280 Living March 2013

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See MAKING A WAY | page A10

March 2013 | Volume 6 | Issue 7

n e i g h b o r l y n e w s & e n t e r t a i n m e n t

280Living

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Sponsors ...... A4280 News ..... A6Community .. A8 Business ...... A15Food ............. A19

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By JEFF THOMPSON

It was Saturday, and like a hive the cabin was busy – full of workers clad in fl annel and thick belts with burlap pockets that fell halfway to their knees. Their tools and fasteners were spread through most every room of the building. Their clamor, as a whole, was entirely indecipherable.

But come close to each, and you could pick out the sounds of charity.

On Feb. 2, more than 100 participants in the Birmingham Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (BEJATC) fi lled a rural house in Chelsea. That day, they doled out an estimated $30,000 in volunteer labor – partly as training, and partly to combat the global problem of human traffi cking.

Making way280Living

BEST OF

2802013

(Top) MWP Volunteer Coordinator Nick Dimitri, NECA Assistant Manager Andrew Varvoutis and BEJATC Training Director

Matt Dudley. Photos by Jeff Thompson.

Dozens donate materials, expertise and labor to assist Chelsea charity

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Signing Day

You voted, we tallied the results. See who was chosen as the best of the best inside.

Twenty-fi ve area athletes signed to play at the collegiate level on National Signing Day, Feb. 6. See who they are and where they are headed in this issue.

Winn-Dixie coming to Inverness this fall

Grocery chain Winn-Dixie executed a lease for the former Bruno’s anchor store in Inverness Corners on Feb. 20 and is planning to start construction this spring. When complete, the site is likely to appear similar to the newly renovated Winn-Dixie on Montevallo Road, pictured left.

280 News page A7

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March 2013 280 Living

For the first time ever, a post on 280 Living’s Facebook page got 18 “shares” on Feb. 12. The post was about a lockdown at Chelsea Middle School, a lockdown we would soon find out was the result of an armed gunman holding five girls in the school’s locker room.

The news was terrifying, and also important for us to share with our community. But by the time we delivered it to your mailbox a month later, it would have been really old news.

That’s why you’ll find us on Facebook and at 280Living.com updating as news comes in, and now we are excited to announce that 280 Living arrives weekly — in your email inbox. Be sure to visit 280living.com to receive news updates on the 280 area and reminders about upcoming community events; subscribe for 280 Weekly email newsletter in the box in the top right corner of the page.

You might have noticed we have been talking more about subjects like

school safety, drugs and sewer rates lately too. By covering a story like last month’s cover on Kenneth Lucas losing his son to a drug overdose, we hope to open ourselves up to covering deeper issues around us, and we hope that you, our readers, will come to us with those sometimes scary but ever-important

things that you and your friends are talking about, or perhaps are afraid to talk about.

280 Living is still who we always have been, too. We are here to be your community cheerleader (Congrats to Oak Mountain High School on being ranked number five high school in the state by U.S. News and World Report! And congrats to the 25 high school seniors who signed to play collegiate sports — see page B1!)

We are here to bring you news on local businesses (Chick-fil-A Inverness reopens after the first of this month, and have you tried the new Ashley Macs on

Valleydale Road? More importantly, have you tried their strawberry cupcakes?) And, my personal favorite, we are here to share the heart-warming good news happening around us (See our cover story on unprecedented volunteer labor force coming out for the cause of working to stop human trafficking).

We’re still here to be your friendly neighbor, but we are also here to be the friend with whom you talk about the things below the surface in life and, when appropriate, the hard things that need to be talked about.

Please do let us know your ideas and reactions for this to be your 280 Living. You can always reach us at [email protected] or [email protected].

May your spring be filled with the brightness of the return of sunshine and the joyous freedom of a break from school!

Legals: 280 Living is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. 280 Living is designed to inform the 280 community of area school, family and community events. Information in 280 Living is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of 280 Living. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.

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Editor’s Note By Madoline Markham

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Contact Information:280 Living#3 Office Park Circle, Suite 316Birmingham, AL [email protected]

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280Living

Digging beneath the surface

Photo of the month

Five members of The Chelsea Wrestling Club participated in the Beginner’ State Wrestling Tournament in Gadsden on Jan. 26, and the club brought home five medals.

Gold Medalists include: Zachary Wright, Kindergarten-Second Grade Division, 75 pounds; Adam Byerman, Third-Fourth Grade Division, 60 pounds; and Kyle Frangopolos, Fifth-Sixth Grade Division, 112 pounds. Also in the Fifth-Sixth Grade Division, Michael Chiafolo earned a Silver at 60 pounds, and Ty Adema earned Bronze at 122 pounds.

For more, visit hometeamsonline.com/?chelseawrestlingclub.

Wrestling club members take home five medals from tourney

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8:28 Hair Boutique (A10)Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (A6)Alabama Power (A8)Azia Medical Spa (B2)Bellini’s (A19)Birmingham Bake & Cook Co. (A15)Birmingham Botanical Gardens (A2)Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (A15)Brookwood Medical Center (A18)Charles Dunn (A11)Chelsea Family Dentistry (A14)Chelsea Orthodontics (A12)Children’s of Alabama (B9)Chiropractic Today (A18)Clover Crawl (B3)Comfort Keepers (B6)Cousins Insurance Agency (B13)Diana Holladay (B6)Elite Tan (B13)Encore Rehabilitation (A5)Eye Do (B10)Fancy Fur- Paws and Claws (B3)Fitness Together Greystone (A16)Greystone Antiques & Marketplace (B5)Ground Up Coffee & Smoothies (A16)ImageSouth (A6)Isbell Jewelers (B8)Kobe Japanese Steakhouse (B2)Leaf & Petal (A19)Learning by Design (B7)Lulie’s on Cahaba (B8)M&F Bank (A9)Monkey Toes (B13)Nex21, LLC (A11)North Shelby Library (A11)Pak Mail (B10)Pastry Art (A10)Plain Jane Children & Gift Shop (A17)Planet Fitness (B1)Plastic Surgery Specialists (B12)RealtySouth Marketing (B11)Renaissance Consignment and Marketplace (A20, B16)Richard Joseph Salon and Spa (A1)Royal Automotive (A3)Second Hand Rose (B10)Sew Sheri Designs (B14)Sharp Remodeling Specialty (B14)Skin Wellness Center of Alabama (B12)Southeastern Jewelers and Engravers (B7)St. Vincent’s One Nineteen (A15)The Cuckoo’s Nest (B4)The Ditsy Daisy (B3)The Goddard School (B15)The Maids (A1)The Urban Barn (A17)Tony’s Spaghetti House (A14)Total Care 280 (A7)Town of Mt Laurel (A13)TownHouse Tea Shoppe (A17)Tutoring Club Inverness (B6)Varsity Sports (B1)Village Dermatology (A5)Your Good Neighbor (A15)Zig Zag (B15)

Correction In the February issue Business Happenings, Chelsea Wrecker

Services was incorrectly listed as having relocated to Chelsea. The business opened in January.

March 2013280Living.com

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280 NewsMoon Glow Lake development hearing set for this month

By JEFF THOMPSON

Opponents of a proposed develop-ment off Caldwell Mill Road will have one more opportunity to voice their concerns when the issue goes before the Hoover City Council at its regular meet-ing March 18.

Signature Homes, the company re-sponsible for developing Ross Bridge, presented a plan last year to rezone 66 acres off Caldwell Mill Road as Planned Residential Development. The property is currently owned by O’Neal Steel, Inc. and is located just north of Berry Middle School around Moon Glow Lake.

The Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission endorsed the development

on Feb. 11 against the wishes of more than 200 in attendance. If the Hoover City Council approves the rezoning, the development would include 109 new homes that average $400,000 each, said Signature President Jonathan Belcher.

Opposition for the development be-gan when it was first proposed in No-vember 2012, coming primarily from residents of neighborhoods that back up to the wooded area around Moon Glow Lake. Those neighborhoods include The Sanctuary at Caldwell Crossings and Woodford.

The proposal approved to go before the Council was submitted Feb. 4 and includes 109 homes on 66 acres, with 28 acres left undisturbed.

Residents in opposition voiced con-cerns that included:

›› Increased traffic on Caldwell Mill Road, Valleydale Road, Jaguar Drive and Acton Road.

›› Effect on surrounding property values.

›› Increased sediment pollution on nearby neighborhoods and watersheds.

›› Increased drainage and erosion from clear cutting.

›› Increased stress on utilities.›› Relocation/destruction of wildlife

population.Members of opposed homeowner as-

sociations said they would bring their concerns to the Hoover City Council for the rezoning ordinance’s first reading.

Jonathan Belcher, left, president of Signature Homes, addresses the Hoover Planning Commission on Feb. 11 about his company’s proposed develop-ment around Moon Glow Lake. Photo by Jeff Thompson.

By JEFF THOMPSON

Shelby County Sheriff Chris Curry credits the presence of an on-campus officer for quickly diffusing a hostage situation at Chelsea Middle School last month.

On Feb. 12 at approximately 3 p.m., a gunman who was later identified as 21-year-old Chel-sea resident Ryan Matthew Sims entered Chelsea Middle School and allegedly held five female students against their will in the girls’ locker room.

Chelsea Middle School initi-ated a lockdown in response, and a Shelby County Sheriff’s deputy assigned to the school for security purposes immediately moved from the front entrance to the locker room.

There, the officer and Princi-pal Bill Harper confronted the gunman and, within minutes, talked the gunman into releasing the students and then surrender-ing himself.

Curry said the deputy as-signed to the school was vital in diffusing the situation thanks to special training he received to be certified as a school resource officer.

“His constant presence on campus and his knowing the school and how to quickly reach the locker room helped have him

and the principal in a position to control the situation within 20 seconds,” Curry said.

No one was injured in the incident. Sims was arrested the next day and detained on a bond of $5,015,000, Curry said.

In a release, Curry thanked federal law enforcement part-ners, the Hoover Police Depart-ment, Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies and Chelsea Mayor Earl Niven for their assistance.

Sheriff Curry re-affirmed his commitment to place a deputy in each of the Shelby County schools where the Sheriff’s Of-fice has primary jurisdiction. Deputies will continue to be present at these schools while students are there to ensure their safety, he said.

No injuries in middle school hostage situation

Sims

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Winn-Dixie signs lease for Inverness Corners

Changes coming to Alabama 119

By MADOLINE MARKHAM

Inverness Corners will be home to a Winn-Dixie grocery store by this fall.

The grocery chain executed a lease with Bayer Properties on Feb. 20 and plans to begin construction this spring. Sam Heide, director of leasing at Bayer Properties, represented the owner at the lease signing.

The 54,000-square-foot anchor store off Highway 280 has been vacant since Bruno’s closed in the summer of 2009.

Winn-Dixie originally applied for a permit

with the City of Hoover for the space on Dec. 14, 2011. Three days later, Bi-Low purchased Winn-Dixie, which slowed the execution of a lease.

Pastry Art Bake Shoppe Owner Dennis Gregg said he is excited about the news, hav-ing leased retail space there two and a half years ago thinking a big box store would move into the former Bruno’s space.

“It’s going to be good for everyone in In-verness Corners,” Gregg said. “Any time you have a draw like [Winn-Dixie], it’s going to increase everyone’s business.”

The Alabama Department of Transportation hosted a public involvement meeting on Feb. 28 to present its plan to improve the intersection of Alabama State Road 119 and U.S. 280 and increase the number of lanes on Alabama 119 from Corporate Drive to Brook Highland Parkway.

ALDOT also presented more information on its revised U.S. 280 intersection improvement proposal during the meeting.

