The Homewood Star November 2016 by Starnes Media

The Homewood Star

Volume 6 | Issue 8 | November 2016

neighborly news & entertainment for Homewood

Sensory-friendly program launches By AMBER RITCHIE

Laura Tucker, head of children's services, hosts the ﬁrst sensory storytime at the Homewood Public Library. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.

Gratifying Work

The Homewood Public Library has teamed up with KultureCity to bring a new interactive program to children. Sensory Storytime is a periodic program for children and teenagers to “introduce stories and songs in a variety of ways in a sensory friendly atmosphere, in partnership with KultureCity,” according to Laura Tucker, head of the children’s services department at the library. Sensory Storytime, — launched

on Sept. 30 in the library’s children’s department — addresses the need for safely structured programs for individuals with autism and other sensory needs. “Sensory stories will add visuals and movement to normal stories,” Tucker said. The Homewood Public Library has the ﬁrst children’s department in a library to work with KultureCity, she said. KultureCity was founded in Vestavia Hills in 2013. It helps Birmingham organizations bring better

inclusion and awareness to autism. Its aim is less about ﬁnding a cure for autism and more on creating safe spaces to help individuals with autism unlock their full potential, thus changing the “kulture” and inspiring others by bringing visibility and acceptance in communities everywhere. Employees at the Homewood Public Library underwent extensive training and earned certiﬁcation from KultureCity. They have been equipped

See STORYTIME | page A29

PLAN OF ACTION School system begins strategic planning for future growth By SYDNEY CROMWELL

Homewood nonproﬁt aims to help immigrants across Alabama.

y the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year, Homewood City Schools Superintendent Bill Cleveland wants to know exactly what steps to take to make room for the growing number of students at all five Homewood schools. Getting there, however, will take a lot of help from the city’s parents and development experts. In late September, Cleveland and Parks and Recreation Director Berkley Squires presented the results of a comprehensive land use and facilities study by B.L. Harbert International. The study was prompted by classrooms and ballfields across Homewood that are currently at maximum use, with the child population Cleveland only expected to increase. The study also included potential options to accommodate the growth in use across schools and parks. Though the study was a months-long process, Cleveland said it is not even the final step in gathering information, let alone making a decision and acting upon it. “A lot of people think that [the study] is it. That’s really just the first thing,” Cleveland said.

See page A20

The Next Step

Hannah Barber’s court vision and quickness contribute to her success in basketball, which secured her a spot at the collegiate level.

See page B1

INSIDE Sponsors ......... A4 City ................... A6 Business .........A10 Chamber ........A18 School House A25

Sports ............... B5 Events ............... B6 Community .....B10 Opinion ............ B13 Calendar ..........B14

NEW CLASSROOMS, NEW HIGH SCHOOL

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Students ﬂood into a stairwell in Homewood High School. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.

Homewood City Schools enrollment has been on the rise since the 2005-2006 school year, some years even seeing triple-digit growth. Kindergarten enrollment broke 300 students in 2009-2010 and has kept climbing, which is causing ripple effects as the years go on and will eventually impact the high school as well. Cleveland said every classroom in the three elementary schools is being used and the middle and high schools are also seeing constraints in their class and extracurricular offerings. “Every classroom is being used. So this is not a

See SCHOOL STUDY | page A30

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November 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ A3

The Homewood Star

A4 • November 2016

About Us Editor’s Note By Sydney Cromwell Even after a few years of covering Homewood, there’s still something special about this community that I can’t always put my finger on. I was working on this month’s cover story, about the massive undertaking of expanding Homewood City Schools, when I was reminded of that again. As I sifted through enrollment charts, architectural drawings and interview notes, everywhere I looked was evidence of how passionate Homewood residents are about this community. You get involved in your PTO. You show up to meetings to talk about how to provide the best opportunities for you children, even if you don’t agree on what that answer is. You want to improve your community and will put your own shoulder to the wheel to make it happen. It’s still surprising to me as a relative newcomer. I’m from a city that was impersonal and in many ways

disconnected. Issues about schools, sidewalks and small businesses were met with complaints or, even worse, indifference. To come to Homewood and see a superintendent confidently state that moving an elementary school would spark a parent riot — that’s astonishing, but in a good way.

So keep putting your children and your neighbors first. There’s a long road ahead to make these school and park changes happen, and it’s full of dollar signs, monumental effort and quite a few inconveniences. There’s also a long road if the city chooses not to make those changes, and it comes with challenges of its own. Homewood has to decide for itself how to make room for all the new people who want to live here. I can’t tell you what the answer is. But if we all keep in mind what it is that we love most about this little city, then I’m confident the outcome will be a good one.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH Homewood High School football players jump to grab a balloon from the homecoming pep rally Sept. 30. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.

The Homewood Star

Publisher: Managing Editor: Design Editor: Director of Photography: Director of Digital Media: Sports Editor: Page Designers: Community Editor: Community Reporters: Staff Writers:

Copy Editor:

Dan Starnes Sydney Cromwell Kristin Williams Sarah Finnegan Heather VacLav Kyle Parmley Cameron Tipton Emily VanderMey Erica Techo Jon Anderson Lexi Coon Jesse Chambers Emily Featherston Sam Chandler Louisa Jeffries

Contributing Writers: Tara Massouleh Lauren Denton Sarah Tuttle Amber Ritchie Leah Ingram Eagle Molly Wallace Sarah Cook 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 Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (A18) Alabama Outdoors (A14) Alabama Power (B3) ARC Realty (B12) Assurance Financial (A5) Avani Rupa Fine Jewelers (A27) Bedzzz Express (B1, B16) Bob’s Bikes (A19) Brandino Brass (A18) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (A17, A29) California Closets (B8) Campaign to Elect Teresa Hester (A13) Campaign to Keep Judge Thetford (A12) Children’s of Alabama (B1) Christmas Village (B13) Committee to Elect Nakita Blocton for Circuit Court Judge (A25) David J Putman for Congress (A3) Dish’n It Out (B1) EW Fit (A23) Flat Fee Real Estate (A10) High Point Climbing and Fitness LLC (A32) Homewood Antiques and Marketplace (A23) Homewood Chamber of Commerce (A31) Homewood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry (A9) Homewood Parks and Rec (B2) Homewood Toy & Hobby (A24) Huffstutler’s (B13) Huntington Learning Center (A11) Hutchinson Automotive (A29) Issis & Sons (A22) Jimmie Hale Mission (A11) JJ Eyes (A7) Johnny Montgomery Realtor (A21) Judge Elisabeth French-Place 17 (A6) Julie Palmer Campaign (A19) Junior League of Birmingham (B9) Kete Cannon, RE MAX Southern Homes (B8) Mantooth Interiors (A25) McWane Science Center (B7) Moss Rock Festival (B10, B15) Mr. Chen’s (A13) Neuralife (B4) One Man and a Toolbox (A28) Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics (B13) Phoenix Builders (A24) Red Pearl Restaurant (B9) Safe & Healthy Homewood (B5) Salem’s Diner (B14) Shades Valley Dermatology (A5) Shuttlesworth Lasseter LLC (A15) Sikes Childrens Shoes (B5) Sozo Trading Company (B6) Spiro Salt Room/Family Share Massage (B11) St. Vincent’s Health Systems (A28) Sweet Peas Garden Shop (A20) Taco Mama (A20) Tamara Harris Johnson (A21) The Maids (A1) The Whole Dog Market (B6) Uptown at BJCC (B14) Urban Air (A8) Vestavia Hills UMC (B15) Wolf Camera (A2)

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November 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ A5

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The Homewood Star

A6 • November 2016

City

GianMarco’s owner proposes pizza restaurant at Oxmoor Road lot A proposed rendering of Pizzeria GM at 165 Oxmoor Road. Photo courtesy of Giani Respinto.

By SYDNEY CROMWELL A new proposal for the vacant, city-owned lot at 165 Oxmoor Road has been introduced by the owners of Edgewood restaurant GianMarco’s. Owner Giani Respinto provided renderings of the proposed 2,000-square-foot restaurant, Pizzeria GM, to council members and Mayor Scott McBrayer at the Sept. 26 City Council meeting. The proposal was discussed again at an Oct. 10 public hearing. “You could sell that land to anybody. But I have great vision for it,” Respinto said on Oct. 10. Respinto said that GianMarco’s has been successful over the past 14 years, but its “white tablecloth” atmosphere has made it seem inaccessible to some. Pizzeria GM would be “approachable to young families,” Respinto said, which made it ideal for the lot next to Patriot Park. “We want to combine family and date night,” he said. Pizzeria GM would have New York-style pizza by the pie, with the most expensive item being $15. Other menu items include salads, small plates, sandwiches, desserts and 20 draft beers and six draft wines on tap. The renderings Respinto provided include two different outdoor seating areas, one speciﬁcally for the bar and one for the remainder of the restaurant, and a games area that would have space for bocce ball, horseshoes and cornhole. There would be 23 off-street parking spaces. Respinto offered $135,000 for the lot, which is the city’s original asking price. The proposal requests incentives from the city including rebate of ad valorem property tax for 10 years, rebate of business license fees for three years and 50 percent of sales tax (except what is allocated to schools) for 10 years. The incentives are capped at $500,000, and Respinto said he expects to spend around $600,000 developing the site. The council was expected to make a ﬁnal decision on the project at its Oct. 24 meeting, after The Homewood Star’s press date. More details of the project will be developed if the city decides to move forward with the proposal, but Respinto said

he wants to create “something new and cool.” He estimated about a year’s construction time if approved. Other council business included: ► Approval of phases I and II of the Mayfair sidewalk project at funding up to $70,000. ► Approval to purchase two license plate readers for the police department, though the city is still working on its privacy and use policy. ► Accepted a bid of $1,197,000 from Dunn Construction for the ﬁrst stage of the citywide paving project. ► Approved a one-time bonus for city employees out of the

budget surplus, costing $375,000 in total. ► Approved a fence variance at 612 Hambaugh Ave. to build a 4-foot-high picket fence. ► Approved a tent variance at 1114 Oxmoor Road. ► Approved a sign variance at 809 Green Springs Highway. ► Approved a crosswalk on Manhattan Street at Gainswood Road. ► Approved the state-level building construction permit fee and construction industry craft training fee. ► Denied a sign ordinance variance request for 2900 Linden Ave.

TheHomewoodStar.com

November 2016 • A7

Council members are looking into options for bus services in Homewood. Staff photo.

City council to pursue the creation of city bus service

By SYDNEY CROMWELL Homewood City Council approved full funding of the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority’s bus services, but the city’s participation in the program may be short-lived. Ward 3 Representative Walter Jones said council members are looking into options to create their own bus service to run throughout Homewood. The issue arose during budget hearings, when the BJCTA requested an increase in Homewood’s funding from $293,000 to about $347,000. This would not include an increase in services, but rather would help with the construction of the transit authority’s downtown intermodal facility and new buses. Homewood is the third highest contributor to the transit authority. The council initially decided to keep funding at $293,000 and let the BJCTA cut some of its service to match this. Since they did not

have any options available at the time for their own service, Jones said, the council decided to pay the increased amount in return for a new Samford route. The funding motion passed 6-3 at the Oct. 10 council meeting, with Ward 1 Representatives Michael Hallman and Britt Thames and Ward 3 Representative Patrick McClusky opposing. This year’s budget includes $20,000 to pay a consultant to help the city come up with a plan for its own service. Jones said some residents have suggested using a historic trolley for some of its routes. The bus service would not only need to transport riders around Homewood but also have a central hub for riders to connect to BJCTA buses going to and from other Birmingham locations. Jones said he expects a consultant will start work within three to four weeks, and recommendations for how to move forward will be available around January.

Photo by Jon Anderson.

Local laws could hang in balance depending on amendment outcome By EMILY FEATHERSTON When voters take to the polls early this month, there will be several things to consider. In addition to the presidential and congressional elections, as well as a few circuit and district judge races, Alabamians have to vote on 14 amendments to the state constitution, covering a range of topics including impeachment, age restrictions for ofﬁcials and the allocation of state park funds. Of those amendments, Amendment 14 could have a direct impact on dozens of municipalities around the state. “Everybody in the state will be impacted by this amendment one way or another,” State Sen. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) said. Ward was the sponsor of the bill that was passed during the August special legislative session that brought about the vote. Ward explained that the bill comes from an inconsistency between the state House of Representatives’ procedure and the state constitution regarding the required majority to pass a local bill before the state budget is passed.

In December 2015, a Jefferson County court ruled that the process itself violated the constitution. That decision is currently in the appeal process and set to go before the state Supreme Court, but should the court let the ruling stand, over 600 local laws would be “thrown out” due to a technicality, Ward said. The amendment would rectify the procedural inconsistency, and would grandfather in any past local bills that would otherwise be affected. “Every county in the state has some sort of local bill that would be affected by this,” Ward said. Bills as far back as 1985 could be considered unconstitutionally passed, and any local laws affected would have to go back through the state Legislature in order to be back on the books. For Homewood, that would include the 2001 ad valorem tax increase that helps fund the school system, as well as several county measures, including how the transit authority is set up and the countywide occupational tax. The vote on the amendment will take place during the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

The Homewood Star

A8 • November 2016

City Council ready to decide on $110 million in funding for school growth Homewood firefighters attend the Oct. 10 city council meeting, where they were recognized for their recent classification as a heavy duty rescue team. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

By SYDNEY CROMWELL The city council is set to make a decision on whether to fund a massive school and park growth project. This project is featured on The Homewood Star’s cover this month, but the city discussed funding Oct. 10 and in its finance committee meeting Oct. 17 for Homewood City Schools and the Homewood Park Board to expand their facilities to meet demand. These upgrades include new playing fields at West Homewood Park, a pool and tennis courts at Patriot Park, the possible relocation of Homewood High School adjacent to West Homewood Park and the option to either upgrade all three elementary schools or add on a fifth grade wing at Homewood Middle School. Homewood City Schools Superintendent Bill Cleveland estimated the schools portion of the project would be in the range of $55 to 70 million, and Parks and Recreation Superintendent Berkley Squires said the parks renovations would cost about $35 million. The finance committee discussed the option of a $110 million municipal bond to cover the costs of these extensive projects. At the Oct. 17 finance committee meeting, broker Mike Dunn of Stifel public finance presented the city’s options. He said that based on current interest rates and Homewood’s AA credit rating, a 30-year loan at $110 million would cost the city about $6.2 million in annual debt service. Dunn said Homewood can choose to refinance bonds that it took out in 2007 as of Dec. 1, which would save the city a gross $8 million over the term of the bond. The committee discussed a one-cent sales tax increase, which would generate about $7.6 million per year in new revenue to put toward the schools and parks capital projects. Dunn said he would like for the city to take out the bond before Thanksgiving to take advantage of good interest rates. Cleveland pointed out that the school system is still undergoing the strategic planning process and will not have a definite plan or price tag in that timeline. However, Dunn and city attorney Mike Kendrick said that would not impact the bond process. “I don’t know that we have a set number to bring to you Mr. Jones at this point,” Cleveland said. Both issues were set to reappear before the full council Oct. 24, after The Homewood Star’s press date. Visit thehomewoodstar.

com for more information. At its Oct. 10 meeting, the council also: ► Recognized the Fire Department for its recent reclassification as a heavy duty rescue unit, one of only 12 in the state. ► Approved a request to make Rumson Road a one-way street from Yorkshire to Windsor Drive, with traffic heading north, and installation of a sidewalk on the east side of the street. The traffic department will make Rumson drivers aware of the change before enacting it. ► Approved $13,000 for additional trash cans in downtown Homewood. ► Approved a contract for work on the Valley Avenue paving project. The city will pay bills monthly but have 100 percent of the costs reimbursed. ► Approved extra lights on the crosswalk signs at Oxmoor Road and Peerless Avenue.

