Homewood Life, Summer 2024

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOMEWOOD 49

Homewood native Lexi Bresnan returns to teach creative drama to youth at the Homewood Theatre.

HOMEWOOD’S BEST WINNERS 57

You voted. We tallied. See just who Homewood's favorites are in the winners of our annual vote.

HIGH ON BUENA VISTA 74

Make tracks this summer for someplace a little off the beaten path: Buena Vista, Colorado.

PHOTO BY ETHAN LOWE

PHOTO BY UNTOLD IMAGERY

EDITORIAL

Anna Grace Moore

Donald Mottern

Mackenzee Simms

Andrew Simonson

Noah Wortham

CONTRIBUTORS

Samford University Athletics

Focus Creative Birmingham

Carmen Brown

Lisa Cheek

James Culver

Rachel Culver

Daniel Dennis

Ethan Lowe

Blair Ramsey

Meg Robinson

Christiana Roussel

Merrick Wilson

DESIGN

Sydney Allen

Jamie Dawkins

Rowan Futrell

Connor Martin-Lively

MARKETING

Michaela Bankston

Octavia Campbell

Evann Campbell

Rachel Henderson

Rhett McCreight

Lauren Morris

Viridiana Romero

ADMINISTRATION

Mary Jo Eskridge

Alec Etheredge

Stacey Meadows

Kayla Reeves

Brittany Schofield

Carmen Brown, Writer

Carmen earned her master’s degree in communication and information sciences from the University of Alabama. She has worked as a magazine feature writer for the last 15 years and also works as a writing coach and copy editor. Her work has been published in “HomeCare,” “Tuscaloosa Magazine,” “The Executive” and more. She enjoys writing articles on a variety of topics, especially health and wellness and inspirational articles on human resilience. Check out her website at carmensheabrown.com.

Lisa Cheek, Photographer

Lisa is a Vestavia Hills-based photographer, who specializes in capturing diverse subjects and moments through her lens. Lisa excels in various genres including performing arts, portraits, headshots and branding. Through a blend of technical expertise and artistic vision, Lisa strives to deliver images that resonate with authenticity and capture the true spirit of her subjects. Her goal is to deliver quality work with exceptional service. To work with Lisa or view her work, visit lisacheekphotography.com or follow her on Instagram @lisa.cheekphotograpy or Facebook @lisacheekphotography.

James Culver, Photographer

James lives in the Birmingham area with his wife, Rachel, a native of Homewood, and their three children, Callie, James III and John Michael. James is a graduate of Auburn University and spent years in Atlanta working as a graphic designer, creative director and photographer. He specializes in event, real estate and portrait photography, and he can be found on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook at @jculvercreative and at jculver.com.

Daniel Dennis, Photographer

Daniel is the co-founder and co-owner of Untold Imagery. He’s been practicing photography for many years, but he started pursuing it professionally in 2020. Daniel enjoys being able to compose an image in his mind and seeing it come to fruition through perfect lighting and composition. His primary focuses with photography are travel, food and branding. To learn more about Untold Imagery, follow the business on Instagram at @untold_imagery or visit untoldimagery.com.

Homewood Life is published quarterly 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 $14.95 plus tax 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.

ON THE COVER

Focus Forward

Bucky McMillan is transforming the Samford University men's basketball program into a perennial powerhouse.

by Meg Robinson

Design by Rowan Futrell

NNever have I been more proud to root for my alma mater–my Samford University Bulldogs–than I was on Thursday, March 21, 2024–the night of the NCAA tournament featuring the Samford Bulldogs against the Kansas Jayhawks. I remember watching the game in my living room, clinging to the edge of my seat as I witnessed the Bulldogs making history for the first time in 24 years.

Those watching from home heard the ever-growing “Let’s Go Samford” chant on TV that echoed across the nation as fans cheered for our underdogs, who made up nearly a 22-point deficit in the second half. I’ll be honest, readers, I have never been much of a sports fan, but watching the Bulldogs fight back–only to be down a single point with 20 seconds left to go in the game–was enough to make even me scream at the refs over a bad call.

I remember my whole family jumped up, dropping nearly every plate of hotdogs and chips in our hands, as we watched the Bulldogs get the foul that allowed the Jayhawks two free throws (ultimately helping them win the game, 93-89). While I still think the Bulldogs should have won that game, I have to say it has been really neat to see my alma mater make one of the greatest comebacks in SoCon history since coach Bucky McMillan was hired.

To put it into perspective, the last time Samford advanced to play in March Madness was in 2000. I would have been less than a year old.

However, the only feat impressive enough to rival Samford’s comeback kick would be how Bucky and the team handled that foul call in the days that followed. Bucky–the powerhouse behind the program’s transformation–has always maintained a level of respect for others rooted in his foundations for success: discipline, dignity and divinity.

A Birmingham-Southern graduate, Bucky coached men’s basketball at Mountain Brook High School, leading the team to five state championships. When Bucky was recruited to Samford in 2020, some eyebrows were raised as coaches don’t usually make the jump from coaching high school to collegiate ball so quickly.

Just like the Bulldogs during this past season, Bucky defied all odds.

On page 23, readers, you all will get to read Bucky’s story and just how he turned the Samford University men’s basketball program into a force with which to be reckoned. As you read his story, I hope each of you are reminded that with the right mindset and determination, any dream is possible to achieve.

Cheers,

annagrace.moore@homewoodlife.com

Photo

” “THE QUESTION

Where will your family travel to this summer?

My husband and I will be traveling to Barcelona this summer! While we’ve both been to Spain, Barcelona will be a first for both of us!

-Erin Cornelison Elseroad

Alaska

-Jessica Kim

Bend, Oregon

-Donna Patterson Stevens

College visits with a rising senior.

-Jonathan Geisen

Jackson Hole, WY in July!

-Krimson Anne Revis

We are traveling to Portland and Bar Harbor in Maine!

-Mary Margaret McInish Vick

Eastern Europe

-Amy Holditch

-Myrtle Beach, SC

-Stephanie Wood

@homewoodlife

Tag us in your Homewood photos on Instagram, and we’ll pick our favorites to regram and publish on this page in each issue.

@focusbham Spring Has Arrived In Homewood…..

@laurafeld425

Governor Kay Ivey came out to greet our 4th grade class and take a quick photo. Very cool experience for these kids. Can you find Eli?

@hilbitesbham

Went to @eatluca a week or so ago (because you don’t have to tell me twice to try a brand new Italian spot in the bham metro area), and I’m already ready to go back! We sat on the market side, and I was so impressed with everything.

@alexnaylorhair

LUCKY CHARM painted with @randco cut with @sharkfinshears styled with @ergostylingtools + #randcohair @thewellsalon

JULY 4TH FESTIVAL

JULY 4TH

5 P.M.

Downtown Homewood

Two blocks of 18th Street South and one block of 29th Avenue South will be closed off for pedestrians to enjoy a variety of rides and attractions during the festival. Children will enjoy inflatables, music, rides and interactive activities for all ages. While there is no charge to attend this event, those interested in playing on the attractions must purchase a $10 wristband for unlimited ride access. For more information, visit homewoodparks.com/ special-events.

THE GUIDE

Summer Camps

Check out these camps your kids will love this summer.

Kids’ Art Camp

SELECT WEEKS IN JUNE-JULY | 9

A.M.-NOON OR 1-4 P.M. Ages: 8-15

Thomas Andrew Art, Home & Faith thomasandrewartstudiogallery.com

Theatre Camp: 101 Dalmatians Kids

JUNE 17-28 | 9 A.M.-2 P.M.

Ages: 5-12

MAY 4

We Love Homewood Day

ALL DAY

Homewood Central Park

Homewood’s biggest party of the year is back! Here is a brief timeline of events you won’t want to miss:

• 7:30 a.m. - We Love Homewood Day 5K

• 8 a.m-2 p.m. - Chalk Art Festival

• 8:40 a.m. - Scoop and Scurry Fun Run

The Homewood Theatre homewoodtheatre.com

Homewood Parks Summer Camp

SELECT WEEKS IN JUNE-JULY | 10 A.M.-3 P.M. Ages: 6-12

Homewood Community Center & Homewood Central Park homewoodparks.com/camps

• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. - We Love Homewood Day Festival

• 6 p.m. - We Love Homewood Day Parade

• 7-9:30 p.m.- Street Dancing in Edgewood

Find more details at homewoodparks.com/wlhd.

AROUND TOWN

FRIDAYS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER

Storytime in the Gardens Birmingham Botanical Gardens

SATURDAYS IN MAY-AUG. Helena Market Days 815 Highway 52 East

SATURDAYS IN MAY-AUG.

Marketplace at Lee Branch 611 Doug Baker Boulevard

SATURDAYS IN MAY-AUG.

Valleydale Farmers Market 4601 Valleydale Road

SELECT WEEKS IN JUNE & JULY

Kids’ Art Camp

Thomas Andrew Art, Home & Faith 2856 18th Street South

SELECT WEEKS IN JUNE & JULY

Gross Out Science Camp Camp Fletcher 5150 Fletcher Road

SELECT WEEKS IN JUNE & JULY

Summer Art Camp

Birmingham Museum of Art 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Boulevard

SELECT WEEKS IN JUNE & JULY

Gross Out Science Camp Vulcan Park 1701 Valley View Drive

MAY 3

Shelby County Arts Council

Student Music Recital

Shelby County Arts Council 105 West College Street

MAY 4

Art in the Village Mountain Brook City Hall

MAY 4

We Love Homewood Day Homewood Central Park

MAY 4

Art in the Lot

Trinity United Methodist Church

MAY 5

Hozier

Presented by Oak Mountain Amphitheatre

MAY 5

Spring Scramble 5K 2839 18th Street South

MAY 10

‘Tails in the Trails Birmingham Zoo

MAY 11

Motherwalk & Run 5K Homewood Central Park

MAY 11

Magic City Wine Fest Railroad Park 1600 1st Avenue South

MAY 18

Kitty Kat Haven & Rescue Meow-A-Thon Veterans Park 4800 Valleydale Road

MAY 19

Sean of the South “On the Air” Music Series

Presented by the Shelby County Arts Council

MAY 28-31

Enchanted Forest Morning Camp Birmingham Botanical Gardens

JUNE 8

Run, Ride & Rumble for PTSD Awareness 4500 5th Avenue South

JUNE 8

The Molly Ringwalds Presented by Avondale Brewing Company

JUNE 9

Sean of the South “On the Air” Music Series

Presented by the Shelby County Arts Council

TUESDAYS IN JUNE, JULY AND THE FIRST TUESDAY IN AUGUST

West Homewood Farmers Market

5-8 P.M.

160 Oxmoor road

The West Homewood Farmers Market is proud to open up again for its 14th season on Tuesday, June 4! Patrons can look forward to

JULY

27

Downtown Homewood

Sidewalk Sale

ALL DAY

The Shops of Downtown Homewood

Brought to patrons by the Homewood Chamber of Commerce, the 13th annual Downtown Homewood Sidewalk Sale will feature merchants lining the sidewalks with pop-up shops, sporting discounts up to 75-percent off! Be sure to arrive early and shop local. Learn more at business.homewoodchamber.org/ events.

perusing a variety of local vendors’ wares, delicious food and beverages and great seasonal produce, too. For more information, visit westhomewood.com and follow the West Homewood Farmers Market on Instagram @westhomewood.

STUDENTS' CORNER

HOMEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL BAND PERFORMS IN IRELAND

On Sunday, March 17 in both Dublin and Celbridge, Ireland, the Homewood High School marching band performed in two annual St. Patrick’s Day parades. Under the direction of Chris Cooper, the Patriots Marching Band was the largest band selected to perform in the parade.

ARTS CULTURE&

DREAMS INTO REALITY

Amy Edgerton of A.Edge Designs is inspiring people to follow their dreams through her purposeful jewelry line.

