Story By Maria Rakoczy | Photos By Joshua Berry | Living 50 Plus Whether a newcomer or an old-timer, William Hampton treats Huntsvillians to the “front porch experience” at Huntsville Revisited. Via a Facebook page, a museum, and tour opportunities, Hampton through Huntsville Revisited educates locals on their city’s past. The “front porch experience” references
Story By Bob Labbe | Photos By Joshua Berry | Living 50 Plus Success has always been along for the ride alongside Wes Neighbors. Born Feb. 1964 at Huntsville Hospital, and delivered by an uncle who was a doctor, to College Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman Billy Neighbors, the young Neighbors seemed destined to
Story By Maria Rakoczy | Photos By John Few | Living 50 Plus Chickens flying off a rooftop may not be the tradition that immediately comes to mind when you think of Christmas, but in Madison, it’s a nearly one-hundred-year-old tradition beloved by locals that spreads Christmas cheer and gifts to the streets of Madison.
By Teresa Gibbs As we approach the end of 2024, it’s time to reflect on the moments we’ve spent with our loved ones and the memories we created. Did you take your family on an awesome vacation this year? Family vacations are a great way to create those all-important memories that will last a lifetime.
The award-winning Orion Amphitheater announces Holidays at The Orion, a month-long celebration of the festive season. Guests who attend select Holidays at The Orion events can enjoy seasonal snacks & festive beverages, get their photo taken with Santa Claus, participate in a range of activities, purchase from local vendors, and more. For event details and
By Erin Coggins | Living 50 Plus Whether it is a new hobby or a history lesson, it is never too late to learn something new. And those wishing to do so, can look no farther than the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Alabama Huntsville. OLLI is a member-based learning community
Burritt on the Mountain is a fascinating place to visit regardless of the season, but there is just something extra special about Christmas on the mountain. Burritt on the Mountain is a very festive place to visit during the holidays. From the beautiful mansion decorated with a variety of Christmas trees, to the grounds, cabins
Tickets are now available for Huntsville Ballet’s 56th annual production of “The Nutcracker,” accompanied by the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. Performances are scheduled for December 13-15 at the Von Braun Center’s Mark C Smith Concert Hall. The production features Huntsville Ballet’s entire roster of professional dancers, complemented by a cast of over 80 students from Huntsville
This holiday season, Madison Beltone Hearing Aid Center is spreading cheer and enhancing the lives of those with hearing loss, helping them cherish moments with family and friends. In partnership with the Beltone Hearing Care Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity, they are hosting their ‘Hear for the Holidays’ hearing aid giveaway. Through Dec. 31, Madison Beltone
By Bob Labbe | Photos by Joshua Berry | Living 50 Plus Carlos Mathews strives to be the best he can be while being an enormous inspiration to others. Those two facets of his life help drive him not only in his work of a business owner specializing in hosting government contracts, but as an
By Maria Rakoczy | Living 50 Plus BAAM is downtown Huntsville’s newest spot for good food and good nightlife. It’s the newest venture of longtime Huntsville restaurateur Mark Komara. Komara started in the local restaurant and entertainment business forty-one years ago in 1983 with Sports Page Bar and Deli on South Parkway. In 2009, he
By GraciAnn Goodin | Living 50 Plus Grant and Jenny Sweer’s backyard looks like something out of a fairy tale. Immediately after walking past the open gate, a wide expanse of model railroad tracks and miniature figurines and buildings meet the eye. Vibrant flowers and greenery weave throughout. The sound of a small waterfall trickling
By Erin Coggins | Living 50 Plus The Huntsville Hospital Breast Cancer Center is the busiest mammography site in the entire state of Alabama. And thanks to the annual Liz Hurley Ribbon Run, both Huntsville and Madison Breast Centers are fully 3D mammography capable, making breast cancer easier to detect, particularly in dense breast tissue.
