The Homewood Star
Volume 6 | Issue 9 | December 2016
neighborly news & entertainment for Homewood
A
star IS born
Tasked with decorating city streets and surpassing expectations, crew gets jump-start on holiday spirit
T
By SYDNEY CROMWELL
he star lighting ceremony is one of the most iconic parts of Homewood’s Christmas celebration. But Carl Russell of the city’s fleet management department gets more satisfaction out of seeing it shine in his department garage rather than over 18th Street. “I think turning the lights on here is my favorite part because it’s dark in here, and you turn the lights on and see it all working, and working perfectly. You’re like, ‘Wow, done it again,’” Russell said. Russell has worked with fleet management for 13 years, but
See STAR | page A26
Photo by Sarah Finnegan.
Rocking a sense of community Sisters share ‘wholesome’ game to stimulate residents’ interactions By SYDNEY CROMWELL
Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Tupelo, MS Permit #54
Sisters Kris Black and Kendall Hornady started the Homewood Rocks Facebook group in October. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
INSIDE
An everyday rock can become so much more: a strawberry, a mouse, a superhero or an inspirational message for a stranger. All it takes is a paintbrush and some creativity from members of the Homewood Rocks Facebook group. Kris Black, a 26-year Homewood resident and nurse at Brookwood Medical Center, started the Homewood Rocks group in early October. The idea is simple: paint and hide rocks in public places around the community. If
Sponsors .............. A4 News...................... A6
Chamber............... A9 Business ..............A10
Gift Guide ............A16 Events .................. A21
you find a rock, take a picture and either hide it again or take it home and paint a new rock to replace it. The project was born from Black’s trip to Texas in September for the University of Alabama game against the University of Southern California. Family members living in nearby Mansfield, Texas, told Black and her family about a group that painted and hid rocks throughout the city. Black was instantly taken with the idea and painted 20 rocks of her own to take back to Birmingham. “It was so fun. It was like an Easter egg hunt or something,” Black said. Black enlisted her sister, Kendall Hornady, a fellow Homewood resident and preschool teacher at Hall-Kent
See ROCKS | page A25 Community .......... B6 School House ...... B8
Sports .................. B10 Calendar .............. B18 facebook.com/thehomewoodstar
Eye for Design
Hungry for More
Homewood designer Meg Wallace welcomes Southern Living into her home for 2016 Christmas book feature.
With recent tastes of a state championship still palpable, Lady Patriots working for a second serving.
See page B4
See page B10
A2 • December 2016
The Homewood Star
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • A3
The Homewood Star
A4 • December 2016
About Us Editor’s Note By Sydney Cromwell It’s the most wonderful time of the year. While the weather is still relatively warm as I’m writing this, the Christmas songs creeping onto my radio and my ever-growing gift list are getting me in the holiday spirit. Christmas lights are one of my perennial favorite parts of this season — with the food being a close second. The lights always remind me of Decembers as a child. I had a big book of Christmas tales and songs from around the world, which I would always read at night by the warm light of our Christmas tree. That’s why I was thrilled to get to write this month’s cover story, about the behind-the-scenes work of lighting up Homewood for Christmas.
employees who string lights, wreaths and garlands around our city. Check out our Events section this month for information about the star lighting and all of Homewood’s other Christmas traditions. We also had the chance to interview the owners of several new local businesses and one resident whose home will be featured in the Christmas issue of Southern Living. Whether you’re staying in town or traveling this holiday season, may your days be merry and bright. The star that hangs over 18th Street South feels much bigger when you’re standing right next to it, and I enjoyed talking to Carl Russell, who decorates the star each year, and the other city
PHOTO OF THE MONTH David Weigel climbs up a route at Birmingham Boulders on Oct. 29. Birmingham Boulders, a new indoor climbing location associated with First Avenue Rocks, opened its doors this fall to climbers young and old. The new facility features more than 12,000 square feet of climbing, 4,000 square feet of training and fitness and a set of beginner-friendly autobelay stations. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.
The Homewood Star
Publisher: Managing Editor: Design Editor: Director of Digital Media: Director of Photography: Sports Editor: Page Designers: Community Editor: Community Reporters: Staff Writers:
Copy Editor:
Dan Starnes Sydney Cromwell Kristin Williams Heather VacLav Sarah Finnegan Kyle Parmley Cameron Tipton Emily VanderMey Erica Techo Jon Anderson Jesse Chambers Lexi Coon Emily Featherston Sam Chandler Louisa Jeffries
Contributing Writers: Grace Thornton Sarah Tuttle Lauren Denton
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.
Please recycle this paper.
Please Support Our Community Partners 30 A Realty (A9) Aabco Rents (A13) Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (B4) Alabama Eye and Cataract Center (A11) Alabama Outdoors (A23) Alabama Power (B3) ARC Realty (B17) Assurance Financial (A5) Avani Rupa Fine Jewelers (A3) Bedzzz Express (A2, B1) Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (B7) Bob’s Bikes (A10) Brandino Brass (A25) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (A10) Dish’n It Out (A22) EW Fit (A15) Ex Voto Vintage (A12) First Lenders Mortgage Corp. (A22) High Point Climbing and Fitness, LLC (A28) Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (A15) Homewood Antiques and Marketplace (A19, A20) Homewood Chamber of Commerce (B18) Homewood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry (B9) Homewood Parks and Rec (A27) Homewood Toy & Hobby (B11) Huffstutler’s (B15) Huntington Learning Center (B2) Hutchinson Automotive (A24) Issis & Sons (B2) Jacqueline DeMarco (B8) Jamie Goff, LAH Real Estate (A19) JJ Eyes (A7) Joe Falconer, RealtySouth (B1) Johnny Montgomery Realtor (B7) Kete Cannon, RE MAX Southern Homes (B13) Kidz Closet Consignment (A11) Korduroy Krocodile (B15) Lamb’s Ears, Ltd. (B4) Limbaugh Toyota (A1) McWane Science Center (B11) Mountain Brook Art Association (B14) Mr. Chen’s (A20) New Location Realty School (A8) Next Chapter Counseling (A17) Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics (A12) Phoenix Builders (A24) RealtySouth Marketing (B19) Red Pearl Restaurant (B12) Rick Brown & Associates, Inc. (A23) Rosenberger’s Birmingham Trunk (A11) Safe & Healthy Homewood Coalition (B13) Salem’s Diner (B16) Sew Sheri Designs (B16) Shades Valley Dermatology (A19) Shuttlesworth Lasseter, LLC (B5) Sikes Childrens Shoes (A25) St. Vincent’s Health Systems (A13) Sweet Peas Garden Shop (B15) Taco Mama (B10) Tech-Ease (A8) Tenet Physicians Resources (B10) The Center For Executive Leadership (B20) The Cook Store (A17) The Maids (B12) The Whole Dog Market (B16) UAB Honors College (B6) Uptown at BJCC (A17) Urban Air (A6) Viva Health Care (A21) Wallace-Burke (A21, B14) Water Drainage Solutions (A11) Weigh To Wellness (A5) Wolf Camera (A14)
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • A5
The Homewood Star
A6 • December 2016
City Council says goodbye to departing representatives By SYDNEY CROMWELL The City Council began and ended its Oct. 24 meeting with words of praise for the four council members who will not be returning in the 2016-20 term: Ward 1 Rep. Michael Hallman, Ward 2 Reps. Fred Hawkins and Vance Moody and Ward 5 Rep. Rich Laws. This was their last full council meeting together before the new members are inducted. Council President Bruce Limbaugh read resolutions thanking each of them for their service. Of the four, only Hawkins was present at the meeting, so he received most of the praise from fellow representatives during their final statements at the end of the meeting. “Fred loves Homewood. There are no truer three words than those three words tonight,” Limbaugh said. Their praise ranged from personal friendship and descriptions of his “kind heart” to the practical things he has achieved in his term. Hawkins’ engineering background with the city of Birmingham has helped Homewood work with ALDOT, obtain grants and reduce project costs. “Fred Hawkins has saved this city millions of dollars through what he has brought to the table,” Ward 5 Representative Peter Wright said. “You’re such a collaborator. You bring people together to solve problems,” Ward 3 Representative Walter Jones said.
Hawkins said he was still available to the rest of the council for help when needed, and said he believes Homewood is “a special place.” He noted that proactive thinking is part of what has made Homewood thrive, which had particular relevance in the meeting’s sales tax increase debate. “Homewood does not stay number one by being reactionary,” Hawkins said. Prior to the meeting, the council also held a work session to discuss sidewalk projects for the year. The list sent to the finance committee for consideration included sidewalks on portions of Saulter Road, Parkridge Drive, Valley Avenue and Rumson Road, part of which is already under engineering work. The council also: ► Approved the sale of the lot at 165 Oxmoor Road to Giani Respinto, who plans to open a pizzeria. ► Approved a retail alcohol license for Fred’s Store, 234 Green Springs Highway. ► Approved the mayor to close a loan for capital purchases in the 201617 fiscal year up to $710,000. ► Approved funding of additional services by Volatile Analysis to manage ongoing odor issues in West Homewood. ► Set a public hearing for Nov. 14 to discuss making traffic one-way on Ardsley Road. ► Carried over discussion of a retail alcohol license for Black Pearl Asian Cuisine, 180 State Farm Parkway.
Members of the 2016-20 City Council take their oath of office. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
New council takes oath of office By SYDNEY CROMWELL The 2016-20 city council stepped on the City Hall dais for the first time Nov. 7 as they were given the oath of office. After a performance of the national anthem by Ward 3 Rep. Walter Jones, Mayor Scott McBrayer and the council members were given the oath of office while family and friends watched from the audience. This was followed by committee and board liaison assignments for each member. The council also voted for Ward 5 Representative Peter Wright to continue serving as council president pro-tem, and confirmed the continuing service of city clerk Melody Salter, city attorney Mike Kendrick and other city staff. After this, each council member was given the chance to recognize spouses, children, parents and other family members and friends in the audience. The mood was lighthearted, as council members recalled campaigning days in 100degree heat and recognized what their families
give up to allow them to serve. “Campaigning’s not easy, so they all took a lot of late night phone calls of frustration from me, like I’m sure your families did," McBrayer said. “You can all pretty much give up on Monday nights from now on,” new Ward 2 Representative Mike Higginbotham told his family. Ward 3 Representative Patrick McClusky got a laugh from the audience when he pointed out that no one had come with him for the night’s ceremonies, “but I promise you they support me.” Jones leaned over to give him a hug in support. A few of the longer-serving members also reflected on previous terms and inauguration days. McBrayer, whose mother and girlfriend were in attendance, noted that his father was present for the 2012 oath of office but passed away about three years ago. “So I miss him being here tonight, but I did put a picture of him in my pocket,” McBrayer said. The meeting was followed by a small reception for the council members and their families.
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • A7
City Hall exhibit on male abuse survivors approved Billie Gray speaks to members of the Homewood City Council about a proposed exhibit at City Hall about male survivors of sexual abuse. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
By SYDNEY CROMWELL After a presentation by one Homewood mother, the City Council approved the temporary installation of an exhibit on male sexual abuse survivors at city hall in January. Resident Billie Gray presented the council with information on the Bristlecone Project, which collects photos and biographies of men willing to share their sexual abuse experience and healing. The project is a campaign by 1in6, an organization serving men who have experienced sexual assault or abuse, in hopes of encouraging other men to share their stories and take steps toward healing themselves. “We think it can reach out to anyone walking by,” Gray said. The project has special significance for Gray, whose son, Jason Lee, was abused by his Boy Scout troop leader as a child. He was one of many who reported abuse by that troop leader, but only one of three who filed charges. Now an adult living in Atlanta, Lee is involved in advocacy for men's abuse survivors and has his own campaign called 30 is 30, which is dedicated to opposing parole for the troop leader so he serves his full 30-year prison sentence. The Bristlecone Project display will be in the city hall lobby from Jan. 9 to Feb. 6 at no cost to the city. Also at the Nov. 14 city council meeting, council members voted to drop an agenda item to turn Ardsley Place into a one-way street. The issue had been brought up due to speeding issues on the narrow street, which has a lot of on-street parking. However, residents at the Nov. 14 public hearing mostly opposed the idea. They felt it would not impact speeding, as drivers would feel more confident without traffic from the opposite direction, and that a blind curve and on-street parking already made the road hazardous. A few residents said they would be all right with Ardsley becoming one-way if traffic was directed eastbound, as most cut-through traffic
from surrounding streets seems to move in the opposite direction. However, one homeowner said he would like to see a traffic study of how neighboring streets would be affected. Ward 1 Rep. Britt Thames, who initially proposed the idea, agreed that some of Ardsley's speeding and congestion issues come from drivers avoiding speedbumps and otherwise using Ardsley as a cut-through. “Ardsley is feeling the brunt of some unintended consequences of some other changes,” Thames said. He added that a larger Homewood traffic study was planned for 2017 that could show other possible solutions for Ardsley. The council voted to drop the issue in favor of waiting for this study. At the request of a resident at the meeting, they also planned to ask the fire department to test whether a fire engine can safely drive the street during peak times for on-street parking. The council also: ► Approved a use policy for the police department's two new license plate readers. The
readers collect license plate data for all cars they encounter and cross-reference them with various criminal databases. The collected data will be stored for 30 days at the Homewood Police Department headquarters and will only be accessible to the two officers using the readers, their supervisor and Chief Tim Ross. ► Approved a conciliation measure with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. City attorney Mike Kendrick said a resident made a disability claim due to standing water in the gutter in front of their home. The city found a broken pipeline and repaired it, but the official dismissal request is part of the HUD process. Kendrick added that the city will be required to report whether their pipeline fix was successful the next time it rains. ► Authorized the mayor to sign contracts with ClasTran, Prescott House and the Homewood Chamber of Commerce for services in 2016-17. ClasTran provides paratransit in the city and Prescott House is a children's advocacy group.
