OTMJ 10.17.24

The Perfect Fit

Birmingham Suits This Belgium-Born Designer

Fashion designer Julie Maeseele will be participating in the Haute Pink Fashion Show, an annual fundraising event to benefit the Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center on Thurs., Oct. 17, at the Red Mountain Theatre Arts campus. The event features 10 local women impacted by breast cancer modeling customized apparel created for them by 10 local designers.

TBy June MAthews

en years ago, Julie Maeseele learned she and her family would be moving from their home in Belgium to New York. At the time, she was working with a nonprofit organization on a social textile design project. She was also training to become a seamstress and beginning to seriously consider a career in fashion design. So, the idea of living in one of the fashion capitals of the world was not unappealing.

“I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, fabulous. Let’s do it,’” Maeseele recently told Carrie Rollwagen on The Localist podcast. Then the location changed. Instead of New York, the family would be heading to a place Julie had never heard of before: Birmingham, Alabama. Disappointed, Maeseele was nevertheless looking forward to moving to the States, so she began researching the city she would soon call home. She googled “Birmingham fashion” and discovered the website for Birmingham Fashion Week, and she learned the event included an Emerging Designer competition.

Flash forward to 2016: Maeseele, then a resident of Cahaba Heights for a couple of years, entered that competition and won.

See MAESEELE, page 12

Community Mainstay

Edgewood Elementary Celebrates 100 Years of Growth and Excellence

By Anne Ruisi

In the 100 years since Edgewood Elementary was founded in 1924, the Homewood school has weathered a major fire, restoration and expansion while remaining a mainstay of community life.

On Nov. 17, students, alumni, teachers and staff – past and present – and city and school officials will celebrate the centennial of the beloved school with an afternoon party at its

Founded in 1924 Edgewood welcomed its first students in September of 1926.

College Avenue campus.

“I think we’re just really excited to be able to celebrate 100 years of Edgewood,” said Catie Seale, a parent who is coordinator of the school’s 100 Year Celebration Team.

The idea for the school that became Edgewood Elementary got its start after the area was incorporated as the town of Edgewood in 1920. Shortly after the town was founded, its leaders decided the community’s children needed their own school, according to “Homewood: The Life of a City,” by Sheryl Spradling Summe.

Courtesy See EDGEWOOD, page 8

of Halloween Happenings! PAGE 6

A DREAM HOME REALIZED Highland Lakes couple updates home with renovations and tiles PAGE 20

Iron Bowl Casino Kickoff Party helps Robert Reed Foundation raise money to fight GI cancers PAGE 8

AGH Homes owner named to builders Hall of Fame PAGE 21

ILobbying for Costco

want your help. I need your help. Friends, shoppers and Costco lovers lend me your ears. We need a second Costco in Birmingham.

And where would one locate said second location? Trussville! You might think I selfishly want one where I live, but I don’t live anywhere near Trussville. I just want all the people who live in that quadrant of the Birmingham metro to stop coming to my Costco in Hoover. No offense, of course. Costco/Hoover is a zoo because of you.

The Birmingham metropolitan statistical area is about 1.1 million people. All those people seem to shop at my Costco, especially on weekends. As far as I can tell, Trussvillians drive approximately 41 miles to save on gas at Costco. I know they do because the line for gas sometimes backs up into the parking lot for 14 pumps. My friends to the northeast really need to do the math on those savings.

I do understand the attraction of Costco, since I am attracted almost weekly. In fact, I make up excuses just to go. I don’t do this for any other retailer, with the possible exception of Lululemon, but that is a personal issue with highquality active wear. Go ahead, look at my picture. I am not exactly a yoga mom. Back to the Costco attraction.

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.

Is it the beautiful, artful interior with warm lighting and nice music? Is it that you can pull right up to the building to park? Is it the Express Lane for 10 items or less? Hardeehar- har on that one. No one buys 10 items or less at Costco. Costco is a well-orchestrated retail trap in which none of us minds being caught. From the moment you come in with your oversize buggy you are like a rat in a maze. Perhaps you need a new 85” plasma TV today. Those are immediately on your right. Immediately on your left the scenery changes every week. Today might be 60 feet of supplements that did not exist five years ago. Next week it could be men’s shavers or drones (I could use one of those). It will NOT be toilet paper or paper towels. You need to go 400 feet farther in the maze to get those. Those folks in Kirkland, Washington, know what they are doing.

tor on sale? I don’t have one of those. My wife convinces me we don’t need one, either. Keep moving. What about the 15-foot-tall Halloween dragon? We don’t have one of those, either. Keep moving. Trouble ahead: bakery and wine. Being a Baptist, I won’t discuss the wonderful wine selection since some of my fellow parishioners may be reading this. But, we can talk about bread, right? The bread problem is that just two people live in our house, which means you have to buy one loaf of Rosemary Parmesan for each person. Solution? Freeze one!

Next, on to meat and seafood. This is where you can drop some serious cash. Chilean sea bass? New Zealand lamb? Monster lobster tails and gigantic scallops? Eat well now and take out a second mortgage on your home. Costco thinks you’re worth it.

We have just passed the halfway mark in our marathon and our cart subtotal has just passed $300. Below average, but not bad. Uh oh, $4.99 rotisserie chickens just coming off the fire. That’s three meals of protein at our house. Grab one, keep moving.

Wait, what’s that I smell? Organic Beef Shiatzu Meatballs? The Demo People are lined up and ready to tempt us. Today’s lineup is Neapolitan Pizza on a Stick, fresh mozzarella cheese balls and farm raised tempura pork parts. I line up for all three. I may have pushed a small child aside on the last table since only one sample remained. Sorry, kid, seniority rules at Costco.

Still not out of the woods, we head down the frozen food aisle to buy a three-month supply of thick-sliced bacon and a 64-count box of ice cream drumsticks. They were on sale. It’s a good day.

Publisher & Editor: Maury Wald

Copy Editor: Virginia Martin

Features Writer: Donna Cornelius

Staff Writers: June Mathews, Anne Ruisi

Photographer: Jordan Wald

Sports Editor: Rubin E. Grant

Contributors: Evelyn Byrne, Solomon Crenshaw

Jr., Ana Good, Lee Hurley, Madoline Markham Koonce, Susan Swagler

Advertising Sales: Julie Trammell Edwards, Gail Kidd

OVER THE MOUNTAIN JO U RNA L October 17, 2024 Vol. 35, No. 6

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.

After the TVs and drones, you get on the main freeway. You would think people have driven on enough freeways to know you drive on the right. Not at Costco. People not only stray from their lane, they actually cross over into oncoming traffic. I find this very annoying. I almost always make it past the clothes aisle since they have nothing small enough for me to wear. I am five feet three inches tall and weigh 130 pounds. Costco clothes buyers don’t know men my size exist. On my right I now see bedding and small appliances. I keep focused and move ahead. Wait, is that a backup genera-

I snuck by the salesperson representing hot tubs only to be caught by a sign that said Cape Cod potato chips, the really big bag, were on sale. I took two. Time for checkout. The checkout lines may get long, but those employees are fast, efficient and pretty darn friendly. I’ve seen the productivity charts on these people. They have them on the wall as you head down to the restrooms. Seriously. No pressure there. I hope they get paid a lot.

Receipt in hand, we head toward the exit with just one last thing to do. “We’ll take two of those $1.50 hot dog/cold drink combos.” I love Costco. Burp.

Old joke: What’s the most expensive vehicle you can drive?

Answer: A Costco shopping cart.

P.S. Costco will also help plan your next exotic vacation. I may let them get us to Fiji – as long as Fiji has a Costco.

Friends and family gathered in the Mountain Brook home of Carol Adair to celebrate the 107th birthday of Carol’s father, James “Jimmie” Davis, on Oct. 6, (Carol and Jimmie pictured). The United States had entered World War I just six months before Davis was born on Oct. 8, 1917, in North Carolina. He grew up and became a lawyer and a beloved figure in Albany, Georgia, where he had a long career in professional and public service, serving as mayor from 1964-1968, then as city attorney for 23 years. He was married to the late Jean Bennett Davis for 64 years. More than 20 people attended the event, including seven who traveled from out of town. His caregivers did the decorating and guests were served traditional Southern party fare of cake, ice cream, punch, cheese straws and nuts. Guests included Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart H. Welch III and Adair’s neighbors on Cherokee Road. A special guest was Sugar, a friendly pooch owned by neighbors Mallie and Ronny Smith, who enjoys frolicking in Adair’s yard.

photo by Jordan Wald

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

RANDY ADAMY

Oct. 17-19

Homewood Library Book Sale

Fill a bag with books for $7 as the Friends of the Homewood Library hold a book sale. Bags will be provided and all proceeds will benefit the Homewood Public Library. When: 10 a.m.4 p.m. Where: Homewood Library Friends Bookstore

Oct. 18-20

Psycho Beach Party

“Gidget”, Frankie and Annette beach party epics, and Hitchcock psychological suspense thrillers such as “Spellbound” and “Marnie” are given a shotgun marriage. Chicklet Forrest, a teenage tomboy, desperately wants to be part of the surf crowd on Malibu Beach in 1962. One thing getting in her way is her unfortunate tendency towards split personalities. When: Various showtimes Where: Birmingham Festival Theatre

Oct. 17-27

Shop Save and Share Fundraiser

The Junior League of Birmingham’s 19th annual Shop Save and Share fundraiser is back! Buy

a $40 card from the league and get 20% off at 250 area retailers, restaurants and entertainment venues from Oct. 16-27. The sale benefits the league’s Building Partnerships for a Better Birmingham. To learn more and buy a card, visit shopsaveandshare.net

Fri., Oct. 18

Putt for Pitt Hopkins Golf Tournament

Help raise awareness of Pitt Hopkins Syndrome and raise funds for the Pitt Hopkins Research Foundation at this 4th annual golf tournament. The event is being held in honor of Homewood resident John Wesley Holley, among others in Alabama. When: 9 a.m. Where: Highland Park Golf Course

A Night Dark and Grimm

Join the Halloween fun at the O’Neal Library for A Night Dark and Grimm Costume Contest. Wear your costumes for tons of games, costumed characters, prizes, crafts and treats. All ages are welcome with an adult. When: 6 p.m. Where: O’Neal Library, Mountain Brook

Alabama Symphony Orchestra Super Pops!

