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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2020
SOCIAL
The Constant Gardener Birmingham Blooms Will Honor Former Southern Living Editor John Floyd
D
SPORTS
John Floyd enjoys working in the BBG’s Japanese Garden. He’s pictured here with fellow volunteer Ritsuko Asano in January.
By Donna Cornelius
Photo courtesy Birmingham Botanical Gardens
r. John Alex Floyd Jr. has cultivated some pretty impressive gardening credentials over the years. Floyd was Southern Living’s editor in chief for 18 years, is a trustee for the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens and was a member of the American Horticultural Society’s board of directors. After earning a bachelor’s degree in ornamental horticulture at Auburn University, he went on to Clemson SUNSET University for a master’s degree and a doctorate in plant physiology. CELEBRATION Floyd also has been one of the BBG’s Birmingham Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ most Blooms Will Be a enthusiastic and loyal supporters. He was Special Night for the Gardens’ Volunteer of the Year in 2010 Supporters and recently was named director emeritus PAGE 18 by the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. But what doesn’t show up on his resume is perhaps the thing that fueled all these notable accomplishments: the pure joy he finds in gardening. Every week, he’s part of a group of volunteers who gather to work in the BBG’s Japanese Garden. He and his friends enjoy the hands-on labor that helps keep this well-known spot beautiful. In pre-COVID days, they often had lunch together after their tasks were complete. “I like to prune and pull weeds,” Floyd said. Floyd will be honored at Birmingham Blooms, an Oct. 4 sunset picnic that’s being held to show appreciation for the Gardens’ individual and corporate supporters. “It’s going to be a cool thing,” he said about the event. “October is See FLOYD, page 20
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OPINION/CONTENTS
Inside
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Murphy’s Law
I LEST WE FORGET 2020 Patriot Day Speaker Urges People to Tell Their Stories of 9/11 PAGE 8
WALL TO WALL Art Inspired by Birmingham Environment Will Greet Visitors When the Museum of Art Reopens PAGE 10
‘A LITTLE LIFE LESSON’ Homewood Family’s BookLending Library Provides Antiracist Literature for All Ages PAGE 12
ONLINE LEARNING Public School Systems Offer a Traditional Educational Timeline to Virtual Learners PAGE 24
ABOUT TOWN 4 PEOPLE 6 NEWS 8 LIFE 10
saw a T-shirt the other day that tation. “Not today,” I have to say. said, “One day, I hope to be the Meanest dog mom in America. person my dog thinks I am.” I Now, I know a lot of you are rolldon’t know. Some days, I’m not sure ing your eyes right now. I am supmy dog’s opinion of me is all that posed to be the Alpha, Dave the docile good. subordinate in our little pack, but our Oh sure, Dave loves me. I know pack is just the two of us, and that’s that. But, there are times (a lot of not how I want my house to feel. times) when it’s obvious that Dave I did not hesitate to point out to questions my judgment. Dave that I did not like him pottying If it is raining and I open the door on the living room rug. I was quite and say, “Let’s go outside,” Dave direct in my correction when he gives me a look that says, “Seriously?” chewed on the legs of the dining room Sue Murphy When the UPS truck thunders table. It’s only fair that he be able to down the street and I attempt to quiet voice his displeasure about my actions Dave by saying, “Everything is from time to time. We will work it OK,” Dave continues to bark, out. Or maybe I’m reading too believing I am in serious denial. I much into his raised eyebrows and I have raised two used the same line every five minlittle doggie sighs. Maybe he gets it utes the day that the workmen pow- daughters and completely and is just trying to er-washed the house and it was my guilt buttons, but I have shepherded 12 classes push clear that Dave thought I had lost raised two daughters and shepherdof kindergartners, and ed 12 classes of kindergartners, and my mind. When I have cheese and crackers I have been guilted by I have been guilted by the best of and I say, “These are not for dogs,” them. It’s not going to work … Dave considers me blatantly selfish. the best of them. very often. When I tell him that one rawhide With a child, you can console chewy is enough even though it is yourself with the idea that someday obvious that the chewy container is your unhappy offspring will have still full, he thinks I am just being mean. children of their own and will come to understand that When Dave nudges the back of my leg with a you were not being mean, you were being a responsisqueaky toy and I say, “Sorry, buddy, I have to do some ble parent, but with a dog, not so much. work,” he stares at me thinking I have no interest at all At the end of the day, when I finally sit down on in his happiness. the couch, Dave jumps up next to me where he has a I do have some successes. When I say, “Do you scheduled chewy treat (just one) and then he falls want to go to the park?” Dave is filled with doggie joy asleep on my lap. It’s snuggly and peaceful, and I love and runs directly to the closet that holds his carrier. But it. But sooner or later, I know I will have to get up, on days when it is raining and a trip to the park is illdisturbing his sleep, and I’ll be gifted with a half-lidadvised, there is no explaining it to him. He sniffs the ded stink eye. door of the closet and looks at me with innocent expecI’m sorry, Dave. I really am. I’m trying.
SOCIAL 14 HOME 18 SCHOOLS 24 SPORTS 28
otmj.com With everything that’s happening “Over the Mountain,” it can be difficult to keep up. That’s why we have launched the 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.
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN
J O U R N A L September 17, 2020 Publisher & Editor: Maury Wald Copy Editor: Virginia Martin Features Writer: Donna Cornelius Staff Writers: Emily Williams, Sam Prickett Photographer: Jordan Wald Editorial Assistant: Stacie Galbraith Sports: Rubin E. Grant Contributors: Susan Murphy, June Mathews, Emil Wald, Marvin Gentry, Lee Walls, Bryan Bunch Advertising Sales: Julie Trammell Edwards, Tommy Wald, Gail Kidd
Friday Night 9/11 Lights Spain Park’s Jackson Mitchell leads the Jaguars onto the field on Friday, Sept. 11 to take on the Thompson Warriors. Many area high schools participated in pregame ceremonies to honor the victims and heroes of the 9/11 terrorist attack.
Journal photo by Marvin Gentry
Vol. 30, No. 4
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 2020 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.
Meanest Dog Mom In America
Cover masks by Robin Johnson available at The Assistance League in Homewood. Journal photo by Jordan Wald.
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SEPT 17 - OCT 1 Steed family members participate in Vestavia Hill’s Rotary Club’s Hike the Hill event. From left, back, Dale and Beth in front William and Ella Monroe.
Through Sept. 26 Smile-A-Mile 5k -Virtual
What: Run, walk or stroll at your own pace and follow along on SmileA-Mile’s social media channels for updates and information, log your miles, send in your selfies and help collect donations in support of children and families on the childhood cancer journey.. Website: smileamile. com
Through Sept. 30
Virtual Bargain Costume Closet What: Find Halloween costumes, dance wear and dress up clothes at the Dance Foundation’s annual fundraiser via Instagram, @ bargaincostumecloset. Proceeds benefit the foundation’s Tuition Assistance and Community Partnership programs. Website: thedancefoundation.org
Through Oct. 1 Virtual Baby Steps Memorial Run 5K and One Mile Fun Run
What: Walk, run, jog or bike ride in remembrance of your loved one while we practice proper social distancing. Proceeds benefit Amelia Center at Children’s of Alabama, a place of hope for grieving children, parents and families. Website: babystepsal. com
Through Oct. 2 Online $5 Friends Bag Sale and Curbside Pick-up
What: The Friends of the Homewood Public Library hosts an online sale featuring hardback, trade and paperback books. Fill out the online form. Then select your pickup time and checkout. When: Pick-up, Oct. 4, 1-5 p.m. Where: The Library’s back
by Gary William Friedman, Porter’s timeless music and lyrics are woven throughout. When: check the website for times Where: VST Mainstage Website: virginiasamfordtheatre.org
Sept. 18-26 Head Over Teal 5k and 10K
What: Laura Crandall Brown Foundation presents a virtual 5K/10K fundraiser in support of the Foundation and its mission of early detection research of ovarian cancer, raising awareness and enriching lives through support. Website: thinkoflaura.org
Sat., Sept. 19
Taco Fest Taco Trail
Hold the Fort 5K and 10K Races
Photo courtesy Dale Steed
What: Bare Hands, Inc. continues its annual fundraiser in a new way. This free event will feature an interactive Taco Trail Map to some of Birmingham’s best taco eateries. Restaurants and food trucks will offer specials to those who participate and prizes will be given away every day on social media. Website: barehandsinc.org
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
ABOUT TOWN
HIKE THE HILL | THROUGH SEPT. 20
What: Vestavia Hills Rotary Club hosts a fundraiser to benefit Vestavia Hills City Schools’ PTO programs and other charities. Individuals may “Hike the Hill” (the 1.5 mile course begins at Little Shades Creek Bridge on Morgan Road, and ends at the corner of Lime Rock road and Panorama Drive) at any time during the two-week period, while social distancing. Website: vestaviarotary.org
parking lot Website: homewood. libnet.info
Through Oct. 31 Pumpkin and Mum Sale
What: Sims Gardens presents a fall fundraiser featuring pumpkins of all varieties, mums of many colors, crafts, a scarecrow trail and tricks and treats. Questions and preorders can be emailed to simsgarden@homewoodal. net. When: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Where: 913 Irving Road, Homewood Website: “Pumpkin and Mum Sale” Facebook page.
Thurs., Sept. 17 Diamonds for Life Gala
What: Join Kid One Transport for a 45 minute virtual event highlighting the impact you have on transporting Alabama’s vulnerable children and
expectant mothers to essential medical care. When: 7 p.m. Website: kidone.org
Sept. 17-20 Virtual Alabama Water Rally
What: Join Alabama Rivers Alliance and Kelly Marshall for a weekend packed with information, discussion and celebration featuring keynote speakers, breakout sessions, Junior Board plenary, new films and more. When: Sept. 17, 5:30 p.m. - Sept. 20, 11 a.m. Website: alabamarivers.org
Sept. 17-27 “Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter”
What: Virginia Samford Theatre presents the story of the driving force behind legendary songwriter Cole Porter. With innovative arrangements
What: These simultaneously held timed races include a complimentary event t-shirt, prizes compwlimentary access to the park and post event libations and entertainment. Proceeds benefit Blanket Fort Hope, an advocate for child victims of human trafficking. When: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Where: Oak Mountain State Park, Dogwood Pavilion Website: blanketforthope.org
Thurs., Sept. 24 Prescott House Golf Tournament
What: Join Prescott House Child Advocacy Center in a tournament where all proceeds benefit victims of child abuse.The event includes lunch, a raffle and awards When: 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Where: Robert Trent Jones at Oxmoor Valley Website: prescotthouse.org
CCA Birmingham Crawfest 2020 What: The Thomas E. Jernigan Foundation presents a fundraiser including a silent auction, raffle, door prizes, live music, an open bar and a Cajun Buffet by Crazy Cajuns. Proceeds benefit marine conservation efforts on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. When: 5:30-9 p.m. Where: Birmingham Zoo Website: “CCA Birmingham Crawfest 2020” Facebook page
Dining Out for Life-Birmingham
What: Join AIDS Alabama and some of Birmingham’s best restaurants in safely dining in or ordering carryout at participating restaurants. For a list of participating restaurants, visit aidsalabama.org. Proceeds benefit
AIDs Alabama. When: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Website: aidsalabama.org
Sept. 24-26 Vintage Market Days
What: Vintage Market Days presents “Road Trip.” Enjoy vintage and vintage-inspired goods, architectural salvage, repurposed finds, jewelry, clothing and live music When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Where: The Finley Center Website: “Vintage Market Days of Birmingham Metro” Facebook page
Fri., Sept. 25 Zoo Brews: Drafts at a Distance
What: A reinvented twist on a signature favorite, guests will enjoy a selection of beverages from Alabama Crown’s finest specialty brews and wines. Experience breweries from all over Alabama and the southeast while safely traveling through the zoo. 21+. When: 5-8 p.m. Where: Birmingham Zoo Website: birminghamzoo.com
Sat., Sept. 26 St. Jude Walk/Run Birmingham
What: Join St. Jude in a virtual fundraiser for childhood cancer research for the kids of St. Jude and kids with cancer in your community. Check the website for details. Website: stjude.org
Sun., Sept. 27 Revvin’ 4 Research
What: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama and Heart of Dixie Harley-Davidson present a charity motorcycle ride. After the police-escorted ride, a boxed lunch will be available for all registered participants. When: 1-4 p.m. Where: Heart of Dixie Harley-Davidson Website: bcrfa.org
Sept. 29-Oct. 4 Cahaba River Fry Down
What: This year’s event is free and going viral. Teams can enter their favorite fish and side dish recipes and compete by demonstrating via video. Enjoy featured performers, fishing tips and adventure videos. Receive a complimentary Fry-Down Cookbook with a donation. Website: cahabariversociety.org
See ABOUT TOWN, page 5
Bundles of Hope Seeks to Collect 350,000 Diapers for Families in Need Bundles of Hope has a goal. It’s trying to collect at least 350,000 diapers during its sixth annual Stuff the Bus event, set for Sept. 18-27. According to officials with Bundles of Hope, a member of the National Diaper Bank Network, diapers are an expensive necessity, and 1 in 3 families struggles to provide enough to keep their baby properly clean and dry.
