MEET OUR VESTAVIA HILLS INFLUENCERS • CATERING COCKTAILS • MAYOR CURRY’S TOP PICKS FLAG FOOTBALL TEAM RETURNS FOR SECOND SEASON ST. CHURCHEPISCOPALSTEPHEN’S A MEMORIAL TRIBUTE SOLACE SOLIDARITYIN HOW ONE COUPLE OPENED THEIR HOME TO MINISTRY WITHREBELSACAUSE FALL VestaviaHillsMagazine.com2022VolumeSix|IssueThree$4.95
2 Fall 2022
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FIND YOUR FOREVER HOME TODAY REALTYSOUTH.COMAT People are our specialty. Homes are our business. Integrity is our standard. Excellence is our result.
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6 Fall 2022 FEATURES RAMSEYBLAIRBYPHOTO
It’s the people who make Vestavia Hills the community that it is! Here we recognize some of those making an impact on others around them through their businesses.
2022INFLUENCERSCOMMUNITY
A Look at the Lives of Walter Rainey, Sarah Yeager and Jane Pounds.
ST. TRIBUTEMEMORIALCHURCH’SEPISCOPALSTEPHEN’S
58
33
See what recommendChattanoogansasanewtwist on their old, fan favorite tourist destination.
LIKECHATTANOOGAALOCAL
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VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 7 6 Contributors 7 From the Editor 8 Instagram 9 The Guide 12 The Question 80 Out & About 83 Marketplace 84 My Vestavia Hills in every issue VH arts & culture 13 Fifty Years in the Making: The Birmingham Boys Choir’s Journey schools & sports 23 Leveling Up: Vestavia Hills High School Girls’ Flag Football 32 Five Questions For Vestavia Hills Elementary East Principal Dr. Mark Richardson food & drink 33 Pop-up Cocktails, Coffee and Campers: A Business on the Move 44 Five Questions For The Ridge Eat & Drink owner Dave Horn
PHOTO BY LAUREN USTAD
home & style 45 Ministry through Grief: Two Parents Opening their Doors 45
RachelMichaelaJessicaCampbellCaudillKariGeorgeHancockHendersonRhettMcCreightToriMontjoyViridianaRomero
8 Fall 2022
Madoline Markham
Evann
Octavia Campbell
Jamie Dawkins
ChandraChristianaTraceyRamseyRectorRousselKelseaSchaferSparksSplondElizabethSturgeonLaurenUstad
Chandra is an editor, speaker and award-winning author and blogger. She was the consulting editor for BET Books/Arabesque romance. She has also edited for several New York Times, USA Today and Essence bestselling authors and worked as a copy editor for Good Housekeeping Magazine. Visit her at chandrasparkssplond.com.
Vestavia Hills Magazine is mailed to select households throughout Vestavia Hills, and a limited number of free copies are available at local businesses. Please visit VestaviaHillsMagazine.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $14.95 plus tax for one year by visiting VestaviaHillsMagazine.com or calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 532.
Tracey Rector, Writer
DESIGN
ADMINISTRATION
James and Rachel Culver
Where should we have dinner? Where should we go on our next family vacation or couple’s getaway? What kind of shotgun should I buy? These are all queries writer Christiana Roussel has answered in recent months. While food writing is her original passion, she has really enjoyed expanding her repertoire to include travel and sporting activities that might involve an upland adventure. And no, it is not just because there might be a need for new clothes for the expedition.
CONTRIBUTORS
Vestavia Hills Magazine is published quarterly by Shelby County Newspapers Inc., P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Vestavia Hills Magazine is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Shelby County Newspapers Inc. [the Publisher]. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Vestavia Hills Magazine, P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051.
Chandra Sparks Splond, Writer
SavanaAnnaTarwaterWillis
Alec MaryHaileyEtheredgeDolbareJoEskridgeMadisonKingStaceyMeadowsLaurenMorrisTimPrince
contributors
Tracey is a freelance writer and blogger who’s called Mountain Brook home since 2001. She and her husband of 28 years are the parents of three adult children. She is a fan of mystery novels, college sports and good food. Her life goal is to spend as much time writing as she spends doing laundry and buying groceries. She is not there yet.
Lizzie Bowen
Brittany Schofield
Blair Ramsey, Photographer
EDITORIAL
Lily Prince Blair
Keith McCoy
Christiana Roussel, Writer
MARKETING
Blair is a Vestavia Hills-based photographer whose company, Southern Intrigue Photography, specializes in sports action, portrait and commercial images. Blair and her husband, John, have two sons, Cooper and Cameron, who have both had the privilege of being Auburn cheerleaders. Blair’s work can be found at southernintriguephotography. com, on Instagram @southernintriguephotography and Facebook @southernintrigue.
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Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@vestaviahillsmagazine.com, or by calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 536.
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Photo by Blair Ramsey Design by Jamie Dawkins the editor
The Vestavia Hills High School girls’ flag football team is back for its second season ever, proving talent is bred through hard work and good sportsmanship.
am amazed at the outpouring of compassion this church community has had and how all its members refuse to let our three heroes’ memories pass in vain. Many are adamant that our heroes’ lives are beautiful reflections of Christ living in them- that even in death they chose to love fearlessly in the faith that God will use their deaths for something good.
M
While I did not know Walter, Sarah or Jane personally, I have come to believe those in the dark would’ve known Jesus simply by befriending these three. My regrets to the St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church community.
I cannot begin to fathom the anger, the desperation- the eternal ‘why God, why?’- feelings that must be boiling up inside the victims’ families. All I can truly offer is my condolences and a bittersweet reflection of my faith that to those who share the same beliefs will hopefully provide some solace in this monstrosity.
Respect all; fear none
Madoline Markham details the testimonies of the survivors and their thoughts of the aftermath on page 58. I encourage each of you to read with empathy and to ponder with hope.
from
My heart goes out to the loved ones of Walter Rainey, Sarah Yeager and Jane Pounds. The St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church shooting was a barbarous commitment to enact evil’s ugly agenda in the House of God. I still hold steadfast in the faith that the Lord will use this senseless act of violence for good. How? I do not know. Grief tugs at the heart strings most when questions seemingly go unanswered. How when time stood still on Thursday, June 16, could life move on?
ON THE COVER
First, Walter, Sarah and Jane, to me, are heroes because as I have read about their inviting of a modern-day Judas to sit with them, to talk with them, to share a meal together and above all, to be brave in the face of gunfire, several of those having survived the incident say the valiant trio would do it again if it meant that Judas would come to know the Lord.Now, that’s hard, readers. I am not asking anyone to love the Judas who so betrayed Walter, Sarah, Jane and the rest of the St. Stephen’s community. My point is there is no better way for nonbelievers to know Jesus than to come to know Him by simply knowing you. How we live our lives is a transparent reflection of God in our hearts. John 13:34-35 says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” We as believers bear witness to God’s promise- everlasting, unconditional love- by treating others as Jesus treated other people, too.I
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 9
annagrace.moore@vestaviahillsmagazine.com
May 21, 2022 Words can’t even describe how special this day was @live_free_photo caught the day flawlessly
Tag us in your Vestavia Hills photos on Instagram, and we’ll pick our favorites to regram and publish on this page in each issue.
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10 Fall 2022
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CEREMONYREMEMBRANCE&PATRIOT DAY CELEBRATION
SEPT.
Vestavia Hills City Hall
The cities of Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook and Homewood will gather together to commemorate the sacrifices made and lives lost on the now 21st anniversary of September 11, 2001. There will be a flag ceremony and city officials speaking out about the heroic actions of our law enforcement, emergency response personnel and local civilians that fateful day. For more information, visit vhal.org.
9/11
AT 8:30 A.M.
BEGINNING11
THE GUIDE
Storytime at the Gardens
THE GUIDE
Vestavia City Center
The Vestavia City Center Market Day is back again this month! Come shop the pop-up boutiques and market stands on the back green space of the city center. While this event happens on the first Saturday of each month, a diverse mix of local vendors will be present each time. For those interested in becoming a vendor, email april@crawfordsq. com. Stay up to date on this event at facebook.com/vestaviacitycenter.
PresentedThundercatbyIronCity Bham
SEPT. 20
Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church’s Parking lot
The VHUMC community invites everyone to attend their annual fall festival! This family-friendly event will feature live entertainment, food trucks and kids activities including inflatables, train rides, carnival games and face painting, too. Admission is free, but the church asks all who attend to consider donating to their monthly cause. This September, the church is raising money and awareness for disaster relief programs. For more information, visit festival-5873.events/details/vhumc-fall-business.vestaviahills.org/
THURSDAYSTHETHROUGHOUTFALL
SEPT. 16
SEPT. 24 Samford University vs. Western Carolina Samford University
Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church’s Holy Smokes Men’sVHUMCEvent
OCT. 1
painting and more. For more updates on this event, visit events/details/vhumc-trunk-or-treat-5875.business.vestaviahills.org/VHUMCFallFestival4-6P.M.
12 Fall 2022 AROUND TOWN
candy, too. Kids can enjoy inflatables, carnival games, face
Homewood High School Patriot Band 50th Reunion Homewood High School & Surrounding Areas
SEPT. 24 Head Over Teal 5k & 10K benefitting the Laura Crandall Brown Foundation The Preserve
OCT.
City MarketCenterDay
GIMP: The Free Photo Shop Class Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest
Trivia Night Brock’s Gap Brewing Company
SEPT. 25
Trinity United Methodist Church – Oxmoor Campus
OCT. 4
SEPT. 18
Homewood Chamber Golf Classic
11 A.M.-3 P.M.
26
FRIDAYSTHETHROUGHOUTFALL
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Oxmoor Valley
6-8 P.M.