The ASO’s Back to the 80s concert brings to life classic hits that defined a generation with artists like Elton John, Madonna, Billy Joel, Steve Winwood, Cyndi Lauper and much more. When: 7 p.m. Where: BJCC Concert Hall

RUSALKA: THE LITTLEST MERMAID With Opera Birmingham

NOV 3

Halloween in the Heights and Witches Ride | Sat., Oct. 26

Trick or Treat with the Cahaba Heights Merchants Association! Businesses will be full of treats for the entire family, and then enjoy the after party at Heights Village with live music on the patio, along with Mr. Larry the Balloon Guy and more children’s activities. When: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Ride starts at 4 p.m. Where: 3138 Heights Village, Cahaba Heights

Oct. 18-19

Rusalka: The Littlest Mermaid

Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid,” with music by Antonin Dvorak, this magical tale performed by Opera Birmingham’s will transport you on a sweet journey of searching. With breathtaking melodies, this children’s opera will delight everyone, and have everyone celebrating the triumph of love! When: Various showtimes Where: Avondale Park Amphitheater

Oct. 18-20 and Oct. 25-27

Alabama Ballet: At Home

Join us for our 2024-25 Season opening performances of Art in Motion: A Collaborative Series with the Birmingham Museum of Art. Immerse yourself in a world where dance and visual art merge to create an unparalleled artistic journey at the Alabama Ballet Center for Dance. When: Various showtimes Where: Alabama Ballet Center for Dance

Sat., Oct. 19

Homewood First Responders 5K

The Homewood First Responders 5K and Kids’ Fun Run will raise funds for the Homewood Police Foundation and the Homewood Fire Department. The race will begin and end in front of the Trak Shak. Officers and firefighters will be there with police vehicles and fire trucks, and McGruff the Crime Dog will be on hand. When: 5K stars at 8 a.m., Fun Run at 9 a.m. Where: The Trak Shak, Homewood

Charles Ghigna Book Signing

Children’s author Charles Ghigna, also known as “Father Goose,” will be signing copies of his new book, “Bound to Dream: An Immigrant Story” When: 1 p.m. Where: Barnes & Noble, The Summit

The Stupid Shall be Punished

Comedian Marvin Hunter, affectionately known as the “Grumpy Uncle” and the “Gen X Ambassador,” will be performing live and filming his first comedy special at the Red Mountain Theatre. Marvin’s common-sense approach to comedy is quick witted and straight to the punch with no chaser. When: 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Where: Red Mountain Theatre

Haunt the Hills

Cheralyn Sammis, Katelyn Griffin, Melissa Vargas and Katie Alexander at last year’s Halloween in the Heights and Witches Ride.

The Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce will hold the third annual Haunt the Hills Trick-orTreat Night at Wald Park. Sponsor businesses will be setting up booths on the lawn to give out candy and other promotional information. When: 4:30-6 p.m., with a movie starting at 6:30 p.m. Where: Grand Lawn, Wald Park

Oct. 19-20 and Oct. 26-27

Hoots and Howls at the Birmingham Zoo Calling all ghouls and goblins, it’s almost time to trick-or-treat around the zoo at the annual Hoots & Howls events! Work your way through the new owl hay maze, then find the hidden coyote figures around the zoo in the scavenger hunt. Interactive animal shows will be at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Gigi’s Porch in Alabama Wilds. When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Where: Birmingham Zoo

Oct. 19-Nov. 2

Three Little Kittens

Step into the enchanting world of “The Three Little Kittens” where Katie Sue, Purr, Tuffy and Whiskers embark on a delightful adventure! The show is recommended for children ages 4-8 and will be performed in BCT’s Wee Folks Theatre. When: Saturdays at 10 a.m. Where: Birmingham Children’s Theatre

Sun., Oct. 20

Mac+Cheese Festival

Come to an annual event that’s part-competition, part-celebration of the South’s ultimate comfort food. Try mac and cheese dishes from a variety of chefs at this family- and pet-friendly event. Live music, a kid’s zone, balloon artists, face painting and more. When: 1-4 p.m. Where: Back Forty Brewing Co.

Step Up for Down Syndrome

This annual walk was established to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down Syndrome and to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October. Funds raised by walkers helps support Down Syndrome Alabama. When: Registration begins at 12:30 p.m., walk starts at 2 p.m. Where: Wald Park, Grand Lawn

Journal file photo by Jordan Wald

Trunk-or-Treat at the Homewood Library

The Homewood Library Foundation Trunk-or-Treat is hosting an afternoon of fun activities at Trunk-or-Treat! The family-friendly event is open to all ages. When: 3-5 p.m. Where: Homewood Library.

Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert

Come sing along at this family friendly event where “Encanto” lovers of all ages get to sing along with their favorite songs performed by a live band while watching the full Disney film. When: 4 p.m. Where: Alys Stephens Center

Liberty Park Witches Ride

Liberty Park’s 5th golf cart witches ride will begin at Provence Park, and head down Vestlake Ridge Drive and Lake Parkway before circling to end back at Provence Park. The witches are partnering with Vestavia Hills High School’s RISE program and all proceeds will benefit the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB. When: 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Where: Liberty Park, Vestavia Hills

Mon., Oct. 21

The Sixteen Harry Christophers conducts renowned choral group The Sixteen, in Birmingham for the Cathedral Concert Series. For tickets, call 205443-8553 or visit AdventBirmingham. org/Music. When: 7 p.m. Where: Cathedral Church of the Advent

Thurs., Oct. 24

The Storytelling of Norman Rockwell

Dolores Hydock will perform at this fundraiser for the Vestavia Hills Library Foundation. Tickets are on sale now at the library or online at vhlibraryfoundation.org/ doloreshydock. When: 10:30 a.m. Where: Vestavia Hills Library

Oct. 24-27

Twelfth Night

Shakespeare’s timeless tale is a comedy filled with practical jokes and clever disguises as two shipwrecked siblings try to reunite in Illyria. When: Various showtimes Where: Virginia Samford Theatre

Oct. 24-Nov. 3

But Why Bump Off Barnaby?

This wild and crazy show poses a fascinating mystery: When Barnaby Folcey is murdered at a family gathering at Marlgate Manor, it transpires that he had a motive to murder everybody else, but no one had a reason to want him dead. While the bizarre group frantically tries to unmask the murderer, people vanish, poison is found in the sherry, and the police take forever to arrive. When: Various showtimes Where: Homewood Theatre

Wedgwood committee members working on upcoming social and golf tournament include, from left, front: Marcia Twitty, Vaughan Spanjer and Mary Ashley Twitty. Back: Paige Dye, Gail Braswell, Anola Ennis, Courtney Wright, Carol Pinkerton, Jessica Hinton and Anna Kate Coffey.

THE 2024 WEDGWOOD SOCIAL | THURS., OCT 24

Celebrate the Lord Wedgwood Charity, which raises funds to place lifesaving AEDs in schools, athletic programs, summer camps and nonprofits. Enjoy live music, catering by The Bright Star, a raffle and silent and live auctions. When: 6 p.m. Where: The Ferrell

LORD WEDGWOOD CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT AND SOCIAL MON., OCT. 28

The Lord Wedgwood Charity raises money to place life-saving AEDs in schools, athletic programs, nonprofits and summer camps. This golf tourney will include brunch, with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres after players finish the course. When: Registration, brunch and bar at 9:30 a.m. Shotgun start 11 a.m. Where: Greystone Country Club, Founder’s Course

Fri., Oct. 25

Morning Coffee Concert,

The orchestra will perform Symphonie Fantastique, a piece of music that tells the story of a gifted artist who, in the depths of hopelessness and despair because of his unrequited love for a woman, has poisoned himself with opium. When: 11 a.m. Where: Alys Stephens Center.

Midday Music

Organist John Lowe presents a free, 30-minute recital on the 100-rank Grieb-Williams organ at Cathedral Church of the Advent. When: Noon Where: Cathedral Church of the Advent

Oct. 25-26

Izcaray: 10 Years Remembered

In celebration of Carlos Izcaray’s 10 years as the ASO’s music director, the orchestra will perform an anniversary program featuring works Izcaray conducted at his opening concert in 2013. Featured in this concert will be ballet music from La Péri, Symphonie Fantastique and pianist Conor Hanick in the world premiere of Izcaray’s Piano Concerto. When: 7 p.m. Where: Alys Stephens Center

Sat., Oct. 26

Megan Montgomery 5K/Fun Run

Raise funds for awareness and education in preventing domestic violence by participating in the Megan Montgomery 5K Run/Walk. All proceeds from the race benefit Megan Montgomery Foundation. Learn more at megansfoundation.

