Mountain Brook Magazine, Summer 2023

51

CARRYWELL

Infertility, loss, struggle. Mountain Brook-based nonprofit, Carrywell, aims to support parents in their journey to have the best blessing life can give, children.

62

MOUNTAIN BROOK’S BEST 2023

See just who Mountain Brook’s favorites are in the winners of our annual vote.

78

WHISKING

AWAY TO FRANKLIN

Award-winning travel writer Christiana Roussel votes Franklin, Tennessee, as a “charming hamlet,” and the perfect family getaway this summer.

PHOTO BY CASEY IRWIN

PHOTO BY LAUREN USTAD

EDITORIAL

Lizzie Bowen

Anna Grace Moore

Noah Wortham

CONTRIBUTORS

James Culver

Rachel Culver

Lauren Dowdle

Casey Irwin

Blair Ramsey

Gracie Roth

Christiana Roussel

Kelsea Schafer

Ashley Tiedt

Lauren Ustad

Wildflower Photos

DESIGN

Jamie Dawkins

Rowan Futrell

Connor Martin-Lively

Briana Sansom

MARKETING

Sydney Allen

Octavia Campbell

Evann Campbell

Kari George

Michaela Hancock

Rachel Henderson

Rhett McCreight

Lauren Morris

Viridiana Romero

Tori Montjoy Smith

ADMINISTRATION

Mary Jo Eskridge

Alec Etheredge

Madison King

Stacey Meadows

Tim Prince

Brittany Schofield

Savana Tarwater

Anna Willis

Lauren Dowdle, Writer

An award-winning writer, Lauren lives in Hoover with her husband, daughter and four fur-babies. She writes for a variety of local, national and international publications. A graduate from the University of Alabama, Lauren played the tuba in the Million Dollar Band, which is how she met her husband. When she isn’t writing or chasing around a toddler, she loves to bake for friends and family.

Blair Ramsey, Photographer

Blair is a Vestavia Hills-based photographer whose company, Southern Intrigue Photography, specializes in sports action, portrait and commercial images. Blair and her husband, John, have two sons, Cooper and Cameron, who have both had the privilege of being Auburn cheerleaders. Blair’s work can be found at southernintriguephotography. com, on Instagram @southernintriguephotography and Facebook @southernintrigue.

Christiana Roussel, Writer

Where should we have dinner? Where should we go on our next family vacation or couple’s getaway? What kind of shotgun should I buy? These are all queries writer Christiana Roussel has answered in recent months. While food writing is her original passion, she has really enjoyed expanding her repertoire to include travel and sporting activities that might involve an upland adventure. And no, it is not just because there might be a need for new clothes for the expedition.

Kelsea Schafer, Photographer

Kelsea is a student at Hoover High School. She lives in Hoover with her family and two dogs, Fendi and Riley. When not in class, she is behind the camera, shooting sports, events or senior portraits wherever possible while running Kelsea Schafer Photography. During her free time, she is often at Lewis Smith Lake, enjoying all things sun, boating and wake surfing with her family and friends.

Mountain Brook Magazine is published quarterly by Shelby County Newspapers Inc., P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Mountain Brook Magazine is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Shelby County Newspapers Inc. [the Publisher]. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Mountain Brook Magazine, P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051.

Mountain Brook Magazine is mailed to select households throughout Mountain Brook, and a limited number of free copies are available at local businesses. Please visit MountainBookMagazine.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $14.95 plus tax for one year by visiting MountainBrookMagazine.com or calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 532.

by emailing advertise@mountainbrookmagazine.com, or by calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 536.

A Servant’s Heart

Ashley and Alex Seligson have created a nonprofit called, Little Hands, Serving Hearts, which aims to teach children a heart of humility. The nonprofit was born at Ashley’s kitchen table.

SSpring beckons a season of euphoric dawns–strokes of auburn and indigo caressing the sky every morning to wake our sleeping selves into motion. At least waking to work feels a little easier, a little more hopeful now. Winter blues are at our tail and summer–symbolic of youth, learning, growing–is amidst.

May is one of my favorite months. I love the temperatures steadily climbing from the trenches of the “60s” to the subtle hues in the mid “70s.” I love that my favorite flower, the Oriental Trumpet Lily, is in bloom. I also love that May 6 happens to be the day my forever and I tie the knot.

I’ve been waiting since I was 5 years old to be a spring bride. I watched “Bride Wars” with Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson as a kid and just knew I was going to get married in June at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. Eighteen years later, I have come to realize my Excel budget has far too many boxes than I have dollar signs to put in them.

So, I settled for May in Birmingham.

Nonetheless, I seem to be living a dream I so hoped and prayed for as a kid. A dream envisioned that is slightly less extravagant than younger me may have pictured.

Though I am in the “spring” of my career and of my future marriage, I feel seasoned. Reality often hits me 90-to-nothing against a brick wall. Reality, if I’m honest, is realizing the older I grow–the less I really know.

It’s difficult navigating life straight out of college. Success isn’t tenured. It is sown in every season of life through hard work and a relentless passion to achieve. Achieve what, exactly? For some, that’s owning a piece of the Earth. Others, that’s obtaining a title change on Facebook or a plaque on a desk.

A red flag of mine is that I strive to make myself sound eloquent on paper–but that doesn’t mean I know what I’m trying to achieve or better yet, how I’ll actually achieve said dream. I’m still trying to teach my 22-month-old, Jacob, the concept of gravity. I have a feeling that lesson may have to be “self-taught.”

My point? I’ve learned in this youthful stage that my dreams as a kid don’t always look like the reality I’m living now, and I’m learning to be okay with that. Perhaps “seasons” are necessary learning curves to prepare us not only to walk through, but also to enjoy the other seasons of life. Though climbing mountains may humble me, at least I’ll smell the lilies along the way.

Best,

Photo by Lauren Ustad Design by Connor Martin-Lively

What is your favorite Mountain Brook restaurant?

Daniel George and Olexa’s for dessert!

-Lilly Poje

Dyrons, Gardens Cafe (at the Botanical Gardens), Melt and Brick and Tin!

-Kathryn Valencia

Ladybird Taco

-Sally Justice

Slim’s Pizzeria–the best!

-Hilary Cleveland O’Brien

Dyron’s Lowcountry

-John Corley

Bricktops

-Tom Findlay

Abhi

-Michelle Love

My partner and I love Charbar7!

-Tyler May

MOUNTAIN BROOK ART ASSOCIATION’S SPRING ART SHOW

MAY 6

9 A.M.-5 P.M.

Mountain Brook City Hall

56 Church Street

Time to shop till you drop! The Mountain Brook Art Association is hosting its annual “Art in the Village” festival, which features lots of local artists’ work on display in both indoor and outdoor exhibits at Mountain Brook City Hall in Crestline Village. This event is free and open to everyone. This event is also handicap accessible. Art mediums include painting, sculpting, woodworking and more. All are invited to support local artists and find the perfect pieces to accentuate their homes or just find art they appreciate. For more information, visit mountainbrookartassociation. com.

THE GUIDE

MAY 5

‘Tails in the Trails

6-10 P.M.

The Birmingham Zoo

The Birmingham Zoo’s Junior Board is hosting the 13th annual ‘Tails in the Trails fundraiser, benefitting the zoo’s cougar crossing habitat! This outdoor celebration will feature live music, animal encounters, light refreshments from local Mountain Brook restaurants, specialty cocktails and a silent auction, too. The official ‘Tails in the Trails cocktails this year will be the Cougar Cocktail, which is a rum punch, and the Moyo Margarita. All guests must be at least 21 years old. Admission is $35 per person or $65 per couple. Unlimited drinks are $55 per person or $105 per couple. More information about ticket sales can be found at birminghamzoo.com/events.

JUNE 26-30

Summer Garden Chefs

9 A.M.-NOON

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens

This week-long kids’ summer camp is perfect for children ages 8-12 who want to learn about growing vegetables, cooking and tending to their very own gardens! Students will get to grow vegetables and herbs, paint aprons and create their own take-home kitchen gardens. Members’ fees are $180 per student, and nonmembers’ fees are $225 per student. Parents can register their children at bbgardens.org/events or call 205-414-3950 for more information.

AROUND TOWN

SELECT WEEKS IN JUNE AND JULY

Kids’ Art Camp

Thomas Andrew Art Studio and Gallery

1925 29th Ave S.

SELECT WEEKS IN JUNE AND JULY

Gross Out Science Camp

Presented by Fresh Air Family Oak Mountain State Park

MONDAYS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER

Ashtanga Yoga

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

TUESDAYS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER

Terroir Tuesdays: Wine Tastings

Golden Age Wine 2828 Culver Rd

TUESDAYS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER Trivia Night

Publix GreenWise Market 1000 Jemison Ln

TUESDAYS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER

West Homewood Farmers Market

160 Oxmoor Rd

MAY 5

Birmingham Hot Air Balloon Festival

Alabama State Fairgrounds 2331 Bessemer Rd

MAY 6

We Love Homewood Day and 5K

Homewood Neighborhoods and Homewood Central Park

MAY 10-14

Regions Tradition

Greystone Golf and Country Club

MAY 18

Brooks and Dunn

Presented by Legacy Arena

MAY 20

The Farmers Market at Brock’s Gap

Brock’s Gap Brewing Company 500 Mineral Trce Ste 100

JUNE 2

Critters of the Night Hike Oak Mountain State Park

JUNE 16

Foo Fighters

Presented by Oak Mountain Amphitheatre

JUNE 19-23

Linda Dobbins Dance Hip Hop Camp

Linda Dobbins Dance 525 Office Park Dr

JUNE 20-23

Adventures with Winnie the Pooh and Friends Kids’ Camp Birmingham Botanical Gardens

JUNE 22

I Love America Night Wald Park

JUNE 27

Matchbox Twenty

Presented by Oak Mountain Amphitheatre

JULY 15

Mountain Brook Village Market Day Mountain Brook Village

JULY 29

Downtown Homewood Sidewalk Sale

Downtown Homewood

AUG. 1

Big Time Rush

Presented by Oak Mountain Amphitheatre

AUG. 12

Crestline Tent Sale

Crestline Village

MAY 11

Rosé

5:30-7 P.M.

in the Roses

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ Dunn Formal Rose Garden

The Friends of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Junior Board invites attendees to enjoy a glass of rosé, which is provided by Finch Fine Wines, and take in the splendor of the rose garden during this annual celebration.

Members’ fees are $30, and nonmembers’ fees are $35. Reservations are required. Proceeds benefit the Friends’ Native Plant internship. To learn more, visit bbgardens. org/events.

MAY 13

Pollinator Tea Party

10-11:30 A.M.

The Birmingham Zoo Lodge Lawn

This lovely tea party offers guests an opportunity to meet some pollinator pals during the Ambassador Animals Chat, create take-home crafts, enjoy high-end finger foods and have a fun-filled day at the zoo. This event is perfect for young children, and both children and their parents are invited to dress up in their favorite bumble bee or butterfly costumes! Admission is $58 per person, but members receive an exclusive discount. Children ages 1 and under get in free. Visit birminghamzoo.com/events for more information.

