The Homewood Star Volume 5 | Issue 10 | January 2016
neighborly news & entertainment for Homewood
YEAR IN PREVIEW
2016 : WHAT’S TO COME
ELECTION YEAR ROLLS AROUND A17
LAKESHORE WORK A16
AND MORE: Bike-share program ...... A14 Park parking lot................ A15 18th Street project ..........A16
From politics to parks, new construction and revamped roadways, here are eight things to keep an eye on this year around Homewood. See page A14
Playground overhaul ..... A17 Sidewalk extension .........A18 Oxmoor construction ....A18
Homewood’s own homebrew Red Hills Brewing Company readies for rollout
By ERICA TECHO
home safely at the end of the night. As equipment rolls in, Joe “That’s our biggest focus on Red Hills Brewing Company Pilleteri is waiting on one all the beers that we’re doing thing to open Red Hills Brewas our year-round beers, is WHERE: 2821 Central Ave. ing Company — the brewery’s that you’re able to sit down ON THE WEB: redhillsbrewing.net and alcohol license. and have a session with your facebook.com/redhillsbrewing Once he has that in hand, friends for a few hours, drinkPilleteri and master brewer ing more than two beers and Eric Baumann can put their being OK,” Baumann said. equipment to use. For now, they have started brewing While high-gravity — or high alcohol — beers are popsmall-scale test batches of what they may one day serve ular, Baumann said, some of the “shiny newness” of those at Red Hills. Their main goal is to provide a place where people can drink and enjoy themselves, but still drive See RED HILLS | page A19
INSIDE INSIDE
Sponsors .................... A4 City .............................. A6
Equipment was moved into Red Hills Brewing Company in mid-November. To start brewing, owner Joe Pilleteri has to wait for his federal alcohol license. Photo by Erica Techo.
Business. .................... A8 Community .................B4
School House .............B8 Sports ....................... B10
Opinion ........................B11 Calendar .................... B14
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Back to Life
Funds for Future
Local artist spends nearly 100 hours restoring beloved mural on Nabeel’s Cafe building along Oxmoor Road.
Seeing gap in funding, resident, business donate thousands to Homewood High School’s Enrichment Fund.
See page B1
See page B8
A2 • January 2016
The Homewood Star
TheHomewoodStar.com
January 2016 • A3
10 OPTIONS IN JANUARY TUESDAY, JANUARY 5TH THURSDAY, JANUARY 7TH SATURDAY, JANUARY 9TH TUESDAY, JANUARY 12TH THURSDAY, JANUARY 14TH
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19TH THURSDAY, JANUARY 21ST SATURDAY, JANUARY 23RD TUESDAY, JANUARY 26TH THURSDAY, JANUARY 28TH
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The Homewood Star
A4 • January 2016
About Us Editor’s Note
By Sydney Cromwell
Homewood has a big year ahead of it. I closed out 2015 by writing a preview of what we’ll see in 2016, which includes progress on a number of projects from sidewalks and roadwork to elections and new development. Red Hills Brewery is on its way, as is a new building for Creative Montessori School, and Homewood will celebrate its 90th birthday. It’s hard to look 12 months in advance because there’s undoubtedly so much that I don’t know yet. There will be projects that happen that we haven’t even thought of now, and others that will change in ways we couldn’t expect. However, I hope this January edition gives you a framework of what to expect in your city this year.
If you’re looking to make some changes on a personal level in 2016, I hope this issue can also be a guide. Visit our local fitness facilities to get in shape, experience the slimy feeling of a salamander on your hand at the Salamander Festival and see some beautiful artwork at the Joy Gallery. Find a way to fully take in the experiences of Homewood this year. May your memories of 2015 be sweet, and your plans for 2016 be bold.
Please Support Our Community Partners Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (B5) Alabama Power (B16) Alys Stephens Center, Art Play (B2) Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center (B15) ARC Realty (A5)
BEHIND THE LENS By Frank Couch
Arts, Too (A12) Batts’ Chimney Services (A14) Bedzzz Express (A20) Birmingham Tennis Academy (B12) Black Pearl (A6) California Closets (A13) Children’s of Alabama (A6) Dawson Music Academy (B4) Dish’n It Out (A19) ERA King Real Estate Homewood (A12) EW Fit (A8) Harris Doyle Homes (A1) Homewood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry (A17) Homewood Parks and Rec (B7) Hutchinson Automotive (A19) Impact Family Counseling (A9) IronTrust Insurance (B13)
Macro photography sounds easy enough, right? The term refers to making a close-up photograph resulting in an image that depicts the subject larger than life. Digital cameras often have a macro setting, giving the least experienced photographer a shot at making an interesting picture. Whether you use a DSLR or compact camera, good lighting and a narrow depth of field will be our best friend when shooting macro.
To make a really captivating image, you have to slow down and closely examine what you are going to photograph. Be ready to discover some of the intricate details not so easily seen at fi st glance or from a distance. For this month’s Behind the Lens I decided to look at signs and markers in the cities we cover. Many are carved into stone or made of metal and rest at landmarks we often drive by in our daily commute.
This coming year I hope we all make the time to stop and closely examine some of the great places we have in our backyard. Much like macro photography, you might just be surprised at what you can see when you take a closer look. A marker for Homewood Central Park in Homewood, Alabama. Camera Data: NIKON D810, Lens (mm): 60, ISO: 400, Aperture: f4.
Community Reporters: Staff Writer: Sports Reporter: Associate Editor: Copy Editor:
Dan Starnes Sydney Cromwell Kristin Williams Cherie Olivier Cameron Tipton Emily VanderMey Ana Good Erica Techo Jon Anderson Emily Featherston Kyle Parmley Lucy Ridolphi Louisa Jeffries
Contributing Writers: Kari Kampakis Rick Watson Leah Ingram Eagle Marienne Thomas Ogle Steve Irvine Rachel Burchfiel Chris Megginson Jesse Chambers Grace Thornton Contributing Photographer: Frank Couch Intern: Sam Chandler
Advertising Manager: Matthew Allen Sales and Distribution: Warren Caldwell Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes
Brittany Joffrion Rhonda Smith James Plunkett
For advertising contact: dan@starnespublishing.com Contact Information: Homewood Star PO Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@thehomewoodstar. com
JJ Eyes (B9) Joe Falconer (A2) Johnny Montgomery Realtor (B3) Kasey Davis Dentistry (B1) Korduroy Krocodile (B2) LIST Birmingham (A10, A11) Mary House Kessler, Ph.D (B2)
The Homewood Star Publisher: Managing Editor: Design Editor: Video Editor Page Designers:
Issis & Sons (A18)
Please submit all articles, information and photos to: sydney@ starnespublishing.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253
Published by: 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.
Moran’s Rocky Ridge Hardware (A3) OB/GYN Associates of Alabama (A8) Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics (B13) Planet Fitness (A5) PlumCore (A14) RealtySouth Marketing (A15) Red Pearl Restaurant (B14) Resolute Running Training Center (A13) Salem’s Diner (B12) Shiki Thia and Sushi (B5) State Ballet Theatre of Russia (A16) The Maids (B3) The Whole Dog Market (B12) Tom Williams BMW (B11) Vitalogy Wellness Center (A3, B8) Water Drainage Solutions (A9) Willow Homes (A7) Wolf Camera (B14) YMCA of Greater Birmingham (B10)
TheHomewoodStar.com
January 2016 • A5
A6 • January 2016
The Homewood Star
City Mayor’s Minute By Scott McBrayer Dear friends and neighbors: It’s so hard to believe another year has come and gone, but it has. Happy New Year! We have many exciting opportunities coming for this year, and I will look forward to sharing them with you as those opportunities come closer. This past year has been incredibly successful for the city of Homewood, and I want to thank my City Council that has always supported me and that has been able to share the same vision for Homewood that I have. I’m so fortunate to have a group of neighbors working together, not caring about titles, to achieve some really good results for Homewood. We have been able to continue to attract good businesses, and our housing market remains very strong. I’m so thankful the council tries really hard to make decisions based on what is best for our neighborhoods and our city. That is not an easy thing to do week-in and week-out, but it stands firm with me protecting and enhancing all of our neighborhoods. Please take a moment when you see one of them to thank them. Serving District 1 is Michael Hallman and Britt Thames; District 2 is Fred Hawkins and Vance Moody; District 3 is Patrick McClusky and Walter Jones; District 4 is Barry Smith and Alex Wyatt; District 5 is Rich Laws and Peter Wright; and serving as Council President is Bruce Limbaugh. I would also like to thank all those who have volunteered to serve this past year on various committees and boards such as the Planning Commission, the Park Board, the Library Board, the Cable Commission, Industrial Development
Board, Downtown Redevelopment Authority, School Board and many others. As you can see, it takes all of us working together to achieve the things needed to move our city forward. I get a lot of credit being the mayor, but I want you to know I have a tremendous amount of help, and they deserve much of the credit, as well. Homewood has been a gathering place that attracts such nice neighbors and businesses. Looking out for one another and helping those in need seem to be a norm instead of the exception. We are so fortunate to live in a place where so many believe in being charitable. You won’t always read about it in the paper or see it on television, but I hear of so many of our businesses donating and helping others whenever it’s needed. I truly believe it is one of the reasons we continue to be blessed in Homewood. Giving really is better than receiving, and what wonderful role models we have in our city. I also know of residents who would never allow credit be given to them, but always bless others by their generosity. The Bible says, “A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance and a cheerful heart has a continual feast.” Thanks to all who live this each day, and by doing so, make Homewood a special place in which to be. Let’s go have a great 2016! With kindest regards I remain, Sincerely,
MAYFAIR MEDICAL GROUP welcomes
Dr. Kris t in Mizerany
NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
newborn-18 years
3401 Independence Drive Homewood, AL 35209
205.870.1273
Ward 2 Rep. Britt Thames speaks to TV news outlets after a vote to allow ride-sharing companies in the city. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Uber, ride-sharing companies permitted in Homewood By SYDNEY CROMWELL The city council voted unanimously at its Dec. 7 meeting to approve a new ordinance allowing transportation network companies (TNCs), such as Uber and Lyft, to operate within city limits. The agenda item was proposed by Ward 1 Representative Britt Thames and was originally scheduled to be sent to the planning and development committee for consideration, but the council chose to vote that night instead. “It just felt like Birmingham was getting close [to allowing TNCs] and I wanted us to be ready,” Thames said after the meeting. The Birmingham City Council approved a similar transportation ordinance Dec. 8. According to the new city ordinance, ride-sharing companies must pay a $500 flat fee per year to operate in city limits. Additionally, drivers must carry proof of insurance including at least $1 million in liability insurance, and must not have had a DUI in the past seven years or another moving vehicle violation in the past three years. Drivers must submit to a multijurisdictional criminal and sexual offense background search before
operating in Homewood. “It’s a great system,” Ward 3 Representative Walter Jones said, adding that approving TNCs will improve quality of life in Homewood. Thames and Mayor Scott McBrayer noted the potential positive impact on businesses and professional events in the city. With parking limited in retail areas, Thames said shoppers using Uber or a similar company could free up a few spaces every day. The new ordinance takes effect immediately, though Thames noted that TNCs likely will not be drawn to the area unless Birmingham approves its own ordinance. Other council business included: ► Approved a new ordinance requiring tobacco and e-cigarette shops to comply with the same location restrictions as liquor and package stores, restricting them from opening near schools and churches. ► Approved a retail beer and table wine license for Your Pie, which opened in SoHo on Dec. 18. ► Approved four school zone signs along Montessori Way, limiting traffic speeds to 20 mph during morning and afternoon pickup and dropoff times at Creative Montessori School.
TheHomewoodStar.com
January 2016 • A7
Director of the Jefferson County Department of Environmental Services David Denard speaks about the department’s efforts to identify the odor problem. Photo by Emily Featherston.
