The Homewood Star
TheHomewoodStar.com
July 2014 •
Volume 4 | Issue 4 | July 2014
Open for business
neighborly news & entertainment for Homewood
Making waves of change
Find out what your neighbors are enjoying about the new community center and its pool. Read more inside.
Community page 16
Since the beginning
Former radio deejay and current o2ideas CEO Shelley Stewart now works with education initiatives through the Mattie C. Stewart Foundation. Here he stands in his Homewood office with memorabilia from his life journey. Photo by Sam Farmer.
By MADOLINE MARKHAM
Carolyn Rayford started teaching at Homewood High School when its doors opened in 1972. Learn about her story in this issue.
Feature page 20
INSIDE Sponsors ................. 4 City ........................... 5 Business .................. 7 Food .......................... 11 Community ............. 13 School House ......... 21 Sports ...................... 27 Calendar ................. 30 Opinion .................... 31
Shelley Stewart will tell you he is still doing the same thing he was doing 50 or 60 years ago — bringing people together to make the world a better place. Today, at age 80, that looks like running an advertising agency and an education-focused nonprofit organization. But
in the 1950s and ’60s, he was better known as on-air radio personality Shelley the Playboy. As a longtime deejay in Birmingham, Stewart provided commentary on what was happening in the city with the fight for civil rights. As his biography, Mattie C’s Boy: The Shelley Stewart Story, describes, he was riding on his popularity to
cloak his talk of what other media outlets were unwilling to report. On WENN-AM radio in 1963, Stewart updated listeners cryptically about times and locations for meetings and rallies. His role would become critical in the middle of that year. “Children were saying, ‘We want our freedom,’ and adults were
saying, ‘We are afraid,’” Stewart recalled in a recent interview. With that in mind, Stewart worked with other leaders of the movement to go a new route. In May, Stewart and other radio personalities invited high school student leaders to lunch at the
See STEWART | page 29
Treasure finders Annual church rummage sale to return July 4 By MADOLINE MARKHAM
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Each year Our Lady of Sorrows evolves into a sort of department store leading up to July 4. Once the church’s school lets out in May, shelves are installed throughout its gym, and volunteers start regular shifts to sort clothes, test electronics and organize books for the annual Trash ‘n’ Treasure rummage sale. Sale chairman Melanie Falconer said she has seen everything including, literally, the kitchen sink come in over the years — doors, a car, old windows, wedding dresses, pianos, ukuleles and an accordion.
See TREASURE | page 29
Stephanie Murdock and Mary Ann Dennis fold and sort clothes for the Trash ‘n’ Treasure sale July 4 at Our Lady of Sorrows. Photo by Madoline Markham.
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2 • July 2014
The Homewood Star
TheHomewoodStar.com
July 2014 • 3
4 • July 2014
The Homewood Star
About Us Photo of the Month
Please Support our Community Partners Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (21) Alabama Gaslight & Grill (17) Alabama Power (20) ARC Realty (29) Batts’ Chimney Services (12) Bedzzz Express (3) Birmingham Museum of Art (9, 32) Birmingham Speech & Hearing (8) Brandino Brass (10) Brighter Image Dentistry (11)
Longtime Homewood Parks and Recreation swim team members and current coaches Rachel Schiller, William Gibbons, Chris Schiller and Genny Pitman swam in the opening heat for the first meet at the new Homewood Community Center pool. This season the team has 280 registered swimmers. Photo by Sam Farmer.
Send your submissions for Photo of the Month to editor@thehomewoodstar.com
artery, frequenting newly built strip malls and marching with a band whose resume was not quite as storied at the Patriots I now hear when I drive down Lakeshore in the fall. Now that I spend time around Homewood like it’s my job (because, well, it is), though, I see more fully how Homewood’s rich past and colorful people make it a distinct “here” well worth celebrating in these pages each month. At Our Lady of Sorrows, the same volunteers have been coming out for decades to prepare for a July Fourth festival with 65 years of history (see cover). Homewood High School can claim a teacher like Carolyn Rayford for her entire career, since its doors opened 42 years ago. A restaurant like
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PT’s can reappear in a new location, and everyone remembers its traditions. Homewood residents truly care about what is on the streets around them. They voice their concerns, and take action, regarding zoning, native trees, community gardening or whatever concerns them. Here people feel loyalty to their neighbors, their school, their pool and their library unlike what I had known before. And these are just the things that came to mind during a quick perusal of what lies in the pages ahead in this issue. It’s such a pleasure for me to now claim my place here and to share its stories.
Contact Information: The Homewood Star #3 Office Park Circle, Suite 316 Birmingham, AL 35223 313-1780 Dan@TheHomewoodStar.com
Classic Gardens (22) Cryotherapy Birmingham (10) Edgewood Fine Jewelry (18) Fred Smith Group (28) Home Care Associates (17) Homewood Chamber of Commerce (12) Homewood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry (14) Homewood Parks and Rec (26) Homewood Soccer Club (19) Homewood Toy & Hobby (28) Iz Cafe (25) Joe Falconer (18) Johnny Montgomery Realtor (24) Julie Ivy White (12) LAH Real Estate (23) Mary House Kessler, Ph.D (16) Mountain Brook Merchants Association (2)
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Editor’s Note By Madoline Markham “I’m from here,” used to be my response. It’s prompted by the almost daily get-to-know-you conversation question that comes with the editor title. I’d lived in Memphis and a college town in Missouri for college and grad school, so when I came back to Birmingham afterward, I thought “here” would be a clear answer. But since starting in the business of hyperlocal, I’ve learned “here” means something more specific. For those of you who are Homewood born, bred and Star-Spangle-ified, if you are standing in city limits, it, of course, means Homewood. And so I confess, I am not from that “here.” I spent my growing up years farther out a certain traffic-congested
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Please submit all articles, information and photos to: Editor@TheHomewoodStar.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253
My Ultimate Mattress (8) Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics (24) Planet Fitness (7) RealtySouth Marketing (15) Salem’s Diner (16) Savage’s Bakery (9) Sikes Childrens Shoes (18) Simply Ponds (30)
For advertising contact: Dan@TheHomewoodStar.com 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.
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Studio Fitness (30) The Maids (22) UAB Medicine (31) UAB School of Public Health (30) Vision Gymnastics (21) Vitalogy Wellness Center (6, 27) Weigh To Wellness (19)
July 2014 • 5
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City Mayor’s Minute Dear friends and neighbors, Summer is here and hopefully you and your family are enjoying vacations and spending time with family and friends. Homewood is a great place all year long, but I especially love the summer. I enjoy seeing all of you outside enjoying all the amenities Homewood has to offer. Our newest recreational facility, the community center pool, continues to be a big hit this summer. I think most would agree having to miss the pool season last year was certainly worth the wait. The numbers of attendees have been staggering, and I’m hearing wonderful things about what it means to our community from those of you who live here — and from a few who wish they lived here. I will have more details on the numbers later, but the first day alone had over 1,300 visitors. Each year I present to the City Council a mid-year review of how we are doing financially. I presented the numbers to the Finance Committee at the beginning of June, and I think it pleased the council to see and learn of our current status. At this point, our revenues are up nearly $600,000 compared to this time last year. Our expenses are up as well but can be explained by the timing of some bills we have received a little earlier this year than we received last year. All in all, I am very pleased with our financial position and still expect a surplus at the end of the year. I am beginning to work on the budget for the next fiscal year and look forward to some more exciting improvements to Homewood. There is more on that to come later. Let me take this opportunity to stress again how important it is for us to shop and invest our money in Homewood. Your tax dollars go directly to our city when you shop locally instead of going to another municipality. I know there are times when all of us have to shop somewhere else for one reason or another, but let’s let it be the exception instead of the rule. Shopping here helps our local stores, keeps our economy strong and affords us opportunities to improve our city
that we would otherwise not be able to afford. Lastly, this past Father’s Day continues to be on my mind. As many of you know, my dad passed away last August, so this was the first Father’s Day without him. Many of you reading this knows exactly how it feels. I had my cry early that morning almost as soon as I got out of bed. I dreaded the day. But for some strange reason I had a feeling deep down that just said, “Stop it.” I could hear my dad saying every day we had together was Father’s Day. He used to tell us that Father’s Day and Thanksgiving, and all the other holidays, were just numbers on a calendar. So, what’s my point? Well, it’s just that. My prayer for each of you is that every day is Father’s Day or Mother’s Day... or Thanksgiving. Hopefully, you will be reminded of all the good things your children do for you on days not specified by a calendar and that each day gives us some opportunity to be thankful for something. This time you are investing right now during the summer while your children are out of school all goes towards making memories. I know our lives are busy, but there is nothing more important than time spent with family. Enjoy the pool, throw a baseball, play Barbie dolls, go fishing or take a walk down the sidewalk, but do something today that will be a memory for both you and your children tomorrow. For tomorrow is never promised. I had 44 calendar Father’s Day’s with my dad, but I’m so grateful that I had many, many more than that. I’m honored you allow me to serve as your mayor. If my office can assist you in any way, please contact me at 332-6103 or Scott. McBrayer@DignityMemorial.com. Sincerely, Scott McBrayer Mayor
Sidewalk Sale coming July 26 Homewood shops are getting ready for a giant Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, July 26. More than 30 stores in downtown Homewood and Edgewood are participating. The sidewalks will be lined with merchandise, most of which will come with price reductions from 20 to 70 percent off. “We want to make it a street market type atmosphere,” said Steve Thomas, head of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce Business Association. Thomas said that some Homewood merchants organized a similar sale last summer
but this year the Chamber is spearheading it. Four Seasons marketing director Liz Lane said the “mega sidewalk sale” will feel like a party, with many retailers serving food and drinks or hosting other festivities. “Last year it was a really good turnout,” Lane said. “We got a lot of business and are excited about doing it this year.” Lane noted that many stores are receiving new merchandise in late July, and the sale allows them to make room for the new items. For more, visit homewoodchamber.com.
HCS releases free and reduced meal rates Homewood City Schools announced its 2014-2015 policy for free and reduced-price meals on July 1. The meals are provided as part of the National School Lunch Program, and Homewood officials determined the rates based on household income and size. For example, a household of four would be eligible for the free meal program if it makes $31,005 per year or less, and it would be eligible for the reduced-price program if they make between $31,005 and $44,123 per year.
Families who may qualify for the program can fill out an application that will be sent home with students, or by requesting a copy from the principal’s office. All information in the application will be kept confidential and is only used to determine eligibility. Applications can be submitted at any point during the school year. To learn more about eligibility requirements, call Child Nutrition Program Director Carolyn Keeney at 877-4572.
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The Homewood Star
Rosedale rezoning approved for duplexes
Rezoning for two duplexes at 2756 B. M. Montgomery Street was before City Council at its June 9 meeting. Photo courtesy of Terry Slaughter.
