CLASS OF 2020 REFLECTIONS • EDDIE POWELL’S TEXTURES ON CANVAS • RESTAURANTS IN QUARANTINE
MOUNTAIN BROOK’S BEST WINNERS
THE VOTES ARE IN
NEVER TOO YOUNG
LITTLE HANDS SERVING HEARTS
July/August 2020 MountainBrookMagazine.com Volume Four | Issue Four $4.95
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MEET WYNDY’S FOUNDER MountainBrookMagazine.com 1
IN AN EMERGENCY,
A COMMUNITY BUILT ON RESPONSIVENESS In an emergency, you have the power to choose where to receive expert care. Insist on going to Brookwood Baptist Medical Center. As your community of care, take comfort in knowing we’ll always be here when you need it the most.
For more information, visit BrookwoodBaptistMedicalCenter.com For life-threatening emergencies, call 9-1-1
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“ TAKE ME TO BROOKWOOD BAPTIST.”
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BROOKWOOD BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER: EMERGENCY ROOM
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Brookwood Baptist Medical Center 2010 Brookwood Medical Center Dr. Birmingham, AL 35209 PENDENCE CT INDE
FEATURES
35
THE MAGIC OF WYNDY Tommy Mayfield talks about where the spark for a babysitting app has taken him and his family over the past three years.
42
GENEROSITY TURNS TO LAUGHTER The secret to living is giving, the Seligson family will tell you, and here’s how you can join them to do just that no matter your age.
MOUNTAIN BROOK’S BEST WINNERS 2020 You voted. We tallied. See just who Mountain Brook’s favorites are.
4 July/August 2020
PHOTO BY MARY FEHR
50
27
50 arts & culture
11 The Color of Water: Eddie Powell’s Textures on Canvas 18 In Style: Summer Tan: Style Edition 20 Read This Book: Black Voices with Alabama Ties
schools & sports
21 Dear Class of 2020: Reflections Upon Graduation
food
& drink
27 A Time Like None Other: A Look at Restaurants in Quarantine
PHOTO BY KEITH MCCOY
in every issue 4 Contributors 5 From the Editor 6 The Question 7 The Guide 56 Chamber Connections 58 Out & About 62 Marketplace 64 My Mountain Brook
34 Five Questions For: Crestline Bagel’s Kendra Robinson
MountainBrookMagazine.com 5
MOUNTAIN BROOK
contributors
MAGAZINE
EDITORIAL
Stephen Dawkins Alec Etheredge Madoline Markham Keith McCoy Scott Mims Emily Sparacino
CONTRIBUTORS
Abby Adams Mary Fehr Tracey Rector Christiana Roussel Elizabeth Sturgeon Lauren Ustad Rebecca Wise
DESIGN
Jamie Dawkins Kate Sullivan Green Connor Martin-Lively
Mary Fehr, Photographer
Mary is a wedding and portrait photographer based out of Birmingham. She studied art and art history at University of Montevallo. She likes to teach and plans on getting her MFA in order to do so. Mary also loves to travel and has a goal of photographing a wedding in every state! She enjoys reading non-fiction, going to concerts and spending time with her family.
Tracey Rector, Writer
Tracey is a freelance writer who has called Mountain Brook home since 2001. She and her husband of 31 years are the parents of three responsible adult children. She loves singing silly songs to her two grandchildren, cooking for family and friends, and following college sports. She wishes she loved early mornings and exercise, but she’d much rather sleep in after staying up late to finish a good book.
MARKETING
Kristy Brown Darniqua Bowen Kari George Caroline Hairston Rachel Henderson Rhett McCreight Viridiana Romero Lisa Shapiro Kerrie Thompson
Rebecca Wise, Photographer
Rebecca is a photographer living in Mountain Brook with her husband, Chase, their three sons, Raughley, Liam and Marshall, and their two dogs. She specializes in family and children’s photography as well as sports and movement photography such as yoga, pilates and ballet. When she doesn’t have a camera in hand, she loves to read and spend time with her family.
ADMINISTRATION Hailey Dolbare Mary Jo Eskridge Daniel Holmes Stacey Meadows Tim Prince
Lauren Ustad, Photographer
Lauren lives in Birmingham with her husband, Joe, their three daughters, and their 2-pound Yorkie they refer to as “Boobie.” She spends her professional time posing itty bitties and chasing little munchkins. In her free time you can probably find her slaving away at their most current renovation project or building Legos with her self-proclaimed super heroes.
Mountain Brook Magazine is published bimonthly by Shelby County Newspapers Inc., P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Mountain Brook 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, Mountain Brook Magazine, P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Mountain Brook Magazine is mailed to select households throughout Mountain Brook, and a limited number of free copies are available at local businesses. Please visit MountainBookMagazine.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $16.30 for one year by visiting MountainBrookMagazine.com or calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 532. Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@mountainbrookmagazine.com, or by calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 536.
6 July/August 2020
from the editor
O
ON THE COVER
Wyndy
A local student who uses the Wyndy babysitting app poses with children whose parents use it as well. The app was created by Ginger and Tommy Mayfield. Photo by Stacy Allen Design by Kate Sullivan Green
On my first ever birthday in a quarantine, my new sister-in-law told me about her family’s tradition to share a “wisdom” they’d gained from the past year on their birthdays and asked me what mine would be. That was May 16, and that point all I could recall from the last year was the sixth of it we’d spent in quarantine. So I told her about the reflection that came to mind from that part of the year: “It’s good to see your mess.” I’m usually pretty calm and don’t stress out easily, but COVID-19 brought out my inner type A monster some moments and a lost-my-appetite anxiety plague others. I didn’t know what had come over me. And then with summer heat came a new set of discomfort with headlines and worldwide conversations as I wrestled through what my place is in things that aren’t right. None of that is pretty. None of it is comfortable. But all of it is growing me for the better in ways I never would have if the tumult of 2020 had never happened. And that’s why the stories that stand out most to me from the pages that lie ahead are those that wrestle with hard things too. Christiana Roussel’s interviews with restaurant owners about their journey through quarantine are full of interesting insight into how they restructured their operations and worked with staff through a challenging season. I was thinking the members of the Class of 2020 that I asked to share reflections upon graduation would mostly focus on quarantine, but in addition to that I was blown away by how Ben Harris articulated his own wrestling in the wake of his father’s death—and what he learned about mentorship along the way. I couldn’t help but smile as I edited Tracey Rector’s account of how the parents of elementary children are helping to mobilizing them to serve their community, come pandemic or everyday hardship, through an organization called Little Hands Serving Hearts. And when I interviewed Tommy Mayfield, we talked about the rollercoaster that comes with a startup company and the highs and lows of the Wyndy babysitting app he and his wife, Ginger, created. But don’t worry, we’ve got a good dose of our usual pretty, happy stories in this issue too, about the blues and greens Eddie Powell paints on canvas and the winners of the votes on this year’s Mountain Brook’s Best ballot. Thanks for reading, and I always welcome your ideas for stories to share in our future issues, be they about sunny days or stormy ones!
madoline.markham@mountainbrookmagazine.com
MountainBrookMagazine.com 7
“ ” THE QUESTION
What’s one thing your family wouldn’t have done if it weren’t for the COVID-19 quarantine? We would have not had a zoom conference call for my son’s bar mitzvah since our family is all out of town. It was truly one of a kind! - Tamara Zucker Goldis
I would not have recorded the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” with some of my fellow theatre performers! It features two Mountain Brook graduates! - Kristi Tingle Higginbotham
- Ila Jo Mahaffey Worthen
We have had the best uninterrupted time hanging out. No swim, soccer, work meetings or dinners. Just quality family time.
- Sally Heusser Burroughs
Cooked three meals a day for weeks!
Our family of five plus our dog had themed dress up night for about 28 nights in a row.
Family poker nights, superdifficult large puzzles and family dinner at the table almost every night. For parents of a 16 and 18 year old, I had let go of those things as gone forever.
We never imagined that we would have a backyard wedding for my daughter! It was the priest, my daughter and her (now) husband and both sets of parents.
- Sharon Howard
-Janet Wike Krueger
8 July/August 2020
Prayed and said the Lord’s Prayer with our neighbors in our driveways. Will never forget that night. It was beautiful.
- Rhea Hill Pelekis
-Elizabeth Prosch Hardwick
THE GUIDE
MARKET DAY JULY 18 Mountain Brook Village 8 a.m.-5 p.m. It’s worth battling the Alabama heat for sales this great. Be sure to shop all your favorite stores and tents in the village. The party gets going early! Also save the date for another day of sales at the Crestline Tent Sale all day in August. Check with individual merchants for details on sales on both dates and mtnbrookchamber.org for the Crestline date. Photo by Alice Lucas Photo by Ben Breland
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THE GUIDE AUG. 6
“No Show” Chamber Luncheon VIA ZOOM 11:30 a.m. Britney Summerville, VP of Community Engagement at Shipt and founder of Birmingham Bound, will share her experiences with the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce, virtually. Lunches for the event will be provided by Vaughan and Company, and you can register at mtnbrookchamber.org.
CRESTLINE VILLAGE
COMMUNITY
Thanks, Lonnie! Little did Charles Phillips know when he befriended Lonnie, who drives the recycling truck in his neighborhood, that Lonnie would plan a surprise parade of five trucks past his house in late April, honking and waving as they drove by. “We are so humbled by this act of loving kindness, by this busy man who took the time to notice his biggest fan,” his mom Ann Summerall Phillips wrote on Instagram. “These essential workers are overlooked sometimes (probably more often than not) and they do hard, thankless jobs in all kinds of weather and crises. I am so grateful to all of you, essential workers. Thank you for keeping us going, and for going well above and beyond. And because Charles said it best, ‘Lonnie nice. I love him.’”
A Familiar Face Matt Leach isn’t new to filling prescriptions at Crestline Pharmacy, but he is newly its owner, taking over as Mike Cobb and Scooter Hammers retired. The new position is a dream come true for Leach, who has wanted to own a pharmacy since 2001. Leach wants customers to know that Crestline Pharmacy is here to stay and remains the same place the community knows and loves.