BY ANNA GRACE MOORE

PHOTOS BY BLAIR RAMSEY

FFaith acts as the fuel to ignite one’s call to action–her ability to turn dreams into reality. For the founder and principal designer behind A.Edge Designs, Amy Edgerton, such a journey is one worth pursuing.

Hailing from McMinnville, Tennessee, Amy first came to Birmingham in 1992 to attend Birmingham -Southern College. After graduating, she moved to Nashville for occupational therapy school and returned after receiving her degree to work as an occupational therapist in the Magic City.

Amy says Birmingham–Homewood specifically–just always felt like home. It is also where she established both of her careers–in occupational therapy and in designing her own jewelry line.

Fast forward to 2016, and Amy, struggling to balance working full-time and raising two children, decided to work part-time. While looking for ways to supplement her income from home, Amy says she remembered discovering a beautiful but expensive pair of earrings at a boutique.

“I remember thinking, ‘I can’t spend that much money, but I wonder if I can try to make some,’” Amy says. “I literally drove straight to Hobby Lobby. I started making some for myself, and then, I would make them for friends.”

As Amy’s hobby grew, so did her confidence. Ironically, she says it never dawned on her to monetize her new talent because entrepreneurship–at the time–seemed so intimidating.

With the encouragement of a friend, Amy opened A.Edge Designs’ Instagram account in June 2018 to simply “see what would happen.” To her surprise, numerous people–many of them working moms like herself–were eager to support her business.

Finally in January 2021, Amy took a leap of faith and retired from occupational therapy to run A. Edge Designs full-time.

“If you had asked me 20 years ago about owning a jewelry company, I would laugh, but here we are,” Amy says. “The part that I really appreciate is the flexibility. I’m just a happier person by being able to balance life better.”

Now serving hundreds of customers a year, A. Edge Designs is a popular name in Homewood for its one-of-a-kind collections, featuring original,

handmade earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings. If she is not at home in her studio drawing up new designs or creating, Amy can often be found at local shows and farmers markets nearly every weekend throughout the year.

Not only are Amy’s designs unique, but lots of her materials are also sourced from different countries around the world such as Turkey. She utilizes minerals, metals, leather, suede, beads and more, and each piece–often made from scratch–is a small hallmark of her innate talent.

“Sometimes, I feel like I have writer’s block, and there are days where it is just not coming to me,” Amy says of creating collections. “Sometimes, I have to let go and do something different.”

Each piece is a labor of love as Amy says it can

A.Edge Designs

To see which shows Amy will be working next, follow A.Edge Designs on Instagram (@a.edgedesigns) and Facebook (a.edge designs).

sometimes take several hours for her to design and create even one pair of earrings. Her feathered earrings, for example, are hand-cut from leather hides and are hand-painted before being fastened to the ring clasps.

One top-selling item is the guardian angel necklace, which features a gold-colored angel wing pendant hanging from a loop and cross attached to a trombone link chain. Often inspired by trending fashion, Amy says she has challenged herself to create outside the box for her more eclectic customers.

The filigree elephant earrings–offered both in white and matte silver–are created through the filigree technique, which involves soldering together metals to create beautiful motifs, or in Amy’s case,

the Crimson Tide’s mascot. Another fan favorite–the marella ring–is gold-colored metal that is flattened and rounded to create depth on one’s finger, meaning it is an attention-praising piece.

Amy’s favorite pieces to create are the Yvonne earrings, which are named after her maternal grandmother who owned a jewelry box that Amy loved playing in as a child. The Yvonne earrings are made from a brass fan and brass oval, and they always come in gold because that was Yvonne’s “signature color.”

While Amy designs and creates all of her own lines, she has had customers request custom orders.

“People can come over to my studio, and we can design their own piece,” Amy says. “We could pick out colors, and we could pick out style. I could make it right there on the spot.”

One of Amy’s favorite memories creating jewelry came not at a show, but in fact on the morning of at a customer’s wedding. The bride surprised her bridesmaids by inviting Amy to host a jewelry bar, where each of the bridesmaids could pick out materials for Amy to create their customizations as bridesmaid gifts.

“Working with my hands and just creating–there’s something about it that’s very peaceful to me,” Amy says. “Even as an occupational therapist, which is a very creative job, I’ve always steered toward that creative side. It’s kind of surreal sometimes to see people wearing my jewelry.”

Although most of Amy’s customers buy her designs for themselves or as gifts, many may not realize just how much thought is incorporated into each unique piece. According to the AP News article, “Families detail stress, terror and sadness after

Nashville school shooting in court documents,” a mass shooting occurred at The Covenant School in Nashville on March 27, 2023.

The assailant–28-year-old Audrey Hale–shot and killed six people before she was killed on scene by responding police officers. While in graduate school, Amy lived close to The Covenant School, so years later hearing about this tragedy, she became distraught and wanted to help victims and their families.

“It hit even closer to home for me,” Amy says of the tragedy. “St. Benedict symbolizes protection. I know it’s just a necklace, but it was my way of letting them know that God is protecting them.”

Amy began creating this gold-colored pendant necklace, which pictures St. Benedict, after the tragedy. Not only did she help raise awareness of the pressing concerns surrounding school shootings through her jewelry sales, but she also helped pray for the victims and their families, encouraging her customers’ support, too.

No matter the jewelry, Amy says each piece is created with a

purpose: To remind her customers that they are loved, beautiful and are called to do great things here on Earth. Symbolically, Amy says she helped discover part of her purpose, relying on faith and opening A.Edge Designs.

If Amy never took that step, she never would have been able to prioritize being a wife and mom, putting her family’s needs first. She also would have never honed in on her passion for design, never scratching her itch to create.

Amy believes her testimony is physically manifested in each pair of earrings or rings her customers wear. She hopes whenever her customers wear A.Edge Designs that they not only feel beautiful, but they also realize what a beautiful life they are helping Amy to achieve.

“I feel so blessed that I found something that I love to do but can still financially support my family and be here whenever they need me,” Amy says. “I am constantly in awe of how supportive people are to me and to my business.”

Looking forward, Amy says she hopes to continue creating inventive designs–inspired by and for her customers. She hopes that other mothers especially will view her story as a catalyst to create–to pursue their own passions, choosing to face each roadblock as simply a stone over which to hurdle.

After all, the only difference between dreamers and doers is the faith to try something new.

To view Amy’s work or inquire about purchasing, visit aedgedesigns.com.

TURNER AND ASSOCIATES LLC

BY EMILY REED PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

For Tabitha and Fabray Turner, being sisters and business partners is something that goes hand in hand.

“Embarking on this journey as sisters brought a unique set of circumstances,” Tabitha says. “The uniqueness was evident from the outset as we both maintained full-time jobs while laying the foundation for our venture. The initial phase posed challenges as we navigated the complexities of juggling our respective responsibilities, relying heavily on each other’s expertise for ideas and understanding clients’ needs.”

The two female entrepreneurs launched Shift Your Paradigm and Turner and Associates LLC, which help people with taxes and business funding needs.

Turner and Associates LLC is specialized in both business and personal income tax services; provides comprehensive financial support by offering payroll management; HR services; accounting; bookkeeping services and assistance with business formation; and exclusive benefits such as providing free notary services exclusively to membership clients.

Shift Your Paradigm is dedicated to business funding, which assists clients with business funding needs; membership integration, which seamlessly integrated with Turner and Associates through a membership-based program; and holistic financial solutions, which aim to be a one-stop shop for a wide array of financial services.

After Tabitha graduated from graduate school,

Fabray approached her sister about the idea of joining forces and establishing a tax business together.

In 2004, the two initiated their venture in a modest location off Pelham Parkway.

Since that time, the businesses have grown, including moving locations three times, before officially acquiring their own building in 2023.

The sisters say this significant purchase marked a pivotal moment in the company, which allowed the fostering of further growth and continued to help to inspire new ideas.

With the expansion in services, it also allows a “one-stopshop” encompassing both Turner and Associates and Shift Your Paradigm.

While the early stages of the two businesses encompassed various needs, the sisters were able to transition to both working full-time for their business ventures and the dynamics of the companies shifted significantly.

“It became notably more convenient to walk to the next office or simply sit down to discuss ongoing matters at any given time,” Tabitha says. “This journey, while demanding, has been exceptionally meaningful for both of us, the challenges we faced together have forged a strong bond, and the shared commitment to the business has made the experience all the more rewarding.”

Both sisters agree that their understanding of each other as both sisters and business partners has allowed them to understand each other better, creating a dynamic partnership.

“While we haven’t always excelled in comprehending one another, we recognize that the success of our company hinges on both of us contributing to its growth,” Tabitha says. “Over time, we have come to realize that prioritizing the business over personal matters is crucial. This shift in perspective has significantly improved our collaboration, fostering a better understanding of how to thrive collectively for the success of Turner and Associates, rather than pursuing individual achievements.”

Turner and Associates operates as an accounting-focused business, providing services such as business and personal income tax preparation, payroll management, human resources support, bookkeeping, business formation assistance and complimentary notary services exclusively to membership clients.

For more information about both businesses, visit their website at sypal.org, call (205) 702-1417 or email info@sypal.com.

Follow the businesses on Instagram @sypal205 or @turnerassociates2; Facebook at Shift Your Paradigm or Turner and Associates, LLC; or on X at @turnerassociat2.

Children’s Summer Reading

Recommendations from Ruby Maghoney

Children’s Librarian at the Homewood Public Library

Ruby Maghoney is a part of the children’s department at the Homewood Public Library. She is a lover of children’s literature, marine biology and musical theatre. Here, she recommends her top five favorite summer reading choices that kids will love. READ THIS BOOK

Mother of Sharks

By Melissa Cristina Márquez | Fiction

Written by a globally-renowned marine biologist, “Mother of Sharks” explores the world of a little girl who loves nothing more than the ocean. With stunning art and an informative story on marine animals, Melissa Cristina Márquez celebrates her Puerto Rican heritage and the marvelous wonders of marine life in this new summer read.

Climbing the Volcano

By Curtis Manley | Non-Fiction

For anyone with a call for adventure, “Climbing the Volcano” is a beautiful summer choice in haiku. In this new read, children are taken through a journey of discovery and wonder as a young boy explores his curiosity of the natural world with his family.

Hot Dog

By Doug Salati | Fiction

“Hot Dog,” winner of the 2023 Caldecott Medal, is the perfect summer story for those who crave beautiful illustrations, lyrical text and the beach. While featuring a small wiener dog that is tired of the hot city, this award-winning picture book beautifully emphasizes the need for escape, rest and fresh air in the hot summer months.

The Song that Called Them Home

By David A. Robertson | Fiction

From award-winning author, David A. Robertson, “The Song That Them Called Home” is the refreshing fantasy-adventure that readers look for in the blistering summer. Based on Indigenous legends, this new story explores valuable themes of family and belonging with fantastical underwater creatures, vivid imagery and wondrous illustrations.

Wild Summer: Life in the Heat

By Sean Taylor & Alex Morss | Fiction

Filled with facts about summer creatures, “Wild Summer” tells the story of days in the sun, animals, flowers and grandparents. In this vibrant illustration of summertime, we see how youth and curiosity combines with the wisdom of seasons, wildlife and conservation, so that children can better understand the importance of protecting our beautiful world.

SCHOOL SPORTS&

FOCUS FORWARD

Samford University men’s basketball represents Homewood on a national stage.

BY ANDREW SIMONSON

UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS & CONTRIBUTED

PHOTOS BY ETHAN LOWE, MEG ROBINSON, SAMFORD

IIn a sold-out Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, the home of the NBA’s Utah Jazz, and in front of a national television audience, the Samford Bulldogs men’s basketball team rallied back against the Kansas Jayhawks and nearly toppled one of the perennial powerhouses in the NCAA Tournament.