Carnival in the Forest

Enjoy stories, games, prizes, crafts, food and more at the Vestavia Library’s Carnival in the Forest. When: 3-5 p.m. Where: Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest

Bluff Park Witches Ride

The witches “fly” while riding bikes through the streets of Bluff Park, with plenty of candy for the little goblins to enjoy. Enjoy the after party at the Electric after the ride. The event will benefit The WellHouse. When: 4:30 p.m., witches fly at 5:30 p.m. Where: Shades Cliff Park to The Electric, 2146 Tyler Road

Star Lake Witches Ride

Witches will ride on bikes, brooms and golf carts around Star Lake in Hoover, tossing out candy to kids. Presented by The Mims-Walker Team and benefiting The Green Valley Church Food Bank. When: The witches “fly” at 5:45 p.m. Where: Star Lake, Hoover

Harvest on Hoyt

org. When: 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Where: Homewood Central Park

Oak Hill Cemetery Fall History Tour

Meet colorful characters – the famous and infamous - from Birmingham’s “buried” history with this tour of Oak Hill Cemetery. Proceeds will go toward the maintenance and restoration of the historic cemetery. For more information and tickets, visit oakhillbirmingham.org. When: 10 a.m.-noon Where: Oak Hill Cemetery, downtown Birmingham

Sun., Oct. 27

Bolt for Breast Cancer 5K & Fun Run Runners and walkers are invited to this family-friendly race and fun run to support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama. Formerly known as Pink Up the Pace 5K & 1 Mile Fun Run, the event raises funds for research in Alabama. A party with field activities will be held after the race. For more information or to register for the event, visit www. boltforbreastcancer.com. When: 2-5 p.m. Where: Crestline Field, 49 Vine Street, Mountain Brook

Fall Festival Homewood Witches Ride Rides, games, food trucks, music from a DJ, the Homewood High School Drumline, a costume contest and lots of candy await those attending this beloved community party. It’s also fun with a purpose, as the Witches Ride benefits the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center. When: Fall Festival 2-5p.m. Witches Ride begins after the festival. Where: Homewood Central Park

Halloween Best! An evening of fun is on hand at the Hoover Met at a free party with music, food, trick or treating, giveaways and more. When: 4:30-7:30 p.m. Where: Hoover Met RV Park at the Hoover Met Complex

Vulcan’s Spooktacular

Grab candy at trick-or-treating stations throughout the museum, enjoy photo opportunities around the park, music, kid friendly activities and complimentary popcorn and refreshments along with wine, beer, and cocktails for adults. The Iron Man himself will be on hand in a Halloween costume. New this year is an adult-only Halloween party, featuring a costume contest and pumpkin carving. Learn more at visitvulcan.com/event/vulcansspooktacular. When: 6-8 p.m. Where: Vulcan Park & Museum

Fri., Nov. 1

Day of the Dead

The Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce and its Junior Board are holding this inaugural community supper. This event promises a fourcourse dining experience prepared by Dyron’s Lowcountry with white and red wine pairings and music by the Gore Brothers. Details are at business.mtnbrookchamber.org/ events/details/harvest-on-hoyt-2496. When: 4-7 p.m. Where: Hoyt Lane

The Phantom of the Opera

1925 Silent Film Classic

The 1925 classic silent film will be played on the big screen featuring Tom Helms playing his original score on Big Bertha, the Alabama Theatre’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ. When: Doors open at 1 p.m., show begins at 2 p.m. Where: Alabama Theatre

Wed., Oct 30

Inspired by Alabama

This is a once-in-a-lifetime concert with Brian Raphael Nabors’ Letters from Birmingham (2022), William Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony (1934) and Stars Fell on Alabama (1934), arranged by ASO’s fourth music director, Amerigo Marino. Join the ASO as we record this concert to preserve the Alabama legacy as never done before. When: 7 p.m. Where: Alys Stephens Center

Thurs, Oct. 31

Mystics of Mountain Brook Halloween Parade

The Mystics of Mountain Brook will stage their 22nd Mardi Gras-inspired Halloween parade featuring an array of floats, the Mountain Brook High School Marching Band and beads, T-shirts, stuffed animals and moon pies among the goodies tossed to spectators. When: Starts at 4 p.m. Where: Begins at Mountain Brook Baptist Church, to Montevallo Road, to Church Street through Crestline Village, to Euclid Avenue and ends at Vine Street.

Hoover Met Spookfest

Come dressed to impress in your

This collaboration fuses the work of Matt Layne, an early advocate of Day of the Dead in Birmingham, and local jam band T.U.B. (The Unknamed Band). It celebrates life and death by pairing the music of The Grateful Dead and traditional Day of the Dead remembrances. When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Virginia Samford Theatre

Sat., Nov. 2

Dia De Los Muertos

Bare Hands Inc. will hold this Day of the Dead festival featuring massive art installations, music and dance performances, beautiful costumes, food trucks and a parade procession with puppets and homemade memorial altars. When: 3-11 p.m. Where: Sloss Furnaces

5K Pig Run and Fun Run

Support the Mountain Brook Fraternal Order of Police at this 5K run and a 1-mile Fun Run. The run will begin at Crestline Elementary School, through Crestline Village and then back to the school. Dogs are welcome to join the fun. When: 5K starts at 8 a.m., Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. Where: Begins and ends at Crestline School

Nov. 2-3

Hadestown Teen Edition

This full-length, two-act adaptation of Anaïs Mitchell’s “Hadestown,” is modified for performance by teen actors for family audiences. It’s an intriguing and beautiful folk opera that follows two intertwining love stories: that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice and immortal King Hades and lady Persephone. When: Various showtimes Where: Red Mountain Theatre

Moss Rock Festival

This one-of-a-kind, outdoor fall weekend welcomes thousands of visitors annually to explore Nature, Art + Design, Smart Living and enjoy a beer garden, café, food trucks and more. When: Nov. 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Nov. 3, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Where: Hoover Metroplex

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

By Lee HurLey

At the heart of silence is prayer.

At the heart of prayer is faith.

At the heart of faith is life.

At the heart of life is service.

– Mother Teresa

The Robert Reed Foundation will once again host an Iron Bowl Casino Kickoff Party to help raise money for gastrointestinal cancer research.

The event will be at The Club on Nov. 21. Expect to find casino tables, live music, an open bar, a cocktail buffet, a silent auction, a Denny Chimes wine pull – pick a disguised bottle and hope it’s worth a lot of money – and a Toomer’s Corner liquor toss – toss a ring onto a bottle and take it home,

Consider this, the money spent in revelry will fund critically needed GI cancer research. Nearly $2 million already has been raised, and much of that money has been doubled and redoubled by other grants. In other words, having fun saves lives.

The unpleasant truth about GI cancer –esophageal, liver, bile duct, pancreatic, stomach and colorectal – is that they are some of the most painful, debilitating and deadly cancers that exist. The GI tract is a 25-foot-long pathway that extends from the mouth to the anus.

EDGEWOOD

From Page One

In 1923, the Town Council bought 6 acres for $4,000 and a year later, construction began. It was completed in April 1926 and the school welcomed its first students that September. There were 100 pupils enrolled and four teachers, according to Summe’s city history.

The school had four classes with two grades combined: first and second grades, third and fourth grades, fifth and sixth grades and seventh and eighth grades. R.E. Mallett was the first principal, and she taught seventh and eighth grades.

In October 1926, a month after the school opened, Homewood was incorporated. As the city grew, so did Edgewood Elementary. In 1928, Edgewood Elementary’s first addition, a lunchroom, was built. A second addition in 1930 provided four more classrooms and a basement lunchroom.

Early Excellence

A reputation for excellence in education, a hallmark of the Homewood system, started early at Edgewood Elementary. In 1930 the school, by now part of the Jefferson County School System, became the first in Alabama to receive an A-1 rating by a state Board of Education committee, according to Summe’s book.

More growth ensued, and while the school was in the county system, the county paid for the construction of a $47,000, 620-seat auditorium in 1947. In 1952, the county spent $66,000 on classroom additions, Summe said in her book. About 900 students were enrolled at the time.

Then catastrophe struck. On Nov. 13, 1953 –a Friday the 13th –a fire began in the school’s basement lunchroom after dark. Firefighters from Homewood, Mountain Brook and Birmingham responded, while area residents pitched in by helping to move records and furnishings out of the building while the fire blazed.

Service

Iron Bowl Casino Kickoff Party Helps Robert Reed Foundation Raise Money to Fight GI Cancers

Everything we eat passes through, and tumors can and do form in these organs.

Circles of Life

The foundation, founded in 2002, is named after Bob Reed, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2000 and two years later died at the young age of 60. Reed was chairman and CEO of Johnson, Rast & Hays commercial real estate and RealtySouth. He graduated from high school at 16 and started college at Georgia Tech. After meeting his future wife, Carolyn, during the summer following his freshman year, Reed transferred to Auburn, where he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering.

The Reeds had two boys, Randy and Scott, and they, like many others, adored and respected their father.

By the time the fire was put out it was past midnight, and the $225,000 school sustained $160,000 in damage, according to Summe’s book. The lunchroom and 10 classrooms were destroyed, two classrooms were badly damaged and the rest of the school sustained smoke and water damage. At the time, Edgewood had an enrollment of about 900 students.

Students in grades six through eight were relocated to the then-vacant Paul Hayne School on 20th Street South in Birmingham, while those in first to fifth grade used undamaged portions of Edgewood and the school auditorium while the school was rebuilt. The project cost $155,000.

Lunchroom Fare and Paper Drives Bob Arnwine, 76, was a first grader in 1954 when he enrolled in the school. By then, Edgewood Elementary served students in first through sixth grades before going to Homewood Junior High, the Hoover resident said.

He has two fond memories of his years at Edgewood. One is of the “fabulous” meals of the meat-and-three variety served in the lunchroom. The other is the weekly paper drive. “Everyone collected and brought to the school their newspapers. The classes had competitions and got prizes if you had the most, you know, the biggest stack of newspapers,” he said, recalling a time when two daily newspapers

Edgewood Elementary Centennial Celebration Set for Nov. 17

Homewood’s Edgewood Elementary School will celebrate its centennial with activities and displays at its College Avenue campus on Nov. 17.

More than 1,000 RSVPs have been received from people who want to attend the gathering, which is from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., said Catie Seale, coordinator for the school’s 100 Year Celebration Team.

“I think it will just be a really special event for anyone that comes,” said Seale, who is a member of the school’s Parent Teacher Organization.

Scheduled activities are expected to start at 2:20 p.m. with the dedication of a historic marker at the school – if the marker arrives in time. The sign was ordered early this year, but organizers haven’t received notice that it has shipped, Seale said. They are hopeful it will be delivered in time for the celebration.

At 3 p.m., guests will sing “Happy Birthday” to the school, and Principal Laura Tate and Superintendent Justin Hefner will blow out the candles on a cake that Seale said she will bake.

At 3:45 p.m., current and former or retired teachers and staff will be asked to pose for a group photo.

“Dad was a principled man,” Randy Reed said. “He loved his family and was a tremendous role model for us.”

