lex Wyatt never went looking to become mayor of Homewood, but nearly a decade of public service in the city’s government has landed him in the role. Wyatt became mayor on Nov. 1 as Patrick McClusky retired from the position to spend more time with his family and pursue other opportunities. Wyatt told The Homewood Star he does not plan to run for the office in 2025, meaning this is a one-year-and-done term.
Entering the position amid a period of divisiveness over a vote to change the city government structure, a scandal involving stolen city funds and an unexpected change in public officials, Wyatt has his work cut out for him if he wishes to make progress in the next year.
By SARAH OWENS
drop by Edgewood Elementary on the afternoon of Nov. 17, you’ll find yourself doing just that.
The school turned 100 this year, and the administration and parent-teacher organization have partnered together to celebrate the century of education that Edgewood has offered.
While they broke ground on the school in 1924, Catie Seale, a member of Edgewood’s PTO and
chair of the centennial committee created to organize the celebration, said she thinks the school actually opened in 1926 with 12 first graders.
“There was a huge fire at Edgewood in the ’50s,” Seale said. “So a lot of our history and newspaper articles, things like that, have been lost because of the fire.”
The fire began on the night of Nov. 13, 1953, in the cafeteria, which used to be in the basement. Edgewood Elementary celebrates a century of education
Alex Wyatt speaks with Daniel Chaplin at a September
Council meeting where the council presented
Month. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
Lene Brown’s 1962-63 first graders pose for their class portrait Photo courtesy of Homewood City Schools.
Village Dermatology unveils new brand identity after 16 years of trusted care
For the past 16 years, Village Dermatology has been a trusted leader in skincare across the Birmingham area, serving as the go-to destination for comprehensive medical, surgical, and aesthetic dermatology services.
As of this October, the practice is celebrating a major milestone: a complete rebrand that not only honors their legacy but also embraces their exciting vision for the future. As part of this transformation, they’ve introduced a fresh new look, complete with a redesigned logo, color palette, and new in-house skincare boutique, LABL Studio. Short for “Live a Beautiful Life,” LABL Studio offers curated doctorrecommended skincare products and specialty items with expert, concierge-level service.
The rebrand was officially unveiled at Village Dermatology’s annual ‘Botox & Bingo’ event, a beloved tradition that supports The WellHouse, a safe haven for female victims of human trafficking, with all proceeds going directly to their cause. This year’s gathering was about more than just prizes and refreshments — it signaled a major change for the practice. Guests were treated to an exclusive first look at the new brand identity and reimagined skincare boutique.
“We are delighted to announce Village Dermatology’s new brand identity, showcasing our dedication to providing compassionate care and high-quality services,” Dr. Sobera shared. “This rebrand represents our ongoing evolution to meet our community’s needs while staying rooted in our core values.”
Every aspect of the rebrand was carefully crafted to symbolize the practice’s growth and future-forward vision. The new logo, featuring a tulip, is much more than meets the eye. Inspired by the ever-changing nature of a garden, the tulip’s form captures the essence of evolution, diversity, and life itself. The sleek design of the flower’s petals also creates a “V,” which stands for Village Dermatology, while the shape and movement suggest teamwork and progress — a reflection of the practice’s collaborative approach to patient care. Additionally, the skin boutique’s new name, LABL Studio, carries a dual meaning. It represents the practice’s motto, “Live a Beautiful Life,” and highlights the boutique’s transparency and dedication to providing premium products, referring to the integrity of product ingredients listed on the labels.
For Dr. Sobera, this rebrand isn’t just a visual update. “While we may have a new look, our mission remains unchanged, to empower our patients with the knowledge and tools to achieve and maintain healthy, beautiful skin,” she said.
Village Dermatology’s state-of-the-art medical facility offers a wide range of services, from medical dermatology, such as skin cancer treatment and acne care, to cosmetic procedures like fillers, laser treatments, and wrinkle reducing (Botox®, Jeuveau, Dysport and Daxxify). Village Dermatology also provides advanced treatments like Mohs surgery, a precise technique used to treat skin cancer, involving the removal of thin skin layers and examining them under a microscope to ensure all cancer cells are eliminated. Additionally, Ellacor, Halo, Moxi, CoolSculpting, and microneedling are all performed in-office for convenience and comfort. Distinctive offerings include the Aesthetic & Laser Center, VIP scheduling for physician referrals, and the LABL Studio.
Village Dermatology’s rebrand comes at a time when more and more people are prioritizing self-care and investing in their skin’s health.
As awareness around skincare continues to grow, practices like Village Dermatology are leading the way in providing accessible, tailored solutions that empower patients to take control of their skin health. Dr. Sobera explained the importance of this next phase for the practice: “This rebrand not only allows us to elevate our services but also reinforces our position as a trusted resource in the community,” she added. “We’re proud to offer advanced treatments, including our expertise in Mohs surgery, which ensures the best outcomes for skin cancer patients.”
One of the key strengths of Village Dermatology lies in its deep connection to the Birmingham community. With expert providers from Mountain Brook, Homewood, Vestavia, Hoover, and other nearby areas, the practice is more than just a place for medical care, it’s a welcoming space where patients feel like family.
As Dr. Sobera noted, “Our patients and team are like family to us, and this rebrand represents our commitment to growing together.
We’re excited for what the future holds, with our goal being to help every patient live a beautiful life by empowering them to look and feel their best.”
While this brand ‘facelift’ brings a new era for Village Dermatology, the practice remains committed to delivering the same outstanding services and innovative care that have earned them a loyal patient base over the years. Village Dermatology invites all to visit one of their locations to discover the new product offerings and experience the exceptional, personalized care that has become the hallmark of their practice.
Village Dermatology’s main office is located at 2900 Cahaba Road in Mountain Brook with additional locations in Gardendale, Auburn, and Oneonta, Alabama. LABL skincare is available at the Mountain Brook and Gardendale locations, as well as online at store.villagedermatology.net. Village Dermatology is part of Forefront Dermatology, a group of over 250 practices setting the standard of care in skin and body healthcare across the US. For more information, go online to villagedermatology.net
Village Dermatology
• Where: 2900 Cahaba Road in Mountain Brook with additional locations in Gardendale, Auburn and Oneonta
• Call: 205-877-9773
• Web: villagedermatology.net
From left: Dr. Kate Fening, Dr. Rachel Pflederer, Dr. Julia Tauscher, Dr. Jenny Sobera and Dr. Caroline Crabtree.
EWELL Congress S Democrat TERRI Re-elect for
JOBS COUNTIES, CITIES & SCHOOLS
Sewell hosted 13 annual job fairs and led initiatives to help our largest job creators grow by bringing:
1,500 jobs to the Amazon Center in Bessemer
$474,000 for the Small Business Accelerator Program in Jefferson County in 2022
650 jobs at the Bessemer Dollar General Center
$1 billion expansion at Mercedes-Benz
Automotive plant in Vance, Alabama creating
600 additional jobs
$500,000 to the Bessemer Airport for infrastructure improvements and pilot training
SAFER COMMUNITIES
Sewell has championed legislation to keep weapons out of dangerous hands and has fought to get our communities the tools they need to improve public safety. Sewell secured:
$1 million to prevent school violence and make our students safer in Jefferson County
$3 million to expand substance use treatment services in Jefferson County
$749,000 for the UAB Department of Psychiatry
Substance Abuse Division to help families
impacted by substance use
$850,000 to make safety and security upgrades on the campus of Miles College
$2 million for community-oriented policing in Bessemer, Fairfield, Tarrant, Greensboro & Selma
Sewell secured $553 million for cities and counties in Alabama’s 7th District and millions for our school systems from the American Rescue Plan in 2021:
Jefferson County received $127 million
Jefferson County Schools received $69.7 million
The City of Homewood received $6 million
Homewood City Schools received $3 million
Sewell also secured $1 million to improve stormwater drainage in the City of Homewood in 2024.
HEALTHCARE
Sewell has worked to expand access to quality, affordable health care for all Alabamians.
Capped the price of insulin to $35 per month for seniors on Medicare
$360 million investment from USDA to build UAB Medical West Hospital in McCalla
$8.8 million to UAB to expand maternity services
$2.6 million to Samford University to fund Nurse
Practitioner Program for disadvantaged and underserved communities in Alabama
Sponsored and passed the Resident Physician
Shortage Reduction Act to bring more health care professionals to underserved communities
Sponsored and passed bill to expand benefits for Medicare Advantage enrollees including transportation serves and in-home support
Sponsored and passed the NOPAIN Act to combat the opioid crisis
ABOUT US
Editor’s Note By Sarah
As Homewood looks ahead following the city manager referendum, there’s a lot of change on the horizon for the city. Alex Wyatt is now the mayor as Patrick McClusky retires from public service, and the City Council is finalizing the process for hiring an interim city manager. You can read more about these topics on our cover and in city news on page 6. Also on our cover, Edgewood Elementary is celebrating its 100th birthday this year by taking a look at the school’s history. Edgewood Presbyterian Church and Second Presbyterian Church celebrated the start of something new in October, and I had the chance to cover
Owens
the special service that officially merged the two congregations into one.
The sense of community I felt from that service is something I hope we all carry into the holidays, and I expect to run into it again throughout Homewood’s upcoming holiday events.
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By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.
Homewood City Council members met on Oct. 1 to certify the election results from the Sept. 24 referendum to change the city government’s structure. Now, the council is working to determine how to bring this change to fruition.
Over 3,000 residents cast their ballot in the special election to decide whether the city would change its form of government from a mayor/council format to a city manager/council structure. 1,787 citizens voted yes for the change, while 1,565 voted no.
Wyatt said the council is focusing on how to put a city manager in place and how to evaluate candidates. He noted that an interim city manager could be hired before the role is permanently filled.