By GraciAnn Goodin | Living 50 Plus Margy Pritchett has been an artist for pretty much her entire life. She has always loved painting, especially. She considered it just a hobby, though, and like many hobbies, other things in her life often took precedence. Her husband, Dan, has not always been an artist. Even now
By Cole Sikes, Alabama Extension Service | For Living 50 Plus Many people associate garden chrysanthemums, or mums, with the beginning of autumn. These floral features are already occupying garden centers and front porches around the country. There are tips and tricks to make sure that every mum has maximum longevity. Lucy Edwards, an Alabama
By Bob Labbe | Photos by Joshua Berry | Living 50 Plus Table Tennis is more or less a “grown up version of Ping Pong.” Both versions of the sport are fun, athletic and difficult to master, but since 1983 with the formation of what is known as the North Alabama Table Tennis Club (NATTC),
Huntsville Ballet’s 2024/2025 Alluring Season is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for both the seasoned arts lover and awestruck newcomer. After the raving success of Huntsville Ballet Company’s 60th Season, Huntsville Ballet returns with yet another spectacular season line-up. According to Artistic Director Phillip Otto, audiences should expect a “mysteriously powerful season.” HBC UNPLUGGED October 25, 26,
Story By Maria Rakoczy | Photos By Joshua Berry | Living 50 Plus Sandra Lester is our very own Van Gogh. A skilled artist, a member of the Huntsville Art League, and a Madison resident, Lester creates eye-catching and thought-provoking art that invokes the color and movement of Vincent Van Gogh’s art. Lester’s artwork is
Story By Ava Malone | Photos By Joshua Berry | Living 50 Plus Traveling down the road in Huntsville in 1958, four-year old Bobby, as his mother called him, asked his dad to turn up the radio. Perry Como was singing “Catch a Falling Star.” That moment is one of the first memories Bob Labbe
Story By Erin Coggins | Photos By Cristie Clark | Living 50 Plus Fifteen years ago, Patsy Trigg walked into the STUDIO 60 Senior Center on Drake Avenue for some advice on repairing her grandmother’s swing and she has never left. “The bolt was twisted in the swing, and I couldn’t get it out,” Trigg
Story and Photos By Teresa Gibbs | Living 50 Plus Imagine spending a quiet romantic evening with your loved one in a private, open-air cabana built on the edge of a forest with an amazing view of a mountain lake. Close your eyes and think of breathing in pure, fresh mountain air while soaking in
By Dr. Eddie Miles Louis Smith, MSU Extension | For Living 50 Plus I am always looking for unique plants that brighten the landscape. Scaevola, commonly known as fan flower, is one of those plants. Native to Australia and the Pacific Islands, these plants are popular for their distinctive, fan-shaped flowers, versatile growth habit and
By Gregg Parker | Living 50 Plus A local agency is helping to protect the well-being of senior citizens in the North Alabama region by advising them to avoid dangerous scams and consumer fraud. To hopefully prevent costly fraud, Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments or TARCOG conducted the Senior Medicare Patrol Fraud &
Food Truck Rallies Third Fridays through October • Big Spring Park • www.downtownhuntsville.org Grab your friends, family, or pets and head downtown to enjoy mouthwatering food truck vendors each month. Don’t forget to bring a chair or blanket to sit, eat, and listen to live music. There will also be yard games and activities throughout
Story By Maria Rakoczy | Photos By Joshua Berry| Living 50 Plus Tellini’s Italiano has long been a Huntsville institution, serving fresh, homestyle Italian food to Madison County for 25 years. The restaurant began in 1995 as Tellini’s Pasta Market and opened its first location in Gadsden, Alabama in 1996. The following year, in 1997,
You are never too old to go on a field trip! Looking for a fun day trip idea, during the months of August and September may be the perfect time to take a “hop, skip and jump” to Decatur and experience the Cook Museum of National Science. While area kids go back to school and
The motto for Calypso Vision, the featured group at Burritt on the Mountain’s City Lights & Stars Concert Series on Aug. 30, reveals their music’s genre and the band’s outlook. “A Better Attitude from Another Latitude.” Their motto shows devotion to light-hearted good times, seasoned with a heavy dose of Parrot-head style. Much of their
When dining outside with your loved ones, there are few things better than a tasty dish everyone can enjoy. This Chipotle Chicken Flatbread makes for a perfect al fresco meal. Prepared along with a fresh salad or simply enjoyed by itself, this flatbread is simple to make and even kids will love adding the toppings
It is well documented that physical activity can be beneficial for the body, but what about the effects of exercise on the brain? Exercise enthusiasts will be glad to learn there are some notable ways that physical activity can benefit the brain. A 2018 study published in Frontiers in Psychology indicated that much evidence shows
