Born into virtual world, graduating seniors ready to zoom in real life
By EMILY REED
They were born during the iPhone revolution, came of age in a pandemic and now graduate into a world transformed by artificial intelligence. For the Class of 2025, change has never been the exception — it has been the backdrop. As they prepare to leave high school behind, these students reflect a generation shaped by disruption, connection, reinvention and resilience.
The Class of 2025 didn’t just grow up during change — they grew up on screens, set on fast-forward. Born in the late 2006 to mid-2007 window, their lives have coincided with the rise of smartphones, streaming media, social movements and digital identity. Their junior high years were marked by lockdowns and learning loss. Now, they bring not just ambition, but insight into a world they have been watching, questioning and navigating in real time.
Main: Gene Hallman, who has organized the Regions Tradition golf tournament from its inception, takes a practice swing at Greystone Golf & Country Club where the tournament will be held this year. Photo by Taylor Bright. Insets: Regions Tradition has a star-studded past. Past participants include, clockwise from left: Raymond Floyd, Bart Starr and Joe Namath; Lee Trevino and Michael Jordan; Chi Chi Rodriguez. Photos courtesy of Regions Tradition.
A photo illustration of the Class of 2025 on a video call. Clockwise from top left: Sofia Contreras, Javairia Jehangir, Jackson Kalnoske, Erissa Lusian, Madi Claire Sims, Ava Wilson, Miria Babi, Thomas Miller, Micah Breland, Tracy Li. Photos courtesy of the students’ families. Photo illustration by Melanie Viering.
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Editor’s Note By Taylor Bright
The Regions Tradition golf tournament is the biggest event along the U.S. 280 corridor in Birmingham. For 30 years, it has brought in bigname golfers and celebrities — but its origin story is rooted in a much smaller, scrappier effort.
The tournament began as one person’s attempt to break into sports events, and it was built by a passionate community of volunteers. Today, it’s a nationally respected tournament that has raised millions of dollars for local charities.
We spoke with three people who have been involved with the tournament since the beginning to learn how it all started — and how it’s still
going strong. Also in this issue, we profile Johnna Barnes, who has spent much of her life serving the Chelsea community and is now running for a seat on the Chelsea City Council.
If there’s a person, event or story you’d like to see in a future issue of 280 Living, email me directly at tbright@ starnesmedia.com.
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Creator Collective students shine in first major project
By STAFF
The students in our Starnes Media Creator Collective made a strong debut this month, helping staff reporter Emily Reed produce our May cover story on the Class of 2025.
Collective members contributed video interviews with seniors from their own high schools, exploring firsthand the unique perspective of students who have grown up as digital natives in a pandemic-impacted, techdriven, and now AI-powered world. The content added depth and authenticity to the cover package, providing a peer-to-peer look at how this graduating class has navigated a rapidly changing landscape on their way to a major life milestone.
“These are the first steps in what will be a year of learning and opportunity to hone their storytelling skills across multiple platforms,” said Tim Stephens, general manager of Starnes Media and executive director of the Creator Collective. “Our students did superb work this month, and we look forward to providing them with a wide array of opportunities over the next year.”
In May, students will continue their work by capturing and producing content from high school proms and graduation ceremonies, as well as contributing to our Under the Lights 2025 football preview magazine. After that, they’ll take a well-earned summer break before returning in the fall for a new slate of hands-on projects and professional development.
This year’s Creator Collective includes a talented group of students from schools across our coverage area:
► Spain Park: Daniela Marie Sollano, Leyton McCarn
► Vestavia Hills: Corra Maddox
► Alabama School of Fine Arts: Kaiden Boykin, Allie Rezek
► Chelsea: Luke Miller
► Homewood: Miyelani Mathebula
When the program resumes, students will be mentored not only by Starnes Media’s award-winning editorial and multimedia staff, but also by an accomplished and growing advisory board made up of leading professionals in journalism, broadcasting, content creation, brand strategy and the arts.
This year’s Creator Collective Advisory Board includes:
► Joey Kennedy: A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and one of Alabama’s most accomplished political reporters, Kennedy currently teaches at UAB and brings decades of experience in editorial writing and public affairs.
► Kevin Corke: FOX News White House
correspondent and former NBC News reporter, Corke has covered the presidency, global summits and major breaking news events. He’s also a former anchor for ESPN’s SportsCenter and a graduate of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
► Steve Skipper: A Homewood native and one of the most acclaimed sports and cultural artists in the world, Skipper has had work commissioned by NASCAR, the University of Alabama and even for Queen Elizabeth II. His art has been featured in the College Football Hall of Fame and the U.S. Capitol.
► Danielle Tate: A national leader in athlete branding and the director of athlete membership at Athletes.org, Tate has worked with INFLCR and Campus Ink. She’s also a Birmingham Business Journal “Woman to Watch” and brings deep expertise in NIL and personal brand-building.
► Lynn Andrews: Photographer, marketer and community leader involved with the Junior League of Birmingham.
CREATOR
► Tommy Deas: Former president of the Associated Press Sports Editors and director of content for Gannett’s Center for Community Journalism.
► Michele Forman: Award-winning documentary filmmaker and director of UAB’s Media Studies program.
► Jaclyn M. Langan: Member services and events coordinator at the Alabama Press Association.
► Gail Sideman: Founder of GPublicity and a veteran of sports public relations and media strategy.
► Stacie Shain: Director of communication programs at Bellarmine University with experience in both academic and newsroom settings.
► Deon J. Hampton: NBC News’ top national field reporter and a two-time national award-winning journalist.
The Creator Collective runs year-round and is designed to provide high school students with real-world experience in journalism, content creation and digital storytelling.
► Lynden Blake: Former WBRC sports anchor and current ESPN+ sideline reporter with expertise in sports media and digital storytelling.
STARNES MEDIA
Sollano
McCarn Miller
Big-box grocery wholesaler gets approval in Inverness
By JON ANDERSON
The developer working to bring a 200,000-square-foot retail shopping center with a big-box grocery retailer to Inverness has made changes to the development plan in an attempt to address neighborhood concerns — and now has received approval for the project.
Two years ago, Alumni Properties and Investments sought approval from the Hoover zoning board for a 103,000-square-foot big-box wholesale store with a tire center, 16 gasoline pumping stations and at least eight other retail buildings on 20 acres of wooded land at the corner of Valleydale Road and Inverness Center Drive.
The property is across from Inverness Corners and next to Inverness Plaza. Significant neighborhood opposition led the zoning board to reject the plan in April 2023.
Since then, developers have made numerous adjustments to the plan that no longer require a zoning change — and that they hope will address residents’ concerns.
First, Alumni Properties removed the gasoline station and liquor store originally proposed, both of which required special zoning approval.
development from Inverness Center Drive and the Danberry at Inverness senior living community, Owens said. More brick was also added to the primary building.
The red brick is expected to nearly match the material used at Inverness Corners, and the building’s architecture was modeled after some in the adjacent Beaumont community, he said.
Owens said non-disclosure agreements won’t allow him to share the name of the big-box wholesaler or other potential tenants yet. Thus far, he has referred to it as a “bigbox membership grocery concept.”
Several residents who met with the developer identified it as a BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Owens did not dispute that identification.
The development — to be called 280 Valleydale at Inverness — includes space for 20 to 25 smaller shops, which are expected to include a full-service restaurant, cafes, boutiques, a shoe store, collegiate apparel store, and a bookstore with a café, Owens said.
There is still a vehicle entrance on Inverness Center Drive, but it now allows only right-in, rightout, and left-in turn movements.
They also redesigned the site to move truck traffic off Inverness Center Drive, which leads to residential neighborhoods. The delivery truck entrance and exit on Inverness Center Drive was eliminated, and a turnaround was created to direct truck traffic to either Valleydale Road or U.S. 280 via a route behind Inverness Plaza.
Vehicles exiting the development will not be able to turn left onto Inverness Center Drive, said Gary Owens, managing partner of Alumni Properties. Additionally, the developer worked out an agreement for a second traffic connection to Inverness Plaza, which has its own traffic lights.
The developer also received approval from the Alabama Department of Transportation for changes to the intersection of Valleydale Road and U.S. 280, including converting the eastbound U.S. 280 right-turn lane onto Valleydale into two lanes instead of one, Owens said.
Additional landscaping buffers were added to screen the
The city of Hoover has approved the site plan, and the city, Shelby County and ALDOT have approved traffic plans, Owens said. Clearing should begin between July 4 and Labor Day, and earth work should start in the late third or early fourth quarter, he said. Building pads and buildings should start going up in the spring, and store openings are anticipated by late 2026, he said.
John Maderos jewelry can be handed down to future generations. It is made in the USA and is a never tarnish jewelry. Come in and see the great quality of John Maderios Jewelry.
This map shows the revised truck route for a 200,000-square-foot multi-use development in Inverness along Valleydale Road next to Inverness Plaza and across from Inverness Corners. Map courtesy of Alumni Properties and Investments.
SCHOOLHOUSE
Chelsea High School gives students leg
in health care field with the Healthcare Academy
By TAYLOR BRIGHT
A program at Chelsea High School is giving students a pathway into health care while meeting a growing demand from both students and future employers.
The Chelsea High School Healthcare Academy-Surgical Tech Program — a three-year program that began in 2019 — is part of Shelby County Schools’ broader commitment to career technical education, and it’s already making a significant impact.
“I’m encouraging students to go into surgical careers such as surgical technology, surgical nursing, becoming a physician — you know, and specializing in surgery — and giving them an opportunity to explore those careers, not be intimidated by them, and have the information they need to decide if that’s a great career choice for them,” said Andrea Maddox, who leads the program at Chelsea.
The academy is designed to help students explore careers in the perioperative setting — operating rooms and surgical departments — as well as health care more broadly. Students are exposed to careers in surgical technology, surgical nursing and surgery-centered physician roles.
“Our students work really hard the first semester of their senior year to prepare for and study for that national certified patient care technician exam, which gives them the credential to move on to the clinical component of the health science internship,” Maddox said.
Students receive clinical experience with industry partners including Shelby Baptist Medical Center and Heart South Cardiovascular Group. These partnerships give students the
opportunity to apply their skills in real healthcare environments.
“Even this morning, while I’m talking to you, my students went to Shelby Baptist and took care of patients,” Maddox said. “Two of them observed surgeries — one saw a hip replacement, and another observed a hernia repair.”
Julie Godfrey, Career Technical Education supervisor for Shelby County Schools, said the program was developed in response to both workforce needs and student interest.
