Bham Family - February 2023

FEBRUARY 2023

GOING ON

Teen, Analeigh Wicker, becomes youngest black girl to get into medical school Page 26

Scoop! Here’s the

Make plans to dip into Hoover’s new family-owned milkshake spot Page 16

All You Need is Love…and washable paint for these fun

Valentine’s crafts

Irondale

Hosts Young Entrepreneurs Day

Dietrich Goes to the Grand Ole Opry

Sean

Dear Readers,

After the longest January on record—I say that every year!— February is here! The month of love, and we’re sharing lots of it in this issue. Let’s get right to it.

I really enjoy doing crafts with my daughter. I’m not much for pretend play—I make a mean meal out of plastic fruits and vegetables, and no one is a better fake MD at the baby hospital than me—but I prefer getting out the paint and glue and making messy memories and mementoes I’ll cherish for years to come. (My husband can play hair salon with our daughter for hours— teamwork makes the dream work!) Whether you’re an art project junkie like me or not, I guarantee our Valentine’s Day-themed DIYs will convert you. Turn to page 23 to find these simple, easyto-do, mostly mess-free projects, and choose one to try with your kiddo. (Be sure to tag us on Instagram @bhamfamilyal with your finished product!)

STATE TRACK CHAMPS

The Altamont School girls’ track team recently won the 2023 class 1A-3A indoor track and field state title, edging out runner-up Houston Academy by 0.4 points—one of the closest finishes in state history. “With no margin for error, we battled back and forth all day, event by event, coming down to the final race for a dramatic ending,” says Coach Jamie Rediker. Congratulations to the team!

Speaking of MDs, we know the real-deal doctors flock to Birmingham for UAB’s highly regarded Heersink School of Medicine. We’re so fortunate to have such top-tier education and care in our city. On page 26, you can read all about Alena Analeigh, a young teen who became the youngest black student to ever be accepted to medical school when she received early admittance to Heersink through the school’s Burroughs Wellcome Scholars Early Assurance Program and partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in Alabama. Maybe this month isn’t your favorite and, as only a seventies rock band in all its bell-bottomed, longhaired glory can, reminds you that “love hurts.” We have something for you, too: Turn to Alana Smith’s Holy Moly Motherhood column on page 10, flip that frown upside down, and go split a treat from Hoover’s Magic Milkshakes & More with the kiddos (page 16). I promise, it’ll melt your hard heart! Kidding aside, this family dessert destination is worth the calories, and Shana and Monti’s sweet story is equally worth reading.

On a more serious note, sharing the love is what we’re all about, so I’m pleased to showcase a nonprofit on page 20 that is caring for the community in tangible ways. It was such a joy to learn more about Circle of Love and the heart behind their mission.

We have so much more in this issue, and I hope you’ll find the time to read it cover to cover, in between cleaning sticky fingers and accepting sugary kisses. Here’s to a “love”ly month!

PS: We never grow tired of showcasing the amazing people and things they continue to do around the Birmingham area. If you know of a person, event, or business we should feature, we’d love to hear from you! Email me anytime.

Stephanie Gibson Lepore, Content Director and Mom, stephanie@jbmcmedia.com

LOCALLY MADE | LOCALLY SOURCED

cutting boards | Charcuterie trays

bathtub caddies | bed swings

stovetop covers | tables | planters

shelves | bookcases

custom orders accepted

facebook: @deogloriawoodworks

Instagram: @deogloriawoodworks

Bham Family is published monthly by JBMC Media, LLC, P.O. Box 26432, Birmingham AL 35260. 10,000 copies are printed and distributed at more than 650 locations throughout Jefferson and Shelby Counties.

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Just for Dads

Ward Williams gives advice p. 8

Holy Moly Motherhood

L-O-V-E p. 10

Sean of the South

The Grand Ole Opry p. 14

Families in Business

The Osmans bring milkshakes and more to Hoover. p. 16

Faith

Circle of Love cares for children in the community. p. 20

Food Review

Check out Capella Pizzeria. p. 28

Kids Who Shine

Hoover siblings win awards p. 30

FEATURE STORIES

Young Entrepreneurs

Irondale hosts second-annual showcase p. 12

Hearts and Crafts

Try these simple, kid-friendly Valentine’s DIYs p. 23

The Brown STEM Girl

Teen becomes youngest person accepted into medical school. p. 26

Have you ever wondered how much your opinion of faith and the way you practice faith impacts your kids? According to the book, Handing Down the Faith: How Parents Pass Their Religion on to the Next Generation by Christian Smith and Amy Adamczyk, you matter the most. You, the parent, play the leading role in shaping the character of your kids’ religious and spiritual lives, even after they leave your home and, often, for the rest of their lives. You have a special voice and influence on your kids: You are the first voice they hear and the first bond they make.

