La dolce vita
No-phone, modest-dress Villaggio Colafrancesco on US 280 draws crowds for 4 years running
By KELLI S. HEWETT
n a busy stretch of U.S. 280, visitors entering Villaggio Colafrancesco Italian village are greeted with shocking rules for 2026: no cell phones, no revealing clothes — no exceptions.
Women arriving in leggings, short skirts or shorts above the knee will politely hear the modesty-based dress code. If they still want to enter, they must don disposable black paper skirts, provided at no charge. Cell phones are relegated to the trunks of the cars.
Guests are expected to unplug, cover up, slow down.
And for the most part, visitors are happy to comply for the chance at forced relaxation, Italian hospitality and some pretty incredible espresso and gelato, all modeled after an iconic gelato shop near the Vatican.
See VILLAGGIO | page 24
Andrew Gunn has been elected superintendent of Shelby County Schools, where he will take over a district of roughly 20,000 students across 31 schools when outgoing Superintendent Lewis Brooks retires in early 2027. Photo by David Leong.
Andrew Gunn elected superintendent as Shelby County Schools faces rapid growth
By APRIL COFFEY
On the same ballot that measured Shelby County voters’ vision for the future, a longtime educator emerged with a mandate that now stretches across one of Alabama’s largest school systems. Andrew Gunn has been elected superintendent of Shelby County Schools, placing a career educator at the helm during a period defined by rapid growth, shifting classroom needs and evolving expectations for public education. Gunn’s election marks a transition for a district serving roughly 20,000 students across 31 schools. With no Democratic challenger advancing to the general election, the Republican primary effectively decided the next superintendent, setting up a
allow Gunn to
the next several months learning from outgoing Superintendent Lewis Brooks. Brooks is expected to retire in early 2027 after nearly a decade in the role of Shelby County Schools’ superintendent. See GUNN | page 26
Birmingham native Terry Colafrancesco opened Villaggio Colafrancesco in 2022. He designed the no-cell-phone policy and modesty-based dress code out of what he describes as love and respect, with the goal of giving visitors an experience centered on human connection and a slower way of life. Photo by Kelli S. Hewett.
Editor’s Note By Kyle Parmley
Summer is here, and particularly in July, we celebrate our country.
This July, our nation marks 250 years since a group of brave men signed their names to a document that changed the world forever. The Declaration of Independence is a piece that has stood the test of time. Plus, this will be the only time we have an excuse to master the word semiquincentennial in our lives.
Sure, we’re not a perfect country. No nation is. But the freedoms we enjoy — the ability to speak our minds, worship as we choose and build a life on our
own terms — are worth celebrating.
So this Fourth of July, fire up the grill, find a good spot for fireworks (check the events section of this paper for some options) and, if you’re like me, tune in to watch Joey Chestnut inhale an inordinate amount of hot dogs in 10 minutes. Thanks for reading! Please send me an email at kparmley@starnesmedia. com with any story ideas.
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CITY
Chelsea leaders discuss possible gas tax
By CAROLINE MILLER
City leaders in Chelsea are eyeing a new gasoline tax as a potential way to help fund city government, but no decisions had been made as of mid-June.
Mayor Cody Sumners said the discussion came about because of the lack of funding for infrastructure projects.
“There are major needed infrastructure projects in the city that directly impact our citizens and their safety, but currently the funding that we get from the state for those projects is miniscule compared to the costs,” Sumners said.
The city currently receives about $180,000 per year from the state for roads and bridges, but there are numerous road projects in mind that will cost much more than that amount would cover, he said.
The city currently is partnering with Shelby County and the state to replace a bridge on Liberty Road at a cost of $1.2 million. Shelby County is providing $600,000, while the Alabama Department of Transportation is putting in $350,000 and the city of Chelsea is paying $250,000.
For 2027, the city has two road projects that must be completed during the year at a total cost of about $1 million, Sumners said. One is an extension of Stanley Road onto U.S. 280, and the other is a project on Chesser Drive, he said.
For 2028, the city wants to repave Liberty Road because it’s in very poor condition, and the estimated cost of that is close to $2 million, Sumners said.
CURRENT GAS TAXES
Chelsea currently has no taxes on gasoline that go directly to the city government. People who buy gasoline in Chelsea pay a combined 50.4 cents per gallon in fixed federal and state fuel taxes and fees.
The federal government gets 18.4 cents per gallon in excise taxes, and the state gets 30 cents per gallon in excise taxes, plus 2 cents per gallon to cover the cost of inspections.
The state retains 45% of its baseline tax of 10 cents per gallon and 66.77% of the other 20 cents per gallon authorized by the Rebuild Alabama Act passed in 2019. Together, that currently amounts to about 16.2 cents per gallon. The state then splits the rest between Shelby County and the city of Chelsea. The county receives about 11.9 cents per gallon, and Chelsea receives about 1.9 cents per gallon.
If Chelsea were to levy an additional gasoline tax, that revenue would go directly to the city.
Sumners said the amount the city would receive from a potential gas tax would depend on what per-gallon amount is implemented.
“A 1-cent tax would generate a little over $110,000 per year,” he said. “Gas taxes in Alabama cities usually range from 1 to 3 cents per gallon, with a few being up to 5 cents per gallon.”
Sumners also emphasized the importance of differences in gas taxes and sales taxes.
“Unlike sales tax, gas taxes are not figured as a percentage of total sale,” he said. “Gas taxes are figured per gallon. So if gas is currently $3 per gallon, a 3-cent gas tax would bring that price to $3.03 per gallon, where a 3-cent sales tax would be $3.09. I think this is another area where people may be getting confused.”
POTENTIAL NEW TAX
City leaders as of mid-June did not have a firm amount for a potential gas tax, but based on estimates from the city’s finance director, a 3-cent gas tax would cost the average consumer about $40 per year, Sumners said.
City Engineer Keith Hager said that, unfortunately, road and bridge repairs are expensive but necessary for all municipalities.
“From my experience, if city leadership does not plan for these items, they risk getting into bad situations and could be forced to consider emergency funding or cutting other needed programs,” Hager said.
Many of Chelsea’s roads are newer, but as the city gets older, these roads will require
maintenance, Hager said.
“The city has been lucky that it has not had many major emergency repairs and has been able to maintain its roads in good condition,” he said. “As the roads age, they will need repair. It’s not a question of ‘if’; it’s a question of ‘when.’”
An additional gasoline tax also would help the city to better prepare maintenance plans for the worst roads and avoid catastrophic emergency repairs that cause more traffic disruptions and delays for residents, Hager said.
Council Vice President Chris Grace said if Chelsea wants to maintain high-quality and safe roads and bridges, it has to find a way to pay for that. “A gas tax makes a lot of sense because it’s a user tax,” he said.
Grace also emphasized the importance of thinking ahead.
“Everybody gets excited about roads; they get excited about bridges when they’re built. But what people forget about is you have to maintain those, and so we wouldn’t be good stewards as a city if we weren’t trying to think ahead and trying to figure out how we are going to maintain those facilities,” Grace said.
FUNDING POLICE
A gas tax also been discussed as a way to help fund a Chelsea Police Department. Shelby County already has informed Chelsea that it will not extend its contract to perform law enforcement services for the city past October 2029, Councilwoman Johnna Barnes said.
“If we were to implement a gas tax, the revenue generated would be allocated toward the improvements of streets, roads, etc.,” she said.
“This would free up funds currently used from the general fund to support these improvements. While the city does receive gas tax revenue from the state, which we contribute to the city’s costs for the expenses, it is not a substantial amount.”
Grace said a gas tax would provide a dedicated funding resource for transportation projects, so the council could take that money currently going from the general fund to transportation and redirect it toward public safety.
“It really is that simple of an idea,” he said. “Those revenues [from the gas tax] would be solely dedicated to road and bridge projects in the city of Chelsea transportation system.”
Pam Hamrick, who moved to Chelsea about four years ago, said gas in Chelsea already is more expensive than it is on the west side of Double Oak Mountain. Adding a gas tax isn’t a good idea, she said.