JUNE 7

Juneteenth–America’s Second Independence Day

11 A.M.-NOON

O’Neal Library

Dr. Howard Robinson, who is the Associate Library Director for Archives and Cultural Heritage Services at Alabama State University, will lecture on the people, places and events that led to the development of Juneteenth. He will discuss the efforts made in Galveston, Texas, to make Juneteenth a national holiday, commemorating the end of slavery. All are invited to attend this event. Those interested in learning more can contact Holley Wesley at 205-445-1117 or email hwesley@oneallibrary.org.

@mountainbrookmag

Tag us in your Mountain Brook photos on Instagram, and we’ll pick our favorites to regram and publish on this page in each issue.

@dreamdrivesbhm

We’re thrilled to share that Dream Drives has been featured in the Spring 2023 editions of Homewood Life, Shelby Living and Mountain Brook Magazines! It’s truly an honor for us to be a part of these couples’ special day with our collection of classic cars. Make sure to grab a copy of the magazines and check out the spread!

@otmdentistry

OVER THE MOUNTAIN SMILES! We love the Mountain Brook community and are thrilled to offer OTM Smiles for local businesses and their employees. OTM Smiles is a unique fee for service program for employees of Mountain Brook businesses who do not currently have dental insurance. Members of OTM smiles receive general cleanings, x-rays and exams along with discounts on other services and treatments. If you or your business are interested in joining our OTM Smiles program, contact us today to learn more.

How many of us have portraits or even snapshots of our own nurseries when we were babies? I’m sure mine was very 80’s and probably wasn’t perfectly decorated, but I would love to have that memory preserved. No matter what stage of life you’re in, what your house looks like, what you look like, your family deserves to be properly documented. Family portraits are more important than you realize.

@slicecrestline

Sunday Funday and our Classic Reuben Sandwich from @solsdeli? Now that’s the way to end the weekend! It’s been an awesome Saint Patrick’s Day Weekend, and we are running on fumes, but here and ready end the weekend with a bang! Stop in and enjoy a reuben and our weekend drink specials all day! @ slicecrestline

ARTS CULTURE&

UPTOWN FUNK

Folks just want to dance with somebody who loves them, but they can’t do that without the perfect band.

BY ASHLEY WHITTLE TIEDT

PHOTOS BY BLAIR RAMSEY & WILDFLOWER PHOTOS

MMatt Casey and Nationwide Coverage have been gracing wedding receptions, private parties and corporate events around the United States for 20 years.

Matt is a Mountain Brook native, and he learned to love the guitar at a young age from his father. Despite owning several guitars, his father immediately purchased him his own.

Matt began to learn to play, but as children do, he lost interest and wouldn’t pick it up again until high school.

“That’s when the bug bit me,” Matt explains. “I wasn’t into sports, and the guitar saved me from my impending nerd-dom.”

Matt initially joined a blues rock band with his friend, Robert Vann.

“Robert was in high school, walking down the hall

and heard The Allman Brothers Band playing from a classroom,” he says. “Drew Lasater was grading papers while listening to them. Robert and Drew connected over their love for the Allman Brothers.”

Drew eventually introduced Robert and Matt to his friend and vocalist, Josh Hardin. Fate and the Allman Brothers would bring the four young men together.

They began jamming in the basement of Matt’s parents’ house. Those jam sessions resulted in the idea of forming a blues rock band, but since Matt was already in another band, the idea was lost on him.

However, a revelation soon stirred within him. Instead of playing music just for fun, perhaps they should try to start a band to make money and have fun. The only problem was they did not have any

THIS IS HOW WE DO IT

Each event is unique, and the band playing at your wedding should be, too. That’s why Nationwide Coverage has offerings for brides and budgets of all kinds.

“Happy” (Eight-piece band)

uFemale Lead Singer

uMale Lead Singer

uKeyboard

uGuitar

uBass

uDrums

uTwo-Horn Brass Section

“Get Down Tonight” (10-piece band)

uFemale Lead Singer

uMale Lead Singer

uAdditional Singer

uKeyboard uGuitar

uBass

uDrums

uThree-Horn Brass Section

“24k Magic” (12+ band)

uFemale Lead Singer

uMale Lead Singer

uTwo Additional Singers with uChoreography

uKeyboard

uGuitar uBass

uDrums

uFour-Horn Brass Section

“Any Way You Want It”

Nationwide Coverage will give you a completely custom quote, based on your needs. Visit nationwidecoveragemusic.com for more information.

equipment for live shows or know how to run a band. Enter stage right, Mr. O.Z. Hall.

O.Z. joined the group as the drummer and provided the PA system. As a bonus, he had about 30 years of experience, which provided a wealth of knowledge on how to operate successfully. Matt describes O.Z. as the “band dad.”

O.Z.’s wisdom and knowledge of the industry would help propel the band to wedding band stardom. So, Matt Casey, Robert Vann, Drew Lasater, Josh Hardin and O.Z. Hall formed the original members of Nationwide Coverage. Who came up with the

name depends on who you ask, but Matt is adamant it wasn’t him.

DON’T STOP BELIEVING

Nationwide Coverage recorded a demo and started playing the Birmingham bar scene, and their first gig was at Superior Grill in summer 2003.

Josh was in pharmacy school at the time, and his classmates would come to all of their shows, so the band had a built-in following.

The bar scene made way for more exciting gigs, but it wasn’t always easy. There were plenty of slow

seasons. But once they booked their first wedding, things began to snowball. They haven’t slowed down since.

“We started to get requests to play all around the Southeast, and eventually, all around the country,” Matt explains. “We get calls from clients who saw us at events all of the time. Word-of-mouth referrals have been our secret sauce.”

The band has played at the weddings of multiple sets of sisters and countless friend groups, entertaining the crowds and giving couples and their friends “nothing but a good time.”

PARTY IN THE USA

In 2005, Nationwide Coverage added a female singer to the mix.

“There are a few wonderful ladies who have sung with us throughout the years, but Marsha Matthai is our main singer now,” Matt says. “She is marvelous and a wonderful performer.”

Marsha currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and has been with the band for more than 10 years.

In 2007, the band added horns into the mix.

“Mart Avant, the founder of the Tuscaloosa Horns, plays trumpet with us,” he adds. “He is currently touring with country music artist Jamey Johnson.”

Mart is also in the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and plays with the Temptations and The Four Tops. When Mart is touring, there are other horn players who can play, and the same goes for the other members of the band.

The band considers itself to be one big family, and they treat each other as such. You could say that having them get together is just a “family tradition.”

Many of the band members live and work in Nashville, and some members live in Birmingham, which can cause a problem when it comes to practicing.

“We’re fortunate that we’ve been together so long and know each other so well,” Matt says.

While it may sound easy, Matt does a lot of work in the background. He will arrange the music based on the instruments and mail it out, so everyone can practice on his or her own before the show.

Nationwide Coverage has grown and changed quite a bit over the years. In addition to his lead guitar job, Matt is also the band manager, meeting with brides and party planners to book shows. He is also in charge of coordinating travel for this dualcity band.

HOW SWEET IT IS TO BE LOVED BY YOU

In addition to his band performing and management, Matt is also a husband and a father. His wife, Emily, is also a Mountain Brook native and a physician at Children’s Hospital.

“Emily is amazing,” he says, smiling. “I always tell people that I hope they will never see Emily at Children’s because that means their child is very sick, but if they do see Emily, they are in the best of hands.”

The couple has three children, Bennett, 9, Ellen, 6 and Judy, 3.

“One of the best things about my job is that I get to work from home a lot and be a big part of my kids’ lives,” he explains.

MOVES LIKE JAGGER

Nationwide Coverage has played almost 1,000 events all over the country, including shows in New York City, Chicago, Miami and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to name a few.

In addition to weddings, they play many corporate events as well. For more than a decade they have played at The Club in Birmingham for New Year’s Eve and the Cloister Hotel in Sea Island, Georgia, for their Fourth of July event.

While there are many bands out there, Nationwide Coverage knows how to make any party unforgettable. Why? Because a party on stage brings an even bigger party to the dance floor!

For more information or to speak with Matt about booking, visit nationwidecoveragemusic. com.

Book Picks for Gen-Z Readers

I grew up in Fairhope, Alabama, and I moved to Birmingham to attend UAB. I have now lived here for four years, and I just graduated with a doublemajor in English literature and theatre. Ever since I was a kid, I told people that I wanted to work where I would be surrounded by books. What’s a better place than the library? I am so passionate about sharing stories–be it on stage or on a page–so, this seemed like a perfect fit. Here are my top five “best reads” for other Gen-Z readers.

Maame

By Jessica George

A coming-of-age debut novel about Maddie, or Maame, trying to leave her family home and establish her own life. This late bloomer tackles many firsts from finding her own flat to online dating to learning to advocate for herself. This is a funny, moving story that many 20-somethings may relate to.

Babel

By R.F. Kuang

Calling all dark academia fans! Babel takes place in a fantastical Oxford University setting circa 1828. Here, Robin Swift studies at the Royal Institute of Translation–or Babel. This magical art finds meanings that have been lost in translation throughout history. In his pursuit of knowledge and truth, Robin finds himself in academic strife that will keep readers turning the page to see what will happen next.

Love and Other Words

By Christina Lauren

Childhood best friends-turned-strangers reconnect in this second-chance romance by Christina Lauren. This story alternates between past Macy and present Macy. The past focuses on her friendship and first love, Elliot. Meanwhile, in the present, Macy grapples with seeing Elliot for the first time after 10 years of silence. Will these characters get the answers they have longed for?

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

By Benjamin Stevenson

Ernest Cunningham spends his days writing how-to books, not solving murders. A family reunion turns into a whodunit. How can you determine who committed the crime when faced with a family of murderers?

Conversations on Love

By Natasha Lunn

In this non-fiction essential, Natasha Lunn presents conversations with prominent writers on the topic of love. These conversations explore love in all shapes: romantic, friendship, family, strangers and more. A perfect book for any 20-something that is attempting to define themselves in relation to the world around them.

Recommendations from Gracie Roth

Emmet O’Neal Library Assistant

SCHOOL SPORTS&

HUMBLE SERVITUDE

Reflecting on Mountain Brook Schools Superintendent Dr. Dicky Barlow’s legacy.

BY ASHLEY WHITTLE TIEDT

PHOTOS BY MOUNTAIN BROOK SCHOOLS

P“Providing an effective, challenging and engaging education for every one of our students.”

It is the purpose statement for the Mountain Brook School District. The statement was there prior to Dr. Richard “Dicky” Barlow’s tenure and will be there after he is gone, but until then, he starts each day with the mission in mind.

