The Homewood Star
Volume 6 | Issue 6 | September 2016
neighborly news & entertainment for Homewood
2016 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
Round 3 for McBrayer Wayne Dunlap, left, and Max Herzel are the only active members of the Homewood Metro Lions Club. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Shrinking service clubs compete for recruits’ time By SYDNEY CROMWELL
Mayor Scott McBrayer celebrates his re-election with supporters Aug. 23 in Edgewood. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Several familiar names chosen to fill out council
THE FACES OF YOUR NEW CITY GOVERNMENT* Mayor
Council President
Ward 1, Place 1
Ward 1, Place 2
Ward 2, Place 1
Ward 2, Place 2
McBrayer (I)
Limbaugh (I)
Gwaltney
Thames (I)
Higginbotham (I)
Wolverton
2,527 votes
Unopposed
By SYDNEY CROMWELL
W
alking up to New York Pizza on Aug. 23, it was clear Scott McBrayer was the man of the hour. With his re-election just confirmed, McBrayer was greeted by applause, handshakes and hugs on the sidewalk under the neon lights of the Edgewood pizza joint. McBrayer took a commanding victory in the 2016 mayoral election, winning 2,527 to 384 over Ward 1 Representative and challenger Michael Hallman, totaling nearly 87 percent of the vote. He said he felt both relieved and pleased about the outcome, but enjoyed the chance to talk to his
Hallman ................. 384
271 votes
355 votes
Snell .........................241
Terry.........................162
342 votes Little........................ 210
Ward 3, Place 1
Ward 3, Place 2
Ward 4, Place 1
Ward 4, Place 2
Ward 5, Place 1
Ward 5, Place 2
McClusky (I)
Jones (I)
Smith (I)
Wyatt (I)
Andress
Wright (I)
375 votes
523 votes
Unopposed
Unopposed
Azbik .......................203 Qualls.......................126
See ELECTIONS | page A22
Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Tupelo, MS Permit #54
Unopposed
INSIDE
383 votes
388 votes
Laws (I)...................226
Reid ........................ 205
There are 1.4 million Lions Club members around the world, but only two show up to the Paw Paw Patch twice a month for the Homewood Metro Lions Club meetings. Wayne Dunlap and Max Herzel have been Lions for nearly 40 years. They’ve watched their club dwindle from a healthy, full organization with a waiting list down to a total roster of seven. That includes Dunlap, Herzel and their wives and kids. “After many good years of a lot of good work we did, the old-timers passed on, and little by little, they fell by the wayside,” Herzel said. The Homewood Metro Lions are an extreme example of what several Homewood service organizations face: the continual treadmill of recruiting and keeping members. Bo Duke, the past president of Homewood’s Rotary Club, said recruitment is “the toughest part,” and he sees other Rotary Clubs across the state with similar struggles. The Rotary has about 50 members right now. “Every year we try to gain membership. It seems like somebody moves away, or they go, or they change jobs and then move farther out, and we just lose people. So we really want 70 or 80 members, but you’ve got to work hard to keep the ones you have,” Duke said. On the other hand, some of Homewood’s service clubs are seeing their highest
See RECRUITS | page A23
*Preliminary election results, courtesy of city of Homewood
Sponsors .............. A4 News...................... A6
Business ..............A10 Chamber.............. A12
Events ..................A16 Real Estate.......... A21
Sports ................... B4 School House ...... B8
School Guide ...... B12 Calendar .............. B18 facebook.com/thehomewoodstar
Life Lessons
Night Owls
Homewood Middle School adds practical variety to social skills classes for special education students.
Homewood may not be the city that never sleeps, but these people’s day begins when the sun goes down.
See page A18
See page B1
A2 • September 2016
The Homewood Star
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2016 • A3
The Homewood Star
A4 • September 2016
About Us Editor’s Note By Sydney Cromwell Every summer, I tell myself that this is the year I’ll finally adjust to Southern summers and enjoy my time outdoors in our long, sunny days. And every summer, I scurry back indoors to the blessed air conditioning, choosing instead to glare out my window at the heat waves rising off the pavement. Despite living in the South since I was five years old, I’m convinced that I’m a cold weather creature, built for scarves and hats and boots. This was reinforced recently when I was lucky enough to take a trip to Alaska. The landscape, the wildlife and everything about the trip was stunning. But in the midst of that, I also felt a sense of relief at the summer temperatures, which felt more like the mid-autumn days I experience here. “Ah,” I thought, “this is what it’s supposed to be.”
That breath of cold, fresh air evaporated all too quickly once I got on the plane back home. But it gave me a nice reminder that I’ve got fall days coming my way. Summer’s just about over, and we chose a few of the best photos you sent
us to highlight your summer adventures. Be sure to find those inside. You’ll also find stories about several local businesses, Homewood Middle’s unique special education programs and which teams the Patriots will face on the field this month. Whether your interests are running, concerts or outdoor festivals, we also have previews of several events this month. I hope you enjoy September and all our community has to offer this month. Meanwhile, I’ll be cranking up the air conditioning and looking fondly at my sweaters.
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
The Retro Run brought out creative costumes from runners with a taste for fashion from the ’70s and ’80s. This year’s annual 5K was July 30 at the Trak Shak. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
The Homewood Star
Publisher: Managing Editor: Design Editor: Director of Digital Media: Sports Editor: Page Designers:
Dan Starnes Sydney Cromwell Kristin Williams Heather VacLav Kyle Parmley Cameron Tipton Emily VanderMey Community Reporters: Erica Techo Jon Anderson Tara Massouleh Ana Good Staff Writers: Emily Featherston Sam Chandler Copy Editor: Louisa Jeffries Contributing Writers: Grace Thornton Lauren Denton MaryEllen Newton Advertising Manager: Matthew Allen
Sales and Distribution: Warren Caldwell Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes Brittany Joffrion Rhonda Smith
James Plunkett Jon Harrison Gail King Eric Clements
For advertising contact: dan@starnespublishing.com Contact Information: Homewood Star PO Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@starnespublishing.com
Please submit all articles, information and photos to: sydney@ starnespublishing.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253
Published by: The Homewood Star LLC Legals: The Homewood Star is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. The Homewood Star is designed to inform the Homewood community of area school, family and community events. Information in The Homewood Star is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of The Homewood Star. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.
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Please Support Our Community Partners 30 A Realty (A9) A Team Ministries (A8) Advent Episcopal School (B15) Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (A18) Alabama Outdoors (A15) Alabama School of Fine Arts (A8) Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center (A2) ARC Realty (B2) Assurance Financial (A5) Bedzzz Express (A24, B1) Birmingham Botanical Gardens (B5) Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (B6) Black Pearl (A10) Boy Scouts of America - Greater Alabama Council (B8) Brewer Cabinets (B5) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (A18) California Closets (A16) Children’s of Alabama (A14) Classic Events/On The Green (A11) Classic Gardens (A16) Construx (B2) Creative Montessori School (B15) David J Putman for Congress (B20) Davis & Nix Family & Cosmetic Dentistry (A14) Dawson Music Academy (A19) Dish’n It Out (B6) dk2 Gallery (A17) EW Fit (A20) First Lenders Mortgage Corp. (B8) Flat Fee Real Estate (A6) Homewood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry (B3) Homewood Parks and Rec (B17) Huffstutler’s (A15) Huntington Learning Center (A3) Hutchinson Automotive (B4) Indian Springs School (B13) InSight Eye Group (B10) Issis & Sons (A22) Iz Cafe (A12) JJ Eyes (A7) Johnny Montgomery Realtor (A20) Kete Cannon, RE MAX Southern Homes (A21) Limbaugh Toyota (A1) Mr. Chen’s (B4) Nicole Brannon ARC Realty (B10) Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics (B19) Phoenix Builders (B19) Planet Fitness (B3) Plumb One (B10) RealtySouth Marketing (B7) Red Pearl Restaurant (B10) Salem’s Diner (B19) Sikes Children’s Shoes (B18) Spring Valley School (B12) Taco Mama (B9) The Altamont School (B14) The Maids (A1) The Whole Dog Market (A15) UAB Calm Study (B18) Uptown at BJCC (A23) Village Pet Care (A12) Whale of a Sale (B19) Wilcox Communities (A13) Wilson Building Company (B9) Wolf Camera (A3) YMCA of Greater Birmingham (B1)
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2016 • A5
The Homewood Star
A6 • September 2016
City
Residents provide feedback on proposed Lakeshore interchange By ERICA TECHO Homewood residents were invited to Second Presbyterian Church on Aug. 18 for a public involvement meeting on potential Interstate 65/Lakeshore Parkway intersection modifications. The proposed change would be a diverging diamond interchange, meaning there is a brief part of the road where lanes cross over and drive on the opposite side of the road. This type of intersection is intended to help reduce congestion and delays, said Alabama Department of Transportation region engineer DeJarvis Leonard. “By doing a diverging diamond, we allow the ramps to free-flow,” Leonard said. Changes which would take place in this project include: ► Removal of the existing southbound ramp for I-65 and building a new ramp ► A single left turn lane from eastbound Lakeshore Parkway to Wildwood Parkway ► Right-in and right-out access at the shopping center with Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club ► A westbound Lakeshore Parkway auxiliary lane between I-65 southbound ramps and Wildwood Parkway ► An eastbound Lakeshore Parkway auxiliary lane between Wildwood Parkway and I-65 southbound ramps Plans also include a sidewalk that travels through the middle of the interchange, with plans to connect to the Shades Creek Greenway. Leonard said he has heard positive reactions
Residents look at a display of the proposed Interstate 65/Lakeshore Parkway intersection as a Volkert representative, center, describes the plan’s details. Photo by Erica Techo.
to the interchange, especially from individuals who have seen these interchanges at work in neighboring states, and that if plans and funding are approved for the project, it would be the first diverging diamond interchange in the state. “Homewood was innovative about wanting to introduce this design,” he said. Greg Cobb of the Homewood department of engineering, planning and zoning said he believes it will make the intersection more efficient. “It’s going to be great,” he said. “They can’t build it fast enough to suit me.” Most of the work would be done in the current right-of-way, excepting a small triangle of
right-of-way — located off of the Sam’s Club parking lot — that will need to be purchased. This, however, will not affect any parking at the Sam’s Club, and the project will not impact local residential areas. Some residents attended the public involvement meeting with concerns that their homes or their land would be affected. Lakeview Estates resident Jennifer Caldwell said she attended because she thought it might encroach more on the residential areas. After seeing the plans, however, she said those concerns were alleviated. “It’s not going to encroach like I thought,”
she said. The new interchange, Caldwell said, seemed like it would be good for traffic flow and make the intersection easier to navigate. A few concerns she had, however, included the potential danger of the sidewalk. While a sidewalk would make a good addition, she said she would prefer to see a crossover where the sidewalk intersects with the interstate ramps, rather than the current plan where pedestrians walk across a lane of traffic. Caldwell also said she hopes to see a plan for the open area which will be left when the southbound ramp is removed. Landscaping in the area would be a good improvement, she said. This was the first public involvement meeting regarding the project, and Leonard said final plans should be available in a year. At this time, however, funding wouldn’t be available until 2020. “If they’re going to do it, I’d rather them go ahead and do it,” Caldwell said, noting that 2020 seemed a long way off. Once construction starts, the project would take between nine months and a year to complete. Residents are encouraged to submit their comments or concerns about the project by Wednesday, Sept. 7. Comment forms can be submitted to: Mr. DeJarvis Leonard, Region Engineer East Central Region – Birmingham Area P.O. Box 2745 Birmingham, Alabama 35202-2745 ATTN: Mrs. Sandra F.P. Bonner
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2016 • A7
The Public Safety Committee recommended a three-way stop sign on Broadway Street at Gianmarco’s. Photo by Erica Techo.
Report: Crime down compared to same time frame in 2015 By SYDNEY CROMWELL At the city’s Aug. 15 Public Safety Committee meeting, Police Chief Tim Ross presented a mid-year report on certain types of crimes. Ross said he typically doesn’t provide this type of report, which compares data from the first six months of 2016 to the same time frame in 2015. “I just got curious to track our progress on our most common types of crime,” Ross said. Of the crimes he tracked, which are among the most frequent reported in cities, all have decreased compared to 2015. Burglary is down 22 percent; automobile theft down 16 percent; robbery down 37 percent; and vehicle burglary down 20 percent. Ross said traffic stops have risen by 5 percent and traffic citations increased 22 percent. Ross said both the crime decrease and the citation increase are partly due to the 10 new officers who were hired in 2016. “So we’ve got more people out there,” he said.
Other factors that have impacted that data include the introduction of PredPol, a predictive software that uses data to show where crimes are more likely to happen next, and the rollout of the single-use plan for police vehicles. The single-use plan gives every officer their own vehicle instead of sharing them between shifts. Ross said this increases visibility because officers are no longer spending time at the station waiting for their predecessor to finish paperwork and hand over the car keys. “It practically puts twice as many cars on the street three different times a day: at shift change,” Ross said. The public safety committee also sent out alcohol license requests for the City Council to approve: Fred’s Store at 234 Green Springs Highway; Mi Pueblo Supermarket at 216 Green Springs Highway; and a manufacture license for Red Hills Brewery. They also recommended a three-way stop sign on Broadway Street at Gianmarco’s and three streetlights on Shades Road, which will operate at a cost of $420.12.
Photo by Emily Featherston.
Public Works drops discussion of work in alley behind Sunset Drive By EMILY FEATHERSTON The Public Works Committee of the Homewood City Council voted to drop the discussion regarding the alleyway behind 1627 Sunset Drive. The matter was brought up at the last city council meeting, where the council decided to revoke the previous permission the homeowner had been given to use the alleyway to take out his trash. The homeowner had 10 days to cease his activities in the alleyway, and the council asked the committee to discuss the matter in order to see if a compromise could be reached. Multiple neighbors attended the committee meeting to express their concern with the
homeowner’s recent clearing of brush and bamboo, and the impact it would have on water runoff. Ward 2 representative Vance Moody apologized to the neighbors, saying the city neglected to send out a notice to neighbors to have them agree to the permissions the city granted to the homeowner. Also at the meeting, the Planning and Development Committee voted to recommend changes to the city’s zoning ordinance with Neighborhood Preservation District. The changes would include changing the ordinance to allow lots 55 feet wide and under to have a maximum height of 32 feet, and lots larger than 55 feet to have a maximum height of 36 feet.
