By Annie Howard A Barons game recently highlighted a lot more than baseball. The April 23 game, designed to be autism-friendly, points to a growing Birmingham trend: inclusion of people with developmental disabilities. “A typical baseball game is loud, noisy and unpredictable,” said Brooke Bowles, director of the nonprofit Triumph Services, which helps adults with … [Read more...]
From Anthrax to Tornadoes: Vestavia Hills Fire Chief Retiring After 29 Years At the Department
By Annie Howard After nine years on the job, Vestavia Hills’ fire chief said he is moving on to “the next big thing.” James “Jim” St. John will retire from the Vestavia Hills fire department at the end of April to work with the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency. He served as fire chief for nearly a decade, but he’s been involved with Vestavia’s fire department … [Read more...]
Images of Home: Hoover Author Documents City’s Past
By Annie Howard Heather Skaggs knows her roots. An author and history buff, she grew up in the Mountain Oaks neighborhood, which would be incorporated into Hoover. “The history that I know, I grew up with,” she said. “This is my home.” Her passion for Hoover shines through in her three books: “Images of America: Bluff Park,” “Images of America: Hoover,” and “Images of … [Read more...]
Rise Against Hunger: VHUMC Hosting Sessions to Package Meals for the Needy
By Annie Howard Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church is serving up an easy way to make a difference. From April 23-25, the church will host Rise Against Hunger, a food-packaging volunteer event open to the community. “What we do is, we package grains and they feed schoolchildren or other people in need of food,” said Bo Porter, team leader for the event. “It’s grains and … [Read more...]
Rotary Club Dedicates Annual Celebration to April 27 Responders
By Annie HowardVestavia Hills Fire Chief James St. John clearly remembers the morning of April 27, 2011.He met with the mayor at about 6 a.m. in a city hall conference room to plan for tornadoes sweeping through the city. They set two priorities: helping the injured and clearing the roadways. “The tornado that hit Vestavia Hills hit very early in the morning, and … [Read more...]