The Homewood Star Volume 4 | Issue 6 | September 2014
HHS to Big Ten
neighborly news & entertainment for Homewood
A second chance at
childhood
Fighting for Homewood to remain home for Moussa Diallo By SYDNEY CROMWELL Homewood graduate and University of Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah is in the running for the Heisman trophy.
Feature page B1
Say hello
Barry Wise Smith is the new Ward 4 Place 1 city council representative. Learn more about her inside.
City page A7
INSIDE
Like most 12-year-olds, Moussa Diallo doesn’t know what he wants to do when he grows up. He might be a basketball star, sell boats or maybe become a pilot like the man who saved his life. What Moussa doesn’t want, however, is to return to begging for money and food on the streets of Dakar, Senegal. He has only been in the U.S. for a year, but Homewood is his home. Worst of the worst Born in Bamako, Mali, Moussa came to Dakar as a toddler with his little sister, grandfather and step-grandmother. He begged for money and food to stay alive, but Moussa also suffered from a severe cross-eye and dystonia, a neurological disorder affecting his muscle movement. Although he was one of many children on the streets, something about this particular 4-year-old stood out to Neal Schier when he visited Dakar in 2006. “We use the words ‘desperate’ or ‘critical’ for some of these children. It really was,” Schier said. “He was really in a worst of the worst situation.” Schier came to the country as an Air Force Reserve officer and could not get the boy out of his mind. He returned home to Pennsylvania but began paying a friend to provide for Moussa, first with a daily meal and then with a home when Moussa’s family could not care for him. In 2010, Lauren Livingston, a college friend living in Homewood, called Schier out of the blue. When she heard about Moussa, Livingston was
See MOUSSA | page A19
Moussa is now 12 years old and a sixth-grader at Homewood Middle School. Neal Schier is trying to get him a permanent visa and find him an adoptive family so Moussa can stay in Homewood. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
Under review
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Unconventional house creates debate over design review board By SYDNEY CROMWELL
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The proposed modern design for Mike Gibson’s house created negative reactions from his neighbors, leading to the discussion of a design review board. Image courtesy of Mike Gibson.
The news upset resident Gina Pearson. When she heard a historic home on her street could be replaced with a modern, two-story structure, she distributed fliers to her neighbors about what she called a “design experiment.” Pearson and other neighbors on Sutherland Place’s sentiments have sparked a discussion in City Hall over the possible need for a design review board. Mike Gibson, president of the design-build firm Appleseed Workshop, acknowledged his planned home design is not universally popular. However, he said his house appraises for $600,000 and will
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A2 • September 2014
The Homewood Star
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September 2014 • A3
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A4 • September 2014
About Us Photo of the Month
Please Support our Community Partners
A Block Party fundraiser hosted by the Homewood Library Foundation in August featured face painting as well as a pig roast and other festivities. Photo by Dan Starnes.
Send your submissions for Photo of the Month to editor@thehomewoodstar.com
Editor’s Note By Madoline Markham A lot can happen in a year. The reflections in the little blue book on my nightstand remind me how stories of life are being written around me. A regular lunch date with whom I talked about being single a year ago is about to get married. Another friend whose departure for an indefinite-length job in Alaska I recorded as many days ago has just returned home from her adventures in a frigid lands. Plot points I couldn’t see then are written out with finality, and now I am left to
wonder what will come next. Both our cover stories this month got me back to thinking about how what we are awaiting seems to never come until one day when we wake up and it’s quickly come and gone. One day Ameer Abdullah was a small kid with a lot of determination. Another day he had offers to play football from just Alabama State and Tuskegee, but the next he is a Heisman hopeful at a Big Ten school. One day Moussa Diallo was begging on the streets of Dakar, and Neil
Schier was serving in the Air Force Reserves. The next Moussa is a part of our community in Homewood, and Schier is fighting to help keep him here. Will Ameer win the Heisman? Will Moussa get to stay? I don’t know. But in a year (or maybe sooner), maybe we’ll be recording the outcome here, in this Homewood-wide version of my blue five-year journal. Cheers to the stories of each of our lives and to embracing the mystery of their plot twists to come!
The Homewood Star
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For advertising contact: Dan@TheHomewoodStar.com Legals: The Homewood Star is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. The Homewood Star is designed to inform the Homewood community of area school, family and community events. Information in The Homewood Star is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of The Homewood Star. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.
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Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (B10) Alabama Outdoors (B15) Alabama Power (A14) ARC Realty (B8) Batts’ Chimney Services (A13) Bedzzz Express (A2) Birmingham Botanical Gardens (B10) Birmingham Speech & Hearing Associates (A12) Brandino Brass (B11) Brighter Image Dentistry (A8) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (B11) Case Remodeling (B13) Children’s Dance Foundation (A10) CM Foodservice (B16) Construx (A9) Creative Montessori School (B1) Crittenden Partners (A18) Cryotherapy Birmingham (A16) Edgewood Fine Jewelry (B14) Fi-Plan Partners (A19) Fred Smith Group (B14) Great Clips (B13) Home Care Associates (A7) Homewood Chamber of Commerce (A13) Homewood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry (A6) Homewood Parks and Rec (B12) Homewood Toy & Hobby (B7) Issis & Sons (B4) Iz Cafe (A15) Joe Falconer (A5) Johnny Montgomery Realtor (A15) Julie Ivy White (A7) Mary House Kessler, Ph.D (A10) Morningside at Riverchase (A3) My Ultimate Mattress (A16) Nancy Callahan Remax Advantage (A17) On Time Service (A17) Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics (B7) RealtySouth Marketing (A11) Regency Retirement Village (B8) Salem’s Diner (A10) Sikes Childrens Shoes (A5) Simply Ponds (B5) The Maids (A1) The Wade Team (A12) UAB Medicine (B6) UAB School of Public Health (B5) Vision Gymnastics (B5) Vitalogy Wellness Center (A20, B2) Weigh To Wellness (B3) YMCA of Greater Birmingham (A3)
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2014 • A5
City Mayor’s Minute Dear friends and neighbors, With the help of some wonderful ladies in Homewood and across the State of Alabama, I have proclaimed September as GYN/Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month for the City of Homewood. I have recently been informed of many statistics concerning this particular type cancer and wanted to take the opportunity to bring awareness to everyone in our city. Cheryl Bourn, a Homewood resident and a cancer survivor, has been wonderful to work with, and I appreciate her dedication to this very worthy cause. To help ensure awareness, I have ordered City Hall and our Parks and Recreation building to be turned a teal color using gels that will be placed over the lighting in front of the buildings. I would also encourage any businesses to do this, as well. By now, everyone is very familiar with October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month when everything turns pink. But the teal color is relatively new with 2014 being only its third year, so I wanted you to be aware of why some buildings were teal. There is a wonderful website, astateofteal.org, that provides some information about this topic. There are many other websites offering information about GYN/ ovarian cancer, and I would encourage you to get as much information as possible. Alabama is one of two states with the highest rates of death from ovarian and cervical cancer. Pap smears can detect cervical cancer early, but there is no early detection test for ovarian cancer. It is usually found in stage 3C and has a high mortality rate according to astateofteal. org. Groundbreaking research is taking place in Alabama, but women need to know the signs and symptoms of GYN cancers. Please take a few minutes to visit some websites to educate yourself and others. You ladies are worth it, and we need you in Homewood! I really don’t have a good segue from GYN/ ovarian cancer to other city business, but I will try. We are continuing to work on the budget
for 2014-15 and expect to have one passed by the first week or so of October. The council will be working hard to review my budget, and I appreciate them so much for their input into this process. We also continue to work on improving the area of Short Saulter and Carr Avenue as well as Valley Avenue and West Valley Avenue. Discussions also continue to take place regarding improvements for our neighbors in West Homewood. Homewood continues to prosper, and we have been very blessed. If you get a chance, look at the August issue of Southwest Airlines’ Spirit Magazine featuring a wonderful article about Homewood and our amenities for travelers. You will be proud of Homewood! Sincerely,
Scott McBrayer Mayor City of Homewood
Valley Avenue to lose a lane By SYDNEY CROMWELL In response to resident complaints about speeding on Valley Avenue, the city council has approved a plan to make Valley Avenue a three-lane road. At a July 21 Public Safety Committee meeting, committee members discussed the problems posed by drivers exceeding the 35 mph limit. Speeding poses a safety hazard for residents who have to park close to the street, as well as children walking to and from Homewood Middle School. In response, the committee asked Police Chief Jim Roberson to increase targeted enforcement on Valley Avenue.
Skipper Consulting was also asked to perform a traffic study on Valley Avenue and West Valley Avenue as part of the city’s Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP) resurfacing project. Skipper’s recommendation was to turn Valley Avenue into a three-lane road, with one lane going in each direction and a turn lane in the middle. Ward 2 Representative Britt Thames said this plan should decrease vehicle speeds in the area. The city council approved this plan at its Aug. 12 meeting. Targeted enforcement will continue on Valley Avenue until the improvements have been made.
Homewood Police to host canine trials If you stop by West Homewood Park Sept. 15-17, you will see more dogs than you might normally. Homewood Police Department is hosting police canine trials that provide certification required annually for dogs to work with departments. Around 20 dogs from Alabama, southern Tennessee and west Georgia will be participating. As a part of the trials, judges will test dogs’
obedience, agility and other traits. The canines must complete a series of eight obstacles, a search for small artciels such as keys and credit cards, a suspect search and criminal apprehension. On the final day they will search vehicles and buildings for bombs and narcotics. All events begin at 8:30 a.m., and Canine Officer Keith Smith, who works with dog Shiloh, said the public is welcome to watch.
The Homewood Star
A6 • September 2014
Teal transformation coming to raise cancer awareness
Teen marijuana use forum coming in October Talking to children about the dangers of marijuana use has never been more difficult, according to the Safe & Healthy Homewood Coalition, so the organization is planning a forum to discuss the issue. On Oct. 28, Dr. Kevin A. Sabet will speak from 6 to 8 p.m. at Homewood High School. The event is being held in conjunction with Bradford Health Services and the Addiction Prevention Coalition. Sabet has more than 18 years of experience working on drug policy and is the director of the Drug Policy Institute at
the University of Florida and an assistant professor in the College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. He is the co-founder of Project SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana). Sabet is a regular contributor to opinion-editorial pages worldwide, including the Washington Post, Huffington Post, New York Times, Vancouver Sun, San Francisco Chronicle, Seattle Times, CNN and CNBC. Seating is limited for the event, so parents are asked to register early at http:// goo.gl/ajc6kl.
Traffic solutions under discussion for Carr Avenue Mary Hawkins, Cheryl Bourn, Mayor Scott McBrayer and Kelly Rice read a proclamation stating that September is Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month in Homewood. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
By MADOLINE MARKHAM Homewood is going teal this month. The spire of Homewood City Hall and the right side of the new community center will be lit in the color to raise awareness about gynecological cancer. Mayor Scott McBrayer declared September as Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month in Homewood at an Aug. 11 city council meeting. Homewood resident and nine-year ovarian cancer survivor Cheryl Bourn addressed the council about the importance of preventing and detecting the cancer at the meeting, a message that she will also share at a State of Teal ceremony on
Sept. 2 at Regions Field. “It is our hope that citizens in Homewood will be curious why such a proclamation is needed,” Bourn said. “Alabama is one of two states with the highest rates of death from ovarian and cervical cancer, and increased awareness may result in earlier diagnosis and lower death rates.” Bourn explained that there is no early screen test for ovarian cancer and Pap smears do not detect it, so it’s important for women to be aware of the signs and symptoms of the cancer. She also noted that HPV vaccinations for younger women can help prevent HPV infections that can lead to cervical cancer in the future.