► Approved the reimbursement of fence construction costs on Griffin Creek at 703 and 705 Broadway St. ► Set its December meetings for Dec. 12 and 19. ► Declared two refuse trucks, a sewer truck, a Ford heavy-duty truck, a Giant Vac and a slag spreader as surplus to be sold at auction. ► Set a Dec. 12 public hearing to reconsider the home energy section of the International Building Code. ► Set Dec. 19 public hearings for rezoning requests at: 2824 and 2826 Central Ave., to rezone from Neighborhood Shopping District to Central Business District; 1718 27th Court S., to rezone from Neighborhood Shopping District to Central Business District; and 1630 28th Court S., to rezone from Attached Dwelling Unit District to Institutional District. ► Set a Dec. 19 public hearing for a sign ordinance variance request at 2933 18th St. S. and a fence ordinance variance request at 315 LaPrado Circle.
The Homewood Star
A8 • December 2016
Council OKs 1-cent tax increase to fund schools, parks plan By SYDNEY CROMWELL Despite opposition from every resident who spoke at an Oct. 24 public hearing, the City Council voted to approve a one-cent sales tax increase in order to pay off a $110 million bond for an expansion plan for the city schools and parks. At the start of the hearing, HCS Superintendent Bill Cleveland expressed his support for the funding, which would provide additional classrooms and possibly a new high school located in West Homewood. However, he said that there is still work to be done to finalize the plans for this growth. “We’re not there, but we do know that this 30 percent growth in students that we’ve had since 2000,” Cleveland said. “We still have some work to do, some studying to do.” This lack of finalized plans was one of the primary concerns from residents at the public hearing. With the long-term price tag of the bond and sales tax increase, those who stood up to speak felt that more study is needed, and that the bond decision should wait until the summer when the school system has more information from its strategic planning process. “You’re getting ready to make a
“
We’ve looked at every angle possible, and this is not anything I feel like we are going into lightly.
”
REP. WALTER JONES
profound 30-year decision with limited information that could cause irreparable damage,” a Hollywood resident said. Others said they would prefer that the funds be levied through property tax rather than sales tax, because the money would then come from members of the school system rather than a regressive tax on everyone who shops in the city. However, the state’s lid bill has capped Homewood’s ad valorem property tax rate, and Ward 3 Rep. Walter Jones said attempts to get an exemption from the state legislature have not been successful. One woman said once the $110 million “blank check” is set by the
A crowd, including new Ward 5 Rep. Jennifer Andress, far left, and Homewood City Schools Superintendent Bill Cleveland, far right, listens to discussion on a sales tax increase. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
bond, the school system and parks department might increase the size of their projects to fill the bill. Residents also noted that the tax increase was permanent and would continue even once the bond is paid off. Ward 5 Rep. Peter Wright said he agreed that the proposed tax increase was not an ideal situation, and he would prefer to increase property tax instead. Given the lack of a lid bill exemption, however, Wright said he felt like the city needed to move forward with the current plan, noting that should the exemption status change,
he would support repealing the sales tax in favor of increased property tax. “I wouldn’t stand up here and say I’m proud of it, to vote for it,” Wright said. Jones said although the school system’s plan is still in the works, the City Council has been in discussion with Homewood City Schools for two years about its growth challenges. Between the pressing need of the school system and the current good interest rates for bonds, Jones said he felt that waiting for a more definite plan could cause more problems
down the road. “We’ve looked at every angle possible, and this is not anything I feel like we are going into lightly,” Jones said. The council voted to approve the tax increase and take out the 30-year, $110 million bond. The council also approved refinancing of earlier bonds for additional savings to put toward this new project. The sales tax increase will generate about $7.6 million in new revenue to cover the annual debt service on the bond of approximately $6.2 million.
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • A9
Chamber
Tony Cooper of Jimmie Hale Mission, who sponsored the luncheon, welcomes chamber members to The Club on Nov. 15. Photo by Lexi Coon.
Chamber discusses impact of FLSA’s new ‘40-hour rule’ By LEXI COON On Nov. 15, members of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce gathered to discuss a topic that is on the forefront of many employers’ and employees’ minds: “The Final Rule,” or the upcoming law that will provide overtime to millions of employees. The new law goes by many names: the final rule, the 40-hour rule or the overtime rule. No matter what you call it, the law extends the qualifications to be eligible for overtime and reaches a broader expanse of employees. Passed in 1938, the original statement of the Fair Labor Standards Act, or the FLSA, set a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and required overtime if an employee worked over 40 hours per week, said Michael Jackson of Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff and Brandt, LLC. “The premise of the FLSA is if you work over 40 hours, you get paid overtime,” he said, mentioning that there are certain employees who are exempt from this financial boost. Those in an administrative field, a professional field or an executive field, and who are also salaried, may be exempt from overtime payment if their annual salary exceeds $134,004. This new adjustment is equivalent with the 90th percentile of fulltime salaried workers. The number of workers who are not exempt, however, just grew immensely thanks to the new law. Previously set in 1975, hourly employees who made more than $23,660 per year, or $455 per week, were exempt from overtime pay. Now, only employees who earn more than $47,476 annually, or $913 per week, are exempt. “That’s a 100 percent increase,” Jackson said. In addition to giving raises to adjust pay scales, there are three ways that employers can tailor their methods to accommodate the new law and potential overtime: make employees hourly, pay employees based on salary and use a fluctuating workweek or prohibit overtime work. Under the premise that employees are paid hourly, they earn 1.5 times their hourly wage when working overtime. Fluctuating workweek employees tend to have a more complicated schedule and paycheck, and thus have an agreement with their employer that states a pre-determined yearly salary that can’t be reduced, but their work hours must truly fluctuate above and below 40 hours per week. Because many employees work on commission and not on a standard hourly wage or yearly salary, Jackson stated that the rules for those workers are not changing. Employee’s
Preview of
December Luncheon
The December membership luncheon and annual meeting will feature Mike Warren, CEO of Children’s of Alabama, as the keynote speaker. Additionally, chamber awards, including Ambassador of the Year, Business of the Year and Newcomer of the Year will be announced, and the 2017 board of directors will be presented. The luncheon is Dec. 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Club. Tickets are $20, tables are $160. Visit homewoodchamber.org or call 871-5631 to register.
earnings can include bonuses as well, but only if they make up 10 percent or less of the income and the bonuses are paid quarterly and on a non-discretionary basis. “A lot of employers are looking at this and seeing that a lot of employees are mis-classified,” Jackson said, mentioning again that the overtime compensation is dependent upon the worker’s classification. The new “40-hour rule” begins Dec. 1, which is a Thursday. “So if your workweek starts on something other than a Thursday, which is probably about 95 percent of businesses, then you may need to begin compliance at the beginning of the workweek that includes Dec. 1,” said Jackson. Currently, there are pending lawsuits challenging regulations, but if the results of those were going to affect the new law, Jackson believes they would have done so by now. “There is still a possibility, though,” he said, adding that he doesn’t expect this to be a big contender for change after the election. “I don’t think this is on the front burner.”
The Homewood Star
A10 • December 2016 2 18 Street S.
Homewood Happenings
7
1 3
280
28th Ave S
4 8
31
6 280
r Rd
oo Oxm
e Av ll ey
Rosedale Dr
Ind
epe
Va
nd
enc eD
r
149 S yH
wy
d
wy
or R
sH
5
o Oxm
W Oxmoor Rd
65
h
s ke
W
La
kw eP or
y
149
r
M
ng
D re
o esh Lak
on tg o
m
er
pri nS ee Gr
W
e Av ey l l Va
31
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • A11
Now Open Kanzi, a fair trade store specializing in handmade crafts, jewelry and accessories from artisans in East Africa, is now open at 2817 Central Ave. The company donates a percentage of its profits to educate at-risk children in the communities where their artisans live. 202-5667, kanzicraft.com
1
Bare Naked Noodles has opened its second Birmingham-area café at 2100B Southbridge Parkway, Suite 295. 837-7370, barenakednoodles.com
2
Relocations and Renovations Jacqueline DeMarco, Ph.D., a registered psychologist offering individual and couples therapy to adults, is relocating her office from Office Park in Mountain Brook to Homewood, at 2917 Central Ave., Suite 305. 718-5433
3
News and Accomplishments 4
tion and UAB Collat School of Business. The baby boutique was named the Gold Award Winner in the “Annual Sales Less Than $1 Million” category. 870-7776, onceuponatimebaby.com Johnny Collins of Barber’s Dairy, 36 Barber Court, was named “Vendor of the Year” by the Alabama Grocers Association. Collins has worked with Barber’s for 21 years and has worked his way up from key account manager to general manager. barbersdairy.com
5
Anniversaries Family Adoption Services, 2010 Lancaster Road, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. 800-877-4177, familyadoptionservices.com
6
Wags ‘n Whispers Comprehensive Pet Care, 2804 Crescent Ave., is celebrating its second anniversary this month. 902-9247, wagshomewood.com
7
The Korduroy Krocodile, 2912 Linden Ave., celebrated its 35th anniversary in November. 879-0030, korduroykrocodile.com
8
Business news Once Upon a Time, 2900 18th St. S., was named an “Alabama Retailer of the Year” by the Alabama Retail Associa-
to share? Now Open
Coming Soon
If you are in a brick and mortar business in Homewood and want to share your event with the community, let us know.
Anniversary
Emailmatthew@starnespublishing.com dan@thehomewoodstar.com Email
Relocation Expansion The Homewood Star
The Homewood Star
A12 • December 2016
Rosenberger’s considers closing after 120 years By SYDNEY CROMWELL There are many stories about how the University of Alabama came to have an elephant for a mascot, but Ken Rosenberger is confident that his grandfather’s trunk shop is where the tradition got its start. J.D. Rosenberger opened Rosenberger’s Birmingham Trunk Factory, which specialized in handmade luggage and travel items, in January 1897. When the Alabama football team was boarding a train bound for the 1926 Rose Bowl, J.D. Rosenberger gave each player a unique token of good luck: a luggage charm with his business’s logo of a red elephant with one foot on a suitcase and its trunk held high. The red charms caught the attention of sports reporters and, according to Ken Rosenberger, were the start of what would become an icon. “We have never really pushed it a lot because you’ll make a lot of Auburn fans mad, but that’s how Alabama got the red elephant,” Ken Rosenberger said. Rosenberger’s Birmingham Trunk may not be as famous as the Crimson Tide, but after 120 years, the family-owned business is woven through the history of Birmingham. The store started out on 19th Street North in downtown Birmingham before moving to Second Avenue North for 60 years. There, Ken Rosenberger said his mother and aunt had the idea to start temporary holiday stores in Mountain Brook and Homewood. That led to the creation of a Mountain Brook permanent store in the 1950s. “We were the first local, downtown store to have a suburban store,” Ken Rosenberger said. Over three generations, Rosenberger’s Birmingham Trunk has had locations in Mountain Brook, Roebuck, Eastwood, Riverchase Galleria, the Summit and Brookwood Village. “We were in Brookwood from day one [of the mall opening] until 2010,” Ken Rosenberger said. His grandfather helped found the National Luggage Dealers Association, of which Rosenberger’s is still a member, and the business has imported products from Europe, Asia and South America to bring some of the best luggage brands to Birmingham. Ken Rosenberger said his business was one of the first in the Southeast to sell Louis Vuitton bags, which were always a popular item until the brand decided to sell primarily out of its own stores.
Ken Rosenberger inside Rosenberger’s Birmingham Trunk in Homewood. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
“We have run the whole spectrum of some of the best lines going,” Ken Rosenberger said. In 2013, he decided to bring the business under one roof at 2712 19th St. S. in Homewood, a warehouse the company had owned for 30 years. Today, Ken Rosenberger has invested more than 47 years in his family’s business, selling trunks, suitcases, handbags and more. The business has changed in that time. More people shop online than in stores for luggage, and Ken Rosenberger said he has seen many customers turn to national chain stores to buy products that are cheaper, though they may not last as long. “A lot of the fun has been taken out of it,” Ken Rosenberger said.