The meeting was held at the Church at Brook Hills Student Center, and was similar to

the November public hearing held by ALDOT at the Cahaba Grand that announced the U.S. 280 intersection project. ALDOT displayed the new project at Alabama 119 and presented information on the revised project, which proposes to alter 27 intersections between Doug Baker Boulevard and Hollywood Boulevard.

Representatives from ALDOT and project consultant Skipper Consulting of Birmingham were available at the hearing to explain the maps.

The Winn-Dixie on Montevallo Road in Mountain Brook was recently renovated. Al-though Winn-Dixie hasn’t confirmed, construction on the store’s Inverness Corners location is likely to reflect similar styling.

More online at 280living.com

Ms. Senior Shelby seeking contestants

Ms. Senior Shelby County Pageant is now accepting participants for its April 6 event, scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. at the ServPro Facilities on Highway 280 in Harpersville.

The pageant is open to women over age 60 and seeks to develop, foster, and promote programs and activities that dispel the myths of aging by enhancing the lives of senior women.

Past talent acts have included singing, dancing, playing an instrument, a monologue, a comedy skit, reading a poem, and displaying handcrafts and paintings.

The winner will go on to compete in the Ms. Senior Alabama Pageant at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville on Aug. 3.

Ms. Senior Shelby County 2008 Edwina Chappell went on to win Ms. Senior Alabama and placed in top 10 at the national competition.

“I’ve given my life for my family, and a lot of women always worked,” Chappell said. “It was just time to do something for self, have fun, showcase talent and make new friends. It is something for senior ladies to get out there do something with life and make a memory.”

Most recently, Ms. Senior Shelby County Niva Dorough, 61, of Harpersville, won Ms. Alabama Senior America 2012.

For more information, contact Edwina Chappell at 365-6080.

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The Distinguished Young Woman of Shelby County will hold an informational meeting to discuss the organization’s upcoming scholarship competition. The meeting is scheduled for Sunday, March 10 from 3-5 p.m. at the Spain Park High School Auditorium

Junior girls living in Shelby County are eligible for the program. To find out more, visit distinguishedyw.org or look the organization up on Facebook.

Distinguished Young Women to return in 2013

Last year’s Shelby County Distinguished Young Women contestants

Special memorial for Chelsea firefighter BennettBy MEGAN SMITH

Firefighter Phillip Bennett passed away Feb. 9 after a long fight with throat cancer. Bennett, 55, worked with both the Chelsea and Pleasant Grove fire departments and was in the profession for 30 years.

“He served our community in an excellent manner and left a lot of our staff as better people from working with him,” Wayne Shirley, Chelsea fire chief, wrote in an email. “I am personally proud to have called him my coworker and friend.”

The Chelsea Fire Department and Pleasant Grove Fire and Rescue coordinated a “fire service” funeral in Bennett’s honor. This service included the ringing of the bell. In history, a ringing fire bell indicated a fire, and after the fire was over; the station rang the bell three times to indicate the task was done. Now,

the bell is rung three times to symbolize the end of a firefighter’s duties.

There was also a last call over the radio for Bennett.

“He answered a lot of calls in his day,” said Lt. Don Williamson with Chelsea Fire and Rescue. “This will be his last call, made in his honor.”

Since Bennett worked at Station 32 and on Engine 32, the apparatus carried him the approximate 50 miles from Ridout’s Valley Chapel to Union Springs Baptist Church in Chilton County for his burial.

“Bennett will be escorted by two firemen the whole way,” Williamson said. “We would do it even if it was 100 miles.”

A lifesaver helicopter will also do a treetop flyover above Bennett’s gravesite.

Bennett’s viewing and funeral were held Feb. 13 and 14.

Try ice hockey for free

Children age 4-12 can learn to play ice hockey for free at Pelham Civic Complex and Ice Arena on Saturday, March 2 from 2:30-4 p.m.

The event, hosted by the Pelham Youthy Hockey League (PYHL) and the University of Alabama Frozen Tide, is free of charge and requires no experience. Frozen Tide coaches and players along with the PYHL and Pel-ham Skate School will be on hand to help teach the basics of the sport.

For more, visit pyhl.org or contact Scott Norton at 620-6443 or [email protected].

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Community


By MADOLINE MARKHAM

Alabama’s best spellers will face off at the state spelling bee at Oak Mountain High School Saturday, March 9 at noon. The event is free and open to the public.

“It really is a way to see the best and brightest student in the state and where they excel,” said Alabama Spelling Bee Coordinator Susan McDougal. “We often see kids at sporting events, but we really don’t see other ways students excel in literacy.”

Each of the 63 students competing has won classroom, school, district and county bees. There is also a representative from a home school bee. All bees are open to students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Elizabeth Matta, an eighth grader from

Our Lady of the Valley Catholic School, will represent Shelby County.

The Alabama Spelling Bee winner will represent the state at the 2013 Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will be aired on NBC Memorial Day weekend.

The winner will also receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to National Bee in the in the Washington, D.C. area courtesy of Adventure Travel.

The state bee has been held at OMHS for the past three years. McDougal said the location is convenient for students traveling from all over the state. She encourages people living nearby to come for what she says is an exciting competition that ends with words that would be challenging for the average adult to spell.

For more, visit adtrav.com/bee.

State spell-off Oak Mountain to host Alabama Spelling Bee

By JEFF THOMPSON

Residents served by the North Shelby Wastewater Treatment Plant learned recently that assistance with spiking sewer bills might be difficult to attain.

During a meeting on Feb. 4, approximately 150 residents of Greystone, Eagle Point and surrounding subdivisions served by the plant reported they have experienced a 165 percent increase in their annual sewer rates since 2005, spiking from $32.45 a month to $85.83. More than half that increase has come since the beginning of 2012, and residents predict that by 2016 they could be paying as much as $158 per month if increases continue at the current rate.

The meeting was called to allow those homeowners – a fraction of the more than 4,000 served by the system – an opportunity to request assistance from the Shelby County Commission. Attending were Commissioners Lindsey Allison and Rick Shepherd, who, after much discussion, said they were sympathetic to residents’ concerns.

However, there is very little the Commission can do.

Shelby County constructed the system in the late 1980s and, following a time line full of struggle, sold the system to SouthWest Water Company, a private company, for $8.5 million in 2005. As is customary in selling public assets to the private sector, minimal oversight for the

County was maintained in the contract. Also attending the meeting were Shelby Water

Services Manager Charles Lay and County Manager Alex Dudchock. Lay said after the meeting the County receives proposed rate increases from SouthWest Water and reviews them to determine – and only to determine – if they are in violation of the contract. If not, the rate increase is approved.

The two most recent rate increases, according to data provided by residents at the meeting, were a 21.8 percent increase approved in 2012 and a 23.2 percent increase approved this year. Both were contractually sound, the County said, because they were instituted to cover the cost of plant upgrades required by the State of Alabama.

Namely, $9 million in upgrades were conducted in order to comply with increased regulations on phosphorus discharge into the Cahaba River watershed from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). According to research conducted by residents, SouthWest Water began these upgrades in 2009.

“(The County has) nothing to gain from rates going up,” Shepherd said Feb. 8. “But as long as the system services county residents and the company is abiding by the contract, we can want to get involved all we want, but we can’t legally do anything.”

Help unlikely for rising sewer rates

It was standing room only in the Point Room at Eagle Point Golf Course on Feb. 4 as North Shelby residents presented concerns over rising sewer rates to their county commissioners. Photo by Jeff Thompson.

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The house, when fi nished, will be the new headquarters for Make Way Partners, a Birmingham-based, Christian nonprofi t organization that provides support to missions in areas vulnerable to traffi cking including Sudan and Romania. The organization currently coordinates with its network of indigenously led ministries from a house in Hoover, but there was a need for the stateside staff to operate from somewhere more serene, said Volunteer Coordinator Nick Dimitri.

“Our staff deals daily with diffi cult situations,” he said. “One of the reasons we chose this location was to give them somewhere beautiful and quiet to work from.”

Last year Make Way purchased the four-level cabin off Shelby County Road 51 just outside Chelsea. But as the organization began renovations, Dimitri said it became clear that expensive repairs were needed in the electrical system. The organization feared funding the repairs would diminish its ability to care for the approximately 1,000 orphans in its

of the 7,000-square-foot house, leaving little more than a skeleton. They removed all the existing wire and started over from the basement up.

Materials and work donated by BEJATC,

NECA and IBEW will prevent any pauses in services provided by Make Way Partners.

For more on the organization, contact Dimitri at [email protected] or 566-8789.

network in Sudan.“We had hit a brick wall,” Dimitri said.Word soon spread through a string of local

connections, and the local chapters of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 136 – groups that partnered to create the nonprofi t Apprenticeship Committee – reached out to Dimitri and Make Way Partners. Andrew Varvoutis, assistant manager with NECA’s Gulf Coast Chapter, helped push to provide the service, not only assisting in organizing the BEJATC but also in securing approximately $10,000 in donated materials.

“(BEJATC Training Director) Matt Dudley brought it to me, this idea to get people in the apprenticeship program involved in something bigger than themselves – bigger than Birmingham,” Varvoutis said. “It’s great training, and they get to see how becoming an electrician can mean more than they ever thought.”

Varvoutis said the project provided particular challenges, namely that the cabin’s solid walls prevented apprenticeship participants from running wires in them. They instead gutted the entire inside

(Right) Jason Honnoll, left, in his fi rst year of the fi ve-year apprenticeship program, works with another apprentice to prepare the ground fl oor for the new wiring system.

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MAKING A WAYCoNtINUeD from page A1

Through generous donations from local friends and organizations, Make Way Partners is a Christian organization that connects with indigenous ministries to prevent and combat human traffi cking. To learn more, visit makewaypartners.org.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 136 (IBEW) is one of approximately 950 local chapters that seek to unify, protect and assist members of the industry. For more, visit ibewlocal136.org.

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) seeks to enhance the management interests and coordinate the activities of the electrical contracting industry. For more, visit gulfcoastneca.org.

The Birmingham Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (BEJATC) is a non-profi t training organization dedicated to providing the electrical / telecommunications industry with the most highly trained workforce available. For more, visit bejatc.org.

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March 2013280Living.com A11

By JEFF THOMPSON

Toward the end of 2012, the Spain Park High School Mock Trial Team had two big wins in two weeks. One was earning the title of Best Overall Team at the Alabama Mock Trial Competition. The other was defeating a hurricane.

Now, its members face another obstacle – rebuilding funds.

In order to represent Alabama at the National High School Mock Trial Championship in May, the SPHS team is attempting to raise enough to cover the trip’s $9,000 price tag. Normally, the team would have reserve funding to help students cover the cost of plane tickets and hotel rooms, but currently it’s coming up short.

The team, which represents only one portion of the Spain Park Law Academy, was competing in the Sixth Annual Empire City Mock Trial Invitational in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Oct. 29 when Hurricane Sandy struck the U.S. coast. As the 12 students presented that morning, their three teachers who had traveled north with them learned their flight had been cancelled.

The team spent more than two days in a hotel in Brooklyn. When they finally returned, feeling both homesick and weathered, students had less than two weeks before their next challenge – the state championships.

“The team we brought back (from New York) had a lot of experience but not a lot of time to prepare, and members who stayed in Alabama were prepared but didn’t have as much experience,” said SPHS teacher Craig Thompson, co-director for the Law Academy and Mock Trial Team. “So we split them into groups and let students be the teachers.”

Thompson called it “amazing” the way students learned each other’s strengths and built their State Competition team on that foundation. And when the team went to Montgomery, they proved their mettle.