Find Upcoming Event Listings
To give our reader the most up-to-date information, we will be posting events details as they are confirmed on mountainbrookmagazine.com and on our social media at @mountainbrookmag. Please check those places for event updates for July and August.
10 July/August 2020
THE GUIDE CRESTLINE VILLAGE
A Variety Store Tradition
Brad Simpson (pictured with his son) and his wife have been loyal shoppers at Smith’s Variety since they were students at Samford University, so when they got the news that it was for sale, they say the opportunity seemed like an answered prayer. Though his transition into the role of owner was not what he expected due to COVID-19, Brad says he never doubted his decision for a second to add its 70-plus-year legacy, held strong since Mary Anne and Lit Glazner purchased it in 1976.
BUSINESS
One Mountain Brook
There’s a way to help merchants in our community in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic! The Mountain Brook Merchant Emergency Relief Fund was formed to help Mountain Brook brick-and-mortar businesses facing financial hardships due to the coronavirus or, in the future, other hardships. A 501(c)3 nonprofit of its own, its board meets regularly to award funds. To make a donation, visit onemb.swell.gives.
MountainBrookMagazine.com 11
THE GUIDE LIBRARY
Books at Your Fingertips, Curbside
Books are back! As of June 1, the Emmet O’Neal Library was offering curbside media pickup for books, movies, audiobooks and CDs. To place a hold, visit the library app or call 205-879-0459. When you receive a ready-forpickup notification, call 205-4451101 at least 30 minutes prior to your preferred time, and then you can find your items on a table at the rear of the library building. Learn more at eolib.org/curbside.
12 July/August 2020
COMMUNITY
Record-Breaking Year Mountain Brook City Schools Foundation raised a record number of funds from community donors this fiscal year for a total of $508,534. This is an increase over last year by more than $23,555.26. With these donations, the foundation supports Mountain Brook Schools by funding projects including the Chromebooks used for distance learning in light of COVID-19—and also professional learning for Mountain Brook teachers, technology for classrooms, library enhancements and Institute for Innovation grants. Learn more about the Foundation’s work or make a tax-deductible donation at mbgives.org.
&CULTURE
ARTS
THE COLOR OF WATER Eddie Powell creates texture and movement on canvas, and tree branches and ocean foam emerge. BY ELIZABETH STURGEON PHOTOS BY MARY FEHR MountainBrookMagazine.com 13
I
In Eddie Powell’s studio, a new collection sits across the wall from his classic pieces. Both styles speak in blues and greens and move with a similar energy, but they’re the products of two different points in Eddie’s career. The new look, which he describes as organic modern, is something he recently began creating with sheets of acrylic paint. “I’m placing them, ripping them and putting the pieces together like a puzzle,” he says. “From there, I get into this zone of letting the shapes make a shape from that. I’m letting the piece dictate what shape to grab or to make. It’s more of an abstract approach, playing off what you’ve done right before.” Eddie is introducing this new style as he rounds
14 July/August 2020
out his fifteenth year as a full-time painter. Before selling his first piece in 2005, he was an awardwinning art director at advertising agencies in New York City, Atlanta and Birmingham. “Then I decided I was going to bring the paintbrushes out. I’ll paint some and see what happens,” Eddie says. Sometimes, he’ll still have the instinct to add a headline or slogan for his work, or to think of each subject as a billboard. “I was the idea guy,” he says. “So, the art became an idea. That’s why it’s different and why it’s still unique—it’s a process that came from an idea,” he says. And that process, even in his new work, is created through layers of acrylic paint. Eddie often works on multiple pieces at a time, adding layer after layer and watching the pieces
Eddie Powell paints in primarily blues and greens from his home studio. OPPOSITE: A wall in his studio showcases his original style he is known for with heavy textured acrylic depictions of florals, bikes, trees and landscapes.
MountainBrookMagazine.com 15
16 July/August 2020
come together. A few of his classic subjects are florals, bikes, trees and landscapes, all done with heavy acrylic paint and sealed with varnish. These pieces are more defined while his new work is more flowing and abstract, but both capture moments in nature. The process—more than the subjects he chooses—is the power behind Eddie’s work. He creates texture and movement on canvas through his relief painting method as he repeatedly applies paint, removes it and shapes it. Tree branches and ocean foam nearly emerge off the surface. For creating the texture, Eddie’s best tools are spatulas, forks and knives. “When I walk the kitchen aisle at Target, I ask, ‘What can I use that for in my painting?’” he says. “That’s what’s interesting to me.” The utensils allow him to bring up paint from the surface and pair strong and sharp textures with a softer, natural color palette. Color seems to bind all of Eddie’s work together too, even as he explores a new concept. During his first couple of years of painting full time, he opened a gallery on 30A and painted scenes from the Florida Gulf Coast, which easily paired with his style. “I gravitate towards blue and green, and nothing became more apparent than when I was painting on 30A,” he says. “They love green and blue and still do. And my work will always have a water feel to it.” After moving back to Mountain Brook, he continued to build his career through shows and, for a time, wholesale work for the Atlanta market and Biltmore Estate shops. The wholesale business became overwhelming and demanded a large quantity of pieces, so art shows are where Eddie has established himself. He’s now a returning artist at quite a few prestigious shows including the Harding Art Show in Nashville and Spotlight on MountainBrookMagazine.com 17
Eddie stands with pieces from his freeform abstract collection, a new style still in his classic color palette.
18 July/August 2020
Art at Trinity School in Atlanta. There, people know his body of work. They recognize his beach cruisers, his trees by the water, his flowering still lifes. But right now, it’s the new collection—the organic and freeform abstract work—that brings him the most joy. “As an artist, you’re always wanting to try something new and trying to better yourself,” he says. “You have to throw it out there. You just want to go all in on the new stuff, not get held back.” As an art and creative director, and now as a painter and business owner, new ideas and techniques are natural for Eddie. He knows that in hundreds of pieces in homes across the country, there are styles and ideas he was experimenting with that he decided to paint over, now hidden underneath the textured work. The creative process is like going back to his days in advertising and the parts about his job that he loved most. He would pitch and perfect an innovative idea and then get to see that idea capture a client or a company. Eddie now finds that moment when he sees someone pick out a piece of his art. At the Mountain Brook Art Association’s Crestline show, he’ll meet people who years ago bought a piece, or he’ll talk to real estate agents who can show him his work hung
THE COAST AND THE MOUNTAINS In both places he’s lived as a painter, Mountain Brook and the Florida Panhandle, Eddie has captured the natural landscape around him. Particularly when he was on 30A, he painted the places people knew, like the Western Lake between Destin and Panama City Beach. His organic, water-like style brings a new life to the beaches. As for Mountain Brook, Eddie has always felt a
connection
between
the
neighborhood
and
where he grew up on Lookout Mountain outside of Chattanooga. Though he’s created his own style that sets him apart from other trends, the outdoor landscape is something essential to his work and pulled from what’s around him.
in homes around the area. His new work, however, is yet to become something he’s known for in the Mountain Brook community and beyond. But like the pieces he’s painted for years, the same innovative process, the depiction of beauty and the artistic exploration of each subject is all there. “If you have a lot of ideas, it’s more difficult to be strapped to doing one thing. True artistic endeavors can be risky. So this is the new challenge.” You can find Eddie’s work in Thomas Andrew Art and Four Seasons Gallery, as well as on Facebook and Instagram @eddiepowellart. MountainBrookMagazine.com 19
IN STYLE
SUMMER TAN: style edition By Abby Adams Photos by Lauren Ustad
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1. THE DEMI GOLD CHAIN
LOOK 1
Layer this with other necklaces or keep it simple solo. Illuminated | $36.50
2. TAN BUTTON DOWN TANK This tank will take you so many places. Elle | $142
2
3. FLORENCE FAIR JEANS These light-wash jeans are just right for summer. Elle | $199
4. SEYCHELLES NATURAL STRAW PEEPTOES
3
Add the flair of straw from head to toe. Monkee’s | $79
4
Abby Adams is a fashion and lifestyle blogger at peeptoesandpineapples. com who loves all things fashion and has a slight obsession with pineapples.
LOOK 2 1. GREEN V NECK RUFFLED DRESS
1
Green is such a go this season! Monkee’s | $138
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2. BAMBOO EARRINGS Add simplicity and sass to any outfit with these. Monkee’s | $39
3. GOLD RING NOLITA CLUTCH Take any outfit up a notch with this gold clutch. Monkee’s | $108
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4. THE HAYLEY HEEL White heels are a summer staple and go with everything. Village Poodle | $245
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ACCESSORIES 1
1. BROWN CLAY EARRINGS Elle | $82
2
2. STRAW HAT Elle | $95
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ARTS & CULTURE
READ THIS BOOK
Black Voices with Alabama Ties Recommendations from
Our Editorial Staff
As protests following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis took place at the start of the summer, books about race relations and the black experience in America started to sell out at local bookstores and national online retailers alike. Likewise, librarians and bookstore owners in our community are great resources for recommending reads that speak to these topics. As one more starting point in those conversations, here’s a list of titles by black authors (and one illustrator), all set in our state. Each comes recommended by our editorial staff, who have found that words and pictures that take place closer to the place you call home have all the more power to shape how you see the world around you and respond accordingly.
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
By Bryan Stevenson There’s a reason Nicholas Kristof of The New York Times said Stevenson “may, indeed, be America’s Mandela.” In his book, Stevenson recounts his years as a young lawyer founding Montgomery-based Equal Justice Initiative to defend the wrongly condemned in the farthest reaches of the criminal justice system—many of them on Alabama’s death row—and how it transformed his understanding of mercy and justice. There’s also a young adult version available and a 2019 film by the same title.
Homegoing
By Yaa Gyasi This novel follows the parallel paths of two sisters from Ghana in the eighteenth century and their descendants through eight generations, illuminating how oppression spills through from generation to generation and creates systemic problems. Latter chapters take us to a cotton plantation in Tuscumbia, Alabama, and the coal mines of Pratt City, Alabama, among other settings, not far from where Gyasi, a Ghana native, was raised in Huntsville.
