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INSIDE Holiday Gift Guide Part II
SOCIAL
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2020
SPORTS
HOMES for the HOLIDAYS
‘Sharing The Hope of Christmas’
Paige Albright and her faithful friend, Buddy, are eager to welcome virtual guests to the Independent Presbyterian Church Holiday House Tour.
Double Duty Paige Albright Is Heading up IPC Tour – and Opening Her Own House to Virtual Visitors
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STORY BY DONNA CORNELIUS • PHOTOS BY LEE WALLS
aige Albright is truly putting her all into this year’s Independent Presbyterian Church Holiday House Tour. She’s the tour chairman, and her house is one of four that will open its doors – virtually speaking – for the 71st annual event. “I’ve been on the tour committee for a long time, but this is the first time our house has been part of it,” she said. Paige said it was a tough decision for the committee to opt for a virtual tour instead of the usual in-person format. But the uncertainty of COVID-19 restrictions led to that choice. “We thought it was important to keep the tour going,” she said. “This is
See ALBRIGHT, page 18
A Different Take on a Festive Tradition This Year’s IPC Holiday House Tour Goes Virtual
The 71st edition of one of Birmingham’s favorite holiday traditions is adapting itself to the realities of 2020. Instead of visiting stops on the Independent Presbyterian Church Holiday House Tour in person Dec. 11-13, those who buy tickets can watch a virtual tour from their own homes. Another twist keeps alive the longtime custom of offering Christmas tea in the church’s Great Hall during the tour. A limited number of Holiday House Tea in a Bag packages will include cookies, ham biscuits, cheese straws and spiced tea mix plus a tour ticket. The cost is $50 per tin; each serves five to six people.
See IPC, page 20
Six Homes Open for Samford Legacy League’s Christmas Home Tour
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amford Legacy League’s tenth Annual Christmas Home Tour is set to be held Dec 10. The event during its tenure has raised more than $250,000 to provide transformational scholarships for students who have faced monumental challenges, including homelessness, inner city Photo above violence, the disability or death of a of Anne and parent or sibling, foster care, parental George Lawtons’ job loss, abandonment, parental incarBuckhead home ceration and the sacrifices of full-time taken during a ministry, according to a press release Christmas holiday from the Legacy League. snowstorm. “By sharing the Hope of Christmas through the home tour, the community can be involved in this life-changing mission,” Julie Cundiff, chairwoman of the volunteer committee, said. As with most events this year, the pandemic has changed the look of the tour. Masks covering nose and mouth are required. Each guest will have a temperature check and complete a symptom checklist before entry. Tour guests are expected to adhere to social distancing guidelines and to start the tour at the home and time selected during ticket purchase. Six houses are included in this year’s tour. See LEGACY LEAGUE, page 22