With that in mind, he said he’s trying to decide if it’s time for the red elephant to retire. Rosenberger’s will definitely stay open through the holidays, but in early 2017 the business may close its doors for good. Ken Rosenberger said he thinks 120 years has been a good run for the business. “That’s long enough for anybody or anything,” he said. The decision to close is “not carved in stone,” Ken Rosenberger said, and they will make a final choice by the end of this year. Rosenberger’s Birmingham Trunk is at 2712 19th St. S. in Homewood and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call 870-0971 for more information.
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • A13
Bringing East Africa to Homewood Fair-trade store brings international benefits with it
Husbandand-wife team Jamie and Scott Laslo inside their fair-trade store Kanzi, which opened Nov. 10. Their building serves as a storefront for Kanzi as well as a home base for the Laslos’ other shop and consignment business, Ornaments for Orphans. Photo by Lexi Coon.
By LEXI COON Some of the best things start with a series of small and modest ideas. New fair-trade store Kanzi falls into that category. Kanzi originated in 2010 when husbandand-wife team Scott and Jamie Laslo decided their East Africa nonprofit organization, Pearl Ministries, Inc., needed a change. “We wanted more ways to do more sustainable development than just pure charity,” Scott Laslo said. With Kanzi and their second business Ornaments for Orphans, which both sell handmade goods, they are able to help provide consistent income to craftsmen and artisans through jobs. The store started with three fronts: craft festivals, a kiosk in the Galleria and online. “We built this up from very humble beginnings,” Jamie Laslo said, adding that a lot of people thought they were crazy to jump from running a nonprofit to running a business. “It was sort of just winging it and hoping it works, she said. “We put in a lot of sweat equity.” But together with their business partner, Bob Ashburner, the couple turned their dream into a reality — or rather, a storefront. Kanzi sits at 2817 Central Ave. in Homewood just behind Little Donkey, and it opened its doors Nov. 10. Its space serves as a storefront for Kanzi as well as a home base for the Laslos’ other shop and consignment business, Ornaments for Orphans. “The retail part is not necessary, but it’s fun,” Scott Laslo said. In addition to retail, Scott Laslo said he is
hoping to have the shop be as multifunctional as possible by incorporating office space. He also wants to make it mutually beneficial for the Homewood community by hosting events such as nonprofit fundraisers or business meetings. With their plans, the benefits of their fairtrade store will spread far beyond Homewood, too, he said. By operating under fair-trade agreements, stores are supporting farmers and craftspeople in developing countries who may be socially and economically marginalized, according to the Fair Trade Federation. “Basically, the people who make the goods
are treated fairly,” Scott Laslo said. “Doing fair trade is also a huge social good in the places that we’re working.” Made in East Africa, the majority of the products in Kanzi are handmade by locals. “Obviously our hearts are with East Africa and orphans and vulnerable children in Africa,” Scott Laslo said, mentioning many of the proceeds from the store are given back to Pearl Ministries, which operates in Uganda. The store features handmade beaded necklaces, paper goods, wooden Nativities, woven bowls and leather bags, but the content will always be changing. Through working with different communities
and adding more orders, Scott Laslo said Kanzi would be “a retail store of constant flux,” so there is always something new. Eventually, he said they may even expand to communities outside of Africa as more relationships with artisans develop. “I’ve really noticed a growing desire to buy ethical and meaningful products,” Jamie Laslo said. “People want to feel good about spending their money. We hope that we’re providing a service to the community.” Kanzi is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 202-5667.
The Homewood Star
A14 • December 2016 Bear Jones, below, works out of his shop with chain saws to create furniture and sculptures like the one seen at right, out of trees for Homewoodbased Wood Worx Inc. Photos by Lexi Coon.
NATURAL BEAUTY Homewood artist uncovers art in trees with Wood Worx Inc. By LEXI COON
P
eyton Lee knew Bear Jones for years before he finished working with a local construction company and graduated. She knew of his artistic eye and talent and knew he understood the importance of conservation and preserving the environment. So when she had the idea to open Wood Worx Inc., a Homewood-based business specializing in custom, chain saw-carved home and office furnishings from trees, Lee knew she couldn’t wait. “It was great timing,” she said. “If I didn’t approach [Bear] then, then I knew I would never do it.” Lee is the president of Wood Worx Inc., and together with resident artist Jones, she works with clients to create custom pieces. Located on 137 Citation Court in Oxmoor Business Park, Jones works out of a shop and uses chainsaws to carve sculptures and furniture pieces out of trees. Jones started chain saw carving about seven years ago when he still worked in construction.
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • A15
Jones started chain saw carving about seven years ago when he still worked in construction. Now, Jones’ custom creations can range anywhere from $500 to $5,000, depending on the size, intricacy and type of wood.
“We got rained out one day, and I ran back to the shop. I dozed off to rain hitting the metal roof,” he said. “I don’t know if I was dreaming about it or what, but when I woke up I saw the chain saw in front of me.” From there, Jones started playing around with pieces of wood he could find. “My first piece was an eagle. It didn’t come out good, though,” he said. After finding that the inside of the tree had rotted out, Jones learned to not plan a sculpture until knowing more about the wood he was using. He soon expanded his carving repertoire
to including home furnishings. All of the carvings come from natural sources, such as trees that have already fallen, and Lee and Jones refuse to cut down trees to create furniture or sculptures. The logs and trunks can often be found by walking through the woods, and other times, people will call in fallen trees they have found. Even with a variety of options, Jones said he doesn’t always know what he’s looking for in a tree. “Sometimes I have pieces that need an additional part,” he said, “but sometimes I say,
‘Hey, let’s go for a hike and see what we can find.’” Together with Lee, who has ties to The Nature Conservancy, the pair works toward achieving a certain level of preservation of the environment. “It’s all kind of how I am anyway, you know, with trying to give things new life and allowing people to see that everything doesn’t have to be disposable,” Jones said. Once the raw materials are back at Jones’ workshop, the artwork begins. In many instances, he works off of sketches he does in
his spare time or little pieces of inspiration he finds in day-to-day activities. “I’ve always enjoyed doing the more custom pieces, the fine woodworking kind of stuff,” he said. Carving custom pieces with a chainsaw is no simple feat and can be physically taxing, but to ease his work, he has each of his six chainsaws set up differently and outfitted with specialty carving bars. “You can be a mediocre artist, but then when you throw the chainsaw into it, it gets intense,” Jones said. “It’s basically like reverse engineering. The chainsaw is just a giant eraser.” So far, he has made countless sculptures, dish gardens, root-ball tables, pots, topsy-turvy tables and coffee tables for both himself and clients, but both Lee and Jones agreed that his most memorable work to date was a carved five-foot alligator named Matilda. “It was like a step into a different dimension,” Lee said. “It even scared a guy.” Jones said he prefers to get a sense of realism out of his sculptures and uses his special carving tools to add the details that will really make each piece unique. “[The alligator] made me look at it from the perspective of ‘I can do this,’ you know, I am in the game with some of the guys who have been in this for 40 years,” he said. Prices for Jones’ custom creations can range anywhere from $50 to $5,000 depending on the size, intricacy and type of wood, but he and Lee work so each piece fits the client’s vision. “All you have to do is bring an idea in the door, and Bear knows how to make it,” Lee said. Through a series of appointments, Jones sits down with clients to draw a mock-up of a design and create a rough concept, and he will visit the area that the piece will go when it is finished to make sure everything fits together. “I’m a visual person,” he said. “I try to find out details about a person and incorporate that into their piece. They’re one-of-a-kind items.” To view some of Bear Jones’ work and see his workshop, visitors are welcome to stop by the Wood Worx Inc. workshop and showroom in the Oxmoor Business Park, or go to wood worxinc.com.
The Homewood Star
A16 • December 2016
holiday gift guide
For the
HISTORY BUFF “Then & Now – Birmingham” $21.99 We have a variety of historical Birmingham books, with many different titles to choose from. Maybe help a loved one start a collection? Homewood Antiques 930 Oxmoor Road 414-9945
For the
SWEET ARCHITECT
For the
John Wright Gingerbread House Mold $32 Cast iron, nonstick finish.
TRAVELER 21” Leather Carry-on Duffel in Tan $199.99 (regularly $335) Also available in 18” and 25” sizes. Free personalization and gift wrapping options. Rosenberger’s Birmingham Trunk 2712 19th St. S. 870-0971
Brandino Brass 2824 Central Ave. 978-8900
For the
FASHIONISTA Krewe “Breton” Polarized Aviator $295 Give a loved one these stylish sunglasses that can be used all year.
For the
JEWELRY LOVER The Mazza Company Venetian Murano Glass Cameo and Sapphire Earrings $1975 Give someone special these classically elegant and striking earrings.
JJ Eyes 2814 18th St. S. 703-8596
Bromberg’s 2800 Cahaba Road 871-3276
For the
COLD NATURED True Grit Frosty Tipped Pullover $145 Throw on an extra cozy layer when cooler weather hits with True Grit pullovers at Alabama Outdoors. Alabama Outdoors 3054 Independence Drive 870-1919
For the
RIP, ROCK AND ROLLER Specialized Riprock Mountain Bikes Starting at $250 With ultra-wide tires, supple suspension, a durable frame, comfortable, confident geometry and strong, reliable disc brakes, we’d say that the Riprock is approved for fun anywhere that it goes. Bob’s Bikes 2852 18th St. S. 879-2258
For the
LITTLE COWBOY “Roper” by Dan Post Boots $58-90 Every little boy loves cowboy boots, and these Dan Post boots with handcrafted cushion comfort are perfect for riding the range. Sikes Children’s Shoes 2920 18th St. S. 879-3433
For the
POWER NAPPER Malouf Shredded Gel Dough™ Pillow Sizes and prices vary Shredded Gel Dough™ clusters create a cooler, softer memory foam pillow that is breathable and moldable. Bedzzz Express bedzzzexpress.com
For the For the
BUSY HOMEOWNER The Maids Gift Certificate Any amount Give friends or family the gift of a clean home, worry-free. The Maids 871-9338 maids.com
FURRY FRIEND Fluff & Tuff Dog Toys $8.95 - $27.95 Plush and durable. The Whole Dog 2937 18th St. S. 783-1169
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • A17 For the
For the
PLAYFUL KIDDO
OUTDOORSMAN 22” Weber Kettle Grill $99 This is the perfect tool for holiday grilling.
Melissa & Doug Latches Barn $39.99 For ages 3 and older. Includes four farm animals. An educational toy that helps develop fine motor skills.
Huffstutler’s 2732 Central Ave. 871-2121
Homewood Toy & Hobby Shop 2830 18th St. S. 879-4444
For the
For the
ORGANIZED TRAVELER
COLLECTOR
Kristaben Satin Quilted Hanger Kit $61 Several colors to choose. Great for cosmetics or jewelry.
Cohasset Molten Glass and Reclaimed Wood Sculptures $19.99 - $139.99 No two are alike. Use as a vase, aquarium or terrarium.
B Bayer & Co. 2815 18th St. S. 870-4126
Sweet Peas Garden Shop 2829 Lindon Ave. 879-3839
For the
PHOTOGRAPHER
For the
‘SCENT’-SITIVE ONE Nest Candle, “Holiday” $39 With a beautiful red gift box, this candle will make your whole home smell like Christmas.
Cannon T6 2 Lens Kit with Free Printer Special offer: $499.99 After instant and mail-in rebates, good through Dec. 31, 2016. Wolf Camera and Image 2711 18th St. S. 870-5892
Mantooth Interiors 2813 18th St. S 879-5474
EAT. DRINK. MEET UP.
THE SOUTHERN KITCHEN + BAR
TODD ENGLISH P.U.B. / MUGSHOTS / TEXAS DE BRAZIL / CANTINA LAREDO LAREDO OCTANE COFFEE + BAR / COMING SOON: YOUR PIE & EUGENE’S HOT CHICKEN
FREE PARKING + COMPLIMENTARY VALET RICHARD ARRINGTON JR. BLVD. NORTH @THEBJCC // UPTOWNBHAM.COM. FACEBOOK.COM/UPTOWNBHAM // TWITTER & INSTAGRAM: @UPTOWNBHAM
The Homewood Star
A18 • December 2016
The Homewood boys basketball team celebrates its Class 6A championship win over Muscle Shoals on March 5 at the BJCC Legacy Arena. Photo by Frank Couch.
IN PICTURES:
Best of 2016 Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Clockwise from above: Jackie Evans, Holler and Dash’s biscuit chef, shows off her first batch of the day. Members of the Barony of Iron Mountain practice their sword fighting in May at Patriot Park. A Homewood High School student and member of its JROTC unit salutes in the middle of a crowded stairwell in October.
Photo by Sarah Finnegan.