Citizens concerned about odor problem By EMILY FEATHERSTON The Homewood City Council special issues committee heard from several members of the community at their Monday, Nov. 30, meeting. The citizens were concerned about a strong odor problem they claim is coming from the Barber’s and Mayfield plants. “It is a pretty potent odor,” Ward 2 Rep. Fred Hawkins said as he brought the issue before the committee. Hawkins invited those present to share their concerns about the smell, which was said to have begun six to eight weeks ago. David Denard, the director of Jefferson County Department of Environmental Services, said the department has done testing and washing to try to identify if the odor is coming from the sewer system and identify any problems. Denard said that while at this time there is no
Other committee business included: Special Issues: • The committee approved a request for consideration of a 4,000-squarefoot tent for a special event at Trinity United Methodist Church. • The committee carried over a request for consideration of the resolution to amend the number of members of the Homewood Redevelopment Authority board of directors. Public Safety: • After brief discussion, the request to consider patching services from PRI Systems was dropped, as the committee expects the consideration to come before the finan e committee. • The committee approved a request to consider school zone signage for streets near the Creative Montessori School. • The committee voted to recommend amending the current liquor store ordinance requiring businesses be a certain distance from schools and churches to include vaping and tobacco shops, as defined y the new smoking ordinance. • A request to consider addressing the growing coyote problem within Homewood city limits was carried over. • After signifi ant discussion and community feedback, a request for
indication of a structural problem, the county will be doing smoke tests to look for any leaks. Representatives from Barber’s and Mayfield were present at the meeting, but said that because of the short notice they were given about attending, they could not comment specifically or answer any questions. Doug Hampton, who is the environmental health and safety manager for the plants, said that the group would like to see data that indicates they are not within regulation, but is more than willing to work with Jefferson County and the city of Homewood to address the problem. “We want to be good corporate neighbors,” Hampton said. The committee voted to carry over the consideration until their next meeting in order for research into the problem to continue and to allow Barber’s and Mayfield to bring comment as well.
consideration of traffic i sues at the intersection of West Oxmoor Road and Huntington Parc was carried over. Mayor Scott McBrayer said he would contact various representatives of the multiple jurisdictions along the road to discuss a traffic tudy and potential solutions. Finance: • The committee voted to table a request for consideration of the Alabama Power Economic Development presentation. • Bids for new landfill ervices will open Monday, Dec. 7, at 5:30 p.m. • The request for consideration of directional signage in downtown Homewood was carried over without objection. • The committee voted to send out bids for further public improvements along Columbiana Road. • The committee voted to approve consideration of budget amendments to the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 resulting from contract closing costs and other line items. • The committee voted to approve a request for consideration of releasing lot Nos. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 along Block No. 3 in Edgewood. • The committee voted to recommend approving the private improvement of an alley at 414 Cliff Place, subject to the individual submitting and following city regulations.
The Homewood Star
A8 • January 2016 1 18 Street S.
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TheHomewoodStar.com
Now Open McGlinchey Stafford, a national law firm specializing in a wide array of legal services, has opened its first Alabama office at 2100 Southbridge Parkway, Suite 650. 725-6400, mcglinchey.com
1
ISHI?, a women’s clothing boutique, is now open at 1736 Reese St. This is the second location for the popular shop, following their original location on U.S. 30A in South Walton County, Florida. 739-2373, ishishopping.com
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The Black Pearl Asian Cuisine is now open at 180 State Farm Parkway. They are open daily for lunch and dinner. 637-3630
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The Dress Shop on Linden is now open at 2833 Linden Ave. The store carries a variety of dresses and accessories for women. 739-2152
4
New Ownership Dent, Baker & Company, LLP, an accounting firm at 2204 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 300, has merged with Moses Phillips Young Brannon & Henninger, LLP, an accounting firm on Grandview Parkway off U.S. 280. The new company, named Dent Moses, LLP, will have offices at the Lakeshore location. 871-1880, dentbaker.com
5
January 2016 • A9
News and Accomplishments Vitalogy Wellness, located at 2704 20th St. S., has new Saturday business hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 413-8599, vitalogywellness.com
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Hirings and Promotions Still Serving Veterans, a nonprofit helping veterans with employment as well as benefits and services, has hired Lt. Col. (Ret.) Al Wood, U.S. Army, as regional director to lead its Central Alabama/Birmingham office located at 135 Gemini Circle, Suite 204. In this role Wood will utilize his years of leadership and program management experience to lead a talented team to assist veterans who have honorably served their country or are doing so as a member of the Guard or Reserve in preparing for the challenges of looking for work in a competitive job market. 670-1955, stillservingveterans.org
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“When it rains, we drain!”
Anniversaries Christopher Architecture & Interiors, 3040 Independence Drive, is celebrating its 11th anniversary this month. 413-8531, christopherai.com
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Dreamcakes, 960 Oxmoor Road, is celebrating its seventh anniversary this
month. 871-9377, dreamcakes-bakery.com
244-1114 Heavy Runoff ? Standing Water ? Erosion Problems? Storm Drainage Clogged ? WaterDrainageSolutions.com
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The Homewood Star
A10 • January 2016
Chamber
Village Bridal offers unique gowns
Students unveil the total raised in CMS’s capital campaign. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Bentley shares vision for growth
“
January 2016 • A11
By ERICA TECHO
Governor says education, infrastructure key factors to improving Alabama businesses By ERICA TECHO Gov. Robert Bentley hopes to earn a salary before he leaves office. When Bentley took office in 2011, he said he would not take a salary until the then 9.3 percent unemployment rate was brought down to 5.4 percent. “To date, Gov. Bentley has never accepted a salary — he is our free governor,” said Rep. David Faulkner, who introduced Bentley at Wednesday’s Homewood Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Bentley said he believes they will reach their goal of 5.4 percent unemployment, which is considered full employment, by the end of his current term. “We want everyone who wants a job in Alabama to be able to get a job,” Bentley said. “That’s full employment.” During the chamber’s December luncheon at The Club, Bentley explained the steps he has taken as governor as well as his future plans to encourage business growth in the state. Building up business in Alabama, Bentley said, takes recruiting new businesses, retaining companies in the state and feats of innovation and entrepreneurship. He said an important first step is education, and that needs to start at an early level. “Education of the people of this state is extremely important,” Bentley said. “Now that’s a long-term process. It’s not something you do overnight, but you have to start with a strong foundation.” That foundation is why he has supported a pre-kindergarten program throughout the state,
When we’re finished, the roads and bridges in this state will be in much better condition than they were when we took office.
Creative Montessori surpasses fundraising goal for new preschool building
”
GOV. ROBERT BENTLEY
Gov. Robert Bentley spoke at the Homewood Chamber of Commerce’s December luncheon. Photo by Erica Techo.
he said. One audience member asked if he would consider making the now-optional pre-K mandatory to ensure more children receive a solid foundation. Bentley responded by saying people are not typically open to things being mandatory. “In Alabama people don’t like mandatory things, so sometimes you have to think about how you can get things done and do them in a politically acceptable way,” Bentley said. He added that while sometimes the option means those that need the educational foundation are not sent to pre-K, he believes most children will be enrolled.
Education also extends to workforce preparation, Bentley said, and he hopes to build a workforce that can take on the jobs that are available. Through a workforce task force, Bentley said the goal is to combine business and industry with education. “Educators wants to educate, but they have to know how to educate,” Bentley said. “They have to know what’s needed.” Another factor in business growth is infrastructure, Bentley said. At this time, there are 1,122 infrastructure projects going on in the state.
By SYDNEY CROMWELL
“When we’re finished, the roads and bridges in this state will be in much better condition than they were when we took office,” Bentley said. The state, however, is reaching a point where there is concern about future infrastructure development, Bentley said. That concern is one reason he supports a gasoline tax to help fund development. “I think most of the people of Alabama really want that,” Bentley said. “They want a good infrastructure in the state.” Bentley also took questions from the audience, where he addressed the possibility of taxing items purchased online as well as state security. Bentley, who was the first governor to say he would stop refugees from entering his state, said he still stands by that comment. He said taking in refugees was not worth the risk of a potential terror attack. “We’re going to be as safe as we possibly can in the state of Alabama,” Bentley said.
At a groundbreaking ceremony Dec. 3, Creative Montessori School announced it had raised more than $2,825,000 in a capital campaign to build a preschool building, dining hall, administrative building and community room. The school’s original fundraising goal was $2.35 million. Campaign co-chair and CMS parent Brooke Coleman said the success of the campaign was due to 100 percent donation commitments from the CMS staff and board members, as well as around 200 other donors. Several organizations, including the Hugh Kaul Foundation and the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, also donated. Students raised a total of $1,655. CMS finished its campaign about six months ahead of schedule, Coleman said, due to a lot of work from staff, board members and involved parents and alumni. Mayor Scott McBrayer, City Chief of Staff J.J. Bischoff and Ward 1 Rep. Britt Thames
were at the groundbreaking. McBrayer expressed his support of the project to the crowd and thanked CMS for choosing to stay in Homewood. “The city of Homewood has always attracted good quality people,” McBrayer said. “What an influence you have on young people. Don’t forget it and don’t take it for granted.” CMS has over 200 students from around the area. The school was started in 1968, and one of the founders, Barbara Spitzer, was at the groundbreaking. Coleman and Executive Director Greg Smith both thanked her for her continued support of the Montessori School. The location has been named the Barbara R. Spitzer Campus in her honor. The students at CMS were gathered in yellow hard hats to watch the groundbreaking, and sixth grade students were chosen to hand the golden shovels to those participating in the ceremony. To learn more about Creative Montessori School, visit cmskids.org.
The dresses at Village Bridal won’t be available anywhere else in the Birmingham area. “The lines we have, they give you a two-hour territory,” said Village Bridal owner Tracey Watkins. “They know people will drive for these.” The two-hour territory means no other bridal shop can carry the lines within a two-hour radius. Watkins said designers know people will travel to try on these dresses, and it provides exclusivity to the stores. Village Bridal opened in November, and its first two brides were not from the Birmingham area — they drove from Georgia. While the store has traditional wedding dress options, there are also several nontraditional options. One line has a dress that can be dyed a gray ombre at request; another offers its dresses in black. Those options are not available in store, but their white and off-white counterparts are available to try on. The store also has a line with jackets — more of the “Grace Kelly” style, Watkins said — as well as a custom jewelry line by local designer Anne Conway. Watkins runs the store with the help of her daughters, Mary and Anna, keeping with the Watkins tradition of working with family. Their family also owns Watkins Cleaners, which is next door to the bridal shop. Her experience at Watkins Cleaners is one reason all of their dresses will be dry-cleanable, Watkins said, and her experience as a mother is why they aim to cap dress prices at $4,000. “I’m a mom of four kids, and I can’t in good conscience go over that,” she said. All dress fittings at Village Bridal are by appointment only, and brides can stop by or call ahead to set up an appointment. As business picks up speed, Watkins said they plan to offer private appointments as well. The private fitting would cost a fee, Watkins said, and the bride would have the store to herself. They also plan to provide snacks and drinks, such as cheese plates and white wine or champagne, during private fittings.
Village Bridal offers some nontraditional dress options, including ones that are blush in color rather than white. Photo by Erica Techo.
“Everything’s got to be clear, of course, because you’re talking about wedding dresses,” Watkins said. If a bride wants to make a regular appointment, she will have her own fitting area with a few chairs and a three-way mirror. While she could bring whomever she wants to the fitting, Watkins said keeping it between three and five guests fits the area best. Brides will also get oneon-one attention as they select their dresses, and Watkins said she hopes the store helps make dress shopping an enjoyable occasion. Village Bridal is located at 1701 28th Ave. S. For more information about the shop, visit villagebridalhomewood.com.
