Homewood Star June 2020

June 2020 | Volume 11 | Issue 1

TRUITT

INSURANCE & BONDING

• HOME & AUTO • BUSINESS • LIFE • SURETY

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Tony Truitt, President

REOPENING HOMEWOOD

Grandview Medical Group Primary Care staff respond to community’s needs during pandemic.

See page A10

Sign of Solidarity

Emily Wise participates in a 30-minute kickboxing class as Paul Shunnarah watches at Gauntlet Fitness in downtown Homewood on May 11. The gym reopened May 11 with new sanitation, class size and facility rules set forth by the state of Alabama. Photo by Erin Nelson.

Muralist Shawn Fitzwater surprises Homewood with impromptu, uplifting message.

See page B1

INSIDE Sponsors .......... A4 News ..................A6 Business .......... A10 Opinion ............ A16

Community ..... A16 Schoolhouse......B4 Sports.................B8 Metro Roundup....B13

‘Non-essential’ businesses resume operations, adopt new public health guidelines

By INGRID SCHNADER After almost two months of gyms in Alabama being closed, Paul Shunnarah on May 11 was once again able to scream over blaring pop music, “Are you ready to run the gauntlet?”

Downtown rezoning plans: Everything you need to know

By INGRID SCHNADER

facebook.com/thehomewoodstar

It’s how he starts every class at his kickboxing gym, Gauntlet Fitness, and the question is typically met with cheers from his clients.

The start of class on this day was a little different.

As Shunnarah went through the kickboxing

Unless you’ve been closely following every Homewood City Council and Planning Commission meeting since November, you might feel confused as to why many Homewood residents oppose the downtown rezoning plan.

On the surface, it’s simple. Downtown Homewood has 13 different zoning districts, and this plan brings that number down to three: high-intensity, medium-intensity and low-intensity districts.

But dig a little deeper and the plan is swimming with controversy, conspiracy theories and a fear of overdevelopment.

To understand some Homewood residents’ feelings of distrust toward their city government, one must go back about four years. In October 2016, the City Council approved a 1-cent sales tax increase and a $110 million bond to pay for expansion projects in the school system and parks.

Some Homewood residents who spoke at

See REZONING | page A22

routine that his clients were to mimic, he also showed them at which points in the routine they would need to wipe down their equipment. The class size was smaller than usual; while he once

See REOPENING | page A20

Construction continues on the five-story Valley Hotel at the corner of 18th Street and 28th Avenue in downtown Homewood.

The rezoning proposal focused on the “Heart of Homewood,” a 162-acre area with City Hall located in the middle, is currently tabled. Photo

by Erin Nelson.

The Homewood Star

A2 • June 2020

Our doctors, nurses and care teams are in this with you, always Your care is important. Don’t delay the important care you need, even at this time.

We’re making sure our ERs, hospitals, clinics and facilities are safe and ready for you and your family when you need care.

And we have more appointment options — both in-person and virtual visits.

Get the care you need at GetSTVHSCare.com

© Ascension 2020. All rights reserved.

TheHomewoodStar.com

June 2020 • A3

The Homewood Star

A4 • June 2020

About Us Editor’s Note By Ingrid Schnader As if taking care of my poodle wasn’t enough work, I’ve decided to add another living thing to my apartment and brought home my first-ever houseplant last month.

It’s called a fiddle leaf fig, named after its massive fiddle-shaped leaves.

I felt confident that I would help it live as I drove away from the store with my new plant in tow. Then I got home and started reading more about my West African plant and realized how finicky this plant was. Am I putting it too close to the window or too far away? If I don’t water it enough, it’ll starve. If I water it too much, it could get root rot. Why didn’t I buy something unkillable?

Oh also, if my dog eats its leaves, he could get sick. That would have

soft and delicate new leaves were coming out from the top of my plant.

My fiddle leaf fig is happy in my apartment! I called all of my closest friends and family to share the good news.

I hope everyone had a happy Mother’s Day, and don’t forget that Father’s Day is June 21. I don’t have any children of my own, but if watering a plant requires this much thought, I can only imagine the hard work you guys put in every day. been good to know ahead of time.

Just as I’m sure this plant is going to hate its time with me, I came home from a long weekend to find that the most wonderful thing had occurred while I was away. Two brand new,

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Shelia Davidson of J&S Produce in Clanton loads fruits and vegetables into the back of a customer’s vehicle in the parking lot at Trinity United Methodist Church on May 13. Davidson and her husband Jason will be setting up their produce stand on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the parking lot at the church. Customers can place online orders from their website, which can be found through the J&S Produce Facebook page. Photo by Erin Nelson.

Dan Starnes Melanie Viering Erin Nelson Ingrid Schnader Jesse Chambers Jon Anderson Leah Ingram Eagle Neal Embry Sports Editor: Kyle Parmley Digital Editor: Cathlene Cowart Page Designers: Kristin Williams Ted Perry

Publisher: Design Editor: Photo Editor: Community Editors:

Contributing Writer: Lauren Denton

Creative Director: David McMath Account Managers: Layton Dudley Ted Perry Emily VanderMey Sales and Distribution: Warren Caldwell Cathy Fingerman Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes Ethan Lynch Rhonda Smith

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

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

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

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TheHomewoodStar.com

(205) 417-2750

June 2020 • A5

ShadesCreekDental.com

417-2750 ShadesCreekDental.com Ron(205) MacBeth, DMD Dr. MacBeth lives in Homewood with his wife, Lisa, his two daughters, Vivian and Louise, and fur-baby, Sandy. Dr. MacBeth came to Birmingham in 2006 to attend Birmingham-Southern College. Dr. MacBeth then attended the UAB School of Lisa, Dentistry.

When deciding Dr. MacBeth lives in Homewood with his wife, his two daughters, Vivian and where to start a practice, Homewood best resembled the tight-knit, Louise, and fur-baby, Sandy. Dr. MacBeth came to Birmingham in 2006 to attend family-focused community in Dr. which they wanted to live.the Dr.UAB MacBeth Birmingham-Southern College.

MacBeth then attended School of looks forward servingwhere this community and hopes to see you Dentistry.

Whentodeciding to start a practice, Homewood bestsoon! resembled

Ask the Doctor Ron MacBeth, DMD

We have implemented the use of ZyberSheilds in addition to our other in office changes to ensure the safety of our patients and staff.

the tight-knit, family-focused community in which they wanted to live. Dr. MacBeth looks forward to serving this community and hopes to see you soon!

A 7message to Damage Foods That our patients Your Teeth

Second, you may notice some changes when it is time for your appointment ensure safety andnext washes away any to extra foodthe particles.

Salivaand alsoteam helpsmembers. repair early signs of tooth of our patients These include decay, gum but are not limited to:disease, and other common oral

infections. To keep your mouth healthy, drink

1. Our office will communicate with you plenty of water, use fluoride rinses, and try to Our community has been through a lot in the past beforehand to ask some screening questions. stay away from alcohol.

Everyone knows that eating too much sugar can damage few months and I hope this message finds you and You will be asked the same questions upon your teeth, but sugar isn’t the only enemy to avoid. your When family you in good health.

As we look forward to arrival at your appointment along with having 3. Bread eat and drink starchy or sugary foods, you resuming our normal habits and routines and getting your temperature taken and recorded.

This one may come as a surprise, but you are feeding the germs in your mouth that cause tooth accustomed to the normal”, know to reconsider how much you decay and gum“new disease.

Plaque is athat soft,one sticky substance 2. Themay usewant of teledentistry to consult andbread screen eat. When you chew bread, your saliva turns bacteria that promotes cavities. When you thingcontaining has remained the same: our commitment to your care over the phone. This allows the team the starches into sugar. The bread turns into your consume safety. these foods, the plaque-causing bacteria turnsand myself to limit the amount of people in the the sugar into acid. The acid breaks down your tooth

a gummy paste-like texture and will stick

6. Due to the increased overhead for each patient visit, there a $25 Personal into your water.

Drinkwill andbeeat these fruits in moderation remember rinse with watervisit.

Protectiveand Equipment feetocharged to each when you are finished.

Do know that we are working diligently with the American Dental Association and our insurance 6.providers Salty Snacks to have this fee covered.

Chips are full of starch. This starch turns to 7. We willcan beget collecting copays and sugar and trappedany in between your reviewing medical histories over the phone to teeth. This fuels the bacteria and creates limit your withthe team members plaque.

Plus,interaction the acid from chips lingers and to your in the office. in expedite your mouth fortime a long time.

If you can’t help but indulge in a bag of chips, we recommend 8. We ask that you use the restroom prior to flossing afterward to remove any remaining coming to your appointment. While this sounds particles.

while limiting your exposure. like a strange request, current guidelines require Infection hasand always been a keeps top priority in in placeofficebetween your teeth, creating cavities. When enamel control over time, the plaque the acid to clean the restrooms after each individual our practice, and you may have seen this during your eatallbread, stickbe to arranged unrefinedprior breads 7.usCarbonated Beverages on your teeth. Take care of your teeth by avoiding these 73. Weyou askdo that childcare to use.

While this may be understandably like whole wheat.

Neither regular nor diet soda is good for your visitsfoods to ourthat office.

Our strenuous damage your teeth.infection control your appointment and that any accompanying unavoidable for longer procedures, we ask teeth.

Soda allows the plaque to produce processes are made so that when you receive care, parties wait in the car for the duration of your thatacid you and respect ourWhen limited more harmand theunderstand tooth enamel.

4. Ice 1. Candy, Sour Candy it’s both safe andEspecially comfortable. We want to tell you appointment. you drink soda throughout the day, you are Don’t chew ice! Chewing on a hard Although it’s no secret that candy is bad for your teeth, resources at this time. about the infection control procedures and some 4. Oursubstance, team will text we are coating your teeth with acid. Just like alcohol, like or ice,call canwhen damage yourready enamel sour candy is even worse. Sour candy contains additional new policies that will be implemented to ensure the Lastly, we understand that this new normal is for you to enter the office, at which time you will soda dries out your mouth, so you have less and make you more susceptible to chipped, and different kinds of acids that are tough for your teeth strange; however, know that itDark-colored is all being done safety of our patients and team members. saliva to rinse your mouth. cracked, broken teeth.

You can also to or a cleaning station where you loosen will to handle. Plus, sour candy tends to be sticky and will be directed outsodas of ancan abundance concern for your your teeth. health, as also stainofand discolor remain on your teethinfection for a longer time. If you have to washyour yourcrowns. hands and use an anti-viral mouth First, our office follows control well as that of the other patients being seen When it comes to soda, do not brush your in the have something sweet, consider grabbing a piece of darkrinse. We ask that you remove any gloves and recommendations made by the American Dental office, and myafter team, and anyone in public teethmyself immediately drinking.

This could 5. Citrus chocolate This contains less Control sugar and Association, theinstead.

U.S. Centers for Disease andcan washmask prior to entering the office. with whom we will come into contact.

As always, speed up the decay process.

Although fruits like oranges, lemons, and down easily. the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

5. Appointments will be managed to allow for grapefruits are full of vitamin C, they are also wash your hands, maintain safe social distancing We follow the activities so the we are up-to-date on socialfull distancing between This willfruits result To keepand yourbeteeth and fresh, visit of acid. The acid patients. in these citrusy 2. Alcohol practices, kind healthy to one another, any new rulings or guidance that may be issued to in fewer available appointment times; however, your dentist regularly. To learn more or to can erode your enamel and potentially cause When you drink alcohol, you dry out your mouth. A Ronald Alyn MacBeth, DMD makedry sure that we practice the highest level that weBe are offeringof priority scheduling schedule an appointment, contact Shades cautious your acid intake, to even mouth lacks saliva, at which is needed to of keep teeth knowdecay.

Creek Dental today. it ispatients as smallfor asfirst squeezing lemon or lime healthy. patient safety.Saliva prevents food from remaining on our teethhigherif risk thing in athe morning.

EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE OF SHADES CREEK DENTAL

MONDAY - FRIDAY CALL TODAY 8:00am - 4:00pm

(205) 417-2750

more information on our website

ShadesCreekDental.com Dr. Ron MacBeth with wife Lisa & daughters Vivian & Louise

1045 Broadway Park, Suite 101 Homewood, Al 35209

The Homewood Star

A6 • June 2020

City Church proposes plan to develop office building on its property Shades Valley Evangelical Lutheran Church could soon develop an office building on its property.

The rezoning request will go to Homewood City Council.

Photo by Ingrid Schnader.

By INGRID SCHNADER A Lutheran church in Homewood could soon add an approximately 25,000-square-feet boutique office building to its property.

The Homewood Planning Commission approved a request from Shades Valley Evangelical Lutheran Church during its monthly meeting May 5 to subdivide the church’s property from one parcel to two parcels and rezone the second parcel from I-2 (institutional district) to C-1 (office Building district). The request must now go to the Homewood City Council for approval.