“During the pandemic, we have seen need increase by 300% and didn’t close for a single day, distributing up to 100,000 diapers each month during the shutdown,” Executive Director Lindsay Gray said in a release. Diapers are not covered by any government programs – such as SNAP or WIC – so the cost rests solely on parents. More than 14,500 chil-
dren under the age of 5 in the Birmingham area live in poverty, as does 29% of the Birmingham community overall. The organization was founded in
2015 and has since distributed more than 2.2 million diapers at no cost to parents in need Sponsored by Medical Properties Trust, a kickoff celebration for the 10-day event will take place on the gravel easement below the Target shopping center on U.S. 280 beginning at 6 p.m. on Sept. 18. “We are coordinating around 130 diaper drives throughout the commu-
nity, hosted by local groups, businesses, neighborhoods and churches,” Gray said. “The event will be held in a drive-thru format this year to practice safe distancing.” The organization will accept new and opened packages, and the sizes most needed are 4, 5 and 6. Pull-ups and wipes also are greatly needed. For more information, visit bundlesdiaperbank.org.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, September 17, 2020 • 5
ABOUT TOWN Thurs., Oct. 8 Tacos for Trinity
What: Trinity Counseling hosts an all-virtual event including an online silent auction and inspiring speakers. Proceeds benefit Trinity and its mission to provide muchneeded mental health services to the community. When: Check the website for updates Website: trinitycounselingbham.org
TASTE OF HOOVER | OCT. 8
Journal file photos by Jordan Wald
What: Enjoy an autumn evening strolling through the gardens and sampling delicious dishes form some of Hoover’s best restaurants, caterers and more. Taste international wines and local beers while listening to live entertainment. When: 5-8 p.m. Where: Aldridge Gardens Website: aldridgegardens.com
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The inaugural Pink up the Pace 5K run was held in the spring of 2018 at Crestline Field in Mountain Brook. This year’s event will be virtual.
VIRTUAL PINK UP THE PACE | OCT. 1-31
What: Join the Junior Board of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama in this month-long event featuring three running options: a time challenge; a distance challenge; and a 1-mile run, bike and scooter race for kids. Website: bcrfa.org
Christine’s Kristi and Chip Oelschlaeger enjoying last year’s Taste of Hoover event.
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ABOUT TOWN/PEOPLE
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and the Mike Slive Foundation is providing educational outreach opportunities for men and their families to learn more about this disease that affects one in nine men. “This is definitely a unique September, as we all continue to navigate our changed COVID world,” said Executive Director Anna Slive Harwood. “We want to remind men, especially during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the importance of getting screened for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in men.” According to Harwood, African American men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as white men, and men with two or more relatives who have had prostate cancer are four times as likely to be diagnosed. “Most people don’t realize that, while one in eight women may get breast cancer, one in nine men will get prostate cancer in his lifetime,” Harwood said. There are many opportunities throughout the month to learn more about prostate cancer and to be a part of opportunities for donating to the foundation for prostate cancer research. UAB, the Mike Slive Foundation and Pfizer are collaborating to provide prostate cancer education in underserved communities. On Sept. 14,
UAB hosted “Hey Fellas,” a virtual education session on prostate cancer. A second “Hey Fellas” will take place virtually at 10 a.m. Sept. 26, with Greater St. John Baptist Church hosting an audience. To register, visit mikeslivefoundation.org. Mike Slive board member Clete Walker has organized a fundraiser night at La Paz Restaurant for Sept. 23. The restaurant will offer 10% of all sales and 100% of Blue Margarita sales to benefit the Mike Slive Foundation. In addition, a Shabbat service recently was hosted at Temple EmanuEl Birmingham, with remarks made by the foundation’s director of education and outreach, Emily Capilouto. Supporters are encouraged to make a donation on the foundation’s website, or preregister for the upcoming Virtual Beyond Blue. The event will take place Nov. 12 at 6 p.m., co-hosted by Laura Rutledge of ESPN/SEC Network and Mike Tirico of NBC Sports, with special guest appearances by sporting legends as well as an online auction. This will mark the third annual Beyond Blue event and will honor Mike Slive Foundation board member and prostate cancer survivor Charlie Perry. For more information, visit mikeslivefoundation.org.
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
Mike Slive Foundation Recognizes Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Mountain Brook Celebrates Resident’s 102nd Birthday
The celebration of Mountain Brook resident Frances Roseman’s 102nd birthday, on Sept. 9, took on a new – and more grandiose – form than usual. Because of the pandemic and social distancing guidelines, Roseman and members of her family gathered for a parade organized by the city of Mountain Brook and members of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce. Three of Roseman’s sons, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren attended, as well as friends and caretakers. Guests watched from her lawn as city officials drove by in a show of congratulations, including representatives of the Mountain Brook Fire Department, Mayor Stewart Welch and Mountain Brook Police Chief Ted Cook.
Frances Roseman
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Methvin Named President of State Bar Association
Robert G. “Bob” Methvin Jr. – the founding shareholder of Methvin, Terrell, Yancey, Stephens & Miller P.C. in Birmingham – recently was installed as the 145th president of the Alabama State Bar. Methvin, a Mountain Brook resident, will focus this year on unity and diversity, changes to the legal profession Robert G. “Bob” caused by the Methvin Jr. coronavirus pandemic, and public service with an emphasis on pro bono services. During the bar’s first Virtual Annual Meeting and Grand Convocation, Methvin said, “We, as lawyers, stand for justice and fairness and against those who seek to tear down the rule of law,” according to a statement released by the bar. He has appointed a three-person Presidential Council on Unity and Diversity to “provide guidance to leadership on these issues and help the bar engage, listen, learn and grow together.” He also intends to create two other task forces to provide services to victims of human trafficking and to frontline medical personnel. In the next year, the bar also will
PEOPLE focus on adjusting to changes caused by the pandemic. Methvin said the bar is working with the Supreme Court on a plan to fully open the court system. Methvin said he also will continue to support mental and physical wellness initiatives for lawyers. “We as lawyers are so concerned with taking care of our clients that we often forget to take care of ourselves,” he said.
Rachel Reynolds to Lead Homewood Rotary Club It was recently announced that Rachel Reynolds has been elected president of Homewood Rotary for the 2020-2021 club year. A financial adviser with Edward Jones Investments, Reynolds has served Homewood Rotary in various positions during the past few years. Other new club officers Rachel Reynolds are Rhett McCreight, president-elect; Sandra Nelson, secretary; Jo-Ann Bradley, assistant secretary; Tellis Shoemaker, treasurer; and Ben Johnson and Will O’Donnell, sergeants-at-arms. Board members are president-elect nominee Kelly Moore, immediate past
Thursday, September 17, 2020 • 7
President Lawrence Corley, Community Service Director Rachael Dollins, Fundraising Director Carol Chesnutt, Scholarship Director Al Murray, Technical Adviser/Social Media Director Brett Richardson and Director-at-Large Gregg Wadsworth. The leadership team was installed by Rotary International District Governor Lee Weinman during a recent club meeting. Homewood Rotary supports local, national and international projects through service and financial commitment. Its long-standing college scholarship program has assisted hundreds of Homewood High School graduates. Rotarians annually distribute dictionaries to third-graders at Homewood’s three elementary schools. Local beneficiaries also include the Homewood Library, Assistance League, Lakeshore Foundation, Bell Center, Exceptional Foundation and other projects that help area residents of all ages. Many of the supporting funds result from events such as the club’s popular bake sale and Chalk Art Festival at We Love Homewood Day, a St. Patrick’s Day event and other fundraising opportunities. Homewood Rotary meets each Thursday at noon. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, meetings now are held on Zoom.
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NEWS
8 • Thursday, September 17, 2020
Lest We Forget
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
By Emily Williams Unity was the theme as retired Lt. Col. Ginger Branson spoke at the city of Hoover’s annual Patriot Day Remembrance Ceremony. She spoke of moments in history that were unforgettable and united everyone in the country regardless of their differing beliefs. As she spoke, a masked crowd sat in chairs spaced out across a section of the Finley Center. Branson, a registered nurse, served in the U.S. Army from 1973 to 2005, concluding her time with the Army Reserve as the head nurse of the intermediate care unit of the 75th Combat Support Hospital in Tuscaloosa. A Vestavia Hills resident, Branson was the recipient of the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 Freedom Award in recognition of her years of service in the armed forces and her continued support of veterans. She is the commander of the Hooverbased Ryan Winslow American Legion Post 911. “My momma and daddy could tell you exactly where they were on Dec. 7, 1941, a day that, indeed, lived in infamy,” Branson said. “And some of us old timers still ask, ‘Where were you when President Kennedy was assassinated?’ “I was a teenager,” she said. “In fact, it was the fall of my senior year and I was in art class at Woodlawn High School.” The years following Kennedy’s death seemed to Branson filled with historical divides, ones such as the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. Then came Sept. 11,
Mountain Brook Leads OTM Cities in Census Response In the race to count every household in the country before the 2020 census comes to a close Sept. 30, the state of Alabama is dead last. On Sept. 11, national data showcased a 90.1% response rate for the country as a whole, yet Alabama’s total enumerated response rate is 81.5%. That rate includes residents who self-responded to the census questionnaire, 62.3%, as well as the households that door-to-door census workers have been able to track down, 19.2%. The information collected will be used for the next decade by lawmakers, federal agencies, business owners and other decisionmakers. They will factor into decisions regarding the building of new schools, clinics and roads, as well as services
2001, when, at 7:46 a.m. central time, American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. The tragic timeline of the day continued when United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower at 8:02 a.m. central, American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the western side of the Pentagon at 8:37 a.m., and then United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in a field in Pennsylvania at 9:03 a.m. As a nation, Branson said, we were all glued to our television sets. “Maybe you wept,” she said. “Maybe you prayed, unless you lived and worked in New York City or unless you were a first responder in the area. There was no time for weeping or anger, for them there was only focus.” Of the nearly 3,000 citizens who died that day, more than 400 were first responders. By 2013, Branson noted, more than 1,400 first responders had died from conditions relating to exposure to toxins at Ground Zero. The death count continues to grow, and nearly 4,000 responders and other survivors have since died of conditions that could be related to toxic exposures that day. “None of the heroes of 9/11 rushed into the twin towers to save a building,” she said. “Their purpose was to rescue people. In my heart, I know that most of them realized that rushing into the mouth of hell on that day would most likely be their last action on this earth. … I believe that most of them knew they were giving up their tomorrow so that someone else could have their today.” Just as she had seen the nation provided for the public. In a Sept. 8 press conference, Gov. Kay Ivey stated, “Without you, Alabama stands to lose billions in funding, a seat in Congress and economic development opportunities,” she said. Federal funding is allocated based on census data, through Medicaid, Head Start, mental health services grants, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and many other federal agencies. For Alabama, it also is vitally important for all to respond, as the state is one of 10 at risk of losing a House of Representatives seat if the population is undercounted. While Shelby County leads among counties in self-response, at 76.7%, Jefferson County’s rate is 64.2% In the Over the Mountain community, Mountain Brook has topped the state rate of self-responders, with 84.3%. Vestavia Hills has an 81% self-report
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
2020 Patriot Day Speaker Urges People to Tell Their Stories of 9/11
Above, from left, Mike Shaw, Suzy Koski, Frank Brocato, Ginger Branson and Susan DuBose. Below, a moment of silence for the fallen; First responders recite The Pledge of Allegiance at the Patriot Day Remembrance Ceremony in Hoover.
