over the mountain journal june 2, 2011

OVER THE MOUNTAINJ O U R N A L

THE SUBURBAN NEWSPAPER FOR MOUNTAIN BROOK, HOMEWOOD, VESTAVIA HILLS, HOOVER, AND NORTH SHELBY COUNTY JUNE 2, 2011

Volunteers with the American Cancer Society’s Junior Executive Board are organizing their third Black-Out Cancer Party June 10 from 8 to 11 p.m. at Workplay. See About Town, page 4.

Ten years ago, writer Lynn Nesmith left Homewood for an assignment at the beach – and decided to stay there. Now, she’s sharing the beauty of homes and communities along Scenic Highway 30A in her new book. See Home, page 18.

Whether it was welcoming his students to the ranks of safety patrol or tromping through the woods with them at Alpine Camp, David Key has guided many Mountain Brook children through elementary school rites of passage. See Life, page 8.

From lemonade stands to dances and donation drives, projects benefiting tornado victims have popped up in Over the Mountain schools and neighbor-hoods. Kids of all ages have come up with creative ideas to support those who suffered losses during the April 27 storms. Among those helping are these Crestline Elementary students, from left: Evelyn Stutts, Taylor Morris, Forrest Ann Watson, Tess Patton and Sadie Patton, cheered on by principal Laurie King. See Schools, page 22.

Students, Schools Step Up to Help Storm Victims

My grandson is coming to visit next week, and

I can’t wait to see his toothy little grin as he emerges through airport security. We haven’t been together for months (months!) and it’s been way too long. I’ve missed so much -- his first haircut, his first best friend’s birthday party, his first run-in

with a back-biting bully ... literally.I’m hoping he still remem-

bers me. Harold and I have been sending him photos and video clips, but it’s not the same as giving hugs and kisses in person. That’s okay. We’ll make up for all that. He’ll be here for ten whole days, and I’ve compiled a list of fun things we can do together.

I had to. I never want my house to be one of those “do I have to?” destinations, one of those “there’s nothing to do” places where you throw your-self onto the couch in bored desperation.

I don’t think my grandson will do that this time. He’s not quite two and those phrases aren’t in his vocabulary yet. He’s still working on words like “fish” and “duck” and “Grandma.” I’m hoping he masters “Grandma” first. It will get him a lot farther, like to the ice cream counter and the toy store. Let’s see a fish do that.

I suppose a duck could waddle through the water with him, but it couldn’t buy the cool oscillating sprinkler that I got for the front yard. (If you see me out there jumping through the spray with him in my bathing suit, just avert your eyes and keep driving. )

Harold plans to take him to the pet store to buy real goldfish to put in our outdoor fake pond and real food to feed them each day. We’ll feed the birds,

too, and my new resident turtle if I can find him. A kindly lawn maintenance person rescued Shelly (just because I haven’t seen him doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a name) from a roadway and deposited him inside my fence line, figuring I’d be a good foster turtle mom. That made my day. Harold just shakes his head.

After feeding the Murphy menagerie, my grand-son will need some feeding, too. I’ve got that cov-ered for sure. We’ll wrap little hot dogs in crescent rolls. We’ll make cookies and cupcakes and honest-to-goodness chocolate milk where you actually stir in the chocolate. What not-quite-two-year-old wouldn’t have fun with that?

If the weather’s nice, we’ll head out to the local parks, ones with not-quite-two-year-old appropriate swings and slides and picnic tables where you can eat a crustless peanut butter sandwich and a box of animal crackers without a nest of ants marching up your leg.

There might be rain, but we’ll still have fun. My inclem-ent weather plan includes throwing a blanket over a card table to make a fort, craft-ing hats out of newspaper and dancing to old Beatles CDs. Apparently, the child has been

rocking out at home and has a few new moves to show us. I can’t wait.

For the grand finale, we’ll go to the zoo. Elephants and monkeys and a train ride? It’s a not-quite-two-year-old dream.

And then it will be time for him to leave. I’ll pack up his toys (he’ll need an extra suitcase if he’s learned to say “Grandma”) and I will not-quite-cry as I watch the TSA agents check to make sure he’s not smuggling anything illegal onto the jetway. He won’t be, unless peanut butter and animal crackers have been added to the No Fly list.

It will be a long ride back home. For me.That’s OK. Harold and I won’t wait several

months before we see our grandson again. That was too two long. ❖

Susan Murphy

“Mt. Hood, Oregon because there is a perfect mixture of big city life

and the great outdoors.”

Zac ColemanHoover

“I would like a vacation home on Lake Como in Italy because the water,

food, weather and people provide for a relaxing

atmosphere.”

Liza HolmanMountain Brook

Where would your dream vacation home be located?

“My vacation home would be in Tuscany, Italy. The food and

people are wonderful, and it’s gorgeous.”

Jenifer Wedepohl Hoover

“It would have to be St. John in the Virgin Islands. I have been

going there for a while and it is the most

beautiful place in the world.”

Jane KikerNorth Shelby County

Not Quite As Much Fun

OVER THE MOUNTAIN VIEWS

MURPHY’S LAW

OVER THE MOUNTAINJ O U R N A L June 2, 2011

Vol. 20, No. 11Over The Mountain Journal is a suburban bi-weekly newspaper delivered to more than 40,000 households in the Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, Hoover and North Shelby County areas. Hot Property is a paid advertise-ment. Subscriptions for The Journal are available for $24 yearly. Mail to: Over the Mountain Journal, P.O. Box 660502, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216. Phone: (205) 823-9646. E-mail the editorial department at [email protected]. E-mail our advertising department at [email protected]. Find us on the Web at otmj.com. Copyright 2010 Over The Mountain Journal, Inc. All rights reserved. The Journal is not responsible for return of photos, copy and other unsolicited materials submitted. To have materials returned, please specify when submitting and provide a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All materials submitted are subject to editorial review and may be edited or declined without notification.

Publisher: Maury WaldEditor: Laura McAlisterFeatures Writer: Donna CorneliusOffice Manager: Christy WaldEditorial Assistant: Stacie GalbraithSports: Lee DavisContributors: Susan Murphy, Bones Long, Cary Estes, June Mathews, Emil Wald, Marvin GentryAdvertising Sales: Suzanne Wald, Julie Trammell Edwards, Tommy WaldEditorial Intern: Martha Blanton and Matthew Terwilliger

ABOUT TOWN 3PEOPLE 7 LIFE 8SOCIAL 10

WEDDINGS 16HOME 18SCHOOLS 22SPORTS 28

F E AT U R E S

2 • THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNALCONTENTS/OPINION

In our next issue, see how one Over the Mountain bride lived out her childhood

dream through her wedding, plus get great gift ideas for dad.

Browse through even more photos from the area’s big-gest and best social events.

Plan your weekends. Our online calendar has even more events for you to choose from. Don’t see your event

listed? Send it to us. Just click on “Got News” and fill out the form.

Join in the conversation. Register on our website to com-ment on stories, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter

for updates on what’s going on at the Journal.

OTMJ.COM I never want my house to be one of those “do I have to?”

destinations, one of those “there’s nothing to do” places

where you throw yourself onto the couch in bored

desperation.

A group of seniors at the Levite Jewish Community Center are comforting cancer patients with their hand-knitted creations. See Seniors, page 9.

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 • 3 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL ABOUT TOWN

Art on The Rocks Has New Schedule

The Birmingham Museum of Art has altered the schedule of its summer series Art on The Rocks due to conflicts resulting from the April 27 tornados.

The Art on The Rocks event set for May 20 will take place in August, changing the schedule to the following dates: June 17, July 22 and Aug. 19.

This year, AOTR’s theme will be framed around the museum’s summer blockbuster exhibi-tion, “Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History from 1955 to Present.”

In its seventh season, AOTR will also encourage guests to more deeply engage in arts at the museum while still maintaining the laid-back atmosphere that attracts nearly 7,000 guests each summer.

Highlights include dueling graffiti artists, turntables, curator talks, spoken word performances, fashion shows and VIP access to the exhibition. Live outdoor concerts will be performed by the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the Posies and the Dirty Guv’nahs.

The 2011 season of Art on The Rocks is presented by Dale’s Seasoning. For more information and up-to-date scheduling, visit www.artsbma.org.

BBG Event Includes Wine, Beer Tasting

The Birmingham Botanical Gardens will host Grapes, Grains and Gardens June 9 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Guests can taste beers and wines paired with local fresh foods while listening to live music.

The event will be held in the Hill Garden. Tickets are $25. Visit www.bbgardens.org or call 414-3958 for more information or to purchase tickets.

June is Art Month at Aldridge Gardens

Sculptures, plein air artists, art shows and auctions are in the works at Aldridge Gardens this month.

Artists from all over the state will exhibit their work at Aldridge Gardens June 4-5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the ninth annual Art in the Gardens. Some 60 partici-pants will compete for category and best of show awards in this juried open-air show that features only Alabama artists.

Those who attend can shop the works of painters, potters, wood-workers, photographers, jewelry makers and textile, ceramic and glass artists. There are 11 catego-ries to choose from.

Ron Lewis, Beverly Klamer, Jayne Harrison, Rollina Oglesbay, Ken Gables, Toby Klein, Troy Crisswell, Debra Riffe and Susan Freeman are among artists return-

ing for the 2011 show. More than a dozen new artists are participat-ing.

The event also will have bar-becue from corporate sponsor Full Moon Bar-B-Que. A shuttle will run continuously from the nearby Bed, Bath & Beyond parking lot.

Art in the Gardens is an Arts Alfresco event made possible in part by the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Visitors are invited to stroll

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Artists exhibiting their works in Aldridge Gardens include from left: Rollina Oglesbay, portrait artist; Debbie Melichar and Betty Kimbrel, jew-elry artists; Julie Jackson, jewelry artist; Jenny Ballentine, mixed media; Deborah Elliott, hand-painted floor cloths; and, standing, Joseph Frye, clay artist.

Photo special to the Journal

4 • THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNALABOUT TOWN

through the Gardens June 14-17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to watch artists from the Southeast work “en plein air” as they paint garden scenes. The “Stars” art show and sale in Aldridge House includes more works from these painters.

Participating artists are Perry Austin of Goodwater; Ben Carlisle, Don Estes, Janet Lucas, Diane Gibson Newsome, Amy Raquel Peterson and Dirk Walker, all of Birmingham; and Larry Moore of Winter Park, Fla.

The plein air paintings created during the week will be donated by the artists and auctioned at “Hydrangeas under the Stars” June 17.

Also on June 17, Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos will intro-duce the artist who will create the sculpture for the Gardens’ new entrance plaza. Several artists entered a competition sponsored by the Bluff Park Art Association.

For more information, call 682-8019 or visit www.aldridge-gardens.com.

‘Black-Out Cancer’ Party is June 10

Volunteers with the American Cancer Society’s Junior Executive Board are organizing their third Black-Out Cancer Party June 10 from 8 to 11 p.m. at Workplay.

Those who attend are asked to “Dress Up, Dress Down, Just Wear All Black.” The event will feature music from the Undergrounders and complimen-tary wine, beer and food.

Tickets, $35 each, are avail-able at jebbirmingham.org or at all locations of the Trak Shak; Steel 1st & 23rd downtown; Private Gallery at The Summit; Homewood Valley Cleaners, Shaia’s, Abbeyluxe, Studio Fitness, Carriage House, Soca Clothing and Soca Girl, all in Homewood; Lulie’s on Cahaba and Stella Blu in Mountain Brook Village; and Grey Bar in Greystone.

Anyone who takes part in the event is invited to an after party

in the Lakeview District. Innisfree and Nana Funks will be matching the cover charges and donating all proceeds to the American Cancer Society. There will also be spe-cial drink prices in support of the cause.

Funds raised at the Black-Out Cancer Party and the After Party will go to the American Cancer Society for cancer research, edu-cation programs, advocacy efforts and patient support.

For more information, contact Kate Kelley with the American Cancer Society at 930-8869 or [email protected].

Vulcan Celebrates 107th Birthday

Vulcan Park and Museum will host an outdoor community 107th birthday celebration June 5, offer-ing fun activities for the whole family.

Admission is $3 for ages 5 and up and includes entrance to the party, Vulcan’s observation balcony and museum. Admission is free for children 4 and under and for Vulcan members.

Guests are encouraged to bring donations for tornado relief that will be given to the Red Cross for distribution.

At 2 p.m., Birmingham Mayor William Bell will be honored, and guests will sing “Happy Birthday” to Vulcan. A new exhibit inside Vulcan Center Museum also will be unveiled at this time, and free Blue Bell Ice Cream will be served while supplies last.

For more information, visit www.visitvulcan.com.

Pipe Organ Event Geared to Teens

The local chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) will stage a weeklong event June 12-17 to encourage keyboard-savvy teenagers to discover the pipe organ and its music.

The Pipe Organ Encounter (POE) study will be based at Samford University and will fea-ture organ lessons taught on the campus, the Birmingham-Southern College campus and area churches. This event is for students who have achieved an intermediate level of keyboard proficiency.

Event director is Jamie McLemore, organist at South Highland Presbyterian Church and dean of the Birmingham AGO chapter.

The Birmingham POE is limited to 30 participants ages 13-18.

Special guest for the week will be Dr. Bradley Welch, director of music and organist at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas.

For more information, contact Jamie McLemore at P.O. Box 59181, Birmingham, AL 35259-9181, [email protected] or 706-0536, or call Bill Hutto at 871-1416. ❖

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Making plans for the upcoming Black Out Cancer Party are front row, from left: Christina Powell, Kevin Calma and Melissa Tuck. Back, from left: Matthew Cannova, Ashley Whitehurst, Steve Clikas, Rachel Keydoszius, Austin Boyd, Dayna McKee and Patrick Eades.

Photo courtesy Andrea Orr Photography

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THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 • 5 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL

Young Professionals Compete for Charity

YP Birmingham will name this year’s Mr. and Ms. Young Hot Birmingham Professional June 16 at the Kress Building rooftop.

Five men and five women will compete for prizes and the titles while supporting the charities of their choice. Winners will be cho-sen based on who raises the most money for his or her chosen charity.

The nominees include Charles Daniel, Muscular Dystrophy Association; Richard Davis, Rotaract Club of Birmingham Foundation; Patrick Eades, American Cancer Society; John Long, Birmingham Urban League; Lyord Watson, Birmingham Change Fund; Leila Deep, Mitchell’s Place; Kelly Franks, KidOne; Whitney Hamm, Magic Moments; Niki Harris, Autism Society of America; and Sarah Israel, Arthritis Foundation.