USE CODE "25HOMEWOOD" FOR

► Approved a sign variance at 150 Green Springs Highway. ► Approved a retail liquor license for Michael’s Restaurant, 1903 29th Ave. S. ► Approved bids from Weil Wrecker Service and Vulcan Park Animal Clinic to continue providing towing and veterinary services, respectively, to the city. ► Set a Nov. 14 bid opening date for city janitorial services. ► Set a Nov. 14 public hearing to consider making Ardsley Road a one-way street. ► Dropped consideration to annex 913 and 1400 Shades Crest Road into the city due to legal issues with the description of the properties. They expect the property owners to reintroduce the request once that is resolved. ► Dropped a request to revoke the retail liquor license for West City Disco, 283 West Valley Ave. ► Denied a bingo permit for Agape House.

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TheHomewoodStar.com

November 2016 • A9

Homewood’s sidewalks are among the facilities and infrastructure that must be brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Staff photo.

City to pursue ADA compliance By SYDNEY CROMWELL The public works committee briefly discussed a plan to bring Homewood into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act at its Oct. 3 meeting. Greg Cobb of the Building, Engineering and Zoning Department said the city will need to name a coordinator to lead the retrofitting work. This would include city sidewalks, buildings and public facilities such as ball fields and the community center. Cobb said the coordinator must be named by January, and a compliance plan must be put into place in order to include it in future city budgets. The discussion was carried over to the next meeting. The special issues committee also met on Oct. 3 to discuss a proposed new tree ordinance. The ordinance was developed by the Homewood Environmental Commission and includes a tree conservation permit that, while free, must be obtained before removing protected tree species that are eight inches or greater in diameter. Removing a tree without the permit would result in a $75 fine and a misdemeanor charge. The proposed ordinance includes a “minimum residual density” of 16 trees per acre for lots one acre or less in size, 20 trees per acre for one-to five-acre properties and 24 trees per acre for properties over five acres. Developments

with parking lots have additional landscaping requirements. Properties that don’t meet these standards would be grandfathered in under the ordinance unless the owners expanded or added new construction on the property. A list of approved native trees for replacement planting was included in the ordinance, which outlines that the city building inspectors would be responsible for enforcing compliance with the ordinance and monitoring tree removal and replanting. The committee and several city employees present had concerns with the ordinance, including its regulation of homeowners’ property and the possibility of ﬁning a resident who wants to add on to their home when a previous homeowner was responsible for the property not meeting the minimum residual density. City attorney Mike Kendrick said that tree removal without a permit was a civil issue, not a misdemeanor, and it’s possible the city could get sued. Vanessa McGrath of the BEZ Department said the biggest concern was ﬁnding a way to enforce the ordinance as building inspectors already have heavy workloads. “Enforcing, again, is the biggest issue we have … because we don’t have the manpower,” McGrath said. No decision was made on the ordinance at the meeting.

Committee supports additional funding for odor resolution By SYDNEY CROMWELL A ﬁnal resolution to the smell issues that have been plaguing West Homewood for over a year could be enacted by the end of 2016. At Monday’s special issues committee meeting, committee members discussed a set of proposals by Volatile Analysis, Buffalo Rock and Dean Foods for further odor source identiﬁcation. Volatile Analysis representative Katherine Bazemore has offered to work with both food companies to review their proposals and methods, share this information with the city and develop a schedule to monitor the companies’ progress in eliminating odor sources. Ward 2 Representative Fred Hawkins said this could result in odor sources being eliminated by December. The city could choose to oversee progress itself, but committee members said they did not feel like they had the necessary experience to provide feedback to Buffalo Rock and Dean Foods and monitor their progress.

“

We’re close to the end of the rabbit hole. We’ve just got to keep digging a little further.

”

FRED HAWKINS

“I was just hoping for something sooner,” Ward 5 Representative Peter Wright said. Volatile Analysis’ proposal would cost the city $14,760 and would help the companies “generate a ﬁx,” Hawkins said. The full council planned to decide whether to fund the proposal at its Oct. 24 meeting. Visit thehomewoodstar.com for more information on that meeting. “We’re close to the end of the rabbit hole. We’ve just got to keep digging a little further,” Hawkins said.

The Homewood Star

A10 â&#x20AC;¢ November 2016

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TheHomewoodStar.com

Now Open Sash and Beau [formerly Short ‘n Sweet Consignment Boutique] is now open at 934 Oxmoor Road. 803-3289

Shades Valley Dermatology, owned by Dr. Kate Flanagan, is now open at 813 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 205. Dr. Flanagan specializes in a full spectrum of medical dermatology including skin cancer screenings, pediatric dermatology and other forms of skin concerns such as acne, psoriasis, rashes, warts, molluscum, eczema and general skin care and sun protection. 578-1799, shadesvalleyderm.com

Relocations and Renovations BGrace Media, LLC, has moved into the University Building at 85 Bagby Drive. The agency is owned by Chasiti Shepherd and is a African American Consumer Marketing (AACM) agency. 844-324-7223, bgracemedia.com

Oldacre McDonald, the owner of Wildwood Shopping Center, 277 Lakeshore Parkway, will move forward with an extensive redevelopment to its property, including renovation of more than 150,000 square feet of retail space and new retail pads in hopes of attracting new restaurants. The property is partially located in Homewood and partially in Birmingham. oldacremcdonald.com

Avadian Credit Union announced that it is relocating its branch at 103 Oxmoor Road, inside Buffalo Rock, to the former Regions Bank location at 475 Green Springs Highway. The new location should be open in early 2017. 942-9977, avadiancu.com

Bob’s Bikes has relocated to 2852 18th St. S., adjacent to The Pink Tulip clothing store. 879-2258, bobs-bikes.com

B. Bayer & Co., a monogramming and gift boutique, is open at its new location, 2815 18th St. S. 870-4126, bbayerandco.com

November 2016 • A11

News and Accomplishments Dr. Robert S. Wolf of Alabama Orthopaedic Center, 3525 Independence Drive, has launched a new website. 802-6700, drrobertswolf.com

Brian Sparks, manager with Ingram and Associates and Daniel Homes, 1900 28th Ave. S., Suite 105, was inducted into the Bob Jones High School Hall of Fame, where he was a letterman in baseball, football and basketball in the early 1990s. 871-5360, ingramnewhomes.com

Hirings and Promotions LAH Real Estate, 1760 Oxmoor Road, has hired Kristen Parker as a Realtor. 879-8580, lahrealestate.com 10

Christopher Architecture & Interiors, 3040 Independence Drive, has hired Jared Fulton as a senior architect and Steven Smith as as a senior interior designer. 413-8531, christopherai.com 11

Anniversaries Skin Wellness Center of Alabama, 1920 Huntington Road, is celebrating its seventh anniversary in November. 871-7332, skinwellness.com 12

Stock & Trade, 3048 Independence Drive, is celebrating its fourth anniversary in November. 783-1350, stockandtrade.com 13

Icing on the Cookie, 2907 Central Ave., Suite 101, celebrated its seventh anniversary in October. 871-9852, icingonthecookie.net 14

O’Carr’s Restaurant, 2909 18th St. S., is celebrating its 41st anniversary in November. 879-2196, ocarrs.com 15

Closings Brookwood Medical Group, 2018 Brookwood Medical Center Drive, Suite G5, has closed. The custodian of medical records is Brookwood Baptist Health System. 16

Business news

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The Homewood Star

A12 • November 2016

SoHo gains new art gallery By TARA MASSOULEH Atlanta-based Donna Krueger wanted to bring something fresh to Homewood. The gallery owner behind dk Gallery in Marietta, Georgia, has expanded her business with the opening of a new gallery space across the street from Zoe’s Kitchen on 29th Avenue South in SoHo. Dk2 gallery opened its doors at the former Generation Dog location Aug. 18 with its ﬁrst show, “I’ve Got the Blues,” featuring about 40 pieces from artists nationwide. Krueger, a lifelong art enthusiast and collector, began considering opening a gallery when her youngest child left for college. The 53-yearold advertising and marketing professional said she spent a number of years as a stay-at-home mom and was ready for a change. “It was that ‘What am I going to do with my life?’ moment,” she said. Upon suggestion from a friend and fellow gallery owner, Krueger started looking into opening an art gallery. After receiving overwhelming support from family and friends, she took the plunge and opened dk Gallery in the historic Marietta downtown square in November 2008. Eventually, Krueger began thinking about expanding her Marietta gallery. She said the

resurgence of the Birmingham art community, coupled with the fact that her daughter Jessica lived there, led her to pursue Birmingham as the No. 1 location for a new gallery. In late May 2016, Krueger’s daughter was having lunch at Zoe’s Kitchen in Homewood when she noticed a space across the street was for sale. She told her mother, and less than three months later, dk2 Gallery was open to the public. “We always had our eyes open for space, but this was just the dream,” Krueger said. Krueger said she chose Homewood rather than downtown Birmingham because of the “casual sophistication” and “approachable elegance” the community has. With about 1,200 square feet and about half the space of the original dk gallery, Krueger said her new Gallery was the perfect place to dip her toes into Birmingham. Both galleries represent artists from across the nation in a variety of styles. The dk brand represents more than 30 artists whose pieces, along with those of guest artists, make up Krueger’s monthly collections in both galleries. Though the art in Krueger’s galleries differ in medium, style, inspiration and scope, there is one thing every piece has in common. “I think the word we talk about is ‘fresh,’”

Donna Krueger at the new dk2 art gallery. Photo by Tara Massouleh.

Krueger said. “The subject matter might be traditional, but the work you’ll see in the gallery has a fresh approach to it; it’s work you won’t see every day.” Krueger said she is selective when choosing art and artists for her gallery shows. She looks for artists who have accomplished bodies of work, but more importantly she waits for a feeling. “It’s that ‘aha moment’ when people come in and are stopped dead in their tracks,” she said. “It’s work that emotes a response.” Three such dk2 artists are Birmingham’s own Gina Hurry, Jayne Morgan and Fonde Taylor. All three painters have joined as featured artists at Krueger’s Homewood gallery. Krueger said though she doesn’t exclusively sell Southern

art, her galleries concentrate on the Southern artist because she wants her collectors to get to know the artists behind the work they purchase. Eighty percent of Krueger’s sales come from repeat buyers, and her friends even joke that she creates art addicts. “They become vested in the artist’s career, and that’s a really cool thing,” she said. “We become a family.” New shows at dk2 Gallery will open every third Thursday. September’s show is themed “I’ve Got the Blues,” October is “Inside Out;” November is “Smile,” and December is “Home for the Holidays.” Pieces range from $200 to almost $20,000; dk2 offers delivery, online real-time inventory, layaway and the ability to take work on approval.

TheHomewoodStar.com

November 2016 • A13

Homewood mom puts ‘can’ in candle with Wax & Tin

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By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE Most people either recycle or throw away empty beer cans. But Homewood resident Britney Cowart found a new life for them — as candles. Cowart had a desire to own her own business, but wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted to do. One night, when brainstorming ideas with her husband, he asked her what she liked. She looked over at a candle burning in her den and decided to turn her love of candles into her new business. “I have friends who own small businesses, and they have been successful and give back to the community,” she said. “I thought it was neat and wanted to do something myself.” With no prior experience in candle making, Cowart watched videos on YouTube to learn the process. She bought the supplies and made a few samples for friends, but was still looking for her niche. “I wanted to think outside the box and separate myself from other candle companies,” she said. When she started in February 2015, her husband helped her with marketing and a website, and a friend helped her with her logo and graphic design. A few months later, her cousin, owner of Singin’ River Brewing Company in Florence, asked Cowart if she would pour candles into beer cans for her brewery. She began making those in the fall, as well as cans from local Birmingham breweries that she buys or gets from friends who save them for her. “I did a pop-up shop with some friends and had my beer can candles, and people thought they were great,” Cowart said. “After that, they took off.”

I wanted to think outside the box and separate myself from other candle companies.

Besides beer can candles, Homewood resident Britney Cowart’s Wax & Tin candle company has a line of formal tin cans in white and gold. Photo by Frank Couch.

Originally named Light the Fire, Cowart changed the name of her company to Wax & Tin to give herself a small niche to focus on. Besides the beer cans, she has a line of formal tin cans in white and gold, and also empty paint cans with artwork featured on them.

Offer Expires 11/30/2016

She has three lines: brew, fresh and canvas collection. Cowart also has seasonal scents, including citronella for the summer, cinnamon and spice in the fall, and Christmas scents in the winter. With seven scents available year-round, her most popular are rosemary mint, cashmere,

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BRITNEY COWART

linwood linen and lavender chamomile. Cowart said she wants her candles to be a unique and personal gift, for both women and men. “Men are hard to buy for,” she said. “I wanted to get in the male market with something manly and unique.” Cowart said she wants her business to be purposeful and to give back to the community. She has done fundraisers for several friends who have children with special needs. She also plans to partner with The Wellhouse, donating candles as a gift to new residents. Wax & Tin candles are available online and also in Neighborhood Brew on Valleydale Road and Painted Shovel in Avondale. Cowart also has applied for a few markets around town and hopes to do more markets and art festivals. “It’s been really awesome to be a stay-athome mom but still have a business on the side I can do,” she said. “It’s been really fun and neat and a big undertaking. Hopefully, people will ﬁnd it unique and fun.”

The Homewood Star

A14 • November 2016

Left: Dennis and Carol Gregg in their current Pastry Art shop at 1927 29th Ave. S. Above: The new Pastry Art building will be next door in the former AVX building, “an opportunity we couldn’t turn down,” according to Carol Gregg. Photos by Sydney Cromwell.

