A WILD, WILD WEST BIKE RIDE • THE SOUNDS OF CORNELIUS CHAPEL RECORDS • HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
BAKED FROM SCRATCH TAKE A TASTE OF THE ROLLS. STORY
REMEMBERING THE JESUS MAN A LAKESHORE LEGACY NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 HomewoodLife.com Volume Four | Issue Six $4.95
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Your health can’t wait. Your Safe Care is Our #1 Priority At Brookwood Baptist Medical Center, we go above and beyond to help ensure that our hospital is safe for you. We’re here for emergencies 24/7 with the quality and expertise that makes us a community built on care. If you’re not feeling well, don’t ignore your symptoms or downplay your pain. Taking care of your health now may prevent greater health risks in the future.
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FEATURES
52
THE JESUS MAN If you ever drove down Lakeshore on a Saturday, you saw hundreds of signs and the iconic man preaching amongst them. Here’s his story.
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WILD, WILD WEST If suffering is the spice of life, these five Homewood graduates did things right biking from Canada to Mexico.
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
What should you buy for friends and loved ones this season? Look no further than the shops right around you.
4 November/December 2020
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
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PHOTO BY ALISHA CROSSLEY
arts & culture
15 Our Own Tapestry: Record Label Cornelius Chapel Records 24 Read This Book: Books on Loneliness & Belonging
schools & sports
25 Pandemic Classroom: What It Looks Like for Five Educators 32 Five Questions For: Shades Cahaba Historian Shawn Wright
food
& drink
33 How Sweet It Is: The Story Behind Katie Cornutt’s Cinnamon Rolls
in every issue 6 Contributors 9 From the Editor 10 The Question 11 The Guide 72 Chamber Connections 74 Out & About 78 Marketplace 80 My Homewood
40 Five Questions For: RendezVous Kitchen Co-Founders
home
& style
41 A Story to Tell: Vintage Finds in the Hendon Family’s Home 50 In Style: Mom & Mini Comfy-Cute Styles
HomewoodLife.com 5
contributors EDITORIAL
Alec Etheredge Madoline Markham Keith McCoy Scott Mims Emily Sparacino
CONTRIBUTORS Kaitlyn Baker Alisha Crossley James Culver Lindsey Culver Chris K. Davidson Meredith Elder Amy Holditch C.W. Newell Melanie Peeples Selah Vetter Lauren Ustad
DESIGN
Jamie Dawkins Connor Martin-Lively Briana Sansom
MARKETING
Darniqua Bowen Kristy Brown Kari George Caroline Hairston Rachel Henderson Rhett McCreight Viridiana Romero Lisa Shapiro Kerrie Thompson
ADMINISTRATION Hailey Dolbare Mary Jo Eskridge Daniel Holmes Stacey Meadows Tim Prince
Chris K. Davidson, Writer
Chris is a writer who grew up in Irondale and now lives in Trussville. Since graduating from the University of Montevallo, he has written articles for Alabama Magazine, Birmingham Magazine, B-Metro Magazine, al.com, Magic City Bands, Under the Radar Magazine and Performer Magazine. You can view his portfolio at chriskdavidson.contently.com.
Meredith Elder, Stylist
Meredith is a local content creator sharing her west coast flare on southern-style as a freelance stylist and social media specialist. In her free time (what free time?), you can find her loving on her sweet pups and cats, spending time by the water, hanging out with family and friends, or cooking. Connect with her at meredithabigailelder.com to collaborate!
Amy Holditch, Writer
Amy is third generation Edgewoodian. She has danced onstage at the Moulin Rouge in Paris, climbed mountains in Costa Rica and driven an RV through New York City. If she isn’t on the road, she is most likely planning when she can get back on it. The southern writer and mama currently shares her home with her extraordinary 12-year-old son, two cats, two dogs and a fish named Waffle.
Selah Vetter, Intern
Selah was born and raised in Long Island, New York, but now splits her time between Knoxville, Tennessee, and Birmingham where she attends Samford University. With a lifelong passion for writing, Selah loves being able to share other people’s stories with her words. In her free time, you can find her running, reading a book or hanging out with friends or family at a coffee shop.
Homewood Life is published bimonthly by Shelby County Newspapers Inc., P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Homewood Life is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Shelby County Newspapers Inc. [the Publisher]. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Homewood Life, P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Homewood Life is mailed to select households throughout Homewood, and a limited number of free copies are available at local businesses. Please visit HomewoodLife.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $16.30 for one year by visiting HomewoodLife.com or calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 532. Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@homewoodlife.com, or by calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 536.
6 November/December 2020
HomewoodLife.com 7
from the editor
Y ON THE COVER
Behind the Masks
Carnetta Kennedy has built a strong sense of community in her classroom at Shades Cahaba Elementary even with students and staff wearing masks each day. Photo by Lindsey Culver Design by Connor Martin-Lively
Y’all, we made it. Believe it or not, 2020 will have an end, and it’s just around the corner as we wrap up this issue. I certainly can’t recall a more tumultuous season or, ironically, one where I spent oh so much time slowing down and enjoying the simplicity of the everyday goodness. As I’m looking back through this issue’s stories, most seem to be telling microcosms of 2020. Let’s start with tragedy: the Jesus Man, John Brown, whose preaching in front of the Lakeshore Walmart had become a fixture in our community. Then came 2020, taking his life with it. Because wasn’t that how this year felt as a whole, that it extinguished the sweet constants in our life, the ones we’d never realized how much we treasured? And all the more tragically, that it snuffed out so many lives as we watched news story after life happening unveil yet another calamity to drag this year down further and further? But in the midst of all that messiness, there came another plot line: the adventures we wouldn’t have otherwise taken. As we chronicle in this issue, for five 2014 Homewood High School graduates that looked like mountain biking from the Canadian border to the Mexican border not on their first choice of a route, but the more extreme, rugged one befitting their extreme sense of adventure that arguably borders insanity. Perhaps your detours weren’t that, well, intense, but their story’s themes of venturing somewhere new outdoors, of having hours upon hours to spend with those who are closest to you, of making memories you might not have planned in any other time ring oh so 2020 true, don’t they? And then there’s the place where we all found ourselves forever on end this year: home. While you might be tired of time inside yours, in the pages ahead we take you on a tour of Lesley Hendon’s collection of vibrant antique pieces that create the coziest of spaces full of personality. Looking back at her rooms we photographed as I sit inside my own, I am reminded of how the space where we wake each morning, where we dirty dishes and fill our stomachs, where we recline to rest and sleep ushers in a constant of comforts as tumult escalates in our larger worlds. And that’s not even getting to our interviews with a few of our many heroic teachers sharing their passions through extra creative means this year, plus a look a delicious cinnamon roll business that began not in a pandemic but in another season where the woman behind it found herself at home more than she ever had been. 2020—it’s been a wild ride we’re all ready to usher out, but we sure are glad we’ve lived out in in home sweet Homewood. Here’s to hoping your year ends with joyous memories amidst all the crazy!
madoline.markham@homewoodlife.com HomewoodLife.com 9
“ ” THE QUESTION
In the midst of the hardships of 2020, what has brought you the most joy? The day in the spring when my grandchildren were all visiting with me and four of them learned to ride a bike on the same day! There was so much excitement and pride among the cousins.
I have loved seeing my boys during the day (though had forgotten how loud all five Durkins could be) and have felt blessed to have hours usually lost in chaotic, rushed “have tos.”
Marrying the love of my life in July after having to quarantine away from each other on two separate occasions during our engagement. I also wore my mom’s wedding dress.
Getting engaged to Parker Smith on the front porch of our Edgewood home on move-in day!
Bringing home a rescue, Herbert. I think I needed him more than he needed us.
Buying our very first home in West Homewood! I grew up here, am one of the band directors, and now will get to have a family here one day!
My beautiful and healthy grandmother turning 100 years old!
My kiddos were able to play in the creeks where I played when I was young. We saw former neighbors and created some of our own special memories like enjoying Hero donuts.
- Debbie Limbaugh
- Anna-Catherine Davis Allen
- Kristi Sasson
- Paige Crawford Willcutt
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- Mary Reed Durkin
- Lesley Lukinovich
- Lauren Bearden
-Lindsey Cartes
THE GUIDE
CHRISTMAS HOME TOUR DEC. 10 10 A.M.-2 P.M. & 4-8 P.M. Tour homes in all their festive glory at this 10th annual event to benefit the Samford Legacy League’s scholarships to Samford University for students with significant financial need and challenging circumstances. Due to COVID-19, masks covering nose and mouth are required, guests are asked to follow social distancing guidelines, and each guest will have a temperature check and complete a symptom checklist prior to entry. For tickets visit samford.edu/legacyleague/. Here are the homes that you can tour: Photo by Lauren Ustad HomewoodLife.com 11
THE GUIDE
AROUND TOWN NOV. 2 Dia de los Muertos Pepper Place NOV. 5 Samford Legacy League Holiday Gift Market First Church of the Nazarene, Vestavia Hills NOV. 7 Virtual Walk to End Epilepsy walktoendepilepsy.org/ birmingham
DEC. 3
Downtown Homewood Christmas Parade + Star Lighting 6:30 P.M. Downtown Homewood You can’t get much more Homewood than the lighting of the 18th Street star, and the annual parade is the same night to boot. After the parade ends at City Hall Plaza, a special visitor in a big red suit will arrive, the Homewood High School Band will play and the Christmas tree will be lit. Check the homewoodparks.com for updates on plans as they could change due to COVID-19.
