Archive of ‘Community’ category

Books-A-Million contest seeks young authors and artists

Know a high school student with artistic talent? Encourage them to enter Books-A-Million new publishing contest. Image by Joan M. Mas via Flickr/Creative Commons.

Know a high school student with artistic talent? Encourage them to enter Books-A-Million new publishing contest. Image by Joan M. Mas via Flickr/Creative Commons.

By Chanda Temple

Books-A-Million is looking for aspiring artists and authors for its first publishing contest.

Students in grades 9 -12 may enter original poetry, short stories, essays, novels, photography or art for a chance to be published and appear on the shelves at Books-A-Million. Entries must be submitted by March 27, 2015.

Submissions must be at least 40 pages and no more than 800 pages. Entries can be the work of one student or several students.

All entries must be submitted by a faculty representative, with a maximum of five entries per school. The winning schools will receive publishing packages that include help with design and layout, as well as in-store placement. All royalties from book sales will go directly back to the school.

The first, second, and third place winning schools will also receive a donation of books of their choosing. at $3,000, $1,500 and $500, respectively.

Want to know more? Visit http://www.bampublish.com/contest for an application and contest rules.

Chanda Temple is a former journalist now working in public relations. She blogs at http://www.chandatemplewrites.com. Follow her on Twitter at @chandatemple.

A Birmingham coach scores big in basketball and blazers

Emanuel Bell, coach for the girls basketball team at Wenonah High School in Birmingham, Ala, always wears a suit to the playoff games. He's won two straight state championships in the last two years. Photo: By Chanda Temple

Emanuel Bell, coach for the girls’ basketball team at Wenonah High School in Birmingham, Ala, always wears a suit to the playoff games. He’s won two straight state championships in the last two years. He’s now in the running for the best dressed high school basketball coach. Photo: By Chanda Temple

By Chanda Temple

Birmingham, Ala. – Emanuel Bell was dressed for battle when he entered the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex arena to coach the Wenonah High School Lady Dragons to victory in the state 5A basketball finals on Saturday, Feb. 28.

Forget jeans and Jordans. His combat attire was a pressed black suit, white bow tie and polished Stacy Adams.

Fans noticed Bell’s sharp look as soon as he stepped onto the court. And so did al.com, which has him listed as a contestant in its poll for the Best Dressed Basketball Coach in the Alabama high school basketball playoffs. Voting is open now through12 p.m. on Friday, March 6. Go here to vote.

The Lady Dragons are also in the running as Best Girls’ Basketball Team in a separate poll. Go here to vote.

Bell, who’s 60 years old and has been a coach for 21 years, said he’s honored by the recognition and hopes people will vote in both polls. Votes may be cast daily. Here’s a closer look at his dressing skills off the court.  

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Head to Market Noel This Weekend in Birmingham, Alabama

The Junior League of Birmingham's Market Noel is always a fun event.

The Junior League of Birmingham’s Market Noel is always a fun event.

By Chanda Temple

‘Tis the season for giving and the Junior League of Birmingham has a way you can do that and help more than 30 community organizations this weekend.

For the sixth year, the Junior League of Birmingham will present its Market Noel at Cahaba Grand Conference Center, 3660 Grandview Parkway. General admission shopping takes place Friday, Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. More than 90 vendors will be on hand to meet all of your holiday shopping needs over the weekend. Go here for a list of vendors. 

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