September 4 2014 by Over the Mountain Journal

The Suburban Newspaper for Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County

OVER THE MOUNTAIN

inside

JOU RNAL otmj.com

ursd ay, September 4, 2014

V ol . 23 #16

The Over the Mountain Vestavia Raiders take the Ice Bucket Challenge to help raise awareness about ALS. Kevin Turner, the father of Raiders player Cole Turner, is battling ALS.

Get your motors running: Crestline Rocks fundraiser includes Touch-A-Truck event

about town page 4

Party Animals: Bank president is among ZooGala supporters

people page 12

showers of blessings Ice Bucket Challenge Is Personal to Vestavia’s Kevin Turner Story by William C. Singleton III • Photos by Lee Walls Jr. Buckets of ice cold water being dumped on suspecting victims represent

Kevin Turner played for the Crimson Tide from 1988-1991 and played eight seasons in the NFL for the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. Photo special to the Journal

showers of blessings to Kevin Turner of Vestavia Hills. “It is a huge blessing,” he said of the Ice Bucket Challenge craze. “People still may not know what ALS is, but at least now they have heard of it. That was more than I could say when I was diagnosed. For a relatively small but horrifying disease like ours, it was going to take something totally out of left field to catch people’s attention. I am thankful for every single ice bucket.”

Studio By the Tracks soiree honors students, supporters

social page 20

Celebrating the Arts life page 14

See ice bucket, page 8

Journal file photo by Lee Walls Jr

A Day for Remembering

The cities of Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills and Homewood will once again join forces to present a remembrance ceremony on Sept. 11. This year’s event will be in Vestavia Hills. See stories page 10.

sue murphy gets shell shocked p. 2 • homewood band honors two longtime supporters p. 28 • changes for cahaba heights p. 30

2 • Thursday, September 4, 2014

Opinion/Contents

Remembering Cam

murphy’s law

I Overton Park in Mountain Brook will be closed the week of Sept. 15 for work on a memorial to 3-year-old Cam Cole who passed away in November.

To honor the life of the little boy, a renovated section of the playground at Overton Park will be known as Cam’s Corner. For more on the story, see page 11.

On otmj.com

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

Coming Sept. 18

We’ll introduce you to this year’s tastemakers for the annual Antiques at The Gardens. Plus, we’ll have the latest news from the local food scene.

in this issue About Town 4 news 10 people 12 social 20

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Shell Shocked

could see what lay ahead. He couldn’t. was just trying to help. Last week, I ran across a turtle Of course, he didn’t take that into as I was backing down my driveaccount as I carried him toward the way. Let me rephrase that. I didn’t backyard gate. He was in full turtle actually “run across” it. I saw it, a cute panic mode, his little legs flailing in little boxy thing, very determined, and midair even though I calmly explained I admired his resolve, but he was going my reasoning along the way. in the wrong direction. He was headed I deposited the turtle under a delitoward the street where his chances of cious looking plant, then went about my being “run across” would have been non-turtle-hero business. Dry cleaners, exponentially increased, so I got out grocery store, post office. As I stood of my car, fetched my turtle hauling in line with my credit card in hand, I gloves (they’re also good for raking) began to think: My husband Harold has and gave the turtle a lift. been the recipient of a lot of my better I’m not new to turtle roadside ideas through the years. So have my assistance. I’ve carried these stranded children, and they’ve done their own Sue Murphy non-motorists over curbs, given them measure of flailing. “I just want what’s a hands-on, high-flying (for a turtle) best for you,” I would wail, but My neighbors are all sometimes it wasn’t enough. boost on their merry way. This time, however, I doubled You see, sometimes it turned out very nice people, but back down the driveway and deposthat I was wrong. I know, it surprised we haven’t had an in- me, too, but the fact remains: I don’t ited the turtle in my own backyard. Why? Because I know my turtle depth turtle welfare know everything. Maybe the turtle had been workinclinations. My neighbors are all very nice people, but we haven’t had discussion and I didn’t ing hard, one stubby little step at a an in-depth turtle welfare discussion think 6 a.m. was the time, for six months to get to the middle of my driveway. Maybe there and I didn’t think 6 a.m. was the time to initiate such a was to be a turtle family reunion time to initiate such a conversation. in the across-the-street shrubbery, The turtle would be happy in my conversation. and now he’d have to turtle-gram backyard. I knew it. ahead and say, “I hope to see you at I know a lot of things. Just ask Christmas.” me. I try not to be pushy about it. I try not to force my All because of me and my meddling. ideas on other people, but there are times when my ideas When I got home, I took a big bunch of lettuce out to are good and theirs are…well, not. I can’t help that. And the spot where I had left the little turtle, but he was gone. wouldn’t it be selfish of me to withhold my wisdom for Maybe he went over the wall–or under it–and found the sake of a paltry thing like personal boundaries? Of another route to his destination. Maybe he got picked up course, it would. by some predator. Is there such a thing as a turtle hawk? Take the turtle for instance. Sure, I could have taken I try not to think about it. him across the street as was apparently his intention, but Is the turtle better off now? I don’t know. if he made it across the hot asphalt, where would he go? I was just trying to help. ❖ What would he eat? I had a full 5-foot view advantage. I

weddings 26 schools 27 Business 30 Sports 36

OVER THE MOUNTAIN

JOU RNAL

September 4, 2014

over the Mountain Views

What’s your favorite play or musical?

Publisher: Maury Wald Editor: Keysha Drexel Features Writer: Donna Cornelius Office Manager: Christy Wald Editorial Assistant: Stacie Galbraith Sports: Lee Davis Contributors: Bryan Bunch, Kim Bryan, Marvin Gentry, June Mathews, Susan Murphy, William C. Singleton III, Emil Wald, Lee Walls Jr. Advertising Sales: Suzanne Wald, Julie Trammell Edwards, Tommy Wald Interns: Emily Williams, Jacob Fuqua Vol. 23, No. 16

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 ads@otmj.com. Find us on the Web at otmj.com. Copyright 2014 Over The Mountain Journal, Inc. All rights reserved. The Journal is not responsible for return of photos, copy and other unsolicited materials submitted. To have materials returned, please specify when submitting and provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All materials submitted are subject to editorial review and may be edited or declined without notification.

“I love the classic ‘Singing in the Rain.’” Amy Marchino Hoover

“I really like ‘Wicked.’” Rebecca Feldman Homewood

“I love ‘Les Miserables’ because I love European history so much.” Mindy McBride Homewood

“‘Into The Woods’ because it has so many plot lines.” Peyton Stanley Homewood

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

About Town

Thursday, September 4, 2014 • 3

Named “The Ultimate Smokehouse” by Ebony Magazine, July 2014.

F U L L M O ON B B Q . C OM

From 10 guests to 10,000, Full Moon delivers the ultimate tailgate party. With our fleet of portable hickory-fired bar-b-que pits and more than 30 catering vans, we bring the party to you—wherever you are.

4 • Thursday, September 4, 2014

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Schaeffer Eye Center’s Touch-A-Truck event will provide city service vehicles for children to explore during the concert. Photo special to the Journal

Banding Together

Online Voting Underway for Crestline Rocks Fundraiser By Emily Williams

have a few Mountain Brook bands, a girl from Northport and a group from Hoover.” The performers will be narrowed oting is now underway to to a field of 10 in round two of the talchoose who will get to rock ent search. Round two ends at 8 p.m. out at a musical fundraiser in Sept. 16. The lineup will be announced Mountain Brook later this month. Sept. 18. The voting round of the talent Those selected for round three will search for Crestline Rocks, an event be invited to play at Crestline Rocks to benefit PreSchool Partners, started When: Sept. 27, 10 a.m. for an hour. The band that receives the Sept. 2. Where: The grassy lawn in most online votes will be given the last Performers are battling it out in an front of Emmet O’Neal Library performance slot. online competition to earn a spot in the in Crestline Village. In addition to prime lineup posilineup of Crestline Rocks, which will What: Music Festival tions, the top three bands with the be held Sept. 27. For more information: visit most online votes will choose from The music portion of the event PreSchool-Partners.org three prize options. First prize includes gives local musicians the chance to one full day in the Mason Music showcase their talents on stage in recording studio with mixing and mastering provided front of hundreds of fans, all while supporting PreSchool by Homewood School of Music. The second prize is an Partners. evening gig at Otey’s with a $100 gift certificate to Taco For the second year in a row, IberiaBank’s Crestline Mama. Third prize is a $500 Village Gold Card. Rocks, sponsored by Otey’s Tavern and Taco Mama, will The weekend of festivities will actually start Sept. transform Crestline Village into a “shop and groove block 25 with the Character Crawl through Crestline Village. party” to raise money for PreSchool Partners, organizers From 5-8 p.m., families can meet and mingle with their said. PreSchool Partners is a nonprofit organization that aims favorite characters, mascots and personalities. They also can eat, shop and help kick off this year’s Crestline Rocks. to prepare preschool children and their parents for kinderThe concert portion of the event will begin at noon garten in the Birmingham City school system. Sept. 27 on the grassy lawn across from the Emmet The first round of the online competition to select O’Neal Library. The event will conclude with performancbands for Crestline Rocks ended Aug. 27. es by the Hams featuring Jimmy Gauld, Jim Harmon, Lee Fans can vote for their favorite performers Hurley and Laine Pool and Rollin’ in the Hay. at PreSchool-Partners.org and can vote as many times as Organizers said Crestline Rocks will be held rain or they want. Each vote requires a $1 donation to PreSchool shine, and guests are welcome to bring blankets and coolPartners. ers to the event. So far, eight bands have submitted their videos online, For concert-goers with tiny tots, Schaeffer Eye organizers said. Those bands are 7th Avenue South (Bruce Center’s Touch-A-Truck event will allow children to touch Spiller, Todd Pickord, Jim Lorson, Eric Crowe, Mary and climb on some of the city’s service vehicles from 3-5 Glenn Christopher and Sonja Spiller), Mary Kathryn and p.m. the 10 Sweaty Strings (Mary Kathryn Parrot, Edmund “We have tweaked the model from last year’s event Perry, Drew White, Wilson Tyndall and Bill Perry), Apollo and anticipate continuing to provide a fabulous show for (Chase Robinett and others), The Howlers (Kate Howell, our guests and increased support for PreSchool Partners,” Kamp McMinn, Paul McMinn and Will McCowan), Neighbors said. Cardinal (Ethan Asters, Brent Beachtel, Kyle Carpenter Tickets for Crestline Rocks are $20 in advance and $25 and Justin Jackson), Kathryn Taylor Wyatt, The Burning at the door. Tickets for children 10 and younger are $5. Peppermints (Jake Witting and others) and Sarah and Will Advance tickets can be purchased online or at The Pants Mason. Store in Crestline Village. “We have a great mix of performers from solo acts to For more information, to vote on the bands or to purlarge bands,” said Allene Neighbors, director of developchase tickets, visit PreSchool-Partners.org. ❖ ment at PreSchool Partners. “Many of them are local. We

Journal intern

THE SEASON TO LAUGH, THINK AND BE TRANSFORMED. The New Mel Brooks Musical

Young Frankenstein Oct. 10–Nov. 02, 2014

RMTC Holiday Spectacular Dec. 04–21, 2014

Mandela Feb. 05–08, 2015

Band Geeks Apr. 16–19, 2015

The Wiz May 15–31, 2015 Disney & Cameron Mackintosh’s

Mary Poppins Jul. 10–Aug. 02, 2015 Purchase tickets at RedMountainTheatre.org or by calling the RMTC box ofﬁce at 205-324-2424.

Save the Date North Shelby

Giggles and Grace Consignment Sale Sept. 5-6 Asbury United Methodist Church Asbury United Methodist Church at 6690 Cahaba Valley Road will hold its fall Giggles and Grace Consignment Sale Sept. 5-6. The sale will include children’s clothing, youth clothing, toys, books, shoes, furniture and other items. Proceeds are used to pay the consignors, and all remaining proceeds are given to the church’s children’s programs and mission groups. The sale is from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 5 and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 6. Select items will be 50 percent off on Sept. 6. For more information, visit asburygigglesandgrace.com.

Thursday, September 4, 2014 • 5

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Homewood

Bell. The park is at 2011 Frankfurt Drive. For more information, visit redmountainpark.org. North Shelby

Lupus Support Group Sept. 6, 10 a.m.-noon St. Vincent’s Wellness Center The Lupus Foundation Support Group will resume its meetings on Sept. 6 with a meeting from 10 a.m.-noon at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen Well Center at 7191 Cahaba Valley Road. Tonya MacNicol will present a program on living with lupus. For more information, contact Kay Ashworth at kala485@ yahoo.com.

Bargain Costume Closet Sept. 7, 2-4 p.m. Children’s Dance Foundation The Children’s Dance Foundation in Homewood will present its ninth annual Bargain Costume Closet fundraiser from 2-4 p.m. Sept. 7 at 1715 27th Court S. The event will include costumes and dancewear for all ages. The sale will run through Sept. 20 with all proceeds going to support the CDF’s community-based programs. The CDF is accepting gently-used items that are clean and in good condition, including dancewear, dress-up clothes, recital or Halloween costumes, accessories and

shoes. For more information, visit www. childrensdancefoundation.org, email shellie@childrensdancefoundation.org or call 870-0073. Birmingham

Fall Magic Sept. 7, 2-4 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens The Birmingham Botanical Gardens will host a Fall Magic nature hike from 2-4 p.m. Sept. 7. The event will include a colorful journey through The Gardens. The cost is $12 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Free parking is available in The Gardens’ lot. For more information, call 414-3950 or visit www.

bbgardens.org. Hoover

Service Club Meeting Sept. 11 Hoover Country Club Hoover High School cross-country and track coach and author Devin Hind will be the guest speaker at the Sept. 11 meeting of the Hoover Service Club. Hind recently published “Run for Your Life: Twenty-one Years of Inspirational Letters from a Coach to His Athletes.” The meeting will be at the Hoover Country Club, 3140 Club Drive. For more information, email boydrhonda@ bellsouth.net.

Homewood

Lil’ Lambs Consignment Sale Sept. 5-6 Trinity United Methodist Church Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood will hold its fall Lil’ Lambs consignment sale Sept. 5 and 6 in the church’s gym. The sale will be from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 5 and from 9 a.m.-noon Sept. 6. Most items will be half price on Sept. 6. The sale will feature gently-used infant and children’s clothing, accessories, toys and nursery items. Sellers receive 70 percent of the proceeds; the remaining 30 percent helps support Trinity’s children’s ministries. The church is at 1400 Oxmoor Road. For more information, visit www. trinitybirmingham.com or call 879-1737.

IS YOUR HEART STRONG ENOUGH FOR FOOTBALL SEASON?

Homewood

Kickin’ It for Kids with Cancer Sept. 5, 7-9 p.m. Samford University The Samford University Athletic Department will present the Kickin’ It for Kids with Cancer fundraiser from 7-9 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Samford University Track and Soccer Stadium, 600 University Place in Homewood. The event will be hosted by the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer and the Samford University women’s soccer team. The event will support Hatcher Foundation programs, including its Hope & Cope drumming program at Children’s of Alabama. For more information, visit www.hatcherfoundation. org, email emily@hatcherfoundation.org or call 423-667-2112. Birmingham

Dog Park Opening Sept. 6, 9 a.m. Red Mountain Park Birmingham’s newest off-leash dog park, Remy’s Dog Park at Red Mountain Park, will officially open at 9 a.m. Sept. 6. The six-acre green space has three designated areas to accommodate large dogs, small dogs and special needs dogs. The park has open air and shaded areas and plenty of space for running and fetching. A ribboncutting ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. with Ken Jackson and Birmingham Mayor William

Get free screenings at our Heart Healthy Tailgate Party.

Don’t let the big game be your first stress test. Ladies and gentlemen, please join the UAB Heart & Vascular Clinic team for our Heart Healthy Tailgate Party. We’re offering free blood pressure, EKG, blood sugar, oxygen saturation, waist circumference, and body mass index screenings, along with smoking cessation and risk assessment consultations. Meet UAB Cardiologist, Alan Gertler, MD and Nurse Practitioner, Jody Gilchrist. We’ll have door prizes, giveaways, and lots of heart healthy snacks. Pre-register online to be entered for a chance to win a tailgate grill! Keep your heart in winning condition—register today!

HEART HEALTHY TAILGATE PARTY Free screenings, giveaways and consultations FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 • 11 AM - 2 PM The Kirklin Clinic at Acton Road 2145 Bonner Way, just off I-459 To pre-register:

uabmedicine.org/heartacton Walk-ins also welcome

To schedule an appointment:

800-822-8816

6 • Thursday, September 4, 2014 Birmingham

Signature Chefs Auction Sept. 11, 6 p.m. Iron City Birmingham Top chefs will showcase their culinary masterpieces at the Signature Chefs Auction fundraiser Sept. 11 at Iron City Birmingham. The event includes wine sampling, entertainment and an auction. Proceeds will benefit the March of Dimes. Participants are asked to present their signature dishes in tasting sizes during a reception and to donate a unique package to be sold in either the live or silent auction. Guests also can bid on a variety of packages, including fine dining opportunities, hotel and resort stays, weekend getaways, jewelry and more. For more information, contact Laura McCormick, March of Dimes senior community director, at lmccormick@marchofdimes.com or 588-0509. Birmingham

Oktoberfest 2014 Sept. 11-14 Das Haus: German Club The FDSK German Culture Club will host an Oktoberfest celebration Sept. 11-14 at Das Haus, 2318 Second Ave. N. in Birmingham. The event includes traditional German cuisine prepared by experienced German cooks plus a wide selection of draft and bottled European beers. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m., festivalgoers can buy $12 plates with bratwurst, knackwurst or any two of a combination that also includes Weisswurst schnitzel. The plates come with two sides like German potatoes, spaetzle, red cabbage and sauerkraut. There’s also a

About Town keg tap-opening ceremony Friday at 5 p.m., beer tasting on Saturday at 3 p.m. and a dachshund parade Saturday at 4 p.m. For more information, visit www. dashausbham.com.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Get Glowing for a Cure

the library’s large auditorium. For more information, call 332-6620. Birmingham

Vestavia Hills

Market on the Mountain Sept. 12-13 Mountaintop Community Church Mountaintop Community Church in Vestavia Hills will host its Fall/ Winter 2014 Market on the Mountain children’s and maternity consignment sale Sept. 12-13. The sale, which will include kids’ clothes, toys, furniture and equipment, will run from 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. Sept. 12 and from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 13 at 225 Centerview Drive. Consignors receive 70 percent of their sales and get to shop the preview sale. Volunteers get the earliest access to shopping. For more information, visit www.marketonthemountain.com or call 776-8142. Homewood

AAUW Membership Coffee Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-noon Unitarian Universalist Church The Birmingham Branch of the American Association of University Women will host a membership coffee from 10 a.m.-noon Sept. 13 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham, 4300 Hampton Heights Drive. Those who attend can meet AAUW members and learn more about the chapter’s activities. The group’s mission is to advance equity for women and girls through scholarships, education and research. This is a free event. For more information, call 879-7464.

Players are ready to tee off in this year’s Glow for a Cure Night Golf Tourament to benefit Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama. From left: Jim Martin, Penny Witcher, James Martin and Chez Dyas. Journal file photo

Birmingham

Glow for a Cure Sept. 11, 4:30-10 p.m. Highland Park Golf Course Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama will hold its third annual Glow for a Cure Night Golf Tournament from 4:30-10 p.m. Sept. 11 at Highland Park Golf Course, 3300 Highland Ave. S., Birmingham. The event will include nine holes of golf, dinner and nine more holes with lighted balls, tees and greens. There will also be an awards ceremony. The cost is $800 for a foursome and $200 for a single player. Hole sponsorships are available for $1,000, which includes fees for a foursome. Spectator tickets, which include dinner, are $25. For information or to purchase tickets, visit www.alzca.org or call Vance Holder at 871-7970. The tournament will benefit ACA’s research program. ❖

Mountain Brook/Vestavia Hills

Medicare Education Sept. 15 and 17 Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest/ Emmet O’Neal Library The Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest and Emmet O’Neal Library in Mountain Brook will host events as part of National Medicare Education Week Sept. 15-21. United Healthcare representatives will be at the Library in the Forest at 2 p.m. Sept. 15 and at the Emmet O’Neal Library at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 17 to answer questions about Medicare. The programs are free, but registration is requested. For more information or to register, visit NMEW. com or call 877-228-4557. Hoover

Neuroscience Cafe

Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m. Hoover Public Library The UAB Comprehensive Neuroscience Center will present Neuroscience Café at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Hoover Public Library. The free program will include information on multiple sclerosis from Khurram Bashir, professor of neurology and director of the UAB Multiple Sclerosis Center. For more information, call 444-7840. Homewood

Astrology Program Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m. Homewood Public Library Andrea Mathews will discuss how to use astrology to enhance and enlighten life choices and experiences at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Homewood Public Library. The free event will be held in

Harvest of Hope Luncheon Sept. 16, 11:30 a.m. Cahaba Grand Conference Center Janet Hall of Fox 6 News will be the keynote speaker and James Spann of ABC 33/40 will be the master of ceremonies at the annual Harvest of Hope Luncheon Sept. 16 at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center. A silent auction will kick off the fundraising Janet Hall event at 10 a.m. The program will begin at 11:30 a.m. The Rev. Al Lewis and Passion Lewis will provide musical entertainment. For more information, contact Dianne Cesario at oakmtnmissions@yahoo.com or 685-5757. Hoover

Glue Gun Gang Supplies Swap Sept. 16 and 18 Hoover Public Library The Glue Gun Gang will hold a supply swap and show-and-tell program Sept. 16 and Sept. 18 at the Hoover Public Library. The free event is for adults only. Reservations are not required. Bring your extra arts and crafts supplies for a casual swap. The Sept. 16 session starts at 6:30 p.m., and the Sept. 18 swap starts at 10:30 a.m. For more information, call 444-7940. Hoover

Bees Up Close Sept. 16, 5:30-7 p.m. Aldridge Gardens Get an up-close education on bees at Aldridge Gardens in Hoover from 5:307:30 p.m. Sept. 16. Loyd Mehaffey, an Alabama Master Beekeeper, will lead the family nature program which will feature a webcam feed of life inside the hives at Aldridge Gardens. Fees range from $5-$26. For more information, visit aldridgegardens.com.

