How annexation and urban sprawl turned US 280 into a bureaucratic maze
By TAYLOR BRIGHT And TIM STEPHEnS
That wouldn’t surprise owner Pete Flach, who opened this
“It’s very confusing,” Flach said. “I’m still not sure who I
Welcome to the U.S. 280 corridor.
we have a fire.”
No single city governs the congested stretch that extends from Interstate 459 in Jefferson County east to Chelsea. What was once farmland and country stores has become a sprawl of big-box retail and gated subdivisions. And none of it happened by accident.
By KYLE PARMLEY
For Christopher Vizzina, the college football dream started early — and required an early maturity to match.
The former Briarwood Christian School quarterback was a nationally sought-after recruit with more than 30 offers, making cross-country visits to some of the nation’s top programs. He
Vizzina said. “Coach
quarterback Christopher Vizzina, now at Clemson University, is learning to navigate a collegiate landscape turned on its head by rapid changes and preparing for universities to directly pay athletes for the first time.
Former Briarwood
Photo courtesy of Todd Kwarcinski.
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CITY
Chelsea couples seek to open indoor golf simulator at Greystone
By JON ANDERSON
Two couples from Chelsea are seeking permission from the city of Hoover to open an indoor golf simulator business in Greystone.
Christian and Sarah Wright and Randy and Stacie Quinn of the Chelsea Park community want to put their franchise business, called The Back Nine, in the former Bedzzz Express Outlet store at 2815 Greystone Commercial Blvd., next to Issis and Sons Flooring.
They initially plan to open three golf simulation bays, but there is enough room in the 3,400-square-foot space for a fourth bay if there is enough demand, Christian Wright said.
The Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission on June 9 voted to recommend the Hoover City Council approve the “conditional use” request that is required for recreational uses in a planned commercial zone. The request will likely go before the Hoover City Council for a vote in July, and Wright said if approval is given then, they hope to have remodeling of the space complete and the business ready to open by the end of August or September.
Wright, who has played golf since he was about 12 and who played four years on the golf team at Birmingham-Southern College, said this site is ideal for a golf simulation business because it takes about 25 minutes to get to the nearest public golf course or driving range. Also, the indoor nature of the business gives anyone a place to play or practice golf when it’s raining or too cold to play outside.
The golf simulation industry is growing, according to research submitted to the city of Hoover by the Wrights and Quinns. The U.S. golf simulator market is projected to grow from $694 million in 2021 to $1.4 billion by 2030, they said in materials submitted to the city.
An estimated 6.2 million Americans hit golf
balls with a club in a golf simulator in 2023, which is up 73% from pre-pandemic levels, according to a report from the National Golf Foundation.
The Back Nine currently has more than 20 operating franchises, and all of them so far have survived and have positive cash flows, according to the marketing plan outlined by the Wrights and Quinns.
There are nearby indoor golf simulators at Golf Galaxy and the PGA Superstore, but The Back Nine intends to offer a more premium and private experience, the couples indicated. Another nearby competitor is The Golffice, which opened in March at 520 Cahaba Park Circle.
The Greystone location of The Back Nine, if
Two couples from Chelsea are seeking permission from the city of Hoover to open an indoor golf simulator business in Greystone. Christian and Sarah Wright and Randy and Stacie Quinn of the Chelsea Park community want to put their franchise business, called The Back Nine, in the former Bedzzz Express Outlet store at 2815 Greystone Commercial Blvd., next to Issis and Sons Flooring. Map courtesy of city of Hoover.
approved, would be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and people could make reservations using a QR code sent by text message.
People could rent a golf simulation bay for $80 to $100 per hour, and memberships would range from $200 to $400 per month, with both monthly and annual memberships available, as well as corporate memberships.
The Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval for The Back Nine with some conditions that included:
► An owner or representative would need to be present from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and during all parties.
► All parties would have to take place between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. and could be
scheduled only by members of the facility. An owner or representative would have to be present during sessions rented by non-members.
► No alcohol would be allowed on site.
► The facility would have to be cleaned regularly and be free of rubbish.
► The facility must have a video monitoring system and be under surveillance during operating hours.
► The owner must provide a way for emergency personnel to gain entry to the building.
► Contact information for the owners must be clearly displayed for overnight emergencies or maintenance needs.
For more information about The Back Nine, go to thebackninegolf.com or call 659-219-8999.
Founded in 1959, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham is a public charity that pools financial contributions from individuals, families and businesses to support nonprofits and improve the quality of life in Blount, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby and Walker counties. The organization seeks to create economic opportunity, overcome poverty, drive regional cooperation, nurture thriving communities, and foster equity and inclusion.
The Community Foundation provides generous donors an exciting way to increase the impact of their philanthropy and make charitable giving as simple as possible. Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) allow donors to target their contributions to specific causes and organizations they care the most about. Each step along the way, donors can also draw on the advice and support of the Community Foundation staff, with their deep knowledge of critical needs in our area.
One regular donor who enjoys using her DAF is Kay Aldridge, whose late husband Eddie owned and operated Aldridge Garden Shop and founded Aldridge Gardens, which he and Kay conveyed to the city of Hoover to be used as a public garden in perpetuity.
Kay is merely continuing Eddie’s legacy of giving, she said. “He was such a charitable person. He was always ready to give to anybody.” The Red Cross and the Salvation Army were two of Eddie’s favorite organizations.
UAB School of Nursing and Hand In Paw are two of Kay’s favorite causes. The School of Nursing is “a fantastic organization,” she said. “I feel so good about the things they do, and they’re so thankful.
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Empowering donors to give back with purpose and ease through Donor Advised Funds
Kay Aldridge uses her Donor Advised Fund to continue her late husband Eddie’s legacy.
“He was such a charitable person. He was always ready to give to anybody. … The money’s going to a good use […] and we just always wanted to do something for someone else.”
Almost weekly I get a letter from some student. The director sends me thank-you letters. It makes me feel so good.”
Hand in Paw, which offers innovative, animalassisted therapy, is “my number one and a great organization,” Kay said. “It helps so many people. I’ve never been in the hospital very long and had the need for a pet, but if I were there and a pet showed up I’d be happy.”
It’s gratifying to support the Community Foundation, Kay said. “It makes you feel so wonderful that you’ve done something for someone else,” she said. “The money’s going to a good use and they need it, and we just always wanted to do something for someone else.”
DAFs are a smart choice for donors. They’re easy to open with a simple, one-page agreement. The minimum amount to start a DAF is only $15,000. Donors receive immediate tax deductions when they contribute to their funds. The Community Foundation handles all the paperwork and administration, so
donors can concentrate on their philanthropy. DAFs also give contributors the option of remaining anonymous if they prefer.
Most of all, donors enjoy being able to direct how and when their giving is deployed. “I like the flexibility that you can give to wherever you want,” Kay said, who said the staff have been very helpful in the process. “The people at the Foundation are always so nice. They’re always ready to help you with anything.”
• To learn more about starting a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), contact Liz Edwards at 205-327-3808 or ledwards@cfbham.org.
• For more about the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, call 205-327-3800 or go to cfbham.org.
Hoover Dad Brigade is back to clean up Hoover’s 280-corridor schools
By STAFF
The Hoover City Dad Brigade is back.
After taking a one-year hiatus in 2024 — the first break in its 10-year history — the annual back-to-school cleanup effort is set to return Saturday, July 12, with a focus on Hoover City Schools that include Spain Park High School, Berry Middle School and Greystone Elementary.
Volunteers are asked to arrive at their schools at 7 a.m. and typically spend several hours on tasks like spreading pine straw, pressure washing sidewalks, trimming trees and hedges and removing weeds and trash.
The tradition began in 2015 under the leadership of then-Board of Education President Derrick Murphy, who later joined the Hoover City Council. It continued every year until 2024, when Murphy opted to cancel the event due to principal changes at three Hoover schools.
Murphy said he’s excited for the effort to return and looks forward to seeing volunteers help prepare campuses for the return of students on Aug. 7.
While the event is aimed at encouraging dads to get more involved in their children’s schools, volunteers often include grandfathers, community members and boys in eighth grade and older. Many schools also see help from women in the community.
Chick-fil-A will provide breakfast at the schools, and Home Depot, a returning sponsor, is once again donating supplies for the cleanup.
Volunteers are encouraged to register in advance to help organizers coordinate, though pre-registration is not required. Participants can register via the Hoover City Dad Brigade Facebook page.
SCHOOL PERSONNEL UPDATES
Shelby County Schools has appointed Jan Curtis as the new coordinator of instruction. Curtis brings more than 25 years of experience in education and currently serves as principal at Oak Mountain Elementary School.
Ashli Polizos has been named the new principal of Oak Mountain Middle School. A teacher with 19 years in education, Polizos most recently served as an assistant principal at the school.
A longtime educator with deep ties to the U.S. 280 corridor has been named assistant superintendent of instruction for Hoover City Schools.
Chris Robbins, who previously served as principal at Berry Middle School, was elevated to the new role as part of a central office restructuring plan approved by the Hoover school board in June.
Robbins has worked in the Hoover system for 27 years. In his new post, Robbins will lead curriculum, technology, special education, federal programs and student assessment.
Volunteers pose for a photo after completing their work with the 2023 Hoover City Dad Brigade at Spain Park High School in Hoover. Photo courtesy of Shane Eaker.
HELPING TEENS LEAD HEALTHY
• Children left unattended or home alone are prone to physical injury. School is out and parents are at work during the summer.
• Youth may engage in risky behavior (ie crime).
• Youth, especially teens, may experiment with drugs and alcohol.
• Children are more prone to injuries due to accidents on ATVS or golf carts, accidental or near drowning, animal attacks, etc.
• More teens are out driving which could lead to a higher incident of distracted driving or accidents.
•More access to technology. Social media and video games and prolonged daily use can have negative effects on mental wellness.