Raising children is a significant responsibility. Parents know there’s no such thing as a day off, which is why the first day they come home to an empty nest can be so confounding. After roughly two busy and likely hectic decades or more of looking after their children, parents whose sons or daughters have left
Maria Rakoczy | Living 50 Plus When you step into Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, you’re not stepping into an ordinary art gallery. You’re stepping into a full experience that, more than just hanging paintings on a wall, surrounds you in the moving and skillful pieces of Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
From Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association The North Alabama Hallelujah Trail features 32 churches that are at least 100 years old, stand on their original sites, still hold services, and are accessible to the public. These structures paint an immaculate portrait of North Alabama’s history and combine to tell the remarkable story of early Alabamians’
By Gregg Parker | Living 50 Plus Focused on music since the early 1960s, Jim Parker pursued an 8-to-5 career but always cherished the music scene. In fact, Parker’s musical career is still on a high note. In 2001, he founded “Jim Parker’s Songwriters Series” at Bandito Burrito on Main Street in Madison. By 2005,
STUDIO 60 Senior Center, Inc., formerly the Huntsville-Madison County Senior Center, is celebrating a milestone this year. It was created 50 years ago in 1974 when three organizations serving senior citizens were merged. Since 1994, it has been located in a state-of-the-art 47,500 square foot building at Brahan Spring Park. Over the past five decades,
Most people have heard the adage that “laughter is the best medicine.” There are many indications that laughter can be beneficial to the mind and body, and that the perks of laughter and humor are far-reaching. Various professionals have studied the clinical benefits of laughter, including Dr. Lee Berk and Dr. Stanley Tan at Loma
By Erin Coggins | Living 50 Plus Those in the community may recognize Dr. Harry Hobbs as a soldier, a spokesperson for the Huntsville Police Department, a professor and dean, the founder of Community Awareness for Youth (CAFY) and presently as the Vice President of Employee Engagement at Huntsville Utilities. But what they do not
Meals savored with loved ones are intended to produce smiles and shared moments. Take the first step toward bringing back joy and magic while making Sheet Pan Cajun Shrimp Fajitas with Bell Pepper. Recipe courtesy of Albertsons Total time: 30 minutes Servings: 4 2 green bell peppers 2 yellow bell peppers 1 lime 1 medium
By Metro News Safeguarding personal financial data has never been more important, as an increasingly digital world has made online banking much more prevalent. Cybercrimes are a significant concern. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, no less than 422 million individuals were impacted by cyber-crime last year, and nearly 33 billion accounts are anticipated
For the 31st Season, Burritt on the Mountain is welcoming back their long running Summer Concert Series. The City Lights & Stars Concert Series will feature eight concerts this season through September, with musical acts from varying genres. This year’s lineup features a fabulous mix of local hometown favorites and regional talent on the Isenberg
Here’s what they may want to know before navigating twenty-first century dating waters. People are living longer, a reality that can be traced to a number of factors, including advancements in medicine and greater dissemination of information regarding preventive health care. According to data from the United Nations Population Division, the average life expectancy in
By Bob Labbe | Living 50 Plus David Webb continues to follow his road to recovery. The world record-setting powerlifter is currently making headway on his journey after suffering near-death strokes in early 2022 and to the amazement to everyone, including his doctors, Webb is again lifting weights in record form and earlier in 2024
Story By Maria Rakoczy | Photos By Joshua Berry | Living 50 Plus Whether a newcomer or an old-timer, William Hampton treats Huntsvillians to the “front porch experience” at Huntsville Revisited. Via a Facebook page, a museum, and tour opportunities, Hampton through Huntsville Revisited educates locals on their city’s past. The “front porch experience” references
Story By Bob Labbe | Photos By Joshua Berry | Living 50 Plus Success has always been along for the ride alongside Wes Neighbors. Born Feb. 1964 at Huntsville Hospital, and delivered by an uncle who was a doctor, to College Football Hall of Fame offensive lineman Billy Neighbors, the young Neighbors seemed destined to
Story By Maria Rakoczy | Photos By John Few | Living 50 Plus Chickens flying off a rooftop may not be the tradition that immediately comes to mind when you think of Christmas, but in Madison, it’s a nearly one-hundred-year-old tradition beloved by locals that spreads Christmas cheer and gifts to the streets of Madison.