In the midst of their improbable run, a simple chant broke out: “Let’s go Samford.” It started small, then it rose to fill the arena, and it returned multiple times throughout the second half as the Bulldogs, nearly 1,800 miles from many of their fans in Homewood, became the crowd favorite.

Soon enough, Samford University would be the talk of the country.

But, it wasn’t always that way.

In just four years, coach Bucky McMillan, the players, staff and supporters at Samford have transformed the men’s basketball program from one of the worst teams in the Southern Conference into the hottest ticket in town and a perennial

championship contender, winning the school’s first SoCon Tournament title to play in March Madness for the first time since 2000.

That journey from barren gyms to packed NBA arenas took twists and turns along the way, but in the eyes of McMillan and the Bulldogs, it’s a journey that’s not finished yet.

Mountains and Valleys

In March 2020, Samford searched for a spark after a 10-23 campaign, where it lost in the first round of the SoCon Tournament for the second time in three seasons.

That led them to a coaching search where an unlikely front-runner emerged: Bucky McMillan.

Bucky had already etched his name into local lore as a Birmingham-Southern graduate, who returned to his hometown of Mountain Brook to coach Mountain Brook High School to five boys basketball

state championships.

After Bucky established the Spartans as one of the top programs in the country, Samford athletic director Martin Newton reached out to him, and the two of them knew they had the resources and planning to turn the Bulldogs around.

“I knew that with the connections in our hometown and in Alabama that I have, that Martin has, that we could rally this place together, and I knew we could get to the top of the league,” Bucky says.

Samford announced Bucky as the new head coach in April of that year, and the hire was not without its detractors. High school coaches typically don’t make the leap to become college head coaches, especially at an NCAA Division I program in a tough conference such as the SoCon.

Bucky used his plan and experience from Mountain Brook to recruit players such as Jermaine Marshall—a Hueytown High School graduate, who transferred to Samford in 2021 to help prove the doubters wrong.

“To come here and to win here at Samford and to change the whole culture like he has done is a truly

amazing thing,” Jermaine says. “I’m just happy to be a part of it.”

Doubters into Believers

Changing the culture was one of the team’s biggest challenges in the early years of Bucky’s tenure as they hoped to turn around their fortunes on the court.

To him, “Bucky Ball” wasn’t just a high-tempo, high-pressure playstyle on the court, but it was also a mentality that carried into every aspect of life.

It looked like being on-time for everything, not just showing up for class and study hall, but sitting in the first two rows in class and remaining dedicated to both schoolwork and every other aspect of their lives.

“Coach Bucky likes to do things to a standard, and he doesn’t care what type of player you are or what type of person you are—it’s a championship standard,” Jermaine says. “That’s how he changed things.”

Over time as the culture changed, the wins followed, and as the wins came, Bucky and the

“Coach Bucky likes to do things to a standard, and he doesn’t care what type of player you are or what type of person you are—it’s a championship standard. That’s how he changed things.”

— Jermaine Marshall

players got involved in the Samford community. Word spread about “Bucky Ball,” and students came to support.

By Bucky’s third season in 2022-23, Samford filled up the lower bowl of its arena on national television, and many games featured a raucous atmosphere, which was contagious for the players.

The Bulldogs wouldn’t reach their destination of the NCAA Tournament in 2022-23 as late season injuries and other factors dropped them into a tie for the SoCon regular season title with new rival Furman and a quarterfinal exit to a tough Chattanooga team in the SoCon Tournament.

That motivated the players to band together and finish the job in 2023-24, as Jermaine and Bucky both agreed that playing united and for each other made the difference a year later.

“I feel like everybody played for one another,” Jermaine says. “We’ve been down multiple times this year, but we always came back. We always kept

fighting, and we never quit on one another. I feel like that’s what kind of makes us special.”

As a result, Samford set a school record for wins with a 29-6 record, which included a 17-game win streak. The Bulldogs claimed the SoCon regular season title outright and won three games in three days to win the program’s first SoCon Tournament championship in school history, which punched the ticket to the Bulldogs’ first NCAA Tournament in 24 years.

That gave it another stage to showcase Bucky Ball on as they faced the No. 3 seed, Kansas, in Salt Lake City. After a slow start, the Bulldogs’ energy and heart captivated the crowd, something that Jermaine says doesn’t surprise him.

“It was amazing,” Jermaine says of the experience. “The whole gym was screaming, ‘Let’s go Samford,’ on our comeback run, and I just feel like the way we play and how hard we play, you can tell we want it more than anybody on the court.”

every child takes center stage.

At Children’s of Alabama, kids are the center of our world and our mission is to provide the very best care available to every child. It’s why we are here.

Onward and Upward

The comeback would not end in a signature win as a controversial foul call on AJ Staton-McCray’s chase-down block on the Jayhawks’ Nicolas Timberlake was part of multiple moments in the final minutes of the game that tipped the result in Kansas’ favor.

However, the controversy created a viral moment on social media as fans across the country supported Samford and said the Bulldogs should have won.

While Bucky and the team took the high road, not blaming the official for being put in that position, they used that online buzz just like when they lined up 5-foot-8 Dallas Graziani for the tipoff against the 7-foot-4 reigning player of the year, Zach Edey, in the season opener against Purdue. They used it to gain fans and spread the word about Samford University—this time through the team’s new tagline, “All heart. All ball.”

“I think that the more notoriety, people can see Samford come across their screen or see it on their social media and say, ‘What is Samford?’” Jermaine says. “That’s one of my main goals—not just for us to be good at basketball. I know that this place is incredible, and I’ll vouch for it ‘til the day I die.”

1600 7TH AVENUE SOUTH

BIRMINGHAM, AL 35233

Bucky takes a bird’s-eye approach to coaching at Samford. His belief is that his team’s success on the court will not only bring people to the university, but also raise the profile of Homewood and Birmingham as a whole.

He wants to make sure that everyone in the community, from businesses to boosters to students to fans, feels involved in the program because he knows that it will take an even greater level of support to keep the team moving forward.

“I’m so appreciative of those who have poured in, but I promise you, just as quickly as we went from one of the bottom teams in the league to the top, we can go right from the top to the bottom without that same support,” Bucky says.

While Bucky was tabbed by media and fans as one of the top candidates in the coaching cycle, he doubled down on his commitment to the Bulldogs by signing a contract extension through 2032 less than a week after the season ended.

He says one of the reasons he signed on was because his plan wasn’t to just get to the NCAA Tournament, but to advance further and be in the mix for the Final Four while challenging for the top 25 rankings.

He believes that Samford has the support from the top-down to make it happen, and his belief in that makes him the right person to lead the program forward.

“If I didn’t think we could get to that second weekend, I wouldn’t be here—that’s just it,” Bucky says. “I’m here because I think we can win at a high level.”

That work so far has netted Bucky three straight SoCon Coach of the Year awards and his team multiple All-SoCon selections and awards during one of the most successful stretches in Samford history.

“He had three back-to-back, 20-plus-win seasons, and a lot of teams in the SoCon don’t get that, and for him to do it this fast, this quickly and to gather the whole support of Homewood, Birmingham and the Samford community around him and behind him, it’s incredible,” Jermaine says.

The impact on the community may be what Bucky is most proud of. In the years since he left Mountain Brook High School, he drives around his hometown, seeing kids dressed in Spartans neon yellow and green with basketballs in hand. Mountain Brook is firmly solidified as a basketball town, as evident by the continued success of MBHS, which reached the Class6A boys basketball title game once again in 2024.

Now, he sees something similar at Samford University and the city of Homewood. Basketball is spreading, and because of it, a city has its champion, and the world is learning about Homewood and the people who call it home.

Tell our readers more about yourself.

I am originally from San Diego, California. I graduated from Samford University in 2016, and I have always wanted to be a teacher. I love to be active and spend time with my friends and family! My husband and I love to travel and spend our summers hiking all over the world.

What is one of your favorite aspects of teaching at Shades Cahaba?

I started teaching as SCES in August 2016. I have stayed here because it has been a great place to learn and grow. I have grown personally and professionally because of my fellow educators and my students, who I have come to know and love. I have made lifelong friends that have picked me up on hard days and celebrated with me on exciting days. The environment at SCES has always been encouraging and supportive. I have felt safe enough to try new things, which has brought so much growth.

5 FIVE QUESTIONS FOR

Ashley Helf 2024 Teacher Impact Award Recipient

On Friday, March 8 at Events at Haven, the Homewood City Schools Foundation hosted Homewood Grown, which is a fundraising dinner that benefits the school system. The program recognized the 2024 Teacher Impact Award winners from each of the schools in the community, as well as the Anne Jeffries Support Staff winner. Shades Cahaba Elementary School (SCES) awarded fourth grade teacher Ashley Helf with the 2024 Teacher Impact Award. Here, Ashley offers her thoughts on receiving such an honor and her love for the Homewood community.

How did it feel to receive Shades Cahaba’s 2024 Teacher Impact Award?

I was shocked to win the Teacher Impact Award! I have watched others win this award and have been inspired to continue growing in my craft of teaching. Hearing Dr. Story tell me I had been chosen felt unreal. Inside I heard, “Wow, I am really doing it, and someone sees me!” This was such a special moment I will cherish forever.

What do you think is the key to successful teaching?

My number-one answer will always be grace. I ask my students to give their best effort and learn from their mistakes, but I have to do the same. As an adult, we also have to give ourselves, our students and each other grace because sometimes, we try something, and it doesn’t work. Aside from grace, passion is quite important. I love what I do! Coming to work every day is a new challenge with

new opportunities to do the day better than the last. I believe making connections with individual students and making memories as a class allows everyone to feel as though they belong in the classroom.

How do you hope to inspire the next generation of leaders from within the walls of your classroom?

One aspect of teaching that I cherish is teaching character. Sometimes, it feels as though I teach more character than I do math. I hope to inspire empathy, kindness and the ability to disagree well. I love the conversations we have about honoring each other’s words and admitting when we make a mistake. I personally feel I am a lifelong learner, and that is what I hope my students aspire to be, too. I hope they always continue learning and have enough grit to never shy away from a challenge.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY ASHLEY HELF

FOOD DRINK&

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Edgewood’s newest restaurant, Slice Pizza and Brewhouse, is diversifying the Homewood foodie scene.

BY ANNA GRACE MOORE

PHOTOS BY UNTOLD IMAGERY, FOCUS CREATIVE BIRMINGHAM & CONTRIBUTED

Pictured from left to right are Jason and Chris Bajalieh with Whitney and J.J. Thomas.

UUpon entering Slice Pizza and Brewhouse in Edgewood, one is greeted with such jovial salutations as he is imbued in decadent aromas of roasted chicken, peppers and molten cheese–pizzas whose scents are strong enough to make one’s palate salivate. As servers kindly escort parties to their seats, customers feel right at home in such a hub for community.

While the Edgewood location opened earlier this year, the story of Slice has origins dating back nearly 60 years. Saleh “Sol” Bajalieh immigrated from Palestine to the United States in 1965, later opening his own restaurant, Sol’s Sandwich Shop and Deli, in the John A. Hand Building in 1968.

Together, he and his wife, Nadia, raised their three sons, Jeff, Chris and Jason Bajalieh, in the family business, instilling in each of them the ingredients for a restaurant’s success: food, funding and fellowship.

“Everyone that ever ate with [Sol] would know they’re family,” Jason says. “I’ve heard stories

where he’d put your plate down and eat one of your fries because he was that close with his customers. He knew everyone by name.”

Sol loved waking up early, starting the day before dawn in his shop. Longtime customers remember that he hardly ever wrote down orders because he often memorized his customers’ favorites.

Due to the John A. Hand Building’s closing and turnover in ownership, Sol’s Sandwich Shop and Deli was forced to close in 1994 after 26 years of business. Not long after, Jeff, following in his father’s footsteps as a restaurateur, opened two Domino’s franchises in Irondale and Trussville.