“We want to make sure we’re offering a lot of different, diverse opportunities for kids to be prepared for their future,” Godfrey said. “In talking to the panel, one of the things they brought up was that surgical techs were in high demand
because they just didn’t have enough staff.”
Godfrey said many students enter the program with a clear idea of their career goals.
“They don’t just say they want to be a nurse or a doctor,” she said. “They say very specifically, ‘I want to be a pediatric nurse,’ or ‘I want to be a radiologist.’”
The program currently has about 115 students enrolled, with up to 48 students accepted into the first-year class each year.
“The program has become very popular,” Maddox said. “We’ve had no problem filling spots with highly qualified students who are truly interested in the health care field.”
Godfrey agreed, noting that the ultimate goal is to prepare students for life beyond high school
— whether they enter the workforce or continue their education.
“We just want to equip them for what’s next,” Godfrey said. “And that comes in a lot of different ways.”
GET TO KNOW
Greystone Elementary Assistant Principal Sherita Williams
By STAFF
Q: What is something great about your school?
A: Oh, my goodness, Greystone is the greatest school ever. It’s a great place because I believe it has such a family-like atmosphere. The teachers in this building love children and do all that is within their power to help children be the best they can be. … So one of the greatest things about Greystone is the people — the family-like atmosphere that the people in this building create every single day.
Q: Tell us something about you that people might not know.
A: The things that I really enjoy doing that most people don’t know about me is that I love to cook. I actually love to bake, but I don’t have a lot of time to do that because of my work schedule and being in graduate school and all of that. But I really enjoy preparing meals for my family. I do caramel cakes and red velvet cakes and pound cakes and pies and cookies and candies. So baking and preparing food for people is one of the things I really enjoy.
Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
A: The most rewarding part of my job is when I can look at students and I can see they really get it. And when I say they really get it, it doesn’t necessarily have to be something academic. It could be something social. It could be with friendship. It could be with anything that involves children getting it.
ACCOLADES
Oak Mountain tops county math tournament; Spain Park, SCS educators also recognized
By STAFF
Oak Mountain High School took top honors at the Shelby County High School Math Tournament, earning first place in the Algebra II team competition. Helena High School placed second, and Chelsea High School finished third.
Oak Mountain also swept the top individual Algebra II awards. Brandon Shin earned first place, followed by Jakob Shilling in second and Peter Samal in third. Additional high scorers in Algebra II included:
► Sarah Bizay, Calera
► Jacob Hotchkiss, Chelsea
► Edward Boadi, Helena
► Kaylee Flores, Montevallo
► Maddie Talton and Aida Vansant, Shelby County
► Levi Young, Vincent
► Brandon Shin, Oak Mountain Amanda DeVaughn has been named Oak Mountain High School’s Support Person of the Year. Known for her dedication and commitment to students and staff, DeVaughn plays a vital role in ensuring the school operates efficiently. Administrators praised her for consistently going
above and beyond in her responsibilities. Eight students from Spain Park High School have been named National Merit
Finalists: Michael Allen, Carmen Britt, Xuyang Chen, Julia Daigle, David Johnson, Tracy Li, Noah Smith and Rebecca Stafford. The students earned some of the highest scores in Alabama on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test and advanced to finalist status by maintaining outstanding academic records, receiving strong recommendations and confirming their test performance with SAT or ACT scores.
Shelby County Schools also recognized several area teachers for maintaining or attaining their National Board teaching certifications.
Retained certification:
► Shannon Galamore, Chelsea High
► Amanda Gallups, Oak Mountain High
► Elizabeth Howard, Chelsea Middle
Attained certification:
► Lauren Ash, Inverness Elementary
► Jana Baker, Forest Oaks Elementary
► Paula Tolbert, Chelsea Park Elementary
Mountain math tournament team. Photo courtesy of Oak Mountain High School.
Sherita Williams
Summer dangers and drug risks
Shelby County’s Compact program helps teens and families stay safe
Drug abuse is a serious problem for many American teenagers, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and its partners — the Shelby County District Attorney and Shelby County Manager — are fighting back with a unique program called Compact in which SCSO officers work with teens and families to battle substance use and promote healthy lifestyles.
Compact also actively promotes summer safety for children and teens over the long school break, when kids left at home unattended are more prone to injury.
Det. Tommy Stewart has advice for parents. “If possible, don't leave kids alone, but if you do, educate them on the dangers out there, like riding 4-wheelers or golf carts,” he said, “These kids are having a good time and not thinking about safety.”
A Shelby County teen was killed recently after driving an ATV into a tree, he said.
“Talking about safety throughout the summer is super important,” Stewart said.
Accidents are the leading cause of teen deaths, in part because many youth engage in risky behavior, especially when intoxicated. “They’ll do foolish, ridiculous things, like diving off cliffs, that they wouldn’t do when sober,” said Investigator Adam Schniper.
Many teens experiment with drugs and alcohol but are not used to the effects.
“They start drinking and don’t know when to stop,”
Investigator Ali Miller said. “They don't realize how intoxicated they've gotten, their behavior is exaggerated and they aren't thinking clearly. They might drive a vehicle or ride with someone else who’s equally drunk.”
In addition, more teens are driving in the summer, leading to more accidents. Some are caused by
distracted driving, which is “absolutely horrible and equally as deadly as DUI,” Miller said. “They take pictures or selfies while driving, or you’ve got kids bringing up videos, saying, ‘Hey, look at this.’ Before you know it, they’ve run off the road and hit a tree.”
Water safety is also important. “Don’t go swimming alone,” Stewart said. “Always be there with someone and make sure somebody knows where you're at.”
Kids and teens should also be careful when exploring wooded areas in the summer, when there’s a greater risk of snake bites and animal attacks, he said. “You could be in a bad situation before you realize it,” Stewart said.
Prolonged daily use of social media and video games in the summer can have negative effects on mental wellness.
“There’s positive sides to social media — communicating with like-minded people, sharing ideas, gaming, having fun — but there’s downsides,” Schniper said. “If kids neglect face-to-face socialization, they can face mental health issues, including depression, anger, anxiety, even suicidal ideation.
“Parents should take note of behavior changes in their kids if they’re not socializing and doing real-life activities,” he said. “Is it inspiring kids in a positive way or inspiring them in a negative way?”
Compact’s Summer Safety Tips
• Avoid leaving children home alone if possible; educate them on safety if they are unattended.
• Talk to kids about the dangers of ATVs and golf carts.
• Warn teens about the risks of drug and alcohol use, especially their effects on judgment and behavior.
• Discourage distracted driving; taking selfies or watching videos while driving can be as dangerous as DUI.
• Never swim alone; always have a buddy and let someone know your location.
• Be cautious when exploring wooded areas due to the risk of snake bites and animal encounters.
• Monitor teens’ mental health and encourage face-to-face socialization and real-life activities to support mental wellness.
• Watch for behavior changes that could signal depression, anxiety, or other mental health concerns.
The appropriate amount of gaming or social media use varies from person to person, of course. “Every kid’s an individual,” Schniper said. “The children and parents have to find what works for them.
For more about Compact, call 205-605-1824 or go to compact2020.com.
Business Buzz
COMING SOON
A new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is coming to the Inverness area, replacing the former Burger King location at 517 Cahaba Park Circle. The restaurant, known for its popular Southern-style menu, including fried chicken, biscuits, and red beans and rice, will now have its first location along the U.S. 280 corridor in the Birmingham meteor area.
OPENINGS
OneLife Fitness is set to open a new flagship Sports Club at 801 Doug Baker Blvd., taking over the former AMC Classic movie theater site. The Virginia-based company is investing $14 million to transform the 68,000-square-foot space into a state-of-the-art fitness and wellness destination. The club will feature indoor saltwater pools, turf workout zones, group fitness classes, boxing and cycling studios, a kids club, and spa-inspired locker rooms. Recovery amenities will include cold plunges, saunas, red light therapy, and HydroMassage. The Lee Branch facility will debut OneLife’s newest flagship design focused on a holistic member experience, offering a place for both fitness and community connection. The project is expected to generate more than 100 local jobs and serve as a major new anchor for the Lee Branch area. onelifefitness.com/gyms/lee-branch
RealtySouth has welcomed two new real estate agents to its U.S. 280 offices. Tony Schultz has joined the Inverness office, while Kandice Thomas will now serve clients out of the company’s Chelsea location. Tony Schultz: 205-835-9395, Kandice Thomas: 205-907-1170, realtysouth.com
NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
McLeod Software has expanded its partnership with Parade, a leader in AI-powered capacity management, by integrating Voice AI capabilities into its PowerBroker TMS platform. The new technology automates inbound carrier phone calls by capturing, qualifying, and processing offers in real time. The update builds on Parade’s Capacity CoDriver, which already streamlines email communications for freight brokers. “By expanding our partnership with Parade to include Voice AI capabilities within PowerBroker, we’re delivering on our promise to bring best-in-class AI solutions to our customers,” said Ahmed Ebrahim, VP of Strategic Integrations and Partnerships at McLeod Software. 205-823-5100, mcleodsoftware.com
CLOSINGS
Real & Rosemary, a local restaurant which emphasizes fresh cuisine, is closing its location at The Summit, the owners announced on social media on Sunday.
“After 5 years in operation, we have made the decision to close our location at The Summit. We are grateful to our customers for your support through the years! We will continue to serve you in Homewood, Crestline, and at Caveat Coffee,” wrote Jennifer and Nate Carlson, owners of the restaurants. “We appreciate your continued support, and we look forward to serving you soon.”
The U.S. 280 location was the second location of what were three restaurants total. The Homewood and Crestline locations will remain in business.
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
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The Inverness location of Planet Smoothie at 4700 U.S. 280, Suite 10, has also permanently closed. The shop was part of the Inverness Corners shopping center, which has experienced other retail shifts in recent years, including the closing of The Fresh Market in 2024. Planet Smoothie was popular among locals for its variety of health-conscious smoothies and convenient location near office parks and residential neighborhoods.
AMC Classic Lee Branch closed its doors in March after more than two decades of serving the U.S. 280 corridor. Located at 801 Doug Baker Blvd., the theater had long been a go-to destination for moviegoers in the Lee Branch area. With the closure, residents will now need to travel to nearby theaters such as AMC at The Summit or the Patton Creek location in Hoover.
In Chelsea, Legacy Cleaners has closed its location at 609 Chelsea Crossroads. The business, which opened two years ago, was located next to Publix in the busy Chelsea Crossroads shopping center. Its departure leaves a vacancy in one of Chelsea’s prime commercial hubs and reduces dry-cleaning options for local residents.
