The Homewood Star March 2021 by Starnes Media

March 2021 | Volume 11 | Issue 10

Nicole Brannon

Your Community Realtor

Buying or Selling? Call me for a free consultation 205.249.0057 THEHOMEWOODSTAR.COM

From Pen to Paper

HOMEWOOD’S COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE

Nicole@NicoleBrannon.com NicoleBrannon.com

‘EVERYBODY IS EQUAL’

Homewood artist Don Stewart packs big ideas into ballpoint pen pieces.

See page A14

Finishing Strong

Mary Katherine Cabaniss takes a photo of her daughter, Rosemary Cabaniss, and Leona Kenny-Parkman after Cabaniss and Kenny-Parkman represented John Carroll Catholic High School at the girls state wrestling tournament Jan. 23 at Hoover High School. Photo by Erin Nelson. Homewood High’s indoor track and field teams capped off successful seasons at state, setting a new record and earning all-state designations.

See page B2

INSIDE Sponsors .......... A4 News ..................A6 Business .......... A10 Community...... A16 Schoolhouse.... A17

Events.............. A20 Sports.................B2 Opinion............... B7 Real Estate Guide................B8

John Carroll Catholic High starts wrestling cheerleader squad, invites cheerleaders to become wrestlers

By INGRID SCHNADER

or two decades, students enrolled in a private school in Homewood weren’t able to participate in wrestling. The sport had been canceled at John Carroll Catholic High School since 2001. When coaches TJ and Wendy Zito brought the sport back to JCCHS,

they made two discoveries. For one, there was a group of girls interested in cheerleading for the new wrestling team. Most of these girls didn’t have any cheerleading experience. Another unexpected discovery was that some of the wrestling cheerleaders would look at the guys wrestling and say, “I can do that.”

See WRESTLING | page A22

Police chief: Homewood crime rates ‘lowest I’ve ever seen’ By INGRID SCHNADER

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Homewood Police Chief Tim Ross. Crime rates in 2020 saw a sharp decline under Ross’ leadership. Photo by Erin Nelson.

In the early 2000s, the city of Homewood had more than 300 burglaries and more than 100 robberies in a year. When Police Chief Tim Ross stepped into his role in January 2016, crime rates were slightly lower, but the chief nonetheless began searching for ways to further reduce crime. Now Ross is seeing Homewood’s lowest crime rates in the entire 33 years he’s been at the department. Instances of robbery were slashed in half from 24 in 2019 to 12 in 2020.

When Ross became chief, there had been 51 robberies the year before. This means that robberies have decreased by more than 76% under Ross’ leadership. Vehicle theft also saw a sharp decline last year compared to 2019. There were 50 vehicle thefts in 2020, which is a 32% decrease compared to the 74 vehicle thefts that occurred in 2019. Crimes in this category have decreased by more than half since 2015. Although less statistically

See CRIME | page A21

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A2 • March 2021

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A4 • March 2021

About Us Editor’s Note By Ingrid Schnader I’ve been a library cardholder for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid around 2005, I thought the internet was the coolest thing ever, but my parents didn’t have dial-up internet yet. So I memorized my library card number and often begged them to take me to the Trussville Public Library so I could browse the internet for an hour. Don’t worry, I always picked up some novels to read, too, while I was there. To this day, I still remember that library card number, even though it has changed since then. Now I’m in my early 20s and just now realizing how much nicer a library card is in this decade compared to back then. With your library card, you can go online and download audiobooks and e-books in an instant and for free. So now I’ve got e-books I read while I’m on the couch and audiobooks I listen to while I walk my dog. I’ll reach my 2021 reading

goal in no time. Not only that, but because we’re in the Jefferson County Library Cooperative, your one library card gives you access to 41 libraries. There is a DVD in stock for almost any movie you could want to watch. I’ve already seen all the good movies available on the streaming sites because of the coronavirus pandemic, so now an

ideal date for me is to go to the local library and see what DVDs they have available. If your library doesn’t have what you’re looking for, you can go online and get it sent from another Jefferson County library to your local one. The Homewood Public Library was recently recognized as a FourStar Library by Library Journal’s 2020 Index of Public Library Service. The Homewood library is the only one in the state to receive this designation. Homewood is so fortunate to have such a gem in its city. If you don’t already have a library card, visit homewoodpubliclibrary.org/library card. It’s free to apply!

Please Support Our Community Partners Alabama Power (A20, A24) Amanda Dabbs, RealtySouth (B14) ARC Realty - Gallery Brokers (B12) Bedzzz Express (B1, B20) Birmingham Museum of Art (A14) Bromberg’s & Company Inc. (B7) Brookwood Diagnostic Center (B5) Byars-Wright Insurance (B4) Cardinal Roofing (A9) Children’s of Alabama (A19)

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Clayton Browne Orthodontics (A6) Closets by Design (B15) Cremation Center of Birmingham (A16) Dish’n It Out (A7) ENT Associates of Alabama (B4) First Lenders Mortgage Corp. (B13) French Drains Pro (A13) Green Springs Animal Clinic (A12) Guin Service (A8) Gunn Dermatology (A16) HomeRN (A23) Homewood Chamber of Commerce (A17) Homewood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry (A10) Homewood Parks and Rec (B3) Joe Falconer, RealtySouth (B11) Kete Cannon, ARC Realty (B15) LAH Real Estate (B17) Magic City Art Connection (B19)

Runners of all ages take off from the start line as they participate in the 2020 Recovery 5K Trail Run benefiting the Spring Valley School on Jan. 23 at Red Mountain Park. Photo by Erin Nelson.

Publisher: Dan Starnes Managing Editor: Nick Patterson Community Editors: Ingrid Schnader Jon Anderson Jesse Chambers Leah Ingram Eagle Neal Embry Sports Editor: Kyle Parmley Digital Editor: Cathlene Cowart Design Editor: Melanie Viering Photo Editor: Erin Nelson Page Designers: Kristin Williams Ted Perry Contributing Writer: Lauren Denton Account Managers: Layton Dudley Ted Perry Content Marketing Manager: Erica Brock Graphic Designer: Emily VanderMey Local Sales Manager: Gregg Gannon Senior Business Development Exec.: Michelle Salem Haynes Business Development Exec.: Don Harris Client Success Specialist: Anna Bain Marketing Consultants: Warren Caldwell Jamie Lester John Yarbrough Lincoln Reeves Business Administrator: Anna Jackson

Marshall Malone, RealtySouth (A21) Nicole Brannon, ARC Realty (A1, B13) One Man and a Toolbox (A7) Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics (A9) Piggly Wiggly (B18) Red Mountain Theatre Company (B5) Renew Dermatology (A3)

For advertising contact: ggannon@starnespublishing.com Contact Information: Homewood Star P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@starnespublishing.com

Please submit all articles, information and photos to: ischnader@starnespublishing.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253

Published by: The Homewood Star LLC Legals: The Homewood Star is published monthly. Reproduction or use of

editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. The Homewood Star is designed to inform the Homewood community of area school, family and community events. Information in The Homewood Star is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of The Homewood Star. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.

Please recycle this paper.

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March 2021 • A5

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Ask the Doctor Ron MacBeth, DMD Dr. MacBeth lives in Homewood with his wife, Lisa, his two daughters, Vivian and Louise, and fur-baby, Sandy. Dr. MacBeth came to Birmingham in 2006 to attend Birmingham-Southern College. Dr. MacBeth then attended the UAB School of Dentistry. When deciding where to start a practice, Homewood best resembled the tight-knit, family-focused community in which they wanted to live. Dr. MacBeth looks forward to serving this community and hopes to see you soon!

Family Dentist – Dental Care For All Ages In this day and time, it seems we’re all over the place getting the things done our family needs so we can have full and healthy lives. Everything is a speciality, and convenience is difficult to find! Coffee shops, frozen yogurt shops, the gym, the yoga studio, the grocery store, the pharmacy, and the incidental shopping… UGH! Nothing is close together.

to one dentist, and themselves to another one that is across town? It’s hard to find appointments on the same day, in separate offices, with corresponding times so that you can keep everyone on the same schedule! In many cases, mom and dad forfeit their own dental health and needs to take care of the children.

at the hands of a particular specialist, but Dr. MacBeth is equipped to handle treatments ranging from cleanings, fillings, and teeth whitening, to root canals, extractions & dental implants.

This theme has also leaked into the healthcare fields. You have your internal medicine doctor, your neurologist, your orthopedic specialist, your GYN, your dermatologist, and rarely, if ever, are they in the same area, let alone the same building! This goes for dentistry, too. You have all the specialities: orthodontist, prosthodontist, endodontist, periodontist, oral surgeon, pedodontist, pediatric dentists… the list goes on. Who has the time to take kids

Would you like to have all of your family members cared for in one place, in an environment that your kids will actually look forward to visiting? Shades Creek Dental hopes to be that place for you and your family! As a family dentist office, we love providing services to adults and children alike. We should be able to accommodate the majority of your family’s needs. Of course, there can and will be times when we feel your best result will be

We’re easily accessible to many neighborhoods in the Homewood area south of downtown Birmingham, situated in front of Broadway Park Condominiums. We’re open every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, and our office is open Wednesday and Friday by appointment as well. If you’d like to experience the convenience that comes along with same-location appointments with a family dentist, give us a call us today ((205) 236-1862) or contact us here to book your first visit and simplify your schedule.

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Dr. Ron MacBeth with wife Lisa & daughters Vivian & Louise Photo by Sarah Sexton Photography

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The Homewood Star

A6 • March 2021

City

Left: The Magic City Acceptance Academy will be an LGBTQ-affirming environment serving up to 400 students in grades 6-12. Right: The rezoning for the development of townhomes on 18th Street was approved with a controversial 6-5 vote from the Homewood City Council. Screenshots taken by Ingrid Schnader.

Charter school, townhome developments move forward By INGRID SCHNADER Two new developments moved forward in the Jan. 25 Homewood City Council meeting. The council rezoned property at 75 Bagby Drive from a C-1 office building district to a mixed used district to allow for development of the Magic City Acceptance Academy, which will provide a learning environment for LGBTQ students. The academy will be three floors and serve up to 400 students in grades 6-12, said Magic City Acceptance Academy Principal Mike Wilson. It will be open for classes by fall 2021. The Magic City Acceptance Academy is an extension of the Magic City Acceptance Center, a youth LGBTQ center offering free programs, such as art classes, counseling, HIV/STI testing, health and wellness workshops. Wilson said he began to notice that the youth who came to after-school programs were filled with

anxiety because of bullying they encountered at school. “This was due to name calling, threats,” Wilson said. “A lot of them don’t feel like they have adult allies that they can go to and that can help them through situations.” The Magic City Acceptance Academy’s vision statement states it is an LGBTQsafe and affirmative space. Having a vision statement like this is a first for the state and maybe for the country, Wilson said. He has searched for similar vision statements in other schools across the country but hasn’t found any others. “We’re proud to say that Alabama approved this charter school where we are going to serve all students with trauma-informed practice across the board, which is simply a caring and listening practice in the classroom, but it’s also providing the services that kids need, be it a school counselor or an adult that listens,” he

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said. “But we go further than that by providing services for their physical and mental health.” Online applications for students opened Jan. 31. If capacity is reached, the school will run a lottery to choose students. “We know that LGBTQ students are not thriving in schools in Alabama, and we want to change that conversation,” Karen Musgrove, executive director of the Magic City Acceptance Center, said in a release. “The Magic City Acceptance Academy will be a wonderful addition to our LGBTQ programs.” Also in the Jan. 25 City Council meeting, the council voted 6-5 to rezone property at 2510 18th St. S. from a C-2 neighborhood shopping district to an R-7 attached dwelling district to allow for the development of an eight-unit townhome building. The rezone was from C-2 Neighborhood Shopping District to R-7 Attached Dwelling District. The townhome development will include

eight three-story units. Seven units will have one-bedroom floor plans, and one unit will have a two-bedroom floor plan. The first floor of each unit is a parking garage, and each unit will have one or two parking spaces. John Abernathy, president of Blackwater Resources, said the monthly rent for these units will be $2,500-3,000. Under the property’s former C-2 zoning, a developer could have built a car wash or gas station on the property. Those who spoke at the council meeting against the townhome development mentioned concerns about increased property taxes and gentrification of the historic Rosedale neighborhood. Councilors who voted in favor of the rezoning were Andy Gwaltney, Walter Jones, Barry Smith, Jennifer Andress, John Hardin and Alex Wyatt. Voting against the rezone were Melanie Geer, Andrew Wolverton, Carlos Alemán, Nick Sims and Jalete Nelms.

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March 2021 • A7

City recognizes exiting BEZ director, approves stop sign on Hollywood Boulevard By INGRID SCHNADER

Greg Cobb, who retired Feb. 1 from his position as director of building, engineering and zoning, was honored at the Feb. 8 City Council meeting for his 22 years of service. He is pictured here with his wife, Deborah, and Homewood Mayor Patrick McClusky. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Andress.

A four-way stop will soon be added to the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and La Prado Place. Photo by Ingrid Schnader.

After 22 years of service to the city, Greg Cobb, the director of building, engineering and zoning, retired from his position Feb. 1. The Homewood City Council honored Cobb’s service during its Feb. 8 meeting. “He has always been a mentor for many employees, and he has always been known as a fair and honest man,” said Homewood Mayor Patrick McClusky, reading from a proclamation honoring Cobb, at the meeting. Cobb’s countless skills and talents were recognized early in his career, and promotions came quickly, McClusky said. Cobb was first hired on as a senior engineering inspector. He then had roles such as principal engineering inspector, plans examiner and eventually senior plans examiner. “Greg Cobb has earned the affection of a host of area residents who are proud to call him a friend, and his dedication to the best interest of the city has won him the highest regards among his associates,” McClusky said. “Greg Cobb has always been admired by his peers for his ability to solve some of the most difficult issues at a very cost-effective and diplomatic way. He has saved the city untold millions of dollars by not having to outsource many infrastructure projects.” Cobb thanked the council for the sendoff. “Twenty-two years seems like it was just yesterday,” Cobb said. “I’ve been through five or six councils, three mayors, and I’ve worked with every department in the city at one time or another. I’ve spent countless hours with [City Attorney] Mike Kendrick, him trying to keep me out of trouble.