Dr. Barlow was raised in Tucker, Georgia, where he attended Tucker High School. After graduation, he attended Georgia State University on a basketball scholarship. He majored in business and had plans to move back to Tucker and go into business with his father, who was a manufacturer’s representative for a plumbing supplies company.

“We had it planned out, but then when I started playing basketball, I decided I wanted to coach, so

I changed my major over to education,” Dr. Barlow says.

He was hired by Gwinnett County Schools in Georgia, as a basketball coach and physical education teacher. When the school system asked if he would also teach science instead of physical education, Dr. Barlow returned to school to receive his certification in science education. He spent five years there before deciding to leave education behind.

“I was just going through some hard times in my life, and I decided to take a year off,” he explains. “I was unemployed for about a month and a half before I got bored. I took a job outside of education.”

Luckily, he wouldn’t be out of education for

long. About six months into his sabbatical, Dr. Barlow received a letter from a friend encouraging him to go into education administration. While he was flattered, he didn’t see a path there.

Two weeks later, he received a call from the first principal he ever worked for, asking him to come to his new school district and interview.

“He asked me to apply for a job as a school intervention specialist,” Dr. Barlow says. “I told him I was honored that he would call, but I needed him to explain to me what a school intervention specialist does.”

A school intervention specialist assists with the academic and behavioral issues of at-risk students at a school.

“He explained to me that a lot of kids were

falling through the cracks, and he wanted to bring me in to talk with them and find out what they needed to be successful,” he explains.

The school system was Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia. It was home to more than 2,500 high schoolers, which was a large school for the time. Dr. Barlow interviewed and got the job, and he worked in this position for four years. After earning his Master of Administration and Supervision from Georgia State University, Dr. Barlow set his sights on the vice principal position. He served in that capacity with Brookwood from 1992 to 1996.

In 1996, Dr. Barlow followed Dr. David Stiles to Alabama, where the duo worked as the principal (Stiles) and assistant principal (Barlow) of

FUN FACTS

uDr. Barlow met his wife when he moved to Birmingham. They have three children Luke, 20, Kate, 19 and Sally, 16. Just four days before his first day as principal of Mountain Brook High School, Dr. Barlow’s oldest son, Luke, was born.

uDr. Barlow played the guitar on a ship in the Aegean Sea, leading others in worship.

uHe also played basketball against Michael Jordan in college.

uWhile he completed his flight training to become a pilot, he never took the test to become a pilot.

Mountain Brook High School until 2002.

“Then one day, former Superintendent Dr. Charles Mason walked into my office and said, ‘Are you ready to be principal?’ And I was like, ‘Yes, I am,’” Dr. Barlow recalls. “Except, I was not expecting it at all. That’s what you’re supposed to say, right? I went, and I interviewed for the job. He called me and said, ‘You were the one we chose.’”

He was named the principal at Mountain Brook High School and served in that position for six years through 2008.

Toward the end of Dr. Mason’s career, he invited Dr. Barlow to a lunch meeting that would be a defining moment in Dr. Barlow’s life.

“We sat down, and I said, ‘Rumor has

it you’re going to retire,’ and he quickly told me he was planning to hang around for a few more years,” he says. “He asked me what I was going to do, which took me by surprise.”

He explained to Dr. Mason how he hoped to progress in his career and eventually become a superintendent in a school district other than Mountain Brook. Dr. Mason quickly questioned why he wouldn’t want to stay in the community.

“I said, ‘Mountain Brook is one of the best school systems in the nation, and I’ve never been a superintendent before,’” Dr. Barlow notes. “Why would anybody want me to be their superintendent? Dr. Mason told me it was because I was already so ingrained in the Mountain Brook community, and the people knew I was trustworthy.”

The next week, the school board approached Dr. Barlow, telling him they had heard he wanted to be the superintendent. He quickly explained that was not the way the conversation with Dr. Mason had happened. The board had faith in Dr. Barlow and suggested he transfer to the central office to work with Dr. Mason. The plan was that Dr. Barlow would have an opportunity to learn and be mentored by Dr. Mason.

When Dr. Mason retired, the school system did a nationwide superintendent search. At the end of

the process, Dr. Barlow was appointed to the position. Just prior to his appointment, he went back to school to obtain his doctorate from Samford University.

“That was in 2009, and here it is almost 14 years later,” he explains. “We’ve gone through Covid and the Great Recession. It’s been quite a ride.”

In late 2022, Dr. Barlow was named the “2023 Schneider Electric Superintendent of the Year” at the School Superintendents of Alabama’s fall conference. If you ask him to talk to you about this

“To be a great superintendent, you have to realize that it’s not about you.”

-Dr. Richard “Dicky” Barlow

Courage lives

Most people cannot even imagine what it feels like to watch a child take on a battle against cancer. The courage, strength and resilience our patients demonstrate every day is what inspires us to give our best. We are here when families need us the most, caring for their children and never giving up hope in their fight against cancer.

accomplishment, he will quickly point you to the team of educators who serve this community.

“You have to build a team of great people around you,” Dr. Barlow adds. “I want to be really clear about the fact that the reason I’m superintendent of the year is because we have great students, great teachers, great administrators and a great community. They set me up to be Superintendent of the Year. We have a great central office staff and phenomenal leaders at our individual schools. We say that teachers are the leaders of our school. You go into any school and a receptionist greets you; our staff is the lifeblood of our school system. To be a great superintendent, you have to realize that it’s not about you. I steer the ship in the right direction, but it’s their ideas that get us where we need to go. It’s rare that I’m the smartest person in the room when I’m with my staff.”

Dr. Barlow loves the community of Mountain Brook and the people in it. It is clear that his love extends to the staff and the students. He is passionate about hiring good teachers who accelerate students, preparing them to become whatever they want to be and maybe eventually, the next superintendent of Mountain Brook Schools.

Ransom Head Wrestling Coach at Mountain Brook High School

Under head coach Justin Ransom’s leadership, Mountain Brook High School won its first-ever AHSAA wrestling championship on January 20, 2023. Mountain Brook faced off against Mortimer Jordan, winning 32-27 in the Class 6A Wrestling Duals Finals which were held at the Birmingham CrossPlex. Here, Justin offers his thoughts on the team’s hard work and success.

Tell us about your recent win over Mortimer Jordan. What did it feel like when the whistle blew and Mountain Brook won?

The staff was ecstatic! It was almost surreal at first. You know the dual meet wasn’t technically over. Nathan became one of our seniors who won a type threeto-one match against a Mortimer Jordan wrestler. It gave us enough points to where we couldn’t lose the dual. I remember Nathan raising his hand and giving him a big hug and telling him how proud I was of him. Andrew Scofield has been coaching with me for seven years. I looked at him and said, “Man, we did it!”

What’s next for Mountain Brook’s wrestling team?

We’re working out and prepping our wrestlers with our club coaches. We’re really working towards trying to get our kids at these national tournaments, larger tournaments over the spring. Then we’ll switch gears come June and really focus on the team aspect once again. We’ll go to a team camp in Chattanooga.

What do you think makes a winner, specifically relating to Mountain Brook’s wrestling team?

Looking at the teams we’ve had over the years, I think the team dynamic, the team component, the overall [commitment] from everybody in the room is why we’re successful. We have 45 wrestlers on our team, and in a meet, only 14 wrestlers are competing. But, at any moment, we could ask someone to step in from a weight class. The group we had this year–I wouldn’t say was the most experienced we’ve ever had. But, they were going to do whatever it took for Mountain Brook to win, and I was going to do whatever they did. They were going to do it for the team rather than for the individual. They’re really selfless all throughout the year. I think [teamwork] was a huge thing that we communicated to them, and they bought into it and believed in it.

Are there any students that you are especially proud of that you’d like to give a shout out to for their hard work this season?

Overall, we have a young team. I mean we started four seniors, so we have a very young team, but I do think a big component is our seniors this year. Coming out of the junior high and in the high school, three of the four seniors weren’t even a starter until this year. They all kind of took on the role of being leaders in the off-season, whether it was in the locker room or in practice. I think a huge driving factor in our team’s mentality was no one stood out. Winning was a collective effort. The seniors pulled together and found a way to make everything work. The team built off that energy.

What is your favorite thing about being a coach in the Mountain Brook School System?

The overall support, whether it’s from the administration or the community, makes it a great place to work. I feel like you are always supported, no matter what you’re doing.

Justin

FOOD DRINK&

A TASTE OF TEXAS

Nashville staple Ladybird Taco is bringing the Texas concept of the “breakfast taco” to Birmingham.

BY ANNA GRACE MOORE

PHOTOS BY CASEY IRWIN WITH JAMES AND RACHEL CULVER

EEverything is bigger in Texas, including the breakfast. Ladybird Taco serves only the best and freshest ingredients, inspired by the Texas taco scene.

What originally started as the brainchild of founder Gabe Scott has now snowballed into a franchise with a grip on both Nashville and Birmingham cuisine.

Gabe, who was a practicing musician in Nashville, decided to pursue a career in the food industry to spend more time with his family and do something that made him excited to wake up and go to work every day, food.

Gabe loves tacos—everything about the richness of the flavors. Gabe’s wife’s grassroots are planted in Houston, which is what ignited the idea for a fast-

casual breakfast taco concept.

Ladybird Taco opened in 2020 in 12 South in Nashville with the help of co-founders Ben Edgerton and Andrew Wiseheart, who both live in Texas.

Andrew, according to Ladybird Taco’s Board President Brooks Veazey, is a “baller chef.” Andrew was actually featured in Food and Wine Magazine, too.

“A lot of what we’re doing, ‘breakfast tacos,’ makes sense in Texas,” Brooks says. “What we’re wanting to do is bring breakfast tacos to the Southeast. All the tacos are numbered on the menu. If you look around Ladybird Taco, it is a really simple, subtle place. Our menu is the same. We’re trying to make everything feel approachable. All the tacos are wrapped with a number around them. The

number four (add potato) is chorizo, egg and cheese.”

Brooks joined the Ladybird Taco team in June 2021, helping open Birmingham’s first location in Lane Parke on Monday, Feb. 13. When asked, ‘Why Mountain Brook,’ Brooks responded that the niche community ties remind him and the other owners of the community in Nashville. Both have such great community members that love to support each other’s business endeavors.

Brooks actually graduated from Oak Mountain High School and now lives in Bluff Park with his wife, Mary Ann, and their two children. Brooks met Mary Ann while they attended the University of Alabama. Then, he planned on becoming a physical

therapist.

Very quickly, he realized he did not want to go into PT school and began looking for other opportunities.

“I’ve always had some form of an entrepreneurial bone in me,” Brooks says, reflecting on his experience in the food industry. “When I turned 16, I started [working for] Dippin’ Dots at the Birmingham Barons games. I got connected with a guy named David Sanford, who was a partner in Taziki’s in Tuscaloosa. He became a mentor to me. He hired me for Dippin’ Dots, then he hired me at Taziki’s in college. He made it fun for me.”

Brooks began working at concession stands in college, expanding his repertoire as a soon-to-be

restaurateur.

