By Lee HurleyMay is a busy time for Moondance Adventures founder Hayes Hitchens and his 180 leaders. They are in staff training at Camp Wayfarer, in North Carolina, preparing themselves mentally, physically and philosophically for the nearly 2,000 students they will lead on a cornucopia of travel adventures this summer from Alaska to Zanzibar. This may … [Read more...]

By Donna CorneliusIn a cheerful kitchen, a group of women laugh, talk and ask questions. Some are giving instructions, while others try their hands at peeling potatoes or mixing a salad dressing. It’s a scene that could play out in any cooking class, but this one’s a little different. The enthusiastic teachers are members of Les Dames d’Escoffier International’s … [Read more...]

By June MathewsIt was March 2020, and Mary Scott Israel wasn’t feeling well. But in those early days of COVID-19, not feeling well was often attributed to the stresses and fears of the coming pandemic. So, the University of Alabama sophomore brushed off some nagging stomach problems she had been experiencing, and she and her roommate embarked on a long-awaited … [Read more...]

By Rubin E. GrantEthan Hill was too young to remember much about his first trip to Washington, D.C., but he probably won’t ever forget his recent visit to the nation’s capital.“It was a really cool experience to go to D.C.,” Hill said. “I got to go to all the monuments and museums.”Hill’s trip wasn’t all about sightseeing. He was there for a special occasion and a … [Read more...]

By Susan SwaglerSpring is in full, glorious bloom, but that’s not the only reason to revel in the outdoors. Louise Agee Wrinkle – a prominent local gardener known for inspiring and encouraging native gardening across the country – is being celebrated during a series of events that includes the premiere of a documentary film about her garden; a second printing of … [Read more...]