vestavia vol 1 iss 5 september 2013 all

September 2013VestaviaVoice.com • 1

By MADOLINE MARKHAM

Twelve years ago our country changed forever when the Twin Towers fell. Today a piece of the towers stands in Alabama, and Vestavia Hills is helping dedicate it as a part of its annual Patriot Day ceremony.

“Sept. 11 was declared Patriot Day to recognize the sacrifi ces of

not just the public safety offi cers but also ordinary citizens who stepped up in the face of terror and fought back that day,” Vestavia Hills Fire Chief Jim St. John said. “It’s a great honor to be able to pause and recognize those people.”

This year’s event, held jointly

Ceremony to mark 12th anniversary of Sept. 11 attacks

Vestavia Hills Fire Chief Jim St. John and Homewood Chief John Bresnan salute during last year’s Patriot Day Ceremony. Photo by Jeff Thompson.

By CHANDLER JONES

As Sunel Merchant stood by the windows, he and a friend mocked the low-fl ying planes moving toward them.

From the 49th fl oor of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, they joked that airlines could sell just about anything to tourists.

Moments later, Merchant felt like he was falling forward as Tower One swayed under the weight of the impact of a Boeing 737.

“Still today when people ask me if I heard a boom or a noise, that particular second is blanked out,” Merchant said. “I knew that

something had happened, but that exact moment of impact is still blank. I was in shock.”

As soon as the Tower returned to position, Merchant, as if on autopilot, returned to his desk. He was confused and paralyzed by the impact.

“At that moment, I realized we could do a lot of things, but ultimately everything is controlled by a higher power,” Merchant said. “That was a totally helpless moment.”

World Trade Center employees were trained to respond to emergencies through

No small debt

Sunel Merchant is owner of the Vestavia Hills Philly Connection on Montgomery Highway. Merchant survived the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. Photo by Chandler Jones.

A story of survival and superheroes amidst the chaos of Sept. 11

“I still remember the look in his eyes. He knew he was not coming back.”– Sunel Merchant

See SUPERHEROES | page 24

See CEREMONY | page 24

Summer fun

The freedom of summer may have been lost to fall routines, but take one grand look back with our Summer Fun Photo Contest. See the winners inside.

Catharine Davidson, 105, received recognition from the City of Vestavia Hills on her birthday in August. Read more about her devotion to sports, especially the Ole Miss Rebels in football and the Atlanta Braves, in this issue.

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Volume 1 | Issue 5 | September 2013

City ..................... 6Business ............ 8Food ................... 11Community ....... 14

School House .. 19Sports ............... 20Calendar ........... 26

INSIDE

facebook.com/vestaviavoice

105 years young

Community page 12

Community page 17

September 2013 Vestavia Voice 2 •

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Before


“They Laughed and Said, ‘Dude, You’re Fat.’ “But Then I Looked in The Mirror…”

“Iron Tribe got me off the couch -- and into shape!” –Jason

The mirror was right. My friends were, too. I was fat. What a humiliating difference a few years can make …

You see, 15 years ago, I was in great shape. Even played sports in college. But after an injury, I stopped exercising. I got lazy and my body went downhill. Then, I married a marathon runner. She was in great shape and I had to catch up -- fast. That’s when I found Iron Tribe Fitness.

I started with their 101 Intro Program, which was a huge help for me. I was so out of shape, I couldn’t even do a pull-up. But the 101 helped me get my confidence back. I saw changes in my body, too -- in only 30 days.

After graduating from 101, I was nervous to start the regular classes. But my coaches were there for me. They helped me learn the moves and get better. Then, one day … BOOM. I had a great workout and competed with the rest of the class. That’s when I thought, “I can do this!”

Now, I’m competing with my wife, the marathon runner. In fact, after seeing my slimmer stomach, she joined Iron Tribe, too. Now she’s even more competitive. She wins her age group all the time when she runs.

The best part about Iron Tribe? I got my confidence back. I got in shape again. It’s been fun. And it’s fast -- I get in, get my workout done, and get out in less than 55 minutes! Now I can look

great and feel even better, on my lunch hour. With my schedule, I never thought that would be possible.

I went from a 265-pound couch potato to a 205-pound Iron Tribe Athlete.

Jason is down 60lbs and loving life!

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Request your Free Report and see how other busy guys are getting it done at Iron Tribe Fitness. Call any of our 6

locations at the numbers below. When you call, mention Offer Code: “Make It Work”

to receive a special Gift Voucher worth $100. Or, visit

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Hurry. Supplies are limited to the first 20 people.

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That’s #WhyiTribe

Jason Before Iron Tribe


The back-to-school crazy is over, lazy Labor Day Weekends are in sight, and Saturday mornings (in my house at least) mean two things – big breakfasts and Big & Rich.

Ask any self-respecting Walden and they will tell you the truth – homemade waffles and College Gameday are proof that God loves us.

My inner overachiever takes a hiatus this month, admittedly no small feat for this Type A gal.

On any given Saturday, I can feel perfectly productive if the black eyed pea dip is in the oven and the kids still buy it that Sprout and Disney Junior are temporarily out of service.

Seeing the teams live? That’s a young person’s game. In my mid-30s with kids too young and too impatient to endure four quarters of anything live, I contend that yoga pants and cat naps (unless Alabama’s playing) are where it’s at.

Six days a week for most of the year,

I’m a hard-working, Junior Leaguing, kid activity-driving, wholesome meal-cooking machine. But my September Saturdays? These are sacred, reserved to relax amongst family and friends. I slow down enough to savor what is ordinary and wonderful, which most recently included playing “patient” to my 4-year-

old masquerading as Doc McStuffins. After carefully examining me with

her pink and purple otoscope, Ella placed her hands on my shoulders and spoke gravely: “Mommy, you have cows in your ears.” I forget her medical rationale, but I do remember that it involved sharing our mutual fave, Publix Chocolate Moose Tracks. And who am I to disregard doctor’s orders?

Lately with my 2 year old, it’s been more of the superhero variety. On his shoulders, an old T-shirt becomes a hero’s cape. Our fireplace hearth? A tall building from which he can leap in a single, diapered bound: “I am Superman!” Indeed, little man. Indeed.

For our part, my husband Rett and I have become quite the thespians, playing various versions of our assigned roles: “Mommy, Daddy – you be the bad guy/patient/dinosaur/fill-in-the-blank” with panache. To our credit, the 5 and under set is an indiscriminating crowd.

Although sometimes they leave me a little worse for the wear, these irreverent play sessions completely refuel my sense of awesome. When I am unencumbered from making the next list, planning the next meal, running the next errand and am engaged in the now, I realize how cool these heaven-sent creatures actually are.

September is here, and it’s time to play.

So bring on the pigskin. And the black eyed pea dip. And the absence of any real plans.

Game on.

About Us

Editor’s Note By Rebecca Walden

Photo of the Month Please Support our SponsorsActiv Care Living, Mount Royal Towers (22)

Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (18)

Bariatrics of Alabama (12)

Bedzzz Express (24)

Birmingham Botanical Gardens (17)

Birmingham Internal Medicine (26)

Birmingham School of Music (10)

Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (19)

Bromberg & Company, Inc. (9)

Byrom Building Corp (23)

Cafe Iz (24)

California Closets (20)

Children’s of Alabama (7)

Collage (27)

D1 Sports (21)

Fi-Plan Parnters (16)

Four Corners Custom Framing (11)

Hearlab (14)

Hendrick Hoover Auto Mall (9, 24

Iron Tribe (3)

Kids’ Korner Consignment Sale (7)

LAH Real Estate (27)

Levy’s Fine Jewelry (1)

Lili Pad/Gi Gi’s (10)

Merle Norman - Vestavia (13)

Mr. Chen’s Authentic Chinese (10)

Pappas’ Grill (13)

RealtySouth - Becky Hicks (8)

Renaissance Consignment and Marketplace (2, 25)

Royal Automotive (5)

Samford After Sundown (18)

Sarver Orthodontics (20)

Sew Sheri Designs (15)

SouthStar Properties (11)

The Ridge Eat & Drink (17)

Town of Mt Laurel (26)

Tutoring Club Cahaba Heights (9)

UAB Medicine (15)

Villaggio at Ross Bridge (6)

Vision Gymnastics (21)

Whale of a Sale (17)

Wood & Spooner (13)

Walden

Tucker Hicks and Anne Lewis Botsford beat the summer heat at Vestavia Bowl. Photo courtesy of Ashley Hicks.