“My brother was over Steel City Pops at the Summit and Homewood,” Brooks explains. “He asked me to help them open up the [Tuscaloosa location].”

After a successful launch, Brooks and Mary Ann later moved to Austin to help open up another Steel City Pops location. By the time he was 25, he and Mary Ann had successfully helped to launch 10 locations across the Southeast, including popular storefronts in Louisville, San Antonio and Dallas Fort-Worth.

“I am really proud of what we built,” Brooks says.

Life, however, has a funny way of throwing a 180-degree curve ball, completely changing everything. Enter stage right, the Covid-19 pandemic.

Brooks and Mary Ann moved back home to Birmingham during the pandemic, where Brooks took a job at Landing–a short-term rental company that leases local apartments.

“Marcus Higgins and Bill Smith were both

incredibly kind to me,” Brooks says.

Marcus, who is the COO of Landing, and Bill, who is the CEO, took Brooks under their wing, helping him learn the “ins and outs” of building a business.

“When Bill hired me, I was one of the first hundred employees,” Brooks recalls. “He was like, ‘You’re not qualified, but we’ll give you a chance.’ I literally use that stuff that he and Marcus [taught me] every day.”

Brooks spent a year at Landing before meeting Gabe and falling in love with the community that is Ladybird Taco.

Now having successfully launched Ladybird Taco’s second brick and mortar restaurant, Brooks, Gabe, Ben and Andrew plan to open up a third location in Nashville and hopefully, a fourth location in Birmingham in 2024.

Per the website’s mission statement, Ladybird Taco is “on a mission to enable a life-giving community by specializing in breakfast and lunch tacos. Modeled after the taco scene in Austin, Texas, Ladybird serves house-made tortillas, queso, salsa

A TASTE OF TEXAS

Brooks recommends newcomers try the “number one,” which is a taco with bacon, egg and cheese. For those with a more diverse palate, he recommends his own personal favorite, the number four, which is made up of chorizo, egg and cheese, and he adds potatoes, too.

and salads from fresh ingredients, alongside full barista service all day.”

In fact, Ladybird Taco sources ingredients from several local vendors such as June Coffee, Harvest Root and Last Call Bakery. Supporting local businesses is essential to the owners’ view of building relationships.

Relationships, Brooks says, are key to tenuring success. The phrase, “life-giving community,” actually refers to Gabe having a near-death experience, struggling with meningitis several years ago.

When Gabe was diagnosed, “Andrew and Ben came to run the store in Nashville,” Brooks explains. The community rallied around Gabe, with volunteers crawling out of the woodworks just to keep the business alive. That same community is

but one reason many employees join the team.

“It does take a village,” Brooks says.

He is quick to credit Jackson Graham and Carly Zubiria, who are the general managers of the Birmingham and Nashville locations, as well as Ben Cleveland, who is the director of restaurant openings. Nothing would be possible without these leaders and the hard-working staff at both locations, Brooks adds.

On a personal level, Brooks says Mary Ann and his mother inspire him to be the best version of himself. His mother actually sowed a seed of entrepreneurship in him at a young age.

“My mom owned Blades, which was a hair salon in Vestavia on 31,” Brooks says. “My whole life she owned that. I grew up on weekends and stuff, answering phones and washing hair. My mom

introduced me to small business along with David Sanford. My wife and I have had a lot of people help us on the way. Doing what we’ve done is not easy. It takes a lot of patience and care to do something that actually impacts the community.”

While dreams are not usually a good business plan, they do help one envision what is possible, despite what seems unattainable. Brooks’s dream, he says, is to help coach young leaders who one day may just open up Ladybird Taco franchises or start their own endeavors. Either way, he says the best

part of his job is the people, both the ones that have invested in him and those he will have the chance to help thrive.

And that, investing in one another through hard work and dedication, is a good business plan.

For a taste of Texas heat with a Nashville flare, visit Ladybird Taco in Lane Parke at 300 Rele Street. It is open every day from 6 a.m.-4 p.m. Customers can follow Ladybird Taco on Instagram and Facebook and tag, @ladybirdtaco, in their photos, too.

5 FIVE QUESTIONS FOR

Jay Connor Owner of Mountain Brook Creamery PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

A Mountain Brook native himself, Jay Connor and his wife Stacey have been married for 20 years and have two children, Maryn and Thomas, with another on the way this summer. Jay’s first job in high school was actually working at Mountain Brook Creamery when it was then a Baskin Robbins. Through the years the business has changed a lot, especially when Jay took over as owner of this location and of Edgewood Creamery in Homewood, too. His love for ice cream and pride in the family business is evident as he reflects on the history of Mountain Brook Creamery.

How did you get into the food industry?

At 16 years old, I worked at Mountain Brook Creamery when it was then a Baskin Robbins. The owner at the time, Jim Gaston, successfully turned Baskin Robbins in Mountain Brook Village into Mountain Brook Creamery. We had the opportunity to take over Mountain Brook Creamery in 2005 and jumped on it and came back to the same happy customers that I served in high school. We started out as a one-man band and over the last 18 years, we have been able to increase its sales tenfold, which has allowed us to employ and manage a large staff, including customer service, cake decorators and managers.

Of all the businesses to go into, why ice cream and why “Mountain Brook?”

Why ice cream? I love it! Over the years, we have added new products and services, including catering, frozen yogurt and now our new, soft-serve ice cream to the already 44-plus premium hand-crafted, hardscooped ice cream flavors. We were also able to open another store in Homewood, Edgewood Creamery, in 2008 that is doing

great as well. Mountain Brook has proven to be the perfect place for us, and the community wants us to be there and supports us in any climate. The proximity to the Birmingham Zoo, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and all of the great restaurants and shops keeps us with a strong flow of customers.

What do you hope to bring to the community through ice cream— Mountain Brook Creamery, specifically?

We love being part of the community. When I ask someone about our store now, I always ask them, ‘Do you assume that we are always open?’ That is important to us because we are open 363 days a year, 7 days a week, from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. To be successful and to be a trusted part of the community, you have to be responsive, available and consistent. We have built that trust that when we are needed, and without question, we are going to be there, and it’s going to be a great experience every time. That is the biggest honor you can celebrate as a business. In 18 years, we haven’t missed a business day other than the famous Snow-apocalypse of 2014.

What are your favorite menu items and those you recommend newcomers try first?

If you have not experienced Mountain Brook Creamery yet, come in and try our special mint chocolate chip ice cream or chocolate soft serve, and you will instantly be in love. Just make sure you scoop up an ice cream cake in any flavor of your choosing to bring home to the family.

What events, new flavors or “news” in general can customers anticipate in the near future?

This summer we will be offering New Orleans-style sno-cones for the first time in Mountain Brook! We will have a flavor list that will fit any palate and will even include your favorite ice cream and toppings to add on top. This will be the coolest summer ever!

Visit Mountain Brook Creamery at 2715 Cahaba Road in Mountain Brook Village seven days a week each day from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. To stay updated on new flavors and events, visit bhamcreameries. com.

HOME STYLE&

A SERVANT’S HEART

How a home forms the basis of community: giving back to those in need.

BY ANNA GRACE MOORE

PHOTOS BY LAUREN USTAD

The ties within community are what bind people together. This draw for fellowship is what brought Ashley and Alex Seligson back home to Ashley’s stomping grounds, Birmingham, after years living in Colorado and beyond.

Alex has lived in 17 different cities but has lived with Ashley in Mountain Brook for the last 15 years–longer than anywhere else he’s lived, and he loves it. Why? The people. The beautiful topography. The bonds he and his neighbors share. No where else has what Mountain Brook residents cherish everyday.

“We fell in love with the community,” Alex explains. “Everybody has space but [partakes] in communitybased projects. People take care of each other.”

It’s this sense of belonging that inspired Ashley to create Little Hands Serving Hearts, which is a nonprofit organization that helps children get involved in community service projects. There’s no minimum age to volunteer, so children get to experience giving back to the community that has poured into them.

“We have always said the secret to living is giving,” Ashley says. “We try to live by [this] and instill it in our children. Where we live and where they’re growing up–that’s not normal. We’re extremely blessed.”

These abundant blessings Ashley and Alex say are what allow them to live in such a wonderful community. Their home, which is rich in Coloradian design and nestled in a nature-filled neighborhood, is but one blessing they say they’ve tried to use to bless other people.

“We always talk about no matter who you are, you always have something to give,” Ashley shares. “We always talk about our three T’s: time, talent and treasure. You can give time, treasure–that can be the old toy in the closet. We all have God-given talents.”

The three T’s, Ashley explains, are the focal point of Little Hands Serving Hearts. Even if children may feel young or that they don’t have a lot to give, they always have intangible ways to bless others in need. By blessing others, servant-hearted folks build community–one such as Mountain Brook.

“It’s good to get kids involved at an early age because a lot of times kids grow up in a bubble,” Alex says. “[Working with Little Hands, Serving Hearts] exposes them to adverse conditions, and they get used to volunteering. The hope is that they will continue this trend for the rest of their lives.”

To learn more or get involved with Little Hands Serving Hearts, visit littlehandsservinghearts.org.

The Face of the Home

While the couple loves the traditional and sophisticated European look of many Mountain Brook homes, Alex yearned for more of a rustic vibe that reminded him of Colorado–where he and Ashley called home for several years. They added cedar shakes and natural stone to give their house a homey nature.

Dining Room

This Restoration Hardware dining room table draws all eyes as its tabletop, which is honed Italian Carrara marble, contributes to the stately mood of the room. It seats eight, which is perfect for family meals.

This beautiful abstract has a heart-wrenching story behind it. A Pennsylvania artist going by the name, “Spel,” was, according to Alex, wrongly accused of a crime of which he is serving life without parole. Pro bono attorneys picked up Spel’s case and have been fighting for him, while he paints to raise money for his cause. Paul Seligson, Alex’s father who is an artist, fell in love with Spel’s paintings and has since befriended him. Paul actively shares Spel’s artwork to support his cause. Ashley and Alex now have seven of Spel’s paintings themselves. To learn more information about Spel’s journey or to view and purchase his artwork, visit freespel.com.

The rock crystal chandelier adorning the dining room ceiling was actually something Ashley and Alex kept from the original house’s blueprint. While an antique, the chandelier received a fresh coat of gold paint and has never looked better, Alex says.

Kitchen

The kitchen now looks completely different from when the couple first purchased the house 15 years ago. The closet was previously where the refrigerator was. The laundry nook was out in the open. The couple expanded the kitchen, adding a mudroom for the kids. They also moved the laundry room out of the kitchen and into its own space to make room for an extra large refrigerator, two stoves and an island. Ashley loves to cook and being a big entertainer herself, she needed lots of room for the kitchen to remain both functional and beautiful, too.

Ashley spends a lot of her time here, planning events for Little Hands Serving Hearts.

This room acts as a “drop zone” for the kids to keep their shoes and backpacks.