Many of the parents interviewed for this book said that, even though they found religion important, they were intentionally only practicing moderate levels of religious commitment. If you skip religious activities for sports, schoolwork, sleeping in, shopping, work, dance, or any other activities, children will believe those activities are more important than faith activities. If you send your kid to Guatemala for two hours a week but they never speak Spanish any other time, there is a high probability they will not learn to speak Spanish. Many parents are not taking their kids to church or a religious organization for two

hours each week. As a parent, you need to make sure that the religious group that your kids do participate in is actually doing the religious activity you find important. I spent a month in Guatemala in college but was not forced to speak Spanish because I continually hung out with Englishspeaking friends and classmates.

1 Thessalonians 2:8 says: “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well.” As a longtime youth pastor, this Bible verse described my motto for youth ministry. I firmly believe that teenagers don’t care about what you know until they know that you care. Kids will often internalize the values and beliefs of those they care about and have deep bonds with. Research has shown that the quality of conversations and interactions about religion between parents and children is more important in influencing children than the particular content parents want to instill or teach. If you learn to make faith a natural and important part of your life as a parent, you will most likely have long-lasting influence on their psychological adjustment, romantic lives, and future family functioning as adults. You have more power to affect their eternity than you probably realize.

Ward Williams is the founder and executive director of Vineyard Family Services. Contact him at ward@vfsdads. com.

Ward Williams

PHOTOGRAPH BY BEN WHITE ON UNSPLASH

L-O-V-E

Valentine’s Day.

Sheesh, those words might give you the cold sweats. It’s probably the most controversial of holidays, with most folks either loving it or hating it. Either you’re all in, or you’re yelling, “Don’t come at me Cupid!” It doesn’t help that the moment the New Year rings in, stores are bursting with teddy bears and Sweethearts, begging for lovers everywhere to buy. It’s a lot, I know.

And if you don’t have a Valentine, all the heart-shaped chocolate boxes and diamond commercials probably make your stomach turn. Maybe your last relationship went down in flames faster than a California wildfire. Maybe you’ve sworn off relationships all together because they are so darn complicated. I should capitalize COMPLICATED. Maybe you just aren’t feeling the love this year. I don’t blame you.

Even if you do have a Valentine to celebrate with, you might not want to. Maybe your spouse has been a prickly pain in the rear lately. Maybe you just flat-out don’t like flowers and candy. Maybe your husband forgot Valentine’s Day last year, and you wanted to give him a knuckle sandwich. Maybe you just don’t want to face the crowds and the overpriced steak dinner. I don’t blame you one bit.

I’m not really a flowers girl, myself. I like sunflowers and would rather have a few of those than $70 roses. I also don’t want to cut the stems, pour the flower food, and arrange the whole deal—that spells work, and it’s not really my love language.

I think that is a big part of where spouses tend to go wrong with gifting. I know, for me, I really just want to be seen and appreciated as a wife and a mother. I want the “We can’t keep this place afloat without you!” sentiment. And paying attention to the little details is key.

Does she like to read? Don’t buy her a hardback book if you always see her with paperbacks. Don’t buy her jewelry if she rarely

wears it. Does she love coffee? Nothing feels better than ordering a $7 latte and it being free, so stick a gift card in with her candy. Does she just want some time alone, away from the kids and the dishes? Give her that.

My kids are my favorite part of Valentine’s Day. I love seeing their faces light up over a few balloons and treats. I have two young boys, and I think it’s so important to remember that I’m raising future men—how I approach holidays will likely be how they approach them. Even if I’m not feeling it, I hope they do. I hope to leave them with the warm and fuzzies about this day, that they will pass that on in their future relationships.

So, if February 14th is not your favorite day, then I hope you’ll make it better with a new kind of Valentine. Love your dog? Valentine him up. Send your neighbor—who always gets your mail—a box of candy. Go out to dinner with your girlfriends, and give those sticky-sweet couples the side-eye. Heck, be your own Valentine. You do you—and make it your best Valentine’s Day ever.

Alana Smith is a boy mom (ages 7 and 2), nurse anesthetist, and writer in Birmingham. She shares her writing at Holy Moly Motherhood (on Facebook and Instagram), where she tackles all things motherhood and marriage.