By SYDNEY CROMWELL The city council is considering improvements to Carr Avenue and Broadway Street that could provide sidewalks, more parking and hopefully, less congestion. Mayor Scott McBrayer originally asked the council to look into traffic solutions because cars parked in the street make it impossible for fire engines from Station 2 to drive down Carr Avenue when responding to calls. The cars also limit visibility and slow down regular traffic. “If you turn off Carr onto Broadway, especially if you’re turning left, you’re just about taking your life in your hands,” McBrayer said at a July 21 public safety committee meeting. McBrayer’s suggestion was to restrict
parking on the sides of Carr Avenue and create 27 parallel parking spots on Short Saulter Road. Additionally, he wanted to add sidewalks and decorative lights to make the area more like a business district. At its Aug. 4 meeting, the finance committee approved $31,000 for parking space striping, sidewalks on Carr Avenue, six decorative lights, landscaping, decorative trashcans, crosswalks and three traffic islands to slow down drivers. Curbs on Carr Avenue would also be painted yellow to signify no-parking zones. The first reading of this proposal was presented to the city council at its Aug. 11 meeting. It required unanimous consent to be approved, but Ward 2 Representative Vance Moody voted against it. For updates, visit thehomewoodstar.com.
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2014 • A7
Meet new Ward 4 Representative
Barry Wise Smith
By SYDNEY CROMWELL Barry Wise Smith was appointed the Ward 4 Place 1 city council representative on Aug. 11, taking the place of Jenifer Champ Wallis. Smith is an 18-year resident of Homewood, the director of the nursery and parents’ day out program at Trinity United Methodist Church, and a freelance writer and editor. She is currently a member of the Homewood City Schools Foundation and delivers Meals on Wheels in the city. Smith has two children and has previously served on the Edgewood Elementary PTO. Smith took her oath of office and began serving at the Aug. 25 city council meeting. You can contact her at 871-3844 or barryandkyle1@charter.net.
Q A
What do you like about Homewood?
Q A
Why did you decide to apply for the Ward 4 city council seat?
Just the community. I have so many wonderful neighbors and friends who participate in my children’s lives. When I go places – to the grocery store or to restaurants at night – I know people, people know me and they know my kids. That quiet, smalltown feel is what I love the most.
Actually, I had considered running for the spot two years back. I found out that Heather Reid was going to be running and she is a dear friend, and I decided that I’d be best served and the city would be best served if I threw my support behind her. When it came about that Jenifer [Champ Wallis] was going to resign her seat, I started having discussions with people, and I talked it over with my family and felt like maybe this was the way it’s supposed to happen. With my children older now, it’s a little easier to take time away from them and to do things that I’m interested in. So I felt that this was a good opportunity for me.
I love Homewood and I love working hard and doing things that are going to help Homewood, so it kind of seemed like the timing was all right and the stars were aligned.
Q
How did you feel when you were appointed?
A
It was a little surreal frankly because Heather called me to tell me that they had voted and I had been selected, and I was sitting on the floor, balancing my checkbook and talking to my 11 year old. I’m really excited, and I’m ready to get started. I’m excited about learning because I know there’s a lot I’m going to have to learn, but I think I’ve got great people to help me.
Q
What are your goals for your time on the council?
A
I would really like to do something that makes an impact. Jenifer Champ Wallis did an amazing job of reviving what had fallen by the wayside, which was the Homewood Arts Council. She really made an effort to bring that back. I’d really love to take that on and hopefully be able to fill her very large footsteps and continue to build that back up. I’m really very passionate about environmental issues, so I’d like to be involved in that and just try to make decisions that lead Homewood in the good direction it’s already going.
Q A
What would you like to say to your Ward 4 constituents?
I just want them to know that I’m going to be open and available whenever they need me. I’m looking forward to representing them well and hoping that the next couple of years in this position will lead to more in the future, because I’m really excited about what we can do for the city of Homewood.
The Homewood Star
A8 • September 2014
Orange-iced
goodness Growing family business got its start in Homewood, in more ways than one
By MADOLINE MARKHAM It started with a simple Hollywood Garden Club meeting. On Millie Ray’s turn to bring refreshments, the young mom picked up a recipe she had for orange rolls. Using orange zest for the filling and icing, she baked them in muffin tins and added a few twists of her own. She’ll admit she does have a tendency to try new recipes for guests, after all. The rolls met rave reviews at the meeting, and Millie walked out with her first order for more. That was 1979. As her sons were growing up, Millie sold real estate, but at Christmas time, she was in the orange roll business. Sons Ryan and Ben, who attended Shades Cahaba Elementary, remember their house being filled with towel-covered trays of rolls their mom had set out to rise during the holidays. Decades later, Millie makes the recipe the same way, only now it reaches far beyond Homewood. In 2008, her sons, who were then
running a Zoe’s Kitchen in Atlanta, had the idea to turn her popular rolls into a larger-scale business — called Millie Ray’s, of course. The Rays started off visiting 10 mom-and-pop stores in the Atlanta area with sample cases of orange rolls along with cinnamon rolls and yeast rolls — all made with the signature yeast dough. Within two weeks, most of those stores were placing orders, and six years later, they still receive a regular supply of the frozen rolls along with at least 200 other retailers in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, the Florida Panhandle, Mississippi and Louisiana. Some of the initial success of Millie Ray’s rolls came just down the street from where they originated. The Homewood Piggly Wiggly was the first grocery store to carry the rolls. When Urban Cookhouse owners David and Andrea Snyder, friends of the Rays, were taste-testing recipes before opening their first restaurant, they sampled Millie Ray’s orange rolls and decided they wanted them on their menu.
Ryan, Ben Jr., Millie and Ben Ray III all work together to bake and ship Millie Ray’s rolls. Photo courtesy of Millie Ray’s.
In the early days, Ryan would deliver the orange rolls in a cooler in the back of his truck. Today, Urban Cookhouse serves around 9,000 of Millie Ray’s orange rolls at its three locations and is the only restaurant to call them by their full name on the menu. Millie finds that often at grocery store tastings, people say her rolls taste like the orange rolls from Urban Cookhouse — only to learn that they are one and the same. Or, if they are already familiar with the brand, they want to know if she is really Millie Ray. Birmingham-based food distributor Wood Fruitticher would later take over Ryan’s delivery role, allowing him
to focus on operations and finances for the business. Now he spends his days working alongside his parents and Ben, now an Edgewood resident who oversees sales and marketing for Millie Ray’s. If Millie isn’t out holding roll demonstrations in grocery stores, she is helping at their production facility from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. “Working as a family is one of the hardest, and most rewarding, things you can do,” Ryan said. As of the past year, Millie Ray’s rolls are sold in 120 Winn-Dixie stores, and the orange roll is in 300 HoneyBaked Ham stores. Their daily production is now up to 14,000 orange and cinnamon rolls and 5,000
yeast rolls a day, and they are currently looking at real estate for a new production facility. Next up, they want to get the rolls in Publix and Food City stores. That might not be surprising, given how people have confessed to Millie their addiction to the rolls over the years. One man said he had eaten a whole pan of 12 sweet rolls. Others share photos of their rolls eaten warm with ice cream or claim they find security in having trays of rolls in the freezer — many of them in the streets surrounding the home where the now-famous orange rolls were born. To learn more, visit millierays. com.
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2014 • A9
Business Spotlight
Homewood Toy and Hobby
Read past Business Spotlights at TheHomewoodStar.com
28th Ave S
31 r Rd
oo Oxm
By SYDNEY CROMWELL Tricia McCain’s family has always owned a business on 18th Street South. It started in 1950 with her grandparents’ shop selling bicycles and lawn mowers. Over the next two generations, the family business changed locations and developed into Homewood Toy & Hobby with its well-known carnival tent exterior. McCain took over ownership from her father two years ago, but said she has been working in the shop “since I could reach the cash register.” She has grown up alongside her customers, many of whom now buy toys for their children in the same place their own parents shopped for them. Homewood Toy & Hobby is all about a fun and casual atmosphere. Plastic palm trees reach to the ceiling and model planes hang suspended over the aisles. The store carries toys for every age, including stuffed animals, figurines, Legos, dolls, games and educational toys. The hobby section includes electric trains, drones and remote control cars and planes for customers to build and drive. Manager Julie Marix referred to the hobby area as the “big boy toy section.” Marix herself has been part of the
Manager Julie Marix and employee Kirsten Smith ride PlasmaCars around the store. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Homewood Toy & Hobby family for 18 years. She said there are few difficult parts to the job except the Christmas rush, and she loves working in retail.
2830 18th St South 879-3986 homewoodtoy-hobby.com Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
“I just kind of stuck around and I really liked it,” Marix said. Since the shop is considered a specialty toy store, it does not carry the same brands as chain stores. Marix
goes to toy shows across the country each year to find new and interesting products for the store. After so many years in business, McCain and Marix both have
considerable knowledge about toys, and their customers frequently rely on them for purchasing advice. Marix also said the hobby staff are “real pros” when it comes to planes, trains and cars. Homewood Toy & Hobby is also invested in the community it has served for more than half a decade. Marix said the store regularly donates to schools, churches and children’s organizations. The shop also participates in the annual Sidewalk Sale and has “great neighbors” on its street. Just as McCain grew up in her father’s store, her 8-year-old son Tripp is a frequent fixture in Homewood Toy & Hobby. He hangs out sometimes in the summer or after school and recently went with them to a toy show. Marix said Tripp isn’t shy and is turning into a brilliant young salesman. “He’s actually pretty good with customers because he knows exactly what he likes,” Marix said. For Tripp and the adults who run Homewood Toy & Hobby, there’s something undeniably fun about the work they do. “You can’t really complain about working in a toy store every day,” Marix said.
The Homewood Star
A10 • September 2014 11
18 Street S.
Homewood Happenings
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Wayne Salem, Owner
2913 18th Street S. www.salemsdiner.com Monday - Friday: 6:30 am - 2:00 pm Saturday: 6:30 am - 3:00 pm
HOME OF THE PHILLY CHEESESTEAK
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2014 • A11
Now Open
874-8680. thecrittendenfirm.com.
Fab’rik, a women’s boutique, is now open at 1817-B 29th Ave. S. 582-9447. fabrikstyle.com.
News and Accomplishments
1
JJ Eyes, 2814 18th St. S., is now open. The optical boutique will offer complete eye exams, contact lens fittings and several lines of high-end frames. This is JJ Lamb’s second location, the other being in Fairhope. 703-8596. jjeyesoptical.com.
2
Orthotic Solutions is now open at 2700 Rogers Drive, Suite 102. The business creates specialized orthotic inserts for shoes on site and by hand based on a mold of the patient’s foot. 591-8877. alabamaorthotics.com.
3
ReVamp Health and Fitness is now open at 1818 28th Ave. S., Suite F. The business focuses on women meeting goals in weight loss and fitness and offers one-on-one personal training, boot camp training, boxing, hip-hop fitness classes, detox programs and meal planning. 568-1060. revamphealth.com.