Living Room

The living room underwent a drastic remodel. The once teal walls are now shades of Earth tones. Ashley and Alex also raised the ceiling, adding a coffered design to pay homage to the traditional “Mountain Brook” aesthetic. They also cut into the brick and expanded the living room to add more windows to allow natural light to flow into the room that previously felt dark and dreary. Jill Rouse of Jill Rouse Designs helped add some unique architectural features that helped blend both the traditional and rustic elements that the couple desired.

The bar’s backsplash is made of old wine corks.

The family’s pool is the perfect place for fellowship in the summertime. As of press time, the Seligsons are actually looking to sell this stately home and are looking forward to their next project.

To view the home or learn more about purchasing, email Ashley Holt at aholt@raypoynor.com.

Nestled in Nature

The couple took down the fence that the previous owners had blocking the view of the creek. Now, they can view the topography of the hills and the busy creek from almost any room in the house.

Jill added splashes of color to liven the room. Little bits of color, she says, can transform any room into one that fits a homeowner’s personality best. To work with Jill, those interested can visit jillrousedesigns.com.

Building Community

BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE | PHOTOS BY BLAIR RAMSEY

Providing hope during seasons of grief is but one focus of Mountain Brook nonprofit, Carrywell, and it’s one that defines the organization’s efforts to strengthen families.

Few things are more exciting than the birth of a baby.

From parties and gifts to dropping off casseroles and well wishes, everyone wants to welcome the new addition. Yet for those struggling with infertility and loss, it often seems like they’re on that journey alone—something Carrywell is working to change.

Mallory Wear, who helped start Carrywell, knows that journey all too well. Mallory and her husband, Ben, both wanted to start a family, but their paths to bring life into the world seemed to diverge. Those differences soon began to drive a wedge between them, she says.

“This was by far one of the hardest things Ben and I have walked through as a married couple,” Mallory explains. “I was prepared to do anything the doctors told me, and Ben seemed to question everything to the point of no action. At the same time, we

struggled to communicate in a healthy way about how we felt, which yet again left us unfulfilled and at odds. It wasn’t until we stopped blaming one another for the disappointments and started prioritizing our marriage and focusing on who God is and His promises that we started to understand and respect each other.”

Mallory believes it wasn’t until they surrendered their plans to God that He opened their eyes, changed their perspectives and renewed their faith. During that journey of obedience, she also became connected to a community of women with similar experiences.

This group began meeting once a week in 2017 to support one another through their seasons of infertility and loss. But, they soon realized there

were many more women and couples who were experiencing that same pain but going at it alone. The group wanted to find a way to recreate the sense of community they’d found for others who needed it, and Carrywell was launched.

This Mountain Brook-based nonprofit is a community that helps carry families through seasons of infertility and loss by cultivating connections and granting financial assistance for medical treatments.

“Through divine connections, God began to create a ministry that was more than we could have ever imagined,” Mallory says. “Carrywell started

with support groups for women and has grown to offer many resources, including financial assistance for fertility treatments through our grant program, one-on-one connections, a network of health and wellness professionals and much more. Our community is led by those passionate about helping men and women facing difficult seasons.”

One way that Carrywell builds that sense of community is by offering women’s and marriage groups during the year. They meet weekly for about eight to 12 weeks, and the fellowship times last an hour and a half. The groups provide a way for women and couples to connect and develop

supportive friendships with others who have experienced common struggles.

“It’s a safe place to share what is on your heart without judgment,” Mallory says.

Mallory’s favorite part is getting to know the women and couples who are a part of Carrywell and being able to encourage and comfort them through their times of need. She says she also wants them to know they don’t need to struggle alone.

“It is a very isolating time, and it is paramount to surround yourself with a community that understands and can speak life into your circumstances,” she says. “While we cannot change each other’s circumstances, we believe that connection with those on a similar journey can help change our perspective.”

Even for those who haven’t experienced these

struggles personally, they most likely know someone who has—given that one in eight people experience infertility, and one in four experience loss.

To help raise awareness and celebrate those who participate in the organization, Carrywell hosts several community events during the National Infertility Awareness Week each year. Carrywell will also host speaking events on June 13 at Avenue D with authors Tony and Alisa DiLorenzo, who will share what it takes to have an extraordinary marriage.

“It has been great to see the growth of this organization but even more exciting about what we have on the horizon,” Mallory adds.

This summer, Carrywell will also be launching curated gift baskets and individual items for sale on their website. These gifts will be a great way for

friends and families to comfort those who are facing hard times and need to be uplifted and encouraged, she says.

“We often get asked what is a good gift for someone walking through infertility or loss, so we have decided to curate the perfect items that will encourage and comfort those in their time of grief and heartache,” Mallory explains. “We will also have items for those who are celebrating their miracle babies.”

Mallory and Ben now have two miracles themselves: their son Jack, 5, and daughter Mazie, 2. Having experienced all of the twists and turns this journey threw at them, Mallory now hopes to

uplift others who follow similar paths.

“The scripture that guides me while leading Carrywell is Colossians 2:2,” she says. “‘My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ.’”

One of the couples that has felt that support is Andrew and Lindsey Mills. They met at Saw’s Juke Joint in Crestline Park a decade ago and say it was love at first sight. The couple married in 2015 and began having issues conceiving a year later. Through fertility treatments, they had their first child, Annie, but lost her in a tragic accident. Countless of other

unsuccessful treatments followed their loss, which only added to their immense pain, the couple says.

“Child loss combined with the hardship of not being able to conceive again immediately after was the lowest point of our journey,” Anthony says.

A family friend who worked with Carrywell encouraged them to become part of the organization. Through Carrywell, they found support from a community of couples who understood their

hardships.

“Traversing our difficult path would not be possible without our belief in Jesus, and we liked that Carrywell promotes faith as a pillar to healing and renewal,” Anthony says.

Though they weren’t actively pursuing adoption, a friend connected them with a family that led them to adopt their second daughter, Mallie, in October 2021.

“The lows fortunately do not last forever, and Mallie renewed our hope and positive outlook going forward,” Anthony says.

Four months later, they had a successful in vitro fertilization (IVF) round that resulted in the birth of their son, Harris, in November 2022.

“We firmly believe that God knew we needed Mallie first,” Lindsey says.

They stay busy with two children younger than 2 and are hopeful for more additions to come. While it’s easier for them to look back now that they have two children at home, they say they encourage couples who are struggling with infertility to not give into despair, try to incorporate a positive mindset and don’t give up faith.

“There have been numerous medical advancements in infertility treatments and at reduced financial burdens for families,” Anthony says. “We support Carrywell because they are focused on both the healing of grief and the informative guidance centered on cost-effective infertility treatments.”

For more information on Carrywell or to find ways to support or get involved with the organization, visit carrywell.org.

MOUNTAIN BROOK’S BEST WINNERS

You voted. We tallied. See just who Mountain Brook’s favorites are.

Photos by Keith McCoy & Contributed

FOOD & DRINK

BEST FRIENDLY SERVICE

Otey’s Tavern

224 Country Clb Pk

Crestline Village 205-871-8435

oteystavern.com

Runners Up: Taco Mama–Crestline, La Paz Restaurant and Catering

BEST KID-FRIENDLY DINING

Taco Mama–Crestline 63 Church St Crestline Village 205-414-9314 tacomamaonline.com

Runners Up: Otey’s Tavern, Craft’s on Church Street

BEST CASUAL DINING

Otey’s Tavern 224 Country Clb Pk Crestline Village 205-871-8435 oteystavern.com

Runners Up: Porch, Taco Mama— Crestline

BEST DATE NIGHT RESTAURANT

Sol Y Luna Tapas and Tequila 920 Lane Parke Ct Mountain Brook Village 205-407-4797 solylunabhm.com

Runners Up: Civitas, Otey’s Tavern

BEST COFFEE

Church Street Coffee and Books

BEST COFFEE

Church Street Coffee and Books 81 Church St Crestline Village 205-870-1117 churchstreetshop.com

Runners Up: Santos Coffee–Mountain Brook, Starbucks—Lane Parke

BEST SWEET TREATS

Mountain Brook Creamery

BEST SWEET TREATS

Mountain Brook Creamery 2715 Cahaba Rd Mountain Brook Village 205-870-0092 bhamcreameries.com

Runners Up: Olexa’s Catering, Cafe and Cakes; Church Street Coffee and Books

BEST PIZZA

Davenport’s Pizza Palace–Mountain Brook 2837 Cahaba Rd Mountain Brook Village 205-879-8603 davenportspizza.com

Runners Up: Slim’s Pizzeria, Post Office Pies

BEST CHEF

Brantley Bush–Dyron’s Lowcountry 121 Oak St Crestline Village 205-834-8257 dyronslowcountry.com

Runners Up: Rodney Davis–Otey’s Tavern, Frank Alverson–Porch

BEST ETHNIC DINING

Surin of Thailand

64 Church St

Crestline Village

205-871-4531

surinofthailand.com

Runners Up: Bongiorno, Sol Y Luna Tapas and Tequila

BEST BRUNCH

Dyron’s Lowcountry

121 Oak St

Crestline Village

205-834-8257

dyronslowcountry.com

Runners Up: Another Broken Egg Cafe, Civitas

BEST BURGER

Otey’s Tavern

224 Country Clb Pk

Crestline Village

205-871-8435

oteystavern.com

Runners Up: Porch, The Country Club of Birmingham

BEST CATERER

Taco Mama–Crestline

BEST CATERER

Taco Mama–Crestline 63 Church St Crestline Village 205-414-9314 tacomamaonline.com

Runners Up: Vaughan and Company, La Paz Restaurant and Catering

BEST DRINKS/COCKTAILS

Vino

1930 Cahaba Rd

English Village

205-870-8404

vinobirmingham.com

Runners Up: Otey’s Tavern, Taco Mama—Crestline

BEST MARGARITA

Taco Mama–Crestline

63 Church St Crestline Village

205-414-9314

tacomamaonline.com

Runners Up: Sol Y Luna Tapas and Tequila, La Paz Restaurant and Catering

BEST LUNCH SPOT

Gilchrist 2805 Cahaba Rd

Mountain Brook Village

205-871-2181

Runners Up: Otey’s Tavern, Taco Mama—Crestline

BEST PATIO

Otey’s Tavern 224 Country Clb Pk Crestline Village 205-871-8435

oteystavern.com

Runners Up: Vino, Porch

COMMUNITY

BEST COMMUNITY EVENT

Mystics of Mountain Brook Halloween Parade

Runners Up: Otey’s Fest, Magic Moments Magic Show

BEST VILLAGE

Crestline Village

Runners Up: Mountain Brook Village, English Village

BEST LOCAL CAUSE

Libby’s Friends

205-529-8377

libbysfriends.org

Runners Up: Magic Moments, CARRYWELL

BEST LOCAL PERSONALITY (TITLE REQUIRED)