“It’s just going to cause the gas stations to lose business,” she said. “Chelsea wants to shop in Chelsea, but we’re not going to shop in Chelsea if it’s cheaper over the mountain.”
Robin Allen, a Chelsea resident for about 12 years, said that with gas prices the way they are now, people don’t want to add another tax. However, she understands that the roads need to look good, too, she said.
She trusts city leaders to make the right decision, but she hopes they will wait for gas prices to come back down before voting to pass a tax, she said. “I know that a lot of families are struggling.”
Chet Acker, who has lived in Chelsea for decades, said he doesn’t favor a new gas tax because fuel prices are high enough as it is.
He’d rather see the state implement a lottery and use the proceeds for roads, he said.
City leaders emphasized that the idea of a gas tax is simply being discussed, and a timeline for any decision on the matter is uncertain.
“The council will continue to work through these discussions until we can decide what the best path forward is,” Council President Scott Weygand said. “Infrastructure is not cheap, but it is a must.”
Sumners said city officials are well aware that during this time of excessive gas prices, now is not the time to implement any additional costs for residents. “We are simply having public discussions about possible options,” he said. “The benefit of a gas tax for the citizens would be that it could help fund many of the infrastructure projects that our citizens continue to request.”
Councilman Arthur Fisher Jr. urged residents to learn more information and ask questions about any proposals.
“I would hope that the result would be a stronger, safer community through continued investment in critical city services and infrastructure, while minimizing the burden on residents as much as possible,” Fisher said. “Just as importantly, I believe the community should have ample opportunity to learn about the proposal, ask questions and provide feedback before any decisions are made.”
Source: Alabama Department of Revenue
Jon Anderson contributed to this story.
A gasoline pump at the Shell station at the corner of U.S. 280 and Shelby County 47 in Chelsea shows a $75.33 purchase on Friday, June 5, 2026. Photos by Jon Anderson.
Below: Liberty Road in Chelsea shows signs of wear and tear. City officials hope to repave the road in 2028 at an estimated cost of $2 million.
Chelsea bridge closed through early August
By JON ANDERSON
The bridge over the north fork of Yellowleaf Creek on Liberty Road in Chelsea is scheduled to remain closed through Aug. 5 as the city, county and state replace it.
The substructure of the 54-year-old bridge had gotten to a point where it needed to be replaced in order for the bridge to remain safe for travel, county officials said.
The wooden bridge pilings are being replaced with steel pilings, and new pre-cast concrete spans from Conecuh Bridge & Engineering are being installed over the pilings.
Chelsea Mayor Cody Sumners said the old bridge had reached the end of its useful life and was required to be replaced by the end of this year.
“This will be great for the city because we will now have a new and much more structurally sound bridge for our citizens,” Sumners said.
The cost of the 40-yard-long bridge replacement is almost $1.2 million, with Shelby County providing $600,000, the Alabama Department of Transportation providing $350,000 and the city of Chelsea providing $250,000. Shelby County also paid for the design of the new bridge.
The contractor for the job is Bridge Builders of Alabama. Liberty Road was closed at the bridge in late May after school let out, and the goal is to complete the work before Shelby County public schools start back on August 13 to reduce traffic impacts as much as possible.
During construction, traffic is being rerouted along Shelby County 433, 440, 39 and 47. Detour signs have been posted throughout the area to assist motorists.
Shelby County also coordinated with emergency service providers, postal carriers and sanitation providers to help minimize disruptions during the closure.
Motorists are reminded to use caution and especially take note of the stop signs at the
crossing on Shelby County
Sumners said Chelsea has always had a good partnership with Shelby County, and this bridge project is no exception.
County officials said they appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation as they work to
improve Liberty Road and continue investing in the county’s infrastructure. Anyone with questions or concerns about the bridge project is asked to contact the Shelby County Highway Department at 205-669-3880 or visit roadconcern.shelbyal.com.
railroad
433.
The bridge over the north fork of Yellowleaf Creek on Liberty Road in Chelsea, is being replaced, and Liberty Road is scheduled to remain closed until Aug. 5. Photos by Jon Anderson.
A2 Church seeks approval for expansion in Inverness area
By JON ANDERSON
The Hoover City Council on July 13 is scheduled to consider a request from the A2 Church off U.S. 280 near Inverness to build a 2,000-square-foot addition.
The addition would be on the southeast side of the existing church building, which is more than 12,000 square feet — not far from the old Superior Grill location. The new space would primarily be used for the church’s youth and children’s ministries, lead Pastor Skot Montgomery said.
The current church building includes a 300seat sanctuary, a lobby, classrooms for kids and a large room for elementary-age students, Montgomery said.
The largest part of the new space would be a dedicated space for middle and high school students on Wednesday nights, and the children’s ministry would spill over into that space on Sunday mornings, he said.
A2 Church, a non-denominational and non-affiliated church, was founded by Chris and Janet Goins in 2008 and had its first service with about 90 people, according to the church website. The church formerly met in the U.S. 31 area in Vestavia Hills but in June 2013 purchased what had been Pike’s Nursery on 14 acres along U.S. 280 in the Inverness area.
The former nursery office and showroom was converted into a space for the church to meet, and the back part of the property is leased to Woerner Landscape, which conducts nursery operations there.
Average weekend attendance at A2 Church grew to more than 400 people, and there were more than 600 active participants at one time. But membership and attendance declined after there was an “unexpected transition of multiple staff” two weeks before Easter in 2022, according to a church profile the church put together after the departure of the founders.
Average Sunday attendance fell to about 100 people, Montgomery said. “It was a pretty tough transition for our church.”
But the church has been rebounding since Montgomery joined as lead pastor in June 2023, growing by about 20% each year the past three years, he said.
The church now has a little over 200 members, plus about 100 children, with an average attendance of about 350 on Sunday mornings and about 500 people on Easter, Montgomery said. There typically are two Sunday morning services during the school year and one service during the summer, he said.
There has been a steady rebuilding of what Chris and Janet Goins established, and the new addition would be the first major change to the building since the church first renovated when moving there, Montgomery said.
“For us, as a church, it’s a very big deal,” he said. “It represents God’s faithfulness — Him saying, ‘You’re still here. There’s still growth, and I’m still blessing you as a church.’”
A2 Church describes itself as “an Acts 2 biblically functioning community.”
A 2,000-squarefoot addition is proposed on this side of the A2 Church at 6 Greenhill Parkway in
“We want to be a church that balances liturgy and [charisma]. We say we are charismatic. We are liturgical, and we are evangelical, and we really try to find a balance of all those things. That model was modeled at Pentecost after Jesus was resurrected and right after his ascension. … We believe you can be Spirit led but also sacrament rich.”
In addition to the expansion of the building footprint, the church also will be stripping
some of
a way so that
and
If the City Council approves the addition, Montgomery said the church plans to start construction this fall and hopefully be done in three to six months.
the paved area behind the building to expand parking
adding more lighting, but in
lighting doesn’t bleed onto adjacent property, City Planner Mac Martin said.
Hoover. Photo by Jon Anderson.
Rendering of what the addition would look like once completed on the southeast side of the church. Sketch courtesy of A2 Church.
