The Homewood Star July 2017 by Starnes Media

The Homewood Star

Volume 7 | Issue 4 | July 2017

neighborly news & entertainment for Homewood

Uniting for Rights

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE

Home(wood) College-bound activist aims to create better world for animals in Homewood and beyond via club.

See page A17

Women in Business TION G SEC

IN ERTIS L ADV

n e m o W IN S S E N I S BU 2017

IA SPEC

HOMEWOOD Get to know some of the faces behind the success of many of the businesses in Homewood.

See page B7

INSIDE Sponsors ......... A4 News ..................A6 Business ......... A12 Chamber ........ A15 School House.. A18

Sports ............. A22 Events ................B4 Community .......B6 Opinion ..............B6 Calendar .......... B18

Above, from left: Chuck Holmes, William Dahlberg, Gigi Douban and Michael Krall pose inside W H s studio. Several of the NPR station's employees have made Homewood their place of residence. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.

Despite industry’s changing landscape, WBHM radio personalities continue to embrace community’s support By EM ILY F EA T HERST ON

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See WBHM | page A25

So r t i n g o u t s p a c e i s s u e s , 1 p a r k i n g s p o t a t a t i m e By ERIC A T EC HO

P re -S o rt S ta n d a rd U .S . P o s ta g e P A ID T u p e lo , M S P e rm it # 5 4

facebook.com/thehomewoodstar

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THE PRICE OF GROWTH

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This is the third in a four-part series examining the interaction between Samford University, its students and residents of the city of Homewood. In the August issue, we’ll address how alumni are creating a lasting impact on the city.

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See SAMFORD | page A26

A parking ticket lies on the windshield of a car in one of Samford niversity s campus lots. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.

A2 â&#x20AC;¢ July 2017

The Homewood Star

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July 2017 â&#x20AC;¢ A3

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A4 • July 2017

About Us Editor’s Note By Sydney Cromwell It’s s u m m e r. T h a t m e a n s it’s tim e fo r m e t o c om pl a i n a bout t he he a t a ga i n. S u m m e r re a lly is m y le a s t fa v o rite s e a s on — a nd i f you w e nt ba c k t o m y e di t or ’ s no t e s f r om l a s t s um m e r , you’ d s e e m e h a rp in g o n a s im ila r th e m e . B u t a s I’m w ritin g th is , I’m s ittin g u n d e r a s h a d y tre e o n a p a rtic u la rly b a lm y , p le a s a n t d a y th a t re m in d s m e n o t e v e ry t hi ng a bout s um m e r i s unbe a r a bl e . W h e n it’s h o t, w e lo n g fo r c o ld w e a t he r , t he n w i nt e r c om e s a ga i n a nd w e ’re b e g g in g fo r th e d a y s o f s h o rts y e a r ta n c e w e t w i t a ga

re m in d e d u s a ll o f th e im p o ro f ra in , b u t a fte r a fe w d a y s o f e a th e r, w e s ta rt g ro u s in g a b o u t i n.

s o m e th in g m o s t a p p e a lin g w h e n it’s n o t

w ro n g p la c e — I h a v e to re m in d m y s e lf th a t it’s n o t a v e ry p ro d u c tiv e w a y to l ok a t t hi ngs . A fte r a ll, fo r e v e ry h o t, s w e a ty , m o s sh a d e c re a m t hi ngs W ha

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PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Homewood High School seniors take a look at their new diplomas and watch as classmates walk across the stage during their ay 2 graduation ceremony at Samford niversity s Wright Center. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.

The Homewood Star

Publisher: Managing Editor: Design Editor: Director of Photography: Sports Editor: Assistant Sports Editor: Digital Editor: Page Designer: Community Editor: Community Reporters:

Dan Starnes Sydney Cromwell Kristin Williams Sarah Finnegan Kyle Parmley Sam Chandler Alyx Chandler Melanie Viering Erica Techo Jon Anderson Jesse Chambers Lexi Coon Emily Featherston Copy Editor: Louisa Jeffries

Contributing Writers: Lauren Denton Interns: Loren Hopkins Lauren Roland Advertising Manager: Matthew Allen Account Manager: Layton Dudley

Sales and Distribution: Warren Caldwell Don Harris Michelle Salem Haynes Rhonda Smith

James Plunkett Eric Clements Vicky Hager

For advertising contact: dan@starnespublishing.com Contact Information: Homewood Star PO Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 dan@starnespublishing.com

Please submit all articles, information and photos to: sydney@ starnespublishing.com P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253

Published by: The Homewood Star LLC Legals: The Homewood Star is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. The Homewood Star is designed to inform the Homewood community of area school, family and community events. Information in The Homewood Star is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of The Homewood Star. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.

Please recycle this paper.

Please Support Our Community Partners 1st Resource Credit Union (A11) Aabco Rents (A10) Alabama Ballet (A17) Alabama Eye & Cataract Center (B7) Alabama Fertility Specialists (B13) Alabama Power (B17) Applause Dancewear & Accessories (B14) ARC Realty (B1) Arceneaux Art Gallery (A6) Ashley Copeland Inc. (B13) Bedzzz Express (B1, B20) Bella Bridesmaids (B14) Birmingham Benz Inc (A14) Birmingham Duplicate Bridge Club (A25) Bob’s Bikes (A16) Brandino Brass (B7) Bromberg & Company, Inc. (A13) Brookwood Baptist Health (B4) Cardiovascular Associates of the Southeast (B8) Construx (A27) Cookie Fix (B14) Dish’n It Out (A11) Encore Rehabilitation (A22) Escape Day Spa (B10) First Commercial Bank (B15) First Lenders Mortgage Corp. (A26) Henhouse Antiques (A17) High Point Climbing and Fitness, LLC (A28) Holiday Inn Express (A23) Homewood Antiques and Marketplace (B14) Homewood Chamber of Commerce (A19) Homewood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry (A21, B10) Homewood Parks and Rec (B2) Homewood Toy & Hobby (A26) Hutchinson Automotive (A13) Issis & Sons (A2) Jacqueline DeMarco (B19) JJ Eyes (A7) Joe Falconer, RealtySouth (B3) Johnny Montgomery Realtor (A24) Kete Cannon, RE MAX Southern Homes (B9) Korduroy Krocodile (B16) Lamb’s Ears, Ltd. (A23) McWane Science Center (A8) Moran’s Rocky Ridge Hardware (B5) Mr. Chen’s (A22) Needleworks (B15) NextHome Southern Realty (A19) Nicole Brannon ARC Realty (B11) Norwood Clinic Ophthalmology (A16) One Man and a Toolbox (A24) Over the Mountain Glass (A14) Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics (A27) Phoenix Builders Group (A20) RealtySouth Marketing (A9) Red Mountain Theatre Company (B18) Red Pearl Restaurant (A20) Salem’s Diner (B19) Samford Academy ot the Arts (A10) Schaeffer Eye Center (A2) Sew Sheri Designs (B15) Shiki Thai and Sushi (A15) Skin Wellness Center of Alabama (A12, B11) SOHO Social (A5) Standard Air, Plumbing & Insulation (A1) Sugar Sands Realty (B18) The Dance Foundation (B16) The Maids (A15) The Smocking Bird (B16) The Wade Team (A6, B16) The Whole Dog Market (A23) TherapySouth Homewood (B12) UAB Honors College (B6) United Ability (A5) Urban Cookhouse (B13) Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church (A8) Vulcan Park and Museum (B12) Vulcan Community Awards (A3) Wilson Building Company (A25)

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July 2017 â&#x20AC;¢ A5

A6 • July 2017

The Homewood Star

City Council denies rezoning for Green Springs commercial property, partially approves gas station signs By SY D NEY C ROM W T T h e m e e is a d hous

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h e H o m e w o o d a S tre e t re s id t i ng, de nyi ng a e s B o u le v a rd e d a ha i r s a l on. he de c i s i on w a w a s c o n tin u e d r t y ow ne r of de , t o s pe a k, but y 2 2 m e e tin g . H

a llo w C I nc l us i on F T he c w e re s im he a r i ng,

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o u n c il fo l h e s a t its M r e que s t f or th a t w o u ld

s m a ed a f t e fro m M a y 285 P a l i s a de s he w a s not e r re q u e st w

r a ublp ic 8 to a llo s B l vd., pr e s e nt a s to re z o

h a rle s J a s o n E m e rs o n to a m i l y H a i r S pa . onc e r ns f r om r e s i de nt s a t ila r to th o s e e x p re s s e d a m a i nl y a bout t he pos s i bl

e nf ro c e t he c i t y’ s or di na nc e a nd not s e t a pr e c e d e n t fo r o th e r b u s in e s s e s to re q u e s t s im ila r v a ria n c e s . W a rd 4 R e p . B a rry S m ith s a id s h e ha s s e e n ot he r s t a t i ons i ns t a l l m onum e nt s i gns th a t w o u ld w o rk w ith in th e c ity o rd in a n c e s a n d e n c o u ra g e d th e C irc le K s ta tio n o w n e rs to c o n s i de r doi ng t he s a m e . T h e c o u n c il v o te d 7 -2 , w ith W a rd 2 R e p s . M ik e H ig g in b o th a m a n d A n d re w W o lv e rto n o p p o s in g , to a p p ro v e fo u r a tta c h e d s ig n s o n th e b u ild in g . T h e y v o te d 1 -8 , w ith W rig h t in fa v o r, to d e n y th e tw o m o n u m e n t s ig n s a n d u n a n im o u s ly a g a in s t a s m a ll fre e s ta n d in g d ire c tio n a l s i gn. I n ot he r bus i ne s s , t he c ounc il: ►

lo w e d a y 2 2 a P a lh a v e he a r th e C i ndy a t t he n e th e w

o p e n S a lo n t he m e e t i ng t th e M a y 8 e ot he r su e s

fo o d re s ta u ra n ts o r b u s in e s s e s th a t s ta y o p e n l a t e . T he i de a of a s a l on i t s e l f di d not s e e m to r a i s e i s s ue s . R e s i de nt s a l s o s a i d t ha t r e z oni ng t hi s pr ope r t y , t houg i t ’ s a l r e a dy c om m e r c i a l f or s om e r e s t r i c t e d us e s , c oul d ope n t he dor t o ne a r by pr ope r t i e s doi ng t he s a m e . “ If th e re is a p o s s ib ility to c h a n g e to o th e r ty p e s o f b u s in e s s , I w o u ld o p p o s e th a t,” o n e hom e ow ne r s a i d. “ I t w ill a b s o lu te ly h a v e a d o m in o e ff e c t,” a not he r r e s i de nt s a i d. “ I j u s t ur ge you to lis te n to th e re s id e n ts w h o liv e th e re . W e h a v e a g re a t t hi ng goi ng on.” T he c ounc i l una ni m ous l y vot e d a ga i ns t t he r e z oni ng r e que s t . A ls o a t its m e e tin g , th e c o u n c il g a v e o n ly

A resident voices concerns about rezoning 285 Palisades Blvd. to allow expanded commercial uses. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

p a rtia l a p p ro v a l to a s e t o f s ig n v a ria n c e r e que s t s f r om t he wo en r s of t he C i r c l e K ag s C ol mu bi A s p a s ite , th e n e e d e d n u m b e r pol e s i gns A fte r

a na rt o v a o f .

R oa d. o f a la rg e r re n o v w n e rs re q u e s te d ria n c e s d u e to h s ig n s o r th e c ity

re s is ta n c e fro m

a tio n p la n fo s e v e n s ig n s e ig h t, s iz e , ’s re s tric tio n

r th e th a t to ta l s o n

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c o m m itte e , th e o w n e rs o ffe re d to re d u c e th e s iz e o f th e ir n e w p o le s ig n to m a tc h th e o n e c u rre n tly o n th e p ro p e rty a n d to c re a te a m o n u m e n t ba s e out of s t one f or t he pol e s i gns . T he y a l s o r e m ove d one s i gn f r om t he i r r e qu e s t . H ow e ve r , t he t a l l e s t pol e s i gn w oul d s t i l l be 2 5 fe e t h ig h , w e ll b e y o n d th e c ity ’s 6 -fo o t lim it, a n d its 1 4 0 s q u a re fe e t in s iz e is a ls o la rg e r t ha n pe r m i t t e d. C ounc i l m e m be r s s a i d de s pi t e c o n c e s s io n s fro m th e o w n e rs , th e y w a n te d to

s i de w a l ks . ► pa r ki ng, c r os s w a l ks a ► re q u e s t a t 2 0 1 M o n tg o ow ne r t o bui l d a w ode due t o he r ne i ghbor ’s or pl a c i ng t r a s h on t he e r t y l i ne . ► p ro p e rty ta x e s fo r 2 e xe m pt i on. ► l i c e ns e f or t he H a m pt P a r kw a y . ► t w o 206 F ► nC our t f or

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TheHomewoodStar.com

July 2017 • A7

Council funds trafﬁc study of multiple intersections By SY D NEY C ROM W T h e

C ity

ELL

C o u n c il a p p ro v e d

►

A proposed realignment of the Mayfair Drive-Roxbury Road intersection, including relocation of the planned sidewalks, a new crosswalk and moving the streetlight currently in the “triangle” intersection to be adjacent to the sidewalks. Courtesy of Skipper Consulting

M a yf a i r s i d e w a l k s c o n t i n u e t o b e d iv is iv e is s u e fo r r e s id e n ts By SY D NEY C ROM W ELL

A p ril, R ic h a rd C a u d le o f S k ip p e r

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► ►

A8 â&#x20AC;˘ July 2017

The Homewood Star

D o w n t o w n p a r k i n g s t u d y, o d o r o r d i n a n c e u n d e r C it yC o u n c il d is c u s s io n While majority of 18th Street, City Hall parking stays full, underground garage not fully utilized By SY D NEY C ROM W

ELL dur

M a n y H o m e w o o d s h o p p e rs a n d e m p lo y e e s h a v e e x p e rie n c e d th e la c k o f a d e q u a te p a rk in g d o w n to w n , b u t s u g g e s t it m a y b e b e c a u s e o f a fa ilu re to e n fo rc e p a rk in g ru le s ra th e r th a n t he umn be r of a va i l a bl e s pa c e s . L in d s a y P u c k e tt a n d M ik h a il A le rt fro m th e R e g io n a l P la n n in g C o m m is s io n o f G re a te r B irm in g h a m a tte n d e d t he J une 5 H om e w od C i t y C ounc il P la n n in g a n d D e v e lo p m e n t C o m m itt e e m e e t i ng t o pr e s e nt t he r e s ul t s of i n A pr i l . t he

C e nt r a l B us i ne s s D pl a n t ha t t he R P C i s he c r e a t e . I t i nc l ude d publ pa r ki ng l ot s f r om C e nt In d e p e n d e n c e D riv e t ow n a r e a . T he r e a r e 824 s pa c e s a nd 1,2 pr i va t he R P C s t udi e d.

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a s te r c ity i va t e to o w n ne d s t ha t

a n d v id e o m o n ito rin g , s h o w e d th a t c ity s p a c e s a v e ra g e d a b o u t 7 5 p e rc e n t f ul l a nd pr i va t e s pa c e s a bo ut 51 pe r c e n t o c c u p ie d . P a rk in g o n 1 8 th S tre e t w a s a lm o s t a lw a y s 1 0 0 p e rc e n t o c c u p ie d f r o m 1 0 a .m . to 4 p .m . N in e ty p e rc e n t o f th e s u rfa c e lo t b e h in d C ity H a l l w a s oc c upi e d dur i ng t ha t t i m e , w hi l e t h e unde r gr ound ga r a ge â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s 39 s p o rts w e re o n ly 4 0 p e rc e n t o c c u p ie d

i ng t he da y . P u c k e tt s a id th e tw o -h o u r p a rk i ng t i m e l i m i t i s r a r e l y e nf or c e d a nd s o m e c a rs w ill o c c u p y s p a c e s a ll d a y , m a ny of w hi c h a r e l i ke l y l oc a l bus i ne s s e m pl oye e s . S he a l s o s a i d s hopp e rs m a y n o t b e a w a re o f th e p a rk in g a va i l a bl e a t t he ga r a ge . W ith in a q u a rte r-m ile ra d iu s , A le rt s a id , th e re a re ro u g h ly 2 9 2 e m p ty p u b lic s p a c e s a n d 1 2 0 u n o c c u p ie d p riv a te s p a c e s a v a ila b le , th e m a jo rity o f w h ic h a re in th e u n d e rg ro u n d p a rk in g d e c k a n d a t R e g io n s T o w e r. T h e R P C re c o m m e n d e d tic k e tin g a n d e n fo rc e m e n t o f th e tw o -h o u r tim e lim it a n d p u rs u in g th e p o s s ib ility o f h a v in g b u s in e s s e s v a lid a te p a rk in g a s a w a y to d is c o u ra g e lo n g -te rm p a rk in g . T h e y a ls o s u g g e s te d m o re s ig n s to d ire c t d riv e rs to th e u n d e rg ro u n d s p a c e s . W ith th o s e c h a n g e s , A le rt s a id , th e dow nt ow n a r e a c oul d ha ndl e i t s c ur r e nt c a pa c i t y a nd a bs or b s om e f r om fu tu re c o n s tru c tio n in th e a re a s u c h a s t he pl a ne d hot e l a nd r e t a i l de ve l opm e nt on 18t h S t r e e t , w hi c h w i l l a l s o ha ve s om e ne w pa r ki n g of i t s ow n. T h e P la n n in g a n d D e v e lo p m e n t C o m m itte e d e c id e d to ta b le th e s tu d y to s p e n d m o re tim e c o n s id e rin g ne xt s t e ps . A t th e S p e c ia l Is s u e s C o m m itte e m e e tin g a ls o J u n e 5 , th e u tiv e s e s s io n l i t i ga t i on a s odr

d is c u s s p o s s ib le i s s eu s c ont i nue in

The public parking lot behind City Hall is one of many in downtown Homewood that experiences high demand for parking spaces during business hours. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.

W e s t H mo e w od. K a th e rin e B a z e m o re o f V o la tile h ire d to a d v is e a n d m e d ia te d is c u s s io n s w ith B u ffa lo R o c k a n d D e a n F o o d s o v e r o n g o in g n o is e a n d o d o r c o m p la in ts , s a id B u ffa lo R o c k h a s n e ith e r fo llo w e d th e re c o m m e n d e d p ro to c o ls n o r p ro v id e d r e que s t e d da t a . S o m e n e w e q u ip m e n t h a s b e e n in s ta lle d o n th e s ite , b u t th e re h a s n o t be e n a de c r e a s e i n odr oc c ur r e nc e s . W h ile V o la tile A n a ly s is re q u e s te d

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re q u e s te d d a ta o n th e c a rb o n b e d th e y re c e iv e d o n e s e t o f fo u r m e a s u re m e n ts fro m D e c e m b e r a n d o n e s a m p le fro m M a rc h , w h ic h is e f f e c t i ve ne s s .

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s a m pl e a nd c om pa r e t o a s a y w e h a v e a n a c c u ra te p e m or e s a i d. fte r s e n d in g V o la tile A f to th e s ite , B a z e m o re s p a n y is a ls o n o t im p le m

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ha d be e n out l i ne d f ro t he m . S h e a d d e d s h e is w o rk in g w ith iz e la n g u a g e fo r a n e w o rd in a n c e g iv in g th e c ity m o re e n fo rc e m e n t p o w e r fo r p u b lic n u is a n c e s s u c h a s pe r va s i ve odr s.

TheHomewoodStar.com

July 2017 • A9

Above: Illustration of the proposed plan for West Homewood and Patriot parks. Left: Illustration of a possible layout for the Patriot Park pool. Photos courtesy of Homewood Parks and Recreation Department.