George Jones–Snoozy’s Kids

228 Country Clb Pk

Crestline Village

205-871-2662

snoozyskids.net

Runners Up: Herb Reese, Sri Koduri–Church Street Coffee and Books

BEST LOCAL PERSONALITY

George Jones–Snoozy’s Kids

BEST OPTOMETRY PRACTICE

Mountain Brook Eye Care

BEST OUTDOOR SPOT

Jemison Trail

Runners Up: Otey’s Tavern, Lane Parke

BEST PLACE OF WORSHIP

Mountain Brook Community Church 3001 US-280 205-802-7070 mbcc.us

Runners Up: Canterbury United Methodist Church, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

HEALTH AND BEAUTY

BEST DOCTOR

Dr. Holly Gunn–Gunn Dermatology

Crestline Village/Mountain Brook Village 205-415-7536 gunndermatology.com

Dr. Jeremy Edgerly—Mountain Brook Eye Care 921 Jemison Ln

Mountain Brook Village 205-341-9595 mtnbrookeyes.com

Runner Up: Dr. Daniel E. Rousso—Rousso Facial Plastic Surgery

BEST DENTAL PRACTICE

Mountain Brook Smiles

120 Office Park Dr STE 240 205-423-9140 mountainbrooksmiles.com

Runners Up: Alexander Dentistry, Crestline Village Dentistry

BEST ORTHODONTICS PRACTICE

Hufham Orthodontics Crestline Village 120 Euclid Ave 205-871-8881 hufhamortho.com

Runners Up: Great Smiles Orthodontics–Crestline, PT Orthodontics

BEST OPTOMETRY PRACTICE

Mountain Brook Eye Care 921 Jemison Ln

Mountain Brook Village 205-341-9595 mtnbrookeyes.com

Runners Up: MyEyeDr–Dr. David Schaefer, Mountain Brook Optometry

BEST DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE

Village Dermatology 2900 Cahaba Rd Mountain Brook Village 205-877-9773 villagedermatology.net

Runners Up: Gunn Dermatology, Dermatology and Laser of Alabama

BEST ESTHETICIAN

Victoria Stockard–The Spa at Rousso Adams 2700 Hwy 280 STE 300 W 205-930-9595 drrousso.com

Runners Up: Kacie Donahoo–Gunn Dermatology, Anna Rose Mabile–Gunn Dermatology

BEST FITNESS CENTER

Meta Fitness Studio 3150 Overton Rd 205-783-1218 metafitstudio.com

Runners Up: KidFit, Ignite Cycle

BEST PERSONAL TRAINER

Mike Smith–Meta Fitness Studio 3150 Overton Rd 205-783-1218 metafitstudio.com

Runners Up: Kristi Walters–Kristi Walters Fitness; Kelly Campbell— Ignite Cycle

BEST PHARMACY

Crestline Pharmacy 60 Church St Crestline Village 205-871-0317 facebook.com/crestlinepharmacy

Runners Up: Ritch’s Pharmacy, Harbin Discount Pharmacy

BEST SPA

Gunn Dermatology

Crestline Village/Mountain Brook Village 205-415-7536 gunndermatology.com

Runners Up: Village Dermatology, The Spa at Rousso Adams

BEST OUTDOOR SPOT Jemison Trail

BEST SPA Gunn Dermatology

Cobbs Allen is a national independent agency focused on risk management in niche practice groups. We deliver commercial insurance, employee benefits, personal insurance, and alternative risk financing services to our clients.

Best Insurance Agency

Cobbs Allen

Best Insurance Agent

Margaret Ann Pyburn

www.cobbsallen.com

© 2023 Cobbs Allen | All Rights Reserved

BEST HAIR SALON

Oak Street Hair Group Inc.

BEST HAIR SALON

Oak Street Hair Group Inc.

125 Oak St

Crestline Village 205-879-3222

oakstreethairgroup.com

Runners Up: Tonya Jones SalonSpa, LinFox Salon

BEST NAIL SALON

Jimmy’s Nails

81 Church Street

Crestline Village 205-879-1077

facebook.com/jimmysnailscrestline

Runners Up: Nail Tek, Happy Nail Salon

SHOPPING & SERVICES

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE

Heezie’s 81 Church St #101 Crestline Village 205-874-6278

facebook.com/heezies

Runners Up: B. Prince, Athena Pest Control

BEST BOUTIQUE/CLOTHING

B. Prince

271 Rele St

Mountain Brook Village 205-871-1965

shopbprince.com

Runners Up: Pants Store–Crestline, Tulipano Boutique

BEST GIFT SHOP

Heezie’s 81 Church St #101

Crestline Village

205-874-6278

facebook.com/heezies

Runners Up: A’Mano, The Cook Store of Mountain Brook

BEST NEW BUSINESS (OPEN ONE YEAR OR LESS)

Heezie’s 81 Church St #101

Crestline Village

205-874-6278

facebook.com/heezies

Runners Up: Mountain Brook Eye Care, Ignite Cycle

BEST SPECIALTY STORE

Heezie’s 81 Church St #101

Crestline Village 205-874-6278

facebook.com/heezies

Runners Up: Smith’s Variety, The Cook Store of Mountain Brook

Heezie’s

BEST GIFT SHOP

BEST STORE FOR HOME FURNISHINGS/DECOR/KITCHENS

Heezie’s 81 Church St #101 Crestline Village 205-874-6278 facebook.com/heezies

Runners Up: The Cook Store of Mountain Brook, Table Matters

BEST STORE FOR KIDS

Snoozy’s Kids

228 Country Clb Pk Crestline Village 205-871-2662 snoozyskids.net

Runners Up: Smith’s Variety, Children’s Edit

BEST ANIMAL CARE/CLINIC

Village Pet Care P.C. 2921 Cahaba Rd Mountain Brook Village 205-582-2468 villagepetcarepc.com

Runners Up: Pet Vet Express, Dr. Kris Mobile Vet Clinic

BEST LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER Holland Williams Photography

Victoria Stockard Master Esthetician

BEST DANCE/GYMNASTICS STUDIO

Linda Dobbins Dance 525 Office Park Dr 205-902-3013 lindadobbinsdance.com

Runners Up: Mountain Brook Gymnastics, Steeple Arts Academy of Dance

BEST DRY CLEANER

Vogue Cleaners 2816 Cahaba Rd

Mountain Brook Village 205-870-4412

Runners Up: Champion Cleaners— Mountain Brook, Mark’s Cleaners

BEST FLORIST/GARDEN SHOP

Oak Street Garden Shop 115 Oak St Crestline Village 205-870-7542 oakstreetgardenshop.com

Runners Up: Leaf & Petal, Mountain Brook Flower Shop Inc

BEST ELECTRICIAN

Eli Electric 4232 Sicard Hollow Rd 205-879-2997 eliservices.org

Runner Up: Sentry Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical

BEST PLUMBER

Guin Service, LLC 10 55th St S 205-595-4846 guinservice.com

Runners Up: Sentry Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical; Standard Heating, Cooling & Plumbing

BEST HVAC SERVICE Guin Service, LLC 10 55th St S 205-595-4846 guinservice.com

Runners Up: Sentry Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical; Standard Heating, Cooling & Plumbing

BEST PEST CONTROL

Athena Pest Control 3918 Montclair Rd STE 208 205-915-2847 athenapestcontrol.com

Runners Up: Cook’s Pest Control, Mosquito Joe of Birmingham

BEST LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Holland Williams Photography hollandwilliamsphotography.com

Runners Up: Image Arts, Mary Margaret Chambliss Photography

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENCY

RealtySouth 2807 Cahaba Rd Mountain Brook Village 205-870-5420 realtysouth.com

Runners Up: Ray & Poynor Properties, ARC Realty—Mountain Brook

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT

Catherine Pewitt–RealtySouth 205-937-8388 catherinepewitt.realtysouth.com

Runners Up: Dana Anders Norton— RealtySouth, Betsy O. French—Ray & Poynor Properties

BEST PLUMBER, HVAC SERVICE Guin Service, LLC

BEST BOUTIQUE/CLOTHING B. Prince

HOME, FINANCE & AUTO

BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER

Jan Ware Designs janwaredesigns.com

Runners Up: Dana Wolter Interiors, LLC; Jeremy D. Clark Studio

BEST BANK/CREDIT UNION

Oakworth Capital Bank 850 Shades Creek Pkwy 205-263-4700 oakworth.com

Runners Up: Regions Bank, ServisFirst Bank

BEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Isabella Blount–Welch Group 3940 Montclair Rd 205-879-5001 welchgroup.com

Runners Up: Robert Fritze–Fritze Financial, Stewart Welch–Welch Group

Oak

BEST FLORIST/GARDEN SHOP

Street Garden Shop

BEST INSURANCE AGENCY

Cobbs Allen 115 Office Park Dr 205-414-8100 cobbsallen.com

Runners Up: Amy Gardner–State Farm Insurance Agent, Whitney Mork–State Farm Insurance Agent

BEST INSURANCE AGENT

Margaret Ann Pyburn–Cobbs Allen 115 Office Park Dr 205-414-8100 cobbsallen.com

Runners Up: Amy Gardner–State Farm Insurance Agent, Margaret Brooke–Cobbs Allen

BEST MORTGAGE COMPANY

MortgageBanc/Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp

2007 Eagle Ridge Dr 205-986-4220 mortgagebancllc.com

Runners Up: Sean Hentz–Prosperity Home Mortgage, LLC; Adam Snable–Guild Mortgage

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT

Catherine Pewitt–RealtySouth

A Visit to the Volunteer State

By Christiana Roussel |

Franklin and Southhall

Photos by Visit

Located just south of Nashville, Tennessee, the city of Franklin is a fantastic Volunteer State destination, all on its own. Pick a long weekend this summer and make the two and a half-hour drive north to this charming hamlet. Sure, you can always tack on an extra day (or music-filled night) in nearby Nashville, but there is no shortage of R & R right here.

HISTORY

OF

FRANKLIN

Founded in 1799, the city of Franklin was named after none other than Benjamin Franklin, who was a dear friend of Dr. Hugh Williamson, a member of that era’s Continental Congress.

As the county seat of Williamson County, it thrived for decades before the Civil War which left searing scars. A century later, as Nashville—just 30 minutes north—boomed, Franklin remained a country outpost of sorts. Today, Nashville’s growth has become Franklin’s boon, as Music City residents craving more elbow room have put down roots here. History and progress meld together here, in an area dotted with historic Civil War battle sites that serve as a backdrop to a city that often gets labeled with such monikers as “friendliest ,” “most bucolic,” “fastest growing,” “wealthiest” and “one of the dreamiest” places in the South.

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL

Franklin’s town center is just that—the place where businesses, residents and visitors gather on Main Street. This 16-block historic district is lined with Victorian-era restored buildings that convey the town’s commitment to embracing the past while looking to the growth of the future.

The Downtown Franklin Association (DFA) is a preservation organization dedicated to the caretaking of this community’s history and charm. The DFA exists where well-worn creaky retail floors meet the feet of locals and charmed visitors alike.