Tickets are $20 and can be pur-chased online at younghotbham.eventbrite.com or at the door.

ASO Will Host Summer Concerts

The Alabama Symphony Orchestra will conduct three concerts at Railroad Park for its Symphony in the Summer, presented by the Linn-Henley Charitable Trust.

The first concert will be June 10 at 8 p.m. and will feature music from Weber, Mussorgsky, Liszt and Dvorak.

The June 11 concert, also starting at 8 p.m., will feature music from Tchaikovsky, includ-ing the “Romeo and Juliet” Overture and the suite from “Swan Lake.”

The series will end June 12 with a Family Fun Sunday spon-sored by Protective Life Corp. Activities begin at 5 p.m., and the concert starts at 6 p.m. Music from family favorites, includ-ing “The Sound of Music” and

“Harry Potter,” will be featured.Admission to all three events

is free. For more information, visit www.alabamasymphony.org.

Farmers’ Market Opens in West Homewood

The West Homewood Farmers’ Market will sell locally grown produce in a fun atmosphere with crafts, baked goods, flowers and live entertainment every Saturday in June and July.

The market will be open 8 a.m. to noon at Shades Valley Community Church, 160 West Oxmoor Rd. at the site of the for-mer Alpine ice skating rink.

Alabama farmers who are sanctioned and inspected by the Alabama Farmer’s Market Authority will participate. The state authority, through its nutrition pro-gram, makes coupons available for the elderly and reimburses farmers for accepting food stamps.

The market features peaches, nectarines, plums, blueberries, okra, sweet corn, watermelon, squash, tomatoes, jams, jellies, honey, meats, eggs and more.

Artisans, including those from Shades Valley Community Church, will display their crafts and baked goods. Singers and songwriters will entertain.

For more information, visit www.westhomewood.com. ❖

Clint DeShazo and Audrey Pannell were named the 2010 Mr. and Ms. Young Hot Professional and are ready to pass on their titles at this year’s event on June 16.


ABOUT TOWN

6 • THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNALABOUT TOWN

Bards Will Present ‘As You Like It’

The Bards of Birmingham will present one of Shakespeare’s best-loved com-edies, “As You Like It,” June 10-12 at East Lake United Methodist Church.

The leading roles are all filled by young actors, some performing for the first time.

Performances will be June 10 at 7 p.m., June 11 at 2 and 7 p.m. and June 12 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for ages 18 and younger.

Bowl-A-Thon Set at Lightning Strikes

The Spina Bifida Association of Alabama will host a Birmingham Bowl-A-Thon June 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lightning Strikes in Trussville.

Participants can join with other bowlers to raise funds for the Spina Bifida Association of Alabama, which promotes the prevention of spina bifida and supports Alabamians affected by the disorder.

Bowlers are asked to seek contributions to help the orga-nization continue its efforts in quarterly newsletters, public awareness, education and social activities. Last year, bowl-a-thons in Huntsville, Gadsden and Birmingham raised more than $35,000 to support these programs.

Each five-member bowling team must make a commitment to raise at least $125.

A silent auction and raffle will also be held. Prizes will be given to top fundraisers and top scoring teams.

For more information or to sign up a team, contact Betsy DeCesare Hopson, spina bifida coordinator at Children’s Hospital, 939-5281.

Magic City Actors Plan Casino Night

Magic City Actors Theatre will present its sixth annual “Peek Behind the Curtain – Casino Night!” June 11 at Robert Hill Antiques.

Guests can test their luck with casino games and activities. The event also includes a silent auc-tion, food, prizes and a special look at next year’s season.

Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at mcactorstheatre.com.

Brewfest Offers Beer, Food, Music

The fifth annual Magic City Brewfest is set for June 3-4 at Sloss Furnaces.

Free the Hops’ fundraiser will feature more than 200 beers from around the world plus food and live music.

Brewfests are Free the Hops’ No. 1 source of funding for its

mission of bringing the high-est quality beers in the world to Alabama.

“Penny-A-Pour” buckets will once again be sold at the event. This year, all money raised by the penny buckets will be donated to the United Way to help Alabamians affected by the April 27 tornadoes.

Tickets can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com for $30 a day. For more information, visit magiccitybrewfest.com.

First Christian Plans Sacred Harp Festival

The 32nd annual National Sacred Harp Singing Convention will be June 16-18 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the First Christian Church on Valleydale Rd.

The event is open to the public and includes lunch. Last year, the convention welcomed 569 singers from 29 states, Washington, D.C., Canada and the United Kingdom.

Sacred harp sings are par-ticipatory events. There are no rehearsals and no performances. People who love the unique style and traditions of sacred harp gather to enjoy singing hymns, odes and anthems from the Sacred Harp Hymnal.

For more information, visit www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/~mudws/national.html or contact P. Gaston White at 879-1909, 901-6274 or [email protected].

Quilters Guild Plans QuiltFest 2011

More than 1,400 visitors are expected to tour QuiltFest 2011 at Oak Mountain Middle School June 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and June 5 from 1 to 5 p.m.

Sponsored by the Birmingham Quilters Guild, the biannual show will feature more than 300 of the state’s finest quilts and a “Walk of Fame” featuring previous show winners.

The event also includes free demonstrations, a vendor mall, scissor sharpening, a silent auc-

tion supporting Alzheimer’s research and opportunities to win one of several prizes.

Admission is $5 per person. Children 5 and under are admitted free.

Profits will be used by the Birmingham Quilters Guild to further its community service and educational programs.

For information and directions, visit www.bhamquilters.com.

HFUM Will Host Large Yard Sale

Hoover First United Methodist Church on Patton Chapel Rd. in Hoover will host its annual yard sale June 4 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The large sale will offer a wide range of items, including baked goods.

Jenny’s Light Tourney Is at Highland Park

The fourth annual Jenny’s Light Charity Golf Tournament will be June 18 at Highland Park Golf Club.

The event will begin at 7 a.m. with breakfast and registration, followed by a four-man scramble shotgun start at 8 a.m.

Activities during the tournament include putting, longest drive, clos-est to pin, hole in one and tin cup contests as well as a fishing rod hole and tiger drive, with additional activities available for purchase.

The day will end with awards, a raffle and lunch at 12:30 p.m.

Team registration is $640 and includes four players. For more information, visit the tournament website at www.jennyslight.dojig-gy.com.

LJCC Presents ‘Wizard of Oz’

The Levite Jewish Community Center will present “The Wizard of Oz.” Show times are June 2 and 9 at 7:30 p.m.; June 4 and 11 at 8 p.m.; and June 5 and 12 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students. For more informa-tion visit www.bhamjcc.org. ❖

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Participating in the Bards of Birmingham’s June 10-12 performance are Morgan Walston, left, and James Lopez. Photo special to the Journal

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 • 7 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL PEOPLE

Homewood Rotary Awards Scholarships

Homewood Rotary Club award-ed college scholarships totaling $12,000 to five 2011 Homewood High School graduates.

The recipients are Adrienne Nykole Davis, Katherine Blake Gray, Heather Deann Nelson, Kelly Lauren Porter and Brittany Malea Taylor.

The winners were chosen on the basis of academic achievement, participation in school and com-munity activities and individual interviews.

Davis plans to attend the University of Alabama and study child psychology.

Gray plans to attend the University of Alabama and prepare for a career in retail management.

Nelson plans to major in elementary education at Samford University.

Porter plans to study to become a neonatal nurse practitioner at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Taylor plans to study early child-hood education and Spanish at Troy

State University.The honorees and their parents

were introduced to club members by Lawrence Corley, Homewood Rotary Education Foundation chair-man, at the group’s May 12 meet-ing at Homewood Library.

Homewood Rotary supports the annual scholarship program through donations and fundraising projects throughout the year.

Griffin Named ISS Outstanding Alumna

Carole Griffin, owner, baker and chef of the nationally-acclaimed Continental Bakery and Chez Lulu in Mountain Brook, has been named Indian Springs School’s 2011 Outstanding Alumna.

A 1978 graduate of ISS, Griffin was honored at the

school’s recent Alumni Weekend activities.

Griffin was one of ISS’s first female students and among its first female student government leaders. After graduating from Rice University in 1982, she traveled the world and studied bread-making under the tutelage of some of the finest bakers in France.

In 1985, she opened

Continental Bakery and then Chez Lulu. Her bakery caters to many other well-known gourmet land-marks such as Bottega Restaurant and Café and Highlands Bar and Grill.

She has been featured in The New York Times, Boston Globe, Southern Living and other publi-cations.

Since 2009, she has organized a community festival, “Spring

a Ling a Ding Dong,” and is a regular guest on local morning television shows. She is active in the Slow Food Movement, a worldwide grassroots movement that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.

Griffin also is an accomplished musician who was instrumental in forming the Sugar La La’s, a popular band, in the 1990s. ❖

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This year’s Homewood Rotary Club scholarship recipients include, from left: Brittany Malea Taylor, Adrienne Nykole Davis, Katherine Blake Gray, Kelly Lauren Porter and Heather Deann Nelson.


Carole Griffin

LIFEOVER THE MOUNTAINJ O U R N A L

8 • THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

BY LAURA MCALISTERJOURNAL EDITOR

Whether it was welcoming his students to the ranks of safety patrol or tromping through the woods with them at Alpine

Camp, David Key has guided many Mountain Brook children through elementary school rites of passage.

David recently retired as the assistant principal at Crestline Elementary, a position he held for 40 years. He started working at the school in 1971 and since then has seen his students grow into parents and even teachers with whom he worked side by side.

When he started at the school, there were about 490 students, and he knew each of their names. This past school year, there were more like 830 at the kin-dergarten-sixth grade school, but he still knew each of their names.

“I don’t know how, but he knew every single kid’s name,” said Bob Fitts, a former student who’s now a Vestavia Hills resident. “He’s just a really good guy. He was totally dedicated to what he did.

“He obviously loved it. He’s just the man. He’s an institution.”

The last day of school marked the last day of David’s career at CES. Although he’s leaving the school, his impact on the many students he taught there won’t soon be forgotten.

David began his career at the school as a coach. Bob, who attended Crestline in the ’70s, remembers heading to gym class, where they would exercise to the youth fitness song “Chicken Fat.”

“That’s one of my fondest memories. It was hilari-ous,” Bob said. “Some kids hated it, but I loved it. I also loved it on Thursdays when he’d open the gym for play. My favorite was Bombardment.”

In addition to coaching at Crestline, David also coached baseball, basketball and football at Mountain Brook Junior High for 11 years. He umpired and ref-ereed for several years and helped start the Mountain Brook Officials Association along with coach Fred

Guarino.But it wasn’t just on the field or in the gym that

David made an impact on youngsters.He also was known at the school for his work

with the safety patrol. He often was seen outside the school with the older kids on the safety patrol direct-ing traffic.

David also took the fifth grade classes to Alpine Camp for a week’s stay each year.

“That was always a great week,” he said. “I did that for 39 years. It’s a super week, and it’s one I’ll always enjoy and remember.”

The most lasting memories for the coach, though, will be all the students he’s had a hand in raising over the years.

The school recently held a reception for David, dedicating a plaque in his honor at the gym.

“That way students will always have the memory of him, even if they weren’t touched directly by him,” said office assistant Jane Dickens.

The school system also started a new award this year. The David Key Character Award will be pre-sented annually to a sixth grader who exemplifies the good character David always showed his students and co-workers.

It’s his character, Jane said, that she would remember him most for.

“The best way I can describe him is, he’s a man of character,” she said. “You know exactly where you stand with him. He’s just blatantly honest to a point that it’s refreshing. When you need to hear the truth, he’ll tell you nothing but.

“You just can’t help but love him. There will never be another like him, that’s for sure.”

Since news about the assistant principal’s retire-ment spread, Jane said there have been “non-stop” notes from parents and students wishing him well.

David said it’s been humbling to see the response. But to him, he was just doing his job, and it came naturally.

“I’ve always said the simplest thing you can do is always ask this question: ‘Is it good for the kids?’ If it is, then that’s what you need to do,” he said. “They just need to know you love and care about them, and if they know that, and you answer that simple ques-tion, everything is going to be OK.”

Although David is retiring from Crestline Elementary, he said much of his life will still be dedi-cated to kids. This time around, it will be his grand-children.

“I’ve got four here and four up in Charlotte, North Carolina,” he said. “I hope I get to see more of them.” ❖

Saying goodbye to their assistant principal David Key, center, are from left: Crestline Elementary students Will Kimberlin, Sam Everette and Key’s grandson Griffin Riley. Journal photo by Emil Wald

David Key Calls It a CareerCrestline Elementary Names Character

Award for Retiring Educator, Coach

David Key started at Crestline Elementary in 1971 as a coach. Through the years, David also served as a coach at Mountain Brook Junior High. He eventually become the assistant principal at Crestline Elementary, which is the position he retired from at the end of the school year. In all, he was at Crestline Elementary for 40 years.

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 • 9 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL SENIORS


When Roz Feigelson helped

start a knitting group at Levite Jewish Community Center, she was doing it more to help herself. But five years later, she and members of the Circle of Life Knitting Society have helped countless others.

The Circle of Life meets once a week at the LJCC in Mountain Brook to knit scarves and shawls for cancer patients. Each year, it delivers roughly 1,000 scarves to area hospitals.

Now in its fifth year, the group has 55 members, many of whom belong to the LJCC and many who don’t, but it didn’t start out that large. And it didn’t start out as a way to comfort cancer patients.

It began with a phone call from Sherrie Gernfield, who at the time was the adult and senior adult program coordinator at the center, to Roz, asking her to start a knitting class.

“I lost my last daughter to cancer in 2004, and she had a 10-year-old son that I’m now raising,” Roz said. “I thought my world was coming to an end, and then I got this call from Sherrie asking me how would I like to teach a six-week knitting class.”

Roz, along with Lynette Slaughter and Carol Tuck, began teaching the session. Four other women attended the first gathering; the next time, they had a few more.

The group was still small, though, and Roz knew there had to be something else to attract more people to the sessions. That’s when they started Circle of Life Knitting Society and invited women, both experienced and beginners, to knit for a cause.

To Roz, determining that cause was easy. Not only did she lose one daughter to cancer, she lost two, in addition to a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter. Roz is also a cancer survivor, so the group began knitting for chemotherapy and radiation patients throughout the area.