Park board presents updated plans for West Homewood, Patriot parks in ﬁnal town hall meeting By SY D NEY C ROM W ELL

s till b e lo c a te d o n th e p ro p e rty a lo n g w ith th re e

In th e la s t o f th re e to w n h a ll m e e tin g s to d is c u s s p la n n e d p ro je c ts a t W e s t H o m e w o o d a n d P a trio t p a rk s o n J u n e 6 , P a rk s B o a rd m e m b e rs a n d G e o ff C le v e r fro m D a v is A rc h ite c ts p re s e n te d a m e n d m e n ts b a s e d o n p u b lic in p u t fro m th e firs t tw o m e e tin g s a n d a n o n lin e s u rv e y . A p o s s ib le la y o u t fo r th e P a trio t P a rk p o o l w a s s h o w n . T h e p o o l w o u ld b e lo c a te d in th e g re e n s p a c e b e tw e e n th e s e n io r c e n te r a n d th e p a rk ’s w a lk in g p a th , w ith p a rk in g o n th e e a s t s id e o f th e p o o l a n d a n e w a c c e s s ro a d fro m O a k G ro v e R o a d a c ro s s fro m H a ll A v e n u e . In a d d itio n to a p o o l b u ild in g , th e o u td o o r p o o l d e c k d e s ig n in c lu d e d la p la n e s , s lid e s , a b e a c h -s ty le e n try , d iv in g a re a , s p la s h p a d , p la y s tru c tu re , a q u a tic s o c ia l a re a s a n d s h a d e s tru c tu re s .

th e w o o d s n e x t to it w ill b e c u t d o w n . M o re la n d s c a p e b u ffe rin g a ls o h a s b e e n fa c to re d in o n th e e a s t e d g e o f th e p a rk . In th e s o u th e a s t c o rn e r o f W e s t H o m e w o o d P a rk , p la n s c a ll fo r e ig h t te n n is c o u rts a n d a g y m n a s iu m w ith b a s k e tb a ll a n d v o lle y b a ll c o u rts . S in c e th e M a y 2 3 m e e tin g , C le v e r s a id p la n s h a v e b e e n u p d a te d to m o v e p a rk in g fa rth e r fro m re s id e n tia l a re a s , a n d b le a c h e rs w e re a ls o a d d e d a ro u n d o n e p a ir o f te n n is c o u rts . A w a lk in g tra il w in d in g a ro u n d th e a th le tic

p o o l, w h ic h th e P a rk s a n d R e c re a tio n D e p a rtm e n t h o p e s to h a v e o p e n b y s u m m e r 2 0 1 8 , it d o e s in c lu d e m a n y o f th e e le m e n ts th a t s u rv e y re s p o n d e n ts m o s t fa v o re d . T h e to ta l p o o l d e c k s p a c e is s lig h tly s m a lle r th a n th e C e n tra l P a rk p o o l, b u t s o m e o f th e a m e n itie s w o u ld b e u n iq u e w ith in th e c ity . P la n s fo r P a trio t P a rk in c lu d e p la n tin g n e w tre e s a s b u ffe rs fo r O a k m o o r D riv e a n d O a k G ro v e R o a d , a s w e ll a s im p ro v e m e n ts to th e e x is tin g p la y g ro u n d . O n e o f th e p rim a ry c o n c e rn s re s id e n ts h a d w a s th e e lim in a tio n o f w o o d e d a re a s in W e s t H o m e a n d a m a in te n a n c e fa c ility , w h ic h w o u ld re d u c e th e b a rrie r b e tw e e n th e p a rk a n d s u rro u n d in g h o m e s , a s w e ll a s e x is tin g h a b ita t fo r w ild life . T h e J u n e 6 m e e tin g s a w n e w p la n s th a t k e e p m o s t o f th e tre e s in th e a re a in ta c t. T h e n e w e s t p la n re lo c a te s a s a n d v o lle y b a ll c o u rt a n d p a rk in g lo t, w h ic h w e re p la n n e d fo r th e M a s o n p ro p e rty s o u th o f W e s t H o m e w o o d P a rk , fro m a h e a v ily -w o o d e d a re a to th e n o rth p a rt o f th e M a s o n p ro p e rty . T h e m a in te n a n c e fa c ility , w h ic h w ill in c lu d e b a ttin g c a g e s , w re s -

n e c tin g p a th b e tw e e n W e s t H o m e w o o d a n d P a trio t p a rk s . T h e d is ta n c e is le s s th a n a m ile , b u t th e ro u te b e tw e e n th e m is c o m p lic a te d b y p riv a te p ro p e rtie s w h e re th e c ity w ill e ith e r h a v e to re q u e s t a n e a s e m e n t to u s e la n d o r re ro u te th e p a th . “ T h a t’s s till o n o u r ra d a r, a n d w e ’re s till lo o k in g a t h o w b e s t to d o th a t,” C le v e r s a id . T h e c ity w ill b re a k g ro u n d o n th e p o o l a n d - th is s u m m e r, fo llo w e d b y th e g y m a n d te n n is c o u rt c o m p le x in N o v e m b e r. W o rk o n th e n e w m a in te n a n c e fa c ility is a n d s a n d v o lle y b a ll c o u rts w ill b e g in a fte r th e fa ll 2 0 1 8 te n n is s e a s o n . T h e la s t p h a s e w ill b e th e lik e ly to b e g in c o n s tru c tio n a ro u n d s u m m e r 2 0 1 8 . T h e to ta l b u d g e t fo r b o th p a rk s is a b o u t $ 3 0 a b le a s o f T h e H o m e w o o d S ta r ’s p re s s tim e . P a rk s a n d R e c re a tio n A th le tic D ire c to r J a k o b S te p h e n s s a id m o re b u d g e t in fo rm a tio n w o u ld b e a v a ila b le in J u ly a n d A u g u s t. V is it th e h o m e w o o d s ta r.c o m a n d h o m e w o o d p a r k s .c o m f o r u p d a te s . R e s id e n ts w ith q u e s tio n s o r c o m m e n ts o n th e p ro je c ts s h o u ld ta lk to th e ir P a rk B o a rd m e m b e rs d a y o f e a c h m o n th a t th e c o m m u n ity c e n te r b o a rd ro o m .

A10 • July 2017

The Homewood Star

C mo m u n i t y, f a c u l t y s u r ev ys s h wo s t r no g d e s i r e f o r m o r e s p ac e , s m la l e r c l as s s i z e s Edgewood Elementary was host to one of three public meetings about the results of a community survey on the growth of the school system. Photo by Jordan Hays.

By SY D NEY C ROM W ELL In a s e rie s o f th re e p u b lic m e e tin g s , H o m e w o o d C ity S c h o o ls S u p e rin te n d e n t B ill C le v e la n d a n d G re g E llis , H o a r P ro g ra m M a n a g e m e n t’s d ire c to r o f p re -c o n s tru c tio n s e rv ic e s , s h a re d th e re s u lts o f s u rv e y s o n th e s c h o o l s y s te m ’s n e e d s a n d th e n e x t s te p s to w a rd c re a tin g a p la n to a c c o m m o d a te g ro w in g e n ro llm e n t. A t th e s e c o n d m e e tin g , h e ld o n J u n e 1 5 a t E d g e w o o d E le m e n ta ry , C le v e la n d s a id h e fe lt fo rtu n a te th a t s e p a ra te s u rv e y s o f c o m m u n ity m e m b e rs a n d s c h o o l fa c u lty a n d s ta ff re v e a le d m o s tly s im ila r p rio ritie s , w h ic h w ill m a k e it T h e tw o m o s t c o n s is te n t n e e d s , s h o w in g u p in re s p o n s e to m u ltip le q u e s tio n s , w e re m o re c la s s ro o m s p a c e a n d s m a lle r c la s s s iz e s . “ W e h a d a lo t o f th e m e s th a t k in d o f p o p p e d u p … T h a t te lls u s w h a t’s re a lly im p o rta n t to y o u ,” E llis s a id . E llis p re s e n te d a s u m m a ry o f s u rv e y re s u lts , w h ic h c o v e re d a w id e v a rie ty o f q u a lity , s a fe ty a n d g ro w th to p ic s . T h e s u rv e y s a ttra c te d 3 8 5 c o m m u n ity re s p o n d e n ts a n d 1 9 5 fa c u lty a n d s ta ff re s p o n d e n ts , w ith ro u g h ly e q u a l re p re s e n ta tio n a c ro s s th e th re e e le m e n ta ry s c h o o ls a n d s lig h tly h ig h e r re s p o n s e ra te s fro m h ig h s c h o o l fa c u lty , s ta ff a n d p a re n ts . T o p c o n c e rn s fo r th e re s p o n d e n ts a b o u t q u a lity o f th e le a rn in g s p a c e s in H o m e w o o d s c h o o ls in c lu d e d n o t o n ly c ro w d in g a n d c la s s s iz e , b u t a ls o o u td a te d fa c ilitie s . A t th e m id d le s c h o o l, th e re w a s a s tro n g d e s ire fo r a s c ie n c e la b a n d a d d itio n a l b a n d s p a c e , a n d fa c u lty a t th e h ig h s c h o o l re q u e s te d m o re n a tu ra l lig h t a n d p a rk in g . fo r m o re n o n -tra d itio a u d ito riu m s a n d b a n d b e rs a n d fa c u lty s a id n o t h a v e e n o u g h ro o m ity , a s w e ll a s b e in g o O th e r n e e d s th a t w

n a l sp a c e s su c h a s g y ro o m s . C o m m u n ity m th e c u rre n t fa c ilitie s a n d h a d p o o r so u n d q u td a te d . e re m e n tio n e d b y m

m s, e m d id u a la n y

s u rv e y re s p o n d e n ts in c lu d e d a n u p d a te d lib ra ry , c a re e r-s im u la te d le a rn in g s p a c e s a n d b e tte r fa c ility m a in te n a n c e . S o m e a d d itio n a l s e c u rity a n d A D A a c c e s s ib ility fe a tu re s w e re a ls o m e n tio n e d , a lth o u g h th e m a jo rity o f re s p o n d e n ts d e s c rib e d th e s c h o o ls a s “ v e ry s a fe ” a n d a b o u t 3 0 p e rc e n t o f c o m m u n ity m e m b e rs a n d 5 0 p e rc e n t o f fa c u lty fe lt a c c e s s ib ility is n o t a n is s u e a t H o m e w o o d s c h o o ls . W h e n a s k e d w h a t th e y fe lt w a s m o s t im p o rta n t fo r th e s c h o o l s y s te m to m a in ta in a s it g ro w s , th e to p th re e re s p o n s e s fro m c o m m u n ity m e m b e r a n d fa c u lty re s p o n d e n ts w e re id e n tic a l: s m a ll c la s s s iz e s , q u a lity te a c h e rs a n d h ig h e d u c a tio n s ta n d a rd s . S e v e ra l p e o p le m e n tio n e d th e p o s s ib ility o f a n e w h ig h s c h o o l o r in te rm e d ia te s c h o o l in th e ir s u rv e y , a s th e id e a c a m e u p in in itia l d is c u s s io n s

o f th e s c h o o l s y s te m ’s g ro w th p la n s . E llis s a id h e c o u ld n ’t s a y fo r s u re if th a t is in th e fu tu re , b u t it w ill b e a m o n g th e o p tio n s c o n s id e re d . “ I c a n ’t te ll y o u to d a y w h e th e r e ith e r o f th o s e a re v ia b le o r n o t. W h a t I c a n te ll y o u is w e ’re g o in g to s tu d y it,” E llis s a id . H P M w ill a ls o p e rfo rm e d w a lk -th ro u g h s o f s ta te a n d c a p a c ity . T h is w ill b e c o m b in e d w ith a d e m o g ra p h ic s s tu d y th a t w ill s h o w p ro je c te d e n ro llm e n t o v e r th e n e x t 1 0 y e a rs a n d h o w d iffe re n t a re a s o f th e c ity w ill c o n trib u te to th e s tu d e n t p o p u la tio n . C o o p e ra tiv e S tra te g ie s is w o rk in g o n th e d e m o g ra p h ic s s tu d y c u rre n tly a n d E llis p ro je c te d a n A u g . 1 c o m p le tio n d a te . E llis s a id H P M p la n s to p re s e n t its re s u lts a n d a n in itia l s e t o f p o s s ib le s o lu tio n s a t th e A u g u s t

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u t fo u r, th a t w o u ld b e p re s e n te d in S e p b e r. A t th a t p o in t, th e b o a rd c o u ld m a k e e c is io n a n d H P M w o u ld p ro c e e d to th e ig n p h a s e . E llis a n d C le v e la n d s a id v id e o s fro m th e m e e tin g s , p re s e n ta tio n s a n d o th e r in fo rm a tio n , in c lu d in g th e s u rv e y s u m m a ry , w ill b e p o s te d o n th e s c h o o l s y s te m ’s w e b s ite , u n d e r th e fa c ilitie s ta b . “ A n y tim e w e ’re p re s e n tin g o r ta lk in g a b o u t f a c ilitie s … th a t v id e o w ill g o u p th e n e x t d a y ,” E llis s a id .

TheHomewoodStar.com

July 2017 • A11

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By SY D NEY C ROM W ELL A w ire le s s in fra s tru c tu re c o m p a n y ’s re q u e s t to p u t tw o n e w u tility p o le s in th e c ity w a s m e t w ith re s is ta n c e fro m th e C ity C o u n c il’s S p e c ia l Is s u e s C o m m itte e a t its J u n e 1 9 m e e tin g . C ro w n C a s tle w a n ts to in s ta ll tw o p o w e r p o le s in th e c ity rig h t-o f-w a y , o n e o n W in d s o r D riv e a n d o n e o n O x m o o r R o a d n e a r P a trio t P a rk . A t th e M a y 1 5 c o m m itte e m e e tin g , c o u n c il m e m b e rs o b je c te d to th e a e s th e tic a p p e a ra n c e o f th e p o le s a n d C ro w n C a s tle re p re s e n ta tiv e s a t th e tim e s a id th e re w e re n o e x is tin g p o le s th e y c o u ld u s e to in s ta ll th e e q u ip m e n t th a t w o u ld c o v e r th e g a p s in s e rv ic e th e y n e e d e d . O n J u n e 1 9 , C ro w n C a s tle p ro je c t m a n a g e r D a rry l F o rs te r b ro u g h t b a c k d e s ig n s fo r c o m p o s ite p o le s , w h ic h w o u ld e n c lo s e th e c a b le s w ith in th e p o le b u t w o u ld b e a b o u t 4 1 fe e t h ig h w ith th e a n te n n a a t th e to p . T h e s e a re th e la s t tw o p o le s C ro w n C a s tle p la n s to in s ta ll in th e c ity , a n d F o rs te r s a id m o s t o f th e ir o th e r in s ta lla tio n s w e re m a d e o n e x is tin g p o le s . S p e c ia l is s u e s c o m m itte e m e m b e rs s u g g e s te d re lo c a tin g th e p ro p o s e d O x m o o r R o a d p o le a b o u t 1 2 0 fe e t fa rth e r a w a y fro m th e s tre e t a n d c lo s e r to P a trio t P a rk , in a s p o t w h e re it w o u ld b e le s s v is ib le a n d o n th e o p p o s ite s id e fro m d e c o ra tiv e lig h tin g . W a rd 3 R e p re s e n ta tiv e W a lte r J o n e s s a id h e w o u ld s till p re fe r to s e e th e n u m b e r o f u tility p o le s in th e c ity re d u c e d . “ I s tru g g le w ith th e fa c t w e d o n ’t h a v e e n o u g h c o v e ra g e w ith th e e x is tin g lig h t p o le s ,” J o n e s s a id . A fte r a c a ll to th e c o m p a n y e n g in e e rin g d e p a rtm e n t, F o rs te r s a id th e re

Members of the City Council hold their committee sessions on June 19. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

h a d b e e n s o m e c o n fu s io n o n w h a t e q u ip m e n t w o u ld b e in s ta lle d o n th e p o le s , a n d th e re m a y b e a p o s s ib ility o f u s in g e x is tin g o n e s . T h e s p e c ia l is s u e s c o m m itte e a s k e d C ro w n C a s tle to try a g a in to p la c e th e ir e q u ip m e n t o n e x is tin g p o le s , a n d c a rrie d o v e r th e is s u e to d is c u s s a t a la te r m e e tin g . In a p la n n in g a n d d e v e lo p m e n t c o m m itte e m e e tin g a ls o h e ld o n

d is c u s s e d a p u b lic h e a rin g o n J u ly 1 0 fo r a z o n in g o rd in a n c e c h a n g e . n e s s s tu d io to th e a c c e p te d u s e s fo r in g D T h a re c R o a d

is tric t. e a m e n d m e n t w a s p ro m p te d b y e n t z o n in g re q u e s t o n O x m o o r , w h e re a p o te n tia l y o g a s tu d io

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to th e n e ig h b o rh o o d , b u t th e J u ly s tu d io s . S t. V in c e n t’s H e a lth S y s te m a ls o s e e m s s e t to ta k e o v e r th e fo rm e r S . T h e fo r a s p le s ig u rg e n t

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The Homewood Star

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TheHomewoodStar.com

July 2017 • A13

Now Open 1 A v e N a u o f s 5 0 6

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d Sm i l e s h a s o p e n e d a s e c ic a t 1 1 2 B ro a d w a y S tre e t. is n o w w e lc o m in g n e w ith D r. J a m e s R e e d . o n d s m ile s .c o m

Closings T h e J im m ie H a le M is s io n ’s M is s io n Po s s i b l e Ba r g a i n C e n t e r a t 8 0 0 G re e n S p rin g s H ig h w a y c lo s e d its d o o rs o n M a y 2 7 .

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Relocation Expansion Anniversary

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The Homewood Star Email dan@thehomewoodstar.com

A14 • July 2017

hero

The Homewood Star

I NEED A

Hero Doughnuts coming to Central Avenue By SY D NEY C ROM WE

Hero Doughnuts uses a “brioche-style” dough and a variety of toppings. Photo courtesy of Lewis Communications.

TheHomewoodStar.com

July 2017 • A15

Chamber V u l c a n Pa r k d i s c u s s e s m a k e o v e r , c o m m u n i t y a w a r d s During the Homewood Chamber of Commerce luncheon June 20, Morgan Black, director of marketing and public relations at Vulcan Park and Museum, updated the community on happenings in the park as well as community awards. Photo by Lexi Coon.

By LEX I C OON T he c i t y of B i r m i ngha t hi gsn , a nd one of t he m s ta tu e o f V u lc a n th a t s its V u lc a n is n ’t ju s t a s ta tu e ni t y pa r k a nd m us e um , t M o rg a n B la c k , d ire c p u b lic re la tio n s fo r th s h a re d its ro le in th e c m o n th ly H o m e w o o d c h 20.

m i s know os t i c oni c a to p th e m — it’s a lo o. to r o f m a e p a rk a n o m m u n ity a m b e r lu n

n is o u c a

f ro m a ny t he gi a nt n ta in . B u t l c o m m u -

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“ W e ’re n o t o n ly h e re to p ro m o te th e ‘b ig g u y ,’ b u t w e d o a lo t o f th in g s th a t w e d o to e duc a t e our l oc a l c om m uni t y a nd o ur vi s i t or s a b o u t o u r h is to r y ,” s h e s a id . “ W e lik e to s a y th a t w e ’re re a lly th e s o le c o m p re h e n s iv e h is to ry m us e um i n B i r m i ngha m .” B l a c k s a i d t ha t a l ong w i t h t he i c oni c s t a t ue , t he pa r k a nd m us e um hol ds c om m uni t y e ve nt s s uc h a s t he r e c e nt 1 13t h bi r t hda y of V ul c a n. “ I t ’ s a r e a l l y bi g, f un pa r t y ,” s he s a i d. “ W e a ls o h a v e a ro ta tin g g a lle ry e x h ib it ro o m c a lle d t he L i n - H e nl e y G a l l e r y .” pa r k’ s m i s s i on f or d iffe re n t e x h ib its h a v e in c lu d e d th e h ia n c o m m u n ity a s P o in ts S o u th . N o w “ S o u th e rn T h u n d e A ut o R a c i ng.” T hi unt i l D e c . 2018. V ul c a n P a r k a nd in g th e h ig h ly a n pe nde

nc “ It’s o,d I t hi T h e m a k in g a w a y

e duc a t i on a nd ha s f e a t ur e d o v e r th e y e a rs . P a s t to p ic s is to ry o f B irm in g h a m ’s Ita lw e ll a s th e h is to ry o f F iv e th e g a lle ry w ill b e fe a tu rin g r: T h e L e g a c y o f A la b a m a s e xhi bi t w i l l be on d i s pl a y M su e um w i l l a l s o eb osh t tic ip a te d “ T h u n d e r o n th e

e D a y c e l e br of t he m nk,” B la c ks K iw a n is C s u re V u lc a to c e le b ra te one

a t i ons . os t e xc i t i ng e ve nt s t ha t a i d. lu b o f B irm in g h a m n s ta y s b e a u tifu l, to o . th e ir 1 0 0 th a n n iv e rs a

w e is A s ry ,

th e c lu b is s p o n s o rin g re n o v a tio n s fo r a la rg e r p o rtio n o f th e p a rk . “ It’s g o in g to b e a g ift to th e c ity a n d it’s g o in g to b e a n in c re d ib le a s s e t to th e c ity o f B irm in g h a m a n d to o u r a r e a ,” B la c k s a id . B la c k s a id th e p ro je c t w ill e n h a n c e th e n o rth s l ope of t he pa r k, a d a pl a z a a r e a , r e c one c t th e s ta irw e ll o n th e n o rth s id e , e x te n d th e V u lc a n T ra il a n d in s ta ll a n L E D -lig h t s h o w o n V u lc a n ’s p e d e s ta l. V u lc a n p re v io u s ly h e ld a l i ght e d t or c h but i t w a s r e m ove d t o m a i nt a i n hi s t or i c a l pr e s e r va t i on, a nd B l a c k s a i d t he ne w lig h tin g a d d itio n w ill s e rv e a s a n o d to w a rd s

t ha t por t i on of hi s hi A n d d u rin g th is M u s e u m w ill b e s p e a C o m m u n ity A w a rd s . to re c o g n iz e p e o p le re c o g n iz e d fo r th e g i n t he i r c om m uni t y ,” s ta rte d s h e s a id th e nom i ne e s .

s t or y . y e a r, V u lc a n P a rk a n d rh e a d in g th e fo u rth V u lc a n “ It w a s c re a te d … in o rd e r th a t m a y o r m a y n o t b e o o d th in g s th e y ’re d o in g B l a c k s a i d. S i nc e i t w a s y h a v e h a d h u n d re d s o f

a w a rd s : h e ro , s e rv a n t le a d e rs h ip , g a m e c h a n g e r, n e w c o m e r a n d life tim e a c h ie v e m e n t. O n e n o m in e e w ill b e c h o s e n fo r life tim e a c h ie v e m e n t

a nd

t w o V ul c a n b e re c o g n iz e d B l a c k s a i d. P os be m a de . “ W e a l l know ni z e d, m a y i t be t o be t t e r our c om B l a c k s a i d. N o m in a tio n s 31 a nd c a n be m t he - vul c a ns . T h e n e x t H o A ug. 15 a t S a m

a dn t w o S ep a r r e c i pi e nt s w i l l in th e o th e r fo u r c a te g o rie s , t hum uso omn i na t i no s c a n a l s o s om e one t ha t c oul d eb r e c g-o a l i t t l e t a s k t he ’y ev c mo lp e t e d m uni t y or s mo e t hi ng rg a nd,” fo r th e a w a rd s c lo s e o n J u ly a ed nlo i ne a t iv s i t vul c a .cn mo / m e w o o d c h a m b e r lu n c h e o n is f or d U in ve r s i t y a t 1 :1 03 a m. .