WHERE TO STAY

Southall

This breathtaking pastoral retreat just outside downtown has been in development for the past eight years as the owners sought to develop and create a truly unique experience. Expansive yet intimate and only open since December 2022, guests stay in the main inn or in cabins or treehouses that dot the hillside. While on property, there is no shortage of activities such as hiking, fishing, spa treatments, sound-bathing, falconry, foraging, biking and so much more. Acclaimed chef Andrew Klamar and his culinary team work with the farm team to plan and grow crops that fill out the resort’s menus. Southall’s honey has won two Good Food Awards and more seem to be on the horizon. Epicurean Ramblings large family-style meals served on-site under strings of twinkling lights—will return to the property after taking a brief Covid-induced hiatus. Offered nightly, be sure to save room for s’mores under the stars.

Harpeth Hotel

Located in the heart of downtown Franklin, the Harpeth Hotel puts Main Street at your feet. With plenty of event and meeting space, large groups and folks celebrating special occasions often find themselves here.

WHEN TO GO

The answer to that question all depends on what you are looking to do. Romantic getaways are ideal all year round, and autumn is certainly the perfect time to take in the fall foliage changes along the famed Natchez Trace Parkway and the city’s annual Pumpkin Fest . But summertime reigns supreme when it comes to just spending time outside, taking in all that Franklin has going on. There are Movies in the Park most Fridays in June and July that begin at sunset. Franklin on the Fourth is an all-out homage to the shared patriotic spirit, with a parade through downtown and a bang-up fireworks display at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm. Live music lovers clamor for the Bluegrass Along the Harpeth River festival in late July.

WHAT TO DO

For the Outdoorsy Types—get out there.

Spend an afternoon along the blacktop ribbon that is the famous Natchez Trace Parkway, which is a 444-mile stretch of scenic byway that connects Nashville to Natchez, Mississippi. There are sweeping vistas and plenty of forests, fields, ridges and overlooks to stop at along the way. The best part though might be found at Milepost 438, which is a site of the double-arched Natchez Trace Bridge spanning Franklin’s Birdsong Hollow. Timberland Park can be found at Milepost 437.2 where visitors can do a woodland hike. The Big East Fork Reserve loop trail includes an idyllic pond and naturally-noisy meadow with enough birds and wildlife to make you feel like Snow White.

Grab an electric bike from Pedego in downtown Franklin to explore with a little breeze in your hair. Of course, if you fall in love with that bike, they’d be happy to sell you one to take home.

Paddledog Adventures offers kayak and canoe rentals on Westhaven Lake and river excursions on the nearby Harpeth and West Harpeth Rivers.

On 300+ private acres of pristine green space sits Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary, home to more than 2,000 species of flora and fauna. Pack a picnic and a sense of adventure and turn your cell phone off. And yes, there are owls here, too!

Or, if alpacas are more your spirit animal, make your way to Mistletoe Farm where owners Leanne and Tom Butchko raise a pack these camel-relatives, known for their prized fibers.

Looking to perfect your roll cast? Wade into the Harpeth River with Franklin Fly Fishing Company, and try your hand landing a rainbow trout or smallmouth bass.

Home to several important Civil War battle sites, Franklin is home to Carnton Plantation which served as a field hospital during the Battle of Franklin. Visitors may opt for a classic house tour, guided throughout the home or an extended tour which includes a tour of the home, an exploration of the history of slavery on the grounds, as well as the adjacent military cemetery.

The Lotz House, which is the epicenter of the famed Battle of Franklin, offers ghost tours, a walking battlefield tour, a women’s history tour and a tour the Lotz House Cellar. It is a fascinating and important journey back in time to see what life was like in this Confederate era.

Make it a trifecta and tour the Carter House and Rippa Villa, too. You’re bound to come away with an appreciation of this place and time that shaped the region.

Not sure where to begin? Engage the experts at Franklin On Foot Tours where you’ll learn the history of the area and get a complete primer on the architecture and stories that make Franklin worth visiting.

For the History Buffs—follow the split rail fenceline.

For the Retail Enthusiasts

Specializing in old and rare books, as well as some current titles, Landmark Booksellers has a tome for even the most niche of readers (or those who fancy themselves as such)!

White’s Mercantile, owned and operated by Holly Williams (Hank Jr.’s daughter), really does harken back to the traditional mercantile days, with a little bit of everything: FILSON luggage and flannels, pretty coffee table books, housewares, art and wearables.

Rebel Rebel Boutique is edgy, hip and fun. At the roundabout, stop into Onyx + Alabaster, an interior design studio, home market, and coffee-emporium. Stock up on their signature home scent to take that vibe home with you.

A creatively repurposed industrial site, The Factory at Franklin is undergoing a renovation and update that aims to be completed by this summer. This retail and entertainment complex has been a big draw since it originally opened; additional food, beverage, retail and a 330-seat live-performance theater will augment this destination.

For the Performance-Loving Patrons

Puckett’s in Leiper’s Fork Open Mic Night—Given the proximity to Music City and the fact that there are dozens of local denizens famous for their musical prowess, you never know who will take to the stage at Puckett’s. Singers and songwriters alike love this venue, and we bet you will too.

Most would argue that September’s Pilgrimage Festival is the highlight of the musicfest season. The Lumineers, Zach Bryan and Margo Price are among those scheduled to appear this fall. Prior years have seen such acts as Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews, Jason Isbell, Kacey Musgraves, The Avett Brothers, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, The Black Keys and Birmingham’s own St. Paul and The Broken Bones.

WHERE TO EAT

Chef Jason McConnell’s Tennessee culinary roots run deep as is evidenced on the menus of Red Pony (upscale Southern fare); Cork and Cow (high-end steakhouse and stellar wine list), and 55 South (named for the highway that runs from Memphis to New Orleans. The menu reflects this region).

McCreary’s Irish Pub is popular for a pint and some bangers and mash. Head to Culaccino for Italian fare and O’ Be Joyful for stellar burgers.

Gray’s On Main is a Main Street institution with something for everyone: live music, craft cocktails, small

plates and big, grilled meats.

Dessert can be found in the form of ice cream at Sweethaven or oldschool Kilwin’s. Coming late summer, Birmingham’s own Cookie Fix will open in Franklin’s Berry Farms

For a truly special dining experience (whether you are staying on property or not), plan an evening at Southall when the resort’s signature restaurant opens to the public. Guests will enter through a speakeasy-style door and be met with an amusebouche and a sip of something bubbly to set the tone for the evening. Pure magic.

Franklin Theatre—The Heritage foundation of Williamson County oversaw the detailed renovation and restoration of this local gem in downtown Franklin where live music and movies are the big draw.

WALTON

A LEGACY OF LEISURE

South Walton’s 26 miles of sugar-white sand beaches in Northwest Florida offer an all-natural escape, yet perfectly blend modern amenities, worldclass cuisine and small town charm into an unforgettable experience.

The days move a bit slower here, and it’s this simplicity – a day spent creating memories at the beach – that draws generations of families back to South Walton.

ROOMS WITH A VIEW

From resorts to boutique hotels, South Walton is home to unique architecture, breathtaking views and accommodations to suit any style.

The Pearl Hotel brings luxury and sophistication to South Walton, featuring beautifully appointed accommodations, destination-worthy cuisine and a welcoming spa. Guests also enjoy complimentary beach chairs and oversized umbrellas.

With accommodations from beach to bay, spanning the 2,400-acre resort, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort® and Hotel Effie have something for every traveler. Discover championship golf, award-winning tennis, world-class dining, shopping and so much more!

Experience T he Lodge 30A – South Walton’s newest 30A boutique hotel at Seagrove’s Greenway Station. Rooms include kitchenettes and guests have access to an outdoor pool, fitness center, as well as a private beach club and golf courses.

MEMORIES IN THE MAKING

The experience of a great family trip resonates through generations, and the backdrop of our natural beauty inspires true togetherness. Find your perfect beach at VisitSouthWalton.com.

Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce

CONNECTIONS

Ribbon Cuttings

New Member Spotlight

- Alabama Farm Credit

- PreSchool Partners

- Kim Eriksson Studios

- Backyard Solutions LLC

- McGowin King Mortgage

- Village Healthcare

- Charles Schwab - Jim McLean

- Tate Davis

- The Red Barn

- Cadence Bank

- Front Porch Alabama

- Little Buckhead Blue

- Bridgeways

- Sons Donuts

- Mr.Handyman of Birmingham

- Mike’s Crestline

- HUM Executive Concierge Agency

- Birmingham Animal Hospital + Resort

- Alabama Lifestyle Medicine

- Clear Path Academic Solutions

Rheumatology Associates, Dec. 2 Whitney Mork, State Farm, Jan. 6

Teenie’s Take Home Market, Jan. 11 MELT Lane Parke, Jan. 18

Mountain Brook Dental Care, Feb. 8 Therapy South 15th Anniversary, Feb. 15

Mountain Brook Eye Care, Feb. 21 Town & Country 80th Anniversary, March 1

Find Us Online

Upcoming Events

Saturday, May 6

Mountain Brook Art Association Spring Art Show

Saturday, July 15

Mountain Brook Market Day

Saturday, Aug. 12

Crestline Tent Sale

Village Gold is the perfect gift for everyone on your list!

Accepted by over 70 local retailers and restaurants, Village Gold is an easy way to support local businesses. Purchase Village Gold today at mtnbrookchamber.org or scan the QR code below.

20th Annual Village 2 Village Run

The 2023 V2V 10k/7.5k Run presented by Publix GreenWise Market was a great success this year! With almost 500 runners and perfect weather, the event was a hit for everyone in Lane Parke. Thank you again to all of our sponsors for making it possible. We look forward to next year’s event on Saturday, March 9, 2024!

Village Healthcare, March 2 Cadence Bank, March 14

Little Buckhead Blue, March 15

Village Gold

TAPAS & TAPS

On Thursday, Sept. 15 Crawford Square Real Estate Advisors hosted Tapas and Taps in Lane Parke. This fundraiser benefitted the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham nonprofit all while featuring some delicious “tastes” of Mountain Brook eateries.