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • A19
General dermatology for the whole family Dr. Flanagan specializes in Skin cancer prevention • Skin cancer detection and treatment • Psoriasis Acne • Warts and Molluscum • Eczema • Excessive Hair Growth • Sun damage Hyperhidroisis • Other medical dermatological conditions
813 Shades Creek Parkway Suite 205 Birmingham, AL 35209
Katherine Flanagan, MD
300 North Airport Road Suite 2 Jasper, AL 35504
205.578.1799 | www.shadesvalleyderm.com
The Homewood Star
A20 • December 2016
Far left: Becky Stayner works on a project for Biscuit Leather Company, which employs individuals to work as stitchers making leather purses, belts and other products, seen left. Photos by Lexi Coon.
Stitches of progress Biscuit Leather Company strives to help community by contracting out stitching work
By LEXI COON Becky Stayner came from a family of stitchers. Knit goods, hooked rugs and family-sewn clothes were common throughout her home growing up. But when Stayner handmade a leather purse for herself, she had no idea of the company her hobby would turn into. “I’m a food photographer; that’s my real job,” she said. “[I started making purses] because people were asking to buy the bag. Then I got invited to participate in a few trunk shows.” Eventually, Stayner conceded and bought a business license to operate her brainchild, Biscuit Leather Company, out of Homewood. “[When I opened the company] I also had
decided that one of the reasons I turned it into a business is that my goal is to help people trying to get off of welfare, trying to make ends meet,” she said. Around that time, she saw “A Place at the Table,” a documentary that reveals America’s ongoing fight against hunger. A story of one mother, who was working to get off welfare and support her family through a new job, made Stayner think of ways she could help. “What I’m trying to do is to have my stitching done by independent contractors,” she said. By doing this, Stayner said she would be able to keep up with more orders and also provide means to an income that doesn’t require family members to work odd hours. “I saw this as a way for women or men to have that second job and also be at home,” she
said. “Families who have to take on a second job, it means that they’re working daytime and nighttime or weekends and days. The end result is that they’re not at home with their kids.” Now, her new project is to create a nonprofit called Biscuit Leather Company Workshop, or BLC Workshop, which will allow her to train stitchers and provide them with the tools necessary to help create one of her soft and buttery, biscuit-like bags. Stitchers will purchase the materials needed to make a bag, sew it together and then bring it back to the studio for inspection. As long as it meets all standards, the studio will purchase the bag back, providing the stitchers with additional income. “It’s not made in China,” Stayner said. “Because it’s all hand done, there’s an
attention to detail that you don’t get when you’re making something out of the country on a machine.” Her company specializes in handmade leather goods such as belts, clutches and purses, with the best leather in the country, she said. “With the exception of the Italian leather, everything comes from the United States,” she said. Her main seller is the Original Grand Biscuit, which sells for $450 and can take about eight weeks or more to create. “I hope we grow,” Stayner said. “I’d love to have a dozen stitchers busy.” To learn more about Biscuit Leather Company and its products, visit its website, biscuitleathercompany.com, or email Becky Stayner at blstayner@bellsouth.net.
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • A21
Events The Samford Legacy League’s Christmas Home Tour, an event featuring five homes in Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook and Birmingham, will be Dec. 8. Photo courtesy of Samford Legacy League.
Home tour supports college scholarships By GRACE THORNTON At Joy Kloess’ home, it’s Christmas 365 days a year with thousands of tiny white and amber twinkling lights from the city. That year-round holiday magic is due to the panoramic view she and her husband, Price Kloess, have of downtown Birmingham from their 1920s brick bungalow. And she wants the public to get to experience it, too — plus a few stunning Christmas decorations. The Kloess home is part of Samford Legacy League’s Christmas Home Tour on Dec. 8, an event featuring five homes in Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook and Birmingham.
The tour will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 to 8 p.m. It includes the Kloess home at 2862 Stratford Road S., Birmingham; the home of Allison Morgan at 3008 N. Woodridge Road, Mountain Brook; the home of Carolyn and John Tate at 3248 E. Briarcliff Circle, Mountain Brook; the home of Denise and Ronnie Alvarez at 2405 Chestnut Road, Vestavia Hills; and the home of Jeanna and Andy Westmoreland — Samford’s president — at 1994 Shades Crest Road, Vestavia Hills. Proceeds from the event go to scholarships for Samford students with significant financial needs. Tickets are $25 through Dec. 6, then $30 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to samford.edu/legacyleague.
Dec. 6 Christmas parade combined with 18th Street star lighting The 2015 Christmas parade passes through downtown Homewood. Photo by Frank Couch.
By GRACE THORNTON It’s almost that time again — time for Santa to ride into Homewood, and time for the lighting of the Homewood Star. And this year they’ll be happening on the same night. Santa will be passing through town on a fire truck in the Homewood Christmas Parade Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. He’ll be joined by about 50 other entries, including Homewood Mayor Scott McBrayer. The star on 18th Street will be lit as McBrayer passes under it. “That’s something new for this year,” said Rusty Holley of Homewood Parks and Recreation. Both the parade and the lighting of the Homewood Star have been a festive way to start
the season in years past, and this year they’ll be rolled into one great event, he said. And as Santa reaches City Hall, the tree
lighting ceremony will start. As part of the party, the Homewood High School Band will play, the Christmas story will be read and Santa
will be on hand for pictures. The parade will start at Homewood Library and travel east on Oxmoor until it turns left to go under the Homewood Star. After that, it will take a right onto 29th Avenue, left on 19th Street and pass City Hall. Homewood organizations and businesses are encouraged to register for entry in the parade before Nov. 27. The parade is limited to 50 entries, and beginning Nov. 28, any remaining spots will be open to anyone. There is no entry fee. Awards will be given for best of show, most holiday spirit, most lights, best use of lights and best decorated vehicle. For more information or to register for a spot in the parade, go to homewoodparks.com/ special-events/homewood-for-the-holidays/ christmas-parade.
The Homewood Star
A22 • December 2016
Mountain Brook Art Association gets new location for annual holiday show By SYDNEY CROMWELL The Mountain Brook Art Association is bringing its Holiday Show back to Brookwood Village this month, but the association is hoping its new location will draw more art lovers inside. Show Chairman Janet Sanders said the Holiday Show will be in the former Banana Republic storefront, across the street from restaurants such as Brio and Cocina Superior, from Dec. 2 to Dec. 17. Sanders said she would like to see more foot traffic from people heading to and from those busy restaurants. There will be about 70 artists participating in what Sanders described as a “fine art gallery setting.” In addition to art in a variety of mediums, the Holiday Show will also feature books written and illustrated by MBAA members and handpainted Christmas ornaments and cards. All participating artists must be MBAA members.
Members exhibiting in the show will include Mountain Brook artists Barclay Gresham, Lynn Briggs, Sara Crook, Sam Chiarella, Janet Sanders, Mike Battle, Wellon Bridgers and Charlotte Kelley. Homewood artists Michael Davis, Cathy Phares, Charlotte Wilson, Cecily Hill Lowe and Andrew Tyson also will have their work on display. Different artists also will do demonstrations of their work in the store’s window to entertain shoppers and answer questions, which Sanders said is usually popular. Ten percent of proceeds from the Holiday Show sale benefit Hand in Paw, which provides animal-assisted therapeutic services. This is the third year the MBAA has worked with Hand in Paw, and Sanders said their therapy dogs will make several appearances at the show. The holiday show will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Dec. 2-17.
Artist Barclay Gresham gives a painting demonstration at the Mountain Brook Art Association Holiday Show. Photo courtesy of Janet Sanders.
Wishing tree to return post-Christmas By SYDNEY CROMWELL For the third year, one of downtown Homewood’s trees will be turned into a place for residents to share their wishes and goals for the New Year. Wishing Tree coordinator Kirsten Morrow said the tree will be decorated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 14. Typically, a group of residents covers the tree in front of the Trak Shak on 18th Street South with yarn, lights and a “Wishing Tree” sign the day after Christmas.
A box of yarn, tags and markers is left near the tree for passersby to fill out and hang on the tree. There are also plastic bags to keep the tags safe from any post-Christmas rain or snow. The hundreds of tags on the tree range from prayers to goals or anything else Homewood residents want to add. Last year’s anonymous tags ranged from the serious — “I wish for people to show love before anger” — to the simple — “I want to ride a bike.” To learn more, find the Homewood Wishing Tree on Facebook. The Wishing Tree will be decked out again in downtown Homewood the day after Christmas. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • A23
The Homewood Star
A24 • December 2016
Photo courtesy of Christenberry Planetarium. Dancers perform in “The Nutcracker.” Photo courtesy of Alabama Ballet.
Nutcracker returns to Samford University By SYDNEY CROMWELL The beloved ballet “The Nutcracker” will welcome the Christmas season again with the help of the Alabama Ballet. The Alabama Ballet has performed George Balanchine’s choreography of “The Nutcracker” for 15 years. Balanchine’s version is one of the most famous in the U.S., and other companies that perform it each year include New York City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Miami City Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. “It is a highly stylized, sought after and well-respected version of Nutcracker worldwide. Alabama Ballet is one of only eight companies in the entire world that is licensed to perform this version,” said John
Mingle, a member of the ballet troupe. This year’s performance will be at Samford University’s Wright Center Dec. 9-11 and Dec. 16-18. Performances will be Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. “The Nutcracker” will feature not only professional dancers, but also a community cast of children from the Alabama Ballet School and around the Birmingham area. “It is an incredible honor and achievement for Alabama Ballet to perform this version, and I believe it says a lot about our company of dancers,” Mingle said. Tickets range from $30 to $65. For more information on “The Nutcracker,” go to alabamaballet.org. To purchase tickets, call the Samford box office at 726-2853.
Samford planetarium to host annual Christmas show By SYDNEY CROMWELL The Christmas star is an essential part of Nativity scenes and the biblical Christmas story. Every December, the Christenberry Planetarium at Samford University hosts a show based on the story of the star that is often a centerpiece of Jesus’ birth. Planetarium Director David Weigel said the “Star of Bethlehem” show looks at different theories for the existence of the Christmas star, as well as evidence from astronomy, history and the Bible for each of them. The hourlong show is a chance to bring some learning into the holiday season. “We take the approach of an astronomical, biblical and historical perspective all rolled into one. The presentation is family
friendly and is all around awesome,” Weigel said. This year’s show will have a new opening video, along with some changes to the content and visuals throughout the presentation. “My favorite part is that it is a rather solemn (yet amusing at times) meditation that intends to prepare the audience for Christmas and get them in the Christmas spirit,” Weigel said. The “Star of Bethlehem” show will run Dec. 1, 8 and 15 at 8 p.m., Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. and Dec. 13 at 10 a.m., and tickets are $10. For tickets, go to tickets.samford.edu, and follow Christenberry Planetarium at Samford University on Facebook for year-round astronomy programming.
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • A25
Above: Instructions on the back of each rock let the finder know to hide the rock in a new location or paint a rock of their own to replace it. Left: A few of the painted rocks are scattered around Homewood parks, trails, schools and businesses. Photos by Sydney Cromwell.
ROCKS
CONTINUED from page A1 Elementary, to help paint nearly 50 rocks. On an October day, the pair hid rocks in Patriot, Central and Overton parks and the Lakeshore Trail, then started the Facebook group to let people know. Within two weeks, the group grew to about 600 online members. When they place rocks, Black and Hornady post pictures with clues about their location. They said it seems like some are almost immediately found, and pictures begin appearing on the Facebook page of the rocks’ next location. “It’s funny. When you put a rock out, it won’t be long before somebody has found
it,” Hornady said. There are now roughly 85 rocks Black and Hornady have hidden around the city. Black said she may not have much artistic talent, but she enjoys seeing what each rock can become. “You look at a rock and you go, ‘Oh, that would make a great piece of candy corn, … a Spider-Man head or an M&M or whatever,” Black said. “Some of them, like mine, look like a child painted them. Hers [Hornady’s rocks] look a little bit better than mine.” Black said they use primer and acrylic paint to create the designs, before spraying the rocks with a clear coat to protect them from the outdoors. It’s easy to get carried away. “You paint one and think, ‘Oh, I’ll just paint one more. Let me do one more.’ And she [Hornady] has ended up doing 10 at a
time,” Black said. But Black and Hornady don’t want Homewood Rocks to be all about their own creations. A few residents already have started creating rocks of their own to hide, and the sisters are encouraging more people to do just that. “It just kind of took off. We’d like to get some more people painting,” Black said. So far, they’ve heard from children and adults adding their rocks to the city. Some of the designs are universally recognizable, like rainbows, fruit, holidays, monsters and Alabama and Auburn logos. Others choose to paint meaningful Bible verses or phrases. And a few have been Homewood-specific, like the Witches’ Ride and the Christmas Wishing Tree. The rocks also have been showing up outside of the parks and trail, Hornady said. She has
seen a student hide a rock at Hall-Kent, and others have appeared at local businesses. As long as the rocks aren’t hidden in dangerous places or on private property without permission, Black and Hornady said, any place in Homewood is fair game. Black said she has heard from parents that their kids are excited to get outside and look for new rocks every day, and the parents enjoy the hunt as well. It’s a “good, wholesome” activity, Black said, that bonds not only families but also everyone in the Homewood Rocks group. So if you see a rock around Homewood that’s just a little more colorful than average, be sure to follow the rules painted on the back: “Replace or re-hide. You decide.” Learn more about Homewood Rocks by finding the group on Facebook.