4
Coming Soon Salad Chick, an Auburn5 Chicken based restaurant, has announced that its second Birmingham-area location will open in SoHo at 1830 29th Ave. S. chickensaladchick.com. Pet retail store and self-serve dog wash The Whole Dog Market will open soon at 2937 18th St. in the former A Touch of Whimsy location. thewholedogmarket.com.
6
Relocations and Renovations At Home Furnishings, 2921 18th St. S., recently acquired its neighboring retail space, adding 4,500 square feet. The new space is being renovated to accommodate a new design center and a place for in-home design services. 879-3510. athome-furnishings.com.
7
The Crittenden Firm is relocating to 1 Independence Drive, Suite 305, on Sept. 2 from its former location at 813 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 210. The law firm specializes in matrimonial and family law. The name of the firm has also changed to Crittenden Partners.
8
Birmingham Gastroenterology Associates, 1 Independence Plaza, has opened two new satellite offices at Princeton Baptist Medical Center and Baptist Health Center Hoover. 271-8000. bgapc.com.
9
What’s 4 Supper, 2900 Crescent Ave., recently joined Trade Partners Exchange, a member-owned network of businesses that trade goods and services without the need for cash. 868-0888. whats4supperbirmingham.com.
10
Hirings and Promotions Shelley Wood has been hired as general manager of Regus, 2100 Southbridge Parkway, Suite 650. Regus leases offices and meeting spaces for businesses of any size. 414-7000. regus.com.
11
CM Foodservice, owner of Michael’s, PT’s and several other restaurants, has hired Connie Kanakis as its business development manager. Kanakis was a partner in the original Michael’s downtown. 871-9525. michaelstheoriginal.com.
12
Anniversaries Sonology Hearing Aid Clinic celebrated the first anniversary of its retail hearing aid store supervised by ear, nose and throat physicians and audiologists in June. It is located next door to McCool & Bhuta Ear Nose and Throat Specialists at 3055 Independence Drive. Both are run by ENT physicians Tarika Bhuta and Brian McCool, spouses. 414-1368. entbirmingham.com.
13
The Bell Center for Early Intervention Programs, 1700 29th Court South, celebrated its 30th anniversary in August. 879-3417. thebellcenter.org.
IN HONOR OF OUR VETERANS
14
Edgewood Cycles, 932 Oxmoor Road, celebrated its second anniversary in August. 783-1355. edgewoodcycles.com.
15
Business news
to share? Now Open Coming Soon
Relocation Expansion Anniversary
If you are in a brick and mortar business in Homewood and want to share your event with the community, let us know.
The Homewood Star Email dan@thehomewoodstar.com
Because we treasure our freedom and owe a debt of gratitude to those who have secured our liberties, RealtySouth is extending FREE Pre-License classes to all Veterans interested in becoming a Real Estate Agent. If you know of a Veteran who would be interested, please share this opportunity.
Call 205.325.1397 for more information.
The Homewood Star
A12 • September 2014
Restaurant Showcase
Read past Restaurant Showcases at TheHomewoodStar.com
Rosedale Dr
28 Ave S th
18 Street S.
Dave’s Pizza
280
31
By MADOLINE MARKHAM The original Dave’s pizza was… a cinnamon roll. The operation started as a bakery in an Oxmoor Circle warehouse. Dave Morrison didn’t realize his ovens were pizza ovens until a distributor asked if they had baked up the Italian favorite in them. Dave decided to give it a try, bought pizza ingredients at Bruno’s and served the pie to the HVAC company next door. The next day the company asked for another, and soon marinara and cheese had replaced muffins and rolls. In 1993, the pizza pickup and delivery business moved to the old Homewood Taxi building in downtown Homewood, across from the former Huffstutler’s Hardware. There they built an open-air dining room on top of a parking lot and opened for business. Morrison’s son Brett, then a high school junior, painted the black and white checkers on the walls and worked with his dad to assemble the kitschy glass chandeliers that hang from the ceiling. Together they raised I-beams, installed ceiling fans and planted trees in the courtyard over the years, as Brett cultivated what would become the iPod playlists that now play in the restaurant. Today, Brett is the general manager and still eating two slices of Dave’s Meat Lovers pizza a day. “I can’t believe I haven’t had a heart attack, but my doctor says my cholesterol is okay,” he
Dave’s Pizza general manager Brett Morrison, pictured with manager Imagine Boney and the top-selling Renaissance Pizza, has been with the restaurant since it opened 21 years ago. Photo by Madoline Markham.
said. Another “regular” around Dave’s is Elvis. Years ago, photographer Britt Huckaby stole a painting of the King of Rock and Roll from Dave’s bathroom and toured around the world with it. Every once in a while, a new photo of the painting posing a landmark would arrive back in Homewood. Today the picture has returned to Dave’s wall and sits on display along with marks of its journey in photos.
Dave’s makes its marinara sauce and dough each day, slices its own vegetables and smokes its own tenderloin. That makes for pizza that is completely preservative free, Brett said. “Its shelf life is 15-20 minutes,” he said. “Past that, I’m not a huge fan of it the next morning.” The Tuscany is among the most popular classics, topping marinara with onion, spinach, roma tomatoes, mushrooms, chopped bacon and feta cheese. They also sell a lot of the Renaissance,
1819 29th Ave. S. 871-3283 Monday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. davesontheweb.com
which adds onion, zucchini, artichoke hearts, roasted red pepper, feta and sundried tomato to a pesto base. Every year Brett’s team looks at the menu and come up with new ideas “to keep up with changing taste buds.” Recently they have added the Hot Chick, which tops Frank’s Hot Sauce, grilled chicken and chunks of blue cheese on a white crust, and the Classic Margarita, a thin crust drizzled with olive oil and finished with garlic, roma tomatoes, cheese and fresh basil. On Tuesday nights, UAB’s eight-piece jazz band provides a set of tunes to go with customer’s pizza and beer, and classically trained guitarist Grover Sheffield takes the stage on Wednesdays. Twenty-one years into the journey, Brett said the key to Dave’s longevity is people. He rattles off name after name — a longtime server, the original delivery driver who is now his best friend and countless others who have become a part of Dave’s over the years. He is sure to list regulars-turned-friends like the Champignys, Ragsdales, Dimmits and McClains who come in at least weekly and use the space to host family events. From the restaurant, Brett has seen babies who are now old enough to vote, witnessed least three marriage proposals and countless first dates, and watched the construction of SoHo and Hallman Hill. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have the community support,” he said. “And I hope to be here another 21 years.”
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2014 • A13
Chamber
Preview of
September Luncheon
Mary Helmer of Main Street Alabama addresses the Homewood Chamber of Commerce at The Club on Aug. 19. Photo by Madoline Markham.
August luncheon recap Sponsor: Eskridge & White Motion Therapy Special guest: One of the Homewood Police Department’s canines was introduced, and department representatives reported on upcoming canine trials at West Homewood Park Sept. 14-17 and encouraged businesses and residents to attend the Homewood Police Foundation Lunche at The Club on Sept. 24. Speaker: Mary Helmer, State Coordinator, Main Street Alabama What she shared: A lifelong Kansas resident, Helmer moved to Alabama last year excited to take on a new challenge in Alabama. After relaunching
the economic development arm of Main Street Alabama, she now works with cities to help downtown areas build on the authentic of who they are, grow existing businesses and bring in new ones. The organization’s revitalization approach includes organizing those involved, promoting the image and promise of the area, and enhancing signage, landscaping and other design aspects of the area. In the Kansas city where she worked, they decreased downtown vacancy from 64 percent to 7 percent, and she hopes to bring similar change to the 13 cities in the state where Main Street is involved now as well as more in the future.
The tournament provides players with networking opportunities.
Homewood Chamber hosts 12th annual Golf Classic On Oct. 9, the Homewood Chamber will be taking over the Valley course at Robert Trent Jones Oxmoor Valley. For more than a decade, the tournament has raised thousands of dollars in scholarships for Homewood High School students, supported many community events and provided Homewood businesses the opportunity to spend an afternoon together. All participations levels will be accepted. Participants will have the opportunity to play as an individual or on a four-person team. Sponsorship opportunities are available. The format will be a
four-person scramble with a shotgun start at noon. Registration will begin at 10:30 a.m., and the putting contest will begin at 11:30 a.m. Registration includes range ball, craft and green fee, a goody bag, a chance to will a new car from Limbaugh Toyota with a hole in one and other door prizes. There will be an awards ceremony with a barbecue dinner after the tournament. Brookwood Medical Center and Hoar Construction are sponsoring the event. Email director@homewoodchamber.org or call 871-5631 for more information. -Submitted by Homewood Chamber of Commerce
Jeff Underwood Jeff Underwood will speak at the Sept. 16 chamber luncheon at The Club. Lakeshore Foundation, where Underwood has served as president since 1991, serves over 4,000 people with disability annually through its community-based programs, its role as an official USOC training site for Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and its national programs for severely injured military personnel. Lakeshore’s work also includes research and policy. Underwood has served on the board of organizations including the Homewood City School Board, the Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Program and the national Board of Disabled Sports USA. He was recently named a member of the USOC-appointed Paralympic Advisory Council and in 2008 was named by the United States Olympic Committee as the Chef de Mission for the U.S. Paralympic Team for the Beijing Paralympic Games.
The Homewood Star
A14 • September 2014
Community Annual Patriot Day Ceremony to be held in Vestavia
Bargain costume sale coming to Children’s Dance Foundation The Bargain Costume Closet will return for its ninth year at Children’s Dance Foundation on Sunday, Sept. 7 from 2-4 p.m. The sale will feature donated costumes and dance wear for Halloween, dress up or dance classes. Funds from the sale will benefit CDF’s programs. CDF will accept donated dance wear, recital or Halloween costumes, dance shoes, dress-up clothes, accessories and shoes in gently-used, clean condition. Donations will be accepted at CDF, 1715 27th Court South. Those who donate will receive an early shopper pass, which will allow admittance to the sale at 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit childrensdancefoundation.org. -Submitted by Shellie Chambers
Shoppers hunt for costumes, dance wear and other dress-up clothing and accessories at CDF’s Bargain Costume Hunt. Photo courtesy of Shellie Chambers.
Concert series returns to Brookwood Fire fighters participate in last year’s Patriot Day ceremony at the Mountain Brook Municipal Complex. Photo by Jeff Thompson.
Thirteen years after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, reminders stand across the country. This month, residents will gather to honor both local and national heroes. The cities of Mountain Brook, Homewood and Vestavia Hills are joining together to host a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony and Patriot’s Day Celebration on Thursday, Sept. 11. This year’s ceremony will be held at the Vestavia City Center and will begin at 8:45 a.m. The event is hosted by the Vestavia Hills Fire Department.
“This is a day to remember,” Vestavia Hills Mayor Butch Zaragoza said. “We will never forget this day.” During last year’s ceremony, Vestavia Hills and Homewood joined with the City of Mountain Brook in dedicating a beam from the World Trade Center as a memorial. Erected outside the Mountain Brook City Complex, the steel stands in the shape of the Twin Towers to solidify the memory of that tragedy and the thousands who lost their lives as a result.
Colonial Brookwood Village will host its Brookwood Live concert series on Thursday nights this month. Each will run from 5-9 p.m. The concerts will be held on Brookwood Lane next to Brio and Cocina Superior. Traffic will be blocked off between the parking decks in this area from 1 to 10 p.m. for the events.