Pastry Art prepares to move under one roof By SYDNEY CROMWELL Pastry Art Bake Shoppe is only moving next door, but its new space will have two advantages: enough room for the bakery and wedding areas to be reunited, and a parking lot of its own. “One of the great things about it is we have our own parking lot. That is huge in Homewood,” said owner Dennis Gregg. Currently, Pastry Art’s main bakery is at 1927 29th Ave. S., separated from its wedding meeting rooms by Palmer’s Lampshades and Lamp Repairs. When Audio Video Excellence (AVX) decided to relocate from the beige freestanding building to the former Dorothy McDaniel’s space on 18th Street South, Dennis Gregg and his wife, Carol Gregg, saw “an opportunity we

couldn’t turn down” to bring the two halves of the business back together. “Since we were neighbors, everybody knew each other. It worked out real well,” Dennis Gregg said. The 3,500-square-foot building is roughly equal to the current Pastry Art spaces, but it can be used more effectively when there’s no wall dividing them. Dennis Gregg said that means a kitchen that will roughly double in size to handle wedding and corporate orders along with everyday demand. Plus, about 15 parking spaces will be ready and waiting for their customers. “We’ve outgrown this kitchen over here,” Carol Gregg said. Pastry Art has been in its current spot for 11 years, and Dennis Gregg said he expects to use

the new store for at least 10 years. “We’ve grown every year since we’ve opened,” he said. “We’re basically bursting at the seams now.” The new building will include a lot of the same décor, including the antiques and countertops, to keep the same feel. Dennis Gregg said he and his wife have chosen a few more antique display pieces that they both enjoy. The new wedding meeting room will be about the same size, but Carol Gregg said they will have additional space to display cakes and Baby Bites, their signature item. There’s also more room for waiting customers. “Sometimes over here they’re out the door because we’re lacking space in the front, so this will make them not feel so cramped,” Carol Gregg said.

Since the building used to be ofﬁce space, the Greggs have been working on a full buildout for a couple months. Dennis Gregg said his goal is to open for business in the new space before Thanksgiving. Being right next door will make the move pretty simple, and Dennis Gregg said he’s hoping they can do most of the work during their normal Sunday and Monday closures. The Greggs have been informing customers about the move for several months, but an exact move date has not been decided. Dennis Gregg said they will post more details online when the build-out of the new building is closer to being complete. To stay up to date on the move, go to Pastry Art’s Facebook page and website, pastryartcakes.com.

TheHomewoodStar.com

November 2016 • A15

Homewood couple start soda company By SYDNEY CROMWELL Eric Holsomback could not find the perfect ginger ale, so he decided to make it. That was five years ago. Holsomback, now a West Homewood resident, went through countless variations on his favorite soda to find the exact taste he was looking for. Along the way, friends began pushing him to make more soda flavors and sell them. Last year, he and his wife, Kayla Holsomback, who “married into” his soda-making hobby, decided they wanted to start Wholesome Sodas. They didn’t begin selling until May, when Eric Holsomback was finishing up a business incubator class with REV Birmingham. Both of the Holsombacks work in graphic design and branding, so while they know how to market their products, they said the business side is still new to them. Wholesome Sodas is a play on the couple’s last name, as well as a nod to their ingredients. The Holsombacks use organic cane sugar instead of corn syrup and try to use less sugar and artificial ingredients. With her own dietary restrictions, including limited sugar intake, Kayla Holsomback said one of her favorite parts of the business is simply having something to drink that she doesn’t have to worry about. “So it tastes like a lightly sweetened soda,” she said. They sell bottles at Tropicaleo, a pop-up in Crestwood started by one of Eric Holsomback’s REV classmates, and at Magic City Sweet Ice on Oak Grove Road. Wholesome Soda flavors include ginger ale, orange-lime, grape and “Ginger Hell,” which has a hot-pepper extract added. While the Holsombacks have tried between 15 and 20 experimental flavors, including odd choices such as tomato basil, only about a quarter of them are deemed good enough to sell. “Every now and then you get the one [and]

Eric and Kayla Holsomback with a bottle of their Wholesome Sodas ginger ale. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

you’re like, ‘Oh, I just want to drink this all day,’” Eric Holsomback said. Ginger ale was that ﬂavor for a while, but grape has more recently taken the top spot. Grape is their newest ﬂavor to sell, but the couple have also created a blueberry soda and a root beer they both enjoy. Eric Holsomback said they’re thinking of selling the root beer this fall, but that he’s also created a cola drink that he enjoys mixed into the root beer. “I really like it more than I like my cola or

my root beer, so I think I’m going to go with that,” he said, adding that they’ve yet to come up with a name for the drink. Going forward, Kayla Holsomback said they want to get into more bars and restaurants with their sodas. Eric Holsomback said he likes the idea of having a soda that can be used in mixed drinks as well as by nondrinkers or designated drivers while out with their friends. Right now, Wholesome Sodas is a side

job and both have kept their regular careers. The Holsombacks said they have considered making a retail soda shop, but may just stick to distribution. The next step is ﬁnding a warehouse for soda creation, bottling and storage. Wherever the next step takes them, for the Holsombacks it will still be about enjoying the ﬂavors they create. “My original favorite part is drinking them,” Eric Holsomback said.

The Homewood Star

A16 • November 2016

Delivering groceries & simplifying lives Shipt shopper Liz Willis frequently delivers groceries from the Homewood Publix to area users. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

Resident’s grocery delivery service grows in popularity By MOLLY WALLACE

hoppers at the Publix at Edgemont Town Center have been spotted sporting green T-shirts with spaceship logos. What’s the deal? These T-shirts, not to be confused with the Publix-issued green vests, serve as the uniform for the personal shoppers of Shipt, a Birmingham-based tech startup that offers on-demand grocery delivery. Shipt is the brainchild of Homewood resident Bill Smith, and it is making waves in Homewood and beyond. In regards to the development of Shipt, founder and CEO Bill Smith set out with a mission to simplify peopleʼs lives. “I had no idea when I started Shipt that it would turn into grocery delivery,” he said. Launched in 2014 as an app for same-day product delivery from national retailers, Smith soon began receiving emails from customers requesting a grocery delivery service. It wasnʼt until Smith and his wife ventured to the grocery store shortly after their second child was born that Smith said he realized these customers really were on to something. After that chaotic shopping experience with their newborn and toddler in tow, Smith walked out of the store, turned to his wife, and said, “We have to find a way to make this easier for families.” That revelation led to Shipt transitioning into the grocery delivery service that it runs today.

Using a smartphone app, Shipt members select the groceries they want and a desired delivery window. After that, they wait for their personal shopper to arrive with their items. Smith said the social media hashtag #shiptlife was created by members and represents everything one can do with the time freed from grocery shopping. For banker and Hollywood resident Blake Davidson, #shiptlife means going to the park with his wife and two kids on Sunday afternoons instead of the grocery store. For physician, new mother and Edgewood resident Starr Steinhilber, #shiptlife means the ability to stick to her daughterʼs nap schedule and complete yard work or other house projects. “I really like grocery shopping, so I wouldnʼt use Shipt if it didnʼt actually help,” Steinhilber said. “Our membership base is pretty diverse. We serve busy moms and also young professionals, people who are homebound and people who work nontraditional hours ... basically anyone who is looking for one less errand to run,” said Anne Adams, community manager for Shipt. The Shipt shoppers are men and women, students and retirees, stay-at-home moms and full-time shoppers — people wanting to earn extra income on their own schedules. Shipt, which has been described as “the Uber for groceries,” works as a business model where shoppers can take on as many or as few orders as they would like. Samford student Gabby Philips said she discovered Shipt when she proposed a fictional grocery delivery service for a school project and was required to research her real-life competitors. When she stumbled upon Shipt,

she said applied to be a shopper. It “works great with my rotating class schedule,” she said. Shopper Brenda Ardy is a Homewood resident and nursing student at Lawson State. She said she found out about Shipt from a friend and says she typically runs two to three orders a day. Ardy said she appreciates the flexibility of the job and said she will not claim orders if she has a hectic week with a big exam coming up. Shipt recently launched a partnership with Western Supermarkets, which makes Birmingham the first city where a Shipt member can select between grocers, Adams said. “We turn to our members on social media a lot, and weʼre finding that choices are what our members are wanting to see,” she said. “We are excited to have the technical capability to offer our members options for where they can shop.” Available Western deliveries include the Mountain Brook and Rocky Ridge locations and do not extend the full radius of Publix deliveries, but are available in the 35209 ZIP code. Shipt is simplifying lives and creating jobs well beyond Homewood and Birmingham, officials said. Shipt is up and running in 24 cities in nine states and is constantly expanding. “Demand for grocery service is there because itʼs a tough problem to fix ... but weʼve found a solution,” Smith said. Visit shipt.com for more information.

TheHomewoodStar.com

November 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ A17

The Homewood Star

A18 • November 2016

Chamber Palmer speaks about congressional work at chamber luncheon By SYDNEY CROMWELL As he campaigned for re-election in November, U.S. Representative Gary Palmer visited the Homewood Chamber of Commerce to speak at its Oct. 18 member luncheon. Palmer has represented Alabama’s 6th Congressional District since 2014, and this is his first term in office. He is running for re-election against David J. Putman. Palmer was the president of the Alabama Policy Institute for 24 years and currently serves on the U.S. House of Representatives’ budget committee, oversight and government reform committee and space, science and technology committee. His speech to the chamber was focused on a recap of what Palmer has done in his term and what he sees as the path for the country going forward. In his point of view, the U.S. is facing a multitude of challenges including the national debt, economic growth, current regulations on business, the Affordable Healthcare Act and lack of accountability in government agencies. “My upbringing and my faith define who I am and how I approach these issues,” Palmer said. The bills that Palmer has put forward and supported in his term have been geared toward changing how the government is run in ways that he believes will “unleash the potential of our country,” he said. These have included the Stop EPA

Gary Palmer at the Oct. 18 Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

Overreach Bill, which would stop the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gasses; the ICD-10 “Grace Period” Bill, which gave medical practices an additional two years to learn new Medicare and Medicaid claim codes without being penalized for coding errors; and the Agency Accountability Act, which would require government agencies to deposit collected fees and ﬁnes into the Treasury general fund, where

they could not be used without an appropriations bill. A one year delay was given for the ICD-10 requirements for medical practitioners instead of the two years Palmer requested. The other two bills listed are in House subcommittees according to Congress.gov. These and other legislative decisions he has made, Palmer said, are part of his goal to clearly deﬁne where power in the government

lies and move toward what he believes would be a more constitutional way to run the government. “What I want to do is get the lawmaking back in Congress where you can hold us accountable,” Palmer said. While he feels the nation is facing tough times, Palmer said he thinks honest communication between the people and their representatives will help the U.S. make progress. “We need to raise our expectations of each other,” he said. Palmer brieﬂy commented on the presidential election, stating that it was rare to see both parties’ nominees with high unpopularity ratings in national polls. “What you think about us matters, and it’s happening right in front of our eyes,” Palmer said. Also at the luncheon, Jeff Downes brieﬂy spoke on behalf of the United Way of Central Alabama’s 2016 fundraising campaign, “Together There Will Always be a Way.” Downes, who is also the city manager of Vestavia Hills, said the United Way is seeking individual donors and businesses to donate their time and money to the organization’s work in Birmingham. “If you’re thinking about the community, please think about the United Way,” Downes said. For more information on the United Way, visit uwca.org. Visit homewoodchamber.org for news on upcoming chamber events.

TheHomewoodStar.com

WHAT’S COOKING

November 2016 • A19

JoJo’s on Broadway owner shares recipe for Thanksgiving leftovers By EMILY FEATHERSTON Thanksgiving is a holiday beloved by many for its abundance of comfort foods, but some are left year after year wondering what to do with all that leftover turkey. Joe Resha, chef and owner of JoJo’s on Broadway, has been cooking his whole life and has been operating JoJo’s since April 2012. “I kind of joke and say that it’s a love-hate relationship,” he said about his career in the kitchen, because there is a lot to running a restaurant that can be difﬁcult at times. But when customers enjoy the end result, it all seems worth it. “Nothing makes you happier than to send somebody out a plate of food, and the plate comes back absolutely empty,” he said.

For his Thanksgiving leftovers, Resha said there are several dishes he learned from his family and has enjoyed over the years, including combining leftover vegetables such as green beans and tomatoes over rice. “You’re still doing your leftovers, but it’s not like you’re re-doing Thanksgiving dinner,” he said. His go-to dish, however, combines two other Thanksgiving classics: turkey and dressing — known to those outside of the South as “stufﬁng.” “It doesn’t really have a name,” he said with a laugh, but said it was a staple for his family growing up. “That was always one of our after-Thanksgiving ones,” he said. The resulting dish, Resha said, can be eaten as-is with cranberries and gravy, or put between a couple slices of bread for a unique sandwich.

Joe Resha combines two favorite Thanksgiving dishes into one leftover meal. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.

TURKEY & DRESSING LEFTOVER BAKE RECIPE:

►Leftover turkey ►Leftover dressing ►One to two tablespoons of water ►Cranberries or cranberry sauce (optional) ►Leftover gravy (optional)

STEPS:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 2. Shred leftover turkey into bite-size pieces. 3. Combine turkey and leftover dressing, adding water if mixture is too dry. 4. Spread evenly into a baking dish. 5. Bake until golden brown and serve immediately, adding toppings if desired.

The Homewood Star

A20 • November 2016

Homewood nonprofit helping immigrants across the state By SYDNEY CROMWELL In the 17 years that it’s existed, the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (HICA) has become known in the Hispanic community as a place with an answer for nearly any problem. So much so, that a pregnant woman once showed up at the HICA office when she went into labor instead of the hospital. “That’s kind of the extreme example,” HICA employee Holly Hilton said of the problems the organization sometimes has to solve, but it represents the important niche that HICA has carved out in Birmingham and across the state. HICA is based in Homewood at 117 South Crest Drive and might be recognized by most residents for its annual tamale sale in winter and the HICA night with the Birmingham Barons, where the baseball team wears special “Los Barons” jerseys that are later auctioned off. But these two events are just fundraisers for the work that HICA does in the community every day. “We’re the only organization in Alabama that’s specifically focused on serving the Hispanic community,” Hilton said. As HICA has grown from its roots as a one-person organization, Hilton and communications and development associate Monica Black said the organization has added services to meet the needs people bring to them. “What they [HICA employees] discovered is that once they got to know people and the clients trusted HICA, that deeper needs started coming forward,” Hilton said. Current services now are divided into four main areas: community engagement and education, Strong Families, asset building and economic development and immigration and access to justice. Ana Valeriano works in the community engagement and education area of the coalition,

HICA Night at the Birmingham Barons is one of the key fundraisers for the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama. Photos courtesy of HICA.

which includes voter engagement, civic participation, women’s empowerment and workshops on everything from computer skills and ﬁlling out job applications to college access and their rights as a U.S. citizen. “Now when they are able to ﬁll out that application by themselves, that is a very important

goal for them. That is also gratifying for us,” Black said. The Strong Families program provides assistance with language barriers, domestic violence and access to outside resources such as doctors, lawyers and counselors. Valeriano said the program is often a starting point for Alabama

residents who have been the victim of a crime or mistreatment. “Strong Families really is our busiest department,” she said. The asset building department helps families better manage their ﬁnances, including ﬁling income taxes or getting a business license for

