By EMILY REED
By JON ANDERSON
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Decorative and architectural hardware, when chosen carefully, is more than just utilitarian. It can help express the personality of the owner or designer and dramatically elevate the look and feel of a space. That’s why hardware is often called “the jewelry of the home.”
For a huge selection of top-quality hardware, as well as interior and exterior lighting, go to Brandino Brass in Homewood, a family-owned business since 1948. Brandino Brass also carries items like fireballs, mailboxes, gate hardware and custom brass shelving.
Brandino Brass is the go-to place for designers, architects and homeowners looking to build or renovate a home, and the staff guides customers through a wide array of options to find just the perfect items.
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.
There’s no question that Liberty Park is the primary driver of Vestavia Hills’ growth these days. As that growth continues, city officials are working to determine how best to serve the needs of residents there.
There’s already a fire station in Liberty Park, but it needs expanding. There are sports fields for baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse and other activities — but there’s also about 25 acres of unused, developable space at the Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex.
One of our cover stories this month explores several options city leaders are considering for that land, including a police substation, a satellite library, and a new parks and public works maintenance facility. They also are considering
a proposal to install artificial turf on the Liberty Park ballfields.
Our other cover story takes a closer look at the Vestavia Hills High School
Class of 2025 and some of the experiences and factors that have shaped their journey. Also in this issue, we tell you about departing Vestavia Hills City Schools Assistant Superintendent Aimee Rainey and introduce you to this year's chairwoman of the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce, Keri Bates. Happy reading!
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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, tech-driven, 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:
► Mountain Brook: Kinleigh Freeman, Evelyn Lee, Harper Wilbanks
► Hoover: Cameron Johnson, Willow Smith
► 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
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► Lynn Andrews: Photographer, marketer and community leader involved with the Junior League of Birmingham.
► Lynden Blake: Former WBRC sports anchor and current ESPN+ sideline reporter with expertise in sports media and digital storytelling.
► 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 yearround and is designed to provide high school students with real-world experience in journalism, content creation and digital storytelling.
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By JON ANDERSON
The Vestavia Hills Police Department may soon be getting help from “criminal minds.”
Police Chief Shane Ware recently told the Vestavia Hills City Council he is considering a contract with an “investigative analyst service” that would provide background investigative support to help detectives track down suspects and solve crimes.
The service would use enhanced cellphone tracking, telephone analysis, facial recognition, social media analysis and monitoring, computer and digital forensic tools, open-source intelligence, and commercially available data to assist Vestavia Hills detectives and officers, Ware said.
He compared the potential service to the Penelope Garcia character on the “Criminal Minds” TV show. On the show, Garcia, played by Kirsten Vangsness, is a technical analyst for the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit who uses her computer and hacking skills to track down serial killers and other criminals.
“She can find anybody in two seconds,” Ware said.
Having an outside service conduct that kind of background work would be especially beneficial in major cases like the triple homicide at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Cahaba Heights in June 2022, Ware said.
In that case, police had the suspect in custody quickly, but generating and executing the search warrants took all night and into the next day, he said. The company being considered would be able to assist with producing more detailed search warrants, he said.
“It would keep our resources on the scene. All of our detectives would be on the scene,” Ware said. “It would save us a lot of time that we don’t have to spare in a situation like that.
… It would be the ultimate force multiplier for us. It would be a real-time police analyst and would give us access to investigative tools we don’t have right now.”
Ware said writing effective search warrants for cellphone tower data can be especially difficult, as the parameters for such data change every 90 days.
“Nobody can stay on top of that,” he said. “No inside expert in the Police Department knows the best way to write that
search warrant.”
The company Vestavia Hills is considering could help narrow search parameters from a 2-mile radius to a much tighter zone of about 450 to 500 feet, Ware said.
While the service comes at a cost, Ware said the department could likely offset some of the expense by eliminating maintenance contracts for other services that duplicate some of what the investigative analyst service would provide.
Hiring an in-house analyst would also be
an outside investigative
service would have been helpful to assist detectives on the day of that
more complicated, he said. It would require going through the Jefferson County Personnel Board, which likely doesn’t even have a job description for a police investigative analyst, he said. A new description would have to be created, along with performance standards, and by the time someone is hired and trained, they might already be ready to leave for another job, Ware said.
“This is a far better system for us to outsource this type of service,” he said.
Spring has brought its usual mix of weather surprises — warm days followed by several cooler ones. As the old saying goes, if you don’t like the weather in Alabama, stick around for a day or two.
By Ashley Curry
Our city officially kicked off this year’s Dogwood events with the annual Dogwood Luncheon on April 2. Ann Boston and members of our Beautification Board planned the event, which was held at the Vestavia Country Club. Guests enjoyed a lovely lunch and a fashion show featuring children’s and women’s clothing from local merchants.
Thanks to our Beautification Board and corporate sponsors for making this such a successful event. A big thank you as well to Clare Huddleston for serving as our emcee and to Casey O’Dell for providing musical entertainment.
As we prepare to celebrate our city’s 75th anniversary this fall (date to be determined), I’d like to highlight a special event that was to take place on April 21. Patrick Boone, our longtime city attorney, was to be the featured speaker at the Vestavia Hills Historical Society’s monthly meeting. Pat has served as city attorney for the past 47 years and has played a
key role in shaping much of our city’s history — including the annexation of Liberty Park and Cahaba Heights. Prior to that, he served as a City Council member. If you missed his presentation, we planned to record the video, which will be archived by the Historical Society.
On April 22, the annual Dogwood Prayer Breakfast was to be held at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center.
This year’s keynote speakers were ALS advocates Gary Godfrey and Kerry Goode. Gary is a former Auburn basketball player, and Kerry is a former Alabama and NFL football player. Their inspirational stories about perseverance in the face of ALS are deeply moving. Many thanks to our Chamber of Commerce for organizing the event.
As we look ahead, please remember Memorial Day on May 26. This is a solemn day to honor the more than 1 million men and women who have died in military service since the Civil War. Let us never forget those who gave their lives for our freedoms.
And of course, May 11 is Mother’s Day — don’t forget to celebrate the special moms in your life.
Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable start to summer.
By JON ANDERSON
Vestavia Hills High School soon will be gaining 52 more parking spaces after the school board voted to demolish a house on the campus.
The house, which sits behind the tennis courts on the high school campus, formerly was the location for Vestavia Hills’ alternative school, but it has been vacant for a couple of years, Superintendent Todd Freeman said.
