VH CommNews JuneLR

JUNE | JULY 2016
OF VESTAVIA HILLS
COMMUNITY NEWS
A LIFE ABOVE
A joint publication of the City of Vestavia Hills, Vestavia Hills City Schools and Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce
Vestavia Hills Crime Hits All-Time Low
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
I was once told
CRIMES PER 100 RESIDENTS
that if you are a
victim of crime,
crime is up 100
percent in your
world. The point
being made was
that crime statistics are a nice tool to
evaluate safety, but they do nothing
if you live in fear. We are blessed in
Vestavia Hills that most individuals
have not been the victim of crime.
Furthermore, as a City Manager
who relies upon objective facts and
metrics to guide decision making,
crime statistics do tell the story of
our community. Oftentimes, we are
approach us to have our brightest officers made a part of their
classified by third party evaluative entities as the safest commutask force or collective crime-fighting efforts. Knowing that
nity in Alabama. Our City leadership does not take that fact
these anecdotes are supported with facts, the monthly statistics
for granted and continues to strive to fight crime in innovative
that I review truly tell the story. We are at a point of an all time
and proactive means. Anecdotally, I am approached on a daily
low in crime in our community, and we want it to stay that way.
basis about stories of how our fine Police Department has gone
the extra step to ensure collection of evidence or putting forth
effort to bring an end to potential criminal activity. In fact, our
Manager’s Report continued on page 6
police officers are so adept at this; we have many agencies that
MAYOR’S MESSAGE
School is now out and we are in the middle of summer. This
is a happy, fun-filled, and busy time of year. We often have
visitors and casual get togethers at our homes, as well as
patronize local businesses. Please remember that Ordinance
Number 2236 prohibits parking or driving on public
sidewalks. Exceptions are:
• Government and emergency vehicles in the performance
of duties;
• Any public utility vehicle or contractor hired by public
utility companies in the performance of official or
contracted duties; and
• Motorized mobility scooters and/or electric power
wheelchairs.
The penalty for violation of this Ordinance
is not less than $75 for the first offense or
punishable at the discretion of the Court.
Abiding by this Ordinance will help protect
our sidewalks and assure the safety of our
walkers.
For your added convenience, Vestavia Hills residents
may now renew automobile tags online by visiting
www.altagrenewals.com and clicking on “Vestavia Hills.”
We hope you have a safe enjoyable summer.
– Alberto “Butch” Zaragoza, Vestavia Hills Mayor
JUNE | JULY 2016
2
Vestavia Hills Unveils Action Center App
Now is the time to get the new Vestavia Hills Action Center app!
Updates to both the mobile app and the PC version have vastly
improved the ease-of-use and value of the information available
through the Action Center. We hope that all of our residents
will take advantage of this 24/7 extension of our City services.
In addition to quick access to information like our waste
collection guidelines, the Find Answers section will also
include information such as active road work announcements.
What is the Action Center?
The Vestavia Hills Action Center is a convenient way to submit
requests and to report issues that need attention throughout the
City. It is a customer relationship management (CRM) system
developed by WebQA, a U.S. company that has accounts
worldwide. The City has been using the Vestavia Hills Action
Center since April 2014. A request made through the Action
Center goes directly to the personnel assigned to the type of
request, and if a valid email address is provided, confirmations
of the request and its completion are sent to the customer.
Waste collection requests are sent to the City’s contractor daily
on an automated report.
Mobile App Improvements
Make requests directly from the home page of the mobile app,
and login once and for all (unless you log out) so you do not
have to log in again. Either drag and drop cross hairs on a map
or select the Find Me button then save rather than go through
the tedious task of typing an address to your mobile device
when making a request.
Other improvements to the mobile app are the City Info page
which has buttons to take you directly to our Community News,
Public Notices, City website, or the ALifeAbove.org video page.
The mobile app also has icons for the City’s Facebook and
Twitter pages so you can always check for the most current
information about what is happening in our City.
