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THURSDAY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER AUGUST 10,21, 2017 2017

SPORTS

REAL MEN WEAR PINK BACK TO SCHOOL

Striking the Right Balance

COMMUNITY LEADERS PITCH IN TO FIGHT BREAST CANCER See more real men and stories beginning on page 10

Experts Weigh in on Importance of Choosing Students’ Extracurriculars Wisely

George McMillan

Tommy Spina

Photos courtesy American Cancer Society

By Sarah Kuper

he beginning of the school year comes with new challenges for students Haller Magee and parents. Some are trivial, like finding the right locker, while others can make a lifelong difference. 1 Recently, Dr. Heather Austin, UAB expert in clinical child psychology and pediatric psychology, tackled the topic of managing a student’s extracurricular commitments.

In an article released by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Austin states the importance of striking the right balance for children. “There is definitely a difference between overscheduled and opportunities for enrichment,” Austin said. “Life is very busy and downtime is essential for Nick Derzis

children. I think often we as parents and professionals forget this.” Austin said parents are instrumental in guiding a child or teen through choosing participation in sports, academic or civic clubs, but a parent shouldn’t make executive decisions without considering a child’s

feelings and well-being. She advises focusing on a student’s strengths, interests and opportunities for growth. A child forced into an activity may end up miserable and anxious and not get anything out of it. Austin said that, although it may take time and consideration, choosing the right blend of extracurriculars is worthwhile. Lauren Patterson, guidance counselor at The Altamont School, agrees. “Students involved in a healthy mix of extracurriculars are less likely to engage in risky behaviors,” she said. Patterson, who is new to the private school this year, said her goal is to get to know students individually so she can help them navigate all Altamont has See BALANCE, page 29 Chris Vaklavas

In an emergency, it’s about time. In a medical emergency, every minute matters. So, at Grandview Medical Center, you can look forward to faster care in the emergency room. We work diligently to have you initially seen by a medical professional* in 30 minutes – or less. And, with a team of dedicated medical specialists, we can provide a lot more care, if you need it. *Medical professionals may include physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

GrandviewHealth.com

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OPINION/CONTENTS

IN THIS ISSUE

MURPHY’S LAW

T HE’S SEEN THE LIGHT Eclipse Experience Persuades Smith’s Variety Owner to Keep the Family Store PAGE 8

MAMBO WITH THE MACAWS Guests Party Island-Style at Annual ZooGala PAGE 14

OLD AND NEW, SIDE-BY-SIDE Antiques at The Gardens Returns for 12th Year With Favorites and Fresh Events PAGE 21

SEWN THROUGH TIME King Cotton Fabrics Celebrates 50 Years of Family Business PAGE 27

ABOUT TOWN 4 PEOPLE 7 NEWS 8 LIFE 10 SOCIAL 14

WEDDINGS 20 HOME 21 BUSINESS 27 SCHOOLS 28 SPORTS 32

ON OTMJ.COM

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

OVER THE MOUNTAIN

J O U R N A L September 21, 2017 Publisher & Editor: Maury Wald Copy Editor: Virginia Martin Features Writer: Donna Cornelius Staff Writers: Sarah Kuper, Emily Williams Editorial Assistant: Stacie Galbraith Sports: Blake Ells, Rubin E. Grant Contributors: Susan Murphy, Jordan Wald, June Mathews, William C. Singleton III, Emil Wald, Marvin Gentry, Lee Walls Jr., Bryan Bunch Sam Prickett Advertising Sales: Suzanne Wald, Julie Trammell Edwards, Tommy Wald Vol. 28, 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 2017 Over The Mountain Journal, Inc. All rights reserved. The Journal is not responsible for return of photos, copy and other unsolicited materials submitted. To have materials returned, please specify when submitting and provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All materials submitted are subject to editorial review and may be edited or declined without notification.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Brother Sun, Sister Wind and Water

there were hoping for whatever scrap he eclipse was amazing, wasn’t of sunlight they could get. It rained it? I sat out in my driveway and it rained and there was no place wearing my ISO-approved for all that rain to go. glasses and made a day of it. Actually, We all know that, just as our world I sat off in the shade and emerged needs sunlight, it needs rain. Without every few minutes to peer upward rain, the crops will fail, the reservoirs because, even at the eclipse-peak, it will empty, and people will not surwas just too darn hot. vive. Too much rain, and people’s lives The sun is a double-edged marcan get swept away in the runoff. vel. Plants need sunlight to grow. Our And then came Hurricane Irma – bodies need sunlight to zip up our too much wind, too much rain, too litVitamin D. The sun provides us with tle gasoline, too little shelter. warmth and light, but to stand directly These disasters serve as a reminder under its rays for very long, your that we are, every one of us, vulnerawhole body needs SPF100. ble creatures who need food and water It’s the same thing for a Sue Murphy and protection from those elements house. People on “House Hunters” are beyond our control. And, try walk into a vaulted-ceiling entry These disasters serve that as we might, we can’t always meet and gasp, “There’s so much natural light!” I take one look at the sunas a reminder that we those needs on our own. It would be beams streaming through those wonderful if there was a way to balare, every one of us, floor-to-ceiling windows and start ance it all out, collect excess sunchanneling my Aunt Rita: “They’ll vulnerable creatures light and transfer it to areas that are spend a fortune on drapes.” dark, back up a fleet of tanker who need food and Aunt Rita had a point. Those trucks to flooded areas and carry beautiful sunbeams have the power water and protection that water to areas suffering from to fade furniture and rugs and drought, to keep the entire world at from those elements that a happy sun/rain/wind level, but it’s everything else in their path. Ever since my Great Kitchen Debacle of are beyond our control. not within our power. Whatever bal2017, I’ve been pretty protective of ance we find will come from the my new baby hardwoods. My post-disaster help we lend to each south-facing drapes get closed midother. We cannot control the weathmorning; my westward drapes, shortly after lunch. With er or the tides or the movements of the sun, but we can everything closed, however, the place looks like control the way we deal with the aftermath. As the hurMammoth Cave (cue the wheezing), so as soon as the ricane victims emerge to start rebuilding their lives, sun dips safely over the horizon, I open everything they will need food and shelter and comfort. They will need wood and nails and bricks and mortar. They’re back up again. I love sunshine, but sometimes, it’s just going to need the help of every person who can hold a too much. hammer, and my hope is that we all show up. I was feeling pretty annoyed with my daily drape Life is both cyclical and unpredictable at the same chase until a few days after the sun’s total eclipse, time. The best we can do is keep looking up and spread when Hurricane Harvey made its totally devastating landfall. I watched the news updates in horror as the a little sunshine where we can. Just enough, mind you. suffering mounted and it became clear that the victims Otherwise, you have to close the drapes. ❖

OVER THE MOUNTAIN VIEWS

What’s your favorite fall outdoor activity? “We love to go camping in Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains in the fall.” Van Machen Hoover “Walking at Ruffner Mountain.” Ashley Cope Mountain Brook “I like to play golf in the fall.” DJ Main Mountain Brook “Football, going to see Bama and Samford play.” David Clyburn Birmingham

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Thursday, September 21, 2017 • 3

OPINION/CONTENTS

P R E S E N T E D

B Y

GAL A IN THE GARDENS

RED DIAMOND LECTURE

Antiques & Tastemakers (Pre-show shopping) Cocktails-hors d’oeuvres-desserts-live band-dancing

Featuring Amanda Nisbet, designer and author

TA S T E I N S PA D E S

SOUTHERN SUNDAY

The Line Up: Vine Garden Market, Charlotte Lucas, Liz Carroll, Paloma Contreras and Barbara Westbrook

Beth Webb, Jeffrey Dungan, Bobby McAlpine and Chris Tippett

T H U R S D AY, O C T O B E R 5

Purchase tickets and view full event schedule on our website.

F R I D AY, O C T O B E R 6 • 1 0 : 3 0 A . M .

S AT U R D AY, O C T O B E R 7

S U N D AY, O C T O B E R 8

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B B G A R D E N S . O R G / A N T I Q U E S P R O V I D I N G

F R E E

S C I E N C E

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2 0 5 . 4 1 4 . 3 9 5 0

B I R M I N G H A M

A R T: “ M AT R I A R C H ” B Y PAT T Y B . D R I S C O L L

B O T A N I C A L

G A R D E N S

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Thurs., Sept. 21 BIRMINGHAM

Table of Hope The Florentine Urban Ministry presents an evening of inspiration with Birmingham’s own Caleb Castille, “Woodlawn” actor and University of Alabama football standout. A reception and silent auction begins at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:45 p.m. Tickets are $150 and proceeds benefit Urban Ministry. For more information, visit tableofhope.swellgives. com. HOMEWOOD

American Girl Pajama Party Homewood Public Library The library will host a night of pillow fights and pajama fun with your favorite American Girl doll, presented by Schaeffer Eye Center from 6:307:30 p.m. Partners in Glam will be on hand with beauty tips and style stations. For more information, visit homewoodpubliclibrary.org. HOOVER

Homeward Bound Carriage House at Park Crest The 6th annual Night of Golden Opportunities fundraiser and gala will include food, wine and local craft beer, dancing, live entertainment by

Cottonbird and a live auction. Proceeds aid in Adopt A Golden’s mission to find safe, loving, lifelong homes for golden retrievers. Single tickets are $150 each and are available at adoptagoldenbirmingham.com.

BIRMINGHAM

Bowling for Rhinos Vestavia Bowl The Birmingham Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers presents Bowling for Rhinos from 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $20 per adult, $10 for children 12 and under and include bowling, shoe rental, a t-shirt, door prizes and silent auction entry. All of the proceeds go toward rhino conservation through the International Rhino Foundation and the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. For more information, visit birminghamzoo.com.

Sept. 21-23 BIRMINGHAM

OPA! Birmingham Greek Festival Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Othodox Cathedral The 45th annual Greek Festival is set for September 21-23 from 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Free admission, indoor and outdoor dining (food plates are individually priced), a band playing Greek music and authentic Greek dance performances. The Greek Market Place has imported food, icons, jewelry, art and more. Free guided tours of the cathedral and its Byzantine architecture will be ongoing. For more information, visit holytrinityholycross.com.

Sept. 21-Oct. 1 BIRMINGHAM

A Chorus Line Virginia Samford Theatre The show that changed Broadway musicals forever opens the theatre’s 90th anniversary season. Performances are Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. General admission tickets begin at $30. For more information, visit virginiasamfordtheatre.org.

Fri., Sept. 22

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS

Photo special to the Journal

SEPT. 21 - OCT. 5

BIRMINGHAM

HOOVER

Head Over Teal, Fri., Sept. 22 The Preserve Town Hall The eighth annual Head Over Teal 5k/10k and Family Fall Festival will be from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. The event will include a fun array of fall festival activities for all ages, including games, children’s inflatables, face painting, crafts and more. For registration and more information, visit thinkoflaura.org. ❖ BIRMINGHAM

St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer Railroad Park Registration begins at 7 a.m. for this 5k run/walk. The run/kwalk begins at 8:30 a.m. The walk is $10 for ages 6 and up, the 5k run is $20 ages 6 and up and 5 and under are free. For more information, visit fundraising.stjude.org. BIRMINGHAM

La Celebración Birmingham Zoo In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month the Zoo will celebrate the culture of Birmingham’s growing Hispanic and Latino community presented by Abogados Centro Legal. Animals of Central and South America will be featured as well as special enrichments for the animals, music, a dance lesson and more. Dora the Explorer and Diego will be on the scene from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, vista birminghamzoo.com. BIRMINGHAM

Oktoberfest Birmingham Caldwell Park A wide variety of cold beers, German food, live music and games and activities are planned from 1-6 p.m. General admission tickets are $17.50 and include a souvenir 22 oz. beer stein and one complimentary beer. VIP tickets are $50 and include a souvenir 22 oz. beer stein, four complimentary beers, one meal voucher and a t-shirt. For more information, visit birminghamoktoberfest.com. BIRMINGHAM

2828 Linden Ave. • Homewood • 870-4060 alabamagaslightandgrill.com

Mike

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

ABOUT TOWN

Recovery Walk 2017 Railroad Park The University of Alabama at Birmingham presents Birmingham’s annual walk to celebrate recovery from addiction from 5-9 p.m. There will be live music, food and fellowship. This event is free. For more information, visit “Birmingham Recovery Walk 2017” Facebook page. BIRMINGHAM

Sweet Home Brews: Firkin Fest

Sidebar in Lakeview The Junior Board of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama will host the third annual firkin focused craft beer event from 6-10 p.m. Festivities will include games of cornhole and guests can taste and vote for their favorite beer. Earlybird tickets are $20 per person, $25 at the door. All proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama and its mission to provide support and a residence for critically ill children and their caregivers. For more information, visit rmhca.org. HOMEWOOD

Dinnertainment A private club in Mountain Brook This unique dinner party features a cocktail hour, seated dinner and live entertainment by exceptional people. Exceptional Foundation participants, individuals of all ages with special needs, will present songs, skits, videos and other performances. The event is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. For ticket information contact Dee Grisham at dgrisham@exceptionalfoundation.org. VESTAVIA HILLS

Family Campout Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest Celebrate the first day of autumn with a family campout. Bring blankets to make a family “campsite” and enjoy a hot dog supper, campfire singalong and smores. All activities are indoors, but don’t forget your flashlight. Registration is required. Call 978-0158 to sign up or visit vestaviahills.org.

