By Rubin E. Grant Throughout this fall, Vestavia Hills didn’t hold any pep rallies before the Rebels’ football games because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But on the eve of Buddy Anderson’s final game as the Rebels’ head coach, they held a pep rally at Thompson Reynolds Stadium, and Anderson cooked up a surprise for his wife, Linda, who had been by his side during his … [Read more...]
Roll with It: Vestavia Hills Biker Keeps His Wheels Turning Virtually to Support Homeless and At-risk Children
By Emily Williams At the beginning of October, Vestavia Hills’ Don Hagan concluded a more than six-month cross-country bike journey – though it took a little more imagination than expected. Though a literal cross-country ride could not be finished safely in a pandemic, he found a way to complete his efforts virtually. On March 6, Hagan was not in his Vestavia Hills hometown, … [Read more...]
Orange Porange!: Birmingham-Based Creative Team Publishes Children’s Book
By Rubin E. Grant Howard Pearlstein didn’t set out to write a children’s book. It just kind of happened. A few years ago, Pearlstein was reflecting on his life and decided he wanted to be a better person. He set up some challenges for himself, particularly physically and relationally. Then, he began listening to a bunch of podcasts. One mentioned that a person spends the … [Read more...]
Distinguished Service: Col. Channon Among Honorees for Military Service During Hoover’s Veteran’s Week
By Rubin E. Grant Col. Bob Channon, U.S. Army retired, has been asked many times whether he fought in World War II. Channon, 95, is old enough to be a member of what some American historians call the “Greatest Generation,” even though he didn’t get the chance to fight in “The Big One.” “He would have loved to have gone to the war, but he was still at West Point,” said Lyn … [Read more...]
Creative Escape: Lilt Floral’s McAfee Finds Beauty Distracts From Today’s Problems
By Emily Williams Sometimes you just need to look at something beautiful. As the tenth month of 2020 rolls past, there have been countless “sometimes” so worrying that you simply needed to turn your mind away and bask in a bit of creative beauty. Creativity is like air for Brooke McAfee, a floral designer and stylist who owns and operates Birmingham-based Lilt … [Read more...]