SPOTLIGHT GET TO KNOW
Mt Laurel Grocery owner Jim Landreth poses outside the business with manager Julie Numnum.
Photo courtesy of Julie Numnum.
Julie Numnum, Mt Laurel Grocery
By STAFF
Julie Numnum is the manager of Mt Laurel Grocery.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about the business?
A: Well, we sell lots and lots of pop flowers and plants during the spring and throughout the summer. We have a delicious meat and three in the back that’s very busy. We have beef, chips and rice, chicken and dressing, country fried steak and hamburger steak. It’s delicious. That’s what a lot of people come out for. And then our plant business is really successful.
Q: How did you get involved with the business?
A: Okay, I have a picture of my 20-year-old twins on their fifth birthday back here at one of these tables. So they grew up in the store. The
owners are like my parents, and the day that we had to put my mother in a nursing home, I called Mr. Jim (Landreth). He’s like my dad, and I said, I need a job. I can’t sit at home. He said, come on. And so I’ve been working here ever since.
Q: What would your customers say they like about you?
A: The friendliness of the environment, the knowledge that we have of the plants and of the food, and how consistent we are with our food. We’re very consistent. It’s always delicious, and plants are always healthy. We take care of them like they’re our babies.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to talk about that might be interesting or unique about the business?
A: That it’s family owned, and it’s, you know, small business owners, and we’re all just like family.
Dyer Orthodontics: Doing good, one smile at a time
By CHRISTIANNA HORNIGOLD
For Dr. Riley Dyer, the journey into orthodontics began with a deeply personal experience.
“I grew up knowing I wanted to help people,” he said.
Inspired by his older brother — a physician — and his own experience with jaw surgery to correct an underbite, Dyer found his calling in orthodontics.
After years of commuting to Tuscaloosa, Dyer opened his own practice in Birmingham. Rooted in the motto “Do Good,” Dyer Orthodontics reflects a genuine commitment to patient care and community service. Their logo, “DO,” not only represents their name but serves as a daily reminder of their mission.
Through the “Do Good” movement, Dyer donates $50 to a community fund for each
patient. The fund helps cover a portion of treatment for those in need of financial support.
Additional funds are donated to local charities — selected by patient vote.
“We want everyone to leave a little happier than when they came in,” Dyer said. “You never know what people have going on, so we foster an environment that leaves people feeling joyful.”
Dyer said he values the personal connections built over time, often hearing about his patients’ lives throughout their treatment. His goal is to build lasting trust with families while staying actively involved in the community.
Dyer Orthodontics is currently offering a special for new patients: $600 off treatment during the first three months of opening.
For Dyer, the heart of orthodontics is simple: “I genuinely care about what I do and about helping people.”
Dr. Riley Dyer. Photo courtesy of Dyer Orthodontics.
Assem Al-Ashkar, owner of Jim ‘N Nick’s Greystone Sips and Bites
By STAFF
Assem Al-Ashkar owns the Jim ‘N Nick’s on U.S. 280.
Q: What is your favorite item on the menu and why?
A: My favorite menu item is our brisket. Jim ‘N Nick’s uses original rubs and hickory smoke to ensure that every bite is packed with flavor that melts in your mouth after being smoked around the clock. Pair it with our house-made barbecue sauces and classic sides like creamy mac and cheese, and you’ve got a meal that truly captures the heart of Southern barbecue.
Q: Anything new or upcoming that we should know?
A: We recently launched Carolina Mustard Sauce across all of our locations. The sauce strikes the perfect balance of tangy and sweet, with a hint of mild spice and a smooth, thick consistency. A true Southern barbecue staple, it adds just the right kick to elevate all of our meats.
Q: What is your favorite part about working in the industry?
A: I have always enjoyed the hospitality business, particularly the connections and relationships you get to build with your team members and guests — old and new. I like to live by the motto “every guest leaves happy.” It ensures that we are always serving
the best quality food and offering over-the-top hospitality.
Q: How’d you get started in the industry?
A: I took a break from college and started in the industry as a cook. From there, I worked every position in the restaurant, becoming manager within six months. It felt like a natural progression and truly part of my journey.
SPOTLIGHT
280 Living is spotlighting local restaurants in print and online. Submit your restaurant for consideration here: go.starnesmedia. com/restaurant-spotlight
Flying Biscuit Cafe offers Southern-themed cuisine with local ownership
By STAFF
The Flying Biscuit Cafe may be one of the fastest-growing chains in the region, but it prides itself on local ownership. The Birmingham location — at 3419 Colonnade Parkway, Suite 100 — is owned by two Spain Park High School graduates.
The chain offers signature Southern-inspired breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes.
The dine-in menu includes a variety of favorites such as shrimp and grits, buttermilk pancakes, eggs Benedict, chorizo hash, French toast, and the restaurant’s signature creamy grits and fluffy biscuits. Chicken and waffle dishes are also available. Vegetarian and vegan options include tofu scrambles and plant-based sausage.
The cafe’s catering menu is designed for workplace events and group gatherings, with flexible ordering options and individually packaged meals. Breakfast sandwiches, seasonal fruit trays, biscuits and gravy and blackened shrimp over cheddar grits are among the most requested items. Catering orders can be placed through EZCater or CaterEZ.
Founded in Atlanta in 1993, the cafe has grown to more than 30 locations across the
Southeast, with a focus on casual dining in a community-oriented setting. Each location features a colorful interior design and a menu centered around fresh ingredients and Southern flavors.
The Birmingham location is locally owned and operated by Morgan and Greg Yund, graduates of Spain Park and UAB. They opened the restaurant in 2019.
For more information or to place an order, call 205-500-0065 or visit flyingbiscuit.com.
Al-Ashkar
A dish at the Flying Biscuit Cafe. Photo courtesy of Flying Biscuit Cafe.
SPONSORED CONTENT
Graceful Aging wants to help you move with confidence
The American population is aging rapidly, meaning that more and more people are living longer. Many of these seniors are seeking ways to maintain their health and increase the quality of their lives.
One thing is certain — they must exercise regularly if they wish to age gracefully, keep their independence and maintain a great quality of life.
That’s where Graceful Aging comes in.
“Our slogan is ‘Age with grace. Move with confidence,’” says Sarah Brumfield, a Certified Fitness Trainer and the founder of Graceful Aging.
Graceful Aging offers top-quality, in-home training to seniors to help them improve strength, balance and flexibility, to reduce fall risk and to increase longevity.
Serving Mountain Brook, Vestavia, Homewood and Hoover, Graceful Aging provides seniors in with individualized fitness programs they can enjoy in their own homes with professional trainers.
One-on-one sessions with trainers "ensure proper techniques and reduce risk of injury, but also build relationships that improve social and mental well-being," Brumfield says. “Our programs are individualized based off each client’s health history, current functional status and personal goals.”
Following such a personalized program “is essential for living a happy and healthy life," Brumfield says.
Routine fitness can help improve mood and cognitive function and "reduce the onset or frequency of conditions associated with aging, such as heart disease, Type II diabetes and osteoporosis," she says. Brumfield is a certified personal trainer through the International Sports Sciences Association, specializing in senior fitness training, and is a licensed physical therapist assistant. A Mississippi native, she became a
physical therapist in 2005 and began helping seniors to regain their independence following injuries, surgeries and illness.
After 15 years of working in the recovery setting, Brumfield shifted her focus and found her true passion – preventative wellness and fall prevention.
“In working with seniors, I learned quickly just how detrimental a single fall could be,” she says. “Even for the fortunate few that do not sustain physical injuries from the first fall, the fear of recurring falls will lead to
Graceful Aging
• Call: 601-597-2442
• Web: gracefulagingbirmingham.com
increased risk of falling. The fear itself can steal the quality of life from the aging adult. With my knowledge and experience, I am confident I can reduce the risk of falls by teaching proper techniques and providing strength, flexibility and balance training.”
A resident of Mountain Brook, Brumfield moved to the Birmingham area with her family in 2019 and opened Graceful Aging in 2021.
Birmingham native Michele Smith is also a trainer with Graceful Aging. A certified personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, Smith has specializations in functional movement training, overall wellness and endurance and strength training.
“Don’t wait until you have a decline in function or a fall to make health your priority," Brumfield says.
Many Baby Boomers in the Birmingham area are getting that message, Brumfield says.
“Baby Boomers seem to be more health conscious than previous generations,” she says. “They value lifelong learning and thrive to stay strong, both mentally and physically.”
Graceful Aging offers one-on-one 50-minute sessions, a monthly hybrid fitness training package, 25-minute add-ons for assisted stretching and mobility and home assessments. All equipment is provided. For more information, call 601-597-2442 or go to gracefulagingbirmingham.com.
We believe your
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NEIGHBORHOOD: Chesser Reserve
LIST PRICE: $238,000
SALE PRICE: $230,000
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Plant Your Health
Are you looking to take up a new hobby that is also beneficial towards your overall health? You should consider gardening! Gardening has an abundance of benefits for you and your family’s overall health and wellbeing. This activity encourages time outside spent with nature, teaches you virtues such as patience and consistency, provides a creative outlet, increases your overall activity levels, and helps you build beautiful, delicious, and nutritious meals for everyone in your family to enjoy together. In this article, we will discuss some of the benefits gardening has to offer you and why you should consider it for your next healthy hobby!
One of the best perks of becoming a gardener is access to healthier foods! Growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs at home is an easy way to ensure your plants have less exposure to toxic chemicals and contaminants compared to items you purchase at your local grocery stores. Planting your own food allows you to control variables such as the type of soil and fertilizer used, what topical sprays are applied (if any!), and when they are picked for consumption. The majority of produce available at grocery
stores not only gets exposed to a variety of harmful chemicals and pesticides, but also requires transportation from various parts of the country and world. This allows for an increased risk of contamination from a variety of sources. Many people who garden are pleased to find that their homegrown produce is tastier than what they purchase in the store! Growing your own fruits and vegetables also means you get to pick it when it is ripe and ready to eat. Having a variety of fruits and vegetables at home can help you save money on your weekly grocery store trips and cook healthier meals for the entire family.
Gardening has more than one health benefit- it also requires physical activity! The act of preparing your gardening space and maintaining it over time allows you to participate in some moderate activity. This increase in your daily activity level can help improve your resting heart rate and lower your blood pressure. Think of gardening as an opportunity to multitaskyou can help build the foundation for a healthier diet all while creating a more active and healthier lifestyle for yourself! It may not seem like much, but activities such as digging, pouring soil, and picking
weeds all require time and effort. Moving your body helps decrease the amount of cortisol, the stress hormone, in your body. This will help you feel more relaxed and happy. This combined with daily walks and other movement or exercise can also boost your immune system.