“We started advertising it as ‘knitting for a cause,’” Roz said. “And all of a sudden we had 55 women

here.”While the group

is mainly made up of senior citizens, all ages are accepted. Through fundraisers, they also are able to provide all the supplies for knitting. Even a few high school students have recently pitched in to help the Circle of Life with its cause.

Roz said a Mountain Brook High School stu-dent recently challenged a friend at Homewood High School to see who could collect the most knitting supplies for the group. Dani Leaf of Mountain Brook and John David Cook of Homewood placed collection boxes in their school lobbies and, com-

bined, raised more than $150 for the knitters and col-lected 500 skeins of yarn.

“It was nice to be a part of a project that puts smiles on the faces of people who have gone through so much,” Dani wrote in a letter to the Circle of Life knit-ters.

The program does seem to put smiles on the faces of those receiving the scarves and shawls. Lynette said they receive countless letters of gratitude from cancer patients.

While they’re doing good for the cancer patients, it’s also about getting together with good friends once a week knowing that it’s for a worthwhile cause, said Joan May.

“It makes us all feel so good to do something good for someone else and see them happy,” she said.

“We’re getting as much out of it as they are,” added fellow knitter Helena Wolf.

Lynette said the group started out making just plain scarves but now creates more colorful patterns. They deliver generic scarfs to area hospitals throughout the year and have special scarves made for Christmas and October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each item comes with a letter from the Circle of Life as well as the name of the person who knitted it.

The Circle of Life Knitting Society meets from 10 a.m. to noon each Tuesday at the LJCC. For more information on the group, contact Mindy Cohen, direc-tor of adult and senior programs at the LJCC, at 879-0411 ext. 233. ❖

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Members of the Circle of Life Knitting Society meet every Tuesday from 10 a.m.-noon at the Levite Jewish Community Center. The group has about 55 active members, and knits scarves and shawls for area cancer patients. Journal photos by Laura McAlister

Casting Their Purls

Lynette Slaughter, left, and Roz Feigelson sort through items knitted by society members. The two helped found the Circle for Life Knitting Society five years ago.

Knitting Society Reaches Out to Cancer Patients

Pirates and ninjas joined forces May 13 to help fight ovarian cancer by rais-ing funds to support research for early

detection and to celebrate the life of a young woman who lost her battle with the disease.

The Young Advisory Board (YAB) members of the Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation presented the second annual Pirates and Ninjas vs. Ovarian Cancer event at The Bottletree.

Guests, dressed as pirates and ninjas, enjoyed music by the Vegabonds as well as entertainment from DJ Rafa and the Birmingham Ballet. Papa Murphy’s provided food.

The purpose of the YAB is to raise funds and awareness for the foundation throughout the com-munity. Members are young professionals who want to carry on the memory of Laura Crandall Brown and her wishes to help fight ovarian can-cer. Their goal is to hold fundraising events that are both fun and beneficial.

Ashleigh Timmerman is the foundation’s event planner. YAB committee officials who assisted in planning the event included Roy Sims and Kim Chloewinksi. Also helping was Lindsey Boan, the YAB liaison to the foundation.

The Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation was founded in December 2009 by Laura and her father, James “Jim” Crandall. At the age of 25, Laura lost her 15-month battle with ovarian cancer.

The foundation focuses on education to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of ovar-ian cancer and to help fund research for an early detection diagnostic test. Visit www.thinkoflaura.org for more information. ❖

10 • THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNALSOCIAL

The American Cancer Society hosted a kickoff party April 14 at B&A

Warehouse in preparation for the 31st annual Hope Gala, set for Aug. 20.

The event introduced the gala’s honoree, Stanley R. Virciglio.

Virciglio is a third-generation grocer and owner of the Piggly Wiggly stores in Crestline, Liberty Park and Homewood. A cancer survivor, he is known for his generosity to local non-profits and for his support of education in Birmingham.

Current Gold and Silver spon-sors were also announced at the kickoff party. Gold sponsors include Baker Donelson, Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Wells Fargo. Silver sponsors include the Adele Pharo Azar Charitable

Foundation, Altec and BB&T. Food and beverages for the

party were donated by B&A Warehouse.

Among guests were Stanley and Sue Virciglio, Charles and Lynne Mizerany, Andy and Mimi Virciglio, John and Jennifer DeJohn, Buddy and Joyce Lockhart, Larry and Wanda Richardson, Kim Viciglio, Naseem and Norma Ajlouny, Butch and Teresa DiChiara, Tim and Lynne Petro, Austin Viciglio,

Nikki Zaden, Marilyn Zaden, Don and Edie Romano, Dennis Stewart, Georgina Smith, Tim Lupinacci, Susan Mason, Pat Weil, Charles Collat, Jeffrey and Gail Bayer, Pete and Sherri Van Pelt, Michael Jordan and Iva and Katrina Williams.

The 2011 Hope Gala, with a theme of “Circo Della Speranza” (Circus of Hope), is chaired by Lisa Smith Sharp. The gala, which will be held at the Vestavia Country Club, will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails and a silent auction followed by dinner and a live auction.

Tickets are $250 per per-son. Proceeds will support the American Cancer Society. For more information, sponsorship opportunities and tickets, call Ellen Miles at 930-8883 or visit www.hopegalabirmingham.org.❖

At a kickoff party for the American Cancer Society’s Hope Gala were, from left: Mark and Paula Midyette; Katrina and Iva Williams.

Photos special to the Journal

OTMJ.COMmore photos at

A Kickoff to a Good Cause: The 2011 Hope Gala

Stanley R. Virciglio

Ninjas, Pirates Unite to Fight Ovarian Cancer

Above: Attending the Pirates and Ninjas vs. Ovarian Cancer event were from left: Adam Blevins, Brittney Dickerson, Brent Smith and Ashleigh Timmerman. Below, left: Also there were from left: Roy Sims and Lindsey Boan; and bottom right: Ingrid Downs and Jason Finley. Photos special to the Journal

YPs Dress Up to Raise Awareness, Funding for a Cure

Mountain Brook 10th grade girls and their ...escorts were presented at the Starlight Ball April 30 at the Cahaba Grand.

The venue was transformed into a “Midnight Summer’s Dream” by Robert Logan of Backstage Florists under a canopy of filmy lights. The 141 presentees, their escorts and guests enjoyed dinner before the presentation and dancing afterward to the music of 24/7.

Sue Register was chairman of the Starlight Ball; co-chairmen were Allison Brown and Carolyn Greene. The ball committee includ-ed 25 mothers.

The young women presented at the ball included: Laurie Allison Akin, Margaret Leigh Albright, Michaila Carolyn Anderson, Eleanor Harris Bailey, Alana Kathleen Bartoletti, Joycie Michelle Bernstein, Anna Nicole Bolton, Lillian Wakefield Bowron, Sarah St. Clair Bowron, Celeste Chisolm Brady, Dabney Kathleen Bragg, Margaret Russell Bromberg, Carlyle Lee Brown, Margaret Alice Brown, Virginia Scott Bullock, Margaret Keelyn Callaway, Alice Galloway Cannon, Mary Clay Carr, Grace Saloy Carroll;

Sarah Church Cassady, Emily Katherine Causey, Chrystina Racquel Caviedes, Lee Ellison Chapman, Mary Kathryn Chesebro, Adrienne Lang Clark, Kathleen Markham Collins, Sarah Elizabeth Colvin, Caroline Elise Cooper, Lamar Bickley Cooper, Emily Rose Cox, Mary Glenn Culp, Matilda Lillian Culp, Katherine Greer Cunningham, Elizabeth Miller Damrich;

Mary Eleanor DeRamus, Harper Lane DeWine, Patricia McGee Dodson, Saige Oliver Donner, Kayla Grace Dowler, Bailey Elizabeth Edmonds, Marguerite MacRae Edmonds, Virginia Allison Elam, Alaina Grace Elgin, Grace Catherine Ernstberger, Claire Elizabeth Fox, Jessica Claire Fraley, Julia Blair Franklin, Annabelle Jackson Friedman, Mary Carolyn Garcia;

Julia Sloan Geiss, Julia Grace Elizabeth Gillen, Cameron Burke Gorham, Haley Kathleen Gray, Margaret Stabler Greene, Carolyn Youmans Grenier, Anna Catherine Gurosky, Virginia Ann Haas, Valerie Taylor Harkins, Bradley Ann Henderson, Allison Leigh Hill, Caroline Ashcroft Holbrook, Elizabeth Denise Horton, Jordan Leigh Hughes, Virginia Davis Hutchinson, Tully Jayne Jackson, Margaret

Pearson Jeffords, Deirdre Ann Joehl, Ann Brooks Johnson;

Marjorie Teel Jones, Mary Ashton Jones, Isabella Mae Keating, Laura Hamilton Keel, Margherite Cecelia Keller, Virginia Ann Kennedy, Jessica Danielle Key, Melissa Gail Kidd, Kathryn Blunt Kirkland, Mary Rebecca Lankford, Leah Brooks LaRussa, Laura Elizabeth Lavette, Frances Caroline Lee, Madeline Kate Lindsey, Anniston Suttle Liscomb;

Julia Rose Lott, Farris Ann Luce, Kathryn Courtney Lundberg, Brucie Elizabeth Mancuso, Carolyn Davis

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 • 11 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL SOCIAL

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Starlight Ball presentees included, from left, front: Katie Windle, Margaret Pritchard, Lane Proctor, Anna Cate Peeples and Catherine Chesebro. Back: Annabelle Friedman, Ann Ellard Turner, Rebecca Lankford, Laura Keel and Tate Sieber. Photo special to the Journal

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Hoover restaurant Jubilee Joe’s ...captured the top professional award for “Birmingham’s Best Gumbo” at Episcopal Place’s sixth annual Gumbo Gala May 7 in Caldwell Park.

Jubilee Joe’s edged out three-time winner Crazy Cajun’s, which this year received the award for best seafood gumbo.

Gumbo cooking teams from Episcopal parishes swept the awards in the backyard chefs amateur division, with All Saints’ Wednesday Morning Sinners, sponsored by Robbie D. Wood,

winning first place as well as the trophy for “Most Divine Gumbo” among Episcopal organizations.

Some 1,300 attended the event, which raised $33,300 to provide support services to the 148 resi-dents at Episcopal Place. Ezell’s Catfish Cabin in Bessemer and Auburn, owned by Agnew Hall, was the presenting sponsor.

John Pelham of Pelham Financial Group chaired the plan-ning committee. Rob Conrad and Jeanine Jersey of Magic 96.5-FM’s morning show were emcees, and the Legendary Pineapple Skinners provided the New Orleans jazz music.

Winners in the 2011 com-petition were: Jubilee Joe’s, Professional; All Saints’ Wednesday Morning Sinners spon-sored by Robbie D. Wood, Inc., Amateur first place; St. Mary’s-on-the-Highlands Episcopal Church, Amateur second place; St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Creole Crusaders, Amateur third place; Crazy Cajun’s, Chef’s Choice Seafood; Garage Café, Chef’s Choice Speciality; ShowTunes Theater Performers, Chef’s Choice Chicken/Sausage; All Saints’ Wednesday Morning Sinners sponsored by Robbie D. Wood, Inc., Most Divine Gumbo; St. Martin’s-in-the-Pines RouxStirs, People’s Choice Award; and St. Martin’s-in-the-Pines RouxStirs, Spirit Award.

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo for a cause ...were guests at the annual Fiesta Ball, hosted May 5 by the Young Supporters Board of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center.

This year’s Mexican-themed event was the most successful yet, raising more than $55,000 to fund research by young cancer investi-gators at UAB.

Proceeds from the ball’s silent auction will help provide activities and amenities for can-cer patients and their loved ones throughout the year. ❖


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Above: Celebrating Cinco de Mayo at the Fiesta Ball were, from left: Maddie Humphries, Lochrane Smith, Henry Long and Laura Montgomery. Below: Also there were from left: David Green, Alison Green, Paul Davis and LeeAnn Davis. Photo special to the Journal

OTMJ.COMmore photos at

The team from St. Martin’s-in-the-Pines captured two awards at the sixth annual Gumbo Gala: the Spirit Award and the People’s Choice award. Team members included: Starla Marbury, Karen Glover, Jeff Burchfield, Jennifer Ray, Terry Rogers, Chef Michael McDonald, Sheila Harvey, the Rev. Jennifer Riddle, Tim Blanton of Episcopal Place, Trina Chandler, Agnew Hall of Ezell’s Catfish Cabin and the Rev. Katy Smith.

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The Altamont School hosted an inaugural ...Trustees Society dinner May 3. The evening began with a poetry reading by Alisha Patel, class of 2012, and a vocal performance by Heather Burgess, class of 2011.

Guests were invited to view Altamont’s Student Photography Exhibition on display in the Cabaniss Fine Arts Center.

Sarah Whiteside, head of school, started the program with remarks on the school year. She said 74 percent of Altamont’s seniors have been offered approxi-mately $751,000 in scholarships, renewable annually.

Robert Pless, president of the Board of Trustees, reported that the board is focused on a new strategic plan that addresses opportunities for the future of school.

Houston Cook, incoming board president, honored Margaret Gresham Livingston for her con-tributions to the school. Margaret was on the board at Brooke Hill School in 1975 when the girls’ school merged with Birmingham University School to become Altamont and has been heavily involved in all facets of Altamont’s 36 years of existence.

Guests honored included Jo Anne and Nick Gaede, Terry Stalker, Janet and Jarry Taylor, Michael Rediker, Peggy Dupuy, Libbo and Gwaltney McCollum, Sarah and Bruce Denson, Lila and Tommy McGahey, Marygray Hunter, Brooke Coleman, Lesley and Barry McRae, Jocelyn and Jim Palmer;

Carolyn and Will Ratliff, Pattie Bank, Sheri and Houston Cook, Brantley Fry and John Wilson, Prameela and Vasudeva Goli, Jeanne Classe, Dominique van de Stadt, Ashley and Colin Luke, Claire and Frank Tynes, Charlotte and Andy Russ, John Williamson, Rosey and Tom Angelillo, Karen and Phil Carroll;

Sarah and Penny Whiteside, Gail and Robert Pless, Margaret Livingston, James and Jim Shepherd, Jim Barton, Mimi and Bill Tynes, Dana and Dick Pigford, Susan and Wyatt Haskell, Beverly and Thomas Goldsmith, Theresa and Rick Johanson and Margaret Whiteside.