TheHomewoodStar.com entrepreneurs. Many times, Hilton said new U.S. citizens have trouble starting a business because they are unfamiliar with regulations and laws in the state. Hilton said HICA has helped 20 new businesses get started this year, many in the Birmingham area. One success story she points to is Taco Morro Loco, which two brothers started as a food truck and now have a brick-and-mortar location. “That represents new jobs and increased income for the families,” Hilton said. Finally, the immigration and justice department of HICA helps Alabama immigrants work toward receiving visas or citizenship. Black said she recalls one man who, after successfully completing his citizenship test in Atlanta, drove directly to the HICA office to show off his certificate and give flowers to the people who had helped him prepare for the test. Black said Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which allows undocumented immigrants who arrived before they turned 16 to receive a work visa and deportation exemption, is also a significant part of the immigration and justice department. HICA works with young men and women to help them receive visas or attend college. “This is very important to us because we know that pretty much the youth are facing other barriers to go to college,” Black said. “So it’s why HICA started a scholarship for Latino students last summer.” Hilton, Black and Valeriano came to HICA from other nonprofit and advocacy work, and they said they had held HICA in high regard even before they came to work there. Hilton, who mainly works in grant writing, jokes that she is one of only two people in the office who isn’t bilingual. Valeriano can attest that being bilingual is critical for effective advocacy. “I lived in Blount County for many years and being of a handful of bilingual people, people naturally turned to us for help and guidance. So I would help in the community as much as I could,” Valeriano said. Because they provide unique services in the area, Valeriano and Black agreed the Hispanic community is supportive and helps through volunteering and donations. “Community response is awesome. As there

November 2016 • A21

Annual HICA Tamale Sale • WHEN: Nov. 24-Dec. 11; tamale pickup is Dec. 16. • WHERE: HICA Headquarters, 117 Southcrest Drive • PRICES: Half dozen: $18; Dozen: $30; All that and a bag of chips (A dozen tamales, jar of salsa, four Pepsi bottles and a bag of tortilla chips): $48. Tamale ﬁllings include pork, chicken or peppers and cheese. • WEB: Order at hispanicinterest.org. • MORE INFORMATION: HICA is also seeking Tamale Sale captains and pickup day volunteers. Contact tamales@hispanicinterest.org or 776-2489 for more information.

is a large need of information, HICA is a beacon of information. What’s going on locally, politically — people come to us, but also when HICA needs help, like for the tamale sale, when we need help in getting the scholarship ready and going, there’s a lot of participation. We’ve created a dual relationship. We are part of the community, so the community has been very welcoming,” Valeriano said. Though they work mostly with Hispanic residents of Alabama, Black said HICA has worked with immigrants from around the world. Going forward, one of their big goals is to provide more resources for new and potential homeowners. Another is to make Birmingham a Welcoming City, which is part of the national Welcoming America program. Valeriano said HICA already is working with Birmingham’s mayor, city council and business alliance to enact policies and programs to become more immigrant friendly, and she hopes to begin the paperwork for Birmingham to qualify soon. “Our role is to advocate and to help people ask for what they need,” Hilton said.

Above: HICA scholarship winners Guadalupe Martinez-Alpizar, left, ﬁrst-place winner, and Lissette Ornelas, second-place winner, with HICA Executive Director Isabel Rubio. Below: A sewing class is one of many workshops offered at HICA.

The Homewood Star

A22 • November 2016

streak Homewood residents start film production company By TARA MASSOULEH Ted Speaker fell in love with movies watching “Raiders of the Lost Ark” — but he fell in love with archaeology more. He got a degree in archaeology, and it wasn’t until several years later that he realized it wasn’t just digging up old bones that he loved about “Raiders,” but also the way it was portrayed through film. After working in film for 12 years and being back in town for 10, the Birmingham native is returning his roots — in more ways than one. As of 2016, he is the partial owner of NOHO Studios art collective in Homewood, and he is also one of three partners in a new Birmingham-based production company. He, along with business partners and longtime friends Stacey Davis and Greg Womble, both Homewood residents, launched Steel City Films at this year’s Sidewalk Film Festival. The plan for Steel City Films is to produce three micro-budget independent films representing three different genres over the course of four years, Speaker said. All the films will be full-length narrative features written and directed by experienced filmmakers. “I think the model that we’re using as the foundation for the company is what makes us unique and original,” Davis said. “We feel we’re going to attract compelling projects and those projects are going to set themselves apart in the marketplace.” The three said they are open to producing any type of film, but for Speaker, originality is key. “If you’re going to make a scrappy film and

From left, Stacey Davis, Ted Speaker and Greg Womble are longtime friends and the partners behind Steel City Films, a new Birmingham-based ﬁlm production company. Photo courtesy of Steel City Films.

put all the time and effort that it takes to get it done, you certainly want to do it with something that provides a new voice or a new perspective on a story,” he said. As Womble describes, the three — Speaker, the video editor; Davis, the lawyer; and himself the marketing guru and project manager — work together in concentric circles. Where one partner falls short, another excels, but all three partners have a strong background in both the creative and business side of

production, he said. “We’re all interested in the art and the commerce, and I think if you swing to one side of the spectrum or the other, you may not have the same success,” Womble said. “To us, if these ﬁlms do well from both perspectives [art and commerce], then that’s what we’re going for.” For Speaker, their work is simply a matter of “putting together all the pieces,” in order to make a screenwriter and director’s vision come to life. Though they won’t be the primary

creative vision behind the movies they produce for Steel City Films, the three have taken their turn at such. Womble debuted a short film called “Visitor to Virgin Pines” at Sidewalk Film Festival in 2013, and Davis debuted her first short feature, a 7-minute comedy called “Sibling Code,” at this year’s festival. Speaker’s documentary “Stand Up, Speak Out” about Nina Miglionico, Alabama’s longest practicing female lawyer and the first woman to be elected to the Birmingham City Council in 1963, was also part of this year’s lineup. With more than 30 years of combined experience as participants and supporters at Sidewalk Film Festival, Davis, the organization’s treasurer, said for herself and for the group, it all goes back to Sidewalk in one way or another. “I know it sounds super cliché, but it’s like a dream come true,” Davis said. “I’ve been going to the festival since 2002 … and you leave a screening thinking, ‘I really want to do this. I can do this.’ Then the years pass and you have kids; you have a job, and you never get to it. So the fact that my first short played at Sidewalk after all these years … and the fact that we’re launching this new company at the same time feels like everything’s coming together.” Ultimately, the creators of Steel City Films said they hope the company brings attention to regional filmmaking in Alabama and more specifically, Birmingham. “We hope that people can see that films can originate in a place like Birmingham and be just as good and just as competitive as any other film made in New York or Los Angeles or anywhere else,” Speaker said.

TheHomewoodStar.com

November 2016 • A23

STAYING balanced Homewood Senior Center offers weekly tai chi classes as way to maintain agility By SARAH COOK Sid Varagona inhales deeply, then slowly shifts his weight from his right foot to his left, letting his body move in one fluid motion. At 84 years old, Varagona admits his balance isn’t what it used to be. Simple tasks such as reaching for an item in the grocery store, or picking up the paper, aren’t as easy as they once were. His solution? An ancient form of Chinese martial arts — tai chi. Varagona and his wife, Mary, along with a handful of others, meet every Thursday at the Homewood Senior Center for tai chi. They normally start the class seated, allowing their limbs to stretch and ease into the movements. Then, they take to the floor for a full-body workout. “I love it,” Sid Varagona said with a smile. “It helps a lot with balance, so we try to come as much as possible.” The class started a little more than five years ago, and it has had steady attendance since. Galina Waites, who has led the class from the beginning, said all the movements are meant to be slow and fluid. As she teaches the group, she uses phrases like “play the guitar” or “hold the ball” to illustrate what participants need to

execute in their form. Soft instrumental music plays in the background, creating a serene environment. “You have to use it or lose it,” Waites said of maintaining balance later in life. She should know — she started practicing tai chi when she saw a need for it in her own health. “Before I started doing tai chi, I thought there was no way I could move that slow,” said Waites, who is originally from Russia. “Then, I was under a lot of stress for my job, and I just started to crave it.” After becoming certified, Waites started teaching seniors tai chi. The benefits of the exercise, she said, are endless. “I do it because I love it,” she said. Waites said her tai chi studies are derived from Dr. Paul Lam, a Chinese physician who specializes in using tai chi to help those who suffer from arthritis and other symptoms of old age. Through teaching the muscles how to stay steady and move slowly, Waites said participants are able to gain more mobility and ultimately enhance their balance. Like Sid Varagona, 84-year-old Mary Varagona said she has seen many benefits of taking the weekly class. She can now sit up a little

Mary Varagona moves in a ﬂuid motion while practicing tai chi. Photo by Sarah Cook.

straighter, and her balance isn’t as bad as it used to be. “It gets you moving around,” she said. “And the community aspect of it is great, too.” Before Waites takes the stage and begins her instructions, participants like to mingle with one another and catch up. Waites said the community aspect of the program is just as important as the physical beneﬁts.

“Somebody once asked me what the goal of this class was, and I said the goal of this program is not to learn the perfect form,” Waites said. “The goal is to become healthier — socially, mentally and physically.” For more information on tai chi classes and a list of other classes and events at the Homewood Senior Center, go to homewoodparks. com.

The Homewood Star

A24 • November 2016

Helping through the holidays Volunteers, religious groups ramp up efforts to give back to community By LEXI COON When holidays come around, they often bring out the good in communities when more people venture into volunteering and helping communities. Whether the goal is to raise money for a special charity, donate clothes or food to the homeless or simply sit down and share what you have to offer, each volunteer can contribute what they have to helping those who are less fortunate, especially during the holiday season. “Thanksgiving is a time to reﬂect on the blessings that we have,” said Mimmi Stanton, a Homewood resident of 52 years. Stanton has been volunteering with Urban Ministry for the past four years. “By reaching out to charitable programs, we can, hopefully, make it possible for others to have some blessings and that they in turn can pass on some blessing to others.” Urban Ministry, an organization on Cotton Avenue Southwest in Arlington-West End, aims to provide programs of compassion and wholeness to poor and low-income families in

“

By reaching out to charitable programs, we can, hopefully, make it possible for others to have some blessings and that they in turn can pass on some blessing to others.

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MIMMI STANTON

the Birmingham area. Like many volunteering institutions, Urban Ministry is historically a faith-based organization, which is how Stanton got started. “I am a member of the United Methodist Women at Trinity United Methodist Church, and our circle [Circle 2] sort of adopted to help with

Mimmi Stanton, a Homewood resident of 52 years, takes stock of a pantry. Photo by Lexi Coon.

needs at Urban Ministry,” she said. She and her circle focus primarily on helping with food donations, which is a common and signiﬁcant way to volunteer. “We have provided food items for their food pantry, organized the food pantry, donated school supplies for [the] tutoring program, helped serve lunch when daily lunches were served and are ready to help when other needs arise,” she said. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service in 2014, the majority of volunteers in Alabama were afﬁliated with a

religious organization, and a great number of those volunteers deal with food collection and distribution. “Through your church is a wonderful place to start,” Stanton said. While there are a number of volunteers who work year-round, Stanton also acknowledges that there is an inﬂux of interest during the holidays. “[Maybe as] a time of reﬂection and maybe those who are more fortunate feel a need to reach out,” she said. “Might be a feeling of guilt, but I think mostly out of wanting to give.” Because there are more potential volunteers during the holiday

season, residents are encouraged to either request to volunteer at specific events early or to consider donating items or money to a specific cause. This allows everyone to be involved without overwhelming organizations during particular times of the year, either through donating money, goods or time. “I think it is only fitting to give back when we have the opportunity and the means to do so,” Stanton said. “There are many ways to give back and not only in monetary ways, but in time and sharing your talents with others.”

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November 2016 • A25

School House

First row: Abby McMinn, Jaylen Porterﬁeld, Luca Bela Webber, Carson Galloway, Charlyse Skipwith, MaryGlynn Barlow. Second row: Amelia Ragusa, Lizzie Tighe, J. T. Weisberg, Scout Moellering, Eleanor Kyle, Campbell Farr. Third row: Riley Kelner, Clayton Sloan, Ian Stoves, Nicholas Sellers, Frances O’Hare, Reg.n Morrow, Analee Smith. Photo courtesy of Mary Pugh.

OLS student Peer Helpers chosen Nineteen eighth-grade students from Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School have been chosen as the 2016-2017 school Peer Helpers. They were selected based on teacher recommendations, individual interviews and questionnaires, as well as their grade point average. These ambassadors have a variety of

responsibilities throughout the year. They include helping host special school events, assisting fellow students with math facts, reading, writing skills and art projects. They also assist teachers by tutoring younger students, working in the library and decorating bulletin boards. – Submitted by Mary Pugh.

Photo courtesy of Merrick Wilson.

Daisy Troop 673 plants daisies at Edgewood Elementary School Thanks to the contributions of Daisy Troop 673, Edgewood Elementary School students will be able to enjoy beautiful scenery while playing on the playground. Troop 673 met on

one Saturday in October and planted 32 daisies near the school’s playground. Together they were able to learn, grow and have a blast. – Submitted by Merrick Wilson.

Patriots capture area title in exciting match By KYLE PARMLEY The Homewood High School volleyball team was not content with simply securing a berth in the Class 6A Super Regionals. The Patriots went ahead and finished the job, knocking off Ramsay in five sets to win the Class 6A, Area 5 tournament on Oct. 18 at Ramsay High School. “I’m just so excited for this team,” said head coach Carol Chesnutt. “They steadily worked hard to improve and improve and improve every week and I’m just so excited for them. It’s great.” To call it a five-set thriller would sound cliché, but that’s exactly what the championship match was. Each team put forth its best shot, and the Patriots were able to muster up enough to pull off the win. The first set was all Homewood, as the Patriots turned an 8-8 set into a blowout. They won 17 of the final 20 points in the set, including nine in a row at one point, to take it 25-11.

Ramsay was not deterred, though, winning the second set 25-18 and the third 25-22. The fourth set was a back-and-forth slugfest, with the rallies intensifying and the celebrations becoming more emphatic with every point. Homewood was able to gain just enough separation towards the end of the set to take it, 25-22. With the momentum from the fourth set, the Rams were unable to stop the snowball of emotion in the fifth set. Homewood executed when it had to, winning 15-12 to take the set, match, and championship. Kalia Cunningham had a whopping 53 assists in the Ramsay match alone. Venice Sanders led the way with 19 kills and seven blocks, while Tori Webb registered 16 kills. Kassidy Crawford finished with seven digs and Lia Roberson had five blocks. The Patriots were set to move on to the Super Regionals and hopefully a shot at the state tournament at the end of October. Visit thehomewoodstar.com for coverage of those games.

The Homewood Star

A26 â&#x20AC;˘ November 2016

The Homewood High School Patriot Band performs in front of City Hall at the end of the Homewood Homecoming Parade on September 29, 2016. Photos by Sarah Finnegan.

HOMEWOOD HOMECOMING 2016

2016 Homecoming Queen Lucy Williams reacts as Helen Hall crowns her during the Homewood vs. John Carroll homecoming game at Waldrop Stadium.

Seniors laugh and dance with their moms during the homecoming pep rally in the Homewood High School gymnasium.

The Homewood High School Color Guard performs during the homecoming pep rally.