The church is located at 720 Shades Creek Parkway, which is across the street from Brookwood Village on Alabama 149.

“The congregation isn’t growing by leaps and bounds, but the church certainly loves its presence in Homewood and would like to see if there’s a way they could create a little revenue for the church,” said David Silverstein of FiveStone Group, who represented the applicant at the meeting.

In February, Silverstein and Councilwoman Jennifer Andress invited the church’s residential neighbors to a meeting to discuss the idea.

Seven to 10 residents attended the meeting, Silverstein said.

“I certainly think those residents who were in attendance were very much in favor of what they saw,” he said.

There are a limited number of uses that would be suitable for the future development, he said. “You’re not going to put a drive-through restaurant there, and you’re not going to put a high-density type of development,” he said.

The building has not been designed yet, but Silverstein said he feels confident that the architectural design will fit in with the surrounding area. The building can be constructed without

needing any variances to the required setbacks and property lines, he added.

There will be some cross-parking with the church, Silverstein said.

“During the week while the office building is operating, there’s not that much activity at the church,” he said. “There would be sufficient parking to cover the need of the boutique building.”

There will also be covered parking under the building, adding at least 50 new parking spots to the property, according to current plans.

The types of tenants would likely be

investment bankers and investment companies, similar to the neighboring Luckie and Fairway buildings.

Some trees will need to be cut down for the development, but Silverstein said landscaping has been a “critical element” in all of his previous projects.

“We’ve made a commitment to the church as part of our agreement to utilize plants native to north-central Alabama or very much in keeping with the area,” he said.

Every tree that can be saved will be saved, said Walter Schoel, who will be designing the

stormwater plan for the project.

“As far as drainage goes, that’s obviously a big concern for all of the communities in Homewood,” Schoel said. “In the plan, there’s actually an underground stormwater detention system that’s under the parking area. … The underground detention is primarily to control flow rate, and it also has a water quality benefit.”

The City Council is scheduled to have a public hearing discussing this development at its June 8 meeting. People can join the meeting in person or online. Visit cityofhomewood.com for more information.

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TheHomewoodStar.com

June 2020 • A7

Above: The former commercial lot at 2927 Central Ave. that Our Lady of Sorrows Church had requested be rezoned to become a surface parking lot.

Left: Property at 1619 Oxmoor Road that Riverbrook Design & Construction had requested be rezoned for office space. The Homewood City Council rejected both requests at its May 11 meeting. Photos by Ingrid Schnader.

Council denies Oxmoor Road, Central Avenue rezoning requests

By INGRID SCHNADER Two developers will need to go back to the drawing board after the Homewood City Council denied two rezoning requests at its May 11 meeting.

One request was for the purpose of redeveloping an Oxmoor Road house into an office space for Riverbrook Design & Construction.

The other was a request that would turn a former commercial lot into a surface parking lot for Our Lady of Sorrows Church.

The rezoning request from Riverbrook Design & Construction was met with controversy when it was brought to City Council in February after a 7-0 unfavorable recommendation from the Planning Commission. The house, located across the street from the Exceptional Foundation at

1619 Oxmoor Road, is currently zoned as R-5, Attached Dwelling District. Under the property’s current zoning, property owner Kevin Misso said he could potentially develop a multifamily unit there.

To redevelop the property for the construction business he owns with his wife, Leigh, the Missos would have needed the council to approve their request to rezone the property to C-1c — this would be a commercial zone with proffers. For example, one of the conditions the Missos made was that they and future owners could not build out of the house’s current footprint.

Although Kevin said he found many neighbors in support of the development, other council members said they heard from neighbors close to the property who were against the rezoning.

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The council members unanimously voted against the rezone.

The other rezoning request that failed — for the potential Our Lady of Sorrows Church parking lot at 2927 Central Ave. — had a 6-0 favorable recommendation from the Planning Commission at its March 3 meeting. The lot is the former location of an office building that has been demolished.

The church purchased the lot last year with the hope to eventually develop it into a parking lot, said Chris Eckroate, who represented OLS Church at the council meeting.

“We have a real issue on Sundays with a lot of folks getting into a little parking lot,” Eckroate said.

Development plans that Eckroate brought to the meeting show 42 spaces in the potential lot.

The property sits on one of the city’s most beautiful thoroughfares, said Councilman Andy Gwaltney. The property is a short walk away from Homewood Central Park, and Central Avenue has tree-lined medians throughout the road.

“So the use as a parking lot just doesn’t strike me as the appropriate use,” Gwaltney said.

“Taking up another piece of prime real estate in the city for parking I just don’t think is the appropriate measure. There has to be other solutions they can explore.”

The rezoning request failed 5-4 with two abstentions.

The council also set a public hearing for June 8 to discuss a Lutheran church’s plans to develop an office building on its property. Read more about this request on page A6.

The Homewood Star

A8 • June 2020

Parked cars in the upper SoHo parking lot seen May 20. This is one of the city’s free parking lots, and there is also parking available in the garage below SoHo Square.

Photo by Ingrid Schnader.

Businesses on 18th Street South continued to have customers throughout the pandemic.

Many retailers adapted to the pandemic by offering curbside or delivery services. Photo

by Erin Nelson.

City officials say Homewood is ‘financially strong’ amid pandemic

By INGRID SCHNADER Homewood Mayor Scott McBrayer and members of the City Council addressed rumors about the city’s finances at the April 27 City Council meeting.

According to the city leaders, there have been rumors that Homewood has exhausted its rainy day fund amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

These are “unprecedented times,” Council President Peter Wright said, but the city has not needed to tap into the rainy day fund so far.

“We haven’t tapped into it, we haven’t spent a penny of it, and we certainly haven’t exhausted it,” Wright said. He then asked the mayor to elaborate on that.

“A lot of people love to take advantage of times like this and just say very uneducated things — let’s just leave it at that,” McBrayer said. “Nothing will happen to that fund without the full council [approval]. That’s the way it was set up.”

Homewood is “financially strong,” Wright said, and it will continue to be financially strong through the pandemic.

“We feel a little comfortable and blessed with where we think we stand — perhaps really blessed compared to other communities,” he said.

Councilman John Hardin, who serves on the Finance Committee, mentioned Momma Goldberg’s decision to keep the Homewood location open during the pandemic. The fast-casual sandwich company announced in April that it would be closing two of its other Birmingham-metro franchises.

“I think that’s a good sign for us,” Hardin said. “Clearly, they like downtown Homewood and wanted to keep that one going. I thought that was a great sign for us and for our city. … But all of these folks are going to need our money as soon as we can give it to them. It’s going to be tough for a while, I think.”

Homewood may see some shortages in tax collections, Hardin added.

“We’ll see where that takes us,” he said.

“The good news is that you guys and all the folks before you, we’ve always had a surplus.

We are in a really good financial position, and I appreciate all of you guys for that.”

Council to consider parking study at upcoming budget hearings

By INGRID SCHNADER The city of Homewood could soon partner with parking professionals at Kimley-Horn to collect data and find solutions to the city’s downtown parking problems.

The Homewood City Council voted at its May 18 meeting to send the request for parking management system RFI to upcoming budget hearings for the 2021 budget.

Representatives from Kimley-Horn gave a presentation about the parking study at the Feb. 3 Finance Committee meeting.

“There is a need for data-driven understanding of parking,” said Jeffrey Elsey, an engineer with Kimley-Horn. “I think a lot of the complaints we hear and the concerns from our business owners and customers are a little bit anecdotal because there is a little bit of a lack of data.”

The parking study would be three different phases, Elsey said. Phase One is the discovery and data collection phase.

“We would go out and look at every single parking stall in a study area on an hourly basis for a period of one, two or three days, depending on how much data we want to collect,”

he said.

There would also be targeted community outreach in this phase, such as focus groups and workshops.

Phase Two is the needs assessment phase.

This looks at the existing issues that need to be addressed and projected growth.

Last, Phase Three of the study is “the fun part,” Elsey said. Kimley-Horn would give Homewood recommendations and an action plan in this phase. This plan could include solutions such as building a new parking facility, restriping, realtime occupancy technologies, new signage or more.

Depending on the level of engagement, the study could take three to five months, Elsey said.

Because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the council decided to push this item to the 2021 budget instead of immediately entering an agreement with Kimley-Horn.

“Any expenditures we don’t need right now, we’re going to push to the budget hearings,” Councilman Andy Gwaltney said. There also aren’t as many people parking downtown as there were before the pandemic, so the study wouldn’t show its usual numbers, he added.

TheHomewoodStar.com

June 2020 • A9

Municipal elections set for Aug. 25

By JON ANDERSON While the COVID19 outbreak has the Alabama League of Municipalities considering asking for a delay in this year’s city elections, the elections are still set for Aug. 25 as of press time.

All election candidates must have been Homewood residents for at least 90 days prior to the election.

The mayor and city council president seats are at-large, meaning they are open to all Homewood citizens, but candidates can only run for a regular coun- Any person who has been a Homewood resident for at least 90 days and wants to run for office can file qualifying papers with cil seat within their the city clerk from July 7 until 5 p.m. July 21. Staff photo. ward.

Anyone who wants to run for one of those positions can’t actually the probate judge in the county in which the file qualifying papers with the city clerk until office is sought, either by five days after they July 7, and they will have until 5 p.m. July 21 filed qualifying papers or five days after raising or spending more than $1,000. to do so.

Candidates are not allowed to spend money Candidates must also file a statement of economic interests with the Alabama Ethics on their campaign except through the princiCommission no more than five days after they pal campaign committee and must report the file qualifying papers with the city clerk in source of all contributions greater than $100 order to have their name on the ballot, unless and expenditures of more than $100.

Candidates have until May 25 to establish the candidate already has a current statement of economic interests on file with the Ethics residency in a city in order to be on the ballot for that city’s municipal election. Also, resiCommission.

On the statement of economic interests, dents must establish residency in a city by elected officials and candidates are required to July 26 in order to vote in that city’s municipal list their sources of income for themselves and election.

Aug. 20 is the last day to apply for a regular family members, amounts of income from each source, real estate holdings, debts and whether absentee ballot, and Aug. 24 is the last day to they perform professional or consulting ser- apply for an emergency absentee ballot.

For more information about municipal elecvices for various entities.

Candidates also must file a notice establish- tions, visit the Alabama League of Municipaling their principal campaign committee with ities website at alalm.org.

We’re open and here for you!

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The Homewood Star

A10 • June 2020

Business

ON THE FRONT LINE

Primary care office responds to community’s new needs

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Grandview Medicine’s Dr. Michael Luther has been on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, performing COVID-19 testing at Grandview Medical Group Primary Care in Homewood since the outbreak began in mid-March.

As he and his staff left work Friday, March 13, they were discussing the news about the coronavirus and wondering if it would start affecting the way they saw patients. The answer came just three days later.

Once they arrived at work the following Monday morning, they had an emergency meeting, and the office transitioned into a new model.

Another step taken was setting aside parking spaces to do COVID-19 testing. If patients had symptoms, they were to stay in their cars and call the office. They were not going inside so the waiting room and exam rooms were not contaminated, thus allowing the more vulnerable patients to still come and have an in-person visit.

“The first week, we saw a few patients a day, about four to five on average,” Luther said.

“The second week our busiest day in the parking lot was 12 patients, then the next week was really busy. During the first six weeks, we’ve done around 140 visits in the parking lot, swabbing those people for coronavirus and only had a few positives.”

Initially, the time it took to receive test results ranged from three to seven days, but Luther looked for a faster way. He found a lab in Huntsville with a 48-hour turnaround and switched over to it. “It’s a lot more clinically reliable to tell someone their results in two days instead of seven,” he said.

During the first week, he was given the go

Dr. Michael Luther puts on a face shield, left, as he suits up in personal protective equipment before consulting a patient with COVID-19 symptoms, right, in the drive-up testing site April 24 at the Grandview Health Homewood office on Oxmoor Road. Photos by Erin Nelson.

ahead to conduct telemedicine so he could continue managing his chronic disease patients without them having to come into the office, which he calls “a lifesaver.”

“The whole Grandview system has done a great job in prioritizing patient health and employee health first,” Luther said. “Our administrative folks and clinical folks have done a great job, and our patients have been really understanding and appreciative having three different options of how to receive their care.”

As the end of April neared, Luther said he was doing one-third of patient visits in the parking lot, one-third via phone and one-third in person. He said he was glad they were able to take care of the people.

“This last week [of April], the number of COVID patients started falling off, either because social distancing guidelines are working, or because people just started saying home with mild symptoms and did not seek testing,” Luther said.

Luther alternated between two N-95 masks for more than six weeks and kept one spare in his desk drawer. He also wore a mask piece and face shield and had enough gowns and gloves.

