By Sam Prickett It’s been a half-century of scouting for Mountain Brook’s Boy Scout Troop 320, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary later this month. For Frank Tynes, the troop’s current scoutmaster, the milestone is an opportunity to appreciate the past while remaining firmly focused on the present. “For those that are currently in the troop, I think we owe a debt of … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant Esther Levy will never forget and she hopes no one else will, either. Levy is a second-generation Holocaust survivor and heard stories of the horrifying events of the World War II tragedy from her mother, Tobi Kamornik Gerson, who lived through it. “We can’t forget the lessons of the Holocaust,” Levy said. “Humanity can’t let something like that happen … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. Grant Chris Biggins is no ordinary two-sport athlete. He has battled cerebral palsy, a permanent movement disorder, since he was practically a baby. “My family found out when I was 1 or 2,” Biggins said. “My development was slow and they figured something was wrong. “I’ve had to have several surgeries, physical therapy and a treatment plan so I can function in … [Read more...]

By June Mathews When Alison Berman became the chief development officer of United Ability in 2015, she discovered the 67-year-old agency was lacking a signature event and set out to change that. “We wanted to do something different,” she said, “so three years ago, we chose to do a theater-style event where people could be entertained yet learn about the organization and … [Read more...]

By June Mathews Celebrating the past comes naturally to Bonny Hanna Picard. It’s been her business for 40 years. The founder and president of Hanna Antiques, Picard has long lived her passion through buying, selling and often restoring treasures from bygone eras. Still in her 20s when in 1979 she established a small furniture refinishing business in an oversized building on … [Read more...]