Gardening is a very rewarding hobby that is also good for your mental health and wellbeing. Spending time outside in the sunshine can help naturally boost your mood by increasing your endorphin levels. Like other hobbies and skills, once you begin to see the results of hard work and patience, it is satisfying and creates a sense of accomplishment. Having the ability to grow your own food and sustain yourself and family creates a sense of independence and confidence. This is a great skill not only for adults but for children as well. This hobby can also require strategy and problem solving skills as you learn to work with environmental challenges in your region that may make growing particular fruits and vegetables more difficult. Gardening requires routine care and observation and is a unique way to teach children and even yourself about how positive daily habits and maintenance can lead to growth.
One benefit many do not consider when starting this hobby is the sense of community and belonging it can provide for you. Like other hobbies, many people are extremely passionate about their gardening and have been participating in the activity for decades. There are many local gardening clubs, groups, and organizations on social media sites where you can collaborate with other gardeners, ask for advice, and provide tips of your own. Being a part of a community with a common interest is a fantastic way to make friends and add positivity to your daily life. Here are a few beginner friendly tips for starting your own garden experience! First, start out small. The goal of gardening is to make a healthy and positive lifestyle change, and having too much on your plate can make it more stressful than beneficial. Start with two or three of your preferred produce items and a couple of herbs. You can always expand your garden over time. Next, be sure to do some research on what plants thrive in our area. For example, summer squash, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and okra tend to grow well within our region. Finally, make friends within the garden community, collaborate with them, and grow your gardens together!
REGIONS TRADITION
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DAVID MANNERS: DREAM COME TRUE
By age 10, David Manners had become a golf nut. Growing up in Laurel, Mississippi, where his dad managed the local Sears, Manners was more into baseball until a neighborhood friend got into golf and needed a partner.
By the next year, Manners was riding his bike three miles across a highway, towing his clubs behind him to the Laurel Country Club.
“It was funny because we lived not real close, but not real far from the Laurel Country Club, and my dad was gracious enough to join the club,” Manners said. “I remember many a day, especially in the summer, riding my bike, carrying my clubs on a pull cart from the house to the golf course. I would stay there all day and play.”
The family later moved to Fort Walton Beach, where Manners played at the same course where Edwin Watts — founder of a national golf retail chain — had worked. Manners stuck with baseball and basketball until college, when he walked on to the golf team at Auburn University.
He moved to Birmingham in 1981 to sell insurance, started a family in Hoover and one day saw a report — though he can’t quite recall where — about a new golf tournament coming to town and looking for volunteers.
“I just couldn’t believe how great that was,” Manners said. “When I first moved to Birmingham, the only place to play, unless you were a member of a country club, was Oak Mountain State Park. We didn’t have the Robert Trent Jones facilities or Bent Brook or Timberline like we do now. To have the PGA Tour — or in this case, the Champions Tour — come to Birmingham was a dream come true.”
GENE HALLMAN: LEAP OF FAITH
Gene Hallman came to Birmingham in 1991 as a 31-year-old with an MBA and five years of corporate experience. After reading a Sports Illustrated article about Mark McCormack — founder of IMG and one of the most powerful figures in sports — Hallman was inspired to pursue a job in the industry.
“I sent out about 500 resumes, and one landed on the desk of Ronnie and Angelo Bruno, who at the time were running Bruno’s Supermarkets and were starting a Senior PGA Tour event,” Hallman said.
“I’d quit my job, moved home with my parents at age 30, and was borrowing money from friends to chase this dream. I’d only been to Birmingham once before, for the 1990 PGA Championship. I didn’t know a soul. But I got the job on the spot.”
He was named director of the inaugural Bruno’s Memorial Classic, which launched in 1992.
“There were just four of us — a sales director, ops director, volunteer coordinator and me — working out of a small office off U.S. 280 in Meadow Brook,” Hallman said. “None of us had much tournament experience, but the community was incredibly supportive. The crowds were enormous that first year, and we knew it was going to be something special.”
Then came a game-changing moment.
On Oct. 6, 1993, NBA superstar Michael Jordan — coming off three consecutive championships — shocked the world by retiring. He
Regions Tradition
► Where: Greystone Golf & Country Club, 4100 Greystone Drive
► When: May 14-18
► Web: For tickets and more information, go to regionstradition.com
soon announced he was going to play baseball for the Birmingham Barons, the AA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.
Hallman, always looking for big names for the Bruno’s pro-am, now had a golden opportunity.
“The third year, when fate brought Michael Jordan to town, he only did one thing outside his Barons commitments — and that was play in our pro-am, alongside Charles Barkley,” Hallman said. “That took the tournament to a whole new level.”
The tournament had already become meaningful to the Bruno family, even as tragedy struck early on.
At the original press conference in December 1991 at Greystone Golf & Country Club, Hallman stood alongside Angelo and Ronnie Bruno. Less than a week later, Angelo Bruno, vice chairman Lee Bruno and several company leaders died in a plane crash on Lavender Mountain near Rome, Georgia.
“I have a photo from that original press conference, with the logo ‘Bruno’s Classic,’ and six days later we renamed it the Bruno’s Memorial Classic,” Hallman said. “Charity became an even bigger part of the event because the Bruno family was so philanthropic.”
DAVID McELROY: CHARITY BEGINS AT HOLE 1
The charitable side of the tournament is what first drew David McElroy of Hoover to volunteer.
“My mother worked at St. Vincent’s, and they said they needed volunteers. I signed up because one of the main charities was Children’s of Alabama,” he said.
McElroy’s motivation was personal. His daughter, Amy, had been born with VATER syndrome, a complex set of congenital conditions.
“She was born without an esophagus between vertebrae two and seven. She couldn’t digest food normally. She had to have a gastrostomy, a tethered spinal cord, an imperforate anus, a displaced hip — 38 surgeries at Children’s Hospital,” McElroy said. “She was a joy. A miracle baby.”
Amy lived until 2022, and her legacy motivates McElroy to keep volunteering.
“She was an absolute fighter in every way. This tournament is now the largest fundraiser for Children’s Hospital,” he said. “If you ever need it, you’re dang glad it’s here.”
Hallman said the tournament has now raised more than $21 million for charity, with Children’s of Alabama as the primary beneficiary.
ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
Manners, Hallman and McElroy have each played different roles through the years, but the tournament has left an impact on all of them.
For Hallman, it launched a career in sports event management.
“The support from the community was so overwhelming,” Hallman said. “It led to new opportunities and eventually to forming Eventive Sports, which is now owned by Troon — a global company with 35,000 employees. We went from a staff of four in ’91 to 70 or 80 employees worldwide.”
For Manners, it’s about lifelong friendships.
“I’ve built lasting friendships with volunteers I’ve worked with since the beginning,”
he said. “We catch up every year like no time has passed.”
McElroy remembers what Ronnie Bruno told volunteers at their first marshals meeting.
“He thanked us for volunteering and even paying for our uniforms,” McElroy said. “Because of what we’ve done, this whole tournament is for charity. I challenge anyone who’s been out there to say they didn’t have a good time.”
From left: Michael Jordan, Ronnie Bruno, Charles Barkley and Gene Hallman at Greystone Golf & Country Club.
Photos courtesy of Regions Tradition.
Nick Saban poses with patients at Children’s of Alabama. A portion of the tournament’s proceeds go to the hospital.
Above: Randy Owen, Bob Hope and Charley Boswell at the tournament when it was known as the Bruno’s Memorial Classic.
Left: Crowds at the Regions Tradition at Shoal Creek Club.
Below: Gene Hallman, right, and Chi Chi Rodriguez enjoy a refreshment at the Bruno’s Memorial Classic.
Left: An unidentified golfer putts at the golf tournament when it was known as the Bruno’s Memorial Classic.
Below: Crowds gather at the Bruno’s Memorial Classic at Greystone Golf & Country Club in the early 2000s.
CLASS OF 2025
CONTINUED from page A1
Seniors at high schools in the U.S. 280 corridor have lived through lockdowns, digital classrooms and a redefined sense of normal on their way to graduation.
“This graduating class has lived through a lot of change,” said Birmingham-area clinical psychologist Josh Klapow. “They’ve shown an incredible amount of flexibility and adaptation — tested since birth.”
DIGITAL LIFE AND DISCONNECTION
For many students, growing up in a fully connected world has shaped how they communicate, interact, and set boundaries — online and in real life.
“Older generations think Gen Z has an attitude — we’re just setting boundaries,” said Spain Park senior Javairia Jehangir. “Face-toface conversations are so much better than digital. You can’t really note people’s tones or how they feel.”
A 2024 UNC study found about 1 in 5 college students still feel isolated — a pattern researchers say often starts in high school when social media replaces real connection.
Spain Park senior Erissa Lusian said older generations often underestimate today’s teens.
“I think this generation is a lot more than what the older generation may believe,” Lusian said. “They don’t always see how much kindness or creativity exists in us — even if we use different language to express it.”
PANDEMIC AND ACADEMIC IMPACT
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted classroom routines, erased key academic milestones and forced students into real isolation during a critical point in their development. For many in the Class of 2025, those early high school or late middle school years were shaped as much by missed learning as by the experience of returning to a world that wasn’t quite the same.
A 2024 report found students have regained about a third of pandemic-era losses in math and a quarter in reading — though progress has been slowest for older students nearing graduation.
Chelsea senior Ava Wilson said she learned not to take things for granted.
“Being home for so long, I was grateful I had a good family I was stuck in the house with,” Wilson said. “And I was grateful I had a school system that was trying to help my education.”
Still, she admits that some academic gaps remain.
“There is stuff I’m noticing — like seventh-grade math — I didn’t learn enough of that,” Wilson said.
Chelsea senior Madi Claire Sims said that while she missed out on cheer competitions during middle school, she felt fortunate that her high school years were mostly uninterrupted.
“It wasn’t as hard on us as it was for people older than us,” she said. “In middle school, I missed out on competitions, but in high school, I didn’t have to miss out on anything. I got to cheer Friday nights, go to football games — all the big moments.”
Spain Park senior Miria Babi said she remembers the anxiety of stepping into high school after a fully virtual eighth-grade year.
“I didn’t know what to expect. I was so anxious but excited at the same time,” Babi said.
As high school unfolded, she noticed something deeper.