Alana Smith

Encouraging Entrepreneurs

Irondale showcases young business owners with a day just for them.

On Saturday, March 4, Mayor James D. Stewart, Jr., will host Irondale’s second-annual Young Entrepreneurs Day at Shades Valley High School. More than 15 vendors ages 7-20 have already signed up to participate in the event, but there is still time this month to add your name to the list! Held in partnership with the school, the day is the perfect opportunity to present “junior” businesses—from art, jewelry, and baked goods to services like photography, lawncare, and more—to the public. Last year, Young Entrepreneurs Day participants were also booked as

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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF CITY OF IRONDALE

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featured vendors at several other city-sponsored events. There is no vendor fee.

Public support is encouraged through attendance and shopping; guests will be able to purchase art, jewelry, custom apparel, baked goods, beauty products, and more. Vendors will also showcase their services and booking appointments for photography, DJ, and other talents. Mayor Stewart will award first-, second-, and third-place Entrepreneurial Scholarships to the top businesses in each of three age divisions (K–5th grade; 6th–8th grade; and 9th grade–age 20), with award amounts ranging from $100 to $500. There will also be a $50 prize for awards such as Outstanding Branding and more.

“More than 25 young business owners participated in our first Irondale Young Entrepreneurs Day in 2022, and we are excited to continue growing the program this year,” says Stewart. “We believe this is event is not only a learning opportunity, but also a “micro” economic development agent because we’re nurturing and investing in small businesses right here in our community.”

For rules and egistration, visit cityofirondaleal.gov.

• Saturday, March 4, 1–4 p.m. Shades Valley High School Gymnasium, 6100 Old Leeds Road in Irondale.

• Open to all young entrepreneurs, but priority will be given to vendors who reside in Irondale or attend/recently graduated from a school in Irondale.

• Participants younger than 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign a release of liability with the City of Irondale upon entering the event space.

• There is no fee to be a vendor, and participants may sell their products or book services at the event.

• Each vendor will be provided with a table, tablecloth, and two chair. Vendors are responsible for their own signage and any other necessary materials, including payment processing.

Register at tinyurl.com/irondaleyeday. Email Emma Tolbert at etolbert@cityofirondaleal.gov with questions.

K I NGDOMKIDS SPRING&SUMME R CONSIGNMENT SALE

Open to the Public:

Thursday, March 9 -- 8am-7pm

Friday, March 10 -- 8am-6pm

Saturday, March 11 -- 7am-noon (many items discounted 50%)

Featuring gently-used children’s clothing size newborn to “big kid” 18, children’s shoes (all sizes), baby equipment, bikes, sports equipment, toys, games, puzzles, and more!

The Grand Ole Opry

“Get in, partner!” said my old man. “We’re late.”

My father was seated behind the wheel of a 1977 F-100. He was dressed in work clothes. Denim. Muddy boots. My father was building the GM plant. He had raccoon eyes from wearing welding goggles, and he smelled worse than a chicken plant burning down.

My father and I piled into the Ford. We drove across Nashville. Whereupon Daddy immediately stopped at Dairy Queen to buy ice cream.

My father was fanatical about his ice cream. In fact—this is true—on weekends when my mother was out of town, my father would eat three square meals of ice cream.

The lady behind the Dairy Queen counter handed us two chocolate-dipped cones and an order of fries. We ate them while speeding through Davidson County traffic at dusk.

When we arrived at Opryland, the place was about as big as a subtropical continent. Opryland is home of “The Grand Ole Opry.” It is America’s country-music theme park.

Think: Disneyland with cheating songs.

People filtered into the auditorium to see the Opry. Families. Kids. Winnebagos with gaggles of Midwestern tourists. Guys wearing cowboy hats. People in gaudy T-shirts. The smell of hotdogs and peanuts was in the air. It was like a baseball game, but with fiddles.

“Well, here we are,” said my father.

I was so excited I almost peed my Levis. I was wearing an oversize cowboy

hat. My father slapped my shoulder. “You practice your guitar hard enough, one day you’ll be up there on that stage.”

We found a seat. I watched the show with slack-jawed wonder. Because I’ve always been attracted to music. My music obsession began when I was 3, I watched my aunt play “Lo How a Rose ’Er Blooming” on the piano.

It changed my life.

You don’t choose to play music, music chooses you. It’s an affliction. A problem. An obsession. A compulsion.