BUSINESS
Business Happenings
NOW OPEN
Vascular and Interventional Specialists of America (VISA) recently held its ribbon cutting at 3570 Grandview Parkway, Suite 100. VISA specializes in the minimally invasive treatment of diseases and health conditions such as cancer, vascular disease, spine fractures, uterine fibroids, enlarged prostate, osteoarthritis of the knee and chronic pain. The clinic provides outpatient procedures using image-guided technology and catheter-based techniques designed to treat conditions without traditional open surgery. It is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
205-905-8411, visavascular.com
LoveShackFancy opened its first Alabama location at The Summit in June. The NYC-based luxury women’s lifestyle and fashion brand known for its vintage-inspired clothing sits between Tecovas and Madewell. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. loveshackfancy.com
COMING SOON
Fifth Third Bank was set to open a new branch location on the 280 corridor in late June. The branch will be at 6602 Tattersall Park Lane in Hoover off Alabama 119 near Greystone. Fifth Third Bank also has locations in Vestavia Hills, Huntsville, Madison and Owens Cross Roads. Branches are typically open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with some also open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
800-972-3030, locations.53.com/al.html
After previously closing its location, Talbots will open again later this year in the plaza corridor between Loft and Soma at The Summit. The retail store offers women’s
Do you have business news to share? Let us know at starnesmedia.com/ business-happenings
clothing, jewelry, accessories and shoes. The Summit location will be the seventh Talbots in Alabama, with other shops in Huntsville, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Spanish Fort, Mobile and Foley. talbots.com
White House Black Market is set to reopen by the end of the year in the plaza corridor between Loft and Soma at The Summit. The women’s apparel chain offers modern dresses, workwear, separates and more. As the name suggests, its items are primarily available in white and black. Currently, its only other Alabama location is in Foley. whitehouseblackmarket.com
NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Planet Fitness, located at 168 Inverness Plaza, kicked off its annual high school summer pass program, which allows teens ages 14 to 19 to work out for free at its locations until Aug. 31. Teens can register online and receive access to strength equipment, cardio machines, stretching areas and free fitness training from certified trainers. 205-408-0020, planetfitness.com/summerpass
ANNIVERSARY
La Paz Restaurant and Catering is celebrating its ninth anniversary at its Mt Laurel location at 3 Mt Laurel Ave. The Mexican restaurant serves dishes like nachos, quesadillas, taco salads, tacos and cheese dip. Its original location in Mountain Brook has been open for 35 years. La Paz is open Tuesday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 205-803-6262, eatatlapaz.com
Planet Fitness
La Paz Restaurant and Catering
Ellison Financial Group at home on 280 corridor
By AMASICO RAINER
When Albert Ellison Jr. signed on a preconstruction office at Providence Park in 2005, the 280 corridor was already growing fast. What he couldn’t have fully predicted was just how much the area would transform in the two decades that followed, or how squarely his firm would end up at the center of it.
Today, Ellison Financial Group Inc. and its sister firm Ellison & Ellison P.C. operate out of Suite 250 at 2100 Providence Park, tucked between Interstate 65 and U.S. 280 on Valleydale Road. Together, the two entities cover the full spectrum of financial and accounting services — tax planning, retirement planning, investment advisory, asset protection and estate conservation — under one roof, with one consistent philosophy: clients come first, and complexity is the firm’s problem, not theirs.
Ellison, a UAB accounting graduate and CPA with a Personal Financial Specialist designation, founded both firms in 1996. The structure was deliberate from the start. Ellison & Ellison P.C. was built as a traditional CPA practice with a clear value statement: be an advocate for the client. Ellison Financial Group grew directly out of that foundation, extending the same tax and estate expertise into broader financial planning. The result is a firm that approaches investment strategy the way a CPA does, with an eye on what the numbers actually mean after taxes and across generations.
Ellison has watched the corridor evolve from a front-row seat for three decades, and he doesn’t understate what the area has become.
“The 280 corridor has boomed — to say the least — during my lifetime,” Ellison said. “We were thrilled with the opportunity to buy
a pre-construction office in Providence Park back in 2005. The location is fantastic, but even better are our neighbors.”
The firm he has built reflects that same long-term thinking. Jennifer F. Ellison, CPA — a shareholder at Ellison & Ellison who came to the firm after years in the tax department at Deloitte — has been part of the practice since 1996. Suzie Sudsberry, director of Client Accounting Services, joined in 2007. That kind of staff continuity is not accidental. For a firm whose work depends on knowing a client’s full financial picture across years and life stages, consistency matters.
Ellison’s investment in the area extends beyond his office walls. He has served as an advisory board member for Truist Bank, as past president of the Alabama Head Injury
Foundation and as an active supporter of Racing for Children’s. He currently serves on the Providence Park Owners’ Association board — the kind of civic involvement that reflects someone who thinks of this corridor as home, not just a business address.
For Ellison, the appeal of the 280 area has always been about more than commerce.
“What a great area to live, raise families, and work,” he said.
For locals who have driven past Providence Park without knowing what’s inside, Ellison’s firm offers something that’s harder to find than it sounds: a CPA and financial advisor who operates as a single integrated team, built on nearly three decades of client relationships in this community and the surrounding area. The corridor kept growing. So did they.
Recently sold homes along US 280 corridor
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► ADDRESS: 1925 Stone Brook Lane
► BED/BATH: 3/3
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► ADDRESS: 2557 Magnolia Place
► BED/BATH: 4/3
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► ADDRESS: 121 Timber Trail
► BED/BATH: 4/4
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,891 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Countryside
► LIST PRICE: $439,900
► SALE PRICE: $439,900
SOURCE:
DECORATING DEN INTERIORS ® Angelia Spraberry, Allied ASID (205) 913-6015 • oakhighland.decoratingden.com
Coach Robbie Gibbons hanging up the whistle
By APRIL COFFEY
On any given morning along U.S. 280, you might spot him — not with a whistle and headset anymore, but a calmer, less-rushed version of himself: coffee in hand, with no practice to manage or scoreboard to check. Coach Robbie Gibbons says he is finally learning what it feels like to “move through time without rushing it.”
After decades shaping middle school athletes at Homewood Middle School, Robbie Gibbons is stepping away from coaching — but not stepping away from the community that shaped him or the corridor he calls home.
“I’ve never really had a summer off,” he said. “This is the first time I’ll really be able to slow down.”
That slowdown includes golf, fishing and a long-awaited Alaskan cruise with his wife, Brooke. But even as he talks about salmon fishing and panning for gold, it’s clear his identity isn’t leaving the field — it’s simply expanding beyond it.
“I love being on the water,” Gibbons said. “I love catching fish. I love eating fish. I don’t love cleaning them, but I love everything else about it.”
Ask Gibbons about his wins and losses, and he doesn’t reach for numbers.
“I don’t know my record,” he said. “We won championships — I know that because they’re on the banner that hangs in the HMS gym — but that wasn’t what mattered most.”
What mattered to Gibbons was the growth he saw in students and the relationships he formed with them.
“I loved seeing them grow up. I loved watching them graduate,” he said. “It was always about the kids.”
That philosophy shaped a career defined less by strategy sheets and more by life lessons,
especially making space for kids to be more than one thing at a time.
“I believe in youth sports,” he said. “I believe in keeping kids active. I believe in giving students opportunities to try different things.”
At Homewood Middle School, that often meant making sure students didn’t have to choose between football and fine arts, athletics and band, or performance and practice.
“I never wanted families sitting around the dinner table arguing about what to choose,” he said. “I wanted kids to be able to do it all.”
That mindset has defined both his coaching and his life.
Now, instead of heading to early morning practices, he’ll have time to indulge some longmissed hobbies.
Gibbons admits he is still figuring out what life after coaching looks like. There are
conversations about summer programs or social media development of his brand “Robbie Rainbow,” which came after his appearance as a cast member on the television show “Castaways.” Or it may be something new entirely, like sportscasting. For now, Gibbons is comfortable with not knowing what the immediate future holds.
“I just need some time to take care of myself,” he said. “I’ve never had that before.”
Robbie Gibbons was a coach at Homewood Middle School for 28 years.
Photo courtesy of Robbie Gibbons.
Ready for the world
By KYLE PARMLEY
The senior classes at Briarwood, Chelsea, Oak Mountain and Spain Park high schools are officially ready to take on the next chapters of their lives, whether it be the next level of education or entering the workforce. Commencement ceremonies for each graduating class took place in late May.
Photos courtesy of Briarwood Christian School, Iron City Studios and Hoover City Schools.
Hearing Loss and Tinnitus
Hearing Loss and Dementia.
Up to 90% of people who have Tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ears) have some degree of hearing loss. These noises are often the brain’s way of compensating for the damaged inner ear hair cells.
For many Tinnitus sufferers, hearing aids are the most effective treatment. The external, amplified sounds, provide natural background noise that masks or distracts from the tinnitus.
Hearing loss impacts the body in a variety of ways...Including in ways detrimental to the brain’s ability to process sounds. Perhaps most concerning are the adverse effects that poor auditory processing can have on memory and speech processing — all of which are involved in brain regions affected by dementia.
