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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
SOCIAL
Showing Its Age –
Beautifully BBG’s Antiques at The Gardens Celebrates Its 15th Anniversary By Donna Cornelius
See CELEBRATION, page 18
Photo and image courtesy Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens
L
ike the fine antiques it showcases, one of Birmingham’s most anticipated autumn events seems to just get better with age. From Sept. 30 to Oct. 3, the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens will Antiques celebrate the 15th anniversary of at the Gardens Antiques at The Gardens, which offers ear s 15 y antiques for sale and talks by high-profile interior and floral designers, acclaimed architects and landscape gurus. The show typically draws visitors from all over Alabama and across the Southeast. Beginning in 2006, dedicated volunteer committees came up with a fun and inviting show structure: a kickoff gala, ticketed talks by noteworthy design influencers, and plenty of antiques dealers from around the country. Special guests over the years have included renowned Southern gardener Ryan Gainey, American designer Miles Redd, lifestyle chef Alex Hitz, architect Bobby McAlpine, the “Prince of Chintz” Mario Buatta, notable decorator Bunny Williams and lifestyle icon Martha Stewart. This year’s guest lineup features Southern favorites Charlotte Moss, Mark D. Sikes, James Farmer and Richard Keith Langham and some nationally recognized newcomers to the show: Christopher Spitzmiller, Suzanne Tucker, Cathy Kincaid, Corey
Fernando Wong
Landscape Legend I
By Donna Cornelius
Fernando Wong Is One of This Year’s Design Stars at Antiques at The Gardens
f a TV show is ever made about landscape designer Fernando Wong, it might be called “Miami Nice.” Since Wong transplanted himself from Panama in Central America to the south Florida city more than 20 years ago, he has cultivated an impressive reputation
See LANDSCAPE LEGEND, page 18
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2 • Thursday, September 23, 2021
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
OPINION/CONTENTS
Inside
Murphy’s Law
I POWERFUL AND ESSENTIAL STORIES Red Mountain Theatre producing four shows in Human Rights New Works Festival PAGE 4
MADE IN ALABAMA Homewood businesses among statewide Retailers of the Year PAGE 8
UNITED WE STAND OTM cities come together to honor 20th anniversary of Sept. 11 terrorist attacks PAGE 10
‘GLORY TO GLORY’ Mountain Brook’s Reagan Riley is having fun being healthy and running cross-country PAGE 28
ABOUT TOWN 3 HOME 18 LIFE 6 SCHOOLS 24 NEWS 8 SPORTS 28 SOCIAL 12
otmj.com With everything that’s happening “Over the Mountain,” it can be difficult to keep up. That’s why we have launched the OTMJ newsletter. Published every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - we’ll give you a quick recap of the latest news, sports and social events as well as a heads up on upcoming events so you won’t miss any of the interesting and fun happenings in the Greater Birmingham metro area. To sign up for our newsletter, visit otmj.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, @overthemountainjournal, for daily updates on what’s going on around town, too.
Sounds Like Fun
saw a welcome mat the other day These noises are at least expected, that said, “Text when you get here. but I was awakened the other night by No need to ring the bell and get the a high-pitched beep. When my eyes dog involved.” fluttered open, it beeped again. I I hear ya, buddy, I hear ya. grabbed my robe and tried to tiptoe out My dog, Dave, is hypervigilant, to investigate, but Dave was at my always poised to alert me to danger, heels. real or imagined. Little beeps usually indicate a malI keep the TV on in the morning feasance reminder of some sort, not until the school bus goes by. Dave sees “Get out of the house immediately,” the school bus as some kind of assault just “You need to take care of this at vehicle and speaks up accordingly. He your earliest convenience.” There was has the same opinion of the FedEx and no convincing Dave we were not in Sue Murphy UPS drivers, and no matter how many imminent danger, so I (we) began padtimes I try to tell him that Ms. Annette, ding around the house trying to track our mail carrier, is a trusted friend, down the beep, which was compliMy dog, Dave, is he lurches at the window when she cated by the fact that every time the opens our mailbox. hypervigilant, always beep recurred, Dave set off barking Over time, Dave has come to and I could no longer hear where the poised to alert me overlook the whooshing of the sinbeep was coming from. to danger, real or gle serve coffee machine. When my Turns out it was the carbon monmicrowave sings its happy little “all oxide detector whose battery was imagined. done” song, Dave lets it pass, but I low, and I had to take the culprit only have 15 seconds to get the food down to the workbench and pry the out before it launches into the “Hey, batteries from their houses before it lady” mode that makes Dave nuts. would stop. To be fair, Dave has a lot to contend I was hoping that Dave and I could with. When my aging washing machine both go back to sleep, but to Dave, getreaches the spin cycle, it sounds like the ting up out of bed necessitates a trip “Anvil Chorus.” My geriatric dishwashoutside, and a post-sleep trip outside er chugs and whirs so loud that it indicates that it is morning, which drowns out the TV. My refrigerator means there are cookies! There was no makes a tone-deaf hum all day long and point in trying to talk him out of it, so I when the ice drops, it sounds as if it is started the coffee maker (whoosh), put dropping from the roof. my oatmeal in the microwave (ding) and settled in for a I’ve tried to modify the noises as much as possible 2 a.m. breakfast repast. so as not to get Dave stirred up. I turned off the “load I’m glad Dave is vigilant. It’s part of his charm, but finished” air horn on my dryer. The grandfather clock in it requires a bit of ongoing adjustment. My new hairdrythe entry is set to be silent at night, but that doesn’t er emits a different pitch than the old one, so for a while solve the problem of the air conditioning unit just outI will have to dry my hair with one hand and toss Dave side my bedroom window that strains and wheezes and cookies with the other. chugs and sighs when it can finally take a rest. Sounds like fun.
Over the Mountain Views Take Action
OVER THE MOUNTAIN
J O U R N A L September 23, 2021 Publisher & Editor: Maury Wald Copy Editor: Virginia Martin Features Writer: Donna Cornelius Staff Writers: Emily Williams-Robertshaw, Sam Prickett Photographer: Jordan Wald Sports: Rubin E. Grant Contributors: Susan Murphy, June Mathews, Emil Wald, Marvin Gentry, Lee Walls, Bryan Bunch Advertising Sales: Julie Trammell Edwards, Tommy Wald, Gail Kidd
When the sun sets during the month of September, Homewood City Hall lights up orange to raise awareness on food insecurity in Alabama. The lights are an effort to support the Community Food Bank and Central Alabama and Feeding America in the Hunger Action Month campaign. The campaign seeks to raise awareness and inspire community members to take action to support those who are food insecure. According to data from the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, hunger is an ever-present epidemic in Central Alabama that affects one in six adults and one in four children. Journal photo by Jordan Wald
Vol. 32, 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 2021 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
Through Oct. 3 Cahaba River Frydown
The Cahaba River society will host its annual catfish cooking competition virtually to raise funds for efforts to protect and restore the Cahaba River watershed. The event will culminate on Oct. 3 with a live-streamed Grand Finale from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. Website: frydown.com
Thurs., Sept. 23
Sat., Sept. 25 Head Over Teal 5K
The Laura Crandall Brown Foundation will host its annual Head Over Teal 5K and 10K in recognition of gynecological cancer awareness month. Races are pet-friendly and a fall-themed family fun festival will follow the run. Where: The Preserve Website: thinkoflaura.org/ headoverteal
Ride of Love 2021
Smile-A-Mile will host its annual cycling event in a virtual format to raise funds for the organization’s
ST. GEORGE MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD FESTIVAL SEPT. 23-25
mission to provide hope, healing and love for patients and families during the childhood cancer journey. Cyclists can ride at their own pace and choose their own distance. Website: smileamile.com/rideoflove
Sun., Sept. 26 Grateful Dads
The Homewood City Schools Foundation will host its annual concert fundraiser featuring music from bands with a local connection, including Thrine and The Kensingtons. When:
About Town continued on page 4
Photos courtesy
SEPT 23 - OCT 7
Thursday, September 23, 2021 • 3
ABOUT TOWN
The 39th annual food festival hosted by Saint George Melkite Catholic Church will feature a selection of Middle Eastern foods available for pick-up and delivery. Outdoor seating will be available as well as a drive-thru option and food can be ordered online. When: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Where: Sian George Melkite Catholic Church Website: saintgeorgeonline.org
Opera Shots
Opera Birmingham will host a happy hour concert in its parking lot featuring guest artists Savannah Bracewell, DeLee Benton, Dylan Hughes, Temperance Jones, Caitlyn Rodrigue and Emily Scott accompanied by Christy Vest on the piano. When: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Where: Opera Birmingham Website: operabirmingham.org
ARE BACK WE RELOCATED TO ! PREMO FACTORY
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Fri., Sept. 24 Bandaloop @ UAB Rec Center
Alys Stephens Centers 25th season begins with the return of a pioneer in aerial performance, Bandaloop. Bandaloop seamlessly weaves dynamic physicality, intricate choreography and climbing technology to turn the dance floor on its side. When: Noon. Where: Outdoor performance will take place on the exterior wall of the UAB Recreation Center. Guests are asked to register for this event in advance due to limited capacity. Website: alysstephens.org
Love Your Neighbor Concert
The Vestavia Hills High School Habitat for Humanity club will host a concert featuring student bands to celebrate the conclusion of the club’s annual Love Your Neighbor Week campaign. When: 5-8 p.m. Where: Wald Park Website: vhhshabitat.org/lynw
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Sanspointe Dance Company will present this original production inspired by the evolution of a “sense of community” during the pandemic. When: 6 p.m. Where: Children’s Fresh Air Farm Website: sanspointe. org
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Sept. 24-26 Human Rights New Works Festival
Red Mountain Theatre will host its annual festival featuring works that explore difficult topics and issues. Four new works presented this year include Memorial, True North, Survivors and Bar Mitzvah. Where: Red Mountain Theatre Website: redmountaintheatre.org
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4 • Thursday, September 23, 2021
ABOUT TOWN
Powerful and Essential Stories
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Red Mountain Theatre Producing Four Shows in Human Rights New Works Festival
Red Mountain Theatre will host its annual Human Rights New Works Festival Sept. 24-26, featuring performances of new works and conversations with audiences. Through the festival, Red Mountain Theatre is giving a platform to powerful and essential stories such as those of Holocaust survivors and victims of racial injustices in Jefferson County from the 1890s through the 1930s. “We are redoubling our commitment to promoting human rights advocacy through the ancient art of theatre,” Red Mountain Theatre Executive Director Keith Cromwell said in a statement. “These shows offer unique viewpoints on important topics, and we’re excited to share them with our community.” One of the original works commissioned by RMT is “Survivors,” inspired by the stories of local Holocaust survivors. It is the first play written by local resident Deborah R. Layman. Layman has become closely acquainted with survivors’ stories through her volunteer work for the past 12 years with the Birmingham Holocaust Education Center. A native New Yorker, Layman began writing when she was a child,
About Town from page 3
3-7 p.m. Where: Pizzeria GM Website: gratefuldads.instagift.com
Private Picnic in the Park
Symphony 30 will host a fundraiser for the Alabama Symphony Orchestra where patrons can order a picnic dinner, including two adult meals, two kids meals, Cookie Fix cookies, beverages, a kids craft and links to download ASO music. When: 4-6 p.m. Where: Birmingham Botanical Gardens Website: alabamasymphony.org/symphony-30
Fri., Oct. 1 Tails in the Trails
The Birmingham Zoo’s junior board will host its 11th annual fundraiser in the Hugh Kaul Plaza, featuring music by Nationwide Coverage, foodie favorites from local restaurants, beer, wine, specialty cocktails, a silent auction and more. When: 6:30 p.m.10 p.m. Where: Birmingham Zoo Website: birminghamzoo.com/event/ tails-2021
Sat., Oct. 2 Blessing of the Pets
John Carroll Catholic School will host its second annual pet blessing
Photos courtesy RMTC
By Emily Williams-Robertshaw
One of the original works commissioned by RMT is “Survivors,” inspired by the stories of local Holocaust survivors. It is the first play written by Deborah R. Layman.
“True North: A Magical New Holiday Musical,” by Holly Reed above, and Kelvin Reed, features a modern family during the holidays.
An Orthodox Jewish family from Brooklyn relocates to a small town just outside of Birmingham in “Bar Mitzvah in Birmingham,” by Ben Andron.
composing poetry and creating stories. After years spent in education, she developed her professional writing and editing skills in marketing communications and speech writing. According to a release, “Survivors is set in a racially diverse, contemporary high school classroom and explores the parallels between the past and the present, with Holocaust stories serving as object lessons about the consequences of hate. As the slippery slope of prejudice and intolerance is examined in the classroom,
we see the power of personal stories to bring understanding and change attitudes.” The festival schedule will include “Memorial” on Sept. 24 at 8 p.m., “True North” on Sept. 25 at 2 p.m., “Survivors” on Sept. 25 at 8 p.m. and “Bar Mitzvah in Birmingham” on Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. Commissioned by Red Mountain Theatre, “Memorial” is written by Alabamian Quinton Cockrell and is based on research provided by the Jefferson County Memorial Project.
