Volume 4 | Issue 2 | June 2016
WING DING ’16:
5th annual cook-off expecting big crowds with move to City Hall By RACHEL BURCHFIELD
T
asty wings, good music and family fun have been hallmarks of Wing Ding since 2011, but this year, Vestavia Hills’ annual event marks its fifth anniversary at a new location. The event, formerly hosted at Vestavia Hills City Center, will be Saturday, June 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Vestavia Hills City Hall. Admission is $5, and children 8 and younger are free. “This year we are excited to host the event at the new City Hall,” said Lilla Hood, 2016 Wing Ding co-chairwoman. “It should be a fabulous new location. It has the amphitheater where our musical acts will perform. Also, the huge green space in the middle will be a great place for families to put out blankets and chairs and enjoy the music and wings.”
See WING DING | page A22 Clockwise, from far left: A team member cooks up a favorite wing recipe during last year’s Wing Ding event. Teams serve wings. Anesthesia Services takes home the 2015 People’s Choice Award. Rollin’ in the Hay will perform again at this year’s Wing Ding. Staff photos.
Representing Vestavia at VidCon By GRACE THORNTON
Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Memphis, TN Permit #830
Like many of her peers, Elizabeth Baker likes watching funny YouTube videos. But a little bit unlike her peers, the Vestavia Hills High School junior didn’t stop there. She started posting her own videos weekly. She built an audience. She
talked with other YouTubers online, then met up with them like they were old friends at YouTube conferences. But it didn’t stop there, either. When an open call came for presenters at a big conference on the West Coast, Baker decided to give it her best shot. “I’ve been to other YouTube conferences, but this is the biggest one there
INSIDE
Elizabeth Baker, a junior at Vestavia Hills High, has her own YouTube channel and has been invited to Los Angeles this summer to meet other YouTube personalities. Photo by Frank Couch.
is. I was planning to go just as a fan, but then they asked for submissions to present at the conference,” she said. “They had a website open for submissions, and I don’t know how many people entered, but it was a lot.” She submitted three of her videos. Much to her surprise, she got picked.
See BAKER | page A23
Sponsors .............. A4 City ........................ A6
Business ..............A10 Chamber..............A14
Events ..................A15 Community .......... B4
School House .......B7 Sports .................. B16
Faith .................... B20 Calendar ............. B22 facebook.com/vestaviavoice
Time to Rebuild Owners of businesses damaged in recent fire make plans to reopen and say community support has been overwhelming.
See page A12
Replacing a Legend Patrick Davis ‘unbelievably excited’ to fill Vestavia Hills boys basketball coach George Hatchett’s shoes.
See page B17