How do Hearing Aids Help Tinnitus Sufferers?
Sound Enrichment and Masking:
The external, amplified sounds, provide natural background noise that masks or distracts from the tinnitus.
Cognitive Improvements with Hearing Loss Treatment:
Brain Stimulation:
Many times Tinnitus is just the brain’s way of compensating for the sounds it is no longer receiving.
Built-in Sound Therapy:
Many modern hearing aids feature integrated sound generators that can play soothing ambient sounds—such as white noise, rainfall, or gentle chimes—directly into your ears to distract the brain from the tinnitus.
Reduced Stress: Struggling to hear causes listening fatigue and frustration. Improving your ability to hear naturally lowers daily stress and minimizes tinnitus flare-ups
Schedule a hearing test today
All-South Metro Softball
Several local players named first team
By KYLE PARMLEY
The Birmingham area continues to produce some of the best high school softball anywhere in Alabama, and the 2026 season was no exception. The All-South Metro Team aims to recognize the best players in the area for the season.
Corey Goguts capped off an exceptional career at Hewitt-Trussville, winning Player of the Year honors after another extraordinary year. Vestavia Hills eighth grader Kate Flanagan has burst onto the scene with a great season, while Harper Looney carried Hewitt to another state title, as the duo shares Pitcher of the Year honors.
Homewood’s Madison Letson broke a state record with 16 consecutive at-bats with a hit earlier in the season. She finished the year with an eye-popping .636 average and .688 on-base percentage.
Hewitt-Trussville coach Taylor Burt is Coach of the Year after leading the Huskies to yet another state championship.
► Player of the Year: Corey Goguts, Hewitt-Trussville
► Hitter of the Year: Madison Letson, Homewood
► Pitchers of the Year: Kate Flanagan, Vestavia Hills, and Harper Looney, Hewitt-Trussville
► Coach of the Year: Taylor Burt, Hewitt-Trussville
FIRST TEAM
► Pitcher: Kate Flanagan, Vestavia Hills; the eighth grader dominated area hitters, posting a 21-4 record with a 1.04 earned run average and 174 strikeouts in 141 innings.
► Pitcher: Harper Looney, Hewitt-Trussville; led the Huskies back to a state title, finishing 21-1 with a 2.32 ERA in 141 2/3 innings. She was a dominant 6-0 in the state tournament.
► Pitcher: Jaley Young, Spain Park; went 11-5 with 109 strikeouts and a 2.30 ERA for the Jaguars.
► Catcher: Chloe Wade, Spain Park; batted .396 with 42 runs batted in and eight home runs for the Jaguars.
► Infield: Erin Coleman, Hewitt-Trussville; one of the most productive hitters in the area, batting .407 with 72 RBIs and 72 hits for the Huskies.
► Infield: Addison Ferrell, Vestavia Hills; put together a strong sophomore year, batting .393 with 57 hits and 29 RBIs.
► Infield: Avery Chaney, Hoover; a steady presence at shortstop for the Bucs, batting .394 with 56 hits and 40 RBIs.
► Infield: Julia Willingham, Chelsea; drove in 32 runs and hit .363 with 18 doubles for the Hornets.
► Infield: Reagan Roberts, Spain Park; batted .338 with 52 hits, 29 RBIs and 36 stolen bases.
► Outfield: Reagan Rape, Mountain Brook; put together one of the area’s best offensive seasons, batting .576 with 57 hits, 39 RBIs and 32 stolen bases.
► Outfield: Presley Hull, Hewitt-Trussville; one of the area’s top hitters, batting .475 with 85 hits and 56 RBIs in 59 games.
► Outfield: Madison Letson, Homewood; the area’s Hitter of the Year batted .636 with 77 hits and 65 runs scored.
► Outfield: Emily Williams, John Carroll; finished with a .465 average, 42 RBIs and 11 doubles for the Cavaliers.
► Designated hitter: Corey Goguts, Hewitt-Trussville; the Player of the Year batted .618 with 29 home runs, 91 RBIs and 94 runs
scored.
► Designated hitter: Mollie Hanson, Hoover; drove in 45 runs and hit .346 with five home runs for the Bucs.
► Designated hitter: Abby King, Spain Park; batted .389 with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs for the Jaguars.
► Utility: Claire Carver, Hoover; batted .423 with 47 hits, 26 RBIs and 27 stolen bases for the Bucs.
► Utility: Lorelei Beck, Chelsea; drove in 49 runs and hit .374 with eight home runs and 15 doubles for the Hornets.
► Utility: Marian Cummings, Oak Mountain; went 12-7 in the circle with a 2.02 ERA while batting .427 with 32 RBIs at the plate.
SECOND TEAM
► Pitcher: Anne Hope Howell, Homewood; went 16-6 with a 2.74 ERA and 137
strikeouts in 110 innings for the Patriots.
► Pitcher: Aaliyah Hayes, Hoover; the eighth grader went 10-8 with a 2.75 ERA and 152 strikeouts in 99 1/3 innings.
► Pitcher: Maxie Provost, Spain Park; went 14-5 with a 2.44 ERA for the Jaguars as a freshman.
► Catcher: AT Goldman, Mountain Brook; batted .333 with 20 RBIs and seven doubles for the Spartans.
► Infield: Rylie Redden, Oak Mountain; batted .427 with 41 hits and 19 RBIs for the Eagles.
► Infield: Cate Bruce, Hewitt-Trussville; contributed as a freshman, batting .364 with 43 hits for the Huskies.
► Infield: Molly Shea, Mountain Brook; batted .374 with 40 hits and 27 RBIs for the Spartans.
► Infield: Allie Stuman, Homewood;
batted .366 with 34 hits and 22 RBIs for the Patriots.
► Infield: Kloeanne Smith, Homewood; batted .356 with 36 hits and 20 RBIs for the Patriots.
► Outfield: Ryanne Head, Vestavia Hills; batted .372 with 42 hits and 28 RBIs as a freshman for the Rebels.
► Outfield: Hannah Claire Miller, Hewitt-Trussville; batted .325 with 50 hits for the Huskies, including several clutch hits in the postseason.
► Outfield: Emily Stuman, Homewood; went 10-2 with a 2.20 ERA in the circle and batted .449 at the plate as an eighth grader.
► Outfield: Reagan Lawson, Hoover; batted .348 with 47 hits and 23 stolen bases for the Bucs.
► Designated hitter: Chloe Krackenberger, Hewitt-Trussville; batted .359 with 60 hits and 37 RBIs for the Huskies.
► Designated hitter: Klara Thompson, Spain Park; had 20 stolen bases and six home runs for the Jaguars.
► Designated hitter: Kindal Whistle, John Carroll; batted .477 with 31 hits, 28 RBIs and seven home runs for the Cavaliers.
► Utility: Morgan Minich, Mountain Brook; batted .400 with 30 hits and 32 RBIs for the Spartans.
► Utility: Caroline Brown, Chelsea; batted .384 with 28 hits and four home runs for the Hornets.
► Utility: Lilly Ferguson, Vestavia Hills; pitched and played second base for the Rebels, racking up 53 hits and 41 RBIs.
HONORABLE MENTION
► Pitcher: Caroline Chaney, Hoover; Rachel Reed, Hewitt-Trussville; Maggie Bell, Hewitt-Trussville; Maddie Prevallet, Oak Mountain; Mackenzie Wedell, Mountain Brook; Charlotte Kearse, Mountain Brook.
► Catcher: Ashley Heinemann, Briarwood; Taylor McLaughlin, Hewitt-Trussville.
► Infield: Hannah Walker, Vestavia Hills; Emily Renda, Hewitt-Trussville; Lucy Robinett, Homewood; Peighton Letson, Homewood; Teagan Huey, Spain Park; Addison Green, Oak Mountain; Hallie Kelly, Oak Mountain.
► Outfield: Sadie Wilson, Chelsea; Jordan Weiner, Spain Park; Cheyenne Conner, Hoover; Jakayla Byrd, Homewood.
► Designated hitter: Allie Whitaker, Spain Park; Marianna Murray, Mountain Brook.