The Homewood Star
A8 • September 2016
Fire Department building new training tower
From the start of the year through July, Lt. Ben Sutton said, police had about seven operations and made about 10 arrests. Staff photo.
By GRACE THORNTON
Homewood PD working to combat online prostitution By ERICA TECHO Prostitution and human trafficking are nationwide problems, and they are likely not going away anytime soon. In Homewood, however, the police department and its vice narcotics unit are working to combat the act of online prostitution as best as its forces allow. Officers will monitor websites such as Backpage or Craigslist, where individuals will post ads regarding prostitution, and make sure the department’s presence is known, said Lt. Ben Sutton. Sutton said they are using “unconventional tactics,” which he did not want to give away. While those tactics do not always lead to arrests, Sutton said they slow down postings for the Homewood area for a few weeks. “Every time so far, we will get them kicked out of the hotel, and we will serve notice to the rest of the hotels who they are and what they’re doing,” Sutton said. “So our goal is to as best we can, rid the hotels of this, but we know we can’t stop it all.” From the start of the year through July, Sutton said, they had about seven operations and made about 10 arrests. Not all of those arrests mean the individual was booked, however, and not all charges are prostitution related.
Sutton said when an officer enters a room for which there was a Backpage or Craigslist listing, there may be drugs or other items out in plain view. Individuals may also be arrested on outstanding warrants from other cities. While residents are welcome to call in concerns about potential crime, Sutton said it is important to remember there are certain situations in which the police department cannot act. “I can’t stop anybody from wanting to go look and see what’s going on, but they have to understand we’re not going to violate somebody’s civil rights, and they have every right to rent a hotel room if they’re doing things the right way,” he said. “... When they’re walking down the street in a way you don’t find proper, but that’s not against the law, we’re not going to go hassle those people.” At this time, the department is also dealing with a strain on manpower in these cases, Sutton said, as vice narcotics officers also have to work on narcotics cases and other crimes in the area. “I would like the people to know we do take this seriously, we do investigate it and we do try, but we wish we had more manpower to deal with it, but we don’t, so we do what we can,” Sutton said.
A new project is going to take the Homewood Fire Department’s training up several levels — literally — come November, said Fire Chief John Bresnan. The department is constructing a new training tower from used shipping containers on the back corner of the property at Fire Station #3 off West Oxmoor Road. Once completed, the tower will offer firefighters the chance to get experience in multi-floor and high-angle rescues, as well as do structural collapse drills and other types of training, Bresnan said. “For firefighters, the training is not just ‘Can we put water on the fire?’ anymore. Our mission has expanded such that when disaster hits, we are the first line of the offense of trying to put things back together,” he said. And a high-angle rescue can include not just rescuing someone from an upper floor of a building but also from a steep embankment off of the interstate. Battalion Chief Mike Anastasia said much of firefighting occurs in stairwells, and Homewood has more hotel occupancy than anywhere else in Alabama. “Hotels are all the way down State Farm Parkway; they’re at Oxmoor, and they’re all fairly sophisticated and four, five and six stories,” he said. “The tower will be good because it emulates three flights of stairs.” Six 20-foot shipping containers will make up the structure. One will sit next to a stack of two, with a stack of three beside that one, and all will be bolted together to a concrete foundation. Doors and windows will be cut and staircases constructed to make a mock one- two- and three-story building, and movable walls will be placed inside. “Building a full concrete structure for training would cost a half million to a million plus,” Anastasia said. The container structure will cost less than $100,000. And it’s portable, he said. If the fire station is ever relocated, the containers can be
Photo by Grace Thornton.
unbolted and put back together on a new concrete foundation. Up until now, Homewood firefighters have had to train in a local parking garage or on makeshift structures built in station truck bays, or on a burnable house brought in on a trailer, Bresnan said. They have made do with that setup, but scheduling and coordinating training in a parking garage with a local business is complicated, he said. Structures in station bays can only be so large and stay set up for a little while. And the burnable house has to be contracted and is only one story — a size that can be transported on a trailer, Bresnan said. It works, but it’s not ideal, he said. The new structure would provide ongoing training for firefighters and “give them the confidence in themselves and their equipment that’s so important,” Bresnan said. For instance, he said there are rope operations that are “very technical in nature” used for high-angle rescues. “This provides the environment to do that in a relatively safe environment,” Bresnan said. Once completed, the structure will be painted to blend in with the station and the surrounding industrial area, he said. Trees also will be planted to provide a natural barrier between the tower and the road. Bresnan said he hopes the structure will be completed by November.
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2016 • A9
Proposed new sign for the Wildwood shopping center. Courtesy of Oldacre McDonald.
Council considers incentives for Wildwood developer By SYDNEY CROMWELL A Nashville-based developer has purchased part of the Wildwood shopping center and plans a major redesign of the buildings and parking lots. Bill Oldacre of Oldacre McDonald approached the city council finance committee at its Aug. 8 meeting to ask for incentives to offset the cost of the work planned for the shopping center on the south side of Lakeshore Drive. The plans Oldacre presented include the construction of two roundabouts, one between Chick-fil-A and Wal-Mart and the other at the Hobby Lobby entrance to the property, and the creation of a road within the parking lot to connect the roundabouts and improve traffic flow. The western entrance will also be redesigned. “This is too nice a property. It’s got real good bones ... There’s no reason it can’t be significantly improved,” Oldacre said. Oldacre said the development firm also plans to construct several new retail spaces: 150,000 square feet of anchor retail space on the west end of the property, located in the city of Birmingham; three smaller buildings constructed on existing parking spaces; and a retail site replacing the vacant Outback Steakhouse location. The firm is in talks with national retailers for these new spaces, Oldacre said, as well as existing vacant spots and the OfficeMax, which is planned to close. Other changes include new monument signs, additional lighting, new paint, landscaping and metal awnings to replace the current fabric ones. Oldacre said he watched the property for many years and felt that its location gave it a lot of potential, but access problems and appearances made it less successful than he feels if could be. He pointed out that thousands of cars pass by the shopping center every day on Lakeshore Parkway and I-65. The incentive Oldacre McDonald is asking for is to split additional sales tax revenue (defined as any increase beyond current sales tax levels) for up to 10 years or $5 million in total. If the council agrees to the proposed incentives, Oldacre said construction would begin
before the end of 2016 and the first of the retailers in the new spots could open up by summer 2017, with the larger anchor spots to follow. Mayor Scott McBrayer and several council members expressed their support of the development plans. The finance committee will review the proposal and discuss it further at their next meeting. At the council meeting later on Aug. 8, the council also: ► Changed its next meeting from Aug. 22 to Aug. 29. ► Decided to ask for public comment at their Aug. 29 meeting about proposed changes to the Neighborhood Preservation District zoning ordinance about roof heights. The city has already held an official public hearing, but decided to set a time for additional comments due to homeowner concerns. ► Approved funding $54,000 to conduct a citywide master plan. ► Approved funding $1,000 to purchase an ad in the Annual Birmingham Bowl official fan guide. ► Amended the ordinance appointing municipal election poll workers due to changes in the list of workers. ► Approved road closures at Brookwood Village from 1 to 10 p.m. on Sept 22 and 29 for the Brookwood Live Concert Series. ► Approved the acceptance of the Champions ADECA Grant for the Homewood Board of Education. ► Carried over discussion of a $353,000 FEMA SAFER grant to fund the creation of three new firefighter positions for two years. Fire Chief John Bresnan said the grant does not come with obligations to maintain the positions after those two years, but will allow the department to have 17 people on duty for each shift instead of 16. Along with the recent construction of a training center, Bresnan said it’s possible the department could be evaluated for a better ISO rating, decreasing home insurance rates. The council voted to further discuss some questions about the grant at its next meeting before accepting it. ► Set a Sept. 12 public hearing for a rezoning application at 822 Columbiana Road, where the owner wants to construct four residential townhomes. ► Set a bid opening date for Sept. 19 for citywide paving projects.
The Homewood Star
A10 • September 2016
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TheHomewoodStar.com
Now Open Water Shop Wellness Center is now open in Edgewood at 921 Oxmoor Road. The wellness center offers several programs, including personal one-on-one consultations, corporate wellness coaching, health education classes and Nature’s Sunshine herbal supplements. Before opening in Homewood, they were located in Roebuck. 836-0700, wswellnesscenter.com
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Time Machine is now open at 2 The 780 Brookwood Village. The store offers monogramming, minor watch repair, watch battery replacement and much more. The store was previously located inside the Riverchase Galleria in Hoover. 586-1141
Coming Soon La Perla Nayarita Tequila Bar & Seafood will open soon at 150 Green Springs Highway in a building that has been vacant for a number of years. The restaurant has another location in the Birmingham area on Chalkville Road. 874-9472, facebook.com/laperlanayarita
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September 2016 • A11
Relocations and Renovations Ingram & Associates, LLC, a real estate company, has moved from its offices at 3660 Grandview Parkway, Suite 100, to 1900 28th Ave. S., Suite 105, in Homewood. 871-5360, ingramnewhomes.com
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New Ownership Homewood Pharmacy, 940 Oxmoor Road in Edgewood, is now under the ownership of husband and wife Ryan and Damaris Hamilton. Ryan Hamilton has been the head pharmacist for the pharmacy prior to the change in ownership. 871-9000, facebook.com/homewoodpharmacy
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Hirings and Promotions LAH Real Estate, 1760 Oxmoor Road, has hired Jenifer Hadraba as a residential real estate agent. 440-4740, lahrealestate.com/about-lah/ lah-locations/homewood/
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INVITATION FOR BIDS FY 2016-2019 PAVEMENT REPLACEMENT PROGRAM
Sealed bids for “FY 2016-2019 Pavement Replacement Program” will be received by City of Homewood at the Office of City Clerk, Second Floor, Homewood City Hall, located at 2850 19th Street South, Homewood, AL 35209, until but not later than 10:00 A.M. September 19, 2016. Bids will then be publicly opened and read at in the Council Chambers, Homewood City Hall at 10:10 A.M. Bids received either by hand delivery or mail after the specified date and hour will not be considered. Bids should be returned in a sealed envelope clearly labeled, “FY 2016-2019 Pavement Replacement Program, City of Homewood, Alabama,” and return addressed to: Mr. Lee McLaughlin Assistant Public Works Director 2850 19th Street South Homewood, Alabama 35209 The work consists of the milling and resurfacing of prioritized streets and will require the performance of items and various quantities of work to include: superpave bituminous concrete wearing surface layer, ½” maximum aggregate size mix, superpave bituminous concrete lower binder layer, patching, ¾” maximum aggregate size mix, tack coat, planing existing pavement (approximately 1.10” thru 2.0” thick), manhole height adjustment, valve box reset, temporary traffic stripe, permanent traffic stripe (5” wide), traffic control markings and legends, traffic signal loop wire, construction signs, cones (36 inches high), barricades, type III, barricades, type I, (portable, 24 inches wide), and any other miscellaneous incidental construction. Contract Documents may be examined at: Office of City Clerk Homewood City Hall, 2nd Floor Homewood, Alabama 35209 Volkert, Inc. 2 20th St. North, Suite 300 Birmingham, Alabama 35203 Phone: (205) 214-5500 Contract Documents can be purchased from Volkert, Inc. for a non-refundable fee of $25.00. An electronic copy (.PDF) will be provided. The electronic set of Contract Documents will, exclude any addendum(s) issued prior to opening of the bids. Any addenda shall be distributed to the plan-holder list receipt for which must be acknowledge by the prospective bidder. Fee shall be paid by check payable to Volkert, Inc. at the time an electronic copy of the Contract Documents is requested. All questions pertaining to clarification of the bidding documents shall be directed in writing to Louann Burdell at HYPERLINK "mailto:Birmingham@Volkert.com" Birmingham@Volkert.com Each Bid shall be submitted in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders and shall be accompanied by a Bid Bond (as defined in Section 00100 Instructions to Bidders within the Contract Documents) in the amount of not less than five percent (5%) of the Bid, not to exceed $50,000. The Bid Bond may be from a surety satisfying the requirements specified in the Contract Documents or Certified Check upon a national or state bank, payable without recourse to the City of Homewood as a guarantee that the Bidder will within seven (7) days after the Notice of Award enter into a Contract. The Successful Bidder must furnish a Performance Bond and a Payment Bond equal to 100% of the Contract amount each with a surety company acceptable to the OWNER and in a form acceptable to the OWNER. The OWNER reserves the right after opening Bids to reject any or all Bids, to waive any informality (non-responsiveness) in a Bid, or to make award to the lowest responsive, responsible Bidder and reject all other Bids, as it may best serve the interest of the OWNER.
The Homewood Star
A12 • September 2016
Chamber
Preview of
September
Samford University President Andrew Westmoreland describes Samford’s recent growth in both enrollment and facilities during the Homewood Chamber of Commerce luncheon Aug. 16. Photo by Emily Featherston.
Luncheon
University president: Samford growth continues By EMILY FEATHERSTON Along with recognizing its newest members, the Homewood Chamber of Commerce celebrated Samford University at its Aug. 16 luncheon. 2016 marks the 175th anniversary of the university, and the audience was shown a 175-second-long video that briefly detailed the school’s journey from Howard College in Marion to its current status. Luncheon speaker Samford President Andrew Westmoreland told the audience of the many celebrations the school will host over the coming academic year.
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While the school’s official birthday is Dec. 29, Westmoreland said the university’s major celebration will be in early November along with Samford’s homecoming festivities. Westmoreland also told chamber members about the growth the university has seen and expects to continue seeing. He said the number of full-time students entering for the first time is more than 900, and a fall enrollment of about 5,400 students will be the eighth consecutive year of record-breaking numbers. Westmoreland also discussed the official opening of the university’s College of Health
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Sciences building on the former Southern Progress property. The Chamber will host a ribbon cutting for the new portion of campus on Sept. 9. The president also announced that the university is preparing to embark on a new capital fundraising campaign as part of a multiyear strategy to continue the school’s growth. Still, Westmoreland said Samford plans to remember it is part of the Homewood community and continue its efforts to have a positive impact on the city. “This is our home,” he said. “We want to be invested here.”
