September 2026 | Volume 14 | Issue 5
VESTAVIA HILLS’ COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE VESTAVIAVOICE.COM | STARNESMEDIA.COM
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Brighten your day Joshua Maners carries infectious spirit into next chapter By APRIL COFFEY
J
oshua Maners is easy to notice in a room, but not for the reasons people usually expect. At Vestavia Hills High School, he was often the one greeting someone by name, laughing mid conversation or stopping to make sure someone else felt included before moving on with his day. Classmates say it was never performative — it’s just who he is. Joshua has a way of being present that people remember. Not because he demands attention but because he offers it genuinely — through greetings, humor and kindness that has followed him from middle school to graduation and now into his next chapter at Samford University’s Turning Points program. Recently graduated from Vestavia Hills High School with a 4.0 GPA, Joshua is stepping into college life with Down syndrome but without the limitations others might assume come with it. Instead, his path reflects something broader: a student fully engaged in academics, leadership, employment, friendships and community life, now continuing that journey in a structured college inclusion program designed to expand independence and opportunity. At Vestavia, Joshua built a resume that showcases service and involvement. He was a varsity bowler on a state championship team, a member of the National Honor Society and a participant in Vestavia News Network, the school’s daily broadcast program. He was also a school ambassador, mentor to younger students and volunteer with Miracle League Baseball. And this was all while he worked in multiple community and campus settings, including Vestavia Bowl, Sol Azteca, a thrift store and Samford University’s campus bookstore.
Sunlight filters through a skylight in the new Medical Properties Trust headquarters in Liberty Park. Photo by Jon Anderson
Medical Properties Trust moves into new hidden headquarters By JON ANDERSON When Medical Properties Trust founder, chairman and CEO Edward Aldag Jr. and the board of directors decided in 2019 to build a new headquarters in Liberty Park, there was a definite vision. “The vision was that we wanted to build the most environmentally friendly building we possibly could, and we wanted to build a building that was people friendly and had sunlight in as many places as we possibly could and just a place where people could come to work and enjoy being at work,” Aldag said. Now, after moving into the new 108,000-square-foot building this year, Aldag believes they accomplished their goal — and with style. The new facility, which sits at 10500 Liberty Parkway just 1.4 miles away from the previous leased headquarters in the 1000 Building on Urban Center Drive, is rife with environmental features.
Joshua Maners at his home in Vestavia Hills. Photo by David Leong.
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Fall football
Viva Vestavia
Looking ahead at the Vestavia Hills season.
Annual fundraiser for Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce features “a taste of Vestavia.”
See page B8
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A2 • September 2026
Vestavia Voice
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September 2026 • A3
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A4 • September 2026
Vestavia Voice
ABOUT US
Editor’s Note By Kyle Parmley There is something particularly serene about both the before and after of a football game. Now that football season has arrived, it takes me back to that place of anticipation, walking up to a football stadium before the big game. The band is playing, the players warming up, the energy building. No one knows what is about to unfold on that field. The game itself is great — it’s what we all truly came to see and witness ourselves. But I also find such peace in the aftermath. The bleachers cleared, the dust settled, the quiet of night descending upon the gridiron.
I call it a happy place. And it’s that time of year. I hope you were able to find this year’s Under the Lights magazine around town. If not, and you would like one, send me an email at kparmley@starnesmedia. com. Enjoy this month’s edition of the paper as well!
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Legals: Vestavia Voice is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. Vestavia Voice is designed to inform the Vestavia community of area school, family and community events. Information in Vestavia Voice is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of Vestavia Voice. 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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September 2026 • A5
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A6 • September 2026
Vestavia Voice
CITY
City Council settles gender discrimination lawsuit Vestavia Hills Police badge. Photo courtesy of Vestavia Hills Police Department.
By JON ANDERSON The Vestavia Hills City Council in August voted unanimously to settle a gender discrimination lawsuit filed by a former Vestavia Hills police officer last year. The female officer claimed that a male colleague sexually assaulted her at a co-worker’s social gathering in Hoover in May 2024 by groping her and forcibly touching her in an intimate area. She filed a sexual assault report with the Hoover Police Department and reported the incident to leaders in her department, and she claimed she was subjected to harassment and retaliation because of her criminal complaint and internal complaints in the Vestavia Hills Police Department. The female officer claims in her lawsuit that several Vestavia Hills officers spread false, derogatory rumors that she was promiscuous and had been sexually involved with a superior when she worked for another law enforcement agency. The officers also spread false rumors that she had to have a medical procedure because of scarring and physical abrasions related to certain sex acts, the lawsuit claims. One colleague shared her criminal complaint with others in the department, the suit claims. After an internal investigation, the officer who she claims assaulted her was suspended for 30 days and demoted from corporal to a patrol officer, according to the lawsuit. The female officer was placed on inactive administrative status while her allegations were investigated and told in July 2024 that she was being retroactively docked 190 hours of personal leave time for the time she spent off duty. The female officer claims that no action
was taken about the false gossip being disseminated about her sex life and that she was denied reassignment to another unit that she had requested because of what she deemed to be a hostile work environment. She resigned from the department the day after being denied the transfer in October 2024. Subsequently, the female officer claims that senior officials of the Vestavia Hills Police
Department tried to damage her prospects of gaining employment with other agencies by providing those agencies with information about her reporting a sexual assault. The city of Vestavia Hills, in its answer to the officer’s federal lawsuit, denied engaging in any unlawful employment practices and said it lacked sufficient information to characterize the interactions between the officer and the officer
whom she accused as being a sexual assault. The female officer filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in June 2025 and was notified by the EEOC she had a right to file a lawsuit, so she filed that lawsuit in September. The parties entered mediation and reached a tentative agreement to settle outside of court. The City Council on Monday signed off on paying the female officer $47,500 plus mediation costs. Mayor Ashley Curry said his instinct, especially as a former law enforcement officer with the FBI, is to fight the lawsuit. “But that’s not a responsible thing to do for the city because that could cost the city much, much more,” Curry said. The city did not admit any wrongdoing in the settlement, and it’s easier and better for the city to settle the case and move on, Curry said. City Attorney Pat Boone noted in a letter to City Manager Jeff Downes that juries can be unpredictable. In other business, the Vestavia Hills City Council approved an amendment to a development agreement with the developer of The Shoppes at City Hall shopping center that allows the shopping center to have three restaurants instead of two, as spelled out in the initial agreement. SWNA-Vestavia, the current owner of the shopping center, wants to redevelop the former Metro Diner space to accommodate a taco restaurant and a Thai restaurant, Downes said. Because there already is another restaurant in The Shoppes at City Hall — Pappas’ Grill — an amendment to the development agreement was requested.
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CITY
Mayor’s Minute By Ashley Curry I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer and that all parents and students are excited about the school year. This month, I am extremely excited that we will be revitalizing our Phoenix Program. In Greek mythology, the phoenix was a long-lived bird that was continually reborn. Associated with the sun, a phoenix obtained new life by rising from the ashes of its predecessor. This program, which originated in Vestavia Hills on July 1, 2019, is a substance abuse program that provides an opportunity for individuals who realize their addiction to seek counseling and recovery assistance through the Vestavia Hills police and fire departments. Vestavia Hills cares deeply about all of its citizens and is committed to assisting those individuals who are struggling with addiction. The program provides the missing piece of the puzzle that was so desperately needed so that assistance can be provided for anyone ready to “rise out of the ashes” of addiction to a new life. Individuals can seek assistance 24 hours per day, seven days per week by coming to any of the five Vestavia Hills fire stations or the two Vestavia Hills Police Department locations. First responders will perform an initial medical evaluation to be sure the individual does not require immediate medical assistance. Following the evaluation, a first responder will contact a participating recovery resource agency that will provide the necessary assessment and placement depending on the individual’s needs and financial ability. Millions of Americans battle some type of drug addiction. However, statistics show the number of those who seek treatment is relatively low. The ultimate goal of the Phoenix Program is to provide assistance to those who ask for help as quickly as possible. Everyone involved with the program is cognizant of the fact that in the absence of immediate assistance, an addict will return to the substance that was providing relief previously, and that can be extremely dangerous — even deadly — for the individual. Therefore, anyone seeking help can surrender any illegal substances in their possession without fear of facing criminal charges. We are committed to helping these individuals. I applaud our police and fire personnel for making this program possible.
September 2026 • A7
A8 • September 2026
Vestavia Voice
CITY
City Council debates capital priorities in budget talks By JON ANDERSON Vestavia Hills City Manager Jeff Downes on Aug. 17 presented a $146 million budget for fiscal 2027 to the City Council, and the council has been debating which capital projects should take priority. The plan Downes proposed would put $9 million toward replacing the natural turf baseball and softball fields at Liberty Park with artificial turf, $6 million toward fine arts and athletic facilities at Vestavia Hills High School, and other money to begin construction of an addition to Fire Station No. 4 in Liberty Park and begin site work for a new police operations and training center next to the Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex. But what was not included in the proposed 2027 budget was money for a new library branch/community center next to the SHAC — a project that had been part of previous spending plans. Councilwoman Kimberly Cook said she was surprised to see the $9 million for artificial turf on the fields at Liberty Park in the budget but no money for the library/community center facility. “Lots of people, including me, are probably wondering what happened to the library project,” Cook said. The City Council in January voted to do the first phase of a feasibility study for the library facility but then agreed to hold off on the study to evaluate an alternative site that has since proved to be a bad option, Cook said. “We need to complete the promised study
Ruben Aranda lines one of the baseball fields at the Liberty Park baseball/softball complex. One of the capital projects being considered for 2027 is replacing the natural turf with artificial turf at an estimated cost of $9 million. Photo by Jon Anderson.
before we commit to spend all of the funds that we have available on a different project, essentially ending the library project for the east side of the city,” Cook said. “I understand politics and that sometimes, I don’t have three votes, … but I think that it is wrong to put a $9 million
project in the budget without more discussion and without asking the public what they think.” Previous spending plans included $7 million of city money (to be combined with private donations) for a library facility in eastern Vestavia. Cook encouraged the public to speak
up at a City Council work session called for 3 p.m. Sept. 9 to discuss the budget proposal. Downes said the City Council can modify his budget proposal however it wishes. April Jackson-Maclennan, vice chairwoman of the Vestavia Hills Library Board, asked the council to complete the feasibility study because it will provide city leaders the information needed to make a thoughtful, transparent decision about future quality-of-life investments on the east side of the city. Kathleen Duquette, the newest member of the library board, said she sees the need for the ballfield improvements too. Those ballfields help the city raise money because visitors come to Vestavia Hills to play in tournaments there, but “we can do both things,” Duquette said. Mayor Ashley Curry, who is part of the City Council, said the library is still a priority, but the situation with the ballfields at Liberty Park is a crisis. The ballfields with natural turf currently get flooded, and the teams using them lose 80% of their practice time because of it, he said. “The priority for the library is still there,” Curry said. “We’ve just got to work around budgeting it to do it, and I’m going to push hard for it because I promised those ladies on the board that we’re going to have a library. We’re going to have 7,000 people in Liberty Park. It needs a library. As far as I’m concerned, we’ll get to it just as soon as we can.” Curry said he doesn’t see the need for a feasibility study. The full 2027 budget proposal can be seen at vhal.org under the government tab.