The production will examine lynchings in Jefferson County from the 1890s through the 1930s. “Through spirit-stirring music and drama, this play commemorates the lives lost to senseless, racially motivated violence in a dark time in American history,” a release states. “True North: A Magical New Holiday Musical,” by Holly Reed and Kelvin Reed, features a modern family during the holidays. A widowed father is deployed on a secret mission weeks before Christmas, leaving
in memory of the late Megan Montgomery, a 2006 graduate of John Carroll. The event will also serve as part of the school’s recognition of St. Francis of Assisi Day. The blessing will take place in the school’s outdoor parking lot at the back of campus. When: 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Where: John Carroll Catholic School
Taste of Hoover
the performance will be approximately 45 minutes in length. Students enter for free and adult tickets are $10. When: 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Where: Avondale Ampitheater Website: operabirmingham.org
Bluff Park Art Show
The Bluff Park Art Association will host its 58th annual art show featuring local and regional artists showcasing a variety of mediums of work. When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Where: The Park at Shades Cliff Website: bluffparkartassociation.org
Oct. 2-3 BHM26.2
This annual event will include multiple courses including a 10K, 5K and one-mile fun run on Oct. 2 and a marathon, half-marathon on Oct. 3. All proceeds form the races will benefit Magic Moments and Children’s of Alabama. When: Oct. 2, 8 a.m.; and Oct. 3, 7 a.m. Where: Oct. 2, downtown Homewood; Oct. 3, Sloss Furnaces. Website: bhm262.com
Thurs., Oct. 7
The annual culinary event will feature tastings created by local Hoover restaurants, caterers and vendors as well as international spirits, wines and local beers. When: 5-8 p.m. Where: Aldridge Gardens Website: aldridgegardens.com
SAVE THE DATE Oct. 9-Feb. 6 The Lost Realms of The Moundbuilders
The Birmingham Museum of Art will open its newest exhibition, “Lost Realms of the Moundbuilders: Ancient Native Americans of the South and Midwest” (originally titled Spiro and the Art of the Mississippian World) organized by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. The exhibition will be on display in the Jemison Galleries through Feb. 6, 2022. Where: Birmingham Museum of Art Website: artsbma.org
Sat., Oct. 9 The Three Little Pigs
Opera Birmingham will host outdoor performances of this classic children’s tale come to life through the music of Mozart. Sung as written, in English,
Rescue Run 5K
The Jimmie Hale Mission will host its annual runs, including a 10K, 5K and one-mile fun run followed followed by a short awards presentations and Homewood restaurant and business specials. When: 7:45 a.m. Where: Downtown Homewood Website: jimmiehalemission.com
Sun., Oct. 10 Tailgate Challenge
The Bell Center for Early Intervention will host its annual fundraiser to celebrate the football season. The event will include tailgate food tastings created by various teams, along with live music, kid-friendly events and more. When: 1-4 p.m. Where: The Bell Center Website: thebellcenter.org
Mon., Oct. 11 Links Fore Scholars Tournament The Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce will host this annual golf
behind his two children. “With a wish, a letter and some unique seasonal help, the Patterson family discovers what just an ounce of belief can do,” a release states. “Told through the lens of a child on the spectrum, ‘True North’ is a magical and insightful story about being authentic, accepting change and holding an unwavering hope in the magic of Christmas.” An Orthodox Jewish family from Brooklyn relocates to a small town just outside of Birmingham in “Bar Mitzvah in Birmingham,” by Ben Andron. According to a release, “what begins as a comedic, fish-out-of-water story opens the door for an important dialogue about the evolution toward a ‘New South’ and the alleviation and persistence of systemic racism. It is through the bonds that form between cultures that the protagonists will transform this small town – and each other – from chaos to community, as an example for us all.” All shows are general admission seating and will be performed in the Discovery Theatre at the Red Mountain Theatre Arts Campus, at 1600 Third Ave. S in Birmingham. Tickets to individual shows are $10, and festival passes are $20. For more information, visit redmountaintheatre.org.
tournament fundraiser to benefit the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which annually awards four $4,000 scholarships to deserving Hoover students. When: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Where: Riverchase Country Club Website: business.hooverchamber. org
Wed., Oct. 13 Linly Heflin Fashion Show
The Linly Heflin Unit will host its 62nd Annual Scholarship Fashion Show, featuring fashions provided by Gus Mayer and highlighting featured designer Zang Toi. Funds raised will benefit the organization’s mission to provide scholarships to local women seeking higher education at Alabama universities. When: 5:30 p.m. Where: The Club Website: linlyheflin.org
Thurs., Oct. 14 Tacos for Trinity
Trinity Counseling’s annual fall fundraiser will include a silent auction, inspiring speakers and great food. Funds raised will account for a significant portion of the organization’s annual budget, supporting work to provide mental health services to the community. When: 6-8 p.m. Where: The Battery Website: tacosfortrinity.
Photos courtesy Elaine Lyda
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
It’s All Greek!
Three-Day, Open-Air Greek Food Festival Returns Oct. 14-16 Greek food, music and dancing along with a market place and car raffle will be part of the 48th Annual Greek Food Festival, set for Oct. 14-16. The three-day festival will be on the grounds of the Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. each day, with tours of the Byzantine church available throughout the day. The festival has been a community mainstay since 1972, offering a week-
end of Greek culture anchored in the food made by cooks from the church. Menu offerings include souvlakia, pastichio, Greek chicken, spanokopeta, dolmathes, veggie plates, Greek salad and gyros. There also will be a choice of homemade Greek pastries, including baklava, kourambethes, melomakarana, koulourakia, loukamathes and other confections. Greek dancers of all ages will be performing all three days in the openair festival, and The Greek Market Place will be selling Mediterranean and Orthodox Christian souvenirs. Outside tented seating will be available for dining. A Nissan Rogue donated by Serra Nissan will be the grand prize in the raffle. Raffle tickets will be $20 each or three for $50 and are available online at www.GreekFest21.com. The raffle will be drawn Oct. 16 at 9 p.m. at the festival. The second place prize will be $5,000 and third place will be $2,500. Food will be available at a drivethru each day from 10:30 a.m. until 7 p.m., and orders can be made online or in line. A portion of festival proceeds is donated to local and national charities each year, with more than $3 million donated to date. Free parking is available in the former Liberty National parking building a block away on Richard Arrington Boulevard between Third and Fourth avenues. For more information, visit bhamgreekfestival.com.
Colonial Christmas Lunch & Tour DECEMBER 6-10 13-17 $35 PER PERSON RESERVE YOUR AND
SEATS BY CALLING
(205) 665-3535 1031
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3727 HIGHWAY 119 • MONTEVALLO, AL 35115 • WWW.AMERICANVILLAGE.ORG
Opens Oct. 9, 2021
artsbma.org
EXHIBITION
Thursday, September 23, 2021 • 5
ABOUT TOWN
LOST REALMS OF
THE MOUNDBUILDERS ANCIENT NATIVE AMERICANS OF THE SOUTH AND MIDWEST Lost Realms of the Moundbuilders: Ancient Native Americans of the South and Midwest (originally titled Spiro and the Art of the Mississippian World) is organized by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. This exhibition is supported in part by the Henry Luce Foundation, the Kirkpatrick Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The local presentation is made possible by the Estate of Mr. Harris Saunders, Jr. and Jean Saunders. Additional support is provided by the Jefferson County Community Service Fund at the recommendation of Alabama Representative Jim Carns, HD 48.
Effigy pipe of seated male figure. Identified as Morning Star or the hero Red Horn. Le Flore County, Oklahoma, Spiro site, 1100 – 1200. Bauxite (flint clay). Photograph by John Lamberton. Image courtesy the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Fayetteville, University of Arkansas Museum. 47-2-1.
Birmingham Museum of Art Over the Mountain Journal ad - 12" x 6.5"
LIFE
6 • Thursday, September 23, 2021
Sing, Sing a Song
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
For three decades, members of the Hoover Songbirds have delivered a professional choral experience to mostly seniors in the greater Birmingham area. After a pandemic break from performing, the members of the Songbirds regrouped for a few concerts in May and early June, and October marks their return to a full season of performances and their expansion to new audiences. “It’s an extremely talented group,” said Songbirds Director Fred Ernst. “We are blessed to have 37 members. We’ve taken on nine new members for this season.” Some of the newbies will serve as alternates because of the limited space in many venues. Members of the choir range from 55 to 90 years of age and have varied backgrounds in music. “As far as I know, we are the premiere senior show choir in Birmingham that does what we do,” Ernst said. “Prior to COVID-19, we were giving 29 Wednesday concerts each season.” Performances are always at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays. The 2021-22 season will begin with a series of concerts Oct. 6 to Nov. 17. After a holiday break, the group resumes performances in February through May. “We sing everything in unison; however, because of the number of people in Songbirds who have an extensive music background, I say give me parts, give me harmony … the more the better,” Ernst said. “But there are just two requirements: you must sing on pitch and in the right key.” There is a dash of choreography in their performances and many costume changes. Members will swap out hats, scarves and other garments to suit the theme of whichever song they are singing.
This is Ernst’s fifth year directing the Songbirds. He has been singing for much of his life, beginning in junior high and high school, and has a background in piano. “Right out of high school, I spent 12 summers singing with the Cleveland Orchestra as part of their Pops chorus in the summer season, which, of course, was professional,” he said. After many years focused on his career as an anesthesiologist, he rediscovered his love of singing when he partly retired at the age of 56. “I ended up taking 10 years of voice and vocal coaching to perfect my technique, and I’m sure that’s why at (almost) 81, anyone allows me to sing out in public,” he laughed. “My harshest critics still say I’m OK, and I mean my wife and my daughter.” Much of his technique in conducting the Songbirds comes from his experiences working under the conductor during his orchestral chorus days. “I’m drawing on a lot of those 12 years, not only in conducting, but in putting programs together,” he said. When he took over as leader of the group, he made a conscious effort to create a shift from what he called “oldtimes” tunes to a comprehensive show choir performance with full-bodied repertoire. Concerts are roughly 60 to 70 minutes long and feature Broadway hits and pieces from the Great American Song Book. When compiling the season’s performances, Ernst is inspired by his fellow members – a cast of characters some of whom are seasoned performers. “Three of the four men in the group’s quartet are members of the Voices of the South,” Ernst said, also known as the Central Alabama chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Songbirds Director Fred Ernst, center, with two members of the choir, from left, Linda Campbell and Bettie Clark at a recent rehearsal.
“They’ll do a barber shop number.” Member Ginger Goodall is an opera-trained mezzo soprano who has performed throughout the Southeast. “(She) has sung all over the state with orchestras, mostly oratorios and some stage work,” Ernst said, including two productions of “South Pacific” as Bloody Mary. “I’d love to do a combination of the song ‘Bloody Mary’ and then have her go into ‘Bali Ha’i.’” His goal for the season is to recruit men and women who have a background in gospel music. “It adds another dimension to the show,” he said. “And there is nothing better than a good gospel song and singer.” Accompanying the group is Ray Reich, a world-renowned jazz pianist and Birmingham native. “How fortunate can we be to have somebody like that who has been music director for some of the biggest names in the music world as well as giving his command performance for Queen Elizabeth II in his younger years over in London,” Ernst said. “There are just a lot of opportunities with this group.” Before this year, Ernst said, the group focused on performing in retire-
ment communities and assisted living, as well as a few concerts for the mentally challenged. This year, they are stepping out. “The last Wednesday of October, we will branch out and will be singing at Temple Beth-El, which we are really excited about doing,” Ernst said. “Hopefully that will open some doors for other expanded outreach opportunities.”