“It has been a joy to work here. I’ve met hundreds of citizens and made a lot of friends.” Also at the meeting, the council approved a proposal from Jettytrip Media to continue providing communications services to the city. Jettytrip Media currently serves the city by managing the audio and video during the city’s Zoom meetings, posting to the city’s social media sites and updating the city’s website. Contracts for these services last three years, Councilor Barry Smith said at the Feb. 1 Finance Committee meeting. There were three bidders for this contract, and Jettytrip Media proposed a cost almost $100,000 less than the other two bidders, Smith said. The council also approved a request to add a four-way stop at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and La Prado Place. This will be the third stop on Hollywood Boulevard, which is a half-mile stretch of road off of U.S. 31. This item was discussed at the Sept. 14 Public Safety Committee meeting, when Councilor Jennifer Andress said the intersection had seen three car accidents in less than 12 months. Clark Bailey, a representative from Kimley-Horn, studied traffic at the intersection, and the Public Safety Committee discussed the report at the Feb. 1 committee meeting. During this meeting, Councilor Andy Gwaltney said there had been another crash at this intersection within the month. Although there were a few opponents of the four-way stop, Andress said residents were “overwhelmingly” in favor of the stop. After the four-way stop is implemented, the intersection will continue being studied to observe its effectiveness.

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The Homewood Star

A8 • March 2021

Clayton and Rachel Mobley, the new owners of the historic Pink House in Homewood, stand in front of the house. Photo by Erin Nelson.

Left: The recipient of the 2020 Firefighter of the Year award, Anthony Whittington, stands with his family. Right: Chris Brown, the 2020 Police Officer of the Year. Photos courtesy of John Carr and Brandon Broadhead.

Pink House property to be resurveyed City employees of the year honored for plans with new construction By INGRID SCHNADER

By INGRID SCHNADER The Planning Commission approved a request to resurvey the historic Pink House property into one lot. Since 2018, the property had been surveyed for five lots, when developer Patrick O'Sullivan announced his plans to tear down the structures on the property and construct five new homes. The home was then purchased by Holley Ellis and her husband Scott in late 2019, and then last year, Clayton and Rachel Mobley purchased the property with plans to restore the Pink House. “To move forward with the plans that they would like to implement, we need to survey it into one large lot,” said Joseph Miller of MTTR Engineers, who was at the Feb. 10 Planning Commission meeting representing the Mobleys. In the supporting documents for the case

in the Planning Commission case packet, a letter from Lissy Frese of CCR Architecture & Interiors written to the city said the Mobleys would like to build a new structure on the property to live in while preserving the Pink House and its gardens for use as a guest house. To pursue the new construction, the Mobleys and their team were looking at requesting many variances, Frese said in the letter. Then another method was suggested that “seemed the best way forward,” and that is for the property to become a community garden, she said. The proposed plans that will require a building permit include a new structure 10 feet from the property line and a new swimming pool at the side of the Pink House. The letter also states that building permits may be required for some of the preservation efforts. The Pink House is located at the corner of Edgewood Boulevard and Roseland Drive.

Recipients of the 2020 Firefighter, Police Officer and City Employee of the Year awards were announced during Mayor Patrick McClusky’s State of the City Address on Jan. 19. Anthony Whittington is the 2020 Firefighter of the Year. Whittington joined the department in February 2014, and he has since been one of the department’s most consistent employees, Battalion Chief Brandon Broadhead said. “He has a good attitude, and he’s always got a great work ethic,” Broadhead said. “He’s the first one to get out when there’s something to be done.” Whittington always goes the extra mile and looks for opportunities to help others, Broadhead said. Chris Brown is the 2020 Police Officer of the Year. He began working for the Homewood Police Department in 2018 — previously, he worked as a police officer in Fairfield and

Fultondale. He serves as an evidence technician, tactical team support member and K-9 support member. In 2020, Brown answered 1,467 calls for service, conducted 569 traffic stops, made 67 misdemeanor arrests, made 31 felony arrests and took approximately 40 weapons off of the streets during arrests. “This is outstanding work, especially during COVID times, when officer-to-citizen contact is diminished some,” Capt. Ben Sutton said. “Officer Brown has been out there getting it, as well as many other officers.” Jujuan Brooks, a refuse truck driver, is the 2020 City Employee of the Year. Lee McLaughlin, assistant director of the Public Works Department, said Brooks began working for the city of Homewood in 2007 as a laborer and worked his way up. “He’s always been a loyal employee and always there when you need him, no matter what time of night it is, or if it’s the holidays, it doesn’t matter,” McLaughlin said. “He’s done very well in his career and in his life.”

TheHomewoodStar.com

March 2021 • A9

Businesses along 18th Street in downtown Homewood. The city completed the fiscal year with a slight revenue surplus, Homewood Mayor Patrick McClusky said. Photo by Erin Nelson.

Mayor reviews COVID-19 impact on city revenues

By INGRID SCHNADER Despite the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily closing some Homewood businesses and affecting the daily lives of many residents, the city still had some things to celebrate when reviewing the fiscal 2020 highlights. The city completed the fiscal year with a slight revenue surplus, Homewood Mayor Patrick McClusky said during his Jan. 19 state-ofthe-city address. Throughout the pandemic, the city did not have to access the $11.4 million Economic Uncertainty Fund, which the mayor and city councilors often refer to as the “rainy day fund.” The General Fund has a fund balance surplus of approximately $27 million. The city spends approximately $150,000 per day to fund its general operations, McClusky said, so the city has about 180 days of operations available in case of a catastrophic event. “We will be carefully monitoring the expenditures to keep from accessing these funds in our cash reserves, which could quickly be depleted based on the numbers you see in front of us,” McClusky said. He said the following city revenues were impacted by the pandemic: ► Sales tax revenue was down 4.6%. ► Lodging tax revenue was down 30%. ► Gasoline tax revenue was down 21%.

► Business license revenue was down 5%. ► Building permit revenue was down 28%. ► Parks and recreation revenue was down 66%. ► Library revenue was down 61%. However, some categories are already looking up in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. When comparing the months of October through December of 2020 to the same months in 2019 (pre-pandemic), sales tax revenue was up by 7%. Liquor and wine taxes were up 14% and 13%, respectively, but these are small revenue items, McClusky said. The city received more than $1.1 million in federal CARES Act money. More than $860,000 of this money went to the general fund to pay for coronavirus-related expenses and payroll. The city was able to pay $370,000 in employee bonuses in fiscal 2020. “Thank you to all of our city employees for the remarkable job that you have done over the course of this last year,” McClusky said. “Homewood has continued to be a place that we are all proud of, and I can say with 100% certainty that it’s because of all the hard work and care that each one of you puts into your duties serving this city we call home. “I have nothing but best wishes to our citizens and our businesses in 2021. Thank you very much, and here’s to a more prosperous year.”

Early Spring Roofing Tips: 1. General Leaks - Check for water stains on your ceilings and in your attic. Pay close attention to places where vents penetrate your roof and where two roofing slopes form a valley. 2. Damaged Shingles - After violent winds, look for missing, lifted, warped or curled shingles. Also check for branches on your roof and shingle fragments in your yard. Shingles have a 12-15 year life and should be inspected frequently after year 10. 3. Gutter Issues - Clogged or damaged gutters redirect the natural flow of water. Both the weight of the gutters and the water flow can cause major roofing issues if left unaddressed. 4. Chimney Issues - Whether you used your fireplace over the winter or not, the winter season is hard on your chimney. Deteriorating chimneys are notorious for causing leaks and should be checked regularly. 5. Critters - Animals become more active in the spring. Hearing critters in your attic could indicate a hole or other damage to your roof.

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The Homewood Star

A10 • March 2021

Business New sensory gym provides OT services for children By INGRID SCHNADER Occupational therapy isn’t just for adults. At BOOST Kids, which opened on Oxmoor Road in January, owner Shea Beshara offers specialized occupational therapy services for children. “We evaluate and treat any kind of developmental skill that is needed for kids to engage in their daily occupations,” Beshara said. These “occupations” for kids include play, school and self-care. For example, Beshara said one relatable issue for many parents is a child who needs feeding therapy. “They either have underlying diagnoses — like autism, Down syndrome or failure to thrive — that we work with to help their nutritional intake,” she said. “But then we have other kids with no underlying developmental delays, no concerns, just what we call ‘problem eaters’ — when you cross over that threshold from picky eating to actually being a real concern.” Beshara said she has seen parents who come in and say their child will only eat six foods. Each child is different, but Beshara said she can begin to tackle this issue by working on the child’s oral motor skills, decreasing anxiety or improving coping strategies. Over the course of therapy with Beshara, children will meet all of their goals, eating multiple types of protein, fruits and vegetables, Beshara said. Parents will excitedly tell Beshara that their children ate their entire school lunch that day, she said. “It’s always really exciting,” Beshara said. “A lot of people will say, ‘Oh, they’ll grow out of it. Everybody has problems eating.’ But think about it from a parent’s perspective and a child’s perspective. We eat on average three meals a day and two snacks. So it’s difficult every single day for five times a day … and it leads to long-term

deficits in other areas.” Another example Beshara shares is handwriting therapy. Maybe the child’s fingers are too weak or their visual motor skills are behind, so they have trouble forming the letters correctly. While this isn’t a severe delay, Beshara said, it impacts the child’s life every day and can lead to the child feeling frustrated in school or comparing themselves to other children. BOOST Kids was originally located in Birmingham and was in one large room. The new Homewood space has four treatment rooms — ideal during the pandemic so children can be spaced out and have individualized sessions — and a custom sensory gym. The gym has stairs, a slide, monkey bars, a zip line, a rock wall, balance beams, swings, a mini trampoline and more. “The whole point of OT across the lifespan is to help clients meet their goals through meaningful occupations, and a kid’s main occupation is play,” Beshara said. “So we use play to meet every goal we set.” The business currently has three occupational therapists, and Beshara said her goal is to hire another occupational therapist as the caseload increases and to also hire a speech therapist in the future. Before the pandemic hit, BOOST Kids offered yoga for children. These services have been put on hold during the pandemic, but Beshara said she is looking for safe ways to bring this back. The skills children can develop in yoga — strength, balance, coordination, body awareness and more — are directly related to what Beshara does in her occupational therapy practice, she said. Beshara is also certified to offer Integrated Listening Systems, an intensive program for children who have delays in several areas. BOOST Kids is located at 1754 Oxmoor Road, and sessions are by appointment only. Visit boostbirmingham.com for more information.

A BOOST Kids client, Gio, plays in one of the office’s playhouses. BOOST Kids opened on Oxmoor Road in January. Photo courtesy of Shea Beshara.

TheHomewoodStar.com

March 2021 • A11

Tempting Faces makeup studio opens in 186 Building in West Homewood

Etc. has been a designer jewelry boutique in Mountain Brook for 35 years. In April, it will open its first Homewood location. Photo by Ingrid Schnader.

By INGRID SCHNADER A new permanent makeup studio opened in West Homewood in December. Temperance Griffith, owner of Tempting Faces, has been a makeup artist in the Birmingham area for seven years. She started working in the permanent makeup business two years ago and offers services such as microshading, combination brows, eyeliner, lip blush and scalp micropigmentation. Permanent makeup is technically not permanent, Griffith said. If a client decides he or she no longer wants the brows or eyeliner, it will fade over time. Another misconception about permanent makeup is that it’s painful. Griffith said she has specific techniques to ensure a comfortable session. A majority of her clients fall asleep during the procedure, she said. Even before the COVID19 pandemic, Griffith had many cleaning procedures Tempting Faces owner Temperance Griffith stands in her in place. Because her proWest Homewood salon Feb. 3. Photo by Ingrid Schnader. fession involves putting ink into someone’s bloodstream, she takes it very seriously, she said. All equip- their confidence is restored or just giving them ment is sanitized after each client. During the an extra boost of confidence,” she said. Her business opened in the 186 Building pandemic, she also added mask requirements, and only one client is currently allowed in the on Oxmoor Road on Dec. 13, and she said she loves her friendly neighbors and the overall studio at a time. One of her favorite things about working in community support. Griffith offers consultations to discuss any the business is making women feel beautiful procedure free of charge. For more informaabout themselves, she said. “I enjoy the way their faces light up when tion, visit temptingfaces.com.

Etc. to open Homewood storefront in April By INGRID SCHNADER Another retailer has announced plans to open in the 186 Building on Oxmoor Road. Etc. first opened 35 years ago in Mountain Brook as a small designer jewelry boutique. Owner Meg Margjeka and her husband Armand bought the store in 2010, and since then, they have expanded it into the adjacent space and have also opened an Etc. store in Aspen, Colorado, where they currently live. Armand also previously owned Woodlawn Cycle Cafe, and after it closed in August, Armand began looking to open a new neighborhood takeaway market and wine shop. He decided to open a new concept, called Buka, in the 186 Building. Meg soon after decided to bring the Etc. storefront next door to her husband’s concept in Homewood. “After getting to know the community even better, we decided we loved what it has to offer and thought why not finally open up next to each other like we had always dreamed to do,” Meg said. “Armand is designing both the Buka and Etc. spaces and has always been the lead in the Etc. design and feel for Mountain Brook and Aspen as well.”

Meg is proud of the designers that Etc. carries, she said. Etc. is the only retailer in Alabama for many of the designer lines the storefront carries, and Etc. is also the largest independent account for almost all of them, she said. “We strive to offer unique mixes of the best of the best in designer brands but in a nonintimidating way. It’s so much more fun to look at jewelry lines in a creative space with all sorts of clothing, shoes and homewares rather than a stuffy jewelry store,” she said. “We really love our clients and take great pride in helping them choose the right pieces and build wardrobes, both jewelry and clothing.” She is excited to jump in and said the Homewood storefront will have its own unique look and feel. “Each time we expand, we really take into consideration the general needs of the clientele and want to create a space that is a fun and inspiring spot to visit,” she said. “We look forward to being closer to lots of our existing friends and clients but also to meeting many more and developing those relationships.” The storefront has an anticipated opening date of April 1. Visit shopetcjewelry.com for more information.

