By Sarah Kuper Dr. Neal Berte, president emeritus of Birmingham-Southern College, will receive the Jemison Visionary Award at the Jan. 23 Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. Berte served as president of BSC for more than 28 years, seeing the institution through hard times and many changes. A prominent figure in higher education, Berte was dean of the New College and … [Read more...]
Restocking Stuffers
By Sue MurphyI had a wonderful holiday season. There was fun and frivolity, and my living room rug came through relatively unscathed. Now, however, we have turned a page in the calendar and it is time to get back to grownup life with schedules and responsibilities of some sort.For chronic organizers like me, this can come as a relief. After several weeks of … [Read more...]
A Doll’s House: A Childhood Surrounded by Fame and a Career Inspired by Beauty and Make-Believe
By Sarah KuperIt has been 40 years since 82-year-old Mary Charles Robbins opened her fine doll and miniatures store in Mountain Brook Village.Originally intended as an antique store, she and four other ladies opened the shop with no retail experience or seed money. They soon learned there was a high demand for antique dolls, accessories and doll repair … [Read more...]
Light Up the Night: Wacky Tacky Christmas Light Tour Raises Funds for Science Camp
By Emily WilliamsThe day after Thanksgiving, holiday preparations rev up at Casey Dunn’s home in Homewood.While Dunn may be a public figure as head coach of Samford’s baseball team, his home is famous in its own right because of the family’s tradition of decking out the yard in a sea of lit inflatable holiday decorations.“It started when I was first married 17 … [Read more...]
A Misfit Change of Heart
By Sue MurphyThe Hallmark Channel has been airing Christmas movies nonstop since Oct 27. This probably was a little confusing for the trick-or-treaters, but who am I to judge? To fill so many air hours, the station managers had to round up a sleigh-full of movies – “The Mistletoe This,” “The Magical That,” “The Magical Mistletoe Something or Another.” The titles … [Read more...]