Miss Fire Prevention Sally Smalley waves during the homecoming parade.

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The Homewood Star

A28 • November 2016

OLS school ofﬁcers elected Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School eighthgrade students have elected class ofﬁcers for the 2016-2017 school year. They are president, Nicholas Sellers; vice president, Eleanor Kyle; secretary/treasurer, Abby McMinn; chaplain, Riley Kelner; 8C representative, Donnelly Tighe; and 8W representative, Luca Bela Webber. The responsibilities of these students

include a variety of schoolwide activities such as bringing new and creative ideas to school leaders to help improve student life, helping to make Catholic Schools Week a successful event and leading their peers in prayer at special events. They will also guide their class throughout the school year as needed. – Submitted by Mary Pugh.

Pictured from left to right: vice president, Eleanor Kyle; chaplain, Riley Kelner; president, Nicholas Sellers; 8C representative, Donnelly Tighe; secretary/treasurer, Abby McMinn; and 8W representative, Luca Bela Webber. Photo courtesy of Mary Pugh.

‘Grandpals Day’ proves memorable for everyone Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School (OLS) students recently welcomed some very special visitors. In observance of national “Grandparents Day” held in September, the PTO hosted a memorable school “Grandpals Day” inviting grandparents and special friends of the children. The event began with a school Mass on September 8, which was also the Catholic feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Mother Mary. The fourth-grade class prepared the Liturgy, while

the eighth-grade OLS Peer Helpers assisted their distinctive guests to their seats. OLS Pastor Monsignor Martin Muller celebrated the Mass and gave the congregation some special thoughts about the bond between grandparents and their grandchildren. Following the Liturgy, the visitors were invited to tour the classrooms and to enjoy a breakfast reception in the school foyer and the library. – Submitted by Frances Smith.

Fifth-grader Fletcher Hughey, center left, and his brother, third-grader Cambell Hughey, enjoy Grandpals Day with their grandparents at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School. Photo courtesy of Frances Smith.

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November 2016 • A29

The 30-minute session had children up and physically engaging with the stories as well as encouraging them to participate in fun movement exercises. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.

STORYTIME

CONTINUED from page A1 with an array of tools and techniques to help children with sensory needs focus and participate in an accepting environment. “Many of KultureCity’s methods can be beneficial to all children, however,” said Mallory Pritchard, occupational therapist and sensory movement specialist at KultureCity. There are designated quiet areas equipped with noise canceling headphones (“Healthy Headphones” by Puro Sound Labs) that are

offered during quiet reading time. Visual schedules keep kids focused and on track. And weighted lap blankets (called Eli’s Weighted Blankets, handmade from a mother in Illinois) help children stay seated and grounded by adding a sensory input otherwise missing. Certain strategies and modifications also are set to prevent wandering, such as lifeBOKS, a kit equipped with GPS and identification devices, exclusive to KultureCity. “We also like to use a visual ‘Feeling Thermometer’ for children with communication issues to express how they’re feeling,” said Lara Dean, speech therapist at KultureCity.

These sensory-friendly additions allow parents to feel comfortable that their children are in safe hands and will participate in inclusive activities. Members of the Homewood Public Library and KultureCity said they hope to work together to abolish the stigma that suggests children with autism are diseased, handicapped or disabled by focusing on each child’s strengths. Sensory Storytime will allow families with autistic individuals feel more accepted and comfortable in an understanding environment to suit their needs, Tucker said. She also said she hopes to encourage local

schools as well as home school families to participate. The Homewood Public Library strives to find new and progressive ways to incorporate all children in their exciting and innovative learning programs, Tucker said. Her goal is to make the entire library sensory-friendly for adults as well. “We hope to remove walls for people and families who would otherwise feel uncomfortable at the library,” she said. The next Sensory Storytime events are Nov. 21 and Dec. 12. For more information and other KultureCity events, go to kulturecity.org.

The Homewood Star

A30 • November 2016 SCHOOL STUDY

CONTINUED from page A1 zoning issue,” Cleveland said. At Shades Cahaba Elementary, Principal John Lowry said he sees this growth as a good problem, since it means people want to be part of the Homewood school system. However, he also knows that realistically he’s on the verge of running out of room. “We’ve got a little bit of wiggle room, but it’s not enough to sustain the growth we’re projected to see,” Lowry said. Homewood Middle’s lack of space is affecting extracurriculars such as band. Band Director Chris Cooper said the 500-member band uses not only its band room, but the neighboring wrestling practice room, storage rooms and sometimes even a hallway for practices. “We get real creative on how we manage to have that many,” Cooper said. At Homewood High School, chemistry teacher Kelly Reaves remembers that during her first year teaching, in 1999, there were dedicated laboratories for chemistry, biology and physics. Now, the biology and physics labs have been converted into full-time classrooms, so science teachers have to share the remaining lab for any hands-on teaching. Reaves said it can be difficult to meet science standards when the teachers have limited lab access, and sometimes the classes are larger than lab capacity. “Our chemistry lab is pretty well booked almost every day, and it’s often not chemistry,” Reaves said. Harbert’s study suggests two possible options for addressing the elementary and middle school issues. The first is to build additions on all three elementary schools for classrooms and offices, along with a smaller addition at HMS. The second is to build a fifth-grade wing, along with extra classrooms, at HMS and free up room at the elementary schools by making them K-4. The proposed fifth-grade wing would be on the northeast side of the middle school. Cooper said he would like to see a fifth-grade wing because it would give those students a chance to witness not only the band, but also athletics and other clubs at HMS. He thinks it would create increased participation in extracurricular groups as those students move into sixth grade. The elementary additions, if that option is chosen instead, range from a simple add-on of 16 classrooms and cafeteria reconfiguration at HallKent to a more advanced renovation at Shades Cahaba, which would include expanding the cafeteria and adding 18 classrooms in the building by relocating the gym and theater stage to a new building connected by an enclosed walkway. A large part of deciding which path to take will be determining the life of the elementary buildings, Cleveland said. If Shades Cahaba, for instance, has only a decade or so left before it will need to be replaced, then the school system will likely choose not to fund significant additions to it. This will be included in the school system’s upcoming strategic planning process. “It could be difficult to justify putting millions of dollars into additions there when it might only last 15 years, but we don’t know that right now,” Cleveland said. Lowry said he felt either option would help Shades Cahaba make room for its students, and he did not have a preference. Though he said he likes a fifth-grade wing, Cooper said he felt confident that the school system would make sure everyone’s needs are met no matter which option they choose. “I trust our school system more than anything that we’re going to be given what we need,” Cooper said. The high school is expected to surpass 1,300 students by the 2022-2023 school year at the latest, and its expansion is hemmed in by a steep hill on one side and flood plains on the other. It’s possible to create a small addition on the property and a parking deck, but these are temporary solutions. Harbert’s proposal is to relocate the high school onto a property adjoining West Homewood Park on West Oxmoor Road, which the city purchased earlier this year. So far, the proposal does not include a layout for the relocated high school other than general concept renderings. Since the plans were released, Cleveland said he’s heard plenty of excitement but also concerns from parents about traffic on West Oxmoor and Lakeshore Drive, as well as the move to a less central location. He said traffic issues would have to be resolved at the city level but noted that traffic projects are already underway for the Lakeshore/I-65 interchange and the West Oxmoor

“turkey foot” intersection. Some parents have suggested using the property next to Homewood Middle on Valley Avenue, which the school system owns, to build the high school. Cleveland said the property is hilly, but he’s not sure exactly what could go there. The school system has employed a team to study the property and create a concept drawing of a potential development. Cleveland said he expected the rendering to be complete after The Homewood Star’s press date, and it would be published on the Homewood City Schools growth website. “We know the topography is interesting so to better answer questions that deal with this property, we have asked our engineers that have worked with us on that property … to literally kind of conceptually put on that property what could go there — rather than just me trying to explain to someone — to have something in writing,” Cleveland said. However, he noted that if the West Homewood property is not approved for HHS, there aren’t a lot of options for other ways to relocate. More firm details about the future of the high school will also be hammered out as part of the strategic planning process.

HHS attendance is expected to surpass 1,300 students by the 2022-2023 school year. Relocating the property to West Oxmoor Road is a proposed solution. Renderings courtesy of Homewood City Schools.

NEW FIELDS FOR EVERY SPORT

The parks and recreation department has seen about 1,000 kids join its youth league teams over the last seven years. That means Squires and the rest of his department have to find a way to make sure every kid can play ball. Harbert’s proposal for parks and recreation was a major redesign of West Homewood Park, making room not only for the high school track and football stadium, but also new multipurpose fields and baseball and softball fields in different sizes for teams of different ages. The proposal, which Squires said includes everything they’d like to have, also includes tennis courts, batting buildings and a band practice field. Squires said this would enable parks and recreation leagues to decrease use of elementary school playing fields and upgrade facilities. “For us, that adds about five fields of baseball and softball along with three multipurpose fields,” he said at the initial presentation. Since traffic is an issue, Squires said he wants the designers of the project to look at adding more entry points on Snow Drive and West Oxmoor Road. He also said since youth league teams start practice at 5:30 p.m. or later, they wouldn’t have as much overlap with high school traffic or athletics. The department has a good working relationship with the schools, Squires said, to address traffic or field-sharing problems. Like Cleveland, he said now is the time to act. “I don’t want to come back in three years and be in a desperate situation … we’re both getting to a critical point,” Squires said. Since the redevelopment of West Homewood Park would remove its pool, Harbert proposed adding an aquatic center with lap pool and splash area to Patriot Park. Two tennis courts and extra parking also would be added around the senior center and the mostly vacant area between the center and the walking track. Squires said he would like to bring the pool to Patriot Park not only as a chance to update Homewood swimming facilities, but also to make it more central to a lot of Homewood residents. “We feel like this kind of gets it in an area there in West Homewood that gives everybody the ability to walk to it … it’s an exciting thing,” Squires said.

THE PRICE TAG

For the parks and recreation department, creating these changes would cost about $25 million to $27 million for the West Homewood Park redevelopment and $5 million to $6 million for the Patriot Park pool and tennis courts. Squires emphasized those figures were based on building every single part of the proposal, and some of these projects could be removed to lower cost while still meeting the parks and recreation needs. The school additions are more complicated. Harbert estimated the cost of adding on to the elementary schools at about $29.4 million, or the school system could choose instead to build a fifth-grade wing for $13.7 million. This does not factor in the extra classrooms and renovations needed for HMS regardless of whether the fifth-grade wing is built. The plans for HHS are still at such an early stage that Cleveland said he did not have a cost estimate for the relocation. He said a ballpark figure to fund the entire school system project would be in the range of $55-70 million. Funding for expansion and relocation would have to come from the city. On Oct. 17, the

A rendering of site considerations for Homewood Middle School.

A rendering of site considerations for Shades Cahaba Elementary.

finance committee discussed taking out a $110 million bond for the projects, to be paid off over 30 years with $6.2 million in annual debt service. The committee discussed a one-cent increase in the sales tax, which would bring about $7.6 million each year in additional revenue. The city can also refinance bonds it took out in 2007 for a gross savings of $8 million. The full council set a public hearing on the proposed bond on Oct. 24, after The Homewood Star’s press date. If approved, they hoped to take out the $110 million bond before Thanksgiving. Shades Cahaba PTO President Daley King said she is excited about the possibilities. “I grew up in Hollywood and attended Shades Cahaba, so the idea of the school changing is hard. That being said, I have been a part of Homewood through every change thus far, and I have yet to see a change that didn’t improve the community,” King said.

TIMELINE AND NEXT STEPS

As with funding, the timeline and process for redesigning West Homewood and Patriot parks is much simpler than for the school system. Squires said once the city council chooses to move forward with the parks plan, he anticipates about 10 months of construction for the Patriot Park courts and pool. The West Homewood fields would be completed in stages over two years. The work

would be scheduled between teams’ seasons so that construction would not interfere with practices or games. Squires said the department would likely start with six acres on the southeastern end of the property to build a new maintenance facility, then divide the new fields into two segments to be completed between baseball and softball seasons. “That’s the only way we can because we can’t afford to miss a season,” Squires said. At the school system, strategic planning is the next step. Cleveland said in early 2017, Homewood community members will be invited to volunteer on the action teams that study and put together the plan, which affects the entirety of Homewood City Schools. Those action teams, including the facilities team that will study the proposed changes, will finish up their work by the end of the 20162017 school year. At that point, Cleveland said he expects the data they find will make the decision on their next step easy. “I don’t think there’d be a lot of mystery in the decision to be made because it would be based on the facts,” Cleveland said. The full presentation of the proposed projects is available on the Homewood City Schools website, homewood.k12.al.us. Questions or concerns about the plans can be sent to hbe@ homewood.k12.al.us. Visit thehomewoodstar.com for updates on the city’s decision on funding these projects.

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November 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ A31

The Homewood Star

SECTION

B NOVEMBER 2016

Sports B5 Events B6 Community B10 Opinion B13 Calendar B14

Success leads Barber to Tide By KYLE PARMLEY

Hannah Barber’s adept court vision and quickness make her the perfect ﬂoor general for Homewood. Photo by Frank Couch.

Winning is addictive. Hannah Barber believes that. At least, she plays the game of basketball as if she does. She plays the game seemingly one step ahead of everyone, thanks to court vision that would make former all-star NBA point guard Steve Nash proud. She makes sure to get everyone involved, even if that means passing up a good shot. She’ll never be the tallest player on the ﬂoor at any given point, but she uses her agility and quickness to her advantage, weaving through and around defenders for a basket or an assist, or to pick the ball handler’s pocket before she even realizes what happened. Barber’s athleticism and talent is a big reason why the Lady Patriots have won so much over the last two years. A Class 6A state championship in 2015 was followed up by a state ﬁnal appearance last season. The point guard averaged 13 points, 5 assists and 2.5 steals as a sophomore last year. The loss last year has driven her to make sure that doesn’t happen again, either. The expectation for 2017? Another state title. Barber has walked off the court triumphant far more times than not during her high school career to this point. She is just a junior, but evidence suggests that statement will remain true throughout the next two seasons on the hardwood. That drive to be on the right side of the scoreboard every game was a big factor in Barber’s college decision. The offer from Kristy Curry — who is entering her fourth year at the University of Alabama and has a track record of success in previous stops at Texas Tech and Purdue — registered as the most appealing for Barber, who has committed to the Crimson Tide and will spend her career as a collegiate

See BARBER | page B4

The Homewood Star

B2 • November 2016

HOMEWOOD PARKS & RECREATION Homewood Community Center Dance Trance

Tuesday & Thursday 5:45pm-6:45pm Wednesday & Saturday 9:30am-10:30am 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 fundamental 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 families. 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 azizaofbirmingham@att.net www.azizaofbirmingham.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.

