KULTURECITY CULTURE CHANGE • MICHAEL PAPAJOHN ON SCREEN • ARTISTRY BY JENNIFER COGGIN
the
freshest
CATCH
AT SNAPPER GRABBER’S
VESTAVIA HILLS’ BEST THE RESULTS ARE IN
JUNE/JULY 2018 VestaviaHillsMagazine.com Volume Two| Issue Three $4.95
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FEATURES
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ISOLATION NO MORE How KultureCity is changing the culture nationwide for those with sensory needs and other challenges.
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TRUE TO HIS ROOTS
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VESTAVIA HILLS’ BEST 2018 You voted. We tallied. See just who Vestavia Hills’ favorites are. 4 VestaviaHillsMagazine.com
PHOTO BY JOE TANKERSLEY
Former Vestavia baseball player Michael Papajohn now has countless movie credits to his name, but his deepest ties started on familiar fields.
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PHOTO BY MARY FEHR
arts & culture
15 Sketches & Abstracts: Art by Jennifer Coggin
schools & sports
23 When Virtual Becomes Reality: Central’s New Learning Tool 28 In the Land of Fairy Tales: Into the Woods in Photos
food
& drink
31 The Freshest Catch: Snapper Grabber’s by Land & Sea 40 Five Questions For: ‘lette Macarons’ Paulette Koumetz
home
& style
in every issue 4 Contributors 5 From the Editor 6 VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 7 #VestaviaHillsMag 8 The Question 9 The Guide 74 Out & About 86 Marketplace 88 My Vestavia Hills
41 New Life for a VesClub Contemporary Behemoth 52 In Style: The Reds, Whites & Blues of Summer
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contributors EDITORIAL
Graham Brooks Stephen Dawkins Alec Etheredge Briana Harris Amalia Kortright Madoline Markham Keith McCoy Emily Sparacino Neal Wagner
Mary Fehr, Photographer
Mary is a wedding and portrait photographer based out of Birmingham. A Vestavia native and VHHS graduate, 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.
CONTRIBUTORS Mallory Barry Kayley Coggins Kristin Entler Mary Fehr Amy Ferguson Jennifer Jones Michelle Love Emma Simmons Joe Tankersley Lauren Ustad
DESIGN
Connor Bucy Jamie Dawkins Kate Sullivan
MARKETING
Kristy Brown Kari George Rachel Henderson Daniel Holmes Kathy Leonard Rhett McCreight Kim McCulla Ashley Murphy Viridiana Romero Kerrie Thompson
ADMINISTRATION Hailey Dolbare Mary Jo Eskridge Katie McDowell Stacey Meadows Tim Prince
Jennifer Jones, Photographer
Jennifer Jones is a photojournalist that loves to capture that “special second” when no one is watching. Each session is unique and different. You will find that Jennifer’s approach to each one is as distinctively individual as the subjects that she is photographing. She is originally from New York but has made Birmingham her home. She is a loving daughter and mother to her son Harrison, a talented musician.
Michelle Love, Writer
Michelle loves writing about all of the new and exciting things her city has to offer. She spent three years writing for Weld for Birmingham about the different businesses and people that make this place so unique, including artists, restaurants and political/social issues. When she isn’t writing, Michelle can be found trying out new recipes in her kitchen while listening to classic rock music or reading a horror novel. She also loves spending time with her family and her cat, Lola.
Elizabeth Sturgeon, Writer
Elizabeth Sturgeon studies English at Samford University and will graduate next spring. She hopes to pursue some kind of writing profession after graduation. A Birmingham native, she’s a vegetarian living in the South and enjoys staying close to home and learning more about Birmingham. When she has time away from writing papers, Elizabeth loves drawing and watercolor painting, and she’s attempting to watch all of the classic movies she has never seen.
Vestavia Hills Magazine is published bimonthly by Shelby County Newspapers Inc., P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Vestavia Hills Magazine is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Shelby County Newspapers Inc. [the Publisher]. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Vestavia Hills Magazine, P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Vestavia Hills Magazine is mailed to select households throughout Vestavia Hills, and a limited number of free copies are available at local businesses. Please visit VestaviaHillsMagazine.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $16.30 for one year by visiting VestaviaHillsMagazine.com or calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 532. Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@vestaviahillsmagazine.com, or by calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 536.
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from the editor
A ON THE COVER
By Land & Sea
Pam and Kent Scott serve up fresh seafood from their Highway 31 storefront, Snapper Grabber’s. Photo by Mary Fehr Design by Kate Sullivan
A year ago I was handed a blank slate of 92 glossy pages. They were to be about Vestavia Hills. Today we have filled them, six times over. And I couldn’t be more proud of the end result. The real key has been countless amazing people who have played parts behind the scenes. Case in point would be Amy Ferguson. I first connected with her through her husband’s wood working business @builtbyferguson, but I knew as soon as she sent me a writing clip that she had true talent in that arena too. She’s a VHHS grad whose stepdad just so happens to have been a longtime VHHS coach, which led us to Michael Papajohn. I love how Amy not just tells his story as a stunt actor but also that of his deep relational ties to Vestavia coaches. It was stylist Monica Kelley who first reached out to me about a farfrom-ordinary VesClub Place house. She’d long been fascinated by its unreal views similar to Vestavia Country Club and contemporary style, especially now that it was undergoing a complete renovation. Our tour of the finished product was nothing short of stunning, and we’re thrilled to be able to showcase it in the pages that lie ahead (thanks, Monica!). As much as “real life” relational interaction is my favorite, we also find all kinds of people and stories through social media. I first came across Jennifer Coggin’s art work on Facebook, and we got in contact with Harriet Conyers through her daughter, also on a Facebook post. Our Q&A with the founder of the new ‘lette macarons store, a delightful French woman who lives in California, got its start when I saw a post on a What’s Happening in Cahaba Heights group. And perhaps my best social media find of all, I came across VHHS student Joe Tankersley’s stellar photography on Instagram thanks to posts about Into the Woods (check out @peachytalk!) and am thrilled to be featuring his shots of the play as well as of Jennifer Coggin, a VHHS mom to boot. Then there’s the extraordinary talent of Mary Fehr, whose images have rocked several of our covers and capture Snapper Grabber’s oh so well in this issue, and Emma Simmons, whose punny additions to her food writing always make me laugh. They’re both VHHS grads, a few years ahead of student Mallory Barry who shoots awesome event photos. Speaking of school ties, for Michelle Love writing about Vestavia Central was also a walk down memory lane from her elementary years. That’s still are a far from complete list of shout outs, and one I know will continue to grow. I always love to hear your ideas for stories, or writers or photographers of any age, so please do write at any time. Thanks for reading, and enjoy your pool and lake and beach days!
madoline.markham@vestaviahillsmagazine.com VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 7
VestaviaHillsMagazine.com
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE
Vestavia Hills Events Not To Miss This Month
What’s going on when and where? Find our full roundup of Vestavia’s best events online each month. vestaviahillsmagazine.com/category/events/ facebook.com/vestaviahillsmagazine
Subscribe to our newsletter Get the latest on Vestavia events and happenings—plus our favorite pieces of local inspiration— delivered to your inbox biweekly. Sign up at VestaviaHillsMagazine.com.
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@vestaviahillsmag
@vestaviamag
Mary is loved by so many!!! She is a strong and wonderful woman! -Kendall Callaway Boggs, on “Rising from the Wreckage”
@VestaviaHillsMag
Tag us in your Vestavia Hills photos on Instagram, and we’ll pick our favorites to regram and publish on this page in each issue.
@erinstricklin
Happy National Puppy Day! #stricklingirls
@egandec
So much fun! #huntersistersbham #vhhs #relayforlife #happystpatricksday
@klmlew
Vestavia Hills had just defeated Thompson to earn a spot in the state play-offs. Colton Lewis, a VHHS junior, high fives Bryant Cross’ son.
@nicolinakoch
Junior Prom Kailey and Brooks 2018
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“ ” THE QUESTION
If you could have lunch with any Vestavia resident past, present or future, who would it be? My dad, Vestavia Fire Chief Bill F. Towers. He was one of the first residents in Vestavia. A great dad, a great role model and a very hard worker. - Debbie Rice
- Hank Askins
Buddy Anderson, the best high school coach that has ever lived. Tremendous role model.
Sue Lockett Lovoy was hands down the best teacher I had at VHHS. She didn’t just teach government/economics, but valuable life lessons.
The Mannequin on Canyon Road. I need her fashion tips!
Mackey Warren from Mac’s Quick Sack. From my misspent youth.
My high school boyfriend, Clark Amos! He passed away in college and I miss him daily! He had a wonderful energy and spirit and impacted so many that knew and loved him!
Bill Hill, my daddy, who with several others went door to door to petition for the formation of Vestavia Hills school system and served as the first president of the BOE!
- Don Chandler
- Elise Gold
- Ginny Rosenbaum Webb
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Coach [Sammy] Dunn...the best there ever was in the state of Alabama.
- Heather Davies Pinkham
-Reid Brown
- Sandy Hill Sheffield
THE GUIDE
VHUMC FARMERS MARKET WEDNESDAYS 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Scout Square The farm is coming to you. Make a stop right off Highway 31 at this new market location to shop seasonal vegetables, baked goods and fruits from local producers. It’s open May 9 through Aug. 8, except for July 4. For more information, check out facebook. com/VestaviaFarmersMarket/. PHOTO BY ELIZABETH NANCE
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THE GUIDE WHAT TO DO IN VESTAVIA
JULY 14
Iron City Chef
JEFFERSON STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE 5:30 P.M. SILENT AUCTION, 6 P.M. DOORS Bring your taste buds to the Vestavia Rotary’s version of Iron Chef, Iron City style, as four area chefs compete for this year’s title. The event has raised $700,000 over the past 25 years to support causes such as the Vestavia Hills Math & Debate programs, efforts to bring clean water to communities in Zambia, Jeff State culinary scholarships and scholarships for high school seniors. For more information, visit vestaviarotary.
JUNE 2
Wing Ding Challenge 2018 VESTAVIA HILLS CITY HALL 11:30 A.M.-2:30 P.M.
It’s time for chicken wings—and lots of
will be live music and a children’s area full of games and activities. The event is held annually by Leadership Vestavia Hills.
them from competing cooks. Plus, there
VHHS
Achieving to the Last Drop One of Vestavia Hills’ own was selected from more than 150,000 applicants as a part of the Coca‑Cola Scholars program. Meaning Sarah Zhao came out of VHHS’s awards day with a $20,000 college scholarship. And it’s well deserved. Sarah is the founder and president of the school’s Biology Olympiad Club, the state of Alabama District 2 vice president for Future Business Leaders of America, and a senior ambassador. She has also conducted cancer research and is the project leader in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology, in which she placed as a regional finalist in 2016 and a semifinalist in 2015. Pictured are VHHS teacher Michael Sinnott, Sarah Zhao and Linda Sewell with Coca Cola. 12 VestaviaHillsMagazine.com
JUNE 1 Artists Incorporated First Friday Reception 4:30-7:30 p.m. JUNE 7 Puppeteer and Ventriloquist Will Keating For ages 3 and up Library in the Forest 10:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m. JUNE 12 Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce Monthly Luncheon Vestavia Country Club 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. JUNE 12 Chopped: Teen Edition Library in the Forest 5:30 p.m. JUNE 15 Upcycle City: Adults Only Rock Painting Library in the Forest 7 p.m. JUNE 19 Bob Ross Painting Party Teens/Library in the Forest 5:30 p.m. JUNE 21 Tom Foolery Library in the Forest Community Room 10:30 a.m. & 3:30p.m. JUNE 23 & JULY 28 Lego Wars For first grade and up Library in the Forest 11 a.m. JUNE 26 Harry Potter: Trials of the Stone Teens/Library in the Forest 5:30 p.m. JUNE 28 Adult Summer Series: ‘80s Rock & Roll Bingo Library in the Forest 6 p.m.