PC Version Improvements
To access the Action Center from your personal computer, go
to www.vhal.org and find the Vestavia Hills Action Center link
in the lower right, just above the social media icons. Use the
Make a Request button to submit a wide variety of requests such
Roofing & Painting Contractor
Oswaldo Sialer
Specializing in Residential Quality Work
State Licensed & Insured
Work (205) 966-0393 • Home (205) 989-9317
oswaldosialer@bellsouth.net
Visa, MasterCard, American Express & Discover Accepted
as Trash and Debris
New or Special Pick
Up Request or Right
of Way Maintenance.
If you provide an
email address, you
will receive confirmations of your
requests as well
as when they are
completed. The
interface has been
reconfigured so that
it is easier to navigate
the Action Center
and to enter
information.
Making Requests
We appreciate the early adopters of the Action Center and
those who gave it a try. If you have not recently tried the Action
Center, we encourage you to look at the updated version. From
our website www.vhal.org, look for the link in the lower right
corner of any page. In Google Play or iTunes, enter “Vestavia
Hills Action Center.” For those who do not have ready access to
a computer or who prefer the old-fashioned way, we still
welcome your phoned in requests.
JUNE | JULY 2016
3
SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE
As students recharge and relax this summer,
our teachers remain hard at work participating in professional development. Our faculty
are volunteering their time to learn, lead,
and sharpen their skills as we prepare for
the next school year. Many of our teachers
have collaboratively designed their own
professional development
sessions to address
specific student needs.
These intensive projects
help our teachers innovate
and stay ahead of the curve.
Campus improvement projects are taking place from Liberty
Park Elementary to Vestavia Hills High School. We continue
to have conversations with city leaders about revitalizing the
former Berry High School campus as well. We are grateful to
all those who are supporting us in this endeavor.
We are also preparing to once again offer online registration
to our families. Registration will open on our website,
www.vestavia.k12.al.us, on July 26. If you do not have Internet
access or need personal assistance with registration, drop by
the Board of Education building on Montgomery Highway on
July 26 or August 2. Until then, we hope you continue to have a
safe and restful summer.
Construction crews are also working this summer to enhance
and enlarge many of our learning spaces across the district.
– Dr. Sheila Phillips, Ed.D., VH School Superintendent
Featured Events @ the Library in the Forest
>> CHILDREN
Ready, Set, Read! June 16 @ 10:30 a.m. Community Room; live performance of
Aladdin! Ages 3 and up. Also at Cahaba Heights Elementary School @ 3 p.m.
Get Up and Go Tuesday! July 12 @ 2 p.m. Community Room; fencing
demonstration; “moving” activity every Tuesday @ 2 p.m.; 2nd-6th grade
>> TEENS
Library Olympics; June 7
@ 5:30 p.m. Community Room;
Teen Summer Reading Opening
Ceremony; jousting, archery, &
secret trials that you won’t see in
Rio—pizza and door prizes!
>> ADULT SERVICES
Summer Concerts in the Forest: Rollin’ in the Hay;
June 17 @ 6:30 p.m. Library Amphitheater
4th Annual Zombie Scavenger
Hunt; July 26 @ 5:30 p.m.
Community Room—pizza and
door prizes!
Bards & Brews: Open Mic Night; July 8 @ 6:30 p.m.
Community Room; ages 18+ (21+ to drink. beer)
>> TECHNOLOGY
Microsoft Publisher; June 16 @ 12 p.m. Electronic Classroom;
register at 205.978.4679.
Windows 10; July 12 @ 4 p.m. Electronic Classroom;
registration required.
For a complete list of events, call 978-0155; visit www.vestavialibrary.org
or facebook.com/LibraryintheForest
JUNE | JULY 2016
4
The Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce and City of Vestavia Hills are
planning
a “day
of service”
in Vestavia
Hills
to assistHills
our are
residents
(senior
The Vestavia
Hills
Chamber
of Commerce
and City
of Vestavia
planning
a “day of
citizens,
disabled,
etc.)
who
need
a
helping
hand
with
minor
projects
around
service” to assist our residents (senior citizens, disabled, etc.) who need a helping hand
withtheir
Our
day of
service
“Helping
in the Hills”
willHills”
be
minorhome.
projects
around
their
home.will
Ourbe
daycalled
of service
will beHands
called “Helping
Handsand
in the
held
on
September
10th.