forego its differences in grief of President Kennedy’s death, Branson said that things that divided us as a nation were pushed aside after 9/11. “We stood shoulder to shoulder, on and on, suffering the same grief and profound loss,” she said. “What mattered was not what divided us, but what united us,” she
added. “It was the greatest surge of patriotism in my lifetime.” Branson finished her words with a request that we continue to share our 9/11 experiences and pass down the legacy of what it means to be united. Patriot Day, she noted, is so named because of the patriotism shown that day and in the weeks that
followed. “So, lest they forget, it is vital that we teach our children and grandchildren the pride and glory that being a patriotic American citizen feels like,” Branson said. “Remember where were you on Sept. 11, 2001, and please, tell your story.”
rate and Hoover has a 76.7% selfreport rate. Meanwhile, Homewood had a self-response rate of 68.8% and the city of Birmingham is at 53.9%. The deadline to complete the 2020 census is Sept. 30. To respond to the census, visit my2020census.gov or call 844-3302020.
continue as CEO until a new one is selected, according to a statement from Grandview. The search for a new CEO already has begun. Granger will continue with the corporation as an executive adviser to help advance quality, patient experience, leadership development and special projects in select markets, according to Drew Mason the statement. Granger became president of Region 1 in 2017, working with hospitals in Alabama, the Florida Panhandle and Georgia. He was COO of Grandview when it opened in 2015, and shortly thereafter he became CEO. In that position, he helped
recruit a strong leadership team and nearly 500 new physicians after the former Trinity Medical Center moved from its Birmingham location to U.S. 280 and became Grandview. He has been part of the CHS organization since 2006. Mason is president of the Alabama Hospital Association, Birmingham Regional Council; earned the highest honor for hospital leadership from that state group; and is Alabama’s delegate to the association’s Regional Policy Board. He has served on the board and executive committee of Alabama’s Medicare-contracted Quality Improvement Organization and played a key role in development and passage of Alabama’s Infection Reporting Law for transparency. He serves on the Board of Governors for the Federation of American Hospitals and on the board of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama.
Granger Retires as a Regional President for Community Health Systems; Grandview CEO Named Successor
Keith Granger is retiring from his role as president of the Community Health Systems Professional Services Corp.’s Region 1. He will be succeeded by Drew Mason, CEO of Grandview Medical Center, leaving a vacancy in that spot. Mason takes over the Region 1 presidency on Jan. 1, but he will
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
NEWS
Fun and Games
Smith’s Variety marked its 70th year in business Saturday with a celebration that included prizes, give-a-ways, entertainment for the kids, snacks and beverages. Jack Smith first opened the store in 1950 at a site in Homewood, and over the years it has been at two sites in Mountain Brook Village and another site in Homewood before settling down in Crestline Village, according to a statement from Smith’s Variety. Lit and Mary Anne Glazner bought the store in 1976, and they turned it over to their son Jim, who had worked there off and on since he was a teenager, in 1998 because Lit Glazner became ill. After he passed away, Mary Anne Glazner took a break and the opportunity to travel, and later she rejoined the store. She died in 2017. In February, the family store was sold to Brad and Amy Simpson, who are taking it into the future.
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
A Festival-Like Air Prevailed at the 70th Anniversary Celebration for Smith’s Variety
Above, Smith’s Variety owners Brad and Amy Simpson, with their son Owen, at the store’s 70th anniversary party last Saturday. Top, a balloon animal artist was among the special guests at the event celebrating Smith’s anniversary.
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Thursday, September 17, 2020 • 9
Cumberland to Serve Vets With New Law School Clinic
Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law has launched the first full-service law school clinic in Alabama for veterans. The Cumberland Veterans Legal Assistance Clinic, dubbed C-Vets, provides free legal assistance to veterans and their families in an eight-county area of North Central Alabama. Bibb, Blount, Chilton, Cullman, Etowah, Jefferson, Shelby and Walker counties are served by the clinic. C-Vets is accepting applications for legal assistance in a wide variety of civil matters, including consumer debt, landlord-tenant, contracts, uncontested family law matters and wills. Law students and practicing attorneys may assist with criminal matters such as expungement, driver license issues and fines and court costs. The clinic is led by supervising attorney Judge John L. Carroll. Carroll, alumnus and former dean of Cumberland School of Law, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War and has many years of experience representing veterans with legal issues. He assists veterans on cases referred by The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program, headquartered in Washington, D.C., and was a leader in helping the Birmingham Volunteer Lawyer’s Program establish the Veteran’s Help Desk at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in
downtown Birmingham. “A core value of Cumberland School of Law and of the legal profession is service to others,” Carroll said. “C-Vets provides a unique way for our students to truly answer the call to serve by providing free legal assistance
‘C-Vets provides a unique way for our students to truly answer the call to serve by providing free legal assistance to veterans and their families.’ JUDGE JOHN L. CARROLL
to veterans and their families. Veterans and their families have given so much to our country and the creation of C-Vets allows our students and attorneys to give something back to them.” C-Vets was launched with support from Cumberland alumnus and veteran Stephen B. Moss and a $10,000 grant from The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program. Learn more about C-Vets and how to apply for legal assistance at samford.edu/cumberlandlaw/c-vets.
LIFE
10 • Thursday, September 17, 2020
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
WALL to WALL
Art Inspired by Birmingham Environment Will Greet Visitors When the Museum of Art Reopens By Emily Williams
Exhibitions Waiting in the Wings
‘... I hope that what’s here can encourage people, bring them solace or joy or humor – whatever would lift them up in that moment.’ BMA SENIOR CURATOR EMILY HANNA
Photos courtesy Birmingham Museum of Art
I
t has been nearly six months since the whitewalled entrance of the Birmingham Museum of Art greeted visitors. Though the date of reopening is undetermined, BMA senior curator Emily Hanna, who is curator of the Arts of Africa and the Americas, and Hugh Kaul Curator of Contemporary Art Hallie Ringle are working on a new exhibit to greet future visitors. Wall to Wall: Merritt Johnson, presented by PNC, will be the inaugural iteration of a project that invites artists to create works to be displayed on the typically blank walls of the museum’s lobby and cafe. Johnson, the first featured artist, will set the tone of what is expected to be a continuing project with a collection of pieces inspired by the land and water of Birmingham. The art will be high-resolution images of Johnson’s paintings, blown up, printed onto vinyl and papered onto the walls. “It was really Hallie’s vision to do this sort of amazing, immersive experience with Merritt’s paintings,” Hanna said, “doing a kind of wallpaper out of the paintings.” Johnson, an artist of Native American heritage based in Sitka, Alaska, isn’t new to the BMA. The museum has a couple of pieces of her work in its collection. What sets the Wall to Wall presentation apart is that the display features works inspired by Birmingham for Birmingham. “As you pass through the halls to the gift shop, you are surrounded … floor to ceiling by these giant paintings,” Hanna said. “Then you get to Oscar’s cafe and you see the panorama of the (Cahaba) lilies and you see the panorama of nature.” In preparation for the exhibit, Johnson was able to fit in a trip to Birmingham just before pandemic lockdowns set in. The curators escorted her on a journey to the area’s natural environments – including the Cahaba River, Red Mountain and Moundville – and introducing her to local environmentalists such as Charles Scribner of Black Warrior Riverkeeper. Johnson also made a point to visit the city’s harsher landscapes, such as the 35th Avenue Superfund site, a site polluted with lead, arsenic and benzo[a]pyrene. “She wanted to see those extreme differences in the land, how it’s been treated and the fallout for people who live near and around sites where
In addition to Wall to Wall, the museum has four other exhibitions lined up to share with visitors once the doors reopen. The contemporary art exhibition “All Things Bright and Beautiful” takes a look at themes of power and agency, primarily through pieces from the BMA’s collection. “An Epic of Earth and Water: Clare Leighton and the New England Industries” explores Leighton’s process through 12 wood engravings Leighton created for Wedgwood. An exhibition of nearly 60 objects, “Ways of Seeing: Buildings and Wall to Wall: Merritt Johnson, presented by PNC, will be the inaugural iteration of a project that invites artists to creMonuments,” highlights ate works to be displayed on the typically blank walls of the museum’s lobby and cafe. Buffalo Vector Border Crossing the unexamined spaces of (Yellowstone), above, by artist Merritt Johnson, below right. BMA senior curator Emily Hanna, below left. the built environment using rarely seen works from the museum’s collection to illuminate the relationship between artists and architects. This also will include an exploration of how monuments are seen by and affect members of the community. Finally, “Jacob Lawrence: The American Struggle” includes iconic modernist art from Lawrence’s 1954-56 series of paintings called “Struggle … From the History of American People.” The works show how women and people of color helped shape the founding of the United States. Commentaries on social and political issues, as well as art as universal human expression, are a running theme throughout the the land has not been treated well, or the water,” “When they enter the lobby, (visitors) are Hanna said. going to see that moment when we were looking lineup. “We have art from every corner of the The opportunity to be intertwined with at the Superfund site,” Hanna said. “It was kind world and, ultimately, people go through many Johnson’s artistic process from start to finish is of a dreary day. of the same things,” Hanna said. one of the “wonderful perks” of Hanna’s job. “The site is surrounded by a modest chain“All of that is here and I hope that what’s “To be with her every step of the way was link fence, nothing to much … keep people out just stupendous,” she said. “It is an experience and certainly nothing to keep the pollutants from here can encourage people, bring them solace or joy or humor – whatever would lift them up that, of course, we always try to offer that back getting to people. Yet … she has depicted that in that moment,” Hanna said. “That’s what art as broadly as we can to the general public.” site with a sort of mountainous form behind the is, it’s an expression of what we go through as The curators typically achieve this by coordi- fence and then these floating dots that represent human beings. I hope people will find that nating events in which visitors are able to hear the movement of elements in the air that we when they come back, because it’s all here.” from the artist in person at a reception or precan’t control.” While the public awaits the reopening date, sentation. Hanna and Ringle are still trying to Fences are a recurring theme in Johnson’s there are ways to connect and engage with the figure out how to achieve a similar opportunity work. museum’s collection. The museum’s website, remotely using Zoom. “Fences are all about people imagining that at artsbma.org, provides a variety of digital “Merritt is so passionate, she’s so thoughtful, they can keep things or people or nature sepaofferings, including virtual exhibitions, art and she is really one of the most generous artists rate by way of a barrier,” Hanna said. “It never projects and meditation. I’ve ever worked with in terms of her willingworks. You can’t keep the flow of air by way of In addition, for those who are able to give ness to talk about her process and her ideas and a fence. You can’t keep water. Nature wants to financially, museum officials note that the answer questions,” Hanna said. move and it will move.” organization needs monetary support now Johnson offered up many of her own words The fences are also a reference to the labels to help the curators create comprehensive that are used to keep people apart – race, ethnic- more than ever because the pandemic has ity, gender and so on. resulted in large funding reductions. descriptions and explanations for her works.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, September 17, 2020 • 11
LIFE
Remy Fund Awards $55,000 to Local Animal Organizations ducted in person and virtually by committee members Debra Linton, committee chair, Cathy Adams, Maggie McDonald, Brenda Bell Guercio, Sandy Logan, Dr. James “Murphy” Lynch, Beverly Virciglio, Cameron Vowell and Laura Wainwright. The grant cycle for 2021 will open for applications March 15. For more information, visit cfbham.org/remy-fund/. —Emily Williams
Since 2011, the Remy Fund has provided $400,000 in grants to companion animal nonprofits that serve Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Blount and Walker counties.