Aldridge Gardens Installs Bust of Founder Eddie Aldridge
When visitors enter the grounds of Aldridge Gardens, they are now greeted by the likeness of its founder, Eddie Aldridge. On Aug. 29, a long-awaited project to install a bust of the late Aldridge Gardens founder near the entrance of the facility was finally realized. A ceremony was held for the unveiling of the sculpture, attended by members of the Aldridge family, city of Hoover government officials and community supporters. “Having the bronze bust of our founder, Eddie Aldridge, at the entrance to Hoover’s beautiful Aldridge Gardens is so appropriate,” Aldridge Gardens CEO Tynette Lynch said in a release. In 2002, twenty years after Aldridge acquired the property, Aldridge Gardens opened as the public garden Eddie and Kay envisioned. Roughly a year and a half before his death in 2018, family friend and member of the Aldridge Gardens advisory board Mark Davis took Aldridge to Tuscaloosa to meet with a sculptor, retired Col. Lee Busby, Journal photo by Jordan Wald
By Emily Williams-Robertshaw
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
Songbirds Set to Kick Off 30th Anniversary Season
When practice resumed earlier this month, he said, members of the group were chomping at the bit to return. Not only do they love singing, they love getting together for practices, which always end with some small bites of food and fellowship. “One of my goals was to make this a musical family where we are all looking out for each other,” Ernst said. With many members in their 80s and two in their 90s, he said, the group is a great support system for those members who may not have that same support from family. Ernst sees it create a sense of closeness, “and you sing better. It comes across the footlights to the audience. People can feel when you are having fun and when it’s genuine.” In turn, the audience reacts and feeds that back to the performers. “That’s the payback,” he said, “watching the faces of the people we sing to, especially those in assisted living or the mentally challenged. It’s the interactions we have with all of these people after a concert and the joy that you know you have brought them.” For more information, call the Hoover Senior Center at (205) 7396700.
about commissioning a life-size bronze statue of Aldridge to install on one of the benches in the gardens. But Aldridge declined the offer. A year after Aldridge’s death, Davis reached out to Kay Aldridge with an adjusted plan to commission the bust. She approved. The sculpture was funded by donations to the Alabama Fallen Warriors Project, an initiative created by Davis and Busby to create bronze busts of fallen military members in Alabama. Aldridge was a veteran of the U.S. Army. A bronze plaque featuring a biography of Aldridge installed beneath the bust was made possible by The Alabama Hydrangea Society through Karen Mitchell. The installation also includes pavers recognizing donors who have contributed to the project. “Aldridge Gardens is one of the area’s and the state’s most popular gardens, and we are so thankful Eddie and Kay had the vision to share it with the city,” Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato said.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
The adjusted plan includes dropping the requested height variance from an increase of 11.5 feet to 9.4 feet. In addition, the new plan features a pool that has been reduced in size by more than 15%. The presentation also included the submission of signed affidavits from the Mobleys addressing board members’ concerns. Some of the highlighted portions of the statements included assurance that the Mobleys would maintain the property as their private Journal file photo
Thursday, September 23, 2021 • 7
LIFE residence and would not rent it to the public as an event venue. In addition, trees and other vegetation on the side of the property along Roseland Drive will be maintained, with more trees planted so that the pool will not be visible from Roseland or Edgewood Boulevard. The debate over renovating the Pink House has been going on for almost three years. The city had approved a former property owner’s plan to demolish the house and build
five new houses on the property. Public outcry was quick and a plan to raise money to save the house was launched. But the situation was resolved when a private owner purchased the house. The Mobleys purchased the home in 2020. The house was built in 1921 by Georges and Eleanor Bridges, socialites and artists. For more historical facts about the Bridges and the Pink House, visit the Pink House Plans Facebook page.
Pink House Plans Approved By Emily Williams-Robertshaw The Homewood Board of Zoning Adjustments approved two variances needed for owners Clayton and Rachel Mobley to begin construction and restoration of the historical Pink House property. The exceptions allowed in the Sept. 2 meeting were a height variance for an addition to the home and pool variance. “We sincerely thank the BZA for their favorable decision tonight, as well as the citizens of Homewood for their kind support and solidarity which carried us through to this joyful outcome,” the Mobleys, who plan to live in the
house, said in a released statement. “We are so grateful to live in our wonderful community that cares about historic structures and listens to the will of the people. We eagerly look forward to getting started on our restoration efforts to preserve the extraordinary history of this property that is beloved by our family and this community.” Plans to restore the property and build an addition required the owners to obtain two variances, both of which were rejected by the board in June. The owners’ legal representative, Bob Fowlkes, presented an adjusted plan on Sept. 2 to the board as well as detailed explanations and answers to questions raised at the last meeting.
COMING SOON
A vibrant community that feels right for all the right reasons. The Crossings at Riverchase will introduce a new flavor of retirement living in Birmingham — one that emphasizes comfort, convenience with warm, friendly surroundings and a neighborly atmosphere. Offering all-day dining with multiple selections of chef-prepared, seasonal menu items; a full calendar of events and activities featuring live entertainment and guest speakers; and a loyalty benefit giving Independent Living residents a lower monthly cost for long-term, on-site health services if ever needed. Come see how this fresh, new community could fit you and your lifestyle.
The Crossings at Riverchase will open early 2022 in Hoover, off Highway 31 and just minutes from Birmingham with scenic nature views and easy access to The Galleria at Riverchase. Learn more at our newly-opened Information Center — and ask about our limited-time Ambassador Program for exclusive community updates and residency benefits! Call 205-210-8969 or visit TheCrossingsatRiverchase.com to schedule an appointment today.
Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care Information Center | The Plaza at Riverchase | 1839 Montgomery Highway | Hoover, AL 35244 cookmuseum.org
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NEWS
8 • Thursday, September 23, 2021
Made in Alabama
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Homewood Businesses Among Statewide Retailers of the Year
Homewood’s Alabama Goods, Emily’s Heirloom Pound Cakes and Ritch’s Pharmacy in Mountain Brook are among the 11 retail businesses recognized with Alabama Retail Association’s 2021 Alabama Retailers of the Year awards. Ten winners are selected each year by a panel of judges representing retail developers, chambers of commerce and former award winners, according to a statement. In addition, the public chooses the Customers’ Choice Award Retailer of the Year through an online contest. The ARA has been presenting the awards since 1999, although last year’s awards were canceled because of the pandemic. ARA officials have been traveling to each of the award-winning retail locations this month to present the awards. Alabama Goods and Emily’s Heirloom Pound Cakes have been presented awards, and an award presentation for Ritch’s Pharmacy will be held Sept. 27. (Look for story about Ritch’s Pharmacy in the Oct. 7 issue of Over the Mountain Journal.)
Made in Alabama
Alabama Goods was born online in 2007 when owners Sherry Hartley and Beth Staula began selling Alabama-crafted items as corporate gifts. While online and corporate sales continue, the business partners have since opened brick-and-mortar locations in Homewood and Huntsville. A
‘The team at Alabama Goods not only showcase the makers in our state but gives back to the community significantly.’ MEREDITH DRENNEN, HOMEWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
third location in Hoover is slated to open in 2022. “We are proud to carry products made in Alabama and are pleased that by selling these products, Alabama Goods has a positive impact on our state,” a written statement by Hartley and Staula stated. Alabama Goods sells pottery, jewelry, bath and body products, towels, leather goods, glassware, T-shirts, hats, books, gourmet food and other items individually and packaged in gift baskets. On Sept. 8, officials representing
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
By Emily Williams-Robertshaw
From left, Meredith Drennen, executive director of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce; Beth Staula and Sherry Hartley, owners, Alabama Goods; and Rick Brown, president of the Alabama Retail Association.
the ARA and the Homewood Chamber of Commerce gathered at Alabama Goods Homewood location to present the owners with the Alabama’s Gold Retailers of the Year award in the Annual Sales $1 Million to $5 Million category. “We share this honor with others who had a major part in us being selected – our incredible staff who give our customers a top-notch experience, our Alabama vendors who create the amazing products we sell; and our customers who appreciate unique products and believe in buying local,” the written statement said. In addition to Alabama Goods’ “strong mission for supporting our state and its artisans,” the Retailer of the Year judges lauded Alabama Goods for its success during the pandemic. Not only did the store increase its revenue, Hartley, Staula and their team opened a Huntsville location in July 2020 as well as revamping the Alabama Goods website and the point-of-sale system. In a letter of support for the business, Alabama Goods vendor Owens Cross Roads artist Lora McGowan said, “Alabama Goods takes emerging artists out of the ‘starving artist category’ to the ‘here I am, support me category.’” McGowan is also a parttime employee at the Huntsville location. Hartley and Staula were nominated for the award by Meredith Drennen, executive director of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce. “The team at Alabama Goods not only showcase the makers in our state but gives back to the community significantly,” Drennan said. Hartley takes a lead role in the chamber’s Downtown Business Group, “planning events and cultivat-
Emily’s Heirloom Poundcakes was honored on Sept. 9 as one of the Alabama Retail Associations’s 2021 Retailers of the Year. Owner April McClung with sons John, left, and Lacy, right.
ing ideas to make Homewood a great place to shop, eat and live,” Drennan added. Officials also celebrated efforts Alabama Goods made to support the community early on during the pandemic. “Before face masks were readily available, we asked our textile vendors to sew masks,” the owners stated in their Retailer of the Year entry. “That gave us and our vendors a major boost in revenue. “We worked with a candle maker, as well as a distillery, to create and sell hand sanitizer during a period when sanitizer was challenging to find.”
Turning Cakes Into Sweet Business For April McClung, owner of
Emily’s Heirloom Pound Cakes in Homewood, being presented with the 2021 Gold Alabama Retailer of the Year in the Annual Sales Less Than $1 Million category was acknowledgement of her hard work. “As a first-generation business owner – building a business from the ground up is one of the hardest pursuits I’ve ever experienced,” said McClung. “The faith walk, mistakes, sweat and tears continue to transform me. “Receiving this award means others acknowledge and appreciate all the hard work that goes into what we do,” she added. “It says to me, ‘Keep going!’” Established in 2014, Emily’s Heirloom Pound Cakes offers a variety of flavors and sizes of pound cakes plus gourmet coffee from its
local bakery as well as through its website, Amazon, Sam’s Club Road Shows and vendor events. When the pandemic hit, McClung and her team adapted. One of the Retailer of the Year judges noted, “By finding new channels, Emily’s Heirloom Pound Cakes increased sales 70% in 2020. They went very grassroots at farmers markets and even neighborhood-to-neighborhood. They basically went door-todoor, and they went big with QVC and Amazon Prime Day.” To maintain sales, the business set up tents in neighborhoods, attended farmers’ markets and partnered with a local coffee company. “We better organized our online store, added necessary and useful information and enhanced our descriptions of each product,” McClung said. A consultant also helped make system improvements, including organizing labeling and batch coding and increasing a kiosk opportunity from weekends to seven days a week without increasing labor costs. “For the first time in my business, I started getting a salary,” McClung said. According to McClung, a dramatic increase in sales online occurred in 2020, “primarily due to the Aug. 19, 2020, Small Business Spotlight on QVC and HSN, which focused on Black-owned businesses. “We now participate in a mentorship program sponsored by QVC,” she said. When the pandemic halted Emily’s Heirloom Pound Cakes’ ability to offer samples at Sam’s Club locations, McClung adapted once more. “We pivoted and learned how to conduct an unmanned Road Show, which allowed us to scale while reducing labor costs,” she said. The business was nominated for the award by the Birmingham Business Alliance, an organization that has worked closely with the retailer for several years. “Emily’s Heirloom Pound Cakes is an Alabama success story,” said Victor M. Brown, partner with the Birmingham Business Alliance. “They are distributing a quality product that is in demand to markets across the nation, and the company is creating jobs in Alabama.” Leigh Sloss-Corra, executive director of The Market at Pepper Place in Birmingham, where McClung is a vendor, also recommended her for the award. “April has risen above the rest, impressing me as she has so many others with her ability to tell a story, work hard and bake a consistently outstanding product,” Sloss-Corra said.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Portion of Downtown Homewood Named an Entertainment District
A large portion of downtown Homewood has been designated as an entertainment district. The designation, approved by the Homewood City Council during a Sept. 13 meeting, allows off-premises alcohol sales, which means visitors will be able to take their drinks and walk around the area. The entertainment area stretches along 19th Street South from Oxmoor Road to 27th Avenue South and includes much of the area between U.S. 31 and Central Avenue. Council President Alex Wyatt said concerns were raised in earlier meetings about certain areas that had been included in the proposed map of the entertainment district. A revised map was presented and approved during the recent meeting. “We’ve taken out areas along 31, areas along the northern boundary of downtown, but we still think – as far as I know – that we’ve captured all of the (businesses) that are interested in having one of these licenses,” Wyatt said. Entertainment district hours will be Monday through Wednesday from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from noon until 11 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 9 p.m. The ordinance passed with only one no vote, from Councilor Melanie Geer. She raised concerns she said had been brought to her attention by Rosedale residents and local businesses about
Thursday, September 23, 2021 • 9
NEWS the size of the district, the signing requirements and the daytime district hours. One of Geer’s concerns was about a lack of sidewalks from Central Avenue to 28th Avenue South. Councilors John Hardin and Jennifer Andress noted that the area recently had been purchased and is slated for redevelopment that could include new restaurants, though plans have not been solidified or formally announced. It also was noted that the City Council can work with future developers to construct sidewalks.