To give families a safe place to celebrate fall festivities, this VHUMC Trunk or Treat event toEveryonetofamily-friendlypledgesfunallwhoattend.isinviteddressupanddonate
SEPT. 23-24
Birmingham Botanical Gardens – Southern Living Garden
SEPT. 28 Mary J Blige Presented by Legacy Arena
SUNDAYSTHETHROUGHOUTFALL
Sunday Night Live
Vestavia Hills United LotChurch’sMethodistParking
VHUMC Trunk or Treat
Halloween Bar Crawl Steel Gastropub
OCT. 29-31
OCT. 7
2022 Annual Witches Ride benefitting the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at BeginningBirminghamatHomewoodCentralPark
Presented by BJCC Concert Hall
OCT. 7
Samford University vs. Wofford Samford University
NOV. 8
Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce’s Monthly Luncheon Vestavia Country Club
NOV. 10
Fall Luncheon ft. best-selling author Lauren Denton
Presented by Red Mountain Theatre
Presented by Legacy Arena
11:30 A.M.-1 P.M. Vestavia Country Club
Presented by Legacy Arena
Live 2 Lead
OCT. 29
Greta Van Fleet: Dreams in Gold Tour
The Beauty of God: Preaching, Worship and the Arts Conference Samford University
Tab Benoit Iron City Bham
OCT. 15
OCT. 6
AUG. 26: vs. Homewood SEPT. 2: vs. Thompson SEPT. 9: at Hoover SEPT. 16: at Spain Park SEPT. 30: vs. Chelsea
OCT. 7: at Hewitt-Trussville OCT. 14: at Oak Mountain OCT. 21: vs. Tuscaloosa County OCT. 28: at Helena
Black Jacket Symphony: Saturday Night Fever
Jason Aldean
Halloween Havoc Half Marathon Oak Mountain State Park
OCT. 29
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 13
Varsity Football
Back to Broadway
OCT. 24-25
THE GUIDE
Presented by Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church
Come cheer on the Rebels as football season kicks off this fall!
OCT. 29
OCT. 30
Lauren lives in Homewood and writes for The Homewood Star. This event will feature a book market, guided discussion, lunch and a special recognition of the 2021-22 board members and volunteers. To learn more about this event and to register, visit fall-luncheon.edu/legacyleague/events/samford.
OCT. 8
Samford University is proud to host Lauren Denton who is an USA Today bestselling author for her novels, The Hideaway and Hurricane Season. Hailing from Birmingham, Alabama,
Colorful mountain views -Stacey Halphen
14 Fall 2022
Fall colors in the wooded areas seen on drives through Birmingham -Jami Buck
I am excited for season!football
Everything -Ashley Nix Fucich
-Nona Richardson
As summer draws to an end, what about fall brightens your day?
-Justin Breedlove
My smile! -Amira Walton
The start of high school football games!
The distant roar of a full Rebel football stadium. -Alan Walker
The changing colors of the leaves!
-Jessica Chisenhall THE QUESTION
”“
ARTS
The Birmingham
&
50 anniversary.
WHAT BOYS CAN DO Boys Choir celebrates its
BY TRACEY RECTOR PHOTOS BY KELSEA SCHAFER, CONTRIBUTED CULTURE
16 Fall 2022
One might assume an interview with a boys’ choir director would focus on music and performance. A recent conversation with Ken and Susan Berg, the Vestavia Hills husband and wife team who lead the Birmingham Boys Choir now into its 50th year of existence, upends that assumption. Sure, they talked about the importance of music in the lives of the young choristers with whom they work and the lifelong mental and physical health benefits that accrue to those who continue making music. But what became crystal clear as they shared their experiences, is their passion to help guide boys to become strong, confident young men whose positive impact can be felt in any arena in which they find themselves – musical or not.
While The Birmingham Boys Choir may only be 50 years old, the tradition of the boys choir goes back more than a thousand years to the ninth century. Its roots are firmly grounded in the Church, and the Bergs embrace that heritage. “While we’re not aligned with any particular church or denomination, we don’t shy away from religious music,” Ken says. In fact, he says, their annual Christmas concert is almost completely devoid of secular music – just
O
A THOUSAND YEARS OF TRADITION AND TRAINING FOR LIFE
director. He accepted the challenge but laughs when he admits, “I was just a punk. I had no idea what I was getting into.” With his new bride playing the piano while he directed, he took 26 boys to his first choir summer camp. Afterwards, 13 dropped out.
Ken and Susan have years of experience with the Birmingham Boys Choir: 45 years, to be exact, which is also the number of years they’ve been married. Ken was approached by a college friend who knew the recently formed choir was searching for a new
Completely undaunted, the Bergs persisted. Today the choir averages around 135 boys from ages 8 to 18.
“We’ve seen this be an anchor for some of these boys when they’re going through a tough time at
“We Wish You a Merry Christmas” at the conclusion. Even that one is changed to include the word “blessed.”“We’revery
home or school,” Susan says. She tells of a student who, during a time of introduction, told the group that “this is a place where I feel like I can be myself.”
Because these discussions occur among just the guys, Ken and Susan observed that the boys feel more comfortable talking without fear of judgment. They intentionally promote their time together as a safe space for expression.
“Mr. Ken,” as the choir members call him, views today’s attitudes about and opportunities for boys as a function of permission. “Boys have a great deal of permission from society to be athletes. To a lesser extent, they can be scholars. They get limited permission from society to be artistic. We provide the permission that allows young musicians to explore and expand and thrive. Give them permission, and just watch what boys can do.”
18 Fall 2022
careful about the texts we put in front of our boys because it opens up opportunities for conversation,” he says. A recent selection called “Mary’s Carol” from their Christmas music led to discussions about the social and emotional implications of the Virgin Birth for Mary and Joseph.
The Berg’s commitment to encouraging expression both musically and emotionally resonates with their young singers. Originally, boys would “age out” of performing when their voices changed during
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 19
20 Fall 2022 2 0 2 2 ABOUT US The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument and an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is a cultural and educational research center promoting a comprehensive understanding for the significance of civil rights developments in Birmingham 205 328 9696 www bcri org E M M E T T T I L L & M A M I E T I L L M O B L E Y : L E T T H E W O R L D S E E a n a t i o n a l t o u r i n g e x h i b i t t o s h a r e t h e s t o r y o f E m m e t t T i l l A N N E & E M M E T T a s t a g e p r o d u c t i o n a b o u t A n n e F r a n k & E m m e t t T i l l p r e s e n t e d i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h T h e B i r m i n g h a m J e w i s h F e d e r a t i o n B C R I 3 0 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y G A L A C e l e b r a t i n g t h r e e d e c a d e s o f s t a n d i n g s t r o n g a s a l i v i n g m e m o r i a l w i t h a n o n g o i n g m i s s i o n s c a n f o r m o r e i n f o
In addition to the opportunities for reflection and discussion present in their musical repertoire, Ken developed 12 Birmingham Boys Life Lessons that are routinely presented and enforced. While some of them are humorous - # 3 is “Always make sure your wife and your girlfriend are the same person!” - these truths remain with the boys throughout their lives. Ken says he’s received calls from former choir members on their wedding day to say, “Mr. Ken, I’m happy to tell you that my wife and my girlfriend are the same person!”
puberty. A problem arose, although it was a good problem to have: many of the boys didn’t want to leave. Their desire to continue singing despite their emerging deeper voices led the Bergs to establish a choir for older boys. Now, Susan directs the Junior Choristers in grades 3 and 4, and Ken directs both the Senior Choristers in grades 5-8 and the Graduate Choristers through 12th grade.
The choristers themselves display the impact of disciplined pursuit of both artistic excellence and responsible citizenship. Michael Rumore, a high school senior and ten-year member says, “The
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 21
IMPACT WHEREVER THEY GO
22 Fall 2022
Marc Ayers, Jr., another ten-year member, says, “I have loved every minute of it. The friends I have made and the lessons I learned made it one of the best experiences of my Thelife.”parents offer equally high praise.
“It’s refreshing as parents to know that the Birmingham Boys Choir provides an opportunity [for our sons] to grow in virtue and authentic masculinity through God’s gift of singing,” say Charlotte and Terry Rumore. “Susan and Ken Berg love these young men like their own and their love of God and music is continuously taught through their weekly interaction andStrengtheninginstruction.” and supporting family is another pillar of the choir that Ken and Susan purposefully promote. One tradition that is both fun and meaningful is the opportunity at some performances for dads, grandfathers and other father figures (many of whom are BBC alums) to sing with their sons. Ken
virtues that Mr. and Mrs. Berg teach us and the hard work ethic they instill in us every day have made me a better man.”
recalls an interaction with a father who told him, tears in his eyes, “I can coach his baseball team, but I can’t get out on the field and play with him. This is one thing we can truly do together.”
But the positive impact of the organization stretches far beyond just the personal. Choir members take the lessons they’ve learned with them
STAY TUNED
The Birmingham Boys Choir begins its 50th season this fall. Planned events include collaborative performances with the Briarwood Ballet and the Sozo Children’s Choir from Uganda. The year will conclude with a tour choir traveling to Scotland in 2023.
For information on upcoming performances, ways to support or auditions, go to birminghamboyschoir.org.
Their impact is powerful wherever they go. On a trip to the Grand Canyon a few years ago, the boys had to take a lengthy train ride with many who were not part of the group. “You could see it in [the other travelers’] eyes when we boarded,” Ken laughs. “They weren’t thrilled to be stuck with a group of boys.” But the choristers won them over.
into their communities through their career choices. The Bergs note that there are BBC alums making positive change as doctors, CEOs, teachers and business owners not only in Birmingham, but also throughout the world.