THE GUIDE JUNE 28 Magician Tommy Johns Kids of All Ages Library in the Forest Community Room 10:30 a.m. & 3:30p.m. JULY 3 Ant-Man Movie Night Teens/Library in the Forest 5:30 p.m. JULY 5 Lew-E’s Laugh Factory Kids of All Ages Library in the Forest Community Room 10:30 a.m. & 3:30p.m. JULY 6 Artists Incorporated First Friday Reception 4:30-7:30 p.m. JULY 10 Escape Room Teens/Library in the Forest 5:30 p.m. JULY 12 Ventriloquist Gene Cordova For ages 3 and up Library in the Forest Community Room 10:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m. JULY 12 Adult Summer Series: The ‘90s Rock & Roll Bingo Library in the Forest 6 p.m. JULY 13 Upcycle City: Vinyl Record Paint Pour Adults/ Library in the Forest 7 p.m. JULY 24 Henna Art Teens/Library in the Forest 5:30 p.m. JULY 26 Puppeteer Lee Bryan Library in the Forest 10:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m.
JULY 19
Musician Roger Day LIBRARY IN THE FOREST 10:30A.M. Hey kids! Come sing loud, jump high and dream big with children’s musician Roger Day. He takes inspiration from The
Beatles, U2 and even The Clash, and has worked with artists such as the Indigo Girls, Nanci Griffith and The Crickets (Buddy Holly’s legendary band)—and he is a two-time Parents’ Choice Gold Award winner.
JUNE 28
I Love America Night WALD PARK 6-10 P.M. Our favorite night of the summer is back! Come for tree swimming 6-7:30 p.m., and stay for the children’s area (open 6-8 p.m.), a Pops in the Park concert at 7 p.m. and a family movie at 8:15 p.m. Best of all, it’s free.
THURSDAYS
Saint Mark UMC Farmer’s Market SAINT MARK UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH, 2901 OLD COLUMBIANA ROAD 4-6 P.M. Get your fruits and veggies! You’ll find many to choose from as well as homemade pickles, jams, jellies, local honey, all-natural dog treats for your little Fido, and handmade candles that melt into a soothing body/hand lotion. VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 13
THE GUIDE AROUND TOWN JUNE & JULY FRIDAYS & SUNDAYS Various Movies Alabama Theatre alabamatheatre.com for listings FRIDAYS Free Friday Flicks Veterans Park, Hoover facebook.com/ BackyardMovieParties/
JUNE 1, 2, 29 & 30
HOT YOGA IN THE FOREST LIBRARY IN THE FOREST OBSERVATION DECK NOON The yoga studio comes to you, with quite the scenic view to boot. This introductory beginner class is taught by instructors from Kiva Hot Yoga. Bring water, towel and a mat, but loaner mats are also available. The event, for ages 18 and older, is free and requires no registration. For more information, call 978-4678.
JULY 24
COMMUNITY NIGHT IN THE FOREST FEATURING ROLLIN’ IN THE HAY LIBRARY IN THE FOREST OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATER 6:30 P.M. Free concert! Come out to hear Rollin’ in the Hay’s high-octane groove grass with a touch of down home foot stompin’. They call it “renegade bluegrass” or “newgrass.” Also of note: they have opened for Greg Allman, Moe, Charlie Daniels, The Doobie Brothers, Jerry Douglas, Alabama and Widespread Panic.
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SATURDAYS The Market at Pepper Place 8 a.m.-noon SUNDAYS Jazz in the Park Various Parks & Times JUNE 4-7 Birmingham Barons vs. Jackson Generals Regions Field JUNE 6 Flicks Among the Flowers Hitch Birmingham Botanical Gardens 6 p.m. Gates, 8 p.m. Film JUNE 8-10 Symphony in the Sumer Beethoven Under the Stars Railroad Park JUNE 8-JULY 1 Beauty & The Beast Presented by Red Mountain Theatre Company Dorothy Day Jemison Theatre Alabama School of Fine Arts JUNE 9 American Heart Association Heart Walk | Railroad Park 8 a.m. JUNE 13-17 Birmingham Barons vs. Chattanooga Lookouts Regions Field JUNE 15-24 Sand Mountain Saturday Nite Virginia Samford Theatre
THE GUIDE JUNE 26 David Lee: The Ultimate Elvis BJCC JUNE 27 Movie Night Under the Moon Smokey and the Bandit Vulcan Park & Museum 5 p.m. Vintage Auto Show 8 p.m. Movie Screening JUNE 28-JULY 3 Birmingham Barons vs. Jackson Generals Regions Field JUNE 30-JULY 1 Great Southern Gun & Knife Expo BJCC Exhibition Hall JULY 4 Thunder on the Mountain Fireworks Show Vulcan Park & Museum 9 p.m. JULY 6-29 Mamma Mia! Red Mountain Theatre Company Dorothy Day Jemison Theatre Alabama School of Fine Arts JULY 8-11 Birmingham Barons vs. Mississippi Braves Regions Field JULY 13-15 World Deer Expo BJCC Exhibition Halls JULY 14-15 Sloss Music & Arts Festival Sloss Furnaces JULY 18 Flicks Among the Flowers, Jaws Birmingham Botanical Gardens 6 p.m. Gates, 8 p.m. Film JULY 18-22 Birmingham Barons vs. Jackson Generals Regions Field JULY 24-27 Birmingham Barons vs. Tennessee Smokies Regions Field
ADULT LEARNING
HOW THE WEST WAS WON Dive into the history of the wild west, and of Alabama coal, and more, through summer course offerings from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of Greater Birmingham (OLLI). The program provides mature adults 50+ with social, education and travel opportunities. All three classes listed below will be held at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center. To learn more, visit olli.ua.edu or call 205-348-
6482. uJUNE 5, 12, 19, 26: America’s Wild West: The Truth and the Legend, 1:30 – 3 p.m. uJUNE 7, 14, 21, 28: The Many Varieties of Christian Beliefs, 10:30 a.m.-noon uJULY 10, 17: Alabama Bicentennial Series: Coal and Cavalry, 1:30 – 3 p.m.
JUNE 16
FATHER-DAUGHTER TEA LIBRARY IN THE FOREST 10:30A.M. Calling all daddies and daughters! Come make memories over a special tea party. All ages are welcome. To register, call 978-0158.
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Twenty-eight beautiful, wooded homesites have just been released in Willow Glynn, situated on the northern shoreline of Pitchford Hollow. Choose from a portfolio of thoughtfully-designed house plans from Russell Lands approved architects, designers and builders or bring your dream plans with you.
To
visit
or find out more, call 256.215.7011 or RussellLandsOnLakeMartin.com
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&CULTURE
ARTS
SKETCHES & ABSTRACTS Jennifer Coggin captures the places that have left her in awe, one pencil or brush stroke at a time. BY KRISTIN ENTLER PHOTOS BY JOE TANKERSLEY VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 17
J
Jennifer Coggin was looking down intently at the floor, pulling out her phone to snap a picture. Why exactly? Well, first off, it wasn’t just any floor. It was that of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. But she also knew she’d want to draw it later. “Walking into these big churches catches your breath,” her friend had said as they walked in another cathedral in Galway. “Then it did its job,” Jennifer told her. “You’re supposed to walk in and look up and be overwhelmed, that’s the purpose of Gothic architecture.” That’s what Jennifer kept thinking on the Vestavia Hills High School band trip to Ireland this spring. Construction on St. Patrick’s began in the 1100s and was completed in the 1400s. “The history of it is overwhelming to me,” Jennifer says. “How many people have walked through this cathedral and had the same reaction I just had? It’s fascinating to me that a building, a skeleton, can do that.” This feeling of awe is what Jennifer aspires to recreate in her sketches. It comes back when she is flipping through photos she took
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for inspiration for her artwork. “I remember again how amazed I was standing in this one spot and what you can see from this one spot that maybe no one else saw,” she explains. Sketching isn’t the only medium of art Jennifer plays around with either. She tends to jump back and forth between sketching and abstract painting, with each requiring a different kind of mindset: “I will sketch all of the things on my list from Ireland, and then I will need a break from sketching and I will want to paint for a while. Then I’ll start feeling
a pull back to drawing.” The sketching process is much more intense: “[When I’m sketching] I have to have something that makes me look away from the paper to relax my eyes. Otherwise I’ll give myself a terrible headache so I just put the BBC on and I just watch stuff.” By contrast, painting is “much more fluid.” Jennifer just turns on music and goes to work with her paint brush. It’s this medium that she finds more natural and a better fit for her personality, but she still always finds herself being pulled back to the
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pen and paper, itching to sketch more buildings after spending time painting abstracts. Jennifer has drawn since she was a child. She studied interior design at the University of Alabama and took art classes, including drawing as part of her major. After school, she continued art as a hobby. But when she got married and had kids, the drawing fell to the side a bit. She and her
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family moved to Atlanta, following a work opportunity for her husband, Mike, a homebuilder. When the housing market hit a downturn, the couple moved back to Birmingham in 2009 with their two daughters. They’d always known they’d come back to sweet home Alabama, just not when. And that was when Jennifer picked the pen and paintbrush back up. “I really just felt this need to get back to it,
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and I decided that I wanted to try to sell it,” she recalls. “I had friends who would say they wanted a painting [of mine] and they would take it, but I had never tried to sell anything.” Before that she’d been “sprinkling” art in where she could while staying home with their daughters. As her children have gotten older, though, her time has increased. “I’m not far away from being an 24 VestaviaHillsMagazine.com
empty-nester, so I know that one day I want to do lots of shows around the Southeast,” she says. But not quite yet. Until then, Jennifer and her work can be found at small markets around Birmingham and she hopes to soon be able to sell her art in local art galleries. To keep up with her work, find her on Facebook at facebook.com/JCogginArt.
SCHOOL
&SPORTS
WHEN VIRTUAL BECOMES REALITY A new Central classroom is taking kids to infinity and beyond. BY MICHELLE LOVE PHOTOS BY JENNIFER JONES VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 25
Instructional Technology Specialist Kim Jaggard teaches Central students in the school’s new virtual classroom.