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The Homewood Star

A12 • March 2021

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Homewood Nutrition, 709 Oak Grove Road, had a grand opening Feb. 8. The shop sells loaded shakes, teas and more. 205-332-0303, homewoodnutrition.com

Bandwagon, a new community-based sporting goods and sports apparel retail store, has recently opened its doors at 2905 Linden Ave. Bandwagon is currently operating out of a temporary location in Homewood and will be moving this spring into the retail space formerly occupied by Sike’s Children’s Shoes on 18th Street. bandwagonsports.com

The Valley Hotel, 2727 18th St. S., opened mid-February. The hotel has three dining concepts, 129 guest rooms and 7,000 square feet of meeting and event space. valleyhotelbirmingham.com

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TheHomewoodStar.com Club4Fitness, a Mississippi-based fitness club chain, planned to have a new location open at 265 Lakeshore Parkway, Suite C, by the end of February in the former location of Super Pets, next to Hobby Lobby, regional manager Cory Norris said. The club should include cardio equipment, powerlifting, a CrossFit section, virtual and live classes, child care and 24-hour access, Norris said. Club4Fitness opened a location in Inverness in the summer of 2020 and plans to open a location on John Hawkins Parkway in Hoover in three to four months, Norris said. 205-407-1677, club4fitness.com

Coming Soon Etc., a store selling jewelry, accessories and clothing, will open a location this spring at 186 Oxmoor Road in West Homewood. The Homewood storefront will be the store’s third location. Other stores are in Mountain Brook and in Aspen, Colorado. 205-871-6747, shopetcjewelry.com

Manduu Birmingham, a fitness boutique, will open soon in the storefront above Swaddle at 2825½ 18th St. S. This exercise concept uses electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) technology to deliver a strength training program for all ages and fitness levels, said Paul Payne of Manduu Birmingham. 678-613-2347, manduu.com

Rolls Homewood and Meals By Misty will be moving into a space at 2900 Crescent Ave. “We will be your one-stop shop for gourmet casseroles and made-fromscratch rolls in 2021,” Rolls Homewood wrote in an Instagram post. mealsbymisty.com and rolls-homewood.myshopify.com

New Ownership Sneaky Pete’s, 240 Oxmoor Circle, reopened in February under new ownership. According to posts on the shop’s Facebook page, it went through more than one month of cleaning and renovations, such as new flooring, fresh paint on the walls and new kitchen equipment. 205-739-2223, facebook.com/sneakypeteoxmoor

News and Accomplishments Food & Wine Magazine named the best doughnuts in every state, and Hero Doughnuts & Buns, 3027 Central Ave., secured the No. 1 spot for Alabama. In addition to hand-punched doughnuts, the eatery also sells

March 2021 • A13 burgers, salads, sandwiches and more. 205-623-1017, herodoughnutsandbuns.com Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive, is ranked first in Alabama and among the best private universities nationally for its return on investment for students, according to a recent report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. 205-726-2011, samford.edu

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Personnel Moves Abbas Merchant has joined Regions as chief marketing officer, replacing Michele Elrod, who retired in January after a 37-year career with the bank. Merchant comes to Regions after serving at M&T Bank as group vice president of consumer and business marketing and customer analytics and sciences. There, he developed the company’s marketing and communications vision and strategy. Before his 12 years at M&T, Merchant led analytics and other marketing operations at U.S. Bancorp and the Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. Regions has local branches at 1 Independence Plaza, 601 Lakeshore Parkway, 100 Green Springs Highway and 1118 Royal Tower Drive. regions.com

Dr. Vincent Michael Bivins was recently announced as the new president of Urology Centers of Alabama, 3485 Independence Drive. Bivins has been a member of the team of doctors at UCA for 18 years. As president, Bivins provides leadership to the board of directors, shareholders and providers of UCA. 205-930-0920, urologycentersalabama.com

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Anniversaries Byars | Wright, a family-owned independent insurance agency that has an office at 1701 28th Ave. S. in Homewood, is celebrating 75 years in business. The Homewood office has been open since 2019. Byars | Wright focuses on commercial insurance but also sells personal insurance policies. 205-417-1321, byarswright.com

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Cook Out, 281 Lakeshore Parkway, is celebrating the first year of its first Birmingham-area location in Homewood. The fast-food restaurant is known for its large portions and cheap prices. 866-547-0011, cookout.com

Battle Republic, a boutique boxing gym at 2800 18th St. S., celebrated its second anniversary Feb. 1. 205-307-0558, battlerepublic.com

’20 data reflects ‘vibrant’ real estate market in Homewood By INGRID SCHNADER Real estate data from 2020 shows that Homewood is a very vibrant city, Mayor Patrick McClusky said during his Jan. 19 state-of-the-city address. The median home value in Homewood was $432,380 at the time of McClusky’s address, according to the National Association of Realtors. There has been a 7.5% increase in median home value in the city since the begin- According to the Birmingham Association of Realtors, there were 436 homes sold in Homewood in 2020, and ning of 2020. the average selling price was $467,378, Mayor Patrick “That’s just an absolutely McClusky said. Photo by Ingrid Schnader. remarkable number,” McClusky said. According to the Birmingham Association of residents can walk to nearby shops and restauRealtors, there were 436 homes sold in Home- rants. This walkability, in addition to well-kept wood in 2020, and the average selling price was parks and recreation areas, is one leading reason for home buying in this city, McClusky said. $467,378, McClusky said. Homebuyers love Homewood’s award-winHomes were on the market for a median time of five days in 2020, and 170 of the 436 homes ning school system, McClusky said. Homewood City Schools was named the No. 1 school district sold last year were sold within two days. “I think this shows that Homewood is a very in the Birmingham area for 2021 by Niche. U.S sought-after place to live in,” McClusky said. News and World Report lists Homewood High “I’m so thankful for everyone that is here in School as the No. 4 high school in Alabama. The Homewood and the job they’ve done over school system also has 42 teachers certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching this past year.” Homewood is an attractive city to homebuyers Standards. Homebuyers also cite close proximity to Birfor many reasons. Walkscore.com listed Homewood as the most walkable city in Alabama in mingham; the charm and character of Homewood’s 2020, and more sidewalks continue to be built housing supply; and a family-centric, tight-knit in the city. From many homes in Homewood, community atmosphere as leading reasons for children can walk to school or to the park, and buying a home in Homewood, McClusky said.

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The Homewood Star

A14 • March 2021

FROM PEN TO PAPER

Homewood artist Don Stewart packs big ideas into ballpoint pen pieces

By INGRID SCHNADER

When you first look at one of local artist Don Stewart’s drawings, you might see one big picture — whether it be a photo of an animal, a musical instrument, a soldier or something else. But take a closer look, and you’re bound to find dozens, maybe even hundreds, of smaller drawings tightly packed into the larger drawing. “I want people to be able to see what they think they see, and then the closer they get and the more time they spend, they get more rewards from it,” Stewart said. One of his professors from his time at Birmingham-Southern College observed that his artwork had an element of time to it that isn’t usually present in visual artwork. “If you’re going to listen to the radio, you start to listen to the song or program, and you listen all the way through, and there’s a time investment. Same with dance and movies,” he said. “But with visual art, you might take a look and move on. … You usually get it in one snap. He pointed out to me that my pictures were different — they require you to stand and scratch your head for a bit.” Stewart’s goal through his artwork is to find bad jokes and make them stick to paper, he said. For example, his piece called “Black Beary Bush” is a bear head made out of bushy leaves and blackberries. His “Baby Grand Piano” piece is a grand piano composed of assorted baby toys and infant care items. All of Stewart’s pieces are drawn with a ballpoint pen, and he jokes that he is “terribly unschooled” in other forms of media. Stewart wasn’t an artist throughout his childhood and didn’t originally go to college for the purpose of learning art. He instead went to BSC for pre-med.

“While I was in pre-med, I took a basic drawing course, and that kind of ruined me for medicine,” he said. The head of the department called him into his office and tried to convince Stewart that he was an illustrator, telling him he “has no business in the science building.” He convinced Stewart to take more art classes. In total, he took three art courses during his undergraduate studies at BSC. During one of his final exams, his assignment was to make one large picture out of smaller pictures. “If there was a defining moment for me, that was it,” he said. He chose to draw a portrait of

Pablo Picasso made out of objects lying around the studio. It was incredibly fun and satisfying, he said. “I thought man, this must be what medical school will be like,” he said, laughing. “A lot of thinking and a lot of planning, and you come up with a solution, and you offer it to your patient, and everyone’s happy. As it happened, medical school was not like that at all. The amount of creativity that goes into medical school is the amount of creativity that goes into what color tie you’re going to wear in the morning.” He graduated from UAB with a degree in medicine and went to the Mayo Clinic for his

Don Stewart works in his Homewood studio. He first draws his artwork in pencil and then outlines the drawing in ink. Photo by Ingrid Schnader.

surgical residency, but he said that’s all he could stand. “By the time I got into my residency, they had taken away all of my creative time,” he said. “I literally had a 24-7 call schedule, and that doesn’t give you time to do anything.” He left the hospital and went into art, which has now been his career for 36 years. Stewart has lived in Homewood for 19 years and has a gallery downtown at 2805 Crescent Ave. He shares this gallery with his wife, Sue Ellen Brown, whose colorful illustrations are juxtaposed with Stewart’s black-and-white ballpoint pen illustrations. Visit dsart.com for more information.

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TheHomewoodStar.com

March 2021 • A15

Above: The Homewood Public Library began in 1941, 80 years ago, in a room at City Hall. Left: Before opening at its current location, the Homewood Public Library previously was where Prime Time Treasures is now located. Photos courtesy of Judith Wright.

Homewood Public Library celebrates 80 years By INGRID SCHNADER March 2021 marks 80 years of the Homewood Public Library serving the community. Back in 1941, the library was just a room in Homewood City Hall. It later moved to 1755 Oxmoor Road, where Prime Time Treasures is currently located, and then the library moved in the ’90s to its current spot at 1721 Oxmoor Road. In celebration of the library’s birthday, the library has planned some pandemic-friendly activities. For one, the community is invited to create a birthday card for the library throughout March and mail the cards to 1721 Oxmoor Road. These cards will be on display at the library for visitors to view. The Homewood Library Foundation Board is providing giveaways for the month of March including HPL tote bags, HPL notebooks and birthday candy. Also, the library is taking an idea from the New York Public Library. In celebration

of its 125th birthday, NYPL highlighted 125 “NYC Books We Love.” HPL will have a similar event, highlighting 80 top library books throughout March. Library Director Deborah Fout, who has been the director for 35 years, said she has often seen the library hit milestones and earn awards throughout the years. “For 80 years now, this library has been so important to the city of Homewood and an important member of the Jefferson County Library Cooperative,” she said. In 2014, HPL was the first library in Alabama to receive a Gold Level Standard Award from the Alabama Library Association, which is the highest award achievable with the association. HPL received this award again in 2017 and is the only library in the state to receive two of these awards. The library has also received accolades from Library Journal. HPL received a Four-Star ranking from Library Journal in 2020, in addition to

a Four-Star ranking in 2009, a Five-Star ranking in 2010 and another Four-Star ranking in 2015. The library has been innovative in technology. In 2016, HPL was the first library in Jefferson County to have interactive self-checkout machines. The library was also the first library in Jefferson County to use self-checkout as the primary method for checking out materials. It was the first library in the county to have an app for smartphones and tablets. It was also one of the first to offer streaming video and audio content for patrons. Fout said this has been particularly helpful during the pandemic, when some people are hesitant to visit in person or check out physical materials. “This particular year with COVID-19 has been unprecedented, but I always tell people who want to work in libraries that you have to enjoy change because it changes constantly,” Fout said. HPL is also an important library for those who enjoy studying outer space. HPL was

the only library in Alabama to be awarded a NASA@ My Library Grant in 2017. HPL is the only public library in the state to be part of NASA’s Lunar and Meteorite Lending Program. Judith Wright, the library’s assistant director, has been certified by NASA to receive these samples to share with the public. The library is also the first library in the state to circulate telescopes. “I’m really proud to be a part of this library,” Fout said. “I think the community of Homewood is lucky to have this library, and I know they appreciate it because we hear from them all the time, and we appreciate the community as well. Our council and mayor have been so supportive of our library as well. We’ve been really blessed, and we want to continue doing an outstanding job for the community. “We’ve had a great first 80 years, and I know the second 80 will be just as good.” Visit homewoodpubliclibrary.org for more information.

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The Homewood Star

A16 • March 2021

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The Homewood Public Library has been recognized as a Four-Star Library by Library Journal’s 2020 Index of Public Library Service. This is the 13th year Library Journal has evaluated public libraries on physical/digital circulation, visits, program attendance, internet/ wireless use and electronic retrievals, per capita. Out of the 5,608 qualified libraries, only 262 libraries received Star Library rankings. Of the six libraries in Alabama that received star rankings, Homewood Public Library is the only one to receive a Four-Star rating. This is not the first time the library has been recognized by LJ for exemplary standards. The library was deemed a Four-Star Library in 2009 and 2015 and a Five-Star Library in 2010. Deborah Fout, director of the Homewood

Public Library, said she was ecstatic at the news of the rating. “Through the years, the Homewood Public Library has received numerous awards at the local, state and national level,” she said. “To receive another Four-Star ranking from Library Journal is an honor for us. As the library director, I feel a great source of pride for the work we do at the Homewood Public Library. Our accomplishments result from having a very talented and hardworking staff, a dedicated Library Board, and a city that cares.” The Homewood Public Library continues to offer service and resources to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The library is committed to making sure that all users have access to the best resources available, officials said in a statement. – Submitted by Judith Wright.

Rishabh Lingala achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at Dawson Church Troop 83 in December. Rishabh’s leadership roles in the troop included Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Lingala Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, Chaplain’s Aide and Instructor. He earned 21 merit badges. Rishabh has earned the Arrow of Light as a Cub Scout. Rishabh completed many high adventure trips, including Sea Base and Philmont, on which he was the Chaplain’s aide. For his Eagle Scout project, Rishabh renovated a powder room to be used for storage by The Sanctuary Apostolic Pentecostal Church. He removed everything from the powder room including sink, plumbing, mirror and tile. He put up drywall and painted. Rishi also built and painted wooden shelves for the room. This project allows the church to be able to have a storage room for equipment and supplies to support the activities of the youth program. Rishabh is a senior at Vestavia Hills High School and is a member of the Speech and Debate Team. His parents are Vomsi and Sudha Lingala. – Submitted by Marilyn Henry.