More power to pay your bill.
Photos courtesy Ken Jackson
The Remy Fund is a Field of Interest Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham and was established by Ken Jackson, right. Its name pays homage to the memory of his late dog Remy, a Jack RussellShih Tzu Mix.
and was established by Jackson. Its name pays homage to the memory of his late dog Remy, a Jack Russell-Shih Tzu Mix. Jackson has provided more than $750,000 to the fund and is the donor of Remy’s Dog Park at Red Mountain Park. He also serves as an ex officio member of the Remy Fund Grant Committee, which conducts in-depth site visits with all grant finalists. This year, site visits were con-
The Remy Fund for Pets and Animal Services celebrated its 10th anniversary this year by awarding $55,000 to 10 organizations. Since 2011, the Remy Fund has provided $400,000 in grants to companion animal nonprofits that serve Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Blount and Walker counties. “Especially in this challenging time, our Remy Fund grants provide much needed support to dedicated nonprofits that are making a significant positive impact on the lives of animals, and the humans they touch, in our community,” said founder Ken Jackson. This year, VP Funds, a supporter of nonprofits that encourage “kindness, consideration, and common sense,” donated $100,000 to increase the endowment of the Remy Fund. Organizations receiving funds this year include Alabama Spay Neuter, $10,000, to support spay and neuter surgeries for dogs and cats through the Remy Snip program; Shelby Humane Society, $10,000, to support the Shelby Spay Neuter Program for dogs and cats in Shelby County; Walker County Humane Society, $10,000, to provide low or no-cost spay and neuter services for dogs and cats in Walker County; Bama Bully Rescue, $5,000, to provide care for pit bulls and other “bully” breeds that have been abandoned, abused or neglected; Kitty Kat Haven and Rescue, $5,000, to
provide food, litter and spay and neuter surgeries; MomaKat Rescue, $5,000, to provide care and adoption support for rescued kittens, including medical care, spay and neuter surgeries and socialization; Special Equestrians, $4,000, to provide care for horses in the animal-assisted equine therapy program; Adopt a Golden Birmingham, $2,500, to support spay and neuter surgeries, routine and specialist veterinary services and boarding for dogs with special medical needs; Episcopal Place, $2,500, meeting the needs of residents’ companion animals, including on-site grooming, annual vaccinations and checkups, and a pet food pantry; and The Red Mountain Park Fund, $1,000, to provide updated location and informational signage for Remy’s Dog Park. The Remy Fund is a Field of Interest Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
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12 • Thursday, September 17, 2020
LIFE
Reoccurring Theme
Social issues surrounding race have repeatedly come up in Berthiaume’s world, both as a mother now and as a clinical psychologist for adolescents. “There are times when there will be something in the news and I’ll have a black adolescent male patient who is maybe anxious about it, or his mom might be anxious about some kind of violent issues involving police,” she said. Lately, she has seen some of her white patients’ desires to educate themselves. “They’ve wanted to know, what books should (they) read and they’ve wanted to talk about how they can be an ally – just understand
Above, Kristen and Brian Berthiaume with their children Emma, Owen and Lily. Below, Lily with the “mountains of boxes of books” dropped off since the Berthiaume’s little library of books disappeared on the night of Aug. 26.
‘A Little Life Lesson’ Homewood Family’s Book-Lending Library Provides Antiracist Literature for All Ages
Photo courtesy Kristen Berthiaume
It looks a bit like an oversized birdhouse, a bright red and blue book-sharing hub on Clermont Drive in Homewood. What’s perhaps more eyecatching than its color is the large black lettering along each side that announces “Antiracist Little Library.” On Aug. 27, the Berthiaume family awoke to find that their little library out in the front yard had been unceremoniously cleaned out. “While I’d love to believe the books were taken to be read and enjoyed, I don’t,” Kristen Berthiaume wrote in a post on the @antiracistlibrary20 Instagram account. “The library was completely full yesterday evening.” Whether they were taken to be read or taken to be trashed remains a mystery. Regardless, the community banded together to breathe new life into the empty shelves. Within days, a Facebook post about the incident garnered hundreds of likes and numerous shares. Berthiaume and her family set up an Amazon wishlist of books that the people were able to purchase as a donation. As the weeks have rolled along, the delivery truck has dropped off mountains of boxes of books, often stacked taller than the youngest of Berthiaume’s three kids. “We definitely had visitors before,” Berthiaume said. “We’ve had books come and go.” The library’s mission has reached neighbors passing by on a walk and social media followers mailing in donations from as far away as British Columbia. “It has definitely been a little life lesson for all of us, but particularly for our kids to see these huge piles of boxes,” she said. “Just being able to see that in response to this one bad act is pretty incredible. “It feels more like a community library now versus our little library.” The library was created as a quarantine project by the Berthiaume family and made its first appearance in late spring. “There were a lot of race-related issues in the news,” Berthiaume said. “We were looking for some sort of project that we could take on to, just in some small way, help with some of those issues.” Now that the family is swimming in literature, they are planning to share the wealth with other local book-sharing programs in need. “There are a couple of other libraries in the Rosedale neighborhood that are apparently not being maintained or don’t have a lot of books in them, so we hope to send some books over there as well,” she said. Berthiaume noted that there are books in the library for all ages, as well as all interests – from coloring books to memoirs. “If we have kids walking down the street who are Black or Hispanic, I want them to be able to open that and definitely find a book where they are represented in some way,” she said. “So, that is another kind of positive.”
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
By Emily Williams
their own role in perpetrating racism,” Berthiaume said. “So, I definitely have seen some patients really start to think about this probably more than they ever have and start to figure out what they need to do differently.” For her own family, books have been a great place to glean information and start a conversation.
Build Your Book List
Throughout the process of maintaining the library, the Berthiaume family has been reading along – diving into some of the books before they are placed in their library’s shelves – and have identified a variety of books for all age groups that they have found helpful. “In terms of looking at babies and preschool, I think what is (most) important is just talking about different skin tones – normalizing that these are OK things to talk about and OK things to have questions about,” she said. A great option is books that have central characters who aren’t white, such as Ezra Jack Keats’ “The Snowy Day” and other works. “The central character is black, and these are just sweet little stories that are very easy to understand,” Berthiaume said. Other suggestions that tackle the subject of
race in a concrete way that still are easy to understand are “The Skin You Live In,” by Michael Tyler, and “The Colors of Us,” by Karen Katz. “Then there is this cute little board book called ‘Antiracist Baby,’ by Ibram X. Kendi,” she said. “It’s a little more overt in talking about antiracism, but that might be of interest to some parents who really want to tackle the issue.” For the elementary-age child, Berthiaume loves “The Undefeated,” by Kwame Alexander, and “Black is a Rainbow Color,” by Angela Joy. “They are both picture books that are celebrating black culture,” she said. “One thing that is cool about both is that they have a lot of historical background information.” The background information is in the form of an appendix in each book. As kids age, they can revisit the book and learn more about the poetic portions of the story as it relates to famous Black Americans throughout history. A more challenging option is “Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness,” by Anastasia Higginbotham, and it is more overt in discussing issues of white privilege. Two of Berthiaume’s 10-year old daughter’s favorite books for the tweens are both graphic novels: “New Kid,” by Jerry Craft, and “American Born Chinese,” by Gene Luen Yang.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
“Those are both great because they deal with micro aggressions,” Berthiaume said. The examples of micro aggressions serve to help kids ponder their own language, she said, and are a great way to start a dialogue about how micro aggressive language is hurtful. “What could you do if someone else in your class said that to a black boy?” Berthiaume said. “What could you do if you accidentally said something like this and you want to make it right?” Though she is 13, Berthiaume’s oldest tends to read at an older level and has some suggestions suited for teenagers. “She really liked “The Hate U Give,” by Angie Thomas,” Berthiaume said. “Again, it’s got some serious issues in that one. It deals with the protests, police violence against black people and some of those more serious issues.” Another suggestion from one of the family’s favorite authors, Ibram X. Kendi, is “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You,” which is the teen version of his adult book “Stamped From the Beginning.” “It’s basically the history that you didn’t get in school,” Berthiaume said. “This Book is Anti-Racist,” by Tiffany Jewell, is filled with short vignettes that discuss different ways to identify racism, how to intervene, how to change your behavior and more along with engaging illustrations. For adults, the options are endless, but for those looking for a place to start, Berthiaume has identified three books that she has found helpful. “How to Be an Antiracist,” also by Ibram X. Kendi, was the seminal book for her in exploring antiracism and white privilege. “It talks a lot about how you can move from racist behaviors to actually fighting against racism,” she said. “He shares some of his personal experiences and talks about research in racism and how it is prevalent in society. “Another one that I read and got a lot out of was ‘White Fragility,’ by Robin DiAngelo,” she said. “It helped me to understand how white people, in particular, engage in conversations about race and why it is so hard to have those conversations.” Finally, the 2015 nonfiction book “Between the World and Me,” by Ta-Nehisi Coates, was incredibly moving – written as a letter to the author’s teenage son about what it means to be black in the United States. “It was so different from my own life and helped me understand more about what other people are dealing with, experiences that I wouldn’t necessarily have learned from anybody just in conversation,” Berthiaume said. Finding literature by black authors and other people of color has never been easier. Berthiaume’s best friend throughout the process of creating the library has been the ever-faithful Google search. “I had no idea until we started doing this just how many books I have never heard of that are on this topic or have central characters who are black,” Berthiaume said. “I thought, well, I’ve just been missing out on all of this. So, we have been trying to beef up our own library plus the one outside.” There are new books coming out and the family has done their best to keep themselves updated and engaged. “The New York Times bestseller list at one point was almost entirely books by black authors, or at least on the topic of antiracism, so that was kind of cool to see,” Berthiaume said. “It’s clear that people are at least trying to educate themselves.” For more information, follow @antiracistlibrary20 on Instagram.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Cancer Fight Hits Close to Home for Hazelrig Tee It Up Fore Life Honoree Is All for Cancer Awareness
By Rubin E. Grant
Chip Hazelrig’s life has been profoundly changed by cancer. Both of his parents died from cancer, as did both of his grandmothers. He’s had a brother and sister battle cancer. One of his daughters is a breast cancer survivor and he himself dealt with melanoma. So when he was asked about his family being honorees for the 2020 Tee It Up Fore Life golf tournament, Hazelrig didn’t have any reservations about accepting. The tournament benefits the American Cancer Society. It will be at the Old Overton Club in Birmingham. The event originally was scheduled for June but was moved to October because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’m happy to be involved,” Hazelrig said. “Anything that brings awareness to fighting cancer and raising money for the cancer society, I’m all for it.” The tournament is presented by Medical Properties Trust. Participation and donations provide funding for American Cancer Society programs and services. Following a morning of pre-tournament activities, including registration, the tournament will begin at 1
Thursday, September 17, 2020 • 13
LIFE
p.m. with a shotgun start. The award ceremony and reception is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. Hazelrig played in the tournament until he broke his neck 6½ years ago in a motorcycle accident while visiting Palm Springs, California, for a golf outing. The accident resulted in
‘Anything that brings awareness to fighting cancer and raising money for the cancer society, I’m all for it.’ CHIP HAZELRIG
quadriplegia. “Before my injury, I played in it every year,” he said. “I’ve always been a supporter of cancer research.” As a matter of fact, Hazelrig, a Birmingham businessman, figures prominently at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB, where the Hazelrig-Salter Radiation Oncology Center bears his name. His own battle with cancer took place more than 15 years ago when a friend encouraged him to get a spot
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on his face checked. “I got checked, and I had a melanoma tumor removed,” he said. “I’ve been clear since then.” Hazelrig is still dealing with the aftereffects of his motorcycle accident. “I’m not recovered yet,” he said. “It still affects my neurological system. I’ve got what is called an incomplete. I can move my arms and legs and I walk on a walker.” Hazelrig, 65, also has been using a standing wheelchair, but five months ago he fell and suffered multiple fractures to both legs. Even so, he remains positive. “It’s a setback,” he said. “I do therapy every day and I go to my office just about every day.” Hazelrig misses being able to play golf. “It was my favorite form of recreation,” he said. “I played all over the world. As someone once said, ‘A bad day of golf is better than a good day at work.’ “I was fortunate to be in a business that allowed me to travel and play golf. It was a blessing.”