He chose to wear his N-95 mask during every patient visit to avoid having to self-quarantine in the event they presented symptoms later.

He also takes precautions at home to protect his wife and four kids. He takes his work shoes off in the car, throws his clothes in the washer

and takes a shower as soon as he gets home.

“The kids know when I walk in the door, nobody comes and hugs daddy until he has had a shower,” he said.

Leisha Harris, marketing director at Grandview Medical Center, said there has been a significant decline in people coming into the emergency room with other significant issues.

“If you have symptoms of a stroke or heart attack, you need to get here,” she said. “You won’t be in the same area with someone suspected of having COVID; we triage those patients differently. It’s really important the community understands the ER is open for patients other than COVID. How people envision it is very different than how it is.”

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TheHomewoodStar.com

June 2020 • A11

First responders receive hand sanitizer donation

By INGRID SCHNADER Wellness Pharmacy, a third-generation family-owned pharmacy in Homewood, manufactured 150 bottles of hand sanitizer and donated them April 8 to local first responders in an effort to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 150 bottles were split four ways, with about 35 bottles each for the Mountain Brook and Homewood fire and police departments.

This donation was part of a national campaign by the Professional Compounding Centers of America called the #Compounding Handoff. The PCCA developed formulas to compound pharmaceutical-grade, alcohol-based hand sanitizer based on FDA-approved guidelines from the World Health Organization and shared them with pharmacists around the world.

Rod Harbin Jr, the president of Wellness Pharmacy, said he got the idea to participate in the campaign from his wife. She’s a PCCA employee.

“She had an idea to raise awareness about what compounding can do during a time like this, in a crisis situation,” Harbin said. “It’s just a great message, and it’s a great way to serve the community and show them what we can do.”

Because of the national shortage of supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic, Harbin said pharmacies have gone back to the basics.

“It’s what pharmacies did long ago,” he said.

“We had to make everything.”

Harbin chose to donate to first responders in Mountain Brook because that’s the city where his family lives and to first responders in Homewood because that’s where his pharmacy is located..

“We appreciate Wellness Pharmacy and them bringing the hand sanitizer to us,” Mountain Brook police Chief Ted Cook said. “We go through a lot of that on a day-to-day basis as you can imagine, and every bit of donation really helps us out.”

Rod Harbin Jr., owner of Wellness Pharmacy in Homewood, hands a case of hand sanitizer to Mountain Brook Police Chief Ted Cook. Wellness Pharmacy donated cases of hand sanitizer to several police and fire departments in the area. Photo

by Erin Nelson.

“This is greatly appreciated,” said Lt. Mark Shannon with the Homewood Fire Department.

“What we currently have in our stock is what’s been donated to us, and it’s running very low.

So the stock they donated today is going to help us out a lot.”

After making 150 bottles that week, the pharmacy set a goal to make at least 600 more bottles of hand sanitizer, Harbin said.

Harbin’s grandfather started the pharmacy in 1964 — back then, it was called Bob’s Discount Drugs.

“We were a true mom-and-pop corner drug street, and we were literally on the corner in downtown Homewood on 18th Street,” Harbin said.

The pharmacy moved farther down U.S. 31 about 18 years ago and changed the name.

Harbin works there alongside his dad and brother.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, working in a pharmacy has been hectic, Harbin said.

The staff had to split the shifts so that half as many people are working at a time to help with

social distancing. They also moved to curbside pickup.

“It’s been one day after another — what extra measures can we take?” he said. “First and foremost, we have to protect ourselves. If we don’t do that, we won’t be there to serve the community.

“Pharmacists have a special role out there — we help doctors, we help patients, and we help others,” he said. “Today, we get to donate to the first responders. That’s something that I personally really wanted to do.”

The Homewood Star

A12 • June 2020

18 Street S.

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TheHomewoodStar.com

June 2020 • A13

Now Open

New Ownership

Shades Valley Presbyterian Church Farmers Market, 2305 Montevallo Road, will be open each Wednesday from 3-6 p.m. from June 3 to Aug. 19 for people to pick up pre-orders. There will be no foot traffic, but customers will drive through to pick up their orders placed in advance.

205-979-6744, svpcusa.org/serve1/farmersmarket

Little Professor, 2844 18th St. S., is now owned by Jonathan Robinson.

205-870-7461, littleprofessor homewood.com

1

Coming Soon Little Donkey plans to open a new Homewood location next to The Valley Hotel project at the corner of 18th Street South and 28th Avenue South downtown by spring or summer of 2021.

205-703-7000, thelittledonkey.com

2

Rodney Scott’s BBQ plans to open a new Homewood location next to The Valley Hotel project at the corner of 18th Street South and 28th Avenue South downtown by spring or summer of 2021.

205-506-2711, rodneyscottsbbq.com

3

Maple Street Biscuit Company, 2801 18th St. S., Suite 101, said, as of press time, it expected to have a grand opening for its new eatery in the former Holler & Dash location in late May. 205-414-0999, maplestreetbiscuits.com

4

Relocations and Renovations Capstone Building Corp. is moving its headquarters from Independence Drive in Homewood to 1200 Corporate Drive, Suite 350, in the Meadow Brook Corporate Park in Hoover.

205-803-5226, capstonebuilding.com

5

6

News and Accomplishments Homewood Bagel Co., 2907 Central Ave., recently celebrated the grand opening of its new outdoor patio.

205-769-6131, homewoodbagelco.com

7

Rolls Homewood, 209 Clermont Drive, is now offering shipping throughout the U.S. for baked cinnamon rolls (frozen pans are not available for shipping at this time).

205-643-1139, rolls-homewood.myshopify.com

8

Hero Doughnuts & Buns, 3027 Central Ave., is planning to add a “Walk Up” window to the exterior of the building to help customers order takeout. It has also opened a new location at 18th Street South and First Avenue South across from Railroad Park in downtown Birmingham at the former location of Mile End Deli.

205-558-8011, herodoughnutsandbuns.com

9

Anniversaries 10

Tostadas, 1831 28th Ave. S., recently celebrated its first anniversary.

205-783-1120, theflattaco.com

Davis & Nix Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, 2828 Central Ave., is celebrating 70 years of business this month.

205-871-2592, davisandnix.com

11

Crazy Cazboy’s, 136 Wildwood Parkway, is celebrating its one-year anniversary.

205-624-4177, crazycazboys.com

12

The Homewood Star

A14 • June 2020

Left: Charles and Chip Ghinga. Photo by Erin Nelson. Above: “Illusions: Poetry & Art for the Young at Heart,” showcases 22 poems and black-andwhite illustrations created by Charles Ghinga and his son, Chip. Photo courtesy of Charles Ghinga.

Father-son book project becomes a ‘labor of love’

By INGRID SCHNADER It was only a matter of time until Homewood resident and author Charles Ghinga would work on a project with his son, Chip.

Charles lives in a 1927 red brick English Tudor cottage that’s covered in books (although he prefers to write in his treehouse).

Many of their family friends are artists, writers and musicians. Their dinner conversations often involve talking about art, poetry, music and movies. Charles has already written a couple of books with his wife, Debra, and Chip’s been creating art since he could hold a crayon, Charles said.

They didn’t set out to create a book together, though. But over the past few years, Charles started writing a few poems based on Chip’s art, and then Chip started creating a few paintings

and drawings to go with Charles’ poems.

“Our book simply evolved when we kept seeing the theme of dreams and illusions appear in each other’s work,” Charles said. “Before long, to our surprise, we had a collection of poems and art.”

Their book, called “Illusions: Poetry & Art for the Young at Heart,” showcases 22 poems and black-and-white illustrations for “the young at heart.”

“Some think the poems of ‘Illusions’ are for teens, some think they are for middle-schoolers and others think it’s for young adults and grownups,” Charles said. “We like to think there is a youthful, positive, imaginative exuberance in poems and in the art.”

When asked which poem or drawing in “Illusions” is his favorite, both Chip and Charles have trouble answering. It’s like trying to ask

who your favorite child is, Charles said.

Charles likes all of the black-and-white illustrations in the book — especially the illustration for the book’s last poem — he said. But he calls the cover a “real gem.”

“The editors are still enamored over the colorful cover he painted for the book,” he said. “It captures the mood and theme of the book and adds a touch of mystery and magic that make the reader want to pick it up and look inside.”

If Chip had to pick a favorite poem, he said he would pick “Be Still.”

“I think that’s my mother’s favorite, too,” Chip said. “My dad’s poem and my illustration really do connect with us individually and with each other. I think the poem and art also provide a fitting finale to the theme of the book.”

It took approximately a year to complete the poetry and art that appear in “Illusions.”

The most challenging part was choosing which poems and art to include and which to leave out, Charles said.

But working with family has never been a challenge, he said. When Charles and his wife started working on their first book together, their friends would joke that they would either have a really good book or a really good divorce.

“Ha! I’m happy to report that after 45 years, we’re still happily married,” Charles said. “Our family has always been supportive of each other’s work, and that includes all the poems, books, songs and art work we’ve created.”

“Illusions” is available on hardback, paperback and on Kindle. Visit charlesghigna.com for more information.

“This book was truly a labor of love,” Charles said. “We hope others will like it, too.”

TheHomewoodStar.com

June 2020 • A15

Residents campaign for LLS Man & Woman of the Year

By INGRID SCHNADER A few months ago, 15 candidates from the Alabama/Gulf Coast chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society signed up to compete for the LLS Man & Woman of the Year.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit the area, meaning that the candidates would have to rethink the way they raised money for the cause. Still, none of the 15 local candidates backed down from the challenge, including two Homewood residents: JR King and Sarah McElvy.

In the Man & Woman of the Year campaign, which is one of LLS’ four annual fundraising events, the men compete against the men and the women compete against the women to see who can raise the most money for LLS. Last year’s campaign raised $262,000 among 13 candidates.

“The three main things we do are funding incredible, groundbreaking research, help with the financial costs for patients, and then advocacy. We fight on Capitol Hill for patients’ rights, affordable treatments, access to care and things like that,” said Julie Moon, the local campaign manager for Man & Woman of the Year.

McElvy, who lives in Homewood and works as an assistant to the CEO for Milo’s Tea Company, was approached last year by her friend, Lindsey Noto, who won last year’s Woman of the Year campaign. Noto asked McElvy if she would want to run for this year’s campaign.

“I have some friends who’ve had children who’ve been diagnosed and have survived,” McElvy said. “My ‘why’ is for the people who haven’t been diagnosed yet. I want to raise money for the patients right now but also for the future patients. It could happen to any of us — any of our kids.”

King also joined the campaign because of his relationship with last year’s Woman of the Year.

He was on Noto’s campaign team and helped raise more than $5,000.

King already helps out with various other charitable organizations, and Noto told King

JR King, left, and Sarah McElvy are competing for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Man of the Year and Woman of the Year by raising money for the society. Photos courtesy of JR King and Sarah McElvy.

he would be good for the role.

When King started talking to Moon about LLS, he grew an even bigger passion for the cause. He learned that by researching cures for blood cancers, scientists are learning more about arthritis, migraines and more because many things are transferred through the blood.

“Once I saw the impact of the scope of where the research is going, it seemed more broad to me,” he said. “The research that LLS is doing is huge and encompasses so many different illnesses. If we keep pushing in that direction, we can hopefully cure leukemia and lymphoma but a lot of other things as well.”

Not being able to host events because of public health concerns has made the campaign more difficult, he said.

“Last year, I was able to help Lindsey come up with several creative events, and we had a blast,” he said. “Fun is contagious. When other people see us having fun raising money doing this, they want to join in and show up to the events.”

This year, they’re having to think outside of the box, McElvy said. Because McElvy works with Milo’s, she was able to secure a corporate sponsorship from the company and one more from Altec Inc. Additionally, she said, she has

called her friends and sent emails to neighbors.

Another effect of the coronavirus has been the economic shutdown — King said this has made corporate sponsorships more difficult.

However, as a State Farm insurance agent, King said he has a little bit of the “gift of gab” and is good at rallying and encouraging people.

“It’s going to be a difficult campaign … but we’re not out of this yet,” King said. “I know that Sarah wants to win, and I want to win as well.”

The 10-week campaign ends June 26. For more information about the local candidates and to donate, visit mwoy.org/mwoy-candidates/1631.

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The Homewood Star

A16 • June 2020

Opinion

Community For his Eagle Project, Davis William Bunn designed and built three raised planting beds that were incorporated into Homewood High School’s outdoor classroom.

Photo courtesy of Allison Bunn.