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March 2021 • A17

Schoolhouse Have a schoolhouse announcement? Email Ingrid Schnader at ischnader@starnespublishing.com to be considered for inclusion in an upcoming issue.

OLS STUDENTS SUPPORT 8TH GRADE TEACHER AFFECTED BY FULTONDALE TORNADO

First and second graders at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School were recently inspired by a book written by Pope Francis. Photo courtesy of Mary Stephens Pugh.

OLS students write letters to Pope Francis

First and second graders at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School were recently inspired by a book written by Pope Francis. After OLS librarian Karen Sullivan read them the book “Dear Pope Francis: The Pope Answers Letters from Children Around the World,” the students wrote letters of their own to the pontiff.

“The students were so interested in the children featured in the book, their photos and ages and where they lived,” Sullivan said. “And they could tell from the way Pope Francis answered the letters that he has great affection and respect for children. I’ve never seen them more eager to write or more inspired.” – Submitted by Mary Stephens Pugh.

Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School students recently supported a teacher affected by the Fultondale tornado. When eighth grade teacher Renee Williams’ home was destroyed by the EF-3 tornado that ripped through Fultondale, the school immediately stepped in to help. They created a fundraiser for the school community and others to provide monetary donations for the Williams family. Her eighth grade class created a special banner to show their love and support as her family begins to rebuild their lives. Donations are being received for the family through Venmo @ OLS8thgrade or by check addressed to OLS School at 1720 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, AL 35209. Photo courtesy of Mary Stephens Pugh.

The Homewood Star

A18 • March 2021 Homewood City Schools announced the 2020-21 Teachers of the Year: Alli Phelps, right, HCS Elementary Teacher of the Year, and Melissa Dameron-Vines, far right, HCS Secondary Teacher of the Year. Phelps teaches English Learners classes at Shades Cahaba Elementary School, while Dameron-Vines teaches French II and Pre-AP English 10. Photos courtesy of Merrick Wilson.

School system announces teachers of year By INGRID SCHNADER Homewood City Schools announced the 2020-21 Teachers of the Year: Alli Phelps is the Elementary Teacher of the Year, and Melissa Dameron-Vines is the Secondary Teacher of the Year. Both teachers began teaching at Homewood in the late ’90s, and both said they knew when they were children that they would wanted to be teachers. “I just always knew that’s what I was going to be,” Dameron-Vines said. For Phelps, who teaches English Learners classes at Shades Cahaba Elementary School, a desire to become a teacher can be traced back to her favorite tree in her parents’ backyard in Georgia when she was a child. “I would hang out at that tree and take my book with me, and I remember in first, second and third grade really getting into reading,” she said. “I had that feeling that a book could take me anywhere. “I remember talking to the tree about whatever book I was reading,” she added, laughing. “When I got older, I realized my imaginary tree friend couldn’t talk back to me.” But she still had the desire to talk with others about what she was reading — “the stories, and the characters and the setting,” she said. This mindset led her to want to be an English major in college and then led her to want to become a teacher. She was also interested in traveling and learning about other people and cultures. She had the opportunity to teach in Australia while she was a graduate student at Auburn University, and although the students were in high school, many of her students were international and introduced Phelps to teaching English as a foreign language. “I was like, oh my gosh, this is an amazing profession that I didn’t know about at the time,” she said. “I just fell in love with learning about different people, teaching them English and getting to know their cultures. It was fascinating to me.” She got married after returning from Australia, and when researching places to live together, she and her husband discovered Homewood and decided they might both like living there.

From left: Jenna Campbell of Hall-Kent Elementary; Detra Gilliam of Edgewood Elementary; and Reba Hudson of Homewood Middle School were also honored as teachers of the year for their schools.

Phelps started at Homewood High School in 1999. She taught “a little bit of everything,” she said. She started with English and study strategies, and then she began teaching language development classes, which were like study halls for people who spoke different languages. “Those kids were awesome — we had a great time teaching that class,” she said. “We still keep up with many of them today. It’s so fun to see your students thrive and become citizens and do great things. It’s really affirming to have that.” She then got her TESOL certification, which stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, through an immersion program in Venezuela. Then after having children, Phelps took a break from teaching and resigned from HCS. But during this time, Phelps let her certification lapse — even though she had two master’s degrees, she hadn’t kept up with required professional development. She went back to school, this time at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. It turned out to be a great experience for her, she said. “It really got me motivated to get back in the classroom,” she said. She went part time at the high school. Then a friend who taught at Shades Cahaba asked her to consider taking his position as an English Learners teacher. She came and observed, and after one day, she

knew she never wanted to leave. “How did I not know this is what it was like?” she said. “Up until that point, all of my work with English learners had been teenagers or adults. What I realized very quickly was that [elementary teaching] was where I was supposed to be.” Over the years, Phelps has grown as a teacher in many ways, she said. She remembers being young and fresh out of college and wanting to share with her students all the things she learned in school. What she learned, though, is that a lot of the job is the stuff you can’t teach. “So much of it is relating to people; and finding humor in situations that are challenging and difficult; and having hope, especially this year,” she said. Getting the Teacher of the Year award right now, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, is especially affirming, she said. “We’re tired,” she said, tears forming in her eyes. “Not to speak for all the teachers out there, but we are working so hard to make school normal and to make it fun and engaging and do it all. The life experiences I’ve had — the experiences I’ve had within this community and getting to know the families I work with and the more marginalized populations — it’s made me into a different person. A better person. They make me want to be better all the time.”

SECONDARY TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Unlike Phelps, Dameron-Vines grew up in Homewood and went through the school system as a child. “Even as a young kid, I just remember feeling like my teachers truly knew who I was, saw me as that individual and worked with me that way,” she said. “I never felt like a number. I always felt like they truly knew who I was, and I felt like that all the way through.” As she grew older, she became more attracted to teaching as a profession because it’s a career that allows one to gain knowledge and explore curiosities. She enjoys sharing that passion with her students, she said. “That electricity that happens when they’re engaged, when I can see the lightbulb come on, it’s very exciting,” she said. Dameron-Vines teaches French II and Pre-AP English 10 and is the yearbook advisor for the high school. She started teaching at Homewood in 1996, just a few years before Phelps also started at Homewood High School. Like Phelps, Dameron-Vines also said she’s grown over the years. “I have learned that the relationships — with my students, my colleagues, with the families — that is just as important as what I am teaching them,” she said. “It all has

to go hand in hand. I can’t prioritize the content over the people. To do the content well, I have to know my people well.” Although the past year has been extra challenging, Dameron-Vines said she feels grateful and honored to be a part of the experience. “To be able to say later on in life: ‘Yes, with my colleagues, we worked through that together. We did it together. We figured it out,’” she said. “I love the creativity of teaching and the fact that it’s never what you think it’s going to be. You’ve got to be willing to jump in, and this is the same way.” At first, she worried there wouldn’t be a sense of community through virtual classrooms, but Dameron-Vines said there has been. “I feel like I know those kids just as well as if they were in my room.”

INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS

The school system also honored teachers of the year at each individual school: ► Edgewood Elementary: Detra Gilliam ► Hall-Kent Elementary: Jenna Campbell ► Shades Cahaba Elementary: Alli Phelps ► Homewood Middle: Reba Hudson ► Homewood High: Melissa Dameron-Vines

TheHomewoodStar.com

HCS names director of instruction Homewood City Schools announced Cristy York as the director of instruction for Homewood schools. York has been a part of HCS since 2003 and has served as a middle school social studies teacher, assistant principal for instruction and the district’s director of student services. As a teacher at Homewood Middle School, York quickly became a leader in her grade and school. When Homewood began its longterm initiative to develop teacher-written learning tarHomewood City Schools announced Cristy York as the gets based on course of study director of instruction. Photo courtesy of Merrick Wilson. standards, York represented social studies teachers at HMS in facilitating and developing those tar- University of Georgia and is a Nationally Board gets and led professional learning sessions with Certified teacher. She was selected as a member secondary teachers from the middle and high of Homewood’s administrative cohort program, school. and she completed her master’s and educational In 2016, York was selected as the assistant specialist degrees in instructional leadership at principal for instruction for HMS. During her Samford University and the University of West time in that position, she implemented a new, Alabama. York is currently pursuing her docthree-tiered intervention program covering torate in education from Samford University. academic and behavioral interventions. Addi“Mrs. York has proven to be an impressive tionally, she led HMS on a multiyear journey leader for the Homewood School System,” examining and implementing effective grading Superintendent Justin Hefner said. “She has a practices, building consensus within the faculty strong understanding of our instructional pracalong the way. tices and priorities and is well prepared to direct As director of student services, York has pro- the instructional program in Homewood City vided direct leadership over Homewood’s new Schools. She will continue to help ensure that federal grant, the Project Aware Grant, which Homewood remains a leader in innovation in outlines an elaborate integration of academic our state.” and behavioral interventions, complete with tarAs the director for instruction, York will geted counseling services for students. Among be responsible for leading and directing curother things, York manages Homewood’s riculum and instruction for all grade levels of textbook adoption process and has provided Homewood City Schools. Her primary duties valuable instructional leadership this year as will include collaborating with administrators Homewood developed its own unique instruc- and teachers in order to ensure Homewood stutional roadmap for the coronavirus pandemic. dents continue receiving the highest quality of York earned her bachelor’s and master’s instruction. degrees in Social Science Education from the – Submitted by Merrick Wilson.

March 2021 • A19

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The Homewood Star

A20 • March 2021

Events Rumpshaker 5K moves to Homewood By INGRID SCHNADER A 13th annual Birmingham-area race will be in Homewood this year for the first time. The Rumpshaker 5K, which raises funds to fight and treat colorectal cancer, will be March 27 in downtown Homewood. The race starts and ends in front of Zoë’s Kitchen on 29th Avenue South. Racers will run or walk past the CVS on U.S. 31, past Central Park, behind Trinity United Methodist Church and The Rumpshaker 5K, which raises funds to fight and then back to downtown Hometreat colorectal cancer, will be March 27 in downtown wood for a 5K loop. Homewood. Photo courtesy of Jacky Turner. In the past, the race has been held in Mountain Brook, downtown Birmingham and at Regions Field. Jacky Turner, the development assistant for Rumpshaker Inc., said she is excited about Rumpshaker 5K bringing the race to Homewood. “Homewood is a very race-friendly com• DETAILS: 5K race that raises funds munity,” she said. “I walked the route myself, to fight and treat colorectal cancer and I’m excited about the change of scenery.” • WHERE: Starts and ends in front of The event had to be scaled back this year. Zoë’s Kitchen on 29th Avenue South The race usually sees 3,000 participants, but • WHEN: March 27; race start bethis year the 5K in-person event is limited to gins in waves at 8 a.m. 500 participants because of the COVID-19 • COST: $45 for in-person race; $35 pandemic, Turner said. The race will also have for virtual race a waved start and will require masks before • EMAIL: jacky.turner@rumpshaker and after the race to limit stop the spread of 5k.com the coronavirus. • WEB: rumpshaker5k.com The event added 100- and 200-mile challenges this year. This gives participants a challenge to hike, bike, walk or run the miles over the course of one, three or six months. Miles will be open for registration for $35 through are logged using the honor system. Registra- March 26. For more information, visit rumpshaker5k. tion for these events closed in January. Late registration (March 1-27) for the 5K com. For assistance, email Turner at jacky. in-person event is $45. The virtual option turner@rumpshaker5k.com.

Exceptional Foundation to host new kick-off event By INGRID SCHNADER For the past 16 years, supporters of the Exceptional Foundation have marked the first Saturday in March in their calendars for the annual Exceptional Foundation Chili Cook-Off. This year, because of the pandemic, event organizers were advised to hold off on the event for a couple of months. The cook-off will be May 1 this year, but the Exceptional FounServings of chili at the Epic Insurance Brokers tent dation is introducing a new event this year for March 6: The Chili are topped with corn chips during the Exceptional Foundation Chili Cook-Off in March 2020 at Brookwood KICK-Off. “We view the chili cook-off as Village. Photo by Ingrid Schnader. kicking off the spring season, as people get outdoors and stuff like that, so we wanted to still hold on to that first Saturday in March,” said Robbie Lee, the public relations The Chili KICK-Off director for the Exceptional Foundation. “After some discussions with local breweries, we fig• WHERE: Avondale Brewing Co. ured that was a natural partnership to make.” • WHEN: March 6, noon to 6 p.m. The Chili KICK-Off will have food, beer • COST: $20 and music. It will feature three bands: The • WEB: exceptionalfoundation.org/ Wooks, The Schmohawks, and Will Cash and chili Matthew Carroll. “It’s going to be a low-key affair. The main thing is that proceeds will benefit the Exceptional Foundation, the programs we run and vans for field trips or stocking the pantry with the participants we serve,” Lee said. snacks, Lee said. The Exceptional Foundation is a nonprofit “Every dollar counts, and everything defiorganization in Homewood serving individuals nitely makes a huge difference in the life of a with special needs from the greater Birming- child or an adult with an intellectual disabilham area. Proceeds from the KICK-Off and ity,” Lee said. Cook-Off go to many different things, such as Visit exceptionalfoundation.org/chili for buying board games, putting gasoline in the more information.

Open the blinds or shades and let the sunshine in to naturally heat your home. For more ways to stay energy efficient when at home, visit alabamapower.com/tips. APC-EEF 02/2021

TheHomewoodStar.com

March 2021 • A21 Homewood Police Chief Tim Ross in his office. Ross attributes the decrease in crime to the officers on the street and said their dedication to duty is unmatched. Photo by Erin Nelson.