“We don’t just want to look at one candidate. We want to look at multiple candidates and figure out how we go about this,” Wyatt said. Finding the right person for the right situation will be key in the short term, he said, and even more so for a permanent role. And the experience the candidate brings to the table will be “vitally important.”
“I don’t want to speak for all of us, but I think experience as a city or county manager is important — someone who’s done that job and knows how to do it,” Wyatt said. “They can help us set up the city in the way it needs to be set up and function with that position. [We need] someone that can help us evaluate how to get a permanent person for that position and someone that has the training and qualifications in place so the city can benefit from that.”
The council president, who is filling the role of mayor following the retirement of Mayor Patrick McClusky on Nov. 1, said the city doesn’t want someone who is going
to be “learning on the job with this. We want someone that’s going to help guide us into this system so the next council can really hit the ground running and move forward beginning in November of 2025.”
The referendum also approved a change in the council itself, reducing the five-ward, 11-member council to four wards, each with a single representative, and the mayor serving as council president. That change will take effect with the November 2025 election.
Wyatt plans to retire from public office when the new mayor and council are elected
next year.
With a fairly tight result of a somewhat contentious campaign, could the road ahead be bumpy for city leaders, old and new? Wyatt hopes that’s not the case.
“Homewood is a close-knit community. It’s a thriving community,” he said. “We have different opinions about stuff and people are passionate about it. It’s good to be passionate about your city. But when we need to, we at the same time come together to make the city better. I think that will happen here.”
The council president said nearly everyone
agreed that hiring a city manager was a good idea. “I didn’t hear from anybody who said we don’t need a city manager,” he said. “We may have disagreed on the particulars of how it was going to be set up, but I think everyone recognizes we are going to be better off with a city manager and therefore better off in this system than what we have now.”
Wyatt believes once everything is in place with the new government, everyone will see and appreciate the difference.
“I think the city will support what we’re doing,” he said.
Left: Councilman Andy Gwaltney gets Ward 1 referendum results from the door of the Homewood Community Center on Sept. 24.
Above: New Mayor Alex Wyatt, formerly the City Council president, said Homewood doesn’t need a city manager who is learning on the job, and the city will look for someone with experience to fill the role. Photos by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.
Deborah Sema, DMD, MS
Thank you, Mr. Mayor!
As Mayor Patrick McClusky moves into a well-deserved retirement, join me in thanking him for his many years of public service. He is leaving Homewood in a far better place with the countless advancements achieved during his tenure both as a city councilor and as mayor. Thank you again!
Mayor’s Minute
By Alex Wyatt
As I move into my new role as mayor, I am excited about the coming year in Homewood. I look forward to working with the City Council, the department heads and the residents of Homewood to continue the work that we have been undertaking over the past four years. In the last year of this term, we will work to complete the projects that we have been looking forward to and set the table for the next council, which will come into office in November 2025.
And speaking of the next council, I could not be more excited about Homewood’s
CITY
transformational decision to move to the council-manager form of government. The addition of a city manager will bring Homewood in line with its neighboring cities and will for the first time give Homewood a fulltime chief executive who will be able to respond to citizens’ needs, coordinate between departments and provide oversight throughout the city.
The council will soon be laying out the process for the selection of a city manager who can assist the city with this important transition over the next year. The process will culminate next August, when the citizens of Homewood will elect the five positions that will make up the new council. With this new form of government, Homewood will be able to provide its residents and its businesses with a more responsive and efficient government, and it will allow Homewood to reach its fullest potential!
DO
SCHOOLHOUSE
Homewood Helps provides food, place to sleep for city youth
By LOYD McINTOSH
Approximately 1,000 Homewood City Schools students qualified for reduced-cost or free lunches last year, and many students don’t have a bed to sleep in at night.
Homewood Helps, a partnership between the school system and concerned community leaders, is working to address food and bed insecurity for all HCS students.
Spearheaded by David Thompson, the vice president of the HCS Board of Education and executive pastor of Trinity Methodist Church, Homewood Helps strives to provide a bed and access to food outside of school in order to create a level playing field in the classroom.
"We believe that if every student has enough food in their stomach and a quality night of sleep, they’re going to be better in the classroom," Thompson said. "They’re going to be less distracted, they’re going to be able to perform better academically, socially and physically at school, and we felt like this was a problem we could solve in Homewood.”
Thompson said the organization was established to centralize efforts by various groups to offer assistance programs to children and families in Homewood.
"I just felt like there was a way that we could really simplify things, and we started to come together to decide what are a few things that we believe could help our students and families, but are also rooted in our mission at Homewood City Schools to ensure that students reach their unique potential, and that landed on food and beds,” Thompson said.
Families can enroll in the Homewood Helps food assistance program at homewoodhelps. com or are identified as in need of assistance by school staff.
Volunteers pack backpacks of food for
children in the elementary and middle schools and send food and toiletries for students at the high school. Katie Smith, the student assistance counselor for HCS, said care is taken to protect each student’s identity and dignity, and assistance is available to any student at any time.
"Our school counselors work to see which family is in need and may benefit from [the program]," Smith said. "Then volunteers from Trinity, historically, have been the ones to pack those weekend food bags, bring them to the schools, and then the school counselors help to just get those home in a discreet way."
Homewood Helps also partners with Sleep In Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit dedicated to providing beds to children in need. Each identified child receives a wooden bed frame, mattress, sheets and a pillow.
“People would be surprised by how many
students sleep on couches,” Smith said. “We have families who are intergenerational, and we have families who are, maybe, a large extended family living together, or we have families who have had to move and may not have enough actual beds for everybody."
Thompson said they hold several bed-build events each year, with the most recent producing 60 beds on Oct. 5, and community members are encouraged to volunteer.
"I felt like if the community knows about this, we can all rally together and get on board to solve this problem," Thompson said. "I think it’s something that in our community, our unique setting, we can solve. We can ensure that every kid has enough food and every kid sleeping on the floor has a quality bed."
To donate, volunteer or confidentially sign up for HCS assistance programs, visit homewoodhelps.com.
A volunteer sands a bed frame on Oct. 5 at the Homewood Helps bed- building event.
Photo courtesy of Homewood Helps.
COSTA, C.PED
In the Classroom
GET TO KNOW
Shades Cahaba teacher Hailey Pepper
By STAFF
Hailey Pepper is a music teacher at Shades Cahaba Elementary.
Q: How long have you been a teacher and what subject do you teach?
A: I’ve been teaching for 21 years; 17 of those years have been here at Shades Cahaba. And I am a music teacher to grades K through 5.
Q: What inspired you to become an educator?
A: I grew up in a home full of teachers. My mom and dad are both teachers. My aunt is a teacher. My sister is a teacher and both of my cousins are teachers. It’s just in our blood.
Q: Tell us about your favorite teacher from when you were in school.
A: My favorite teacher has to be Ms. Sullivan. She taught me 6th or 7th grade math, I can’t remember. But, I was a very type-A student. I always needed to know the expectations and I never wanted to get in trouble. And, in her class, we walked in the door, I knew exactly what to expect every day. She made math fun and I could understand it. And, then, I could also feel challenged by her, and it was just a wonderful year with her for me.
Q: What is the most rewarding part of being a teacher?
A: The most rewarding part about being a
music teacher is getting to have our students from kindergarten all the way to 5th grade. To see their growth throughout the years is amazing as they come in.
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School (OLS School) has an exceptional student-family relationship. The students, their families, and staff are a close community. This family atmosphere sets the stage for the individual fostering of every child’s religious, academic, and social development from 3K through eighth grade in ways other private schools may find challenging.
OLS School offers a comprehensive, Christ-centered academic curriculum with a wide range of enrichment opportunities for your child. From advanced math to a STEM program, robotics, Spanish, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Atrium), fine arts, leadership possibilities, competitive athletics, and more, the school provides diverse activities to cater to every child’s interest and talent. With a dedicated school counselor and resource teachers, they ensure a positive academic experience for everyone. They also provide before- and after-school care and other additional after-school programs.
Accreditation with Cognia exemplifies OLS School’s high academic standards and validates a commitment to excellence that opens doors to high-profile student opportunities. Building on a solid elementary foundation, many alumni have been awarded unlimited scholarship opportunities, with several even being honored as National Merit Scholar finalists. These achievements are a
○ Grades: 3K through eighth grade
○ Where: 1720 Oxmoor Road
○ Call: 205-879-3237
○ Web: olsschool.com
testament to the inspiring and enriching environment OLS School provides, where they prioritize preparing students for a successful future.
To learn more about OLS School, visit olsschool.com or call the office at 205-879-3237 for a personal tour… Find out how you, too, can “Experience the Difference!”
For more education news, connect with Homewood Star online: visit our website, follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter.
ACCOLADES
National Merit Semifinalists, superintendent recognized
By STAFF
Homewood City Schools students and administration have garnered several noteworthy accomplishments in recent months: Thirteen Homewood High School students were named National Merit Semifinalists in September: Emma Berthiaume, Luke Binet, Margo Brandrup, Alejandra Briceno, Charles Chewning, Colton Cox, Samuel Ernest, Foster Laird, Emma Levering, Ruby Reeves, Reece Teter, Oliver Trolard and Chandler York. The accomplishment represents the top 1% of high school seniors in the U.S. who take the PSAT each year.
Award; Leonardo Hernandez, National Hispanic Recognition Award. These programs showcase students’ strong academic performance based on their scores in PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10 or AP exams.
Four Homewood High students earned academic recognition through the College Board National Recognition Programs: Calista Armstead, National African American Recognition Award; Keon Davis, National African American Recognition Award; Emmanuella Erhumwunsee, National African American Recognition
HCS Superintendent Justin Hefner was selected to serve on the board of directors for the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools. Hefner will serve as president of the Alabama Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, which is dedicated to advancing excellence in leadership and promoting positive change in Alabama schools. Affiliate presidents participate in CLAS as representatives of their organizations’ unique needs and interests.