BUSINESS
Business Buzz
BUSINESS HAPPENINGS
COMING SOON
280 Living is spotlighting local businesses in print and online. Submit your business for consideration here: go.starnesmedia.com/business-spotlight
Do you have news to share about a business along the U.S. 280 corridor or the greater Birmingham area? Let us know at starnesmedia.com/business-happenings
Raising Cane’s, the nationally popular chicken finger chain, is bringing its “One Love” menu to North Shelby County. The company has confirmed plans to open a new location at 5301 U.S. 280 — the former site of Lloyd’s Restaurant — with a target opening in spring 2026. Known for its cult following, signature Cane’s Sauce, and streamlined menu of chicken fingers, toast, fries and sweet tea, the Louisiana-based brand now operates more than 900 locations nationwide. This will be Raising Cane’s third Alabama location, joining stores in Tuscaloosa and Mobile, with major expansion still ahead. raisingcanes.com
Earlier plans indicated the new restaurant would be a 6,000-square-foot stand-alone restaurant off Tattersall Boulevard, not far from the Publix grocery store. Big Whiskey’s signature items include chicken ranch alfredo, a honey stung burger, boom boom shrimp tacos, a brunch melt, buffalo chicken wontons, a blackberry bourbon sidecar and beer cheese pretzels. In addition to the main menu, Big Whiskey’s features a weekday lunch menu, a weekend brunch menu and an extensive drink menu with more than 120 whiskeys, including rare and allocated bottles. The new restaurant will employ about 80 staff members, the company previously said. Founded in downtown Springfield, Missouri, in 2006, Big Whiskey’s now operates in Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas and Oklahoma. bigwhiskeys.com
Kung Fu Tea plans to open a location in the Tattersall Park development off Alabama 119. The tea shop will be at 6215 Tattersall Blvd., Suite 101, in the row of stores with the Publix at Tattersall, next to the Goodwill Donation Center.
and Vivian Hubbard was named payroll manager. Hancock brings nearly 16 years of experience, including early years with Goodwill Manasota in Florida and a recent 14-month role with Amity Goodwill in Ontario, Canada. Lovette, a seasoned leader and U.S. Air Force veteran, brings deep experience in safety, operations and contract management. Hubbard previously worked as the East region accounts receivable supervisor at Coca-Cola and is a certified Arabic and French interpreter. 205-438-6010 and 205-775-0288, alabamagoodwill.org
Painted Tree Boutiques, a national retail concept blending Etsy-style maker markets with boutique storefronts, is opening soon in River Ridge Shopping Plaza on U.S. 280. The store fills the former Nordstrom Rack space near Academy Sports and Marshalls. With over 42 locations nationwide, Painted Tree offers hundreds of individual vendor booths featuring gifts, home décor, fashion and more — all under one roof. Founded in Arkansas in 2015, the brand emphasizes community and entrepreneurship. Vendors can apply now to open their shop-ina-shop space. paintedtree.com
Wild Birds Unlimited plans to open a new location of its nature shop in the Tattersall Park development off Alabama 119. The new store will be at 6215 Tattersall Blvd., Suite 109, in the row of stores with the Publix at Tattersall, next to the Goodwill Donation Center. The company sells items such as bird feeders, bird feed, mounting and hanging hardware and other items related to birds. birmingham.wbu.com
Big Whiskey’s American Restaurant & Bar is nearing completion in the Tattersall Park development off Alabama 119. The goal is to open the new restaurant by mid-July, according to an employee of the Big Whiskey’s at Stadium Trace Village, which opened in July 2020.
Kung Fu Tea is a Taiwanese bubble tea franchise founded in Queens, New York, and now with more than 350 locations across the United States and at least three in Canada under the KF Tea name. kungfutea.com
NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Capstone Building Corp., based at 1200 Corporate Drive, Suite 350, in the Meadow Brook Corporate Park, on June 5 held a ribbon cutting for the recently completed 143-unit Southtown Senior independent senior living development in Birmingham. The 158,384-squarefoot project, done in collaboration with The Benoit Group and Housing Authority of Birmingham District, is part of the city of Birmingham’s Edgehill at Southtown redevelopment plan. The complex has floor plans with one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments near UAB St. Vincent’s Birmingham and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It also has a fitness center, community room, business center and tenant services including monthly arts and crafts, blood pressure screening and holiday festivities.
Capstone Building also recently completed Edgeview at Legends Park, a $17.6 million senior housing development in Memphis on behalf of developer Pennrose and the Memphis Housing Authority. The 85,765-square-foot development within the mixed-income community in Memphis’ medical district consists of 99 one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments designed for people ages 62 and older. The development includes a community room, fitness room, exterior covered porch and interior gathering spaces on each floor and is located near Memphis’ VA Medical Center. 205-803-5226, capstonebuilding.com
PERSONNEL MOVES
Alabama Goodwill Industries, with a donation center at 6215 Tattersall Blvd., Suite 105, in Tattersall Park and a store and donation center at 5287 U.S. 280 in Brook Highland, recently promoted three key team members. Daniel Hancock was promoted to South district director, Steve Lovette was named North district director,
Justin Craft, president of Nowlin & Associates, has received the national Lester A. Rosen Humanitarian and Achievement Award from Ameritas, recognizing his leadership, ethical business practices and dedication to community service. In conjunction with the award, Craft selected Hargis Christian Camp in Chelsea to receive the Lester Rosen Grant. 205-871-9993, nowlinwm.com
ANNIVERSARIES
Higher Roof Solutions, a roofing company based in Inverness, celebrated its second anniversary in June. 205-386-0565, higherroofsolutions.com
SoCal Smoothie Company, at 16688 U.S. 280, Unit B, in Chelsea, has been open for over two years. The store serves smoothies, acai bowls, chicken salad and other healthy options. Open Monday through Friday 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 205-718-1821, socalsmoothieco.com
Elite Dentistry and Implant Center, 100 Chelsea Corners Way, Suite 113, is celebrating 25 years in business. The practice offers cosmetic and restorative dentistry, crowns, dental implants and more. Open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. and Friday by appointment. 205-678-2525, elitedentistryal.com
Summit Pediatrics, now open one year at 1200 Providence Park #100, also has an office in Chelsea. Affiliated with Sylacauga Pediatrics, the location offers well and sick care. Open weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 205-637-0044, sylacaugapediatrics.com
Station 31 Kitchen, 104 Chesser Drive, celebrates its 16th anniversary in Chelsea. The restaurant serves sandwiches, pasta, meatloaf and more. Open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday–Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
205-677-2158, “Station 31 Kitchen” on Facebook
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, 16383 U.S. 280, has served treats in Chelsea for two years. Signature gelati blends Italian ice, soft serve and mix-ins. Open weekdays noon–9 p.m. and weekends until 10 p.m. 205-618-9118, jeremiahsice.com
Pediatric Care of Chelsea, 15582 U.S. 280, Suite 110, has served area patients for two years. The clinic offers well and sick visits, as well as urgent care. Open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon. 205-800-8713, pediatriccarechelsea.com
United Community Bank celebrated two years on Meadow Lake Drive in Hoover. The bank is open weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 205-705-5140, ucbi.com
Handcock
Hubbard
Craft
Jimmy Valiani, owner of
By STAFF
Q: Tell us briefly about your business.
A: Let’s Play is an indoor play
kids can play, climb, jump and unleash their imaginations — rain or shine. With three locations across Alabama, we’ve created a vibrant space that not only ignites joy in children but also invites parents to relax, connect, or join in on the adventure.
Q: How did you get involved with the business?
A: It all began with a personal need. As a parent, I constantly searched for a safe and clean place where my kids could play and have fun in a safe environment, but I realized there weren’t many great options nearby. This realization sparked my idea, and before long, Let’s Play was created. It’s been incredible to see it evolve into a
Let’s
Play on US 280
space that serves so many families all over Alabama.
Q: Give us your 30-second elevator pitch.
A: Let’s Play is a place where kids can have fun while parents enjoy a moment to relax or join in on the excitement! We focus on active play, unforgettable birthday parties, and maintaining a clean, safe, and welcoming environment every time you walk through our doors.
Q: What would your customers say they like about you?
A: I believe they would say that we genuinely care, and it shows. Parents often share that they appreciate how clean and safe our environment feels, how friendly our team is, and how much their children enjoy being here. Let’s be honest — when kids end their day happy and exhausted, everyone wins.
Reef
By STAFF
Whether you’re an experienced aquarist or buying your child’s first goldfish, Reef Life Aquariums offers a wide range of freshwater and saltwater livestock, equipment and tank supplies from its storefront in the Greystone Park Shopping Center.
Open daily from noon to 6 p.m., Reef Life Aquariums has become a go-to stop for aquarium hobbyists across the Birmingham metro area. The store occupies suites 309 and 310 off U.S. 280, behind The Humidor Room and Bloom & Petal Florist.
While larger national chains often dominate the pet store market, Reef Life Aquariums has carved out a niche by focusing exclusively on aquatics. Customers will find weekly shipments of freshwater and saltwater fish, live aquatic plants and corals. Inventory updates are posted regularly online, including a “just out of holding” category that alerts customers
when new arrivals are ready for purchase. The store also carries a range of aquarium sizes and accessories including lighting systems, water testing supplies and filtration equipment. A recent tank clearance promotion featured steep discounts on brands such as Aqueon, with options ranging from 15-65 gallon tanks and matching cabinetry.
Reef Life Aquariums also serves as a source of advice and supplies for water chemistry, tank cycling and equipment setup — common stumbling blocks for new aquarium owners. Located in Shelby County, the business draws a steady stream of visitors from nearby neighborhoods like Greystone, Inverness and Highland Lakes. In addition to its retail services, Reef Life Aquariums offers gift cards and a subscription system for email updates on fish availability. For more information or to browse current inventory, visit reeflifeaquariums.com, 205-874-9526.
Sips and Bites
GET TO KNOW
Kristi Sibley, HR manager at Edgar’s Bakery
By STAFF
Q: Tell us briefly about your business.
A: Founded in 1998 by Dottie and Terry Smith, Edgar’s Bakery quickly became a staple in the Birmingham area and later in the Huntsville area. Expanding to 11 locations across Alabama, we have cakes, pastries, breakfast, lunch and everything in between!
Q: How did you get involved with the business?
A: I have been with Edgar’s for … pretty much my whole life! I started as a cashier when I was 16, moved to customer service, and now, about 20 years later, I am the HR/ payroll manager. It has been such a wonderful experience getting to know Edgar’s from so many vantage points!
Q: Give us your 30-second elevator pitch.
A: We are a family owned and operated bakery and café that prides ourselves on providing kind service and delicious food to our community. Your celebrations, our creations!
Q: What sets you apart from your competitors?
A: The cakes and the people! Not only are our cakes delicious but the people who make them genuinely care about the quality of our products. It makes coming to work every day a treat!
Q: What would your customers say they like about you?
A: Our customers would say they love our wide selection and our ability to personalize their experience. Most of all they would say they love our strawberry cake!
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add that might be unique or interesting about your business?
A: Since launching nationwide shipping through Goldbelly, we have shipped cakes as far as Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada!
SPOTLIGHT
Hacienda Mexican Grill evolves with the times
By JON ANDERSON
The Hacienda Mexican Grill at the corner of Valleydale Road and Caldwell Mill Road has been offering customers traditional Mexican fare ever since Rick and Carolina Martinez opened there in 2004, but these days, you’ll find some newer items on the menu as well.
A little over a year ago, customers started asking for a more authentic Mexican dish called quesabirrias, said Armando Martinez, who took over ownership of the restaurant from his parents in late 2023. So he added it to the menu to meet the demand.
“It’s slow-cooked short rib meat, and it comes served on corn tortillas dipped in the broth that the meat is cooked in, and then it comes with cheese inside and cilantro and onion and the broth on the side to dip the quesadillas,” Martinez said. “Basically, it’s a quesadilla, but it’s with short rib in it.”