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Video of Village Bridal’s move
+VIDEO
http://thehomewoodstar. com/small-town-bridal-shopbrings-world-wide-designs/
The Homewood Star
A12 • January 2016
WHAT’S COOKING
Magic City Sweet Ice shares a resolution-friendly dish By SYDNEY CROMWELL It’s that time of year again, when we kick off a new year with new resolutions. A revamped diet and exercise regimen tops many people’s list, and so the hunt begins to refine our personal cookbooks with recipes that will ensure success. In this series, we ask local culinary professionals to dish out the details on some of their favorite creations. Today, we talk with Wani Shaw of Magic City Sweet Ice, 715 Oak Grove Road. Q: What’s a delicious dish that won’t ruin your New Year’s resolution diet? A: Liberian rice bread. Q: How did you learn about this recipe? A: It’s something I learned how to make growing up in Liberia. I modified the recipe because the modern woman doesn’t have time to make it the traditional way. Q: What do you like about this recipe? A: It’s a cross between gingerbread and banana bread. I like it because it’s not too sweet, has a crunchy texture and goes well with coffee. Plus, it’s gluten-free. Wani and David Shaw show off a plate of Liberian rice bread at Magic City Sweet Ice. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
RECIPE:
►1 box (14 ounces) Cream of Rice cereal ► ½ cup sugar ► ½ cup light brown sugar ► 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger ► 1 tablespoon ground ginger (Shaw adds extra ginger in her own version for a stronger flavor) ► 1 teaspoon nutmeg ► ½ teaspoon cinnamon
► 1 teaspoon baking soda ► 1/4 teaspoon salt ► 1 teaspoon vanilla ► ½ cup milk (low or fat free can be substituted) ► 1½ stick butter (melted) OR ½ cup of vegetable oil (Shaw prefers butter to oil for the taste) ► 3 large eggs ► 2 very ripe plantains (or 4 large ripe
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bananas), mashed or blended
STEPS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter or grease a 9-by-9-inch pan with nonstick baking spray. 2. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. 3. In a mixing bowl, mix eggs, oil, vanilla and mashed plantains/banana. Add milk and combine. 4. Add dry ingredients to wet mixture and
mix well. 5. Transfer to baking pan. Shaw recommends a Bundt cake or small sheet pan so the bread stays thick enough to rise. 6. Bake about 30 to 45 minutes or until done (the edges will start to separate from the side of the baking pan). The pan size will make a difference in the baking time. Makes about 12 servings.
TheHomewoodStar.com
January 2016 • A13
Book of Homewood history launches at Alabama Booksmith By ERICA TECHO
Author Martha Wurtele signs a copy of “Images of America: Homewood” at Alabama Booksmith. Photo by Erica Techo.
Martha Wurtele began collecting photographs in 1984, hoping to create a book. On Nov. 30, that book launched at Alabama Booksmith. Wurtele worked with Jake Collins, creator of the Homewood History Hunt blog, on their book “Images of America: Homewood.” At the book launch in downtown Homewood, community members who donated photos or just knew the authors showed up to congratulate them and to get a copy of their book signed. J.L. Shaia of Shaia’s Clothing came to celebrate the book, which has his father and grandfather on the cover. “This little book is so full of history,” Shaia said. “I’m just so impressed with the work that was put into this.” Wurtele said the journey of creating a book has been an exciting one. As she started collecting photos, she compiled a slideshow for the Homewood Public Library. The publisher, Arcadia Publishing, saw Collins’ blog which used Wurtele’s photos, and the path to a book began. “My goal was always to make them into a book, and when Jake started with his social media
[Homewood History Hunt]… Jake saw my name because he used my photos, and he went to school with my nephew, so he called my brother,” Wurtele said. Charley “Shorty” Lane gave several photos for Collins and Wurtele to use in the book. He said the experience of talking with Wurtele allowed him to learn new things about the city where he grew up. “I learned some stuff about people who lived here in Homewood that I didn’t realize lived here,” Lane said. Lane said he hopes people who read the book, whether they’re Homewood residents or not, will learn more about the community and the people in it. “I hope they would learn about people who have lived in Homewood,” Lane said, “even if they weren’t in those particular groups.” Collins said he picked up several favorite stories as he interviewed people in Homewood, but those stories couldn’t make it into the book. “I’ve got a few stories, but I was told not to tell them. Those are the best,” Collins said. The book is available in hardcover and paperback through Collins or Wurtele or at Alabama Booksmith, Little Professor and Seibel’s.
The Homewood Star
A14 • January 2016
YEAR IN PREVIEW
Bike-share program By SYDNEY CROMWELL For residents who have fallen in love with Birmingham’s bright green bikes, Homewood will determine in 2016 whether it’s ready for a bike-share program of its own. If implemented, a bike-share program would involve the installation of a number of stations with special bicycles around the city. Residents could rent the bikes for either a one-time charge based on the amount of time used with the bikes, or as a monthly subscription to the service. Bike-share riders could pick up and drop off the bicycles at any station in the city. Ward 1 Rep. Britt Thames, one of the driving forces behind the exploration of a bike-share program, said the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham is working on a feasibility study for Homewood. The study had been halted for several months as Birmingham got its bike-share program underway. The RPC wanted to watch Birmingham’s launch and apply their observations to Homewood’s study. “The waiting period to let Birmingham launch was part of the plan because it was obviously a great opportunity,” Thames said. The City Council will receive the results of the feasibility study by the end of February, Thames said. This study will help the city determine whether Homewood is a good candidate for bike-share. If the city decides to establish a program, Thames said, the next step would be to identify funding sources and grants. The bike-share program would be officially budgeted in the 2017 fiscal year, so, Thames said, “nothing live could actually start happening” until 2017.
The Slow Your Roll bike riding group makes about a 7-mile ride with a group of around 50 riders. Photo by Frank Couch.
TheHomewoodStar.com
January 2016 • A15
YEAR IN PREVIEW
The City Council voted to reject both proposals for the lot at 165 Oxmoor Road, which included a food truck park and a two-story retail and event space. Courtesy of City of Homewood.
Patriot Park parking lot By SYDNEY CROMWELL The decision process on developing a cityowned lot at 165 Oxmoor Road has been extended into the spring. The city council did not accept either of the submitted proposals for the lot: a two-story retail and event space building or a food truck park. Instead, they voted on Dec. 7 to open a new request for proposals (RFP) for the property. Council members agreed that they had concerns with both proposals. Most notably, they felt that the Grove proposal was too vague on specific design and tenants to merit its lower offer price, and the food truck proposal did not have proven commitments from area food trucks to show that the lot would not sit empty for most of the day. “To ask the city to essentially give up $85,000 but not have a firm understanding of what’s going in it… I’m not comfortable with that,” Ward 2 Representative Vance Moody said of the Grove proposal. “It’s just not a permanent footprint and that is a concern for me, but I love the concept, I’m sure a lot of you do too,” Ward 5 Representative Peter Wright said of the food truck park. Bruce Limbaugh, the council president, was first to voice these concerns and said he would welcome more information from both developers. However, he asked that the council reopen the RFP, allowing the Grove and food truck developers to resubmit a more detailed proposal along with other interested parties. “[I] would like to talk about concerns individually and let these two and anyone else bring a proposal one more time,” Limbaugh said. “I think we get one opportunity to get this right.”
Council members at the work session agreed that the lot should be seen as a cornerstone of the larger West Homewood redevelopment, and a development should be carefully considered. They also said that redevelopment interest from Corky Bell, one of the neighboring properties, could change their final decision. Jim Terry of Evan Terry Associates was at the meeting representing Corky Bell. He said that while the dance studio wants to remain in its location, they had spoken with Sonya DiCarlo and Paula Harris, the Grove developers, and considered plans to redesign their property to be cohesive with the Grove building and West Homewood overall. Terry said Corky Bell has five different potential plans so far, though they are not ready to be shared publicly. This is partly because of potential conflicts with West Homewood’s zoning ordinance and also because, Terry said, they felt that the redevelopment should be done in phases rather than all at once. DiCarlo and food truck park developer Tom Walker attended the meeting. DiCarlo said she felt that the city should have asked the current proposals for clarifications to address their concerns first rather than reopen for new proposals. Proposals for the site are due by Feb. 15. Limbaugh said that the council has no specific timeline to decide after Feb. 15 but will “move fairly quickly” to make a decision. Walker said after the meeting that he intends to meet with the council to understand their complaints before resubmitting with the new RFP for the food truck park. DiCarlo did not state whether she and Harris intend to resubmit the Grove proposal.
The Homewood Star
A16 • January 2016
YEAR IN PREVIEW
Beautifi ation This proposal for the 18th Street beautification project has been presented to the council by Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood. Rendering courtesy of city of Homewood.
Lakeshore interchange By SYDNEY CROMWELL It seems likely that nothing but preparatory work will happen on the Lakeshore Drive diverging diamond interchange project in 2016. Rob Vermilion of Volkert Engineering, the design firm for the project, said the Federal Highway Administration is reviewing the project plans as part of an “interchange modification study.” This includes a traffic analysis and study of the proposed modifications. The plans include new off and on ramps onto Interstate 65 at the Lakeshore
By SYDNEY CROMWELL No construction will be visible on 18th Street South, but city planning will be underway for a beautification project on the road leading from downtown Homewood to Birmingham city limits. Ward 1 Rep. Britt Thames said that grants are being received for the $1.2 million project, which will take place over two years. Engineering will take place in 2016, and construction is planned for 2017. “Most likely, unfortunately, there’s not going to be any tangible signs [in 2016],” Thames said. “We’re not going to anticipate any dirt being moved.” The finished project will add landscaping, sidewalks, crosswalks and possible extra parking along 18th Street from the downtown shops to the end of Homewood’s city limits. Due to state and local grants, the city will only pay $240,000 of the total price tag. While construction will not begin, Thames said residents will have a chance to share their thoughts. He anticipates having community meetings for downtown business owners and residents to review plans for the beautification project and ask questions. “We would like to have some community involvement meetings similar to what we did leading up to the West Homewood plan,” Thames said.
Drive exit and a “diverging diamond,” which crosses traffic to the opposite side of the road at the bridge over the interstate, creating an opportunity for drivers to veer left onto the interstate without stopping. It also allows vehicles approaching Lakeshore from I-65 off ramps to merge into traffic instead of waiting for a light. This is the first intersection of its kind in Alabama. Vermilion added the project also includes synchronizing traffic signals for a better flow of vehicles through the area. In a July meeting, Volkert representatives also showed council members plans for a new entrance into the Wal-Mart parking lot from the eastbound lane of Lakeshore. The new entrance would allow drivers to turn right into the parking lot or exit back into the eastbound lane from Walmart, but it would not permit left turns. All right-of-way access for the project has been granted. Vermilion said that planning and preparation will happen in 2016, and with federal approval he hopes to begin construction in early 2017. The construction will take less than a year. Vermilion said orange construction barrels will be visible but no lanes will be closed during construction, and he doesn’t anticipate
Council members look at the proposed diverging diamond project during a July 2015 presentation. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
traffic delays caused by the roadwork. “The entire Lakeshore corridor will move much quicker than what it is now. You won’t have the stop and go traffic you have now,” Vermilion said of the diverging diamond’s impact.
