beer,” said Connors. “It is artificial food dye. You will see real Irish beer, like Guinness.” Tickets may be purchased on the Birmingham Irish Cultural Society’s Facebook page. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade, led by the Ian Sturrock Memorial Pipe Band, will be March 16 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The parade lineup, Irish dancing and refreshment specials begin at 11 a.m. in the Southern Research Institute parking lot. Chick-fil-A will host the Kids Area from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All day March 16 and 17, participating merchants in the Five Points area will offer Irish food and drink specials. To find a list of the participating restaurants and more information about the St Patrick’s celebration, visit stpatsfivepoints.com. “First it was the party, then the parade, and the folklore since is priceless,” said Connors.
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The Young Irelanders, above, have performed across six continents and for many heads of state, Presidents of Ireland, U.S. presidents, Prince Albert of Monaco, as well as in many noted international venues such as Beijing Opera House, Sydney Opera House, Kremlin State Palace in Moscow, the U.S. Capitol Building, The Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center. The group will be performing two shows at The Library Theatre.
March 13 and 14 The Young Irelanders
What: Each year, the Irish Cultural Academy brings together some of its finest exponents of Irish traditional music, song and dance as part of one sensational group known as The Young Irelanders featuring much-loved vocal numbers like “Galway Bay” the foot stomping beat of Kerry polkas or a stirring air inspired by the Cliffs of Moher. Tickets are $27.50. When: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Where: Hoover Library Website: hooverlibrary.org
Thurs. March 14 Homewood Rotary Club’s St. Patrick’s Day Fundraiser
What: Join Homewood Rotary Club in supporting scholarships for Homewood students while enjoying live Scottish and Irish music from the band Hooley, food, drinks and live and silent auctions with items including a trip to Ireland, lake and beach house rentals, football tickets and more. When: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Where: SoHo Social Website: “Homewood Rotary Club St. Patrick’s Day Fundraiser 2019” Facebook page
Fri., March 15 Shamrock Shindig
2828 Linden Avenue | Homewood 870-4060 www.alabamagaslightandgrill.com
What: The Arc of Jefferson County Junior Board hosts its seventh annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration featuring drinks, hors d’oeuvres, live music from The Divines, prizes (to include Barons tickets, a weekend stay in Orange Beach, gift cards and more) and
the always exciting balloon drop. Proceeds support the Arc’s mission to provide for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. When: 7-11 p.m. Where: Iron City Website: arcofcentralalabama.org
Sat., March 16 Tour de Brewers XIV
What: This annual St. Patricks Day running/cycling event explores Birmingham’s breweries. Stops include Avondale Brewing Company, Back Forty Birmingham, Birmingham District Brewing, Cahaba Brewing Company, Ghost Train Brewing, Good People Brewing Company, Hop City Birmingham (hosting Intergalactic Ginger Beer), and TrimTab Brewing Company. The event concludes with a post-run/ride party at Tin Roof. Proceeds benefit The Dannon Project. When: 11 a.m. Where: The event begins and ends at Tin Roof Website: “Tour de Brewers XIV - St. Patty’s Day Edition 2019” Facebook page
ShamROCK: Beer, Bands and Beer
What: Cahaba Brewing Co. hosts a St. Patrick’s Day celebration featuring live music and food trucks. Bring your dogs and snap a picture of them enjoying Shamrock at the brewery and be entered for a chance to win a swag bag and get a small batch beer named after him. Use hashtag #4leafpupper to enter. When: 11 a.m.-11:59 p.m. Where: Cahaba Brewing Company Website: “ShamRock: Beer, Bands and Beer” Facebook page
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NEWS
8 • Thursday, March 7, 2019
By Emily Williams There is a silent and sinister industry at work from the farthest reaches of the globe to our own backyard, generating an estimated $150 billion a year, according to data provided by the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The human trafficking industry relies on the enslavement of about 24.9 million victims at any given time, and 40 percent of its work in the United States occurs in the Southeast. One of the major thoroughfares for trafficking is the Interstate 20 corridor between Atlanta and Birmingham. It is estimated that the average age of entry into trafficking in the U.S. is between 12 and 14 years old. To better treat these child victims when they are saved from their situations, a facility is finetuning its operations inside the adolescent psychiatric unit at the UAB Hospital. The facility is the first of its kind in the Southeast, according to Julia Meyers of the National Center for Sexual Exploitation’s Birmingham-based Rescue Innocence Movement. Inspired by an article about Rescue Innocence, Dr. Sara Gould of UAB’s department of orthopedic surgery and department of emergency medicine reached out to Dr. Yessie Yoon, child and adolescent psychiatrist at Children’s of Alabama, and Dr. Katherin Freeman, co-director of child and adolescent inpatient services at UAB. Together, the three physicians have created a program within the 16-bed, inpatient adolescent psychiatric unit for ages 12-18 years that caters to the needs of human trafficking victims. “Since we have a lot of good therapeutics already in place, we feel like this is the best place to house these victims while they are basically stabilizing,” Freeman
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Awaiting the Avalanche UAB Launches New Program to Treat Adolescent Victims of Human Trafficking
said. The unit already offers a variety of programs in the therapeutic environment, she said, dispensing any immediate medical treatment, physical or mental. Patients additionally will have access to a variety of therapy programs. There will be recreation activities, pet therapy, music therapy and occupational therapy – such as rehabilitation activities including creating artwork and poems or learning about emotions and expression. “It’s really a good starting ground, because not only would the victims come to our unit. They would be assessed for psychiatric needs and they would be treated for any chemical dependency issues,” which are common for victims of sex-trafficking, Freeman said. “Personally, I’m not an addiction specialist, but we have great coordination with addiction specialists here at UAB at our facility in the Department of Psychiatry.” The missing piece that the unit needs is to find and hire a physician who specializes in trauma and can better assess each patient’s needs. He or she also would work with the Department of Human Resources and any law enforcement involved in the cases to find the proper safe housing for the victims and connect them with appropriate follow-up care in the community. In order to fund the search and hiring of such a specialist, the UAB unit has partnered with organizations in the community that specialize in human trafficking, including the Rescue Innocence Movement, The WellHouse and the Junior League of Birmingham. Together,
they are working to shed more light on the issue of human trafficking in the community. Efforts to promote awareness and fundraise recently culminated in the Rescue Innocence Movement’s second annual gala, which raised $50,000 for the new facility’s $250,000 operating budget. “Last year when we hosted this event, we didn’t even know that this facility was going to be a thing,” Meyers said. “We were asking people to give money not even knowing where it was going to be, and people still donated, which was amazing.”
That Couldn’t Happen Here Syndrome
“It’s (the) kind of subject that people don’t always want to talk about because you don’t want to imagine that this is happening in your own backyard, but it is,” Freeman said. “I think if people read the stats, they would understand how serious an issue this is.” A Mountain Brook native, Freeman first came into contact with human trafficking during her residency in Reno, Nevada. While there, she worked with two adolescent patients who were victims. “We would stabilize some of these patients, but it is very hard to help,” she said. “They are mostly girls and it is difficult to incorporate them into regular society, because there is this stigma. They feel damaged. They have been coerced, and it’s very easy to slip back into it.” Before her time in Nevada, she had no idea that the I-65 corridor was such a major player in the
human trafficking industry. When Meyers began working with the National Center for Sexual Exploitation to create the Rescue Innocence Movement, she was inspired by her late brother, Paul Meyers. “He defended prostitutes in Jackson, Tennessee, for years,” Meyers said. “... In some cases, these women had even been sold by their parents when they were 2 or 3 years old.” That wasn’t the case for every victim, Meyers said. Only about 1 percent of victims are actually abducted, and many are lured into human trafficking via social media. Before the UAB facility, there was no place for law enforcement or DHR to take a child in the time period between picking them up and placing them in a home. Much of the work Myers is conducting through the junior league’s human trafficking awareness program and Rescue Innocence is reaching out to law enforcement to properly train them in communicating with victims. This would be something the UAB unit would get involved with as well. “A lot of these victims don’t really realize that they are victims, to be quite honest,” Freeman said. “They may feel like they are being punished by coming into the hospital – like their secret is out. And they want to protect their pimps, if you call them that. It’s re-educating the victims too.” In addition, the unit’s specialist would work with ER doctors to better identify victims when they enter the facility. “We’re not catching them, obviously,” she said. “We’ve had two in
the last year and we are missing a lot of them. A lot of them do come to the ER with vague symptoms, and what Sara Gould is trying to do is help educate the ER staff, identify things to look for.” Freeman noted that community involvement is also of major importance. Those involved must educate themselves on the effects of trauma to remove the stigma that makes the subject of human trafficking seem so taboo and isolates victims even more. “People think that if they were in that situation, they would never go along with it,” Freeman said. “But it’s all about coercion (and) how easy it is to do when you are younger and vulnerable and perhaps are initially stopped with substances.” According to Meyers, it is important to show these children who are victims that they aren’t in trouble and are not to blame for the trauma they endured at the hands of their captors. The UAB facility is a mechanism to give them that much-needed physical care while beginning the work to rehabilitate their minds. “For me, I think that in talking to DHR, the FBI and all of these big organizations, everyone has been excited that (UAB) is doing this and that this is going to be a reality,” Meyers said. “I truly believe that this is going to be facility that other states can use as a model.” Freeman said that, on behalf of her entire unit, she is grateful to have the opportunity to put the resources already in place at UAB to good use to help the community battle human trafficking. “The more you bring awareness to this issue, the more that avalanche starts to fall,” she said. “Then people will begin to recognize that they can’t get away with this victimization.” To make a donation, visit rescueinnocencemovement.com.
Bob and Weave New Homewood Gym Provides a Different Workout Experience
By Ingrid Howard
Lindsey Miller and Leah Drury of Battle Republic.
A new boutique boxing gym opened its doors on 18th Street in Homewood last month, and coowner Lindsey Miller said people should expect it to deliver a workout that is different from any they’ve done before. The boxing gym, called Battle Republic, offers 25- and 45-minute workouts. Each class implements a combination of boxing on a water
bag and doing floor exercises, and the music pumping through the speakers fuels the fire. “It’s dark in there, so you get this really great energy of a group fitness class and with an instructor who is pushing you and teaching you and doing it in a way so that you’re very motivated,” Miller said. “But it’s also kind of like you and your bag, so you get a little bit of solitude in that. There aren’t
See BATTLE, page 9
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
BATTLE From page 8
bright lights in there, and no one’s staring at you.” Miller is one of four co-owners of Battle Republic, and she said she is the business person in the team. In 2004, she started working at the downtown Homewood location of Zoë’s Kitchen, which is the restaurant’s first location. “Watching Zoë’s going from mom-and-pop to publicly traded, I got to really learn a lot about what it looks like to open up a new business, the mechanics that go into it and the financial piece that goes into it,” she said. Last January, she visited New York City to figure out what she would do next. She observed 18 new restaurant concepts there to get some ideas, but then she found two boxing gyms: Shadowbox and Rumble. When she came back to the Birmingham metro, she noticed there wasn’t anything like that in the area. “The restaurant industry is great, and I love it,” she said. “But this is something that was right in our face and was different and unique to the South and especially to Birmingham.” From there, Miller began to build the team. Leah Drury, who went to high school with Miller, began her coaching career with the Seattle Storm after she graduated college. She then spent 10 years
Thursday, March 7, 2019 • 9
NEWS coaching on the college and professional level.
Putting Together a Team
While Miller has a business background, she said Drury has the fitness background. “I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t have her help,” she said. Drury, laughing, said she wouldn’t have created Battle Republic without Miller, either. After that, they added two more to their team. Kevin Mclendon, owner of Telegraph Creative, helped Battle Republic build its brand. Luan Nguyen, who founded Wheelhouse Academy and consults with gyms, joined the team as a consultant. “It’s been really cool to have a balance of a financial business background and growing a concept. Luan has done it in the industry, Leah has got a fantastic energy, culture and coaching background, and then Kevin and his team really rounding it all out,” Miller said. Over the next few months, the team began to piece together how their idea would become a reality. When they heard White Flowers was moving out of its downtown Homewood location, they expressed interest in that property. “We think we’re a really good partner with a lot of the other concepts on the street,” Miller said. “A lot of people come over here and work out and go across the street and grab a biscuit. Then they walk
down to O’Henry’s and get a cup of coffee, or they leave here after their 6:30 class and grab a beer at Oak Hill and go shop at Soca. It’s a really good blend of the demographic, and I think we all play off each other really well.” As a nod to White Flowers, they kept the angels that are in the front and the white gate in the back of the property. Now, White Flowers operates in Brookwood Village. Since the gym opened Feb. 1, over 1,000 people have either downloaded the Battle Republic app or signed up for an account. Miller said people from all ages and all genders come in for a workout. “The mix of men and women has been surprisingly equal,” she said. “Men feel like it’s a masculine workout, but women feel like it’s a very empowering workout for them too. It’s been neat to see both of them really enjoy it.” Drury, who is one of the four trainers leading workouts at the gym, said one of her favorite things to see is how people grow more comfortable during the workouts. She said they typically start out nervous or insecure. “But then at the end of class, they’re really getting after it, and they’re into it,” she said. “It’s so cool to see this insecurity, and this ‘I don’t really know what I’m doing,’ and then at the end, they’re just throwing confidently.” To learn more about Battle Republic, visit battlerepublic.com.