The Gaieties Dance Club held its ...annual spring coffee at the home of Carolyn Featheringhill. Members met in the conservatory, where the table was decorated with an azure bowl filled with pink begonias and surrounded by Carolyn’s col-lection of “lady head” vases circa 1940-1950. The vases were filled

with tulips, roses and other spring flowers.

The table was filled with ham and biscuits, orange blossoms, brownies, tea sandwiches and other treats.

President Kathleen Bruhn pre-sided at the meeting. The slate of officers was presented and accept-ed. New officers for 2011-2012 are: president Mary Steiner, vice president Brownie Evans, record-ing secretary Shelley Clark cor-responding secretary June Eagan, treasurer Beverly Goff, assistant treasurer Sandra Oden and parlia-mentarian Kathleen Bruhn.

Dance chairman Mary Steiner presented plans for the club’s spring dance, “An Evening in Shangri La,” to be held at the Mountain Brook Club.

New members are Joyce Lott, Betty Owen, Hallie Rawls, Lee Rives, Virginia Tucker and Suzanne Wald.

Among those attending the meeting were Jill Dangler, Linda David, Miriam Davies, Lovie Dixon, Mary Paty Elmore,


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At Altamont School’s Trustees Society dinner were, from left: Sarah Whiteside, Houston Cook, Margaret Livingston and Robert Pless.


At the Gaieties Dance Club’s spring coffee were, from left: Valerie Pankey, Mary Elmore and hostess Carolyn Featheringill.


Marjorie Forney, Louise Gillespy, Beverly Goff, Susie Kissel, Ann Lambert, Jackie MacClary, Jane Leslie and Mimi Little.

Others there were Anne Martin, Jane Morris, Sandra Oden, Valerie Pankey, Joan Hollingsworth, Betty Ratliff, Dorothy Ratliff, Joyce Ratliff, Pat Robinson, Mary Russell, Carol Sander, Bethy Short, Elaine Smith, Winyss Shepherd, Mary Russell, Mary Steiner, Anne Turnbull, Katy Terry, Mary Elizabeth Waitzman and Janie Wilson.

Riverchase Women’s Club welcomed 108 golfers to ...the 2011 Crest Cadillac Golf Classic benefiting SafeHouse at Riverchase Country Club. The event at Riverchase Country Club was held in cooperation with Hoover Metro Kiwanis and Crest Cadillac.

Volunteers from the host orga-nizations registered the golfers, sold mulligans and powerballs and manned the drink carts, among other duties.

Gene Cody, Perry Mason, Steve Snyder and John Henson were the low gross winners.

Riverchase Women’s Club members and guests heard Ruth Beaumont Cook speak about her award-winning book, “Guests Behind Barbed Wire,” at the group’s April 15 meeting.

The book is about the World War II German prisoner of war camp at Aliceville.

Hand in Paw’s Junior Board organized ...organized the second annual Mutt Strut: Dog Friendly 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run April 16 in Birmingham’s new Railroad Park.

SoHIP (Supporters of Hand in Paw) members planned a day of family fun, which also included live music, local vendors and Manners in Motion’s agility dogs.

The run raised funds for Hand in Paw, a group whose professionally trained teams of animals and han-dlers make more than 55,000 physi-

cally and emotionally beneficial visits a year to those most in need.

Funds raised at the event make it possible for Hand in Paw to impact the lives of children with special needs, at-risk youth, strug-gling readers and the chronically and terminally ill they currently serve free of charge.

More than 500 people and 200 dogs attended this year’s event, raising more than $20,000 for Hand in Paw.

Will Holmes received the “Crown Jewel” Jubilee Award ...designated by the Amaranth Club at the group’s March luncheon at the United Way of Central Alabama. The 99-year-old is a Homewood resident.

Mrs. Holmes also presented the program, “Anecdotal History of Pigs,” tied into a “Pig-nic” luncheon catered by Full Moon BBQ.

Hostesses for the event were Mims Adams, Elizabeth Cooper, Mrs. Holmes and Maryhelen Kirpatrick.

Others there were Kathryn Porter, Margaret Wiygul, Pam Colbert, Jeanne Alexander, Sara Beth Blair, Jocelyn Bradley Palmer, Beth Hardwick, Jane Hicks, Pam Turberville Ager, Angela Comfort, Ben Holmes (Mrs. Holmes’ son), Ellen Broome and Rebecca Mason.

The Amaranth Club is the third oldest club in the Birmingham and the Over the Mountain area. The 37-member organization began in 1897 to encourage intel-lectual development. ❖


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To: From: Over The Mountain Journal, PHONE: 205-823-9646 FAX: 205-824-1246 Date: May 2011

This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for the June 2, 2011 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

Please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone number!

Please initial and fax back within 24 hours.If we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date,

your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

Thank you for your prompt attention.

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Gathered at Hand in Paw’s Mutt Strut were, from left: Mary Dunham, Maleah Dunham, Mary Macintosh-Harris and Ellen Thrailkill with their dogs Snoop, Brandy, Tucker, Sadie and Dallas.


Above: Attending the Riverchase Women’s Club April 15 meeting were from left: Eve Beasley, Susan Vann, Allison Bradley, Jill Miller and Barbara Traywick. Below: Participating in the Crest Cadillac Golf Classic were from left: Gene Cody, Perry Mason, Steve Snyder and John Henson. Photos special to the Journal

Will Holmes, left, was pre-sented with the Amaranth Jubilee Award at the club’s March meeting. With her are president Kathryn Porter, center, and Rebecca Mason.Photo special to the Journal

The Auxiliary of Big Oak Ranch held ...a spring luncheon April 29 at Vestavia Country Club. Auxiliary members and guests attended.

The guest speaker was Donna Ryan, a housemother at Big Oak Boys’ Ranch. She and her hus-band, Barry, have raised 26 boys in their home since coming to the ranch eight years ago.

Donna shared some of her experiences as a housemother and gave an overview of an aver-age day at the ranch.

John Croyle, the ranch’s founder and executive director, thanked the auxiliary for its sup-port of Big Oak Ranch.

Table centerpieces were bego-nias planted in colorful straw hats. The hats were available for purchase with proceeds going to the auxiliary. A raffle was also held for several prizes, including an estate necklace.

All funds raised by the aux-iliary help support the efforts of John Croyle at Big Oak Ranch.

The auxiliary supports the “Boutique” at the Girls’ Ranch and the “Outfitters” at the Boys’

Ranch. These facilities provide shopping opportunities for the girls and boys for items that are not covered in the ranch’s budget. The boys and girls earn “points,” which are used to pur-chase items in the shops.

Last year, the auxiliary also hosted a Christmas brunch for the housemothers, helped with Easter baskets for the children,

provided new laptop comput-ers for the ranch’s high school graduates and purchased new bedroom furniture for the Girls’ Ranch.

For more information about the Auxiliary of Big Oak Ranch, contact Jenny Kirby at 823-6123 or [email protected].

The Junior League Choral Group ...celebrated 50 years of singing in service to the community with a birthday party May 3 at the League Building.

Past and present members enjoyed singing, sharing memo-ries and viewing a video of past performances, produced by Ruby Struck and Cornelia La Russa.

Charter members at the event were Juju Miller of Atlanta, June Moody and Wodie Monaghan and Kitty Scott Urquhart, Nancy Smith and Mimi Lanier, who all still sing with the group.

Appreciation was expressed to past directors Kitty Urquhart, Barbara Moon and Alice Major and to current director Amy Murphy. ❖


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To: From: Over The Mountain Journal, 205-823-9646 ph., 205-824-1246, fax Date: Mau 2011

This is your AD PROOF from the OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL for the June 2, 20111 issue. Please fax approval or changes to 824-1246.

Please make sure all information is correct, including address and phone number!Please initial and fax back within 24 hours.

If we have not heard from you by 5 pm of the Friday before the press date, your ad will run as is. We print the paper Monday.

Thank you for your prompt attention.

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��At a luncheon hosted by the Big Oak Ranch Auxiliary were, from left: Terri Lyon, Joyce Smidt, Melissa Gunnells, ranch founder John Croyle, Jenny Kirby and guest speaker Donna Ryan. Photo special to The Journal

Celebrating the Junior League Choral Group’s 50th anniver-sary were in front from left: Vivian Herren and Helen Yarboro. Back from left: Dr. Beth McGinnis, Betty White Parker and Dana Davis.


16 • THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNALWEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS

Benton-WagnerMr. and Mrs. William David

Benton of Birmingham announce the engagement of their daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Benton, to Captain

Thomas Robert Wagner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lee Wagner of East Grand Forks, Minn.

The bride-elect is the grand-daughter of Mrs. Bennett William Benton and the late Mr. Benton of Birmingham and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Avery Miller Jr. of Birmingham.

She is a 2008 magna cum laude graduate of Auburn University School of Nursing. Ms. Benton is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, and Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and Sigma Theta Tau honor societies. She served as the 2007-2008 president of Auburn University School of Nursing. She is employed as a labor and deliv-ery nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. and will complete her master’s in family nurse practitioner school at Vanderbilt University School of

Nursing in August 2012.The prospective groom is the

grandson of Mrs. Norman Roy Wagner and the late Mr. Wagner of Fisher, Minn. and the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank Archibald Mack of East Grand Forks, Minn.

He is a 2007 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and a 2009 flight school graduate at Fort Rucker in Enterprise. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 2010-2011 as a UH-60 Blackhawk platoon leader. Captain Wagner recently assumed responsibility of the aviation main-tenance platoon and re-deployed to the United States. He is currently stationed in Fort Campbell, Ky.

The wedding is planned for July 23.

Joseph-WilliamsonMr. and Mrs. Carlo H. Joseph

III announce the engagement of their daughter, Jennifer Kathleen, to Matthew Blair Williamson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Milligan of Pelham and Mr. and Mrs. William Williamson of Atlanta.

Miss Joseph is the granddaugh-

ter of Ms. Karolyn Mersmann, Dr. and Mrs. James Mersmann and Mrs. Sadie Joseph and the late Mr. Carlo H. Joseph, Jr. all of Hoover.

Mr. Williamson is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Landry of Baton Rouge and Mr. and Mrs. Lehman Williamson and Ms. Fran Hernandez.

Miss Joseph graduated from Hoover High School and attended Marymount Manhattan College in New York City and the University of Montevallo. She is a personal trainer at Equinox Fitness Center in Greenwich Village in New York City.

Mr. Williamson graduated from Pelham High School and received a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Montevallo. He is the owner of the Boston School of Guitar and is an instructor at the New York City Guitar School.

The wedding is planned for Sept. 4 in New York City.

Smith-TalloMr. and Mrs. Paul Smith of

Birmingham announce the engage-ment of their daughter, Anna Melissa, to Aaron Richard Tallo, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Tallo of Birmingham and Senatobia, Miss.

The bride-elect is the grand-daughter of the late R. D. Smith and Mrs. Babs Smith of Albertville and Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Schulz of Talladega. She is a 2004 graduate of Oak Mountain High School and a 2009 graduate of Auburn University, earning bach-elor’s degrees in marketing and Spanish.

She is employed as a finan-cial sales advisor at BBVA Compass Bank, Cahaba Heights, in Birmingham.

The prospective groom is the grandson of the late Fred and Mary Tallo of Las Vegas and the late Truesdale and Thelma Kerr of Jonesville, S.C. He is a 2001 grad-uate of Senatobia High School and attended Northwest Mississippi Community College before earn-ing his bachelor’s degree in bank-ing and finance in 2006 from the University of Mississippi.

He is employed as a finan-cial sales advisor at BBVA Compass Bank, Brookwood, in Birmingham.

The couple will be married on Aug. 20 at the Lutheran Church of Vestavia Hills. After a honey-moon in Madrid, they will live in Homewood.

Allen-Clark

Dr. and Mrs. Bibb Allen Jr. announce the engagement of their daughter, Sara Emily Allen, to Paul Richard Clark, son of Mrs. David Bruce Lynam of Vestavia Hills and Dr. Charles Hobart Clark III of Birmingham.

The bride-elect is the grand-daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Oscar Erle Ralls and Mrs. Bibb Allen Sr. and the late Mr. Allen, all of Birmingham.

Miss Allen is a graduate of Mountain Brook High School and Vanderbilt University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in biology. She is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She was pre-sented at the Beaux Arts Krewe

Ball, the Ball of Roses, the Heritage Ball and the Redstone Ball.

Mr. Clark is the grandson of Mrs. Charles Hobart Clark Jr. and the late Mr. Clark of Huntsville and the late Mr. And Mrs. Richard Dana of Fort Worth, Texas. He is a graduate of Mountain Brook High School and Vanderbilt University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering.

Miss Allen and Mr. Clark both attend the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile.


Barr-StraughnMr. and Mrs. William Pelham

Barr of McLean, Va., announce the engagement of their daugh-ter, Patricia Anne Barr, to Pelham Agee Straughn, son of Dr. and Mrs. John Michael Straughn of Birmingham.

The bride-elect is the grand-daughter of Mrs. Martin Francis

Moynihan of Blauvelt, N.Y., and the late Mr. Moynihan and the late Mr. and Mrs. Donald Barr of Colebrook, Conn.

Miss Barr is a 2003 gradu-ate of the College of the Holy Cross and received her juris doc-torate from George Washington University Law School in 2007. She is employed by the United States House of Representatives on the Committee on Agriculture.

The prospective groom is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Walter Locklin Agee of Monroeville and the late Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Andrew Straughn of Repton.

Mr. Straughn is a 1993 graduate of Mountain Brook High School and a 1997 graduate of Hampden-Sydney College. He is a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He is employed by the United States House of Representatives on the Committee on Agriculture.

The wedding is planned for July 30 in Washington, D.C.

Limbaugh-WebbMr. and Mrs. Joseph Tyler

Limbaugh Jr. of Birmingham announce the engagement of their daughter, Gene Austin Limbaugh, to Van Thomas Webb, son of Dr. and Mrs. Mike Ivey of Sylacauga and Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Webb of Fairhope.

The bride-elect is the grand-daughter of Mr. Samuel Eason

Balch Sr. and the late Mrs. Elizabeth Brock Balch and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Tyler Limbaugh Sr. of Birmingham.

Ms. Limbaugh is a graduate of Mountain Brook High School. She graduated from the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and public rela-tions.

She is a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and was presented at the Ball of Roses. She is employed with Norwood Clinic.

The prospective groom is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe L. Wilkins of Sylacauga and Mrs. Sue Bradley of Fairhope and the late Mr. Wilton Webb of Roanoke.