One of SPHS’s six-member teams, consisting

Pleading their case Donation makes trip to national competition possible for SPHS Mock Trial Team

graduating seniors Oliver Barreau, Abby Brunner, Scout Johnson, Jordan McDonald, Micah Shoemaker, Bryant Williams, Read Mills and junior Jacob Kimes, was named Best Overall Team based on its sportsmanship, professionalism and competitive standing. They earned the chance to compete at the national competition in Indianapolis in May, but staying in New York through Sandy stripped the program of its reserve resources.

Thankfully, a caring community has brought them halfway back.

In January, the Law Firm of Adams and Reese presented the Law Academy with a $5,000 donation, which covers more than half

of the team’s projected trip expenses. According to a release, Adams and Reese Partner Stephen Walsh from the firm’s Birmingham office encouraged the law firm to assist the mock trial team financially when he heard of the story last year.

“We saw the need to assist a local high school that won the state mock trial competition under some very difficult circumstances, and we were so impressed by these students and teachers that we wanted to help provide some of the financial support they needed to represent our state and our community at the national level,” Walsh said in the release.

Law Academy Co-Director Libby Day said

the donation is the largest the Academy has received. Adams and Reese is also working with the mock trial team to set up a date to hold a practice mock trial session to further prepare them for the National Championship.

“This donation makes it possible,” Thompson said. “The number is $5,000, but you can’t put number on what this does for the program.”

Spain Park High School Law Academy is accepting further donations to help with expenses for the national competition. Donations can be sent to Spain Park Law Academy, 4700 Jaguar Drive, Hoover, AL 35242. Day can be reached at 439-1400 or [email protected].

Adams and Reese presents a $5,000 check to the Spain Park High School Law Academy. From left are: Adams and Reese attorneys Daniel Newton, Aaron McLeod, David Bowsher and Stephen Walsh; Spain Park students Micah Shoemaker, Jordan McDonald, Abby Brunner, Oliver Barreau, Jacob Kimes, Mock Trial Team Coach Craig Thompson, student Read Mills, Spain Park Principal Dr. Ken Jarnagin, student Scout Johnson, Mock Trial Team Coach Libby Day and student Bryant Williams.


280Living

BEST OF

2802013

Food and DrinkMost Friendly ServiceChick-fil-A InvernessWho knew going into an insanely crowded fast food chain could put a smile on your face? Chicken biscuits don’t hurt the experience, either. 4620 U.S. 280 South, 995-9925Runner up: Taziki’s

Most Kid Friendly RestaurantMoe’s Southwest GrillKids eat free (with a parent) on Tuesdays, and there’s tacos and cheese dip, ready almost instantly, any day of the week.Runner Up: Baumhower’s Restaurant

Best Casual DiningJim N Nick’sPulled pork, ribs, and, of course, cheese biscuits — 280 is home to one of the growing chain’s flagship locations.Runner Up: Surin 280

Best Ladies Lunch SpotTaziki’sFrom Greek Salads to gyros to a host of other fresh options, Taziki’s brings at taste of Greece to the South. Friday Special, anyone?601 Doug Baker Blvd., 980-6063; 3439 Colonnade Parkway, 968-6622Runner Up: Edgar’s

Best Date NightFleming’sPossibly the best steak you’ll ever eat comes grilled with decadent ala cart sides, wine, and, best of all, Chocolate Lava Cake.103 Summit Blvd., 262-9463Runner Up: Village Tavern

Best PizzaMellow MushroomSpecial spring form dough serves as a base for funky combinations of ingredients that are totally worth paying more than the average pizza chain.920 Inverness Landing, 981-9914Runner Up: Area 41

Best Italian Food Bellini’sYou’ll find veal and seafood alongside Tuscan Italian dishes served in its low-lit dining room on Highway 119.6801 Cahaba Valley Road, 981-5380Runner Up: Carraba’s

Best BakeryEdgar’s Lemon bars, beautifully decorated cakes (including strawberry!), thumbprint cookies and more draw us back for a sweet treat over and over again.6801 Cahaba Valley Road, Suite 128, 408-089; 3407 Colonnade Parkway, 968-4031Runner Up: Pastry Art Bake Shoppe

Best New RestaurantTony’s Spaghetti HouseThe owners of Leonardo’s have brought a new Italian eatery to Brook Highland Plaza, garlic rolls included.5267 U.S. 280, 783-1388Runner Up: Five Guys

Best Asian FoodSurin 280You can’t beat a complimentary cup of Coconut Tofu Soup with a $7 lunch special, unless maybe you add sushi to the menu.16 Perimeter Park South, 968-8161Runner Up: Kobe

Best CoffeeStarbucks5405 U.S. 280 East, 995-1408; 4710 US 280 East; 980-2359Runner Up: Chelsea Coffee Shop

Best Happy Hour& Best Mexican Food Superior GrillWith house-made tortillas, fresh fajitas and burritos, and a happening happy hour, Superior’s neon light have drawn huge crowds for years. 4701 U.S. 280, 991-5112Best Mexican Food & Best Happy Hour Runner Up: Chuy’s

Best Community Event: Mt Laurel Farmers Market

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Best Local Personality : James Spann

Best BrunchThe Tavern on the SummitFind a seat in the sunshine on the patio for a bite to eat before a shopping spree.225 Summit Blvd., Suite 100, 298-1222Runner Up: IHOP

Best Restaurant DessertCheesecake FactoryThere’s a cheesecake flavor for any sweet craving under the sun at this Summit restaurant favorite.236 Summit Blvd., 262-1800Runner Up: Bellini’s

Community Best Outdoor Space& Best Place for Family OutingOak Mountain State ParkWith 9,940 acres of woods ripe for adventure in our backyard, we know where to go for camping, hiking, fishing, picnicking, mountain biking or just a stroll around the lake.alapark.com/oakmountainBest Outdoor Space Runner Up: Veteran’s ParkBest Place for a Family Outing Runner Up: Treetop Family Adventure

Best Community EventMt Laurel Farmers MarketFresh farm produce, flowers, crafts and more bring Mt Laurel to life on summer Saturday mornings from 8 a.m.-noon.50 Manning Place, 408-8696Runner Up: The Big Kaboom Fireworks in Chelsea

Best NeighborhoodThe Town of Mt LaurelWe can’t help think that quaint small town feel of this Dunnavant Valley gem reminds us of The Truman Show.50 Manning Place, 408-8696Runner Up: Chelsea Park

Best Church ChoirChurch of the HighlandsOne of our area’s newest churches has grown to 20,000 active members over the past decade.1700 Lee Branch Lane (Greystone Campus), 980-5577Runner Up: Asbury United Methodist

Best Charity EventRegions TraditionThe annual golf tournament returns to Shoal Creek June 5-9 this year.regionstradition.comRunner Up: The Junior League Market

Best Local Band/MusicianSexy Tractor BandSince 2010, Sexy Tractor has been playing country rock hits around Birmingham.sexytractorband.comRunner Up: 2 Blu

Best After School ActivityiJump 280Seven large inflatables, a rock climbing wall, two arcades, a go-cart track, five private party rooms and a café make iJump a kids’ paradise.157 Resource Center Parkway, Suite 109, 981-2696Runner Up: Dance South Studio

Best Local PersonalityJames SpannWhen the weather turns questionable, or even when we just want to know if it’s going to rain, we all look to one man: Spann. Runner Up: Rick and Bubba

Health and WellnessBest OrthodontistChelsea OrthodonticsStraightening your teeth can be a painful and long process, but Kelly Page and her staff will help get you through it with a positive, friendly atmosphere.300 Jade Park, Suite 101, 678-2770Runner Up: Dr. Cory Edwards

Best Work Out FacilitySaint Vincent’s One Nineteen Health and WellnessA circular gym space surrounded by an indoor track, plus an indoor pool and wide selection of classes, make One Nineteen a retreat for first-class fitness.7191 Cahaba Valley Road, 408-6600Runner Up: YMCA

Best DentistChelsea Family DentistryDrs. Michelle Jones and Morgan Kennedy are the family-friendly, community-minded dentists that make Chelsea Family Dentistry a great place for those pearly whites.300 Jade Park, Suite 102, 678-2096Runner Up: Dr. Trent Buchanan, Greystone Smile Design

Best Family PractitionerDr. Andrea Lamberson, Shelby BaptistDr. Lamberson gives you friendly and helpful medical care for everyone in the family. Runner Up: Dr. Amy Bentley

Businesses & Services Best Customer ServiceSnider’s PharmacyIts drug prices are among the lowest in town, and its staff greets each customer with a smile. What more could you want?15582 U.S. 280, 678-3899Runner Up: Roger’s Trading Company

See Best of | page A14

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Best Children’s StoreMonkey ToesMonkey Toes is your one-stop shop for children’s, teens’, and women’s shoes and apparel.2800 Greystone Blvd., Suite 3B, 437-9387Runner Up: Plain Jane

Best Salon or SpaSanta Fe Day Spa Located right in the middle of the Village at Lee Branch, Santa Fe provides an option to slow down and relax in the midst of a busy environment.611 Doug Baker Blvd., #214D, 408-7221Runner Up: Morgan Ashley

Best Store to Buy a GiftChelsea LaneFrom food to jewelry to novelty items, Chelsea Lane is a shop where you can slow down from a busy day.16700 U.S. 280, Suite A, 678-3361Runner Up: Francesca’s

Best Women’s Clothing StoreRenaissance Consignment BoutiqueThis trendy, two-level clothing contains top name-brands such as Louis Vuitton, Free People and Juicy Couture.6801 Cahaba Valley Road, 980-4471 Runner Up: Ditsy Daisy

Best Store for MenAcademy Sports and OutdoorsAcademy holds all the gear you could possibly imagine for camping, hiking, baseball and so much more.310 Doug Baker Blvd., 981-4150Runner Up: Roger’s Trading Company

Best Place to Buy Home DécorHobby LobbyWhether it’s knitting, scrapbooking or re-decorating, Hobby Lobby has the supplies for home and hobby.1201 Doug Baker Blvd., 981-4515Runner Up: Home Goods

Best Veterinarian Dr. Greg Kelly, Chelsea Animal Hospital Dr. Kelly cares about your pets like his own children, and cares about you like a good friend.10591 Old Highway 280, 678-8895Runner Up: Riverview Animal Hospital

Best Jewelry StoreSoutheastern JewelersFamily owned for 61 years, Southeastern provides the quality care that a chain jeweler might not be able to have.5299 Valleydale Road, Suite 111, 980-9030Runner Up: Bromberg’s

Best Golf CourseGreystone Legacy A quality golf course in a peaceful neighborhood makes for a memorable 18 holes.4100 Greystone Drive, 986-5120Runner Up: Eagle Point Golf Club

Best Outdoor Space & Best Place for Family OutingOak Mountain State Park

Best Charity Event: Regions TraditionBest ofCoNtINUeD from page A13

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Business Happenings

TownHouse Tea Shoppe celebrating three years

The TownHouse Tea Shoppe will be open Sunday, March 17 to celebrate its third anniversary. The noon-3 p.m. celebration will incorporate a St. Patrick’s Day theme. Festivities will include Irish music as well as real Irish food such as Irish shortbread, soda bread, cream cakes, chocolate truffl es made with O’Malley’s cream and dark chocolate cake made with O’Shaughnessy cream liqueur. The TownHouse Tea Shoppe is located at 23 Olmsted Street in Mt. Laurel. Call 529-0081 or visit thetownhouseatmtlaurel.com for more information.