TheHomewoodStar.com
January 2016 • A17
YEAR IN PREVIEW
The City Council and mayor’s seats are up for election in August. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
Election year By SYDNEY CROMWELL Residents who want to get more involved in city government should begin preparing their campaigns. Elections will be held for all 11 council seats and the mayor’s office on Aug. 23, 2016, according to an election calendar provided by the Alabama League of Municipalities. Each ward gets two representatives on the council. A ward map can be found on the city website, homewoodal.net. Feb. 23 is the last day for the City Council to change salaries for the council members elected in office, as well as the last day to decide if council members will be elected by district rather than at-large. May 23 is the last day the city can change its district lines or voting locations. Anyone who wishes to run for mayor or city council must establish residence in the city by May 25, 2016. Mayor Scott McBrayer will give formal notice of the election on July 5. At that point, candidates can obtain qualifying forms from
the city clerk. Candidates must file with the Jefferson County probate judge within five days of qualifying to run. July 19 is the last day for candidates to complete the qualifying forms. For residents who aren’t running but still want to vote, Aug. 10 is the last day to register to vote in the municipal election, and absentee voters must apply for a ballot by Aug. 18. If a winner cannot be determined for a certain seat, the city will hold a later runoff election. For full rules about candidacy in municipal elections, contact City Clerk Linda Cook, the Jefferson County Probate Court or Alabama’s secretary of state. Another major seat in city government will be filled in 2016, though by appointment rather than election. Police Chief Jim Roberson retired on Dec. 31, 2015, and the city is beginning the process to hire a new chief. A timeline has not been set out, but Roberson previously said that Deputy Chief Bob Copus will act as interim chief.
Overton playground By SYDNEY CROMWELL In the early part of 2016, Overton Park will have a new set of playground equipment for local kids to enjoy. Parks and Recreation Superintendent Rusty Holley said removal of the old playground began in mid-December. The parks board had asked for new equipment due to age and weathering of the equipment. In addition, Holley said the new equipment will conform to accessibility guidelines that the former playground did not, making Overton Park more enjoyable for children of all abilities. The new playground structures are set to be installed in the first half of 2016. Holley said the new equipment consists of one main play structure and two or three ground structures, with a total cost of $48,000. Along with this new playground, Holley said the Parks and Recreation Department will be continuing two of its newest sports in 2016. Elementary girls’ volleyball and first- through fifth-grade flag football played their inaugural seasons in 2015. Holley said flag football was especially popular. “We had inquiries from parents and perceived
One of the playground structures to be installed at Overton Park. Rendering courtesy of Rusty Holley.
there was a need for this program. Over 150 kids played in the program’s inaugural season and [we] look for it to grow even more in 2016,” Holley said. Holley recommended parents contact Athletics Coordinator Jakob Stephens at 332-6709 or jakob.stephens@homewoodal.org if their child is interested in playing volleyball, flag football or any other sports offered by Parks and Recreation.
The Homewood Star
A18 • January 2016
YEAR IN PREVIEW
Sidewalk extension By SYDNEY CROMWELL When it comes to making Homewood more walkable, the sidewalk construction on Rumson Road will be the major project of 2016. The project will connect existing sidewalks on Rumson between Windsor Drive and Yorkshire Drive, which includes a hill that limits visibility for drivers and pedestrians. Vanessa McGrath in the city department of engineering, planning and zoning said Rumson Road will be the only
sidewalk project until its expected completion in the first half of 2016. “We’re just connecting the pieces of sidewalk to make [Rumson Road] a little safer,” McGrath said. Rumson is a major project because of the difficult terrain, McGrath said. The city has to move a sanitary sewer line and construct retaining walls as they build the sidewalk. “It’s not a fun one to do. We’ve done all the easy ones. We’ve got them out of the way,” McGrath said. After the Rumson project is complete, the city will make plans for other sidewalk projects through the year. Finance Department Director Melody Salter said $100,000 is budgeted in 2016 for new sidewalks and $50,000 for repairs, though the council recently amended the budget to include some rollover 2015 money for completion of the Rumson project. As for the Greenway in West Homewood, McGrath said that the city will continue acquiring right-of-way access and easements to construct the path, but there are “too many moving parts” to estimate a timeline for construction to begin.
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Bridges
A timeline has not been set for construction on the Greenway, shown here. Courtesy of Keith Strickland.
Oxmoor construction By SYDNEY CROMWELL
The “turkey foot” construction project involves new lanes and traffic signal changes in the area around Oxmoor Boulevard, Scott Street and Oxmoor Road. Rendering courtesy of Gonzalez-Strength and Associates.
Drivers could see orange barrels appear around the Oxmoor Boulevard “turkey foot” by the end of the year. City Senior Planner Vanessa McGrath said she expects the project to be bid out in summer or fall 2016, which makes construction likely to begin in the fall or winter. “The projects are designed,” McGrath said. “We have to wait for approval from ALDOT to be able to start.” The project includes several components: new east and westbound lanes on Oxmoor Boulevard, changes to the I-65 ramps and adding left turn lanes at Scott Street, two places on Vulcan Road, both sides of the Columbiana Road/Palisades
Boulevard intersection and on Oxmoor Boulevard at the Green Springs/Oxmoor Road/Palisades intersection. Additionally, the city will remove two traffic signals on the east end of Oxmoor Road and at Cobb Street, while also eliminating left turns from Cobb Street to Oxmoor Boulevard. Since there are so many different components, McGrath said it will take at least a year of construction before the project is complete. Once complete, the Oxmoor improvements are expected to simplify traffic flow by reducing the number of lane shifts made while traveling through the area. “There’s a lot of steps to that one,” McGrath said of the construction process.
TheHomewoodStar.com
January 2016 • A19
Left: Eric Baumann walks in front of stainless steel tanks in December inside Red Hills Brewing Company in Homewood. Above: Construction continues inside. Photos by Frank Couch.
RED HILLS
CONTINUED from page A1 beers is wearing off. “I mean, everybody wants their alcohol, and they want the bang for their buck, but you want to be able to sit down and not be hammered,” he said. Pilleteri said when it comes to alcohol content, they will stay true to the style of beer they are brewing. An India Pale Ale (IPA) might be 6 or 7 percent alcohol because that is what the style calls for. A hefeweizen, or wheat beer, is more delicate and means the alcohol content should be kept closer to 4 or 5 percent alcohol. “I think drinkability is the big thing for both of us,” Pilleteri said. “Even if you’re going to do a high volume alcohol beer, it’s got to be drinkable. We could make a 30 percent alcohol beer,
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I want variety. I don’t want just one straight down the road, middle of the lane IPA just to say we do it.
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ERIC BAUMANN
but it’s going to taste like rocket fuel.” One hurdle for a fledgling brewery is obtaining the right ingredients. For example, there are a finite number of hops at any given time, Pilleteri said, while the number of breweries continues to grow. Most breweries get their hops on a contract basis, but hop growers usually don’t want
to establish a contract in a brewery’s first year or two, Pilleteri said, and it can be difficult to get the exact hop you need. “The first year is a little rough,” Pilleteri said. Some hop growers will offer similar hops if they’re out of a particular kind, but Pilleteri said it’s always a bit of a risk. The beer could change completely, or there could be no difference in taste. “In a start-up, it’s harder to get in the hop craze and get a bunch of funky hops,” Pilleteri said. These limitations have led Pilleteri and Baumann to be selective in which style of beer they brew and led to some experimentation with different brews. Baumann, a chef by trade and former assistant brewmaster at Avondale Brewing Company, hopes to keep the taproom interesting with small batch or limited release beers. IPAs at Red Hills, for example, will probably be quarterly. “I want variety,” Baumann said. “I don’t want
just one straight down the road, middle of the lane IPA just to say we do it.” There are also opportunities for infusing beers or adding a nitrogen tap, which makes a creamier or smoother beer. “It’s all with trial and error also,” Baumann said. “None of these breweries really have what they started with as their beers. Their beers have evolved and changed over time — that’s something we’ll be doing as well.” By not focusing on high-gravity beers and opening in Homewood rather than downtown Birmingham, Pilleteri said he hopes the brewery will be a family-friendly place. They hope to create in-house sodas for kids who accompany their parents, and Pilleteri said the location makes it a little more convenient for families. “I have two kids at home — I can’t get downtown all the time,” he said. “But I can make a trip to Homewood.”
SECTION The Homewood Star
B JANUARY 2016
Community B4 School House B8 Sports B10 Real Estate B13 Calendar B14
Bringing a mural back to life
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By SYDNEY CROMWELL The mural on the wall of Nabeel’s Cafe and Market was looking faded from 20 years of exposure to the elements. When John Krontiras, the restaurant’s owner, asked his employee Max Panter about restoring the mural, Panter had an immediate answer. “Mr. John, it’d be my honor,” Panter said. Panter began repainting the mural in August and finished in early December, spending about 100 hours in total to reconstructing the street scene anchored by a smiling man selling flowers from a cart. “Between working here and the weather, I’ve been able to get outside and slowly restore and bring a little color back to a corner in Homewood. And it’s been a real fun experience,” Panter said. The original mural was painted in 1994, Krontiras said. The Nabeel’s location at 1706 Oxmoor Road was originally the home of a beauty shop and a flower store, with the Greek cafe next door. When Nabeel’s moved into the flower and beauty shops’ location, Krontiras commissioned artist Chris Garrison to paint the mural to commemorate Butler’s Flowers. The flower seller in the painting is standing in front of a shop window with the name Butler’s Flowers. Before Panter began the restoration, many of the small details of Garrison’s work had been almost completely worn away. There was a man drinking coffee in a tiny window, a cat walking the sidewalk and a bouquet of roses on the flower cart. Panter discovered these through pictures from 1994 and traces of paint still visible on the wall. “A lot of things about that mural have been
There’s a lot of small imagery pieces in there. [I like] bringing those back to life, especially small people on the street.
Nabeel’s owner John Krontiras (right) watches as Max Panter restores the mural on the restaurant’s wall. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
blasted by the sun. There’s a lot of small imagery pieces in there,” Panter said. “[I like] bringing those back to life, especially small people on the street.” He also tried to add some new elements. The streets now have crosswalks, and Panter extended the mural slightly to make it fit better with the actual storefronts around it. On a distant hill at the top of the mural, Panter also added a painted Parthenon.
KaseyDavis
Dentistry
As he was painting, Panter said people walking or driving by would pause to compliment him on the progress. He said weather was the main thing slowing him down, though painting on brick could also be a challenge. Panter has been an artist for years and has worked at Nabeel’s for four years. While Panter was the one holding the brush, Krontiras was frequently looking over his
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MAX PANTER
shoulder and suggesting improvements. “I’m a little bit of an artist myself. But not as good as him,” Krontiras said. “I go out there and bug him: ‘No, do it like this, don’t do it like that way.’” Panter’s response is the same: “All right Mr. John, that’s the way it’s going to be done.” They both laugh about it, but Panter said he’s enjoyed having his boss be so involved in the restoration. “That’s been one of the best parts, to tell you the truth. This man has had some of the best ideas out there for what to do for the actual mural itself,” Panter said. “He might be one of the more demanding patrons, but he’s one of the more giving patrons as well.” Now that he’s recreated it, Panter said his favorite part of the mural is the tiny street scene in the background because it has “the most character, the most life.” “It’s been really just a pleasure applying paint to the wall and putting color there,” Panter added.
The Homewood Star
B2 • January 2016
A FIT
Iron Tribe Fitness 2740 Central Ave.
new year
By MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE
Diet and exercise are always popular resolutions as the New Year begins, and most people need a plan in place to meet the goals they set Jan. 1. Some of Homewood’s fitness experts shared their tips to make 2016 your healthiest year yet.
Sweat and Gears 2809 Central Ave. Jeremy Clark and wife, Lisa, are the owners/operators of Sweat and Gears. According to Jeremy, theirs is a boutique indoor cycling studio that “has brought the best of big city New York and Los Angeles studios to little Homewood.” What are your primary services? Our services include indoor cycling and TRX strength/core classes. What’s your No. 1 tip for those wanting to get more fit in the New Year? If your goal is weight loss, you have to methodically track calories that you eat and calories that you burn. We use heart rate monitors to monitor your true calories burned. Whether you work out at our studio or another gym, know your calorie numbers. Don’t be that person who stops at the fast food drive-through on the way home after your workout to eat five times as many calories as you just burned off. What would you advise people to avoid when it comes to exercise/fitness? The secret sauce for a fit and healthy you is consistency. This time of year so many people jump into exercise at full exertion for four to five workouts a week and then burn out. Life is
a marathon and not a sprint. Pace yourself and make fitness a lifestyle and not a New Year resolution. What is your favorite workout? I have a favorite workout that I like to teach, and a favorite that I like to do. Our popular Saturday morning “Tour de Decades” class is fun to teach because we have a broad range of participants from the entry level, recreational and competitive fitness groups all cycling together. The class is a gradual to heavy climb the entire 60 minutes with music starting usually in the ‘70s and progressing chronologically to modern day music by the end of the workout. It is an approachable, fun format for anyone just starting their fitness journey and there are a lot of aerobic calories burned in an hour. For myself, my favorite is the TRX/Cycle Fusion class. We cram cardio, strength and core into 45 minutes of high intensity intervals both on and off the bike with the TRX body weight resistance straps. I would put this workout up against anything out there for a full body, 45-minute anaerobic calorie burning workout.