Sun., Sept 24 BIRMINGHAM

26th Annual Magic City Aids Walk Railroad Park Birmingham AIDS Outreach’s annual walk will begin at 4 p.m. with the race start time at 5:30 p.m. This years Grand Marshall is Dr. Jim Raper of the UAB 1917 Clinic and the guest emcee is Brandi Burgess. Festivities include a community and business fair, children’s activities, health screening and live music. For more information, visit birminghamaidsoutreach.org.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s Railroad Park The Walk to End Aalzheimer’s - Heart of Alabama will kick off with registration at 1:30 p.m.There will be a ceremony at 3 p.m. and the walk will begin at 3:15. All funds raised will further the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association. There is no registration fee for the walk but every walker is asked to make a personal donation and commit to raising funds in the fight against Alzheimer’s. For more information, visit act.alz.org.

Tues., Sept. 26 BIRMINGHAM

Mountain Brook Chamber Luncheon Birmingham Botanical Gardens Brittany Wagner, of the popular Netflix docuseries “Last Chance U,” will be the keynote speaker at the Chamber Luncheon from 11a.m.-1 p.m. Guests can enjoy lunch, network and learn about Wagner’s experiences as the academic counselor for East Mississippi Community College’s football program. Admission is $25 for members and $30 for non-members. For more information, visit mtnbrookchamber.org. HOOVER

Golf fore Life Greystone Golf and Country Club The club will host its 2017 invitational on the Founder’s Course, beginning at 11 a.m. with registration and lunch. This year’s event will feature several former Alabama and Auburn sports celebrities. The tournament will begin at noon with a shotgun start and will be followed by an awards reception at 5 p.m. Register online at savalife.org.

Sept. 26-28 HOOVER

Susan Briggs Memorial Tennis Tournament Highland Park Racquet Club and Riverchase Country Club The Ladies Interclub Tennis League presents its tennis tournament to provide financial stipends to deserving young ladies and kids programs in Central Alabama. For more tournament information and schedules, visit briggs. homestead.com.

Wed., Sept. 27 BIRMINGHAM

Warren Manning Lecture Birmingham Botanical Gardens The Birmingham Historical Society

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

and The Friends of Jemison Park present a reception and lecture from 5:30 -7 p.m. celebrating Warren H. Manning, the nationally-renowned landscape architect hired by Robert Jemison Jr. in the 1920’s to survey and plan what became Mountain Brook Estates, Mountain Brook Village, Jemison Park and Mountain Brook Club.

Thursday, September 21, 2017 • 5

ABOUT TOWN Guest speaker will be Robin Karson, book editor and executive director of the Library of American Landscape History. For more information, visit mtnbrookchamber.org. BIRMINGHAM

Flicks Among the Flowers Birmingham Botanical Gardens

The Junior Board of Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens will host its annual fall movie series, presented by Publix Super Markets Charities Inc. “Father of the Bride” will begin after sunset (approximately 7:30). Blankets and low profile lawn chairs are encouraged; pets and outside alcohol are not allowed. Kathy G. and Company will offer movie snacks and beverages for purchase. For more information, visit bbgardens.org.

Thurs., Sept. 28 HOMEWOOD

Three on a String Wright Fine Arts Center Tonight at the Wright presents Three on A String celebrating 46 years in the entertainment business. Virtuoso musicians and comedians Jerry Ryan, Bobby Horton, Brad Ryan and Andy Meginniss will offer a free performance at Samford University at 7 p.m. to help kick off the new school year. For more information, visit samford.edu.

Photo special to the Journal

THIS BIG ONLY ONLY HAPPENS HAPPENS ONCE ONCE A YEAR . A YEAR. You know us for Quality You know us for Style

PBUT R E -WHAT M E MABOUT O R I AMATTRESSES L DAY SA L...E

Fri., Sept. 29

P R E - M E M O R I A L DAY SA L E

Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Hurry on for BEST Selection.

BIRMINGHAM BIRMINGHAM

Breakin’ Bread, Sun., Sept. 24 Sloss Furnaces This 15th annual food, wine and beer festival is set from 1-5 p.m. Join more than 30 local restaurants for an afternoon of unlimited signature dishes and beverages including wine and beer, live music and cooking demonstrations. Proceeds will benefit Jones Valley Teaching Farm’s Woodlawn High School Urban Farm project. General admission tickets are $35, while VIP tickets are $99 per person. Children under 12 can enter for free. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit breakinbreadbham.com. ❖

Comeand in and experience Thursday, Friday Saturday. Hurryfor onyourself for BEST Selection.

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Fall Fizz and Fare Redmont Hotel Hope for Autumn Foundation presents this fundraiser from 7-10 p.m featuring wine tastings, local craft beer, and servings of dishes from local chefs. All proceeds benefit Hope for Autumn Foundation. For more information, visit “Hope for Autumn Foundation” Facebook page.

ABOUT TOWN, continues on page 6

FINE FURNITURE | DRAPERY & WINDOW TREATMENTS | LIGHTING | ACCESSORIES | FULL DESIGN SERVICES

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8 PRIMARY CARE LOCATIONS. SAME-DAY APPOINTMENTS. 1 NUMBER: 205-971-DOCS.

To: From: Date:

5/11/17 11:3

Lynette Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 ph., 205-824-1246, fax Sept. 2014

This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for the Sept. 21, 2014 issue. Please contact your sales representative as soon as possible to approve your ad or make changes. You may fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

Please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone number!

Please initial and fax back within 24 hours.

If we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

Thank you for your prompt attention.

Grandview Medical Group makes it easier to see a primary care provider in Birmingham – quickly. Just call 205-971-DOCS before noon on weekdays. Most calls will result in a same-day appointment with a physician or a nurse practitioner at one of our eight primary care locations. Walk-ins are welcome, too. If you or a family member age five or older needs to see a doctor fast, think Grandview Medical Group. Schedule an appointment online, anytime, with select providers:

GrandviewMedicalGroup.com

Chelsea • Columbiana • Grandview Physicians Plaza • Hoover • Lee Branch • Liberty Park • Springville • Trussville

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Look Forward. 6/16/17 4:05 PM

6 • Thursday, September 21, 2017

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

ABOUT TOWN Sept. 29, 30 and Oct. 1

ALABAMA'S LARGEST GASLIGHT SHOWROOM

HOMEWOOD

“How I Became a Pirate” Bonnie Bolding Swearingen Hall, Lobby Samford University The Emma Taylor Theatre for Youth Series presents a musical excursion with a band of comical pirates by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Freidman. This family-friendly event is set for Sept. 29-30 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct.1 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $5-$20. For more information, visit samford.edu.

Sat., Sept. 30 IRONDALE

2828 Linden Avenue Homewood 870-4060 www.alabamagaslightandgrill.com

Whitstle Stop Festival Historic Downtown Irondale More than one hundred vendors will be selling art, crafts and food. Live entertainment will be on the main stage located on 1st Ave. S. and will start at 10 a.m. For more information, visit irondalewhistlestopfestival.com. BIRMINGHAM

To: From: Date:

FirstLink Checking Gold or Platinum

Mike Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 FAX: 205-824-1246 May 2017

This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for the June 1, 2017 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

pays 1.75% on balances up to $20,000 Please all information is correct, & paysmake .50%sure on balances above $20,000 including address and phone number!

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Unlimited Check Writing  Remote Deposit Please initial and fax back within 24 hours. If we Banking have not heard from you 5 pm of the before the press date, Online with Bill byPay  Friday Telephone Banking

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your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

When FirstLink Gold or Platinum Checking qualifications are met, the interest rate and corresponding annual percentage yield (APY) will be tiered. If the daily balance is $20,000 or less, the interest paid will be 1.75% with an APY of 1.76%. An interest rate of .50% will be paid only for that portion of your daily balance that is greater than $20,000. The APY for this tier will range from 1.76% to .76% depending on the balance in the account. If qualifications are not met, the interest rate on your account will be .05% and the APY will be .05%. FirstLink Gold or Platinum Checking account is a variable rate account. The rate may change after the account is opened. The stated APY is accurate as of August 1, 2017. The minimum balance to obtain the stated APY is $100.00. The minimum amount required to open the account is $100.00. Fees could reduce the earnings on the account.

Come say hello to your new neighbors. Hwy 280 at Pump House Road

205-582-1200 www.firstusbank.com

Fiesta 2017 Linn Park Fiesta Inc. will present an event from noon-8 p.m., featuring the best of Latin American art, music, food and dance to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Alabama’s largest celebration of Hispanic culture and heritage. Tickets are $8 per person in advance or $15 at the gate. Children 12 and under are free. For more information, visit fiestabham.com.

Sun. Oct 1 BIRMINGHAM

Cahaba River Fry Down Railroad Park Celebrity judges will choose the tastiest catfish and side dishes and attendees can vote for their favorites. There will be music, a climbing wall, a beer garden and children’s activities. Tickets are $20 and include catfish and sides. Children 12 and younger are free. For more information, visit frydown. com.

Tues., Oct. 3 VESTAVIA HILLS

Community Night Out Vestavia City Hall The Vestavia Hills Police and Fire Departments present the 7th annual community fundraiser. The event includes live music from local students, kid’s activities, inflatables, a fire fighter obstacle course, a rock wall, free food from local vendors and more. This event is free. For more information, call 978-0194 or visit vestaviahills.org.

Thurs., Oct. 5 BIRMINGHAM

Birmingham Art Crawl Downtown Birmingham Local artists and performers will present exhibitions throughout the cultural and historical city center of downtown Birmingham, along 2nd Ave. North surrounding The Pizitz building the first Thurs. of every month from 5-9 p.m. for more information, visit birminghamartcrawl.com. VESTAVIA HILLS

“Lift Your Spirits” Vestavia Country Club Community Grief Support presents an evening to honor Coach Gene Stallings. The gala will be from 5:30-8:30 p.m. For VIP ticket holders, there will be a special meet-and-greet reception with Coach Stallings, from 5-6:15 p.m. There will also be silent and live auctions led by Jack Granger. For more information, about tables and tickets call 870-8667 or visit community griefsupport.org. BIRMINGHAM

Symphony 30’s Picnic Birmingham Botanical Gardens The annual picnic and hour-long orchestral concert will kick off at 4 p.m. Food will be provided by Jim ‘N Nicks, and all proceeds will benefit the outreach and missions of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. The event will include a kid zone with craft projects. Tickets are $25 each, children are $12.50. For more information, visit alabamasymphony.org.

Hearts After Dark Vulcan Park and Museum The Pediatric Heart Transplant Study foundation’s 2nd annual event will begin at 6 p.m. and include a cocktail hour on the courtyard where guests will enjoy a string duo passed hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine and signature Heartini cocktails followed by a dinner catered by Kathy G. and an auction. All proceeds will benefit the PHTS Foundation and their mission to improve outcomes for children who need a heart transplant. Individual tickets are $75. For more information, visit phtsfoundation.org.

MOUNTAIN BROOK

BIRMINGHAM

Little Leader Day City Hall, Crestline Village Leadership Mountain Brook presents an event from 1-3 p.m. for 3rd-6th graders. Participants will hear greetings from Mayor Welch, presentations and tours from the leaders of each city department and will receive a certificate of completion, as well as the opportunity to put their hand prints on the Tot Lot Fence. Admission is $30 and includes a snack, Little Leader Day T-shirt and a copy of “Buttons Explores the Brook.” For more information, visit mtnbrookchamber.org.

Barktoberfest Cahaba Brewing Company Hand in Paw will host an Oktoberfest style benefit for humans and their canine friends from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The event features beer, food, live music and more. Tickets are $15 and include one beer ticket, entry into the pet costume contest, the stein hoist contest and one raffle ticket. Two food trucks will be present. Proceeds benefit Hand in Paw. For more information, visit “Hand in Paw” Facebook page.

ABOUT TOWN, continues on page 7

ABOUT TOWN/PEOPLE

Mountain Brook’s Maxwell Joins NSFA Industry Leadership Council

Photo special to the Journal

Stephanie Maxwell, right, of Mountain Brook has been selected for the National School Foundation Association’s Industry Leadership Council. Maxwell is executive director of the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation, which funds and promotes opportunities for students and educa-

Thursday, September 21, 2017 • 7

tors to learn and grow. According to organization officials, the Individuals selected for the council are considered leaders among the nation’s education foundations. Through her work with the council, Maxwell will help educational foundations grow and more effectively engage with other industry leaders. ❖

Twenty-four Prince of Peace Catholic Parish Girl Scouts received either the “Family of God” or “I Live My Faith” award from the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama at a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert Baker at Cathedral of Saint Paul on Aug. 13.