► Utility: Sadie Sutton, Chelsea; Anna Kate Shea, Mountain Brook; Larsen Cummings, Briarwood.
Oak Mountain’s Marian Cummings. Photos by Kyle Parmley.
Spain Park’s Jaley Young.
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All-South Metro Baseball
Lions, Jags land on first team
By KYLE PARMLEY
Another season of high school baseball in the books, and like always, many new players rose to the top and are recognized on the AllSouth Metro Team. In 2026, Hewitt-Trussville captured its second state championship. Spain Park was one of the best teams in the state over the second half of the season and rode that momentum all the way to a Class 6A runner-up finish.
As for individuals, Hoover’s Will Adams earns Player of the Year honors after a dominant year both on the mound and at the plate for the Bucs. Homewood’s Levi Nickoli capped off a brilliant two-way career with an incredible season with the bat and on the bases to win Hitter of the Year. Hewitt-Trussville’s Jace Riggan takes Pitcher of the Year honors, although he certainly had huge twoway impacts for the state champs.
Jeff Mauldin of Hewitt-Trussville is Coach of the Year after leading his program to the state title. After 11 great years leading the Vestavia Hills program, Jamie Harris recently announced his retirement as well.
► Player of the Year: Will Adams, Hoover
► Hitter of the Year: Levi Nickoli, Homewood
► Pitcher of the Year: Jace Riggan, Hewitt-Trussville
► Coach of the Year: Jeff Mauldin, Hewitt-Trussville
► Career Achievement Award: Jamie Harris, Vestavia Hills
FIRST TEAM
► Pitcher: Jace Riggan, Hewitt-Trussville; went 8-3 with a 1.05 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 60 innings, while hitting for a .422 average with a .530 on-base percentage.
► Pitcher: Cale McIntosh, Hewitt-Trussville; went 8-0 with a 1.25 ERA, striking out 88 batters in 61 2/3 innings while hitting .328 with 24 runs batted in.
► Pitcher: Ben Roberts, Homewood; led the area with 10 wins, posting a 1.77 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings.
► Pitcher: Houston Hartsfield, Briarwood; went 8-1 with a 1.81 ERA, striking out 68 batters in 73 2/3 innings.
► Catcher: Evan Taylor, Spain Park; hit .356 with four home runs and 45 RBIs in 40 games for the Jags.
► First base: Gavin Smith, Vestavia Hills; hit .473 with a .652 OBP, five home runs and 29 RBIs.
► Second base: Hudson Mitchell, Hewitt-Trussville; finished with a .386 average, .491 OBP and 40 RBIs.
► Third base: Connor Greb, Spain Park; hit .393 with a .500 OBP, five home runs and 39 RBIs.
► Shortstop: Jaxson Wood, Hoover; hit .417 with seven home runs, 38 RBIs and 28 stolen bases.
► Infield: Luke Houser, Mountain Brook; hit .360 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs.
► Infield: Rhys Jones, Spain Park; hit .415 with a .517 OBP, finishing with 22 RBIs and 25 stolen bases.
► Outfield: Will Adams, Hoover; the Player of the Year got on base at a .643 clip, slugging 13 home runs with 52 RBIs.
► Outfield: Cohen Walker, Vestavia Hills; hit .429 with 18 stolen bases for the Rebels.
► Outfield: Joe Cross, Spain Park; hit .382 with 36 RBIs and 23 stolen bases.
► Designated hitter: Paul Barnett, Mountain Brook; hit .368 with a .553 OBP, seven home runs and 35 stolen bases.
► Designated hitter: Jamison Barnes, Briarwood; hit .308 with five home runs and 30 RBIs.
► Utility: George Brockwell, Homewood; hit .390 with six home runs and 41 RBIs for the Patriots.
► Utility: Levi Nickoli, Homewood; the Hitter of the Year batted .398 with a .660 OBP and 63 stolen bases while also excelling on the mound.
SECOND TEAM
► Pitcher: Houston Holmes, Spain Park; went 8-1 with a 1.88 ERA, striking out 47 batters in 52 innings.
► Pitcher: Wilson Szymela, Vestavia Hills; posted a 1.89 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 63 innings.
► Pitcher: Hudson Franks, Spain Park; went 6-2 with an 0.89 ERA, striking out 42 batters in 39 2/3 innings.
► Pitcher: Bryant Diddell, Mountain
Brook; led the area in strikeouts with 85 punchouts in 60 1/3 innings.
► Catcher: Cooper Mullins, Homewood; hit .295 with 36 RBIs in 41 games for the Patriots.
► First base: Luke Neill, Chelsea; hit .271 with seven home runs and 31 RBIs for the Hornets.
► Second base: Grayson Payne, Hoover; hit .306 with a .425 OBP in 39 games for the Bucs.
► Third base: Ben Heath, Oak Mountain; hit .279 with a .456 OBP and 19 RBIs.
► Shortstop: Charlie Taaffe, Vestavia Hills; hit .371 with a .551 OBP, two home runs and 30 RBIs.
► Infield: Sam Estes, Mountain Brook; hit .365 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs.
► Infield: Bryant Wisdom, Chelsea; hit
.347 with four home runs and 21 RBIs as a freshman.
► Outfield: Cross Tonsmeire, Vestavia Hills; hit .398 with a .511 OBP, four home runs and 39 RBIs.
► Outfield: Cooper Sain, Homewood; hit .361 with a .478 OBP, 33 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.
► Outfield: Glavine Tillman, John Carroll; hit .414 with two home runs and 21 RBIs in 35 games.
► Designated hitter: Drew Monte, Hoover; reached base at a .521 clip with 23 RBIs in 34 games.
► Designated hitter: Ivan Hand, Briarwood; hit .375 with six home runs and 39 RBIs while also going 7-3 on the mound.
► Utility: Garrett Barnes, John Carroll; hit .402 with 34 RBIs while also posting a 3-2 record on the mound.
► Utility: Charlie Williamon, Oak Mountain; hit .380 with three home runs and 23 RBIs while contributing on the mound.
HONORABLE MENTION
► Pitcher: Jude Davidson, Mountain Brook; Michael Baguley, Homewood; Cooper Anderson, Vestavia Hills; John Gregory, Mountain Brook; Cooper Morgan, Chelsea; Braden Bentley, John Carroll; Brody Smith, Spain Park; Rylan Clark, Hewitt-Trussville; Grant Hill, Chelsea; Silas Osbourn, Chelsea; Branson Hogan, Oak Mountain; Jacob Towe, John Carroll; Robbie Paulsen, Briarwood.
► Catcher: Sam Prier, Oak Mountain; Jacob Harris, Vestavia Hills; Jackson Cramer, John Carroll; Wes Hardy, Hewitt-Trussville.
► Infield: Xander Hughes, Oak Mountain; James Eady, Homewood; Luke Channell, Oak Mountain; Dallas Huggins, John Carroll; Avery Floyd, Chelsea; Max Crowder, Hoover; Luke Snowden, Vestavia Hills; Michael Johnson, Spain Park; Blake Bales, Hewitt-Trussville.
► Outfield: Charles Dedmon, Briarwood; Koal Duckett, Hewitt-Trussville; Jack Bland, Homewood; Jack Crosby, Mountain Brook; Aiden Craven, Chelsea; Will Siegel, Homewood; Sawyer Jackson, Hewitt-Trussville; Cam Graham, John Carroll.
► Designated hitter: Slade Bounds, Spain Park; Andrew Walker, Hewitt-Trussville; Noah Crosby, Mountain Brook; Tyler Hohne, John Carroll; Taylor Alfano, Hewitt-Trussville; Haines Bridges, Vestavia Hills; Josh Vincent, Oak Mountain.
Spain Park’s Evan Taylor. Photo by David Leong.
Briarwood’s Houston Hartsfield. Photo by Richard Force.
Jags baseball finishes as 6A runner-up
By KYLE PARMLEY
The Spain Park High School baseball team’s season ended just a couple runs shy of a state championship.
The Jags fell 9-8 in the series opener before a 2-1 loss to Hartselle in the deciding game of the Class 6A state championship series May 21 at Jacksonville State University.