“With online school and Zoom, it was easier to hide how you were really doing,” she said. “It made me feel like school was something I was doing at home, not part of my life. It took a while to reconnect.”
Chelsea senior Jackson Kalnoske believes the Class of 2025 represents a new kind of normal.
“We were the first class to really experience how COVID affected high school — without it still being a prominent thing in life,” he said.
FACING THE AI FUTURE
As the Class of 2025 graduates, they step into a future shaped by the rise of artificial intelligence.
Spain Park senior Tracy Li said AI is already influencing how she thinks about career choices.
“If it was a job AI could replace, I wouldn’t be interested in it anyway,” Li said. “I think AI can certainly do things, but music, for example — you can usually tell when a song has been done by AI, and it sounds funny. If you’re a fan of an artist, you feel what they feel, and I don’t think AI can take that away.”
Classroom Tech
From AI to VR, the Class of 2025 has experienced technological leaps and bounds in the classroom. Explore some of the advancements in education technology from 2013 to today.
2013-15: RISE OF EDTECH PLATFORMS
Graduation Schedule
► Chelsea High School: Tuesday, May 20, 2 p.m. at Pete Hanna Center, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Homewood
► Spain Park High School: Wednesday, May 21, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, Homewood
► Oak Mountain High School: Thursday, May 22, 6-8 p.m. at Bartow Arena, UAB, 617 13th St. S.
► Briarwood Christian School: Thursday, May 22, 6:30 p.m. at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, 2200 Briarwood Way
Chelsea senior Thomas Miller said AI still lacks the spark of originality. “AI can generate art, but it pulls from other sources and lacks real creativity,” he said. “That’s concerning.”
Sims said her generation may actually be more ready for what’s coming than people expect.
“We really know how to work it all,” she said. “Especially going through school with ChatGPT — we know how it works and are very comfortable with it. I think it’ll be good for us.”
By 2030, 30% of U.S. working hours could be automated — up from 21% before generative AI, according to McKinsey researcher Michael Chui.
While AI is a growing tool in education, University of Alabama at Birmingham Admissions Director Andrew Colson said it doesn’t replace a human voice.
“AI should be an editor, not the author,” said Colson. “We need to hear the student’s voice.”
RESILIENCE AND IDENTITY
As high school ends and a new chapter begins, many students are reflecting on who they’ve become — and who they hope to be.
“We’ve followed a set pattern for so long. Now that I’m moving out, I want to see change in myself — and I think I’ll understand me better,” said Jehangir.
Babi said her class has faced quiet pressures that aren’t always visible.
“I think we’ve put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect — to be academically great, socially active, do clubs, sports and look a certain way online,” she said. “It’s a lot, honestly. I think some people don’t realize how hard we try.”
Spain Park senior Micah Breland said one word defines the Class of 2025: passionate.
“We’re a class that’s been through a lot — and
we still show up, still go hard for what we care about,” Breland said.
LOOKING AHEAD
Spain Park senior Sofia Contreras said the excitement of graduation comes with anxiety too.
“It’s kind of scary moving out and living by yourself,” Contreras said. “But I think we’ve learned to adapt — we kind of had no choice.”
Sims said she’ll never forget cheering on Friday nights during her school’s winning football season.
“That was monumental,” she said. “Seeing the community come together like that — it was just special.”
When asked to define her class in one phrase, she didn’t hesitate: “A big family. We come together when we need each other.”
Klapow, the clinical psychologist, said students graduating this year can take comfort in knowing they’ve shared a journey unlike any other.
“The challenges and experiences that many of these kids have gone through will be something they look back on in years to come — and it will be unique to their generation,” he said. “They can say, ‘We lived through a global pandemic,’ or, ‘We used smartphones for everything.’ Everyone comes from different backgrounds, but what connects this class is they all faced the same defining moments at the same time.”
Starnes Media Creator Collective student journalists Daniela Maria Sollano and Leyton McCarn of Spain Park High School and Luke Miller of Chelsea High School contributed to this report. Check out more of their interviews with members of the Class of 2025 at 280living.com.
► Chromebooks gain popularity in U.S. schools due to low cost and easy integration with Google services.
► Google Classroom launched in 2014, rapidly adopted across K-12 and higher education, streamlining teacher-student workflows.
► MinecraftEdu (later renamed Minecraft: Education Edition) promotes game-based learning and creativity in classrooms
► Virtual reality starts entering education with basic applications like Google Cardboard.
► ClassDojo sees major adoption for classroom behavior management and parent-teacher communication.
► Flipgrid becomes widely used for student voice and video-based learning.
► Microsoft Teams for Education launches, offering another collaborative platform with learning management system features.
► Augmented reality tools like Merge Cube and HP Reveal enter classrooms for immersive science and history lessons.
► Growing focus on STEM/STEAM curricula, supported by tools like Tynker and Scratch 3.0 (beta in 2018).
2019-21: REMOTE LEARNING AND MASSIVE CHANGE
► Increased adoption of AI writing and grading assistants, like Grammarly.
► Schools explore data privacy laws — COPPA and FERPA — amid rising tech use.
► Massive global shift to remote learning in 2020 due to COVID-19.
► Surge in use of platforms like Zoom and Google Meet.
► Equity gaps become a major focus: device access, internet access and digital literacy challenges exposed.
► EdTech investments skyrocket, with companies like Byju’s, Outschool and Coursera growing rapidly.
2022-25: AI INTEGRATION AND FUTURE SKILLS
► Widespread experimentation with AI tutors and writing tools (e.g., ChatGPT, released late 2022).
► Teachers begin using AI for lesson planning, grading and differentiation.
► Generative AI gains momentum: ChatGPT piloted in classrooms.
► Discussions around AI ethics, plagiarism and digital literacy explode in K-12 and higher ed.
► AR/VR adoption grows in high school science, history and arts.
► AI copilots integrated into learning management systems.
► National and state-level policies begin shaping the ethical use of AI in education.
► Game-based learning and immersive simulations become more common with platforms like Roblox Education and CoSpaces.
Javairia Jehangir
Erissa Lusian
Thomas Miller
Madi Claire Sims
Jackson Kalnoske
Tracy Li
Miria Babi
Sofia Contreras
Ava Wilson
Micah Breland
Johnna Barnes looks to take community involvement to the next level with council bid
By TAYLOR BRIGHT
For Johnna Barnes, the 2022 vote in Chelsea on whether to establish its own school system was a turning point.
Barnes, who grew up in Westover and has lived in Chelsea her entire adult life, has driven a bus for Shelby County Schools since 1995. She had been active raising her children — but hadn’t been as involved in the community as she is now.
Three years ago, Chelsea was deciding whether to set up a new school system. The move would have required breaking away from Shelby County Schools and raising new revenue to fund the effort.
“It kind of sparked something in me to not just sit around and observe everything that was going on in our community, but to be more involved,” Barnes said.
The contentious campaign that followed was unlike anything the city had seen — and the effort to separate ultimately failed. But the experience motivated Barnes to get involved on the side that supported staying in the Shelby County Schools system.
“I walked out of there that night in tears because I thought, oh my gosh, we made a difference,” she said. “I want to be a part. I want to be an informed part, not somebody who sits on the sidelines.”
To stay active, Barnes joined the Citizen Observer Patrol — an all-volunteer group that assists the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in Chelsea.
“I wanted to be more involved,” Barnes said.
“I just wanted to be able to give back something, rather than just sit and be somebody that said, ‘Oh, I love our community, and I think it’s great,’ you know, but I’m gonna sit here and do nothing.”
COP volunteers drive in pairs throughout the city, checking for unusual activity, reporting concerns to dispatch and assisting with traffic during accidents or storms.
“We are not police officers,” she said. “We just basically make our presence known to try and help the community feel safer. We go out at night and patrol when that had not been done in several years. We’re just being helpful to them.”
Barnes also serves as a trainer for new recruits.
“There’s four that actually goes out and can train a new recruit,” she said.
Each new member completes a background check and several ride-alongs before being approved for independent patrols.
“Driving a bus is just part of who I am,” she said. “I call them my kids, because that’s how I feel about them.”
After decades of watching Chelsea grow, Barnes said she’s ready for a new challenge: a run for City Council, Place 1 — the same seat once held by her husband, Robert.
“I thought, how cool it would be if I could get elected to the same place that he did back a few years ago.”
For Barnes, community involvement has become a calling.
“You can allow everybody to come in and change your communities. But … have a vision of what you would like Chelsea to become,” she said. “That’s what motivated me.”
- Benny H.
Johnna Barnes, receives recognition for her work with the Chelsea Citizen Observer Patrol.
Photo courtesy of Johnna Barnes.
LifeCare Solutions Joins Medicare GUIDE Model
LifeCare Solutions (LifeCare for Seniors, LLC), is proud to announce its selection by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to participate in the innovative Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model, a new Medicare benefit aimed at improving care and support for people living with dementia and their caregivers.
LifeCare Solutions (LCS) is one of almost 400 participants building Dementia Care Programs (DCPs) across the country. As one of only three approved programs in the state of Alabama, LCS is working to increase care coordination and improve access to services and supports, including respite care, for people living with dementia and their caregivers. LCS will offer the GUIDE Model in 57 of Alabama’s counties from Cullman to the Gulf Coast. The initiative is a part of CMS’s broader efforts to reshape care for dementia patients, ensuring that more individuals can remain in their homes and communities.
A New Era of Dementia Care
The GUIDE Model, which will launch on July 1, 2025, represents a transformative approach to Medicare’s payment structure for dementia-related services. The GUIDE Model will test a new payment approach for key supportive services for people living with dementia, including:
• Comprehensive, person-centered assessments and care plans
• Care coordination
• 24/7 access to a care team member or help line
• Respite services to support caregivers
People with dementia and their caregivers will have the assistance and support of a Care Manager to help them access clinical and non-clinical services such as meals and transportation through community-based organizations.
“We are thrilled to be part of the new program track for the GUIDE Model in 2025,” said Christy Baynes, Founder & CEO. “Our goal is to expand our services, improve care coordination, and provide essential support to Alabamians living with dementia
and their families. This innovative program opens up new opportunities for us to strengthen our community and provide better outcomes for people with dementia and their caregivers.”
CMS Weighs In
In announcing LifeCare Solutions’ participation in the GUIDE Model, CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership:
“CMS is excited to partner with LifeCare Solutions under the GUIDE Model. GUIDE is a new approach to how Medicare will pay for the care of people living with dementia. The GUIDE participants are envisioning new ways to support not only people living with dementia, but also to reduce strain on the people who care for them, so that more Americans can remain in their homes and communities, rather than in institutions.”