The additional parking spaces are needed to accommodate a growing student population, Principal Blair Inabinet said.
The current junior class at the high school is the largest ever, with 572 students, Inabinet said. That compares with 509 in this year’s senior class, she said.
The next couple of years probably will be the largest number of students ever on campus, and then the student population likely will decline some due to smaller classes making their way through the system, Freeman said.
But this additional space will help accommodate junior and senior parking the next couple of years and provide additional parking during events at the school, Freeman said. Reworking of the site also should improve stormwater management for the campus, Freeman said.
The cost of the project is $630,000, but the money is coming from the state, the superintendent said.
Also at Vestavia Hills High School, contractors over spring break completed repairs on the senior patio following sewer line repairs that caused the campus to be shut down for more than three days in February.
A portion of an aging terra cotta sewer line collapsed, making about 75% of campus restrooms unusable, school officials said.
Students received virtual instruction for three days while repairs were being made, but final repairs on the senior patio had to be completed before it could be reopened, Inabinet said. The senior patio reopened April 1.
The school board also recently approved spending $224,000 to repair and expand the dry storage area for the cafeteria at Pizitz Middle School. A vehicle crashed into an exterior brick wall of the storage area in August, causing extensive damage.
Money from the school system’s insurance company should cover a large portion of the
cost, but the storage area also is being expanded as part of this project, Freeman said.
In other business, the school board:
► Rescinded a December vote to award a contract for about $1 million worth of upgrades for the school system’s computer servers due to errors that were discovered in the bid submitted by Clear Winds Technologies. School board attorney Pat Boone recommended the vote be rescinded and the project rebid next year.
► Approved three-year contracts for four principals coming off initial one-year contracts. The salaries are $116,988 for Vestavia Hills
Elementary Cahaba Heights Principal Kim Polson; $119,538 for Vestavia Hills Elementary East Principal Cynthia Echols and Vestavia Hills Elementary West Principal Susan McCall; and $125,888 for Liberty Park Middle School Principal Dori Hardee.
► Approved a job description for elementary math coaches. The district plans to hire two elementary math coaches this spring with money coming from the state and additional math coaches in the following year, Freeman said. The district already has five elementary reading coaches funded by the state, he said.
By JON ANDERSON
Aimee Rainey has been the Vestavia Hills school district’s assistant superintendent since July 2019, but now she has decided it’s time to retire.
Rainey, who has been with the Vestavia Hills school system for seven years and has a total of 26 years in education, will have her last day with the system on July 1.
She began her career as a speech-language pathologist in Washington County Schools in 1999. After four years in that role, she served one year as a high school science teacher, then spent two years as an elementary school assistant principal and four years as an elementary principal in Mobile County Public Schools.
In 2010, she was hired as a middle school principal for Florence City Schools. She served seven years in that role and one year as an elementary principal in Florence before being hired as director of student services in Vestavia Hills City Schools in 2018. She did that job for one year before being promoted to assistant superintendent.
a role in the expansion of the school system’s gifted program to the middle schools.
“The fact that all of our middle school students can take some advanced courses beginning in the sixth grade is a big step for our district,” he said.
Rainey did a difficult job well, and she has done it with character and from a caring place, Freeman said.
School board President Scott Brown said it’s bittersweet to see Rainey retire. She has been a consummate behind-the-scenes professional with excellence across the board, he said.
Rainey has been there to make sure Vestavia Hills City Schools’ academic programs meet the standards the community expects, Brown said.
“That’s not always easy. It’s not always one that there’s a spotlight on,” Brown said. “You’ve done it with grace. … Day in and day out with excellence. … We appreciate all you’ve invested into our schools and our students.”
Rainey has a bachelor’s degree in speech and hearing sciences from the University of Southern Mississippi, a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from the University of South Alabama, an educational specialist degree from Lincoln Memorial University, and a doctorate in educational leadership and administration from Samford University.
Superintendent Todd Freeman said Rainey had been assistant superintendent for only about a year when schools shut down for the COVID-19
pandemic in March 2020. He gave her the difficult task of coming up with a plan for the school system to continue operating in a matter of weeks.
“A lot of people have a lot of opinions. There are a lot of experts about
what we did and didn’t do, but our kids continued to thrive academically, and there’s reasons for that — the leadership in our schools and the direction they were given,” Freeman said.
He also noted that Rainey played
Rainey said it has been a tremendous honor and privilege to serve as assistant superintendent for Vestavia Hills City Schools, but also to be the parent of a graduate of Vestavia Hills High School.
“This has just been the best part of the journey of my career,” she said. “I am invested and will always be invested. As we say, ‘Once a Rebel, always a Rebel.’ I will always be a Rebel.”
By JON ANDERSON
Jessica Sutherland teaches Advanced Placement chemistry at Vestavia Hills High School and also serves as the school’s Science Olympiad coach.
Q: What inspired you to get into teaching?
A: My chemistry teacher in high school. Her name was Ms. [Nancy] Wiggins, and she just made chemistry so exciting, and she was so excited to be there every day. She was my Science Olympiad coach, too, and she really lit my fire for science.
Q: What is it that you love about science?
A: I think I love the objectivity of it — that you never have to guess whether you’ve done things right or wrong. You’ll know based on the results you get in the lab.
Q: What’s something about you that your students might not know?
A: That I’ve recently started trying to learn how to play the guitar. It has been a very long time since I tried to learn something new, so I wanted to challenge myself a little bit.
Q: What else do you like to do outside of work?
A: I love to cook and try new recipes, and I love to travel.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to cook?
A: I love to do a good shrimp boil.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the
world, where would you go, and why?
A: Probably back to Greece. That was just a fascinating place to see so much of ancient civilization that still remains, and where the foundations of a lot of mathematical, scientific and democratic ideas were really born.
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For more education news, connect with Vestavia Voice online: visit our website, follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter.
By JON ANDERSON
Vestavia Hills High School’s speech and debate team has captured its fourth consecutive state championship — and its seventh in the past nine years.
The Rebels took top honors among 20 teams vying for the 2025 state title, said Nate Conoly, who has coached the team for the past 11 years. Montgomery Academy finished second, followed by the Loveless Academic Magnet Program, also based in Montgomery.
Vestavia Hills had six students named individual state champions, with two of them — Tina Gao and Veronica Zhang — earning two first-place finishes each.