ABSOLUTE AUCTION A P O RT I O N O F PARD UE G EN T RY E S TATE 2324 Simmsville Road – Alabaster, Alabama

OCT. 2 ND

2 : 0 0 P M (C T )

44.15+/- Commercial Acres – Selling as an Entirety! Prime Development Opportunity This 44.15+/- acre tract is located on Simmsville Rd, less than a mile from the Pelham Towne Center. Located in a high trafﬁc area with great visibility and over 1000+/- ft of frontage on County Road 11. Zoned B-4, this property is ideal for commercial development. Visit www.jpking.com for detailed maps, aerial photos and auction documents. Selling from Hampton Inn – Pelham

44 +/-

COMMERCIAL ACRES

800.558.5464

J.P. King Auction Co., Inc., #16969; Jerry C. King Broker, #16960; J. Craig King, Auctioneer #354.

sweet Repeats

Favorite Recipes.” For more information, visit www.saintgeorgeonline.org or check out the church’s Facebook page.

library’s round auditorium. For more information, visit homewoodpubliclibrary. org or call 332-6620.

Homewood

Biology of Depression Sept. 18, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Homewood Public Library Dr. Richard Shelton and Dr. Sarah Clinton will explore the biology of depression at the Neuroscience Café program at the Homewood Public Library from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 18. The free event will be held in the

Mountain Brook

Organizers are getting ready to welcome shoppers to the annual Sweet Repeats Children’s Consignment Sale at Mountain Brook Community Church Sept. 12-13. From left: Julia Denson, Caroline Goldasich and Jill Aldridge. Photo special to the Journal

Sweet Repeats Consignment Sale Sept. 12-13 Mountain Brook Community Church Mountain Brook Community Church will host its annual Sweet Repeats Children’s Consignment Sale Sept. 12-13 at 3001 U.S. 280 East. The sale will run from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 12 and from 9 a.m.-noon Sept. 13. Many items will be half price on Sept. 13. For more information, visit www. mbccsweetrepeats.blogspot.com or visit the Sweet Repeats Facebook page.❖ Birmingham

“I Had No Idea” Tour Sept. 17, 11 a.m. Shepura Men’s Center Learn firsthand about the work of the Jimmie Hale Mission ministries with a tour of the Shepura Men’s Center at 11 a.m. Sept. 17. The “I Had No Idea” Tour is free and will be held at the center, 3420 Second Ave. N., Birmingham. For more information, call 323-5878 or send an email to tour@ jimmiehalemission.com. Birmingham

Saint George Middle Eastern Food Festival Sept. 18, 19 and 20 Saint George Melkite Catholic Church The Saint George Melkite Catholic Church’s annual Middle Eastern

Thursday, September 4, 2014 • 7

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Food Festival is set for Sept. 18, 19 and 20 at the church, 425 16th Ave. S., Birmingham. Food will be served Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Downtown Birmingham delivery will be available for lunch on Thursday and Friday with a $75 minimum order. For takeout and delivery, call 492-9621. A drive-through service will operate until 7 p.m. each day. Informative church tours will be conducted during festival hours. Nightly entertainment includes Amin and the Sultans Band from New York and folk dancing performed by the church’s youth. Vendors and booths will feature handcrafted olive wood from the Holy Land, Byzantine icons and literature, glass jewelry made from the church’s original stained glass, and St. George’s Middle Eastern food cookbook, “Our

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Great House in Bluff Park! New carpet, newer roof, big fenced in back yard!

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Over the Mountain Office 1220 Alford Avenue • 205.281.4731

Forum on Bullying Sept. 18, 6-7:30 p.m. Samford University A community forum on bullying and cyber-bullying will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Samford University. Parents, educators and community members can hear from experts and learn how to reduce and prevent

bullying. This is a free event, but seating is limited. The forum will be held in Room 223 in the Orlean Bullard Beeson School of Education building. For more information, contact Amy Sedlis at ajsedlis@gmail.com or call 910-7801. Birmingham

Orchid Society Show and Sale Sept. 19-21 Birmingham Botanical Gardens The Alabama Orchid Society will hold its 30th annual show and sale at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Sept.

Photo special to the Journal

8 • Thursday, September 4, 2014

cover story

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

‘For a relatively small but horrifying disease like ours, it was going to take something totally out of left field to catch people’s attention. I am thankful for every single ice bucket.’ Kevin Turner

The Raiders, above, and the Vestavia Eagles, far right from the top, recently challenged each other and took the Ice Bucket Challenge to help raise awareness about ALS. The Raiders’ Cole Turner, right, who’s father Kevin Turner is battling ALS. The Kevin Turner Foundation has been created to bring attention to ALS and the need for a cure. Journal photos by Lee Walls Jr.

Ice Bucket From page one

Thousands of people have taken to the Internet challenging others to raise money for ALS, moments before being doused with freezing water. Even one of Turner’s sons–he has three children who attend Vestavia Hills City schools– has joined in on the craze. His son, Cole, is a fifth-grader who plays on the Over the Mountain Vestavia Raiders team and wears his dad’s old NFL number. The sixth-grade Over the Mountain Vestavia Eagles team also participated in the challenge. “We didn’t just do this Ice Bucket Challenge because everyone on Facebook was doing it,” said Jonathan Romeo, a coach for the Vestavia Eagles. “Kevin coached some of these kids back in 2010, and, unfortunately, he is not able to do that anymore. The biggest part of all of this is that we wanted to do something to raise awareness about ALS and to support someone in our community who’s suffering from this disease.” Turner, a former University of Alabama and NFL fullback, was diagnosed with ALS in May 2010. The debilitating disease attacks nerve cells in

the brain and spinal cord, ultimately leading to paralysis and death. There is no known cure. Though technically the disease is called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, it is more widely known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after the New York Yankee great who was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 36 and died two years later. Researchers are still trying to determine what causes ALS. Turner said he believes he developed the disease as a result of brain injuries sustained during his football career. Turner played for the Crimson Tide from 1988-1991 and then played eight years in the NFL for the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles. Turner has not only become an advocate for ALS research–he established the Kevin Turner Foundation for that purpose–but also a strong proponent for more safety in football. His foundation launched a new campaign during the Chick-Fil-A Kickoff classic in Atlanta called “Brain Not Bell.” “Whenever someone says they got their ‘bell rung’ I cringe,” Turner said. “It’s your brain, not a

bell. You are going to need it later. We do all we can to raise awareness about ALS and about brain injury, which we believe is the true origin of my diagnosis.” Romeo said Turner’s condition has made youth football coaches more aware of safety. “The bigger picture of the whole thing is the amount of awareness on safety in football,” he said. “Football is a brutal sport, but there are definitely things that we are doing as coaches as far as safety that was not being done six or seven years ago–limiting contact, for example. We also take the safety equipment much more seriously than when I played as a kid. I mean, when I was kid, they just threw a helmet at you and told you to get out on the field.” Turner says he appreciates the love and support he has received from people in the Over the Mountain community. “This community has shown me an abundance of love and care. I have received offers, through emails or text messages, to help me with everything from bringing me dinner to taking out my trash,” he said. “Many times that help

came from people that I’ve never even personally met. Throughout my experience with ALS, I’ve been able to see the best in people and I realize that there are still many people who love and care for their fellow man.” Turner continues to keep his spirits high, even though ALS is slowly devastating his body. A representative of his foundation had to take our questions and relay them to Turner because it was difficult for him to speak over the phone. “I’m a very happy man, and I am truly blessed to have such wonderful friends and family around me,” Turner said. “My children are growing older, and I’m thankful to witness every day that I can. It has been very hard for my kids as well as my parents. ALS is more difficult on the ones who love me than it is on me. Thankfully, I have the strength of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to comfort me. I’m not giving in to ALS and plan to fight this disease all the way, hoping that I can play a part in the demise of ALS.” For more information about Turner and his foundation, visit www.kevinturnerfoundation. org ❖

and a blood drive. The 5K starts at 8 a.m. and will be followed by a one-mile run/walk. For registration fees and more information, visit www.thinkoflaura.org or call 218-5271.

Greek Treats

Birmingham

The cooks are busy in the kitchen prepping for the 42nd annual Greek Festival on Sept. 25-27. From left: Despina Triantos, Ann Stevens, Mihai Dumitrica, Patsy Bouloukis and Jo Ann Kanakis. Photo special to the Journal

Greek Festival Sept. 25-27 Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral will host the 42nd annual Greek Festival Sept. 25-27 at 307 19th St. S., Birmingham. In addition to Greek food, the event will feature live Greek music and dancing. Takeout is available, and guided tours of the church will be offered during the festival. Free parking will be available at the former Liberty National parking deck between 20th Street and Richard Arrington Boulevard. The event will run from 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. each day. For more information, visit www. birminghamgreekfestival.net or call 716-3088.❖ 19-21. The sale is from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 19 and 20 and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 21. The show is from noon-6 p.m. Sept. 20 and 11-4 p.m. Sept. 21. For more information, visit www.facebook. com/pages/Alabama-Orchid-Society. Hoover

Paws for the Cause 5K Sept. 20, 8:30 a.m. Veterans Park The Animal League of Birmingham will host the sixth annual Paws for the Cause 5K Sept. 20 at Veterans Park in Hoover. The dog-friendly 5K race and fun run will raise money for the Shelby Humane Society and will start at 8:30 a.m. North Shelby

Giant Book Sale Sept. 20-21 North Shelby Library The North Shelby Library will host its Giant Book Sale Sept. 20-21. The event will include thousands of books, DVDs and audiobooks. The sale runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 20 and from 1-5 p.m. Sept. 21. For more information, visit www.northshelbylibrary.org or call 439-5504.

silent auctions. Tickets are $100 each or $150 for two. For more information, visit www.adoptagoldenbirmingham.com or call 290-7788. Birmingham

Fall Wine and Food Festival Sept. 26, 6-9 p.m. Birmingham Zoo Western Supermarket’s annual Fall Wine and Food Festival benefiting the Emmet O’Neal Library will be held at the Birmingham Zoo from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 26. Vendors will offer more than 650 wines for tasting, and foods focusing on Alabama products will be prepared by chefs from the Jefferson State Culinary School. Tickets are $60 in advance or $75 at the door. Group discount tickets for 10 or more are $50 each. Tickets can be purchased at the library, at Western Supermarkets on Highland Avenue and Rocky Ridge or online at westernsupermarkets.tixclix.com. For more information, call 445-1101. Birmingham

Teen Library Board Meeting Sept. 23, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Hoover Public Library The inaugural meeting of the Teen Library Board will be held from 6:307:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Hoover Public Library. Teens in grades 7-12 interested in helping plan library programs are encouraged to attend. For more information, call 444-7826.

A Night at Gatsby’s Sept. 26, 7-11 p.m. Workplay The nonprofit No White Flags for Cancer will host A Night at Gatsby’s from 7-11 p.m. Sept. 26 at Workplay. The event will benefit the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s of Alabama. The event will include live music, dinner and a silent auction. Jazz Age and Roaring Twenties attire is encouraged. Tickets are $65 each or $110 per couple and can be purchased online at www. childrensal.kintera.org/gatsby. For more information, call 638-9008.

Birmingham

Hoover

Night of Golden Opportunities Sept. 25, 6-10 p.m. Iron City Birmingham Adopt A Golden Birmingham will host its Night of Golden Opportunities fundraiser from 6-10 p.m. Sept. 25 at Iron City, 513 22nd St. S., Birmingham. The event will include food, drinks, live music and items up for bid in live and

Thursday, September 4, 2014 • 9

About Town

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Head over Teal Sept. 27, 8 a.m.-noon The Preserve The Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation will host the Head over Teal 5K and Family Day at The Preserve in Hoover from 8 a.m.-noon Sept. 27. The event will include beer pizza, live music, children’s activities

Fiesta Sept. 27, noon-8 p.m. Linn Park The annual Fiesta event will be held from noon- 8 p.m. Sept. 27 at Linn Park in downtown Birmingham. This year’s presenting sponsor, McDonald’s, is bringing its Fiesta Tour: Annual Latin Grammys Experience to the 12th annual Fiesta event. The event will include the Arts Village, which will feature local artists, jewelry makers, musicians and dancers. There will also be a gaming tent, photo booth and other indoor activities. For more information on Fiesta, visit www.fiestabirmingham.com. Birmingham

Wise Up! Initiative Wine and Dine Sept. 27, 6-9 p.m. The Wine Loft The Wise Up! Initiative of the Al and

Sharyne Wallace Family Foundation will host the Wine and Dine Event Sept. 27 at the Wine Loft in Birmingham. The event will be held from 6-9 p.m. For more information, visit www. wiseupinitiative.org/wineanddine. Birmingham

Magic City AIDS Walk Sept. 28, 3-6 pm. Avondale Park The 23rd annual Magic City AIDS Walk will be from 3-6 p.m. Sept. 28 at Avondale Park in Birmingham. The event is produced and managed by Birmingham AIDS Outreach. The family-friendly event will include a guest emcee as well as live music and choir performances. There will be a vendor fair from 3-5 p.m. For more information, visit www.baoevents.org or call 3224197. Trussville Area

Cahaba River Society Fry-down Sept. 28, noon-4 p.m. Trussville Springs The Cahaba River Society will host its fifth annual competitive catfish cooking

contest and riverfront festival from noon4 p.m. Sept. 28 on the banks of the Cahaba River at Trussville Springs. The event will feature local teams of chefs preparing catfish and all the fixings for a panel of celebrity judges. Those attending can sample the cook teams’ efforts and hear live music. Tickets are $20. Children ages 12 and younger get in free. For more information or to buy tickets online, visit www.frydown.com. Birmingham

FEED Conference Oct. 17-19 Architecture Works The first FEED Conference, a celebration of the intersection of food and culture, is set for Oct. 17-19 in Birmingham. The event includes an opening night party plus speakers and a marketplace at the SawWorks space at Architecture Works in downtown Birmingham. The closing dinner is at Jones Valley Teaching Farm. Only 125 tickets will be sold. Tickets must be purchased by Sept. 15. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www. kickstarter.com. ❖

News

10 • Thursday, September 4, 2014

u Over the Mountain

Out of a Clear Blue Sky Sept. 11 Survivor Will Share World Trade Center Memories

Sunel Merchant has visited the World Trade Center site several times since Sept. 11, 2001. Merchant was on the 49th floor of the north tower when the airplane struck the building.

By Keysha Drexel Journal editor

On those days in early September when the skies are clear and blue, Sunel Merchant prepares himself to relive a nightmare. Merchant, who until a couple months ago owned the Philly Connection restaurant in Vestavia Hills, said the sunny, calm weather of late summer and early fall always reminds him of what the sky looked like on Sept. 11, 2001 as he looked out the window of his office on the 48th floor of the north tower of the World Trade Center. “This time of year is hard for me, especially on those days when the skies look just as they did that morning when I was at work in the World Trade Center,” he said. “I find myself looking up all the time, and my anxiety increases.” Merchant, who now lives in Auburn, will speak at the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce’s Sept. 9 meeting about the nightmare he lived through and how he escaped the World Trade Center on that tragic day. “It can sometimes be hard for me to talk about that day, to go back and relive those terrible scenes in my mind, but I feel it is important to continue to speak about that day,” Merchant said. “There’s that old saying about history repeating itself if you don’t learn from it, and to learn from it, we have to remember what happened.” Merchant said the events that unfolded on what was supposed to be a typical day at work for him 13 years ago haunt him to this day. “I get nightmares at least once a week, but during this time of year, it can happen every single night,” he said. Merchant was standing by his desk when American Airlines Flight 11 hit the tower. “There was this tremendous sound, and the

Photo special to the Journal

whole floor was moving,” he said. As he and others frantically made their way to the stairwell to try to escape, Merchant said, he heard the second plane hit the towers. “I was down to the 25th floor by that time and I saw a woman that was trying to get out, and she was burned from head to toe,” Merchant said. “There were all kinds of scenes like that playing out in the stairwell in those panicked moments.” But in the middle of the chaos of smoke and fire and broken bodies, Merchant said, he saw an image that he still finds incredible. “It was at that moment that I saw a firefighter running up the same stairs we were all rushing down, going into the chaos and danger that we were all trying to escape,” Merchant said. “I still remember the look in his eyes when we passed each other on the stairs–it was like he knew he was not coming back out of that building. But he kept climbing the stairs.” It is the thousands of selfless acts of bravery like those of the firefighter that Merchant said he hopes people in the Over the Mountain communities–and across the nation–will remember this Sept. 11. “I think we should look at those heroic acts of the firefighters and police and we should think about how we can also help others,” he said. “It just takes one person helping one person to make the world a better place.” Merchant said surviving the 9/11 terrorist attacks taught him a lot about true bravery and real superheroes. A few days after the attacks, Merchant was

Vestavia Hills Will Host This Year’s 9/11 Ceremony Vestavia Hills will host the annual Over the Mountain 9/11 Remembrance Day and Patriot Day ceremony this year. Vestavia is joining forces with Homewood and Mountain Brook again this year to mark the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and to honor first responders and those who are serving or have served in the U.S. military. Vestavia Hills Fire Department Battalion Chief Phillip Barnes said this year’s event will be at the Vestavia Hills City Center at 700 Montgomery Highway. “We’ll get started at 8:30 a.m. with a performance by the (Vestavia Hills) High School choir, and then a member of the band will perform ‘Taps’ as we take a moment to remember those who lost their lives on that tragic day 13 years ago,” Barnes said. After the patriotic performance by the choir and the playing of ‘Taps,” the featured speaker for this year’s event will be introduced, Barnes said. “Col. Andrew W. Love from the Alabama National Guard will be the keynote speaker this year,” Barnes said. Love was recently promoted to assume command of the 117th Air Refueling Wing Mission Support Group, a position previously held by Col. Waylon D. Blakely, who retired after 42 years of service. Barnes said even though it has been only 13 years since the terrorist attacks, he thinks people tend to forget the significance of that day.

at home with his then-5-year-old son, and the young boy asked his father who his favorite superhero was. “I was still very emotional, and I was really in no mood to play around about superheroes,” Merchant said. “I asked him what was so great about Superman or Batman and the look he gave me in his innocence struck me, and I instantly thought of the firefighter I had passed when I was in the stairwell (of the World Trade Center). That’s when I told my son that superheroes do exist–they are the men and women just like that firefighter on the stairwell who risk their lives to protect us every day.” After 9/11, Merchant and his family moved

u hoover

City Will Have State’s First Freestanding ER By Keysha Drexel Journal editor

UAB Medical West broke ground last week in Hoover on the state’s first freestanding emergency room.