POP Parishioner Receives National Faith Award

Prince of Peace Catholic Parish Girl Scout Leader Stacie Rohn and her scouts recently were recognized by Bishop Robert Baker at the Girl Scout Mass on Aug. 13 at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. Rohn was honored with the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton medal, a national award that was originated by the National Stacie Rohn Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry to recognize volunteers who have made significant contributions to

ABOUT TOWN, From page 6

Fri., Oct. 6 BIRMINGHAM

Western’s Wine & Food Festival Birmingham Zoo The supermarket’s annual event will be held form 6-9 p.m., featuring more than 500 wines and more than 40 food vendors. Pre-order wines at the show for super deals, ride the carousel and see live animals on display. All proceeds will be donated to the Birmingham Zoo, the Emmet O’Neal Library, the Junior League of Birmingham and East Lake Initiative. Tickets are $55-$85. For more information, visit birminghamzoo. com. MOUNTAIN BROOK

Village Garden Walk Block Party Participating Businesses in Lane Parke and Mountain Brook Village The merchants of Lane Parke and Mountain Brook Village will present garden-inspired window displays on Oct. 6. A block party will take place from 5-7 p.m. and includes floral displays, live music, food and more. The displays will be available to view through Oct. 8. For more information, visit mtnbrookchamber.org.

the spiritual development of Catholic youth. “I am truly humbled and honored to have received the ‘St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’ award,” said Rohn. “The biggest reward was the time spent with these amazingly thoughtful and faithful girls. It’s inspiring to see young girls with such a great love for our Lord and desire to learn more about their faith.” Under her leadership, Rohn’s junior and cadette scouts earned the “I Live My Faith” scouting award and the Brownies earned their “Family of God” award. Fellow parishioner and Girl Scout leader Kristina Theall nominated Rohn, who is a graduate of John Carroll Catholic High School, with an essay describing her accomplishments in supporting Catholic spiritual growth through the Girl Scout program. Rohn and her husband, Jared, live in Hoover with their three children. ❖

Sat., Oct. 7 HOOVER

Bluff Park Art Show Bluff Park Community Center The show features more than 150 artist, food vendors, hands-on children’s activities and music from high school jazz bands. Artists will display their work from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in the front of the Community Center. Admission is free. Free shuttle busses are available at the Bluff Park United Methodist Church, Shades Mountain Independent Church, Bluff Park Village Shopping Center and Shades Crest Baptist Church. For more information, visit bluffparkartassociation. org.

“Marcus Kennedy made buying our first home easy.” When Tommye and Jake Headrick decided to look for their first home, they didn’t know what area of Birmingham would best fit their budget and active lifestyle. “Marcus was very patient with us” says Tommye. “He showed us homes from Gardendale to Pelham, and found a home we love in an an ideal Hoover location.” Jake, who played basketball with Marcus when they were students at the University of Montevallo, said his friend offered great advice throughout the process. “A lot of people were interested in the home we wanted,” says Jake. “Marcus rearranged his schedule to get us in first and that meant we got the house.” “Helping friends like the Headricks find a home is rewarding ,” says Marcus. “And being part of the ARC Realty team provides me with the best training and support in our industry.” For more information on Marcus Kennedy and ARC Realty, visit www.arcrealtyco.com.

HOMEWOOD

Homewood Health and Safety Day Homewood Central Park Homewood Parks is sponsoring an event for the whole family, from 9 a.m.noon, to enhance the quality of life for Homewood citizens through education on how to be prepared in the event of an emergency. The Homewood Fire and Police Departments will be on the scene with their vehicles ready for inspection as well as a Lifesaver helicopter and an ambulance. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at the Two Men and a Pig Food Truck. For more information, contact Alissa Brock at alissa.thurmond@homewoodal. org. ❖

A Relationship Company 4274 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 200 Birmingham, AL 35243 • 205.969.8910 www.arcrealtyco.com

Marcus Kennedy • (205) 356.3291 • mkennedy@arcrealtyco.com

Photo special to the Journal

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

NEWS

8 • Thursday, September 21, 2017

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Photo courtesy city of Vestavia Hills

HE’S SEEN THE LIGHT

Eclipse Experience Persuades Smith’s Variety Owner to Keep the Family Store By Sam Prickett

The Vestavia Hills Fire Department announced Sept. 14 that it had appointed Marvin Green, above, as its new fire chief.

New Fire Chiefs Take Office in Hoover and Vestavia Hills

Smith’s Variety sold 17,000 solar eclipse glasses.

everything he valued about the store – the generations of customers who visited his store, the support and professionalism of the store’s staff, Smith’s place as a community landmark. “I had forgotten, quite frankly, how much I loved it,” he said. When the eclipse finally happened, people were still showing up at Smith’s to buy glasses. They were out of stock, so Glazner and the rest of the staff went out to the parking lot to share their eclipse glasses with those who were too late to buy their own. As the crowd in the store’s parking lot turned their eyes toward the sun, Glazner said he experienced a moment of profound peace. “It was like, for one moment, the entire country stopped and went quiet. Everybody looked to heaven ... and it just felt peaceful,” he said. “That’s what I remember about that day more than sales, more than anything.” Glazner was moved by the scene of people gathering outside Smith’s to share that rare moment. But it wasn’t until that evening, speaking with his wife, Tammie, that he came to a realiza-

Journal file photo

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

It took a once-in-a-generation event to convince him, but Smith’s Variety owner Jim Glazner has decided against selling the iconic Mountain Brook toy store. Aug. 21’s solar eclipse was the deciding factor for Glazner, who had been planning to sell the store after his mother, Mary Anne, passed away in April. Mary Anne had run the store since the death of her husband, Lit, in 2003. Together, they had owned the store since 1976. Glazner had planned to sell the store because it had become too difficult to balance with his full-time career in cosmetic medicine. He’s the owner of the Vestavia Hills-based Prescription Aesthetic and Wellness Spa. Maintaining the store’s dedication to customer service was a priority for Glazner while looking for a buyer; continuing the tradition of the store and its place in the community was not negotiable, he said. There were several potential buyers, including longtime employees Steve and Katherine Sudduth. But after Smith’s Variety sold 17,000 solar eclipse glasses, paper eyewear that enabled people to look at the eclipse without damaging their eyesight, Glazner reconsidered. The lead-up to the event was filled with frantic efforts to buy more glasses to meet the growing demand. The glasses were selling out as quickly as Smith’s could get them in stock, Glazner said. Lines to purchase the glasses stretched out the door and down the block. Glazner said he was reminded of the Beanie Babies craze, which also drew massive crowds of people to the store. But more than just selling glasses, the weekend reminded Glazner of

‘God shows there’s a way that I couldn’t find on my own … . The eclipse was a phenomenon. It blocked the sun, but it opened my eyes.’ JIM GLAZNER

tion about the future of the store. “Jim, look at you,” his wife said. “Look at me. We love this. It’s your family. You’ve seen all these people again that you love … . We can’t sell this store. You love it too much.’” Tammie Glazner had looked at their clinic’s schedule and realized it could be rearranged so that they could spend more time at Smith’s than they had

thought possible. Jim Glazner would be able to work at the store on Wednesdays and weekends, with Tammie Glazner working there on Tuesdays and weekends. “I broke into tears,” he said. “God shows there’s a way that I couldn’t find on my own … . The eclipse was a phenomenon. It blocked the sun, but it opened my eyes.” Now, Smith’s is looking forward, working to restock its inventory (the eclipse crowd bought more than just glasses), and preparing for the Christmas rush, which already is starting. The decision is helping Glazner to move forward, too. “This decision to keep the store is probably the biggest healing for me and our family that I’ve had since my mother passed,” he said. “Thinking of the legacy of the store and all that it meant, it was so hard to think about walking away from what my family spent their lives in … . It really feels like the weight of the world is off my shoulders.” ❖

The Over the Mountain community has two new fire chiefs. The fire departments of Vestavia Hills and Hoover have appointed replacements for their recently retired heads, with both being sworn in this month. The Vestavia Hills Fire Department announced Sept. 14 that it had appointed Marvin Green as its new fire chief. Green, a 19-year veteran of the department, was sworn into the position Sept. 18, during a meeting of the Vestavia Hills City Council. Green had served as the department’s interim chief after the retirement of his predecessor, Jim St. John, in April. St. John had served as chief since 2008. In Hoover, Mayor Frank Brocato swore in Clay Bentley as his city’s new fire chief on Sept. 5. Bentley had been with the Hoover Fire Department for 20 years, following a five-year stint as a firefighter with the Birmingham Fire Department. Since 2016, he had served as a battalion chief at Hoover. He succeeded outgoing chief Chuck Wingate, who retired at the end of August after 42 years with the department. Green and Bentley aren’t the only two newly minted fire chiefs Over the Mountain. Last year, Chris Mullins was appointed fire chief for Mountain Brook after the retirement of his predecessor, Robert Ezekiel. —Sam Prickett

Birmingham Zoo officials and friends of the zoo gathered Sept. 7 for a grand opening ceremony to launch the newest addition, the Henley Park Event Lawn. Guests were treated to heavy hors d’oeuvres on the new lawn, which previously was the location of two ponds used for hatching fish. The park and event lawn is named for Arthur C. P. Henley, who was instrumental in the zoo’s achieving public-private status in 1999. Henley is the fourth great-grandson of Charles Linn and third great-grandson of John C. Henley Sr., two of Birmingham’s founding fathers. Speakers including Mayor William Bell, zoo President and CEO Dr. William Foster and Henley spoke at the event, many touching on how far the zoo has come since its struggles in the late 1990s. Since efforts began to save the zoo, annual visitor attendance has grown from fewer than 275,000 to a record-breaking 644,667 visitors in 2016. The completion of the lawn concludes phase one of the Renew the Zoo Capital Campaign, an $18 million fundraising goal that will include three phases of construction. Phase two will include construction of a new zoo entrance with water features and foliage and a new arrival experience with self-service ticketing kiosks, a 2,500-square-foot gift shop and a large restroom facility with family rooms and stroller rentals. Phase three will include construction of the Asian Passage exhibit and partial renovation of the Predator Building. —Emily Williams

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

Zoo Celebrates Opening of New Event Lawn and Park

From left, Birmingham Zoo President and CEO Dr. William Foster, Arthur C. P. Henley and Mayor William Bell.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Envisioning Homewood Survey Is Aimed at Planning for the Future of Downtown

By Sam Prickett As part of an effort to develop a master plan for downtown Homewood, the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham is conducting a survey to help determine short- and long-term priorities. The Heart of Homewood Plan Community Visioning Survey is intended to contribute to a comprehensive development plan for the

city’s downtown area, addressing housing, streetscaping and parking, among other topics. The survey will function as a sort of town hall to gauge public concerns, said Lindsay Puckett, the principal planner for the commission. “Long gone are the days when people wanted to go to an old-fashioned public meeting,” she said. Instead, she said, the survey is meant to “go where the people are” –

Homewood GreenSpace Initiative Moves Forward After Public Forum By Sarah Kuper Organizers from the Homewood GreenSpace Initiative said 105 people showed up to the group’s first public forum at the Homewood Library on Sept. 12. Members of the initiative spoke at a City Council meeting in August to introduce the idea of replacing the old judicial center in downtown Homewood with a pocket park instead of selling the property when the new jail is built in West Homewood. Since the idea was publicly presented, group members have been spreading the word about the idea and even getting local economic and urban development experts to collaborate. That’s why members such as Betsy Hunter Maguire were pleased to see the auditorium full of interested residents. “Even on a rainy and cold evening, we had great turn-out,” she said, “It went the way we hoped it would go. It seemed people were enthusiastic about the opportunity and recognized what a privilege it is to be in this position.” The speakers were Henry Hughes, vice president of education at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens; Julie Price, manager of sustainability at UAB; Jane Reed Ross, senior landscape architect at

Carrington Withdraws From Governor’s Race

Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington dropped his bid for the governor’s office next year, saying, “It just wasn’t meant to be.” Carrington, of Vestavia Hills, said he would serve out his term on the commission and had no plans to run for office in the future. “It was never about the position; it was always about improving the quality of government for our citizens,” Carrington, 69, said in a statement. Carrington was one of the early candidates who announced for the

Thursday, September 21, 2017 • 9

NEWS

GMC; and Lindsay Puckett, principal planner of the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham. Each one spoke to the economic, environmental and community benefits of having a public greenspace downtown. Puckett gave an introduction to the newly launched planning process for the Homewood Central Business District Master Plan. Several City Council representatives attended to listen in on the discussion: Jennifer Andress, Peter Wright, Britt Thames, Andy Gwaltney, Mike Higgenbotham and Patrick McClusky. After presenting case studies, statistics, research and possibilities, the group opened the floor for questions and comments. According to Maguire, individuals from business leaders to neighborhood moms voiced their support for the park. A few questions were raised about parking and logistical issues such as park maintenance. From here, initiative members plan to take the idea back to the council, including outlining a potential funding mechanism. Organizers said they left the forum feeling optimistic that, not only will the park be built, but it will lead to the further “greening” of Homewood. ❖ governor’s office, a race that has become increasingly crowded as the months have gone by. He gave little indication why he had decided not to run for governor. He said it was not because of relationship or health issues, two reasons often cited by officials who drop out of races. In his statement, he thanked his family and supporters. “My six-month journey has been fascinating – one I will never forget or regret,” he said. “I’ve learned so much about our state, its politics, its citizens and myself.” He said in his statement that he would be refunding contributions that have been made to his campaign. He had collected more than $200,000 in contributions, according to his filings with the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office. —Virginia Martin

online. Though the survey’s focus is strictly on downtown Homewood, it’s open not only to residents, but also those who work in the area, as well as frequent visitors. Puckett points to the development of a Hilton Curio Hotel in downtown Homewood as something that would have benefitted from the survey. Initial designs for the hotel were met with public criticisms of parking and

the building’s height. Developers adapted to those criti-

Though the survey’s focus is strictly on downtown Homewood, it’s open not only to residents, but also those who work in the area, as well as frequent visitors. cisms, but Puckett said a survey would have made such issues avoidable. The survey is currently online,

and the commission is planning a public campaign to raise awareness for it. Two open-house events will be held at the Homewood City Hall council chambers on Tuesday, Sept. 26. One will be from noon to 1:30 p.m., and the other will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. The commission is hoping to get “as much public input as we can,” Puckett said, with a goal of at least 400 respondents. Results, she said, would be made public “probably by Thanksgiving.” To find out more about the Heart of Homewood Plan and to take the survey, visit heartofhomewoodplan. com. ❖

Keeping the lights on for more than 100 years.

