Homewood Star April 2024

By EMILY REED

HBy SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.

Homewood is on the verge of christening its first full-scale playground that is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Rusty Holley, the superintendent of Homewood Parks and Recreation, said the playground at Central Park should be complete around April 1, no later than a week to 10 days after.

“That’s kind of where the timeline is leading right now,” Holley said, adding that what has been designed provides a lot more offerings for patrons. “We’ve never had anything wheelchair-accessible

on the playground,” he said. That includes the previous bark covering the ground, which was difficult to cross with a wheelchair or other mobility aids.

The revamped playground also will include components that are related to science, technology, engineering or math skills — elements that Homewood has never really had other than some separate panels on a play structure.

“This has three STEM play units that sit by themselves in the playground,” Holley said.

Construction crews work on updates to the Central Park playground on March 13. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

2024 Homewood Library Foundation

Saturday, April 20, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. rain or shine

Admission includes live music, fun activities for kids, and food & cold beverages from a variety of local businesses and vendors.

Buy tickets at HomewoodLibraryFoundation.org or at the door Adults (21+) $25, Ages 4-20 ($10), Ages 3 & Under FREE with adult ticket

The Homewood Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization supporting the Homewood Public Library, and all event proceeds benefit the Library.

About Us

This month, there was no doubt about what topic should be on the cover of the paper.

Any time something is happening that can affect everyone in the city, that’s it.

If you’re someone who hasn’t paid much attention to the discussion of changing Homewood’s municipal government structure, I encourage you to flip back a couple pages and read Emily Reed’s cover story.

While hiring a city manager has come up in the three municipal elections since this paper has existed — and likely longer — the process is now moving forward. This change to the government may be a reality in the

near future.

And we plan to be a part of the conversation as things develop.

We’ve now reached the part of the

publisher’s note where I ask for public input. If you have an angle that you think we should explore in a future story, or if you would like to write a letter to the editor about this, I’d love to hear from you.

Please note that submissions are subject to editing and publishing decisions.

I can be reached by email at dan@starnesmedia.com.

Thanks!

Please Support Our Community Partners

Ace Hardware Homewood (A11)

Alabama Power (A7)

Ambrose Kitchen & Bath (B5)

ARC Realty Mt Laurel (A17)

Bedzzz Express (B1, B16)

Birmingham Museum of Art (B11)

Brandino Brass (B3)

Bromberg’s (B9)

Bryant Bank (A11)

Budget Blinds (B2)

Children’s of Alabama (B10)

Coty Schneider Edward Jones Financial Advisors (A13)

ENT Associates of Alabama (B9)

Gardner Astroturf (B4)

Gardner Landscaping (B1)

Gaynell Hendricks - Tax Assessor (A16)

Greater Birmingham Association of Homebuilders

Parade of Homes (B15)

Green Springs Animal Clinic (A19)

Guin Service (A1)

Gunn Dermatology (A3)

Homewood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry (B6)

Homewood Parks and Rec (A5)

Homewood Public Library (A2)

Image Hive (A8)

Issis & Sons (B7)

Jefferson County Commission (A17)

Magic City Arts Connection (B12, B13)

Mr. Handyman of Birmingham (A16)

One Man & A Toolbox (A13)

One Source Heating Cooling and Electrical LLC (A6)

Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics (B13)

Piggly Wiggly (A9)

Renew Dermatology (A20)

Shunnarah Flooring (B4)

Sikes Children’s Shoes (A8)

Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists (B10)

The Tanner Foundation (A6)

TherapySouth Corporate (A15)

TrustMark Bank (A15)

Vulcan Wellness & Aesthetics (A14)

The Homewood High School Patriot Marching Band poses for a photo outside Bunratty Castle in Bunratty, Ireland, during the Patriots’ trip to Dublin to perform in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo courtesy of Merrick Wilson, Homewood

Classes & Activities

Central Barre

Tuesday 6:15am

Wednesday 5:15pm

Saturday 8:15am

Homewood Community Center

Central Barre is a small group fitness class incorporating barre, core, cardio, balance, strength training and stretch to give you a complete workout in 55 minutes.  We use a variety of small equipment such as weights, resistance bands, balls and sliding discs to increase variety and provide real results.  ellyngagnon@gmail.com

Dance Trance

Saturday 9:30am-10:30am

Homewood Community Center Dance Trance is a high-cardio, high-energy dance fitness experience that leaves participants soaking wet!  It is a non-stop workout that feels more like a party than an exercise class. www.dancetrancefitness.com

Fun For All Line Dancing

Beginner and Beyond Beginner line dance instruction encompassing a variety of music genres, e.g., pop, country and R&B. You will learn line dance terminology, line dance steps, and, of course, line dances to specific music.

Homewood Community Center, Fitness Studio 2

Tuesday 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM

$5.00 per person per visit funforalllinedancing@gmail.com

North Star Martial Arts

North Star Martial Arts primary focus is to make a life lasting impact on our students, and their families. Classes range from beginners to adults. For detailed class listings and times please visit the park’s website or www.northstarma.com. 205-966-4244 • info@northstarma.com

YoLimber

Vinyasa yoga classes in an energetic environment using upbeat music at Homewood Community Center. All levels welcome.

Friday: 8:00am-9:00am - Basics Class

Friday: 9:30am-10:30am - Regular Class Contact Marla: 205-223-8564 • mac@yolimber.com

Bench Aerobics Step & Line Dance

Tuesday: 4:15pm – 5:15pm (Step Aerobics)

Thursday: 4:15pm – 5:15pm (Cardio Line Dance)

Homewood Community Center Fitness Studio 2

Cost: Classes are FREE (with donations)

For more information contact Rosa at 205-253-9344 or benchaerobics@bellsouth.net

Royce Head Personal Training

Affordable personal training available to members in the Fitness Center at the Homewood Community Center. Workouts are fast, fun, safe, and effective and each person is started with a program to fit their fitness level. Call Royce for more information: (205) 945-1665

Fast Track Line Dance

We learn the current and classic intermediateadvanced line dances. This class is not for beginners.

Saturday 11:00am-1:00pm

Homewood Community Center, Fitness Studio 2 Jackie Tally jgtally@aol.com (or) Helen Woods aquafool@aol.com

FIT4MOM

FIT4MOM Birmingham provides fitness classes and a network of local moms to support every stage of motherhood. From pregnancy, through postpartum and beyond, we serve our community by offering our fitness and wellness programs to help keep moms strong in body, mind and spirit. View our website for Membership Plans, Passes and Schedule. https://birmingham.fit4mom.com/

Homewood Parks & Recreation

Senior Center

Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention

Wednesdays at 1:30pm

Tai Chi is an ancient mind-body marshal art exercise that with regular practice improves health and wellbeing. It is a moving meditation in the form of fluid, graceful, circular and slow exercises. This class is suitable for anyone, easy on the joints, helps to calm the mind, improves balance and coordination. The program of Tai Chi for Health Institute. For additional information about Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention, contact Galina at: galinawaites@gmail.com

Tai Chi, Sun Style

Mondays at 1:30pm

Tai Chi is an ancient mind-body marshal art exercise that with regular practice improves health and wellbeing. It is a moving meditation in the form of fluid, graceful, circular and slow exercises. During this class participants will learn in more depth about Tai Chi history, principals and styles, will learn and practice Sun Style 73 forms. This class is suitable for anyone who is willing to take the time learning beautiful, liberating and empowering set of movements(forms). For additional information about Sun Style Tai Chi, contact Galina at: galinawaites@gmail.com

Dance Fusion with Galina

Thursdays at 1:30pm

Dance Fusion is an easy low impact aerobic exercise, where we learn the basics of many dances around the world while having a lot of fun in the process. Linear movements and occasional turns are simple enough to remember and perform, while energizing music of the program helps with cardio elements and a positive emotional effect. For additional information about Dance Fusion, contact Galina at: galinawaites@gmail.com

Summer Pool Information

For all your summer pool information: membership, hours of operation, swim team, party rentals,

Please visit: www.homewoodparks.com

By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.

Amwaste is making changes with some Homewood residents’ garbage collection days to better streamline service, Mayor Patrick McClusky said.

The changes are the result of customer feedback regarding the time of day that service is provided.

“A lot of people were complaining that their cans weren’t getting picked up until later on in the evening,” McClusky said. “Sometimes, they may not go until 7 o’clock, and then they’d have to get pushed until the next morning.”