Jason says one question the family was always asked was if they could deliver beer with their pizza; thus, the concept of Slice Pizza and Brewhouse was born. However, this idea would not come to fruition until after the Bajalieh patriarch was called home to heaven in 2004.

Three years later, Jeff, Chris and Jason left Domino’s to reopen Sol’s Sandwich Shop and Deli

on the corner of 20th Street North and Morris Avenue. As time went on, the brothers’ itch to create grew as they started to outgrow their space, prompting them to dream up their own pizza and craft brew business.

Through one of Sol’s favorite customers, David Donaldson, the brothers opened Slice Pizza and Brewhouse’s first location in the Lakeview District in 2011.

According to Slice’s website, “It’s more than just a restaurant—it’s a flavorful legacy rooted in decades of Bajalieh family-owned and operated businesses. Today, its origin story makes for a tasty tale woven through generations of the Bajalieh family’s culinary endeavors.”

Today, Slice Pizza and Brewhouse has grown to include five locations–the newest of which opened on Wednesday, March 27 at 1010 Oxmoor Road in Edgewood. When 40-year-old business, New York Pizza, announced it was closing and would be choosing the space’s next tenants, Homewood residents J.J. and Whitney Thomas jumped at the opportunity.

“I’ve had a love for pizza that stretches back as far

as I remember, and Slice has always been my favorite pizza place of all time,” J.J. says. “The owners of New York Pizza chose who they thought would be the best group to carry on the tradition of a community pizza restaurant in Homewood. We were honored both for the Slice brothers to partner with us and the owners of New York Pizza to believe in what my wife and I were trying to do.”

Together, J.J. and Whitney have partnered with Chris and Jason to introduce Slice Pizza and Brewhouse to the Homewood community and diversify the local foodie scene.

Ingredient One: Flavorful Cuisine

Slice Pizza and Brewhouse’s plethora of menu items–all inspired by Sol’s cooking–are also made with only the best, freshest ingredients sourced from boutique businesses across the country. Slice’s pepperoni is sourced from a family-owned butcher shop, Molinari Delicatessen, in San Francisco.

The business’ lettuce is imported from Eagles’

Wings, which is a Coker, Alabama-based nonprofit that employs adults with developmental disabilities in farming hydroponic lettuce. If ingredients are not made in-house, fresh, daily, they are farmed or created fresh by small, familyowned businesses nationwide.

With 16 different specialty pizzas to choose from, choosing an entrée can be difficult. Longtime customers will appreciate the Edgewood’s menu’s dedication to originals such as Sol’s favorite pizza–the Bajalieh special, which is a red-sauce pizza topped with bacon, grilled onions and banana pepper rings.

Adventurous eaters will enjoy items such as the hot mama, which is sprinkled with Calabrian peppers, Soppressata salami, fresh mozzarella, basil, oregano, asiago and Mike’s Hot Honey Drizzle. The wing and a prayer, too, is another mouth-watering dish–one made with braised chicken, bacon, green and red onions, tomatoes, blue cheese crumble, ranch dressing and hot sauce.

No matter what one chooses, however, he is sure to find something he will love on the menu.

“What we do is the ‘old school’ with no onion and extra mushrooms–it’s the new school,” J.J. says, chuckling. “What attracted us to Slice initially is it’s a cool business–the craft beer, the branding, the fact that it’s family-owned and run. They create high-quality food with a different vibe, and it just separates them from other pizza options in Birmingham.”

One would be remiss not to try any of Slice’s signature pastas and sandwiches, such as the Italian with fries–a sandwich stacked with Capicola ham, Soppressata salami, Molinari pepperoni, mozzarella, iceberg lettuce, roma tomatoes, shaved red onion and balsamic vinaigrette all on a Gabino hoagie roll. Parents with picky eaters, do not fear: Betsy’s buttered noodles–Cappellini pasta with butter–never fail to delight little ones with “selective” taste palates.

The most interesting items on the menu, however, are none other than the variety of craft brews on tap.

“We opened up as soon as craft beer started around 13 years ago,” Chris says. “That’s when we decided to dedicate all of our taps to Alabama craft brewers. We were the first [Birmingham restaurant] to start doing that.”

While the menu has grown, the Bajalieh brothers have not forgotten their roots. They choose to honor Sol’s legacy by supporting local and family-owned businesses, prioritizing the best ingredients for their customers.

Ingredient Two: Funding Hope

Although Slice offers daily specials, Tuesday nights usually draw in the biggest crowds, thanks to the Bajalieh brothers’ “give-back” campaign, Dough Raisers. This weekly fundraiser started back in 2012 as a way for Slice to be an ambassador for local communities.

“We’re nothing without community,” Jason says. “We have to give back to people who give to us. That’s always been the way we’ve operated.”

SLICING UP SUCCESS

Here are but a few of Slice Pizza and Brewhouse’s recent awards:

Birmingham Business Journal - Top 40 Under 40

2016 - Chris Bajalieh

2018 - Jason Bajalieh

The Food Network

2017 - Best Pizza in Birmingham

Pizza Industry Excellence (PIE) Awards

2023 - Pizza Company of the Year – Southeast

2023 - Most Interesting Menu

Pizza

Today

2024 - Pizzeria to Watch

Pizza Marketplace

2024 - Top 100 Movers and Shakers

Reader’s Digest

2024 - Best Pizza in Alabama

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Each month, Slice will pick a different, local 501(c)3 for which to fundraise. Each Tuesday night through the nonprofit’s partnership month, representatives from the organization will be present at the restaurant, meeting with customers and thanking them for their support.

A portion of that night’s proceeds is donated to the nonprofit. Not only does this help raise awareness for great, local causes, but it also helps the community give back to those who need it most. Since its inception, Dough Raisers has helped raise more than $100,000 for local charities.

“We talked a lot about the Bajalieh brothers–their professionalism, the love they have for each other and the success they’ve had in the industry,” Whitney says of partnering with Slice Pizza and Brewhouse. “We always thought they were strong leaders.”

Ingredient Three: Brewing Fellowship

Chris says with every restaurant he and his brother design, they

focus on being intentional with the relationships they build in the community. Even though the eldest Bajalieh brother, Jeff, passed away from cancer in 2021, customers at every location are reminded of his loving personality through the way staff members model his character.

“We watched our parents have these big family meals, and everyone felt comfortable coming over to eat,” Chris says. “We wanted to have that same feel in the restaurant.”

Looking around the Edgewood location, one will notice how the warm, inviting hues paired with the upbeat tunes playing overhead make for a most enjoyable atmosphere that elevates the dining experience. Even the restaurant’s private party dining room is located in the front and can be viewed by those strolling along outside.

J.J. says just as Edgewood is a family-friendly community, Slice Pizza and Brewhouse is a great addition to the neighborhood strip for its decadent foods, dedication to fundraising for local charities and desire to foster fellowship between all of its customers.

“A cool business will attract you once, but a quality business like Slice will bring you back multiple times,” J.J. says. “We’re excited about joining the community.”

Slice Pizza and Brewhouse is located at 1010 Oxmoor Road in Edgewood. It is open Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-midnight. For more information about reservations, catering, menu items and more, visit slicebirmingham.com.

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR

Jay

Connor Owner of Edgewood Creamery

PHOTO BY ANNA GRACE MOORE

On March 28, 2008, Jay Connor opened Mountain Brook Creamery’s sister store, Edgewood Creamery, at 936 Oxmoor Road in Homewood. For the last 16 years, this neighborhood icon has delighted fans with hand-dipped ice cream, milkshakes, made-fromscratch ice cream cakes, soft-serve yogurt and more. Here, Jay offers his insight as an insider in the ice cream business.

How did you get involved in the ice cream business?

We have owned Mountain Brook Creamery since 2006. I worked in this store in high school and came back several years later and bought it. In 2007 after talking to the family that owns the Edgewood Creamery building, we decided it would be a great community to grow into and opened in March 2008.

How did you decide on opening the creamery in Edgewood?

We had been watching Edgewood for some time and with all of the foot traffic, schools and churches nearby, it just made sense to have an ice cream parlor in the neighborhood.

Which flavors on the menu are longtime favorites, and which do you recommend

newcomers try first?

Some of our classic flavors that have kept us the neighborhood favorite are special mint chip, special praline, superman and daiquiri ice. One of my favorites is stellar coffee, which I would recommend to any coffee lover. It is an espresso-flavored coffee ice cream with chocolate pieces and cappuccino cups.

Are there any specific aspects of the business that really capture the essence of the community or the joy of living in Homewood?

We are a great first job for a lot of the teenagers in the neighborhood. We are also that familiar place you go to when you have been off to college or have come back from touring the world or taking on a new job in a big city. We are still the same friendly hometown ice cream parlor

that smells like fresh waffle cones and usually will remember your favorite flavor–even if you have been gone for a while.

What is your favorite flavor, and which flavor do you think helps this business stand out from others in the area?

My all-time favorite flavor is road trip. It’s captains chocolate ice cream with peanut butter brittle and brownie chunks. Another favorite of mine is our mint chocolate chip ice cream with its wonderful flavor, perfect color and just the perfectlysized chocolate chips. I don’t know if there is one flavor that stands out of our 56 premium small batch flavors. I think your chances of us having your flavor are pretty good.

HOME STYLE&

MODERN LUXURY

Creating such cozy opulence first begins with tailoring a home’s interior design to its homeowner’s personality.

BY ANNA GRACE MOORE

PHOTOS BY BLAIR RAMSEY

AAs a home offers sanctuary for those within, its eclectic design–the physical manifestation of its homeowners’ personalities–is a culmination of life decorated on its walls. Upon first entering her client’s condo, Anitra Logan Hill saw such potential for personality on the home’s then sterile walls.

Anitra, who is the founder and principal designer of A.Logan Designs, is known for her ability to elevate the presence of a home by amplifying personal aspects. Anitra tackles each new design challenge first by drawing 3D renderings, offering her clients visible angles of each space and how they, themselves, can see the space coming to life in their design consultations.

For this cozy opulence featured, Anitra discussed her client’s design style, settling on elements of “modern luxury.” This style, she says, is grounded in rich, warm tones with pops of color–usually traditional hues of gold–to not only create a timeless space, but also add dimension in an otherwise small square footage.

Upon entering this home pre-renovation, one would first notice the open concept’s low ceiling and dimly-lit pockets. Anitra solved this problem by incorporating hollow cedar beams into the ceiling, both hiding the electrical work and allowing more lighting solutions–such as the dining room nook’s wall sconces–to shine.

Another big challenge–the fireplace–seemed dull and uninspiring in theory until Anitra designed the flush cabinetry and fireplace wall to command attention to its sleek design. The 3D block layering on the wall also added dimension to the focal point of the room.

Strolling throughout the home, pops of color such as the dandelion yellow swivel chairs in the living room add a certain warmth to the home’s upscale yet unpretentious mood. While each space is unique, one common denominator of the home is that Anitra’s client feels right at home because her home–her oasis–was perfectly tailored to her personality.

To request a design consultation or work with Anitra, visit alogandesigns.com. Follow @a_logan designs on Instagram and A.Logan Designs on Facebook to view more of Anitra’s work.

The Entryway

Birmingham-based welder Will Russell created the focal entry wall, incorporating an open-barred concept that allows light to stream in through the wall and brighten the once dark entry space.

The Fireplace

Built by Lyles Construction Group, this fireplace wall highlights the adimensional block design in a tetris pattern for an aesthetically pleasing look. The electric fireplace and flush TV above keep this space functional and upholds the sophisticated nature of the room.

The Dining Room Nook

Because Anitra’s client works remotely, she needed ample space to accommodate her work-life balance. Anitra designed this dining room nook, utilizing a five-by-five-foot table designed and built by Billy Russell. This comfortable space is both tucked away and spacious, allowing Anitra’s client to make the most of her square footage without feeling claustrophobic.