Supporting economic development all along.

In 1920, Alabama Power established the New Industries Division, believed to be the first utility-based economic development department in the U.S. Today, we continue to be a partner in helping move Alabama’s economy forward. We work with state and local allies to recruit automotive, aerospace, information technology and other industries to Alabama to bring jobs to our communities, support training for our workforce and champion innovators that help energize our state. In fact, we’ve been named one of the nation’s top 10 utilities in economic development.* Making our state a great place to work and live is one more way we’re helping elevate Alabama. Learn more at AlabamaPower.com.

LIFE

10 • Thursday, September 21, 2017

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

POSITIVELY PINK

Cancer Society Challenges Men to Show Their Softer Side for Breast Cancer Awareness

David Knight

Ben Lancaster

Jonathan Nelson

James Spann Mark Bearman

Roscoe Hall

Eric Meyer

Photos courtesy American Cancer Society

Chuck Faush

Devon Laney

By Sarah Kuper While fall fashion in Alabama can be dictated by football team colors, a new shade of support is clothing local businessmen this October. From petal-pink sneakers to fuchsia bow ties, the American Cancer Society has real men wearing pink for breast cancer awareness month. The organization chose more than two dozen Birmingham-area movers and shakers to act as community liaisons championing the breast cancer awareness cause. “In a real way, breast cancer affects men too,” said

Mallory Hill, communications director for the society. “So many men are the support system for the women in their lives who are diagnosed with breast cancer.” Men also run a little-known risk of developing breast cancer, and the disease can be dangerous for men because they often do not think about testing for the condition. Now in its third year, the Real Men Wear Pink campaign challenges participants to wear an article of pink clothing every day in October and raise money while doing it. This year’s participants are Bobby Collier, Jason Bajalieh, Mark Bearman, Del Davis, Nick Derzis, Thomas Dudney, Chuck Faush, Roscoe Hall, Sly King, David

Knight, Ben Lancaster, Randall Porter, Jordan Hovater, Devon Laney, Haller Magee, George McMillan, Eric Meyer, Jonathan Nelson, Joe Pilleteri, Eric Baumann, Troy Rhone, James Spann, Tommy Spina, Van Sykes, Art Tipton, Norman Tynes, Bayard S. Tynes, Jr., Ingram Tynes, Chris Vaklavas, Mel Wilcox, Will Haver, David Jackson and Bezshan Dolatabadi. The campaign kicks off Sept. 28 at Regions Field with an event introducing this year’s group of men. Hill said nobody loses when it comes to raising money for breast cancer research, but she does hope to see a little friendly competition spark among the men to raise the most money and awareness. ❖

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Thursday, September 21, 2017 • 11

Photo courtesy American Cancer Society

LIFE

From left, Ingram, Bayard and Norman Tynes.

Three Brothers Don Pink to Support Their Sister By Sarah Kuper

‘Once you are affected by it, you wake up and realize how prevalent it is. We’ve just got to find a way to make it less prevalent.’ NORMAN TYNES

Cary Wahlheim was able to win her battle against breast cancer with the support of doctors, procedures and her three big brothers. Norman, Bayard and Ingram Tynes are all participants in this year’s Real Men Wear Pink campaign. “Cary is the fourth child with three older brothers,” Norman Tynes said, “We all flocked to her. We are a closeknit family.” According to Tynes, Wahlheim’s cancer was caught early enough that after a radical procedure, she hasn’t needed further treatment. But he knows this isn’t always the case and he wants to help change that. “Once you are affected by it, you wake up and realize how prevalent it is,” he said, “We’ve just got to find a way to make it less prevalent.” That’s why, along with his brothers, Tynes will don a little bit of pink every day in October.

“We’ve been buying up pink stuff and T-shirts. We are really trying to spread the word by talking with friends, family and colleagues,” he said. Tynes wants to raise as much money as he can for the American Cancer Society, an organization he trusts and admires. “Their persistence and high profile in our community with galas and the golf tournament is impressive,” he said, “They are great at explaining how the money is spent and I think they appoint the dollars appropriately toward beating the disease.” The Real Men Wear Pink campaign is directed at engaging men in the breast cancer fight, but Tynes is invested in fighting many types of cancer, cancers other relatives have battled such as prostate and ovarian cancer. While he said he isn’t one to work just for a trophy, Tynes said he plans to have fun raising money and looks forward to some friendly competition. ❖

Now in its third year, the Real Men Wear Pink campaign challenges participants to wear an article of pink clothing every day in October and raise money while doing it.

Fresh from the pumpkin patch!

Selection of colors, design, and materials (including MacKenzie-Childs).

Make time for your mammogram. 2017 MAMMOTHON

Photos courtesy American Cancer Society

Sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day for your busy schedule. But the last thing that should be neglected is your health. According to the National Cancer Institute, one in eight women will develop breast cancer, and mammograms are the most effective form of early detection. Make time for your mammogram today.

Mel Wilcox

Del Davis

Brookwood Baptist Medical Center

Walker Baptist Medical Center

Citizens Baptist Medical Center

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Princeton Baptist Medical Center Shelby Baptist Diagnostic Center

MORE REAL MEN WEARING PINK CONTINUES ON PAGE 12

Diagnostic Center - Hoover CALL 833-214-6659 TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT

Visit BrookwoodBaptistHealth.com/MyMammo or call 833-214-6659 for appointments at any of our facilities.

12 • Thursday, September 21, 2017

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

LIFE

THE FACE OF A

CURE

The Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders is committed to finding

By Sarah Kuper

Art Tipton is the CEO of Southern Research, a worldrenowned center for drug development based in downtown Birmingham. He said he is involved in the Real Men Wear Pink campaign because he thinks about cancer every single day. “Every day when I walk in, I think about what our research is doing to further treatments and cure rates,” he said. Southern Research has been working toward beating cancer since the 1940s. The lab has discovered seven anticancer drugs and developed many more. According to Tipton, at least half of cancer drugs on the market today have passed through Southern Research on their way to approval for use in patients. The cancer fight is personal to Tipton not only because it is part of his life’s work, but also because he, like many, has been touched by cancer. “My father had prostate cancer and my wife’s sister had breast cancer. It turns your life upside down,” he said. Part of Tipton’s goal is to raise awareness about the disease but also to share good news about the research happening now. He said cancer research is more collaborative than it has ever been. “None of us work in isolation. We have a close relationship with UAB and many organizations around the world,” he said, “It is so unimportant where you live now, everyone can collaborate electronically no matter where they are.” Tipton said he is looking forward to spreading awareness about breast cancer by stepping outside of the lab and outside of his comfort zone to wear as much pink as he can. “My family sent me a pair of pink high-top Converse

Photo courtesy American Cancer Society

ChildrensAL.org/committedtoacure

Southern Research Exec Takes the Fight Outside the Lab

‘Every day when I walk in, I think about what our research is doing to further treatments and cure rates.’ ART TIPTON

sneakers and my wife is having a fun time with pink wigs, pink shoelaces,” he said, “Part of her thing is to embarrass me for a good cause.” Even though the wardrobe palette may be an adjustment for Tipton, he said he already has started to engage people in the discussion about breast cancer. He is even channeling his hobbies into the cause. “When I’m not working I have hobbies like woodworking, and I’ve started making pink cuff links to hand out,” Tipton said. While Tipton said he draws the line at wearing bright pink pants, he does have a little edge over the other men. He lives in the Hollywood section of Homewood – in a pink house. ❖

a cure for Matthew and the more than 1,500 children who come to us for care each year. As a founding member of the Children’s Oncology Group,* Children’s of Alabama and UAB combine research and innovative therapies to help save the lives of children down the street and around the world. Although the cancer cure rate has risen from 50 to 84 percent and strokes in patients with sickle cell disease have decreased by 90 percent, we are actively working

Bobby Collier

Jason Bajalieh

toward a CURE for young adults like Matthew. Eric Baumann and Joe Pilleteri

Will Haver

*The Children’s Oncology group is a clinical - translational trials organization with more than 9,000 experts worldwide dedicated to finding better cures and improving the outcomes for all children with cancer.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

LIFE

The Real Men Wear Pink campaign kicks off Sept. 28 at Regions Field with an event introducing this year’s group of men.

Thomas Dudney

Thursday, September 21, 2017 • 13

Time to Get Your Pink On

Go Pink! T-Shirt Sale

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama will be selling t-shirts in the North Pavilion Atrium of UAB Hospital on Fri., Sept. 29 from 7:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Shirts are $15 for short-sleeved styles and $20 for long-sleeved styles. All proceeds benefit BCRFA and will go towards funding research and saving lives in the state of Alabama. For more information, visit bcrfa.org.

Race for the Cure

Susan G. Komen of North Central Alabama will host Birmingham’s Race for the Cure 5k run/walk Sat., Oct. 7, at Regions Field beginning registration at 7 a.m. and a survivor parade at 8 a.m. There will be a 9 a.m. 5k chip-timed runner start, a 9:10 a.m. 5k run/walk start and a 9:45 a.m. one-mile walk. A celebration and awards ceremony will follow. For more information, visit komenncalabama.org. ❖

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Tammie

SOCIAL

14 • Thursday, September 21, 2017

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

MAMBO WITH THE MACAWS Journal photos by Jordan Wald

Guests Party Island-Style at Annual ZooGala

Jeffrey Weinacher and Ann Bradley Siniard.

he Birmingham Zoo drew in a crowd Sept. 15 for its annual ZooGala, in the Junior League of Birmingham Hugh Kaul Children’s Zoo. This year’s theme was Mambo with the Macaws with Caribbeanstyle decor filling the event area. Festivities included food by Kathy G and Company, live music by Atlanta Steel Pan and Island Music Trio and The Main Attraction. Guests also could interact with zoo

Entertainment included a performance by The Main Attraction.

From left, Jimmy and Jennifer Ard and Kathie and Stewart Welch.

Sarah Silverstein, Allison Erwin, Marc Harton, Jenna and Cameron Haynes.

Dr. Bill Foster and Jean Cecil.

animals the staff walked around with during the event. The occasion featured a necklace giveaway from Empire Diamond Corp. and a silent auction of items

such as fine dining packages, artwork and vacations. Donations also were collected to help zoos and aquariums that were affected by hurricanes Harvey and

Dusty and April Maner and Amanda and Todd Benfield.

Irma. Coordinating the affair were chairs Kelly Aland, Myla Calhoun and Britt Redden. Jennifer Ard served as the ZooGala adviser.

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Honorary chairs were Kelly and Lee Styslinger III. Proceeds from the gala will benefit the Birmingham Zoo’s animal care and educational programs. ❖

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Thursday, September 21, 2017 • 15

SOCIAL

ZOOGALA

Above, Robert Aland and Dr. Bill Foster. Below, Phil and Karen Carroll.

Above, Lindsey and John Lacey. Below, Mike and Jodi Jackson.

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16 • Thursday, September 21, 2017

SOCIAL

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Anthony Butler and R2D2.

Childcare Resources Hosts Family-Friendly Fairytale Fundraiser There was a little something for everyone at the junior board of Childcare Resources’ annual Fairy Tale Ball, held Aug. 26 at the Birmingham Marriott Grandview. Guests were treated to dance music, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, a candy bar, fairy tale characters, costumed stilt walkers, magicians, jugglers and other entertainers suited for guests of all ages. Some of the heavy hitting items available for guests to bid on in a silent auction included a trip to Puerto Rico, a four-park pass to Walt Disney World, four-day passes to Universal Studios in Orlando and baseline box seats for the Birmingham Barons. The event was co-chaired by board member Jason Bryant and junior board member Heidi Ramey. A partnering agency of United Way of Central Alabama, Childcare Resources provides children with quality care and education. ❖

Come as you are. You’ll ﬁt right in.

Journal photos by Jordan Wald

Life’s a Dream

From left, Jill and Leah Richter, Camille and Jamie Baxley.

Dr. Jennifer Doobrow, a stormtrooper and Dr. Laura Stafman.

Myra Shaw and Joan Wright.

SUNDAYS AT 8:15 & 10:45 AM

Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church 5080 Cahaba Valley Trace Birmingham, AL 35242

#wheregraceabounds Childcare Resources board members, Shon Thurman, Michael Walker, Keith Johnson and Chris Holmes.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Thursday, September 21, 2017 • 17

Photo special to the Journal

SOCIAL

Becca Griffith, Elizabeth Burns and William Pitts.

