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Photos by Emily Featherston.
Vestavia Hills firefighters enjoy the festivities at the 2017 First Responders Picnic at City Hall. This year the event will only be open to first responders and the event’s sponsors rather than being a public event.
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Photos by Emily Featherston.
Vestavia Hills Mayor Ashley Curry gives the 2017 State of the City address at the Oct. 2017 Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Tuesday, Oct. 9. Curry spoke about his first year in office, the accomplishments he believes the council and city achieved, and where he hoped to take Vestavia over the next year.
April in Vestavia Hills will once again be a busy month full of events. From annual traditions such as the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast to new music offerings in Cahaba Heights and the Rocky Ridge Entertainment District, there will be no shortage of options for those looking for ways to have fun or give back this month.
For even more events, vestaviavoice.com/search/event/upcoming-events.
City Events
► Eggs & Issues: U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer will be speaking to seven area chambers of commerce this month and giving an update on how things are going in Washington.
Palmer, who has served as representative for the Alabama 6th Congressional District since 2014, will speak on April 4 at Eggs & Issues, which will be held at the Birmingham Marriott, located at 3590 Grandview Parkway, off of U.S. 280. The event will begin at 7:30 a.m. and is expected to run through 9 a.m.
Tickets for area chamber members are $20 each, and $30 for non-members or guests.
For more information, visit shelbychamber.org.
► Dogwood Luncheon: The Vestavia Hills Beautification Board will be hosting the annual Dogwood Luncheon at Vestavia Country Club on Thursday, April 5 at 11:30 a.m.
This year’s speaker is Holocaust survivor Rosemarie Reinhard Musso, who will be speaking about struggle, survival, love and forgiveness as well as her book, “FATHER Forgive Them: The Four Laws of Forgiveness.”
Former Mayor Sara Wuska will give the invocation and Collins McMurray, who was recently named Miss Alabama Outstanding Teen will be the featured vocalist.
Tickets to the event are $25 each and must be purchased in advance. The event will also feature a silent auction to benefit the board’s various projects.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Gina Henley at 910-4837 or ghenley401@charter.net.
► Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast: On Tuesday, April 24, the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the 28th Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast at Vestavia Country Club.
This will be Mayor Ashley Curry’s second prayer breakfast and will feature Christian Cooper as the main speaker.
Cooper was involved in a major accident in 2016 on Interstate 65 between Alford Avenue and U.S. 31 where his vehicle burst into flames. He sustained severe burns on 80 percent of his body and was not expected to survive, much less recover enough to be independent.
After significant skin grafts and surgery, Cooper is now mobile and tells others about his experience and staying positive in the face of adversity.
“Christian is a remarkable young man with an incredibly positive attitude after enduring a long, difficult road but his faith has not wavered and his message is one that will leave you realizing how blessed we each are and amazement at how a young man is so wise,” the Chamber said in a release.
The breakfast will begin at 7:30, and guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance for $20 each.
For more information, visit vestaviahills.org.
► First Responders Celebration changing to focus on honoring service members: The annual celebration of Vestavia Hills’ first responders will be slightly different this year, as the Vestavia Hills Sunrise Rotary aims to make the event more about the men and women it was designed to honor.
Rotary president Steve Ammons said that this year, the event will only be open to first responders and the event’s sponsors rather than being a public event, in order to focus on thanking those who serve the city day in and day out.
The city’s police, fire and emergency service members along with their families are invited to the event at City Hall on April 28, and the celebration will still include activities for kids and a low-country shrimp boil. The Sunrise Rotary will also be donating to the Vestavia Hills Police Foundation and providing the fire department with a new rehabilitation tent.
For more information or for sponsorship options, contact event chair Lori Moler at Lori.Moler@childrensal.org.
Fundraisers
► Fiesta Fundraiser: The Episcopal Church Women at Episcopal Church of the Ascension will be hosting a fiesta-themed fundraiser this month to benefit church ministries. The April 14 event begins at 6 p.m. and will include a silent auction, dinner, dancing, adult beverages and more.
Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. For more information or to donate an item to the silent auction, contact Stacey Gregory at 706-8936.
► VHUMC Rise Against Hunger: Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church will be participating in the international effort to end hunger by participating once again in the Rise Against Hunger food-packing event.
April 15-17, groups from around the area of individuals, families and companies will converge at The Lighthouse to pack 300,000 meals in the three-day period.
This year will mark 1 million meals packed by the church.
For information about donating financially or to register for a packing shift, visit vhumc.org and clicking on the “Upcoming Events” tab.
Community Events
► Battle of the Bands: The Rocky Ridge Arts and Entertainment District is holding a special event this month and showcasing the musical talent of area young people in the first of four signature events for this year.
On April 28, the district will hold a battle of the bands presented by Mason Music.
“We’re really excited about this event,” Robin Morgan, president of Southmont Properties, said. “I mean ... who doesn’t love the idea of kids getting together and pursuing something as creative as playing music together? This is a great outing for these young people and something that parents can support and encourage their kids to do.”
Finalists will be chosen by an online voting process, and the final three in each age group will perform a 20-minute set for audiences at the event, and guest judges will determine a winner in each.
The aspiring musicians will get the full rock-show setup, with lighting and audio equipment provided by Alabama Music and Audio Supervision.
The event is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., an updates can be found on the district’s Facebook page or on Twitter at @artsridge.
► Cahaba Heights Music Festival: Across town there will also be an afternoon of music and revelry as the merchants of Cahaba Heights host The Heights Hangout.
The event, also on April 28, is set for 2:30-7:30 p.m. on Pipeline Road, and will feature music, food and beverages, a kids zone and more from the businesses of Cahaba Heights
Admission is $5 at the gate, with children 12 and under free, and proceeds will benefit the beautification efforts the group is hoping to complete this summer.
For more information about the event and sponsorship opportunities, contact Katherine McRee at katherine@lilipadbham.com.
Know of something that should have been included? Let us know by emailing achandler@starnespublishing.com.