While he wants to evolve the menu, Martinez said he also doesn’t want to stray too far from what has made them successful. People especially love the street tacos, the chunky salsa, fajitas and margaritas with freshly
squeezed lime, he said.
And consistently friendly customer service is key, he said. “We’ve gotten to know so many families over the years. There are so many people that we know on a first-name basis. They know us.”
Martinez’s parents are originally from Guanajuato, Mexico. They moved to California in 1982 and then to Chelsea in 1997. They opened their first Hacienda Mexican Grill in Chelsea in 2001 and then added the Valleydale location in 2004. The Chelsea restaurant closed in 2011, but the Valleydale spot has remained fruitful, he said.
Customers eat dinner at the Hacienda Mexican Grill in the Caldwell Centre at the corner of Valleydale Road and Caldwell Mill Road. Photo by Jon Anderson.
The inside of the Colonnade location of Edgar’s Bakery. Photo courtesy of Edgar’s Bakery.
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Transforming lives: How TruBlue is empowering the Hyche family with accessible home renovations
A DAILY STRUGGLE IN AN INACCESSIBLE HOME
For over a decade, Katrina Hyche lived in a wheelchair after being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome — a rare condition that left her paralyzed. Once a yoga instructor, she now maintains her strength through adapted exercises.
However, Katrina’s home was not designed for someone with limited mobility. In the bathroom, showering became dangerous. With only the walls to hold onto for balance, Katrina risked falling every day.
Her mother, Deborah, now 70, is acting as her caregiver while also looking after her grandson Noah, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy and has never walked. The family knew changes were needed, but financial limitations kept them from making the necessary home modifications — until a small inheritance offered them a path forward.
TRUBLUE STEPS IN WITH COMPASSION AND EXPERTISE
When Katrina and Deborah were introduced to TruBlue Home Service Ally of Birmingham, it was originally for help clearing out the home of Deborah’s late mother. But what began as a simple service turned into a transformative partnership. Understanding the family’s unique situation, TruBlue offered a comprehensive, compassionate
BEFORE AFTER
approach to renovation — focusing not just on function, but also on dignity and independence.
TruBlue designed a fully wheelchair-accessible bathroom featuring a roll-in shower, adjustable vanities, and grab bars placed for maximum safety. The layout allowed Katrina to move freely and independently — even on the hard days when Deborah is not home.
LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS THAT GENUINELY IMPROVE LIVES
The transformation goes beyond tiles and fixtures. For Katrina, it means safety and control over her daily routine. She
no longer faces the fear of falling with every shower. For Deborah, it means relief — less physical strain and a lighter emotional burden. The remodeled space also supported Deborah’s needs, with thoughtful features that improved her daily comfort.
The remodel helped to restore balance in a household filled with responsibility. For a family that includes multiple generations under one roof, every improvement made a powerful difference.
ONGOING SUPPORT FOR A FAMILY BUILT ON LOVE
The bathroom remodel is only the
To learn more, go online to TruBlueCanDo.com or call 205-839-3818 for a quote today!
beginning. TruBlue continues to work with the Hyche family on future projects, including an accessible kitchen and creating space for a new service dog to assist Katrina. The Hyches’ home is now a safer, more supportive environment — not just for Katrina, but for every member of their tight-knit household.
WHY ACCESSIBLE HOME RENOVATIONS MATTER
The Hyche family’s journey is a powerful example of what accessible home renovations can achieve: more independence, dignity, and empowerment. If you or a loved one is facing similar challenges, know that there is help. TruBlue is ready to bring a personalized approach, cost-effective solutions, and deep commitment to each and every client’s well-being. TruBlue is about more than just changing homes, it’s about changing lives.
Jurisdictional Roulette
By TAYLOR BRIGHT
The mix of municipal and jurisdictional lines isn’t just confusing for homeowners and business owners; it complicates things for first responders and the people responsible for getting the correct first responders to the scene.
“It’s crazy,” said Alan Campbell, executive director of Shelby County 911, which is responsible for dispatching the correct units to the correct places. “There are places in that 280 area where an agency will take one lane but not the other lane. So you’ve got places over there where it may be Hoover and the [Shelby County] Sheriff’s Office, but Hoover only takes the lane going towards Birmingham and not the lane going the other direction.”
Capt. Mark Bishop, a spokesman for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, said at times dispatch will send multiple agencies to the scene of an accident along U.S. 280 if there isn’t 100% clarity on where it is.
“If it’s anywhere remotely close to being in one jurisdiction or the other, they’re more than likely going to dispatch both agencies,” Bishop said. “And that increases the likelihood that, at the very least, that we get somebody to you as soon as possible, and then we can work through the details of who’s the primary investigative agency after that.”
Campbell said dispatchers try to get as much information as possible along the corridor to determine which agency has jurisdiction for a call. Because of the interwoven municipal lines, that is not always easy.
“Instead of we’re looking at a whole city, we’re looking at it at a parcel level, or all the way down to single pieces of property,” Campbell said. “So you can have a call come in at the Arby’s on 280, and that’s going to be the Sheriff’s Office and Cahaba Valley Fire, but at the office building right next door to it, that’s going to be Birmingham police and Birmingham fire [departments], so it comes right down to that level.
Campbell said while some areas can be tricky to know which agency to dispatch, they’re able to coordinate the calls with all of the agencies that work the U.S. 280 corridor to get them to the right location.
“There’s nothing magical about it,” Campbell said. “We have a really good map, and those calls come in, and we put them where they are on our really good map, and we notify the right agencies. But, everybody on that 280 corridor works really well together.”
The Shelby County 911 center handles all calls in Shelby County. Plus, Campbell said, they have contracts to handle the calls from Homewood, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills. Before the 1980s, there weren’t as many agencies in north Shelby County. Vestavia Hills was confined to west of U.S. 280. As was Hoover.
“It just made sense for us to have all three of them because now we don’t have it like before where they had three centers and they had to transfer the calls between the three,” Campbell said. “Now they’re all in the same room, so having them consolidated in one space makes it better for them, and we work with those agencies just across the county line, so it works for us.”
MAZE
CONTINUED from page 1
Outside, the traffic never stopped. A trio of fire engines idled while customers wove around them to get into Walmart, Home Depot, gas stations and car washes that orbit the restaurant like moons. More than 70,000 cars pass through this stretch of U.S. 280 each day — and not just during rush hour. ALDOT traffic data shows the real gridlock comes midday, when life in this unincorporated suburban corridor hits full throttle. That’s when the confusion starts to matter most.
Because who answers your 911 call on U.S. 280 depends on which lane you’re driving. Where your kids go to school depends on which side of the street your mailbox faces. And your address might say “Birmingham,” even if you vote in Hoover — or live in unincorporated Shelby County.
This is not a city. It’s not even a neighborhood. It’s a municipal maze. And more than 80,000 people live inside it.
THE GREAT ANNEXATION WAR
In the 1980s and ’90s, this stretch of highway became the front line in a regional turf war — one fought with annexation petitions, water lines and legal loopholes. Birmingham and Hoover scrambled to grab land faster than the other. Shelby County tried to hold its ground.
Vestavia Hills launched a legal bombshell. The Alabama Supreme Court redrew the rules.
By the time the dust settled, U.S. 280 wasn’t just paved, widened and its lanes lined with urban sprawl; it was carved up.
MAP BREAKS DOWN HERE
U.S. 280 is a maze of municipal lines, and Hamburger Heaven sits right at its most tangled intersection.
The old-school burger joint has a Birmingham mailing address, but it isn’t in Birmingham. It’s technically in a sliver of Hoover. A nearby street sign points toward Inverness — once the first wave of urban sprawl on this side of the mountain. The wooded area across the parking lot? That’s unincorporated Shelby County. And depending on which corner of the parcel you’re standing, you’re in a different fire district.
Even the 911 maps can’t quite agree.
“We call Hoover; they say no, you're Shelby County,” said Jeremy Polk, who has worked at Hamburger Heaven for more than a decade. “We call Shelby County; they say no, y’all are Hoover. Most of the time we’re just like — I don’t care who, just send someone out here.”
He said he’s even been told to call Birmingham police — even though that jurisdiction doesn’t begin until you cross the Walmart lot behind the restaurant.
That jurisdictional ping-pong makes Hamburger Heaven the perfect avatar for the corridor it feeds.
Because what happens here — who responds, who collects taxes, who delivers services — is never as simple as looking at a street address. ZIP codes don’t match city lines. School zones shift every few years. And fire jurisdictions, like the one covering this restaurant, look like the most gerrymandered congressional districts in Alabama.
What started as one development became
Maze of Consequences
U.S. 280’s tangled lines don’t just confuse; they change how you live. What happens when ZIP codes ignore city lines and cities leapfrog across counties? Confusion, yes — but also real-world consequences.
► Your 911 call could get rerouted twice
► Your tax rate may differ from your neighbor’s
► Your address might say “Birmingham,” but your vote counts in Hoover
► School zones and trash pickup can shift with new developments
► Police or fire response depends on your side of the street You might owe Birmingham’s 1% occupational tax — or not
the epicenter of a boundary war — and now, a blur.
It’s not a fluke. It’s the result of a decadeslong municipal land war — one that redrew this corridor parcel by parcel, until the road stopped functioning like a community and started operating like a bureaucratic puzzle box.
The confusion doesn’t mean no one shows up; sometimes, it means everyone does.
“Everybody has a mutual aid agreement in this area,” said Ricky Milligan, a firefighter who lives along the corridor. “You’re generally going to have three departments show up. If it’s a minor call, they’ll turn people around. But if the building’s on fire, they’ll all be there.”
MAZED AND CONFUSED
Ask around along U.S. 280, and most people will tell you the same thing: they’re not quite sure where they live — only that it’s somewhere “off 280.”
“I live in Greystone,” said Lea Thompson. “I don’t know.”
She wasn’t kidding. Her ZIP code is 35242, which means her mailing address says “Birmingham.” But Greystone is in Hoover — mostly. The property lines zigzag so erratically that some homes fall under city services; others don’t, and neighbors across the street can pay different taxes for the same utilities.
Even her trash pickup is a mystery.
“We have our own inside Greystone,” she said. “I don’t know who it is, but someone comes.”
She’s not alone.
“I think it’s part of Hoover,” said longtime resident Sue Jones. “Hoover picks up our trash,” she added — then admitted they rarely cross town because “the traffic is horrible.”
In Edenton, Susan Deramus has a Birmingham address — but isn’t sure what it means.
“We’ve changed voting precincts three times since we moved here,” she said. “It’s constantly changing.”