I’ve played in bands since I was 9 years old. The first band was in church. I was on piano. Our band consisted of Miss Lynn (age 87) playing a 20-horsepower Hammond organ; Mister Dan (79) playing mandolin, and Miss Lula Mae (178) on the accordion. Our band sounded worse than a Peterbilt diesel falling into a canyon. But it worked.

Then, my life fell apart. My father killed himself when I was 11. After that, music became my berm.

I would lock myself in the basement and play my piano for, sometimes, 8 hours per day. I did this so I wouldn’t have to speak to anyone. I played because as long as I was playing, I wasn’t thinking. Thinking is what hurt the most.

By the time I was a young man, I had dropped out of school. I made a total wreck of my life. My peers were going to football games and learning about hickeys; I was working a job to help Mama. CONTINUED ON PAGE

In the evenings, I played music in establishments my deepwater Baptist mother would have preferred I avoided. Places where the patrons drank their suppers and lost money on Iron Bowls.

My first beer-joint gig was at age 15. I briefly played with a band who named themselves—this is true—“Free Beer.” Whenever the band’s name was spelled out on the marquee (Tonight at the VFW! Free Beer!), we drew huge crowds of greatly disappointed people.

Throughout the years, life would take me on a weird journey. I would play in lots of bands. I would complete my high-school equivalency. I would attend community college.

Eventually, I would become an author. Me. Of all people.

Then I started traveling around and

speaking and telling jokes and stories for a living. Music became part of my schtick. For about a decade, I’ve traveled around the United States trying to make people laugh a little.

I am not an impressive musician. In fact, I’m not even very good at what I do. I simply try to make people feel better. The reason I try is because the one thing I know for certain is that life can suck sometimes. And sometimes there’s nothing you can do but laugh about it.

I can trace my whole career back to that fateful evening when my father took me to the Grand Ole Opry. Daddy, in his filthy clothes, smelling badly. Me in my boots. For all his faults, the man believed in me.

And on March 24, 2023, the year of our Lord, I will be performing on The Grand Ole Opry stage, believing in him.

After which I’m going to Dairy Queen.

And I hope you know that you’re invited.

Serving Up Sweet Treats

BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE

Some people are born into the family business, their grandparents or great-grandparents having begun a service-based company decades ago. But those legacies must start somewhere, and Hoover couple Shana and Monti Osman decided to create their own. The Hoover couple, who hold individual jobs—Shana is a nurse leader at a local hospital, and Monti manages tax for a large corporation in town—

wanted a business they could run together, with their two young boys, ages 7 and 11, alongside.

“We travel as a family often—trying new restaurants, attending sporting events—and on trips the boys are always asking to go get ice cream and desserts,” says Shana. “About a year ago, we visited an ice cream shop with a lot of family fun flair, and we decided Hoover could really use a great entertainment dessert

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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF SHANA AND MONTI OSMAN

This Birmingham couple combines family and freshchurned shakes (and more!) at their dessert destination

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place.” After coming across a space they knew would be a “sweet” fit for their business, the Osmans opened Magic Milkshakes & More this past December on John Hawkins Parkway (near Tortugas Pizza). “We knew we wanted to be in Hoover,” she says. The name was as serendipitous as finding the location.

“The name came from our love for Birmingham, as we have been here for more than 25 years—we’re both UAB graduates,” says Shana. “And we also knew our store was going to serve more than just milkshakes: ice cream, brownie sundaes, waffle sundaes, waffle sticks, and waffle ice cream sandwiches.”

Having their boys join in the family was a no-brainer: “We’re all about family. We take our boys everywhere with us. Basically, every new adventure Monti and I have, we want our boys to experience as well, and this includes our business,” says Shana. “Both

boys are at the store all the time. On any given day, you may see them cleaning tables, taking food out to customers, drying dishes, or sweeping the floors. You also may see them watching the latest game on one of the TVs, because they love sports—we’re a big sports family!” Noting they have been fortunate to have both extended families to pitch in when needed, Shana says she and Monti are a great team: “We could not do it without each other.”