Cigars & More relocates

At the beginning of the year, Cigars & More moved from its location of fi ve years at 4647 Highway 280 to its current location at 4673 Highway 280. The new property has a loung we triple the size of the old store and features a patio. Cigars & More holds weekly poker tournaments at 6:30 p.m. and is now open Sundays 1-6 p.m. For more, visit birminghamcigars.com or call 991-3270.

Seasons 52 opening this month

Seasons 52, a fresh grill and wine bar restaurant, is opening a new location at The Summit. The restaurant is scheduled to open

March 21. It will include a circular piano bar that features live music nightly, a large outdoor patio, an open kitchen with a brick oven, a chef’s table, and a customized, climate controlled wine chateau that can hold more than 2,000 bottles of wine. There will also be three private rooms for private, semi-private and social events. Seasons 52 is located at 254 Summit Blvd. in the former Sweet Bones building. For more, visit seasons52.com.

Keith Miller, DMD moves to Valleydale

Keith Miller relocated his dentist practice from its Vestavia location after 16 years of business to 2200 Valleydale Road. The new location, he said, is better for business and closer to many of his customers’ homes. For more, call 982-8955.

Chelsea Sno Shack ready for spring

The Chelsea Sno Shack is scheduled to open its third business season as warmer weather moves in. According to owner Charles Rich, the re-opening is scheduled for March 10 but may be moved due to cold weather. The Sno Shack has upgraded its look with a new coat of paint and plans to install a patio for customers.

“We’re fi nished up with the outside renovations and working on the inside,” Rich said. “The Sno Shack is bigger and better than ever.”

The Chelsea Sno Shack is located at 11728Chelsea Road. For more, call 678-3768.

Heavenly Donut Company open

The Heavenly Donut Company opened its doors Jan. 23, on Cahaba River Road. The store offers a variety of donuts, cinnamon rolls and beignets. Cake and yeast donuts are handmade every day. Donuts are offered Sunday through Friday and beignets are sold Saturdays. The Heavenly Donut Company is located at 4911 Cahaba River Road, Suite 105. Call 532-7200 or visit theheavenlydonutco.com for more.

Chelsea new home for Taranis Inc.

Taranis Inc., an engineering fi rm specializing in systems integration, moved from Riverchase in Hoover to the former Jumpin’ Jax location and the day care beside it in Chelsea in November 2012. For more, visit taranisusa.com.

Power Force Apparel

Online retail athletic apparel company Power Force has opened its fi rst storefront in Bir-mingham at The Summit. The store includes touch screen kiosks and samples of newly de-signed shoes. No item has a price point over $89.99.

The store has monthly in-store events. March features product giveaways to every-one who participates in free nutrition seminar. Power Force is located at 250 Summit Blvd., Suite 101. For more, call 298-6186 or visit powerforceapparel.com

Please call 408-6550 to register for this free seminar.

Lunch with the Expert

7191 Cahaba Valley Road, Birmingham, Alabama 35242

onenineteen.com Follow us on

Join Janet Smith, Group Exercise Instructor at St. Vincent’s Fitness One Nineteen, as she challenges you to change your body. Janet is passionate about making physical activity work for you, whether you’re a beginner or frequent gym go-er.

She will share ideas on how to incorporate fitness into your busy day and demonstrate moves that challenge every fitness level. Bring your questions and enjoy a delicious, light lunch.

Tuesday, March 1211:00 a.m.-12:00 noon

Challenge = Change

March 6, 2013

A15


Business Spotlight

By MADOLINE MARKHAM

Tammy Heinss and Kathy McMahon are self-proclaimed “junkers.”

They travel the country, wherever the next treasure hunt takes them.

On their most recent trip to Dallas, the friends came home with a U-Haul truck full of old barn wood, doors and other materials, their heads brainstorming up idea after idea of how to reclaim and transform their new treasures into furnishings with new life.

It’s their creativity and creations that are at the heart of a newly expanded Renaissance Consignment & Marketplace.

Renaissance has consigned clothing, formal dresses, designer handbags and more for four years, but in January the store nearly doubled its size and expanded its inventory to include both

new and gently used home furnishings and accessories.

The newly expanded 9,000-square-foot space intermingles furniture with clothing and home accessories with jewelry.

“The home and the closet are two very important things,” said Heinss, the store’s visual merchandising manager who is armed with experience as an interior decorator. “They mold together perfectly and are able to provide in two important areas of life. I don’t know

anywhere else that is doing something like this. We are like an Anthropologie on steroids.”

When she and McMahon, the owner, walk around their new space in the former Cantina location, they beam with excitement as they explain how even their displays demonstrate their concept of “style reborn.” Each piece is a conversation piece in itself.

The sides of the large desk in the center are made of molding from a 150-year-old house and tin siding from Cantina. For its countertop,

McMahon took the original varnished finish down to natural wood with what McMahon calls her “weapons” — wooden pieces with nails or a chain to “beat up” the wood — and then whitewashed it before removing the paint.

The lighting above the desk is a combination

Renaissance Consignment and Marketplace

Tammy Heinss and Kathy McMahon, above, have led Renaissance’s expan-sion into home décor retail. Photos by Keith McCoy.

A16


6801 Cahaba Valley Road980-4471

renaissanceconsignment.comMonday-Wednesday, Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

of glass chandeliers and old industrial domes from Germany. Display boxes on the right have given new life to old fence wood, and old rake parts hold jewelry. On another display old clothes pins display rings.

It’s all part of a “rustic luxe” look that Heinss and McMahon are trying to achieve.

“We want elegant beauty that is luxurious yet mingled with a rustic reclaimed vibe,” McMahon said.

In addition to the floor space, Renaissance has a covered outdoor area in the back that holds reclaimed “treasures” like rustic wood old doors in their raw state that are available for sale. An additional 2,500-square-foot show room with furniture, accessories and salvage material nearby that can be shown by appointment

Even with their bubbling passion for home décor, the duo are just as eager to talk about Renaissance’s selection of clothing and

accessories, attesting to how it is a “one stop shop” for both fashion and interiors.

Experts in outfit consultation are on staff just as are freelance decorators. Upstairs in the consignment formal department, one of the largest in the Southeast, a staff member has a background in pageant coaching and judging.

Much of their clothing is consigned from high end boutiques so that items are on the rack discounted but still have their original tags.

Two of 12 staff members are dedicated to social media; the business does much of their sales online, not just in the store.

“[Renaissance is] a great thing for the community because you can buy great things for a good price, and you can recycle things as well,” Heinss said.

If you are interested in consigning home furnishings or accessories, email pictures of items to [email protected].

Renaissance Consignment and Marketplace

Celebrating 3 years of the best of Irish traditions Tea, Food, & HospitalityTOWNHOUSE TEA SHOPPE

We specialize in three-tierEnglish Tea Service.

Join us for lunchSunday, March 17, 1-3pm

Authentic Irish Music and FoodReservations Recommended

TOWNHOUSE TEA SHOPPE

Celebrating 3 years of the best of Irish traditions

23 Olmsted Street • Mt. Laurel205/529-0081

thetownhouseatmtlaurel.com

270 Doug Baker Blvd, Lee Branch • 991-1995www.plainjanegift s.com • Mon - Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 10am - 5pm

A17


Your Health Today By Dr. Irma Palmer

Turning ‘I Can’t!’ into ‘I Can!’ (Or, ‘No More Excuses!’)

Ahhh…spring is in the air. It’s my fa-vorite time of the year! A time of new life, when the colder temperatures are becom-ing a distant memory, fl owers are bloom-ing, and hope springs eternal. Yet day after day, when I encourage people to get out and enjoy the springtime, I get something I don’t like about spring (or any time of year!)…excuses.

“I can’t go outside, Doc. My allergies are just awful when the pollen is so crazy.” Or, “I can’t exercise, Doc, because I’m too overweight.” Or, one of my favorites (well, least favorites,) “I just can’t fi nd the time to get outside and exercise, Doc.” When I hear excuses like these, I just want to scream!

Let’s start with this basic truth – the body requires movement for proper cellu-lar physiology. According to The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide, “A deluge of studies have documented the health benefi ts of exercise. What’s impres-sive about the research, aside from the sheer volume, is the number of conditions exercise seems to prevent, ameliorate, or delay.”

Getting up, out, and moving helps our immune system, our state of mind, and our overall sense of wellbeing. Spring is the

ideal time to get out and enjoy life, enjoy living, and enjoy moving. More often than not, however, what I hear are all the rea-sons (aka excuses) for why people can’t get out and move.

One of the most prevalent excuses I hear in the spring is “I can’t because of my al-lergies.” Now’s the perfect time to imple-ment a natural approach to getting your body equipped to handle the outdoors. First, strengthen your body’s immune sys-tem with chiropractic care to release any nervous system weakness and interference that may be compromising your body’s ability to function at its best. Next, add a nutritional support product like Allerplex that is specifi cally designed to strengthen the immune system.

The other “I can’t” excuse that I hear with regularity is, “I can’t because I’m overweight.” Notice that I haven’t suggest-ed you need to get outside and run 10 miles a day or train for a triathlon…I’m simply saying you need to do something! The Mayo Clinic suggests as least 150 minutes weekly of moderate aerobic activity. That’s just over 20 minutes/day! Take a brisk walk, mow the lawn, play with your kids…all of those will qualify and do wonders for

your physical and mental health!If you are overweight and tired of fad

diets or starving yourself, I strongly en-courage you to come in and learn more about our Purifi cation Program. This pro-gram begins with a purifi cation cleanse to rid your body of toxins to help it maintain a healthy weight. Best of all, it’s not a diet…it’s a program that helps you live a healthier life by purifying, nourish-ing, and maintaining a healthy body and weight. We have regular workshops on our Purifi cation Program, including one on Tuesday, March 26.

As a chiropractor, I also get a lot of “I can’ts” related to back, neck and knee pain. Of course chiropractic care will resolve these problems increasing your ability to be active. In my offi ce, we take a natural approach to determine what’s causing your pain and therefore limit-ing you from living the life you were designed to live. Ultimately, that is our mission…determining what the limits exist in your life that affect your health and your ability to live life wide open, serving the purpose you were designed to live! But we can’t help you unless you choose to walk through for the break-

through! In order to move from “I can’t!” to “I

can!” you’ve got to ask yourself why you should care. Is it because you want more quality time with the ones you love? Is it because you’re tired of being a prisoner inside when pollen is at its worst? Is it because you want to fi t into your favorite swimsuit when spring turns to summer? Decide on your “why” and then come in and let us help you tailor a plan to get you from where you are to where you want to be. Desire and determination are critical for any process of change to occur, and with our help, you can turn that desire into results.

Please don’t wait – spring is the ideal time to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather and get off the couch. Don’t let allergies, weight problems or neck or back pain keep you from living the life you were designed to live. Let us help you turn “I can’t!” into “I can!” and put an end to making excuses. Call us at 205-991-3511 and let us know how we can help you get started and reserve your spot in our Purifi cation Workshop on March 26th. Visit us at chiropractictoday.com for more information.

A18


BEST OF

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A19

Read all the past Restaurant Showcases at 280Living.com Restaurant Showcase

By NATHAN KELLY

Selling and creating new drinks has always been a passion of Casey Morris. He had originally wanted to open a bar because he felt the atmosphere molds well with his charismatic personality.

“I got into doing this because of tequila actually,” said Morris, co-owner of Ground up Coffee and Smoothies. “I had a car wreck in 2005 as a result of drinking and driving when I was 19. It opened my eyes to what I was doing was wrong. God used that in an amazing way to turn my life around.”

Since December 2006, Morris partnered with Doug Snider, owner of Snider’s Pharmacy. He began working in the pharmacy business, but he took a leap by opening his own coffee house last year. Snider always appreciated Morris’ work ethic and charisma, so he convinced him to partner up to create the multifaceted store.

