By Emily Williams The student body of Crestline Elementary school gathered May 2 to hear the news that custodial staff member Jerome Lewis had won first place in the nationwide Janitor of the Year competition. The news was presented as the finale of a half-hour program that began and ended with performances by second- and third-graders of an original song, "Jerome is the … [Read more...]
Inspiring Imagination: Hoover Teacher Unleashes Art at Magic City Art Connection
By Emily Williams Nelson Grice is a sculptor and ceramics artist, a Hoover High School teacher and an everyday advocate for using your imagination.He loyally attends the Magic City Art Connection each year and plans to return to the April 22-24 festival to show his unique animal sculptures. "I think what keeps me coming back … is I love the crowd and it's my kind of … [Read more...]
A River Runs Through It: Birmingham Man Channels Passion for Southern Living Into Conservation
By Sarah Kuper So far in his life, Britt Butler has served in WWII, worked as a Jefferson County reserve deputy sheriff and mentored dozens of Boy Scouts. He also served as one of the founding fathers of today's Southern Living magazine. Butler's grandfather ran a publication called the Progressive Farmer in the early 1900s. In an effort to engage city dwellers, Progressive … [Read more...]
Birmingham in a Box: Local Company Ships Birmingham Goodies Across the Country
By Sarah Kuper From Jim 'n Nick's cheddar biscuits to Bud's Best Cookies, some things are just better in Birmingham. That's why local entrepreneur Nick Goudreau is trying to make Birmingham specialties easily available all over the U.S. and beyond. His business, Birmingham Box, is taking a cue from the novelty gift-giving "box" industry, in which customers can customize … [Read more...]
Bring Your Rep to School: Vestavia Hills High School Hosts Legislators, PTO Members
By Sarah Kuper Vestavia Hills High School teacher Jennifer Brown was named Alabama's Teacher of the Year last May. As such, Brown has served as the official spokeswoman for Alabama public school teachers for nearly a year. She has engaged other teachers across the state, and now Brown is trying to include local legislators and PTO members in the dialogue, especially since the … [Read more...]