YoLIMBER

Vinyasa yoga classes in an energetic environment using upbeat music. All levels welcome. Friday 9:30am-10:30am Contact Marla: 205-223-8564 mac@yolimber.com

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 program 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 7:00pm-8:30pm

@homewoodparks

360 Personal Trainer Fitness Bootcamp

Bootcamp style ﬁtness classes at Homewood Community Center. Classes Meet: Mon/Wed/ Fri 5:30am-6:30am Michael Brooks – michaelbrooks360@gmail.com

Homewood FIT – Women’s Bootcamp

Homewood Senior Center Seated Exercise Class – Mon,Wed & Fri (10:30am) 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 (9:30am) 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.

Join this all women’s bootcamp happening right here in Homewood. Monday & Wednesday – 5:45am-6:45am www.homewoodﬁt.com

DanceFit with Galina – Tues 2:00pm; 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.

Blue Line Combatives

Yoga – Wed (1:15 Chair / 1:45 Standing / 2:00 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.

Wednesdays 7:00pm – 8:30pm 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 & tumbling necessities: motions, jumps, cheers, stretching, conditioning, and tumbling. Grades 4th – 9th & all skill levels welcome. Monday 5:30pm – 6:30pm For more information contact DeeDee: PDEveritt@gmail.com • 901-734-0277

Entourage Line Dance Class

Saturdays 11:00am-12:30pm Homewood Community Center – Fitness Studio 1 Cost: $7.00 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. Mondays 4:00pm-4:45pm 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 Alabama’s elite mobile personal training team. 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. www.homefitconsulting.com to learn more.”

Tai Chi – Thurs 2:00pm: 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. Swing Era Jazz Band: “The Usual Suspects” – 1st Thursday, 5:00-7:20pm – 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. Art Class – Tuesday, 1:00pm-3:00pm – Class will include beginners as well as people who want to refresh their skills for drawing or painting. For those who do not draw, there will be non-juvenile coloring pages available. Bring your own supplies. Instructors, Johnie & Melvine Sentell, are graduates of Auburn University with degrees in Art. The Sentell’s have extensive teaching experience in various settings and are excited to oﬀer these classes at Homewood Senior Center.

Athletics Homewood Youth Basketball League Registration Dates: K-1st Grades: November 1st – 30th Go to www.homewoodparks.com for more information on the 2016-17 Season.

Thanksgiving Week Homewood Community Center Gymnasium Floor Reﬁnishing Tues, Nov. 22nd – Homewood Community Center – Closing at 12:00pm Wed, Nov. 23rd – Homewood Community Center – Closed All Day

(Gymnasiums at HWCC will reopen Monday, November 28th at 3:00pm)

** Lee Center open Sat (26th) & Sun (27th) for member basketball free play **

Thanksgiving Holiday

Thurs, Nov. 24th – All Community Centers Closed Fri, Nov. 25th – All Community Centers Closed Sat, Nov. 26th – Centers resume normal operating hours ** Sun, Nov 27th – Lee Center open for member basketball free play 1pm-6pm **

www.Homewoodparks.com

TheHomewoodStar.com

November 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ B3

B4 • November 2016

The Homewood Star

BARBER

CONTINUED from page B1 athlete in Tuscaloosa. “I feel like we can make something really special,” Barber said. “I just feel like there I’ll be able to compete, go to NCAA Tournaments and SEC Tournaments, things like that.” Alabama already checked off most of the boxes. Barber grew up a fan of the school and was familiar with it, but what she saw with her own eyes last year confirmed to her that The Capstone was the place for her. On February 26, Alabama knocked off Tennessee in Tuscaloosa for the first time in program history while Barber was in attendance. “There, I kind of caught a glimpse of what could be something really special,” Barber said. “I kind of knew then, but I hadn’t taken many visits or anything like that.” The magnitude of that moment remained at the forefront of her mind, even as the likes of Dayton, Auburn and UAB came calling on the floor general. “But Alabama was really the one where I felt like I could fit in,” she said. “It was just the best fit for me.” “You always hope to see them go on and keep playing,” said Homewood head coach Kevin Tubbs, who takes over for Barber chose Alabama over the likes of Dayton, Auburn and UAB. Photo by Frank Couch. JoVanka Ward, now at Thompson. “Han“This year, we know how hard we have to work,” she said. “That’s all everybody wants to see. nah’s just amazing because she’s worked We’re not worried about the other stuff or things that aren’t important. Everyone’s focus is that so hard. It’s pretty exciting that before your junior year, you know where you’re going.” Barber is not the type to sit on her laurels over the next two years, not that anyone is considering 6A state championship.” The 2016-17 version of the Lady Patriots will feature four captains: senior Shelby Hardy and the possibility of that happening. “She works harder than probably any kid I’ve ever seen,” Tubbs said. “If there’s an exposure juniors Barber, Tori Webb and Ajah Wayne. Hardy is one of only two seniors on a young squad event, if there’s an AAU event, if there’s an open gym, she’s there. She’s the prototypical gym rat.” in age, but one of the state’s most experienced groups in reality. “It’s something special,” Barber said. “If you think back to when we were freshmen, it was our Barber is slightly over halfway through her high school basketball career, after coming up to the varsity team as an eighth-grader. She already has amassed 878 career points. With two seasons first time, and we saw what we could accomplish with just a year of being together. It’s just been remaining at Homewood, there is plenty left to accomplish, especially after winning a title and great to play with them, and I really enjoy it.” Tubbs’ comments about the team he has inherited may be the most eye-popping of all for a falling short last year. “Freshman year, we got a taste of [the state championship]. We made it there. We know what program that has won 57 games over the last two years. “Every year, they keep improving,” he said. “It’s going to be a really exciting couple of years it takes to get there,” she said. The phrase “6A state championship” is the first thing that comes out of Barber’s mouth when if we can keep everybody healthy. I don’t even think they’ve touched their potential. So it’s going to be fun.” asked about the season ahead.

TheHomewoodStar.com

November 2016 • B5

Sports Patriots primed for postseason runs Homewood High School sophomore Will Stone is positioned to lead the Patriot boys to a ﬁfthstraight state title. Photo by Sam Chandler.

By SAM CHANDLER The Homewood High School boys and girls cross-country teams entered the season with state championship aspirations. They’re right on track. With less than two weeks until the state meet, the Patriots have solidified their status as Class 6A contenders. Paced by sophomore Will Stone and freshman Lainey Phelps, both squads look more than capable of bringing home blue maps on Nov. 12. Stone has clocked the season’s second-fastest 5K time among 6A runners. With his personal-best mark of 15 minutes, 40.83 seconds, he leads a contingent of five Patriot boys who rank in the top 20 of their classification. No other 6A team has more than three runners ranked similarly. Senior Paul Selden has trailed Stone by a slight margin throughout the season. His personal-best time of 15:58.50 positions him as 6A’s third-fastest runner, and his presence up

front gives the Patriots a one-two punch that should propel them to their fifth state title in as many years. Phelps, on the other hand, is in a class of her own. The freshman phenomenon has run 17:42.61 for 5K, which makes her Alabama’s lone female to dip under 18 minutes. Her blistering time is 32 seconds faster than the state’s second-fastest runner — Mountain Brook’s Anna Grace Morgan — and more than 1:20 faster than her closest 6A competitor. Like the boys, the Patriot girls possess depth that is unmatched by any other school in their classification. Eight Homewood girls rank among the state’s top 20, which suggests the likelihood of a Patriot sweep is well within the realm of possibility. It would be the Homewood girls first-ever state title in cross-country. The AHSAA State Cross Country Championships are Nov. 12 at Oakville Indian Mounds Parks near Moulton.

Homewood is accustomed to playoff success. Photo by Todd Lester.

Patriots scrap for postseason berth By KYLE PARMLEY The Homewood High School football team sure did not take the easy route this fall. The Patriots put themselves in a must-win situation on Oct. 14 against Shades Valley due to a 2-2 start to Class 6A, Region 5 play. The offense had struggled most of the season. For the most part, the defense had been consistent. But it was special teams that lifted Homewood to a critical win over Shades Valley, 27-21. The Patriots blocked consecutive punts in the first half, returning each of them for touchdowns. They also came up with another big play in the third quarter, as Shades Valley muffed a punt that Homewood fell on at the 30-yard line to set up a short field for the offense. Homewood neared a playoff berth with the victory, but at the time of press, the Patriots still needed a win to secure its fifth straight postseason trip. In the postseason, the Patriots are no stranger to success. According to the Alabama High School

Football Historical Society, Homewood has an impressive and extensive playoff resume. Over 24 previous appearances, the Patriots have won 60 games. They have won a playoff game in each of the last three seasons. Last fall, the Patriots knocked off Lee-Huntsville in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs, 49-14. They ran up against the eventual state finalists, Clay-Chalkville, in the second round, and nearly derailed the Cougars road to the Super 7. In that contest, Homewood scored a touchdown with 3:12 to play and decided to try for the go-ahead two-point conversion. It ultimately failed, and the Patriots fell, 40-39. Homewood qualified for the playoffs in each of Ben Berguson’s first two seasons as head coach, and four consecutive seasons overall through last year. The Patriots had a tougher road to the postseason than the previous two years, which both ended with 9-3 records. But they are battle-tested and could make a run if the right matchups present themselves. The state playoffs are set to begin Friday, Nov. 4.

The Homewood Star

B6 • November 2016

Events

Green Skies Over Homewood returns By SARAH TUTTLE The Homewood Environmental Commission will once again carry out the “Green Skies Over Homewood” initiative this fall. The purpose of this initiative is to continue to restore the city’s tree canopy. The HEC’s seedling program began as an expansion of the 2009 Birmingham Botanical Gardens campaign started by Henry Hughes to replenish trees in Birmingham’s parks. Volunteers collect seeds from certain tree species, and then they are germinated at BBG greenhouses until it is time to plant them. HEC member Liz Ellaby said Hughes is a former Homewood resident and when he saw the need for the same program in Homewood, it sparked this initiative. This is the third season of collecting and planting in Homewood. The collecting and planting process goes on all fall as long as the weather allows it. In the past, the HEC has planted at the Board of Education property, the Senior Center and at various private residences and locations in Homewood. This year, the HEC looks to continue the progression of this planting. A special planting led by Samford University will be Nov. 5 along the Greenway trail using Homewood-grown seedlings. “A little over 100 seedlings are growing well over by the senior living center at the Samford end of the trail,” Ellaby said. “This year there will be 200-plus seedlings planted, some to replace seedlings that didn’t survive, and others to replace where ones were mowed. An area of replanting

will be by the trailhead by the soccer ﬁelds parking lot.” Ellaby said she has seen this campaign bring residents together over the past two years to help support and restore the Homewood tree canopy. The Environmental Commission is also discussing changes to city ordinances concerning tree planting. “I hope the amended ordinance is passed, and the city will keep records that will give us a handle on how many trees are removed and replanted,” Ellaby said. “I think the plantings help raise awareness, or more likely give people who are already aware an outlet to make a contribution.” Ellaby said Homewood residents need to be aware of how important it is to replenish a natural environment that has evolved interdependently with native trees that are part of its natural web of life. In order to keep a healthy natural environment of native species, she knows involvement is required. “Community engagement is important because the problem and solution are too widespread and complex for any one group to accomplish alone,” Ellaby said. “The more people in the community work together, the faster we’ll see results.” The HEC will be calling on people soon to help collect seeds for future plantings. Seedlings will be sold for $5 a piece for personal use. Residents are encouraged to put a “Green Skies” yard sign up to help raise awareness. Go to the HEC Facebook page to learn more about the program. Volunteers can sign up for the planting and get tree identiﬁcation and harvest instructions by contacting Ellaby at lizellaby@gmail.com.

A Green Skies sign marks a site for planting native trees. Photo courtesy of Liz Ellaby.

TheHomewoodStar.com

November 2016 • B7

The inaugural Grand Masquerade Ball to beneﬁt Alzheimer’s research will be at The Club. Photo by Sarah Finnegan. Vendors this year will include LB Originals. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Lee.

Annual Holly Days set for Dec. 7-8 By SARAH TUTTLE Jennifer Lee will open her home once again for the annual Homewood Holly Days, an event for friends and shopping. On Dec. 7-8, Lee’s home will be ﬁlled with local and festive gifts. Lee has hosted the event at her home on Eastwood Drive in Homewood for the past 15 years, and it is always a packed house. This year, vendors will include Lee’s cousin, Laurie Byrne, who is returning from Atlanta with merchandise from her brand, LB Originals. “I began the show with Laurie years ago, and it’s been our tradition all these years,” Lee said. “We are so excited to have her merchandise back after a few years hiatus.” A wide selection of holiday gifts in affordable price ranges will be for sale. Lee will once again sell her line of Jennifer’s Kitchen pepper jelly. Other merchandise will include original art and jewelry,

Holly Days • WHERE: 117 Eastwood Drive • WHEN: Dec. 7-8 from 9 a.m.4 p.m. • MORE INFO: Girls Night Out will be Dec. 7 from 7-9 p.m.

handmade soaps and bath bombs, local stationery and handmade linens. There also will be handmade leather handbags from local vendors. The Holly Days show also features a Girls Night Out with hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, where friends and customers can hang out while browsing the multitude of products. For more information, go to facebook. com/HollyDaysHomewood or email fromjenniferskitchen@yahoo.com.

Inaugural Masquerade Ball to benefit Alzheimer’s research By EMILY FEATHERSTON The Alzheimer’s Research and Care Society is giving the community a chance to slip into something more mysterious this month while also raising awareness and funds for research. The group hopes to fill The Club with mystery and glamour at its inaugural Grand Masquerade Ball Nov. 18. As a Venetian-style masquerade party, guests are encouraged to add a mask of anonymity to their formal finery. The event, which is being sponsored by Sonic Automotive, will feature live music from Swift Kick, as well as heavy hors d’oeurvres. There also will be a silent auction benefiting the society, which aims to increase awareness and raise research funding for Alzheimer’s. “We hold events year-round to raise awareness and funding for Alzheimer’s disease, which is one the leading causes of death and yet has no prevention, cure or treatment,” said founder Joan Baucom. “It is projected to take a devastating toll on the Baby Boomers and their families.” Baucom founded the local society after watching members of her family suffer from the disease. The Masquerade Ball is from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., and tickets are $75 per guest. For more information or to register, go to alzarcs.org.

The Homewood Star

B8 • November 2016

Homewood Police get hairy for charity By SYDNEY CROMWELL The officers patrolling Homewood’s streets might look a little hairier than usual for the rest of the year. If so, it’s because the Homewood Police Department is in the middle of its third annual Beards for Bucks fundraiser. From Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, HPD officers can donate $33 per month to grow out beards and mustaches, Detective Gabe Ferguson said. Last year, the fundraiser ran through January and raised $6,000 through officer and outside donations. “I’d say the biggest majority of officers

participated,” Ferguson said. This year, the donation recipients will be The Exceptional Foundation, the Lakeshore Foundation, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama and the AHERO Foundation, an Alabama nonprofit for wounded veterans. Ferguson said the department’s goal is to exceed last year’s total. “We’re always wanting to improve and get better,” he said. Ferguson said the officers usually enjoy Beards for Bucks and can choose to grow their facial hair for part or all of the three-month campaign. Many ofﬁcers will be wearing their beards for the annual

Exceptional Foundation basketball game, which will be sometime later this month, and Ferguson said the department also wants to schedule a rematch from last year’s wheelchair ﬂag football game at the Lakeshore Foundation. The Homewood Police Department is selling Beards for Bucks T-shirts during the fundraiser for $13, with all of the proceeds going to one of the four charities. The public can purchase a shirt by visiting HPD and asking for a community relations ofﬁcer or donate through the Homewood Police Foundation by emailing homewoodpolicefoundation@charter.net.