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LIFE
10 • Thursday, March 7, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
WORKING DOGS Puppy Love Keeps Customers Going Back to Mountain Brook Village Shops
Meet a few other hard-working shop dogs in Mountain Brook Village ...
Buddy is a 3-year-old pup that Paige Albright rescued from TwobyTwo Rescue. He spends his days perched on a table by the door or in his favorite chair. He also takes lots of naps — being a shop dog is hard work.
Journal photos by Ingrid Howard
One customer at the Village Firefly said, “Addie Mae’s love tank never gets full.” The 10 ½-year-old goldendoodle loves when the store’s customers love on her — and if they don’t give her enough attention, she will lean on them until they notice her.
Cook Store owner Wesley Lassen with Lucy, a 10½-month-old goldendoodle. Lucy has been the store’s “shop dog” since she was 7 weeks old.
By Ingrid Howard All across Mountain Brook Village, shop dogs can be seen greeting customers at the doors of their owners’ shops. It’s no different at the Cook Store. In addition to pottery and cookware, customers are likely to find a fuzzy pup snuggled in a chair by the entrance. Lucy, a 10½-month-old goldendoodle, has been the store’s “shop dog” since she was 7 weeks old. “She loves to greet the customers,” said Wesley Lassen, who has owned the store for 20 years. “We live and die for the mailman to come, because he gives her a treat.” Before Lucy, there were two shih tzus that frequented the store. They belonged to Lassen’s mom and aunt. But when they passed, Lassen started thinking about getting another shop dog. Her husband had a golden retriever once before and suggested they get another one. “I just couldn’t deal with the hair,” Lassen said. “Plus, that was too big for the shop.”
But Lucy, whose parents are a goldendoodle and a poodle, doesn’t shed at all. And since she was the runt of the litter, she weighs only 26 pounds. “Her brothers and sisters are more than 40, 45 (pounds),” Lassen said. “She’s very small.”
A Village Character
When customers enter the store, they greet Lucy, who typically sits in her chair by the door and lies on her back, ready for a belly rub. Customers ask Lassen how she trained Lucy to be so well-behaved. “I think she was just a good dog, period,” she said. “I got a good one.” Frequent walks also help Lucy burn her energy, Lassen said. They go on three walks during store hours, in addition to the play time they have at home. “I walk her before we open, and then I walk her after lunch, and we have our stops,” she said. “We always stop at Village Sportswear, and we stop at Mountain Brook
Rupert, left, a Weimaraner who will soon turn one year old, likes to hang out at Eleven Eleven on Saturdays. He is full of energy and always wants the customers of this women’s clothing boutique to give him attention. Right, Bandit Robbins (black dog) is the shop dog at Mary Charles’ Dollhouse, and he is often visited by his daughter, Trinket Watts (blonde dog). Together, they like to greet customers and nap on the chair by the cash register.
Flower Shop and get Cheerios from Monty. We used to stop at B Kids, and we always stop at Leaf and Petal because they love her there. She’s very popular in the village. And in our third walk, we walk down to the school. We walk down the trail a little bit. And we stop at Village Pet Care because they always give her a treat.” If Lassen ever goes on a walk without her pup, people notice. “I walked from here to Village Sportswear one day – she was at doggy day care. I think
five people stopped me and said, ‘Where’s Lucy?’” she said. “A few of the people I had no idea who they even were.” At home, Lucy is ready to run, Lassen said. She loves playing fetch and tug-o-war there. But at the Cook Store, her calm and welcoming demeanor makes many customers return. “I think the customers love it,” Lassen said. “It just makes it friendly and homey and, because she’s good, people love to come see her.”
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Thursday, March 7, 2019 • 11
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
LIFE
Charlotte Gargis and Anna Arrington.
More than 40 beloved children’s characters gathered Feb. 23 in the Vestavia Hills High School gym for the annual studentorganized Superhero and Princess Breakfast.
Members of the Youth Leadership Vestavia Hills program and student
volunteers dressed up and signed autographs for children, raising money for Rise, a spring semester fundraiser that benefits the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Rise will continue with Concert for a Cure on March 9 at 7 p.m. The concert will be held in the VHHS auditorium and will feature Walker Burroughs and Riverbend. The Rebel Run 5K and Fun Run will be held March 16 at the high school, beginning at 9 a.m. The fundraiser will conclude with Rise Day, to be held April 12 on the VHHS athletic fields. For more information, visit vestavia.k12.al.us/vestaviahigh, follow the Extracurricular tab and click on “Youth Leadership.”
Birmingham Architect Pigford Named to AIA College of Fellows
range of project types – residential, educational, commercial, retail, institutional and religious. His work with diverse community groups is
evidenced by his long relationships with 16th Street Baptist Church, Beat, Kingston Coalition and Jones Valley Teaching Farm, among others.
Above, Ben Barrentine, Katherine Smith, Rachel Bates, Molly Dietrich, Ella Scott Barry and Ellie Barry. Below, Carrie, Browder and Phillip Gargis.
VHHS Rise Fundraiser Continues with Annual Superhero and Princess Breakfast
ArchitectureWorks’ founding partner Dick Pigford has been elevated to the College of Fellows by the American Institute of Architects. AIA’s College of Fellows was developed to elevate architects who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made a significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level. This year, Dick Pigford the AIA is elevating 115 member-architects to the College of Fellows. Pigford is the only candidate from Alabama to receive the honor. Only 3 percent of AIA members are named a fellow. The award highlights Pigford’s leadership of award-winning projects and dedication to community service. Early in his career, Pigford established SawWorks, a gathering space for local nonprofit groups that is in the ArchitectureWorks office. He also co-founded the Tuesday Group, a nonprofit organization of local architects, planners and engineers to provide low- and moderateincome neighborhoods with quality design services. This group helped springboard revitalization in Ensley through its partnership with the Bethel Ensley Action Taskforce. Pigford has worked on a broad
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RESILIENCE THE BIOLOGY OF STRESS & SCIENCE OF HOPE
“Researchers have recently discovered a dangerous biological syndrome caused by abuse and neglect during childhood. As the new documentary RESILIENCE reveals, toxic stress can trigger hormones that wreak havoc on the brains and bodies of children, putting them at a greater risk for disease, homelessness, prison time and early death. While the broader impacts of poverty worsen the risk, no segment of society is immune. RESILIENCE, however, also chronicles the dawn of a movement that is determined to fight back. Trailblazers in pediatrics, education and social welfare are using cutting-edge science and field-tested therapies to protect children from the insidious effects of toxic stress—and the dark legacy of a childhood that no child would choose.”
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Questions? Beth@bethchapman.com
12 • Thursday, March 7, 2019
SOCIAL
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
King Chambliss and Queen DeBuys Reign at 52nd Annual Beaux Arts Krewe Ball
Braden Tuttle with Maggie, Kathryn, Brad, Sally and Allen Baker.
Jack McKewen, Hatton Smith, Allen Baker and Edgar Weldon.
KREWE BALL From page 1
Presented as DeBuys’ ladies in waiting were Sara Margaret Baker, with trainbearer Kathryn Frances Baker; Carson O’Neil Hull, with trainbearer Mary Latham Mayfield; and Caroline Louise Marks, with trainbearer Abigail Elizabeth Millwood. Princesses presented at the ball included Virginia Warren Cain, Louisa Bradford Collins, Anne Stanton Compton, Carlton Ramona Cooper, Lillian Grace Couvillon, Claire Elizabeth Darnall, Katherine Hufham Dodson, Anna Margaret Doody, Alexandra Glenn Dunn, Ellen Coleman Edwards, Virginia Murray Farley, Catherine Morris Greene, Eleanor Pryor Jernigan, Adelaide Essick Kimberly, Grace Wyman Lockett, Anne Traywick Lovelady, Lucy Dunn Massey, Anne Holbrook Ostrander, Frances Alice Patrick, Cleary Gray Plosser, Ellen Wynn Regan and Madeline Dalel Turner. The king’s dukes included James William Blair, Felix Melville Drennen III, George Bondurant Elliott Jr., William Harrison Hartsfield, Claude Beeland Nielsen, William Shelton Pritchard III, Joseph Edward Sandner III and Hatton Coulbourne Valentine Smith. The king’s trainbearers were Charlotte Ann Chambliss, Charlotte Ettalee Chambliss, Julia Russell Chambliss, Lucy Barboro Chambliss, Russell William Chambliss, Ann Margaret Drennen, Daniel Felix Drennen, William Edward Drennen, Alligood Carlisle Rogoff and Louis Frank Rogoff. The queen’s guards included Keith Baker Arendall, Gerald Palfery Gillespy, Elbridge Thornton Hydinger Jr., Raleigh Barbee Kent III, Frank Hardy Phillips, Joseph Camp Pritchard, William Lawrence Reed Jr. and James Douglass Williams. Trainbearers for the queen were Keith Baker Arendall II, Mary Brannon Arendall, Marion Elizabeth DeBuys, Minnie Brooks Maroules, Elizabeth Jane Nielson and Claude Beeland Nielson III. Those serving as pages for the festivities were Elizabeth HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY from HOTWORX Vestavia Hills! Come see us in your green and see how lucky you can get!
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
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Thursday, March 7, 2019 • 13
Forrester, Katherine, Madeline, Isabelle and Forrest DeBuys.
Billy Blair, Frank Phillips, Bert Amason, Gerald Gillespy and Billy Pritchard.
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
Russ and Ann Chambliss.
The connection to his hand is just as important as the connection to his chest.
Photo special to the Journal
Photo special to the Journal
Clockwise from above, Keith Arendall, Pete Pritchard, Felix Drennen, Gerald Gillespy and Raleigh Kent. Cal and Katherine Dodson. Jenny, Ellen Coleman and Lee Edwards.
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14 • Thursday, March 7, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
SOCIAL
William Smith and Shannon Byrd. The junior board of Glenwood Autism and Behavioral Center.
DANCE TO THE MUSIC Glenwood Junior Board Hosts 15th Night Under the Big Top
Amberee Amari and Tonia Trotter.
The junior board of Glenwood Autism and Behavioral Center gave guests a carnival night to remember at the 15th annual A Night Under the Big Top gala Feb. 22 at The Club. In addition to food and a silent auction, the evening was all about the music, with Total Assets leading the indoor dance floor. On the veranda, DJ Mark AD and Silent Storm provided music for the silent disco, where guests donned headphones and danced to the music. Event co-chairs for the gala were Brailyn Hardy and Mary Margaret Doyle, supported by fellow members of the junior board. Proceeds from the event benefit the organization’s mission to support children and their families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder throughout the state. ❖
April Beckham and Brooke Madison.
Levi and Megan Fingerman.
Kyndle and Ky Sevier.
Morgan and Zack Trotter.
Michael and Nicole Burchfield with Jessica and Jon Weber.
Lauren Menke and Miranda Talmage. Mary Claire Bennett, Jessica Freeman and Emily Frazier. Ashley Rollins and Emily Tarlton.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Photo special to the Journal
Kathleen Petznick, Patsy Norton and Fay Hall.
Swingin’ Since the ‘60s
Patty and Larry Faulkner, Pattie Perry Finney, Augusta and Bill Forbes, Jo Anne and Nick Gaede, Melanie Gardner, Ann and Marshall Garrett, Theo Greene, Fay Hall and Ken Little, Ann and Fletcher Harvey, Jane and Cooper Hazelrig, Beth and Ron Henderson, Mary Ruth and Fred Ingram, Ann and Carl Jones, Jessie and Ken Key, Virginia Lavallet, Sahra and Ronald Lee, Joyce and Jim Lott, Cindy and Norton Montague, Sarah Neal, Patsy and Jim Norton, Martha and Peyton Norville, Sandra and Terry Oden, Valerie and Tom Pankey, Suzanne and Robert Parsons. Kathleen and George Petznick, Ruth Pitts, Betty and Fred Powell, Phyllis Russell, Mary and Terry Spencer, Bartley Statham, Betty Wagstaff, Anne and Bob Waudby and Margie Williams. ❖
Carousels Club Hosts Evening of Dinner and Dancing
Members of Carousels Dinner/ Dance Club, founded in the early 1960s, spent an elegant evening dining and dancing to music by The Classics at the Country Club of Birmingham on Feb. 15. Party chairwomen who helped coordinate the event were Fay Hall, Kathleen Petznick and Patsy Norton.
Thursday, March 7, 2019 • 15
SOCIAL
Members attending were Lynn Ault, Laurie and Charles Binion, Mary Alice and Don Carmichael, Judy and Jim Carns, Adele and Chuck Colvin, Bebe and Roy Costner, Sarah Creveling, Nina Crumbaugh, Tina and John Darnall, Charlotte Donald and Bobby Boisky, Bede and Sam Donnell,
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Jennifer Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 Patty FAX: 205-824-1246 Over The Mountain Journal, phone 205-823-9646, fax 205-824-1246 Date: February Feb. This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURN February 7th issue. Please This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for the fax approval or changes to 824Feb. 21, 2019 issue.