RETAIL
PATTERNS APLENTY Feast your eyes on rugs, pillows and furnishings in Hazel House Collective’s new storefront on in downtown Homewood! Its collection is open at 1816C 28th Avenue South on Saturdays 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or by appointment. Follow them on Instagram at @hazelhousecollective for updates. 12 November/December 2020
NOV. 7-8 Moss Magic: Moss Rock Festival + Magic City Art Connection The Preserve, Hoover NOVEMBER 7, 14, 21 Fall Foliage Special Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, Calera NOV. 11 National Veterans Day Parade Downtown Birmingham NOV. 14 A Southern Christmas Bazaar Pelham Civic Center 9 a.m.-4 p.m. NOV. 14-29 Viritual Sam Lapidus Montclair Run slmr.itsyourrace.com NOV. 16-22 Market Noel Virtual Marketplace Benefitting the Junior League of Birmingham marketnoel.net NOV. 28 Small Business Saturday Local Retailers NOV. 28-29 Great Southern Gun & Knife Show BJCC North Exhibit Hall LATE NOVEMBER-DEC. 24 Christmas Tree Farm
THE GUIDE Old Baker Farm 9 a.m.-Dark DEC. 11 Taylor Hicks Performs The Allman Brothers Band The Lyric Theatre DEC. 11-13 70th Annual Independent Presbyterian Church Holiday House Tour-Virtual DEC. 19 Meadow Brook Runs Valley Bank, Meadow Brook Branch DEC. 17-29 Alabama Ballet’s The Nutcracker BJCC Concert Hall DEC. 17, 19, 20 Holiday Spectacular Presented by Red Mountain Theatre Company Regions Field
NOV. 5-11
Holiday Open House Market Days Homewood Shops While the pandemic has shifted what the Homewood Chamber of Commerce’s traditional Holiday Open House looks like, you can still experience the fun of the holidays over a series of days shopping in Homewood. Find special festivities at retailers each day, and watch for a live performance in downtown Homewood each day at 3 p.m. To enter the Market Days Shopping Contest, send three receipts from Homewood businesses during Market Days to be entered to win a gift card; look for posters downtown with a QR code.
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THE GUIDE RESTAURANTS
A BARBECUE LEGEND This fall the community mourned the loss of SAW’s BBQ founder Mike Wilson. His “genuine passion to make everyone feel good was apparent in his love for soul food and BBQ. Mike never met a stranger, and always found common ground with everyone about food, music and fun. He loved music and food almost as much as he did his two beautiful children. The ‘Son of Southern BBQ’ (better known as Sorry Ass Wilson) and his recipes will live on and be enjoyed for generations to come, and his legacy will live on in his children, restaurants and recipes.” Text and photo via the SAW’s Facebook page.
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ARTS
THE DREAM DEFERRED Even at 6 feet apart, Samford University’s The Dream Deferred exhibit added to the conversation on racial injustice this fall. On display were prints inspired by the murder of George Floyd from a group of diverse artists, over 75 percent of them People of Color. Learn more about it at thedreamdeferred.com.
SCHOOLS
RECORD-SETTING YEAR Homewood High School has a record-setting number of National Merit Semifinalists this year: 13. Congrats to Madeline Garrity, Patrick Harris, Reed Jeffries, Samuel Jones, Caleb McLendon, Robert Merchant, Michael Moorman, Jonathan Parris, Gabriel Quijano, Ayona Roychowdhury, Daniel Wiesen, Matthew “Hugh” Williams and Jane Wilson!
&CULTURE
ARTS
OUR OWN TAPESTRY
Burgeoning record label Cornelius Chapel Records is putting out albums from Americana to alternative. BY CHRIS K. DAVIDSON PHOTOS BY LINDSEY CULVER & CONTRIBUTED HomewoodLife.com 15
Cornelius Chapel Records label manager Wes McDonald sits in the studio’s headquarters on Central Avenue.
N
No matter how many times you have been to Huffstutler’s Hardware on Central Avenue, you might not know what’s across the street from it: the headquarters of one of Birmingham’s best and burgeoning record labels, sitting in an unassuming two-story building surrounded by auto repair shops. In fact, the building used to be a car wash—but 15 years ago appealed to Cornelius Chapel Records label manager Wes McDonald when he was looking for a space that had a big room in it to record live bands. “We slowly made it into a studio,” Wes says. “It went up for sale, and the guy I was renting it from asked if I was interested. It’s such a great
16 November/December 2020
location. You’ve got a hardware store next door, auto body shops, the Village and you can walk to anywhere you need. And very little yard maintenance. It’s an older building, but it’s served us well.” Today label operations happen on the top floor and Ol’ Elegante Studio (run by Wes’s former bandmate, Les Nuby) occupy the bottom level. Since it started in 2009, Cornelius Chapel has put out over 50 albums from artists in the South, the Midwest and the Northeast in digital, CD, cassette and vinyl formats. Elliott McPherson, the frontman for Alabama’s legendary garage punk rockers the Dexateens, founded it, but Wes took it over in 2016 after Cornelius Chapel put out his former band
“We try to find the diamonds in the rough, people who are writing and producing music that is the stuff they want to do, and not because they’re trying to appeal to anyone else or trying to fit the mold of something that sells.“ -Wes McDonald Vulture Whale’s final album Aluminium. “I sold a business that I was in and offered to help. I eventually I was running the label on a day-to-day basis, then I became a partner in the label with those two guys [McPherson and label partner Scott Zuppardo]. Then we started trying in earnest to make it more of a legitimate label that was more active.” Wes’s solo project Terry Ohms has released several albums on Cornelius Chapel too.Cornelius Chapel’s roster features an array of bands and songwriters that run the gamut from Americana (Will Stewart, Caleb Caudle, Sarah Lee Langford and Austin Lucas) to psychedelic and experimental (People Years, Terry Ohms) to shoegaze and alternative (The Dirty Clergy, Holiday Gunfire and Dree Leer). The label’s musically
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Christmas with
Homewood
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HomewoodLife.com 17
agnostic approach to genre seems to have served them well over the course of their history. “We do put out a lot of different types and genres of music, but everything goes right back to the beginning,” says Scott, the label’s New Jersey-based partner since 2012 whose music journalism credentials have included stints at Magnet Magazine and No Depression. “It’s a feeling of desperately wanting to get something out. It comes out in whatever form whether it’s bebop, jazz, banjo music, punk rock, whatever it needs to be. It’s great to weave all of these styles together and make it our own tapestry. We’re not following any trend. We’re just trying to follow our hearts, and I hope that leads us to the right place. I 18 November/December 2020
know we’ll keep fighting for it.” It’s that fighting spirit (and their tongue-in-cheek slogan of “We’ve Never Heard of You Either.”) that pushes Cornelius Chapel Records to get their artists heard in a business where it is increasingly more difficult to find success. “There are just so many bands now releasing things all the time,” says Wes. “It’s such a crowded field and really oversaturated. On any one day, there are thousands of songs released; upwards of 25,000 songs are released on Spotify each day. The problem for getting noticed is to stand out from a huge crowd. A lot of times, it’s just luck when getting attention.”
Invite some glamour to your holiday season at Mountain Brook’s best kept secret. Habitat Feed & Social is the perfect destination for celebrations with friends and family. Indulge in new and familiar cravings and satisfy your good taste with our inspired seasonal menus. And don’t miss the signature dessert. After all, ‘tis the season to celebrate. For reservations call 205.203.4745 or find us on OpenTable. habitatfeedandsocial.com @GrandBohemianMountainBrook
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Cornelius Chapel has worked with artists like People Years (this photo) and Sarah Lee Langford (on opposite page).
20 November/December 2020
A CORNELIUS CHAPEL MIXTAPE “The Times” by Austin Lucas “Southern Raphael” by Will Stewart “King of the Mountain” by Terry Ohms “Nuevan” by Holiday Gunfire “I Won’t Go” by Dree Leer “Trials” by The Dirty Clergy Recent victories for the label include both The Dirty Clergy and Holiday Gunfire getting songs placed on SHOWTIME’s Shameless (Holiday Gunfire also had a song on Animal Kingdom with Ellen Barkin). They also received distribution through Symphonic Distribution and Amped Distribution (a subsidiary of Alliance Entertainment) as well as distribution in Europe through Proper
Distribution. Even in the unstable atmosphere of COVID and tour cancellations, the label released several albums and EPs in 2020, including new releases from The Dirty Clergy, Les Nuby, People Years, Austin Lucas, Will Stewart, Terry Ohms, Jaco Witch’s Wall and Eleganza. They hope 2021 is even bigger. “It’s definitely been a crazy year,” Scott says. “We were both concerned and we
“Painted Lady” by Sarah Lee Langford “Not Really Surfing” by People Years “Teenage Hallelujah” by the Dexateens “Bluebird” by JACO “Never Falling Away” by Les Nuby
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Les Nuby has recorded music with Cornelius Chapel Records and now runs Ol’ Elegante Studio on the floor above Cornelius Chapel’s studio.
22 November/December 2020
Cornelius Chapel artists Austin Lucas (left) and Witch’s Wall (right)
both have young families. I was in the thick of it in the beginning. I didn’t leave my house for a couple of months when it was first getting going. But whatever was going to happen, we knew that had to keep this going as a creative outlet for our artists. That’s ultimately why we do this in the first place.” “I feel strongly about the artists that we have chosen
to put forth to try and solidify themselves in the world,” Wes says. “We’ve been more successful at that than others. I really can’t tell you why. We try to find the diamonds in the rough, people who are writing and producing music that is the stuff they want to do, and not because they’re trying to appeal to anyone else or trying to fit the mold of something that sells. These are real artists with something to offer.”
HomewoodLife.com 23
READ THIS BOOK
Books on Loneliness & Belonging Recommendations from
Charlotte Donlon Local Author
When I began writing my book The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other (to be published Nov. 10), I couldn’t have predicted the isolation many would know in the current health pandemic. I believe these topics will always be interesting because we are all familiar with some form of loneliness and we all want to be connected in meaningful ways to ourselves and other people. These books help me understand different angles of loneliness and belonging, and I hope they will do the same for you.
Belonging: A Culture of Place
by bell hooks In Belonging, bell hooks invites us to give our attention to the places we inhabit while she explores issues connected to race, power and belonging in the rural South. She uncovers stories hidden in the corners of her home state of Kentucky, leaving us no choice but to contemplate the nooks and crannies scattered around the spaces we live and work and play.
Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World
by Vivek Murthy Former United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy examines loneliness and its effects on our health, work, relationships and more. Using data from the latest research and stories from his own personal experiences, he shines a light on our loneliness and helps us understand how we can move toward greater connection with ourselves and others. While Together isn’t as nuanced as I prefer, it’s a comprehensive overview that I recommend to anyone who wants to learn more about the nature of loneliness and belonging.
Wait with Me
by Jason Gaboury I love the ways Jason Gaboury helps his readers turn to God and scripture in their loneliness. Gaboury is not dogmatic—he is a wise and gentle guide who helps us find the water we’re thirsting for. He wrote Wait with Me because he wants people to see their experiences of loneliness as opportunities to meet God, and I believe this book accomplishes his goal.