UAB Medical West, an affiliate of the UAB Health System and based in Bessemer, turned over the first shovelfuls of dirt Aug. 28 at the southwest corner of Interstate 459 and John Hawkins Parkway where a $13.5 mil-

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

lion emergency department will be built. The freestanding facility in Hoover is bringing together five Alabama businesses on a cutting-edge project, according to a news release from

UAB Medical West broke ground last week on the state’s first free-standing emergency care center in Hoover. From left: Keith Rouss, Nathan Clark, Larry Burdette, Jeff Sims, Parrish Taylor, David Williams, Harry Lynch, Norman Tynes, Ed Hauser, Emmett McLean, Leanne McWilliams, Lee Baker and Ryan Sims. Photo special to the Journal

“In my book, it ranks right up there with Pearl Harbor, and we can’t become complacent or forget about either one of those tragedies,” he said. The Patriot Day event was held in Mountain Brook last year and included the dedication of the city’s 9/11 memorial. Homewood hosted the ceremony in 2012. “We all know each other–all of us in public service in the three cities–and we’re a pretty close-knit community,” Barnes said. “So it’s always good to come together for events like this. It really is a brotherhood, and it doesn’t matter if you’re from Anchorage, Alaska, or Birmingham, Alabama–we support each other.” Those attending the event will be given a program that lists the residents of Vestavia Hills, Homewood and Mountain Brook serving in the military, Barnes said. “It’s quite a list, and the number on there might surprise a lot of people,” he said. “There’s 51 from Homewood alone and well over 100 from all three cities that we will recognize in the ceremony’s (printed) program.” Barnes said the program will last about 30-35 minutes on Sept. 11 but said he hopes its message is something those attending will remember for the rest of the day–and the rest of the year. “I think we need to do events like the 9/11 Remembrance Day and Patriot Day so that we don’t become complacent about what happened on that day,” he said. Next year’s event will be held in Homewood. —Keysha Drexel

to Alabama to make a fresh start and soon opened several restaurants. Merchant and his wife, Sonia, open their Philly Connection restaurants to firefighters, police officers and military personnel each year on Sept. 11, giving them free food and thanking them for their service. “Anything I can do to give back, to thank them for what they do every day for all of us, it is not enough,” Merchant said. Merchant will speak at the luncheon at the Vestavia Country Club at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 9. Reservations must be received by 4 p.m. on Sept. 5 and cost $18. Late reservations are $25. For more details, visit vestaviahills.org.❖

Harbert Realty Services, which has been a part of developing the plans for the 24,342-square-foot emergency center. The new ER is being designed by Sims Architectural Studio Inc. and will be built by Brasfield & Gorrie. Medical Properties Trust is providing financing for the facility, and Harbert Realty Services is serving as the site developer. The stand-alone ER will be a Level 3 trauma center and will include eight exam rooms, two trauma rooms, and CT, X-ray, ultrasound, EKG and other diagnostic equipment. Keith Pennington, president and chief executive officer of UAB Medical West, said the new facility will bring a much-needed service to Hoover–the only city in the state with a population more than 60,000 that does not have a hospital in its city limits. “Medical West is proud to take the leadership role in being the first to offer this new service that will expand healthcare access to the grow-

ing Hoover community–the largest community in Alabama without acute healthcare services,” Pennington said in a news release. “Further, we are excited to work with our team of Alabama firms that will bring cutting-edge emergency medicine to this area.” UAB Medical West is projecting to see between 12,000-15,000 emergency visits per year once the stand-alone ER is open in the spring of next year. The Medical West ER won’t be the only freestanding emergency department in Hoover for very long. Brookwood Medical Center has plans to build a $19 million standalone ER near the intersection of U.S. 280 and Alabama 119. Baptist Health System was also granted an Alabama Certificate of Need to provide a freestanding emergency department in Hoover. The Brookwood stand-alone ER could open as early as next summer, officials said. Medical West applied for a Certificate of Need to build a freestanding ER in Hoover in 2010. ❖

Thursday, September 4, 2014 • 11

news

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

u mountain brook

Cam’s Corner Will be Built in Overton Park

By Keysha Drexel Journal editor

Overton Park in Mountain Brook will be closed the week of Sept. 15 for work on a memorial to a 3-yearold resident who passed away in November. The Mountain Brook Park Board is working with a group of residents to renovate a portion of the playground at Overton Park to serve as a memorial to the late Cam Cole, the son of Lauren and Cameron Cole. According to his obituary, no medical reason could be found for the preschooler’s death on Nov. 11 of last year. “Cam loved Jesus, asking his parents if he could go ‘visit Jesus’ the day before his death,” the obituary reads. To honor the life of the little boy, the renovated section of the play-

A new Democratic challenger has emerged to take on Republican Gary Palmer for the Alabama Sixth Congressional District race. Mark Lester of Homewood has announced he will represent the Democratic Party in the Nov. 4 general election. Lester, a Birmingham-Southern College history professor, replaces former Democratic nominee Avery Vise, who withdrew from the race to devote more time to his business. “In the months since qualifying… my very small business has been

Mark Lester, above, of Homewood, has announced he will represent the Democratic Party in the Nov. 4 general election. Photo special to the Journal

Feast of Trumpets Services

Erev Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year Special Guest: Marty Goetz Wednesday ~ September 24, 2014 7:00PM Tashlich @ Rabbi’s House Thursday ~ September 25, 2014 11:00AM Rosh Hashanah - Day Service Thursday ~ September 25, 2014 11:30AM

ground at Overton Park will be known as Cam’s Corner. Shanda Williams, Mountain Brook’s park and recreation superintendent, said the renovation work will start Sept. 15 and that with the exception of the tennis courts, the park will be closed through 3 p.m. Sept. 19. A dedication for Cam’s Corner will be held Sept. 20 from 9:30-11 a.m., Williams said. “Overton Park will not be closed (for the dedication ceremony), but we are asking the public to be respectful to the family and friends of Cam Cole during this time,” she said. “After the ceremony, everyone is welcome to enjoy Cam’s Corner.” ❖

Lester Replaces Vise in Congressional Race Journal contributor

High Holiday Service Times

Photo special to the Journal

u homewood

By William C. Singleton III

5775/2014

A portion of Overton Park in Mountain Brook is being turned into a memorial to 3-year-old Cam Cole who passed away in November.

fortunate to take on increasingly challenging projects and obligations, making it difficult to campaign,” Vise said in a letter to Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Nancy Worley. “I have recently learned of several professional opportunities that will consume considerable time and focus to pursue in the coming weeks. A

Lester comes to the race with considerable professional and academic credentials, even if he’s still considered a longshot in the predominantly conservative Sixth Congressional District. couple of them even would require me leaving Alabama if I were to be successful.” Lester comes to the race with considerable professional and academic credentials, even if he’s still considered a longshot in the predominantly conservative Sixth Congressional District. He received his undergraduate degree at Rhodes College, a master’s degree in Middle Eastern studies from Harvard University and a law degree from the University of Virginia. He earned a doctorate in Modern British Economic History from the University of Oxford. Lester also served as an assistant U.S. Attorney and, after his time with the federal government, started a law firm which specialized in commercial litigation. He has taught First Amendment law as an adjunct professor at the University of Alabama School of

Law. Lester describes himself as a strong proponent of healthcare reform and educational programs which give all children the best chance to succeed in life. Lester is married to Jeanne Jackson, president and chief executive officer for the Women’s Fund of Greater Birmingham. They have two married sons, both of whom are graduates of Homewood City schools. Lester is a member of the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham. ❖

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Simchat Torah/ Joy of the Torah Service

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A Relationship Company

12 • Thursday, September 4, 2014

people

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

IberiaBank is sponsoring this year’s ZooGala fundraiser, which will have a Moroccan souk theme and feature zoo animals like these dromedary camels. From left: Jim Priester, Greg King, Anna James, Don James and Jesse Vogtle. Photo special to the Journal

Party Animals

Bank President Is Among ZooGala Supporters By Keysha Drexel

Journal editor

reg King of Mountain Brook knows the Birmingham Zoo is a great place to take business clients and other out-of-town guests for an educational and unique introduction to the area. But IberiaBank’s regional president of Alabama said he has an even more personal reason for supporting the Birmingham Zoo these days. “My son, Wells, absolutely loves going to the zoo, and right now, he’s just enthralled with the elephants,” King said. “The zoo pass is an incredible thing for a two-year-old.” King said he got involved with supporting the zoo after IberiaBank entered the Birmingham market in 2009. The bank sponsors fundraising events for the zoo, including the upcoming ZooGala Sept. 13. “We got involved in 2010, right about the time the zoo was embarking on its Trails of Africa project,” he said. “I grew up coming to the zoo, and we wanted to partner with them in some significant way.” King is a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College, has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and has previously worked for Highland Bank and AmSouth Bank in Birmingham. He served as IberiaBank’s Birmingham market president and in October was named the regional president of Alabama to oversee all of the Lafayette, La.-based bank’s operations in the state. King said the most compelling conversations he had when brainstorming ways the bank and the zoo could partner were with William R. Foster, the zoo’s president and chief executive officer. “After talking to Dr. Foster, I knew we wanted to do all we could to support the zoo and have a real relationship with them,” King said. That relationship has meant that the zoo has the resources to continue to offer Birmingham metro residents and visitors alike a unique opportunity, King said. “The zoo is the only attraction of its kind here in Birmingham, and to me, it’s one that generates curiosity across all facets of the community and creates

educational opportunities for all ages,” King said. “It’s a place for everything from family gatherings to business events.” King said the zoo has been a great community partner for the bank. “One fun example is when we opened a branch in Mountain Brook Village in 2011 and Dr. Foster arranged for us to have an actual llama at the branch opening,” King said. Those kinds of up-close adventures with animals is one of the reasons King said he thinks the zoo is also a great place for business-related events. “From the business perspective, we have the opportunity to offer our clients something different, an experience they won’t forget, and really show them the fun side of Birmingham,” King said. Guests at this year’s ZooGala will also have a chance for some cozy encounters with the zoo animals, King said. Throughout the evening, guests can look forward to animal walkabouts and special appearances by the zoo’s African bull elephants in the Trails of Africa.

Birmingham

ZooGala 2014 Sept. 13, 7 p.m. Birmingham Zoo Guests can boogie with the beasts at the Birmingham Zoo’s largest annual fundraiser, ZooGala 2014, Sept. 13. Sponsored by IberiaBank, the event will kick off at 7 p.m. with cocktails followed by dinner at 8 p.m. The gala will be held in the zoo’s signature exhibit, Trails of Africa, and will feature a Moroccan souk theme. As guests wander through the tents with tapestries of bright colors and hanging lanterns, they can enjoy food, drinks and entertainment. Guests will be able to mingle while sampling a wide variety of food. ZooGala will feature live entertainment by 14 Karat Gold Dance Band, a menu by Kathy G & Company and jewelry by Empire Diamonds. Throughout the evening, guests can look forward to animal walkabouts and special appearances from the zoo’s African bull elephants in the Trails of Africa. From 9-11 p.m., guests can have drinks and desserts and dance as they “Boogie with the Beasts,” presented by the Birmingham Zoo Junior Board. For more information or to make reservations, visit www. birminghamzoo.com.

Organizers–and this barn owl– are getting ready for a wild night at the Birmingham Zoo’s annual ZooGala Sept. 13. From left: Nikki Partain, Gaynell Hendricks, Robin Sparks Davis and Cissy Jackson.

‘It’s a place to relax, a place to learn and a place we shouldn’t take for granted even though we live here and can go pretty much any time we want.’ This year’s ZooGala will have a Moroccan souk theme. As guests wander through the tents decorated with colorful tapestries and hanging lateens, they can eat, drink and watch live entertainment. The 14 Karat Gold Dance Band will provide the musical backdrop for the evening, and the food will be by Kathy G & Company. From 9-11 p.m., guests can have drinks and desserts and dance as they “Boogie with the Beasts” at an after-party presented by the Birmingham Zoo Junior Board. The set-up for this year’s event is a bit more casual than in years past, King said–and that’s all by design. “I think we are moving away from the more traditional seated-dinner black-tie affair that ZooGala was in the beginning,” King said. “This year, it will be more like a stand-up cocktail party atmosphere. We’re relaxing the whole thing a bit, and I think people will like that–but it’s still going to be a night of adventure.” And that’s what King said he likes about the zoo most of all. “It’s a place to relax, a place to learn and a place we shouldn’t take for granted even though we live here and can go pretty much any time we want,” he said. “Watching my son talk and talk about the elephants and get so excited about going to the zoo reminds me of why events like the gala are important. We want to make sure the zoo just keeps getting better.” ❖

People Notes Gillespie Earns Eagle Scout Rank with Troop 87 Robert Gillespie, of Hoover, a member of Troop 67, sponsored by Riverchase United Methodist Church, has attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Gillespie’s scouting experience has spanned many years, beginning when he was a Tiger Cub Scout in Den 2 of Pack 367. Den leader Randy Batten played a key role in Gillespie’s development in scouting, helping him attain Cub Scouting’s highest award, the Arrow of Light. Robert Gillespie Gillespie served in leadership positions in Boy Scouts, including den chief and patrol leader. He is a member of the Order of the Arrow, scouting’s national honor society. In 2013, Gillespie attended Philmont Scout Camp in Cimarron, N.M. He and fellow members of his troop backpacked 85 miles in the Rocky Mountains. They also visited Pike’s Peak and the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. For his Eagle Scout service project, Gillespie refurbished a preschool playground at Riverchase Community Church. He landscaped and built picnic tables and an outdoor art easel for use by the preschool students. Gillespie is a student at Spain Park High School and a member of Shades Mountain Baptist Church. He is a member of the Spain Park golf team, the defending 6A state champions. He is the son of Jim and Lisa Gillespie and the brother of Ashley Gillespie of Hoover. He is the grandson of Pat Gillespie and the late James Gillespie Sr. of Birmingham and the late Robert and Nancy Helton of Nashville, Tenn.

Rabbi Robinson Joins Temple Beth-El Staff Rabbi Joseph Robinson recently joined the staff at Temple Beth-El in Birmingham. This summer, Robinson joined Temple Beth-El as the new director of congregational learning. He comes to Birmingham from Minneapolis, Minn., where he most recently served as an educator at Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School. Robinson previously worked for synagogues and schools in New York, Pennsylvania and California. He was ordained in 2012 at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, American Jewish University in Los Angeles. Robinson, his wife Emily Hausmann and their 1½-year-old twins, Ruth and Liam, live in Southside. “I may never have dreamt of adventuring in the South, but much like our ancestor Joseph from the Torah, my family has been directed to a new home, Birmingham,” Robinson said. “We are excited to follow this new path, and we have been welcomed with great warmth.”

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Toomey Named Eagle Scout with Troop 63 Patrick Dobbin Toomey Jr., of Mountain Brook, and a member of Troop 63 at Canterbury United Methodist Church, has earned the highest rank in Boy Scouts. On his way to achieving the Eagle Scout rank, Toomey earned 24 merit badges and served as patrol leader for Patrick Dobbin his troop. He Toomey Jr. has also been inducted into the Order of the Arrow, the honor society of Boy Scouts. For his Eagle Scout project, Toomey built picnic tables and shelving units for Mitchell’s Place, a center for those with autism. Toomey is a senior at Mountain Brook High School, where he is a member of the Spanish Honor Society and the Future Business Leaders of America. He is also an active member of Saint Mary’s-on-the-Highlands. He is the son of Donne and Patrick Toomey and the grandson of Jackie and Bruce MacClary of Birmingham and Joan Toomey and the late Paul Toomey of Mobile.

Carolyne Nix of Mountain Brook was an intern for U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., over the summer. Photo special to the Journal

Nix and Sandefer Complete Internship in D.C. with Shelby Two Mountain Brook natives recently completed summer internships with U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala. Carolyne Nix, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dean Nix of Mountain Brook, completed the internship in Shelby’s Washington, D.C., office this summer. While in Washington, Nix completed legislative research, conducted tours of the U.S. Capitol building and attended hearings on important issues. Nix is a senior at the University of Alabama, where she is studying healthcare management. She has qualified for the Dean’s List and is a member of the Cardinal Key Honor Society and the Healthcare Management Society. At UA, Nix has volunteered for the Rise Center, Meals on Wheels and

Boy Scouts from Troop 4 in Vestavia Hills recently spent 10 days hiking in New Mexico. Front, from left, with Philmont guides: William Parker, Connor Ridgway, Robert Hill, Colby Shealy, Stephen Mims and Thomas Sturdivant. Back: Konnor Knopf, Colin Harris, Jackson Freeland, Quint Harris, Davis Edwards, Andrew Edwards, Jimm Hill, Jeff Albright and Alec Albright. Photo special to the Journal

Troop 4 Treks to Philmont Scout Ranch Members of Boy Scout Troop 4 at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church recently trekked more than 67 miles in New Mexico. The boys made the hike over 10 days at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron. The highest peak the Scouts reached was 12,461 feet above sea level on Baldy Mountain. Along the way, the group encountered several animals, including mountain lions and deer. The Scouts are all freshmen and sophomores at Vestavia Hills High School. Those who made the trip included Konnor Knopf, Colin Harris, Jackson Freeland, Quint Harris, Davis Edwards, Andrew Edwards, Jimm Hill, Jeff Albright, Alec Albright, William Parker, Connor Ridgway, Robert Hill, Colby Shealy, Stephen Mims and Thomas Sturdivant. Habitat for Humanity. She is also an active member and served as treasurer of her sorority, Kappa Delta. Shelby said Nix and other young people who complete the Congressional Internship Program have bright futures ahead of them. “The internship experience provides a firsthand view of public service and brings to life what these students have studied in the classroom,” Shelby said. “I am confident that the students who hold these internships will go on to achieve great things.” David Sandefer, the son of David and Julie Sandefer of Mountain Brook, was also an intern this summer in the office of U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala. Shelby’s Congressional Internship Program is open to college students who exhibit an interest in government and public service. Sandefer is studying political science and psychology at Auburn. He qualified

to be on the Dean’s List for three semesters and is a member of Auburn’s Honors College, Pi Lambda Sigma, Auburn’s Lobby Board and College Republicans. While at Auburn, Sandefer has volunteered at Project Uplift and Auburn Impact. By giving interns a firsthand view of public service, the Congressional Internship Program brings to life what students study in the classroom, Shelby said. “The Congressional Internship Program fosters a greater understanding of our nation’s legislative process and complements the students’ academic studies,” Shelby said. ❖

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life

14 • Thursday, September 4, 2014

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Celebrating the Arts

Upbeat Attitude

Won Cho Loves His Busy Life as Singer, Professor

Drawn Together

Couple Shares Love of Art—and the Same Careers

By Keysha Drexel

One look at Won Cho’s busy schedule is enough to make even the most talented multi-tasker a little dizzy. But luckily, the celebrated bassbaritone singer has an energy level that matches his indefatigable performances as both a professional opera singer and a college professor. Cho is a regular performer with Opera Birmingham, where he has performed in four operas each year since 2012, and is an assistant professor of music and voice at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Known for his unique vocal range and strong stage presence, the 46-year-old also juggles two residences, along with his two professions. “My wife (soprano Kyoung Cho) is also an opera singer and a voice professor at the University of South Florida in Tampa,” Cho said. “It can be a challenge to juggle it all sometimes, but we both love performing and teaching.” Cho said he cannot remember a time in his life when music was not important to him. “Music has always been an essential part of my life ever since I was a young boy,” Cho said. Before he was 10 years old, Cho got his first chance to perform in front of an audience. He was born in Seoul, South Korea, and lived in London and in Canada when he was a child. “I grew up singing in church and school choirs since I was 8 years old,” he said. As he got older, Cho said, he realized music wasn’t just a hobby for him. “I realized that this was something that I had to devote my life to and I knew I had to do it, no matter what,” he said. But while Cho had discovered his life’s passion, not everyone around him could embrace the risk of trying to make a living as a professional musician. “My parents were against the idea of me pursuing a career in music, so I chose engineering as a major in college,” he said. “But I knew it was not the right choice.” Cho tried to get as excited about a career in engineering as he had been when he dreamed of singing for a living, but he just couldn’t make himself continue. He changed his major and graduated from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City with a bachelor’s degree in music and voice. After that, Cho continued his musical studies and earned a master’s degree in voice from Boston University. He has a

Amy and Sam Collins both have forward-thinking teachers to thank for their long careers in the arts–and for their marriage. The couple, who are members of the Mountain Brook Art Association and live in Birmingham, just outside of Crestline, said they both were encouraged to pursue careers that combine their love of art and their scientific curiosity. And if they hadn’t both listened to their teachers about investigating careers as medical illustrators, the pair might never have met. Amy grew up in Savannah, Ga. After earning a bachelor’s degree in studio arts from the University of Virginia, she furthered her studies in the master’s program for medical illustration at Medical College of Georgia. That’s where she met Sam, who was also working on his master’s degree in medical illustration after having earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and drawing/

Journal editor

Amy Collins

He has a

Age: 57 Residence: Birmingham; lived in

Homewood for 22 years.

Occupation: Medical illustrator and Won Cho is a performer with Opera Birmingham and a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Photo special to the Journal

Age: 46 Residence: Birmingham and Tampa,

Fla.