The band lineup is: êêSept. 4: Patton James and the Synchromatics êêSept. 11: The Connection Band êêSept. 18: Nationwide Coverage êêSept. 25: Nashville Blue Tones For more, visit shopbrookwoodvillage.com.
Birmingham Boys Choir to perform collaborative concert The 70 concert choristers of the Birmingham Boys Choir will welcome the Mexican dance troupe Balletico Folklorico Corazon Azteca to the stage in the opening concert of the second annual Collaborative Concert series. The program will feature classical and traditional music and dances from both organizations.
The concert will take place Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. at Samford University’s Brock Recital Hall. Admission is $10. You can purchase tickets at the door or by calling the Birmingham Boys Choir Office at 767-9319. Seating is limited. -Submitted by Mary Rooney
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2014 • A15
Time to run Upcoming races around Homewood
Money C Monkey Run
Runners wait at the starting line at last year’s Monkey C Monkey Run. Photo courtesy of Camp Smile-A-Mile.
Saturday, Sept. 13 Benefits Camp Smile-A-Mile Monkeys will be on the run on Saturday, Sept. 13. That morning Camp Smile-A-Mile is holding the Monkey C Monkey Run 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run at Homewood Central Park to benefit its programs for children with cancer. Camp Smile-A-Mile’s mission is to provide year-round challenging, unforgettable recreational and educational experiences for young cancer patients, their families and young adult survivors from Alabama at no cost.
Registration is $30 for the 5K and $20 for the Fun Run after Aug. 31. Packet pickup and late registration will be at Trak Shak in Homewood Sept. 11 and 12, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. The 5K will start at 8 a.m., and day-of registration will be open at the park from 6:30-7:45 a.m. The Fun Run starts at 9 a.m., and awards will be given at 10 a.m. Participants are encouraged to join in awards, entertainment and refreshments at Homewood Central Park following the race. To register online, visit campsam.org or runsignup.com.
Magic City Mile
Magic City Mile is open to runners, and riders, of all ages. Photo courtesy of The Bell Center.
Sunday, Oct. 5 Benefits The Bell Center Run through our favorite part of the Magic City — downtown Homewood — in the Fourth Annual Magic City Mile on Sunday, Oct. 5. The event is from 2-4 p.m., and registration starts at 1:30 p.m. All proceeds from the run go to The Bell Center, which is located in downtown Homewood. The center offers early intervention
services to children from birth to three years old who are at risk for delay, and it also provides support to parents. The post-race party, The Bell Center Festival, will feature live music by Festival Expressions, a climbing wall for kids by Idlewild, face painting and pumpkin decorating. Registration is $10 per person, with a $30 family maximum. To register, contact The Bell Center at 879-3417 or visit imathlete.com/ events/mcm2014.
The Homewood Star
A16 • September 2014
Don’t miss these upcoming By SYDNEY CROMWELL
events Lil’ Lambs Consignment Sale Sept. 5 • 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 6 • 9 a.m.-noon Trinity United Methodist Church 1400 Oxmoor Road
Shoppers and their children hunt for good deals at Trinity’s Lil’ Lambs Consignment Sale. Photo courtesy of Trinity United Methodist Church.
Trinity UMC is gearing up for its annual fall consignment sale. The two-day Lil’ Lambs sale in the church gym will include a variety of products for children and infants, including clothes, furniture, accessories, toys, books and strollers. Many items will be half price on Saturday. This 15-year tradition at Trinity is a chance for residents to snag a great deal while also benefiting their community. Sellers at Lil’ Lambs keep 70 percent of the money they earn, but the remaining 30 percent goes toward Trinity’s Children’s Ministry and both local and international charities. Director of Communication Haley Smith said this year’s
profits will go to the Isheanesu Project in Africa, vacation Bible school programs and buying “special things” for children’s ministries that the church could not normally afford. The church also supports other local children’s charities throughout the year. Smith said the fall and spring sales each require about 100 volunteers to operate. The sale is popular in Homewood because parents can easily find seasonal clothes at good prices. Smith herself was a Lil’ Lambs shopper when her children were young, and she has met people who drive from Jasper and beyond to shop for their kids. “People have told us where they’re from, and it just surprises us that they would drive all the way to Homewood,” Smith said. To learn more about the Lil’ Lambs sale, visit trinitybirmingham.com.
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September 2014 • A17
Exceptional Foundation Dinnertainment Sept. 12 • 6:30 p.m. Exceptional Foundation 1616 Oxmoor Road The Exceptional Foundation is making a change to one of its annual fundraisers. The art show has been a tradition for 10 years, but this year the foundation is trying out something completely new: “Dinnertainment.” “It’s kind of a unique dinner party that we are hosting,” Event Coordinator Margaret Cochran said. Donors will have a sit-down dinner and
experience a “day in the life” of the entertainment and activities the foundation provides for individuals with special needs. Some of the foundation’s 480 participants will perform skits, songs and dances during the meal, which will be followed by a small silent auction of participants’ artwork and other prizes. “We just thought we’d change things up a little bit and offer something new to our donors,” Cochran said. Tickets will be $150, and seating for the dinner is limited. To learn more, visit exceptionalfoundation.org.
Merril Ward, left, and Seth Bokatzian practice for their performance at the Exceptional Foundation’s “Dinnertainment.” Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Homewood Night Out Oct. 7 • 6-9 p.m. Dawson Family of Faith 1114 Oxmoor Road Learn how to better protect your family and home while also having a good time at Homewood’s annual Night Out. The event will feature representatives from local banks and alarm companies to talk about protecting identity and valuables, as well as members of the city fire department, tactical team and the FBI. The police department’s detectives and patrol officers will also be on hand to answer questions and teach residents how to avoid being a target for criminals. “It becomes a focal point for discussion
between citizens and the police,” said Deputy Chief Bob Copus. There will also be a DJ, games and inflatables for children and free pizza, hot dogs and hamburgers. McGruff the Crime Dog will make an appearance, and parents can pick up identification kits to preserve their children’s fingerprints and DNA. Homewood Night Out will be sponsored by Target and is part of a nationwide series of Night Out events. These events are typically held in August, but the police department decided to wait until October so people would not be deterred by the summer heat. Everyone from young children to senior citizens will find fun and education at the Night Out. For more, contact the Homewood Police Department at 332-6204.
A member of the Tactical Unit talks to Homewood residents during the 2013 Homewood Night Out. Photo courtesy of Homewood Police Department.
The Homewood Star
A18 • September 2014
AfterTunes concert series return to Vulcan
Dog park to open at Red Mountain Dogs in Homewood will have a new place to play come Sept. 6. Red Mountain Park’s new off-leash dog park, Remy’s Dog Park, is set to open its 6 acres of green space that day. The park will features three designated areas to accommodate large dogs, small dogs and special needs dogs (elderly, shy, injured or recovering). The space is open air and features shaded areas for running and fetching. Once open, it will be the largest of its kind in Alabama. Philanthropist Ken Jackson provided the funding and worked with volunteers, organizations and local businesses to clear
and prepare the space during eight workdays. The park is named after his late Jack Russell/Shih Tzu mix, Remy. “This is the most gratifying – and fun – endeavor I’ve been involved with since establishing the Remy Fund for Pets and Animal Services at the Community Foundation in 2010,” Jackson said. The park, which is located 3 miles west of I-65 at 2011 Frankfurt Drive, will officially open at 9 a.m. on Sept. 6, and a ribbon cutting will be held at 11 a.m. that day. For more visit redmountainpark.org. -Submitted by Red Mountain Park
‘gods in Alabama’ author coming to library event
Will Hoge performs at Vulcan AfterTunes. Photo courtesy of Vulcan Park and Museum.
Vulcan Park and Museum will kick of its tenth year of Vulcan AfterTunes on Sept. 28 with a performance by The Revivalists, an indie rock group from New Orleans. The performance is the first of a three-part series of music at the park on select Sundays in September and October. Following the Sept. 28 concert, Dumpstaphunk will perform on Oct. 12, and Milo Greene will perform on Oct. 26. Each concert will take place at 3 p.m.
Admission is $15 for adults, $8 for Vulcan Members, $8 for children 5-12, and free for children of members and ages 4 and younger. Ticket price includes live music and admissions to Vulcan’s Observation Tower and Museum. Light snacks, beer, wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase. No pets or outside alcohol allowed. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit visitvulcan.com/vulcanaftertunes.
Joshilyn Jackson
The Friends of the Homewood Public Library will welcome bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson to Rosewood Hall on Sept. 19. Jackson has written six novels, including gods in Alabama, A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty and her newest, Someone Else’s Love Story. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with light refreshments, and a book signing will follow. Advance tickets are required and can be purchased for $25 in the Homewood Public Library Adult Services Department or by calling 3326625. Visa, MasterCard, cash and checks are accepted. All proceeds go to the Friends of the Homewood Public Library, a non-profit organization benefiting the Homewood Public Library.
TheHomewoodStar.com MOUSSA
CONTINUED from page A1 immediately moved. “She said, ‘We can help.’ That’s sort of the good thing about Homewood,” Schier said. “[She didn’t say,] ‘I know somebody’ or ‘go to this website’ or ‘call this person.’ She said, ‘We can help.’” With help from her and other area friends, 8-year-old Moussa flew to Birmingham in 2010 and received surgery for his eye, a leg brace and physical therapy. He also attended Shades Cahaba Elementary, marking the first time he had received formal education. A few months later, however, Moussa had to return to his life in Senegal. Bringing Moussa back In August 2013, Schier had another shot at giving Moussa a better life. A disability grounded Schier from his job as a pilot for a while, so he decided to temporarily leave Pennsylvania and bring Moussa back to Homewood. Under Schier’s care and special education classes at Shades Cahaba, Moussa has flourished. “Homewood has been very, very good to him,” Schier said. “There’s no other place in America, I’m convinced, that can do and has done what Homewood and Birmingham has done.” Moussa’s comprehension of English has improved remarkably, though he still has some difficulty speaking his new language. He loves watching The Three Stooges and SpongeBob SquarePants to continue learning. Last year in fifth grade, Moussa’s favorite subject was math, and he made friends with many of his classmates. “He was really funny and everyone wanted to sit next to him, so he was always getting a lot of attention,” said Anna Claire Stone, who became friends with Moussa in Melissa Day’s fifth-grade class. Moussa attends Metropolitan Church of God in Hoover with Anna Claire’s family, and they hang out together in the neighborhood or at the Homewood Community Center pool. When asked what he likes about Homewood, Moussa
September 2014 • A19 said it was “friends and food and everything.” For the first time, he’s getting a chance to be a kid: playing video games, eating pizza and shooting hoops with his friends. “He really wants to [stay in Homewood] because he’s made a lot of friends and he’s fun to be around,” Anna Claire said. “I just want him to stay.” Fighting to stay Moussa’s future in Homewood is in jeopardy, however. His guardian in Senegal, the man who originally provided Moussa with meals at Schier’s request, is fighting to have Moussa return to his home. This entrenches Schier in a legal battle that threatens Moussa’s ability to get a permanent visa. If Moussa is forced to return to Senegal, Schier said it would be an extremely grave situation for a boy who still has significant medical and language issues. Schier has also run into challenges trying to find a permanent home for Moussa. While he will always be part of Moussa’s life, Schier said he will have to return to his home and job in Pennsylvania, and Moussa needs a family that can keep up with an energetic 12-year-old. Between the legal battle, medical expenses and trying to help Moussa adjust to life in the U.S., Schier admits he is exhausted and “hanging on by the tail.” He has spent about $50,000 on the boy’s care, plane tickets and legal fees since 2006. As he continues to search for Moussa’s adoptive home, Schier is also trying to raise $30,000 through Indiegogo so he can continue to provide a home and legal protection. Although he hates to “rattle the cup” among his friends, Schier hopes Moussa’s story will resonate with people who can help give the young boy an education, a stable home and a future that would have been unimaginable to that 4-year-old sitting by the street in Dakar. “How do you walk away?” Schier asked. “I’m fighting for him.”
