By Rubin E. Grant When Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Vestavia Hills holds three services on Easter Sunday, it will mark the final Resurrection Sunday for the Rev. Danny Wood as senior pastor of the 7,800-member church. Wood, who recently celebrated his 24th anniversary as Shades Mountain’s pastor, announced earlier this year that he plans to retire Aug. 15. “It was a … [Read more...]
Highlighting Birmingham’s Hidden History: Local Filmmaker Documents Greek-Owned Restaurants
By Shannon Thomason A short film about Birmingham’s tradition of Greek-owned restaurants premiered recently during the Southern Foodways Alliance’s 2021 Spring Symposium. The documentary “Philoxenia,” by Birmingham-based filmmaker and University of Alabama at Birmingham alumna Jessica Chriesman, of Homewood, featured Ted’s Restaurant, Demetri’s BBQ, Johnny’s Restaurant, The … [Read more...]
Play Jeopardy!: Altamont Alum Had Three-Day Winning Streak on Popular Gameshow
By Laine Williams A dream came true recently for Lucy Ricketts, a 2004 Altamont graduate who completed a three-day winning streak on the popular gameshow Jeopardy. Her final winnings totaled $79,499, but the memory of the experience was the real prize, she said. Ricketts, a Mountain Brook native, attended her last two years of high school at The Altamont School before going … [Read more...]
Outside of the Box: Local Tech Executive Tackles Longtime Goal to Write a Children’s Book Series
By Emily Williams-Robertshaw North Shelby County tech executive Martha Underwood took her time during quarantine to step out of her box. While in lockdown with her family, she fulfilled a longtime dream of writing a children’s book. The book is inspired by her youngest son’s experiences and reactions during the pandemic. “He was so worried that because of COVID, we weren’t … [Read more...]
Mountain Brook’s Alison Gorrie Earns Advocate of the Year Award
Mountain Brook native Alison Bradford Gorrie, also known as Alie B., was named Advocate of the Year during the 2020 Disability Employment Summit to promote diversity through inclusion. Gorrie said she was thrilled to be recognized for her efforts and vowed to continue to advocate. “It is such an honor to receive the Alabama Advocate of the Year Award. As an advocate and … [Read more...]