Occupation: Professional opera singer

and assistant professor of music and voice at UAB Hometown: Seoul, South Korea, London and Canada Education: Bachelor’s degree in voice from the Manhattan School of Music; master’s degree in voice from Boston University; doctorate of musical arts in voice from the University of Memphis Latest accomplishment: Performing at concerts in Italy, France, Luxembourg, Austria, China and other countries around the world.

fine artist

Hometown: Savannah, Ga. Education: Bachelor’s degree in studio

arts from the University of Georgia; master’s degree in medical illustration from Medical College of Georgia Latest accomplishment: I just made a poster for my dad’s 90th birthday. I guess that’s as important as anything I’ve done lately.

painting from the University of Cincinnati in his hometown. The couple will celebrate their 32nd wedding anniversary in October and are the parents of 26-year-old Matthew and 23-year-old Sara. Matthew is a graduate student at Samford University, and Sara, a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, is a junior creative specialist at BBDO, an ad agency in Atlanta. Both Amy and Sam were creative children who could often be found with sketchpads or behind easels. “I have always loved to draw–or really, any creative process that involved making something with my hands fascinated me,” Amy said. Sam, too, said he can’t remember a time when he didn’t like to draw. He started out drawing cartoons and superheroes as a kid, he said. “Then I did sports paintings and mixed media in high school,” he said. And while both Amy and Sam loved artistic pursuits as children and teenagers, they also shared a curiosity about science and the nature of things. Luckily, the couple both had biology teachers who knew about the medical illustration field. “I have to give credit to my parents and my high school art teacher for encouraging me to pursue art, and I was very fortunate to have a wonderful AP Biology teacher who suggested medical illustration as a possible career path,” Amy said. Sam learned about the medical illustration field from his college professors at the University of Cincinnati. “Studying biology, I often did drawings for my papers,” Sam said. “Several professors suggested a career in scientific illustration.” See collins, page 15

doctorate degree in voice from the University of Memphis. Cho said he defied his parents’ wishes and devoted himself to a life in the arts because he believes artists have crucial roles to play in society. “The arts are one of the most important things that define us as humans,” he said. “They are naturally inclusive, borderless, See cho, page 17

Jamorris Rivers Find Passion in Ballet p. 16 louise beard shines as broadway producer p. 16 about town arts calendar p. 18 arts directory p. 19

collins,

From previous page

But like Amy, he did not let his interest in the arts fall by the wayside while he pursued a career in medical illustration. Amy said she took the science classes she would need to apply for graduate school in medical illustration at the same time she was doing her undergraduate coursework in studio art. Sam continued his artistic studies by earning a bachelor of fine arts degree before going on to study medical illustrations in graduate school.

Thursday, September 4, 2014 • 15

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

The couple continues to balance their medical illustration careers with their love of all types of art. “Sam and I have recently moved into our new studios at Artists on the Bluff (in Hoover), and we’re excited about to be a part of this community of artists,” Amy said. “It’s a unique place in Birmingham with studios for working artists to create, show and teach.” In addition to the move to the new studio in July, they also have been busy preparing for the annual Bluff Park Art Show in October and the Mountain Brook Art Association’s annual holiday show in December. “And in November, I will be one of the featured artists at Artists Sam Collins Age: 60 Residence: Birmingham;

lived in Homewood for 22 years. Occupation: Medical illustrator and fine artist Hometown: Cincinnati Education: Bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Cincinnati; bachelor’s degree in drawing and painting from the University of Cincinnati; master’s degree in medical illustration from Medical College of Georgia Latest accomplishment:

Amy and I illustrated a book on breast cancer for the American Cancer Society.

Incorporated Gallery,” Amy said. Amy said finding inspiration for her art work is pretty easy. “For me, inspiration can come from almost anything. It can be something tangible, like a person or animal or outdoor scene,” she said. “But I can also be inspired by a song or color or a feeling, and it takes my painting in another direction.” Amy said she is also inspired by other artists in the Over the Mountain area. “I’m also inspired by other artists, particularly painters, and love to look at their work,” she said. “I’m lucky because I’m part of a weekly painting group led by Barbara Evans, and it always inspires and re-energizes me.” Sam said he is most often inspired by American culture and American icons. “I’m influenced by many types of art, especially pop art and photorealism and artists like Tom Wesselman, Mel Ramos, Robert Rauschenberg, as well as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichenstein and Doug Bloodworth,” he said. Sam said he liked to “create images that tell a story or have a story about them.” “That’s probably why I became an illustrator,” he said. Sam said he enjoys working in mixed-media the most. “I don’t think a finished piece of art has to be only one thing,” he said. “I like to combine drawing, painting, digital images and found objects in creating my collage constructions.” Amy and Sam both said they think a strong arts community is important

Mountain Brook Art Association

Founded in 1981, the Mountain Brook Art Association strives to stimulate two-dimensional painting and drawing by encouraging individual and group development and sponsoring two annual shows. Membership is open to those who live within a 25-mile radius of Mountain Brook City Hall. For more information, visit mountainbrookartassociation.com. Artists Incorporated

Artists Incorporated was opened in Vestavia Hills by a group of nine artists with the idea of giving Birmingham area artists a place to showcase their work on a daily basis. The gallery is housed in what was a working dairy barn in 1929 and now holds art representing 50 artists and craftsmen from across the state. The gallery hosts an opening reception on the first Friday night of every month. The receptions are free and open to the public. For more information, visit www. artistsincorporated.com.

not just for artists but also because it benefits everyone. “A strong arts community is integral to a vibrant and active society and a strong community,” Sam said. “People choose to live in communities that offer more than nice houses.” Music, dance, theater and visual arts all contribute to the quality of life in any community, Sam said. “A strong visual arts community is crucial to producing citizens that are creative and engaged with skills that

Artists on the Bluff

Artists on the Bluff members use its facilities in the Bluff Park community of Hoover as studios or to teach art classes. The space is home to the Soon-Bok Lee Sellers Gallery and the Artists on the Bluff Gallery. Several classes are also held there. For more information, visit www.artistsonthebluff. com. Bluff park art association

The Bluff Park Art Association has organized the Bluff Park Art Show for the last 50 years. In addition to showcasing the work of local and national artists at the annual show, the Bluff Park Art Association also rotates a collection of 100 pieces among local schools, libraries and universities. The organization also funds public sculpture and donates to the Birmingham Museum of the Art. The Bluff Park Art Association also supports local groups, schools and libraries and grants college scholarships. For more information, visit www. bluffparkartassociation.org.

benefit the entire community,” he said. Amy said she, too, believes that art is important for many reasons, and not just because it inspires people to “think out of the box.” “A community that supports the arts is one that encourages and benefits from this kind of forward thinking,” she said. “The arts can bring a community together across cultural and economic barriers and, as a result, have a positive impact on its growth and success.” ❖

16 • Thursday, September 4, 2014

Dancing for Joy Jamorris Rivers Finds Passion in Ballet

life

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Stage Presence

Louise Beard Shines as Broadway Producer

By Keysha Drexel

When Jamorris Rivers was just 10 years old, the young dancer lost his biggest fan–and he almost lost his passion for the art form. Rivers, the new artistic director at Arova Contemporary Ballet in Vestavia Hills, said he almost stopped dancing for good when his father passed away unexpectedly 21 years ago. “His passing took the joy out of my life. He was my rock. He was always there to take us to dance (lessons), sports practices or help us with our homework,” Rivers said. “So when he passed, I left dance for two years.” During the dark time after his father’s death, Rivers said, he often thought of the high expectations his father had of him and his five siblings. “All five of my siblings and I danced in Auburn and Opelika (and) he fully supported whatever we were doing,” Rivers said. Rivers said his return to the art form that had brought him so much joy as a child was inevitable because of the “magnitude of emotions that were lying dormant” inside him and “just demanding to be expressed.” Rivers leapt back into the world of dancing with both feet, performing at competitions and festivals and traveling from his hometown of Dadeville to attend summer intensives at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham. While Rivers was happy about getting his dance groove back, it wasn’t until his senior year in high school that he became sure he wanted to devote his life to the arts. “It was during that transition from high school to college (when) I realized that dance gave me the tools necessary to be comfortable in my own skin,” he said. Right before he started college, Rivers went to New York to see the Broadway play “Fosse” and said the performance sealed the deal on his pursuit of a career in dance. “It was there, after watching Desmond Richardson dance, that I thought to myself, ‘This is it. This is what I want to do,’” Rivers said. “Ever since, dance has helped define who I am in so many ways.” After high school, Rivers attended the University of Alabama, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in dance and Spanish. “So I became a dancer and later a choreographer,” Rivers said. Rivers has performed with the Alabama Ballet and Southern Danceworks and has toured internationally with Complexions Contemporary Ballet. He has also been a dance teacher at Samford University and Children’s Dance Foundation in Homewood. He took his post as the new artistic director at Arova Contemporary Ballet in Vestavia Hills this summer and said he thinks this is a place he can “grow, create and develop a deeper meaning for dance.” Rivers said he hopes to teach other young performers the power of dance and other art forms. “Dance is one of the many methods we can give our young people to (help) with any emotional concerns they wish to express through the physicality of movement,” he said. “It is through dance, acting, visual arts, music and many more creative practices that we find the authority to change the world we live in.” Rivers said he would also like to pass along what he has learned about overcoming barriers during his career as a dancer and choreographer. “The worst barrier of all is self-doubt,”

Louise Beard was already making a living in the arts when a trip to a local theater sent her down a path that would eventually lead her to the stage of Radio City Music Hall. The Redmont resident, whose Four Ladies & One Gent group was the producer of the Tony Award-winning “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” was a pianist, choral teacher and dancer before she turned her passion for the arts into a career as a Broadway producer. A graduate of the former Brooke Hill School, now Altamont School, Beard said she has been interested in the arts for as long as she can remember. “Apparently, when I was really little bitty and was barely able to stand, I would dance around the living room when mama and daddy would play ‘The Nutcracker’ record,” Beard said. Beard took piano lessons as a child, fell in love with performing and dreamed of traveling the world someday as a concert pianist. She took piano lessons throughout high school and started her freshman year at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J., as a piano major. “But my daddy wanted his baby girl back home, so I moved back and finished school at Birmingham-Southern (College),” she said. After graduating from BirminghamSouthern, Beard worked as an assistant to organist and choirmaster Joseph Schreiber at Independent Presbyterian Church. In 1976 she married John Beard, who is now the president of Alacare Home Health and Hospice. The couple’s first child, Graham, was born two years later. That’s right around the time the professional musician first “got bit by the theater bug,” she said. But it wouldn’t be a straight path from a life in music to a life in theater for Beard. First, she had to dance. “It all started when I saw a show Carl Stewart, who later started Terrific New Theatre, was doing at Birmingham Festival Theatre. Carl has always been my mentor,” Beard said. “Carl’s show was ‘The Decline and Fall of the Entire World as Seen Through the Eyes of Cole Porter,’ and after I saw it, I knew I just had to, absolutely had to learn how to tap dance.” Beard started taking tap lessons from Dale Serrano and soon found herself in charge of choreographing a tap number for the Junior League of Birmingham’s Follies show. “A friend of mine, Lee Whatley, is a trained dancer, and after the Follies, she suggested that we open an adult dance studio,” Beard said. “I thought I was just going to teach a few people a few moves for one show, but I ended up running a dance studio for the next 29 years. I still can’t believe I had the nerve to do that.” After almost three decades of teaching dance at Time Step Studios, Beard said, her body stopped cooperating and she knew she had to find another creative outlet. “It was around 2008 when my knees really started giving me trouble,” she said. “I had been expecting it because my daddy’s knees were really bad when he got older.” The dance studio closed in 2009, and Beard turned her full attention to something that was quickly becoming her new passion. “When my daughter, Lanford, was a teenager, I started taking her on trips to New York every Christmas and we would see as many shows as we could,” Beard said. “I couldn’t get enough of it, and pretty soon, I started making

Journal editor

Jamorris Rivers of Vestavia Hills is the new artistic director at Arova Contemporary Ballet Company in Vestavia Hills. Age: 31 Residence: Vestavia Hills. Occupation: Artistic director of Arova

Contemporary Ballet

Hometown: Dadeville Education: Bachelor’s degree in dance and

Spanish from the University of Alabama

Latest accomplishment: Becoming artistic

director of Arova Contemporary Ballet and completing one year teaching at Children’s Dance Foundation. Rivers said. “We just get in the way of what’s in our heart of hearts.” Take male dancers, for example, Rivers said. “Young men still have the preconceived idea that boys don’t do ballet–as if ballet is some type of training that feminizes men,” he said. “Believe me, ballet is a full contact sport.” Rivers said the myth that “boys don’t do ballet” could be keeping many talented young artists from pursuing their dreams. “While the trend is slowly changing, this type of thinking may prevent talented young men in our community from truly understanding a beautiful art form,” he said. As artistic director of Arova Contemporary Ballet Company, Rivers said he wants to work to change all that. “I’d like to offer a home for such bold artists at Arova Contemporary Ballet,” he said. “We want to set a new standard for professional dance in Birmingham for both men and women who want to show distinction in their work. Arova is for artists that want to showcase their creative abilities as well as the diversity of their dance styles.” Arova Contemporary Ballet Company was established in 2006 and named in memory of Dame Sonia Arova, an acclaimed Bulgarianborn ballerina, teacher and the founding artistic director of the Alabama Ballet. The nonprofit organization’s aim is to “design highly captivating performances that feature raw athleticism, passionate energy and a rich soul,” according to its website. Rivers said he is inspired by the elation he sees in his students’ faces when they figure out a step in dance class and said he also gets inspiration from Birmingham. See rivers, page 17

connections with people in the theater industry.” From there, it didn’t take long for Beard to throw herself completely into the theater industry. By 2011, a show she was involved with, “The Scottsboro Boys,” had been nominated for 12 Tony Awards. “I had an infantile kind of start in this business and I’ve just had to learn a lot about the theater industry as I’ve gone along, but I don’t regret any of it,” she said. “I think I might have the hang of it now.” Judging from all accounts, Beard does indeed have the hang of it. Her theater credits include the Tonynominated “A Christmas Story, the Musical” which opened on Broadway in 2012. She has also produced several local and regional shows. “It’s not an easy business and it is an expen-

Louise Beard Age: 64 Residence: Redmont Occupation: Broadway producer; former

tap dance and music teacher

Hometown: Birmingham Education: Graduate of the former Brooke

Hill School, now Altamont School; attended Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J.; bachelor’s degree in music from Birmingham-Southern College Latest accomplishment: Winning a Tony Award for being a part of the Four Ladies & One Gent producers group behind “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.” sive business, but producing is something that you do for the thrill of it and you have to make peace with the fact that you may not get your money back,” she said. “A lot of it is about hard work, but a lot of it is about luck.” And when it comes to the luck department, Beard has never been one to take chances. “In the old days in Germany, if you had a pig, you were lucky because that meant you had something to eat,” Beard said. “So these little plastic pigs have sort of become my calling card over the years because I think they bring luck.” At the Tony Awards ceremony in June, Beard drew national attention when she tried to spread some of that luck around to the Broadway royalty at the event. See BEARD, page 17

life

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

cho,

From page 14

multicultural, cross-cultural and transcultural.” When people are brought together through music, dance, theater or visual arts, Cho said, it makes for a better society. “(The arts) bring people together and help us communicate and connect and understand each other so that we can build a more diverse, open and stronger society,” he said. Cho, who has performed all over the world, said the arts culture in the U.S. is unique. “One thing that is unique about the music Opera Birmingham

Opera Birmingham, the only professional opera company in northern and central Alabama, has been entertaining audiences with worldclass operatic productions and concerts since 1955. Founded as the Birmingham Civic Opera, the company merged with Southern Regional Opera in 1986. It became the Birmingham Opera Theater for its 1987 season and finally became known as Opera Birmingham in 1996. For more information, visit www.operabirmingham.org.

beARD,

From page 16

“When I meet people, I give them a little plastic pig, so after we all went up to accept our awards, I gave one to Hugh Jackman (who was hosting the ceremony) and told him, ‘You have now been porked.’ It was great and a moment I’ll never forget.” The success of “A Gentleman’s Guide

scene in the U.S. is that most art organizations in the country were founded and are maintained by nongovernmental entities,” he said. Not only does that allow for more freedom of expression but it also means audiences mean the world to the artists, Cho said. “Without the support of the local community in ticket sales, donations and volunteerism, (the arts organizations) would not exist,” he said. Cho said he continues to be inspired by “great music composed by great composers and great musicians” and hopes he can do his part to enrich the local arts scene. “I believe building a strong arts community is a responsibility of all of us for all of us and for the sake of generations to come,” he said. And to that end, Cho is on the road again to bring his voice to audiences in Italy, Austria and the Czech Republic this month. In October, he’ll return to Birmingham for a faculty recital at UAB with his colleague and world-renowned pianist, Yakov Kasman of Vestavia Hills. He’ll also embark on a concert tour to Korea and Japan within the next year. “And there are a few other concerts being scheduled as we speak for next summer and spring,” Cho said. “It’s good to be busy doing something you love.” ❖ to Love and Murder,” which won four Tony awards in all, has inspired Beard, who heads up her own SwineSTARS production company, to take the next step in her winding path through the arts. “Up next, I’m working with Martin Platt, the former artistic director at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, to produce ‘Dames at Sea,’ and locally, I’m one of the producers of ‘The Fantasticks,’ which is opening at the Terrific New Theatre,” she said.

Rivers,

From page 16

“I get stirred up just walking downtown through the historic districts, parks and theaters around Third and Fourth avenues,” he said. “You can just feel the history there. You can imagine the possibilities there, too.” The arts have a lot to do with the possibilities for the Birmingham metro area in the future, Rivers said. “When we look at the challenges that today’s society presents, consider this: Making art is about finding common ground with each other,” he said. The next few months will be busy–and likely exhausting–for Rivers as he prepares for the Revive performances Dec. 5-7 at the Dorothy Jemison Day Theater at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. The show is “an exciting collection of contemporary dance works that celebrate the restoration of Birmingham’s art and culture movement,” Rivers said, and it aims to let people

Thursday, September 4, 2014 • 17 Arova Contemporary Ballet

Arova Contemporary Ballet is an innovative dance company devoted to inspiring communities to transcend barriers through dance education. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to design highly-captivating performances that capture raw athleticism, passionate energy and a rich soul. The company was established in 2006 and was named in memory of Dame Sonia Arova, an acclaimed Bulgarian-born ballerina, teacher and the founding artistic director of the Alabama Ballet. For more information, visit www. arovacontemporaryballet.org.

know about the wealth of talented artists in the Birmingham metro area. “Although I feel like dance takes so much from a person physically and even mentally, I recognize that dance has the capacity to give back,” he said. “Dance has given me confidence, character, discipline, humility and respect for others. Dance has also given back my joy.” ❖ Terrific New Theatre

Beard has also invested in the musical version of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” and a show called “Hand to God.” “It’s exciting to think I could be back on stage at the Tony Awards next year,” Beard said. “But who knows what stage I’ll end up on next?” ❖

Terrific New Theatre is a live performance theater in the Lakeview area of Birmingham at Pepper Place. It was founded in 1986 by Steve Stella and Carl Stewart, who was also one of the founders of Birmingham Festival Theatre. Terrific New Theatre prides itself on offering plenty of unexpected surprises for audiences who are not looking for a serious, organized night at the theater. Previous shows have included “Of Grapes and Nuts,” a hilarious tribute to John Steinbeck’s classic, and “China: The Whole Enchilada,” a funny and provoking look at 4,000 years of Chinese history. For more information on Terrific New Theatre and its current season of shows, visit www.terrificnewtheatre.com.

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arts about town Birmingham

Fine-tuned Fete

“The Fantasticks” Sept. 5-13 Terrific New Theatre Terrific New Theatre will open its season with “The Fantasticks,” the world’s longest-running musical, with performances Sept. 5-13. Show times are at 8 p.m. each night. Tickets are $25 except on Sept. 11, which is “pay what you can afford” Thursday. For more information, visit terrificnewtheatre.com or call 328-0868. Homewood

Birmingham

Organizers are tuning up the plans for the annual Symphony 30 Picnic to benefit the Alabama Symphony Orchestra on Sept. 28. From left: Kelly Taylor, Mary Goodrich, Halle Gibbs and Caroline Reynolds.

Symphony 30 Picnic Photo special to the Journal Sept. 28, 4 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens Symphony 30 will host its 17th annual picnic fundraiser benefitting the Alabama Symphony Orchestra on Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. The family-friendly event will feature dinner provided by Jim N’ Nick’s and a symphony concert including favorites such as “Carmen’s Hoedown” and excerpts from “Star Trek.” There will also be a raffle and children’s activities, including a station where children can make their own musical instruments. Tickets are $75 per family or $25 per person. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.symphony30.org. ❖ Birmingham

Art and Conversation Sept. 4, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Birmingham Museum of Art Learn how the Birmingham Museum of Art built and refined its American collection at a program with curator Graham Boettcher from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Sept. 4. Boettcher will discuss the strengths of the collection, recent acquisitions and plans for the future of the museum’s American Galleries. The cost is $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers. Coffee and light refreshments will be available. For more information, visit www.artsbma.org.