Reed sat his boys down one day to talk about the four interlocking circles of life. He drew it out on a piece of paper.

“Each of those circles represented 1. Faith 2. Family 3. Community 4. Career,” Randy Reed said. “He went on to share that our priorities needed to be in order and that all of those aspects of our life were interconnected.”

It’s not surprising, then, that the family began talking about creating a foundation to fund research while Reed was still alive, and both boys take pride from their dad having wrote the first contribution check to the foundation that ultimately would bear his name.

“Dad fought the good fight, and we never gave up during his journey. Our hope was rooted in our faith and in the phenomenal care dad received from Dr. Marty Heslin and his team at UAB,” Randy Reed said.

The Life We Save May Be Our Own

The foundation did something smart a few years ago. It created Faces of Cancer to humanize victims and emphasize the hard truth that GI cancer affects our friends, our neighbors, our families, ourselves.

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were published in Birmingham.

At the time, Arnwine’s family lived at 821 Sylvia Drive, and he and his schoolmates would drag wagons and collect newspapers from their neighbors. His mother would load them in the family’s station wagon and take them to school.

“You couldn’t see the front of the school for all the newspapers stacked up out there,” Arnwine said.

The papers were taken to a recycling center. Arnwine said he’s pretty sure the school received some money for the paper, and it was used for classroom needs, like school supplies.

Arnwine said he enjoyed attending the school and liked his teachers. His favorite was JoAnn Shiver.

Throughout the celebration, guests will be able to view displays related to the school’s 100 years. Banners will be up in the school gym, and a slide show with photos focused on each decade of the school’s history since 1924 will play on a loop.

Items related to the school throughout the years will be on display, Seale said. Among them will be the logbook kept by the Homewood Fire Department for Nov. 13, 1953 – it was Friday the 13th – when a fire destroyed much of the school building after dark. A lunchbox from the 1960s and class pictures from throughout the years will be up for guests to view.

Edgewood Elementary’s art teachers are working on creating an eagle, which is the school’s mascot, to display by the library and lunchroom, Seale said. Paper “feathers” will be available for guests to record a favorite memory from their school days there or their wish for Edgewood’s next 100 years. The feathers will be added to the eagle.

The school is also preparing a time capsule that will be opened in 2124. Students in each class are preparing mementoes, trinkets and other items for students in the next century to discover.

—Anne Ruisi

“I thought she looked like Beaver Cleaver’s mom,” he said, referring to actress Barbara Billingsley, who played June Cleaver in the classic TV show, “Leave it to Beaver.”

His one disappointment is that he didn’t get to go on the school’s annual trip to Washington, D.C. Only members of the school safety patrol were allowed on the trip and Arnwine wasn’t one of them.

Debbie Fain, a member of the Edgewood Elementary School, Homewood Alabama page on Facebook, attended the school in the late 1960s, from first to third grade.

“Even at that young age, the school had a big impact on me,” she wrote. “We learned respect for school authority, school property and how to treat others.”

Fain recalled students quietly and respectfully walking single file down the hallways and the girls wearing dresses, adding stockings to their ensemble when the temperature dropped below freezing.

“And who could forget May Day Play Day, Cake Walks and Paper Drives!” she added.

When her family moved to Georgia, she said, she missed her old school and felt “almost lost.”

“So, thank you to all the people who worked so hard to ensure that we were given such a great learning environment,” Fain said, adding she was “Blessed that I had that cornerstone in my life, along with my wonderful family.”

Journal file photo by Jordan Wald

Cancer survivor Kathy Polk, shown above with her husband Don at World Pancreatic Cancer Day last year, is being recognized at this year’s Kickoff Party on Nov. 21 See KICKOFF,

From

If detected early enough, GI cancers are often treatable, and that message is one that can’t be shared enough. Just ask Dany Hollingsworth, whose affable husband, Jamey, started having symptoms about the time COVID arrived.

By the time he could get a proper diagnosis, he had stage IV colon cancer and 10 months to live. Dany Hollingsworth has partnered with the foundation and works to educate anyone and everyone about the need to get regular checkups and colonoscopies.

A Face of Cancer who will be posthumously recognized this year is Mike Rutledge, who succumbed to

‘Our dad would have so much satisfaction to see

and to celebrate her 50th anniversary with her devoted husband, Don, next August.

Meet the Bradfords

George and Lois Bradford, who each lost a parent to cancer – lung and pancreatic – are also being recognized at the Iron Bowl Casino party in November.

George Bradford served on the board for years, while Lois Bradford served on the women’s committee, and they have put their money where their heart was. Son John Bradford and his wife, Ellen, both serve on the junior board, as well.

“The fact that we are being recognized is touching yet undeserved, but the cause is great and we want to do our part to gain support for the foundation and also educate those about GI cancer,” George Bradford said.

A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats

Medical professionals tell us the best way to defeat cancer is a healthy lifestyle, early detection and attention to one’s family medical history.

RANDY REED TALKING ABOUT HIS FATHER ROBERT REED

stomach cancer last August at 67.

Known for his faith, his love and dedication to his family, Rutledge faced cancer with a positive attitude.

“I enjoy every day. I don’t let the day drive me. I drive the day. You don’t take anything for granted,” he said, according to foundation material.

And then there is Kathy Polk, someone also being recognized this year who is very much still with us.

In 2021, Polk was having stomach and intestinal bloat and a chronic backache between her shoulder blades – all symptoms of pancreatic cancer –so she went to her doctor, who ran tests but did not find anything unusual.

Yet, he asked her to check back in six weeks if the symptoms persisted. They did persist, but it wasn’t until two years later that Polk finally connected the dots and got the right diagnosis. By then she had stage III pancreatic cancer.

Today, Polk has set three goals for herself, having already met the first by getting through chemo and Whipple surgery. Whipple is a complicated procedure that requires removing multiple organs, including the head of the pancreas and part of the stomach.

Her second and third goals are to reach her 70th birthday in December

It’s important advice, yet sometimes all of these boxes are checked and we find it’s still our turn. Cancer is color blind, gender neutral and uninterested in net worth.

It’s at that point we realize how important it is to join together for a righteous cause.

Randy Reed sums it up, “Our dad would have so much satisfaction to see the overwhelming amount of support that has come from our community. There have been so many volunteers who put in hours and hours to organize and execute this event each year and so many who have shown generosity with their financial support.”

Iron Bowl Finish the Fight Details

Tickets are available at reedgifoundation. networkforgood.com. The link is low on the page. Sponsorships still are available.

Pre-Party begins at 6 p.m. Casino Party begins at 7 p.m.

Updated info will be available on Instagram and Facebook @Reedgifoundation.

Please contact Hannon Davidson for questions or more details. Hannon@ Reedgifoundation.com or 205-907-3473.

We look forward to being your neighborhood bank and a part of the Homewood Community! www.southpoint.bank

Journal file

photo by Jordan Wald

Medicare Made Easy

Simplifying the process with Medicare Advantage

Navigating the complexities of Medicare can often feel overwhelming, leaving many people confused and uncertain about their healthcare choices. With multiple parts and a variety of plans, it’s no wonder that understanding Medicare feels like a daunting task. Fortunately, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama simplifies the process with Medicare Advantage plans that make it easier for you to understand your options and make informed decisions about your healthcare.

To help you make those important decisions, here are some of the major Medicare changes you can look forward to in 2025 and how you can let Blue work for you.

The Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act

One of the key changes in recent healthcare legislation is the Inflation Reduction Act, which has brought significant reforms to Medicare. This Act aims to reduce out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions, expand coverage to include more services and medications and make healthcare more affordable overall. For Medicare enrollees, the Inflation Reduction Act introduces several critical benefits in 2025:

• Lower Prescription Drug Costs: The $8,000 maximum out-of-pocket will be reduced to a $2,000 cap for prescription drugs, and “the donut hole” coverage gap has been removed! This will be a game changer for many, providing financial relief and ensuring access to necessary medications without the worry of high expenses.

• More Accessible Healthcare: By including more services and medications, the Act ensures a more comprehensive healthcare experience, addressing a broader range of health needs.

• Affordable Payment Option: The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (M3P) is a new payment option that is designed to help manage your out-of-pocket drug costs by spreading them across the calendar year (January–December) in monthly payments. This payment option might help you manage your monthly expenses, but it doesn’t save you money or lower your drug costs.

Blue Advantage® is a PPO and BlueRxSM is a PDP with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Blue Advantage (PPO) and BlueRx (PDP) depends on contract renewal. This is a solicitation of insurance. Contact may be made by an issuer or insurance producer. C PlusSM is a Medicare Select Plan and is a private insurance plan regulated by the Alabama Department of Insurance. It is not connected to or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Blue Advantage (PPO) and BlueRx (PDP) are provided by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

1Every year Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. Source: BCBSALMedicare.com/whybcbsal

2We are available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. CST. From October 1 to March 31, the hours of operation are Monday – Sunday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. CST. You may be required to leave a message for calls made after hours, weekends and holidays. Calls will be returned the next business day.

How to Choose the Right Plan for You

Selecting the right Medicare plan is a crucial decision, and it’s important to consider several factors to ensure the best fit for your needs. Here are some considerations to help you decide:

Is your doctor in the plan’s network?

What will your prescription costs be?

What are your overall monthly expenses?

Designed for Alabamians by Alabamians

Are you covered when you travel?

Are there extra benefits like dental, vision and hearing?

Simplified Plan Options

Understanding that every individual has unique healthcare needs, Blue Cross offers a variety of plan options to ensure that you find the right fit:

• A Part C Medicare Advantage plan

• Offers all-in-one coverage

• Combines medical and prescription drug benefits with extras like vision and dental

• A Medicare Select Plan or type of Medigap Medicare Supplement plan

• Provides fewer out-of-pocket costs for Medicare-covered services

With over 85 years of experience, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama offers trusted healthcare coverage. Our extensive network includes 90% of doctors and 100% of hospitals in Alabama,1 providing top-tier care statewide. We offer comprehensive plans that cover medical expenses, prescription drugs, and additional benefits like dental, vision, and hearing.