Clark Returns to Brookwood Baptist Health and Medical Center as New CEO
Jeremy Clark has been appointed chief executive officer of Brookwood Baptist Health and Brookwood Baptist Medical Center, the hospital where he started his health care career more than 15 years ago. Clark assumes the role Sept. 30. He will be Jeremy Clark responsible for overseeing all strategic, operational and clinical activities at Brookwood Baptist Medical Center, and he will provide oversight and leadership at all five hospitals in The Brookwood Baptist
Health system. “With a proven track record of success in growing quality programs, this promotion is a homecoming for Jeremy, who started his career in healthcare at Brookwood Baptist Medical Center as an associate administrator,” Tenet Healthcare’s chief executive officer, Saum Sutaria, M.D., said in a statement. “He is a proven leader with community commitment to this area, and he is dedicated to ensuring patients receive the highest quality care and service at our hospitals.” Clark replaces Tim Puthoff, group chief executive officer for Alabama and chief executive officer of Brookwood Baptist Medical Center, who has resigned. Puthoff spent the past couple of years leading the business and culture transformation of the Alabama market, a role Clark will pick up. Clark for the past six years has been market CEO for Hilton Head Regional Healthcare, a 150-bed, two-hospital system in South Carolina. He also has been CEO of Saint Francis HospitalBartlett, a 196-bed acute care hospital in Bartlett, Tennessee; and chief operating officer at Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. “I am delighted to return home and look forward to being an integral part of further advancing healthcare offerings in this community,” Clark said in the statement. “My wife and I are incredibly excited to raise our children in this area, in close proximity to some of our family and friends.”
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NEWS
United We Stand
OTM Cities Come Together to Honor 20th Anniversary of Sept. 11 Terrorist Attacks; Hoover Honors First Responders with Climb to Remember
Many city officials, first responders and community members throughout the Over the Mountain area spent the morning of Sept. 11 honoring the memory of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The cities of Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills and Homewood collaborate each year on a tri-city Patriot Day Remembrance Ceremony, with Mountain Brook hosting the event this year in Crestline Village. Beneath the shadow of a large American flag hoisted into the air by city fire trucks, the ceremony featured a keynote speech by Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Brian Hastings, addresses by Brian Bowman of the Homewood Fire Department and Mountain Brook resident Allie B. Gorrie, and music from the Mountain Brook High School Jazz Band. The city of Hoover, Hoover Fire Department and Hoover Police Department hosted a morning ceremony in the food court at the Riverchase Galleria.
A program featuring keynote speaker Roy Sexton, director of corporate security for Alabama Power, honored those who lost their lives, were injured or were deeply affected by the terror attacks. Sexton was traveling with former President George W. Bush on Sept. 11, 2001, when he heard news of the attack and helped get the commander-in-chief to safety. After the program, the fire and police departments invited members of the community to join in a Climb to Remember in the north parking deck stairwell, where pictures of those who lost their lives had been hung. Participants from multiple fire and police departments and members of the community climbed the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center in memory of the 343 firefighters and 70 police officers who lost their lives that day. Many wore lanyards displaying pictures of fallen first responders. —Emily Williams-Robertshaw
JOURNAL PHOTOS BY JORDAN WALD
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
After 36 years of service in law enforcement, Mountain Brook Police Chief Ted Cook informed his personnel Sept. 15 that he would be retiring at the end of the year. Cook has served in the Mountain Brook Police Department since March 2011, when he assumed the role of chief. According to a release, the department has experienced growth “by leaps and bounds” under Cook’s leadership. Mountain Brook was designated by the National Council for Home Safety and Security as the Safest City in Alabama in 2020. In recent years, several new positions have been created in the agency, and the department improved communication with the community through social media initiatives. In addition, MBPD developed a mobile smartphone app, established a take-home vehicle program for all officers and created six new school resource officer positions, one for each city school. Cook, who grew up in Homewood, is a graduate of the FBI National Academy; former president of the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police; has served on the Alabama Sentencing Commission since 2013; and is active in the Certified Law Enforcement
File photo
Mountain Brook Chief of Police Announces Retirement
NEWS police administration, SWAT operations and patrol. According to MBPD officials, the department, “will miss Chief Cook’s expertise, devotion, leadership and character. “We certainly are excited for Chief Cook on a well-earned retirement and thank him for his dedicated service to this profession.” Cook’s retirement will be effective at the end of the year. Deputy Chief Jaye Loggins will be in charge of daily operations until an interim or permanent chief is appointed. Loggins has been with the department since 1996, having worked and supervised in all divisions of the department. Before his promotion to deputy chief, he served as the division commander for the administrative division.
Mountain Brook Police Chief Ted Cook has served in law enforcement since 1985.
Executive Program of the Alabama Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission. Cook’s law enforcement journey did not begin in Mountain Brook. He has served in law enforcement since 1985. Immediately before coming to Mountain Brook, he was the chief of the Leeds Police Department. He worked for more than 20 years with the Birmingham Police Department and has extensive experience in
To: From: Date:
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Attic Antiques Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 FAX: 205-824-1246 September This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for the September 23, 2021 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.
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12 • Thursday, September 23, 2021
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Fruits et Fleurs
he Birmingham Museum of Art’s Annual Museum Ball this year took inspiration from the museum’s collection of still life paintings, with the theme Fruits et Fleurs. Guests for the Sept. 11 event dined among masterpieces in the museum’s galleries with a decadent menu prepared by chef George McMillan III of FoodBar. After dessert, guests were invited to the outdoor plaza for dancing under the stars. The Museum Ball is the BMA’s only event fundraiser to raise support for the institution. In addition to providing funds for arts education, proceeds from this year’s ball will support the museum’s most critical needs – employing museum professionals, providing world-class exhibitions and keeping the museum free of charge for visitors. Sallie R. Johnson, Sumner Johnson Rives, Garland Smith and Lindsay Smith Puckett co-chaired the event. ❖
Brian and Cate Boehm.
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
T
64th Annual Museum Ball Highlights Still Life Works, Raises Funds for the Arts
Jim Johnson and Sally Worthen with Thatcher and Ila Worthen.
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Lindsay Smith Puckett and Garland Smith.
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George McMillan, Logan and Sara Taylor and Graham Boettcher.
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14 • Thursday, September 23, 2021
For the Children
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Ed and Linda Caldwell with Nancy Kane and Steve Curreri.
Sozo Children Hosts 11th Annual Gala Fundraiser
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
The 11th annual An Evening of Dreams fundraiser was dedicated to sharing the stories and anticipation of Sozo Children’s growing family. Held Sept. 9 at The Club, the event raised funds for the nonprofit organization’s mission to provide a home for at-risk youth in Uganda. Construction is continuing to create an organization village in Uganda, which is planned to include homes, access to fresh food and water, a place of worship, a medical clinic and a school. The night consisted of silent and live auctions, an elegant dinner and a collection of inspirational stories about transforming brokenness into dream-filled lives of hope. ❖
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Wishes Come True
Thursday, September 23, 2021 • 15
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Lane Parke’s Tapas and Taps Supports Magic Moments
Above, Kim Corretti, Elizabeth Cornay, Sandy Naramore, and Katherine and Laney Naramore. Left, Alex, Foster and Sydney Smith. Below, Lee Mallette, Knox Richardson and Harper Dewine.
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16 • Thursday, September 23, 2021
by Judy Butler
“Mom, Can We Do This And Do It Right?”
Those were the words Jeff, my son, said to me about 12 years ago. My answer was “yes, we can do this”. After years of struggling with alcohol and finally realizing it wasn’t his friend and having gone to and worked in a small rehab I knew he had answers that needed to be shared with others. His idea was smaller is better so that clients get the individual attention they deserve. Also was the idea of providing quality counseling and treating clients with respect after all “no one plans on becoming an addict”. This is what we created with Bayshore Retreat. I lost Jeff to a heart condition that was masked with chronic indigestion 4 years ago, but his legacy lives on with our wonderful staff. Bayshore Retreat is different from most rehabs with only 6 clients at a time. I never cease to be amazed that people find us at just the right time when we can accommodate them. Some places actually say, “they have to break’em to remake’em”. Most places treat everyone the same. While in reality the addiction might be the only thing they have in common. This is why we say Bayshore Retreat is different and can make a difference. Clients bring their cellphone; laptop, music, books and we even allow them to drink coffee. Yes, that’s another no no at some places. So one may think going to Bayshore Retreat sounds like a mini vacation? Far from it except to say it can be a permanent vacation from addiction and a new beginning of a healthier, happy life. Call me anytime.
Hoover Service Club Members and guests were treated to new fall fashions during the Annual Hoover Service Club Fall Fashion Show at the Hoover Randle Home and Gardens on Sept. 9. The show was presented by Laurel Bassett, artist and owner of Town and Country Clothes. Ashley Gann, chief meteorologist with CBS 42, was the special guest model. Club members Frances Brocato, Shelley Shaw, Melanie Posey, Roberta Atkinson, Bonnie Campbell, Laura Cooper, Shannon Driver, Treva Medbery, Collette Scott and Elaine Thompson also walked the show. The models walked the fashion carpet while displaying fun and dressy fall attire in addition to casual, comfortable everyday styles, handmade jewelry and hand-dyed painted silks by Laurel Bassett. In addition to the monthly general meeting and annual fall fashion show, the members collected donations for the Vineyard Family Services as part of their September Community Act of Service project. The fashion show was dedicated to Hoover Service Club longtime member Ardith McMicken, who passed away July 5. Ardith was an active member of the club, for which she served as president, board member, parliamentarian and member of various committees. She received the Flora Mae Pike Hoover Community Service Award in 2019 for her dedication and commitment to serving others throughout the community. She also was originator of the Assistance League of Birmingham’s Little Black Dress Fashion Show. Iz Wedding and Events prepared box lunches that included the Iz Salad, chicken salad, pasta salad, an orange roll and either a brownie or lemon square. The club is open for new members and guests at each of its monthly meetings. The Oct.14 meeting will be held at the Hoover Country Club. Greg Knighton, Hoover economic development manager, is scheduled to be the keynote speaker. ❖
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
Rehab Reality...
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Rhonda Boyd, Laurel Bassett and Tahara Evans Wood.
Falling into Fashion
Town and Country Presents Latest Fashions at Hoover Service Club Fundraiser
Elaine Thompson and Laura Cooper.
Debbie Rutherford, Barbara Vandiver Woolley and Carol Vandiver.
Dana Henson and Pam Edwards.
Shannon Driver, Ashley Gann, Treva Medberry, Laura Cooper and Bonnie Campbell.
Yvonne Albaugh and Rachel Kent Trowbridge
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Thursday, September 23, 2021 • 17
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Fore Tanner
The Tanner Foundation invited supporters to TopGolf Birmingham for a team competition, Tee Off Fore Tanner, held Sept. 9. Guests could support Team Parkinson’s, Team Multiple Sclerosis or Team ALS, which pledged any winnings to local groups representing their cause. In addition, a hole-in-one competition offered the opportunity to win $10,000. The Tanner Foundation’s mission is to enhance the lives of individuals living with complex neurological diseases. ❖
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
TopGolf Tournament Raises Funds for Tanner Foundation
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Antiques at the Gardens CELEBRATION
LANDSCAPE LEGEND
From Page One
Talks will be followed by book signings, with books available for purchase at the show. Proceeds benefit the mission of the nonprofit Friends organization, which provides educational programs and outreach, promoting the stewardship and enhancement of the Gardens, sharing its story and raising funds to support these efforts. For tickets, a show schedule and more information, visit bbgardens.org/antiques. Follow show announcements and reveals on Facebook and Instagram @antiquesgardensbham. Additional tickets are required for the gala and speakers’ programs.
Wong has been called a “design genius with the soul of a poet” by Elle Décor, “one of the most important landscape designers in America” by Architectural Digest and a “landscape legend” by Forbes.
ANTIQUES AT THE GARDENS starts Thursday, Sept. 30, with Gala in the Gardens, an outdoor affair honoring the show’s first co-chairs, Joan Starnes and Kim Matthews, above. This year, the nonprofit Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens will honor Kim Matthews and Joan Starnes, chairs of the first show, when it puts on the annual event Sept. 30 to Oct. 3. The longtime Birmingham residents and lifelong friends took on the daunting task of creating the first event after having been involved in the Junior League of Birmingham’s antiques show. They persuaded antiques dealers to exhibit their pieces and crafted a setting to show them off – as well as recruiting a squadron of volunteers to help put the show together. “We have been friends for a long time, so joining forces to bring this beloved antiques show to the Gardens was a natural fit,” Starnes said. The theme for the first show was Heirlooms in Bloom, which Matthews said “helped us marry the concept of having antiques and flowers, allowing us to showcase both. Starnes and Matthews have passed the baton to current Antiques at the Gardens co-chairs Shannon Lisenby and Stephanie Lynton.
Photo courtesy Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Special guests over the years have included renowned Southern gardener Ryan Gainey, American designer Miles Redd, lifestyle chef Alex Hitz, architect Bobby McAlpine, the “Prince of Chintz” Mario Buatta, notable decorator Bunny Williams and lifestyle icon Martha Stewart.