Birmingham

Sept. 5, 7 p.m. Rapid Fire XII Abroms-Engel Institute UAB will host Rapid Fire XII at 7 p.m. Sept. 5 in the Abroms-Engle Institute for the Visual Arts at 1221 10th Ave. S., Birmingham. The gathering of artists and thinkers is aimed at building community and fostering dialogue. The event is hosted by the UAB Department of Art and Art History. Presenters include the Birmingham Museum of Art’s curator of modern and contemporary art and several UAB faculty members. For more information, visit www.uab.edu/news.

W R I G H T C E N T E R S I G N AT U R E S E R I E S One Singular Sensation!

A Tribute to Marvin Hamlisch Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m.

Opening Concert Sept. 7, 4 p.m. Samford University The 70-voice Concert Choristers of the Birmingham Boys Choir will welcome the Mexican dance troupe Balletico Folklorico Corazon Azteca to the stage at 4 p.m. Sept. 7. This is the opening concert of the second annual Collaborative Concert Series. The event is at Brock Recital Hall. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or from the BBC office at 767-9219. Seating is limited. Mountain Brook

Animated Film Screenings Sept. 8, 15, 22, 29 Emmet O’Neal Library The Emmet O’Neal Library in Mountain Brook will present a screening of a “technically audacious, gleefully wicked medieval animal fable” Sept. 8 as part of a series on the history of animated film. During the series, classic short films will be shown at 6 p.m. followed by a feature film at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, visit eolibrary.org. Vestavia Hills

An Evening with Lars Anderson Sept. 8, 7 p.m. Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest The University of Alabama Jefferson County Alumni Chapter will host an evening with author Lars Anderson at 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest. Anderson is the author of “The Storm and the Tide,” described as a book about tragedy, hope and triumph in Tuscaloosa. Tickets are $25 and include an autographed copy of the book. To purchase tickets, visit www. uajeffco.org.

205-726-2853 tickets.samford.edu

and the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. Space is limited, and reservations are required by Sept. 8. For more information or to make reservations, visit www.artsbma.org or call 254-2571. Birmingham

Organ Recital Sept. 14, 3 p.m. Cathedral Church of the Advent The Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham will host a free organ recital at 3 p.m. Sept. 14. Faythe Freese, professor of organ at the University of Alabama, will perform on the 100-rank Grieb-Williams organ. The church is at 2017 Sixth Ave. N. For more information, visit adventbirmingham.org Homewood

An Evening with Joshilyn Jackson Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m. Rosewood Hall The Friends of the Homewood Public Library will host an evening with bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at Rosewood Hall in Homewood. The fundraiser will include a presentation by Jackson, refreshments and a book signing. Tickets are $25 and must be purchased in advance in the Adult Services Department at the library or by calling 332-6625. Homewood

Celebration of Marvin Hamlisch Sept. 19, 7:30-10:30 p.m. Wright Fine Arts Center The Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center at Samford University will present “A Singular Sensation! A Celebration of Marvin Hamlisch” from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Sept. 19. The all-star celebration of the prolific composer’s work will feature four Broadway singers and a band performing Hamlisch’s most beloved songs. Tickets are $18-$30 and can be purchased at artstickets@samford.edu. For more information, call 726-2853.

Birmingham

Service of Choral Evensong Sept. 28, 3-4:15 p.m. Independent Presbyterian Church The Children’s Choir at Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham will present the Service of Choral Evensong from 3-4:15 p.m. Sept. 28 at the church. Following the service, Leslie Teardo of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church will present a 30-minute organ recital. The performances are free. For more information, visit www.ipc-usa.org or call 933-3700. Birmingham

Vulcan AfterTunes Sept. 28, 3 p.m. Vulcan Park and Museum Vulcan Park and Museum will kick off its 10th season of Vulcan AfterTunes at 3 p.m. Sept. 28 with a show featuring The Revivalists. Admission is $15 for adults and $8 for children ages 5-12. Children ages 4 and younger are admitted free. Vulcan members receive a discount. Ticket prices include live music and admission to Vulcan’s Observation Tower and Museum. Light snacks, beer, wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.visitvulcan.com/vulcanaftertunes. Vestavia Hills

Fundraiser with Rosalind Wiseman Oct. 2, 11:30 a.m. Private club The Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation will host author Rosalind Wiseman at a fundraising luncheon at a private club in Vestavia Hills at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 2. The bestselling author will talk about parenting and bullying during her presentation and will share insights from her latest book. Reservations for event seating and VIP packages are now available. Tickets are $60$135. For more information, visit www. vestaviafoundaiton.org. Birmingham

Duquette Johnson Concert Sept. 12, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Alys Stephens Center Duquette Johnson will be in concert at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center in Birmingham Sept. 12. The Birmingham musician will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29.50. For more information, call 975-2787.

Tablao Flamenco Sept. 21, 6-8 p.m. Moonlight on the Mountain Experience genuine Flamenco performances in an intimate setting when Corazon Flamenco presents Tablao Flamenco at Moonlight on the Mountain in Hoover from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 21. The show will feature solos and group dances by Irene Rimer and Corazon Flamenco with guitarists Tony Arnold and Roberto Verdi. Tickets are $15. Moonlight on the Mountain is at 585 Shades Crest Road. For more information, visit www. moonlightonthemtn.com or call 8735377.

Through the Lens Event Oct. 2, 6 p.m. Kress Building Rooftop The Alabama Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, will hold the fourth annual Through the Lens photography fundraiser on the rooftop of the Kress Building at 301 19th Street North in Birmingham on Oct. 2. The event is held annually to bring awareness to the plight of abused and neglected children in the state. In addition to a photography exhibit, the event will also include a silent auction, food, beverages and live music. Tickets are $25 each and can be purchased online at www.AlabamaCASA.org, at the door or from a member of the organization’s Junior Board of Directors.

Birmingham

Hoover

Birmingham

featuring Deana Carter, Billy Dean, Teddy Gentry of the group ALABAMA and Lenny LeBlanc Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Program for the Visually Impaired Sept. 13, 10-11 a.m. Birmingham Museum of Art The Birmingham Museum of Art will present “Bridges Between the Earthly and Spiritual Realms,” a program for the visually impaired, from 10-11 a.m. Sept. 13. The museum hosts the program on the second Saturday of each month. A specially-trained docent will present the museum’s collection with verbal descriptions and three-dimensional tactile models based on original works of art and sculpture. The free program is sponsored by the Eyesight Foundation

Hoover

Experience Hendrix Sept. 25, 7-9 p.m. Alys Stephens Center Birmingham audiences can “Experience Hendrix” from 7-9 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. The show has the endorsement of the Hendrix family and has sold out worldwide. The show will feature Buddy Guy, Billy Cox, Eric Johnson, Johnny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Chris Layton and Doyle Bramhall II as they perform signature Hendrix songs. Tickets are $91.50-$125. For more information, call 975-2787.

Bluff Park Art Show Oct. 4, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Bluff Park Community Center The 51st annual Bluff Park Art Show will be from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Oct. 4 at the Bluff Park Community Center at 517 Cloudland Drive in Hoover. The Bluff Park Art Show started as a way to raise money to expand the library at Bluff Park Elementary School and has grown into a nationally recognized and acclaimed art show featuring artists from across the country and an electric mix of media. For more information, visit www. bluffparkartassociation.org.❖

OTM Arts Directory “Art is the signature of civilizations,” said Grammy Award-winning opera singer Beverly Sills. And that artistic signature can be seen all around the Over the Mountain area. Dance and music companies, galleries, museums and theaters abound and offer plenty of opportunities to participate, to learn or just to appreciate. Our directory is a partial list of organizations that keep the Over the Mountain arts scene vital—and a close-to-home way to express, enjoy and escape. Alabama Ballet Established in 1981, Alabama Ballet’s conception was an extension of Birmingham Civic Ballet, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Ballet and Ballet Alabama. Dame Sonia Arova and Thor Sutowski, world-renowned dancers, were the company’s first artistic directors. Through their direction and artistry, the company was able to achieve success among professional dance companies. Alabama Ballet’s mission is to change and enhance lives through high-quality performances, dance education and community outreach. For more information, visit www.alabamaballet.org.

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

evolved into the state’s only full-time professional orchestra. The ASO employs 54 salaried musicians who give more than 190 performances a year. The ASO serves nearly 100,000 people a year through its concert series, youth programs and educational and community engagement efforts. For more information, visit www. alabamasymphony.org. ArtPlay ArtPlay, an outreach program started by the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, values and encourages selfexpression through art and creativity, which is an integral part of development and communication regardless of age. For more information, visit artplayasc.org.

Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame Located in Birmingham’s Civil Rights District, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame allows its visitors to explore the history of jazz and the city of Birmingham. In 1993 the hall of fame opened a museum to support the community’s education on the art form. Members include Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and Birmingham’s own Erskine Hawkins. For more information, visit www.jazzhall.com/index.htm.

Birmingham Art Association In 1908 artists Della Dryer, Willie McLaughlin, Alice Rumph and Mamie Holfield formed the BAA to promote local art and artists. The BAA has entertained guests such as the Italian-born artist Giuseppe Moretti, sculptor of Birmingham’s iconic Vulcan statue. For more information, visit www.birminghamartassociation.org.

Alabama Symphony Orchestra The ASO began with a group of volunteer musicians in 1921 and has

Birmingham Boys Choir The Birmingham Boys Choir gives talented boys the opportunity to more

fully develop their gifts in an area of concentrated study as it teaches them discipline, integrity, professionalism and teamwork. Each year, the choir performs two major concerts of sacred and secular music. The choir also performs regularly at churches, schools and other organizations and has traveled extensively, representing Birmingham throughout the world. For more information, visit www. birminghamboyschoir.com. Birmingham Girls Choir Formerly the Birmingham Children’s Choir, the Birmingham Girls Choir allows girls to expand their vocal abilities through choral music. The choir performs at community events. Choir directors are dedicated to providing a nurturing environment for choir members. For more information, visit www. birminghamchildrenschoir.org. Birmingham Festival Theatre Birmingham Festival Theatre was started in 1972 by Birmingham actors Carl Stewart, Randy Marsh and Vic Fichtner and moved to its current location at 1905 ½ 11th Ave. South in 1973. Birmingham Festival Theatre has staged more than 250 productions involving more than 50 directors, nearly 1,000 actors and 500 crew people. The productions have been seen by almost 100,000 audience members. Its next show will be “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” Sept. 18. For more information, visit www.bftonline.org. Birmingham Museum of Art The museum’s current building was erected in 1951 and was the result of interest in establishing a museum for Birmingham. The museum houses more than 25,000 artifacts and has one of the most impressive collections of art in the Southeast. For more information, visit

www.artsbma.org. Children’s Dance Foundation CDF began in 1975 as a way to foster the abilities of children and those with disabilities. It now works weekly with more than 2,000 students of all ages and abilities. The organization’s mission is to provide the best services and programs to its students while offering opportunities for students to grow through creativity. For more information, visit www. childrensdancefoundation.org. Hoover Library Theatre With an intimate setting, Hoover Library Theatre features professional artists in the heart of the city. Each year, the Hoover Library Theatre presents a slate of entertainers from around the world. The Library Theatre is sponsored in part by the city of Hoover and the Friends of the Hoover Public Library. The 201415 season will include performances by Phil Vassar, Don Hicks and the Hot Licks, The Celtic Tenors, Diane Schuur, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, Cirque Montage and Mel Tillis. For more information, visit www.hooverlibrary.org. Music Opportunity Program The Musical Opportunity Program offers instructional programs throughout the Birmingham metro area with the aim of involving young people with string instruments through meaningful educational experiences that will lead to a lifelong love of and involvement in the performing arts. The program has two divisions--one for instrument instruction and a youth orchestra division. The MOP students and orchestra students perform several times a year at metro Birmingham area schools and other venues. For more information, visit www.musicopprogram. org.

Red Mountain Theatre Company In 1970 James Hatcher of the University of Alabama in Birmingham Theatre Department and Birmingham Mayor David Vann established what was then called Summerfest. It began as a summer “stock” company and years later still provides year-round musical theater performances. The company prides itself on its high quality productions and performances and educational outreach. For more information, visit www.redmountaintheatre.org. Space One Eleven Since its debut in 1986, Space One Eleven’s mission is to support local artists, well-known and obscure, professionals and beginners in an effort to support and spark public dialogue among members of the community. For more information, visit spaceoneeleven.org. The Seasoned Performers The Seasoned Performers was founded in 1984 as a creative outlet for older individuals and today features professional and community actors interested in contributing to their communities. The performers are committed to bringing live theater to those in underserved areas. For more information, visit www. seasonedperformers.org. Virginia Samford Theatre A Birmingham historical landmark, the Virginia Samford Theatre was founded in 1927 and served as a place for the community to gather and enjoy production-worthy performances of the classics. After two revivals, one after World War II and the other in 1999, the theater still serves as a means for creative individuals to showcase their talents. For more information, visit www. virginiasamfordtheatre.org. ❖

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Join the Y TODAY Good things come together at the YMCA of Greater Birmingham. Whether it’s a class for yourself or a sports season for the kids. Support your family with programs that develop youth, that help you lead a healthy lifestyle, and that give back to our community. It’s your choice.

ymcabham.org/join New Members Only. MISSION To put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. VISION We will lead our community to become the healthiest in America. A United Way Partner. YMCA Fall Membership Initiative - OTMJ.indd 1

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Studio By the Tracks Soiree Art from the Heart Honors Students, Supporters

he heart of the mission of Studio By the Tracks was at the heart of a recent fundraiser at B&A Warehouse in Birmingham. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, Studio By the Tracks honored its students and 25 people from the community for their contributions to its programs at the June 15 Art from the Heart event. The fundraiser and anniversary celebration featured the work of more than 200 artists. The artwork was up for bid at live and silent auctions. The event also featured a student room featuring hundreds of pieces of students’ artwork for sale. Organizers said about 400 people attended Art from the Heart. Food included salsas, grits, salmon, a “Walking Nacho” bag and an assortment of cheesecakes. Organizers said the event raised $100,000 for Studio By the Tracks’ programs, with the live and silent auctions netting about $44,000. Studio By the Tracks board members attending the celebration included Philip Young with Angie, Leila Watson, Bill Stone with Lyn Chappelle, Lee Marks, Greg Glover with Tammy, Cilie Cowin, Paul Ware with Johanna, Connie Sherrod with Brad, Bill Fisher with Mary Reid, Carolyn Vizzina, Dan Bynum with Davette, Haley Snowden Ashley Spotswood with Bob, and Ben Burford. Also at the party were John and Ann Baker, Miller and Frances Gorrie, Jim and Ellen Walker, Rob and Anne Couch, Scott and Holly Carlisle, Betsy Burr Miller, Borden and Lucy Burr, Cami Tracy, Marion Webb, Sandra Storm, Shannon Johnson, Oscar and Janice Hall, Felice and Bill Oldacre, Matthew Hogan, Stewart and Missy Waddell, Haley Snowden, Nancy Walburn, Ellen Perry, J.P. and Stuart Hemingway, Deak and Virginia Rushton, Beth and Rick Chambers, Michael and Tamara Sansbury, Ben and Courtney Miller, Ken and Natalie Sansom, Dale Fritz, and Susan Colvin and Louis Montgomery. ❖

Jennifer and Brandon Harris.

Photos special to the Journal

John Miller

Marsha Meadows, Nancy Skinner and Lynn Casey.

Haley Snowden and Ila Faye.

Phil Thomas, Kris Casey, Julie Miller, John Robert Miller and Peter Casey.

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Thursday, September 4, 2014 • 21 Clockwise from left: From left: Bibba Croft, Jennifer Majewski, Jenny Rankin, Jennifer Shaw and Anne Wallace. Hoover City Councilman John Lyda, center, and friends. David Luke and Jay Barker. Photos special to the Journal

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Lighting Up the Night Fenders and Fireflies Held at Old Car Heaven

Supporters of the Easter Seals of the Birmingham Area lit up the night at a fundraising event last month. The Easter Seals of the Birmingham Area’s Junior Board hosted the third annual Fenders and Fireflies fundraiser at Old Car Heaven in downtown Birmingham Aug. 7. The event was presented by Merrill Lynch and featured

live and silent auctions. Guests enjoyed food by Cocina Superior along with the event’s signature Firefly cocktails. Partygoers danced to the music of Rollin’ in the Hay. Those attending the event included Andrew Fort, Hoover City Councilman John Lyda, Bibba Croft, Jennifer Majewski, Jenny Rankin, Jennifer Shaw, Anne Wallace, David Luke and Jay Barker. ❖

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From left: Jeanna Westmoreland, president; Nan Teninbaum, first vice president; Bet Wright, second vice president; Carol Himes, assistant treasurer; and Kate Millhouse, treasurer. Rebecca Mason, secretary, is not pictured.

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Golden Memories

Women’s Committee Remembers Past, Celebrates Future The Women’s Committee of 100 recently met to honor its past and celebrate its future. The organization met in May to celebrate its 50th anniversary and to honor its past and its new officers. The event also recognized the group’s “Golden Girls,” four of the women who were founding members. The event was held at Lyndra Daniels’s Normandy country-style home. Dorothy McDaniel, a member of the group, provided flowers for the occasion. The program was presented by the former presidents of the Women’s Committee of 100 and the Golden Girls. Each speaker shared her favorite memory of the group. The Golden Girls are perhaps most remembered as acting as hostesses of Birmingham during the turbulent times of the Civil Rights Movement. Their job at that time was to show that Birmingham, though touched by grief, was a

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Guests tasted food and drinks from several of the Birmingham metro area’s finest restaurants, breweries and vineyards in July–and all for a good cause. The Birmingham Boys Choir board of directors presented its fourth annual Taste of Birmingham July 20 in the Grand Ballroom of The Club in Homewood. Musical entertainment included jazz played by Shaun Pezant’s

wonderful city with much to offer. Past presidents of the Women’s Committee of 100 offered stories about the cherished friendships they found during their tenures. Anne Hollans shared a story about how she introduced grits to Jayne Meadows, one of the group’s guest speakers several years ago and also the wife of Steve Allen. Hollans said Meadows enjoyed the grits so much that Hollans later shipped a case of them to her in Hollywood, along with instructions on how to cook them. The group’s incoming president, Jeanna Westmoreland, also spoke at the event and said she and other members should be inspired by women like outgoing president Carolyn Satterfield. “Our job is to be as she (Satterfield) has been–someone who defines reality, says thank you and, in between the two, shows servanthood,” Westmoreland said. ❖

band, Top Secret, and the Charlie Giambrone Trio. The Birmingham Boys Choir sang two sets, including its jazz version of “The Cat and the Fiddle.” Between sets, city of Birmingham representative Scotty Colson spoke about the BBC and its upcoming trip to represent the city at the 2015 European City of Culture international music festival in Pilsn, Czech Republic. Among those spotted in the crowd were Denise and William Dow, Pam and Di DiPiazza, Celia and Earl Stradtman, Ryan and Amanda Waguespack, MaryLea and Al Rohling, Matt and Ann Rohling, Patricia and Gayle Pelham, Miss Jefferson County 2015 Gara Hughes, Annette and Greg Bake, Pam and Robin Murphree, Ann and

Craig Westbrook and John Pelham with Director Ken Berg and the Birmingham Boys Choir at the annual Taste of Birmingham fundraiser. Photo special to the Journal

Steve Reardon and Denise and Fred Kelley. The evening’s festivities concluded with the presentation of the Taster’s Choice Award, voted on by the guests and presented by John Pelham and Craig Westbrook. This year’s winner was Michael’s Restaurant with its Chateaubriand with Tomato Mushroom Demi-glace and signature White Macadamia Nut Bread Pudding with Raspberry Sauce and Cream. As darkness descended, guests were treated to a PyroProductions fireworks display synchronized to dramatic music from the Boys Choir. Proceeds benefit choristers in need of scholarships and the growing opportunities for BBC presence in the Birmingham metro area. The choir currently has 100 members. ❖

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Happy Endings

the Fairy Tale Ball. “This event is unique in that our guests feel they are at a great party but that they are giving other children the most wonderful gift: a great start in life,” Wright said. Throughout the evening, children could dance and play with their favorite fairy tale characters, includ-

Fairy Tale Ball Offers Magical Evening

Guests were recently transported to a magical realm featuring fairy tale characters and performances, a “candy bar” stocked with sweets and treats, and an evening of music and dancing. The eighth annual Fairy Tale Ball held Aug. 23 at the Sheraton

ing Alice and the White Rabbit, portrayed by Kate Edmunds and Camden Ferriara; Cinderella and Prince Charming, portrayed by Carin Lagerberg and J.D. Myers; and characters from “The Wizard of Oz,” portrayed by Lyanna Saito, Jarvis Cleveland, Christy Delenick and Magdalena Laws. ❖

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Joan Wright, Childcare Resources executive director and Jim Hansen, Fairy Tale Ball honorary chairman. Photos special to the Journal

Birmingham benefited Childcare more photos at Resources and offered a fun evening where children and parents could help other families in central Childcare Resources Executive Alabama. Director Joan Wright said she was This year’s Fairy Tale Ball was delighted to see so many dreams comhosted by Jim Hansen, honorary chairman. Hansen is the regional vice president of PNC Bank. “It was truly an honor to be a part of the 2014 Fairy Tale Ball,” Hansen said. “The long-term collaboration between Childcare Resources and PNC centers on our shared belief of the importance of high quality early childhood education for children ages 0 to 5, which is the primary focus of PNC Grow Up Great. The evening very successfully benefited Childcare Resources and the outreach and support they provide young children, parents and educators throughout central Alabama.” Childcare Resources is a nonprofit partner agency of United Way of Central Alabama. The agency’s mission is to make quality care and education of children happen by providing information, education and assistance to families, childcare providers and the community. Sherri Jackson of WIAT-TV was the mistress of ceremonies for this year’s event.