Our commitment to quality is reflected in high customer satisfaction and ratings, with Blue Advantage plans earning 5 stars for Customer Service and 4 stars overall in 2024.1 Our emphasis on customer service ensures you’re never alone in navigating your healthcare options.

Choosing Blue Cross means peace of mind, with local resources and straightforward plans designed to make your Medicare journey simple and easy.

To get more information or talk to a local advisor, call [1-855-978-5184] (TTY 711) or visit [BCBSALMedicare.com/Blue13], 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. CST.2

Let Blue work for you.

• A Medicare-approved Part D plan

• Pairs with C Plus or Original Medicare

• Helps pay for prescription drugs

In a relatively short amount of time, she had made her mark in the local fashion world, and her attachment to the community was growing. She felt the unexpected switch from New York to Birmingham was meant to be and had truly worked out for the best.

“This is an amazing community,” she said. “Everybody knows everybody, and people are super-supportive and humble versus where I’m from or in New York, where people are more pretentious. But there’s none of that here.”

Because Maeseele cares about her adopted hometown and its people, she feels compelled to contribute to the life of the community through involvement as an individual and a businesswoman. Thus, she has taught workshops in hand embroidery, upcycling and sustainable fashion in places such as the gallery space at Pizitz and O’Neal Public Library and for the Youth Serve leadership organization.

Maeseele has also volunteered for UAB Arts in Medicine and participates in makers markets in Birmingham and Nashville. And she occasionally serves as a panelist for arts-related discussions at church or community gatherings.

“Working as an artist can be isolating,” she said, “but I want to be part of my community, share my skills and glorify God with my work.”

One way Maeseele is fulfilling those goals is through the Haute Pink Fashion Show, an annual fundraising event to benefit the Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center. Set for Oct. 17 at the Red Mountain Theatre Arts campus, the show will spotlight the 1

in 8 women and 1 in 1,000 men in Alabama diagnosed with breast cancer.

Haute Pink will feature 10 local women impacted by breast cancer modeling customized apparel created for them by 10 local designers.

“I am one of the designers,” said Maeseele. “Forge reached out to me for their first Haute Pink event in 2021, and I have been participating since then, with the exception of last year’s edition. It’s an exciting way to be part of a fundraiser.”

Haute Pink, Maeseele said, inspires, honors and remembers everyone affected by breast cancer. Funds raised during the show will benefit Forge’s mission of improving the quality of life for Alabama breast cancer patients, survivors, their caregivers and loved ones.

An Artist First

Even as Maeseele becomes known for fashion design, she considers herself first an artist who happens to love clothing.

“I was always intrigued by making art, but actually having art that you can do something with, like, for example, wear, makes it more inter-

esting,” she said.

She works out of a converted three-car garage that she had specially framed to serve as the space where she creates clothing from scratch. Every garment is hand-cut and machine-sewn using single-needle fine tailoring and is built to last.

Maeseele achieves her signature style by mixing traditional techniques with a contemporary attitude, using recycled materials and surplus textiles as her building blocks.

“I’m not a tailor,” she said. “Sometimes people confuse me with that. I don’t do prom dresses. It’s just not my vibe.”

For more information, visit juliemaeseele.com or @juliemaeseele on Instagram.

Holiday and Winter Fashion

FRANCES VALENTINE

WINTER TRENDS

There is a swing back to more elegant dressing after a long few years of more laid-back and casual fashion, which we’re very excited about at Frances Valentine. A modern take on opera gloves and cape coats are an exciting new addition to this season’s trends.

COLORS AND PATTERNS

Gold is definitely making a comeback after silver’s reign, and it

goes without mentioning that all shades of red are still going strong for this season.

WHAT TO WEAR TO HOLIDAY PARTIES

Holiday parties are a great moment to have fun with what you’re wearing. More is more as the mood is jovial and there is always something to celebrate. Sequins, sparkling embellishments, luxurious jacquards, and rich velvets are always in play.

FINAL THOUGHTS

There is no better way to get into the holiday spirit than by wearing something that makes you happy.

Frances Valentine, The Summit, 225 Summit Blvd Suite 97, 205-538-5276

GUS MAYER

WINTER TRENDS

We’re seeing vests and blazers; wide leg denim; Cool classics – think turtlenecks and tees.

Also Knits; novelty pants; Trench coats; Barrel leg jeans; Off the shoulder and strapless shapes.

COLORS AND PATTERNS

Burgundy is in and plaid is the print of the season! Leather, fringe and deep reds and greens are also going to be very popular.

WHAT TO WEAR TO HOLIDAY PARTIES

Sequins – back to the novelty pants trend we’re loving a sequin pant, also satin skirts.Incorporate velvet pieces into your look. Anything that sparkles and has embellishments

FINAL THOUGHTS

Holidays can be overdone and it’s easy to go over the top. Make sure you stick to pieces you feel comfortable in and feel “you”!

Gus Mayer, The Summit, 225 Summit Blvd, #700, 205-870-3300

TASC

WINTER TRENDS

Layered shirts, pullovers, and quilted jackets to get you ski-slope ready.

COLORS AND PATTERNS

Light earthy neutrals with crisp pinks, purples, and silvers mixed in.

WHAT TO WEAR TO HOLIDAY PARTIES

A classic cloud polo with a hybrid jacket or vest layered on top.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Utilize layers to stay fashionable and warm

Tasc, 370 Rele St., Lane Parke, 659599-9240

Maeseele, above, works out of a converted three-car garage that she had specially framed to serve as the space where she creates clothing from scratch. She achieves her signature style by mixing traditional techniques with a contemporary attitude, using recycled materials and surplus textiles as her building blocks.

Photo by Blake Raymond

Photo by Stacy Allen

Photo by Moe

Cami Krablin, Gus Mayer

Beth Kazinec, Frances Valentine

Mary Glen Carlton, Tasc

Hoover High Student Wins Star Scholarship From P.E.O.

Sara Hancock, (pictured above with certificate) a recent Hoover High School graduate, has been chosen as this year’s Star Scholarship recipient by the Birmingham-area P.E.O. chapter D.

The main accomplishment of Hancock’s that impressed the chapter members was her creation of the nonprofit To the Fullest Foundation, according to an announcement issued by the chapter. Hancock started the foundation, with the help of eight other Hoover High students, to honor her mother, who lost her battle with cancer in 2021. The foundation provides tools for individuals to learn about breast cancer.

Hancock now is enrolled at the University of Alabama at Birmingham majoring in human resources.

Chapter D of the P.E.O, which stands for Philanthropic Educational Organization, is one of nine

Birmingham-area chapters, with a total of 42 chapters throughout the state of Alabama.

The Star Scholarship is a highly competitive one-time scholarship recognizing graduating high school women who demonstrate outstanding leadership, academic achievement, extracurricular activities and community service and who plan to pursue postsecondary education in the United States or Canada beginning in the fall following their graduation.

To learn more about P.E.O., visit peointernational.org.

Companion Book to Sewanee Doc Published

‘Unrivaled: Sewanee 1899,’ by Norman Jetmundsen Jr. and Karin Dupree Fecteau, (Shakerag Hollow Press)

Last fall, a feature-length documentary about The University of

the South’s 1899 invincible football team had been seen in nearly 90% of U.S. television markets. That film, “Unrivaled: Sewanee 1899,” now has a companion book with the same title.

The film’s producer, Norman Jetmundsen Jr. of Mountain Brook, brings that magical team and magical season to life in the book, co-authored with Karin Dupree Fecteau of Homewood.

It’s a 175-page, hardbound coffee table book full of photos, illustrations and archival information about the season when the formidable Sewanee players went 12-0 against some of the toughest teams in the South at the time,

including a five-game streak played over six days.

A special feature of the book is a QR code that readers can scan to listen to the film’s original musical score by Birmingham’s Bobby Horton.

The book is $75 and available at sewanee1899.org/book.

The Club Thursday, November 21, 2024 7:00 - 10:00 PM

Featuring: 8 Track Country

Honoring: Lois & George Bradford The Life of Mike Rutledge 2024

DRAPED IN FLOWERS

Botanical Gardens Shows Her Finest During Antiques at the Gardens Kickoff

The lush beauty of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens served as the canvas for decorators and others who prepared the site for the annual Gala at the Gardens on Oct. 3

The event was a benefit for the Friends of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and kicked off the annual Antiques at the Gardens show.

William R. Ireland was the honoree for this year’s gala. Fran Keenan, Symone Shaw and Kathleen Varner were the event’s co-chairs.

Luxurious décor created with fresh flowers, plants, fabric and lighting enveloped guests from the moment they arrived as they passed through an entryway designed by Norman K. Johnson and Landscape Services Inc. More than 20 floral designers set up areas with spectacular displays throughout the party site, such as a topiary arrangement, a cascade of orchids and a mannequin “dressed” in flowers with a cape made of fresh blossoms.

Guests nibbled on heavy hors d’oeuvres and had the opportunity to shop early from among the curated items featured from antique dealers participating in the Antiques at the Gardens show. ❖

Mary Lauren McBride, Lucy Israel, Emily Tomlinson, Caroline Woods, Danielle Balanoman, Suzanne Vardaman

Journal photos by Jordan Wald

Katie Lasker, Bunny Williams

David and Connie Weaver

Jacob and Emily Wood Forehand, Emily and Bill Bowron

Valgerdur and Jack Noble

Jennifer Ard, Missy Cox

Carey Thomason, Lucia Tabb, Ann Walthall

Tony and Evelyn Jones

Brad Cook, Lynn Andrews

Eric and Ruth Ann Ross, Beth Anne Matari

Herbie and Hannah Johnson

Bill Ireland, Missy Cox, William F. Miller, Sr.

Jenny Reed, Hanson Slaughter, Mallie Ireland, Stewart Dansby

Lina Forrester, Scott Kravet, Nicole Swanson

Jamie Hill, Fran Anderton, Ambrice Miller

A Taste of Hope

Oysters and Wine Combined to Brighten Colorectal Cancer

Oysters and wine were on the menu at the Taste of Hope fundraiser for the Hollingsworth Colorectal Cancer Awareness Fund at Food Bar on Oct. 7.