Ordinary Days By Lauren Denton

Lessons from giving up my grocery store runs Under normal circumice cream, along with the stances, I can make three tub of spreadable butter, the multigrain bread and the to four trips to the grocery store per week, first Soft and Strong Cottonelle toilet paper. buying the groceries we need for the week’s meals, Of course that wasn’t the then going again for all the case. It wasn’t long before necessities we run out of or I learned of the product shortages, the quantity that I forgot to buy in the first place. limits, the people going the I also complain a lot wrong way down the nowDenton about grocery shopping, one-way cereal aisle. which is not a good trait for someone I also figured out quickly that letting who goes to the store so much. When I go of the task of grocery shopping was first started hearing about grocery delivjust one of the many ways I’d have to ery services, it sounded perfect. Sign me let go during the strange corona months, up, take my money, buy my groceries. which is hard for someone whose But I dragged my feet and never default setting tends to veer too heavsigned up. Oh, I thought about it a lot ily toward over-controlling. Over the — usually when we went to the beach course of these months, I’ve had to let and I faced the monumental task of nav- go of my writing time, my introverted igating the Orange Beach or Perdido need for alone time and my exercise Key Publix along with the rest of the class. I’ve let go of the idea of having a vacationers buying their margarita mix swept-clean floor for more than 10 minand sunscreen. Or when the holidays utes at a time, Friday night dinners out came and I needed to be home cooking and the ability to feel at peace instead of or preparing the house for guests rather completely scattered all the time. And I than standing in the check-out line at the know many people have had to give up store. But I still never signed up. a lot more than me.

Then came COVID-19. In the name It’s a hard lesson, figuring out that of reducing exposure, my husband Matt you don’t really have authority over decided only one of us should shop for very much that happens in your world. groceries and that one person should And it’s precisely because of that I realbe him. I put up a little bit of a fight at ized I need to be the one shopping for first, but pretty soon I realized this was our groceries. my chance to give up grocery shopping!

So forgive me, personal grocery Hallelujah, someone else could take on shoppers, if I don’t sign up for your services. I think you’re really great, and I this task! really wish I could be one of your best I remember how confident I was writing out that first list, how excited I customers, but one thing quarantine has was to be staying home and waiting for taught me is that it’s good for me to shop those bags of groceries I was sure would for my own groceries (in a non-pandemcome, in the exact amounts, types and ic-stricken world, of course). I can pick brands I’d asked for, without me having out the right apples, find just the right to lift a finger. ice cream and locate Welch’s All-NatWell, for anyone who’s bought ural Grape Jelly on the bottom shelf of food over the last couple of months, the PB&J aisle. I can’t control much, but you know things didn’t go exactly as I can control that. planned, despite my husband’s best attempts. The first time he came home When I’m not writing about my with No Sugar Added Moose Tracks ice family and our various shenanigans, I cream because that’s all Publix had, I write novels and go to the grocery store. almost lost my cool. (My preferred ice My next novel, “The Summer House,” cream along with a steady supply of my releases June 2. You can reach me by 5 o’clock (eh, or somewhere around email at lauren@laurenkdenton.com, there) beverage swiftly became my only visit my website, laurenkdenton.com, or two requirements during quarantine.) I find me on Instagram @LaurenKDentonjust knew if I’d been the one to do the Books, Twitter @LaurenKDenton or on shopping, I’d have been able to find my Facebook @LaurenKDentonAuthor.

HHS senior builds raised planting beds for outdoor classroom, awarded Eagle Scout rank Davis William Bunn, a member of Boy Scout Troop 95 at Shades Valley Lutheran Church, was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout in a Court of Honor in November.

As a member of Troop 95, Bunn earned 33 merit badges and served as the Assistant Senior Patrol leader for the troop and was a Patrol Leader for numerous patrols during his Scouting career. He was inducted into the Order Bunn of the Arrow and attended National Youth Leadership Training. He completed a High Adventure trip to Sea Base in the Florida Keys.

For his Eagle Project, Bunn designed and built three raised planting beds that were incorporated into Homewood High School’s outdoor classroom.

With the addition of the raised beds, the outdoor classroom has a broader appeal across multiple disciplines and can be utilized by a greater number of teachers and students. More than 200 man-hours of service were generated during his Eagle Project.

A senior at Homewood High School, Bunn was

THANK YOU BLOOD DONORS

The American Red Cross, Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus are sending gratitude to parishioners and the community for answering the call for the need for blood.

The April 13 cooperative blood drive at OLS succeeded thanks to 75 people who donated blood.

Many previously scheduled blood drives at schools and universities have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The donors made appointments online for the one-day drive to make up for the drastic decline in donations. Photo courtesy of Frances Smith.

ELLA GELAT N N O CA Est. 2019

Thank you

to everyone who continues to work during the pandemic.

We are taking necessary precautions to keep you and our staff safe.

Please visit the website and our Instagram for updates.

We will see you soon.

BROOKWOOD VILLAGE FOODCOURT cannellagelato.com • @cannellagelato

selected as a member of The Patriot Pride, HHS’s Ambassador Organization. He is a trombonist in the Homewood Patriot Band and marched in the 2018 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in addition to the 2016 Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade and 2019 Walt Disney World Parade.

Bunn was inducted into the National Honor Society, National Beta Club and Mu Alpha Theta, and he will be an Honors Graduate from HHS with a Seal of Distinction. He is also a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and serves as a Senior Acolyte.

Bunn is the son of Alison and Jason Bunn of Homewood. He is the grandson of Rebecca Crenshaw of Birmingham and Huette Bunn of Opelika.

As a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College, Bunn will attend the University of Mississippi in the fall where he will pursue a degree in Public Policy Leadership via the Lott Leadership Institute.

– Submitted by Allison Bunn.

TheHomewoodStar.com

June 2020 • A17

Advent Episcopal 6th-grader to have family story published

Sara Naylor, a resident of Homewood and a sixthgrader at Advent Episcopal School. Photo courtesy of Fran Hamilton.

Sara Naylor, a resident of Homewood and a sixth-grader at Advent Episcopal School, has had her historical family story selected for publication in “The Grannie Annie,” Vol. 15, to be released in May by The Grannie Annie Family Story Celebration.

Volume 15 will be published as a paperback book and as a PDF book. In addition, the stories in Volume 15 will be posted on The Grannie Annie’s website and shared in social media throughout the year.

Sara’s story, titled “From Lincoln to Cadillac,” is about two neighboring families who enjoyed raising an increasing

number of frisky goats.

The 23 stories in “The Grannie Annie,” Vol. 15, represent the 403 submissions received this year from young authors in eight U.S. states and Israel.

The published stories, which took place in 10 countries on four continents over a span of more than 200 years, include personal accounts of historic events as well as vivid recollections of everyday activities.

Complete details about The Grannie Annie, as well as all of the stories published throughout the years, can be found at thegrannieannie.org.

– Submitted by Fran Hamilton.

Dawson Church Boy Scout Troop 83 recognizes 2 Eagle Scouts Two scouts from Dawson Church Troop 83 recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

Andrew Hudson achieved Eagle Scout rank in January. For his Eagle Scout project, Hudson built mobile aluminum storage carts for the VHHS Marching Band to store and move instruments on and off transport trucks for away games.

Hudson’s leadership roles in the troop included Patrol leader, Assistant Patrol leader.

Quartermaster, Chaplain Aide and Historian.

He earned 21 merit badges, is a member of the Order of the Arrow and earned the Arrow of Light rank as a Cub Scout.

Ethan Owens achieved Eagle Scout rank in March. For his Eagle Scout project, Owens organized and built a prayer garden around an existing cross at the Lovelady Center with the help of fellow troop members.

Owens leadership roles in the Troop included Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Quartermaster, Instructor, Troop Guide and Patrol Leader and earned

Andrew Hudson, left, and Ethan Owens. Photos courtesy of Marilyn Henry.

25 merit badges. He is a member of the Order of the Arrow and earned his Arrow of Light in Cub Scouts.

Both Scouts are students at Vestavia Hills

High School. Owens is in the Dawson Church Orchestra, and Hudson is a member of the Dawson Memorial Baptist Church Jazz Band.

– Submitted by Marilyn Henry.

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The Homewood Star

A18 • June 2020

Library to offer curbside service, online summer reading

By INGRID SCHNADER The Homewood Public Library is the busiest library in Alabama for its size group, which that means reopening during a pandemic can be challenging.

Starting June 1, people with a Jefferson County Library Cooperative card will be able to reserve books online for curbside pickup at the Homewood library. The service will be offered 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

“This is very new,” said Deborah Fout, the director of the Homewood Public Library. “We’ve never done curbside at all, and really nobody’s done much curbside before.”

In an effort to avoid long lines, those using the pickup service will need to go online and select a time slot at homewoodpubliclibrary.org or using the Homewood Public Library phone application. Parking spaces will be marked for curbside pickup.

“We’ve ordered bags, and we’ll bag up their books, take them out, have them pop open their trunk or unlock the doors, and we’ll stick them in either the back seat or the trunk for them,” Fout said. “Absolutely no contact for the staff or for the patrons.”

Pickup for curbside will be located at the back of the library. Not only will this help keep traffic off of Oxmoor Road, but it will also help keep pickup traffic away from the drop-off bins.

“We want all materials that come back to the library to come through the book drops, where our staff will wear PPE, load them up into carts, and we’ll roll them into a room in the

Looking for a new book?

Lonnie Jones, head of circulation, places books in the trunk of a car. The Homewood Public Library will begin offering curbside pickup June 1. Photo by Ingrid Schnader.

library,” Fout said.

The dropped-off books will stay in a room in the library “in quarantine” for at least three days to help ensure the staff’s safety, Fout said.

The books will then be sanitized and ready to circulate to the next person.

Because the library has never done anything like this before, Fout expects there will be a learning curve, she said.

“I’m sure, the first week, we’re going to learn some things we need to change and modify,” she said.

“But we’re going to make it work,

and we’ve got some real good procedures in place. I think it’s going to work well, so we’ll see how it goes.”

The Homewood library’s summer reading program will also have to adapt to the “new normal” this year.

Summer reading programs this year are all virtual and began May 18.

Readers sign up at homewood. beanstack.org, and then they can participate in challenges and win badges or prizes.

“I love technology, but my librarians are good at creating the programs and getting them up online,” Fout

said. “And of course, our tech people are really good, and they’ve worked hard to get some services online.”

The Homewood library is also nearing the completion of recent construction, which will move the computer lab upstairs into a room with windows, sunshine and bright light.

The new construction will also have four glassed-in study rooms. The new construction is on track to be completed by mid-July, Fout said, but it has not yet been announced when the inside of the library will once again be open to the public.

Summer reading recommendations from your librarians: ► Leslie West, head of adult services, recommends “Untamed”

by Glennon Doyle (for adults). ► Laura Tucker, head of children’s services, recommends “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You” by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds (for teens and adults). ► Heather Cover, special projects librarian, recommends “The Mountains Sing” by Nguyen Phan Que Mai (for adults). ► Judith Wright, teen librarian and assistant director, recommends “Clap When You Land”

by Elizabeth Acevado (for teens). ► Cristina Caster, children’s services librarian, recommends “Stand Up, Yumi Chung!” by Jessica Kim (for middle-schoolaged children). ► Mary Eller, assistant department head of children’s services, recommends “The Tale of Despereaux” by Kate DiCamillo (for children).

TheHomewoodStar.com

June 2020 • A19

The Homewood Star

A20 • June 2020

Paul Shunnarah, far left, leads participants in a 30-minute kickboxing class May 11 at Gauntlet Fitness.

Shunnarah also owns two other small businesses: Fit Five Meals and Overtime Grill & Bar. Photos by Erin Nelson.

REOPENING

CONTINUED from page A1 was able to instruct 16 people at a time, his classes are now limited to eight people maximum. Before getting started, he reminded participants to stay 6 feet apart. Classes are shorter, too, giving the Gauntlet team time to sanitize equipment after each session.

This is the new normal for businesses that have been deemed “non-essential” since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most fitness studios, salons, spas, entertainment venues and more had been closed for months until Gov. Kay Ivey’s May 8 announcement that these businesses could reopen with restrictions May 11.

When Shunnarah first heard back in midMarch that he would have to close his gym, the fear hadn’t yet set in, he said.

“I just thought it was going to be a couple of days,” he said. “I wasn’t paying much attention to the news, so initially, I wasn’t in much fear. I was more or less disgruntled with the situation.”

Shunnarah also owns two other small businesses: Fit Five Meals and Overtime Grill & Bar. As a small business owner, all of Shunnarah’s employees are reliant on him to stay in business so they can receive paychecks. But getting government assistance during the pandemic, such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), was difficult, he said.

“It was a very unorganized system,” he said.

“Banks were not informed on exactly how it worked. … You would call the bank and go, ‘What does this mean, and how are we going to pay it back? What information do you need?’

And they were all unfamiliar. Not one bank gave me an exact answer.”

When the Homewood Star spoke with Shunnarah earlier in May — before he was allowed to reopen his businesses — he said he was approved for PPP for all three businesses but that he later faced more challenges.