CRIME

CONTINUED from page A1 significant than the previous categories, instances of burglary and the unauthorized breaking and entering of vehicles also decreased in 2020 compared to 2019. There were 12 fewer instances of burglary and six fewer instances of auto burglary in 2020 than the previous year. There were no homicides in 2020, compared to one homicide in 2019. There have been three total homicides in the city since 2015. Crime in these five categories decreased by approximately 18% in 2020 compared to 2019 and by almost 63% since 2015. “During my 33-year career, these are some of the lowest crime figures that I’ve ever seen at the Homewood Police Department,” Ross said. “I am very proud because I know Homewood’s history, and I know where we were in terms of crime in the city. To get to where we are now is better than anything I ever could have imagined when I took over as chief in 2016.” While presenting the state-ofthe-city address Jan. 19, Homewood Mayor Patrick McClusky commended the department on the city’s significant decrease in crime. “These are record lows in these categories, and they have been getting consistently lower year over year,” he said. “The men and women of the Homewood Police Department work very hard to keep our citizens and businesses safe day in and day out, and I’m so proud to see these continued declines in these categories.” Ross attributes the decrease in crime to the officers on the street and said their dedication to duty is unmatched. This reduction in crime also comes during “unprecedented

times,” Ross said, as officers had to continue meeting their goals amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “It presented a lot of challenges for us, not only for their own safety, but also enforcing different mandates put out by the state and the federal government concerning guidelines, mask-wearing and things like that,” Ross said. “It’s a testament to our whole Police Department — everyone who works here and contributes to our mission. It’s a testament to their professionalism and dedication that they could continue to do their job in the way they did it last year, even facing these new challenges and dangers.” Another thing that helped police officers in 2020 compared to

Homewood Crime Rates: 2015-20

Burglary

Robbery

UBEV

Vehicle theft

2015 241 51 284 106

Homicide 0

2016 181 41 222 86

2017 110 29 181 109

2018 127 31 187

119

2019 82 24 128

2020 70 12 122

SOURCE: HOMEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT

previous years was moving into the new police headquarters building on Valley Avenue, which is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and amenities. Having a presence in

West Homewood could have also deterred crime specifically in that area, Ross said. Looking to the future, Ross said the department will continue to strive

for ways to further decrease crime. “We’re never comfortable to have any amount of crime,” he said. “We’ve set new goals to try to reduce things even further, and that’s what we’ll always try to do.” Every officer in uniform in the department will soon be equipped with body cameras. Although this probably won’t have an effect on the reduction of crime, Ross said, it will help with transparency in the department. “That’s another thing we always strive for — to be more transparent with the community we serve,” he said. “We’ve just purchased that equipment, and we’re working on policies and training, and we’ll implement that technology in 2021 very soon.”

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The Homewood Star

A22 • March 2021

“

John Carroll’s wrestling cheerleaders greet Leona Kenny-Parkman following a match against Daphne’s Emily Sasser at the AHSAA girls state championships Jan. 23 at Hoover High School. Half of the JCCHS wrestling cheerleaders competed at the tournament. Photos by Erin Nelson.

WRESTLING

CONTINUED from page A1 Now, JCCHS has not only one of the only wrestling cheerleading squads in the state, but the school is also one of few in the state that has a female wrestling team. TJ wrestled at Hoover High School and grew up in the sport. When he enrolled his son at the school, he asked about the wrestling team, but the administration told TJ that the school canceled wrestling many years ago. So TJ volunteered to be the wrestling coach and said he’d do it for free. His wife, Wendy, also volunteered to help out. “So my wife and I started the John Carroll wrestling team last season, and one of the things we wanted to bring back was wrestling cheer because there are no wrestling cheer programs left in the state of Alabama,” TJ said. They got to work in November 2019. To recruit wrestlers, TJ rounded up some of his wrestling videos from high school and showed them at football games and on social media. He recruited the team’s first wrestling cheerleader, Breccia Ciza, by having a conversation with her in the lunchroom. Once she was on board, she helped recruit other girls to join the squad with her. In the beginning, the wrestling team and the cheerleading squad didn’t have anything — they had no wrestling room, and their wrestling mat was 25 years old and falling apart. They practiced in the school lunchroom. None of the wrestlers had ever wrestled before. None of the cheerleaders had ever cheered before. “It was quite a challenge, trying to get everybody on board to do something different,” TJ said. Wrestling cheer is a completely different group from football and basketball cheerleading, he said. “They learn very unique cheers from the side of the mat, and they’re there to support the guys,” he said. “They make up their own unique

Everybody you can tell has this moment when they first see me in the coach’s chair like, ‘OK, where’s the real coach?’

John Carroll girls wrestling coach TJ Zito interviews Sally Roberts, founder and CEO of Wrestle Like A Girl, as she talks about the first AHSAA girls state championship. Zito wrestled at Hoover High School and grew up in the sport.

cheers themselves, and they all come from different walks of life.” The cheerleaders help with a variety of tasks to support the wrestlers. The wrestlers must wear a mask until they step on the mat, so the cheerleaders grab the masks from the wrestlers while they compete. As soon as the wrestler comes off the mat, the cheerleaders give the wrestler a body sanitation wipe, grab the wrestler’s gear and hand back the mask. The cheerleaders also help mop the mats before and after practice. “My wrestling cheerleaders have done a tremendous job keeping us healthy,” TJ said. They also cheer on the side of the mat and help with scoring. The Zitos have encouraged the cheerleaders to take on active leadership roles. Leona

Kenny-Parkman, who is a female heavyweight wrestler, walked into the lunchroom and inquired about the wrestling team. She told TJ she wanted to be the wrestling manager. “I’m like, what’s a wrestling manager?” TJ said. “She said, ‘It’s me.’ So we created a role for her.” Then as she watched from the sidelines as the male wrestlers played the sport, she decided she too could be a wrestler. “It’s a really good confidence booster,” Kenny-Parkman said about wrestling. “We’re all a big family, and we support each other a lot. It’s nice to have someone you can turn to about your problems and them understand.” It’s fun to see the shock on the audience’s face when they see her go out on the mat, she said. “They’re like, ‘Wait, I didn’t

”

WENDY ZITO

think she was wrestling,’ and I do. It’s pretty empowering to see the look on their faces. I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m doing that.’” Kenny-Parkman was the first of the cheerleaders to play both sports. Now, there are three. There are 80 female wrestlers across the state. “This is not powderpuff,” TJ said. “We have girls wrestling in all different weight classes. These girls are going out to win. They’re tough on the mat.” Right now, girls compete with girls, and guys compete with guys. But if the girls ever crossed over to wrestle the guys, some of them would win, TJ said. “Just because we don’t doesn’t mean they can’t,” he said. “I just want everyone to realize this isn’t some side show. This is real training.” Wendy said she enjoys seeing the girls dig deep and find an athletic ability in them they didn’t know they had. “It ends up being very empowering for these girls to find that in themselves,” she said. “They might get on the mat and think, ‘There’s no way I’m going to be able to do this. Before they know it, they’re on the side of the mat in headgear and a singlet thinking, ‘How did I get here?’ And as soon as they get off the mat, they’re saying, ‘OK, when’s my next one?’” On Jan. 23, Alabama had its first AHSAA girls state wrestling tournament at Hoover High School. Half of the JCCHS wrestling cheerleaders competed at the tournament, and some of the male wrestlers

came to support and cheer on the female wrestlers. TJ emceed the event, and Wendy sat in the coach’s chair. TJ makes it clear that Wendy is not the assistant coach — they both co-coach the cheerleaders and the wrestlers. At the girls state tournament, JCCHS was the only team that had a female coach. “Everybody you can tell has this moment when they first see me in the coach’s chair like, ‘OK, where’s the real coach?’” she said. For example, at the end of wrestling matches, the coaches will high-five the opposing team’s players. Wendy noticed that many of the girls were looking around for the JCCHS coach, not realizing it was Wendi. “It hasn’t been all sunshine and roses, to be honest,” Wendy said. “I’ve had to battle a lot of these men coaches who are very set in their ways. They’ve coached this sport for 30 years, and there have been no women coaches. So to a degree, I’ve had to kick in the door and say, ‘I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.’” It’s been a learning experience for the male wrestlers, too. They have learned how to treat the female wrestlers as teammates and not take it easy on the females. “We treat our team as everybody is equal, whether you are wrestler, wrestling cheer, female wrestler, male wrestler, team manager,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what you are. Everybody on our team is equal. Everybody is important. Everybody gets treated with respect.” It’s not a political statement, she said. She just wants to make sure the girls know that they should never feel less than one of their male counterparts. The team has made some improvements since it first formed in 2019. It now has a partnership with the Birmingham Fire Association and practices in a fire hall in Homewood. Team members have also raised funds to buy a new mat. For more information, visit jcwcavs.com.

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March 2021 • A23

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Also, you can visit alpwr.co/vm for more information about these safety and reliability measures and for recommendations about planting the right tree in the right place.

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If you have any questions before crews come by your home, please call Alabama Power at 205-257-2155 and ask for someone in the Vegetation Management Group to contact you. Or you can email us at apcvm@southernco.com. Work in Homewood and nearby areas is expected to continue through early 2021.

C AL P INE

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As part of this process, Alabama Power goes to great lengths to talk with individual property owners. Company representatives are going door to door, leaving notices at locations where work is needed.

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R DD AN RL A G

Alabama Power crews are working in several Homewood neighborhoods, removing trees and other vegetation that threaten the safety and reliability of our electrical system.

Thank you for your understanding.

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A PUBLIC NOTICE FROM ALABAMA POWER

SECTION

B MARCH 2021

Sports B2 Opinion B7 Real Estate Guide B8 Calendar B19

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Scrappy Patriots ready for tough area

Homewood’s John Hall (16) leads off third base to score for the Patriots in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cavaliers at John Carroll Catholic High School in February 2020. This year, the Patriots have seven seniors, all expected to contribute in a major way. Photo by Erin Nelson.

By KYLE PARMLEY The Homewood High School baseball players will have several new starters this spring, but that doesn't faze head coach Lee Hall. “We’re excited about this team this year,” he said. “We feel like we have a scrappy bunch of guys who love to play baseball.” Homewood has to replace 12 seniors from last year’s team, which went 8-4 in the early portion of the schedule before COVID-19 prematurely halted the season. “We felt like it was going to be a really fun group,” Hall said. “It was sad for that group of guys who didn’t get to finish their senior year.” This year, the Patriots have seven seniors, all expected to contribute in a major way. Hall said he “feels good about all of them” and needs them to lead a junior class with no varsity experience to this point. “We’re looking forward to learning as we go and getting our feet wet,” Hall said. “We’ll have some ups and downs as we go because we don't have a lot of varsity experience, but we’ll be ready to go for area play.” John Hall is back for the Patriots as the “field general” at shortstop for his senior campaign. He has played on the varsity team since his

freshman year and will slot in as Homewood’s leadoff hitter. “He’ll be our leadoff hitter, and that guy who gets on base and steals bases and scores runs,” Lee Hall said. “[We’re] expecting big things out of him this year.” Brode Susce is back after getting off to a strong start last year on the mound. He got plenty of action in the fall as one of Homewood’s quarterbacks and will now bring his strong arm to the baseball diamond. “He’s a power pitcher who is going to run it up there around 90 mph and has a chance to dominate some baseball games,” Hall said. Charlie Goode also had a big fall with the football team, bringing that “middle linebacker mentality” to the Patriots’ baseball team. He

will play first base and hit in the middle of the lineup after missing last season recovering from a knee injury. He will also solidify the back end of Homewood’s pitching staff. Will Heisler is also back to steady the Patriots’ rotation. He went 4-0 in four starts a season ago and is a crafty left-hander that throws four pitches for strikes and keeps guys off balance, according to Hall. Max Heath, Frank Studinka and Austin Whitley are also competing in their final seasons for the Patriots. Hall said in order to win plenty of games this season, the Patriots are going to have to do the little things and pay attention to details. He believes he has a group capable of doing just that.

“At the end of the game, you’re going to walk off the field and have five or six guys who have dirty uniforms. They just understand how to play the game of baseball,” he said. Other players expected to make significant contributions are center fielder Jack Couch, second baseman Charlie Teel, right fielder Griffin Fuller and third baseman Taylor Patterson among others. Homewood is in a new area this year, with Briarwood, Chelsea and Mountain Brook in Class 6A, Area 9. Two years ago, Briarwood and Chelsea were in the state championship series. Mountain Brook finished last year as the top-ranked team in 7A as well. “I would put it up against any four-team area in any classification,” Hall said.

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The Homewood Star

B2 • March 2021

Sports

Homewood’s Brooke Walden celebrates after clearing 12 feet, 1¼ inches in the girls Class 6A pole vault field event to set the new record during the state indoor track meet Feb. 6 at the Birmingham CrossPlex. Photos by Erin Nelson.

Patriots finish strong at state indoor meet Walden sets new state record; Gamble, Hope earn all-state designation By KYLE PARMLEY The Homewood High School indoor track and field teams capped off successful seasons at the state meet Feb. 6 at the Birmingham CrossPlex. The Patriots boys finished second in Class 6A, while the girls came home third. The boys scored 66 points, finishing behind only Opelika, which won the meet with 81 points. Northridge and Mountain Brook dominated the girls meet, but Homewood finished a solid third with 59 points. “Really a great day overall,” Homewood track and field coach Josh Donaldson said. There were plenty of standouts on the day for Homewood. On the girls side, Brooke Walden set a new state meet record in the pole vault competition. She cleared the bar at 12 feet, 1¼ inches, breaking the previous record of 12-1. Naeemah Gamble was able to earn all-state designation by placing third in shot put, with a throw of 33-2.5. The girls 4x200- and 4x400-meter relay teams posted all-state performances as well, with the 4x200 team finishing third and the 4x400 team grabbing the runner-up spot. On the boys team, Crawford Hope ran three distance events, winning the 1,600, being all-state in the 3,200 and finishing fourth in the 800. His time of 4:20.96 was the top 1,600 performance. He finished third in the 3,200 with a time of 9:22.34. His fourthplace finish in the 800 came in a time of 1:57.65. “Doing those distance events in that short amount of time is remarkable,” Donaldson said. Cross Derriso gave the Patriots a sweep of the pole vault competitions, as he set a personal best of 15-6. Spenser Lamb set a personal best as well in the 60-meter hurdles, placing second in 8.34 seconds. Sam

Homewood High School’s Crawford Hope leads in the boys Class 6A 1,600-meter run during the AHSAA state indoor track meet Feb. 6 at the Birmingham CrossPlex. Hope ran three distance events, winning the 1,600, being all-state in the 3,200 and finishing fourth in the 800. His time of 4:20.96 was the top 1,600 performance.