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O
One by one fourth graders walk in to the room. Their faces flash with quizzical looks over at the massive four screens on the walls. Before long, they find themselves in the Grand Canyon, and with it comes oohs and aahs from the students as they are enveloped in a 360-degree virtual tour of the massive canyon. “That’s in a desert terrain!” one student exclaims. The real fun starts when the students see an aerial view of Vestavia Hills Elementary Central itself from Google Earth. Four or five students exclaim that they can see their houses. “It’s so fun to see them get so excited,” says Central Principal Marian Humphries of the new virtual reality classroom that opened in January. Equally exciting to Humphries was a visit to a familiar site in France. “You are sitting in an old concrete classroom, but when it’s all up you feel like you are actually in the Eiffel Tower...It’s almost like in Disney World with some of those rides where you’re actually in it,” she says. Jacob Stuckey, a fifth grader at Central, believes the room could open “a whole new spectrum of learning.” Fellow fifth grader Wynn Strubel agrees: “I’m excited that you can go to places that you never knew existed, and you can check them out without actually being there.” She isn’t picky about the destination, either. “I just want to explore the world,” she says. The idea for the classroom began when students were introduced to the Google Expedition glasses as a learning tool. Every class has an option to use them. “The kids love it,” says Kim Jaggard, an instructional technology specialist for Vestavia City Schools. “But we just started thinking, ‘How we can we truly immerse them in [the environment]?’” To answer that question, Humphries and Jaggard looked to Mountain Brook High School’s virtual reality system used in foreign language classes for ideas. From them and other schools they learned what equipment had and hadn’t worked well, saving many potential expenses. After applying for a grant from the Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation and receiving financial VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 27
backing from their PTO, the plans solidified. Today’s students are more than familiar with screens of all sorts and especially connect with visual learning experiences. So the goal for the room was to not only keep the students engaged, but also provide them with the opportunity to learn with a hands-on approach. The room can be used for multiple subjects and gives every student the opportunity to experience something new and exciting. “We get to go to Montgomery, which is great,” says Humphries, “but we don’t get to go to Washington and we don’t get to go to the Rocky Mountains. But now we’ll be able to go within our classroom—to be able to feel like we’ve seen it and been there. “We talk about stuff and we read about it, and they can see a photo, which is great. But we’re taking it to the next level...it’s just a win/win.”
The virtual reality classroom is just one of the major ways technology has changed education. Students at Central are now learning computer coding and how the internal structure of a computer actually works. The school even has a robotics team where they put tools like their 3-D printer to use. “It doesn’t have the stigma as it may have had back in the day,” Jaggard says. Now it’s cool to do the robots and the computer programming. And it’s fun.” Select members of the school’s S.W.A.T. (Students Willing to Assist with Technology) team learned about the classroom in advance to get the students excited for what was to come. And excited they were. “I think it would be cool if you could see in outer space,” says Elise Ball, a fourth grader. “Last year we had the VR goggles, and we got to do a tour of the International Space Station and that was really cool,” says Jacob Stuckey, who is
Central Principal Marian Humphries and Instructional Technology Specialist Kim Jaggard were instrumental in starting the school’s virtual classroom.
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most looking forward to using the room to learn about the ocean. When asked about the future, Jacob responded that he thinks anything is possible for the future. “We could have things like out of Star Trek.” Jaggard has to agree with that idea. “The beauty is [technology] does change every day,” she says. “That’s why I love my job. I love change. It freaks some people out. But, I mean, there’s just so much we can do with it.” And the possibilities for students’ futures are endless. Humphries recalled talking to a waiter recently who is learning about coding and robotics as a UAB student. The whole time, she couldn’t help but think: “‘We’re doing that with those kids now!’ So where are these kids going to be ten years from now? They’re going to be way ahead of where we were.” And for kids, it’s pretty exciting too. “When parents say, ‘Even when they’re sick, my child wants to go to school,’ it makes it all worth it,” Humphries says.
HE HAS THE ABILITY TO KNOW EXACTLY WHEN HIS MOM NEEDS A REALLY BIG HUG— RIGHT DOWN TO THE SECOND.
CHILDREN A M A Z E U S E V E R Y D AY
and at Children’s of Alabama, we want to see every child grow up and live to their fullest potential. That’s why we recruit, train and retain the most inquiring minds, the most skilled hands and the most compassionate hearts in pediatric medicine. 1 6 0 0 7 T H AV E N U E S O U T H B I R M I N G H A M , A L 3 5 2 3 3 (205) 638-9100
ChildrensAL.org
Vestavia Pediatrics 1936 Old Orchard Road Vestavia Hills, AL 35216 (205) 978-3200
Hug- Simon 3.5 x 9.75 - VestaviaHillsMag.indd 1
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4/30/18 9:13 AM
SCHOOL & SPORTS
IN THE LAND OF FAIRY TALES
VHHS’s production of Into the Woods was nothing short of magical. PHOTO ESSAY BY JOE TANKERSLEY 30 VestaviaHillsMagazine.com
SCHOOL & SPORTS Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel and more came to the Vestavia Hills High School stage for a production of Into the Woods on April 27 and 28. A modern twist on Brothers Grimm fairy tales, this beloved Stephen
Sondheim musical ties together these familiar tales with an original story of a baker, his wife and a witch who has put a curse on them. There’s no doubt everyone who attended or was involved is still singing,
“Into the woods, It’s time to go, I hate to leave, I have to go…”
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MEET THE CAST Narrator: Dina Kasman Cinderella: Hannah Bogard Jack: Jack Kirkendall Baker: Harrison Wood Baker’s Wife: Hannah Fulmore Cinderella’s Stepmother: Sara Grace Lyon Florinda: Gracie Phillips Lucinda: Lilly Burchfield Jack’s Mother: Sadie Sue Long Little Red Ridinghood: Diane Snoddy Witch: Erin Chatman
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Cinderella’s Father: Jonathan Wyatt Cinderella’s Mother: Elizabeth Hanje Mysterious Man: Josh Norris Wolf: Brodey Rupp Rapunzel: Caroline Copeland Rapunzel’s Prince: Chris Jensen Little Red’s Grandmother: Caroline Penfield Cinderella’s Prince: Kirk Kirkpatrick Steward: Ryan Boles Giant: Mrs. Dressback Sleeping Beauty/Dance Captain:
Arlana Spencer Snow White/Dance Captain: Sarah Kaye Carpenter Milky White: Tristyn Watson Giant’s Understudy/Ensemble: LC Johnson Ensemble: Lillie Ben Harris Ensemble: Annie Kane Ensemble: Kapreona Gillispie Ensemble: Lillie Cation Ensemble: Maddie Wyatt Ensemble: Emily Deason
&DRINK
FOOD
THE FRESHEST CATCH Snapper Grabber’s has long drawn straight from the sea. Now it’s into land and vineyards too. BY EMMA SIMMONS PHOTOS BY MARY FEHR VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 33
FOOD & DRINK
Snapper Grabber’s may be a four-hour drive from the ocean, but you wouldn’t know it from their seafood. Every day begins with barren cases of ice, evidencing a good yesterday. “We can order something from Hawaii or Alaska and have it in here the next day, it’s that fresh,” says Pam Scott, who owns the market on Highway 31 with her husband, Kent. Early each morning Kent, chief quality control inspector and gumbo chef extraordinaire, meticulously examines overnighted shipments to make sure there’s nothing too fishy going on. “We look at everything the moment it comes in the door. If it doesn’t pass my husband’s test, then he’ll send it right back. This happens daily,” Pam says. Pam likens her husband’s methodical routine
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to a doctor making a diagnosis, except it takes a well-trained eye—and nose. “It doesn’t even take him two seconds, because he’s done it for so long. Are the eyes cloudy on the fish? Has the meat started to turn soft? How does the gill smell?” Pam says. Kent’s early immersion in the seafood industry heralded his lifelong fascination and undeniable astuteness in the field. In 1956, he was just a toddler when his father took over Birmingham’s oldest seafood business, River Fish Market, situated on the north side of town. By the age of 14, Kent began learning the tricks of the trade, and he eventually inherited the market when his father retired in 1993.
FOOD & DRINK
Snapper Grabber’s owner Kent Scott
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CAFÉ MENU PREVIEW “ALMOST FAMOUS SEAFOOD GUMBO” – Kent’s labor of love BUTCHER BURGER – Made from scraps of high-end meat SHRIMP TACOS – Grilled Gulf shrimp, served Mexican style BLACKENED SHRIMP SALAD – Full of Gulf Coast shrimp and local organic greens THE DAILY HOOK – Flat-top grilled fish of the day, served on a brioche bun
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FOOD & DRINK Kent sold the Birmingham fish market in 2001 to enjoy his own retirement, spent traveling with Pam. But when Vestavia Hills’ premiere seafood shop opened up for grabs a quick decade later, the couple found themselves at the helm of a new adventure. “You don’t just wake up one day and say, ‘I think I’ll open up a restaurant,’ or I think ‘I’ll open up a seafood market.’ It’s a progression,” Pam says. Pam, also a native Birminghamian, grew up slurping down Grapico in her daddy’s hamburger stand, which he opened in the ‘50s after leaving his job as an Air Force mess hall chef. She says her mother, like Martha Stewart, was also a force to be reckoned with in the kitchen. The couple’s common backgrounds didn’t lead them to each other—they met at the swimming pool—but they helped forge a family-friendly, customer-oriented business model with which the couple accredits their success. A little over a year ago, Snapper Grabber’s took a new step its progression to become Snapper Grabber’s Land & Sea. The new café and butcher shop addition, both operated by Pam’s brother, seasoned chef Patrick McCown, formerly of Chez Lulu, was the answer to customers’ calls for an expansion beyond fruits de
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mer. “We let our customers tell us what their need is, and we do our best to meet it,” Pam says. Pam isn’t afraid to admit they’re still learning when it comes to the ‘land’ aspect of the protein world, as farming complicates matters a bit. “You can’t tweak seafood,” she says. “There’s no control over the ocean or what comes out of it, except for how fresh it is, and that’s it. But with cattle, hogs, pigs, chickens, we control what they eat and if they’re cage-fed.” In addition to farm-raised chicken, pork and beef, the team caters to adventurous palates through more exotic offerings like wild boar, bison, rabbit and ostrich. The Scotts may still be getting their toes wet in the world of ‘land’ proteins, but they’re honing their craft the same way they turned thousands of Vestavians into fish fiends—by making it approachable. “People are afraid of it! We hear many say, ‘Oh I don’t cook seafood because I don’t know how. I go out to eat it.’ So we’ve broadened locals’ knowledge of seafood. That’s what we like to do,” Pam explains. Any day someone could walk into Snapper Grabber’s with zero seafood experience and confidently prepare a perfectly seared fish filet later at home—no Googling necessary. At Snapper Grabber’s, the chefs aren’t stingy with their secrets. Chef de Cuisine and wine aficionado Tim Hughes, formerly of Hot & Hot Fish Club, has more than 16 years of knowledge he’s more than happy to pass on. “He’ll get a call from someone who’s making a certain dish or needs help with a wine pairing, and he’ll spend 45 minutes with a customer. He puts a lot into it,” Pam says. Contrary to its original namesake, Snapper Grabber’s now operates at a level beyond a simple ‘grab-n-go’ fish market. Café, meat, seafood, wine— customers can, and do, get it all at this one-stop shop. The couple’s top-selling product is the result of a grueling labor of love, perfected over the course of 30 years. Enter Kent’s “Almost Famous” gumbo. Folks from Louisiana may hate to admit it, but Kent’s gumbo (pictured on page 3) is just as good as any they’ve had
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FOOD & DRINK
Snapper Grabber’s cafe serves up summer freshness in this Blackened Shrimp Salad.
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Snapper Grabber’s owners Pam and Kent Scott
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back home. “He’ll be here at 5:30 a.m. until the evening. It’s rare that we haven’t sold out. He’s established a little following,” Pam says, smiling. Still, the Scotts are working to introduce more grab-n-go prepared items, as customers are raving over the shrimp salad and various smoked fish dips. “We have people who come here to buy seafood, and carry it to the beach with them. That amazes me. It’s the highest compliment, that someone would buy our seafood and take it back to where it came from.” To the many calling for a Snapper Grabber’s 2, Pam says, sorry y’all. “Unless my husband could clone himself, he would probably never consider opening a second location, because he is so hands-on. He rarely leaves.” In fact, the shop functions like a second home for Snapper Grabber regulars, who will inadvertently hook up with family and friends while stocking up on seafood. “Sometimes it can feel like a huge homecoming because surprise reunions are always happening. It’s just a fun business. We love our customers, and they seem to love us. We just really try to cater to them and help them enjoy good food,” Pam says. Loyal customers know they’re the luckiest landlocked seafoodies around, because when it comes to enjoying freshcaught fish in town, there’s no catch.