The Homewood Star

A16 • July 2017

Library to explore space with help from NASA grant By SY D NEY C ROM W ELL H o m e w o o d P u b lic L ib ra ry a lre a d y h a s a h is to ry o f S T E M (S c ie n c e , T e c h n o lo g y , E n g in e e rin g a n d M a th ) p ro g ra m s fo r th e ir c h ild re n a n d te e n v is ito rs , b u t a re c e n t g ra n t fro m N A S A w ill h e lp th o s e p ro g ra m s b la s t o ff. E a rlie r th is s p rin g , th e H o m e w o o d lib ra ry fo u n d o u t it w a s o n e o f ju s t 7 5 lib ra rie s a c ro s s th e c o u n try , a n d th e o n ly o n e in A la b a m a , to re c e iv e a N A S A @ M y L ib ra ry g ra n t. T h e g ra n ts a re g iv e n to s u p p o rt m o re S T E M p ro g ra m m in g fo r c h ild re n a n d y o u n g a d u lts , p a rtic u la rly fo r tra d itio n a lly u n d e rs e rv e d d e m o g ra p h ic s s u c h a s g irls a n d m in o ritie s . T h e lib ra ry ’s b a c k g ro u n d in a c tiv itie s lik e G irls W h o C o d e a n d a m id d le s c h o o l ro b o tic s c lu b h e lp e d it s ta n d o u t fro m th e c ro w d o f a p p lic a n ts . “ If y o u ’re 5 [y e a rs o ld ] o r 1 0 0 , y o u k n o w N A S A , a n d s o I th in k it’s re a lly c o o l th a t w e c a n s a y w e ’re d o in g th is w ith N A S A ,” te e n lib r a r ia n J u d ith W rig h t s a id . T h e g ra n t g iv e s th e lib ra ry tw o N A S A S T E M F a c ilita tio n K its to h e lp c re a te h a n d s -o n a c tiv itie s re la te d to s p a c e a n d s c ie n c e , a s w e ll a s a ta b le t th a t c o m e s w ith a p p s a n d e d u c a tio n a l g a m e s . H e a d o f C h ild re n ’s S e rv ic e s L a u ra T u c k e r n o te d o n e o f th e a p p s , to b e p a ire d w ith a g re e n s c re e n , le ts c h ild re n to d ig ita lly p u t th e m s e lv e s o n th e m o o n . N A S A @ M y L ib ra ry a ls o p ro v id e s $ 5 0 0 to o ffs e t th e c o s t o f n e w S T E M p ro g ra m m in g th a t th e lib ra ry o u tlin e d in its g ra n t p ro p o s a l. W rig h t a n d L ib ra ry D ire c to r D e b o ra h F o u t s a id T u c k e r is re s p o n s ib le fo r m a n y o f th e n e w th in g s c o m in g

The STEM facilitation kit that the Homewood Public Library received as part of the NASA @ My Library grant is shown. Homewood was one of just 75 libraries in the country, and the only one in Alabama, to receive the two-year grant this year. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

to th e lib ra ry a s a re s u lt o f th e g ra n t. “ T h is w o m a n rig h t h e re is lik e a p r o g r a m m in g m a d w o m a n ,” W r ig h t s a id o f T u c k e r. “ S h e ’s lik e th e M a c G y v e r o f c h ild r e n ’s p r o g r a m m in g .” S o m e o f th e ir p la n s fo r th e tw o y e a r g ra n t in c lu d e s p a c e -th e m e d S T E M m e te o S T E M b o th s S T E M

in s p a c e , a v is it fro m ro lo g is t J a m e s S p a n n c a re e r fa ir. T u c k e r a n d W a id th e y w e re e x c ite d f c a re e r fa ir a n d a W o m

lo c a l a n d a rig h t o r th e e n in

e v e n b e y o n d c o d in g a n d ro b o tic s .

“ T h e re ’re lo ts o f o th e r a s p e c ts o f s c ie n c e a n d a ll th a t, th a t th e y m ig h t n o t b e a w a r e o f ,” W r ig h t s a id . A t th e e n d o f tw o y e a rs , H o m e w o o d lib ra ry w ill b e e v a lu a te d w ith th e p o s s ib ility o f e x te n d in g th e g ra n t a n o th e r tw o y e a rs . W rig h t s a id th e ir g o a l is to m a k e s c ie n c e , m a th a n d s p a c e e x p lo ra tio n a c c e s s ib le to e v e ry o n e w h o c o m e s in th e lib ra ry — n o m a tte r th e ir a g e — a n d th e lib ra ry w ill p ro b a b ly c o n tin u e m a n y o f th e s e p ro g ra m s e v e n a fte r th e g ra n t “ I’v e a lw a y s s a id th a t w e ’re a ‘Y e s ’ lib ra ry . If s o m e o n e h a s a n id e a , w e

lik e to e n c o u r a g e it a n d s a y y e s ,” W rig h t s a id . U p c o m in g p ro g ra m s fu n d e d b y th e N A S A @ M y L ib ra ry g ra n t in c lu d e : ► D e s i g n Sq u a d G l o b a l : T h u r s d a y s , th r o u g h J u ly 2 0 , 2 p .m ., R o u n d A u d ito riu m . O p e n to ris in g g ra d e s 4 -8 . O n lin e re g is tra tio n re q u ire d . ► St o r yt i m e i n Sp a c e : A u g . 1 7 , 2 4 a n d 3 1 , 9 :3 0 a n d 1 0 :3 0 a .m ., R o u n d A u d ito riu m ► Se n s o r y St o r yt i m e : A u g . 1 9 , 1 0 :3 0 a .m ., R o u n d A u d ito r iu m . T h is m o n th ’s s to ry w ill fe a tu re a s p a c e th e m e . ► So l a r Ec l i p s e @ M y Li b r a r y:

A u g . 2 1 , 1 1 :3 0 a .m . to 1 p .m . T h e lib ra ry w ill p ro v id e v ie w in g g la s s e s a n d a c tiv itie s . ► Pa p e r Ba g Bo o k C l u b : S e p t . 5 , 3 :3 0 p .m ., R o u n d A u d ito r iu m . O p e n to g ra d e s 3 -5 , n o re g is tra tio n re q u ire d . P a rtic ip a n ts b rin g th e ir fa v o rite s p a c e -th e m e d b o o k in a p a p e r b a g a n d g iv e a “ b o o k m e rc ia l” fo r o th e rs to g u e s s w h ic h b o o k th e y c h o se . ► ST EM i n Sp a c e : S e p t . 1 1 , 3 : 3 0 p .m ., R o u n d A u d ito r iu m . O p e n to g ra d e s K -5 . L e a rn a b o u t w h a t it ta k e s to g o to s p a c e . ► Hu b b l e F i l m Sc r e e n i n g : S e p t . 1 4 , 3 :3 0 p .m ., L a rg e A u d ito r iu m . ► ST EM i n Sp a c e : O c t . 2 , 3 : 3 0 p .m ., R o u n d A u d ito r iu m . O p e n to g ra d e s K -5 . L e a rn a b o u t w h a t it ta k e s to g o to s p a c e . ► T e e n Sp a c e A r t : O c t . 1 2 , 4 p .m ., R o o m 1 1 6 . O p e n to g r a d e s 6 - 1 2 . ► J a m e s Sp a n n @ M y Li b r a r y: N o v . 9 , 7 :1 5 p .m ., L a rg e A u d ito r iu m . ► ST EM i n Sp a c e : N o v . 1 3 , 3 : 3 0 p .m ., R o u n d A u d ito r iu m . O p e n to g ra d e s K -5 . L e a rn a b o u t w h a t it ta k e s to g o to s p a c e . ► Sh r e d It ! Re c yc l e It ! : N o v . 1 7 , 1 0 a .m . to 2 p .m ., b a c k p a r k in g lo t. S e c u re ly s h re d o ld d o c u m e n ts a n d re c y c le e le c tro n ic s , b a tte rie s , a p p lia n c e s , in k c a rtrid g e s a n d o th e r ite m s . N o T V s o r m o n ito rs a c c e p te d . S e c u re h a rd d riv e d e s tru c tio n w ill a ls o b e a v a ila b le o n s ite fo r $ 1 0 . ► T o d a y’ s W o m e n i n ST EM : M a rc h 2 0 1 8 . ► ST EM C a r e e r F a i r : A p r i l 2 0 1 8 . ► St u d e n t ST EM F a i r : O c t o b e r 2 0 1 8 . V is it h o m e w o o d p u b lic lib r a r y .o rg fo r a c o m p le te lis tin g o f lib ra ry e v e n ts .

TheHomewoodStar.com

July 2017 • A17

Allies unite to ﬁght for rights Young activist aims to create better world for animals via club

“

By LOREN HOPKINS “ I b e lie v e e v e ry a n im a l d e s e rv e s pr peo r c a r e a nd a ha py a nd he a l t hy lif e ,” s a id R a c h e l M o h d , a 2 0 1 7 g r a d ua t e of H om e w od H i gh S c hol . T h is lo v e fo r a n im a ls le d M o h d t o r e a l i z e t he r e w a s a l a c k of a ni m a l rig h ts a w a re n e s s a n d e d u c a tio n fo r k id s h e r a g e in th e c o m m u n ity , w h ic h pus he d he r t o s t a r t A ni m a l A l l i e s , a n in d e p e n d e n t c lu b th a t m e e ts e v e ry o th e r M o n d a y a t th e H o m e w o o d P ubl i c L i br a r y . A ny young a c t i vi s t i s w e l c om e t o a t t e nd. “ W e h a v e g r o w n in s iz e ,” M o h d s a id , “ a n d w e c o n tin u e to h a v e a gr ow i ng i m pa c t on our c o m m uni t y .” N o t o n ly d o th e m e m b e rs o f A n im a l A llie s e d u c a te o th e rs o n a n im a l rig h ts , b u t th e o rg a n iz a tio n a l s o m a ke s a poi n t t o ge t out i n t he c om m uni t y t o m a ke a di f f e r e nc e . a w a re n e s s o n a n im a l rig h ts is s u e s .

I have learned that anyone can make a difference if they just take the ﬁrst step.

”

RACHEL MOHD

M ro e r e c e nt l y , A ni m a l A l l i e s r a i s e d fu n d s to p u rc h a s e a n e w b ird c a g e fo r th e H o m e w o o d P u b lic L ib ra ry a n d he l pe d t he F r i e nds of C a t s a nd D ogs F ounda t i on r a i s e m one y f or i t s or ga ni z a t i on a t D o D a h D a y i n M a y . W h e n M o h d is n ’t m e e tin g w ith A ni m a l A l l i e s , s he i s hom e w i t h he r H us ky na m e d B a l t o. “ I h a v e h a d h im s in c e I w a s 8 y e a rs o ld ,” M o h d s a id , “ a n d h e h a s tr u ly c h a n g e d m y life . F ro m th e m o m e n t w e b ro u g h t h im h o m e , I k n e w w e w oul d be l i f e l ong f r i e nds .” B a l t o i s M ohd’ s da i l y r e m i nde r of t he l ove a l l a ni m a l s de s e r ve . M o h d p la n s to c a rry h e r re s p e c t fo r a n im a ls a n d c o m m u n ity s e rv ic e w ith h e r w h e n s h e g o e s to B e rry C o lle g e in G e o rg ia th is fa ll, w h e re s h e ha s be e n honr e d a s one of B e r r y’ s L e a d e rs h ip F e llo w s . T h is p ro g ra m r e c ogni z e s hi gh s c hol s t ude nt s w ho h a v e e x c e p tio n a l le a d e rs h ip q u a litie s , a s w e l l a s a l ove f or m a ki ng a di f f e r e nc e i n t he c om m uni t y . “ W h e n I h a d m y in te rv ie w to be c om e a L e a de r s hi p F e l l ow , I m e ntio n e d m y c lu b d e v o te d to a n im a l rig h ts a n d re a liz e d th a t B e rry C o lle g e d id n o t h a v e a s im ila r c lu b ,” M o h d s a i d. “ M y goa l i s t o c r e a t e a c l ub a t B e rry C o lle g e th a t is lik e A n im a l A l l i e s .” M ohd’ s m a i n a s pi r a t i on i s t o he l p p e o p le re c o g n iz e th e im p o rta n c e o f in g a c tiv is m c a n b e . S h e h o p e s to c om m niu c a t e t o ot he r pe plo e a r ound

Rachel Mohd, a Homewood High School graduate and founder of Animal Allies, with her Husky, Balto. “I have learned that anyone can make a difference if they just take the ﬁrst step, she said. Photo by Loren Hopkins.

h e r a g i nvol ev “ I h m a k e a

e h o w im p o rta n t it is to g e t d. a v e le a rn e d th a t a n y o n e c a n d iffe re n c e if th e y ju s t ta k e th e

l i ke ouy c a ’n t m a ke a id f f e r e nc e on y o u r o w n , b u t m o s t p e o p le a re h a p p y to s u p p o rt a g o o d c a u s e if y o u ju s t

r e a c h out a nd a E v e n th o u c re a te d to h e ha s a l s o he l pe “ A ni m a l A m e e t so m a n y w h o s h a re m r ig h ts ,” M o h

s k.” g h A n im a l A llie s lp a n im a ls in n e e d M ohd he rs e lf. l l i e s ha s a l l ow e d m in c re d ib ly k in d p e y p a s s io n fo r a n d s a id . “ T h is c lu b

w a s d , it e to o p le im a l h a s

m a de m e be t hi ng I put m In th e e n A llie s w ill g ro w a s th w o rk to c re t he c om m uni

l i e ve t ha y m i nd t d , M o h d c o n tin u e e p a s s io a te a p o s ty .

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A iv e a

A18 • July 2017

The Homewood Star

School House

TIME TO SAY goodbye

Linda Klopack. Photo courtesy of Linda Klopack.

Susan Mahaffey. Photos by Sydney Cromwell.

Karen Tompkins.

etiring teachers re ect on their years in the classroom

By SY D NEY C ROM W

ELL

v e r h e r 2 7 -y e a r te a c h in g c a re e r, S u s a n M a h a ffe y h a s s e e n e d u c a tio n to o ls a n d te c h n iq u e s c h a n g e . B u t th e im p o rta n t th in g s ta y s th e s a m e : th e y o u n g , e x c ite d fa c e s c o m in g in to h e r E d g e w o o d E le m e n ta ry te c h n o l-

o g y c la s s ro o m . “ T h e c h ild re n a re th e c o n s is te n t p a rt, n o m a tte r w h a t th e c h a n g e is ,” M a h a ff e y s a id , w h o p re v io u s ly ta u g h t s e c o n d g ra d e a t E d g e w o o d . “ T h e y ’re ju s t s o o p e n a n d h o n e s t. E v e ry th in g is e x c itin g to th e m , a n d it k in d o f h e lp s y o u s e e th in g s th r o u g h y o u n g e y e s .” M a h a ffe y is o n e o f s e v e ra l H o m e w o o d C ity S c h o o ls te a c h e rs w h o re tire d a t th e e n d o f th e 2 0 1 6 -1 7 s c h o o l y e a r. A s s h e th o u g h t a b o u t h e r 1 1 y e a rs in H o m e w o o d , h e r fo n d e s t m e m o rie s w e re th e little m o m e n ts s h e g o t to e x p e rie n c e : w a tc h in g s tu d e n ts le a rn to tie th e ir s h o e s a n d s p e n d in g th e n ig h t a t s c h o o l d u rin g a m a jo r s n o w s to rm in 2 0 1 4 . M a h a ffe y s a id s h e ’s a ls o ta u g h t a t le a s t th re e fu tu re E a g le S c o u ts a n d o n e fu tu re M is s A la b a m a . In h e r te c h n o lo g y c la s s ro o m , M a h a ffe y s a id s h e n e v e r g e ts tir e d o f th e “ a h a m o m e n t.” “ Y o u s e e it in th e ir fa c e , a n d y o u h e a r it in th e ir v o ic e , a n d it m a k e s m y h e a rt s m ile a lo n g w ith th e ir s ,” s h e s a id .

A fourth-grader explains his original invention to other OLS students during Invention Convention in LS s arish Hall. Photo courtesy of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School.

L in d a K lo p a c k is h a s ta u g h t fo r 3 6 H o m e w o o d — a n T e a c h e r Im p a c t A w o o d C ity S c h o o G ro w n e v e n t. K lo p a c k s a id w in B irm in g h a m in s h e in te rv ie w e d w c a lle d “ T o K lo p a K lo h ig h s

h e r b a c k . te ll y o u th e c k s a id . “ I’v p a c k fe ll in c h o o l, a n d a

a ls o re tirin g th is y e a r. S h e y e a rs — 3 3 o f th e m in d w a s a w a rd e d o n e o f th e w a rd s in A p ril a t th e H o m e ls F o u n d a tio n ’s H o m e w o o d

T o m p k in s h a s s e rv p s y c h o m e tris t, a d m in g a s s e s s m e n ts a n s tu d e n ts , s in c e 2 0 0 e v e ry d a y in s h a rin

h e n s h e d e c id e d to te a c h s te a d o f T a lla d e g a C o u n ty , ith s e v e ra l s c h o o l s y s te m s .

th a t o n e c o -w o rk e r h e lp e d h e r g e t re a d y to ru n

tru th e lo v lo v e lth o u

, I ju s t g o t lu c e d e v e ry m in u w ith te a c h in g g h s h e d e s c rib

k y ,” te o f it.” w h ile in e s h e rs e lf

e a s y to re la x a n d b e e n th u s ia s tic w ith k id s in h e r c la s s ro o m . “ Y o u h a v e to b e p re tty fu n a n d s illy to k e e p b e p r e tty g o o f y a r o u n d k id s ,” K lo p a c k s a id . H e r p la n s fo r re tire m e n t a re n ’t s e t in s to n e y e t, th o u g h K lo p a c k s a id s h e p la n s to d o a lo t k id s in a n e w s e ttin g . W ith h e r b u s y to -d o lis t a t th e e n d o f th e s c h o o l y e a r, K lo p a c k s a id s h e d o e s n ’t th in k th e re a lity o f re tire m e n t w ill h it h e r u n til m id -s u m m e r, w h e n s h e d o e s n ’t h a v e to p re p a re fo r th e u p c o m in g y e a r. “ I d o n ’t th in k it’s q u ite d a w n e d o n m e y e t,” K lo p a c k s a id . K a re n T o m p k in s , a n o th e r re tirin g s ta ff m e m b e r, s a id th e re la tio n s h ip s w ith fa c u lty a re w h a t s ta n d o u t a b o u t h e r tim e in H o m e w o o d .

e d a s H o m in is te rin g d p s y c h o lo 2 . S h e s a id g id e a s o r

e w o a n d g ic a sh e p u rs

o d H ig h ’s in te rp re tl te s ts fo r fe lt s u p p o rt u in g tra in in g

“ T h e re w a s a lw a y s th e a s s u ra n c e th a t th e re w a s n e v e r a d ile m m a o r p ro b le m to o g re a t th a t, w ith c o lle a g u e s , c o u ld n ’t b e ta c k le d . T h e re is n o q u e s tio n th a t th e p e o p le — in c lu d in g th e s tu d e n ts — a re w h a t m a k e s th e H o m e w o o d s y s te m g re a t, a n d th a t is fe lt e v e ry d a y w h e th e r c e le b ra tin g a c c o m p lis h m e n ts o r n e e d in g a d v ic e ,” T o m p k in s s a id . A fte r re tire m e n t, T o m p k in s s a id s h e w ill b e ju g g lin g s e v e ra l p rio ritie s . A lo n g w ith h e r g o a l is d u e in J u ly a n d a d a u g h te r g e ttin g m a rrie d in O c to b e r. S h e ’s h o p in g to re tu rn to p la y in g g u ita r a n d m a k in g s ta in e d g la s s a rtw o rk . “ I w ill a lw a y s tre a s u re th e frie n d s h ip s m a d e a n d a m s o g ra te fu l fo r m y tim e to s e rv e a n d le a rn fro m th e a m a z in g p e o p le I w a s p riv ile g e d to b e a ro u n d e v e ry d a y . T h e re is n o q u e s tio n I w ill m is s th e in c re d ib le c o lle a g u e s a n d th e s tu d e n ts I h a v e b e e n b le s s e d to k n o w ,” T o m p k in s s a id . M a h a ffe y s a id s h e ’s p la n n in g a trip to m e n t w ith a lo t o f fre e tim e to s e e w h a t s h e w a n ts to d o n e x t. S h e ’ll a ls o b e s p e n d in g tim e w ith h e r th re e te e n a g e g ra n d k id s . T h o u g h s h e ’s

etiring omewood ity Schools staff as of une ► Susan ahaffey dgewood ► renda avis dgewood ► o nn oore dgewood ► o nn arnell dgewood ► atsy lumely all ent ► inda lopack all ent ► eigh artin all ent ► hillip arner Shades ahaba ► ovie rawford omewood High ► itty organ omewood igh ► aren ompkins omewood High ► everly oung omewood igh ► indy utchinson entral fﬁce

a lre a d y m a k in g p la n s to s e e th e frie n d s s h e ’s m a d e a t E d g e w o o d , M a h a ffe y s a id s h e ’ll m is s b e in g in th e s a m e b u ild in g w ith th e m e v e ry d a y a n d b e in g w ith th e k id s , w h ic h w a s h e r “ g e t u p a n d g o , e v e r y d a y .” “ I’m th a n k fu l th a t I e n d e d m y c a re e r h e re a t H o m e w o o d , a t E d g e w o o d I s h o u ld s a y . E d g e w o o d is a w o n d e rfu l p la c e to w o rk , th e te a c h e rs w h o a re h e re , ju s t th e d e d ic a tio n th e y h a v e is in c r e d ib le ,” M a h a ff e y s a id .

