Hair on a
mission
Meet the ladies of Morgan Ashley Salon
Ice and Coal
Gallery New art space opens in Helena
The Brothers
Erwin
Filmmaking duo tackle parenting in new comedy
pose
Strike a
September 2013 • $4.95
Local businesses offer yoga for health, exercise
Gluten-free
goodness September 2013 | 1
2 | ShelbyLiving.com
September 2013 | 3
FROM THE EDITOR
I
’ve followed the careers of Jon and Andy Erwin with interest over the years. I heard about them soon after joining the staff of Shelby County Newspapers in 2011. I got a chance to interview them within a year, when they were promoting “October Baby,” their first feature-length film. Now, the Erwins are back with a new film, “Mom’s Night Out,” and some of the scenes were filmed in Shelby County. The family friendly comedy features a young couple who switch roles for the night — the husband watches the kids, while the wife goes out for a night with friends. I didn’t get a chance to interview the brothers myself this time around. Instead, I assigned a freelancer to write a story about the film. After reading it, I can easily say I think the Erwins have another hit movie on their hands. It’s clear the Erwins are talented filmmakers and wonderful representatives for our area. I’m glad they’ve found success in the filmmaking industry — and that they’re bringing Shelby County and Alabama along for the ride.
This month’s issue also features several other local artists, filmmakers and writers who are shining a positive light on Shelby County. • Pelham natives Troy Wagner and Joseph Delage are only 25, but they’re already big names online. The duo, with writing partner Tim Sutton, created Marble Hornets, a suspenseful web series that has attracted a cult following. Earlier this year, they announced Marble Hornets will be made into a movie. • Cassandra King, a University of Montevallo graduate and best-selling author, is back with a new novel this month – “Moonrise.” She shares the story behind the novel in this issue. • Helena is home to a new art gallery – Ice and Coal Gallery. Owner Rosalie Oetting takes us on a tour of the gallery and shares plans for the future. I hope you’ll enjoy this issue of Shelby Living as much as I enjoyed putting it together. As always, feel free to call or email me with any comments, questions or story ideas.
Katie McDowell, Editor
Katie.McDowell@ShelbyLiving.com
ON THE COVER Morgan Mondy is the owner of Morgan Ashley Salon in Birmingham. Cover design: Amy Baldis Photography: Jon Goering
SHELBY Living EDITORIAL Katie McDowell Amy Jones Neal Wagner Drew Granthum Stephanie Brumfield CONTRIBUTORS Laura Brookhart Lauren Heartsill Dowdle Veronica Kennedy Linda Long Willesha Morris Lisa Phillips Clarke Stackhouse Grace Thornton PRODUCTION Amy Baldis Jamie Dawkins Daniel Holmes Jon Goering MARKETING Alan Brown Laurel Cousins Jill Harvell Thomas LaBoone Nicole Loggins Rhett McCreight Meagan Mims Mary Strehle ADMINISTRATION Tim Prince Jan Griffey Mary Jo Eskridge Hailey Dolbare Annie McGilvray Christine Roberts Shelby Living is published monthly by Shelby County Newspapers Inc., P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Shelby Living 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, Shelby Living, P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Shelby Living is mailed to select households throughout Shelby County, and a limited number of free copies are available at local businesses. Please visit Shelbyliving.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $12 for one year by emailing subscribe@shelbyliving. com, or calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 21. Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@ shelbyliving.com, or by calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 11.
4 | ShelbyLiving.com
WHAT’S INSIDE
Recreation 40
WELLBORN FINDS HIS TARGET Pelham resident excels at goal ball
44
HOLISTIC HEALTH Local businesses offer yoga classes to promote health and relieve stress
44
September 2013 | 5
WHAT’S INSIDE
28
56 in every issue 7
THE SIMPLE LIFE
8
SHORT STORIES
60
SHELBY SPOTTED
80
OUT & ABOUT
82
WHY I LOVE SHELBY COUNTY
arts & culture features 10
PAINTING FROM THE BRAIN Outdoor workshops challenge local artists
12 READING ROOM Allie Williams shares her favorite books 13 ARTS COUNCIL CORNER SCAC welcomes author Tripp Bowden 14 A TEAM EFFORT Jon and Andy Erwin tackle parenting in their new film 22 FROM YOUTUBE TO THE BIG SCREEN Shelby County natives’ web series will be made into a movie 26 SENSE OF PLACE Cassandra King’s new novel will be released this month 28 BREAKING THE MOLD Ice and Coal Gallery opens in Helena
6 | ShelbyLiving.com
32 32 STRENGTH TO SERVE The Rev. Thomas and Mechelle Wilder give back to the community 36 HAIR ON A MISSION Morgan Ashley Salon empowers women through styling hair and participating in global missions
home & food 50
A FAMILY RETREAT A pool and outdoor patio make this Greystone home perfect for gatherings
56
GLUTTON FOR GLUTEN FREE The Funky Muffin Bakery offers healthy and tasty baked goods
THE SIMPLE LIFE
W
Scale it down
hen is too much really too much? Look around your living space and office area. Do you see a lot of stuff? Do you use it all? Do you enjoy it all? Is it current and relevant to the season you are living? Lisa Phillips, owner of SimpleWorks, If you were asked to choose the Simpleworksmtsp.com five “can’t live without” things (not lisa@simpleworksmtsp.com your 8-year-old or four-legged, 205.981.7733 furry friend), what would they be? Did you pick a picture that reminded you of family and fun times? Was it your iPad that is your life? A pair of shoes? We all have stuff that we are attached to for emotional and practical reasons, yet when is enough enough? • Duplicates. Two irons, six sets of sheets for each bed, or three cast iron dutch ovens in three gorgeous colors. All of this drains you of time and energy because it all has to be cleaned, stored, organized and moved from time to time. If it doesn’t bring you joy or have value, what is holding you back from donating or selling it? • Impulses. Have you ever bought something or acquired it from Grandma, brought it home, and then asked yourself “why?” Impulse purchases happen more frequently than you might think. Grocery stores are the worst because everything looks so good! Sales really can get you, “It is such a deal; how can I pass it up?” Sometimes we look at the immediate gratification while losing sight of the long-term repercussions. • Visual and mental clutter. Have you ever had a garage sale? Nothing feels as good as when you pull things from your home that you are no longer using or loving, giving you a feeling of less clutter in your surroundings. • Time, space, energy and money. These four things are what you have to remind yourself of when it comes to the over-abundance of things in your life. Do you have time to care for it and clean it? Where are you going to put it? Do you have the energy to look at it each day and to use it? Is it worth the money to purchase, care and store it? Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Save the money (and time, space and energy) for a travel fund. Just don’t bring home a snow globe to sit on the mantle that ends up in next year’s garage sale. It’s that simple. l
If it doesn’t bring you joy or have value, what is holding you back from donating or selling it?
September 2013 | 7
SHORT STORIES
Helena native Landon Cooper runs across country Montevallo residents visit sister city in Japan A group of Montevallo residents recently returned from a 10-day trip to Echizen Japan, Montevallo’s sister city. The group included Montevallo Mayor Hollie Cost, two adult chaperones and eight Montevallo students, ranging in age from 12-16 years old. The group left July 17 and returned July 28 and experienced a range of cultural experiences while they were abroad. In addition to participating in home stays with Japanese host families, the students went white water rafting, visited a Buddhist temple, learned calligraphy and meditation, participated in a Japanese “Taiko” drum lesson, toured a pottery
village, went to a Japanese paper village, hiked to a castle and more. “It was an incredible experience, and the children got so much out of it,” Cost said. Cost said the goal of the biennial trip, which began in 2009, is to immerse Montevallo students in Japanese culture and to give them an appreciation and understanding of the similarities and differences between Japanese and American culture. The eight students who went on the trip were selected after submitting an application and going through a series of interviews. ~Stephanie Brumfield
SPHS cheerleaders win awards The Spain Park High School’s varsity, junior varsity and freshmen squads recently competed at the UCA Cheer Camp in Panama City, Fla. Several members won Pin-It Forward awards, including Hazen Hoagland, Carlie Nall, Caitlin Lott, Lauren Nichols and Allie Andrews. The Varsity Squad, pictured, won first place in home pom, second place in extreme, first place in cheer and first place overall. Varsity squad members Lauren Burks and Carlie Nall were named All-American and received UCA Staff Bids. Back row, from left: Caroline Wells, Jordan Cotney, Riley Stover, Anna Pizzitola, Hazen Hoagland, 8 | ShelbyLiving.com
Rebecca Poarch, Jhavonte Waire, Ashlyn Halbrooks, Madison Beech, Ana-Cecelia Rush and Deja Brown. Front row, from left: Coach LeeAnne Guy, Lauren Burks, Allison Hanby, Grace Boggan, Lindsey Young, Ashley Dismukes, Allie Andrews and Carlie Nall. ~Staff Reports
For Helena native Landon Cooper and his two running mates, the highway nicknamed “The Loneliest Road in America” lived up to its moniker and then some. “It was 350 miles of nothing but desert road. From Cooper a psychological standpoint, that was the hardest part,” Cooper said of his time spent running Highway 50 in Nevada. “You had to worry about survival, water usage and preparing meals. It was quite a science project just to keep three people alive.” Cooper’s 350-mile running trek on Highway 50 was a small portion of a more-than-3,000-mile journey across the United States from Feb. 14 to mid-July to raise money for the Sarcoma Foundation of America. When Cooper and his running mates finished their journey from the Golden Gate Bridge to Ocean City, Md., they had raised more than $103,000 through their Miles 2 Give organization, which raised money for the Sarcoma Foundation of America. “This tour brought so much needed awareness to sarcoma cancer, which really is the forgotten cancer,” Cooper said. “This is a small step to bring that needed attention to the fight against sarcoma.” To celebrate the Helena native’s feat, Helena Mayor Mark Hall, City Councilman Hal Woodman and Cooper’s friends and family members gathered at Helena City Hall on Aug. 1. During the event, Hall read a proclamation honoring Cooper’s crosscountry run and presented Cooper with a key to the city and a Helena city flag. ~Neal Wagner
SPHS JV squad wins awards at cheer camp The Spain Park High School’s varsity, junior varsity and freshmen squads recently competed at the UCA Cheer Camp in Panama City, Fla. The JV Squad, pictured, won first place in home pom, second place in sideline, third place in extreme, first place in cheer and second place overall. JV squad members Victoria Whitten and Carson Williams were named All-American. Back row, from left: Coach Ashelie Halla, Carson Williams, Jacklyn LeVert, Ella Dawson, Chase Burton, Maddie Payne, Morgyn Widra, Paige Livengood and Victoria Whitten. Front row, from left: Merritt Huey, Payton Dennis, Abby Anglin, Caitlin Lott, Caitlin Saenz and Jessica Beckenstein. ~Staff Reports
Coosa Riverkeeper gets new director
Justinn Overton was recently named director of Coosa Riverkeeper, a non-profit that is focused on protecting the Coosa River. The Chelsea-based organization serves as “the voice of the Coosa River,” according to Overton. Members patrol the river, educate the public, and advocate on behalf of the river to ensure future generations will inherit swimmable, drinkable, fishable water for healthy communities. Overton is responsible for answering to the board of directors, working with donors, working with corporate sponsors, coordinating programs and special events, development work and more. Overton received a degree from the University of Alabama focusing on environmental advocacy, and she first got involved with Coosa Riverkeeper after meeting Frank Chitwood, Coosa Riverkeeper’s former director and current riverkeeper, at a Black Warrior Riverkeeper event. She has been working parttime with Coosa Riverkeeper since August 2012. “I think that clean water is something that everyone deserves to have, whether its consumption for drinking, or whether you like to play or go fishing,” she said. ~Stephanie Brumfield
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September 2013 | 9
ARTS & CULTURE
Painting
from the brain
Outdoor workshops challenge local artists Story and photographs by LAURA BROOKHART
“
I
do not want to teach you to learn to paint like me. Success for me is to teach techniques and share knowledge that will enable you to enjoy your own creativity to its fullest and to reach your own desired level as a professional,” instructor Donna Chieves told the en plein air class that gathered in May at the bucolic Stamps Junction homestead. In the backyard the ‘stage’ was set behind an old outbuilding—a clothesline had been strung between two trees and from it hung a red plaid shirt, a white shirt, blue jeans, a linen table runner and a red scarf. Ladders were propped against the building, itself patterned with a design in cream and avocado with a red paned window. The workshop was sponsored by the 10 | ShelbyLiving.com
Montevallo Arts Council and taught by Chieves, a Birmingham resident who has been a member of Plein Air Artists of Alabama since 1998 and coordinated the group’s activities from 2006-2012. En plein air is a French expression that means “in the open air.” Noting the previous year’s workshop had concentrated on painting open fields and red barns, Chieves wanted a different subject this year. She thought about a clothesline, saying, “It came to mind as I have never personally painted one myself.” “When we all began to look at the scene, none of us could work out the composition. There were so many items close together,” Martha Fulghum pointed out. “Donna made several suggestions— one was to change the size of our canvas to better fit the proportions of the scene.” Each student was taught to use
cardboard guides to focus in on elements of the composition and given green cellophane, which allows you to see the lights and darks. “You want to eliminate some items, perhaps the ladders in the background, otherwise it would be too busy; you want your eye to travel through the composition; it does not have to interpret as a camera would,” Chieves said. “One of the hardest realizations for beginners is adjusting to the premise that you do not have to paint everything you see,” she added. “It’s your painting; you can make it yours in any way you please.” Chieves suggested re-interpreting the trees as metal T-bars, as an oldfashioned backyard line might be strung. “It is often much more difficult to paint from your brain than from your eye, and there are artists who can only paint from their eye. When you paint
CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Donna Chieves gives instruction to Sandy Swindall during the en plain air workshop. Challie Raines paints her interpretation of clothes drying on a line at an outdoor workshop in Montevallo. Participants in the workshop painted an outdoor scene of clothes hanging from a line.
