By Madoline Markham KoonceHistory texts can take many forms – including ones as small as matchbooks. That’s what Corey Williams, 28, found when she recently discovered her mom’s collection of matchbooks from Birmingham restaurants and bars from the 1970s and 1980s.“They are tangible and you can hold them in your hand, unlike a lot of things that are vintage items that … [Read more...]
‘Because We Care’: Children’s Harbor Earns ACA Accreditation for Its Camp
By June MathewsAdream came true in 1990 for Ben and Luanne Russell with the dedication of Children’s Harbor. They had long hoped to provide a place of respite at no cost for seriously ill children and their families, and a picturesque spot on the shores of Lake Martin was the perfect setting.Three-and-a-half decades later, hundreds of families have benefited from the … [Read more...]
Homewood Grad Achieves TikTok Stardom With Dance Videos
By Madoline Markham KoonceMurphy Wright had no idea where his dance moves would take him when he and his friends performed a dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” at the Edgewood Elementary School talent show back in 2011 – or that an app called TikTok would even exist.Fast forward to 2024, and the 2018 Homewood High School graduate has danced his way to nearly 830,000 … [Read more...]
All in the Family: Nearly 75 years Since Its Founding, The Pants Store is Evolving Under Third-Generation Owners
By Madoline Markham KoonceCustomers of The Pants Store in the 1950s might recall taking a bus from Birmingham to Leeds for founder Taylor Gee’s three-for-$10 pants sales. A few decades later, they likely would remember his son Mickey’s crazy sales and his TV commercials with the “Zip on down to the Pants Store” jingle. Today, customers might know the apparel … [Read more...]
Culinary Showdown: Farrelly’s Chef to Be Featured in Hoover Iron Chef Competition
By Anne RuisiWhen other kids were glued to Saturday morning cartoons, Chris Kennedy was watching Graham Kerr and Julia Child’s now-legendary cooking shows.And when his grandfather, who grew up on a farm, took him fishing, they’d trade the catch for fresh fruits and vegetables from area farmers, foods he’d help prep for the dishes his grandmother created. “I … [Read more...]