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CityMayor’s Minute

By Alberto “Butch” Zaragoza The City of Vestavia Hills Fire Department now has three new vehicles to replace those nearing the end of their service lives. These vehicles were presented at a ceremony following a Vestavia Hills City Council meeting in August.

The department has purchased two Pierce PUC Saber fi re engines for $385,000 each. These trucks will serve the areas of Cahaba Heights and the northern portions of the

community along U.S. 31. Vestavia Hills will be the fi rst department in the Birmingham Metro area to utilize the Pierce PUC.

In addition, a new EMS rescue/patient transport vehicle has been purchased from Excellance Inc. in Madison, Ala. This vehicle was purchased for a cost of $200,500 and will serve the Cahaba Heights and Liberty Park areas of Vestavia Hills.

City has new fi re trucks, EMS vehicles

City Hall is experiencing a great deal of activity right now with preparations for our 2014 fi scal year budget and as we move further into the process of closing on our future property at Food World and Joe’s Ranch House.

With regard to the fi scal year budget, that process is going very well, and we expect to remain on target for it to be presented for City Council approval by the fi rst regularly scheduled Council meeting in September.

Before the month is out, we expect to close on the future site of our City Hall at the aforementioned Food World and Joe’s Ranch House property. We also have hired Williams Blackstock Architects to help us with our evaluation and plans for the space. If all goes as planned, we expect to take occupancy in August or September of 2015.

On a related note, we have movement regarding occupancy for the former library. We do have a contract at this time and are working to bring it to fruition.

This process is just one of the more recent examples of economic development progress for the City of Vestavia Hills. Under the leadership of Economic Development Director Fred Baughman, residents soon will be able to enjoy the addition of four new businesses to our community, including: The Egg & I, which is moving into the

former Frio en La Paz at Vestavia City Center; Issis & Sons, moving into the building formerly occupied by Greenbrier Furniture; FoodBar, an upscale restaurant moving into the former Yankee Pizzeria in Heights Village; and T. Wayne’s BBQ Smokehouse, which

will occupy the former Chris’ BBQ at Dolly Ridge Station. All businesses are expected to open in November.

In terms of equipment upgrades, our fi re department recently received two new fi re trucks and a new transport unit. This new equipment replaces vehicles that have served the community for many years and are nearing the end of their service lives. Read more details about how these vehicles will serve Vestavia Hills for years to come in the story to the right.

Sincerely,

Butch Zaragoza

By JEFF THOMPSON

This month, Alabama’s State Superintendent of Education Tommy Bice will provide Vestavia Hills parents with the opportunity to learn more about education from the state’s perspective.

Bice is scheduled to address the Vestavia Hills High School PTO on Sept. 4 at noon in rooms 202 and 203 of the Vestavia Hills Board of Education building. According to Tracy Lemak, VHHS PTO parent awareness committee chair, the event was organized by State Rep. Paul DeMarco to discuss education in Alabama.

“Really, we are doing this to inform parents,” Lemak said. “We just want to give them an opportunity to address any issues or concerns, to ask questions and to learn about lots of new topics in education.”

Lemak said the presentation is part of the organization’s monthly meetings, and each is designed to further discussion about education in the community.

For more on the PTO, visit vhhspto.myclassupdates.com.

State superintendent Biceto address VHHS PTO this month

State Superintendent of Education Tommy Bice spoke in Homewood earlier this year. Photo by Jeff Thompson.


Get to KnowBrooke Brown

Brooke Brown is the director of curriculum and instruction for Vestavia Hills City Schools.

How have you prepared for the transition from the classroom to the district office?

As a former teacher, I understand the resource and curricula needs of the classroom teachers, so I can better address their needs. I have worked with the curriculum on a daily basis preparing lessons and units for my class.

Now I will be planning professional development to better help the teachers understand curriculum and assist them with ways to teach those standards in the classroom. The transition has definitely been a change but not a drastic one. I realize that I am one of the people making key curriculum decisions that will affect all of the students in our system, not just the ones in my classroom.

Over the past several years, I have held many leadership positions and presented professional development across the state of Alabama, so those experiences have really prepared me to lead our system in curriculum. I know I will miss interacting with the kids and parents on a regular basis, but I hope to be in the classrooms often to assist teachers and demonstrate lessons or strategies.

What can parents expect in terms of curriculum differences from the prior administration versus what you are planning? How will your role interact with Jane-Marie Marlin, who is also a Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the district?

The main curriculum differences will be the implementation of the Common Core standards, especially the language arts.

Jane-Marie and I have already and will continue to work very closely together to make curriculum decisions for all of our students. We want to align what we are doing as much as possible, so close communication between the two of us is crucial. My area of focus will primarily be the elementary schools, and

she will mainly be working with the middle schools and the high school.

Together we have planned and will lead the New Teacher Orientation and iCoach training, which is our mentoring program for teachers new to our school system. We will meet with teachers to continue to guide and mentor them through their second and third years in the system.

How do you define success in curriculum and instruction across our large school district?

My goal is to really support our teachers and school administrators so they have everything they need and are well prepared to teach the curriculum and meet the individual needs of each and every student. I have strived to make myself very accessible, so those teachers and administrators know they can call or email me anytime and I will be there to assist them. For me, success means we have done whatever it takes to ensure all of our students are meeting their goals and achieving.

I began teaching at the elementary level in Vestavia in 1999, so I have a great understanding of the system and the expectations. I truly believe that we have the best schools, teachers, administrators, students and community in the state, and that is why I am so passionate about my work. I feel a great responsibility for making it the best place to live, go to school and work.

What might readers be surprised to learn about you?

Many people may not know that I taught seventh and eighth grade math in another system prior to working in Vestavia.

I received my undergrad degree from Samford and completed graduate work at UAB.

I have three sons: twins that are going into second grade at Cahaba Heights and a 3 year old.

I enjoy singing and spending time at our family farm in North Alabama. Also, my husband and I have a few pet chickens.

Brooke Brown with her husband, Sean.


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Vestavia Hills Business Happenings

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Coming Soon FoodBar, the newest venture by former Daniel George chef George McMillan III, will open in Heights Village at 3162 Cahaba Heights Road. The restaurant will be a farm-to-table concept. 937-3777. facebook.com/FoodBarBham.

Issis & Sons will be moving into the former Greenbrier Furniture location at 1493 Montgomery Highway. The 35-year-old fl ooring retailer has locations in Pelham and on U.S. 280 and offers furniture, interior design services and window treatments. 663-2310. issisandsons.com.

T. Wayne’s BBQ Smokehouse is planning to open in the former Chris’s BBQ location at Dolly Creek Station, 2409 Acton Road, Suite 153. The restaurant is owned by Tim Bridges. 979-1533. facebook.com/TWaynesBBQ.

Relocations Yucutan Trading Company is scheduled to move from its

location at 3152 Cahaba Heights Road to the former Elizabeth’s Antiques location at 4208 Dolly Ridge Road on Sept. 1. 967-7055. yucatantrading.com.

News and Accomplishments Western Supermarkets’ Taylor Neumann won the 2013 Alabama Grocers Association Best Bagger Contest. Taylor works at Western’s Rocky Ridge store at 3350 Morgan Drive. This is the second year in a row that the winner of this contest has come from this location. 822-5920. westernsupermarkets.com.

New Faces, New Places Becky Hicks has joined the team at Re/Max Southern Homes

located at 901 U.S. 31. Becky comes to Re/Max after many successful years with RealtySouth. 533-4445. BeckyHicks.com.

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Smart Call.Cahaba Heights

968-5151

Inverness981-7155

Start the year off right!

Smart Kid.

Smart Parent.


BY INTISAR SERAAJ-SABREE

If the characters from the sitcom The Golden Girls owned an art gallery, it would be called Artists Incorporated.

The gallery’s eight co-owners possess wit, energy and passion for art reminiscent of the life and shenanigans shared by the 1980s sitcom’s characters.

“I’m very lucky to have the best, craziest partners in the world,” founding co-owner Carolyn Brent said.