from the brain, you take ideas from your thoughts and put something new on the canvas.” “When you see something is a certain color, but you feel the urge to make it a different color, you should follow that instinct,” Chieves said. “Yes, there is lavender in these tree trunks,” she explained to a student, “But using bright purple makes the interpretation expressionistic; I think you ought to go with it.” When converting three dimensions to two, Chieves tells students to select one focal point to be the destination for the viewer’s eye. At this point are the lightest lights and the darkest darks and the thickest paint and most intense colors. Minimize everything else by softening edges while considering balance. Many feel the best time to stage a painting is dawn or dusk. The immediate lighting may be captured by camera or iPad for reference when later completing the work. “Outdoor lighting is so much better,” Martha Fulghum noted. “You tend to loosen up; capturing patches of color and dark and light. Now I drive down the road and I see not just a solid green field or shades of green—I now see there are all kinds of colors there; when you start to paint, your eye sees more and in different ways.” l
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September 2013 | 11
ARTS & CULTURE
Reading Room: Allie Williams
A
What’s your favorite genre? Young adult, by far. Around 80 percent of the books I read fall into that category. Last year, my three favorite books were historical fiction and so I’ve been looking for more of that this year. I also enjoy horror, romance and some non-fiction. Owning a Kindle has made me more experimental in what I read. It’s so easy to access a wide variety of reading material cheaply or for free, so I’m trying things I wouldn’t have before. The only category I never, ever read is biography.
Story by KATIE MCDOWELL Photograph by JON GOERING
llie Williams is the director of Parnell Memorial Library in Montevallo. Originally from Los Angeles, she has lived in Alabama for most of her life. She has a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Alabama. She worked at Southern Progress for 10 years and Oakstone Publishing for five before starting her current position. She and her husband live in Pelham with their two cats. What brought you to Shelby County? We wanted to be close to everything but still feel that sense of community you get in a smaller town. Shelby County has so much to offer and the people are wonderful. I love working in Montevallo— there is such a positive and enthusiastic spirit about this town that you just don’t find everywhere. There is so much support for the library in this community, and I am convinced we have the nicest patrons! Why do you love to read? On a personal level, I love it for entertainment and education. Even if you’re reading fiction, you always learn something. One of my favorite
writers is Barbara Michaels, who has a PhD in Egyptology. Her novels are so well-researched that you end up learning whether you mean to or not. As a librarian, I am inspired by the way reading transforms lives. Reading widens horizons and opens you up to new ideas and ambitions. And being able to read well provides you with the tools to achieve your dreams. We see this all the time in literacy programs at the library—people improving their reading skills and gaining a new confidence that is so empowering.
Do you have any upcoming events at the library? Parnell Memorial Library has some wonderful programs in store this fall. Registration for the next English for Speakers of Other Languages class will take place on Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. On Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m., we are hosting the University of Montevallo departments of art and music as they present two guest artists from New York, Lothar Osterberg and Elizabeth Brown. Their presentation, “A Bookmobile for Dreamers,” is a fascinating multimedia movie/opera. In October, November and December, we will have exciting programs from Poetry Alive!, and storytellers Mr. Mac and Dolores Hydock, among others, thanks to a Smart investing@your library grant. More details will be available on our web site, Cityofmontevallo.com. l
Allie’s Reading Recommendations The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey This is the first in a new series that may well be the next big thing since “The Hunger Games.” Yancey is one of the most talented authors in YA right now, and this story of a teen fighting to survive after an alien apocalypse is one you’ll stay up all night to finish. 12 | ShelbyLiving.com
Little Century by Anna Keesey “Little Century” is a character-driven story set in 1910, about an orphan who goes to live in Oregon and finds herself in the middle of a turf war between cattlemen, sheep farmers and the railroad. The last page is one of the most beautifully written endings I have ever read.
Fever by Mary Beth Keane “Fever” is a historical novel told from the point of view of Mary Mallon, better known as Typhoid Mary. Keane does an amazing job of getting inside Mary’s head to explain why she made the destructive choices that she did.
ARTS COUNCIL CORNER
SCAC welcomes author Tripp Bowden Story by CLARKE STACKHOUSE Photographs by CONTRIBUTED
T
ripp Bowden was 10 years old when he met Augusta National Golf Club caddy Freddie Bennett. Through Bowden’s eyes, Bennett was larger than life, in both personality and physicality. The legendary caddy left a permanent impression on him. The Shelby County Arts Council will welcome Bowden, who is the author of the book “Freddie and Me: Life Lessons from Freddie Bennett,” to the county Sept. 11. Bowden will visit Chelsea High School and Vincent High School during his visit. He said he is going to talk to the students about forming the idea for the book and share writing advice. Bowden said his wife pushed him toward writing and he plans to do the same for the students.
He said his wife was tired of him complaining about the idea and gave him a cold beer and a blank sheet of paper and locked him in his office. “She told me I wasn’t allowed to leave the room
until I had written a prologue,” Bowden said. “I closed my eyes and started writing. The prologue is completely unedited.” Bowden graduated with a degree in English from
Augusta State University and didn’t know what to do after graduation. He said he called Bennett and started caddying at Augusta National Golf Club. Bowden caddied for four seasons at Augusta National. He then moved on to a job with an advertising agency and didn’t keep in touch with Bennett, who died in 2006. “It is still one of my life’s biggest regrets,” Bowden said. “I didn’t realize how important Freddie was to me until I wrote that prologue.” Bowden will speak at the Timberline Country Club in Calera at noon on Friday, Sept. 13 and earlier that morning, he will join golfers to help pay for high school outreach programs. Bowden said he is excited to share his writing experience and life lessons taught by Bennett. “At times in life, you have to stand out of the way and see what happens,” Bowden said. l
September 2013 | 13
ARTS & CULTURE
A team effort Andy and Jon Erwin tackle parenting in their new film Story by WILLIESHA MORRIS Photographs by TYLER ESSARY, JON GOERING and CONTRIBUTED
14 | ShelbyLiving.com
September 2013 | 15
PAGES 14-15, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A still from “Moms’ Night Out,” a new comedy from Shelby County natives Jon and Andy Erwin, Sarah Drew, Abbie Cobb, Patricia Heaton, Andrea Logan White and David Hunt. Andy Erwin takes a break during filming of the Erwin brothers’ previous film, “October Baby.” Michael Leone, Shiloh Nelson and Zion Spargo show why their mom needs a little break in this movie still. Sean Astin (right) and Kevin Downes get all wrapped up in the joys—and challenges—of parenting in a still from Moms’ Night Out. ABOVE: Sarah Drew, who stars in Moms’ Night Out, speaks to members of the media during filming in Pelham in June.
16 | ShelbyLiving.com
Y
ou start with a blank page and watch it turn into something great. Movie director Andy Erwin, 34, described the movie making process with as much enthusiasm and candor as he did about being a parent. It seems natural that he and his brother, 30-yearold Jon, would create a movie about the crazy world of parenting. The brothers, who are natives of Calera, both have two children under the age of 5. They’re well known in the area for their cinematic success and made a splash on the national scene in 2011 with their last film, the drama “October Baby.” “Moms’ Night Out” is their latest collaboration. Scheduled for release in 2014, the movie stars Sarah Drew, Sean Astin, Patricia Heaton and Trace Adkins. The comedy chronicles a wild, unexpected night out for a group of moms just looking to have
some fun away from their husbands and children. Andy and Jon directed the film together, and Jon also co-wrote the script with Andrea Nasfell. Andy described the brothers’ directorial style in just one word – “chaos.” That’s much like parenthood as well. If anyone knows about the chaotic balance between parenthood and directing, it is this pair. Andy’s wife, Mandii, who is from Helena, was pregnant with their daughter, Amelia, while the brothers promoted “October Baby,” which was their first full-length film. The film initially was given a limited release, but after a strong turnout, it expanded to hundreds of screens nationwide. Mandii went into labor with their daughter on the same night of “October Baby’s” premiere in Birmingham. “It was pretty wild,” Andy said.