Iron Tribe relies on intense, varied exercise and a community culture to encourage fitness. Photo courtesy of Iron Tribe.
In 2010, Tra Griffin became the first coach hired for Iron Tribe. He served as gym manager and now oversees all operations of the corporately-owned gyms in Birmingham, including Iron Tribe Fitness in Homewood. According to Griffin, Iron Tribe excels in eliminating the intimidation from the typical gym experience. “We deliver expert coaching, consistency in class structure and an infectious culture and community of all fitness levels that centers around accountability,” he said. What are your primary services? We offer regular Iron Tribe classes that deliver cardio, weight training and body weight movements. We also have a ladies only class, strength and advanced athlete classes and yoga. What’s your No. 1 tip for those wanting to get more fit in the New Year? There’s no magic pill for living a healthy lifestyle. It takes discipline and consistency. You just have to do it. The motivation occurs after you get into a rhythm. Repeat to yourself, “do it now, do it now.”
It’s the mentality you have to have to succeed in any area of life, so make the right decision right now and stay consistent. What would you advise people to avoid when it comes to exercise/fitness? Avoid the exact same thing every single day. If you feel you’re getting into a rut, change your method. If you’re no longer excited about running, vary up your workout. Make it fun again. Find a dedicated workout partner, mentor or friend. Everyone finds accountability in some way. Some sign up for a marathon, others get accountability from a group environment. Dig into your why and focus on the end result! What is your favorite workout? Having served in the Marines, I enjoy long workouts that really tax me mentally. I also like to tap into all modalities of training. I enjoy running several miles or sprinting intervals, lifting heavy weights and performing body weight movements. I can honestly say I keep my workouts varied and never allow myself to get into a rut.
TheHomewoodStar.com
January 2016 • B3
Gauntlet Fitness 2610 19th St. S.
Pure Barre relies on a ballet barre as the focal point of its exercise technique. Photo courtesy of Pure Barre.
Pure Barre 2826 18th St. S. Danielle Davis and Lindsay Lancaster are co-owners of the Pure Barre Birmingham location in downtown Homewood. According to Davis, Pure Barre is “your onestop shop for fitness and fashion,� featuring a ballet barre for strengthening and stability. In addition, the location houses a boutique that features brands for active and lifestyle clothing. What are your primary services? Classes featuring the Pure Barre Technique. For 55 minutes, your personal life will melt away as you plunge into this fun workout set to motivating music. Your teacher will set up the exercises and then circulate the room, correcting form to help you get the most out of your time. We provide all of the exercise equipment needed for class. What’s your No. 1 tip for those wanting to get more fit in the New Year? Just get started. It doesn’t matter what physical shape or mental state you are in — just start somewhere. I believe that our minds and bodies are capable of remarkable things and if we can commit to “showing up,� then the journey begins to ultimate health
and wellness. And, do not be discouraged if you slip up or miss workouts along the way. The key is balance and being aware that certain seasons allow for different things. What would you advise people to avoid when it comes to exercise/fitness? Obsessing over the number on the scale, and comparing yourself to others. Pure Barre is about empowering people to feel strong and secure in their own skin. Avoid hanging your confidence on what you weigh and focus on the benefits that come from exercise — higher energy, better sleep and overall health and wellness. In Pure Barre, the scale is irrelevant, and I love that.  What is your favorite workout? The Pure Barre Technique. Pure Barre is one of the fastest, most effective ways to change the shape of your body, using low impact isometric movements to target the large muscle groups in the body while burning calories, shedding fat and increasing flexibility. Every class is different and the more you understand the fundamentals of the technique, the more challenging it becomes.Â
Gauntlet Fitness offers kickboxing classes centered around a circuit of exercises. Photo courtesy of Gauntlet Fitness.
Gauntlet Fitness, co-owned by Paul Shunnarah and David Sheram, has the motto “we hit pads, not people.� Sheram serves as a master trainer and Shunnarah as a trainer at the facility. Shunnarah describes the gym as offering “the next generation of fitness� — a safe, non-contact kickboxing facility using a one-of-a-kind workout to help clients get in the best shape of their lives. What are your primary services? We offer a group circuit-training program for ages 18 and up. Using the art of kickboxing, we offer classes throughout the day to fulfill our clients’ fitness needs. We also offer fundamentals programs for beginners who want to be properly trained before entering the program.
What’s your No. 1 tip for those wanting to get more fit in the New Year? Stay consistent. Believe in yourself and what your body is capable of doing, and most importantly do not let one bad meal or one bad day stop you from achieving your fitness goals. What would you advise people to avoid when it comes to exercise/fitness? Do not join a program that does not work for you. Find something that you enjoy. You have to be passionate about the workout in order to stay consistent and get results. What is your favorite workout? Running the Gauntlet when the class is packed and the music is loud.
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The Homewood Star
B4 • January 2016
Community Salamander Fest to spotlight creepy-crawlies By SYDNEY CROMWELL Visit the Homewood Senior Center on Jan. 30 to take a look at the often-hidden animals that share Homewood’s neighborhoods. The annual Salamander Festival,which began 12 years ago, is timed to roughly correspond with the annual migration of spotted salamanders into vernal pools near Homewood High School to mate and lay eggs. Friends of Shades Creek member Michelle Blackwood said the festival lasts from 3 to 5:30 p.m. The free event will include the chance to see and learn about salamanders, fish, frogs and turtles. The Alabama Wildlife Center will also bring some of its education birds of prey for a demonstration. The Herb Trotman band will provide entertainment, and the festival will include kids’ nature crafts, a chocolate fountain, dancing demonstrations and a chance to view tiny creatures through a microscope. The Friends of Shades Creek will also name their Volunteer of the Year, and there will be the annual telling of
Children hold salamanders at the 2014 Salamander Festival. Staff Photo.
the story of the salamander. Prior to the festival, there will also be a nature walk around Patriot Park at 2 p.m. to see animals and plants that inhabit the area. For more information, visit shadescreek.org.
Lakeshore Foundation hosting 29th annual Pioneer Classic By EMILY FEATHERSTON The Lakeshore Foundation will host its 29th annual Pioneer Classic the weekend of Jan. 15-17. The wheelchair basketball tournament includes teams with members as young as 6 to athletes who have competed as part of the U.S. Paralympic Team. “One of the most exciting things about this tournament is it is one of the hallmark tournaments in the entire United States,” Director of Athletics and Training Site Lisa Hilborn said. Teams in three different divisions will compete throughout the weekend, including the Championship Division, which includes teams with players from the U.S. national team and Paralympic teams, as well as Division 3 adult teams. Multiple youth teams will also compete
on Saturday, with teams coming from as far away as Georgia. Hilborn said wheelchair basketball is one of the oldest and most established wheelchair sports, originating with veterans from the Vietnam War. “It is a great opportunity to heighten ability awareness levels,” Hilborn said. “The rules are more similar than they are different to able-bodied or stand-up basketball.” The event is free and open to the public, and Hilborn encouraged all to come and enjoy the event or find a way to get involved as a volunteer. For more information about the Pioneer Classic and to find out about volunteer opportunities at the Lakeshore Foundation, visit lakeshore.org or call 313-7400.
2 Homewood races planned in January By JESSE CHAMBERS For those looking to exercise more in 2016, Homewood will be hosting two January races. The first is Resolution Run at Red Mountain Park. The fifth annual run will be on Jan. 2, with a 20K beginning at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K, 10K and Family Fun Run beginning at 8 a.m. Resolution Run will also feature the usual scavenger hunt for prizes hidden along the trails. All proceeds will aid in trail maintenance, future trail development and the overall success of the park, according to park spokeswoman Katherine Miles, who said that the turnout for the run has increased each year. “Last year there were over 400 participants who braved the rain and cold,” she said. “We expect that number to increase this year.” The park is located at 2011 Frankfurt Drive. For more information or to register, go to http:// birminghamtrackclub.com. The cost is $15 in advance and $20 the day of the event. Runners may register individually or as part of a group. For more information about the Friends, go to friendsofredmountainpark.org. The second is the Red Shoe Run, benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of Birmingham, where about 1,000 families each year receive
The Red Shoe Run in SoHo benefits the Ronald McDonald House. Photo courtesy of Emily Wright.
lodging and support while their injured or critically ill children seek medical treatment in area hospitals. The Jan. 23 event, beginning at 7:30 a.m., will feature one-mile, 5K and 10 miles runs, with registration fees ranging from $20-$45. After the event, now in its 12th year, attendees can enjoy snacks, music, face painting and activities for kids in Rosewood Hall at SoHo Square, located at 2850 19th St. South. For more information about the event, go to www.redshoerun-bham.org.
TheHomewoodStar.com
January 2016 • B5
Cumberland Presbyterian releases gallery schedule The Joy Gallery, a unique art space located at Homewood Cumberland Presbyterian Church, has announced its full schedule of exhibitions by area artists for 2016. The year will begin on January 3 with a show by painter and mixed-media artist Joan Perry, according to gallery co-founder Tom Dameron. According to Perry’s biography, her paintings typically feature bold, vibrant colors and interesting textures. She often uses a variety of mixed media, including gemstones and other small objects, to make her canvases three-dimensional. Perry is a member of the Mountain Brook Art Association and the Birmingham Art Association. The rest of the schedule is as follows (all of the opening dates are Sundays with artist receptions from 1-3 p.m.): ► Feb. 7-March 6: Carey Brown, photography ► March 13-April 10: Darrell Ezekiel, mixed media ► April 17-May 15: Carolyn McDonald, painting ► May 22-June 19: Freddy Sanchez, painting and drawing ► June 26-July 17: Gayle Thomas, mixed media, and Ricia Neura, painting ► July 24-Aug. 21: Amy Collins, painting
Officer Jonah Abney was the overall winner in the Homewood Police Department Top Gun competition. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
“Desert Light,” a piece by artist Joan Perry, who will be featured in the Joy Gallery this month. Courtesy of Tom Dameron.
► Aug. 28-Sept. 25: Laura Vines, photography ► Oct. 2-Oct. 30: Nancy Christie, painting ► Nov. 6-Dec. 4: Barbara Morgan, painting ► Dec. 11-Jan. 1, 2017: Anna Lowery Kendrick, painting.
Homewood Cumberland Presbyterian Church WHERE: 513 Columbiana Road GALLERY HOURS: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. CONTACT: For more information, call 205-942-3051 or go to www.thejoygallery.org.
Jonah Abney wins PD’s 1st Top Gun competition By SYDNEY CROMWELL The top five shooters in Homewood Police Department put their skills to the test during the inaugural Top Gun competition. The event was on Dec. 4 at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office training range in Fultondale. The contestants included Officers Mark Trippe, Jonah Abney, Ted Springfield, John Self and Corey Lenard. Each went through a course that began with a 50-yard sprint and included distance targets, multiple targets and a “hostage” situation, in which the officers had to aim for the head of a cardboard target while avoiding a second target just inches away. The officers were judged on overall time, with seconds being added for each shot that landed outside the center circle of the target.
