By Rubin E. GrantWhen Ascension St. Vincent’s Bruno Cancer Center art therapy group couldn’t meet on campus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hope Long stepped in.Long is library director at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.“Most people don’t even know we have a library at the Botanical Gardens,” Long said. “But we are part of the Jefferson County Library … [Read more...]
Hey, June Bug
From time to time, I inadvertently hit some button on my phone and a screen pops up that says, “What can I help you with?” If I don’t respond immediately, it says, “Go ahead … I’m listening.”Despite the fact (or maybe because of the fact) that I have no idea how I make this happen, I find this feature endearing. Sure, the only things the phone offers to do are to call … [Read more...]
Chef Stitt and Terry to Take Part in “Food and Community in the South” Discussion at BMA
James Beard award-winning chefs Frank Stitt and Bryant Terry will be featured in a discussion on “Food and Community in the South” during the 2022 Chenoweth Lecture Amanda Storey, executive director of Jones Valley Teaching Farm, will be moderator, and chef Ama ‘Ifabagmila’ Shambulia, the owner and operator of A Beautiful Life Enterprises, also will be … [Read more...]
Ooey Gooey: Traditional or Avant Garde, Plates of Creamy, Cheesy Pasta Bring Peace
By Anne RuisiWhat is the ultimate comfort food?Mashed potatoes and gravy come close, but to many of us, nothing beats macaroni and cheese. The melted cheese in and on top of the casserole stretches out in steaming strings as you scoop a big spoonful onto your plate. On Nov. 13, Community Grief Support’s junior board will celebrate the South’s ultimate comfort … [Read more...]
Lessons Learned: Air Force Veteran Shares Leadership, Values as Hoover High JROTC Instructor
By Anne RuisiIn 2007 as he thought about retirement, Air Force Master Sgt. Grant Gibson considered a second career in emergency preparedness.Although he earned a master’s degree in homeland security, Gibson ended up in the classroom as an Air Force Junior ROTC instructor, first in Columbus, Ohio, and then at Hoover High School in 2018. “I’ve not looked back … [Read more...]