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16 • Thursday, March 7, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
SOCIAL
Send in the Clowns
The 27th annual Red Nose Ball, held Feb. 23 at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel, had guests accessorizing their black-tie attire with red clown noses in support of Smile-A-Mile. A silent auction, featuring mobile bidding, kicked off the evening and offered a variety of local art, jewelry, trips, dining experiences, sporting events and more. As a three-course dinner was served, a live auction hosted by Wendy Garner and presented by auctioneer Guin Robinson featured international vacations, dinners from award-winning chefs, sports and outdoor experiences, one-of-akind art and more. Following dinner, music by The Schmohawks brought guests to the dance floor. All proceeds from the Red Nose Ball directly support Smile-AMile’s year-round programs for the whole family during the childhood cancer journey. ❖
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
Red Nose Ball Raises Money for Smile-A-Mile
Alan and Heather Baty, Elizabeth and Adam Alva, Kedar Xavier, Kimberly and Bob Whalen, Christy Bemrich-Stolz and Ana Xavier.
Clockwise from above, Erica Hadaway, Tonya Prewett, Madi Prewett, Mary Payne Watson and April Harper; Alex and Josh McDaniel; Wayne and Vindu Liang with Gregory and Shari Friedman with Heather and Jeffrey Lebensburger; and Michael and Donna Huber.
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Seeger-Bruno
Richard Seeger of Minnetonka, Minnesota, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bernard Vetrano of Birmingham. Miss Seeger is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She received her master’s degree in taxation from Troy University. She is a member of Phi Beta Phi Sorority. Miss Seeger is employed with Kassouf and Company. The prospective groom is the grandson of Mrs. Ben F. Bruno and the late Mr. Bruno, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph John Milazzo of Vestavia Hills. Mr. Bruno is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in communications studies. He received his master’s degree in strategic communication from Troy University. He is a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Mr. Bruno is employed with Big B Sales and Service. The wedding is planned for July 27 at the Cathedral of Saint Paul’s.
Photo special to the Journal
Mr. and Mrs. Todd Mitchell Seeger of Mountain Brook announce the engagement of their daughter, Maggie Ann, to Christopher Benjamin Bruno, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul B. Bruno of Vestavia Hills. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. John
Jane Ellis, Jeff Mansell, Linda Stewart and Becky Keyes.
Celebrating the Magnolia State
Antiquarians Meeting Features Program on Natchez, Mississippi The Antiquarian Society of Birmingham met Feb. 13 at the Vestavia Country Club for a program featuring Jefferson Mansell, historian for the Natchez, Mississippi, National Historical Park. President Linda Stewart presided and Diana Turnipseed, first vice president for programs, introduced Mansell, who spoke on the topic “Southerners on the Grand Tour.” Mary Jean Myers and Carolyn Delk welcomed members and guests who were seated at tables adorned with floral-patterned porcelain tea sets and flowers arranged by Nancy Jones, assisted by Amy Tully. Janeal Shannon gave the invocation, and Jane Ellis and Becky Keyes presented details for an April member trip to Natchez historical homes and sites to be led by Mansell. Members in attendance were
Thursday, March 7, 2019 • 17
SOCIAL/WEDDINGS
Amanda Adams, Judy Anderson, Barbara Baird, Redonda Broom, Ellen Broome, Kirke Cater, Elaine Clark, Kay Clark, Florence Cole, Martha Lee Culp, Susan Dasher, Cece Dillard, Carolyn Drennen, Marsha Duell, Marjorie Forney, Joann Fox, Anne Gibbons, Betty Gonder, Claire Goodhew, Kay Grayson, Charmion Hain, Judy Haise, Judith Hand, Jean Hendrickson, Vera Henley, Sandra Holley, Dottie Hoover, Margaret Howell, Annalisa Jager, Rosemary Jager, Barbara Klyce, Lena Knight, Janet Krueger, Anne Lamkin, Sahra Coxe Lee and Lesley Lewis. Other members attending were Judy Long, Rebecca Mason, Nancy Morrow, Betty Northen, Barbara Petzold, Helen Pittman, Kathryn Porter, Margie Preston, Gail Pugh, Lucianne Pugh, Kathie Ramsey, Natasha Randolph, Lucy Richardson,
Cohen-Shores
Mr. and Mrs. Ross Cohen of Mountain Brook announce the engagement of their daughter, Natalie Lauren Cohen, to James Gavin Shores, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Shores of Vestavia Hills. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Russell I. Hudson of Vernon and the late Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Cohen of Homewood. Miss Cohen is a 2007 graduate of Mountain Brook High School and a 2012 graduate of the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in education with dual certification in general education and special education. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. In 2014, she received a master’s degree in special education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Miss Cohen is employed with Jefferson County Schools. The prospective groom is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Binion Smith Sr. of Homewood and the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Francis Shores Sr. of Homewood. Mr. Shores is a 2001 graduate of Vestavia Hills High School. He attended Lawson State Community College in the ASEP Program. He is employed at Thompson Tractor Company. The wedding will be May 18 at Windwood Equestrian. Carla Roberson, Lynda Robertson, Aubrey Ross, Phyllis Russell, Sara Ruiz de Molina, Carolyn Satterfield, Pat Scofield, Nan Skier, Nancy Skinner, Jan Smith, Jane Paris Smith, Mary Carol Smith, Caroline Sparrow, Rhetta Tatum, Rebekah Taylor, Nan Teninbaum, Nancy Terrell, Carole Thomas, Lois Turnipseed, Barbara Wall, Elizabeth Wallace, Laura Wallace, Celeste Waller, Liz Warren, Elouise Williams, Margie Williams, Kay Wooten and Janis Zeanah. Guests included Charlene Anderson, Susan Bell, Ann Camp, Paula Cox, Mary Helen Crowe, Becky Crum, Diane Jenkins, Anne Monfore, Eleanor Streit, Margaret Tucker, Alice Turk, Ann Vrocher and Carolyn Wheeler. ❖
BEING ONE OF FIVE SIBLINGS, SHE STILL HOLDS THE RECORD FOR KID WHO CAN PUT A HOLE IN THEIR JEANS FASTEST. NOT EVEN CLOSE.
CHILDREN A M A Z E U S E V E R Y D AY
and at Children’s of Alabama, we want to see every child grow up and live to their fullest potential. That’s why we recruit, train and retain the most inquiring minds, the most skilled hands and the most compassionate hearts in pediatric medicine.
1 6 0 0 7 T H AV E N U E S O U T H B I R M I N G H A M , A L 3 5 2 3 3 (205) 638-9100 ChildrensAL.org
18 • Thursday, March 7, 2019
Fab Four
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
A CLOSER LOOK AT LIVING IN SOME VERY POPULAR OVER THE MOUNTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS By Sam Prickett
S
Journal photo by Maury Wald
pring is a peak season for the real estate market, and for prospective homebuyers, the search for the right house can be overwhelming – particularly when deciding whether the surrounding neighborhood is the right fit. For this issue, we’re highlighting four of the most in-demand Over the Mountain neighborhoods – one each from Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook and Hoover – and exploring what those neighborhoods have to offer residents. We chose to look at Edgewood (page 20), Crestline Village (page 22), Cahaba Heights (page 24), and Green Valley (page 26), because they offer a variety of retail and dining options that are appealing for both young families and empty-nesters looking for a change. All four neighborhoods are also highly walkable, with parks, restaurants and shops easily reached on foot. There are significant differences among them. But all four neighborhoods are ideal for buyers looking to blend the convenience of living in a city with small-town charm.
ENJOYING THE GOOD LIFE | UPDATES ON OTM QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECTS
A Path Forward
Mountain Brook Works to Cement Plans for Updates to Jemison Park
Journal file photo by Lee Walls
By Emily Williams Jemison Park may have received recognition as the number one running/walking trail in the 2018 Best of Birmingham listing, but the future’s looking even brighter. A discussion regarding the trail at the Mountain Brook City Council’s Nov. 13 meeting provided insight into opportunities for the park to better serve the people who visit annually. Those plans are estimated to cost upward of $850,000. The city plans to set aside $450,000 of that amount, and it has applied for a recreational trails grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to help make up the remaining costs. The results of the city’s application should be coming this spring, according to Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Shanda Williams. The grant could be as much as $400,000. Plans to update the park’s running/walking trail as introduced to the council almost four months ago Plans to update the by Williams and Joel Jemison Park’s running/ Eliason of Nimrod Long walking trail, left, as and Associates include introduced to the countackling the common cil almost four months complaint that the conago by Williams and crete path is not wide Joel Eliason of Nimrod enough to accommodate Long and Associates people going in both include tackling the directions. common complaint that The updates would the concrete path is not include widening the path wide enough to accom– not so wide that it looks modate people going in like a road, according to both directions. Williams – and finding solutions to move portions of the trail out of floodplains so they aren’t covered by water after a decent rainfall. The project isn’t projected to begin until at least next year, but the park has seen improvements in the
meantime in terms of planting. Mountain Brook Board of Landscape Design chair Sim Johnson announced at the Nov. 13 meeting plans for native foliage plantings by Friends of Jemison Park in various areas of the park. The Friends organization will be caring for the plantings for their first few years of growth. Between the work of building the new pedestrian bridge across Shades Creek – dedicated by the city in early January – and Spire’s replacing the gas line along Mountain Brook Parkway last year, the park’s foliage was looking a little bare by December. Coming up on April 27, the park will be the location for the second annual Shades Creek Fest, organized by the cities of Mountain Brook and Homewood in conjunction with Arbor Day. During the week leading up to the event, members of Mountain Brook’s board of landscape design and students from Leadership Mountain Brook plan to hand out Sassafras seedlings to first graders at local elementary school Arbor Day celebrations. According to Board of Landscape Design chair Sim Johnson, the first-grader giveaway serves, “to teach children importance of planting native trees and the many benefits trees provide. “By growing native trees and distributing them to the public, the City of Mountain Brook is investing in its future so that our children and grandchildren can enjoy the shade of these oak saplings whose shade we might not be around to enjoy,” Johnson said. The free event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will feature wildlife exhibits, fly-fishing lessons, Bluegrass music, food trucks and conservation demonstrations. • Work at Vestavia Hills’ Wald Park has begun, with construction to start in late summer. PAGE 21 • Hoover’s Explore Playground will have something for everyone, with disabilities or not. PAGE 27 • New Patriot Park pool will offer Homewood residents a different experience. PAGE 27
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, March 7, 2019 • 19
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LIBERTY PARK
LESS SCREEN TIME.
MORE GREEN TIME.
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Miles of nature trails, lush parks, woodsy lakes, tennis courts and an outdoor pool invite endless exploration at Liberty Park. With this many vibrant amenities, children find it easy to unplug from their devices and connect with nature.
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All information and depictions herein believed accurate but not warranted or guaranteed and subject to change without notice. All information should be independently verified. Liberty Park Joint Venture, LLP, Liberty Park Properties, Lifescape Builders, LLC, Drummond Built Homes, LLC and their respective builders, employees and agents are not responsible for errors or omissions. All rights reserved.
20 • Thursday, March 7, 2019
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Edgewood
LOCAL VILLAGE INSIDE OF HOMEWOOD By Sam Prickett
Pure Joy is when you realize you’ve found the perfect house and your kids love the neighborhood!
When it originally was founded in 1920, Homewood was called Edgewood. Seven years later, the town expanded and was renamed; now, Edgewood is the name of a community that was described by AL.com in 2016 as “arguably Homewood’s most desirable neighborhood.” With the exception of a business district along Oxmoor Road – which includes restaurants, an antiques store and other small businesses – Edgewood is mostly a single-family residential neighborhood known for its walkability, older architecture and highly ranked schools.
Start your search now at FindThePerfectHouse.com
EDGEWOOD BY THE NUMBERS
$263
Average price per square foot for active listings
$549,780
Median price for active listings
$405,000
Median sales price for homes sold in the past 6 months Source: Birmingham MLS
ON THE MARKET
We understand just how important it is to you and your family to find the perfect house. With decades of experience, we have the market knowledge to help you make it happen — even in a tight seller’s market. Trust the over the mountain experts. The right real estate agents can make all the difference.
1415 Woodridge Cove
2109 Woodwind Circle
3717 Locksley Drive
Walk to Edgewood Elementary and Homewood Middle schools from this new home by Twin Construction. The home features a master bedroom on the main floor with a marble tile bath, a custom cook’s kitchen with marble counters and Jenn Air appliances. Custom designer lighting is found throughout the home, along with white oak flooring. Nine-foot ceilings are on upper and lower levels, as well as Monarch wood windows. Three bedrooms upstairs include walk-in closets up. For huge energy savings, the home utilizes spray foam insulation and a tankless water heater. Agent: Babara Wheeler, LAH.