Dill was all-state in the high jump, finishing third with a leap of 6 feet. The boys 4x800 relay team placed third as well. “As a team, both the boys and girls stepped up, and those that competed did their job,” Donaldson said. “They were able to capitalize on what other teams were not able to do, and it put us in a good position at the end of the meet to land where we did overall as a team.” Coming into this year, Homewood’s girls were the four-time reigning state champions, and the boys had won the last three indoor titles. But Opelika and Northridge boasted strong teams on the boys and girls

sides, respectively, and the addition of Scottsboro and Mountain Brook to Class 6A made the field more competitive than ever this winter. There were also plenty of unique circumstances this season due to COVID-19. There were no team scores compiled in any event in which Homewood competed, and the state meet was the first time anyone had run a 4x800 or 4x400 all season. The state meet had a different format as well, with the whole competition for each classification coming over a half-day period. Nonetheless, Donaldson was pleased with his team’s performance and perseverance with the challenges

presented to them. “I’m really proud of how our kids stepped up into that,” he said. Many other competitors scored points for Homewood on the day as well. For the girls, Alyssa Langford and Sarah Derriso were fourth and sixth in the 60 hurdles, Mary Siena McBride was eighth in the 400, Sydney Dobbins placed seventh in the 1,600, Reid Catherine Bunn and Chandler Binkley were fourth and sixth in the high jump, Langford and Phoebe Reed were seventh and eighth in the long jump, Jordan Reaves finished sixth in the pole vault, and the 4x800 relay was fifth. On the boys side, Ivan Pichardo-

Njenga placed eighth in the 800, Grayton Murray finished fifth in the 1,600 and Dill was sixth in the long jump. The 4x200 team was fifth and the 4x400 team finished sixth. Other competitors for Homewood included David Huynh, Jack Harchelroad, Emma Brooke levering, Caroline Wilder, Selah LeDuc, Tiye Jamison and Hunter Drake. The outdoor track and field season was set to begin at the end of February. “We hope that we’re up there and vying for a state championship come May, but all I can ask of these athletes is to give me their best every time they’re out there,” Donaldson said.

TheHomewoodStar.com

March 2021 • B3

Homewood

Parks & Recreation

Homewood Community Center Fitness Center & Track Open with one hour fitness sessions. Signup in advance encouraged to guarantee a spot. Fitness Center 20 patrons per session; Track 10 patrons per session. For more information please visit: www.homewoodparks.com/fitness

Central Barre Barre Fitness classes now at Homewood Community Center Class Times & Location Tuesday: 6:15am – 7:15am Saturday: 8:15am – 9:15am All classes in Fitness Studio 2 @ Homewood Community Center

Dance Trance Tues & Thurs 5:45pm-6:45pm Mon, Wed & Sat 9:30am-10:30am Dance Trance is a high-cardio, high-energy dance fitness experience that leaves participants soaking wet! It is a non-stop workout that feels more like a party than an exercise class. www.dancetrancefitness.com

North Star Martial Arts North Star Martial Arts primary focus is to make a life lasting impact on our students, and their families. Classes range from beginners to adults. For detailed class listings and times please visit the park’s website or www.northstarkarate.com. 205-966-4244 masterjoe@northstarkarate.com

Belly Dancing with Aziza Class Fee: $60 cash only Contact Aziza: 205-879-0701 azizaofbirmingham@att.net www.azizaofbirmingham.com Learn the ancient art of Middle Eastern belly dance with Aziza, over 40 years of experience in performance and instruction. Each session is 5-weeks long.

Fast Track Line Dance We learn the current and classic intermediate-advanced line dances. This class is not for beginners. Saturday 10:00am-12:00pm For more information: Jackie Tally jgtally@aol.com (or) Helen Woods aquafool@aol.com

Bench Aerobics Step & Line Dance Class Times & Location Tuesday: 4:15pm – 5:15pm (Step Aerobics) Thursday: 4:15pm – 5:15pm (Cardio Line Dance) All classes in Fitness Studio 2 @ Homewood Community Center Cost: $15/month or $3/drop-in (1st class FREE) For more information contact Rosa at 205-253-9344 or benchaerobics@bellsouth.net

Confi.Dance Confi.Dance is a dance class in a small group setting to teach you the secrets of looking good on the dance floor and having more fun than you thought possible. Class Meets: Wednesday 3:00pm – 4:00pm at Homewood Community Center For more information: Jackie Tally jgtally@aol.com

YoLimber Vinyasa yoga classes in an energetic environment using upbeat music. All levels welcome. Tuesday 8:00am-9:00am Wednesday 12:00pm-1:00pm Friday 9:30am-10:30am Contact Marla: 205-223-8564 mac@yolimber.com

Misc. Information 2021 Summer Seasonal Employment Lifeguard & Camp Counselors Positions Job descriptions and applications available at www.homewoodparks.com Applications will be accepted thru March 31st

@homewood_parks

@homewoodparks

The Homewood Star

B4 • March 2021

Cavs enter 2021 softball season with high hopes By KYLE PARMLEY Things were looking up when the season came crashing down. In mid-March, the John Carroll Catholic High School softball team was rounding into form. There were high points, like wins over Auburn and Hoover, but also a few losses that left head coach Jeri Beck perplexed. But the Cavs’ final mark on the 2020 season was that critical win over Hoover and gave the team an 8-6-1 record at the time of the COVID19 shutdown. “We were just starting to get it together,” Beck said. “It all started clicking.” John Carroll has a few positions to fill around the diamond after the graduation of last year’s senior group. Most notably, center fielder Emma Bauer started for John Carroll for six years and will be missed. Abigayle Parker logged several innings in the pitching circle over her six years in the program and turned into a solid outfielder as well. The Cavs are also replacing their starting catcher, Claire Boone. For Beck, she has an answer to fill the vacated positions. But in moving players around, other holes have been opened up. Freshman Mallory Ogle likely slides over to center field, which leaves both corner outfield spots up for grabs. “The strides Mallory made between her seventh and eighth grade years were unbelievable,” Beck said. “She tracks the ball so well. She’s a heck of an outfielder.” With Boone’s graduation, junior Charlotte Phillips will take her turn as the team’s primary catcher after spending much of last year at second base. Kayla Coley-Drayton returns to man first base, while Gracie Mills is back at shortstop. In the circle, junior Macey Ogle returns as the team’s ace pitcher. “I’m hoping that she’s gained even more confidence and displays that even more on the field. She can stroke the ball, too, at the plate, so don’t count that out,” Beck said of the older Ogle sister.

John Carroll’s Charlotte Phillips (14) hits the ball during a game against Mountain Brook in March 2020 at Spartan Softball Field in Mountain Brook. Phillips will take her turn as the team’s primary catcher after spending much of last year at second base. Photo by Kyle Parmley.

Second base, third base and the two outfield spots are what the Cavs are looking to replace at the season’s outset. “We’re putting the puzzle pieces together,” Beck said. A couple of new faces that will push to take over some of those spots are freshman Annie Gregory, a transfer from Mountain Brook, and seventh grader Emily Williams. Look for Mallory Ogle and Gregory to also log some innings in the circle. Last year’s Cavs were eager to prove that

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their third-place finish at state in 2019 was no fluke. That sense of motivation has carried over to this spring’s squad. “This team, they’ve hit the field this year with a phenomenal attitude,” Beck said. “Some of the girls have really stepped up to be great leaders on the field. I’m enjoying going out there every day with them.” John Carroll is the presumptive favorite in Class 5A, Area 9, so another postseason run to the regional and state tournaments is not out of

the question. Between the outset of the season and the end, Beck wants to see her team continue to improve and practice consistency in all facets. “You’ve got to have consistency in the batting order and make the routine plays, and every once in a while throw that ESPN [highlight] play out there,” she said. If the Cavs can do those things, big things are possible. “There is no ceiling,” Beck said. “The sky’s the limit; it’s up to them.”

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TheHomewoodStar.com

March 2021 • B5

Varsity Sports Calendar SOCCER March 2: Boys @ Grissom. 6:30 p.m. March 2: Girls vs. Oak Mountain. 6:30 p.m. March 4: Girls vs. Chelsea. 7 p.m. March 5: Boys @ Chelsea. 7 p.m. March 9: Boys @ Pinson Valley. 6 p.m. March 9: Girls vs. Mountain Brook. 6:30 p.m. March 11: Boys @ Spain Park. 7 p.m.

March 12: vs. Gardendale. 4 p.m.

March 12: Girls at Cullman Tournament. TBD.

March 19: vs. Spain Park. 4 p.m.

March 16: @ Briarwood. Girls at 5 p.m., boys at 7 p.m. March 18: Boys vs. Mountain Brook. 7 p.m.

March 22, 24: Albertville Tournament. Albertville High School. TBD. March 30: @ Briarwood. 6:30 p.m.

SOFTBALL

March 30: Girls vs. Vestavia Hills. 7 p.m.

March 3: vs. Ramsay. 5 p.m.

March 30: Boys @ Pelham. 7:30 p.m.

March 6: Pell City Round Robin. Pell City High School. TBD.

BASEBALL

March 9: @ Thompson. 4:30 p.m.

March 2: @ Hueytown. 4 p.m.

March 11: vs. Pelham. 5 p.m.

March 5: Doubleheader vs. John Carroll. 4 p.m.

March 16: @ Shades Valley. 4:30 p.m.

March 9: vs. Cullman. 4 p.m.

March 18: @ Chelsea. 5 p.m.

March 11: vs. Ramsay. Rickwood Field. 4:30 p.m.

March 19-20: Homewood Spring Fling Round Robin. Homewood High School. TBD.

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The Homewood Star

B6 • March 2021

John Carroll’s Aden Malpass (12) dribbles the ball by Mountain Brook’s Charlie McKimmon (44) in a Feb. 2 game at Spartan Arena. Photos by Erin Nelson.

SNAPSHOTS: JOHN CARROLL HIGH BASKETBALL

Above left: John Carroll’s O’Neal Merchant (3) looks to pass the ball in a game against Mountain Brook. Above right: John Carroll’s KJ Beck (1) shoots a layup.

Above: John Carroll’s Zane Boackle (20) shoots a layup. Below: Merchant (3) shoots for a 3-pointer.

Beck (1) dribbles the ball across mid-court.

TheHomewoodStar.com

March 2021 • B7

Opinion Ordinary Days By Lauren Denton

Already, not yet Back in 2012, I bought back when we had no idea a pack of index cards and what we were up against. started writing a line or two It’s even stranger to consider that we’ve been at this a full about what we did each day. I now have a little box on year when at the beginning, my bedside table that holds we optimistically thought life 366 index cards (there were would only be interrupted for a couple leap years in there), a few weeks! and each card has the month We’re now well into 2021, and day at the top and space the year that’s supposed to fix for each year’s entry. things, but it’s not fixed yet. Denton Every night before I write COVID-19 is still here. We up our day, I scan through the previous long for the end of the pandemic, while years to see what we did on that day last still coming up against it at every turn. year or three years ago or six years ago. In “Mary Consoles Eve,” one of my Whether it was a potty training bootcamp favorite Advent songs by Rain for Roots, weekend, an unexpected snow day, the there’s a line that says, “Almost, not yet, pistachio shell dilemma of 2013 (don’t already.” It’s something we hear at our ask) or a trip to the hospital for skin glue, church a lot, the idea of God’s kingdom it’s always fun to look back on the years being already but not yet. His kingdom is here; it is working, but it’s not yet fully in and all we’ve done. A few days ago, I pulled the card for place or complete. He’s making all things March 6 and read this: “Headed to Mon- new, but they’re not new yet. It’s something roeville for literary festival!” we as believers are familiar with — this That weekend looms large in my mind tension between what we know is coming for two reasons: One was that I’d been and what we are experiencing in our lives asked to be a presenter at the Monroeville now. We live in an in-between time. Literary Festival, which was a big honor In a similar way, living with this for me. The other reason is that it was the COVID-19 pandemic feels like living in last time I remember being able to hug and an in-between time. We’re in the already chat and mingle freely. of 2021 and the beginning of vaccinations, We knew about coronavirus by that but we’re still in the not yet of continuing point (my card from March 2 said “every- to wrestle with restrictions to keep us safe one watching coronavirus”), but no and longing for the freedom to be in full restrictions had been set. No one wore community again. And we don’t know masks, we hadn’t heard the term “social when that freedom will come. distancing” yet, and store shelves were But because we know what’s coming — still nicely stocked with toilet paper and all things being made new — we wait. We Clorox wipes. I do remember one author at live. We love our families and our friends the festival mentioning the fact that maybe as well as we can. We value technology in we shouldn’t get too close, but we sort of ways we didn’t before because it allows laughed and hugged anyway. Other than us to feel close to people we can’t be that, it was a wonderful weekend with with yet. We learn new ways to have fun people of all ages gathered together in and experience life. We wait, sometimes celebration and community. patiently, sometimes not so much, for the The very next week, everything went time when the wrestling will stop and the downhill, as you probably remember. A tension will fade. mere two days after the festival, on March “He comes to make his blessings flow, 8, I wrote “Coronavirus fears everywhere.” as far and wide as the curse is found.” March 11: “Trump address, travel bans and lots of handwashing and social When I’m not writing about my family distancing.” and our various shenanigans, I write March 12: “Fears ramped way up. Did novels and go to the grocery store. My some extra grocery shopping.” novels are in stores and online. You can Then on March 13: “All K-12 schools reach me by email at lauren@lauren closed for two-and-a-half weeks.” And we kdenton.com, visit my website, lauren all know how long those two-and-a-half kdenton.com, or find me on Instagram weeks actually lasted! @LaurenKDentonBooks, Twitter @LaurenK It’s so strange to look back on those Denton, or on Facebook ~LaurenK entries from the early days of COVID-19, DentonAuthor.

