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...]
View From the Top: 1920s Vestavia Hills Home Transforms to Suit Today, Maintains Memories of the Past
By Emily Williams Some of the oldest homes in Vestavia Hills dot Shades Mountain, built well before the city’s incorporation in 1950. The area was first established in the late 1800s by former two-term Birmingham Mayor George B. Ward, who built his Greco-Roman-inspired “Vestavia” estate where Vestavia Hills Baptist Church now stands. A wave of people built grand homes along … [Read more...]
Stories of Survival: Alabama’s Holocaust Survivors to Be Honored at Holocaust Education Event
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...]
Wood-Fired Experience: Ash Neighborhood Bar and Grill Gets Ready for Restaurant Week With a Focus on Family
By Sam Prickett When Birmingham Restaurant Week first started in 2009, Mark Driskill was working at Highlands Bar and Grill under the direction of award-winning chef Frank Stitt. But as the annual dining event prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary, Driskill finds himself in a very different position: as owner and executive chef of his own restaurant, Ash Neighborhood Bar … [Read more...]
Overcoming Odds: Biggins Finds His Niche on the Golf Course and Ski Slopes
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...]