Lifecare Solutions: A Legacy of Personalized Care
For LCS, this partnership marks a significant milestone in its mission to enhance care for dementia patients and provide valuable support to their caregivers. LCS, the state’s premier Concierge Care Management service, has been serving the Central Alabama area since 2012, helping individuals navigate complex health needs with personalized, hands-on care. LCS has built a reputation for its commitment to improving the well-being of its clients, and now, through the GUIDE Model, they are excited to extend that same high-quality care to a new and deserving population people living with dementia and their caregivers—at no charge
With the approval of the GUIDE Model, LCS is proud to welcome new core team members who will play a crucial role in the successful implementation of this innovative program. In December 2024, we were thrilled to add Dr. Andrew Duxbury as our Medical Director, alongside Chaeli Lawson, MSN, CRNP, AGPCNP-BC, who joins us as our Chief Clinical Officer. Their expertise, compassion, and dedication to excellence are invaluable assets to our team. Their addition further strengthens our ongoing mission to provide comprehensive and compassionate care to the individuals we serve.
LCS will be able to offer an array of training and support programs for caregivers, teaching best practices for managing the challenges of dementia care. The respite services offered under the GUIDE Model will be particularly beneficial for un-paid caregivers, allowing them temporary breaks to rest and recharge— ultimately helping them continue their caregiving roles without burnout. LCS is building strategic partnerships with adult day cares, respite programs, caregiving agencies, faith-based organizations, senior residential communities and state agencies to deliver respite care and resources.
For more information about the CMS GUIDE Model, visit our website at www.LCSCareSolutions.com/guide or call us at (205) 848-8400 and ask about GUIDE.
On The Move: Our First Ride
By Allen Baynes, CFO of LifeCare Solutions
HOW WE GOT STARTED
It is funny how ideas for expansion come to you. At LifeCare Solutions (LCS), we often receive calls for services helping seniors in the Central Alabama area. Most calls are for our primary service, Care Management, where we consult with families and help them navigate the challenges of complex care and aging. We also assist with other issues, such as making home safety changes or providing meaningful interaction and companionship through our Bridge team. Sometimes, we get calls for services that we do not provide. One of these is caregiving. We prefer to refer caregiving services to many of our great partners throughout Central Alabama.
Another service frequently requested by our community was wheelchair transportation. As we brainstormed to meet this need, our nephew, Will Baynes, a recent Auburn University graduate, was helping us with client moves while looking for his first job. This got us thinking…How could we find a way to use his skill set to help us on a permanent basis? That is when we decided to start our sister company—LCS On The Move. Our mission is to provide safe, reliable, and compassionate non-emergency medical transportation services for both wheelchair and ambulatory individuals!
LCS On The Move also provides senior moving services, assisting families as they transition their loved one from their home to a retirement community or as they downsize. We handle every detail. All our clients need to do is show up.
OUR WHY
Not only did we recognize the need for reliable wheelchair-accessible transportation for our community, but we also understood it personally. My sister, Mary Lynn Baynes, was battling a neurological disease that had taken away her ability to walk. During her two-year journey she became wheelchair-bound and did not have a vehicle to get to doctor’s appointments, church, family events, or her favorite pastime—watching her nieces and nephews at their dance competitions and sporting events. She hated to miss these occasions but would follow along from home on online.
In November 2024, LCS On The Move was open for business. We were eager to get started but wanted to make sure everything was in place to provide a first-class experience for our clients. We knew we had a win-win opportunity, because we could take Mary Lynn to do the things she loved while we learned how to deliver the best service for our riders. Our first ride was taking Mary Lynn to see her nephew, Mason, play his last junior varsity football game at Mountain Brook. It was a great evening for our family! The game didn’t turn out the way we wanted, but that didn’t matter. Our family had an opportunity to share this special time with Mary Lynn. She loved every minute of it as she cheered on Mason and all his teammates—many who she had watched for many years. Over the next few weeks, she was able to go and do the things she
loved. This included a day at the lake and her opportunity to vote in the November election.
What we didn’t know the night of the game was that this would be Mary Lynn’s last ride to see Mason play. Mary Lynn lost her battle with the progressive disease on November 23, 2024. Gone was a great daughter, sister, friend, and without a doubt, the favorite aunt of the family. Gone was the favorite aesthetician in town, who not only gave teenagers great skincare service but also someone they could talk to as they dealt with the ups and downs of being a teenager. Gone was the person who would beat you in a board game and made you like it.
As we mourned our loss, we reflected on what she taught us: We should cherish the time we have with those we love. As a company, we also realized this is a lot bigger than just getting someone from point A to point B. We know each ride can hold profound significance—whether it’s a trip to a doctor’s appointment, or a chance to attend a special family event or an activity. We strive to provide the highest level of care and comfort with every journey, ensuring our passengers feel supported, valued, and safe, no matter the purpose of their ride. In other words, we will run our business just as Mary Lynn cared for her clients, friends, and family—by excelling at what we do while also offering compassion.
Our first ride: Mary Lynn Baynes attends her nephew’s football game.
The LCS ON THE MOVE team is ready to ride!
Community calendar
CHELSEA SPLASH PAD OPENING DAY
► Where: Melrose Park Playground & Splashpad, 11101 Chelsea Road, Chelsea
► When: May 3
► Call: 205-677-7040
► Details: The Chelsea Splash Pad opens for the season! Located at Melrose Park, the recreation area features a splash pad, playground, picnic tables and public restrooms. A perfect spot for family fun with swings, shaded seating and summer vibes all around.
HIGHLANDS TO
► Where: Oak Mountain Interpretive Center, Pelham
► When: May 10, 2 p.m.
► Call: 205-620-2520
► Cost: Adults $5, children and seniors $2
► Details: Enjoy a history lesson on the influence of Scottish and Irish cultures on Appalachian arts, music, food and more. This free presentation (with paid entry to Oak Mountain State Park) explores ancient traditions still alive in the region today. Presented by Oak Mountain State Park.
CHELSEA BUSINESS ALLIANCE QUARTERLY LUNCHEON
► Where: Chelsea Community Center, Chelsea
► When: May 13, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
► Web: shelbychamber.org
► Cost: $20 per person
► Details: The second quarterly meeting of the Chelsea Business Alliance, an affiliate of The Shelby County Chamber, includes networking and lunch. Please RSVP to Kirk Mancer at kirk@shelbychamber.org by noon Friday, May 9, to help coordinate with the caterer.
NATIONAL LOVE A TREE DAY: PRESENTATION AND SITE VISIT
► Where: Oak Mountain Interpretive Center and Peavine Parking Lot, Pelham
► When: May 16, 4:30 p.m.
► Call: 205-620-2520
► Cost: Free with park admission
► Details: Celebrate National Love a Tree Day with a presentation on the rare and endangered Alabama sandstone oak, followed by a guided site visit. Oak Mountain State Park hosts the largest population of this ancient oak. Register ahead to pay gate fees online.
► Visit our online calendar at 280living.com for more events.
NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP
► Where: Oak Mountain State Park, Pelham
► When: May 16–18
► Web: xterraplanet.com
► Details: The award-winning trails of Oak Mountain State Park host one of the biggest events on the 2025 calendar. This three-day festival features Stop No. 4 of the XTERRA World Cup, live-broadcast Short Track racing, the 2025 North American Championship and the inaugural Youth North American Championship. Expect food, music and a vibrant outdoor community atmosphere. SONS DONUTS + POPS THE POOL
PARKING LOT
► Where: Chelsea Park Pool Parking Lot, 9013 Chelsea Park Trail, Chelsea
► When: May 17, 7:30–10:30 a.m.
Details: Start your Saturday morning with treats from Sons Donuts + Pops, set up at the Chelsea Park Pool parking lot. A great way to enjoy breakfast and community fun!
►
KYNDLE MINTER @ CAT-N-BIRD WINERY
► Where: Cat-n-Bird Winery, 11661 Old Highway 280, Chelsea
► When: May 31, 1–4 p.m.
► Web: cat-n-bird.com
► Details: Enjoy live music in a beautiful winery setting with a performance by singer-songwriter Kyndle Minter. Relax with friends, sip your favorite wine and kick back for an afternoon of entertainment at one of Chelsea’s favorite venues.
COMMISSION
5299 Valleydale Road Suite 111 Birmingham, AL 35242 (two blocks from 280) 205-980-9030
www.southeasternjewelers.net
Valleydale Farmers Market ready to grow
Local vendors, fresh produce, community connections fuel the market’s expanding Saturday tradition
By TAYLOR BRIGHT
Felder Davis, market manager at the Valleydale Farmers Market, has seen a lot in his 10 years with the market. Now, he’s watching it grow.
Davis, who first joined as a bread vendor, has overseen operations for more than a decade.
“Our hope is to kind of build community inside of the community,” he said.
The market is open each Saturday morning from Memorial Day through Labor Day in the parking lot of Faith Presbyterian Church, located at 4601 Valleydale Road. It has been a staple in the community for nearly 15 years.
As expected, the market offers a variety of fresh produce — but Davis recommends arriving early for a few popular items.
“If they want red tomatoes or peaches, typically, those sell out pretty quick when they first start coming in,” Davis said.
The market isn’t just about produce. It has expanded over the years to include a wide range of local goods.
“Last year we added a seafood vendor, so they bring up fresh seafood from the Gulf Coast,” Davis said. “And then we’ve got a great baker. We had somebody coming with authentic egg rolls that were frozen — you could take them home. We try to
keep the selection changing, but we’ve got chicken and eggs. Last year we added pork. If somebody is looking for something, we try to add that.”
The market also features honey from Hokes Bluff.
“Some of the best honey I’ve ever had,” Davis said. “We went two years without a honey vendor, and one of the patrons came up and was like, ‘Hey, I got you a honey vendor.’ So we’ve been using them since.”
The market runs from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.
“We try to keep the selection changing,” Davis said, noting that one grower was even featured in The New York Times for his black-eyed peas.
The artisan side of the market is equally active, with offerings that rotate weekly. Shoppers can often find fresh breads, jellies, jams and handmade goods.
“Sometimes we’ll have jewelry. We’ve got somebody coming this year with fresh flowers,” Davis said. A local artist frequently attends, sometimes offering art activities for kids.
While most artisans are from Shelby County, the farmers travel from surrounding areas — including Chilton County, Shorter near Tuskegee and Hayden.
The market has faced some challenges. Parking became limited due to construction at the church.
“We had to move for a week or two just because of the parking spaces,” Davis said.