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14 • Thursday, September 17, 2020
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
END OF SUMMER
Pool Party
Vestavia’s Wald Park Aquatic Complex Celebrates Opening over Labor Day Weekend
T
he recently completed Wald Park Aquatic Complex grand opening, on Sept. 5-7, was a free-for-all. The Vestavia Hills Parks and Recreation Department opened the facility to all Vestavia Hills residents free of charge over Labor Day weekend. A new competition pool and a zero-entry, family-friendly pool awaited visitors. The journey to complete the project was filled with delays, some caused by rainy weather and others caused by the pandemic. Aquatic offerings are just the first of many projects to be completed as Wald Park undergoes a full-scale renovation under the city’s Community Spaces Plan.
Jenna, Rebecca and Jackson Hartsough.
Next up for an opening is the park’s baseball facilities, which are estimated to be finished mid-fall. The completion of that project is being delayed by the limited availability of custom-designed, rubberized turf field needed to build the Miracle Field, which has been designed to accommodate children of all mental and physical abilities. Over the course of the fall, the city will continue work to construct and develop the park’s upper playground area, as well as a grand lawn that will accommodate community gatherings. The final phase of the park’s redevelopment will be the completion of tennis courts and a dog park, though neither yet has an estimated completion date. ❖
The coolest place to be in Vestavia Hills on Sept. 5 was the Wald Park Aquatic Complex grand opening. JOURNAL PHOTOS BY JORDAN WALD
Daniel, Ainsley and Owen Dreher.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Birds of a Feather
SOCIAL
Thursday, September 17, 2020 • 15
Riding on the coattails of the Birmingham Zoo’s successful Brunch with the Bachelors, hosted in February and August, the zoo had its first Birds in Flight Breakfast on Sept. 12. Hosted by the facility’s ambassador animal team, guests were introduced to aviary residents at the zoo. Attendees were treated to a preplated, family-friendly brunch followed by a preshow Q&A with the zoo’s ambassador animal care professionals. The main event included a private ambassador animal presentation featuring the zoo’s ambassador birds, showcased at the Wildlife Stage. Following the event, guests had the opportunity to take advantage of admission to tour the rest of the zoo. ❖
Journal photos by Emily Williams
Birmingham Zoo Hosts First Birds in Flight Breakfast
Larry and Phyllis Wojciechowski with Chris and Theresa Pfefferkorn.
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16 • Thursday, September 17, 2020
SOCIAL
Darkness to Light
Rehab Reality...
My Treatment Home
One of the key differences between Bayshore Retreat and most other rehabs is the environment. One walks into my foyer not a lobby. Clients can raid the pantry or refrigerator for a nighttime snack. There’s no vending machine, but rather drinks in the refrigerators and a shopping list on the counter where they can add anything they would like to have except alcohol, of course. The home environment is healing in itself. Clients are continually thanking me for “allowing” them to come to my home. Beyond the home itself it’s also the staff. They’re not judgmental, but rather there to help clients be comfortable and find a new beginning. Admitting that someone has a problem is huge and the decision to do something about it is also huge. It’s also scary with the unknown of what rehab would be like. This is one reason we created Bayshore Retreat to be a place that would take the ‘fear out of rehab’. Clients bring their cell phone and laptop and are able to work remotely while there. Oh, sure there plenty of counseling and activities, but there’s also time that can be spent checking in with work. We adapt the daily schedule to accommodate those who have to have a meeting or whatever might require their attention. At Bayshore Retreat we work hard to prepare our clients for their new beginning with tools for success. With that come his or her After Care Plan such as where they will live, work and any follow-up counseling. People leave there with a new outlook and the understanding that we’re only a phone call away.
Hoover Service Club Hosts Monthly Meeting Featuring Author and Filmmaker Tahiera Brown Members of the Hoover Service Club were reunited Sept. 10 as the organization hosted its first, in-person monthly meeting since pandemic lockdowns began. Held at the Hoover Country Club, the event was led by 2020-21 President Pam Crider. The featured speaker at the meeting was Tahiera Monique Brown, president and CEO of the Birmingham-based film and television production company Darkness to Light Films. Earlier in her career, she served as a television show and radio show host. She was also a casting director in Atlanta for more than 15 years and was recognized by Filmmakers of Color in Atlanta as top casting director. Brown is also the author of “Annihilator of Innocence,” a memoir that chronicles a time when Brown and her children were held hostage for two years by a man who, unbeknownst to her, had been stalking her for some time. Having lived in Birmingham for some time, Brown has given back to the community in many ways, including serving as an advocate for domestic violence awareness and for abused children. At the meeting, donations were collected to benefit Oak Mountain Missions. The club will next meet Oct. 8 for a fashion show directed by Darlene Real Higginbotham. In addition, the organization has broken its annual Hearts and Harmony gala into a fall event and a spring event. On Oct. 22, the Hearts and Harmony Autumn in the Gardens will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Aldridge Gardens Pavilion and will include a silent auction, gourmet boxed dinner and live entertainment. Reservations must be made by Oct. 15. Funds raised will benefit the organization’s scholarship funds, presented annually to deserving Hoover students as well as worthy programs serving Hoover community. ❖
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
by Judy Butler
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Pam Crider, Rhonda Boyd, Debbie Rutherford, Liz Elliot and Kim Allen.
Missy Wertz, Bonnie Campbell and Ardith McMicken.
Pam Crider and Tahiera Monique Brown.
Kim Allen and Laurel Bassett. Elaine Thompson, Debbie Rutherford and Karen Bruce.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
The parking lot of Opera Birmingham became a concert venue Sept. 13 as the organization kicked off its monthly Opera Shots series. A casual, pop-up concert series, Opera Shots typically is held in various venues around town, designed to make opera less intimidating and more accessible. The line-up of performers featured artists from the University of Alabama Opera Theatre: Grace Hall Richardson, soprano; Laura Pritchard, mezzo-soprano; and Evan Fleming, baritone. Selections included “Seguidilla” from “Carmen,” “Ballad of Queen Mab” from “Romeo et Juliette,” “Barcarolle” from “Les Contes d’Hoffmann,” “Come Home to Me” from “The Last Five Years, “Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man of Mine” from “Showboat,” “La ci darem la Mano” from “Don Giovanni,” and “Je suis Titania” from “Mignon.” ❖
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
Casual Opera
Opera Birmingham Takes Annual Opera Shots Series to the Streets
Thursday, September 17, 2020 • 17
SOCIAL
Keith Wolf-Hughes and Susan Reeves.
Madison and Clark Goodwin.
Alyssa and Caleb Witt.
The parking lot of Opera Birmingham became a concert venue Sept. 13 as the organization kicked off its monthly Opera Shots series. Terrie Percy and Fran Bramblett.
John Bateman and Michaela Slocum.
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Look Forward.
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HOME & GARDEN
18 • Thursday, September 17, 2020
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Sunset Celebration BBG’s Birmingham Blooms Will Be a Special Night for Supporters
By Donna Cornelius
I
See SUNSET, page 21
Mark D. Sikes, far left, an interior designer and tastemaker who’s working on projects throughout the United States. Sikes is known for his all-American sensibilities and his fresh take on classical aesthetics. He’s known for creating beautiful and timeless interiors that embody an indoor/outdoor lifestyle.
Photos courtesy Birmingham Botanical Gardens
n past years, Antiques at the Gardens has been one of the most anticipated annual events at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The multi-day autumn extravaganza has featured antiques dealers, artists and artisans, designers, speakers, authors, and tastemakers – and it’s typically drawn a crowd of people eager to buy, learn and be entertained. Current COVID-19 restrictions meant this large-scale production had to postpone what would have been its 15th anniversary celebration until next year. But planners have found another way to shine a spotlight on the Gardens and its supporters: Birmingham Blooms. Set for Oct. 4 and presented by IberiaBank, the event is being held in appreciation of BBG individual and corporate sponsors. A picnic supper in the Dunn Formal Rose Garden and Hill Garden is from 5-7 p.m. The guest of honor is Dr. John Alex Floyd Jr. The long-time supporter and volunteer recently was named director emeritus by the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ board of directors. The fun starts even earlier. Book signings hosted by Red Diamond Inc. traditionally are a big part of Antiques at the Gardens. Birmingham Blooms will have Red Diamond book signings, too, from 4:30-5:30 p.m., by noted speakers from two past Antiques at the Gardens shows. One of the featured authors is James Farmer. The Auburn University graduate is a Southern writer, interior designer and speaker who’s gained a reputation for his ability to create familiar and welcoming homes. Farmer’s Wall Street Journal best-selling books include “A Time to Plant,” “Sip & Savor,” “Porch Living,” “Wreaths for All Seasons,” “A Time to Cook: Dinner on the Grounds,” “A Time to Celebrate,” and “A Place to Call Home.” His most recent book, “Arriving Home,” includes designs projects from a variety of places, from an Alabama antebellum house to a grand Connecticut country home. Farmer’s work has been in publications such as Southern Living, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Southern Home, and Flower magazine. An engaging speaker, he has built his business in Perry, Georgia, his hometown. Also on the program is Mark D. Sikes, an interior designer and tastemaker who’s working on projects throughout the United States. Sikes is known for his all-American sensibilities and his fresh take on classical aesthetics. He’s known for creating beautiful and timeless interiors that embody an indoor/outdoor lifestyle. His first book, “Beautiful,” was a New York Times best seller. He’s followed that success with “More Beautiful: All-American Decoration,” which debuted earlier this month and includes a peek into his own Hollywood Hills home as well as the local home of Ragan and Brad Cain, a former chair of Antiques at the Gardens and current Birmingham Blooms com-
ABOUT THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS, 2612 Lane Park Road in Birmingham: A Birmingham Park and Recreation Board facility, the Gardens represent a successful public/private partnership between the City of Birmingham and the nonprofit Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The Gardens are open every day from dawn to dusk. A wide variety of educational programs are held year round for adults and children. Proceeds from Birmingham Blooms benefit the ongoing stewardship and enhancement of the Gardens, educational programs and outreach activities.