Art of Hope

Dana Roberts and Katie Hardekopf.

health awareness. It was coordinated by junior board member Katie Hardekopf and included a program in which board member Dana Roberts shared her personal story.

AFSP Alabama Hosts a Night of Art and Mental Health Awareness Avondale Brewing Company was transformed into an art gallery Sept. 12 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Art of Hope event. The event, sponsored by the Alabama chapter’s junior board, also served as an outreach event for the organization to promote mental

In addition to a gallery of artwork submitted by members of the community, the evening included heavy hors d’oeuvres and live music. ❖

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or changes to 824-1246.

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SOCIAL

Journal photos by Jordan Wald

18 • Thursday, September 21, 2017

From left, Leah Taylor, Mackin Thompson, Katherine Miller and Jamie Justice.

Vestavia’s Premiere Green Home Community Viridian offers all the charm of a vintage neighborhood with the latest energy-efficient green homebuilding technologies. These authentic, one-of-a-kind homes are tucked in the woods in a unique gated community off Tyler Road, with prices starting in the $600s. Two lush parks and an abundance of green space provide privacy and a sense of history for this significant property.

Boy of Steel

Steel City Soiree Raises Funds for Pediatric Cancer The American Cancer Society of Birmingham’s inaugural Steel City Soiree, held Aug. 25 at Old Car Heaven, raised more than $40,600 to support the fight to find a cure for pediatric cancers. Festivities for the evening included free wine, a signature cocktail by Tito’s Vodka and food provided by local Birmingham restaurants. Music for the evening was provided by Teenage Daddy Band. Big-ticket items in a silent auction included vacations to Antigua, Barbados and Panama, wine packages, artwork and home decor. Each year, the event will recognize a man, woman, girl or boy. This year’s Boy of Steel was Walker Simmons, a local pediatric cancer patient. Local young professionals served as ambassadors, raising funds and promoting the event. Ambassadors included Brooke Rodgers, Lisa Sharp, Emory Anthony, Bob Mathews, Mackin Thompson, Jerri Haslem, Stephanie Rayborn, Hunter Williams, Charles Gordon, Hillary Campbell, Jason Paine, Caitlin Grimes and Jamie Justice.❖ Jimmy Taylor and Lisa Sharp.

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Thursday, September 21, 2017 • 19

Journal photos by Jordan Wald

SOCIAL

From left, Nancy Echols, Miller Piggot, Valerie Boyd and Vance Holder.

LIGHT THE NIGHT

ACA Hosts Annual Glow-in-the-Dark Golf Tournament The weather was cool and clear the evening of Sept. 5 for Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama’s annual Glow for a Cure golf tournament. Festivities began with the first nine holes of golf, followed by a barbecue dinner and silent auction. The last nine holes were played after sunset with glow-in-the-dark

golf balls and lighted cart paths. Proceeds from the event will benefit the organization’s mission to support research, patients and families affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia. The event was held at Highland Park Golf Course and was hosted by ACA’s junior board. ❖

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SOCIAL & WEDDINGS

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Rehab Reality...

Fall Back

Meelheim-Heath

From left: Ed Robinson, Dr. Gary Edwards, Bee Robinson, Nikki Crawford, Fitzgerald Washington and Steve Crawford.

Sips and Strokes

United Ability Hosts Annual Junior Board Wine-Focused Fundraiser Attendees of the junior board for United Ability’s annual Vino and Van Gogh fundraiser arrived at Bridgestreet Gallery on Aug. 24 for an evening of sips and strokes. The evening was coordinated by event chairs Sara Beth Wilcox and Rebecca Hargraves, along with help and support from their fellow junior board members. More than 325 guests enjoyed the festivities including a silent auction, wine tastings, caricature portraits, hors d’oeuvres, music by the Michael Battito Band and a wine pull, in which guests donated $20 to select a concealed bottle of wine. A live auction offered guests the opportunity to snag special items such as artwork created by participants in the organization’s adult day program and Hand in Hand Early Learning Program, a one-of-a-kind piece created during the evening by local artist Sarah Soule Webb, an SEC championship ticket package and a selection of fine wines from a local collector’s cellar. ❖

Journal photos by Jordan Wald

By:Julie Martin Butler Fall is in the air and as we prepare to reset our smart phones, apple watches, alarms and microwaves back an hour, it’s important to acknowledge the reason for Daylight Savings Time and the meaning behind it. Whether it is “falling back” or “springing forward”, daylight savings is generally about saving light and time. Unfortunately, in the life and struggles of anyone facing addiction and/or their loved ones, there is little light, if any, and certainly no room for falling back. In terms according to the dictionary, a “fallback” has been defined as “an alternative plan that may be used in an emergency”, “a reduction or decrease”, and/or a “regression” or “backup.” There is no time saved with anyone struggling with addiction if they continuously fall back and choose not to move forward. At Bayshore Retreat, our goal is to provide the tools and prepare each individual for living and maintaining a sober and better lifestyle. Learning to live with oneself and embrace life with new passions only happens with a positive outlook ahead versus a painful look in the past or “fall back. “ We say learn from the past and lest you repeat it. We also focus on the Exit Plan. For some this might be where they will live, work, school or whatever the change needs to be that will help them go forward and not “fall back” into toxic relationships and behavior. If you or someone you love is in destructive behavior give us a call we might be able to help. Bayshore is different from other rehabs and this can make a difference.

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Meredith Taylor Meelheim and Jonathan Edward Heath were married May 6 at Canterbury United Methodist Church. The ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Drew Clayton. A reception followed at Avon Theater. The bride is the daughter of Mrs. Paula Meelheim Carter of Mountain Brook and the late Mr. Richard Allen Meelheim. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Barbara Taylor and the late Mr. Paul W. Taylor of Birmingham and the late Mr. and Mrs. Richard Y. Meelheim of Beaufort, North Carolina. Mrs. Heath is a graduate of the University of Alabama, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She is employed with Infirmary Health System of Mobile. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald William Heath of Hoover. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jackie T. Pry of Chatom and the late Mr. and Mrs. Joe W. Heath of Birmingham. Mr. Heath is a graduate of Hoover High School and is employed by the Alabama Forestry Commission. The bride was given in marriage by her brother, Richard P. Meelheim. Alesha Mariah Love was the maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Emma Claire Mullinax; Emily Michelle Hanson; Virginia Ruth Nix; Sara Katherine Bonner; Meredith Anne Cohen; Leanne Kimberly Heath, sister of the groom; and Julia Marie Erwin. Addison Lynn, Emerson Lane and Anderson Riley Heath, cousins of the groom, were the flower girls. Chance Elliott Beachum served as best man. Groomsmen were William Andrew Heath, brother of the groom; John Brandon Preston; Matthew David Vizcaino; Stephen Daniel Heath, cousin of the groom; Richard Paul Meelheim, brother of the bride; Jacob Coleman Brown; and Travis Daniel Gipson. Andrew Stanton and Charles William Heath, nephews of the groom, were the ring bearers. Following a honeymoon trip to St. Lucia, the couple reside in Jackson.

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

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Thursday, September 21, 2017 • 21

ANTIQUES AT THE GARDENS

Old and New, Side-by-Side

Antiques at The Gardens Returns for 12th Year With Favorites and Fresh Events

Amanda Nisbet is this year’s featured speaker for the Antiques at The Gardens Red Diamond Lecture Series.

Southern at Heart

Designer Amanda Nisbet Expects to Feel Right at Home in Birmingham

By Donna Cornelius

manda Nisbet will be making her first visit to Birmingham next month to speak at Antiques at The Gardens. But the nationally known designer, whose business is based in New York, doesn’t expect to feel like a stranger in a strange land. “I am so excited,” said Nisbet, who is this year’s featured speaker for the event’s Red Diamond Lecture Series. “Even though I’ve never been to Birmingham or Alabama, there are so many people I know who grew up there or have a history with Birmingham.” Those who attend her Oct. 6 lecture will learn about her design process – and likely be entertained by her lighthearted sense of humor. “I lived in New York for 25 years but always gravitated to Southerners,” she said. “I guess you could say I’m a Southerner – from south Canada.” Nisbet is from Montreal but spent some of her growing-up years in the South. “I went to boarding school in Virginia at the Madeira School in INSIDE

3THE ART OF DESIGN Katherine Bramlett Combines Youthful Perspective and Traditional Taste. PAGE 24

WHAT’S HAPPENING WHEN Antiques at The Gardens Schedule. PAGE 22

ninth through 12th grades,” she said. “I made so many friends, and ever since that experience, I’ve loved the South. I must have been a Southerner in a past life.” She said her son and daughter grew up in New York but went to the University of Virginia. She recently moved to Richmond, Virginia, and opened a new office in Charleston, South Carolina. “The South keeps circling back in my life,” she said. After boarding school, Nisbet headed north again – this time to Vermont’s Middlebury College, where she studied art history. “I just liked it – I guess I thought I’d work in a museum or at an art house,” she said. “I worked at Christie’s Auction House, and that was a great experience. It’s like I was living in a rotating museum, and it was a great launch pad. I’d studied painting and sculpture but serendipitously learned about furniture while I was there. I was unconsciously filtering all that into my future career.” Nisbet had another early career interest. “I was ready for Hollywood, but Hollywood wasn’t ready for me,” she said, laughing. Although her dream of becoming a star in the acting world didn’t materialize, she’s made a name for herself in the design world.

Handed Down Through the Family

“My family had an interest in design and dabbled in it, but not professionally,” she said. “I was brought up in beautiful homes. My mother and grandmother had great taste, and I absorbed some of that by osmosis. “When I was living in New York, my friends would say, ‘I love what you’ve done with your apartment.’ I thought, ‘I quite like this!’ So I hung out my shingle. I read and really taught myself.” She opened Amanda Nisbet Design in 1998. “For better or worse, I’m one of those people who takes a leap and See NISBET, page 26

Fine antiques remain in style year after year – and so does a much-anticipated event at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Antiques at The Gardens, now in its 12th year, again will bring dealers, lecturers and design experts to the show and sale, set this year for Oct. 5-8. But to keep things lively, it’s added some new elements. The Red Diamond Lecture Series, always a highlight of the event, features interior designer Amanda Nisbet. Also scheduled to share their stories and ideas are architect Bobby McAlpine, an Alabama native based in New York; Paloma Contreras, a Houston interior designer; and Bryce Vann Brock and Kelly Revel, owners of Vine Garden Market on St. Simons Island, Georgia. Tastemakers – Taste in Spades presarchitects, interior ents: Designing Women designers and landfeaturing Vine Garden scape designers – have Market, Charlotte proved to be popular Lucas, Liz Caroll and Paloma additions to the event. (above) Contreras. They’ll curate themed areas with goods chosen from Birmingham and across the country. This year’s Tastemakers are architects Corbett Scott and Chad Graci, textile designer Mary Catherine Folmar, John Wilson from Golightly Landscape Architecture, Katherine Bramlett from Katherine Bramlett Design, Ashley Gilbreath from Ashley Gilbreath Interior Design, and floral designers Jay Draper and Mark Thompson. Showgoers can learn more from these design experts at a new event. Meet the Tastemakers, which includes lunch, will be at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 6. Southern Sunday also debuts on Oct. 8 at Antiques at The Gardens. It includes a chat with Atlanta-based designer Beth Webb and Birmingham architect Jeffrey Dungan at 11:30 a.m. and a conversation with architects Chris Tippett and McAlpine at 1 p.m. Dealers who will bring furniture, porcelain, fine art, silver, garden accessories and jewelry to the show include Antique Cupboard, Artifacts, Bedford on the Square, Beverly McNeil Gallery, Black Sheep Antiques, Blackwell Botanicals, Caroline Faison Antiques, Dana Kelly Oriental Rugs, Edwin C. Skinner Antiques, Embellish Antiques, George Getlik Fine Art, D.R. Grissom Collection Estate and Fine Jewelry, Gum Tree Farm Design, Hedgerow Antiques, Lolo French Antiques et More, McDonough Fine Art, Pryor Fine Art, Sherwood Antiques, Somerset Antiques, Thomas M. Fortner Antiques and Whitehall Antiques. Taste in Spades returns with six events, including a panel discussion and lunch. See ANTIQUES, page 26

Photo courtesy Birmingham Botanical Gardens

By Donna Cornelius

22 • Thursday, September 21, 2017

HOME

Antiques at The Gardens: What’s Happening When

Thursday, Oct. 5

Friday, Oct. 6

10:30 a.m.: Tastebuds featuring Rebecca Vizard, Kinsey Marable and Elizabeth Adams. Tickets are $30 and include lunch. 7-11 p.m.: Gala in The Gardens, a black-tie preview of the show with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and music by Rhythm Nation. Tickets are $175 per person and include readmission to the show.

10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Public show. 10:30 a.m.: Red Diamond Lecture Series featuring interior designer Amanda Nisbet. Tickets are $40. Nisbet will sign copies of her book, “Dazzling Design,” at the Richard Keith Langham reception after the lecture. 12:30 p.m.: Meet the Tastemakers. Tickets are $30 and include lunch.