He ended up walking the red carpet in casual clothes and heading to Brookwood Medical Center to be with her. On the set of “Moms’ Night Out,” Mandii described the day as “pretty sensational,” particularly since the baby was born on Oct. 29. That’s also the birthday of Jon and Beth’s son Ethan, so the Erwins both have October babies, in addition to the film. It seems even in parenthood, the Erwin brothers like to collaborate. Since Andy and Jon are both young parents, their personal lives made for a great impetus to pursue “Moms’ Night Out.” “Life imitates art and vice versa,” Andy said. Producer and actor Kevin Downes brought them the idea while the brothers were “trying to figure out what story we were going to tell next.” They found the adventurous story about raising young children “really relatable and hysterical.”
Engage Rotary
Change Lives
September 2013 | 17
“We just fell in love with the story,” Andy said. Beth, who is originally from Alabaster, said she could not put the script down. “I wish it was on the screen right now,” she said. “I would go see it.” The wives’ influence on the movie and the opinions of the mothers on set was crucial in the shooting of the film. “What’s wonderful about Jon and Andy is that they are really committed to share the voice of women,” said Sarah Drew, who plays the lead character Allyson, and is also a young mom. “They use their wives as incredible resources. They want our voices to be heard. It’s made to affirm, encourage and celebrate mothers primarily, and then it’s also this fun romp for families.” Filming in their home state was a natural choice for the Erwins. They knew Birmingham and Shelby 18 | ShelbyLiving.com
County folks were prepared to take on a big picture. “Alabama? Are you really sure?” was the response in Los Angeles when pitching the movie. Hollywood didn’t realize how much the state was ready for its moment in the spotlight. After leaving Alabama, the LA folks were so impressed, they said “it was the most amazing experience they’ve seen in a long time,” Andy said. Shooting took place at Pelham’s First Baptist Church and Oak Mountain Lanes, among other local spots. The Pelham police department opened its doors late into the night for filming in June and lent expertise for a car chase scene in the movie. The brothers knew “Alabama had a lot to offer.” “The city of Pelham jumped on board in a big way,” Andy said. “We’re delighted to see the city represented well in this film.” The atmosphere on set at the police department
CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Jon Erwin speaks to the media during the March 2012 premiere of “October Baby” at the Carmike Cinemas at The Summit in Birmingham. Andy Erwin and his wife, Mandii, arrive at the “October Baby” premiere. Mandii Irwin and Beth Irwin, Jon’s wife, talk to members of the media about their experience with “Moms’ Night Out” during filming in Pelham. .
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was quiet excitement and anticipation. In between scene cuts there was a lot of laughter and chatter among the Erwin brothers and the actors. “Our philosophy across the board is having a set where people are comfortable,” Andy said. The collaborative process and bringing together their unique talents is very important to them. Jon is the “visual storyteller” and Andy is the “actors’ director.” “Jon and I are brothers, which means we kind of have our own language we speak on the site,” Erwin said. “We argue a lot. It’s quirky. We’ve kind of got our own shorthand.” Sarah praised the team effort the Erwins strive to achieve on set. “Jon and Andy are an amazing team,” she said. “They have an incredible partnership. I think on this whole shoot, I have not met one single ego, which is so lovely.” Though the pair have worked separately on other projects, including sports and music videos, creating the “Erwin Brothers” brand is important to them. They just love working together. “Without Jon, it’s not as much fun,” Andy said. For more information, visit Momsnightoutmovie. com. l
Jon Erwin on the set of “October Baby.”
A Colonial Christmas at the American Village
a memorable Christmas event for your group or organization
December 10th, 11th and 12th • Sing carols in our Colonial Chapel • • Hear presidential stories in our replica Oval Office • • Enjoy lunch with Dolley Madison in our replica of the East Room at The White House •
Lunch and tour packages are now available for December 10th, 11th or 12th at 10:30 a.m. or 12:00 noon. Tickets are $25 per person. Call (205) 665-3535 extension 1031, or email christmas@americanvillage.org to order yours today! www.americanvillage.org
Christmas Lunch & Tour $
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20 | ShelbyLiving.com
September 2013 | 21
ARTS & CULTURE
From to the YouTube Story by WILLIESHA MORRIS CONTRIBUTED Photographs
22 | ShelbyLiving.com
big screen
Shelby County natives’ web series will be made into a movie
B
elieve it or not, a short video of a trip to the store landed Pelham High graduates and childhood friends Troy Wagner and Joseph DeLage millions of views on YouTube – and ultimately a movie deal. Shot in June 2009, the video was the introduction to “Marble Hornets,” a mystery/thriller web series shot in found-footage style. Since that fateful day, the series has gained more than 300,000 subscribers on You Tube, and their videos have more than 62 million views. The introduction video, which was shot while they were on the way to pick up note cards to plan the series, has almost 3 million views alone. In February it was announced that “Marble Hornets” will be made into a feature-length film with James Moran, who was the first assistant director and second unit director of Paranormal Activity 2, 3 and 4, at the helm. Wagner, DeLage and Tim Sutton, a Cullman native who joined the group as a co-writer and cast member around episode nine, are playing a role in the development of the film, although they are keeping quiet about the details for now. They are, however, willing to share their excitement in bringing “Marble Hornets” to a wider audience. “It was in the works for quite a while. We had been told ‘no’ and ‘maybe later’ plenty of times, so we were all kind of running out of steam to keep pushing for it,” Wagner said. “It was almost out of
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PAGE 22T: Tim Sutton, Joseph DeLage and Troy Wagner are the creators of “Marble Hornets,” a popular mystery/thriller web series that will be developed into a movie. CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Sutton, DeLage and Wagner pose with artwork created by a “Marble Hornets” fan during ConnectiCon, a multi-genre pop culture convention in Connecticut in July. A behind-thescenes photo of DeLage, who plays the missing director Alex, during the filming of episode 35. Wagner, who plays Jay, films in a tunnel for episode 64. Sutton joined “Marble Hornets” as a cowriter and recurrent cast member early in the series.
24 | ShelbyLiving.com
nowhere when we finally heard a yes. After that, things started to move much, much faster. I still won’t fully believe that it’s happening until I’m watching the finished product myself.” “Marble Hornets”, which is similar in style to the “Blair Witch Project,” unravels the mystery of a missing movie director named Alex, played by DeLage. Alex had been working on a student film before he seemingly lost his mind, dropped out of school and disappeared. When a concerned friend named Jay, played by Wagner, discovers footage of Alex and the movie, an intense search begins for the elusive character “The Operator,” a tall, masked figure wearing a dark suit seen in the footage. Wagner and Delage, both 25, were motivated to create the web series based on their experiences on “Something Awful,” a comedy website that hosts a range of content, including a forum dedicated to paranormal images. “The best way I can think to describe (the series) would be as an episodic found-footage-style mystery thriller,” Wagner said. “A lot of people also describe it as a horror series, despite the lack of gore and the very little amount of blood.” The trio managed to balance college studies with shooting the series, although that sometimes meant
viewers had to wait for the next video in the series. “I don’t know how we fit it in still,” Wagner said. “Ask the people who got furious about all the wait times in between (video clips), and there’s your answer,” Sutton said. All three studied telecommunications and film at the University of Alabama. Wagner graduated in 2011, and DeLage and Sutton, 24, are working toward their degrees. Over the last four years, they have shot more than 70 episodes, including many in and around Pelham and Helena. They were willing to take more time between episodes when they first began, although they now post about one video a month. “Way back then, I guess it was more casual than it is now,” DeLage said. “So it wasn’t nearly as a big of a deal to us.” Their audience growth has been fairly steady over the years. In 2011, they attended their first conference, the Geek Media Expo in Nashville. That year “Marble Hornets” also was an official nominee in the experimental and weird category for the 2011 Webby Awards, which is the top 10 percent of submissions that are not officially nominated. In 2011, they also released a DVD of the first season, which saw significant sales. They released season two on DVD earlier this year.
They attend a few conventions a year now to discuss the series and web production, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of filming. They’re also recognized by fans occasionally, both on campus and at conventions. The trio is still hard at work on the “Marble Hornets” web series, which they plan to continue even though it’s being made into a movie. In fact, they recently planned the ending to the web series, although it hasn’t been filmed yet. “The ending has been set for a few months now and has remained largely unchanged,” Wagner said. “I wouldn’t say it’s set in stone yet, knowing us, but odds are very good that the ending we have written now will be the ending that happens.” They also hope to continue to work together after they finish “Marble Hornets”, although they want to try new formats and content. “One thing we’re fairly sure of is that we’ll need some time off from straight horror/thriller to recharge our batteries, so what comes immediately after ‘Marble Hornets’ probably won’t be set as concretely in that genre,” Wagner said. “That being said, we’re all big fans of experimental and strange ways of making things, so hopefully whatever comes next will be just as engaging to people as ‘Marble Hornets’ apparently is now.” l
IT’S BETTER WITH BATH FITTER
®
September 2013 | 25
ARTS & CULTURE
Sense of
place
Story by VERONICA KENNEDY Photographs by TAMARA REYNOLDS
C
assandra King sat in the living room of the Fox and Pheasant Inn in Montevallo in May and talked about the honorary doctor of letters degree she received earlier in the day from her alma mater. “You may call me ‘Dr.’ now, but ‘Your Majesty’ would be better,” she said as her genteel Southern laugh bubbled forth. King, who graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in English from the university in the mid1960s and who returned to get a master’s degree two decades later, found herself back on campus on the first Saturday of May to deliver the spring commencement address. Her most recent novel, “The Same Sweet Girls,” is about friendships she built while an undergrad at UM and has nurtured ever since.UM was then known as Alabama College, and was for women only. King, who now lives in South Carolina with her husband of 15 years, the author Pat Conroy, grew up in a community near Dothan called Pinckard. “I was a country girl, and I thought I was going a long way off to college when I came to Montevallo,” she said. “It was 200 miles away.” She called her experience in Montevallo “wonderful,” and that’s why one of her books had to reflect that. “Place is so important in my fiction,” King said. “If I become enamored of a place, I’m going to write a story about it.” That sense of place is what prompted the tale in her fifth novel, set for publication in September. “Moonrise” is set in the mountains of western North Carolina, a getaway spot for many. She and Conroy spent almost a year there while their Beaufort, S.C., home was undergoing extensive renovations. “We met so many people who had been coming there for generations,” King said. “Every year, they come together with others who have become friends they only see in Highlands; otherwise, they live their separate lives in many different places. “I started getting an idea using this setting for a book,” she said. “I became enamored with the gothic 26 | ShelbyLiving.com
feeling of the area. For a while, we even rented a spooky kind of house.” She started thinking Four couples return to their summer homes about what would in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but the gathering happen if she threw in is shadowed by the recent death of their beloved a plot twist that would Rosalyn, owner of Moonrise, an estate known change the dynamics for its magnificent nocturnal gardens. When of this circle of vacation Rosalyn’s husband arrives with her replacement, friends. his new bride Helen, it sets in motion a series of “These friends are events that threaten to tear the group apart. known to each other as couples,” King said. “One of the men’s wives died, he brings a new bride into the situation — and she is not welcome.” The new wife is not welcome because she has forced the friends out of their comfort zone. King said she forced herself out of her personal writing comfort
About “Moonrise”
Choose
PAGE 24: “Moonrise” will be released in September. ABOVE: Author Cassandra King’s new book, “Moonrise,” is a gothic tale of a group of friends in North Carolina.