Mary Jean Henke, another original owner and Brent’s closest friend in the group, said all the co-owners are in their 70s or older except for Paula Reynolds.

The group of friends once entered local art shows together but eventually tired of other people’s art shows.

In November 1999, they opened Artists Incorporated, giving them a space to showcase and sell their own art and the opportunity to choose other featured artists.

Today the gallery displays work from more than 50 featured artists and members.

The fi rst Friday of the month, several artists are chosen to have their work showcased at an opening reception.

At the event, customers can meet the owners and artists, many of whom

Artists Incorporated

work in the gallery. This month’s opening reception,

scheduled for Sept. 6 from 5:30-8:30 p.m., will feature artists Susan Baird, Melinda Mathews, Ruth Yarbrough, Les Yarbrough and Dr. Lowell Vann.

When Vann is at the gallery, many customers recognize him as the retired art department chair at Samford

University. He happily joined the group in their endeavors 14 years ago, while he continues to teach art at Samford University and is the pastor at Rocky Ridge First Baptist Church.

“We call him our ‘Renaissance man,’ because he can do anything,” Henke said. “We sort of wooed him because we felt he would lend respect

to the gallery.”But every co-owner has talent to add

to the culture of the Rocky Ridge area, just as their building does. Nicknamed the “Little Red Barn,” the building was once used as a dairy barn.

“When we fi rst got the building and when we were renovating, you could still see the stalls where you [housed]

the cows,” Henke said.The building was constructed

around 1929, and Henke was told it is the oldest commercial establishment in Vestavia.

But after renovating the space and displaying bold, unique art pieces inside, it has become a modern, little red gallery.

Artists IncorporatedFounders & Board of Directors:Pat Dicas – President, portrait painterDottie West – First Vice President, quilterMary Jean Henke – Second Vice President, nonrepresentational painterDr. Lowell Vann – Gallery Director, painter and potterLynne McCain – Assistant Gallery Director, nonrepresentational painterCarolyn Brent – Treasurer, nonrepresentational painterPaula Reynolds – Secretary, functional potter and sculptor Virginia Martin – Assistant Treasurer, nonrepresentational painterRuth Jones – retiredBill Reynolds – deceasedGrady Barrow – deceased

Originally Artists Incorporated had nine founding members. However, two are deceased and another member retired. Now the art gallery has eight partners.

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The owners of Artists Inc. gather at a monthly Friday evening artist reception. Photo by Madoline Markham.

Business Spotlight3365 Morgan Drive

979-8990artistsincorporated.com

Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Saturday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Now Taking Fall Registration969-8763

800 Olde Towne Road in Vestavianear Chuck E Cheese's behind Bruster's Ice Cream

* We offer private lessons in Guitar, Piano, Drums, Bass, Voice, Violin & Clarinet and also offer Rock Band and Musical Theater classes.

* Take lessons with a patient, fun, university trained, professional music teacher who cares about your personal music goals.

* We offer a wide range of scheduling options 7 days a week.

Bass,nd


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Restaurant Showcase2514 Rocky Ridge Road

979-7570everythingiz.info

Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

By MADOLINE MARKHAM

A quick look around the Iz Café reveals that you could literally eat Iz for every meal of the week – and still have plenty of variety in your diet.

Banana-Walnut Bread loaves, small or medium, along with specially packaged all-natural Iz granola line shelves that lead to the counter.

A refrigerated case fi lled with containers after container of chicken salad — and to-go meals with chicken salad, greens, fruit and pumpkin bread — testify to the popularity of the concoction.

To-go fried chicken and turkey meatloaf dinners sit in the case as well, ready to take home and heat to eat.

And then there’s the pastry case. Almond slices encase an almond

cake with fl uffy white frosting. A mountain of whipped cream tops lemon cream inside a super-thick graham cracker pie crust. Four layers of carrot cake stack nearly 10 feet tall, or so it seems. Vanilla cream is rolled up in chocolate cake and drizzled with chocolate sauce in slices of roulade (pronounced “roulage” in the South). Decadent bronze-colored frosting is molded around a caramel cake and sprinkled with pecans. Both the Turtle Cheesecake and Peanut Butter pie are covered in a layer of fudge-looking spread with respective toppings.

And it doesn’t stop there. Strawberry Cake, Banana Cake,

Iz Café

German Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Mousse Bombs and Lemon Squares are also favorites at the café.

“We are always testing new ideas in our kitchen, so customers love coming in and fi nding something new to try,” Iz Owner and President Kay Bruno Reed said. “Delicious options are always available for pick up.”

Cream Cheese Pound Cakes are individually wrapped and ready to serve. Some of the signature desserts are packaged in bite sizes and sold by the dozen. And there are cookies.

For lunch and dinner, sandwiches, soups and salads are made to order.

“The men seem to enjoy our old-fashioned Pot Roast Sandwich, Southwest Chipotle Wrap and Thai

Chicken Wrap,” Reed said. “The ladies love our Seasonal Trio Salads and Tomato Basil Soup. Everyone loves our chicken salad.”

Any good Iz meal comes with a side of their crisp house-made sweet potato chips or a slice of pumpkin bread that tastes like fall (but is a treat all year). And of course both are available prepackaged to take home.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, customers can order and pick up hot family meals at dinner time. The café posts a new calendar each month with the menu for each day.

“It is an easy dinner option,” Reed said. “You may order a single meal or a family meal, which serves four.”

August’s menu included homestyle

favorites like turkey meatloaf and chicken pot pie along with fresh takes on salmon, farmer’s market vegetables and spice-rubbed chicken. Dinners are paired with seasonal sides like lime butter grilled corn, corn and tomato sauté or roasted potatoes.

The foundation for each Iz meal or snack is Reed’s family tradition of cooking and entertaining. Reed’s upbringing in the food business carries over into the empire of Iz that she has grown. A new Iz Café is opening in English Village this month, not to mention a private venue, catering and a product line under the Everything Iz brand, which was named for Reed’s mother’s maiden name, Izbell, and a friend’s daughter Issabella.

“Theresa Bruno, who at the time was a partner with an ad agency, came up with [the name] Iz Café, which was a perfect fi t for the bistro atmosphere I was trying to create,” Reed said.

Thirteen years ago, the Rocky Ridge location sealed the deal for the concept. In fact, Reed said working with Vestavia Hills students, fi rst as employees and often later as brides needing catering, is one of the most rewarding aspects of her business.

“Since we opened in 2000, most of our customers are the same, and they continue to introduce newcomers to us,” Reed said. “Rocky Ridge was the best decision I could have made.”

Iz’s Chicken Salad Plate and Carrot Cake are customer favorites. Photos by Madoline Markham.


Find many more great photos

by visiting VestaviaVoice.com

Summer Fun Photo ContestWINNERS

Kate Jessup, Mitchell Schaaf, Hannah Hall.Photo by Mary Beth Schaaf.

Vestavia Voice has the coolest news! Savannah Skrabo, Dylan Knight-Skrabo, Jordan Skrabo. Photo by Angie Skrabo


Contest Runners Up

One-year-old Andrew Ray en-joys his first taste of watermelon. Photo by Jill Bowman.

“Playing in the Rain!” Photo by Karmin Lytle.

Summer Splash! Kallie Fraser. Photo by Jazmin Pitruniak.

Evan Williams is thrown by his dad at Liberty park pool. Photo by Lisa B. Williams.

Peter Hunton at The Track in Gulf Shores. Photo by Valerie Hunton.

Gracie Watson at the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier Na-tional Park in Montana. Photo by Kiley Watson.

Tait Hager and Sara Bruno enjoy a girls day in Vestavia at the pool. Photo by Susan Bruno.


Community

By APRIL MOONVestavia Hills Library in the Forest

The Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest will soon feature a progressive story program for families with children.

Starting Saturday, Sept. 7, the Story Trail will feature four stations along the Library Trail, weather permitting. Families can walk together and hear a story unfold about a different forest creature each week. The Smithsonian Backyard Series will teach families about animals that can be found in the library’s forest.

A volunteer story friend will staff each station and share a part of the story as you stop to listen. As you progress to the other stations, there will be different look-and-fi nd opportunities on the trail as well, all related to the story.

This is a great way to enjoy our unique combination of library and trail.

The trail will be open each Saturday from 11 a.m.-noon through Nov. 16. Children under 10 must be accompanied by adult.