The imbalance between the number of houses on the Monday-Thursday route and the Tuesday-Friday route is part of the problem, he said.

“If you honestly looked at the amount of houses they were picking up on that Monday-Thursday route compared to the Tuesday-Friday route, it was too many,” McClusky said. “It was astronomical.”

The mayor said he is one of the people whose pickup day is changing.

“We want to be able to have people get their cans picked up early in the morning and then by the time they get home, their cans are completely empty,” McClusky said. “Earlier route completion time is not only more convenient for residents ... but also provides a safer environment for all that are concerned.”

The mayor said residents affected by collection changes were to be sent a yellow mailer that details the changes, as well as a link to an interactive Google map they can use to confirm their days of garbage service.

“Other municipalities are going through the same thing,” McClusky said. “They’re losing

their Wednesday-Saturday service in some areas. It’s all to make this so that people can be assured that their cans are getting picked up in the morning and they can take their cans back up.”

Garbage is not the only area where city officials are trying to improve customer service. The Homewood City Council on March 11 amended the city’s agreement with Tyler Technologies to provide an online permitting portal and a paperless plan review and permitting system.

“We have been looking for that in the city for years, to kind of become more efficient

internally, but also that our citizens don’t get sent all over the place to get what they need,” Deputy Fire Chief Brandon Broadhead said. “There’s nothing more frustrating than coming to the fourth floor of City Hall and me telling you [that] you’ve got to go to two [the second floor] to get a business license. Then you go to two, and they’re not quite open yet, and then you come back to four.

“It’s not how we should treat our citizens,” Broadhead said. “This technology should integrate us better so that we can provide a better experience for our customers.”

City Councilor and Finance Committee

member Barry Smith said the amended agreement with Tyler Technologies will “take the city’s permitting system into this century.”

In other action on March 11, the council:

► Set a public hearing on April 22 to consider an amendment to the final development plan for Samford University, to permit the proposed construction of a new three-story addition to the existing north parking deck. That would add 550 parking spaces to accommodate the university’s on-campus parking needs.

► Approved a partial rezoning of the former Second Presbyterian Church property, which was subdivided into two lots. The southern lot retains its I-2 (Institutional District) zoning; the northern lot was rezoned to C-1 (Office Building District) for the construction of an 11,000-square-foot, single-story medical office building. Most of the parking will be on the commercial lot.

► Appointed Allison Crawford and Mollie McFarland to at-large positions on the Homewood Arts Council and Natalie Pruitt and Jane Nail to fill the Ward 4 and 5 positions, respectively, on the Arts Council.

► Amended the 2024 budget to allow for the purchase of a traffic department vehicle.

► Set 4:30 p.m. on April 22 as the time to open bids for maintenance for the city’s fire facilities.

► Granted a request for a sign variance for a wrap-around storefront sign for Supertone at 2732 Central Ave.

► Authorized the mayor to sign the contract for the Thunder On The Mountain Fourth of July fireworks show.

► Approved a restaurant retail liquor license for Frothy Monkey at 930 Oxmoor Road, pending approval from the police and fire departments.

Palmer, Sewell seal primary victories in Congressional Districts 6, 7

By JON ANDERSON

The stage is set for the Nov. 5 general election in Alabama’s Sixth and Seventh Congressional Districts, with incumbents Gary Palmer and Terri Sewell securing victories in the March 5 primary elections.

DISTRICT 6

Palmer, a five-term congressman from Hoover in the Sixth Congressional District, won the Republican primary over two challengers — Gerrick Wilkins of Vestavia Hills and Ken McFeeters of north Shelby County.

Palmer captured 83% of the vote on March 5 with 76,063 votes, compared to 9,636 votes (11%) for Wilkins and 5,668 votes (6%) for McFeeters, according to results from the Alabama secretary of state’s office.

Palmer now will face Democrat Elizabeth Anderson and independent candidate Kevin Stewart in the Nov. 5 general election.

The Sixth Congressional District includes Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Trussville, Clay, parts of Homewood and Hoover, the northeastern part of Jefferson County, a small part of Talladega County and all of Shelby, Bibb, Chilton, Coosa, Autauga and Elmore counties.

Palmer, who is seeking his sixth two-year term, said in a written statement that he is honored to be the Republican nominee for the Sixth Congressional District again and that the results from the primary represent that voters in District 6 believe proven conservative leadership is what is needed for Alabama.

“Now that the primary and Super Tuesday are behind us, I will be

focused on supporting other Republicans in their races so we can give President Trump a Republican majority when he is back in the White House,” Palmer said. “Thank you to the voters for their confidence in our vision and to those who supported our campaign. I am looking forward to getting back to work for you!”

DISTRICT 7

Sewell, a seven-term congresswoman in the Seventh Congressional District who calls Birmingham home, beat challenger Chris Davis of Birmingham in the Democratic primary. Sewell had 93% of the vote (59,040 votes) to Davis’s 7% (4,709 votes), according to the secretary of state’s office.

Sewell now will face Republican Robin Litaker of Homewood in November.

Litaker initially faced opposition from Christian Horn in the Republican

primary, but Horn announced in February he was withdrawing from the race. However, his decision did not come in time to have his name removed from the ballot, and Horn actually received more votes than Litaker. Horn earned 18,100 votes (58%) compared to 12,981 votes (42%) for Litaker.

The Alabama Republican Party said that, because Horn dropped out of the race, Litaker will move forward as the party’s nominee in the general election.

Litaker said the primary results “kind of took the wind out of my sails moving forward,” but she noted that she had put her campaign on pause after Horn announced he was withdrawing from the race. “I didn’t see any sense in wasting money,” she said.

Still, she looks forward to taking on Sewell in the general election, she said.

Gary Palmer, far left, won the Republican primary for the Sixth Congressional District, and Terri Sewell won the Democratic primary for the Seventh Congressional District.

Photos courtesy of Gary Palmer and Hillary Beard.

On the Ballot

In the Nov. 5 general election, voters will decide who will represent the Sixth and Seventh Congressional Districts in the U.S. House of Representitives.

Sixth Congressional District:

► Gary Palmer, Republican (incumbent)

► Elizabeth Anderson, Democrat

► Kevin Stewart, Independent

“I think it’s a prime year for a Republican to win, especially in District 7,” Litaker said. “People are tired of being ignored. … There are so many things in District 7 that have been overlooked. It’s one of the most impoverished areas of the country, and it is the most impoverished area of this state. The question is: Why is District 7 the way it is and no other district in this state? I look at Terri Sewell.”

Sewell, while celebrating her primary victory, said she knows the fight is not over.

Sewell said she was energized by voters in the primary and is fully confident that they understand she has delivered on her promise to lower unemployment, create jobs, give more money to historically black colleges and universities and fight for affordable health care and affordable housing.

“When you are the poorest district

Seventh Congressional District:

► Terri Sewell, Democrat (incumbent)

► Robin Litaker, Republican

in the state of Alabama, you are not going to change overnight,” Sewell said. “I think I’ve earned the right to ask voters for another term, and I look forward to going back and continuing to roll up my sleeves to do all that I can to help Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District.”

District 7 includes most of Birmingham, parts of Homewood, Hoover and western Jefferson County, parts of Clarke, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa counties and all of Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Marengo, Pickens, Perry, Sumter and Wilcox counties.

RELOCATIONS AND RENOVATIONS

Friday and Saturday.

205-624-0086, eatluca.com

Farrell-Calhoun Paint is now open in Homewood at 2704 19th St. S. The company has been family-owned and operated since its beginning in 1905. Farrell-Calhoun offers paint products and Green Wise products designated for “green” building projects. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

205-245-8150, farrellcalhoun.com

Bustle, a bridal shop, has moved to a new location at 1823 27th Ave. S., Suite C. The business's new space was designed to provide the dreamy experience that brides hope to have when looking for the perfect wedding gown. Appointments are required for fittings and can be made online on the website.

205-502-7484, bustlegowns.com

NEWS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Shay Gartman has been named the executive director of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce. She said she is excited to continue the successful legacy of previous directors and the work they have done. The chamber office is at 7 Hollywood Blvd.

205-871-5631, homewoodchamber.org

ANNIVERSARIES

Buka, a neighborhood wine shop, market, and takeaway cafe, is celebrating its third anniversary. The business opened at 186 Oxmoor Road, Suite 100, in West Homewood in April 2021.

205-527-8007, bukabhm.com

Etc. is celebrating the second anniversary of its Homewood location. Etc., which sells designer jewelry, accessories and clothing, opened its second location at 186 Oxmoor Road in West Homewood in April 2022.