zone with this novel. “I was in danger of being known using the eastern and north Florida coastline as my territory, and I decided I needed to change,” she said. “In the mountains, I got to experience cool nights and fires burning in fireplaces. “Also, in my other books, I have explored the power of women’s bonds; this new book looks at couples,” King said. As she was writing, she said she thought about one of her favorite novels, “Rebecca,” by Daphne du Maurier. “I went through my bookshelves and found my copy, and I started re-reading it,” King said. “I got so excited. “I watched a couple of old film versions and I even found a public TV documentary on Daphne du Maurier,” she added. “I got into that whole Gothic, suspenseful frame of mind.” King taught English composition in college before she switched to writing full time. She said she now sees both sides of the digital assault on books and publishing. “I have such mixed emotions,” she said. “When I was teaching, I told my students to just read because I think that encourages you to expand your knowledge base. “If that means people are reading on a Kindle, at least they’re reading. I just love books too much to give them up completely,” King added. “I just don’t think they’ll ever die out.” l
Pure Faith Salon
September 2013 | 27
ARTS & CULTURE
28 | ShelbyLiving.com
Folk art gallery
U
nder every color, before each brushstroke, artists envision the emotion they want their work to capture. While the piece may be challenging to fully realize, it’s the journey the artwork takes admirers on that leaves lasting impressions. It was this deep appreciation for original art that led Rosalie Oetting to open the Ice and Coal Gallery next to her husband Jeff’s office. Named after Jeff’s great grandfather’s Oetting Bros. Ice and Coal business, the gallery lies in Old Town Helena. The couple opened the spot at the end of 2012 after their passion and collection grew too large to contain. “Quite frankly, it’s comical,” Oetting says. “We had no more wall space for any more art. Every piece represented something: where we bought it or who created it.” So with nowhere in their home to expand,
the mold Oetting looked for another way to exhibit and share her enjoyment of the arts. “We hope to spread it so other people love it as much as we do,” she says. After talking with local artists about how to structure the gallery, Oetting realized she wanted to do things differently. “In some galleries, the artist might only get 40 percent of the commission, with the gallery getting 60 percent,” she explains. To give more back to the people who put so much of themselves in the pieces, Oetting gives the artists 80 percent of their work’s price, and the other 20 percent goes to charity. The gallery rotates which charities the money goes to, with past recipients including the Humane and American Cancer societies. Another modification Oetting wanted to make was how the public viewed galleries. “So many people walk past a gallery and think they can’t
Story by LAUREN HEARTSILL DOWDLE Photographs by JON GOERING PAGE 28: Rosalie Oetting and her husband, Jeff, recently opened Ice and Coal Gallery in Helena after their own collection grew too large for their home. ABOVE: Artist Rachel Moeller’s work is on display at the gallery.
September 2013 | 29
afford anything in there,” she says. “We’re hoping to change that mentality and open some people’s eyes.” The pieces in Ice and Coal range from $20 to $850. “We are really firm believers that everyone should own an original piece of art,” she says. Not only is the array of work affordable, it’s also a unique collection of primitive and folk art that can’t be found anywhere else in the state. “One gallery may have one of the artists, but you can’t find art from all six of them in one place,” Oetting says. The pieces – including paintings, jewelry, pottery, photography and mixed media – come from a variety of self-taught artists, also known as outsider art. “Every piece tells a story,” Oetting says. “I can see a little bit of the artist in the piece, particularly with the type of art we carry. Each original artwork is a piece of that artist.” 30 | ShelbyLiving.com
om ’re C e W CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: Ice and Coal Gallery showcases primitive and folk art from across the state. The Oettings hope to offer classes with artists in the fall. Artist Donna DiGiorgio’s bottle cap figures grace the walls of the gallery. Pieces on display at the gallery range from $20 to $850.
This fall, they will have open houses featuring specific artists, and Oetting says she also hopes to expand their community presence further with hands-on classes with artists. “For us, art is equally as important in the upbringing of children as history and science,” Oetting says. “I feel very strongly in art as a form of education. Art teaches you tolerance, acceptance and understanding, which is crucial.” From supporting local talent to helping artwork find its way into homes, Oetting looks to reshape views in the community and beyond with the gallery. Hours are noon to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays during the summer. These hours may be adjusted during the winter months, but visitors can set appointments after hours. The gallery can also be rented for private events. l
mitted to a C ure!
In Alabama, approximately 2,000 children suffer from childhood cancer or serious blood disorders such as sickle cell disease or hemophilia --- and 90% receive their care at the Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children's of Alabama. These children and their families are counting on a cure. That's why we've brought together a team that includes some of the brightest minds and most compassionate hearts in pediatric medicine. We're committed to finding cures, and you can be too.
Learn how you can help. Call 205.638.9285 or visit ChildrensAL.org/committedtoacure
September 2013 | 31
FEATURES
Strength to serve The Rev. Thomas and Mechelle Wilder follow in Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth’s footsteps Story by LINDA LONG Photographs by JON GOERING
T
he Rev. Thomas Wilder, pastor of historic Bethel Baptist Church in Collegeville says if God didn’t give “me strength to do what He calls me to do, I’d be extremely tired.” And, with good reason. The pastor and his wife, Mechelle, who live in Greystone in Shelby County, have honed the art of juggling corporate careers and accomplishing good — works to whole new levels. In addition to pastoring the historic church for the past 25 years, Wilder has been with Alagasco for more than 20 years, currently in the position of
manager of Rebuild Assistance Programs. Mechelle, an accomplished musician who studied music at Samford University, serves as the church’s pianist, choir director and recently helped found Arc Realty. In its first seven months, the real estate company has hired 64 agents and is ranked ninth in the city. The Wilders’ collective list of accomplishments could fill an entire Rev. Thomas Wilder volume of Who’s Who. Mechelle recently was named to the prestigious National Coalition of 100 Black Women of Central Alabama. However, the couple, who firmly believe in “going where God
“To follow Rev.
Shuttlesworth and what he stood for and the courage he had, just to be a part of that is very humbling.”
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PAGE 32: The Rev. Thomas and Mechelle Wilder are pictured outside of Bethel Baptist Church’s new building, where Thomas is minister. ABOVE: The Wilders are Greystone residents and have four children.
calls us to go,” remain very humble about their accomplishments. Although when God placed the couple in Collegeville, where Civil Rights leader Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth served as pastor, Mechelle jokingly admits she at first “wondered if God knew what he was doing,” and Thomas thought he wasn’t the man for the job. “Mechelle had quit work and was home with the baby and another baby was on the way,” he recalls. “I felt like I needed a job that provided insurance and other benefits to be able to take care of my family, but then I was asked to preach one Sunday, then another and another. Now 25 years later, we are still there. I am very, very humbled to be asked to be the pastor there and to be there for as long as we have. To follow Rev. Shuttlesworth and what he stood for and the courage he had, just to be a part of that is very September 2013 | 33
humbling.” The historic church is remembered as a pivotal organizing site during the Birmingham Civil Right Movements. On three separate occasions it was targeted by Ku Klux Klan bombs, one of which came very close to killing Shuttlesworth and his family. Today, the historic old red brick building is experiencing a revival of sorts. During the Wilders’ tenure the church has undergone a $2 million project to refurbish the building and to provide documentation to designate it as a National Historic Landmark. Thomas says the proudest moment of his career came “the day we marched from the old church to the new facility,” a moment which he wasn’t always sure would happen. “The congregation was split,” he recalls. “Part of the membership wanted to tear the old church down and build a new church. Another faction wanted to preserve the old building. As it turned out we were able to reach a compromise and do both, but most of all we preserved the body of the church, so there was not the division. We showed we were moving forward but we also showed it was important to hold on to some of the past. Embracing and holding on to the past while moving forward is very difficult to do.” Thomas, who grew up in Aliceville, said he remembers the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, although he was very young. He never imagined he would ever be in the role of helping to preserve its memories. “In my hometown, we had to go to the side of the buildings to get waited on. One day, I thought I would be bold and go to the front for an ice cream cone, but they wouldn’t wait on me,” he said. “I remember the white and colored drinking fountains and bathrooms, and having to go to the colored side of the dentist’s office. I remember looking at the white side of office and noticing how much nicer it was.” Still, Thomas said he has no anger or resentment towards the past. “It was the time. It was just the time. People can’t be any better than what they are exposed to,” he said. The Wilders, who have lived in Shelby County for the past 23 years, will celebrate their 30th anniversary in the fall. That anniversary that almost didn’t happen because Mechelle kept giving her engagement ring back. “I was still in college and very young. I knew I had a promising career ahead of me and just wasn’t sure I was ready to be married,” she said. But, as Mechelle continues the rest of that story, “Every time I gave it back I knew I had made the biggest mistake of my life.” Mechelle, who started her career in corporate 34 | ShelbyLiving.com
communications with IBM, took off 14 years “to take the mommy route.” At age 40, she changed career course and went into real estate. Today she’s a partner of ARC Realty. She and her husband are parents of four children, all quite accomplished in their own right. Their oldest daughter, Charis, 26, was crowned Miss Black Alabama last year. She is now pursuing a career in medicine. Gilia, their second daughter, graduated from the University of Alabama, where she was a Bama Belle. She is now in nursing school. Their son, Thomas, has just graduated from Tuskegee University and is working as an engineer in Houston.
CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: The interior of the historic Bethel Baptist Church. The Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, a major player in the Civil Rights Movement, was once pastor of Bethel Baptist Church and is recognized in a sign outside the historic church. A rendering of the historic church.