There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyonce
by Morgan Parker Morgan Parker’s poems in There are More Beautiful Things Than Beyonce are meditations on what it means to be an individual while also connected to other humans with shared histories, struggles and stories. Parker puts language around the loneliness of Black women in America and extends an invitation for us to consider the connections she has noticed and ponder the gaps she’s unable to explain.
The Friend
by Sigrid Nunez The Friend is a delightful and heartbreaking novel that probes death, grief, love and the bonds people have with their pets. With beautiful prose and the perfect amount of humor, Sigrid Nunez pulls us into a story about a writer who has lost a very dear mentor and gained a very large dog.
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SCHOOL
&SPORTS
PANDEMIC CLASSROOM With classes online or 6 feet apart, these teachers are still teaching their students in an A+ way. BY SELAH VETTER & MADOLINE MARKHAM PHOTOS BY LINDSEY CULVER HomewoodLife.com 25
Carnetta Kennedy How have you adapted an in-person class to make it safe for your students? My classroom has always run on collaboration, partnerships, small groups and one-on-one conferencing. I had to figure out a way to incorporate as much of that as possible while social distancing. I bought a class set of plastic shoe box-sized containers and filled them with individual items that we would use for different activities. I taught my students how to play partner games using Mirror Boards where each student has their own game board, dice and counters. This allowed us to play games, build community and get to know one another. Â What has been a challenge for you? The most difficult part for me has been not being able to see their smiles or facial expressions, or be able to touch my students: no hugs, high fives or fun lunchtime conversations with a table full of students. Â What has been a good thing that has happened to your class due to the pandemic? We spend so much time together as a class that it has allowed us to build community faster. We spend almost the entire day in our classroom with the exception of recess and our daily trip to the lunch room. It has promoted friendships with multiple friends and interactions with different groupings. Â Are there any new teaching methods you will keep once the pandemic is over? I have implemented class affirmations that we discuss and recite daily. I believe this helps with our mental wellness, and builds self-esteem and confidence in their own abilities. Our class affirmations are: I am loved. I am safe. My mind is full of brilliant ideas. My problems have solutions. I am important. I can make a difference. I can do hard things. I am a good human. I learn from my mistakes. I am enough.
26 November/December 2020
Shades Cahaba Elementary Traditional Teacher
Erin Klotz Homewood Middle School Virtual Teacher
I strive to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am. Animal Hospital, Veterinary Care, Boarding & Grooming 2810 19th Place South, Homewood, AL 35209 StandiferAnimalClinic.com How does your average day look different now than it would otherwise? I have never sat so much in my entire life. I usually sing and dance in my classroom, and we interact with science. Now I come in and post things to (website platform) Schoology, and we do Google Meets with half the class at a time. What has been challenging for you as you teach? You have to build rapport through a screen so they feel that same human connection even through a square. I thrive so much on making sure my students feel energized and encouraged, and building that digitally is hard. I have to make sure I maintain that energy level I would want to have in the classroom. How do you do science labs virtually? We dissected a flower together and will extract DNA together through strawberries with materials they have at home. We also use simulation software that allows them to manipulate things. How has teaching like this shaped you? It’s made me appreciate how much I love interacting with the adolescent learner, but I try as hard as I can to stay positive and remember why I love what I do. HomewoodLife.com 27
Bevin Gamble How have you made virtual learning effective? One of the best things I have done for my students is create a virtual environment that utilizes diverse learning tools. The activities I have used have been a mixture of digital and hands-on learning. This approach to virtual teaching has kept my students engaged.
Edgewood Elementary Virtual Teacher
been the rapid relationship growth between myself and the amazing families of my students.
What has been challenging for you as you teach? As a virtual teacher, my work can go with me anywhere, so finding a balance between giving my students everything they need to be successful and giving How have your relationships with myself time to recharge has been a students and parents been in a virtual challenge. setting? I have been surprised at how quickly How do you see virtually learning the students have been able to form impacting your classroom in the future? Once the pandemic is over, I plan to friendships in a new school setting. Their kindness and genuine care for each other integrate more opportunities for digital shines through the screen each day. It has learning within the traditional setting. It’s been a joy to watch the kids find ways to important for students, even at a young talk, laugh and play in a virtual setting. A age, to have opportunities to engage with positive outcome to virtual learning has technology on a regular basis.
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Justin Bowlby Hall-Kent Elementary Traditional Teacher
How have you been able to social distance in PE class? We have assigned every student a number and a spot that stays with them wherever they are in PE, including the gym, field or playground. This has really helped with organization for activities and staying socially distant as much as we can. What has been the hardest part of teaching in this time? We used to see every student every day in physical education. Instead of three classes being in the gym at the same time, we have one class in the gym, one on the field and one on the playground. This means we only see each class once every two to three days. I miss seeing them daily! Also, disinfecting the playground and cleaning all PE equipment between classes has been hard, but we are doing our best to be safe. What is something good that has happened due to this new way of teaching? The amount of individual practice time has been great. We always do our best to maximize practice time for any skill we are working on, but this can be limited based on the amount of equipment available or number of students in a class. With the way we have separated classes this year, we have plenty of equipment for everyone and there is very little wait time. They are active from start to finish, which is always our goal!
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Ansley Vanderpool How does teaching look different for you this year? The biggest differences is we are all wearing masks and sitting far apart, and I’m only seeing students twice a week. Half of the students (last names A-J) come two days a week, the other half (L-Z) come two days a week. And Wednesday is completely virtual, so I meet with them for 20 minutes. What is challenging for the students? I think it’s adjusting to the autonomy that online learning gives them, but I think they are getting there. They have been getting better about reaching out and asking questions and setting up a Google Meet for help. I am really proud of them for that.
30 November/December 2020
Homewood High School Classroom & Virtual English Teacher
What silver linings have you seen? For me the biggest one is it’s an opportunity to extend grace to my students and for them to extend grace to me and to each other. Another silver lining is the smaller class sizes. Splitting the class in half has created a more intimate space for learning, so we have more time to discuss and hear what the people in the room have to say. What do you think you will remember most from this time? Teachers are working three times harder to make this year work, and it’s obvious the teachers here care so much about the success of our students. I have heard some coworkers say they are working close to 100 hours a week.
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SCHOOL & SPORTS
5
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR
Shawn Wright Local Author & Podcast Producer PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Shades Cahaba School turned 100 years old in September, and one of its former students, Shawn Wright, has documented its history from its days as a high school to the elementary school it is today—even outliving the high school building that replaced it, the original Shades Valley High School. You can check out his Shades Cahaba Oral History Project on his podcasts and blog at ShadesCahabaHistory.com, and an accompanying book, Shades Cahaba: The First 100 Years, he authored can be purchased on Amazon.com. And you can get a taste of it all on this page. First of all, tell us about your ties to Shades Cahaba. All my life I have lived in Homewood except college. I went to Shades Cahaba and graduated from Homewood High School in 1981. My son is a senior now and will graduated my 40th anniversary year, and both my kids went to Shades Cahaba. It was fun walking the hallways again when my sons were in school there. So much had changed, and so much had not. The door that faces Hollywood Boulevard is the same, but there used to be a courtyard inside the U. Around 1990 they filled that in with the new library and some classrooms and changed the front of the school to where it is now. People always ask if the hardwood floors are still there. They are carpeted now but they still squeak.
who were in school there, and I realized I could turn it into a podcast. I figured a lot of people would be just as interested as I was. I finished the podcast and then COVID came along, and I thought why not take all this information and write a book?
Does one podcast stand out more than others to you? One of my favorite episodes is with a gentleman named Herman Maxwell who was on the 1973 championship football team. He was one of the first black children to attend a Homewood school. What was surprising to me was when I talked to a teacher who taught during integration and she said it went fine. Then Herman said it went fine. It had something to do with the kids already playing ball and being at the parks together, and they were more integrated than Birmingham was to start How did your history project come with. Herman’s older sister went to Shades Valley as a senior and she had a tough about? I have always been interested in the time. As Michael Gross put it when you school but I didn’t think much about it have a mayor like Bob Waldrop and some until I realized the 100th anniversary was of the leadership we had, we were not coming up. I had a goal to do an oral going to let that be a problem. history and record stories from people 32 November/December 2020
What surprised you in your research? I was surprised by the story of the high school. We all think of it as an elementary school and it has been for 70 years, but there’s a great athletic history. The field behind it was the first lit football field in Jefferson County in 1939. In its heyday there were over 1,000 students in that building. When it was crowded, that’s where the genesis of Shades Valley started, and then the high school students move there. Then in 1970 the Homewood system got started. What else stands out from what you learned? One theme I saw through this whole book was the community always rallied around the school. They made sure there was money and support. When the Depression came along, Jefferson County was shutting down schools and Homewood kept Shades Cahaba, Edgewood and Rosedale School open. You can see that today in the parents and the city, that we value our education and our schools. It’s been this way for 100 years.
&DRINK
FOOD
HOW SWEET IT IS
Katie Cornutt’s family cinnamon rolls can now be found all over the state. Here’s how that happened. BY AMY HOLDITCH PHOTOS BY ALISHA CROSSLEY HomewoodLife.com 33
Katie Cornutt bakes her family cinnamon rolls recipe with her three kids in her Homewood kitchen where her rolls. business began.