By MADOLINE MARKHAM The Homewood City Council approved a controversial request to rezone a Rosedale property at its June 9 meeting. Tim Coker of Coker Holdings plans to renovate two duplexes at 2756 B. M. Montgomery Street as a part of the work of Simon Cyrene Foundation, a ministry Terry Slaughter operates there. The new mixed use zoning will allow the property to also feature a studio space not allowed by its previous Neighborhood Preservation District zoning, in addition to housing interns for Slaughter’s ministry. Michael Hallman and Britt Thames, who represent Ward 1, voted against the passage; all other present representatives voted in its favor. The Council also approved the final development plan for the property 7-2. Over the years since Homewood was incorporated in 1928, the Rosedale community’s property was reduced as Montgomery Highway grew and the Homewood Central Business District was developed, which was wedged into the middle of the residential area.
Numerous times the city rezoned Rosedale property from residential to business purposes. It’s this historical pattern that now concerns Rosedale residents. “The proposed plan, by Mr. Terry Slaughter, to have property rezoned for multipurpose use, is yet, another attempt to commercialize the Rosedale neighborhood,” Rosedale resident Vernessa Curry wrote in a letter to the Council, asking that the Council oppose the rezoning as “we continue our ongoing struggle to save and preserve what little acreage that remains of our historic community.” The Council delayed the vote on the rezoning at its May 12 meeting to allow time for Slaughter to meet with residents and further explain his proposal and his ministry. The Homewood Planning Commission had tied 3-3 on its request to recommend the rezoning at its April 1 meeting. At a town hall meeting Council Member Britt Thames hosted on May 20, Slaughter provided more details on his plans, and Rosedale residents spoke up with questions and comments in favor of and in opposition to his plans. Eighty people attended.
City Council Updates At its June meetings, the Homewood City Council: Approved a request for consideration of lease for the Exceptional Foundation for 1610 and 1612 Oxmoor Road. In April, the Council voted to rezone the previously residential properties behind the Foundation, where it plans to build a one-story youth center and additional parking. The Foundation plans to transfer ownership of the property to the city, and the city will lease back to the Foundation. Approved a request to rezone 3006 Cook Street, which is a vacant building located off Oxmoor Road near U.S. 31, from C-1 (Office Use) to C-2 (Neighborhood Shopping District) for use as a beauty salon/barber shop. Thornton H. Ratliff of TDG Cook Street, LLC owns the property
and applied for its rezoning. An established upscale hair salon currently located in Mountain Brook plans to relocate to the space. The Planning Commission had recommended it by a vote of 6 to 0. Approved a request to authorize the mayor to enter into a contract with MBA Engineers for $17,000 for design fees for the Rumson Road Sidewalk Project that was previously approved in Work Session/Finance Committee. The Council had originally approved $10,000 for the project. Approved a 15-foot set-back variance to the Fence Ordinance at 1618 Roseland Drive at the request of Merilyn Hand of Twin Construction. The homeowner desires to install a 6-foot fence in the backyard of the corner lot.
West Homewood plan moving forward In June, the Homewood City Council was discussing the next steps for the West Homewood redevelopment plan. The finance committee was considering a request to authorize the mayor to enter into an agreement with Walter Schoel Engineering Company, Inc. for professional consulting and preliminary engineering services for the project. This would provide a preliminary engineering document with cost estimates for the entire plan so the City can consider which projects will move forward. Schoel would work with Kyle D’Agostino with GA Studio on the project. In May the council voted to rezone
24 parcels of land into the West Homewood District, bringing these properties along Oxmoor Road, Oak Grove Road and Scott Street into the new district in accordance with a form-based code approved in 2013. According to the code, the document’s intention is “to ensure that development projects, public and private, in the West Homewood District exhibit the highest standards of urban design, and create a form that is compact, walkable and mixed-use in character.” For more, visit westhomewoodplan. com.
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TheHomewoodStar.com
Business Spotlight Rosedale Dr
280
28th Ave S
18 Street S.
Savage’s Bakery
Read past Business Spotlight at TheHomewoodStar.com
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2916 18th Street South savagebakery.com 871-4901 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
By MADOLINE MARKHAM Family has been at the heart of Savage’s Bakery for the past 75 years. Margaret Scott remembers coming up to the bakery on holidays as a child to help box cakes, tray cookies and put butterflake rolls on a pan. Her older sisters, Kitty and Elizabeth, helped with customers when they got old enough. Aunts, uncles and cousins have worked for the business since her father, Van, purchased it in 1978. The bakery was founded on Highland Avenue by William Savage in 1939 and moved to its current location on 18th Street in the 1950s. Scott’s grandmother was there for its grand opening. Over the decades, the shop’s interior and recipes for signature items like smiley face cookies, meltaways and scratch-made birthday cakes have remained the same. Kids still get to pick out a treat from bakery cases at their eye level if they behave while their moms shop in Jack N Jill next door. Ben Cook has been the head baker at Savage’s since 1978, and baker Louise Cooley just retired after 30 years there. Sales clerks, most of whom work there while they are in college, are considered family as well and often receive gifts on holidays from regular customers. One woman comes in every day for a smiley face cookie and Diet Coke. Sales clerks start moving when they see her walking toward the entrance. “It’s fun for me when I come in and already
(above) Margaret Scott’s favorite item in the bakery case is yellow cake with buttercream icing. Photo by Madoline Markham. (right) Kenyada Smith, Margaret Scott and Regis Timmons stand behind the deli counter at Savage’s Bakery, a business Scott’s family has owned since 1978. Photo by Madoline Markham.
see them putting a box together,” said Scott, who now works with her dad to run the business. When she first started at the bakery after moving home from Jackson Hole, Wyo., three years ago, Scott ate a yellow cupcake with buttercream icing every day for breakfast. She’s since cut back and started eating more lace cookies. “Our icings are out of this world,” she said, noting they can purchased by the pound for home bakers. “I am particularly fond of buttercream and cream cheese.”
In fact, Savage’s is so confident in their buttercream and cream cheese that they recommend it on their wedding cakes over fondant because they want it to taste good. One item of many hidden from the bakery case (because it must be refrigerated) is roulage, a flourless chocolate cake rolled up with a sweet cream filling. The confection can also be found at Piggly Wiggly and served at Birmingham Country Club and The Club. There are certainly iced cookies in the case, but
the bakery will also customize orders for them. Recently, they even shipped monogrammed cookies to Texas for a wedding, one of many orders that have traveled across the country and even to Europe. Still, Scott is interested in bringing some new sparkles to the tradition of Savage’s. She recently added a fresh coat of paint to the interior and added menu items like granola. Next up is a new deli menu with side items such as pesto pasta made with Alabama ingredients, and gluten-free items are in the forecast as well.
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The Homewood Star
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Now Open SeniorCare Geriatric Healthcare Services held a ribbon-cutting last month at its new clinic at 1280 Columbiana Road, Suite 120. The practice is designed to treat patients age 65 and older. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 916-0105. seniorcareofalabama.com.
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The Venue Luxury Apartments is now open at 2850 Venice Road. The community offers a saltwater pool, athletic club and club house. 945-0220. thevenuebirmingham.com.
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Coming Soon Cold-press juicery Sprout & Pour is opening a retail space at 927 Oxmoor Road across from Homewood Antiques & Marketplace in Edgewood. It is scheduled to open by August and leading up to then is selling its six juice varieties at farmers markets and through home deliveries. 266-6772. sproutandpour.com.
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Relocations and Renovations Surgical Care Affiliates, currently located in the Riverchase Galleria tower in Hoover, is moving to the Brookwood Center tower on Lakeshore Drive in Homewood. 545-2572. scasurgery.com.
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EW Motion Therapy, formerly known as Eskridge and White Physiotherapy, has renovated, rebranded and expanded its physical therapy business to offer fitness and wellness services. The business is located at 3125
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Independence Drive, Suite 300B across from the Mayfair apartments. 879-7501. ewmotiontherapy.com. Alliance Capital Corporation has moved from Office Park to its newly renovated offices at 1808 Oxmoor Road. 982-7900. alliancecapitalcorporation. com.
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News and Accomplishments The Moore Agency, 921 Oxmoor Road, and The Saddler Agency, 832 Green Springs Highway, have been designated Allstate Premier Agencies for 2014. The designation is bestowed on less than 48 percent of Allstate’s nearly 10,000 agency owners across the country. The Moore Agency 983-6441, The Saddler Agency 941-1800. allstate.com.
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Hirings and Promotions Rubio Law Firm, 438 Carr Ave., has promoted Leslie Wright to managing partner. Wright has also been named as a participant in the American Association for Justice’s 2014 Leadership Academy. 443-7858. rubiofirm.com.
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Vitalogy Wellness Center has welcomed Pat Wittig, a nurse practitioner specializing in women’s health and wellness, to its practice at 2704 20th Street South. She is now available for appointments and consultations. 413-8599. vitalogywellness.com.
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The Homewood Star
New location, same business for Wallace-Burke By SYDNEY CROMWELL From the parking lot of Wallace-Burke, business partners Preston Foy and David Hezlep can still see the sign from their old location. In early May, the SoHo jewelry and collectibles store made a short move across 29th Avenue South. While the physical distance was small, the benefits that come with the move are large. Foy and Hezlep have owned Wallace-Burke for almost seven years and had been planning a move for nearly that long. When the Monty Stabler Gallery closed, the jewelers decided to buy its building. After three months of renovations, Wallace-Burke settled into its new home. “This has been our original plan all along,” Foy said. “These are steps we’d always planned when we sat down on the living room sofa seven and a half years ago with a legal pad, mapping out a business plan.” Wallace-Burke’s new location at 1811 29th Ave. S. solves two of its main problems: parking and visibility. There are 10 private parking spaces designated for the store’s customers, and Foy has heard about this from many happy customers. The new building also faces the street, unlike the old location that was tucked behind Zoe’s Kitchen in SoHo Square. Foy said people used to call all the time because they could not find the store. “We would say [to customers], ‘Right behind Zoe’s,’” Foy said. “An hour or so later, they would show up and come in. And they would go, ‘I go to Zoe’s every week. I never knew you guys were here.’” The new building also doubles Wallace-Burke’s square footage. Since the store is launching a new website in September and hopes to expand its shipping across the country, its new location features a shipping area.
(above) Shannon Neil discusses a pearl necklace with a customer at Wallace-Burke. Photos by Sydney Cromwell. (left) Wallace-Burke staff owner Preston Foy, Shannon Neil and owner David Hezlep have expanded the store’s square footage as well as its collection of giftware and antiques with its recent move.