205-871-6747, shopetcjewelry.com

The O.Henry's Coffee chain is celebrating 31 years roasting coffee in the Birmingham area. The Homewood locations at 2831 18th St. S. and 569 Brookwood Village, Suite 101, are among eight in the state. Open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

205-870-1198, ohenryscoffee.com

Corbeau Wine Bar plans Homewood location

By LOYD McINTOSH

Corbeau Wine Bar, a French-inspired wine bar, will open a Homewood location later this year.

Corbeau owners Mary and Elizabeth Martin, who launched the first location in Trussville in May 2023, chose The Edge commercial development in Homewood for their expansion. The Edge is planned for the Green Springs Avenue site formerly occupied by Royal Tobacco and Gulf Seafood.

Spearheaded by J.J. Thomas and designed by Black Design Architecture, The Edge’s other future tenants include The Standard, Baba Java Coffee and the QUE*BICLE, a new concept by Birmingham chef Nick Carter.

The Martins, who are first-time business owners, said they were approached by Thomas to open a new Corbeau location at The Edge but initially turned down the offer because it was so soon after their initial opening.

“J.J. Thomas reached out to us and asked if we would be interested, and at first, we said no, that we felt like it was a little too soon for us,” Mary Martin said. “But he asked if we would meet with him and go over what his ideas and plans were, and once we heard his offerings and the location, and we did our research on the market there and what our competition would be, it was just too good of a deal to pass up.”

Corbeau offers the Napa Technology WineStation, a self-serve system allowing customers to pour small samples or full servings of dozens of wines from around the world. Mary Martin described it as “an experience all on its own.”

“The other places are fantastic and have fantastic lines, but there is nowhere else where you can taste this many wines and sample this much wine, which makes us completely unique,” Elizabeth Martin said.

Corbeau’s bar and retail wine selections are curated and constantly evolving, and the Martins are eager to show interesting wines from around the globe.

The Martins have regularly scheduled events, such as wine tastings and classes educating people on how to host tastings. The sisters said their goal is to demystify wine and provide people with an opportunity to explore and develop a deeper appreciation as they move up from the typical choices on supermarket shelves.

“Wine by itself can be so intimidating,” Elizabeth said. “The last thing we wanted was to create a space that felt intimidating on its own as well.”

The Martins are also passionate about pairing food with wine, featuring charcuterie, flatbread pizzas and other small plates on the menu. Mary Martin said food will receive greater emphasis at the Homewood location.

“What intrigues us about wine so much is

pairing it with food and exploring the different flavor profiles and how they enhance each other,” she said. “That’s something that we’re passionate about, and it’s playing out in our business because as we plan these exciting wine dinners and classes, it’s just so much fun, and each one is so unique.”

The Martins expect the Homewood location of Corbeau Wine Bar to open this summer. For more information, visit corbeaubar.com.

Elizabeth Martin, left, and Mary Martin, sisters and co-owners of Corbeau Wine Bar in downtown Trussville, are opening their second location at The Edge in Homewood this summer. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

Chamber

Gartman named new chamber executive director

By EMILY REED

The Homewood Chamber of Commerce’s new executive director is no stranger to business and commerce activities in the city.

Shay Gartman began her new role on March 25. Gartman has served as the chamber’s office and events manager since 2021.

“I am so excited about this opportunity to continue to work with the businesses in Homewood,” Gartman said. “To work to find ways that we at the chamber can better serve the businesses and our community.”

Gartman replaces Meredith Drennen, who served as executive director for nine years. Drennen is taking a role with the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) as the new vice president of investor relations.

As the chamber’s office and events manager, Gartman spearheaded coordination for events including the Annual Golf Classic, Taste of Homewood and monthly membership luncheons.

“We have great events, but the Holiday Open House is my favorite,” Gartman said. “I love engaging with our community and being able to show off the great businesses we have in our area. We are fortunate to have a variety of businesses in Homewood.”

Gartman, a resident of Homewood, has lived in the area for two decades. She grew up in Mobile and attended the University of Alabama, where she earned a degree in advertising.

“My husband and I moved here a little over 20 years ago,” Gartman said. “At the time, we had one child and we were looking for a place that had a strong community feel and great schools. There is no better place than Homewood for that.”

Since moving to Homewood, Gartman has had three more children, including one Homewood High graduate and three currently in the Homewood school system.

Some of her favorite things to do in the city include eating at the various restaurants throughout the city, visiting local parks and appreciating the sense of community.

“I love going on morning walks on the trail with my husband,” Gartman said. “I love that there is nowhere in this town my kids can go and not run into someone we know.”

With her ties to the community, Gartman has been able to grow the silent auction portion of Taste of Homewood.

“The silent auction sector of Taste of Homewood is a new part of the event,” Gartman said. “This year will be the third year we have done one. As the Taste of Homewood grows, we were looking for ways to spotlight our other Homewood businesses who aren’t restaurants or in the food industry, necessarily. This is a great way to do that.”

As Gartman prepares for her new role with the Chamber, she wants to continue the work she and Drennen have done to help to grow the Chamber.

“

I want to do my part to ensure our businesses have every opportunity to be successful.

SHAY GARTMAN

said Drennen, who was named the 2023 Chamber of President of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama.

Chamber Board of Directors President Hugh Nickson said the executive director is a full-time administrator who works closely with the board to develop programs and strategies that advance the chamber’s mission for the Homewood business community.

“We were honored to be able to consider a wide variety of qualified candidates, and through this process, Shay Gartman stood out because of her professional administrative work with our chamber for the last few years,” Nickson said in a release.

“Our directors and members have come to know her as one who has the attitude to sustain and the aptitude to build upon our chamber’s 84-year-legacy of service to Homewood. Shay loves Homewood and is committed to its ongoing success as one of Alabama’s most desirable communities. We are excited to advance our work with Shay’s positive leadership,” Nickson said.

Gartman transitioned into her new role following the 21st annual Taste of Homewood on March 21.

Drennen cited Gartman’s experience with the chamber since 2021 in developing strong relations with volunteers, board members and key stakeholders.

“I have loved working for Meredith Drennen,” Gartman said. “She is a wonderful mentor and friend. I would like to see us integrate a 501(c)3 foundation for the chamber. 501(c)3 foundations have opportunities not available to 501(c)6 organizations. Having an avenue to help distribute federal grant money to our local business community in case of an emergency like the pandemic would be a great peace of mind. I want to do my part to ensure our businesses have every opportunity to be successful.”

“Having that institutional knowledge will serve her well as she grows professionally at the chamber,” Drennen said. “Shay has a positive attitude and excellent volunteer management skills. A chamber director has to wear many hats and multitask, so having

those skills in advance starts one on the right foot.”

Drennen said working with Gartman on a day-to-day basis for the last two years has been a delight.

“I feel confident handing her the reins to such a great organization,”

The Homewood Chamber of Commerce has been in existence since 1940, and it now has more than 500 members representing businesses of all sizes located in Homewood and outside the city.

For more information about the Homewood Chamber of Commerce, visit homewoodchamber.org.

Above: Shay Gartman, the new director of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce, at Homewood City Hall Plaza. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

Left: From left, Rosa Hill with ARC Realty Homewood, Ashley Deforest with Keller Williams Homewood, Shay Gartman, Meredith Drennen and Danielle Womack with Evolve I.T. at the annual Chamber Golf Classic in October 2023. Photo courtesy of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce.

David Hopper, co-owner of Ace Hardware in Homewood, really enjoys running his store.

“I love it,” he says. “Helping the people of Homewood with projects in their homes is very rewarding. It's a great feeling to give someone the tools and know-how to fix something themselves that they didn't think they could fix.”

Hopper, his step brother and co-owner Jason Russell along with their 12 well-trained employees offer their customers an extensive array of high-quality products, including paint, hardware, hand and power tools, plumbing and electrical supplies, and accessories for outdoor living.

They provide expert services in color paint matching, key cutting, delivery and assembly.

Perhaps best of all, Ace Hardware carries a great selection of top products.

“Ace has a list of what they call ‘Best Brands’ that’s a really wonderful lineup,” Hopper says.

These quality brands include Treager, Weber, Yeti, Benjamin Moore. EGO, Scotts, Craftsman, DeWalt and Toro. The store recently added Stihl Power Equipment to the lineup.

“Having a deep assortment

of these quality items really sets us apart from Lowe’s and Home Depot,” Hopper said.