Saturday, Oct. 7 9 a.m.: Shop the Show with Paloma Contreras. Tickets are limited. 10 a.m.-5 p.m: Public show. Taste in Spades events: 10 a.m.: Vine Garden Market. Free with general admission. 11:30 a.m.: “Designing Women,” a panel discussion featuring Vine Garden Market, Charlotte Lucas, Liz Carroll and

Paloma Contreras. Moderated by Karen Carroll of Flower magazine. Tickets are $35 and include lunch and show admission. 1 p.m.: Charlotte Lucas and Liz Carroll, “Southern Sophistication.” A sip-andshop pop-up shop will follow. Free with general admission. 2 p.m.: Paloma Contreras, “A Modern Take on Traditional Style.” Free with general admission. 3 p.m.: Barbara Westbrook, “The Art of Gracious Living.” A book signing follows. Free with general admission.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Paloma Contreras

Sunday, Oct. 8 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.: Public show.

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While some Antiques at The Gardens events are individually priced, general admission to the public show is $15. To buy tickets or for more information, visit bbgardens. org/antiques or call 414-3950. You also can follow the event on Facebook and Twitter. Birmingham Botanical Gardens is at 2612 Lane Park Road in Birmingham. ❖

Barbara Westbrook Photos courtesy Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Southern Sunday events: 11:30 a.m.: Chat with Beth Webb and Jeffrey Dungan. A book signing by Webb follows. Free with general admission. 1 p.m.: Conversation with Bobby McAlpine and Chris Tippett. A book signing by McAlpine follows. Free with general admission.

Bobby McAlpine

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Thursday, September 21, 2017 • 23

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

HOME

The Art of Design

Katherine Bramlett Combines Youthful Perspective and Traditional Taste

ESTABLISHED 1967

By Donna Cornelius

ike many young Birmingham professionals, Katherine Bramlett leads a lively existence. The 26-year-old recently opened her own interior design business, Katherine Bramlett Design, in Mountain Brook Village. She runs for exercise and competes in halfmarathons. She grew up riding horses – and still loves riding. The Mountain Brook High School and Vanderbilt University graduate attends Redeemer Community Church in Avondale. And she’s an artist, too. But when it comes to design, Bramlett said she leans more toward the traditional than the trendy. “I’m trying to find the balance between the grandmother that I think I am and the 26-year-old that I actually am,” she said with a smile. Bramlett will share her creative talents at Antiques at The Gardens, set for Oct. 5-8 at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. She’s one of this year’s Tastemakers – architects, interior designers and landscape designers who curate themed areas for showgoers to see. “I’ve always been interested in homes and architecture,” Bramlett said. “I’ve drawn and painted my whole life. At Vandy, I took a bunch of studio art classes. That cemented my passion for art.” She said she thought about studying architecture. “But I love how relational and personal interior design is,” she said. “You get to be around people; it’s cool (to) interact with them.” Bramlett did internships in college, and after graduating she returned to Birmingham in 2013 to start her first “real job” with Marjorie Johnston & Co. “It was hard to leave Nashville,” she said. “But it was wonderful to work for someone who had had such a long career and was an established person. Marjorie was so gracious and treated me more like family than like an employ-

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Katherine Bramlett will share her creative talents at Antiques at The Gardens, set for Oct. 5-8 at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. She’s one of this year’s Tastemakers.

Photo courtesy Katherine Bramlett

Celebrating 50 Years

ee. That experience shaped so much of how I understand business, client relations and design. I learned so much.” She opened Katherine Bramlett Design at 2839 Culver Road in Mountain Brook in December 2016. “It’s been such a gift,” she said. “I have wonderful clients here and in places like Nashville and North Carolina.

TROON HAMLET

Cotton The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 205-824-1246 mber

r AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for the September 21, 2017 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

make sure all information is correct, including address and phone number! Please initial and fax back within 24 hours.

If we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

Thank you for your prompt attention.

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I’ve done lake houses, too.”

Design Mediator

Bramlett said her projects are pretty evenly divided between new construction and renovations. “I like to come into a project early on and work with the architect, if there is one,” she said. “The interior designer is a mediator. She has a grasp on how the client lives but understands the language of the architect and builder. With that team, function and beauty can come together.” She said she most enjoys projects “when you get a sense of who your clients are and how they live.” Her favorite rooms to design are kitchens; she said she likes the juxtaposition of design elements like color and fabric with hardscapes like cabinets and countertops. “Kitchens are where people gather. And also, I love to cook,” she said. She said her mother, Laurie Bramlett, has always had an eye for design, and her father, Dr. Kennie Bramlett, is an artist as well as a physician. “I’m the oldest of five children,” the young designer said. “Coming from such a big family, home and family have always been important.” Her background means she’s not bothered by designing rooms for other large clans. “When it’s a crazy hockey team of people that I’m working with, it’s fine,” she said. “My family had that constant energy, too.” Bramlett said she still paints but not as much as she did at one time. “I do shows and sell my work,”

Thursday, September 21, 2017 • 25

HOME she said. “I’ve had a show in Nashville and two shows here in Birmingham.” She sells through two online sources, an art collective called Well & Wonder and another company, Serena & Lily. “It’s very simple for me – I just send them a photo of my work,” Bramlett said. “I do mostly acrylic – a little oil. I do abstracts, but they’re

‘I’m the oldest of five children. Coming from such a big family, home and family have always been important.’ KATHERINE BRAMLETT

often inspired by landscapes.” This isn’t her first experience with Antiques at The Gardens. “Marjorie and I worked with designer Cyndy Cantley when Cyndy was a Tastemaker in 2015,” she said. “We helped her style a kitchen. And last year, I was on the committee for the event’s Friday night party.” Bramlett said she welcomed the opportunity to help support the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. “I grew up going to The Gardens, and my family are members there,” she said. Bramlett said her own Tastemaker exhibit this year will be a “fresh take on fall.”

“The anchor of the space will be a sofa that I designed with Grant Trick of Design Industry Workroom,” she said. “We’re so lucky to have him in Birmingham. He builds furniture and upholsters. I’m also using a Moroccan rug from Paige Albright Orientals.” A favorite fabric she’ll show in her space comes from Classic Cloth. “I tell people that you’ve got to start with something you love,” she said. “Here, it was the fabric. It has birds and vines, and it’s in blush tones. I’m not really a ‘pink person,’ but this is a color that’s clean and crisp. I pulled colors from it to build the rest of the space.” She said she’s excited about the art she’s chosen for the display. She’s using her own work plus one of Emily Morgan Brown’s pieces. “She does florals – long, tapestrylike pieces,” Bramlett said. The space’s back wall will be draped with linen from Rollins Drapery Services. “The room reflects my style – it’s a mix of old and new,” she said. Bramlett said she’s happy to be living and working in her home city. “There’s such a strong design network in Birmingham, so many creative people,” she said. “There’s an emphasis on home design here that you don’t see in other places and so much energy here. It’s very refreshing and makes you want to reinvest yourself in the city.” For more information about the designer, visit katherinebramlett.com or follow her on social media @katherinebramlett. ❖

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Please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone number!

Please initial and fax back within 24 hours.

If we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

Thank you for your prompt attention.

26 • Thursday, September 21, 2017

Longtime BBG supporters Dr. Tommy Amason and his wife, Yates Amason, are the show honorees and will be recognized at Gala in the Gardens, a black-tie preview party on Oct. 5. This year’s Antiques at The Gardens chairmen are Joy Grenier and Kathleen Roth. Richard Keith Langham is the show ambassador.

Ulterior Motives

Antiques at The Gardens provides lots of opportunities to learn – and not just through the events at

WE LIVE HERE. WE WORK HERE. WE PLAY HERE.

the show. It supports educational programs hosted by Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens and since 2006 has raised more than $3 million for The Gardens. More than 10,000 schoolchildren annually participate in the BBG’s free science curriculum-based field trips. Last year, USA Today named Birmingham Botanical Gardens one of the top three free attractions in the United States. It’s open daily and attracts more than 350,000 visi-

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Photo courtesy Birmingham Botanical Gardens

From page 21

The event’s advisory board includes chairman Emily Bowron, Jeanie Sherlock, Maggie Brooke, Elizabeth Broughton, Ragan Cain, Cameron Crowe, Katie Baker Lasker, Cathy Luckie, Tricia Noble, Kim Rogers, Margot Shaw and Leah McKinney Taylor.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Journal file photo by Lee Walls Jr.

ANTIQUES,

HOME

Longtime BBG supporters Dr. Tommy Amason and his wife, Yates Amason, are the show honorees and will be recognized at Gala in the Gardens, a black-tie preview party on Oct. 5.

tors each year. While some Antiques at The Gardens events are individually priced, general admission to the public show is $15. To buy tickets

NISBET, From page 21

hopes the parachute will open,” she said. “It behooved me not to know all the things that could happen.” Since taking that leap, Nisbet has become known for her lively balance of colors, patterns and textures. Her projects have been featured in highprofile publications including Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Coastal Living, New York Spaces, Oprah at Home, Traditional Home, Veranda, The New York Times, Town & Country and the Washington Post. She’s created beautiful spaces not only in the United States and North America, but in Europe, too. “Every city all over the world has its own work pace – its own way to go about things, different working hours, rules and language,” she said. “In New York, you have to decide if everything can fit in the elevator and not just in the living room.” Nisbet emphasizes function as well as form. “For many of us, our parents had a beautiful room that you weren’t allowed in, with pretty things that you couldn’t touch or sit on,” she said. “My children were young at the time I opened my design business, so my mandate was making things comfortable, elegant and livable for a family. Some rooms look great in photographs – but they aren’t practical for everyday living.” At the same time, she’s not fond of rooms that are rendered unattractive by having too much emphasis on making them child-proof. “I think, what’s wrong with bringing your children up with manners?” she said. “That’s something Canadians and Southerners have in common – we have manners, but we have fun, too.” Nisbet said that, although she

or for more information, visit bbgardens.org/antiques or call 414-3950. You also can follow the event on Facebook and Twitter. Birmingham Botanical Gardens is at 2612 Lane Park Road in Birmingham. ❖ enjoys getting to know her clients, that’s not always possible. “I just did a job for someone I’ve never met – and I’d never seen the space,” she said. “I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years and know what to look for and what questions to ask. I prefer to meet people, though.”

Full Plate

In addition to her design business, Nisbet also has lighting and textile lines. That means she has a demanding schedule. “Sometimes it’s too much, but I’m an empty nester and like to stay busy so I’m not stalking my children,” she said. Nisbet is an author, too. Her first book, “Dazzling Design,” was published in 2012. “I thought my style was pretty normal, but I had agents who said my style was very different,” Nisbet said. “They said I was daring, and I thought, ‘I am?’ But writing the book helped me analyze and think about my creative process and to formulate my process. I enjoyed sharing that and hope to do other books. It was fun to do.” Nisbet’s Antiques at The Gardens lecture is at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 6. Tickets are $40 and are available at bbgardens.org. “I’ll talk about my process and how I got here,” she said. “I’ll have a slide presentation and answer questions.” After the lecture, she’ll sign copies of her book. “I’m lucky to be included in this event,” she said. “I do this kind of thing about four times a year. I guess it’s the frustrated actress in me that loves it.” For more information about the designer, visit amandanisbetdesign. com or follow her on Facebook and Twitter. ❖

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

By Emily Williams Over half of a decade, two things have remained constant in the world of King Cotton Fabrics: family and fabrics. When Bill Haas had the opportunity to buy an established fabric store in Tuscaloosa, he knew nothing about the fabric industry. But he knew whom to turn to for advice: his wife, Janet. “I remember, right after he bought the business, he came home and said, ‘Tell me everything you know about fabrics,’” Janet Haas said. At that point in time, it was commonplace for women to know how to sew, and Janet had been sewing all of her life. “People did a lot of sewing back then, for back-to-school clothes and such,” she said. Because she spent time making most of the clothes for her family, she knew the industry from the consumer’s point of view, and the two formed a partnership. Bill had more of a hand in the company because Janet had her hands full with two young children, Kym, who was about three years old, and Nina, who was still an infant then. “I would help him buy fabrics and I did the bookkeeping until the accountant fired me,” she laughed. What began as a single store with hundreds of fabric options has grown to include multiple locations – in Birmingham, Montgomery and online – with thousands of options.

Changing With the Times

The King Cotton Fabrics of yesteryear was equipped with mostly bolts of fabrics for making clothes – imported laces, hand-beaded designs, polyester double-knits and Swiss batiste cotton.