Barracoon
By Zora Neale Hurston We have a new mural across from the Pizitz Food Hall to thank for introducing us to Cudjo Lewis. Back in 1931, Zora Neale Hurston interviewed him in Plateau, Alabama, a community 3 miles from Mobile that he and other former slaves had founded. At the time, the 89-year-old was the only living person who had been transported from Africa to America as a slave. In this volume, Hurston, an Alabama native herself best known for writing Their Eyes Were Watching God, captures his story and the tragedy of slavery.
Let the Children March
By Monica Clark-Robinson & Frank Morrison “I couldn’t play on the same playground as the white kids. I couldn’t go to their schools. I couldn’t drink from their water fountains. There were so many things I couldn’t do.” So begins this children’s book account of the thousands of African American children who marched in Birmingham for their civil rights after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak in 1963. Frank Morrison’s emotive oil-on-canvas paintings that are paired with Clark-Robinson’s poetic words earned this book a Coretta Scott King Honor Award for Illustration in 2019.
Gone Crazy in Alabama
By Rita Williams-Garcia In this book for middle grades, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern travel to Alabama one summer in the 1960s to visit their grandmother Big Ma and her mother, Ma Charles, and uncover family history and bonds along the way. This is the third book in a trilogy, so be sure to start with the first, One Crazy Summer, to see how these sisters visit kin all over the nation and discover their own strength along the way.
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SCHOOL
&SPORTS
DEAR CLASS OF 2020
Senior year might have ended abruptly and robbed of many traditions, but there was much to reflect on. LETTERS CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS BY REBECCA WISE & CONTRIBUTED MountainBrookMagazine.com 23
Senior year in many ways came to an unexpected halt for the Class of 2020 a week before their final Spring Break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There would be no prom, no final group pictures or parties with friends. In light of this, we asked some members of this group of Mountain Brook High School students to share their reflections addressed to their classmates as they wrapped up their high school careers from at-home quarantine.
Mountain Brook High School seniors took part in a car parade past the elementary school they attended on May 19 in lieu of the traditional walk back through their elementary school.
Dear Class of 2020, “Let the past die. Kill it if you have to.” In a movie that tried to ruin the greatest film franchise of all time, Kylo Ren’s ominous line echoes into reality. However, much to my dismay, I’m not here to talk about Star Wars. Instead, I’d like to talk with y’all about the past and why we can never let it die. When I was 9 years old, I wanted nothing more than to let the past die. The loss of my father rocked me to my core, and I tried my very best to kill the past by forgetting it. I ignored everything that reminded me of Dad and refused to talk about him. I will forever regret that as one of the worst decisions I’ve ever made, one whose scars I bear today. No one could stop my collapse—not therapists, not my closest friends, not even my family. Don’t get me wrong, they tried and they helped me a lot, 24 July/August 2020
and I will forever love you all for everything (and I’m sorry I was a nightmare in fifth grade). But I shut almost everyone out. I tried to place my hope in myself, in my success and achievement— another thing I struggle with today. Ultimately, it wasn’t my friends that started to get through to me, but one of my dad’s best friends. He stepped in, not to fill the place of my father, but simply be there for me. To support me unconditionally, to guide me and to mentor me. He listened, rarely bothering to give his 2 cents unless it was wanted. He knew I carried an impossible burden, and he gave me the space to vent. Jody Martin, forever thank you, I love you more than you can imagine. As I opened up more, Bill and Suzanne Andrews, my fifth-grade teachers, took me under their wing. They spent hours hiking, kayaking
and rock climbing with me. They went above and beyond to help me by giving me something fun to do. Then in eighth grade as I began to slip again, Mrs. Sara Anne Thomas, one of if not the greatest teachers to ever live, pulled me back again, even if her class cost me a perfect GPA (but at least she ruined it for my brothers too). She reignited my curiosity and helped me reconnect with my father in a way I hadn’t imagined: our shared love of learning. I owe where I am today in large part to her. Thank you. Only after these mentors, and a few others, helped me to stabilize, did I begin to let my friends and family back into my life in a real and meaningful way. They helped me grow beyond the loss, and find joy in the memory of my father. To all my friends, to JWDC, to TNDC, and especially to Waffle House, thank you all for your support over the years. Even if you didn’t know it, you have helped me in more ways than you will ever know. Now, you’re probably wondering why I shared this deeply intimate story with you all. Who knows? Maybe I needed to get it off my chest. Maybe it’s the first thing that came to mind when we decided on “community” for our theme for our graduation speeches. Or maybe, just maybe, like Star Wars, there’s a deeper lesson to be learned. Even if you have yet to experience hardship like
this, you will. It is an inevitability. But I have three pieces of advice, based on what I learned from my own mistakes, that are useful for every step in life. First, never, ever place your hope in yourself. You are all brilliant, strong and amazing people. These past 13 years have demonstrated that much at least. But you are never strong enough to live up to your own hope. I don’t advise placing your hope in your friends, family or mentors either; they’re just as human and fallible as you are. But you do need community, and especially mentors. Mentors who don’t demand anything of you, who support you, and listen to you. Find people you can trust, who you won’t—or can’t— shut out. Maybe that’s a close friend, a parent, a sibling, a teacher, or someone not that close. Reach out to them. Mentors guide us, support us, love us, and, well, they mentor us. Their role is teacher, friend, and family. Seek them out and humbly listen to them. Second, instead of trying to kill the past, remember it. By attempting to forget, or kill, your past, you let your worst moments define you. Rather than fighting the ghosts of your past and never moving forward, embrace it and remember the good and the bad. To accept and remember your past is the only way to ever truly grow beyond it and move into the future, full of hope
Ben Harris, back right, and classmates wear shirts from the colleges they will attend.
MountainBrookMagazine.com 25
and promise, both at college and beyond. Pain and heartache don’t define you, but remember how you got through them. Remember how your friends, family, and mentors got you through those dark times, and you will learn to appreciate all that they did for you. I saved the best advice for last. As picture books, fortune cookies, Disney movies and a humble carpenter tell us, do unto others as you want them to do to you. Give the good that you have received. Be a mentor to other people. As high school graduates, we are not qualified or capable of carrying the weight of the world for someone else. But like a crutch, we can bear with each other in the bad times simply by being there for someone. Listen to them, offer advice and help, but only when it is wanted. Spend time with those that need your help, not just as a therapist listening to their breakdowns, but as their friend spending time and enjoying it together. Help them reignite the passions that they have lost in their grief, not by ignoring the pain, but by walking through it together. To be there for someone, as so many have been there for me, is a high order, but one that I fully believe all of us capable of. Not because it is easy, but because of the mentors who have walked and who will walk with you in your own struggles, you have been trained to fill their shoes one day. For graduation speeches we were tasked with describing what the Mountain Brook community means to us. Maybe my story seems completely alien to you; maybe you’ve walked down a similar path. But it is Mountain Brook to me. It is my home, the community that has guided me, nurtured me and mentored me since as long as I can remember. Now it’s our turn, Class of 2020, to begin to give back.
Ben Harris Graduation Speaker
26 July/August 2020
Emily Butler, second from the right, with fellow seniors
Dear Class of 2020, I never would have expected the school year to end so abruptly. I was, as we all were, looking forward to activities and celebrations that we had seen the seniors years before us enjoy. I know that most of us had held out hope that school would resume after the three initial weeks of quarantine so that we could partake in those, but it didn’t. But just because we did not get to have those final moments and those closing memories doesn’t mean that it’s all just forgotten. Despite it being cut short, I learned the most senior year, made many new friends, and grew into myself in a way that I couldn’t have anticipated. As co-editor of The Sword & Shield, I learned how to work new things and lead in ways that I never had the opportunity to before, and I’m so proud of everyone on the staff. Being in charge of something as important as The Sword & Shield is a big responsibility, and my coeditor Isabel Elkus and I spent sophomore and junior year preparing for it. While we never could have foreseen the complications created by the coronavirus in the middle of our fifth issue, we also could have never foreseen the success we felt in finishing the
ones we did. The hours spent after school in the newspaper room were worth it, and the whole staff should feel proud of what we did. I’m so ready and excited to start the next part of my life, but times like these make me wish that I had appreciated it more. We’ll never get these times back, and we are leaving behind a whole part of our lives that is all most of us know. It’s strange and it’s sad, but we can at least be grateful for the experiences we gained over our years at Mountain Brook. The friends we made, the incredible education we got and the formative experiences we had over the past years. No matter where we end up, we have these to look back on. Though we didn’t get to properly mourn the end of our year, we still have what we need to get us through the next step, whatever that may be.
Emily Butler Sword & Shield Co-Editor
205-447-3275 • cezelle@realtysouth.com
MountainBrookMagazine.com 27
Dear Class of 2020, Obviously, this is not how we envisioned the end of our high school careers going. We’ve spent the past 13 years together, and these last few weeks of senior year were supposed to be the perfect wrap up to that time. Although this is certainly a challenging time, I hope that that does not distract this Class of 2020 from the fact that we are achieving something great: we’re graduating. It hasn’t always been easy, but we made it here through hard work, dedication, and most importantly, because we stuck together. When I look back over my many years at Mountain Brook and I think about the moments that had the biggest impact on my life, I don’t think about test grades or awards or homework assignments. I think about the friendships that I made over the years. And that is what makes this graduating class so extremely: the camaraderie. All of our students are unique with a wide variety of interests, and we as a class have achieved some pretty incredible things and have made it through some trying times. But we didn’t achieve these things alone, and we didn’t go through these trying times by ourselves. We all had friends and peers giving us encouragement and support throughout our endeavors. When one of us stumbles, the rest of us are right there to pick him back up. When one
of us needs a hand, there are plenty waiting for them. That’s how it has been since we were in kindergarten, and that’s how it will be for the rest of our lives. And yes, I know that we are all going our separate ways next year, but the friendships and the connections that we have made over these past 13 years will remain with us for the rest of our lives. No matter how far away we move or no matter where we end up down the road, we will always have this graduating Class of 2020 to fall back on. I am confident that every single member of this graduating class will go on to do amazing things, but just remember that true success is not measured by the number of trophies on your shelves or the amount of money in your wallet. True success is measured by the love that you give to those around you. So, Class of 2020, as we all embark on the next chapter of our lives, I want you to know that no matter where you end up on your journey, you will always have this graduating class to fall back on.