The coffee house had its grand opening on Oct. 8 last year and practices an old-school, fountain-style pharmacy approach.

“It’s not about making someone a drink really fast, putting the lid on it and rushing them out the door,” Morris said. “We take time with them. We’re going to ask

Ground Up Coffee and Smoothies15582 U.S. Hwy. 280

678-3899Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturday, 7:30 a.m.- 3 p.m.

them how they are, how their day is going.”

Morris used his thirst to please customers to create unique flavors and combinations for drinks. After long nights of trial, error and a lot of caffeine, he designed his own original blends to give his drinks optimal flavor.

Ground Up Coffee and Smoothies offers a variety of coffees, lattes and smoothies made with brand new drink machines covering the counter tops.

The most popular beverage is the Peach Smoothie, according to both Morris and Snider.

“It’s as good as sucking a Chilton County peach through a straw,” Snider said.

The environment in the coffee house is welcoming and friendly. The space is open between the pharmacy and the coffee house, making it easy to fill prescriptions, buy necessities and enjoy a cup of coffee while reading the paper or conversing with the store owners.

“When someone comes in here, we’re excited that they’re buying a cup of coffee, but we just enjoy their company,” Morris said. “That’s why people end up coming back to us, they feel the connection.”

Ground Up Coffee and Smoothies even delivers drinks to local businesses with a five-drink minimum.

“Chelsea Park Elementary School loves us,” Morris said. “They get to school Friday

morning, and the main thing they’re excited about is getting a cup of coffee from us. The first full week back at school we got an order of 29 drinks.”

Morris said the main draw to new customers is simply coming in to fill prescriptions.

“The first thing you do when you walk in is smell the aroma of the pot of coffee brewing,” Morris said. “You end up forgetting about the prescription and come over and get a cup of coffee.”

Owner Casey Morris, left, serves coffees, lattes and smothies. The Peach Smoothie, right, is the most popular drink at the Chelsea cafe. Photos by Nathan Kelly.

March 2013 280 Living7 for Mankind • Anne Klein • Anthropologie • Antik Denim • BCBG • Betsey Donald Pliner • Ectetera • Ed Hardy • Ferragamo • Free People • J Crew Jo

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6801 Cahaba Valley Road (Hwy 119) 1/4 South of Hwy 280

Style Reborn for Home and Fashion

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Renaissance Consignment and Marketplace is ready to receive your prom, pageant, wedding, and mother of the bride gowns. No appointment needed to bring formals.

Visit our newly expanded formal area with 4,000 square feet exclusively dedicated to formals. With

over 2,000 new and consigned gowns, Renaissance Consignment & Marketplace is your #1 source for

all things formal.

Gown Town event Saturday, March 9. We are accepti ng gown

donati ons through March 8.

We are the proud sponsor of

103.7 the Q’s

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Got Dresses?

Closet Full? Need Space? Want to make some $$$$$


Chelsea

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B2


Westminster stuns at state track meetBy DALE CARRELLWestminster Head Track Coach

Entering a 1A-4A meet is daunting enough, but the fourth-smallest school in the state – as rated by the Alabama High School Athletic Association – was called on to compete against schools that have populations up to eight times that of their own.

Westminster School at Oak Mountain rose to the challenge on Feb 1-2 at the Crossplex in Birmingham as the team set three AHSAA records, broke nine school records, set 25 personal records and the boys team brought home the Runner-Up trophy.

Andrew Carrell won the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.6 seconds, setting a new AHSAA record. Andrew, joined by his younger brother Jake, Scott Landers and Garrett Smith, won gold with in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:40.81 – just over a second off the state record.

The 4x800-meter relay team of Andrew, Jake, Scott and Ethan Shaw placed Third, taking home Bronze, and the 4x200-meter relay team of Joshua Moore, Collin Thomas, Joshua Lipperd and Garrett Smith placed sixth.

For the girls, Katie Brooks Boone won the 60-meter with a time of 7.75 seconds and the 400-meter with a time of 58.36 seconds, both of which set AHSAA state records.

Maddie Hoagland scored an eighth-place fi nish in the 3,200-meter run. The girl’s 4x800-meter relay team of Maddie, Camilla Lemons, Lauren Hoagland and Rachel Faulk placed seventh.

More important than any record, medal or trophy is the character development that comes from the training and competition in track and fi eld. The environment is not one where you desire the other person to fail or get disqualifi ed, but rather to be his best so you can be your best as well.

For more, visit westminsterknights.org.Left, Westminster’s winning 4x400-meter relay team of Scott Landers, Garrett Smith, Andrew Carrell, Jake Carrell with Coach Dale Carrell. Right, Katie Brooks Boone after winning the 400-meter.

The Berry Middle School Eighth Grade Girls Basketball Team won the Metro South Championship last month by defeating the Clay-Chalkville Lady Cougars 41-23 at host Simmons Middle School.

The Jaguars led 10-8 at the end of the fi rst quarter. Berry then went on a 20-2 run in the second quarter to extend their lead to 30-10 at halftime.

In the semi-fi nal games played Thursday evening, Berry defeated Mountain Brook,

and Clay-Chalkville defeated Homewood. Mountain Brook defeated Homewood to win the Consolation Game also played on Friday evening.

Berry won back-to-back Metro South Championships having won last year’s Seventh Grade Championship Game over Mountain Brook. Berry fi nished 19-0 for the season topping their 19-1 record from last year.

Berry’s Jada Ashford was named the Metro South Tournament MVP.

Berry Jags take home title at Metro South Championship

Berry Middle School celebrates its

championship win. Front row: Coach Mike Chase, Mary Katherine Tedder, Alyssa Gaston, Maggie

Baldwin and Emily Wise. Back row: Jillian

Dismukes, Jada Ashford, Jordan Ashford,

Monique Speigner and Coach Jennifer Jolly.

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Mock first Hornet to achieve 1,000-rebound milestone

Amanda Mock, second from left, is joined by her family on Chelsea High School’s Senior Night. From left are her brother David, her father Joe and mother Holli, her brother Alex and her sister Ashley Mock. Amanda’s older brother, Joey, is playing football for the Air Force Academy. Photo courtesy Cari Dean.

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By MEGAN SMITH

Amanda Mock is the only girl in Chelsea High School history to score 1,000 points in her high school career. She’s also the only student to ever earn 1,000 rebounds.

But playing basketball isn’t the only thing important to this senior; she wants to join a service academy. Amanda wants to go through medical school and become a doctor in the armed forces, as joining a branch of the U.S. military has become something of a family tradition.

Her father, Joseph Mock, is a retired Navy pilot after serving more than 25 years and her brother, Joey, is currently a freshman at the Air Force Academy playing football.

“She’s wants to make her own trail, though,” Amanda’s mom, Holli, said. “Plus, she likes these uniforms better.”

Mock followed a midshipman basketball player in the Coast Guard Academy for 24 hours in February to get a feel for the school. She also scheduled a visit with the Naval Academy.

“I’m going to choose by visiting each place and seeing which campus I like better,” Amanda said.

The Coast Guard Academy has offered her a scholarship to join their team, but she hasn’t heard from the Naval Academy recently.

“The Coast Guard coaches have been wonderful,” Holli Mock said. “They came to a game and they’ve corresponded with Amanda.”

Like the armed forces, athletics have always been a part of this family’s life.

“It’s always been a great connection to have with my dad and my brother,” she said. “We play and it brings the family together.”

A few years ago, her father built a barn with a batting cage and a basketball hoop so they could practice together.

Until last year she also played softball, but ultimately had to choose one because of their conflicting travel schedules. She’s played basketball for 12 years, but it wasn’t until recently that she started focusing on making it an aspect of her future.

“I really stepped up between junior and senior year,” Mock said. “I went from averaging 11 points a game to 16.”

Scoring like that, Mock said she realized she had the natural ability to get a scholarship, she just needed the resources. That’s where her coach, Michelle Edwards, came in to play. Edwards sent out videos and emails and used her connections in different colleges to get Amanda’s name out.

Mock currently has offers from Emory, Montevallo and North Florida.

B4


The National Federation of High School Sports awarded Spain Park girls soccer coach Robert Starr with the 2012 Alabama State Coach of the Year award. The NFHS has been recognizing coaches through an awards program since 1982. Starr launched the SPHS girls soccer program in spring 2002 and has been bringing students together as a team since.

How did you fi rst get into coaching soccer? I played soccer at UAB, and during the summer

I would work their soccer camps. I began to really enjoy coaching the kids. I have been coaching soccer for 19 years.

Why do you think this was awarded to you?I think it may be a culmination. We have

worked hard to build a consistent and successful program as a whole, but we also had a run of three straight state championships the past few seasons.

What obstacles have you had to overcome as a coach to be able to win an award like this?

I’m not sure there has been anything I would call a real obstacle. Spain Park provides a great environment and supports the program, which gives me a great opportunity to work in helping these athletes be successful.

How is your team doing? How do you train and motivate them?

We are currently in our preseason training and have been preparing for the season that starts in a few weeks. We train fi ve to six days a week, and the motivation really comes from our program’s tradition. My players enjoy the challenge of what it takes to be a state champion.

What goals have do you have for yourself and your team?

My personal goal each season is for the team to not want the season to end…to have the feeling that they don’t want to take that jersey off after the last game. I want the girls to have a real sense of pride in Spain Park Girls Soccer. For the team, the goal has always been to win a state title. You can’t win every year, but we approach it with the sense that we are going to do everything in our power to try and bring another championship to Spain Park

What type values do you like to instill in your players?

We want good people in our program that have a team mindset. I want them to understand that playing at Spain Park is extremely demanding. I have been fortunate to have excellent students in the classroom.

It’s a demand of excellence on and off the fi eld. We don’t want to settle for average in anything. We want to be the hardest working team that we come up against. We also want to develop their “social skills” to handle the day to day issues that high school presents them.

What do you model your coaching strategy after?

I think I take things from all coaches that I have the opportunity to be around (regardless of their sport). I enjoy listening to coaches and learning. Coach Mike Getman at UAB helped me get my start and establish a coaching foundation for me.

How do you get your team to work as a cohesive group?

You have to approach it with the idea that no one player is bigger than the team. Everyone has a role to play. If a few don’t play their role, we won’t be successful.

Do you have an aggressive or conservative style to your offense?

I would say our offense may be a little conservative. We pride ourselves more on the defensive side of the ball. Good defense will start our offense.

Do you agree that offense wins games but defense wins championships?

Yes, there is no question that if you can keep your opponents’ score to a minimum, you will always be in the game. Our fi rst state championship at Spain Park was exactly a situation where we were the overwhelming underdog in the state fi nals against a high scoring Oak Mountain offense. In the second half, our defense held strong, and we ended up with a great victory.

How are your team captains chosen?I get everyone’s input on theit choiced and tally

them up…Ultimately, I make the fi nal selection.

Who is your favorite coach through your career?

I really like taking things from several different coaches. All the great coaches have something to add to any sport regardless of what sport they coach. I truly enjoy listening to Lou Holtz and his approach to coaching. I listen to any of Lou Holtz’s motivational speeches that I can get my hands on.

How important is winning to you?Winning is the reward, but playing well is really

the goal. If you play well and lose, it’s a little easier to handle as a coach. Although, I do enjoy the quote from the movie Moneyball where Billy Beane expresses his feelings on the topic: “I hate losing…I hate losing more than I like winning.” That quote always makes me laugh, and I can certainly relate to that sentiment some days.

What do you think is the most important attribute to possess to be a successful soccer player?