The Homewood Star
A26 • December 2016
Carl Russell, also shown on page A1, strings lights and garlands around the 20-foot star that is hung over 18th Street South each year. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.
STAR
CONTINUED from page A1 for one week each November, he devotes his time almost completely to wrapping Homewood’s 20-foot-wide star in garlands and around 1,200 lights. It’s a job he enjoys and has done nearly every Christmas since he began working for the city. “They liked the way I put it together, I guess, [or] they just didn’t want to do it, so I was stuck with it,” Russell laughed. “Carl does a great job,” said fleet management head Gordon Jaynes. “When you find somebody that does a good job, you continue letting them do it.” He’s one of about a dozen city employees who devote their time each year to getting Homewood ready for the holidays, said traffic department head Randy Hambley. In addition to the star, there’s also the City Hall Christmas tree, 32 light-up pole decorations and hundreds of feet of bows, garlands and wreaths to be strung around the city. Hambley said the city also helps Edgewood’s businesses put up their tree. All of that takes a team from fleet management, traffic, parks and recreation and public works to assemble each year. They begin in mid-October, pulling décor from storage and testing multicolored lights, and the decoration wraps up around the week after Thanksgiving with the hanging of the star and the placement of the City Hall Christmas tree. “We kind of have to get a jump-start on that because there’s so much of it,” Hambley said. That team includes city employees Steven Peoples and Jordan Hicks, who have helped hang decorations for about five years. Most of the year, their job includes landscaping and mowing across Homewood, but for a few weeks in November they trade lawnmowers for ladders to hang garlands from one end of the city to the other. “It’s when we all get together, you know, we have fun doing the hanging and just enjoying doing what we do,” Peoples said. Hambley has worked with Homewood for 23 years. When he started, the city only hung the star, a few garlands and strands of lights in the trees on 18th Street. The city has added to that significantly, including the tree roughly a decade ago and the pole decorations about eight years ago. Every year, Hambley said they try to bring in a few more decorations to light up new parts of the city. “In the 23 years, we’ve added a pretty good bit,” Hambley said.
“
City employees test lights on the decorations that get hung up around the city for Christmas. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
I have to put a lot of effort into it because it means a lot to so many people. So I take my time, make sure it’s right because they’re counting on me.
The star tradition dates back more than 50 years, Hambley said, though this is the sixth year that the Homewood Chamber of Commerce has hosted the star lighting ceremony. This year, Mayor Scott McBrayer will light the star Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m. to signal the start of the annual Christmas Parade. However, Homewood’s star looks a little different than it did in its early years. Chris Chesnut, a fleet management employee, said when he started working for the city 26 years ago, the Homewood star had ceramic fixtures to screw in lightbulbs. It was heavy and sagged slightly over the street, and Chesnut said it once got hit by a
”
CARL RUSSELL
passing vehicle. About 20 years ago, Chesnut was called upon to build a new star for the city. It’s still in use and can be completely taken apart. Chesnut said it took him about a month to build the star, which weighs about 200 pounds when fully decorated. Both the star’s size and its historic importance means it gets a little VIP treatment. After Russell finishes decoration, the star has to be transported from the fleet management garage on Bagby Drive to its place of honor on 18th Street. “That morning, they’ve got a big dump truck, and they take the star, and they actually lay it on the bed of the dump truck. …
The police department will escort us over there because it hangs out so far, it takes up more than a lane of traffic. So we have to be careful. They usually have two people who ride in the back of the truck, you know, so if they do come up to something that looks like it’s going to hit, they can slide it to one side or the other,” Hambley said. “It’s a little bit of a challenge getting it over there.” Seeing all the decorations come together is as enjoyable for the city employees as it is for Homewood residents. “Everybody loves it,” Hambley said. “When we start putting the Christmas decorations and all basically down 18th Street, a lot of the people shopping down there usually comment on everything.” And as Russell pulls out the boxes of lights and garlands each year, he said he feels a special weight of responsibility. “I have to put a lot of effort into it because it means a lot to so many people. So I take my time, make sure it’s right because they’re counting on me,” Russell said.
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • A27
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.
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
Homewood FIT – Women’s Bootcamp Join this all women’s bootcamp happening right here in Homewood. Monday & Wednesday – 5:45am-6:45am www.homewoodfit.com
@homewoodparks
Children’s Ballet with Claire Goodhew Beginning ballet moves taught as a foundation for many types of dance. Students will work on coordination, balance, rhythm and flexibility while developing listening skills and strengthening muscles. Fall classes begin mid-September. Monday 4:00pm-4:45pm For additional information call Claire: (205) 879-8780
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
Blue Line Combatives Wednesday 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
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.
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.
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.
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
Entourage Line Dance 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.
Saturday 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
Homewood Christmas Parade
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. Visit www.homefitconsulting.com to learn more.”
Tuesday, December 6th Festivities begin at City Hall Plaza at 6:00pm Parade begins from Homewood Library at 6:30pm New this year the Homewood Star will be lit as the parade enters Downtown Homewood!
Mark Your Calendar Girl’s Spring Softball registration begins Wednesday, January 4th 2017 Homewood Patriot Baseball registration begins: Early 2017
www.Homewoodparks.com
The Homewood Star
SECTION
B DECEMBER 2016
Community B6 School House B8 Sports B10 Opinion B15 Calendar B18
Growing garden Sims EcoScape gets new caretakers By SARAH TUTTLE
Rachel and Kurt Key are the new caretakers of Sims EcoScape in Edgewood. Photo courtesy of Kurt Key.
The beloved Sims EcoScape is now under the care of Rachel and Kurt Key. The Keys took over the Edgewood garden in early October, soon after the previous caretakers moved. They said they were able to take over pretty quickly and seamlessly, and there was no lull time where someone wasn’t taking care of the garden. The Keys attended the University of Alabama and met while working for an organization called Creative Campus. They have always had a love for gardening. However, this passion did not develop at school but through their upbringing in their hometowns. “I worked at an educational farm back home in Ohio during my summers in college with the local parks and recreation,” Rachel Key said. “I gained a lot of interest in gardening from that, as well as from working at the local farmers market.” Kurt Key grew up in the Bahamas in a family of citrus farmers, where he was surrounded by different gardens and saw gardening as a way of life. “This new role has been going back to my roots a little bit,” he said. “It has been really great getting to go back to a garden and getting to start working on it.” As the new caretakers of Sims EcoScape, the couple is trying to build on the original plan, which is to build a sustainable garden and add value to the community. They are doing a lot of work right now, such as mulching around hydrangeas and
trying to navigate different issues in the garden such as erosion. “The garden is still growing, and we are just trying to add to it and make a garden that is up to the standards as an award-winning garden that everyone can be proud of, more so than it is already,” Kurt Key said. The primary focus Rachel and Kurt Key have for the garden is making it a central part of the community. They said they are hoping to hold more events to educate the community on topics such as honeybees and provide other educational opportunities for children and adults. Fundraisers also will be added through the year to help provide these opportunities. The Keys said they want the garden to be a place where residents can always feel welcome. “As a community, we want people to have events at the garden. If someone has a book club, we would love for them to meet there,” Rachel Key said. “We encourage people to come by anytime between dawn and dusk.” The couple want to continue to help make the dream Catherine Sims had for her garden a reality. “It’s a continuing project that is still improving,” Kurt Key said. “We are building on the hard work that has already been done.” Find Sims EcoScape at facebook.com/SimsGardens and instagram.com/sims_gardens. Sims EcoScape is located at 908 Highland Road, Homewood, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, email simsgardens@gmail.com.
B2 • December 2016
The Homewood Star
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • B3
The Homewood Star
B4 • December 2016
Meg Wallace holds a copy of the book featuring her Homewood house. Photos by Lexi Coon.
Eye for design M
By LEXI COON
Homewood designer’s residence featured in Southern Living’s 2016 Christmas book
eg Wallace wasn’t always a designer. In fact, besides creating lesson plans, her first career had nearly nothing to do with designing. Wallace began her post-college life teaching at the Philadelphia Montgomery Christian Academy, where she and her husband had moved to after she earned her degree from Auburn. “I loved teaching, but I didn’t really want to be at the school all day,” she said of her decision to change careers. “I just felt kind of trapped.” So, she chose a different path, but this time included her creative side by going back to school for design.
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • B5
Wallace’s antique hutch, a family heirloom, made an appearance in the Southern Living photo shoot.
While studying design, Wallace met a husband-and-wife design team in the Philadelphia area that was willing to hire her as she took classes. “I probably should have done design at Auburn first off,” she said. “It’s funny because you look back and you realize that [some things are] kind of innate.” A few years later, she and her growing family moved to Charlottesville, North Carolina, and then back to Homewood in 2002. By then, word of her talents had spread, and she created her business Meg Wallace Design to help homeowners and businesses create spaces that meet their lifestyle. “I’ve been doing this for ages, but I have
been doing it kind of as I want to. My kids are older now,” she said. “It’s just a lot of fun.” Through her business, she works with customers to create a space or spaces tailored to their needs. “It’s always challenging because you want to design for other people,” Wallace said. “You want to try to catch their visions, their interests, what they like, and create a space for them that they personally will enjoy.” Fourteen years after officially founding Meg Wallace Design, Southern Living, a brand known for delicious food photos and festive home decor spreads, selected her house to be one of the four locations for their 50th
anniversary book, “2016 Christmas with Southern Living.” Although her house may have needed a little love when Wallace and her family first purchased it, it’s easy to see now why Southern Living wanted to use it for photos. “I love fixing up old houses,” she said. “And space planning is my strength. I can look at a space and see what it should be.” During the renovations, construction crews altered nearly every aspect of the house: The kitchen was moved; a bathroom was added; two other bathrooms were reconfigured; the ceilings were vaulted; and windows were added. But it was the long-standing, antiquated fireplace that
caught Southern Living’s eye. While browsing Facebook, a former client of Wallace’s noticed a call for a “rustic fireplace” online by Southern Living, and the client contacted her, knowing of Wallace’s fireplace and the work she and her family put into their house. “I just texted [the Southern Living team] some photos on like a Wednesday night, and they asked, ‘OK, can I come see it tomorrow?’” She, of course, said yes. “I was clearing Legos off the table and there was still a Hogwarts house out [before they came],” she said. After a visit, the Southern Living team — which consisted of two stylists, chefs, a photographer, an intern and an appearance from the magazine editor — confirmed a series of five days they would work out of Wallace’s home. “[I wanted to work with them] because I just think it’s an adventure to get to do something like that,” Wallace said. Although they would be working with some of their own props, such as plates, bowls and holiday decor brought in from their gymnasium-sized warehouse, the creative design team also incorporated elements of Wallace’s home, such as Wallace’s aunt’s antique chair and the family’s photo hutch. Each day the team worked in a different area, testing different designs and moving furniture around to complement the setup. “They really wanted an open kitchen dining area with the rustic fireplace and den to work with,” she said. They would work in one space at a time, take some photos, and then move on. At the end of the week, Southern Living took over her kitchen to create their own recipes and for the final photos of the family feast. Wallace said her neighbors were excited to have such a well-known publication feature her home, but it didn’t come as much of a shock, and her family was supportive of everything. “We do crazy things at my house anyway, so I don’t know that they were too surprised,” she said. “It was just nice to be exposed to their talent and see them at work, and to see kind of the behind the scenes for how they produce a book.”
The Homewood Star
B6 • December 2016
Community Front row left to right: Lindsay Grant, Pelham; Elizabeth Stewart, Homewood; Tina Mills, Hoover; Stephanie Terry, Mountain Brook; Ashley Roe, Tuscaloosa. Back row left to right: Tammy Woodham, Helena; Samantha Peters, Birmingham; Marie Bateh, Hoover; Lisa Shelby, Tuscaloosa; Ashley Raggio, captain, Kingwood, Texas; Michele Morris, cocaptain, Hoover; Jaimie Livingston, Vestavia Hills; Amy Sanford, Alabaster; Greg Howe, coach. Photo courtesy of Tamarah Strauss.
Library Board Chairman Mike Higginbotham, left, and Rep. David Faulkner at the Oct. 18 board meeting. Photo courtesy of the Homewood Public Library Board.
Library board welcomes representative, honors outgoing chairman Rep. David Faulkner attended the Oct. 18, 2016, board meeting of the Homewood Public Library and presented board Chairman Mike Higginbotham with a $500 check for the Homewood Library. He thanked the board and the staff members in attendance for the great job they are doing for the city of Homewood. Rep. Faulkner talked to the board about the importance of the November vote on Amendment 14, explaining that the passage of this amendment would give local state representatives more control of where their local funds could be spent. He went on to say that this would give him the ability to direct more funds
into the capital projects of schools, parks and libraries while maintaining full transparency. He urged all in attendance to vote “yes” on Amendment 14. The meeting also honored Higginbotham at his last official board meeting for the Homewood Library. Higginbotham, the new councilman from Ward 2, was on his second term as a library board member and has served as its chairman since 2012. The board members and staff members thanked Higginbotham for his years of dedicated service to the library. – Submitted by Homewood Public Library Board.