Please
complete
the
form
below
or
call
our
office
for
and will be held on Sept. 10. Please complete the form below or call our our office for help in
help init completing
it at 205.823.5011.
completing
at 205.823.5011.
KarenKaren
Odle -Odle
President - Vestavia Hills Chamber
President – Vestavia Hills Chamber
PROJECT
PROJECTREQUEST
REQUEST
Your Name:* ____________________Phone Number:*(___)____-_____E-mail*_______________________
Contact Name: (the name of person in need of help, if different from above)
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Address of project:*
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Description of the Project:*
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Approximately how many hours will the project take for 6-8 people to complete?__________
Special equipment/tools needed: ______________________________________________________________
Special instructions:________________________________________________________________________
*Information Required
Please complete
form
below
return
it to:
1975
Merryvale
Road,Vestavia
VestaviaHills,
Hills, AL 35216
Please
completethethe
form
andand
return
it to:
1975
Merryvale
Road,
1 IN VESTAVIA
#
*
Your community is our community. We are proud to be your neighbor.
2409 Acton Road | Birmingham AL 35243
Mike Wald
Lisa Reuter
Kevin Fehr
Katherine Manush
205-541-0940
205-790-1027
205-410-7203
205-533-2614
Jana Hanna
Cherie Moody
Amy Lawson
Hayden Wald
205-835-6188
205-910-4303
205-215-0284
205-919-5535
Lisa Jones
Glenda Jones
Brad Clement
205-542-1426
205-410-3000
205-410-3735
*Based on data supplied by the Birmingham Association of REALTORS and its MLS.
Number One in Vestavia.indd 1
3/7/16 2:09 PM
JUNE | JULY 2016
5
OLLI – Osher Lifelong
Learning Institute
CHAMBER NEWS
Can you believe school is out for the
summer? Seems like we just began 2016!
We are blessed to have so many great
things happening in Vestavia Hills. Be
sure to check the Chamber website at
www.vestaviahills.org and look at the
Community Calendar for a listing of some
of the things coming up over the summer.
We will begin June with the “first” First Friday on June 3rd in
the new Entertainment District in Rocky Ridge followed by
Wing Ding the next day at City Hall on June 4th. On June 25th,
we will have the first ever “Slide the City”, followed by the 35th
Annual I Love America Day on June 30th at Wald Park!
There are ribbon cuttings galore and many events at the Library
in the Forest, you will be sure to find something interesting in
which to participate. Please plan on being part of any or all of
these events. Also, be sure to check out the insert elsewhere in
the newsletter for our 2nd Annual Helping Hands in the Hills
and let us know if you are a senior citizen or disabled person
with a need for a minor project at your house so we can be sure
to add you to our list.
Having our residents involved is what makes Vestavia Hills a
great city as we strive for “A Life Above”.
– Karen J. Odle, Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce, President
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University
of Alabama is a membership program that is member-planned
and managed. It is open to mature individuals who have an
interest in continuing to learn. They pay small membership
dues to participate in the Bonus programs, field trips and social
activities and term dues, if attending courses during that term.
Part of the OLLI approach is that speakers are volunteers,
encouraging its own members to teach.
The following classes are held at the Vestavia Hills Senior
Center, 1973 Merryvale Road; Vestavia Hills, Al. 35216:
Comparing World Governments –
June 2, 9, 16, & 23 @ 10:30 am
Road to the White House: Primaries, Conventions,
& Electoral College – June 3, 10, 17, & 24 @ 10:30 am
Personal Financial Planner: Timothy Dolan –
June 14 @ 10:30 am
Arise Citizens Policy Project: Carol Gundlach
(Policy Analyst on Tax & Budget Issues) –
June 14 @ 1:30 pm
SEC Coordinator of Football Officials: Steve Shaw –
June 21 @ 10:30 am
Japanese Maples – June 28 @ 1:30 pm
Aaron Burr: Respected and Reviled –
July 7, 14, 21, & 28 @ 10:30 am
History of Iran – July 8, 15, 22, & 29 @ 2:30 pm
New Legislation Affecting Alabama’s Teachers, Students,
& BOE – July 20 @ 1:30 pm
For more information about senior activities, please call
Julie Harper, Civic Activities Coordinator, @ 978-0166.