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For years, Katie Cornutt had been baking the gooey cinnamon rolls with her children, using her Tennessean grandmother’s recipe and generously sharing them with her lucky Homewood neighbors. One day, someone suggested she sell them, and it was at that point that rolls.homewood was born. But it wasn’t until her third child came along that her cinnamon rolls began to blossom into a career. Her daughter, Lyla, was born with a birth defect that left her immunocompromised and thus unable to attend daycare, so Katie, who had been working as a Birmingham realtor for years, had few options professionally. “rolls. saved me. It really did. It made me get up
34 November/December 2020
out of bed every morning,” the newly single mother of three says. “I knew Lyla would not be able to attend daycare because of her condition. I knew that I had to do something that would allow me to stay at home and be with her.” Katie says that she never dreamed she would be a baker, but it definitely came easily to her and that she enjoyed doing it. “rolls. started out being a true outlet for my sanity,” she says. “I never dreamed it would be this successful.” For her rolls, Katie focuses on the purest of ingredients and likes to include her family in the process of creating the preserves. “All of the preserves are homemade and have no preservatives
In addition to her “OG” cinnamon rolls., Katie has developed recipes for strawberry, blueberry and peach versions.
at all,” she says. “Totally organic. Amy Lee, who is our CFO and brains behind the madness, and her husband own Lee Farms, so the other day, we all just went out to the farm and picked the blueberries that will go in my preserves. Same with the strawberries,” which were also picked locally at Jerry Marsh farms. Her peach rolls are made from hand-picked Chilton County peaches that are turned into the sweetest peach preserves. “I like that I can give back to my community by supporting local businesses
and spend time with my family while doing it. This business makes all of those things possible,” she says. “It’s really cool. These places come to us, asking to sell our products.” Today, you can find her rolls frozen in Homewood, Mountain Brook, Hoover, Trussville and Auburn, and her stepmother runs a sister business, rolls.tuscaloosa. “I gave her the recipe and she does her own thing with them,” Katie says. In addition, rolls.homewood is showing up at pop-ups and markets in and around the Over the
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WHERE TO BUY ROLLS. uCottage Basket uHomewood Pharmacy Mountain Brook uCrestline Pharmacy Trussville uMeals by Misty Hoover uWrapsody Auburn uWrapsody Auburn Mt Laurel uComing soon to The Village Drug Company Pell City uMainstreet Drugs and Gifts uOdenville Drugs Tuscaloosa Visit @rolls.tuscaloosa on Instagram for info on where to buy fresh rolls locally.
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Mountain area and will be heading to Mt Laurel soon. “Much of our expansion and success has solely been led by word of mouth, which makes us feel great,” Katie says. “I am also excited to now be included in Till, a locally sourced farm-to-door farmer’s market where you can purchase local goods online and have them delivered.” Katie herself also hosts pop-ups at local markets and stores, where she is on site, selling both her frozen and baked pans of rolls. But, you better get there early. Katie typically sells out within the hour. In fact, word on the street is that you should plan at least a month ahead if you want to have fresh rolls for a special event. Even in the grips of COVID-19, rolls. continues to thrive. “Deliveries have actually picked up a bit,” she says. Customers love being able to buy her frozen rolls for later and often stock up, as stores sell out quickly. “They are so good,” says Marie Evans of Forest Park. “Excellent!” Lisa Thompson of Huntsville agrees. “I always pick up some when I am in Birmingham. My family loves them!” When asked how she balances three children and a booming business to boot, Katie says, “Exercise, chocolate and wine!” But bringing on the right team members has been key too. In keeping with her initial inspiration for the business, rolls. Donates to Children’s of Alabama and The Bell Center for Early Prevention, both of which have been instrumental to Lyla’s HomewoodLife.com 37
Katie, right, works with the rolls. CFO Amy Lee.
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Ask a child what he dreams of doing in the future. His answer brings everything into focus for us. WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE CHILDREN HAVE DREAMS.
ongoing care. And The Bell Center is where she first met Lucy Walker too, who worked there as a receptionist at the same time Lyla attended classes. Lucy and Katie bonded quickly, and Katie says she knew Lucy could step up to the plate and work hard. Now full-time with rolls., she handles all of the company’s retail placement. “Katie pushes me forward in the very best ways,” Lucy says. “What you see it what you get with her. It’s hard work and sometimes we work all day, baking and producing. But, we laugh. A lot. And, sometimes we cry, too.” Lucy is not at all surprised by the growth of rolls. “I expect that from Katie,” she says. Success, however, rarely comes without intensity. Although Katie’s commercial kitchen is located in Hoover, you can immediately tell that the heart and soul of her business is in her Homewood home. Her many freezers are full of fresh, frozen berries waiting to be made into delicious preserves, as well as upcoming orders and pending deliveries. One time they baked for 14 hours straight. “We did 270 pans for a local church and finished at 3 a.m.,” Lucy recalls. “It was a lot.” “But, we did it! We got it out!” Katie was quick to add. Katie, who is a bit more laissez-faire than her worker bee associate, wants to expand creatively as well. “I would love to branch out into weddings and high-end catering. Bridal showers, too,” she says. No matter how much it grows, though, she still likes to deliver the pans herself. “I like seeing their faces light up and it makes it feel so much more personal,” she says.
1 6 0 0 7 T H AV E N U E S O U T H BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233 (205) 638-9100 | ChildrensAL.org
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FOOD & DRINK
5
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR
Britni Liberton & Jamie Parks RendezVous Kitchen Co-Founders TEXT BY SELAH VETTER PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
This food truck runs off plants, and so do the women who run it. Britni and Jamie, two vegan friends, founded RendezVous Kitchen Co to provide plant-based food to the community, serving a menu of vegan adaptations of Southern food. RendezVous Kitchen Co is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. It’s located on 2911 Linden Avenue behind Neighborhood Nutrition, where their kitchen operates. For more information follow @rendezvouskitchenco on Instagram and Facebook. How would you describe your menu? Britni: Our food is your favorite food turned vegan. I wanted people to see when it comes to vegan food it doesn’t have to be boring, it doesn’t have to be bland. Jamie: It’s just food for everybody that tastes great, and you probably won’t be able to tell much of a difference. I initially became vegan for my health, and I’ve felt so much better. I just want everybody else to feel that joy and feel revitalized like I do. This is a good transition into getting into that lifestyle.
community, and it really worked out when we took over this space here for Neighborhood Nutrition. You can get some energy tea here and some awesome vegan food at the food truck. We wanted to What are your favorite parts about bring the community together in an outdoor space. owning a food truck? Britni: I’m looking forward to going and serving different groups of people and being What are your future plans for the able to be around town. I’m looking forward food truck? Britni: Right now it’s a set menu. We to having different people try plant-based want to do specials, and we’re looking food. Jamie: I love that it’s something new forward to going to farmer’s markets to What is your personal favorite item on everyday. I’m never going to get complacent do brunches next year in 2021. Jamie: We’re really excited to release in this role. Whether it’s fun or it’s the menu? our plant-based shakes. We will have six challenging, it’s something new everyday Britni: I absolutely love the barbeque different flavors of soy shakes. This will and it challenges me to grow, evolve and jackfruit (a sweet fruit with a meat-like be a good dessert option for people who texture) tacos. It’s like a pulled pork concept. develop as a person. I really love it. are diary-free or lactose-intolerant. We It’s super delicious, and it’s one of our lighter want to be able to give people a place to What made you choose Homewood? menu options. come get an awesome dessert as well. Britni: It’s just a very quaint Jamie: I like the wings or jackfruit 40 November/December 2020
sandwich. We played around with jackfruit a lot, and we’ve got it to a place where it mimics the texture of chicken perfectly. It has an amazing fried chicken taste.
&STYLE
HOME
A STORY TO TELL
Lesley Hendon mixes eclectic vintage pieces with modern cozy furnishings and a splash of greenery. BY MADOLINE MARKHAM PHOTOS BY LAUREN USTAD HomewoodLife.com 41
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Lesley Hendon’s décor is fun. It’s eclectic. And it sure will make you smile. “I enjoy mixing all styles,” she says. “I am obsessed with anything that’s vintage. You are giving it new life, and it has a story to tell. It makes your home so home-y.” And that’s what you’ll see when you look around her family’s home. The house itself was built in 1941 but only became Lesley and her husband Jake’s earlier this year. Though they neither designed nor renovated the home, it was already the perfect backdrop for the pieces Lesley has collected over the years. “We just came in and got a feeling,” Lesley says of walking in the first time. “We loved (the previous owners’) style and the layout. It had character, and it fits our family really well.”
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The Hendons had lived in a multistory home in another part of Homewood that they had built before, but after selling it, the one-story layout was appealing for them, their three kids and their three canine family members. The day after they moved in, 10 neighbor kids were inside the house, and the Hendons knew they had moved to a good street. Walk around each room with Lesley, and she can give you the back story on where she found each piece at an antique mall, Target, yard or estate sales, or Then & Again Marketplace, the stall she and her mother-in-law started after visiting Magnolia Market in Waco. And be sure to read all the signs around the home too—they are never lacking in personality.
Dining Room You’ll find globes, maps and suitcases throughout the Hendon home to mark their love of travelling. To the right of this map is an old watchmaker’s cabinet Lesley found at Scott Antique Market in Atlanta, and in front of them are a bench, also from Scott, and the table she got from her mother-in-law, who used to partner with her on curating a stall at Homewood Antiques.
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Living Room Lesley’s love of throw pillows coordinates with a Moroccan shag rug from The Boucherouite Shop on Etsy and Restoration Hardware leather couch in this cozy space. One of Lesley’s favorite pieces in house were these lockers, pictured on the right, from a school house in France she found at Scott in Atlanta.
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Sunroom This space was originally an exterior porch but was enclosed and had skylights added that draw in natural light from multiple angles—perfect for the art classes the owner at the time hosted in it. Lesley added a splash of green to the room with cacti in the corner.
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Entryway This table from Naduea has been painted several colors since Lesley bought it a decade ago, but at the moment its green hue greets anyone as they enter the home. To its left sits pampas grass; Lesley recommends spraying it with hairspray to keep it from shedding if you buy it fresh. Behind it you can see the living room fireplace, painted black and framed with a rustic wooden mantle, that is part of what drew the Hendons to buy the house.
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Girl’s Room In the Hendons’ oldest daughter’s room, metallic pillows dress up an old chair Lesley found on a marketplace website and coordinating drawer pulls add pizzazz to an Ikea dresser they painted with shimmery metallic Fusion paint. Lesley found the poster “frames” above it on Amazon and likes that she can change out the art in them.
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Boy’s Room An antique piece sign bearing the Hendons’ son Mason’s name was only fitting for his room.
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Master Bedroom No room in Lesley’s home is complete without antiques (like the bench she got from an estate sale) and signs that are never lacking in personality. The ones behind the bed are from Smallwoods.
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MOM&mini comfy-cute styles IN STYLE
BY MEREDITH ELDER PHOTOS BY LAUREN USTAD
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FOR MOM 1. DOUBLE ZERO FUZZY SWEATER
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This darling sweater is sure to spice up your winter wardrobe and keep you warm. Dear Prudence | $39
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3. BLAZE BLACK SKINNY JEANS A cute pair of skinny black jeans is a must. Dear Prudence | $79
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Meredith Elder is a local content creator sharing her west coast flare on southern style as a freelance stylist and social media specialist.