Even longtime residents struggle to trace the dividing lines. And it’s not just a quirk
A Hoover Fire Department truck sits outside the Hamburger Heaven location on U.S. 280 near the Alabama 119 intersection. The restaurant sits in the crosshairs of jurisdictions that serve the 280 corridor. Four departments serve this small area as governmental borders collide: Hoover, Cahaba Valley, North Shelby and Birmingham. Photo by Malia Riggs.
of development; it’s an engineered outcome of the annexation tactics cities used to carve up the corridor. ZIP codes were never meant to follow city limits, and cities didn’t always annex based on ZIPs.
For homebuyers, the confusion isn’t just quirky; it’s contractual.
Clark Edwards grew up on 280. Now he sells homes here, which means he’s one of the few people who can actually explain which neighborhood belongs to which city. Or at least, try.
“Certain neighborhoods are Hoover, but then the next neighborhood is not,” he said. “And that, to me, made it a little more confusing.”
Buyers want Oak Mountain schools, but end up zoned for Birmingham. Some want Hoover and land in unincorporated Shelby County. The city line might run through a subdivision or between two driveways, and there’s no signage to guide them. Even veteran agents have to cross-reference parcel maps to confirm where a listing sits.
And then there’s the ZIP code.
“Greystone is Hoover,” said Rep. Susan DuBose, who represents the district. “But right outside of Greystone will be unincorporated Shelby County … all around. Like everything on Highway 41 and Highway 43 — that’s all unincorporated Shelby County.”
Yet the mailing address still says Birmingham. That’s because the area’s primary ZIP — 35242 — is assigned to Birmingham by the U.S. Postal Service, not by municipal boundaries.
“ZIP Codes do not always conform to municipal boundaries,” said Debbie Fetterly, spokesperson for the USPS. “A delivery area crosses multiple boundaries and counties. They are not intended to determine city, town or municipal identities.”
That’s how you can live in Hoover, sometimes be served by Cahaba Valley Fire and get a water bill that says “City of Birmingham.”
Residents have adapted — mostly by giving up. Ask where they live and many just shrug.
“I just tell people I’m from Chelsea,” Polk said. “Technically it’s unincorporated ... something. But nobody really knows. Saying Chelsea’s just easier.”
VESTAVIA ENTERS THE FIGHT
As Hoover and Birmingham battled parcel by parcel, a quiet ambush was forming north of the corridor.
In 1992, the developers of Liberty Park — a then 2,500-acre master-planned community southeast of I-459 — were shopping for a city. Mountain Brook passed. Then they turned to Vestavia Hills.
There was a problem: Vestavia Hills was more than three miles away. The land was non-contiguous — and legally out of reach.
The city and developer quickly agreed: annexing Liberty Park would benefit them both — if they could make it legal.
To make it work, the city pursued a legislative workaround. On Oct. 7, 1992, the Alabama Legislature passed a special act allowing Vestavia Hills to annex non-contiguous parcels.
Birmingham sued. The case went to the Alabama Supreme Court.
“We tried the case in a couple of days,” said Pat Boone, the Vestavia Hills city attorney. “The annexation is valid.”
The court upheld both the annexation and
Mapping the maze: A timeline of US 280’s evolution
By TIM STEPHENS
In the 1980s and ’90s, Birmingham, Hoover, Vestavia Hills and others aggressively annexed land — not because of what was there, but because of what might be. With every parcel came leverage: taxes, water lines, business fees and control.
Cities reached — often awkwardly
— across wooded tracts and undeveloped hills. They weren’t drawing maps. They were drawing futures.
► 1978: Inverness begins development on former farmland, launching one of Birmingham’s first major golf-centered suburbs.
► 1984: Interstate 459 opens at U.S. 280, instantly accelerating eastbound growth.
► 1987: Meadow Brook attracts new residents to eastern Shelby County.
► 1989: Shoal Creek, a private gated golf community, opens farther down the corridor, intensifying exclusivity and expansion pressure.
► 1990–1992: Birmingham and Hoover escalate competing annexation efforts, targeting commercial parcels and extending sewer and water service eastward.
► 1992: Vestavia Hills annexes Liberty Park using a special legislative act permitting non-contiguous annexation.
► 1993: The Alabama Supreme Court upholds Vestavia’s move, setting statewide precedent for long-lasso annexation.
► 1995: Concerned about being absorbed by neighboring cities, Chelsea residents petition for incorporation.
► 1996: Chelsea formally incorporates with under 1,000 residents, halting Hoover’s eastward push
► Late 1990s: Greystone expands in fits and starts, some of it annexed into Hoover, some left unincorporated — setting the stage for long-term jurisdictional confusion.
► 1997: The Summit opens at I-459 and U.S. 280, re-centering retail and commuter patterns.
► Early 2000s: Lee Branch, The Colonnade and surrounding commercial zones take shape.
► 2002: Vestavia Hills annexes Cahaba Heights by local referendum, connecting its core to Liberty Park.
► 2000s: Subdivisions like Highland Lakes and Mt Laurel rise in unincorporated Shelby County. Services struggle to keep up.
► 2015: Grandview Medical Center opens, adding a healthcare anchor and new traffic pressures.
► 2020: Chelsea’s population approaches 15,000, validating its early effort to preserve autonomy through incorporation.
► 2023: Birmingham Water Works begins dam improvements at Lake Purdy — a reservoir annexed decades earlier for utility control.
► 2025 (ongoing): ALDOT plans major corridor improvements near The Summit and Grandview in an attempt to ease chronic congestion.
From Farmland to Puzzle: Today, ZIP codes don’t match city lines. Fire, police and trash services vary block to block. Schools shift by subdivision. What appears chaotic is actually the result of decades of deliberate — and often fragmented — decisions. Every twist in the map was a strategy in the larger game for control.
SOURCE: THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS, BIRMINGHAM POST-HERALD, STARNES MEDIA ARCHIVES.
the legislative act behind it.
“The legislature had the authority to annex two non-contiguous parcels ... the Constitution did not prohibit it,” Boone said.
That ruling reshaped the political map of metro Birmingham. Cities no longer had to annex slowly along connected lines. They could leap. Liberty Park was the first major leap — but not the last.
“When that case happened, man, things took off,” Boone said.
The developers pledged $15 million for public infrastructure, donated 35 acres for city use and built one of the region’s most sought-after school zones. Liberty Park Elementary opened in 1999. A middle school followed.
Ten years later, Vestavia annexed Cahaba Heights through a standard local referendum. Residents voted 2-to-1 in favor.
In 2000, Vestavia’s new mayor, Scotty McCallum, saw an opportunity to close the loop.
“We had Vestavia on one side, Liberty Park on the other, and Cahaba Heights in between,” Boone said. “He led the initiative to annex the Cahaba Heights Fire District. It took a legislative bill, and residents voted two to one to come in.”
Boone nodded. “I don’t have a crystal ball, but it sure has been good for all concerned.”
THE BIRTH OF CHELSEA
By the time the annexation wars peaked in the early ’90s, there wasn’t much left between Birmingham and Childersburg that hadn’t already been mapped, claimed or eyed for annexation.
But there was Chelsea — unincorporated and rural.
The Hoover City Council had been holding back-to-back annexation meetings, carving its way east along U.S. 280 with commercial properties, country clubs, undeveloped tracts and sewage systems. A 1991 map showed Hoover’s boundaries leaping past Inverness and Shoal Creek. They weren’t hiding their
ambition.
“Well, I did recently visit Childersburg,” joked Hoover Council President William Billingsley at the time.
It got a laugh at City Hall. But the people in Chelsea weren’t laughing.
“We just want to keep Chelsea the way it is,” Tim Crawford, who owned a local auto body shop, told The Birmingham News before the vote in 1995.
On March 1, 1996, Chelsea formally incorporated with a population of just over 900. As of 2020, it was nearing 15,000 — one of the fastest-growing cities in Alabama.
Chelsea drew a line east of Shoal Creek — and told the cities marching east: annexation stops here.
THE GRID(LOCK) LIVES
At Hamburger Heaven, the lights are back on. Jeremy Polk is back behind the counter. And the chaos? Still cooked into the system.
Today, the 280 corridor from I-459 to Chelsea is home to more than 80,000 people. Birmingham, Hoover, Shelby County, Vestavia Hills — all left their fingerprints on a stretch they couldn’t fully claim. It wasn’t designed for simplicity. It was designed for control — of taxes, water, schools, growth.
And even now, decades later, the patchwork lives.
ZIP codes still mislead. School zones still shift. And at Hamburger Heaven, the trucks still come — from multiple directions.
Because on 280, where you live isn’t about the map. It’s about where your kids go to school, whose fire trucks come — and who finally answers the call when something goes wrong.
But there’s one thing almost everyone agrees on.
“The worst part of living on 280 is the traffic,” Polk said. “Not even going to sugarcoat that.”
Starnes Media correspondent Malia Riggs contributed to this report.
Those are quotes not commonly heard in today’s college landscape, which has become overshadowed by free-flowing transfers and NIL payments. Players like Vizzina are a breath of fresh air, not the norm.
He also bucks the trend when it comes to embracing progress and stability. He’s happy at Clemson and is biding his time, improving each day and staying focused on long-term growth in a college sports world where instant results are often the norm.
“My story is going to be different than some people,” he said. “I’ve decided to develop. But I’m very excited for the future. I think that it will pay off very soon.”
Vizzina has experienced the highs of national rankings and major offers — and the pressure that comes with them. He’s navigated the rise of NIL and seen the transfer portal reshape his sport. Through it all, he’s stayed grounded in his values and the big picture.
THE GAME JUST CHANGED
If you played Division I college sports in the last decade — or your kid did — this summer, money’s coming.
Not from boosters. Not from collectives. From the university itself.
On June 14, a federal judge finalized House v. NCAA, a $2.8 billion antitrust settlement that shatters the 119-year model of amateurism. For the first time, schools can pay their athletes directly — not for appearances, not through shell groups — but straight from university revenue.
If you are a fan of college sports, the games are now unlike anything you’ve known. And it starts now.
WHO GETS PAID – AND HOW
The House settlement triggers two historic changes:
Backpay: Any Division I athlete who competed between 2016 and 2024 can file for compensation. Payouts will depend on sport, tenure and school revenue — with football and men’s basketball expected to receive the largest shares.
Revenue sharing: Starting this fall, schools can pay current athletes up to $20.5 million annually. The cap will rise each year over the 10-year agreement. Most schools are expected to split it like this: 75% to football
► 15% to men’s basketball
► 5% to women’s basketball
► 5% to all other sports
This is not NIL 2.0. This is something else entirely.
NIL was always about outside money — sponsors, side hustles, booster funds. The House settlement puts the money on campus. Schools will now pay athletes from the same pool used for coach salaries, facilities and scholarships.
That makes it bigger. And messier.
Only the Power 4 conferences — SEC, Big Ten, ACC, Big 12 — were named in the suit. But all Division I schools must contribute to the backpay fund, even if they’ve never had a single NIL deal. Many smaller schools are already trimming rosters, adjusting scholarships and revisiting budgets. Some athletes will get paid. Others may get cut.
