Now Under One Roof! 6 • Thursday, December 16, 2021
PEOPLE
Two Great Showrooms, Now Under One Roof! Two Great Showrooms, Now Under One Roof!
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OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
“Love is Everything” Homewood Author Charles Ghigna Publishes New Children’s Book About Love
By Emily Williams-Robertshaw
children and adults, having published more than 150 books and written more than 5,000 poems. According to Father Goose, “poetry is the His focus on writing for children comes from echo of the soul.” passion. He began his career as a teacher and Bestselling author and Homewood resident began writing poems and stories in the evenings, Charles Ghigna, also known as Father then traded in his teacher hat to sign a Goose, has spent most of his career four-book contract with the Walt creating works of literature to inspire Disney Publishing Co. children. After his first books were pubIn November, he published his latlished – including a collection of est work, “Love is Everything,” feapoems, “Tickle Day: Poems from turing illustrations by Jacqueline East Father Goose” – Ghigna said he of two bears – one adult bear teaching found he could reach more children the child about love. with his writing than by working in a “All you have to do is stop and classroom. look around,” Ghigna writes in the His work has connected him to Charles Ghigna summary. “From the sunrise to the powerhouse publishers such as sunset to poetry that speaks Disney, Random House, Simon & straight from the heart, love is Schuster and Scholastic. In everything.” 2006, he claimed the distincThe book poetically recites tion as author of the “World’s a story that is quiet and reasShortest Poem.” suring, meant to deliver a Ghigna also remained conmessage of hope and encournected to the classroom, havagement and remind kids that ing served as a poet-in-resithe world is full of love. dence and chair of creative According to a review by writing at the Alabama School Kirkus Reviews, “These uniof Fine Arts and as an instrucversal, positive messages tor of creative writing at make this a powerful snugSamford University. In addigle-time book that will be tion to being published in read time and again to celeanthologies, textbooks, newsbrate loving relationships and papers and magazines, he was to recenter in difficult times.” poetry editor of the English Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghigna has Journal for the National Council of Teachers in continued to deliver inspiring messages to chilEnglish. dren. In addition to creating his published works, In April, he also published an award-winning Ghigna serves as a Sunday feature writer for the book, “A Poem is a Firefly,” collaborating with Birmingham News, Huntsville Times and Mobile fellow Homewood resident and illustrator Press-Register. Michelle Hazelwood Hyde. The book received Signed copies of “Love is Everything” are wide acclaim, earning a Purple Dragonfly Book available locally at Little Professor Bookshop and Award. can be ordered online from a variety of local and He is a veritable fountain of tales, both for national retailers.
Inaugural Megan Montgomery 5K Race Raises More Than $16,000 for Domestic Violence Prevention The inaugural Megan Montgomery 5K Race raised more than $16,700 for this year’s charity recipient, the Megan Montgomery Domestic Violence Prevention Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. The run, sponsored by ERA King Real Estate on Oct. 16, was organized in memory of the late Megan Montgomery by her father and stepmother, Johnny and Liz Montgomery, and her sister, Meredith Montgomery. The two women are agents with ERA King Real Estate. According to her father, working out, staying in shape and maintaining a healthy lifestyle were all important to the Megan during her life. More than 270 runners participated in the race either by walking the course through downtown Homewood or participating virtually. “I am emotionally overwhelmed by the funds we raised in such a short period of time,” Megan’s father said. “I would like to thank the ERA King family who worked so diligently to put together and direct this race as well as the volunteers, the sponsors, and the participants. And a huge thank you to Anna and Everett King, owners of ERA King Real Estate and the ERA King family, who kicked in $10,000 early when this fund was created. We thank you all.” A check was presented to founders of the fund, Megan’s mother and stepfather, Susann and Rod Clark, on Dec. 1, the second anniversary of Megan Montgomery’s death. Proceeds from the race will benefit Megan’s Fund in its mission to support domestic violence prevention education in the community. “We are looking forward to see where and how these funds will help prevent violence in dating and teach about healthy relationships,” Liz Montgomery said. “These funds will help us carry on what Megan believed she was called to do: to educate young people on the warning signs of potentially dangerous relationships,” Meredith Montgomery, a co-advisor of Megan’s Fund, said. “Megan’s Fund is already funding some programs at The Crisis Center and Restoration Academy with more non-profits in the works. We are determined to overcome evil with good.”