Individual state champions:
► Tina Gao: Extemporaneous Speaking and After-Dinner Speaking
► Veronica Zhang; International Extemporaneous Speaking and Congressional Debate
► Ruogu Lei: Dramatic Interpretation
► Tina Lou: Prose Interpretation
► Mina Hu: Lincoln-Douglas Debate
► Henry Jackson: Big Questions Debate
For those unfamiliar with speech and debate competitions, the state tournament includes 12 types of speech events and three types of debate events, Conoly said.
In speech events, students compete in three preliminary rounds, with the top six advancing to a final round judged by a three-person panel. In debate events, competitors also participate in three preliminary rounds, after which the top eight are seeded into a bracket-style elimination format — similar to the NCAA basketball Elite Eight — competing head-to-head until a winner emerges. Points awarded for top finishes in each event are tallied to determine the overall team state champion.
By JON ANDERSON
One of the first things Keri Bates did when she opened Rocky Ridge Drug Co. in 2017 was join the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce.
She didn’t know what to expect, but she was pleasantly surprised by the results, she said.
She met many people who became mentors and resources as her business faced challenges and sought ways to grow, she said. Now, as chairwoman of the chamber’s board of directors this year, she hopes the chamber can help other business owners tackle the issues they face and collectively move the city’s business community forward.
A major initiative of the chamber right now is developing merchant groups and business districts across different parts of Vestavia Hills.
The city stretches about 18 miles from west to east and includes several distinct business districts. Businesses in those areas could benefit by working together to address issues unique to their specific locations, Bates said.
The Cahaba Heights Merchants Association, led by Katherine McRee, has been a strong example, she said. The association has organized numerous community events, including Deck the Heights at Christmas, Hunt the Heights around Easter, The Heights Hangout in the spring and the Paw-Di Gras dog parade during Mardi Gras season.
The group has worked with city officials on projects to support local businesses, such as road improvements and signage to welcome people to Cahaba Heights.
The chamber wants to help other communities in the city — such as Rocky Ridge — follow that model, and is working to strengthen connections between business owners, Bates said.
“I just really, really believe in the power of relationship,” she said. “The more we can all
come together — more minds are better than one, and discussion can be very fruitful in solving problems and coming up with ideas. … We can all do more together than alone.”
Merchant groups also can benefit by sharing ideas, learning from each other and coordinating calendars to avoid scheduling overlapping events, Bates said.
“We don’t want these groups of people to have fragmentation where they don’t communicate and are competing with each other,” she said.
Bates moved to the Birmingham area around 1999, graduated from Hoover High School in
2002 and earned a doctorate in pharmacy from Auburn University in 2009.
She got her start in the pharmacy industry at age 16, working at Weldon’s Pharmacy in Hueytown throughout high school and college. She also worked for Walgreens in Auburn, a Target pharmacy, and then served as director of pharmacy for a long-term care pharmacy that filled prescriptions for nursing homes across the Southeast.
But Bates longed to have more direct relationships with customers and, with help from her father, husband and brother, launched Rocky Ridge Drug Co. in 2017. She remains the primary operator.
She quickly got involved with the chamber,
became a chamber ambassador and joined the board of directors in 2018. It was the chamber, she said, that helped her and other businesses navigate the COVID-19 pandemic by sharing information about the government’s Paycheck Protection Program and other initiatives that helped businesses survive.
She has gained both customers and employees through her chamber involvement and made connections that helped solve business problems over the years, she said.
But, as she likes to remind people, “The chamber is there to be a resource for you and to be support for you, [but] you can really get out of the chamber what you put into it.”
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Millions of Americans struggle each day with obesity. In fact, nearly 40% of adults are obese, according to the CDC. This struggle affects not only their health but also their self-image and quality of life.
In addition, diets are tough to stick to, and some of the newer weight-loss medications, such as GLP-1 injections, may be too expensive for some patients.
Bariatric surgery is one of the most effective ways for people living with obesity to lose weight successfully for the long term. These procedures typically involve removing parts of the gastrointestinal tract so patients can eat less and still feel full.
However, even the least invasive of the current bariatric surgeries — a sleeve gastrectomy — may require up to a month for the patient to fully recover.
But there’s now a new, far less invasive procedure — the endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty. The ESG configures the stomach into a smaller shape without making external incisions or removing organ tissue, and patients can recover in a few days.
The experienced physicians at Advanced Surgeons PC at Grandview Medical Center, including Dr. Andrew Frey, will soon offer the ESG procedure to patients in Birmingham. The surgeries will be done at Birmingham Surgery Center (BSC) in Homewood beginning
in mid-April.
Advanced Surgeons has partnered with BSC to “allow patients more convenient scheduling, easier accessibility and a more cost-effective alternative to inpatient care,” Dr. Frey says.
The ESG is an “innovative procedure due to the minimally invasive, non-surgical approach,” Dr. Frey says.
Using a sewing device attached to a flexible tube called an endoscope, surgeons can sew the stomach from the inside to reduce its capacity by 70% to 80%.
“The capacity of the stomach is reduced similar to a traditional sleeve
gastrectomy, but without scars, without pain,” Dr. Frey says. “This provides a lower risk and very quick recovery.”
Clinical evidence shows that ESG can result in significant, lasting weight loss when used in conjunction with a prescribed diet and exercise program.
The ESG is a perfect choice for several types of patients, Dr. Frey says.
“Primarily, we see patients who have had some success with medical weight loss, but either the side effects of a medication or high financial costs of the medication limit prolonged use,” Dr. Frey says. “Other patients have concerns with their weight but are
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not candidates for traditional bariatric surgery either due to a BMI under 35 or lack of additional medical problems. Then there are some patients who are just not ready to undergo surgery but recognize the importance of addressing their health.”
Dr. Frey says that it’s gratifying to help people get control of their weight, but that the weight loss itself “is just scratching the surface.”
He says he also hears from patients about their “increased energy levels, decreased joint pain, no longer requiring blood pressure medications, no longer requiring daily insulin injections, the smiles of patients revealing before and after photos, chasing kids around. Those are the rewards — knowing you have helped reshape a patient’s life for the better.”
Advanced Surgeons PC holds monthly in-person and online seminars so that prospective patients can learn more about the procedures.
For details, call 205-595-8985 or go to advancedsurgeonspc.com.