‘TRANSFORMATIVE LEGISLATION’
Birmingham entrepreneur and athlete advocate Jim Cavale has been tracking this shift from the beginning.
“In just the first year — from July 2021 to July 2022 — we tracked $350 million in NIL activity,” Cavale said. “And 90% of that was donor-driven funds funneled through collectives to pay athletes to play.”
Now, he says, things are even murkier.
“The biggest issue athletes face is confusing and misleading contracts,” Cavale said.
“These so-called NIL deals are often performance-based agreements in disguise.”
ESPN national analyst Tom Luginbill sees the same storm building.
“This is the most transformative legislation in college sports in the last 15 years, and it dropped with no guardrails,” he said. “(Resource-rich) programs like Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia can do whatever they want. Most others can’t.”
And he’s worried.
“What’s coming is this: players getting paid
NIL vs. Revenue Sharing: What’s The Difference?
REVENUE
NAME,
WHO PAYS? Third parties (boosters, brands, collectives) The school itself
STARTED July 1, 2021
REGULATED BY? State laws, schools and soon the College Sports Commission
GUARANTEED? No. Athletes must negotiate their own NIL deals
WHO BENEFITS MOST? High-profile athletes, especially QBs, skill players
STILL ALLOWED? Yes, but will face more scrutiny from a new enforcement body
big money, surrounded by bad actors. Agents want 20–30%. A kid enters the portal, takes bad advice, spends the money — and doesn’t go pro. That’s the reality.”
NEXT: CONGRESS AND COURTS
Just days after the House ruling, a bipartisan group in Congress introduced the SCORE Act — a bill that would:
► Cap revenue sharing and standardize disclosures
► Pre-empt state NIL laws
► Create a federal enforcement commission
► Affirm that college athletes are not employees
That last point might be the whole game.
The NCAA’s biggest fear isn’t payment; it’s employment. If athletes are ruled to be employees, everything changes: benefits, unions, workers’ comp, labor law. The House deal opened the door to paychecks. Congress is now trying to close it before anyone says the E-word.
But Cavale says the conversation still leaves out the people it claims to protect.
“These are being structured as NIL, not employment — and there’s still no agent regulation, no contract standards,” he said. “The athlete’s voice is missing. What’s really needed is collective bargaining.”
Meanwhile, legal uncertainty continues. The House settlement is not the final word — and may not withstand future challenges.
In June, eight current and former female athletes filed a Title IX lawsuit challenging the revenue-sharing model, arguing that its disproportionate distribution to men’s sports violates federal gender equity laws. More suits are likely. Title IX, employment law and due process could all play a role in shaping — or unraveling — the current plan.
NCAA leaders say that’s why congressional intervention is critical. The proposed SCORE Act would codify House into law, protect it from further litigation and preempt conflicting state-level NIL rules. But despite years of
Starts July 1, 2025
NCAA settlement structure, new federal-style oversight
Yes. Schools can directly allocate a set pool of money
All scholarship athletes, potentially across all sports
Yes. Can be used alongside revenue sharing
After a stellar senior season at Briarwood Christian in 2022, Christopher Vizzina enrolled at Clemson, prioritizing relationships and culture fit over NIL dollars that now dominate big-time college football.
lobbying, no federal college sports law has ever passed. For now, the policy landscape remains a moving target.
WELCOME TO NIL GO
On June 17, a new layer of regulation arrived: NIL Go — a clearinghouse overseen by the Collegiate Sports Commission and run by Deloitte.
Athletes must now report any deal over $600. Each gets reviewed for “fair market value.” If Deloitte flags it as inflated, it can be denied or sent to arbitration. There is no legal standard for that value. No consistent appeal process. Just a
Former Briarwood star Chrisopher Vizzina has waited his turn at Clemson, resisting the transfer portal during an era where many players swap schools more than once. “My story is going to be different than some people,” he said. “I’ve decided to develop. But I’m very excited for the future. I think that it will pay off very soon.”
House vs. NCAA Settlement Explained
WHAT IS IT?
The House v. NCAA antitrust settlement marks the official end of amateurism in college sports. Starting July 1, schools can pay athletes directly for the first time in NCAA history. The new model applies to current and future Division I athletes — not just those already on campus.
KEY TERMS
► $2.8 billion in back payments (2016-2024) to former D-I athletes
► The annual cap grows by at least 4% per year
► 10-year agreement: runs through 2035
► Roster limits: schools must reduce rosters to meet compensation caps
► Revenue sharing begins: schools can share up to $20.5M per year with athletes
WHY IT MATTERS This formalizes athlete compensation, bringing college sports closer than ever to a pro model — and away from the 119-year “student-athlete” model.
new filter between athletes and the opportunities they chase.
And that’s happening as university-issued paychecks are set to hit.
The result? Confusion, whiplash — and change.
Athletes like Vizzina are currently weathering NIL, the transfer portal and scholarship uncertainty. Now they face something even stranger: a paycheck from the school they play for.
What that means — and how long it lasts — is still in question.
The checks start July 1.
The system? Still up for grabs.
But Vizzina hopes other athletes keep the bigger picture in mind, and not just the instant gratification that comes with payments and transfers.
“I would say just stay true to who you are and go somewhere that values the type of person you are and player,” he said. “Don’t go somewhere where they tell you everything you want to hear. Go somewhere where you can become a man and become the football player you want to be.”
To see part one of The New Playbook, visit us online at 280living.com
IMAGE, LIKENESS (NIL)
SHARING (HOUSE SETTLEMENT)
Photo courtesy of Todd Kwarcinski.
Photo by Todd Lester.
Hoover Bartender Challenge, Restaurant Week return in July
By JON ANDERSON
The Hoover Restaurant Alliance is gearing up for its annual bartender challenge and Hoover Restaurant Week in July.
The bartender challenge, now in its third year, will start on July 14 with about six bartenders competing in a preliminary competition to see who’s the best at making drinks at The Anvil Pub and Grill in The Village at Lee Branch.
The top three from the preliminary competition will move on to the finals on July 17 at the Beef O’Brady’s at The Grove shopping center.
Each of the competitions will be at 6 p.m., said David Cohen, founder and president of the Hoover Restaurant Alliance. Judges were still being determined at press time, but the judging panel for the events was expected to include: state Rep. Mike Shaw; state Rep. Leigh Hulsey; Joseph Mitchell, the director emeritus for the Jefferson State Community College Culinary and Hospitality Institute; Paul Dangel, sales director at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham — The Wynfrey Hotel; and Uriah Price, a bartender at The Anvil Pub and Grill who won the contest both of the previous years.
Next, Hoover’s 2025 Restaurant Week will be held from July 18 to July 26, spanning nine days. During the week, participating restaurants will be offering specials that will be advertised on the Hoover Restaurant Week’s website and Facebook page.
Typically, close to 50 restaurants participate in the campaign — everything from fine dining establishments to barbecue joints and everything in between, Cohen said. Many Hoover restaurants that have participated in the past year’s events will be taking part again this year, but one new one that already has committed is Umi
Sushi Poke in the Trace Crossings shopping center that includes Publix, Cohen said.
“Just trying to highlight Southern hospitality — Hoover style,” he said. “Our goal is just to promote our local industry with all the great restaurants that we’ve got. We’ve got 125 to 150 independent and corporate restaurants in this town.”
That includes a great selection of international restaurants that serve Mexican, Asian, Indian, Pakistani, Thai and African food, he said.
Hoover Restaurant Week also is a way for
restaurant owners and managers to connect, Cohen said. It’s easy for independent restaurants to feel like they’re alone sometimes, and it helps to bring people together to realize there are others facing the same challenges they do, he said. Sometimes they even help each other in times of need.
Hoover Restaurant Week will start with a kickoff event at 7:30 a.m. on July 18 that will feature probably 15 or so restaurants that are participating in the campaign, Cohen said. Those restaurants will be sharing samples of
some of their food, he said. The location of the kickoff event was still being determined at press time.
Any food left over from the kickoff event will go to Grace’s Kitchen, a nonprofit that serves food to homeless people, Cohen said. Some of the restaurants participating in Hoover Restaurant Week also have signed up to be regular donors to Grace’s Kitchen as well, he said.
Check out the list of participants in Hoover Restaurant Week at hooverrestaurantweek.com.
Uriah Price makes a Manhattan drink at The Anvil Pub and Grill in The Village at Lee Branch in Hoover. Price was the winner of the Hoover Bartender Challenge in 2023 and 2024 and will be serving as a judge in 2025.
Photo by Jon Anderson.
► For more events news, connect with the 280 Living online by scanning the QR code.
► Have an upcoming event to share? Email Tim Stephens at tstephens@starnesmedia.com.
PATRIOTIC COOKIE DECORATING CLASS
► Where: Cat-n-Bird Winery, 11661 Old Highway 280, Chelsea
► When: Thursday, July 3, 6:30 p.m.
► Web: justawhiskaway.com
► Tickets: $55
► Details: Celebrate the holiday weekend with a hands-on cookie decorating class led by Shannon of Whisk Confections. Learn royal icing basics, layering techniques and texture tricks in a fun, beginner-friendly setting. Each ticket includes cookies, tools, instruction, a take-home box, recipes and a beverage from the winery. No shared boxes.
FIRE ON THE WATER
► Where: Oak Mountain State Park, 200 Terrace Drive, Pelham
► When: Thursday, July 3, gates close at 7 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m.
► Call: 205-620-2536
► Tickets: $10 per vehicle (Pelham residents), $15 (non-residents)
► Details: Celebrate Independence Day with fireworks over the lake at Oak Mountain State Park. Enjoy food vendors, live wakeboarding by Flip Side Watersports at 5 p.m., and family activities like volleyball, fishing and nature trails. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. sharp. No alcohol allowed.
WATERCOLOR FRIENDSHIP MOUNTAINS
► Where: Outdoor Patio, 16623 Highway 280, Chelsea
► When: Friday, July 4, 10 a.m.-noon
► Call: 205-847-5750
► Details: This creative four-session program uses art to help students in grades 6–12 explore healthy relationships, personal boundaries, digital safety and self-expression. Each session is designed to stand alone but also builds as a series. Open to middle and high school students.
PEAVINE FALLS RUN
► Where: Dogwood Picnic Pavilion, Oak Mountain State Park, 200 Terrace Drive, Pelham
► When: Friday, July 4, 7 a.m.
► Web: birminghamtrackclub.com
► Tickets: $40 through July 2; price increases after
► Details: Celebrate Independence Day with the 44th Annual Peavine Falls Run, an 8.2-mile race through scenic trails at Oak Mountain State Park. Hosted by the Birmingham Track Club, this Central Alabama tradition offers a challenging course, custom race shirt and a fun, community-focused atmosphere.
SHINER RIDGE REVIVAL TRAIL RUN
► Where: Oak Mountain State Park, start location TBA
► When: Friday, July 4, 7 p.m.