Ace Hardware in Homewood is also more than ready to provide customers with all of their needs for spring, which is the store’s busiest time of the year.

“We sell mulch, garden soil, fertilizers for yards and plants and outdoor power equipment, such as mowers, trimmers and blowers,” Hopper says.

The store takes pride in its stellar lineup of grilling equipment, as well.

Ace also prides itself on

offering great customer service.

“This also differentiates us from the big box stores, where you can wander the aisles with no one around to help you,” Hopper says. “Helping our customers is the most important thing my staff and I do each day.”

Hopper’s staff is very knowledgeable in all the store’s departments.

“From plumbing and electrical, to grilling and outdoor power equipment, they will ask questions to make sure you leave the store with everything

you need to complete your project,” Hopper says. “Building those relationships with our customers might be my favorite part of operating an Ace,” he says. In addition to providing necessities, Hopper says he enjoys “enhancing customers' homes with fun things,” such as Solo Stove fire pits and Big Green Egg grills. “I like to compare a trip to Homewood Ace to a trip to a grown-up toy store. It’s a fun experience.”

Ace Hardware is “a great franchise to be a part of” as

a store owner and operator, Hopper says.

“From training opportunities for employees to keeping the store’s inventory up to date, Ace Corporate is taking steps to keep Ace relevant not just now but in the future.”

An example is the website, acehardware.com – an important part of the Homewood store’s business, Hopper says.

“We fulfill and deliver all the orders placed through the website from the store, allowing our customers to shop in their pajamas and pick up the items they purchased that day,” he says.

Community

Have a community announcement? Email Sarah Villar at svillar@starnesmedia.com to be considered for inclusion in an upcoming issue.

Around the world in 500 days

Homewood couple takes 500-day journey around the world

By SARAH GILLILAND

For much of the past year, Jordan and Elizabeth Shipp haven’t had a home address. They might be found in Egypt or France, in Bali or South Korea, as they spend 500 days traveling the globe.

The couple’s journey began about 6½ years ago, when they met while volunteering at a Christian retreat experience in Northern California. Elizabeth was from Homewood, Jordan from Corner.

“We both applied to work at JH Ranch, but they were full [of volunteers] for the summer. When they emailed me back and offered a position at Scott River Lodge, I had never heard of it. I said to myself, ‘You know what? I don’t have any other plans this summer. I should try it out.’ So I accepted my position, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made,” Elizabeth said.

JH Ranch is a Christian-based camp that provides families and high school students a place to connect and grow in their faith and relationships with one another. Its sister organization, Scott River Lodge, is specifically for married couples. Scott River Lodge is where the Shipps got to know each other.

“We fell in love pretty quickly while we were out there. We dated for a few years after that, and we got married after I graduated from college,” Elizabeth said.

While the two were not high school sweethearts, they both discovered that they had mutual connections after that fateful summer in California.

“Our dads had met each other, and we knew some of each other’s friends. It really felt like a God thing. If we had been at JH Ranch, where there were so many people, we probably would have been in different friend groups, and we probably never would have met,” Elizabeth said.

Since high school, Elizabeth knew that she wanted to teach internationally. She has her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, and she began saving her pennies as a teen to fund her dream of working overseas.

“My junior year of college, I started making plans. I found a place in Thailand that I got a job with, and Jordan and I were engaged at the time. I asked Jordan if he would be interested in going with me. He said no because he loved his job, which I understood,” Elizabeth said. “My plan was to go over there temporarily and then to come back and get married. And then Covid hit.”

Like many well-laid plans in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted both Elizabeth’s dreams of teaching internationally and their wedding plans after her return. The couple ultimately decided to go ahead and get married since she was no longer going to be traveling.

As they settled into married life, the Shipps realized they felt called to different paths when it came to their working lives. Elizabeth still wanted to travel, but Jordan enjoyed his job and didn’t want to leave it.

“I wasn’t against it [traveling], but I didn’t feel like it was something I needed to do at the time. I really liked my job,” Jordan said.

For the next three years, the couple discussed what their life together was going to look like. Elizabeth continued to search for jobs overseas, until one day she stumbled upon an article about a couple who took a trip around the world. That article led to the discovery of more stories of couples and individuals who quit their jobs for anywhere from six months to more than a year to travel around the world.

“I posed the idea to Jordan and said, ‘Hey. I know we’ve talked a lot about working overseas

or teaching overseas, but how would you feel about quitting our jobs and just traveling?’ Jordan said, ‘I don’t know. Let’s think about it,’” Elizabeth said.

The Shipps went back and forth about the trip, while continuing to research ideas and add to the savings they already had.

Four months after that declaration, the Shipps were on the way to their first country, starting with a trip up the Nile River from Sudan to Egypt. Both Jordan and Elizabeth decided not to work during their year of travel, though they had discussed the possibility of working remotely after their trip was officially over.

“We chose not to work during our year of

“One day, I called Jordan and I said, ‘We need to go. We are going to talk about this forever. If we don’t go, we’re always going to think, “What if we had gone?”’ And he said, ‘Ok, let’s go,’” Elizabeth said.

travel because we had saved for this,” Jordan said. The Shipps believe that this opportunity to travel has only made them grow closer to one another. Elizabeth said that, at home, it was too easy to carry on independent of one another, but while traveling, they both depend on each other for support and working through various situations together.

“At home, you get in this rhythm. You don’t

Top: Elizabeth and Jordan Shipp with the northern lights in Tromso, Norway, in December 2023. Above: The Shipps at the Great Pyramids of Giza in August 2023. Photos courtesy of Elizabeth Shipp.

“At home, you get in this rhythm. You don’t ask questions. You just do the things that you do every day. Here [in another country], you have different experiences, which cause you to act differently, and it makes you ask different questions and react differently.

ELIZABETH SHIPP

”ask questions. You just do the things that you do every day. Here [in another country], you have different experiences, which cause you to act differently, and it makes you ask different questions and react differently,” she said. “It has helped us to appreciate each other’s differences and communicate more effectively.”

The Shipps had a little difficulty choosing their favorite country out of the 36 they have been to since their journey began in June 2023. Both agreed that countries like Thailand and South Korea had some of the best food they’ve ever had, and Elizabeth said that scuba diving in the Philippines was something she’ll never forget.

Visiting Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, really impacted Jordan.

“The significance of it, you see it and hear about it your whole life, but just to see it stays with you,” he said.

Elizabeth said they have been continually surprised by the generosity of their hosts and total strangers, and their willingness to share their culture and offer the couple a play to stay.

“Every day, we see more and more that the world is full of way more kindness than we give it credit for,” she said.

In Bali, their host invited them to take part in a traditional Balinese funeral for his uncle, who had just died.

“I got pushed into playing symbols in the procession, in the [traditional] attire and everything,” Jordan said.

“It was funny because Jordan was significantly

taller than everyone else, so he really stood out,” Elizabeth said.

Jordan also said, for anyone else looking to travel like they have, that it has not turned out to be as difficult as people may imagine. There are ways to make travel around the world work for all kinds of budgets.

“We are blessed that English is kind of a universal language. Someone from Thailand and someone from Cambodia speak to each other using English because their [native] languages are different, but they both know English,” he said. “It’s not as expensive as people think it is either. It can be a little expensive to get over there, but once you’re there, it’s not.”

Jordan said they were lucky to be able to save the money they needed to take this trip while they were young, rather than waiting until they retire.

“Not everyone can do it, but if you have the opportunity — you can always save and get more money, but you can’t get the time back or your physical ability to do things back,” he said.

“I was really nervous that it wouldn’t be worth it — that we might regret it. I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that this has been the best decision we have ever made for our marriage, for us as individuals and for our paths in life,” Elizabeth said.

The Shipps plan to continue traveling through December and hope to make it to 70 countries and every continent. To follow their worldwide journey, find them on Instagram and TikTok @shippedworldwide.

Elizabeth and Jordan Shipp travel on a sleeper train from Agra to Varanasi in India in August 2023.

Paying it forward

Grammy winner starts local programs for aspiring artists

By CARMEN SHEA BROWN

“Accomplishing the impossible.”

Those were the words that first went through Luke Crowder’s mind as he stood in a Homewood gas station on Feb. 4, the night of the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. He had just learned that he won in the category of Best Rap Album, for production performed on rapper Killer Mike’s album “Michael.”

However, Crowder remains humble, remembering a “lot of years of trying to figure it all out.”