Supporters sampled oysters and wines during the two-hour evening event and heard from Philip Little, who also experienced colorectal cancer.

The Hollingsworth Colorectal Cancer Awareness Fund was started by the late Jamey Hollingsworth while battling colorectal cancer. The Mountain Brook resident succumbed to the disease in July 2022. He was 51 and didn’t know the recommended age for screening was 45. As a result, his cancer was caught too late.

The fund is affiliated with Robert E. Reed Gastrointestinal Oncology Research Foundation. ❖

Fundraiser

Knight Sauls, Fluff Roberts

Megan and Greg Mihaly

Journal photos by Jordan Wald

Warner McGowin, Scott Barringer

Philip and Leigh Little, Jessica and Ranson Roussel

Chris Albright, Dany Hollingsworth, Brantley Fry Natalie Wright, Jennifer Perry, Katie Avery

Alan Hand, Carey Hollingsworth, Syd and Burr Weatherly

Cathy and David Busby

Taste of Hoover, where foodies get to sample dishes and drinks from food establishments in Jefferson County’s second-largest city, marked another year of sold-out success.

The event, often described as a celebration of culinary styles throughout the city, was held Oct. 3 at Aldridge Gardens. It’s an opportunity for those at the party to try a variety of foods and be introduced to establishments they may want to patronize later.

Guests sampled food and beverages from more than 30 restaurants, caterers, bakeries and other food establishments in the city. Among the tasty bites were sushi, hot chicken, gourmet sandwiches, noodles, chocolate desserts and cakes. ❖

Steve and Stephanie McClinton, Shelly and Mike Shaw

Journal photos by Jordan Wald

Jean Ingram, Merritt Crooks, Monty Ballard, Tynette Lynch

Frank and Frances Brocato

Emma Terry, Christina Norman

Carol and Tom Dye

An

of

and

mouth-watering

Feathered. Trinity Counseling’s mission is to care for those in need of spiritual and psychological healing. Through the

work of licensed and certified professionals, counseling, therapy and outreach are provided. No one is turned away due to financial difficulties.

evening

delicious bites

delightful music was in store for supporters of Trinity Counseling during Tapas and Tunes at Park Crest Carriage House on Oct 10.

Journal

photos by Jordan Wald

Don and Arden Richards, A.C. Richardson, Whitt Richards, Bart McCorquodale, Chris Richards

Ashley Ferguson, Rufie Lewis, Missy Beaird

Emily and Billy Wood, Jill McCool

Derek and Tracie Rakestraw

Helen Katherine, Lyla Grace and Miles Hammock Ragan Wesson, Kelly Connelly

Old-Fashioned Cocktail Party

Gardeners

Members of the Madison (Mississippi) Garden Club were the special guests at a ladies-only old-fashioned cocktail party at the Redmont Park home of Jamie Shelby on Oct. 4.

The visitors were in town for

Antiques at the Gardens, a major antiques show held each fall at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

The party’s theme was a play on words: the Old-Fashioned, a whisky or bourbon-based cocktail popular since the mid-1800s, and traditional lifestyles. Hors d’oeuvres were provided by caterer Kathy G.

Each guest received a party favor of a small, corked bottle of local honey produced from the beehives of Jeff Lisenby. ❖

Holiday Open House

are not medical advice and should not be considered as such. Services are FREE and confidential.

Services are provided via telephone by licensed mental health professionals who recommend the most appropriate treatment options.

Lynne Stillions, Suzanne Sullivan. Brenda Fortenberry, Debbie Windom

Charotte Bartunek,Sandy Miller

Karen Arant, Amy Baddour

Courtesy

A Dream Home Realized

Highland Lakes Couple Updates Home With Renovations and Tiles

By AnA Good

Nestled among the Appalachian ridges of Oak Mountain in the picturesque Highlands Lakes neighborhood, Page Stabler and her husband, Alan, embarked on a transformative journey to remodel what they call their “final home.”

With their children grown and out of the house, the couple sought to create a space that was both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Their trusted partner in this endeavor was Robert F. Henry Tile, a family-owned business that has been serving the Alabama tile market since 1933.

Stablers’ connection with the tile company dates back to 2004-2005, when she was selling advertising for Birmingham Home and Garden magazine.

their satisfaction.

“There had been an attempt by the previous owner to redo the master bathroom, but the shower had such horrible craftsmanship that we felt it was something that really needed to be done,” Stabler said. The kitchen, too, was outdated with a Tuscan, orange style that did not appeal to her.

“We knew when we bought the house that it was something that we were going to do eventually,” she said.

‘My kitchen is a happy place now. It’s a fun place to cook. I no longer stare at orange and black granite.’

“They became one of my clients, and that’s how I got to know them on the professional side,” she recalled. “On the customer side, a house we bought in Vestavia Hills needed some remodeling, so I worked with them to redo two bathrooms and a kitchen.”

After moving from Vestavia to their current Highland Lakes residence three years ago, Stabler once again recognized the need for updates.

The Stablers’ home, built in the late 1990s, had undergone previous renovations, but not to

Stabler’s previous experience in home remodeling, coupled with her exposure to various design trends through her work with Birmingham Home and Garden and later with Hoffman Media, helped her formulate a clear vision for her space.

“I wanted something that was classic, clean, timeless, would age well but also had warmth and some color,” she said.

The Stablers enlisted the help of Robert F. Henry Tile for their kitchen and master bathroom renovations, using the company’s expertise to craft a vision that blends modern functionality with classic design. Their vision was brought to life with the help of Paula Robbins at the company.

The work began last fall with the bathroom renovation. Rather than completely redo the bathroom, Stabler worked with the company to

elevate the space and correct the previous owners’ missteps. The renovation included an overhaul of the shower area, as well as installation of a tile rug to dress up the space and replace previously broken tiles in the center of the room.

“What we love about the bathroom is I wanted that classic look that is easy to clean,” Stabler said. Large panels of porcelain tile that look like marble were used, installed in the shower including on the ceiling to ensure water drainage and prevent moisture issues.

“We even trimmed the door and window in tile, making it look clean and classy,” Stabler said.

Kitchen Colors and Function

In the kitchen, Stabler trusted Robbins’ expertise and eye to perfect the look she wanted.

“She helped me find the color palette that I was looking for,” Stabler said. She’s so talented and helped me create a beautiful and functional space.”

Stabler’s design philosophy emphasizes warmth and color, a departure from the stark white aesthetics that recently dominated trends.

“I was very tired of the all-white, no softness type of look that was happening in the market,” she said. “That’s now going away. We are going back to natural wood and putting color in.”

With Robbins’ guidance, Stabler selected a rich color palette inspired by a rug she owned, harmonizing elements throughout her kitchen.

The kitchen backsplash features imperfect,

The kitchen was outdated with a Tuscan, orange style that did not appeal to Stabler. ABOVE: The new kitchen backsplash features imperfect, glossy tiles laid in a striking herringbone pattern that catches the light. This design choice, combined with top lighting from the vent, creates a stunning visual effect. BELOW: The custom coffee station was inspired by an Instagram post.

Page Stabler (above) and her husband, Alan, embarked on a transformative journey to remodel what they call their “final home.”

LEFT:

Journal photos by Maury

AGH Homes Owner Named to Builders Hall of Fame

The Home Builders Association of Alabama has announced Alicia Huey, owner and president of AGH Homes, as one of two new inductees to the Alabama Building Industry Hall of Fame.

Huey’s induction follows on the heels of a productive tenure at the helm of the National Association of Home Builders, where she served as chairman in 2023. Before that, Huey served in various capacities on the executive committee of the state organization, including as its president.

“I want to thank my fellow members and the leadership of the HBAA for selecting me to join the ranks of this esteemed group,” Huey said in a statement from the HBAA. “Your faith in my work and my leadership at all levels has been indispensable in the fight for a secure, prosperous future for our housing industry.”

Huey went on to congratulate her fellow 2024 inductee, Jimmy Rutland of the Greater Montgomery Home Builders Association. Rutland is the president of Lowder New Homes and has served in multiple leadership roles in the HBAA, including as president in 2018.

Huey and Rutland will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during the HBAA Annual Convention in November in Destin, Florida.

Hayden & Mike Wald

Huey volunteered with Habitat for Humanity for a decade, was honored as the organization’s 2011 Volunteer of the Year and served as chair of the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Birmingham from 20122014.

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Alicia Huey

glossy tiles laid in a striking herringbone pattern that catches the light. This design choice, combined with top lighting from the vent, creates a stunning visual effect.

“It’s gorgeous,” she exclaimed.

Another highlight is the custom coffee station, inspired by an Instagram post.

“It is a painted floor-to-ceiling cabinet with the actual coffee part matching the perimeter cabinets,” she said. “It has glass doors that open, and the coffee pot rolls out on a shelf. It’s really beautiful and unique.”

The Challenges of Renos

Like any renovation project, the Stablers faced a few challenges.

“Balancing the cabinet design and the electrician to make sure I had plugs and lights where I wanted them, or where they didn’t show, was challenging,” Stabler said.

She emphasized the importance of communication with the contractors, particularly when coordinating electrical placements for appliances such as the microwave, which was strategically designed to enhance functionality in the kitchen. Clear communication and the ability to be present during the work helped the Stablers prevent time and money surprises.

The design process was remarkably swift, thanks to Stabler’s preparation and Robbins’ expertise.

“We actually picked out the tile and the countertop the first day,” Stabler said. “The more you can go in with things that you already like or desire, the easier it is.”

The Stablers’ neighbor recommended Roman Martinez for the tile work, who then brought in SD Construction for the general contracting.

Journal

photos by Maury Wald

fronted our cabinets instead of replacing them,” she explained. “It was inconvenient, but we managed well.”

Now, with the renovations complete, Stabler describes her kitchen as a joyful space where she can truly enjoy cooking.