Find out how to help Moussa on Indiegogo.com
DESIGN
CONTINUED from page A1
Mike Gibson plans to tear down this bungalow on Sutherland Place to build a new, more modern home for his family.
raise neighbors’ property value. Additionally, he pointed out that not every old house has historic value. The bungalow Gibson bought has a dangerous foundation, a roof in bad condition, no central air conditioning and inefficient windows. “These old houses in Homewood are absolutely not good for the environment,” Gibson said, pointing out the single pane windows, old plumbing and lack of insulation. Gibson added that the bungalow will not be entirely torn down. A renovated foundation and the current wood flooring, bathroom and two bedrooms will become part of his new home’s design. A friend had told Gibson about Pearson’s fliers, but he was not expecting nearly 30 people to show up to a Board of Zoning Adjustments (BZA) meeting in July to oppose his house. He was at the meeting to ask for a four-inch variance, a minor request that was turned down after his neighbors’ statements. The BZA does not have jurisdiction over the appearance of Homewood buildings, but Gibson believes his variance was denied solely because of reactions to the unconventional design. This was not the first time the BZA has seen public opposition to certain designs. BZA member Lauren Gwaltney said many residents
mistakenly believe the BZA or some other city committee can regulate building appearances. In response, the Planning and Development Committee has decided to reconsider a 2009 proposal for a design review board, which would regulate materials and designs for city buildings. The committee is still researching what such a board would entail and has received a wide range of opinions. Pearson and Broadway Street resident Sarah Walker said she fears the charm “is going to be stripped out” of the area. Emily Evans, a resident of Manhattan Street, proposed a historical board at the meeting because she felt a design review board would lead the city to become too uniform. Ward 3 Representative Walter Jones said if a board is created, its purpose would be to reduce city council time spent on BZA and design issues, not to make Homewood neighborhoods look exactly the same. As for Gibson, he has worked with design review boards before and would submit to the city’s guidelines if a board is created in Homewood. However, he felt that such a board would need to be made of diverse members, or else it would cause Homewood’s attractiveness and variety to decline. The planning committee has not set a date for its next discussion of the design board.
SECTION
The Homewood Star B
School House B7 Sports B10 Calendar B14
Ameer legend From Homewood Patriot to Heisman hopeful
By DAVID KNOX If you could put a finger on it, maybe it was that day in the weedy fields behind the Club Apartments off Valley Avenue. Maybe that was the day the legend began. This little kid — a third-grader, fourthgrader? — getting the ball for the first time in the pickup game of tackle football, darting, dashing, weaving, slashing his way through a gang of older kids, middle-schoolers and a couple of high-school kids, even, racing past them all into the makeshift end zone. Maybe that’s the day people noticed Ameer Abdullah was something special. Maybe that was the day the legend began. “Nobody expected me to do much,” Abdullah recalled. “I always wanted that challenge, to hold my own against older guys and better competition. I think that’s something my older
brother Kareem instilled in me. “And that pretty much holds true today.” Maybe it’s a product of the faith instilled by his parents. Maybe it was the constant encouragement from his older brother Kareem, who talked the older, bigger kids into letting his baby brother into the pickup game that day despite his youth and size. Maybe it was being the youngest of nine children and having to make a place for himself. But this little kid from Homewood, desperate to prove himself to those better-known athletes he encountered on that field and on other, better-manicured fields along the way, is now on the verge of becoming the greatest running back in University of Nebraska history. He is a Doak Walker Award candidate for the nation’s best running back, a Heisman Trophy candidate for the nation’s best football player, and a student-athlete so respected he was chosen to
See AMEER | page B4
The Homewood Star
B2 • September 2014
Summer Fun Photo Contest WINNERS
Sprinkler fun! Photo by Patty Green
Bill Grizzle visits the Great Wall in China.
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2014 • B3
Contest Runners Up
Davis Bird holds the starfish he found on the 4th of July in Orange Beach. Emmy and Carter Cabe braved a 2-day hike through flash floods to bring you this shot from Zion National Park. Photo by Greg Cabe
Paddle boarding on Logan Martin Lake. Photo by Trey Schaefer.
Airtime in Neillsville, Wis. Photo by Kari S. Powell.
Ava Elliott’s holds her catch. She had help reeling it in by brother Cole and cousin Thomas Gibbs. Photo by Michelle Elliott
Taylor Patterson diving off a rope swing at Lake Martin.
Noah (4) and Hart (2) Berkery check up on community news while water sliding at the Homewood Community Center Pool.
The Homewood Star
B4 • September 2014 AMEER
even with gaudy numbers, many bigtime college programs were more interested in measurable numbers than numbers on the field. What’s your height? … What’s your weight? … What’s your 40 time? And if you haven’t made some schools’ lists by the time you’re a sophomore, you might as well forget it.
CONTINUED from page B1 represent all the football players of the Big Ten as speaker at the conference’s kickoff luncheon. “I’ve had a lot of preseason honors and been on some award lists, but to be selected by the Big Ten committee to speak on behalf of the student-athlete football players of the Big Ten is a huge honor for me,” Abdullah said. “I think it says something about the way I’ve carried myself that they think highly enough for me to speak.” His speech was the stuff legends are made of. Well, he stuttered and stumbled from nerves more than he ever does on any given Saturday, but his message and sincerity scored again and again. He impressed the media and players present. Anyone who knew him at Homewood High wouldn’t have been surprised. As he said a week before his speech, his dream was always to get his college education paid for. And that was the cornerstone of the speech he gave. “Over one’s life, a college graduate earns up to $1 million more than someone with a high school diploma. That’s like saying you can win the lottery by just going to class and doing your work,” Abdullah said. Lest you think Abdullah was counting his NFL salary already and just giving lip service to the classwork, he told the players in attendance this: “If you are fortunate enough to play in the NFL, the average career is less than five years. So that means you have a lot of living to do after your playing days are over. Education is more than a degree … it’s a lifelong process.” ‘Very special kid’ From those fields behind the Club Apartments where he lived to the
Ameer Abdullah rushed for 1,800 yards and 24 touchdowns and added 33 catches for 515 yards as a senior at Homewood High. Photo courtesy of Homewood City Schools.
middle school field, people were starting to take notice. The man who would coach him in high school first saw him in middle school. “You could tell he was a very special kid,” said Dickey Wright. “But you were afraid he was a little too little to play running back. “But really what happened with Ameer is, he fell in love with the weight room. He became the kind of kid you’d just leave the keys with and say, ‘Turn out the lights when you leave.’”
Packing hard, lean muscle on his body gave him both the speed and power to compete at the next level, and this was a time when Homewood High was battling the biggest of the big boys of Class 6A — Hoover, Spain Park, Mountain Brook, Vestavia. No easy Friday nights. As his body grew and matured, so did the legend, at least locally. But Abdullah and his parents didn’t know much about college recruiting. Abdullah was drawing some interest as he headed into his junior year, but
Recruiting game Abdullah found a mentor in Otis Leverette, a former UAB and NFL defensive end. Leverette knew that for the budding star to get where he wanted to go athletically, he needed to hit the circuit of summer camps, where he could show his stuff against more highly rated youngsters. “When I was in 10th grade, Otis came to one of my games, and he saw I was a pretty talented kid,” Abdullah said, “but knew I didn’t have a good grasp on recruiting. My family, we weren’t up to date on stuff like Rivals and Scout.com. All that stuff was foreign to me. “I don’t think I’d be where I am without Otis Leverette. He took me to camps — I didn’t know who I was going up against, but every camp he took me to I was going up against the best of the best in the country.” Heading into his senior year, Abdullah said he had offers from just two schools: Alabama State and Tuskegee. Then came a Nike camp in Tuscaloosa — one also attended by the toprated RB in the country, James Wilder Jr., the overall No. 2 prospect in the country behind Jadeveon Clowney. “I completely embarrassed Wilder the whole camp in every one-on-one drill we did. He was supposed to be the best of the best, but I didn’t really know who I was going up against. I got running back MVP honors.”
That changed things. Letters started streaming in from schools all over the country. As a junior, Abdullah topped 1,000 yards rushing and 24 catches for another 200-plus yards. As a senior, he ran for 1,800 yards and 24 touchdowns and added 33 catches for 515 yards. He also scored four times on punt returns. The offers started coming in hot and heavy, but not everyone thought he could play running back in college. He’d always had a soft spot for Auburn. “I really wanted Auburn to offer me. I went to their camp in the summer. I was only 5-9, 175. They immediately stuck me at defensive back, and I didn’t play that well because I hadn’t played that position much. Auburn didn’t offer me right then, and Alabama would talk to me here and there but they had so many top recruits on their list, Ameer Abdullah was at the bottom of their list. I didn’t have enough accolades or stars by my name.” Abdullah, refusing to settle for anything less than a shot at running back, concentrated on the schools that would give him one. Nebraska won out, and now Abdullah sits within striking distance of records set by Heisman Trophy winners Mike Rozier and Johnny Rodgers. “I don’t have any personal goals, really. At Nebraska, if the team is successful, then we’ve been successful running the ball. I don’t see any reason we can’t win the Big Ten and be one of the four teams in the playoffs. Those are my goals.” High school memories “As I look back on my days in high school, I always say if I could go back and just have one week of high school football to play again, I’d do it because those were some of the
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2014 • B5
Heisman Pundit assesses Abdullah’s chances By DAVID KNOX
Abdullah breaks a tackle in a game against Penn State. He can become the first Nebraska player to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. If he does, the Heisman Trophy candidate will become the school’s second leading rusher all-time behind Mike Rozier, with an outside shot at passing the Heisman winner. Photo courtesy of University of Nebraska sports information department.
greatest times of my life.” Memorable games? Plenty of them, Abdullah said. But the one that really sticks in his mind was not a win. “My senior year versus Spain Park, going up against some buddies of mine in Destin Challenger and Jamel Cook. I was having a great game, I think I’d rushed for about 170 yards and five touchdowns.” The game went to overtime and Abdullah scored a touchdown to pull the Pats within a point. The decision was made to go for two points to win the game, putting Abdullah at wildcat quarterback. “We called the Tim Tebow jump pass play. But in the back of my mind, I knew either Destin or Jamel would know the play. And Jamel came out of nowhere
and smacked the ball down. “After that game, I found out Jamel had gone to their coach and said he knew what we were going to run. “Now I wish I had run the football.” Great athletes always seem to remember best the times the ball didn’t bounce the right way. But for Abdullah, when things have gone against him, when he’s faced challenges along the way, he’s met them head on. And learned from them. Whether Abdullah wins a Heisman Trophy is not the ultimate goal. As he said in his speech to his Big Ten audience, “The heart and soul of the essence of the student-athlete is personal education. Personal education is like a fingerprint. “It’s unique.”