ADVICE TO BUYERS
3207 River Run Trail
Mike Wald 205.541.0940
2519 Ivy Glenn Drive
Hayden Wald 205.919.5585
NEW YORK PIZZA
This self-described “old-fashioned pizzeria” has been serving Italian fare in Edgewood for more than 30 years, including a variety of pizzas, calzones, pasta and sub sandwiches. If its location at the center of the Edgewood Business District isn’t convenient enough, New York Pizza offers free delivery in the Homewood area. SAW’S BBQ
It might be hard to find a seat during peak hours, but it’s worth dropping into the original location of Saw’s BBQ, which has expanded to three other Birmingham-area locations since opening. Why try this one? It’s the only brick-andmortar location that regularly offers Saw’s trademark ribs. Don’t worry if you can’t find a seat – it’s worth the wait. EDGEWOOD CREAMERY
Beat the heat with this conveniently located ice cream shop, which last year was named one of the best ice cream parlors in the state by Best Things Alabama. Edgewood Creamery features a wide variety of ice cream flavors and toppings. If that’s not your style, you can also choose from a variety of pies, cakes, smoothies, milkshakes, snow cones and malts.
SCHOOLS
$775,000 2580 Inverness Point Drive
CLOSE TO YOU …
If you’re looking to buy a home in Edgewood, you can’t be too prepared, said Stacy Flippen, an agent for ARC Realty. “Because there’s very little inventory (of available properties), you’re going to already have to have a pre-approval letter from your lender and be working with a Realtor who’s going to be scouring for these (properties),” Flippen said. “Have a Realtor that keeps you up to date. ... Really, in this market, especially in Edgewood, there are no contingencies.”
Located just off Oxmoor Road, Edgewood Elementary School boasts an enrollment of just more than 800 students and has recently been ranked as one of the top 25 public elementary schools in Alabama by Niche.com. Also nearby is Homewood Middle School, which has roughly 900 students and was ranked the second-best public middle school in the state.
LOCAL LANDMARK
Located within walking distance of the Edgewood Business District, the Sims Gardens might look at first like a normal house, albeit one with very well-tended greenery. But the five-lot property is actually a community park donated to the city of Homewood by the late Catherine Sims, who was often referred to as the “Plant Lady of Edgewood.” Overseen by Birmingham-Southern College’s Southern Environmental Center, the gardens feature a greenhouse; edible plants such as blueberries, figs and muscadines; and a courtyard that doubles as an event space, which has been known to host events such as jazz concerts, cocktail classes and garden parties. Journal photos by Jordan Wald
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL ENJOYING THE GOOD LIFE
With All the Fixin’s Work at Vestavia Hills’ Wald Park Has Begun, With Construction to Start in Late Summer
By Emily Williams The landscape at Wald Park on U.S. 31 is changing by the day as the city of Vestavia Hills aims to create a heart for the community surrounded by developed areas and neighborhoods. While mass grading began in October to bring the park to the level of the highway, Williams Blackstock Architects presented its initial designs at a strategic planning work session. The design showcased a balance of the elements of a formal park, natural areas, athletic spaces and recreational offerings. “Whether you want to swim, walk, exercise your dog or, yes, even play pickleball, the recreational components of the plan will provide all of this and more,” said city manager Jeff Downes. A main entrance into the park will be off U.S. 31, featuring a welcome pavilion that feeds into two open lawns with a play area in the middle. Additionally, there will be two nature and discovery areas. One
Thursday, March 7, 2019 • 21
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will include smaller, more natural lawns and a play area, and the other will feature a nature trail and a dog park. Between the main entrance and the Vestavia Hills Elementary West campus, a new aquatic facility will replace the previous swim area with a 50-meter competition pool and a leisure pool. A pool house will also be constructed, including locker rooms, concessions, an equipment room and more. New tennis courts will be installed at the back end of the park along Old Montgomery Highway, and the park’s four baseball fields will be renovated and amenities updated. Plans to renovate were first presented in Vestavia Hills’ 2015 Recreation and Athletics Master Plan, which made way for the 2016 Community Spaces Plan. “The city sees this as a quality of life initiative that will also serve as a catalyst for increased home values, economic development opportunities and many more beneficial investments by others who see the value of (this project),”
Downes said. Williams Blackstock also presented plans for renovations at the Cahaba Heights Athletics Facility and the community center that will be located next-door to City Hall. “When you view the plan from the 50,000-foot level, you see pedestrian connectivity from City Hall to the future community building, from the community building to Wald Park, from Wald Park to the Vestavia Hills Library in the
Forest and even a path to one-of-akind, privately owned restaurant venues,” said Downes. The city has begun conversations with ALDOT to create a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 31 from the park to the library. These elements of connectivity serve as the city’s effort to transform the previously developed environment that includes U.S. 31, a major roadway that serves 40,000 motorists a day, said Downes.
“In survey after survey, our residents have demanded this through (their) calls for things such as a village-scale place to gather, trails and green space, quaint bars and restaurants along with pedestrian-oriented development. The Community Spaces Plan delivers on all of these desires.” According to Downes, the construction portion of the Wald Park project is on track to be bid in spring and begin in late summer.
The weather is warming up, and so is the spring housing market!
Pure joy
If you’re preparing to purchase or sell a home this season, give me ais when call. you I’mrealize you’ve found the perfect ready to proactively addresshouse all ofandyour your kids love the neighborhood! real estate needs! We understand just how important it is to you and your family to find the perfect house. With decades of experience, we have the market knowledge to help you make it happen — even in a tight seller’s market. Trust the over the mountain experts. The right real estate agents can make all the difference.
BECCA BARGANIER BROWN Realtor, RealtySouth MIKE WALD HAYDEN WALD bbrown@realtysouth.com 205.541.0940 205.919.5535 Cell: (205) 253-7529 Start your search now at FindThePerfectHouse.com
ARC’S #1 HOOVER AGENT IN 2018 (AND VOTED HOOVER MAGAZINE’S “BEST REALTOR IN 2016, ‘17, AND ‘18!)
DONNA GASKINS OVER THE MOUNTAIN REAL ESTATE SPECIALIST DGASKINS@ARCREALTYCO.COM 205-441-0333 TEXT “HOME” IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL | 205-441-0333
22 • Thursday, March 7, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
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Jan & Jenny
Crestline Village CRESTLINE OFFERS IT ALL IN A COMPACT SPACE
By Sam Prickett Crestline Village is one of Mountain Brook’s three main villages, along with Mountain Brook Village and English Village, and features a downtown area built for family walks – with plenty of restaurants, shops and boutiques sure to please kids and adults alike.
CRESTLINE VILLAGE BY THE NUMBERS
$292
Average price per square foot for active listings
$775,250
Median price for active listings
$740,000
Median sales price for homes sold in the past 6 months Source: Birmingham MLS
JENNY HEADLEY Cell: (205) 577-1936 jennycheadley@gmail.com
ON THE MARKET
JAN COLLIER Cell: (205) 835-9699 jan@jancollier.com
4274 CAHABA HEIGHTS COURT STE. 200 VESTAVIA HILLS
$1,699,000 This five-bedroom home near Crestline Elementary features four full bathrooms and two half baths, a study with bookcases, and a great room that opens up to the kitchen and breakfast area. The kitchen offers upscale appliances including double ovens, a Wolf gas cooktop, two built-in refrigerators and an ice maker. The master bedroom is private with a sitting area and bathroom with separate vanities and closets. The bluestone patio has a fireplace with limestone seats and a grilling area. Agent: Jacque Bailey, RealtySouth
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THE BEST WAY to find THE BEST HOUSE is to call THE BEST AGENT
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You won’t run out of things to read at this Crestline Village coffee shop, which also sells a handpicked, rotating selection of books. If you’re looking for a quiet space to work or read, venture up to the shop’s second floor. And if you’ve got a sweet tooth, try out its signature chocolate-chip “break-up” cookies. BONGIORNO ITALIAN RESTAURANT
This family-run Italian restaurant has been located on Church Street, at the center of Crestline Village, since 1988. In addition to serving staples of Italian cuisine – pizza, pasta and hoagies – Bongiorno offers a handful of fresh seafood options, such as lobster ravioli and baby clam linguine. OTEY’S TAVERN
CRESTLINE TOT LOT
Office: (205) 969-8910
Lawn fertilization and weed control
CHURCH STREET COFFEE AND BOOKS
This local bar and restaurant has been a fixture in Crestline Village for over 20 years. During the day, it serves as a family-friendly restaurant; in the evenings, it transitions to a late-night bar, complete with pub trivia, live music and an always-friendly staff.
2 Generations of proven Real Estate Success providing you with a smooth buying and selling experience.
We create the landscapes... ...You create the memories!
CLOSE TO YOU …
ReMax Southern Homes 205.222.1817 shelley@shelleywatkins.com
If you’ve got kids who need to burn off some extra energy, try the Crestline Tot Lot, located in the middle of Crestline Village. The completely fenced-in playground features swingsets and other play equipment, as well as benches and a picnic tables for parents.
SCHOOLS
Crestline Elementary School, which has approximately 750 students enrolled in grades K-6 and was named the 12th best public elementary school in Alabama by Niche. com. The school is just a few
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Ray & is prou Ray & Poyn Thursday, March 7, 2019 • 23
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blocks away from the Emmet O’Neal Public Library, which offers a variety of storytimes and other events geared toward children and families.
is proud to annou
See a bit of history at the Cummings-Eastis-Beaumont House, located near Crestline Village on Montevallo Road. It’s been historically designated as the oldest house in Shades Valley, having been originally constructed between 1820 and 1830. The house later served as the Irondale Furnace’s commissary – the first supply store of its kind in the area.
ADVICE TO BUYERS
“For Crestline, as in any area, the market is so hot right now and there is so little inventory that you need to be very prepared,” says Cathy Rogoff of ARC Realty. “You need to be prequalified, have all your ducks in a row, and ready to go. If you can go in without any contingencies, other than inspections, that’s the best.”
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
LOCAL LANDMARK
The most knowledgable agents. The most sought after properties. The best resources in real estate. Crestline Elementary School, above, has approximately 750 students enrolled in grades K-6. The school is just a few blocks away from the Emmet O’Neal Public Library, below. Both are within walking distance of neighborhoods and downtown Crestline Village.
raypoynor.com raypoynor.com
26
2629 cahaba rd
2629 Cahaba Rd., Mountain Brook | 205.879.3036
Thirteen Distinctive New Homes in Vestavia Hills On the crest of Shades Mountain overlooking Oxmoor Valley, Walnut Hill epitomizes a Wedgworth community: beautiful homes, great views, and energysmart construction. Minutes from I-65 and downtown Birmingham, these thirteen home sites surround a central park. With lots starting at $200,000, Walnut Hill provides a unique opportunity for you to create a custom home in To: Wilmer one of Birmingham’s most desirable areas. From: Over The Mountain Journal, phone 205-823-9646, fax 205-824-1246 Date:
Feb.
This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL March 7, 2019 issue.
Please make sure all information is correc including address and phone number! www.wedgworth.net
Mike Wedgworth (205) 365-4344
If we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.
Thank you for your prompt attention.
24 • Thursday, March 7, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
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We’ll Get You Home!
Cahaba Heights BOOM TOWN IN VESTAVIA HILLS
CAHABA HEIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS
By Sam Prickett Located adjacent to the alwaysbustling U.S. 280, Cahaba Heights originally was its own, freestanding community. But after the construction of the Summit shopping center in 1997, both Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook considered annexing the neighborhood because of the value of its commercial business districts. Vestavia Hills ended up absorbing Cahaba Heights in 2002, and now the area features a blend of bigcity commercial retail and quaint village living.
$202
Average price per square foot for active listings
$384,500
Median price for active listings
$362,500
Median sales price for homes sold in the past 6 months Source: Birmingham MLS
ON THE MARKET
THE
OFFICIAL
REALTOR®
OF
THE
BIRMINGHAM BARONS (800) 545-6178 · LAHRealEstate.com
As a life-long Over-the-Mountain resident and a third generation working at Guin, I feel great pride and responsibility in carrying on the legacy of honesty and hard work
Mid $400’s to upper $600’s Twenty-three upscale condominiums will be coming soon to Cahaba Heights. Overton Village condos will be located within minutes of all major highways, in a gated community conveniently located behind Overton Village, home to Magic Muffins Bakery, Villager Yoga and more. Floorplans include two- and three-bedroom plans with varying square footages, 10’ ceilings, a one-car garage, private balcony, highend finishes and natural daylight. The estimated completion of these condominiums is the summer of 2020. Agent: Cathy Rogoff or Daniel Odrezin, ARC Realty
Started in 2013 by chef Jon Holland, this intimate restaurant features a rotating menu of seasonal offerings, including soul food favorites such as fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits; creole dishes such as Cajun pasta and gumbo; and decadent seafood such as butter-poached lobster and jerk tuna ceviche. “Come in with an open palate and trust us,” urges Holland. Or, if you’re planning an event, custom catering can be delivered to you. MARTIN’S BAR-B-QUE JOINT
Nashville-based restaurant Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint opened its doors last fall and offers a slightly different barbeque experience than most Alabamians are used to. It smokes the whole hog over the course of 24 hours. It’s a labor- and timeintensive process that results in tender, subtly flavored meat or, as Martin’s puts it, “the way the good Lord meant it to be.” This “from scratch” restaurant offers fresh, farm-to-table dining that ranges from pan-roasted Atlantic salmon to grilled steak to the signature FoodBar burger – not to mention a slate of delicious desserts. Relax with some craft cocktails as you wait for your food. It’s high-end, but it’s not intimidating – or, as they put it, “not pretentious, just delicious.” MEADOWLAWN PARK
The city of Vestavia Hills opened this park in 2017; it includes a walking track, playground equipment and an open-lawn area that often hosts community events. And it’s good for the environment, too; the park’s constructed wetland helps to prevent stormwater flooding.