Together the whole family is making the most of their name, giving guests tastes of cold treats like waffle sticks and brownie sundaes and February’s special, a milkshake called the Crazy Cupid that includes the icecream trifecta—strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla—a chocolate icing-and-red pearl rim, and an iced Valentine’s cookie, topped with whipped cream and heart sprinkles. “Our top three shakes are the S.E.C. (cookies and cream and vanilla in a chocolate swirl cup with

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a chocolate rim, topped with crushed Oreos, whipped cream, a chocolate chip cookie, red sprinkles, and chocolate drizzle); M3 (homemade vanilla in a chocolate swirl cup with a chocolate rim, crushed Oreos, fudge brownie, whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles, and chocolate drizzle); and Royal Victory (chocolate chip cookie dough in a Nutella swirl cup with a vanilla icing rim, topped with chocolate chips, whipped cream, KitKats, chocolate sprinkles, and chocolate drizzle). We plan to continue a milkshake special each month. And we recently added the Waffle UP, which is a waffle ice cream sandwich,” says Shana.

The Osmans have not only brought a family dessert destination to Hoover—the eatery features arcade machines for younger customers and sports and adventure TV for everyone—but they also feel strongly about

being a part of the community. “Our kids are in the Hoover school system,” notes Shana. “We’re very involved with Hoover recreational sports with both boys. Our business has sponsored Hoover High School baseball this year, and we have two spirit nights coming up to support local schools: South Shades Crest Elementary on February 21 and Gwin Elementary on March 7. During spirit night hours, 20 percent of sales will go to the schools.” Recently, they have begun booking birthday parties on Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. (before the store opens), and they hope to extend the offerings soon.

“We are not a franchise; just a family-owned start-up dessert shop,” says Shana. “And we truly appreciate all the support from Hoover and the surrounding communities.”

Visit Magic Milkshakes & More at 2801 John Hawkins Parkway, Suite 157-O in Hoover. For more information, visit magicmilkshakesmore. com.

Circle of LOVE

Learn more about this Hoover foundation and how it’s showing practical care to children in our community

Q: What is Circle of Love and what type of work do they do in Birmingham?

A: The Circle of Love Foundation, nonprofit 501(c)(3), has been garnering awareness, providing support, and giving hope to children in need since 2004. The Circle of Love has touched the lives of more than 9,000 children. The foundation is based in Hoover and focuses on giving children the gift of hope.

We strive to bring awareness to crises facing children and their families in the Birmingham area. Other fundraisers we host are the backto-school drive and a Christmas toy drive. The foundation collected a record number of backpacks and Christmas gifts in 2022 (nearly 500 backpacks and Christmas gifts to 700 children). These items went to children living in area shelters and others in need.

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PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF THE CIRCLE OF LOVE

Q: When and why was it founded?

A: Doris Phillips, our founder and president, created the charity out of a personal promise she made as a child. She is president of RealSource Title Insurance and Real Estate Closings and COO of Lake Homes Realty, but Doris grew up in poverty outside Birmingham. At age nine, she cut grass to take care of a few needs of her siblings. As a single mom at 16, she worked multiple jobs to feed her child. Education was not an option. Fast-forward years later, Doris learned from the school of hard knocks and is a professional success in real estate. She founded The Circle of Love Foundation in 2004 to provide children in need with school supplies to be successful. Doris knows the deep pain of being forgotten and is committed to preventing it from happening to other children, as well as helping children believe their ideas are real possibilities. The Circle of Love Foundation has touched more than 8,000 children in several shelters and facilities who would have otherwise gone without basic school supplies or opening gifts on Christmas morning. “Every penny given is a penny donated,” she says.

Q: What is the meaning behind the name?

A: We want every child to be remembered and have the items needed for a pathway to success. By circling around these children and helping protect them, we bring them hope. All of this is summed up by the simple phrase: The Circle of Love.

Q: What are some of the foundation’s ongoing projects?

A: The Circle of Love Foundation Backpack for Success effort provides school supplies to children in area shelters and others in need so they will have the tools needed for the path to success. With the rise in school supply costs and an increased need anticipated, The Circle of Love Foundation set a goal of providing 500 backpacks filled with the needed school supplies, a 70 percent increase from the 2021 campaign. These goals were reached. For Christmas, The Circle of Love Foundation set a goal of providing Christmas presents to 500 children mainly in Central Alabama but also in parts of Virginia and Tennessee where RealSource has offices. Thanks to the generosity of more than 120 companies, approximately

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700 children were given at least five Christmas presents last year.

Q: What shelters does Circle of Love support?

A: In Central Alabama, the foundation gives backpacks filled with school supplies and, later, Christmas gifts to children at First Light, Grace House, Jessie’s Place, the Lovelady Center, Olivia’s House, and others in need. Through the generosity of the community, more and more children are helped each year. The Backpacks for Success effort helps to prevent children from showing up on the first day of class without the supplies they need to begin school successfully. The Christmas Toy Drive helps ensure children are remembered at a special time of year, despite what they may be going through. We help deliver a sense of hope, which may be the best gift of all.