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2026 • A9
BUSINESS
Twenty-one years in, a family kitchen on Cahaba Heights Road still cooks every plate to order By KARIM SHAMSI-BASHA The first thing you notice at The Olive Branch is that you can see the cooking. The dining room opens onto the kitchen, so lunch comes with a floor show — meat turning on the vertical spit, falafel dropping into oil, pita coming off the heat while somebody calls out an order behind you. That transparency is more or less the point. Since opening in February 2005, the family-run Mediterranean restaurant at 3236 Cahaba Heights Road has built its reputation on cooking each plate after it's ordered rather than holding it under a lamp. The restaurant sits in the middle of Cahaba Heights, a short hop behind the Summit, in a stretch that has turned over considerably in two decades while The Olive Branch has stayed put. Regulars come for the gyros, the falafel, the kabobs and a hummus that turns up in a good share of the online reviews. Baklava closes most tables out. Diners who want the weather instead of the show can take the patio. The menu runs the familiar
Levantine and Greek repertoire — hummus, tzatziki, gyros, falafel, kabobs, grilled fish and salmon, pita with everything — but the kitchen's argument is about sourcing and timing rather than novelty. Fresh produce, whole cuts of meat and fish, nothing pre-assembled. It's the sort of claim every restaurant makes, and a much smaller number will let you stand there and watch. For a certain kind of Birmingham diner, the place also functions as a landmark. Twenty-one years is a long run in a market where restaurants routinely last 18 months and long enough that the customers who came in as college students now bring children of their own. Lunch is the busiest stretch, and the counter moves quickly. The kitchen closes at 8 p.m. most nights and 9 p.m. on Fridays. The Olive Branch Mediterranean Cuisine is located at 3236 Cahaba Heights Road. The restaurant opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 205-967-4600 or visit theolivebranchbham.com.
The Olive Branch has been a staple in Cahaba Heights for 21 years. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
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A10 • September 2026
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September 2026 • A11
A12 • September 2026
Vestavia Voice
BUSINESS
Business Happenings NOW OPEN
development agreement with Walmart to support the new construction and provide a tax rebate during a 10-year period. No construction or opening date has been announced. Walmart Neighborhood Market offers groceries, bakery and deli items, pharmacy and general merchandise services. walmart.com
Aspen and Ash Collective opened at 4274 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 225, as a luxury co-working space for independent stylists, makeup artists and nail technicians. The space offers eight stations, shampoo bowls, towel service, a snack/coffee bar, wine/water fridge, a breakroom and more for stylists looking to become their own bosses. The stylists at the salon offer services including extensions, coloring and smoothing treatments, and stylists can also reserve the space to teach classes. Owner Krystal Millender has been in the salon industry for more than two decades, with 11 of those years being spent as an independent stylist. 205-994-0864, aspenandashcollective.com
COMING SOON The owners of the Ace Hardware store in Crestline Park will start construction on Compton Ace Hardware in The Bray at Liberty Park off Collier Drive by the end of the year and open for business in about 12 months. The Compton family has owned Compton Ace Hardware at 4500 Montevallo Road for four years and been in the convenience store business for 47 years. The Vestavia Hills store will have between 12,000 to 15,000 square feet, making it larger than the Crestline Park store. The Bray is a 700-acre mixed-use development conceived by the Liberty Park Joint Venture. acehardware.com Walmart will redevelop the property at 3925 Crosshaven Drive in the Cahaba Heights community to open a Walmart Neighborhood Market. Winn-Dixie closed its store at the location in May 2025, and the site has remained vacant since then. Walmart plans to demolish the existing structure and build a new 45,000-squarefoot Walmart Neighborhood Market in its place. The Vestavia Hills City Council approved an economic
Do you have business news to share? Let us know at starnesmedia.com/ business-happenings
ANNIVERSARIES
Aspen and Ash Collective
The Dance Factory is celebrating its 40th season at its Cahaba Heights studio at 3220 Bearden Court. Founded by Genia Waller, The Dance Factory has been serving the Vestavia Hills community since 1987 and offers dance instruction for students of all ages. They offer dance classes including ballet, tap, tumbling, hip hop, jazz and contemporary. Founder Waller began dancing when she was six years old and teaching at 13 before opening The Dance Factory when she was 25. The Dance Factory is open Monday through Thursday from 1- 7:30 p.m. 205-967-3384, thedancefactory.biz Sharp Wellness is celebrating the fourth anniversary at its location at 3109 Blue Lake Drive, Suite 205, which is across from Lifetime and Publix. The holistic counseling practice focuses on the mind, body and soul to help clients live their best lives. They offer services for things like anxiety, couples, life transitions, parenting, postpartum depression, grief, trauma, men’s and women’s issues, stress management and more. Sharp Wellness also has locations in Texas and Florida. They offer both virtual and in-person sessions and are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 205-383-6650, sharpwellnessandcounseling.com
Ace Hardware
Rub-a-Dub-Dog Bathhouse and Spa, at 1917 Oxmoor Road, Suite 100, in Homewood, is celebrating its 19th anniversary and is now accepting new clients with dogs
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VestaviaVoice.com
September 2026 • A13
BUSINESS a quick turnaround time. John Sasser Opticians offers glasses brands including Costa Del Mar, Ray-Ban, Polo Ralph Lauren, private label frames and more. They are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 205-979-4730, johnsasseropticians.com
Davenport’s Pizza Palace opened its Vestavia Hills location five years ago at 700 Montgomery Highway, Suite 193. The restaurant offers a family atmosphere with pizzas, salads and beverages. The original Davenport’s opened in Mountain Brook in 1964 by Rex and Ardyce Hollis. Davenport’s Pizza Palace in Vestavia is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 205-407-4747, davenportspizza.com
The Dance Factory
up to 60 pounds. Existing clients are welcome to add dogs of any size. Founded by Catherine Bres originally as Generation Dog: Where Dogs Are Family, the boutique started with do-it-yourself bathtubs and a room with one grooming table and has only grown since then. They offer services including bathing, brushing, de-shedding, haircuts, deep conditioning and nail trims for dogs from surrounding areas including Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook and Homewood. Rub-a-Dub-Dog Bathhouse and Spa is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 205-870-5085, rubadubdogspa.com
Core Chiropractic Davenport’s Pizza Palace
Core Chiropractic, at 2828 Old 280 Court in Vestavia Hills, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. They provide services for back pain, herniated discs, neck pain, pinched nerves, sciatic pain, headaches and more. The practice was previously located at 4851 Cahaba River Road, Suite 103. Core Chiropractic is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 205-440-2121, corebirmingham.com John Sasser Opticians, at 1009 Montgomery Highway, Suite 101, is celebrating its 41st year of serving the community for their optical needs. They offer an in-store manufacturing lab for all prescription lenses to provide
John Sasser Opticians
Your Hometown Firefighter Has You Covered Honest, Reliable HVAC Service for Vestavia Owned and operated by Adam, a full-time firefighter who brings the same dedication to your comfort that he brings to the job. We pride ourselves on quality customer service and strive every day to earn your business. Give us a call today for all your heating and cooling needs.
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A14 • September 2026
Vestavia Voice
BUSINESS
Recently sold homes in Vestavia Hills
► ADDRESS: 1842 Shades Crest Road ► BED/BATH: 4/4 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 5,156 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Vestavia Hills ► LIST PRICE: $1,999,900 ► SALE PRICE: $2,050,000
► ADDRESS: 2258 Shady Creek Trail ► BED/BATH: 4/3 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,272 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Comer Estates ► LIST PRICE: $824,900 ► SALE PRICE: $850,000
► ADDRESS: 766 Hampden Place Circle ► BED/BATH: 5/4 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,153 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Liberty Park ► LIST PRICE: $769,900 ► SALE PRICE: $800,000
► ADDRESS: 3300 Circle Hill Road ► BED/BATH: 4/3 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,597 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Vestavia East ► LIST PRICE: $775,000 ► SALE PRICE: $775,000
► ADDRESS: 1800 Laurel Road ► BED/BATH: 4/3 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,047 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Vestavia Hills ► LIST PRICE: $594,900 ► SALE PRICE: $590,000
► ADDRESS: 2461 Kenvil Circle ► BED/BATH: 4/2 ► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,982 sq. ft. ► NEIGHBORHOOD: Near McCallum Park ► LIST PRICE: $499,000 ► SALE PRICE: $550,000
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VestaviaVoice.com
September 2026 • A15
2026 FALL
MEDICAL GUIDE
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT HORMONE BALANCE • AESTHETICS Wellness means something different to each individual, Our goal is to meet you where you are.
GLP-1s are not just for weight loss at Vulcan Wellness & Aesthetics The skilled, caring physicians at Vulcan Wellness & Aesthetics in Vestavia Hills have helped patients manage weight successfully with GLP-1s since opening in 2023. But GLP-1s are no longer just for weight loss, and Vulcan Wellness now offers exciting new GLP-1 Microdosing & Metabolic Optimization Consultations. “Emerging research suggests that GLP-1s may also support overall metabolic health and provide benefits beyond the number on the scale,” says Dr. Carson Rowell, a board-certified Internal Medicine physician at Vulcan Wellness. “We’re excited because lowerdose therapy may help patients who want to improve their overall health or support healthy habits.” Research suggests GLP-1s may benefit the heart, liver and kidneys, improve mobility, boost metabolic wellness and healthy aging, and have a positive effect on such conditions as high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
This means that a consultation at Vulcan Wellness is ideal for patients who take a proactive approach to long-term health. In addition, Dr. Rowell and the other physicians at Vulcan Wellness love what they are able to do for their patients. “Helping people improve their health, gain confidence and feel their best is incredibly rewarding,” Dr. Rowell says. “It’s a privilege to partner with our patients as they work toward healthier, more fulfilling lives.” To learn all about GLP-1s, call us today at 205-438-6009 or go to vulcanwell. com to schedule your consultation.
Vulcan Wellness & Aesthetics ► Where: 2015 Kentucky Ave., Vestavia Hills ► Call: 205-438-6009 ► Web: vulcanwell.com
Katherine Lewis, MS, RD, Erin Rowell, MD, Carson Rowell, MD, Brytney Cobia, MD, Thomas Lewis, MD
Schedule your appointment by calling (205) 438-6009 or visit www.vulcanwell.com
2015 Kentucky Ave Vestavia Hills
A16 • September 2026
FALL MEDICAL GUIDE SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
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an advanced certification in women’s hormone health from the Academy for Advanced Women’s Health Medicine. At Icona Health, women reclaim their energy and mood, even during menopause or perimenopause, and men restore their strength and sexual drive. “We get men and women feeling like themselves again,” Alan says. “We’re both passionate about helping women and men — especially in midlife when hormones are shifting,” Amy says. “It often seems to coincide with other stressful life situations, such as parenting kids, and getting treatment can make a big impact on how women and men feel.”