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 23 3727 H IGHWAY 119 • M ONTEVALLO • WWW AMERICANVILLAGE ORG Colonial Christmas Lunch & Tour December 5-6-7-8-9 • $40 per person Call (205) 665-3535 ext. 1031 to reserve your seats
Ken praises the organization’s board of directors who, through their support and determination, found ways to keep the choir singing through the stressful uncertainty of Covid restrictions. “As a civic group,” he says, “we depend solely on the goodness of our community.” The board navigates the organization through fundraising, donations and sponsorships that allow the young musicians to take their skills from Birmingham to the Grand Canyon to Japan and beyond.
One question he asks the choristers is “What song made you understand why you do this?” One young man replied, “It’s ‘How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place’ by Brahms. It’s Mr.story.recountsKenwell-written!”solaughsashethe“IjustknowBrahms
would be thrilled to know a 12-year-old boy thought he was good at his craft!”
24 Fall 2022
But then, he says, the boy added, “When you sing it, it’s so beautiful. You feel like you’re already there.”
“We received emails for months from folks on that train, who couldn’t get over how well-behaved the boys were.”
It’s praise the Bergs say they receive all the time, and they make sure understandstudentstheirits significance. “The representation of our community is one of the most important things we do,” says Ken. “Some people hear we’re from Birmingham, and their first thought isn’t necessarily a good one. It’s important that we represent our city well.”Intheir
45 years of leading the choir, Ken and Susan say they’ve seen many changes in the boys who come through the program. Trends and fads come and go, but one thing remains the same: the boys are, in Ken’s words, “endlessly entertaining.”
It’s quite a testament to the passion Susan and Ken Berg bring to the Birmingham Boys Choir through their untiring efforts to provide an uplifting, safe place to discover what boys can do when they’re encouraged to grow artistically, emotionally and spiritually.
A WINNER’S MENTALITY
The Vestavia Hills High School girls’ flag football team prepares to dominate during its second season.
BY CHANDRA SPARKS SPLOND PHOTOS BY BLAIR RAMSEY SCHOOL SPORTS&
26 Fall 2022
“Twenty to 50 high school girls participat[ed] with a JV and varsity team,” Doug says of the team’s first year. “[The] season starts in August and runs through November. We play at the high school on the football field and practice at the [high school]. Last year we were 6–6.”
The members of the Vestavia Hills High School girls’ flag football team had a big decision to make when they played Homewood and it started raining: should they play or should they go? They decided the game must go on, and it led to one of the best memories of the newly minted team’s inaugural season.
“[The Alabama High School Athletic Association] decided to start the sport in Alabama,” says Doug Rogers, the Vestavia Hills Parks and Recreation Adult Sports Program Coordinator who was asked to coordinate the school’s program because of his background in flag football. “I accepted because I love the game.”
“I remember our first game. No one
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 27
T
They are ready to make even more memories when they start their second season of flag football this fall.
Flag football is said to have been created by Porter Wilson in the early 1940s. It is a variation of the more common contact sport of touch football, where rather than tackling players, the defensive team must remove a flag or flag belt from the person carrying the ball. This maneuver is known as deflagging and is used to end a down.
Many of the players were new to the sport, but they didn’t let that stop them from giving it their all, often figuring things out on the field.
Once the program was announced, there was lots of interest.
TRIUMPHANTTOGETHER
28 Fall 2022
had any idea what to do, and we were losing by a sufficient number of points,” says 16-year-old River Riley, who is a junior at Vestavia Hills High School and the rusher for the varsity team. “My coach pulled me aside and said, ‘River, I need you to go out there and stop them.’ With those words, my whole world changed. I went from some girl on the sidelines of soccer to being a crucial, trusted piece to winning the game. The next play, we were on defense. I got my stance set up and was ready to rush, looked the
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the longest-ever flag football marathon lasted just over 62 hours. The Moose Jaw Touch Football team in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, competed between April 30-May 3, 2015, in order to raise money for the Children’s Wish Foundation International.
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 29 V E S T A V I A C I T Y C E N T E R N O V E M B E R 1 7 F R O M 6 - 8 P M @ V E S T A V I A C I T Y C E N T E R
quarterback in the eyes and dared her to try and get by me. The whistle blew, and within the next two seconds, I had ripped the girl’s flag off and thrown it to the ground, letting out a full-blown war cry. At that moment, it all changed. I began to realize what I was capable of and how important my role was for the team. Throughout the rest of the season, it was pretty typical for me to get two or three sacks in a row. Once I sacked a team for a loss on all four downs, backing them up each time until I finally sacked them in the end zone for a safety!”
The team has also had its share of laughs—and tears—as they’ve learned the“Whengame. my friend caught the most amazing catch and managed to run 40 yards for a touchdown without anyone pulling her flags, we were all so amazed,” says Riley of the one of the funniest moments of the season. “This was her first catch. We were all
Each of the players had different reasons for joining the team, but along with their coach, they have one
30 Fall 2022
cheering and celebrating for her, but my coach just kept yelling at her. At first we were all so confused— shouldn’t he be happy for her? Then we saw it. She stopped at the end zone line, and she wasn’t even in the zone. We all started to yell ‘run, run!’ but it was too late. She threw the ball down and jumped up and down all excited. It was fourth down, so we couldn’t do anything but sit there and laugh— [and] cry a little—at her while she tried to figure out what she did wrong.”“The funniest thing that has happened to me while practicing would have to be when I thought it was a good idea to eat raw cookie dough before practice. During practice I threw up, and then decided to keep playing,” says 17-year-old Merritt Kelley, who is the team’s center and linebacker.
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 31
common goal: to be the best they can be.
“To go out and execute the game plan so it will translate into wins,” Doug says of what’s next for the team. “Hopefully ending with a state playoff run and the girls being able to succeed by extending their playing days in college either through intramural sports or varsity athletics if that is their desire.”
“I decided to play for the team because a
”
love the game of football and being able to do it competitively with my friends is a great opportunity,” says quarterback Ella Gallaspy, 17. “Flag football is a sport to where you can have fun with your friends. I never thought girls would have the opportunity to play football and to be able to makes me happy.”
– River Riley
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“The whistle blew, and within the next two seconds, I had ripped the girl’s flag off and thrown it to the ground, letting out a full-blown war cry. At that moment, it all changed.
“I decided to play for the team because I
bunch of my friends were playing. As the season continued, I fell in love with the sport,” Merritt says. “My advice for people who want to play is to just show up, give all your effort and have a good attitude about learning everything.”
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 33
sport, or new opportunities then that’s on you. Keep underestimating me!” River says. “For anyone considering this amazing game, I would just say, go for it! There is absolutely nothing to lose. The game is new, and there are no expectations right now. Create your own! Be the first to score a pick-six or be able to punt the farthest for your school. It’s all up to you. This game can be whatever you want it to be. Blank slate, baby.”
“Underestimation is my biggest advantage. This is something I tell myself when people tell me I’m just a girl or that my sport isn’t good enough and shouldn’t be a thing. If you don’t love life, or this
Dr. Richardson believes character is instilled at an early age, and the children that attend VHEE have attributes like kindness and compassion before they step foot in the school. “Kids can be kids,” he says. “But these kids are already advanced in so many ways when we get them because of their wonderful family situations.” He also says the staff is amazing, and they, along with the community, are what gives the school its sensational character.
Recently, VHEE has been named a National School of Character. What do you think is the leading factor that has earned the school that title?
VHEE cares as much about social growth as it does about educational growth. Why do you think that is important for the students and the school as a whole?
34 Fall 2022
“The thing I’m most proud of,” Dr. Richardson says, “is the teachers are coming to me with ideas.” One of the things that the teachers brought up to him is the concept of character houses. Every person at VHEE, including teachers and custodians, is part of a character house. Each character house represents one of the school’s core values: empathy, acceptance, grit, love and excellence. Ideas like this enhance the character of the school, and he’s proud to say that it was not his idea, but the teachers.
In addition to the character houses, Dr. Richardson also loves that the school brought back the eagle as the mascot. The
“We love to see student-initiated service projects,” Dr. Richardson says. He explains that he wants to see students recognize a problem and develop their own solution. With a little push from the faculty, Dr. Richardson says the children can put the good character that has been instilled in them to use. One relational project the school fosters is “The Friendship Initiative,” which aims to identify and help children who might struggle socially. The project’s goal is to begin and foster friendships between students. Projects like these make it easy to see how VHEE earns the title of a National School of Character.
The word “eagle” works as an acronym for the core values, so every time “eagle” is spelled out, children are reminded of those fundamental ideas.
they act, making them more successful in their relationships. He believes that in truly applying The Golden Rule, there is no limit to success.
Dr. RichardsonMark
“Engaged, family and character.” Those are the three words that Dr. Mark Richardson, principal at Vestavia Hills Elementary East (VHEE), uses to describe the school. During his time at VHEE, he has seen the school use those elements to be named a National School of Character, not once, but twice. After earning the title in 2012, the school has been recognized as a National School of Character again this year. Here, Dr. Richardson talks about the school’s success in 2022, and what makes VHEE a National School of Character.
BY LILY PRINCE
“We believe good character makes the success rate of children in careers, academics and everything so much higher,” Dr. Richardson says. He believes that everything comes back to the school’s motto, The Golden Rule. The Golden Rule teaches children to think of others before
Are there any goals you hope to see the school meet in the future regarding its character?
Vestavia Hills Elementary East Principal
PHOTO BY WHIT MCGHEE
Of all of the things VHEE has done to get to this spot of being named a National School of Character, what are you most proud of?
In your time at the school, have there been any changes that you think improved its character?
eagle was the school’s mascot in the ‘80s and ‘90s, but by the year 2000, the eagle was no longer a part of the school’s identity. “We brought back eagle to pay honor to our history as an elementary school and to showcase our core values.”