John Nathan Graduation Speaker
John Nathan, on right, with friends from the Class of 2020
28 July/August 2020
&DRINK
FOOD
A TIME LIKE NONE OTHER
Restaurateurs share how they adapted operations in quarantine—and about generosity that carried them through. BY CHRISTIANA ROUSSEL PHOTOS BY PATRICK MCGOUGH, MARY FEHR & CONTRIBUTED MountainBrookMagazine.com 29
No one can deny that this past spring has been a season dominated by fear, funny memes, anxiety, bread baking, face masks and more than a few puzzles. And in Mountain Brook, there has been another dominant force at work: community. In the face of so much uncertainty and doubt, there is the one constant we can always rely upon here: a city that works together to lift one another up. In the span of a few short months, we have shown that we are a sum of our parts. We show up. We offer help. We get creative in solving problems. That is especially true in the restaurant business where so many chefs, owners and restaurateurs who wanted to survive, found themselves pivoting in unexpected ways. We polled a few of our favorites in late May to see what quarantine looked like to them and their respective operations.
CAROLE GRIFFIN
Chez Lulu and Continental Bakery English Village season? We began noticing a dramatic uptick in gift card purchases. Some loyal and dear customers would purchase several hundred dollars at a time. The epitome of all these gestures was a note I received from a long-time customer when we decided to close for two weeks during the peak of the virus, in response to employee anxiety. Even though he is currently living on a limited income, this customer included a check for $100 and wrote: “I know (closing) was not an easy decision How did the quarantine affect how you do to make. It is my way to say THANKS for all the years I’ve bought bread and hung out and wrote business? After we got home, we distributed a inside or outside the bakery. You all have my best questionnaire to employees, gauging their wishes for health and a return to the thriving feelings of safety at work, and in response, sustainable bakery/cafe you always were...” That installed plexiglass barriers between customers kind of says it all. and staff, and re-tooled our point-of-sale system to make all transactions as contact-free as What is one thing you will never take for possible. We redesigned the flow of the retail area granted again? Hugs! Other things? The easy banter with of the bakery, rearranging furniture and putting tape markings on the floor to guide customers in customers enjoying a magical evening at the cafe. and out of the shop, one at a time, at a distance of Or chatting in the morning with the group of older gentlemen in the bakery turret. Or most of 6 feet from each other. To help staff lighten the mood for our all, the festivals, with crowds of people singing customers, we even retrieved from storage the and dancing and eating and drinking on the silly Bastille Day castle we use for our sidewalks and in the streets. The parades and annual storming of the Bastille celebration. We performances, dances around the maypole and installed it at the front door as a light-hearted rites of spring at our Springalingadingdong reminder that we needed everyone to maintain Festival, storming the Bastille and eating watermelon for the Quatorze Juillet, or leading a their distance while ordering. lantern parade carrying light into the darkness of What were some bright spots in this winter for our FallOohlala Festival. When did it first occur to you that business would not proceed as usual? On a trip to Baltimore to visit my son at college, my partner, Shea, and I stopped to buy sanitizer and consistently found empty shelves. It was eerie. We started placing calls back to the bakery, speaking with managers, sharing our concerns and observations, arranging for our GM to purchase the raw ingredients for homemade hand sanitizer for our employees.
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MAURICO PAPAPIETRO brick & tin Mountain Brook Village
How would you describe your business BEFORE quarantine? I would say we were a restaurant that was thankfully known for being packed, especially at lunch with lines out the door and tables packed close together. So, in the face of shutdown, it got scary pretty quickly. What were some of the challenges you faced? Revenue just stopped. But even before that, our challenges were health-related—the health and well-being of my staff, my family and our customers. There are so many small details and minutiae in running a restaurant that sometimes go unseen by the average guest—from having the right containers for to-go items to increased cost of ingredients. My best-selling menu item since day one has been the beef brisket sandwich. My brisket price has gone from $3.75/pound, and now I’m paying more than double that. Since I’ve elected to not raise the price on that item, I am losing money on it. How is your staff holding up? Pretty well. At the time we closed on March 18, I had 52 active employees—all but five are ready to come back full-time. I worked with several
Maurico Papapietro brick & tIn
professionals and friends in the restaurant industry about the best way to take care of our staffs, financially. The unemployment payment increased, coupled with the stimulus check and the Payroll Protection Program funds, and we were able to meet about 80 percent of their financial needs. How did your day-to-day operations change? We closed altogether for a bit and then gradually went to curbside and delivery. This community has been so great about supporting us that even with that change in the way we deliver service, we were able to get back to about 80 percent of our regular revenue from where we were previously. What local resources were especially meaningful to you in this time? My local bank, Iberia, and my banker, Mary Alice Kline, were rock stars in terms of securing PPP funds lightning-fast. And I have been in the restaurant business here in Birmingham for more than 20 years, so I was able to reach out to the guys at Paramount and El Barrio, Mark Driskill at ASH, Chris Hastings, Pardis and Frank Stitt—we were talking a lot in those early weeks about what to do and how to do it. This network of fellow restaurateurs was probably the most helpful of all.
Carole Griffin Chez Lulu & Continental Bakery
MountainBrookMagazine.com 31
DEBBIE MCKINSTRY daniel george Mountain Brook Village
week. Parking places everywhere! We have also delivered lunches to UAB several times to the healthcare workers. How did your regular customers respond to the changes? Some people ordered food to-go a couple of times a week. They also tended to leave generous tips to our wait staff who were here taking orders and getting food to the car. Tips have been left to the kitchen staff as well. I believe having our business in Mountain Brook has made a big difference in our How did your business pivot during the ability to continue to bring in some revenue. pandemic? Well, the restaurant had its best year yet in 2019, How is your staff doing? and in January and February of this year, we were Fortunately, we were able to get the PPP loan off to a great start when things came to an immediate pretty early on, so it was great to be able to pay the halt. We reopened on April 6, offering curbside staff even though they were not able to work. All of service for lunch and dinner but quickly shifted to our kitchen staff has taken turns coming in to work just dinner. With fewer people working, there just to cook the food for the curbside orders. Several weren’t as many takers. It was strange to see waiters have taken shifts to manage the to-go Mountain Brook Village empty in the middle of the orders.
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Will Haver Taco Mama & Otey's Tavern
WILL HAVER
Taco Mama & Otey’s Tavern Crestline Village How did you get creative in your pivot? For Taco Mama, we created the Taco/Nacho Home Box complemented with a gallon of margaritas and then started letting our guests know about them. We knew it was a losing proposition as far as the profit-and-loss sheet was concerned, but we were just trying to survive and be there for our team and community. At Otey's, we continued to do our thing, just now curbside. But we started selling coolers of ice-cold beer, and we added a crawfish truck in the parking lot on some Thursday nights. We also allowed local musicians to come in, and we produced virtual shows to support our musician friends who have been playing at Otey’s for many years. What was one of your biggest challenges, aside from the financial ones? We were having to source goods that weren’t easily available because the game changed instantly for the farmers and purveyors as well. For example, we would go through over 20 gallons a week of fresh lime juice because we were
now selling more gallons of margaritas to-go. We drove to other states to acquire thousands of gallon plastic jugs for margarita mix, and thousands of cardboard boxes for Taco/Nacho Home Boxes. What resources have been most helpful in this time? Our city has gone above and beyond and has been tremendously supportive, but the ABC board relaxing some of their alcohol laws in order for us to have a chance to sell sealed containers of alcohol off premise really gave us a chance to survive in my opinion. What is one thing you will never take for granted again? The simple pleasure of dining with family and friends. I love to dine, and I love to do it with my family and friends. People seem to have a lot more patience, kindness and grace, and they appear to take pleasure in just having the opportunity see friendly faces and dine again. MountainBrookMagazine.com 33
(Still) Serving Children Safely ChildrensAL.org
Al Raibee VINO
AL RAIBEE VINO English Village
How would you describe your restaurant/dining establishment, prior to COVID-19? An intimate Mediterranean dining spot, featuring fresh seafood, oysters, crab claws, pasta and other healthy menu choices along with an extensive wine collection.
It has always been our priority to ensure the safety and well-being of each child in our care — and that remains our commitment as we continue our mission during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Here’s how we have redesigned our operations to keep our patients and their families as safe as possible: q All visitors are screened immediately for signs of illness and fever. q We follow Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting our facilities. q Our staff practices safe hand hygiene. q We are wearing masks for your safety. Thank you for wearing your face covering. q All visitors to campus are required to wear masks. q Waiting rooms have been reconfigured to accommodate social distancing guidelines.
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How did you shift your procedures as the quarantine began? We created a curbside ordering system the next day, with free delivery within 3 miles. In addition to offering our complete dinner menu, we brought back our spinach lasagna with garlic bread and salad. We also offered a 25 percent discount on all of our wine bottles for curbside sale. How did your regular customers respond? Many of our regulars ordered daily. Many stocked up on their wine selection at home. Some brought their own folding chairs and small tables and set up on our sidewalks every afternoon. Our gift card sales went up 45 percent. Tips to staff increased, averaging about 40 percent! One day, a car stopped by, and the gentleman told the staff, “I don’t have an order but this is for you for being here!” It was a $100 bill! How have your staff been holding up? The first good news was the $2,000 grant check to help to our staff from the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce and our own Mayor Welch, which we received within the first week after lockdown. This was distributed among all staff. One of our most senior members donated his share to others and would not accept any of the scarce shifts available, trying to help the ones in more need. We also painted all of the chairs and table bases using our staff for the following two weeks.