Women’s tennis team finishes 2nd at USTA League Adult 18 & Over 3.5 National Championships The women’s tennis team from Pelham, Alabama, representing the USTA Southern Section, finished second at the USTA League Adult 18 & Over 3.5 National Championships held at the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Alabama. The Pelham team lost to a team from Seattle, 3-2 in the championship match. Earlier in the day, the Pelham team defeated a team from San Francisco, 4-1 in the semifinals. The team is captained by Ashley Raggio and features Samantha Peters, Marie Bateh, Tina Mills, Amy Sanford, Lindsay Grant, Jaimie Livingston, Kristin Golden, Elizabeth Stewart, Dina Owobu, Stephanie Terry, Edith Pearson, Tammy Woodham, Sophia Watkins, Lisa Shelby and Ashley Roe and plays at the Birmingham Tennis Center. Established in 1980, USTA League has grown from 13,000 participants in a few parts of the country in its first year, to over 904,000 players across the nation today, making it the world’s largest recreational tennis league. USTA League was established to provide adult recreational tennis players throughout
the country with the opportunity to compete against players of similar ability levels. Players participate on teams in a league format, which is administered by the USTA through its 17 Sections. The league groups players by using six National Tennis Rating Program (NTRP) levels, ranging from 2.5 (entry) to 5.0 (advanced). USTA League is open to any USTA member 18 years of age or older. The 2016 USTA League season will be the fourth season with the updated structure and format, which offers four age categories (Adult 18 & Over, Adult 40 & Over and Adult 55 & Over and Mixed 18 & Over) to better align participants with players their own age. A fifth age division the Mixed 40 & Over division was added in 2014. The restructuring guarantees more frequency of play opportunities at more appropriate age groups. Head Penn Racquet Sports is in its 29th year as official ball of USTA League. For more information about USTA League or the USTA, visit usta.com. – Submitted by Tamarah Strauss.
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • B7
Student trains at School of Nashville Ballet’s prestigious program The School of Nashville Ballet accepted one young dancer from Homewood to participate in its Summer Intensive program, where she spent part of her summer developing her ballet technique and performance — Natalie Wilson, who studies at Linda Dobbins Dance. This year’s Summer Intensive program included 313 students from 33 states, as well international students from Brazil and Canada. Students had the chance to train with Nashville Ballet’s internationally recognized teachers and guest faculty, as well as be seen by Artistic Director and CEO Paul Vasterling. “Summer Intensive allows dancers to exclusively dedicate themselves to dance during a short period of time,” Director of School of Nashville Ballet Nick Mullikin said. “Students are exposed to a wide variety of dance and teaching styles with classes up to seven hours a day, six days a week. It’s an incredible commitment, but they leave with a broader knowledge of dance and the skills to take the next step in their training and career.” This past summer, Nashville Ballet offered eight Summer Intensive sessions for ages 11 and older, ranging from one to five weeks.
Dancers take part in the Nashville summer intensive program. Photo by Karyn Photography.
Students had the opportunity to board at nearby Belmont University in suite-style apartments, as well as go on organized trips to explore the city of Nashville. “Not only do students develop their abilities inside the ballet studio at Summer Intensive, but they are gaining life skills that can be applied outside of the studio,” Mullikin said. “Students are learning qualities like discipline and independence while also forming a lifelong bond with each other over this
shared experience. Summer Intensive offers a glimpse into the life of a professional dancer, but if that doesn’t end up being your path, you’re learning the skills to be successful wherever you may go.” Nashville Ballet’s Summer Intensive 2017 will take place for six sessions June 12 through July 28. For more information on Nashville Ballet’s Summer Intensive, please visit nashvilleballet.com/siinfo. – Submitted by Lauren McKirgan.
Grateful Dads 2016 raises $30K for schools Grateful Dads, a fall band jam benefiting the Homewood City Schools Foundation, raised more than $30,000 for Homewood schools. This third annual event, which was at Good People Brewing Company, featured music from three bands led by Homewood dads. This year, guests enjoyed the music of the BHPs with Matt Stephens, Month of Zeros with Tommy Prewitt and the ThreeLegged Dog with four Homewood Dads: Danny Whitsett, Brian McCool, Chris Hoke and Bret Estep. Food was generously provided by Little Donkey.
During the night, the Foundation held a friendly competition to raise funds for each Homewood school. Guests donated to the school of their choice throughout the evening. In the end, Homewood Middle School just edged out Edgewood Elementary with the most donations. The funds raised will directly benefit these schools. This year’s event was sponsored by CRC Insurance, Judge Elisabeth French and Warren Averett Asset Management. Proceeds from the event will support the Foundation’s spring grant program. – Submitted by Amy McRae.
Grateful Dads attendees pose at the fundraiser, which raised more than $30,000 for Homewood schools. Photo courtesy of Amy McRae.
Hosts Harriet and Jim Williams at the Metropolitan Dinner Club. Photo courtesy of Phyllis Davis.
Metropolitan Dinner Club holds season’s 1st meeting The Metropolitan Dinner Club of Greater Birmingham held its first dinner club meeting of the season on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the Grand Ballroom of The Club. The group honored new members with a complimentary wine and cheese reception from 6 until 7 p.m., and the JRobinson Trio Plus provided music. The program was presented by local jazz singer and pianist Ray Reach. His show is titled “A Tribute to the Crooners: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin and Nat King Cole.” The Metropolitan Dinner Club’s reserve table policy continued. However, members were encouraged to meet new people. The unreserved tables will have an “open table” sign to make them easier to locate. Members were also able to reserve tables for eight, but had to ensure that all eight members would attend. – Submitted by Phyllis Davis.
The Homewood Star
B8 • December 2016
School House Vickery awarded Homewood Middle School volleyball coach Lisa Vickery recently received the Metro South Volleyball Coach of the Year award. This well-deserved honor is voted on by all of the Metro South Conference coaches. Photo courtesy of Homewood City Schools.
HALL-KENT DEDICATES NEW BOOKS
Rotarians, from left: Michael Johnson, Damien Veazey, Glenn Ellis, Lawrence Corley and Mary Wimberley. Photo courtesy of Homewood City Schools.
Rotary donates dictionaries to system’s 3rd-graders The Homewood Rotary Club recently delivered donated dictionaries to every third-grader in Homewood City Schools. Rotary members visited classrooms to distribute the dictionaries on behalf of the Rotary Club. They encouraged the students to write
their names in their dictionaries to show ownership and emphasized that the dictionaries are the students’ personal possessions. Students are free to take dictionaries home or keep them at school. – Submitted by Homewood City Schools.
There’s nothing like the smell of a new book or the joy of having your name put on a bookplate in the front of a book! Hall-Kent Elementary students enjoyed looking through their school’s new books and can’t wait to read all the fun, new stories. Photo courtesy of Homewood City Schools.
Let us help spread the news! Email sydney@starnespublishing.com to submit your announcement.
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • B9
SUPERINTENDENT SWINGS BY
Hall-Kent Elementary School students had a celebrity reader, Superintendent Bill Cleveland, visit their class to talk about the importance of reading and writing. Photo courtesy of Homewood City Schools.
Edgewood Elementary hosts garden work day
The Edgewood Elementary garden is up and running after more than 50 students and parents came together on a Saturday in October for a work day to create a wonderful garden that may be used by all as an outdoor classroom. This was the first phase of the school’s new garden. Thanks to the community, the garden will continue to grow for the students and staff to enjoy. Photo courtesy of Homewood City Schools.
Our Lady of Sorrows School yearbook staff from left: Matthew Musso, Jon Ardovino, Justin Clark, Sean Montenegro and Audrey Fleming. Photo courtesy of Mary Pugh.
OLS announces 2016-17 yearbook staff members Our Lady of Sorrows School announced its new yearbook staff. These select students will provide the artistic and creative content for the school annual for 2016-17. The responsibilities of the eighth-grade students include writing copy, editing, proofreading, shooting pictures, conducting interviews and selling advertisements. In addition, they
will also promote the sale of the yearbook. The staff was chosen based on teacher recommendations, grades and a short application. OLS teacher Andrea Dexter Smith directs the students on this year’s staff. They include Matthew Musso, Jon Ardovino, Justin Clark, Sean Montenegro and Audrey Fleming. – Submitted by Mary Pugh.
Students recognized by national program Some distinguished students at Our Lady of Sorrows School qualified for the renowned Duke University Talent Identification Program. These seventh-graders attained a qualifying score at the 95th percentile or above on a national grade-level assessment to attain the honor. They now have the opportunity to benefit academically through special resources, which can help them reach their full potential. – Submitted by Mary Pugh.
Front row, from left: Millie Yerkes, Ruby Thornton, Jack Michaels and Jack Carlisle. Back row: Abigail Pugh, Kathryn Stuart Smith, Madison Le, Ashley Lindsay and Blake Mize. Photo courtesy of Mary Pugh.
The Homewood Star
B10 • December 2016
Sports PREP HOOPS PREVIEW LADY
PATRIOTS
Taste of title has players working for 2nd serving By KYLE PARMLEY There’s one goal that stands above the rest for the Homewood High School girls basketball team during the 2016-17 season: “6A state championship.” Those were the first words out of the mouth of junior point guard Hannah Barber, who recently committed to the University of Alabama, when asked about the upcoming campaign earlier this fall. “Our freshman year, we got a taste of it,” she said of Homewood winning its first basketball state championship in 2015. “We made it there. We know what it takes to get there. Last year, coming off winning one, we got back, but it was still very hard.” After winning it all in 2015, the Lady Patriots got right back to the big stage in 2016 but faltered in the state title game against LeFlore. “This year, we know how hard we have to work,” Barber said. “That’s all everybody wants to see. We’re not worried about the other stuff or things that aren’t important. Everyone’s focus is that 6A state championship.” The most remarkable aspect of Homewood’s event is how the Lady Patriots boast one of the most experienced and successful core group of players yet will have just two seniors this winter in Shelby Hardy and Venice Sanders. The Lady Patriots will go with a four-captain system this year, with Hardy and juniors Barber, Tori Webb and Ajah Wayne assuming the role of steering the ship. “That kind of bond that us four have created just as far as that leadership role has definitely
Lia Roberson, a returner for the Lady Patriots, is sure to have an impact. Photos by Frank Couch.
helped our chemistry as a whole,” Barber said. There has been a change in leadership at the top of the program, however, as Homewood City Schools athletic director Kevin Tubbs takes over for JoVanka Ward, who is now the girls basketball coach at Thompson
High School. Tubbs assisted Ward the past two years and feels no need to shake things up too dramatically. “I’ve been involved for two years, helping coach Ward put in a system,” he said. “That was one thing we wanted to keep. We didn’t
want the kids to have to start over. What we were doing was working.” That doesn’t mean the team will cease to strive for improvement. “Believe it or not, I think we’ll play faster,” Tubbs said.
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • B11
Above: Shelby Hardy is one of four captains for Homewood this season. Left: The Lady Patriots know what it takes to win a state championship but fell just short last year against LeFlore.
The transition to a new voice has been received well by the team, helped largely by the fact that Tubbs is a familiar face and has been entrenched in the program already. “With him being one of our assistants last year, we’re definitely used to him,” Barber said. “There’s been a little bit of an adjustment … but not much.” There are a few other storylines to track for the Lady Patriots as they matriculate through the season, beginning with Wayne, who suffered a knee injury early in the state final March 5. “That was definitely hard for us, to see a teammate go down,” Barber said. She was fully cleared before practice started Oct. 17, but Homewood will keep a close eye
on how she progresses in her return to full strength. “We’ll have to manage it a little bit,” Tubbs said before the season. “She hasn’t done a lot of playing. I think she’ll be fine. We’re kind of easing her into it.” The core has been intact for the past two years, but other players are prepared to emerge and contribute to the team’s success, according to Barber and Tubbs. Both singled out Kayla Mikula, whose length and timing will provide the Lady Patriots with a shot-blocking weapon to spell Hardy and Webb on the low block. “She’s really tall, really long,” Barber said. “She has great timing on blocking shots. She’s worked a lot on her post moves this preseason,
so I feel like we’ll definitely be able to see more of her.” Another player who could make an instant impact is Zoe Watts, who is home-schooled but will take advantage of new AHSAA rules that allow her to participate with the school team. “People will definitely notice her,” Tubbs said of the sophomore guard. “She’s going to bring a lot to the table, and we’re excited that the state’s allowed that to happen. It’s good for her and it helps us.” Those two will join other returners Lia Roberson, Kassidy Crawford, Maya Maxwell and Alexia Hood. Perhaps the biggest weapon the Lady Patriots have is versatility on offense. Tubbs said
he does not want teams to be able to single out individual players to shut down and take Homewood out of its rhythm. He believes he has the team to accomplish that. “Every night, it could be a different person scoring points, playing as fast we do,” he said. As with most teams, and for a Lady Patriots squad looking to get back to the pinnacle of the sport, it starts with the intangibles. “It’s going to be the focus that we bring every single day to practice,” Barber said. “It’s going to be getting better every day. That’s one of the things that coach Tubbs emphasizes to us is that focus every single day. If we bring that, we’ll be able to do great things and accomplish what we want to accomplish.”