OTMJ.COM

To: From:

Ashley Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 FAX: 205-824-1246 ing true for children andDate: familiesAug. in 2014

the greater Birmingham area, thanks to those who support fundraisers like This is your AD PrOOF from the OvEr THE MOuNTAiN JOurNAl for the

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Ballpark Bash

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Left: The Junior Board of Hands On Birmingham, from left: Mauri Robinson, Joy Craddock, Kristin Jordon, Caitlin Mullin, Jennifer Myerson, Willie Davis, Cale Campbell, Aldrich Callins, Alex Lawley, Neil Shah, Chris Doty and Tae Phillips. below: Cale Campbell, Jacob Smith and Allyson and John Martin.

Hands On Birmingham Hosts Fundraiser

Photo special to the Journal

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More than 200 guests came out to support Hands On Birmingham at a recent fundraiser. The annual Southern Summer Night fundraiser for Hands On Birmingham was held Aug. 8 at Regions Park in downtown Birmingham. The event raised several thousand dollars to support the organization’s programs and services. As the largest volunteer coordinator in the greater Birmingham region, Hands On Birmingham works to address the growing need for services in the community. Hands On Birmingham programs that will benefit from the fundraiser include the 9/11 Week of Service and Remembrance, Family Volunteer Day, Project Homeless Connect, MLK Day of Service and Bunny Aid. The Southern Summer Night event featured food, drinks, a silent auction and music from the Negotiator Trio. Guests also watched a Birmingham Barons game as part of the event. Several organizations were honored at the fundraiser with Change Agent of the Year Awards for their contributions to Hands On Birmingham. Receiving awards were the city of Birmingham, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, USB

Financial Services, Cassidy Bonner and Wendy Malone. The Hands On Birmingham operating board and junior board members also contributed their time and talents to the fundraiser. Those attending the annual event included Mauri Robinson, Joy Craddock, Kristin Jordon, Caitlin Mullin, Jennifer Myerson, Willie Davis, Cale Campbell, Aldrich

Anniversary Toast

Arc of Jefferson County Marks 60th Year

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From left: Natalie and Pat Stewart, Susan Stewart and Brian Pflaum. Photo special to the Journal

To celebrate its 60th year and those served by its programs, the Arc of Jefferson County recently hosted a gala event.

A Toast to the Arc was held at Workplay in Birmingham Aug. 23 to celebrate the anniversary of the organization, which serves people

Callins, Alex Lawley, Neil Shah, Chris Doty and Tae Phillips. Others enjoying Southern Summer Night were Cale Campbell, Jacob Smith, Allyson and John Martin, Birmingham Mayor William Bell, Katie Hester, Stephanie Willis, John Lawes and Melissa Grober-Morrow. Also spotted at the event were Katie Hester, Michelle Carney, Jarrell Hall and Jeremy Ragland. ❖ with intellectual disabilities. Highland Commercial Mortgage was the title sponsor of the gala, which featured music from the Matt DeVine Band and a silent auction. Items up for grabs included fine jewelry, sports memorabilia signed by Nick Saban and Gus Malzahn, paintings by regional artists and gift cards to several local upscale restaurants. Guests dined on food from Kathy G & Company and sipped wine and cocktails as they browsed the silent auction offerings. Those attending the gala included Natalie and Pat Stewart, Curtis Harrison, Adeline Davidson, Susan Stewart, Brian Pflaum, Charlie Caper and George LaFerry. Proceeds from the anniversary fundraising event will benefit the organization’s job placement programs, early intervention programs for children, and day activities and residential homes for adults with intellectual disabilities. For more information on the Arc of Jefferson County and its programs and services, visit www.arcofjeffco. org. ❖

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Kickoff Event

Boiling N’ Bragging Draws Football Fans to Crestline Village The sixth annual Boiling N’ Bragging event in Mountain Brook gave football fans and seafood lovers a reason to celebrate. The fundraiser to benefit the Critical Care Transport Team at Children’s of Alabama was held Aug. 16 at Otey’s Tavern in Mountain Brook. The football kickoff party and low country boil, hosted by the Rotary District 6860, featured live music, $1 drink specials, kids’ activities and a celebrity appearance by Sean “Rock Star” Heninger of WJOX radio. Guests showed up for the annual event in their team colors. Several college football team mascots were also on hand for the event, including

Clockwise from top left: Hundreds of fans gathered in Mountain Brook for the annual Boiling N’ Bragging fundraiser. Sean “Rock Star” Heninger of WJOX radio performed at the event. Tiger fans of all stripes, including this Auburn fan and this LSU fan, got together to enjoy a low country boil at the event. Generations of Nebraska fans were also on hand for the Aug. 16 party. Several college mascots made appearances, including Big Al and Aubie. Photos special to the Journal

the mascots of Auburn University, the University of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Samford University. The Critical Care Transport Team started in 1983. Every year, it transports more than 1,000 critically ill and injured children, serving as a mobile extension of Children’s of Alabama. Jason Peterson, a nurse and the transport team’s coordinator, said Boiling N’ Bragging gave people in the community a chance to come together to celebrate the start of football season, enjoy tasty food and make an impact on the program and the children it serves. ❖

26 • Thursday, September 4, 2014

Long 70th Anniversary

Mable and Alton Long celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary Aug. 7. The Longs have lived in Birmingham since 1960 and are active members of Palisades Church of Christ. They love spending time with

Duncan-Turman

Miss Anne-Marie Duncan and Mr. Adam Hatch Turman were married May 25 at George Washington’s River Farm in Alexandria, Va. The ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Bill Cochran.

Duckworth-Outlaw

Mr. and Mrs. John Clemson Duckworth III of Vestavia Hills announce the engagement of their daughter, Frances Celeste Duckworth, to Matthew Daniel Outlaw, son of Mr. and Mrs. Darryl Alan Outlaw Sr. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Vaughan Kaufman of Vestavia Hills and Mr. and Mrs. John Clemson Duckworth Jr. of Tuscaloosa as well as Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Morris Stern of Birmingham.

Weddings & Engagements family and have shown, through their sacrifices and many acts of kindness, a wonderful example of unconditional love. A luncheon honoring the couple was hosted by their two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Charlie Stewart and Susan and Greg Womack, at The Arbors Apartments at St. Martin’s in the Pines on Aug. 3. All of the Long’s five grandchildren, including Charlie Stewart (Malia), Jay Stewart (Brooke), Susan Murdock (Gil), Anne Womack and Will Sanford, and Abby Nevins (Holder), and eight great-grandchildren–Emma Stewart, Davis Stewart, Maggie Stewart, Addison Stewart, Julia Stewart, Baker Stewart, Stewart Anne Murdock and Coe Murdock– were there to celebrate with the couple. Family members expressed their love and gratitude to the couple with cards and toasts of fond memories of days spent with “Meme and Pawpaw.” The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brace Duncan of Falls Church, Va. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Rick Turman of Hoover. Given in marriage by her parents, the bride wore a sleeveless A-line wedding dress with a lace bodice, high jeweled neckline and an organza skirt. The bride was attended by Katie Jenkins as maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Kathryn Turman and Laura Anne Turman, sisters-inlaw of the groom; Katie Shipp and Katie Ryan. Kaitlynn Jo Turman, niece of the groom, was the flower girl. Joseph and Andrew Turman, brothers of the groom, served as the best men. Groomsmen were Ben Duncan, brother of the bride; Paul Blair and Cory Moore. Ryan Michael Turman and Leland Pearson Turman were the ring bearers. After a honeymoon trip to Italy, the couple live in Arlington, Va. Miss Duckworth is a 2010 graduate of Vestavia Hills High School and a 2014 summa cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama, where she was a member of the University Honors Program and received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She is a fifth- grade teacher at Vestavia Hills Elementary Central and small group leader at Church of the Highlands. The prospective groom is the grandson of Mrs. Sara Marie Turkiewicz and the late Mr. Witold Wladyslaw Turkiewicz of Birmingham and Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Dan Outlaw of Jackson. Mr. Outlaw is a 2009 graduate of Briarwood Christian School and a 2013 summa cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama, where he was a member of the University Honors Program and the Computerbased Honors Program and received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. Mr. Outlaw is a student at University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry. He will graduate in the spring of 2017. The wedding will be Oct. 11.

Hall-Henry

Hannah Grace Hall and Clifford Joseph Henry Jr. were married July 19 at Independent Presbyterian Church in Birmingham. The 6 p.m. ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Dr. Conrad Sharps and the Rev. Dr. Raymond Edward Higgins II, coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Arkansas. A reception followed at the Summit Club, where the entrance was decorated a large arrangement of apple blossoms, snapdragons, tea roses and hydrangeas complete with tulle draping and string lights. Each table had large bouquets of white and green hydrangeas. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Ray Albright Jr. and Mr. James Earl Hall. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mathias Jager of Birmingham and Mr. Jack Jordan Hall Sr. and the late Mrs. Olivia Diane Hall of Birmingham. She is a 2013 cum laude graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in communication and a minor in business. She is currently a law student at Cumberland School of Law at Samford University.

McDougald-Somerall

Mary Frances McDougald and David Carlisle Somerall were married May 24 at Canterbury United Methodist Church. The Rev. Sheryl Jordan Thornton officiated the ceremony. A reception followed at the Country Club of Birmingham. The bride is the daughter of

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Joseph Henry Sr. of Little Rock, Ark. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Henry Sr. of Conway, Ark., and the late Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Simmons of Texarkana, Ark. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas, where he received a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing. He was a member of the Arkansas football team from 20052009 and was a member of the SEC Student Athlete Honor Roll. Mr. Henry is currently a college football coach. Given in marriage by her grandfather, Charles Mathias Jager, the bride wore an all-over lace mermaid gown with elegant beadwork and a gorgeous sheer illusion back and sophisticated lace illusion neckline, complete with a jeweled belt. She carried a garden-gathered bouquet of Sweet Akito roses and mini calla lilies hand-tied with satin ribbon and secured with pearl pins. The bride was attended by Laura Ann Mims, her cousin, of Birmingham as matron of honor. Margarett Leigh “Maggie” Albright, sister of the bride, of Birmingham and Levy Laurens Daniel of Auburn were maids of honor. Bridesmaids were Macy Denise Blackwell and Ashely Carol Bynon of Auburn; Emily Cameron Callis of Atlanta; Rebecca Ashley Ham, Mollie Anne Moore and Ashley Karlyn Pugh of Birmingham; and Starr Lorisa Taylor of Jonesboro, Ark. Honorary bridesmaids were Virginia Bradberry Riley, Hannah Katherine Tyra and Abbey Wright McManus of Birmingham and Sarah Ruth Jager of Auburn. The bridesmaids wore Jim Helm strapless floor-length gowns in candlelight and cashmere chiffon

over an ivory lining with a curved draped neckline and natural waist with a gathered skirt, complete with a beaded belt. They carried white and green hydrangeas and Sweet Akito pink roses. Linley Taylor Davidson, daughter of the bride, of Birmingham and Parker Elizabeth Mims, cousin of the bride, of Birmingham were the flower girls. Brody Michael Mahan, cousin of the groom, of Laurel, Miss., was the ring bearer. The groom’s father and David Simmons Henry, brother of the groom, of New Orleans were the best men. Groomsmen were Stephen Edward Cox of Jonesboro; John William Durmon of Springdale, Ark.; John Madison “Jack” Fowler III, Christopher Ryan Gibson and Antwain Terreal Robinson of Little Rock; Jericho Dewayne Jones of Dixon, Mo.; Joseph Brint Marks of Baton Rouge, La.; and Andrew David Simmons, cousin of the groom, of Rockwall, Texas. Ushers were Matthew Payson Angulo of Fayetteville, Ark.; Michael Doyne Daugherty and Mickey Jerome Dean of Little Rock as well as Cole Fayne Hall , brother of the bride, and Stephen Jordan Jager, cousin of the bride, of Birmingham. Gregory Roberson was the organist, and Sarah Ruth Jager, cousin of the bride, was the soloist. Decorations for the ceremony were provided by Lillies by Carol Riley. Magnolia Studios provided live music and DJ services for the reception. The reception assistant was Frances Damian, private events director at the Summit Club. After a wedding trip to St. Lucia, the couple live in Birmingham.

Mr. and Mrs. William Thomas McDougald of Birmingham. She is the granddaughter of Dr. Lawrence Kendrick Lewis of Madison, Ga. The groom is the son of Dr. Margaret Rathburn Somerall of Birmingham and Dr. and Mrs. William Elhannon Somerall Jr. of Birmingham. Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a strapless Monique Lhuillier lace gown with a chapellength veil. As her “something borrowed,” she wore a gold, pearl and diamond lavalier first worn by her great-grandmother and later worn by her grandmother, mother and aunts. She was attended by Helen Lawrence McDougald of Charlotte, N.C., as maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Katie Michelle Baker, of Fort Worth, Texas; Kathleen McKenney Beall, Elizabeth Patton Howard, Taylor Jordan Knight, Elizabeth Margot Major and Jori Ellen May, all of Birmingham; Sara Emily Allen Clark of Jackson, Miss.; and Mary

Cabanas Knox and Caitlin Grainger Waller of Dallas. The father of the groom was the best man. Groomsmen were Paul Matthew Brandon of Atlanta, Paul Richard Clark of Jackson, Thomas Mitchell Hackney and Frank Edward Lankford III of Richmond, Va., Benjamin Thomas McDougald of Mobile, Adam Whitten Somerall of Shreveport, La., and John Wilson Somerall and Russell Dennis Warren II, both of Birmingham. Readers were Grace Powell Flowers of Birmingham and David Stanley Graham of Chattanooga. Jonathan David Conolley was the soloist, and Lester Seigel was the organist. Program attendants were Dawson Drinkard Cooper, Lauren Mackenzie Stewart, Rebecca Claire Stivender and Mary Roberts Wooldridge. After a honeymoon trip to Key West, Fla., the couple live in Birmingham.

To have our wedding, engagement and anniversary forms sent to you, call 823-9646 or email us at editorial@otmj.com. To find the forms online, visit www.otmj.com.

Mountain Brook City Schools Superintendent Dickey Barlow models on the catwalk at last year’s Schaeffer Eye Center Fashions for the Foundation event. This year’s fashion fundraiser will be Sept. 16. Journal file photo

Fashions for the Foundation Is Sept. 16 Mountain Brook City Schools students, teachers and parents will take turns on the catwalk for a good cause at an upcoming fundraiser. The Schaeffer Eye Center Fashions for the Foundation event will be Sept. 16 at 11:30 a.m. at The Club in Homewood. The event will benefit the Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation. The foundation has several projects benefiting schools in Mountain Brook, including an iPad pilot program, a model interactive classroom, and new books and technology supplies at each of the system’s six school libraries. The foundation holds a summer learning conference at Mountain Brook High School each year and established the Mountain Brook Center for Innovation to give teachers a place to research ideas for their classrooms. The foundation also helps provide the salaries for the school system’s math coaches. The students, teachers and parents participating in the fundraiser fashion show will model the latest styles from several Mountain Brook stores. Tickets to the Schaeffer Eye Center Fashions for the Foundation are $50 each or $800 for a table of eight. Doors open at 11 a.m. For more information, contact Anne Womack, the foundation’s director, at mbcsfoundation@bellsouth.net or 4140042 or the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce at 871-3779.

ACT Scores Up in Vestavia Hills for Second Year Students in Vestavia Hills City Schools raised the district’s average composite ACT score for the second consecutive year, scoring more than five points higher than the state composite average, ACT reported last week. According to ACT officials, 433 Vestavia Hills students took the ACT in the 2013-14 academic year. Those students who took the test scored an average composite of 25.8 on a 36-point

Thursday, September 4, 2014 • 27

Schools

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

scale. The average composite for the 37,985 students statewide who took the test was 20.6, according to ACT. This marks the second year in a row that Vestavia Hills students raised the district’s ACT average. VHCS students scored an average composite of 25.6 in 2013 and 25.3 from 2010 to 2012. ACT also announced Wednesday that 58 percent of Vestavia Hills testtakers had met or surpassed all four of its “college readiness benchmark scores,” which ACT defines as the scores needed to indicate a 50 percent chance of earning a B or higher in college-level English, algebra, social science and biology. More than two-thirds of Vestavia Hills students met or surpassed at least one of the college readiness benchmark scores, ACT reported. By comparison, only 21 percent of test-takers statewide met the benchmark in all four areas. “We are proud of the hard work that has gone into preparing our students for this standard of success and for their postsecondary endeavors,” Vestavia Hills Superintendent Sheila Phillips said. “We will continue to focus on providing educational experiences that prepare our students for this level of assessment.”

Homewood Group Will Host Forum on Oct. 28 The Safe & Healthy Homewood Coalition, in conduction with Bradford Health Services and the Addiction Prevention Coalition, will host an informational forum on teen marijuana use at Homewood High School Oct. 28. The free event will be from 6-8 p.m. at the school at 1901 Lakeshore Drive. Seating is limited, and parents are asked to register early at http://goo.gl/ ajc6kl. The forum will be led by Kevin A. Sabet, who has more than 18 years of experience working on drug policy. Sabet is the director of the Drug Policy Institute at the University of Florida and an assistant professor in the College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. He is the co-founder of Project SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana). From 2009-2011, Sabet served in the Obama administration as the senior adviser to the director at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Cassady Joins ISS Staff Indian Springs School has a new director of admission and financial aid to start out the new school year. Birmingham native Claire Cassady has joined the school as Director of Admission and Financial Aid. Cassady will Claire Cassady lead enrollment initiatives and organize on- and off-campus admission events for Indian Springs, which is nationally recognized as a leader in coed boarding and day education for grades 8-12. Cassady previously served as Assistant Director of Admission &

Financial Aid at Saint Mary’s School in Raleigh, N.C., where she coordinated campus visits for prospective students and their families, managed the school’s financial aid budget, and served as dormitory head, ninth-grade class adviser, and 11th-grade speech mentor. A 2011 graduate of Vanderbilt University, Cassady received her B.S. in Child Studies from the Peabody College of Education. Before college, she boarded during grades 9-12 at the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tenn., where she was awarded the school’s first Distinguished Scholar four-year merit scholarship. The daughter of ISS alumnus Ed Cassady ’76, she attended Advent Episcopal School in Birmingham for grades K-8. “I am thrilled to be joining Indian Springs as the new Director of Admission,” Cassady said. “For over 60 years, Springs has cultivated a sense of curiosity and a love of learning in its students. I have admired the school since my childhood visits to the campus with my father, who is a very proud alum, and I look forward to working with students and families from across the state, the country, and the world to continue Springs’ tradition of excellence.” Indian Springs School is a private day and boarding school in North Shelby.

Pizitz Students Build Robots Over the Summer Rising sixth-graders at Pizitz Middle School spent part of their summer break learning to build robots and entering their creations in contests. At the Pizitz Middle School Robotics Summer Camp June 9-12, 20 students built and competed with 10 robots. Many of the students will join the Pizitz Middle School robotics team when school starts in August. The team participates in several competitions throughout the school year, including state contests in Huntsville and Mobile, nationals in Dallas and the world championships in Anaheim, Calif. The students will also have a chance to attend the VEX Robotics International Summer Games next year in Honolulu.

Crestline Teachers Attend Summer Workshops Teachers at Crestline Elementary School in Mountain Brook spent part of their summer back in the classroom. Chris Jakicic, an author and consultant, came to the school June 12-13 to lead workshops on understanding the role of essential standards and designing assessments to measure the standards and guide instruction.