The Homewood Chamber of Commerce’s September luncheon and annual legislative update will be Sept. 20 from 11:30- 1:00 p.m. at The Club. State Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, and state Rep. David Faulkner, Faulkner R-Mountain Brook, will be the keynote speakers, giving the Chamber an update on legislative issues Waggoner affecting Homewood and the Birmingham region. Tickets are $20 for members and $30 for non-members and can be purchased at homewoodchamber.org.
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2016 • A13
Neighborhood grill opening in Edgewood By SYDNEY CROMWELL When Tim Vakakes decided to lease the former La Bamba space for his new restaurant, Vinnie Baggs, he had never even seen it. He knew the area and knew the restaurant had 1930s-style ceilings that matched the look he wanted, but Vakakes didn’t go inside the restaurant until 1006 Oxmoor Road was already his. Vakakes said he feels fortunate that his restaurant’s home turned out to be a perfect fit for the place he wanted to create — a small neighborhood grill modeled after the local restaurants he knew and loved in Chicago’s neighborhoods. Vinnie Baggs, scheduled to open for business in the next few weeks, pulls from the Vakakes family’s Greek and Italian roots, particularly his wife Diane Vakakes’ years spent in Chicago. “She grew up around some really good cooks,” Tim Vakakes said. The lunch and dinner menu includes items such as an Italian meatball sandwich, Greek souvlaki sandwich, beef brisket with potato latkes, lamb, grilled fish, burgers, pasta and “meatier” salads. Vakakes said the meals will be in the $8 to $10 range, and he also is bringing in fresh bread from Chicago. There will be a small bar, and the restaurant will be able to seat about 42 people. “It’s like going to my house. You’re going to eat. You’re going to put on some pounds,” Vakakes said. The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., perhaps later on the weekends, and will open early to serve breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. Vakakes said lunch will be served more quickly to accommodate a work crowd, while dinner will be slower. Though there is a bar, Vakakes said there will be a kids’ menu and the restaurant will sport a
Tim Vakakes inside the Vinnie Baggs space when it was under construction, in the Edgewood Shopping Center. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
family-friendly atmosphere. The slower pace, along with the classic rock and blues music he plans to play, will contribute to the neighborhood hangout Vakakes wants to create. It’s something he said he and his wife have felt Homewood has needed for a couple years. Vakakes and his brother Pete started the original PT’s on Hollywood Boulevard in 1982,
which was there for 20 years. He also helped start the PT’s location in SoHo, though he is no longer involved with the restaurant. He said it took the right place and the right people coming together to make him want to start a new dining concept. “This isn’t something that was pulled from the air,” he said. For diners who remember the original PT’s,
Vinnie Baggs is carrying over a little bit of that history. The name, in part, comes from Vakakes’ cousin Vinnie Scalici, who worked at PT’s and is part of the new restaurant’s staff. If Vinnie Baggs is a hit, Vakakes said he hopes to eventually have more than one restaurant carrying the name. “We’re going to have fun with it,” Vakakes said.
The Homewood Star
A14 • September 2016
Candy shop aims to bring happiness into Homewood By ERICA TECHO Candy is more than just a sweet treat — it’s happiness. When Marcy Miller opened Weezie’s Candy Emporium, that was the message she wanted to send. “I just wanted to have a place that was going to be happy and create great feelings and celebration,” she said. Before opening Weezie’s, Miller held several professional roles, including serving as executive director of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce and in director roles for Girl Scouts of North Central Alabama and at Birmingham-Southern College. A candy shop was a way to apply her passion, Miller said. “I just realized that I wanted to live my purpose, and my purpose was just to love and encourage children and make them love themselves no matter what they are and who they are and what they think they are, they’re just fine the way they are,” she said. “And that’s why I created this space — for kids to know they can come here to hang out.” Miller chose to open a candy shop in Edgewood to help fill a gap in the Homewood market and to help bring back a few memories from SOHO Sweets, which closed a few years back. “I think everyone in Homewood misses SOHO Sweets. We all loved that store,” she said. “My kids are now in high school and middle school, but we grew up with them in elementary school going to SOHO Sweets. I think there was a hole in Homewood when it closed down.” Since opening shop in December 2015, Miller said community reactions have been positive. People from Homewood have been glad to see another candy shop in town, and people from outside the community compliment Miller on the variety of candy. “It’s really cool to have people who are [in their] 60s or 70s, and they come in and see my retro candy,” Miller said. “That’s actually
Marcy Miller opened Weezie’s Candy Emporium on Oxmoor Road in December 2015. Photo by Erica Techo.
where I started my buying process.” The shop carries Zotz and Razzles, both introduced in the 1960s, as well as a variety of candy by the pound. Rather than stick with basic sweets such as M&Ms or Sour Patch Kids — although both are available — Miller chose to branch out and also carries European candy such as Allsorts licorice and Winegums and a few organic candies and chocolates. Reactions to the shop range depending on the customer’s age and personality, and she said she sees everything from kids excitedly running around and picking up anything they can get their hands on to the kids who will take their time looking through their options. “Then you have the kid who walks in and it looks like their eyes are about to pop out because they’re so overwhelmed,” Miller said. The best compliments, however, go back to Miller’s core objective — bringing a reason to
celebrate into the neighborhood. “Probably the biggest compliment I’ve received is we were having a big birthday party in the back … and one of the granddads came in and was sitting in the front of the store with me,” Miller said, “and he was just looking around and complimenting me on the store. And he said, ‘You know? This place is just happy.’ And I said, ‘That’s the goal.’” As the store grows, Miller said she hopes to build on what Weezie’s offers. Customers can buy individual candies, themed gift baskets and rent the birthday room for special occasions. There are plans to begin a monthly candy delivery service called Candy Gram and to offer candy care packages for kids at camp. Miller even plans to offer an alternative to cake at a few weddings. “That’s one of the things we’re hoping to expand on,” she said. “I do have a wedding
Weezie’s Candy Emporium • WHERE: 923 Oxmoor Road • HOURS: Monday and Thursday: noon-6 p.m.; Tuesday, Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. • CALL: 703-8163 • WEB: weeziescandy.com
booked in October where we’re going to do a gummy bear bar. I’m hoping to really get into more of those big services where we go out and do events with cookies or cupcakes or candy, or any combination of what we have in the store.”
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2016 • A15
Opinion Ordinary Days By Lauren Denton
The blessing of derailed plans My kids Kate and Sela are always has to do with this idea of perfection very curious about our plans for the and how nothing measures up to how day(s) ahead. I think it’ll be in my head. “Mama, what are we doing Not that I think anything will actutomorrow?” ally be perfect — I know enough to “What are we doing after quiet know that’s not possible. But in the time?” quiet, before the day starts, it’s easy “Tomorrow’s Friday, right? What to visualize the kids getting along, are we doing this weekend?” sharing their toys, not retaliating. I This was magnified over the see myself having uninterrupted time summer when the days stretched to work on my book, finessing the Denton long, without much in the way of words into something meaningful routine or structure, but school starting hasn’t and beautiful. I imagine myself getting ready slowed the questions. As a list-maker and a plan- for the day and being satisfied with what I see in ner, I usually have an answer for them. Some- the mirror. I see myself in the kitchen, lovingly thing as simple as, “Going to the store then the preparing a meal to nourish my family, and them pool,” or “You have school then gymnastics” appreciating the work that went into it. is generally enough to satisfy them. It’s when Then the day begins and things fall apart! But things don’t go according to plan that the prob- the thing is, it’s okay. It has to be okay when things don’t go according to plan, because honlems arise. For all of us. Toward the end of the summer, one morning estly, they rarely do. One kid needs a little extra I found myself squatting next to my youngest, Mama time to the detriment of my alone time. Sela, in the front of a packed sanctuary, trying Tempers flare and apologies are necessary. I’m all the time telling my oldest, Kate, that to convince her that VBS was in fact a very fun place to be and that she should stay for the sometimes we have to switch gears and go in a morning. My plan for those three precious hours different direction than we planned, and that it’ll included exercise (preferably solo) and some be just fine. I obviously need to keep preaching non-4-year-old-friendly errands. I rather liked that to myself, too. The morning Sela decided that plan. As Sela looked around at the loud chaos to run errands with me rather than go to VBS, I around her, her eyes big and round and scared, I buckled her back into her carseat, all the while saw my plan dissolving like a bubble on grass. internally huffing and puffing about my derailed As I left the sanctuary with her in tow, my mind morning. She settled into her seat, turned to me whirled through what my morning was supposed with a little smile, and said, “Thanks Mama.” I to look like and what it would actually look like. kissed her on the nose and reminded myself some Opening my tight fists and allowing things to things are more important than lists and plans. I’d love to connect! Email me at LaurenKbe as they are rather than mourning what I wish they were takes a gentleness and grace that doesn’t Denton@gmail.com, find me on Twitter @Laucome naturally to me. And it’s not just with the renKDenton, on Facebook or visit my website, kids and how the days will go. I think a lot of it LaurenKDenton.com.
The Homewood Star
A16 • September 2016
Events Monkey see, monkey do Runners participate in the Monkey C Monkey Run 5K. Photo courtesy of Camp Smile-AMile.
In 2015, the second annual Dinnertainment raised $145,000 to help fund programs of The Exceptional Foundation. Photo courtesy of The Exceptional Foundation.
Exceptional Foundation to host ‘Dinnertainment’ on Sept. 9 By ANA GOOD The Exceptional Foundation will host its third annual Dinnertainment fundraiser Sept. 9 at The Country Club of Birmingham. The event, which began in 2014 to raise money for The Exceptional Foundation’s original 400 participants, will include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a seated dinner, auction and what organizers dub “Dinnertainment.” Performers, all participants at the foundation, will show off their talents in song, dance, theatrical skits and studio art. Organizers said the event is their way of showing the public what life is like every day at The Exceptional Foundation. Founded in 1994, Homewood’s Exceptional Foundation serves those ages 5-80, with autism, spina bifida, Down syndrome
and other conditions, providing them opportunities to play sports and engage in other activities. The first Dinnertainment, held Sept. 12, 2014, hosted more than 400 supporters, according to this year’s event description. In 2014, the event raised $140,000 for The Exceptional Foundation’s programs. In 2015, the event raised another $145,000. By its own estimation, The Exceptional Foundation now has more than 482 participants on its roll. Proceeds from Dinnertainment are a significant source of funding for its programs, according to the foundation. Space is limited. For tickets and more information, contact Tricia Kirk at triciakirk@exceptionalfoundation.org, or go to exceptionalfoundation.org.
By GRACE THORNTON Whether you’re a trained runner or just want to enjoy a nice walk, the Monkey C Monkey Run 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run is a perfect way to get out, get active and help a good cause, said Katie Langley, special events director for Camp Smile-A-Mile. “It’s a great way to have fun with the whole family while also supporting Camp SmileA-Mile’s year-round programs,” she said. “Anyone is invited to participate.” The event — set for Sept. 10 at Homewood Park — will start with registration opening at 6:30 a.m., the 5K at 8 a.m. and the fun run at 9 a.m. It will have a stroller-friendly course,
Langley said. “We also have food, games and entertainment in the park,” she said. Proceeds from the Monkey C Monkey Run 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run will benefit Camp Smile-A-Mile — Alabama’s program for children with cancer — whose mascot is Sam the monkey. Packet pickup will be Sept. 8 and 9, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Trak Shak in Homewood. For more information about participating in or sponsoring the race, email katie. langley@campsam.org or go to campsam. org/fundraising-events/monkey-c-monkey -run-5k-and-1-mile-fun-run. For more information about Camp Smile-AMile, visit campsam.org.
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2016 • A17
Mountain Brook to host Patriot Day Ceremony on 15th anniversary of 9/11
Amy Grant will perform Sept. 20 at Samford University. Photo courtesy of Auxiliary of Big Oak Ranch.
By ANA GOOD Homewood will join the cities of Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills this year to pause and remember the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001. The annual Patriot Day ceremony, which rotates between the three cities each year, will be Sunday, Sept. 11, in Mountain Brook. U.S. Navy Rear Admiral (Ret.) Jack Natter will serve as the keynote speaker at this year’s Patriot Day ceremony. Natter is an attorney and has served as a member of the Hoover City Council since 2011. He grew up in Trussville and Homewood, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1962 and retired from the Navy in 1998 after service both on active duty and in the reserves. Immediately after the 9/11 attacks, Natter returned to duty for a few weeks at the headquarters of the Navy’s European fleet in London, England, serving as Deputy of Resources and Readiness. Beginning at 8:30 a.m., Homewood Mayor Scott McBrayer will join Mountain Brook Mayor Terry Oden, Fire Chief Chris Mullins and Police Chief Ted Cook, as well as Vestavia Hills Mayor Butch Zaragoza and other members of the cities’ police and fire departments to welcome guests at the intersection of Hoyt Lane and Oak Street in Mountain Brook’s Crestline Village. Mullins, who is helping to plan this year’s event for the first time as Mountain Brook’s fire chief following the retirement of former Chief Robert “Zeke” Ezekiel, said he planned the event in 2013 when the event was last held in Mountain Brook. This year’s event, he said, will have an “identical footprint.” The city of Homewood hosted the event in 2015 in front of City Hall, where Homewood High School’s The Network show choir performed several songs as a part of the ceremony. Lexi Bresnan, daughter of Homewood Fire Chief John Bresnan, performed a solo. City Council member Walter Jones sang the national anthem, and Brian Erickson of Trinity United Methodist Church gave the invocation. Brian Bowman played “Amazing Grace” on bagpipes as doves flew out above the crowd at the end of the ceremony. Mullins said the cities discussed the possibility of hosting the event on another day this year because Sept. 11 falls on a Sunday, but they decided against it. “We felt it
Auxiliary of Big Oak Ranch presents Amy Grant concert
The city of Mountain Brook last hosted the Patriot Day ceremony in 2013. Photo courtesy of the Mountain Brook Fire Department.
