By Anne RuisiThe anticipation is high among the young children whispering to each other as Steve Pennington, dressed in a dark green and brown velvet Santa suit trimmed in gold, talks with a visitor at Circa Antiques in Mountain Brook Village. It’s almost as if you can hear them ask, “Is that really Santa?”It is indeed, and within minutes, he’s sitting on a high-backed … [Read more...]

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr.  Judy Butler didn’t let a first impression keep her from learning more about Eugene Britt Butler, the man who would become her husband.  She lived up the hill from Butler in Vestavia Hills’ River Run community and had come home to tend to her dog, Molly.  “Britt was in my yard where that playground equipment is with a chain saw … [Read more...]

Homewood resident Virginia Bugg has been recognized with the 2022 Library Champion Award from the Jefferson County Public Library Association.The award is given to an individual or organization that has made a sig- nificant contribution to libraries and/or librarianship in Jefferson County.Bugg was recognized for her support as a Friends of the Homewood … [Read more...]

By Ally MorrisonAs a retired elementary art teacher, Jo Ann Brown has seen a lot of natural talent. But she said the most incredible talent she has seen comes from one of her dear friends, Theresa Thrasher. “My journey from teaching kids to facilitating hand-built clay for seniors in Homewood led me to Theresa, an incredibly talented senior lady who makes porcelain … [Read more...]

For seven years, Duke Ritter roamed the halls of hospitals and special needs programs, working to comfort and cheer everyone he met. Children’s of Alabama was his favorite place to visit. In his prime, he would go every week with his human, Carol, to help patients and staff through some extremely difficult times. He didn’t retire with just a pat on the head … [Read more...]