Merrill Lynch’s O’Neal Recognized by Forbes

Camper O’Neal, wealth management advisor and managing director with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Birmingham, was recently named to Forbes’ inaugural “America’s Top Next Generation Wealth Advisors” list. Camper O’Neal O’Neal was ranked first in Alabama, and 17th in the United States. The list, developed by Shook Research, acknowledges the industry’s future leaders who were born in 1980 or later. He is part of the O’Neal-Collier Wealth Management Group, where he provides investment consulting services to families and individuals, foundations and endowments, corporations and retirement plans. A Mountain Brook native, O’Neal

BUSINESS Sewn Through Time

King Cotton Fabrics Celebrates 50 Years of Family Business ‘We hope one of our grandchildren will take over. We have six, so there is a chance that at least one of them will carry it on ... This store has been a bright spot in the community and it has certainly been a bright spot in our lives, so it would mean the world to us to see it continue.’ JANET HAAS

A cultural shift began in the 60s and early 70s. As women entered the workforce, the market for fabrics for clothing declined. About the same time, Janet said, there was a growing opportunity to buy more imported fabrics. The Haas’ took advantage of the availability and stocked a wider selection of home decorating fabrics, evolving with the market shift. Once her children were at a more independent age, Janet was ready to work, and Bill left much of the business in her control. Throughout the years, the whole family has remained invested in King Cotton. Her two daughters grew up working at the store and still help out today. One does the buying for the

store and the other helps manage the website. Janet said she never envisioned the store would become such an integral part of her life and her family’s life. “It’s mostly that I just didn’t think about it,” she said. “I just love what I do.” Janet said Bill always had a vision that the company would see a 50th anniversary, so she has focused on enjoying the day-to-day. “To me, it’s not like work,” she said. What she loves most about the business is the people, customers and staff alike. She enjoys the sense of community that comes with owning a small business. A number of those who enter the store are people she has

known for years, if not since her school days. In addition to a warehouse staff, Janet takes great pride in the team of women who provide design assistance to customers. They know practically every fabric available and help with projects as small as making new throw pillows to re-decorating entire houses. There is one downside to the fabric business, Janet notes, and that is the constant desire to change the decor in her own home. “It’s terrible because I always want to change something,” she said. “I’ll see the new fabrics come in each season and want to completely redo my whole house.” One of the ways she combats the

joined Merrill Lynch in 2005, after graduating from Auburn University. His father, Bert C. O’Neal, has worked at Merrill Lynch for nearly 40 years. Camper is married with three children and serves on the board of directors for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama, a nonprofit his mother co-founded in 1995.

kind in the United States, according to the release. “UAB leadership is committed at the highest level to provide our physicians, residents, fellows and trainees the same type of world-class care they provide for the citizens of Alabama and beyond every day,” said UAB President Ray L. Watts. He said the money would let the school recruit an expert in physician wellness to establish interventions to manage stress and burnout among doctors. ProAssurance Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stan Starnes said: “Physicians have always been subject to high levels of stress from a variety of factors, such as society’s expectations for successful outcomes, the threat of litigation, and the effects of their professional obligations on the quality of their lives, and their family’s lives. As medicine evolves to address the changing dynamic of health care in America, we must find ways to address these pressures.” Starnes said ProAssurance also expects to give UAB $500,000 to fund initiatives supporting physician wellness.

Additionally, the company plans to give a financial gift to the UAB School of Nursing to enhance the future of nursing care in Alabama, according to the release. “Nurses are a crucial part of the care delivery team in our state, and their role will become increasingly important as our health care delivery systems expand to meet the demands that will come with the exponential growth of an aging population,” Starnes said.

UAB Establishes Physician Wellness Research Program With Aid of ProAssurance

UAB recently established the ProAssurance Endowed Chair for Physician Wellness, using a $1.5 million donation from ProAssurance Corporation. In addition to establishing the chair, the gift will support a team to research health issues that are unique to physicians as they deal with the stress and pressures of caring for their patients, according to a press release from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. This is the first academic chair of its

PNC Gives $25,000 in Grants to PreSchool Partners

PNC Bank has awarded PreSchool Partners $25,000 in grants to help expand early learning programs for families in Birmingham. The funding includes a $10,000 PNC grant to provide 180 preschoolers and parents with access to computer training, arts and music activities, field trips and other enrichment programs. For the 201718 school year, PreSchool Partners is expanding by 15 percent to serve 180

Thursday, September 21, 2017 • 27

redecorating bug is by doing something small, like changing out the pillows on her sofa. A big trend she is seeing in home decor is the shift from neutral fabrics to bolder options. “We’re seeing a lot of bright and bold prints,” she said. “People are getting tired of neutrals. They may still have a neutral couch, but they’ll use pops of color to accessorize.” She added that interesting textures are becoming more common. “Velvet is very in right now,” she said. “I also see silks becoming more popular. They were big about 10, 15 years ago. Everything old is new again.”

Another Generation?

Even after 50 years, Janet doesn’t foresee retiring any time soon. But that doesn’t keep her from planning for it. “We hope one of our grandchildren will take over,” she said. “We have six, so there is a chance that at least one of them will carry it on.” Though one grandchild already has graduated college and moved on to another profession, the Haas’ have three grandkids still in college and two in high school. Janet has plenty of time to help one of them find a passion for the family business. “This store has been a bright spot in the community and it has certainly been a bright spot in our lives, so it would mean the world to us to see it continue,” she said. While keeping an eye on the future, the Haas’ have planned to host a celebration of the past 50 years at King Cotton Fabrics’ Green Springs location in the coming weeks. For more information, visit kingcottonfabrics.com. ❖ people, including 90 children and 90 parents. The nonprofit also is receiving $15,000 to support the second annual Wig & Stache Bash, a fundraiser scheduled for Oct. 12 at the Florentine. The event will feature silent and live auctions, live music, cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Guests are invited to wear wigs, mustaches and other disguises. All proceeds will benefit PreSchool Partners. PreSchool Partners provides a two-generation approach, educating children and parents enrolled in its programs. Children receive more than 1,000 hours of instruction during the school year; parents receive more than 60 hours. “Quality early childhood education is crucial to a child’s future success in school. PNC’s funding will make a significant difference to the families we serve,” said Lella Hamiter, PreSchool Partners executive director. For more information about the Wig & Stache Bash and to buy tickets, visit preschool-partners.org/events. Tickets are $75. ❖

28 • Thursday, September 21, 2017

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

SCHOOLS

On Sept. 13, 16,000 students were named semifinalists in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Corp. competition, which awards approximately 7,500 scholarships each year. The list included a number of Over the Mountain students, each recognized as being among the highest-scoring students out of the 1.6 million high school juniors who took the 2017 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Semifinalists will now move through the last stages of the competition, with finalists to be announced in early 2018.

Over the Mountain semifinalists include:

ALTAMONT: Matthew Hamrick and Isabel Coleman.

Photo courtesy Hoover High School

Photo courtesy Homewood High School

The Altamont School: Isabel Coleman and Matthew Hamrick.

Jones, Ellie Lipp, Ann Douglas Lott, John Pankey, Hamp Sisson and Jack Smith T. Oak Mountain High School: Lawson Brown, Alyssa Gruman, Emery Little, Gabriel McPherson, Joshua Myers, Joseph Pendry and Cole Sullivan. Spain Park High School: Reece Eberhardt, Corrie James, William Lamb, Elijah McKinley, Woody Shin, Ryan Smith, Jennifer Spell, Madison Todd, Katharine Turnball and Katherine Voorhees. Vestavia Hills High School: Richard Fu, Nelson Mills, Robert Smith, Joshua Gray, Jacob Reiber, Macy McClurg, Yihan Zhong, Ginger Llivina, Sarah Zhao, Sidhvi Reddy, Chandler Clemmons, and Nicolas Aldana. Westminster School at Oak Mountain: Rachel Faulk. (photo unavailable). ❖

Alabama School of Fine Arts: Joshua Holland and Kaylee Orr. (photo unavailable). Briarwood Christian School: Nicholas Castellanos, Bryant Long, Grave Mulvaney and Meghan Talley. (photo unavailable). Homewood High School: Samuel Bates, Hunter Callaway, Colin Clifton, Robert Gaddis, Janes Langford, Francis Massie, Hrithik Praveen and Samuel Wingo. Hoover High School: Sidney Biswal, Robert Blanton, Conor Flannelly, Rishik Hombal, Andy Kong, Areebah Nur and Emily Su. Indian Springs School: Henry Goff, Kenneth Jiao, Emilie Jones, Amy Li, Peter Scalise, Lily St. John and Danielle Wu. (photo unavailable). Mountain Brook High School: Jonah Allen, Cars Chandler, Anne Clayton Cole, Henry Evans, Will Forbus, Britton Johnson, Haskins

Photo courtesy Altamont School

OTM Students Named National Merit Semifinalists

HOOVER: Front, from left: Emily Su, Areebah Nur and Sydney Biswal. Back: Rishik Hombal, Andy Kong, Austin Blanton and Conor Flannelly.

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

Photo courtesy Mountain Brook High School

HOMEWOOD: Front, from left: Hunter Callaway, Stanford Massie, Jane Ann Langford and Harrison Wingo. Back: Colin Clifton, Robert Gaddis, Samuel Bates and Hrithik Praveen.

MOUNTAIN BROOK: Front, from left: Ellie Lipp, Ann Douglas Lott, Jack Smith T, Anne Clayton Cole and John Pankey. Middle: Haskins Jones, Jonah Allen and Cars Chandler. Back: Will Forbus, Britton Johnson, Henry Evans and Hamp Sisson.

Photo courtesy Spain Park High School

Photo courtesy Vestavia Hills High School

OAK MOUNTAIN: From left: Lawson Brown, Cole Sullivan, Gabriel McPherson, Emery Little, Joshua Myers, Adam Pendry and Alyssa Gruman

SPAIN PARK: From left: Katherine Turnbull, Katherine Voorhees, Elijah McKinley, Reece Eberhardt, Woody Shin, Ryan Smith, William Lamb, Madison Todd and Jennifer Spell.

VESTAVIA HILLS: Front, from left: Macy McClurg, Yihan Zhong, Ginger Llivina, Sarah Zhao, Sidhvi Reddy, Chandler Clemmons and Nicolas Aldana. Back: Richard Fu, Nelson Mills, Robert Smith, Joshua Gray and Jacob Reiber.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Thursday, September 21, 2017 • 29

SCHOOLS

With sunny skies paving the way for a beautiful day, what is expected to be a record-breaking number of attendees made their way to Mountain Brook’s Crestline Village for the annual Taste of Mountain Brook Sept. 17. The event featured food tastings and beverages donated by local restaurants and served as a fundraiser for All in Mountain Brook. The organization is a communitybased anti-drug coalition that works closely with the city’s schools and the local government in an effort to educate students and parents on the dangers of substance abuse, underage drinking, emotional and behavioral problems and the preventable accidents that these issues cause. ❖

Journal photos by Jordan Wald

Taste of Mountain Brook Draws Crowds to Support All In

Raleigh and Ellen Miles.

From left: Lucie Christian, Stewart Anne Murdock, Lowery Thompson, Helen Carson and Elizabeth Kinsaul.

Carter Brown and Kate Brown.

Mary Eleanor and Lizzie Thrasher.

Carlee Lewis, Kelsey Alvis, Ginger Hopper, Cathy Duggan and Miriam Morris.

Michael, Emma Rose, Olive, Harper Mae and Molly Fierman.

Above and below, enjoying the day.

Keeping it classy! CUSTOM MONOGRAMS, ILLUSTRATIONS, PAPER GOODS AND MORE

205.870.1097

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30 • Thursday, September 21, 2017

SPORTS

Victim of His Own Success

Journal photo by Marvin Gentry

By Rubin E. Grant

Chase Brown

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Bucs’ Chase Brown Looking for More Action

Senior cornerback Chase Brown hasn’t been missing in action for the Hoover Bucs this season. It’s just that little action has come his way. That’s what happens when you gain a reputation for being a topnotch pass defender. “Now I know exactly how Will Singleton felt,” Brown said, referring to his former secondary mate. “That’s the life of a lock-down corner.” Through the defending Class 7A champion Bucs’ first three games, Brown had an interception, three pass break-ups and only eight tackles, as offenses shied away from his coverage area. Last year as a junior, Brown got picked on a little more because he was a first-year starter, joining seniors Singleton, Ben Abercrombie and Jayden Jordan in the secondary. Singleton, Abercrombie and Jordan are all playing at the next level this fall, at North Alabama, Harvard and Sacred Heart, respectively. “Chase was thrown into the fire last year and had a lot to learn,” Hoover head coach Josh Niblett said. “The older players took him under their wings and helped him out. This

year, he has the most experience of the guys coming back, so he’s having to be a leader.” Hoover secondary coach Durrell Fuqua likes having the 6-foot-1, 160pound Brown around to show the Bucs’ inexperienced defensive backs the ropes.

‘When I went out there (Air Force Academy) to visit, the coaches treated me like one of their own and I knew they would be there for me. I knew from the start that’s where I was going to go when they offered me.’ “His experience means a lot,” Fuqua said. “He helps with the coverages, especially getting the younger guys lined up right and getting them in position to make plays.” Brown embraces his leadership role. “Last year, I enjoyed playing with guys with great potential who took me in and showed me the way,” Brown said. “What they did for me I am now doing for the younger guys on the

A LIFETIME OF FOOTBALL Patriots’ Wilkins Racking Up Tackles and Making an Impression

Whenever Homewood senior strong safety Kris Wilkins steps on the football field this fall, he craves two things: accomplishing a win and making a good impression. So far he’s getting both. The Patriots opened the season with four consecutive wins, beating Pelham 29-22, Vestavia Hills 6-0, Parker 20-14 and JacksonOlin 28-6. The victory over Vestavia Hills snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Rebels. Wilkins had a hand in each of the Patriots’ first three victories, racking up a team-leading 31 tackles, including 21 solo. He also scooped up a fumble and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown against Pelham. “I had a solid year as a junior, but I worked really hard in the offseason because I want to

‘He plays safety like a linebacker. He’s a very good tackler and every time I look up he’s around the ball.’ HOMEWOOD COACH BEN BERGUSON

get recognized by colleges,” Wilkins said. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Wilkins has not received any scholarship offers, but he dearly wants to play at the next level. “I’ve been playing football since I was 4

years old,” he said. “I couldn’t imagine my life without football.” Homewood coach Ben Berguson hopes recruiters take note of Wilkins, even in the shadow of senior cornerback C.D. Daniels, who has committed to Memphis. “When we played Spain Park in our spring game, (Jaguars coach) Shawn Rainey said the most impressive player on our team was Kris,” Berguson said. “We played him at cornerback and safety last year, but we’re just playing him at safety this year. “He plays safety like a linebacker. He’s a very good tackler and every time I look up he’s around the ball. He’s a student of the game and he’s all about football. I hope he catches somebody’s eye and gets a chance at the next level.”

