By Sarah Kuper Lottie Jacks feels like any recent college graduate – glad not to have to study for another final or drag herself to an 8 a.m. class after a long night of studying. But unlike the average Samford University grad, Jacks is 85 years old. The octogenarian walked across the Wright Center stage May 14 to receive her degree in biology nearly 65 years after she began … [Read more...]
Three-Wheeled Calling: Former Spartan Track Coach Leads Local AMBUCS Non-Profit
By Lee Davis After leading Mountain Brook to 68 state championships in track and field over a four-decade career, Greg Echols decided to retire. But at the relatively young age of 60, Echols still needed a path for the rest of his life. Last February, he found it. Echols, now 61, became executive director of the Greater Birmingham chapter of AMBUCS, a non-profit … [Read more...]
Fire Man: Food, Flavor and His Father’s Example Fuel Nick Pihakis
By Donna Cornelius The Cooking Channel show “Man Fire Food” isn’t named after Nick Pihakis, but it could be. Barbecue is still a hot topic for the Birmingham native who started Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q more than 30 years ago. Pihakis opened the first Jim ’N Nick’s in 1985 with his father, Jim. The Birmingham-based barbecue restaurant now has 35 stores in seven states. “We’ve … [Read more...]
A Market on the Corner: Iz Neighborhood Grocery Opens in English Village
By Donna Cornelius Many longtime residents of English Village have fond memories of Park Lane Supermarket, a grocery store that operated in the Mountain Brook neighborhood for more than 40 years. “The freshest vegetables in town and hand-cut meat were trademarks of the store, which also carried commodities considered exotic such as imported fruits and coffees,” writes Cathy … [Read more...]
Seasoned Performer: Former Teacher Publishes, Performs First Children’s Book
By Emily Williams Homewood's M.H. Smith has always had a passion for writing and for teaching children, but she never foresaw writing and performing a series of children's stories or publishing her own children's book. In retirement, she has done just that. Smith’s “Too Many Elephants,” was published this year. The educational story has been performed for preschoolers for … [Read more...]