B12 • December 2016
The Homewood Star
Patriots sweep state titles By SAM CHANDLER
Above: The Homewood girls show off their state cross-country championship trophy, their first in school history. Right: Will Stone (center) and Paul Selden (right) paced the Homewood boys to their fifth-straight state title Photos by Sam Chandler.
The writing was on the wall, and Lars Porter knew it. Almost everyone did. In the days and weeks leading up to the Nov. 12 AHSAA State Cross Country Championships, it had become brazenly apparent the Homewood High School cross-country teams were perfectly positioned for a state title sweep. They had front-runners; they had depth, and on Nov. 3, they had cruised through sectionals. “We as coaches are not calling plays. We’re not running the race for them,” Porter said after the 6A, Section 3 meet. “It’s their story to write.” The Patriots authored their own narrative on Nov. 12. In an instant, the lead penciled on the wall transformed into ink stamped in the record books. History had been made. Sparked by first-place finishes from freshman Lainey Phelps and sophomore Will Stone, the Patriot girls and boys ran away with the Class 6A state championships on a picturesque Saturday at Oakville Indian Mounds Park in Moulton. The Homewood girls pummeled their closest challenger, Florence, by 52 points to clinch their first state cross-country championship in school history. The Homewood boys, meanwhile, bested runner-up Cullman 55-72 to secure their fifth state title in as many years. “It’s crazy to think that we just won both of them. It’s a reflection of their hard work and what they’ve done,” said Porter, the Patriots’ fifth-year head coach who has yet to leave a state meet without a blue trophy. “In some ways it’s shocking that they were able to come together and pull it off, and in other ways they just did what they’ve been doing all season and competed hard.” The Homewood girls had come close in recent years, finishing as runners-up in both 2012 and 2014. The team,
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • B13
Sparked by first-place finishes from freshman Lainey Phelps, left, and sophomore Will Stone, above, the Patriot girls and boys ran away with Class 6A state championships.
in fact, has not placed outside the top four since Porter’s arrival. But what pushed the Patriots past their previous threshold was an influx of young talent. At state, four of the team’s top seven runners were freshmen, and six were underclassmen. Porter called their collective performance “groundbreaking.” “Our girls team is young. They’re hungry. They’re cohesive. They enjoy each other, so we hope this is the first of several to come,” Porter said. “Signs point to at least having the potential for that.” The future looks equally as promising for Phelps, who claimed her first individual state championship in landslide fashion. Her 5K time of 18 minutes, 2.13 seconds outdistanced her closest competitor by nearly 80 ticks of the clock. Florence’s Mary Claire Ridgeway took second in 19:21.73.
“I had a great race,” Phelps said. “The time wasn’t exactly what I was going for, but sometimes it’s hard to push yourself.” Phelps led wire-to-wire, as she pulled away from the field less than 100 meters from the starting line. The gap only widened over the remaining three miles. “Unbelievable maturity to run 18:02 all by herself from start to finish,” Porter said. Fellow freshman Celie Jackson was Homewood’s second finisher. She placed fifth in 19:32.26. Sophomore Audrey Nabors (ninth, 19:52.94), junior Hanna Brook Gibbons (16th, 20:15.99) and senior Caroline Smith (20th, 20:40.18) capped the Patriots’ five scoring runners. Jackson and Nabors joined Phelps as All-State honorees thanks to their top 15 finishes. “It’s amazing,” Phelps said, “the group of girls as athletes and as people.” Like Phelps, Stone won the first individual
state title of his young career to help catalyze a Patriot victory. His triumph, however, did not come without contest. Stone and senior teammate Paul Selden worked together throughout the race as they battled Opelika’s Ben Garner. Garner entered the meet with Alabama’s fastest 5K time, but he had reportedly been dealing with an injury prior to state. The trio ran as a pack for much of the competition before Stone made his decisive move with a mile to go. He gradually opened a gap over the race’s final third and finished in 16:01.40. Garner took second in 16:13.60, and Selden took third in 16:17.57. “I got a bad cramp at about the 2-mile mark, and I was honestly nervous that I wasn’t going to be able to hold on,” Stone said, “but it went away and I realized I had
to go — it was the time.” Along with Stone and Selden, junior Alvin Finch (14th, 17:08.67) and freshman Carson Bedics (15th, 17:10.63) earned All-State honors. Junior Azariah Kipchumba rounded out the team’s scoring with a 29th-place finish in 17:34.77. The triumph extended Homewood’s control of its classification to a fifth-straight year, which moved the Patriots into a second-place tie for most consecutive boys cross-country championships in state history. Hamilton High School also won five in a row from 1986 to 1991. The Randolph School possesses the alltime record, having won seven straight titles from 2005 to 2011. “Sometimes in running you don’t really know what you’re doing it for,” Selden said. “But with this team, I know that I’m pushing them to become one of the best teams in state history.”
The Homewood Star
B14 • December 2016
PREP HOOPS PREVIEW PATRIOTS
Patriots a ‘whole new team’ following title run By KYLE PARMLEY Any other team that lost nine seniors to graduation might have reason to panic. That’s not the case for the Homewood High School boys basketball team. The Patriots are coming off their first Class 6A state championship in program history, thanks in large part to the contributions of those nine seniors. Despite that fact, Homewood returns two of its most productive players from a season ago in Trey Jemison and Luke Touliatos. “We’re going to be really experienced in some areas, and we’re going to be really inexperienced in some areas,” said head coach Tim Shepler. “Every team has got to find out who they are, and so this team has to find out who they are, but I think they’ve shown the desire to want to do that and to grow as a team.” “You lose nine seniors, but you still got real solid scorers coming back,” said Faulkner Williams, a guard looking for an expanded role this year. “All the young guys already know that it’s not the same team, so they’re really stepping it up already, and we’ve got some solid leadership going on.” Williams touched on a few points Shepler made note of as well. Even though there are a few solid pieces returning, Shepler is aware this year’s team will be much different than the state title winners. “Just to realize that this is a whole new team,” he said. “Last year was a great year. We had great senior leadership. We’re going to have to start and build it from the ground up here. We’ve got some good guys to get us
started, but it’s still going to be a work in progress. It’s a process.” As far as this team’s leadership goes, that remains to be seen, because the answer is not always as obvious as it seems. “Just because someone’s a good player doesn’t mean they’re a good leader,” Shepler said. “We’ve got some good players, but we’re challenging them to work on not only their game, but work on the mental side of it, learning how to lead a team.” Jemison and Touliatos are two of those good players Homewood hopes will add “good leader” to their resumes. Jemison said he believes he is on his way to making that a reality. “In July, everybody stepped up and realized the seniors are gone. It’s time to do new things, and everybody’s been working hard and giving great effort,” he said. With Jemison’s height and length, he commands great attention in the post and often draws double and even triple teams. He said he has worked to handle those situations with better composure. “The off season’s been really good for me,” he said. “I’ve been working on calming down in the post. I’m making strong moves, especially at the rim, dunking everything.” As for Touliatos, he proved himself as a prolific scorer last year. This campaign, he’s focused on the little things. Becoming a lockdown defender is a goal of his, and he mentioned ball handling as an area of improvement. “In the end, to win a state championship, you’ve got to be good at the little stuff,” Touliatos said.
Homewood lost nine seniors to graduation from last year’s state championship team but has enough returning talent to make some noise. Photo by Frank Couch.
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • B15
Opinion Ordinary Days By Lauren Denton
Life lessons and end-of-the-year thoughts
Brady Taylor and Gage Ianniello. Photo courtesy of Jay Taylor.
U10 Birmingham Bulls win St. Louis hockey tourney Edgewood student Brady Taylor and Shades Cahaba student Gage Ianniello helped lead the U10 Birmingham Bulls hockey team to a championship in the Firebird Tournament in St. Louis on Nov. 5-6. The boys earned victories over teams from Chicago and Indianapolis before defeating the hosts in the title game. The Bulls play their home games in Pelham. Kids interested in learning more about hockey can visit pelhamhockey.net. – Submitted by Jay Taylor.
A little over four years ago, feel that hand slip back into I started writing down what mine. That’s cool, too. 3. I’ve learned there’s somewe did each day. Nothing too detailed, just a line or two thing to those adult coloring noting both significant hapbooks and fancy markers penings (Sela slept through the and colored pencils. Quite a night!) and insignificant ones de-stressor, I must say. I found (exercise class, Publix, cleaned myself gravitating toward them the house). during the presidential debates These days, I think they’re and was pleased to find that called “bullet journals,” but listening to all the debating, Denton I didn’t know anything about arguing and eye-poking was that when I started. I just grabbed a stack infinitely less stressful when coloring in of index cards and started writing. Now I flowers and leaves and swirly curlicues. live in fear of that stack of 365 index cards 4. I’ve learned new ways to disguise falling over, but I do have an incredible healthy foods. One night, in an attempt to recording of the happenings of each year. get Kate and Sela to eat all their vegetables, As 2016 comes to a close, and I flip back I dusted them — very lightly, mind you— through this year’s lines on each card, I real- with colored sprinkles. I used so few that ize I’ve learned some important things: the sugar count most likely didn’t go up at 1. I’ve learned it’s often easier to give a all, but just the sight of those little colorquick, thoughtless answer or to let my anger ful balls of fun on top of their broccoli and and frustration get the best of me, especially cauliflower made the veggies disappear like at the end of the day. It’s always harder (and magic. Side note: Call grape tomatoes Santa better) to take a breath and act or react in Sweets, and they’ll disappear just as quickly. kindness. Kids are always watching, and as 5. I’ve learned school is good for siswe all know, they learn so much more by terhood. With both girls out of school and what we do than by what we say. Kindness home with me every day, this past summer often generates more kindness. was hard on my patience. I often planned 2. I’ve learned that as my big girl, Kate, an activity in the morning — pool, friends, gets older, there are days when she doesn’t crafts — but by the afternoon, their bickerwant to hold my hand walking in to school. ing got the best of me, and I resorted to TV And it’s OK. A teeny piece of my heart may more than I care to admit. shrivel just a little, but I’m totally cool. But now, with both of them in school I’ve also learned that just as quickly as every day, they’re actually excited to see she can pull her hand away, if she needs a each other in the afternoons; the TV doesn’t little bit of encouragement or if something come on nearly as often, and they play beaumakes her feel the smallest bit insecure, I’ll tifully. Well, maybe about 80 percent of the
time. The other 20 percent can still wear me out, but overall, school is a good remedy for sibling rivalry. At least for now. 6. I’ve learned that achieving a dream (signing a book contract) is exciting, but also stressful. All of a sudden, I know for sure that people will be reading my book (which at this point feels like my third child), forming an opinion about it and about me as an author, and quite possibly giving the book a rating on Amazon or Goodreads. That’s scary stuff! Exciting, yes, but scary, for sure. I’m taking steps to counteract that stress — more walking outside when the weather is nice, possibly some deep breathing when necessary, and pulling out those sophisticated coloring books and fancy markers. Many more lessons are contained on those index cards, and as we move forward into the next year, I’ll have to keep looking back to remember what we’ve overcome, what we’ve learned and what we can do differently next time. So much of life — marriage, parenthood, friendship — is trial and error. While it’s almost guaranteed that more trials will come, I hope there are also many more “insignificant” days, because often, it’s a blessing just to have an ordinary day. I’d love to connect! You can email me at Lauren@LaurenKDenton.com, visit my website, LaurenKDenton.com, or find me on Instagram @LaurenKDentonBooks, on Twitter @LaurenKDenton, or on Facebook. My first novel, “The Hideaway,” releases April 11, 2017, and is available for pre-order from Amazon.