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2. DL1961 CHLOE SKINNY JEANS A year-round staple skinny jean with a fun tonal side stripe. Soca Girl | $69
FOR DAUGHTER
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These cool platform sneakers with an elevated side zip will make your fall to winter wardrobe transition seamlessly. Soca Girl | $62
4. JEN & CO HANDBAG A handbag that doubles as a wristlet and crossbody – yes, please! Dear Prudence | $49
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ACCESSORIES 1.JEN & CO CARD HOLDER Dear Prudence | $19
2. NATURINO MATERA CRISSCROSS SHOES Sikes | $63
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The Jesus Man
If you ever drove down Lakeshore on a Saturday, you saw hundreds of signs and the iconic man preaching amongst them. Here’s his story. By Melanie Peeples Photos by C.W. Newell
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Photo by Selah Vetter
John Brown preaches in front of the Walmart on Lakeshore Parkway before his passing in August.
Continuing the Legacy Isaith Brown grew up with his father preaching on the side of the road. When he got to the age of 14, sports on Saturdays kept him coming, but he returned this past June, just a couple months before his father died. At 27, he says he’s only really now understanding the effect his father had on people. “He knew he made a big impact. It was me who didn’t really understand the big impact that he had,” Isaith says. “I did not comprehend it until his passing.” And he wants his father’s legacy to continue. You can find Isaith out there, now, along with Xavier Jackson, who shared preaching duties. Xavier has actually been accompanying John Brown for several years, ever since the day eight years ago when he pulled off the road to find out who John Brown was. He felt the connection immediately. “When I saw him, ‘I thought, this must be God.’” Xavier says he prayed about it and began calling John every day. For several weeks he said John did a daily Bible study over the telephone with him and his wife. A couple months later he asked John if he could come out there with him on Saturday. To Xavier, what the public saw driving past was only a fracture of who John Brown was. He says John would load up his van and drive through the poor parts of town, handing out food to the hungry and the homeless. “It wasn’t for show,” Xavier says. “He was sincere about everything that he did for the Lord.” 54 November/December 2020
Most never knew his name. Or where he came from. Or why he did what he did. But they came to count on him. Every Saturday, for nearly 20 years, blistering heat or freezing weather, as they went about their weekend errands, he was there. Until he wasn’t. Generations of children have grown up in the back seats of their parents’ cars with the stranger they called “The Jesus Man,” standing on the side of Lakeshore Parkway near Walmart with a microphone and speakers, telling them all about Jesus. He was there for the woman who stopped, on her way home from a funeral, despondent over the death of a dear friend’s son, and he held her hands and prayed. It began to rain but there they stood, holding hands and praying. The woman says she knew God was there. There were also the signs. More than 100 signs, printed in extra-large letters so they could be read whether your car was stopped at the light or you were just passing through. In what came to be a virtual remembrance on Facebook, thousands commented about the signs. One woman
wrote that when she found herself needing direction she would ask God to talk to her through his signs. “Never once did the scripture not apply,” she wrote on Facebook. Perhaps the most memorable sign was the one read that read, “Honk if you know Jesus. Stop if you don’t.” Genesis Batemen, who now lives in Boston, grew up in Homewood, spending parts of so many Saturdays in the back of her mother’s car on her weekly trips to Sam’s Club. “My mom would always honk her horn whenever she saw him and he would jump with joy at everyone who honked at him,” she says. Genesis was around 7 or 8 the first time she really noticed him. Now 25, and mature in her faith, she said in a recent interview that he had a profound impact on her life. “He was an icon. Everyone knew The Jesus Man. If you didn’t know him when you moved here, you eventually would see him,” she says. Like most cities in the South, Homewood has a large number of churches—four within a half mile of one stretch of Oxmoor
Road. But Genesis said none of them ever made as much noise as The Jesus Man did on his one corner of town. That’s not a criticism of churches, she was just so moved by the man’s own faith and dedication. Genesis says she wishes she’d stopped to get to know him. That’s a common refrain among those who learned in August that The Jesus Man had died. But Neil Yawn was one of those who did stop to talk to him. As a paramedic on an ambulance from 1990 to 2007, he passed by a lot of times. And he said he and his paramedic partner stopped to talk at least 15 to 20 times, whenever they could spare the time. He said it was a rare treat to spend time with The Jesus Man. “When he talked you just wanted to sit there and talk and listen to him,” Neil says. Of course, there were those who did not appreciate The Jesus Man. “We were standing there one day and some people rolled their windows down and cussed him,” Neil says. “He just looked at us and said, ‘Could we just pray for those folks? They need help.’” Neil says he asked The Jesus Man why he wasn’t in a church somewhere, and it turns out he had been a traveling preacher and at one time had his own church but it had burned down. And at any rate, The Jesus Man told him he had been led right there to that place. “He said he was leading more souls to God there than he had in all the churches he had been in,” Neil says. Others who took the time to stop and meet him were rewarded just to be in his presence. People like Mike Smith, who used to HomewoodLife.com 55
“He was an icon. Everyone knew The Jesus Man. If you didn’t know him when you moved here, you eventually would see him.“ -Genesis Batemen work construction in Birmingham but now lives in Northern Georgia. “He was the most genuine, happy man I’ve ever met.” Mike says he went back three or four times over the years, just to spend time with him. Of course, there where those who did not appreciation The Jesus Man. Some yelled racial epithets, others told him Jesus wasn’t real. But there he stayed. Mike witnessed people throw drinks at him. “He smiled and waved at the people that threw it and then as soon as they drove off, he laid his sign down and he went over there and picked up the trash. The Jesus Man also had a way of teaching other lessons too. In a world where people can be so quick to criticize the differences in others, Karen Rankin saw in him a chance to teach her daughters tolerance. “I’ve always pointed him out to my children.” She’d tell them, “Look at him! He really believes in
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what he’s saying and he is following through so that he can share his message with other people. I just felt like he was a wonderful example of what dedicated people are about.” “He put himself out there and he was loud and he was outspoken and he didn’t care about what anybody thought about his signs or the fact that he was on a loudspeaker,” Karen says. “He believed it with his whole body. To be out there in the middle of the summer in a suit and a hat...He was dressed up and he was just preaching from his heart, and I thought that was a wonderful example of what people can do with a message that they’re willing to put themselves out on the line.” Karen came to think of him as being a part of Homewood. A special gift, you could say. “We could count on the fact that he was going to be there,” Karen says, “and we liked it. It was kind of comforting.” And as the years passed, as The Jesus Man got
older, Karen noticed. Anytime she didn’t see him on her Saturday errands, she worried. So did a lot of people. The Jesus Man was 80 when kidney failure and coronavirus finally took him home, Aug. 11, according to his youngest son, Isaith Brown. He had been born in Jamaica and moved to Florida in his 20s, where he worked cutting sugar cane. But he made his way up to New York, learned carpentry and went to Bible school for three years, finally fulfilling the call he had heard as a young man in Jamaica. While in New York, he helped other members of his family immigrate, before falling in love with a woman whose family lived in Alabama. He followed her down South, in the ‘60s, his son said, “a hard time to be an immigrant in the South, not to mention Black.” Isaith said his father knew how to do carpentry and a little bit of everything. “He knew how to work on houses, build a foundation or do a little plumbing and electrician [work],” he says. In time, The Jesus Man created his own company, and bought houses before fixing them up and renting them out. He started saving his money to start his ministry, preaching on the streets in different places. He finally did establish that church he had dreamed about as a young man in Jamaica, but eight years
ago it burned down and he didn’t have insurance. Isaith said his father tried to start it back up in a house, but it didn’t work out. All along, he never stopped preaching on the streets, and you could say Lakeshore became his home church. The Jesus Man believed he was right where he was supposed to be. And if you do the math, (according to the Alabama Department of Transportation, some 60,000 cars a day drive that section of Lakeshore), 60,000 cars a day, 52 days a year, for 20 years … The Jesus Man reached far, far more, than he ever could have inside four walls. It was never about who he was, but The Jesus Man’s name was John Gelpin Brown.
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Wild, Wild
West
If suffering is the spice of life, these five Homewood graduates did things right biking from Canada to Mexico. By Madoline Markham Photos Contributed 58 November/December 2020
2014 Homewood High School graduates Willis Wood and Thomas Gordon on Skyline Drive in Utah
Why would you bike from Canada to Mexico on gravel roads in 34 days? The five Homewood High School grads who did it this summer chalk it up to what they call Type II fun. As they define it, Type I fun is having fun in the moment. Type II fun is fun in retrospect but “just awful” in the moment. That and “We will argue as the day is long, all the time about everything,” says Thomas Gordon, a youth minister at All Saints Episcopal Church in Homewood. “Some people don’t enjoy that, but we all do.” “We challenge each other and that makes each other better,” adds Reed Whetstone, another member of the group. Fittingly, Willis Wood—the trip’s mastermind who now lives in Colorado—likens the start of their friendship to an avalanche. All five who’d get on their mountain bikes at the Canadian border this summer met at Edgewood Elementary and were friends by the time they graduated from Homewood High School 2014—but their bond didn’t really snowball into what they have today until college. The first idea for a trip for this year was Willis’s to
buy an old broken down pontoon boat and take it down the Mississippi River. “But everyone hated that idea,” Willis says. “That idea was shot down extremely fast,” adds Adam Westfall, a biomedical designer who lives in Colorado. Willis threw out a Plan B, and C, and D, and finally by E or F everyone was on board. The five friends looked into a more popular Canada-to-Mexico biking route called the Great Divide, but because of COVID restrictions they couldn’t access its starting point in Canada. Instead they opted for the Wild West Route. “It’s more rugged, more isolated, more elevation, more difficult…” says Ian Ross, a law student at the University of Alabama. “More fun,” Willis chimes in. Once they set off, the friends didn’t arrive at the first “real” bike shop until Ketchum, Idaho, 850 HomewoodLife.com 59
Skyline Drive in Utah is on the Wild West Route of back roads from the Canadian border to the Mexican border.
there because I did the Appalachian Trail and know about camping and what good snacks to buy at the grocery store,” Ian says. “Which is more important than you might think,” Willis adds.) And so it was biking down a mountain that Ian crashed and dislocated his elbow. “It was excruciating pain, the worst pain I’ve ever felt The Time Ian Got Airlifted Out physically,” he recalls. Moments later Willis and Six hundred miles into the trip, the friends found Adam were “hot on the scene” putting their themselves in one of the most isolated places in the backcountry skiing know-how to use. Willis hit the lower 48, the Magruder Corridor in Idaho. They button on a satellite device that can send an SOS estimate the closest town was 70 miles in either message regardless of cell service and watched his direction, and it likely only had a bar and post office. friend’s vials. Two hours later, a helicopter arrived and took Ian Ian admits mountain biking and the rigor of the trip was getting to him by that point. (“If anything I was to a hospital. That was the end of the trip for him. miles into the trip. By then Thomas had procured a temporary replacement shifter from the garage of a small town retired mechanic, which fortuitously broke 10 miles from Ketchum. And that’s just the start of their tales from the trip.