“My kitchen is a happy place now. It’s a fun place to cook. I no longer stare at orange and black granite,” she said, referencing the outdated elements that once dominat-

ed the room. The new design features, such as deep drawers for pots and pans and a big deep sink, have made the kitchen more convenient and enjoyable.

“It’s pretty, light, and inviting. I’m looking forward to entertaining in this kitchen,” she said.

With modern lighting, ample storage and a welcoming ambiance in their kitchen and bathroom, the Stablers are eager to host gatherings, including their annual neighborhood

Christmas party. Stabler’s long-standing relationship with Robert F. Henry Tile has been a cornerstone of her renovation projects.

“I’ve known Fred Henry and Paula for 20 years. I’ve worked with them on five projects,” she said. “It’s not only about the great selection; it’s about how much they really care about your project and the years and years of experience that they have to pull projects together.”

“All of his subs are quality work, polite, show up when they are supposed to,” Stabler said.

Reflecting on the timeline, Stabler said the kitchen project took about

eight to nine weeks, slightly longer than expected due to minor delays in material arrivals.

“We were only out of the kitchen for about three weeks since we re-

Extending your living space outdoors creates the perfect entertainment spot and can increase the value of your home. As Birmingham’s leading experts tile design for 90+ years, our showrooms are curated to offer the best and most exclusive outdoor tile collections in Alabama. Set up an appointment and make a plan with our designers.

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Legacy League Gearing Up for Dec. 12 Home Tour

This year’s Samford Legacy League Christmas Home Tour will feature five homes of differing architectural styles, design concepts and décor.

But all the houses share one factor in common; they have either undergone extensive renovations or been rebuilt from the ground up, according

to a press release from the league.

Tickets go on sale Nov. 1 for the Dec. 12 tour, now in its 14th year.

In addition to a variety of homes, the tour includes a selection of pop-up shops, live music and holiday refreshments at the Samford President’s Home.

Tour proceeds go toward scholarships for students from challenging circumstances, such as homelessness, inner-city violence, disability or death of a parent or sibling, foster care, parental job loss, abandonment, parental incarceration and parents in

full-time ministry.

So far, the tour has brought in more than $425,000 for scholarships, tour chair Jan Service said in the release. It has featured 55 homes and attracted nearly 7,000 guests over the years.

Homes featured in this year’s tour are:

• Amy and Matt Kelly, 318 La Prado Circle, Homewood.

• Mary Catherine and Scott Laney, 504 Dexter Ave., Mountain Brook.

• Nancy and Ron Rowell, 2421 Chestnut Road, Vestavia Hills.

• Marianne and Patrick Strong, 503 Eastwood Place, Vestavia Hills.

• Julie and Beck Taylor, Samford President’s Home, 1994 Shades Crest Road, Vestavia Hills.

For the ninth year, ARC Realty is the presenting sponsor for the tour. AllSouth Appliance and Community Bank are premium sponsors.

Homes will be open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Tickets are $40 Nov. 1-30, then $45 Dec. 1-10; advance purchase is required. For tickets and more information, visit samford.edu/legacyleague.

2024 Christmas Home Tour Committee, from left, front: Lindsey Reed Curl, Claire Gwaltney, Sheila Smith (vice chair), Marie Cimbora, Julie Taylor, Tereasa Rima, Jan Service (chair), Karen Carlisle, Amy Duffey. Back: Betsy Elsner, Sharon Smith, Cathy Cook, Amy Fenton Lee, Jan Cobb, Cindy Bembry, Julie Gunter, Danna Duncan. Not pictured: P.A. Carmichael, Maureen Hallman, Cindy Hardy, Barbra Summers, Shea Williams

What To Consider in Making Home Modifications

Seniors and younger homeowners alike want to make good decisions when looking to improve their home. Things to consider, will the improvement:

• Make the home safer and easier for your daily life?

• Improve the aesthetics of your home?

• Add value to your home for a future sale?

• Is the cost greater than the potential return?

For seniors, modifying the home can make it safer and easier to live there, but it can also add value. Modifications that do both, without costing a lot, include changing door knobs from round to levers; these make it easier to open for those with arthritis and a new style makes your home look more modern.

Just painting one wall in a new, modern color can make a world of difference in the look of a room!

When it’s time to sell your home, upgrades to the kitchen and bathroom(s) are the most sought-after improvements by new buyers and can make life easier at the same time. Less expensive improvements include fresh new paint, replace or add beautiful light fixtures, replace old doorknobs and hinges to a new style, and changeout bath fixtures.

The main thing is to have a plan and then

Just painting one wall in a new, modern color can make a world of difference in the look of a room!

For anyone, lighting improvements can be valuable to help brighten up the home and make it easier to see. Replace fluorescent lights and those old Hollywood style bulbs in the bathroom with LED lights for major improvements in visibility and looks.

get started. It doesn’t all have to be done at the same time. Make improvements as your budget allows.

For a free estimate on your home improvement projects call Trublue at 205-839-3818.

Erickson Emerges as Playmaker on Spain Park’s Defense, Thanks to His Friends

By RuBin E. GRant

Zach Erickson is glad he listened to his friends.

Erickson played football up until the sixth grade but quit to focus on track and basketball.

He has become one of the top throwers in the state for Spain Park, finishing third in the discus in the Class 7A state outdoor meet in May. He also competed in the shot put and javelin.

As he headed into his senior year this year, Erickson figured he would return to the gridiron.

“Some of my friends told me I should play, so I decided to play,” Erickson said. “I’m having a great time.”

A 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive end, Erickson has emerged as a playmaker on the Jaguars’ defense.

Two weeks ago, he had his best

game of the season, recording three sacks and four tackles, including one for a loss, in Spain Park’s 42-7 victory at Pelham.

Hire OTMJ photographer Jordan

“When the season started, I was pretty nervous after not playing for so long,” Erickson said. “The game is a lot different at this level because the people are bigger, they actually run plays and give you things to think about.

“As the season has gone along, I’ve actually gotten more accustomed to playing at this level and becoming more confident in the skills I have worked on. The coaches have been amazing in showing me what to do. I credit the coaches for picking the right plays that allowed me to make plays.”

Last Friday, Erickson was in on a few tackles as Spain Park (7-0, 4-0) rolled to a 31-3 victory against previously unbeaten Chelsea (6-1, 3-1) in a Class 6A, Region 3 game.

REYNOLDS

From page 28

doing a good job of blocking.”

Coming into the season, Forester didn’t expect the 6-foot, 185-pound Reynolds to be the Lions’ primary ball carrier.

“He started as a sophomore at safety, a linebacker and nickel back,” Forester said. “Halfway through the season we moved him to running back. The other guys had done well, but when he finds a hole, he explodes through it.

“We were going to play him at safety this year and some at running back, but he dislocated his shoulder and … when he came back, we just had him at running back.”

If Reynolds had his choice, he would play strictly defense.

“I really play safety and a little

“He’s very athletic,” Spain Park coach Tim Vakakes said. “If he had been out here for three years, he’d be a high (NCAA) Division I, Power 5 conference prospect.

“He’s worked his butt off and learned how to play football at this level on the run. He’s getting more comfortable every game and he’s coachable. He does what the coaches ask him to do.”

Erickson wouldn’t have any qualms about playing college football, but he might just focus on academics. He has a 4.39 grade-point average and scored 32 on the ACT.

“I’m totally open to football and track in college,” he said. “But I’ve got the kind of grades that would allow me to go to school for educa-

linebacker, but with my shoulder hurt I can’t play defense,” he said.

“I like defense ‘cause I prefer hitting people, but I love offense, too.”

Reynolds plans to play in college.

“I’ve got an offer from Jacksonville State and I’m looking at a few other places,” he said.

With the Lions riding a threegame winning streak, Reynolds hopes they can earn a state playoff berth. Briarwood is off this week then plays at Hayden on Oct. 25 in their final region game before closing the regular season at home against McAdory on Nov. 1.

“We started off slow, but now it’s going good,” Reynolds said. “Even when we were losing, we stayed focused and fought.

“We’re looking forward to getting back to the playoffs. Our mindset is to win and do our part.”

tion.

“I’ll weigh my options. I’m thinking about going into the field of engineering ‘cause I like building stuff.” Growing up, he was big into Legos. “I’ve got a ton of Legos in the attic.”

Meanwhile, Erickson is enjoying his one season of high school football and trying to help the Jags stay unbeaten. Spain Park will continue that quest Friday when it hosts Calera (3-4, 2-2) in another region game.

“It’s been an amazing season,” Erickson said. “I’m lucky to be a part of this team. I love all the guys on the team. Coach Vakakes is always telling us to not only play with each other but play for each other, and that’s what we’ve been doing.”

WEEK 7 SCOREBOARD

Hoover 56, Tuscaloosa County 6

Vestavia Hills 42, Oak Mountain 14

Mountain Brook 47, Pinson Valley 30

Spain Park 31, Chelsea 3

Briarwood Christian 21, John Carroll Catholic 17

THIS WEEK’S GAMES

Parker at Homewood

Hoover at Thompson

Corner at John Carroll Catholic

Mountain Brook at Huffman (Thurs.)

Oak Mountain at Hewitt-Trussville

Calera at Spain Park

Tuscaloosa County at Vestavia Hills

Briarwood is off

Senior 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive end Zac Erickson (98) fights through a Chelsea blocker in the Jaguars 31-3 victory over the previously unbeaten Hornets.

Senior-Laden Hoover Volleyball Team Trying to Stay in the Moment Entering Postseason

By RuBin E. GRant

Third-year Hoover volleyball coach Amanda Wood tries not to look too far ahead.

So, even with nine seniors returning from a team that reached the Class 7A semifinals in 2023, she didn’t enter this season with the expectation of another trip to the Elite Eight and winning it all this time around.

“The expectation was just to compete every day in practice and in games and develop a deep bench so we could make adjustments when we needed to,” Wood said.