SCHOOL &QUESTIONS5SPORTSFIVEFOR
&
FOOD
Three Vestavia-based women cater events with their pop-up camper’s coffee and cocktails business.
POUR FORTH
BY ELIZABETH STURGEON PHOTOS BY BLAIR RAMSEY DRINK
Pour in summer 2021 and have watched their Vestavia-based venture thrive as something never seenCoffeebefore.and cocktails go hand in hand and are central to the business – and the three do not remember exactly which one came first. After meeting through a blind-date book club and becoming new friends, Ashley, Rebecca and Becki were sipping cocktails on Ashley’s deck when they began to muse on big ideas – book bars, Vestavia coffee shops and local cocktail service all included.Parked in front of them was the Smith family’s
36 Fall 2022
H
Her name is Ms. Midler, and she has an attitude all her Hailingown.from Tennessee, Ms. Midler made herself known during Ashley Smith’s search for a vintage camper with potential and personality. The floorless, rough-around-the-edges vehicle fit the bill and soon earned her name as the nostalgic vessel for Pour Birmingham.
Like their 1970s camper, Ashley, Rebecca Posey and Becki Dutton are also Birmingham transplants, bringing a new concept to the area through their mobile cocktail and coffee business. After six months of renovations, they launched
” Somehow the question came up, sitting on my deck, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if someone could bring us drinks, so we wouldn’t have to go somewhere? And I’m the kind of person who runs with an idea.
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 37
own vintage camper. “Somehow the question came up, sitting on my deck, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if someone could bring us drinks, so we wouldn’t have to go somewhere?’” Ashley says. “And I’m the kind of person who runs with an idea.”
- Ashley Smith
With dreams of lattes and libations, the owners of Pour dove into research, fleshed out their ideas for a camper-coffee-cocktail bar and found the bare-bones 1974 Tagalong camper- who would become Ms. Midler- on Facebook Marketplace.
The camper arrived in Birmingham in January 2021 and was soon stripped to the frame with the help of their three husbands and one of Rebecca’s cousins, who masterminded the rebuilding process and provided the gorgeous 200-year-old pine plank pulled out of Lake Pontchartrain to
“
Coffee required an investment in equipment –Becki mentions Ms. Fancy, their beautiful La Marzocco espresso machine, by name – and training for high quality brewed coffee and espresso. Rebecca is particularly fond of the coffee side of Pour, and she’s usually the main barista at their events. “I’ve always wanted to own a coffee shop, and in that same conversation on the deck, there was also a conversation about Vestavia needing more local coffee places,” Rebecca says.
HOME IN THE HILLS
For cocktails, Pour’s creativity extended from their mixology into ways to abide Alabama’s rule on mobile liquor sales. Pour provides everything – mixers, garnishes and glassware – except for the alcohol. For that, they provide an exact shopping list for the hosts to purchase what they need.
38 Fall 2022
install as the bar. While designing the modernizedretro feel, Ashley, Rebecca and Becki were also training as bartenders and baristas.
Though the camper travels near and far for events, Pour is rooted in Vestavia Hills. Ashley, Rebecca and Becki have the “What’s Happening in Vestavia Facebook group” to thank for their original book club and connection as Vestavia residents. You’ll usually find Ms. Midler somewhere in Vestavia, most likely in Becki’s driveway. And although Rebecca recently moved from Vestavia to Bluff Park, she serves as the director of Ascension Episcopal Kindergarten and is often in the area. Pour now plays an important part in the neighborhood as the first of its kind and has been spotted at Deck the Heights among other Vestavia events.
Behind the bar, you’ll find at least two of Pour’s three owners at any of their events, all able to run each area of the business but gravitating towards the parts they do best. Ashley brings her creativity to marketing and her organization to enacting new ideas. Becki handles the finance side of the business and loves working with customers like Rebecca, who thrives in the front-facing parts of the job and manages operations.
While Ashley, Rebecca and Becki all have their favorites recommendations, they look to the client first for inspiration to build a menu of coffees, cocktails, mocktails or a combination of them all. No drink is off the table, and some of their favorite recipes have been the special requests – like a mint sweet tea that is reminiscent of home or a spicy bloody mary that’s fit for a brunch wedding.
They have all worked to find a balance between Pour, their friendship and their lives, from day jobs to family
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For some of their most popular picks, Pour specializes in twists on the traditional. “We like to take the classics and add a little something,” Ashley says. Their pineapple mule and pomegranate margaritas top the list of favorites, and both show off Pour’s inventive side.
708 Montgomery Highway; Suite Vestavia Hills, AL
116
life, a lot of which collides through shared school schedules and other commitments. Along with hard work and dedication to the business, balance comes a little bit easier when you’re serving happy
Add a shot of espresso (or they often use cold brew)
Originally,people.
Iced Caramel Macchiato
Pour vanilla syrup in the cup (they like Ghirardelli’s vanilla sauce)
THE COFFEE
Like the do-it-all philosophy behind their cocktails, Pour can service a full coffee bar with brewed coffee, lattes, cappuccinos, iced coffees and more. It is important for the team to build a relationship with a local roaster, and they proudly serve Seed’s Coffee and admire the community focus behind their rich coffees. When choosing coffee for an event, the Pour team recommends a basic coffee bar as the biggest crowd pleaser, but shaken iced coffees, caramel macchiatos, flavored lattes and hot chocolates are fun to add, too. “I love the wide eyes and large grins kids get when handed a cup of hot chocolate, brimming with whipped cream and custom toppings,” Becki says. “Actually, the adults get the same look.” Below is one of the owner’s favorite coffee recipes:
Fill cup with ice
Top with caramel sauce (Ghirardelli’s)
all three assumed that weddings would be their focus, but they have also provided drinks for corporate events, open houses, neighborhood block parties, birthdays and more celebrations. “We’re at these events where everyone’s happy and in a good mood,” Rebecca says. “They’re happy to be where they are.”
Add cold milk (2% works well)
Pour has also been an empowering experience in all that they’ve learned and the ways they conceptualized something so innovative yet so classic and fitting for a range of events. Wedding coffee bars – no matter the time of day – are sweeping the scene, Pour at the ready with the best of the best.
does it all and handles all their musthave equipment – from espresso tamper and power tools to lemon press. “Even the basics of pulling a camper and packing up, people see us three girls and assume we need help, but we’ve got it,” Rebecca says.
There’s power in the ingenuity and the execution, and Pour will continue to measure their days in toasts raised, limes squeezed and espresso poured.
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Their ownership over the business is everpresent. “Everything on our camper has a story, and we love to share when people ask,” Becki says. Ashley’s vision for an old camper, Rebecca’s dreams of her own coffee company and Becki’s dedication to giving back to the Birmingham community all come through in Ms. Midler’s appearance and everything happening behind the scenes.Thetrio
POMEGRANATEITMARGARITA
Ice 4 oz
WHAT’S IN
Pour finds harmony between someone’s standard drink order and a balanced menu for any number of guests, usually recommending two signature cocktails that each bring something a little bit different in types of flavors and liquor. Ashley says one of her favorite parts of the job is the personal touches clients have in mind when they talk through the menu. When someone needs a little inspiration, Pour has several go-to creations: their pomegranate margarita, pineapple mule, lemon drop and bourbon smash. The team can also create non-alcoholic options, including their strawberry lemonade with fresh juice and puree. (The lemonade goes great with Tito’s, too, when the time is right). White Tequila Triple Sec (the trio suggests Grand Marnier) pomegranate juice Club soda top off Lime and salt or sugar for garnish
½ cup
to
2 oz.
Cousins Maine Lobster Cousins Maine Lobster brings the Maine lobster experience to you for lunch and dinner, offering locals the opportunity to enjoy lobster as Mainers do. The Maine Roll is chilled lobster meat with a light spread of mayonnaise served on a New England split-top bun; the Connecticut Roll features warmed lobster with a lemon butter drizzle. Additional menu items include lobster tacos with pico de gallo, lobster grilled cheese, and our sharable lobster tots. Find the truck nearest you on our website. Catering available.
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Taco Mama Stay hungry and be thirsty. At Taco Mama, we believe in supporting our local businesses and serving our guests the freshest ingredients possible. We believe any time is a good time for a margarita. We believe in ice-cold cerveza. We believe in people helping people.
DININGGUIDE
COUSINSMAINELOBSTER.COM/LOCATIONS/BIRMINGHAM-AL/865-281-1589
4330 CREEKSIDE AVE • HOOVER, AL 35244 TWINPEAKSRESTAURANT.COM • 205-203-9461
Hills | Special Advertising Section
Hoover+Vestavia Hills
Hoover+Vestavia
Twin Peaks Twin Peaks never stops short when it comes to the menu. When someone steps inside a Twin Peaks, they’re immediately transported to an environment reminiscent of a comfortable cabin in the mountains and the ultimate sports lodge! Whether you are in the mood for comfort food, or something on the lighter side, we offer made-from-scratch meals that satisfy everyone. This football season, try our NEW menu items – The Chicken Street Corn Salad, Crispy Mini Tacos and more!
American Kolache
Hoover+Vestavia Hills | Special Advertising Section
Whether you’re looking for savory or sweet, American Kolache has something for you. With fillings including sausage and gravy, Philly cheesesteak, raspberry cream cheese, and cinnamon rolls with cream cheese icing, our handmade pastries are sure to delight any taste buds. Auburn star and NFL player Chad Slade has partnered with American Kolache to bring their award-winning kolaches to the Birmingham area. Come by and try one of our thirty different varieties, handmade daily at our new bakery in Vestavia Hills.
5250 PERIDOT PLACE • HOOVER, AL 35244
Snapper Grabber’s Land & Sea
With more than 54 years in the seafood industry, the Scott family takes great pride in providing the community with only the freshest and highest quality seafood, meat and wine. We are a unique, local, family-owned market where customers will find a seafood market, butcher shop, wine store and lunch café all under one roof. We hope you’ll notice the Snapper Grabber’s Land & Sea difference when making food selections for you and your family.
Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar
WWW.BIGWHISKEYS.COM • 205-593-4929
BIRMINGHAM.STLKOLACHE.COM • 205-538-5083
RUBYSUNSHINE.COM • 205-341-9116
5243 HIGHWAY 280 SOUTH • BIRMINGHAM, AL 35242
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521 MONTGOMERY HWY • 8021 LIBERTY PARKWAY • VESTAVIA HILLS SNAPPERGRABBERS.COM • 205-834-9799 • 205-593-4748
1031 MONTGOMERY HWY • VESTAVIA HILLS, AL 35216
Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar is your destination for Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour and Late Night! With an expansive food menu there’s something here for everyone, we recommend our signature Buffalo Chicken Dip, often imitated but never duplicated! Let our bartenders make you one of our signature cocktails or check out our impressive whiskey selection. With indoor and outdoor seating plus catering options available we’re here for your next moment, big or small!
•
Ruby Sunshine Ruby Sunshine restaurants bring the unique flavors and hospitality of New Orleans to everyday breakfast and brunch. Ruby Sunshine offers Big Easy twists on Southern brunch classics, including benedicts, pancakes, and French Toast, as well as eye-opening cocktails. We look forward to serving you at either of our two restaurants in Birmingham, located in Homewood and Brook Highland off 280.
DRINK5FIVEQUESTIONSFOR
What’s the best aspect about being in business in Vestavia Hills in the Rocky Ridge community, specifically?
We originally built the menu around burgers, and other “bar food-type” offerings but with an emphasis on using premium ingredients and making everything we could in-house that was practical. Our bar selection is sort of an ever-evolving organism that follows tastes and trends of our customers.
Favorite thing to make for other people? I don’t know. It’s usually a riff off something they’re already excited about or whatever it is that I’m excited about at the time, which is always changing. What’s my favorite thing to eat? Right now, it’s either the Flank Steak Salad or Avocado BLT Sandwich with a fried egg, but that answer changes a lot. The wings are a lasting favorite, too.
FOOD &
People, people, people! The people here are fantastic. They’ve welcomed us into their community in ways you just don’t expect. We’ve been a part of graduations, weddings, births, bereavements, engagements, job changes and promotions. It’s kind of crazy. We’ve been able to share so many important days in the lives of the people who visit us.
What is your go-to must-have item that all newcomers should try first on the menu?
Dave Horn Owner of The Ridge Eat & Drink
Tell us about the menu’s items. What makes The Ridge’s food and beverages unique from other eateries and bars in the area?
This is a tough one. The burgers are usually the answer, but then there’s also the Fried Jalapeno Pimento Cheese Balls or the Cahaba Quesadilla that are pretty unique and really kind of hit a sweet spot of what we’re about.
What is your favorite food or drink to make for other people? What’s your favorite to eat or drink?
The Ridge Eat & Drink is a hyper local, family-friendly bar and grill serving the Rocky Ridge neighborhoods of Vestavia Hills. It is open on Sunday from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Mon day-Thursday 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Friday-Sat urday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Here owner Dave Horn talks about the bar and grill’s appeal to the community and strive to foster fellowship over meals.
PHOTO BY CONTRIBUTED
throughout the year from youth league team parties to tailgates for football weekends.
Battle of the Bands in April is always fun. We also have lots of pop-up-type smaller events in the parking lot
46 Fall 2022
What events or bands will The Ridge be hosting or partnering with that customers can look forward to in the future?
BY ANNA GRACE MOORE PHOTOS BY LAUREN USTAD
OPEN DOORS
HOME STYLE&
One couple’s ministry to bridge the gap between feeling lost and feeling loved.
Together, Mason’s parents, Melinda and Bob Lawry, have created a sanctuary nestled deep in the Dolly Ridge community of Vestavia Hills. Their home, which was originally built in 1969, first attracted the couple after their son’s passing because of the quietness of the community and the peacefulness of the home.
“It’s like a ‘70s party house,” Melinda jokes. She recalls how she poured her creativity into creating an asylum, which is decorated from top-to-bottom in outlandish colors, funky fabrics and eyeboggling wall paper, all because of her desire to utilize her grief as way to comfort other people, who like her had recently walked through a living tragedy. If Mason could help people, so could they, sheWhensays.one is sitting at a church or in some type of “get help” group, surrounded by people who typically frown upon drug use and only use the phrase, “don’t do drugs,” it’s intimidating and often aggravating for addicts or loved ones of addicts who are actively seeking help to feel a part of the community, to feel loved, to feel worthy of saving.“Ifwe can do it here, with [parents of addicts], starting with people we know, it’s a little less risk taking for the parents,” Bob explains.
A
A legacy is not what one accomplishes in life; rather, it is best measured through how one blesses the lives of those around him in the time he’s given on Earth. Mason Lawry lost his battle with addiction at just 23 years old, but amazingly, in such a short two decades he impacted so many others who were privileged to get to know him.
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 49
“We bought this house because of the big, open space, so we could gather people who are in similar situations. Parents of addicted children or who have lost a child,” Mason’s mother Melinda Lawry says. “That was our whole purpose: to help people who’re in our situation to teach them or to walk with them through what we’ve been through because everybody needs somebody.”
“It’s been such a precious house to me,” Melinda says. While having an empty bedroom will always remind her of Mason, what also reminds her of him is the 60-some animal statues in their house and every color of the rainbow garnishing her
50 Fall 2022
“You can’t say, ‘you need to stop doing this,’ because for years that’s what I thought,” Bob says. People don’t understand how addicts respond. “It’s a dirty disease. You have to do what you need to do to get your fix to calm you. They’re using those drugs to feel normal. When we (non-addicts) drink, we do that for entertainment. We do that for extra. They need that to function. Well, you take that away, and they start going through withdrawals. You can’t be surprised [at the bad choices that good people make; it is not them, it is theMasonaddiction].”spent 11 months at The Men’s Reprieve, learning to overcome his addiction. He then carried out his own ministry by counseling other addicts at a sober living community. Mason was sober for three years before he was called home to Heaven.“Wewant to continue his work,” Bob says.
walls and ceilings. Everything in the Lawry sanctuary is cheerful, making it hard not to smile when one walks in. Even “the fountains bring [us] peace. That’s really the reason [we] bought this house,” she says with a laugh.
The entire family has bonded in fellowship over the loss of someone so loved in life. Yet, the Lawry’s aren’t allowing grief to hold them prisoner. They’re opening their doors to people like them who know love and loss, grief and despair and above all, who want to carry on the legacy of those gone too soon.
“There has to be a reason that Mason died,” Melinda says. “If we can teach others that they’re human, too, they don’t want to live like that…we’re serving [Mason’s memory]. Just by us telling
“He didn’t know he was an addict,” Melinda explains. “He had nose surgery in high school because he was an avid soccer player. After surgery, they prescribed him opioids. They didn’t know he was what we call, ‘allergic.’ When you’re an addict, you’re allergic to a drug, so they (the opioids) caused a reaction, and they opened up a pathway in his [brain]. He became an addict.”
Bob says Mason’s memory lives on in their house because just as the house feels joyful, so was he. Mason had this innate ability to make others laugh, to make them feel loved, worthy and welcome. That’s exactly what his parents strive to make others feel now every day.
A unique aspect of this home is how even after 53 years, the entryway’s brick flooring and open concept from the house’s original blueprint have remained the same.
Mason’s story for the last 21 months, it has opened up many conversations with people that think their son or daughter might be an [addict].”
Entryway
With open doors and acting as open books, Melinda and Bob Lawry are living out Mason’s legacy through teaching others- addicts and notthat everyone is worthy and deserving of love.
Anyone who is struggling with addiction or knows someone who is battling addiction can call both 4th Dimension in Hoover, which can be reached at (205) 492-5467, and Bradford Health Services, whose contact number is (205) 547-2727.
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 51 NICOLEHARDEKOPFTHOMASON 205.835.4667 | nicole @arcrealtyco.com Proudly serving my hometown! Your Neighbor, Your REALTOR ® TOP PRODUCER
“People don’t want to talk about it because it’s ugly, [but] that’s why we’re so vocal about it,” Bob says. “If we let it hide in the corners and hide in the darkness and we feel ashamed about it, [addicts] don’t get help.”
“Life in living color” is one of Melinda’s mottos, prompting her to choose this electric blue for their bar.
Bar
Room
Melinda has a record 63 animal statues, paintings, pillows and knickknacks in their house that remind her of her favorite animals. She especially loves leopard print. True to the ‘70s vibe, Melinda has an iron-rust colored sofa, which is adorned with cheetah pillows.
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54 Fall Kitchen2022
Melinda loves both the color green and anything from the MacKenzie-Childs collection, which she has used to decorate most all of her kitchen. She even wallpapered her ceiling based on her inspiration from both her backsplash and a MacKenzie-Childs collectible.
Hallway
The brick flooring is from the original house’s design. While it’s since changed,beentheoriginal house also had a flat roof, which is a design technique of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. (Far left) Melinda’s best friend, Janice Dance, so graciously painted a portrait of Mason after his passing.
Melinda’s background in both retail and real estate helped her have an eye for that ‘70s look she wanted for her house’s interior décor. Melinda says she didn’t know why she chose a vintage aesthetic, only that it was “fun!” Following the “fun” nature of the house, Melinda chose different wallpaper for nearly every wall and ceiling of the house. Some of the floors may be next, she says!
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FurnitureEclectic
Pool Deck
To complement her kitchen, Melinda chose black and white-colored pool furniture to match the “MacKenzieChilds” aesthetic.