Shades Cahaba music teacher Hailey Pepper. Photo courtesy of Homewood City Schools.
Thirteen Homewood High School students were named as National Merit Semifinalists Photo courtesy of Homewood City Schools.
Business Buzz
BUSINESS HAPPENINGS
COMING SOON
Urban Hai plans to open at 1903 29th Ave. S. in Homewood by the end of the year. The space was previously occupied by Michael’s Steakhouse, in the lower level of the Aloft Hotel. Owned by chef Hai Wang and restaurateur Gary Lin, the Atlanta-based restaurant offers customers traditional Chinese dishes and Szechuan-style cuisine. urbanhai.com
Eighteen South is opening the store’s second location soon at The Edge in Homewood. The store offers men a premium variety of up-and-coming brands, with apparel for every occasion. Follow the store’s Instagram account at instagram.com/eighteen_southhwd for official opening day information. eighteen-south.com
The second location for Freddy’s Bistro and Bar opened in Homewood this past summer. Customers can dine in on Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. and on Sunday for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 205-704-4526, freddyswinebar.com
NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
All locations of Hero Doughnuts & Buns restaurants in Alabama, including the one at 1726 28th Ave. S. in Homewood, have expanded their hours and now are serving dinner. The new hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. New menu items include fried pork chop sandwiches, fried bologna sandwiches and cucumber tomato salad. Hero Doughnuts & Buns also has locations in Hoover, Trussville and Railroad Park in Birmingham. 205-623-1017, eatathero.com
The Pink Tulip a locally owned fashion boutique on 18th Street South, held a grand opening for a 2,000-squarefoot second location in The Grove shopping center at 5533 Grove Blvd., next to Pivot Fitness and Popshelf, on Oct. 5. 205-821-1226, thepinktulip clothing.com
David and Leah Knight, owners of Homewood-based Bandwagon, are Alabama’s 2024 Gee Emerging Retailers of the Year. The sports boutique opened in 2021 and specializes in custom community and lifestyle apparel for toddlers through adults. It caters to teams of all ages at its two local stores in Homewood and Vestavia Hills. Store hours at both locations are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday until 5 p.m. 205-834-8976, bandwagonsports.com
ANNIVERSARIES
Homewood has been home to the party decor destination Celebrate Birmingham for two years now. The business carries party supplies for purchase or rental, including balloon arches, chairs, columns, banners, streamers, decorative paper products and more. Customers can visit the shop at 1743 Reese St. Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. or by appointment. Custom installations are all done by appointment only. 205-440-2184, celebratebirmingham.com
A
place for professionals: Homebase offers private offices in heart of Homewood
By STAFF
Homebase, a private office/ coworking space by LIV Ventures, opened on Oxmoor Road in September. Tom Spies, the president of LIV Ventures, spoke with The Homewood Star about the new development.
Q: How did the idea for Homebase come about?
A: Since LIV Ventures teamed up with Bitty and Beau’s Coffee to open their Birmingham location, we’ve been searching for a complementary business to join them next door. We identified an opportunity to establish a coworking space.
Q: Why did you choose to place this rental space in Homewood?
A: Located at the intersection of Homewood and Edgewood, Homebase offers a prime location for professionals who live and work over the mountain. It’s perfectly located in the middle of Birmingham. With exceptional walkability to local attractions like Homewood Central Park and downtown Homewood’s restaurants and retailers, the location makes it uniquely desirable.
Q: Who is this space designed for?
A: Professionals who want a flexible private office in the heart of Homewood.
Q: Why should people consider renting an office space with Homebase?
A: We thoughtfully designed this space
so professionals can thrive both individually and as part of a supportive and dynamic community. Homebase combines privacy with opportunities for connection with other professionals and meaningful interactions with the team at Bitty & Beau’s.
Homebase rentals start at $625 per month, and they offer three-month lease terms. Each office is fully furnished and includes 24/7 access, internet, free printing, on-street parking, meeting rooms and a monthly coffee card. For more information, go online to athomebase.com.
Do you have news to share about a business in Homewood or the greater Birmingham area? Let us know at starnesmedia.com/business-happenings The Homewood Star is spotlighting local businesses in print and online. Submit your business for consideration here: go.starnesmedia.com/business-spotlight
Sasquatch Toys and Comics, 145 Citation Court, has been open in Homewood for one year. The store carries an extensive collection of both modern and vintage toys and comics. Classic toy and comic collectors can buy and sell at the shop, adding to the variety of GI Joe, Star Wars, Star Trek and Marvel items, just to name a few. The store is open Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
205-452-0307, “Sasquatch Toys & Comics” on Facebook
Cowlicks, 1923 29th Ave. S., is celebrating one year in Homewood. The salon is the first of its kind in Homewood, offering services specifically for children. Kids can enjoy the warm and friendly space while they receive their first haircut, trim, wash and blow dry and more. The salon is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday until 3 p.m. 205-747-0592, cowlickscuts.com
The Taco Mama franchise is celebrating 13 years in business. The restaurant's original location opened in November 2011, in Mountain Brook's Crestline Village. Since then, the restaurant has expanded to 10 locations, including on Oxmoor Road in Homewood. Taco Mama is known for “Build Your Own” tacos, quesadillas, burritos, bowls and an extensive margarita menu. The Oxmoor Road location is open 11 a..m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and until 8 p.m. Sunday. 205-414-0441, tacomamaonline.com
SPOTLIGHT
Bandwagon earns Emerging Retailer of the Year Award
By STAFF
Leah and David Knight, owners of the Homewood-based sports apparel store Bandwagon, were named Alabama’s 2024 Gee Emerging Retailers of the Year.
Opened in 2021, the sports boutique specializes in custom community apparel and lifestyle apparel for all ages. Bandwagon caters to teams of all ages and has locations in Homewood, Vestavia Hills and Madison, Miss.
“We have devoted ourselves to serving our community through our customers,” said the Knights, who are Homewood residents. “Living in the community we serve has given us the opportunity to give back through Bandwagon.”
The Gee Emerging Retailer of the Year Award is named in memory of the late Morris “Mickey” Gee, a former Alabama Retail Association board member and University of Alabama at Birmingham professor. The annual award goes to an innovative and effective Alabama retailer who has been in business for at least two years, but less than five.
The Knight family poses at the September celebration for Bandwagon being named one of Alabama’s 2024 Gee Emerging Retailers of the Year. Photo courtesy of Homewood Chamber of Commerce.
Association honored as the 2024 Retailers of the Year. It is one of two businesses recognized as Emerging Retailer of the Year, along with Kind Cafe in Fairhope.
Gee, who owned the Pants Store for more than 30 years, realized that the first five years are tough, but young businesses can have a huge impact.
Bandwagon is one of five businesses in four categories that the Alabama Retail
“Leah and David Knight are Retailers of the Year every year to Bandwagon’s customers, its 10 Alabama employees and the Homewood, Vestavia Hills and greater Birmingham communities,” Alabama Retail Association President Rick Brown said.
Abbie Bostick, talent acquisition manager for LIV Developments, works at a standing desk in the Homebase space. Photo courtesy of Homebase.
Enjoy great wine at a great price with Interveston Wine Club
If you love wine but are tired of paying high prices for it, there’s an easy solution.
Place an order with Interveston Wine Club in Birmingham and get the wines you love at great prices — far less than you’ll pay at most retail stores.
The club was opened in April by owner, Elaine Beiersdoerfer, and is managed by her husband, veteran wine merchant, Werner Beiersdoerfer. Beiersdoerfer and Dan Meadows coowned and operated The Wine Cellar in Vestavia Hills for several years.
But Interveston Wine Club is not a retail or online store or even a traditional wine club.
Instead, wine lovers pay a one-time, lifetime membership fee of $25, then contact the club to inquire about the price of any wine they wish to order. If they like the price the club offers, Intervestston places their order. The club requires a minimum order of six bottles.
“Give me a shot,” Beiersdoerfer says. “Tell me your favorite wine, and let me price it for you.”
Beiersdoerfer saw a need for the club due to sharply rising wine prices. When he operated The Wine Cellar, the markup for wine ranged from 3050%. Today, many retailers price their wines at two to three times wholesale. This makes it almost impossible for
many wine enthusiasts ro buy quality products.
Before the Beiersdoerfers opened Interveston Wine Club, they noticed high prices for wine even at some discount retailers.
“They’re selling wine for well over wholesale price," Beiersdoerfer says. “The profit margins seem to have increased over the years.”
That's the reason the Beiersdoerfers started Interveston — to bring the cost of wine down to where it was
years ago.
“If you compare our prices to those at any store, you will become a real wine fan,” Beiersdoerfer says. “I don’t know of anyone else in Alabama or the Southeast is offering this.”
Interveston Wine Club is not selling wine by the bottle or pushing any particular product.
“The wine enthusiasts who are attracted to our club are the people who know exactly what they like,” Beiersdoerfer says. “They know exactly what
Interveston Wine Club
• Call: 205-283-2680
• Web: intervestonwineclub.com
they’ve been paying in a retail store. And they want to know what we’re selling it for.”
Beiersdoerfer also uses his deep knowledge of wines to turn customers onto new brands
Based on a customer’s current favorite Cabernet, for example, Beiersdoerfer may turn them onto a similar wine that’s just as good but less expensive.
“Some people think that the more expensive the wine the better it tastes, but that’s not true,” Beiersdoerfer says. “If you like Silver Oak from Napa Valley, you’ll probably like Austin Hope, which is less expensive.”
Beiersdoerfer also suggests that buyers check out the featured wines on the Interveston website.