SCHOOLS
The Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights on Dolly Ridge Road boasts an enrollment of roughly 400 students from pre-K to fifth grade and has been ranked the 21st best public elementary school in the state by Niche.com.
that my grandfather began 60 years ago. Family is very important to us, and we treat our customers with the same care and respect as members of our own family. It would be a privilege to serve you.
THE FIG TREE CAFÉ AND CATERING
FOODBAR
MTN. BROOK · HOMEWOOD · HOOVER · 30A
Pride and responsibility drive us to be the best in everything we do.
CLOSE TO YOU …
Joseph Braswell
LOCAL LANDMARK
The New Merkel House opened in 1994, but its name is much older. Until 1953, Cahaba Heights was called New Merkel. Now, this historic property, which includes an on-site community garden, serves as a community space and senior center, featuring near-daily lunches, bingo and other games, Tai Chi and more.
Serving Birmingham since 1958
Member of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce
Mention this ad to receive a free diagnostic service call.
Kathy’s Designer Kitchens, Inc. 1831 29th Ave. S., Homewood • 871-9880 • Kathy Owens, CKD, President
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, March 7, 2019 • 25
HOME ADVICE TO BUYERS
the For prospective homebuyers looking for properties in Cahaba Heights, agent an Wald, Hayden says corner, your in agent an important thing is to have and the for RealtySouth. “We’re still under the atmosphere of a seller’s market, out for your housing inventory’s relatively low, so you really need somebody looking about a excited get they that is buyers with happens what of lot A . best interests t to house, and then it’s under contract before they can get there. So it’s importan “It’s area. the with familiar getting nds recomme be represented well.” Wald also going to see important to drive around, determine what streets you like prior to even time to much as have to going not houses, because it’s a seller’s market and you’re s.” decision make those important
Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights, above, on Dolly Ridge Road boasts an enrollment of roughly 400 students from pre-K to fifth grade. Nashville-based restaurant Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, below, opened its doors last fall and offers a slightly different barbeque experience than most Alabamians are used to.
EXPLORE the vast possibilites
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
BEHOLD what catches your eye Browse over 25,000 listings on realtysouth.com
Barbara Knows REAL ESTATE
LOVE
the home that stirs you
LAH Real Estate’s #1 individual Agent
PROUDLY SERVING THE STATE OF ALABAMA AUBURN • CHILTON • CULLMAN • DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM • HOMEWOOD • HUNTSVILLE I-459/McCALLA • INVERNESS • LAKE MARTIN • MOUNTAIN BROOK VILLAGE • MOUNTAIN BROOK CRESTLINE GARDENDALE • JASPER • ONEONTA • OVER THE MOUNTAIN - ACTON ROAD • OVER THE MOUNTAIN ALFORD AVE • SHELBY • SHOALS • TRUSSVILLE/EAST • TUSCALOOSA
Barbara Wheeler (205) 879-8580 (o) (205) 266-0259 (c) BarbaraW@lahrealestate.com
26 • Thursday, March 7, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
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Green Valley
Vestavia VestaviaHills HillsDogwood DogwoodLuncheon Luncheon Celebrating 40th Anniversary of THE VESTAVIA BELLES Thursday, April 25, 2018 11 am, Vestavia Country Club
Featured speaker ASHLEY LOWE NANCE
Ashley is a former Belle who will take us on a journey of Belle fashions, a little history, and memorable moments.
CLOSE TO YOU … FULL MOON BAR-B-QUE
This location of the Birminghambased barbeque chain is open seven days a week and features an assortment of hickory-cooked meats, stuffed baked potatoes and veggies such as fried okra, collard greens and chow chow. You can also try its “Half Moon Cookies,” which Southern Living named one of the “100 dishes to eat in Alabama before you die.”
VARIETY OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, DINING AVAILABLE IN GREEN VALLEY By Sam Prickett Hoover’s Green Valley community is a good fit for families who prioritize recreation. It’s a highly walkable neighborhood centered by the Hoover Country Club – a private, state-of-the-art facility with a golf course, swimming pool and tennis courts — and Star Lake park. Green Valley is located along U.S. 31, which means that shopping and dining options in Homewood, Vestavia Hills or at the Riverchase Galleria are just a short drive away.
GREEN VALLEY BY THE NUMBERS
$145
Average price per square foot for active listings
THE FISH MARKET
$354,700
Located near the Galleria, this location of Birmingham chef George Sarris’ Fish Market features fresh seafood seasoned with Cajun and Mediterranean spices. This location features an oyster bar and offers take-out options and catering services.
Median price for active listings
$309,000
Median sales price for homes sold in the past 6 months Source: Birmingham MLS
GOLDEN RULE BAR-B-Q
Golden Rule Bar-B-Q has been an institution in the Birmingham area since it opened its first location in Irondale in 1891. The Hoover location opened in 1974 and is the city’s oldest restaurant. Come for the pit-cooked barbeque and the acclaimed baked beans, and stay for the distinctive, nostalgic atmosphere.
ON THE MARKET
Door prizes will be offered. Tickets: $25 each by April 15th. To purchase tickets, please contact Gina Henley at ghenley401@charter.net or (205)910-4837.
STAR LAKE
To: From: Date:
Debra Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 Feb.
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
Please join the Vestavia Hills Beautification Board in our annual Dogwood Festival celebration.
$319,000
ADVICE TO BUYERS
This spacious, all-brick home is located just blocks This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL foraway the from Hoover Country Club, a Hoover elementary March 7, 2019 issue. school and Star Lake. The house offers a large driveway, doublecar garage and large backyard with some fencing. The main level features mostly hardwoods, a den, a living room with a brick fireplace If we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday. and an adjoining dining room. A large master bedroom includes a Thank you for your prompt attention. bathroom with a double shower. This home also includes two guest bedrooms with a shared guest bath, and A fourth bedroom and bath on the basement. Agent: Sue Lowery, RE/MAX First Choice
Please make sure all information is correct, Including address and phone number!
Keeping it classy! CUSTOM MONOGRAMS, ILLUSTRATIONS, PAPER GOODS AND MORE
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205.870.1097
WEEZIEBDESIGNS.COM
For prospective buyers looking to make Green Valley their home, research is key, said Shelley Watkins, a Realtor with ReMax Southern Homes. “If you are considering buying in the spring, even if it’s not until later this spring, you should go ahead and start looking, because the market is very active over there,” Watkins said. “Good houses sell quickly, so you need to start doing your homework early … so that when the right house comes up, you’ll know and you won’t be hesitant to move forward on it.”
TRICIA’S TREASURES ANTIQUES & ACCESSORIES
2700 19TH PLACE SOUTH, HOMEWOOD 871.9779 | TUE-FRI 10:30-5:30 SAT 11-4
The 5-acre Star Lake park is located near the Hoover Country Club and, as its name might suggest, has a large lake, from which catch-andrelease fishing is allowed (no swimming or boating, though). The lake is circled by a nearly half-mile walking trail; the park also features a large picnic area.
SCHOOLS
Green Valley Elementary School has been open since 1963, though it has grown considerably from its original six-room campus. Now, this K-5 school on Old Columbiana Road has an enrollment of 448 students and is ranked the 38th best elementary school in the state by Niche.com.
LOCAL LANDMARK
Formerly known as the Green Valley Country Club, Hoover Country Club is a sprawling recreation facility that features a lush golf course with a golf pro shop, a tennis training complex that includes a tennis pro shop, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a grill that serves lunch and dinner and, of course, a clubhouse.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, March 7, 2019 • 27
HOME ENJOYING THE GOOD LIFE
Image courtesy City of Hoover
park will have a zipline with different seating options; a theater with seating for children to create shows; musical instruments; charging stations for things like cell phones, wheelchairs and communication devices; a family restroom with a high-low changing table; wheelchairaccessible structures; and more. The park should be open by April, said Nance.
Hoover’s Explore Playground Will Have Something for Everyone, With Disabilities or Not
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
The 5-acre Star Lake park is located near the Hoover Country Club. The Hoover location of Golden Rule Bar-B-Q opened in 1974 and is the city’s oldest restaurant. Green Valley Elementary School has been open since 1963, though it has grown considerably from its original six-room campus.
The Explore playground is Hoover’s upcoming park that has something for everybody. “So children with a disability, a physical disability, can now play with their brother or their sister at the same event, the same station, as their sibling, next-door neighbor or cousin that may not have any type of physical disability,” Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato said at the playground’s groundbreaking. This park also benefits parents who have disabilities. Mary Allison Cook, a mom who is in a wheelchair, said this park is universal. “They have considered me and my family in the blueprint – and not just me and my family, but everyone,” she said. “All people, all ages, all abilities, all walks of life have been considered in the design.” Dee Nance, who has a degree in therapeutic recreation and is on staff with the city of Hoover, helped develop the vision for the playground. She said the
New Patriot Park Pool Will Offer Homewood Residents a Different Experience Starting this summer, the West Homewood community will have a new pool in its backyard. The pool, which will be part of Patriot Park, will be open Memorial Day to Labor Day, along with Homewood’s Central Pool. The splash pad at Patriot Park will be open even sooner. Both pool areas have splash pads, but Patriot Park’s will be somewhat different in that it will not have standing water. The new pool will also have a fan-shaped beach entry, which means the depth will start out at zero inches and gradually get deeper. Unlike the Central Pool, the new pool won’t have any diving boards, but it will have a larger slide. “There might be different reasons for people to go to each pool,” said Homewood Parks and Recreation Superintendent Rusty Holley. “If we just duplicated the same stuff, then we’d just have two identical pools, and we didn’t want to do that.” The pool will be accessible by Homewood residents who have a membership through Homewood Parks and Recreation. This membership gives residents access to both pools, the gym, the community center and senior center. For more information visit, homewoodparks.com.
—Ingrid Howard
FOOD
28 • Thursday, March 7, 2019
The Bagel Tradition
By Ingrid Howard
Homewood Couple Turn Hobby Into a Growing Business
we had this big, like, investment in. It just sort of happened, so we’ve just been rolling with it.” While the company has many pop-ups around town, they bake the bagels and have more consistent pop-ups at Icing on the Cookie in Homewood. Shelby Adams, a Mountain Brook native and the owner of the cookie store, also helps the Leavenses with baking advice. “We’ll ask him little tips and tricks about ovens or a rise or baking thing, and he has been extremely generous with that and just kind of helping us along,” Ginny said.
Making a Bagel
Ginny said six simple ingredients go into making a bagel, such as flour and salt. From there, the Leavenses knead the dough, let it rise, shape it, boil and bake it. “The trick to bagels though is there are a couple of different rises,” Ginny said. “You have to do multiple rises, where the bread rises, you pat it down, then you shape it and let it rise again. We let ours take a nap in the fridge overnight usually; that makes a better bagel. Then we have a special mix we boil with.” The end product is a bagel that is slightly bigger than most and soft on the inside. “We add a little more water and things to make it to where it’s really crispy on the outside but very dense on the inside,” Ginny said. “It’s really soft.” People will also wake up early to get some of the Homewood Bagel Co.’s creative cream cheeses. The Leavenses also make these from scratch, with sweet flavors such as the cinnamon sugar or flavors that are loaded with bacon, cheese and scallions.
Photos courtesy Homewood Bagel
On top of having three kids and one more on the way, Joe and Ginny Leavens are lawyers by day, bagel bakers at night. “We divide and conquer,” Ginny said. “It’s a two-person process to prepare the bagels, shape them and get them ready, but the baking and the seeding in the mornings can usually be done by one of us. And the other one will get the kids off to school.” Joe and Ginny met at the law firm where they both work, Balch & Bingham. They got married and lived in Homewood, but Ginny, who grew up eating bagels, realized that there weren’t any bagel restaurants nearby. The drive across town grew inconvenient for the family of five. “One of our kids hated the car,” she said. “We were just like, let’s just make them ourselves. It’s easier than putting everybody in the car and going on Saturday mornings, and we thought it would be a fun project.” They called Joe’s aunt, who owned a bakery in California, to figure out the quirks of making bagels. They began making bagels from scratch in their kitchen at home. Then, for Christmas in 2017, they gave some of their homemade bagels to a few of their neighbors, sparking an interest from the community. “People give cookies or whatever, and we were making bagels for ourselves, so we made three bagels for one house and three for a couple of other houses,” Joe said. “A day later, one of the houses texted her (Ginny) and said, ‘Where did you get those bagels? We want to buy some more.’” They explained that they made the bagels themselves, so their neighbor offered to pay them to cater her brunch party with a couple dozen guests. From there, it was a ripple effect. “You know how Homewood is,” Ginny said. “Everyone embraces the small businesses. We’ve been super shocked at how the community has embraced it.” They got their business license and health certification and started taking official orders from customers by March, and Homewood Bagel Co. was born. As of now, the company doesn’t have a storefront, and it operates solely on home deliveries and pop-up shops. The couple said that taking the leap to open the business didn’t feel like a risk because they both still have their day jobs and because the business is still small. “We didn’t have a lot of risk or anything,”
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Brick-and-Mortar
Joe and Ginny Leavens, above with children, are lawyers by day, bagel bakers at night.