By MARYELLEN NEWTON
was important to reflect on that day,” he said. Mullins said because the event is on a weekend day, the hope is that more community members will be able to take part in this year’s 15th anniversary of the attacks. The ceremony was first organized after the Sept. 11 attacks as a way to always remember. The host city is in charge of organizing the main details, while the other cities participate in the coordinated effort by providing personnel and equipment. As in years past, Vestavia Hills will provide the large American flag set to be raised above the crowd using ladder trucks provided by the other participating cities. Area residents, as well as off- and on-duty firemen and police officers, are all invited to attend, said Mountain Brook Police Chief Ted Cook. “Schedules and patrol duties permitting, of course,” he said. The 45-minute ceremony, which brings together those who keep their cities safe and its residents to honor lives lost, will once again be steeped in tradition. A laying of the wreath and a bell ceremony will be part of the planned schedule, along with a moment of silence at the exact time two passenger planes struck the World Trade Center towers. The ceremony will take place next to the Sept. 11 memorial, which sits outside the Mountain Brook fire. The beam, a 1,305-pound H-beam from the former World Trade Center site in New York, was dedicated during the Patriot Day ceremony in 2013.
In celebration of their 10-year anniversary, the Auxiliary of Big Oak Ranch presents an evening with Amy Grant. The concert will be held at Samford University’s Leslie S. Wright Center on Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Amy Grant is a contemporary Christian singer-songwriter. The Nashville-based musician has won six Grammy Awards, has three multi-platinum albums, six platinum albums and four gold albums, according to her website. Susan Taylor of the Auxiliary said the organization is not only excited about Grant’s performance but also grateful for how it came to be. “We’re really looking forward to the event and honored to have Amy be a part of it,” Taylor said. Big Oak Ranch is a Christian home that gives abused, neglected or abandoned children a chance to find a normal life, God’s love and an opportunity to learn that they are more than their circumstances. The Ranch consists of three main components: a girls’ ranch, a boys’ ranch and Westbrook Christian School. Each ranch has 10 homes, including a transitional home, maintained by two Christian houseparents. They also boast gyms, lakes and livestock. The Auxiliary serves Big Oak Ranch by providing support to the houseparents and other needs for the children. Anyone unable to attend, but hoping to contribute to the Auxiliary’s work, can make a donation for the children of Big Oak Ranch to go. Visit bigoakauxiliary.com for additional information. All proceeds from the concert will go to the Auxiliary’s work with Big Oak Ranch. To purchase tickets, visit tickets.samford.edu or call 726-2853.
A18 • September 2016
The Homewood Star
Reinventing the special education classroom Homewood Middle teachers add practical variety to social skills-building scenarios By SYDNEY CROMWELL
Homewood Middle School special education teacher Elizabeth Stewart teaches her students about cooking, as part of their Friday social skills time. Photos by Frank Couch.
Social skills time is a daily thing for special education students at Homewood Middle School, but teacher Elizabeth Stewart doesn’t want it to look the same each day. On Mondays, her class can be found in the community garden neighboring the school. On Tuesdays, they gather recycling products from every classroom. Wednesdays are drum circle days. Thursdays are for yoga, and Fridays are for cooking. “They’re not coming to school and strictly getting just the academic part of it; they’re getting the social aspect of it. They’re getting the functional skills, and they’re getting a good experience with something they might not have experienced otherwise,” Stewart said. She said she’s continually trying new things with her sixth- through eighth-grade students to continue giving them new experiences. The drum circle is the newest addition, as they received the grant to buy hand drums at the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year. Band Director Chris Cooper and Assistant Band Directors Lauren Nowak and Terrance Cobb lead the program each week. The drum circle often includes guest drummers — usually other teachers or administrators — and members of the HMS band’s percussion section. Nowak said the special education students get excited about suggesting songs to learn and practicing on their own time. “It’s so joyous, not just for kids but for us,” she said. “These kids have taken ownership of it, but the rest of the school has taken ownership as well … they beg to come to drum circle.” The drum circle performed at HMS Fest and the percussion spring concert. Cooper wants
TheHomewoodStar.com
to share the program with other music educators in the state and be a model for similar programs, and he said a few interested schools already have approached him. Special education students at HMS spend part of their days in general education classes with the rest of their peers, and part of the day in Stewart’s classroom. During social skills time, Stewart tries to make sure her students continue to be involved with the school as a whole. Stewart’s students work with community garden caretaker Julie Gentry to tend four garden beds, producing herbs that show up both in the school lunchroom and in the recipes they cook on Fridays. She said her students are leaders in recycling and green efforts throughout HMS, and they
September 2016 • A19
“
Left: Robin Davis and Maren Mills smell herbs in a community garden. Above: Korey Crawford waters vegetation in one of the garden’s four beds.
”
To see teachers and community members really use their time … to enrich my student’s life is very special, I think, and not something you see everywhere.
were among the first to visit a new Alabama Environmental Council recycling center in Avondale. Stewart said she also is trying to teach skills her students can take home, such as the simple recipes they cook each week. Since beginning the yoga program, Stewart said she has seen her students remember their breathing
ELIZABETH STEWART
exercises and use them outside her classroom and improve at holding long, still poses in the yoga class. “It is one of the coolest experiences for me each week to see the growth in the kids each year,” she said. From drumming together to cheering on the students as they attend the Special Olympics
each year, Stewart said the middle school’s support of special education enables her to get creative in her classroom. She’s always on the lookout for new programs to share with her students. Recently, Stewart said she has been interested in involving more art activities for her students. She also purchased two Fitbits to incorporate lessons on fitness, nutrition and even math. “We’re so lucky to have Elizabeth, because she does allow her kids to do so many different things,” Nowak said. “We want to be a part of them just as much as they want to be a part of us.” “To see teachers and community members really use their time … to enrich my student’s life is very special, I think, and not something you see everywhere,” Stewart said.
The Homewood Star
A20 • September 2016
Awakening the artist within About six months ago, Carrie Pittman stepped away from her job as a financial planner and became a fulltime artist. Photo by Erica Techo.
By ERICA TECHO Art supplies used to be Christmas presents Carrie Pittman requested and then never use. Now, art supplies are used to pay the bills. About three years ago, Pittman picked up her art supplies and started mixing colors and making things up. “I went through what I would say for me was a very difficult time and just felt like, instead of resorting to other things, I just decided to really tap into what I was feeling and just start painting,” Pittman said. She said she never planned for people to see her work, but one day Mountain Brook-based decorator Virginia Volman asked her to paint something for one of her clients and for her own home. “I just said, ‘I can’t do that,’ because I didn’t want to do it,” Pittman said. “I didn’t want the pressure; I didn’t know how to handle any type of business transaction.” Volman eventually encouraged her to hold an art show out of Volman’s home, and Pittman stayed up about three nights straight to create 45 paintings for her first show. She made about $4,000 that night. “I realized I loved doing it, and there were people who were interested in purchasing it,” Pittman said. “So that was the first person who saw my art and liked it and believed in me.” Even after realizing art could be more than just a part-time hobby, Pittman remained in her job as a financial planner for more than two years. She worked for the family business, Pittman Financial Partners. Pittman said stepping away from that job was a difficult decision. “I’m very close to my father; he’s a very good friend of mine, and I felt like I was letting him down,” she said. Over those two years, she said she struggled with juggling her clients in the 9-to-5 world and the art world. Her heart was with art, she said, and she found herself wanting to talk
about painting or art rather than wanting to be in the office. “I think when the light went off was when my company had goals for me to reach, and I realized that I could reach them, and I wanted to reach them,” Pittman said. “But if I did whatever I had to do to be in that job, I was going to have to give up painting completely. I was going to have to give up my artwork and creating, and I can’t imagine not being an artist.” At the end of 2015, she stepped away from her secure job and out on a limb to pursue art full time. “Even though I didn’t know how I was going to support myself, I knew just if I loved what I was doing and I worked hard at it, it would work out,” she said.
After about six months of being a full-time artist, Pittman said she has been “humbly overwhelmed” by the amount of support she has received. In addition to commissioned pieces, her work is on display in several galleries, including at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Mountain Brook, and she entered a partnership with At Home Furnishings in May. The store in downtown Homewood now carries many pieces of her artwork. The future for Pittman carries more than just canvases. She is working to develop a line of paper, pillows, fabric and apparel with her artwork. Stepping into a world outside of traditional media is another way to share her artwork, and it opens her work to a wider range of people, she said.
“In working with a lot of decorators, I do think there’s a lot of ways to incorporate art into a room other than just a painting,” Pittman said. After 15 years of changing jobs and not feeling fully satisfied, Pittman said she is grateful to be able to create for a living and share her art. She said she hopes people through her experience see that they should pursue what is fulfilling to them, even if that first step is scary. “I think more than anything, I love encouraging people to figure out what they love to do and to believe in themselves,” she said. “I have good days and bad days like anybody, but if you really love what you do and you believe in who you are, that can become a platform for people.”
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2016 • A21
Homewood Real Estate Listings MLS #
Zip
Address
Status
Price
759956
35209
548 Broadway Street
New
$819,000
760133
35209
591 Forest Drive
New
$279,000
760035
35209
1693 Ashwood Lane
New
$163,000
759941
35209
539 Cliff Place
New
$437,000
759907
35209
587 Forrest Drive
New
$279,900
759794
35209
104 Havenwood Court
New
$289,900
759539
35209
951 Forrest Drive S.
New
$229,780
759502
35209
218 Lakeshore Drive
New
$609,900
759476
35209
710 Broadway Street
New
$489,900
759405
35209
1004 Drexel Parkway
New
$209,900
759992
35209
1096 Columbiana Road
New
$329,900
759369
35209
404 Yorkshire Drive
New
$539,000
759321
35209
1406 Ardsley Place
New
$474,900
759005
35209
1007 Irving Road
New
$349,000
758939
35209
205 Eastwood Drive
New
$389,000
758792
35209
1528 Valley Avenue
New
$150,900
758790
35209
1824 Windsor Boulevard
New
$279,900
758703
35209
1506 Bellview Circle
New
$425,000
Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on Aug. 22. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.
548 Broadway Street
1096 Columbiana Road
The Homewood Star
A22 • September 2016 ELECTIONS
CONTINUED from page A1 neighbors about their top issues during the campaign season. Entering his third term, McBrayer said the residents who voted for him will see four more years similar to the eight he has already served. “The city of Homewood has been so good to me, and I’ve been blessed to be a part of the community and serve in a leadership role. This is the start of my third term, and I really do believe this is just the start of some really good things that are going to be happening in our city,” McBrayer said. Hallman released a brief statement after the results congratulating the mayor and new city council. “From Day 1, my campaign for mayor has focused on improving the lives of our citizens today and securing a bright future for the city that we love. I humbly thank every single supporter and campaign volunteer for their hard work over the last few weeks. As I return to private life, I look forward to continuing to fight for the values of my campaign and my amazing supporters,” Hallman said. When the new council is inaugurated in November, McBrayer will be joined by Council President Bruce Limbaugh, who was unopposed, and several other familiar faces. The final canvassing for official election results was scheduled after The Homewood Star’s press date, but the unofficial ballot tallies gave a clear picture of how the final results will turn out. Britt Thames is returning in Ward 1 Place 2, beating opponent George Terry 355-162. On the muggy August election day, Thames said the first thing he would do after learning of his victory was to “take a shower.” Thames said his first priority is getting started on the budget planning for the new fiscal year, which must be passed by Oct. 1. Terry said that his election loss won’t be the end of his involvement in Rosedale and the rest of Homewood. “The city of Homewood has spoken, and the better man won. But I’m still going to continue to work in the community and do my due diligence. Hopefully, I can come back in the next
Ward 3 Rep. Walter Jones and Council President Bruce Limbaugh compare notes from polling places as they wait for results to come in. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
four years and give it another try. There’s always next time, as long as I’m breathing there’s always next time,” Terry said. “Britt [Thames] is a good guy, and hopefully he finishes out his plans that he started in the next four years.” Wards 3 and 4 have all of their incumbents returning, as Walter Jones beat Fred Azbik 375-203 for Ward 3 Place 2 and Barry Smith won out over Wayne Qualls 523-126 in Ward 4 Place 1. Patrick McClusky and Alex Wyatt were unopposed for their seats in those wards. “I told the mayor this morning it [campaigning] is the hardest work or hardest thing I’ve done in my life,” Azbik said with a laugh on election day. “But you wouldn’t believe the number of people I’ve met and talked to,” he added. Jones is entering his fourth term on the council. On election day, he said his No. 1 priority for 2016-20 is addressing overcrowding in Homewood City Schools. Other priorities include getting the citywide paving project in motion, building and maintaining sidewalks and continuing his work as the council’s finance committee chair. “This year, [in] Edgewood, where we are
now, over 800 students are enrolled. And we need to address the amount of students we have. It’s a great problem to have in terms of the number of people wanting to move to Homewood with young children, but it also causes some challenges because we don’t have enough room at the high school,” Jones said. In Ward 5 Place 2, Rep. Peter Wright will also be returning for four more years after taking the 388-205 victory over challenger Thomas Reid. A few new faces have been added to the mix for 2016-20. Thames will find his new ward partner in Andy Gwaltney, who took a narrow 271-241 victory over Mary Ellen Snell. Ward 1 Place 1 was the only seat where the race is close enough that counting provisional ballots and the final canvassing could change the outcome. Snell said she felt both she and Gwaltney gave the campaign race their best, but she is not anticipating that the results will change. Check thehomewoodstar.com for updates after final canvassing. “It’s exciting. It’s hard fought, and I’m excited to get on the council and help make some progress for the city,” Gwaltney said.
“We have some growth things we need to work through, whether that’s on property or that’s on city schools, with city facilities. We have lots of options for smart growth and I look forward to being able to apply my time and skills to help make good decisions for the city.” Both Ward 2 seats are being filled by newcomers, with Mike Higginbotham winning unopposed in the Place 1 seat and Andrew Wolverton taking the Place 2 seat over Don Little with a 342-210 victory. In Ward 5, Jennifer Andress won over incumbent Rich Laws for Place 1 by a 383-226 vote. Many of the newly elected council members joined McBrayer at New York Pizza on Aug. 23 to celebrate with a packed house of neighbors, family and friends. The restaurant’s windows and interior surfaces were covered in “Scott McBrayer for Mayor” posters, matching the T-shirts many supporters were wearing. After entering the restaurant and being swarmed by well-wishers, McBrayer took the opportunity to stand on one of the booth seats and say a few words. “You can’t do an election like this by yourself. It takes a lot of people. So I am eternally grateful. We had a huge night tonight,” McBrayer said. McBrayer shares the curse of all incumbents being re-elected, in that he doesn’t get to use the months between now and inauguration to celebrate his win and prep for the job. The Monday evening following elections, McBrayer was back at City Hall for the latest council meeting. He and the council members are currently in the midst of weeks of budget discussions for the next fiscal year, to make sure the new and old faces arriving in November can start off on the right foot. “After tonight we’ll roll up our sleeves and get started on the next term,” McBrayer said on election night. “We’re going to remain positive. I’m going to have a great council that I can work with, have worked with. They’re friends of mine and those that are brand-new.” “I’ve just always been a mayor that believed [that] things work best when I take the blame and give others the credit. That’s worked very well for me,” he added. – Jesse Chambers and Lexi Coon contributed to this article.