Q: How can the community help?

A: People can be as involved as they want to be. Our website has ways for people to purchase school supplies or Christmas presents, make a financial donation, or become more actively involved by participating in the upcoming 5K or sorting school supplies and Christmas gifts. We love for families to volunteer together while making a significant difference.

Q: Tell us more about the 5K fundraiser in March.

A: The Circle of Love Foundation will be hosting its second-annual 5k fundraiser at Veterans Park in Hoover on Saturday, March 18, to help children in area shelters throughout Central Alabama. The 5k is for all ages and fitness levels. Sponsored by Regions, participants will be able to run or walk The Circle of Love 5K. The race starts at 9 a.m. at Veterans Park (4800 Valleydale Road, adjacent to Spain Park High School). The event fee for participation is $35 and registration is online (thecircleoflove.org). Proceeds from the event

will pay for donations of backpacks filled with school supplies and other necessities for children in local shelters and others in need. The Trak Shak will be overseeing race logistics again this year. We are delighted to have Regions as our primary sponsor and appreciate their emphasis on education readiness. Our missions definitely align.

For more information and to sign up for the 5k, visit thecircleoflove.org.

Cupid Crafts for Kids

All you need is love…and a few easy-to-find supplies to settle in for an afternoon of family Valentine’s DIYs.

Each craft has at least one photo and all photos need to run, but if you don’t have enough to fill up three pages, I have more I can add! Hoping one of the three conversation heart photos works as an opener image, maybe with title/hedline on top?

February is the perfect month to run by a crafts store (Michael’s, Hobby Lobby) and grab a few paintbrushes, some washable paint, canvases, and some other odds-and-ends (you may even have most of these items on hand!) and surprise the kids with a fun heart-themed project that will be fun for them and provide

a lasting memento you can display year after year. Let us know which one is your favorite!

WATERCOLOR HEARTS

Pencil

Heart (for outline)

Pre-gessoed canvas

Hot-glue gun

Watercolor paints

Paintbrushes

Water

Trace several hearts onto a canvas. (It’s okay to trace parts of a heart on edges of canvas to fill up white space.)

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Use a hot-glue gun to trace over the pencil-drawn hearts.

Paint inside of each glue-outlined heart in desired watercolor. Allow to dry before displaying.

COTTON BALL HEART PAINTING

Precut foam heart

8x10 canvas

Double-sided tape

Cotton balls

Clothespins

Washable paint

Paint tray or paper plate

Attach a foam heart to the center of canvas with double-sided tape. Clip one cotton ball to each clothespin (one for each color). Dip cotton balls into paint and “dot” around heart.

Gently peel off foam heart. Allow paint to dry before displaying.

THUMBPRINT HEART MAGNETS

Bright white heavy cardstock

Fingerprint ink pads

Extra-large clear glass gems

Scissors

Mod Podge

Craft magnets

*You can purchase the gems and magnets together on Amazon at https://tinyurl. com/2xw7p826.

Press your child’s thumb into a fingerprint ink pad, then gently press thumb onto bright white cardstock. Repeat ink and thumb process, then tilt thumb slightly and press it on the paper to make a thumbprint heart.

Repeat steps 1-2 until you have the desired number of thumbprint hearts (one for each magnet), leaving

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3 inches between each heart on the yardstick.

After ink dries, place a drop of Mod Podge on the back flat side of a glass gem, and center on top of a thumbprint heart. Press down to distribute glue evenly and remove any air bubbles. Repeat until all hearts are covered. Allow glue to dry several hours or overnight.

Use scissors to trim paper around each glass gem. (If the paper lifts away from the gem while cutting, glue it down again in the next step.)

Glue a magnet to the back of each gem, going over the paper edges to ensure they are securely attached. Allow magnets to dry overnight.

CRAFT STICK PICTURE FRAMES

Hot-glue gun

Craft sticks

White paint

Foam paintbrush

Red and pink buttons

White yardstick and crayons or picture cut to fit frame opening

Magnets (optional)

*You can also use conversation hearts in place of the

buttons. Once glued down, paint over candies with a 50-50 mix of glossy Mod Podge and water to seal.

Hot-glue craft sticks together to form a square shape. Paint frame with white paint. Allow to dry.

Glue buttons (or candies) around frame edges, overlapping to create dimension.