Joe said. “It was just us, and if we want to keep doing it, great. If we want to turn down an order because we’re just too busy, then we can do that. We have a lot of flexibility right now, which is kind of nice.” Ginny agreed. “It wasn’t something that
Although the pop-up model works well with Homewood Bagel Co., Ginny said that a brick-and-mortar store is something they’ve been considering for the company’s future. “We would love to have a brick-and-mortar, but we want to be intentional about it, and we want to make sure it fits who we are, and it fits what we know about our customers,” she said. “So we’re constantly on the hunt for the right location, and we’re constantly on the hunt for the right partnership or finding the right bakers.” She said that the bagel baking process is complex, so teaching the quirks of bagels to See BAGEL, page 30
FOODIE NEWS TWO RESTAURANTS MAKE PLANS TO OPEN IN EDGEWOOD STATION
The former bartaco space at Edgewood Station, which was vacated in the fall, will soon be occupied by a New Orleans-inspired brunch restaurant called Ruby Sunshine. “Ruby Sunshine will offer Big Easy twists on Southern brunch classics, including Benedicts, pancakes, and French toast, as well as eyeopening cocktails,” according to the Ruby Sunshine website. Greenhouse, a fast-casual restaurant serving muffins, smoothies, soups, sandwiches and more, also plans to open in Edgewood Station this year.
MAGIC CITY CHOCOLATE CHALLENGE COMING TO REGIONS FIELD APRIL 30
The fifth annual Magic City Chocolate Challenge will be held April 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Regions Field. Attendees can enjoy chocolate creations made by some of Birmingham’s best bakers and chocolatiers. There will also be drinks, a silent auction and live music from Ponder the Eclectic. General admission is $35 in advance or $50 at the door. VIP tickets, which include exclusive tasting options and a wine pairing experience with a specialty chocolate treat before the event, can be purchased for $75 in advance or $100 at the door. Proceeds benefit Disability Rights & Resources. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit magiccitychocolatechallenge.instagift.com.
ALABAMA’S FIRST CAT CAFE COMING TO BIRMINGHAM
Gatos and Beans, Alabama’s first cat cafe, plans to open at 4348 Third Court S. this spring. Partnering with Kitty Kat Haven & Rescue in Hoover, the cafe will have adoptable kittens for customers to hang out with as they sip their beverage or eat a baked good. The cost is $10 per hour, and this price includes one free coffee or tea. For more information, visit gatosandbeans. com.
BBQ COMPETITION AND FESTIVAL SET FOR APRIL 6 IN IRONDALE
Habitat for Humanity is calling all backyard grillers to compete in the 11th annual Best BBQ Competition.
See FOOD, page 30
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
By Emily Williams
“One of the first times I cooked for you I made that local pasta with Bare Naked Noodles, clams with linguini,” Will said to Hayley. “That was a great meal.” Through their do-it-yourself
Will and Hayley DeShazo of Cahaba Heights, have spent a large portion of the first nine months of their marriage creating Till, a food delivery service that embraces their shared love of local produce.
‘I think we always find ourselves talking about doing new things, but this is something that we are both passionate about, and I love being able to just be creative together and work towards something.’ HAYLEY DESHAZO
Photo by Brittany Sturdivant
If the first year of marriage is the hardest and starting your own business is like riding a roller coaster, combining the two milestones could seem as bad an idea as chewing tobacco on a tilt-awhirl á la the opening scene of “The Sandlot.” The opposite has been the case for Will and Hayley DeShazo of Cahaba Heights, who have spent a large portion of these first nine months of their marriage creating Till, a food delivery service that embraces their shared love of local produce. “We are still in the honeymoon phase, but we are pretty good business partners, too,” Will said. Till is an online marketplace that the DeShazos created to give people a more convenient way to purchase local produce from Alabama farmers. “Think of it as a literal online farmers market,” Will said. Through the website, usetill. com, paid members can access online shops for each participating farmer and have the produce delivered to their doorstep or available at an easily accessible pick-up location. “You can shop raspberries at this farm, peaches at this farm, lettuces at that farm and add all of it into your cart with your Till account,” Will said. Through Till, the DeShazos hope to give everyone easy access to local produce during the week without worrying whether you got to the farmers market early enough. Love of great food has been a constant throughout Will and
Thursday, March 7, 2019 • 29
FOOD
Where There’s a Till, There’s a Way
Cahaba Heights Couple Launches Local Produce Delivery Service Over the Mountain Hayley’s relationship. “When we first started dating, Will was just finishing a job at Hot & Hot Fish Club,” Hayley said. “So, he was really into the culinary scene and would always
cook for me on our dates.” The couple fell into a routine of getting to the farmers market early on Saturday mornings to buy ingredients to cook for dinner that night.
dinner dates, Hayley fell in love with local ingredients. For Will, a love of food and locally sourced ingredients was a way of life when he was growing up. “My dad always gardened, and seasonal eating was important for us at home,” Will said. Not only has the food been something he loves, there’s also the community aspect to cooking and sharing a meal. In fact, Will said, some of the best times in life are spent around a meal. He cited a few examples, including Thanksgivings and birthdays (because birthday cake counts). It is also a common occurrence at the DeShazo home to have friends over for dinner and conversation around the table. “We definitely like having See TILL, page 30
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Rehab Reality... By Judy Butler
Work the Plan or Plan to Fail
One of the most important things we do at Bayshore Retreat is help clients develop and Exit Plan. We generally begin work on that after a couple of weeks. By this time we know more about our clients, their talents, relationships, everything that has perhaps contributed to their addiction. We also caution them of the chances of relapse. It seems ridiculous to start warning clients of relapse even before they leave rehab, but it’s also unfair to give them the expectation that everything is going to be rainbows and butterflies. While trying to make rehab a home environment and allowing clients to keep their cell phone and laptop and stay in touch with family, friends and business – it’s still rehab. It’s a safe environment with people going and doing things constantly. This may not be the case when clients leave. They might live alone and/or not have the support needed to help them get through the lonely times. The Exit Plan might consist of AA meetings and getting a sponsor. It might be volunteering, going back to school, getting a job, getting a counselor and so on. And it might be all of those things. The important thing is that they have a Plan and work the Plan. We check in with clients each week to ensure the Plan is working for them and offer advice if there’s something that isn’t working. The fact that we only have 6 clients at a time makes their time at Bayshore Retreat more productive than large institutional type facilities. Each person is able to get the attention needed to identify the what’s and why in his or her life.
30 • Thursday, March 7, 2019
TILL From page 29
friends over and sitting around the table,” Hayley said. “That’s where some of the best ideas come from. That’s actually how we came up with Till.” The couple first thought of the concept for the company while having brunch with Will’s father and his wife and discussing the local ingredients on the plate.
For Farmers and Customers
While discussing the business idea, the couple identified an opportunity for both farmers and consumers. Will realized that many local farmers don’t have a wide variety of options to reach out to and make connections with new customers, beyond participating in farmers markets. “So, what Till does is highlight those farmers and introduce them to a whole other market, maybe people who have never tried local food before,” he said. There are many reasons it can be difficult to get to the farmers market regularly, Will said, from having a disability to having to wrangle the kids together to simply not wanting to brave the humid heat of a sunny Saturday morning in July.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
FOOD For Till, travel is a non-issue, and customers will find the same prices in the farmer’s online shops that they would on the market table. “We are able to save you money because we work directly with the farmers,” Will said. “We don’t have to fight for shelf space like the grocery stores do, you are getting it straight from the source here and it shows in the price. Through Till, the DeShazos also wanted to make a point to give back, with a mission to make it easier to eat healthy. If it saves enough time for someone, Will said, maybe they won’t choose to stop at the drivethru for dinner. The site will also provide access
country, with 19.2 percent of the population, or an estimated 919,670 individuals, suffering from food insecurity. “What we have the ability to do is give back to those people in Birmingham and shed a light on that truth that exists in our state,” Hayley said.
Fresh in Season
Till’s online market sales will begin this spring, featuring an initial six farmers with more on the way. Will first reached out to farmers that his father, a frequenter of the Tuscaloosa River Market when he lived in the city, knew well. After calling a few of them,
Till’s online market sales will begin this spring, featuring an initial six farmers with more on the way. for customers to donate produce to underserved people in Alabama. For every purchase over $35, Till will donate a meal to a Birmingham food pantry. According to the Alabama Food Bank Association, one in every six people in the nation struggle with hunger, and the state of Alabama ranks among the highest in the
Will said the word spread and he began receiving calls and emails from farmers rather than sending them. With the help of their farmers and their own research, the couple has spent a lot of time educating themselves on the food-growing process and produce distinctions, from the difference between organ-
ic and certified organic to the effect that growing a food hydroponically has on its season. “Sometimes heirloom tomatoes can be sooner if they are hydroponically grown or if they are grown within greenhouses,” Will said. “That’s been the biggest eye-opener for me.” Each season, the DeShazos plan to provide a downloadable guide on their website that gives customers a general breakdown of what is in season, some of their top picks and more. “Greens are really great right now,” Will said. “Especially the hydroponicallygrown ones that we showcased on Till,” Hayley added. “You’ll be able to get some great lettuces year-round.” Other great purchases in local produce available now include broccoli and root vegetables, such as beets, radishes and carrots. According to Will, creating content for the website has been a great excuse to spend a lot of time creating great meals and sharing the recipes online. “I think we always find ourselves talking about doing new things, but this is something that we are both passionate about, and I love being able to just be creative together and work towards something,” Hayley said. For more information, visit usetill.com
BAGEL From page 28
someone else would be difficult. “Bagels are really sensitive to air, so we adjust our recipe according to what the weather does,” she said. “We need to be able to find people we trust to teach our process to.” However, Ginny said there is a strong lead for a possible Homewood Bagel Co. storefront with the potential to open in the fall. This is still very early in the process, but she said she is excited. “This for us has been fun, and it has been something that we do because we like to do it,” she said. “And we don’t want to bite off more than we can chew, unless it’s something that makes sense for us, sense for Homewood, sense for our customers.”
FOOD From page 28
The event is set for April 6 at 11 a.m. at 7952 Crestwood Blvd. in Irondale. Competitors enter the competition for free, and meat and supplies are provided. Others pay $10 at the gate. The festival will include live music, face painting, a moon bounce and kids’ workshop in addition to the competition. For more information visit habitatbirmingham.org.
