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Thank you! Vestavia Hills Rotary Club Ir n City Chef Thanks to This Vestavia Hills Rotary and Sunrise Rotary Clubs the generosity of these Participants, Community Partners and Corporate/Individual Sponsors for event raised over $13,000 in donations supporting Vestavia Hills Rotary Club and our programs to improve our community and world. Particpating ChefsAlex Fokkens was born in South Africa and raised in Cape Town, to support Vestavia Hills First Responders; Vestavia Hills Schools Student Programs: Math, where he attended the University of Cape Town and earned his bachelor’s degree in music. Debate and Robotics Teams; and Children's of Alabama Critical Care Transport Team Go to www.vestaviarotary.org to see event pictures
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ASFA Music Department Head to Lead ASO Youth Orchestra
By Anne Ruisi
When last year in his native South Africa Alex Fokkens heard about an opportunity to head the music department at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, he didn’t hesitate to apply.
“This job is exactly what I was looking for,” said the Hoover resident, who got the job and arrived in Birmingham a year ago this month. “I always enjoyed working with young people.”
Now he has the opportunity to work with even more budding musicians. Fokkens, who teaches and directs the school’s orchestra, also is the newly appointed conductor of the Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra. He held the first weekly Sunday rehearsal with the youth orchestra Aug. 28.
As conductor, he’ll be working with orchestra members, mainly high school students with a few who are college aged. Most are from the Birmingham area, but some travel from Tuscaloosa and Huntsville.
There are 79 musicians, which is a good-sized orchestra, but he’s still looking for some percussionists to join, Fokkens said.
He said his goals for the youth orchestra are one of the reasons he was excited about the possibility of working at ASFA.
“You’ve got the opportunity to really mold the way they see music and how it (affects) their life, of bringing the ensemble together to create memorable moments,” Fokkens said, adding he also wants the young musicians to have fun.
“Not all of them will be professional musicians,” he noted, adding that participation in a youth orchestra teaches amazing life skills. “My ultimate goal is when they’re done, they feel like they have achieved something great and have been part of something incredible.”
Sunday rehearsals involve preparing for the youth orchestra’s three concerts this year. The first is Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center at Thompson High School in Alabaster.
The concert will feature a full program, including the popular overture from the Strauss operetta, “Die Fledermaus,” Tchaikovsky’s “Capriccio Italiene,” a piece the conductor described as “loud and fun” and four movements from Prokofiev’s ballet “Romeo and Juliet.”
Orchestra members also will play the overture to “The Boatswain’s Mate,” an opera by Ethel Smyth, an early 20th century English composer whose works are being rediscovered today.
The remaining concerts will be presented at Christmas and in April at the Alys Stephens Center.
While his new duties with the symphony Youth Orchestra are beginning, it’s clear Fokkens also relishes working with his students at ASFA.
“The school is remarkable,” he said, praising the faculty and the students, whom he said work hard to be better musicians. “I’m lucky to be a part of it.”
“This next generation is the future of the arts, the musicians, audience members, the patrons. It starts here,” he said.
From Cape Town to Birmingham
Coming to Alabama has been “a really wonderful opportunity for my family,” Fokkens said.
He and his wife, pianist Margaret Foxcroft, have three grown daughters, two of whom were born in the U.S., and a son who is studying theater at ASFA.
Fokkens was born in South Africa and raised in Cape Town, where he attended the University of Cape Town and earned his bachelor’s degree in music. He and his wife studied in Europe and then decided to pursue graduate studies in the U.S.
Fokkens earned his master’s degree in double bass performance from Texas Christian University in 1999 and pursued extensive graduate theory study, according to his biography on the Alabama Symphony Orchestra’s website.
He then went to South Dakota for six years, where he was director of orchestra activities and instructor of strings at Northern State University in Aberdeen. While there, he worked with a youth symphony orchestra.
South Africa beckoned the family home in 2005, and over the next 16 years, Fokken held a variety of musical posts. He was artistic director and CEO of the Free State Symphony Orchestra, music director of the Symphony Choir of Cape Town, music director and conductor of the University of Cape Town String Ensemble and Symphonic Band and resident conductor of the University of Cape Town Symphony Orchestra.