Mr. Webb is a graduate of Mountain Brook High School and Auburn University, where he received his master of landscape architecture degree. He is a mem-ber of Sigma Alpha Epsilon frater-nity and is an Eagle Scout.


Wyatt-DotyMr. and Mrs. Danny Wyatt of

Homewood announce the engage-

ment of their daughter, Elizabeth, to Dr. Walt Doty, the son of Dr. and Mrs. Jeff Doty of Dothan and the late Sharon Doty Phillips of Carbon Hill.

The bride-elect is the grand-daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Patrick Wyatt of Montevallo and Mr. Arthur Klopack and the late Mrs. Klopack of Birmingham.

Miss Wyatt earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Alabama School of Education in 2006 and a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2009. She is a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority and the Junior League of Birmingham.

She is employed by the Shelby County Board of Education as a third grade teacher.

The groom’s grandparents are the late Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Hardin of Carbon Hill and the late Mr. and Mrs. Walter Doty Jr. of Birmingham.

Dr. Doty earned a bache-lor’s degree in biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2002, graduating magna cum laude, and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine in 2007.

He is a hospitalist for the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation

The wedding is planned for June 18.

Gray-MashMr. and Mrs. Herbert Dewey

Gray Jr. of Gadsden announce

the engagement of their daugh-ter, Katherine Elizabeth Gray, to Phillip Adair Mash III, son of Mrs. Dorothy Adair Mash of Mountain Brook and Mr. Phillip Adair Mash Jr. of Mountain Brook.

The bride-elect is the grand-daughter of Mrs. Neval Hoarce Meek of Florence and the late Mr. Meek and the late Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Dewey Gray Sr. of Gadsden.

Miss Gray is a 2001 gradu-ate of Westbrook Christian School and a 2005 cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and ele-mentary education. She received a master’s degree in elementary education from the University of

Alabama at Birmingham in 2008.She is a kindergarten teacher

with the Vestavia Hills Board of Education.

The prospective groom is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Adair Mash Sr. of Luverne, for-merly of Mountain Brook, and Mr. Howard Kitchings and the late Mrs. Kitchings of Mountain Brook.

Mr. Mash is a 2000 graduate of Mountain Brook High School and a 2005 graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in business. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

He is vice president of Electricity and Lighting Incorporated.

The wedding is planned for June 11.

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 • 17 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL WEDDINGS & ENGAGEMENTS

Friedman-GroverMr. Mark Friedman of

Birmingham announces the

engagement of his daughter, Haley Friedman, to Mr. Rett Grover, son of Mr. and Mrs. Rolfe Grover of Huntsville. Miss Friedman is also the daughter of the late Mrs. Cathy Friedman.

The bride-elect is the grand-daughter of Mrs. Janis Friedman of Birmingham and the late Mr. Paul Friedman Sr. and Mrs. Irene Haley of Huntsville and the late Mr. Robert Haley.

Miss Friedman is a 2007 gradu-ate of the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in adver-tising and public relations.

She is employed as a market-ing representative at Mississippi Blood Services in Jackson, Miss.

The prospective groom is the grandson of Mrs. Hilda Matthews

of Huntsville and the late Mr. Rolfe Grover of Athens and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Davis of Huntsville and the late Mr. Raymond Meehan.

Mr. Grover is a 2006 graduate of the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in business admin-istration and a master’s degree of science in health administration from the University of Alabama at Brimingham. He was president of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

He is director of business operations for the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.


Hendrix-EzellLaura Frances Hendrix and

Jonathan Elliot Ezell were mar-ried May 29 at 6 p.m. at the Avon Theater in Birmingham. The Hon. John George Lowther officiated. A reception followed.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Edward Hendrix Jr. of Birmingham. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Stevens Dozier Sr. of Montgomery and the late Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Edward Hendrix Sr. of Montgomery.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Norman Ezell Jr.

of Northport. He is the grandson of Mr. James Norman Ezell Sr. and the late Mrs. Peggy Tillery Ezell and the step-grandson of Mrs. Eleanor Ezell, all of Spanish Fort; and Mrs. Carralyn Millar Woltz and the late Dr. Claude C. Woltz of Tuscaloosa.

The bride was given in mar-riage by her father. Elizabeth Hendrix Burwell of New York City and Kathryn Robison Hendrix of Birmingham attended their sister as maids of honor.

Bridesmaids were Lydia Jane Jones of Vancouver, British Columbia; Carolyn Chapron Watkins of Nashville, Tenn.; and Rebecca Warren Salas and Rachel Horton, both of Birmingham.

John Robertson McIlwain of Vancouver was the best man. Groomsmen were Adam Howard Harper and Michael Andrew Morgan, both of Birmingham; Chase Reeves Terry and T.J. Ripp of Tuscaloosa; Chad L’Eplattenier of Nashville; and Evan Thomas Rowe of Atlanta.

The ring bearer was Coleman Johnston Dozier, cousin of the bride.

Following a honeymoon to Europe, the couple live in Northport.

Healey-Stinson

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Seale Healey of Birmingham announce the engagement of their daughter, Minnie Bell Haynes, to Nicholas Walker Stinson, son of Ms. Anne Parker Blackwell of Selma and Mr. Nicholas Stevens Stinson of Montgomery.

The bride-elect is the grand-daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stratton Fowlkes Jr. and the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lindsey Healey, all of Birmingham.

Miss Healey is a graduate of Mountain Brook High School. She was presented at the Krewe Ball, the Ball of Roses and the Redstone Ball. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama with

a master’s degree in accountancy and was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority.

The prospective groom is the grandson of Elise Faircloth Blackwell of Selma and the late William Dunham Blackwell III and Mrs. Margaret Collins Stinson of Selma and Mr. Wayne Stinson of Evergreen and the late Nicholas Walker Stevens.

Mr. Stinson graduated from Montgomery Academy. He is a cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama with a master’s degree in marketing.

The wedding is planned for Sept. 3 at St. Francis at the Point Episcopal Church in Point Clear.

Long-CrawfordBeverly Patricia Long and

Evan Barrett Crawford were married May 14, 2011, at Saint Mary’s-on-the-Highlands in Birmingham. The Rev. William Spruiell Blackerby Jr. officiated.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Jacob Long of Birmingham. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Glenn Crawford of Scottsboro.

Grace Long Kipp of

Birmingham was the matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Carlee Means Green, Mary Kolbe Karr, Ann Dunlavy Nabers, Nicole Shevin Odrezin, Allison Caroline Tanner, Megan Riser Brock and Kathryn Cook Yarbrough. Virginia Grace Ritchie and Caroline Krongard were the flower girls.

Ronald Glenn Crawford was the best man. Groomsmen were Jacob Warren Crawford, Robson Bellomy Copenhave, Benjamin Paul Johnson, William Jacob Long VI, Charles Allen Long, Eugene Erwin Raughley III, and Campbell Sledge Williams. William Allen Long was the ring bearer.

A reception followed at The Country Club of Birmingham. The couple will take a wedding trip to the Dominican Republic this summer. They reside in Birmingham.

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Jones-FlachsbartMr. and Mrs. Leo Jeffrey Jones of

Birmingham announce the engage-ment of their daughter, Elizabeth Hill Jones, to Alexander David Flachsbart, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Flachsbart of San Francisco.

The bride-elect is the grand-daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hill Powell of Knoxville, Tenn., and Mr. and Mrs. Max R. Jones of Albertville and the late Mrs. Ramona Nichols Jones.

Miss Jones is a 2006 graduate of Mountain Brook High School. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Alabama in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. She is a member of Phi Mu sorority and Phi Beta Kappa.

The prospective groom is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs.

Walter Flachsbart of Peoria, Ill., and Mrs. Katherine Moustakas of Canton, Mich., and the late Mr. William Moustakas.

Mr. Flachsbart is a graduate of DeLaSalle High School in Concord, Calif. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Alabama in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and in 2010 with a master’s degree in econom-ics and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

The couple currently teach high school math in Lowndes County as part of the Teach For America program.

The wedding is planned for June 18 at the Cathedral Church of the Advent.

HOMEOVER THE MOUNTAINJ O U R N A L

18 • THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

meet thetalent

a shore thingBY LAURA MCALISTERJOURNAL EDITOR

ost anyone who’s trav-eled Northwest Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A knows there’s just some-thing unique about the area, and it goes beyond the beautiful sugar-white beaches. It’s also the com-

munities and the people and their homes.The distinctive style of those 30A

communities and homes has been cap-tured in a new coffee table book, “30A Style,” written by Lynn Nesmith with photography by Jean Allsopp.

The two met years ago while work-ing for Southern Living and had always wanted to work together on a book. Lynn was the magazine’s architectural editor, and Jean was a photographer for Southern Living as well as Coastal Living.

Their work with the magazines took them to many of the fabulous homes of 30A and eventually led them to create the book published by design360, llc., earlier this year.

“I moved from Birmingham to here in 2001 to consult with Seaside for its 20th anniversary, and I just loved the area so much I wrote a book, ‘Seaside Style,’ that came out in 2005,” Lynn said. “In the last five years, I’ve had so many people saying, ‘We love Seaside, but why

not a book on Seagrove or Grayton or Rosemary?’

“I just thought 30A has really become a cohesive community, and that a book on 30A would be good.”

Jean was quick to join in on the proj-ect, even though it would mean frequent trips to the coast for the Homewood resi-dent and freelance photographer.

The book took almost two years to complete. Its 192 pages feature 22 homes from the 30A communities of Grayton Beach, Seagrove, Seaside, Rosemary

Beach, WaterColor, WaterSound Beach, Coastal Dunes Lakes and Alys Beach.

After a brief introduction to Scenic Highway 30A, the book takes read-ers through the homes in chronological order of the communities, starting with Grayton Beach, the oldest community on the approximately 20-mile stretch of highway.

The pair had lots of knowledge of homes in those communities from their work with Southern Living, and also because Lynn’s home is in Seagrove and her office is in Seaside. But, Jean said, it was still hard to narrow down the selec-tions. In the end, she said, the homes are a good representation of the communities.

“We didn’t want it to be all over-the-top decorated and real high-end,” she said. “I think that’s what’s good about the book. It’s got lots of different kinds of homes. It’s a good mix of bungalows and upscale houses.”

From large beach mansions to cozy cottages, the book has a variety of home styles as well as owners. Lynn said about 70 percent of the homes featured are permanent residences, and 30 percent are vacation homes.

While Jean took care of photograph-ing the houses both inside and out, Lynn wrote the stories behind the homes and their owners, as well as an introduction to each of the communities featured.

“I heard some great anecdotal stories,”

THE BOOK: For more information on “30A Style” or to purchase a copy, visit www.30astylebook.com.

M‘30A Style’ Book Captures Scenic Highway’s Homes, Charms

Lynn NesmithFormerly a writer and architec-tural editor for “Southern Living” and resident of Homewood, Lynn now lives in Seagrove, Fla. and has an office at Seaside. Her first book is “Seaside Style,” on the homes of Seaside, Fla.

Jean AllsoppJean is a freelance photogra-pher living in Homewood. She photographs mainly outdoors and home interiors. Her work has graced the covers of Coastal Living and Birmingham Home & Garden.

inside☞ Take a look inside the homes decorated by Paige Schnell, owner of Tracery Interiors in Mountain Brook and Rosemary Beach, Fla., featured in “30A Style.” Page 20

☞ The Estes’ Seaside home, also featured in the book, is a great family getaway for more than just the Mountain Brook family. Page 21

In addition to photographing homes of Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A, Jean Allsopp also captured images from the communities of 30A that are featured in her and Lynn Nesmith’s new book, “30A Style.”

Lynn said. “It was fun getting to hear people tell their stories. Like one house, the couple bought the land 20 years ago and just held on to it.

“Another I thought was funny, they have a daughter who just graduated from college, who is now working and living in their (Alys Beach) house. We’ve just met a lot of really great people,

and it’s been really rewarding.”The book has gone over so

well that it’s already in its second printing after just being released in March.

Lynn, though, isn’t surprised by people’s attraction to the beau-tiful 30A communities and the homes there.

“I found this area later in life,” she said. “I grew up in North

Carolina going to North Carolina beaches. I wrote a story for Southern Living once that started with something like how I didn’t think there was anything finer than North Carolina beaches.

“Then I came to 30A. It’s not just the beaches. It’s the whole community. It’s small towns, but a sophisticated community. I plan to stay here.” ❖

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 • 19 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL HOME

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“30A Style” features 22 homes all located in the communities situated along Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A. Jean and Lynn would spend about two days at each home to style it and get pictures and interviews.

Photos courtesy Jean Allsopp

“I think that’s what’s good about the book. It’s got lots of different kinds of homes. It’s a good mix of bungalows and upscale houses.”

– photographer Jean Allsopp


ow a house will be used is one of the first factors Paige Schnell consid-ers when decorating a home.

When it came to two of the homes featured in “30A Style,” Paige took two very different approaches to decorating them. The first, which happens to be the home of Paige and her husband

Mark, she designed for a perma-nent home. The second, which belongs to Lori and Mark Hadley of Birmingham, was designed as a beach retreat.

“We do lots of different aes-thetics to reflect the homeown-ers’ wants and wishes, but there is a difference in a permanent home versus a vacation home,” said Paige, an interior designer and owner of Tracery Interiors in Mountain Brook and Rosemary Beach, Fla. “With ours, it was for

our permanent home, so we want-ed something that incorporated pieces we had collected over time mixed in with a lot of new things for the house.”

The Schnells’ home is in Seagrove, Fla., but that’s not where this cottage has always been. The couple bought it from the his-toric Point Washington Methodist Church, about four miles from the Schnells’ wooded lot.

They had the house moved to its current location. Then Paige, working with the look of the cot-tage as well as items the couple already had, began the process of transforming the old church par-sonage into their home.

“When we bought the house, it already had a sort of white, cottage feel,” Paige said. “There was a lot of white. The wood walls are all whitewashed, so I just wanted to have a white background and neu-tral colors. It has a slight ‘beachy’ feel, but not really.”

Whether in the woods or by the beach, the Schnell home is warm and inviting.

To give it a more modern look and urban feel, the couple removed the 8-foot ceiling, leaving the wooden rafters exposed in the liv-ing and dining area.

Although the colors are mainly neutral, Paige added pops of color

with bright red vintage metal out-door furniture on the screen porch; inside, she decorated with a bright kelly green to draw from the many trees surrounding the home.