The Banquette

For depth, Anitra incorporated the banquette, which was created by Lyles Construction Group and M&M Construction. Both the banquette and the table have extra storage for Anitra’s client to store her work away when she hosts company. Paired with the custom cushions from Daryl’s Upholstery, this dining room nook’s style is a hallmark of A.Logan Designs.

The Kitchen

Due to limited space, Anitra incorporated a peninsula into the kitchen design to provide extra storage, along with floating shelves above the sink.

The Sunroom

Utilizing the sunroom’s natural light from the adjacent windows, Anitra designed the sunroom to have a more neutral palette and added in green shrubbery for a calming presence about the room. The coffee table was custom-made by Billy Russell.

The Hall Bathroom

For the hall bathroom, Anitra utilized bright and airy colors, honing in on the floral design of the backsplash wallpaper. The vanity, black accent wall and the hand-laid stone tile in the shower were all compliments of Tim Morgan.

The Master Bedroom

The master bedroom’s elevated presence is evident through the additional fireplace (not pictured) and the intricately-layered textiles, which add such vibrancy to the room.

The Master Bathroom

Playing into the grounding black and white colors, Anitra utilized a floral wallpaper and black vessel sinks for the base colors. The gold faucets add that “pop” of color that really brings the room’s aesthetic fluidity together.

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE

HOMEWOOD

Homewood native Lexi Bresnan returns to teach creative drama to youth at the Homewood Theatre.

BY CARMEN BROWN

PHOTOS BY LISA CHEEK

LLexi Bresnan recalls how upset she was when she first had to take a theater class at Homewood High School.

“The elective I wanted to take, photography, was all filled up, so I was just randomly put into a theater class,” she says. “I cried about it.”

Now, she looks back on that moment as a “happy accident.”

“In the class, Jason Kennah, the theater director, told me I could either take a test or do a short play,” she says. “I chose the play, and I was given the lead role. I think he did that on purpose because he knew I would like it.”

The play, which is titled, “A Simple Task,” is a comedy about a new employee, Empie, who is asked to get a box of inventory for her boss, but she keeps getting blocked by different characters. Her boss also keeps changing identities, causing Empie to question her career path.

Unlike her character, however, Lexi became more certain about her own.

“It was so much fun,” she says. “After that, I knew I wanted to keep going.”

And, keep going she has. Lexi’s career has taken her all over the country, but now she is back in her hometown, teaching and sharing her love of theater with children as the director of youth programs at Homewood Theatre, where she created and directs the all-new education department.

Returning to Homewood wasn’t her original plan. After graduating from Homewood High School in 2018, Lexi went on to major in theater performance at Belmont University. During college, she interned as a teaching artist for Nashville Children’s Theatre.

“I toured around and performed at different schools,” Lexi says. “That was the light of my life, and people were telling me I was doing what I was meant to do.”

In the middle of touring in January 2020, however, Lexi received terrible news. Her father, longtime Homewood Fire Chief John Bresnan, had passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack.

“He died at his desk at city hall,” Lexi says. “He was very dedicated. He died doing what he loved.”

Lexi says that she was very close with her father,

"people were telling me

I was doing what I was meant to do."

— Lexi Bresnan

whom she rode with on Homewood’s first-ever firetruck every year during the city’s Christmas parade.

“Neither of my parents are theatrical, but they were so supportive,” she says. “After seeing me in a show, he would say, ‘I have no idea what that was, but you did a great job.’”

Lexi was supportive of her father’s career as well, having looked up to him since she was a child. It was around this time, during her junior year of college, that she started getting interested in the administrative side of theater.

“I always admired his leadership skills and how children looked up to him, and I wanted to be like that, but I have no experience in firefighting,” she

says with a laugh. “This is when I started doing more directing, producing and teaching.”

After graduating with her BFA from Belmont in 2022, Lexi became a teaching artist at the ZACH Theatre in Austin, Texas, where she also worked as a traveling actor for Creative Action. This was when she started to miss home.

“I missed them shutting down the streets for the Christmas parades,” Lexi says. “I missed the community support. I felt like a baby fish in a big pond. I had all these thoughts and ideas that I knew would not come to fruition there.”

Lexi says another factor in her decision was that in March 2023, she became an aunt for the first time to her niece, Alice.

“My brother, Kyle, lives in our old house, and Alice’s room is the same room I had growing up,” she says. “Besides my mom, I didn’t really have any prominent female figures in my life. I wanted to be in my niece’s life.”

With some encouragement from her best friend, Hannah, Lexi reached out to theaters in Birmingham, Mobile and Atlanta to inquire about teaching theater to children.

“I sent Kyle Bass [the director] a random email, and before long, we were on a Zoom call, and we decided this partnership would work,” she says.

Lexi moved back to Homewood in May 2023 and began teaching at the Homewood Theatre in August, collaborating with theater students from Samford University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“The number of children enrolling grew remarkably fast,” she says. “We had 14 in fall, 36 for “The Little Mermaid” and 45 in creative drama classes.”

Lexi teaches private classes as well as voice and acting, which have also been successful.

“Right now, I have four to five students a week for voice lessons, and three or four for acting lessons a week,” she says.

Lexi also says she has put out flyers and created Facebook and Instagram pages for the Homewood Theatre’s new children’s theater opportunities. Word of mouth has also contributed to the growth of the program.

“It doesn’t stress me out,” Lexi says with a grin. “I love planning and putting things together.”

Lexi says she encourages parents, who think that their children are “too shy” or reluctant to take theater, as she once was, to consider all of the opportunities the theater has to offer.

“The theater is a really amazing place, where everyone can fit in,” she says. “It opens up a whole new world for kids, who want to be creative but don’t want to be in the spotlight.”

The Homewood Theatre is thrilled to partner with We Love Homewood Day 2024 to present “The Little Mermaid Jr.” on May 3, 2024, in Homewood Central Park.

For more information on shows or enrollment, visit homewoodtheatre.com or call 205-873-1816.

For voice or acting lessons, contact Lexi at lexi@homewoodtheatre.com.

Exciting, entertaining spaces. High-quality music and video in one — or every room. Experience living areas made magical, or a cinema-grade home theater with all the extras to take your breath away. We bring you TVs that display artwork when not in use and speakers that disappear behind walls. Our expertise in technology and design enables us to deliver entertainment to any space, indoors or out. Best of all? These experiences are available when you want them, with a touch. GHT Group elevates all the entertainment. You match it to your mood — and your life.

HOMEWOOD’S BEST WINNERS 2024

Who’s the best? We asked, and you answered. Thousands of votes were cast in Homewood Life’s annual Homewood’s Best contest. Read on to find out our readers’ favorites.

Photos by Anna Grace Moore & Contributed

FOOD & DRINK

BEST BAKERY

Cookie Fix 2854 18th St. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-582-2623

Runners Up: Savage’s Bakery, Sorelle

BEST BARBECUE

Saw’s BBQ 1007 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-879-1937

Runners Up: Rodney Scott’s BBQ Homewood, Demetri’s

BEST BEER SELECTION (TIE)

Oak Hill Bar and Grill

2835 18th St. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-870-8277

The Battery

2821 Central Ave. Suite 101 Homewood, AL 35209 205-734-0088

Runner Up: Ironwood Kitchen & Cocktails

BEST BRUNCH

Big Bad Breakfast 1926 29th Ave. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-666-7099

Runners Up: SoHo Standard, The Battery

BEST BURGER

The Battery

2821 Central Ave. Suite 101 Homewood, AL 35209 205-734-0088

Runners Up: Oak Hill Bar and Grill, Sam’s Super Samwiches

BEST CASUAL RESTAURANT

Oak Hill Bar and Grill

2835 18th St. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-870-8277

Runners Up: Taco Mama –Edgewood, The Battery

BEST BEER SELECTION, BEST CASUAL RESTAURANT, BEST COCKTAILS, BEST LUNCH SPOT Oak Hill Bar and Grill

BEST DATE NIGHT RESTAURANT, BEST UPSCALE RESTAURANT, BEST WINE SELECTION Gianmarco’s Restaurant

BEST CATERER

Taco Mama – Edgewood 1014 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-414-0441

Runners Up: Sorelle, Oak Hill Bar and Grill

BEST CHEF

Chef Wil Drake of Hero Doughnuts 1726 28th Ave. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-623-1017

Runners Up: Chef Jeff Compton of The Battery, Chef Chris Zapalowski of Homewood Gourmet

BEST COCKTAILS

Oak Hill Bar and Grill

2835 18th St. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-870-8277

Runners Up: The Battery, Otey’s Tavern Edgewood

BEST COFFEE

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee 1625 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-238-5764

Runners Up: O.Henry’s Coffees, Honest Coffee Roasters

BEST DATE NIGHT RESTAURANT

Gianmarco’s Restaurant 721 Broadway St. Homewood, AL 35209 205-871-9622

Runners Up: The Battery, De Vinci’s Pizza

BEST ETHNIC DINING

Shiki Birmingham 300 19th St. South Suite 109 Homewood, AL 35209 205-783-5222

Runners Up: De Vinci’s Pizza, Sabor Latino Restaurant

BEST FRIENDLY SERVICE

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee 1625 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-238-5764

Runners Up: Oak Hill Bar and Grill, Sorelle

BEST COFFEE, BEST FRIENDLY SERVICE, BEST PATIO DINING, BEST PLACE FOR A FAMILY OUTING, BEST NEW BUSINESS (OPEN ONE YEAR OR LESS)

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee

BEST KID-FRIENDLY DINING

Big Spoon Creamery 927 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-637-0823

Runners Up: Oak Hill Bar and Grill, SoHo Social

BEST LUNCH SPOT

Oak Hill Bar and Grill

2835 18th St. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-870-8277

Runners Up: Johnny’s Restaurant, Taco Mama – Edgewood

BEST MARGARITA

Taco Mama – Edgewood 1014 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-414-0441

Runners Up: Social Taco, The Battery

BEST MILKSHAKE

Edgewood Creamery 936 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-874-1999

Runners Up: Big Spoon Creamery, Jack’s

BEST MILKSHAKE Edgewood Creamery

BEST PATIO DINING

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee 1625 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-238-5764

Runners Up: The Battery, Dave’s Pizza

BEST PIZZA

Pizzeria G.M. 600 Oak Grove Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-905-3266

Runners Up: Dave’s Pizza, Gianmarco’s Restaurant

BEST SWEET TREATS

Cookie Fix 2854 18th St. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-582-2623

Runners Up: Hero Doughnuts, Big Spoon Creamery

BEST UPSCALE RESTAURANT

Gianmarco’s Restaurant 721 Broadway St. Homewood, AL 35209 205-871-9622

Runners Up: The Battery, Ironwood Kitchen & Cocktails

BEST WINE SELECTION

Gianmarco’s Restaurant 721 Broadway St. Homewood, AL 35209 205-871-9622

Runners Up: Classic Wine Company, The Battery

HEALTH

& FITNESS

BEST CHIROPRACTIC CARE PRACTICE

Oxmoor Chiropractic 1021 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-870-3911

Runners Up: Archetype Health, Witt Chiropractic

BEST DENTAL PRACTICE

Brighter Image Dentistry 2908 Central Ave. Suite 150 Homewood, AL 35209 205-591-6220

Runners Up: Shades Creek Dental, Central Avenue Dentistry

BEST BEER SELECTION, BEST BURGER The Battery

BEST FITNESS CENTER Burn Boot Camp Homewood

BEST ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE

Backus Smiles

3507 Old Montgomery Hwy. Homewood, AL 35209 205-879-0557

Runners Up: Law Orthodontics, Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics

BEST PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Powell Pediatric Dentistry 1628 29th Ct. South Suite 200 Homewood, AL 35209 205-538-3335

Runners Up: Lovell Pediatric Dentistry, Angelica Rohner Pediatric Dentistry

BEST DOCTOR

Dr. Warren B. Seiler of Seiler Skin

2700 Rogers Drive, Suite 101 Homewood, AL 35209 205-870-0204

Runners Up: Dr. Dominique Backus of Backus Smiles Homewood Orthodontics, Dr. Fisher Bret of VisionFirst Eye Center

WiNS!