For more visit vestavialibrary.org or call 978-0155.

Vestavia Hills Police and Fire Departments’ National Night Out are planning Operation Blue Shield, a program that will help bring awareness to safe driving in Vestavia Hills.

A free event on Oct. 1 will kick off the yearlong program with live music, a hot air balloon, children’s activities, free food, live music, local vendors and more.

The event will run from 6-8:30 p.m. at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, 2061 Kentucky Ave.

By WALTER BRYANTSaint Mark United Methodist member

Saint Mark United Methodist Church on Columbiana Road is conducting an outreach program with no strings attached.

This summer, members of the Vestavia Hills church kept their eyes and hearts open for opportunities to extend acts of kindness to friends and strangers. Members were encouraged to give away a small card with the church’s address and phone number and to thank the friend or stranger for an opportunity to express God’s love in a tangible way.

Rev. Steve West, senior minister at the church, sees the Acts of Kindness campaign as a low-key, yet potentially very effective, way of reaching out to the community and sharing God’s love.

“The card is a tool to let people know we love and care about them in the name of Christ and on behalf of the church, and to express that it is not because we want anything from them,” West said. “So often, people assume churches are only self-interested and this can come as a welcome surprise.”

He said that if the recipient does not already have a church home, it might just “warm someone’s heart to give church a try.”

If a person has had a negative experience with churches or church people in the past, Saint Mark hopes

Interactive Story Trail comes to the library

Family fun night kicks off safety awareness program

Church extends acts of kindness

that an unexpected kind deed might be a turning point.

“We are hoping to create an atmosphere in our community that opens people to the love of God because others have loved them with no strings attached,” he said.

Members anonymously wrote their acts of kindness on palm-size paper leaves and hung them on one of the two small trees in gathering areas of the church. Some placed $5 gift cards on a car windshield in the parking lot of a department store, while others took

food to an elderly man, wrote a note of encouragement or took doughnuts to the fi re station.

Felicia Veal, chair of the Evangelism and Communications team, said she was touched by two of the leaves. One appeared to have been written by a child, who wrote that he or she had “shared my food with someone else when I was hungry.” She took note of another on which someone shared how he or she watered a neighbor’s fl owers.

“If they were elderly, hey, that’s a big deal,” she said.

Saint Mark church members anonymously

shared their acts of kindess on palm-size

paper leaves that were hung on a tree.


By REBECCA WALDEN

Three area churches are promising brand name merchandise at bargain prices as they gear up for their Fall Consignment Sales.

At Whale of a Sale, demand is driven by boutique-brand infant and children’s clothing, shoes and accessories, which result in a total approximate inventory of 15,000 items.

Whale of a Sale committee member Lauren Hayes said bargains are well worth a long drive, and in some cases, an even longer wait in line.

Whale of a Sale typically generates $15,000 in revenue, which benefi ts the children’s ministries of Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church, including the Vestavia Day School. Unsold merchandise designated for donation is delivered to Oak Mountain Missions.

Fall consignment sales return to the Hills

Kids’ Korner Consignment SaleMountain Chapel United MethodistWednesday, Sept. 11, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-8 p.m. Visit mckidskorner.org for more.

Market on the MountainMountaintop Community ChurchFriday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Visit marketonthemountain.com for more.

Whale of a SaleVestavia Hills United Methodist ChurchThursday, Sept 19, 6-9 p.m.Friday, Sept. 20, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.Visit whaleofasale.blogspot.com for more.

Whale of a Sale Committee Members are Marie Kersey, Megan Kincaid, Tiffany LaRocca, Lauren Hayes, Allison Youngblood, Kim Guest, Amanda Groce and Allison DeGweck.

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By CHANDLER JONES

Scott Register hits the snooze button each morning before most people would think of waking up.

He stumbles to the shower, grabs a cup of coffee and a banana and drives to WorkPlay. Sometimes the first words out of his mouth are on air.

Register, better known as Reg, has been a voice of Birmingham’s burgeoning music scene for the last 18 years.

It all started when Register woke up from his reporting desk one day after deadline and said, “I’m not doing this anymore.”

In 1997, David Rossi, founder of station Live 100.5, offered Register a simple Sunday morning gig, “Reg’s Coffee House.” And with that, his longtime passion became not just a hobby but a job.

“I’d never done radio before,” Register said. “I thought he wanted me to program the show. I didn’t know he wanted me to do it. I remember the first song I played was Ani Difranco’s ‘Worthy.’”

Register’s career has taken him across the country, but he still marvels about this place he calls home.

“I loved growing up in Vestavia,” Register said. “I’ve lived in Vestavia since I was 2. It’s home. No matter where I go, it’s where I want to come back to.”

Now he has given his children the same opportunity, attending the same elementary school and middle school as their dad.

The man behind the voiceBirmingham Mountain Radio’s “Reg” speaks out

When Register was growing up, his mix tapes were in hot demand; people just wanted to listen to whatever music he did. His golden ears come from a childhood in the ’80s, with his mother, a child of the ’60s, as his musical influence.

“Music was just always around,” Register said. “[My mom] listened to good music and wasn’t afraid to try new music.”

Now 18 years into a radio career, Register is the front man for Birmingham’s newest FM station,

which evolved from two-year-old online station Birmingham Mountain Radio. On July 2, FM broadcasts began on station 107.3, thanks to a partnership with Summit Media.

“When we started the station, it was a direct answer to what we thought was wrong with the industry and we’ve been doing it our way,” Register said. “To be back on FM is a combination of so many different things.”

Register hopes the station works as a small piece of the city’s much larger puzzle.

“We wanted to do it like we’re a local radio station, but we’re on the Internet,” Register said. “We’ve been very locally focused since day one. We wanted to be part of the community and stress the reasons why I love living here in the first place: the amazing food scene, amazing arts scene, the infrastructure that is changing daily.”

Register’s show from 6-10 a.m. weekdays on the station boasts an eclectic mix of music, encompassing new and old, local..

“I just listen to music,” he said. “I’ve just always had the ability to hear songs. I don’t have an explanation for it.”

His station is more like a playlist than a radio show. Register said he wants it to be more about the music and less about him. He rarely lets out a word, letting the music speak for itself.

“I’d like to one day, when it’s all said and done, know I was a part of making this place a better place to live,” Register said.

Reg’s RegularsMoviesSay Anything, anything by John Hughes

AuthorsRaymond Carver, Edgar Allan Poe

Short Stories“What We Talk About When We Talk About Love,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” “Masque of the Red Death”

PoemThe Raven

TV ShowsParks & Recreation, Community, Duck Dynasty, Sports Center, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Californication, The Sopranos, Seinfeld, Northern Exposure

BandsClash, Replacements, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Marley and the Wailers

RestaurantsBistro V, Kool Korner, MugshotsScott Register has been a resident of Vestavia Hill since he was 2 years old. Photo by Chandler Jones.


By JEFF THOMPSON

Catharine Davidson was alive for the sinking of the Titanic, the Great Depression and both World Wars. She’ll talk about these events, but she never talks about them from a personal perspective.

Her family said she remembers the great moments of the 20th century but, sharp as she is, not how she felt at the time.

“She doesn’t talk too much about the past because she looks so much to the future,” said Davidson’s granddaughter Debbie Saeger. “My children and I have tried to interview her, and she

remembers things in relation to history but not so much how it related to her personally.

“Maybe that’s the secret. You did it and it’s done. You got through it.”

Ask Davidson though, and the story of her longevity has nothing to do with looking any direction but up.

“I love the Lord, and I’m very cheerful – or I try to be,” she said.

On her 105th birthday in August, Davidson stopped by Vestavia Hills City Hall on her way to her party at The Club. There, Mayor Butch Zaragoza presented her with a plaque

from the Mayor’s Office and the Vestavia Hills City Council recognizing her achievement.

“Well, this seems like it’s a very special occasion every year,” Zaragoza said as he made the presentation. “And I hope I’m here for 106, 107, 108 and on.”

The crowd was divided evenly between Davidson’s family – including her 95-year-old brother Sam Naff and 76-year-old son Cullie – and her garden club, of which she’s been a member since 1971.