From Page One
for his garden design. In 2005, he and partner Tim Johnson started Fernando Wong Outdoor Living Design in Miami Beach. Today, the company – now with additional offices in Palm Beach, Florida, and Southampton, New York – is an award-winning, internationally prominent boutique firm that takes a limited number of select residential and commercial projects each year.
Photo by Dee Moore
Damen Jenkins, Ken Pursley, Matthew Carter and Fernando Wong. The antiques show itself, which runs Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1-2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will have 21 dealers: Antique Cupboard, Atlock Farm, B. Viz Design, Blackwell Botanicals, Black Sheep Antiques, Brocante French Country Antiques, Dana Kelly Oriental Rugs Inc., D.R. Grissom Collection Estate & Fine Jewelry, Edwin C. Skinner, Gum Tree Farm Designs, Hedgerow Antiques, Leftovers Antiques, Madison James, Maison de France, McDonough Fine Art, Recreo Jewelry, Rick Ingenthron Antiques, Thomas M. Fortner Antiques, Very Vintage Villa, Vieuxtemps Porcelain and Whitehall Antiques. They’ll offer furniture, fine art, vintage and fine jewelry, silver, rugs and textiles, home decor and garden accessories. The event starts Thursday, Sept. 30, with Gala in the Gardens, an outdoor affair honoring the show’s first co-chairs, Kim Matthews and Joan Starnes. On Oct. 1, the show’s Red Diamond Lecture Series will feature talks by noted designers Charlotte Moss at 11 a.m. and Christopher Spitzmiller at 2 p.m. followed by cocktails and conversation with Mark D. Sikes at 4 p.m. The schedule on Oct. 2 starts at 11 a.m. with a Tastemaker panel. Cathy Kincaid, Corey Damen Jenkins, Ken Pursley and Matthew Carter will talk about tips and trends. At 2 p.m., Fernando Wong will share ideas for outdoor spaces in his talk presented by Flower magazine. The event’s finale is Oct. 3, with “Sunday with Suzanne” featuring Suzanne Tucker at 11:30 a.m. and James Farmer at 1:30 p.m.
Wong’s many projects have included luxury hotels, a sculpture garden at Miami’s Institute of Contemporary Art and a national park in Nassau for the Bahamian National Trust. He’s recently been awarded work on celebrated chef Thomas Keller’s new Miami restaurant. The firm has completed or is working on residential projects, too, in New York, Connecticut, Texas, Virginia, Florida, Louisiana, Lyford Cay in the Bahamas and London, England. It has completed gardens for some of the most notable American historic and landmarked houses, including ones designed by architects John Volk, Addison Mizner and Marion Sims Wyeth. Wong has been called a “design genius with the soul of a poet” by Elle Décor, “one of the most important landscape designers in America” by Architectural Digest and a “landscape legend” by Forbes. And he really does have a TV show: You can see him on “Clipped!” with Martha Stewart on the HGTV and Discovery+ channels. All that is very nice, indeed – as is Wong, with his friendly, warm personality. He will speak at this year’s Antiques at the Gardens, at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. He’ll share his experiences and his know-how at 2 p.m. Oct. 2 in a talk presented by Flower magazine. While in art school, Wong gravitated to sculpture, oil paintings and, especially, watercolor, all areas of study that have served him well as a landscape designer. He said that once he decided to relocate to Miami with little money to launch his career, he never looked back. “I was an athlete – a swimmer – for many years, and I could only travel if I did sports,” Wong said. “I got the travel bug. I was in a bliss of joy when I came to Miami, even though I didn’t have a car. I had to take three buses to get to work, but I never cared.”
Layers for the Senses
Wong said his designs translate well to a
See LANDSCAPE LEGEND, page 20
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Henhouse Antiques
Paige Albright Orientals
Ashford Hill for Henhouse Antiques offers beautiful, unique pieces personally selected by owners Libby McGowan, Judy Hill, Barbara Ashford and Laura Gessert, pictured. “From the traditional to the unexpected, our collection is a fresh approach to decorating. We enjoy mixing English with French, 17th century with 21st century and primitive withM Eformal,” Laura said. R C A N T I L E R C had A N T the I L E “A few weeks ago,M Ewe opportunity to travel to England and put togethperson allows us to buy more than we are able er an impressive 40 foot container!” Libby said. to buy virtually. We are hoping to receive the “We have bought 4 containers virtually since shipment by the end of October!” June of 2020. This was our first in-person buyM E R C A N T I L E ing trip since January of it Imakes Henhouse Antiques is located at 1900 M2020, E R C and A N T L E M E R C A N T I L E T I L E Rd., 205-918-0505. such a difference. Selecting our inventoryMinE R C A NCahaba J O I N
U S
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“We opened in October of over 20 years,” Paige said. “I 2007,” owner Paige Albright, am a certified rug appraiser 2814 PETTICOAT LANE pictured, said. and travel extensively to keep MOUNTAIN BROOK VILLAGE “We specialize in antique, my selections fresh and cur205.877.3232 hand made rugs and textiles. rent.” paigealbrightorientals.com We also have a modern selecFor fall 2021 trends, Paige tion of Tibetans, Kelim, says you can expect to see: Moroccan and Tulu tribal rugs. 1. Warm, soft color: earth We offer one of the South’s tones, creamy whites, terra largest selection of unique and cotta. one of a kind pieces.” 2. Bringing the outside in: #WHYKNOT Plants. After attending the 3. Multi-use spaces: University of Alabama where she majored in Art Home Office. History and minored in English with an Interior Design concentration, Paige put her studies to Paige Albrigth Orientals is located at 2814 use focusing on residential interior design. Petticoat Lane, 205-877-3232. Follow on insta“I have been working in the rug industry for gram @paorientals and @paosmalls
A
M ESidewalk R C A N T I L E September Sale M E R C A N T I L E featuring discounted pieces from Henhouse Antiques and Douglas C. Davis & Associates TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 1900 Cahaba Road
J O I N U S F O R A J O I N U S F O R A
2814 PETTICOAT LANE MOUNTAIN BROOK VILLAGE 205.877.3232 paigealbrightorientals.com
September September Sidewalk Sidewalk Sale Sale featuring discounted pieces from featuring discounted pieces from Henhouse Antiques and Douglas C. Davis & Associates Henhouse Antiques and Douglas C. Davis & Associates
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 1900 Cahaba Road f e a t u r i n g1 9d0i0s cCoauhn a tbeadRp o iaedc e s f r o m
September Sidewalk Sale
Henhouse Antiques and Douglas C. Davis & Associates
The Cook Store
ESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28TH - THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH “We areTaUprivately shop is a great place for 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. owned kitchen specialty me. It’s a fun business,” shop. We specialize in Wesley said. “Everyone is 1900 Cahaba Road functional pottery, gadalways happy when they gets, cookware, bakeware, are talking about food.” tabletops, and lots more,” According to Wesley said owner Wessley the two biggest trends in Lassen, pictured with her the kitchen world are: well known shop dog, 1. Gold, gold & more Lucy. gold serving pieces. The Cook Store has 2. Charcuterie boards—all sizes and been in Mountain Brook shapes—use them for Village since 1975. everything. Wesley has owned the popular shop since The Cook Store is 1999—22 years. To: and Libby located at 2841 Cahaba “I grew Laura up cooking From: Over Mountain Journal, phone 205-823-9646, fax 205-824-1246 Road, 205-879-5277. with my mom so aThe kitchen Date: Sept.
Roman Brantley Art & Antiques Roman Brantley Art & Antiques is an antique shop with a focus on art also. “We have period antiques and contemporary pieces that help PETTICOAT LANE our clients2814 achieve a mix thatMOUNTAIN is timelessBROOK VILLAGE and on trend,” said 205.877.3232 owner Linda Brantley, paigealbrightorientals.com pictured. “This allows our clients to add fine art pieces to make their home that much more special.” “I was so fortunate to buy property in Homewood when I retired from UAB Health Systems and opened Roman Brantley Art and
Antiques. I feel very blessed to have survived opening a new business and a shutdown from this ongoing health crisis. I have always been a collector and this transition seemed natural to make.” “The trends I see are still the things that have survived time, but the biggest change is the addition of color is back in play,” said Linda. Roman Brantley Art & Antiques is located at 2790 B M Montgomery Street, 205-460-1224.
LUCY'S READY FOR FALL! Please make sure all information is correct,
This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for the Sept. 23, 2021 issue.
including M E R C A N T I address L E and phone number! Thank you for your prompt attention.
Frank Flemming 2841 Cahaba Road • Mountain Brook Village • M-F 10-5 • Sat 10-4 205-879-5277 • www.thecookstoremtnbrook.com
Roman BRantley aRt, antiques Gifts & DecoR
2790 BM Montgomery Street Homewood, AL • 205.460.1224
LANDSCAPE LEGEND From page 18
variety of gardens in different parts of the world because he tends to lean on very classical architectural principles. He tries not just to create beautiful outdoor spaces but also to engage all the senses of those who visit his creative settings.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
HOME “I want layers,” he said. “I want to feel the sun through a canopy of leaves, to see silhouettes. From a very early age, I was experiencing the visual and the interaction with the senses – the rustling of palm fronds, the smell of rosemary, gardenias and orange trees.” Wong and Johnson’s company is known for designing elaborate garden follies, pools and pool pavilions, outdoor kitchens, fountains, sculpture gardens and hardscapes. It also has
gained a reputation for moving large trees. The biggest tree it has relocated so far is a 90-foot-tall kapok, part of Wong’s prestigious Palladio Awardwinning design for a 3-acre, John Volk-designed Palm Beach estate. Wong will show images of and talk about that project and others at Antiques at The Gardens. He’ll share ideas that showgoers can take home, too, such as tips for creating his favorite green-on-green gardens. “Drive around your neighborhood
and take pictures of what you like,” Wong said. “Take the photos to a nursery or garden center. Start with deep, dark green for backgrounds, and then you can add olive greens and silver greens. You also can include whites, blues, yellows and even reds.” Wong said working on “Clipped!” was a wonderful experience. “I really admire Martha Stewart,” he said. “She is so ready to share what she knows. Working on the show was really, really fun.” He also is looking forward to his time in the Magic City. “I’ve never been to Birmingham, I can’t wait to meet everyone – and to try Alabama cuisine,” he said.
Speakers at the Show
Other speakers at the 2021 edition of Antiques at The Gardens will bring an array of knowledge to the show:
Friday, Oct. 1
SINCE
ROZAR’S
Red Diamond Lecture Series sponsored by Red Diamond, Inc. Charlotte Moss, 11 a.m.; Christopher Spitzmiller, 2 p.m. Cocktails and Conversation with Mark D. Sikes, 4 p.m.
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Located in the heart of Lakeview. www.rozars.com 205-320-2696 • 3507 6th Ct. S • BIRMINGHAM , AL 35222
Charlotte Moss is known for her timeless aesthetic, layered interiors, Southern warmth and keen eye. Her many honors include the New York School of Interior Design’s Centennial Medal and the Royal Oak Foundation’s Timeless Design award.
She is on Elle Décor’s Grand Master List of Top Designers and is on the advisory board of the New York School of Interior Design, where she holds an honorary doctorate degree. Moss has used her experience culled from 35 years of decorating homes to design licensed collections with Century Furniture, Fabricut, Stark Carpet, Pickard, P.E. Charlotte Moss Guerin, Soicher Marin, IBU Clothing Artemis Design Company and other companies. She lectures widely and is a prolific author, having published 11 books. Her latest, “Charlotte Moss Flowers,” will be followed by “Home: A Celebration: Notable Voices Reflect on the Meaning of Home” to benefit No Kid Hungry. Philanthropy plays an important role in Moss’ life. She’s emerita trustee of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello; on the boards of the Bone Marrow Foundation and the Madoo Conservancy; a member of the International Council of Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens; and on the board of American Corporate Partners, where she mentors veterans.
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Photo by Tommy Agriodimas
20 • Thursday, September 23, 2021
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Mark D. Sikes is an esteemed interior designer and tastemaker working on projects throughout the United States and is known for all-American sensibilities and a fresh take on classical aesthetics. His talent for creating beautiful and timeless interiors that embody an indoor/outdoor lifestyle has been featured in
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Architectural Digest, Veranda, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, the Wall Street Journal, C Magazine, Milieu and Domino, and he is a member of Elle Décor’s A-List. Sikes has partnered with top furniture and fabric manufacturers to develop his signature product lines, including Chaddock, Soane, Hudson Valley Lighting, Mark D. Sikes Troy Lighting, Schumacher, Annie Selke, Merida and Blue Pheasant. His first book, “Beautiful,” was a New York Times bestseller, and his newest book, “More Beautiful,” debuted in September 2020.
WELCOME FALL!
Celebrate the colors, fun, and warmth of our autumn holidays. Pumpkins, potpourri, popcorn, and an array of gifts usher in the season.