Fokkens has performed in La Turbie, France; Ravenna, Italy; Cardiff, Wales; Birmingham, England; and at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
When he accepted the ASFA job last year, COVID-19 meant it took six months to get the necessary paperwork before he and his family could move to Alabama. In Cape Town, where the family lived, the U.S. consulate was shut due to the pandemic, resulting in a delay. Once his work permit was approved, they were ready to leave for their new home.
They arrived in September 2021 and are enjoying their new lives here.
“We’ve been very happy moving to Birmingham,” he said, noting how beautiful the area is.
The family is still discovering their new home and they try to explore different areas, such as Red Mountain and Oak Mountain parks.
At home in his spare time – when he has spare time – he tries to “tame the backyard,” where a groundhog the family has nicknamed “Sir Chomp-a-Lot” has taken up residence.
“He eats a lot,” Fokkens joked.
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Mountain Brook senior quarterback John Colvin had thrown only three touchdown passes in the first two games of the season, but matched that on his first three passes last Thursday.
Colvin connected with Jackson Beatty on scoring strikes of 42 and 54 yards, sandwiched around a 53-yard touchdown toss to Clark Sanderson, as Mountain Brook thrashed Minor 49-14 in its Class 6A, Region 5 opener at Spartan Stadium.
Colvin added a 7-yard touchdown pass to Carter Kelley for good measure in the second quarter. He finished the game 8-of-15 for 209 yards and four touchdowns. Beatty finished with four receptions for 120 yards and two TDs.
In the second half, the Spartans turned to their ground game. Cole Gamble scored on runs of 19 and 68 yards in the third quarter and Will Waldrop raced 49 yards for a touchdown in the final period.
Mountain Brook had more than 300 yards rushing with Gamble running for 154 yards on 16 carries and Waldrop 101 yards on 17 attempts.
“We are a good football team, but we can be a great team if we keep improving each game,” Mountain Brook coach Chris Yeager said afterward.
Mountain Brook (3-0, 1-0 in region) will host Woodlawn this Friday for homecoming in another region game.
Journal photo by Jordan Wald Senior quarterback John Colvin finished the game 8-of-15 for 209 yards and four touchdowns. Evan Smallwood makes good use of the talent around him. He completed 35 of 50 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns in the Jags’ first two games. Spain Park visits three-time reigning Class 7A Thompson this week.
Beyond Blue Returns to September for Prostate Cancer Awareness
By RuBin E. GRant
Anna Slive Harwood is happy that Beyond Blue is back in the month it belongs.
The 2022 event, presented by Medical Properties Trust, will be held Sept. 22 at Protective Life Stadium Club with ESPN’s Laura Rutledge serving as host.
Beyond Blue benefits the Mike Slive Foundation’s effort to raise awareness about prostate cancer and fund cutting-edge research.
Last year, the event wasn’t held until November because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re really excited to be back in September, which is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month,” said Harwood, executive director of the Mike Slive Foundation. “And we’re excited about having it at the Protective Life Stadium Club, which is ideal for it, as a live event.”
Dr. Edward Partridge will be the 2022 Beyond Blue honoree. As a former clinician, past president of the national board of the American Cancer Society, director emeritus and distinguished professor at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB, and founding board member of the Mike Slive Foundation, Partridge has dedicated his life work to fighting cancer.
He was instrumental in the creation of the Mike Slive Foundation, the first and only dedicated prostate cancer nonprofit organization in the Southeast. Partridge’s leadership and expertise has continued to guide the foundation’s exponential growth.
Beyond Blue 2022 will feature silent and live auctions, which will include a variety of sports opportunities and travel experiences as well as items such as a collector’s private collection bourbon to bid on.
Among the sports opportunities are tickets to the Southeastern Conference football championship game, the SEC basketball tournament, a trip to Los Angeles for the college football national championship game, tickets to Wimbledon and donated VIP packages from the Sugar, Liberty, Music City and Birmingham bowls football games.
“People have said, ‘You have tickets to Wimbledon? That’s on my bucket list,’’’ Hardwood said.
Some of the other auction items include a trip to Cetona, Italy, dinner at Gianmarco’s and dinner with chef Chris Hastings.