Davidson was raised in Birmingham and lived in multiple locations in the Southeast, as her husband was relocated frequently

in his position with Gulf Oil Company. The couple returned to Vestavia Hills in 1962 following stints in Arkansas and Mississippi, but they were relocated to Kentucky immediately after, Naff said.

They didn’t sell the house though, renting it until they returned in 1971. Davidson lived there until 2009 when she moved into Town Village in Vestavia Hills – an independent living community for seniors.

“Mayor, we hope you’ll be here next year and the year after, but we know she will,” came a voice from the crowd during the proclamation.

Davidson honored on her 105th birthday

Catharine Davidson, 105, and Mayor Butch Zaragoza with members of Davidson’s garden club. Photo by Jeff Thompson.


BY KATIE TURPEN

From New York to Paris, Allison Barnes has danced alongside some of the world’s biggest names in music including Beyoncé, Kanye West and Jennifer Lopez. However, no matter where her travels lead her, Barnes’ hometown always stays fresh on her mind.

“Birmingham has always had a special place in my heart,” Barnes said. “We have such rich history that has shaped each one of us into who we are.”

Barnes has signed on as a dance instructor for the current season at Birmingham Dance Theatre in Vestavia. Studio Owner Joni Scofield asked Barnes to teach a hip-hop workshop in June, and after seeing the students’ reactions, she decided to bring Barnes on board as a faculty member.

“She came and taught a class this summer, and the students were just bouncing off the walls,” Scofield said. “Their energy level was really fun to watch.”

Barnes will teach hip-hop, ballet, contemporary and jazz and help choreograph dances for when the studio travels to area competitions. Scofield believes Barnes’ presence will bring a new level of energy to the dance community.

“The parents and kids are just excited for a great year,” Scofield said. “It’s so neat to have someone who’s traveled all over the world be able to come and teach with us.”

Barnes trained in ballet and jazz at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, where she received the Excellence in Dance Award in 2004. She went on to dance in various dance ensembles and teams at The University of

Birmingham Dance Theatre hires accomplished hip-hop instructor

for 2013-2014 season

Allison Barnes, a traveling dance instructor from Birmingham, joined the Birmingham Dance Theatre faculty in August.

Alabama. Following college, Barnes moved to New York where she danced for the New York Jets during the 2008-2009 season.

“My love of dance started with ballet,” Barnes said. “My older sister took ballet, and because I wanted to do everything she did, I took [ballet] too. The rest is history.”

That history includes appearances on a variety of television shows such as “Saturday Night Live” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” She performed at the BET Hip Hop Awards and alongside Beyoncé at the 2013 Super Bowl in New Orleans.

Barnes said her all-time favorite dance

experience was the first time she performed with Beyoncé at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall.

“We performed ‘Single Ladies’ the same year the video won best choreography,” Barnes said. “It was completely surreal.”

When she is not traveling and performing, Barnes enjoys teaching dance classes and judging dance teams across Alabama. She said her favorite part of teaching is seeing a reflection of her younger self in her students.

“I was such a determined little girl, always thirsty for more knowledge and exposure,” Barnes said. “Seeing progression and passion in my students reminds me of ‘Little Ali.’”

Barnes’ biggest piece of advice for her students is always do the homework and realize that improving as a dancer requires more than just showing up to weekly classes.

“Don’t just depend on your time at the dance studio to get better,” Barnes said. “Stretch and work on your technique at home.”

She wants her dancers to realize their dreams can become reality through hard work and a willingness to try new experiences. She encourages people to learn as much as they can about the art of dancing, which could be anything from watching choreographed dances on YouTube to traveling to new places to gain fresh insight. The dancer’s advice applies to anyone chasing a dream.

“I want to encourage every dancer, every person, to take what they’ve learned here and see the world,” Barnes said. “You would be surprised at the similarities and differences.”

Barnes dances alongside Beyoncé in the singer’s “Run the World: Girls” music video in 2011.

breatheEASIER

lessWORRY

no moreCOUGHING

moreENJOYMENT


For a month this summer, 60 preschoolers at Primrose School at Liberty Park learned about pets and what it takes to help them.

Their Precious Pets program culminated with a donation of 275 canned and dried pet food items and supplies to the Adoption/Rescue department at Birmingham

Jefferson County Animal Control (BJCAC).

“At Primrose Schools, our Precious Pets drive provides an opportunity for children to experience the special value of helping others, including animals,” Margaret O’Bryant of Primrose said. “Through hosting the annual

pet food and supply drive, we’re not only able to teach them the importance of lending a helping hand, but we’re showing them how they can make a difference.”

Lee McDonald of BJCAC visited Primrose with Winky, an adoptable dog. Winky and McDonald spoke to the children about caring for pets.

Preschoolers donatepet food and supplies

Primrose students spend time with Lee McDonald of Birmingham Jefferson County Animal Control.

School HouseLittle Rebels attend cheer camp

Third graders and squad teammates Caroline Gray (Vestavia West), Caroline Dennis (West) and Kate Kaiser (West) eat their ice cream during cheer camp.

Little Rebel Cheerleading squads attended a UCA Cheer Camp in July at the Vestavia Civic Center.

Katie Bruno and Audrey Trimm, both 8, take an ice cream break at cheer camp. The Vestavia Elementary West students will be cheering for a third-grade Little Rebels squad this fall.


Alabama Steel places second in nation

The Alabama Steel finished second nationally in the AAU Division II National Basketball Championship Tournament.

The team competed against 55 others from all over the country and lost in the finals to a team from New York City, with an overall tournament record of 6-2.

-Submitted by Scott Sobera

Front row: Peyton Haley, Alex Belt, Coleman Barranco of Vestavia Hills, Bo Barber, Dre Falconer. Back row: Coach Justin Strong, Jermaine Harris of Vestavia Hills, Holt Bashinsky, Carter Sobera, Paulie Stromaglia, Erick Taylor, Coach Chris Boehm.

SportsNationals Metro All Star champs

Front row: John Christansen, Luke Zimmerman, Jacob Williams, Peter Hunton, Jackson Lee and William Morrison. Second row: Alex Hoogland, Elliot Gore, Josh Horta, Gabe Nelson, Turner Murphy and Cap Bashinsky. Back row: Coaches Harrell Hoogland, Bill Morrison, Jay Lee and Efrain Horta.

The Vestavia Hills 11-year-old National League baseball team won the 2013 Metro All Star Tournament.

The team went undefeated in the two-week tournament for the first time for an 11-year-old Vestavia team since 2006.

Vestavia’s recreational tennis team, which plays out of Wald Park, recently won the Southern Sectionals in July and will go on to compete in the 2013 National United States Tennis

Association Tennis Tournament Finals in Arizona.

Team member Jamie Burke is a longtime resident of Vestavia Hills and also teaches in the Vestavia Hills City School System.

Tennis team to compete in national tournament

The USTA team celebrates their sectional tournament win this summer.


By WILL HIGHTOWER

Athletes begin their careers in elementary school, dreaming of playing in the pros one day. For most, that dream slowly fades and ends when they graduate high school. Maybe intramural sports or adult leagues will keep them in shape, but a real shot at glory has typically passed.

The Vestavia Hills Steamers 94 team, however, wasn’t quite ready to let that shot die.

The travel soccer team, composed of players from around the state including former Vestavia Hills player Jack Hopkins, reunited after their freshman year of college and went to the Southern Region Championship Series in Edmund, Okla. The team, which was competing as the under-19 Alabama State Champion, advanced to the region championship and lost 2-1 to a team from Miami.

Only one other team in the history of the Vestavia Hills Soccer Club made it as far as the region championship. If the Steamers had won that game they would have advanced to the final four for the national championship.

Hopkins, who was the 2012 Gatorade Player of the Year for Vestavia Hills High School, said he knew the team would exceed expectations.

“Nobody really expected us to go that far,” Hopkins said. “I wasn’t surprised with how well we did. We had everybody from all over the state and I knew we were really good. But for us, it was disappointing because we finished short.”

Goalkeeper Lavares Stone agreed: “We worked hard all summer, so it was kind of tough to lose like that. I was more surprised when we lost the last game than surprised that we had gotten that far.”

The run to the region championship was certainly unexpected. In fact, some travel teams don’t even get back together for the U19 season. But after their first year of college, this team wanted one more shot.