He grew up in a musical family, with his mother singing at Winewood Baptist Christian Fellowship in Birmingham and both parents always playing music at home. At age 10, he was taking piano lessons under Tony Andrews, as well as becoming a “master in process” at percussion.

“The church was very inviting,” Crowder said. “Even if you’re not one of the best, it gives everybody a chance to learn and grow.”

His mother had a Korg keyboard, which he used to create music with its built-in recorder. His defining moment, when he knew he wanted to make music his career, happened right before high school, with his brother, Ken, and his friend and fellow music producer Jacquez Williams.

“Jacquez had a program called

Fruity Loops, where I was able to make an instrumentation of my own creation,” Crowder said. “I had never seen a studio, and I thought you had to have millions of dollars to use one, so I made music from home at first.”

Then he connected with Audiostate 55, owned by Grammy- and Emmy-winning composer Henry Panion III, and Crowder ended up producing for local radio stations like 95.7 JAMZ. He also worked with James Bevelle, a recording engineer who has worked with artists including Stevie Wonder and Ruben Studdard.

“It was my first time working in a professional studio, and I learned a lot of tips about making it in music production,” Crowder said.

He recently opened a creative compound called RJV Studios on Goodwin Crest Drive in Homewood, along with partners Chris Anderson and Jacob Guyton.

“It’s a one-stop shop for anything in the arts, and it’s open to the public,” Crowder said.

RJV has partnered with The Flourish Alabama, a nonprofit for young artists, to start the Full Bloom Initiative, where kids can learn how to get involved in the music industry.

“We hope to target every Birmingham city school with this program,” Crowder said. “We started with Wenonah, and my alma mater,

Ramsay High, will be next.”

The program is a way for him to pay forward what he has learned.

“Real relationships build real results,” Crowder said. “It’s easy to let things go to your head when you become successful, but I learn from people every day, and I want to help them learn.”

Crowder has also helped start the Five Tribe, a free monthly event at the Greenhouse in Ensley.

“Producers and musicians get together and play, and we have live

art, jewelry, a food truck and interpretive dance,” Crowder said.

In the future, Crowder sees himself being a pioneer for making Birmingham a forerunner in the music scene.

“I want to be a teacher, a mentor and shine a light on Birmingham.” Crowder said.

In addition to the influences of his brother and mother, Crowder also remembers his father, Ken Sr., who was killed in a car accident on Thanksgiving weekend in

2018. Crowder looked up to him for advice about how to keep moving up the ladder in his music career, even when he felt stuck.

“I wish I could go back and ask him some more questions,” Crowder said. “That’s why it’s so important to cherish each moment. I feel like he continues to pull strings for me.”

Crowder said that, through it all, he had to just “jump out” on faith.

“It’s not me, it’s God,” he said. “It’s been a lot of prayers and people helping me along the way.”

Luke Crowder, who has a recording studio in Homewood, recently won a Grammy for his production work on the Best Rap Album of the yea. Photo by ZE Photography.

Parents voice concerns over new after-school program

By LAUREN DOWDLE

As Homewood City Schools prepares to end its current summer and after-school programs and outsource them to the YMCA, some parents are concerned about how the change will impact their families and children.

The school district has worked with the YMCA on programming for students in its RISE summer academic intervention program in the past and now will extend that partnership to after-school and other summer programs, said Merrick Wilson, communications director for the district.

The YMCA will host a summer day camp at Edgewood Elementary School in June, and the new after-school program begins in August for the elementary schools and Homewood Middle School.

Registration for the summer camp already is open and will close when the program is full or on the Wednesday prior to the camp start date. For the 2024-2025 after-school program, registration opens April 8 at 9 a.m. on the YMCA website. Signup will close either when the program is full or in July.

The school district attributed the change in programs to financial and staffing concerns. A drop-in option, which has allowed parents to pay only for the days they need to use the program, posed significant challenges to the extended-day program (EDP) because staffing couldn’t be planned to provide a safe staff-tostudent ratio, Wilson said.

They explored other options, but those would result in raising the cost and additional obstacles with hiring and retaining staff, Wilson said. Current EDP employees

have been encouraged to apply to work at the YMCA program, she said. The programs will continue to be held at the elementary and middle schools.

The YMCA after-school program costs $216 a month, which is a $36 increase from the current EDP, Wilson said. There’s also a $79 non-refundable registration fee, plus a $75 deposit due at registration. The $75 deposit will be applied to the first month and is refundable if parents cancel at least two weeks in advance. Scholarships will be awarded based on household income.

Homewood schools Superintendent Justin Hefner said there now are about 500 students registered for EDP, with around 300 attending regularly.

Wilson said the school system understands that changes made to child care options can be difficult, so district officials wanted to communicate changes early.

One of the main differences in the YMCA program is that there will be no drop-in option. That is a significant concern for parents such as Kayla Gaffo, whose children are in third and sixth grade and have used the EDP drop-in option since they were in first grade.

“It’s helped keep our child care costs much lower,” Gaffo said.

The current EDP drop-in rate is $15 a day or $45 a week, whichever is less, Gaffo said. As a nurse who works two days a week, her family depends on the drop-in option, like many other shift or medical workers, she said.

“I will either have to change my work schedule or find a new job. It’s going to mean a big change for someone in our family,” Gaffo said. “The board didn’t seem to realize how many people relied on the drop-in and part-time options.”

Kelly Connor, a mother of a first grader, said not everyone needs weekly care. Some families only need it once a week if work runs over, she said.

“I think the hardest part with all this is the concern that the Board of Education and superintendent either don’t really understand the struggle because it doesn’t apply to them, or that they just don’t care,” Connor said.

Gaffo said she’s also frustrated that parents did not receive a survey or communication about the switch before it was decided.

Some parents are also worried this change will negatively impact the city’s diversity. Little changes like this are how minority families are run out of the school system, Gaffo said.

Another difference between the programs is what is offered during the summer. Unlike the current summer program provided by the schools, the YMCA summer camp does not offer a formal academic portion during the day.

However, the YMCA offers STEM-based projects during the camp program and what they call “disguised learning” through different activities. The YMCA also offers a variety of activities like sports, games, outdoor activities and creative arts.

Parents with questions about the new partnership with the YMCA can reach out to Hefner at jhefner@homewood.k12.al.us or the YMCA at childcare@ymcabham.org.

Luke Gamble, 5, left, his sister Lily, 5, and Clara James Warren, 6, right, sit at a table in the cafeteria with other children as they do arts and crafts activities as part of Shades Cahaba Elementary School’s extended day program.

Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

Adhesives / Epoxies Fillers / Resins (caulk, glue)

Paint (latex, acrylic, oil, and spray)

Stains / Sealants

Varnishes / Shellacs

Strippers / Removers

Thinners / Solvents

Turpentine

Wallpaper Cement

Stripper / Adhesive

Asphalt Sealers

Roof Cements

Machinery / Lawn Equipment (compressor, generators, lawnmowers)

Pool Chemicals (algaecides, chlorine)

Insect Sprays and Powders / Fumigants (ant, flea, rat, roach, wasp)

Septic Tank Additives

Degreasers

Yard Chemicals (fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides)

Batteries (car, truck motorcycle, marine)

Cleaners / Degreasers

Rust Removers (carburetor, polish, soaps, solvents)

Filters and Fuel Additives

Fluids (antifreeze, brake, transmission)

Ammunition / Explosives Asbestos / PCBs

Gas / Oil

Gas and Oil Mixture

Tires (without rims, limit 8)

Aerosols (disinfectants, hair products)

Batteries (alkaline, lead, lithium, rechargeable or NiCad)

Chemicals (acids, ammonia, bleach, drain openers)

Cleaners / Degreasers (bath, kitchen, rug, outdoor)

First Aid and Sunscreen (antiseptics, burn and wound care, sanitizers)

Medical Waste

Light Bulbs / Tubes / Ballasts (CFL, fluorescent, sodium)

Appliances (air conditioners, freezers, refrigerators, stoves)

Household

Cooking Oil and Grease

Electronics (computers, cell phones, televisions, security equipment, small appliances)

Fire Extinguishers

Smoke Alarms

Gas Cylinders / Flammables (carbon dioxide, gasoline, kerosene, oxygen, propane)

Mercury and Mercury Containing

Items (thermometers, thermostats)

Radioactive Materials

Unidentified Materials

PROPOSED WARD CHANGES

Map Key

Homewood City Limits

Current City Council Wards

Proposed City Council Wards: Ward 1 Ward 2 Ward 3 Ward 4

Nelms

CONTINUED from page A1

Proposed changes to the current form of government involve the hiring of a full-time city manager and a citywide redistricting from five wards to four. This would decrease the number of council members to four members, elected from single-member districts, in addition to the mayor, who would continue to be elected at large.