4 th -g r a d e in v e n to r s s h o w o ff th e ir w o r k S o rro w s C a th o lic S c h o o l, s e v e ra l fo u rth -g ra d e s tu d e n ts c re a te d a n o rig in a l in v e n tio n a n d d is p la y e d th e m a t th e ir o w n In v e n tio n C o n v e n tio n . T h e e v e n t w a s a m a jo r p a rt o f th e ir s c ie n c e c u rric u lu m th a t c o rre s p o n d e d w ith im p o rta n t in v e n tio n s in h is to ry . T h e s tu d e n ts w e re g iv e n a p ro je c t th a t in c lu d e d p ro b le m -s o lv in g a n d c re a tiv e th in k in g s k ills to d e s ig n a n d c o n s tru c t a n in v e n tio n . A s a p a rt o f th is m o n th -lo n g p ro je c t, th e c h ild re n h a d to th in k o f a n o rig in a l id e a o r d e v e lo p a n e w m e th o d o f d o in g s o m e th in g . T h e s tu d e n ts th e n w o rk e d th ro u g h a s y s te m a tic p ro c e s s to m a k e th e ir in v e n tio n a re a lity . T h e c la s s p ro je c t is s tru c tu re d to h e lp th e

fo u rth -g ra d e rs le a rn a b o u t in v e n to rs a n d d e v e lo p th e ir o w n p ro d u c t. It a ls o te a c h e s th e m h o w to c re a te th e ir o w n c o n c e p t th ro u g h re s e a rc h a n d d e v e lo p m e n t a n d h o w to d e s ig n a b lu e p rin t a s w e ll a s c re a te a c o n v in c in g a d v e rtis e m e n t fo r th e ir n e w d e v ic e . A s u m m a ry re p o rt a n d w ritin g a trib u te le tte r to a n o th e r in v e n to r w e re a ls o a p a rt o f th e a s s ig n m e n t. T h e fo u rth -g ra d e rs th e n h a d th e o p p o rtu n ity to s h o w o ff th e ir u n iq u e c re a tio n s a t a n In v e n tio n C o n v e n tio n h e ld in th e O L S P a ris h H a ll. D u rin g th e d a y , o th e r m e m b e rs o f th e s tu d e n t b o d y , a s w e ll a s p a re n ts , a tte n d e d th e e v e n t to e n jo y th e s tu d e n ts ’ a c c o m p lis h m e n ts . – S u b m itte d b y O u r L a d y o f S o r ro w s C a th o lic S c h o o l.

TheHomewoodStar.com

July 2017 â&#x20AC;¢ A19

A20 • July 2017

The Homewood Star

Ne w m e m b e r s Ru s s e l l , St e p h e n s o n j o i n BOE By SY D NEY C ROM W ELL B o th J u s tin R u s s e ll a n d E rin S te p h e n s o n s a id th e y d e c id e d to a p p ly fo r th e H o m e w o o d B o a rd o f E d u c a tio n to fo llo w th e e x a m p le s o f th e ir m o th e rs , w h o h a d b o th a ls o s e rv e d in th e ir o w n b o a rd p o s itio n s . “ R e a lly I s a w h e r a s a g re a t ro le m o d e l, b e in g in v o lv e d ,” S te p h e n s o n s a id o f h e r m o th e r. “ I r e a lly s a w th e im p a c t th a t a s c h o o l b o a rd m e m b e r c a n h a v e , b e c a u s e th is is a c r itic a l tim e f o r u s .” R u s s e ll a n d S te p h e n s o n jo in e d th e B O E in J u n e , re p la c in g o u tg o in g m e m b e rs N a n c y F e rre n a n d C h ris H a w k in s . R u s s e ll h a s b e e n a n E d g e w o o d re s id e n t s in c e 2 0 0 9 , w ith h is w ife , L o ra , a n d 9 -y e a r-o ld d a u g h te r, M a g g ie , M a n a g e m e n t. S te p h e n s o n g re w

u p in H o m e w o o d a n d

h u s b a n d , S c o tt, ris in g fo u rth -g ra d e r, R e id , a n d k in d e rg a rte n e r, C o n n e r. S h e is th e c lie n t a n d c o m m u n ity re la tio n s h ip s d ire c to r fo r P N C B a n k . d u rin g th e ir te rm s , th e g ro w th o f th e s c h o o l s y s te m w a s a n o b v io u s a n s w e r fo r e a c h . H o m e w o o d C ity S c h o o ls is c u rre n tly in th e p re -c o n s tru c tio n p la n n in g p ro c e s s to

th e m ,” R u s s y s te m tio n a l

S te p h e n s o n s e ll s a id th e , a lo n g w ith q u a lity , is s o

s a id . d iv e rs ity o f c h ild re n in th e s c h o o l its h is to ry o f h ig h m a rk s in e d u c a m e th in g h e w a n ts to m a in ta in . B u t,

th a t m a y n o t a lw a y s re c e iv e th e s a m e n o tic e : “ K in d n e s s a v e r y in c lu s iv e c o m m u n ity .” H e in te n d s to m a k e h is te rm o n th e b o a rd a c h a n c e to le a rn th e s c h o o l s y s te m m o re th o ro u g h ly . re s o u rc e s a n d th e lo c a l fu n d in g th a t o u r s c h o o l s y s te m s lo t o f th e p u n d e rs ta te m S te p h e n s “ I lik e to

ro b le e n t,” o n e c so rt o

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m s th a t o th e r s c h o o l s y s te m s d o is a n R u s s e ll s a id . h o e d th e s e th o u g h ts . f u n d e rs ta n d th in g s fro m th e in s id e o u t, o f h e r te rm . ith th e n e w b o a rd re p re s e n ta tiv e s , ju s tin .r u s s e ll@ w a a s s e t.c o m a n d p h e n s o n @ g m a il.c o m .

s tu d e n t b o d y . “ I w a n t to n o t ru s h to ju d g m e n t a n d le a rn fro m p e o p le m a jo r is s u e g o in g o s e ll s a id , a d d in g th th in g s th a t re a lly m th a t m y w ife a n d I S te p h e n s o n s a id

n in o u r c o m m u n ity r ig h t n o w ,” R u s a t h e w a n ts to fo c u s o n “ k e e p in g th e a d e H o m e w o o d th e p rim a ry re a s o n d e c id e d to r a is e c h ild r e n h e r e .” s h e w a n ts to h e lp m a k e “ th o u g h tfu l,

a n d th e ir f r ie n d s .” In a d d itio n to o v e rs e e in g th e g ro w th p ro g re s s , S te p h e n s o n s a id s h e w a n ts to u s e h e r te rm o n th e b o a rd to fo r th e fu tu re a n d in v e s t in te c h n o lo g y a n d n e w w a y s o f e d u c a tin g . “ H o m e w o o d is a c o m m u n ity th a t c a re s v e ry d e e p ly , n e e d to b e th o u g h tfu l a b o u t a s a s c h o o l b o a rd , to h a rn e s s th a t a n d in v o lv e p e o p le in w a y s th a t a re m e a n in g fu l to

Above: Justin Russell with his wife, Lora, and daughter, Maggie. Photo courtesy of Justin Russell.

Left: Erin Stephenson. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

TheHomewoodStar.com

July 2017 • A21

Author Raymond Arroyo poses with students at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School. Photo courtesy of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School.

Best-selling author visits OLS I nt e r na t i ona l l y know n a w a r d- w i ni ng j o ur na l i s t a n d N e w Y or k T i m e s be s t - s e l l i ng a ut hor R a y m o n d A rro y o v is ite d th e s tu d e n ts a t O u r L a dy of S or r ow s C a t hol i c S c hol t o t a l k a bout hi s c hi l dr e n’ s bok s e r i e s , “ W i l l W i l de r .” T h e s tu d e n ts th o ro u g h ly e n jo y e d th e in -d e p th d is c u s s io n w ith h im a b o u t h is la te s t b o o k , “ W ill W i l de r : T he S t a f f of W onde r s .” I n t he w e e ks l e a di ng up t o hi s vi s i t , s t ude nt s a n d to o k q r e a id ng c ur D u rin g A r r oy de

u iz z e s o r i c ul um h is d is s c r i be d

n its c o n te n t a s a p a rt o f th e ir . c u s s io n w ith th e c h ild re n , t o t he m a outb owh eh c a m e

w i t h h i s s t or a u th o r. H e to o k 1 0 0 b o o k s fo r th phot os w i t h t he A r r oy i s t he a gi ng e di t or a nd H e h a s a ls o a p

y i de a s a nd th e tim e to e s tu d e n ts m . f oundi ng l e a d a nc p e a re d a s hor

how he eb c a m e a n a u to g ra p h m o re th a n a n d p o se d fo r se v e ra l ne w s id r e c t or , m a nof E W T N N e w s . a g u e s t o n n a tio n a l

a n d o th e rs . In a d d itio n , h e h a s b e e n p u b lis h e d in N e w s w e e k , T h e W a ll S tre e t J o u rn a l, T h e W a s h N a t i ona l C a t hol i c R e ig s t e r . – Subm i t t e d yb O u r L dya of ol i c Sc hol . Sor

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CMS students during their Arbor Day apple tree planting. Photo courtesy of Creative Montessori School.

C M S s tu d e n ts p la n t a p p le tre e o n A rb o r D a y S tu d e n ts a t C re a tiv e M o n te s s o ri S c h o o l h e ld a n A r bo r D a y c e l e br a t i on A pr i l 28. W ith n e w c o n s tru c tio n h a p p e n in g o n c a m p u s ove r t he pa s t ye a r , e l e m e nt a r y s t ude nt s not i c e d t ha t s om e t r e e s t he y l ove d ha d t o be r e m ove d. O n e o f th e s c h o o l p a re n ts , A h a n a V e d re , d o n a te d a n e w a p p le tre e fo r th e e le m e n ta ry s t ude nt s t o pl a nt i n t he s c hol ga r de n. V e d re ’s lo v e o f g a rd e n in g is in fe c tio u s . “ K id s w ho t a k e c a r e of n a t ur e a nd t he i r e n vi r o nm e nt

de ev l op p a t i e nc e , ki nde ss l ove w hi l e t a ki ng c a r e of t he a n d th is is w h a t w e n e e d in t oda y m or e t ha n e ve r ,” V e dr K id s s p e n t th e a fte rn o o n a n d w a te rin g th e n e w tre e , pa i nt i ng a n e w s i gn f or t he t r e e j oi ns m or e t ha n 25 ne w t he s c hol ’ s r e nova t i on. – Subm i t t e d by C r e a t i v e M

a nd

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OLS students celebrate ‘America: The Right to Write’ W h a t d o e s p a trio tis m a n d c o m m o n ? A c c o rd in g to th e L a d y o f S o rro w s C a th o lic S c h e ve nt c a l l e d U l t i m a t e A ut hor T h is y e a r, th e s c h o o l’s a n b ra te d A m e ric a a s m o re th a n 4 T h e c a tio n a l a c tiv itie s a nd vol unt e e r s . T hr ought t he d e n t in g ra d e s W e e n jo y e d w ritin g a n t ha t w a s p ubl i s he d. th e ir a c c o m p lis h m

w ritin g h a v e in s tu d e n ts a t O u r o o l, it is a s p e c ia l D a y . n u a l U A D c e le 0 0 O L S s tu d e n ts R ig h t to W rite ”

p re s e n te d b y p ro fe s s io n a ls s c olh ye a r , e a c h O L S s t ue -K 3 th ro u g h e ig h th g ra d e d illu s tra tin g th e ir o w n b o o k O n U A D , t he y c e l e br a t e d e n ts a n d le a rn e d m o re a b o u t

th e ir b o o k s w e re o n d is p la y in th e s c h o o l lib ra ry f or e ve r yone t o e jn oy . T h e p a trio tic d a y b e g a n w ith a s c h o o lw id e s t ud e nt s w e l c om e d f o r m e r s t a t e R e p. P a ul D e M a r c o a s t he ke noty e s pe a ek r . D ur i ng t he a s s e m lb y , D e M a r c o t a l ek d a bout vot

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Retired Judge Sonny Ferguson reads a book to his granddaughter, Peyton Bradford, which she wrote and illustrated preceding the event. Photo courtesy of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School.

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A22 • July 2017

The Homewood Star

Sports 2016-17 SCHOOL YEAR

YEAR IN REVIEW Patriots post particularly strong seasons By KY LE PA RM LEY F o r a n y o n e w h o k e e p s ta b s o n s p o rts a t a n y le v e l, b u t p a rtic u la rly a t th e h ig h s c h o o l s ta g e , it’s v e ry e a s y t o t r a ns i t i on f r om one s e a s on t o t he ne xt w i t hout ba t t i ng a n e ye . F o o tb a ll, v o lle y b a ll a n d c ro s s -c o u n try s e a s o n in th e fa ll q u ic k ly tra n s itio n s to b a s k e tb a ll, in d o o r tra c k a n d w re s tlin g in th e w in te r, a n d b e fo re y o u c a n b lin k , s pr i ng s por t s r oa r i nt o a c t i on. W ith e v e ry th in g th a t g o e s o n th ro u g h o u t th e s c h o o l y e a r, th e re ’s

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ta k e a m o m e n t to d o th a t n o w . T h e hi gh s c h ol a t hl e t i c t e a m s a t H om e w o o d H ig h S c h o o l p u t to g e th e r a e w or t hy pe L a s t fa ll, u n a b le to e x w in s e a s o n s f ound t he i r w N o one ga ve

r f or m a nc e s . th e fo o tb a ll te a m te n d its s tre a k o f , b u t th e P a trio ts a y i n t o t he pos t s e t he m a c ha n c e i n

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h a d s c o re d a t le a s t 4 2 r y r e gul a r s e a s on ga m e . a ll te a m p ro d u c e d o n e s t p e rfo rm a n c e s o f th e P a trio ts c a p ita liz e d o n The Homewood girls basketball team celebrates its state championship March 4. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.

a tta c k in c h e c k . T h e P a trio ts h e ld a b ro k e th ro u g h w ith a b ig fo u rth q u a rt e r t o w i n. H o m e w o o d ’s v o lle y b a ll te a m p o u n d in fro m a n P a trio ts n in g th e

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to u rn a m e n t, w h e re th e N o . 1 d o u b le s to o k h o m e th e title . T h e s o ftb a ll te a m , p la y e r T iffa n y S ta tu m , ra n th ro u g h a re a p la y in th e re g u la r s e a s o n a n d th e a re a to u rn a m e n t w ith o u t a b le m is h T h e

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TheHomewoodStar.com

July 2017 • A23

Middle school title highlights Homewood lacrosse season By KY LE PA RM LEY T h e re is p e rh a p s n o g re a te r s trid e s a c h ie v e d b y th e H o m L a c ro s s e o rg a n iz a tio n th a n th m id d le s c h o o l b o y s te a m b ro u g T h e H o m e w o o d m id d le s c h o te a m w ra p p e d u p a p e rfe c t th rillin g 1 5 -1 4 v ic to ry o v e r V

e v id e n c e w o o d e h a rd w h t h o m e o l b o y s s e a s o n e s ta v ia

e o f th e P a trio t a re th e in M a y . la c ro s s e w ith a H ills in

1 3 -0 re c o rd . S c o tt M o ra le s , in h is s e c o n d y e a r a s th e v p re s id e n t o f b o y s la c ro s s e in H o m e w o o o rg a n iz a tio n , s a id th a t d e s p ite th e s p o rt b e in g p la y e d in H o m e w o o d a s lo n g a s it in s o m e s u rro u n d in g to w n s , th e m id d le s c h te a m ’s s u c c e s s w a s g re a t to s e e . “ T h e y ’v e h a d s o m e to u g h s e a s o n s , c o m u p in e le m e n ta ry s c h o o l a n d ju s t to s e e h fa r th e y ’v e c o m e s in c e th e y w e re p la y in g

ic e d ’s n o t h a s o o l in g o w in

to g e th e r to b e c o m p e titiv e . T o g o 1 3 -0 is p re tty s p e c ia l,” M o r a le s s a id . In te rm s o f n u m b e rs , th e b o y s m id d le s c h o o l te a m d id n o t h a v e th e d e p th a s m a n y o f th e te a m s it c o m p e te d a g a in s t in th e G re a te r B irm in g h a m Y o u th L a c ro s s e A s s o c ia tio n s e a s o n . B u t th e te a m s till c o m p e te d a t a h ig h le v e l a n d re fu s e d to d ro p a c o n te s t th e e n tire s e a s o n . “ T h e y h a v e s o m e re a lly g o o d a th le te s , e v e n w ith o n e o f th e s m a lle s t ro s te rs in th e le a g u e a t th a t a g e g r o u p ,” M o r a le s s a id . A h m a ri B u rre ll, W o rth M c D a n ie l, J a c k s o n L in d s e y , C a rte r E n g le , C o le D ic k in s o n , W ill H a rd in , C a le b C h u rc h , J P B o d n a r, C a rte r Z a d ic k , J a c k F a rre ll, J a m e s S p e n c e r, M itc h P re w itt, W in d h a m H e w itt, L e n Irv in e , A rc h ie M ills , J e d S to n e a n d E lija h T u rn e r m a d e u p th e ro s te r fo r th e u n b e a te n P a trio ts . T h e y w e re le d b y h e a d c o a c h E rik D ic k in s o n a n d a s s is ta n t T y le r S to n e , a p a ir o f c o a c h e s th a t M o r a le s s a id “ d id o n e h e c k o f a jo b .” “ E rik is o n e o f th o s e c o a c h e s th a t ju s t g e ts it,” M o r a le s s a id . “ H e ’s v e r y m e th o d ic a l a n d h e ’s g o t a s y s te m a n d it w o rk s . T h e g u y is to p

The Homewood middle school boys lacrosse team won the BYLA championship to cap off a 13-0 season. Photo courtesy of Scott Morales.

n o tc h , a n d T y le r ’s b e e n a ro u n d la c ro s s e s in c e h is s o n w a s y o u n g e r.” T h e h ig h s c h o o l g irls te a m a ls o h a d a s tro n g te a m a n d th e g irls m id d le s c h o o l te a m b o th m a d e th e p la y o ffs . “ T h e y b o th h a d o u ts ta n d in g s e a s o n s ,” M o ra le s s a id . A ls o in le a d e rs h ip fo r th e H o m e w o o d L a c ro s s e o rg a n iz a tio n a re D a v id Y a c u , w h o is th e p re s id e n t, a n d M ic h a e l B la n to n , w h o is th e v ic e p re s id e n t o f g irls la c ro s s e . M o ra le s a ls o

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s p o rt is g ro w in g s ta te w id e . H o m e w o o d is n o

W ith th e s p o rt o f la c ro s in fa n c y in th e s ta te o f A H o m e w o o d ’s p ro g ra m a re in g k id s to jo in th e s p o rt a “ In th e fa ll b e fo re re g is e le m e n ta ry s c h o o ls , a n d n ic e e n o u g h to le t u s ta lk is ,” M o r a le s s a id . “ T h a t’s L a c ro s s e is lik e ly o n ly

y o u n g e u p e n o u a se c o n H o m

s e s till in its re la tiv e la b a m a , b a c k e rs o f s till a c tiv e ly re c ru itn d g iv e it a try . tra tio n , w e g o to th e th e P E c o a c h e s a re a b o u t w h a t la c ro s s e w h e r e it a ll s ta r ts .” a y e a r o r tw o a w a y

b a m a H ig h S c h o o l A th le tic A s s o c ia tio n , a n d th e

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s d iv is io n in H o m e w o o d , s ig n e d s to m a k e th e m c o n s id e r fo rm in g . P a trio t L a c ro s s e s e rv e s k id s fro m

a n d u n d e r, m id d le s c h o o l a n d h ig h s c h o o l o n m id d le s c h o o l a n d h ig h s c h o o l. M o re in fo rm a tio n c a n b e fo u n d a t h o m e

A24 • July 2017

The Homewood Star

New Patriot volleyball coach has high hopes By KY LE PA RM LEY

Homewood's new volleyball coach, Krimson White, poses while the volleyball teams hold an open gym session during the summer. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.

T h e b a to n h a s o ffic ia lly b e e n p a s s e d to a s e e m in g ly p e rfe c t c a n d id a te . C a ro l C h e s n u tt h a s re tire d fro m c o a c h in g th e H o m e w o o d H ig h S c h o o l v o lle y b a ll p ro g ra m o n c e a g a in — a fte r a tw o -y e a r re tu rn s tin t — a n d w ill b e re p la c e d b y K rim s o n W h ite , a fo rm e r p la y e r a n d a s s is ta n t c o a c h fo r C h e s n u tt th e p a s t tw o se a so n s. W h ite , a 2 0 1 1 g ra d u a te fro m H o m e w o o d , c a lle d th e o p p o rtu n ity “ v e r y e x c itin g .” “ It’s a lm o s t lik e a d re a m c o m e tr u e ,” s h e s a id . “ W h e n I p la y e d f o r C o a c h C h e s n u tt, I a lw a y s th o u g h t a b o u t c o m in g b a c k a n d c o a c h in g , b u t y o u a lw a y s b e a t y o u rs e lf u p a n d th in k th e re w ill b e a n o th e r c o a c h th e re b y th e tim e I g e t o u t o f s c h o o l. W h e n it o p e n e d u p , it w a s lik e I w a s h e a d in g b a c k h o m e . I t’s a m a z in g .” W h ite p la y e d h e r v a rs ity c a re e r fo r C h e s n u tt a t H o m e w o o d , h ig h lig h te d b y a n E lite E ig h t a p p e a ra n c e in 2 0 0 9 , h e r ju n io r s e a s o n . S h e c a n th in k o f n o o n e in h e r v o lle y b a ll e x p e rie n c e th a t d e s e rv e s m o re c re d it fo r th e o p p o rtu n ity th a n C h e s n u tt. “ I w o u ld n ’t b e a b le to d o w h a t I ’ m d o in g n o w if it w a s n ’t f o r h e r,” W h ite s a id . O n c e W h ite g ra d u a te d fro m th e U n iv e rs ity o f A la b a m a w ith h e r b a c h e lo r ’s d e g re e , s h e k n e w s h e w a n te d to g e t b a c k in to v o lle y b a ll. A t th e s a m e tim e , C h e s n u tt c a m e o u t o f re tire m e n t. T h in g s w o rk e d o u t fo r W h ite to c o m e o n a n d h e lp o u t a s a v a rs ity a s s is ta n t. A fte r th o s e tw o y e a rs a s a n a s s is ta n t a n d w ith C h e s n u tt s te p p in g a w a y o n c e a g a in , W h ite w a s p le a s a n tly

s u rp ris e d w h e n m ix to b e c o m e W h ite re c a c o n ta c te d m e a c o a c h , it w a s a s e rio u s ? R e a lly

h e r th e lle d b o u lm o ? ’”

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c o m p e tito r, s o m e th in g th a t h a s q u ic k ly s e e p e d in to h e r c o a c h in g s ty le . “ I’m lo u d , I’m in te n s e , I c a n b e in y o u r fa c e , b u t a t th e e n d o f th e d a y , y o u k n o w I lo v e y o u a n d I w o u ld d o a n y th in g f o r y o u ,” s h e s a id . N e w H o m e w o o d C ity S c h o o ls a th le tic d ire c to r D o u g G a n n h a s w itw e e k s o n th e jo b , w h e n h e s to p p e d b y v o lle y b a ll try o u ts to c h e c k o n th in g s . “ S h e ’s y o u n g a n d h a s a lo t o f e n e rg y , s o I’m lo o k in g fo rw a rd to s e e h o w th e g irls re s p o n d to h e r. T h e tr y o u ts th e y h a d w e r e o u ts ta n d in g ,” G a n n s a id . W h ite a ls o b e lie v e s h e r e x p e rie n c e a s a s e tte r h e lp s h e r c o a c h a ll fa c e ts o f th e g a m e . A s e tte r n o rm a lly ta k e s a n in itia l p a s s a n d te e s it u p fo r a h itte r, m e a n in g th a t s e tte r is d ire c tly in th e m id d le o f th e a c tio n . S h e ’s n o t g o in g to b u ild a o n e -d im e n s io n a l te a m w ith h e r e x p e rtis e , b u t u s e th a t to c o n s tru c t a w e ll-ro u n d e d te a m . “ W e ’re try in g to w in , a n d th e o n ly w a y to d o th a t is if w e ’re g o o d a ll th e w a y a r o u n d th e b o a r d ,” s h e s a id . D e s p ite b e in g a y o u n g c o a c h , W h ite p la n s o n h e r H o m e w o o d te a m s ta k in g a b a c k s e a t to n o o n e . A s ta te c h a m p io n s h ip is a n a s p ira tio n fo r th e P a trio ts , e v e n if th a t s e e m s lik e a h ig h b a r to re a c h rig h t o ff th e b a t. “ If y o u d o n ’t s e t th o s e s ig h ts h ig h , y o u m ig h t a s w e ll n o t b e o u t h e re c o m p e tin g ,” s h e s a id .