“We’ve been able now to have a real shipping department, where before it was my desk, which was my jeweler’s bench, which was also my watch bench all in one,” Foy said. This extra space also means there is room to expand their giftware selection. Foy said Wallace-Burke will have small antiques, rare collectibles and “unusual, unique” gifts for every price range. A larger selection of men’s gifts, such as shaving sets, will also debut in the fall. “Our giftware is unique,” Foy said. “We
want people to understand, if you want to find a perfect gift for someone, the first place to go is Wallace-Burke.” The owners want both men and women to feel at home shopping at the new Wallace-Burke. Foy said that their renovations included darker tones, a bar and a television to watch sports so that men could be at ease in the jewelry store. “We want this frou-frou store to be a little bit manly. We want men to feel comfortable here,” Foy said.
Foy emphasized that Wallace-Burke is still the same store. While the inventory might be larger, customers will still get the same quality products and will be greeted by the same faces. “The most important part of the product that we sell is not the pretty jewelry, not the pretty things,” Foy said. “The most important part of our product is us. We have to be genuine.” Visit Wallace-Burke’s new location at 1811 29th Ave. S. For more, call 874-1044.
Decorative Hardware and Lighting Showroom
Uncompromising Quality and Service 205.978.8900 Monday-Friday 8am-5pm Saturday by Appointment
2824 Central Avenue Suite 100 Birmingham, AL 35209 www.brandinobrass.com
July 2014 • 11
TheHomewoodStar.com
Restaurant Showcase
Read past Restaurant Showcases at TheHomewoodStar.com
Rosedale Dr
1830 29th Ave. South, Suite 160 cmfoodservicellc.com Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
28th Ave S
18 Street S.
PT’s SoHo
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By MADOLINE MARKHAM An old friend has returned to town. PT’s Sports Grill made its home on Hollywood Boulevard from 19822004, and now a new incarnation of it has come to SoHo in the former Lovoy’s Restaurant space. Tim Vakakes, who started the original PT’s with his brother Pete (the P of PT’s), sees it as a “2014 version of a really neat neighborhood bar and grill,” and he’s worked with Charles Matsos of CM Foodservice to bring the restaurant back to life. As of print, the restaurant was scheduled to open by the end of June. Just like old times, you can order half and half onion rings and French fries with your order of classic, naked or dry-rubbed wings. “We brought Buffalo wings to Birmingham in 1982 before restaurants like Baumhower’s existed,” Vakakes said. Chefs Clayton Selfe and Adam Alfano will serve Classic PT’s Burgers on the classic onion roll or their new options, pretzel bread or Kaiser rolls. In addition to recipes from the original restaurant, the Cedar Plank Salmon is rubbed with a zesty ancho-chipotle chile topping, fired and served on a cedar plank with a citrus herb compound butter. There will also be a prime rib sandwich as well
PT’s founder Tim Vakakes and Mitch Hurt, CM Foodservice director of operations, stand against one of the wooden walls in the interior of the new PT’s. Photo by Madoline Markham.
as variations on onion rings and fried green tomatoes, Vakakes said. Vakakes also said the menu will feature a selection of desserts he believes will blow customers away, such as a Homemade Peanut Butter Pie encased in a graham cracker crust and topped with dark chocolate ganache. Twenty-four beers will be served on tap, including a variety of local brews, in addition to special bourbon varieties and drink creations by a house mixologist. True to its sports
bar calling, there will be two dozen flat-screen TVs for game watching. The bar and grill will occupy the former Lovoy’s space along with an adjacent retail space, which will increase the restaurant size by 1,500 square feet to a total of 5,000 square feet. It will seat 140 people inside and an additional 80 on its patio. In the pool room to the right of the entrance, you’ll find a room with pool tables, where classic PT’s pool tournaments will take place. The space will
also offer cornhole tournaments and space to host private events. The idea for the original PT’s came from Vakakes’ wife of 32 years, Diane, who grew up in a Chicago neighborhood filled with the kind of bars and grill restaurants she hadn’t seen in Birmingham. Vakakes had been in the restaurant business since he was a teenager, but he credits Diane with helping him figure out what people like to eat. “We wanted to be a friendly place
where people could hang their hat,” Vakakes said. “There were not a lot of bars and grills then. We were the first, and it took 10 years before people said, ‘We could do that.’” Vakakes recalls the early days of PT’s, when many sports games weren’t on cable and when ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman had hair. A graduate of Mountain Brook High School and Auburn University, he said he had a college and high school reunion every day. “Everyone came by because they knew I was there,” he said. After a 24-year tenure, PT’s closed in 2004 to make way for a condo development that would later fall through. Matsos and his company had been wanting to bring PT’s back, so recently, they asked Vakakes if he would be interested in the venture. The rest is history. “It’s in your blood,” Vakakes said of getting back into the restaurant business. “Like Al Pacino, it pulls you back in,” Vakakes first worked with Matsos when he ran a Golden Rule franchise in the early 1990s, and their fathers had worked together on an investment in the past. Now the two are teaming up for this new project. The partners are hoping to open more locations for PT’s if this one does well.
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The Homewood Star
July 2014 • 13
TheHomewoodStar.com
Community Library receives top statewide award
Local organizations team up to host Red, White and Brews Mitchell’s Place, The Bell Center and Triumph Services will host the first Red, White and Brews event at Rosewood Hall July 12 at 5 p.m. This event celebrates a lifetime of independence for children and young adults with disabilities. Each person admitted will receive a sampling of beer from local breweries Good People, Avondale, Trimtab and Cahaba Brewery. A representative from each brewery will be on site to assist with choices. Beer will also be available for purchase. Red, White and Brews will host local food trucks including Saws
Street Kitchen, Cantina on Wheels, Nola Ice and Greg’s hot dog stand. Live music will be provided by Live Wire and Little Memphis and Friends, members of the Taylor Hicks Band. Tickets are $20. All ticket sales benefit Mitchell’s Place, The Bell Center and Triumph Services. To purchase tickets, visit eventbrite.com/e/red-whiteand-brews-independence-for-lifetickets-11904521745. -Submitted by Mary Ashley Canevero
Hontzas achieves Eagle
Homewood Library Foundation Board member Julee Potter, staff member Heather Cover, director Deborah Fout, Homewood Library Foundation Board member Fran Jones, staff member Oanh Nguyen and staff member Dona Herring Smith show off the library’s new Gold Level Standard Award.
The Alabama Library Association has selected the Homewood Public Library to be the first to receive its Gold Level Standard Award for Public Libraries. Homewood was the only library in the state to receive the highest level of achievement
during the 2014 Alabama Library Association Annual Convention. The Homewood Library received the state Blue Ribbon Award in 2004, which was the highest standard attainable in the state at that time. There were only seven libraries in the state that had
attained this award. Over the past few years, the Alabama Library Association has worked to revamp and update its standards, changing them from the Blue Ribbon Award to Bronze, Silver and Gold Level Awards.
Friends and families of Phil Hontzas recently joined together as Troop 97, sponsored by Trinity United Methodist Church, celebrated and recognized his rank achievement of Eagle Scout. Phil earned 34 merit badges, served in various leadership positions and received prestigious scouting awards. Phil’s Eagle project benefited the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. As it states in the Eagle Scout Challenge, young men who reach the rank of Eagle Scout are expected to exemplify in their daily life the principles and values expressed in the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. Phil graduated from Homewood High School in May and plans to attend Auburn University’s Honor’s College and major in psychology in the fall.
Phil Hontzas
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The Homewood Star
Festival on the Fourth
Retro Run returns to Homewood The Trak Shak’s Retro Run 5K is returning to Homewood on July 26. This year’s run will be a twilight event, taking place at 7 p.m. Participants are encouraged to dress in retro fashion for the run. $100 will be awarded to the participant with the best costume. Registration is $30 for adults and $10 for children. To register, visit trakshak.com or runsignup.com. For more information, call 870-5644.
Tax-free weekend set for Aug. 1-3 By MADISON MILLER
The annual Thunder on the Mountain fireworks show will be visible from anywhere with a view of Vulcan. Photo courtesy of Vulcan Park and Museum.
Homewood’s annual Fourth of July celebration is set to take place in Downtown Homewood on July 4 from 5:30-9 p.m. The event will feature inflatables, rides and music. After the celebration, Vulcan’s Thunder on the Mountain firework show will be visible from Downtown
Homewood. The show will begin at 9 p.m. and can be seen in several areas across Birmingham. It is a free event and open to the public. This year’s show will be approximately 20 minutes and will be choreographed to a musical soundtrack played on 104.7
WZZK, 106.9 The Eagle, Easy 97.3, 98.7 Kiss FM, 95.7 Jamz, 107.3 Birmingham Mountain Radio, 1500 AM Juan and 98.3 FM La Jefa. Fox 6 will also televise the show. For more visit visitvulcan.com.
Alabama’s back-to-school tax-free weekend will be held at retail stores throughout the state on Aug. 1-3. It will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 1 and end on Aug. 3 at midnight. Homewood and surrounding municipalities such as Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook and Shelby County will participate in the exemption. The weekend gives back-to-school shoppers the opportunity to buy supplies and equipment without sales tax added. Items that will be tax-free include but are not limited to clothing items under $100, school supplies under $50, computers and other electronics under $750, educational books under $30, and required textbooks more than $30 and less than $50. Several retailers will feature additional sales on top of the tax exclusion. For these businesses, the weekend represents an opportunity for significant sales. “It increases traffic in the store and encourages everyone to come out,” a.k.a. Girl Stuff owner Dee Tipps said. Only items with an educational value are part of the exclusion. Therefore, video games or electronics sold for recreational purposes will not be included. Some other items that are not tax-free include some clothing items such as belt-buckles sold separately, costume masks, patches/ emblems and more. For more information and detailed lists of included items, visit revenue.alabama.gov/salestax/SalesTaxHol.cfm.