Pride. I think that pride will make you work hard when it’s not easy. It will make you work on the fi ne details of the player’s own game. It will make you lead your team to reach new standards. In some things pride can be perceived as a bad thing, but in sports it can be a real fuel to your success and what you want to represent.

Are you more of a yelling coach or do you like to approach players in a more personal, quiet confrontation?

You may need to ask my players, and it would certainly depend on the situation. But I imagine I lean more to the vocal side. I try to make sure my points are constructive and valid. But I’m passionate about what I want us to accomplish as a team, and I think our players understand that.

SPHS’s Starr named Coach of the Year

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Coach Robert Star, far right, with his Spain Park High School Girls Soccer Team.

B5


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B6

Growing up fast College Week at Greystone Elementary

By MEGAN SMITH

On Feb. 1, the entire student body and staff at Greystone Elementary welcomed mascots from the University of Alabama, UAB, Auburn University and even Spain Park High School. The visit was the finale of College Week at the school, a push to motivate students to look forward to their educations’ future.

Funding for the week’s activities largely came from Enrichment Teacher Mandy

Fox, a 2011 final four contender for Alabama’s Teacher of the Year Award. For the distinction, Fox earned a $300 grant from the state.

The grant was mainly used as gas money for the mascots and to bring representatives from the Birmingham Zoo to the school. Fox and fellow enrichment teacher Judy Simpson also helped prepare a college fair, made successful from parent volunteers and college recruiters.

“The state is moving toward college and

career readiness, and I thought what better way to prepare students, than this,” Fox said. “One of the recruiters pointed out that they don’t normally visit elementary schools, but she thought it was a great idea and said others should start having them.”

The week began with the visit from the Birmingham Zoo. Students also met the Samford University men’s basketball team and singing and drama groups.

Teachers had the students prepare for the week by sending homework to their parents.

Greystone Enrichment Teacher Mandy Fox welcomes

mascots from Alabama universities to College Week.

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B7

(left) Jacksonville State Presenter Dana Long talks with Greystone Elementary students Jack Farley, Mackenzie Burch, Maddie Beaubien, Caleb Carter and Emma Wolf.Photos by Megan Smith.

A large map decorated one hallway in showing where everyone’s parents went to college. Alabama and Auburn were popular, but students learned of colleges everywhere from South Dakota to Vietnam.

Two hallways were nicknamed the Hall of Fame and the Hall of Dreams. The Hall of Fame was full of posters from the teachers showing where they went, what they looked like and some

of their favorite things about college. The Hall of Dreams contained bulletin boards with drawings from students showing what they want to do when they grow up.

“Students often get so excited about what they want to be when they grow up. It’s constantly changing,” Simpson said. “We spent the week focusing on what they want to study in the future instead.”

Fox put together the “ABC Book of College,” which teaches vocabulary necessary for students to take part in college discussions. She even made it accessible online.

“I had a first grader ask me which agriculture college would be best for him,” Simpson said. “They really were paying attention to what they learned this week.”

The end-of-the-week mascot visit

was originally unplanned, Fox said. “Our vice principal jokingly said

we should have mascots come and wrestle,” Fox said. “I said, ‘No!’ But I thought about it, and having them visit was a perfect idea to get the kids fired up about college.”

Greystone is working toward becoming a “Leader in Me” school, a model that is designed to unleash student’s full potential. The 7 Habits

of Happy Kids, by Sean Covey, which focuses on effective leadership and learning, is being used for the transition.

The school tries to do something special every year to get students excited about education. Next year, Fox said, they want to focus on science and let students have the opportunity to see intriguing aspects of science they normally wouldn’t experience in a classroom.

(below) Georgia Tech presenter Chris Laney with students Jacob Lewis and Caleb Deeter.


Musa Ndzinisa, a native of Swaziland, Africa, recently visited Janice Lacey’s second-grade classroom at Oak Mountain Elementary School to share about life growing up in his village.

Throughout his presentation, students were intrigued by the unique differences between their lives and his. Ndzinisa lives in a small hut, sleeps on the ground, and has no water or electricity.

With his infectious smile and outgoing personality, he taught students some of his native language, told them about daily life of boys and girls in Swaziland and created an uplifting atmosphere where the children engaged in dancing and singing.

Ndzinisa was visiting Birmingham through the Grace Klein Community, a Birmingham-based Christian nonprofit organization. After his

Welcome to the Wild, Wild West! The physical education department of Inverness Elementary School teaches a two-week unit on square dancing, which has been an annual event for more than 20 years.

The unit covers partner, group and individual dances. Students put on their best cowboy boots and Western wear and have a romp-stomping good time. Parents and family members come to watch and enjoy this special event.

Students from Jennifer Beasley’s Kindergarten class demonstrate what they want to be when they grow up during Career Week at Mt Laurel Elementary.

Swing your partnerSquare dancing at Inverness Elementary

Coach Mike Daniels, Coach Caroline Rose and Hudson

Youngblood

A helping hand for Precious Paws

Students at Mt Laurel Elementary have been busy collecting items for the schools annual “Precious Paws” campaign that benefits the Greater Birmingham Humane Society.

Grown ups for a day

A lesson on life in Swaziland

Musa Ndzinisa, a native of Swaziland, with Janice Lacey’s class at OMES.

visit, Lacey’s class wanted to tackle a project that would help Ndzinisa’s village and decided to conduct a food drive for a local charity.

Through Ndzinisa’s visit, children not only learned about the culture in Swaziland but also how to make a difference in their world.

School HouseB8

March 2013280Living.com B9

At Mt Laurel Elementary, a kindergarten student recently surprised her teacher with $500 she had earned in order to adopt her classroom.

Jacqueline Ngo Huynh sold donuts and hotdogs in her Highland Lakes neighborhood in order to raise the money needed to adopt her classroom. She raised the money after learning that her class didn’t have a business sponsor to help provide additional funding for materials and supplies.

“In my 20 years of teaching, I have never had a student do this,” said her teacher Karen Vann. “I have had parents who have very generously given in order to help, but I had never had a student who went out and earned the money herself. I think it is just wonderful!”

Not only did Jacqueline earn the money, but she also kept a journal and a DVD to record her project. She presented the items to her teacher, along with the money which will be used to purchase classroom supplies and instructional materials, such as math and literacy games.

Her journal entry: My name is Jacqueline Ngo Huynh. I want to adopt my classroom. So my parents help me by selling donuts and hotdogs to teach my two sisters and me how to

Mt Laurel student raises money to adopt classroom

Mt Laurel student Jacqueline Ngo Huynh

The eighth grade English classes at Liberty Park Middle School recently finished their study of The Hunger Games as a literary work. In addition to creating multi-media projects that explored the characters, settings and themes of the novel, students participated in a series of fun competitions.

Students were eliminated from each round of competition until there was an ultimate

winner, or “tribute,” from each class. The competitions included cupcake decorating, a Capitol fashion day and a Tribute fashion day, a crossword puzzle, an obstacle course, and a shelter-building contest.

Winners from each class were Ashley Orkus, Megan Brunsvold, Egypt Pettway, Daryl Wilson, Haley Plemons and Katie Larson.

Students at Inverness Elementary are participating in the Dream Machine Recycle Rally. The contest encourages all students to bring non-alcoholic cans and bottles to school to be recycled. Items brought in are sorted by third-grade students and placed in

bins for collection.Inverness is currently in 24th place in its

division of a field of more than 300 schools but is aiming for first. The contest, which ends April 30, is conducted by PepsiCo, Waste Management and Keep America Beautiful.

‘The Hunger Games’ come to life

LPMS students during special Hunger Games festivities

Recycle Rally at Inverness

Inverness Elementary students with their recycling projects.

help others and to teach us the value of money. Sometimes it was not fun because it was cold and raining but it was good to see all the happy faces of my neighbors. It was good to help my classroom. Merry Christmas!

March 2013 280 LivingB10

By JASON GASTONHoover City Schools

Last year Dominique Johnson, a 2008 graduate of Spain Park High School, landed a role as “Cameron” in the Broadway musical “Bring It On” – a production which “tells the story of the challenges and unexpected bonds formed through the thrill of extreme competition – according to the official website. “Bring It On” was staged at the St. James Theatre, 246 West 44th Street, New York. It closed Dec. 30.

How did you land this role?It was very non-conventional. A few years ago,

I had just gotten off of the international tour of FAME in China, and I was spending some time at home in Hoover with my family. I was feeling like I needed to be doing something so I look around to see if there were any shows in Birmingham and Atlanta I could join. In my search, I saw that the Alliance theatre was doing the world premiere of “Bring It On: The Musical.” I felt so strongly about being able to do it. But, I wasn’t even in New York to audition. Through a turn of miraculous circumstances some may say, I was asked by the casting director to submit a video, and then she invited me to NYC for a final callback. Needless to say, I booked it. I’ve stayed with the production from Workshop, to Atlanta premiere, to National Tour, and Now BROADWAY!

Tell us about your character, about “Bring It On” and about the general flavor of working on a Broadway cast.

I play Cameron in the show. He is described by most as the sexy basketball player boyfriend of the “Queen B” of Jackson High School, Danielle. He is also very anti-cheerleading but gets persuaded by his girlfriend to join. I, by the way, never thought I’d use “me” and “sexy basketball player” in the same sentence, but that’s the beauty of being an actor. You get to do things you yourself would

Former Jaguar joins Broadway’s ‘Bring It On’

Dominique Johnson

never do. I even rap in the show! Working on this show has been a dreamy unique experience. As the original Broadway cast we actual work hand in hand with the creators and also get to do cool stuff like record the album and perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade.

What is your schedule like?We perform eight shows a week (two of

Wednesday and Saturday). Given the amount of athleticism in the show, I try my best to sleep when I’m not working. I have just now been able to become a little more social but it’s the price you pay. I’m very willing to sacrifice going out for my job though.

Was the love of the theatre what took you to NYC? How soon after your arrival there did you land a role on a Broadway cast?

Absolutely. I did theatre at Spain Park, and I knew pretty early on that Broadway was the goal. I had no idea it’d happen like in has. I moved to New York officially this year, but I’ve been coming back and forth for a three years. It took about a year for me to land this role though. Some people it takes more and others less.

How tough is Broadway? Any advice for up-and-coming theatre students?

Broadway started out as dream and now it’s my job. I do have a dreamy job but I didn’t factor in the stamina of doing eight shows a week, the rejection that’s inevitable, and the fact that this is the entertainment business! Business can be tricky when all you wanted to do was be an artist. I’d say to my fellow theatre students learn as much as you possibly can about the theatre world – on stage and off. Keep you family and friends close, and treat people like how you want to be treated in this world.

What are your career goals?Acting is my goal always. I hope to continue

to do more Broadway if that’s what God has planned, but I’m very interested in television and film next. I’ll go with the flow of the current. There’s someone bigger than me steering the boat; I’m just along for the ride.

For those intimidated about coming to NYC and navigating through the maze of Broadway shows and ticket brokers, what have you found to be the easiest way to get a good seat at a good show at a decent price?

That’s a tricky question being that I don’t really see many shows because I work every night. I know they’re are Rush Tickets available at some show and TKTS in Time Square has pretty good deals.

What was your time in Hoover City Schools like and how did it prepare you for your career?

The best thing I took from my time in high school is my friends. I still have them to this day. Whenever I’m home (which is rare), we visit each other. We stay connected over Facebook, and some even visit me in the city. We were a very close class. I have to thank Jesse Tilton, my theatre teacher at Spain Park, for being so great in allowing me to cultivate my creativity. Jeanie Boone was my computer teacher, and she was a gem as well.