BEST PLACE OF WORSHIP

Dawson Memorial Baptist Church

BEST ESTHETICIAN

Alexa Lee of Seiler Skin 2700 Rogers Drive, Suite 101 Homewood, AL 35209 205-870-0204

Runners Up: Amy Holditch of Ash Salon, Shelby Mosley of Skin Wellness Dermatology

BEST EYE CARE PRACTICE

VisionFirst Eye Center 1 West Lakeshore Dr. Suite 220 Homewood, AL 35209 205-949-2020

Runners Up: Red Mountain Eye Care, JJ Eyes Optical Boutique

BEST FITNESS CENTER

Burn Boot Camp Homewood 1035 Broadway Park Homewood, AL 35209 205-529-8444

Runners Up: Battle Republic, Gauntlet Fitness

BEST PERSONAL TRAINER

Magen Davis of Burn Boot Camp 1035 Broadway Park Homewood, AL 35209 205-529-8444

Runners Up: Gauntlet Fitness, Provision Studio

BEST PHARMACY

Homewood Pharmacy 940 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-871-9000

Runners Up: Wellness Pharmacy, Lakeshore Pharmacy

BEST SPA

Escape Day Spa 100 Broadway St. Homewood, AL 35209 205-414-6062

Runners Up: Smart Skin Med Spa, Skin Wellness Dermatology

COMMUNITY

BEST PLACE FOR A FAMILY OUTING

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee 1625 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-238-5764

Runners Up: Homewood Toy & Hobby Shop, Taco Mama – Edgewood

BEST PLACE FOR A KID’S BIRTHDAY

Homewood Toy & Hobby Shop 2830 18th St. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-879-3986

Runners Up: Do It Yourself Crafts, Cowlicks Salon

BEST PLACE OF WORSHIP

Dawson Memorial Baptist Church 1114 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-871-7324

Runners Up: Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Auburn Community Church Birmingham

Best Doctor

Esthetician

BEST ANIMAL CLINIC Oxmoor Animal Clinic

SHOPPING & SERVICES

BEST NEW BUSINESS (OPEN ONE YEAR OR LESS)

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee 1625 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-238-5764

Runners Up: Style House, The White House Interiors

BEST ANIMAL CLINIC

Oxmoor Animal Clinic 1732 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-871-6010

Runners Up: Nall Daniels Animal Hospital, Wags 'N Whiskers Comprehensive Pet Care

BEST GROOMER

Wags ‘N Whiskers Comprehensive Pet Care

2804 Crescent Ave. Homewood, AL 35209 205-902-9247

Runners Up: Standifer’s Animal Clinic, Creative Dog Training Homewood

BEST BOUTIQUE Wrapsody of Homewood

BEST BANK

Regions Bank Homewood 1 Independence Plaza Homewood, AL 35209 205-766-8070

Runners Up: Truist, Robertson Banking Company

BEST BOUTIQUE

Wrapsody of Homewood 2840 18th St. South Homewood, Al 35209 205-974-1388

Runners Up: Style House, Hemline Birmingham

BEST CHILDCARE

Homewood Day School 265 West Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-945-1015

Runners Up: Creative Montessori School, Montessori Kids Universe Homewood

BEST CREDIT UNION

Avadian Credit Union 475 Green Springs Hwy. Homewood, AL 35209 205-942-9977

Runners Up: America’s First Federal Credit Union, Alabama Central Credit Union

BEST GIFT SHOP

BEST PLACE FOR A KID’S BIRTHDAY, BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE, BEST TOY STORE, BEST SPECIALTY STORE

Homewood Toy & Hobby Shop

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE

Homewood Toy & Hobby Shop 2830 18th St. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-879-3986

Runners Up: Alabama Goods Homewood, Style House

BEST DRY CLEANER

Watkins Cleaners of Homewood Inc. 1715 28th Ave. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-879-7951

Runner Up: Hunter’s Cleaners

BEST ELECTRICIAN

Sentry Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical 205-979-9864

Runners Up: OnTime Service, C&J Electrical Services, LLC

BEST STORE FOR HOME FURNISHINGS/ DÉCOR/KITCHENS At Home Furnishings

BEST HVAC

Sentry Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical 205-979-9864

Runners Up: Standard Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, Homewood HVAC

BEST PLUMBER

Sentry Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical 205-979-9864

Runners Up: Standard Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, Guin Service LLC

BEST FINANCIAL ADVISING GROUP

Nowlin and Associates

2718 20th St. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-871-9993

Runners Up: Edward Jones Financial Advisor Rachel Reynolds, Edgewood Wealth Advisors

BEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Zach Sims of Nowlin and Associates 2718 20th St. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-871-9993

Runners Up: Edward Jones Financial Advisor Rachel Reynolds, Joe Stephens Edgewood Wealth

BEST GIFT SHOP

Alabama Goods – Homewood 2933 18th St. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-803-3900

Runners Up: Style House, Wrapsody of Homewood

BEST HAIR SALON

Fringe Hair Salon 1830 29th Ave. South Suite 120 Homewood, AL 35209 205-802-3888

Runners Up: Shawn Anthony Salon + Spa, Forecast Salon

BEST HAIR STYLIST Chris Presley of Fringe Hair Salon

BEST HAIR STYLIST

Chris Presley of Fringe Hair Salon 1830 29th Ave. South Suite 120 Homewood, AL 35209 205-802-3888

Runners Up: Mert McNaughton of Forecast Salon, Mandy Wallis of Salon U

BEST HOME BUILDER

Willow Homes 2823 Central Ave. Suite 101 Homewood, AL 35209 205-206-6121

Runners Up: Blackstone Construction LLC, R&R Construction LLC

BEST REMODELER

Willow Homes 2823 Central Ave. Suite 101 Homewood, AL 35209 205-206-6121

Runners Up: Blackstone Construction LLC, Twin Construction Inc.

BEST LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENCY, BEST REAL ESTATE TEAM

Art House

BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER

Willow Interiors 2810 Crescent Ave. Homewood, AL 35209 205-206-6121

Runners Up: Christopher Collection, Style House

BEST JEWELRY STORE

Wallace-Burke Fine Jewelry & Collectibles 1811 29th Ave. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-874-1044

Runners Up: At Home Furnishings, Holland & Birch

BEST KIDS CLOTHING STORE

Jack N’ Jill Shop 2719 19th Pl. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-879-7681

Runners Up: Sikes Children’s Shoes, Swaddle

BEST LANDSCAPING COMPANY

Gardner Landscaping LLC 3965 Lornacrest Rd. Birmingham, AL 35244 205-401-3347

Runners Up: Taproot Landscaping, SiteOne Landscape Supply

BEST LOCAL INSURANCE AGENT

Stan Faulkner State Farm Insurance 1747 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-870-5626

Runners Up: Frank Ippolito State Farm Insurance, CD Denson of Stead & Fuller Insurance

BEST LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENCY

Art House 2823 Central Ave. Suite 101 Homewood, AL 35209 205-352-7742

Runners Up: LAH Sotheby’s International Realty Homewood, ARC Realty Homewood

BEST LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENT

Mary Browning of LAH

Sotheby’s International Realty Homewood 1760 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-879-8580

Runners Up: Savannah Johnson, Ann-Yates Pate of ARC Realty Homewood

BEST REAL ESTATE TEAM

Art House

2823 Central Ave. Suite 101 Homewood, AL 35209 205-352-7742

Runners Up: T2 Team ARC Realty, Kellie Drozdowicz Keller Williams Homewood

BEST NAIL SALON

Genesis Nail Spa at Homewood 350 19th St. South Suite 51 Homewood, AL 35209 205-802-0639

Runners Up: SoHo Nails & Spa, Elude Nail Spa

BEST SPECIALTY STORE

Homewood Toy & Hobby Shop

2830 18th St. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-879-3986

Runners Up: Alabama Goods –Homewood, Style House

BEST STORE FOR HOME FURNISHINGS/DÉCOR/KITCHENS

At Home Furnishings

2921 18th St. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-879-3510

Runners Up: Christopher Collection, Style House

BEST TOY STORE

Homewood Toy & Hobby Shop

2830 18th St. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-879-3986

Runners Up: Swaddle, Mary Charles Doll House

LOCAL FESTIVAL

Chili Cook-Off (The Exceptional Foundation)

ARTS & CULTURE

BEST LOCAL CAUSE

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee 1625 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-238-5764

Runners Up: The Exceptional Foundation, Food For Our Journey

BEST LOCAL FESTIVAL

The Chili Cook-Off (The Exceptional Foundation) 1616 Oxmoor Rd. Homewood, AL 35209 205-870-0776

Runners Up: Homewood Christmas Parade, West Homewood Farmers Market

AUTO SERVICES

BEST AUTO SERVICE

Rob’e Mans Automotive Service 2600 18th St. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-871-4712

Runners Up: Oxmoor Automotive, Hatfield Auto Parts and Service

BEST OIL CHANGE

Rob’e Mans Automotive Service 2600 18th St. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-871-4712

Runners Up: Oxmoor Automotive, Hatfield Auto Parts and Service

BEST TIRE SERVICE

Rob’e Mans Automotive Service 2600 18th St. South Homewood, AL 35209 205-871-4712

Runners Up: Tire Depot, Oxmoor Automotive

HIGH ON BUENA VISTA

By Christiana Roussel | Photos Contributed

by

Scott Peterson

Make tracks this summer for someplace a little off-the-beaten path: Buena Vista, Colorado.

Pack your sense of adventure and prepare to have fun exploring all this area has to offer.

Just a two-plus-hour drive from Denver is the small, charming mountain town of Buena Vista, Colorado. You’ll soon learn how picturesque and engaging this town is. First, let’s start by discussing the pronunciation. Locals say, “BEW-na VIS-ta,” “Bewnie” or “BV” for short. Legend has it that the townspeople adopted this moniker because of the “bew” sound in ‘beautiful.’ To be sure, whatever nickname you give the place, we know you’ll have a fantastic Western adventure here.

Photo

Where to Eat & Drink

House Rock Kitchen—This spot boasts some of the best lunches, salads and creative bowls.

houserockkitchen.com

IG: @houserockkitchenbv

Wesley & Rose Lobby Bar (at The Surf Hotel)—Think upscale dinner options that are served Western casual. Wesley & Rose Lobby Bar is open evenings and Sundays for brunch. surfhotel.com/wesley-rose/ IG: @wesleyandrose

Eddyline Taproom & Brewery—Come here to hang with locals and enjoy some amazing area brews. eddylinebrewing.com

IG: @eddylinebrewing

Deerhammer Distillery— Riffing on traditional whiskey distilling, the team at Deerhammer puts their own twist on the process, producing single malts, four-grain bourbons and limited-run single barrel spirits. deerhammer.com

IG: @deerhammer

The Lariat—Refuel here after a morning hike, or come for dinner and stay for the live music. thelariatbv.com

IG: @thelariatbv

Cool River—Start your day here for hearty breakfast options that will fuel you for the day. coolriverbv.com

IG: @coolriverbv

Buena Viking—In their newly revamped brickand-mortar spot, the Viking offers up some of the best burgers in town. buenaviking.com

IG: @thebuenaviking

Where to Stay

The Inn: Railroad + Main—Located in the heart of downtown Buena Vista, the nine-room inn has been lovingly updated with all the modern amenities we appreciate in travel. The well-maintained exposed brick and reclaimed hardwood floors give this place charm on top of charm. High ceilings and fantastic views of the mountains are a total bonus.

theinnbv.com

IG: @theinnbv

The Surf Hotel & Surf Chateau—Wraparound balconies line this four-star boutique hotel, which is located in the South Main part of town on the banks of the Arkansas River. surfhotel.com

IG: @surfhotelbv

Mt. Princeton Resort—Just outside of downtown Buena Vista, Mt. Princeton Resort is home to some of the area’s famed hot springs. Guests can stay in resort rooms, suites and private cabins to enjoy full access to the variety of hot springs options on site.

mtprinceton.com

IG: @mtprinceton

Camping—There are plenty of sites available in the Chaffee County area; Cottonwood Lake is closest to town. Check out colorado.com/ articles/your-guide-to-camping-in-buena-vistasalida for the entire list to find your backcountry, RV or camp site.