The Bucs were inconsistent early in the season but have the look of a state championship contender now. They were ranked No. 3 behind McGill-Toolen and Bob Jones — two teams they beat during the regular season — in the final Class 7A Alabama Sportswriter Association poll of the season.

“There’s been a lot of positives, a lot of growth and a lot of hard work,” Wood said.

Hoover closed the regular season with a 35-9 record, after going 4-1 in the Shrimp Festival Invitational last weekend at Gulf Shores. They were eliminated in the tournament quarterfinals by Spanish Fort.

Senior defensive specialist Olivia Guenster believes the Bucs are ready for the postseason.

“We had a bumpy start but really reached our stride as the season went on,” Guenster said. “We had some amazing wins and were playing in sync very well. We’ve had some

SPARTANS

From page 28

years, we’ve had eight girls to go run in (NCAA) Division I programs. They’re all over the place. It’s been good to see them move on.”

Among those are Reagan Riley, a sophomore at Notre Dame, Lucy Benton, a freshman at Baylor, and Mary Katherine Malone, a freshman at Auburn.

Senior Kennedy Hamilton is the Spartans’ most experienced runner this fall. She also has designs on running in college. She has an offer from Auburn and has scheduled an official visit to Ole Miss.

She also is shepherding Mountain Brook’s younger runners.

“Being a senior this year on the team has been so much fun,” Hamilton said. “We have a younger team, so being able to help teach and lead all the girls has been such a blessing.

“Going into state this year, I think our chances are really good. My goal is to help keep everyone’s nerves down and to just help the team focus on doing what they have been doing

recent challenges, but nothing we can’t work through.”

Guenster helped anchor a solid defense for the Bucs as she surpassed 1,000 digs for her career.

“I feel like I’m a consistent contributor and my real strength is ball control,” Guenster said. “If we can keep the ball in play, I feel we’ve got

all year.”

McGovern has enjoyed seeing how Hamilton has taken the leadership mantle.

“It’s been awesome to watch,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of conversations about her stepping into a leadership role. She’s a product of the older girls who were here and now her role has shifted and she’s the one leading. We’ve already pulled up one girl from the eighth grade and it’s been fun to see Kennedy take on that mother role.”

Competitions Heat Up

Hamilton isn’t just mothering but also running well. She finished second with a time of 18:33.58 in the Chickasaw Trails Sept. 7 at Oakville Indian Mounds Park. Two weeks later, she finished second in the Spain Park Invitational with a time of 19:09.40 to lead the Spartans to team victory.

Freshman Emelia White finished fifth (19:33.13), junior Georgia Jayne Stuckey was sixth (19:38.77) and sophomore Anna Ersberg eighth (20:08.07) in the Spain Park race.

The Mountain Brook boys also won the Spain Park race with four

a chance to win the point.”

Senior libero Sydney Durban is another player who keeps the ball in play, recording more than 1,500 digs in her career. She is committed to the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Guenster and Durban are joined by seven other seniors: Addison Bentley, Layla Smith, Sophia Shofner, Amelia

runners finishing fourth-seventh: sophomore Brooks Bazemore (16:40.68), sophomore Oliver Mange (16:42.40), senior Hudson Rukstalis-Williams (16:49.81) and junior Braden Little (16:50.69).

The Spartans traveled to Cockeysville, Maryland, near Baltimore, the first weekend of October to compete in the Maryland XC Invitational. Both the girls and boys finished second in the top varsity races, the 5,000 Meters Black & Gold.

The girls had a score of 103, finishing behind Bethesda-Chevy Chase, which won with a score of 91. The Spartans had three runners in the top 20: Erdberg eighth

Browne, Madi Lopez, Madeline Splawn and Kayla Terrell.

“It’s been really special,” Guenster said of being on a senior-ladened team. “Most of us have played together since middle school, and we know each other really well. We all have grown so close together and we all love each other.”

(18:58.24), White 15th (19:06.44) and Hamilton 20th (19:44.54). Bethesda-Chevy Chase senior Ani Bailin won with a time of 18:14.48.

In the boys race, Mountain Brook was a distant second with a score of 153. St. Albans from Washington, D.C., ran away from the competition with a 26 score as its seniors Sebi Hume (15:47.14), William Strong (15:51.16) and Liam Quinn (15:54.48) were the top three finishers.

Mountain Brook had six runners in the top 40: freshman William Morgan was 22nd (16:36.24), Little 29th (16:49.32), junior Joseph Spencer 30th (16:50.00), Bazemore

Olivia Guenster (1) has helped anchor a solid defense for the Bucs as she surpassed 1,000 digs for her career.

Hoover opens the postseason Wednesday when they take on Thompson in the Class 7A, Area 6 tournament semifinals at Oak Mountain. The Bucs beat the Warriors 3-0 in their only meeting this season.

A victory against Thompson would earn Hoover a spot in the area championship game and clinch a berth in the North Super Regional Tournament October 23-25.

The Super Regional will be played at the Finley Center at the Hoover Met Complex after being moved from the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, where it had been held since the beginning of the Super Regional format for volleyball in 2014.

“I’m excited to see what it will look like,” Wood said. “I’ve only known super regionals at the Von Braun Center.”

Even though the Super Regional will be nearby, Wood hopes her team just stays in the moment.

“Our main concern is competing and not worrying about the end result,” Wood said. “We can’t overlook the area tournament.”

The state tournament is scheduled for Oct. 29-31 at the Birmingham CrossPlex/Bill Harris Arena.

“I believe we have what it takes to win state,” Guenster said. “If we focus on winning each point, take it day by day and keep working, anything can happen.”

34th (16:55.01), Mange 38th (16:57.78) and senior Jack Chapman 40th (16:59.66).

“The travel trips we go on is always one of my favorite parts of the season,” Hamilton said. “This trip really helps to bond the whole team and make so many memories.

“The race we did really challenged the whole team and definitely made us better athletes because of how it pushed us out of our comfort zones. Racing on a new course with people we have never raced before helps everyone learn better racing tactics.”

LEGAL NOTICE

In accordance with the Code of Alabama, 1975, notice is hereby given that CB&A Construction, LLC, has completed the contract for North Woodridge Road Sidewalk Project, and has made request for final settlement of said contract. All persons having any claim for labor, materials, or otherwise in connection with this project should immediately notify City Hall – City of Mountain Brook, 56 Church Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35213-3700. ATTN: City Manager/ Purchasing Agent.

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

Erickson emerges as playmaker on Spain Park’s defense, thanks to his friends Page 26

SPORTS

Luke Reynolds scored twice, including a 1-yard touchdown run with 1:46 remaining to lift the Lions (3-5, 2-3) to a 21-17 victory against the Cavaliers (2-6, 1-4) last Friday.

‘He’s Something Else’

By RuBin E. GRant

Briarwood football coach Matthew Forester calls senior running back Luke Reynolds the Lions’ spark plug.

In the first half of the season, the spark plug was missing and the Lions certainly weren’t firing on all cylinders.

Reynolds played fewer than two quarters in Briarwood’s first five games because of a dislocated shoulder and concussion, and the Lions went 0-5.

The shoulder injury occurred four minutes into the Lions’ season-opener.

“I was running with the ball and I tried to stiff arm the guy, and he grabbed my arm and yanked it in the perfect spot and it came out,” Reynolds said. “They popped it back in place, but it didn’t feel good.”

Reynolds missed the next two games, then in the opening quarter of the Lions’ fourth game, he sustained a concussion.

“I ran some kid over and led with my head,” Reynolds said. “I think he felt it more

than I did.”

Since he finally returned to action, Reynolds has played as if he’s making up for lost time.

‘He’s a leader, a fierce competitor and he plays like his hair is on fire. He’s a spark plug that makes us go. I know that sounds like coachspeak, but he’s all those things.’

BRIARWOOD FOOTBALL COACH MATTHEW FORESTER

Three weeks ago, he rushed for 168 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries as the Lions routed Leeds 31-14 for their first win.

The next week, Briarwood traveled to

Senior-laden Hoover volleyball team trying to stay in the moment entering postseason Page 27

Mountain Brook’s Teams Gearing Up for Another Run at State CrossCountry Titles

By RuBin E. GRant

With the AHSAA state cross-country meet less than a month away, Mountain Brook coach

Michael McGovern believes his defending state champion Spartans are right where they need to be.

“There’s been growth every week,” McGovern said. “We’ve gotten better and better. We want to be at our best in late October and November, and we’re on track to be there.”

The Mountain Brook girls have won the past three Class 6A state championships, and the boys have won the past two. This year’s state meet is scheduled for Nov. 9 in Moulton.

McGovern likes the depth the Spartans’ boys team has displayed this fall.

“The boys team is super deep, the deepest we’ve ever been,” he said. “There’s a 12-second split from the first to sixth runner and they’re embracing it. The order is not set every week and that makes it better.”

The girls team has had an influx of youth this fall.

“The girls have a lot of new faces who have stepped up,” McGovern said. “Over the past two

See SPARTANS, page 27

Corner and Reynolds was spectacular, running 11 times for 177 yards and scoring on runs of 52, 65 and 13 yards as Briarwood shocked the previously undefeated Yellow Jackets 31-6 in a Class 5A, Region 5 game.

Last Friday against John Carroll Catholic, Reynolds was held somewhat in check, rushing for only 84 yards on 25 carries. But he scored twice, including a 1-yard touchdown run with 1:46 remaining to lift the Lions (3-5, 2-3) to a 21-17 victory against the Cavaliers (2-6, 1-4) in another region game.

“He’s something else,” Forester said. “He’s a leader, a fierce competitor and he plays like his hair is on fire. He’s a spark plug that makes us go. I know that sounds like coachspeak, but he’s all those things.”

Reynolds credited his teammates for his impressive return.

“I think it’s been good, but I’ve had a lot of help since coming back,” he said. “The team has gained some confidence and it helped me with my performance. It’s all come together. The offensive line has been

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

Senior Kennedy Hamilton is the Spartans’ most experienced runner this fall. She also has designs on running in college. She has an offer from Auburn and has scheduled an official visit to Ole Miss.