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2016 • A23
RECRUITS
CONTINUED from page A1 numbers in years, indicating the problem is not universal.
RACE AGAINST TIME
When Dunlap and Herzel hold their Metro Lions meetings, they talk about the service projects and fundraisers they’d like to accomplish. With just their two families though, Herzel said there’s “not a heck of a lot” they can accomplish. “It’s been a struggle for us the last couple of years because of lack of membership, and we cannot do too many major projects because we do not have enough hands to do the projects,” he said. The two Metro Lions do hearing aid and glasses recycling work and hold an annual pecan-sale fundraiser. If they can get their membership up again, they’d like to get involved in more of the international level projects, including volunteering or fundraising for sight and hearing causes, world hunger and river blindness. They would also like to provide a free document shredding day in Homewood, they said. Their goal is 30 new members. That also would allow Dunlap and Herzel to retire from their active role in the club. It’s an uphill battle, though. Dunlap recalled a membership interest event where they personally invited 70 people, along with state-level Lions Club officials. Not one of the invitees attended. “I guess we didn’t do our job,” Dunlap said. Dunlap and Herzel see the problem partly as a matter of time and partly as an age divide. Frequently, Herzel said, the people he invites tell him they don’t have a single hour to spare. “The only thing is the old-timers are getting old, and the young-timers are not interested. That’s the problem we’re experiencing right now,” Herzel said. “So many younger families, they’re living their childhood vicariously through their children — ballgames and dance and cheerleading and all that kind of stuff — and it’s always, ‘I don’t have time,’” Dunlap said. The Rotary Club has more diversity in its members’ ages, but Duke, a 14-year Rotarian, agreed that time is the critical obstacle for many potential members. “It seems like service clubs now are harder to maintain because people either don’t have the time or the want or the need,” he said. “I think everybody’s busier, and if I hadn’t been in it for 14 years, would I start now? I don’t know, because I am busy. But if you’re a business person, you’re going to be busy. That’s what you do.” The Rotary Club is involved in a variety of projects, from an annual scholarship for Homewood High School students to fundraisers for the Homewood Public Library, the Lakeshore Foundation, the Exceptional Foundation and a well-digging project in Africa. Duke said for him, it’s about making the Rotary Club a habit and something he has set his mind to stay involved with. Like the Metro Lions, the Rotary mainly adds members through word of mouth. Duke said the club needs both to provide something valuable to its members and also make sure the people it recruits are the right ones who are willing to give back. “We’re just going to have to keep pushing for new members,” Duke said. The Homewood-Mountain Brook Kiwanis Club is also trying to reach its former heights.
A meeting of the Homewood Kiwanis Club, which has been working to increase its membership since it declined in the economic recession. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Club President Tom Callison said the Kiwanis experienced a significant drop in membership during the economic recession that began in 2007. The club has rebounded somewhat since 2011 and added six new members this year, with a total of about 50. Many of these newer members are younger, which Callison said is a “bright spot” for the club. “We’d like to fill the room,” Callison said of the Kiwanis’ weekly meetings. “I’d love to see it at 80 members and up, but we have to do it just one new member at a time.”
SUCCESSFUL SERVICE
While the Metro Lions, Rotary and Kiwanis look at new ways to recruit, the Knights of Columbus men’s service organization, based at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, has 190 members on the rolls and continues to grow. The Knights are a faith-based service group and are involved in many projects initiated by their different members, with the largest one being the annual barbecue and rummage sale that OLS hosts for the Fourth of July. Member Adam Morel said there’s a core group of 60 to 75 people regularly involved. “We are in a growth mode right now, which is great. We’ve got a lot of folks really joining the Knights,” member Chad Gentry said. “It’s definitely growing, and it’s exciting, and the spirit is there right now.” It wasn’t always this way. Gentry said he has heard from his predecessors that involvement was really low about a decade ago, and the Knights had difficulty pulling off their signature event. “There were a couple of Fourth of Julys where [the two leaders] looked at each other and go, ‘I hope one of us doesn’t fall out, or this thing is not going to get pulled off,’” Gentry said. Gentry said a series of more engaging leaders has helped bump up those numbers.
Morel said the Knights also have the advantage of being recognizable through their July 4 events and involvement in the Homewood Christmas Parade. Being a Catholic organization, Morel said that faith element and friendships between church members also makes it easier to recruit. “I think the year in, year out, decade in, decade out human nature is people want to serve. I really don’t think that’s changed much. But I think what can change a number [of members] is if you can get somebody to come and then you actually give them the opportunity to serve, and you actually get them doing something right away that they think matters, then they stay,” Morel said. The Homewood City Schools Foundation, though not a traditional service group, is also seeing an influx of volunteer interest. HCSF Director Amy McRae said there are 24 volunteer board members who help raise funds for the schools and host events such as Homewood Grown. The Foundation is looking at ways to make more opportunities available for residents who want to support the Foundation. McRae said that with many young families, the schools are a central part of life for many residents, making them more likely to want to serve. “Homewood’s such a great community that everybody is willing to help. We have a very strong, active, working board, and we’re just excited about the people that show interest, the people that we ask that they’re interested. Everybody seems to be very excited to help the school system,” McRae said. Other service organizations, such as the Friends of the Homewood Public Library and the West Homewood Lions Club, aren’t growing but have enough members to keep their enrollment steady and continue their community projects.
Laura Graham, who works with the Friends of the Library, said it’s easy to find new volunteers because they can recruit from the readers who shop in their bookstore. Leroy Meachum, a 25-year member of the West Homewood Lions, said his club has seen a slight increase over time, despite some ups and downs, and has managed to counteract the effects of members moving or passing away. “It used to be an older generation of members, but now certainly our club is much younger than it used to be,” Meachum said.
STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE
Even the struggling groups said they are optimistic about seeing growth in the future. The Rotary and Kiwanis are focusing on bringing in interesting, community-minded speakers to their regular meetings and showing potential members the ways they can help their city and broader community. Callison said the Kiwanis also are starting some social events for members. “I think all service organizations have that issue, but we’re striving to give members something to look forward to,” Callison said. “So we’re on the right trajectory.” Dunlap and Herzel said they’ve been talking to other Alabama Lions Clubs who have successfully grown, including one man who started a club by recruiting 20 people single-handedly. That man will be coming to give them advice, and Dunlap said they want to hold a membership drive in the fall. If they can reach their goal of 30 members, some of the projects that Dunlap and Herzel talk about over their dinners at the Paw Paw Patch can become a reality. “We sit in here with a lot of ideas, and as soon as we get that membership up to a reasonable amount, we’ll be able to do a lot of things,” Herzel said.
The Homewood Star
SECTION
B SEPTEMBER 2016
Sports B4 Community B7 School House B8 Private School Guide B12 Calendar B18
while you were
By SYDNEY CROMWELL
SLEEPING
H
omewood may not be the city that never sleeps, but it is kept running in part by the people who start their days when the sun has gone down. From garbage collectors and road crews to doctors and security officers, night-shift and early-morning work is unseen but makes the day smoother for residents whose alarm clocks are going off as night-shift employees are going to bed. This is a look at some of the night owls and early birds who work outside the 9-to-5.
HOMEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT Officer Mike Jeffcoat describes his partner at Homewood Police Department as a toddler. It’s not an insult — Jeffcoat is the night shift K-9 handler for HPD, and his partner is a 6-year-old Czech shepherd named Shiloh. Like a small child, Shiloh can’t talk, needs frequent bathroom breaks and loves to play with his toys. Jeffcoat and Shiloh have been partners for about six months, so they’re still building their working relationship. But there’s already a lot of trust and affection. When Jeffcoat leaves his car, Shiloh’s eyes never leave him, and he whines or barks to rejoin his handler. The keys to Jeffcoat’s police vehicle have a miniature dog toy on the keychain, identical to a larger one that Shiloh chews while on patrol. “We’re still a pretty young team. We have a good bond but it’s almost like any other relationship — it takes time to kind of feel each other out, to totally trust each other,” Jeffcoat
said, noting that Shiloh has been a police dog for about four years. “He’s basically been training me.” Jeffcoat’s shift starts about 10 p.m. and lasts about seven hours, with an additional hour of taking care of Shiloh’s needs. He starts the night with obedience drills and games for Shiloh, so his canine partner can let out a little energy and get him in the mood to work. They end the night similarly, usually with a game of fetch in one of the city parks. Night shift, Jeffcoat said, is a whole different ballgame than day shift for police officers. Usually, he and Shiloh are a “roving unit” that travels throughout the city checking businesses for signs of burglary, making traffic stops and assisting officers on other calls. The night is usually when they see “heavier crime,” Jeffcoat
See SLEEPING | page B16
Officer Mike Jeffcoat and Shiloh patrolling Homewood at night. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
B2 • September 2016
The Homewood Star
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2016 • B3
The Homewood Star
B4 • September 2016
Sports Past QB success bodes well for rising Patriots Larkin Williams, No. 10, celebrates with receiver Andrew Cleveland after a reception against Pelham. Photo by Karim ShamsiBasha.
By SAM CHANDLER The Homewood High School football team entered spring camp in April with two quarterbacks set to compete for the Patriots’ starting job. Junior Ty Hatcher and sophomore Larkin Williams were expected to duel throughout the summer before one emerged as the clearcut choice. The separation never occurred. “I promise you, there are plenty of years that I would take either one of them at quarterback for two or three years,” said Homewood offensive coordinator David Jones. “They’re better than some guys that played for two years at quarterback for us in the past.” That’s why — as of press time — Jones decided to play both Hatcher and Williams in the Patriots’ first two games of the season. If they consistently posted quality performances, Jones said he would continue to play both throughout the fall. While balancing two quarterbacks may present unforeseen challenges to an offensive coordinator, that’s not the case with Jones. He has juggled the task before. The result? A state championship. Prior to the start of the 2000 football season, Jones found himself in need of advice. Like the present situation, two underclassmen quarterbacks were entrenched in a close competition for the Patriots’ first-string position, and Jones said he wanted to make sure he gave each a fair shot at winning the job. He said he solicited the wisdom of two coaches with ties to the University of Alabama: Dabo Swinney and Homer Smith. Swinney, the current head coach at Clemson University, coached wide receivers in Tuscaloosa in 1999 and 2000 — two seasons when the
Crimson Tide played a pair of quarterbacks in Andrew Zow and Tyler Watts. Smith served as Alabama’s offensive coordinator from 19881989 and 1994-1995. “Homer said he had practiced before where there were two reps for one quarterback and two reps for the other,” Jones said. “He had
done three and three and four and four and five and five. He said four and four seemed to work the best to get them both equally prepared.” Jones began to install that strategy at Homewood practices, with sophomore Parker Gargis and junior Bragg Knott alternating repetitions. Eventually, Jones was told by Smith that one of
the two would distance himself from the other. Spring, summer and fall camp came and went, but the quarterbacks’ trajectories never diverged, Jones said. As a result, Jones said the Patriots’ coaching staff opted to play both Gargis and Knott in the first two games of the season.
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2016 • B5 HOMEWOOD FOOTBALL: SEPTEMBER PREVIEW Coach Ben Berguson is looking for the “magic formula” to get past the ninewin mark at Homewood. Photo by Scott Butler.
Quarterback Ty Hatcher throws a pass in the season-opening game against Pelham. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
One quarterback started the first game, and the other started the second game. But regardless of who took the first snap, the quarterbacks cycled in and out every two series, Jones said. Homewood went 1-1 to start the season, but neither quarterback outperformed the other. Another pair of equally productive showings in the Patriots’ region opener enabled the coaching staff to reach a conclusion, he said. “We said, ‘This will continue until such time as one of you separates himself from the other one. If it stays the same, and right now you’re both being effective, then we’ll continue to do it,’” Jones recalled telling his quarterbacks. Although the coaching staff reserved the right to delegate playing time based on performance, Jones said he was never forced to choose between the two. Gargis and Knott split time under center throughout the season, swapping in and out every two series. The tandem carried the team to a 13-2 record and the AHSAA Class 5A state title, which the Patriots won in the game’s fifth
overtime against Benjamin Russell High School. Homewood played both quarterbacks again the following season in 2001 and won 14 games. The team returned to the state final, but lost to Benjamin Russell, 20-13. “Both of them are in the top four and five in every passing category, except for one of them has more yards for his career because he played one more year than the other one did,” Jones said of Gargis and Knott. While past success is no guarantee of future effectiveness, the tales of triumph from 2000 and 2001 represent the ideal results of a two-quarterback approach. They also offer a blueprint for action, as Jones said that using both Hatcher and Williams could extend throughout the fall. “There’s a part of you that wants them both to play all the time just like we did before, but I’m not going to do all that if one of them’s more productive, does better than the other one,” Jones said. “I told them in the past, ‘Your performance is going to make the difference.’”
Regional play in full swing for Patriots By KYLE PARMLEY The Homewood High School football team is coming off four straight nine-win seasons, including a second-round state playoff berth last fall. Class 6A, Region 5 play kicks off Sept. 2 and is always a critical part of the Patriots’ schedule. “Expectations are really high this year,” said head coach Ben Berguson. “We’ve got some work to do … We’ve gotten better every week since spring training.” The Patriots kick off region play with a match-up against a team they have never faced in Parker. Andre Robinson is in his second stint as head coach of the Thundering Herd and always fields a competitive football team. The following week, Homewood packs up and heads to Jackson-Olin for a road contest against the Mustangs. The Patriots have won all six meetings between the two programs, including a 27-3 decision in 2015. “There will be a lot of speed in the region,”
Berguson said. “Our main goal is to worry about ourselves, and us just getting better every week throughout the season.” On Sept. 16, Homewood travels to Helena for a non-region contest. The two teams have never met on the field, as the Huskies are only in their third year of existence. Following a week off, the Patriots wrap up September against John Carroll on Sept. 30. The Cavaliers went winless last fall but are under new leadership in head coach Logan Colafrancesco. In the crosstown battle, Homewood holds a 23-6 edge, and last lost in 1999. “I want to take that next step,” Berguson said. “I’m looking for that 10th win every year. If we keep grinding, it’ll happen. We’ve actually won three region championships (in the last four years). We’re beyond having that goal of just making the playoffs every year. Our goal is to win the region every year … I need the magic formula to get past that ninth win.”