“I’ve had every one of them, and they're all great,” he says.
People can always find something in their price range, as well.
“The price range goes from $135 all the way down to $12.95,” Beiersdoerfer says.
For more information or to place an order call 205-283-2680 or go to intervestonwineclub.com
HOMEWOOD
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Visit one of our convenient locations for dependable care you need, when you need it. No appointment necessary.
Nowlin & Associates celebrates 50
By TIM STEPHENS
Nowlin & Associates, a wealth management firm based in Homewood, celebrated its 50th anniversary in October. For founder Charlie Nowlin, this milestone represents more than just business longevity — it reflects deep community relationships and the quality of his team.
Nowlin’s path to financial services began after graduating from his hometown Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis). He initially pursued a corporate career, working for Michelin Tires, and then served in the Army. After his service, Nowlin faced unexpected challenges, including a sudden job loss. With a young family to support, he pivoted to the life insurance industry.
“My first years in the business were tough,” Nowlin said. “It was a struggle just to survive the first few years, but we managed, and then things started to grow.”
In 1974 Nowlin relocated to Birmingham, a move that would shape the rest of his career. What started as a business venture turned into a lifelong commitment to the area.
“Birmingham became home. We grew a family here, and the community embraced us,” Nowlin said recently from his office at 2718 20th St. S. in Homewood.
In the early days, Nowlin & Associates focused on life insurance, annuities and disability income policies. But as the financial world changed, so did the firm.
“In the late '70s, equities became a major part of the business, and that required us to adapt,” Nowlin said. “We got licensed to deal with stocks, bonds and other public offerings. Over
time, financial planning became central to what we did, and we evolved with it.”
Nowlin credits his firm’s longevity to the strength of its team.
“You can’t be an expert in everything,” he said. “But we had good people who understood the complexities of the industry. We survived, and we grew.”
One key figure in the firm’s modern success is Justin Craft, who joined the team in 1997. Kraft, a former football player with an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, now serves as Nowlin & Associates’ president.
“Justin has been a blessing to this company,” Nowlin said. “He’s helped us bring in great people, and we’ve continued to expand because of that.”
Nowlin & Associates serves clients across Alabama and beyond, offering personalized strategies to help people protect, grow and enjoy their wealth. And both Nowlin and his firm have been heavily involved in many charitable organizations.
“It’s important for people to know who you are and what you stand for,” he said. “We’ve always tried to be part of the community, and I
think that’s why people trust us.
“The financial world today looks very different from when we started. But as long as you have a strategy and good people, you can weather any storm.”
Nowlin still carries a few clients personally — including some who have been with him since that first year of business.
“I’d love to be here for the next 50 years,” he said with a smile, “but more than that, I want to make sure we continue to have great people who can help clients solve their financial challenges and move forward.”
Mountain Brook resident Charlie Nowlin, right, founder of wealth management firm Nowlin & Associates with Nowlin president Justin Craft, left. Nowlin & Associates is celebrating its 50th year of business.
Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
By STAFF
Whiskey Foxtrot Burger Shoppe has been serving up a selection of handheld meals for just over a year in Homewood.
The locally owned burger joint is the brainchild of Ben and Zac Williams, a pair of brothers originally from Hueytown. The Williams brothers established the first location, known as Whiskey Foxtrot Burger Dive, in Hoover in 2021 and quickly gained a reputation for enormous burgers, hand-cut fries and funky interior design.
On July 13, 2023, they opened their Homewood location at 1919 28th Ave. S., in the space formerly occupied by Homewood Gourmet.
The menu is short and to the point,
displaying a love for classic burgers with some special twists. All of Whiskey Foxtrot’s burgers and hot dogs are made from American wagyu beef.
Menu options include the Fat Elvis, which comes with two patties, cheddar cheese, bacon and peanut butter and grape jelly on top. A less calorie-heavy option is the Queso Blanco, a burger with two patties, queso dip, jalapeños and a chipotle aioli.
As for the hot dogs, choose from items like the Chili Ray Cyrus (an all-beef frank topped with chili, cheese sauce and chopped yellow onions on a Hawaiian roll) or the Gotti, which is finished off with hot pastrami, caramelized onions and spicy mustard.
To view their full menu, visit whiskey foxtrotbham.com.
Do Not Disturb sports bar comes to Homewood
By STAFF
The owners behind NOLA Ice / Broad Street Peaux Boys and the downtown event space Canvas On Morris have ventured even deeper into the hospitality industry with the debut of their newest concept: Do Not Disturb, an elevated sports bar in Homewood.
Kelli Caulfield and business partner London Jackson have owned and operated NOLA Ice since 2011 and started the food truck Broad Street Peaux Boys in 2017, then married the two concepts at the Pizitz Food Hall in 2021. Her reason for diving into the sports bar concept, much like her reason for starting NOLA Ice, is to continue her quest to bring authentic tastes of New Orleans to Birmingham, but in a different manner this time.
Caulfield said she isn’t a chef, “but I know the process, how food should taste, how it should look and, most importantly, how it should make you feel.”
The menu, developed by Head Chef Stacee Thomas, will consist of a few customer favorites from the Broad Street Peaux Boys menu, but new additions include an oyster BLT; a lobster corn dog; a charcuterie plate made up of fried pickles, pimiento cheese topped with
bacon jam, fried pork rinds, collard greens, artichoke dip and their signature sausage chunks; and fried lemon pepper ribs. They also expect their burgers to be a customer favorite. Do Not Disturb expected to open in October at 350 State Farm Parkway.
A patron orders at the Whiskey Foxtrot Burger Shoppe in the Merchants Walk shopping center in Homewood.
Photo by Staff.
Do Not Disturb will feature a lobster corn dog on the menu, among other New Orleans-inspired meals. Photo courtesy of Do Not Disturb.
Whiskey Foxtrot celebrates one year in Homewood
By the numbers: 2023 vs. 2024
Recently sold homes in Homewood
► ADDRESS: 115 Havenwood Court
► BED/BATH: 3/2
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,341 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Edgewood
► LIST PRICE: $525,000
► SALE PRICE: $550,000
► ADDRESS: 222 Oglesby Ave.
► BED/BATH: 3/2
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,184 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Edgewood
► LIST PRICE: $790,000
► SALE PRICE: $752,700
► ADDRESS: 1505 Roseland Drive
► BED/BATH: 3/1.5
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,495 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Edgewood
► LIST PRICE: $700,000
► SALE PRICE: $685,000
► ADDRESS: 1615 Ridge Road
► BED/BATH: 3/2
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,895 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Edgewood
► LIST PRICE: $475,000
► SALE PRICE: $445,515
► ADDRESS: 506 Morris Blvd.
► BED/BATH: 3/2
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,812 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Edgewood
► LIST PRICE: $599,900
► SALE PRICE: $600,000
► ADDRESS: 1703 Ashwood Lane
► BED/BATH: 2/2.5
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,368 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Valley Avenue
► LIST PRICE: $265,000
► SALE PRICE: $270,000
SOURCE: GREATER ALABAMA MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE
SPONSORED CONTENT
Discover international foods at Hometown Supermarket in Homewood
Tucked away in a corner of West Homewood is Hometown Supermarket, an all-in-one community center and grocery store bringing Asian, African, Middle Eastern and European foods to the Birmingham area.
The market is like a “home away from home” for many people in the area who miss the foods of their native countries, said Joy Shu, the store’s head of marketing. For other shoppers, Hometown Supermarket allows them to explore new foods, try fresh seafood, pick from a plethora of unique fruits and vegetables and get involved in community activities.
Walking through the market’s produce section, a shopper will find coconuts, longans, dragon fruit and mangosteen, all denoted by their country of origin. The supermarket also offers a variety of other popular food items, including spring rolls, dumplings, kimchi, miso, fish sauce, green tea and herbs, as well as an extensive selection of spices from various countries.
A wide variety of Japanese, Korean and other Asian snacks are available at the store, including Buldak ramen, Pocky biscuit sticks, Hello Panda, Yan Yan and shrimp crackers.
“When someone from China or another country comes to America, they try to look for what they remember. What they’ve tasted before,” Linda Li, the market’s assistant general manager, said. “That’s why ‘hometown,’ it’s like letting them come over and find the memory and everything they’re missing.”
However, the true star of Hometown Supermarket is the seafood area, according to Li. The market offers a large variety of fish, from wild caught shark, to Yellow Croaker imported from China, to spot prawn. Conch, jellyfish, scallops, mussels and live blue crab can be found there, too. The market offers live tilapia, catfish, and carp year-round. For any order that requires it, the market will clean the fish.
The market has a dine-in option, as well. It’s home to a Chinese restaurant, Mr. Chen’s, that is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m to 9 p.m.
Hometown Supermarket
• Where: 808 Green Springs Highway, Suite 140
• Hours: Daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Facebook: HometownSupermarketBHM
EVENTS
Open house kicks off Christmas season with local charm, festive fun
By LOYD McINTOSH
Homewood’s 24th consecutive Holiday Open House is just around the bend and, with it, is the start of the Christmas season for many local businesses.
The annual event, sponsored by the Homewood Chamber of Commerce, allows retailers along 18th Street South to shine. Typically scheduled for the first Thursday in November, the open house brings visitors from all over the Birmingham area to experience the charm of downtown Homewood while supporting the vibrant business community, Homewood Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Shay Gartman said.
“This is the chamber’s way for us to kick off the holiday season,” Gartman said. “It funnels people to downtown Homewood so they shop small and shop local. And then it gives those stores an opportunity to really showcase their holiday merchandise, and then it just kind of gets people in the spirit of things.”
Scheduled for Nov. 7 from 5 to 8 p.m., visitors can expect an evening of food and drinks, a chance for kids to visit with Santa Claus, discounts at participating stores and a trolley running a continuous loop throughout the night.