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“The worst pain of the whole thing was the sense of failure and defeat, and I spent three days in the hospital reconciling with it,” he says. “Willis kept sending me videos of majestic scenery as I sat on the couch.” But as Adam told Ian, “If you are succeeding in all your adventures, you are probably not pushing hard enough.”
The Time They Biked in a Flash Flood Five days after Ian was airlifted out of the forest, the four remaining friends encountered a torrential storm. “There was a lightning bolt three car lengths away from me, and I thought I was going to die,”
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A Greater Purpose After learning suicide hotline calls were up 50 percent during the pandemic, the group of friends wanted to give back in some way with their bike trip and decided to fundraise for the Crisis Center Birmingham through a GoFundMe page. “Right now donating to it is more important than ever because of coronavirus increasing loneliness and isolation and the new civil rights movement that’s going on,” Ian says. The friends say they were amazed by the support they saw as their initial fundraising goal of $5,000 was reached in one week, with donations coming in from all kinds of people including Homewood High School classmates they hadn’t talked to in a long time. “It makes you realize how strong a community really is,” Adam says. To learn more about the Crisis Center or donate, visit crisiscenterbham.org.
Reed recalls. The water was so deep it sank their bike pedals, so they had to wade through the washed-out road. “It was brutal,” Adam remembers. “We got into town and said, ‘We need beer and a hotel!’” That would be one of three hotel rooms they slept in the whole trip—after cycling 45 miles instead of their typical 80 that day. The Time They Carried Their Bikes Through the Grand Canyon Originally the plan had been to take a route in Arizona through Navajo property, but because the 62 November/December 2020
Adam Westfall on the Hiawatha Rail Trail in Montana
area was hard hit by COVID, the three remaining friends (Adam had left for a new job) realized in Utah that that wouldn’t be an option. That left two choices: bike 200 miles of highway around the Grand Canyon, or put their bikes on their backs and hike through the canyon. They thought the hike would be 13 miles, but it was actually only 13 to the Colorado River and another 13 back up; their only footwear options were flip flops and bike cleats. “How are we doing this? This could not go well,” Thomas recalls thinking at the prospect of the hike. Reed says he was a pep talk away from not doing it. But Willis said it was going to be amazing. “I have
The whole crew at the starting line of the route: the Canadian border
an incredible false optimism about things I shouldn’t,” he admits. And so after cycling 70 miles one day, they arrived at the canyon rim around 7 p.m., each strapped a 70-pound bike on their shoulders with webbing, and they hiked down the north rim of the canyon until 4 a.m. Next came two hours of sleep before the final hike down to the Colorado River as 115-degree heat set in. Reed and Willis finished the 13-mile hike back up the canyon 26 hours after they started, meeting Thomas (who opted to take a shuttle instead) at the top. Along the way, the webbing ripped into their shoulders and cut off circulation to Willis’ left leg— what he calls “really interesting Type II fun.” They biked 60 miles the next day.
The Time They Encountered Trail Magic Outside Salina, Utah, the group was preparing to find a place to camp for the night when a woman pulled up in a Polaris four-by-four, asked where they planned to sleep and offered her home—which happened to be an animal sanctuary. The travellers woke the next morning to greetings from around 60 bunnies and a bunch of chickens. Inside the house they met a baby pig, and that’s not even counting around a dozen dogs plus peacocks, goats and sheep
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A stop at the Noxon Reservoir in Montana
Montana they passed a stand with water and snacks for people on trail—far fewer instances than on the AT where Ian says you can get three to four trail magics a day because so many people are on it. The Time Willis Got a Trashed Seat Adam is a professional downhill longboarder (who has placed seventh in the world at that), so when they came across a skate park in Evanston, Wyoming, he took his bike on it, fully loaded. And so did Willis. on the property. “She gave us food and let us Only Willis slammed at the bottom and lost his shower,” Thomas recalls. “She was very, very performance bike seat. They were about 200 miles kind.” from a bike shop at the time, so Willis checked That was the friends’ most notable instance of Walmart and ended up taking a seat some kids “trail magic” that’s common on routes like the offered him from a bike that had been thrown away. Appalachian Trail when someone provides an But, as he will tell you, “You can’t ride a bike 85 expected gift or service. Other times a “dude on a miles standing up…. Butt sores are a very real thing, motorcycle” offered them all Busch Lights, and in and riding a seat like that certainly didn’t help.”
MSJ Boutique 259 Village Pkwy, Helena, AL 35080
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The silver lining to the story came at a bike shop in Park City where they ended up sharing their story, and they sold Willis a demo seat for $30. Three people they shared their story with at the shop donated $100 each to the GoFundMe for the Crisis Center Birmingham that tied to their ride.
By the time they reached the US-Mexico border, each friend was in fact still living. But more notably, they’d chased an adventure and hope to inspire others to do the same. For these five, life is an adventure that this was just a chapter of. There’s certainly no telling what’s to come next.
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21 Weatherly Club Drive • Alabaster (205)663-4111 • www.joesitalianonline.com HomewoodLife.com 65
SPECIAL ADVERTISING
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1. Let It Snow Gift Basket Send greetings for the holidays with this festive snowflake gift box filled with a collection of scrumptious favorites: buttery tea cookies, savory cheese straws, fresh roasted pecans, triple chocolate chip cookies, rich coffee and roasted pistachios. $49. Alabama Goods, 2933 18th Street South, Homewood, AL 35209. (205) 803-3900. alabamagoods.com.
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2. Alastin Skincare Tinted Sunscreen Use HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum SPF 36 daily to protect skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays and provide a tint with a soft glow! The tinted sunscreen was developed for daily use and can be used immediately following skin treatments. $55. Cahaba Dermatology, 2279 Valleydale Road, #100, Birmingham, AL 35244. (205) 214-7546. cahabaderm.com.
3. Christopher Radko Ornament These annual ornaments are in! If you adore Christopher Radko ornaments as much as we do and want to support a wonderful cause, this Boarding By Two ornament is a must. $70. Bromberg’s, 131 Summit Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35243. (205) 969-1776. brombergs.com.
4. Tinsel & Spice Candle Capri Blue’s new holiday candle has hints of juniper berry and cinnamon clove with a twist of orange mandarin, vanilla and forest woods. It’s the perfect candle to make your home smell delicious for the Christmas season! $24. Cahaba Lilly, 5479 Highway 280 Suite 117, Birmingham, AL 35242. (205) 4906210. cahabalilysouth.com.
5. Swig Hot/Cold Beverage Cup This dreamy design is inspired by those who love to wander, swirled in euphoric hues of blues, pinks and a sprinkle of stardust. The 14-ounce stainless cup keeps drinks cold for hours. $27. The Sassy Shopper, 224 Kent Stone Way, Suite 200, Alabaster, AL 35007. (205) 624-4084. thesassyshopper. com.
6. Mail Carrier Bag The true definition of a trusted field companion, this Haversack is the most versatile bag in the collection. With a large overlapping leather bound flap and four interior compartments, it is built for hiking, traveling and everything in between. $385. Caliber, 2822 Central Avenue, Homewood, AL 35209. (205) 917-5800. caliberxl.com.
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING 8 7 7. Badfish Monarch Standup Paddleboard Badfish’s unique exoskeleton design allows the Monarch to be light without sacrificing rigidity. Everything you need fits in the included bag that you can check on your next flight or throw in the back of the car for a weekend at the lake. $899. The Yak Shak, 2649 Pelham Parkway, Pelham, AL 35124. (205) 767-3201. theyakshak.com.
8. Party Starter Kit Get ready to get your party started with this kit that comes with a flask, a funnel and two shop cups. $24. At Home, 2921 18th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35209. (205) 879-3510. athome-furnishings.com.
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9. Catherine’s Market Gift Basket Create your own custom gift basket from a varied selection of wines, craft beers, artisanal cheeses, snacks, savory sweets, locally poured candles and more. Any amount. Catherine’s Market, 17 Russell Farms Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. (256) 329-0835. catherinesatcrossroads. com.
10. Bogg Bag
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The perfect tote for your next adventure, this one is roomy, versatile, stylish and washable—just right for the gal on the go. Small $54.95, Large $74.95. Village Drug, 300 Carlow Lane, #116, Birmingham, AL 35242. (205) 713-8393. facebook.com/villagedrugco.
11. Swan Creek Candles These 100 percent American soybean wax candles are clean burning, leadfree and intensely fragrant. $8 to $20. Vintage Interiors, 2838 Pelham Parkway, Pelham, AL 35124. (205) 620-1900. vintageinteriorsal.com
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12. Leo and Zachary Blazers For the best dressed young man on your list! These jackets are stylish, classy and elegant, and they are made from top of the line fabrics. Starting at $90. Mon Ami, 40 Church Street, Birmingham, AL 35213. (205) 848-7800. monamibham.com.