Jakicic met separately with the Crestline Elementary kindergarten through third-grade teachers and the fourth through sixth-grade teachers. The Crestline Elementary School PTO provided the funds for the workshop, lunch for the teachers and a stipend for those attending. Crestline Elementary Principal Laurie King said Jakicic’s workshops were so effective that the school hopes to bring her back on Jan. 5 to continue working with the teachers.

Special Board Meeting Planned in Vestavia The Vestavia Hills Board of Education has called a special meeting that will be held next week. The board will meet at 6 p.m. on Sept. 9 to vote on the school system’s 2014-2015 budget. The board has met several times in public budget hearings over the last few weeks to hammer out the details of the new budget for Vestavia Hills City Schools. Public budget hearings were also held on Aug. 27 and Sept. 3. The Sept. 9 meeting will be held in the board room at the Board of Education meeting at 1204 Montgomery Highway. For more information, visit www. vestavia.k12.al.us.

Mike A. Keller, DDS, PC Pediatric / Adolescent Dentistry Dr. Mike Keller, friends & staff are happy to recognize August members of the NO SUGAR BUG CLUB

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28 • Thursday, September 4, 2014

Musical Tribute

Schools

Homewood Band Honors Two Longtime Supporters By Kim Bryan

Journal contributor

It’s a new season of gridiron spectacle for the Homewood High School Patriot Band, which takes an unprecedented step with its newest halftime show. This year’s on-field presentation pays tribute to two of the band’s own–Annie Laura Burton and the late William “Buddy” Wade, longtime supporters of the award-winning ensemble. It’s the first time the band has bestowed such an honor, according to Band Director Ron Pence. To use music in celebrating Burton’s and Wade’s decades of service is the band’s way to recognize the “shining spirit” of volunteerism that is the bulwark of the band’s success, Pence said. The band debuted its 2014-2015 performance at halftime of the Aug. 22 season opener at Decatur High School. Though the Pats lost a hard-fought contest 13-10, the Patriot band, more than 350 strong, entertained the capacity crowd with its musical performance. Likewise, the Star Spangled Girls’ poise and precise performance drew an ovation from the home team spectators. The band members and Star Spangled Girls wowed the audience in style in uniforms lovingly made for them by Burton. Burton began her tour of duty in 1972, stepping up to teach 22 members of the inaugural team of Star Spangled Girls–including her daughter, Loretta--to sew. The Star Spangled Girls were the vision of Homewood High physical education teacher Cindy Wade, who had created a dance team at Shades Valley High. Wade demanded precision equal to that of the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. Burton, an exceptional seamstress who had learned to sew as a little girl, insisted the hems of the girls’ uniforms be equally precise. At the time, outfits were either made by dressmakers or ordered from factories, Cindy Wade said. “Mrs. Burton would guide the Spangles as they did their own sewing. It was a miracle. She taught them all with great results,” she said. After her daughter graduated, Burton kept needle and thread handy. When her son Keith joined the Marching Patriots as a drummer, she used her expertise to hone a distinctive look for the band uniforms. Burton’s research of Revolutionary Warera clothing enabled her to fabricate authentic touches for the band’s store-bought uniforms. She fashioned custom-made ascots and designed and crafted the plumes that adorn the Patriots’ tricorn hats. The specially-tailored drum major jackets also bear her unmistakable touch. Burton enlisted her husband Gene to “make magic” for the band. An engineer by trade, Gene Burton designed and built uniform racks, field show platforms, epaulets and the Burtons’ signature red upholstered buttons for the hats and coats. Before he passed away this past February, Gene Burton meticulously handcrafted hundreds of those buttons, ensuring a plentiful supply for the future. Thanks to the Burtons’ efforts, the school has been able to extend the life of uniforms dating from the 1970s and 1980s. “Band students may come and go,” Pence said, “but our band uniforms are who we are.” Sewing for the band has also allowed Burton to see the world, she said. During her 42 years with the band, she has traveled to Ireland and twice to London. Band trips have taken her

to three Rose Parades in Pasadena, national presidential and state inaugurations, and seven Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades in New York. Burton is a key part of the band and has contributed to its extraordinary success, said Michael Haden, a 17-year-old senior French horn and mellophone player. “The fact that our band has performed for literally millions of people still stuns me at times,” he said. “We have played on international stages many times. That experience will stay with me for the rest of my life.” Burton receives plenty of praise for her commitment to Homewood’s young people. It comes not only from band members but from children she taught for many years as a Sunday school teacher at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Pence said. “It’s my pleasure,” Burton said. “I’ve loved every minute of it. I assure you, I receive far more than I give.” Though perhaps less visible than Burton, Buddy Wade was no less enthusiastic about the Homewood Patriot Band. Married to the original Star Spangled Girl, Buddy jumped at the chance to be a part of the show. “Buddy was so proud of me and the Star Spangled Girls,” Cindy Wade said. “His proudest moment was seeing his (daughter) Katie Wade on the Star Spangled Girl line and seeing her sons in the band now. Wade Bexley is a senior, tenor sax and section leader; Hogan Bexley is a drummer.” Buddy Wade planned his work around attending every event, Cindy Wade said. He cheered for band members, but he also taped ankles, fetched ice and provided moral support. Buddy Wade was a registered pharmacist, entrepreneur and State Farm insurance agent for more than 40 years. No matter how hectic his schedule was, friends said, he always found time for children. There was one side of Buddy’s generosity not everybody saw, Cindy Wade said. He made a special effort to secure and donate funds to guarantee every band member could afford to travel to those shows in exotic locales. Homewood’s first game this season was a bittersweet occasion for Homewood’s band director. “This was the first game in 18 years that Buddy Wade wasn’t on the band bus,” Pence said. Designing the band’s halftime show on the theme “Southern Explosion,” Pence chose two songs with the flavor of New Orleans– “I’ll Fly Away” and “When the Saints Go Marching In”–to commemorate the life of Louisiana State University graduate Buddy Wade. For Burton, only one song would do–a classic tune written by former Louisiana Gov. Jimmie Davis. “‘You Are My Sunshine’ is how we feel about her,” Pence said. Though Burton couldn’t make the trip to Decatur for the halftime show’s premiere, Cindy Wade did. She said she was thrilled by the tribute to Buddy. “Not only did I relish the music, especially ’The Saints,’ but the energy of it all and knowing that the kids cared enough to do that,” she said. She said she was especially proud that their grandsons, Homewood High students Hogan and Wade Bexley, were performing with the band as part of the tribute. “I know Buddy was around there somewhere, watching,” she said. ❖

ABOVE: Cindy and Buddy Wade were chaperones when the Homewood High School Band and the Star Spangled Girls performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2011. The band’s halftime presentation this season includes a tribute to the late Buddy Wade, who planned his work around attending every event. right: The special show also honors the band’s longtime seamstress and supporter, Anna Laura Burton with Homewood Band Director Ron Pence. Photos special to the Journal below: Homewood High School Patriot Band, performing during halftime of the Homewood vs Vestavia game last Friday night. Journal photos by Bryan Bunch

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Comfort for Small Patients Over the Mountain Students Promote Pillowcase Project

By Keysha Drexel Journal editor

Two Mountain Brook High School students are encouraging other Over the Mountain students to help a local nonprofit organization meet its fundraising goal. Freshman Hadley Hitson and senior Ryan Fredella are heading up efforts to help Angel Pillowcases raise $5,000 by Sept. 30 so the organization can participate in Children’s of Alabama’s annual Illuminations Holiday Tree program. The Illuminations Holiday Tree program includes a display of spectacular holiday trees throughout the lobbies at Children’s of Alabama. The trees are designed by individuals, companies or organizations like Angel Pillowcases as part of the hospital’s annual Illuminations Ball fundraiser. “We really want to participate in the holiday tree program because that will mean even more children can get the comfort of Angel Pillowcases,” Hitson said. Angel Pillowcases was started in 2012 by Altamont students Grace Carroll and Harry Arnold. “A pillowcase is something that most of us take for granted each night when we go to bed,” said Carroll, who is now in her sophomore year at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. But for a hospitalized child, a pillowcase can mean the difference between feeling uncomfortable in a hospital bed and feeling more at home, Carroll said. “Trying to bring some comfort of home to the hospital was the inspiration for Angel Pillowcases,” she said. Carroll started sewing and donating pillowcases to Children’s of Alabama long before she teamed up with her Altamont classmate to launch Angel Pillowcases. “Over the years, I’ve had so many parents come up to me and tell me how much the pillowcases mean to them and their child,” Carroll said. “It’s definitely something I want to continue to grow so that we can help even more families.”

CNP Staff Honored by Hoover City Schools More than 100 lunchroom workers gathered at Spain Park High School in August for an annual professional development, training and awards event. Employees of Hoover City Schools’ Child Nutrition Program were honored at the event for giving their best to the students and their co-workers. During the event, CNP Director Melinda Bonner recognized 10 staff members who had perfect attendance during the 2013-2014 school year and seven employees who took only their two allotted personal days. “At the start of the 2013-2014 school year, I challenged all of the HCS CNP employees to give their best to the service of the students and their co-workers by striving for perfect

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Volunteers with Angel Pillowcases are hoping to meet a fundraising goal to help bring comfort to more hospitalized children. From left: Hadley Hitson, Grace Carroll and Ryan Fredella. Journal photo by Keysha Drexel

Fredella said he got involved with Angel Pillowcases because he saw firsthand the comfort the brightly colored pillowcases can bring to young patients. His younger brother, Sean Fredella, battled cancer for nearly 10 years. Sean’s battle was one of the reasons Carroll and Arnold founded Angel Pillowcases in 2012. “Sean is cancer-free now, but I’ve seen how tough those long days and nights in the hospital can be for kids, and the pillowcases help,” Fredella said. Angel Pillowcases cost $25 each and also help the SeanStrong Fund at Children’s to provide financial assistance to families who need help when they have a child battling cancer. The fund was inspired by Sean Fredella. “There’s just not enough money available to help families with food or transportation when they are dealing with having a sick child in the hospital,” Fredella said. “That’s why the work being done by Angel Pillowcases for the SeanStrong Fund is so important.” The pillowcase designs have fun attendance to their job positions,” Bonner said. The honorees recognized for not missing work during the last school year included Pat Wright, Shades Mountain Elementary; Butch Butler, Cynthia Butler, Fred Harvey, Fannie Daniels and Indu Patel, Hoover High; Janice Mims, Trace Crossings Elementary; Cathy Watts, Deer Valley Elementary; Jayshree Gandhaklawa, Spain Park High; and Liz Whidden, Riverchase Elementary. “These employees reported to work for 186 days of the school year. When one employee is absent, it puts a constraint on the ability to perform and provide the full service and presentation in the cafeteria. I am extremely proud of their accomplishments and dedication to the service of nutritious meals to the students, faculty and staff of Hoover City Schools,” Bonner said. ❖

A seamstress, she worked in Port-auPrince and fled to Terrier Rouge, a small rural town outside Cap-Haitien following the devastating earthquake in Port-au-Prince in 2010. Theona decided to teach other young women how to sew and to learn a trade. The women have no electricity and use manually-operated machines. This summer, Angel Pillowcases was granted nonprofit status, and Carroll said she and other volunteers with the organization immediately started brainstorming ways to fund its work. “We wanted to continue our relationship with Children’s and do a major project, and so when someone suggested Illuminations, we thought it was a great idea,” Carroll said.

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motifs, including bicycles, whales, flowers and cupcakes, all in bright, vivid patterns and colors. “When you don’t feel good, you need something that’s not only soft and comfortable but something that’s fun and gets your mind off being sick,” Hinson said. Angel Pillowcases not only brightens the days of young hospital patients but also is helping women in Haiti create a better future for themselves and their families. The pillowcases are exclusively 2011 tenth-page BSC ad_OTMJ.indd made with Michael Miller Fabrics from New York and are now made through a partnership with local businesswoman Ann Piper and her husband, Doug Carpenter. The Carpenters learned about the pillowcases and saw a way to help reduce material and production costs while furthering their own initiative to help provide work for women in Haiti. The Carpenters created Theona’s Girls after discovering Theona on a mission trip to the Caribbean nation.

Carroll has to return to college in Maine this month but said she knows with the efforts of volunteers like Hitson and Fredella, Angel Pillowcases will reach its fundraising goal and be able to participate in the Illuminations Holiday Tree program this November and December. “We are hoping to get even more students in Mountain Brook–and across the Over the Mountain area-involved in helping us raise the $5,000 we need to be able to have a tree for Illuminations,” Carroll said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done to comfort those who need comforting, and the more students we have working towards that, the better.” For more information on how to donate to Angel Pillowcases, visit www.angelpillowcases.org. ❖

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30 • Thursday, September 4, 2014

By Keysha Drexel Journal editor

City officials in Vestavia Hills recently announced a project they hope will jumpstart new development in the Cahaba Heights community. And it’s a plan that’s generating buzz from both longtime and new Cahaba Heights business owners. On Aug. 11, the Vestavia City Council approved the sale of city-owned property on Dolly Ridge Road near Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights. That sale, said City Manager Jeff Downes, means the first public-private partnership in Cahaba Heights has successfully moved out of the idea stage and is now ready to be implemented. Downes said the city sold the land for $175,000 to Hydinger, Stewart & Chew Commercial Properties. The company also owns two adjacent pieces of property which it plans to develop into a mixed-use commercial area, Downes said. “The plan is for village-scale development–this won’t be a place for a big-box store,” Downes said. “The point is to create what I call quality of place–a development that will create lasting, timeless value for the residents and business owners of Cahaba Heights.” Not only will the sale of the land help spur business development in Cahaba Heights, it will also help improve traffic conditions in the area, Downes said. “The city will use the proceeds of that $175,000 sale to go towards building a road that will help traffic flow along Dolly Ridge Road near the new commercial development and the elementary school with planned entry and exit points at the school,” he said. Kate Hartman, who owns Chickadee at 3138 Cahaba Heights Road with her mother-in-law, Carolyn Hartman, said she was thrilled to hear about the improvements planned for Cahaba Heights. Long time coming

“I’m glad some fire is getting lit somewhere to improve this area,” she said. “It’s been a long time coming.” Downes said he couldn’t agree more. “There are some wonderful places in Cahaba Heights and then there are some places that are long overdue for revitalization,” he said. When Cahaba Heights was annexed into Vestavia Hills in 2002, the city worked with residents and stakeholders to come up with a community plan to improve transportation and infrastructure and to create village-scale commercial developments, Downes said. “Because the Cahaba Heights community plan was published at the beginning of the recessionary period, the ability to move forward with many components of that were challenged,” he said. “But the city has always had the strong desire to grow the Cahaba Heights community in a positive way.” During the recession, cities in the Over the Mountain area and across the country were tightening their belts and delaying capital improvement and other major projects, but Vestavia Hills has been able to construct several new sidewalks in the area, Downes said. And more sidewalks to connect the businesses and residential areas in Cahaba Heights are in the works, he said. “The developer is working with the city to begin planning for additional sidewalks, including

The city’s revitalization plan includes road improvements near Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights. Journal photo by Tommy Wald

Vestavia Officials Changes for Hope Project Will Spur Business Cahaba Heights Development pedestrian access to this new (mixed-use) corridor,” he said. Hartman said she thinks the new sidewalks and road improvements planned will be instrumental in the revitalization of Cahaba Heights. “The sidewalks will be the key,” she said. “Not only does it allow people to get out of their cars and walk and shop at a variety of places, but it will also give the Cahaba Heights community a more connected feeling. Right now, it feels a little disjointed.” A village-type mixed-use development will also help give Cahaba Heights more of an identity, Hartman said. “I think the retailers and the business owners need to feel more connected, and a village-style development will help with that,” she said. Hartman said she is glad to see the city investing in and planning for growth in Cahaba Heights. “It makes financial sense to spend money where you are making money, and as far as I know, Cahaba Heights is the largest (sales tax) revenue generator in Vestavia Hills,” she said. Downes said the city currently has four other projects in the works for Cahaba Heights and recognizes the area as a bit of a “diamond in the rough.” “If you look at sales tax revenues per business, Cahaba Heights is growing at a faster pace than any other area of Vestavia Hills, so whatever we can do to be consistent and move forward with a plan will be good for the whole city,” Downes said. Karen Odle, executive director of the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce, said she thinks the revitalization plans will create momentum that will attract more new businesses to Cahaba Heights. “I am so excited that we are seeing some movement–finally–on some projects, and I think it will be an incredible impetus for other new developments,” Odle said. The activity and planned revitalization in Cahaba Heights is what motivated dentist Andrew Richardson to open his first office in Cahaba

‘I think the retailers and the business owners need to feel more connected, and a village-style development will help with that.’ Kate Hartman, who owns Chickadee at 3138 Cahaba Heights Road with her mother-in-law, Carolyn Hartman.

Heights. Richardson, a pediatric dentist, will start seeing patients at his office at 4213 Dolly Ridge Road Sept. 19. “I chose Cahaba Heights because I think it has a lot to offer and I think it has a lot of potential to be even better,” Richardson said. Richardson said when he was in dental school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham a few of years ago, he began to hear the buzz about Cahaba Heights. “During the four years I was in dental school, I really came to like the area, and after I finished my pediatric dentistry residency at the University of Mississippi, it was one of the first places that came to mind when I started planning to open my own practice,” he said. Richardson, who lives in Liberty Park with his wife, Mallory, and their almost 2-year-old daughter, Lila, said as a Vestavia Hills resident–and now, business owner–he hopes the city can continue to work with developers to grow Cahaba Heights and the rest of the city in a smart way. “I have another daughter due at the end of September, and this is not only where I will have my practice, it is also where I am raising my family,” he said. “My plan is to start here and retire here, and I hope there are other people who want to make the same kind of investment in Cahaba Heights and Vestavia Hills.” Downes said the revitalization plan for Cahaba Heights is just one piece of the city’s plans to kickstart economic growth all around Vestavia Hills. “It’s all part of a strategy adopted by the city council and the mayor to grow our revenue stream in a very deliberate way, and then that growth in revenue will allow us to do the things we have to do. But more importantly, it will allow us to do the things we would like to do, whether that’s building new parks and playgrounds or making infrastructure improvements,” Downes said. ❖

‘My plan is to start here and retire here, and I hope there are other people who want to make the same kind of investment in Cahaba Heights and Vestavia Hills.’ Dr. Andrew Richardson, a pediatric dentist opening a practice on Sept. 19, in Cahaba Heights.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Haston Is President of Global Legal Organization A Vestavia Hills resident was recently elected president of an invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests. Tripp Haston was elected president of the International Association of Defense Counsel for the 2014-2015 term at the group’s annual meeting in Vienna, Austria, in July. Founded in 1920, the IADC’s members come from five continents, 40 countries and all 50 U.S. states. The core purposes of the IADC are to enhance Tripp Haston the development of skills, promote professionalism and facilitate camaraderie among its members and their clients as well as the broader civil justice community. Haston is a partner with Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, where he co-chairs its Life Sciences Industry Team and represents multinational corporations on regional, national and international engagements. He has been recognized in numerous leading attorney directories in which attorneys are ranked by clients and peers, including Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation and the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers. In 2014, Who’s Who Legal recognized Haston as one of the 11 most highly-regarded products liability defense attorneys in the world. In addition to the numerous positions he has held with the IADC, Haston is an active member of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law. He is a member of Auburn University’s Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Liberal Arts and past chairman of the Alabama State Bar’s Leadership Forum and Birmingham Bar Association’s Future Leaders’ Forum. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and a juris doctorate degree from the University of Alabama School of Law. Before joining Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, Haston served a judicial clerkship with Judge Emmett R. Cox of the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.

Horizons School Names Junior Board Directors The Horizons School recently named several Over the Mountain residents to its Junior Board of Directors. Horizons School is one of the few schools in the country that offers a college-like experience for those ages 18-26 with intellectual and learning disabilities. First opened in the early 1990s as a part of the UAB School of Education, it became a private, nonprofit school in 2000. The school opened a new 10,000-squarefoot building on 15th Avenue South in Southside in 2006. Katie Cusimano of Hoover was named the junior board’s president. James Gibson of Homewood was selected as vice president. Stephanie Rookis of Forest Park is the new secretary, and Chris Randolph Jr. of Homewood is treasurer. Grant Lauderdale is the group’s past president. Other members of the junior board of directors are John Olson, Kenneth Cox Jr.,

Raphael Richard Jr., Hannah Davis, Jennifer White, Alex McCrary, Whitney Kimerling, Lucy Morris, Taylor Agricola, Jennifer Gilbert, Ginna White, Joel Rodgers, Susan Gay, Shauntice Allen, Jessica Compton, Stacey O’Brien, Perry Still, Eboni Bryant and Bethany Jackson. The primary purposes of the Junior Board of Directors are fundraising and advocacy. Members are working on their signature event, Hearts for The Horizons School, which will be held in February in conjunction with the Mercedes Marathon in Birmingham.