Tiffany Stripling has opened a new skin studio called Glass Skin Studio at 4274 Cahaba Heights Court, Suite 106, in Cahaba Heights. The studio offers a comprehensive range of personalized services designed to enhance the natural health of clients’ skin and provide a rejuvenating experience, including skin care treatments and brow and lash services. Stripling has more than 20 years of experience in skin care, including being an esthetician in a health club for 12 years and practicing esthetics in a dermatology office for many years.
205-514-6736, vagaro.com/glassskinstudio1 Imageworks, a division of Big Deal Promotions, recently moved into the Cahaba Heights community at 4260 Cahaba Heights Court #110. The company sells cups, shirts, hats, socks, bags and other custom promotional items.
205-874-9966, shopimageworks.com
Parvez Mulji, owner of the Chevron gasoline station at 705 Montgomery Highway in Vestavia Hills, was planning to open a package store called Iron City Package Store in the strip shopping center at 2409 Acton Road, Suite 117. The target opening date was sometime in April, Mulji said. The store will cover about 1,500 square feet and is located between Holmes Feline Clinic and NX Nail Spa.
The 270-unit Livano Liberty Park apartment complex at 3345 Endeavor Lane is expected to open May 29. Located in The Bray sector of Liberty Park, Livano will include units with one to three bedrooms, a clubhouse, resort-style pool, 24-hour fitness center, gourmet coffee bar, pet center, marketplace and a workplace with private offices.
205-859-7568, livanolibertypark.com
The AmFirst community credit union, which has a branch in Vestavia Hills at 1112 Montgomery Highway was among 180 credit unions nationwide recently named winners of the Diamond Award, the Marketing, PR & Development Council’s annual competition for marketing excellence. AmFirst received Diamond Awards in the following categories: social media (for its 12 Days of Giveaways campaign); brand awareness (for its KidsFirst campaign); out of home (for a partnership with Jacksonville State University); community partnerships and relations, endorsements, or NIL Efforts (for its partnership with Jacksonville State University); email (for a Rewards Points email); ongoing event (for the
credit union’s partnership with Better Basics Birmingham). With more than 1,400 submissions nationwide, the Diamond Awards celebrate the most impactful marketing initiatives in the credit union industry. This year, winners were selected from 180 organizations across 42 states.
205-823-3985 and 205-995-0001; amfirst.org
Mason Music, which has a music school in Vestavia Hills at 3187 Cahaba Heights Road, is opening a new location in Madison this fall. The company also has locations in Bluff Park, Greystone, Mountain Brook and Woodlawn.
205-908-7059, masonmusic.com
Neighbor Foundations, a Vestavia Hills-based tutoring service owned and operated by Jennifer Duckworth, is now officially registered as an education service provider by the Alabama Department of Revenue. That means parents who use the company’s services and qualify for financial help through the Alabama Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students' Education Act can get income tax credits. The Neighbors Foundation offers math, reading and writing tutoring for K-5 and middle school students, an online debate club for students in grades 2-10 and home school consulting. neighborfoundations.com
Tareka Slaughter has been hired as the community director for Gallery Residential at the 270-unit Livano Liberty Park apartment complex. Slaughter has nearly a decade of experience in the multifamily housing industry, was the National Apartment Association’s Rookie of the Year in 2022 and was part of the association’s 2025 Class of 20 On The Rise, recognizing 20 of the top emerging leaders in the industry. She is actively involved with the Greater Birmingham Apartment Association. 205-439-4500, livanolibertypark.com
Angela Hollingsworth, a resident of Vestavia Hills for 36 years, has been hired as the community director for Gallery
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Residential at The Filmont, a 180-unit apartment community being built in Liberty Park for people age 55 and older. Hollingsworth has more than 25 years of experience in property management, including stints with SPM, Stoneriver Property Management, LURIN, Gateway Management Co. and Hawthorne Residential Partners. She has worked at multiple properties in the Birmingham area, including Inverness Cliffs, 150 Summit and Grand Highlands Vestavia. 251-346-0960, thefilmont.com
Jerry Robinson is the new branch manager for the Pinnacle Bank branch at 2037 Canyon Road in Vestavia Hills. Robinson has more than 20 years of experience in the banking industry and has worked at companies such as First Financial Bank in Hueytown, AmSher Collection Agency, Pearce Auction Co., First United Security Bank, Aliant Bank and AmSouth Bank. 205-822-2265, pinnaclebanc.com
Vestavia Bowl is celebrating its 50th year in business at 1429 Montgomery Highway. 205-979-4420, vestaviabowl.com
The Sunshine Creamery ice cream shop celebrated its second anniversary at 3390 Morgan Drive in the Rocky Ridge Square shopping center on April 18. 205-601-0230, Sunshine Creamery on Facebook
The Winn-Dixie store at 3925 Crosshaven Drive in Cahaba Heights was expected to close permanently between late April and mid-May, the company that owns the grocery chain said. It is one of four Winn-Dixie stores in Alabama closing, said Meredith Hurley, the senior director for communications and community for Southeastern Grocers, which reacquired 170 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores from Aldi last month. Aldi will continue converting 220 other Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores to the Aldi brand between now and 2027, but this store will not be part of that, the company said. Two of the other three Winn-Dixie stores in Alabama closing this spring are in Mobile, and the other is in Phenix City. The Cahaba Heights Winn-Dixie was the 10th largest source of sales tax revenues for the city of Vestavia Hills in 2024, according to the city’s 2024 audit.
205-969-2307, winndixie.com
By JON ANDERSON
Q: How long have you been in the business, and how long have you been in this location?
A: I’ve been a hair stylist for 37 years. I’ve had Gary Anthony Salon for 17 years, and we have been at this location for over six years.
Q: What made you decide to become a hair stylist?
A: I was going to become an actor, and my dad had given me advice that if I was going to get into that business, I needed to have something to fall back on. … Part of what I enjoyed about theater and acting was
becoming somebody else, so that’s what made me decide to go into cosmetology.
Q: What’s the best part about what you do?
A: Making somebody look good and putting a smile on their face as they walk out the door.
Q: What’s the worst part?
A: I will push myself extra hours to get people in, and it does take a toll on you physically after a while. You’ve got to make sure you have vacation days or limit your times per day. … You’ve got to make sure you eat correctly. You’ve got to make sure you go to the gym.
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
A: Just get out in the yard — keep the plants going, keep the yard nice.