► Details: Celebrate Independence Day with a 7.4-mile trail run to King’s Chair during golden hour. The Shiner Ridge Revival honors the moonshine history of Double Oak Mountain with a scenic sunset climb, race swag and post-race party. Hosted by ZTR Running.
SUMMER DANCE CAMPS
► Where: Iron City Dance Factory, 7350 Cahaba Valley Road, Suite 103, Birmingham
► When: Circus Camp (Ages 6-13): July 7-10, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; A Wicked Broadway Camp (Ages 7-13): 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; Princess Camp (Ages 5-8): July 22-24, 10-11:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
► Call: 205-444-0158
► Details: Three themed camps in July for young dancers. Each camp features creative movement, themed activities and age-appropriate instruction led by professional dance educators.
► Where: Board In Birmingham, 5426 U.S. 280, Suite 6, Birmingham
► When: Saturday, July 12, 6–8 p.m.
► Tickets: $48.95 plus
and service fees
► Details: Celebrate Christmas in July with a festive tie-dye party. Hosted at Board In Birmingham, the event includes guided instruction and materials. Advance purchase required.
July 1 and 15:
July 14 and 28:
July 3:
July 10 and 24: Shelby County Board of Education, 5 p.m., Central Office Auditorium
July 14: Shelby County Commission, 8:30 a.m., Shelby County Administration Building, 200 W. College St., Room 123
July 28: Shelby County Commission, 6 p.m., same location as above
SPORTS
All-South Metro Baseball
Hughes shares Pitcher of the Year, Stallings named Coach of the Year
By KYLE PARMLEY
The quality of high school baseball in the Birmingham area is elite, and the 2025 season was no different. The annual Under the Lights All-South Metro Team is packed full of talent and could almost pass as an all-state team.
This year’s Player of the Year is Hewitt-Trussville shortstop Steele Hall, who has potential to be a high pick in this summer’s Major League Baseball Draft. Hoover’s Will Adams is Hitter of the Year, although he is another great two-way player for the Bucs.
Aiden Hughes of Chelsea and Jack Ross of Homewood share the Pitcher of the Year honors. Hughes led the Hornets to the state championship series, while Ross notched 10 wins to cap off a terrific career at Homewood.
Michael Stallings is the Coach of the Year, taking Chelsea to the state finals for the second time.
► Player of the Year: Steele Hall, Hewitt-Trussville
► Hitter of the Year: Will Adams, Hoover
► Pitchers of the Year: Aiden Hughes, Chelsea, and Jack Ross, Homewood
► Coach of the Year: Michael Stallings, Chelsea
1ST TEAM
► Pitcher: Aiden Hughes, Chelsea; went 9-0 with a 0.94 earned run average, while racking up 59 hits at the plate.
► Pitcher: Jack Ross, Homewood; won 10 games, while hitting .402 with nine homers and 49 RBIs.
► Pitcher: Bryant Diddell, Mountain Brook; one of the top strikeout pitchers in the area, punching out 85 hitters.
► Pitcher: Jackson Price, Chelsea; went 8-1 with a 1.74 ERA for the state runner-up.
► Catcher: Parker Daniels, Briarwood; led all catchers with 39 hits and finished with a .482 OBP.
► First base: Will Dobbins, Homewood; knocked in 34 RBIs and stole 16 bases.
► Second base: Cam Simpson, Hewitt-Trussville; finished with an impressive .514 OBP, knocking in 30 RBIs and swiping 20 bases.
► Third base: Gavin Smith, Vestavia Hills; hit .422 with five homers and 40 RBIs.
► Shortstop: Steele Hall, Hewitt-Trussville; an upcoming high draft pick, capping off his high school career with a .484 average, 60 hits, eight homers, 35 RBIs and 33 stolen bases.
► Infield: Charlie Taaffe, Vestavia Hills; hit .369 with five home runs.
► Infield: Noah Eady, Oak Mountain; picked up 36 hits and drove in 28 RBIs.
► Outfield: Will Adams, Hoover; got on base at a .608 clip and hit eight home runs as the top hitter in the area.
► Outfield: Jack Bland, Homewood; stole 39 bases and finished with 39 hits.
► Outfield: Cross Tonsmeire, Vestavia Hills; got on base at a .526 clip, scoring 34 runs and stealing 21 bases.
► Designated hitter: Jaxson Wood, Hoover; one of the top players in the area, hitting eight homers with 43 RBIs.
► Designated hitter: Seth Staggs, Briarwood; racked up 50 hits.
► Utility: Christian Helmers, Hewitt-Trussville; one of the top all-around players in the area, going 9-1 on the mound, while hitting .322.
► Utility: Caleb Barnett, Mountain Brook;
last year’s Hitter of the Year put forth another strong year, posting a 1.61 ERA and getting on base at a .521 clip.
2ND TEAM
► Pitcher: Hudson Mitchell, Hewitt-Trussville; led the area with 11 wins, posting a 1.11 ERA.
► Pitcher: Jude Davidson, Mountain Brook; went a perfect 7-0 with a 1.48 ERA.
► Pitcher: Ivan Hand, Briarwood; posted eight wins without taking a loss, with a 1.46 ERA.
► Pitcher: Chase Rafferty, Vestavia Hills;
went 6-2 for the Rebels.
► Catcher: Drew Ollis, Hewitt-Trussville; reached base in nearly half of his at-bats and hit .387.
► First base: Sam Estes, Mountain Brook; knocked in 25 RBIs and got on base at a .418 clip.
► Second base: Finn Hecklinski, John Carroll; finished with a .476 OBP.
► Third base: Parker Johnson, Hoover; finished a strong year with a .491 OBP.
► Shortstop: Paul Barnett, Mountain Brook; finished with 35 hits and had a .453 OBP.
► Infield: Chase Lackey, Chelsea; knocked
in 20 RBIs and stole 20 bases.
► Infield: Rhys Jones, Spain Park; put forth another solid season, finishing with a .472 OBP.
► Outfield: William Tonsmeire, Vestavia Hills; got on base in half his at-bats, drawing 24 walks and swiping 18 bases.
► Outfield: Joe Cross, Spain Park; finished with 35 hits and 26 RBIs.
► Outfield: Will Weaver, Mountain Brook; knocked in 32 RBIs.
► Designated hitter: Cooper Huffman, Hewitt-Trussville; finished with a .351 average and 32 RBIs.
► Designated hitter: Will Langston, Vestavia Hills; hit .365 and drove in 31 RBIs.
► Utility: Houston Hartsfield, Briarwood; hit .327 and won four games as an all-around player.
► Utility: Levi Nickoli, Homewood; saved four games with a 0.98 ERA, while playing shortstop for the Patriots.
HONORABLE MENTION
► Pitcher: Cooper Anderson, Vestavia Hills; Wilson Szymela, Vestavia Hills; Will Daniel, Vestavia Hills; Colin Jones, Vestavia Hills; Patrick McQueeney, Spain Park; Charlie Kramer, Spain Park; Max Vinson, Spain Park; Baker Williams, Oak Mountain; Brady Sheppard, Hoover; Gavin Letcher, John Carroll; Jacob Francis, Hewitt-Trussville; Rylan Clark, Hewitt-Trussville.
► Catcher: Cooper Mullins, Homewood; Cade Mims, Chelsea.
► First base: Jacob Harris, Vestavia Hills; James Au, Hoover; Luke Neill, Chelsea.
► Third base: Blake Bales, Hewitt-Trussville.
► Shortstop: Cale McIntosh, Hewitt-Trussville.
► Outfield: Aiden Craven, Chelsea; Owen Edwards, Oak Mountain; Baylor Hardy, Hoover; Atticus Barton, Hoover; Cooper Dunn, John Carroll; Cam Graham, John Carroll; Will Clark, Briarwood; Koal Duckett, Hewitt-Trussville; Mack Breazeale, Chelsea; Noah Crosby, Mountain Brook; Carson Mann, Vestavia Hills.
► Designated hitter: William Yoder, Oak Mountain; Colby Durden, Hewitt-Trussville; Ben Roberts, Homewood.
► Utility: Garrett Barnes, John Carroll; Braxton Williams, John Carroll; Gabe Jones, Oak Mountain; Ben Heath, Oak Mountain; Paxton Stallings, Chelsea.
Above: Chelsea pitcher Aiden Hughes (8) Left: Spain Park’s Joe Cross (21). Below: Oak Mountain 3B Noah Eady (18). Photos by Shawn Bowles and Richard Force.
SPORTS
All-South Metro Softball
Hopson named Hitter of the Year
By KYLE PARMLEY
The 2025 Under the Lights All-South Metro Softball Team, published by Starnes Media, aims to recognize the top individuals from across the area.
The Player of the Year honors go to Hewitt-Trussville’s Corey Goguts, who tied for the state lead with an eye-popping 31 home runs on the year. Katie Hopson from Chelsea, a true utility player, takes Hitter of the Year honors after sparking the Hornets offense.
Hoover senior Haley Westhoven is the Pitcher of the Year, finishing her career by leading the area with 13 wins for the Bucs. Her coach, Trey Matlock, takes Coach of the Year honors after leading the Bucs to winning Area 6, arguably the toughest in the state.
► Player of the Year: Corey Goguts, Hewitt-Trussville
► Hitter of the Year: Katie Hopson, Chelsea
► Pitcher of the Year: Haley Westhoven, Hoover
► Coach of the Year: Trey Matlock, Hoover 1ST TEAM
► Pitcher: Haley Westhoven, Hoover; tied for the area lead with 13 wins, posting a 2.85 earned run average.
► Pitcher: Kelsey Crain, Oak Mountain; posted the lowest ERA in the area with a 2.24 mark, winning eight games.
► Pitcher: Jaley Young, Spain Park; led the area with 110 strikeouts, winning nine games.
► Catcher: Lindsey Westhoven, Hoover; one of the leaders for the Bucs, finishing with a .404 on-base percentage and 33 runs batted in.
► Infield: Claire Robinett, Mountain Brook; hit .417 in her senior season, finishing with 40 hits.
► Infield: Marianna Murray, Mountain Brook; hit eight homers and finished with a .458 OBP.
► Infield: Sheridan Andrews, Oak Mountain; put together another strong year, hitting .421 with 10 doubles.
► Infield: Mollie Hanson, Hoover; one of the top hitters in the middle of the order for the Bucs, driving in 32 runs.
► Infield: Charlee Bennett, Spain Park; capped off her career with a .411 OBP.
► Outfield: Madison Letson, Homewood; put together a great sophomore year, hitting .576 and driving in 27 runs.
► Outfield: Reagan Rape, Mountain Brook; caused havoc for opponents, hitting .600 and stealing 41 bases.
► Outfield: Reagan Lawson, Hoover; got on base at a .483 clip and stole 30 bases.
► Outfield: Evelyn Splawn, Vestavia Hills; hit .426, racking up 52 hits and stealing 23 bases for the Rebels.