Hoover Resident Makes Lab Professionals List A Hoover resident has been named one of the top medical laboratory professionals in the nation. Michelle Brown, an assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, has been named to the American Society for Clinical Pathology’s inaugural 40 Under 40 list. Brown, 38, is also the clinical Michelle Brown education coordinator in the Clinical Laboratory Science program at UAB. “The clinical laboratory is a vital member of the healthcare team, and I am honored to have been selected as one of the nation’s young leaders,”

Thursday, September 4, 2014 • 31

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Brown said. “I am thankful to receive this recognition with fellow pathologists, residents and laboratory professionals who are accomplishing great achievements early in their careers.” Brown teaches immunohematology, immunology and analysis of body fluids to UAB graduate and undergraduatelevel students. Before joining the UAB School of Health Professionals, she spent 10 years in a clinical setting, where she played an active role in the education of residents, nurses and perfusionists in the intricacies involved with transfusion medicine. Brown was featured in the July issue of Critical Values, an American Society for Clinical Pathology publication.

Dentist Celebrates 25 Years in Crestline A Mountain Brook dentist is marking a quarter-century of caring for patients in Crestline Village and throughout the Over the Mountain area. Kevin Alexander and his staff are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the dental practice on Church Street this month. Patients have actually been going to the dentist on Church Street long before Alexander had an office there. Alexander, a Birmingham native, was attending the University of Alabama School of Dentistry when he was introduced to Lem Rainwater, a dentist who had been practicing in Crestline Village since 1952 and was searching for his successor. “It was the perfect fit, “Alexander said. The office of Dr. Kevin J. Alexander, D.M.D., P.C. was first established in

“that hodgepodge building attached to the former post office,” Alexander said. Within a few years, the practice moved to its current location in the old Jefferson Savings Loan building across the street. “I feel very fortunate. I believe my office is in the best location of any dental office I have ever seen. I thoroughly enjoy living in and working for the same community,” Alexander said. “A lot has happened since that first year, from marrying Maria Adlercreutz to (having) three boys (to) leadership roles in dental organizations and overseas mission trips and fellowships in two organizations–just to name a few.” Alexander said over the years, he has continued his education and training in order to keep himself at the top of his field.

The speakers will share ideas on several subjects in short, fourminute TEDx talks. Some speakers may be invited to return Tripp Watson to deliver longer talks at TEDxBirmingham 2015 at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Alys Stephens Center. Watson and other speakers will give their talks from 6-8 p.m. at 2721 Fifth Ave. S., Birmingham. For more information, visit facebook. com/TEDxBirmingham.

Local Attorney to Speak at TEDx Event

JJ Eyes Optical Boutique Opens in Homewood

An attorney from Mountain Brook will be one of the speakers at the TEDxBirmingham Salon event this month. Tripp Watson, an entrepreneur attorney and founder of the Watson Firm, will talk about what cities can learn about attracting and retaining young professionals at the Sept. 15 Salon at Trim Tab Brewing in Birmingham. TEDxBirmingham, like all TEDx events, is an independent, volunteer effort operated under license from TED. It is not organized for political reasons, monetary reward or personal gain, event organizers said. Watson will join other speakers and performers at the September Salon event.

A former employee of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver has set up shop in the heart of Homewood. J.J. Lamb, an Alabama native who worked as a liaison for the former power couple, opened JJ Eyes optical boutique at 2814 18th St. S. in Homewood in August.

The Homewood boutique is the second JJ Eyes location. Lamb opened the first store in Fairhope in 2002 after returning home from Los Angeles and Park City, Utah. After running the business in Fairhope for 12 years, Lamb said she and her family moved to Birmingham to help launch Dermatopathology Lab. After that venture was off the ground, Lamb said, she turned her attention to bringing the unique optical offerings of JJ Eyes to Over the Mountain area customers. Lamb, who grew up J.J. Lamb in Luverne, said she enjoys spending time with her children, reading and practicing yoga. For more information on JJ Eyes, email jjeyesoptical@yahoo.com. Send Business Briefs to: kdrexel@otmj.com

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Week 1: Spain Park 5, Austin 3

Hoover’s Alex Elam reaches for Miami Central’s Olin Cushion III after Cushion intercepted a Buc pass. Journal photos by Marvin Gentry

Streak

From page 36

two touchdowns. The closest shave for Hoover during the streak came on Nov. 22, 2013 when the Bucs slipped by Florence 22-21 in a third-round Class 6A playoff game. Hoover’s most lopsided victory was on Sept. 13, 2013, as the Bucs overwhelmed Jackson-Olin 63-0. Not surprisingly, the team that consistently gave Hoover the most trouble was longtime nemesis Vestavia Hills. The Bucs won all four meetings, but both 2013 games were nail-biters. Hoover won the regular season game 17-7 in a victory marred by a controversial call. The rematch in the Class 6A semifinals was even closer, as the Bucs needed a furious comeback to prevail 31-28. And to fully appreciate the magnitude of Hoover’s streak, it’s important to understand how special perfect seasons are at any level of football competition. For example, only one team in the history of the National Football League has ever gone wireto-wire without a loss or a tie–the 1972 Miami Dolphins. In college football, Paul “Bear” Bryant is generally considered to be

Hoover’s Bradick Shaw was held to 71 yards on 17 carries.

Above: Spain Park’s Luke Silver comes up with a fumble in the first half of the Jaguars 5-3 win over Austin at home on Aug. 22. below: Jaguar receiver Bridge Suber looks for room to run. Journal photos by Marvin Gentry

Despite the deficit and the injuries, Hoover nearly came back from 14 points to defeat or at least go into overtime with one of America’s best high school teams.

the greatest coach of all time. In a coaching career that spanned from 1945-82, how many perfect seasons, including bowl games, did Bryant produce? Believe it or not, only three–in 1961, 1966 and 1979. Perfect seasons don’t exactly grow on trees, yet Hoover put together two of them in a row. That’s remarkable in any league, but to pull it off at the toughest level of high school play in Alabama is truly an achievement. While Hoover’s overall winning streak ended, another one remained intact. The Bucs’ success mark against teams from Alabama is alive and well at 28 consecutive victories. Ironically, in part because of the loss, the in-state streak could grow much longer. Miami Central is a large team physically, with great athletes packed throughout its roster. Hoover, with its offense struggling much of the game, rallied from a 21-7 fourth quarter deficit to tie the game before losing by a field goal in the final minute. Two mainstays of the Buccaneer attack, quarterback Jack Hutcheson and running back Bradrick Shaw, were injured and required treatment after the game. Despite the deficit and the inju-

ries, Hoover nearly came back from 14 points to defeat or at least go into overtime with one of America’s best high school teams. And while the Bucs play in Alabama’s toughest division in the new Class 7A’s Region 3, will they face another team as tough For more photos and the game story go to otmj.com

as Miami Central? That’s an open question. Certainly Mountain Brook, Spain Park, Tuscaloosa County and Vestavia–among others–are worthy opponents, but how well would they have done against the powerhouse from south Florida? There’s no way to know. After the loss, it was clear the Hoover players had no intention of wallowing in self-pity. “We’re not down,” said linebacker Darrell Williams. “We’re not worried about a streak. We’ll come back in here on Sunday afternoon and get back to work.” One thing is certain. The Bucs under Niblett respond well to a defeat. After all, the last time Hoover lost a game, the Bucs rebounded to win 30 in a row.

‘I knew that was going to be ugly.’ Spain Park coach Shawn Raney

Spain Park survived several miscues to beat 6A Austin 5-3 in the season opener for both schools. The Jaguars first score of the evening came in the first quarter when the Black Bears’ errant snap sailed into the end zone for a safety. Austin took the lead with a 31-yard field goal in the first half. Spain Park’s Crosby Gray deilvered the winning score with a 27-yard field goal in the second half. More photos at otmj.com.

next issue, Week 3 Matchup: Mountain Brook vs Hoover

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

sports

Thursday, September 4, 2014 • 33

34 • Thursday, September 4, 2014

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OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Vestavia, From page 36

seems like the year is almost over. It’s truly flying by.” And while any senior football player wants to make his last season memorable, Crowder and his teammates will have two unique opportunities. Because of Alabama High School Athletic Association realignment, Vestavia moved up to the new Class 7A, which features the 32 largest schools in the state. The Rebels are aligned in Region 3, which includes perennial powers and longtime rivals Hoover, Spain Park and Mountain Brook. “We’re excited about the new region,” Crowder said. “There really isn’t an easy game. We’re used to playing tough schedules, but this sort of takes it to a new high.” The other thing which makes the 2014 season special for Vestavia is that the Rebels have an appointment with history. Coach Buddy Anderson began the season only two wins away from becoming the winningest coach in the history of Alabama high school football. “This team feels so blessed to have the opportunity to get the record for Coach Anderson because nobody deserves it more than he does,” Crowder said. “He has coached for so long and done so much for so many people. As a quarterback, I spend as much time with him as anybody, and I can say that he’s a great coach and an even greater person. “I just hope we can get the record for him very early in the season,” he said, laughing. Vestavia should have the tools to win a lot more than two games. Christian Palmer, Carter Jacobs and Walker Minor are fine running backs, and Ben Cage, Austin Chandler and Hayes Lucas are stalwarts in the offensive line. All-State defensive end Dalton Campbell has graduated, but Clayton Ferris and Alex Robin will lead the Rebel defense. “We’re young in some areas, but we’ve got some talented players and everyone has a great attitude,”

Above: Vestavia Hills’ Walker Minor breaks a tackle on a 13-yard touchdown run to put the Rebels up early in the first quarter 7-0. Above right: The victory over Homewood gave Buddy Anderson his 309th win, tying him with Waldon Tucker as the state’s all-time winningest coach. below: Homewood running back Maurice Mayo carries the ball as Vestavia’s Jackson Ewing attempts a tackle. Journal photos by Bryan Bunch

for more information please Call mike wedgworth: 205.365.4344

Crowder said. “It will be interesting to see how far this team can go.” Vestavia has a longstanding reputation for having a run-first, pass-second offense, but Crowder thinks that works to a quarterback’s advantage. “Other teams are always expecting us to run, so they put a lot of guys in the box,” he said. “That creates lots of opportunities for our receivers to get open.” Anderson is clearly a fan of that philosophy–and of Crowder. “We have a run-oriented offense, and we plan to throw the ball when we want to do it and not when our opponent wants us to,” the coach said. “Landon is very talented and an outstanding leader. He has a great understanding of our offense and what we are trying to do.” Although the Rebels finished 11-3 and reached the state Class 6A semifinals last season, Crowder won’t set a win total for what he would consider a successful season. “My goal is for us to be the best team possible,” he said. “If we do

that, the victories will come. My personal goal is to be a better leader and improve every day.” Crowder, as is the case with all his teammates, keeps a busy schedule. On Tuesdays, for example, there is often a team meeting before school classes begin at 8 a.m. Then there’s practice in the afternoon. “Tuesday practices are the toughest grind of the week,” he said. “We get a lot of work done, and it’s really tiring.” In the evening, Crowder might go to a friend’s house to study before heading home and going to bed between 10:30-11 p.m. “Then I get up and do something very similar the next day,” he said. “You can tell why time goes by so fast during the season.” Perhaps Crowder should have said “seasons.” He also excels in basketball and baseball as a rare three-sport letterman in this age of specialization. “I can’t imagine not playing,” he said. “Even growing up, I was always playing whatever sport was in season. It’s too late for me to stop now.” Crowder said playing three sports requires special discipline. “You have to manage your study time around practices and games nine months out of the year,” he said. “I know everyone says that, but it’s hard to do. Also, when you’re playing multiple sports, you have to focus on that sport and not the others.” While Crowder knows he probably can’t play three sports in college, he certainly would like to pursue at least one of them. “I’d love to play either football or baseball at the next level,” he said. “Hopefully that opportunity will come along.” His older brother may be the inspiration. Paden is a junior linebacker for Coach Nick Saban’s University of Alabama Crimson Tide. “Paden stands about 6-4 and weighs about 230 pounds,” Crowder said. “When he was catching passes in the backyard, I never thought he’d be a linebacker in college.” Having a brother play for one of college football’s top programs may be fun, but it can create potential conflicts. As of last Thursday, Crowder was uncertain about his weekend plans. “My parents are going to Atlanta to watch Alabama play West Virginia, and my girlfriend is going to Auburn for the Arkansas game,” he said, laughing. “Whatever I do, somebody isn’t going to be happy.” Maybe not, but Landon Crowder should make a lot of Vestavia fans happy in 2014.

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Opening Volleys

Thursday, September 4, 2014 • 35

sports

As talented as Lucy Hart is on the volleyball court, she shines academically as well. She has a 4.37 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society. Hart believes the time spent playing volleyball helps her in the classroom. Journal photo by Marvin Gentry

Lady Cavs and Hart Look for Big Season By Lee Davis

Journal Sports Writer

There’s a special feeling around the John Carroll Catholic volleyball court these days. It’s the kind of feeling that only success and the sense of high expectations can bring. The Lady Cavaliers enter the 2014 season ranked No. 1 in Class 6A, which is a blessing or a burden, depending on how you look at it. John Carroll coach Ginny Massa sees it both ways. “Certainly the high ranking is a credit to our girls and what we accomplished last year,” she said before the Lady Cavs’ opener against Shelby County last week. “They deserve the recognition. I hope it’s a blessing, but time will tell. It’s a lot of pressure to carry. People are picking us high because they think we’re going to be good. So in that way, the No. 1 ranking is a nice problem to have.” Carroll’s lofty status is largely due to the team’s impressive 34-11 record and Final Four finish in 2013. If there’s bad news for the Lady Cavs, it’s the fact that they lost six seniors who contributed heavily last season. Only two starters return. One is senior cocaptain Lucy Hart, a right hitter, who had a 33 percent kill percentage a year ago. “We’ve got some big gaps to fill, and Lucy’s leadership with the younger girls has been outstanding,” Massa said. “They look up to her, and she’s had a lot to do with putting together our team chemistry.” The other returning starter is junior Kelsi Hobbs, a talented six-footer, who plays left hitter. “Kelsi is a great athlete and the physical

anchor of our team,” Massa said. “She is definitely a potential college player. Her ability gives the other girls a lot of confidence in what we can do.” Expected to make an immediate impact is sophomore Morgan Adamson, also a left-hitter. “Morgan is a girl with a lot of talent,” the coach said. The younger Lady Cavs need to mature quickly, because their schedule is rugged. After the opener, John Carroll competed in the prestigious Juanita Boddie Tournament before moving right into Area 8 competition. The league includes Hueytown, Jackson-Olin and Pelham. Non-region opponents include Class 7A powers Hoover, Mountain Brook, longtime rival Briarwood and Hewitt-Trussville. “We need challenges. Our philosophy is that playing top competition is the way to get better,” Massa said. “A schedule such as this requires all our players to step up. We are basically playing a Class 7A schedule as a member of Class 6A.” Hart, who plays right hitter, is a Lady Cav co-captain. She doesn’t hide her excitement about the season and the schedule. “It’s such an honor to have that No. 1 ranking,” Hart said. “I really think we will live up to it. After coming so close last year, we have the desire to finish the job this time.” As talented as Hart is on the volleyball court, she shines academically as well. She has a 4.37 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society. Hart believes the time spent playing volleyball helps her in the classroom. “Playing volleyball helps teach the importance of discipline and being focused,” she said. “I always do better in school during the season

because of the need to budget my time. I like a more structured environment, where I can’t goof around as much.” Hart’s volleyball career began as a fourthgrader at St. Rose of Lima Academy. “My parents were always taking me to games, so I started playing and loved it,” she said. Other members of the John Carroll team include seniors Susan Sarcone and Sydney Patterson; juniors Paige Pruet, Anna Runyan and

Kaylee Gilchrist; sophomores Ellen Willet, Ella Vaughn and Mary Hart; and freshman Sophia Ragusa. Massa, who was a Lady Cavalier assistant for nine years before taking the head coaching job a year ago, said the team’s summer trip to a volleyball camp at Berry College in Georgia helped it mature. “We grew up a lot,” she said. “We developed the unity and oneness that will help us during the year.” Hart agreed. “Coach Massa went into a lot of detail as far as fundamentals and doing the things it takes to win,” she said. “She also instilled the importance of teamwork.” The No. 1 ranking has the entire school buzzing. “The students have been asking me when we play our first game,” Massa said. “That’s a good sign. Our girls’ soccer team winning the state last year was a boost for all of the sports at John Carroll.” Massa is honest when assessing her goals for the season ahead. “After making the Final Four last year, anything less than playing for a state championship will be a disappointment,” she said. “Barring injuries or something weird happening, I expect us to be very good.” Hart is confident as well. “We’re young, but we play together and work hard,” she said. “I think we can have the perfect storm.” Expectations are high, and Massa clearly wouldn’t have it any other way. The road is long and hard, but for now, John Carroll is the team to beat in Class 6A.

The Mountain Brook Mudcats 12U baseball team traveled to New York to play in the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame Tournament. Photo special to the Journal

Mudcats Play Hall of Fame Tourney in Cooperstown The Mountain Brook Mudcats 12U baseball team recently competed in the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame Tournament in Cooperstown, N.Y. The Mudcats competed against 103 other teams from around the country. After three days of pool play, the Mudcats finished with a 4-2 record with wins over the Mayfield Wildcats of Ohio, the Hopewell Hornets of Georgia, the Tinley Park Bobcats of Illinois and the Damascus Cougars of Maryland. The losses came against the Carolina Havoc of North Carolina and the Jet Box Gold of Michigan. The 4-2 pool play record placed the Mountain Brook team as the 38th seed in bracket play. The team won its first bracket

play game 15-1 against the New Lenox Rebels of Illinois and then were eliminated in a heartbreaking 7-6 loss to the Pittsburg Outlaws Black of Pennsylvania. The Mucats finished the 2014 with at 24-151 record. The team won two tournament championships – Mother’s Day Off and the Hoover Invitational – and had one second place finish in the Super NIT. The team was coached by Patrick Hubbard, Jimmy Gauld, Allan Vajda, Douglass Hubbard and Todd Richie. The players were Porter Phelan, Emerson Richie, Beau Hubbard, Will Yarbro, Harrison Hodges, Ryan Slaten, Alex Gauld, Aaron Vajda, Jack Cushman, Edward Berry, Mac Scott and Thomas Latimer.

Dr. William P. Garth Dr. Heath Hale Dr. Reed Estes

Sports

OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Opening Volleys: Lady Cavs and Hart Look for Big Season Page 35

Vestavia quarterback Landon Crowder looks for a receiver in the Rebels 17-7 win over Homewood Friday night. Journal photo by Bryan Bunch

Lee Davis

Thirty Grand Hoover Winning Streak Truly Remarkable

Happy Captive Rebels’ Crowder Has Always Been a QB

By Lee Davis

Game of the week

Journal Sports Writer

Vestavia Hills’ 17-7 win over Homewood Friday was the Rebels’ first in its new 7A classification. For Vestavia’s quarterback, the game was a good start to his third and last season as a high school player. Landon Crowder of Vestavia Hills has never played any position in football except quarterback. It’s really because he didn’t have a choice.

Vestavia Hills 17 Homewood 7

As a young kid growing up in Gardendale, Crowder would play endless hours of backyard football with his older brother, Paden. And Paden liked to play receiver. So guess who played quarterback? “Paden was older–and bigger–and he really

liked to catch the ball,” the younger Crowder said last week. “I spent a lot of hours throwing the ball. By the time I started playing in an organized league, I had a lot of experience.” The experience paid off. The Crowder family moved to Vestavia when Landon was in second grade. Let’s fast forward to 2014, where Crowder is entering his third and final season as the starting quarterback for the Rebels. “I can’t believe I’m a senior,” he said. “We’ve only been in school for a week, and it

obody here is claiming to be a meteorologist, but there seemed to be a dark cloud hanging over much of Hoover during the final week of August. But the darkness above had nothing to do with the weather. It was the hangover from the Bucs’ 24-21 defeat at the hands of a very strong Miami Central team the previous Saturday. The loss may–repeat, may–have cost Hoover a shot at the mythical national championship. It also ended the Bucs’ impressive 30-game winning streak. A fair case can be made that the loss may actually enhance Hoover’s chances of winning its third consecutive state championship. I’ll talk more about how the loss to Miami Central could be a blessing in disguise later, but let’s look at the winning streak that just ended and how it was truly amazing. Hoover’s last loss prior to Aug. 23, 2014 came in December 2011, when the Bucs lost a 35-34 squeaker to Prattville in the Class 6A title game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. From that point on, Coach Josh Niblett’s team put together consecutive 15-0 perfect seasons to claim two crowns. What’s even more amazing is that the vast majority of the games weren’t even close. Twenty-four of the 30 wins were by a margin of more than

See vestavia, page 34

See streak, page 32

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