By Teresa Gibbs As we approach the end of 2024, it’s time to reflect on the moments we’ve spent with our loved ones and the memories we created. Did you take your family on an awesome vacation this year? Family vacations are a great way to create those all-important memories that will last a lifetime.
The award-winning Orion Amphitheater announces Holidays at The Orion, a month-long celebration of the festive season. Guests who attend select Holidays at The Orion events can enjoy seasonal snacks & festive beverages, get their photo taken with Santa Claus, participate in a range of activities, purchase from local vendors, and more. For event details and
By Erin Coggins | Living 50 Plus Whether it is a new hobby or a history lesson, it is never too late to learn something new. And those wishing to do so, can look no farther than the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Alabama Huntsville. OLLI is a member-based learning community
Burritt on the Mountain is a fascinating place to visit regardless of the season, but there is just something extra special about Christmas on the mountain. Burritt on the Mountain is a very festive place to visit during the holidays. From the beautiful mansion decorated with a variety of Christmas trees, to the grounds, cabins
Tickets are now available for Huntsville Ballet’s 56th annual production of “The Nutcracker,” accompanied by the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. Performances are scheduled for December 13-15 at the Von Braun Center’s Mark C Smith Concert Hall. The production features Huntsville Ballet’s entire roster of professional dancers, complemented by a cast of over 80 students from Huntsville
This holiday season, Madison Beltone Hearing Aid Center is spreading cheer and enhancing the lives of those with hearing loss, helping them cherish moments with family and friends. In partnership with the Beltone Hearing Care Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity, they are hosting their ‘Hear for the Holidays’ hearing aid giveaway. Through Dec. 31, Madison Beltone
By Bob Labbe | Photos by Joshua Berry | Living 50 Plus Carlos Mathews strives to be the best he can be while being an enormous inspiration to others. Those two facets of his life help drive him not only in his work of a business owner specializing in hosting government contracts, but as an
By Maria Rakoczy | Living 50 Plus BAAM is downtown Huntsville’s newest spot for good food and good nightlife. It’s the newest venture of longtime Huntsville restaurateur Mark Komara. Komara started in the local restaurant and entertainment business forty-one years ago in 1983 with Sports Page Bar and Deli on South Parkway. In 2009, he
By GraciAnn Goodin | Living 50 Plus Grant and Jenny Sweer’s backyard looks like something out of a fairy tale. Immediately after walking past the open gate, a wide expanse of model railroad tracks and miniature figurines and buildings meet the eye. Vibrant flowers and greenery weave throughout. The sound of a small waterfall trickling
By Erin Coggins | Living 50 Plus The Huntsville Hospital Breast Cancer Center is the busiest mammography site in the entire state of Alabama. And thanks to the annual Liz Hurley Ribbon Run, both Huntsville and Madison Breast Centers are fully 3D mammography capable, making breast cancer easier to detect, particularly in dense breast tissue.