Gartman said the night is the most successful and highly anticipated event on the Commerce’s calendar, so much so that she said there are discussions about holding a similar event in the Edgewood community on Nov. 15. Gartman said the success is owed to the uniqueness of downtown Homewood and the diversity of its business community.
“We have such a great location where you
can park and just walk down main street and see all the mom-and-pop stores that have been there for such a long time, like Shaia’s, which has been there for over a hundred years,” Gartman said.
“Homewood has such an eclectic collection of businesses where you really can find something for everyone,” she added. “I mean we’ve got a generator supercenter on 18th Street as well as boutiques and the delicious restaurants that are right there, so you can stop in and grab a bite and then continue shopping.”
Sherry Hartley, owner of Alabama Goods at 2933 18th St. S., said the Holiday Open
House is not only a highly anticipated event but an important one for her and her fellow small business owners.
“It’s the most wonderful night. People put it on their calendars,” Hartley said. “For us in particular, and I think probably the other businesses see it this way too, we see that as the official kick-off of the holiday season for our store. That evening is really big for us and then it just kind of goes up from there.”
Reba Myer, a long-time Homewood resident and a Realtor with LAH Sotheby’s International Realty, said the Holiday Open House is a significant part of Homewood’s unique
character and vibe. Additionally, Myer said she sees a downstream effect from the event when working with prospective home buyers.
“As a local Realtor, I’m thankful for this community and the support that the Chamber of Commerce gives to all of us to be able to come together, have fun and support one another,” Myer said. “It makes sense that people are drawn to such a lively community when choosing a place to settle.”
To learn more about the Homewood Chamber of Commerce Holiday Open House, visit homewoodchamber.org.
NEUROPATHY SEMINAR & FREE
Left: Charlie Thomas greets kids as Santa Claus during a previous Holiday Open House.
Above: Shoppers wander through At Home Furnishings during a past Holiday Open House. Photos courtesy of Homewood Chamber of Commerce.
EVENTS
Homewood events guide
Nov. 1-24: Birmingham Home and Garden Inspiration Home Tours. Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. 106 East Edgewood Drive. The Birmingham Home and Garden magazine has teamed up with Willow Homes and Architectural Cooperative to present a show-stopping Inspiration Home in Homewood. Tickets to tour the home are $10, and proceeds benefit Trinity's Outreach Hub. Purchase tickets at birminghamhomeandgarden.com/bhginspiration-homes.
Nov. 3: Red White and Blue 5K and Fun Run. 8-11 a.m. Lakeshore Trail, Track/Soccer Complex, Samford University. The Aerospace Booster Club will host a 5K and Family Fun Run for all ages in honor of U.S. military service members, veterans and their families. This also coincides with Samford Homecoming. All Samford alumni, current students and cadets and the public are welcome to participate. The cost is $25, which includes race registration, T-shirt and pre/post-race snacks. Contact Jordan Waterman at waterman.det012@gmail.com or -678-629-4901 with questions. Visit runsignup.com/Race/AL/Birmingham/RedWhite andBlue5KandFamilyFunRun to register.
Nov. 7: Homewood Holiday Open House. 5:30-8 p.m. Downtown Homewood. Join the Homewood Chamber and the businesses in downtown Homewood for the 26th Annual Holiday Open House. Enjoy complimentary food and beverage, a Christmas Shopping Village, Santa, a free trolley, shopping discounts and more at this festive holiday kick-off event. For more information, visit business.homewoodchamber.org/events/ details/2024-holiday-open-house-2223.
Nov. 11: Bluey Day Camp. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Homewood Theater, 1831 28th Ave. S. For ages 3 years to 2nd grade. Come join your favorite
cartoon puppy, Bluey, as you explore theater. The cost is $100 per child. Register at homewoodtheatre.coursestorm.com/course/bluey-day-camp.
Nov. 14-15: Date Night at Frothy Monkey. 5-9 p.m. Frothy Monkey, 930 Oxmoor Road. Enjoy a night out at Frothy Monkey with a chef-curated, three-course dinner series created for a date night. For $70, two guests can enjoy a meal with an appetizer, entree and dessert. Each dinner event has a unique menu and offers a wine bottle pairing for an additional $30. To see the full menu and make a reservation, visit frothymonkey.com/blog/date-night-november-2024.
Nov. 21-24: “The Light in the Piazza.” Thursday through Saturday, 7:30-8:30 p.m., and Sunday 2:30-3:20 p.m. Harrison Theatre, Samford University. This event is part of the Dr. Chandler and Jane Paris Smith Opera Series. Experience the orchestrally accompanied story that emphasizes first love and the desire to see and love the best in each other. Get tickets at etix.com/ticket/e/1046812/ light-in-the-piazza-birmingham-harrison-theatre.
Homewood Public Library
Nov. 17: Plant and Seed Swap. 3-5 p.m. Large Auditorium. All ages are welcome. Bring plants and seeds to swap. They must be brought the day of the event because the library cannot store them. Bring and take as many items as you choose. If you need help getting them from your car, there will be a cart available. Register online at homewoodpubliclibrary.org.
CHILDREN
Nov. 4: Homeschool Hour — S.T.E.A.M. Powered! 1:302:30 p.m. Round Auditorium. For grades K-5. Bring the kids to enjoy a lot of science, technology, engineering, art, math activities and experiments with The Science Lady. Register online at homewoodpubliclibrary.org/ events.
Nov. 7: S’mores Camp. 3:30-4:15 p.m. Library Parking Lot. For grades K-5. Come see how much fun camping can be, even when it’s just in your backyard. Snacks will be provided. Weather permitting.
Nov. 18: Homeschool Hour: Art Attack! 1:30-2:30 p.m. Round Auditorium. For grades K-5. Kids can learn about art concepts through books and hands-on activities. Register online at homewood publiclibrary.org.
Nov. 25: Creative Clubhouse. 4-5 p.m. Room 109. For grades 2-5. Come join others for a S.T.E.A.M./creative-based read-aloud, discussion and a craft based on the book. This month’s theme is “Architecture” and will focus on shapes and lines. Register online at homewoodpublic library.org.
TEENS
Nov. 8 and 22: Teen Art Boot Camp. 4-5 p.m. Room 109. For grades 4-12. Young artists are invited to join Kane Bourgeois for art classes. Learn some basic tips and tricks while having fun. All supplies are provided, but participants are welcome to bring sketchbooks, drawing supplies or a digital drawing interface. Register online at homewood publiclibrary.org.
Nov. 18: Making Paper. 4-6 p.m. Room 109. For grades 6-12. Teens can make handmade paper from recycled scratch paper and flowers. All supplies are provided. Register online at homewoodpublic library.org.
ADULTS
Thursdays: Foster Care Preparation Classes. 6-8:30 p.m. Room 102. Join other families who are interested in providing foster care as you learn how to prepare your home and family for the road ahead. These classes go toward the required 30 hours of preparation classes for applicants. For more information, visit homewoodpubliclibrary.org/events.
Nov. 14: Healthy Eating Made Easy. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Round Auditorium. This program will provide tips for beginners that can help you make healthier choices without feeling deprived or defeated. Come learn how to simplify the challenge of healthy eating and find recipes that suit your lifestyle. For more information, visit homewoodpubliclibrary.org/ events.
Nov. 21: Miniature Painting with September Reed. 6:308 p.m. Room 109. For adults ages 18 and up. September Reed shows you how easy it is to paint your own masterpiece on a mini-canvas and easel. The library will provide the supplies to paint your own masterpiece. Register online at homewoodpubliclibrary.org.
If you have news to share with the community about your brick-and-mortar business in Homewood, let us know! Share your business news with us at starnesmedia.com/business-happenings
Homewood Parks & Recreation Senior Center
Classes & Activities
Central Barre
Wednesday 5:15pm & Saturday 8:15am
Homewood Community Center
Central Barre is a small group fitness class incorporating barre, core, cardio, balance, strength training and stretch to give you a complete workout in 55 minutes. We use a variety of small equipment such as weights, resistance bands, balls and sliding discs to increase variety and provide real results. ellyngagnon@gmail.com
Dance Trance
Saturday 9:30am - 10:30am
Homewood Community Center
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
Fun For All Line Dancing
Homewood Community Center, Fitness Studio 2
Tuesday 2:30pm – 3:45pm
Beginner and Beyond Beginner line dance instruction encompassing a variety of music genres, e.g., pop, country and R&B. You will learn line dance terminology, line dance steps, and, of course, line dances to specific music. $5.00 per person per visit funforalllinedancing@gmail.com
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.northstarma.com. 205-966-4244 • info@northstarma.com
YoLimber
Friday: 8:00am - 9:00am - Basics Class Friday: 9:30am - 10:30am - Regular Class Vinyasa yoga classes in an energetic environment using upbeat music at Homewood Community Center. All levels welcome. Contact Marla: 205-223-8564 • mac@yolimber.com
Bench Aerobics Step & Line Dance
Monday: 5:00pm – 6:00pm (Step Aerobics) Tuesday: 4:15pm – 5:15pm (Step Aerobics) Thursday: 4:15pm – 5:15pm (Cardio Line Dance) Homewood Community Center Fitness Studio 2
Cost: Classes are FREE (with donations) For more information contact Rosa at 205-253-9344 or benchaerobics@bellsouth.net
Royce Head Personal Training
Affordable personal training available to members in the Fitness Center at the Homewood Community Center. Workouts are fast, fun, safe, and effective and each person is started with a program to fit their fitness level. Call Royce for more information: 205-945-1665
Fast Track Line Dance
Saturday 11:00am - 1:00pm
We learn the current and classic intermediate-advanced line dances. This class is not for beginners. Homewood Community Center, Fitness Studio 2
Jackie Tally jgtally@aol.com (or) Helen Woods aquafool@aol.com
FIT4MOM
FIT4MOM Birmingham provides fitness classes and a network of local moms to support every stage of motherhood. From pregnancy, through postpartum and beyond, we serve our community by offering our fitness and wellness programs to help keep moms strong in body, mind and spirit. View our website for Membership Plans, Passes and Schedule. https://birmingham.fit4mom.com/
Argentine Tango Lab
Sunday from 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Weekly tango laboratory / practice for milongueros seeking to improve their dancing skills and explore interconnection, movement and musicality. Fundamental tango skills expected. Milongueros with all levels of experience are welcome. Non-marking shoes with leather or suede soles required. Hosted by Chalo at the Homewood Community Center in Fitness Studio 1. $5 per class
Youth Athletics
Homewood Youth Basketball
Registration Dates: K & 1st Grades: November 5th – 29th
Go to www.homewoodparks.com for more information.