“I just picked a few really strong colors,” she said. “The house is nestled in the trees, so I picked the green and mixed it with the white.”

When decorating the Hadley home, Paige also looked to the great outdoors for inspiration.

The Hadley home is on Draper Lake. It’s a rare coastal dune lake; these exist only in a hand-ful of places around the world. Birmingham architect Jeff Dungan of Dungan Nequette Architects designed the home, and Paige was enlisted to decorate it.

The house was built with lots of windows to take in the stun-ning views, and it was decorated to reflect those views – and to be a vacation retreat for the family of five.

“They definitely wanted their house to have a different feel from their one in Birmingham,” Paige said. “They wanted some soft blues and neutrals – the same colors out in the Gulf. It has white walls, and the ceiling has more of a driftwood finish.

“We definitely took the colors surrounding the house, even the finishes of the floors. They are an antique oak. The stain has a blue-green tint.”

While the house decor has more of a formal feel, Paige said it’s designed for relaxation. She cites the master bedroom as an example.

Like almost every room in the house, the master has magnificent views. The soft neutral colors of the room make it a relaxing retreat, and Paige brought in some color with the draperies and pillows.

“We did an upholstered velvet bed with little pops of pink in the room,” she said. “There’s just a little in the drapes and the pillows, and it’s not a baby pink. This is a strong pink. The walls, ceilings and bed, though, are almost all the same color.”

The children’s bedrooms are more on the whimsical side. One takes on a nautical theme with chocolate brown and white stripes on the bedding; a life preserver serves as art over the headboard.

Another has all-white bedding to match the white walls. Artwork, some of it created by the Hadley children, decorates the walls. The children’s bedrooms also have cus-tom-made headboards with shelves to hold collectibles.

While the inside of this house is inviting, and the grand views can be enjoyed almost anywhere, the outdoor infinity pool is one of the main attractions of this house. The pool is heated in the winter, so family and friends can enjoy it year-round. ❖

20 • THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNALHOME

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MEason.eps 5/25/2011 11:37:00 AM

Top: Paige Schnell, owner of Tracery Interiors, decorated her Seagrove home with neutrals add-ing punches of color, like the red vintage aluminum outdoor furni-ture on the porch. Left: Paige was inspired by the colors of the gulf when she decorated the Hadley beach home. Above: The Hadley infinity pool overlooking Draper Lake is the main attraction of the house. Photos courtesy Jean Allsopp

HCoastal Chic These Two Beach Homes Have

Decidedly Different Styles


hen Claude and Eleanor Estes pur-chased their Seaside lot in 2005, they wanted the ocean-

front property to be a destination the whole family could enjoy. And since the house’s completion in 2009, it’s been just that.

Named BeauSolieil (which translates to “beautiful sun”) for the couple’s favorite oyster, the house is all about the beach and family fun.

The Mountain Brook family of six heads to the house about once a month, with the exception of the summertime, when the house is rented through Cottage Rental Agency. The house easily sleeps the entire family, plus friends.

“We’ve really enjoyed this house,” Eleanor said. “We love Seaside. We’ve been going there for years, and the kids love it. It’s just a great family place.”

The plans for the house were drawn up by architect Cooper Johnson Smith, and the couple hired O.B. Laurent Construction to build their family beach retreat. They worked so closely with their builders on all the details of the home, they even threw their first party at the house – a shrimp boil – for them.

“They worked on the house for 18 months to two years, so we really got to know them,” Eleanor said. “We just really hit it off with them, so we threw them a big party. It was really fun.”

The Estes beach house has five bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, and comfortably sleeps about 15.

“It was a lot of fun planning the house,” Eleanor said. “We knew what the footprint of the house was going to be because of Seaside’s restrictions. We wanted a bunch of bedrooms, so that the whole family could be here.

“We also knew we wanted a bunk room. Everybody loves that room, even the big kids.”

While most of the Estes kids are no longer kids – Claude is 21, Campbell 20, Dot 18 and Cromwell 6 – all enjoy the “kid” room with three custom built-in bunk beds. As with most of the house, the room plays on the natural colors of the beach with light gray walls and sea foam green and blue polka-dotted bed linens.

“I did the decorating myself,” Eleanor said. “It was a really fun project. All the walls inside are white and gray throughout the whole house. I wanted it to feel really clean and fresh.”

Eleanor said they had the bed-rooms made a little smaller to allow a private bath for each.

To take advantage of the gor-geous ocean views, the third floor is the main living space of the house, with a family room and gourmet kitchen. In addition to the porches on the second and third stories of the house, there’s also a porch on the top of the house.

“The views are just so beautiful from there,” Eleanor said. “Really from the left, you can see Panama City, and to the right is Destin, and you can see all of Seaside. It’s just really neat.”

With such great views from the house, Eleanor said she’s embar-rassed to admit that oftentimes their feet never hit the sand or surf when they’re at the house. And with all the amenities of Seaside nearby, they typically never drive their car once they get there.

Since the family rents the house in summer, they’re not the only ones enjoying this Seaside retreat. In fact, the house has had some pretty well-known visitors.

“We have had some celebrities stay there,” she said. “Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn stayed there a couple of weeks ago, and Miley Cyrus also stayed there once. Joe Scarborough stayed there.

“We have a guest book, but it makes me so mad. None of the celebrities have left a note.”

Many others have, though, and they agree with Eleanor: It’s a great family retreat at the beach. ❖

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 • 21 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL HOME

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Beach or Lake HouseWe Have It All!

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Seaside Stunner Beach House Attracts Family, Friends – and a Few Famous Guests

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Above: If not outside, the Estes family spends most of its time on the third floor, where the kitchen and living room, are, as well as spectacular views of the beach. Below: Claude and Eleanor enjoy the beach with daughter Cromwell. Photo (above) courtesy Jean Allsopp

Area schools have come together after the April tornados to raise money for the victims who were

devastated by the storms. In addition to schools accepting donations,

students have hosted lemonade stands in several communities. The money raised will be given to the Red Cross, and also to buy supplies for neighboring families left without homes.

Below are some of the many tornado relief fundraisers OTM schools and students have hosted:

• Crestline Elementary kindergartners Clark Stewart, Mary Hollins Black and Maggie Robinson joined in relief efforts one weekend, raising more than $95 selling lem-onade and cookies.

Crestline Elementary students Evelyn Stutts, Forrest Ann Watson, Taylor Morris and Tess and Sadie Patton raised $179 from their lemonade stand, which they presented to

Crestline Elementary principal Laurie King. Mary Hollins organized the lemonade

stand located on Spring Street in Crestline,

and she bought supplies like food, clothing, toothbrushes and treats for the students with-out homes because of the April 27 tornados.

• Several elementary students from Vestavia Hills Elementary West hosted a lem-onade stand at the Western Supermarket, rais-ing $850 in two hours. They sold lemonade and Kool Aid with baked goods, as well as popcorn donated by The Rave Theatre. The money will be given to the Red Cross for the tornado relief effort.

• Hoover’s Bumpus Middle School foot-ball teams and the Bumpus Student Council Association sponsored a dance May 13 to raise money for tornado victims. The dance was held in the school’s two gyms during a special assembly period. Students donated at least $3 each to attend. The total amount raised was $2,416.39 with all proceeds going to storm victims.

– Compiled by Matthew Terwilliger, Journal intern ❖

22 • THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNALSCHOOLS

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Left: Crestline Elementary students lending a helping hand to tornado victims included, from left: Evelyn Stutts, Taylor Morris, Forrest Ann Watson, Tess Patton and Sadie Patton, and in back, principal Laurie King. Right: Raising funds for the tornado victims at a lemonade stand at the Rocky Ridge Road Western Supermarket were from left: Vestavia Hills West students Bailey Hale, Abby Hardwick and Noah Harmon and, in back, Carlie Hale. Photos special to the Journal

Students, Schools Step Up to Help Storm Victims

Also hosting a lemonade stand for storm vic-tims were Crestline’s Mary Hollins Black, left, and Clark Stewart.

VHHS Students Place in Stossel Essay Contest

Two Vestavia Hills High School juniors were winners in Stossel in the Classroom’s first student essay contest.

Jerry Hsu was a finalist and won a cash award of $200. Shanna Liu, a semifinalist, was awarded $100. Their essays were submitted by Candis Hacker,

their AP English teacher.Students ages 13-18 were

asked to write an essay about “What’s Great about America” after viewing John Stossel’s Fox News special of the same name.

Students from around the country submitted 7,514 essays. Hsu’s and Liu’s entries rank in the top three percent.

The top essays and a full list of winners are posted on the Stossel in the Classroom web-site.

Edgewood Opens Fitness Circuit

State Rep. Paul DeMarco was at Edgewood Elementary for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the school’s newly-installed play-ground fitness circuit.

DeMarco worked to secure funding for the equipment, which targets fitness-focused play.

The playground includes dif-ferent stations, each with a sign explaining fitness tips that stu-dents can use while playing on that station. ❖

Cutting the ribbon to officially open Edgewood Elementary’s new play-ground fitness circuit are, from left: student Jane Hideko Ferderber, PTO president Lisa Harrison, Rep. Paul DeMarco and principal Tricia Simpson. Photo special to the Journal

VHHS stu-dents Shanna Liu, left, and Jerry Hsu were win-ners in the Stossel in the Classroom essay con-test.Photo special to the Journal

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 • 23 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL SCHOOLS

Music Club Guild Hosts Scholarship Luncheon

The Birmingham Music Club Guild held its annual Scholarship Luncheon April 15 at the Birmingham Country Club. Winners of the guild’s 2011-12 music scholarship auditions per-formed.

Scholarship winners were: Brian Logan, instrumental winner (eupho-nium), University of Alabama; Kevin Canada, piano winner, University of Alabama; and Patrick Jones, vocal winner, University of Montevallo. Logan also won the Best Overall Performer award in the competition held in March.

Spring Valley Wins McWane Challenge

Spring Valley School’s fifth grade class won first place for its “Be Nosey, Alabama” exhibit for McWane Science Center’s Exhibit Design Challenge.

Fifteen Alabama schools accept-ed the challenge, with more than 400 fifth and sixth graders partici-pating in the project.

Participants were asked to design a future exhibit for McWane, which asked for creative projects that incorporated math, sci-ence, writing and technology.

Under the direction of James Cormier and Kendra Cowden, Spring Valley School’s fifth grad-ers made an exhibit in the shape of a nose, with patrons entering and exiting through the nostrils. The interior of the exhibit mimics the actual interior of the human nose.

The exhibit is now on display at McWane Science Center.

HS Student Wins Writing Contest Award

Lexie Rueve, a sixth grader at Highlands School, placed third in the state in the 2010-2011 Letters About Literature writing con-test.

The state and national competition

requires students to write letters to authors and explain how their books impact students’ lives. Lexie chose to write to Suzanne Collins, author of “The Hunger Games.”

This year, 433 letters were submitted to the national office. State judges from the University of Alabama’s Creative Writing Department read and placed the letters.

Gwin Students, Faculty Walk ‘Around the World’

Gwin Elementary School stu-dents, teachers and administrators walked two miles each day during May to promote lifelong health and fitness.

Collectively, Gwin participants walked “around the world” in 30 days. Every person at the school participated.

Gwin’s commitment to an active lifestyle and incorporat-ing fitness into daily routines also includes a Friday morning Running Club, made up of about 100 students, and a curriculum

that includes physical education classes. The school’s dance team and Unicycle Club perform in the Birmingham area and surrounding counties.

The school also offers P. E. clubs for rock climbing, jump

rope and ATI (Achieving the Impossible), which includes hula hoop and juggling.

Physical education teachers Robin McMahan and Tammy Propst oversee Gwin’s physical education program. ❖

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Voted The Best Dentist in Birmingham Magazine’s 2011 Parent’s Choice Awards. Thank you!

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Kaelyn AbdullahNoah AdamsRebecca AdamsYousef AddassiPeyton AllenClay AllenEric AllenHenry AllsupJames AndersonSadie ArmstrongCaleb BarnettLuke BarnettJake BartonFrank BartonXander BartonBlair BeamChandler BeasonTrent BeasonBen BeldenMargo BeldenElizabeth BergEvelyn BerryLane BerryEdward BerryGrace BertramKatherine BooneKeefer BooneBeau BoudreauxCaitlin BowlesLindsey BrakefieldJohn William BrouilletteJustin BrouilletteJacob BrouilletteJessica BrouilletteElijah BrownCamille BruceGrant BruceCameron BruceChase BurnsWill BurnsCordee ButlerEllison ButlerAllison CampbellClay CarrollBen CarrollWill CarrollFrances CarsonAbigail ClarkMadison ClarkAda CohenSofia ContrerasLupita ContrerasJuan ContrerasGeoffrey CookTorrey CooperOlivia CornellFuller CrockerLindsay CrockerRandi CronCarrie CulwellNathan Dahlen

Samuel DahlenAnna Faith DahlenJ.P. DarnallJoseph DavidsonMargaret DavidsonAnnabel DavisMimi DavisAva Grace DeLoachJD DeLoachJohn Thomas DeshotelsZachary DespotGoodwin DespotMarina DimperioTaylor DipiazzaWilliam DodsonVanson DongRicky DongSuki DongWirth DossCoates DossJacob DrakeTillman DrewCaroline DrewWill DriscollDurden DuellDobbs DuellNoa DuellWalker DuncanAnna DurrettCaroline EarlyRiley EdmistonCatherine EdwardsNoah EganJessie EganWidad EljishiHassan EljishiBond ElliotForsyth ElliotJack EstesNicole EstradaReignan EvansJordan EvansLily FairclothParker FosheeBreanna FoutTrae FrizzleBrodie FultzMakenzi FultzJacke GaddisHenry GaedeThomas GaedeMatthew GagliardiMegan GagliardiAlexis GancaycoAndy GarciaJerry GarciaCarson GarrettEmma GarrettBrodie GarrettDaniel GholsonFini Giattina