The Homewood Star
B16 • December 2016
Edgewood Garden Club brings new life to local nature park By SYDNEY CROMWELL Jan Lawler lives across the street from Woodland Nature Park on Woodland Drive. It’s where she walks her dog every day and where neighborhood kids come to play. It was also in need of a little love. Lawler is a three-year Homewood resident and joined the Edgewood Garden Club about a year ago. When they discussed potential new projects at a monthly meeting, Lawler suggested beautification of her neighborhood park. With some help from the city and Boy Scout Troop 97, the Edgewood Garden Club got to work in October and November. The old stone pool in the park, built by a former Woodland Drive resident decades ago, was cleared of overgrown and invasive plants, to make room for new soil, a stone path and species that are built to thrive in Alabama’s climate. “We need to plant native plants here so that they don’t get diseases; they thrive in this climate,” Lawler said. Fellow garden club member Suzanne Clisby, who was raised in Homewood and returned to the city 20 years ago, said the plants in the pool include sassafras, Alabama snow wreath, Alabama croton, Solomon seal, woodland phlox, beautyberry, bloodroot and dwarf crested iris. Some plants were bought at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, while others were donated by garden
club members or even dug up from their own backyards. Planting native Alabama species, Clisby said, helps the entire local ecosystem much more than species brought from other states or around the world. “[It’s] something to support native fauna as well, like birds and pollinators,” Clisby said. Aside from the native plant bed, members of Troop 97 washed and painted benches around the park and re-laid the stonework around them. Clisby said the garden club also is working on tagging the trees around the park with species information and will post a sign on the pool to let people know what they can do in a garden and why it’s important to plant native species. Though the initial work was completed in November, the garden club will have to continue to maintain the work they’ve done. One hiccup in this plan is the ongoing drought in the county, which restricts their water use. Clisby brought her own rain barrel and set up a way to draw water from the creek running through the park as a temporary measure until water levels rise. She said she is somewhat concerned about the trees in the park, but thinks most of them will survive. “The drought has put a kink in the whole thing because we can’t water it,” Lawler said. Woodland Nature Park is different
Above: Edgewood Garden Club members work on planting in the former stone pool at Woodland Nature Park. Below: Boy Scout Troop 97 creates new stone paths for park benches. Photos by Sydney Cromwell.
from most other city parks because it’s meant to be kept as close to natural forest as possible. Clisby said leaves are left on the ground to create compost rather than being swept up and thrown away. The club is also working on developing trees to replant areas of the park that were damaged by a tornado in the past. Aside from the ongoing care of Woodland Nature Park, the Edgewood Garden Club also works on the Green Skies and Centennial Tree projects in Homewood, hosts monthly educational meetings and yearly junior gardener meetings and takes on other planting and improvement projects throughout the city.
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • B17
Homewood Real Estate Listings MLS #
Zip
Address
Status
Price
767056
35209
1512 Melrose Place
New
$829,900
766705
35209
37 Edgehill Road
New
$260,000
766563
35209
1902 Shades Cliff Terrace #C
New
$89,900
766474
35209
835 Oak Grove Road
New
$239,900
766387
35209
210 Lakeshore Drive
New
$269,780
766351
35209
1854 Windsor Boulevard
New
$549,000
766202
35209
524 Clermont Drive
New
$365,000
765874
35209
1832 Lancaster Road
New
$519,000
765701
35209
1637 Barry Avenue
New
$249,000
765626
35209
1858 Parkside Circle
New
$319,900
766747
35209
312 Mecca Avenue
New
$359,000
765479
35209
587 Forrest Drive
New
$264,900
765242
35209
900 Saulter Road
New
$250,000
765188
35209
710 Broadway Street
New
$450,000
765010
35209
214 Virginia Drive
New
$475,000
764902
35209
644 Rumson Road
New
$489,900
764296
35209
804 Rockhurst Lane
New
$199,000
764128
35209
1514 Roseland Drive
New
$649,900
Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on Nov. 14. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.
1512 Melrose Place
312 Mecca Avenue
The Homewood Star
B18 • December 2016
Calendar Homewood Events Dec. 6: 2016 Lighting of the Star. 5:30 p.m. Coffee, cookies, hot chocolate and performances from Homewood’s elementary school students along with the lighting of The Star on 18th Street. Visit homewoodchamber.com. Dec. 6: ASO Red Concertmaster & Friends Series: Quintessential Quintets. 7:30 p.m. Brock Recital Hall, Samford University. $32. Presented by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Visit alabamasymphony.org.
Homewood Public Library Events Children Mondays, Dec. 5 and 12: Preschool Playtime. 10 a.m. in Round Auditorium. For ages three and under. Tuesdays, Dec. 6 & 13: Wee Ones Storytime. 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. For ages 24 months and younger. Wednesdays, Dec. 7 & 14: Wiggleworm Wednesdays. 10:30 a.m. Music and storytime for all ages.
Dec. 8: Homeschool Hour: Birmingham in 1916. 1:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Learn how times have changed for Birmingham in 100 years as the Southern History Department of the Birmingham Public Library gives us a glimpse into the past. No registration required. Ages 10 and up. Dec. 8: That Puppet Guy Presents the Fa La La Follies. 6:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. A holiday themed puppet show the whole family can enjoy.
Dec. 9: Sounds of the Season. 7:30 p.m. Brock Recital Hall, Samford University. $20-$45, $10 students. Visit operabirmingham.com.
Thursdays, Dec. 1 & 8: Storyday with Nay Nay. 9:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Storytime for ages 3 and under.
Dec. 9: Move & Groove Storytime. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. An interactive and energetic movement storytime for all ages filled with dance yoga and fun.
Dec. 9-11 and 16-18: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. Presented by Alabama Ballet. Wright Fine Arts Center, Samford University. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 2:30 p.m. Sunday. $25-$55.
Fridays, Dec. 2 & 16: Leaps & Bounds. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. Energetic movement class designed specifical y for children ages 2½ to 4 years. Online registration required.
Dec. 9: 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.
Dec. 10: Holiday Workshop with Doug Baulos. Forstall Art Center, 402 Palisades Blvd. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $95. Visit forstallart.com.
Dec. 1: Family Storytime. 6:30 p.m. in the Children’s Department. Storytime for all ages full of music.
Dec. 13: Homewood Chamber August Membership Luncheon. 11:30 a.m. The Club. Visit homewoodchamber.com.
Dec. 5: STEMologist Club. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. K-5th grade.
Dec. 10: Holidays Around the World. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. Learn about holiday customs in other countries to celebrate Our World Our Library Day.
Dec. 15: Home for the Holidays. dk2 Gallery, 1825 29th Ave. S. Featuring all dk2 Gallery artists. Opening reception 6-8 p.m. Through Jan. 14, 2017. Dec. 20: Birmingham Astronomical Society Meeting. 7 p.m. Christenberry Planetarium, Samford University. Christmas Party. Visit bas-astro.com.
Dec. 5: Knight Chess Tournament. 5:30-7 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. For preschool-12th grade. Registration required. For ages 10 and up. Dec. 7: 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. K-3rd grade.
Dec. 12: LEGO Club. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Join us for an exciting new building challenge each month. K-5th grade. Dec. 12: 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. Dec. 13: Infinity Ring Book Club: Year End Party. 6 p.m. in the Round
Auditorium. Join us for pizza and drinks at our book club where we will talk about our favorite books while discovering fun new titles. Online registration is required. 4th-6th grade. Dec. 14: Kids in the Kitchen. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Test culinary skills and learn some great techniques for making holiday inspired treats. K-5th grade. Dec. 19: Island of Misfit oys. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. Special storytime and playtime based on the Island of Misfit Toys. Dec. 19: iTween: Star Wars. 4 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Open to rising 4th-7th graders. Dec. 20: Rumble with Bumble. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. Celebrate everyone’s favorite Abominable Snowman with crafts, games and snacks. Dec. 21: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. Special movie presentation and a reindeer themed snack. Dec. 22: Heat Miser vs. Snow Miser. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. Explore the concepts of hot and cold through fun STEAM related projects. Teens Dec. 1: Teen Anime Club. 4 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Love manga or anything Japanese related? Come to the Teen Anime Club as we discuss and watch anime. Dec. 5: Knight Chess Tournament.
TheHomewoodStar.com
December 2016 • B19
Homewood Public Library Events (con’t) 5:30-7 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Monthly chess tournament where you will learn strategy and fun in equal measure. Dec. 8: Homeschool Hour: Birmingham in 1916. 1:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Learn how times have changed for Birmingham in 100 years as the Southern History Department of the Birmingham Public Library gives us a glimpse into the past. No registration required. Suggested for ages 10 years old and up. Dec. 8: Bath Bombs! 4 p.m. in Room 110 (Lower Level). Learn how easy it is to create your very own bath bombs. All supplies included. Online registration required. Dec. 12: Animal Allies. 4 p.m. in the Boardroom. This new service club for teens is dedicated to raising the community’s awareness on animal-welfare issues. Teens who have a passion for helping animals are encouraged to attend. Dec. 12: Teen Advisory Board (TAB). 6 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Open to teens in grades six through 12 who want to take an active role at the Homewood Public Library. An application must be submitted for consideration. Dec. 13: Color & Coffee. 4 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Come relax and color your stress away. Dec. 17: ACT Practice Test. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Teens are invited to take this FREE ACT Practice offered through Kaplan Test Prep. Online registration required. Dec. 19: iTween: Star Wars. 4 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Open to rising fourth- through seventh-graders. Adults Dec. 1: Let’s Dish Cookbook Club: Holiday Cookie Swap. 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 the month’s theme and bring the cookies and recipe to the meeting. We will dish about the theme, recipe, and deliciousness at the meeting. No registration required. Dec. 2: Jingle All the Way: Christmas Songs and Stories of the Season with Storyteller Dolores Hydock and the Music of Bobby Horton. 6:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Stories, songs, and sing-alongs make the season bright. Storyteller Dolores Hydock and musical master Bobby Horton mix traditional carols, jolly songs and sweet stories to fill your holiday with spirit. Advance reservations are required. The show includes a light hors d’oeuvres buffet starting at 6:30 p.m., with the program beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. Dec. 5 & 12: Library Yoga. 10 a.m. in the Large Auditorium. Take time out of your busy schedule for free yoga classes at the library. All levels of fitness welcome. No registration required, but please bring your own mat. Dec. 5: Life in Birmingham in 1916. 1 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Get a glimpse into the past as the Southern History Department from Birmingham’s Central Library takes you on a journey through the news, stories, and advertisements gleaned from Birmingham newspapers for the year 1916. Dec. 6: OLLI Bonus Program: Impact Crater in Wetumpka, AL, with James Lowery. 1 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. This presentation will provide information about the crater, which is located beside the Coosa River in central Alabama, including photos of the crater as it appears today and information on how to see it when in the Wetumpka area. Dec. 8: UAB Presents Discoveries in the Making: The Shape of Human Memory. 6:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Join graduate student Julia Beattie as she discusses the shape of memory and what we know
from MRI studies. Dec. 9: Valor in the Ardennes: The Battle of the Bulge with Niki Sepsas. 1 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. The story of Adolf Hitler’s last great offensive of World War II, which pitted his finest armored and infantry divisions against the Allies during Christmas 1944. Dec. 13: The ABC’s of Medicare. 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. in Room 116 (Lower Level). Karen Haiflich will answer all your questions about how benefits are currently computed, how to become insured and how to file a claim. Dec. 13: Oxmoor Page Turners Book Club: At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen. 6:30 p.m. in the Boardroom. Dec. 14: Reverse Mortgage Seminar with John Littlefeld. 1 p.m. in Room 116 on the Lower Level. Dec. 14: First Step Wednesdays: Get the Most Out of Your iPad and iPhone. 2 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. This workshop is geared towards casual users. Join us as Apple® certified trainers for Alabama Tech-Ease answer your questions on how best to use your Apple® device. Dec. 19: Bossypants Book Club: Seriously…I’m Kidding by Ellen DeGeneres. 6:30-8 p.m. at Nabeel’s Café. Dec. 20: Dixie’s Pet Loss Support Group. 5:30 p.m. in Room 106 (Lower Level). The death of a pet can be one of the most devastating events that can happen to a person — yet one of the most misunderstood, too. This grief/loss group is sponsored by the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. Participation in the workshop is free; however reservations are requested. Dec. 28: The Better Than Therapy Book Club: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. 2 p.m. in the Boardroom.
Area Events Dec. 2-4 and 7-11: Holiday Spectacular 2016. RMTC Cabaret Theatre. Performances by the RMTC Conservatory Students along with local artists. Wednesday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. $19 and up. Visit redmountaintheatre.org. Dec. 8: Live at the Lyric: The Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas Show. 7 p.m. $27.50-$39.50. Visit lyricbham.com. Dec. 9-23: Alabama Theatre. Holiday Film Series. Visit alabamatheatre. com for showtimes. Dec. 10-11: Birmingham Ballet: The Nutcracker. BJCC Concert Hall. $30-$48. Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. Visit birminghamballet. com. Dec. 16: Handel’s Messiah & Vivaldi’s Gloria. 7:30 p.m. Presented by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. Alys Stephens Center. $18-$80. Visit alabamasymphony.org. Dec. 16-18: Broadway Christmas Wonderland. BJCC Concert Hall. Sounds of holiday classics. $30-$60. Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. Sunday, 1 p.m. Visit theatreleague.com/ Birmingham. Dec. 28-29: St. Paul & The Broken Bones. 8 p.m. $25-$35. Visit alabamatheatre.com. Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve at the Alabama. 6 p.m. Ring in the new year with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. $18-$75. Visit alabamasymphony.org.