56 Fall 2022 Compassionate veterinary care, boarding & grooming 1471 Montgomery VestaviaAnimalClinic.comHwy (205) 823-7485
BedroomGuest
When Melinda and Bob’s daughter, McKenzie, comes over, she sleeps in this guest bedroom. McKenzie loves hot pink, so naturally, Melinda found four different wallpapers to match, along with the most beautiful retro chandelier. Inside McKenzie’s closet, the stuffed frog pays tribute to Mason’s hilariously hating frogs after he found one unexpectedly in his toilet.
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 57 17th Novemberyear!5-6, 2022 Hoover Met Complex 2022 SPONSORS: City of Hoover • Coca Cola United • EventWorks • Hoover Metropolitan Complex • Joe Piper, Inc • The Beer Hog MEDIA: AL.com • Babypalooza • Bham Now • Birmingham Mountain Radio 107.3fm • B-Metro • EXCURSIONSgo.com • High Level Marketing • Over the Mountain Journal • Starnes Media • This is Alabama • Vestavia Hills Magazine • WBHM 90.3fm www.mossrockfestival.com Art by Jane Marshall Nature. Smart Living. Art + Design. 11th Craft Tasting Event Tickets on sale in October +
BathroomMaster
The standing tub paired with the gorgeous vanity, which isn’t pictured, provides the perfect solace for Melinda when she is getting ready in the morning.
Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Human Development and Fine Arts. Students choose from more than 30 degree programs and more than 70 majors and concentrations. They par ticipate in an educational environment boasting an average class size of 13 and have unprecedented opportunities for conducting undergraduate research under full-time faculty mentors.
Visit: montevallo.edu/tours
Call: 205-665-6030 or 800-292-4349
Designed by the architects behind New York’s Central Park and the grounds surrounding North Carolina’s Biltmore House, our campus serves as a picturesque backdrop to match the University’s world-class educational offerings. White columns, expansive lawns, brick walkways and stately oaks are just part of the campus’ beauty that has earned widespread acclaim. Southern Living magazine even named us among the “South’s Most Beautiful Colleges” in 2020.
As the only public liberal arts uni versity in Alabama, the University of Montevallo has the charm of a private school experience while providing the value of a state-supported institution. As a small school, we are committed to creating big opportunities for students. Montevallo’s list of national accolades grows each year. U.S. News & World Report has ranked us a Best Value School and one of the most innovative schools in the nation, and we have been named a College of Distinction for 11 consecutive years.
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University of Montevallo
We invite you to take a tour and see for yourself why You Belong at Montevallo!
Unique to Montevallo is our home coming tradition, College Night, known as the oldest tradition of its kind in the nation. Montevallo students from across all disciplines have come together for a spirited competition like no other for more than 100 years. College Night was selected as a “Local
At UM, we don’t merely inspire — we teach our students how to harness inspiration, become versatile and give back. Through our accreditations, scholarships and faculty resources, we’ve cultivated a reputation for pro ducing bright minds. Montevallo offers academic programs in four colleges:
FOUNDED IN 1896, the Universi ty of Montevallo is nestled in the heart of Alabama, approximately 35 miles south of Birmingham.
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Legacy” for the Library of Congress’s bicentennial celebration in 2000.
UM fields 22 NCAA Division II athletic teams competing in the Gulf South Conference, Peach Belt Con ference and New South Intercollegiate Swimming Conference, giving stu dent-athletes ample opportunity to don the purple and gold.
SCHEDULEATOUR
At the University of Montevallo, you will enjoy small classes, personalized attention, engaging student activities and abundant opportunities for real-world experience. You will emerge a well-rounded, highly educated individual who isn’t just ready for the world — you’re ready to change it. Here, you won’t merely fit in, you’ll find a place to call home. You will discover a new family where you belong. So, schedule a tour — come see for yourself why You Belong at the University of Montevallo.
BY MADOLINE MARKHAM PHOTOS KEITH MCCOY
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On Sundays Jane Pounds, age 84, was one of the first people to arrive for the Cahaba Heights church’s early service. On Mondays she’d show up at the church at 8:45 a.m. to count the offering money and clean the sacristy. On Tuesdays she’d be back for a bridge group or Memorial Garden Committee meeting. On Wednesdays she and her prayer group gathered around the church’s altar to pray through a list of concerns, and she’d be back later in the day for a knitting group. On Thursdays she’d setup the altar for the Sunday
S
A LOOK AT THE LEGACIES OF THREE SAINT STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH MEMBERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN JUNE, AS TOLD BY THE CLERGY WHO KNEW THEM WELL.
service unless there was a wedding. Somewhere in the hours in between, Jane gave away hundreds of prayer bracelets, hundreds of cards of encouragement and many prayer shawls she knitted to remind others of the love of their church community. She even made prayer shawls for her grandchildren’s future children.
In all she did, she had in mind this perspective she wrote 15 years ago: “Every experience God gives us, every person he puts in our lives is the perfect preparation for the future that only he canButsee.”one week, Jane’s pattern stopped unexpectedly. On Thursday, June 16,
Saint Jane. That’s what everyone at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church knew her as. And for good reason.
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VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 63
she and her dear friend Sharon Yeager entered the the nave at Saint Stephen’s like they did every week. They made sure the Eucharist wine chalices were clean and put the bread in the paten, a special plate for the sacrament. “Jane made sure we would have church on Sunday,” the church’s rector would later note. And then she went to the parish hall to share a potluck meal with friends.Asnews stories all over the country and world would recount, Robert Findlay Smith was sitting alone at that Boomers Potluck when a fellow church member, Walter “Bart” Rainey, 84, invited him to sit at his table. Robert refused. Within moments, Bart would lose his life to gun shot, and Saint Jane and Sharon, 75, would die later from gun shot wounds from those moments as Towell.recount the story as Saint Stephen’s Rector The Rev. John Burruss did at a Sunday service three days later, “Jane and Sharon and Bart sat at a meal with friends: three of the pillars of this community, three of the most faithful people we have ever met who pretty much lived at the church. They took bread, they shared wine, they gave thanks for their love for each other as a community. That evening they made sure that everyone was welcome at the table. They modeled unconditional love as they have done their entire lives, and it cost them their life.”It’s this message of love that Burruss would echo again and again in the church’s nave in the next week as its people grieved, at one funeral service after another. “There’s not a doubt in my mind that Bart and Sharon and Jane would not invite their Judas again and again to sit down and share a meal,” he said that first Sunday after the shooting. “Because they knew God’s unconditional love, it was their guiding ethic, and they fully embodied it. And they knew it was the way to eternal life. They taught us that all are welcome at the table.”
Sharon and Jane had a lot in common
in how they lived out that love. Each week Sharon would check in with The Rev. Katherine Harper about how many people to expect on Sunday at Saint Stephen’s and how many wine chalices would be needed and to update her on who would be helping with the Eucharist.
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In whatever she did, “Sharon was quick to say, ‘How can I help?’” Harper said at Sharon’s funeral. “When flowers needed to be delivered and people needed phone calls, she was passionate about caring for others’ spiritual, social and emotional well being. She exuded love, God’s love.”
64 Fall 2022
Sharon also had a knack for paying attention to the beautiful things of this world. Earlier this year, Harper recalled, Sharon sent her a text after some flooding had subsided with a photo she had snapped of sunset. “It had Auburn orange and Auburn blue in the photo,” Harper said at the funeral. “It was beautiful and hopeful. I found that picture again today. While in one way it’s the setting of the sun, it reminds us of hope, the glowing love of Christ that cannot be darkened.” LEFT TO
The Rev. John Burruss on Bart Rainey:
As The Rev John Burruss spoke at Jane Pounds’ funeral, he posed the question of how those present should respond to her life, harkening back to Saint Jane’s words when her husband, Jim, passed away. Her response was to do “anything to help Saint Stephens and to be a friend, to be a supporter and to encourage myAndgrandchildren.”soBurruss’s response for his congregation was the same: “Jane would tell you the only faithful response to her life would be to do anything for your faith community, to be a friend, to be a support and to encourage your family. And she showed us what that truly meant.”
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HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND?
The Rev. Katherine Harper on Sharon Yeager:
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 65
“My prayer is for each of us is that the light of Christ that shined in Sharon’s eyes and twinkled in her heart will continue to be professed in our words and lived out in our lives.”
“Bart has given us something good and hopeful to change our lives, that love for each other, the love for the stranger, the love for the fellow human, this love which comes from God is the most important and powerful thing we will ever experience. The way he loved others and invited him to sit down and share has taught all of us the true love of God and our Christian witness.”
Saint Stephen’s clergy shared equally poignant reflections on how to respond to the loss of two of Jane’s friends at their funerals as well:
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Jane and Sharon and Bart sat at a meal with friends: three of the pillars of this community, three of the most faithful people we have ever met who pretty much lived at the church. They took bread, they shared wine, they gave thanks for their love for each other as a community. That evening they made sure that everyone was welcome at the table. They modeled unconditional love as they have done their entire lives, and it cost them their life.
And that essence would carry into
-Rev. John Burruss
Burruss. “But this book made me a fan: Johnny Cash on the Apostle Paul: A Man in Black Teaching Us About a Man in White.”
”
“Isn’t that the true essence of Bart, wanting to make sure we see goodness and possibility and hope?” Burruss said at Bart’s funeral.
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 67 “
Amidst the darkness that cloaked the church after the June 16 tragedy, Burruss spoke to his church of hope at Bart’s funeral as well. About three months before, Bart had walked into Burruss’s office to share a specific thought. “You probably don’t like Johnny Cash because his songs don’t always seem so Christian,” Bart told
his last living moments “as he had done his entire life, leading from a posture of inclusion, hospitality and welcome,” Burruss said.
