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May 2025 | Volume 16 | Issue 2
Serving the Birmingham area since 1958. SERVING MOUNTAIN BROOK, THE 280 CORRIDOR, HOMEWOOD, HOOVER, TRUSSVILLE AND VESTAVIA HILLS
MOUNTAIN BROOK’S COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE VILLAGELIVINGONLINE.COM | STARNESMEDIA.COM
GUINSERVICE.COM
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 26
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: Addison Hardee, Avi Goldberg, Ellie Frazier, JR Sanders, Sophia Self, Mary Kate Nesbitt and Jude Smith. Photos courtesy of the students’ families. Photo illustration by Melanie Viering.
INSIDE
Sponsors............................ 4 City...................................... 6
Schoolhouse..................... 10 Business............................ 12
205-595-4846
AL#12175
Life goals and leadership: Mayor Welch reflects on journey to success and public office By SARAH OWENS When Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart Welch first sat down to evaluate his life goals, the idea of public office didn’t cross his mind. Yet after two successful terms as mayor, Welch is preparing to step down, leaving behind a legacy shaped by long-held ambitions and an unshakable commitment to community. His journey to public service began far from City Hall — Welch in the insurance business with his father. In his early 20s and fresh out of college, Welch wasn’t sure what life had in store for him, but his work in insurance sales soon offered some direction. “With sales, it forces you to get organized and to begin to set some goals and things like that,” Welch said. “About six months after I started my career work, it was like a bolt of lightning came out and struck me, and all of a sudden I started getting really focused.” As Welch set sales goals in the office, he also began to set life goals for himself. One of those goals, etched on a yellow legal pad, was to become a millionaire by age 40. Welch had no idea how he would get there, but he knew one thing: he needed a plan. “The criteria was, if there were no limits, I had unlimited talent, unlimited money, if there was nothing that stopped me. What is it I would do?” he said. “And so I started a bucket list.”
See WELCH | page 25
Real Estate....................... 14 Events................................ 16
Sports................................ 18 Community....................... 21 facebook.com/villageliving
Back-to-back
Pulpit to Page
Langston Lilly and the Spartans aim to bring home the 6A title for the second year in a row.
Rev. Russ Levenson explores the gospel through golf in latest book.
See page 18
See page 21
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