By STAFF
For nearly a decade, Neriah Franklin worked in various fitness settings, from managing YMCA programs to overseeing boutique gyms.
But as a self-employed trainer throughout, he always knew he wanted to create something different — a fitness space where individuals struggling with chronic pain could find relief and strength without the intimidation of a traditional gym.
That vision became reality with Iron City Biomechanics, Franklin’s personal training studio which opened in Vestavia Hills late last year. His approach blends elements of physical therapy, movement optimization and strength training. He focused on improving posture, eliminating pain and enhancing functional movement.
“I tell people I want us to be their last stop because typically when people try the other
methods of exercise out there, they often all run into the same issues and they start dealing with some chronic issues, whether that be knee pain, back pain, movement limitations,” Franklin said. “Oftentimes people contribute it to age, but we here think otherwise.”
Unlike crowded gyms, Iron City Biomechanics offers an intimate setting with a maximum three-to-one client-to-trainer ratio. Franklin, a U.S. Army veteran with nine years of service in logistics, credits his military background with shaping his leadership skills and ability to connect with people from all walks of life.
Franklin’s 12-week coaching programs are designed to reassess progress continually, ensuring clients stay on track.
Iron City Biomechanics is located at 1360 Montgomery Highway, Suite 128 in Vestavia Hills. For more information, visit ironcitybiomechanics.com.
►
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.
► Where: Vestavia Hills High School, 2235 Lime Rock Road
► When: Friday, May 2, 6 p.m.
► Call: 205-402-5250
► Web: vhhs.vhcs.us
► Cost: Free
► Details: The Vestavia Hills High School wind symphonic and symphonic bands will perform in the parking lot at the high school. The public is invited to bring lawn chairs and enjoy the concert, said Faith Lenhart, the school system’s arts education director. The concert will be moved indoors in case of rain.
► Where: Wald Park, 1973 Merryvale Road
► When: Saturday, May 17, 11 a.m.
► Call: 205-978-0158
► Web: vestavialibrary.org/department/ forestfriends
► Cost: Free
► Details: The Library in the Forest kicks off its “Color Our World” summer reading program with a foam party, food, games and prizes. People of all ages can register for the program, which runs May 27 through July 29. Weekly events include programs for grades 2-6 every Tuesday at 2 p.m. and performances each Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Some events may be held at alternate locations.
► Where: Vestavia Hills High School, 2235 Lime Rock Road
► When: Thursday, May 8, 6 p.m.
► Call: 205-402-5250
► Web: vhhs.vhcs.us
► Tickets: Free
► Details: The varsity and junior varsity dance teams from Vestavia Hills High School and students in the dance programs at the high school, freshman campus, and Pizitz Middle School will perform in the school’s theater. The dance team performances will include both jazz and hip-hop routines. The show is expected to last about an hour, Lenhart said.
► Where: Online via Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest
► When: Thursday, May 22, 4–5:30 p.m.
► Call: 205-978-4679
► Web: vestavialibrary.org/events
► Cost: Free
► Details: Learn how artificial intelligence tools can boost productivity and enhance creativity in this virtual workshop hosted by the library. This class is about getting practical with AI. What's out there right now? How can it help you do your job better or enhance other aspects of your life? Some things that may be covered are more creative in nature like generating photos, music and more through the power of AI.
► Where: Liberty Park Middle School, 17035 Liberty Parkway
► When: Friday, May 9, 6:30–7:50 p.m.
► Call: 205-402-5450
► Web: lpms.vhcs.us
► Tickets: $5
► Details: Liberty Park Middle School presents “The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales,” a comedic play by John Glore based on the book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. The show gives a humorous spin to classic fairy tales and features ineloquent giants, sassy barnyard animals, colossal cow pies and plenty of stinky cheese.
CHILDREN AND TEENS
May 27: Toddler-A-Go-Go, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m., Community Room. Music and movement storytime for toddlers, ages 18-36 months.
May 27: Summer Tween Time, 2 p.m., Community Room. Watercolor painting with art student Peyton Pentecost. Grades 2-6.
May 27: Teen Summer Reading Kickoff, 5:30 p.m. Laser tag throughout the library and pizza. Grades 6-12. Register with Daniel at 205-978-3683.
May 28: Silly Goose Storytime, 10:30 a.m., Children’s Program Room. Stories, music, and movement for preschoolers.
May 29: Professor WhizzPop, 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Community Room. Magic, books, and fun. Ages 3 and older.
May 31: Pop Art Collage with artist Michael Albert, 10 a.m. to noon, Maker Space. Open to adults and children.
► Where: Vestavia Country Club, 400 Beaumont Drive
► When: Tuesday, May 13, networking at 11:30 a.m.; program noon-1 p.m.
► Call: 205-823-5011
► Web: business.vestaviahills.org/ events
► Cost: $25 through May 8; $30 after May 8
► Details: The Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce holds its monthly luncheon on the second Tuesday of each month. Chamber members have the opportunity to network before and after the program. This month's speaker is Greg Canfield, managing director of economic development at Burr & Forman.
May 7: Crafters, Inc.: Quilled Chamomile Flowers, 11 a.m., Community Room. Learn paper quilling. Register at vestavialibrary.org/adults or email lora.roberts@vestavialibrary.org.
May 14: Read & Feed Book Group, 6 p.m., Grand Hall. Book: “The Life Impossible” by Matt Haig. Refreshments provided.
May 16: Craft Lab: Seashell Painting, 7 p.m., Community Room. Materials, snacks, and prizes included. Register at vestavialibrary.org/adults or email terri.leslie@vestavialibrary.org.
May 20: Adult Creative Writing Series, 6 p.m., Downstairs Program Room. Group discussion and writing prompts. Register on the library’s website at vestavialibrary.org/adults or email kara.anderson@vestavialibrary.org.
May 22: Friends of the Library: Estate Planning, Wills and Elder Law, 10 a.m., Community Room. Coffee at 10 a.m.; presentation begins at 10:30.
By KYLE PARMLEY
Chris Cournoyer is the strength and conditioning coordinator and defensive line coach for the Vestavia Hills High School football program. He was recently named Alabama’s Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year by the National High School Strength Coaches Association. The Vestavia Voice caught up with Cournoyer to discuss the honor and more.
Q: What’s it like to be recognized as the strength and conditioning coach of the year in Alabama by an organization made up of your peers?