► Designated hitter: Emily Williams, John Carroll; hit 14 homers with 52 RBIs.
► Designated hitter: Corey Goguts, Hewitt-Trussville; hit .521 with 31 homers and 78 RBIs, drawing 32 walks.
► Designated hitter: Sydney Carroll, Chelsea; hit seven homers and drew 20 walks as one of the area’s most feared hitters.
► Utility: Katie Hopson, Chelsea; hit .461 with 16 home runs, racking up 70 hits.
► Utility: Zaylen Tucker, Hewitt-Trussville; worked her way back from injury, hitting .448 with six homers and throwing critical innings in the circle.
► Utility: Marian Cummings, Oak Mountain; hit .402 and won nine games in the circle.
2ND TEAM
► Pitcher: Maxie Provost, Spain Park; had a brilliant eighth-grade season, going 10-6 with
a 2.98 ERA.
► Pitcher: Larsen Cummings, Briarwood; posted a 2.48 ERA and struck out 102 batters.
► Pitcher: Alaysha Crews, Chelsea; the top pitcher for a strong Hornets team, winning nine games.
► Catcher: Anna DuBose, Oak Mountain; capped off her career with a solid year and only made three errors in the field.
► Infield: Klara Thompson, Spain Park; hit six homers and stole 20 bases without being caught.
► Infield: Lorelei Beck, Chelsea; drove in 38 runs and was a solid pitcher for the Hornets as well.
► Utility: Molly Shea, Mountain Brook; Kate Flanagan, Vestavia Hills; Darcy Hill, Hewitt-Trussville.
Above: Chelsea’s Katie Hopson (25). Below left: Spain Park’s Charlee Bennett (16). Below right: Oak Mountain’s Kelsey Crain (22) Photos by Teagan Huey and Kyle Parmley.
Local players rack up spring accolades
By KYLE PARMLEY
Several local players from Briarwood, Chelsea, Oak Mountain and Spain Park high schools were recognized after stellar spring sports seasons.
Chelsea’s Aiden Hughes was selected as the Class 6A Player of the Year on the Alabama Sports Writers Association all-state baseball team and made the first team as a pitcher following a dominant senior season. His teammate Paxton Stallings earned honorable mention as a utility player. Hughes hit .442 in addition to his exploits on the mound. He posted a perfect 9-0 mark with a 0.94 ERA. Stallings had a 2.14 ERA on the mound and knocked in 29 runs.
Briarwood freshman Ivan Hand was named to the Class 5A second team as a pitcher, turning heads with a standout debut varsity season. Hand went a perfect 8-0 with a 1.46 ERA.
The ASWA released its annual all-state softball team as well, recognizing the top players from the 2025 high school season.
Chelsea's Katie Hopson was named to the Class 6A first team as a utility player, as the senior capped off her career with a stellar season. The Marion Military Institute signee hit for a .461 batting average, racking up 16 home runs and 49 runs batted in. She produced 70 hits and had a .512 on-base percentage.
Several players earned all-state recognition following the 2025 high school soccer season.
From Briarwood, senior midfielder Sawyer Felton was named to the second team overall all-state and first team Class 6A all-state. Senior forward Thomas Lanier earned first team 6A all-state. Taylor Leib, a senior midfielder, was selected to the first team overall all-state and 6A all-state. Sophomore forward Taylor Matthews and senior midfielder Brooklyn Barnett both made the first team 6A all-state.
At Chelsea, junior defender Luke Miller was named to the second team overall all-state and first team 6A all-state. Senior midfielder Harper Jones earned first team 6A all-state, while senior forward Max Wever received second team 6A allstate honors. On the girls’ side, junior defender Laura Russell was selected to the first team overall and 6A all-state, while junior midfielder Natalie Peacock made the first team 6A all-state. Sophomore midfielders Gabi Guillen and Stella
How My Chamber Investment Works for Me
For Oak Mountain, four boys players earned top-tier recognitions: senior midfielders Gabe Capocci and Nate Taylor, senior defender Luke Jovanovich and senior forward Sam Collins were all selected to the first team 7A all-state and overall all-state teams, with Collins and Taylor landing on the second team overall. Gerardo Rodriguez and Roy Soldevilla were named to
From Spain Park, junior forward Reese Oldfield and senior midfielder Addy Soehn were each named to the first team 6A all-state. Junior defender Gianna Thornton earned a spot on the second team 6A all-state.
Dasilva were named to the second team 6A all-state.
the second team 7A all-state. On the girls’ side, sophomore midfielder Kati Anne Shepherd and sophomore defender Marley Brown earned second team overall all-state and first team 7A all-state honors.
Chelsea pitcher Aiden Hughes (8) during a game between Chelsea and Pelham on April 8 at the Chelsea Sports Complex.
Photo by Richard Force.
COMMUNITY
End credits roll on AMC Lee Branch
Theater void on 280 sees residents searching for movies
By TAYLOR BRIGHT
Over the Fourth of July weekend in 2004, the AMC Lee Branch 15 opened. Then a Rave Motion Pictures theater, it opened with Spider-Man 2 showing every 15 minutes. The theater advertised that Spider-Man would rappel down the building.
On a dreary March day 20 years later, the location had closed with a whimper and no superheroes to save it.
For many residents, the theater was more than just a place to watch the latest blockbusters; it was a source of first jobs, family outings and summer tradition. The closure left many in the community feeling hollow from its departure and finding few alternatives to replace it.
“I was sad about that just for nostalgia purposes,” said Jeremy Polk, a Chelsea resident who worked at Lee Branch as a teenager when the theater first opened. “It was my first jobjob, so to see it go and to see a major staple on 280 disappear — that hurt. So many memories there.”
The closure was part of what the company described as a routine evaluation of its circuit.
“AMC routinely reviews the theatres in our circuit, as well as opportunities outside of our circuit, and makes decisions based on what will best strengthen the company going forward,” the company said in a written statement. “We thank our Lee Branch 15 guests for their patronage and encourage them to continue enjoying the AMC experience at AMC Summit 16, AMC DINE-IN Vestavia Hills 10 and Patton Creek 15.”
But for moviegoers like Polk, the shift is more than just an address change.
“We go to the Summit now,” he said. “But it’s completely off. It used to take us about 10 minutes to get to Lee Branch. Now it takes 30 to 45 minutes (to the Summit), even up to an hour depending on traffic.”
While the Summit is six miles away from the old Lee Branch location, the AMC in Vestavia Hills and the AMC at Patton Creek are 10 miles and 12 miles away, respectively.
The departure of the theater has also had an effect on neighboring businesses. East 59
Where Can I See A Movie?
With the closure of AMC Lee Branch 15, the drive to see a movie has gotten longer for U.S. 280 residents. While the Summit is six miles away from the old Lee Branch location, the AMC in Vestavia Hills and the AMC at Patton Creek are 10 miles away, respectively and 12 miles from the old Lee Branch location.
Cafe, which sits just across the parking lot from the now-shuttered cinema, has already felt the economic drag.
“We actually have had a decrease in sales for our nighttime cafe,” said owner Amber Tolbert. “We used to rely on the movie theater business during the summer. More people going to see movies meant more evening traffic. That’s gone now.”
In response, East 59 has reduced its summer hours and now closes at 3 p.m. daily. While Tolbert said overall sales have held steady thanks to a growing catering business, the loss of evening patrons has left a noticeable gap.
She’s also watching cautiously as the former theater space undergoes renovations to become a Onelife Fitness location.
“We have no idea what to expect with the gym,” Tolbert said. “Something we’re not looking forward to is all the construction going on. We’re hoping that doesn’t really affect us as much as it could.”
The Lee Branch location had been a fixture for nearly two decades and was one of the few multiplexes serving a booming suburban
corridor. Its closure reflects broader national trends. Box office revenues totaled $8.75 billion in 2024 — down about 23 percent from the industry’s pre-pandemic high of nearly $11 billion in 2019. Theater visits per capita have dropped dramatically as well, from nearly four trips per year per person in the 2010s to fewer than two now, according to The Numbers, a website that tracks industry trends.
Tom Leitch, former director of film studies at the University of Delaware, offered a stark assessment: “The simplest answer I can give is a really depressing one. I would not want to be a theater owner this year.”
Leitch points to changing consumer preferences and fractured media consumption: streaming, mobile viewing and convenience overshadowing spectacle.
“Young people prize spectacularness,” Leitch said, “but what they prize more is their own convenience. When they watch movies on their phone, they can watch in glibs and globs, they can watch while doing something else.”
He also noted the disappearance of
“
It’s
all about the experience. If you can deliver an elevated experience — luxury seating, quality sound and projection, elevated concessions — people will come.
JEFF GEIGER
”
mid-budget “middle” films — movies that aren’t blockbusters or microbudget indies, but once thrived in theaters.
“There aren’t as many movies like that around as there used to be,” he said. “Middle means something different now than it did 10 or 15 years ago.”
Despite the headwinds, not all industry voices are pessimistic. Jeff Geiger, president and CEO of NCG Cinemas, which operates theaters across the Southeast, said his company is not only surviving but expanding.
“It’s all about the experience,” Geiger said. “If you can deliver an elevated experience — luxury seating, quality sound and projection, elevated concessions — people will come.”
Since COVID, NCG has opened four new theaters, including in locations where other operators had pulled out. In Snellville, Georgia, the company recently completed a full renovation of a former AMC location. “In that theater where we opened the IMAX, we’ve seen a 70% increase in attendance year-to-date from last year,” Geiger said.
He attributes the success to offering what at-home streaming can’t — immersive, social and family-centered experiences, and believes the industry will once again break the $11 billion mark this year.
“People are still loving coming to the movies,” he said. “Even young generations… we’re seeing them embrace theaters again.”
For now, there’s no word on whether a new theater will open to replace the void left by AMC Lee Branch, but in an area that is already difficult to travel, residents may certainly feel the need for a replacement.
Would Geiger consider opening a theater in Alabama?
“Well, I’m always searching for the next opportunity, so I’m sure I’ll be taking a peek.”
The former AMC Lee Branch 15, located at 801 Doug Baker Blvd., is being converted into a Onelife Fitness center. The 68,000-square-foot facility closed in March after 21 years of showing movies for residents of the U.S. 280 corridor. Photos by Tim Stephens.
Brookwood Hospital seeks new volunteers
Oak Mountain resident shares joy of service
By SARAH OWENS
As Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital begins a new chapter under Orlando Health, the changes aren’t just behind the scenes — the hospital is calling for more volunteers to bring fresh energy to its halls.
Brookwood already has a strong volunteer team made up of adults and college students, but leaders say they’re looking to expand the adult roster to ensure full support across departments.
Volunteers assist patients, staff and visitors throughout the hospital — greeting guests at the information desk, giving directions, delivering mail, managing the gift shop and more.