40 VestaviaHillsMagazine.com Cultivate Character 3.5x4.75 BHM.indd 1
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FOOD & DRINK
FISHING FOR SOMETHING TO DO? Snapper Grabbers offers more than just a market and menu. COOKING CLASSES- For more information call the market at (205)824-9799. WINE WALKABOUTS- Wine tastings where boutique wines are paired with small plates at different culinary stations. CUSTOMIZED IN-HOUSE EVENTS- Shoot the team a message and they’ll cook up something just for you. They can hold more than 25 people. VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 41
FOOD & DRINK
5
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR
Paulette Koumetz ‘lette Founder
PHOTO BY PATRICIA PARINEJAD
Paulette Koumetz has brought the macarons of her Parisian childhood to Beverly Hills— and now to Cahaba Heights too. The new ‘lette (short for “Paulette”) store will sell the French delicacy shipped straight from California. It’s set to open in late May in Heights Village. To get a preview of the vivid hues and decadent flavor of her macarons, we chatted with Paulette herself. How did you get into the macaron business? I had been fascinated by macarons since I was little girl in France. I would always have them after school. When I came to California from France in 2006, I was looking around here for a good macaron, and I couldn’t find one. So I started to think about having my own macaron business. My husband and I approached a high pastry chef, and we learned from him. And since my grandmother used to make macarons, we incorporated her recipe as well. When we started in 2007, macarons weren’t popular, and everyone was asking what it was we were selling. Was it a hamburger? Was it food for dogs? What I like about this country is that they are very open-minded. People started to taste macarons, and their popularity spread by word of mouth. 42 VestaviaHillsMagazine.com
What makes for a good macaron? The balance between the almond meringue on the outside and the ganache inside is complicated to make. It cannot be too sweet. It cannot be too sour. It has to be crunchy on the outside and soft inside. If you can find a good macaron, everything else in that bakery will be very good. What are your favorite flavors? Colombian Coffee is my favorite. I love the Salted Caramel, the Madagascar Vanilla, the Passion Fruit. My favorite changes every day though. The only one I am not passionate about is Red Velvet, but it is a best seller. It’s a flavor that is more American, and people love it. We listen to what people tell us and add flavors if they suggest them. It’s very inspiring. The Blueberry Lemon was a suggestion of a customer, and it’s now a regular one.
Do you sell other products as well? We sell shortbread, a French recipe. It’s a good one. We started with a butter flavor and then started to make ones with pistachios, chocolate, cinnamon. What will this new store be like compared to your flagship location? We ship them daily from Beverly Hills to the other stores. The interior of it will be pretty similar. The store will be white and the only color will come from the macarons with a nice display. The boxes are very colorful. It’s a simple environment, the stars are the macarons. Mostly, I am so happy that everyone is enjoying good macarons. This new store means more people will enjoy the pastry, and I hope they will enjoy them.
&STYLE
HOME
THE ULTIMATE VIEW How life was breathed back into this legendary contemporary titanic on VesClub Place. BY MADOLINE MARKHAM PHOTOS BY LAUREN USTAD VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 43
HOME & STYLE
T
The walls of the contemporary behemoth at the top of VesClub Place could tell many stories of lavish parties and laughter. The gravel and cement-lined backyard boasted a sign that listed rates per hour for parking. Upon entering the house, you were greeted by a coat check counter with a true coat check closet behind it. Behind it was a spiral staircase leading up to a bedroom, perhaps for a service staff member. “It’s very interesting,” Beth Pierpoint of Oak Property Solutions says of how they found the house when they purchased it to renovate and resell in 2016. “We kept thinking, ‘What in the world? Why is this here?’” The nearly 7,000-square-foot tri-level home was built in 1987 with a design reportedly by I.M. Pei, an internationally renowned architect who also designed Kirkwood Clinic locally as well as the Kennedy Library, John Hancock Tower in Boston, and Javits Convention Center in New York City, among other notable projects. Right here in Vestavia, though, this home’s expansive walls of windows offer views of the hills beyond that are nothing short of spectacular, similar to what you can see from Vestavia Country Club. The house’s master bedroom, which boasts a particularly stunning panorama from its balcony, is particularly massive, like 560 square feet massive, and its bathroom is just as big. The centerpiece of the original bath was a massive Jacuzzi tub mounted up on a platform surrounded by mirrors, all tiled in black and white stripes that could give you vertigo. “I was not sure about that bathroom, other than it was a direct throwback of the ’80s,” Beth says. “It was very grand and odd at the same time.” Also a bit surprising, the home’s foundation was built more like Fort Knox. An engineering report stated it could support a commercial building, and was supported with massive steel beams and cement. For all of the damage that was repaired above the foundation, the foundation itself was in nearly pristine condition. “This is amazing since there is a concrete channel designed to transport water from the hills under and around the home,” Beth says. “Numerous
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inspectors have reviewed the foundation and this channel and have stated that it is doing exactly what it was designed to do, get water out fast and protect the structure.” A West Coast native, Beth was drawn to the house’s contemporary architecture that reminded her of home when she saw it at an auction in March 2016. At the time, it had been abandoned for years and was overgrown with plants to the point where it developed a reputation as the “scary house on the hill.” The original idea for the renovation was to repair the damage, move some things around and redo plumbing, electrical work and sheet rock, but in the end the team replaced most of the framing, windows and siding. So they decided to move some walls and relocate the kitchen while they were at it. The original master bathroom Jacuzzi tub and the coat check areas are now no more, making way for a more traditional elegant bathroom suite upstairs and a powder room downstairs. The design goal was to mix contemporary elements with one more traditional ones. They also moved the kitchen from a small enclosed space in the back of the home to an open area adjacent to the living room. To call that main living area spacious would be a vast understatement. Its ceilings stand 21 feet tall, the living space itself is a massive 665 square feet. Most ceilings in the home are 10-12 feet high. Likewise, Beth thinks the home will appeal to a buyer who favors the arts and might want to transform the expansive walls into a gallery of sorts. She also, of course, envisions the future owner being someone who enjoys entertaining, just as the previous owners did, with the newly open floorplan fostering a more modern entertaining lifestyle. Plus, 12-foot sliding glass doors open up to the massive front deck from the main living spaces, creating an even larger space for parties. But the house’s biggest selling point is, of course, its positioning at just the right vantage point. “The views are amazing, especially at night and first thing in the morning,” Beth says. “It’s incredible.”
HOME & STYLE
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HOME & STYLE
Kitchen The kitchen was moved to this open space to make it ideal for entertaining and offer a view of the backyard greenery. Its Orion fixture adds a modern flair to the space, and its backsplash tile is an elegant Thassos marble and mother of pearl. Like the other surfaces on countertops, the kitchen has a quartz stone.
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HOME & STYLE
Dining Room Beth Pierpoint isn’t sure what the original purpose of this space on the far right side of the house was, but she decided its six-window view made for an amazing dining room. It has its own deck as well. “It’s cool when it’s sunny, it’s cool when it’s rainy, it’s cool when a storm is coming in,” Beth says of the view.
Eating Nook It feels a bit funny to call this a breakfast nook with its long farm-style table and built-in banquet with a gray wash, but it is located right off the kitchen a few steps up from the living room. VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 47
HOME & STYLE
Lighting Lighting designer Terry Phillips selected modern fixtures for some rooms and more traditional handmade light fixtures from a company called Ella Home out of Atlanta for others.
Bar A wine room and bar are located between the kitchen and dining room. 48 VestaviaHillsMagazine.com
HOME & STYLE
Den A smaller living area off the main living space offers a more private area for the homeowners. Monica Kelley styled it with a retro feel and bold accents like green pillows hand painted by local artist Carrie Pittman.
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HOME & STYLE
Master Bathroom This space was reconfigured to offer his and hers toilets and a his and hers shower, as well as bath tub and grass cloth floor tile that is textured to look like fabric. The window behind the tub holds honeycomb between sheets of glass. From the outside, the windows look gold and you can’t see in, so you don’t need shades or blinds. UAB had actually purchased the window from Dubai and was looking to sell it when they were demolishing a building.
Master Bedroom Beth and her team joke that you could easily put two king sized beds in this room or a nursey on one side. It’s that big. Originally the room featured a loft where you could see over the bedroom area, but they had it removed.
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HOME & STYLE
Living Area DĂŠcor Monica Kelley staged the home decor for potential buyers, highlighting its architectural features and using a neutral palette with pops of color. This space is accented with wall art by local artist Carrie Pittman.
Living Room Three sets of sliding glass doors provide views of nature around that make you forget the house has neighbors at all. In the renovations, the fireplace was moved from the middle of the room to one wall, but the Italian lime marble with a mortar-type wash standing from floor to ceiling 21 feet high still certainly makes a statement. VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 51
HOME & STYLE
Far From Square The house is full of angled walls and rooms that are anything but square, so often they had to get creative with space.
BEHIND THE SCENES Investors: Cherie Miner & Beth Pierpoint, Oak Property Solutions LLC
Architect: Cherri Pitts, Studio C Architecture & Interiors Contractors: Tommy Prewitt Construction & CSG, LLC Staging and Interior Design: Monica Kelley, Monica Kelley Staging and Interior Design
Select Art: Carrie Pittman, Carrie Pittman Art Lighting Designer: Terry Phillips, Light It Up Select Lighting: Ella Home, Inline Electric Flooring: Andrew and Rachel Turman, Turman Design Company
Plumbing Fixtures: Shelby Blalock, Fixtures and Finishes Tile Flooring & Decor: Stephanie Harwell, Issis & Sons Cabinets: Pelham-Oak Mountain Cabinets Appliances: AllSouth Appliances
Electrician: Darryl Guarino, Power Up Electric, LLC Plumbing: Greg Blackman, Blackman Plumbing
Tile Installation: Victor Salas, George Gustin Tile Concrete: David Champion, C and C Masonry of Central Alabama, LLC
Custom Concrete: Ellis Hopkins, Hopkins Flooring, LLC Italian Marble Plaster: Beth Pierpoint, Oak Property Solutions, LLC
Landscaping: John Saunders, Nature’s Edge Landscaping
Closets and Shower Doors: Farry Dawson, Birmingham Construction Specialties
AV and Security Wiring: Andy Evans, Switch Audio Video
Listing Agent: Jeff Newman, ERA - King 52 VestaviaHillsMagazine.com
HOME & STYLE
Hardwoods Beth and her team couldn’t use traditional hardwoods because the house had a concrete base. These Grey Roan by Orchard Walk are hardwoods engineered to be thinner so it could be glued down. VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 53
IN STYLE
REDS, WHITES & BLUES
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4 Kayley Coggins is a wardrobe consultant and stylist who believes that fashion is a tool to help you feel beautiful in every season.