A: It was really an honor for me to be recognized by an organization like the NHSSCA. This organization is made up of other high school strength coaches, and for them to single me out this year for my work is really special to me. Alabama has some of the top-tier strength coaches in the nation at the high school level — not just at larger metro-area schools, but also in the smaller classifications. I’ve really grown as a professional by being a member of this organization and have met some outstanding people through it.
Q: Tell us a little about your background and how you got to Vestavia Hills.
A: This is my 25th year coaching overall and my third year at Vestavia Hills. I came over from Mountain Brook High School with Coach
Robert Evans when he became the head coach. He brought me in to run the strength program and be an assistant football coach. I started as a graduate assistant strength coach at the University of Alabama in 1998 under Terry Jones Sr.,
which is where I was first exposed to strength and conditioning at a high level. I hold certifications from the NSCA [National Strength and Conditioning Association] as a certified strength and conditioning specialist, USAW [USA Weightlifting] Level 2 Coach, ISSA [International Sports Sciences Association] specialist in sports nutrition, and FRC [Functional Range Conditioning] mobility specialist.
Q: What makes Vestavia unique from other places you’ve worked?
A: Every place has its own set of challenges and traditions that you learn once you’re on the ground working with kids day to day. One thing I find unique about Vestavia is the kids love the weight room. They love to train. They feed off a challenge and a chance to compete. That says a lot about the work ethic instilled in them by their parents and how a competitive culture is nurtured in Vestavia.
Q: What brings you the most pride as a coach?
A: That’s a great question. Seeing a kid develop into more than he thought he could be — both physically and mentally — brings me a great sense of pride. I love seeing kids work through shared challenges and hardships and come out stronger on the other side. A lot of times, we try to shelter kids from adversity, but that’s not what life is like. Life isn’t a dance — it’s a wrestling match. You have to overcome things and deal with adversity to succeed. Nothing worth having comes easy, and I enjoy seeing kids learn that and persevere.
Some answers have been edited for brevity and clarity. The full Q&A is available at vestaviavoice.com.
When people with extraordinary talent and passion are given the technology, the facilities, and the support, they achieve great things. The discoveries and innovations happening today will help shape the future of treatments and lead to cures. And it benefits not only the patients and families who come to Children’s of Alabama, but people across the country and around the world for years to come.
Through April 10, the Vestavia Hills High School girls soccer team was putting together a terrific season. The Rebels boasted a record of 15-1-3, with 12 shutouts behind strong goalkeeping from Brianna Tortorici and a back line of Blair Marron, Katie Llewellyn, Cameron Dickerson and Kelsey Redden. Leading the offense so far have been Addison Mizerany, Emma Listi and Betsy Whitson. Vestavia will look to keep the momentum going into the Class 7A playoffs. The Lady Rebels will need to win two playoff games in order to return to the state final four in Huntsville on May 8 and 10.
Vestavia Hills High School girls soccer head coach Brigid Meadow reached a major milestone in her coaching career with the Lady Rebels’ 3-2 win over Oak Mountain. It was the 400th coaching win of her career. An outstanding high school soccer, basketball and softball player in her own high school days at Berry High School (Hoover), Meadow has proven to be one of the top prep soccer coaches in the state and the nation. Known for her tenacity and passion as a player, Meadow has been able to instill that same kind of fire in her teams at Vestavia Hills since taking over the program in 2004.
The Vestavia Hills High School outdoor track and field teams will be looking to finish the season on a high note, and performances throughout the season give an indication of what could be in store. Several boys had great outings at the Spain Park Classic. Jack Stubbs ran the 100-meter dash in 10.59 seconds and ran the 200 in 21.39 seconds, winning both events. Nate Bradshaw was second in the 200 with a time of 21.86 seconds. Chase Webb won the 400-meter race with a time of 49.13 seconds. The state meet is set for May 1-3 in Gulf Shores.
There are a few other Vestavia Hills spring teams eager to cap off the 2025 spring campaign on a positive note. The softball team will look to advance past the Class 7A, Area 6 tournament and get to the East Regional in Albertville, which will be played May 7-8. The softball state tournament is May 12-16 in Oxford. The Vestavia Hills boys golf team should be in contention for a state title. As of early April, the Rebels had won a major tournament and finished second multiple times. If the Rebels advance past section and sub-state, the state tournament is May 12-13 at Oxmoor Valley.
By JON ANDERSON
Brian Stockard grew up in Vestavia Hills in a relatively normal way.
He played football, made good grades, graduated from Vestavia Hills High School in 1991 and went on to earn a degree in accounting from Auburn University.
But in the early 2000s, during the height of the OxyContin crisis, his struggle with drug addiction began. Before he knew it, his life had become a “living hell,” he said.
“I couldn’t even begin to describe to you how hopeless and helpless you feel,” Stockard told members of the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce at the chamber’s monthly luncheon in April at the Vestavia Country Club.
Stockard had been a member of Church of the Highlands since 2001 and said he attended church on 95% of Sundays. But his life was falling apart.
“You can’t imagine what it’s like for 12 years when you’re battling addiction — sitting in church every Sunday wondering why you can’t be like everybody else. What’s wrong with me?” he said. “I wanted for somebody to just lay hands on me and it just be gone.”
But God had other plans for him, he said. In 2013, he hit rock bottom and, in a humble and broken state, agreed to enter a 12-step program.
With God’s help and the support of others, Stockard said he was able to overcome his addiction. He has now been sober for more than 11 years.
But more than that, he realized God had taken the mess of his life and turned it into a message, he said. Since becoming sober, it has become his mission to help others battling
addiction and to disciple them into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.
In June 2018, Stockard joined the board of the Turning Point Foundation, which runs a 90-day, Christ-centered residential recovery center in the Thorsby area of Chilton County for men battling substance abuse.
In June 2019, he was named executive director. Though he had no experience in nonprofits, he had a passion to get more involved.
“I’m not going to sit on my hands when
there are people out there dying,” Stockard said. “I can’t sit here and not do anything. I have to try to help the next guy.”
After Stockard became sober, the fentanyl crisis began — and it’s only getting worse, he said. The people affected by drugs are getting younger, he said.
When he first got involved with the Turning Point Foundation, they might have had one or two clients under 25. Now they have seven or eight at any given time, and there
Brian Stockard, executive director of The
speaks to the
would be more if they had the space, he said. The foundation currently has a dorm that houses 28 people and a separate house for seven more. Plans are in place to add classroom space and double the dorm’s capacity. Those looking to help can offer scholarship donations or join The Watchmen, a prayer team that prays for specific needs of clients, who remain anonymous.