The city manager would not be an elected official, but rather someone appointed by the City Council.

City Council President Alex Wyatt said the model of government would be similar to other cities that operate under a smaller council, such as Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook and Hoover, all of which have a city manager or administrator.

“Most cities usually have about five on the council,” Wyatt said. “We are an exceptionally large council. If we had a city manager, that person would become the primary point of contact for most residents. This creates an efficiency for what currently doesn’t exist, and it should provide better communication for residents.”

City officials began circulating a petition to have a referendum on a council-city manager form of government in mid-March.

In order to hold the referendum, the petition requires signatures from 10% of voters from the last municipal election who still reside in the city.

City officials said there is no formal deadline to stop collecting signatures on the petition. However, they hope to have the referendum no later than August.

Once signatures are collected, the state requires that a referendum be held between 40 and 90 days from the time signatures are collected. Otherwise the signatures are no longer valid.

“We want as many people to be able to vote in the referendum as possible,” Wyatt said. “This is a generational, transformational moment for the city.”

If 10% of voters agree to hold a referendum, the petition would be submitted to the probate court, and an official date would be scheduled for a special election.

If the vote to change the form of government is approved, it would be enacted in November 2025, when the new council is seated.

Vestavia Hills began its manager-council form of government during the second term

of Mayor Butch Zaragoza in 2012.

“Mayor Zaragoza saw the benefit of a professional city manager and was willing to give up his full-time mayoral duties to go to our present municipal structure,” current Mayor Ashley Curry said.

Vestavia’s four council members run at large and represent all of the city’s citizens, not just certain districts. The mayor also serves as president of the City Council.

“Our city manager is a full-time, nonpartisan, nonpolitical employee of the city of Vestavia Hills and is responsible for the oversight of all city operations,” Curry said. “He is responsible for carrying out the policies and vision established by the elected officials and, as such, the elected officials have time to concentrate on setting policies that create a path for our community’s future.”

Curry said Vestavia’s city manager, Jeff Downes, is a strong collaborator who uses his strengths to lead, manage and make the vision of elected officials a reality.

“He is able to seamlessly align city staff with the policy goals defined by both the elected body and the community to provide efficient and effective services,” Curry said. “Jeff has extensive economic development experience and incorporates those strategies into the overall growth plan for the City of Vestavia Hills.”

Wyatt said hiring the right person to manage the city of Homewood is crucial. Wyatt served on an exploratory committee to research cities that have city manager positions.

“You want someone who does the job well,” Wyatt said. “What we found in our

Once the petition to have a referendum on a council-city manager form of government collects enough signatures, an official date would be scheduled for a special election to be held between 40 and 90 days from the time signatures are collected. Otherwise, the signatures are no longer valid. Staff photo.

research was cities that had a city manager in place had residents who did feel they had more of a connection to the city. They always knew who to call, and someone was always there to answer when they called.”

Meredith Drennen, who was the executive director of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce until mid-March, served on the exploratory committee for the city in researching city managers. From a business recruitment and retention standpoint, she said, a city manager could serve as the main point of contact.

“From an existing business standpoint, having that one point of contact for issues that might arise for a business, whether it be a public works disruption or a business licensing issue, a city manager can help business issues be heard and addressed promptly,” Drennen said.

Lindsey Chitwood, a Homewood resident who lives in Ward 5, said she fully supports the proposed change in government.

“We have all heavily invested into this city of about $85 million in revenue and we have no full-time leader. That sounds pretty dumb, when you think about it,” Chitwood said. “Most of our council members have full-time jobs. They do a lot. They aren’t trained to do this. They are volunteers with a small stipend, yet we are asking them to do a lot that may be out of their wheelhouse. Homewood is a great place to live. We have a lot going on for us, but we don’t have a central leader. Not everything on the ballot box is terrible. This is a positive thing for Homewood, and I hope the residents see that.”

Kent Haines, who also resides in Homewood, said having a city manager would

About the Petition

The next step toward changing the government structure is petitioning the probate judge of Jefferson County to submit the following question to qualified voters on an election ballot: “Shall the council-manager form of government as provided by the Council-Manager Act of 1982 be adopted for the City of Homewood?”

Who can sign the petition?

Anyone who voted in the 2020 Homewood municipal election.

How many signatures does the petition need? 10% of the people who voted in the 2020 Homewood municipal election.

How can I sign the petition? Scan the QR code below for more information about signing.

help free up the mayor and council to set priorities for the city.

“The current city government is supportive of a new city government,” Haines said. “I think that is pretty telling. If you look at a lot of other cities, they have city managers and that system works well.”

Andress said part of the proposed changes within the city are due to growth issues, which she considers a positive thing for Homewood.

“You will either grow or you won’t,” Andress said. “We want businesses to come to Homewood. We want families to come to Homewood and raise their children here. I love our city. It is a beautiful city with amazing people and amazing infrastructure. This lends itself to the excitement that is going on, and we are ready for it.”

Smith

CURRENT WARD 4 COUNCILORS

Andress Hardin

CURRENT WARD 5 COUNCILORS

Sims Jones

CURRENT WARD 3 COUNCILORS

Alemán Wolverton

CURRENT WARD 2 COUNCILORS

Gwaltney Geer

CURRENT WARD 1 COUNCILORS

COUNCIL-MANAGER

PLAYGROUND

CONTINUED from page A1

“They’ll be very interactive, for probably mainly younger kids. Those were items for an ADA setting, more things for those participants to come and do.”

Homewood’s other park spaces generally didn’t have enough space to provide full compliance to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“In our other playgrounds, they’re so small [that] all we were able to offer in the past, like when we redid Patriot, was the minimum requirements for ADA,” Holley said. “We didn’t have space and room to put a lot of ramps and those type items that make the things accessible.”

The new Central Park playground will include a ninja course, which should prompt more parent participation with the children.

“It brings more of a fitness aspect to the playground of people out there in the park,” Holley

said. “Not so much working out, but just a fitness component to the playground area. We hope we’ll have even some of our older kids still active on the playground.”

Barry Smith, the city council liaison to the park board, didn’t try to hide her enthusiasm for the playground upgrades.

“We’ve never had a playground in the city that was fully accessible to anybody,” she said. “The fact that we’re going to have one that people in wheelchairs can access, kids in wheelchairs, ... they can play with their friends on the same toys, when previously they would have had to sit on the sidelines and just watch everybody else have fun.

“I love it. I do love it,” Smith said. “I think it’s a fantastic thing, and I’m so excited about it.”

Holley echoed that sentiment.

“We’re very excited about it,” he said. “We’ll love to see the feedback and everything once we are able to get it open.”

Smith said there is not yet a definitive plan for the beloved caterpillar structure — known as Mr. Bugsy — that has long been a part of Central Park. Chuck Kelly, a landscape architect who has done a lot of work with parks over the years, has come up with some ideas.

“The problem is it’s not going to be in this budget year, so Mr. Bugsy will probably have to be in storage until we can get the funding approved for whatever they decide,” Smith said.

Originally, there was consideration of incorporating the structure into a sign for the park. There were other ideas that weren’t going to be as big of a budget hit and that might have been done alongside the playground project.

“I think what they’re planning on now is a little bit more involved, and I think it’s going to cost a little bit more,” Smith said. “It’s probably going to have to fold into the [fiscal year] 24-25 budget. It probably won’t get funded until we do our budget in August. But, yes, there is going to be a plan.”

Mr. Bugsy, a beloved caterpillar structure that formerly was at Central Park, will remain in storage until a definitive plan is determined and funding is approved. Photo courtesy of city of Homewood.

Renderings showing the new design of Homewood Central Park. Renderings courtesy of city of Homewood.

Prepurchases can be made online at shoprenewdermatology.net or at both of our locations.

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clients with project quotes within 24 hours.

Autumn is a perfect season to have Gardner Landscaping beautify your property.

“Fall is considered the best time of year to plant new trees and shrubs,” Grant says.

However, you need help picking the perfect plants for you.

Many factors come into play, Grant says — sun exposure, soil type, landscape slope and your own preferences.

“We enjoy creating a plan that meets the needs of each customer and landscape,” he says.