Grace GilchristBeckett GilchristKatherine GlassLauren GlassMatthew GrahamWinston GraphosJames GraphosChayse GraysonEmma GreenJoseph GreenWilla GreenMaggi GriffinChristopher GriffithFrankie GriffithAJ GriffithEvans GrossAnsley GrossJohn GrossAntony Guzman-MedranoTate HallaJackson HallaZora HamiltonDavid HammerBetsy HammerTrevor HandSkyler HandReese HandJack HanesLuke HanesTay HanesCate HarmonChristopher HarmonEvan HarperAddison HarperLucas HarperRebecca HarrisBrant HawkinsMichael HawkinsZachary HawkinsTyler Blake HawkinsMary Winston HendryJohn HendryJames HensonMadelyn HerefordKatie HigginbothamAnna HilsmanLaken HiltonHalle HiltonSara HixKathryn HolladayMary Addison HolleyMax HollisNan HollisJordan HouserGage HughesTurner HullCarson HullGrace HullKeiyuana HumphriesGene Harrison HurstJames Inscoe

Mason IrvinPierce JacksonCelie JacksonCory JacksonWill JacksonWill JerniganMason JohnsonCora JonesAndruw JonesNyah JordanHammy JordanMichael KeithCallie KentAubrey KilgoreMaia-Alexandria KingAndrew KohlerGrace KohlerWill KruegerNathan KruegerJanie KyleBetsy LambertThomas LambertReynolds LambertMary Brandon LangleyArthur LangleyLilly LangleyAmy LaughlinMary Cecilia LedbetterIan LedbetterAlek LetchmanJaden LichtyKaylyn LichtyIreen LinEllie LippBrianna LippLyla LochamyGrace LoganMary Clark LoganAlice LovemanMaggie LoweKade MarlinKason MarlinAddilyn MarlinKennedy MartinMae MartinGeorge MartinElle MartinJessica MaxwellMarie MaxwellPeyton MayoHunter Rose MayoDevyne MayoJaleel MaysJalen MaysEbony MaysReginold McDonaldRaven McDonaldAbby McElhenyLauren McGheeKathleen McKeeClare McPherson

Mary Katherine MeeksEmily MeeksAnna MerkleClaire MerkleBill MillerAnn Kathryn MillerLuke MillsPaul MillsNelson MillsPatrick MillsCooper MollisonKatie MollisonJanie Lee MoncusFrances MorrisZachary MorrisRegan MorrowZachary MorrowCorinne MorrowRaines MostashariWilliam NaborsElizabeth NaborsWilliam NallStuart NickolsonNoah NickolsonWilliam NickolsonJoseph NunnallyAndrew NunnallyTaylor OldMadeline OldhamJeremiah OrrKacee OwensJasmine ParkerJaymon ParkerSamantha PearceHannah PearceKaitlyn PearceCharles PerlisElizabeth PerriAnne Marie PerriJayla PerryErin PerryMelissa PittmanMichael PittmanTaylor PittsMaggie PittsTaylor PopeTegan PopeTyler PopeMaddie PopeCatherine PriceLily Frances PriceLeslie PutmanJody PutmanAllison PutmanSalam QashouJenna QashouOmar QashouTyler QueenTucker QueenNoah RalphDawson Ray

Mary Douglas RayWalker RayHudson ReichWorthey ReichCameron RencherKate RheaEmma RobertsonCarson RobinettChase RobinettMary Chandler RobinettJustin RobinsonMichaela RobinsonMcKinley RohrerHunter RossOwen RossMaddie RossMatthew SaiaAbby SaiaMadalyn SaiaGabriel SanfordReid SanfordTravis SaundersTrey SaundersTroy SaundersJackson SavageBen SavageCaroline SavageAdi SchroerCharlotte SchroerAndrew ShaderRyan ShamsulAlex ShamsulEmma Grace ShiflettJason SierraJonathan SierraEmily SinkMary Carolyn SinkAndrew SinkSarah SladickSam SomervilleAnnie SomervilleMary SpannLaura SpannJames SpannNicholas SpeakeCaitlin SpeakeJulia SpringerRussell SpringerAnna StalkerJane Perry StarlingWalker StarlingD.J. SteeleElizabeth SteeleWilliam SteeleWalton StivenderConner StriplingParker StriplingAndrew StubblefieldEllie Claire SullivanIsabel SwogerMac Swoger

Mandy TannerDexter TannerDylan TeagueAmari ThompsonZion ThompsonNautas TidmoreJordan ToddKalia ToddAutumn TolbertAndrew TomboMariella TomboJacob TomboChloe TomboCarly TomboWilliam TraweekAbigail TraweekDanielle TuckerDe’Ann TuckerOlivia TuckerJack TuckerCaleb TuckerCarson TuckerNatalie TurnageWatson TurnageEvan TurnerKaitlin TurnerBram UpchurchMarcus VanceGarrett VanceConrad VanOrderSydney VessWilliam WadeLouis WadeJack WagstaffAna WagstaffWyatt WallisMichelle WangMax WangAJ WardKaleb WashamEma WeaverCollin WebbAusten WebbCarson WeldonConnor WeldonJalen WhisenhuntKye WhitlowPalin WilkinsonClark WilkinsonOlivia WilliamsMyles WilliamsLucy WindleHayes WindleJack WindleMargaret WoolvertonGracie YatesTommy ZadickWilliam ZadickKaitlyn Zeek

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At the Birmingham Music Guild Scholarship Luncheon were, from left: Brian Logan, instrumental winner (euphonium), University of Alabama; Elaine Clark, scholarship committee; Kevin Canada, piano winner, University of Alabama; Jane Gibbs, University of Montevallo staff accompanist; Patrick Jones, vocal winner, University of Montevallo; and Vera Britton, scholarship committee. Photo special to the Journal

Receiving the award were Spring Valley School teachers James Cormier, left, and Kendra Cowden, in back, and students, in front: Akiria Hutcherson. Middle row from left: Sophie Clark, Ian Van Winkle, Isabel Estes, Will Robinson and Mary Rose Kitchens. Back, from left: Matthew Scott and Martin Lane Kueckelhan. Photo special to the Journal

Walking two miles every day last month were Gwin Elementary students, from left, front: Emily Sims, Josie Sturdivant, Eliza Villasenor, Mariana Cruz and Georgia Soles. Back: Blake Carroll, Grant Bonner, Clyde Wallace, J.T. Lollar, Brady Waugh, Griffin Lyda, Austin Powell, Justin McDowell, Veer Gandhakwala and Christian McLeod.

Journal photo by Martha Blanton

Lexie Rueve

OMHS Students Earn IC3 Certification

Three Oak Mountain High School students have become the first in Shelby County to achieve IC3 certification.

Cole Kinchler, Velmatsu Lewis and Rohan Nair complet-ed the online Teknimedia train-ing with their business technol-ogy applications class and chose to be the first Shelby County students to take the IC3 exam to become certified in computer literacy.

The exam consists of three parts: computing fundamentals, key applications and living online. IC3 is an industry-recog-nized computer literacy certifi-cation.

The students’ business tech-nology applications teacher is Sandra Gallups.

Advent Hosts Character Building Seminar

Advent Episcopal School hosted a “Character Building” seminar May 5 for students in grades two-six.

The keynote speaker was Jim Williams, a Nashville busi-ness consultant and author of “Parenting on Point.”

In his presentation, Williams discussed daily decision-mak-ing. Students participated in written exercises about choices they had made that day and ana-lyzing whether their choices had been good or bad.

The students then learned songs and stories, which they later performed at the school’s Grandparents Day May 11.

Headmistress Una Battles and second grade teacher Judy DeWitt hosted the seminar.

Cutler Wins Honors For Fiction Writing

Indian Springs School junior Emily Cutler of Hoover is earn-ing wide acclaim for her literary works.

Cutler’s play, “All Generalizations Are False,” won second place in the short play category of the 2011 Columbia College Chicago Young Authors Writing Contest. Her novel, “Being a Nobody,” was one of 25 works out of 700 entries to receive a Gold Key Award in the Scholastic Push Novel Contest.

Her play “The Tutor System” was selected as a finalist in the Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s 2011 Young Southern Writers’ Project Competition.

The Festival recognized Cutler at an awards ceremony in Montgomery April 30, where the keynote speaker, actor Tyler Jakes, said that Cutler’s play redefines student-teacher rela-tionships without conventional bounds and without the sensa-tionalism of today’s headlines. ❖

24 • THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNALSCHOOLS

Oak Mountain High School students achieving IC3 certification were, from left: Cole Kinchler, Velmatsu Lewis and Rohan Nair.


Advent second graders participated in a seminar with speaker Jim Williams and host Judy DeWitt, both in back. Photo special to the Journal

ISS student Emily Cutler, second from

left, won honors for

her play at a recent

Alabama Shakespeare

Festival competition.

With her are, from

left, Nancy Rominger,

the festival’s associate director;

actress Caitlin

McGee; and actor Tyler

Jakes. Photo special to

the Journal

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 • 25 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL SPORTS

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History Making Homewood Golf TeamThe Homewood High School girls golf team qualified for the first

time in school history for sub-state in 6A golf this year. Competing in sub-state play at Cider Ridge in Oxford, the Lady Patriots came in fifth place over-all and golfer Aubrey Harris was low score for the team.

Members of the golf team are, from left: Anna Beth Brewton, Megan Spade, Sarah Blake, Coach Dani Kennedy, Jessica Mize and Aubrey Harris (not shown Olivia Bischoff).

Liberty Park Middle School Shares Metro Tennis Title with Mountain Brook Junior High

The Liberty Park Middle School girls tennis team tied with Mountain Brook Junior High as winners of the recent Metro South Tennis Tournament.

Hannah Nelson and Bailey Hymer won the championship for their seed in singles. Jennifer Isbell coaches the Liberty Park Middle School girls and boys teams. Girl’s team members are: Bailey Hymer, Emma Wiley, Mary Smyth, Susan Upton, Coach Jennifer Isbell, Haley Harmon, Hannah Nelson, Isabella Aldana and Caroline Trott.

Briarwood Boys Tennis Finish Second in State

The Briarwood boys tennis team was overall state runner-up in 5A competition. Griffin Russell won the tennis state championship #2 seed for the Lions.

Team members pictured at right are, from left: Coach Jeremy Mears, Russell Hancock, Hunter White, Brent Durrett, Philip Taylor, Coach Patrick Russo, Griffin Russell, Matt Nichols, Devin Bowman, Taylor Brewton and Head Coach Chris Laatsch.

12U A’s Win League Tournament

The 12U Mountain Brook A’s recently won the league softball tournament. The A’s were coached by Melinda Curtis, whose assis-tants were Mike Bowling, Gil Murdock, and David Walston.

Team members pictured at right are, front, from left: Lucy Bowling, Anna Rose Alexander, Lauren Walston, Cami Curtis and Stewart Ann Murdock. Back, from left: Anna Brooks Allen, Emma Gaines Reeves, Caroline Decker, Sarah Frances Koopman, Sarah Margaret Corley and Elizabeth Hale.

Elite Red Win State Championship

Birmingham United Soccer Association (BUSA) U11 Elite Red finished first place in the State Division II spring season. Front row, from left: Wyatt Roberts, Hunter Harwell, Selim Tunagur, Carter Emack and Dylan Colle. Back row, from left: Jackson Roberson, Mitchel Pinkston, Drew Merrill, Hudson Dorough, Griffin Felton, Cole Hamilton and Coach Carlo Schiavoni.

U11 Freedom Wins Trussville Classic Tournament

U11 Freedom outscored their opponents 15-3 on their way to winning the Trussville Classic recently.

Team members are, front left: Harrison Wingo, Peter Spencer and Jake Henderson. Back row from left: Ethan Harradine, Evan Poole, Kalell Adamson, Rob Harradine, Gersain Leon, Hunter Antonio, John Dill, Ryan Gaynor, Connor Smith, Joshua Dale and Rick Gaynor.

onship final against Dothan.Harper was also a major offen-

sive weapon for the entire season, batting .378 and hitting 11 home runs.

As great as Dickey and Harper were, don’t get the idea that Hoover was a two-girl show. The youth and inexperience did lead to an uncharacteristically high number of errors – and losses – during the regular season.

But the younger players gradu-ally matured and peaked at the best time possible – in the post-season. And the best news for

Hoover is that all of them will be back for 2012.

Harper can hardly wait for her senior season. “We will miss Madison more than I can say,” she said. “But we’ve got so many great girls coming back, we should be much better next year.”

You can’t blame Harper for being excited. The younger players certainly made a strong impres-sion. Freshman outfielder Kalee Sparks joined Dickey and Harper on the All-Over the Mountain team.

Nichols, Sparks, Dickey and Harper earned spots on the Class 6A State Tournament team. Nichols was so impressive in middle school play that she was promoted to the high school var-

sity prior to the post-season.Rounding out the lineup that

took Hoover so close to destiny were freshmen shortstop Kasey Weaver, third baseman Abbey Walker, outfielders Ashley Harris and Carly Sewell and sophomore first baseman Madeline Walley.

Brown – with five state cham-pionships under his belt as a head coach – is probably counting the days until next season begins as well.

“We go in every year with the goal to be state champions,” said the coach. “But with the adversity we had to overcome, this season will be remembered as one of our best.”

And Hoover’s own version of the dynamic duo – Dickey and

Harper – did so much to make it that way.

Lucy in the Sky...Anybody who remembers Lucy

Lindley in her days as a star for the Vestavia Hills girls’ basketball team shouldn’t be surprised to hear that she has done something spe-cial with her life since leaving the campus on Limerock Road.

Lindley, an all-star forward for the Lady Rebels, always seemed mature beyond her years – on and off the court. After graduating from Vestavia, Lindley moved on to Troy University. Following a career there, Lindley moved into high school coaching.

Now she has made history.

After one year as the girls’ var-sity coach at Monte del Sol High School in New Mexico, Lindley was named the boys’ varsity coach at the same place. Media sources in the Land of Enchantment say that Lindley is the first woman in New Mexico history to ever coach a boys’ team at the high school varsity level.

If you know Lindley, you know she’ll be a winner. In her only year as the girls’ coach, she led Monte del Sol to a 12-15 record, which might not sound like much until you realize that the program had won a total of four games in the previous three seasons.

Lucy Lindley has come a long way since her days at Vestavia. Odds are she’ll go a lot further.

26 • THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNALSPORTS

Hoover,from back cover

BY LEE DAVISJOURNAL SPORTS WRITER

Nobody expected the Hoover Lady Bucs to win the Class 6A softball championship

this spring.Nobody expected them to reach

the finals, either. But that’s exactly what they did.

The Lady Bucs, after failing to win even their area in the regu-lar season, caught fire down the stretch with an amazing run that ended one game shy of the big blue state championship trophy.

Dothan defeated Hoover 8-2 in the title game at Montgomery’s Lagoon Park, but as long as the Lady Bucs field a softball team, the 2011 edition will hold a special place in school history.

