By Sarah KuperHaving lived in many areas of the country, Sid and Gayleen McLean always embrace new habitats, both personally and horticulturally. “Everywhere we have ever lived we have done the landscaping. It’s something I learned from my mother,” Sid McLean said. The couple had retired and moved out west, but when Sid McLean inherited his parent’s home in Hoover, … [Read more...]
The Adventures of Fred Norrell: Homewood Man Pens Memoir of Boyhood on Lake Martin
By Sarah Kuper Fred Norrell said he wasn’t looking to pen a bestseller when he began writing his book, “A Boy’s Adventures on Lake Martin.” Rather, his goal was to put in writing for the next generation stories of a bygone era, of a childhood spent outdoors. “I really wrote it for my son,” Norrell said. “He didn’t have the childhood adventures I did – he wasn’t as interested … [Read more...]
Looking for the Fast Track in Rio: Homewood Cyclist Trains For Her Third Paralympic Games
By Sarah Kuper “It will be one of the toughest games I’ve been to, but I imagine it will be a party.” So said Paralympic cyclist Jennifer Schuble, who calls Homewood home and trains at the Lakeshore Foundation – an official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic training center in Homewood. Schuble, who competed in the Beijing and London games, said it will be one of the toughest … [Read more...]
Star Power: Celebrities and Philanthropy Go Hand-in-Hand for Autism Acceptance
By Sarah KuperThe upcoming KultureBall will not be just another black tie benefit, said Libby Matthews, vice president of growth at the Vestavia Hills-based autism nonprofit KultureCity. “It’s not just your typical, get dressed up and bid on a silent auction,” she said. “People who come say they’ve never experienced an event like it.” She said that’s partly because of … [Read more...]
Ice Age: OTM Fifth-Grader Prepares to Shine at Magic City Figure Skating Competition
By Sarah Kuper Creative, kind and intuitive. Those are the words Amy Stiftel-Sedlis uses to describe her 10-year-old son, Jared. “He is a unique and compassionate person and very well-rounded,” she said. A rising fifth-grader at Brookwood Forest Elementary, Jared has not spent his summer poolside or boating on the lake. Rather, he has been busy practicing on the cool ice of … [Read more...]