The Homewood Star
B6 • September 2016
New leaders aim to carry on tradition of championships Cross-country coach believes both boys, girls have shot at winning state titles By SAM CHANDLER Since Lars Porter took over as head coach of the Homewood High School distance program in fall 2012, the boys cross-country team has experienced a golden age. The Patriots have won four state championships in four years after going title-less throughout the first four decades of the school’s existence. Despite the loss of a decorated senior class that included a trio of All-State performers, the Homewood boys will try to make it five this fall. “At first glance, you go, ‘Man, when those guys graduate, what kind of void are we going to have?’” Porter said. “The truth is, I don’t think we’re going to have any kind of void because we’ve got another wave of young men that are interested in continuing what we’ve started. We’ve won four straight in a row, and this next group wants to push it to five, six and beyond.” Porter said sophomore Will Stone and senior Paul Selden will likely emerge as the team’s top two runners, though he said the Patriots’ depth makes it hard to identify a clear front-runner. Stone earned All-State honors at last fall’s Class 6A state meet with a fourth-place finish. His personal-best 5K time of 16 minutes, 21.05 seconds made him Alabama’s second-fastest freshman, regardless of classification. “There were a lot of seniors that were there to push me and other teammates,” Stone said, “but I’m still confident in the team. There are
“
I think we’re going to have one of those team dynamics that leads to success.
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LARS PORTER
definitely still other teammates to push. We push each other, and hopefully we’ll just be able to get better together.” Selden placed 18th at state last fall, but had a strong outdoor track season this past spring. Porter said Pierce Jackson, Will Smith and Azariah Kipchumba should join Selden and Stone atop the team’s leaderboard. “I think we’re going to have one of those team dynamics that leads to success,” Porter said. “If you have an off day, a teammate’s going to take your spot or carry your burden for you, and even if you have a great day, there are going to be others that are right there with you. I think we’re going to be a pack-hunting kind of team.” That’s exactly the way Porter said he wants it. Dating back to his days as a coach at Birmingham-Southern College, Porter said he has always favored a roster steeped in depth. “I think that your top five really get better when your six through 10 are competitive and
Homewood High School sophomore Will Stone is a candidate to emerge as a front-runner on the Patriot boys cross-country team. He finished fourth at last fall’s Class 6A state meet. Photo courtesy of Josh Donaldson.
pushing and vying for those spots,” Porter said, “when everyone feels that they can be the team leader and it’s within reach, then they work harder towards it. I think it gives a huge advantage.” The Homewood girls cross-country team placed third at state in 2015, but Porter said an influx of talented freshmen could propel the Patriots to their first-ever team title. Ninth-graders Lainey Phelps, Edie Smith, Celie Jackson, Zoe Nichols and Isabel Burgess will anchor a class that Porter said has the potential to become the best in school history.
Four of the five have prior varsity experience, and Phelps was the 6A state runner-up as a seventh-grader in 2014. “As I kind of dream four years down the road, I see them kind of following the path of the senior boys that just graduated,” Porter said. “They came in, took ownership of what they were doing; they prioritized it; they supported each other and achieved a great deal.” The Homewood boys and girls cross-country teams kicked off the 2016 season at the Montevallo Early Bird Classic on Friday, Aug. 26.
e
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2016 • B7
Community
Among the Vietnam veterans recognized were Stan Middlebrooks, Richard Hassinger, Robert Crooks, Tommy Ray, Billy Jett and Richard Lauer shown with Joan Lewellyn, Lily of the Cahaba, DAR. Photo courtesy of Don Roser.
DAR recognizes Vietnam veterans of Shades Valley American Legion Post As the nation marks the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, members of American Legion Post #134 who served during that war were recognized recently at a ceremony hosted by the Lily of the Cahaba Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. “On returning home, many veterans of that era did not receive the recognition they deserved for their service and sacrifice,” said Don Roser, commander of the Shades Valley Post. “We’re very pleased that the DAR continues to remember and appreciate the sacrifices of those who served our country. And not just for the veterans of Vietnam, but for all who have served. One of our objectives with the American Legion is to be the voice of Alabama’s veterans and to make sure that the benefits earned — and promised — to those who serve our nation in uniform are preserved. Those promises must not be forgotten.” The Lily of the Cahaba Chapter, NSDAR, is
a Commemorative Partner of the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. In the past year, the Hoover-based DAR chapter has provided more than 200 Vietnam veterans with certificates of appreciation and lapel pins in honor of their service to our country. Roser added that American Legion membership is open to men and women veterans from earlier wars as well as veterans of the Persian Gulf, Desert Storm and more. Active-duty members are also eligible to join. “The American Legion Department of Alabama is 19,000 members strong and growing. We need active veterans to continue our work within the communities,” Roser said. “We focus on the four pillars of the American Legion: veteran rehabilitation, children and youth, Americanism and national security.” For more about the Lily of the Cahaba Chapter or membership, visit lilyofthecahaba.com. — Submitted by Don Roser.
AA team, left to right, front row: Emily Owen; middle row: Ava Traylor, Jayce Johnson, Royce Bitten, Nate Harrington, Brayden Parker, Jack Rice, Charlie Slaughter, Jeffrey Bass; back row: Bill Traylor, Shawn Parker, John David Owen, Andy Harrington. Players not pictured: Charlie Denson, Lauren Frazier. Photo courtesy of John David Owen.
Homewood’s Joy League crowns 2016 division champions The Joy League in Homewood recently completed its 59th consecutive season of daytime baseball. Commissioners Perry Akins and Ted Hagler awarded trophies to the teams that won their 2016 division championship: ► A- Bucs, coached by Phillip Wehby and Daniel Stephens ► AA- Bucs, coached by John David Owen, Andy Harrington and Bill Traylor ► AAA- Sox, coached by John Cucinotta, Keith Holloway, Zavier Irving and Taylor Robinson Each division champion team played a game against an All-star team composed of 12 players from its division. In addition, All-stars from the Bucs and Cards played the Sox and Yanks in a
T-ball Rookie All-star game. Following those games, the players, coaches and Joy League families enjoyed a traditional watermelon picnic. Each year Joy League games are played on Saturday mornings on the two diamonds at Edgewood Elementary School. There are no tryouts, and all players play in every game. Nearly 200 boys and girls, ages 4-12, played this year. Established in 1958 by the late John J. Smith, Sr., the league provides its third generation of players a fun place to learn how to play baseball. – Submitted by Bill Hutto and Phillip H. Wehby.
The Homewood Star
B8 • September 2016
School House
BEAT THE HEAT
Members of the Homewood High School band and color guard enjoy summer band camp despite temperature
Reed Johnson, Mark Burgess and other members of the Homewood High School band practice during camp. Photos by Scott Butler.
By GRACE THORNTON It’s the kind of suffocating temperatures that can make train tracks bend in England and cause power outages in big cities around the world. But when the sun beats down on Alabama in mid-July, a few Homewood teenagers know that only means one thing: It’s time for band camp. “When they come to that first practice, freshmen are like, ‘Oh, my gosh, what did I sign up for?’” said Terrance Cobb, assistant band
director for Homewood High School. “But by the time they’re seniors, they think that’s the best part of the year. It’s work, but it’s a lot of fun.” For several weeks, the huge marching community of about 400 students will start practicing at 8 a.m. outside, have lunch, meet back inside at 2 p.m. for a second practice, then practice again outside after dinner. “Alabama summers are so hot that our main concern is to keep the kids hydrated by giving them as many breaks as possible,” said Ron Pence, band director.
By 10 a.m., it’s almost unbearable, he said. But that’s when they bring out the ice cream trucks. “We have ice cream trucks and Coke machines on the hill, and local churches bring out popsicles,” Pence said. “And we’ve got a big pavilion up there with big fans that the school built for us for the kids to get out of the sun. We try to make it as enjoyable as possible. It’s really a lot of fun.” Senior Kalise Morgan laughs, but she agrees. “The hardest part is definitely the sun — it
is beating down on you,” she said. Morgan played saxophone during middle school and started high school in that role before switching to color guard as a sophomore. Both are hard, she said. “But it’s exciting. You get to the halftime shows in the fall, and all that work feels like it pays off,” Morgan said. Senior color guard member Kayla Wilson agrees. “When it gets hot, the heat gets to us, and it gets annoying when you have to practice the
TheHomewoodStar.com same thing over and over again,” she said. “But when I got to do my very first halftime show a few years ago, I felt like all the hard work, tears and sweat had been worth it.” The band and color guard are a family, she said. And that makes both the payoff and the practices enjoyable. “The fun thing about the summer is that we’re out there with our friends,” Wilson said. Morgan also said that was the best part. “You get to bond and really know people through that experience,” she said. Though the freshmen may be a little shocked by the heat at first, the upperclassmen come ready for the social aspect, Cobb said. “They know they’ll get to see their friends and hang out all day,” he said. “They get around each other and kind of feed off each other.” And they welcome the freshmen in, Cobb said. “The older kids are so welcoming, and they help the freshmen adjust,” he said. “They also give them rides to the local restaurants when they have lunch breaks, and that’s a good bonding time for them to get to know the older band members.” They’ve found ways to make it fun over the years, having events such as costume theme nights, Cobb said. “They’ll have things like twin night or like salad dressing night, where the different sections will dress up like dressings — like togas for Caesar salad, or western wear for Ranch,” he said. Assistant band director Chris Cooper said it’s made Homewood’s band a fun place for them to be. “It’s kind of strange actually how much they love band camp, it being so hot outside,” he said with a laugh. “It’s all about having fun and having a positive approach to it.” It’s something that’s paid off, Pence said, because despite being “not even close” to having one of the biggest schools in the state, Homewood has the biggest band in the history of Alabama. “It’s an exciting thing for us,” he said. “We’re proud of that,” Cooper said. “We keep thinking our growth is over, but we keep getting bigger and doing new and exciting things. It’s a testament to a school that values the band program and a community that supports it.” With all the factors coming together, Homewood’s band is an environment where enjoyment overcomes the heat, Cobb said. “They get together and start talking at other times during the year, and stories always relate back to band camp.” Stories like the time when rain turned into a party, he said. “There was one rehearsal during a recent band camp when it started raining, just a light rain, but we were still trying to wrap things up,” Cobb said. “At first the kids were thinking, ‘Oh, my gosh, why are they keeping us out here?’” But after about five minutes, they were having a ball, running around and playing in the rain, he said. “It’s a chore, practicing — but we’re doing it together. It’s a team building experience. It bonds us together,” Cobb said.
September 2016 • B9
Above: Color guard seniors from left to right: Angelica Everson, Kayla Wilson, Raneisha Smith, TaTyonna Smith, Maria Avellaneda, Destiny Bibbs, Alexis Richarson, Miya Robinson, Kalise Morgan and Brenda Sanchez. Left: Caroline Condon, Hannah Alford, Mary Ann Powell, Jane Ferderber and Kate Sims.
The Homewood Star
B10 • September 2016
summer CATEGORY 1 WINNER
PHOTO CONTEST CATEGORY 1 RUNNER-UP
Roland Culver plays in the sprinkler at his Edgewood home. Photo courtesy of Lindsey Culver.
Norris and Phoebe Hasenfuss set up a lemon “aid” stand outside their Homewood home. Photo courtesy of Molly Hasenfuss.
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2016 • B11
summer CATEGORY 2 WINNER
PHOTO CONTEST Maggie Salvant shows off her copy of The Homewood Star before going horseback riding in Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Salvant.
The Homewood Star
B12 • September 2016
2016
INSIDE spring valley school .......................... b12 INDIAN SPRINGS SCHOOL .......................... B13 THE ALTAMONT SCHOOL .......................... B14 aDVENT EPISCOPAL SCHOOL .......................... B15
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
CREATIVE MONTESSORI SCHOOL .......................... B15
SPRING VALLEY SCHOOL
Spring Valley School is an independent, nonsectarian school for students in grades 2-12 who struggle with dyslexia, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other learning differences. It is the only accredited school in central Alabama devoted to impacting the lives of children with learning disabilities, and it serves children from all over the Birmingham area and beyond. Founded in 2000 by parents seeking better educational opportunities for their children, the school is a nonprofit organization governed by a board of directors. The school recognizes that the learning processes of these students differ from that of their peers and that each student possesses unique academic needs. As a result, the school offers a multi-sensory (visual, auditory and tactile), language-based instructional program presented in small classes (between five and nine students). Core beliefs include: ► A successful student sets academic goals and monitors progress in achieving them ► Students excel when they are actively involved in the learning process ► Students thrive when high expectations
KEY FACTS • • • •
GRADES: 2-12 WHERE: 2701 Sydney Drive CALL: 423-8660 WEB: springvalleyschool.org
are coupled with opportunities to achieve academic success ► The curriculum must incorporate a variety of teaching strategies to accommodate various learning styles ► Students become good citizens by contributing to their community through leadership and service. Spring Valley School is accredited through AdvancED (formerly the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools). To learn more or to discuss admission, contact their administrative assistant at 423-8660 to set up an interview with the executive director and a tour of the school. Spring Valley School thanks the many donors who helped make their dream of a new building a reality!