For example, 15 of his Fit Five employees use 1099 tax forms, meaning the employees pay their own taxes at the end of the year and they are like independent contractors.

“So at like 4:30 or 5 on a Thursday, I filled

out a form and turned it into the accountant,” he said. “I went to bed that night thinking, ‘Alright, I’m good to go.’ And then I woke up the next morning to a letter from the accountant saying, ‘Resign this new form.’”

The new form had $30,000 deducted from it. The accountant told Shunnarah he couldn’t get any loans to pay employees who use 1099 tax forms — he could only get loans for his employees with W-2 forms.

“You know how many employees I have that are W-2? Me and one other person,” he said.

“Two total. So I went from getting $36,000 to getting $7,000.”

Part of the policy of the PPP loans is that the business owners have to use the money to keep paying their employees. But Shunnarah said in early May that he hadn’t yet received the PPP loan for Gauntlet Fitness.

“Without you getting the money, how do they expect you to continue paying your employees?” he said. “So depending on the business, some are pulling from savings accounts, some are pulling from personal bank accounts, some

people were borrowing money from friends and families.

“Small businesses — restaurants especially — it’s not like we all keep thousands of dollars in the bank.”

Before the closure, Gauntlet Fitness had about 35 members who study at UAB or Samford. When their college classes got canceled, those students also canceled their Gauntlet memberships and went back to their hometowns. Overall, Shunnarah said, Gauntlet has seen a 40% decrease in memberships since the pandemic started.

But other members continued to pay for a portion or all of their membership, and other members chose to also pay a donation for those who couldn’t afford to pay their Gauntlet memberships.

“I have the best members you could ask for,” Shunnarah said. “I’m thankful to be in Homewood.”

Out of his three businesses, only one landlord gifted him a month of rent, and it was the landlord for his Gauntlet gym, which is located

near downtown.

“Not only did they say that, but they responded within 15 minutes of my email,” he said. “My stress went like — whoosh.”

Members told him that they had missed the camaraderie that they had with Gauntlet’s in-person classes. Many said they hated trying to work out at home during the pandemic. He and his clients have expressed excitement about coming back to the kickboxing gym.

“I think what frustrated all gym owners was the term ‘essential,’” Shunnarah said. “What is essential to one is not essential to another.”

One of his employees is an ex-heroin addict.

The gym is like his rehab, Shunnarah said.

“He’s seven years sober, and he became a bodybuilder, and that’s how he’s been sober,” Shunnarah said. “And don’t think that story is uncommon — it’s probably more common than you would imagine.”

SINGLE BARREL BARBERSHOP

Matt Folker, who owns Single Barrel Barbershop with his brother, Joey, said they got lucky.

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TheHomewoodStar.com “This has affected other people in the hair industry a lot more than it has affected us,” Matt said. “Because of the support that the community of Homewood has given us, we have been able and will be able to get through this.”

Single Barrel is a five-man barbershop located on SoHo Square. Like Gauntlet Fitness and other “non-essential businesses,” it reopened May 11 with new sanitation practices.

When customers walk up to the shop, they’ll first notice a sign on the door that reads, “Do Not Enter Until Called.” The business is now appointment-only — no walk-ins. The shop has no waiting area, so those who arrive early must wait outside. The door was propped open, and hand sanitizer was available to customers near the door.

Each barber wore gloves and a face mask on reopening day, and each booth displayed that barber’s new certificate for the BARBICIDE COVID-19 Certification.

The barbers saw a lot of clients with kitchen haircuts on reopening day, Matt said, laughing.

The shop’s five barbers all had a full schedule.

“Nobody had a lunch break today,” he said.

“They haven’t sat down.”

Matthew said he remembered how it felt closing the shop in mid-March.

“It was scary,” he said. “We didn’t know how long we were going to be closed. I worried about my young barbers. My initial concern was for them and their income and them being able to provide for their families.”

The barbershop is commission-based, meaning the barbers pay booth rent and are considered self-employed. Like the employees at Fit Five, this meant that Single Barrel couldn’t use PPP to cover these employees’ salaries.

“Luckily enough, some of the barbers have wives who have jobs, so they have a little bit of income,” Matt said. “They did get a stimulus check, and they all filed for unemployment.”

Some employees have had difficulty receiving their unemployment checks, though. Old-school preparation methods — having an emergency fund — has helped Matt pay the bills, he said. He also gives some credit to the community.

“The Homewood community has really blessed us,” he said. “All of our clients have reached out to us individually. People have prepaid for hair cuts. We have really been

June 2020 • A21 Joey Folker, a stylist at Single Barrel Barbershop, gives Jeff Harkins a haircut May 11 at the shop in downtown Homewood.

The barbershop reopened May 11 and is operating at 50% occupancy, serving three clients at a time, while following guidelines for close-contact professions set by the state of Alabama. Below: Signs on the front doors of Single Barrel Barbershop notify guests to not enter the shop until called, list rules for customers and request that customers observe social distancing.

overwhelmed by the generosity of people of Homewood, taking care of us, even the young barbers, and helping us get through this. We really feel loved and appreciated.”

Matt wants to assure the public he and his employees are educated on sanitizing and disinfecting things, he said.

“We deal with the public day in and day out, so we deal with cross contamination every day,” he said. “It’s ingrained into our system.”

Clients wear capes while getting their haircuts, and they also have sanitation strips around their necks so that the cape never touches the client’s neck. A handwashing sink is located next to each barber chair. They have a perfect score from the health department. They follow all the rules, he said.

“We are as excited to be giving you a haircut as you are to be here getting a haircut,” Matt said on reopening day.

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The Homewood Star

A22 • June 2020

Residents against the downtown rezoning plan say they are concerned about parking and the potential for tall structures.

The Valley Hotel project will be five stories tall — in comparison to the oneand two-story retail shops that dominate 18th Street South — and will not have on-site parking for its future employees.

Photos by Erin Nelson.

REZONING

CONTINUED from page A1 the Oct. 24, 2016, meeting said the decision was rushed — the whole process officially took a little more than a month.

Homewood residents said they believe members of that council held closed-door meetings about the bond deal for up to two years before the deal was made. One group of Homewood residents created a website called Change Is Hard Homewood, which asks for the city government to adopt many “basic practices.” The first statement on the website calls for all planning, discussion and meetings to be open to the public, and it lists the 2016 bond deal as an example.

Council President Peter Wright said there was never a private City Council meeting pertaining to the bond deal but that there were meetings and discussions between council members and school board members. They discussed the “bubble” of population growth in the school system and the need for the expansion of parks, Wright said, and they attempted to come up with a proposal to bring before the council.

“Every single discussion you have is not subject to public scrutiny and public involvement — you couldn’t get any work done,” he said. “Yes, there were discussions — there had to be. … But what there never was and never has been was an official meeting, an improper meeting regarding any actionable item.”

The ends justified the means, Wright said. With President Donald Trump about to be elected into office at the same time that the proposal officially made it to City Council, there was a concern about what would happen in the bond market.

The bond rates at that time were “phenomenal,” he said.

“The bond was an incredible success,” Wright said. “We saved the city anywhere from $1.5-3 million by the timing of us moving faster and taking advantage of the good rates before the election.”

NEW PROPOSAL

Fast forward to November 2019, when the Planning Commission held a public hearing about possibly rezoning downtown. This came shortly after the council passed an ordinance that no longer required them to post yellow signs at each property that was up for consideration to be rezoned.

“The requirements under the law are to notify the property owners,” Wright said. “That’s with certified letters, and I think that was largely and properly accomplished. However, if you line up all of the businesses, we would have 50 yellow signs throughout the downtown area — I may be exaggerating, I don’t know the exact number, but I’m just giving you the thumbnail sketch. But that’s why that part of the notice was altered.”

The business owners who rent the properties were not required under law to be notified, so some of these people did not know about the rezoning request. This was a reasonable complaint, Wright said; however, he also pointed out that there were public input surveys and sessions.

The public hearing for downtown rezoning was also announced during the Oct. 1 Planning Commission meeting.

“It added to the social media frenzy of a secret, covert campaign to turn our thriving downtown area upside down,” Wright said. “Why would any reasonable member of our city or of our council want to turn our thriving downtown business community upside down? No one wants to do that.”

The rezoning proposal focused on the “Heart of Homewood,” a

Rezoning plans

Businesses and street parking along 18th Street in downtown Homewood. Under the city’s current zoning plan, 18th Street businesses can be up to three stories tall, but most businesses are in one- or two-story buildings.

162-acre area with City Hall located in the middle. This area currently has 13 different zoning districts. The rezoning plan would place all properties in that area under one of three new districts: low-intensity, medium-intensity and high-intensity.

In the original plan, which was discussed at the Nov. 12 Planning Commission meeting, medium-intensity districts — which include the 18th Street shops — would be storefronts and mixed-use buildings up to four stories. Under current zoning, 18th Street businesses can be up to three stories tall, but most businesses are in one- or two-story buildings. The proposed change was met with public outrage.

Wright was surprised with the public’s reaction, he said. This process started years ago when the city hired the Regional Planning Commission and Placemakers LLC, which held public input meetings and discussed downtown residential spaces and mixed-use zoning at these meetings.

The Homewood Master Plan, which Wright said has been around for 15-20 years, also mentions mixeduse zoning.

“When we came forth with the plan, we were all a little surprised,” he said. “We all know that not everyone’s going to be happy, and that’s part of it. But there was such a public dismay about it.”

Sue Graphos, a longtime Homewood resident who owns Sam’s Super Samwiches on 18th Street with her husband, said she attended the Nov. 12 public hearing.

“My immediate thought was, ‘Where are people going to park if they do four stories?’” she said. “It would cause a ripple effect, number one, if they did something like that.

One building’s going to be torn

down, the next building’s going to be torn down, and the next building’s going to be torn down. It’s going to put everybody in the entire downtown Homewood out of business. And there’s nowhere to park as it is.”

Despite public concern, the Planning Commission recommended the rezoning plan to City Council.

After hearing more concerns from the public at the City Council’s Dec. 9 meeting, the zoning plan was amended Jan. 28 to restrict the building height to two stories maximum and remove residential use for the 18th Street businesses. At the Feb. 4 Planning Commission meeting, discussion on the rezoning request was tabled, and then the response to the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Homewood community a month later.

RESISTING CHANGE

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” is an idiom that many Homewood residents have expressed regarding the change to the zoning ordinance. The retail shops on 18th Street are thriving, even in a time when e-commerce has hurt brick-and-mortar shops in other cities.

However, spot zoning is a bad practice, said Susan Henderson, a consultant with Placemakers LLC. Spot zoning is when a new zone is created to accommodate an incoming business or developer that is slightly different from the previous use. This is why Homewood currently has six different commercial zones downtown, for example — one zone each for retail shopping, neighborhood shopping, commercial shopping and more.

Not only does this create suburban sprawl, Henderson said, but it can also hinder economic development.

Under the rezoning request as it currently stands, these would be the three new districts in the Heart of Homewood: ► Low Intensity: characterized by mediumdensity residential areas, with a mix of uses, home occupations, and accessory buildings. Building types include houses, townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, small apartment buildings and neighborhood commercial uses.

Building height is two stories maximum. ► Medium Intensity: intended to reflect the historic character of 18th Street. This district consists of predominantly vertical mixed uses with storefronts and large sidewalks along streets.

Building height is limited to two stories facing 18th Street South between Oxmoor Road and 28th Avenue South and for properties on the south side of 29th Avenue South between 18th Street South and 19th Street South.

Other buildings in this district have a height limited to four stories. Parking structure height is three stories maximum. ► High Intensity: characterized by predominantly mid-rise mixed-use buildings that largely include storefront and common entry facades at the street. Building height is five stories maximum.

Parking structure height is four stories maximum.

It has not yet been announced when the rezoning request will return to the Planning Commission or City Council.

“Say a retail goes out of business in this post-pandemic world, but it’s zoned for retail, not office,” she said.

“Then if the market softens on retail, there’s no way to put in the office use without a rezoning, and that is a lengthy, laborious process for the landowners.

“At the end of the day, they’re stuck with an empty building. Downtown

Homewood is less vibrant. There’s a reduced tax rate. And it begins to diminish the economy because the zoning is so complicated, and it’s prohibiting similar uses.”

Despite this, some Homewood residents say they prefer the traditional method of presenting rezoning requests before City Council.

“We don’t need to do a blanket 162-acre rezone of private property against the will of some of the private property owners because of the excuse of 13 zoning categories and that we have to do something about C-4b,” resident Mary Ellen Snell said.

“This is the biggest deal in the history of Homewood,” Snell added.

“Nothing has ever been done like this.”