“Time is almost as important as accuracy,” Chief Jim Roberson said of the competition course. Abney was the overall winner, receiving a plaque and $40 gift card to GT Distributors, one of the supporters of the competition. Trippe placed second, Lenard third, Self fourth and Springfield fifth. They received a range of prizes including gift cards, hats and a “Glock clock,” a wall clock designed to look like a firearm. Tom Hale of the Homewood Police Foundation, another supporter of the competition, thanked the competing officers for their service and gave the top three finishers $125, $75 and $50 gift cards, respectively. Roberson said that even though he is retiring, he hopes the Top Gun competition will be an annual event after he leaves office.
B6 • January 2016
The Homewood Star
Homewood celebrates Christmas Photos by Frank Couch
LEFT: Homewood residents line 18th Street to watch the star lighting. ABOVE: Children enjoyed the star lighting ceremony Dec. 1 in spite of the rain that persisted throughout the evening.
Santa meets with children, taking present requests before the star lighting.
The Homewood High School dance team marches in the Christmas Parade.
Boy Scout Troop 397 rides in a homemade sleigh float in the Homewood Christmas Parade.
Children dressed as angels wave to the crowds lined up to watch the Christmas parade.
TheHomewoodStar.com
January 2016 • B7
HOMEWOOD PARKS & RECREATION Homewood Community Center Zumba with Camille
ZUMBA is Latin inspired aerobic dance and every class feels like a party. ZUMBA is for all ages, and both sexes! Tuesday & Thursday: 5:30pm-6:30pm Saturday: 9:00am-10:00am Camille 256-452-2500 camillescruggs@gmail.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
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. Mondays: 4:00pm-4:45pm For additional information call Claire: (205) 879-8780
Tango Argentino
Introductory lessons and guided practice. New students are taught basic Tango technique and experienced “milongueros” are encouraged to practice and exchange tips to improve their dancing. Couples and individuals of all ages are welcome. HWCC Fitness Studio 2. 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each Month – 7:00pm-8:30pm
@homewoodparks
YoLIMBER
Vinyasa yoga classes in an energetic environment using upbeat music. All levels welcome. Friday: 9:30am-10:30am Saturday: 9:00am-10:00am Contact Marla: 205-223-8564 • mac@yolimber.com
35209 Dance
Line dance for a healthier you! Tuesday: 7:00pm-9:00pm • Sunday: 3:00pm-5:00pm $7/Drop-in - $5/Seniors 65+ - First class is free Rosa Fisher 205-910-8896 • rosafisher@yahoo.com
360 Personal Trainer Fitness Bootcamp Bootcamp style fitness classes at Homewood Community Center. Classes Meet: Mon/Wed/ Fri 5:30am-6:30am Michael Brooks – michaelbrooks360@gmail.com
Homewood FIT – Women’s Bootcamp Join this all women’s bootcamp happening right here in Homewood. Monday & Wednesday: 5:45am-6:45am www.homewoodfit.com
Acting Out Academy
Acting Out Academy is a kid’s performing arts classes at the Homewood Community Center Thursday: 3:30pm-4:30pm (Encore: After School Program) Thursday: 4:30pm-5:30pm (Advanced on-camera). www.actingoutacademy.com • 205-440-2699 meg@actingoutacademy.com
Blue Line Combatives
Wednesdays: 7:00pm – 8:30pm Blue Line Combatives teaches self-defense and urban survival instruction. Classes and private training are available for all ages. Call or email for additional information: Instructor Jon P. Newland jon.newland442@gmail.com • 205-296-1250
Cheerleading & Tumbling Classes
Steel City Cheer classes cover all cheerleading & tumbling necessities: motions, jumps, cheers, stretching, conditioning, and tumbling. All ages & skill levels welcome. Monday & Tuesday: 5:30pm-6:30pm Contact DeeDee: PDEveritt@gmail.com • 901-734-0277
Mommy and Me Stroller Bootcamp
Tuesday & Thursday: @ 9:00am Location: Homewood Central Park A class for moms of all fitness levels! This 45 minute class focuses on interval training with the use of bands, body weight, and your child’s stroller! www.mommyandmetime.com
Total Body Blast
Saturday mornings at 10:30am Classes meet at Homewood Community Center (Fitness Studio 2) Class Description: Total Body Blast is a 1 hour group fitness class that focuses on using High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) to create a total body work out. What to bring to class: One set of 5 to 7lb weights, yoga mat, towel and bottle water. CLASS RATE: $10 (1stClass is Free) Contact: T. Harris 205.249-7982 getfitwithtamika@yahoo.com
Homewood Senior Center Seated Exercise Class – Mon (11:15am) / 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. Zumba Gold & Tai Chi Review – Tue (2:15 & 3:00pm) Zumba Gold is designed at a slightly slower pace with easier directional transitions. Fun, lively music is used and several movements are repeated throughout a song to allow participants ample practice of each move. Review and practice of the Thursday Tai Chi class is completed the last 15mins of class. Adaptive Yoga & Gentle Yoga – Wed (1:15 - Adaptive & 1:45pm Gentle) Half hour of gentle guided stretching and breathing, using a chair. Appropriate for persons who wish to avoid exercise on the floor. Participants have the option to continue for the 2nd half hour with gentle guided stretching and breathing on floor mats. Tai Chi – Thursday (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. Personal Training at HWD Sr. Center – members only. Kathy focuses on orthopedic issues and restorative training to improve fitness for mature adults, including those with equilibrium, flexibility, strength or other chronic health challenges. Sessions are $35/hour, Contact Kathy at 422-4025 (or) krhagood@yahoo.com
Youth Athletics Homewood Soccer Club Homewood Soccer Club is dedicated to creating a balanced youth soccer program. Levels of Play: Patriot for ages U-4 through U-8; Red Teams for recreational players U-9 and up; White Teams for recreation plus ages U-9 thru U-11; and Blue Team competitive teams for ages U-11 thru U-18. Additional information about all levels of play, including deadlines, fees and Club philosophy is available at www.HomewoodSoccer. com , or call The Soccer Office at 205-874-9182.
Homewood Softball Games are played during the months of March through May with All-star play in the month of June. Registration Begins in January Additional information available at: www.homewoodparks.com Alissa Brock – 332-6715 (or) alissa.thurmond@homewoodal.org
Homewood Patriot Youth Baseball League
HPYBL is a youth recreational baseball league for the citizens of Homewood, as well as, surrounding communities. Please visit our website for more information about the upcoming Spring Season: www.homewoodyouthbaseball.com
www.Homewoodparks.com
The Homewood Star
B8 • January 2016
School House
Funding the future Homewood resident, business donate to high school’s Enrichment Fund By EMILY FEATHERSTON For Stacy Flippen, being aware of the gap in Homewood City Schools funding wasn’t enough. When she learned that the schools, especially the high school, are not always able to find funding for technology and teacher enrichment, she decided to help. Flippen made a private donation of $3,000 to the Homewood High School Academic Enrichment Fund, which aims to make up the shortfalls caused by limited state education funding. “The state is only able to do so much,” she said. Flippen is a real estate agent with ARC Realty, but has a background as an elementary school teacher. Because she has worked in education, Flippen said, she could see the need for the grants and programs that were not being funded and wanted to make a difference and support the teachers. She said the fund is important because while other Homewood schools host large fundraisers and festivals to raise money, the high school doesn’t have anything on that scale. When Flippen mentioned the donation to others at ARC, the company decided to match her donation to the fund. “We feel it’s important to invest,” said Tommy Brigham, ARC chairman and co-founder. He said the company recognizes the importance of supporting education, and added that one of the company’s goals has been to focus on engaging with local school systems to make the community more successful. “Property values and the strength of property
values are intrinsically tied to the quality of the schools, and Homewood schools are as good a school system as you’ll find,” he said. Brigham said providing technology and teacher enrichment can provide a “cutting-edge opportunity” for the school and for the kids, so both can compete at a global level. “The Homewood City Schools Foundation is very important to the future of Homewood City Schools,” Brigham said. He said he hopes ARC’s actions will encourage other area businesses to participate in creating a “funding vehicle” that will help the school system fund these programs more frequently. Flippen also said she saw the opportunity as a way to encourage others to support the school. Homewood City Schools Superintendent Bill Cleveland said the benefits of the donations are twofold: Not only will the funds provide technology and programs, but, he said, the act will also show students the importance of giving back to their community. “[It’s] a model that says, ‘It’s important to give back.’ It says, ‘Education is important.’” Cleveland said the donations from Flippen and ARC will go toward grants, and teachers will write grant proposals for the technology or programs they wish to fund. Because the demands of the local systems are outpacing the level of state funding, Cleveland said, these grants are extremely valuable. “We’re very blessed and fortunate,” he said. Cleveland said this type of donation is only one of the examples of support that the system
Homewood High School students use Chromebooks in a career-preparedness class. Chromebooks are one of the many ways grant funding is used. Photo by Emily Featherston.
receives and that all show the students “a type of civic pride” individuals and businesses have in their community.
For more information about the foundation and past grants it has provided, visit homewoodcityschoolsfoundation.org.
TheHomewoodStar.com
January 2016 • B9
Hall-Kent student wins countywide poster competition
Hall-Kent Elementary School fourth-grader Mika Marriott (left) recently won a countywide poster competition. Photo courtesy of Dale Gilmore.
Mika Marriott, a fourth-grader at Hall-Kent Elementary School, recently won the countywide Farm/City Poster Contest. Homewood is fairly new to the competition, said Dale Gilmore, Farm/ City Chairman of the Jefferson County Farmers Association, and Marriott is the first winner from the Homewood School System. The contest was a part of Jefferson County’s National Farm/City Week, which is observed the week before Thanksgiving. This year’s theme was “Agriculture: Sustaining Future Generations,” which aimed to call attention to the sustainability of farming and how its reach goes past farms through modern environmental
practices and economic stimulus. The Jefferson County Farmers Federation sponsored the poster contest, which encourages elementary students to consider their ties to agriculture. Marriott was the fourth- to sixthgrade winner, and Oak Grove Elementary student Emma Swiney won in the younger group. A dinner to honor the winners was held at the Hyatt Regency in Hoover, and the students received $100. Their teachers also received $100 to be used in their classrooms. Marriott’s poster will be sent to Montgomery and entered in a state competition. - Submitted by Dale Gilmore
Student selected for national advisory board Homewood High School senior Kendall Wulbrun has been selected from hundreds of applicants to be a member of the State Farm Advisory Board for 2016. The 31 students from across the United States and Canada comprise the State Farm Youth Advisory Board. Wulbrun was one of 15 new members selected this year. They are charged with helping State Farm design and implement a $5 million-a-year signature service-learning initiative to address issues important to State Farm and communities across the United States. The Youth Advisory Board and State Farm embark on several service-learning projects each year countrywide. - Submitted by Homewood City Schools
OLS holds Internet safety seminar for parents By ERICA TECHO Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School recently held an informational session for parents hoping to learn more about Internet and electronics safety. Lt. Mike Yarbrough from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department spoke with parents at a Lunch and Learn session, providing information about any potential risks associated with technology, the Internet and social media. Yarbrough said if parents do not pay attention to how their children are using electronics, someone else might. “Kids aren’t bad, they are just not being monitored,” Yarbrough said. “You wouldn’t send a child into a room full of strangers and
let them do what they want. The Internet isn’t any different.” Yarbrough informed parents on the different apps kids typically use and advised them to check their children’s electronic devices regularly. Yarbrough also spoke with fourth- through eighth- grade students, teaching them how to use the Internet wisely. “We felt that everyone, parents and children alike, who attended the sessions learned some interesting and vital information,” said OLS Principal Mary Jane Dorn. “We hope that those who attended the sessions will take the information seriously and apply what they have learned in their family life.”