Saturday, Oct. 2
Tastemaker panel presented by Veranda magazine, 11 a.m. Cathy Kincaid, Corey Damen Jenkins, Ken Pursley, Matthew Carter Cathy Kincaid’s sense of color and intricate design detail has established her as one of the country’s top designers and an editorial favorite whose work is published internationally. For more than 30 years, she’s designed Cathy Kincaid houses that are as individual as her clients. A recipient of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art’s John Staub Award, Kincaid Photo by Haynsworth Photography
Photo courtesy BBG
Christopher Spitzmiller’s lamps, tableware and other ceramics are found in nearly every chic A-list interior, including the White House. His iconic designs draw inspiration from classical forms and traditional gem-like glazes. Spitzmiller began his career in Georgetown, in Washington, D.C., where he worked out of an old schoolhouse near Dumbarton Oaks. Shortly thereafter, his work received critical acclaim and his reputation as a noteworthy ceramicist began to Christopher emerge. In the summers, Spitzmiller he worked from Mecox Gardens in Southampton as an artist in residence, and designers such as Albert Hadley, Richard Keith Langham and Suzanne Rheinstein began to commission his work. Since 1996, Spitzmiller has been concentrating his efforts on his unique lamp designs. He’s now expanded his designs to tableware and other ceramic accessories. Spitzmiller’s work often is featured in publications including Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Elle Décor, Departures, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal. His latest book, “A Year at Clove Brook Farm,” was released in March 2021.
Thursday, September 23, 2021 • 21
HOME
See SPEAKERS, page 22
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Ken Pursley is a graduate of Auburn University’s school of architecture and a principal and partner at Charlotte, North Carolina-based Pursley Dixon Architecture. Having cultivated his interest in resiKen Pursley dential design under the tutelage of his mentor and friend Bobby McAlpine, Pursley went on to develop his unique aesthetic, which resonates with clients throughout the country. His firm views both modernism and classicism as part of a broader architectural language, drawing from multiple traditions when crafting design solutions.
Matthew Carter creates dynamic, timeless interiors for clients around the world. Established in 2002, his firm is known for breathing new life into antiques and heirlooms, designing houses and Matthew Carter spaces that respect history but feel fresh and relevant for today. Based in Lexington, Kentucky, the firm has current and recent projects from Napa Valley, California; Vail, Colorado; Charleston, South Carolina; New York; Palm Beach, Florida; and Lynford Cay and Harbour Island, Bahamas. Throughout Carter’s career, editors and photographers have celebrated his signature layered look and keen ability to relax even the
Sunday, Oct. 3
Sunday with Suzanne: Suzanne Tucker, 11:30 a.m. James Farmer, 1:30 p.m. Suzanne Tucker is recognized as one of the country’s leading interior designers and is known for her personal approach, enduring style, attention to detail and passion for architecture and the decorative arts. Suzanne Tucker Her awardwinning projects are frequently published in magazines worldwide. Architectural Digest has honored her repeatedly
King Cotton For more than 50 years, the Haas family has shared the very best in distinctive fabrics, elegant trims, and beautifully crafted hardware. With locations in Birmingham and Montgomery, King Cotton offers a stunning collection of both classic and modern textures, colors, and prints from around the world. Committed to customer service, King Cotton works with customers one-on-one to curate custom designs that artfully express individual style and personality.
on the AD100 list of top designers, and she is included in the Elle Décor A-list. Having worked under the legendary Michael Taylor and often referenced as his protégée, she and her husband/partner, Timothy F. Marks, founded Tucker & Marks in 1986. Suzanne Tucker Home was launched in 2010 with her textile, tabletop and home furnishings line. Her first monograph, “Rooms to Remember, The Classic Interiors of Suzanne Tucker,” was followed by the publication of “Suzanne Tucker Interiors – The Romance of Design.” A third book is planned for publication in 2022.
Photo courtesy BBG
Photo by Brad Ziegler Photography
is highly respected for her commitment to restoring old houses and filling them with traditionally stylish antiques and furnishings. From a historic Beaux Arts estate in Dallas and a 1750s Ship Captain’s Cottage in Old Lyme, Connecticut, to a Mas de Baraquet in the south of France, her interiors evoke a sense of comfortable elegance. Kincaid’s work has been featured in several books, including “Farrow & Ball: The Art of Color” and “D. Porthault Linens.” Her own book, “The Well-Adorned Home,” was published in 2019.
grandest of houses. In January 2021, he was named one of Veranda’s “Next Legends.” Carter’s work has been published in House Beautiful, Veranda, Traditional Home, C Magazine, Southern Living and the New York Times and in books such as “Fortuny Interiors” by Brian Coleman, “Linens: For Every Room and Occasion” by Jane Scott Hodges, “Kentucky: Historic Houses and Horse Farms of Bluegrass Country” by Peter Estersohn, and “Beige Is Not a Color” by Carlos Mata.
The 14-person firm has received numerous accolades, including Veranda/ADAC Architecture firm of the year and Southern Living home of the year, and its work is regularly featured in publications including Veranda, Traditional Home, House Beautiful, and Milieu. Ken Pursley and Craig Dixon’s first book, “Finding Home: The Houses of Pursley Dixon,” will be published this fall.
Photo courtesy BBG
From page 21
His bold interiors have been on the covers of House Beautiful, Traditional Home and other publications. He also has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Detroit News and Vanity Fair. Jenkins is an inducted member of Architectural Digest’s AD100. In 2020, he was named to Elle Décor’s prestigious A-List. His first coffee-table book, “Design Remix: A New Spin on Traditional Rooms,” was released worldwide in March 2021.
Photo courtesy BBG
SPEAKERS
Corey Damen Jenkins is a nationally acclaimed designer whose work mixes vivid colors with layered patterns to create architecturally inspired spaces that are polished, inventive and unexpected. Taking cues Corey Damen from the haute Jenkins couture runway, his projects feature luxurious and refined materials.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
HOME
James Farmer is a Southern author, interior designer and speaker known for his ability to create beautifully familiar and welcoming homes. He is the author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling books James Farmer “A Time to Plant,” “Sip & Savor,” “Porch Living,” “Wreaths For All Seasons,” “A Time to Cook,” “Dinner on the Grounds,” “A Time to Celebrate” and “A Place to Call Home.” His most recent publication,
See SPEAKERS, page 23
Tricia’s Trasures “We are seeing slight departure from the modern minimalist,” Janet said, when asked about fall design trends. “It’s as if there is some vintage nostalgia with the return of velvet furnishings, tassels, chunky knits and faux furs. When designed with a neutral base, rich, warm color palettes make for lots of cozy comfort for Fall.” King Cotton is located at 1820 Green Springs Highway, 205-322-5878.
Tricia’s began with the concept of great pieces at great prices. The business has grown over the years largely through word of mouth. Customers and designers alike have come to count on her and her team for great pieces and accessories at great prices, in an atmosphere of fun and family. It all began forty years ago when Tricia retired from owning a food service business after 15 years and joined her parents in the antique business in 1981. Tricia’s son Matt Monroe and her grandaughter Anna Grace recently joined the Tricia’s Treasures team.
Customers seem interested in mixing antiques with painted furniture, creating casual or sophisticated looks. Art also appears to be important to more people. Tricia’s has decided to provide customers with a one-stop shop by changing the second floor into an art gallery. The gallery will be populated with artists local to the Southeast, primarily Alabamians. It will open on Dec. 12, 202 with a party starting at 4 PM. Tricia’s Treasures is located at 2700 19th Pl S in Homewood and their phone number is 205-8719779.
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22 • Thursday, September 23, 2021
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
‘Perfect Spot to Be’
Wedgworth to Develop Seven Properties in Cahaba Heights By Emily Williams-Robertshaw In the next few months, Wedgworth Construction will begin constructing a new development of seven houses in the Cahaba Heights neighborhood of Vestavia Hills. The company has been building houses in Vestavia and the surrounding areas for more than three decades, and its office is in the heart of Cahaba Heights. “We are very excited to have the opportunity to develop/build in Cahaba Heights,” Wedgworth Construction President Patrick Gilbert said. Each of the houses will be a custom build on original lots on Crosby Drive, Midland Drive and Glass Drive. Owners of the houses can work with Wedgworth to customize their dream homes. “It truly starts with a blank sheet of paper and the customers’ ideas,” Gilbert said. “From there, we design the plans and select the amenities. We use a full team approach throughout the whole build with our architect, landscape architect and
Thursday, September 23, 2021 • 23
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designer. During construction, our team sets up every meeting with our vendors and then goes with our clients to those meetings.” Mountain Brook native Helen Drennen of RealtySouth is the Realtor for the properties. “I truly enjoy working with the Wedgworth team and my clients in designing and building a custom home,” Drennen said. “It’s a wonderful solution for someone wanting new construction but with the ability to customize it to make it their own.” According to Drennen, working with the Wedgworth team to create and customize houses is a streamlined process for clients. “From start to finish, the Wedgworth team is completely professional and guides clients through the design and pricing process,” Drennen said. “It makes the decision about finishes very streamlined and efficient, and in the end the client is very pleased with the turnkey product without having to hire their own architect, builder and designer.” Drennen said Cahaba Heights is becoming a popular location for
empty nesters who not only want to downsize their family homes but also find a home that is close to amenities. “The Cahaba Heights area is a convenient central location minutes
to the Summit and 280/459 corridor, Cahaba Heights village shops and restaurants, Overton Park and Cahaba Heights Elementary,” Drennen said. “One can be downtown or to Mountain Brook Village in 10 minutes.” Drennen added that the city has made efforts to increase sidewalks in the neighborhood to give people a safer journey to area parks and shopping. This makes it not only a great
location for empty nesters, but an ideal spot for young families who want to take advantage of amenities including the award-winning Vestavia Hills City Schools system. “Over the past several years, we have seen Cahaba Heights turn into the best kept secret,” Gilbert said. “With it being central and accessible to almost everything and easy ability to be in all parts of the city quickly, it makes it a perfect spot to be.”
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Legacy League Announces 2021 Christmas Home Tour The 11th annual Legacy League Christmas Home Tour, the organization’s signature event, will take place Dec. 9. From 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., guests will have the opportunity to tour three Mountain Brook homes and two Vestavia Hills homes, each decked out in holiday decor. The tour will feature the homes of Jenny and Sonny Culp, 5 Glenview Circle in Mountain Brook; Julia and Tim Davis, 3212 Brookwood Road in Mountain Brook; Laura and Andy
SPEAKERS From page 22
“Arriving Home,” features design projects from the farmlands of Georgia to the rolling countryside of Connecticut. His work also has been published in Southern Living, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Southern Home, Flower and other magazines. Born and raised in Georgia, Farmer has built his business in his hometown of Perry.
Major Roles
Other people with major roles at Antiques at The Gardens are co-chairs
Sink, 3058 Lewis Circle in Mountain Brook; Alison and Martin Smith, 2012 Southwood Road in Vestavia Hills; and Julie and Beck Taylor, the Samford President’s Home at 1994 Shades Crest Road in Vestavia Hills. Since its inception, the tour has featured 43 homes and has raised more than $250,000 for needbased scholarships at Samford University. It is sponsored by ARC Realty. For more information and updates, visit samford.edu. Stephanie Lynton and Shannon Lisenby and show ambassador Richard Keith Langham. Alabama born and now based in Manhattan, Langham has been a force in the decorating world for more than 30 years. After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and studying at the Study Center for the History of Fine and Decorative Arts in London, he apprenticed with design legend Mark Hampton. Langham spent 10 years with Irvine & Fleming before founding his own firm in 1990. Perhaps no one summed up his aesthetic better than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who once proclaimed him to have “a sorcerer’s eye.”
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24 • Thursday, September 23, 2021
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
SCHOOLS
Up for Debate
J
ane Grey Battle, a senior at Mountain Brook High, is one of 12 debaters in the United States invited to join the 202122 USA Debate Team. She is the first student from Alabama to join the team. Throughout the year, Battle and the team will represent the country in tournaments around the world, including Singapore, Croatia, Germany and Thailand, as well as in the United States. The mission of the USA Debate Team is to join the global promotion of free and civil discourse, foster international cooperation and education, and demonstrate competitive excellence and national pride, according to the National Speech and Debate Association. “I’m most excited about debating and engaging with other students with vastly different life experiences and perspectives who are also paying close attention to current events,” Battle said. “I expect the conversations will be complex and we’ll all learn from each other.” She noted that she’s also excited to be the first person from Alabama to join the team. “From my experience, we are often underestimated, so I look forward to challenging that perception of Alabamians and Southern accents,” she said. Battle said she has met some of her new teammates at competitions she has gone to with her school
Mountain Brook’s Howell Fell Picked for Sen. Richard Shelby’s Page Program
Howell Fell, a junior at Mountain Brook High School, recently was appointed by Sen. Richard Shelby to be Shelby’s page for the 2021 fall semester. He is the only page this session from the state of Alabama. Fell on Sept. 12 moved to Howell Fell Washington, D.C., where he will work until January. “It’s an honor to be chosen as Sen. Shelby’s page,” Fell said. “It’s special to be able to do this and represent my community and state.” Fell is one of 30 students nationwide who has been selected as a page for this semester. His day starts at the Senate Page School at 6 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. or “one hour prior to the commencement of the Senate,” according to the page
debate teams. “It’s really nice to be teammates now rather than having to face any of them in a debate round,” she said. “We’ve had several meetings already and everyone seems very intelligent and kind.”