For more information, visit turningpointal. org or call 205-955-2890.
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.
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
Scan the QR code to watch the third episode of 56-for-56: A Transformation Story.
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.
By TIM STEPHENS
You wouldn’t guess it by watching him sprint across the court or command a pickleball clinic with the confidence of a pro. But not long ago, Ross English was a 300-pound graduate student at Samford University — just trying to catch his breath and figure out who he wanted to become.
Today, at 31, English is the club coordinator at The Picklr, the sleek new indoor pickleball facility that opened in March in Vestavia Hills. He’s also a professional pickleball player. But his transformation didn’t start with a paddle in his hand. It started with a simple decision: move.
“I just didn’t want to be sedentary anymore,” English said. “I didn’t set out to lose 120 pounds. I just started walking. Playing intramurals. Doing anything that got me out of a chair and into motion. And that momentum carried me.”
That momentum changed everything. His daily walks around Samford’s campus led to a full-on lifestyle shift. Pounds dropped. Confidence grew. Then he found pickleball — a sport that rewards quick feet, sharp hands and relentless hustle — and something clicked.
“I think a lot of us feel better when
we move, whether it’s small or large movements,” he said. “Wherever you start, just getting yourself moving will help.”
What began as a hobby became a passion, then a profession. Today, he competes at a high level and leads all programming at The Picklr — training new players, growing leagues, building community and helping others find the joy in motion that reshaped his own life.
“I get to run around all day now, which is super helpful,” he said, smiling. “But really, it’s about helping other people experience that same breakthrough — on the court and off it.”
His story is exactly why we created
The Transformation Project. English’s journey is rooted in small steps, honest effort and daily commitment. It’s not just about physical change — it’s about reclaiming energy, restoring confidence and reshaping your future.
And he’s not alone. Transformation is happening all around us — in gyms, parks, kitchens, classrooms, homes and hearts.
Have you or someone you know gone through or are planning a dramatic personal transformation? Nominate them by emailing tstephens@starnesmedia.com. Let’s celebrate transformation in all its forms — one story at a time.
CLASS OF 2025
CONTINUED from page 1
The Class of 2025 didn’t just grow up on screens — they grew up 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 with them not just ambition, but insight into a world they’ve been watching, questioning and navigating — even as rapidly evolving artificial intelligence promises more disruption ahead.
According to Birmingham-based clinical psychologist Dr. Josh Klapow, this class enters adulthood with “an incredible amount of flexibility and adaptation that has literally been tested for them since they were born.” He described them as “a class that can remind themselves they have seen it all,” citing exposure to political upheaval, technological change and social isolation as uniquely formative.
At Vestavia Hills High School, seniors have lived through lockdowns, digital classrooms and a redefined sense of “normal.”
VHHS senior Sara White said growing up as a digital native brought both advantages and downsides.
“In many ways I see it as an advantage. School-wise, having access to digital textbooks and online practice quizzes has been really helpful,” she said. “But socially, the digital world has had a more negative impact. When things get uncomfortable or we don’t feel like talking, we can just reach for the phone.”
A 2024 study by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that while resilience and social support buffered students from social media’s effects, about 1 in 5 college students still feel isolated — suggesting deeper challenges are at play.
“I think a lot of times other generations, especially older generations, think we’re lazy because we use tools like AI or resources online to help with tasks,” White added. “But we’re just using our resources to the best of our abilities and making our everyday more efficient.”
Audrey Martin, another VHHS senior, said she doesn’t think her generation is fully ready for what AI will bring.
“I feel like there's going to be a big period of time where we don't know how to handle it,” she said. “It’s going to take jobs. I’ve already seen it affect people like my aunt, whose work has been replaced by AI. I think there needs to be more planning before it becomes too big of a thing.”
White said her sense of “normal” shifted drastically after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Normal now means a lot of online resources. During the pandemic we were fully virtual, and the resources we obtained during that period are still being used today,” she said. “The pandemic hit during my seventh grade year, a time when you're developing a ton of social skills. That might have hindered us a little bit.”
According to a 2024 report by the Center on Reinventing Public Education, the average student has recovered about a third of pandemic-era learning losses in math and a quarter in reading. Recovery has been especially slow for
students nearing the end of their K-12 careers.
“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,” Klapow said. “They can say, ‘We lived through a global pandemic,’ or, ‘We used to use smartphones for everything.’ This creates connection with one another, and everyone might come from a different background or a different way of life, but ultimately what connects everyone with this graduating class is they all faced similar life events at the same time.”
Madelyn Wigley said she will never forget the first homecoming week that felt truly back to normal.
“All the dress-ups, pep rallies, powder puff, being on homecoming court — it felt like the epitome of what I expected high school to be,” she said.
White shared a similar milestone: “During my junior year, my robotics team qualified for the world championship,” she said. “It was really cool to go to Dallas and see people from all over the world.”
Klapow said that even amid the rise of AI and digital reliance, the class of 2025 shows a powerful ability to remain human.
“That humanity goes back to our basic needs — love, protection, connection, creativity — and these things are uniquely human,” he said. “This class will simply incorporate technology while still being able to tap into what makes us human.”
“I think everybody wants to say that we're lazy, or we don't try,” Wigley said. “But I think there's a lot of passion and motivation. Our generation is just dealing with the cards we've been dealt.”
Wigley said her class could be summed up in one word: “Friendship.”
“I think a lot of people find identity in their friends,” she said. “We’re growing up together. I’d call a lot of people my friend now that maybe I wouldn’t have in middle school. There’s a lot of connection.”
Sidney Grace Culwell added that her class
► When: Monday, May 19, 2025 at 7:00 pm
► Where: Pete Hanna Center at Samford University
is “ingenious.”
“We’re really good at finding new ways to approach things — pitching ideas, adapting, communicating,” she said. “We’ve had to adapt to so much so quickly.”
Culwell also reflected on the way technology has shaped social interaction.
“I feel like my social battery ran out so easily coming back eighth grade,” she said. “COVID was our only way to communicate, and we got comfortable with it. It’s been a harder adjustment to going back to being fully in person.”
As for AI? She said her classmates won’t truly understand the stakes until they enter the workforce.