The Tigers claimed their second consecutive state title and 11th overall, while the Jaguars finished an incredible season at 35-10.
It was a finish that will linger. Spain Park had what it thought to be the game-winning run cross the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning in the second game, only to have it taken away by an umpire’s ruling that the ball had struck a batter’s foot, killing the play. The Jaguars never recovered the momentum.
Hartselle took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Cruise Baker singled in Asher Doepel.
Spain Park tied the game at 1-1, and the score stayed there through seven innings before the controversial sequence unfolded. Barrett Price singled and streaked home on the play and was ruled safe by the umpire before the call was overturned to a foul ball.
In the top of the eighth, Cole Miles drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Doepel, who had reached on a walk, for the go-ahead run. Doepel then came on in relief and retired Spain Park in the bottom of the frame to seal the championship.
Hudson Franks was outstanding in a losing effort, throwing 7 2/3 innings and allowing just three hits and no earned runs while striking out six. Hartselle starter Connor Stiles pitched six strong innings, allowing five hits and no earned runs with four strikeouts. Doepel, who earned
WASH GRIME AWAY!
series MVP honors, allowed one hit and struck out one in two innings of relief.
Michael Johnson led Spain Park with two hits.
Jack Lutenbacher, Barrett Paquette, Evan Taylor and Price each had one hit.
Spain Park head coach Will Smith made no attempt to hide how much this group meant to him or how difficult the ending was to process. But the pain of the ending did not overshadow what the Jaguars built over the course of the season.
“I wouldn’t trade this group for any group that I’ve ever, ever had the opportunity to coach,” Smith said. “So much about this game is about teaching you about life, how you handle adversity, but I can say this: the most important thing is the relationships and the memories that this group created, and I’ll forever be in debt to them for that. As a coach, you asked your group to lay it
on the line, and this group laid it on the line every single day, and I’ll forever be grateful for that.”
Both games of the series went down to the wire. In the first game, the Jags rallied from a four-run deficit to tie the game, before Hartselle won it in the bottom of the seventh. Joe Cross had two hits, a run batted in and three runs scored to lead the offense. Slade Bounds knocked in a pair of runs as well.
On their way to the final, the Jags defeated McAdory, Benjamin Russell, Gulf Shores and Northridge in the playoffs.
“Just being able to get to the last day and play baseball and be together as a team on the last day that you could possibly play in 6A up to today,” Smith said. “Very few people have an opportunity to play in a state championship, and to have graduation on that same day, it’s just memories that you’ll never forget.”
Spain Park players cheer for their teammates during Game 2 of the Class 6A state finals. Photos by David Leong.
Spain Park pitcher Hudson Franks (24) pitches the ball during Game 2 of the Class 6A state finals.
EVENTS
Save the Date
CHELSEA FARMER’S MARKET
► Where: Chelsea City Hall Lawn, 11611 Chelsea Road
► When: Saturdays, July 11, 18 and 25, 9 a.m. to noon.
► Details: Find locally grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, plants, flowers, seasonal goods, baked items, handmade crafts and more at the weekly market. Vendor participation may vary each week based on seasonal availability. The city of Chelsea will post updates on its social media pages in the event of severe weather.
► Cost: Admission is free.
► More info: cityofchelsea.com
CHELSEA PARK’S MOVIE IN THE PARK
► Where: Parkmont Park, 1008 Parkmont Way
► When: Saturday, July 11, 8 p.m.
► Details: Families can bring chairs or blankets to relax in the park and watch the live-action version of “How to Train Your Dragon” at dusk. Adapted from a book series that was also an animated movie, “How to Train Your Dragon” focuses on the bond between a young Viking and a rare dragon.
► Cost: Admission is free.
► More info: facebook.com/chelseaparkal
► For more events news, connect with 280 Living online by scanning the QR code.
► Have an upcoming event to share? Email Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnesmedia.com.
NAUTICAL COOKIE DECORATING CLASS
► Where: Cat-n-Bird Winery, 11661 Old U.S. 280
► When: Thursday, July 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
► Details: Led by the owner and designer of Whisk Confections, the cookie decorating class will teach royal icing basics, layering techniques and other tips for beginners and seasoned decorators. Participants must be 10 or older, and each ticket includes the nautical set of cookies, materials, recipes and a beverage. Registration is required.
► Cost: $58
► More info: justawhiskaway.com
CHELSEA LIBRARY
July 7: Summer Reading Movie: “The SpongeBob Movie,” 1 p.m. Chelsea Community Center
July 8, 15, 22, 29: Tot Time, 10:30 a.m. Chelsea Community Center
July 8: Summer Reading Program: End of Summer Reading Party, 2 p.m.
July 9, 16, 23, 30: Musical Munchkins presented by Heartstrings Creative Company, 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Chelsea Community Center
July 9: 2nd Chapter Book Club, “Husbands and Lovers” by Beatriz Williams
July 10: Dementia Caregiver Support Group, 10-11 a.m.
July 10, 17, 24, 31: Bring Your Own Craft, 1 p.m.
July 11: Lego Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
July 11: Super Saturday Story Time, K-4, 10 a.m.
July 11: Friends of the Chelsea Library Used Book Sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chelsea Public Library
July 14: Dementia Caregiver Support Group, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
July 18: Pokemon Trading Club, 10-11 a.m.
Visit cityofchelsea.com/225/Library-Home for the full calendar.
Where to watch fireworks this July 4
By LAUREN H. DOWDLE
Residents can celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary this Independence Day with firework shows, live music and fun for the entire family at these local events. ChelseaFest and the Big KaBoom kick off local celebrations on June 27, when Chelsea’s annual family-friendly celebration brings live music, more than 20 food trucks, patriotic and educational displays, a kid’s zone and a fireworks show at 9 p.m. to a new location this year: 271 County Road 440 next to Metro Storage. The lead musical performers, The Vinyl Junkies, take the stage at 7 p.m., and admission is free. Here are more ways to keep the festivities going through the Fourth of July.
FIRE ON THE WATER
Enjoy a day at Oak Mountain State Park with fireworks to cap it off during Pelham’s annual Fire on the Water on July 3. There will be food and beverage vendors on site starting at 4 p.m., and guests can also bring their own coolers (no alcohol is allowed).
There will be beach volleyball, water rentals, playgrounds, basketball courts, a fishing pier and more outdoor activities to enjoy. Both gates to the park will close at 7 p.m., and the fireworks show will start at 9 p.m. The cost for Pelham residents will be $10 per vehicle, with $15 for everyone else — and annual passes will be valid.
SWEET HOME 250
Enjoy a patriotic event for the whole family at the two-day Sweet Home 250 celebration at American Village in Montevallo. From live music to historical reenactments, Sweet Home 250 will bring the country’s past to life on July 3-4.
The event will feature 18 Alabama musical artists across both days, including Taylor Hicks,
Boys
and many more. A lineup of acclaimed authors, historians and storytellers will also share more than 100 stories that helped shape the nation. There will be children’s activities such as a stunt dog show, up-close encounters with birds, a puppet show with patriotic storytelling, an interactive reenactment of Paul Revere’s ride and colonial games. Attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy celebrity chef demos, enter food-eating contests, see historical
interpretations and watch fireworks. For more information or to purchase tickets to the 250th celebration, visit SweetHome250.com.
THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN
As the state’s largest fireworks show, Thunder on the Mountain will light up the sky around Birmingham on July 4 starting at 9 p.m. The illuminating sights can be seen from multiple vantage points across Birmingham and Homewood — or directly at Vulcan Park and Museum on Red Mountain.
Parking at Red Mountain will be available, but attendees are encouraged to arrive early or use a ride-share option. Some roads near Vulcan Park and Museum will close early to prepare for the show. Several local radio stations will be synced to the show’s playlist to pair the patriotic tunes to the visual celebration.
The Blind
of Alabama, Chuck Leavell, Myles Morgan, Roman Street, Act of Congress
Hundreds gathered to enjoy music by Trotline, food and fireworks during the 2025 ChelseaFest and the Big Kaboom. The city of Chelsea hosts its largest event of the year annually on the last Saturday before the Fourth of July. Photos by David Leong.