68 Fall 2022
meant. He taught us all how to see and love God and how to love our church as much as he did.”
Writer’s Note: This article was adapted from Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church sermons on June 19, 22 and 23. They can be accessed on the “Saint Stephens Birmingham” channel on YouTube. The Rev. John Burruss’s sermon from June 19, “The Light Shines in the Darkness,” had 3,400 views as of the writing of this article.
“Bart loved Jesus. He loved and adored (his wife) Linda. He loved his daughters and his family. He loved his brother and sister. He loved his grandchildren who he often remarked brought him more joy than he had ever know…And he loved the stranger. His last act, an act of compassion, taught us all what Jesus’ love really
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Head north of the Bay to discover Freeport, DeFuniak Springs and Paxton – equally steeped in rich history and pristine natural beauty.
Surrounding Lake DeFuniak, Circle Drive was once home to the vibrant local Chautauqua Assembly. Visitors can tour the classic architecture of nearly 200 homes and buildings, about 40 of which are noted in the National Register of Historic Places.
While the sugar-white sand is certainly a signature of Walton County, unlimited sights and activities add true depth to its personality. These unique neighborhoods are intertwined by the colorful local culture, as well as the surrounding waters – from the Gulf to the Choctawhatchee Bay.
BEYOND THE BEACH
Morrison Springs is a 161-acre park highlighted by a crystal-clear, spring-fed pool 250 feet in diameter. Dive enthusiasts flock here to explore the deep underwater cavities, but it is equally attractive to casual swimmers and ecotourists as well.
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Nestled within the expansive Nokuse Plantation preserve, the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center is a great home base for exploring the longleaf pine ecosystem. This hidden gem welcomes budding naturalists of all ages to learn more about the power of biodiversity.
Antique shops and stylish boutiques. Worldwide cuisine and Gulf-to-table fare. Championship golf courses and a thriving arts scene. The wide variety ensures that every day offers a completely new experience.
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While our 16 beach neighborhoods offer beyond-the-beach activities to please everyone in your circle, the focus keeps coming around to our sugar-white sand. your perfect beach at VisitSouthWalton.com.
COMMUNITY INFLUENCERS 2022
Vestavia Hills Magazine
Special Advertising Section
72 Fall 2022
It’s the people who make Vestavia Hills the community that it is! Here we recognize some of those making an impact on others around them through their businesses.
2409 Acton Road Ste. 137 • Birmingham, AL 35243 205-907-8915 • angelastevens.realtysouth.com ANGELA THORNTON STEVENS REALTOR/ASSOCIATE BROKER
Born and raised in Vestavia Hills, Angela loves the local community and helping others discover its abundance of opportunities. Vestavia offers an award-winning school system, local businesses, park and recreation, and community events, which help make it a wonderful place to live and raise a family. Angela is a Trustee member of The Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce, active in the VHEE PTO, and also serves as a Board Member with The Vestavia Hills City School Foundation. So far, she has helped over 100 families with their real estate needs, and as Vestavia continues to grow, she would love to help you next.
At Longleaf Liberty Park, they’ve made it their mission to combine unwavering trust and reliability with modern, boutique-style senior living. The passionate team of professionals brings this mission to life, empowering residents of their community through innovative programming, forward-thinking services, advanced safety measures and supportive care. Holistic wellness lives at the heart of their community –from chef-prepared meals made with the freshest ingredients to specialized fitness classes and therapy services. But it’s much more than sophisticated amenities and an engaging way of life – they treat each resident with the warmth and care of family because that’s what they value. 451 Liberty Pkwy • Birmingham, AL 35242 205-259-7149 • longleaflibertypark.com LONGLEAF LIBERTY PARK
Lindsey Ruffino opened LR Extensions in August 2021 to create a comfortable and relaxing environment for all guests who walk through her door. Her journey began 4 years ago when she began wearing extensions and traveled the country learning different methods until she found the best one. Lindsey and her team hope to use their talent, skills and education to inspire and enhance confidence in each and every one who visits the salon. From the time a woman walks in, the team hopes she feels as if she is among friends in addition to feeling confident in herself and new hair. AL
3934 Crosshaven Dr • Vestavia Hills,
35242 205-209-6012 • lrextensions.com LR EXTENSIONS
are some
Stylist Linda Willard and Manicurist DeAnna Lucas invite visit their family-friendly, full-service salon in Cahaba Heights. Paul Allan, Leia Garner, Kristen Hamilton and Lisa Wells Causey complete the team at Salon Summit. next door to Satterfield’s Restaurant, Salon Summit has made its home for the past 5 years in this quaint village of Cahaba Heights. annual Hangout in the Heights, Heroes and the Heights of enjoy participating members Cahaba
Deck
you to
The
Heights
their favorite neighborhood festivals they
of the
Heights Merchant Association. Keep an eye out for the exciting new entrance to Cahaba Heights their busy merchant association has fostered! 3161 Cahaba Heights Rd #101 • Vestavia Hills, AL 35243 205-518-0406 • salon-summit.com SALON SUMMIT
Located
in as
ChattanoogalikeaLocal
By Christiana Roussel |
Photos Contributed
Fallperspective.travel
This bridge over Rock City hangs hundreds of feet in the air, providing tourists a view over the treetops. Photo courtesy of ChattanoogaTourismCo.
Gadsden
Chattanooga, which is just a short two-hour trip Northeast of Birmingham, ticks a lot of boxes for so many different types of travelers. So much has been written about the hiking and scenic-overlooks of Ruby Falls and Lookout Mountain. Many readers have probably already visited the famed Chattanooga Choo-Choo and the phenomenal Tennessee Aquarium. However, there is so much more to Chattanooga! Let’s explore what a visit would look like from a local’s
78 Fall 2022
AlabamaTennesseee Georgia2
162 Miles 59 59 59 Birmingham Trussville
HIT THE ROAD
just hits differently. hrs., 25 min.
After time spent in the summer months visiting beaches and lakes, bobbing on foam noodles or skim-boarding waves on 30-A, we’re all ready for something a bit different. Weekend escapes in the cooler months such as football bye-weeks here in SEC country are the ideal time to explore someplace new, or even revisit a familiar destination but see it in a whole new way.
PayFortneGuntersville Chattanooga
Bluff View Inn
Common House
Equal parts non-traditional hotel, local gathering spot, coffee shop, hip bar, co-working and collab oration space, BODE in downtown Chattanooga is the kind of landing spot that can make all types of travelers happy. Offering one, two and three-bed room lofts, each high-ceilinged space is outfitted with a kitchen, living area and maybe even a ping pong table and a view of nearby Lookout Moun tain. DAWN is where you’ll find your morning coffee while the bartenders at DUSK have you covered with evening snacks and libations. Think family groups, girlfriend getaway or those with wanderlust seeking local connection.
Tucked into the heart of uber-cool Southside, stands Common House. This white-stucco-ed former YMCA building has been exquisitely converted into a coveted “third space” that needs to be experienced to be appreciated. Third spaces exist to create community and connection, outside of home and work. Common House is a private Chattanoo ga social club with six hotel rooms (plus one suite) available to the public. Hotel guests have access to the entire club while on-site: four bars, fitness center, intimate restaurant, co-working spaces, cabana-lined pool, podcasting studio and positively the coolest vibe in town.
Bode
WHERE TO STAY
Pictured above is the historic Bluff View Art District. Photo courtesy of Chattenooga Tourism Co.
The crowd here is strictly 21+, so plan accordingly. Memberships are available in case you never want to leave.
Recent years have seen the addition of several great new hotels in the Chattanooga area, as well as the sprucing up of some venerable favorites.
Nestled in the arts-rich Bluff View Art District, this bed-and-breakfast-style inn is actually three turn-of-the-centu ry homes overlooking the Tennessee River. From the front porch of the T.C. Thompson House, you can sit a spell in a rocking chair and watch the sun set over Signal Mountain. Located within walking distance of many of Chattanoo ga’s must-see sites means you can park the car and venture out afoot to dine and do.
Common House’s exquisite architecture is but one aspect that garners attention from both locals and tourists alike. Photo courtesy of Ali Harper and Common House.
Bode Chattanooga’s many amenities keep customers coming back. Photo courtesy of Digital Love Photography.
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 79
Bluff View Art District
Photo courtesy of Zach Bopp
If you’re game to stay on track with fitness goals while you travel- and those Lookout Mountain hikes weren’t enough- pop into Kyle House Fit ness for a class.
Sisu Sauna
Locals love wandering in and out of galleries and showrooms in the Bluff View Art District, where the juices just flow. Gallery 1401 is a respite from the ordinary, and you’re bound to discover an eclectic mix of artists’ work.
80 Fall 2022
For something completely differ ent, get on the Tennessee River by kayak to observe the endangered gray bats as they take to the eve ning sky in search of insects. On this 30-mile paddle of Nickajack Lake, you may even spy an osprey or the occasional bald eagle, so pack your binoculars!
Photo courtesy of Chattanooga Tourism Co.
Chattanooga is teeming with creatives and you can find something inspiring at almost any turn.
The Hunter Museum
WHAT TO DO
The Hunter Museum deserves an afternoon all to itself. With a permanent collection featuring works by the likes of Bierstadt, Frankenthaler and Ansel Adams, there is just enough to see without feeling overwhelming.
Take the recently renovated Lookout Mountain Incline to the top of the mountain, where you can visit Point Park (site of the Civil War Battle Above the Clouds). Back at the bottom, it is a short drive to Ruby Falls, Cloudland Canyon and Rock City, which is celebrating its 90th year of visitors! Locals suggest buying tickets ahead of time to spend more time oohing-and-aahing over the views and less time waiting in lines.
Lookout Mountain Incline
Photo courtesy of Chattanooga Tourism Co.