13. Outdoor Wind Chimes These precision-tuned, weather-resistant outdoor wind chimes from Music of the Spheres are handcrafted in the USA and 30 inches tall. $96.95. DSLD AquaScapes, 5485 Highway 280, Birmingham, AL 35242. (205) 437-1012. dsldland.com
14. Nest Candle The aroma of a sparkling holiday season is created by blending pomegranate, Mandarin orange, pine, cloves and cinnamon with a hint of vanilla and amber. $49. Mantooth Interiors, 2813 18th Street South, Homewood, AL 35209. (205) 879-5474. mantoothinteriors.com
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15. Onward Seabreeze Special Edition Golf Cart Your ride around the block is about to get a lot more fun in this golf cart from Club Car with plenty of room for four. It is comfortable and practical yet fun and stylish. $14,999. Diamond Golf Cart, 160 Inverness Plaza, Birmingham, AL 35242. (205) 769-6355. diamondgolfcars.com.
16. Joe’s Dipping Oil This custom blended oil boasts parsley, lemon and a special blend of spices perfect for dipping your favorite bread in. Small $10, Large $22.95. Joe’s Italian, 21 Weatherly Club Drive, Alabaster, AL 35007. (205) 663-4111. joesitalianonline. com.
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18 17. Freedom Soaps Gift Box Fill a box of your choosing with sustainably made soaps, scrubs, balms, bath salts and more based in the heart of Cahaba Heights. Freedom Soaps can customize the perfect gift set for you! Prices vary by custom box. Freedom Soaps, 3131 Bellwood Drive, Vestavia Hills, AL 35243. (205) 7831171. freedomsoaps.com.
18. Frozen Cookie Dough and Skillet Treat yourself to hot cookies whenever you like—or better yet, a skillet cookie. Each set of dough comes with 15 frozen balls, and the mini skillet is 5 inches in diameter and made by Lodge. Frozen Dough $20, Skillet $11.25. Cookie Fix, 2854 18th Street South, Homewood, AL 35209. (205) 582-2623. cookiefix.com.
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19. Alabama and Auburn Santa Clause Have Santa pull for your team with our custom Auburn and Alabama Santa Clause. Bring your handcrafted Santa to life by posing the arms, combing the hair or fluffing his beard. $29.99. Home Accents, 2750 Pelham Parkway, Pelham, AL 35214. (205) 621-2039. homeaccentsonline.com.
20. Wireless Table Lamp This rechargeable table lamp has a contact charging base, and its LED light is ideal indoors or outdoors. The matte painted aluminum fixture comes in different colors to match your décor. $160. Alkmy, 17 Dexter Avenue, Birmingham, AL 35213. (205) 492-6677. shopalkmy.com.
21. Ryu Sweater & Necklace This Ryu sweater in scarlet is perfect for holiday parties especially when you pair it with a fun necklace. You can shop them online and find updates on social media @dearprushops. Sweater $79, Necklace $19. Dear Prudence, 4441 Creekside Avenue Suite 125, Hoover, AL 35244. (205) 407-7523. dearprudence.com.
22. Silver and Gold Bracelets
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This 14KW flex bangle has 37 round diamonds with four prongs each, and the 14KW flexible diamond bangle bracelet features 34 diamonds prong set in single row half way round. Silver Bracelet $3,199, Gold Bracelet $4,299. Shay’s Jewelers, 3301 Lorna Road, Suite 1, Hoover, AL 35216. (205) 978-5880. shaysjewelers.com.
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING 23. SpringHouse Gift Card Give the gift of a dining experience like no other. Rising out of the hilltop, SpringHouse treats diners to a local Southern cuisine served in rustic, casual elegance. SpringHouse, 12 Benson Mill Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. (256) 329-0835. springhouseatcrossroads.com.
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24. Wrap This cozy wrap is as stylish as it is comfortable and goes with almost any outfit. $54. Serendipity, 3124 Heights Village, Vestavia Hills, AL 35243. (205) 970-2398. serendipityofbham.com.
25. Corksicle Wine Bucket Perfect for parties, this wine bucket is stainless and super insulated to keep beverages ice cold for up to 48 hours. Chill your favorite beverage or pile it high with ice for serving. $75. The Cook Store, 2841 Cahaba Road, Birmingham, AL 35223. (205) 879-5277. thecookstoremtnbrook.com.
26. The #UpsidedownChallange Game This game will keep your friends and family laughing out loud for hours. Compete to do simple tasks like writing your name, giving a high five and pouring water from one cup into another, all while your vision is flipped upside down. $24.99. Homewood Toy & Hobby, 2830 18th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35209. (205) 879-3986. homewoodtoy-hobby.com. 27. Dog Tanks For the best dressed pup this holiday season, these tanks are sure to make a statement. The soft and comfortable stripe cotton has a baby rib knit and an appliquĂŠ graphic with attached dimensional bow tie. They are machine washable. $22. Fancy Fur, 5291 Valleydale Road, #139, Birmingham, AL 35242. (205) 408-1693. fancyfurpets.com.
28. Plants in Decorative Pots Elevate the look of your plants with these dipped clay and metal decorative planters. $35.98 or two for $64.98. plant Home & DĂŠcor, 10876 Highway 25, Calera, AL 35040. (205) 319-7071.
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING 29. Inflatable Stand-up Paddleboard The Tarpon inflatable stand-up paddleboard by HO Sports combines comfort and functionality in a highly portable, easy-to-store package. It includes a backpack for easy transport/storage, an adjustable three-piece paddle with rider height indicator and a high-pressure pump with PSI. $799. Russell Marine Boating & Outdoors, 19 Russell Marine Road, Alexander City, AL 35010. (256) 329-0835. russelllandsonlakemartin.com.
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30. Leopard Print Top & Leggings This leopard print woobie top is perfect with super comfy knit leggings. Find more updates on social media @sgtpeppersbydp. Leggings $59, Top $39. Sgt. Peppers by Dear Prudence, 4442 Creekside Avenue, Suite 126, Hoover, AL 35244. (205) 407-7524. sgtpeppersbydp.com.
31. Luna 3 by Foreo Meet LUNA 3 from Foreo, the softest skincare device in the beauty world. Featuring 30 percent softer silicone touch points and T-Sonic technology, it lifts away dirt, oil and excess sebum with a one-minute cleansing with a targeted firming facial. $199. Woodhouse Day Spa, 125 Summit Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35243. (205) 905-7676. birmingham. woodhousespas.com.
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32. Handmade Stockings These stockings made from vintage Suzanni textiles with Uzbek trim are perfect for every fireplace. $75. Paige Albright Orientals, 2814 Petticoat Lane, #2320, Mountain Brook, AL 35223. (205) 877-3232. paigealbrightorientals.com.
33. Skin Drink Serum This pure, nourishing serum penetrates deep within the dermis to draw moisture in and hold it there to provide all-day moisture and skin barrier repair! $92. Gunn Dermatology, 32 Church Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35213. (205) 4157536. gunndermatology.com.
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Homewood Chamber of Commerce C O N N E C T I O N S
The Homewood Chamber Elves Holiday Gift Guide
From Merry Meredith and Candy Mandy Merry Meredith’s Picks FOR YOUR SISTER Puzzle from At Home “Give your sister something to do with her friends or the kids or while on another Zoom meeting.”
FOR DAD A Set of 4 Double Old-Fashioned Glasses from Seibel’s Cottage “These double old-fashioned glasses are a local favorite!”
FOR MOM FOR FURRY FRIENDS Jazzy Collars in your Favorite Team Colors from Whole Dog Market
7 HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD 72 November/December 2020
The Christmas Blend from O’Henry’s Coffee “As a mom, I can say this is one of my favorites! Having a few bags of this on hand really helped to get us through quarantine.”
HOMEWOOD, ALABAMA 35209
F i n d U s O n l i ne
Sign up for our weekly newsletter | Access our member directory Purchase Buy Local Homewood eGift Cards
Candy Mandy’s Picks FOR THE KIDS Book from Little Professor “With travel as limited as it has been this year, give your kids the opportunity to read about some of our National Parks. when your family does get around to visiting they will know all about it!”
Upcoming Events
FOR TEACHERS Hot Chocolate Mix from Penzey’s “I start stocking up on these in the fall during my weekly Penzey’s trip and give them to all of the teachers, our mailman, our dog groomer and anyone else I would like
Holiday Open House Market Days November 5th-11th Shop Downtown Homewood
to thank during the holidays.”
FOR YOUR DAUGHTER Earrings from Fab’rik
Recent Ribbon Cutting
FOR MILLENNIALS Masked Coffee Mugs from Alabama Goods “I am loving this coffee mug from Alabama Goods. What could be more 2020 than a masked coffee mug?”
205 - 871 - 5631
Homewood High School Celebrated their recent renovations with a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 18th.
