June 2024 | Volume 15 | Issue 3
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Envisioning something beautiful Mountain Brook family’s passion for design, decor runs 3 generations deep By GRACE THORNTON
K
acy Carroll says when she was growing up, her aunts — Phyllis Lyons and Buffy Hargett Miller — would faux finish everything. “They were always painting something,” she said. “Phyllis was probably painting my cousin Allie if she sat still long enough.” Carroll just assumed at the time that her childhood was the way everyone grew up. She thought it was normal for her grandmother to turn the car around to go get something out of a trash pile and make it into something amazing, or for her aunts to craft on family vacations. But turns out, it wasn’t.
See CREATIVES | page 26 From left: Phyllis Lyons, left, Kacy Carroll, Hargett Miller, Allie Nielsen and Betty Drennen at Hargett’s home in Mountain Brook. Lyons and Hargett, Drennen’s daughters, and Carroll and Nielsen, her granddaughters, are all artists in different media. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Summer in the city: Activities to explore around Mountain Brook By GRACE THORNTON
People walk along the path of the Jemison Park Nature Trail in 2023. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
As the days get longer, there’s more time to pack in all the fun Mountain Brook has to offer. Check out something new this summer while staying close to home.
LEARN JAPANESE, PLAY VIDEO GAMES OR LEARN ABOUT STAGE COMBAT
All this and more is on the calendar for summer at O’Neal Library, located at 50 Oak St. For teens, there are Dungeons & Dragons sessions and creating DIY pet
INSIDE
Sponsors.................. 4 City............................ 6
Schoolhouse............8 Business..................10
Real Estate.............12 Events......................14
toys. For kids, there are storytimes and a foam party. For adults, there are language lessons, off-the-beaten-path movies and open mic nights. To check out the details, visit emmetoneal.libnet.info/events.
TRY AN ART CLASS OR BOOK CLUB AT THE GARDENS
It’s not just flowers and plants — though if you haven’t been to see those, they’re very much worth the trip.
See SUMMER | page 27 Sports......................18 Community.............21
Opinion...................23 facebook.com/villageliving
Run for funds
Playing ‘Hooky’
Track meet raises $80K for school foundation.
Gone Fishin’ event introduces area kids to fishing.
See page 8
See page 16