Homewood Police ofﬁcers play basketball with members of the Exceptional Foundation. Photo courtesy of Gabe Ferguson.

Junior League’s Market Noel changes location, dates The Junior League of Birmingham is moving its Market Noel shopping event back to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The return to this larger shopping venue will feature more than 100 vendors, including several from Homewood. Homewood’s J. Catma is one of the accessories vendors that will have their designs for sale at the luxury shopping event. Owned by sisters-in-law Reshma Kirpalani and Catherine Kirpalani, this will be J. Catma’s first year at Market Noel. Catherine Kirpalani said it was an easy decision to join Market Noel this year. “I’m glad to be a sustainer of the Junior League of Birmingham. That’s how I know firsthand the incredible event Market Noel creates,” said Catherine Kirpalani. Shoppers can expect to find items from the Far East and exotic locales, such as fine pashminas or a sari clutch bag. For those looking for items a little tastier, they need to visit another Homewood retailer at Market Noel — Jennifer’s Kitchen.

Jennifer Lee started making her pepper jellies out of her Homewood home, and she’s returning for her ﬁfth year at Market Noel. Lee said she loves meeting shoppers and hearing their stories of entertaining with her jellies, but it’s the impact Market Noel has on the greater Birmingham community that has her coming back year after year. “The Junior League of Birmingham does so many wonderful things in our community that go unseen. I recall a story of a friend of mine, a JLB member, spending hours rocking babies at the hospital. Things like this and more deserve our support,” said Lee. Proceeds from Market Noel beneﬁt the Junior League of Birmingham’s 35 community projects, including The Exceptional Foundation. The foundation serves more than 600 special needs individuals, and their families, at its Oxmoor Road facility. TEF now operates other branches in Fairhope and Auburn and is now expanding outside the state.

“The Junior League of Birmingham has partnered with us to expand our outreach to TEF locations in Charlotte, Memphis, Atlanta and Indianapolis,” said Tricia Kirk, executive director of The Exceptional Foundation. “Events such as Market Noel provide not only funding, but invaluable community awareness.” Market Noel runs from Nov. 30 through Dec. 3. The shopping begins November 30 at 7 p.m. at the Preview Noel party with hors d’oeuvres, signature swag bags, private shopping and a silent auction featuring big ticket items from Bromberg’s and Alabama Outdoors. Diamonds Direct will sponsor the popular Diamond Drop, where one winner will walk away with a diamond pendent valued at $5,000. While the ladies shop, the men are invited to a biergarten in the “Man Cave.” The biergarten will feature regional craft beers and hometown favorite, Good People Brewing Company. Those looking for something a little harder can enjoy a bourbon

tasting provided by Dram restaurant. Other highlights of the week include a girls’ night out with a beauty bar from Tonya Jones Salon and a chance to win a treatment package from Dr. Jason Jack of Plastic Surgery Specialists at Market Bliss on Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A fashion show, “Rock the Runway – Couture for a Cause” will be hosted by Lilly Pulitzer and will take place Saturday. General admission shopping takes places Dec. 1 through Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Visit marketnoel.com for more information and to purchase tickets. Follow on Facebook at facebook.com/MarketNoel, Instagram @jlbmarketnoel and on Twitter @JLBirmingham. Tickets are available at the door. All special event tickets include admission for shopping. Regions is the presenting sponsor of Market Noel. – Submitted by Junior League of Birmingham.

TheHomewoodStar.com

November 2016 • B9

Photo courtesy of the Assistance League of Birmingham.

Little Black Dress Luncheon set for Nov. 2 By SARAH TUTTLE The Assistance League of Birmingham will host the Little Black Dress Luncheon and Fashion Show Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. at a private club in Vestavia. This annual event will include lunch, holiday vendor shopping and a fashion show all serving the children and seniors of the community. The proceeds will beneﬁt three philanthropic programs of Assistance League: Operation Literacy, Operation School Bell and Prime Time Treasures. Assistance League of Birmingham uses these philanthropic programs to help clothe children, tutor children in reading and serve senior artisans. This year’s luncheon will celebrate 40 years of Assistance League serving the Greater

Birmingham community. Also, it will honor its past presidents, according to Jan Service, director of community relations for Assistance League of Birmingham. “We hope to continue to raise money for our programs and also increase community awareness of who we are and what we do to serve the community,” she said. The Assistance League also hosts a holiday open house on Nov. 6, 1-3 p.m., at 1755 Oxmoor Road in Homewood. The event includes season décor, crafts, toys, jewelry, clothes and furniture. Tickets for the luncheon are $45 at The Shops of Assistance League (1755 Oxmoor Road in Homewood) or at assistanceleaguebhm.org. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

The Phi Mu 5K will be Nov. 5 at Homewood Central Park. Staff photo.

Sorority raising funds for Children’s By EMILY FEATHERSTON The Alpha Gamma chapter of Phi Mu sorority is hoping to once again bring together the community to support its national philanthropy. Phi Mu chapters across the country raise money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and the Samford University chapter participates each year through a variety of activities, including their annual 5K run. The 2016 Phi Mu 5K will be the 22nd year for the event. This year’s Phi Mu 5K will be Nov. 5 at Homewood Central Park at 8 a.m., with the race and fundraising efforts ending at 9:30.

Proceeds will beneﬁt CMNH and locally beneﬁt Children’s of Alabama, where the chapter actively volunteers. “I am excited to see the community come together to support CMNH and get to make memories with my best friends,” said junior Phi Mu member Hailee Underhill. Registration is $25, and each participant is encouraged to use a personal fundraising page to raise money for the cause. Registration ends at midnight before the race. For more information, contact philanthropy representative Molly Morgan Brooks at mbrooks3@samford.edu. To register for the event, go to helpmakemiracles.org/event/ phimu5k.

The Homewood Star

B10 • November 2016

Community

Business owners from the West Homewood, Homewood and Edgewood communities will be participating in the third annual open house from 3-8 p.m. on Nov. 11. Photo by Lexi Coon.

Edgewood holding open house By LEXI COON On Nov. 11 from 3-8 p.m., local community members can stroll through the third annual Edgewood Open House featuring Edgewood , Homewood and West Homewood businesses. “We love the Holiday Open House for Homewood as a whole, but felt the need to highlight all of our unique and amazing businesses in the Edgewood district,” said Carrie Holley of Escape Day Spa. “This petite business district has so much to offer and within walking distance for so many families in Homewood.” Guests will be able to peruse more than 20 shops, including Dreamcakes, Willow Homes, Art Alley, Sash and Beau, Homewood Antiques, Sprout and Pour, Edgewood Creamery and Bella Bridesmaids. Escape Day Spa will offer mini

complimentary spa services to those who have booked them in advance, and Bob Tedrow, from Homewood Music, will bring different instruments for portraits. There also will be a variety of incentives within each participating business, such as pre-holiday sales, and live music from local Birmingham musicians. “There will be many local artists, arts and crafts for kids, complimentary eats, drinks and savings from all of Edgewood’s unique retail shops and eateries,” Holley said, adding she hopes the event brings the Edgewood and Homewood businesses and communities together. “My dream is to have more community involvement,” Holley said. “The Edgewood Open House will allow the local businesses to be more involved and open for all and to give the community and Birmingham ‘a little taste of Edgewood.’”

The children’s choir sings during the Our Lady of Sorrows feast day music meditation at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Homewood. Photo courtesy of Frances Smith.

OLS honors patroness in celebration A parish-wide celebration of prayer, music and dinner celebrating the Blessed Virgin Mary’s title of Our Lady of Sorrows brought parishioners of all ages together at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Homewood. The event was held on September 15, the date that the church celebrates the Our Lady of Sorrows feast day. The evening began with a music meditation by the children’s choir, a cantor and the congregation. Selections included “There is Nothing Told,” “Hail Mary: Gentle Woman,” “Sing of Mary” and “Mother Dearest, Mother Fairest.” Three different renditions of “Ave Maria” were sung. The prayer service was presided by OLS associate pastor Father Balta Pentareddy. It included Meditation on the Seven Sorrows of

Mary, Litany of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, and Benediction. The light family dinner was courtesy of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Guild, which is part of the Women’s Altar Sodality. The dishes included macaroni and cheese casseroles, stewed vegetable medley, fresh fruit and fried chicken. Dessert was three decorated cakes. Our Lady of Sorrows parish was established in 1887 at 14th Street and Seventh Avenue for German-speaking Catholics. In 1949, the church interior was ruined by ﬁre except for the Pieta. The Blessed Sacrament was rescued by two priests. The present church on Oxmoor Road in Homewood was completed in 1959. It was dedicated in January of 1960 by Bishop Thomas J. Toolen. – Submitted by Frances Smith.

TheHomewoodStar.com

November 2016 • B11

Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church parishioner Don Fleming relaxes as he donates blood during the Knights of Columbus Council 4304-American Red Cross blood drive Sept. 18 at the Homewood church. Photo courtesy of Frances Smith.

High turnout at OLS blood drive By the time the fourth Mass of the day was being celebrated on September 18, nearly 50 people had become blood donors, including members of the community at large. The Knights of Columbus not only

organized the eight-hour blood drive, but they also cooked a hot breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage and more for donors and their families. – Submitted by Frances Smith.

Homewood resident Lynn Chapman elected to Zeta Tau Alpha council Front row: NPC delegate Laura Ladewig Mauro; Secretary-Treasurer Franlyna Barrett Charles; National President Carolyn Hof Carpenter; Vice President Collegiate II Lynn Compton Chapman; and Vice President Collegiate I Raechel Bennett Biggs. Back row: Vice President Collegiate III Shannon Ferguson; Vice President Alumnae I Dana Brasington Atkinson; Vice President Alumnae II Alicia Patten Williams; and Extension Director Dolores Gonzales Gastineau. Photo courtesy of Ashley Sherman.

Zeta Tau Alpha elected and installed its National Council for the 2016-18 term in July at the 53rd National and 42nd International Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. Homewood resident Lynn Chapman was elected to the position of Vice President Collegiate II. Five of the council members returned to their roles, with Raechel Bennett Biggs, Shannon Ferguson, Franlyna Barrett Charles and Dolores Gonzales Gastineau joining them. “These four sisters are all knowledgeable, thoughtful, insightful, willing to do whatever is asked with servants’ hearts and, above all, dedicated to inspiring greatness through their service to Zeta Tau Alpha,” National President Carolyn Carpenter said.

Carpenter, who is reprising her role for a second biennium, added on behalf of the entire National Council, “We look forward to the biennium ahead of us as we seek to uphold the principles of our founders, serve to the best of our ability and lead Zeta Tau Alpha to new heights of excellence and even stronger bonds of sisterhood.” Zeta Tau Alpha was founded in 1898 at the State Female Normal School (now Longwood University) in Farmville, Virginia, and has more than 245,000 members worldwide. One of the nation’s largest women’s fraternal groups, ZTA develops members’ leadership, academic and service skills, and supports breast cancer education and awareness. – Submitted by Ashley Sherman.

Homewood teen to compete in Miss Teen Alabama USA Ireland Grace Hendrix will be competing in the Miss Teen Alabama USA 2017 pageant November 4 and 5 as Miss Homewood Teen USA 2017. She is 17 years old, a senior at Evangel Christian School and dual enrolled at Jefferson State Junior College and University of Alabama Early College. Ireland’s high school activities include Eta Sigma Alpha National Homeschool Honor Society, Key Club, ballet, jazz and musical theater at Backstage Dance Centre in Homewood, Lakeshore Foundation volunteer, and YoungLife. She is a member of The Church at Brook Hills where she is a middle school girls student leader and also serves on their student mission team. She has served in Nicaragua, New York and Dominican Republic. She also has served with Haiti Outreach Ministries in Haiti. Ireland plans to pursue a degree in nursing with the long-term goal of being a nurse

anesthetist. Ireland recently partnered with Weezie’s Candy Emporium and Miss Baton Rouge Teen USA 2017, Kimberly Ducote, to hold an education drive for the Louisiana flood survivors. Over $1,500 in school supplies were donated along with handwritten, thoughtful notes sent by the community for the students. She enjoys literature, modeling, dance and traveling. Delegates are judged in three equal areas: swimsuit, interview and evening gown. The pageant will be held at the Montgomery Performing Arts Center. Order tickets online at ticketmaster.com or at the MPAC box ofﬁce. Hendrix is a lifelong resident of Homewood along with her parents, John and Tanya Hendrix, and brother, Rigdon Hendrix. You can follow her journey on her Miss Homewood Teen USA 2017 Facebook page. – Submitted by John and Tanya Hendrix.

The Homewood Star

B12 â&#x20AC;˘ November 2016

Homewood Real Estate Listings MLS #

Zip

Address

Status

Price

765010

35209

214 Virginia Drive

New

$475,000

764908

35209

1711 Valley Avenue #B

New

$58,000

764902

35209

644 Rumson Road

New

$489,900

764492

35209

3111 Lancaster Court #D

New

$119,900

764424

35209

2909 Central Avenue #113

New

$217,000

764358

35209

350 Hallman Hill E #208

New

$395,000

764128

35209

1514 Roseland Drive

New

$649,900

763746

35209

800 Forrest Drive

New

$525,000

763635

35209

107 Bonita Drive

New

$1,600,000

763567

35209

1165 Shadesview Terrace

New

$314,900

764076

35209

1927 Wellington Road

New

$1,250,000

763456

35209

907 Columbiana Road

New

$250,000

763392

35209

323 La Prado Circle

New

$649,900

763226

35209

3123 Lancaster Court #C

New

$125,000

762714

35209

207 Yorkshire Drive

New

$429,900

762569

35209

125 Oxmoor Road

New

$209,900

762251

35209

123 Edgewood Boulevard

New

$419,000

762248

35209

1501 Valleyview Circle

New

$279,800

Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on Oct. 17. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.