Outside Inside
If you’d just rather sweat it out, a session or two at Sisu Sauna should do just the trick.
Yes, any trip to Chattanooga should include something outdoors, especially in the fall when the leaves are changing and the temperatures are most conducive to being outside.
BONUS: The museum is showcasing work by Birmingham-based artist Amy Pleasant until July of 2023, so be sure to check that out.
Kayaking on the Tennessee River
Kyle House Fitness
HIT THE ROAD
For weekend brunch, head to Feed Table and Tavern, where locals clamor for short ribs and grits or the Rocky Balboa biscuit.
Warehouse Row
Boathouse Rotisserie and Raw Bar
Southern Squeeze
Book and Cover is a lovely, little independent book store, where staffers are happy to suggest a new favorite read.
Feed Table and Tavern
Alice Blue, Electric Blue and Hanover Blue
is in season.
Looking for something new to wear out to dinner or even just something casual?
Local ladies love K Boutique in North Shore, where you can outfit yourself for almost any occasion.
WHERE TO EAT
In the heart of Riverview, locals are drawn to the three-stores-in-one allure of Alice Blue, Electric Blue and Hanover Blue, which will have you dapper-in-aflash for an afternoon spent exploring Chattanooga local dining spots.
For the vegetarians and vegans in your group, make like a local and head to Southern Squeeze with enough plantbased breakfast and lunch offerings to satisfy anyone.
Warehouse Row, which is a converted Civil War stone fort in downtown Chat tanooga, has always been a great shop ping draw with plenty of national names you already know. Do yourself a favor and shop Embellish, which specializes in names like Rag & Bone and Veronica Beard. If something for the home is what you seek, just go directly to Revival, where the offerings include one-of-a-kind antiques and vintage finds, as well as gorgeous coffee table books and pretty barware, lamps and furniture to create the nest of your dreams back at home.
Main Street Meat
State of Confusion
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 81
Sidetrack
Adelle’s Creperie
Photo courtesy of Ali Harper and Common House.
Main Street Meats is a one-part butcher shop, one-part restaurant, where the daily offerings change, according to what
Photo courtesy of Blaes Green
State of Confusion is great for outdoor dining and drinks. Think ceviche, burgers and beer. Lunch, dinner, brunch. Reserva tions are accepted.
The secret is out about Boathouse Rotis serie and Raw Bar, where locals and visi tors alike clamor for seats that fill up fast. Go early to avoid too much of a wait.
Looking to satisfy that sweet tooth?
Check out Adelle’s Creperie. Carla and Ken Pritchard may own this darling creperie, but their daughter, Adelle, gets all the credit for the concept and inspired menus and décor.
For the travelers who simply must have their retail therapy when they visit a new city, there is nothing like discovering local Shopgems.
Speaking of local dining, Chattanooga is replete with interesting people doing interesting things, culinarily-speaking.
Looking for a souvenir to take home? Pop in to Locals Only, which prides itself on supporting local artisans and makers.
Locals Only
Book and Cover
K Boutique
The aforementioned Revival-decorat ing-haven gets the credit for the warm interiors at Alleia in Southside, where the rustic Italian menu makes the most of lo cal ingredients. This is where Chattanoo gans go for date nights or to celebrate something special, even if that event is just called “making it to the weekend.”
At Sidetrack, be sure to order the beig nets (yes, you WILL make a mess) and the Eggs in Purgatory.
Alleia
82 Fall 2022 4 5 3 6 1 2 OUT & ABOUT 1. Melissa and Henry Cochran with Laura and John Grote 2. Hunter and Mary Nelson Cornerman 3. The Goodloe family 4. The Miller family 5. The Lagrange family 6. Ashleigh Dunsker, Abigail Dunsker, Julianne Broom, Malaika Dsa and Isabella Melendez 7. Reeves Ryder, Denzil Schmitz and Mary Phifer 8. Goal Diggers Rise Team 9. Reddin Casey 10. Emma Kate Lindley, Mims Jones, Tessa Leggett and Anna Caroline Mormon 11. The Money family 12. Emma Newton, Harper Newton and Sydney McCann 13. Kate Bishop, Anna Williams, Vince Visser, Elizabeth Burton and Arden Hedson 14. Eileen D’Alessandro, Ruth D’Alessandro, Juliana Cabrera and Anne Lauren Ingram 15. Will Frasier RISE KIDS DAY
On Saturday, March 19, Vestavia Hills students participated in the RISE Kids Day event, which is one of several RISE service project-sponsored events that benefitted the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Unit at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB.
PHOTOS BY JAMES AND RACHEL CULVER
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 83 8 9 10 11 12 14 7 15 OUT & ABOUT 13
84 Fall 2022 5 6 4 7 8 1 2 3 OUT & ABOUT 1. Birmingham Boys Choir Director Ken Berg and Phoenix Boys Choir Director Herbert Washington 2. Watson Riddle and Graham Bush 3. Herbert Washington, Mary Price, Susan Berg and Ken Berg 4. Ken Berg, Charlotte Rumore, Herbert Washington, Birmingham Baron’s Dog and Joel Megginson 5. Birmingham Boys Choir Members 6. Garrett Lenzie, Michael Megginson and Jeff Caulk 7. Charles Long, Luke Dille and JC Foster 8. Herbert Washington and Ken Berg with the joint choirs
BOYS
ALOUD PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED The Birmingham Boys Choir, along with the Phoenix Boys Choir, participated in a weekend-long music festival called, “Boys Aloud,” on Saturday, June 25-Sunday, June 26.
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VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 85
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
Training Trust will not discriminate against apprenticeship applicants or apprentices based on, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX (INCLUDING PREGNANCY AND GENDER IDENTITY), SEXUAL ORIENTATION, ApprenticeshipThe40ATHEYINFORMATION,GENETICORBECAUSEAREANINDIVIDUALWITHDISABILITYORAPERSONYEARSOLDOROLDER.AsbestosWorkersLocal78TrainingTrust
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Alabaster, AL has an immediate opening for a Delivery Driver. Delivery Drivers will be primarily responsible for the delivery and set up of portable buildings. All applicants must be customer service driven and represent our company in the upmost way. We are an established 35 year old company with 18 retail locations. We look forward to adding to our team to continue working toward future success. Delivery Drivers:
Full & Part Time *Baristas *Cashies * Management Offering Competitive Pay Closed on Sundays Call for an Interview: 205-593-4221
H&H Enterprises, Inc Alabaster, AL has an immediate opening for a Portable Building Delivery Driver. Delivery Driver will be primarily be responsible for loading, delivering, blocking and leveling portable storage buildings. The delivery driver will also be responsible for completing other tasks associated with our business. All delivery driver applicants must be customer service driven and represent our company in the upmost way. We are an established 33 year old company with 19 retail locations. We look
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Experienced Termite Technician or someone experienced in routeservice work and wants to learn new profession. Work-vehicle/ equipment provided. Must drive straight-shift, have clean driving record/be 21/pass background/ drug test. Training provided. Insurance/401K offered. M-F 7:00-4:30 + 1 Saturday/ month. Pay $13hr. Send resume to facsmith@charter.net
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• Applicants will need a valid Class D driver license. No CDL is •requiredPassDOT driving physical Delivery Driver Salary starting at $600.00 + per week based on Toexperience.Apply:Send Resumes ortracy.thomas@hhenterprises.comtoCall205.664.9191ext125.
Kelly Education • Shelby County Schools • Hiring Substitute Teachers. Limitless opportunities for passionate people! • Free pre-hire training • Paid orientation • Ongoing developmentprofessional•Steady, yet flexible, work • Weekly pay • Your preference of schools. Contact Anne Gamble: O: 205.682.7062
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78 Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee Accepting applications for 4-year Apprenticeship Program. Applications will be accepted July 1, 2022- July 31, 2022 in person at 2653 Ruffner Road Birmingham, Al 35210 205-956-2866, 205-956-8101 etx.3 craig@insulators78.org Check us out at WorkerscomprehensiontoApplicantsage,transportation,drugApplicantswww.insulators.org.mustbe18+,free,havedependableID&proofofhighschooldiploma/GED.willberequiredtakemathtest&Englishtest.TheAsbestosLocal78Apprenticeship
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MY VESTAVIA HILLS
Mayor of Vestavia Hills
Let’s Play Ball!
This photo is of the Curry-Gualano family, which was taken on Easter at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church (VHUMC). VHUMC has been our church home since 1980. It also has many outreach ministries. One that I am active with is our “Car Ministry” program. We place cars with deserving individuals that are working but need transportation in order to get to their employment.
Greeting the Citizens No Matter How Old
SupportingBusinessesLocal
My Sports Family
Vestavia team that won the 9U-AA Strane.BrannenStuartcoacheschampionship.AssociationBirminghamGreaterBaseballThewereCurry,JeffandMichaelPicturedwith the team are my grandsons, Zachary Curry and Luke Gualano.
I Love America Days
My children grew up with Vestavia Hills sports. Now, active.grandchildrenmyarePicturedis the
Another favorite event of mine is the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce’s “I love America Day.” This is the most attended event in our city. Our newlyrenovated Wald Park really makes this event a special occasion.
One of the most enjoyable duties as Mayor of Vestavia Hills are the classroom visits at the elementary schools. I visited Mrs. kindergartenHarrell’sclassat Vestavia Hills Elementary East. Here Charlie Gualano, my granddaughter, is performing a “mock ribbon cutting.”
ASHLEY CURRY
My favorite restaurant in Vestavia Hills is Bistro V. This is a photo of Bistro V’s Owner and General Manager, Emily Tuttle, with my favorite menu item, “pan seared jumbo scallops.”
City Holidays
Bonding in Fellowship Easter Services at VHUMC
86 Fall 2022
Bistro V
Mayoral Duties