IG: @visitcolorado

Even Keel Lodge—If you’re keen to stay in the heart of it all, check out one of the three “Hygge-Centric apartments” Buena Viking restaurant owners Evan and Anna Winger have outfitted above their new location. evenkeelbv.com

IG: @evenkeelbv

The Surf Hotel & Surf Chateau

Mt. Princeton Resort

Wesley & Rose Lobby Bar

Deerhammer Distillery

What Locals Love about Buena Vista

A quick poll of local residents turned up a long list of their favorite things they’d recommend visitors not miss while in town. Here are just a few:

• Don’t miss Gold Rush Days (Aug. 10-11, 2024) and the annual Gem & Mineral Show.

• Swing by Crooked Cauldron Company for handcrafted teas— we’re partial to the ones with Blue Lotus, which some say helps with relaxation, muscle pain and anxiety.

• Make plans to be a part of the Land Rover National Rally (Aug. 19-23, 2024), when the group traverses mountain passes and visits old mining towns. Last year’s event had vehicles from more than 20 states.

• Pop in to Buena Vista Shell/ Stedman’s Sodas, Sweets & Treats for house-made fudge and popcorn, Blue Bell ice cream and more.

• A favorite easy hike in the Arkansas Valley is Clinton’s Gulch, just past the Climax Mine—hike around the lake for spectacular views.

• Little Engine Eatery—This 501©(3) social enterprise food truck operation provides paid work experience and job training for neurodivergent people.

• Check out the Drone Training Park by the Rodeo Grounds: mountainwestuas.org

• Chocolatte is a must visit—There is a play area for kids, while the adults can relax with a cappuccino. Everyone will want one of their milkshakes or sundaes.

• We love visitors but really want everyone to respect the natural beauty of this area by following the Leave No Trace guidelines posted lnt.org (several residents mentioned this one)!

WHAT TO DO

Hiking/Biking/Rafting—Summer in Colorado is synonymous with being outside.

For a complete list of area trails, stop in to The Trailhead downtown and chat with a local, or check out alltrails.com/us/colorado/buena-vista to plan your trip in advance. thetrailheadco.com IG: @thetrailheadco

Rent a bike from BV Bikes (bvebikes.com), and hit the trails. Want to off-road even more? Check out BV Jeeps to rent a jeep, ATV or Razor (bvjeeps.com).

IG: @BV_jeeps and @biv.bike.co

Go whitewater rafting with one of the local outfitters such as The Adventure Company (theadventurecompany.com) or Noah’s Ark Rafting. IG: @adventurecompany and @noahsarkrafting

Buena Vista Whitewater Park—This phenomenal public park area boasts water features for everyone from beginner to expert. You just need a SUP or small kayak to ride the waves. outdoorproject.com/united-states/colorado/buena-vistawhitewater-park

Other Things to Do

Pack Burro Racing—In 2012, Colorado designated pack burro racing as the official state Summer Heritage Sport. To the uninitiated, these events feature runners competing in races with a donkey on a lead rope. Thousands of runners from across the state participate in these events with the top three races taking place in Leadville, Fair Play and Buena Vista. This year’s 13.1 miles-race takes place on Aug. 11, 2024, but to be sure, there will be people training for the event all summer long. buenavistapackburrorace.itsyourrace.com

Comanche Drive-In—Movies start at dusk at the highest elevation drive-in in the United States, which is one of only 305 drive-in movie theaters left in the country! comanchedrivein.com

Hot springs—Yes, hot springs are a must-do, even in summer as the temps here are cool in mornings and afternoons. The Mt. Princeton Hot Springs were first visited by Native Americans who relished the healing warm waters. Miners chasing gold in the area soon discovered these springs, and in 1879, a group of them built a three-story hotel. The resort thrived until mining operations dried up and the Great Depression hit. However, the allure of these natural springs remains, and the newest iteration of the resort is an ideal spot to spend an afternoon and take in a spa treatment and dinner. mtprinceton.com

Historic St. Elmo—One of the best-preserved ghost towns in the West, this former mining town has stories to tell. Pack a lunch and tack on a hike in the area to make a day of it.

IG: @stelmocolorado

Mt. Princeton Hot Springs

travel tips

At almost 8,000 feet in elevation, it is important to remember that your body may react differently to the change in environment. To avoid any discomfort, you are encouraged to follow these few guidelines:

• Drink lots of water —Don’t wait until you are thirsty before you hydrate. Consider adding sports drinks with extra electrolytes to your daily fluid consumption.

• Take your time —If your schedule allows, spend a night in Denver to start

Shop Downtown Buena Vista

Sundog Colorado—Some of the best vintage and new-to-you Western finds (think Native American artifacts, clothes, books, boots and more).

The Mercantile—A bit of everything from home décor to candles, art, frames and inspired gifts.

Little Elk Trading Company—A curated collection of Western furniture, Pendleton blankets, art and more.

Peace Love Dirt—Handcrafted, feel-good gifts imbued with the healing spirits of the area. Jewelry-making classes offered here by River Wilding.

BV Art & Photo—Showcases the work of local artists and photographers and is the perfect place to bring home a memory from your time in Buena Vista.

your acclimation process. This one step can reduce your chances of altitude sickness by 50-percent. Don’t want to wait to get to BV? Spend your first day doing something leisurely, such as taking in the shops downtown and enjoying the stunning vistas.

• Monitor your alcohol intake —It is easy to get tipsy quickly at higher elevations. While you are enjoying local breweries, distilleries and wineries, just be aware of how your body is reacting.

• Sunscreen & Layers —You are closer to the sun at this altitude, and the weather can change in an instant. Use plenty of sunscreen, reapply often and pack clothes you can layer easily.

Peace Love Dirt

Little Elk Trading Company

Homewood Chamber of Commerce

Recent Events

Upcoming Events

May 4

We Love Homewood Day

May 21

May Membership Luncheon

June 18

June Membership Luncheon

July 11

Doughnuts with the Director

July 27

Downtown Homewood Sidewalk Sale

Join The Chamber

Chamber membership could be just what your business needs for a boost this year! Work, live or do business in Homewood? Apply for membership at homewoodchamber. org and start taking advantage of the many benefits that come with membership!

Feb. 23 - State of the City Luncheon

Jan. 27 - Small Business Spotlight: O.Henry’s Coffee Feb. 6 - Ambassador Lunch at Cantina Tortilla Grill March 21 - Taste of Homewood March 21 - March Membership Luncheon

Feb. 28 - Coffee and Connections at Caveat Coffee

March 6 - Small Business Spotlight: Alabama Goods March 16 - Hop ‘n Shop

Ribbon Cuttings

THE

EXCEPTIONAL FOUNDATION’S 2024 CHILI COOK-OFF

On Saturday, March 2 in Brookwood Village, the Exceptional Foundation held its 20th annual chili cook-off, featuring 151 cook teams and 13,000 people in attendance. More than $520,000 was raised for the nonprofit.

1. The Bell family

2. Zach Lovvorn and Denham Childress

3. The Old Guys

4. Matt Chandler and Joe Willcutt

5. Kerry Smith with Janet and Larry Williard

6. Alesha and Kellen Goldberg

7. Blake Norris and Isla

8. Malin Ohlund and Gabby Allen

9. Macey and Chad Franklin with David Reynolds and Preston Kelley

10. The Yeager family

11. Abbey Manasco and Hannah Strickland

PHOTOS BY JAMES AND RACHEL CULVER

HOMEWOOD ROTARY CLUB’S ST. PATRICK’S DAY FUNDRAISER

On Saturday, March 2 at the Valley Hotel, the Homewood Rotary Club held a St. Patrick’s Day-themed fundraiser, featuring live music by the band, Hooley, a silent auction and more.

1. Paul Merryman, Mickey Hicks, Darci Jones and Trent Bradford

2. Kathryn Henry

3. Sharon Jackson, Laura Boyd, Sara Moulton and Anna Brown

4. Darien Roche and Linda Geiss

5. Robert Sprain and CD Denson

6. Rita and Sam Maples

7. D’Trona and Diana Bolden

PHOTOS BY ANNA GRACE MOORE

HOMEWOOD GROWN

PHOTOS BY ANNA GRACE MOORE & CONTRIBUTED

On Friday, March 8, the Homewood City Schools Foundation held its annual Homewood Grown fundraising dinner, featuring the talents of DJ Sillz and catering from The Happy Catering Company. The event drew out hundreds of Homewood residents and honored the 2024 Teacher Impact Awardees and the Anne Jeffries Support Staff winner.

1. Leslie Wyatt, Mary Paris and Carlye Dudgeon

2. Ryan Thompson and Joseph Cascio

3. Makenzi Tew and Betsy Peterson

4. Cole Cubelic and Carlye Dudgeon

5. Ford Fuhrman and Henry Harrell

6. Steve Sills

7. Justin Hefner, Katie Moore, Ashley Helf, Austin Bonds, Haley Nall, April Harrell and Amy Marchino

HOP ‘N SHOP

PHOTOS BY JAMES CULVER

On Saturday, March 16 in downtown Homewood, the Homewood Chamber of Commerce hosted Hop ‘n Shop–an all-day shopping event, featuring discounted goods in local stores and surprise visits from the Easter bunny with shoppers.

1. Bella, Sophia, Jamie and Sarah

2. Ashleigh and Emma Thompson

3. Amanda Ray, Tucker Wiley and Rachel Noreik

4. Claire and Steven Lankford

5. Ella Montgomery and Mia Reeves

6. The Hersh and Burris families

7. Kevin and Lindsey Curl

8. John Shaver, Iris Lindsey and Ellie Everest

9. Alex Dichiara, Teelah Rawls and Martha Ponder

10. The Jolley family and Mabel

11. Lisa and Nicole Beers

TASTE OF HOMEWOOD

PHOTOS BY JAMES CULVER

On Thursday, March 21 in SOHO Plaza, the 20th annual Taste of Homewood event took place, featuring delicious food from 25 local restaurants, live entertainment and more.

1. Jesslyn White and Paige Berryhill

2. Tom Nash, Robin Michell, Don Marzella and Bradly Cordell

3. Alex and Julia Shahid

4. Darby Davenport with Lily and Evie Burk

5. The Phillips family

6. Jermaine and Sie Clayt

7. Ronny Airheart and Grant Raggil

8. Michelle and Phil Hamrick

9. Claire Brewster and Jaee Anderson

10. Aja Whitt and Takeshia Reese

11. Mitchell Bond and John Paul Case

12. Carter and Shannon Schultz

SAMFORD PUPS IN THE PARK

PHOTOS BY ANNA GRACE MOORE

On Saturday, March 23 at Samford University, the Bulldogs faced off against the Virginia Military Institute Keydets and won back-to-back games. Samford also hosted the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, inviting game attendees to donate pet items to the GBHS and play with some adoptable dogs on the sidelines.

