On April 23, the Vestavia Hills Sunrise Rotary is sponsoring a shrimp boil festival to honor Vestavia Hills police officers and firefighters. This annual event was designed six years ago as “an opportunity to give our first responders recognition,” said Rotary event coordinator Margaret Cook. This year’s event includes a live band and the skydiving team The Casters. Members … [Read more...]
Love at First Sight: A Stroll in the Wildflower Garden Led to a Passion for Volunteering
By Rae PattersonA walk through the Wildflower Garden at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens one Sunday afternoon 25 to 30 years ago was all it took. Janice Williams said she “fell in love with the place,” and she’s been volunteering with the Botanical Gardens ever since. She started out working with the group that raises plants for sale and eventually worked her way into … [Read more...]
More Questions Than Answers: Samford University Neighbors Attend Forums on Expansion Plans, but Questions Linger
By Sarah Kuper and Rae Patterson Samford University administrators are moving forward with drafting plans to update and expand the campus after several community forums in February. Organizers estimate an average of 20 to 30 people attended each meeting. Campus planning firm Dober Lidsky Mathey gave presentations at the meetings and led question and answer sessions. The … [Read more...]
Knight School: Former Teacher Turns Chess Club Into a Weekly Chess Party
By Rae Patterson David Brooks is widely known in the Over the Mountain community as “Coach Brooks,” founder and head of the chess academy called The Knight School. The Knight School has won more than 20 state championships, and it is all because of Brooks’ revolutionary fun approach to chess. Brooks has parlayed his method of teaching chess using puzzles and other fun … [Read more...]
I Do With a View: Couple Plans No-Fuss Valentine’s Day Wedding at Vulcan Park
By Rae Patterson Jana Baker and Jason Lett were engaged at Vulcan Park in December and will be getting married on the same spot on Valentine’s Day as a part of the park’s I Do With a View event. Jason and Jana met because Jason was working with Jana’s mother, Lisa, selling hospital supplies and technology. Both Jason and Jana were recently single, and Jana’s mother was … [Read more...]