Cut a piece of white cardstock or photo one-half inch bigger than frame opening. (If using cardstock, have your child write a message with crayons.) Attach to back of frame with hot-glue.

To turn frame into a magnet, attach small magnets to back with a strong adhesive. Allow to dry completely.

VALENTINE’S TIC-TAC-TOE SNACK

Graham crackers

Gel icing tube

Conversation heart candies

Pipe a tic-tac-toe board onto each graham cracker with gel icing. Allow to dry.

Divide candies into two colors for each graham cracker; play till someone wins with three in a row.

Enjoy your tasty tic-tac-toe board!

13 Going on MD

Alena Analeigh Wicker (now 14) is the youngest black person to be accepted to medical school.

Alena Analeigh is your average 14-year-old: She loves music, singing, and school— specifically science. She is in Honors Choir, and she runs track. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends and going to arcades.

She’s also a junior in college and was accepted into med school when she was just 13 years old, making her the youngest black person to ever be accepted. She shared the news on her Instagram account: “Today I’m just grateful. I graduated high school last year at 12 years old, and here

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I am one year later—I’ve been accepted into med school at 13 [years old]. I’m a junior in college. I’ve worked so hard to reach my goals and live my dreams,” she wrote. She credits her mother, Daphne McQuarter, for supporting her along the way. “Mama, I made it,” she wrote. “I couldn’t have done it without you. You gave me every opportunity to be successful. You cheered me on, wiped my tears, gave me Oreos when I needed comfort. You never allowed me to settle, disciplined me when I needed it, [and] always believed in me. You allowed me space to grow and make mistakes without making me feel bad. You allowed me the opportunity to experience the world.”

Alena was accepted into UAB’s Heersink School of Medicine for 2024 as part of the school’s Early Assurance Program, which partners with historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) schools in Alabama to offer students early acceptance. (She is currently a junior dual-enrolled at Arizona State University and Oakwood University in Huntsville, working toward two different undergraduate degrees in biological sciences through mostly online courses.) She is more than 10 years younger than the average incoming med student. Realizing this goal doesn’t change who she is, though. “I am still 14, and I have a very equally balanced life with college and my home life. I still do 14-year-old things and can absolutely relate to my friends,” she says. But she’s definitely not done yet.

“My goal is to become a viral immunologist,” she says. “I want to advocate for health care in under-represented communities. I want to find cures for diseases. I want to create a space for young girls to know they have a place in the field of STEM at a very young age, which is why I created my organization, The Brown STEM Girl, to advocate for girls of color in STEM.”

Alena founded the Brown STEM Girl (bsgscholars.brizy.site), for girls of color who are interested in exploring STEM careers in STEM. (In 2022, she was a finalist for TIME’s

Top Kid of the Year.)

“I got involved in STEM when I was much younger. It all started with LEGOS when I was like three or four years old, and it just grew from there,” she says. “I loved learning about stars when I was younger and going to astronomy nights. My mom used to take me to NASA centers during the summer and my love for STEM just grew from there.” Thanks to her interest in stem, in 2021 Alena became NASA’s youngest intern. “STEM is important because it builds confidence, it teaches real-word applications, it’s not just about math and science. STEM fuels creativity, it sharpens our critical thinking skills. STEM is such a broad field that allows you to explore and be creative.”

Of the med school application process, Alena notes that it was long and slightly tedious, but she’s so grateful to have been accepted. “UAB has a lot of amazing medical school programs,” she says. Alena is considering other programs and still intends to apply to a few others. No matter where she ends up, her success is a given. And she wants to see others succeed too.

“Find your place in whatever field of education that may be. Find your passion and create your own path. Never allow anyone to tell you that you can’t do something,” she says. “You can do anything you put your mind to. Build a community around you for support. Find mentors that will show up for you. Do what makes you happy, and remember, the sky isn’t the limit—you are your only limit.”

Capella Pizzeria Brings

Italy to Birmingham

From Naples, with amore.

Owner Mehmet Obey says his goal is to make Capella’s feel like a piece of Italy. Around the restaurant, that means Italian music floating through the air and European soccer on the TVs. At the long, Sunday supper-style tables, it means crispy Neapolitan pizzas made with fresh-from-Italy ingredients: sausage made by a family near Milan and San Marzano tomatoes.

Capella’s cheese, flour, extra-virgin olive oil, truffle oil, Citterio pepperoni, and Soppressata are all imported from Italy. “The sausage is

made by an Italian family who lives north of Milan, and we take pride in using San Marzano tomatoes in our sauce,” says Mehmet.