JULIE GRIMES Black Sheep Kitchen Crestline Village
How did COVID-19 first start to affect your world? My sister lives in New York City and her husband is an infectious disease doctor affiliated with NYU, so they were a great source of information. We followed the president’s daily briefings with particular interest in the advice of Dr. Fauci, and I’ve followed the information put out by the Alabama Department of Public Health as well. I also called my health inspector early on. How did you restructure your operations? We decided based on our small space that it was in everyone’s best interest to allow only employees in the store when dine-in restaurant service was prohibited. At the time that decision was made, I also instituted a policy that every employee would be required to have their temperature taken before entering the building each day. We learned pretty quickly that the menu had to be pared down and streamlined. We are still currently offering fewer items each week than our old “normal.” We’ve also offered curbside pick-up between the hours of 2 and 6 p.m., shortening our sales day.
Alabama’s (PAA) Taste for a Cure, originally scheduled in April of this year. The original idea for the re-imagined event was to solicit several chefs to cook meals that could be purchased with proceeds going to PAA. In the end, Black Sheep Kitchen had the honor of cooking all 287 meals for the event. It was such a success that we closed to the public for the day and focused solely on the fundraiser. All of this was possible because one of our guests (a Mountain Brook family, of course) brought me the opportunity. I’m so grateful. What were your staff dynamics like? My employees are fantastic. They’ve shown up every day. With a smile. And they’ve worked their tails off. Early on, when I questioned whether it was safe for employees to continue to work, the amazing Laura Williams didn’t flinch in her insistence that she would rather be at work than any other place. Another employee, Clay Cooper, has thanked me more than once for the opportunity to remain employed during the pandemic.
What is one thing you will never take for granted again? Life is so precious and fragile. No one is What day stands out most from this time? I was scheduled to be one of many chefs to immune to deadly illness. We have to take care offer a tasting at Parkinson Association of of one another like lives depend on it.
Julie Grimes Black Sheep Kitchen
MountainBrookMagazine.com 35
FOOD & DRINK
5
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR
Kendra Robinson
Crestline Bagel Company Chief Operating Officer PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
It’s no secret that local restaurants were hard hit by the COVID-19 quarantine, and Crestline Bagel was certainly amongst them. Even as they closed their dining room and foot traffic severely decreased in Crestline Village, though, other business came from unexpected places—including a local organization looking to feed healthcare workers while also supporting local eateries. To learn more about the ups and downs of the bagel business in quarantine, we chatted with the COO Kendra Robinson about it all. How did the COVID-19 initially affect Crestline Bagel’s operations? In the first few weeks it was overwhelming because we had to cut hours because people weren’t getting out as much and buying our products. We closed our dining room down before the standards and were just doing to-go. Our next step was creating curbside service. Customers would call in their orders initially. That was overwhelming, so we setup online ordering, which has been a huge help to cut down on our contact with people and made it a smoother ordering process for our customers. We ended up closing our downtown location because Innovation Depot was closed, and we had to lay off our employees. That is where we do our catering and prep for our other locations. How did your partnership with Care Health come about? They called our downtown location, and I happened to be there. We were the first restaurant they had reached out to, and my first response was that would be great to bring back employees. They were looking 36 July/August 2020
for ways to feed healthcare workers as they were working long shifts and not able to leave the floor to get lunch and dinner and to also help restaurants that were hurting. We were excited to help in some way even though we were struggling ourselves. What did it look like to serve healthcare workers? Madison Kerns at Urban Avenues would text or email me an order, and now we have made hundreds of meals for health care workers, one of which is pictured above. Orders have been anywhere from 30 to 136. Most of ours have gone to UAB, and we have fed the emergency department. We have gotten thank you letters in the mail from several different workers, and it allowed us to bring back employees at our downtown store. How was quarantine affected bagel orders? We have had days where we run out of bagels, but our customers have been very understanding in working us. We were opening a little later and worked with a
limited menu for several weeks with fewer bagel flavors, and our staff’s hours were cut short. The majority of our business, probably 70 percent, is take-out to start with, so I think that was a big plus. Before people mostly got breakfast before school or snacks after school, but now we find when people come they are stocking up. We have sold more dozens of bagels and sandwiches for families and neighbors. What silver linings have there been in this for your business? Our oatmeal cream pie and our Conecuh sausage and cheddar biscuits have become more popular. I think it’s because they are scrolling through the menu more than when they come into the store. Our bagel shipping orders have also increased. You have always been able to do order them that way on our website, but we have shipped several orders from Florida to Chattanooga to Mobile now. We place them in freezer bags and they ship overnight, and they are good for a month or so. We have one customer whose son lives here, and we ship three dozen bagels to him once a month.
THE MAGIC OF WYNDY
Tommy Mayfield talks about where the spark for a babysitting app has taken him and his family over the past three years. ••••••
By Madoline Markham
Photos by Stacy Allen
MountainBrookMagazine.com 37
Louise and Polly Mayfield, pictured far left and far right, have gotten to know babysitters through the Wyndy app their parents created.
T
Tommy Mayfield can talk to you about any statistic you want to know about the babysitting app he and his wife, Ginger, started in 2017, but he’d be just as happy to tell you stories instead. One of the Mayfields’ friends with two kids under age 5 once posted a babysitting job on the Wyndy app at 5 a.m., had a sitter show up at 7 a.m. and was able to make it to a meeting by 8 a.m. Another woman they heard about went into labor and found all of her close friends and family couldn’t come watch her child while she went to the hospital, only to open Wyndy and book a sitter in a matter of minutes. The Mayfields’ daughters Polly, a fourth-grader at Crestline Elementary, and Louise, a secondgrader, can tell you about the Wyndys who have worked for their family on a regular basis too. “I remember one of the last days (one sitter could come) one of my girls balled because she loved her so much,” Tommy says. “As a user of Wyndy you see the value of sitters not just as a body to keep your kids alive, but in how they really invest in the kids and get to know them. What we built is working.” But back in 2016, Tommy was a lawyer with little
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idea what would be on the horizon. At the time, their daughters were young, Tommy was working at a larger firm, and Ginger was getting a master’s degree at night. It was a stressful season, and often finding a babysitter made life all the more stressful. There were apps that would provide you a car ride or other basic services and websites where you could find babysitters—but they hadn’t been vetted in any way, thus putting the onus on the parents to do so. Why not develop a babysitting service that would assist families like theirs? “In five years if it’s not Wyndy, it will be something,” Tommy remembers thinking. Armed with degrees in English and law, Tommy admits he has an unorthodox resume to start a tech company, but that didn’t stop him. By late 2016 he and Ginger started developing an app that would launch in spring 2017 with a name inspired by the maternal figure in the story of Peter Pan. Today it’s in more than 20 markets in the Southeast. But first they talked to parents and sitters alike in focus groups to understand their challenges and pain points in babysitting. For parents a key component is trust, so they set up a system where
all sitters must be full time college or graduate students and apply to serve as Wyndy sitters, a process that includes a video interview with the Wyndy team and background check. Wyndy statistics attest to how they took into account offering convenience and reliability too. Today one in five Wyndy jobs is posted, booked and completed on the same day, and the average time to connect to a sitter is less than 30 seconds. “It’s transformed the way we think about babysitting,” Tommy says. “It used to be that if we wanted to go out on a Friday night we had to start looking for a sitter on Monday morning. With Wyndy I can post a job on Friday afternoon and have a sitter there in an hour.” The platform is setup to give parents exactly what they are searching for too. Want a Samford University nursing major who is involved in a certain set of activities? You can filter for that. Want a sitter that your friends have used? There are social media components that allow you to find that too. “We took the word of mouth recommendation and overlaid technology onto it,” Tommy explains. For college students Wyndy both gives them flexible work and connections to families they might not have if they are new to town. Tommy has seen individuals make up to $1,000 income in a month and says that Wyndy has put almost $3 million into the wallets of sitters in Birmingham alone. More than that, he’s also heard countless stories of how relationships are built both in the moment and to help
MountainBrookMagazine.com 39
I strive to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am. Animal Hospital, Veterinary Care, Boarding & Grooming 2810 19th Place South, Homewood, AL 35209 StandiferAnimalClinic.com 40 July/August 2020
sitters make professional connections for their future pursuits too. Back in 2017, Tommy took the plunge and left practicing law to pursue Wyndy full time, and today eight people are on the Wyndy team, including developers, marketing and customer success team members who all work out of Innovation Depot in downtown Birmingham. (Ginger worked at Wyndy full time from 2017 to 2018 before starting her own private college guidance counseling venture, Mayfield College Advising.) Together the Wyndy team took the app from Birmingham to Nashville, where the Mayfields met at Vanderbilt and had connections already, and now to more than 20 additional cities across 10 Southeastern states, including Memphis, Jackson, New Orleans, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Columbia and Richmond. Pretty early on in Wyndy’s story, people started asking Tommy about other applications they could create with Wyndy technology. Would they work with elder care? Or pet setting? Or substitute teachers? For a while, his mindset was to focus on one thing and doing it well before branching out, but the spark to branch out came in late 2018 when one of Wyndy’s investors approached him about a venture in the dental space. Dental practices face similar challenges to babysitting when they need to replace a hygienist or other staff person quickly, Tommy and his team learned, and they often lose revenue in the in between time. That’s also when Tommy connected with a fellow Alabamian, Allison Springer, who had built a successful business over the past decade that solved this dental staffing issue but with zero technology. Instead of an app, you’d call her, and she’d set to matchmaking dental practices with hygienists or other dental service providers who could fill in for the practice. She’d already built a network of dental practice clients, and Tommy quickly saw she had insight into the industry that the Wyndy team did not. So in June 2019, they acquired Allison’s business and brought her onto our team to build a new web-based platform that could be used from any device, keeping the same name theme with inspiration from Allison herself. It would be called Alysyn. Eight months or so later, the technology was up and running, and the process of onboarding service providers and practices onto the Alysyn platform began this summer. But Alysyn is bigger than the dental industry too. “When we decided to undertake this initiative, we built a product that was industry agnostic,” Tommy explains. “We took a lot of lessons from Wyndy, but we built it from scratch.” And a key to that building process was that it can be adapted to other industries with a base technology they named Eve—the mother of all platforms, the way they see it. Stay tuned on what’s to come in that space. Speaking of new adaptations, Wyndy saw a significant reduction in its typical jobs in the COVID-19 pandemic, but
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other opportunities arose for medical workers who still needed childcare. So Wyndy partnered with UAB and other hospital systems who offered to reimburse babysitting costs for their essential medical personnel. And that in turn sparked the groundwork for future corporate partnerships. The app also allowed existing Wyndy users to donate Wyndy credits to first responders and ended up raising around $5,000 in Wyndy credit for them. Getting these health-care related initiatives setup was time-consuming, Tommy says, but well worth it. “It was amazing to see our community of users come together and support those who were working so hard during the pandemic,� he says. With many childcare centers closed in the pandemic too, Wyndy entered the nanny-finding space for the first time. This year they started a summer sitter program time to match parents with sitters who can come at least 15 times during the summer. And if this summer program goes well, Tommy says they will figure out how to layer it into their Wyndy technology. But wherever Wyndy, Alysyn and Eve venture in the future, Tommy knows the key will continue to be relationships and service, just as it has been from the beginning.