“This is our largest annual fundraiser,” Harwood said. “We want to end prostate cancer and make blue ribbons a thing of the past.”
Common Form of Cancer
Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer among men and the second most common form of cancer-related death among men.
Harwood’s father, Mike Slive, who was one of the most influential powerbrokers in the history of college athletics and a longtime SEC commissioner, was a prostate cancer survivor. He died in 2018.
“Of course it’s personal,” Harwood said. “Before my father’s death, he realized he could have more of an impact than just in college sports. He could help save men’s lives through the foundation.
“So what Beyond Blue means to me is it’s a fulfillment of my father’s mission and I’m grateful to be a part of that.”
Pressure Cooker
By RuBin E. GRant
Evan Smallwood is quickly gaining a reputation as someone who thrives under pressure.
In the first two games of the 2022 high school football season, with his team trailing late in the fourth quarter, the Spain Park senior quarterback directed touchdown drives to give the Jaguars the lead.
In the opener against Calera, Smallwood spearheaded a nine-play, 70-yard march, capping it with an 8-yard touchdown run with 23 seconds remaining to give the Jags a 14-10 victory.
The next week against Briarwood, Smallwood led the Jags on a 90-yard scoring drive, muscling his way into the end zone on a 3-yard run to put Spain Park ahead 21-17 with 1:02 remaining.
But this time, Briarwood responded with a touchdown drive of its own and scored on the final play of the game to saddle Spain Park with a 23-21 loss.
Even so, Smallwood had done what he needed to do.
“The pressure situations are awesome,” Smallwood said. “You have to take your team down the field and give yourself a chance to win or you get stopped and you lose. I like being the guy to lead the team in those situations.
“The first two games were really exciting and fun. We came out on top the first week and the next week we played a good tight game and suffered a tough loss.”
The Jags visited cross-town rival Hoover last Friday in their Class 7A, Region 3 opener. But because of early deadlines related to Labor Day, the game was played after the Over The Mountain Journal had gone to press.
Spain Park visits three-time reigning Class 7A Thompson in another region game this week.
First-year Spain Park head coach Tim Vakakes believes Smallwood’s makeup is the reason he has responded so well in late-game situations.
“I think he’s a leader,” Vakakes said. “He’s not going to be loud, but the other kids have a lot of faith in him. He’s cool, calm and collected. The kids love him and follow behind him.”
Smallwood had to learn a new offense during the offseason with Vakakes’ arrival.
“They ran a lot of veer with a flexbone, sort of like Georgia Tech,” Vakakes said. “We put him in the shotgun. I think it fits him well.
“He’s smart and knows where to go with the ball and he’s getting better at getting us out of bad plays into better plays. It’s an offense that allows him to show his leadership skills.”
He did that in the first two games with the game on the line.
“Both games we were in two-minute drill situations and both times our offense delivered, thanks to him,” Vakakes said.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Smallwood didn’t have any qualms about the offense Vakakes installed.
“It was a little bit of a change, but it was a good change,” Smallwood said. “We’ve opened up the offense more and that’s good because we’ve got some talented skill guys to get the ball to and it allows us to play at a faster pace.”
Smallwood makes good use of the talent around him. He completed 35 of 50 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns in the Jags’ first two games.
Double Threat
Smallwood is also a standout baseball player as a middle infielder. He was named to the 2022 All-OTM team in the spring after hitting .355 with eight doubles, 17 stolen bases and 21 runs batted in. He recently committed to Jacksonville State to play baseball.
“I love both sports,” Smallwood said, “but I think baseball fits me best for the future and I think Jacksonville State is the right fit for me.”
Smallwood was Spain Park’s backup quarterback as a sophomore and was slated to be in that role again during the 2021 season. But when Bennett Meredith transferred to Hoover, Smallwood was thrust into the starting role.
It was tough sledding. The Jags also had a few of their best skilled players transfer to Thompson and had difficulty maintaining any offensive consistency as they suffered through a 2-8 season.
Smallwood also missed 2½ games midway through the season because of a concussion.
This season, Smallwood hopes the Jags can turn things around.
“Our first goal is to make the playoffs,” he said. “I think we have the guys to do it. The coaches give us good game plans and we just have to go out and execute.
“Even though we have a tough schedule, I think we can make the playoffs. I believe in this team.”