“This is a team that has been traveling in a van together from U13 on,” coach Rocky Harmon said. “They forge these relationships, and oftentimes you hear college kids come back from their first year at college and they say they had so much more fun playing for their club team. Most soccer players look back on their later years of club soccer fondly, maybe more so than high school or even college.”

The team is composed of standout players from across the state. Most were coming off their first year of playing in college when the team got back together.

“It’s a lot of fun to get a U19 team back together after they go to college for a year because it’s them wanting to do it,” said Harmon, who has coached at the Vestavia Hills Soccer Club for nearly seven years. “It’s not their parents making them, it’s them wanting to get together in the summer and work hard to go to an event that is a 12-hour drive away.”

The Steamers drove to the tournament as the U19 Alabama state champion, competing against a tough

field of teams from an 11-state region. Joining them from Alabama were 6 other teams from the Vestavia Hills Soccer Club that had won the state championship in their age divisions.

The tournament began with a 2-0 win over the Concorde Fire Academy Team from Atlanta. The second game was a win over Plantation COPA by a score of 5-2. In the final game of pool play, the Steamers came away with a hard-fought 3-3 tie against the Lonestars from Texas.

Their record of 2-0-1 let them advance to the semi-finals out of pool play, an accomplishment that not many expect from a team from Alabama. The Steamers were one of four teams from the Club to advance.

“When you come from Alabama, no one expects you to get out of your group,” Harmon said. “We’re known as one of the lesser states. So to get out of your group is a big accomplishment. This year [the Vestavia Hills Soccer Club] took 7 teams to regionals and 4 of the 7 got out of our group, which is the best we’ve ever had and the best anyone in Alabama has ever had.”

In the semi-finals, the Steamers faced the Dallas Texans, a soccer powerhouse. In the heat and strong winds, the Steamers came away with a 2-1 upset victory. In the region championship, a rematch with Plantation COPA, the Miami team came back to win and end the Steamers’ run. The Steamers were up 1-0 on a Hopkins penalty kick, but Plantation COPA immediately responded with an equalizer and scored the deciding goal in the 75th minute.

Vestavia Hills Steamers reunion nets big rewards

“I was very surprised by the success,” Harmon said. “Since we got that close, it’s been a hard one to get over. It’s been a few weeks, so ask me if I’m happy with what happened in a few months and maybe I’ll have a different answer.”

Hopkins, who now plays for Marshall University, was one of the team’s captains. He was part of the VHHS team that went 30-1, falling short of the national title by one game. In his junior and senior years, VHHS lost in the state high school semi-finals to Oak Mountain.

“Jack Hopkins was the heart and soul of the team,” Harmon said. “He scored a bunch of goals for us and hardly ever came off the field. Just a rock-solid leader.”

Although the Steamers would have preferred to advance and play for the national title, they stand as the most successful team in an unprecedented year of success for the Club.

“I think the staff, the families, and the facilities, in that order, are what makes us so successful here in Vestavia Hills,” Harmon said.

Jack Hopkins, a former standout at VHHS, helped lead the Vestavia Hills Steamers 94 team in the Southern Region Championship Series in Edmund, Okla. earlier this year. Photo courtesy of Jill Hopkins.

Tennis team to compete in national tournament

The USTA team celebrates their sectional tournament win this summer.


Continued next page

Do you think the preseason predictions for Alabama and Auburn have been fairly accurate this year?

Jay Barker: I think the predic-tions on Alabama are fair, given their accomplishments of the last few years. Alabama is the logical team to place at number one. They are just so loaded at so many dif-ferent positions. It really just comes down to injuries. Now it’s so hard to just win one national championship, much less back-to-back. But to win three in a row...the odds are just so much against them, but I still think the number-one ranking is deserved and correct. They are the best team, talent wise and with coach-ing, in the country right now.

Al and I have talked about this many times, and I think Auburn is actually going to be better than most people project them to be, based on the talent they’ve got.

Gus Malzahn has only been away for a year, so it isn’t like he’s brand new and has to become familiar with Auburn or the players. He also has Nick Marshall, who is a very talented junior college quar-terback coming into an offense that will allow him to do well. So I think Auburn will be better than most people think. They have some tough games, but it will de-pend on how quickly they gel.

Al Del Greco: Where Auburn is concerned, there are still a lot of questions. How does quarterback Nick Marshall fi t in? How does the offensive line come around? How does the defense, with coor-dinator Ellis Johnson, fi t with what Gus Malzahn is doing offensively with the up-tempo offense? And the other thing is, we’ve had all of these great recruiting classes, but how good are these kids? They have been developed well, and they aren’t as good as they could be yet. So how quickly can the

coaching staff get them to where they can compete at a level where the expectations are? So really, we don’t know what Auburn is yet, and probably halfway through the season, we’ll have a good idea of what this team is all about.

Where Alabama’s concerned, you certainly can’t deny them the number-one ranking. They’re the defending national champions twice in a row now, and three out of the last four years. The qual-ity of the skill players they have on offense is something that we haven’t seen there in an awfully long time, with that many guys who are playmakers. It used to be all about defense, but I think we’ll talk more about the Alabama of-fense than the defense. Complete the sentence: My team will have a great season if...

Barker: For Alabama to have a

great season, it’s all about injuries, keeping the depth that they have, and then A.J. McCarron is the key. If Alabama is going to win an-other national championship, then they need A.J. to stay healthy, and to be out there leading that team.

Del Greco: For Auburn to have a great season, they need Nick Mar-shall to come through at the quar-terback position. That’s where we’ve struggled for three out of the last four years. The year we won it all, we had the best player in college football at that position. Nick Marshall doesn’t have to be the best player; he’s just got to know the offense, to run it with-out making a lot of mistakes, and to let the other parts of the team, the defense and special teams, play them into winning football games. Most notably, they need better play at the quarterback po-sition than they have had the last few years.

Do you see any surprises on the horizon for the 2013 season?

Del Greco: I really think the new rule change on targeting, and being able to eject a player imme-diately and call a 15-yard penalty, then you’ll go back to a review and say, well, we may have made a mistake and he really didn’t tar-get a guy so we’ll let him back in the game and initiate the penalty anyway. That’s going to happen somewhere, and it’s going to oc-cur in a game where somebody gets thrown out and could really affect that game and the national championship picture. Talk about an outcry...it’s coming.

Barker: One of the great sur-prises last year was when Johnny Manziel came onto the scene, and

Opening the season with the voices of

Al Del Greco and Jay Barker join forces each morning with host Tony Kurre on the air for The Opening Drive show on WJOX 94.5 FM. For Vestavia Voice, the two personalities give their opinions on the upcom-ing seasons for the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers.

By TOM WARDSpecial to Vestavia Voice

Jay Barker


Al Del Greco

this year I’m looking forward to seeing who that type of surprise player is. Whether it’s a quarter-back or a running back, or just someone who has come out of nowhere and is a fun player to watch. I love those types of sto-ries, and I’m looking forward to seeing the surprise stories of 2013.

Which new player do you see having the biggest impact on the team?

Del Greco: Other than at quar-terback, the guy who has intrigued me the most is Carl Lawson. Looking at his recruitment, look-ing at the work ethic that he puts in, the quotes from him and his dad about what it means to play college football, and talking to some of the coaches who have seen him on campus for a month and a half, I can’t help but be im-pressed. You’re talking about a

kid who has a great motor on him. The question is how long it will take him to adapt to SEC football, because there is a bit of a learn-ing curve, but he’s the one who intrigues me the most because of what we’ve seen leading up to this time. He has one goal in mind, and that’s helping the football team.

Barker: For me, there are two guys at Alabama, one on offense and one on defense. Derrick Hen-ry on offense is a big running back who had some injuries during spring practice but has come back strong. The coaches have said that he performed really well in scrim-mages, and they are excited about his size, his athletic ability, and his enormous potential.

Reuben Foster, on the defensive side of the ball, has the coaches excited this year. He is a big dude, once an Auburn commitment who fl ipped to Alabama. I think he will make a tremendous impact im-

mediately, especially with Trey DePriest being out. The coaches hope DePriest will be back for the Texas A&M game, but I think Reuben Foster will make a huge impact this year as a freshman.

What are your own predictions?