1. Chelsea and Mason Lindskog

2. Ally Wynne, Ian Burt and Michael Pace

3. Megan Nasca and Jade Schubert

4. Katherine Dodson, Rachel Nesbitr, Nicole Fyffe and Caroline Fields

5. Kenya, Kaiden, Kendal and Kennedi Wilkerson

6. Katherine, Daniel and Emilia Pacheco

7. Emily and Hayes Heide

8. Carolyn Mills and Theresa Mann

9. Crystal Miller and Hilary Brown

10. Rankin, Marlowe, Meredith, George and Zodie Belkofer

11. Jennifer Tyner, Virginia Ozment and Maddox Johnson

12. Camille Sanford and April Godsey

PHOTOS BY JAMES AND RACHEL CULVER

MOUNTAIN BROOK HOLIDAY PARADE

On

Dec. 4 the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce hosted the city’s holiday parade, featuring a festive lineup of floats, the Mountain Brook

1. Alec and Jane Grant with Peggy and Michael Ballaiet

2. Annie and Lina Johnston

3. Daniel, Katherine, and Emelia

4. Josh, Molly and Maisie Thieman

5. Cate Cooper

6. Katherine, Natalie and Caroline Dean

7. Kevin, Rebecca, Gaines and Ross Steinman

8. Mayor Stewart Welch

9. Kim Hall and Sandra Hager

10. Mary, Maggie and Lexie

11. Lauren Elmore, Nora-Miller Cohn, Iris Sommers and Araura Sommers

12. The Whitlock family

13. Turenne and Daniel Newell

14. Mayor Stewart Welch and Swoop Paraders

15. Lance, Brooke, Crew, Oakland and Nataliee

PHOTOS BY KELSEA SCHAFER

Sunday,

High School band, dancers, Boy Scout troops, fire trucks and more.

PUPPY PALOOZA

1. Abigail Athey

2. Poe’s family

3. Vincente and Tonika Torres

4. Greater Birmingham Humane Society

5. Kathleen, Laura Kate and Chapel Lawrence

6. Olivia and Jason Harmon

7. Elizabeth Lowman

8. Jennifer Coggin

9. Chandler Thompson

10. Ytaws Singh and Justin Crawford

11. Sarah Czaicki and Chandler Brown

12. Steel City CBD

13. Suzanna Edwards and Hollyann Bemis

14. Kristine Bogart and Lewis Whitley

PHOTOS BY JAMES AND RACHEL CULVER

On Saturday, March 13 Lane Parke and Crawford Square Real Estate Advisors hosted Puppy Palooza, featuring a variety of local vendors’ wares, a kids’ zone, live music and fun for both two-legged and four-legged friends.

AmStar Alabaster

Now with GPX and luxury recliner seating!

820 Colonial Promenade Pkwy Alabaster, AL 35007 205-621-8884

SJ Outdoor Construction

•Bobcat Work •Hauling

•Dump Trailer Rental (will drop off and pick up)

•Debris, limbs, tree removal

•Gravel •Millings •Demolition TEXT OR CALL BRIAN! 205260-4122

Central Alabma Wellness Mental Health Services Office locations in Calera, Clanton, Pelham, and 280! 205-6510077 Visit our website to learn more centralalbamawellness. org

Earth Angels In-Homecare

LLC Are you in need of a caring, trustworthy caregiver? Everyone gets a full screening to keep you safe. We offer around the clock care. If you are interested or have questions, feel free to call us at: 205-605-9482 1365 A. Hueytown Rd. Hueytown, AL

Automation Personnel Services Hiring

IMMEDIATELY For: Automotive Assembly, General Labor, Production, Clerical, Machine Operator, Quality, Carpentry, Welder, Foundry. Positions In: Calera, Clanton, Pelham, Bessemer, McCalla. Walk-in applications accepted. Clanton (205)280-0002. Pelham (205)444-9774.

Bama Concrete Now Hiring: Diesel Mechanic 4 Years Minimum Experience. CDL Preferred. Competitive Pay. Great Benefits. Apply in person: 2180 Hwy 87 Alabaster, 35007

Marble Valley Manor. Affordable 1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments for Elderly & Disabled. Many on-site services! 2115 Motes Rd, Sylacauga. 256-245-6500

•TDD#s: 800-548-2547(V)

•800-548-2546(T/A). Office

Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm. Equal Opportunity Provider/ Employer

Quantum Logistics Hiring Class A Driver. Montgomery, AL. Full or part time. $.48$.55 per mile. Paid weekly. BCBS Insurance. Home weekend EZ Pass and prepass. Safety & Fuel Bonus. Apply online www.qtmlog.com Call (334)2888106.

Security Guard for Gated Community in North Shelby County Full-time or Part-time. Must have pistol permit. Call Brittany 205-991-4653

Nursing Assistant to help care for an elderly gentleman in Jemison requiring total assistance. PT-FT. To apply, call Ms. Peoples (205)688-1992 or (205)447-3005

NOW HIRING!!! BEST WESTERN PELHAM • FRONT DESK• HOUSEKEEPERS• HANDYMAN

“RETIREES ARE WELCOME” CALL OR TEXT 205.908.1305

BRIAN’S TREE SERVICE

• TREES CUT FROM THE TOP DOWN!•SAFE TREE REMOVAL IN CONFINED AREAS!•STUMP GRINDING!•GENERAL LIABILITY•WORKERS COMP

WWW.BRIANSTREE.COM 205281-2427

Dogwood Plumbing LLC

– Master Plumber, Master Gasfitter. Licensed & Insured. Senior Discounts. Plumbing • Drain • Gas 205-864-2369 dogwoodplumbingllc@gmail. com

Kelly Education • Shelby County Schools • Hiring Substitute Teachers. Limitless opportunities for passionate people! •Free pre-hire training •Paid orientation •Ongoing professional development •Steady, yet flexible, work •Weekly pay •Your preference of schools. Contact Anne Gamble: O: 205.682.7062 M: 205.532.1122 anne.gamble@ kellyservices.com

O-FLEX METAL FINISHING

Production Supervisor

$50,000.00-$70,000.00/ year 10hr shifts Mon-Thurs Oversees production operations. Sets objectives, organizes workflow, prepares schedules, assigns responsibilities, trains employees, ensures safety, schedules maintenance, submits performance reports. Skills:-Automotive Plant

Experience -Experience as Production Supervisor or similar role -Experience with manufacturing machinery and tools -Advanced skills in MS Office -High School Diploma; Degree in a technical, engineering or relevant field will be an advantage Benefits: PTO, 401k w/match, Health/ Dental/Vision insurance, employee assistance, referral program, tuition reimbursement 725 Keystone Drive Clanton, Al 35044

O-FLEX METAL FINISHING

2nd Shift Supervisor

$50,000.00-$70,000.00

2nd shift 2:30p.m.1:00a.m. Monday–Thursday Responsibilities: •Be an effective Supervisor in a participative work environment

•Ensure all Finishing Dept. goals and improvement objectives are accomplished per our commitments •Ability to optimize utilization of personnel, equipment, material, and space to meet OMF’s daily, monthly and annual targets. Will be evaluated regularly on ability to continuously improve in all areas of responsibility. 725 Keystone Drive Clanton, Al 35044

O-FLEX METAL FINISHING

Maintenance Technicians: Friday–Sunday 12 hour shifts 6:00a.m.-6:00p.m. Responsible for maintenance of O-Flex facilities & equipment across all lines & departments. Oversight of preventative maintenance programs. Coordinates continuous improvement activities with Maintenance Team Leader. Starting pay $19-$28 BOE 725 Keystone Drive Clanton, Al 35044

Become a Dental Assistant in ONLY 8 WEEKS! Please visit our website capstonedentalassisting.com or call (205)561-8118 and get your career started!

ELECTRICAL AND DRYWALL REPAIRS SAME DAY SERVICE! CALL 205-4034550

Ubique Technologies is hiring forklift operators and production workers. Starting pay $12.50hr up to $15hr. Apply via Indeed or in person at 1919 7th St S Clanton, AL 35045

Check out purplewave.com to view auctions across the country!

GENERAL MANAGER SONIC–CHELSEA Postions will be available in Alabama and Mississippi.

REQUIREMENTS: Responsible for operations, training and development of all employees; execution of policies, programs and systems, including Sonic Operations Manual. Creates and maintains an “Employer of Choice” environment.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

-High School diploma/ GED -Two years restaurant management experience (P&L experience preferred)

-Advanced studies in business, restaurant management, or related field preferred.

-Proven experience managing all shifts without supervision.

-Willingness to relocate.

BENEFITS: -Competitive Pay

-Bonus Plan -Health Insurance

-Dental/Vision Insurace

-Optional Life Insurance, IRA -Paid Vacation -Excellent training program

Are you “Sonic Good”? Mail Resume: J.W. Cain 6 County Road 455 Iuka, MS 38852 Call 662-424-0706 Email: john@ mfmanagementllp.com”

Hill Brook Manor Apartments

300 Sumner Dr. Calera, AL 35040 205-668-2020

Affordable Living 1 and 2 BR Apartments Available As low as $465 a month

Hiring Experienced Driver

Must have Class A CDL, Hazmat, tanker exp. Local deliveries, so you will be home every night. We have new equipment, FT/PT positions available with excellent hourly pay. Offering health/dental insurance, paid vacations. Send resumes to: mark@ allenoil.com Call 256-404-4143 or come by the Allen’s office at: 1251 Old Bham Hwy in Sylacauga.

Experienced Termite

Technician or someone experienced in route-service work and wants to learn new profession. Work-vehicle/ equipment provided. Must drive straight-shift, have clean driving record/be 21/pass background/drug test. Training provided. Insurance/401K offered. M-F 7:00-4:30 + 1 Saturday/month. Pay $13hr. Send resume to facsmith@ charter.net

BAMA CONCRETE FINISHING •Concrete Replacement and Repair •Bobcat Work and Hauling •Driveways/Patios/Sidewalks/ Building Slabs•Concrete Retainer Walls and Sea walls •Wooden Privacy Fences 31 years experience (205) 9014112(pls leave voicemail or text me)

MY MOUNTAIN BROOK

EMILY JENSEN

Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce Executive Director

Let’s Play Ball

Mountain Brook World Series

One of my favorite places to be in our city is at the ball fields while my two children play baseball! My son played in the Mountain Brook World Series last year with his rec league team on the day the new fields were dedicated, and we are so fortunate to have such amazing facilities where we can support our athletes!

The Season’s Festivities

Mountain Brook Holiday Parade

The holiday parade marks the beginning of the Christmas season for my family, and it’s such a sweet reminder of just how special our city is. I love the marching band, the childrens’ floats, and who doesn’t love to see Santa arriving on that big, red fire truck?

Fellowship in Community Mountain Brook Easter Egg Hunt

A favorite Mountain Brook memory of mine is organizing our neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt a few years ago and seeing that tradition continue today! We gather on Good Friday afternoon in a field on our street, and the children hunt eggs and play. Invariably, we end up ordering pizza to the field and visiting with neighbors throughout the evening. It’s such a special way to start our Easter weekend.

Get Out and Play

Cherokee Bend

I’m partial to Cherokee Bend, and I love enjoying the Irondale Furnace Trail on Stone River Road, our neighborhood sidewalks and playing on the new playground at the elementary school. It’s always a beautiful walk, but when the azaleas and dogwoods bloom in the spring, it’s just heavenly.

Eat Local Someplace Special Everywhere You Go

As the chamber of commerce director, I certainly can’t pick a favorite, but I can say that no matter what my family is looking to enjoy, Mountain Brook has it covered. Fine dining, fast casual, coffee, ice cream, pizza—it’s all here, and it’s all wonderful!