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May 2025 | Volume 13 | Issue 1
Imagine your home, totally organized!
Custom Closets, Garage Cabinets, Home Office, Pantries, Laundries Wall Beds, Wall Units, Hobby Rooms, Garage Flooring and more...
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SERVING VESTAVIA HILLS, THE 280 CORRIDOR, HOMEWOOD, HOOVER, MOUNTAIN BROOK AND TRUSSVILLE
VESTAVIA HILLS’ COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE VESTAVIAVOICE.COM | STARNESMEDIA.COM
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Class of 2025 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.
See CLASS OF 2025 | page 24
Rendering of proposed addition at Fire Station No. 4. Rendering courtesy of city of Vestavia Hills.
City eyes $54 million in east Vestavia Hills projects By JON ANDERSON
A photo illustration of a girl looking at her computer during a video call with students from the Class of 2025. Clockwise from top left: Audrey Martin, Madelyn Wigley, Sidney Grace Culwell and Sara White. Photos courtesy of the students’ families. Photo illustration by Melanie Viering.
INSIDE
Sponsors............................. 4 City....................................... 6
Schoolhouse...................... 10 Business............................. 12
With the vast majority of Vestavia Hills’ growth taking place on the east side of U.S. 280, city officials have identified more than $54 million worth of capital projects they believe are needed in that part of town. The challenge is figuring out how to pay for them and how quickly they can be accomplished, City Manager Jeff Downes said. Several of the projects are proposed for 25 acres next to the Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex, including a $16.4 million police substation and training facility, a $9.2 million library branch, a $1.3 million park maintenance and public works facility, a $1 million playground, and a $1.4 million road to access those amenities. City leaders also are considering an $11.3 million project to convert the Liberty Park baseball and softball fields directly across from the complex to artificial turf. The Vestavia Hills Fire Department is proposing a $6 million addition to Fire Station No. 4 in Liberty Park and, further down the road, a sixth fire station that could cost $7.5 million.
See PROJECTS | page 26
Real Estate........................ 16 Events................................. 18
Sports................................. 19 Community........................ 21 facebook.com/vestaviavoice
New Leadership
Catching Up
Keri Bates hopes to build relationships as chairwoman of the chamber’s board of directors.
Get to know Rebels football strength and conditioning coordinator Chris Cournoyer.
See page 12
See page 19
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