Since He Was Knee-High to a …

Wilkins became interested in football as a toddler, when he would sit with his dad and watch games on TV. “We have funny pictures of me sitting with my bottle and watching football,” he said with a laugh. He and his older brother Alazae HesterTaylor would roll up socks and put them underneath their shirts, pretending they were shoulder pads. “I remember that,” said John Wilkins, Kris’ dad and Hester-Taylor’s stepdad. “It was on a Sunday night and the next day I went out to East Lake Park and signed Alazae up for football. Kris was only 2 at the time, so he had to wait a few years before he could start

playing.” Hester-Taylor went on to become a track star at Homewood and after competing as a sprinter and hurdler the past two years at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas, he has transferred to Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Wilkins also competes in track for the Patriots, not only as a sprinter, but also as a shot putter and discus thrower, despite his seemingly small build for those events. “I made state in the discus, so that’s not bad for a guy my size,” he said. But football is clearly his first love. And that shows whenever he zeroes in on a ball carrier. “That’s the way the game plan is,” Wilkins said. “When our linebackers come off the edge, I try to come up and make the tackle.” Wilkins is still awaiting his first interception. In fact, the Patriots didn’t have a pick in their first three games. “I had one that ticked off my fingertips against Parker,” Wilkins said. “I’ll get one soon.” And he’ll probably do something impressive with it. ❖

BARKER, From page 32

Journal photo byLee Walls Jr.

By Rubin E. Grant

team. I love being the leader of the defense along with (defensive tackle) Khamari Brown,” (no relation). Chase Brown is more than just a leader. He’s a difference-maker. “I have watched him since he was in the second or third grade,” Niblett said. “He’s not the biggest guy out there, but he understands the game and he’s a ball hawk. He understands how to make plays. He made a lot plays last year and I expect him to do that again this year.” Brown believes it’s just a matter of time before the action on his side of the field picks up. “I’m a team player,” he said. “I just have to keep playing for the team and the time will come for me to make plays. HS Scoreboard” Like his former secondary teammates, Brown will play at the next level. He has committed to Air Force. “When I went out there to visit, the coaches treated me like one of their own and I knew they would be there for me,” Brown said. “It wasn’t a hard decision. I knew from the start that’s where I was going to go when they offered me.” Niblett expects Brown to be an impact player at Air Force. “I think it will be a great fit for him,” Niblett said. “He’s a very conscientious young man, an unbelievable competitor and he works hard.” ❖

Homewood senior strong safety Kris Wilkins scooped up a fumble and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown in the Patriots’ week one win over Pelham.

schedule is grueling, but Barker believes that fierce competition is what makes his team better each week. And he believes that returning to the state championship is an attainable goal. The Jaguars lost to James Clemons in 2015. “That was a really good team that we played in Hoover,” he said. “We made mistakes that we wish we could have back, but we’ll learn from that and get better. And as long as we continue to get better week in and week out, I think we have a good shot to do what we want to do.” ❖

Spartans Headed to Compete Against Runners from Around the Country intrigued by the idea of having a team competing that is from that far away.” After all, the girls team had won 13 consecutive state championships leading into last season; 23 overall. The boys’ team has 13 state championships of its own. The name on the jersey has some cache. Last year, the girls team was blocked from the state championship by Huntsville. The boys also came in second, trailing only Auburn in the championship. The teams have competed in national meets in Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Arizona, Fayetteville, Dallas, Orlando and Stillwater. Each trip allows the runners a chance to tour local universities and compete against different teams. “These trips are always so valuable because it is a great opportunity

Mountain Brook’s cross-country teams will travel to Portland, Oregon, on Sept. 30 to compete in the Nike Portland XC Invite. A trip to a faraway meet has become a tradition over the past two decades, with the team rotating years flying and bussing. This time they’ll be in a field of about 60 teams at one of the premier events in the country. “Mountain Brook cross country was great long before I got here and it’ll be great long after I leave,” said coach Michael McGovern. “When I call a place like that, most of the time, they’ve heard of us and they’re

to bond, tour colleges and have a lot of fun together,” said junior Anna Balzli. “Another reason we are so grateful for this opportunity is because this is one of the few chances the team has to compete against fresh faces, and running at what is also used as the nationals course is going to be an incredibly humbling and eyeopening experience.” In Portland, the runners will trek to Hayward Field, which will host the NCAA Track and Field National Championship in 2017, and they’ll tour the University of Oregon in Eugene. Balzli was the girls top finisher at the Spartans’ meet at Chickasaw Trails in Oakville earlier this month, placing ninth out of 250 runners in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 19:20.08.

The boys’ top returner from 2016, Hunter Harwell, also a junior, posted the best finish in that meet. Harwell’s 16:11.74 was enough for a 10th-place finish out of 315 runners in the 5,000meter run. For the meet, the girls finished second among 35 schools, scoring 96 points. The boys finished fifth out of 46 schools, scoring 189 points. The first meet of 2017 was canceled because of Hurricane Harvey. They’ll continue tuning up in Alabama with meets in Scottsboro and Tuscaloosa before the big trip. Afterward, the Hoover Invitational and Sectionals take place Oct. 19 and Nov. 2, respectively, at Spain Park High School. The season is young, but Balzli and her teammates are focused on returning the Spartans to the top. “One of the biggest goals of our team is to reclaim the state championship title and stay close together during races, providing support to one another,” said Balzli. ❖

FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

From page 32

Oak Mountain’s Garrison Frisch is unable to keep Vestavia running back William Schaffeld out of the end zone. The Rebels scored on their first possession after a Jonathan Hess interception and return put Vestavia deep in Eagle territiory. It would be all the scoring the Rebels needed in the region contest to capture the team’s first win on the season. Briarwood Christian 34, Wenonah 0 Homewood 28, Jackson-Olin 6 Hoover 27, Spain Park 24 Parker 24, John Carroll Catholic 17 Thompson 40, Mountain Brook 13

Journal photo by Lee Walls Jr.

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE

Look for coverage of Spain Park vs Mountain Brook at otmjsports.com.

SCHOOL SPIRIT

Mountain Brook High School Cheerleaders

Journal photo by Marvin Gentry

First row, from left: Mary Alison Turner, Lucy Smith, Elly Curtis, Caroline Dickens and Maggie Mills Rose. Second row: Betsy Edwards, Brice England, Lillian Perkins, Elise Druhot, Britt Ware, Anna Rose Alexander, Mallie Bradford and Julia Baddley. Third row: Molly Simpson, Isabelle Quiggle, Emilie Brown, Vale Lightfoot, Catherine Haas and Hadley Rosenthal.

Photo special to the Journal

Anna Balzli was the girls top finisher at the Spartans’ meet at Chickasaw Trails in Oakville earlier this month, placing ninth out of 250 runners in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 19:20.08.

VESTAVIA,

Vestavia Hills 7, Oak Mountain 0

BRIARWOOD at Fairfield Helena at HOMEWOOD (HC) Tusc. Co. at HOOVER (HC) JOHN CARROLL at Jackson-Olin SPAIN PARK at MOUNTAIN BROOK VESTAVIA at Huffman (Thurs.)

Journal file photo

West Coast-Bound

By Blake Ells

Thursday, September 21, 2017 • 31

SPORTS

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Members of the Mountain Brook High School Dorians dance team, above, perform at halftime of the Gulf Shores game on Aug. 25. More photos at otmjsports.com.

of the Year by the Alabama Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She’s now tasked with reimplementing her style of play from scratch. “It’s still taking time,” she said. “But the sky is the limit for this team. They have a great work ethic and they believe in each other. We have to take everything one day at a time and keep chipping away. We can’t look too far ahead and we have to focus on what’s right in front of us.” Senior Anna Langley and juniors Mary Quinn Carter and Hannah Vines are returning starters who lead this year’s team, a group that has its sights set on ambitious goals that Burgess believes to be attainable. It’s a young group that is filling the shoes of eight seniors who led the Rebels to the super regional last season. They’ve spent much of the young season traveling to tournaments outside of the area. That included a trip to Siegel High School in Tennessee for the B2B tournament, in which the girls finished 3-2. Among the competition at that tournament were teams from Kentucky, Georgia and Tennessee. “There (were) a couple of Alabama teams,” she said. “But we’re going there so we don’t see the same competition. Our competition here is very good. It’s nice to see some different teams and come into our own. It’s nice to get away from what’s familiar and it helps us grow as a team.” They began area play with a win over Tuscaloosa County on Sept.14. They’ll continue diving deeper into area competition as September rolls into October, and they’ll compete in the Over the Mountain Invitational on Sept. 29-30. “These girls are very unique,” she said. “And they make coming to work fun. It’s the kids that bring you back every time, and if you never leave, it’s the kids that keep you in it.” ❖

Patriots’ Wilkins Racking Up Tackles and Making an Impression PAGE 30 Spartans Headed West to Compete Against Runners from Around the Country PAGE 31

SPORTS

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017

7 UP

Braxton Barker rolled up some big numbers in Friday nights game against cross-town rival Hoover. The senior was 22-of-34 for 298 yards with two touchdowns. The Bucs rallied late to win 27-24. For more game photos, go to otmjsports.com.

Spain Park’s Braxton Barker Follows in His Father’s Footsteps By Blake Ells

Journal photo by Lee Walls Jr.

Hoover needed some late heroics to survive their cross-town rival on Sept. 15. They got it in the form of a play with 1:18 left on the clock. Quarterback Jalen Parker connected with Shedrick Jackson on a 25-yard touchdown to capture a victory over No. 6 Spain Park. Despite coming up short in the 24-27 game, Jaguars’ quarterback Braxton Barker rolled up big numbers. The senior was 22-of-34 for 298 yards with two touchdowns. One of those was a 70-yard connection with Jalen McMillan.

Vestavia Hills Senior Anna Langley (2) is one of three returning starters who lead this year’s team.

‘That was a really good team that we played in Hoover. We made mistakes that we wish we could have back, but we’ll learn from that and get better. And as long as we continue to get better week in and week out, I think we have a good shot to do what we want to do.’

BACK FOR MORE Volleyball Coach Returns to Re-Establish Her Legacy

By Blake Ells

SPAIN PARK QUARTERBACK BRAXTON BARKER

Journal photo by Marvin Gentry

“Our receivers played really good,” Barker said. “I threw a lot of short passes and they did all of the work after the catch. With the athletes that we have on the outside, I can throw a lot of screens and hitches and out-routes and they’ll get 5-10 yards after the catch every time.” That group is led by four reliable targets in seniors McMillan and Jo Jo Dennis and juniors Kenyon Hines and MJ Rogers. “They’ve been really good,” he said. “They have made some big plays and made me look really good. They all have speed and they can all go up and get it when they need to.” Barker is 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds. He wears number 7 like his father, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame member Jay Barker, who captured a national championship at the University of Alabama in 1992. As he looks toward his future beyond graduation, he knows that he wants football to be part

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Mandy Burgess returned to Vestavia Hills for Award-winning photography her second stint as the head coach of the girls for last saleyear. at otmjsports.com volleyball team She led the team from 1999 to 2012 before LeetoWalls Jr. hanging up her whistle focus on her family.Marvin When Gentry the position opened Mark back up Almond in 2016, she couldn’t fight off the itch to return.Bryan Bunch “The opportunity came back up and I was otmjsports.com approached,” she said. “There were a lot of family talks. Coaching is in you. Coaching is one of those professions and one of those careers that you have a passion for it and a love for it. And when you’re away from it, you miss it.” During her first stint as head coach, she led the Rebels to a state championship appearance, five final fours, eight area championships and a regional championship in 2003. The year that she “retired,” she was awarded Alabama Coach

of it. And walking on at Alabama to follow in his dad’s footsteps is an option. “I have a Birmingham-Southern offer,” he said. “And I’ve talked to Samford and Middle Tennessee State a little bit.” Following his father’s path was natural. He quarterbacked his first team at 6 years old, and the position is all he has ever known. It was never something that Jay led Braxton to, and the former

offers guidance only when the latter asks for it. “Most of the time he tries to just let me do my own thing,” Braxton said. “But sometimes, I’ll ask him about different things. Whenever I do, he’s there and he helps me out.” They’ll head to Mountain Brook on Friday for another area contest. Often called the SEC of Alabama high school football, the 7A Region 3 See BARKER, page 30

See VESTAVIA, page 31

GET THE PICTURE Award-winning photography for sale at otmjsports.com Lee Walls Jr. Marvin Gentry Mark Almond Bryan Bunch otmjsports.com