“

We want to send these young ladies out into the community to serve in more than one way.

”

KRIMSON WHITE

P a rt o f th e re a s o n W h ite b e lie v e s th e te a m c a n s e t s u c h lo fty g o a ls is th e fo u n d a tio n th a t h a s a lre a d y b e e n s e t b y C h e s n u tt. T h e g irls th a t c o m e th ro u g h th e H o m e w o o d v o lle y b a ll p ro g ra m w ill b e p u s h e d n o t o n ly p h y s ic a lly , b u t in a ll a s p e c ts o f life . “ W e ’ r e tr y in g to b u ild c h a r a c te r,” W h ite s a id . “ W e w a n t to s e n d th e s e y o u n g la d ie s o u t in to th e c o m m u n ity to s e r v e in m o r e th a n o n e w a y .” W h ite c a lle d h e r c o a c h in g s ta ff th e “ b ig g u n s .” C y n th ia P a d g e tt, a fo rm e r p la y e r a t K e n tu c k y a n d th e w ife o f c u rre n t S a m fo rd m e n ’s b a s k e tb a ll c o a c h S c o tt P a d g e tt, w ill a s s is t W h ite w ith th e v a rs ity te a m . K a te ly n C o llin s re m a in s o n s ta ff to c o a c h th e ju n io r v a rs ity te a m a n d fo rm e r U A B p la y e r S h o n d ra W h itt w ill le a d th e fre s h m a n g ro u p . N a tu ra lly , W h ite ’s n a m e ra is e s s o m e e y e b ro w s , a n d a n y p u b lic ity s h e re c e iv e d w h ile s h e w a s a h ig h s c h o o l p la y e r la rg e ly fo c u s e d o n th e p e c u lia rity o f it. B u t n o w th a t s h e ’s in c h a rg e o f a m a jo r h ig h s c h o o l p ro g ra m , h e r re p u ta tio n w ill h in g e o n h e r c o a c h in g a n d n o th in g e ls e . N o w is h e r c h a n c e to ta k e th e b a to n a n d ru n w ith it.

TheHomewoodStar.com

July 2017 • A25 Far left: The Alabama Historical Radio Society, using photos and ﬁrsthand accounts, reconstructed Joe Rumore s basement studio for display at the society s headquarters at the Don Kresge Memorial Museum. Left: An original Associated Press teletype machine was donated by Don Kirkpatrick to the society in the name of Courtney Haden at the 2017 Legends of Broadcast luncheon in April. Photos courtesy of Steven Westbrook and the Alabama Historical Radio Society.

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hi s ope r a t i ons t o t he ba s e m e nt of hi s e w od hom e . “ H e w a s a uni que pe r s ona l i t y w ho w a s a bl e t o c one c t w i t h pe opl e ,” s a i d J i m C a w t hon, w ho w a s a young boy a t t he t i m e R um or e w a s doi ng hi s br oa dc a s t s f r om hi s hom e . C a w t hon s a i d he a nd hi s f r i e nds w oul d r i de t he i r bi c yc l e s t hr ough t he s t r e e t s of H om e w od, s t opi ng i n f r ont of R um or e ’ s hom e to l i s t e n t o hi s r a di o s how a s i t w a s ha pe ni ng. W i t h hi s “ e ve r ym a n” s t yl e a nd a bi l i t y t o w e a ve pr om ot i ons a nd c ont e s t s i n a n e nt e r t a i ni ng w a y , R um or e w a s a m a gne t f or e ve r yone , C a w t hon s a i d. “ L i s t e ni ng t o hi m on t he r a di o, you i ns t a nt l y f e l t a c one c t i on t o t hi s guy be c a us e he w a s s o f ol ks y ,” h e s a i d. T h o u g h h e s a id h e d id n ’t k n o w it a t th e tim e , C a w th o n s a id , th o s e d a y s o f fo llo w in g ra d io p e rs o n a litie s a s a c h ild w o u ld e v e n tu a lly le a d to a lo n g b ro a d c a s t c a re e r o f h is o w n . H om e w od w a s a l s o t he hom e of C our t ne y H a de n, t he w r i t e r , s t udi o e xe c ut i ve H om

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The Alabama Historical Radio Society, founded in 1989, aims to provide opportunities for radio enthusiasts of all ages to learn about the industry’s history and connect with other fans and experts. The society meets most Saturday at 9 a.m., and on the fourth Monday of each month at 6 p.m. At meetings, members often bring restoration projects for others to see or give lectures on the history of an item or person, and meetings are open to all. Meetings are held at the Don Kresge Memorial Museum, located at 600 N. 18th St. in Birmingham. For more information, visit alabamahistoricalradio society.org.

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a b e tte r w o rk -life b a la n c e . W h e n th e o p p o rtu n ity a t W B H M c a m e u p , h e ju m p e d a t it. B ot h K r a l l a nd D a hl be r g ha d f a m i l y t i e s t o t he H om e w od a r e a t ha t l e d t he m t o e ve nt ua l l y s e t t l e i n t he c i t y , a nd D ouba n s a i d t ha t w hi l e s he a t one t i m e l i ve d dow n U .S . 280, s he kne w t ha t i f s he w a s goi ng t o s t a y i n t he B i r m i ngha m a r e a , H om e w od w a s w he r e s he w a nt e d t o put dow n r ot s . “ T h e re w a s s o m e th in g a b o u t H o m e w o o d th a t re m in d e d m e o f m y n e ig h b o rh o o d g ro w in g u p in N e w Y o r k ,” s h e s a id , a ls o c itin g th e s id e w a lk s a n d th e c o z in e s s o f th e c ity ’s d e n s ity . U l t i m a t e l y , i t w a s di ve r s i t y t ha t D ouba n s a i d dr e w he r t o H om e w od. “ H om e w od’ s not t he onl y c i t y w i t h gr e a t s i de w a l ks a nd s hops a nd r e s t a ur a nt s a nd l i br a r i e s , but it’s in t he e nd a bout t he pe opl e — t ha t ’ s w ha t m a ke s H om e w od uni que a nd s pe c i a l ,” s he s a i d. I t ’ s s e r vi ng t ha t di ve r s e poul a t i on, a l ong w i t h t he r e s t of c e nt r a l A l a ba m a , t ha t t he t e a m

s a i d c ont i nue s t o dr i ve t he i r s e r vi c e a s r a di o j our an l i s t s , e ve n i n a c ha ngi ng t i m e . “ W e j us t don’ t put out a r a di o s i gna l a nym or e ,” H ol m e s s a i d. In A p ril, th e s ta tio n h e ld its la rg e s t fu n d d riv e , r a is in g m o r e th a n $ 3 2 2 ,0 0 0 in u n d e r a w e e k . “ P e o p le d o n ’t n e c e s s a rily w a n t to lis te n to a f u n d d r iv e if th e y d o n ’t h a v e to ,” H o lm e s s a id o f th e s ta tio n ’s “ A ll th e M o n e y in H a lf th e T im e ” c a m p a ig n , “ s o w e th o u g h t w e c o u ld m a k e o u r c a s e a n d g e t b a c k to b u s in e s s a s u s u a l.” T he dr i ve e ve n ha d t o t a ke br e a ks on W e dne s da y of t ha t w e e k due t o s e ve r e w e a t he r i n t he a r e a , a nd a ga i n t ha t F r i da y be c a us e of t he i m pe ndi ng r e s i gna t i on of t he n G ov . R obe r t B e nt l e y . H ol m e s s a i d i t ’ s t ha t ki nd of l oc a l ne w s c ove r a ge t he t e a m hope s t o c ont i nue t o bui l d a t t he s t a t i on i n or de r t o s e r ve t he di ve r s e poul a t i on of t he c i t y . “ W e don’ t ha ve one t ype of publ i c r a di o l i s t e ne r , a nd you s e e t ha t s o c l e a r l y i n a pl a c e l i ke H om e w od,” D ouba n s a i d. “ I t ’ s not a hom oge nous c i t y , a nd t ha t ’ s one of t he on w

ha t w e t r y ve t he id f f e pe opl e r

w e o,d a nd our c ove r a ge , a dn how r y ha r d t o be s ur e t ha t w e i cn l ude r e nt voi c e s o n a n i s s ue , a nd I t hi nk e s pond t o t ha t .”

a ll

The Homewood Star

A26 • July 2017

h a v e in c lu d e d to o m u c h p a rk in g o n th e s tre e t b e c o m in g a n in c o n v e n ie n c e . A s o f n o w , th e u n iv e r s ity h a s a to ta l o f 4 ,3 0 0 p a rk in g s p a c e s , a c c o rd in g to D ire c to r o f P u b lic S a fe ty a n d E m e rg e n c y M a n a g e m e n t W a y n e P ittm a n , in c lu d in g a b o u t 1 ,0 0 0 s p o ts f o r f a c u lty a nd s t a f f . T he s e 4,30 pa r ki ng s pa c e s a r e i nt e nde d t o s e r v e th e u n iv e r s ity ’s m o r e th a n 5 ,0 0 0 s tu d e n ts — m a n y o f w h o m c h o o s e to d riv e a s a m a tte r o f

SAMFORD

CONTINUED from page A1 a n d p a rk in g , th e re h a v e f e l t by b ot h t he uni v e r s i t y c om m uni t y of H om e w od. F o rm e r p a rts o f th is s H om e w od ha s r e s ponde o n S a m fo rd ’s g ro w th — s e ve n- ye a r m or a t o r i um on c ha s i ng ne w r e s i de nt i a l pr m o re s tu d e n ts h a v e m o v e d ye a r s . T h is s h ift w a s , in p a rt,

b e e n g ro w in g p a in s a nd t he s ur r oundi gn e rie d to in c t he ope o ff

s re v ie w e d a nd k e pt a n lu d in g th e c uni ve r s i t y r t i e s — a nd c a m p u s in re

h o w e ye ity ’s pur how c e n t

a d d itio n to c a m p u s g u e s ts a n d s ta ff. A ll o f th o s e in d iv id u a ls , h o w e v e r, w ill c o m e to a n d le a v e c a m pus a t di f f e r e nt t i m e s . E v e n w ith m o re p la n n e d p a rk in g s p o ts in th e w o rk s , G ra c e B o w e s , a s e n io r m a rk e tin g m a jo r a t S a m f or d , s a i d s he s e e s pa r ki ng a s a gr ow i ng i s s ue a r ound c a m pus , c i t i ng t he s c hol ’ s qui c k gr ow t h a s a pot e nt i a l c a us e of t he i s s ue . “ I d r iv e to s c h o o l e v e r y d a y ,” B o w e s s a id . “ P a rk in g is ju s t th e m o s t rid ic u lo u s th in g e v e r. I ju s t th in k S a m fo rd ’s g ro w in g re a lly , re a lly fa s t, w hi c h i s a gr e a t t hi ng, but I t hi nk t he y di d not pl a n t o gr ow a s f a s t , or t he y l e t m or e s t ude nt s in th a n th e y e x p e c te d fo r, s o I h a v e a n u n c a n n y a m ount of pa r ki ng t i c ke t s .”

d u e to tw o c h a n g e s :

p re v io u s ly re q u ire d s tu d e n ts to liv e o n c a m p u s u n til a g e 2 1 ; a n d s e c o n d , u p p e rc la s s p u s h o u s in g s o th a t is a v a ila b le fo r y o u c la s s s iz e s . B ut t he i nc r e a s e d c a m p u s m e a n s m o re w ith th e m , im p a c tin

m o re o n -c a m p u s h o u s in g n g e r s tu d e n ts in g ro w in g poul a t i on of s t ude tn s on v e h ic le s a re c o m in g a lo n g g n o t o n ly S a m fo rd ’s p a rk -

MAKING SPACE

P h a s e 2 o f S a m fo rd U n iv e rs ity ’s m a s te r p la n , w hi c h w a s a pr ove d by t he uni ve r s i t y’ s boa r d o f tru s te e s in F e b ru a ry , in c lu d e s a d d in g p a rk in g s pa c e s a r ound c a m pus . In th e p a s t y e a r, 6 0 7 n e w p a rk in g s p a c e s w e re a d d e d , a n d p la n s fo r fu tu re a d d itio n s c o u ld ta k e m a n y fo rm s , in c lu d in g th e c o n s tru c tio n o f a p a rk in g d e c k th a t m irro rs th e u n iv e rs ity ’s n o rth p a rk in g d e c k , a c c o rd in g to E x e c u tiv e V i c e P r e s i de nt B uc k B r oc k. A lth o u g h a n e w d e c k w o u ld p ro v id e m o re pa r ki ng f or s t ude nt s , i t c oul d a l s o c a us e noi s e i s s ue s f or ne a r by H om e w od r e s i de nt s . W i nds or B oul e va r d r e s i de nt A ne B a l dw i n s a i d t he f r e s hm a n pa r ki ng de c k, l oc a t e d a t t he b a c k o f c a m p u s , is fre q u e n tly lo u d . S h e s a id s he he a r s w ha t s ounds l i k e r a c e s or pa r t i e s a t ni ght , a nd a de d s he t hi nk s t he de c k s houl d be r e gul a r l y pa t r ol l e d. “ I t ’ s not s om e t hi ng t he y’ ve r e m e di e d,” s he s a id . “ … It s o u n d s lik e th e y [s tu d e n ts ] h a v e dr a g r a c e s i n t he r e .” W a rd 4 C o u n c il R e p . A le x W y a tt is th e

Cars ﬁll the spots of a parking lot designated for commuters of the east side of Samford niversity s campus. ittman said he believes students parking concerns are more about convenience than a lack of space. Photos by Sarah Finnegan.

a p p o in te v e rs ity , c o m m u n s a id m o s

d lia is o a ro le ic a tio n t o f th e

n b e tw e e h e s a id h b e tw e e n c o m m u n

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f ro c om m ut e r s , B ow e s s a i d, be c a us e t he y a r e lim ite d in w h e re th e y c a n p a rk . M o s t c o m m u te r lo ts a re lo c a te d o n th e c a m p u s ’ p e rim e t e r , w he r e a s r e s i de nt i a l pa r ki ng a r e a s b or de r c a m pus bui l di ngs a nd a r e c e nt r a l l y l oc a t e d. P a rk in g c o n c e rn s a re c o m m o n c o m p la in ts fro m s tu d e n ts , P ittm a n s a id , a lth o u g h h e be l i e ve s t he i r c onc e r ns a r e m or e a bout c onve ni e nc e t ha n a l a c k of s pa c e . “ If y o u a s k th e m [s tu d e n ts ], y e s [th e re a re is s u e s w ith p a r k in g ] ,” P ittm a n s a id . “ I f y o u a s k m e , re m e m b e r y o u c a n ’t p a rk a t y o u r fro n t d o o r a l l t he t i m e . A nd c om m ut e r s , ye s , I know you l ove t o pa r k ne xt t o your bui l di ng or w ha t e ve r , but t he r e ’ s not e nough s pa c e s l i ke t ha t .” T h e c a m p u s h a s m u lti-u s e p a rk in g lo ts , s p o ts n e a r th e c a m p u s g a te a n d s p a c e s a v a ila b le c om

“ Y th e r fo r y y o u

pl e x, P i t t m a n s a i d. e s , y o u m ig h t h a v e to o r y o u m ig h t h a v e to o u to g e t c lo s e r [to y o u a s k s tu d e n ts , th e y ’ll s a

w a lk w a it o r b u ild y , ‘T h

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fa ru ttle u t if e v e r

TheHomewoodStar.com

July 2017 • A27

h e h a s w o rk e d w ith c a m p u s p a rk in g , “ I c a n ’t re m e m b e r it e v e r b e in g fu ll [o r] th e re b e in g z e r o p a r k in g s p a c e s .”

e ev r y M ndao y t hr ugho F r i da y , a nd s om e ad sy it’s a b r e e z e , a n d s o m e d a y s it’s b a c k e d u p ,” he s a i d.

UTILIZING SHUTTLE SERVICE

S a m f or th ro u g h o u t o r e s i de nc he be l i e ve

d rp t th e e ha s ope

ovi

de s a c a m d a y a s w e ll l l s a t ni htg , ns pu pa r ki

pus s hut t l e a s rid e s fro m P i t t m a n s a i d, ng opr t uni

s e r vi c e fa r lo ts w hi c h tie s .

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

A s m or s a id , th e w i l l be m e v e r, h a v

S tu d e n t G o v e rn m e n t A s s o c ia tio n p re s id e n t, w a s pa r t of t he id s c su s i on w i t h a dm i ni s t r a t i on one

r out e . T h e a d d itio n a l ro u te s , P o rte r s a id , m a k e g e tt i ng a r ound e a s ie r. “ I ’ m a b ig f a n o f th e s h u ttle s y s te m ,” h e s a id . “ … T ha t w a s one of t he be s t e xpe r i e nc e s t ha t w e ’v e h a d th is y e a r, th ro u g h S G A , w a s th e s h u ttle s y s te m … b e c a u s e th e id e a is th a t it he l ps c ut dow n t i m e , a nd i t r e a l l y doe s .” S o m e s tu d e n ts , h o w e v e r, s e e th e ir e x p e rie n c e w ith p a rk in g a s a n e a s y o n e w ith o r w ith o u t t he s hut t l e s e r vi c e , i nc l ud i ng s e ni or m a r ke t i ng G onz

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T h e u n iv e rs ity m a in ta in s a g o o d re la tio n s h ip w ith th e c ity o f H o m e w o o d , P ittm a n a d d e d , i s s ue s or

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s e q u e n c in g , fo r e x a m p le , o r w ill u tiliz e th e H o m e w o o d P o lic e D e p a rtm e n t to c o o rd in a te “ If w e n e e d a n y th in g , th e y ’re m o re th a n w illi ng t o eh l p,” P i t t m a n s a i d. “ I f t he y n e e d s om e th in g f r o m u s , w e ’ r e m o r e th a n w illin g to h e lp .”

b u s in e s s s c h o o l p a rk n s eh ah s ne ve r us e d . w ith tra n s p o rta tio n

‘ a d u ltin g .’ T h e m o r e y o u d o it, th e b e tte r y o u g e t a t it.”

e i nt o w o o d r oa d. m a n y

s a i d. “ W i t h a de d s t ude nt s , you ah ve a de d c a r s , utb t r ut fh lu l y w ah t s e e m s t o be a f f e c t i ng th e n e ig h b o rh o o d m o re — n o t in a n e g a tiv e

l ot s

r i ve . a n ta k e a n y w h e re fro m lik e th re e m in g e t to c a m p u s to lik e 1 5 m in u te s to g e t p u s ,” s a id G o n z a le z , w h o liv e s a t th e

c om m e t he a s

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nt s f H o r s on h a d

“ I h a v e n o t h e a rd to o m a n y c o m p la in ts a b o u t

h a s n o t e x p e rie n c e d a n y is s u e s s in c e m o v in g of f c a m usp a nd eb c om i ng a c om m u t e r .

s a id . “ … F o r b u In te rm s o f p a rk t o ba d.” T h e c o n v e n ie i ng, s he s a i d, i s t he c a m pus s hut F o r G o n z a le

e s t ude c ity o or e c a e n o t

Above: Students file onto the SamTram Red Line at the College of Health Sciences stop. The university established several shuttle lines during the 2016-17 year to help students move around campus more quickly and efficiently. Top: A car pulls into the freshman parking deck, one of three major parking structures on campus. While officially designated for freshmen, the structure can also be used by commuter students.

goi

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e eb t w e e n c l a s s e s a nd w or k owd -n to w n , b u t o th e rw is e , G o n z a le z s a id , it h a s n ’t ig ve n he r a n i s s ue .

w a y to w o rk , s a id w h ile th in g s s u c h a s c o n h o u rs — in th e m o rn in g b e fo re w o rk a n d to w a rd th e e n d o f th e w o rk d a y — c a n s lo w

w ill a c c o m i ng f or l a r w od H i gh lo ts d u rin g “ U ki dn t he y ha ve a g e o god c – E ut e dt

m o d a te e ve tn S c hol a fte r-h o

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s u a lly th e y ’re t he w a y w e ha ve s om e t hi ng t he t r a c k pa r ki u r fo lk s to p a om m uni t y pa m ily F e a th e r s ot hi s r e por t . of

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t’s “ If m b e ib -

The Homewood Star

SECTION

B JULY 2017

Events B4 Community B6 Opinion B6 Women in Business B7 Calendar B18

4TH OF JULY SALE NOW! BIG SAVINGS AND FREE GIFTS STOREWIDE!