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Vestavia Voice
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FALL MEDICAL GUIDE
September 2026 • A17
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Two decades of hands-on care, one founding idea Steve Foster had practiced physical therapy for 26 years when he decided the profession was drifting from what made it work. Care was consolidating into larger operations with busier schedules, and the therapist who evaluated a patient was not always the one who treated them. So in the summer of 2006, Foster opened a clinic of his own and built it around a single promise: hands-on care, close to a patient’s home or work. Twenty years later, TherapySouth operates more than 50 clinics across Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi, with a clinical staff numbering in the hundreds and a footprint that runs from the Shoals to the Gulf Coast. It has grown into one of the largest physical therapy practices in the region while remaining what it was on day one, a private practice owned by the therapists who work in it. Foster, a 1980 graduate of UAB’s physical therapy program, continues to lead the company as chairman and chief executive, alongside Doug Cole, president and chief operating officer; Nathan Click, chief clinical officer; and board partners Josh Steed, Allison Fowlkes and Alan Spooner. The company that now spans three states began as a single clinic and a conviction. Foster’s model asked
ARMIN HORNIKEL, PT, DPT CLINIC DIRECTOR, VESTAVIA therapists to build careers in the communities where they practiced, treating the same neighbors through injuries, surgeries and the long project of staying active. Twenty years is long enough that some patients have come back with their parents or their kids in tow. The growth strategy reads like a contradiction. TherapySouth got big by staying small, multiplying modest neighborhood clinics instead of
building regional hubs. The reasoning is clinical rather than commercial. Physical therapy typically requires two or three visits a week, and outcomes depend on patients showing up. A clinic five minutes from home tends to see completed treatment plans. A clinic 40 minutes away sees cancellations. In this model, convenience is a medical outcome, and location is part of the prescription. Patients tend to notice the difference before they can explain it. The clinics are deliberately informal, closer in feel to a neighborhood gym than a medical office, and new patients are welcome to walk in and look around before booking an appointment. The front desk greets returning patients by name. The therapist who performs the initial evaluation stays with the case, pairing skilled manual treatment with a home exercise program and coordinating with physicians along the way. No referral is required to schedule a first visit. And the specialty menu runs deeper than many expect, from dry needling and sports rehabilitation to certified hand therapy, pelvic health, balance training and post-surgical recovery. Every clinic hangs the same sign, listing eight core values with faith at the top, followed by family, integrity, service, compassion, fitness,
perseverance and giving. The company backs the words with TherapySouth Gives Back, a nonprofit that provides therapy equipment to people who cannot otherwise obtain it and lends support after natural disasters, and with mission work that has reached Guatemala, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Honduras and China. Closer to home, it funds scholarships at UAB and Samford and partners with groups like the Birmingham Track Club. The anniversary story in these pages promises 20 years of getting you back to what you love, and the company can point to two decades of first steps after surgery, finish lines and everyday victories behind the claim. The founding test remains the simpler one. TherapySouth enters its third decade the way it entered its first, with a therapist at the top of the organization and a standard anyone can check at the front door: when a patient walks in, somebody knows their name. Vestavia Hills holds one of those doors. The clinic at 1944 Canyon Road sits in the heart of the city’s main commercial stretch. Appointments are available at 205-822-7607.
A18 • September 2026
Vestavia Voice
MANERS
CONTINUED from page A1 But even that list does not fully describe how people talk about him. “Everybody loves Joshua,” said family friend David Leong. “He is one of the most well-loved people in the senior class.” The words most often used to describe him — friendly, adaptable, hardworking — are accurate. But they are also incomplete. His best friend Tatum Osborne tried to put language to what those words miss. “The words ‘resilient,’ ‘friendly,’ ‘funny,’ ‘loving’ and ‘deep thinker’ don’t quite adequately describe my friend Joshua, but they are as close as I can get,” she said. “He loves unconditionally and always knows how to make me laugh. He has never met a stranger and seems to know exactly when someone needs a high five or a smile. He understands emotions deeply and is there for me when I am struggling. People are often surprised by his depth and emotional capacity when they speak with him.” Her words reflect something that those who know Joshua recognize quickly: his ability to connect is not surface level. It is intuitive, steady and deeply relational. Tatum’s friendship with Joshua began in middle school and grew into one of the defining relationships of his high school years. She included him in dances, school events and celebrations, making sure he had a place in moments that are not always naturally inclusive for every student. Over time, that friendship became something larger than companionship. “Joshua stretches me in ways for which I will be eternally grateful,” she said. “My passion for advocacy and inclusion has grown from watching the life Joshua lives and the desires he holds. I would not be the same person I am today without our friendship.” She added that his life has challenged her thinking about ability and worth. “He doesn’t have as many opportunities as some of his peers solely because he happens to have Down syndrome. He has taught me to reject the idea of ranking people based upon their perceived ability level. The Lord’s mission for our lives is to worship Him and make His name known, and my friendship with Joshua has given practical direction and purpose to that mission in my life.” Those reflections sit alongside the more visible parts of Joshua’s high school experience — athletics, leadership and work — but together they create a fuller picture of how he has moved through his community: not on the margins of participation but in its center. On the bowling team, he was part of a state championship run under Coach Todd Evans, a coach his family says treated him not as an exception but as a teammate. That sense of belonging extended into leadership roles as a school ambassador, where Joshua greeted guests and helped guide visitors at school events. It also extended into Vestavia News Network, where he worked in production and broadcast roles, contributing to the daily rhythm of student media. He was also sometimes humorously known as the team’s “Director of Snacks,” a title that reflected both his personality and his place within the group: someone trusted, included and relied upon. Outside of school, Joshua’s involvement in the community was equally consistent. He worked internships and part-time jobs that gave him experience in real workplace environments. At Samford University’s campus bookstore, he stocked merchandise and greeted customers. At Sol Azteca, he helped serve guests and maintain dining spaces. At Vestavia Bowl, he assisted with equipment and operations. At the humane society, he supported animal care tasks like cleaning bowls, washing towels and helping visitors. Each role carried different responsibilities, but together they point to something central about Joshua: He shows up. His mother, Allison Maners, describes that presence as something that has shaped their entire family.
Joshua Maners’ infectious spirit will follow him from his Vestavia Hills High School days to Samford University, as part of the school’s Turning Points program this fall. Photos by David Leong.
“Having a child with Down syndrome was the greatest gift that I didn’t know I would want or need,” she said. “We didn’t know he had DS until he was born. We were scared of the unknown but pressed into the Lord, fully trusting Him to show us the way. He has brought nothing but joy to our lives and anyone he is close to.” She recalls moments that revealed his instinctive empathy, including one from his early childhood that happened at Children’s Hospital. In the waiting room, a man sat near Joshua and his mother. The man was withdrawn and pulled his hood over his face. While the adults kept their distance, Joshua — about four years old at the time — walked over and placed his hand on the man. By the end of the visit, the man was laughing and playing along with Joshua. “It was a huge lesson for me,” his mother wrote. “I saw an ominous, dirty person … Joshua saw a beautiful soul.” That perspective — seeing people without pretense or ranking — has followed him into every stage of life, and now, it follows him into college. Joshua is entering Samford University’s Turning Points program, an initiative designed to include students with disabilities in full campus life while helping them build academic, vocational and independent living skills. The program places students in classes, internships and social experiences alongside peers with the goal of meaningful employment and greater independence. For Joshua, that means something simple and exciting: being part of college life. He has already expressed interest in working out at the gym, attending campus events, making new friends and participating in traditions like Step Sing and fraternity rush. He is familiar with the campus rhythm due to his time working in the bookstore — but this time he returns as a student. His goals are not complicated. “I love to flirt,” Joshua said, smiling and laughing. “He really does,” his mother laughed. “One of his main goals is to earn his ‘Mr.’ degree at Samford! Joshua has always said he wants to be a husband and a dad when he grows up.” But he wants more: a job, friends and a life filled with connection. When asked what he wants people to know about him, Joshua easily said, “That I am nice.” At Vestavia Hills High School, graduates of 2026 voted him the “most likely to brighten your day” in one of the largest graduating classes in the school’s history. And as soon as you meet him, you understand that it is the perfect description for him.
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2026 • A19
A20 • September 2026
Vestavia Voice
TRUST
CONTINUED from page A1 It has a net zero carbon and net zero energy footprint, producing 105% of the power needed to run the building with more than 1,000 solar energy panels mounted across the roof of a 200space parking structure, Aldag said. There are two 1,200-kilowatt-hour battery systems providing emergency redundancy and energy use efficiency. Medical Properties Trust is connected to Alabama Power’s energy grid as a backup but actually produces more power than the building needs and sells that excess to Alabama Power, Aldag said.
RAINWATER CAPTURED
Beneath the parking deck are two 25,000gallon cisterns used to capture rainwater to provide water for the building. The building has its own filtration system and, combined with high-efficiency water fixtures, it uses 70% less water than a typical office building of its size, the company said. Only the landscaping irrigation system and fire sprinkler system use water from Central Alabama Water, Aldag said. And there is a 50% reduction in irrigation water use compared to a typical office building, achieved through the use of native plantings and an efficient irrigation system, said his son, Edward Aldag III, who works for Johnson Health Care Real Estate, which served as the construction management firm for the project. The new headquarters disturbed only 13% of the 56-acre site, preserving the rest as a piedmont upland forest where a Drummond Co. coal mine was in operation until 1945, Aldag said. Neighbors from the adjacent residential sections of Liberty Park were concerned the property was going to be stripped like the commercial land for The Bray at Liberty Park, but Medical Properties Trust was careful to carve out only the space it needed, the elder Aldag said. Also, instead of building a towering structure, Medical Properties Trust’s new headquarters is built down into the ground. It’s not visible from Liberty Parkway, and even when you follow the winding driveway to the building, the structure remains almost invisible from the driveway due to the heavy landscaping cover.
ALABAMA LIMESTONE
The building features limestone quarried from Muscle Shoals, and wood elements throughout the project include Douglas fir, southern yellow pine, spruce pine fir and walnut species, all contributing to the net zero carbon target, Aldag said. Medical Properties Trust is seeking certification as a net zero carbon and net zero energy facility from the International Living Future Institute, LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, and WELL Gold certification from the International WELL Building Institute. “This was our one big opportunity to really build something that will save the planet, if you will,” Aldag said. “Do everything we can to protect the environment.” That’s important to him, the board of directors and the company’s investors, especially its European investors, he said. “We had an opportunity to show our commitment to this world and to the environment,” Aldag said. “We took a piece of property that almost 75 years ago was a coal mine and repurposed it. We didn’t cut every tree on the piece of property. We made it a real nice place for the community.” The architectural firm for the project, Perkins & Will, really captured the essence of what Medical Properties Trust was seeking to do, Aldag said. “We just hit it off with them. They understood the vision,” he said. “The architects dubbed it the ‘unoffice office,’ and I think they nailed it.” Hoar Construction was the general contractor for the job.
EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING
Aldag said he’s most proud of the way the building is designed with employee well-being in mind. Skylights and windows allow each employee work station to be within 25 feet of sunlight, he said. “It’s a healthy building,” Aldag said. “It
Medical Properties Trust founder, chairman and CEO Edward Aldag Jr. at the new headquarters, which is built into the ground to blend into the environment and have a minimal impact. Photos by Jon Anderson.
This is the view as you drive up to the 108,000-square-foot building that is built into the ground and largely hidden.
provides sunlight for everyone. It’s open space. Other than the exterior walls and glass walls, there aren’t many walls around. Coming to work in this building is healthier than somebody going to work in a typical office building.” About 100 employees work in the building, but the auditorium is big enough to hold companywide meetings that include the 50 or so employees who work around the world, he said. There are about 20 employees in London, about 20 in Luxembourg and about 10 in New York City. The headquarters also includes a cafeteria, fitness room with weights, yoga studio, meditation areas and mothers’ rooms. The building houses executive offices as well as employees in acquisitions, asset management, accounting and human resources.
HISTORY & GROWTH
Medical Properties Trust, established in 2003, is the second-largest nongovernmental owner of hospital beds in the world, with about 38,000 beds and assets totaling $14.7 billion. About 60% of the company’s assets are acute-care hospitals, but MPT also has behavioral health facilities and post-acute facilities such as rehabilitation hospitals. There are roughly 200 in the United States and 200 in other countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Finland, Portugal and Colombia. While MPT owns the hospitals and other health care facilities, it doesn’t operate them. It leases the facilities back to operators. The company has had a compounded annual growth rate of 15% since the end of 2012, which coincides with its international expansion. Assets grew quickly to more than $20 billion in 2021, but acquisitions came to a standstill during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the company had to deal with the bankruptcy of its largest tenant, Steward Health Care, in 2024. It was the largest health care bankruptcy in U.S. history, according to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. “It was a very painful bankruptcy,” Aldag said. “As the landlord, it hit us, too. We didn’t get our properties back to retenant them until September 2024.” But all of those properties have new tenants in them now, he said. MPT last year did about $100 million in acquisitions and is growing again, he said. The difficult circumstances did not impact construction of the new headquarters, Aldag said. But some delays in the availability of
More than 1,000 solar panels — installed on top of an underground parking deck — provide energy for the building.
The auditorium has nature as a backdrop and natural lighting source.
materials did cause construction to last about a year more than anticipated, he said. MPT finally got all Birmingham area employees into the building by March 1, the younger Aldag said. There is room to add more employees there if needed in the future, Aldag said. Growth was the primary reason behind the new headquarters, he said. Since moving from the Colonnade to Liberty Park in 2004, MPT had simply outgrown the two floors it was leasing in the 1000 Building at the Urban Center, he said. “We were literally sitting on top of each other.” MPT didn’t disclose how much the new building cost, but an early plan indicated a $150
million budget, making it the most expensive commercial project ever in Vestavia Hills, according to city officials. The company plans to add walking trails on some of its undeveloped property and donate the land to the city as parkland if the city wants to accept it, Aldag said. There is a creek on the property that leads to the nearby Cahaba River. “People is everybody’s most important asset, and it’s important that we provided a place that is healthy and that is as enjoyable as we possibly can for people to come to work,” Aldag said. “I tell everybody all the time you spend more awake hours at work than you do at home. It’s just a fact of life. We wanted to have a place where people are happy, and I think we accomplished that.”
MPT NEW HEADQUARTERS
MEDICAL PROPERTIES TRUST
► Address: 10500 Liberty Parkway ► 108,000-square-foot office and amenity building ► 200-space parking structure ► Built down into the ground instead of up ► Net zero carbon and net zero energy footprint ► More than 1,000 solar panels ► Two 25,000-gallon rainwater cisterns ► On-site water treatment ► 87% of 56-acre site undisturbed
► Founded: 2003 ► Business: Owns roughly 400 hospitals and health care facilities, 200 in the United States and 200 abroad ► Hospital beds: 38,000 ► Assets: $14.7 billion ► Countries: United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Finland, Colombia, Portugal ► Growth: 15.2% compounded annual growth rate since 2012
NEED FOR SPACE
B SECTION
Schoolhouse B2 Sports B8 Events B12 Life B14
SEPTEMBER 2026
A distinction worth celebrating: Vestavia Hills City Schools earns top global accreditation honor By APRIL COFFEY From classrooms filled with curiosity to a community invested in every student’s success, Vestavia Hills City Schools has earned a worldclass recognition that reflects the dedication of an entire city. Vestavia Hills City Schools is now counted among an elite group of educational institutions across the globe after earning “Accredited with Distinction” from the Cognia Global Commission — the highest accreditation status a school system can achieve. The honor represents more than a designation on paper. The achievement is a testament to the teachers, administrators, staff members, students, families and community members whose shared commitment helps make Vestavia Hills a place where students are encouraged to grow and excel. All nine schools within the Vestavia Hills City Schools system earned the distinction, along with the district as a whole. According to Cognia’s official recognition list, VHCS is the only public school district in Alabama to receive the “Accredited with Distinction” designation during this accreditation cycle and is among only about 65 institutions worldwide to achieve the honor this year. “This recognition of Accredited with Distinction is a testament to the exceptional teachers, administrators and staff who serve the students in Vestavia Hills City Schools,” Superintendent Todd Freeman said. “It also is an acknowledgement of the unparalleled support we receive from our parents and the community.”
The distinction is especially significant because it marks the first year Cognia has introduced a tiered accreditation system. Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, Cognia moved from a single accreditation designation to a four-level system designed to recognize varying levels of educational quality and performance. Achieving the highest level required VHCS to undergo an extensive review process. Cognia evaluators examined the district’s performance through the organization’s Index of Education Quality (IEQ) and conducted a rigorous on-site Accreditation Engagement Review with independent external evaluators. To earn “Accredited with Distinction,” institutions must demonstrate that they exceed numerous Cognia performance standards, such as engagement in learning, school culture, stakeholder involvement and student achievement. Schools must provide extensive documentation and evidence in all evaluated areas. Cognia accreditation is recognized nationally and internationally and is supported by three U.S. regional accrediting agencies: the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). Cognia serves more than 40,000 public and private institutions in more than 100 countries and territories. For Vestavia Hills, the achievement is a celebration of the people behind the district’s success. It honors educators who inspire students,
Vestavia Hills High School. Staff photo.
families who provide encouragement and support and a community that continues to prioritize excellence in education. While the “Accredited with Distinction” title places VHCS among the best school systems in
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B2 • September 2026
Vestavia Voice
SCHOOLHOUSE GET TO KNOW
VHHS dance department thrives under homegrown leadership By APRIL COFFEY Charity Jones graduated from BirminghamSouthern College in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in dance education and completed her student teaching at Vestavia Hills High School that year, returning the following spring as a maternity-leave substitute. She began her teaching career as dance director and varsity dance team coach at Hoover High School in 2007 before returning to VHHS in 2017 to teach Introduction to Dance 1 and coach the JV Rebelette Dance Team. She has since taken on the varsity Rebelette coaching role and now teaches full time on the VHHS main campus. Jones is beginning her 20th year of teaching dance in the public school system. Q: What first inspired your love of dance? What led you to become the head of the dance department at Vestavia Hills High School? A: Of all the options available to children at a young age, dance was the one thing that I felt that I excelled at. My mother was also a dancer and began an after-school dance program at the Catholic School in my hometown. I began assisting her with dance classes there at the age of 11, and that really helped to lead me into the direction of becoming a teacher. As I entered high school, I mainly focused on ballet, attending classes at Mobile Ballet and Dance Theatre of Daphne. The Dance Department at Birmingham Southern College was a ballet-based program, and it was also the only school in the state that provided a Dance Education degree. Upon graduating from BSC and completing my
student teaching at VHHS, I always knew that it was a school system that I wanted to be a part of! Faith Lenhart, the VHHS Dance Department Director from 2000-2022, presented me with the opportunity to come back to Vestavia in the fall of 2016, and when she moved to the BOE in the fall of 2022, I moved into the Dance Department director position. Coming back to Vestavia was really a full circle moment for me. As I said, upon completing my student teaching in the fall of 2004, I knew I wanted to teach again in Vestavia but just never imagined I would have the chance. I am very grateful for all the opportunities that have presented themselves to me over the years. Q: What have your students taught you over the years? A: Something I have learned from students is that they just want someone to listen to them. They love to talk, and if you will listen and not judge, they will seek your advice and maybe actually take it at times. Q: What goals do you have for the future of the dance department? A: I hope the Dance Department at VHHS continues to flourish and grow. For the 25-26 school year, there were over 150 dance students between the Freshman Campus and the Main Campus. There were 45 members inducted into the National Honor Society for Dance Arts, bringing our total membership to 120 participants. I hope to see these numbers continue to grow and our program get even stronger. For the full Q&A, visit VestaviaVoice.com.
2025-2026 Impulse Dance company students teaching at the Vestavia Hills freshman campus. Photos courtesy of Charity Jones.
The 2026-2027 Varsity Rebelettes at NDA Camp in June.
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VestaviaVoice.com
September 2026 • B3
SCHOOLHOUSE
Superintendent Todd Freeman speaks at chamber luncheon By APRIL COFFEY On the first day of school, while most parents are thinking about schedules, backpacks and whether everyone remembered where they're supposed to be, the fifth grade son of Vestavia Hills City Schools Superintendent Todd Freeman was already looking ahead. Freeman and his wife, Rachel, were taking their son to meet his teacher when the student offered this bit of perspective: “Boy, I bet our end-of-the-year party is gonna be great. That's something to look forward to.” Freeman laughed as he told the story at the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Aug. 11, the day before elementary students returned to school. It was a funny way to begin a conversation about the serious business of educating children. But it also seemed fitting. One word kept resurfacing in Freeman’s remarks: challenge. Challenge the students. Challenge the educators. Challenge the school system. And challenge the community to imagine what is possible when everyone rises to meet it. Freeman framed his vision for Vestavia Hills City Schools around four C's: care, competencies, character and community. It begins with care. More than 500 teachers, along with counselors, administrators, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, security personnel and countless others, come to work each day with the same responsibility: taking care of Vestavia's children. Freeman called the district's people its most important investment. But caring also means
Vestavia Hills City Schools Superintendent Todd Freeman is shown at an event last year. He was the featured speaker at the August Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Staff photo.
caring enough to expect more. That leads naturally to the second C: competencies. Vestavia students are being challenged to stretch beyond what they already know. Opportunities for students to participate in advanced courses have expanded dramatically in the middle grades. Students at Vestavia Hills High School can now choose from more than 30 Advanced Placement courses and a growing number of dual-enrollment options. The district is also expanding opportunities in robotics, cybersecurity, computer science, health science, broadcasting and STEAM.