Do you still have family in Hoover-Birmingham?

My entire family still lives in Hoover, and my two youngest brothers, Donaje and Devonta, attend Hoover High School. I still say GO JAGS!

What’s your schedule like outside of Broadway? Favorite things to do in NYC?

I love to go eat with my friends and shop at places for the first time. We all love to have little apartment parties. Sometimes we get all fancy and go to nice meals, but most of the time my free time consist of reading and sleeping.

Anything else you want to tell us?To all of the teachers and students who may be

reading this, just know that the child whose essay you’re holding, the person sitting next to you in English, or even the student who’s name you may not even know is special. Don’t discount anyone. Don’t judge anyone. If you give love, you give life. And who knows, maybe the person you’re loving is going to end up on Broadway one day. Thanks to all who loved me.

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Seven seniors attending Briarwood Christian School were recently named National Merit Finalists for 2013. From left are Melanie Siddle, Chris Walz, Jacob Swords, Roman Travis, Adeline Reiser and Grant Janich. Not pictured: Samantha Swords. Photo courtesy Briarwood Christian School.

Briarwood announces National Merit Finalists

Liberty Park Middle School math teams recently competed at the Pizitz Middle School Math Tournament. The sixth grade team placed fourth overall out of 11 teams, and the seventh grade team placed third overall out of 13 teams.

Individual grade-level winners were: Ken Jiao,

seventh grade, who placed first overall; Josh Gray, seventh grade, who placed sixth overall; and Juwon Jeong, eighth grade, who placed sixth overall. Liberty Park math teams are coached by Tiffany Payne (sixth grade), Brett Richards (seventh grade) and Paul Morris (eighth grade).

Liberty Park Middle School’s seventh grade art classes recently completed a project that allowed them to express their love of reading through art.

Art teacher Shaymon Gosnell asked the students, “Who is your favorite storybook character?” Then they created clay masks

representing these characters. Some students went with contemporary characters such as Harry Potter’s Dobby, and others went with timeless classics like Winnie-the-Pooh.

To create the masks, each student created an armature. Then each mask was glazed and fired in the kiln.

All three scholars bowl teams at Oak Mountain Middle School placed in Shelby County tournaments.

The sixth grade team, under the coaching of Christopher Wood, earned first place in the Shelby County Sixth Grade Tournament on Feb.

7. The seventh grade team, under the guidance of Tabitha Odom, won first place at the Feb. 8 tournament among seventh grades. The eighth grade Scholars Bowl team, instructed by Anthony Walker, departed with the second place eighth grade tournament trophy.

Liberty Park math teams place at tournament

Recreating characters through mask art

OM Scholars Bowl teams top county competitions

Liberty Park Middle’s sixth grade math team placed fourth at Pizitz Middle School math tournament.

Liberty Park students created masks of characters like Eeyore and Yoda.


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Courtyard Oyster Bar & Grill 280

BILLY’S BAR & GRILL4520 Overton Road, Suite 104Liberty Park • 956-2323Call for this month’s music listings.

3/1 - F5 / Jager Muffin3/2 - Voodoo Jones / Erika3/3 - Matt Hill & Sean Bunn / Whiskey Dix3/4 - Dj Johnny D3/5 - Dj Kop3/6 - Aaron Blades / Even Steven3/7 - Erika3/8 - Brooklyn Cry / Matt Hill band3/9 - DV8 / Jager Muffin3/10 - Jager Muffin / Huck & Boss3/11 - Dj Johnny D3/12 - Dj Kop3/13 - Matt Hill & Sean Bunn / Whiskey Dix3/15 - Who Shot Lizzy? / SK53/16 - Klassic / Monkey Bizniz

3/17 - F5 / Whiskey Dix3/18 - Dj Johnny D3/19 - Dj Kop3/20 - Matt Hill & Sean Bunn / Aaron Blades3/21 - Erika3/22 - Smear / Jager Muffin3/23 - Dixieland Disciples / Patrick Travis3/24 - Jager Muffin / Huck & Boss3/25 - Dj Johnny D3/26 - Dj Kop3/27 - Even Steven / Whiskey Dix3/28 - Huck & Boss3/29 - Erica’s Playhouse / SK53/30 - Shake the Kitty / Erika3/31 - Whiskey Dix / Dwayne

HELP WANTEDFULL OR PART TIME SALES

ASSOCIATE. HOURS AVAIL: 12-6: SUN-SAT Apply Rogers Trading Company,

Hwy. 280, resource center parkway: send resume or application to jenrtc@aol. com

No phone inquiries accepted

Classifieds

280 Medical Supply is looking for part time help:Candidate will be responsible for making

deliveries and repairing DME. Please send resume to

[email protected], fax to 888-611-8229 or call 205-678-8755.

Comfort Keepersis currently hiring quality caregivers.

205-981-1800

3/1 - 90 Proof 3/2 - Outshine 3/6 - Acoustic Cafe 3/7 - Jared White 3/8 - Excalibur Band 3/9 - Jimmy Allen and The Reminder Band

3/13- Acoustic Cafe 3/14 - Jared White 3/15 - Dance DJ Dance 3/16 - The Paybacks 3/20- Acoustic Cafe 3/21 - Jared White 3/22 - Double Wide

Soul 3/23 - 90 Proof 3/27- Acoustic Cafe 3/28 - Jared White 3/29 - Jason and Alan 3/30 - Acoustic Night

Grey Bar 5426 Highway 280 • 874-6361

Village Tavern The Summit, Lower Level • 970-1640Every Wednesday and Thursday, 6:30 - 9 p.m. Artist Jeff Tyler performs. Fridays, 9 -11:30 p.m., Various live music.

Childcare Worker: Sunday AM and Wednesday PM.

References and background check are required. St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church,

Hwy 39, Chelsea AL.205-618-8367

or [email protected]

HELP WANTEDPlain Jane’s Women & Children Shop is looking for part time help for web site &

emails creation. They must have a working knowledge of Photoshop Elements, and

picture editing. Will train. Call Rosemary at 205-991-1995.

• 5 ml Latisse plus FREE Illuminating Eye Creams - $179 ($267.00 Value)

• Liquid Mini Brow Lift - $999 ($1,800 Value)Includes: Botox, Filler, four Exilis Treatments for eyes and Illuminating Eye Cream

• Complimentary Eyebrow Waxing for taking advantage of March Promotions ($18 Value)

• Teacher Appreciation Days – 1st and 3rd Tues. and Wed. of each month10 % OFF services and 25 % OFF products

• Schedule an Acne, Discoloration, or Anti-aging Appointment at our new Chelsea office and receive a FREE chemical peel

2908 Central avenue, Suite 150 • Homewood, al 35209 | 398 CHeSSer drive, Suite 3 • CHelSea, al 35043205.871.7332 • www.SkinwellneSSal.Com


A front moved through recently, and I fell asleep listening to the rattle of rain on my metal roof. It’s a soothing sound. The roof wasn’t cheap to install, but on rainy nights, I am thankful they didn’t charge what it’s worth.

The rain brought cooler temperatures, which made it a perfect afternoon to build a fire in our fire pit in the backyard. I had stopped by the store not long before and stocked up on Hershey bars, graham crackers and marshmallows. If there’s a better cool-weather treat than s’mores, I need for someone to share it with me because I can eat s’mores until the cows play backgammon.

The fire pit is perfect for contemplation. The gentle flames dancing on hickory, oak and apple wood are hypnotic. We built the pit one Saturday in September, and that evening we built our first fire.

The aroma of woodsmoke permeated my clothes, and the morning after when I tossed my shirt into the laundry hamper, I got a whiff of woodsmoke mixed with cotton and it sent my mind on a detour down memory lane.

I remembered a camping trip with my dad when I was 15 years old.

We spent the night on the banks of the Black Warrior River below Dora. Most of the time my dad didn’t talk a lot. But the campfire (and probably a few swigs of moonshine) loosened his tongue, and he talked into the night about his childhood, successes, failures and lost dreams.

I was mesmerized by his words and the crackling sound of dying embers. As I drifted off to sleep, I could hear the slapping sound of a beaver’s tail on the water as he swam downstream, kerplunk, kerplunk.

It’s interesting to me that the simple smell of woodsmoke could serve as a time machine and send me back over 40 years. The fire pit wasn’t cheap, but it was well worth the money.

Maybe the reason I love my metal roof and fire pit so much is because they remind me of my youth. Most of the

houses we lived in when I was a child had roofs that sounded like kettle drums when it rained.

There is a reason that The Beverly Hillbillies, Andy Griffith and Green Acres are still popular today 50 years since they first appeared on our black and white televisions.

People long for simpler times, before 9/11, Iraq and Afghanistan, when the choices were simpler and the world wasn’t driven by fear.

Those days weren’t Nirvana because every generation has their problems, but it seems the speed of communications these days has brought the problems into sharper focus.

Nowhere is this more apparent than on Facebook, the online community that has somehow become woven into the fabric of our lives.

Leading up to the presidential election this year, the fear was palatable. The voice of reason, for the most part, did not play to the masses. I’m glad the election is over, but the respite won’t last because soon everyone will be cranking up for the 2016 elections.

I don’t want to think about that now because I’m building a hickory fire in the pit this evening and contemplating the onset of spring. I might even roast some s’mores.

People in business along the 280 corridor are accustomed to business checking accounts, business loans and lines of credit. There is one service, however, that is available at some banks that is not understood or even known by most business banking customers.

When it comes to depositing incoming funds in the form of checks in your business bank account, convenience has normally been defined by the distance from your business to the closest bank branch. With a service called “Remote Deposit,” checks can be deposited directly at your business location.

A machine bigger than a power stapler and smaller than a small toaster is placed in your business location and connected to the Internet. This machine scans checks and makes deposits directly into your business checking account. Once scanned, you may destroy the check or keep it for your records.

Kevin Morris, manager of the M&F Bank branch in Chelsea, describes the machine and service as a “branch in a box.” According to Kevin the Remote Deposit service potentially saves businesses a great deal of salary time and money.

“Imagine making deposits anytime you want, day or night, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Morris said. “That is what

Remote Deposit does for you. This ensures your checks are deposited earlier and that business time is not spent driving to the branch and depositing checks.”

“Combined with services like Automated Clearing House (ACH) that enables payroll direct deposit and fund transfers, checXchange(tm) that collects bad checks on your behalf, and merchant card services so that you can accept credit cards, you are able to maximize your ability to be paid and have your cash available without ever leaving your office. That is banking empowerment for businesses.”

We have become accustomed to completely electronic services such as online banking and even the ability to open accounts online. Remote Deposit is a technology that brings ultimate convenience to a traditional banking practice, the practice of passing paper checks, that has successfully survived the transition into the digital age. This simple device is a big win in efficiency for businesses, once they discover it. This technology even lets multiple business locations each have their own Remote Deposit device that all deposit to the same checking account.

For questions about Remote Deposit and other business banking services, contact Kevin Morris at the Chelsea M&F Bank Branch at 678-2080.

OpinionMy South By Rick Watson

Financial Report By Bryan Carter

Watson

Simpler times

Remote deposit The unhidden secret in business banking


280 Events March 5: The Servant of Two Masters. Spain Park High School’s last performance of winning one act play before representing Alabama at Southeastern Theatre Conference. 7 p.m. Tickets $5 students, $8 adults. For more information call 439-14265.

March 9: Fitness Together Greystone 10th Anniversary. Free group classes, health tips, snacks, children’s activities including a visit from Sparkles the Clown and raffl e prizes. 2-4 p.m. For more information visit www.fi tnesstogether.com/greystone or call 981-2454.