Throughout the year, Battle and the team will represent the country in tournaments around the world, including Singapore, Croatia, Germany and Thailand, as well as in the United States. During the course of Battle’s tenure with Mountain Brook’s junior high and high school debate teams, her teams have collected a list of accomplishments at the state and national levels. In 2018, she brought home a national championship in Middle School Public Forum Debate, earning Mountain Brook its first-ever National Speech and Debate Tournament championship title in this division. Mountain Brook debate coach Liz Wood-Weas noted that Battle has gone to the state debate tournament three times. She’s also qualified for the national speech and debate tournament three times in Public Forum
program’s website. Fell will work in the Republican cloakroom until 4 p.m. or until the Senate adjourns for the day. His duties will include assisting Shelby throughout the Senate, “delivering documents, correspondence and legislative material within the Congressional complex,” answering phone calls for the senator’s office, carrying bills and amendments to the desk, and various other duties as assigned. As a 17-year-old, Howell normally would be in Mountain Brook High School classrooms or hanging out in the mall with his friends during free period. “I’m going to miss the football games and spending time with my friends,” he said. But Fell realizes this is an opportunity that doesn’t come along for every high school student. “This will help me out in the college application process and this experience will translate into lots of places later in life,” Fell said. “I’m one of just 30 students nationwide selected for this, so I realize the significance.”
and Congressional Debate events. This past summer, Battle and her debate partner, Maggie Doyle, advanced to quarterfinals in the national tournament, placing seventh out of 362 teams in the division. Battle is ranked as the top debater in the state by the National Speech and Debate Association. She is captain of the Mountain Brook debate team and has received the Outstanding Debate Departmental Award, the Bill Gunn Research Award and the Mountain Brook Debate’s Clinton Taylor Scholarship. In addition, Battle is a member of the National Forensic League Honor Society and has been named an Academic All-American. “There are 140,000 student members of the National Speech and Debate Association, and Jane Grey is now one of only twelve of those students to be selected to represent the entire country,” Wood-Weas said. “She’s the first debater from Alabama to be selected, and I do believe she’s the most deserving.”
A Balancing Act
The effort of balancing academics with her time commitment to debate is a struggle to which she is committed. She simply loves debate. “Each round lasts about an hour and we prep between rounds,” she said. “There have been many times where I’ve debated over seven rounds through a weekend, face a ton of homework and usually a Monday morning math test … and I think I can’t do it.”
Jane Grey Battle, a senior at Mountain Brook High, is one of 12 debaters in the United States invited to join the 2021-22 USA Debate Team.
She relies on motivation from her coaches and teammates, who have become like a family. “My debate partner for most of my high school career is also my best friend,” Battle said. “Coach WoodWeas is like a second mother. I spend an insane amount of time researching with our assistant coach … creating complex arguments. “They’ve kept me motivated in so many ways and I’m grateful that we have mentorship and team-building programs to return the support for our younger debaters,” she added. “There are some really bright kids and I expect that our team will continue to be very successful.” With high school graduation looming for Battle, she said she hopes to
continue debate at the collegiate level. “Debate has dominated my high school experience, so it’s definitely influencing how I view college,” Battle said. She’s focusing on schools that are highly diverse, inspired by the diversity of students in the debate competition circuit. “The most interesting conversations are with people who have different worldviews, backgrounds and life experiences,” she said. “I’ll always love debate – the people, the places, the topics and how intensely competitive I can be,” she said. “With every new topic and argument, I continue to grow. Even if I’m not winning, I still feel accomplished.”
Photo courtesy OLS School
By Emily Williams-Robertshaw
Photo courtesy Mountain Brook City Schools
Mountain Brook’s Battle First Alabamian Named to US Debate Team
From left: Charlotte Hyde, Bryson Ballinger, Garrison Owens, Itzel Lomeli, Lucas Ballman and Keston Beck.
OLS School Establishes Houses for Students
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School this year divided students schoolwide into six “houses.” A house system is aimed at promoting a unified, character-focused school environment that complements a strong academic program, according to OLS officials. Such a system also helps lead students to pursue more involvement in spiritual and character development, forge new friendships and promote collaboration through service activities in the school and community. Ron Clark, an award-winning
educator, modeled the Ron Clark Academy House system, which has been adapted by hundreds of schools since 2007. “Our theme is ‘Six Houses – One Home,’” said OLS Principal Mary Jane Dorn. “Each House name is based on an apparition of our Blessed Mother Mary and is represented by a particular color.” The house names include Fatima, red; Lourdes, light blue; Guadalupe, purple; La Salette, dark blue; Kibeho, yellow; and Genazzano, green. Upperclass students, those in fifth through eighth grades, wear T-shirts featuring their house color and name
and gather each Wednesday for weekly house meetings. “All of our faculty and staff have been assigned to a house and will cheer on their house throughout the year,” Dorn said. “Our kindergarten through fourth grades are ‘buddy’ classes and were also assigned to a particular house.” Younger students were given colorcoordinated bracelets to match the house with which they are connected and can wear those bracelets any day of the week. “We are all excited about the opportunities for our students with this program and look forward to a good year,” Dorn said.
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
OTM Students Named 2022 National Merit Semifinalists
Semifinalists in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program were announced last week, recognizing numerous high school students in the Over the Mountain area. About 16,000 semifinalists were named nationwide, a population that represents less than 1% of high school seniors in the United States. Each individual entered the competition by taking the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Those recognized will have the opportunity to compete for an estimated $30 million in scholarships, according to a release from the National Merit Scholarship Corp. National Merit Finalists will be announced in the spring. The Over the Mountain area students on the semifinalist list are:
Alabama School of Fine Arts Mohamed K. Alzoubi Trisha Bheemanathini Tobias B. Guo James H. Shi
The Altamont School Keith A. Alderson Audrey L. Williams Jeffrey M. Youngson
Briarwood Christian School David N. Houston David F. Lether
Homewood High Natalie C. Crawford Katherine R. Gillum
Hoover High
Christopher Cheng Kenneth Curlings Shayaan Essani
Carys Gonzalez Olurotimi Kukoyi Sreekiran Nataraj Adnan Porbanderwala Samuel Temple Connor Varwig Sarah Xin Jeffrey Yuan
Indian Springs School Caroline L. Beisher Andrew C. Glassford Hao W. Jiang Joseph B. Katz Catherine Kung Emma S. Peng Andrew C. Schwebel Qingya Yang
Mountain Brook High Julianne A. Abenoja Caroline G. Allen Robert J. Cabaniss
SCHOOLS
Thursday, September 23, 2021 • 25
Ivy E. Cobbs Cory J. Fan Amy E. Hudson Mason M. Keller Katherine L. Ryan Luke A. Turner Amelia W. Tynes
Oak Mountain High Logan J. Camp George H. Graham Cade M. May William B. Stone
Spain Park High Riley Luthin Joseph Mudano Michael Wolkow
Vestavia Hills High Ranee Brady Brian Chen Maria Deng John Ham Katelynn Holt Catherine Kramer Savan Patel Margaret Patton John Paul Pierre Frank Qiang Christina Sorochinsky Jonathan Wilson Ethan Wylie
Westminster School Reagan Allen Rachel Giadrosich
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Takes On Life. Sarah Anne was a childhood cancer patient at Children’s of Alabama when she was just two years old, and that experience changed her life. Today, she’s a nurse working with our team of over 300 dedicated pediatric healthcare professionals committed to exceptional patient care and innovative research – driven to find cures and dedicated to helping change children’s lives for the better.
To learn about Sarah Anne’s story and how you can help, visit ChildrensAL.org/committedtoacure
ACCCBD-0002_Sarah Anne_Ad_Over_The_Mountain_Journal-10.375x6.25-PROD.indd 1
8/30/21 9:40 AM
26 • Thursday, September 23, 2021
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
Journal photo by Marvin Gentry
SPORTS
“I’ve grown up playing with him and I train with him,” said Hoover quarterback Bennett Meredith, left, of Oak Mountain quarterback Evan Smith, right.
Friendly Battle
“I liked it a lot,” he said. “I’ve been there a couple of times, so it was nice to see it on game day.” Meredith is considering South Alabama along with Northwestern, Ole Miss, Cincinnati and Toledo. Smith has committed to Northwestern but as a defensive back. “We were talking about that after the game, perhaps playing together in college,” Meredith said. Meredith is playing his first – and only – season at Hoover after transferring from Spain Park because of a family situation. His mother, Robin Meredith, had been a teacher at Spain Park, allowing him to attend school there although he lived in the Hoover school zone. “My mom got sick and didn’t return to work so I had to transfer,” he said. “It was tough transferring because I had been playing in all the (sports) programs there, but the move was one that had to be made for the family. “I love being at Hoover. Being around all the great athletes at receiv-
Bennett Meredith, Hoover Get the Better of Evan Smith, Oak Mountain Hoover senior quarterback Bennett Meredith has developed a close friendship with Oak Mountain senior quarterback Evan Smith. So, Meredith was eager to play against Smith last Friday in a battle of unbeaten teams at Heardmont Park. “I’ve grown up playing with him and I train with him,” Meredith said. “It’s fun to see him play and it’s fun to compete against him. He’s a good player.” Meredith got the better of Smith in the game, leading Hoover (5-0, 3-0) to a 28-21 victory over Oak Mountain (4-1, 2-1) in the Class 7A, Region 3 matchup. Meredith accounted for three touchdowns in the first half, scoring twice on runs of 6 and 2 yards and
throwing a 10-yard scoring pass to Jordan Woolen as the Bucs built a 21-0 lead. Smith nearly pulled off a stunning comeback, scoring on runs of 3, 42 and 11 yards, but the Bucs managed to hang on thanks in part to an Oak Mountain fumble midway through the fourth quarter. Meredith completed 8 of 16 passes for 105 yards with a touchdown and an interception. “I think I played good, especially in the first half,” Meredith said. “All you can ask for is a win, and I’m pretty happy we got that.” Smith rushed for 105 yards and passed for 153, but he completed only 8 of 30 attempts. On Saturday, Meredith took a college recruiting visit to South Alabama.
Journal photo by Lee Walls
Chris Yeager said senior linebacker John McMillan has been the leader, “the bellcow.”
Calhoun Earns First Win
While Meredith was getting the better of Smith, Vestavia Hills coach Sean Calhoun was earning his first win with the Rebels in Northport. Senior quarterback Mitchell Towns completed 12 of 17 passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns and ran 8 yards for another score as Vestavia Hills (1-4, 1-2) rolled to a 50-0 victory at Tuscaloosa County in a Class 7A, Region 3 game that was delayed nearly 90 minutes because of weather. Senior receiver Cole Turner caught seven passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Calhoun is in his first season after replacing Buddy Anderson as the Rebels’ head coach. “I’m just happy for these kids and how much they’ve been battling,” Calhoun said. “It’s a great group of kids and I can’t be more happy for them to get that win.
Week 4 Scores Class 7A Gadsden City 29, Spain Park 26 Hoover 28, Oak Mountain 21 Vestavia Hills 50, Tusc. County 0 Class 6A Briarwood Christian 42, Huffman 14 Homewood 49, Woodlawn 14 Mountain Brook 31, Shades Valley 0 Class 5A Fairfield 36, John Carroll Catholic 6
Week 5 Schedule Mortimer Jordan at Briarwood Christian Hoover at Prattville Thompson at Mountain Brook (HC) Homewood, John Carroll Catholic, Oak Mountain, Spain Park and Vestavia are off this week
Homecoming Celebrations
Katherine Miles celebrates the honor of being named Homecoming Queen with her father, Phillip, during halftime ceremonies at Spain Park High School on Sept. 17.
SPARTANS From page 28
er and running back and a very good offensive line is awesome.”