Prior to opening Capella in Birmingham, Mehmet spent years working alongside an uncle—who learned to make authentic Neapolitan pizza in Naples—at his pizzeria in North Carolina. Now, Mehmet and several of his cousins work together serving the same traditional Italian dish, straight from their Naples-imported pizza ovens.

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The eatery serves traditional wood-fired pizza that cooks perfectly crisp in less than five minutes.

Once you choose your pie, the dough— house-made and cold-proofed for 24 hours for proper gluten development and fermentation—is tossed and topped with sauce, cheese, and meats, then carefully placed into one of the 800-degree wood-fired ovens made from a slab of volcanic rock. Pizzas cook in a matter of minutes.

On a recent visit, we opted for the Palermo—Italian sausage, sweet red peppers, and caramelized onion—and the Siena—fresh mozzarella, Italian pepperoni, basil, and garlic—pizzas. Both were made to order and arrived to the table piping hot in five minutes. The crust offered the perfect ratio of slightly charred and crispy to chewy, and the cheese was melty and fresh. (Vegetarian friends who joined us devoured the Monica, a sauce-free option mushrooms, fresh spring onions, garlic, mozzarella, and truffle oil.) We loved the help-yourself cheese and herb station, where we filled cups with Parmesan and dried basil to season our slices.

We filled up on pizza, but powered through

to try a couple of Capella’s desserts. They import the gelato from Italy and make fresh cannoli daily. Other choices include locally made cheesecake, tiramisu, and personal sponge cakes. The kids and adults found the gelato to be creamy and delicious; the two picky Italians of our group declared the cannoli—crisp shell, fluffy filling, and crunchy crushed pistachios—“perfection.”

Though we chose to fill up on pizza and dessert on this visit, Capella does offer a tasty salad selection, including a traditional Caprese (buffalo mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and basil, extra-virgin olive oil, and balsamic vinaigrette); the Roman (spring mix, veggies, chickpeas, and mozzarella); and an Italian Blue (spring mix, blueberries, honey-roasted pecans, blue cheese, and apricot vinaigrette). Maybe next time, because we’ll definitely be back!

Capella Pizzeria is located at 4700 U.S. Highway 280, Suite 13 in Inverness Village Center (near The Fresh Market). Open daily 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. (or until the fresh dough runs out!). For more information, call (205) 4386108 or visit capellapizzeria.com.

KIDS WHO SHINE SARAH AND ALEX ROY

STORY AND PHOTO COURTESY OF HOOVER CITY SCHOOLS

Simmons Middle School seventh-grade student

Alex Roy and his sister, Sara Roy, who attends Hoover High School as a freshman, were awarded the Alabama Association of Gifted Students 2022 Outstanding Gifted Student Award. The award honors students who show excellence in leadership and intelligence and who are making difference in gifted education in school or the community. This is the first time students in the Hoover City Schools District have received the award.

District Enrichment Specialist Traci Ingleright nominated the students for the award. “Sara and Alex began their commitment to making a difference in their community very young. They continue to make our community a better place by participating in service learning clubs and building platforms through their small businesses to help solve environmental issues and eradicate world hunger,” she says. “Sara and Alex are a testimony to us all. They are two kids selling two items to solve two very real problems.”

The two are involved in many extracurricular activities, including math team, student diversity council, school newspaper, and sports, in addition to being passionate about making the world better. To that end, they hope their small businesses will help to make a difference. Alex’s business is Soap’d. He makes soap with

unique fragrances, colors, and designs, and 25 percent of his profits go to the Kids Against Hunger organization (kidsagainsthunger.org). He also has various soap types, like cocoa butter, goat milk, and olive oil. “I can choose my own scents and colors, and I mix all of that together,” he says. He has sold more than 100 soaps! To learn more and place a soap order, visit soapd.carrd.co.

Sarah’s business is Shine Like the Earth. She makes and sells earrings, and 25 percent of her profit goes to the Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org). “I released my earrings in collections that represent a certain environmental issue,” she says. As of today, Sara has sold more than 70 pairs of earrings, including two pair sold internationally. To shop the collections, visit shineliketheearth.carrd.co.

Bham Family is committed to sharing about the amazing kids in our community! We know there are tons of young people making a difference in the Birmingham area, and we want to celebrate them in our Kids Who Shine column. If you know someone please send details to stephanie@ jbmcmedia.com. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Alex and Sara Roy with their mother

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