PEOPLE

Two Great Showrooms, Two Great Showrooms, Now Under One Roof! Now Under One Roof!

Two Great Showrooms, Now Under One Roof!

Steve Mote & Family—Owners of Hollywood Pools Outdoor Furnishings & Spas are excited to announce the acquisition of Alabama Gaslight & Grill!

Formerly located in Homewood and owned by long-time Vestavia Hills resident Mike Barnett, Alabama Gaslight & Grill offers a wide selection of gas grills & smokers, gas & electric Steve Mote & Family—Owners of Steve Mote & Family—Owners of lighting, and gas logs. Combined with Hollywood Pool’s Hollywood Pools Outdoor Furnishings & Spas are excited to announce the acquisition of Hollywood Pools Outdoor Furnishings & Spas are excited to announce the acquisition of outstanding inventory of pool, spa, and patio furnishings, the Vestavia Hills location is your one-stop shop for outdoor products from local families you know and trust. Alabama Gaslight & Grill! Alabama Gaslight & Grill!

Formerly located in Homewood and owned by long-time Formerly located in Homewood and owned by long-time 1441 Montgomery Hwy | Vestavia Hills Vestavia Hills resident Mike Barnett, Alabama Gaslight & Grill offers a wide selection of gas grills & smokers, gas & electric Vestavia Hills resident Mike Barnett, Alabama Gaslight & Grill offers a wide selection of gas grills & smokers, gas & electric (205) 979-7727 | www.hollywoodpoolandspa.com lighting, and gas logs. Combined with Hollywood Pool’s outstanding inventory of pool, spa, and patio furnishings, the Vestavia Hills location is your one-stop shop for outdoor products from local families you know and trust. lighting, and gas logs. Combined with Hollywood Pool’s outstanding inventory of pool, spa, and patio furnishings, the Vestavia Hills location is your one-stop shop for outdoor products from local families you know and trust. Steve Mote & Family—Owners of Hollywood Pools Outdoor Furnishings & Spas are excited to announce the acquisition of Alabama Gaslight & Grill! 1441 Montgomery Hwy | Vestavia Hills 1441 Montgomery Hwy | Vestavia Hills Formerly located in Homewood and owned by long-time (205) 979-7727 | www.hollywoodpoolandspa.com (205) 979-7727 | www.hollywoodpoolandspa.com Vestavia Hills resident Mike Barnett, Alabama Gaslight & Grill offers a wide selection of gas grills & smokers, gas & electric lighting, and gas logs. Combined with Hollywood Pool’s outstanding inventory of pool, spa, and patio furnishings, the Vestavia Hills location is your one-stop shop for outdoor products from local families you know and trust.

1441 Montgomery Hwy | Vestavia Hills (205) 979-7727 | www.hollywoodpoolandspa.com “Love is Everything”

Homewood Author Charles Ghigna Publishes New Children’s Book About Love

By Emily Williams-RoBERtshaW

According to Father Goose, “poetry is the echo of the soul.”

Bestselling author and Homewood resident Charles Ghigna, also known as Father Goose, has spent most of his career creating works of literature to inspire children.

In November, he published his latest work, “Love is Everything,” featuring illustrations by Jacqueline East of two bears – one adult bear teaching the child about love.

“All you have to do is stop and look around,” Ghigna writes in the summary. “From the sunrise to the sunset to poetry that speaks straight from the heart, love is everything.”

The book poetically recites a story that is quiet and reassuring, meant to deliver a message of hope and encouragement and remind kids that the world is full of love.

According to a review by Kirkus Reviews, “These universal, positive messages make this a powerful snuggle-time book that will be read time and again to celebrate loving relationships and to recenter in difficult times.”

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghigna has continued to deliver inspiring messages to children.

In April, he also published an award-winning book, “A Poem is a Firefly,” collaborating with fellow Homewood resident and illustrator Michelle Hazelwood Hyde. The book received wide acclaim, earning a Purple Dragonfly Book Award.

He is a veritable fountain of tales, both for

children and adults, having published more than 150 books and written more than 5,000 poems. His focus on writing for children comes from passion. He began his career as a teacher and began writing poems and stories in the evenings, then traded in his teacher hat to sign a four-book contract with the Walt Disney Publishing Co. After his first books were published – including a collection of poems, “Tickle Day: Poems from Father Goose” – Ghigna said he found he could reach more children with his writing than by working in a classroom. His work has connected him to Charles Ghigna powerhouse publishers such as Disney, Random House, Simon & Schuster and Scholastic. In 2006, he claimed the distinction as author of the “World’s Shortest Poem.” Ghigna also remained connected to the classroom, having served as a poet-in-residence and chair of creative writing at the Alabama School of Fine Arts and as an instructor of creative writing at Samford University. In addition to being published in anthologies, textbooks, newspapers and magazines, he was poetry editor of the English Journal for the National Council of Teachers in English. In addition to creating his published works, Ghigna serves as a Sunday feature writer for the Birmingham News, Huntsville Times and Mobile Press-Register. Signed copies of “Love is Everything” are available locally at Little Professor Bookshop and can be ordered online from a variety of local and 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.”