The market is still accepting new vendors, though space may be limited this year. Davis said early spring could bring strawberries, and even after Labor Day, some vendors stick around to sell fall produce.
“We’ve started growing,” he said.
For updates, follow the market on Facebook at facebook.com/valleydalefarmersmarket or on Instagram @valleydalefarmersmarket.
Carnel, MD
Christopher S. Carter, MD
Elbow, Foot & Ankle, Hand & Wrist, Hip, Knee, Shoulder
Emily Bell Casey, MD
Elbow, Foot & Ankle, Hand & Wrist, Hip, Knee, Shoulder
Rachel G. Henderson, MD
Elbow, Foot & Ankle, Hand & Wrist, Hip, Knee, Shoulder
José (Jody) O. Ortega, MD
Elbow, Foot & Ankle, Hand & Wrist, Hip, Knee, Shoulder
Wayne McGough, Jr., MD
Arthroscopy, Elbow, Knee, Shoulder
Peaches at the Valleydale Farmers Market. Photo courtesy of Felder Davis.
Hornets seniors lead program revival
By KYLE PARMLEY
The vision Scott Lowery had when he took over the Chelsea High School softball program last year is beginning to unfold.
Lowery has been direct in his expectations — aiming to return the Hornets to consistent state tournament contention. Chelsea has two softball state championships, but sustained postseason success has been elusive.
He’s hopeful that’s about to change — and this year’s senior class is a big reason why.
Sydney Carroll, Katie Hopson, Emma Parmley, Allie Scott and Alaysha Crews are closing out their careers with a drive to make something memorable happen.
“We’ve worked really hard,” said Carroll, a Mississippi State signee.
“I’m excited to see where we end up.”
Parmley and Hopson are committed to Marion Military Institute, Crews is headed to Snead State, and Scott — who had offers — is choosing to attend North Alabama as a student.
“The team chemistry is the best it’s ever been and it really shows on the field,” Scott said.
Crews said she’s encouraged by the team’s ability to sustain its early-season momentum. Hopson said they’re firing on all cylinders, and Parmley has seen players take more ownership of the team’s success.
Carroll and Scott — both multisport athletes — didn’t join the team until March after a run to the state championship in basketball. The other three seniors have been with Lowery through the school year.
“We’ve put in a lot of work. I’m hard on them — and they’ve responded, physically and mentally,” Lowery said. “They’ve had talent.
They just didn’t know how to utilize it to their fullest potential or believe in themselves.”
That self-belief is something Lowery’s been working to instill — and he credits the basketball team’s success for helping bring that mindset over to the diamond, especially in players like Carroll, Scott and junior Caroline Brown.
There were signs of life last spring. Chelsea finished strong and made a push in the area tournament, even though they didn’t advance.
“We’ve put in a lot of work … They’ve had talent. They just didn’t know how to utilize it to their fullest potential or believe in themselves.
SCOTT LOWERY
”to the state tournament — and the players are starting to believe it, too.
“You hear questions like, ‘Where do we play regionals?’ and ‘When is state?’” Lowery said. Chelsea notched its 20th win of the season on April 3. To keep the postseason run alive, the Hornets will have to navigate a tough area featuring Spain Park, Helena and Pelham.
If they do, regionals are set for May 7–8 in Montgomery, with the state tournament following in Oxford.
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“They flipped the script — got over that hump and finished strong the last part of last year,” Lowery said.
Now? The expectation is higher. Lowery believes this team can return
“They’re good players — but they’re good people, too,” Lowery said. “They’re excellent students and teammates. They believe in something bigger than themselves, and they’ve done a great job holding each other accountable at a high level.”
We are here in your neighborhood at Greenvale PediatricsBrook Highland. Call 205-995-1004 to schedule an appointment.
Above: Alaysha Crews (27) pitches during a game between Chelsea and Oak Mountain on April 2 at Oak Mountain High School.
Right: Katie Hopson (25) hits the ball.
Below: Sydney Carroll (31) bats.
Photos by Kyle Parmley.
Lions soccer putting it all together
By KYLE PARMLEY
The Briarwood Christian School boys soccer team is beginning to see the results from all the hard work, the tough days and the years of struggle.
The Lions won Class 6A, Area 8, in an intensely competitive area with Chelsea, Pelham and Spain Park. A difficult area is nothing new for Briarwood, but the Lions have chosen not to make excuses and now find themselves at the top of the heap entering the playoffs.
It hasn’t been roses from the start. An 0-3 beginning to the season was a “wake-up call” for Cam Harrington and the rest of the Lions. That wake-up call led to them winning 14 of the next 15 matches through April 9.
“It really pans out if you work for it,” Harrington said.
Sawyer Felton said the team knew how much potential it had, and remaining locked in at practice and staying positive with teammates helped get things on track quickly.
Those 14 match wins were far from a fluke.
Following the end of last season, head coach Mike Bautista sat with the rising seniors and asked them what they wanted for their final season. The collective group told Bautista to build the toughest schedule possible.
“The idea is to prepare us for the playoffs,” Bautista said. “It just shows that these seniors have come a long way. These guys have gone through the ranks.”
Outside of area play, the Lions faced off against the likes of Thompson, Mountain Brook, Homewood, Bayside Academy and others.
Beating Mountain Brook 1-0 on March 11 was a first for the Lions — one of several eye-opening moments for Briarwood so far this season.
“It gives us so much confidence as a team,” Carson Tucker said of that win.
Briarwood also prevailed in penalty kicks, 5-4, against Pelham on March 7. The Lions and Panthers have gone to PKs twice in recent years, with Pelham coming out on top.
“The things that didn’t go right in the last three years are going right in our final year,” Harrington said.
Felton is soaking in all the moments that have made this team special, as the Lions attempt to make one final push for glory this spring.
“It’s really special to play for a team that
cares about each other, and that’s going to go out and win the ball for each other, not themselves,” he said.
Entering the season, there were questions for the Lions regarding midfield positions. There have been injuries and other obstacles to overcome, but what has resulted is a versatile team that has built trust with one another.
“It’s so interchangeable. We have so much consistency as far as quality goes,” Tucker said.
This year’s team has 11 seniors — four of them playing on varsity since eighth grade and a few others moving up to varsity in ninth grade.
Don’t stop thinking about
“The guys have grown, they’ve worked hard, and this is the deepest team we’ve ever had,” Bautista said.
The Lions are determined not to look ahead and to finish strong for this storied group of seniors. Tucker said the team is focused on “going one game at a time.”
Harrington added, “Living in the moment, taking it one game at a time, is what you have to do.”
“We just have to prove to ourselves that we’re worthy of going all the way this year,” Felton said.
Above: Briarwood’s Cameron Harrington (8) kicks the ball during a game against Montgomery Academy on April 4 at Briarwood High School. Right: Carson Tucker (4) heads the ball in the same game. Photos by Richard Force.
Under the Lights
ROBERT STARR NOTCHES 400TH WIN
The Spain Park High School girls soccer team is in the midst of another outstanding season, and the wins have continued to pile up for the Jags. In a 3-2 win over Oak Mountain on April 1, head coach Robert Starr earned his 400th career win in what has been an illustrious career to this point.
The Jags have won five state championships during his tenure, which dates back to 2001. Spain Park will look to keep the momentum going into the Class 6A playoffs. The Jags will need to win three playoff games to return to the state final four in Huntsville on May 8 and 10.
SARAH ASHLEE BARKER CAPS COLLEGE CAREER, ENTERS PRO CAREER
Sarah Ashlee Barker recently concluded an outstanding career with the University of Alabama women’s basketball program. The former Spain Park Jag played two seasons at Georgia before spending the last three years at Alabama. She scored 45 points in her final game for the Crimson Tide, a double-overtime loss in the NCAA Tournament.
The Hoover native was invited to the WNBA Draft, and she was select ed ninth overall by the Los Angeles Sparks.
THREE-SPORT STAR NAMED TO AWARD LIST
Zachary Erickson is a three-sport athlete at Spain Park High School, playing football and basketball and competing on the track and field team. In the spring, he won the discus competition at the Spain Park Classic with a throw of 162 feet, among other highlights.
SPRING SPORTS RACING TO FINISH LINE
Several high school spring sports are set to conclude in May, with local teams capable of strong finishes. Briarwood and Chelsea advanced to the playoffs, beginning in April and running through the week of May 12 in Oxford if either team reaches the state finals.
Photo courtesy of Alabama Athletics.
On the Mainstage
SPOTLIGHT GET TO KNOW
Spain Park’s Autumn Collins
By JON ANDERSON
Autumn Collins, a senior at Spain Park High School, has won the school’s talent show the past two years. She is a member of her school’s Rhapsody in Blue show choir and chamber choir, as well as the worship team at Church of the Highlands.
Q: How long have you been performing as a singer?
A: I've been singing for as long as I can remember, but I think my first real performance was in second grade. We had an endof-year assembly, and I got to sing the second verse of "Write Your Story" by Francesca Battistelli all on my own.
Q: Have you had any recent solos?
A: Last year, our competition show was called Gold Rush — and for our ballad, I sang a solo to "Fields of Gold" by Ellie Goulding. I got to stand alone in this big white dress. … I won best soloist at our Auburn competition during preliminaries.
Q: What type of music do you like best?
A: I love indie music — Lizzy McAlpine, Phoebe Bridgers, Tiny Habits. Just anyone with a guitar and a sad-sounding voice, I'll eat it up every time.
Q: What songs did you sing in the talent shows?
A: Sophomore year, I sang "Right Through" by Small Crush. Junior year, I performed my own song, "Sidelines," which is about my experience with fear of missing out and feeling like an outsider at a new school. This year, I sang "New Obsession" — a fun little song about having a really obsessive, stalker-ish crush. Collins
Mt Laurel Ballet carves artistic niche close to home
By STAFF
Three years ago, Stephanie Rangel founded Mt Laurel Ballet — and the studio has quickly become a staple in the Mt Laurel community, with students advancing to the top tiers of dance.
Rangel said the studio offers not only ballet but contemporary dance instruction for U.S. 280 residents who may not be able to travel to Birmingham for lessons.
“We’re very much part of the Mt Laurel community,” Rangel said. “We love our baby ballerinas that kind of wander in in their tutus.”
Rangel, who trained under Alfonso Figueroa and performed with Arova Contemporary Ballet, started Mt Laurel Ballet to provide a serious training ground for students pursuing dance careers. Her students now attend top summer intensives at programs like American Ballet Theatre, the Rock School in Philadelphia and Gus Giordano Jazz Dance School — and several are preparing to enter professional companies.