GET TO KNOW
Greystone mom turns classroom roots into online community
By APRIL COFFEY
Haley Brandstadter is a Birmingham native, former elementary educator and stay-at-home mom of three who has spent the last seven years channeling her love of teaching into full-time motherhood. When she’s not with her kids, she stays active through running and hiking, loves to travel, creates content online and is a devoted Crimson Tide fan.
Q: Why did you choose to live in the Greystone community? What do you love most about living there?
A: After living in Nashville for seven years, we made the decision to move back home to Birmingham to be closer to family. We were drawn to Greystone for many reasons, but the beautiful surroundings within the neighborhood are something you can’t find everywhere. The schools in the area are a big draw and give you confidence as a parent. You’re close to everything you need — shopping, restaurants, Birmingham — but it still feels quiet and tucked away.
Q: Where did you attend college, and what did you major in? Why did you decide to pursue education as a career?
A: I graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in elementary education. I chose education because those early years are when kids really start to build confidence in themselves and in learning. I loved being part of that foundation — it felt like a career where I could make a real, lasting impact.
Q: You spent several years as an educator before transitioning to full-time motherhood. What inspired that decision, and how did
you know it was the right time?
A: I truly enjoyed teaching, but once I had my kids, my perspective shifted a little. I realized how quickly those early years go, and I wanted to be as present as I could during that stage of their lives. It felt like a unique window of time that I didn’t want to miss, and I was fortunate to be able to step into that role fully.
Q: How has your background in education influenced the way you approach parenting and creating content online?
A: Having a background in elementary education has definitely influenced how I approach parenting — I’m very focused on relationships, routines and a supportive environment for my kids. That same mindset carries into my content. I think about what’s actually helpful or encouraging for other moms, and I try to keep things real but also positive. I truly enjoy my children, and I hope I encourage other moms to fully embrace motherhood.
Q: For readers who may not know you yet, how would you describe your online presence and the community you’ve built?
A: My content is very much rooted in real life — being a mom, getting dressed, cooking and just day-to-day moments. I try to keep things honest but still inspiring. I think my community appreciates authenticity and not feeling like everything has to be perfect.
Q: What has surprised you most about building a significant following online?
A: I think what has surprised me most is how supportive people can be. I expected it to be more surface level, but there’s actually a real sense of community. People share their own experiences, encourage each other, and it
becomes more than just posting.
Q: As a former educator, what are your thoughts on how social media impacts today’s children and families?
A: Social media can be such a great tool for inspiration, creativity and even education. I also think it requires a lot of guidance from parents — helping kids understand what’s real and making sure it doesn’t replace real-life interaction. It’s definitely something I’m mindful of in
my own home.
Q: What does a typical day look like for you as a stay-at-home mom who also manages an active online platform?
A: My day revolves around my kids first, and everything else fits around that. I try to batch content when I can — whether that’s filming outfits or quick videos during the day — so I’m not constantly on my phone. It’s definitely busy, but it works because it’s flexible.
Haley Brandstadter with her children Dallas, Remi and Wake.
Photo courtesy of Haley Brandstadter.
State’s first competitive lake swim debuts at Oak Mountain State Park
By APRIL COFFEY
The calm waters of Double Oak Lake looked serene on the morning of May 2, but beneath the surface, history was being made. More than just another endurance event, the inaugural Magic at the Mountain Open Water Swim marked Alabama’s first competitive lake swim and the state’s first standalone open water swim sanctioned by USA Triathlon.
The event, hosted by Magic Sports and inspired by Birmingham Area Multisport founder Meredith Burney, drew athletes from across the Southeast to test their skills in an environment where there are no lane lines, no walls, and no two races are ever the same.
Held at Oak Mountain State Park, the event featured four race distances — 0.5 mile, 1 mile, 2 miles and 5 kilometers — designed to appeal to a wide range of athletes, from novice triathletes to experienced collegiate and masters swimmers. Participants entered the water in staggered wave starts based on race distance, prioritizing safety while creating a smooth race experience.
For Burney, the event was the realization of a vision rooted in decades of swimming experience.
“I grew up as an age group swimmer, swam
for my state championship high school team and then four years in college, but my most beloved memories were spent swimming across my grandpa’s lake in Michigan and then competing in ocean swims when my family moved to Hawaii,” Burney said. “The opportunity to bring that experience of open water swimming to my new home in Birmingham, Alabama, was something I was passionate about and knew it could be successful in attracting athletes from all over the Southeast.”
That vision found the perfect partner in Magic Sports, a longtime leader in endurance event production. Burney had previously raced and volunteered with the organization and was impressed by its successful management of the open water swim competition during the 2025 World Police & Fire Games.
Oak Mountain State Park proved to be a natural fit for the inaugural race. Burney leads a free weekly open water swim at Double Oak Lake and knew the venue offered both beauty and accessibility.
“Oak Mountain State Park is the largest Alabama state park, is clean and beautiful,” she said. “This was also the first competitive lake swim in Alabama.”
Unlike pool racing, open water swimming presents unique challenges. Athletes must
navigate without lane lines, sight landmarks, adjust to weather conditions and share the water with local wildlife. Those elements, however, are exactly what attract many competitors.
“People want adventure,” Burney said. “They want variables like weather, waves, sighting landmarks to stay on the shortest course, to be factored into a unique race day experience. No two open water swims will ever be the same.”
Safety remained a central focus throughout the event. Four certified lifeguards from local YMCAs, Pelham Fire & Rescue personnel in a powerboat, and 20 volunteers on kayaks
and paddleboards monitored the course. Their efforts paid off, as not a single athlete required assistance during the race.
The event also demonstrated the growing popularity of open water swimming. Competitors traveled from Tennessee, Mississippi, Indiana and Illinois, while local organizations including Magic City Triathlon Club and Vulcan Triathlon Club supplied swimmers and volunteers. One standout performance came from 13-year-old Birmingham Area Multisport athlete Coco Rocque, who captured the overall victory in the 2-mile swim.
Meredith Burney hosted the inaugural Magic at the Mountain Open Water Swim, marking Alabama’s first competitive lake swim and the state’s first standalone open water swim sanctioned by USA Triathlon.
Photo courtesy of Todd Temple Photography.
Villaggio Colafrancesco on U.S. 280 near Sterrett operates under a strict no-cell-phone policy and modesty-based dress code, with women in shorts above the knee or bare shoulders offered complimentary disposable black paper skirts at the entrance. The Italian-style village, open since 2022, includes a coffee shop with beans roasted on site, a gelato shop franchised from Rome’s Old Bridge Gelateria near the Vatican, an organic market and outdoor gathering spaces designed to evoke rural Italy. Photos by Kelli S. Hewett.
VILLAGGIO
CONTINUED from page 1
Customers use words like peace, tranquility and calm to describe the appeal. There’s simply no place like it where the ground “rules” hearken back to the late 1900s.
“We’re in a life right now where it’s just technology, technology, technology,” said Stephanie De Molina of Hoover, whose husband, Max, found out about the spot online two years ago. “Here it’s an atmosphere to disconnect, have one-on-one time with my husband, have one-on-one time with my baby. It’s the uniqueness; they center it with God. It’s beautiful. It’s not strictness.”
Auburn University college students Sara Campbell of Vestavia Hills and her friend Liz Brasfield of Atlanta were happy to tie on the black paper midi skirts when they showed up unaware of the Villaggio dress code.
“I like it; stay modest,” Brasfield said. Both of the Gen Zers also appreciated the technology limits.
“It just feels, like, disconnected,” Campbell said. “I can have intentional time with my friend Liz. And it’s really pretty here.”
In 2022, as the doors first opened, some internet voices predicted Villaggio Colafrancesco’s swift demise. Critics deemed the no-cell-phone policy as out of touch and antiquated and the dress code biased against women for banning short shorts, short skirts, visible cleavage and bare shoulders.
Articles were published, morning radio shows debated.
Now, four years later, customers are still locking up, covering up and lining up for espresso, gelato and paninis at the Italian-style village.