“I feel like it’s going to get bad before it gets better,” Culwell said. “People are going to get degrees, graduate college, and then realize that AI is now threatening to take the job they spent thousands of dollars preparing for. That’s when we’ll all have to pivot.”
Still, students say they’re hopeful.
“I think our generation has a lot of potential,” White said. “We’re prepared to use these tools and adapt. We’re resourceful.”
Wigley said the uncertainty of what comes next is scary — but exciting.
“I think there's always an uneasiness with a new invention,” she said. “I'm sure people felt that way about the assembly line, too. But we use it all the time now. I think AI can be destructive, but we just need to learn how to use it well.”
Starnes Media Creator Collective student journalist Corra Maddox of Vestavia Hills High School contributed to this report. Check out more of Maddox’s interviews at vestaviavoice.com.
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
► 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.
2016-18: PERSONALIZED AND ADAPTIVE LEARNING
► Artificial intelligence tools emerge in education (e.g., DreamBox, Knewton), enabling adaptive learning.
► 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.
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None of these projects have officially been approved, but all were discussed in depth at the Vestavia Hills City Council’s strategic planning session in February. Council members indicated all are important.
Now, they just have to determine how to fund them and set the preferred timeline, Downes said.
“Some things we might be a little bit behind the eight ball on, and some things we have plenty of time to react,” he said.
The challenge is addressing the needs in the east while sustaining the western part of the city, he said. The $54 million total does not include increased operating costs that would come with the proposed projects.
Yes, the dollar amounts are big and may cause stress, but “don’t let money get in the way of vision,” Downes said. “Just let it get in the way of the timing of accomplishing the vision.”
When council members ranked priorities, the highest scores collectively went to the police substation, library, Fire Department expansion, and parks and public works facility.
Next came paving, drainage and other infrastructure improvements, followed by conversion of the Liberty Park fields to artificial turf.
There are numerous options for funding, Downes said. The city could use general fund revenues, borrow long term, take out shortterm loans, seek grants or look for other partners.
The city has accomplished a lot in recent years through its Community Spaces Plan and, with commercial growth, has strengthened its financial position, with revenues outpacing expenses.
“We’re very healthy,” Downes said. “But do we want to spend it all?”
The city has financial policies that limit how much it can borrow and the types of debt it can incur, but “there are so many different ways to accomplish the vision,” he said.
Staff will develop a proposal in the coming months for the council to consider. Here’s a closer look at the projects on the table:
The proposal is for a 25,000-square-foot police substation and training facility with 75 parking spaces (20 secured) on the back side of the SHAC. The current police headquarters at City Hall is about 10 years old, Police Chief Shane Ware said.
The department has grown from 81 to 110 sworn officers and 114 total employees, and “we have exceeded the capacity of that building,” which includes the jail and courtroom, Ware said.
The department is currently renovating a substation in Cahaba Heights that serves as a hub for the eastern side of town, but it’s only a cosmetic upgrade due to lack of space, he said. The department has no physical presence in Liberty Park, which is nearly the size of Homewood, he added.
Putting a substation in Liberty Park would allow the relocation of non-patrol officers and serve as a force multiplier when situations call for additional response, Ware said. He also said a dedicated training facility and an emergency operations center are needed on the city’s eastern side.
The proposal also includes a 12,000-squarefoot library branch next to the SHAC, with modern shelving, popular books and materials, space for storytimes and children’s programs, a teen hangout, technology hub, study rooms, conference room, programming space, an outdoor covered area, grassy play area and playground.
A conceptual master plan puts the library and playground behind the SHAC near the proposed substation, but Library Director Taneisha Tucker said she prefers an alternate site between the splash pad and Sicard Hollow Road.
The library has served Liberty Park and Cahaba Heights with digital materials, book lockers and drop boxes since 2007 and has offered summer storytimes, adult book clubs and family events. But residents want more, Tucker said.
A group of residents called ROCK (Reading Opportunities Challenging Kids) raised funds for a part-time summer employee and
Above: A conceptual master plan for new city amenities next to the Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex shows a new access road leading to a proposed $16.4 million police substation (tangerine), $9.2 million library branch (orange), $1 million playground and $1.3 million park maintenance and public works facility (yellow). The area outlined in blue is open space to be left as is or for potential future development, but it has a rock ridge line through the middle of it. To the left, across Sicard Hollow Road, are the Liberty park baseball and softball fields, proposed to have artificial turf installed at a cost of $11.3 million. Below: An alternate site being considered for the proposed library branch, closer to Sicard Hollow Road. Maps courtesy of Caprine and CMH Architects.
secured space at Sicard Hollow and Liberty Park Middle School before disbanding in 2010 after the economic downturn and the opening of the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest.
Now, surveys show most residents in Liberty Park and Cahaba Heights use other libraries, but they deserve service from their own city, Tucker said.
The existing park maintenance facility near the baseball and softball fields along Sicard Hollow Road is an eyesore and safety hazard, Councilwoman Kimberly Cook said.
Officials want to move it to a less visible location next to the SHAC, offering more space for equipment and materials, said Public Works Director Lori Beath Kearley.
The plan calls for a metal building with five bays, a bathroom, office space, break room, two 30-yard roll-off dumpsters and 7,000 square feet of storage space, she said.
Fire Chief Marvin Green said the department could lose its Class 1 ISO rating without
expanded service in Liberty Park. Response times are slower than recommended, and several major developments are underway, including 545,000 square feet of apartments, a 100-room hotel, 108,000 square feet of cross-laminated timber offices, 100,000 square feet of retail and more than 1,300 homes.
His immediate recommendation is to add 4,000 square feet to Fire Station No. 4, expand the kitchen, add a quick-response unit and hire four additional personnel in fiscal 2026. He proposes adding four more personnel in fiscal 2027 and four more in 2028 to allow full-time staffing of an engine, ladder truck and rescue unit.
In the long term, the city will need a sixth station east of Station No. 4 — although there may be a greater need for another station to serve the Patchwork Farms area, Green said.
The Liberty Park fields — four baseball and five softball — are in high demand but drain poorly, said Parks and Recreation Director Jamie Lee. “When they get wet, they stay wet,” forcing cancellations and delays.
A drainage system and artificial turf would
improve usability. While a new multi-use field at the SHAC would cost about $7 million, resurfacing the nine ballfields for $11.3 million offers greater benefit, officials said. This may be a phased project, depending on the council’s direction, Downes said.