Homewood Youth Wrestling
Grades: Kindergarten – 6th Grade
Go to www.homewoodparks.com for more information.
Tai Chi Classes
All classes are suitable for anyone who is willing to take the time to learn these beautiful, liberating and empowering sets of movements (forms). For additional information about Tai Chi Classes, contact Galina at galinawaites@gmail.com
Tai Chi: Sun Style Tuesdays at 1:30pm
During Sun Style class participants will learn in more depth about Tai Chi history, principals and styles, practicing the 73 forms of Sun Style. QiGong warm up exercises and Tai Chi for Energy will be included in this class.
Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention Wednesdays at 1:30pm
This class is suitable for anyone, easy on the joints, helps to calm the mind, improves balance and coordination. The program of Tai Chi for Health Institute.
Tai Chi: Yang Style Thursdays at 1:30pm
Participants will learn in depth about Tai Chi history, principles and styles; practicing the most popular Yang Style (24 forms). QiGong warm up exercises and Tai Chi for Energy will be included in this class.
VETERANS: Discovering & Utilizing VA Benefits
Wednesday, November 6, 1-2 p.m.
Homewood Senior Center
Join us for a 45-minute informational discussion about VA benefits and how to obtain them. This interactive session will provide you with the resources to know if you or a loved one qualifies for these benefits!
Misc. Information
Homewood Christmas Parade
Tuesday, December 10
For more information on this event visit www.homewoodparks.com
Christmas Day Camp
Camp Dates: December 23; December 26 - 27; December 30 - 31 / January 2 - 3
Registration Begins: Wednesday, November 6th For registration packet and more information visit homewoodparks.com
SPORTS
Myers leading Patriots to another playoff appearance
By KYLE PARMLEY
Homewood High School will be making a 13th consecutive playoff appearance this fall.
That stretch encompasses all of head coach Ben Berguson’s tenure to this point, as he will lead the Patriots to the postseason for the 11th fall in a row.
Twice in that stretch, Homewood has made it to the third round of the playoffs. After one of those appearances in 2022, the Patriots lost a star quarterback in Woods Ray, along with many other veteran standouts.
The Patriots knew the start of the 2023 campaign would be full of growing pains, but they did not anticipate starting with three straight losses to open the season.
But new starting quarterback Will Myers and the Patriots stayed the course and continued to improve throughout the year. They followed that streak with five straight wins and kept the program’s playoff streak alive.
“We really didn’t have any experience last year at the start of the year, so it was tough those first few games,” Myers said in an appearance on the “Under the Lights” podcast presented by SYNLawn Alabama. “Winning five in a row like we did, that obviously built a lot of confidence for our whole team.”
The lead-up into the 2024 season had the opposite feeling for Homewood. Expectations were high. Many of the previous fall’s standouts were back and ready to be a force in Class 6A, Region 5. Myers said the team’s confidence is “through the roof.”
Experience, coaching and the players’ camaraderie are among the reasons Myers says that.
“They all make my job easy,” Myers said of his teammates. “We’re all friends off the field, too. You see us making plays and being happy
with each other, but that doesn’t stop off the field.”
Off the field, Myers has had some of the guys at his house for pizza and to watch the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football.” He’s a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, for what it’s worth.
Myers is the type of quarterback who can beat teams multiple ways. Against Mortimer Jordan, he threw for 340 yards and five touchdowns. But against Briarwood, he ran for 129 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
While his versatility is a threat, he has a running back in Evan Ausmer — who has had an electric season of his own — and an offensive line that protects him well.
“Some cases, you have teams where the quarterback has to do it all, he has to run and he has to throw,” Myers said. “For our team, I can not run a single time the whole game and we can win easily. I can hand it off to Evan, or I can throw it.”
Berguson said he loves the relationship
Homewood starting quarterback Will Myers (11) lobs the ball right down the center lane for a touchdown during a game between Homewood and Mortimer Jordan high schools on Sept. 6 at Mortimer Jordan’s Jimmie Trotter Stadium in Kimberly.
Nicholas.
Myers has with offensive coordinator Heath Brunner and first-year quarterback coach Larkin Williams, a former Patriots QB himself.
“I grew up watching him, I was a big fan,” Myers said of Williams, who started for Homewood from 2016 to 2018. “He’s a great dude, and he brings excitement to our team.”
The state playoffs begin Nov. 8 and continue each week until the Super 7 Championships Dec. 4-6. The Super 7 will be held in Birmingham at Protective Stadium this year.
Photo by James
Under the Lights
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ACCOLADES VARSITY SPORTS CALENDAR
Patriots on the scoreboard
By KYLE PARMLEY
► Homewood RB Evan Ausmer: Ran for 95 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Woodlawn on Sept. 13.
► QB/WR Kaleb Carson: Caught a touchdown and threw for another in a win over Jackson-Olin on Sept. 19. Carson also relieved an injured Will Myers in the second half of the Gardendale win on Oct. 4.
► QB Will Myers: Totaled four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) in a win over Jackson-Olin on Sept. 19.
► Defense: Pitched a shutout in a 52-0 win over Jackson-Olin on Sept. 19.
► WR Kylen Newell: Caught nine passes for 129 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Mountain Brook on Sept. 27.
► Kicker Whit Armistead: Kicked three field goals in the win over Gardendale on Oct. 4.
FOOTBALL
Nov. 1: vs. James Clemens. 7 p.m.
Nov. 8: Playoffs begin.
BASKETBALL
Nov. 7: Boys vs. Cornerstone. 6 p.m.
Nov. 11: Girls vs. Midfield. 6 p.m.
Nov. 12: vs. Ramsay. Girls at 5:30 p.m., boys at 7 p.m.
Nov. 14: Girls vs. Pinson Valley. 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 18: Girls vs. Helena. 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 19: vs. Chelsea. Girls at 5:30 p.m., boys at 7 p.m.
Nov. 21: vs. Briarwood. Girls at 5:30 p.m., boys at 7 p.m.
Nov. 23, 25-26: Boys at Jag Classic. Spain Park High School.
Nov. 25: Girls vs. Calera. 2:45 p.m.
Nov. 26-27: Girls at Hartselle Classic. Hartselle High School.
WRESTLING
Nov. 19: @ Oak Mountain. 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 21: Quad match. Shelby County High School. 5 p.m.
Nov. 23: Battle in the ‘Burg. Childersburg High School.
Nov. 27: Patrick Aaron Memorial Duals. Hewitt-Trussville High School.
Homewood running back Evan Ausmer (2) carries the ball during a game between Homewood and Gardendale on Oct. 4 at Waldrop Stadium in Homewood.
Photo by David Leong
COMMUNITY
When two become one
Edgewood Presbyterian and Second Presbyterian churches merge
By SARAH OWENS
Change can be hard, especially when it breaks from more than 100 years of tradition, but Edgewood Presbyterian Church and Second Presbyterian Church have embraced it head-on.
Originally established in 1882, Second Presbyterian, which is the oldest of the pioneer churches in Birmingham, closed its doors in 2023 after the congregation became too small to support building maintenance.
Realizing they needed to find a new home, Second Presbyterian reached out to Edgewood and proposed a plan to join forces. After spending the last year finalizing the details and working through the sale of Second Presbyterian’s building off Columbiana Road in Homewood, the two churches became one in a special service on Oct. 6.
“We're brethren and sisters,” said the Rev. Rachel Winter, pastor of Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian in Hoover, during her sermon at the service. “We're riff-raff brought together from north and south and east and west, but we're family who are called to stick together, because we're invited by God to this banquet feast that has been set for us, and we're stuck with each other now. And what a lovely, fun, incredible thing that is. What an incredible opportunity for this new congregation. What a celebration.”
Winter's father was the previous pastor of
Second Presbyterian for over 20 years.
After finalizing the merge with an official declaration by the Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley, an administrative district of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in central Alabama, the two congregations now reside in Edgewood’s building at 850 Oxmoor Road, which was established in 1912.
The Rev. Joe Genau, pastor of Edgewood Presbyterian for the last decade, remains in his role.
Edgewood Presbyterian is very vocal when it comes to LGBTQ+ acceptance, a factor that Genau says was important to clarify when determining whether Second Presbyterian’s congregation would fit with theirs. Thankfully, Genau said, their views on the topic align.
“It became very clear that we were aligned in
personality, in sort of ways we could bring new things to each other,” Genau said. “In the mission, around town and around the state that we support, we have a lot of overlap, and so the two congregations just found a home in each other.”
While the excitement of creating a new congregation is certainly present, Genau said the change hasn’t come without heartbreak.
Second Presbyterian had to handle the loss of their building and their name. The church was originally located at 3rd Avenue and 11th Street South in Birmingham, and it moved to at least two other locations in the city before relocating to Columbiana Road in 1993.