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Learning to live with wild neighbors By MADISON MILLER While some might be annoyed by backyard wildlife, David Dionne understands that wild animals’ behavior is just part of the food chain. “Animals are doing what they do naturally,” the Red Mountain Park executive director said. “We are going to interact with them. We just have to learn how to attract wildlife that we want and make sure to not attract wildlife we don’t want.” In May, Dionne gave a talk on “Learning to Live with Wild Neighbors” at the Homewood Public Library. He offered his expert advice to educate the public on wildlife behavior and to eradicate myths on how to deal with wildlife. Dionne spoke at the library at the request of Homewood Chief of Police Jim Roberson. Roberson said the police department receives frequent calls concerning wildlife in residential areas. “People say, ‘What can we do to eradicate these animals?’” Roberson said. “First of all, it can’t be done. Second, they were here before we were. Right where we are standing there were animals all over. Instead of leaving, they learned to live with people. We have to do the same.” In his presentation, Dionne explained several types of wildlife and how to both attract and repel them. Though wildlife can cause issues in domestic life, most wild animals’ instinct is to avoid people. Dionne stressed that the main reason animals interact with people is because they are attracted to something in their yard. Mammals, reptiles, insects and arachnids find homes where there is food and proper shelter. Many creatures find that a suburban backyard fits their needs. To avoid unwanted wild animals, Dionne’s solution is to keep a clean yard and exterior home. Small but deadly creatures can find their way into buckets left in the yard or cracks on the side of a house. During the talk, Dionne shared a story of a large copperhead snake that
Red Mountain Park Executive Director David Dionne discusses backyard wildlife at Homewood Public Library. Photo by Madison Miller.
made its way into his friend’s backyard shed through a crack under the door. Dionne reminded his friend to check for eggs left in the shed. Sure enough, the copperhead had left eggs behind. Feeding wild animals, whether intentionally or unintentionally, can also present problems. If an animal finds leftovers in a yard, it will often associate the yard with food and become a frequent visitor. This is especially true for coyotes. “Once a coyote makes that association, they’ll never break it,” Dionne said. Even the responsibility of owning a bird feeder can cause bigger issues with wildlife. If birds or other animals find feeders in a yard, they grow accustomed to feeding there. “If you stop feeding them, they will stop feeding their babies,” Dionne said. It is important to make the commitment to keep feeding devices full throughout a season once animals have begun eating from it. Dionne also said residents should remember that while feeders attract birds, birds might attract other animals. For many animals, birds and creatures that feed on birds are prey. This can cause bigger wildlife problems in a yard. “It’s important to get people to think of it as a food chain,” Dionne said.
Residents present performance of Annie
Homewood residents Anna Johnston, Chloe Jeffcoat and Danielle Eggers will play orphans in the Virginia Samford Theatre’s summer production of Annie. Photo courtesy of Talia Pepke.
Homewood children are hitting the stage at the Virginia Samford Theatre in the presentation of the Broadway musical Annie starting July 10. Annie’s sidekicks and fellow orphans share a hard knock life in depression-struck, 1930s New York City. Playing some of those orphans are Homewood residents Anna Johnston as Pepper (in one cast), Chloe Jeffcoat as Pepper (in another cast) and Danielle Eggers as Duffy. With the help of her friends, Annie is determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of the orphanage, and overcome the antagonist of the show, Ms. Hannigan. The cast of orphans will perform classic songs such as “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “You’re Never Fully Dressed without a Smile”
and “Maybe.” With the current revival playing on Broadway and Hollywood’s upcoming rendition starring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz, this show continues to be repeated on both the stage and the big screen. Opening night is July 10 at 7:30 p.m. with shows running Thursday through Sunday until July 27. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and matinee shows will be Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets for seats in the center section are $35, and seats stage left or right are $30. Students can purchase $15 tickets with an ID. To purchase tickets, call 251-1206, visit virginiasamfordtheatre.org. The theatre is located at 1116 26th St. S in Birmingham.
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The Homewood Star
What is your favorite part of the new Homewood Community Center?
“Every time we come here, his friends are here, and that doesn’t happen at the Y or something like that.” -Sean Brasher and son, Ethan
“I really like the splash pad and the whirly pool.” - Maddie Klimcak
“I like the jet pool.” - Jonas Harrison “I like the water slide.” - Evie Harrison
“I like the new gym. It’s nice. The floors are a lot nicer than the old one.” - Owen Ferguson
“I think the kids’ area is great. I’m out here with my granddaughter, and I love seeing all the lifeguards. It’s just a beautiful place.” - Wanda Varden and granddaughter, McKinley
“The splash pad children’s area and the fact that this larger area is three feet deep, so it’s easier for my toddlers to swim.” - Kristin Franklin
HOMEWOOD
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“I like that we have diving boards.” - Carmen Klimcak
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Going native
Homewood Environmental Commission plans native tree planting initiative
By SYDNEY CROMWELL An ancient forest is hiding in plain sight in Homewood’s backyards, parks and wooded areas. Native trees such as post oak, red hickory, persimmon and black gum trees are remnants of the vast forests that covered Homewood before the city’s earliest days. Homewood’s native tree population has declined due to commercial development, disease, damage and old age, according to Homewood Environmental Commission (HEC) member-at-large Arnie Rutkis. Nurseries typically do not sell these species, so if the native trees die out in Homewood, they are lost for good. “A lot of these native trees that we’re promoting, they’re not available in the nursery trade,” Rutkis said. “They’re part of an older forest system that predated settlement in the area.” The Birmingham Botanical Gardens and the HEC have started a tree planting program to make sure these native trees continue to grow and thrive in the future. “The idea of this project was to collect local seeds from trees we know were part of the original forest,” said Birmingham Botanical Gardens Education Director Henry Hughes. “There’s a historic element to it. We’re perpetuating the original trees.” The planting program will only use locally sourced seeds, including Woodland Park’s red and shagbark hickories as well as sycamore and yellow poplar from the Sims Ecoscape in Edgewood. This not only preserves the original environment, but also supports butterflies and migratory birds that depend on trees blooming at a specific time. The Homewood City Council has given $10,000 for the program to buy and plant two dozen overcup oaks on Central Avenue, which will be planted in the fall. HEC has also begun
Volunteers collect seeds from a local black gum tree. Photo courtesy of Henry Hughes.
scouting Homewood for historic trees and areas that could benefit from additional plant life. However, Hughes said the project’s success depends on public involvement. In the fall, residents can help harvest seeds from specific historic trees around the city. The HEC will provide information about harvesting techniques and tree identification. The seeds will then be grown into seedlings at the botanical gardens’ nursery and can be planted in fall 2015. The Ecoscape will also distribute native seedlings to replant. Scout troops, church groups and local schools
Seedlings grown from native Homewood trees are replanted at Red Mountain Park. Photo courtesy of Henry Hughes.
can all help with planting the seedlings in parks or other public spaces. Hughes also hopes to see many residents planting the trees in their own yards. “Everyone wants the city to plant trees, and then they want the city to take care of them,” Hughes said. “But our feeling is that if people want trees, they should plant them at home where they have room to grow.” The idea for this project was born out of the botanical gardens’ previous replanting project with the Little Garden Club and Red Mountain Garden Club. Over five years, the program replanted 1,500 seedlings in several
parks, including George Ward Park, Avondale Park and Red Mountain Park. After the project ended, Hughes decided to transplant the idea to his own Homewood community with the help of the HEC. Hughes hopes the replanting project will become an annual event and ensure the safety of the trees that have populated Homewood for thousands of years. “We want it to go on every year and be a positive thing for Homewood,” Hughes said. To learn more about the tree planting project, call Rutkis at 901-8600 or Hughes at 414-3950.
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The Homewood Star
Growing community garden has a place for everyone By SYDNEY CROMWELL After years of labor to make the Homewood City Schools community garden a reality, Julie Gentry is seeing the fruits — and vegetables — of her labor. Potatoes, okra and sunflowers flourish alongside peach trees and raised beds of strawberries, basil and eggplant. A pollination garden has attracted bees, hummingbirds and butterflies. Gentry’s favorite part, though, is seeing children and the entire community play a part in the garden’s success. “I love having different parts of the community come by and participate,” Gentry said. “That’s a real point of pride, just how many people have worked so hard on so much of it.” The garden, located at 1108 Frisco Street next to the future Board of Education building, is a community effort in the truest sense of the word. Local Boy Scouts have built a tool shed and information kiosk for the garden, while BB&T Bank helped fund and build some of the community beds. State Rep. Paul DeMarco helped Gentry get a grant to install a cistern, which collects rainwater and provides a year-round water supply. Arnie Rutkis, a local landscaper, built the pollination garden, and students in shop classes have crafted bluebird houses and cold frames to protect the garden during winter. “A lot of people feel like, ‘I’m not really into gardening, so there’s nothing for me to do out here,’” Gentry said. “It takes all of us to make it work, not just the gung-ho gardeners.” Homewood’s schoolchildren also use the garden as an outdoor classroom. They learn about composting, plant care and sustainability as they taste and take home the produce they grow. Gentry enjoys seeing the children’s
Eggplants, tomatoes and strawberries are some of the many plants growing in the garden. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
wonder as they taste a strawberry for the first time or put a potato in their pocket to take home. “They’re overwhelmed when you say, ‘Yes, that is your potato.’ And they start talking about recipes, and it starts a whole conversation that middle schoolers don’t normally have,” Gentry said. Some of the garden’s produce also makes its way to the school lunchrooms. Gentry recalled a pasta salad that received rave reviews from students and teachers because of the garden’s rosemary. “They harvest enough herbs that sometimes they’re used in all five of the schools,” Gentry
said. “When stuff can make it to all five lunchrooms, I’m pretty excited.” However, even Gentry has been surprised by teachers’ ingenuity in using the garden. Homewood Middle School family and consumer sciences teacher Briana Morton’s eighth-grade class started a business called the Magic City Juice Bar and sold juices made from the garden’s crops. Morton and fellow middle school’s eighth-grade science teacher, Molly Knudsen, started a free summer “seed to table” program funded by the Homewood City Schools Foundation. Fifteen students participated in June, working in the garden in the mornings and cooking
in the afternoon. “I’m really happy for those kids. To have that kind of opportunity in your neighborhood, for free, that’s just a dream come true for that space to be used like that,” Gentry said. “I’m so proud of [them] for pulling that off.” The garden has expanded to accommodate its many new purposes. With help from Garner Stone, three new handicap-accessible stone beds were installed earlier this year. The beds will produce more food for lunchrooms, including cucumbers, edamame, pumpkins and cantaloupes. Gentry recently planted corn and blackberry bushes as well. Bark for a Park donated some leftover funds to install a dog waste disposal station in the open areas near the garden, where people frequently walk their dogs. Gentry also has big plans for the garden’s future, including a pavilion, more community beds and a second cistern. She would like to install a small windmill to teach about wind energy and get students on the robotics teams to build a solar-powered cistern pump. Once construction is finished on the new Board of Education building, Gentry wants to add a walking trail and use more land to teach children about larger crops such as soybeans, cotton and sugar cane. “We’re going to have more green space than we know what to do with,” Gentry said. “It’s a rare [problem] for a community garden to have.” No matter how the garden grows, though, Gentry’s focus will remain on teaching the children who visit and enriching the entire community. “That has a value that we don’t even know,” Gentry said. The garden’s next community work day is Saturday, July 12, at 9 a.m. To learn more, email hcsgarden@gmail.com.