Their youngest daughter, Kendra, is also attending Tuskegee on a full scholarship. The Wilder siblings all graduated from Spain Park High School. Thomas says he recognizes that he and his family are beneficiaries of the legacy left by the Civil Rights leaders of the past, a group he calls a lot smarter, more disciplined and more determined than what we have today. “I think we’ve had opportunities it would have been hard for people to have had who came before us,” he said. “We had doors opened for us that would not have opened if people like Rev. Shuttlesworth had not gone on before us.” l September 2013 | 35
FEATURES
mission
Hair on a
Morgan Ashley Salon empowers women through styling hair and participating in global missions Story by STEPHANIE BRUMFIELD Photographs by JON GOERING
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M
organ Mondy always dreamed of opening a hair salon. But after leading several mission trips overseas, she thought it might not
LEFT: A stylist cuts a client’s hair at Morgan Ashley Salon in Birmingham. ABOVE RIGHT: Morgan Mondy opened Morgan Ashley Salon in April 2005.
ever happen. “I went to cosmetology school right out of high school,” Mondy said. “I always had it in the back of my head that I would start some kind of business, but I felt called to missions. I let the dream die because I thought I would be overseas somewhere.” During that time, she had been working at another salon that wasn’t her own for about a year, but she knew it was not where she was supposed to be. About a year later, everything started falling into place for her to open her own salon – she found her first place, her first employee and confirmation from God that she was going in the right direction. “[I had always envisioned] a place that would be really inspiring and comforting, a safe haven kind of place to get your hair done in a peaceful environment,” she said. “It’s still in my heart to do mission work, but the Lord spoke to my heart that the salon would be a way to get there. It hasn’t played out yet, so I don’t know what that looks like.” Since opening her very own Morgan Ashley September 2013 | 37
FROM LEFT: Bumble and Bumble hair products line a wall. A stylist chats with a client while cutting her hair. Morgan Ashley Salon provides traditional salon work such as cuts and color, in addition to editorial work and styling for special events.
38 | ShelbyLiving.com
Salon in a 900-square-foot building on April Fool’s Day back in 2005, the business has grown from one stylist to more than 20 in little more than eight years and has changed locations to accommodate increased business. Mondy and her team of stylists have also found ways to be missionaries over the years by keeping women’s global issues at the forefront of their minds and partnering with non-profit organizations across the globe. For instance, the salon sponsors two children each month with World Vision, and they recently partnered with an organization that owns a house in Honduras and rescues girls from slavery. They have also done outreach locally by providing haircuts. “Even the salon is a mission field and a place to encourage people,” Mondy said. “You get to have a one-on-one conversation with someone for a long time, though a lot of times my clients encourage me.” What the salon is best known for, though, is hair. Specifically, they are known for event hair, bridal hair and editorial work. “The girls who work on bridal hair regularly are incredible,” Mondy said. “We’re also really solid
with color.” They offer every hair service you can think of, including cuts, styling and more, and the stylists are constantly learning new things. “We send all of the girls up to New York for training, and we have training in the salon,” Mondy said. “Our education has grown a lot [since the beginning]. That’s something we love – to learn and develop new skills.” On the editorial side, Mondy once did hair for a photo shoot with Glamour magazine. More recently, she has had her work featured in Birmingham magazine, and several of her team members have had their work featured in other magazines as well. In fact, the demand for editorial work has been so great that the salon will soon be expanding its creative department to add an editorial team. The salon is also a place for everyday hair cuts and new customers. “We have stylists who meet different styles – stylists for conservatives and liberals,” Mondy said. “The girls at the front desk can direct people and give [our stylists] a heads up about your style and what kind of cut you wear.” Shelly Sumner, the salon’s manager who has
been working together with Mondy for about seven years, said her experience has been phenomenal and one-of-a-kind. “It’s about far more than just hair,” Sumner said. “We want our clients to know how special they are.” Sumner also said her experience has been unique because she sees the salon as a place where someone can have a career in styling, something which she says isn’t often expected in the South. “It’s an incredible opportunity where people can express themselves creatively but also have a career while doing it,” she said. The reason for the difference, according to Sumner, is the team-oriented atmosphere. “What really sets us apart is that none of this works with one individual,” she said. “It takes all of us to make it work. It’s a newer approach to business management, especially with smaller businesses. It’s the only place I’ve ever worked where the team is definitely the reason the place is succeeding.” Morgan Ashley Salon is located at 7350 Cahaba Valley Road, Birmingham. For more information about services and pricing, visit Morganashleysalon.com or call 205-995-2480. l
Jacob’s Corner EVENT CENTER
September 2013 | 39
RECREATION
Welborn finds his
target Pelham resident excels at goalball
40 | ShelbyLiving.com
21 Weatherly Club Drive Alabaster, AL 35007 205-663-4111 • Fax: 205-663-4134 www.joesitalianonline.com
Story by GRACE THORNTON Photographs by JON GOERING
F
ifteen-year-old Josh Welborn is all over the map, all year long. But that’s just what he does on the weekends, not the way he sees life. When it comes to that, he’s only got one focus. Goalball. Welborn, a Pelham teen with severe vision impairment, recently won the silver medal at the International Blind Sports Federation World Youth Championships as part of the USA Boys Goalball Team. More than 10 nations — including Japan, which won gold over the USA Boys team — competed in his age group’s event, held July 9–15 in Colorado Springs. “It’s funny to think that way back when he first started playing at Lakeshore Foundation, he was the benchwarmer and the sideline man,” said his mother, Linda Welborn. “Now he’s the big man there.” September 2013 | 41
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Josh Welborn was first introduced to goalball when he was 7 years old at Lakeshore Foundation, where his brother Zachary also played. Both Welborn boys have albinism, a lack of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes that can cause vision impairment. “Goalball is great for kids like them to have an opportunity to play on a team,” Linda Welborn said. “Both boys played soccer and tee ball, but once things start going faster, they can’t keep up.” Goalball, developed after WWII to help keep blind veterans active, is played indoors in a gym with goals at each end that run the entire width of the court. Three players guard the goal at each end, and a three-pound ball with bells on the inside is thrown back and forth — usually at 30 to 40 miles per hour. Players dive to stop the ball based on sound only and have 10 seconds to throw it back to the other end of the court. All players are blindfolded to keep players with better vision from having an advantage. “It is intense as a spectator, because you have to stay totally silent when they play so they can hear the ball,” Linda Welborn said. And she has done a lot of spectating. Josh Welborn, the youngest player on the USA Boys team, also plays on both the youth and adult teams for Lakeshore Foundation. In addition, he goes to Atlanta at least once a month during adult season to play with a men’s team there. He’s homeschooled so that he can travel on Mondays and Fridays when needed, Linda Welborn said. The family takes it seriously, and it takes its cue from the younger Welborn. Though Zachary gave up goalball for musical interests, his younger brother has a goal — the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. Josh Welborn said he chose to be “serious” about goalball because he “really enjoyed it.” “I started out playing recreationally and just going to tournaments with the youth,” he said. “Then I heard about the youth world team and said, ‘Let me do that,’ and I just went for it.” He did — and won silver. Two days later, he was back in the gym. His mother said his determination has paid off so far. “He has lofty expectations, but it seems to work for him,” she said. l PAGE 40: Josh Welborn recently won the silver medal as part of the USA Boys Goalball team at the International Blind Sports Federation World Youth Championships. PAGE 41: Welborn’s medal from the championships and a ball used during goalball. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Welborn and his teammates are awarded medals at the International Blind Sports Federation World Youth Championships. Welborn and other goalball players wear masks to prevent players with better vision from having an advantage. Welborn dives for the ball. Welborn, who has albinism, and his teammates take a break during the championships.
September 2013 | 43
RECREATION
Holistic health Local businesses offer yoga classes to promote health and relieve stress
Story by STEPHANIE BRUMFIELD Photographs by JON GOERING ABOVE: Stacy Bouwens leads a yoga class at the Alabaster YMCA. PAGE 45: Bouwens teaches a combination of Hatha and vinyasa flow, mixing yoga with pilates.
44 | ShelbyLiving.com
Y
oga has seen an upswing in its number of practitioners in recent years, and Shelby County residents are no exception to the rule. Whether inspired by people looking to shed pounds, recover from injuries, relax tight muscles or spice up their already regular workout routines, several local businesses have joined the craze and offer yoga classes to people of all ages, body types and lifestyles. Whether you’re in your 20s or 60s, a beginner or an expert, active or inert, let these women inspire you. You may find that yoga has something to offer you, too! J. DARBY FARM Location: 13650 Highway 17, Montevallo Experience range: Beginning to intermediate Style in a nutshell: Gentle and joyous
Joyce Darby is one of those retired, active beginners. Darby is a farmer, and like most farmers, her muscles are stressed constantly. She spends her days walking the farm, taking care of her many animals and doing all of the heavy lifting that farming requires. “I was so beat up,” said Darby, the owner and caretaker of the Montevallo-based J. Darby Farm. “The yoga helps in so many ways. I don’t have the knots any more, and I thought that was only possible through constant massaging. Yoga relieves a lot of the stress elements.” Despite the relief she has felt, Darby does not consider herself a yoga expert by any means. She has been practicing yoga only for about a year, and she is still perfecting the art. “I’ve seen tremendous personal benefits, but I’m not that good,” she said. “I’m kind of falling over.
narrows FA M I LY E Y E C A R E
TownHouse Tea Shoppe 205-529-0081 thetownhouseatmtlaurel.com • thetownhouseteashoppe@gmail.com
I cannot do all of the stretches, but I ease forward just a little bit every time. No matter what your situation is when you start, your situation when you end is so much better.” Darby practices yoga weekly with instructor Mollie Erickson, who travels to J. Darby Farm on Thursday evenings to teach donation-only yoga classes to a group of about four to 16 women each time. At 6 p.m., these women move back furniture and lay down mats in Darby’s living room. In the summer, they hear the sound of wind chimes on Darby’s porch as they breathe and stretch. In winter, they hear the crackling of Darby’s fireplace. In all seasons, they end the session by making herbal tea from herbs grown on the farm, and they visit on Darby’s porch before returning to their homes. September 2013 | 45
ABOVE: Bouwens said yoga is a great exercise program. ABOVE RIGHT: Participants stretch during a soft yoga class at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen.