By GraciAnn Goodin | Living 50 Plus Margy Pritchett has been an artist for pretty much her entire life. She has always loved painting, especially. She considered it just a hobby, though, and like many hobbies, other things in her life often took precedence. Her husband, Dan, has not always been an artist. Even now
By Cole Sikes, Alabama Extension Service | For Living 50 Plus Many people associate garden chrysanthemums, or mums, with the beginning of autumn. These floral features are already occupying garden centers and front porches around the country. There are tips and tricks to make sure that every mum has maximum longevity. Lucy Edwards, an Alabama
By Bob Labbe | Photos by Joshua Berry | Living 50 Plus Table Tennis is more or less a “grown up version of Ping Pong.” Both versions of the sport are fun, athletic and difficult to master, but since 1983 with the formation of what is known as the North Alabama Table Tennis Club (NATTC),
Huntsville Ballet’s 2024/2025 Alluring Season is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for both the seasoned arts lover and awestruck newcomer. After the raving success of Huntsville Ballet Company’s 60th Season, Huntsville Ballet returns with yet another spectacular season line-up. According to Artistic Director Phillip Otto, audiences should expect a “mysteriously powerful season.” HBC UNPLUGGED October 25, 26,
Story By Maria Rakoczy | Photos By Joshua Berry | Living 50 Plus Sandra Lester is our very own Van Gogh. A skilled artist, a member of the Huntsville Art League, and a Madison resident, Lester creates eye-catching and thought-provoking art that invokes the color and movement of Vincent Van Gogh’s art. Lester’s artwork is
Story By Ava Malone | Photos By Joshua Berry | Living 50 Plus Traveling down the road in Huntsville in 1958, four-year old Bobby, as his mother called him, asked his dad to turn up the radio. Perry Como was singing “Catch a Falling Star.” That moment is one of the first memories Bob Labbe
Story By Erin Coggins | Photos By Cristie Clark | Living 50 Plus Fifteen years ago, Patsy Trigg walked into the STUDIO 60 Senior Center on Drake Avenue for some advice on repairing her grandmother’s swing and she has never left. “The bolt was twisted in the swing, and I couldn’t get it out,” Trigg
Story and Photos By Teresa Gibbs | Living 50 Plus Imagine spending a quiet romantic evening with your loved one in a private, open-air cabana built on the edge of a forest with an amazing view of a mountain lake. Close your eyes and think of breathing in pure, fresh mountain air while soaking in
By Dr. Eddie Miles Louis Smith, MSU Extension | For Living 50 Plus I am always looking for unique plants that brighten the landscape. Scaevola, commonly known as fan flower, is one of those plants. Native to Australia and the Pacific Islands, these plants are popular for their distinctive, fan-shaped flowers, versatile growth habit and
By Gregg Parker | Living 50 Plus A local agency is helping to protect the well-being of senior citizens in the North Alabama region by advising them to avoid dangerous scams and consumer fraud. To hopefully prevent costly fraud, Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments or TARCOG conducted the Senior Medicare Patrol Fraud &
Food Truck Rallies Third Fridays through October • Big Spring Park • www.downtownhuntsville.org Grab your friends, family, or pets and head downtown to enjoy mouthwatering food truck vendors each month. Don’t forget to bring a chair or blanket to sit, eat, and listen to live music. There will also be yard games and activities throughout
Story By Maria Rakoczy | Photos By Joshua Berry| Living 50 Plus Tellini’s Italiano has long been a Huntsville institution, serving fresh, homestyle Italian food to Madison County for 25 years. The restaurant began in 1995 as Tellini’s Pasta Market and opened its first location in Gadsden, Alabama in 1996. The following year, in 1997,
You are never too old to go on a field trip! Looking for a fun day trip idea, during the months of August and September may be the perfect time to take a “hop, skip and jump” to Decatur and experience the Cook Museum of National Science. While area kids go back to school and
The motto for Calypso Vision, the featured group at Burritt on the Mountain’s City Lights & Stars Concert Series on Aug. 30, reveals their music’s genre and the band’s outlook. “A Better Attitude from Another Latitude.” Their motto shows devotion to light-hearted good times, seasoned with a heavy dose of Parrot-head style. Much of their