Hoover’s dash to glory began in the North Central regional, as the Lady Bucs, riding the arm of superstar pitcher Marcy Harper and the bat of just-as-super catch-er Madison Dickey, won and advanced to Montgomery.

From there, the story became even more incredible.

In the first game in the state tournament, Hoover defeated Prattville 1-0, behind Harper’s no-hit, 13-strikeout performance. Dickey’s single scored the run that provided all the offensive support Harper needed.

Later that day, Harper and Hoover were even more impres-sive. They crushed Baker 9-0, as Harper struck out 12 batters while yielding just two hits. She helped her own cause with a three-run homer in the first inning.

Dickey, Mary Catherine Nichols, Abbey Walker and Kasey Weaver all added RBIs to help the Lady Bucs pound out the runs.

Incredibly, Harper wasn’t happy with her performance on the first day.

“I wasn’t satisfied with any-thing I did,” she said. “I can do better.”

The junior right-hander was doubtlessly being sincere, but no one from Prattville or Baker would have agreed with her.

The next day, Hoover lost to Dothan, suffering its first defeat in the double elimination format. The Lady Bucs promptly rebounded, with Harper hurling another shut-out in a 3-0 win over Fairhope.

At some point against the Lady Pirates, Harper reinjured the index finger of her pitching hand; the injury had first occurred during the regular season. With her pitching hand clearly hurting, Harper still led her teammates to an 8-2 win over Dothan. A Lady Tiger victory would have given them the title, but Hoover’s win forced a third and deciding game.

Harper gamely battled through the injury, but the Lady Bucs’ magic finally ran out. Dothan

clubbed three home runs to take an 8-2 win and the state title.

Hoover coach Jim Brown said he never considered changing pitchers.

“Marcy’s a competitor, and she’s pitched in tough spots before,” he said. “She just ran out of gas at the end.”

Making the Lady Bucs’ run even more extraordinary was the youth of the team. Hoover’s start-ing lineup included four freshmen

and an eighth grader. Two of the younger players, Kalee Sparks and Madeline Walley, joined Harper and Dickey on the All-Tournament team.

“I couldn’t be any more proud of this team – even if they had won,” Brown said. “To be so young and come so far makes this a group I’ll never forget.”

For Dickey, a senior who will play at Samford University next season, the disappointment of los-ing was tempered by pride in what she and her teammates accom-plished.

“Nobody thought we could get to Montgomery,” she said. “Even though we didn’t win, this was a great way to end my career. As good as our younger girls are, I fully expect them to come back

here and take it all.”Sparks, a freshman, earned six

hits in Hoover’s final two games.“This was a great experience,”

she said. “We’ll learn from this. Of course we wanted to win, but finishing runner-up in the state is great.”

Harper much preferred discuss-ing Hoover’s prospects for next season rather than her injured fin-ger.

“My finger’s fine,” she said, days after the game. “At first I put peroxide on it, and the cut hurt me so bad that I cried. But then I put burn cream on it, and that’s helped a lot. I’ll be OK.”

The 2012 season was foremost on her mind.

“We had a great season this year, but I think we’ll be even bet-

ter next year,” she said. “All of our young players will be a year older and a year more experienced.

“Playing for the state cham-pionship is the best experience you can have. If I hold up my end of the deal, we should be pretty good.”

The chance that Marcy Harper will hold up her end of the deal is money in the bank for Hoover.

Montgomery at Midnight:Bucs Fall to Dothan, End Cinderella Run

Hoover’s Marcy Harper led her teammates to an 8-2 victory over Dothan to force a third and deciding game for the 6A title. The Bucs season ended when the Lady Tigers clubbed three home runs to take an 8-2 win and the state title. More photos at otmj.com Journal photo by Tom Neil

OTM Athlete of the Year Nominations Sought

Well, it’s that time of the year again. Time, that is, to

choose the Boy and Girl Over the Mountain Journal Athlete of the Year for 2010-2011. And we would like your input.

The only official require-ment is that the nominee played at least one Alabama High School Athletic Association-sanctioned sport at an Over the Mountain high school. Athletes who partici-pate in team and individual sports are eligible.

All nominations are wel-come. The final selections will be made by a special committee of parents, for-mer athletes and Over the Mountain Journal staff mem-bers.

The winners will be announced later in the sum-mer.

Who do you think is worthy of the honor of 2010-2011 Boy and Girl Athlete of the Year?

Write us at: Athlete of the Year, Over the Mountain Journal, P.O. Box 660502, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216.

Or e-mail us at: [email protected]

We want to hear from you!

“Nobody thought we could get to

Montgomery. Even though we didn’t win, this was a great way to end my career. As good

as our younger girls are, I fully expect them to come back here and

take it all.”Marcy Harper

compiling a fine ERA of 3.35 in nearly 40 innings of work.

“Georgie is just a complete player,” said Vestavia coach Dal Davis.

Salem’s outstanding versa-tility was clearly noticed by the eight baseball coaches of Over the Mountain schools that com-pete in Class 6A and 5A, as they chose him as the 2011 Over the Mountain Player of the Year.

“This is quite an honor,” Salem said. “Everybody knows that the best high school baseball in the state is played in this area. There are so many great teams and play-ers. It’s an honor to be chosen by the coaches.”

Salem – who has already com-mitted to play baseball at the University of Alabama – clearly has athletics in his genes. His

father, George Jr., was a stand-out football player at Vestavia and earned Over the Mountain player of the year honors in 1981. He also played football for the Crimson Tide. Salem’s grandfather, George Sr., was a running back at the Capstone in the 1950s.

The coaches – as part of the

exclusive Over the Mountain Journal poll – chose Hoover coach Rick Davis as the 2011 Coach of the Year. Davis guided a youthful Bucs team to a surprising 23-15 season.

Also chosen was the 2011 All-Over The Mountain baseball team. Joining Salem on the squad are Rebel teammates Davis Rickard and Ben Gann.

Other members of the team include Patrick Conway, Sam Gillikin, Connor Short and Jonathan Whitehead, Hoover; Paul Angel, Alex Close, Carter White and Mikey White, Spain Park; Ben Craft, Logan Crook and Daniel Robert, Briarwood; Daniel Bostick, Trenton Covington and Juan Givan, John Carroll Catholic; J.D. Crowe, David Dahl and Jake Hubbard, Oak Mountain; Stephen Baggett and Philip Flach, Homewood; and Miller Bonds, Mountain Brook.

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011 • 27 OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL SPORTS

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In the Lady Bucs’ 1-0 first round win over Prattville, Harper pitched a no-hitter, walking only two Lady Lion batters while striking out 13. Teammate Madison Dickey – the only senior in the Hoover lineup – drove in the game-winning run.

Later that day, the Lady Bucs earned their way to the winners’ bracket by blasting traditional power Baker 9-0. Harper surren-dered only two hits while fan-ning 12 and walking only two. Additionally, the junior helped her own cause by hitting a three-run homer in the first inning.

Ever the perfectionist, Harper wasn’t satisfied.

I can do a lot better,” she said.The next day, she very nearly

did. Harper pitched Hoover all the way to the Class 6A champion-ship game before an injury to the index finger on her pitching hand hampered her effectiveness. She pitched Hoover to a 3-0 win over Fairhope and an 8-2 decision over Dothan before finally wearing out in the deciding game against the Lady Tigers. Dothan claimed the title with an 8-2 victory.

“Marcy’s a competitor,” said Hoover coach Jim Brown after-ward. “She just ran out of gas.”

Harper may have proved she was human, but she was also the Lady Bucs’ prime catalyst in their Cinderella-style run at the state championship. She finished with a 36-12 record with a microscop-ic ERA of .78. The right-hander pitched 16 shutouts, along with two no-hitters, while striking out 493 rival batters.

Harper also was a potent offen-sive threat, batting .378 with 11 home runs and 69 RBIs.

Her season was one for the books. Harper’s accomplishments were obviously appreciated by the eight softball coaches of Over the Mountain schools that compete in Classes 6A and 5A, as they chose Harper as the 2011 Over the Mountain Player of the Year.

The coaches – as part of an

exclusive Over the Mountain Journal poll – also chose Spain Park coach C.J. Hawkins as 2011 Coach of the Year.

Hawkins guided the Lady Jags to their first-ever area champi-onship in 2011. Spain Park was a perennial doormat in softball before Hawkins arrived from Clay-Chalkville to take over the pro-gram four years ago.

Her first Lady Jaguar team in 2008 posted a 9-36 mark. Spain Park went 35-20 in 2011.

“I’m proud to accept this award on behalf of the young ladies who have worked so hard to bring Spain Park softball to where it is today,” Hawkins said. “This was a special year for us, and we’re looking toward a bright future.”

The coaches also chose the 2011 All-Over the Mountain softball team. Joining Harper from Hoover were senior Madison Dickey and freshman Kalee Sparks. Dickey was the 2010 Over the Mountain Girl Athlete of the Year.

Other members of the team included Hannah Camp, Channing Haynes, Caroline Holmes, Erin Hornsby and April Scott, Spain Park; Nicole Kehr, Leah Reeve, Maddie Ridgway and Caroline Seitz, Oak Mountain; Riane Estes, Taylor Moon and Hannah Taylor, Vestavia Hills; Caroline Seay, Briarwood; Rachel Waters, John Carroll Catholic; Katlin Hamilton, Homewood; and Courtney Shea, Mountain Brook.

Softball Team,from back cover

Baseball Team,from back cover

Rick Davis of Hoover, left, was named 2011 Baseball Coach of the Year; Player of the Year is Georgie Salem of Vestavia Hills.

Marcy Harper of Hoover, left, was named 2011 Softball Player of the Year, and C.J. Hawkins of Spain Park was chosen Coach of the Year.


When you think of a versatile athlete, it’s not hard to think of Vestavia Hills’ Georgie Salem.

The Rebel junior was a top-flight running

back for the Vestavia football team last fall. He earned All-Over the Mountain honors as one of the leading rushers in the area.

But as good as Salem is in football, he might be even better in baseball.

In 2011, facing some of the toughest pitch-ing in Alabama, Salem hit a hefty .577 with

17 home runs and was chosen his team’s best offensive player. As a centerfielder, Salem had 48 putouts with one assist, with no errors and a 1.000 fielding percentage.

He also worked on the Rebel pitching staff,

The Power of Two: Harper and Dickey NearlyBrought Hoover Championship

It’s amazing what a young team can do with just two upper-classmen in leadership roles.If you don’t believe it, look at

the Hoover Lady Bucs softball team in 2011.

The Hoover roster was sprin-kled with talented but youthful players. A lot of coaches like to say their team is young, but when Lady Buc coach Jim Brown used that word to describe his team, he wasn’t blowing smoke.

Hoover’s regular starting lineup included a sophomore, five fresh-men and even an eighth grader, second baseman Mary Catherine Nichols. But the girls who turned a good young team into a great one were senior catcher Madison Dickey and junior right-handed pitcher Marcy Harper.

Dickey came off a spectacular junior season, when she clubbed a school-record 19 home runs and earned the 2010 Over the Mountain Journal Girl Athlete of the Year Award. As a senior, Dickey hit .368 with 10 homers from the lead-off position, despite the fact that most opponents pitched around her.

She also provided an essential behind-the-plate presence at one of softball’s most demanding posi-tions.

Dickey’s star power was equaled only by Harper’s bril-liance in the pitching circle. Harper compiled a 36-12 record, while pitching 16 shutouts and two no-hitters. She struck out 493 batters and had a tiny ERA of 0.78.

Her second no-hitter came in the first game of the state tourna-ment against Prattville. She con-tinued her dominance in the tour-nament’s final day until an injury to the index finger of her pitching hand rendered Harper compara-tively ineffective in the champi-

Lee Davis

See Hoover, page 26

Salem and Davis Lead All-Over the Mountain Baseball Team

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2011

OVER THE MOUNTAINJ O U R N A L

Bucs Fall to Dothan, End Cinderella Run. See page 26Sports

Members of the 2011 All-Over the Mountain baseball team include, from left, first row: Sam Gillikin, Hoover; Philip Flach, Homewood; Connor Short, Hoover; Jonathan Whitehead, Hoover; Georgie Salem, Vestavia Hills; Davis Rickard, Vestavia Hills; Ben Gann, Vestavia Hills; Patrick Conway, Hoover. Second row: Stephen Baggett, Homewood; J.D. Crowe, Oak Mountain; David Dahl, Oak Mountain; Jake Hubbard, Oak Mountain; Mikey White, Spain Park; Paul Angel, Spain Park; Coach Rick Davis, Hoover. Third row: Daniel Bostick, John Carroll Catholic; Miller Bonds, Mountain Brook; Trenton Covington, John Carroll Catholic; Ben Craft, Briarwood; Daniel Robert, Briarwood; Logan Crook, Briarwood; and Juan Givan, John Carroll Catholic. Not pictured: Alex Close, Spain Park; Carter White, Spain Park. Journal photo by Marvin Gentry

See Baseball Team, page 27


During the 2011 softball regular sea-son, Hoover pitcher Marcy Harper was great, winning 30 games and leading

her team in almost every individual category, both in the pitching circle and with her bat.

In the 2011 post-season, Harper was more than great. She was phenomenal.

After surprising almost everyone by leading a young Hoover team saddled with 23 losses to the Class 6A championships in Montgomery, Harper took her game to a new level.

Hoover’s Harper and Jags’ Hawkins Lead Softball Team

Members of the 2011 All-Over the Mountain Girls Softball team for Classes 6A and 5A are from left, first row: Leah Reeve, Oak Mountain; Maddie Ridgway, Oak Mountain; Katlin Hamilton, Homewood; Erin Hornsby, Spain Park; Marcy Harper, Hoover; Madison Dickey, Hoover; Caroline Seay, Briarwood. Second row: Coach C.J. Hawkins, Spain Park; Nicole Kehr, Oak Mountain; Caroline Holmes, Spain Park; April Scott, Spain Park; Channing Haynes, Spain Park; Courtney Shea, Mountain Brook. Third row: Hannah Camp, Spain Park; Hannah Taylor, Vestavia Hills; Riane Estes, Vestavia Hills; Taylor Moon, Vestavia Hills; Kalee Sparks, Hoover; and Rachel Waters, John Carroll Catholic. Not pictured: Caroline Seitz, Oak Mountain. Journal photo by Marvin Gentry

See Softball Team, page 27

over the mountain journal june 2, 2011

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