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20 • July 2014
The Homewood Star
Rayford retires after 42 years By SYDNEY CROMWELL When Homewood High School opened its doors in 1972, Carolyn Rayford was one of the first to walk through them. It was the beginning of her four-decade career teaching and learning from thousands of Homewood students. That career came to an end this spring, when Rayford announced her retirement. Rayford was born in Birmingham to a missionary family. She spent her early years living in England and traveling with her parents. Her Christian faith deepened as she grew up, and she also discovered a passion for teaching. “Teaching, to me, is learning, and I enjoy learning,” Rayford said. Homewood was the only place for Rayford. She started as a student teacher at the high school and then became a full-time social studies teacher. Over the years, she became the social studies department chair and taught everything from ancient history to modern world cultures, including Alabama, U.S. and European history. Wars, upheavals and rebellions were Rayford’s favorite topics to teach. She said she enjoyed getting to the why behind historical figures’ thoughts and actions. “History was indeed my cup of tea,” Rayford said. “You are forever learning, things are forever changing.” During her tenure, Rayford co-sponsored the HHS chapter of the National Honor Society, sponsored the Beta Club and was a president of the Homewood Education Association. She started a history club for students to learn about research skills and finding credible information, and she
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Carolyn Rayford started teaching at Homewood High School in 1972. Photos courtesy of Homewood High School.
also taught night classes at Miles College for 12 years. There were times, Rayford said, when she was teaching seven days a week. “It’s something I love, so I don’t figure that I’ve really worked because it’s something I truly enjoy doing,” Rayford said. Rayford has had the chance to guide thousands of students, including Homewood City Schools Superintendent Bill Cleveland, toward their full potential. She said she enjoyed giving her students a sense of “wow.” “Children give me energy,” Rayford said. “They want to know and
I want to know, so together we can conquer the world.” Inside the classroom, Rayford’s students were like her children, and she cared about their growth and well-being even after they left school for the day. She said she had some challenging students at times, but she loved them too and affectionately referred to them as “coconut heads.” “Coconut is my favorite fruit, but to get to a coconut you have to crack it,” Rayford explained. Rayford’s fellow teachers at HHS were saddened to hear of her retirement. Assistant Principal Amanda Esslinger
said her caring nature and “contagious smile” were part of the school’s culture. “I think that Ms. Rayford has gotten more shout-outs in graduation honor speeches than anyone else,” Esslinger said. “[Students] know that she loves them immensely.” Kimberly Jones, who teaches ninthgrade algebra and geometry, said Rayford always used her own travels and knowledge to make history more riveting for students. She was also firm but kind in parent-teacher conferences if a student was struggling. “She’s a real straight shooter and can tell them some good truths about
how they can improve, but she was very compassionate,” Jones said. “She constantly thought of others, whether it be kids or her co-workers. I cannot think of one time when she said a negative word about anyone,” said English teacher Keith Brown, who worked with Rayford for 16 years. “She smiled and laughed a whole lot and made others do the same. I’m notoriously not a morning person, and she was always loving on me and telling me not to be so grouchy.” With her new free time, Rayford will be spending more time with her son, Jonathan. He has multiple disabilities, including epilepsy and cerebral palsy, but Rayford described him as “the joy of my life.” “He has taught me to be compassionate, he has taught me to be determined and strong,” Rayford said. “It helps me to be mindful of my trust and hope in God when I’m with him.” She also plans to travel to all 50 states and every continent — except Antarctica — to see both natural and man-made wonders. Rayford wants to teach Bible classes as she travels, so her teaching career is not truly over yet. As for her Homewood students, however, she hopes they will remember her as fondly as she remembers them. “I want to be remembered as one with compassion for others. I want to be remembered as a biblical Christian,” Rayford said. “But I want to be remembered as a teacher who loved each and every one of my students. They got on my cotton-picking nerves sometimes, but I love every one of them.”
TheHomewoodStar.com
July 2014 • 21
School House
Stansell named to scholarship program at Georgia Tech
HMS debate takes home top honors
Aaron Stansell
The Homewood Middle School debate team celebrates their first place finish at a recent competition.
Homewood Middle School’s debate team recently dominated in the 19th Annual Birmingham Debate League against 70 teams from more than 25 schools. In their second year of competition, Homewood won first place trophies for both total wins and win percentage and took seven of the top 10 individual debate awards. The team also won 33 of its 40
debates. This was not only the greatest number of wins by any team, but it also represented the highest winning percentage of any other team. At the individual level, Abbe Coulter took ninth, Liza Ashe took eighth, Stanford Massie took sixth, Sam Janas took fifth, Sharif Sakawi took fourth, Joshua Ndegwa took second and Max Breeden was rated
the top debater of the league. The Birmingham Area Debate League is sponsored by Samford University, who also hosts all of the tournaments over the course of the year. The Homewood Middle School Debate team is sponsored by Austin Bonds and Mary Binkley. It is coached by Mike Janas, Ben Coulter and John Curtis.
Aaron Payne Stansell, a 2014 Homewood High School gradate, has earned a place in the President’s Scholarship Program at Georgia Institute of Technology. This highly selective scholarship is for academically driven students who seek to lead and serve, pursuing goals to benefit the world around them. Tech’s President’s Scholarship Program encourages participants to invest their time and talents in ways that will truly make a difference. As a recipient, Stansell will participate in a special freshman seminar and annual class retreats, including the Fall Leadership Venture. At Tech this fall, Stansell said he plans to “explore the academic opportunities available in the fields
of engineering and medicine.” Aaron is the son of Laura Stansell and Dr. Keith Stansell. He graduated high school with a 4.4 GPA, is an Eagle Scout at Troop 97 and a four-year letterman on the HHS Varsity Golf Team, co-founded of school’s Latin Club, was president of his school’s National Honor Society and played in the school’s band. He was also a member of Homewood High’s math team and the Beta Service Club, and he has a private tutoring business. For his Eagle Scout project, Stansell planned, raised funds and then supervised a group of scouts and volunteers to build an outdoor classroom for a local preschool.
The Homewood Star
22 • July 2014
The Network by numbers
HMS’s Pipkin to study Mississippi Delta Homewood Middle School teacher Liz Pipkin has been named a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Scholar. Pipkin was selected from a national applicant pool to attend one of 17 National Endowment for the Humanities Landmarks of American History and Culture Workshops. The National Endowment for the Humanities is a federal agency that supports summer study opportunities so that teachers can work with experts in humanities disciplines. Pipkin will attend a workshop called “The Most Southern Place on Earth: Music, Culture, and History in the Mississippi Delta,” at Delta State University. She said she is looking forward to the photography journalism opportunities as they travel the area. In 2011, Pipkin was chosen as a fellow to study the country of Turkey and its impact on the world.
Liz Pipkin
The Network show choir performs. Photo by Scott Butler.
In the past three years, Homewood High School’s Network show choir has won awards for nine grand championships. In addition, it was named three first runners-up, seven best vocals, nine best choreography and six best in show awards. “This has been a pretty successful group of seniors, and it is only going to keep getting better,”
Director of Choral Music J. Scott Thorne said. This school year the choir was the grand champion at Jackson Prep, first runner-up at South Jones, first runner-up at Albertville, third runner-up at Opelika and grand champion at Hersher, Ill. -Submitted by J. Scott Thorne
Book drive champs
HMS receives Green Ribbon School award Homewood Middle School has been named a 2014 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School. Forty-eight schools were honored for their exemplary efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health and ensure effective environmental education, including civics and green career pathways. In addition, nine districts were honored for the District Sustainability Award.
The schools were confirmed from a pool of candidates nominated by 30 state education agencies. The list of selectees includes 39 public schools and nine private schools. The public schools include 10 early learning programs, three charter, one magnet and three career and technical schools. The schools serve various grade levels, including 29 elementary, 16 middle and 18 high schools are among them, with several schools having various K-12 configurations, from 27 states.
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Referred for a reason.
Hall-Kent Elementary School families and teachers donated 7,234 books to the Birmingham Reads Book Drive Challenge for Better Basics’ literacy programs in high-needs schools. The school won $1,000 for donating the most books and also won a popsicle party for the highest attendance at the event at Brookwood Village.
TheHomewoodStar.com
July 2014 • 23
HMS ESL teacher receives award for motivating women
Shades Cahaba holds bridge-building competition
Shades Cahaba Elementary School’s Team Hammerhead speaks about their prize-winning bridge design.
Each year the fifth graders at Shades Cahaba Elementary School have an opportunity to participate in an academic bridge building unit of study. An architect from Davis Architects partnered with each class to help the students in designing, drawing blueprints and building the bridges. In addition, Davis Architects provided all of the materials and gave a $100 donation to the most creative team’s charity of choice and a $200 donation to the Homewood Middle School ESL teacher Georgia Miller at the International Women’s Day Celebration.
Georgia Miller, a Homewood Middle School ESL teacher, received at Motivating Woman’s Award at the recent Birmingham International Center’s (BIC) International Women’s Day celebration. “Georgia is a vivacious, enthusiastic and forward-thinking professional,” BIC said in statement. “She works tirelessly to ensure that students are treated fairly and feel comfortable in the school environment. She became an ESL teacher in order to provide English instruction for non-English speaking students and their families,” BIC said. As a community leader, Miller has worked with homeless shelters, drug education and awareness programs, The Junior League and Habitat for Humanity. She has recruited workers for the Marion
Well Mission project, is a deacon at Independent Presbyterian Church and a member of the mission committee as well at the church. She is currently on the board of Culture Relay, which connects girls in the U.S. with girls in other countries. One of 100 applicants, Miller was selected for a two-week study tour to Turkey provided by the Turkish American Association in conjunction with the BIC Spotlight on Turkey in 2012. This opportunity allowed her to experience Turkey as the local residents do as well as learn about the education system there. Upon return, she provided workshops, lectures and slideshows to school and community groups.
strongest” team’s charity. The bridges were tested to see which team built the strongest bridge. Team Hammerhead from Naomi Goss’ class won by holding 21 pounds, a school record. The team decided to donate its money to St. Jude’s Research Hospital. Hammerhead team members were Reid Catherine Bunn, Nick Burczyk, DaShaun Cottrell, Reilly Durkin, John Thomas Ellison and Marissa Patellaro.
Hall-Kent creates art with math Fourth-graders at Hall-Kent Elementary learned about geometry by using art. Incorporating math and art instruction through one project based learning unit, the students used their growing understanding of geometry to design and create a gallery of math, showcasing the strong connection between modern art and geometry. Their artwork was displayed at the Homewood Public Library Children’s Department.
Hall-Kent fourth-grade students’ geometric art was featured at the Homewood Public Library Children’s Department. Photo courtesy of Merrick Wilson.
The Homewood Star
24 • July 2014
Board of Education recognizes retiring teachers Homewood City Schools recognized its 20132014 retiring faculty members during a recent Board of Education meeting. The board honored their years of service and dedication to helping students reach their unique potentials. Those recognized were: Homewood High School: Gerome Porter, Carolyn Rayford
Homewood Middle School: Murielene
Latten, Rebecca Stallings, Becky Young Edgewood Elementary School: Donna Bryant, Catherine Lee Shades Cahaba Elementary: Melinda Hollingsworth Becky Young, Rebecca Stallings, Murielene Latten and Gerome Porter at the Homewood City Schools Board of Education meeting.