The Homewood Star
B10 • January 2016
Sports Wrestling team begins season
Homewood indoor track and field eam spotlight By SAM CHANDLER The Homewood boys are looking for a four-peat, and the girls are looking to finally break out of the runner-up position as the track and field indoor season ramps up. Here are the athletes to watch:
GIRLS
Members of the Homewood wrestling team hold their third place overall trophy at the Gardendale Invitational in December. Photo by Scott Butler.
The Homewood High School wrestling team started off its season on Dec. 3 with a win over Chelsea High School and a third place finish at the Gardendale Invitational on Dec. 4 and 5. Eight team members placed in the tournament: Daniel and Miguel Figueroa were named champions, Jesus Figueroa and Marshall Stone placed second in their classes, Bailey Roan and Carial Tarter placed third and Wesley Butler and Javonic Turner placed fourth. The team is still developing as some wrestlers have changed weight classes. The team leaders are seniors Daniel Figueroa, the defending Sectional Champion and two-time state placer, and Wesley Butler, returning state qualifier. With the success of the eight placers at
Gardendale, the coaches are excited to see the development of several wrestlers who did not place but wrestled well, such as Jake Vella who went 3-2, Ethan Sherman who went 2-2 and Jabari Blackmon, who was on a winning streak but did not place as he missed his weight that day. The coaches also expect good performance from two returning starters, Kris Wilkins and Avi Goldstein. Daniel and Jesus Figueroa, Stone, Tarter, Turner, Butler and Ethan Sherman are previous state qualifiers at the high school level. Miguel Figueroa was a Metro Champion and State runner-up in middle school last year, and other young wrestlers to watch include Tobias Thomas, Turner, Tarter, Blackmon and Goldstein. - Submitted by Eddie Crocker
► Elysa Griffin, senior: 2015 6A indoor long jump state champ who also excels in the 60 meters. She could cap a stellar indoor career with a pair of individual titles. ► Ann Mosely Whitsett, junior: Accomplished mid-distance runner will look to reclaim her indoor state title in the 800 meters, placing second last year after winning as a freshman in 2014. ► Christian Hill, sophomore: Springy sophomore shines in both the horizontal and vertical jumps.
BOYS
► Andy Smith, senior: Distance standout battled injuries throughout the fall. If he’s back at full health and regains past form, he’ll be hard to beat. ► Hunter Poole, senior: Consistent veteran will look to build on an impressive cross-country season after breaking through with a third-place finish at November’s 6A state meet. ► Patrick Domingo, junior: Talented jumper and hurdler can score points in a number of events.
TOP NEWCOMERS
► Aiya Finch, freshman: Gifted long
jumper and triple jumper with improving speed. ► Victoria Thompson, seventh grade: Youngster will make an impact in the longer distance events. ► Will Stone, freshman: One of the state’s top distance runners with an incredibly bright future.
COACH’S TAKE
► Head Coach Tom Esslinger: “Our first priority is to do the best we are capable of doing, and we hope that leads to championships. Based on returning athletes and previous marks, it will definitely be a challenge to win state in both divisions. “Opelika will be significant favorites in the boys, and there are several other teams that will also be battling with us. We have had a good run of winning three in a row on the boys side, and I know our guys will do their very best to keep that streak alive. “On the girls side, we are hoping to build on the momentum of the spring where we won our second straight outdoor title. We are also hoping to get some redemption during the indoor season because we have gotten the runner-up trophy the last three years, including a two point loss to Pelham last year. Pelham will be tough to beat this year because they have almost all their team members from last year back.”
KEY DATES
► Jan. 9: Ice Breaker Invitational ► Jan. 29-30: Last Chance Invitational ► Feb. 5-6: AHSAA State Indoor Track and Field Championships
TheHomewoodStar.com
January 2016 • B11
Opinion Guest Editorial By Mark E. Wilson
Ordinary Days By Lauren Denton
Congrats, Homewood, for clearing the air
I got a book deal ... and life goes on
The city of Homewood is already known as a good place to live, work and visit, and it just got better. Homewood recently joined five other Jefferson County municipalities (Birmingham, Clay, Fultondale, Midfield and Vestavia Hills) in adopting strong smoke-free protections that minimize exposure to secondhand smoke and its negative health consequences. Notable improvements over the previous ordinance include smoke-free public patios, a 20-foot smoke-free zone from doors and open windows of public places, and the incorporation of electronic cigarettes into the ordinance. Homewood hotels are also going 100 percent smoke-free, so there will no longer be smoking rooms. This is important, because even with segregation of smoking rooms into certain floors or sections of a building, spread of toxins from tobacco smoke to other areas cannot be completely prevented. Perhaps more importantly, hotel workers will now be protected from secondhand and “third-hand” smoke (residual toxins emitted from carpets, furniture, fabrics, etc.). Electronic cigarettes and “vaping” are admittedly controversial, and some smokers report using them as a way to get off cigarettes, but there are good reasons for including these in the smoke-free ordinance. The first reason is to avoid encouraging young people to initiate use of these products, or seeing their use in public places as a social norm to be imitated. E-cigarettes are available in several flavors that entice children. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, regardless of the form it is in, and National Youth Tobacco Survey data show e-cigarette use among youth is on the rise. Electronic cigarette use among teens is associated with a higher likelihood of using regular tobacco. The second reason is that the aerosol emitted from
In the nearly five years that Macaulay Culkin’s face in “Home I’ve been writing this column, Alone” when he slaps aftershave I’ve been in one stage or another on his skin. That look of openmouthed horror mimicked the of what I’ve long hoped would be the road to book publication. At panicky thoughts that raced various points along the way, I’ve through my brain, hot on the heels been absorbed in writing (which of all the excitement: A two-book sometimes feels like squeezing deal means I have to write another water from a brick), reading about book! the craft of writing, researching After all, I set out to be a agents and publishers, writing writer of books, plural. It’s a Denton query letters, sending those letgood thing, but the task sort of ters to agents and racking up piles of rejection feels like standing at the bottom of a mounletters. tain (and not Red Mountain — more like Then, in late August, the same morning Everest), and knowing I have to get to the both kids had their school orientations, I top because I signed the dotted line saying finally, finally got the news I’d been hoping I would get to the top. Nothing like a gentle for — I’d been offered a two-book deal from nudge to let you know things are serious. a division of HarperCollins! My first book That’s where I am now — working on that (tentatively titled “The Hideaway”) will second book. I took the holidays off from come out in April of next year, and book two writing to focus on family, Christmas and will come out a year later. I’d been waiting regrouping. I don’t feel all that “grouped” for that moment for so long, it was almost now, but that’s life. It doesn’t slow down for anticlimactic. One minute I was sitting on anyone or anything, so all we can do is get a the floor of my kitchen listening to my agent decent toehold and try to hang on. tell me the offer came — wrapping my head So if you see me in the grocery store around the fact that THISISHAPPENING! checkout line mumbling to myself or at — and the next minute, I was brushing the the library face-down on a work table, just kids’ teeth, wiping jelly off their faces and remind me I wanted this. I even asked for shuffling them out the door to meet their new it! With a firm grasp on some good writing teachers. And life goes on. muses and a whole lot of prayer, hopefully So what happened next? I waited (more at some point, my Macaulay Culkin face waiting?!) for three months before receiving will be replaced with something a little less the actual contract and signing it, thereby panicked, a little more hopeful, maybe even making it official. When I signed the papers, celebratory. my friend Anna texted me various “excited, I’d love to connect! Email me at Laurencelebratory” GIFs that made me laugh, KDenton@gmail.com or find me on Twitter but what I really needed was one showing @LaurenKDenton.
e-cigarettes is not harmless; it contains a variety of toxic chemicals, including nicotine and some carcinogens and that can be inhaled secondhand. Some may ask, “Won’t this ordinance hurt businesses?” Based on the experience of the city of Birmingham and countless other cities across the country, smoke-free ordinances on the whole have not harmed business revenues, including those of bars and hotels, and in some cases have been associated with an increase in revenues. A ninestate study that included data from 216 smoke-free cities and counties, published in the CDC’s journal Preventing Chronic Disease in 2013, suggested that smoke-free laws did not have an adverse economic impact on restaurants or bars in any of the states studied. Alabama was one of the states in this study. Finally, we in public health, along with our partners who advocate for smoke-free policies, are not against people who do smoke. We recognize a lot of people know they need to quit and want to quit but have a difficult time kicking the habit. The Alabama Tobacco Quitline, at 1-800-QUITNOW (784-8669) or online at QuitNowAlabama. com, provides free assistance from trained smoking cessation counselors for any Alabamian who is ready to quit. Congratulations to Homewood for this big win for the public’s health and for business and overall quality of life, and for helping Jefferson County move closer toward the goal of being 100 percent protected by strong smoke-free ordinances. It would be great if the Alabama Legislature could go ahead and propel us forward by passing a comprehensive smoke-free law for the entire state. Mark E. Wilson, MD, is the Jefferson County Health Officer and Chief Executive of the Jefferson County Department of Health.
B12 • January 2016
The Homewood Star
Guest Editorial By Yasmene Shalaby-Essalah
The Muslim next door I
am a teacher. I am a mother. I am an American. I am a fan of Taylor Swift. I am a resident of Homewood. And I am a Muslim. I was born and raised in Alabama and have become more and more disenchanted with many people who share my religion. I see people at the mosque with whom I should feel camaraderie, but because of the way they dress and look, I distance myself from them. Do I, like other Americans, fear others because of the way they look? How absurd and how hypocritical do I feel since I too am a Muslim? I allow myself to be influenced by the anti-Muslim sentiment, but who can deny the fact that the people committing these horrific crimes are (sadly) in many ways like me. They are American born, raised and educated, so I ask myself, what went wrong? Why? How are they different from me? I grew up in the ‘90s, and I keep having flashbacks of that R.E.M. song, “Losing My Religion.” That song captures what I am feeling today, but really, am I losing my religion? No, I love my religion and do not consider those who are extremists Muslims at all. I wish more traditional or average Muslims (Sunni, Shiite and Ismaili) would tell everyone that Islam means peace. We greet each other with “Asalam Alaykum,” which means “peace be upon you.” Why are we not greeting others with this message of peace and goodwill? As a teacher, I have encountered students time and again who are taken aback when they discover I am a Muslim. Their response is always the same: “Ms. Shalaby, are you really a Muslim? I can’t believe it ... you’re so nice.”
HOMEWOOD
•
“
I am a teacher. I am a mother. I am an American. I am a fan of Taylor Swift ... And I am a Muslim.
”
YASMENE SHALABYESSALAH
I am always so saddened that my students equate Muslims with all things evil. I am proud and happy that many times in the past 10 years I have given them a positive image of a Muslim. Last night I had to answer my 7-year old child’s question: “Momma, does that mean that if that man [referring to Donald Trump] becomes president, Mema [her grandmother in Morocco] won’t be able to visit us again?” I was so saddened that my child asked me this. I want her to feel happy and proud to be an American Muslim — terms that I believe are harmonious. I am writing this and hoping to have it read with one goal in mind: I want the people I live next door to, shop with and mix with every week at ALDI and Target to understand that we (meaning Muslims) are not all bad. We (meaning all Americans) must work together to find a solution to terrorism, and hopefully Islam can be associated with what it truly is: a religion of peace.
ALABAMA
877-8797
Wayne Salem, Owner
2913 18th Street S. www.salemsdiner.com Monday - Friday: 6:30 am - 2:00 pm Saturday: 6:30 am - 3:00 pm
HOME OF THE PHILLY CHEESESTEAK
Above: Yasmene ShalabyEssalah’s children on their first day of school at Shades Cahaba Elementary. Right: Yasmene Shalaby-Essalah celebrates Christmas with students at Pleasant Grove High School. Photos courtesy of Yasmene Shalaby-Essalah.