Del Greco: I’ve said all along that I think Auburn wins 7 or 8 games this year. The four noncon-ference games are all winnable. I think the games with Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Ole Miss are all very winnable. And I think Auburn could surprise one of the other four teams they play: Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, and LSU. Again, that is predicated on Nick Marshall or someone running this offense the way Gus Malzahn wants it run.

As for Alabama, I agree with Jay that to repeat again would be very diffi cult. They certainly

have the talent to have a shot to do that. I expect them, if they stay healthy, to represent the SEC in the national title game, and it de-pends on who they face for the championship. Last year, I think everybody knew that Notre Dame wasn’t going to put up much of a fi ght against them.

Barker: For Alabama, the two biggest games are Texas A&M on the road, and then a neutral site for the SEC championship game. After the A&M game, Alabama gets LSU, Tennessee, and Ole Miss at home. Auburn is always tough to play down there, no mat-ter what the records are. Those are the games we should worry about, and Tennessee will be much im-proved with new coach Butch Jones. I think maybe the toughest game of them all could be Geor-gia in the championship game, because Georgia has a really, really good football team this year. It’s true that they have to replace a

lot of defensive players, but those new guys are talented. They also have the redemption factor they’re striving for, for an entire year, and I really think that matchup will happen again. Georgia got so close last year, to beating Alabama and taking away those dreams. Can Alabama beat them twice in a row? Alabama has a schedule that could allow the three-peat, but it’s just so hard to repeat, much less win three in a row.

I think Auburn will defi nitely get to seven wins and maybe eight. From a scheduling stand-point, I think there are many win-nable games, even though many are doubting them right now. If they create a way to stop people on defense, then they will do great because Gus Malzahn’s going to score a lot of points. Along with Nick Marshall’s talent, they’ve got enough players around to score a lot of points.

The Opening DriveThe Opening DriveJay Barker led the Alabama Crimson Tide to the 1992 national championship and the SEC championship. The winningest quarterback in Alabama history, Barker was a fi nalist for the 1994 Heisman Trophy and the winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

Al Del Greco was the star kicker for the SEC champion Auburn Tigers in 1983. After nailing the game-winning kick in the Sugar Bowl against Michigan, Del Greco went on to star in the NFL for 17 years, leading the Tennessee Titans to the Super Bowl.


announcements or fire marshal directions, but that morning Merchant said there were no alarms. It was only when a survivor of the February 1993 World Trade Center bombings yelled it was a bomb did people begin to evacuate.

Fifteen minutes after the impact, Merchant had only reached the 40th floor when a woman running from the top began yelling that an airplane had hit the towers.

“We knew it was something much bigger than just…” Merchant trailed off, not having the words to describe the moment. “After that it was a very grim walk.”

As he reached the 25th floor, something happened that amazes him still today. He saw a first responder firefighter running up the same stairs he was rushing down.

“I was just coming down 24 floors; he had all that gear on him and had climbed up 25 floors at the same time,” Merchant said. “If that’s not superhuman, what is? I still remember the look in his eyes. He knew he was not coming back.”

Merchant eventually escaped to an open area on ground level where many congregated in fear of the domino effect of the Trade Centers falling. Merchant still remembers looking where the towers once stood and seeing only a hazy dome of brown and orange dust instead of the regal buildings in which he had stood only 20 minutes before.

The next day, Merchant was able to return home to his wife and 5-year-old son. The young boy, too naïve to understand

the trauma, playfully asked his father who his favorite superhero was.

Merchant was in no mood to humor his son.

“What’s so great about them?” he thought. “If there is a Spiderman, Superman or Captain America, why didn’t they come and save us? Why did they let so many people die? Why should I even bother?”

In that instant, Merchant was hit by the memory of the firefighter climbing up the same stairs everyone else was moving down.

While he was on the street trying to run away, he saw police cars speeding toward the building’s collapse.

“If these people are not the real superheroes, then who is?” he said. “And these people are real flesh and blood, not fictional. From that moment onward, my respect for those people, superheroes, has become so much.”

This experience created Merchant’s lifelong respect for those serving in public safety. Each year to mark 9/11, he and his wife open the doors of their Philly Connection restaurants to firefighters, police officers and public safety workers. One of the couple’s four locations is in Vestavia Hills.

“It’s a small thank you for all the work they do,” Merchant said. “People should realize how much superheroes do for us.”

Merchant’s Vestavia Hills Philly Connection is located at 1360 Montgomery Highway. For more, call 637-5588.

SUPERHEROESfrom pg 1

CEREMONYfrom pg 1by the Cities of Vestavia Hills, Homewood and Mountain Brook, will center around a 1,305-pound H-beam from the World Trade Center.

The vertically erected beam now acts as a memorial in front of Mountain Brook’s new Municipal Complex, which opened this spring.

“It’s almost like having a piece of the USS Arizona after Pearl Harbor,” Mountain Brook Fire Chief Robert Ezekiel said. “It had a similar impact on our country, and

Students participated in last year’s Patriot Day Ceremony. Photo by Jeff Thompson.

people will pause and reflect on what they were doing that day. And that’s what it’s all about. We don’t want to forget.”

Vestavia Hills Mayor Butch Zaragoza will join Mountain Brook Mayor Terry Oden and Homewood Mayor Scott McBrayer to host the ceremony in Mountain Brook’s Crestline Village on Sept. 11.

Allan Rice, executive director of the Alabama Fire College, will be the keynote speaker for the ceremony, which begins at 8:30 a.m. and will last about 45 minutes.

Abrielle Mullins, a rising country singer, will sing the national anthem,

and Jacqueline Barnwell will sing “America the Beautiful.”

In addition to dedicating the monument, the program will also recognize city employees who have served in the military.

A laying of the wreath and a bell ceremony will be part of the lineup.

The ceremony will take place next to the memorial at the intersection of Hoyt Lane and Oak Street by the library and fire department in Crestline Village.

“I think [the ceremony] will cause people to pause and will be meaningful to people who are part of the ceremony,” Ezekiel said.

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Community CalendarVestavia Events

Sept. 4: Vestavia Hills High School PTO Meeting. Noon. Vestavia Hills Board of Education, Rooms 202 and 203. Visit vhhspto.myclassupdates.com.

Sept. 6: Artists Incorporated Opening Reception. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Artists Incorporated, 3365 Morgan Drive. Featured artists will be Lowell Vann, Susan Baird, Melinda Mathews, Ruth Yarbrough and Les Yarbrough.

Sept. 7: Urban Purpose 5K. 8 a.m. Shades Mountain Baptist Church. Race will raise funds for Urban Purpose, a ministry that serves the homeless, poor, broken and needy in Birmingham. Race course will run through the rolling hills in

neighborhoods behind the church. A Kid’s Mess Fest on the field at the church will feature water games, slip ‘n’ slides and inflatables from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Wear swimsuits. Visit active.com to register or shades.org for more.

Sept. 10: Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. 11:30 a.m. Vestavia Country Club. $18, $25 for late reservations. Visit vestaviahills.org.

Sept. 11: Kids’ Korner Consignment Sale. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-8 p.m. Mountain Chapel United Methodist, 25144 Rocky Ridge Road. Visit mckidskorner.org.

Sept. 11: Patriot Day Ceremony. 8:30 a.m.

Crestline Village. Annual ceremony jointly held by Mountain Brook, Homewood and Vestavia Hills will dedicate new Sept. 11 memorial.

Sept. 13-14: Market on the Mountain. Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Mountaintop Community Church. Children’s and maternity consignment sale; some items will be 25 percent off on Saturday. Visit marketonthemountain.com.

Sept. 19-20: Whale of a Sale. Thursday 6-9 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church. Fall/winter children’s consignment sale. Visit whaleofasale.blogspot.com.

VHHS Football Home Games and EventsSept. 2: Ninth Grade & Freshman vs. Homewood. 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 6: Varsity vs. Hewitt-Trussville. 7 p.m.

Sept. 16: Ninth Grade & Freshman vs. Oak Mountain. 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 20: Varsity vs. Gardendale. 7 p.m.

Sept. 26: BBQ the Bucs. 5-8 p.m. Event before Friday’s game against Hoover at the Hoover Met. VHHS Front and Junior Parking Lots.

Sept. 30: Ninth Grade & Freshman vs. Hoover. 5:30 p.m.