Homewood Rotary Club awards scholarships
James Spann visits Hall-Kent
The recipients of the Homewood Rotary Club scholarships stand with Rotary Club members.
The Homewood Rotary Club awarded scholarships totaling $15,000 to five graduates of Homewood High School. Recipients are Alexia Dugger-Maye, Jamaiya Johnson, Maiyah Lee, Allison Putman and Catherine Sellers. Maye plans to attend The University of Alabama and major in criminal justice. Johnson plans to attend the University of Montevallo and major in sociology and business.
Lee plans to attend The University of Alabama and major in pre-med or pre-law. Putman plans to attend the University of Montevallo and hopes to become a special education teacher. Sellers plans to attend Wallace State and obtain an associate degree in emergency medical science/paramedics.
FOR ALL AGES
Meteorologist James Spann with Hall-Kent Elementary third-graders.
ABC 33/40 meteorologist James Spann visited Hall-Kent Elementary School third-graders recently to talk about science. He selected a student to help him make a video that appeared that night during
his weather update segment. The students learned about the science of weather and said they enjoyed helping Spann with his weather segment for the day.
TheHomewoodStar.com
Summer Fun Photo Contest Capture the fun of summer with your camera and send us your favorite shots of wherever you and your family are.
July 2014 • 25
Deadline is August 3, 2014 Prizes will be awarded to contest winners Category 1: Any summer fun photo Category 2: A summer fun photo displaying a copy of Homewood Star wherever you are To enter, e mail your photos in a jpeg format to photos@thehomewoodstar.com Please send high quality images and include a caption and photo credit. Only four photos are allowed per person.
visit thehomewoodstar.com for more information
dailyventure.com
26 • July 2014
The Homewood Star
HOMEWOOD PARKS & RECREATION
Homewood Community Center Zumba
ZUMBA is Latin inspired aerobic dance and every class feels like a party. ZUMBA is for all ages, and both sexes! You can burn 500 to 1000 calories in one fun hour! Instructor: Camille Scruggs Contact Info: 256-452-2500 or camillescruggs@ gmail.com Days & Times: Homewood Community Center – Fitness Studio 2 Tuesday & Thursday: 5:30-6:30pm Saturday: 9:00-10:00am
Young Rembrandts
Draw amazing things with Young Rembrandts! Young Rembrandts classes are both fun and educational, and our step-by-step curriculum is developed to teach fundamental art skills in a nurturing environment that gives children an academic advantage. Our classes are for boys and girls 5 to 12 years of age. Please contact Chris Roberson at (205) 943-1923 for more information and to register or visit www.youngrembrandts.com to enroll anytime.
Kindermusik
As the world’s recognized leader in early childhood music and movement, Kindermusik offers a musical learning adventure that will impact your child now and for years to come! This is accomplished through our extraordinary classroom experience and unsurpassed At Home materials. There’s simply no better way to foster your child’s love of music and love of learning. Classes are available for ages 0 to 5 years. For more information call or email Kelly at: 205-552-6129 (or) Kelly.alligood@charter.net www.kellyalligood.com
Karate
Classes are held at various times based on age and level of experience. Monthly tuition is $55 $65. Classes are for children and teenagers ages 4 and up. For more information please contact Master Joe at 966-4244
Belly Dancing with Aziza
Class Location: Homewood Community Center Class Fee: $60 cash only For more information contact Aziza at 8790701 or azizaofbirmingham@att.net Learn the ancient art of Middle Eastern belly dance (classic Egyptian style) with Aziza, award winning dancer, with 36 years of experience in performance and instruction. Women only, ages 13 and up are welcome; with no dance experience necessary to enroll. Each session is 5-weeks long on: Tuesday night for beginners, Wednesday night for intermediates and Thursday night for advanced. www.azizaofbirmingham.com
YoLIMBER
Vinyasa yoga classes in an energetic environment using upbeat music, synchronizing one’s breath to a flowing series of postures. Devote, detach, and destress for 60 minutes and walk away ready for anything life has to offer. All levels welcome. Private sessions available. Instructor: Marla Hodges Contact info: 205-223-8564 or mac@yolimber.com Days &Times: Monday & Friday 8:30am-9:30am; Saturday 8:30am & 10:00am
@homewoodparks
Dance RYM – Line Dance
Program is designed to promote healthy movement for adults. It will provide an avenue to express harmony with space, time and body. The program is two or more choregraphic fragments that may produce change in one’s way of life. Classes begin the week of July 21st. Tuesday 7-9pm / Saturday 10:15am-12:15pm Homewood Community Center Fitness Studio 2 For more information contact: Rosa Fisher 205940-9911
Royce Head Personal Training
Everyone benefits from weight training!!! Affordable small group training sessions are available to members in the new community center weight room with Royce Head, a certified personal trainer with 15 years experience. Each 30 min workout is fast, fun, safe, and effective and each person is started with a program to fit their fitness level. Each workout is a different circuit training routine which keeps heart rate in the fat burning zone while stretching and strengthening all the muscles in the body with extra emphasis on the CORE for a strong back and flat belly. The cost is only $15 per session or $125 per month for unlimited workouts. Space is limited so call Royce now!! 945-1665
Michelle Keel Yoga
I began practicing yoga in 1996 in Vail, CO. My first teacher, Marci Zink, taught me “That yoga begins when you step off the mat.” This is what brings me back to my mat everyday and what I try to share with my students. My main teaching style is an athletic vinyasa flow class which follows the alignment of Iyengar with the heart opening of Anusara combined with the movement of Ashtanga. I have training and teach Pre/Post Natal classes, Yoga for Fertility and children’s yoga. I have had the opportunity to teach yoga and meditation to cancer patients, women with eating disorders and people with Down’s Syndrome, handicaps and injuries. I also teach gentle and restorative yoga and have been learning Yoga Nidra. I teach my students to move at their own pace in class and to allow the body and mind to open gradually and that yoga is a practice and that every day is different. Classes begin July 10th. Thursday 6:00pm-7:00pm Homewood Community Center Fitness Studio 1 For additional information contact: Michelle Keel at sweetomyoga@hotmail.com www.sweetomyoga.org
Tango Argentino Fundamentals and Practice Introductory lessons and guided practice the 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month. New students are taught basic Tango technique and experienced “milongueros” are encouraged to practice and exchange tips to improve their dancing. Couples and individuals of all ages are welcome. Cost is $5 per person. Classes begin July 2nd. 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each Month – 7:00pm-8:30pm Homewood Community Center Fitness Studio 2
Homewoodparks.com
Homewood Senior Center Creative Expression
Mondays, 1:00pm – Sunshiners Senior Chorus, with professional direction and live, professional accompaniment. The chorus occasionally performs at a facility or venue off-site or for peers at the Senior Center. For fun and visual variety, props and minimal costuming are sometimes used. Free to members. Mondays, 2:15pm – Clay Class, taught by JoAnn Brown, recently retired from Homewood School System. Participants may choose the project introduced by the instructor or ‘do their own thing.’ Clay, glazes, and kiln firing are provided. Free to members.
July Special Events
Wednesday, July 2, 12:45pm immediately after lunch - Independence Party. The Senior Center’s own Sunshiners Chorus will perform (& even do a bit of dance with costumes) as well as lead everyone in a couple of sing-alongs. Watermelon will be served. Wear patriotic colors to qualify for a chance @ the door prize drawing! Event is free for members & $5 for non-members/guests. Friday, July 18, 6:30-9:30pm - Evening Dance Social with live music by Wayne & Margaret Alexander. This event will also be a celebration of the duo’s wedding anniversary! Light refreshments, No alcohol. For reservations and dress code information, call 332-6500. $5 for members; $10 for non-members/guests.
Fitness Classes
Tai Chi – Taught by Galina Waites. Chairs and adapted movements are provided for participants with balance/stamina challenges. Thursdays, 2:00pm. Free to members. Zumba Gold (designed for seniors) w/Tai Chi ‘cool down’ – Tuesdays, 2:15. 45 minutes of Zumba followed by 15 minutes of Tai Chi to ‘cool down’. The last 15 minutes can also serve as an introduction/review for those interested in the Thursday full-hour Tai Chi class. Free to Senior Center Members. $5 for nonmembers.
Summer Pool Information Pool Party Information
Semi-Private Party Party description: use of the party room while the pool is open for normal operating hours. $100 for Total Access Members and Pool Members (includes 15 wristbands for nonmember admittance) $200 for Homewood Resident (includes 20 wristbands for non-member admittance) *Additional guests wristbands can be purchased at time of rental for $5.00 each – not to exceed 30 non-member wristbands total. *Parties during operating hours are limited to 30 non-member guests *All people entering the facility are required to be a member or have an admittance wristband Private Pool Party (After Operating Hours) Party Description: Use of the complete pool area after the pool has closed for the day. $400 for Homewood Residents $800 for NonHomewood Residents * Supervisor’s approval needed for Party’s larger than 125 people * Must be booked 10 days in advance To make a reservation you must come to the Homewood Parks Business Office at 1632 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, AL 35209. Business Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00am – 5:30pm. You can reach the business office with additional questions at 332-6700. Reservations are not available online or via telephone. All pool parties are held at Homewood Central Pool.
Athletics
Homewood Patriot Youth Football League HPYFL is responsible for organizing youth football in Homewood and oversees its operation. Please visit their website for more information. Please visit our website for more information: www.homewoodyouthfootball.org
Homewood Soccer Club Homewood Soccer Club is dedicated to creating a balanced youth soccer program for residents of Homewood and is also open to others with payment of a nonresident fee. There are four levels of play in the Homewood Soccer Club program: Patriots: For age groups U-4 through U-8. Players play once a week with a practice followed by a game. U-8 players have a one time a week practice and play a game on Saturday each week. For all Patriot ages it is an intramural program without any travel. Red Teams: Recreational teams for ages U-9 and up. Generally Homewood Soccer fields red teams up to U-14. Teams practice twice a week and play one game a week. Recreational teams are focused on maintaining a balance of player development, playing with friends, having fun, and a lower level of serious commitment. Teams play 4 home games and 4 games at other clubs in the Birmingham area. White Teams: Recreational Plus for ages U-9 -U-11. Blue Teams: For ages U-11 through U-18. Blue Teams are select teams, put together through competitive try outs. The teams play in the competitive AYSA State League. Games are played state wide, although most are in the Birmingham area. Teams will play two tournaments and an annual State Cup Championship. The required level of commitment is high and there are additional costs above those of Red Teams. Detailed information about levels of play, including deadlines, fees and Club philosophy is available on our web site at www.HomewoodSoccer.com
Adult Basketball League
Registration Dates: June 24th – July 11th Cost: $350 per team (8 game season) Monday Night League: Starting July 28th (6 teams each night) Wednesday Night League: Starting July 30th (6 teams each night) Game Times: 6:15pm, 7:15pm & 8:15pm Game Location: All games will be played at the New Homewood Community Center For additional Information please visit www.homewoodparks.com
Fall Adult Softball – Coed and Men’s Leagues Registration begins July 15th – registration will close August 8th or as night’s reach there max number of teams. Games will begin week of September 8th. League Days & Types ~ West Homewood Field #2 MONDAY Co-Ed Recreation – 8 Team Max TUESDAY Men’s League – 8 Team Max THURSDAY Co-Ed Recreation – 8 Team Max For additional information about the league please visit: www. homewoodparks.com
TheHomewoodStar.com
July 2014 • 27
Sports Homewood Soccer teams place at state, other tournaments The Homewood Soccer Club Freedom 01 U13 girls soccer team members scored their way to Division II state champions recently. The team played in a regional tournament, representing Alabama against teams from states throughout the South. Several other teams from the club were state champions or finalists as well.