The concept includes a European-inspired coffee shop, a gelato shop, an all-natural and organic market and gift shop, outdoor tables with in-the-forest charm and Italian string lights, and a main gathering spot that includes indoor seating, a year-round fireplace and rocking chairs that people drive miles to enjoy.
The village’s owner, founder and eversociable host is Birmingham native Terry Colafrancesco, the product of a strong Italian-Catholic family. He says the rules were made out of love and respect, not shame or hatred.
“I know that what we offer — our gelato, coffee and Italian panini — are number one,” he said. “They can’t get what we have anywhere else. But most of the ones who initially challenge the rules come back dressed modest and follow the rules.”
Colafrancesco rose to worldwide attention in Catholic circles in the 1980s.
The licensed tree surgeon, excavator and landscaper had started a nonprofit called Caritas of Birmingham in 1986 when, about three months in, he had a life-changing experience in the European town of Medjugorje, in Bosnia and Herzegovina (formerly Yugoslavia).
The small community had become an international pilgrimage site in the 1980s when six local young people reported visions of the Virgin Mary.
Colafrancesco visited and was inspired to
change the nonprofit’s mission to spread news of Medjugorje.
He brought them for visits to his farm in Shelby County, where more visions were reported in a local field. That sparked expansive media coverage and some parking and traffic complaints.
Thousands of primarily Catholic visitors have since come to Colafrancesco’s property for pilgrimages, where his efforts grew to include books, public speaking, broadcasts and a team of like-minded students and missionaries who have joined him on his family’s property near Sterrett.
Those Caritas team members staff Villaggio as part of their work, many dedicating their time without pay.
“Our guests repeatedly express both in writing [in] our comment books and verbally
how they immediately feel a peace when they step on the grounds here,” said longtime Caritas team member Jessica Ross. “They forget their concerns and worries. If you read Google reviews, there are some that have described the experience at Villaggio Colafrancesco as a ‘Hallmark movie.’”
The vibe is charming, authentic Italian excellence, with onsite coffee bean roasting blueprinted by one of the world’s top baristas (also Catholic) and ice cream-inspired gelato from the only North American franchise of the Old Bridge Gelateria, in Rome near the Vatican.
Popular flavors include ricotta pistachio, sour cherry and fondente dark chocolate, as well as strawberry and lemon sorbet. Regulars will tell you the magic is in pairing the flavors into creative, bespoke combinations.
ingredients in general are sourced organically as often as possible.
Part coffee shop, part Italian market and part agrarian experiment, the village was designed to feel transported from rural Italy into suburban Alabama. The property is built around the vision of a slower way of life. Beams were hewn at the mill on Colafrancesco’s farm.
Drinks are prepared openly in front of customers using equipment imported from Italy, including commercial espresso machines from Simonelli, one of the top commercial brands in the world.
Colafrancesco intentionally designed the coffee shop to resemble the smaller cafes he encountered in Italy — intimate spaces where conversations still trump screens. Small spaces can lead to some great conversations and human connections.
Time and again, people thank him for conversations that occur with family members, particularly younger ones, when the phones are locked away.
While the 280 village attracts customers and visitors, both religious and nonreligious, the Catholic foundation is evident in the Italian-style religious artwork, in the Bibles on tables and mantles etc., and in most any conversation with Colafrancesco, who circulates around like the cherished elder statesman.
“To give people the experience of disconnecting from computers, cell phones, etc.,” Colafrancesco said, “for me, it’s about making people happy, bringing them joy and giving a witness that shows people not to work for the dollar, but work for a way of life.”
For more on Villaggio Colafrancesco, hours, menu and the dress code, visit vcitalia.com.
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For Gunn, the election’s outcome carries both gratitude and a sense of responsibility grounded in service to students and families across the county.
“I am honored and grateful that the voters of Shelby County have placed their trust in me to lead Shelby County Schools,” Gunn said. “It is a tremendous responsibility, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the students of Shelby County.”
A TRANSITION CENTERED ON LISTENING
Before officially stepping into the role, Gunn said his focus is on learning directly from the communities he will soon serve. Over the coming months, he plans to visit schools across the district, meeting with students, teachers, administrators and families to better understand local needs and experiences.
“I look forward to the next several months of working directly with Dr. Lewis Brooks during this transition period leading up to my swearing-in in January,” Gunn said. “Over the coming months, I will be visiting with students, teachers, school leaders and stakeholders in every community served by Shelby County Schools. I hope to learn more about their experiences within our school system and gain a deeper understanding of the unique needs of each community.”
That emphasis on visibility and communication was central to Gunn’s campaign, where he focused on leadership presence and building a shared vision across the district.
TEACHERS AND TRUST AT THE CENTER OF HIS MESSAGE
Throughout the campaign, Gunn consistently highlighted teacher support and school culture, arguing that educators should be trusted as professionals and given flexibility in their classrooms.
“We have to treat our teachers unequivocally as professionals,” Gunn said.
His message reflected a broader focus on strengthening classroom environments through trust, autonomy and clearer support systems. He also emphasized the importance of strong relationships between district leadership and educators as a foundation for student success.
LEADING WITH A PARENT’S PERSPECTIVE
Gunn has said his approach to decisionmaking is shaped in part by his role as a father. He emphasized that perspective as central to how he evaluates district priorities and longterm planning.
“As a father of four children who are either currently attending or will one day attend Shelby County Schools, I will strive to view every decision through the lens of a parent and carefully consider how those decisions impact the families we serve,” Gunn said.
That philosophy also connects to his broader emphasis on trust between schools and families.
“It is imperative that we maintain the trust that has been built with our parents and stakeholders as we educate and care for the children of Shelby County every day,” Gunn said. “When my time comes to lead this school system, I want to assure our parents that when they drop their children off at school each morning, we will do everything in our power to care for the child before we educate the student.”
A DISTRICT NAVIGATING GROWTH AND CHANGE
Shelby County Schools is one of the largest school systems in Alabama and continues to face pressures tied to population growth, staffing demands and shifting expectations around technology, mental health support and workforce readiness.
Those themes surfaced repeatedly during a public candidate forum hosted at Jefferson State Community College’s Valleydale campus by the Shelby County Reporter and Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, where Gunn and fellow candidate Joel Dixon outlined their visions for the district’s future.
Gunn emphasized the importance of maintaining human connection in classrooms as technology becomes more embedded in education.
“We are entering an age … where we do not know what is authentically real,” Gunn said. “We cannot lose sight of human connection in our classrooms.”
He also expressed concern about excessive screen use among younger students, while acknowledging the role technology plays in modern instruction. His focus remained on preserving direct engagement between teachers and students as a core element of learning.
COMMUNITY CONFIDENCE IN NEW LEADERSHIP
Support for Gunn’s election has come from across the district, including parents and alumni who say his experience within Shelby County Schools gives them confidence in his leadership.
“As the parent of two boys who are going to grow up in Shelby County Schools and an Oak Mountain High School graduate myself, I have full trust that Andrew Gunn will be an incredible superintendent,” said Amber Joiner. “I am excited to see him lead Shelby County Schools into the next chapter of continued growth and success.”
Her comments reflect a sentiment echoed by supporters who see continuity, familiarity and district experience as strengths during a period of transition.
PREPARING FOR A LEADERSHIP HANDOFF
Gunn’s election comes as Brooks prepares for retirement in early 2027 after serving since 2018. The transition period ahead is expected to include close collaboration between outgoing and incoming leadership, as district priorities and long-term planning continue.
Across Shelby County Schools, leaders are preparing to address ongoing challenges that include staffing needs, school capacity in fast-growing areas, and continued investment in academic programs and student support services.
Throughout his campaign, Gunn emphasized collaboration, transparency and consistent communication as essential tools for navigating those challenges.
LOOKING AHEAD
As he prepares to formally assume the role, Gunn has returned repeatedly to a simple framework for leadership built on listening, supporting educators and focusing on students.
The months ahead will include visits to schools, meetings with stakeholders and continued engagement with families across the district as he begins shaping his priorities for the system he will soon lead.
Andrew Gunn, a father of four children who attend or will attend Shelby County Schools, plans to visit every school in the district over the coming months to meet with students, teachers and families ahead of his January swearing-in. Photo by David Leong.
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