By Kaitlin Candelaria The Thackerson family of Vestavia Hills has put a whole new twist on the holiday season. While some families celebrate with 12 days of Christmas, Michelle, Steve and their three children instead celebrate with 12 trees. “Every year, we add different things,” Michelle said. “We incorporate all kinds of different things like puzzles, books, videos and … [Read more...]
Shell Game: Chef Jeremy Downey Wins Two Awards at Oyster Cook-off
By Donna Cornelius When Jeremy Downey eats an oyster, the taste takes him back to his childhood. Downey, the owner and chef of Bistro V in Vestavia Hills, grew up in Bayou La Batre on the Alabama Gulf Coast. “Our next door neighbor was an oyster guy, and he’d bring us a big old sack and say, ‘Here’s 50 pounds of oysters,’” Downey said. “Sometimes he’d just drop them on our … [Read more...]
Early to Rise: Compton and Lady Rebels off to a Strong Start
By Lee Davis Although it’s been more than four years since Jessica Compton played in her first varsity basketball game at Vestavia Hills, the senior guard remembers the event as if it were yesterday. “We were playing Homewood and when we went out for warm-ups, I had never been so nervous in my life,” she recalled. “I was so nervous, I was nearly in tears. Once the game … [Read more...]
Spirited Effort: Samford Professor Helps Tie God and Sports Together
By Kaitlin Candelaria God is the top priority in Darin White’s life, but sports may be a close second. The Vestavia Hills High School alumnus and Samford University professor is using his passion for Christ and his love of sports to create a thriving new program at Samford. White serves as the driving force behind the university’s sports marketing program. The program, … [Read more...]
Living Large and Local: Chamber Grows to Largest in Metro Area by Focusing on Members
By Emily Williams Karen Odle is seeing the fruits of her 13 years of work as the president and CEO of the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce. The chamber this year reached 1,150 members, making it the largest chamber in the Birmingham metro area, according to a study by the Birmingham Business Journal published July 26. Vestavia’s chamber outpaces even its counterparts in … [Read more...]