The Freedom 05 boys, coached by Chris Rogers, were the U10 6v6 Trussville United Classic Champions.
Freedom 01 U13 girls soccer team. Front row: Amira Gilford, Blythe Danley, Dacey Goodwin, Bess Landgren, Molly Katherine Cooper, Audrey Nabors, Sara Powell, Grace Ann Thomas, Caroline Bald, Anna Stephens. Back row: Coach Mason Cook, Bella Crim, Marge Middlemas, Elizabeth Oliver, Kate Sims, Isabel Reaves, Julia Rouleau, Eddie Smith, Coach Sean McBride.
The Union 03 boys, coached by Dave Condon and Randy Griggs, were state finalists.
The Freedom 03 Girls coached by Paul Harbin were the U11 state champions.
The Homewood Star
28 • July 2014
HHS golf places second in state tournament The Homewood High School boys golf team finished in second place at the State High School Championship on in May at the Robert Trent Jones-Capitol Hill in Prattville. This is the highest finish in school history, and the second time the team has made it to the state tournament. Junior Crawford Flach (7276) led the team and finished tied for sixth place. Junior Sam Goldasich (82-72) tied for 14th,
and freshman Jack Poole (85-74) had a career best round, placing 17th. Senior Aaron Stansell (7981) placed 30th, and freshman Ben Harris (81-93) placed 32nd. Other 2014 team members were Parker Smith, Alex Drummond, McKennon Kessler, Nolen Langford, Duncan McDuff, Alex Collins, Connor Doyal and Josh Holland. The boys golf team also won the section tournament in April
with a team score of 292, setting a program record. Its third place finish in the sub-state tournament qualified the team for the state tournament for the second year in a row. Last year, the team placed fifth in the state tournament. – Submitted by Coach Keat Litton The HHS golf team celebrates its sectional win. Photos courtesy of Keat Litton.
League champs
The Homewood 11-12 year old baseball team, coached by Paxton Heath, finished the season as champions of its league. Front row: Justin Towner, Joshua Peters, Judson Fitts, Max Heath, Hardy Smith, Fritz Bolongaro and Micah Connor. Back row: Coach Kyle Smith, Tré Roberson, Tripp Chapman, coach Daniel Bolongaro, Brandon Campos, Anais Thomas and head coach Paxton Heath. Photo courtesy of Barry Smith.
9U All Stars compete
The Homewood Patriot 9U All Stars competed against area teams including Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills this season. Front row: Clay Burdeshaw, Tripp Gann, Rigdon Gibbons, Owen Isenhower, Parker Sansing, Bennett Fleming, Drew Vinson. Back row: Charlie Reeves, Bryant Fleming, Miller Chapman, Luke Hamner, Kaden Reynolds, Adam Parker, Will Andress. Coaches: Rusty Sansing, David Reeves, John Burdeshaw, Ted Hamner. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Andress.
July 2014 • 29
TheHomewoodStar.com STEWART
CONTINUED from page 1 Gaston Motel. Around 30 teenagers listened as the deejays encouraged them to start a “whispering campaign” for an upcoming event and warned them it could be dangerous and that they could go to jail. On May 2, more than 1,000 students didn’t show up to school or left class early. Midday, Stewart played a pre-designated song on the radio that signaled the teenagers to march two by two to Kelly Ingram Park. There they knelt and prayed and held up signs saying “Freedom” and “We shall overcome.” “I was doing nothing different than communicating to all people, calling all children to go to the park,” Stewart recalled. His words, “It’s cold outside!” (in reality, it was nearing 90 degrees) then signaled them to march toward City Hall, singing spirituals and chanting slogans. Stewart watched from his record shop. “If you heard the children, they said, ‘I am not afraid of jail, I want freedom,’” he said. He later learned more than 600 would go to jail that day. The next day, however, was the one that would go on in infamy. From his office Stewart watched as fire trucks and riot police pulled up on the surrounding streets. Once again, he signaled a march with a song on the radio. What resulted would make the front cover of the New York Times the next day: images of teenagers being attacked by police dogs and fire hoses. Many were arrested, but many came back two subsequent dates. Following this series of events, President John F. Kennedy gave a speech on June 11 calling for legislation “giving all Americans the right to be served in facilities which are open to the public — hotels, restaurants, theaters, retail stores, and similar establishments,” as well as “greater protection for the right to vote.”
A year later, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, enacted on July 2, 1964, outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin, legally ending unequal application of voter registration requirements and segregation in schools, workplaces and public accommodations. The actions on the streets of Birmingham in 1963 brought about changes in civil rights, but Stewart believes it did little for human rights — the issue he said is what he and others were fighting for in the 1950s and ’60s. “You can’t legislate morality,” Stewart said. “That’s my problem with civil rights laws.” Today, Stewart believes Birmingham has come a long way. Growing up in Rosedale, he remembers the days when he could only visit Vulcan after a certain time of day and only go to the state fair on Friday. But he doesn’t think we have come far enough. “I am a business man, and yet in this region, they would like to call me a black business man,” he said. He points out how companies such as Verizon, Honda, Chick-fil-A and BooksA-Million sought out the advertising firm he co-founded and leads today, o2ideas, because it was the best company for the job, not because he was a “black guy from Alabama.” Each day when he passes Vulcan on his way to his office off Lakeshore Drive, Stewart dreams of it being a symbol of human rights for all who see it. “Yes, things have changed and suburbs were built because people wanted to move out of Birmingham,” he said. “Some things were better, but only in certain areas. If you don’t deal with human rights issues in this country, we are going to have problems.” The key to that dealing for Stewart is education, and that’s what the Mattie C. Stewart Foundation, the organization he named for his mother, focuses on. “I think education will bring people together, I really do,” he said.
TREASURE
CONTINUED from page 1 The sale will be held as a part of the 65th Annual Our Lady of Sorrows Church Independence Day Festival scheduled for Friday, July 4, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on the church grounds. On the day of the sale, shoppers can arrive as early as 8 a.m.; the first 400 people can donate $5 for early bird admission. All others can enter for free starting at 9 a.m. The festival will feature barbecue, a raffle, games for all ages and the rummage sale. “People come get some great barbecue and play some games with kids, but a lot of people come for the garage sale,” Falconer said. In recent years, the sale has outgrown the church’s gym. Bikes and tools now line the sidewalk outside of it, and furniture, lamps and artwork fill a 4,800-square-foot tent outside. “We get good stuff because people know it’s going to help the church,” Falconer said. “People will save things all year until we start collecting them.” When she first got involved with the sale 26 years ago, Falconer said there were four clothing racks and a bunch of tables for the items. Today it takes a week to set up the event’s shelving alone, much of which came from Blockbuster when its stores closed. Barbecue sales at the festival have grown exponentially over the years as well. The Knights of Columbus, a fraternal organization in the Catholic Church, smoke two tons of ribs,
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church 65th Annual Independence Day Festival July 4, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. 1728 Oxmoor Road
Diane Ray shines shoes to prepare for the Trash ‘n’ Treasure sale July 4 at Our Lady of Sorrows. Ray estimates that last year they sold around 1,300 pairs as a part of the annual rummage sale. Photo by Madoline Markham.
chicken and pork in pits in the back of the church over three days to prepare for the Fourth. On July 5, rummage sale items will be half price from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. All items left at that point are given to charities. Falconer said it’s fulfilling to know that the items can be useful to someone else. “I also like it when someone tells me they found something there they had been looking for, something that goes with something they already had at home, or reminds them of their childhood,” Falconer said. Beyond the end-of-sale donations, all funds from the sale are given to nonprofit causes. One third goes to the church, one third to its school and one third to a charity. For the past two years the charity has been Saint Vincent de Paul, which provides
support to people in need in the community, and in previous years, it went toward mission churches in Mexico. Around 100 Trash ‘n’ Treasure team members officially began their busy season of preparations on May 21. Throughout June, they worked three to four days a week organizing and pricing items for the sale. One person is in charge of testing lamps, another tries out electronics, while another polishes furniture and others organize books. “It takes a lot of volunteers,” Falconer said. “There are a lot of us who get a lot out of it when we see everyone in line and how everyone loves how organized it is.” Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church is located at 1728 Oxmoor Road. For more information, call 871-8121.
30 • July 2014
Homewood Events Saturdays: West Homewood Farmer’s Market. 8 a.m.-noon. 160 Oxmoor Road. Visit westhomewood.com Saturdays: Urban Cookhouse Farmer’s Market. 8 a.m.-noon. 2850 19th St S. Visit urbancookhouse.com/farmers-markets.
Calendar Homewood Public Library
For more information or to register, contact Leslie West at 332-6620 or lwest@bham.lib.us.
Adults July 1: Gifts of a Wordsmith Adult Poetry Workshop. 6 p.m. Room 106, Lower level. The workshop is led by Real Life Poets, a non-profit creative writing group.
July 4: OLS 65th Annual Independence Day Festival. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 1728 Oxmoor Road. Call 871-8121.
July 8: Preventing Identity Theft with Joe Stephens. Noon. Large auditorium. Joe Stephens, a financial advisor with Edgewood Wealth Management, gives tips. Bring a brown bag lunch and we will provide the drinks and dessert.
July 4: Fourth of July Celebration. 5:309 p.m. Downtown Homewood. Free admission, $10 wristband gives unlimited access to rides and attractions.
July 8: Oxmoor Page Turners Book Club. 6:30 p.m. Lucretia M. Comers Boardroom. Discussing Man in the Blue Moon with author Michael Morris.