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The Homewood Star

B8 • March 2021

2021

REAL ESTATE GUIDE: Homewood Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or seller looking to move to a larger space or to a new area, the real estate market can be intimidating. There are credit scores to check, financing options to consider and a never-ending list of details to review — granite countertops or butcher’s block; hardwood or carpet; tub or shower, or both? To make those first steps into the real estate market a little easier, Homewood Star has gathered information about homes in Homewood. In our annual Real Estate Guide, Homewood Star spoke to local real estate agents to get advice from the pros, compared how homes in different neighborhoods fare on the market and gathered a few tips.

INSIDE:

■ How much home can you get with $250,000?..............................B9 ■ How much home can you get with $500,000?............................B10 ■ How much home can you get with $750,000?.............................B10 ■ Market trends................................................................................................................B12 ■ By the numbers: Homewood market.....................................................B13 ■ How did 2007 save 2020?................................................................................B14 ■ The great migration toward home.............................................................B16 ■ How twins increased the value of my home....................................B16 ■ How much home can you get with $1,000,000?......................... B17

TheHomewoodStar.com

March 2021 • B9

HOW MUCH HOME CAN YOU GET WITH $250,000?

28TH AVENUE SOUTH

BROADWAY STREET

DOWNTOWN

■ SALE PRICE: $259,900 ■ AGENT: Katie Smith ■ COMPANY: List Birmingham ■ ACRES: N/A ■ SQUARE FOOTAGE: 859 ■ BEDS: 1 ■ BATHS: 1 ■ YEAR BUILT: 2004 ■ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Shades Cahaba

GROVE STREET

EDGEWOOD

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

SALE PRICE: $249,750 AGENT: Jamie Phillips COMPANY: Ingram and Associates ACRES: N/A SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,202 BEDS: 2 BATHS: 2 YEAR BUILT: 2008 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Hall Kent

WEST HOMEWOOD ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

SALE PRICE: $244,900 AGENT: Katherine Manush COMPANY: RealtySouth ACRES: 0.17 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 994 BEDS: 2 BATHS: 1 YEAR BUILT: 1951 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Hall Kent

SOURCE: GREATER BIRMINGHAM MLS

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The Homewood Star

B10 • March 2021

HOW MUCH HOME CAN YOU GET WITH $500,000?

LELAND ROAD

LANCASTER ROAD

GROVE PARK

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

SALE PRICE: $475,000 AGENT: Joe Falconer COMPANY: RealtySouth ACRES: 0.17 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,920 BEDS: 5 BATHS: 2 YEAR BUILT: 1925 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Edgewood

SOUTH LAKESHORE DRIVE

HOLLYWOOD

■ SALE PRICE: $500,000 ■ AGENT: Gusty Gulas ■ COMPANY: eXp Realty ■ ACRES: 0.22 ■ SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,020 ■ BEDS: 3 ■ BATHS: 2.5 ■ YEAR BUILT: 2003 ■ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Shades Cahaba

LAKEVIEW ESTATES

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

SALE PRICE: $499,900 AGENT: Melanie Siow COMPANY: RealtySouth ACRES: 0.57 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,602 BEDS: 4 BATHS: 3 YEAR BUILT: 1964 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Hall Kent

HOW MUCH HOME CAN YOU GET WITH $750,000?

CARR AVENUE

REDFERN STREET

EDGEWOOD

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

SALE PRICE: $779,900 AGENT: Jason Kessler COMPANY: CRE Realty ACRES: 0.19 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,940 BEDS: 4 BATHS: 2.5 YEAR BUILT: 2019 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Hall Kent

MECCA AVENUE

EDGEWOOD

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

SALE PRICE: $749,900 AGENT: Ben Hedden COMPANY: Bham Realty ACRES: 0.44 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,856 BEDS: 5 BATHS: 3 full, 3 half YEAR BUILT: 1952 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Hall Kent

EDGEWOOD

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

SALE PRICE: $799,900 AGENT: Barbara Wheeler COMPANY: ARC Realty ACRES: N/A SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,951 BEDS: 4 BATHS: 3.5 YEAR BUILT: 2020 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Edgewood

SOURCE: GREATER BIRMINGHAM MLS

TheHomewoodStar.com

March 2021 • B11

RealtySouth Realty South

Family of Services

JOE FALCONER No Luck needed with Joe Joe knows Homewood A 1982 Homewood High School Graduate A Longtime Supporter of Homewood Schools

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The Homewood Star

B12 • March 2021

REAL ESTATE: MARKETING TRENDS

EDGEWOOD

ROSEDALE

HOLLYWOOD

Number of homes sold

200

80 70

160 150

133

131

155

139

2015 2015

2016 2016

2017 2017

2018 2018

2019 2019

2020 2020

Average sold price

2015

2016

2017

2018

$120K

$484K

$374K

2015 2015

2016 2016

$160K

$95K

$80K

$412K

$40K

2017 2017

2018 2018

2019 2019

2020 2020

2015

2016

$55K

2017

DATA NOT AVAILABLE

$475K

$388K

2020

30 0

2018

2019

2015

2016

2017

2020

$800K

$179K DATA NOT AVAILABLE

$500K 500

2019

Average sold price

$200K

$532K

300 $300K 0

Average sold price

$600K 600

$400K 400

105 100 0

2018

$142K

$700K

$624K $600K

$521K $500K

2019

2020

$400K 0

$581K

$560K

$554K

$500K

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

TheHomewoodStar.com

March 2021 • B13

BY THE NUMBERS: HOMEWOOD MARKET

W HOMEWOOD/FOREST BROOK Number of homes sold

2019 15

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

2 0

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Average sold price

2020

$386K

$400K

$236K

$232K $200K

$100K 0

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

$287K

$300K

$253K

$184K

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

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Total listings: 490 Total sold value: $219,042,848 Average days on market: 35 Average list price: $447,965 Average sold price: $442,557 SOURCE: GREATER ALABAMA MLS

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Total listings: 520 Total sold value: $208,503,461 Average days on market: 28 Average list price: $408,335 Average sold price: $400,968

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The Homewood Star

B14 • March 2021

HOW DID 2007 SAVE 2020? By MARSHALL MALONE It would be a stretch of the imagination to think that the 2007 recession was helpful to us as we face the last turbulent year in our rear view mirror. But with 2020 in hindsight, there is reason to think that some of the hardships we endured back then may have helped us as we faced the COVID-19 pandemic. An estimated 14 million people lost their jobs in three months between February and May of 2020 as a result of the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. That is a greater loss than the two years of the Great Recession in 2007-08, which was followed by a collapse of the U.S. housing market. The 2007-08 recession took many businesses, including and especially many home developers. This directly impacted the number of homes being built in following years. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the number of contractors declined significantly after the recession, and housing production was unable to meet buyer demand. They report the number of new homes being built decreased nationally to a lethargic 519,000 in 2010, compared to over 1.5 million homes in 2020. Over the next decade fewer than normal homes were built as developers faced headwinds during the long recovery. Between 2010-19, only 6.8 million new single-family homes were built, (broken down as 1.53 million custom homes, 827,000 townhouses, and 300,000 single-family built-for-rentals according to NAHB). This means we are playing catch-up and that there are fewer homes available to sell. Buyers need to work harder, but it also means that vacant homes are not scattered across the landscape. With only 2.7 months of housing inventory on the market, (six months is considered normal) competition for each home has increased, meaning that the average home for sale could receive three or more offers before closing. Home prices are going up, in many

cases over 17%. This makes it less affordable for first-time homebuyers, which is a third of the market, though there are many lending programs available for these buyers. Yet despite the challenges of 2020, residential construction is set to evolve and expand

throughout the decade ahead. This is a far cry from what we saw in 2010 when home values dropped, leaving many people upside down on their mortgages. Back then homes prices dropped 33%, and real estate was the catalyst of the recession. But now builders are trudging

forward, and we see the real estate market leading the march. The V-shaped recovery we are seeing as we start 2021 show full employment levels at 6.7% unemployed. Home refinancing is up 16%, and lenders are busier than ever. Real

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TheHomewoodStar.com

March 2021 • B15

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estate transactions are shifting in the tides of the pandemic as people begin telecommuting into the suburbs where home offices are more available. These are trends that cause an upward spike on the number of real estate transactions. In Homewood 509 homes sold in 2020; down 1.74% from 2019. These homes sold for a median price of $390,000 (average price of $443,808), or 8.33% higher than the previous year, and were generally under contract within 6 days. Over 45% of these homes were at or over list price, meaning that competition was fierce. Expect a higher volume of homes in 2020 as the pandemic gets under control, and

the economy levels out. Inventory is tight, and most homes will have multiple offers prior to being placed under contract. These indicators point to new activity and a strong real estate market going forward with increasing home values and competition. New construction appears to be catching up, though buyers will most likely have the disadvantage for a while, barring a wave of foreclosures, which is most likely not going to happen. Meanwhile, this is still a sellers’ market and a good time to put a sign in your front yard. – Marshall Malone is a third-generation Realtor currently at RealtySouth.

YOUR HOUSE HAS NEVER BEEN WORTH MORE! If you are looking to make a change, let me put my Homewood expertise to work for you! Whether you’re ready to settle down with some chickens and get back to nature, right-size your living space or just move around the corner, NOW has never been a better time. Take advantage of this hot market and historically low interest rates. Curious to know what your home is worth and what exciting new opportunities await? Contact me for a no-obligation consultation.

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The Homewood Star

B16 • March 2021

THE GREAT MIGRATION TOWARD HOME By MARSHALL MALONE If you punch an anthill it is amazing to witness how quickly they scatter to another spot to build a new home. There is no doubt about it: America has been punched by a pandemic and a tumultuous year of political strife. We are now in a market where everything apart from death and taxes has changed, and we are already showing our resilience is not unlike the ant. It is a challenge to say where the real estate market will end up, though there are indicators to suggest that the market is strong, active and will continue its positive aggression for some time. Not only is there a lot of migration in the market, but there is one feature dominating the wish lists of America’s home buyers: the home office. In a 2019 survey, 99% of employees responded that they would like to work from home, and the number of people who are actually doing so is skyrocketing. Before the pandemic it was estimated that 5 million people were telecommuting for work, compared to a number predicted to achieve 42 million by the end of 2021. That is an increase of over 700%. There is a great migration happening in the U.S. as people leave the turmoil of the city for rural pastures. Corporate leaders are having their epiphanies, and technology is speeding up to catch up. Cybersecurity is one of the downsides of this migration as hackers shift their targets from corporate firewalls to home offices where people

are more slack. Phishing attacks are on the rise as they target quarantined remote workers. But the benefits to employers outweigh the risks as they see increased productivity, improved morale, increased loyalty, higher retention rates and finally the cost savings with less need for physical space. Telecommuting is liberating homebuyers to live in locations more desirable to their budget and lifestyle. We are seeing a migration from condensed cities where political

strife and pandemic concerns make less populated rural communities and suburbs more appealing. Home renovations are on the rise, too, as homeowners are less likely to sell, staying an average of nine years instead of six years, according to The New York Times. Home office product sales are also skyrocketing. With this great migration, Realtors might heed the changes and start staging homes differently as they prepare to sell; think living rooms as home office spaces. With many households

having both parents working from home and kids taking Zoom classes, every square foot matters. Internet availability has recently become a mandatory new feature in Paragon, the software used by Realtors in Birmingham through MLS. This is because people want to query upload/download speeds as video conferencing becomes standard. The Pew Research Center suggests that one in five Americans moved due to the COVID-19 pandemic or know someone who did. In Alabama

there is anecdotal evidence impacting Alabama lakes, where people from Atlanta and other cities are looking to move for a more ideal location where they can work from home and enjoy the view. Birmingham Realtors are noticing this trend, and nine in 10 of them interviewed said home offices were high on the list of buyers. David Mele, president of homes.com, said: “The surge in the work-from-home population has rewritten the playbook for many home buying and rental decisions, from when and where to relocate, to what people are looking for in their next residence.” Larger homes with more rooms are also a target as working from home, learning from home and simply spending more time at home becomes a priority. Real estate is an impressive investment because it is an asset with a low fixed payment. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that until 2023, target interests rates should remain between 0% and 0.25% — meaning low interest rates for mortgages are not going away anytime soon. Unemployment could hit below 5% by the end of 2021. These are all positive indicators that America has not lost its buying power after a difficult year, and people are using this to their advantage. With one-third of aspiring homebuyers seeking dedicated office space, this seismic shift is beginning to look more a trend than a fad. – Marshall Malone is a third -generation Realtor currently at RealtySouth.

HOW TWINS INCREASED THE VALUE OF MY HOME By MARSHALL MALONE Everyone has their own reasons for doing home renovations. In our case my wife and I were expecting and about to be squeezed-out by two new humans. At the age of 50 most of my peers have finished raising kids and are looking toward life as free-range adults. All that changed for me when I got married again — to a more mature woman who happened to be 16 years younger than I. Fast forward a few years, and I’d like to introduce you to Jack and Piper, the twins. We knew our two-ish bedroom Crestwood home was not ready for the invasion, so we embarked on a journey of modifications to make room for raising children. Until the stork’s announcement, we had not realized how spread-out we had been living, until my wife, her petite baby bump and I started taking my clothes out of the would-be nursery without an idea as to where to put them. As it was described to me later, I just stood frozen in place with an armload of clothes and a clueless look on my face. It was kindly meant. We needed closet space quickly, and after much deliberation we came up with the brilliant idea of enlarging our master bedroom 30-inches to create a closet where a wall once stood. This meant shaving off some space in the adjoining living room, and moving a hallway door 3 feet to the right. Easy-peasy. We masked up for guests and met with our California Closets person who had honest eyes and the fanciest face covering I had ever seen. This was a good omen. More importantly, she had one of those measuring tapes that was really a laser. That sealed the deal for me because anyone who

brings lasers to a business meeting is my friend and must be trusted. At that point I ceded all decisions to her. Did you know suede was a real color? Our new friend created a 3D computer model — with lasers I’m sure — and we made our plan together. She was in charge of design, build and installation. Our job was to move a wall and frame up a shell for the closets. Demolition started immediately, and our contractor removed the wall in one day. This suggested everything was going to happen quickly, so we sat on our bed and stared at the other side of the house, including that really bright street lamp in the window I had never noticed before. A week later I owned a really nice sleep mask, and our little circle of trust was working at full speed. Then

COVID-19 hit the brakes on manufacturing, delaying production until two months before the due date. I looked at my wife who was throwing up a ginger chew, and we agreed that we had plenty of time. Fast forward two months and they were totally right. My clothes were now hanging in a closet that they never really deserved, and my wife was now staring at clothes that no longer fit. The closets were perfect. But how can such a modern suede closet sit so close to a 1950s dirt brown bathroom that was designed for maybe 1.5 people? This was an imbalance that needed to be rectified. I mean, we had two months … so custom bathroom here we come. This required planning at lightning speed. I helped my wife into the car, and we raced to Ferguson

Showrooms near downtown. Let me just say, OMG! There was a bathtub in there that would inspire Ron Swanson to find his feminine side. We steeled ourselves the best way we could and gave all our money to the sales person, even though she did not have any lasers. Bath fixtures — done! Thirteen stops at Floor and Decor later, we had selected everything we needed, moved the wall 16 inches north and restored the ceiling that decided it needed that wall more than it had previously suggested. The Carrara marble arrived three weeks later, and our tile guy was well on his way to put the shine on our new bathroom. I looked at my wife confidently, and we began packing for the hospital. Just one more word of encouragement to Mr. Tile-Guy. “… Mr.