Vestavia Hills Library in the ForestChildrenMondays: Manic Monday. 3-4:30 p.m. Program Room. Do your homework on comfy pillows, eat a snack, watch some T.V., play a game. Most weeks, homework help will be available. Grades 1-6. Begins Sept. 9.

Tuesdays: Together With Twos. 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. Story time for children 24 months and under and a caregiver. Each program lasts 30 minutes. Begins Sept. 3.

Wednesdays: Story Friends. 10:30 a.m. Story time for preschoolers 5 years and under and a caregiver. This program lasts 45 minutes. Begins Sept. 4.

Wednesdays: Skit Storytime. 3:30 p.m. A story-based program for kindergarten and up. An after-school snack and short cartoon round out the end of the 45-minute program. No toddlers please. Begins Sept. 4.

First & Second Thursdays: Fun and Fit in the Forest. 9:30 a.m. Thirty-minute fitness program for caregivers and their

babies and preschoolers. Begins Sept. 5.

First & Second Thursdays: L.I.F.T. (Library in the Forest Time). 9:30 a.m.-noon. Children’s Program Room. Social playtime for preschool-age children and caregivers on our special play equipment.

Fourth Saturdays: Lego Wars. 11 a.m.-noon. Create Lego masterpieces and win prizes. Second grade and up.

Saturdays: The Story Trail. 11 a.m.-noon. Library Trail. Four story stations will be set up, and a different forest creature will be featured in the story each week. All children under 12 must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver. Begins Sept. 7 and runs through Nov. 16.

Sept. 10: Family Night with The Fable Factory. 6 p.m. A light supper will be served from 6-6:30 p.m. followed by a program of Aesop’s Fables acted out by volunteers from the audience and the members of The Fable Factory, a traveling theater group. Shuttle service will be

available if parking lot is full.

Sept. 19: Preschool Party: Llama Drama. 10:30 a.m. Meet the llama from the picture book series by Anna Dewdney and watch the story “Llama, Llama, Mad At Mama” acted out. Then decorate your own pair of red pajamas! Ages 5 and under. Call 978-0155 to register or visit vestavialibrary.org to sign up.

TeensSept. 4: Teen Advisory Board. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Snacks served.

Sept. 6, 13, 20: Open Gaming. 4-5:30 p.m. Wii, Xbox 360 and board games. Snacks served.

Sept. 11: Writing Club. 4-5:30 p.m. Teens can build writing skills, provide feedback to one another, and listen to published authors on how to improve their abilities. Snacks served.

Sept. 17: Anime Night. 5:30-7:30 p.m. The audience decides what we watch and

makes candy sushi to eat.

Sept. 18: Book Club. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Get reacquainted with Percy in The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan before the next chapter in the series is released. Snacks served.

Sept. 25: Studio 1221. 4-5:30 p.m. Transform recycled paper and plastics into guitar picks to stylize into key chains, bracelets or necklaces. Snacks served.

Sept. 27: Mario Cart Tournament. 4-5:30 p.m. Winner receives a GameStop gift card. Snacks served.

AdultsSept. 5: OLLI: Alabama Wildlife Center with Jay Eubanks. 1-3:30 p.m. Eubanks will share stories from Alabama’s oldest and largest wildlife rehabilitation facility and hopes to bring one of the center’s “patients” to show off.

Sept. 12: Java Knit. 2-3 p.m. Drop in and enjoy the company of other crafters. Bring your own needles and yarn, and we

supply the java, tea and snacks!

Sept. 13: Booklovers, Bingo, & Brews: A Friends of the Library Fundraiser. 7-8:30 p.m. Win fabulous prizes and sample brews at this event to raise money for the Friends of the Library. Must be 21 or older. $15. Visit vestavialibrary.org or visit library’s main desk for tickets.

Sept. 14: The Fourth Dimension Book Group. 3-5 p.m. The first organizational meeting of a new sci-fi book club led by sci-fi aficionado Estelle Helms.

Sept. 18: Adult Book Group. 2-3 p.m. Discussing The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer.

Sept. 29: OLLI: Art Speaks: 50 Years Forward. 1-3:30 p.m. Judith Hand, master docent at the Birmingham Museum of Art, will speak about the museum’s series of exhibitions and arts projects that interpret and commemorate the 50th anniversary of Birmingham’s civil rights movement.


Sept. 7: Crestline Rocks. Crestline Village. All-day event features live music and special deals from Crestline vendors. Benefits PreSchool Partners, a nonprofit organization that prepares 3- and 4-year-old at-risk children and their families for kindergarten in the Birmingham City School System. $35 in advance or $40 at gate. Free for ages 12 and under. Visit crestlinerocks.com or preschool-partners.org or call 951-5151.

Sept. 7: Monkey C Monkey 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run. 8 a.m. 5K, 9 a.m. Fun Run. Homewood Central Park. Benefits Camp Smile-A-Mile’s year-round programs for children affected by cancer in Alabama. Register at imathlete.com or Trak Shak Homewood. Email [email protected] for more.

Sept 14: Head Over Teal 5K, 1-Mile Fun Run and Family Fun Day. 8 a.m. 5K, 9 a.m. Fun Run. The Preserve, 601 Preserve Way, Hoover. Food, live music and children’s activities begin at 9 a.m. Race benefits the Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation. LifeSouth Bloodmobile will be there on race day. $35 adults, $15 children 12 and under. Visit thinkoflaura.org.

Sept. 15: Four Little Girls: Birmingham 1963. 3 p.m. Alys Stephens Center’s Sirote Theatre, 1200 10th Ave. South. National staged reading of the play by Christina M. Ham. Tickets $15. Call 975-2787 or visit alysstephens.org.

Sept. 19: Exceptional Foundation Art Show & Auction. 6-9 p.m. The Exceptional Foundation. Art show, music, food, wine and beer, and silent auction. Call 870-0776 or email [email protected].

Sept. 21: ZooGala 2013. 6:30 p.m. The Birmingham Zoo. Guests will enjoy cocktails, dinner, live music and animal walkabouts in an Old Hollywood atmosphere. All funds raised at ZooGala go toward the Zoo’s operational efforts. Visit birminghamzoo.com or contact Kathy Vaughn at 397-3861 or [email protected].

Sept. 26-28: Greek Food Festival. 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 307 19th Street South, Birmingham. Greek cuisine, music, dancing, marketplace and more. Take-out orders and call-in orders for 10 or more are available by calling 716-3086. Free

admission, food items individually priced. Visit birminghamgreekfestival.com.

Sept. 26-Oct. 5: Oak Mountain State Fair. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre Parking Lot. Rides, games, competitions, stunt shows, live music, food vendors and more. Visit oakmountainstatefair.com.

Sept. 28: Alabama Symphony Orchestra at Homewood Central Park. 6 p.m. Homewood musical ensemble, 7:30 p.m. symphony. Visit alabamasymphony.org.

Sept. 29: Magic City Mile. 2 p.m. Trak Shak Homewood. All funds raised support the children of The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs, and the after-party will include music, activities for the children and food from Chuy’s. Runners will compete in heats starting at 3 p.m. Register at imathlete.com, call Kelly Peoples at 879-3417 or visit thebellcenter.org.

Sept. 29: Vulcan AfterTunes. 3 p.m. Vulcan Park and Museum. Live music and kids’ activities. $15 adults, $7.50 Vulcan members, free for ages 12 and under. Visit visitvulcan.com.

Oct. 1: Football Legends Fundraiser. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Fleming’s Steakhouse, The Summit. Fleming’s exclusive fine fare with Alabama and Auburn football legends. Autographed helmets for each team will be auctioned. Benefits personalized cancer medicine/cancer research through the Southeast Cancer Foundation. $125. Call Yvonne Pope at 936-1403 for tickets.

Oct. 3-6: Antiques at The Gardens. Thursday 1-5 p.m., Friday & Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Renowned tastemakers and dealers from across the country will curate themed areas. $10 nonmembers, free for members. Visit bbgardens.org/antiques or call 414-3950.

Oct. 6: Hot Strings Music & Arts Festival. Noon-6 p.m. Colonial Brookwood Village. Artists, kids’ activities and live music. Three on a String, Mandolin Orange, Act of Congress and Matthew Mayfield will perform. Benefits local rescue mission and recovery center The Foundry. $15. Visit HotStrings.org.

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