Tommy Mayfield with his wife, Ginger, and their daughters, Louise and Polly
Photo by Lauren Ustad
MountainBrookMagazine.com 43
44 July/August 2020
GENE OSITY TURNS TO L UGHTE The secret to living is giving, the Seligson family will tell you, and here’s how you can join them to do just that no matter your age.
— By Tracey Rec or | Pho os by Mary Fe r & Contr buted
MountainBrookMagazine.com 45
Braxton and Brooklyn Seligson decorate boxes of Ousler Sandwiches to deliver to essential workers at Greenwise grocery store during the COVID-19 quarantine.
I
If you want something done right, do it yourself—or so the saying goes. And it’s just what Ashley and Alex Seligson took to heart when they looked for opportunities for community service that they could enjoy with their young children and found there weren’t many out there. “We can’t be the only family that’s looking for something like this,” Ashley says she remembers thinking. And then her frustration turned into determination. As Alex tells it, “In typical fashion, my wife said, ‘We’ll just start our own.’” So three years ago the Mountain Brook couple filled
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out the paperwork to form Little Hands Serving Hearts, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that offers opportunities throughout the Birmingham area for even the youngest children to participate in service projects. Today they maintain the website—Alex laughs and says “this is a very grassroots organization”—where interested parents can go and sign up for projects and events specially designed with younger children in mind. Through it all, they want to encourage the community live out their family motto: The secret to living is giving.
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So far Little Hands Serving Hearts has facilitated more than 75 events. Ashley emphasizes there is truly something for every interest and every level of ability, from feeding the homeless to making cards for veterans to preparing suet cakes for the Alabama Wildlife Center. They have seen just how many needs are close by, but more than that the importance of opening the eyes of impressionable young children to serving others and forming lifelong passion to do so, not just on occasion but as a regular part of family life. The best advertisements for Little Hands Serving MountainBrookMagazine.com 47
Brooklyn Seligson delivers boxes of Ousler sandwiches to essential workers with her family.
Hearts are its first two participants. Braxton and Brooklyn Seligson, both students at Mountain Brook Elementary, tell story after story about the fun times they’ve had with friends both old and new. Whether they’re delivering Christmas gifts, playing Bingo with residents of retirement homes or packing and distributing food items, it’s clear the Seligson kids enjoy the projects immensely. But something more profound is happening in the fun, a benefit that a perceptive 10-year-old like Braxton can appreciate. He mentions how serving together with his buddies strengthens their friendships. “When you’re all together and having a good time serving with your friends,” he says. “It makes that bond even stronger.” His favorite event so far, he says, is the Share the Warmth project with the homeless in downtown Birmingham. The kids sorted donated winter clothing and then passed it out in Linn Park and Railroad Park. They also got to share sandwiches, hot chocolate and coffee with the people they met. Both Braxton and 48 July/August 2020
Brooklyn mention the expressions of gratitude from the recipients, something that clearly makes an impression on them. Eight-year-old Brooklyn recalls delivering gifts to a family at the holidays. “They were like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ and they cried happy tears,” she says. These moments bring home to kids how, as Braxton says, “generosity turns into laughter.” Ashley’s intuition proved correct too—there were a lot of parents looking for ways to get their young children involved in service to the community. “We jumped on the opportunity to expose our daughter to volunteer work early,” says Cami Myers, whose daughter Bianca is a veteran of many Little Hands Serving Hearts projects. For her ninth birthday recently, Bianca asked for donations to LHSH rather than birthday gifts. “At their next event,” Cami says, “she was able to experience firsthand the results of that giving and see how many people they were able to help.” LHSH is always evolving with what’s on in the
community, and the recent COVID-19 quarantine presented an opportunity to expand their mission. Inspired to help serve frontline workers at grocery stores and other essential businesses, the Seligsons grabbed some good old Mountain Brook staples, Ousler’s sandwiches, and the kids delivered them to the grateful workers. “It was a win-win situation,” Alex says. “We were able to show our appreciation to the workers while helping out a local business through a tough time.” One of the organization’s partnerships that has blossomed is its relationship with Hayes K-8 School, a Birmingham City School just a few short miles away from Mountain Brook. “This organization is nothing short of amazing!” says Vernitra Lashay Dobbins, prevention specialist at the school. “Twice during the year, fall and spring, Little Hands Serving Hearts makes food bags for all of our 800 students. It’s just a pleasure to see the children of LHSH working so diligently with our students and staff.” Canterbury United Methodist Church also partnered with LHSH to fund these Little Brown Bag events. Susannah Baker, whose three children have participated in many projects, agrees. “It’s wonderful to see them working together with the students from Hayes,” she says. “They have had so much fun working
Kids involved with Little Hands Serving Hearts have delivered food bags to Hayes K-8 School.
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WHAT’S NEXT As the Little Hands Serving Hearts, the Seligsons hope to see participation expand to other communities beyond Mountain Brook. “We want to see as many kids involved in volunteering to be able to help as many people as possible,” Alex says. Their short-term goals include finding ways to give back in a safe way for all involved and cultivating small business partnerships, which will help further the multiplication factor. To partner with Little Hands Serving Hearts or to sign kids up for volunteer opportunities, find them on social media or visit littlehandsservinghearts.org.
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alongside friends to pack brown bags with snacks and then delivering them to the school.” When the abrupt end of in-person classroom instruction in the COVID-19 crisis presented a few challenges for Hayes, LHSH stepped up to provide more food and school supplies during that time. They also worked with the school to provide phone tutors for the students as they transitioned to remote learning. As Ashley and Alex reflect on what they’ve learned through Little Hands Serving Hearts, Alex mentions one important fact they’ve realized: the multiplication factor. “It really doesn’t take much,” he says. “We started small but soon saw how easy it was to multiply efforts and involvement. A few people can touch hundreds of families and thousands of people.” This “more hands means more help” idea forms the basis for Little Hands Serving Hearts, and through participation even the youngest helpers can develop empathy and compassion, and realize the impact of serving their community. Having fun while doing it is a big bonus. “It doesn’t even really have to be something big or grandiose,” says Ashley. “It could just be spreading kindness like confetti.” Braxton nods his head in agreement and adds, “One person can make a difference, but together is how we bring about change.”