The message is clear: If students are ready for more, give them more. The point isn't simply to put more classes on a transcript. It is to recognize potential and challenge students to discover what they can do. The same expectation applies to adults. The third C — character — is where the classroom extends farthest into the community. Vestavia students volunteer at the Miracle League, spend time with seniors, help neighbors and find ways to serve people who need a hand. Through the high school's RISE program, students raised more than $217,000 this year
for pediatric cancer efforts. That brings the fourth C: community. Freeman challenged parents and residents to come inside the schools and see what is happening for themselves. “Don't just read about education,” he said. “Don't rely on a single story or snapshot.”The same invitation extends beyond the schoolhouse. Freeman pointed to the partnerships already helping Vestavia schools thrive — like the Chamber, the schools' Foundation, PTO, local businesses and the city of Vestavia Hills. The city and school system are separate entities, he noted, but they share a common goal: creating a community where families want to live, work and raise their children. That partnership will become increasingly important as the district begins looking at the future of Vestavia Hills High School. The 56-year-old campus presents challenges, particularly as academic, career-tech, arts and other programs continue to evolve. Freeman isn't pretending there are easy answers. Instead, he is asking the community to help imagine what comes next. He invited Chamber members to take part in an upcoming visioning process focused on the high school and encouraged local businesses, parents and community leaders to bring their ideas, talents and resources to the table. The challenges ahead are real. So is the opportunity. And if the first day of school is any indication, Vestavia's students are ready to see what they can do. They may even be thinking about that endof-the-year party already.
B4 • September 2026
Education Guide
Special Advertising Section
2026 Education Guide special advertising section
Experience the difference at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School At Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School (OLS School), we’re more than just a school — we’re a family. Our close-knit community of students, families and staff creates a nurturing, faith-filled environment where every child is seen, supported and celebrated — from 3K through eighth grade. This unique family atmosphere allows us to foster the religious, academic and social development of each student in ways that set us apart from other schools. A CHRIST-CENTERED EDUCATION ROOTED IN EXCELLENCE Our comprehensive academic curriculum is grounded in Christian values and enriched with opportunities that help students grow in both faith and knowledge. Highlights of our offerings include: ► Advanced Math & STEM Program ► Robotics (including a competitive after-school team) ► Spanish Language Instruction ► Fine Arts & Leadership Development ► Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Atrium) ► Competitive Athletics ► Before & After-School Care Younger students benefit from a healthy hallway sensory path designed to support early development, while all students — from preschool through eighth grade — enjoy an immersive library experience that fosters a love of reading and lifelong learning. Additionally, we offer student support services, including resource teachers, to ensure that each child receives the academic guidance they need to thrive. ACCREDITED. ACCLAIMED. ACHIEVING. OLS School is proudly accredited by Cognia, underscoring our commitment
OUR LADY OF SORROWS CATHOLIC SCHOOL ► Grades: 3K-8 ► Where: 1720 Oxmoor Road ► Call: 205-879-3237 ► Web: olsschool.com
to academic excellence. Many of our graduates go on to receive prestigious scholarships and academic honors, including recognition as National Merit Scholar finalists — testament to the strong academic foundation they receive at OLS School. COME SEE THE OLS DIFFERENCE We invite you to discover what makes OLS School such a special place. Learn more at olsschool.com or schedule a personal tour by calling 205-879-3237. Tuition assistance is available. We are committed to working with families to explore options for making an OLS School education accessible. At OLS School, we’re growing our children in knowledge and faith every day!
Vestavia Voice
VestaviaVoice.com
Education Guide
Special Advertising Section
September 2026 • B5
More than a strong education: preparing students for a changing world What if an excellent education could also offer something different? At Highlands School, students experience rigorous academics within a diverse, close-knit community designed to challenge, support and inspire them. Serving students from infancy through eighth grade, Highlands combines academic excellence with opportunities that develop confident individuals, thoughtful citizens and lifelong learners. Learning extends beyond traditional academics. Students engage in projectbased learning, STEM and STEAM, leadership opportunities and hands-on experiences that encourage curiosity, critical thinking and collaboration. Beginning in the early grades, students also explore three world languages — Chinese, French and Spanish — building cultural awareness and a global perspective from an early age. Set on a 12-acre wooded campus, Highlands gives students room to learn, explore and grow. Outdoor spaces,
HIGHLANDS SCHOOL ► Grades: PK-8 ► Where: 4901 Old Leeds Rd., Birmingham ► Call: 205-956-9731 ► Web: highlandsschool.org
gardens, playgrounds, a soccer field and walking trails become an extension of the classroom and provide opportunities for discovery, connection and play. Diversity is central to the Highlands experience, with students learning alongside peers from different backgrounds and perspectives. Within our tight-knit community, students are known as individuals and encouraged to discover their strengths. Come experience Highlands for yourself. Schedule a tour and discover what makes a Highlands education different.
The Altamont School puts the focus on integrity and compassion The Altamont School’s rigorous academic challenges, athletic and arts opportunities, plus individualized college search program are just a few of the benefits that give our students outstanding preparation for higher education and professional leadership. One hundred percent of graduates are accepted into four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad. The 51 graduates of the Class of 2026 were accepted to 137 colleges and earned $8,424,064 in scholarship offers. The light, open architecture of Altamont’s campus is inspired by the natural beauty of its 28-acre wooded
THE ALTAMONT SCHOOL ► Grades: 5-12 ► Where: 4801 Altamont Rd. S. ► Call: 205-879-2006 ► Web: altamontschool.org
campus atop Birmingham’s Red Mountain. Unique academic, athletic and arts facilities give every student opportunities to explore new ideas and talents. We would love to welcome you for a tour! Start here. Go anywhere!
B6 • September 2026
Education Guide
Special Advertising Section
Vestavia Voice
Red Mountain Theatre offers fun, low-cost classes for kids and adults
Gross Out Fresh Air Family field trips!
Enjoy yourself at any age with Red Mountain Theatre classes. Studies show that arts education enhances children’s development and academic success — and it’s not just singing or dancing. The arts teach teamwork, focus, discipline and collaboration. At RMT, our after-school classes allow kids to try out a new skill or pursue their love of theatre. Beginning Sept. 15, RMT will offer acting and dance classes for grades 2-12. Most classes are just $10 per hour when purchased as a bundle, and financial aid is available for any child who qualifies. “In this past year, we’ve had over 1,000 students in our theatre camps and classes,” says Anna Lynn Starr, RMT Academy Manager. “From our little ones conquering their stage fright, to our teens developing their craft, to our adults rediscovering their passions, we’re giving students the tools to take ownership of their art. Our returning students are growing in their talent, confidence and skillset with every class.” This year, RMT is also launching the YAP Tech Crew program, enabling students in grades 8-12 to get hands-on experience in props, scenic, lighting, sound and costuming. The students will join the professional crew for the run of “Chicago: Teen Edition,” Oct. 23-25. Adults can join the fun, too, with fall classes beginning Sept. 14. These classes are also $10 per hour when bundled, and drop-ins are welcome for those who can’t commit to the full session.
Camps may be over, but not Gross Out school field trips and events. Fresh Air Family takes hundreds of school children on outdoor adventures with their classmates. We bring in live animal shows with new “friendessss” such as snakes and lizards (biology lesson). Creek stomps with freshwater biologists lead to the discovery of aquatic creatures such as crayfish, salamanders and turtles (aquatic biology). Nature walks hear birds sing, leaves rustle and see bugs and roly polies beneath rocks (botany and entomology). Our storyteller can cast a magic spell for fairies who don’t believe in children! Kids build their own fairy castles with natural
materials and imaginations (STEAM with geometry). Children learn while teachers check off curriculum requirements. Take the whole family on an adventure. The Fresh Air Family Alabama book debuts October 27. It is filled with 75 places where families can enjoy the beautiful and biodiverse (ranked fourth nationally) state we live in. Enjoy exciting events around the state where you can hike, bike, swim, canoe, kayak, fossil hunt, enjoy Native American culture and see the stars. Sign up for a newsletter so we can invite you and your family to join us. For more information, visit FreshAirFamily.org.
RED MOUNTAIN THEATRE ► Grades: All ages ► Where: 1600 3rd Ave. S., Birmingham ► Call: 205-324-2424 ► Web: redmountaintheatre.org/ education
r i A h s e r F Gross Out
s p i r T d l e i Family F The Fresh Air Family Alabama book debuts October 27.
FreshAirFamily.org
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Education Guide
Special Advertising Section
September 2026 • B7
Indian Springs School blends academic excellence, creativity and community for lasting impact Welcome to Indian Springs School, one of the top 100 private high schools in America and the number one private high school in Alabama for the past 10 years. Indian Springs is a coeducational day and boarding school serving students in grades 8-12. Our commitment to academic excellence attracts some of the brightest students from the Birmingham area, across the United States, and around the world. Our 350-acre campus near Pelham provides a natural sanctuary that inspires both our nationally ranked STEM program and world-class arts program. Guided by our motto, Learning through Living, students experience a unique educational approach centered around experiential learning in an inclusive environment that fosters growth and discovery. Approximately 90% of our faculty hold advanced degrees and deliver exceptional instruction in our state-of-the-art classrooms. We encourage students to pursue their passions both inside and outside the classroom. Our diverse student life offerings include special interest clubs, community service opportunities, and a strong athletics program with participation in more than 20 varsity sports for boys and girls. We also believe the arts are a vital component of a balanced education. Our robust theater, choir, visual arts, and contemporary music programs allow students to explore and express their creativity. Alumnus and renowned author John Green ’95 once described Indian Springs as a place where “all at once I became
INDIAN SPRINGS SCHOOL ► Grades: 8-12 ► Where: 190 Woodward Drive, Pelham ► Call: 205-332-0568 ► Email: admission@indiansprings.org ► Web: indiansprings.org
PREVIEW DAYS SEPTEMBER 20
DECEMBER 6
a learner because I found myself in a community of learners.” Our impact extends far beyond campus, uniting a global community of alumni, parents, and friends across generations. We invite you to visit during our upcoming Preview Days on Sept. 20 and Dec. 6 to see what makes Indian Springs School so unique. For more information on admission and need-based financial aid, visit indiansprings.org or contact our admission office at admission@ indiansprings.org or 205-332-0568. Applications for the 2027-2028 school year open on Sept. 1.
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B8 • September 2026
Vestavia Voice
SPORTS
Rebels lean on eight seniors amid roster turnover By KYLE PARMLEY The Vestavia Hills High School volleyball team graduated two-thirds of last year's frontrow scoring, leaving eight seniors to define what this year's Rebels look like under head coach Ashley Hardee. “This is a new group. This is their group,” Hardee said. “It's not last year's team, but they've been a lot of fun, all of them. We have a couple captains, but they all have leadership skills and they step up at different times of practice. And it's been a lot of fun to want to see them grow into being seniors. Most importantly, they can play volleyball.” Those eight seniors, Pepper Bedford, Ella Green, Kate Scot Hayes, Elle Hill, Lillie Hill, Sarah Orkus, Charlotte Poole and Jill Russell joined Hardee at the preseason OTM Media Day event at Hoover High School on Aug. 10. Senior libero Lillie Hill said the identity of this year's team is shifting toward the defensive end of the court. “This year, we're very defense-oriented,” she said. “And I feel like that's going to take us a long way in the playing hard aspect.” “I think we're better defensively than we were last year,” Hardee said. “I think we can be a better serving team than we were last year, maybe even serve receive. We do have to replace some kills last year, but we can do that as well.” Asked what he thought the ceiling is for this group, Hardee didn't hesitate. “I don't know that there is a ceiling,” Hardee said. “I don't know that there's a team in Alabama that can beat us on our best day. Does that mean that we're not one team in the state and rankings, all that kind of stuff? Not necessarily. Like, we're going to have to work through and learn that.”