Left, Vestavia Hills freshman Millie Burgess in action against Helena last week. Above, Rebels celebrate a score against the Huskies.
Tuscaloosa for a tri-match, defeating host Northridge but losing to Trinity Presbyterian. Later in the week, Vestavia Hills played host to Helena.
The Rebels will play their first Class 7A, Area 5 game Sept. 8 at Thompson. Hoover and Tuscaloosa County also are in the area.
Vestavia Hills advanced to the Class 7A North Super Regional tournament last year, and Gann believes they can make another postseason run this fall.
“I think if we can keep progressing we can make it all the way to the end and get to state,” Gann said.
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GANN
From page 24
Hardee said Gann has the ability to play at the next level, but Gann is still weighing her options.
“It would be amazing to play in college, but honestly, I’m still in the process of making a decision,” Gann said.
Gann has been playing volleyball since she was in the fourth grade, and she’s been on the Rebels’ varsity team since she was a freshman.
Gann is one of five seniors on the
JOSEPH
From page 24
there were only about 12 seconds between 1-5 on the team. This year they will be fun to watch.”
Joseph agrees.
“We always have a deep team and we’re so close,” Joseph said. “The top guy can bounce around all season because we’re so talented. We’ll be competing against each other and then we’ll be competing for state.”
Joseph figures to be in the hunt, something he was wasn’t able to do in the spring as Hoover won the Class 7A outdoor track and field state title. He was still feeling the effects of the flu he had during sectionals and did not qualify in the 1,600- or 800-meter runs. He did help Hoover finish second in the 4x800 relay, an event it won in the 2022 state outdoor meet en route to the team title.
“I’m beyond excited about my senior year,” Joseph said. “I’m ready to redeem myself this fall.”
Hoover opened its cross-country season last week in the Warrior 2 Mile Invitational at Thompson. The Bucs will compete in the Chickasaw Trails Invitational on Sept. 10 in Moulton at the Oakville Indian Mounds Park, site of the state meet.
team this season, including setter Kate Kaiser and Elizabeth Jackson, Mackenzie Merrill and Kaylee Rickert, who each play various positions.
Gann enjoys her senior teammates.
“I’ve known just about all of them since I started playing,” Gann said. “It’s amazing to go through all the steps together, including middle school and club, and to finally be seniors. I am definitely super excited about being a senior.”
The Rebels finished the first two weeks of the season with a 13-4 record, knocking off Pelham and St.
Joseph became a runner when he was in the third grade. He was playing church league basketball when his coach, former Hoover track coach Devon Hind, noticed him and told him he should try track.
“He kind of got me out there,” Joseph said. “He apparently saw something in me eight to 10 years before I started running seriously.”
Schmidt also sees it.
“He’s got that ‘it’ factor,” Schmidt said. “Athletes with that have a huge advantage.
“He’s a guy who knows how to prepare himself when he works out and when it’s time for race day, he knows how to turn it on. He’s a gritty Paul’s in three sets in a tri-match to open the season and then having a strong showing in the Juanita Boddie Tournament in Hoover, going 5-1.
“At the Boddie tournament, I was kind of taken aback about how well we were playing,” Gann said. “We were just being in the moment.”
The second weekend of the season, the Rebels hosted the Vestavia Hills Classic and reached the semifinals before losing to Jasper.
“It was a good tournament for us, but we expected to do a little better,” Gann said.
Last week, the Rebels traveled to
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kid. With distance runners you have to be smart, and he is.”
Joseph’s personal best time in cross-country (5K races) is 15:50. His best in the 1,600 is 4:17 and in the 800 it’s 1:54.
He prefers track to cross-country because he believes it’s a truer test of who’s better.
“Cross-country is a great sport for building character, but the course – some are flat and some are hilly – and the elements could determine the outcome,” Joseph said. “But track shows who’s better because there are no variables.”
For Joseph, there is one constant whether he’s running cross-country or track.
“I love the process of building up for a race,” he said, adding that includes sleeping and eating right. “For me, it’s all about mental preparation, especially in a cross-country race. You know there’s going to be pain, so you have to keep pushing through the pain when it hits and the only way you can do that is to be mentally prepared.”
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