Thunder on the mountain, ﬁre in the sky By EM ILY F EA T HERST ON It ta k e s th re e d a y s o f s e tu p , a te a m o f e ig h t p e o p le a n d 5 ,0 0 0 p o u n d s o f g u n p o w d e r to

u s e a n d o th e r d e ta ils .

o f th e y e a r, a n d th is J u ly 4 p ro m is e s to b e n o d iffe re n t.

R e d M o u n ta in fo r th e e n tire B irm in g h a m m e tro

th e jo b . A la b a m a , a n d m a y b e th e s ta te ,” s a id M o rg a n

o n to p o f S h a d e s M o u n ta in in H o m e w o o d a n d th e s h o w . W B R C F o x 6 , th e s h o w

u s u a lly h a s a ro u n d 1

Fireworks over Vulcan at Thunder on the Mountain. Staff photo.

e te r, h e s a id th a t h e w a s s till a b le to h e a r th e

fo r m o s t o f its h is to ry .

th e re w ill b e a fe w fo rw a rd to .

“ T h e re la tio n s h ip h a s ju s t b e e n g re a t,” h e s a id . T u rn e r s a id it w o u ld n o t b e a n e x a g g e ra tio n p a re fo r th is y e a r ’s s h o w . s o m e th in g th is b ig ,” h e s a id .

s u rp ris e s fo r fo lk s to lo o k

B2 â&#x20AC;¢ July 2017

The Homewood Star

TheHomewoodStar.com

July 2017 â&#x20AC;¢ B3

The Homewood Star

B4 • July 2017

Events

An Our Lady of Sorrows volunteer shines shoes to prepare for the 2016 Trash and Treasures Sale. File photo. The Parks and Recreation Board and the city of Homewood will host the annual July 4 Fest this year in downtown Homewood. Photo by Jon Anderson.

A t OLS r u m m a g e s a l e , o n e m a n ’ s tr a s h is a n o th e r m a n ’s tr e a s u r e BY LA U REN ROLA ND

Large crowd expected for July 4 Fest

s m a ll a p p lia n c e s , lu g g a g e , s h o e s , b ic y c le s ,

By LOREN HOPKINS

a t 3 p.m

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TheHomewoodStar.com

July 2017 • B5

Costumes are encouraged for the Retro Run 5K, which features an after party following the run through downtown Homewood. Photo by Sydney Cromwell. Homewood’s annual Sidewalk Sale is set to return at the end of this month. Staff photo.

Chamber’s annual Sidewalk Sale to line streets of downtown Homewood By LOREN HOPKINS w ill o n c e a g a in h o s t th e a n n u a l S id e w a lk y e a r ’s e v e n t ta k e s p la c e J u ly 2 9 a n d b e g in s d e p e n d in g o n e a c h in d iv id u a l s h o p ’s s to re h o u rs , w ith th e m a jo rity o f s to re s b e in g T h ro u g h o u t th e d a y , m e rc h a n ts w ill lin e th e s tre e ts in fro n t o f th e ir s to re s w ith d is b e u p to 7 5 p e rc e n t o ff, w ith d is c o u n ts v a ry “ T h e

S id e w a lk

S a le

a llo w s

lo c a l

b u s in e s s e s to c le a r o u t s o m e o f th e ir s u m m e r in v e n to ry b e fo re b a c k -to -s c h o o l s h o p p in g s ta r ts a t th e b e g in n in g o f A u g u s t,”

R e tro R u n 5 K s e t fo r J u ly 2 9 By LOREN HOPKINS L o o k in g fo r a n u n fo rg e tta b le e v e n t a n d a n in te re s tin g ru n n in g c o m m u n ity ? T h e T ra k S h a k ’s a n n u a l R e tro R u n c e rT eh T r a k S ah k no 8t1 h S t r e e t S out ,h t he 5 K ru n n in g e v e n t is J u ly 2 9 in d o w n to w n

C h a m b e r o f C o m m e rc e , “ a n d it e n c o u ra g e s c o n s u m e rs to k e e p th e ir m o n e y in

e dsn no 8t1 h S t r e e t , w i l l w e l c om e m ro e th a n 5 0 0 p a rtic ip a n ts fro m a ll o v e r th e

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The Homewood Star

B6 • July 2017

Community Opinion Ordinary Days By Lauren Denton

Making the case for summer boredom n e s s , b u t a s a p a re n t, I’m

Deborah Fout, director of the Homewood Public Library, accepts the 2017 Eminent Librarian Award from James Gilbreath, chair of the Alabama Library Association Awards Committee. Photo courtesy of Homewood Public Library.

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m a il m e a t L a u re n @ L a u re n K D e n to n . LaurenKDenton.com, or ﬁnd me on e nt onB ok s , T w i t t e r @ L aur e nK D e ny d e b u t n o v e l, “ T h e H id e a w a y ,” is s ar e s ol d.

TheHomewoodStar.com

July 2017 • B7

ION T C E NG S

TISI R E V AL AD

n e m o W N I s s e n i s bu 2017

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HOMEWOOD Running a business takes ambition, smarts and a lot of drive. The women who run businesses in Homewood have all three, plus a passion for what they do. rom retail ealt care or ﬁtness our annual Women in Business feature is a chance to get to know some of the faces behind the success of many of the businesses in our area.

JULIE GANNON, O.D. ALABAMA EYE & CATARACT CENTER P.C. Julie Gannon, O.D., has much to be proud of in her life: Personally, she is most proud of her family; professionally, she is proud of her employer, Alabama Eye and Cataract Center, and their dedication to their patients. “I take great satisfaction in the Alabama Eye and Cataract Center’s absolute devotion to the best possible outcome for every patient,” Gannon said. “The Alabama Eye and Cataract Center makes patients its only priority. Optimal patient outcome drives us every day. We strive to stay on the leading edge of technology, knowledge, and technique.” Gannon has always been fascinated by science, she said, and majored in biology at the University of the South (in Sewanee, Tennessee). “Optometry offered an excellent opportunity to continue pursuing my interests while offering care and assistance to my patients,” Gannon said. Now, she is able to help patients improve their vision while monitoring and treating a vast variety of medical conditions and diseases. It is work she loves and allows her to balance a

► WHERE: 1201 11th Ave. S., Suite 501 ► CALL: 930-0930 ► WEB: michelsonlaservision.com fulfilling career with a rich family life. Though raising a family while devoting herself to her practice and patients is a challenge, it is one she welcomes. “Although [balance is] extremely difficult to practice it is vital to me to keep work at the office and give myself totally to my family when not working,” she said.

RENEE GENEREUX, MEGAN BRASHER BRANDINO BRASS At Brandino Brass, Renee Genereux and Megan Brasher balance working a family-run business with their own families. “Every day is different,” Brasher said. “We manage our own schedules and goals and are racing throughout the day.” Both Genereux and Brasher juggle life as working moms. Genereux is mom to daughters Grace and Joelle, and Brasher is mom to daughter Lilia and son Evan. “We want to offer great customer service and knowledge to help clients but to be run as a small family business,” she said. They especially like being a part of the Homewood community. “We are such a small company,” Brasher said. “We do act like a family and also a team. We ► WHERE: 2824 Central have no commission — Ave. we all work together. ► CALL: 978-8900 Everybody has different ► WEBSITE: brandino knowledge and brass.com backgrounds, and if one person doesn’t know an answer, they’re not afraid to ask and say, ‘They would be better at this than I am.’ We help each other.” Recently, Brandino Brass has expanded their repertoire from hardware for doors and cabinets to representing several different lighting lines, mailboxes and posts ﬁreballs and bath accessories. “Pretty much any hardware need you have, we have, whether for an existing home you’re looking to remodel or for new home construction,” Genereux said. “We want to ﬁnd the latest greatest new products while also holding on to classic, beloved designs,” she said. All it takes is a few minutes for Genereux and Brasher to get to the bottom of their customer’s needs. “If we talk for a few minutes, I can get [a client’s] style, interest, and taste and lead them in the direction they want to go,” Brasher said. Genereux said Brandino Brass’ customer service is what makes the company second to none. “We go above and beyond and are trained to know

our product. We can help our customers ﬁnd something within any budget.” The company started in 1948 as Brandino Sales Company and was created by Tony Brandino and his brother, Paul. In 1970, Tony’s son Buster joined the company, and 10 years later Brandino Sales Company became Brandino Brass. After a 17-year interlude on Florida’s 30-A, Brandino Brass came back home to Birmingham in 2009 and was re-established by Buster and his son, Eric.

The company is committed to providing an uncompromising selection of hardware and has only seven employees. Brandino Brass hopes to continue to grow and still maintain the family relationship they have with each other, along with client relationships Ultimately, their work is all about their customers. “Our goal is to meet each individual client’s wants and needs. If we do not have the product that they need we try to ﬁnd it for them ” rasher said. “ f they can dream it, we help it become a reality.”

B8 • July 2017

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DRS. JOYCE KOPPANG, SAEMA MIRZA, ANURADHA RAO, ELIZABETH BRANSCOMB CARDIOVASCULAR ASSOCIATES

healthy heart is key to a long, healthy life. A healthy brain and healthy blood vessels supplying all of the organs of your body are important too. Cardiovascular Associates (CVA) is a world-class group of cardiologists who are trained at some of the country s finest programs are on the cutting edge of modern cardiac care and have deep roots in metropolitan Birmingham and the surrounding locales. At CVA, you can access some of the most upto-date prevention approaches for your blood pressure and cholesterol to high quality expertise for the most complex of cardiovascular cases involving coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, vein disorders, irregular heart rhythms, congestive heart failure, valve disease and women’s cardiac issues to name a few. The practice also participates in important international research. Their cardiologists go to many area hospitals where just requesting CVA for your cardiac care can help you access this first class e pertise. CVA has been serving patients across central labama for years with its main office at the Colonnade off of 280 and 13 other outreach locations. Along with the easily accessible and affable group of physicians, nurse practitioners and employees, it houses an array of highly sophisticated and high quality cardiac testing and monitoring. mong the fine physicians of are four woman cardiologists: Dr. Elizabeth Branscomb, Dr. Joyce Koppang, Dr. Saema Mirza and Dr. Anu Rao. Although equal numbers of men and woman graduate from medical school, less than 15 percent of cardiologists are women. “Women are underrepresented as cardiologists, and to find a prominent cardiology group interested in your abilities regardless of gender, is important to us and the women we serve,” Rao said. Mirza said she enjoys that her job makes her a “jack of all trades.” She travels between

► WHERE: 3980 Colonnade Parkway (main campus) ► CALL: 510-5000 ► WEBSITE: cvapc.com Brookwood, Grandview and Citizens Baptist medical centers to treat cases of heart disease, mitral valve prolapse, congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease and more. “Men and women who want a smart, caring cardiologist should come to CVA. We can take care of all your heart needs and offer all noninvasive testing right here on campus,” Mirza said. Heart health is about more than treating these serious diseases. Rao said early efforts to understand individual risk and avoid certain lifestyle choices can prevent some heart problems from occurring later in life. Rao and Koppang said that CVA has the collective knowledge of 33 cardiologists to draw on for each patient s benefit. “ enjoy helping people figure out if they re at risk for or have heart disease, then helping them get on a path to long-term cardiovascular wellness. I take great pleasure in the long-term relationships I’ve formed with many patients and their extended families,” Rao said. “A prevention checkup can save you a lot of ‘heartache’ later.” CVA doctors have unique skills, research backgrounds and interests that they bring to the table. ao was among the first cardiologists to develop a women’s heart health program in the U.S. about 20 years ago, and it’s an issue she believes still needs more awareness. She is especially passionate about a thoughtful approach to diagnosing heart disease in women and avoiding unnecessary ionizing radiation, when appropriate, as it is associated with increased risk of breast cancer in women especially under the age of 50. CVA offers high quality stress echocardiography that their cardiologists employ frequently to cut down on such radiation exposure. Branscomb brings important expertise in nuclear cardiology

and helped develop advanced noninvasive evaluation tools such as cardiac PET stress testing, which is another incredibly useful tool in both men and women. In women who need nuclear testing, this type of testing can cut down on the false positive tests that can result from the breasts and stomach getting in the way of the scans. A false positive test can result in unnecessary invasive testing and unneeded risk. “The techniques we developed had never been done on this scale before,” Branscomb said. “Besides widespread recognition for diagnostic quality, our measures to increase patient safety are now the standard. More importantly, for the past 10 years, we have been able to better diagnose heart problems in thousands of patients, particularly women and larger patients, where imaging is challenging using the normal SPECT stress testing commonly in use. Beyond those skills, however, is my heartfelt desire to really grasp what my patients and their families may be going through in their lives. “Each person is unique, and I strive to understand not just their symptoms, but also how cardiovascular care can help the patient as a whole,” Branscomb added. Koppang said a good doctor should focus on the whole patient, not just the heart. “When I am taking care of my patients, I become very invested in their care. I pay particular attention to the details that I believe in the long run lead to better outcomes. I treat my patients as if they were my own family members,” Koppang said. The main Cardiovascular Associates campus is located at 3980 Colonnade Parkway. Call 5105000 or visit cvapc.com for more information about services and locations. Ask your doctor or hospital for a referral to CVA!

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July 2017 • B9

ALISON GRIZZLE CLEARVIEW STRATEGY PARTNERS For many small businesses, their growth can hit a stumbling block over one simple question: “What does great look like?” Alison Grizzle launched Clearview Strategy Partners in February 2017 to help businesses answer that question, clarify their company vision, and educate and evaluate employees. She can guide companies in creating not only their goals, but also strategies to get there. “I think small businesses have problems going from startup, when two people are doing it all, to scale. From startup to scale, there’s some things that have to be put into place, and that’s a hard transition,” Grizzle said. She sees her role for her clients as a conversation facilitator and the person who asks the right questions, even if they’re sometimes tough. With her outside perspective, Grizzle can see the conversations that need to take place for a company to achieve its vision. “Sometimes the elephant in the room that no one will talk about is what’s keeping the business from growing. The only way to reach growth sometimes is to take a bite out of the elephant,” she said. Grizzle began teaching in 1999, and she quickly excelled. She was honored as Alabama Teacher of the Year in May of 2013. In July 2014, Grizzle joined the Alabama State Department of Education as an education administrator, working with individual school districts around the state on creating individualized teacher evaluation processes that aligned with local goals, district strategy and professional learning opportunities. “Through that I’ve learned how to address the different personalities in a room, and that’s a lot easier to do from

► WHERE: 2712 19th St. S. ► CALL: 240-1553 ► WEBSITE: cvstrategy.com an outside standpoint,” Grizzle said. In that time, Grizzle has also acted as a sounding board, adviser and executive coach for her husband, Dan Starnes. Since she became involved with Starnes Publishing’s daily operations in 2009, it has grown from a single newspaper with one full-time and one part-time employee, to a company with 30 employees, a digital marketing agency and a total of seven community newspapers, including The Homewood Star. Grizzle has served as the company’s director of organizational development since early 2017. A common problem for small businesses is “a gap in the conversation” between supervisors and employees on where they want to go and how to achieve it. This has only become more important as businesses move away from the traditional annual performance review toward ongoing evaluation and feedback of employees. “You have a manager who has an idea about what good looks like, you have an employee who has an idea about what good looks like, but it’s never been discussed. There’s never been clarity on how to deﬁne overarching goals for that position,” Grizzle said. No two businesses have the same needs in order to succeed, but Grizzle and Clearview Strategy Partners can

KETE QUICK CANNON REMAX SOUTHERN HOMES For Kete Quick Cannon, real estate has always been a family affair. A lifelong Homewood resident, Kete grew up in the real estate business. Her parents, both successful Realtors, owned VIP Realty Company in Homewood for 35 years. Although Kete grew up in a real estate household, she didn’t jump right into the industry. After graduating from Homewood High School, she opted to study interior design. But in 1992 after the birth of her daughter, Kete’s parents convinced her to get her real estate license and join the family business. She quickly learned that having a background in interior design, combined with the knowledge of home sales, gave her a unique set of skills when marketing and selling homes. “You never get a second chance to make a ﬁrst impression so before put a client’s home on the market,” Kete said, “I go through the entire house, room by room, as well as curb appeal and the full exterior of the home. I formulate a design plan to prepare my client’s home for maximum marketability. It may be as simple as moving furniture around to give the house a more open and functional ow updating paint colors or taking down curtains to allow more natural light into the home. “Each home is different and requires evaluation to present it at its best. I not only create the design, I also coordinate and oversee the complete process. This is a service I offer at no charge to my clients,

and ve seen firsthand just how valuable my design background can be,” she said. When ete first entered into real estate, marketing a client’s home or representing a buyer was fairly simple. “But not today,” Kete said, “where 87 percent of all purchases are prepurchased online. The internet, social media, YouTube and other online sources are rich environments for marketing homes. Preparing a home to sell in today’s market is crucial. The truth is most purchasers don’t want reality — they want what they see on HGTV. I stage and professionally photograph the homes I list and immediately place them on numerous websites, as well as social media sites. I don’t just put them there and walk away. “My team is constantly working to make sure each listing is refreshed. It’s about getting my client’s home in front of as many people as possible, properly prepared and with high quality photos.” Now over 24 years later, with more than $50 million sold just in Homewood, Kete enjoys working with her clients whether selling their home or finding the perfect new home. She has achieved many awards in real estate, but said her greatest success lies in the referrals she receives and her repeat clients. “I am very lucky that I love what I do,” Kete said. “The best thing about my job is definitely seeing the smiles on my clients faces. Assisting them in achieving their dream is what I love about this business.”

► WHERE: 903 Montgomery Highway ► CALL: 601-4148 ► WEBSITE: ketecannon.com

equip them with the right tools. “I want us to have a collaborative relationship, where I have clarity on your

needs and your vision, and at the end, I want to have a transformative effect,” Grizzle said.

B10 • July 2017

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

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The Homewood Star

DR. DEANNE VAIL AND DR. JULIE WEBB HOMEWOOD FAMILY & COSMETIC DENTISTRY Your dentist appointment should never feel like you’re being rushed. At Homewood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Deanne Vail and Dr. Julie Webb purposefully create a boutique atmosphere so they can talk with each and every patient. “Our vision was to create a boutique style family dental practice, which would allow us to spend ample clinical time with each and every patient,” Vail said. “You’re able to develop personal relationships with your patients and their family.” Vail and Webb went to dental school together at the University of Alabama and started their practice ► WHERE: 1752 Oxmoor in January 2006. Their Road practice offers not only ► CALL: 868-4577 preventative treatment, ► WEBSITE: homewood but also restorative dental.com work such as implants, bleaching, crowns and veneers. Homewood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry offers sleep apnea and snoring therapy as well as Botox, at the request of patients, Vail said. While their boutique style means that sometimes new patients have to wait a little longer for their first appointment ail and Webb feel that it makes a difference in their long term health. y fitting fewer patients in each day, they have time to talk about each person’s individual treatment plan and educate them on how their whole body can be affected by their dental hygiene. “We just can’t stress enough how important oral healthcare is to your overall systemic health,” Vail said. “We feel privileged that people put their trust in us, and we don’t take that for granted.” Their cosmetic treatments have a different, but no less important, impact on patients. “ t changes people s lives confidence wise and there’s just so many reasons why cosmetic dentistry can benefit a person s life ” ail said. When they go home at the end of the day, Vail said stheyhe can feel good about the work they’ve done. “I think we both felt that dentistry is a well-respected

area of medicine, and it really does offer a nice balance between the ability to offer consistent, quality care while leaving time to manage a busy family life,” Vail said. Vail and her husband Tyler are 14-year Homewood residents and parents to four sons rifﬁn arter rew and annon . Webb and her husband Rodney live in Hoover with their four dogs. Homewood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry is also set apart by their community activity. Their staff can be seen in elementary and preschool classrooms in February to talk about Children’s Dental Health Month,

and they will make free custom mouthguards for any child playing in Homewood recreational sports, even if they aren’t regular patients. “We just do that because we truly want to make sure all these kiddos’ teeth are protected,” Vail said. They sponsor all of Homewood’s schools, as well as the Library Foundation, parks and recreation and several individual sports. “You’ll see our logo on the back of every little T-shirt in town. And it’s not for the recognition,” Vail said. “I don’t know of any other practice in Homewood that supports the community like we do.”

CARRIE HOLLEY AND ALICIA LIDDON ESCAPE DAY SPA Carrie Holley, largest organ co-owner of of the body, Escape Day and we are Spa, said her already exposed spa is aptly to so many named. elements. We “We want a need to protect place for people ourselves from to escape,” she daily factors, so ► WHERE: 100 Broadway St. said. “There is using only the ► CALL: 414-6062 so much stress purest products ► WEBSITE: theplaceto in this world makes sense.” escape.com today. Stress Carrie has is a huge killer. been a massage Preventative therapist for medicine should be healthy years and licia has been an eating habits, exercise and spa aesthetician and lash technician treatments.” since 2010. Escape has been Sisters Carrie Holley and in operation since 2010, and in Alicia Liddon offer the latter in Homewood since 2012. droves. Guests at Escape can “We moved to Homewood treat themselves to massage in 2012 because of growth so therapy, reiki, Thai massage, early,” Carrie said. “We literally body treatments, aesthetics, were turning people down and Xtreme eyelash extensions, decided to ﬁnd a larger location.” full body waxing, manicures Carrie said they love being and pedicures — all done by in Homewood, and they try to therapists who care. make their spa warm, accessible “I think that we have caring and affordable, so that anyone therapists who truly love what who needs a spa day can get the they do and truly love enjoying treatment they deserve. working at Escape,” Carrie said. Despite the larger location, “I think that speaks loudly, Escape prides itself on being a because if you care about your small business formed locally. employees and they care about “The warm, small feeling I you, then they will treat your think is exactly what is missing in guests top notch.” a lot of businesses these days,” Escape uses all-natural Carrie said. products and investigates the For Carrie and Alicia, having a companies they use. sister-owned business has been “We truly care about the extremely rewarding and they products we use at the spa,” enjoy being the place where Carrie said. “Our skin is the everyone can ﬁnd an escape.