Vestavia Hills High School’s eight seniors on the volleyball team are pictured with head coach Ashley Hardee at the preseason OTM Media Day on Aug. 10 at Hoover High School. Photo by Kyle Parmley.
Hardee said the goal is for that potential to show up by the postseason. “That's my job. My job is to really try to get us play our best volleyball ever,” Hardee said. “If it comes out in August, great. But we're looking to October.” Hardee said his 17-player roster also includes several juniors and three sophomores pushing for playing time. “We do have a mixture of experience and the youth,” Hardee said. “Practice has been very competitive, and that's really
been a fun thing.” Hardee said the summer has already tested the group's resilience. “We've had peaks and valleys, and those valleys have been, at times, low,” Hardee said. “But we have to be tough enough and resilient enough to come out of it in the game. We want to play consistent volleyball. One of our goals is to play harder than the other team all the time. If we outplay, if we play harder than the other team, we have enough skill to do it.”
Julia Eaton, Payton Ellis, Maddie Falkner, Ryanne Head, Clara Preskitt, Hollyn Smith, Brie Triebel, Leonor Villalba and Cecilia Zane are also on the varsity roster. Vestavia Hills opened the season Aug. 20 against Bayside before the Boddie Tournament and matches against Mountain Brook, Homewood and Briarwood. The Rebels also host Spain Park and Oak Mountain before the area tournament Oct. 15 and the state tournament at the Birmingham CrossPlex Oct. 27-30.
Rebels open region slate against familiar foes in September By KYLE PARMLEY Vestavia Hills High School's football team opened the season at home against Parker and on the road at Benjamin Russell, and the Rebels now turn to region play in September. Senior quarterback Charlie Taaffe and senior receiver Luke Stubbs, both three-year starters, anchor an offense that returns plenty of firepower, while running back Noah Boylan takes over the lead role in the backfield after rushing for 272 yards and three touchdowns a year ago. Up front, the line returns starters Copeland Styles, Jackson Deal and Will Gwathney, along with transfer Cord Pigg. On defense, Nick Williams returns at middle linebacker after starting the past two seasons, and Daniel Richardson returns at the Spur position after totaling 68 tackles, five interceptions and four pass breakups a year ago.
SEPT. 4 AT THOMPSON
Vestavia Hills opens region play on the road against Thompson, the state’s perennial power. Thompson won last year's meeting 35-3 and has won nine straight in the series. Thompson enters the season under longtime head coach Mark Freeman, who has led the Warriors to four state championships. Thompson holds an 18-14 edge in the alltime series.
SEPT. 11 VS. OAK MOUNTAIN
Vestavia Hills hosts Oak Mountain, which finished 4-6 a year ago and missed the playoffs. The Eagles now turn to first-year head coach Jason Kervin, who is no stranger to the area. Kervin and Vestavia Hills head coach Robert Evans spent many years together on the same coaching staff at Hoover. The Rebels have won the last four meetings in the series, including a 41-0 win last season.
Vestavia’s Noah Boylan (2) runs the football during a game between Oak Mountain and Vestavia Hills. Photo by Todd Lester.
Vestavia Hills holds a 17-5 edge in the alltime series.
all-time series and has won the last six meetings.
SEPT. 18 VS. SPAIN PARK
The Rebels get a break after three straight region games to open the season before diving into the second half of the region schedule in October.
Vestavia Hills hosts Spain Park, which finished 9-3 a year ago and reached the second round of the Class 6A playoffs under fifth-year head coach Tim Vakakes, who has gone 31-14 at the school. The two programs have not met since 2023, when Vestavia Hills won 26-8. Vestavia Hills holds a 15-6 edge in the
SEPT. 25: OPEN
LOOKING AHEAD
Vestavia Hills finished 8-3 last season and reached the first round of the Class 7A playoffs,
the fourth straight postseason trip under Evans, who has gone 30-17 at the school entering the season.Vestavia Hills is now in Class 6A, Region 3, which will use an amended playoff format this fall, with the top six of eight teams in the region qualifying for the postseason. Vestavia Hills travels to Tuscaloosa County on Oct. 2, hosts Hoover on Oct. 9, hosts Hewitt-Trussville on Oct. 16, travels to Prattville on Oct. 23 and closes the regular season with an open date on Oct. 30.
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2026 • B9
SPORTS
Vestavia Hills native named “Voice of the Aggies” at New Mexico State By DREW TAYLOR Over the past year, M.J. Newsom often thought about what his 8-year-old self would say about him today. Those thoughts came during a particularly grueling period for him. Newsom, whom the Sportscasters Talent Agency of America considered one of the top collegiate sports broadcasters in the country during his senior year at the University of Southern California, kept a busy schedule as the play-by-play announcer for USC Pomona-Pitzer. However, the parttime gig wasn’t enough to pay the bills, forcing the 23-year-old Vestavia Hills native to pivot. During the day, Newsom worked as a receptionist at a dermatology office just outside Los Angeles. At night, he would cover as many games as he could, all while trying to hone his craft and make enough connections to fulfill his childhood dream: becoming a full-time sportscaster for a Division I team. At the time, he gave himself until he was 30 to “make it” or find something else to do. “I wanted it for too long and it would've been foolish in me to just give that up,” he said. “I would always think about what 8-yearold MJ would say if 23-year-old MJ said he was going to hang it up.” In July, Newsom finally got his big break as the “Voice of the Aggies,” the newest playby-play announcer for New Mexico State University. “We're excited to welcome MJ to our athletics department,” NM State Director of
Vestavia Hills High School graduate MJ Newsom is the new play-by-play announcer for New Mexico State University athletics. Photo courtesy of MJ Newsom.
Athletics Joe Fields said in a statement. “He's an outstanding broadcaster with exceptional play-by-play talent and a creative approach to content creation. His energy and professionalism will help elevate our department, and he'll
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be a tremendous ambassador for the Aggies.” It’s the latest stop on a long trip for Newsom, from calling freshman football games as a sophomore at Vestavia Hills High School to covering USC sports as an announcer and
co-director of KXSC, the student radio station at USC. “I’m super excited,” he said. “I’m blessed to represent such a great athletic program.” Right now, Newsom is juggling a lot. In addition to getting ready for his move to Las Cruces, New Mexico, he’s also doing as much preparation as he can to get ready before Aug. 29, when the football team takes on Florida State. That preparation, among other things, has included trying to understand the team’s storyline, from its past to what it hopes the future will bring. “I do as much research as possible, trying to understand what happened last season, why it’s important and what the storylines are going into the season,” he said. More importantly, Newsom has also been putting in a lot of time understanding the New Mexico State community and what is important to them. “One thing I do understand is Las Cruces is a hardworking culture,” he said. “It's a place where you have to roll up your sleeves and get to work because that's what the people expect.” It’s a mindset Newsom understands, one he feels has helped him get to where he is today and where he could be tomorrow. “I’ve always been willing to do whatever it took,” he said. Now, as Newsom gets ready for his new job, he feels overwhelmingly grateful for what he has. “Just getting to wear that hat and go out and represent the university, that means a lot to me,” he said.
B10 • September 2026
Vestavia Voice
SPORTS
Softball complex renovations coming AHSAA rules Hoover-Vestavia game to be played Oct. 9 for Vestavia Hills High By JON ANDERSON The softball complex for Vestavia Hills High School is getting some renovations. The school system is moving the outfield fence back 10 feet, which will put it 200 feet away from home plate instead of 190 feet, Athletic Director Laura Casey said. Alabama High School Athletic Association regulations require that outfield fences be somewhere between 190 and 220 feet away from home plate, and 200 feet is most common. School officials also are replacing the lighting for the field and spending almost $200,000 to add two more showers and make other improvements in the locker room. The improvements are much needed, Casey said. “It hasn’t been updated since it was built.” Vestavia Hills’ softball team finished third in the state this past spring, and school officials
are proud of the program, Casey said. The deadline for completing the field and locker room improvements is the beginning of the softball season in January, she said. The high school’s softball complex is at 2026 Pizitz Drive near the Vestavia Hills High School Freshman Campus. It’s a little more than a mile away from the main high school campus. In other athletic department news, the school board has entered a sponsorship and athletic training services agreement with Baptist Health. The school board will pay $125,000 for the services of five full-time athletic trainers at 40 hours per week each, and Baptist Health will pay the school system $185,000 (including $155,000 for being the exclusive health care sponsor for Vestavia Hills City Schools athletic events and $30,000 to support athletic training services). “We are very excited about their investment in our community,” Casey said.
The Vestavia Hills High School softball complex at 2026 Pizitz Drive is getting some renovations in the fall of 2026. Photo by Jon Anderson.
By KYLE PARMLEY Vestavia Hills High School's home football game against Hoover has been moved from Thursday, Oct. 8, to Friday, Oct. 9, after the Alabama High School Athletic Association Central Board ruled on the matter. The Vestavia Hills athletic department announced the change, stating the game was ordered moved to the district's student holiday on Oct. 9. Vestavia Hills head coach Robert Evans said Vestavia Hills requested the game be played on Thursday. Hoover disputed the date, and the matter escalated to the AHSAA's Central Board, which ultimately ruled in favor of Hoover. “The long-standing precedence has always been that the home team gets to decide the date and time, and almost everyone chooses Friday,” Evans said. “But there are legitimate scheduling conflicts.”
Evans said the rule isn't stated anywhere in the AHSAA handbook. “We have looked through the handbook left and right, and there is no rule that mandates a Friday night at 7:00 game,” Evans said. The AHSAA didn't inform Vestavia Hills of its decision until July 20, nearly five months after the schedules were drawn. Vestavia Hills appealed and won unanimously in District 5, but the Central Board later overturned that decision. Evans said he did not expect the change to affect his team's preparation, though he anticipated a smaller crowd since much of the school would be traveling during the break. Evans said the ruling does nothing to enhance a rivalry that once ranked among the best in the state. “Not at all,” Evans said. “In fact, I feel sorry for players from both sides that deserve to play this game in a great environment. This used to be the best rivalry in the state of Alabama.”
Hoover running back CJ Cowley (26) is tackled by Vestavia Hills linebacker Nick Williams (5) during a game between Vestavia Hills and Hoover. Photo by David Leong.
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VestaviaVoice.com
September 2026 • B11
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B12 • September 2026
Vestavia Voice
EVENTS
Save the Date
► For more events news, connect with the Vestavia Voice online by scanning the QR code. ► Have an upcoming event to share? Email Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnesmedia.com.