Thursday, September 17, 2020 • 19
HOME & GARDEN
Courtesy Birmingham Home & Garden
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Homewood Charmer
Birmingham Home & Garden Showhouse Set for Tours in November This year’s Birmingham Home & Garden magazine Inspiration Home will be open to visitors from Nov. 5 to Nov. 29. The Southern cottage built on Firefighter Lane in Homewood has five bedrooms, 4½ baths, two fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, an open concept dining room and kitchen, a private courtyard with a fireplace, and a three-car garage with a guest suite above, according to information from the magazine. Birmingham Home & Garden since 2003 has built showhouses using the area’s top resources for homeowners, home builders and remodelers. It partnered with Willow Homes this year to present the showhouse, which has dozens of sponsors, including 84 Lumber, AllSouth
Appliance Group, Southern Window Supply and Triton Stone Group. Tickets are $10 per person and may be purchased through EventBrite. Proceeds will go to the Ronald McDonald House. Tours will be conducted for four weeks from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays through Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Off-street parking will be available two doors down from the showhouse. The Ronald McDonald House welcomes families of children while they are undergoing cancer treatment at Children’s of Alabama and University Hospital, accommodating up to 73 families a night. —Virginia Martin
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
HOME & GARDEN Like any garden, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens has changed over the years – and Floyd has loved watching it flourish since the early days of his involvement.
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
20 • Thursday, September 17, 2020
FLOYD Continued from Page One
To: From: Date:
one of the most beautiful months at the Gardens, with the Japanese maples in the Japanese Garden and the sensational fall roses. There will be wonderful food, a chance to stroll through the Gardens, to be outside.” This constant gardener’s association with the Birmingham Botanical Gardens started more than 40 years ago. English Village 1900 Cahaba Road “When I finished at Clemson and 205.918.0505 came to Birmingham, people knew I www.henhouseantiques.com had been involved in the South Carolina Botanical Garden at Clemson, so it was a natural transition to the Gardens here,” he said. Like any garden, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens have changed over Laura and Libby the years – and Floyd has loved Over The Mountain Journal, phone 205-823-9646 watching them flourish since the early Sept. days of his involvement. “Then, it for wasthe basically a big This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL greenhouse and some collections,” he Sept. 17, 2020 issue. Please email approval or changes. said. “There was the Dunn Formal Garden, the Conservatory and Please make sure all information is Rose correct, the Kaul Wildflower Garden.” He said the Japanese Garden also including address and phone number! was in place but has undergone a transformation since. Thank you for your prompt attention.“Several of us, including the director at that time, developed a master plan, and Frances Blount led the campaign to execute it,” Floyd said. Blount, a staunch supporter of the Gardens, was the honoree at the 2011 Antiques at the Gardens event. Floyd’s career with Southern Progress started in 1977 when he became senior horticulturist for Southern Living. He soon had leadership roles with several Southern Progress magazines. He was editor of Southern Living Classics, an upscale Southern Living spinoff that was later merged with Southern Accents, which the company purchased in the 1980s; editorial director of Southern Accents; and editorial director of both Creative Ideas for Living and Cooking Light. In 1988, he moved into advertising as creative services director for Southern Living, Southern Accents, and Travel South. When Southern Living Editor Gary McCalla retired in 1990, Floyd was tapped to replace him and then
two years later became vice president of the magazine. Floyd extended the Southern Living brand with creative newsstand publications targeting special reader interests. Today, Southern Living produces about 14 of these titles each year, from “Home for the Holidays” and “All-Time Favorite Recipes” to “Ultimate Before & After” and “Our Best Gardens.” Floyd has been a key member of several teams charged with developing Southern Progress’ Lakeshore Drive campus. Visitors come from all over the South to tour the home of Southern Living and see the lovely grounds surrounding Southern Progress headquarters.
‘A multicultural attraction’
Floyd has high praise for Tom Underwood, the Friends organization’s executive director, and said he hopes that events like Birmingham Blooms will lead to more hometown support for the Gardens. “The appreciation locally isn’t as great as it should be,” he said. “People may not realize how well the Gardens are known nationwide.” He pointed out a big plus for the facility: visiting the BBG is free. “I recently read about another botanical garden that was raising its admission price to $25, and there’s no charge for ours,” he said. “It’s a multicultural attraction.” Floyd said about half of the Gardens’ revenue comes from the City of Birmingham, and the Friends group raises most of the other half. “The Friends are vital,” he said. “We have about 2,500 members and need to have twice that many.” Other benefits for visitors are 24-hour security, ample (and free) parking, and the creatively-stocked gift shop. Floyd said the Gardens’ educational programs always are well attended, although COVID-19 restrictions have had an impact on these classes and seminars. “There’s something for everybody at the Gardens,” he said. Floyd said he was honored when the Friends group named him director emeritus earlier this year. “It was a big surprise,” he said. “I’m a trustee, I’ve been board presi-
dent. This is more of a ceremonial or adviser role when the director needs me. I have a mental history of what’s gone on at the Gardens over the years.” The resolution conferring the title, which honors individuals who have rendered extraordinary service to support the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and the Friends organization, passed unanimously at the board’s April 21 meeting. “Looking at the contributions John has made -- and continues to make -- there is no question that he is extremely worthy of this honor,” Board Chairman John Smith T said. “John’s dedication to the success of the Gardens is well-known and farreaching. It includes his service as president from 1982 to 1983, as a dedicated board member and trustee, as an unwavering proponent of the Gardens, as a hardworking and committed volunteer, and most recently as a valued consultant to the Friends’ efforts to update and execute a renewed master plan for the Gardens. “We remain grateful to him for his incredible commitment and contributions to this special place and all it makes possible.” Floyd, a native of Selma, has lived in Trussville for many years. There, he’s been a member of the Trussville Tree Commission and the Trussville City Board of Education, and he’s been an active member of Huffman United Methodist Church for many years. He and his wife, Pam, have two adult sons, Ryan and Alex; three grandchildren; and two dogs. Retirement has been a fruitful time for Floyd. He writes a blog called Birmingham Gardening Today and also works diligently to complete chores on what he laughingly calls his “Pam Dearest List.” “My own garden at home is in transition right now, but it will soon be time to sow lettuce, broccoli, kale and cabbage,” Floyd said. “We like to plant things we can eat.” He’s hoping to see lots of familiar faces as well as those of new friends at Birmingham Blooms. “It will be a fun time for me,” he said. “And it’s a way you can support the Gardens.”
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, September 17, 2020 • 21
HOME & GARDEN
SUNSET
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From page 18
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Photos courtesy Birmingham Botanical Gardens
mittee member. Sikes’ work has been featured in AD, Veranda, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, the Wall Street Journal, C Magazine, Milieu, and Domino. He’s a member of Elle Decor’s A-List, the magazine’s annual registry of stylish, influential and innovative interior designers. He’s created rooms for the Kips Bay Decorator Show House in New York, Greystone in Beverly Hills, the Southern Living Idea House in Birmingham, and the Coastal Living Idea House in Newport, Rhode Island. Sikes has partnered with furniture and fabric manufacturers including Chaddock, Soane, Hudson Valley Lighting, Troy Lighting, Schumacher, Annie Selke, Merida and Blue Pheasant to develop his signature product lines. Books by Farmer and Sikes will be for sale at Leaf & Petal at the Gardens before and during Birmingham Blooms. There’s no charge to attend the book signings, which are open to the public. The sunset dinner is a private event for anyone who gives $350 or more to sponsor Birmingham Blooms. Gifts by both individuals and corporations must be made by Sept. 23. Leading Birmingham Blooms are Beverley Hoyt, a former Friends board of directors chairman, and her committee. Tom Underwood is the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ executive director, and Penney Hartline is director of development.
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22 • Thursday, September 17, 2020
HOME & GARDEN
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
New Arrivals Welcoming Anna Grace
Tom Underwood, Birmingham Botanical Gardens executive director, left, helps Pat Cosgrove find the perfect plant at the Fall Plant Sale held last weekend. Below, Amy and Katelyn Morgan.
(My Granddaughter)
Dig It
BBG Friends Host Annual Fall Plant Sale
A Family Affair 2700 19th Place South, Homewood 871-9779 • Tue.-Fri. 10:30-5:30Sat. 11:00-4:30
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ 2020 Fall Plant Sale kicked off Sept. 11 with a member priority shopping night. Members shopped this year’s selection of trees and shrubs, herbs, native plants and perennials. Annually hosted by the Friends of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the plants available
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
Making
See PLANT SALE, page 23
The Happy
Tricia Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 FAX: 205-824-1246 Mountain September
Brook
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Thursday, September 17, 2020 • 23
HOME & GARDEN
PLANT SALE From page 22
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
at the sale were selected by the organization’s growing groups among plants that are suited for local growing conditions. In addition, the organization’s volunteers were on hand throughout the sale to provide expert advice on growing and caring for each of the plants available. In addition, the 2020 Member Plant Gift, sponsored by Leaf and Petal, was available and featured the choice of three camellias: a “Yuletide,” a “Shishigashira” and a “Hot Flash.”
Christie Brown, Cathy Beasley and Carolyn Perkins.
Janie and Mark Waits.
Yolanda Sullivan and John Carpenter.
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24 • Thursday, September 17, 2020
Online Learning
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
SCHOOLS
By Emily Williams Virtual learning isn’t a new concept for public schools. The Alabama State Department of Education’s Access Virtual Learning platform existed well before the pandemic, serving students in grades nine through 12 who are distance learners. Each of the local Over the Mountain schools offered virtual programming for certain students, but it was mainly a gateway to Access. Students generally have more freedom to create their schedule for completing coursework, making it a good fit for the self-reliant student. According to Missy Brooks, director of instruction and special education for Mountain Brook Schools, the new full-time virtual learning program inspired by the pandemic is far different. Mountain Brook is at about 6% virtual learning, meaning about 300 of its 4,400 students chose remote learning. “This year we are offering the full-time virtual option for students in grades pre-K to 12, so we have greatly expanded our capacity,” Brooks said. Full-time virtual learners are considered to be enrolled in their base school, Brooks noted, and are instructed by Mountain Brook School teachers. They follow the same curriculum students get in the classroom, they just do it through applications on their school-issued Chromebook. “We have five teachers who are solely dedicated to serving our virtual elementary stu-
OTM School Systems Offer a Traditional Educational Timeline to Virtual Learners
dents,” said Brooks. “We also have virtual program coordinators in place at the junior high and high school to help facilitate learning at those schools.” The school day for a virtual learner is a combination of live instruction and guidelines
‘While I harbor concerns about the toll of virtual education on students’ mental health and understand that we still have much to learn, I believe the pandemic is changing the face of education.’ MISSY BROOKS, DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR MOUNTAIN BROOK SCHOOLS
for independent work. For example, at Homewood City Schools, elementary students get about 90 minutes of
live instruction through Google Meet, including a whole class instruction session and small group session. Middle school students have 60 to 120 minutes of live instruction, and high schoolers get 100 to 140 minutes a day. In between the live classes is the students’ independent work, which includes a variety of assignments that are to be completed within their designated time frames, thus, providing structure to the day rather than allowing the students to complete the work on their own schedule. At Hoover City Schools, as of early August, roughly 4,500 students are learning virtually versus 8,800 in-person. For virtual students, attendance is taken online not each day, but weekly. A student is considered “in attendance” if they complete their assignments on a weekly basis and prove to be on track with traditional learners. At Vestavia Hills City Schools, roughly 1,300 of its more than 7,000 students chose to go virtual. Due to the size of the class, the school system made the decision to outfit its VHCS Remote Learning Model with its own administration. Former Vestavia Hills High School Principal Tyler Burgess was transferred in early August
to lead remote learning. “Our goal is to keep all learners, no matter their program of instruction, on similar pacing towards meeting content standards so that they can join back to the traditional setting in the future as seamlessly as possible,” Burgess said in a statement. Burgess now works out of the former Vestavia Hills Elementary Central building. The building also is a meeting space for kids who need a little more support than an online classroom can provide. Teachers can schedule time to meet with the special education or elementary school students they are paired with. Secondary students, who aren’t paired with specific teachers, can schedule one-on-one tutoring sessions with a certified content specialist in math or English, with hopes to add science and social studies. While public school systems such as Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills work under the assumption that remote students will return to classrooms once the pandemic’s imminent threat has dissipated, Brooks noted that remote learning isn’t going anywhere. “While I harbor concerns about the toll of virtual education on students’ mental health and understand that we still have much to learn, I believe the pandemic is changing the face of education,” she said. “Virtual learning offers more freedom and choice than traditional in-person learning, and we have students who are thriving in this format. I think virtual learning, in some form or fashion, is here to stay.”