The studio is also home to Magic City Performing Arts, the nonprofit behind the popular
Magic City Nutcracker, which Rangel started 11 years ago. Its spring productions — like this year’s Swan Lake — mirror the structure of professional ballet companies, complete with guest artists and high-level choreography.
Rangel said the studio maintains a Christian foundation in its values while staying focused on preparing dancers for the “real world of ballet.”
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all program,” she said. “We meet dancers where they are and help them grow professionally, artistically and as people.”
Great ideas often occur in the most comfortable of settings, and Bellini’s is no exception. With that in mind, in 2008, after discussing ideas over a bottle (or 2) of wine, the concept of Bellinis was formed.
Come relax, enjoy your own glass of wine among friends, and see where your discussions take you.
Bellinis is Birmingham’s only Italian Infused Steakhouse featuring
Students practice at Mt. Laurel Ballet. Staff photo.
Arancini
Life along the 280 corridor
BACK WHEN GET TO KNOW
Jane Ann Mueller, director of programs,
Community Center
By STAFF
Q: Can you tell me about yourself?
A: Not an Alabama girl. I was born in Kentucky, but I lived in Florida for 28 years. … I had helped the mayor, Picklesimer, get elected. We were on his team, and he knew my work ethic and my style, and he said, “You’ve got to be on my team. I want you to go to work.” I said, “I don’t want to work. I’m trying to not work.” … But I love what I do. The members — we have a membership here, so people do pay to come here — but the members, for the most part, are delightful. It’s a real community.
Q: What do you like most about living in Chelsea?
A: The people, definitely. … Just the warmth of the Chelsea people that have lived there maybe their whole life. It’s a lot like Kentucky, because people wave when you go down the road. They’ll pray with you if something’s on your heart when they come in here. I’ll pray with them or over them, and it’s just a warm atmosphere. People truly do care about one another, and that’s what I enjoy most about Chelsea.
Q: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Jane Ann Mueller
A: My age. I would love to go back to my late 30s or 40s. I’m 67 now, so I’m no spring chicken. But that’s probably what I would change — my age, so I had more time to do more of this.
Chelsea’s history filled with pine trees, perseverance
By STAFF
Chelsea is a booming area now, but its history is one of slow growth — fueled by timber and the railroad.
Chelsea’s origins trace back to the 1850s, when settlers began claiming land under the Homestead Act, said Jenny Mumpower, president of the Chelsea Historical Museum. What began as a remote mountain community of log cabins evolved over decades into a bustling town shaped by logging and rail access.
“Logging was a very big thing,” Mumpower said. “Sawmill logging actually helped out of the financial downfall from the Civil War.”
The boom in timber led to the arrival of the railroad in 1908 — Chelsea’s first true connection to the outside world.
Before the train, the area was known as Yellow Leaf Beat 8. The town center shifted frequently — from Pumpkin Swamp Road to Mount Calvary and eventually to the Narrows, which thrived during the New Deal era with grocery stores, taverns and even a hotel.
“Taverns and moonshine, especially through the Narrows,” were common during Prohibition,
Mumpower said.
Among Chelsea’s pioneers was schoolteacher Lillian Moore, who rode a wild horse named Dan and taught reading to parents in the mountains. In the 1930s, she started an essay contest to send girls to college and helped secure Chelsea its first high school — campaigning alongside her son, who ran for the Shelby County school board.
“And he got on the school board, and he was the deciding vote to get Chelsea a high school, and that’s the school that’s on (Hwy.) 39 now,” she said.
The horse stables owned by Tarlton Andrew Eubanks near the train station in Chelsea. Visitors to Chelsea would rent horses and buggies after the got off of the train. Photo courtesy of Chelsea Historical Society and Museum.
By TIM STEPHENS
Let me be clear: I’ve never liked running.
Not even when I was a high school tight end and defensive end logging stadium steps and sprints, or a basketball player doing miles in the Alabama summer heat. I did it. I even got good at it for a while. It was always a drill, never a lifestyle.
This spring, I’m trying to do something I’ve never done before: lose 56 pounds by my 56th birthday on July 12. That’s the heart of 56-for-56, my personal transformation story — and a public one, too.
So when I committed to running a full 5K — start to finish, no walking — for the first time since 2011, I knew I was signing up for something personal. And hard. I’ve done it before. In fact, back in 2011, that 5K was my reward for losing 100 pounds — yes, 100 — between April 1 and Sept. 11 of that year. But I was 41 then. This is a whole different game at 55.
This past month reminded me just how different it really is. I hit the wall — mentally, physically, emotionally. Completely spent. I didn’t just lose motivation — I lost momentum. I was drained — physically and mentally. I tried to push through it. I kept saying, “Just one more workout. Just one more day.”
Eventually, I realized I was flirting with burnout or injury. So I stopped.
I gave myself permission to take nearly two full weeks off — just a few light workouts, nothing structured. I made a quiet promise to myself: When April hits, I’ll re-engage. But right now, I need to rest.
That decision may have cost me some progress. But it may also have saved the whole project.
into the wall
On April 12 — three months before the final weigh-in — I showed up for the UAB National Alumni Society 5K. I hadn’t trained for it the way I wanted. HOTWORX workouts in Vestavia Hills, some HIIT at the Shades Valley YMCA, walking in the weighted vest on the Lakeshore Trail — those help, but they’re not the same as putting in road miles. I hydrated the day before with a Prime IV infusion in Homewood. And I gave it all I had.
I crossed the finish line in 47 minutes and 3 seconds. I walked more than I ran and finished more than 11 minutes behind the goal I’d originally set. But I got it done under my revised target of 50 minutes.
Not pretty, but a win.
And it reminded me: this journey isn’t about crushing every milestone. It’s about learning to listen to my body, to protect my mental health
and to show up even when things feel out of sync.
My most recent InBody scan showed I dropped 1.5 pounds — a sign of progress, though not the result I was chasing. My muscle mass percentage dipped slightly, and my body fat percentage ticked up — not ideal, but understandable given the downtime. We’re recalibrating now: more protein, cleaner carbs, and locking back in on meal tracking through MyFitnessPal, strain and recovery monitoring through WHOOP, and weekly recovery support at Prime IV.
I’m still working with my trainer, Mickal Thomas at the Shades Valley YMCA, who has advised me to alter my meal plans to “earn” the calories I eat by burning them off. And my therapist, Dalila Bass, to keep this mission rooted in sustainability — not punishment. As Dalila reminds me, it’s not about outrunning the past. It’s about building something new that lasts.
Next time, maybe I run the whole thing. Maybe I don’t. But the goal isn’t perfection. It’s presence. And I’m still here.
Tim Stephens, right, celebrates with fellow UAB alumnus Forte’ after completing the UAB National Alumni Society Scholarship 5K. Photo by Wendi Cambron.
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When David and Nancy Wright built a new Country French house in Liberty Park, they turned to Brandino Brass for cabinet and door hardware and outdoor gas lighting.
“They probably carry the best quality product lines in Birmingham,” David said.
The couple were deeply impressed by the customer service at Brandino Brass, including the hands-on help they received from Jessie Isom and Renee Genereux – two of the company’s co-owners, along with Eric Brandino.
“They were the best to work with,” Nancy said. “They made great
suggestions and helped me when I needed to move into a specific price range.”
Isom helped Nancy capture the simple, classic vibe she wanted in her hardware.
“The things Jessie helped me pick are just perfect,” she said. “It was a real pleasure working with Brandino Brass.”
Jimmy and Sara Glenn built a unique home in Vestavia Hills blending neoclassical and modern farmhouse styles and needed locks, door knobs, door stops and cabinet hardware, as well as fireballs and
mesh cabinet grills.
“Brandino Brass was recommended by everyone on our team,” the Glenns said.
“Brandino’s level of expertise and knowledge is second to none, and the range of products they offer is extensive,” designer Marianne Strong said.
The Glenns worked closely with sales team member Megan Brasher.
“Megan has a great eye when making selections and follows that up with excellent attention to detail regarding all parts of the ordering process, including size and place-
Brandino Brass
• Where: 2824 Central Ave., Suite 100, Homewood
• Call: 205-978-8900
• Web: brandinobrass.com
ment,” Strong said.
In addition, the company is a dealer for many unique, high-end hardware vendors, with many products available only at Brandino Brass, a real plus for customers.
“Brandino Brass has hardware you can’t get at a big-box store,” the Glenns said.
The company’s staff is also dedicated to providing the ultimate customer experience. “I help clients find the perfect balance of style, function and value to fulfill their vision,” said sales team member Lorianne Jackson.
“Being able to visualize and know what my customers want is something that comes with my many years in this industry,” Genereux said.
“We work off the client’s inspiration and how they will use the space, and we strive to make sure all jobs are ordered and delivered properly, down to the smallest details,” Brasher said.
Brandino Brass customers can view the store’s beautiful showroom in-person or through a virtual walk-through at brandinobrass.com.
Left to right: Eric Brandino, Danny Williams, Megan Huntley, Randall Hamm, Megan Brasher, Renee Genereux, Lorianne Jackson, Marc Blumenthal, Jessie Isom, Brett Hickman
Lulu Strong
An extraordinary young woman with a remarkable story, Lulu Gribbin’s fight for survival and recovery from a shark attack at just 15 years old moved not just our community but people across the nation. While others her age were learning to drive, Lulu relearned how to walk with her new prosthetics in just a few short months. But if you thought a new arm and leg would keep her from getting behind the wheel, well, you don’t know Lulu! We had the privilege to join General Motors and our fellow Central Alabama Buick dealers to present Lulu with a brand new 2025 Buick Envista, adapted with accessible driving modifications. Because every teen should have the chance to experience the freedom of the open road. For every ride there’s Royal.
Lulu is just getting started.
The Gribbin family has seen the profound impact limb loss brings with it. That’s why they started the Lulu Strong Foundation to create new realities for amputees through groundbreaking technology. The Foundation works to build awareness, support individuals with limb loss, and enhance accessibility by funding research and innovation in prosthetic technologies. Learn more and see how you can help at lulustrong.com.
every ride there’s Royal.
Buick GMC (205) 778-3721 RoyalBuickGMC.net At the Corner of I-65 and Highway 31 | 3010 Columbiana Road, Vestavia Hills
(L-R) Royal Buick GMC Sales Manager Matt Robertson, Lulu Gribbin, and Royal Automotive Owner Greg Belcher celebrate Lulu’s new 2025 Buick Envista.