MAHJONG OPEN FREE PLAY
OPEN GAMING FOR TEENS
VESTAVIA HILLS FARMERS MARKET
CHAOS IN THE HEIGHTS
► Where: Vestavia Hills Civic Center, 1090 Montgomery Highway ► When: Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon ► Cost: Free ► Details: Pull up a chair for a morning of MahJong and friendly competition during weekly open play at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center. Players can gather with fellow enthusiasts to enjoy the classic tile-based game in a relaxed, social setting. Whether MahJong is already part of your weekly routine or you’re looking for an opportunity to meet other local players, the open-play format provides a welcoming place to play, practice and connect with others in the community. ► More Info: vhparksandrec.com
► Where: Library in the Forest, 1221 Montgomery Highway ► When: Fridays in September, 4–5:30 p.m. ► Cost: Free ► Details: Teens can kick off the weekend with games, snacks and some friendly competition during Open Gaming at the Library in the Forest. Students in grades 6–12 can hang out with fellow gamers while choosing from an assortment of board games and the latest gaming consoles. Whether you’re ready to challenge friends to a favorite game or want to try something new, this casual weekly program offers a fun place to relax and connect after school. ► More Info: vestavialibrary.org
► Where: Scout Square, U.S. 31 ► When: Sept. 2 & 9, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. ► Cost: Free to attend; vendor pricing varies. ► Details: Shop fresh and local during the final weeks of the Vestavia Hills Farmers Market season. Browse seasonal fruits and vegetables, baked goods, flowers, handcrafted items and specialty foods while supporting area farmers and small businesses. The September market dates offer one last opportunity to enjoy the welcoming weekly gathering before the summer season comes to a close. ► More Info: vhmc.org
► Where: Cala Coffee, 3950 Autumn Lane ► When: Sept. 5, 7–8:30 p.m. ► Cost: Tickets required ► Details: Enjoy a night of quick thinking and live comedy during Chaos in the Heights at Cala Coffee. Presented with Chaotic Good Improv, the show features unscripted scenes, audience suggestions and plenty of unexpected laughs as performers create each moment on the spot. Grab a coffee, find a seat and settle in for an entertaining evening in Cahaba Heights. ► More Info: chaoticgoodimprov.com/ shows
LIBRARY IN THE FOREST Weekly (Tuesdays): Toddler A-Go-Go, 9:30 & 10:30 a.m., Library in the Forest. Weekly (Wednesdays): Silly Goose Storytime, 10:30 a.m., Library in the Forest.
VESTAVIA HILLS CHAMBER MONTHLY LUNCHEON ► Where: Vestavia Hills Methodist Church, 2061 Kentucky Ave. ► When: Sept. 8, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ► Cost: Reservations $25, late registration $30 ► Details: Join the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce for its September luncheon featuring networking, lunch and a presentation from longtime Alabama meteorologist James Spann. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by the program at noon. The monthly luncheon brings together local business professionals, civic leaders and community partners for conversation, connection and updates from across Vestavia Hills. ► More Info: business.vestaviahills.org
SENIOR LUNCHEON ► Where: Vestavia Hills Civic Center, 1090 Montgomery Highway ► When: Sept. 14, noon to 1 p.m. ► Cost: See Vestavia Hills Parks & Recreation for registration information. ► Details: Spend time with friends and neighbors during the September Senior Luncheon at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center. Hosted by Vestavia Hills Parks & Recreation, the monthly gathering gives local seniors an opportunity to enjoy lunch, conversation and fellowship in a welcoming community setting. ► More Info: vhparksandrec.com
LAURA CRANDALL BROWN FOUNDATION HEAD OVER TEAL 5K & 10K ► Where: The Preserve, 616 Preserve Parkway ► When: Sept. 19, 8 a.m. to noon ► Cost: Registration required; fees vary by race category. ► Details: Lace up for the 17th annual Head Over Teal 5K & 10K benefiting the Laura Crandall Brown Foundation. Held during GYN Cancer Awareness Month, the event raises funds and awareness for gynecologic cancer programs, education and support services. Participants can choose between the 5K and 10K while joining survivors, families and supporters for a meaningful morning centered on health, hope and community. ► More Info: thinkoflaura.org/ headoverteal
Sept. 9: Teen Art Cafe, 4–5:30 p.m., Library in the Forest Makerspace. Sept. 10: Intermediate Microsoft Excel Part II, 4–5:30 p.m., Library in the Forest Electronic Classroom. For a complete list of August events, visit vestavialibrary.org.
PARKS & RECREATION Weekly (Mondays): Fun & Fit, Vestavia Hills Civic Center. Weekly (Mondays): Monday Night Dance, 6–9 p.m., Vestavia Hills Civic Center. Weekly (Tuesdays & Fridays): Silver Sneakers Exercise Class, 11:15 a.m. Weekly (Wednesdays): Fun & Fit, Vestavia Hills Civic Center. Weekly (Thursdays): Cardio & Balance, 9–10 a.m., Vestavia Hills Civic Center. Weekly (Fridays): Chair Yoga, 10:30–11:30 a.m., New Merkel House.
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2026 • B13
EVENTS
Tri-city 9/11 ceremony to honor victims, first responders at SoHo Plaza By KELLI S. HEWETT The tri-city 9/11 Day of Remembrance & Patriot Day Ceremony is set for Friday, Sept. 11 from 9-10 a.m. at SoHo Plaza in Homewood. The public is invited. The yearly event is jointly sponsored by the cities of Vestavia Hills, Homewood and Mountain Brook and rotates each year. It honors the victims of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and pays tribute to first responders and military personnel. The program will include remarks from community leaders, a presentation of the colors, patriotic music and a time of remembrance. This year’s keynote speaker has not yet been announced. Vestavia Hills Fire Department Deputy Chief Ryan Farrell said that for first responders, it is a rare chance to gather across agencies and jurisdictions. “It gives us all a chance to be in the same place with our brothers and sisters,” said Farrell, who has been in the fire service for nearly three decades. The event also plays a key role in shaping the next generation of firefighters. New firefighter recruits are intentionally brought to the observance so they can better grasp the weight of the day and the legacy they are joining. “I think it’s important that we instill the importance and the reverence of this occasion to our newer firefighters,” Farrell said. They are often taken aback by how well attended and well done the ceremony is. “I think it’s a good opportunity to introduce
9/11 Day of Remembrance & Patriot Day Ceremony ► Where: SoHo Plaza ► Date: Friday, Sept. 11 ► Hours: 9-10 a.m. ► Details: Free
Hundreds of participants gathered at the annual Patriot Day 9/11 Remembrance at Vestavia Hills Civic Center in 2025. This annual event is hosted by the cities of Vestavia Hills, Homewood and Mountain Brook on a rotating basis to pay tribute to first responders and commemorate the 2001 terrorist attacks. Photo by David Leong.
them into the brother and sisterhood that the fire service is,” Farrell said. Shay Gartman, executive director of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce, said the day is also about unity across city lines. “This annual ceremony brings our three communities together to honor and remember the
lives lost, while paying tribute to the courageous first responders, military members and all who continue to serve our country and communities,” Gartman said. Homewood Mayor Jennifer Andress said the occasion remains meaningful. “It is the most solemn of ceremonies, one
that highlights the danger every time our first responders answer the call,” Andress said. “We all remember where we were on that fateful day.” Mountain Brook Mayor Graham Smith said the gathering is a statement of shared values. “We are honored to join our fellow overthe-mountain communities in remembrance,” Smith said. “While 9/11 showed us that evil exists in this world, it also revealed something far more powerful: We are stronger as a people when united in purpose and compassion. Our annual gathering reaffirms that our communities, our shared values and our commitment to one another will always be stronger than those who seek to divide us.” Homewood Fire Chief Brandon Broadhead agreed. “It is much more than a ceremony,” he said. “It is a moving experience. For a little while, everything else stops, and we come together as one community to remember, to honor and to show appreciation for service and sacrifice. That sense of community is what makes the Homewood ceremony so special.”
21st Viva Vestavia to be held Sept. 22 By EMILY REED The 21st Viva Vestavia Hills will be held Sept. 22 at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center beginning at 6:30 p.m. This event offers a “taste of Vestavia,” giving local restaurants the opportunity to spotlight themselves to the community. “This event is very successful because our restaurants have been excellent supporters,” said Katie Woodruff, communications manager for the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce. “Their participation is essential for the event to be successful. We need a good mix of restaurants for people to want to attend.” This is the primary fundraiser for the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce Foundation, which provides an annual scholarship for a Vestavia Hills High School senior, as well as funding for various capital projects in the city. In addition to restaurant tastings, Viva Vestavia Hills also features a silent auction. Silent auction items will be shared on the Chamber’s social media channels leading up to the event. Woodruff said there have been roughly 20 to 23 restaurants participating from previous years. “People love trying the different food samples, especially from restaurants that are new to Vestavia that they might not have had a chance to visit yet,” Woodruff said. “We love it when someone discovers a new restaurant at Viva Vestavia and becomes a regular customer at that restaurant.” Tickets to attend the event are available for purchase by visiting vestaviahills.org. For more information about the event or if a restaurant is interested in participating, call 205-823-5011 or email chamber@vestaviahills.org.
Viva Vestavia Hills ► Where: Vestavia Hills Civic Center ► Hours: Sept. 22, 6:30 p.m. ► Details: Free ► Call: 205-823-5011 Jessica Armstrong serves food from Miss Astrid’s Tavern at the 2025 Viva Vestavia event. Photos by Jon Anderson.
Ashley Chambliss, Sallie Hallmark and Shelley Sumner check out the Cookie Fix table at the 2025 Viva Vestavia event.
Marsha Gunter, left, and Eliza Warden entertain guests with music at the 2025 Viva Vestavia event.
B14 • September 2026
Vestavia Voice
LIFE
Old soul, new flavor: Ahmed Smadi’s hometown lessons spark Mediterranean food truck By KELLI S. HEWETT Ahmed Smadi has crammed a lot of life into his 27 years. At barely 7, he teetered on a plastic milk crate to run the cash register in his family’s multifaceted convenience store and their restaurants along Columbiana Road, including The Ranch House, Everyday Cafe and Everyday package store. By middle school, he was hustling Monster energy drinks from his locker and investing his $1,000 profits in the stock market. At 19, he opened a Thai-inspired ice cream business called Roll-Up. It thrived in the back of his family’s store for nearly three years until the pandemic. Smadi even dabbled in modeling and appeared in the 2024 independent film “Saffron Kingdom.” His latest venture, Levant Mediterranean Fusion, is a five-star Google-rated Trussville food truck, nestled in the parking lot of the Beechnut Street Shell gas station. “I’ve fallen on my face a couple times,” Smadi said. “I’ve opened businesses and closed already. I’ve lost money that some people will never make. I’ve learned that sometimes you gotta have patience, step back. A lot of people give up. But it’s a guaranteed ‘no’ if you stop.” Smadi, a 2016 Vestavia Hills High School graduate, crafted and curated the entire menu before launching in August 2025. “You can just taste the love,” Smadi said. “You can taste the feeling someone really cared about making this. I tell people, ‘I hope you enjoyed that as much as I enjoyed making it.’”