UNCLEAR FUTURE

Right now, the proposal is tabled in the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission is not a governing body — it just makes recommendations to the City Council. It is “duty bound” to make a recommendation and send it to City Council, Wright said, but it hasn’t done that yet.

“I don’t think, frankly, that there is much heartburn over that right now,” Wright said. “It was generating such dismay that I think … instead of wallowing in that issue, it probably was arguably a blessing in disguise to let it be tabled and sit quietly and help us all take a breather.”

This is particularly true now during the novel coronavirus pandemic, he said.

“There’s obviously not much appetite to take up any of these zoning issues anytime soon until we get out of these more critical, pressing times.”

For Homewood residents looking to the future, many say they hope the city will be more open and timely in the future. Snell, who manages the Edgewood Neighborhood Watch Facebook page, said she wishes the issue didn’t come up during the holiday season. She wasn’t able to have a Christmas or put up a tree this year because following the rezoning plan “was like putting together a puzzle,” she said.

Liz Ellaby wishes to never repeat the bond deal of 2016, she said. She is one of the residents who signed the Change Is Hard Homewood webpage.

“They’re not only excluding residents from how ideas are generated, the genesis of these ideas,” she said.

“They also exclude other members of the council.”

Visit heartofhomewoodplan.com for more information on the proposed downtown district zoning.

TheHomewoodStar.com

June 2020 • A23

A Content Series

FINANCIAL PLANNING DURING A PANDEMIC: A RETIREMENT PLAN REMINDER

by David M. Foreman, CFP® As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 situation, our thoughts and emotions often drift toward concern.

First and foremost, we hope for the physical safety and health of our families, our communities, our nation and the world. For many, there also is concern for financial security. It can be easy to focus on the short-term pain and lose sight of the long-term potential. In uncertain times like we are currently experiencing, it is important to remember that we’ve planned for this.

The temptation is to see the market’s decline for the year to date and to assume your retirement plan has been permanently altered and some different course of action must be pursued.

However, when viewed from a long-term perspective, that result most often is not the case. Again, pause and remind yourself that we’ve planned for this.

Have Confidence in the Retirement Plan You’ve Already Put into Place

Warren Averett Asset Management takes a comprehensive approach to our clients’ personal finances, and for our clients, that means we have carefully and thoroughly planned for your retirement. We also update and review it periodically.

For some, you’re developing a plan of action to make your retirement goals a reality one day. For others, you’re already retired, and the analysis is

beneficial when reviewing spending, along with the longevity and potential of the portfolio. In any case, remain confident that the plan you’ve created and implemented is one that should enable you to achieve your goals in the long run.

Hopefully, this reminder brings you some peace of mind in the midst of an uncertain time. This comfort can be beneficial for all, but particularly for those who have recently transitioned into retirement—or who are planning on retiring very soon.

As part of the retirement planning analysis, you’ve seen how the portfolio can grow over time, given a set of assumptions. However, the analysis does not end there. The next step, which is a critical part of a welldesigned financial plan, is the Monte Carlo analysis and stress testing of the portfolio. This step brings volatility into the picture and considers many iterations with differing rates of return.

Even though the cause (i.e., the COVID-19 virus) of recent market volatility is different from what we’ve seen historically, the type of market that we’ve been experiencing lately would fall within the parameters of your plan.

Your Retirement Planning Moving Forward

In other words, if your retirement plan has looked solid to this point, the recent losses should not have derailed or significantly altered your situation.

Again, we’ve planned for this.

As you know, it is important to focus on the things you can control. This focus applies to the spending, portfolio withdrawals, and investment strategy assumed in your retirement planning.

If you remain consistent with the assumptions in those areas, in the long-term you should stay on track with your plan.

If you have any questions related to your retirement planning, please contact your advisor or reach out to one of ours. We’re available to help you in every way we can.

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SECTION

B

Schoolhouse B4 Sports B8 Metro Roundup B13

JUNE 2020

A sign of solidarity Homewood muralist surprises community with uplifting message

By INGRID SCHNADER

Homewood muralist Shawn Fitzwater of Fitz Hand Painted Signs stands at the corner of 28th Avenue and 18th Street. Fitzwater in late March painted a mural on the side of Battle Republic that reads “We Are All In This Together” as millions of Americans were in quarantine amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Erin Nelson.

Shawn Fitzwater’s idea to paint the “We Are All In This Together” mural was a last-minute decision.

It was 6 p.m., Friday, March 27, when he was sitting on the couch at home and told his wife about his idea to paint an inspiring message on the Battle Republic building. This wall was a spot he’d always wanted to paint — it’s a huge white wall and perfect for a mural, he said.

His wife rolled his eyes at him as he told her his idea, knowing even if she tried to stop her husband, he would do it anyway, Fitzwater said, laughing.

By 8:30 p.m., he was out the door. He was going to scope the place out. He didn’t ask anyone for permission to paint the mural, not even Battle Republic, so he didn’t want to get started if the street was busy.

But even though it was Friday night on one of Homewood’s busiest streets, Fitzwater said it was eerily quiet. Health concerns over the novel coronavirus had everyone staying safely at home.

“There wasn’t a soul in sight,” he said.

“There might be one car pass by every three minutes. I thought, ‘This is weird.’ … The weather was great. Usually people are out everywhere, eating out on the patios of places, eating out, driving all over the place.”

See MURAL | page B12

The Homewood Star

B2 • June 2020

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TheHomewoodStar.com

June 2020 • B3

The Homewood Star

B4 • June 2020

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

BOE adopts desired leadership profile of future superintendent

By INGRID SCHNADER After seeking community input regarding the desired characteristics of Homewood City Schools’ future superintendent, the results are in.

Representatives from Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates, a network of independent education consultants hired by the Homewood City Schools system, gave a presentation at the May 18 Board of Education meeting discussing the results of May’s surveys and virtual meetings held in the past month.

Starting April 23, community members were able to complete an online survey that asked questions about the state of the district and desired characteristics of the future superintendent. Peter Flynn of HYA & Associates said 624 people completed this online survey.

“This is a little unusual,” he said.

“This is a number we usually see in the school district three times the size of Homewood. So it speaks well to the outreach and the enthusiasm the people in the school district had for taking the survey.”

More than half of the survey respondents were parents of Homewood City Schools students.

One question in the survey read, “I would like the superintendent to …” and respondents were allowed to select at most four statements out of a list of 12 statements. The five top competencies of the next

The Homewood City Schools Board of Education building, located on Dale Avenue near Trinity United Methodist Church, houses administrative offices and meeting rooms. The monthly Board of Education meetings are typically held here. Photo by Ingrid Schnader.

superintendent that were chosen by survey respondents were: ► Foster a positive, professional climate of mutual trust and respect among faculty, staff and administrators; ► Recruit, employ and retain effective personnel throughout the district and its schools; ► Be visible throughout the district and actively engaged in community life;

► Establish a culture of high expectations for all students and personnel; ► Understand and be sensitive to the needs of a diverse student population.

On May 11 and 12, HYA & Associates also invited the community to participate in multiple 45-minute online video calls to further identify the desired characteristics of a superintendent candidate. There were 71

participants total over four sessions.

When asked the leadership characteristics and competencies they would like to see in their next superintendent, participants identified the following attributes: ► Trustworthy ► Servant leadership ► Understand Homewood City Schools ► People person

► Value diversity and understand how to interact with diverse population ► Integrity ► Live in Homewood On a day-to-day basis, participants said they wanted to see a superintendent who is a collaborative decision maker, is visible and approachable and is transparent.

The representatives used this information to draft a leadership profile of desired characteristics. This draft was amended and approved by the Board of Education at its May 18 meeting.

The profile will be used for additional recruitment efforts.

Bill Cleveland, who has been the school system’s superintendent for the past 12 years and originally planned to retire from the position June 30, agreed to serve until his replacement is appointed by the board. His retirement was delayed in light of uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also at the May 18 meeting, the Board of Education adjusted the 2020-21 academic calendar. Students will return to school for the fall semester Aug. 19. The return date was previously scheduled for Aug. 12. This adjustment was based on a recommendation by state Superintendent Eric Mackey.

The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 16. Visit homewood.k12.al.us for more information.

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TheHomewoodStar.com

HHS senior salvages part of prom experience with Vulcan photoshoot

By INGRID SCHNADER Like other students in her class, Homewood High School student Kate Graphos lost some of the best moments of her senior year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the school system announced students wouldn’t return to school to finish the last semester, she realized she wouldn’t get to finish her senior golf season.

She wouldn’t get to walk at graduation. And her perfect prom dress — the one she started looking for last summer and that her mom gifted her for Christmas — wouldn’t see the light of day.

It was vintage, and Graphos said she is passionate about reducing her carbon footprint. She wanted a bright color and something that wasn’t strapless. She loved the cape and the chiffon sleeves. It checked all the boxes, Graphos said, and now she had nowhere to wear it.

Then her mom came to her with When the coronavirus canceled all spring school the idea to hire a photographer and functions, Homewood senior Kate Graphos realized have a solo photoshoot. she wouldn’t be able to wear her dream prom dress.

“I at first didn’t want to do it,” Then her mom suggested she have a photo shoot at Graphos said. “I was just so sad, Vulcan Park and Museum. Photo courtesy of Erin Nolen. and I was like, ‘Just forget about it, it’s never happening.’”

Her mom continued to encourage her to do the memories of being at Vulcan with my the photoshoot, though, and Graphos eventually family,” she said. “But I am still really sad obliged. She ended up loving the idea. It was that my senior class wasn’t there or all of my her first time stepping out of quarantine in a friends.” while, and although they followed safe social She hopes she and her friends will be able distancing practices, Graphos said it was fun to do something fun together this summer, she to get outside and enjoy the weather in her said, before she moves to Tennessee to attend beloved dress.

Rhodes College — a school with colors that “I’m very happy to have those pictures and coincidentally match her prom dress.

June 2020 • B5

The Homewood Star

B6 • June 2020

Homewood senior named US Presidential Scholar semifinalist Homewood High School senior Harrison Massie was named a semifinalist in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, which is one of the highest honors awarded to graduating high school seniors.

The semifinalists were selected from nearly 5,600 candidates expected to graduate from U.S. high schools in 2020. Massie is one of the 621 semifinalists selected in the U.S. and one of the 10 students named in Alabama.

Scholars are selected based on superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the president, to recognize and honor some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors.

In 1979, the program Homewood High School senior Harrison Massie was was extended to recognize named a semifinalist in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars students who demonstrate Program. Photo courtesy of Merrick Wilson. exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. In 2015, the program was again for high school students.

“Homewood City Schools congratulates extended to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career Harrison on this prestigious honor and is proud and technical education fields. Each year, of his many accomplishments,” the school up to 161 students are named as Presidential system said in a statement.

– Submitted by Merrick Wilson.

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Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School teachers send letters of cheer to their students during their time at home. Below: Third-grader Alice Houser is excited to receive personal letters from her classroom teacher, Katherine Johnson, and her reading enrichment teacher, Sherie Mayfield, while away from school due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photos courtesy of Mary Stephens Pugh.

Teachers spread cheer to students Many teachers at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School mailed a personal letter to each of their students to spread some cheer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recognizing the importance of staying connected to their class, the teachers said they wanted their students to know how much they are thought of during this difficult time.

“I wanted to send my students letters to stay connected and to encourage them to keep trying their best during this tough time,” third-grade teacher Katherine Johnson said. “Distance learning is tough on parents and the kids, and I wanted to brighten their day and let them know I am still here for them,” she said.

During the pandemic, OLS has not missed any days of classroom instruction. The staff and teachers have kept consistent communication with parents and students and have provided them with creative lessons, videos activities, interactive instruction, virtual annual events and weekly school Masses to help maintain its community environment while they are away.

– Submitted by Mary Stephens Pugh.

TheHomewoodStar.com

June 2020 • B7

1st-graders ‘flutter’ with excitement about their at-home science project A science project has some Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School students learning about the lifecycle of a butterfly during their quarantined time at home. As a part of their study of butterflies, these young students watched their caterpillars grow into butterflies.

Despite students remaining at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, OLS first-grade teachers Jessica Taff and Emily Copes decided to move forward with the project. They invited their student families to experience the amazing journey of the caterpillar to a butterfly.

“Many parents and students have joined us and are observing their caterpillars at home,” Taff said. “We have been receiving updates and pictures from parents, showing their children observing their caterpillars each day.”

The class even has an Instagram page for them to post their updates.

“Mrs. Copes and I, as well as some of the other teachers, have also joined in the fun this year to care for our own caterpillars,” she said.

Students and teachers wrote about their observations in a personal journal each day, as they watched their caterpillars develop, transform to the chrysalis stage, and finally to a butterfly.

“We are asking the parents to send videos and pictures of each release of the butterflies, so we can share them with the rest of the class,” she said. “We love getting to experience this unit with the students as a class, even though it looks a bit different this year.”