1. Stephanie Salvago

2. Dave Schamu and AD Briggs

3. Campbell Slaughter

4. Amy Templeton, Dave Schamu, Rebecca Williams, Adam McLemore, Shawn Hunt and Stephanie Salvago

5. Breynna Smith and Nadya Nute

6. KJ Childers, Cooper Rutledge and Winston Popwell

7. Charlotte, Anderson and Aubrey VanFleteren

8. Laura and John Grote

9. Lainey McRae and Keegan Stover

10. Maggie Harris, Elaina Santos, Lainey Hart and Peyton David

11. Josselyn Kalber, Kayla Graham and Campbell Slaughter

12. Olive West and Grace Anne Flores

Marketplace

HOST AN EXCHANGE STUDENT TODAY! (for 3,5, 0r 10 months) Make a lifelong friend from abroad. Enrich your family with another culture. Select an exchange student from over 70 different countries. All families are welcome to apply. CALL PAMELA AT (205)577-9323 host.asse.com or email info@ asse.com

Automation Personnel Services Hiring IMMEDIATELY For: Automotive Assembly, General Labor, Production, Clerical, Machine Operator, Quality, Carpentry, Welder, Foundry. Positions In: Calera, Clanton, Pelham, Bessemer, McCalla. Walk-in applications accepted. Clanton (205)2800002. Pelham (205)444-9774.

B&B FARM/FLEA MARKET $5 Set Up Fee 7am-3pm 41981 HWY 25 Vincent, AL 35178 FIRST & THIRD SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH Animals, baked goods, food trucks, boiled peanuts, and more!! Bring whatever you want to sale and come hang out!!

Bama Concrete Now Hiring: Diesel Mechanic 4 Years Minimum Experience. CDL Preferred. Competitive Pay. Great Benefits. Apply in person: 2180 Hwy 87 Alabaster, 35007

Now Hiring For Utility Positions Starting pay $15.14/ hour Must be able to pass background screen. Please apply at: www.bc.com

BRIAN’S TREE

SERVICE•TREES CUT FROM THE TOP DOWN!•SAFE TREE REMOVAL IN CONFINED AREAS!•STUMP GRINDING!•GENERAL LIABILITY•WORKERS COMP WWW.BRIANSTREE.COM 205281-2427

Central Alabma Wellness Mental Health Services Office locations in Calera, Clanton, Pelham, and 280! 205-6510077 Visit our website to learn more centralalbamawellness. org

$$$ WANTED $$$ PRIVATE COLLECTOR Buying Watchmaker Items! Buying Parts, Tools, Broken Watches and All Related Items! 30 Yr Member NAWCC Please Call Dave 314-779-7380 References Available Upon Request

DONAVAN LAKES

FISHING CLUB & INN Marion, Perry Co. AL 2131 Eagle Grove Church Rd. Marion, Alabama 36756 •8 Lakes •17 Piers •Bass, Bream, Crappie, Catfish. •Camping, Nature Trails, Birding. Membership $1000 for 2024 Contact Thomas Wilson 334-247-2101 wils5789@bellsouth.net www.donavanlakes.org

Outstanding adventure for the entire family!

SENIOR L2/L3 AUTOMATION SPECIALIST

Danieli Taranis LLC (Chelsea, AL) to be rspnsbl for anlzng user needs & sftwr reqs. to dtrmne fsibilty of dsgn w/ in time & cost constraints, dscssng & evltng potential situations that can arise insde the plant & correlating them w/fnctnlts of the MES or flat prdct cntrl app. to produce fnctnl reqs. for each prjct, obtnng & evltng info on factors such as rprting frmts req., costs, or secrity needs to dtrmne hrdwr cnfgrtn. HS diploma w/3 yrs of prior work exp. in the pos. off. or rel. dvlpng, tstng & comsng Lvl 2 Automation Systms & Lvl 3 MES Syst. Send resumes to r.woods@danieli.com

Property Real Estate Manager (live out). Sought by commercial real estate company. Worksite: Birmingham, AL. 36 months exp. req. in same job or, Private Household Management or, any other closely related. Supervise other service workers $28.82 per. hour. 40 hrs. weekly. No walk in’s. Mail resume with cover letter to: The Founder. The Hazelrig Companies. 3535 Grandview Parkway, Suite # 315, Birmingham, AL 34243.

AUTOMATION L1 PLC

DEVELOPER

Danieli Taranis (Chelsea, AL) to be rspnsble for dvlpng sftwr prjct for autmtn sys.; intnl tstng of sftwr app on autmtn sys; drawing up ad prep. of oprtr manuals; field check, assurance that all field elctrcl eqpmnt is cnctd to autmtn sys; motor mvments accrdng to data sheet; mach. automatic mvmnts according to cycle diagram; monitor plant prdctvt. Bachelor’s in Cmptr

Scnce or IT w/5 yrs of progress resp. prior wrk exp in the pstn offrd. or reltd. Mst knw (thru acad training or wrk exp) dvlpng MES autmtn sftwre using DELPHI XE2 & SQL ORACLE PL/SQL for bcknd dvlpmnt; dvlpng autmtn sftwre for steel indstry; SQL dtbse, Vsl Stdio Cde, Delphi 2005, Orcle dtbse, incl. Orcle ADF, Orcle SOA, & Orcle BPM. Resumes to r.woods@danieli. com.

Marble Valley Manor. Affordable 1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments for Elderly & Disabled. Many on-site services! 2115 Motes Rd, Sylacauga. 256-245-6500 •TDD#s: 800-548-2547(V) •800-548-2546(T/A). Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm. Equal Opportunity Provider/ Employer

O-FLEX METAL FINISHING

Production Supervisor

$50,000.00-$70,000.00/ year 10hr shifts Mon-Thurs Oversees production operations. Sets objectives, organizes workflow, prepares schedules, assigns responsibilities, trains employees, ensures safety, schedules maintenance, submits performance reports. Skills:-Automotive Plant Experience -Experience as Production Supervisor or similar role -Experience with manufacturing machinery and tools -Advanced skills in MS Office -High School Diploma; Degree in a technical, engineering or relevant field will be an advantage Benefits: PTO, 401k w/match, Health/ Dental/Vision insurance, employee assistance, referral program, tuition reimbursement 725 Keystone Drive Clanton, Al 35044

O-FLEX METAL FINISHING

2nd Shift Supervisor

$50,000.00-$70,000.00 2nd shift 2:30p.m.1:00a.m. Monday–Thursday Responsibilities: •Be an effective Supervisor in a participative work environment •Ensure all Finishing Dept. goals and improvement objectives are accomplished per our commitments •Ability to optimize utilization of personnel, equipment, material, and space to meet OMF’s daily, monthly and annual targets. Will be evaluated regularly on ability

to continuously improve in all areas of responsibility. 725 Keystone Drive Clanton, Al 35044

O-FLEX METAL FINISHING

Maintenance Technicians: Friday–Sunday 12 hour shifts 6:00a.m.-6:00p.m. Responsible for maintenance of O-Flex facilities & equipment across all lines & departments. Oversight of preventative maintenance programs. Coordinates continuous improvement activities with Maintenance Team Leader. Starting pay $19-$28 BOE 725 Keystone Drive Clanton, Al 35044

Quantum Logistics Hiring

Class A Driver. Montgomery, AL. Full or part time. $.48-$.55 per mile. Paid weekly. BCBS Insurance. Home weekend EZ Pass and prepass. Safety & Fuel Bonus. Apply online www.qtmlog.com Call (334)2888106.

Nursing Assistant to help care for an elderly gentleman in Jemison requiring total assistance. PT-FT. To apply, call Ms. Peoples (205)688-1992 or (205)447-3005

Security Guard for Gated Community in North Shelby County Full-time or Part-time. Must have pistol permit. Call Brittany 205-991-4653

Become a Dental Assistant in ONLY 8 WEEKS! Please visit our website capstonedentalassisting.com or call (205)561-8118 and get your career started!

Tax Advisor, International Tax and Transaction Tax Services

(International Corporate Tax Advisory) (Senior) (Multiple Positions), Ernst & Young U.S. LLP, Birmingham, AL. Apply online, go to:ey.com/ en_us/careers and click on “Careers - Job Search”, then “SearchJobs”(Job Number1472113).

Caliza LLC d/b/a Landing seeks a Senior Software Engineer in Birmingham, AL to contribute to the company’s core product platforms, building APIs and systems. Req. MS + 2 yrs exp or BS + 5 yrs exp. Salary range for position: $170,000.00 - $200,000.00. 100%

telecommuting role. Reports to company headquarters in Birmingham, AL. Can work remotely or telecommute. To apply, mail resume to:Caliza LLC d/b/a Landing, Attn: HR, 17 20TH Street North, Suite 100, Birmingham, AL 35203. Must Reference Job Title: & Code: 000012. EOE.

LEAD ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

Danieli Taranis LLC (Chelsea, AL) to be rspnsble for dsgng, dvlpng, & tsting automtn sys for y steel mnfctrng eqpmnt & mchnry, Q-HEAT, Q-DRIVE, & Q-ONE tech, & dvlpng logic & parmetrs; inspctng exstng hrdwre w/in the plnt to prpre for installtn of drives & automtn sftwre; creatng elctrcl diagrms of autmtn sys, motor/ sensr lsts for plnts, autmtn blck diagrms of plnt ntwrks, motor wrkng cycls sensr or transltr data sheets, plnt lyout & dtails of areas in AutoCAD frmt; creatng I/O lst for hrdwre dsgn & dvlpng autmtn sftwre; creatng opertor mnuals. Master’s in Elctrcl Engnrng or rel field w/2 yrs prev wrk exp in pos off or rel. Mst know (thru acdmc trainng or wrk exp) Ethrnet Confgurator & Profibus/Profinet; Codesys; Target Monitor; Q-Drive Configurator parmtrztion; & indction heatng & Q-One tech. Wrks at clients’ manfctrng wrksites acrss contnntl U.S. Resumes to C.Hegarty@ danieli.com

South Pointe Development 203 Shiloh Creek Drive Calera, AL 35040Updating Waiting List:3 BDR 2 Bath Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30 Multi-Family No Pets Allowed 205-6681196.

Experienced Termite Technician or someone experienced in route-service work and wants to learn new profession. Work-vehicle/ equipment provided. Must drive straight-shift, have clean driving record/be 21/pass background/drug test. Training provided. Insurance/401K offered. M-F 7:00-4:30 + 1 Saturday/month. Pay $13hr. Send resume to facsmith@ charter.net

Primary Rhinoplasty

Revision Rhinoplasty

Finesse Rhinoplasty

Liquid Rhinoplasty

Tip Plasty

MY HOMEWOOD SHAY GARTMAN

Executive Director of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce

Eat Local

Urban Cookhouse

Because we have three very active kids at home, we are always on the go. My go-to spot for fast food that isn’t “fast” is Urban Cookhouse. I love the drive-thru option. It’s so convenient to choose from their family meal options, pick it up and get it home.

Supporting Local Businesses

The Valley Hotel & Bandwagon Sports

We are blessed with such a variety of businesses here in Homewood from restaurants to retailers. The Valley Hotel is a destination for travelers. It is a real asset for our city’s economy. From a retail perspective, Bandwagon Sports carries the Homewood apparel we wear to give back to local schools.

Homewood Tried and True

Raising My Family in Homewood

Fellowship in Community

The Homewood Christmas Parade

We have fantastic events and excellent community engagement in Homewood. The Lighting of the Star and the Homewood Christmas Parade solidify the heart of the Homewood community for me. The mayor selects someone to represent the city and light the star. A diverse number of businesses participate, as well as our schools and youth organizations, too.

My husband and I moved here a little over 20 years ago. At the time we had one child, and we were looking for a place that had a strong community feel and great schools and neighborhoods. There is no better place than Homewood for that. We have since had three more children and feel blessed to raise them in all in this community.

The Homewood Chamber of Commerce

Becoming Executive Director

I’m looking forward to being of service to our Homewood businesses and doing my part to help them thrive. If the business community thrives, then to me, it’s a top-down effect that also promotes the quality of life we have here in Homewood.

LOVE IN VERONA