Smadi and his crew work the line inside the Levant Mediterranean Fusion food truck.
Ahmed Smadi of Vestavia Hills shows off a signature chicken platter dish outside his Levant Mediterranean Fusion food truck in Trussville. Photos by Kelli S. Hewett.
He offers favorites like chicken and yellow rice platters, gyros and Mediterranean street tacos — all with twists on exotic flavors and seasonings, many inspired by his family’s Jordanian roots and international travels. Smadi’s mom makes the tahini. Longtime customer Jake Stockton appreciates the hard work and personal service. “It’s absolutely amazing — best food I’ve had, hands down,” Stockton said. “It’s got flavor in it. I don’t know anybody here that
makes food like that.” The business was born after Smadi earned his business degree from UAB and faced a frustrating job search. A buddy who owns the Shell agreed to let him set up Levant in his parking lot. “I never thought anything was really out of reach,” Smadi said. “Everything was a recipe. One plus one is two.” Some of his favorite childhood memories are hanging out with his dad’s friends, small
business enthusiasts who loved to go look at gas stations and real estate — all while discussing the complexities of life. But by 13, Smadi had developed a very grown-up concern. “I’d be walking around the register, like, how can I get five gas stations? No one’s gonna marry me if I don’t have five gas stations,” Smadi said with a laugh. Now, he urges others to think about their dreams and dedicate the work to make them happen. “If you showed up seven days a week, 365 days a year, something’s going to move one step closer,” Smadi continued. “You just have to do it.” For more, visit levantbham.com.
Vestavia hair stylist to compete for Mrs. America By LAUREN H. DOWDLE Not only does Katie Guerin wear many hats — from mother and wife to business owner and community volunteer — but she also dons a variety of tiaras. A Hoover resident, Guerin has been competing in pageant scholarship programs across Alabama, Georgia and Florida since she was 12 years old. After aging out of teen pageants, she moved into the adult category and won titles like Ms. Alabama United States and Ms. Woman Florida United States. When she reached 30, she decided to hang up her crown and focus on getting married, starting a family and growing her career as a hair stylist. She’s now married with two daughters — Minnie, 4, and Rosie, 2 — and owns Foil Salon at 260 Old Town Road in Vestavia Hills behind the bowling alley. Opened in 2022, the salon offers a variety of hair services and has a nail technician and massage therapist. But a decade after her last pageant, she decided to slip back into an evening gown and compete for Mrs. Alabama America. She came in as the second alternate in 2025 and said she wanted to work even harder this year. In June, Guerin took home the title of Mrs. Alabama America 2026. “When I won, Minnie could hardly stand it and jumped on the stage and gave me a big kiss. That was the best feeling,” she said. “I want to show my girls that dreams don’t have an expiration date. Just because I’m a mommy and married doesn’t mean I have to stop my dreams and plans.” During her reign as Mrs. Alabama America, Guerin will continue her work in the community with nonprofits like The Lovelady Center, Ronald McDonald House, Go Red for Women, Breast Cancer Research Foundation and her organization, The Umbrella Foundation. Under her foundation, she’s working to create a scholarship program for girls ages 4 to 18 called Little Miss Birmingham. She hopes to start the program in early 2027.
Katie Guerin celebrated her win as Mrs. Alabama America with her husband, Clay, and oldest daughter, Minnie. Photo courtesy of Katie Guerin.
Throughout this experience, she said the best part has been doing it with her daughters. “I want them to see the importance of giving back and that the smallest hands can make the biggest difference,” Guerin said. “Philanthropy is literally my passion. It’s what God sent me here to do.” With the support of her daughters and husband, Clay, Guerin will compete for the title of Mrs. America during the program’s 50th
Katie Guerin won Mrs. Alabama America in June and will now participate in Mrs. America in Las Vegas. Photo courtesy of Rhonda Gilliam.
anniversary Aug. 25 through Sept. 3 in Las Vegas. The event will also include Miss for America Strong and Mrs. American. Having previously helped with the hair and makeup at Mrs. America, Guerin has come full circle now that she will be the one taking the stage. While she’s preparing to compete, Guerin said she remembers the event is about more than bringing home the crown. “If you focus too much on winning, you
miss out on the experience as a whole. I’m looking forward to being with the other women and enjoying the shows, dinners and new friendships,” she said. “Every single woman is significantly different, incredibly talented and has achievements on another level.” The Mrs. America competition will be broadcast by the Mrs. America Presents social media accounts.
VestaviaVoice.com
September 2026 • B15
LIFE
Built for speed: Tandem Para cycling team rides to international success By KELLI S. HEWETT They’re young and they’re fast. From Vestavia Hills to Boulder, Colorado, new tandem Para cycling duo Will Seitz and Owen Cravens are working to turn a long‑ distance biking partnership into a place on Team USA at the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. In just a year of knowing each other, the pair have garnered attention at international competitions in a sport traditionally known for age, experience and longevity. “In some ways it’s good because we don’t have any learned bad habits, and in some ways it’s bad because we don’t have any learned good habits,” said Seitz, a mechanical engineer and a 2020 graduate of Vestavia Hills High School. “For me, it’s sort of an obsession with figuring out a way to win.” Seitz and Cravens each held a passion for elite challenge and relentless competition dating back to their childhoods. They have already won Para nationals and stood on a World Cup podium in Thailand. In time trials, Seitz said they average around 33 to 34 miles an hour, sometimes reaching about 37 miles an hour. “We both have our skill sets, so we help each other,” Cravens said. “It works out pretty well when we’re together.” Their journey continues this month, Sept. 4-7, as they compete in the Union Cycliste Internationale Para Cycling Road World Championships in Huntsville. Known as the highest level of world championship competition outside of the Paralympic Games, this is only the second time the USA has hosted the competition. In Para cycling, Cravens provides most of the pedaling power as the “stoker,” riding in the back. He relies on Seitz, the sighted “pilot,” for steering, positioning and every decision that keeps them upright in a crowded pack. Seitz grew up in a cycling family, tagging along with his dad, Bill, to races and getting on a race bike pretty early. By age 5 he was competing. By 10, he was on the start line at a world championships in Denmark. “I enjoy riding my bike,” Seitz said, “but I think the competitive side is more fun.” That focus now plays out on the front of a tandem, where Seitz makes tactical calls and tries to translate his years of experience to a discipline that handles very differently from solo racing. Cravens’ path came through a diagnosis that changed his relationship with sports. He grew up outside Chicago, playing competitive soccer and swimming. At 10, he was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a form of juvenile macular degeneration that destroyed his central vision. He still sees out of his periphery. “You basically can’t see directly in front of you,” Cravens said. As his vision changed, he moved more into Para swimming and cross-country and, through the adaptive organization Dare2Tri, into triathlon and then international Para competition. After the Paris Paralympic Games, he started considering Para cycling. On the bike leg, he already felt at home. “I was one of the best cyclists in Para triathlon, so it was pretty natural to transition,” Cravens said. A mutual friend, Alabama Paralympian Aaron Scheides, who also has Stargardt, connected the two men. For Cravens, the move had a clear goal. “I love cycling and I love triathlon and I want to represent myself and my country at the L.A. Games and this is the best route for me to accomplish that goal,” Cravens said. “There are much cheaper sports out there, but this is the best route to get to have a platform. This is very much a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” For Seitz, the partnership met a very specific way of looking at the sport.
Veteran cyclist Will Seitz of Vestavia Hills is pursuing tandem Para cycling at the world level as a sighted “pilot” for a new tandem Para cycling team. Seitz, a mechanical engineer, is a 2020 graduate of Vestavia Hills High School. Photo by Kelli S. Hewett.
Seitz, right, has partnered with Owen Cravens, left, of Colorado, who has visual impairment. The pair are set to compete in Huntsville September 4-7 at the Union Cycliste Internationale Para Cycling Road World Championships. Photo courtesy of Bill Seitz.
Cravens, left, and Seitz, second from left, hope to move a step closer to their dream of competing in the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of Will Seitz.
Seitz, left, and Cravens, right, have quickly made waves internationally as a new and young tandem Para cycling duo. The sport is known for long-established and experienced teams. Photo courtesy of Bill Seitz.
While they were talking, before they ever raced together internationally, Seitz was pulling numbers and building models. Using aerodynamic data and power files from training, Seitz said he ran calculations in Excel and MATLAB. “I’ve been able to calculate and estimate that we were international quality before we even raced,” Seitz said. “We went into the first race knowing on paper we were good, and from then on we’ve been figuring out all the things that we didn’t know.” On race days, their speed comes from a custom tandem they helped design, built by a manufacturer in California from cut‑up existing frames and a mix of stock and one‑off parts. Their bike started as an idea Cravens mocked up. After seeing a European team’s bike that had been created by combining two frames, Cravens began splicing together different bikes in Photoshop and then showed the concept to Seitz. They worked with a builder in California
who cut and joined existing frames, then added custom parts. Seitz estimates they spent $25,000 to $30,000 on their bike, and they hope to raise funding for a second one — a smart option in multi-race competitions where one accident can derail an entire race effort. When they line up, Seitz said, they’re often beside international competitors with government funding. For example, French tandems made by Airbus cost about $50,000 each, in programs he believes outspend their project about 20-1. “Their salaries are, per rider, more than our whole budget,” Seitz said. A considerable amount of their time goes into fundraising and seeking sponsorships. Like many Olympic athletes in training, their families help support their competition goals and dreams. Cravens trains in Boulder, riding alongside professional triathletes such as Tokyo Olympian Kevin McDowell. He stacks training hours on top of online business classes through Arizona State University.
“It’s pretty much a full time job,” Cravens said. “When you’re not training, you’re recovering for your next training sessions.” For Seitz, the sport is all-consuming, as well. He estimates he trains 20 to 25 hours a week — 1,100 hours year-round — on the bike, not including several days a week of gym time. Then there is refinement, care, maintenance and upgrading of the bike and equipment. “It’s very much a friendship,” Cravens said. “But then we have our goals, and racing definitely can be emotional.” The pair keep a packed calendar. Short‑term, in addition to competing in Huntsville this month, Seitz and Cravens are looking to national track championships — which they plan to enter without prior experience on a track tandem — and Cravens’ triathlon world championships. Longer term, Seitz’s sights are on the Paralympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028. “Obviously, the big goal is the Paralympic Games,” Seitz said. “That’s where all the funding is. That’s where all the money is. The goal is to win there or at least medal.” Seitz also has an eye on the tandem hour record, the distance a team can ride in 60 minutes on a velodrome, a sports arena with a banked oval for track cycling. “There’s a world record that’s pretty easy. I think we could break it tomorrow,” Seitz said. “I really want to take a shot for it. I think a world record would be fun.” For all the calculations, travel and financial strain, Seitz said the basic reason he keeps at it hasn’t changed much since he was a kid racing in Denmark. “It’s fun to race,” Seitz said. “There are so many ways you can calculate on how you could win in a spreadsheet, and the real fun is figuring out how to make that happen.” For more on the duo’s Para cycling, visit americantandemproject.com.
B16 • September 2026
Vestavia Voice