In choosing to close, they sold part of the land to a developer who will build a medical office building, and the church building itself was bought by Grace Fellowship Church, an
independent evangelical congregation that had been worshiping in the building in the afternoons for several years.
“They had to deal with so much grief,” Genau said. “They gave up their building. They're losing the name of their church to history. They had to move. You know, they've given up so much, and yet they've done it with such joy and dignity.”
Don Hagan, a member of Edgewood Presbyterian for over 30 years, is excited about the sense of joy this merger has brought.
“It's just wonderful to be with people that are joyous,” Hagan said. “There's not a lot of joy sometimes in the world right now, so it's good to be around people who are joyous.”
Left: The Rev. Joe Genau, pastor of Edgewood Presbyterian Church, tells children about the baptismal font brought from Second Presbyterian Church during the service officially joining the two churches on Oct. 6. Above: The Rev. Rachel Winter, pastor of Oakmont Chapel Presbyterian in Hoover, gives a sermon at the service. Below: Don Hagen hands out bulletins. Photos by Sarah Owens.
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The Homewood Chamber of Commerce invites you to celebrate
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7TH 9:00AM
Join us alongside Samford University for a very merry Breakfast with Santa! Enjoy a festive morning with breakfast, activities, and a complimentary photo with the jolly man himself.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10TH
Kick off the holiday season with Downtown Homewood's most anticipated shopping event! Visit with Santa as you explore the wonderful offerings from local businesses. Lighting of the Star & Christmas Parade
Celebrate the season as we light the Historic Homewood Star at the top of 18th Street. The lighting of the Christmas tree and parade will follow immediately after.
COMMUNITY
‘I survived the Lakeshore Owl’
Winged hat thief targets runners on Lakeshore Trail
By SAVANNAH SCHMIDT
Homewood runners and walkers
cherish the natural haven of Shades Valley Greenway, also known as the Lakeshore Trail. Yet, what happens when nature gets too close?
A barred owl swooped down on Haley Flanery and her friend Jason Smith while they were running the trail parallel to University Park Place on Sept. 10 at roughly 4:45 a.m. Its target? Jason’s hat.
“We ran back an hour later and found the hat on the ground,” Flanery said. “So when we went to go pick up the hat, that’s when I got attacked by the owl. It grabbed the back of my hair and I could feel its claws on my head.”
The pair posted on Facebook to see if anyone had encountered the hat thief. More than 20 people responded to the post offering similar past experiences. Since then, more people have reported attacks between 4:30 and 5:30 a.m.
Matt Grainger, perhaps one of the first victims of the feathered fiend about a year ago, connected with Flanery to share his story.
“I saw wings fly by my arm. I turned around, but the owl grabbed my head and took my hat,” Grainger recalled.
Unfortunately, the owl was not so courteous to Grainger as to return his hat. As a replacement, Smith’s friends gifted him a knitted owl toboggan.
To spread the word about the silent but speedy thief, Flanery hosted an Owl Attack Awareness Party in downtown Homewood, complete with cupcakes and temporary tattoos.
“Everyone that was attacked received a button that says, ‘I survived the Lakeshore Owl,’” Flanery said.
While the party brought many laughs, Flanery and Grainger understood the severity of the threat and gave advice for others on the trail.
“I would run up through where the track is on the main road and try to avoid the section of the trail during those times,” Flanery said.
On Sept. 26, runner Swede Umbach captured photos of the owl after being attacked twice at 5:30 a.m. in the same area. His photos helped wildlife experts identify it as a barred owl. Chris Sykes, the executive director at Alabama Wildlife Center, told The Homewood Star that he met with Homewood City Council who approved the installation of nesting boxes and signage to prevent further harm to runners.
“We forget that we share the planet, and it’s their home just as much as it is ours,” Sykes said. “There are lots [of things] that the city can do to help. Make Homewood more bird-friendly, encouraging them to go to different areas.”
Get To Know Your Neighbors
Alabama Wildlife Center Executive Director Chris Sykes offered some helpful owl facts:
► The barred owl, which is the species demonstrating this behavior, is one of the largest owl species that are native to Alabama.
► Barred owls are very territorial, and the only reason they would attack humans is to defend their nest or territory. The breeding season begins in late fall or early winter.
► Owls are apex predators that have very sharp talons. While the chances of an adult getting seriously injured are low, it’s much higher for people with autoimmune diseases or young children.
► A hat would be a great option to protect yourself (even if the owl takes it temporarily), but looking out for the birds can make a huge difference. They’re more likely to attack when a person’s back is turned, but less likely if they know they’re being observed.
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The owl of Lakeshore Trail sits on a branch after attacking runner Swede Umbach on Sept. 26 at around 5:30 a.m. Photo courtesy of Swede Umbach.
Matt Grainger, left, and Haley Flanery pose with their “owl squad” tshirts at the scene of the owl attacks on Lakeshore Trail on Oct. 1.
Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
Faces of Homewood
Jack Mitchell: drumming in a full rotation
By SAVANNAH SCHMIDT
Homewood senior Jack Mitchell’s world turned upside down when his band director, Chris Cooper, announced that he had purchased a gyroscope for the Patriots’ 2024 halftime shows.
A gyroscope is a contraption with two circular rings that allow a person — and, in this case, a drum set — anchored in the middle to spin 360 degrees.
“It’s gotta be me in there,” Mitchell said. Cooper said Mitchell was best suited for the role because “it’s all about personality, personality and personality.”
If you’ve seen Mitchell perform on a Friday night, personality sums it up. Despite being thrown upside down, left and right, his face lacks any fear or reservation, instead looking confident and excited.
“It’s all about hyping it up, delivering a great performance and being a part of the Homewood band,” Mitchell said. That’s why he always ends his performance with both hands high in the air, giving the “rock on” symbol.
A video of Mitchell’s performance appeared on TikTok in early September and garnered millions of views.
Even with his newfound fame, Mitchell remains humble and remembers that each performance is “about showing that you love it.”
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Above and below: Patriots drummer Jack Mitchell spins around in his gyroscope, a 360-degree rotating capsule, while playing the drums during a halftime show.
Scan the QR code to watch Jack Mitchell in action.
Drum sensation Jack Mitchell raises his hands in a “rock on” sign while playing the drums in the Woodlawn vs Homewood homecoming game at Waldrop Stadium on Sept. 13.
Life in Homewood
BACK WHEN GET TO KNOW
By STAFF
Grant Klein is a company officer at the Homewood Fire Department’s Station No. 2 on Engine Two.
Q: Tell us about your role with the fire department.
A: I've been here for four years in this position, and we cover the Edgewood community and most of the middle section of Homewood and the I-65 corridor through Green Springs, Lakeshore and Valley Avenue.
Q: How long have you been a firefighter?
A: I have been a firefighter for 16 years and worked for the city of Homewood since 2008.
Q: What made you want to be a firefighter?
A: I'm a second-generation firefighter. My father retired from Pelham Fire Department and spent 34 years working there, and I got to see, growing up, how much he enjoyed his job and how much he loved it.
Q: What is your favorite part of the job?
A: Getting to come in daily and train on different aspects or disciplines within the job. Obviously, we're into fire suppression, but we also run EMS calls, technical rescues.
Q: Tell us something people might be surprised to learn about you.
A: I love Christmas movies and the holidays. I lost my mother right before I got hired here, and now that I'm a parent, I love watching Christmas movies and the holidays with my children. It reminds me of my mom and takes me back, and it's just something that we do as a family. And, I've seen "Christmas Vacation" enough that I can almost quote the movie from beginning to end.
Retired Library Director Deborah Fout recalls memories with the Homewood Public Library
By SARAH OWENS
Deborah Fout grew up in Homewood in the 1950s. As a child, she used the library, then at its second home, on the corner of Roxbury Road and Oxmoor Road.
“I have many memories of walking to the library, checking out as many books as I could and walking home with them,” Fout said. “In 1985, I was a single mother and took a part-time job at the library on the weekends to supplement my salary as a bank teller. After several months of working every weekend, I felt very fortunate to land a full-time job at one of my favorite places.”
Fout left her job at the bank to begin a journey at the Homewood Public Library that would last 37 years. She started as a clerk and retired as the library director in 2022.
“In 1985, the Homewood Public Library was a much different library than it is today. The building was small, with only 27 parking places for staff and patrons,” Fout said. "We only had 10 staff members, and if you worked the late shift or left during your shift, you would have to park on the street when you returned.”
She watched the library transform over the years, relocating to a new building and utilizing new technology as it adapted from a card catalog system and by-hand checkouts into the modern, award-winning library of today.
“The Homewood Library has a bright new director at the helm,” Fout said. “Judith Wright will lead the library to great things in the future. I am very excited to see how the Homewood Public Library will evolve as it continues to meet the needs of the citizens of Homewood.”
Grant Klein, right, poses with his family. Photo courtesy of Grant Klein.
Deborah Fout holds a reproduction of the cover of the Homewood Public Library’s first “Member Brochure” from March 24, 1941. Photo courtesy of Homewood Public Library.
On the Mainstage
Homewood High Drum Major Becca Pearson
By STAFF
Q: How long have you been involved with band?
A: I’ve been in band since the sixth grade, playing the clarinet. And I’m starting my sixth year in band as the drum major.
Q: Why did you want to be a drum major?
A: I decided that I wanted to try out to be a drum major because, my freshman year, my sister was a drum major and I got to watch her grow as a person and as a leader in that role, and she inspired me to want to be just like her.
Q: What’s your favorite part of being in band?
A: My favorite parts about being in band are the number of opportunities we get from being in the band. We went to Ireland this past year, and that’s an opportunity that I’m so grateful for. And we also have a great sense of community and I’ve made some of my best friends in band, and I’m so grateful for that.