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July 2017 • B11

DR. DEBORAH YOUHN, DR. RAYNA DYCK, BRITTANY RIGSBY, CRNP SKIN WELLNESS CENTER OF ALABAMA t Skin Wellness enter of labama the dermatologists try to be a “one stop shop” for all their patients skincare needs. his includes medical dermatology including acne psoriasis keloid scars alopecia skin cancer hair loss and pediatric treatments. he center also provides surgical treatments for more severe conditions and cosmetic treatments including oto laser hair or tattoo removal scar reduction microdermabrasion skin tightening and anti aging services vein treatment mole removal and more. “ ur office provides light and photodynamic therapy as well in order to provide better centralized care to our patients. We also offer a number of skin and hair care products in office ► WHERE: 1920 Hunfor purchase to again tington Road, Homewood; help provide one stop and 398 Chesser Drive, centralized care to our Suite 6, Chelsea patients ” board certified ► CALL: 871-7332 dermatologist r. ayna ► WEBSITE: skinwell yck said. ness.com or patients from infants all the way up to senior citizens yck said the Skin Wellness staff knows that skin and hair issues are more than just physical. “ ur focus is on the whole patient not just the skin but the overall physical health emotional health and social well being. We do not take lightly the emotional toll skin disorders can take on a patient ” yck said. r. eborah ouhn joined the Skin Wellness team after years in dermatology. She primarily focuses on skin cancer detection and treatment but she does treat other skin conditions as well. ouhn said she always feels satisfied when she can help a patient feel better or treat a serious condition before it becomes harmful. “ love getting to know patients and often take care of whole families. t s really one of the most satisfying aspects of medicine. t s also great to be in a field where you can really help someone feel better. any of the conditions we treat may not be life threatening but if

you help someone have clearer skin it can certainly be life changing for them ” ouhn said. urse practitioner rittany igsby entered the dermatology ﬁeld about years ago and agreed that patient relationships are integral to treatment. “ spend time with my patients and try to treat them like a person not a number” igsby said. “ y goal is to make each person love the skin they are in and be as healthy as possible.” o keep wait times down for patient appointments SW provides a variety of forms online so they can be ﬁlled out in advance along with a portal to access individual medical history. he SW site also features care documents for

NICOLE BRANNON ARC REALTY Nicole Brannon joined the real estate business during the ﬁnancial crisis in . he housing bubble had popped and real estate was moving at a snail s pace. rannon used the decelerated pace of the market to learn the real estate tricks of the trade. While everyone else was struggling she learned how to market network and buy and sell homes. “ f could sustain these skills when the economy turned around knew would be in good shape ” rannon said. “ ut with that being said knew it would be a rough couple of years.” Listening is Brannon’s greatest skill. She said she tries to understand peoples vision and goals for the house and then making it into a home. ► WHERE: 4274 Cahaba She said real estate Heights Court is an investment — a ► CALL: 249-0057 personal and emotional ► WEB: arcrealtyco.com/ investment. agents/16791-nicole-brannon She has helped people ﬁnd homes they traditionally would not able to afford which allowed them to grow their family and move their children into good school systems. owever people have also been able to capitalize with rannon s help. “ have an investor who owns about rental properties ” rannon said. “ hat is truly his income. e is no longer in traditional corporate merica.” rannon works for ealty the o. company in irmingham for transactions sold in according to rannon. She received her achelor of Science in health information management. n her free time rannon enjoys running renovating her s ranch style home and spending time on Smith ake where she grew up.

several common procedures such as biopsies or chemical peels to make sure that patients can heal properly after leaving the ofﬁce. yck said that SW staff “are truly advocates for our patients” by working with pharmacies and insurance companies to keep treatment affordable. Whether their individual case is minor or major each patient deserves healthy beautiful skin. “ y favorite part of this business is the interaction with all of our patients getting to know many of them on a personal level and feeling that you ve been able to help them in some way. lso the feeling that you get when you saved someone s life ﬁnding a skin cancer early is great ” igsby said.

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NIKKI WOODS, PT, MS, PRPC PELVIC REHABILITATION & WELLNESS CENTER, THERAPYSOUTH - HOMEWOOD ikki Woods saw the benefits of physical therapy first hand, and the experience led her to a new career path and the eventual founding of the Pelvic Rehabilitation Center in Homewood. “I taught aerobics at the University of Alabama and I saw faculty members getting better from doing water aerobics,” she said. Her curiosity led her to volunteer at the hospital and she instantly fell in love with therapy. Woods graduated in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and received her Master of Science in physical therapy from the University of Alabama in Birmingham in 2000. She originally wanted to pursue sports medicine, like many physical therapy students. However, as she began to learn more about pelvic rehabilitation, her interest was sparked. “ t was the reward of taking care of my first patient that had me sold,” she said. “It’s become my ministry more than my work.” Woods had the opportunity to study under the late C. aul erry . . who was a pioneer in the field of pelvic pain and a founder of the International Pelvic Pain Society. “He really opened up the world of pelvic pain to me,” she said. Woods e celled in this field. f her many accomplishments within the area, the most notable is becoming one of the first ertified elvic ractitioners in the country after sitting for the inaugural Herman and Wallace elvic ehabilitation ertification am in pril . his certification sets her apart from other physical therapists as an e pert in her specific field. Her expertise of pelvic rehabilitation led her to open the Pelvic Rehabilitation Center with TherapySouth. his center is the first of its kind for the company as well as the state of Alabama. Designed to meet the unique pelvic health needs of both men and women, Woods has teamed with other experienced therapists to care for the often-challenging needs of the patients they meet. elvic rehabilitation can be defined as a non surgical approach to the rehabilitation of dysfunctions that can contribute to bowel, bladder, sexual health and pain complaints. “My patients needed a safe place. The rooms are

► WHERE: 3401 Independence Drive, Suite 211 ► CALL: 968-1283 ► WEBSITE: therapysouth.net/location/homewood private, and the environment is spa-like,” Woods said. “Its purpose is to be a comfortable place to go to for a not-so-comfortable reason. Another facet of the center is the Stability Wellness Program, which offers group exercise classes. These

classes are designed to provide therapeutic exercise, to strengthen cores, to restore postures and to improve mobility balance and e ibility. “The biggest desire for opening the center was to not just focus on chronic pain, but to serve as a safe place to exercise,” she said. “We needed a bridge between community exercise and clinic.” Woods looks to the future with optimism, and has a few goals in mind for her clinic. “I’d love to be able to train more therapists and improve awareness in the community,” she said. “I’d also love to see the Stability Wellness Program take off so people know they have a clinically supervised place to exercise where they’re not worried about injuring themselves and causing more pain.”

MORGAN BLACK, DARLENE NEGROTTO, ASHLEY THOMPSON VULCAN PARK AND MUSEUM The city’s most famous Black said Vulcan Park icon, Vulcan, might be a and Museum is the only man, but the backbone of comprehensive history Vulcan Park and Museum, museum in the area. where the affectionately “Not only do we tell named “Big Guy” is the story of Vulcan’s located, is three women. history, but we start from Darlene Negrotto, our roots and tell how president and CEO; Ashley Birmingham came to be as ► WHERE: 1701 Valley Thompson, director of well as highlight where we View Drive development; and Morgan are today,” she said. ► CALL: 933-1409 Black, director of marketing She hopes to continue ► WEBSITE: visitvulcan. and PR, spearhead the to ensure that residents com leadership at Vulcan Park of the Birmingham region and Museum. are engaged. “There is nothing else like Vulcan, so “Vulcan is their backyard, and we that alone makes our business unique,” want them to want to come here over Negrotto said. “Our operation is more and over, whether it be for events, or varied than one might initially think — to bring a guest or to just sit and enjoy from a park and picnics to weddings the park,” Black said. “Although Vulcan and corporate events to educational is a Birmingham staple, we feel that our programs for children and adults, to residents may have the ‘been there, community events like Thunder on the done that’ approach. Vulcan isn’t just Mountain. No two days are the same!” that statue on the hill — at Vulcan Park It’s a role that Thompson relishes. and Museum, we have events all year “Not everyone has the opportunity to long to experience our park different say they work for Vulcan — the largest than the last time, as well as a rotating cast iron statue in the world,” Thompson exhibit gallery that tells the story of said. Birmingham’s history in a new way each Thompson said the team’s mission is time.” to “preserve and promote Vulcan as the Vulcan Park and Museum is an exciting symbol for the Birmingham region, to place to work, Thompson said — a place advance knowledge and understanding where it’s impossible to not be happy. of Birmingham’s history and culture, and “It not only educates folks on to encourage exploration of the region,” Birmingham’s unique history, but it is she said. a place that makes people happy,” she And how does the team know it is said. “Busloads of children arrive daily succeeding? and are in awe when they walk up the “Local and national recognitions steps to the base of the tower and after for business excellence have been the tour of the only comprehensive validations of our staff’s efforts to museum of Birmingham’s history. Brides maintain high ethical business standards, and grooms choose [us] as the location while positive feedback from guests tells to start their futures together. The park us that we’re connecting with our visitors is full of e citement owers and fun.” in a meaningful way,” Negrotto said. Negrotto said people often tell her

that she has the best job in town — and she agrees. “Vulcan has been held in the hearts of ﬁve generations of our ancestors and he will be here for many in the future, serving as a link between our past and the generations yet to come,” she said.

“It is a true privilege to be a part of heartfelt life memories, to represent our community to visitors from around the globe, to preserve and share the stories of our history and culture, and to instill a sense of place and pride in those who will one day lead our community.”

TheHomewoodStar.com

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

July 2017 • B13

ANDREA SNYDER URBAN COOKHOUSE Andrea Snyder still remembers the “surreal” feeling of opening night at the ﬁrst rban ookhouse which she and her husband, David, opened in June 2010. “My husband and I had only prepared the food in our home, so to see a full kitchen staff making this beautiful food that tasted great was so e citing ” Snyder recalled. “And to see the crowd of people that came to our opening was astonishing! I remember the adrenaline rush of taking all of the orders and seeing the food delivered quickly. I could tell by the buzz in the room and the smiles ► WHERE: 2846 18th St. on customers’ faces, S. that we had hit a home ► CALL: 879-0883 run!” ► WEBSITE: urbancook The idea for Urban house.com Cookhouse came from a desire to bring locally sourced food to the fast-casual restaurant market, though Snyder said some elements of the menu also came from her husband s e perience with wood and charcoal grilling with his grandfather. The concept was a hit and has e panded from their original spot at 2846 18th St. S. into 10 total locations, with three more coming soon. “There are so many great restaurants in Birmingham, and I am humbled that people love us enough to support our e pansion ” Snyder said. he e ibility and creativity of running a restaurant is what Snyder enjoys about her job, as well as the people she gets to know on both sides of the counter. “We really try to give customers a level of service that is above and beyond our price point. We want you to pay $10 for a meal and feel like you got $20 worth of service,” Snyder said. “And it’s not just about making sure you are served adequately; it’s about having meaningful customer interactions and becoming a

friendly face in our community.” Their menu includes sandwiches, salads, wraps and plated meals, with sides including the beloved Millie Ray’s orange rolls. Fresh strawberries, which they buy from several local farms, are a summer hit as they turn into Urban Cookhouse’s strawberry lemonade. In addition to their strawberry lemonade milkshake, Snyder said she plans to add more milkshake avors soon.

The key to Urban Cookhouse’s success, Snyder said, is viewing every day as an opportunity to improve and reach a higher goal. “Listening to your customers is key and you have to have an open mind when it comes to criticism,” Snyder said. Snyder wants to focus on sales growth within her e isting restaurants and possibly e pand rban Cookhouse’s footprint in the Birmingham area.

ASHLEY COPELAND BERKERY ASHLEY COPELAND, INC.

DR. BETH MALIZIA ALABAMA FERTILITY SPECIALISTS For Dr. Beth Malizia at Alabama Fertility Specialists, providing her patients with a sense of understanding can be the most important part of her job. The road to a baby can sometimes be difﬁcult alizia said, but less so with the right support. After graduating from Cornell with her undergraduate degree with honors and working for a brief stint on Wall Street, Malizia quickly learned she didn’t want to sit behind a desk. She wanted to help people. She decided to pursue medicine and attended UNC - Chapel Hill for medical school and then completed her residency in OB-GYN at UAB. Dr. Malizia soon began having an interest not just in pregnancy, but the conception of pregnancy. After working as a resident at UAB, she went to pursue a fellowship in Boston at one of the largest fertility centers in the US. “I really loved being involved with all aspects of reproductive care,” she said. Even though neither her nor her husband are from Birmingham, they ended up here after training, knowing

► WHERE: 2700 U.S. 280, Suite 370 ► CALL: 874-0000 ► WEB: alabama fertility.com

that the city was a good place to live and raise their children. In Boston, she worked at a large fertility center that did thousands of cycles a year, she said, which provided her with the perfect training. In Birmingham, she works for a private practice, which enables her to be more closely involved with a couple from start to ﬁnish along their fertility journey. “Individual care and the ability to make changes based on what speciﬁc patients want and need medically is my favorite part,” she said. Dr. Malizia said she is happy to see patients at any point in their evaluation of fertility, whether they have not yet started trying or have been trying for years.

Ashley Copeland Berkery is in the business of making women look and feel beautiful, on their wedding day and everyday. Berkery was a French teacher when she found out she was pregnant with her first child and she knew it was time to take a new professional direction. Most importantly, she needed a e ible schedule that could fit her life putting family first all while still financially contributing. Combining the skills she had gained in public relations and education, Berkery launched her own event and wedding planning business, Ashley Copeland, Inc. “I love helping brides turn their dreams and visions into a reality,” she said. “The moment I see a bride smile as she walks down the aisle and later as she takes the dance oor know that have succeeded.” Life has since been busy, and last year Berkery realized that with her second child approaching kindergarten, it was time to incorporate more than just weddings into her professional business. “I wanted something that could complement my e isting event business be accomplished virtually anytime, anywhere be profitable on the first month and generate residual income

► CALL: 541-4445 ► WEB: ashleycopelandinc.com every month,” Berkery said. After some research, she decided to become an independent consultant for Rodan + Fields. She has since been working on growing her businesses, sharing products with brides, family and friends. She is now modeling to her R+F team members how they, too, are able to e perience time and ﬁnancial freedom. “I love what I do. I am constantly getting to share a blessing with others by either introducing them to great products or by sharing a great business opportunity,” Berkery said.

B14 • July 2017

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The Homewood Star

KATIE WADE FAUGHT APPLAUSE DANCEWEAR Katie Wade Faught grew up in the dancewear business. Her parents, Buddy and Cindy Wade, opened Applause Dancewear in 1981. Faught spent most of her childhood there, where she sold her ﬁrst leotard when she was only 8 years old. In December 1992, Faught had just moved back home from the University of Alabama to complete her college education at UAB when her parents asked if she would be interested in managing the store. By summer 1993, she had taken over the entire business. When asked what she does, Faught’s response is this: “I am a therapist to dance moms, a teenage-girl whisperer and a sales person like you’ve never seen, but I can still balance the books and pay the taxes at the end of the day.” Faught has a hand in every part of Applause, from working behind the scenes to working face-to-face with customers. That she only hires former dancers is what sets Applause apart from other dancewear stores. “80 percent of our customers are parents who didn’t dance, and when they bring their child to us, I want them to know that we are conﬁdent in what we are selling

CHARLOTTE THOMPSON AND JEANA LEE THOMPSON BELLA BRIDESMAIDS

► WHERE: 1629 Oxmoor Road ► CALL: 871-7837 ► WEB: applausedancewear.net because we either wear it right now or have worn it.” 2017 marks the 36th year Applause Dancewear has been in business, and it is still growing. “To be considered one of the highest-level retailers in the U.S. due to the amount of inventory sold and the broad customer base I have cultivated both nationally and locally is quite a feat considering there are over 40,000 dance retailers in the country,” Faught said.

As any bride knows, planning a wedding can be overwhelming. The team at Bella Bridesmaids can help alleviate stress in an important area: beautifully dressing the bridesmaids. Bella Bridesmaids has complete collections from 33 designers and call themselves a “human Rolodex” of what s on their showroom oor. “We help brides and bridesmaids come together, even if everyone is choosing different colors, fabrics and textures,” said Jeana Lee Thompson, who, along with her sister, Charlotte Thompson, has co-owned the business for nearly 11 years. Bella Bridesmaids is a national franchise; before the sisters opened the Birmingham store, the closest shop was in tlanta. “ ne beneﬁt of being a franchise] is if a bridesmaid is in San Francisco, Chicago or New York they still get to have the experience even if they’re

AMY JASON

CHRIS COLLINS

COOKIE FIX

HOMEWOOD ANTIQUES

“I don’t always know what’s for dinner, but I always know what’s for dessert,” Amy Jason said. And at her store, Cookie Fix, cookies are always on the table. After years of hearing compliments about her cookies, Jason decided to open her store in downtown Homewood in 2016, two days before Thanksgiving. Now, eight months later, her business has grown “by leaps and bounds,” she said. Cookie Fix offers a wide variety of cookies that up other desserts. They are made with the highest also sell bakeware and quality ingredients and the Dough Makers baking baked throughout the day sheets, which she credits — not cooked in one large to helping create the batch at the start of each signature crispy outside and day. This way, she said, she gooey inside her cookies and her employees are are known for, and provide able to provide the freshest ► WHERE: 2854 excellent customer service. cookies to their customers. 18th St. S. “We’re really invested in As the owner, Jason does ► CALL: 582-2623 the customer experience,” a little bit of everything, ► WEB: cookieﬁx she said. from cleaning out the now.com After seeing familiar freezer to recipe creation, faces, she and her staff but said she couldn’t do it have learned more about without the help of her staff. Together, their customers, including their favorite they work with customers to ﬁll their cookies and where her cookies go after orders. leaving the store. “[I love seeing] the Jason and her team offer catering smiles and people coming in and telling trays, frozen cookie dough, corporate me about sharing their cookies,” she orders, cookie tins and “over the said. “They’re sharing themselves and top desserts,” which she said helps they’re sharing smiles.” customers use their cookies to ramp-

Chris Collins opened Homewood Antiques & Marketplace seven years ago and, as they say, the rest is history. Collins likes to describe her store as a one-stop shop with something for everyone. While Homewood Antiques & Marketplace continues to provide an eclectic selection of new and repurposed home furnishings and accessories, they have grown and evolved into much more. Many local, small business owners who create products from their homes and workshops are able to display them at “mini-stores” inside Homewood Antiques. The list of businesses that have these “spaces” includes many area residents who live close to her store and offer great gift items including: beautiful pottery, two different lines of candles, local honey and honey products, books from area authors, artwork, jewelry and T-shirts. The ever-changing store has a monthly Red Balloon Sale one Saturday a month, offering storewide discounts as well as a new rewards program that allows customers the opportunity to earn points redeemable for discounts. They are active in the community and host many events beneﬁting their favorite charities including the

► WHERE: 104 Broadway St. ► CALL: 942-6444 ► WEB: bellabridesmaids.com not at the Birmingham showroom,” Jeana Lee Thompson said. “They can go in their local store try on the dress and get ﬁtted even if they’re in a different city.” The store operates by appointment only so brides and bridesmaids can have the team’s complete and undivided attention. “Our mission is really to have the bride and her bridesmaids have a pleasant e perience ﬁnd dresses they love and pictures they will love for years to come,” Jeana Lee Thompson said.

► WHERE: 930 Oxmoor Road ► CALL: 414-9945 ► WEB: homewood antiques.com WellHouse and United Abilities. The store provides many services within the 10,000-square-foot store, including custom framing, upholstery, furniture painting and a new, fullservice orist omewood lowers. omewood lowers delivers owers as well as gift baskets and can provide arrangements in your own vase. They do all types of special events including weddings. It’s worth the drive to Edgewood to visit Homewood Antiques & Marketplace to see their collection of “old, new and everything in between.”

TheHomewoodStar.com

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

July 2017 • B15

CHRISSI COOK FIRST COMMERCIAL BANK/ SYNOVUS What sets a bank apart from its competitors isn’t the products it offers, but rather the service its employees provide. Chrissi Cook at First Commercial Bank/Synovus believes this is where her company comes out on top. “We listen to what they need,” Cook said of First Commercial’s customers. “We really want to dig deep and find out what their plans are.” First Commercial has been located in Homewood since 1985, and Cook, now vice president, joined the company 18 years ago. She works with both small businesses and individual customers to meet their financial needs. Particularly for business clients, Cook said, it’s important to understand their goals, whether that’s growth and expansion, succession or saving more money. “What they need is a business partner a financial partner that listens and shares their vision,” Cook said. “I like learning about new businesses; I like learning about what our customers do.” First Commercial’s services are competitive with others in the Birmingham area, and Cook said she has had customers walk through the

LIZ MONTGOMERY NORTHSTAR REALTY/ERA KING REAL ESTATE

► WHERE: 800 Shades Creek Parkway ► CALL: 868-9111 ► WEB: synovus.com door based on a recommendation from another bank that First Commercial can provide what they’re looking for. Banking is still about relationships and trusting that your banker has your interest as a priority. “If you know you have someone you can trust to take care of you, you don’t have to have a branch on every corner,” Cook said. Banking products are provided by Synovus Bank, Member FDIC. Divisions of Synovus Bank operate under multiple trade names across the Southeast.

Liz Montgomery, who grew up in Brazil where her parents were missionaries, had worked at SouthTrust Bank for 20 years but didn’t want to relocate when the bank was bought out by Wachovia in 2004. Johnny “Ironman” Montgomery, a longtime Realtor, didn’t want her to move either, Liz said. “He popped the question, and we got married in August 2005,” she said. “Now, we have fun working together to help clients ﬁnd the best homes for them whether it be buying, selling or renting.” When the market crashed in iz Montgomery found herself doing more renting than selling. “I now manage about rental properties for multiple owners,” she said. “I enjoy handling it all — helping others to buy, sell or rent a home.” Liz is now the owner/broker of NorthStar Realty as well as a real estate agent/associate broker with ERA King

► WHERE: 2700 Rogers Drive, Suite 300 ► CALL: 205-531-7735 ► WEB: northstarrealtyal.com ► EMAIL: northstar4@gmail.com Real Estate with Johnny. Recently there’s been another familial addition to this power team. Liz’s son, aymond Woods joined the team after graduating from the University of Alabama. He received his real-estate license this summer. He’ll work with the Montgomerys with buying, selling and renting of property. Liz Montgomery’s businesses continue to grow as the market improves. “The market is really hot right now, especially with rentals, so that’s keeping everything very busy.”