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MOUNTAIN BROOK’S BEST WINNERS 2020 YOU VOTED. WE TALLIED. SEE JUST WHO MOUNTAIN BROOK’S FAVORITES ARE. PHOTOS BY KEITH MCCOY
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FOOD & DRINK
MOST FRIENDLY SERVICE Taco Mama 63 Church Street Crestline Village 205-414-9314 tacomamaonline.com Runners Up: Otey’s Tavern, Gilchrist MOST KID FRIENDLY DINING Davenport’s Pizza Palace 2837 Cahaba Road Mountain Brook Village 205-879-8603 davenportspizza.com Runners Up: Taco Mama, Gilchrist BEST CASUAL DINING Taco Mama 63 Church Street Crestline Village 205-414-9314 tacomamaonline.com
Runner Up: Davenport’s Pizza Palace
205-870-1117 churchstreetshop.com
BEST DATE NIGHT Dyron’s Lowcountry 121 Oak Street Crestline Village 205-834-8257 dyronslowcountry.com
Runners Up: Revelator, Crestline Bagel
Runners Up: Ollie Irene, Bobby Carl’s Table BEST LADIES LUNCH Olexa’s 2838 Culver Road Mountain Brook Village 205-871-2060 olexas.com Runners Up: Chez Lulu/ Continental Bakery, Brick & Tin BEST COFFEE Church Street Coffee 81 Church Street Crestline Village
BEST SWEET TREATS Magic Muffin 3150 Overton Road 205-969-2113 magicmuffinsonline.com Runners Up: Olexa’s, Continental Bakery BEST DRINKS/COCKTAILS Carrigan’s 2400 Montevallo Road Mountain Brook Village 205-582-2221 carriganspub.com Runners Up: Grand Bohemian Mountain Brook, Taco Mama
BEST CHEF Trey McLemore/Bobby Carl’s Table 2031 Cahaba Road English Village 205-202-4760 bobbycarlstable.com Runner Up: Randall Baldwin/ Dyron’s Lowcountry
COMMUNITY
BEST COMMUNITY EVENT Exceptional Foundation Chili Cook-Off exceptionalfoundation.org Runners Up: Otey’s Fest, Taste of Mountain Brook BEST VILLAGE Crestline Village Church Street mtnbrook.org Runners Up: Mountain Brook Village, English Village
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BEST PHARMACY Crestline Pharmacy
BEST LOCAL CAUSE Mitchell’s Place 4778 Overton Road 205-957-0294 mitchells-place.com Runners Up: Magic Moments, Junior League of Birmingham, Mountain Brook Schools Foundation BEST OUTDOOR SPOT Jemison Park 2615 Mountain Brook Parkway mtnbrook.org Runners Up: Cahaba River Walk, Crestline Tot Lot BEST CHURCH CHOIR Canterbury United Methodist Church 350 Overbook Road canterburyumc.org Runners Up: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
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BEST LOCAL PERSONALITY George Jones Snoozy’s Kids Owner Runners Up: Jack Royer, Mayor Stewart Welch
HEALTH & BEAUTY BEST DENTAL/ ORTHODONTICS PRACTICE Hufham Orthodontics 120 Euclid Avenue Crestline Village 205-871-8881 hufhamortho.com Runners Up: Kevin J. Alexander, Crestline Village Dentistry BEST PHARMACY Crestline Pharmacy 60 Church Street Crestline Village 205-871-0317 Runners Up: Ritch’s Pharmacy, Harbin Discount Pharmacy
BEST HAIR SALON Tonya Jones Salon SpaEnglish Village 2410 Fairway Drive 205-870-4247 tonyajonessalon.com Runners Up: Tonya Jones Salon Spa- Cahaba Village, Oak Street Hair Group BEST NAIL SALON Canterbury Nails 2800 Cahaba Village Plaza, Suite 300 205-968-6666 Runners Up: Happy Nail Salon, Nail Tek BEST SPA Grand Bohemian Mountain Brook 2655 Lane Park Road Mountain Brook Village 205-414-0505 kesslercollection.com/ bohemian-mountain-brook/
Runners Up: YMCA, LJCC
SHOPPING & SERVICES
BEST NEW BUSINESS Milla 2405 Montevallo Road Mountain Brook Village 205-407-4745 shopmillaboutique.com Runner Up: Illuminated: A Candle Bar BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE Milla 2405 Montevallo Road Mountain Brook Village 205-407-4745 shopmillaboutique.com Runners Up: Image Arts, Snoozy’s Kids BEST BOUTIQUE/CLOTHING The Pants Store 233 Country Club Park 205-868-1616 pantsstore.com
Runners Up: Village Dermatology Aesthetic and Laser Center, Speed Spa
Runners Up: Dukes Clothier, Canterbury of Crestline
BEST FITNESS CENTER Country Club of Birmingham 3325 Country Club Road 205-879-4611 ccbham.org
BEST STORE FOR GIFTS A’mano 281 Rele Street Mountain Brook Village 205-871-9093 amanogifts.com
BEST NAIL SALON Canterbury Nails Runners Up: Bromberg’s, Smith’s Variety BEST STORE FOR KIDS Snoozy’s Kids 228 Country Club Park Crestline Village 205-871-2662 Runners Up: Smith’s, Once Upon a Time
BEST STORE FOR HOME FURNISHINGS/DÉCOR/ KITCHENS Table Matters 2402 Montevallo Road Mountain Brook Village 205-879-0125 table-matters.com Runners Up: Lamb’s Ears, Little Hardware, The Cook Store
SUBSCRIBE NOW! Your Stories. Your Community. Your Magazine. Visit MountainBrookMagazine.com or call 205-669-3131 to subscribe for $16.30 (6 issues) a year.
MountainBrookMagazine.com 55
BEST FLORIST/GARDEN SHOP Leaf N Petal 2817 Cahaba Road Mountain Brook Village 205-871-3832 leafnpetal.com Runners Up: Oak Street Garden Shop, Mountain Brook Flower Shop
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BEST ANIMAL CARE/CLINIC Hollywood Feed 2800 Cahaba Village Plaza, Suite 210 205-977-9300 hollywoodfeed.com Runners Up: Liberty Animal Hospital, Pet Vet Express, Montclair Animal Clinic
HOME, FINANCE, & AUTO
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT Ellen Sharley Melville/ RealtySouth 2807 Cahaba Road 205-835-7099 ellensharleymelville.realtysouth. com Runner Up: Kathryn Dorlon/ Ray & Poynor BEST BANK Regions Bank 35 Church Street Crestline Village // 2721 Culver Road Mountain Brook Village 800-734-4667 regions.com Runners Up: Oakworth Capital Bank, BBVA Compass
No winner was named for the Best Insurance Agent category because no votes were received for businesses located in Mountain Brook.
VOTED
BEST BANK MOUNTAIN BROOK
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WE WORK HARD TO HELP CUSTOMERS MOVE THEIR LIVES FORWARD. Thanks to the readers of Mountain Brook Magazine for naming Regions the Best Bank. We’ll continue to work hard to give you the best banking experience possible. Mountain Brook Branch 2721 Culver Road Birmingham, AL 35223
regions.com Follow us for helpful tips and information. © 2020 Regions Bank. Regions and the Regions logo are registered trademarks of Regions Bank. The LifeGreen color is a trademark of Regions Bank.
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THINGS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE UPSIDE DOWN, BUT NOW IT’S TIME TO GET
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Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce C O N N E C T I O N S
New Member Spotlight - LJC Defense Contracting, Inc.
Mountain Brook Merchant Emergency Relief Fund Our merchants are the heartbeat of our community, and every single one of us is being affected by COVID-19. Help us help our merchants by donating to https://onemb.swell.gives/!
- 10x Physiotherapy - Gunn Dermatology - Vaughan and Company - Sol y Luna Tapas and Tequila
Support Local! Our merchants are open and waiting for you!
Doug and Becky Rollins, pictured here with Mayor Stewart Welch, gave a generous donation to the Mountain Brook Merchant Emergency Relief Fund as part of the Mayor's Challenge.
Welcome Evans Johnson to the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce! 101 HOYT LANE 58 July/August 2020
MTN. BROOK, ALABAMA 35213
F i n d U s O n l i ne
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19th Annual Market Day Mountain Brook Village Saturday, July 18th
Chamber Luncheon
19th Annual
Saturday, July 18th Check with individual merchants for their sale operations
Please join us for a “No Show� Chamber Luncheon!
Crestline Tent Sale More details coming soon! See mtnbrookchamber.org for updates.
Featuring Britney Summerville VP of Community Engagement of Shipt Founder of Birmingham Bound Thursday, August 6th, 2020 11:30 a.m. via Zoom
Please protect yourselves and our merchants by following best practices for safe shopping at both events.
205 - 871 - 3779
Lunches provided by Vaughan and Company Register at mtnbrookchamber.org
WWW.MTNBROOKCHAMBER.ORG MountainBrookMagazine.com 59
OUT & ABOUT
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CLASS OF 2020 SIGNS
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Six moms of MBHS seniors—Martha Thompson, Greer Black, Adelaide Vandevelde, Valerie Ramsbacher, Dena Berte and Laurie Bowers—created and distributed commemorative Class of 2020 yard signs to honor the graduating class during the COVID-19 quarantine. 1. Blaire Clanton 2. Caroline Mauro 3. Claire Tucker 4. Elizabeth Hanaway 5. Sibley Cotton 6. Katie Ramsbacher 7. Lily Rowe 8. Lowery Thompson 9. Mary Grace Lorino
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OUT & ABOUT
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Easter Sunday 2020 looked different than usual on April 12 with church services happening online during the COVID-19 quarantine, but many families still dressed up and took pictures. Here are some you shared with us. 1. Lulu and Harris Eady
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OUT & ABOUT
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Mountain Brook High School announced its annual award recipients during a virtual presentations in May hosted by Principal Philip Holley. Here are some of the winners. 1. Washington and Lee University Award for Achievement: Sophomore Ellen Anderson 2. Distinguished Senior Girl Award: Senior Jessica Brouillette 3. Rhodes College Book Award: Sophomore Nelson Crawford 4. Sanfelippo Memorial Award: Sophomore Eleanor Elkus 5. Kevin Butrus Memorial Award: Sophomore Cory Fan 6. University of Pennsylvania Book Award: Junior Teddy Feig 7. Harold Patterson Award: Senior Lewis Fischer 8. Distinguished Senior Boy Award: Senior Reid Freeman 9. William N. Eddins Award for Excellence: Senior Bebe Holloway
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OUT & ABOUT
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More than 100 Mountain Brook Junior High School students and others participated in a socially distanced Choose-A-Race April 17-21. Each completed an exercise activity of their choosing and then took a photo holding a sign showing the distance they covered and those they dedicated to, including health care workers. 1. Andrew Grayson 2. Brook Gibbons 3. Jodie Walsh 4. John Phillips
MountainBrookMagazine.com 63
MARKETPLACE
Marketplace Mountain Brook Magazine • 205.669.3131
Need appliance or air conditioner parts? How about a water filter for your refrigerator? We have it all at A-1 Appliance Parts! Call 1-800-841-0312 www.A-1Appliance. com
