On June 1, the YMCA of Greater Birmingham and the Levite Jewish Community Center will reopen their doors to members for the first time since March 16. Each facility will reopen with new measures in place to protect members and staff. “We’ve been working closely with local health officials and specialists at UAB since the outbreak began,” said Dan Pile, president and CEO … [Read more...]
City of Homewood Holds Its Own Despite Sharp Revenue Drop
By Caroline Rice Though the first half of April shows that Homewood is down 40% in revenues, the city has not needed to discuss layoffs or cuts in city services because of the coronavirus, the mayor said. Mayor Scott McBrayer said that, while many of the smaller businesses in Homewood have been closed temporarily, he believes the bigger box stores and grocery stores … [Read more...]
Graduating 2020-Style: Many School Systems Choose to Have In-Person Commencements, But They Aren’t Exactly Old School Ceremonies
By Caroline Rice As Alabama has begun to reopen, many high schools are or have held in-person graduation ceremonies. Spain Park High School and Hoover High School held graduation ceremonies at the Hoover Metropolitan Complex last Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Both of those ceremonies sparked controversy. The systems applied safety guidelines to the events such as … [Read more...]
Kulture City Virtual Race Earns Guinness World Record Title
It was confirmed on May 6 by Guinness World Records that Vestavia Hills-based non-profit KultureCity broke the world record title for “the most people running/jogging online simultaneously. The title was achieved during the organization’s Stay at Home Race for Autism, held on April 26 during National Autism Awareness month. The race, hosted via Zoom, mobilized race-goers … [Read more...]
Passing on a Family Tradition: Smith’s Variety Owner Sells Store to Couple With Similar Approach
By Sam Prickett Smith’s Variety, the longtime Mountain Brook toy and gift shop, is under new management. But both former owner Jim Glazner and new owner Brad Simpson maintain that the store’s service-oriented approach to its customers and the community at large will remain the same. Smith’s Variety had been in Glazner’s family since his parents, Lit and Mary Anne, bought the … [Read more...]