Thursday, June 30
presents the
Leadership Vestavia Hills
Free
Admission
Rain
D
July ate:
7*
Saturday, June 4
Free Swimming, Live Music,
Children’s Activities, and a Movie
Visit the Concession Stand for dinner and snacks
or pack your own picnic!
Please note: NO PETS will be allowed on the field.
*In case of rain, Pops in the Park will be still be held on June 30,
but move to Shades Mountain Baptist Church.
NEW LOCATION
Vestavia City Hall
11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tickets $5 - children 8 and under Free
(tickets available at the gate)
music
by
Rollin’ in the Hay
KIDS
ZONE
Proceeds go to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation & Youth Leadership Vestavia Hills.
JUNE | JULY 2016
6
Manager’s Report continued from page 1
I have included a graph that expresses the message in a visual
fashion. In 1977, the City had 3.45 crimes per 100 residents.
In 2015, this number was a fraction of that amount, totaling
1.22 crimes per 100 residents. These statistics do not occur by
happenstance. Our police leadership, headed by Chief Dan Rary,
has organized and motivated their 85 officers in a very effective
way that produces results. The elected officials have financially
supported these efforts by adding to these ranks, ensuring
up-to-date vehicles and equipment, and allowing our people
to do their job rather than micromanaging the work. Again,
you can see the results. In addition, our Police Department
continues to stretch itself beyond the traditional police work
by supporting and ensuring our quality of life. Whether it is
through code enforcement, managing festivals and community
events, or getting involved with the needy of our larger region
the Vestavia Hills Police Department is ready, willing and able to
serve. Wow….what a pleasure it is for me to serve side by side
with this incredible organization. I do not take them for granted
and I hope you will not either. We are blessed to live “a life
above,” thanks to these fine men and women who serve us every
day. As we have just concluded National Police Officers Week
and Peace Officers Memorial Day, please keep these thoughts in
your mind. I hope everyone has a nice summer.
– Jeff Downes, Vestavia Hills City Manager
Around Campus...
First graders share a song about singing and hiking on a mountain track.
VHEW 1st graders move with music
On March 10 and 11, 2016, first graders at Vestavia Hills
Elementary West shared music on the move with family,
friends, and fellow students as they performed their spring
musical entitled “Away We Go!” Under the direction of West’s
music teacher, Trudye Confessore, the students sang songs
that celebrated movement and forms of transportation.
Each class was given time on stage as the first graders played
instruments, danced, and performed a variety of tunes, such
as “Round the Mountain,” “New River Train,” and “The
Happy Wanderer.”
Beautiful kitchens are the heart of your home. And when you
buy a new home at Liberty Park before July 31st, you’ll have an
extra $6,000.00 bonus to use toward an outdoor kitchen or to
add those dream upgrades to our already lavish kitchens. Visit
Liberty Park today and take advantage of this very special offer.
Limited Time Special $6,000.00 Bonus for upgrades to your
new gourmet kitchen or toward an exciting outdoor kitchen.
Indoor or Outdoor,
every kitchen needs
a little spice.
Hurry! Bonus ends July 31, 2016.
High $300s to high $600s
DECORATED MODELS NOW OPEN
(205) 945-6401 | libertypark.com
How’s
$6,000.00?
Buyer’s incentive of up to $6,000.00 in gourmet kitchen upgrades or towards the
construction of an outdoor kitchen area, Liberty Park Joint Venture, LLP, is applicable to
homes built by LifeScape Builders, LLC. Such incentive will be disclosed in the sales
contract and included on the Closing Disclosure in the transaction. This offer applies
only to contracts finalized by July 31st, 2016 and cannot be combined with any other
incentives or offers. The information contained herein should be deemed accurate but
not warranted. Liberty Park Joint Venture, LLP, Liberty Park Properties, and their
respective builders and agents, are not responsible for errors or omissions.