July 4: Thunder on the Mountain. 9 p.m. Vulcan Park and Museum. Visit visitvulcan.com/ eventInfo/thunderonthemountain.htm
July 11: Seniors and Their Hearing with Tom Sholten, NBC-HIS. Noon. Round auditorium. Tom Sholten NBC-HIS, from HearLab, discusses the many treatment options for hearing loss as well as preventive care to stop problems before they arise.
July 12: Community Garden Work Day. 9 a.m. Old Homewood Middle School Site. Email hcsgarden@gmail.com. July 12: Red, White, and BrewsIndependence for Life. Rosewood Hall. 5-9 p.m. Beer samplings from local breweries, food trucks, live music and more. Ticket sales benefit The Bell Center, Mitchell’s Place and Triumph Services. $20. Visit eventbrite.com. July 26: Giant Sidewalk Sale. Downtown Homewood and Edgewood businesses. Visit homewoodchamber.com. July 26: Retro Run 5K. 7 p.m. The Trak Shak. $30 for adult race. $10 for kids race. Call 870-5644 or visit trakshak.com. July 26: Lakeshore’s Amazing Race. 9 a.m. 4000 Ridgeway Drive. Modeled after the popular television show The Amazing Race, teams of four will race throughout Lakeshore’s 45-acre campus completing interactive challenges and competing for great prizes. Visit lakeshore.org.
The Homewood Star
July 15: The A, B, C’s of Medicare. Noon & 6 p.m. Room 116, Lower Level. Karen Haiflich will answer all your questions about how benefits are currently computed, how to become insured and how to file a claim. July 15, 22, 29: Pet Loss Support Group. 5:30 p.m. Room 110, lower level. Free. Sponsored by the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. Reservations requested. Contact MaryGrace Wilson at mawilson@gbhs.org or 9421211. July 15: Essential Oils, Aromatherapy and Your Health with Cheryl Burnette. 6:30 p.m. Whether the use is medicinal, aromatic, cleaning or even as a bug repellent, you’ll find many healthy ways to utilize essential oils. July 18: Baby Boomers & Their
Hearing with Tom Sholen, NBC-HIS. Noon. Round auditorium. Learn from Tom Sholten, a HearLab coach, for free.
July 8: Super Science. 10:30 a.m. McWane Science Center will bring their science circus this morning.
July 30: The Better Than Therapy Book Club. 2 p.m. Lucretia M. Somers Boardroom. Discussing Man in the Blue Moon with author Michael Morris.
July 14: A Summer “School” Program. 10:30 a.m. Witness ice and salt churn liquid milk into smooth ice cream. Program open to students entering first grade in the fall. Registration required. Call 332-6619.
Teens July 9: Spark a Reaction Cooking Lesson with Chef Angela. 3 p.m. Large Auditorium. Join Chef Angela as we “spark” some cooking reactions while we create our own version of Lightning Candy and Pop Rocks. Free. Registration requested. July 16: “It’s Not Magic, It’s Science” with Tommy Johns. 4 p.m. Large Auditorium. Join us for Tommy’s new magic workshop, which teaches magic tricks using scientific principles.
July 15: Ronald McDonald. 10:30 a.m. Come see a fun, magical show starring our favorite clown, Ronald McDonald. July 17: A Summer Night Event. 6:15 p.m. Walk-About Puppets will be here with his lilting Australian accent, witty humor and imaginative puppetry. July 18: Third Annual Water & Melon Day. 10:30 a.m. The Homewood Fire Department provides the truck and water. We bring the watermelon.
July 23: Self–Defense for Teen Girls with Det. Juan Rodriquez, Homewood Police Department. 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Large Auditorium. Free. Registration required.
July 19: Cartoons and Cereal. 10 a.m.noon. Join us for classic lazy Saturday cartoons and cereal for all ages.
July 29: Summer Reading Finale – Teen Movie and Pizza Party. 3 p.m. Large Auditorium. Free. Reservations requested.
July 20: National Ice Cream Day. 2:304:30 p.m. Summer readers: join us with a cone of ice cream as we celebrate National Ice Cream Day.
Kids July 1: Crazy Bubbles and other Weird Science. 10:30 a.m. We will be outdoors with this one but will have something cool for you as we blast around in the sun. July 3: A Summer Night Event. 6:15 p.m. Birmingham Zoo to You will join us tonight and introduce us to some of their most intriguing animals.
July 22: Water Play Day. 10:30 a.m. Dress in your favorite swimwear, flip flops, and floppy towels, lather up the sun screen and join us outside for a cool time. No changing clothing or wet swimwear allowed in library building. July 24: A Summer Night Grand Finale. 6:15 p.m. Kid’s Grammy Award-winning artist Farmer Jason will rock out with a live concert to remember. The winner of the Cahaba Cycle Bike will be drawn at the conclusion of the concert.
TheHomewoodStar.com
Calendar
Area Events July 4: Thunder on the Mountain. 9-9:20 p.m. Vulcan Park and Museum, 1701 Valley View Dr. Fireworks will be visible from many places throughout the city. Free. Call 933-1409. July 5: Red, White and Brew 5K Run/Walk. 10 a.m. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Trim Tab Brewing Company, 2721 5th Ave. S. $35 race-day registration. July 10: Summer Film Series Baseball Thursday: Field of Dreams. 7-10 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. 107 min. PG. $8. Call 252-2262. July 10: Gaither Vocal Band. 7-10 p.m. Leslie S. Wright Center, 800 Lakeshore Drive. Call 726-2853. July 10-27: Annie. Thursday and Friday 7:30 p.m., Saturday 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2:30 p.m. Virginia Samford Theatre, 1116 26th St. S. $30-35. Call 251-1206. July 11: Summer Film Series: The Blues Brothers. 7-10 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. 133 min. Rated R. $8. Call 252-2262. July 11: Rick and Bubba “We Ain’t Never Been No Where” 20th Anniversary Tour 2014. 7 p.m. Leslie S. Wright Center, 800 Lakeshore Drive. Balcony $33, Orchestra $43. Call 726-2853. July 12-13: Alabama Gun Collectors Association Summer Show. Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. Free for members, small
door fee for the public. Call (334) 272-1193.
4242.
July 13: Summer Film Series: To Kill a Mockingbird. 2-5 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. A$8. Call 252-2262.
July 23-24: Luke Bryan That’s My Kind of Night Tour. 7 p.m. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, 1000 Amphitheatre Dr. Tickets from $40. Call 1-800745-3000.
July 17: Summer Film Series Baseball Thursday: The Bad News Bears. 7-10 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. $8. Call 252-2262.
July 24: Summer Film Series Baseball Thursday: A League of Their Own. 7-10 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. $8. Call 252-2262.
July 18-20: 31st Annual World Deer Expo. Friday 3-10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex. Adults $11, Children $6, Kids 3 and under are free. Call 678-4141.
July 25: Summer Film Series: The Big Lebowski. 7-10 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. $8. Call 252-2262.
July 18: Summer Film Series: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. 7-10 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. $8. Call 252-2262. July 19: Run or Dye 5K. 9 a.m. Barber Motorsports Park, 6040 Barber Motorsports Parkway. Early registration (May 1-July 8) $47, Registration (July 9-19) $57. Teams of four or more save $5 per ticket. July 19: Ray LaMontagne. 7:30 p.m. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. Tickets from $37.80. Call 1-800-745-3000. July 20: Summer Film Series: The Long, Long Trailer. 2-5 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. $8. Call 2522262. July 23: Mockingbird Tribute. 7 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. $35. Call 870-
July 26: American Idol Live. 8 p.m. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. Tickets from $45.25. Call 1-800-745-3000. July 27: Steely Dan “Jamalot Ever After” Tour. 8 p.m. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. Tickets from $72.65. Call 1-800-745-3000. July 27: Summer Film Series: The Sound of Music. 2-5 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. North. $8. Call 2522262. July 31: Summer Film Series Baseball Thursday: The Sandlot. 7-10 p.m. Alabama Theatre, 1817 Third Ave. N. $8. Call 252-2262. July 31: Fourth Annual Taste of Birmingham. 6-9 p.m. The Club of Birmingham, 1 Robert S. Smith Dr. Vote on dishes from Birmingham’s best restaurants. $75. Call 767-9219.
July 2014 • 31
Ordinary Days By Lauren Denton Meeting the stranger at the gate We’ve been talking a lot into her home, even when about hospitality at our church she’d had a long day at work lately. It’s a familiar term to and probably didn’t feel much most people. The hospitality like cooking. suite in a hotel is a space set The most surprising thing aside for parties or gatherings. about this girl was that she The hospitality service at a didn’t feel like she had any hotel or hospital has to do with close friends. I would have offering assistance to guests or thought someone with a full patients. house every Thursday evening would be friends with When I think of hospitality, Denton what usually comes to mind everyone. Turns out, she had is taking dinner to someone who just had a lot of acquaintances and was the catalyst a baby or maybe hosting a brunch at your for many other people becoming friends, house. Hospitality is all these things, but but she didn’t have people she felt she it’s also much more. Our pastor, Adam could be real with. Young, defined it as “meeting the stranger Thinking about her in regards to the at the gate.” Being hospitable is much idea of being hospitable to those around more than delivering a meal or inviting us got me wondering how people see me. familiar faces into your cleaned-up home. I can often be seen chatting with other It’s an attitude of warmth and welcome to people, whether it’s at Kate and Sela’s those who most need it. school, at church or at the grocery store, I think everyone — regardless of age, but truthfully, I often feel separated. Out stage of life or number of Facebook of touch. Like everyone else is clued in to friends — is looking for connection, a something I’m missing out on. If I have place of rest and, in a sense, a home. I times of feeling this way, other people don’t mean a place to live, but a way to must too, and it becomes my turn to be connect to the people around us and a feel- hospitable and meet those folks at the gate. ing of being able to rest and feel at home I might not be able to offer a spotless in our relationships. Genuine friendships house and expertly made brunch foods, like this — ones without pretense and built but I can offer a place to rest and an ear on a foundation of honesty rather than a to listen. How many people around me façade of “having it all together” — can are looking for that kind of hospitality, happen, but it usually takes intentionality. the kind that doesn’t require anything but Back when I first moved to Birming- time and attention? True connections and ham, I knew a girl who had weekly dinners authenticity in relationships are important at her house. I started going to them, and I to all of us, and reaching out to someone was amazed to see the number of people who desperately needs a hand (or an ear or packed into her small house. Some nights, a glass of iced tea and a quiet front porch) nearly 20 people sat around her kitchen might make all the difference. table, on the floor in the den and on the Lauren can be reached at LaurenKfront porch eating, talking and laughing Denton@gmail.com. You can also find into the night. In a sense, she was “meet- her tweeting writerly things on Twitter @ ing strangers at the gate,” by inviting us LaurenKDenton.
• July 2014
The Homewood Star