When dining outside with your loved ones, there are few things better than a tasty dish everyone can enjoy. This Chipotle Chicken Flatbread makes for a perfect al fresco meal. Prepared along with a fresh salad or simply enjoyed by itself, this flatbread is simple to make and even kids will love adding the toppings
It is well documented that physical activity can be beneficial for the body, but what about the effects of exercise on the brain? Exercise enthusiasts will be glad to learn there are some notable ways that physical activity can benefit the brain. A 2018 study published in Frontiers in Psychology indicated that much evidence shows
Raising children is a significant responsibility. Parents know there’s no such thing as a day off, which is why the first day they come home to an empty nest can be so confounding. After roughly two busy and likely hectic decades or more of looking after their children, parents whose sons or daughters have left
Maria Rakoczy | Living 50 Plus When you step into Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, you’re not stepping into an ordinary art gallery. You’re stepping into a full experience that, more than just hanging paintings on a wall, surrounds you in the moving and skillful pieces of Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
From Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association The North Alabama Hallelujah Trail features 32 churches that are at least 100 years old, stand on their original sites, still hold services, and are accessible to the public. These structures paint an immaculate portrait of North Alabama’s history and combine to tell the remarkable story of early Alabamians’
By Gregg Parker | Living 50 Plus Focused on music since the early 1960s, Jim Parker pursued an 8-to-5 career but always cherished the music scene. In fact, Parker’s musical career is still on a high note. In 2001, he founded “Jim Parker’s Songwriters Series” at Bandito Burrito on Main Street in Madison. By 2005,
STUDIO 60 Senior Center, Inc., formerly the Huntsville-Madison County Senior Center, is celebrating a milestone this year. It was created 50 years ago in 1974 when three organizations serving senior citizens were merged. Since 1994, it has been located in a state-of-the-art 47,500 square foot building at Brahan Spring Park. Over the past five decades,
Most people have heard the adage that “laughter is the best medicine.” There are many indications that laughter can be beneficial to the mind and body, and that the perks of laughter and humor are far-reaching. Various professionals have studied the clinical benefits of laughter, including Dr. Lee Berk and Dr. Stanley Tan at Loma
By Erin Coggins | Living 50 Plus Those in the community may recognize Dr. Harry Hobbs as a soldier, a spokesperson for the Huntsville Police Department, a professor and dean, the founder of Community Awareness for Youth (CAFY) and presently as the Vice President of Employee Engagement at Huntsville Utilities. But what they do not
Meals savored with loved ones are intended to produce smiles and shared moments. Take the first step toward bringing back joy and magic while making Sheet Pan Cajun Shrimp Fajitas with Bell Pepper. Recipe courtesy of Albertsons Total time: 30 minutes Servings: 4 2 green bell peppers 2 yellow bell peppers 1 lime 1 medium
By Metro News Safeguarding personal financial data has never been more important, as an increasingly digital world has made online banking much more prevalent. Cybercrimes are a significant concern. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, no less than 422 million individuals were impacted by cyber-crime last year, and nearly 33 billion accounts are anticipated
For the 31st Season, Burritt on the Mountain is welcoming back their long running Summer Concert Series. The City Lights & Stars Concert Series will feature eight concerts this season through September, with musical acts from varying genres. This year’s lineup features a fabulous mix of local hometown favorites and regional talent on the Isenberg
Here’s what they may want to know before navigating twenty-first century dating waters. People are living longer, a reality that can be traced to a number of factors, including advancements in medicine and greater dissemination of information regarding preventive health care. According to data from the United Nations Population Division, the average life expectancy in
By Bob Labbe | Living 50 Plus David Webb continues to follow his road to recovery. The world record-setting powerlifter is currently making headway on his journey after suffering near-death strokes in early 2022 and to the amazement to everyone, including his doctors, Webb is again lifting weights in record form and earlier in 2024