March 16: Maggie’s Glen Hike. Oak Mountain State Park. Meet at the North Trailhead for a hike to Maggie’s Glen at 10 a.m. Three and half mile walk, easy to moderate terrain. Dress for the weather and bring water. Well behaved, leashed pets are welcome on this hike. Visit alapark.com/oakmountain for more information or call 620-2520.

March 18: Monday’s Mammals. Oak Mountain State Park. Learn about the Mammals of AL. Meet at the Campground Pavilion at 10 a.m. Visit alapark.com/oakmountain for more information or call 620-2520.

March 19: Tuesday’s Tweets. Oak Mountain State Park. Learn about the Birds of Alabama. Meet at the Treetop Nature Trail at 10 a.m. Visit alapark.com/oakmountain for more information or call 620-2520.

March 20: In the Woods Wednesday. Oak Mountain State Park. Learn about the fun things that can be discovered in the woods.

Meet at the Campground Pavilion. Bring binoculars, a nature journal, or whatever you need to help you explore. Visit alapark.com/oakmountain for more information or call 620-2520.

March 21: Tiny Treasures: Let’s get DIRTY! Oak Mountain State Park. Come dig in the dirt and turn over rocks to see the tiny creatures of the world. Meet at the Campground Pavilion at 10 a.m. Bring diggin’ tools (no huge shovels). Visit alaparks.com/oakmountain for more information or call 620-2520.

March 22: Ribbit Ribbit. Oak Mountain State Park. Come learn about the animals we call frogs and toads. Meet at the Campground Pavilion at 10 p.m. Visit alaparks.com/oakmountain for more information or call 620-2520.

March 27: Greater Shelby Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon. Jerry Ellison of the Alabama Small Business Development Center Network will speak. Pelham Civic Center. RSVP by March 25 at noon. $17 for members, $25 for future members. Visit shelbychamber.org or call 663-4542.

March 31: 6th Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Oak Mountain State Park. Fun fi lled activities – cake hop, facepainting, hayrides, hunting for eggs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Will take place at the Dogwood & Lakeside Pavilions. Egg hunt at 11a.m. for ages 5 & under and 1 p.m. for ages 6 & up. Some activities cost $1. For more information visit alaparks.com/oakmountain or call 620-2520.

Special Events March 7: First Rey of Hope Dinner and Auction. Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School fundraiser will be held at The Club. 5:30 p.m. Cash bar, live and silent auction. Individual tickets $200, tables start at $2,500. For more information call 263-0137 or email [email protected].

March 7-9: National Wheelchair Basketball Association Intercollegiate National Championship. Eight men’s teams and four women’s teams from across the country will compete at Lakeshore Foundation in Homewood. Competition begins March 7, 3 p.m. Continues March 8, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. and again March 9, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information call 313-7400 or visit lakeshore.org.

March 9: 5K Dirty Girl Mud Run. Untimed obstacle course for women 14 and up and athletic abilities. Starting time 8 a.m. at the Talladega Superspeedway. $85 registration, cancer survivors run free. For more information visit godirtygirl.com

March 9: Service Guild of Birmingham’s 25th Annual Guild Gala. Presented by Alabama Power at The Club. Black tie event with cocktails, dinner, a live auction and music. Proceeds go toward The Bell Center for Early Intervention Program. For more information contact Stacey Morales [email protected] or visittheserviceguild.org.

March 9: 3rd Annual 5K for Kids and NOBESITY Expo. Festival will include games, infl atables and health screens. Open to all runners (under 13 must be accompanied by adult).

Registration fee for 5K $20 ($25 day of race), Fun Run $10 ($15 day of race). Legion Field 8-11:30 a.m.

Easter and Holy Week Church Services

Ashbury United Methodistashburyonline.org995-1700March 28: Maunday Thursday service 6:30 p.m.March 29: Good Friday service 7 p.m.March 31: Easter sunrise service 6:30 a.m., traditional service at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Contemporary service at 9:30 a.m.

Bold Springs Presbyterian Church 991-3040March 28: Maunday Thursday service 6 p.m.March 31: Easter sunrise service 6 a.m., breakfast after service. April 6: Gospel Music Festival 4 p.m.

The Church at Brookhillsbrookhills.org313-7777March 31: Easter service 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Christ Church United Methodist christchurchtv.org991-5965March 28: Maunday Thursday Service 6 p.m.March 29: Secret Church 6 p.m.-midnight March 31: Easter service: 8:15 a.m., 10:45 a.m.

Cross Bridge Church of Christcrossbridgechurch.org991-1978

March 31: Easter service 10 a.m.

Liberty Park Baptist Churchlibertypark.org969-1236March 31: Easter service 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m.

St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic stmarkrc.org980-1810March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29: Stations of the Cross 6:30 p.m.March 28: Holy Thursday Mass 7 p.m.March 29: Stations of the Cross 12 p.m., Veneration of the Cross and Lord’s Supper 7 p.m.March 30: Easter Vigil Mass 8 p.m.March 31: Easter Mass 7:45 a.m., 10:30 a.m.

New Hope Presbyterian Church newhopecpc.org991-5252March 31: Easter sunrise service at Southern Heritage Cemetery 6:30 a.m., Sunday school 9:30 a.m., Easter Service 10:30 a.m.

Our Savior Lutheran Churchoursaviorbirmingham.com677-8642March 28: Maunday Thursday Worship 7 p.m. March 29: Good Friday. Service of the Cross 7 p.m.March 31: Easter Sunday Sunrise Service. 8 a.m., Brunch 9 a.m., Easter Morning Festival Service 10:15 a.m., Easter Egg Hunt 11:30 a.m.

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheranwww.sothl.org995-9673March 24: Palm Sunday (Procession with Palms). Worship Services 8:30

Calendar

2832 Culver Rd • 879.8278 • Mon. - Sat

Hundreds of patterns

to choose from. You pick the pattern,

we will take care of the rest.

YOUR LOCAL FABRIC RETAILER

Spring designs

are here!

Hundreds of patterns

to choose from. You pick the pattern,

we will take care of the rest.

YOUR LOCAL FABRIC RETAILER

Spring designs Spring designs Spring

are here!

Hundreds

we will take care of the rest.we will take care of the rest.


Liberty Tax is giving away tax preparation services to those who so selflessly serve, protect, educate and assist local communities.

March 4-10: Liberty Tax will honor firefighters, EMT/EMS personnel, police and law en-forcement officers with free tax preparation.

March 11-17: The Hoover office will offer all nurses, doc-tors and all hospital staff; in ad-dition to gym staff members, personal trainers, dieticians and recreational center staff the op-portunity to have their tax return

prepared for free.March 18-24: Liberty Tax

will invite teachers, daycare workers, educators and all school staff to bring their tax informa-tion into our Liberty Tax Hoover location office for free tax prepa-ration.

March 25-31: Veterans, ac-tive military, and their immediate family members will be honored with free tax preparation.

For more details, please con-tact the Hoover office at 208-0202. For your convenience, Liberty Tax accepts both walk-ins and appointments.

The Goddard Schools are operated by independent franchisees under a license agreement with Goddard Systems, Inc. Programs and ages may vary. Goddard Systems, Inc. program is AdvancED accredited. © Goddard Systems Inc. 2012

HOOVER • 205-981-8080GoddardSchool.com

NOW ENROLLING!

MAY 27TH - AUGUST 16TH • 6 WEEKS - 9 YEARS

This is the summer program for young wanderers!

If your child wants to explore the big, wide world, and you want to provide a fun learning experience…

Call Us Today!

SUMMER LEARNING

B15

a.m., 11 a.m. March 28: Maundy Thursday, Communion Worship Service, 7 p.m.March 29: Good Friday. Stations of the Cross, 6 p.m. Tenebrae (Shadows) Service, 7 p.m.March 31: Easter Sunday. Dawn Vigil Worship, 5:30 a.m. Festival Worship 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m. Breakfast/Easter Egg Hunt, 9:30-10:45 a.m. Community

ServiceSoutheastern Bible College980-1690March 29: Good Friday Service, 7 p.m. Participating churches: Christ City Church, Christian Life Church, Inverness Vineyard Church, New Hope Presbyterian Church and Korean Presbyterian Church.

Inverness Vineyard Churchinvernessvineyard.org980-1690March 31: Easter Services 9 and 11 a.m., Free brunch and family portraits 10:30-11 a.m.

Calendar

LibraryNorth Shelby Library Special Programming

March 2, 10-11:30 a.m. Lego ClubAll ages. No registration.

March 16, 10:30 a.m. Easter Egg HuntRefreshments, special prizes and a visit from a very furry guest! 11 a.m. for children under 4. No registration.

March 18-22 Spring Break CraftsStop by the Children’s Department. No registration.

March 20, 1 p.m.Homeschool Hangout: PAX Academic ExchangeAges 8-12. Registration required.

March 22, 2 p.m.Family Movie: The MuppetsSnacks served. No registration.

March 25, 6 p.m.NSL Yarn Arts HangoutOpen to all skill levels. No fee. All ages. No registration.

Story-Time Programming

Mondays, 9:30, 10:30 a.m.

Toddler Tales Registration will begin one week prior to each story time. Ages 19-36 months. Registration required.

Tuesdays, 9:30-10 a.m.Baby Tales Story TimeAges birth to 18 months. Registration required, begins one week prior to program date.

Wednesdays, 10:45 a.m.Mr. Mac (Storyteller Extraordinaire!) All ages. No registration.

Thursdays, 7 p.m.P. J. Story Time All ages. No registration.

For more, contact the Children’s Department at 439-5504 or [email protected] or visit northshelbylibrary.org/children.html

Teen Happenings

Fridays, 3:30-5:45 p.m.Gaming

March 14, 6 p.m.Anime Night

March 21, 4:30 p.m.Young Adult Writing GroupSnacks served.

March 21 28, 6 p.m.

Spring Break MovieChasing Mavericks

Call or email Kate or Daniel at 439-5512 or [email protected] for more.

Mt Laurel Public LibraryMarch 6 & 20, 10 a.m.Toddler TalesRegistration begins two weeks prior to each story-time. Age 3 and younger. Registration required.

March 6 & 20, 11 a.m.Storytime with Ms KristyAll ages. No registration required.

March 16, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.Crafty SaturdayAll ages with parent help. Registration is not required, but supplies are limited.

March 19 &21, 2-5 p.m.Spring Break CraftAll ages with parent help. Registration not required, but supplies are limited.

Contact the Mt Laurel Library at 991-1660 or [email protected] for more information or to register. Register online using the Calendar on mtlaurellibrary.org.

Liberty Tax to help community heroes with tax preparation

March classes at Birmingham Bake and CookAll classes 6:30-9 p.m., $50. Call 980-3661 to register or visit bakeandcookco.com.

March 5: Pizza Pizzazz!

March 7: An Evening in Provence with Executive Chef Jason Mezrano.

March 12: Homestyle Italian with Mark Leslie.

March 14: Deliciously Authentic Indian Cuisine. With Mukta Joshi & Himanshu Pant.

March 19: Tagine Cuisine. Explore authentic tagine cookery.

March 21: Breakfast for Dinner!

March 28: Fundamentals of Cooking Great Seafood.


205-980-4471RenaissanceConsignment.com

6801 Cahaba Valley Road (Hwy 119) 1/4 South of Hwy 280


� is is what HOME feels like.Enjoy the Rustic Luxe surroundings as you browse

easily from Clothing to Home Furnishings.

Welcome Home to Renaissance. Style Reborn for you AND your HOME.

Interested in consigning Home Furnishings? Email pictures to [email protected] for consideration.

Documents

280 Living March 2013