Percy Cook Ratliff Lecture Series
Eric Metaxas
featuring
March 19, 2019 • 7 p.m. Samford University Wright Center samford.edu/go/OTMJ 205-726-2853
Reserved seating: $10-$25
VIP ticket: $150
The New York Times bestselling author of Martin Luther, Bonhoeffer and Amazing Grace
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
All Business
Homewood Show Choir Encourages Students to Speak Up
When Homewood High School competed in the Mississippi State Show Choir Contest on Feb. 2, all three of the school’s show choir groups advanced to the final round. Jason Thorne, the show choir director, said this is almost unheard of. “It’s only ever happened one other time that I know of in the nation,” he said. “And that was us in 2013. Most schools don’t have three competitive groups.” Homewood’s three groups include the top group – also known as The Network – the girls group and the prep group. The top group won first place after the final round, the girls group came in fifth, and the prep group came in fourth. Unlike a regular choir performance, the show choir’s competition performance is an 18-minute show based on a theme. “And they have all kind of extravagant costumes and costume changes within the show,” Thorne said. Inspired by the students who spoke up after the Parkland shooting in Florida last year, Thorne decided that this year’s theme for The Network would be about encouraging students to speak up and use their voices. “After the Parkland shooting, I saw those kids standing up and saying what they believed,” he said. “And they believed in a cause. And I just thought, ‘Wow. That’s really cool that they’re doing that.’ And then I started seeing adults in the media bashing them. … I think we as adults discount kids’ opinions and their thoughts.” Thorne said that this is not a political show but that he wants to encour-
MBJH Tedx Event to Feature Student Ted Talks On March 16, Mountain Brook Junior High School will host its annual Tedx program featuring talks by students. Speakers will include Caroline Allen, Hunter Anderson, Kate Barlow, Jane Grey Battle, Bickley Bowron, Ivy Cobbs, Olivia Dayhuff, Meg Dobbins, Reagan Downley, Eleanor Elkus, Brynn Hannon, Amy Beth Hudson, Amanda Jones, Emily King and Ann Catherine Stephens. The event also will highlight featured artist Ingrid Smyer and musicians Bay Matthews and Claire Lauterbach. Robbie Gibbons, Homewood
“... I want them to have something that they can kind of go, ‘You know what? My voice does count.’” JASON THORNE, HOMEWOOD SHOW CHOIR DIRECTOR
age his students to know there will be opposition to their voices if they use them. But that opposition doesn’t make their voices unimportant, he said. “I want them to leave me and not just remember music or the dance part of it,” he said. “But I want them to have something that they can kind of go, ‘You know what? My voice does count.’” The show The Network has been performing this year begins with “One Voice,” by Barry Manilow. Other songs in the show include “Land of Confusion,” by Genisis, and “I Dreamed a Dream,” from the musical “Les Misérables.” The show includes a positive force of “dreamers,” and there is a negative force that tries to silence them. “We teachers are teaching the next leaders, and we’ve got to take them seriously,” Thorne said. “It’s important.” The girls group, Legacy, has been performing a show with a theme based on the idea that the Wizard of Oz might think the grass is greener on the other side, but often home is where happiness is found. The Associate, the prep group, has been performing a show about reaching for your goals, opening with “Go the Distance” from Disney’s “Hercules.” Middle School physical education teacher and football coach, will also be speaking at the event. Gibbons, who is married to MBJH Assistant Principal Brook Gibbons, began a drastic weight loss journey when he participated in “Castaways” – an ABC reality show that aired in fall 2018. For the show, Gibbons survived 41 days on a remote island in Indonesia. Since day one on the island and after his return home, Gibbons has managed to lose 180 pounds. Tickets are $25 for general admission for the event, which will take place from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit tedxyouthmbjh.com. – Emily Williams
MBHS’s Amber Benson Named Alabama Business Teacher of the Year By Emily Williams “Far and away the best prize life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing,” is a quote from Franklin Roosevelt that has been the foundation for Amber Benson’s career in education. Benson, a business education teacher at Mountain Brook High School, recently was recognized as the Alabama Business Education Teacher of the Year by the Alabama Business Education Association. “I desire for students to gain the confidence and motivation to find this prize in their own lives,” Benson said. Earning the title is both a high honor and a chance to reflect on everything her students and colleagues have accomplished throughout her 12 years of teaching. “The business students at Mountain Brook High School never cease to amaze me with how they step outside the box to expand their knowledge in the business industry,” Benson said. “They are the reason I am able to succeed as a teacher.” Her path to become an educator began when she was a child, though she had forgotten the dream for a while and pursued a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship and family business at Auburn University. “While (she was) in college, my mother found my childhood diary in which I wrote, ‘When I grow up I want to be a teacher!’” Benson said. “This probably came from the fact that I’m an educator’s daughter.” She took the writing as a sign to pursue a master’s and educational
Vestavia Hills City Schools Announces Construction Delays at Berry Campus, Adjusts Capital Project Timeline At a Feb. 25 Vestavia Hills Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Todd Freeman announced several changes to the school system’s capital projects timeline. Most notably, the Pizitz Middle School campus will not be opening as the Vestavia Hills High School Freshman Campus for the 2019-2020 year. The timeline change is due to delays in construction projects at the Berry campus, which previously was projected to open as the new Pizitz Middle School location at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year. “The project has faced challenges because of three major factors: the unpredictable changes in a renovation of this size, our decision to replace the roof instead of patching and above average rainfall,” Freeman said in a video message.
Photo special to the Journal
Journal photo by Ingrid Howard
Rising Voices
By Ingrid Howard
Thursday, March 7, 2019 • 31
SCHOOLS
Amber Benson
specialist degrees in business education. Ever since her first year of teaching, she has been a member of the ABEA, and its community of business educators have helped expand her knowledge and challenge herself for her students. “No matter what career field a student is interested in pursuing, they will benefit from the real-world lessons learned in business education, which is what I love most about the profession I’ve chosen,” she said.
Applying Lessons
At MBHS, Benson teaches courses on business and personal finance, business principles and management. In addition to what is laid out in the lesson plan, Benson said that it has been her personal goal to mentor and motivate her students to take ownership of their learning and find ways to apply lessons they are learning in their communities. In addition, she oversees the Leadership Mountain Brook proRainfall has been the biggest obstacle, Freeman noted, as the Birmingham area has received more than 10 inches above the average rainfall over the past 90 days. Students in sixth through eighth grades zoned for Pizitz will begin the new school year on the existing campus. Freshmen will remain at Vestavia Hills High School for the entire 2019-2020 school year. Freeman stated that he expects to make a decision in the coming months regarding when the Berry campus will open. The existing Pizitz campus is projected to open to VHHS freshmen in August 2020. The timeline for Vestavia Hills Dolly
gram at the school alongside her fellow department faculty in the school’s Incubatoredu. The Incubatoredu course is entrepreneurial. Students create and fully develop their own products or services with help from real-world entrepreneurs and business experts who serve as coaches and mentors guiding student teams throughout the process. “I’m extremely grateful to teach courses I’m passionate about such as finance, leadership and entrepreneurship, but I get the most excited about teaching the time value of money concept,” Benson said. “My students often look at me crazy, but if I can give them a little motivation to start saving at a young age, I feel as though we have established an important foundation for their future.” Overseeing the Leadership Mountain Brook program, Benson works to encourage a collaborative environment between students and the Mountain Brook community by building relationships with local government and Chamber of Commerce officials as well as business leaders and community members. Those connections are then used by the students as they create and implement community service projects. According to Benson, the program showcases the essence of the authentic learning environment that she is able to provide through the Mountain Brook school system. Not only do students find a sense of ownership in the community, but Benson has cultivated one as well. “It is remarkable how the city of Mountain Brook, the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce and the Mountain Brook community freely gives of their time and resources to support their teachers and students,” Benson said. “I am motivated by the trust given to me from this community.”
‘The project has faced challenges because of three major factors: the unpredictable changes in a renovation of this size, our decision to replace the roof instead of patching and above average rainfall.’ TODD FREEMAN
Ridge, East and West elementary schools will remain the same, opening to K-5 students in August 2019. Renovations of the Dolly Ridge campus will include a classroom addition, 175 more parking spots, an expanded carpool line and a new playground. “We are excited about Dolly Ridge and anticipate the completion of the new classroom addition in late July,” Freeman said. “We do have a contingency plan to utilize all available space in the existing buildings on the campus should the new addition not be completed when school begins.” – Emily Williams
32 • Thursday, March 7, 2019
FASHION
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
SPRING FASHION FORECAST Local Retailers Say Bold Prints, Muted Colors and Neutrals All On-Trend this Season
Journal photos by Ingrid Howard
“We are featuring lots of ‘athleisure’ pieces this spring for men ... . For women, we are featuring lots of black and white.” Amanda Summers, vineyard vines
“There’s still lots of camouflage out there and florals and plaids.There have been lots of prints.” Gina Saab, Second Hand Rose
“Everyday wear is more soft colors. Not dull, but like those pretty muted pinks and blues and those kinds of colors.” Marguerite Ray, Marguerite’s Conceits
“In the dance world, we’re seeing a lot of mesh, lace and floral prints. Little girls love glitter and sparkles.” Katie Wade Faught, Applause Dancewear
By Ingrid Howard
According to Over the Mountain clothing store owners, bold prints aren’t going anywhere. Second Hand Rose store owner Gina Saab said that pink seems to be really big in fashion now, but there are definitely lots of prints in the items her store carries. “There’s still lots of camouflage out there,” she said, “and florals and plaids. There have been lots of prints.” At Flip Flops and Whatnots, owner Kathleen Roberts said animal prints are flying off the shelves. “Animals like snake print and leopard print are a huge trend right now,” she said. “And they’re going to go through fall too.” For everyday wear, colors in women’s apparel are becoming more muted, even at vineyard vines. “We are featuring lots of ‘athleisure’ pieces this spring for men, such as polos, shorts, pants and button downs,” said vineyard vines sales associate Amanda Summers. “For women, we are featuring lots of black and white.” Marguerite’s Conceits is seeing a similar trend in color. “Everyday wear is more soft colors,” said Marguerite Ray. “Not dull, but like those pretty muted pinks and blues and those kinds of colors.” Ray’s store also carries beachwear, and she said the opposite is true for that category. From swimsuits to cover ups to beach bags, her customers love bright and colorful items. No matter what color or print, Clotheshorse
“Animals like snake print and leopard print are a huge trend right now. And they’re going to go through fall too.” Kathleen Roberts, Flip Flops and Whatnots
“People are still doing some short rompers. But the maxi dresses and the (jumpsuits), the long rompers, I think are really trending right now.” Becky Sager, Clotheshorse
Jackson Pruitt is wearing seersucker Breaker pants in Ocean Breeze, $98.50, a solid Edgartown polo in Greenwich Green, $79.50, and a distressed leather belt in Tobacco, $78. Amanda Summers is wearing a seersucker ruffle shoulder top in Neon Watermelon, $88, with high-rise skinny denim in White Cap, $178, finished with beaded raffia fan earrings in Deep Bay, $48. vineyard vines, 970-9758.
suits), the long rompers, I think are really trending right now.”
Fashion Advice for Everyone
Lily Thomason is wearing a Capezio glitter camisole leotard in violet with a matching tutu, $38, Lily K pink tights, $13, and a Dasha purple snood, $11. Applause Dancewear, 871-7837.
owner Becky Sager said people love jumpsuits and maxi dresses. “People are still doing some short rompers,” she said. “But the maxi dresses and the (jump-
Saab at Second Hand Rose said she always stays classic. “Stay classic and stay true to yourself in what you wear,” Saab said. “If you’re going to do a trend, you might just do a small portion of whatever the trend is.” Personally, Summers likes to mix and match styles, building upon classic pieces. “Our motto at vineyard vines is ‘Every day should feel this good’ and I try to remember that when it comes to fashion,” she said. “My advice would be to find lifestyle classic pieces that can be versatile and that you can put your own twist on.” At Flip Flops and Whatnots, Roberts said fashion is fun and not to be afraid of it. “A pop of color is always fun in a pair of shoes,” she said. “You could put on all black with a pair of red shoes and look pulled together. … Ladies in here say, ‘Well I can only wear black.’ Why limit yourself?” At Marguerite’s Conceits, Ray said you have to feel comfortable to pull off anything. “You have to own it,” she said. “You gotta feel good in it.” Sager recommends buying colors that can get a lot of use. “A lot of people like the big, bold prints, but I tend to go to the simple things, like the Vince brand that just does greys and browns and whites and creams,” she said. “And you can just wear those with anything. You always feel good in them.”
Kendall Tucker is wearing a Hutch floral maxi dress, $69.50, with Freebird brown sandals, 49.50, and a brown Hammit purse, $174.50. Her look is finished with layered necklaces, $13.50. Rachel Brockwell is wearing a Free People striped jumpsuit, $32.50, topped with a Free People jean jacket, $36.50, and Seychelles sandals, $24.50. Her look is complete with an orange Hobo clutch, $46.50. The Clotheshorse, 823-9144.
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, March 7, 2019 • 33
FASHION
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Dear Winter, Amy Tully is wearing a coat by Alice and Olivia, $68, blouse by Worth, $38, and jeans by DL 1961, $45. Her look is finished with shoes by Tory Burch, $52, and a handbag by Chloe, $900. Second Hand Rose, 970-7997.
I'm breaking up with you. Spring shoes are hotter!
Suzanna Townsend is wearing a hot pink cover up, $37, accessorized with a straw hat, $32, and sun readers by Peepers, $26. She is carrying a beach bagTo: by MB Becky Greene, $58, and a Turkish towel,From: $28. Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 Marguerite’s Conceits, 879-2730. Date: March 2019
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34 • Thursday, March 7, 2019
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
SPORTS
SPARTANS From page 36
Journal photos by Marvin Gentry
finishes the season ranked in the top five nationally. The Spartans were a win shy of claiming three straight championships from 20132015, but they put it together this season for the program’s fifth overall title. “I woke up today wanting a chance for history to repeat,” said head coach Bucky McMillian, who won his 301st career game with the Spartans. “Either Baker would win for the first time today, or Mountain Brook would have a three-peat.” Watford transferred to Mountain Brook his freshman year and was quickly recognized as one of the top players in the state. He was named a McDonald’s All-American this season and capped his senior year against Baker with 22 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks while hitting 12 of 13 free-throws in the game to earn state tournament MVP honors. Watford finishes his career as the AHSAA’s all-time rebound leader, more than 3,000 points and a double-double average with 23 points and 11 rebounds. “I’m pretty speechless right now,” Watford said. “Coming over in ninth grade, I never thought I would be able to win three state championships. I thank God for it.”
Above, members of the Mountain Brook High School boys basketball team. Below, from left, Alex Washington, a Harvard commit in football, finished the title game with five points and five rebounds; Head coach Bucky McMillian, won his 301st career game with the Spartans; Lior Berman finished his high school career with 19 points and eight rebounds in the title game win over the Hornets.
