By Lauren Helmer My father changed my life one day when he wrote me a note, and the significance of that note really set my compass for the rest of my life,” said Oak Mountain resident Billy Ivey. “When I was 14, he was diagnosed with ALS, and when I was 15, I got cut from the basketball team. And I was devastated, because my father was a great athlete,” Ivey said. “I … [Read more...]
Surgeons’ Ties That Bind: Doctors John and Winn Mathews Say Working Together Has Deepened Their Father-Son Bond
By Sam Prickett Dr. John Mathews tried to talk his son, Winn, out of becoming a surgeon. “It’s a difficult life,” he said, and after a 40-year career as a surgeon, he would know. But Winn decided to follow in his father’s footsteps anyway. Some inspiration came from reading Dr. Ben Carson’s 1992 autobiography “Gifted Hands” while he was in third grade, Winn said, but he also … [Read more...]
Cricket, Tea and Trade Training: Group Brings International Flair to Hoover as it Reaches Hands Across the Globe
By Ingrid Howard When Hoover City Councilman Mike Shaw’s daughter Melodi began studying Japanese, Shaw noticed how learning the language and culture gave her a purpose. Now a student at Auburn University with a minor in Asian studies, Melodi’s passion inspired her parents last year to begin a non-profit organization called Destination Hoover International. “Hoover is an … [Read more...]
ASFA Marks Executive Director Meeks’ Retirement With a Celebration
The Alabama School of Fine Arts Foundation hosted a retirement party May 23 to celebrate its executive director, Dr. Michael W. Meeks. Meeks has led ASFA for eight years, capping a 40-year career working in education. The gathering was held in the lobby of the Dorothy Jemison Day Theater at ASFA, which sparkled with tea lights and summer hydrangeas. The festivities … [Read more...]
Big Cahaba Cleanup Canceled Due to Severe Weather
The Cahaba River Society's Big Cahaba Cleanup, scheduled for June 8, was cancelled due to the threat of severe weather. The organization's cleanup was to be its most ambitious, according to a release, with over 200 volunteers agreeing to scour trash from the Cahaba River from Trussville to Helena. “As disappointing as this cancellation is, the safety of our … [Read more...]