Journal photos by Jordan Wald
By Rubin E. Grant
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
take a play off.” McMillan is not surprised the Spartans’ defense came together so quickly in the first half of the season. “It starts with all 11 guys,” McMillan said. “We work with each other every day; we watch film together, and we spend time with each other off the field. We have formed a close bond and each person busts his tail on the field. We’re all real aggressive and we’ve got all 11 guys flying to football. “A lot of the credit goes to coach Yeager and our defensive coordinator, Robert Evans. They have built a culture the last few years so everybody knows what’s expected of them.” The Spartans’ defense opened the season with an impressive performance in a 33-3 rout of archrival Vestavia Hills. The Spartans held the Rebels to only 118 total yards and got fumble recoveries from Beavers and Wright in the first quarter to set up scores. In the shutout against Woodlawn, McMillan
Homewood High School’s 2021 Homecoming Queen Jordan Kretzer with her mother, Kimberly, at Waldrop Stadium during pregame festivities on Sept. 17.
forced a fumble and Wright returned it 15 yards for a touchdown. Beavers had two interceptions. The following week in a 48-7 rout of Huffman, McMillan had a 26-yard interception return for a touchdown, and safety Braxton Dean had an interception. Doster and senior nose guard Tompkins have been solid up front, plugging up the run, forcing teams into long yardage situations and putting pressure on the quarterback, leading to turnovers. “Our defense has been very opportunistic, forcing other teams to make mistakes,” Yeager said. “It seems like a different person every game. “One of the things they’ve been doing is playing very, very fast with a lot of confidence. They have the look of a seasoned team.” Yeager also gave a shoutout to kicker Reed Harradine for his contributions to the defense’s success. “The neat thing is Reed Harradine has been kicking the ball into the end zone and teams are getting the ball on the 20 and having to try to drive the length of the field,” Yeager said. “So when our defense makes a stop, we’re usually getting the ball around midfield in great field position.”
Tougher Schedule Ahead
The Spartans head into the challenging part of their schedule in the second half, beginning Friday when they host Class 7A No. 1 Thompson (5-0). After an off week on Oct 1, Mountain Brook completes its region schedule at home against Briarwood and on the road against Homewood and Chelsea. The game against Thompson will be the Spartans’ homecoming. McMillan knows it will be a difficult task containing the high-octane Warriors, led by senior quarterback Conner Harrell, a North Carolina commit. He completed 16 of 23 passes for 206 yards and four touchdowns last week in a 42-9 victory against previously unbeaten Hewitt-Trussville. The Warriors are averaging 51.8 points per game and amassing nearly 500 yards total offense per game. They beat the Spartans 31-0 last year. “Everyone knows they are the No. 5 team in the nation and can see the challenge we’re up against,” McMillan said. “It will be a good test for us physically and mentally. “I think we’ll have a good game. It’s our homecoming game so that will be a lot of fun. Getting a win would be even better.”
Thursday, September 23, 2021 • 27
SPORTS
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Passion for Volleyball
By Rubin E. Grant As Hoover won its first state volleyball championship in 2020 with the season of a lifetime and a tall, talented and deep roster, the Bucs also had a secret weapon. Strength and conditioning coach D.J. Taylor was employed to keep the Bucs in top-notch shape, and he did just that. “He was a huge reason for the success of our season,” Hoover volleyball coach Chris Camper said. Taylor, a former football player at Homewood, was absolutely thrilled to see the Bucs roll to a 50-1 record and the Class 7A title with his help. “That was awesome,” Taylor said. “I’ve been a part of championship teams when I played football at Homewood, but that was the first time I’ve been on the sideline for everything during a championship run. Everyone said they were the best team in the state, but watching their work ethic and seeing how they responded in the weight room, at practice and in their game performances was awesome.” Taylor is working with the Bucs again this season as well as working for Blockout Academy, which he coowns with his wife, Nevena Taylor, who goes by coach Nev. The academy is in Homewood and works with
RILEY From page 28
sport. “I love how pure it is, that the work you put in is what you get out. It’s a sport that is similar to the way you do life. It is something that embodies life, how hard you have to work and how it guides you in dayto-day situations and when you go through adversity. It gives you a warrior mentality.” After missing most of the 2020 cross-country season, Riley had strong indoor and outdoor seasons. She finished second in the 1,600 meters (5:10.18) and third in 3,200 (11:19.01) in the AHSAA Indoor Championships, helping the Spartans finish as Class 6A runners-up to Northridge. In the AHSAA 2021 Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Riley won the 3,200 meters
female athletes, primarily volleyball players, in age groups from 12-andunder up through college. The academy also works with female athletes who compete in bas-
At the age of 18, coach Nev came to UAB to play volleyball, from Belgrade, Serbia, arriving in the United States with only two duffle bags and some pocket money and speaking less than basic English. ketball, softball and even equestrian sports. The name Blockout pays homage to the first team on which coach Nev played while growing up in Belgrade, Serbia, as Nevena Stefanov. She began playing when she was 8 years old. At 14, she became a member of the National Youth Volleyball Team that won the Balkan championship. The Balkans is a region comprising 10 countries in southeastern Europe (10:47.41) and finished second in the 1,600 (4:59.45), helping the Spartans to another runner-up finish. “To see her win so many medals during the outdoor season was great,” Mountain Brook track coach Michael McGovern said. “She has grown up and overcome so much. She’s definitely the leader of our team and a leader in the community, someone who’s looked up to.” Winning the 3,200-meter run was particularly special for Riley because it was her first individual win at state following her surgery and because of her faith and her desire to glorify God with her running. “Doing well in outdoor showed God’s mercy and grace,” she said. “I never would have been where I was if it wasn’t for that and my faith. It’s a testament to how hard I worked and the support of my friends, the team, the coaches and my parents. “After I won the 3,200, I was saying glory to glory. That was my
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At the age of 18, coach Nev came to UAB to play volleyball, arriving in the United States with only two duffle bags and some pocket money and speaking less than basic English. She was a setter for the Blazers and received numerous awards while also earning a bachelor’s in psychology and a master’s in clinical nutrition/ dietetics. After her playing career, coach Nev began coaching, primarily working with UAB summer camps. She founded Blockout in 2016 with the idea of it being a unique training facility for female athletes. “It is a product of pure love for the game of volleyball, but not just that,” coach Nev said. “It is also a place where any athlete, regardless of their skill level, can pursue their love and passion for volleyball. “We want to build skills and the mindset, including having respect for the coach and the game. We always work on fundamentals. We firmly believe in goal-oriented training, teaching key life skills – confidence, work ethic, problem solving, integrity, leadership and respect – to ensure future success of our student-athletes, on and off the court, in whatever they choose to do.” DJ Taylor provides the strength and conditioning training. “I am blessed to have this opportumotto. I never doubted I would be back. To see how it played out was supernatural and amazing. My best friend Madeline (Baltz) hugged me and was sobbing after I finished. She just said glory to glory. She knew all I’d gone through and how hard I had worked.” A thoughtful youngster, Riley chooses a word for each season as her motto.
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
Husband, Wife Team Prepare Female Athletes for Success at Blockout Academy
Coach Nev, left, founded Blockout in 2016 with the idea of it being a unique training facility for female athletes. Strength and conditioning coach D.J. Taylor, right, has been employed to keep the Bucs volleyball team in top-notch shape.
nity to work with my wife and provide elite level training opportunities to volleyball athletes in our area,” he said. “Volleyball strength and conditioning is similar to other sports. You want to improve performance and mitigate injuries to the lower body and shoulders and hips. Shoulder strength is important because you are hitting a volleyball repeatedly.
“A lot of the work I do is ACL prevention as well as getting them ready to return to the sport if they have had knee surgery. It’s multi-fold.” DJ also is the founder and director of Athletic Foundations Inc, a nonprofit organization created to provide educational and training support to athletes, coaches, administrators, and athletic trainers in Alabama.
“I’ve always been told I’m wise for my age,” she said. “I do a lot of writing and a lot of reflections. “My word this year is ‘from,’ such as from affirmation to approval, from where I was to where I am, from this and from that. I focus in on what is this from.” Riley definitely wants to run in college in two years, but this fall she’s focused on state.
“My goal is to win state and I would like to attend the Nike and Foot Locker races, and my time goal is sub 17:10,” she said. “I also hope to have joy, the joy of just being able to compete in such an amazing sport. It’s a process. It’s not just about the goals, but the journey, doing something with others and making relationships. That’s why it’s so cool.”
Passion for Volleyball: Husband, wife team prepare female athletes for success at Blockout Academy Page 27
SPORTS
Thursday, September 23, 2021 ❖ OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Friendly Battle: Bennett Meredith, Hoover get the better of Evan Smith, Oak Mountain Page 26
SHUTDOWN
Defense Stepping Up for Unbeaten Spartans By Rubin E. Grant
Reagan Riley won the 3,200 meters (10:47.41) and finished second in the 1,600 (4:59.45), helping the Spartans to another runner-up finish at the AHSAA 2021 Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
‘Glory to Glory’ Mountain Brook’s Reagan Riley is Having Fun Being Healthy and Running Cross-Country
By Rubin E. Grant
peted in the Chickasaw Trails Invitational at Oakville Indian Mounds Park near Moulton. She finished second eagan Riley is running cross-country again and with a time of 17:56.86 behind Vestavia Hills senior nothing could please her more, especially after Crawford West, who won with a time of 17:36.52 to earn AHSAA Cross Country Spotlight for the week. what she went through last year. “She’s so good,” Riley said of West. “It’s always good Riley, a junior at Mountain Brook High to race against her.” School, missed most of her sophomore cross-country seaThe two crossed paths again last Saturday at the son because of hip surgery. Southern Showcase with close to 300 runners competing She had a torn labrum in her hip, a mix of genetics and from several states at John Hunt overworking, she said. She had surRunning Park in Huntsville. Riley gery Sept. 11, 2020, but came back ‘She has grown up and again finished second but this time to sooner than expected, pushing her herAbby Faith Cheeseman from The self in rehab to get back to doing what overcome so much. Webb School in Bell Buckle, she loves. She’s definitely the Tennessee. Riley clocked 17:27.71 in “The prescribed time of recovery the 5K race while Cheeseman won was three to four months, but I leader of our team with a time of 17:19.43. West was returned in eight weeks,” Riley said. and a leader in the third, clocking 17:53.81. Riley returned in time to compete in the Alabama High School Athletic community, someone Family Affair Association state cross-country meet, who’s looked up to.’ Riley comes from a family of runbut she wasn’t in tip-top condition, ners. Her dad, Richard Riley, raced at finishing 18th in the Class 6A race MOUNTAIN BROOK TRACK Mountain Brook and in college at with a time of 20:16.64. Still, she COACH MICHAEL MCGOVERN Furman and Auburn. Her mom, helped the Spartans finish as team Shannon (Simmons) Riley, ran for the runners-up to Homewood. Spartans until the ninth grade. Her This season it’s a completely different story. In the Spartans’ first cross-country meet, Riley three older brothers — Griffin, James and Harris — all ran for the Spartans and made All-State. Griffin also ran at Ole blew away the competition, winning the Warrior 2 Mile Miss and was an All-American. Invitational Sept. 2 with a time of 11:33. So, there was little doubt that Reagan would become a “It’s been incredible, so much fun,” Riley said of her return to cross-country competition at full strength. “I love runner. “I played basketball until my injury, but I’ve always running, especially being together with my team and racloved running more,” she said. “I wouldn’t choose another ing with them.” See RILEY, page 27 On the one-year anniversary of her surgery, Riley com-
R
See SPARTANS, page 26
Journal photo by Lee Walls
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
M
ountain Brook senior outside linebacker John McMillan woke up last Saturday morning and watched a replay of the Spartans’ game from the night before with his dad, Murphy McMillan. What they saw was another dominating performance by the Spartans’ defense as fifth-ranked Mountain Brook recorded a 31-0 shutout on the road at Shades Valley in a Class 6A, Region 5 game. The Spartans (5-0, 3-0 in Region 5) forced four Shades Valley turnovers and held the Mounties to only 124 yards total offense. Cornerback Mac McCowan and safety Jones Beavers had interceptions and defensive end Gray Doster and linebacker Vaughn Frost had fumble recoveries. For his part, McMillan liked his performance, although he wasn’t sure how ‘Everybody on many tackles he made. “I think I had a good game,” he said. the defensive “I couldn’t even tell you how many side of the ball tackles I had, but it was enough.” Mountain Brook has allowed only 17 has played at a points, yielded only two touchdowns high level.’ and recorded two shutouts in five games. The Spartans blanked Woodlawn MOUNTAIN BROOK 49-0 on Sept. 2. HEAD COACH CHRIS Not bad for a team that returned only YEAGER two full-time starters on defense – McMillan and junior middle linebacker Trent Wright – and two other part-time starters, Beavers and McCowan, from their 2020 team, which reached the Class 6A semifinals. “They’re playing very, very good,” Mountain Brook head coach Chris Yeager said. “We’ve had some guys who have stepped up. It’s been a collective effort with a number of people making big plays. Everybody on the defensive side of the ball has played at a high level.” Yeager said McMillan has been the leader, “the bellcow.” It’s a role McMillan takes to heart. “I’m stepping up more as a vocal leader,” he said. “Before this year, I was one of those guys who people told what to do, but this year I’m the one telling the young guys what to do and that we can’t
The Spartans’ defense opened the season with an impressive performance in a 33-3 rout of archrival Vestavia Hills. The Spartans held the Rebels to only 118 total yards.