Q: What are you excited for this year?
A: I’m very excited for our halftime show this year. It is a Spanish theme and I get chills every time I hear it, and it is one of my favorite things.
SPOTLIGHT
By STAFF
Kyle Bass is the executive director of Homewood Theatre.
Q: Tell us about your theater and its importance to the community.
A: We were founded in 2016, and we feel like we’ve become a very important part of Homewood. We’re a community theater and we try to do community events. … So, we feel like we add to the quality of life that’s a special thing here in Homewood.
Q: What productions will the theater be putting on this season?
A: At Christmas time, we’re gonna do a Truman Capote show. … Then in the spring, we come back with a “dearly beloved,” a show about getting married. Then one about “dearly departed,” something about a funeral, and end the season with a fun show about neighbors called “Native Gardens.”
Q: What does it take to make a production stage-ready?
A: You gotta have good actors on stage, you gotta have good behind-the-scenes people backstage and you gotta have a good audience out in the seats.
Q: What is something you’re excited for the theater to share with the community this season?
Q: How can the community get involved?
A: We’re always looking for new folks to get involved with Homewood Theatre. The best way to find out about stuff is to go to homewoodtheatre.com.
A: We’re doing a staged version of the Truman Capote short story “A Christmas Memory.” It’s not even out where you can get rights to it anymore. We had to contact the Truman Capote Literary Trust, tell them what we wanted to do and they agreed to let us do it.
Becca Pearson is a junior drum major at Homewood High School.
Becca Pearson is following in her sister’s footsteps as a drum major for Homewood High School. Photo courtesy of Becca Pearson
Kyle Bass, the executive director at Homewood Theatre, is particularly excited for the upcoming season’s Christmas show. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
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“It’s not something I ever envisioned that I would ever be doing,” he said, “but at the same time, I am excited about it in the sense that it’s another opportunity to try to advance Homewood forward, make Homewood the best place that it can be for its residents and its businesses and the community.”
Coming off of a historic vote to alter the city’s form of government, Wyatt will lead Homewood through significant change as he finishes out the term in 2025.
Citizens voted to pass the city manager referendum on Sept. 24, with 1,787 voting yes and 1,565 voting no, so the city will transition to a city manager/council form of government on Nov. 3, 2025.
Now, the council is looking to hire an interim city manager to help prepare the city for a smooth transition and to prevent Homewood from having a months-long void in the position as the next council and mayor work to hire the long-term city manager after they take office next year.
“I don’t want to speak for all of us but I think experience as a city or county manager is important -- someone who’s done that job and knows how to do it,” Wyatt said. “They can help us set up the city in the way it needs to be set up and function with that position. [We need] someone that can help us evaluate how to get a permanent person for that position and someone that has the training and qualifications in place so the city can benefit from that.”
While these changes may seem daunting, Wyatt has been involved in Homewood’s city government since July 2015, when he was selected to fill Heather Reid’s City Council seat representing Ward 4. He was elected for the seat again in 2016 before going on to run for council president in 2020. His time on the council, serving as president, president pro tempore and liaison to the library, Chamber of Commerce and Samford University, helped prepare him for the role.
Working as an attorney for the past two decades has also proved useful, but it’s the spirit of his council colleagues over the years that Wyatt said has been the most helpful.
“Everyone looks at everything through the prism of, ‘What do I think is best for Homewood?,’” Wyatt said of his fellow council members. “I have never served with anyone that I think is doing anything for the wrong reasons, or doing anything for personal reasons or anything else. Everyone that I have served with does what they think is best for Homewood, and what they think is best for Homewood may be different than what I think is best for Homewood, and that’s OK, but they’re doing it for that reason, and that is a testament to our city.”
Wyatt says working with such colleagues,
citizens, businesses and the school board is the most rewarding thing about serving.
As for his motivation in getting involved in the city government, Wyatt and his family have been residents of Homewood since 2001. His love for the community and its people is what he said drove him to seek out the opportunity.
“Homewood had to that point — and has since — been very good to our family. We have loved living here. We’ve lived in the same house for the entire time,” Wyatt said. “We came back here and chose Homewood because we felt like Homewood was a unique place, between the community feel, between the schools, the diversity, we felt like Homewood offered something that other cities really couldn’t.”
Wyatt is a native of Mountain Brook, but he spent stints in Mobile, Tuscaloosa and Montgomery before returning to the Birmingham area. He received his bachelor’s degree from Spring Hill College and a juris doctorate degree from the University of Alabama School of Law.
Moving forward, Wyatt is hoping to lay the groundwork for a more efficient city government in the year he will serve as mayor, especially since he predicts a lot of turnover in the 2025 elections.
“There’s not a whole lot of time left in terms of, it takes a long time to get projects done and things of that sort,” he said. “But I think there’s enough time left for us to get the projects done that we need to get done, and to be somewhat of a place setter for the next council and mayor, whatever that looks like, and get the city to a place where everything’s where it should be to hand it off to the next group that comes in and try to make that transition as easy for them as possible.”
In the past year, the city has retired several department heads and had to fill those roles for city clerk, IT director and fleet management. They also hired former Birmingham finance director, Lester Smith, on Oct. 1 to take over as Homewood’s finance director after Robert Burgett retired and plead guilty to three counts of wire fraud on Oct. 23 after stealing nearly $950,000 from the city.
Wyatt said he hopes filling the role sets the tone for getting the city’s 12 departments in order and operating under a cohesive system.
After the year is up, Wyatt does not plan to run for reelection as mayor or council president, instead retiring from public office.
“I am retiring at the end of this term, which was always my plan, and I think I’m very proud of the work that we have done,” he said. “I will very proudly, and at the same time happily, hand it over to someone else next time. I think it’s time for someone else to start to do the two jobs that I’ve been doing, and I look forward to them doing that. But it’s something that has been immensely rewarding, and I look forward to doing it for one more year.”
Alex Wyatt, who was council president until temporarily filling the role of mayor following Patrick McClusky’s retirement, looks to make city operations more efficient during his time in office. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
Deanne L. Vail, DMD
Julie L. Webb, DMD
Nobody was injured, but the cafeteria and 10 classrooms were destroyed. Another two rooms were heavily damaged, and the entire building sustained smoke and water damage.
Seale said it’s been difficult to piece together the school’s history without those documents, but they’re doing their best to collect everything they can for the celebration as the school plans to have a historical slideshow playing in the gym during the event. They will also have an artifact museum in the library, featuring mementos from the school’s past.
From what they know so far, Edgewood used to house students from first grade to seventh or eighth, and kindergarten wasn’t offered until 1934, but Seale said kindergarten classes came and went until they became permanently sometime in the ’70s or ’80s. The school hired its first African-American teacher in 1968 and desegregated in 1969.
Grades six and up left the school in 1972, when Homewood High School opened.
Edgewood currently has 50 classrooms, a result of multiple additions to the building over the years. Seale remembers the most recent edition taking place in 2020 or 2021, while her daughter, Anderson, was a student there. Anderson is currently in fifth grade at Edgewood.
Andrea Krueger, a kindergarten teacher at Edgewood for the past 37 years, said the growth is the biggest change in the school.
“The amount of students and teachers has nearly doubled,” Krueger said. “When I started teaching at Edgewood in 1987, we had around 550 students. We now have over 900 students.”
Edgewood is home to 926 students from kindergarten to fifth grade. Along with the growth, Krueger said the academic process has also changed over the years.
“When I first started teaching at Edgewood, kindergarten focused on social and emotional growth, along with foundational literacy and math skills through play,” she said. “Today, there’s a greater emphasis on academic rigor in
reading and math. This shift offers an exciting opportunity to enhance our students’ learning experiences while still fostering their social and emotional development.”
Seale says programs like their My Pals Day, which all Homewood elementary schools participate in, foster development. My Pals Day allows students to invite friends, family and neighbors to visit them and their classroom for the day. This year’s My Pals Day was Oct. 25.
Edgewood’s House System is also a unique aspect of their school. The system is modeled after the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, and it allows students and teachers to form closer relationships across classrooms and grade levels. There are 10 houses, each named using a different world language and corresponding to outstanding characteristics. The houses embody diligence, perseverance, courage, kindness, confidence, wisdom, gratitude, respect, happiness
and compassion.
When students and faculty join Edgewood, they have a special celebration where new house members are welcomed by current house members. They host monthly events where students and staff dress in their house color and participate in special activities that focus on team building and service. Students are also recognized for implementing house traits in their daily actions and can earn house points by doing so.
Krueger loves how these aspects of Edgewood allow teachers to be connected to students and their families.
“My favorite thing about Edgewood is how involved we are with the families in our community,” she said. “I love attending my student’s sporting events, recitals, Edgewood events and seeing them around Homewood. My students also know that once they are a ‘Krueger Kid’ they will always be a ‘Krueger Kid,’ and I have
attended many weddings and baby showers of my former students.”
She also notes that with many people who grew up in Edgewood making the conscious effort to return to the neighborhood to raise their own families, there is a tremendous sense of school pride.
“The building may look a little different, but all the wonderful things that make Edgewood special remain the same,” Krueger said. “Edgewood is a wonderful place to live, learn, teach and grow.”
The centennial celebration will take place at Edgewood on Nov. 17 from 2-4 p.m. Along with the slideshow and museum, there will be a historical marker and ribbon-cutting ceremony, a time capsule on display, a birthday song celebration with refreshments, a group photo and an opportunity to snag commemorative Edgewood gear.
Former Edgewood custodian/ maintenance worker Monroe Shack with kids who donated to get him a scooter in the early 1950s.
Left: Edgewood’s 1947 fourth grade class. Right: Mrs. Shackelford’s third grade class in 1979. Photos courtesy of Homewood City Schools.