Tile-Guy?” But he couldn’t hear us because he was in jail. We left our contractor with some very encouraging words and left the rest in his capable unshackled hands. My wife had noted the same look on his face described earlier when I was holding clothes and not knowing where to put them. She was very subtle and encouraging that way. Let me just say that when our contractor said he would complete the job before the babies arrived, we had no idea how literal a person he was. Our mistake. What I am sure he meant to say was, “You will see the taillights of my trailer pulling out of your driveway as you are arriving from the hospital with your beautiful new babies.” If we knew this we would have been totally chill, I’m sure. All ended well. The babies are living with us for now, and our master bedroom has a sleek wall of closets and a pretty cool en suite that will one day be the envy of any future buyer. Whatever your motivation, modernizing a bathroom and providing more storage is one great way to increase the value of your home. Moving walls can also open up new possibilities, though it is important to work with a contractor who will make sure your roof does not become a floor. Even non-load bearing walls can surprise you. We have now paused future plans for renovations until Piper determines that her brother is stinky and she will need a room of her own. Meanwhile this begs the question for all my future appointments. Should I bring lasers? – Marshall Malone is a third -generation Realtor currently at RealtySouth.

TheHomewoodStar.com

March 2021 • B17

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■ SALE PRICE: $999,000 ■ AGENT: Barbara Wheeler ■ COMPANY: ARC Realty ■ ACRES: 0.22 ■ SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,578 ■ BEDS: 4 ■ BATHS: 3.5 ■ YEAR BUILT: 1948 ■ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Shades Cahaba

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■ SALE PRICE: $975,000 ■ AGENT: Melvin Upchurch ■ COMPANY: LIST Birmingham ■ ACRES: 0.55 ■ SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,083 ■ BEDS: 5 ■ BATHS: 3.5 ■ YEAR BUILT: 1976 ■ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Shades Cahaba

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

SALE PRICE: $959,000 AGENT: Ashley Davis COMPANY: eXp Realty ACRES: 0.29 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,240 BEDS: 5 BATHS: 3.5 YEAR BUILT: 2017 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Edgewood

SOURCE: GREATER BIRMINGHAM MLS

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The Homewood Star

B18 • March 2021

Metro Roundup DOWNTOWN

HOOVER Hoover resident Sara Franklin is the new executive director of community engagement for Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana for the Epilepsy Foundation. Franklin was diagnosed with epilepsy in late 2018. Photo by Jon Anderson.

The Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema recently a received a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to help present the 23rd annual Sidewalk Film Festival this August. Staff photo.

Sidewalk gets grant to help put on 2021 film festival By JESSE CHAMBERS The Sidewalk Film Center + Cinema, which presents the Sidewalk Film Festival each August, carries the torch for independent film in the Magic City, and the nonprofit got a nice financial boost for this effort recently. Sidewalk announced Feb. 4 that it had Brought to received a $20,000 you by our Grants for Arts Projsister paper: ects award from the National Endowment for the Arts. The money will help present the 23rd annual ironcity.ink Sidewalk Film Festival from Aug. 23-29. Sidewalk Executive Director Chloe Cook said the organization is “thrilled” by the award, and not just because of the financial assistance. The NEA also “acts as a ‘Good Housekeeping

Seal of Approval’ for our organization and the funded project, encouraging other grant-making organizations to contribute to our organization,” she said. “Sidewalk is among the arts organizations across the country that has demonstrated creativity, excellence, and resilience during this very challenging year,” NEA Acting Chairman Ann Eilers said, referring to COVID-19. Due to the pandemic, Sidewalk held its August 2020 festival at The Grand River Drive-In at The Backyard in Leeds, an outdoor events venue. The festival, which was founded in 1999, has been held every other year in downtown Birmingham. Sidewalk also received positive national attention in January when it was chosen to part in the 2021 Sundance Film Festival as one of the world-famous event’s Satellite Screens. For more information, including movie showings at the cinema downtown, go to sidewalkfest.com/sundance-lineup.

Epilepsy Foundation Alabama director promoted amid national downsizing By JON ANDERSON Hoover resident Sara Franklin, who has served as executive director of the Alabama chapter of the national Epilepsy Foundation since September 2019, has been named the executive director of community engagement for Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Brought to The expanded role you by our comes in the wake of sister paper: five or six rounds of layoffs by the national organization, Franklin said. hooversun.com “Nonprofit organizations are being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic because of the cancellation of so many events,” Franklin said. “It’s hard to raise money virtually.” Last year, the Epilepsy Foundation had

more than 60 employees spread across the country, and now that number has dropped to 15 employees, Franklin said. Despite troubles nationally, Franklin and the Epilepsy Foundation Alabama group had a successful second half of 2020. From July 2019 through June 2020 (the end of the group’s fiscal year), the Alabama chapter had a goal of raising $240,000 and finished the year with more than $263,000 in contributions, Franklin said. The other employee of Epilepsy Foundation Alabama, Ballard Jones, was also retained in the national downsizing and was promoted to community operations manager for the central part of the country. The Epilepsy Foundation Alabama group recently downsized its office space to save money but remained in the same office building at 3100 Lorna Road. For more information about the group, go to epilepsyalabama.org.

TheHomewoodStar.com

March 2021 • B19

Calendar Homewood Events

March 6: Exceptional Foundation Chili KICK-Off. Noon-6 p.m. Avondale Brewing. Beer, food and live music. Cost is

$20. exceptionalfoundation.org/chili

Race starts and ends at 29th Avenue South in Homewood. Cost is $45 for in-person race; $35 for virtual race. rumpshaker5k.com

March 27: Rumpshaker 5K. 8 a.m.

Homewood Public Library Events Through March 31: Homewood Library 80th Birthday Card Celebration. The Homewood Public Library celebrates 80 years of serving the community in 2021. The library is asking the community to join the celebration by mailing a birthday card recognizing this milestone. Cards can be sent to 1721 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, AL 35209 and will be on display within the library for visitors to view. Through March 31: Fifth annual Homewood Public Library Student Art Contest (virtual). The Homewood Public Library seeks to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of Jefferson County students in grades K-12. The annual student art show will be virtual this year. Students may submit two original works of art produced within the past 12 months. Artwork will be judged by a panel of local artists with first, second and third place winners selected for various grade categories (kindergarten through second graders, third through fifth graders, sixth through eighth graders and ninth through 12th graders). A Best in Show winner will also be selected. Entries can be submitted via the library’s website. For more information, contact Judith Wright at judith.wright@ homewoodpubliclibrary.org. CHILDREN’S EVENTS March 1: Reading Buddies. 3:30 p.m. Grades K-5. Read to some friends from the Greater Birmingham Humane Society on Zoom. Registration required. March 2, 16 and 30: Storytime Live. 10 a.m. For preschoolers. Join a Homewood storyteller for a song and story-filled live storytime. Join using the Zoom link at homewoodpubliclibrary.org. Wednesdays: Virtual Program Room. For all ages. Visit the virtual program room each week for links to storytime, read alouds, escape rooms, Kids Create activities and more. March 18: Cookies & Comics. 6 p.m. Grades 3-6. Talk comics with friends from the Homewood Public Library in Homewood, Illinois. For this month's Cookies & Comics, participants will read the “Lemonade Code” by Jarod Pratt. The library will provide a cookie that can be picked up from Cookie Fix on the day of the program. Register by the Wednesday before the program to be guaranteed cookies. Zoom link will be sent via email.

TEEN EVENTS March 2: Tween Social Justice Book Club: “Class Act” by Jerry Craft. 4-5 p.m. Grades 4-7. This virtual book club for fourth through seventh graders will feature books that focus on hot topics in the world today. March’s book is “Class Act” by Jerry Craft. This graphic novel features eighth grader Drew Ellis as he tries to navigate the world of Riversdale Academy. Register online. March 2: Teen Advisory Board. 6-7 p.m. The Teen Advisory Board will meet via Zoom. TAB members will receive the Zoom meeting information a few days before the meeting. Interested in applying for TAB? Apply at homewoodpubliclibrary. org/tab-application. March 4 and 18: Teen Theatre Thursdays. 4-5 p.m. Grades 6-12. This bimonthly program will focus on teaching the performing arts to aspiring teen thespians with assistance from the Red Mountain Theatre Company. Held via Zoom. Register for each class individually online. Zoom meeting information will be sent closer to the event. Contact Judith Wright with any questions at judith. wright@homewoodpubliclibrary.org. March 13: Online ACT Practice Test with Princeton Review. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Grades 6-12. This full-length, free practice ACT test is offered by Princeton Review. After the practice test, participants will receive a comprehensive score report detailing strengths and weaknesses. Register online. March 16: Potions Class. 4-5 p.m. Grades 6-12. Learn how to make wizarding potions, just like at Hogwarts! All supplies will be provided via curbside pickup. Register online by March 9 and receive an email March 10 with details of picking up the supplies. ADULT EVENTS Mondays: Virtual Library Yoga with Jackie Tally. 2-3 p.m. Free yoga classes sponsored by Homewood  Public Library. A gentle workout of 15 minutes in the chair, 15 minutes standing with chair and 15 minutes on the mat. All levels of fitness welcome. Register online. March 2: Not Your Mama’s Book Club – Indigenous Wisdom in Modern Times. 2-3:30 p.m. No book reading required,

discussion group only. Join us as Sheri Bagwell discusses the book “Braiding Sweet Grass” by Robin Kimmerer, a Native American scientist and botanist. Kimmerer combines indigenous wisdom with science and urges us to find peace through presence and communion with the earth. Wisdom just in time for spring planting. Register online. March 3: OLLI presents “I Want to Publish My Story.” Noon-1:15 p.m. If you say to yourself, “I’ve got something to say,” this speaker can advise you. As an independent bookseller, Easty has helped many authors bring their inspiration into reality. Well-versed in the process and the pitfalls, join her in learning about getting your words or art out into the world. Classes are free, but registration is required. Register by calling 205348-3000 (If you receive a “call back” message, your call will be returned). Zoom information will be sent closer to event.  March 3: Niki Sepsas presents Constantinople: Crossroads of East and West. 2-3 p.m. A history of Istanbul from its humble beginning as a Greek trading settlement to its establishment as the Eastern capital of the Roman Empire and its subsequent transformation today into Istanbul, one of the world’s most exciting cities. Register online. Zoom meeting information will be sent closer to event.   March 9: Virtual Crafting Circle. 1011:30 a.m. Join a meeting to knit, embroider, crochet, smock, tat, cross stitch, handsew, etc.  Participants can talk about new craft books they’ve discovered, show off current or finished objects and chat about their needlecrafts. Register online. March 9: Oxmoor Page Turners Book Club: “Bookish Life of Nina Hill.” 6:30-8 p.m. Explore Abbie Waxman’s quirky and charming novel chronicling the life of confirmed introvert Nina Hill as she does her best to fly under everyone's radar. Register online. Zoom meeting information will be sent closer to event. March 10: OLLI presents From the Quad to Bryant-Denny Stadium: The History of the Crimson Tide’s Home Field. Noon to 1:15 p.m. The University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide has played home games on several campuses and in many cities since its first team in 1892. Participants will trace the timeline of these changes as locations and capacity evolved through the years. We will examine the major reno-

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vations, including the changes affecting this season. March 10: First Step Wednesdays: Get the Most Out of Your iPad and iPhone! 2:30-4 p.m. This workshop is geared toward casual users. Join us as Apple-certified trainers answer your questions on how best to use your Apple device. Register online. March 16: The ABCs of Medicare. 10-11 a.m. and 2-3 p.m. Have you been wondering about all the new changes to our Medicare benefits? Karen Haiflich will answer all your questions about how benefits are currently computed, how to become insured and how to file a claim. Register online. March 17: UAB CAPPI Series – Opioid Use & Chronic Pain in Sickle Cell Disease. Noon to 1:30 p.m. The study found that adult patients with sickle cell who were treated long-term with opioids often fared worse in measures of pain, fatigue and curtailed daily activities than those not on long-term opioids. Dr. Julie Kanter explores this dilemma and discusses the effects of long-term opioid management of chronic pain. Join the lecture on Zoom at noon at uab.zoom.us/j/94376521055 March 18: Homewood Senior Center Book Club: “The Gown.” 1-2 p.m. Discuss this historical novel about one of the most famous wedding dresses of the 20th century — Queen Elizabeth’s wedding gown — and the fascinating women who made it. Register online. Zoom meeting information will be sent closer to event. March 25: March iProduct Master Class. 2:30-4 p.m. Apple-certified trainers of Connect It! take a deep dive into the settings for your iOS devices. Register online. March 30: Dixie’s Pet Loss Support Group. 6-7:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. Participation is free; for reservations, contact GBHS Volunteer Coordinator Randy Hicks at 205-542-7111. March 31: Better Than Therapy Book Club: “The Book of Two Ways.” 2-3:30 p.m. Explore the questions of Jodi Picoult’s latest novel: What does a life well lived look like? When we leave this earth, what do we leave behind? Do we make choices, or do our choices make us? And who would you be if you hadn’t turned out to be the person you are right now? Register online. Zoom meeting information will be sent closer to event.

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