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OUT & ABOUT
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PHOTOS BY JAMES CULVER
Downtown Homewood merchants held special sales on their sidewalks and inside too on July 25 for this annual Homewood Chamber of Commerce event. 1. Avory Haase and Kaitlyn Baker 2. Robert and Christy Richardson 3. Isabella and Lori Talbert 4. Kane Bourgeois with Blair 5. The Hilsons and Meredith Johnson 6. Liza Scott and Kristopher Perez 7. Kelley Davis- Kelley’s Kitchen 8. Kristi and Faith Divert, and Bailey Reed. 9. The Pilcher Family 10. Emma Burnett and Gretchen Brandler 11. Wheatley and Marquez families 12. Carolyn Herr, and Chris and Lesley Lane 13. Chris and Lesley Lane, and Tracy and Bob Ireland 14. Ashley Bazemore and Kelly Webb
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OUT & ABOUT
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WORKING WITHOUT PANTS
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PHOTOS BY KAITLYN BAKER
Homewood Theatre presented a one-night-only production titled “Working Without Pants (Stories from a Pandemic)” on Sept. 12 in the Brookwood Village parking lot. The show starred local authors and actors who shared their experiences of working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. 1. Elaine Reese 2. Debbie Styers 3. Sally Wiley 4. Steven Ross 5. Jack and Carol Reamey 6. Jimmy and Angela Owen 7. Susan and Larry Burgess 8. Beth Butterworth, Carla Callahan, Kari Callahan and Lauren McCreless 9. Sarah York and Lynn Lewis 10. Marvalyn Deese, Jeanette McGahey, Boots Green and Pam Summerlin 11. Julia Cook and Joseph Wortmann 12. Kathryn and Gabe Wortmann
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MARKETPLACE
Marketplace Homewood Life • 205.669.3131
Need appliance or air conditioner parts? How about a water filter for your refrigerator? We have it all at A-1 Appliance Parts! Call 1-800-841-0312 www.A-1Appliance. com Mechanic needed. Must have own tools and five years experience. Apply in person: 1105 7th St N, Clanton. Or call for appointment 205-755-4570
HIRING EXPERIENCED FULL CASE ORDER SELECTORS $19.03 per hour plus production $$$ incentives. Grocery order selection using electric pallet jacks & voice activated headsets. Great benefits including Blue Cross health & dental insurance & matching 401k. Pre-employment drug test required. Apply Online: WWW. AGSOUTH.COM
Operator, Quality, Carpentry, Welder, Foundry. Positions In: Calera, Clanton, Pelham, Bessemer, McCalla. Walk-in applications accepted. Clanton (205)280-0002. Pelham (205)444-9774. Bama Concrete Now Hiring: Diesel Mechanic 4 Years Minimum Experience. CDL Preferred. Competitive Pay. Great Benefits. Apply in person: 2180 Hwy 87 Alabaster, 35007 Boise Cascade Now Hiring for Utility Positions. Starting pay $13.66/hour. Must be able to pass background screen. Please apply at www.bc.com
$2000 SIGN ON BONUS NEW PAY SCALE TO QUALIFYING DRIVERS EVERGREEN TRANSPORT, is accepting Automation applications for local Personnel Services drivers in the Calera Hiring IMMEDIATELY and Leeds, AL, area. For: Automotive Must have Class A Assembly, General CDL, good driving Labor, Production, record, 1 yr verifiable Clerical, Machine tractor trailer 78 November/December 2020
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experience. Good pay and benefits. Apply in person at 8278 Hwy 25 South, Calera, AL, or call for info 205-668-3316. Owner Operators Wanting Dedicated Year Round Anniston, AL www.pull4klb.com
Oxford Healthcare in Montgomery currently hiring certified CNA’s and/or Home Health aides in the Clanton, Marbury and Maplesville areas. Must be able to pass complete background check, have reliable transportation and have a strong work ethic. Serious inquiries only. Call 334-409-0035 or apply on-line at www Oxfordhealthcare. com
Nursing assistant to care for high functioning quadriplegic home health patient in Jemison. Must have valid drivers license. Part-time. Call Mr. Wilbanks 205-908-3333
NEED A JOB??? COME JOIN OUR TEAM OF GREAT PEOPLE!! Lancaster Place Starting pay: $12hrApartments. $14hr •General Location, community Labor •Heavy & quality living in Equipment Operator Calera, AL. 1, 2, & 3 •Shipping •Washer/ bedroom apartments Greaser •Calera available. Call today •Alabaster Online: for specials!! Specializing in all www.stellarstaffingllc. 205-668-6871. your hair care needs com Call: 205-916Or visit SERENITY SALON 2860 hpilancasterplace. Barber/Stylist Chairs com Available for Rent 2 CLOCK REPAIR Convenient Locations SVS. * Setup * Repair Marble Valley •2005 Valleydale Rd. * Maintenance. I can Manor. •Pelham fix your Mother’s Affordable 1 and 2 •3000 Meadow Lake clock. Alabaster/ Bedroom Apartments Dr. Suite 107 Pelham. Call Stephen for Elderly & Call Nichole (205)663-2822 Disabled. Many on205-240-5428 site services! Electrician - FT 2115 Motes Rd, South Haven Health Supreme Electric, Sylacauga. & Rehab NOW local-based company 256-245-6500 HIRING!!! •LPN’s & in Pelham. Must be •TDD#s: RN’s -$5,000 Sign-on willing to learn & 800-548-2547(V) Bonus for Full-Time work hard. Go to: •800-548-2546(T/A). shift •CNA’s supremeelectric-al. Office Hours: MonApply in person: com Fri, 8am-4pm. 3141 Old Print employment Equal Opportunity Columbiana Rd application under Provider/Employer Birmingham, AL Contact Us. Mail to: -35266 Supreme Electric 231 Commerce Pkwy Pelham, AL 35124 or call 205-453-9327.
MARKETPLACE FT 2nd Shift Security Guard needed for beautiful, gated community in No Shelby Co. Paid health insurance, $12hr, 3-11pm weekdays. Must have previous experience, gun permit & pistol. Qualified candidates should call Kim 991-4654 Become a Dental Assistant in ONLY 8 WEEKS! Please visit our website capstonedental assisting.com or call (205)561-8118 and get your career started! Popeyes Seeking friendly, motivated, dependable Crew Members. OPEN INTERVIEWS DAILY 2:00pm-5:00pm 3300 Pelham Parkway. Immediate Openings! Start work this week! Apply online: work4popeyes kitchen.com GENERAL LAWN CARE Specialist in large yards 2+ acres. Serving Chilton, Coosa & many more areas. Bi-weekly, weekly or one-time services available. •Flower Beds •Pine Straw •Mulch •Shrub Trimming CALL NOW FOR FALL SPECIALS! Call Alex today for details: 1-205-955-3439 ~Military & Senior Discounts~
Now hiring RN’s and LPN’s throughout Alabama! $250 community referral bonus for RN’s and LPN’s. Signon Bonuses available at select locations! For more information please contact: Paige Gandolfi Call/ text: 724-691-7474 pgandolfi@ wexfordhealth.com Burger King JOIN OUR TEAM NOW HIRING All Positions QUALIFICATIONS: ENERGETIC, HIGHLY MOTIVATED, FRIENDLY & A SMILING FACE. APPLY ONLINE: www.bkworker.com (EOE–DRUG FREE WORKPLACE) GROCERY STORE MERCHANDISER •$684 weekly starting salary •MUST be able to travel at least 3 nights per week •Use Plan-o-Grams to reset merchandise in retail grocery stores •Must be physically fit and able to lift up to 60 lbs. •Store locations within 300 mile radius of Birmingham •Mileage reimbursement Great benefits including Blue Cross health & dental insurance, paid vacation & matching 401k. Apply Online: WWW. AGSOUTH.COM
JOIN OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT FOR A BURGER KING FRANCHISE Schuster Enterprises, Inc., a Franchisee of Burger King, is looking for a person with skills in HVAC & Refrigeration, Light Electrical & Plumbing. BENEFITS: •Competitive Wage Based on Skills & Experience, Annual Reviews. •Health and Life Insurance •401K Profit Sharing Plan •Paid Vacations •Maintenance Vehicle and Tools Furnished FOR INTERVIEW CALL DAVID STEVENS: 706.563.3066 (EOE–DRUG FREE WORKPLACE)
Monthly Membership $235. Active Military, Veteran, First Responder, Teacher & Student 15% Discount. Address: 993 Yeager Parkway. Pelham, AL 35124. Contact Us. Jonathan Luna 205-451-3095. Instagram: crossfit_Inferis. Facebook: CrossFit Inferis We Pay Cash For Used RV’s!!! McCluskey Auto & RV Sales, LLC 205-833-4575 Burger King is now hiring. Please apply online @ joinbkalabama. com
drug test. Training provided. Insurance/401K offered. M-F 7:004:30 + 1 Saturday/ month. Pay $13hr. Send resume to facsmith@charter.net Servpro of Birmingham. We’re looking for quality people who want to work hard and make a difference. For this excellent career opportunity, email now! bmcrea@servproof birmingham.com Little Caesars Now Hiring Management & Crew Members. Calera, Greystone, & Chelsea Locations. To apply text “pizzacrew” to 85000.
Western International Gas & Cylinders, Inc SignOn-Bonus! Hiring SOLO & TEAM CDL Drivers •2yrs Exp•Pass D.O.T Physical/Background Check •Hazmat Endorsement Apply Online: www. drive4western.com EOE
Home Instead Senior Care • CAREGiver / CNA Weekend Shifts Needed. Have you previously been a family caregiver? Do you want to make a difference in the life of a senior? Acceptance Loan Or do you simply Company, Inc. have a special way Personal loans! Let of taking care of us pay off your title others? Expect to loans! Experienced make a difference!! 224 Cahaba Valley Termite Technician Requirements: Rd, Pelham or someone 21 years of age, 205-663-5821 experienced in route- current drivers service work and license, reliable Come out of your wants to learn new transportation, lift, comfort zone. Come profession. Workpush, pull 25 pounds, join our Crossfit vehicle/equipment clean criminal history Family. Crossfit provided. Must & drug screen. Inferis. Individual drive straight-shift, Please apply at Unlimited Monthly have clean driving homeinstead.com/ Memeberships $125. record/be 21/ bham Couples Unlimited pass background/ Bertolone’s in Calera NOW HIRING. •Dishwasher (FT) •Kitchen Cook (FT) Apply in person at 209 Supercenter Dr. Calera, AL. 35040
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MY HOMEWOOD PATRICK MCCLUSKY
Newly Elected Homewood Mayor + Father of Three
Meet the Pup
Driving Down South Forest & Edgewood Boulevard We recently rescued a dog, and she loves to hang out of the sunroof while we go get ice cream. We take that particular route because of all the people who are out wave and smile as we drive by with her ears blowing in the wind. My kids love to count how many people stop and point!
Then & Now
Friday Morning Breakfast
Salem’s Diner Every Friday morning you’ll find a group of friends and me at Salem’s. We get caught up with the weekly Homewood news, and Wayne, the owner, asks us about our families and inevitably ends up discussing sports. The staff is always friendly, and they have now memorized my “usual” (bacon, egg and cheese on toast, with mayo and tomato).
Tis the Season
Homewood Christmas Parade This event is always a highlight of the year: seeing the entire city lining the streets, the children’s excitement, and the lighting of the Star and Christmas tree. I’ve had all of my children ride the float with me, and passing out candy to their friends (and the occasional dog bone to the local four-leggers). And kudos to the Street Department who has the entire area back to normal by the next morning!
Fun for All
Hall-Kent Fall Festival As a child, I remember all of the hay rides, car bashes and balloon tosses, although most of those are things of the past. Now, I have cooked on the grill, donated by the Homewood Lions Club, for the last several years. The excitement from the neighbors, teachers and children is always fun to watch. Plus, it raises great money for the school!
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Patriot Park This park has been a favorite of mine, and remains so, since the total renovation. I remember eating at Jelly’s (great greasy burger joint), going ice skating across the street, and playing the par-three golf course that sat where the park is currently. With the newly added restaurants, coffee houses and farmers markets, that area of Homewood remains one of my favorites.
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