Does Ameer Abdullah have a real shot at the Heisman Trophy? Chris Huston, a Heisman Trophy voter and creator/publisher of HeismanPundit.com for the past decade, has a list on his site called his Ten Heismandments. Before taking a snap in his senior season, Abdullah meets several of those. Here are his Heismandments (excerpted for length), with the ones I believe Abdullah has already met in bold. The ones I believe he has a good shot at meeting are in italics. 1. The winner must be a quarterback, a running back or a multi-threat athlete. 2. Juniors and seniors have the overwhelming advantage in the Heisman race and, as a general rule, will win over an underclassman if all other factors are equal. 3. The winner must produce good numbers in high-profile games on TV. 4. The winner must have some prior name recognition. 5. The winner must be one or more of the following three: (a) The top player on a national title contender. (b) A player who puts up good numbers for a traditional power with good record. (c) A player who puts up superlative single-season or career numbers on a good team or produces numbers that are way out ahead of his Heisman competitors. 6. The winner cannot be considered an obvious product of his team’s system.
7. If you are a quarterback, running back or multi-purpose athlete at one of the following schools – Notre Dame, USC, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Ohio State, Michigan, Miami, Florida and Florida State – you have a good chance to win if you have a very good statistical season, are an upperclassmen and your team wins at least nine games. 8. Statistical benchmarks exist for each position to help voters gauge a player’s “Heisman worthiness.” A back on a traditional power or national title contender must gain at least 1,600 yards and must score at least 15 touchdowns. 9. There will never be another two-time Heisman winner. 10. The winner must be likable. Huston said winning the Heisman is like an election. Name recognition is a huge factor. He’s not sure he has that yet, although his breakout speech at Big Ten media days went a long way toward that, and it certainly boosted his likability factor. “He’s built up a resume over the years,” Huston said. “He’s the nation’s leading returning rusher. “There are some positions in college football that take on a life of their own when there’s a quality player in that position. Like the USC tailback, the Nebraska (I-back) has always been in a powerful position in the Heisman race, and it’s all about shaping the narrative. And Ameer Abdullah, if he has a great senior season and leads NU to a good season, the narrative might be that he’s the next great Nebraska running back and helped lead them back among the elite. “For him to win he’s really going to have to have amazing number, and Nebraska, at minimum, will have to win the Big Ten.”
The Homewood Star
B6 • September 2014
Homewood Real Estate Listings MLS #
Zip
Address
Status
Price
605839
35209
517 Oxmoor Road
New
$199,000
602283
35209
1837 Saulter Road
Back on Market
$224,900
596778
35209
300 Mecca Ave.
Back on Market
$253,000
605711
35209
224 Lucerne Blvd.
New
$550,000
606093
35209
1310 Roseland Drive
New
$649,000
605382
35209
804 Cobb St.
Contingent
$159,900
595902
35209
2920 Parkridge Drive
Contingent
$183,000
603408
35209
211 Raymond Drive
Contingent
$269,900
599951
35209
506 Yorkshire Drive
Contingent
$399,900
588522
35209
120 Woodmont Drive
Contingent
$420,000
601656
35209
1517 Wellington Road
Contingent
$524,000
604851
35209
246 La Prado Place
Contingent
$659,900
600644
35209
205 Yorkshire Drive
Contingent
$699,000
606682
35209
1620 Woodfern Drive
New
$209,000
606014
35209
535 Oxmoor Road
New
$209,900
606866
35209
112 Windhaven Road
New
$329,900
600343
35209
100 Edgemont Drive
Contingent
$112,900
603057
35209
1037 Sherbrooke Drive
Contingent
$172,900
595902
35209
2920 Parkridge Drive
Contingent
$183,000
588909
35209
1568 Valley View Circle
Contingent
$189,900
599951
35209
506 Yorkshire Drive
Contingent
$399,900
603732
35204
105 Hollywood Blvd.
Contingent
$629,900
Real estate listings submitted to The Homewood Star by Vinnie Alonzo of RE/MAX Advantage South from July 29 through Aug. 19. Agents and agency vary by property.
1837 Saulter Road
1620 Woodfern Drive
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2014 • B7
Counselors address back-to-school stress By SYDNEY CROMWELL
school students can also attend afterschool tutoring and writing sessions. Hill encourages students to have a “go-to person” — a teacher, counselor, administrator or coach — whom they feel comfortable talking to and asking for help.
As students return to the daily schedule of homework, football games and band practice, they may find their stress levels rising. School counselors AnnaGrace Baldwin and Alison Hill sat down with The Homewood Star to talk about student stress and how parents and schools can help.
Q
Q A
What are the main causes of student stress?
A
F or middle school students, Baldwin said she sees a lot of struggles with time management. Between challenging classes, clubs, athletics and a social life, students do not always know the limits of what they can manage. This can lead to procrastination and poor performance in the classroom. “For some students who haven’t had to work that hard [and] school’s been easy for them, it can be a little stressful figuring out that time-management piece,” Baldwin said. High school students have the same problems with time management and homework, but different grades have unique challenges. As freshmen, Hill said students must adjust to a new building and new expectations. As they get older, teenagers also have to deal with standardized testing like the ACT,
What can parents do to help?
AnnaGrace Baldwin
harder classes and the time-consuming process of applying to colleges or preparing to enter the workforce.
Q A
How do students behave under stress?
There’s no simple answer, Baldwin and Hill agreed. Students will respond differently based on their personality, mental maturity, current school workload and previous experience with stress. “It’s hard to say what’s typical,” Baldwin said.
Alison Hill
Q A
How does the school help students manage their stress?
At HMS, Baldwin trains students through the peer helpers program to help and advise their classmates, since students can become less likely to come to an adult for help. Students are also given planners and encouraged to use them as they learn to manage their time. Hill and the other four HHS counselors try to be visible throughout the school and help students understand the “wealth” of resources available to them. In addition to counseling, high
“I think the most important thing parents can do about anything is just watch their child, talk to their child and if they have any concerns, pick up the phone and call their child’s counselor and talk to them,” Baldwin said. Both counselors said that communication between them and parents is key to helping students manage their stress. Hill also said parents should emphasize organization at home and encourage their children to reach out to their go-to person if needed. “Students like structure even though they may not admit that,” Hill said. “Having some structure and having some preparation for what each day is going to look like, I think, alleviates a lot of any kind of pressure, anxiety or stress.”
Q
What resources do parents have?
A
Part of a school counselor’s job is to help students cope with stress, so Baldwin said parents should not
FOR ALL AGES
hesitate to call their child’s counselor for help. Counseling is confidential and can provide both parents and students with guidance and feedback. Parents can also meet with teachers or administrators if needed. Both schools provide books and other resources tailored to specific problems. Additionally, HMS hosts parent education programs throughout the year, and the HHS counseling website offers several online resources. Parents can also join the Safe and Healthy Homewood Coalition email list to receive weekly messages with parenting tips and links to useful information. “We have tons of resources, it really comes down to the individual student and what the needs are and what parents’ needs are,” Hill said. AnnaGrace Baldwin is the seventh-grade counselor and peer helper sponsor at Homewood Middle School. She has two master’s degrees in education and counseling from the University of Montevallo and is a licensed professional counselor (LPC). This is her eighth year at HMS. Alison Hill is Homewood High School’s college and career counselor. She has a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Alabama and is starting her fifth year at HHS.
B8 • September 2014
The Homewood Star
Learning the ropes Hall-Kent kindergarteners follow around the Gingerbread Man to discover how the school day works Photos by Karim Shamsi-Basha
Music teacher Ann Bell-Alford reads a clue for students to follow.
Kindergarten teacher Stephanie Brant leads Jahmari Nelson, Chelsey Coranado, Collin Metge, Amelia Downey, Lona Garrison and the rest of her students through a set of gingerbread man clues.
Connor Bryant
Amelia Downey, Connor Bryant and Lona Garrison run in Hall-Kent’s gym.
Amelia Downey
School nurse Ellen Trimm Stephanie Brant’s kindergarten students Lona Garrison, Riley Simms, Brooklynn Jackson, Jahmari Nelson, Oakin Cloud, Collin Metge, Nikko Chamorro and Ashley Snachez.
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2014 • B9
B10
• September 2014
The Homewood Star
Sports
2014 HHS Patriots
The 2014 Homewood High Patriots opened the regular season with three road games. The home opener will be Sept. 12 against Class 6A, Region 5 rival Briarwood Christian. Above is a picture of the 2014 varsity. In editions of the South of Vulcan High School Football Preview magazine, an incorrect photo ran. Photo courtesy of Scott Butler.
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2014 • B11
HHS cross-country eyes
another state title
By DAVID KNOX The Homewood High cross-country teams are entering a new season in a new class but with the same expectations: win a state championship. The Patriots of Lars Porter are also heading into a new year with lots of momentum. The boys have won back-toback Class 5A state championships. Moving to the new Class 6A brings some new challengers, but there are tough holdovers the Pats competed against last season. “I think we’re going to be competitive,” Porter said. “Our expectations are to win state again, and I think that’s a very realistic expectation.” Junior Andy Smith, who won the state championship last season, and senior Alex Ngei head the list of returnees. Smith ran 16 minutes, 14.60 seconds to win the individual honors. “They’re going to be our top performers,” Porter said. “Their seasons ended up kind of reversing. Alex came in in great shape, and then he kind of plateaued. Andy came in working his way into shape and was at his best at the end of the season. They both had unbelievable seasons … They should both be contenders for the state championship.” Smith is ready for the challenge of “repeating” even though the Patriots are in a new class. “Personally, I really want to break 16 [minutes] this year and try to win the state championship again,” he
The Homewood boys cross-country team celebrates its second straight Class 5A championship. The Patriots of coach Lars Porter move up to Class 6A this season, but hopes are high for another run at a state title.
said. “There’s a lot of competition in 6A this year. There’s always competition, but I feel like we’re one of the best teams in the state, and if we just keep working hard we can win state even though we’re moving up to 6A.” Ngei said individual goals and team goals mesh in a sport such as cross-country. “We’re just looking to come out here and work hard every day,” the senior said. “We’re trying to get five guys under 16:30, 10 guys under 17 minutes. To win a third straight state championship in a row, that’d be awesome.” The Homewood boys track and cross-country program pulled off a
Triple Crown last year, winning the cross-country, indoor and outdoor state championships. While that gives the program great momentum, there are things to guard against with such success — such as complacency. “We’re dealing with complacency on two ends,” Porter said. “One is we’ve won and there’s kind of a fatigue from that hunger. We have to be sure our leaders continue to put in the work. “And then there’s complacency with some of the guys who may find themselves in 15th and 16th and say, ‘I don’t have to work as hard, the leaders are going to handle everything.’