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ISOLATION
NO MORE
HOW KULTURECITY IS CHANGING THE CULTURE NATIONWIDE FOR THOSE WITH SENSORY NEEDS AND OTHER CHALLENGES. BY ELIZABETH STURGEON | PHOTOS BY MARY FEHR & CONTRIBUTED
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L
Looking up at the jumbotron, Michele Kong caught a glimpse of him. A young boy was intently watching the Cavaliers game with an unusual accessory for an NBA game: noise-cancelling headphones. But the headphones make a world of difference to someone for whom loud noises and crowds are overwhelming, especially these ones offered for children with sensory needs. Trained by KultureCity, a Vestavia-born organization, the Quicken Loans Arena in Cincinnati provided the boy with what he needed to enjoy the game. “It’s heartwarming to observe a child and family participate in an event because of what KultureCity has provided to the community,” says Kong, who co-founded the organization with her husband, Julian Maha. Sensory inclusion at the NBA arena wasn’t always this simple though. At one point arena staff removed a speaker from an autistic, nonverbal child, taking away his main form of communication. At that point, the arena realized that it needed to become more inclusive. So they reached out to KultureCity for resources. Soon, the Quicken Loans Arena became the first certified sensory-inclusive NBA arena, and others have followed to extend a warm and helpful welcome to anyone eager to watch a game. By training places from the NBA to McWane Science Center, KultureCity uses its technology to include all individuals in experiences that might
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normally overwhelm someone with autism, Down syndrome or other sensory challenges. Certain restaurants, shows and museums filled with large crowds and dramatic lights and sounds become impossible for these children to experience, but KultureCity opens more activities to every individual. Kong and Maha, both full-time physicians, were inspired to establish KultureCity while raising their young son Abram, now a student at Vestavia West Elementary, who is on the autism spectrum and non-verbal. “We realized that we became socially isolated because it was so hard, despite all the resources we had, to go on certain outings,” Kong says. “There were certain instances that were too overwhelming for him. The public didn’t know the best way to communicate with him.” Maha recounts taking Abram to a mummy exhibit. His son was ecstatic to be there, but the lobby was loud and crowded. Between his excitement and the busy environment, Abram became more active than usual. A security guard came up to them and asked Maha to control his son’s behavior. Maha informed him of Abram’s sensory needs to no avail. “The guard did not believe us but said that he did not ‘look’ autistic. And because of this, we would have to leave,” Maha said in his TEDx Talk last year. Kong and Maha realized they were not alone in their isolation either. “It was a common thing
Dr. Julian Maha, who founded KultureCity with his wife, Michele Kong, speaks at TEDx Birmingham in 2017.
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Dr. Michele Kong and Dr. Julian Maha started KultureCity after experiences challenges in public spaces with their autisic son. Here they stand outside their Vestavia Hills home.
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KULTURECITY OFFERINGS SENSORY-INCLUSIVE TRAINING KultureCity works with employees and staff to make events and organizations sensory-inclusive. The Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the Birmingham Zoo, the McWane Science Center, the Alys-Stephens Center, and Urban Cookhouse are among some of the locations that have been certified. Nationwide, more than 70 unique locations have been trained nationally, such as the Audubon Nature Institute, Brevard Zoo, Phoenix Zoo and the New England Aquarium in Massachusetts. NBA PARTNERSHIP KultureCity has partnered with the NBA to equip arenas with what they need to be sensory-inclusive, including the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland and the Philips Arena in Atlanta. Some of these arenas have sensory rooms, which provide a calm and quiet environment away from loud noise and crowds. More than 17 NBA arenas have been trained to date. EMBRACEKULTURE KultureCity helps communities that may not even have a term for autism in their language with technology and inclusion efforts.
among special needs families and individuals,” Kong says. “Regardless of the special needs diagnosis, the functionality of daily living and challenges that come with it are the same.” Here lies the core mission of KultureCity: to make every experience open to all individuals, no matter what diagnosis they have or how they struggle. “What had to change was the culture of our society,” Kong explains. “It wasn’t enough for one individual to have this mindset of inclusion. It required a tight community behind this message of inclusion for there to be true culture change.” Today that change is happening through KultureCity—and the Vestavia Hills Community—as it trains family-friendly places that can now welcome every child. As one tool, KultureCity provides sensory bags with noise-cancelling headphones, fidgeting toys, and visual cards to help calm a sensory overload and enable someone to still enjoy an activity. Families do not have to wait for a special day to bring their children at places that KultureCity has trained to be inclusive at all hours. And thanks to another tool,
SENSORY BAGS A sensory bag includes noise-cancelling headphones, fidgeting toys, and visual cards that allow for clear communication. These are available at sensory-inclusive locations and help individuals who might be overwhelmed by noise, crowds, and light. LIFEBOKS KultureCity makes and offers lifeBOKs to families with children who tend to run away or run towards water. The lifeBOKs include a Bluetooth and GPS tracking system within a wristband, working to save the lives of individuals who wander. KULTURECITY APP The app allows users to search for sensory-inclusive places in the United States, helping families take part in activities that include individuals with a sensory need and to know what resources certain locations have. It also includes a library of video that cover topics including nutrition, behavioral control, sleep hygiene, school tips, dealing with PTSD and more.
lifeBOKs, children who tend to wander or run off can be tracked while their families explore. “We give families opportunities to have safety for their child, to go places and know that the safety of their child is within a beep,” volunteer Diane Knight says. Although lifeBOKs protect children from getting lost or drowning when they wander, Knight did not have this technology while raising her son Jack, now 25, who is austic. They lived in Cincinnati before moving to Vestavia when Jack was 9, and multiple times, he ran away, running through oncoming traffic and bolting past ponds. “We can take our kids places that weren’t really a possibility before,” Knight explains. While she faced exclusion from uncountable activities and received looks of confusion, she now sees people changing and understanding more about how to make all experiences available to all types of people. “The mission is to push the message of inclusion for all individuals. This would include anyone with not just autism, but Down syndrome, any special needs diagnosis and those with sensory sensitivities,” VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 61
Kulture City volunteer Diane Knight crosses the finish line of a run with her son, Jack. Both are pictured on the right.
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Kong says. Within this goal, KultureCity does not call itself an autism non-profit but a non-profit for all individuals with unique challenges. “I would confidently say that there is no other organization that is doing what we’re doing, certainly not with the scope of what we do,” Kong says. Even those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder may experience sensory overloads, and KultureCity unites a veteran with an autistic child under their sensory initiative. With their staff of volunteers, made up of all professionals from nurses to speech therapists, KultureCity runs on the passion for the cause, often a passion stemming from the exclusion of a loved one. The goal is to include everyone and to save lives of those overwhelmed by parts of the world. “To know that a child is saved from near drowning is very powerful, and it’s what drives us to continue doing what we do and push the message forward,” Kong says. And the evolution of the Knights’ journey shows just that saving, and the true change in culture that is happening. Knight remembers her constant worry about what people would think of Jack, his differences, and what he finds comfortable when he was younger. But now things are different. At a recent trail race she and her son saw no confused, alarmed looks while they ran together. “People included us,” she says. “Everyone came out and finished the run with us. We were dead last, but I don’t think I would have done it if I hadn’t been encouraged to try.”
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Bakery No. 215
True to His Roots FORMER VESTAVIA BASEBALL PLAYER MICHAEL PAPAJOHN NOW HAS COUNTLESS MOVIE CREDITS TO HIS NAME, BUT HIS DEEPEST TIES STARTED ON FAMILIAR FIELDS. BY AMY FERGUSON | PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
Back in the early ’70’s, young athlete Michael Papajohn dreamed of playing ball for legendary coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. No one could have predicted that his life would unfold the way that it did. No one except for, perhaps, retired Vestavia Hills football coach Peter Braasch. In Peter’s early years of high school coaching, he also oversaw Birmingham Country Club’s pool area, where he hired young Michael Papajohn as a lifeguard.
“I quickly knew he would be great in the stunt business,” Peter jokes. “I really should have fired him because he would pull these crazy stunts off the high and low dives after-hours at the pool!” As the humor of the memory faded, Peter’s tone changes. “Seriously though, Michael might have been the best athlete to come through Vestavia Hills High School.” It came to no one’s surprise that after his high school graduation in 1983, Michael went on to
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play baseball at the college level. He started in Panama City, Florida, playing for Gulf Coast Community College. And although he was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 1985, he chose instead to accept a baseball scholarship to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. It was a decision that would ultimately change the course of his life forever. The year was 1987 when a film crew invaded LSU’s campus looking to hire athletes for the film Everybody’s All-American. Jumping at the opportunity to make a little extra cash, Michael was one of the first to raise his hand. He was selected to play the stunt double for the film’s lead actor, Dennis Quaid. His performance captured the attention of the film’s director, Taylor
Michael Papajohn with VHHS Coach Buddy Anderson in the late ‘90s.
Michael Papajohn with fellow VHHS graduate and emerging actor Blake Burgess. Blake played Mike Allyson in Woodlawn.
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Hackford, who encouraged him to pursue a career in stunt work. After connecting with several Hollywood stuntmen who helped further him in the business, Michael found himself working on sets like Titanic, The Waterboy and Enemy of the State. Today 53-year-old Michael Papajohn is a stuntman-turned-character actor who still makes his living on the big screen. He acts alongside some of the biggest names in entertainment (vs. serving as their stunt doubles), people like Bruce Willis, Tobey Maguire, Chris Pratt, Cameron Diaz, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Adam Sandler, Kevin Costner, Megan Fox—the list goes on and on. Of course, the nature of Michael’s job takes him all over the map at unexpected times (He even had to reschedule the interview for this article due to an unforeseen shoot of HBO’s True Detective in Arkansas), but he carries the spirit of home wherever he goes. And for him, that spirit is, for the most part, manifested in the relationships he cherishes with the former coaches of his youth, in particular his little league coach and the coaches at Vestavia Hills High School, including living legend football Coach Buddy Anderson. “Michael has always just been Michael,” Anderson states plainly. “He’s a genuine person. And when he was on the field, he gave it everything he had.” Michael credits his team of coaches for helping shape the trajectory of his life. “I had great coaches who taught me all kinds of important skills to execute on the field,” he says. “And funny enough, it’s those skills that helped guide me in this very competitive business.” Throughout his college years, the strength of his bond with these coaches had him swinging by the school for a quick visit before ever going home to his family. And although it’s been several years since then, he, describing himself as an “authentic guy who doesn’t sugar coat anything,” is the first to admit: “Yes, I still visit [the coaches] immediately when I come home. It’s actually easier to catch up
with them now that most of them are retired,” he jokes. “When they were still coaching, it was harder for them to break away. Now, it’s easier to get Peter [Braasch] to go fishing with me.” After living in California for a number of years, Michael moved back to Baton Rouge, where he now resides with Paula, his wife of 12 years, and their 10-year-old son, Sean. Depending on his always-changing-schedule, he comes back home every three or four months (even though Coach Anderson feels like he hasn’t left at all) and is very selective with how he spends his time. “In my earlier years, when I came back to Birmingham, I Michael Papajohn had I-Have-To-Get-It-All-In played baseball for Syndrome,” he recalls. “I’ve LSU. learned to not do that. It took me many years to learn that you can’t get everything in. You need to be present with where you are.” When he does return to Vestavia nowadays, Michael scratches his itch for all things barbecue and savors the sight of his son running across the baseball field where he once played. While on the field, the two pay a unique tribute to Vestavia baseball legend and Michael’s former coach, Sammy Dunn, who passed away in October 2004. “When I heard how sick Coach Dunn was, I flew back from Los Angeles to see him,” he remembers. “When I walked in the room, he said, ‘Papajohn, man. You need to go down to the field, and touch the grass. We have new turf! Go touch it, go feel it, go see it!’” Immediately leaving the hospital, Michael did as his coach instructed and grazed the new turf of the baseball field. Dunn passed away shortly thereafter. “Michael was very special to Sammy from the first time they met,” says Linda Dunn, Coach Dunn’s widow. “They had a very close relationship and always corresponded through the years. Sammy truly loved Michael and was so very proud of him.” Now with each visit to the field, Papajohn and his son make sure to give the turf some love in VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 67
memory of Coach Dunn. And if that wasn’t enough, a framed picture of the field’s turf sits in Michael’s office. “I always leave things in my office that remind me where I’m from,” he explains. “When you’re an actor, you try out, and you get rejected. It’s nice to have a mental team around to give you positive reinforcement.” After over 30 years in this business, it’s now Michael bestowing the reinforcement to those who dream of following in his footsteps— Papajohn filmed American Ultra with people like Vestavia native Topher Grace. Blake Burgess, for example. A 2009 graduate of Vestavia Hills High School, Burgess is also an athlete-turned professional actor who credits Michael Papajohn for giving him the confidence to
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jump into the acting business. “I studied him around several movie sets, big and small, to learn the ins and outs of film. He even encouraged me to ‘hustle’ (get cast on site) for my first job on a Nicolas Cage film,” Blake shares. “He showed me countless resources and what work ethic is needed to make it in this business. He has been a great mentor, colleague and friend as I’ve ventured through my career.” Just recently, Michael finished shooting the pilot for For Love, a drama set against a grounded, secret world of magic in present-day New Orleans. Should the show get picked up by ABC, it will air sometime next fall and feature Michael in a reoccurring role as private investigator Tommy Harrison.