214 Virginia Drive

1927 Wellington Road

TheHomewoodStar.com

November 2016 • B13

Opinion Ordinary Days By Lauren Denton

Do not be anxious Each week at school, my youngest daughI recently heard author and speaker ter Sela’s teachers help her and her classNancy Guthrie talk about her emotional mates memorize a simple verse. She came rollercoaster after learning that her newhome a few weeks ago with the verse, “Do born son would likely only live a few not be anxious about anything.” In previous months. They knew they had a fi nite amount of time with him, so instead of weeks, I’d been sort of lax in going over the verse with her at home to help her memorize being anxious or sad, she told herself she it, so this week, we said it together several had the rest of her life to be sad — today, times a day. I’d usually say it, then ask her to she was going to rejoice that she had a repeat it. If she stumbled, I’d break it into son to hold and love. As gut-wrenching two-word phrases. “Do not. Be anxious. as it was to listen to her talk about that Denton About anything.” It only took a few tries experience, I was able to apply some of before she was spouting it off all day, at various times. that wisdom to my own life. One morning that week on the way to school, I saw For me, being anxious usually involves me worrying her turn to the stuffed puppy she’d brought with her into about something that very well may not happen. I just the car. Unprompted, she directed that puppy to not be worry about the possibility of it. Instead of expending anxious (or, as she said it, “ankish”) about anything. so much time and mental energy fretting and worrying, That morning, my mind had been running in a hundred I pray I can instead say, “Today, it — the thing — is different directions, thinking of a friend’s sick mother, not happening. Today, I will rejoice.” If the thing ends a beloved teacher having a PET scan, a recent death in up happening, then we can deal with it, but until then, my family and all the upheaval related to it, various pray and move on. It’s an attitude that’s easy to speak of, other illnesses in people I love. much harder in practice, but likely much more life-givHearing those words, “Do not be anxious,” tumble so ing and liberating. easily from my daughter’s mouth was a balm. She’s way After dinner one night during the week of the “Do not too young to worry about the adult things that were on be anxious” verse, we asked Sela why we don’t need my mind, but hearing those words that morning was like to be anxious. She said it was because of God in our hearing another voice saying, “Hey — this is for you, hearts. Such a simple answer for such a simple time in too.” They’re not just a memory verse for preschoolers life. We can’t go back to being children, immune to the — they’re true words for us to live by. very real hurts and struggles in life, but maybe we can They don’t promise that nothing bad will happen. The follow our children in their very real sense of trust and promise comes in the next part of the verse: Through certainty that all will be well. prayer and with thanksgiving for the good things in our life, we present our requests to God. A petition. A I’d love to connect! Email me at Lauren@LaurenKrequest for action. Then the peace comes — that’s the Denton.com, find me on Twitter @LaurenKDenton, on promise. If we’re truly able to lay those requests down Instagram @LaurenKDentonBooks, on Facebook, or and walk away, trusting the One who knows how to visit my website LaurenKDenton.com. My first novel, best work out the particulars of our life, that peace will “The Hideaway,” releases April 11, 2017, and is availguard our hearts and minds. It’s so simple yet so hard. able for pre-order from Amazon.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Amendments give communities control Four state amendments that will give control of local government to the communities involved will be on ballots in November. State amendments 3, 4, 5 and 6 resulted from a statewide nonpartisan commission chaired by former Gov. Albert Brewer. Amendment 3 restricts legislators from forcing all voters in the state to vote on an amendment that affects only one county. In the ﬁrst vote on a local amendment, legislators will decide if the amendment has merit. If they approve the amendment, then they will vote on whether it will be on the ballot of only the county affected. This is a change from current practice in which a single legislator voting against the merits of a local amendment, forces it to a statewide vote. Amendment 4 gives components of local government to the communities by allowing counties to establish programs, policies and procedures related to county government. The amendment will not allow counties to increase or levy new taxes, nor will it allow counties to amend or repeal an existing local law. This is a change from current practice in which local

governments must rely on the Legislature, through constitutional amendments, to establish programs and procedures related to county government. Jefferson County is exempt from this amendment because of legal activity still pending about the sewer rate schedule, but the amendment will be on Jefferson County ballots even though it won’t apply to Jefferson County. Amendment 5 will simply modernize the language in the Constitution by renaming the “departments” of governments into “branches.” Amendment 6 provides that two-thirds of the Senate must vote to approve an impeachment, a change from the current constitutional language which does not specify the percentage required for impeachment. Amendment 6 also will bring the Constitution in line with current practices by limiting the list of those who may be impeached to elected ofﬁcials, removing an appointed position from the list. We hope your readers will vote “yes” on all these amendments. Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform ► Brunson White, Vestavia Hills ► Lenora Pate, Birmingham ► John Northrop, Homewood ► Nancy Ekberg, Vestavia Hills ► Kate Nielsen, Mountain Brook

The Homewood Star

B14 • November 2016

Calendar Homewood Events Nov 3: Holiday Open House. 5:30 p.m. Shop downtown businesses, enjoy refreshments, shopping discounts and more. Visit homewoodchamber. com/events. Nov. 3: The Vulcans Community Awards. 5:30 p.m. The Club. $110 individual tickets. Visitvulcan. com. Nov. 3-4: Kat Edmonson. 7 p.m. Brock Recital Hall, Samford University. $25-$35. Visit etix.com. Nov. 4: A Cappella Vespers. 5:30 p.m. Divinity Hall Hodges Chapel, Samford University. Visit Samford. edu/events. Nov. 4-5: Opera Workshop. 8 p.m. Bonnie Bolding Swearingen Hall. Free and open to the public. Visit

Samford.edu/events. Nov. 4-13: Twelfth Night. Thursday-Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 3 p.m. $25 general admission, $15 students. Visit virginiasamfordtheatre.org. Nov. 5: Sports Cars at Brookwood Village. 9 a.m. Featuring sports and classic cars from all over the world. Visit birminghamotoringclub.com. Nov. 6: Birmingham Art Music Alliance presents the Amernet String Quartet. 5:30 p.m. Jane Hollock Brock Recital Hall. Visit Samford.edu/events. Nov. 8: Faith and Work Lecture with Dr. Tim Keller. 11 a.m. Wright Fine Arts Center Concert Hall. Visit Samford.edu/events.

Nov. 10: ASO Red Diamond SuperPOPS series presents: Red, White & Swing. 7 p.m. Wright Fine Arts Center Concert Hall. Presented by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Visit Samford.edu/events. Nov. 10: Wind Ensemble Concert. 7:30 p.m. Brock Recital Hall. Visit Samford.edu/events. Nov. 12: Purple Pumpkin Fun Walk. 9 a.m. Homewood Park. Presented by The Epilepsy Foundation of Alabama. $20. Nov. 15: Homewood Chamber August Membership Luncheon 11:30 a.m. The Club. Visit homewoodchamber.com. Nov. 15: Birmingham Astronomical Society Meeting. 7 p.m. Christenberry Planetarium, Samford

University. Visit bas-astro.com. Nov. 17: Leon Fleisher and Katherine Jacobson. 7:30 p.m. Brock Recital Hall, Samford University. $10-$30. Visit etix.com. Nov. 17-Dec. 10: dk2 Gallery November art show. Opening reception Nov. 17 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. “Smile” featuring Nancy Bass, Guest Artist Sloane Bibb, Holly Irwin, Carylon Killebrew, Lorra Kurtz, Alberto Mier, Jayne Morgan, and Jenny Schultz. Nov. 18: Elvis and J.D.: A Gospel Celebration. 7 p.m. Wright Fine Arts Center, Samford University. $15-$20. Visit Samford.edu.

Homewood Public Library Events Children Mondays, November 7-28: Preschool Playtime. 10 a.m. in Round Auditorium. For ages three and under. Tuesdays: Wee Ones Storytime. 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. For ages 24 months and younger. Wednesdays: Wiggleworm Wednesdays. 10:30 a.m. Music and story time for all ages. Thursdays: Storyday with Nay Nay. 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Storytime for ages 3 and under. Fridays: Nov. 4 & 18: Leaps & Bounds. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. Energetic movement

class designed speciﬁcally for children ages 2½ to 4 years. Online registration required.

Nov. 7: Knight Chess Tournament. 5:30-7 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. For preschool-12th grade.

Nov. 2: Reading Buddies. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Practice your reading aloud skills each month on a different group of people (or animals). Online registration is required.

Nov. 9: Kids in the Kitchen. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Learn techniques for making maple ﬂavored treats. K-5th grade.

Nov. 3: Family Storytime. 6:30 p.m. in the Children’s Department. Storytime for all ages full of music and fun. Come dressed in your favorite pajamas and listen to stories about turkeys. Nov. 7: Special Election Storytime. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Cast your vote for your favorite storybook character.

Nov. 10: Homeschool Hour: What’s Up, Doc. 1:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Six doctors from various medical areas will join us to discuss their speciﬁc ﬁelds and what they do every day. No registration required. For ages 10 and up. Nov. 10: iTween: Survival Skills. 4 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Learn basic skills and practices should anyone get lost in the woods. No registration. Open to 4th-7th graders.

Nov. 12: Our World Our Library (O.W.O.L.) Day. 4 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Celebrate Diwali! Come share in activities, crafts, discussion, and snacks to reflect on this special holiday. Program is primarily for grades 3-6, but all ages are welcome to participate. Nov. 14: STEMologist Club. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. K-5th grade Nov. 15: Infinity Ring Book Club: Eternity. 6 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Pizza and drinks at the book club reading through the Infinity Ring series. Online registration required. 4th-6th grade. Nov. 17: Star Spangled Salute. 6:30 p.m. in Large Auditorium. Celebrate Veterans Day with singers,

Let us help spread the news! Email sydney@starnespublishing.com to submit your announcement.

TheHomewoodStar.com swing dancing, Rosie the Riveter and Homewood High’s Star Spangled Girls. Nov. 18: Kid Coderz. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. One-hour coding class for grades 3rd-6th will introduce coding basics. Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop. Online registration required. Nov. 19: Peppa’s Pignic. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. Peppa Pig wants to invite you over to the library to share her friend’s favorite snacks. Nov. 21: LEGO Club. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. K-5th grade. Nov. 21: Sensory Storytime. 6 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. This monthly all ages storytime will introduce stories and songs in a variety of engaging ways in a sensory friendly atmosphere. Nov. 28: Family Flix: Finding Dory. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Popcorn and lemonade provided. Nov. 29: Homework Help. 4 p.m. in Room 101 (Lower Level). Elementary and middle school students are welcome to drop in for some free homework assistance from local high school students. Teens Nov. 3: Teen Anime Club. 4 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Nov. 5: Teen CPR and First Aid Training. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Basic first aid training class. Online registration required. $10. Nov. 7: Knight Chess Tournament. 5:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Nov. 7: Teen Advisory Board (TAB). 6 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. For grades 6-12 who want to take an active role at the Homewood Public Library. Nov. 10: Homeschool Hour: What’s Up, Doc? 1:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Six doctors from various medical areas will join us to discuss their specific fields and what they do every day. No registration required. Suggested for ages 10 years old and up.

November 2016 • B15 Adults Nov. 1: Edward Jones Health & Wealth Workshop & Luncheon. 11:30 a.m. in the Large Auditorium. Updates on the latest Alzheimer’s research and financial strategies to prepare for healthcare needs and retirement. Reservations required. Nov. 2: The Storms of November: Maritime History of the Great Lakes with Niki Sepsas. 1 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Nov. 3: Let’s Dish Cookbook Club: Feast of Sides. 6:30 p.m. in the Boardroom. Talk, tempt, and taste during this new book club discussion group that’s all about food! To participate, prepare a recipe around each month’s theme and bring the dish and recipe to the meeting. Nov. 4: OLLI Bonus Program: President Andrew Jackson and the $20 Bill. 1 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Historian and author Richard Rhone discusses this historic figure. Nov. 7 & 14: Library Yoga. 10 a.m. in the Large Auditorium. All levels of fitness welcome. Bring your own mat. Free. Nov. 7: Jump Start Your Job Search: Cleaning Up Your Internet Footprint. 7 p.m. in the Boardroom. Nov. 8: Oxmoor Page Turners Book Club. 6:30 p.m. in the Boardroom. Discussing Sweetland by Michael Crummey. Nov. 9: First Step Wednesdays: Get the Most Out of Your iPad and iPhone. 2 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Nov. 10: 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. Nov. 12: Self-Defense for Women with Det. Juan Rodriquez, Owner of Summit Training Academy. 9:30 a.m. in the Large Auditorium. Participation in this four-hour workshop is free. Registration required. Nov. 14: Bossypants Book Club. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. at Nabeel’s Café. Discussing Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler.

Nov. 10: iTween: Survival Skills. 4 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Troop 95 will teach participants some basic skills and practices should anyone get lost in the woods. Open to 4th-7th graders.

Nov. 15: Genealogy 101: From Cards to Computers: Planning a Research Visit. 11:30 a.m. in Room 101 (Lower Level). Learn the best methods to locate resources quickly, narrow your search, and maximize your time in a library.

Nov. 15 & 29: Girls Who Code. 4 p.m.-6 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Empowering girls grades 6-12 who are interested in the computer science ﬁeld. No registration required, but participants are encouraged to bring their laptops.

Nov. 15: The ABC’s of Medicare. 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. in Room 116 (Lower Level).

Nov. 15: Gilmore Girls Team Trivia. 6:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Up to 4 people per team. Online registration required. Nov. 17: Sew What! 4 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Sewing basics class for teens. Registration required. Nov. 28: ACT Practice Test. 4 p.m.-7 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Free. Online registration required. Nov. 29: LibraryFlix: The Dead Poets Society. 3:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Nov. 29: Homework Help. 4 p.m. in Room 101 (Lower Library Level). Elementary and middle school students are welcome to drop in for some free homework assistance from local high school students. No registration required.

Area Events Nov. 1: 10th Annual Out of the Darkness Walk, 2:30 p.m. at Heardmont Park. Registration at 1 p.m. Nov. 2: Dia de los Muertos Festival. 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Cahaba Brewing Company. Day of the Dead Festival. Visit barehandsinc.org. Nov. 3-6: Christmas Village Festival. BJCC Exhibition Halls. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. $12 adults, children 6-12, $5, 6 and under: free. Visit christmasvillagefestival.com. Nov. 5: Vulcan Run 10K. 8 a.m. Boutwell Auditori-

Nov. 15: Gilmore Girls Team Trivia. 6:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Up to 4 people per team. Online registration required. Nov. 17: The Star-Spangled Salute Family Event. 6:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Celebration of community and patriotism. Nov. 22: Dixie’s Pet Loss Support Group. 5:30 p.m. in Room 106 (Lower Level). This grief/loss group is sponsored by the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. Free. Reservations requested. Contact Randy Hicks, GBHS Volunteer Coordinator, at (205) 542-7111. Nov. 29: LibraryFlix: Dead Poets Society (1989). 3:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Nov. 30: The Better Than Therapy Book Club. 2 p.m. in the Boardroom. Discussing: Six Years by Harlan Coben.

um. $40 race fee. Visit runsignup.com. Nov. 11: Veterans Day Parade. 1:30 p.m. Downtown Birmingham. Visit nationalveteransday.org. Nov. 14: Carrie Underwood. 7 p.m. Legacy Arena at the BJCC. $44-$74. Visit carrieunderwoodofﬁcial. com. Nov. 15: Bob Dylan and His Band. 8 p.m. BJCC Concert Hall. $62 and $92. Visit bobdylan.com. Nov. 23: The 1975. BJCC Concert Hall. 8 p.m. $39.50-$52. Visit the1975.com. Nov. 27: Goo Goo Dolls. 7:30 p.m. BJCC Concert Hall. $36-$61. Visit googoodolls.com.