Mountain Brook is not a one-man team. Washington, a Harvard commit in football, finished the title game with
Multitalented Teammate Despite Watford’s talents,
five points and five rebounds after leading the Spartans in their semifinal win over Lee-Montgomery. The senior has known Watford his entire
life and says his presence only heightened his own prowess on the court. “I’ve been playing with Trendon
HOOVER coach Krystle Johnson, who knew exactly what to say to her senior. “I wanted her to know that you’re going to get back out there on the court and you will be fine,” Johnson said. As a player at her alma mater, Johnson was also injured in her final game, but she returned to hit the game-winning free-throws for Hoover’s first state title in 2001. So it was with Knight as she returned in the second half to help lead the Hoover Bucs 34-1 to its sixth state title with a 47-33 win over the Hewitt-Trussville Huskies in the Class 7A girls state final. The final was played Saturday at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. “We were much happier with our effort today,” Johnson said. “I think we understood how big this game was, and we came out and played hard.” Knight had seven points at the time of her injury; played sparingly in the second half, finishing with nine points and two assists; and refused to sit as she stayed loose behind the bench while providing extra support for her teammates. Despite playing only 15 minutes in the title game, Knight was named tournament MVP while
Journal photo by Marvin Gentry
From page 36
Members of the Hoover High School girls basketball team with their Class 7A state championship trophy.
Joiya Maddox, who had 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists, was named to the Class 7A AllTournament Team. In Knight’s absence, Miya Kimber was instrumental in providing an offensive boost in the second half and finished with a teamhigh 13 points while pulling down five boards. “It felt good,” Knight said. “Miya really stepped up. I’m proud of my teammates because they really stepped it up regardless of who was out there and kept their heads up.” Hoover led by seven points after the opening frame but went cold following Knight’s injury. The
Bucs were 3 of 17 down the stretch but were able to extend its lead to 23-11 entering the break, thanks to a 10:31 drought by HewittTrussville. The Bucs opened the second half on a 6-1 run and 6 of 7 shooting to quiet the Legacy Arena crowd to a murmur after stretching the lead to 20 points near the end of the third quarter. It was a contrasting start from the team’s first-half finish. Johnson reiterated what she said at halftime to refocus her team. “We let them know we weren’t playing our best and we were still winning,” Johnson said. “Just letting them know, if you step it up
a little bit, we could blow the game open. I think we did that in the third quarter, but it seems like we were too relaxed in the first half. Even though we were winning, we weren’t playing at the speed we wanted to play.” Hoover’s lead grew as much as 25 points in the final period, but the Huskies closed out the game on a 13-2 run to cut the final margin to 14 with the Bucs scoring only once in the final six minutes.
Meeting Goals
An emphatic victory for the program’s sixth title met Johnson’s
since I was little,” Washington said. “It pushes you because he’s always going to bring his best, so you have to bring yours.” Watford may grab more headlines and recruiting interest, but McMillian is just as impressed with Washington as any other player he has coached during his career. “How many people thought that a team in Alabama that is nationally ranked has a point guard that is going to Harvard next year?” McMillian said. Washington and Watford were not the only seniors to shine during the Spartan’s three-peat performance, however, as Lior Berman finished his career with 19 points and eight rebounds in the title game win over the Hornets. “It’s a special thing to be a part of this program,” Berman said. “Growing up I would go to all of the games, and it’s what I always wanted to do.” Football may be the state’s favorite sport, but basketball has been making a strong case for itself the past few seasons, thanks in part to programs such as Mountain Brook’s. The Spartans, along with other top programs in the state, routinely play in larger tournaments out-of-state to gauge their ability to compete in the playoffs. But McMillian said the toughest trials usually have been within state lines as the sport has grown. “Alabama is underrated in terms of basketball,” he said. “We’ve played the best teams from all around ,but some of our hardest challenges have been right here in Alabama.” own desire to win her second ring as a head coach after winning the 2001 title as a player and two more as an assistant coach. She even sent a text message to her team expressing that desire. “I sent a picture of my rings this morning,” she said. “And I said I’m trying to get five today.” Knight, Kimber and Maddox, along with reserve Melanie Hall, are the only seniors on the roster and leave knowing they’ll miss their coach more than they might have originally thought. “We’re going to miss her sarcasm, her laughing moments,” Kimber said. “Really, we’re going to miss everything about her because there is no one else like her.” The Bucs came up a game shy of playing in the state tournament in 2018 after falling to Sparkman in the Northwest Regional final. Hoover began this season 2-0 before losing to eventual Class 6A champion Hazel Green in its third game, but the team finished the 2018-2019 season with a 32-game winning streak and the coveted blue map. “The road to redemption literally means everything,” Maddox said. “Nothing was going to stand in our way from getting what we wanted, and we got what we wanted.”
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, March 7, 2019 • 35
SPORTS
DiPiazza Thrives on Pressure as John Carroll’s Goalkeeper
On Feb. 28, the Spartans topped Vestavia Hills 1-0 on a goal by junior Pirman Blattmann (7).
‘MORE OF A FAMILY’
Everybody Contributing as Spartans Get off to Good Start in Area Play By Blake Ells
Family Tradition
DiPiazza comes from a family of soccer players. His dad, Jeremy, and his older brother, Ben, both played at John Carroll. His uncle David DiPiazza starred for the Cavaliers and won a state championship in 1994. He also coached John Carroll’s boys and girls to several state championships and is now coaching the boys team at Oak Mountain. Growing up, Will DiPiazza had little say about what sport he was going to play. “They kind of put me into soccer, but I really enjoyed it,” he said with a laugh. “I have played competitively since the fifth grade, but basically I’ve been playing all my life. I like the competitiveness and playing a game that all my family has played.” Just like his dad and his uncle were teammates for a season at John Carroll, so were Will DiPiazza and his brother. “Ben was a senior when I was a freshman, the same way it was when my uncle was a freshman and my dad was a senior,” Will DiPiazza said. The 5-foot-11 DiPiazza isn’t a big goalkeeper, so he uses a variety of skills to keep balls out of the back of the net.
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
John Carroll Catholic High School’s Will DiPiazza (1) is in his second season as the Cavaliers’ starting goalkeeper.
“I definitely rely on technique,” DiPiazza said. “I don’t necessarily have the height like some of those tall forwards, but I’m quick off the line and I try not to hesitate. I try to make quick decisions and stay technical.” DiPiazza had a few key saves last week when the Cavaliers beat Indian Springs 6-2 in their first Class 4A-5A, Area 7 game. John Carroll kicked off with a 3-2-1 start, with two shutouts and a scoreless tie against James Clemens, heading into the Cavaliers’ area home game against Briarwood Christian on Tuesday night. The Cavaliers dropped down a classification this spring after competing in Class 6A for several years. John Carroll lost to Homewood in the third round of the Class 6A playoffs in 2018. “I liked that we were going to be 5A,” DiPiazza said. “I thought it would be better for us because we’re definitely 5A (in school size). But
we’re in a tough area with Indian Springs and Briarwood. We’re probably the three best teams in the state in 5A.” Despite the stiff competition, DiPiazza believes the Cavaliers will contend for the state title. “I feel good about our team,” DiPiazza said. “We’ve grown each year we’ve been in high school, and we’re all hoping to have a big year and win state.” This could be DiPiazza’s last year of playing competitive soccer. He doesn’t plan to play in college and will attend Auburn and be a student like Ben, who’s a junior at Auburn studying mechanical engineering. “I’ve been accepted to Auburn so there’s where I’m planning to go,” Will DiPiazza said. “I’m going to study professional flight and eventually get my pilot’s license. I want to do anything with aviation. I wouldn’t mind working for a private corporation as a pilot, but I’ll do whatever I need to as long as I’m flying.”
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The 2019 high school soccer season is young, but Mountain Brook already has taken a huge step toward bettering its campaign from a year ago. On Feb. 28, the Spartans topped Vestavia Hills 1-0 on a goal by junior Pirman Blattmann that came on an assist from Whatley Thompson in the game’s 52nd minute. It’s the only game that has been played in the area thus far this season, as a scheduled contest between Spain Park and Hewitt-Trussville on the same evening was rained out. “Whatley went one-v.-one with their right back and he served it in,” Blattmann said of the game’s only score. “I peeled back post and headed it in.” A year ago, the Rebels topped the Spartans in the semifinals of the state tournament before falling to Auburn in the championship game. On the other side of the bracket, the Tigers had defeated McGill-Toolen in the semifinals on their own path. Before entering area play against the Rebels, Spain Park and HewittTrussville, the Spartans trekked to Foley for the Southern Shootout, where they tied that McGill-Toolen team 1-1 and topped St. Paul’s Episcopal 4-0 and Davidson 1-0. This year’s squad knew the weaknesses that they needed to improve and focused on them early. “I think this year, we’re much more of a soccer team,” Blattmann said. “Last year, we had a bunch of very skillful and technical players, but I think last year we thought individual players could win us games. This year, we’re playing more as a
team; moving the ball more. Most of the people from last year’s team are still here, and we realized we’re going to have to move the ball more. We’re more of a family this year than we were last year.” Coach Joe Webb likes the enthusiasm of this year’s team. “It’s a fun group and they work hard,” Webb said. “I’m fortunate that I have some really good players. And they just like each other. We really have fun in practice, in games and in meetings. We get along really well. It’s a fun group to be with.” In order to stay on the path toward their ultimate goal, the Spartans will need contributions from everyone. Their attitude is different from a year ago. “I’ve had teams where you’ve got two or three stars and then there are a lot of background dancers,” Webb said. “With this group, everybody has been on the stage at the same time contributing. And that’s really nice.” The Spartans will rely heavily on Blattmann and fellow junior Sam Rysendorph this season. They’ll also count on senior leadership from guys such as Zach Shunnarah and J.T. Jones. Mountain Brook has yet to win a state championship in soccer. Webb’s son, Ryan, followed his brother at Oak Mountain; the Eagles claimed three consecutive state championships from 2015-2017. The Webb family will renew their household rivalry on March 14 and March 21. “That makes it fun,” said Webb, who is in his 23rd season as coach of the Spartans. “That’s part of why I enjoy doing this; the relationships that you build with other players and coaches.”
From the time he started playing soccer, Will DiPiazza has been more interested in preventing goals than scoring goals. “I’ve always wanted to be a goalkeeper, since I was a little kid,” DiPiazza said. “I went to goalkeeper training camps and never really wanted to play anything else.” Now a senior at John Carroll Catholic High School, DiPiazza is in his second season as the Cavaliers’ starting goalkeeper. He thrives on the adrenaline of being the last line of defense. “I enjoy the pressure, especially when it comes down to me making a big save,” DiPiazza said. “I love making big saves in tight games. It’s a lot of fun. “I also feel like I’m in the position of the quarterback, telling people what to do.” John Carroll coach Eric Woodard likes having DiPiazza in net, especially because of his experience. “Will is one our leaders,” Woodard said. “We’ve got seven seniors and he’s one of our four returning starters. We rotated him some as a sophomore, and he started as a junior. He’s been one of our more consistent players. “I’m looking for a good season from him. It helps to have an experienced goalkeeper. He has been solid and instrumental in all of our wins, as has our defense as a whole. He communicates with the defenders and gets them organized.”
AUDI AUDI AUDI AUDI AUDI AUDI AUDI AUDI AUDI AUDI AUDI
Journal photo byLee Walls
By Rubin E. Grant
PORSCHE PORSCHE PORSCHE PORSCHE PORSCHE
Everybody contributing as Spartans get off to good start in area play. Page 35
Knight Moves
SPORTS
DiPiazza thrives on pressure as John Carroll’s goalkeeper. PAGE 35
Thursday, March 7, 2019 ❖ OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Hoover Girls Snag Basketball Title After Surviving an Injury And Cold Spell
History Making Mountain Brook Basketball Wins Unprecedented Third Consecutive 7A State Championship
By Evan Dudley
Sometimes history has a tendency to repeat itself. Hoover’s Skyla Knight had just dropped a three-pointer from the left side of the arc to give her team a six-point lead when she collapsed to the court in pain. Knight was tended to by trainers before being helped off the court by Bucs head
Journal photo by Marvin Gentry
See HOOVER page 34
Mountain Brook players celebrate as they claim their third consecutive state title with a 61-42 rout of the Baker Hornets in the Class 7A boys state final Saturday at Legacy Arena. Senior Trendon Watford, above left, earned state tournament MVP honors.
Journal photo by Marvin Gentry
By Evan Dudley
Skyla Knight
Mountain Brook’s Trendon Watford had been tormented by the Baker defense early – missing his first three shots of the game – when an opportunity presented itself to reassert his reigning Mr. Basketball status. Teammate Alex Washington had extended the lead to four points late in the opening period, but Baker’s Jalen Lilly got open after the ensuing inbounds pass with the intent to swing momentum back to the Hornets. Watford anticipated Lilly’s cut, snatched the ball away and found an
open Carter Sobera. The shot bounced off the backboard, but Watford was there with the rebound and layup to push the lead further while letting the almost 14,000 spectators know what was about to transpire. The Spartans, 31-3, trailed only two minutes as they claimed their third consecutive state title with a 61-42 rout of the Baker Hornets in the Class 7A boys state final Saturday at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. Mountain Brook is the first team in AHSAA history to win three straight titles in its largest classification and
‘I’m pretty speechless right now. Coming over in ninth grade, I never thought I would be able to win three state championships. I thank God for it.’ TRENDON WATFORD
See SPARTANS, page 34
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