ball coach of Vestavia Hills High School, who began his employment with VHCS in 1972 and is retiring after the 2020 season. • Helen Holley, first principal of Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park and former assistant principal at Vestavia Hills Elementary East, who served from 1993 to 2012. • David Miles, former principal of Louis Pizitz Middle School, who served from 1991 to 2014. • Dr. Carlton Smith, third superintendent of Vestavia Hills City Schools, who served from 1985
Hoover City Schools Foundation Promotes its “Commit to 36” Campaign
an in-person fundraiser,” board President Jason DeLuca said. Interim Executive Director Shelley Shaw said the foundation is asking for community support from parents, business leaders and other Hoover schools stakeholders through Sept. 28. “Together, by making a simple donation of $36, we can make a significant difference in the educational offerings for our students,” she said. Examples of grants funded through the campaign include the STEM Skills for Science Data Project led by Janet Ort at Hoover High School. This grant helped her team, the Bio Bucs, win a national environmental competition focused on carbon dioxide emissions. A systemwide grant led by Geri Evans of Bluff Park Elementary is the Girls Engaged in Math and Science program, which is focused on increasing the number of females pursuing STEM fields.
The Hoover City Schools Foundation has kicked off its annual Commit to 36 Campaign for the 2020-2021 school year. With nearly 14,000 students in the Hoover City School system, the goal is to raise $36 per student, or $1 per week of school. That commitment could raise $500,000 to supply grant money for the system’s teachers. Hoover residents have an opportunity to help the foundation by participating in Commit to 36. “The idea behind Commit to 36 is that, if the foundation received $36 from every family in the school system, that would provide half a million dollars into classrooms and supporting the district. … This is a great way to continue to support the schools without attending
Buddy Anderson “Commit to 36 continues to be a great way to raise grant funds to support all our schools, from elementary to high school,” Shaw said. “We have seen what a difference these funds have made to our teachers and our students and are proud to continue to support their efforts.” New this year is the opportunity for Hoover parents to donate when paying student’s fees at myschoolfees.com. Anyone may donate to the campaign through Sept. 28 at committo36.com.
Birmingham Zoo Introduces New Learning Pods for Virtual Students As virtual learning takes students out of the classroom, local organizations have started to offer programs to support online learners. From Sept. 15 through Oct. 30, the
to 1998. He is being inducted posthumously. • Kay Tipton, math teacher at Vestavia Hills High School, who served from 1971 to 2007. “The inaugural class of the VHCS Hall of Fame is the gold standard for educators,” said Dr. Todd Freeman, Vestavia Hills City Schools superintendent. Inductees were chosen from a field of nominees submitted earlier this year by alumni, faculty and staff, and community members. “Each individual member
touched the lives of countless students and colleagues,” Freeman said. “Their legacies of influence continue to impact past, present and future students. They exemplify what it means to be committed to providing every student the opportunity to learn without limits.” In addition to the induction ceremony Oct. 5, student ambassadors will conduct tours of the LPMS campus beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed by a 50th anniversary ceremony at 6:30 p.m. in the school’s new gymnasium.
Birmingham Zoo is offering its first session of Learning Pods for kids in second through sixth grades. According to zoo officials, students will be provided with an internet connection and a work station but must take their own devices and supplies. During students’ scheduled learning blocks, zoo staff will be on hand to provide general supervision and assistance, but they will not be acting as teachers or providing one-on-one educational support. In between learning sessions, staff will lead the students in fun, educational “brain breaks.” Kids will take part in outdoor activities, guided zoo tours, animal interaction and other activities to support physical fitness and social and emotional learning. Registration is $275 per week and pod hours are from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., with an option for extended care beginning at 7:30 a.m. and ending at
5:30 p.m. For more information, visit birminghamzoo.com.
Journal file photo by Jordan Wald
Vestavia Hills City Schools in October will induct five educators into the school system’s new Hall of Fame. The inductees will be recognized Oct. 5, during the Vestavia Hills City Schools 50th anniversary celebration at Louis Pizitz Middle School. The ceremony also will mark the grand opening of the new Pizitz campus. Inductees in the inaugural class of the Vestavia Hills City Schools Hall of Fame are: • Buddy Anderson, head foot-
Journal file photo by Marvin Gentry
VHCS to Induct Five Educators Into Inaugural Hall of Fame
Kids will take part in outdoor activities, guided zoo tours, animal interaction and other activities to support physical fitness and social and emotional learning.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Spain Park’s Hamilton Earns Presidential Award for Excellence Spain Park High School science teacher Dr. Pamela Hamilton has been selected to receive a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for 2020. The award program, administered Dr. Pamela Hamilton by the National Science Foundation on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, annually recognizes outstanding teachers for their contributions to the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering, mathematics or computer science. “We would like to extend our congratulations to (school administrators) and to others at Spain Park High School who fostered this outstanding teacher. We also solicit your help in encouraging and nominating other STEM teachers to compete for this prestigious award,” said Dr. Diana Elder, National Science Foundation director of the Division of Human Resource Development. Each awardee will receive a certificate signed by President Trump and a $10,000 award from the foundation. Awardees also will travel to Washington, D.C., for an awards ceremony at a future date.
Hoover RC3’s McClendon Named Computer Science Educator of the Year
Hoover computer science educator Pam McClendon has been recognized as the 2020 North Alabama Aspirations Educator of the Year, presented annually by the National Center for Women and Information Technology. The award recognizes exemplary educators who play a pivotal role in encouraging Pam McClendon ninth to 12th grade students who self-identify as women, genderqueer or non-binary to explore their interests in computing and technology. McClendon is the lead teacher for Cyber Innovation Academy at Hoover City School’s Riverchase Career Connection Center. The program seeks to equip students with the skills required for employment or advanced training in database design, network systems and computer services, as well as programming and software development. She also is a teacher leader for Exploring Computer Science with the
SCHOOLS University of Tuskegee. She had been teaching for 17 years with the Jefferson County School System.
Homewood Schools Financial Officer Earns 2020 Robert L. Morton Award Homewood City Schools Chief School Financial Officer Lynn Buch was recognized at the Alabama Association of School Business Official’s board meeting Aug. 25. Buch received the association’s 2020 Robert L. Morton Award, named for the former Alabama State Department of Education assistant superintendent of administration and finance. The award recognizes an Alabama chief school financial Lynn Buch officer who goes above and beyond. Buch has more than 19 years of experience as a school business official and has served in her role at Homewood since 2015. Before joining Homewood City Schools, Buch most recently served as Tarrant City Schools CSFO for six years. She has also held positions as payroll director for Birmingham City Schools, accounting supervisor and assistant director of finance for Mountain Brook Schools and director of payroll for the Jefferson County Board of Education. Actively involved in the association community, Buch is a past-president of the association and sits on the board of directors for the Southeastern chapter of the group. Buch serves as a mentor in the association’s training program, chairs a certification commission and has presented at several regional, state and national conferences
Hoover Gibson Named Regional AFJROTC Instructor of the Year Hoover City School’s Master Sgt. Grant Gibson recently was named
Regional Instructor of the Year as part of the 2019-2020 Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Outstanding Instructor Awards. The AFJROTC Awards Program recognizes the top 18 instructors out of more than 2,000 nationwide. Gibson was the Aerospace Science Instructor of the Year for Region 8, which includes Central Alabama, according to a statement from Hoover High. Those recognized for this award represent the best of the best, Master Sgt. Grant according to Gibson Col. Stephen Sanders, who is director of the AFJROTC at Maxwell Air Force Base. Gibson has served alongside Col. James Moulton to lead Hoover High School’s JROTC program, which began at the start of the 2018-2019 school year. In a released statement, Moulton said, “It’s a real tribute to Grant, the cadets in the JROTC program and to the school and district for all (the) support.”
Thursday, September 17, 2020 • 25
She’s taking on
life
Brooke, pediatric cancer survivor
Because they’re taking on cancer
POP Hosts School Supply Drive for Children in Need
Prince of Peace Catholic Church and POP school families recently donated 100 backpacks filled with school supplies to teens in foster care throughout Jefferson County. The drive was conceived by the POP’s Mothers of Ministry group, which collected supplies to fill 45 backpacks that were donated anonymously. Many of the supplies were purchased with a Target gift registry, coordinated by school parent Isabelle Silko. Silko was joined by fellow outreach team leaders Emily Tsakalis and Amy McCarthy, as well as POP student Annie Lane Silko. “You will make their first day of school full of pride and excitement and you have prepared them for the road to educational success given these uncertain times,” Robin King of the Jefferson County Deptartment of Human Resources said in a thank you letter.
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26 • Thursday, September 17, 2020
SPORTS
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
SENSE OF URGENCY By Rubin E. Grant
B
riarwood Christian senior Tyler Waugh has discovered he should expect the unexpected during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the spring, Waugh witnessed his junior baseball season with the Lions cut short when schools closed because of the deadly virus. This summer, Waugh dealt with the uncertainty surrounding his senior football season because of the lingering pandemic. And even now, a month into the 2020 season, Waugh wonders whether the Lions will get to finish it. “I am glad we’re getting to play football with everything that’s going on,” Waugh said. “The end of the season could happen at any time, so I want to take advantage of every minute I’m out on the field. I have learned not to take anything for granted.” In the Lions’ first four games, Waugh, a linebacker/fullback, has played with a sense of urgency, like any Friday night could be the final game of his high school career. Waugh recorded 27 total tackles, including 13 unassisted, and scored two touchdowns in the Lions’ season-opening 28-20 victory against Fort Payne. The next week he rumbled 36 yards for a touchdown on a fourth-and-1 play in the Lions’ 21-14 loss at Spain Park. He also had 11 tackles and a sack. Then, he scored two touchdowns on short runs, recorded eight tackles, and forced and recovered a fumble in Briarwood’s 20-3 victory against Chelsea. Friday, Waugh got to rest some as the Lions scored four touchdowns in the first quarter and cruised to a 43-0 victory against Woodlawn. On the season, Waugh has recorded more than 50 tackles, rushed for more than 80 yards and scored five touchdowns. “It’s been very impressive the way he’s started the season,” Briarwood coach Matthew Forester said. “He did the same thing last year. “He’s a great kid and a great person. He
plays the game the right way and he’s a tough competitor. He’s a smart, heady player. He understands what to do offensively and defensively. He’s a real leader.” Waugh also excels in the classroom. He has a 4.73 grade-point average and scored 30 on the ACT. He has been on the Lions’ varsity since he was a freshman. Last year, he was named second-team All-State in Class 5A as a linebacker, amassing163 tackles, including 96 solo. He also rushed for 13 touchdowns. “It’s been neat to watch him grow up as a player,” Forester said. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Waugh plays catcher on the Lions’ baseball team, but he doesn’t have a favorite sport. “Whichever one I am playing at the time is my favorite,” he said. “I just love to compete.” That’s why he loves being a two-way player on the football team. “It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “I like defense better because I like to hit people.” But he enjoys scoring touchdowns from the Lions’ “Tank” formation when they put bulky players in the backfield in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Instead of lining up in the shotgun, Waugh takes a direct snap from center and plows ahead. “I like the changeup, going from defense to offense,” he said. “It’s fun to just take the ball and run.” After reaching the Class 5A semifinals in 2019, the Lions have moved up to Class 6A this season. They are in Region 5, which includes Mountain Brook, which dropped down from Class 7A, and Homewood. The Lions (3-1) have won their first two region games and play host to Huffman (3-1, 1-1) Friday night in another region game. “I think we’ve got the talent to compete in 6A,” Waugh said. “It’s a tough region, especially with Mountain Brook and Homewood. They’re both good, physical football teams. “We’ve got a ways to go, so we’ll see what happens.”