PAPAJOHN ON THE BIG SCREEN Spiderman
The Longest Yard
American Ultra
Michael Papajohn is credited in over 100 movies & television shows including (but not limited to): THE BABE (1992) as Heckler
MR. BASEBALL (1992) as Rick
THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD (1995) as
SUPERHERO MOVIE (2008) as Robber “Gimme your wallet”
YES MAN (2008) as Security Guard (uncredited) TERMINATOR SALVATION (2009) as Carnahan LAND OF THE LOST (2009) as Astronaut (uncredited)
Cardassian
TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE
ERASER (1996) as WitSec Agent Schiffer
THE HIT LIST (2011) as Special Agent Drake Ford
THE WATERBOY (1998) (with Adam Sandler)
FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY (2012) as Little Guy
FOR LOVE OF THE GAME (1999) as Sam Tuttle
Alfie (uncredited)
NAKED SOULS (1996) as Driver
MY GIANT (1998) as Tough Guy #1 INFERNO (1999) as Creep
CHARLIE’S ANGELS (2000) as Bathroom Thug
THE PATRIOT OF AMERICA (2000) - Payne (voice) THE ANIMAL (2001) as Patrolman Brady SPIDER-MAN (2002) as Carjacker
FALLEN (2009) as Colin Banes
THIS MEANS WAR (2012) as German Goon THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2012) as
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012) as Prison Guard (uncredited)
THE BOURNE LEGACY (2012) as Larry
GANGSTER SQUAD (2012) as Mike “The Flea”
THE HOT CHICK (2002) as Security Guard
PAWN SHOP CHRONICLES (2013) as Spectator
TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES (2003)
ESCAPE PLAN (2013) as Prisoner Beaten
HULK (2003) as Technician as Paramedic #1
HOUSE OF ASAND AND FOG (2003) as
#1
By Breslin
HOMEFRONT (2013) as Hitman #4
Carpenter
BANSHEE (2013-2015) as Bald Thug / Munson
THE LONGEST YARD (2005) as Guard Papajohn
RAGE (2014) as Vory
THE LAST SHOT (2004) as Ed Rossi, Jr.
DOMINO (2005) as Cigliutti Goon (uncredited) LARRY THE CABLE GUY: HEALTH
INSPECTOR (2006) as Diner Manager
DEVIL’S DUE (2014) as Officer Miska
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (2014) as Cannon-Gunner
GET ON UP (2014) as 1949 Cop
SPIDER-MAN 3 (2007) as Dennis Carradine /
NIGHTCRAWLER (2014) as Security Guard
LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD (2007) as Gabriel›s
WILD CARD (2015) as Pit Boss
Carjacker
Henchman (uncredited)
I KNOW WHO KILLED ME (2007) as Jacob K. / Joseph K.
SELMA (2014) as Major John Cloud AMERICAN ULTRA (2015) as Otis
COLD MOON (2016) as Ed Gieger
VENGEANCE: A LOVE STORY (2017) as JJ Breen
VESTAVIA HILLS’ BEST WINNERS 2018 Who’s the best? We asked, and you answered. Thousands of votes were cast in Vestavia Hills Magazine’s inaugural Best contest. Read on to find out our readers’ favorite shops, restaurants and more. Photos by Jennifer Jones
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BEST LOCAL PERSONALITY RICK AND BUBBA
FOOD & DRINK MOST FRIENDLY SERVICE Mudtown Eat & Drink 3144 Green Valley Road Cahaba Heights (205)967-3300 mudtownalabama.com Finalists: The Ridge, Fresco MOST KID FRIENDLY DINING Mudtown Eat & Drink 3144 Green Valley Road Cahaba Heights (205)967-3300 mudtownalabama.com Finalists: The Ridge, Diplomat Delicatessen & Spirits BEST CASUAL DINING Mudtown Eat & Drink 3144 Green Valley Road Cahaba Heights (205)967-3300 mudtownalabama.com Finalists: The Ridge, Diplomat Delicatessen & Spirits
BEST DATE NIGHT Bistro V 521 Montgomery Highway (205)823-1505 bistro-v.com Finalists: Satterfield’s, FoodBar BEST SWEET TREATS Bruster’s Real Ice Cream 1008 Vestavia Parkway Cahaba Heights (205)978-2347 brusters.com/vestaviahills/ Finalists: Doodles Sorbets & Ices, Ashley Mac’s, Café Iz BEST DRINKS/COCKTAILS Bistro V 521 Montgomery Highway (205)823-1505 bistro-v.com Finalists: The Ridge, FoodBar, Fresco BEST CHEF Cameron Hodge/Fresco Mexicana Moderna 3144 Heights Village Cahaba Heights
BEST ORTHODONTICS PRACTICE SARVER ORTHODONTICS VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 71
BEST FLORIST/NURSERY ANDY’S CREEKSIDE NURSERY
BEST CHURCH CHOIR SHADES MOUNTAIN BAPTIST CHURCH
(205) 970-2300 frescomex.com Finalists: George McMillan/ FoodBar, JP Holland/Fig Tree Catering
COMMUNITY BEST COMMUNITY EVENT Relay for Life If VHHS students’ efforts are any indicator, cancer won’t be around much longer. Finalists: Rocky Ridge First Fridays, Christmas Tree Lighting Festival, I Love America Day BEST NEIGHBORHOOD Cahaba Heights Lots of locally owned shops and restaurants are just a short walk or drive away. 72 VestaviaHillsMagazine.com
Finalists: Liberty Park, Countrywood, Tanglewood BEST LOCAL CAUSE KultureCity National efforts for kids with sensory disorders got their start right here. kulturecity.org Finalists: Vestavia Hills City Schools Foundation, Vestavia Library PALS BEST OUTDOOR SPOT McCallum Park Whether you come to picnic or to play, you’re sure to stay.
Shades Mountain Baptist Church Voices fill this Columbiana road sanctuary in worship each Sunday morning. shades.org
BEST MEDICAL PRACTICE Vestavia Pediatrics 1936 Old Orchard Rd (205)978-3200 childrensal.org/vestaviapediatrics
Finalists: Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, Vestavia Hills Baptist Church
Finalists: Dermatology & Skin Care Center of Birmingham, Petro Facial Plastic Surgery & MedSpa
BEST LOCAL PERSONALITY Rick and Bubba The laughter from these two personalities spreads all over the Southeast from their Highway 31 studio. rickandbubba.com Finalist: Scott Register
Finalists: Wald Park, Library in the Forest, Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex BEST CHURCH CHOIR
HEALTH & BEAUTY
BEST DENTAL OR ORTHODONTICS PRACTICE Sarver Orthodontics 1705 Vestavia Parkway (205) 979-7072 sarverortho.com Finalists: PT Orthodontics, Norris Orthodontics BEST SALON OR SPA Tangles Hair Salon 3386 Morgan Drive
(205) 823-7376 facebook.com/ TanglesVestavia/ Finalists: Vestavia Nails, Owens Hudson Salon BEST FITNESS CENTER Lifetime Fitness 3051 Healthy Way (205) 547-3100 www.lifetime.life Finalists: The Bar Method Birmingham, True40 Birmingham
SHOPPING & SERVICES BEST NEW BUSINESS Liberty Pharmacy 3735 Corporate Woods Drive, Suite 101 Liberty Park
(205) 977-9290 libertypharmacyal.com Finalists: Swoon, Crestline Bagel BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE Cahaba Pharmacy Cahaba Heights 3135 Cahaba Heights Road (205) 977-9299 cahaba-pharmacy.com Finalists: Liberty Pharmacy, Cummings Jewelry Design BEST BOUTIQUE/CLOTHING Mia Moda Boutique 1425 Montogomery Highway, Suite 105 (205)824-9441 miamodaboutique.com Finalists: Serendipity Boutique, Flip Flops and What Nots
BEST INSURANCE AGENT JOHN HENLEY
BEST COMMUNITY EVENT RELAY FOR LIFE
BEST LOCAL CAUSE KULTURECITY VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 73
BEST STORE FOR GIFTS Monograms Plus 1360 Montgomery Highway, Suite 122 (205) 822-3353 shopmonogramsplus.com Finalists: Darnell’s Fun Stuff, The Blue Willow BEST STORE FOR HOME FURNISHINGS Chickadee Interiors 3138 Cahaba Heights Road (205)969-3138 chickadeeinteriors.com Finalists: Issis Furniture Gallery, Kathy Harris Interior Design
BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE CAHABA PHARMACY
BEST JEWELRY Cummings Jewelry Design 3166 Heights Village Cahaba Heights (205) 298–9144 cummingsjewelrydesign.com
Finalists: Steed’s Jewelers, Alan & Co. Jewelry & Express Repair BEST STORE FOR KIDS/ TEENS The Lili Pad 3138 Heights Village (205) 298-1811 facebook.com/thelilipad Finalists: Gigi’s Teen, Learning Express Toys BEST FLORIST/NURSERY Andy’s Creekside Nursery 2489 Rocky Ridge Road (205)824-0300 andysgardencenter.com Finalists: Leaf N Petal, Collier’s Nursery, FlowerBuds BEST ANIMAL CLINIC Vestavia Animal Clinic 1471 Montgomery Hwy (205) 823-7485 vestaviaanimalclinic.com Finalists: Cahaba Mountain Brook Animal Clinic, Pet Vet Animal Hospital, Inc.