HIRING EXPERIENCED FULL CASE ORDER SELECTORS $18.58 per hour plus production $$$ incentives. Grocery order selection using electric pallet jacks & voice activated headsets. Great benefits including Blue Cross health & dental insurance & matching 401k. Pre-employment drug test required. Apply Online: WWW.AGSOUTH. COM Automation Personnel Services Hiring IMMEDIATELY For: Automotive Assembly, General Labor, Production, Clerical, Machine Operator, Quality, Carpentry, Welder, Foundry. Positions In: Calera, Clanton, Pelham, Bessemer, McCalla. Walkin applications accepted. Clanton (205)280-0002. Pelham (205)444-9774. Avanti Polar Lipids is looking for full and part time employees. Submit resume to jobs@avantilipids.com • Highly proficient 64 July/August 2020
MountainBrookMagazine.com
math skills required. Boise Cascade Now • High school diploma Hiring for Utility required. Positions. Starting pay $13.66/hour. Mechanic needed. Must be able to pass Must have own background screen. tools and five years Please apply at experience. Apply in www.bc.com person: 1105 7th St N, Clanton. Or call for Core Focus appointment Personnel 205-826205-755-4570 3088 • Now Hiring Production Mill Bama Concrete Worker, Jemison. Now Hiring: Diesel 12 hrs (days/nights), Mechanic 4 Years ability to pass drug Minimum Experience. test, background CDL Preferred. check, physical. Competitive Pay. Positions working in Great Benefits. outside temperature Apply in person: conditions. Previous 2180 Hwy 87 manufacturing Alabaster, 35007 experience required. $11.75/hr to start. Bent Creek Apartments. $2000 SIGN ON Affordable 1 and 2 BONUS NEW Bedroom. On-site PAY SCALE TO Manager. On-site QUALIFYING Maintenance. DRIVERS EVERGREEN 3001 7th Street. North TRANSPORT, is Clanton, AL 35045. accepting applications TDD#s: for local drivers in the 800-548-2547(V) Calera and Leeds, AL, 800-548-2546(T/A) area. Must have Class bentcreek@ A CDL, good driving morrowapts.com record, 1 yr verifiable Office Hours: tractor trailer Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm. experience. Good Equal Opportunity pay and benefits. Provider/Employer Apply in person at 8278 Hwy 25 South, Immediate need for Calera, AL, or call for LPN’s. Full time LPN info 205-668-3316. Position with sign on bonus. BMC Nursing Lancaster Place Home. Responsible Apartments. for patient care Location, community and supervision of & quality living in CNA staff. Will also Calera, AL. 1, 2, & 3 provide treatment and bedroom apartments meds for residents. available. Call today Apply online or call for specials!! Human Resources 205-668-6871. Or visit at 205-926-3363 hpilancasterplace.com bibbmedicalcenter. com
Industrial Coatings Group, Inc. is hiring experienced -Sandblasters -Industrial Painters - Helpers. Must be able to pass drug test and e-verify check. Must be willing to travel. Professional references required. Please send resume to: icgsecretary@ hotmail.com or call (205)688-9004
Shake up your career!!! Are you looking for something new and FUN? Milo’s is always looking for great managers to come join our growing and dynamic team. Apply online at miloshamburgers.com
Specializing in all your hair care needs SERENITY SALON Barber/Stylist Chairs Available for Rent 2 Owner Operators Convenient Locations Wanting Dedicated • 2005 Valleydale Rd. Year Round • Pelham Anniston, AL • 3000 Meadow Lake www.pull4klb.com Dr. Suite 107 Call Nichole Marble Valley Manor. 205-240-5428 Affordable 1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments South Haven Health for Elderly & Disabled. & Rehab NOW Many on-site services! HIRING!!! •LPN’s & 2115 Motes Rd, RN’s -$5,000 Sign-on Sylacauga. Bonus for Full-Time 256-245-6500 shift •CNA’s •TDD#s: Apply in person: 800-548-2547(V) 3141 Old •800-548-2546(T/A). Columbiana Rd Office Hours: Birmingham,AL-35266 Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm. Equal Opportunity CLOCK REPAIR SVS. Provider/Employer * Setup * Repair * Maintenance. I can Are you a motivated fix your Mother’s professional? Are clock. Alabaster/ you looking for a Pelham. Call Stephen dynamic career? Are (205)663-2822 you ready to control your own level of Electrician - FT success? See why Supreme Electric, McKinnons’ is an local-based company exciting place to in Pelham. Must be work and grow. Now willing to learn & accepting applications work hard. Go to: for Sales, Service, and supremeelectricDetail Shop. Apply al.com Print with the receptionist. employment 205-755-3430 application under Contact Us. Mail to: Supreme Electric 231 Commerce Pkwy Pelham, AL 35124 or call 205-453-9327.
MARKETPLACE Nursing assistant to care for high functioning quadriplegic home health patient in Jemison. Must have valid drivers license. Part-time. Call Mr. Wilbanks 205-908-3333
Alabama Air Power Inc Now Hiring Industrial Air Compressor Technician Will cross train person with mechanical skills, Electrical and/or HVAC knowledge Blue Cross Health and Dental Paid Vacation Paid Holidays Apply In Person 1293 Hwy 87, Alabaster
$Cash Paid For Used RV’s!$ Motor Homes, Travel/Enclosed trailers, consignment welcome, Cars and Trucks, Pick up available, Mccluskey Auto and RV Sales, LLC 205-833-4575
The Harvest Place Christian Church Join us for worship every SUNDAY The Harvest Place Christian Church 14 Westside Ln, Columbiana, AL 35051 Bishop Wales Pop & Sons Williams, Jr Chief Oxford Healthcare Demolition & Junk Apostle in Montgomery Removal • Morning Worship currently hiring (205)948-8494 Sunday 11am certified CNA’s and/or junkguys2014@ • Life Enrichment Home Health aides in gmail.com • Junk Classes Sunday the Clanton, Marbury Removal Services • 10:15am and Maplesville areas. Thrift Store Hiring: Demolition• More!! • Join Us Every Must be able to pass Cashier/Stocker FREE QUOTES!! ALSO Tuesday Night at complete background 35+hours/week WITH THE MENTION JOYFEST check, have reliable $10/hour Part-Time OF THIS AD GET $20 • Midweek Worshiptransportation Driver $8/hour. Must OFF!!! Begins at 6:30pm and have a strong have good driving www.getyourharvest. work ethic. Serious record Service Tech, Inc. org inquiries only. Call START IMMEDIATELY! Heating & Air 334-409-0035 or Experience/ Conditioning Experienced Termite apply on-line at www. knowledge of foster AL Cert# 89282 Technician or Oxfordhealthcare.com care & adoption Now Hiring Fullsomeone experienced a plus! Email: Time Certified in route-service work Become a Dental raleighsplace@gmail. Technician • Minimum and wants to learn Assistant in ONLY com (205)217-1366 5 years experience new profession. Work8 WEEKS! Please • Residential, vehicle/equipment visit our website Acceptance Loan Commercial and provided. Must capstonedental Company, Inc. Refrigeration • Ipad drive straight-shift, assisting.com or Personal loans! Let Experience • On-Call have clean driving call (205)561-8118 us pay off your title Rotation Apply at: record/be 21/pass and get your career loans! www.servicetechhvac. background/drug test. started! 224 Cahaba Valley Rd, com Training provided. Pelham Insurance/401K Popeyes Seeking 205-663-5821 Sitting Angels Home offered. M-F 7:00friendly, motivated, Care, LLC NOW 4:30 + 1 Saturday/ dependable Crew Pharmaceutical ACCEPTING NEW month. Pay $13hr. Members. OPEN Grade Pharmaceutical PATIENTS Doctor Send resume to INTERVIEWS DAILY Grade CBD Oil, a Appointments, facsmith@charter.net 2:00pm-5:00pm unique concept for Bathing/Dressing 3300 Pelham Parkway. sublingual absorption. Meal Preparation, Tru Acupressure Immediate Openings! Helps pain, anxiety, Errands, Laundry,Light Clinic LLC - You’re Start work this week! energy & more. House Keeping and one massage away Apply online: Order from home More. Lenette Walls, from a good mood! work4popeyeskitchen. 205-276-7778. www. Owner 205-405-6991 Massage therapy is com CiliByDesign.com/ not a luxury, it is a BrendaGlaze Western necessity! Licensed GENERAL LAWN International Gas Therapist SERVICES CARE Specialist in Construction & Cylinders, Inc AVAILABLE: • Deep large yards 2+ acres. Workers Needed for Sign-On-Bonus! Tissue • Swedish Serving Chilton, Local Construction Hiring SOLO & TEAM • Acupressure • Coosa & many more Company. Must be CDL Drivers •2yrs Hot Stone • Foot areas. Bi-weekly, experienced and Exp•Pass D.O.T Massage Same-Day weekly or one-time dependable. Job Physical/Background Appointments • services available. is five days a week. Check •Hazmat Weekend & Evening SPRING CLEANUP Salary based on skills. Endorsement Hours • Walk-Ins SPECIALS! Must have remodeling Apply Online: Available • Call Alex today for experience. Call www.drive4western. 844 US Highway 31 details: 205-955-3439 Adam 205-863-9059 com EOE South, Alabaster AL. ~Military & Senior OPEN 7 DAYS A Discounts~ WEEK! 9:30am9:30pm 205-624-2211 AL License#E-3013
MACHINIST WANTED Need to have experience running manual lathe and milling machines. Please call 205-337-2140. University Baptist Child Development Center is pleased to announce that our First Class Preschool program was awarded a New Classroom Grant by Governor Ivey and the State Department of Early Childhood Education. Our second classroom will house up to 18 preschoolers who are 4 years old by September 1, 2020. Tuition is incomebased and we provide meals at no additional charge. Register at http://alprek. asapconnected.com WE ARE NOW HIRING Lead and Auxiliary teachers for First Class 4-yearold Pre-K programs. School year positions with competitive pay. Lead teachers must have degree in Early Childhood Education/ Development. Auxiliary teachers must have Child Development Associate (CDA) or 9hrs Early Childhood Education/ Development. Experience in First Class program & bilingual skills a plus. For questions about registration or to apply for a teaching position, contact Lorrie Ozley: universitybaptistcdc@ gmail.com 205-665-4039
MountainBrookMagazine.com 65
MY MOUNTAIN BROOK WESLEY SHAW Blogger at @haveawesleyday
For Happy Hour
Carrigan’s This is the best happy hour spot to see old friends and is always the first place I bring friends to when they visit Birmingham for the first time! It’s also where my fiancé and I had our first date when it was still Avo/Dram.
A Taste of New York
Continental Bakery + Chez Lulu On the bakery side, I always order an almond milk latte in a bowl (they are huge!) and a sesame bagel, toasted with cream cheese. And Chez Lulu is the best spot for pizza and cocktails and gives me all the New York bar vibes. It’s also where my fiancé and I got engaged!
Succulent Central
Leaf & Petal I’ve become such a plant mom, and this is where I love to find the best succulents.
Backdrop Secret
Jeffrey Dungan Architects This building in English Village is my No. 1 secret spot for the best blog photos!
For Shopping
Milla Boutique This shop is owned by a great family friend of mine and has the cutest selection of clothes that are still affordable. You’ll find great vibes when you walk in as they are super friendly!
66 July/August 2020