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
Waugh Not Taking Anything for Granted on the Football Field
Tyler Waugh in pregame ceremonies on Sept. 11 at Briarwood’s Lion Pride Field.
WEEK 4 SCOREBOARD Hoover 38, Gadsden City 0 Oak Mountain 35, Vestavia Hills 28 Thompson 48, Spain Park 35 Briarwood Christian 43, Woodlawn 0 Homewood 24, Chelsea 3 Mountain Brook 28, Huffman 7 John Carroll Catholic 13, Cordova 12
Huffman at Briarwood Christian Homewood at Woodlawn Oak Mountain at Hoover Fairfield at John Carroll Catholic Shades Valley at Mountain Brook Spain Park at Gadsden City Tuscaloosa County at Vestavia Hills
Journal photos by Marvin Gentry
THIS WEEK’S GAMES
Left, Spain Park senior wide receiver Cooper Kelly hauls in a touchdown pass over a Thompson defender. Above, Spain Park quarterback Bennett Meredith brought the Jags close with two late touchdown passes in the 48-35 loss to Thompson last Friday.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, September 17, 2020 • 27
SPORTS
HOMEWOOD
Far left, Oak Mountain senior Walker Cole finished third. Of the Patriots’ top five finishers, three were sophomores - Grayton Murray, Ben Murray and Sam Gray, left.
From page 28
ROTHMAN From page 28
people around her as far as hitters, and she understood her role. This year has given her a platform and voice and that’s made her a better player. She’s a very unselfish player and she’s good and competitive. That rubs off on the players. She has dealt with it well.” Rothman is succeeding despite being the focal point of the Jags’ opponents. “Everyone comes into a game
Class 5A boys titles while Mountain Brook isn’t too far removed from its 2017 Class 7A boys title. Scottsboro finished third in the Chickasaw race. Although the Mountain Brook girls haven’t won a state championship since 2015, the Spartans have a long history of success. Scottsboro has won the past three girls Class 5A titles. Mountain Brook finished second in the Chickasaw behind Brentwood (Tennessee). “It doesn’t make it any easier with Mountain Brook and Scottsboro around,” Donaldson said. “The Mountain Brook girls should be the one to beat no matter the classification and the Scottsboro boys will be tough to beat. “They will give us challenge and there is some pressure, but it’s a privilege to see how we rise to (the) occasion.”
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
with a time of 21:01.03. Senior Victoria Thompson was the Patriots’ top finisher, coming in 27th with a time of 20:34.38. Freshman Caroline Wilder was Homewood’s next-best finisher at 45th with a time of 21.00.50, just ahead of Poleshek. Donaldson lists Poleshek, Thompson, junior Lily Blish and sophomores Camille Etheridge and Sydney Dobbins as the team’s top five runners right now. The Homewood girls placed seventh in the Chickasaw race. Donaldson wasn’t discouraged about the performances of his teams. “The end goal is to win a state championship,” he said, “but I want to see improvements. That’s all I’m asking for, in big things and small things.” Homewood’s route to successfully defending its titles has become more daunting with Mountain Brook moving down from Class 7A and Scottsboro moving up from Class 5A. Scottsboro has won the past four knowing they have to stop her,” Bowen said. “I feel like she’s stronger this year and more resilient to meet the challenge. A lot of teams don’t have an answer for someone who touches 10 feet, 3 inches at the net.” Although she’s only a junior, Rothman already has settled on where she’s going to play in college. She’s committed to Florida State. “Florida State was my dream school because I could play both beach and indoor volleyball,” she said. “There are not many schools that offer both and the only others who offered both are in California, and
‘I feel like she’s stronger this year and more resilient to meet the challenge. A lot of teams don’t have an answer for someone who touches 10 feet, 3 inches at the net.’ KELLYE BOWEN, SPAIN PARK VOLLEYBALL COACH
that’s too far away.” This fall, Rothman hopes the Jags can reach the state tournament, especially since Mountain Brook has dropped down to Class 6A after winning the 7A title in 2019. Spain Park had an 11-2 record, heading into their Class 7A, Area 6 game Tuesday at Vestavia Hills. The Jags visit Oak Mountain Thursday and play host to Hoover next Tuesday. “I think the season is going really well, especially the past few games where we’ve really progressed,” Rothman said. “Against Mountain Brook, we faced some adversity and
battled through it, and that was really good. “We lost lot a seniors from last year, but me and ‘KK’ (senior libero Katelyn Walsh) and the other two seniors (Abby Byrd and Bella Pretnar) and a lot of the younger kids have stepped up and done a good job. “With Mountain Brook moving down to 6A, it’s definitely different this year. They were a big area rival. But there’s still a lot of competition in 7A. We’re looking to get to the state tournament, but we have to keep focused on practicing hard and improving every day.”
WORK HARD
Photo courtesyHoover High School
& BE NICE TO PEOPLE
SCHOOL SPIRIT SPOTLIGHT
Buccaneer Cheerleaders Members of the 2020-2021 Hoover varsity cheer squad are, front, from left: Julia Elsea, Camryn Hill, Taylor Burch, Amber Dubble, Abby Fortner, Madeline Morley, Kinzel Rohrer, Mary Ellis Baty, Madee Frier and Hannah Grace Smith. Back: Maggie Bearden, Julie Hopping, Iyana Bennett, Emma Roach, Reilly Stephens, Elizabeth Etheridge, Hannah Bullock, Caroline Sunday, Ava Rector, Hannah Ray and Katelyn McRee.
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School Spirit Spotlight Page 27
SPORTS
Thursday, September 17, 2020 ❖ OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Sense of Urgency: Lions’ Waugh Not Taking Anything for Granted on the Football Field Page 26
‘PLAYER OF A LIFETIME’ Jags’ Rothman Is a Commanding Presence on the Volleyball Court
By Rubin E. Grant
Growth Spurt
Bowen likes the way Rothman has taken her performance up a notch this season and become a more forceful player and leader. “Her level of play this year is different,” Bowen said. “Last year, she had a crowd of See ROTHMAN, page 27
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
A
udrey Rothman didn’t have any interest in volleyball when she was a little girl. If her parents hadn’t insisted she play a sport, she probably wouldn’t have become Spain Park’s most dominant player and one of the top high school volleyball players in the state. Rothman was in the fourth grade when her parents demanded she play something. “My parents wanted me to play a sport because they thought it would be a good learning environment for me,” Rothman said. “I was kind of quiet and they kind of forced me to play. I decided on volleyball.” Four years later, Rothman joined the Jaguars’ varsity team. That’s when she figured she had a future in the sport. “I was on a ‘Y’ team for about two seasons and then I started playing club volleyball,” Rothman said. “I don’t think I started taking it serious until the eighth grade, when I got pulled up to the varsity. I thought that was something special and I could make something out of it. That was an awakening for me.” Spain Park volleyball coach Kellye Bowen has had a front-row seat as the 6-foot-4 Rothman, a junior outside hitter, became a commanding presence on the court. “It’s been fun to watch her grow as a player,” Bowen said. “She’s a player of a lifetime to coach, and she’s a lot of fun to watch. “I think what makes her so good is she has a 6-4 frame, but she’s not a clumsy 6-4. She’s athletic and has good ball control. She’s still learning, so that’s what makes her even more special.” This season, Rothman has been, in a word, phenomenal, displaying tremendous versatility. She has 177 kills, 47 digs, 39 assists, 27 aces and 12 blocks in 13 games. Two weeks ago, she had 32 kills, with a .455 hitting percentage, 20 digs and three aces in a five-set victory against Mountain Brook. “I’ve been feeling pretty good about the way I’ve played,” Rothman said. “So far, me and the seniors have taken on bigger roles and I think we’ve all stepped up. Audrey “I think I’m a six-rotation player. I think Rothman I’m really strong on defense and offense. I’ve definitely stepped up hitting wise. Against Mountain Brook, I had a big game offensively. I’ve always been a good defensive player, receiving the ball and passing. At one time, I was a setter and that was interesting.”
Homewood senior Crawford Hope, above, won the boys 5K championship race with a time of 15:20.75. Vestavia Hills senior Ethan Strand, below, finished second with a time of 15:29.82.
Hope Wins at Chickasaw Trails
Young Patriots Face Challenges in Hopes of Continuing Cross-Country Dominance By Rubin E. Grant Homewood cross-country coach Josh Donaldson doesn’t like to use the term rebuilding. But even he had to admit that the Patriots have to do some reconstructing if they are going to continue their dominance. Homewood’s boys have won eight consecutive Class 6A state crosscountry championships, and the girls have won three of the past four state crowns. “I don’t like calling it a rebuilding year, but on both sides, we’ve got younger teams,” Donaldson said. “All the top girls are gone from (last) year, but we do have a good chunk of the boys returning. “I’m excited. We have a lot of young talented runners who have stepped (up) and are filling some big shoes.” The Patriots competed Saturday in their first meet, the 20th Chickasaw Trails Invitational at the Oakville Indian Mounds Park, which will be the site of the Alabama High School Athletic Association state meet in November. Senior Crawford Hope won the boys 5K championship race with a time of 15:20.75. Vestavia Hills senior Ethan Strand finished second (15:29.82) and Oak Mountain senior Walker Cole was third (15:30.79). Hope and Strand recently committed
to the University of North Carolina. As a team, the Patriots finished 15th, but they are without the 2019 individual state champion, Jon Fielding Stogner. He’s out indefinitely with a foot injury. “I’m not sure of (the) end diagnosis,” Donaldson said. “He’s been in a boot for a while.” Junior Jack Harchelroad, one of the Patriots’ other top runners, also didn’t run in the Chickasaw race. Of the Patriots’ top five finishers, three were sophomores, Grayton Murray, Ben Murray and Sam Gray.
Girls Team Lost Experience
Homewood’s top two girls from the past few years are both running in college, Lainey Phelps at Vanderbilt and Celie Jackson at Baylor. “We took a big hit with Lainey and Celie leaving, but it’s also fun to watch how they do in college,” Donaldson said. Sophomore Marin Poleshek is the Patriots’ top returning girls runner. She finished third in the state meet last year with a 5K time of 19:12. “She was right there with Lainey and Celie last year at the state meet,” Donaldson said. “She’s got a work ethic similar to theirs. It’s fun to watch her run.” Poleshek wasn’t on top of her game at the Chickasaw, finishing 46th See HOMEWOOD, page 27