HOME, FINANCE, & AUTO BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT Manda Luccasen RE/MAX 903 Montgomery Highway (205) 283-0380 mandaluccasen.com Finalists: Dave Dutton/ERA Real Estate, Jana Hanna/ RealtySouth, Kayla Meadow/ ARC Realty
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD CAHABA HEIGHTS 74 VestaviaHillsMagazine.com
BEST INSURANCE AGENT John Henley State Farm
BEST DRINKS/ COCKTAILS BISTRO V
BEST SALON OR SPA TANGLES HAIR SALON
2118 Columbiana Road (205)823-1343 statefarm.com Finalists: Jack Traffanstedt/State Farm, Jason Tropeano/ Farmers Insurance BEST BANK Regions Bank 520 Montgomery Highway// 529 Montgomery Highway regions.com (800)734-4667 Finalists: BBVA Compass, First Commercial Bank BEST AUTO SERVICE Express Oil Change 1479 Montgomery Hwy (205)823-0466// 3940 Crosshaven Drive (205)969-5596 expressoil.com Finalists: Anthony’s Car Wash & Detail, Vestavia Auto Service
BEST OUTDOOR SPOT MCCALLUM PARK VestaviaHillsMagazine.com 75
OUT & ABOUT
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PHOTOS BY MALLORY BARRY
This color run doubled as a preparty for Relay for Life on March 17 at Vestavia Hills High School. 1. Tatum Swafford, Tait Hager, Lucy Kracke and Matthew Jemison 2. Hollis Graffeo and Alison Strong 3. Mary Tate Defore and Zia Tahmaseb 4. Sara Grace Cameron and Rachel Morris 5. Amanda Wilson, Elizabeth Corso and Abby Law 6. Ansley Kirkpatrick, Ainsley Green and Keeley Covington 7. Meghan Morris and Haley Garrett 8. Carsen Schaefer 9. Sophia Schaefer 10. Rebel Run participants 11. Kendall Dillon, Adrienne Day, Olivia Reuter and Grace Ahnert 12. Laura Smith and Laura Reed Cunningham
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Children gathered to hunt eggs at Vestavia Hills City Hall on March 24. 1. Nathan and Watson Kennedy 2. Shivangi, Shreyash and Harish Pal 3. Jack and Whitney Seals 4. Santa and Yashica Gupta 5. Samantha and Connor Fanning
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6. Egg hunt participants 7. Clayton and Campbell Hollinhead 8. Priscilla Perez and Natalie Windsor 9. Sid and Hayes Barnett 10. Joseph, Tiff and Noah Weilbacher 11. Archie and Colt Carson 12. Egg hunt action
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RELAY FOR LIFE
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Vestavia Hills High School students raised $280,007.29 at this annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. 1. Elizabeth Turner, Elizabeth Bendall and Mary Quinn Carter 2. Abigail Bowers and Virginia Fox 3. Caleb Leak and Lanie Cranfield 4. Katie Wakeford and Emily Lo Re 5. Meghan Meadows and Hayden Souders 6. Grace Brown and Maggie Gann 7. Catherine Mitchell, Safa Khan and Claire Kankirawatana 8. John Winford and Mauree Alice 9. Jacob Moore and India Crawford 10. Kayla Richardson and Zoe Woodrow 11. Caroline Gilroy and Madalyn Walton 12. John Pounds, Ben Swearingen and Ryan Conn
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TASTE OF THE HEIGHTS
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Families got a taste of Cahaba Heights at this fundraiser for Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights on April 17. 1. Amy, Abby and John Roberts 2. The Washington Family 3. John Nailen, Julia Katherine Leprine and Katy Leprine 4. Lindsey and Reese Hull 5. Nicole and Izzy Martin 6. Emily, Vivienne and Blake Hamachek 7. Amy and Amelia Croft 8. The Abbott Family 9. Jeremy, Carter, Lida and Bettie Stagner 10. Jeffrey and Garrett Wilson 11. Sharon and Gracie Sizemore 12. Jeremy and Thomas Denson
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OUT & ABOUT
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IS PROUD TO WELCOME INTO OUR EXPERT TEAM OF PHYSICIANS
Christopher A. Heck, MD 12
ORTHOPAEDIC SPINE SURGEON
Michael F. Blum, M.D. | Ekkehard Bonatz, M.D. George Robert Booker, M.D. | William S. Craig, M.D. Donald A. Deinlein, M.D. | Michael T. Ellerbusch, M.D. John S. Kirchner, M.D. | William D. Krauss, D.O. Michael D. Smith, M.D. | William D. Sudduth, M.D. C.J. Talbert, M.D. ON-SITE MRI and PHYSICAL THERAPY
Call 205-985-4111 today to schedule your appointment. www.SouthlakeOrthopaedics.com
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OUT & ABOUT
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HEIGHTS HANGOUT
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PHOTOS BY MALLORY BARRY
Those who came out for this Cahaba Heights party got to sample the new Martin’s Barbecue opening soon alongside treats from other area eateries as well as games and live music. 1. Copeland Bailey, Natasha Padan and Daniel Padan 2. Clay Wheeler and Maria Mote 3. Bob and Stephanie Eichelberger with Lily Bean 4. Leia Isbell and Linda Willard 5. Chris and Blair Greene with Paxton 6. Dave and Jessica Woods 7. Christina, Jack and Christopher Gerhardt 8. Elizabeth, Neyland and Ellie Lipham 9. Bonnie and Will Coleman 10. Cooper Hopkins 11. Amelia Preston and Jordan Collar 12. Margaret Davis with Demi
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OUT & ABOUT
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PHOTOS BY MADOLINE MARKHAM
Vendors selling farm fresh produce, homemade casseroles and baked goods, clothing and more set out their wares each Wednesday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Scout Square in front of Walgreens on Highway 31. The market, organized by Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, is open every week except July 4 through Aug. 8. 1. Rick Cybulsky, and Debbie and Gordon Huffman of Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church 2. Dwight Ham of Hamm Farms 3. Austin Penton of Penton Farms 4. Hill and Dale greens 5. Penton Farms peaches 6. Joy Ledvina of Earth Creations 7. Hamm Farms’ colorful selection 8. Hamm Farms hot sauce made in partnership with Johnny’s Restaurant in Homewood 9. Kia Ochun and Sarah Bell of Hill and Dale (based in Irondale) 10. Penton Farms vegetables 11. Kaye Porter of Gigi’s Fabulous Foods
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MARKETPLACE
Marketplace Vestavia Hills Magazine • 205.669.3131
LAWN CARE •Large Properties •Lake Properties •Property Cleanups - Great Rates! Free Estimates! -Shelby and Chilton Counties- 10% DISCOUNT for Military & Senior Citizens. Call Alex 205955-3439 INDUSTRIAL ATHLETES $17.68 hour + production & safety $$$ incentives. Grocery order selection using electric pallet jacks & voice activated headsets. PART-TIME TRUCK DRIVERCLASS A Average $0.53 per mile deliver palletized loads to grocery stores within 300 mile radius. Work available 7 days/week. Can lead to full-time employment. Clean MVR and 2 years minimum tractor-trailer experience required. Paid vacation & holidays. Blue Cross health & dental insurance. Matching 401k plan. Apply online at AGSOUTH.COM or call Charlie Seagle at (205) 8084833 Pre-employment drug test required.
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. Walk-in applications accepted. Clanton (205)2800002. Pelham (205)444-9774. B & J Metal Fabricators Offering more than roofing! •Metal roofing •Portable metal buildings •Custom sizes available Customize your own!! Montevallo (205)6654687 (205)296-9988 Bama Concrete Now Hiring: Diesel Mechanic 4 Years Minimum Experience. CDL Preferred. Competitive Pay. Great Benefits. Apply in person: 2180 Hwy 87 Alabaster, 35007 Bent Creek Apartments. Affordable 1 and 2 Bedroom. On-site Manager. On-site Maintenance. 3001 7th Street.
North Clanton, AL 35045. TDD#s: 800-548-2547(V) 800548-2546(T/A) bentcreek@ morrowapts.com Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm. Equal Opportunity Provider/ Employer BEST CARS, INC in Clanton, AL. Double your Tax Refund • Up to $1,000 on purchase of select vehicles. Offer good through February 28, 2018. 1674 7th Street South, Clanton AL 35045 205-7553737 **Bring in this ad to qualify for Tax Refund offer!** Class-A CDL Truck Driver needed. Great pay with health benefits, holiday and vacation pay. Home every night. Contact Cahaba Veneer office at 205-926-9797. Birmingham Hide & Tallow Immediate position for CLASS-B ROUTE DRIVERS FOR LOCAL ROUTE. WELLESTABLISHED 100+ YEAR COMPANY NOW HIRING ROUTE DRIVERS. HOME NIGHTS/WEEKENDS. LOOKING FOR HARD WORKING DRIVERS TO JOIN OUR TEAM. CLEAN MVR/BG CHECK REQUIRED. COMPETITIVE PAY & BENEFITS: BCBC, 401K, PAID HOLIDAYS/VACATION, COMPANY FURNISHED UNIFORMS. CALL 205425-1711 OR EMAIL: adria. lupien@bhtonline.com Boise Cascade Now Hiring for Utility Positions. Starting pay $13/hour. Must be able to pass background screen. Please apply at www.bc.com BRIARWOOD APARTMENTS Now Leasing! Beautiful 1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments. Mon & Wed 8:30am-4pm. 535-A Hicks St. Montevallo • 205665-2257 • TDD #’s: (V)1800-548-2547 • (T/A)1-800548-2546. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Carroll Fulmer Now Hiring Class-A CDL Drivers. Overthe-road positions available.
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Dry vans. No hazmat. Must have one year over-the-road. Experience and a clean MVR. Competitive pay and bonus package. Good home time. Call 800-633-9710 ext. 2 Chase Learning Center & Day Care is Pelham is Now Hiring • PT Nursery • PT After-school. $8/hr. 5 days/ week. Great for college students! 205-620-1616 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Seeking two qualified individuals to fill two part time driver vacancies for Chilton County Transit. Applicants must meet the following qualifications: must possess a valid Alabama driver’s license, a high school diploma, extensive knowledge of Chilton County Roads, clean driving record, and good math skills. No phone calls, please. Applications are available at the Transit office at 508 Enterprise Road, Clanton between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. Applicants should send application or resume to: Employment Opportunity P. O. Box 1245 Clanton, AL 35046 Coosa Valley Medical Center NOW HIRING! •RN Med/Surg, 7am-7pm •RN Labor & Delivery, 11pm-7am 7-on/7-off •LPN CVMC Nursing Home, 3pm-11pm, 11pm-7am •RN ICU, 7am-7pm Email resume to: Blaine.Green@cvhealth.net or to apply, go to www. cvhealth.net Full Time and Part Time RN’s Needed for home health in Bibb, Shelby and Chilton counties. Excellent Salary and Benefits. Please send resumes to jobs@rubic.com or call 866-273-3984
DCH Health System Caring. For Life. $5,000 *Sign-on Bonus for full time RNs *For More Info Contact Annie. Miller@dchsystem.com. Apply online at: www.dchsystem. com Homewood Area Package Store. Day Shift (10am-6pm) Clerk/Stocker. Must be 21, have retail experience, be able to multi-task, able to work any shift. Good pay. Call (205)585-8900 Edgar’s Bakery Interviewing candidates for cake decorators, front counter associates, bakery production workers, packagers, and drivers. Apply online: edgarsbakery.com or at your nearest Edgar’s location.