JUNE | JULY 2016
7
Alex Rummell, geologist (left); Desiree Spencer, 6th grade
Earth Science teacher (front right); and students from her class
examining the mineral specimens.
Geologist Speaks to LPMS Students
Geologist, Alex Rummell, was invited to Liberty Park Middle
School to talk to the 6th grade students about factors that cause
changes to the Earth’s surface over time, plate tectonic theory,
and Alabama geology. This aligned with the curriculum in
Desiree Spencer’s Earth Science course.
LPMS Students Receive Award
Rummell talked about how the earth became what it is today,
the origin of the moon, and how plate tectonics was involved
in creating the Hawaiian Islands, the San Andreas Fault, and the
geology of the state of Alabama. When discussing Alabama, he
talked of Alabama’s early geologic history as a shallow sea and
how this was ended by the formation of the Appalachian and
Blue Ridge Mountains. He then informed the students that the
Coastal Plain sedimentary sequence was the eroded remains of
these mountain chains that used to be as tall as the Himalayas.
Eight sixth grade students and one seventh grade student at
Liberty Park Middle School placed as state semi-finalists in the
Letters About Literature contest. Amrita Arora, Gracie Cates,
Matthew Kuehr, Madison McClintock, Emma Grace Pike,
Coleman Preskitt, Tulley Torbert, Madeleine Turner, and Eigen
Escario were among these semi-finalists. In addition, seventh
grader Ella Russell received second place at the state level. As
part of this contest, students were asked to read a book and
write to the author (living or dead) about how the book affected
them personally. Letters are judged on state and national levels.
Each year, tens of thousands of students from across the
country in grades 4-12 enter the Letters About Literature
contest, which is sponsored by the Library of Congress.
The students participated in hands-on activities that included
rock identification and an examination of a display of Alabama
fossil bearing rocks that can be found in local road cuts. At the
end, he showed the students several mineral specimens.
Also, in the Alabama School of Fine Arts Creative Writing
Contest, Eigen Escario placed second in the Creative
Nonfiction category for his piece titled “Good and Evil.” Eigen will receive a $75 cash prize.
VHHS Junior Wins Essay Contest
VHHS junior Dexin Kong was named a national semifinalist in the annual Stossel in the Classroom Essay
contest. Kong placed among the top 50 of more than 3,800 essayists. For his essay examining free speech
and censorship in America, Kong received a cash prize of $100.
Slide the City
Saturday, June 25, 2016
The slide is 1,000 feet long and will be situated
along a section of Lime Rock Road just below
Panorama Drive, extending beside Vestavia Hills
High School to the tennis courts.
For tickets and more information, visit
www.slidethecity.com
photo courtesy of Slide the City
City of Vestavia Hills
1032 Montgomery Highway
Vestavia Hills, AL 35216
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
BIRMINGHAM, AL
PERMIT #585
John Henley, Agent
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
JUNE | JULY 2016
June 30 I Love America Summer Celebration,
6:00 pm, Wald Park
July 1 Rocky Ridge First Friday, 5:30 pm,
Rocky Ridge Entertainment District
July 4
Independence Day
Vestavia Hills City Hall closed
July 7
Design Review Board, 6 p.m.`
July 11
City Council meeting, 5 p.m.
July 14
Planning & Zoning Commission, 6 p.m.
Board of Zoning Adjustment, 6 p.m.
July 18
Historical Society, 2 p.m.
June 23
Friends of the Library, 10 a.m.
July 19
Parks & Recreation Board, 7 a.m.
June 25
Slide the City, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.;
Lime Rock Road
July 21
Board of Zoning Adjustment, 6 p.m.
July 25
City Council meeting, 5 p.m.
June 27
City Council meeting, 5 p.m.
June 2
Design Review Board, 6 p.m.
June 3 Rocky Ridge First Friday, 5:30 pm,
Rocky Ridge Entertainment District
June 4
Wing Ding, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Vestavia Hills City Hall
June 9
Planning & Zoning Commission, 6 p.m.
June 13
City Council meeting, 5 p.m.
June 14 Chamber luncheon, 11:30 am,
Vestavia Country Club
June 16