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“But our goal from day one to battle that is our standard is improvement, and … if we all hold ourselves to that standard, it kind of takes care of that complacency.” The girls team finished fifth in the state in cross-country last season after a runner-up finish the year before. But the program built momentum, too, winning the state outdoor track and field title and finishing as runner-up in indoor. “We’ve got some girls we need to step up,” said Porter. “Our incoming freshman class is very solid. We’ve got some girls that have done some other things and not run cross-country before that we think are going to
benefit us. But we’re not in the kind of shape right now to be talking about a state championship. We need to work our way there.” Mary Virginia Spencer, Ann Mosely Whitsett and Victoria Reyes are among the top returnees for the girls. Reyes, a senior, said there’s great enthusiasm heading into the season. “We’ve got a lot more people out here and we get excited as the group gets bigger and bigger, but at the same time we want to keep the bond.” Training in the offseason is one place that bond is made, but this offseason Whitsett had to work on her own. “I was not in Homewood this summer,” she said. “I was at Camp McDowell; my mom works there. There are a lot of trails there to train on … there was more terrain and different options to run on. Mostly I ran by myself but sometimes the counselors would run with me. “It’s much easier to run with your teammates because you have people to motivate you and push you, but by myself it helped me work on my discipline and my mental state.” Spencer said most of the rest of the girls would get together and run in the mornings. Spencer, as did the other girls, said winning state is the main goal, but said, “If we each achieve our individual goals then state will be easier, and we can’t rely on the fastest three girls. Everyone has to give their best effort.”
The Homewood Star
B12 • September 2014
HOMEWOOD PARKS & RECREATION Homewood Community Center Zumba
ZUMBA is Latin inspired aerobic dance and every class feels like a party. ZUMBA is for all ages, and both sexes! You can burn 500 to 1000 calories in one fun hour! Instructor: Camille Scruggs Contact Info: 256-452-2500 or camillescruggs@gmail. com Days & Times: Homewood Community Center – Fitness Studio 2 Tuesday & Thursday: 5:30-6:30pm Saturday: 9:00-10:00am
Young Rembrandts
Draw amazing things with Young Rembrandts! Young Rembrandts classes are both fun and educational, and our step-by-step curriculum is developed to teach fundamental art skills in a nurturing environment that gives children an academic advantage. Our classes are for boys and girls 5 to 12 years of age. Please contact Chris Roberson at (205) 943-1923 for more information and to register or visit www.youngrembrandts.com to enroll anytime.
Kindermusik
As the world’s recognized leader in early childhood music and movement, Kindermusik offers a musical learning adventure that will impact your child now and for years to come! This is accomplished through our extraordinary classroom experience and unsurpassed At Home materials. There’s simply no better way to foster your child’s love of music and love of learning. Classes are available for ages 0 to 5 years. For more information call or email Kelly at: 205-552-6129 (or) Kelly.alligood@charter.net www.kellyalligood.com
Belly Dancing with Aziza
Class Location: Homewood Community Center Class Fee: $60 cash only For more information contact Aziza at 879-0701 or azizaofbirmingham@att.net Learn the ancient art of Middle Eastern belly dance (classic Egyptian style) with Aziza, award winning dancer, with 36 years of experience in performance and instruction. Women only, ages 13 and up are welcome; with no dance experience necessary to enroll. Each session is 5-weeks long on: Tuesday night for beginners, Wednesday night for intermediates and Thursday night for advanced. www.azizaofbirmingham.com
YoLIMBER
Vinyasa yoga classes in an energetic environment using upbeat music, synchronizing one’s breath to a flowing series of postures. Devote, detach, and destress for 60 minutes and walk away ready for anything life has to offer. All levels welcome. Private sessions available. Instructor: Marla Hodges Contact info: 205-223-8564 or mac@yolimber.com Days & Times: Monday & Friday 8:30am-9:30am; Saturday 8:30am & 10:00am
Dance 4U – Line Dance Class
LINE DANCE FOR A HEALTHIER YOU! “A program designed to encourage movement” Homewood Community Center – Fitness Studio 2 Tuesday 7pm-9pm / Saturday 10:15am-12:15pm $7/Drop-in - $5/Seniors 65+ - First class is free For additional Info: Rosa Fisher (205) 910-8896 / rosafisher@yahoo.com
360 Personal Trainer Fitness Bootcamp “Holistic sustainable approach to Fitness” Bootcamp style fitness classes at Homewood Community Center. Current Classes: Mon/Wed/ Fri 5:30am-6:30am – Fitness Studio 1 For more information of class opportunities, fees and descriptions please visit: http://www.homewoodparks.com/fitness/homewood-community-center-fitness/360-personal-trainer-fitness/ Michael Brooks – michaelbrooks360@gmail.com
@homewoodparks
Royce Head Personal Training
Everyone benefits from weight training!!! Affordable small group training sessions are available to members in the community center weight room with Royce Head, a certified personal trainer with 15 years’ experience. Each 30 min workout is fast, fun, safe, and effective and each person is started with a program to fit their fitness level. Each workout is a different circuit training routine which keeps heart rate in the fat burning zone while stretching and strengthening all the muscles in the body with extra emphasis on the CORE for a strong back and flat belly. Royce will be available for small group training sessions: Monday - Thursday: 6:30am - 7:30am / 10:00am - 11:00am / 5:30pm 6:30pm $25 Per Session (or) 12 Sessions for $250 One on one training is available; please call for times and pricing Call Royce for more information: (205) 945-1665
Michelle Keel Yoga
My main teaching style is an athletic vinyasa flow class which follows the alignment of Iyengar with the heart opening of Anusara combined with the movement of Ashtanga. I have training and teach Pre/Post Natal classes, Yoga for Fertility and children’s yoga. Thursday 6:00pm-7:00pm Homewood Community Center – Fitness Studio 1 For additional information contact: Michelle Keel at sweetomyoga@hotmail.com www.sweetomyoga.org
Karate
Classes are held at various times based on age and level of experience. Monthly tuition is $55 - $65. Classes are for children and teenagers ages 4 and up. For more information please contact Master Joe at 966-4244
Children’s Ballet with Claire Goodhew
Your child can be a fairy, a princess or a butterfly while keeping ballet traditions alive and having fun with classical music. The beginning ballet moves taught are the important foundation for many types of dance. The French names for steps will be introduced. Students will work on coordination, balance, rhythm and flexibility while developing listening skills and strengthening muscles. The environment provided is a happy and age appropriate one. Girls may wear any color leotard and tights for class, with pink ballet shoes. Classes meet once a week on Monday. Times & Location: Monday 4:00pm-4:45pm / Fitness Studio 1 Please contact Claire to enroll or for additional Information: (205) 879-8780
Tango Argentino Fundamentals and Practice
Introductory lessons and guided practice the 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month. New students are taught basic Tango technique and experienced “milongueros” are encouraged to practice and exchange tips to improve their dancing. Couples and individuals of all ages are welcome. Leather soled shoes recommended; avoid flip-flops, sandals, high platforms or open toe shoes. 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each Month – 7:00pm-8:30pm Homewood Community Center – Fitness Studio 2
Homewood Chess Team
Homewood Chess Team wants you! Beginners are welcome and the first two weeks are always free promo weeks! This year take the plunge and join Dr. Brooks and your current Alabama State Chess Champion Chess Team as we laugh and train in daily mardi-gras bead chess tourneys and compete for prizes in our daily music-driven chess puzzlers and watch zany chess movies and inter-face and inter-train with 20 sister chess teams including every Vestavia and Mountain Brook elementary school, The Randolph School, The Altamont School, Tuscaloosa Academy, The Highlands School, five Catholic schools, and many others. There has never been a party-based approach to chess like this, and Dr. Brooks’ unique, kid-oriented philosophy has made us 50-0 in our history, and counting! Our high-energy chess classes are developmentally and cleverly targeted directly at the kindergarten through 7th-grade set! Learn more and sign up for our school chess team at www.theknightschool. com or call and chat with Dr. Brooks at (205) 746-4952
Homewood Senior Center Educational Lecture
Selling Your House in Today’s Market
Date & Time: Tuesday, September 9th at 10:45am Speaker: Daniel Worthington of ReMax Realty
Educational / Motivational Bare Essentials of a Healthy Life
Date & Time: Wednesday, September 17th at 12:20pm Speaker: June Brown from Positive Maturity; will discuss ways for you to feel your own basic needs for a satisfying Quality of Life.
Afternoon Dance & Ice Cream Social Date & Time: Thursday, September 18th, 1:30pm-3:00pm Live music by Chuck King Band - Please wear casual attire. Event is free to members and $5.00 for non-members and guests Reserve your spot by calling 332-6500
Homewood Senior Center Annual Wellness Fair
Date & Time: Tuesday, September 23rd, 9:30am-2:00pm Open to the public. Register by calling 332-6500. Samford University Pharmacy School students provide clinical screenings for Blood Pressure, Blood Glucose, Cholesterol, Height/Weight/Body Mass Index. Homewood Pharmacy will administer**vaccines for Flu, Pneumonia, Shingles, Tetanus (**must register in advance so that pharmacy can stock them) Free Hearing Screenings by Alabama Institute for the Deaf & Blind In preparation for Medicare open enrollment, there will be free assistance available to assess which Medicare plan is best for your situation. Plus 20+ other Exhibitors, Light Lunch, Give-aways & Door Prizes
Athletics Homewood Youth Basketball League Registration Begins: October Boys & Girls Ages: Kindergarten – 7th Grade Go to www.homewoodparks.com for more information on the 2014-15 season.
Homewood is the 2015 Alabama Recreation & Parks Association State Basketball Tournament Host – March 13th-15th 2015
Homewood Youth Wrestling Registration: October Ages: Kindergarten – 6th Grade Go to www.homewoodparks.com for more information
Special Events NFL Punt, Pass & Kick Competition
Thursday September, 11, 2014 6:00pm @ West Homewood Park Competition is open for Boys & Girls ages 6-15 years old For additional information visit: www.homewoodparks.com
Labor Day – Monday, September 1st Community Centers’ Hours 8:00am – 6:00pm Homewood Central Pool 10:00am – 7:00pm Homewood Central Pool will close for the season at the end of operation on Labor Day
www.Homewoodparks.com
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2014 • B13
Homewood’s Esslinger named
state boys track coach of year By DAVID KNOX Homewood High’s Tom Esslinger has been named the state’s boys track and field coach of the year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Esslinger’s boys team captured the state Class 5A indoor and outdoor titles last season. One boys coach and one girls coach from each of the 50 states were honored for their successes during the 2014 track and field season, as selected by a committee of experts from around the nation. The winners from each state are in consideration for the association’s first-ever National High School Coach of the Year award. Selected by a panel of track & field experts, one boys coach and one girls coach from among all the states will be announced later this month as the national winners. “I’m excited about it,” said Esslinger. “It’s a big honor. Any time you get this kind of recognition, it’s good, not only for me but for the program and the athletes in the program.” Esslinger said there have been a few key factors in the success of the track and field program and the crosscountry program as well. “We’ve built it up slowly through the middle school program, and the coaches there have done a great job. We can always take a great athlete and
Tom Esslinger, center, celebrates a 2013 indoor track state championship with fellow coaches Josh Donaldson and Michael Niezgoda. Photo courtesy of Homewood City Schools.
teach them, but it’s great especially to have them coming up through the program.” He also said that it helps to have Lars Porter, who heads the crosscountry program. “That allows me to focus on track
and field and I think it makes more effective. I can’t say enough about our staff – Josh Donaldson, Rebecca Phillips, Brittany Hines Steele, Michael Niezgoda, John Schultz, Kenneth Hollis … so many others who do so many things for us.”