46 | ShelbyLiving.com
Erickson, who has been teaching yoga for about two years, adapts these laid back yoga sessions to meet the needs of her clients, many of whom are recovering from muscle injuries or struggling with muscular diseases such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s. Specifically, she teaches a form of Hatha yoga, which is one of eight branches of yoga that Erickson says is gentler and allows her to be more creative, take more liberties and adapt her instruction to more body types. Darby describes this style as involving a lot of breathing and deep, gentle stretching. “It’s less intimidating,” Erickson said. “It’s a safe place to ask questions and explore.” To participate, Darby and Erickson say all you need to do is show up. You can bring your own mat if you have one. If not, Erickson said there are about 12 extra mats for newcomers to borrow. “What you are is what you are, and we’re glad you’re here,” Darby said. “That is what makes yoga so attractive is that it’s such an individual experience, and you don’t have to meet anyone else’s standards. “I’m not a yoga groupie yet, but I’m won over. I’m stunned by the quality of instruction and the
benefits.” For more information, visit Facebook.com/ Jdarbyfarm. ST. VINCENT’S ONE NINETEEN Location: 7191 Cahaba Valley Road, Hoover Experience range: Beginning to advanced Style in a nutshell: Strengthen and stretch Laura Pickens, now a 200 E-RYT yoga instructor at St. Vincent’s One Nineteen, started practicing yoga 15 years ago when she was very out of shape and taking lots of medications. For years, she has struggled with lupus, a chronic disease that can cause pain and swelling in all parts of the body. “One of my 70-year-old friends invited me to a yoga class, so I went and I fell in love with it,” Pickens said. “I started going all the time. I was very large, and I found out very quickly that yoga is for everybody and every body type. I felt very comfortable.” Pickens, who has lost 65-75 pounds since beginning yoga in 1998, said the benefits of doing yoga are numerous and include increasing flexibility, strengthening muscles, building better body tone, releasing stress, increasing body
awareness, improving posture and losing weight, though she said a picture would say more than a list ever could. “If you had a picture of me before doing yoga and a picture of me now, the results would speak for themselves,” Pickens said. At St. Vincent’s, yoga is offered almost every day of the week and all instructors teach a form of yoga called vinyasa flow, which involves two poses per one breath and focuses on increasing heart rate. Pickens teaches a variety of classes. On Tuesdays, she teaches Yoga Back, a slow-moving class that involves strengthening and stretching the back by holding poses. On Wednesdays and Fridays, she teaches Warm Yoga, which is taught in a heated room to further increase heart rate. On Thursdays, she teaches Regular Yoga, an introductory-style class that involves a variety of poses. Private yoga classes are also offered at St. Vincent’s. Patrons can sign up with individual yoga instructors seven days a week for 55 minutes per session. Classes are open to St. Vincent’s One Nineteen members only, but non-members who are interested in joining can receive a two-day guest pass to try out the facilities and classes. September 2013 | 47
For more information about classes and class times, visit Onenineteen.com. ALABASTER YMCA Location: 117 Plaza Circle, Alabaster Experience range: Beginning to advanced Style in a nutshell: Yoga as exercise
Laura Pickens’ soft yoga class helps participants strengthen and stretch their backs by holding poses.
48 | ShelbyLiving.com
Stacy Bouwens teaches yoga, pilates and barre at the Alabaster and Hoover YMCAs, as well as at other fitness centers in the area, and she began her practice 10 years ago as a skeptic. “I had some misconceptions about yoga when I began,” Bouwens said. “But [I’ve learned] it’s a great exercise program.” For Bouwens, yoga is just that – a form of exercise. She teaches a combination of Hatha and vinyasa flow, mixing yoga with pilates and including what she calls “power poses” in her routines, poses such as planks, tricep pushes, dips and bridges. “I like to mix it up,” she said. “I won’t do the same routine twice. I’ll often include the same poses but in a different order because muscle confusion increases your workout.” At the YMCA, exercise schedules are constantly changing, so Bouwens suggests downloading the YMCA app, which will send daily exercise schedules right to your phone. Classes at the YMCA are open to members only, though commuters who travel to different parts of the city throughout the week can purchase citywide memberships that allow them access to all Birmingham-area YMCAs. For more information about membership, locations and class times, visit Ymcabham.org. l
MONEY-SAVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY IDEAS
MAKE YOUR HOME MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THESE ENERGY SAVING IDEAS.
For over 50 years Alabama Power’s rates have been below the national average, but there are still some easy things you can do to save money and energy, and make your home more comfortable.
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Replace a dirty air filter in your furnace. They hamper airflow, making your system work harder to keep you comfortable.
Proper insulation can save you up to 30% on your heating and cooling costs. Add more insulation if you are finding cool spots around your home.
Set your thermostat to 78 degrees or above in the summer and 68 degrees or below in the winter.
Turn the temperature down on your water heater if it’s over 140 degrees. Don’t go below 120 degrees to keep bacteria from forming in the dishwasher.
Get more energy saving ideas for every room in your home. Scan the code with your phone or visit AlabamaPower.com/save.
© 2013 Alabama Power Company
September 2013 | 49
HOME & FOOD
retreat
A family
A pool and outdoor patio make this Greystone home perfect for gatherings 50 | ShelbyLiving.com
T
Story by KATIE MCDOWELL Photographs by JON GOERING
hirteen years have passed since Kathy and Glenn Frey moved to Greystone. Their home was built with their three young children in mind. It was meant to be a comfortable, livable space where the kids would want to hang out with friends. The kids are now 14, 16
&
baptist health center calera
and 20, but the house still serves that purpose. “We really designed for the kids, for them to feel comfortable,” Kathy said. Today, the house stays busy with the younger Freys and their friends. They gather in the kitchen for a break, hang out by the pool and watch TV in the entertainment room. It can get chaotic, but Kathy and Glenn wouldn’t have it any other way. September 2013 | 51
PAGE 50: Kathy and Glenn Frey’s Greystone home is a favorite gathering place for family and friends. CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: In the fall, the family sets up a TV on the outdoor patio to watch football. The great room is decorated in neutrals with black accents. The backyard is home to a large pool and hot tub. The entertainment room has a bar and large TV.
“The house gets used. It’s lived in,” Kathy said with a laugh. The main living areas are located on the first floor and the basement of the three-story house. The main floor is home to the master bedroom and bathroom, dining room, great room, kitchen and keeping room. Decorated in neutrals with black accents, the interior of the home has a sophisticated, understated style. The real focal point is the lush backyard, which can be seen from almost every room in the house. The great room has a cathedral ceiling and large windows spanning the length of the back wall. The kitchen, keeping room and breakfast nook have an open floor plan and are the most popular rooms in the house. “As a family, that’s usually where we are,” Frey said. Located off the keeping room is a screened porch, which is decorated in browns, reds and animal prints. The basement is home to two entertainment rooms, which are also very popular with the kids. One of the rooms is home to a pool table, while the other has a TV, bar and plenty of seating. The Freys are most likely to be found outside, especially when the weather is nice. A large pool offers exercise and entertainment for the family and their friends during the warmer months, while a hot 52 | ShelbyLiving.com
Finding a trusted provider in Chelsea is easier than ever. Thomas G. McFaden, M.D. Board Certified in Family Medicine
Whether it’s a simple stomachache or something more serious, you can trust Thomas G. McFaden, M.D., and the physicians at Trinity Medical Clinics with your family’s well-being. Dr. McFaden is an advocate for your health and believes in treating the whole person, not just your symptoms. Call 205-678-7779 today for your appointment. Same-day appointments are available and walk-ins are welcome.
Member of the Medical Staff at Trinity Medical Center
71239_TRIN_McFadden_7_25x4_5c.indd 1
Open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Offering primary care, OB/GYN and endocrinology care 331 Chelsea Corners Way (located behind Dairy Queen)
September 2013 | 53 7/29/13 2:11 PM
A grand piano is the focal point in the great room.
tub is available for fall and winter. The pool area also offers plenty of seating for sunbathing, cookouts and entertainment. The centerpiece of the backyard is a large, tiered patio with an outdoor fireplace. Beautifully landscaped, the patio is used throughout the year, but especially during the fall and winter months. During football season, the family will set up a TV on the patio and make s’mores in the fireplace. The Freys aren’t the only ones who enjoy their pool and patio. It’s a favorite for friends of all ages, from the kids’ school friends to neighbors who bring their grandchildren over for a swim. That’s the welcoming atmosphere the Freys hoped to create when they moved to Greystone. They’ve found Hoover to be equally as welcoming. The Freys’ children have enjoyed their time at Berry Middle School and Spain Park High School. Kathy and her husband have gotten involved in the community. She’s a member of the Greystone Ladies Club, Regional Oncology Active Research, Birmingham Heart Guild and more. Kathy and Glenn are golf lovers and spend a lot of time on the course. For the Freys, both the house and the neighborhood have been the perfect fit for 13 years and counting. l
Save the date november 2 -3, 2013 the pRESERVE hOOVER, al mOSSROCKFESTIVAL.COM #MRF2013 thanks for your partnership!
nature. eco ideas. art + design 54 | ShelbyLiving.com
The 2014 Lincoln MKS
2014
Long-LewisLincoln.com.
2551 John Hawkins Parkway Hoover, AL 35244 Long-Lewis Ford Lincoln 205-989-3645 rparker@longlewis.com 2551 John hawkins Pkwy • hoover, aL 35244 205.989.ForD (3673) Long-LewisLincoln.com September 2013 | 55
HOME & FOOD
Glutton for
56 | ShelbyLiving.com
gluten
free
Local bakery cooks up strict diet solution Story by LAUREN HEARTSILL DOWDLE Photographs by JON GOERING
M
easure a few cups of sorghum; stir in some xanthan gum, egg whites, baking soda, rice starch and sugar; bake for about 15 minutes and hopefully an edible cupcake emerges from the oven. And until recently, this might have been one of the few options for local residents with gluten allergies to guarantee their baked goods were safe to eat. Birmingham native Carol Key was diagnosed with Celiac disease, a condition that damages the intestines if gluten is eaten, 10 years ago. Forced to cut anything that includes gluten– such as barley, wheat and rye – from her diet, Carol started to sift through what she could and couldn’t eat. She pulled from her baking skills, which she learned from her mother, to convert her favorite dishes into gluten-free recipes. “Since there is no gluten for a binding agent, we have to use alternative products to assist with that process,” Carol explained. From buying expensive, sometimes hard-topronounce ingredients to making sure “safe” foods are not cross contaminated, the gluten-free lifestyle requires strict eating habits. With no local bakeries offering a completely gluten-free menu, Carol decided to help others with these similar diet restrictions by opening The Funky Muffin Bakery. “I felt the need to open a gluten-free bakery so those who have to eat a gluten-free diet, or even those who choose to eat this way, can have a place where they know there is no cross contamination with regular foods,” Carol said. A completely gluten-free facility, the bakery opened in July in the Riverhills Shopping Center, located at 4647-B Highway 280. From gooey cookies and cobblers to cake-like donuts, the menu is a spread that caters to everyone’s sweet tooth. They bake items five days a week and have a variety of goods to choose from each day. But for those looking to take home a cake, pie or their popular sandwich loaf, it’s best to call a day or two in advance to reserve one. They also offer bread sticks, cinnamon and dinner rolls, fresh apple bread and hamburger buns. “You can slice her [sandwich loaf], and it won’t fall apart … like most gluten-free breads,” said Kelly
www.therosegate.com September 2013 | 57
PAGE 56: The Funky Muffin Bakery offers a range of completely gluten-free baked goods, including muffins, cookies, cakes, pies and more. CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: The bakery’s sandwich loaf bread is popular with customers and typically needs to be reserved a day or two in advance. The baked goods do not include barley, wheat or rye. Carol Key opened The Funky Muffin Bakery 10 years after being diagnosed with Celiac disease. The white chocolate chip pecan cookies are Key’s favorites.
