TheHomewoodStar.com
November 2013
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The Homewood Star Volume 3 | Issue 8 | November 2013
Patriots in pictures
neighborly news & entertainment for Homewood
Wall-to-wall Wi-Fi
Public networks coming to Homewood parks starting this month By SYDNEY CROMWELL By next spring, Homewood residents will be able to take their children to play at local parks without losing their Internet connection. The Homewood City Council recently approved a plan to create five WiFi networks during the 2013-2014 fiscal year. This is the first step in a broader plan
for a free, citywide Wi-Fi system. The first five networks will be built at the new community center and several area parks, including Central Park and Overton Park. Wi-Fi at the Senior Center and part of Patriot Park was scheduled to go live around the first of November. These sites
See Wi-Fi | page 28
This year’s homecoming at HHS lives on in memory. See our photos inside.
School House page 26
Exceptional example
Roots of the Exceptional Foundation started with Tricia Kirk 15 years ago. Find her story in this issue.
Community page 18
INSIDE Sponsors ................. 2 City ........................... 4 Business .................. 8 Food ......................... 9 Community ............. 10 School House ......... 20 Sports ...................... 23 Calendar ................. 28 Opinion .................... 31
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(Left) Emmanuel Benetollo, right, points to a feature on a tablet while relaxing in Homewood Central Park, one of five sites in the city that could have free WiFi by this spring. (Above) Julie Turner, right, shows a cell phone app to Jennifer Gault after their morning run in Homewood Central Park, where free Wi-Fi is expected to be available by April. Photos by Katie Turpen.
Getting vets back on track By KATIE TURPEN Shaun Castle’s life has been anything but predictable. He served as a U.S. Army Police Officer for five years, dedicating his life to service. One day during training, he badly injured his vertebrae. The injury led to multiple spinal surgeries, none of which were successful. Castle ultimately realized he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Looking for a fresh start, he moved from New York to Birmingham. In early 2012, Castle suffered a horrible allergic reaction to his pain medication, causing him to stop taking any kind of medication at all. He recalls feeling overwhelmed with pain and uncertainty. “For a year and a half, I didn’t know what to do,” Castle said. Hope came for Castle while he was undergoing occupational therapy at the Birmingham VA Medical Center. A nurse mentioned a local facility that would alter his life forever.
“I had never heard of the Lakeshore Foundation,” Castle said. “I started working out two or three hours a day. Now, my life has changed 180 degrees.” Castle now lifts weights and does cardio training six days a week. However, his real passion has become wheelchair basketball. He hopes to make the 2016 Paralympics and said the staff is determined to make this dream come true for him. “The Lakeshore staff has gone unbelievably out of their way for me,” Castle said. “It’s been a great transformation to come out of military surgery and know I could go back to work.” The Foundation’s Lima Foxtrot has served more than 1,800 severely injured servicemen and women with its year-round sport, fitness and recreation programming. Lakeshore’s facility off Lakeshore Drive offers tennis, cycling, scuba, two heated pools, indoor rock climbing, wheelchair basketball and more not just for veterans but also to
See VETERANS | page 27
Shaun Castle, who hopes to make the 2016 U.S. Paralympic team, practices basketball at the Lakeshore Foundation in Homewood. Photo courtesy of Lakeshore Foundation.