Esslinger also said the Homewood school board and the high school administration creates a good setting for success. “We have great relationships with the other programs – football, basketball – so that athletes cross
over and can participate in track. “It’s not that way everywhere, but it’s really good at Homewood.” Esslinger said there are now 200 athletes in the track and cross country program overall, 115 in the track and field disciplines. “It’s much bigger than we’ve ever had before. I am just so thankful to be a part of it.” State-by-state winners for the association award were selected based on their teams’ performances throughout the 2014 track and field season. Among the factors taken into consideration were team score and placement at the state championships, the number of different events in which student-athletes were qualified, individual championships, and how their teams’ performances stacked up to previous years. “This is the most prestigious award that a high school coach could ever attain,” National Senate of High School Track Coaches Associations Executive Chairman Don Helberg said. “I am so happy and proud that USTFCCCA has added this award to the collegiate awards they already present.” An inaugural High School Coach of the Year award for cross country will be bestowed during the upcoming 2014 season. Hoover High’s Devon Hind was named the state’s girls coach of the year.
The Homewood Star
B14 • September 2014
Calendar Homewood Events Sept. 5-6. Miss Vulcan 1939. 7:30 p.m. Vulcan Park and Museum. A spoof on the iconic statue’s one and only beauty pageant. $30 for adults, $10 for children, $75 VIP tickets. Visit redmountaintheatre.org. Sept. 5-6: Lil’ Lambs Consignment Sale. Friday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m.-noon. Trinity United Methodist Church. Visit trinitybirmingham.com. Sept. 7: Bargain Costume Closet Sale. 2-4 p.m. Children’s Dance Foundation. Shop for Halloween costumes, dress up clothes or dance wear. Call 870-0073. Sept. 7: Birmingham Boys Choir Collaborative Concert. 4 p.m. Brock Recital Hall, Samford University. $10. Buy tickets at the door
or call 767-9219. Sept. 9: Edgewood Night Out. 3 p.m.-close of business. Edgewood Business District. Sept. 12: The Exceptional Foundation Dinnertainment Fundraiser. $150 per person. Call 870-0776. Sept. 13: Monkey C Monkey Run 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run. 8 a.m. Homewood Central Park. Visit campsam.org. Sept. 16: Homewood Chamber of Commerce Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The Club, 1 Robert Smith Drive. Jeff Underwood, president and chief executive officer of the Lakeshore Foundation, will speak. Visit homewoodchamber.org.
Sept. 24: Homewood Police Foundation Fundraising Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The Club. Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange will speak. Call 332-6227. Sept. 18: Community Bullying Forum. 6-7:30 p.m. Orlean Bullard Beeson Hall, Samford University. A panel of experts will speak. Free, limited seating. Visit uwca.org/bullyforum. Sept. 24: Homewood Athletic Foundation Golf Tournament. 11:30 a.m. registration, 12:30 p.m. shotgun start. Highland Park Golf Tournament. Contact Jay Moss, 515-5235 or jay@ redmtnrealtyco.com, or Larry McCraw, 531-9212 or larrymccraw@allsouthsub.com. Sept. 28: Vulcan AfterTunes featuring
The Revivalists. 3 p.m. Vulcan Park and Museum. Visit visitvulcan.com. Sept. 28: Vesper Series: Students from ASFA. 6:30 p.m. Homewood Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 513 Columbiana Road. Call 942-3051. Oct. 1: Bell Party. 5-8 p.m. Resolute Running Training Center, 2709 Mamie L. Foster. Local artists will be selling their work and donating a percentage of proceeds to The Bell Center. Visit thebellcenter.org. Oct. 5: Magic City Mile. 2-4 p.m. The Bell Center. $10 per person with a $30 family maximum. Call 879-3417 or visit imathlete.com/events/ mcm2014.
Homewood Public Library Adults Sept. 2: Technology Tuesdays: Get the Most Out of Your iPad and iPhone. 2 p.m. Lucretia M. Somers Boardroom. Questions about how to use your apple device will be answered. Sept. 9: Oxmoor Page Turners Book Club. 6:30 p.m. Lucretia M. Somers Boardroom. Discussing Man in the Blue Moon by Michael Morris. Sept. 11: Logotherapy & Search for Meaning in Life. 6:30 p.m. Large Auditorium. Join us as Charles McLafferty Jr., Ph.D., discusses logotherapy, teaching how to transcend negative belief patterns and free us to achieve a satisfaction of life. Sept. 15: Outside the Line Program:
Astrology, More Than Just Your Sun Sign with Andrea Mathews. 6:30 p.m. Large Auditorium. Andrea Mathews discusses how to use astrology to enhance your life choices and experiences. Sept. 16: The A, B, Cs of Medicare. 12 p.m. & 6 p.m. Room 116, Lower Level. Karen Haiflich will answer all of your questions on Medicare. Sept. 16: Essential Oils Aromatherapy and Your Health. 6:30 p.m. Large Auditorium. Young Living Essential Oil Team Leader Cheryl Burnette explains how to use essential oils. Sept. 18: Neuroscience Café: Exploring the Biology of Depression. 6:30 p.m. Round Auditorium. UAB’s Dr. Richard Shelton and Dr. Sarah
Clinton discuss research relating to depression. Sept. 19: An Evening with Joshilyn Jackson: A Friend Fundraiser. 6:30 p.m. Rosewood Hall, SOHO. An evening with New York Times bestselling author Joshilyn Jackson. Refreshments to be served. Book signing to follow. Advanced tickets required. $25. Call 332-6625 or visit the Adult Services Department to purchase tickets.
Sept. 8, 22: Monday Movie. 3:30 p.m. Join us for hot popcorn and a popular children’s movie. Sept. 13, 27: Cartoons and Cereal. 10 a.m.-noon. All ages. Sept. 18, 20: Say Hola to Spanish! 3:45 p.m. on Sept. 18 and 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 20. Ages 3-12.
Sept. 24: The Better Than Therapy Book Club. 2 p.m. Lucretia M. Somers Boardroom. Discussing The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd.
Sept. 19: Talk Like a Pirate Day. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Drop by the Children’s Desk, tell us what treats pirate like best and get a treat for yourself.
Children
Sept. 25: American Girls Program Starring Isabella. 6:15 p.m. Bring your American Girl doll and wear your tutu to this special party. Registration required. Call 332-6619.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays: Story Time. 10:30 a.m. All ages.
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September 2014 • B15
Calendar Area Events Sept. 4: Birmingham Art Crawl. 5-9 p.m. Historic Loft District, 2300 1st Ave. N. A monthly event showcasing Birmingham’s deep and energetic pool of creative talent. Free. Visit birminghamartcrawl.com. Sept. 6: Ross Bridge 8K and Health Expo. 8-10 a.m. 2101 Grand Ave. Race begins at Ross Bridge Village Center and runs through the Ross Bridge neighborhoods. Visit alabamateenchallenge.org. Sept. 13: ZooGala. 7-11 p.m. The Birmingham Zoo. Cocktails, dinner and dancing in support of the Birmingham Zoo. Visit birminghamzoo.com. Sept. 18-20: Saint George’s 33rd Annual Middle Eastern Food Festival. Dine-in/takeout hours: 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Drivethrough hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 425 16th Ave. S. Free admission, live entertainment and drivethrough. Visit saintgeorgeonline.org. Sept. 19-21: Alabama Orchid Society’s 30th Annual Show and Sale. Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Free. Visit bbgardens.org. Sept. 20: Paws for the Cause 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run. Veterans Park. Visit theanimalleagueofbirmingham.com. Sept. 21: Watercolor Society of Alabama Annual Members’ Showcase Award Ceremony and Opening Reception. 2:30-4 p.m. Birmingham Public Library. Watercolor artworks will be displayed through Oct. 30. Free. Visit
watercolorsocietyofal.org. Sept. 25: Fish On! Reeling in Support for Kids. 6-10 p.m. B&A Warehouse. Cocktail dinner, silent and live auction to benefit On River Time, which helps children who have been victims of abuse and neglect. $75 for individual tickets, $2,000 for a table of 10. Visit onrivertime.org. Sept. 25-27: Greek Festival. 10:30 a.m.10 p.m. Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Visit bhamgreekfestival.com. Sept. 27: Boulevard Blast 5K. 7:30 a.m. Across from Norwood Elementary, 3301 Norwood Blvd. Communitywide fitness event designed to raise money for neighborhood revitalization. Visit raceplanner.com. Sept. 27: Fifth Annual Head Over Teal 5K. 8 a.m.-noon. 601 Preserve Way, Hoover. 5K, 1-mile fun run and family fun day. Proceeds benefit the Laura Crandall Brown Ovarian Cancer Foundation. Visit thinkoflaura.org. Sept. 27: Whistle Stop Festival. 9 a.m.-10 p.m. 1912 1st Ave. S., Irondale. Food, crafts, music and other activities. Free. Visit irondalewhistlestopfestival.com or call 297-9897. Sept. 27: Crestline Rocks. Noon-10 p.m. Crestline Village. Live music from local bands. Plus, kids can play on fire trucks and other city vehicles in the parking lot from 3-5 p.m. Funds will benefit PreSchool Partners. $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Visit crestlinerocks.com. Sept. 28: Symphony 30 Picnic. 5 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. $75 for family meal, $25 for an individual meal. Visit bbgardens.org.
Ordinary Days By Lauren Denton
Letting go of my agenda I recently learned yet hospitality over the summer. another lesson at the hands One part of being hospitable of my sweet four-year-old has to do with letting go of our own agendas. When we Kate when she woke up in the middle of the night and don’t hold so tightly to what called out to me. I stumwe need out of a situation, bled down to her room we are freer to see how we might be able to serve having barely opened my eyes all the way. When I someone else. All I wanted reached out and touched to do the other night was her, I immediately knew go back to sleep, but when Denton she had a fever. Her skin I finally loosened my grip was burning up, and she kept saying she on my own comfort, I was able to give was cold. I got her a cool washcloth and that comfort to my daughter. some Tylenol and went back up to bed, Whenever I have a schedule planned for the day (or at least a loose idea of hoping for the best. Not 10 minutes later, she called how I’d like the day to go), something again, this time in tears. I did my best inevitably derails the plan. My initial to comfort her and told her it was the reaction is usually frustration, but I’m middle of the night and she needed trying to remind myself that it may to try to go back to sleep. My tactics be God’s way of opening my day up didn’t work. She kept calling. I’m not at to something or someone I wasn’t my best in the middle of the night, and expecting. This idea of letting go of your own for whatever reason hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before, so the last thing I agenda can play out in so many ways. wanted to do was start my day at 3 a.m. Maybe you make time to chat with a I finally decided to lie down next to quiet co-worker when all you want to her in the hopes that she’d nod off and do is hole up in your office. Maybe I could slip out of her bed and back into instead of sitting next to friends at mine before the sun came up. I settled church or at a meeting, you find a seat down next her, and she threw her hot next to someone sitting alone and say little arm across my stomach and said, hi. Or maybe you step out of your com“Mama, you’re making me so happy.” fort zone and ask someone you don’t That was a big “aha!” moment for know very well over for dinner. Anyme. My heart sank realizing I’d spent time we can put our own needs second, the last half hour trying to get back to we open the door for God to pour out sleep when my sweet girl just needed his grace on someone else through us. Lauren can be reached at LaurenKher mama to lie in bed with her. As I mentioned a couple of months Denton@gmail.com. You can also find ago, our pastor preached a series on her on Twitter @LaurenKDenton.