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
TheHomewoodStar.com
indian springs school For more than 60 years, our threefold mission has set us apart: We seek to develop in students a love of learning, a sense of integrity and moral courage, and an ethic of participatory citizenship. Our motto, “Learning Through Living,” continues to resonate with students, faculty and more than 2,000 alumni. Indian Springs prepares students not just for college, but for the world. We start with talented, award-winning faculty who are committed to the highest standards of teaching, and we give them freedom to innovate. We then bring together a diverse group of just over 300 boarding and day students from across the street and around the world and give them the tools they need to learn to think critically, listen respectfully, seek creative solutions and make a difference in their community. Our programs spark imaginations, both inside the classroom and out. Alumnus and award-winning writer John Green ’95, author of “The Fault in Our Stars,” “Paper Towns” and “Looking for Alaska,” says he became a learner at Indian Springs because he found himself in a “community of learners.” Springs’ comprehensive core curriculum, AP classes, electives and limitless opportunities for independent study allow students to explore their individual interests while also challenging themselves intellectually and academically. Hailing from 10 countries and 13 states, our boarding and day students come together to create opportunities for new styles of learning, understanding and growth. Last year, Indian Springs celebrated the opening of 18 new classrooms made possible through gifts to the largest capital campaign in the school’s history, Springs Eternal. The classrooms feature 75-inch Clear Touch
September 2016 • B13
KEY FACTS • GRADES: 8-12 • WHERE: 190 Woodward Drive, Indian Springs, AL • CALL: 988-3350 • WEB: experiencesprings.org
“
Schools with a boarding component like [Indian] Springs are able to bring a wonderful mix of students to campus to learn together, and that diversity is a vital part of what the best schools in the country are offering.
”
HEAD OF SCHOOL DR. SHARON HOWELL
interactive learning panels to foster interactive learning and global connectivity. Springs is one of the first schools in Alabama to have the movable panels, which also allow students to take virtual classes through the select Malone Schools Online Network. Built for energy efficiency using eco-friendly materials, Springs’ new classrooms integrate seamlessly with the school’s beautiful, 350-acre campus, which was designed in the early 1950s by the celebrated landscape architecture firm the Olmsted Brothers.
Located just 15 minutes from downtown Birmingham, the campus features the school’s organic Fertile Minds Learning Garden, a 12-acre lake, biking and hiking trails and numerous opportunities for outdoor learning and recreation. Inspired by their surroundings, our students challenge themselves and put responsibility into practice by taking part in Springs’ distinctive student government, which works with faculty in a model of shared governance; by singing in the school’s acclaimed, 120-member Concert
Choir, which performs around the world; by pushing themselves to excel through Springs’ competitive athletic and scholastic teams; and by giving back through countless student-run clubs and service opportunities. The result: happy, creative, motivated young people who ask much of themselves, love learning, and look for ways to make a difference. We welcome you to visit and experience Springs for yourself.
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
B14 • September 2016
The Homewood Star
THE ALTAMONT school Altamont is more than a school where talented, smart individuals gather together to learn. It is a community of caring, like-minded leaders who come together with the common goal to inspire, educate and encourage one another to reach full potential. At Altamont, we are preparing students to be good citizens; educating compassionate, curious, students; committed to producing wellrounded students; a rigorous school with strong core values; a family. We will encourage and support our students’ interests; graduate mature, enlightened students who are prepared for their life and career; prepare the next generation to be critical thinkers; do everything in our power to see your child succeed. We do this because we care; we believe in unending possibilities; we’re small, passionate and competitive; we believe in truth, knowledge and honor. Each day at Altamont, we strive to improve the fabric of society by graduating compassionate, educated individuals capable of independent thinking and innovative ideas. That is never more important than in today’s changing and fast-paced world. Preparing students for the world requires both balance and breadth, and this is where Altamont’s faculty stands out. No matter a student’s passion or strength, each one is nurtured and allowed to grow, mature and learn in a caring environment. We are confident that our students are articulate, passionate and ethically aware young people who will make a difference in the world, hold themselves to a higher standard and lead trustworthy lives. Altamont is a small family with socio-economic, ethnic and religious diversity, and our honor code is essential to the fulfillment of our mission. The school has an intensive college preparatory academic program with a
KEY FACTS • • • •
personalized college search program, including an annual college tour. And the school offers many opportunities for children to develop multiple talents by participating in arts, foreign language, leadership programs, community service, clubs, class projects, science competitions and sports — all at the same time.
We seek highly motivated students who crave greater breadth and challenge in all areas of school life. The school awards about $1 million in merit and need-based scholarships each year in order to attract the best, brightest and most diverse student body. Altamont’s main campus is on 28 acres on
GRADES: 5-12 WHERE: 4801 Altamont Road S. CALL: 879-2006 WEB: altamontschool.org
the crest of Red Mountain just south of downtown Birmingham. The main school building houses 40 classrooms, two science wings, a fine arts center, a student center, an art gallery and sculpture garden, a computer lab, a 14,000-volume library and special studios for chorus, art, photography and orchestra. The athletic facilities include two gymnasiums with basketball and volleyball courts and a weight room. The main campus offers six tennis courts, a soccer field and a track. A second campus provides another gymnasium as well as soccer, baseball and softball fields. Please join us for one of our Open Houses to learn more about our school, our students, our mission and what sets us apart.
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
TheHomewoodStar.com
ADVENT EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
Since its establishment in 1950 in downtown Birmingham, Advent Episcopal School has built a national reputation for academic excellence. Offering 4-year-old kindergarten through eighth grade, Advent is a diverse community of bright children who excel in an environment that is safe, stable and enriching. Our graduates attend the most prestigious high schools in the country, well poised for the road ahead. As the only PK-8 school in downtown Birmingham, Advent is able to take advantage of the rich and extraordinary educational and cultural opportunities at our doorstep. Meaningful exposure to fine art, music, foreign language and critical thinking spurs intellectual curiosity amongst our students. Advent is small by design, even though our students come from 44 different zip codes. Every Advent student is known by name. They are challenged, celebrated for who they are, filled with wonder and have a willingness to learn.
September 2016 • B15
CREATIVE MONTESSORI school
KEY FACTS • GRADES: PK-8 • WHERE: 2019 6th Ave. N., Birmingham • CALL: 252-2535 • WEB: adventepiscopalschool.org
Passions, such as Chinese, chess and soccer are realized and fostered here. Advent is an extraordinary place to be.
DID YOU KNOW?
► 10 percent of Advent students are residents of Homewood ► 11 percent of Advent faculty and staff are residents of Homewood ► Recipient of the 2015-16 AISA President’s Award ► 2015-16 AISA Blue Ribbon School.
Creative Montessori School (CMS) is dedicated to providing an authentic Montessori environment for our students. We value each child’s unique potential and nurture our students’ inherent ability to meet challenges with divergent thinking skills, self-confidence, adaptability and resilience. Children at CMS learn all the same things that children in a traditional school will learn — plus practical knowledge such as conflict resolution, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship. It is how they learn and how they feel about learning that is quite different and truly valuable. Montessori classrooms are designed to foster intellectual curiosity by facilitating individualized, independent, purposeful work within a warm and peaceful setting. The result is children who fall in love with learning. Students are allowed to learn at their own pace under the caring and thoughtful guidance of a professionally trained Montessori teacher. Founded in 1968, CMS is Birmingham’s first Montessori school; the first local
KEY FACTS • GRADES: 18 months-6th grade • WHERE: 2800 Montessori Way, Homewood, AL 35209 • CALL: 205-879-3278 • WEB: cmskids.org
private school to be racially integrated from inception; and the first to offer science, world geography and foreign language to preschoolers. Today, CMS enrolls students from 21 zip codes and is located on a 2-acre campus in the heart of Homewood. Our affordable tuition makes exceptional education accessible to families with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. We cut the ribbon on our beautiful, new building this month. The community is invited to take a tour of the school during our Open House on October 2 from 3-5 p.m.
The Homewood Star
B16 • September 2016 SLEEPING
CONTINUED from page B1 said, and merely his presence patrolling commercial and residential areas can help deter crime. “There’s an old saying, ‘Nothing good happens after 2 a.m.,’ and working this job I can attest to that. We see a lot more of violent crime at night, a lot more of, I guess, crimes against persons is the best way to put it, and more alcohol-involved situations,” he said. Shiloh is one of three dogs at HPD trained in tracking, apprehension and narcotics detection. He only has been called to use his apprehension skills once while they’ve been a team, Jeffcoat said, but Shiloh’s nose is put to use every week. Because of the frequency of narcotics finds, Jeffcoat said he has to constantly keep up Shiloh’s training. “These guys find narcotics on a regular basis. Apprehensions are few and far between, but when it does get to that point, they save property and may save lives,” he said. While the job has its exciting moments, a lot of their time is spent slowly driving through parking lots, looking for the telltale signs of a broken window or unlocked door. As they work, Jeffcoat has to remember when his fourlegged partner needs a break from the car. Though he can’t talk, Shiloh has learned to use his feet to make a lot of noise when he wants a break — or if a park is nearby, and he wants to play. There are hard parts to working the overnight
shift, including the more serious crimes. Every time he does a traffic stop, Jeffcoat said he never knows what to expect. “The biggest challenge in law enforcement on any shift,” Jeffcoat said, “the person in that call that you’re going to, they know their intentions. They know if they have weapons; they know if they plan on dying tonight or killing somebody tonight, or they’re not going to jail, whatever. We don’t know if we’re walking up to grandma just speeding to church or if we’re walking into a hardened criminal.” It also takes some adjustment for his wife and young children, who get home when he is waking up. Jeffcoat said he has to plan events in the afternoons, between waking up and going to work, or make the decision to skip his sleep if a family event happens in the morning. “It’s not easy. I wouldn’t say that because there’s always concessions,” he said. But night shift suits his personality so much that Jeffcoat has chosen to stay there for most of the past seven years. “There are some plus sides. Less traffic — if we need to get to a hot call or get to an officer to help an officer, we can get there quicker. There’s less danger because there’s less traffic, less citizens out,” Jeffcoat said. “If you’re going to enforce traffic, it’s easier to do it with 100 cars on the road than 1,000 cars on the road.” Plus, fewer calls at night mean he has more time for patrolling and seeking out potential criminal activity, which he prefers. “It’s never been a challenge or a chore to me,” he said. “And you get to meet interesting people at 4 a.m. on a Tuesday.”
Shiloh is a Czech shepherd and has worked with the police department for about four years. Photos by Sydney Cromwell.
HOLLER & DASH
As Jeffcoat and Shiloh are finishing their last game of fetch and heading home, the employees of Holler & Dash on 18th Street are on their way to work. General Manager Brandon Rogers and his crew arrive between 5:45 and 6 a.m. to prepare for the restaurant’s 7 a.m. opening. He gets to see the sunrise as he drives through a mostly empty city. “You also get to see what places look like before they wake up,” Rogers said. “Homewood is very quiet. If you really take the time to look at all the architecture in the buildings and the businesses, it’s really, really cool to see the weird, diverse mixture here.” Before Holler & Dash opens, the crew begins making everything from biscuits and fried chicken to grits and gravy, so it can be ready for the morning customers.
Jackie Evans’ first batch of biscuits is made before Holler & Dash’s doors even open.
They’ll continue cooking until the restaurant closes at 2 p.m., then clean up and head home. Rogers said after a few weeks’ adjustment, the early morning shift isn’t too difficult. “The morning shift, it takes some getting used to, but it’s actually really great to get up early, get your day started and feel productive,” he said. “I’ve never been a 9-to-5 type of person. I get too restless.” Like Jeffcoat, Rogers said his family has to adjust and he can’t be part of any late-night plans. But he enjoys the energy of the restaurant in the mornings and the music they sometimes play to help wake up. Jackie “Brown” Evans, Holler & Dash’s biscuit chef, has been with the restaurant since it opened in the spring. It’s the first time she’s worked a consistently early
job. She said it took her some time to adjust, but she said she enjoys that it’s peaceful in the mornings and the work that goes into every batch of the hundreds of biscuits she makes per day. The secret to good biscuits: “To be firm yet gentle. Everything has a precise amount of measurement, but it’s also the feeling and the texture of the dough,” Evans said. “This is like my favorite thing to do.” Evans said that between her job and her daughter, she doesn’t frequently go out after work. Sometimes, she sacrifices sleep for her art and stand-up performances. Other days she reaches home and is asleep nearly immediately. “You’re kind of on everybody else’s schedule because everybody usually is on 8-to-5, so by the time you get off work,
they’re still working,” Evans said. For some people, the early start to their day actually works better. Bria Robinson is a UAB student and works in both the kitchen and the front of Holler & Dash. Leaving work in the early afternoon fits her school schedule and makes it easy to see friends. She said it’s no more challenging than a 9-to-5 shift would be. “No one is awake at this time of the day, and I get off at 3, so when I’m getting off is when people my age are usually starting to do things,” Robinson said. “You just go get it done.” To work odd hours, Robinson said it takes extra energy and positivity to be successful. But when that happens, Rogers said Holler & Dash feels more like a family. “We have a really good time,” he said.
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2016 • B17
HOMEWOOD PARKS & RECREATION Homewood Community Center Zumba with Ca.m.ille
Zumba classes at The Homewood Community Center will resume in 2017!
Dance Trance
Tuesday & Thursday 5:45 p.m.-6:45 p.m. Wednesday & Saturday 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. All Classes at Homewood Community Center – Fitness Studio 2 Dance Trance is a high-cardio, high-energy dance fitness experience that leaves participants soaking wet! It is a non-stop workout that feels more like a party than an exercise class. www.dancetrancefitness.com
Young Rembrandts
Young Rembrandts drawing classes, uses step-by-step curriculum to teach funda.m.ental art skills in a nurturing environment that gives children an academic advantage. Classes for boys and girls 5 to 12 years of age. Contact Chris Roberson at (205) 943-1923 for more information and to register or visit www.youngrembrandts.com to enroll anytime.
North Star Martial Arts
North Star Martial Arts primary focus is to make a life lasting impact on our students, and their fa.m.ilies. Classes range from beginners to adults. For detailed class listings and times please visit the park’s website or www.northstarkarate.com. 205-966-4244 • masterjoe@northstarkarate.com
Belly Dancing with Aziza
Class Fee: $60 cash only Contact Aziza: 205-879-0701 azizaofbirmingha.m.@att.net www.azizaofbirmingha.m..com Learn the ancient art of Middle Eastern belly dance with Aziza, over 40 years of experience in performance and instruction. Each session is 5-weeks long on: Monday: Beginners, Tuesday: Intermediates & Thursday: Advanced.