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Key, Carol’s niece and the bakery’s marketing director. “This is why Aunt Carol’s bread sells out everyday.” Kelly found out she was also wheat intolerant a few years ago. “I was lucky to have the knowledge of Aunt Carol and her abilities to cook yummy gluten-free foods during this transition time,” she said. Some of Kelly’s favorite menu items from the store include strawberry muffins, brownies and banana nut bread. “I’ve missed eating all of these things for so long, I have to keep reminding myself when I walk into the bakery that I can have everything in there. It’s all gluten free,” she said. Carol’s personal favorites are blueberry muffins and white chocolate pecan cookies. But these sweets aren’t reserved for those following a gluten-free diet. “It’s always fun seeing the reaction of someone when they realize what they’re eating is gluten free and tastes normal,” Kelly said. Once they have a daily baking schedule, they will post it on their website, Thefunkymuffinbakery.com. They are open Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 205-408-9825. l
Hours Monday - Friday 7 - 6 and Sat. 8 - 10
September 2013 | 59
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Leadership Shelby County Graduation
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Leadership Shelby County’s graduation was held May 22 at Jefferson State Community College. The organization also awarded several students with the first Youth LSC scholarships, worth $2,000 each. (Photos by Bobby Joe Seals) 1. 2013 LSC Graduates 2. Bobby Joe Seales and Peg Hill 3. Donna Francavilla 4. Jim Fuhrmeister and Cindy Fuhrmeister 5. Kim Melton and Tammy Bush 6. Clovia Wheeler and Leslie Greenwood 7. Leslie Greenwood and Carol Bruser 8. Jill Lee and Mary Julia Hall
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Starfish Strut
Giving Hands Inc. hosted the Giving Hands 5K Starfish Strut June 1 at Veterans Park in Hoover. (Photos by Amy Jones)
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1. Matt, Missy and Avery Holland with Matilyn, Matt, Meghan and Michele Talley 2. Ryan and Hillary Bell with Lorie and Jody Box 3. Stephanie Brosius and Heather Allen 4. Debbie, Stefanie and Matt Schoeneman 5. Davis, Amanda and Kaylee Franklin 6. Colton, Sarah and Chloe Steinbeck 7. Will and Allison Damron 8. Gloria Floyd and Anna Nabors 9. Caleb Mitchell, Angie Phillips, Layne Phillips and Dean Chathem
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Alabaster CityFest
Thousands turned out for the 11th annual Alabaster CityFest on June 1. (Photos by Katie McDowell and Neal Wagner) 1. Sonya Lilly with her daughters, Mia, Sonya and Megan 2. Nicole Musel, Sandra Thompson, Yoko Brown and Penny Rozell 3. Stephanie and Holly Reed 4. Monica Ellis with Tripp 5. Daniel Davis 6. Vinny and Alisha Chiaramonte with their daughters, Ella and Adalyn 7. Freddie, Leigh Ann, Freddie and John Paul Nelson 8. Olivia Webb and Molly Mooney 9. Andrea and Sean Price
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Turn that frown around!
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We can do that for you! Calera • 205.668.1599 13
10. Tori Harrison and Davis Whitfield 11. Stephanie and Tucker Vann 12. Nicole Geeslin with her sons, Caden, Hunter and Joseph 13. Chloe Patrick and Cinnamon Banks 14. Lydia and Isaac Mariano
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School Days
September 2013 | 63
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St. Vincent’s One Nineteen held a block party and health festival on June 8. (Photos by Clarke Stackhouse) 1. Callie, Avery, Aggie, Brian, Isaac, Ahsley and Micah Patz 2. Laura Flynn, Kevin Flynn, Kirk Allen, Sutton Flynn, Merritt Flynn and Brody Allen 3. Hanna and Monica Dobbins 4. Karen and Matt Howerton 5. Jessica Spragg, Tai Deighton, Aiden Spragg and Ngar Deighton 6. Robin Hill, Haley Hill and Lloyd Hill II 7. Victoria Campbell, Jo-Ann Moulin and Desiree Moulin 8. Lauren, Susan and Burt Schuessler 9. Kayla Arnold, Carolyn Higginbotham and Kati Higginbotham
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10. Marc Willis, Clay Branum, Daniel Worthington, Tisha Adair and Mark Champion. 11. Alex, Guy, Lisa, Lexi and Mary Redd 12. Laura Sellers and the Chik-Fil-A Cow 13. Steve Preston, Shelli Preston, Hannah Preston and Cinderella
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SCAC’s exhibit “The Great Landslide” opened on June 28. (Photos by Clarke Stackhouse) 1. Gene, Zach and Judy Quick 2. Sarah, Laura and David Prater 3. Fulton and Lisa Ramsay 4. Sara Catherine Nash and Michele Gay 5. Jean Burnett and Flo Pulliam 6. Joanne Foyle, Joy Oglesby and Butch Oglesby 7. Edna Sealy and Jerry Roldan 8. Christi and Wayne Trucks 9. William Dooley and Max Newton
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Helena Market Days
Helena Market Day was held every Saturday from June August (Photos by Clarke Stackhouse) 1. Melinda Rogers, Lunn Roberts, Tresa Turner and Kathy Hall 2. Jared Mixon and Wendy Mixon 3. Brennen, Rhonda, Bella and Landon Smith 4. Taylor Hatchett, Rebecca Laatsch and Ethan Laatsch
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kNOw More Orphans 5K The kNOw More Orphans 5k was held June 8 at Veterans Park in Hoover. (Photos by Clarke Stackhouse)
1. Jay Dixon, Jamie Warren, Eric Frye and Adam Rhoades 2. Heather Watters, Bob Watters, Ana Watters and Mieka Vanoy 3. Amy Byrd and Kelsie Borders 4. Bonita Slator and Anita Slator 5. Jabe McCoy, Carson McCoy and Haley McCoy 6. Mike Collins, Christa Collins, Heather Vines, Candace Chaney and Brandi Nahrgang 7. Reeves Thompson and Katherine Hart 8. Tye Campbell and Ashton McMahen
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9. Katy Campbell, Mark Harvard, Shawn Waadry and Jennifer Wood 10. Maria Reed, Stacy Barrentine, Christal Haynes and Jennifer Samaon 11. Celeste Burton and Cathy Carver 12. Meg Griffith, Madison Rousell, Casey Boswel and Bonnie Kraus
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MDA 5K
Steel Strides for MDA 5K was held at Veterans Park in Hoover on June 16. (Photos by Clarke Stackhouse) 1. Sarah Catt, Julie Ammons, Casey Ramey and Katie Prince 2. Melissa, Amy, Jake, Scott and Kerry Stein 3. Teresa Crain and John Dean 4. Stephanie Smith and Alison Lewis 5. Calandra Jefferson, Gary Mitchell and Sharon Millican 6. Danny, Terri and Taylor Elmore 7. Ivey and Malcom Davis 8. Laura Gast and Jennifer Probert 9. Nathan Collums, Al Boohaker and Diane Payne
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Helena Garden
Helena Community Garden broke ground on June 16. (Photos by Clarke Stackhouse) 1. Michelle Otis, Kristi Watts, Kathy Whitman, Barbara Huffstetler, Shashi Sharma and Kathy Hall 2. Amy, Danica, Boyce and Charlie Steel 3. Kim Norwood and Andy Shu 4. Kathy Whitman, Michelle Otis and Jason Otis
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SSCC Silent Auction
The South Shelby County Chamber of Commerce hosted a silent auction at Magnolia Meadows on June 14. (Photos by Clarke Stackhouse) 1. Jack Zuiderhoek, Evan Major and Tim Wilson 2. April Stone, Linda Cook and Linda Wren 3. Roger and Kay Owens 4. Mayor Stancil and Ann Handley 5. Mary Strehle and Helen Dean 6. Corley Ellis and Billy Jones 7. Nancy Davis and Oeida Mayfield 8. Kathy Copeland, Janice Gordon and Linda Major
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SSCC hosted a golf tournament at Magnolia Meadows Golf Course on June 14. (Photos by Clarke Stackhouse)
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1. Richard Yarbrol, Jim Palmer, Ken Wildu and Buster Killingsworth 2. Dennis Sargent, Philip Derden, Scott Gossett and Jon Lauderdale 3. Jim Driggans, Brenda Driggans, Janice Hull and Larry McGiboney 4. Casey Morris, Robert Bolton and Blake Guy 5. Emily Davis, Diane Nazarckyk and Lynn Middleton 6. Randy Scurlock, Pete Franch and Russ Hyde 7. Hunter Morris and Christian Kendrick 8. Ronnie Conn, Jack Zuiderhoek, Keith Starnes and Austin Castleberry September 2013 | 73
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Greystone Invitiational Golf Tournament was held on June 21. (Photos by Clarke Stackhouse) 1. Jason and Billy Orfanon 2. Scott McKnight, Trey Patterson, Matt Mierzejewski, Peyton Vitter, Patrick Grahek, Brian Higgins and Sharla Higgins 3. Sheila Moore and Lauren Eagar 4. Elizabeth Case and Thomas Sutton 5. Katie Castello and Martha Weant 6. Davis Bunn, Zach Estep and Will Evans 7. Diane and Andy Czuchry 8. Mary Creel and Germaine Perambo 9. Missy McCabe, Jan Strauss and Heaths Strauss
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10. Andy Schroeder, Chase Schroeder, Monica Schroeder, Roman Cenizal and Jarred Garcia 11. Skyler, Ann, Steve and Brittany Vanderburg 12. Carson Jacobs, Robby Prater and Lee Knox 13. Christy Jackson, Josh Woodfax and Phil Jackson
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Liberty Day was held June 29 on Columbiana’s Main Street. (Photos by Clarke Stackhouse) 1. Dakota Wells, Tonya Wells, Cheyenne Wells, Alexis Franklin, Montana Wells and Canyon Wells 2. Roger Johnson, Faith Johnson, Geneva Johnson, Buck Madaris and Abby Johnson 3. Jesse and Jayln Jones 4. Kin Perry, Grace Perry and Dayton Danner 5. Gracie Driskell, Hannah Wallace and AnnMarie Yednak 6. Micah Ray, Clint Carden, Deana Ray, Lily Ray and Emma Ray 7. Connie Manley and Penny Connell 8. Rebecca Bryant and Cecelia Woods 9. Brittany McNeal, Derrick Prince and Hannah McNeal
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10. Cory, Chloe, Carolyn, Charles and Chad Abbott 11. Wiley, Kate, Laura and Brooks McKeller 12. Jacob Tidmore and Jaselyn Harrison 13. Lee Runels, Cathy Runels, Cathy William, Ken Willaim and Kenzie William
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Shelby County High School’s class of 1963 celebrated its 50th reunion on June 14 at Bernie’s on Main in Columbiana. (Photos by Clarke Stackhouse) 1. Shelby County High School Class of 1963 2. Donald and Wynette Shirley 3. Dinah and BJ Davis 4. Terry and Beverly Templin 5. Cathy Spires, Hank Spires, Barbara Alvereon and Wade Alvereon 6. Larry and Nan Patterson 7. Judy James Turner, Larry Patterson, Mickey McLadder, Ken White and Kay Ray
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Rotary Club Charity Golf Tournament
The AlabasterPelham Rotary Club held its annual charity golf tournament on May 20 at Timberline in Calera. (Photos by Neal Wagner) 1. David Nolen, Kirk Mancer, Gerg Tenn and Glynis Thomas 2. Ed Silver shot a hole-inone in the tournament’s putting contest 3. Elizabeth Roland and Debbie Parrott 4. Neil Bailey, Shawnna Harmon, Janet McPherson and Richard McPherson
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OUT & ABOUT In Focus!