The company staff specializes in beautiful landscapes but they’re also “very good at developing outdoor play

The team stays abreast of the latest design trends and can satisfy any client’s taste with either traditional or unusual plant materials.

“More customers are spending more time around their homes,” Grant says. “We have the best prices locally on large and small trees and shrubs to create privacy screens, shade and curb appeal.”

Gardner Landscaping also does clean ups, drainage projects and landscape borders.

“We can get your property where it’s managed correctly,” Grant says.

Gardner Landscaping works with all types of budgets and projects in Birmingham, Auburn, Dadeville, Alexander City or Lake Martin.

For details, call 205-401-3347 or go to gardnerlandscapingllc.com.

Shop local at Budget Blinds for great service and window covering selection

Many people like to shop local as much as they can to support the locally owned businesses in their communities.

One of those businesses in Vestavia Hills is Budget Blinds of Birmingham.

The company is owned and operated by Steve and Michelle Thackerson who live and work in Vestavia Hills and support the community, including youth programs.

They also offer all types of custom window coverings, and their highly trained personnel take the time to understand their customers and provide them with top-quality window coverings designed for their lifestyles.

Customers can also take advantage of the buying power of Budget Blinds, the world’s largest retailer of custom window coverings.

And when you call the Budget Blinds location in Vestavia Hills to get information or to schedule an appointment, you speak to someone in the local office, not a call center or remote person.

“All of our staff is employed with us and has been with us at least 10 years,” Thackerson said. “We don’t subcontract any workers out. All scheduling is done by us — not remotely or by a third party. We have total control over the scheduling.”

All window coverings are custom made to fit to each home, and all in-home measuring and installation is taken care of by Budget Blinds local employees.

“We install them, so anything that’s purchased from us, we’ll custom measure your windows and professionally install them,” Thackerson said. “We

control everything from setting up the appointment to the final installation.”

You can request a free in-home consultation or visit the showroom.

Some of the top sellers at Budget Blinds are shutters, solar shades and woven wood products.

Motorization and cordless options

for window coverings remain popular. Motorized options allow you to control blinds, shutters, solar shades and draperies from anywhere, and can be used with your home’s automation system.

“We can usually tie our product into any system you might have,” Thackerson said.

The store now carries Zebra Shades,

originally in Australia and now available in the United States. It is a unique product with both beauty and function. By combining roller shades and horizontal blinds, Zebra Shades allow you both privacy and great light control.

Budget Blinds also sells blinds with traditional cords. Due to changing national safety standards, these products are no longer available at the big-box retail stores. Budget Blinds sells the products and educates customers about using the blinds safely.

Customers at Budget Blinds of Birmingham take advantage of the long relationships Thackerson and his wife, Michelle, have built in more than 30 years in the business, as well as the national presence of Budget Blinds.

“Because of the nationwide volume of Budget Blinds, we get exclusive warranties others cannot offer,” Thackerson said. “Our manufacturers may also sell to our competitors, but they don’t give them the same warranties they give us. That sets us apart. We get the same products but better pricing and better warranties because we are the largest retailer of custom window coverings in the world.”

Budget Blinds of Birmingham is also consistently in the Top 20 Budget Blinds franchises for volume.

You can visit the showroom at 2130 Columbiana Road anytime Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, go to budgetblinds.com/birmingham or call 205-824-3300.

For a huge selection of top-quality decorative and architectural hardware, as well as interior and exterior lighting, look no farther than Brandino Brass in Homewood.

The experts at Brandino Brass also design such items as custom brass shelving, gate hardware, mailboxes, fireballs and barn-door hardware.

Brandino Brass is the go-to place for homeowners, architects and designers who are updating, renovating or building a home.

The team at Brandino Brass helps guide customers through an array of options to find the perfect items for their space.

David and Nancy Wright are among the latest customers to enjoy the company’s selection and service. The couple built a new Country French house measuring about 5,000 square feet in Liberty Park in 2022.

During construction, they worked with Brandino Brass — mainly with Jessie Isom and Renee Genereux, two of the store’s co-owners.

“We worked with Brandino for all of our cabinet and door hardware and our outdoor gas lighting,” Nancy said.

“We loved working with Brandino,” she said. “The quality and selections of their products made it easy to find exactly what I needed.”

“They probably carry the best quality

product lines in Birmingham,” David said. “Whatever you do, you know you’re going to get a good product.”

“Jessie and Renee were the best to work with,” Nancy said. “They were very patient with me, as building a new house can be very overwhelming. They made great suggestions and helped me when I needed to move into a specific price range.”

“We felt at home with those guys,” David said. “We felt like they had our interests at heart.”

The couple were impressed by the team at Brandino Brass in all aspects of customer service.

“They always answered our phone calls when we had questions, and our orders came exactly when we needed

them,” Nancy said.

This is keeping with the company’s philosophy, Isom said.

“Customer service is always our top priority,” he said. “I feel my job is to educate each client as to what is offered to meet their needs and then allow them to make the best choice for their project. I’m always happy to offer guidance as needed.”

Isom was a big help to Nancy in picking out her hardware, she said.

“Going in and picking our hardware is very overwhelming, and I didn’t want anything trendy,” she said. “The things Jessie help me pick are just perfect.”

He helped her capture the simple, classic vibe she wanted, Nancy said.

“I’m very happy with my kitchen hardware,” she said. “It’s timeless unlacquered brass that will age beautifully.”

The one area where the couple “went outside the box” in terms of design was in the bar.

“We have a cabinet in the bar area where we got some pulls that were made in the shape of really elegant woodpeckers,” David said. “We love them. It’s our favorite purchase.”

“The detail and workmanship are amazing,” Nancy said

“It was a real pleasure working with Brandino Brass,” she said. “I will again in the future.”

Tired of maintaining your lawn? Try astroturf

Gardner Landscaping • 205-401-3347 • gardnerlandscapingllc.com

Are you a homeowner who is sick and tired of your grass not growing?

Would you like to stop spending thousands of dollars sodding your lawn over and over again?

Are you tired of incurring all of the expenses in mowing, watering and fertilizing your grass?

If so, you should call the skilled professionals at Gardner Astroturf and have Astroturf installed at your home.

You’ll be joining a growing trend, because the popularity of artificial grass has grown tremendously in the past decade.

Artificial turf has even attracted positive attention recently from such trendy media outlets as House Beautiful and Architectural Digest.

Consumers should be aware that artificial grass looks and feels much closer to real grass than it did in the past, thanks to improvements in technology and

manufacturing.

They can save lots of money on maintenance of their lawns if they choose Astroturf.

Astroturf is also very versatile and is often used not just for whole lawns, but for children’s play areas, decks, patios, putting greens and other spaces.

The skilled professionals at Gardner Astroturf deliver top-quality service to homeowners with a friendly, personal touch.

“We give individualized attention to our customers the big companies can’t,” owner Grant Gardner says.

The company’s employees are “some of the best in the business,” Gardner says, with knowledge, experience, attention to detail and a passion for customer service.

“We want our customers to have an enjoyable experience,” he says.

For details, call 205-401-3347 or go to gardnerlandscapingllc.com.

Shunnarah Flooring offers great selection, top-quality service

Shunnarah Flooring • 205-518-6423 • shunnarahflooring.com

Shunnarah Flooring, formerly Homewood Carpet & Flooring, recently changed its name.

But long-time owner Foo Shunnarah hasn’t changed any of the great things that customers love about the store, including the best selection of flooring in Birmingham.

Located at 813 Green Springs Highway, Shunnarah Flooring is the go-to place for designer carpets, hardwood, tile and luxury vinyl plank. The company also offers custom rugs and runners, as well as wall-to-wall carpet.

Shunnarah Flooring carries numerous top-quality designer brands. Crescent Carpet makes many wool rugs and runners. Stanton Carpet and Anderson Tuftex are preferred by many interior designers and decorators. Anderson Hardwood Flooring offers a beautiful selection and excellent quality.

The store also carries gorgeous tile for your floors, walls, and backsplash, with

brands such as Daltile and Stonepeak, and a wide variety of durable, luxurious countertops for kitchens and bathrooms, including brands like Cambria, Enigma and Valiant.

In addition to marvelous products, Foo Shunnarah has offered great service for 17 years and helps customers pick the perfect flooring for their lifestyle and budget.

Shunnarah’s motto is “Foo And You: We Are One!”

“When I say ‘Foo and You,’ it’s really like 90% of the time you’ll see me if I’m there, and if you have any issues, you’ll talk directly to me,” he says.