Job Posting: Human Resource Manager FullTime File Clerk/Data Entry Clerk Part-Time Please email resume: Oacinc5@yahoo.com Or mail to: Post Office Drawer 559 Clanton, Alabama 35045 Certified Welders & Tank Fitters needed for field erected tanks. Work done in Southeast. Good pay and benefits. Call 800-728-8265 ext 224 Email resume to c.bradley@esptank.com ERP Compliant Coke is now accepting applications for experienced BOILER / POWER PLANT OPERATOR $20.56/hr +excellent benefits Apply at local Career Center or email resume to pmay@ erpcoke.com EOE/M/F/VET/ DIS Welder Training. Short Term Licensing . Call for Details . 866-432-0430 ESDschool. com $2000 SIGN ON BONUS NEW PAY SCALE TO QUALIFYING DRIVERS EVERGREEN TRANSPORT, is accepting applications for local drivers in the Calera and Leeds, AL, area. Must have Class A CDL, good driving record, 1 yr verifiable tractor
trailer experience. Good pay and benefits. Apply in person at 8278 Hwy 25 South, Calera, AL, or call for info 205-6683316. Evergreen Transport, LLC has immediate openings in the Maintenance Department at its Calera Terminal for the following positions: Diesel Mechanics (Both day and night shifts): Repairing, maintaining, overhauling of heavy duty fleet trucks and any other duties as requested. Tire Technician: Repairing/ replacing flat, leaking, mismatched or damaged tires. Finding and replacing missing lugs and damaged rims and any other duties requested. If interested, please call Jason Bentley @ 205-668-3316 or apply in person at 8278 Hwy 25, Calera, AL 35040. Taking applications for experienced part-time bartender for growing business in Clanton. Call Teresa: 334-235-0228 or call the restaurant between 4-10pm: 205-280-4949 ONLINE AUCTIONS www.GTAOnlineAuctions.com 205-326-0833 Granger, Thagard & Assoc. Jack F. Granger #873 DRIVERS Hanna Truck Lines is seeking Professional Flatbed Drivers. 53 cpm No surprises: Starting pay (all miles): 51 cpm, 52 cpm at 6 months, 53 cpm at 1 year. 100% Outbounds loads Pre-loaded & Tarped. 75% Inbound No Tarp. Late Model Peterbilt Trucks. Air Ride Trailers. Home weekends. Low cost BCBS Health & Dental Ins. Matching 401K. Qualifications: 18 months Class A CDL driving experience with 6 months flatbed; Applicants must meet all D.O.T. requirements. Contact recruiting at 1-800634-7315 or come by HTL office at 1700 Boone Blvd, Northport. EOE
MARKETPLACE LPN’s, RN’s, CNA’s Full-time & part-time • 2nd & 3rd Shift Apply in person: Hatley Health Care 300 Medical Ctr Dr Clanton, AL 35045 Looking for a wonderful place to live? NEW Meadow View Village Apartments. Columbiana, AL. Now Preleasing 2&3 Bedrooms. Great Amenities Provided. Call 256-560-0821. 99 Eagle Lane. info@hollyhand.com. Equal Housing Opportunity. CDL TRUCK DRIVER For Tree Service. Also hiring for other full-time and part-time jobs. Drug Test Required. 205-836-2038 or 205-2297144 Kelly Educational Staffing® We’re hiring! •Substitute teachers •Aides •Cafeteria •Clerical •Custodial positions Shelby County School District & Alabaster City Schools. Please call 205-870-7154 -Equal Opportunity EmployerOwner Operators Wanting Dedicated Year Round Anniston, AL www.pull4klb.com Service Technician. Top Pay, Benefits & Commission! Mainline Heating & Air. 400 Hillwood Park S, Alabaster, AL. Or email resume to: ashley@mainlineheating.com (205)664-4751 Marble Valley Manor. Affordable 1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments for Elderly & Disabled. Many on-site services! 2115 Motes Rd, Sylacauga. 256-245-6500 •TDD#s: 800-548-2547(V) •800-548-2546(T/A). Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm. Equal Opportunity Provider/ Employer Are you a motivated professional? Are you looking for a dynamic career? Are you ready to control your own level of success? See why McKinnons’ is an exciting place to work and grow. Now accepting applications for Sales, Service, and Detail Shop. Apply with the receptionist. 205-755-3430 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 280 Location Opening Now Hiring 3 shift Managers. Pay Rate $9-$11. 20-25 Employees. Pay Rate $7.75-$8.50. Must have own transportation and flexible schedule. Apply at recruiting. talentreef.com/mommagoldbergs-deli (205)503-6190 Montgomery Stockyard Drop Station at Gray & Son’s in Clanton. Call Lane at 205389-4530. For other hauling arrangements, contact Wes in Harpersville 205-965-8657 Production Jobs. Willing to Train. AAM in Columbiana is HIRING for multiple shifts. Email resume to dcurtis@ grede.com or apply in person: 130 Industrial Pkwy, Columbiana, AL 35051 NOW HIRING Class-A CDL Driver Must have clean driving record, two years experience Will train drivers on tank Drivers home nightly Contact Keith at: 205-438-4959 INDUSTRIAL CLEANING IN VANCE Requirements: •18 Years Old •HS Diploma/GED •Able to work variable shifts/ weekends/holidays •Able to lift up to 50lbs constantly, stand on your feet for 8hrs •Able to pass drug screen/ background check Complete your application on line at www.naonsite.com Production / Manufacturing Vance, Alabama Starting pay: $12.00 – $14.50 /hr. • Have 2 years+ Production/ Manufacturing experience. • Have Recently Lived in Alabama at least 2 years. • Have A High School Diploma or GED. • Are at least 18 years old. Complete your application on line at www. naonsite.com Odyssey Early Schools. Birmingham’s Best Daycare/ Preschool is Seeking Experienced Teachers. 4 Year Degree Preferred. Full-Time. BEST Pay. FULL Benefits (Insurance, Leave, Holidays). Call Annie Fine 205-9910039.
Oxford Healthcare in Montgomery currently hiring certified CNA’s and/or Home Health aides in the Clanton, Marbury and Maplesville areas. Must be able to pass complete background check, have reliable transportation and have a strong work ethic. Serious inquires only. Call 334-409-0035 or apply on-line at www.Oxfordhealthcare.com Class A CDL Drivers Needed Immediately for Dump Trailer Hauling • $2000 Retention Bonus • Local Hauling • Home Nights APPLY ONLINE: www.perdidotrucking.com Perdido Trucking Service, LLC 251-470-0355
CLOCK REPAIR SVS. * Setup * Repair * Maintenance. I can fix your Mother’s clock. Alabaster/Pelham. Call Stephen (205)663-2822 Electrician - FT Supreme Electric, local-based company in Pelham. Must be willing to learn & work hard. Go to: supremeelectric-al.com Print employment application under Contact Us. Mail to: Supreme Electric 231 Commerce Pkwy Pelham, AL 35124 or call 205-453-9327. TARGET AUCTION Advanced Real Estate Marketing 800-476-3939 www.targetauction.com
Move in Special! 3/2 Garden Home w/garage. Dishwasher, Fenced backyard, Great Room w/vaulted Ceiling. Calera Schools. Rent $1150. FLAT SCREEN TV!! (205)4339811
TaylorMade Transportation Hiring CDL Drivers for Flatbed Regional Division! BCBS Insurance After 30 Days. To apply call: (334)366-2269 or email: s.smith@taylormadeinc. com
The Salvation Army, Alabaster, is hiring (Seasonal) Angel Tree Coordinator • Kettle Coordinator • Required Skills: Driver, databases, computer, physical abilities. Email resumes to: Rufus. McDowell@uss.salvationarmy. org 205-663-7105
Learn a Skill & Begin your Career! Earn $50,000 & More First Year. Hiring Hard Working Insulation & Afterpaint Installers! •Immediate Openings •We Train you to Succeed. Requirements: •Valid DL •Drug Test •MVR •Background Check. www. truteam.com/careers or 205.428.9381
Soon the Mark of the Beast Will Be Enforced. Free Book & Bible Study. PO Box 171 • Samantha, AL 35482 205339-4837 Order Selectors Food Dist. Center in Pelham Day-Shift: Mon-Fri. 40+ hours/week 10:00AM until finished (varies). Salary: $16-20/hr after training. Benefits: Medical, vision, dental, vacation & 401k. Requirements: •Reading & math skills •Lift 40 lbs. repetitively •Work in -10 Temperature Apply in person: 8:30AM-5:00PM Southeastern Food 201 Parker Drive Pelham, Alabama 35124 resume@southeasternfood. com Immediate Positions!!!! Positions needed: Warehouse • Sales Reps • Assistant Manager • Delivery Drivers • Customer Service. Laid back atmosphere, good pay, plenty of hours available! Company vehicles to qualified individuals! Call Andrew 9am7pm • Mon-Sat at (205)4901003 or (205)243-6337
The Painting Company of Birmingham Immediate openings for professional residential and commercial painters. Must be able to speak English. Call 205-995-5559 Become a Dental Assistant in ONLY 8 WEEKS! Please visit our website capstonedentalassisting.com or call (205)561-8118 and get your career started!
WCA • Roll Off Drivers needed for our Alpine, AL location. Class A or B CDL is required along with one (1) year of verifiable equivalent commercial truck driving experience. Must have a valid and safe driving record. We offer competitive wages & a comprehensive benefits package which includes: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k, Life Insurance, Short & Long Term Disability, Paid Holidays and PTO. Please apply through our website at www.wcawaste.com EOE M/F/D/V WARRIOR MET COAL NOW HIRING Located in Brookwood, AL Immediate need for experienced: •Underground Miners •Electricians •Maintenance Foreman •Supervisors Apply online: www.warriormetcoal.com NOW HIRING: •Master Plumber •Experienced Plumber’s Helper •Experienced Plumber Call 205-755-8555 Tree Nursery Worker Needed Responsible w/ mechanical skills, to operate forklift/farm tractors/ equipment/welding/ ground maintenance/service equipment/check fluid levels/ clean after use. Maintain safe/ clean area. Requires valid-DL/ reliable transportation. 334365-2488 Wiregrass Construction Company is seeking experienced asphalt CDL TRUCK DRIVERS. Must be dependable. Excellent benefits. Interested applicants may apply: 951 Dow Street. Pelham, AL 35124.(205)6204132 or 151 Piper Lane. Alabaster, AL 35007 (205)6050753. 8AM to 5PM, M-F. WCC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Opies Transport, Inc. NOW HIRING Class A Truck Drivers. Needing to find a home? We are it. Apply today! 800-3419963 or opiestransport.com
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MY VESTAVIA HILLS HARRIET CONYERS
Retired Vestavia Hills Elementary West Counselor
Ties That Bind
From the Beginning
Episcopal Church of the Ascension Many of our closest friends were made through The Episcopal Church of the Ascension on Canyon Road. We had barbeques, art shows and Merry Players, all money raisers for a small church where you worshipped and yet had great fun.
Vestavia Hills Elementary West I was so fortunate to finish my master’s about the time VHEW opened its doors in 1977 and became the first counselor. A lot of memories are made in 24 years: the police taking me home because the roads were closed with snow and ice, the sweet little boy who saw me after school in my neighborhood and said, “Mama, Mama, there is Mrs. Conyers, she goes to my school!” West was and is a wonderful school with dedicated teachers, engaged parents and great students.
Memories of Yesteryear
Highway 31 Staples A real treat was to get an icee at Mackey’s and to walk down to Sears to buy bridge mix (candy). We went to Britling Cafeteria on Thursday night and always found something to buy at Parisian and Yielding’s at Vestavia Mall. There was a Woolworths (five and dime) and Western Supermarket where Pet Smart now is. Just like now you would see someone from PTA or church or tennis...always a familiar face.
All in the Family
Three Generations of Conyers Our family has had the incredible good luck of all being together in this fine city. Our two daughters and five grandsons have all enjoyed the good fortune of being able to call Vestavia Hills home.
Date Night
The Vestavia Temple My first memory of Vestavia Hills is of driving up the mountain in a red MG convertible at dusk with my date to have dinner at Vestavia Temple. I don’t remember my date’s name. I do remember how pretty I thought it all was, and to this day, I take such pride every time I come up or down that mountain. How fortunate we are that the members of the Vestavia Garden Club were willing to effect the moving of the Temple of Sybil to its signature present location.
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