– Submitted by Mary Stephens Pugh.

Our Lady of Sorrows first-graders show off their butterfly lifecycle projects. Photos courtesy of Mary Stephens Pugh.

Pre-K students end school year with pet show

OLS announces NJHS inductees Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School inducted 20 students into the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS).

These new inductees joined 14 current eighth-graders who became members in 2019, making this year’s total membership 34. This represents close to 46% of the school’s seventh- and eighth-grade classes.

This year’s inductees include: eighth-graders Marlee Banks, Katelyn Courtney, Poppy Moellering, Drew Sparacio, Kate Tanner and Gwen Ubil; and seventh-graders Gabriel Dent, Andy Ferguson, Mary Catherine Golab, Luke Holmes, Olivia Le, Jordan Madison, Will Magruder, Suzan Marinelli, Ava Mize, Michael Rhodes, Victoria Ryan, Rodney Shiflett, Spence Tighe and Joseph Zarzaur.

These scholars were chosen based on the five ideals of the organization as

proven by them through their activities and their teachers’ recommendations. The criteria included scholarship, leadership, service, character and citizenship.

NJHS is one of the highest honors that can be awarded to a student in seventh and eighth grade. The society brings the endeavors of an outstanding student to the attention of parents, teachers, peers and the community. Chapters in more than 5,000 secondary schools across the nation strive to give practical meaning to its goals.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the school was unable to hold a traditional ceremony. This year, the students and parents were notified by mail with an official letter announcing the students’ induction into the prestigious society along with a NJHS certificate.

– Submitted by Mary Stephens Pugh.

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The Wee-K3 class at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School celebrated its last day of school with a virtual pet show that included their favorite stuffed animals.

Photo courtesy of Mary Stephens Pugh.

The Wee-K3 class at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School celebrated its last day of school with a virtual pet show that included their favorite stuffed animals, as well as singing, dancing and a special book about summer.

In the last few weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic, the school held virtual preschool instruction as the students were taught their letters, shapes and colors.

They also participated in crafts, had a special Mystery Reader and had a lot of social interaction. The children ended each class time with a prayer.

– Submitted by Mary Stephens Pugh.

The Homewood Star

B8 • June 2020

Sports

Patriots seniors make most of final season The Homewood High School baseball seniors following what turned out to be their final game March 13, a win over Ramsay. “We didn’t say goodbye, but we took a picture with the seniors in right field because we didn’t know whether we’d be back or not,” Hall said.

Photo courtesy of Lee Hall.

By KYLE PARMLEY When the season was abruptly ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Homewood High School baseball team was far from its peak level of play.

Despite having 12 seniors on the roster, the Patriots were a largely inexperienced team entering the season. Many of the team’s elder statesmen had bided their time for a couple years and were beginning to solidify themselves as key members of the squad.

“Most of those guys had been waiting their turn to play their senior year, and that’s what’s so sad about it,” Homewood head coach Lee Hall said.

Guys like Kaj Knudsen, Harrison Hawkins, Cam Green, DeMarcus McNeily and Trae Ausmer were among those players making the most of their first and only shot to hold down a starting position for Homewood.

Andrew Rohdy and Alex Ray were seniors that played a significant role in 2019 and continued to produce at a high level in 2020.

On the mound, Sloan Squires was set to be the pitching staff’s ace this spring, but an injury limited him to just two innings in the season’s first game.

Jackson Smitherman stands out as one of the team’s ultimate success stories. After battling a couple of significant injuries during his junior year, he returned to the diamond this spring and put together an outstanding first month for the Patriots, with “no sign of letting up.” He hit for a .529 average and drove in 18 runs in just 34 at-bats.

Caleb Walker, Graham Harrison and John Robert Wallace also had their careers end prematurely.

For those seniors, a March 13 doubleheader against Ramsay would be the final games

they would get to play in a Homewood uniform. That day, Hall was informed by Athletic Director Doug Gann that school was going to be suspended at the very least. A couple weeks later, the season was canceled.

“We didn’t say goodbye, but we took a picture with the seniors in right field because we didn’t know whether we’d be back or not,” Hall said.

As for the early portion of the season, Homewood put together an 8-4 record. The Patriots began with a doubleheader sweep of Minor, followed by a blowout win over Pelham. The following week, they dropped a contest to perennial power Cullman, and then they swept a doubleheader with crosstown foe

John Carroll.

Homewood’s toughest stretch came in early March, as the team suffered three straight losses, two to Pelham and one to a strong Spain Park team. But the Patriots ended things on a high note, beating Northridge and sweeping a doubleheader with Ramsay in dominating fashion to finish with the 8-4 mark.

After back-to-back deep playoff runs in Hall’s first two years, expectations were tempered for this season after the Patriots lost so many key contributors from those teams. But that fueled this year’s team.

“That was a group that was working hard to prove everybody wrong, because nobody was giving them a shot to be real good,” Hall said.

After Squires’ injury, juniors Will Heisler and Brode Susce combined to give Homewood a strong 1-2 punch on the mound, a tandem Hall believes would have lifted Homewood to an area title and some playoff success.

As for area play, Homewood transitions into a new area next spring that will feature the Patriots, Mountain Brook, Chelsea and Briarwood. Mountain Brook and Chelsea finished the 2020 season ranked atop the Alabama Sports Writers Association rankings in Class 7A and 6A, respectively. Chelsea in 6A and Briarwood in 5A each played in the state championship series last year.

“It’s going to be really competitive, fun baseball,” Hall said.

TheHomewoodStar.com

June 2020 • B9

Cavs’ 2020 season ends with an asterisk

By KYLE PARMLEY

Just when it looked like the John Carroll Catholic High School softball team was about to hit its stride, everything stopped.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cavaliers’ 2020 season was cut short in mid-March. John Carroll was prone to inconsistency over the season’s first few weeks, but head coach Jeri Beck felt like the team was prepared to begin building toward a strong stretch of play.

The Cavs’ last few games were in the Buccaneer Round Robin at Hoover the weekend of March 13-14. The three games they played over the two-day event encapsulated the season up to that point. John Carroll blew a big lead and tied with Hale County, lost to Benjamin Russell, then knocked off Hoover.

“We had some great moments in that tournament, we had some bad moments, and we ended on such a high note, beating Hoover,” Beck said.

With first baseman Kayla Coley-Drayton returning from injury during the last week of play, John Carroll finally had its roster at full strength for the first time all season. In the 5-3 win over Hoover, Macey Ogle hit a home run and pitched all five innings in the circle.

“That was our first weekend playing games with that lineup, and we were getting some chemistry,” Beck said.

The history books will show an 8-6-1 record for John Carroll’s season, but Beck believed her team to be capable of more than the mark showed. Coming off a surprise run to third place in the Class 5A state tournament in 2019, the Cavs returned most of the pieces that contributed in a big way to that team.

“I was hoping this team would be capable to some level of repeating what we did last year,” Beck said. “We were just starting to get some team chemistry.”

Heading into what turned out to be the season’s final tournament, uncertainty prevailed amongst players and coaches across the board as to the future of school and sports for the

John Carroll’s Abigayle Parker (18) pitches during a game against Mountain Brook on March 11 at Spartan Softball Field in Mountain Brook. Photo by Kyle Parmley.

remainder of the spring.

After the games that weekend at Hoover, John Carroll’s team dispersed as normal. But in-person school never resumed, and the team was unable to meet again physically.

“We never really got to have the team conversations,” Beck said of the season being ended prematurely. “We’ve done a couple Google Meet [video calls] with the girls just to check in on them. I watch their grades to make sure they’re still doing their work.”

With the season now over, the John Carroll

careers of Emma Bauer, Abigayle Parker, Claire Boone and Tannslee Duck have ended earlier than they had planned. Beck made a video to honor the four seniors and posted it on social media. Bauer is the only one planning to play in college, as she will be a student-athlete at Huntingdon College.

Beck has certainly remained busy during the final few months of school. As the director of technology at John Carroll, she has been available to assist students and fellow teachers with the transition to virtual learning. But she still

hears from her players.

“The girls are working hard on their own,” Beck said. “They send me videos every once in a while.”

Unfortunately for the Cavs, they will never know what could have been. Macey Ogle led the team with four homers and had five wins in the circle. Boone finished with three homers and Charlotte Phillips hit two. Mallory Ogle led the team with a .543 batting average.

“It’s going to be the season with an asterisk,” Beck said. “How far could we have gone?”

The Homewood Star

B10 • June 2020

Sports Editor’s Note By Kyle Parmley

Trying to be productive during this time After about a week of working from home and not seeing any of the coworkers, coaches or players who I’m so accustomed to interacting with every day, I had an idea.

I wanted to see what everyone else was doing during this period of self-isolation, self-quarantine, social distancing, whatever you want to call it.

During the spring, my typical “routine” is having no semblance whatsoever of a routine. April and May usually feel like a mad scramble from one game, one tournament, one championship event to the next.

And it’s one of my favorite times of the year.

However, once we were forced to begin working from home and sports across the world were canceled, the days became somewhat monotonous. Only a daily walk around the neighborhood stood in between a day of working at the kitchen table and binge-watching a TV show the rest of the evening.

I was struggling to figure out how to navigate this time.

So I reached out to several local spring sport athletes (many of them softball players, of course), asking for pictures and videos of things they were doing without the normalcy of daily practices and games. I received more than 50 responses.

Katelyn Murphy and Jenna Lord from Hewitt-Trussville went on a hike. Chelsea’s Tyler Erwin took up

Charlotte Phillips, Macey Ogle and Mallory Ogle from John Carroll searched for turtles. Photo courtesy of Charlotte Phillips.

painting as a hobby, and Carly Taylor worked on a puzzle. Spain Park’s Lindsay Parker went on a long walk.

Hoover’s Brookelyn Cannon and Campbell Hecklinski made Taco Bell runs just to get out of the house.

Abby Fortner and Katie Norris spent time with their dogs, while Jordan Moore went fishing. Mountain Brook’s Sara Frances Berte went to the lake. Annie Kate Parks from Vestavia Hills just sat at the pool, while Kayla Franklin played Fortnite. John Carroll’s Charlotte Phillips, Macey Ogle and Mallory Ogle searched for turtles. Abi Brown and Olivia Woodruff baked a cake.

All of this unexpected free time forced these student-athletes to get creative. After binge-watching everything that I wanted to catch up on, I

was forced to do the same.

I enlisted the help of a few different people to teach me how to cook a few dishes (because my culinary knowledge was virtually nonexistent). I’ve gotten back to reading like I once did. I’ve been much more consistent in staying active and going outside each day.

I’m hopeful that I will be able to continue to build upon these things, even as life returns to a sense of normalcy over the coming months.

Beyond the random activities, I’ve also been impressed with the athletes I’ve seen remain committed to honing their craft. There are no practices or games, and the workouts don’t look the same, but the number of players continuing to work to better themselves has been inspiring.

Kyle Parmley covering a game. For Kyle, April and May usually feel like a mad scramble from one game, one tournament, one championship event to the next. And it’s one of his favorite times of the year. Photo courtesy of Dawn Harrison.

Whether you are an athlete or not, I hope you’ve used some of this time in a productive manner. As life has slowed down for nearly all of us, “I don’t have time” has no longer been a viable excuse.

There’s a light at the end of the

tunnel in terms of restoring each of our routines. May we look back and realize that we used this time for good.

– Kyle Parmley is the sports editor at Starnes Publishing.

TheHomewoodStar.com

June 2020 • B11

Homewood

Parks & Recreation

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The Homewood Star

B12 • June 2020

The mural on the side of Battle Republic reads “We Are All In This Together” at the corner of 28th Avenue and 18th Street in downtown Homewood.

Photo by Erin Nelson.

MURAL

CONTINUED from page B1 He originally thought he would have to wait until 1 a.m. to start painting, but seeing that no one was out, he started his mural right away, using a nearby street light to see the wall as he painted. It was about 65 degrees outside and windy, and the only sounds that accompanied him as he painted were distant wind chimes.

Every once in a while, a midnight driver would pass by, roll down the window and scream, “Right on, man!”

He painted as fast as he could. There aren’t any sidewalks in front of the mural, and he had a few “close calls” with cars passing by, he said.

He packed up his supplies and left at 4 a.m., just a few hours before the sun would rise and passers by would wake up and see the new mural.

AN UPLIFTING MESSAGE

Lindsey Miller, one of the owners of Battle Republic, went to the lake “just to get away a little bit” on the weekend that Fitzwater painted the mural. Like other fitness centers and gyms deemed “non-essential,” Battle Republic closed amid public health concerns surrounding the novel coronavirus.

Saturday came and went without any of the Battle staff realizing there was a mural on their building. Then Sunday, one of the coaches was on a morning walk when she passed by and saw it.