JUDITH CARTER NEEDLEWORKS Judith Carter worked throughout much of her life in the textile industry, but as the industry changed, many of her jobs were relocated or phased out. So with her skills in hand weaving, textiles and apparel, as well as her enthusiasm for needlework, she opened her boutique needlepoint store, Needleworks, in 2000. “I made lemonade out of the lemons, so to speak,” she said. Together with her employees and the designers she works with, Carter is able to provide her customers with all of their needs to complete their needlepoint projects. assistance they The shop offers ready-tomay need along stitch canvases, a multitude the way. “I want of threads, advice from people to know sage stitchers, as well as that whatever they the opportunity to create may be stitching, ► WHERE: 2810 Crescent custom canvases for their we’re in it with Ave. clients. them for the long ► CALL: 870-5191 Carter said, too, that haul,” she said. ► WEB: gritsneedlepoint.com finishers at her shop will By offering take a customer’s work and individual classes turn it into a keepsake, such as a pillow by appointment, she said she and her or ornament. “We re probably one of staff can help customers with projects the only places that has stitching and and questions they may have. finishing all in house ” she said. “We want it to be a place where While she said it has been difficult people can come and have a good to keep up with the changing trends in e perience ” she said. “We re really threads and materials, Carter and her glad to be a part of the Homewood team work to meet the needs of their community. I think it’s an ideal kind of customers and provide them with any community to support our shop.”

SHERI COREY SEW SHERI DESIGNS/DORM SUITE DORM Sew Sheri Designs, moved to Homewood, I was able to get back and eventually Dorm to what I love the Suite Dorm, grew most: the creating and out of Sheri Corey’s designing.” desire to be a stay-at► WHERE: 1722 28th Ave. S., home mom 24 years This recent change Suite G played a part in the ago. “I began making ► CALL: 879-8278 goals Corey set for pillows and bedding ► WEB: sewsheri.com; her business. “I’ve for people in my dormsuitedorm.com neighborhood.” gone from wanting to Sew Sheri offers grow my business to hand-made curtains, bedding, pillows, just wanting to have more quality than upholstered headboards and much more. quantity,” she said. “I’m into the goal of making sure I’m the best I can be.” “I am blessed enough to be able to help people make their home beautiful,” she Corey sets herself and her businesses said. “I have such a passion for it.” apart by continuing to learn about her Earlier this year, Corey moved her craft. “I stay up on the current trends of construction and the newest ways to do shop from Mountain Brook to a smaller things properly.” location in Homewood. “One of my Her favorite part about what she current challenges is how to do a big does? Her customers. “I have fabulous job in a small workroom and knowing the best way to do it,” she said. customers — people who have called me Although it’s a challenge, Corey hasn’t for the past 24 years — and being able failed to ﬁnd the silver lining. “When we to see their families grow is rewarding.”

B16 • July 2017

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The Homewood Star

DIANE LITSEY THE DANCE FOUNDATION Diane Litsey has been uniquely creative her entire life. What began in her childhood as making up plays and writing songs has morphed into a passion for managing creative arts. Litsey studied art management and began at the Dance Foundation in 1991 as the executive director. This year, she celebrates 25 years of dedication and service to this company. The Dance Foundation make sure everyone she is a nonproﬁt organization works with has what he/ located in Homewood. she needs to do what they “We have our students at need to do. the center of our mission — “My goal is to be we teach the art of dance collaborative with my in our studios in Homewood coworkers, explore what and with 30 partnering needs to be done and how organizations each week.” we can improve, and then A goal of the Dance ► WHERE: 1715 get out of their way,” she Foundation is to never say 27th Court S. said. “I work with some no to a student who wants ► CALL: 870-0073 extraordinary people.” to learn dance. ► WEB: facebook. “There are moments “We need funds to com/thedance in class or seeing a offer tuition assistance to foundation performance that take families in need,” Litsey my breath away — the said. “We so ﬁrmly believe discoveries, joyfulness, artistry, that dance is a foundation for life and generosity,” she said. “The students for learning — we want our family to and teachers and musicians inspire me. grow and include anyone who wants to That’s why I am still here after all these participate.” years.” In her own words, Litsey’s job is to

LYNDA ROTHOFF THE KORDUROY KROCODILE Thirty-six years ago this September, Lynda Rothoff opened The Korduroy Krocodile in Homewood. She and a friend knew someone whose shop was closing, they happened upon a building to rent and dove in headﬁrst to owning a business. Rothoff has since become more than just a business owner — she has become a housekeeper, a maintenance woman, a bookkeeper and a counselor to her customers. She’s now on her second generation of customers, as women who used to come in the store to shop for their kids are now shopping for their grandkids. “It becomes like a family,” she said. “I love talking to people and talking to my customers. It’s surprising; I have people come in and say ‘I need a hug. I need to talk. I need to share for a minute.’” She’s also watched as the second and third generations of her own family grow to be part of the shop, including daughter Julie Rothoff and granddaughters Sophie, pictured,

► WHERE: 2912 Linden Ave. ► CALL: 879-0030 ► WEB: korduroykrocodile.com Rachel and Leah Shunnarah. A people person who loves to laugh and enjoy life, Rothoff loves her customers and her employees, too. One employee has worked for Rothoff for 25 years; one employee worked for the store as a teenager and now, as a fulltime schoolteacher, spends her summers off back in the store, helping out. And 36 years in, Rothoff doesn’t regret her decision to go into business for herself. “I’ve worked jobs where I didn’t enjoy it ... and so far, I have never dreaded coming to work. My goal is to keep serving everybody and enjoying life.”

COBBIE LLEWELLYN THE SMOCKING BIRD The Smocking Bird has been open for more than 30 years, but as of a few months ago, it welcomed a new owner to the shop: Cobbie Llewellyn. Cobbie has been sewing since her ﬁrst daughter was born nine years ago, and after having twins, one of whom was born with special needs, she opted to stay home. “So I just started sewing all the time, and it kind of just became a passion,” she said. Soon, all of her children were in school, and with her newfound free time, Cobbie decided to purchase The Smocking Bird. Together with her team, The Smocking Bird provides sewers and prospective sewers with the tools they need to bring their visions to life: fabrics, thread, Janome sewing machines and necessary supplies are all for sale. The shop also teaches classes — perfect for beginners and experts alike — and offers kid classes and summer camps. Cobbie said, too, that many of the women who have been in the shop for some time are still present, helping customers with patterns or teaching classes. It’s this intergenerational and community feel of The Smocking Bird that makes it stand out. “[There are] all ages, all levels of sewers getting together and helping each other,” Cobbie said, adding that the staff is extremely knowledgeable

DANIELLE AND CINDY WADE THE WADE TEAM - LAH REAL ESTATE

► WHERE: 2831 Linden Ave. ► CALL: 879-7662 ► WEB: thesmockingbird.com/ about sewing. “It’s really just a place to come and learn and to be with people who have the same passion for sewing that you do.” She also ﬁnds the relationships she has built with her customers and vendors as the most rewarding aspect of her job, which she said is its “own little support system.” “I think … we’re really a close knit little group, where everyone is there to help everybody else.”

married. Danielle was Family and born and raised in a passion for Homewood is what Homewood and was a brought this dynamic former Star Spangled Girl under Cindy’s realty team together. direction. Although Cindy Wade, a New she was their go-to Orleans native, moved ► WHERE: 1760 Oxmoor Road to Homewood in 1969 photographer and ► CALL: 879-8580 with her husband, stager for a while, ► WEB: lahrealestate.com she officially joined Buddy Wade, a State The Wade Team as a Farm agent who had an appreciation for Homewood’s Realtor in 2009. The team is currently a commerical cottage niche. Cindy was part of LAH Real Estate. recruited by Homewood City Schools According to Danielle, being a part of a passionate three-person realty team from the old Shades Valley to start a high school dance program and the Star has its perks. “We know we service our clients more effectively and efficiently Spangled Girls. with the ability to offer the client Buddy’s love for the Homewood area was passed down to his son, Billy. multiple perspectives,” she said. Billy got into real estate and in 1998, This family-centered team strives to he asked Cindy to retire from teaching treat each client like they would their own family. “Integrity and honesty are and be his partner, and The Wade Team very important to us,” Cindy said. “We was formed. Danielle Evans Wade came into the listen to what clients want, and we try picture in 1999 when she and Billy were to fulfill that need and desire.”

TheHomewoodStar.com

July 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ B17

Homewood Real Estate Listings

711 Zelda Place

MLS #

Zip

Address

Status

Price

786712

35209

711 Zelda Place

New

$535,000

786063

35209

1720 Windsor Blvd.

New

$349,900

785464

35209

424 Devon Drive

New

$525,000

784776

35209

228 Saxon Drive

New

$259,900

777902

35209

312 Crest Drive

New

$290,000

779518

35209

1603 Grove Place

New

$449,900

775961

35209

104 Woodmont Drive

New

$290,000

780803

35209

210 Yorkshire Drive

New

$599,000

781848

35209

3411 Windsor Blvd.

New

$419,000

784531

35209

520 Clermont Drive

New

$299,900

784124

35209

1902 Mayfair Drive

New

$450,000

784521

35209

416 Berry Ave.

New

$529,900

780467

35209

420 Crest Drive

New

$289,900

784065

35209

1702 Roseland Drive

New

$419,780

786889

35209

709 Windsor Drive

New

$364,900

785726

35209

1133 Hardwick Lane

New

$299,900

786847

35209

1132 Shadesview Terrace S.

New

$345,000

786585

35209

429 Hillwood Drive

New

$385,000

Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on June 15. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.

1902 Mayfair Drive

The Homewood Star

B18 • July 2017

Calendar Homewood Events July 3-8 and 10-14: Art Camp. 3:30-6 p.m. Homewood Senior Center. Week 1: The Basic Arts; Week 2: All About Color. $150 per student. For ages 9-13. Snacks included. To register, email paigealarson@gmail.com or allicturner@gmail.com or call 706-326-0647. July 4: July 4 Fest. 5-9 p.m. Downtown Homewood. Family friendly activities, such as inflatables and rides, as well as interactive performances, food, live music and a fireworks show. More information can be found on the Parks and Recreation board website homewood parks.com. July 4: Thunder on the Mountain.

9 p.m. Fireworks show over Vulcan Park and Museum. Park closes at 6 p.m. For viewing tips and a list of participating radio stations that will carry the music broadcast, visit visitvulcan.com/ july-4th-ﬁreworks. July 4-5: Our Lady of Sorrows Trash and Treasures rummage sale. 9 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. 1728 Oxmoor Road. Sales from Trash and Treasures goes toward helping out missions, including local and international mission trips. All remaining items are 50 percent off July 5. For more information on the sale, to volunteer or to donate items, call Melanie Falconer at 281-9695. Donations are accepted at the OLS gym from May 27 to July 1.

July 10: Patti Callahan Henry. 6:30 p.m. Alabama Booksmith. Signing “The Bookshop at the Water’s End.” Visit alabamabooksmith.com. July 10: Joshilyn Jackson. 6:30 p.m. Alabama Booksmith. Signing “Almost Sisters.” Visit alabamabooksmith.com. July 26: Gin Phillips. 5 p.m. Alabama Booksmith. Signing “Fierce Kingdom.” Visit alabama booksmith.com. July 29: 2017 Sidewalk Sale. Downtown Homewood. Merchants will line sidewalks in front of their shops with discounted merchandise. Visit homewoodchamber.com.

Homewood Public Library Children July 1: Mario Party. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. Games, crafts and snacks based on your favorite video game characters. Mondays, July 3-24: Building Blocks Playtime. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. Join Ms. Mary for stories and building stations that improve your preschooler’s early literacy skills. July 3: Reading Buddies. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Practice read-aloud skills and make new friends in this intergenerational reading program featuring volunteers from a local retirement community. July 3: Kid Lit Book Club. 6:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Whether you’re a teacher,

a librarian, an educator or a parent, join us for a discussion of your favorite kid lit and learn about other great books to add to your reading list. Wednesdays, July 5-26: Itty Bitty City. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. Join us for this special interactive storytime/playtime to learn about the community helpers who help make our community great. Thursdays, July 6-27: Rootin’ Tootin’ Summer Storytime. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. Summer storytime with Ms. Cristina. July 6: LEGO Scooby Doo. 6:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Use your LEGO skills and building knowledge to help the gang ﬁnd Scooby during this fun-ﬁlled family program.

July 7: Irish Dancing. 10:30 a.m. in the Large Auditorium. Learn about the culture of Irish dance and some Irish dance steps in this 30-minute class. July 8: Sensory Storytime. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. Monthly, all-ages storytime introducing stories and songs in a variety of engaging ways in a sensory-friendly atmosphere. July 8: Stuffed Animal Sleepover. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Children’s Department. Bring your second favorite stuffed animal to spend the night at the Homewood Public Library. Drop off at the children’s desk Saturday, July 8, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. and pick up Sunday, July 9, between 2-6 p.m. July 9: Teddy Bear Tea Party. 3:30

TheHomewoodStar.com p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Bring your favorite stuffed animal for a special storytime event with stories, crafts and stuffed-animal-sized snacks. July 10: Family Flix: LEGO Batman. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. A fun, family flick about LEGOs, Batman and lobster thermidor. Refreshments provided. July 10: Family Flix: LEGO Batman (Spanish Language Edition). 5:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Watch a fun family flick with us in Spanish about LEGOs, Batman and lobster thermidor. Refreshments provided. July 11: Birmingham Zoo. 10:30 a.m. in the Large Auditorium. See some of the animal world’s most amazing creatures. July 11: Paper Bag Book Club: Read Without Walls. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Bring a book you love from the week’s category and disguise it in a paper bag. Everyone who attends all four book club meetings will receive a special gift July 25! Third through fifth grade. No registration required. July 13: Jungle Adventures. 6:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. An animal show with Rick Rakestraw and his collection of animals from around the world. July 14: Yoga for Kids. 10:30 a.m. in the Large Auditorium. A morning full of playful poses, yoga stories and yoga games. July 14: Passport to Fun. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Go on an adventure to a different country via crafts, movies and food. July 15: Baby & Me Storytime. 10:30 a.m. in the Round Auditorium. Join Ms. Mary for an educational and engaging storytime filled with songs, fingerplays and short stories. Designed for babies up to 12 months in age and a parent/ caregiver. July 15: Junior Jedi Training. 2 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. The Force will be strong with you if come to this program ... you won’t even need to use your hyperdrive to travel to a galaxy far, far away because it will be right here at the library. Open to rising fourth through seventh graders. Online registration required. July 17: LEGO Club. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. An exciting new building challenge each month. Kindergarten through fifth grade. July 18: Community Helper Day. 10:30 a.m. in the Library Parking Lot. Join us outside (weather permitting) for a fun-filled morning of community helpers. Local police and fire departments with us along with their vehicles.

July 2017 • B19 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. A social event that is exclusively for students who will be starting middle school. Mingle with other rising sixth-graders and have an evening of fun. Online registration required. July 24: Family Flix: Boss Baby. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Watch a fun family flick with us about a baby who knows who is boss. Refreshments provided. July 24: Family Flix: Boss Baby (Spanish Language Edition). 6 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. A fun family flick with us in Spanish about a baby who knows who is boss. Refreshments provided. July 25: Ronald McDonald. 10:30 a.m. in the Large Auditorium. Ronald McDonald is back to sing songs, tell stories and spread some rednosed cheer for all to hear. July 25: Paper Bag Book Club: Read Anything. 3:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Bring any title and disguise your book in a paper bag. Everyone who attends all four book club meetings will receive a special gift July 25! Third through fifth grade. No registration required. July 27: Crazy Chemistry: Atoms, molecules and matter. 6:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Join the Science Lady for some crazy and cool chemistry. This fun and exciting show is full of radical reactions. July 28: Countdown to Kindergarten Popsicle Party. 2-4 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. If your child is starting kindergarten in the fall, bring them by the library for our popsicle party and meet future classmates from area schools. Teens July 8: Self-Defense for Teen Girls. 10 a.m. in the Large Auditorium. Join Karen Mitchell from Impact Martial Arts as she teaches girls how to size up a situation and decide what they should do in this free workshop. Online registration required. July 10: Animal Allies. 4 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. This service club for teens is dedicated to raising the community’s awareness on animal welfare issues. Teens who have a passion for helping animals are encouraged to attend. July 10: Teen Advisory Board (TAB). 6 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Open to teens grades six through 12 who want to take an active role at the Homewood Public Library. Application materials can be downloaded from the library’s website or picked up at the Adult Services Desk.

July 20: Tom Foolery. 6:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Jokes, magic tricks and unicycling.

July 11: Stuffed Animal Taxidermy. 3 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. This might sound a bit strange, but you will be amazed at what a simple stuffed animal can be transformed into. All supplies provided.

July 21: Move & Groove Storytime. 10:30 a.m. in the Large Auditorium. An interactive and energetic movement storytime for all ages ﬁlled with dance, yoga and fun.

July 13: iTween Bad Art. 3 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Make a messy masterpiece. Open to rising fourth- through seventh-graders. All supplies provided.

July 21: Sixth Grade Social. 6:30-8:30

July 17: Knight Chess Tournament.

5:30-7 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Join us for a monthly chess tournament where you will learn strategy and fun in equal measure. July 18: Libraryflix: Newsies. 3:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. A musical based on the New York City newsboy strike of 1899. July 18: Girls Who Code. 4-6 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. This national club is geared toward empowering girls in grades six through 12 who are interested in the computer science field. No registration required, but participants are encouraged to bring their laptops. July 18: Teenflix: Rogue One. 6 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon of destruction. July 19: Art Afternoon. 3 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Explore your artistic side. All skill levels welcome, and all supplies provided. July 25: Teen Anime Club. 3 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Love manga or anything Japanese related? Join the Teen Anime Club as we discuss and watch anime. Adults July 1: AARP Smart Driver Course with Joe Ross. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Room 102 (Lower Level). The nation’s first and largest refresher course designed specifically for older drivers. Those who complete the course may be eligible for an automobile insurance discount for up to three years. Participants should check with their insurance company for possible discounts. Registration required. AARP members $15, non-members $20. To register, call Joe Ross at 823-7067. July 6: Let’s Dish Cookbook Club: Savory Southern BBQ. 6:30 p.m. in the Boardroom. To participate, prepare a recipe around each month’s theme and bring the dish and recipe to the meeting. We will dish about the theme, recipe and deliciousness at the meeting. No registration required. For more information, contact Judith Wright at jrwright@bham.lib.al.us or at 332-6622. July 7: Niki Sepsas presents “HMS Bounty: The Men, The Mission, The Mutiny.” 1 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. The story of Capt. William Bligh, Fletcher Christian, the men of HMS Bounty, and the most famous mutiny in maritime history.

your questions on how best to use your Apple® device. July 13: Book Signing with local author Lauren Denton. 6:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. Homewood resident and author Lauren Denton discusses her debut novel, “The Hideaway.” Books will be available for purchase, and a signing will take place after the program. July 17: Bossypants Book Club: “The Children of Men” by P.D. James. 6:30-8 p.m. at Nabeel’s Café. If you love spiky humor, quick wit and brutal honesty, this is the book club for you! Discuss “The Children of Men” by P.D. James. July 18: The ABC’s of Medicare. 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. in Room 116 (Lower Level). Karen Haiflich will answer questions about how benefits are currently computed, how to become insured and how to file a claim. July 18: Homewood Senior Center Book Club: “The Boys in the Boat” by Daniel James Brown. 1 p.m. at the Homewood Senior Center. Out of the depths of the Great Depression comes an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times — the improbable, intimate account of how nine working-class boys from the American West showed the world at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin what true grit really meant. July 20: Stretching Your Money During Retirement with Philip Wilson. 6:30 p.m. in the Round Auditorium. An in-depth look at filing strategies for maximizing your Social Security and finding the specific retirement investment recommendations that are suitable for income. Participation in the workshop is free, space is limited to 25. Register online or contact Leslie West at lwest@bham.lib.al.us or 332-6620. July 25: Dixie’s Pet Loss Support Group. 5:30 p.m. in Room 106 (Lower Level). Grief/loss group is sponsored by the Greater Birmingham Humane Society. Participation in the workshop is free; reservations are requested because space is limited. Contact Randy Hicks, GBHS volunteer coordinator, at 542-7111. July 26: Homewood Rocks Rock Painting. 11 a.m. in Room 110 (Lower Level). Paint rocks to hide around Homewood to brighten people’s day. Supplies provided. Wear protective clothing and bring all your creativity.

Mondays, July 10 and 17: Library Yoga. 10 a.m. in the Large Auditorium. Take time out of your busy schedule for free yoga classes at the library. All levels of ﬁtness welcome. No registration required, but please bring your own mat.

July 26: iProduct Master Class: Photography Using iPads & iPhones. 2 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Topics will include: sharing images; creating albums and projects; basic photo editing; and more! Participation in the workshop is free; however, participation in the introductory class is required.

July 11: Oxmoor Page Turner’s Book Club. 6:30 p.m. in the Boardroom. Discussing “Good As Gone” by Amy Gentry.

July 26: The Better Than Therapy Book Club. 2 p.m. in the Boardroom. Discussing “Commonwealth” by Ann Patchett.

July 12: First Step Wednesdays: Get the Most Out of Your iPad and iPhone. 2 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. This workshop is geared toward casual users. Join us as Apple® certiﬁed trainers for Alabama Tech-Ease answer

July 28: Booze in Bond. 6:30 p.m. in the Large Auditorium. Explore the boozy world of Bond with bartender and author Clair McLafferty. Ages 21 and older. Tickets are $10 and include two adult beverages and light refreshments.