One of those volunteers is Linda Zander, a longtime Oak Mountain resident, who has been with the hospital for three years. Though she initially hoped to work with infants, her path took an unexpected — and fulfilling — turn.
“When I interviewed my goal was to rock babies, but after COVID, things changed, and I knew I had to kind of earn my stripes and show my value to the group. But the gift shop was so much fun, so it was like, okay, just worked out fine. I’m where I’m supposed to be,” Zander said.
Zander quickly found that her new role in the gift shop brought more than retail duties — it provided a sense of purpose and joy in a high-stress environment.
“I think it’s a happy spot. There’s not sadness. You know, there’s a lot of sadness in the hospital, and we’ve all experienced that, but
there’s not sadness where I’m working. It’s a happy time,” she said.
For Zander, the social connections are just as rewarding as the service.
“To me, it’s the friendships and knowing that I’m helping somebody,” she said.
She credits the tight-knit group of volunteers and the guidance of Volunteer Services and Gift Shop Manager Shelby Jacobs for creating a supportive, efficient environment.
“She’s juggling a lot of things, and I think that she really kind of counts on us as an extension of her ability to get a lot of things done,” Zander said.
Zander has also witnessed firsthand the transformation of the hospital under its new ownership — something that’s been energizing for both staff and volunteers.
“Just in a few short months, we’ve seen some dramatic improvements. Because truly, we weren’t on the greatest path with the other owners. And so now everybody’s really… it’s just been a morale booster,” Jacobs said.
And while the gift shop provides needed items and light-hearted browsing, it also serves as a refuge for many.
“The employees come in there to get away from that stress, and they’re just doing a little retail therapy. Some of them just want to walk around. Families … come in while their husbands are having surgery, and they just need to get away, because they’re just on edge,” Jacobs said.
Whether it’s restocking shelves or offering a smile to someone in need of a break, Zander sees the work as a meaningful way to give back to a place that serves so many.
To learn more about volunteering at Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital , visit baptisthealthal.com/about-us/volunteer.
Truffle Fettucine
Oak Mountain resident Linda Zander has volunteered at Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital for 28 years. The hospital offers volunteer opportunities for college students and adults in the Birmingham metro area.
Photos by Sarah Owens.
Life along the 280 corridor
GET TO KNOW
ChelseaFest and Big KaBoom
By TIM STEPHENS
Back when Chelsea was a growing city just past its first decade of incorporation, a neighborhood fireworks display sparked what would become a cherished community tradition.
The very first “Big KaBoom” lit up the sky in 2015, in the park area of the Chelsea Park subdivision. Fireworks were launched from a ridge near the city’s water tower, with families gathered between Ashworth Drive and Parkmont Way. It was a humble start, but the response was enthusiastic — Chelsea wanted more.
By 2017, city leaders expanded the event into what is now known as ChelseaFest and the Big KaBoom. Originally called Chelsea CityFest, it moved to a larger field behind Chelsea Corners Way, along County Road 47, creating room for thousands to enjoy live music, food trucks, craft vendors, a children’s parade and activities for all ages. With the support of city staff and community volunteers — including planner Gerri Roberts, Council Member Casey Morris and Council Member Tiffany Bittner — the festival quickly became a highlight of the summer calendar.
Wayne Morris, the city’s public information officer, says the city’s fireworks show actually dates back to 2007, “but very few people would remember that year,” he said. “We were just getting started, and we tried to get the word out as
Kids at the 2018 Big Kaboom in Chelsea Park enjoyed inflatables, face painting, visits from mascots and more. Staff photo.
best we could.”
For several years, he said, the event was always held on July 3 in order for people to still enjoy other celebrations on July 4. But the 2017 reorganization changed that as Chelsea’s celebration is now held on the Saturday before Independence Day. KOOL 96.9 FM (WXLY-LP) provides a synchronized soundtrack for the fireworks, now launched by Pyro Shows of Alabama behind the Chelsea Fire Station.
The tradition continues to grow — a symbol of how one spark became a citywide celebration.
By STAFF
Q: Tell me a little bit about you.
A: I’m originally from a small town in west central Mississippi. It’s Yazoo City, which seems like everybody’s heard of it.
Q: Where do you live now?
A: I live in Highland Lakes, North Shelby County.
Q: What’s the best part about living there?
A: Even now, with all the development, it’s still a rural area. We have lots of trees and unoccupied spaces. And then we have the little town of Mount Laurel just down the road a mile, which is very nice.
Q: What made you decide to write a book?
A: I’m not sure. Over the years, it kept occurring to me, maybe I ought to write a book. I never had the time. I made a few brief starts, and then life got busy . . . but I sat down one day after I retired and I started writing. I kept at it over a few years and a book resulted.
Q: What’s something about you that people might be surprised to learn?
A: That’s a tough one. People know I like to go out and explore and roam around. Well,
I guess maybe I would consider myself an introvert. People might be surprised — and sometimes are. I think there’s a difference in being an introvert and being shy. In my youth, I was shy. Now I’m absolutely not.
his
Aubrey Hill, author of Moon Hollow
Aubrey Hill
COMMUNITY
By JON ANDERSON
Vallie Pate, a Mt Laurel resident, owns the Tippi Toes dance franchise for Birmingham, runs Vallie Pate Art & Design, and drives a school bus for Oak Mountain Elementary. In the 280 Living coverage area, Tippi Toes offers classes at Brook Hills Early Learning Center, Joseph Bruno Montessori Academy, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, Meadow Brook Baptist Church, Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church, Oak Mountain Elementary School, Primrose School of Meadow Brook, The Adventure Nook and Christ Kids Preschool.
Q: Tell me about your two businesses.
A: I’m a multipreneur, I guess. Tippi Toes is a franchise business. We are all over the country. It was featured on “Shark Tank” a few years ago. We serve families right where they are, which means we go into schools, into preschools, day cares, after-school programs. We are a preferred provider in Hoover City Schools and Shelby County Schools for their after-school programs in some of their elementary schools, and we offer a full dance program for children ages 18 months up to right around 10 years of age — all the way through to a full recital, including costumes on a big stage at the end of each semester. Our motto at Tippi Toes is we encourage children, and we cultivate character, and we build confidence through the love of dance.
Q: Tell me about your other business.
A: I feel I was born to be an artist. I have an art business. It’s Vallie Pate Art & Design. I am a mixed media artist. I work a lot in acrylics, but also in watercolor and inks and all sorts of different surfaces and textures. I was a self-employed artist for about 20 years prior to Tippi Toes. My work would end up
in gift boutiques, gift stores, home décor places. I even got picked up nationwide by Books-A-Million at one point. I was in every Books-A-Million in the nation. That was interesting because I had to have those things
Pate
mass-produced overseas. I did that for a long time, exhibited in trade shows like the Atlanta Mart, where buyers from all over the country find what they’re going to put on their store shelves. It kind of exploded beyond my two
hands, and it wore me out. That’s when I pulled back and jumped into Tippi Toes.
Q: Did you get out of art completely?
A: I did. Those who know me best were really shaking their heads. The people who know me well really couldn’t understand how or why I would ever put a paintbrush down because it’s so much a part of who I am. So I put down my paintbrushes for about six years. About two years ago, I was really missing it, but I was also at a point in my life where I was really trying to remember who I was made to be and going back to who I really am and what I really love and what I want to do with my life. I’m a firm believer. I have a very strong faith, and it’s almost like God has tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Hey, young lady, I gave this to you for a reason, so why don’t you pick that paintbrush back up?” So I’ve been on a journey ever since then to relaunch my art business. I know I’m on the right path. It feels like I’m doing what I was born to do.
Q: I understand you’re also a school bus driver. What’s that like?
A: It’s awesome. I never expected I would become a school bus driver, honestly, but it has really been the most unexpected blessing. I call them my bus babies. I really see them as my own kids in some way. The job of a bus driver obviously is to transport the kids safely to and from school, but truly if you think about it, we’re the first touch of the school day that that kid has. We’re the first face that they get to see. We’re the first part of their day. How they experience us can kind of start their day off one way or another. Are they going to see someone that is excited to see them and asking how they are with a big smile on their face, or are they going to encounter someone that ignores them and is grumpy? I’ve always called it my little mission field on wheels.
By TIM STEPHENS
Time’s almost up. When you read this, the weigh-in will be just days away — and I’ll be staring down the final miles of a goal I’ve been chasing since January.
The public goal was clear: lose 56 pounds by my 56th birthday. But that wasn’t the full story. Privately, the number I was chasing was 76. I had already dropped the first 20 before I ever went public. This wasn’t just about optics or vanity — it was about proving I could still summon the kind of focus and discipline that had once come easily.
But more is in play now than in my 30s or 40s. Back then, I could drop 50 — even 100 — pounds with pure willpower. The truth is, this is the hardest it’s ever been.
Part of that is physical. At 55, the metabolism doesn’t bend as easily. Recovery takes longer. The tools that used to work like magic now need coaxing.
There’s also something new: For the first time, I’m doing one of these sprints knowing I have ADHD. I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 53 — which, looking back, explains a lot. There’s still a lot to unpack, but just understanding that has changed how I approach challenge and recovery.
A full-on ADHD burnout hit in the spring. I kept pushing — running six newspapers, navigating personal turbulence and refusing to slow down. I crashed hard. When I finally came up for air, there were just six weeks left — and I was still 30 pounds away from the public goal.
I could’ve written it off. Said it was too much. Blamed the schedule, the stress, the
age. But instead of walking away, I reset. In May, I got honest with myself. I built a plan — not just to push through the final stretch, but to do it smarter.
Here’s what the final sprint looks like:
► Nutrition: A high-protein, low-calorie liquid protocol — just 800 to 1,200 calories a day, with 240 to 260 grams of protein. It’s built around two large blended shakes a day (split into four servings), a combination of whey isolate and collagen.
► Training: Target: burn more than 1,600 active calories daily, on top of a 2,400 basal metabolic rate (BMR). That’s a 4,000-calorie burn target, driven by Hotworx sessions, kettlebell work, walking miles, and HIIT. The approach isn’t flashy, but it’s relentless.
► Tracking and recovery: I’m logging everything through MyFitnessPal. Whoop helps guide recovery. IV therapy at Prime IV helps support hydration and fat loss, while Hotworx saunas assist in both calorie burn and recovery.
Whether I cross the 56-pound finish line exactly or fall a few steps short, the real success has already taken shape. I’ve learned how to adapt — not just to age or to stress, but to the realities of neurodivergence. For the first time, I’m trying to win not with raw intensity, but with systems. And maybe that’s the true milestone — not just what I lose, but what I learn to let go.
Join the Mission: Have you made a remarkable personal transformation of some kind or know someone who has? Nominate their story by emailing tstephens@starnesmedia.com.
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Starnes Media General Manager Tim Stephens takes a progress selfie after a workout at Hotworx. Stephens is in the final days of his effort to lose 56 pounds by his 56th birthday.
Photo by Tim Stephens.
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