Royce Head Personal Training Affordable small group training sessions are available to members in the community center weight room. Each 30 min workout is fast, fun, safe, and effective and each person is started with a progra.m. to fit their fitness level. $25 Per Session (or) 12 Sessions for $250 Call Royce for more information: (205) 945-1665
Tango Argentino
Introductory lessons and guided practice. 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. HWCC Fitness Studio 2. 1st & 3rd Wednesday each Month – 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
360 Personal Trainer Fitness Bootca.m.p
Bootca.m.p style fitness classes at Homewood Community Center. Classes Meet: Mon/Wed/ Fri 5:30 a.m.-6:30 a.m. Michael Brooks – michaelbrooks360@gmail.com
@homewoodparks
Homewood FIT – Women’s Bootca.m.p
Join this all women’s bootca.m.p happening right here in Homewood. Monday & Wednesday – 5:45 a.m.-6:45 a.m. www.homewoodfit.com
Blue Line Combatives
Wednesday 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Blue Line Combatives teaches self-defense and urban survival instruction. Classes and private training are available for all ages. Call or email for additional information: Instructor Jon P. Newland jon.newland442@gmail.com • 205-296-1250
Cheerleading & Tumbling Classes
Steel City Cheer classes cover all cheerleading and tumbling necessities: motions, jumps, cheers, stretching, conditioning and tumbling. Grades 4th – 9th and all skill levels welcome. Monday 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. For more information contact DeeDee: PDEveritt@gmail.com • 901-734-0277
Entourage Line Dance Class Saturday 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Homewood Community Center – Fitness Studio 1 Cost: $7 per class Come join us for your alternative to exercise. A Fantastic way to burn calories and have lots of fun while you do it. Michele Bryant Tolliver - Dance Instructor (205) 718-6375
Children’s Ballet with Claire Goodhew
Beginning ballet moves taught as a foundation for many types of dance. Students will work on coordination, balance, rhythm and flexibility while developing listening skills and strengthening muscles. Fall classes begin mid-September. Monday 4 p.m.-4:45 p.m. For additional information call Claire: (205) 879-8780
HomeFit Fitness Consulting
“With personal training starting at $60 per 45-minute session, HomeFit is one of the area’s fastest growing fitness companies, proudly serving Homewood Community Center with Alaba.m.a’s elite mobile personal training tea.m.. HomeFit will provide you with the personal attention of an insured, nationally certified Fitness Consultant. Contact HomeFit today to experience why they are the ideal option for your busy schedule. Visit www.homefitconsulting.com to learn more.”
YoLIMBER
Vinyasa yoga classes in an energetic environment using upbeat music. All levels welcome. Friday 9:30a.m.-10:30a.m. Contact Marla: 205-223-8564 mac@yolimber.com
Homewood Senior Center Seated Exercise Class – Mon,Wed & Fri (10:30 a.m.) 45-60 min. Gentle joint movement as warm-up; stretching & strength portions are led with an emphasis on proper breathing; includes 10 min of standing exercises designed to practice balance/weight shifting. Line Dancing “Smart Moves” – Tue & Fri (9:30 a.m.) Beginner to Intermediate movement sequences are taught for each song, a sequence is repeated multiple times but facing a different direction with each repetition. Styles of music vary. Not only exercises the body but also the mind, as participants must recall the sequence and repeat it. DanceFit with Galina – Tues (2 p.m.); Fun and easy movements to music from various genres. Low to moderate intensity exercise focusing on muscle conditioning, balance, range of motion and flexibility. Review and practice of the Tai Chi the last 15mins of class. Yoga – Wed (1:15 Chair / 1:45 Standing / 2 Floor) Yoga class is divided into three segments, participants have the option to participate in as little or as much as they desire. 30 minutes of chair yoga; is followed by 15 minutes of standing yoga and the class concludes with 15 minutes of floor yoga. Tai Chi – Thurs 2 p.m.: Very slow movement sequences repeated multiple times. Weight shifting and directional changes are executed through slow transition. Gentle on the joints and safer than dance for persons with equilibrium challenges. Not only exercises the body but also the mind, as participants must recall the sequence and repeat it. Kathy Hagood Personal Training – members only. Kathy focuses on orthopedic issues and restorative training to improve fitness for mature adults, including those with equilibrium, flexibility, strength or other chronic health challenges. Sessions are $35/ hour, Contact Kathy at 422-4025 (or) krhagood@yahoo.com Therapeutic Massage – members only. Licensed Massage Therapist Jim Johnson is available by appointment. $45 for 1 hr table massage, $20 for 20 min chair massage. Contact Jim directly to schedule an appointment: 915-1769 (or) massage.jim@gmail.com Swing Era Jazz Band: “The Usual Suspects” – 1st Thursday, 5-7:20 p.m. – you are invited to come listen – or even get up and dance – during their rehearsals. They are a 10 piece band that includes 7 musicians and 3 vocalists.
Athletics Homewood Youth Basketball League Registration Begins: October Boys & Girls Ages: Kindergarten – 7th grade Go to www.homewoodparks.com for more information on the 2016-17 season.
Homewood Youth Wrestling
Registration: October Ages: Kindergarten – 6th grade Go to www.homewoodparks.com for more information
Labor Day – Monday, September 5th Homewood Community Centers’ Hours 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
Homewood Central Pool
10 a.m.–7 p.m. Homewood Central Pool will close for the season at the end of operation on Labor Day
www.Homewoodparks.com
The Homewood Star
B18 • September 2016
Calendar Homewood Events
Homewood Public Library Events
Sept. 18: Constitution Week. Brookdale. 2 p.m. Program including Dawson Bell Ringers and Samford Colorguard.
Children
Sept. 20: Homewood Chamber September Membership Luncheon. 11:30 a.m. The Club. Visit homewoodchamber.com.
Tuesdays: Wee Ones Storytime. 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. For ages 24 months and younger.
Sept. 20: Birmingham Astronomical Society Meeting. Christenberry Planetarium, Samford University. 7 p.m. Visit bas-astro.com. Sept. 25: Vulcan AfterTunes: Dylan LeBlanc with Duquette Johnston. Vulcan Park and Museum. 2:30 p.m. Visitvulcan.com. Sept. 27: The Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio. 7:30 p.m. Brock Recital Hall, Samford University. $10-$30. Visit etix.com. Sept. 30: Alabama Symphony Orchestra Red Diamond SuperPops! Series. 8 p.m. Wright Fine Arts Center, Samford University. Visit alabamasymphony.org.
Homewood Football Schedule Sept. 2: v. Parker, 7 p.m. Sept. 9: @ Jackson Olin, 7 p.m. Sept. 16: @ Helena, 7 p.m. Sept. 30: v. John Carroll, 7 p.m.
Wednesdays: Wiggleworm Wednesdays. 10:30 a.m. Music and storytime for all ages. Thursdays: Storyday with Nay Nay. 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Storytime for ages 3 and under. Sept. 7: Reading Buddies: Read to Rover with GBHS. 3:30 p.m. Round Auditorium. Practice reading aloud skills on a different group of people (or animals) each month. This program is for K-3rd grade. Online registration is required.
Sept. 17: Family Flix. 10:30 a.m. Zootopia. Round Auditorium. Sept. 19: Lego Club. 3:30 p.m. Round Auditorium. Sept. 20: Infinity Ring Book Club. 6 p.m. Round Auditorium. Discussing Behind Enemy Lines. Pizza and drinks provided. For 4th-6th grade. Registration required. Sept. 21: Kids in the Kitchen. 3:30 p.m. Round Auditorium. Learn culinary skills and techniques for assembling school lunches. For K-5th grade. Sept. 23: Kid Coderz. 3:30 p.m. Round Auditorium. Introductory one-hour coding class for grades 3-6. Online registration required.
Sept. 8: iTween Pokemon Scavenger Hunt. 4 p.m. Large Auditorium. Open to 4th-7th graders.
Sept. 26: Banned Books Bingo. 4 p.m. Large Auditorium. Hear history of why some books have been challenged.
Sept. 9 & 23: Move & Groove Storytime. 10:30 a.m. Round Auditorium. Movement storytime for all ages.
Sept. 27: LibraryFlix. 3:30 p.m. Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Large Auditorium. Popcorn and refreshments.
Sept. 10: Our World Our Library (O.W.O.L) Storytime. Learn about different cultures through story and craft.
Sept. 29: Homeschool Hour: Journalism with Jeh Jeh Pruitt. 1:30 pm. Round Auditorium. Suggested for 4th grade and above. Online registration required.
Sept. 12 & 26: Preschool Playtime. 10 a.m. For ages 3 and under. Sept. 12: STEMologist Club. 3:30 p.m. Round Auditorium. For K-5th grade. Sept. 12: Knight Chess Tournament. 5:30 p.m. Large Auditorium.
Teens Sept. 1: Teen Anime Club. 4 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Discuss and watch Anime, while sampling various Japanese candies. Sept. 6: ACT Practice Test. 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Large Auditorium. Sept. 8: iTween Pokemon Scavenger Hunt. 4 p.m. Large Auditorium. Open to 4th-7th graders. Sept. 12: Teen Advisory Board (TAB). 6 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Open to teens in grades 6-12 who want to take an active role at the Homewood Public Library. An application must be submitted for consideration. Application materials can be downloaded from the library’s website or picked up at the Adult Services Desk. Sept. 13 & 27: Girls Who Code. 4 p.m.6 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. National club is geared toward empowering girls grades 6-12 who are interested in the computer science field. Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops. Sept. 15: Teen Smoothie Challenge. 4 p.m. Round Auditorium. Invent a delicious smoothie creation. Registration required.
Sept. 29: Explore the Universe of Illustrator Ben Hatke. 6 p.m. Large Auditorium. Meet Ben Hatke.
Sept. 20: The Road to College. 6 p.m. Large Auditorium. Information workshop for high school students and parents.
Sept. 30: Sensory Storytime. 10:30 a.m. All ages storytime.
Sept. 24: Teen CPR and First Aid Training. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Round Auditorium. $10. Registration required.
TheHomewoodStar.com
September 2016 • B19
Sept. 26: Banned Books Bingo. 4 p.m. Large Auditorium. Hear history of why some books have been challenged.
Sept. 13: Oxmoor Page Turners Book Club. Discussing The Art of Crash Landing by Melissa DeCarlo. 6:30 p.m. in the Boardroom.
Sept. 27: LibraryFlix. 3:30 p.m. Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Large Auditorium. Popcorn and refreshments.
Sept. 14: First Step Wednesdays: Get the Most Out of Your iPad and iPhone. 2 p.m. Large Auditorium. Workshop geared toward casual users. Apple® certified trainers for Alabama Tech-Ease answer your questions on how to use your Apple® device.
Sept. 27: Banned Books Week: To Kill a Mockingbird. 6 p.m. Large Auditorium. Sept. 29: Homeschool Hour: Journalism with Jeh Jeh Pruitt. 1:30 pm. Round Auditorium. 4th grade and above. Online registration required. Adults Sept. 2: Footprints in the Rainforest: The Explorers of Amazonia with Niki Sepsas. 1 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Learn about the explorers who first entered the Amazon region and helped bring its secrets to life. Sept. 7: OLLI Bonus Program: Animal Behaviorist Lawrence Myers. 2 p.m. Large Auditorium. Lawrence Myers, animal trainer and professor of veterinary medicine at Auburn University, explores behavior problems in dogs and cats, as well as the use of dogs as detectors of drugs, explosives and more exotic targets. Sept. 8: UAB Presents Discoveries in the Making. 6:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. UAB graduate students report on their fields of study and answer questions about the latest research in their fields. Sept. 9: Senior Resources Expo. 1 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Hear from community experts on resources available to seniors on a variety of topics. Sept. 12 & 19: Library Yoga. 10 a.m. in the Large Auditorium. Free yoga classes at the library. All levels of fitness welcome. Sept. 13: Investing in the 21st Century Lunch & Learn. 11:30 a.m. in the Large Auditorium. Taking Control of Your Retirement Workshop & Luncheon. Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., and the workshop will be 12-1 p.m. Participation in the workshop is free. Reserve a spot by Sept. 9 by calling 205298-7439 or emailing leigh.russell@ml.com.
Sept. 16: OLLI Bonus Program: Evangelism in America: A Case of Unintended Consequences with Shirley Worthington. 1 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Sept. 19: Bossypants Book Club. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. at Nabeel’s Café. Discussing The Swans of Fifth Avenue, by Melanie Benjamin. Sept. 20: Genealogy 101: Introduction to Genealogy. 11:30 a.m. in Room 101 on the Lower Level. Sept. 20: The ABC’s of Medicare. 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. in Room 116 (Lower Level). Sept. 21: Reverse Mortgage Seminar. 1 p.m. in Room 116 on the Lower Level. Sept. 22: Neuroscience Café. 6:30 p.m. Round Auditorium. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Overview. Sept. 24: Self–Defense for Women with Det. Juan Rodriquez. 9:30 a.m. in the Large Auditorium. Online registration is required as space is limited. Sept. 27: Dixie’s Pet Loss Support Group. 5:30 p.m. in Room 106 (Lower Level). Grief/loss group is sponsored by the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. Reservations requested. Contact Randy Hicks at 542-7111. Sept. 28: Next Step Wednesdays: iPads & iPhones Intermediate Class. 2 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Workshop geared toward the intermediate user. Apple® Certified trainers for Alabama Tech-Ease, a member of the Apple® Consultants Network, answer your questions on how best to use your Apple® device. Sept. 28: The Better Than Therapy Book Club. 2 p.m. in the Boardroom. Discussing Mrs. Roosevelt’s Confidante by Susan Elia MacNeal.
David Putman is not a liberal or a conservative, he’s a LEADER with a plan for developing real solutions to FIX real problems.
Candidate for Alabama’s 6th Congressional District
The Constitution intended for Congress to be a consensus building institution. Congress should provide real solutions rather than politics that divide Americans.
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David J. Putman
David J. Putman is running for Congress because he wants to help fix our broken system in Washington. David is a solutions man, willing to work across the aisle to serve the best interests of the citizens of Alabama and the nation.
30-year career in management at Alabama Power and The Southern Company U.S. Army 1st Lieutenant • Valedictorian of his law school class Created Homewood Soccer Club
visit our website for more information
www.DavidJPutmanForCongress.com Paid for by David J Putman for Congress. PO Box 660811, Vestavia, Al 35266