Shelby County Fair
Sept. 1
Nature Crafts Take your kids to make nature-inspired crafts at Oak Mountain State Park. Meet at the Campground Pavilion on Sept. 2 at 10 a.m. For more information, visit Alapark.com/ OakMountain.
is award-winning artist Donny Findley. The grand prize winner receives $500 and a solo exhibit in the spring of 2014. The exhibit will be run Sept. 5-Oct. 3. Call 205.669.0044 or visit Shelbycountyartscouncil.com. Basic Digital Photography Class The Shelby County Arts Council will host a basic digital photography class beginning Sept. 5 from 6-8:30 p.m. at its gallery at 104 Mildred Street, Columbiana. Admission is $75 for four sessions. Open to people ages 15 and older. Call 205.669.0044 or visit Shelbycountyartscouncil.com.
Sept. 4
Sept. 6-7
Nature Walk Oak Mountain State Park will host a Nature Walk on Sept. 1. Join the group as they search for different objects in nature. Meet at the entrance to the Light Trail in the campground at 10 a.m. For more information, visit Alapark.com/OakMountain.
Sept. 2
In Focus! The Shelby County Arts Council will host In Focus!, a photography roundtable discussion Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. at its gallery at 104 Mildred Street, Columbiana. Admission is $5. Call 205.669.0044.
Sept. 5
Juried Art Show The opening reception for the fifth annual Shelby County Arts Council Juried Art Show will be Sept. 5 from 6-7:30 p.m. at its gallery at 104 Mildred Street, Columbiana. Free admission. The juror for this year’s show 80 | ShelbyLiving.com
Giggles and Grace Asbury United Methodist Church will host its annual Giggles and Grace consignment sale Sept. 6 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sept. 7 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Many children’s clothes, youth clothes, toys, books, shoes, baby furniture and many more items are available for purchase. Proceeds from the sale are used to pay the consigners. All remaining proceeds are given to the Asbury UMC children’s program and various mission groups in the area. Asbury UMC is located at 6690 Cahaba Valley Road, Birmingham.
Sept. 7
Watercolor Workshop The Shelby County Arts Council will host a watercolor portrait painting workshop with Pat Hall on Sept. 7 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at its gallery at 104 Mildred Street, Columbiana. Cost is $38. Call 205.669.0044 or visit Shelbycountyartscouncil.com.
Sept. 9
Mumford and Sons English folk rock band Mumford and Sons will perform Sept. 9 at the Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, 1000 Amphitheatre Drive, Pelham. Visit Livenation.com for ticket information.
Sept. 12
Taste of Shelby County Janet Hall and Band Janet Hall and Band will The Greater Shelby County Foundation is perform Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Education Shelby County Arts Council, 104 hosting the sixth annual Taste Mildred Street, Columbiana. of Shelby County on Thursday, Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets Sept. 12 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at are $20. Call 205.669.0044 or the Cahaba Grand Conference 3660 Grandview visit Shelbycountyartscouncil. Center, Parkway, Birmingham. The com. event will feature vendors from all over Shelby County and the Car and Truck Show The Calera Elks Lodge will surrounding areas offering be hosting its eighth annual a “taste” of specialty dishes Car and Truck Show on Sept. from their menus. Vendors 7. The event includes oldies include restaurants, wineries, music, food, raffles, vendors, breweries, caterers and more. door prizes, a horse shoe Admission is $25. tournament and more. Free admission. Pre-registration Sept. 13 deadline for entries is Aug. Author visit 31. For more information, call Author Tripp Bowden will speak 205-668-0545 from Wednesday- at Timberline Country Club, 300 Sunday after 4 p.m. or leave Timeberline Trail, Calera on a message with Jeri at 205- Friday, Sept. 13 at noon. Bowden 668-4469. You can also email is the author of “Freddie and Elkslodge2703@gmail.com or Me: Life Lessons from Freddie Caleraelksentertainment@ Bennett, Augusta National’s Legendary Caddy Master.” Call hotmail.com. 205.669.0044
Sept. 14
Oil painting workshop The Shelby County Arts Council will host an oil painting workshop with Ron Lewis Sept. 14 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at its gallery at 104 Mildred Street, Columbiana. Cost is $85. Call 205.669.0044 or visit Shelbycountyartscouncil.com. Bring on the Ring The Shelby County Arts Council will host an art, metal and clay jewelry-making workshop with Nancy Burleson on Sept. 14 from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at 104 Mildred Street, Columbiana. Cost is $150 and includes all supplies for the jewelry you will create. Call 205.669.0044 or visit Shelbycountyartscouncil.com. Wild game cook-off The second annual TriCounty Wild Game Cooking Championship and Hunting and Fishing Expo, hosted by the Montevallo Chamber of Commerce, will be held Sept. 14 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Local hunting, fishing, sporting and food vendors will set up in front of Tractor Supply, 4633 Highway 25, Montevallo. Cook teams will serve lunch from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Lunch tickets are $10. Winners will be announced at 1 p.m. Call 205-665-1519.
Sept. 16-21
Shelby County Fair The 64th Shelby County Fair will be held Sept. 16-21 at 701 Highway 70 in Columbiana. The old-time country fair will feature rides, entertainment, livestock shows and more. Admission is $10. Visit Shelbycountyfair.com.
Sept. 17
Harvest of Hope Luncheon The seventh annual Harvest of Hope luncheon benefitting Oak Mountain Misions will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 11:30 a.m. at the Cahaba Grand Conference Center. A silent auction will begin at 10 a.m. The keynote speaker will be Shelby
County Sheriff Chris Curry. For more information, email Oakmtnmissions.com. Constitution Day Learn about the Constitutional Convention, the framers of the U.S. and the struggles of the new Republic at Constitution Day at the American Village on Sept. 17 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission charged. Visit Americanvillage.org.
A TASTE OF
SHELBY COUNTY
Sept. 21
Paws for the Cause The fifth annual Paws for the Cause will be held Saturday, Sept. 21 at Veterans Park, 4750 Valleydale Road, Hoover. Sponsored by the Animal League of Birmingham, the event includes a 5k run and fun run/pet walk and benefits the Shelby Humane Society. Visit Theanimalleagueof birmingham.com.
Sept. 28
Harvest Time Old Baker Farm, 1041 Farmindale Road, Harpersville, will be open to the public for “visits Sept. 28-Oct. 31. Harvest hours are from 3 p.m-dark during the week, 9 a.m.-dark on Saturdays and 1 p.m.-dark on Sundays. Admission is $10; kids under 2 are free. Fee includes a pumpkin and all events except food, horseback rides and arts and crafts. Visit Oldbakerfarm. com.
Sept. 29
Walk to Cure Diabetes The JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes is a fun-filled charity walk held in locations all around the world. The walk will be held locally on Sept. 29 from 1-5 p.m. at Hoover’s Veterans Park on Valleydale Road. Shelby Living is happy to feature community events in its monthly calendar. It also must take place in Shelby County or be sponsored by a Shelby County-based group. Email details to Katie.mcdowell@ shelbyliving.com. l
Proceeds benefit
September 12th • 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Cahaba Grand Conference Center 3660 Grandview Parkway, Birmingham SPONSORED BY
For Tickets, Call 682-5255 or order online at www.shelbychamber.org
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WHY I LOVE SHELBY COUNTY
Holland Brown:
Newly crowned Miss Shelby County Are you familiar with Shelby County? If so, what do you like about it? I am familiar with Shelby County! My favorite place to visit in Shelby County is Oak Mountain State Park. It’s an absolutely gorgeous park and a perfect place for a picnic!
Story by KATIE MCDOWELL Photograph CONTRIBUTED
H
olland Brown, 20, was crowned Miss Shelby County July 19 in Columbiana. A lifelong dancer, Brown performed a tap dance to the song “Jump, Jive and Wail” during the talent portion of the competition. Her platform is called “Shot Stoppers; Finding a cure for Juvenile Diabetes.” She is a native of Trussville and a junior at Auburn University, where she is studying education and musical theater. She hopes to teach middle or high school after graduation. What was your first thought when they called your name as the winner of pageant? I honestly did not expect it! There were some very talented girls that I competed with, so I was shocked to hear my name called as the winner. I was so happy to hear that I would be going back to Miss Alabama. And then I really realized what an incredible opportunity and privilege it is to be Miss Shelby County! Pam Oliver, my director, is absolutely wonderful. I felt immediate support from the community after the pageant, and I could not be more thankful and proud to hold this title. How did your platform develop? When I was in junior high, two of my closest friends were both diagnosed with juvenile diabetes about six months from each other. I watched their lives immediately change with finger pricks, constant blood sugar monitoring and diet change. I knew I wanted to do something to help. In high school, I got involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation with their local walks for Juvenile Diabetes. In college, I started my own walk for JDRF in Auburn, Alabama. 82 | ShelbyLiving.com
I continue to go to JDRF fundraisers and support Juvenile Diabetes research in anyway that I can. What are the benefits of competing in pageants? There are many more benefits to competing in the Miss America Organization system than most people realize. The opportunity to earn scholarship money is amazing, and I have earned close to $15,000 since I started competing two years ago. The interview skills that I have developed are so valuable, and the self-confidence I have gained from performing on the stage has made me into who I am today. And of course, who doesn’t love to play dress up?! How do you prepare for competition? I prepare short-term by practicing my talent everyday and watching extra news reports every morning. In the long term, I am always working on my platform and maintain a healthy lifestyle with exercise.
What are your hopes for the next year as Miss Shelby County? My main goal as Miss Shelby County is to broadcast my platform to this community. I have already seen how supportive this community is, and I know that there is so much we could accomplish toward finding a cure for juvenile diabetes. I plan to make as many appearances as I can and be a good ambassador for Shelby County. What are your hobbies? I’m very involved at Auburn, so that keeps me pretty busy. I’m in Student Government Association cabinet, philanthropy chair of my social sorority, AU Players (thespian society), and I teach at a local dance studio. In my spare time, I love to read “beach books” and blog-stalk! If you could meet three famous people, dead or alive, who would it be and why? Johnny Depp: He is my favorite actor. I love the way he creates a totally new character for each role that he plays, and I would love to know the motivation behind several of his characters. Walt Disney: I love absolutely everything Disney! His life was incredible, and I think he’d be the most fun person to sit down to dinner with. Kate Middleton: I think her style is amazing, and I would love to hear a true Cinderella story. l
September 2013 | 83
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