TheHomewoodStar.com
January 2016 • B13
Homewood Real Estate Listings MLS #
Zip
Address
Status
Price
735229
35209
306 English Circle
New
$759,900
735701
35209
304 Yorkshire Drive
New
$649,000
735577
35209
407 Skyview Drive #K
New
$27,900
735266
35209
315 Edgewood Boulevard
New
$419,780
735252
35209
951 Forest Drive S.
New
$229,780
735247
35209
133 Glenwood Drive W.
New
$314,900
734724
35209
1116 Iredell Circle
New
$267,000
734704
35209
705 Cobb Street
New
$170,000
734535
35209
947 Forest Drive S.
New
$239,780
734519
35209
1111 Fern Street
New
$269,900
734412
35209
1032 Saulter Road
New
$275,000
734376
35209
618 Manchester Lane
New
$649,900
734151
35209
446 Raleigh Avenue
New
$130,000
734129
35209
2909 Central Avenue #105
New
$219,900
733962
35209
1617 Beckham Drive
New
$239,780
733847
35209
1831 28Th Avenue #410
New
$349,900
733805
35209
504 Oxford Circle
New
$339,900
733798
35209
18 Ventura Avenue
New
$468,900
Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on Dec. 14. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.
306 English Circle
1032 Saulter Road
The Homewood Star
B14 • January 2016
Calendar Homewood Events Jan. 12: Homewood Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Committee Meeting. 11:30 a.m. Homewood Chamber of Commerce, 7 Hollywood Blvd. Visit homewoodchamber.com.
Center, 800 Lakeshore Drive. Women host Mercer at 2 p.m. Men host Western Carolina at 6 p.m. $10$15. Visit samfordsports.com.
Arts Center, Samford University. Presented by Opera Birmingham Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Jan 24 at 2:30 p.m. $20-$90. Visit operabirmingham.org.
Jan. 17: The SoHo Bridal Show. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Rosewood Hall at SoHo Square, 2850 19th Street South. $10. Visit engagedbirmingham.com.
Jan. 23: Red Shoe Run. 7:30 p.m. Rosewood Hall at SoHo Square. 10 mile, 5K or 1 mile fun run. $20-$45. Visit redshoerun-bham.org.
Jan. 18: Author Helen Ellis. 4 p.m. Alabama Booksmith, 2626 19th Place South. Signing “American Housewife: Stories.”
Jan. 23: Samford women’s basketball v. Chattanooga. 2 p.m. Pete Hanna Center, 800 Lakeshore Drive. $10-$15. Visit samfordsports.com.
Jan. 14: Samford men’s basketball v. ETSU. 7 p.m. Pete Hanna Center, 800 Lakeshore Drive. $10-$15. Visit samfordsports.com.
Jan. 21: Samford women’s basketball v. ETSU. 6 p.m. Pete Hanna Center, 800 Lakeshore Drive. $10-$15. Visit samfordsports.com.
Jan. 16: Samford basketball. Pete Hanna
Jan. 22-24: La Traviata. Leslie S. Wright Fine
Jan. 26: Alabama Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster & Friends Series: Russian Moods. 7:30 p.m. Brock Recital Hall, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive. $32. Visit alabamasymphony.org.
Jan. 12: Oak Hill Cemetery and Birmingham’s Madame. Noon. Homewood Library, 1721 Oxmoor Road. Jim Langley, author, will discuss the story of Alabama’s oldest cemetery and the lives of other Birmingham notables buried there. Presented by the Greater Birmingham OLLI. Visit olli.ua.edu.
Jan. 26: An Evening with Art Garfunkel. 7 p.m. Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive. $50-$200. Visit tickets.samford.edu. Jan. 29: New Works Concert. 8 p.m. Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive. $8-$15. Visit tickets.samford.edu. Jan. 30: Samford men’s basketball v. Chattanooga. 6 p.m. Pete Hanna Center, 800 Lakeshore Drive. $10 -$15. Visit samfordsports.com. Jan. 30: Jessica Lang Dance. 8 p.m. Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Drive. New York City based dance company. $15-$25. Visit alabamadancecouncil.org.
Homewood Public Library Events Children Jan. 4: Preschool Playtime. 10 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. For ages 3 and under. Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26: Wee Ones. 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. For ages 24 months and under. Jan. 6: Tinker Toddlers. 1:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. This new monthly storytime for ages 5 & under encourages toddlers to explore their world through stories and play. Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27: Wiggleworm Wednesdays. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. All ages storytime with music and fun.
Jan. 10: Our World Our Library (O.W.O.L.) 2:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Stories, activities, and crafts about World Religion Day, which is celebrated in January. Jan. 14: iTween: Guinness World Records. 4 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Attempt to break a variety of actual Guinness World Records. 4th-7th grade. Jan. 19: Infinity Ring Book Club 6 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Pizza and new book club that will read through the Infinity Ring series Registration required. 4th-6th grade. Jan. 21: Paw Patrol Party. 6:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Join Ryder and some of our
favorite Homewood Community Helpers for a night of Paw Patrol fun. Jan. 23: Celebrate 75 Years with Dumbo. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. Dumbo turns 75 years old this year and so does Homewood Public Library. Celebrate with Dumbo and friends for a morning of circus delight. Jan. 25: Knight Chess Tournament. 5:30-7 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Monthly chess tournament teaching strategy and fun. K-12th Grade. Jan. 25: Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. Science, math, and other S.T.E.A.M. concepts are brought to life through picture books and fun activities to promote Kindergarten
readiness. For ages 5 and under. Teens Jan. 4: Spine Crackers: Teen Book Club. 4:30 p.m. in the Boardroom. New teen book club will discuss Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles in the world of cyborg fairytales. Jan. 7: Teen Anime Club. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Love manga or anything Japanese related? Join the Teen Anime Club as we discuss and watch anime while sampling various Japanese candies! Jan. 12 & 26: Girls Who Code. 4-6 p.m. in the Boardroom. National club is geared toward
Newly Expanded
Lunch specials $5.99-$7.99 Tuesday-Friday 10 am - 3:30 pm Full dinner menu available all day Live Lobster, Crabs, Bullfrogs, Tilapia, and Eels Large Selection of Fresh Oriental Veggies
Market & Red Pearl Restaurant 243 W Valley Ave, Homewood • 205.945.9558 • superorientalmkt.com
January 31, 2016
TheHomewoodStar.com
January 2016 • B15
Calendar Homewood Public Library Events Cont. empowering girls in grades 6-12 who are interested in the computer science field No registration required, but participants are encouraged to bring their laptops. Jan. 20: Zen Coloring. 4 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Stressed? Take an hour to relax and rediscover the joy of coloring. All supplies provided. Jan. 21: Rough Draft Writing Crew. 4:30 p.m. in Room 101 (Lower Level). Do you write poetry? Short stories? Journal or blog? Improve your writing skills while meeting other teens who are interested in creative writing. Jan. 25: Virtual-Reality. 4 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. UAB’s Enabling Technology Lab demonstrates their coolest scientific equipment including virtual-reality headsets and a 3D TV. Adults Jan. 5: Downton Abbey Tea & Trivia. 6:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Trivia questions will cover seasons 1-5. Don’t forget your tea cup and saucer. Prizes will also be awarded for most unique tea cup, best hat, and best costume ensemble! Online registration required. January 7, 14, & 26, and February 2: January Pre-Code Film Festival: Crime & Punishment. 6:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Gangsters in films during the Pre-Code year (before 1934) were seen by many as heroic rather than evil. The featured films are Jan. 7, The Big House; Jan. 14, Hold Your Man; Jan. 26, Ladies They Talk About; Feb. 2, Public Enemy. Jan. 12: OLLI Bonus Program: The History of Oak Hill Cemetery. 12 p.m. in Room 101 (Lower Level). Oak Hill Cemetery is Birmingham’s oldest cemetery. Most of the 10,000 or so burials at Oak Hill were interred before 1930, including many historically significant Birmingham residents.
Jan 12: Oxmoor Page Turner’s Book Club: Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff. 6:30 p.m. in the Boardroom. Every story has two sides. Every relationship has two perspectives. And sometimes, it turns out, the key to a great marriage is not its truths but its secrets. Jan. 15: After Hours at the Library: Speakeasy Style. 6:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Bartender Clair McLafferty will discuss classic 1920’s cocktails and concoct one for tasting. This is a free program but online registration is required. Jan. 21: The Body Confidence Fo mula: Stress-Free Weight Loss with EFT. 6:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Join us as Terri Heiman explains how using Emotional Freedom Techniques can help you lose weight and gain confidence in yourself gain. Books will be available for purchase. Jan. 25: Bossypants Book Club. 6:30-8 p.m. at Nabeel’s Café. Discuss Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh. Jan. 26: LibraryFlix. 3:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. When her father unexpectedly passes away, young Ella (Lily James) finds herself t the mercy of her cruel stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her scheming step-sisters. Never one to give up hope, Ella’s fortunes begin to change after meeting a dashing stranger. Jan. 27: The Better Than Therapy Book Club: Circling the Sun by Paula McLain. 2 p.m. in the Boardroom. Circling the Sun brings to life a fearless and captivating woman—Beryl Markham, a record-setting aviator caught up in a passionate love triangle. Jan. 28: Neuroscience Café: Alzheimer’s Treatment and Care. 6:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium
Homewood High School Athletics Boys Varsity Basketball
Girls Varsity Basketball
Jan. 8: v. Briarwood. 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 8: v. Briarwood. 6 p.m.
Jan. 15: @ John Carroll. 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 12: v. Pelham. 6 p.m.
Jan. 19: @ Briarwood. 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 15: @ John Carroll. 6 p.m.
Jan. 22: @ Pelham. 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 19: @ Briarwood. 6 p.m.
Jan. 25: v. Midfield 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 22: @ Pelham. 6 p.m.
Jan. 29: @ Vestavia. 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 29: @ Vestavia. 6 p.m.
Area Events Jan. 2: 5th Annual Resolution Run. 7:30 a.m. Red Mountain Park, 281 Lyon Lane. Featuring 5K, 10K and 20K courses. Visit raceroster. com to register. Jan. 10: Southern Bridal Show. BJCC Exhibition Hall, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North. 12 p.m.-5 p.m. $10 advance, $15 at door. Visit eliteevents.com. Jan. 14-16: Lyric Theatre Grand Opening: 3 Nights of Moderne Vaudeville. 7:30 p.m. 1800 Third Ave. North. $40-$60. Visit lyricbham.com.
Jan. 17: Alabama Symphony Orchestra Reflect & Rejoice: A ribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 3 p.m. Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center, 1200 10th Ave. South. $9-$24. Visit alabamasymphony.org. Jan. 17: The SoHo Bridal Show. 1 p.m.4 p.m. Rosewood Hall at SoHo Square, 2850 19th Street South. $10. Visit engagedbirmingham.com. Jan. 21-24: Birmingham Boat Show. BJCC, Exhibition Hall, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North. Jan. 21-22 from 12 p.m.-9 p.m.; Jan. 23 from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Jan. 24 from 12 p.m.- 5 p.m.
A PUBLIC NOTICE FROM ALABAMA POWER
TREE CREWS WORKING IN HOMEWOOD THROUGH EARLY 2016 Alabama Power crews are working in several Homewood neighborhoods, removing trees and other vegetation that threaten the safety and reliability of our electrical system. As part of this process, Alabama Power goes to great lengths to talk with individual property owners. Company representatives are going door to door, leaving notices at locations where work is needed. If you have any questions before crews come by your home, please call Alabama Power at 205-257-2155 and ask for someone in the Vegetation Management Group to contact you. Or you can email us at apcvm@southernco.com. Work in Homewood and nearby areas is expected to continue through early 2016. Also, you can go online to alpwr.co/vm for more information about these safety and reliability measures, as well as resources for property owners who would like recommendations about planting the right tree in the right place.
Thank you for your understanding. We appreciate your business. Vegetation Management Group 205-257-2155 | apcvm@southernco.com
Š 2015 Alabama Power Company.
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