“She sent a text and she was like, ‘Did y’all get something painted on the side of the building?’” Miller said. “She sent me a picture, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. I love it.’”

Her next thought, she said, was that she hoped nobody would get mad. When she got home that night, she wrote her landlord an email telling him that a mural showed up on the building. She asked him if they could keep it there, and the landlord said he liked the mural, too.

“Our members who are driving by and have missed coming to Battle, they love seeing that,” Miller said. “It’s meant a lot to a lot of people.”

Miller and Fitzwater knew each other already, so Miller said Fitzwater probably knew she would be cool with it. He was brave though, she said.

“I think he knew it would be well received, but he still took a chance,” she said. “I was like, ‘This guy is pretty bold, and I like it.’”

In the middle of a global pandemic, “We Are All In This Together” was a message Miller needed to hear, she said.

“I think sometimes it’s hard to remember that,” she said. “It’s really easy to get caught up on what’s hard for you in this whole situation because everybody’s got such a different scenario. So it’s been really good for me to drive by there and remember, ‘Alright, we’re all going through this storm a little bit differently, but we’re in this together.’”

It was a message of which Fitzwater also needed to be reminded, he said. His business, Fitz Hand Painted Signs, was picking up steam right before the pandemic hit Homewood. The transition for Fitzwater, his wife and their three sons has been difficult, he said.

“I can’t sugarcoat it or lie about it — it’s been pretty tough, that transition,” he said. “You get to feeling like you’re having this stress, and you’re the only one.”

But when he spoke to his neighbors and friends, he said he realized they were going

Edgewood is also getting a makeover with Shawn Fitzwater’s newest mural, which reads, “Welcome to Edgewood.” Fitzwater started working on this mural May 13. “I love painting large, bold and colorful lettering,” he said. “And I also like its location — it’s a bright introduction to a great community and area overall.” Look for this mural near the Chevron gas station on Oxmoor Road in Edgewood.

Photo by Ingrid Schnader.

through the same struggles.

“That really rings true to that message,” he said, referring to the message he painted on the Battle Republic building. “You may think you’re going through this alone or that you have the most stress in the world right now. You’ve just got to know that you’re not alone. We’re all in it together.”

COMMUNITY RESPONSE

After Fitzwater painted the mural, people in Homewood immediately started to notice it.

Not only strangers, but also some of Fitzwater’s friends, started sharing it on social media the day after he painted it.

Fitzwater didn’t tell anyone about his plans to paint the mural except his family and didn’t

sign his name on it, so at first, none of them realized Fitzwater was the artist.

“What was really nice was people would say, ‘I was having such a tough day and a rough week, and then I saw this,’ and they’d take a picture of it,” he said. “That makes me happy.

That’s what it’s there for, to help people through this rough time.”

The community response was overwhelming, he said.

“The feedback’s been great,” he said. “It’s not the greatest wall for going up and taking your picture in front of it … because the road’s right up against it. So I didn’t expect too many people to stop and take pictures of it, but there are hundreds of pictures now. People are making it their Facebook banner.”

His friends at Vulcan Apparel Company approached him with the idea to print the mural on a T-shirt — something Fitzwater had never done before — and donate the proceeds to a local charity. They found BHM Cares, a nonprofit that helps feed Birmingham’s health care workers.

They sold more than 250 shirts and raised more than $3,000 during their seven-day campaign.

“That was pretty amazing, too,” he said. “We were talking before, like, ‘We’d be surprised if we sell 15 shirts.’”

He and his friends at Vulcan Apparel Company are in talks about reopening the campaign and possibly offering the shirt in more colors.

Follow @fitzsigns on Instagram for updates.

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TheHomewoodStar.com

June 2020 • B13

Metro Roundup 280 CORRIDOR

Pastor spreads positivity through roadside signs Eddie Burchfield uses his sign language ministry to encourage drivers along U.S. 280.

Photo courtesy of Todd Eagle.

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE On any given day, drivers on U.S. 280 can catch a glimpse of Eddie Burchfield spreading encouragement along the highway. Since April 1, he has spent several hours each day doing his part to bring cheer to others during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Burchfield, an evangeBrought to list and chaplain, parks you by our his truck at the intersister paper: section of U.S. 280 and Shelby County 51 and holds up signs as people drive by.

280living.com “When all this shut down the prisons, hospitals and churches, I was sitting here in my office praying about what I could do,” Burchfield said.

“During this time, it was like the Lord gave me this mission.”

An ordained minister, and an evangelist by calling, Burchfield lives off Shelby County 51 in Chelsea. He said at the intersection of U.S. 280, there is a large area with a perfect space to pull off and get people’s attention.

He gets lots of horn honks, waves, thumbs up and flashing lights from passersby, saying this is how drivers show an acknowledgment they are in agreement. Many people have stopped to talk to him, and he has been able to pray with several. Some give him water or Gatorade.

“I want to be an encouragement and use this as another way to outreach,” Burchfield said.

Burchfield made the signs himself, using experience from working at a sign shop when he was 18. He holds one, has two on the back of his

truck and usually has a friend holding another in the front. The four signs read: “Faith Over Fear,” “God is Bigger,” “Jesus Is Our Hope” and “Jesus Is Alive.”

He began his own ministry, Fresh Fire Evangelism, in 2006. He retired in 2015 from his job with ALDOT, where he worked for 32 years.

He spends his time serving in five to six ministries weekly. He is a chaplain with the Church of God’s chaplain commission, hosts a radio ministry, does a chaplain ministry with the

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Shelby County Jail and the Alabama Therapeutic Education Facility in Columbiana, is a hospital chaplain at Shelby Baptist and chaplain with the Chelsea Fire and Rescue Department.

He is also chaplain for the Chelsea Historical Society and serves as president with the Central Alabama Writers Group in Sylacauga.

“If I can point their attention from their situation of the heavy load they bear and give it to God, God gets the praise,” he said. “The focus is to turn away from the bad and turn it to the

good. It might stir up somebody’s faith.”

Burchfield said his sign language ministry is like a breath of fresh air and encourages him to keep encouraging. He doesn’t plan to stop the ministry after the COVID-19 crisis ends and said he will do as the Lord leads him.

“I don’t see an end to this,” he said. “It’s another ministry, and it is bigger than just this time. I say all praise goes to God,” he said. “The Bible talks about witty inventions. This is just a witty invention and another way of outreach.”

The Homewood Star

B14 • June 2020

MOUNTAIN BROOK

VESTAVIA HILLS

Jill Utley, a registered nurse and operation team leader, helps Will Baker of the Meals for Healthcare Heroes campaign, unload bags of lunches from Blueroot Company for health care staff on the pre-op and recovery team at UAB’s main hospital May 13. Photo by Erin Nelson.

Meals for Healthcare Heroes helps frontline caregivers, local eateries

By JESSE CHAMBERS Thanks to three Mountain Brook residents, there’s an easy way to go online and offer a boost in morale to Birmingham health care workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and Brought to provide financial you by our support to local sister paper: restaurants seeking to survive in these days of social distancing. villageliving Friends Rip online.com Andrews and Will Baker — along with Baker’s wife, Susannah Baker — started a program in March called Meals for Healthcare Heroes that addresses both

of those critical needs, while giving community members a chance to make a positive impact without leaving home.

Here’s how the program works: ► A team leader at a local hospital makes a request at the Meals for Healthcare Heroes webpage for a specific number of meals to be delivered at a certain date and time. ► The organizers find a local restaurant that can supply the meals and post the restaurant’s name and the meal’s total cost on the site. ► A sponsor signs up and promises to pay for the meal.

To sponsor a meal, go to Meals for Healthcare Heroes at signupgenius.com.

To make an individual donation of any size, go to acjf.org, click on “Donate Now” and select “Meals for Healthcare Workers.”

Parkside at Dolly Ridge, a mixed-use office/retail development, located on Dolly Ridge Road adjacent to Cahaba Heights Elementary School, is planned to be completed in 2021. Rendering courtesy of Harbert Retail.

2 developments coming to Cahaba Heights

By NEAL EMBRY Two new developments will soon be coming to Cahaba Heights: Parkside at Dolly Ridge and Cahaba Heights Corner.

Parkside at Dolly Ridge, a mixed-use office/retail development to be located on Dolly Ridge Road next to Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights, Brought to is slated to open in 2021. you by our It will include about 6,700 sister paper: square feet of community retail and office space with “ample surface parking,” said Casey Howard with vestavia Harbert Retail, which is voice.com handling leasing for the property. New Horizon Development is developing the site.

The development will connect to the new Cahaba Heights Park and other Community Spaces developments in the area, Howard said.

Thomas Hickman, president of New Horizon Development, said he’s proud to bring the project to Cahaba Heights.

“As a Vestavia Hills resident and longtime

developer, I’m proud to be bringing a high quality, much-needed retail/office development in the heart of the Cahaba Heights community,” Hickman said.

No tenants for the project are known at this time.

CAHABA HEIGHTS CORNER

John Michael Bodnar, director of Fresh Hospitality, said Cahaba Heights Corner should come sometime early next year. The development includes 8,000 to 9,000 square feet of office space and 3,000 square feet of retail. Fresh Hospitality is moving its offices from Liberty Park and is hoping to lease additional office space to other tenants and retail space to hopefully a small restaurant, Bodnar said.

The development is in between Martin’s BarB-Que Joint and Philadelphia Baptist Church at 3009 Pumphouse Road. To keep more traffic off Pumphouse Road, the development will share its entrance with Martin’s. While parking spaces will be built for Cahaba Heights Corner, Bodnar said the church will allow access to its gravel parking lot in exchange for church visitors being allowed to use the development’s parking on worship days.

TheHomewoodStar.com

June 2020 • B15

HOOVER

Capstone Building Corp. finds new home in Meadow Brook

By JON ANDERSON After 23 years in Homewood, Capstone Building Corp. moved to their new location in the Meadow Brook Office Park in Hoover in early May. President and CEO Jay Chapman said he greatly enjoyed his time based in Homewood, but he didn’t like the daily drive on U.S. 280 Brought to from his home in Highyou by our land Lakes. sister paper: “The 280 highway is just awful,” Chapman said.

He had looked around hooversun.com a good bit for a spot in Hoover, “but I just never did pull the trigger and try to move,” he said.

Then he received an unsolicited offer to buy his building on Independence Drive in Homewood, so he got more serious about looking, he said.

Meadow Brook Corporate Park is more convenient for the majority of people in his corporate office, and “I can almost see my home from my new office,” he said.

Moving to this location provided an opportunity to incorporate new technology into the design of their workspace, he said. Installing new technology in a new space is a lot easier than trying to retrofit existing space, he said.

With the move, Capstone Building is expanding from about 7,300 square feet to about 9,000 square feet, Chapman said. Their new space takes up about half of a floor in the 1200 building at Meadow Brook Corporate Park.

Colliers International, the management company for the building, completely renovated the space for Capstone Building to include a canteen, exercise room, locker rooms, a classroom

Capstone Building Corporation’s new office space is located at 1200 Meadow Brook Corporate Park. Photo by Erin Nelson.

for about 50 people and a lot of windows to bring in natural light.

The new headquarters will house all of Capstone Building’s Birmingham-based employees — about 15 people — and includes new private areas for senior project managers and estimators.

Years ago, the company had quite a few secretaries, but there are none now, Chapman said.

With all the technological advances, “you do your own work,” he said.

Capstone Building has about 100 more

employees on job sites throughout the country, Chapman said.

The company, which builds multifamily housing developments, has completed more than 111 projects in 22 states valued at more than $1.7 billion since 1997. Its portfolio includes private apartment developments, senior living facilities and public housing complexes. The company’s annual revenues are about $140 million per year, Chapman said.

Most of its current work is concentrated in the Southeast, but the company has done a lot

of work in Connecticut and has had jobs in California. It will start a job in El Paso in about a month, Chapman said.

In Alabama, Capstone recently began construction on a 250-unit apartment complex in the Wildwood area off Lakeshore Parkway and is starting a 225-unit apartment complex in Gardendale. It has another 300-unit complex in Huntsville and other jobs in Atlanta, Memphis and Tampa.

For more information about the company, go to capstonebuilding.com.

David Cox, MD • Barry Rayburn, MD • Benjamin Plaisance, MD Michael Wilensky, MD • Munish Goyal, MD • Alain Bouchard, MD

Your heart health shouldn’t wait, even now Don’t delay the important care you need, even at this time When it comes to caring for your heart, Cardiology Specialists of Birmingham at Ascension St. Vincent’s is right here, delivering the care you need. We’re making sure our offices are safe and ready for you when you need care. And we have more appointment options — both in-person and virtual visits.

Work with our team to choose the option that’s right for you, and have confidence knowing our doctors and care teams are connected to an integrated network sharing best practices and advanced treatment options.

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