Shunnarah Flooring offers free measurements, and you can look at products in the showroom or have them brought to your home. The store also offers expert installation.

Shunnarah Flooring is located at 813 Green Springs Highway. For more information, call 205-518-6423 or go to shunnarahflooring.com.

space reimagination. We also stand out by carrying six distinct cabinet lines to meet the design and budget needs of anyone looking to elevate their home’s value. We can usually produce 3-D renderings of your vision after only one design appointment.

Why

What

What’s your favorite cabinet line? I love working with any cabinet that meets a customer’s needs, but my personal favorite is Mouser — a true luxury brand with lots of custom options. Mouser is still made in Kentucky bourbon country with the same quality and craftsmanship found nearly 70 years ago in Mr. Mouser’s tiny shop. It’s a brand that gets even architects excited — with luxury inset, trend right faceframe, chic custom veneers and modern frameless laminates. If you dream it, we can do it with Mouser.

For more information, call 205-510-6961 or visit ambrosekitchenandbath.com.

Homewood events guide

April 6: Walk MS — Birmingham. 8 a.m. Homewood Central Park. Support the MS community with this event. For more information, visit events.nationalmssociety.org.

April 19: Taylor Hicks Band, Benefiting Alabama Game Changers.

7-9 p.m. Wright Center, Samford University. An evening with “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks and the Taylor Hicks Band. The event will be filled with Hicks's original soulful music, requested songs and the opportunity for interactive time with Hicks and his band. Proceeds from this event will help children with learning disabilities access testing and intervention services at Alabama Game Changers, a local 501(c)3 nonprofit. Tickets start at $25, or $20 for Samford students, and can be purchased at samford. edu/events.

Public Library

ALL AGES

April 7-13: National Library Week BINGO. Join us in celebrating all things library this week by completing a BINGO card of library-related activities. Gain an entry into a prize drawing by completing a BINGO and filling out the bottom of the form at any library service desk. Forms can be downloaded at hpl.pub/NLW.

April 20: Homewood Library Foundation Block Party. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Homewood Public Library. This is a family-friendly fundraiser that benefits the library. Visit homewoodlibraryfoundation. org to purchase tickets.

April 26: Pop-Up Bookstore & Book-Signing Event. 4:30-6 p.m. Large Auditorium.

April 26: Portfolio Showcase. 4:30-6 p.m. Round Auditorium. The public is invited to come and see original artwork created by local illustrators and artists in the Portfolio Showcase.

CHILDREN

April 20: Mutt Strut 2024. 7 a.m. to noon. Homewood Central Park. Dog-friendly 5K and fun run. Whether you’re a runner, walker or just here for the fun, everyone’s welcome to come support animal-assisted therapy. Contact amanda@handinpaw.org for more information.

April 25: First Light’s 2024 Big Apple Gala. 6 p.m. The Farrell, 2719 19th St S. This charity event features an evening filled with New York City cuisine, beverages, live music and speeches. Attendees are invited to dress in their favorite "modern cocktail" attire. A live auction and a “Spin Around Town” raffle will offer opportunities for guests to contribute while enjoying the festivities. For more information, visit firstlightshelter.org.

Tuesdays: Wee Ones. 10-10:30 a.m. Round Auditorium. Preschool ages.

Tuesdays: PJ Storytime. 6-6:30 p.m. Round Auditorium. All ages

Wednesdays: Storypalooza. 10-10:30 a.m. Round Auditorium. Preschool ages.

Wednesdays: Barks and Books. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Round Auditorium. Grades K-5.

Thursdays: Stay and Play. 10-10:30 a.m. Round Auditorium. Preschool ages welcome for this fun tinkering time.

April 1: Storywiggles. 9-9:30 a.m. West Homewood Senior Center. Preschool ages.

April 1: Night Owl Storytime. 6-6:30 p.m. All ages.

April 2: Tweens Craft On! 4-5 p.m. Room 109. Grades 4-7.

April 4: American Sign Language for Kids. 3:3-4:30 p.m. Round Auditorium. Grades K-5.

April 5: Pre-K Play. 9:30-11 a.m. Preschool ages.

April 6: Roly Poly Babies. 10:30-11 a.m. Round Auditorium.

Ages 0-18 months.

April 8: Student Art Show Red Carpet Reception. 5-6 p.m. Ellenburg Art Gallery. All ages welcome.

April 9: Kids’ Advisory Board (KAB). 4:30-5:30 p.m. Room 109. Grades 3-5.

April 15 and 22: Homeschool Hour. 1:30-2:30 p.m. Round Auditorium. Grades K-5. Themes are S.T.E.A.M. Powered! on April 15 and Art Attack! on April 22.

April 18: Acting Out! 3:30-4:30 p.m. Round Auditorium. Grades K-5.

April 18: Tween Eats! 4-5 p.m. Room 109. Grades 4-7.

April 20: Book Babies. 10:30-11 a.m. Children’s Department. Ages 0-18 months.

April 25: That Puppet Guy — Lee Bryan. 4-4:30 p.m. Large Auditorium. All ages welcome.

April 28: Gordon C. James, Illustrator and Artist — “How to Do All Things.” 2-3:30 p.m. Large Auditorium. Join award-winning illustrator and fine artist Gordon C. James as he talks about how we can do hard things. He’ll draw from his own personal experiences, answer questions and leave plenty of time to draw with students as he inspires them with how he creates his art.

April 29: Build It! 3:30-4 p.m. Round Auditorium. Grades K-5.

April 30: Bake & Make. 6-6:30 p.m. Meet on Zoom. All ages.

TEENS

April 1-30: Teen Poetry Contest. In honor of National Poetry Month, the Homewood Public Library is holding a poetry contest for 6th-12th graders. Create an original poem (maximum 2 pages in length) in any poetry style. Teens can submit up to two original poems. If submitting two poems, please submit each poem separately. Our judges will read each poem and determine first-, second- and third-place winners. Winners will be announced in May. Poems can be submitted via the library’s website at homewoodpubliclibrary.org/ poetry-contest.

April 1: Comic Creators. 4-6 p.m. Room 102. Grades 4-12.

April 4: Teen Theatre Thursdays. 4-5 p.m. Room 116.

April 4: Teen Advisory Board (TAB). 6-7 p.m. Room 109.

April 5 and 19: Character Design 101. 4-5 p.m. Room 109. Grades 6-12.

April 7 and 21: Teen Dungeons & Dragons. 3-5 p.m. Room 102.

April 8: Teen Eclipse Viewing. 1:30-2 p.m. In front of the Library. Grades 4-12. Glasses will be provided.

April 9: Eclipse Blackout Poetry — Homeschool. 1-2 p.m. Room 109. Grades 6-12.

April 11 and 18: Culture Club — Russia. 4-6 p.m. Grades 6-12. Zoom meeting.

April 15: Teen Crochet Circle. 4-6 p.m. Room 102. Grades 4-12.

April 29: Teen Anime Club + Japanese Stamp Making. 4-6 p.m. Room 109.

April 30: Eclipse Blackout Poetry. 4-5 p.m. Room 109.

ADULTS

Mondays: Virtual Library Yoga with Jackie Tally. 2-3 p.m. Meet on Zoom.

Tuesdays: Adult English Classes. 6-8 p.m. Room 102. Thursdays: Game Night at the Library. 6-8:30 p.m. Room 109.

April 2: Not Your Mama’s Book Club — Bill Pautler, Author of “Awakening to Ourselves.” 2-3 p.m. Library Boardroom.

April 3: Credit & Money Management. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Room 102.

April 3: Windows 11. 2:30-4 p.m. Computer Training Lab & Zoom

April 3 and 17: Staff Movie Picks. 3-6 p.m. Large Auditorium. Movies are “Dead Poets Society” on April 3 and “Cyrano” on April 17.

April 4: Read It & Eat Book Club — “Starter Villain” by John Scalzi. 6:30-8 p.m. Urban Cookhouse, 1920 29th Avenue S.

April 5: Document Shredding and Electronics Recycling. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Library back parking lot.

April 5: Niki Sepsas Presents “Moses to Lawrence — The Historic Sands of Jordan.” 2-3 p.m. Round Auditorium.

April 6: Home Buyer Seminar & Luncheon. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Room 102.

April 9: West Homewood Presents Niki Sepsas — “America’s Atlantic Seaboard: Treasure Trove of History.” 3-4 p.m. Homewood Senior Center.

April 9: Oxmoor Page Turners Book Club — “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison. 6:30-8 p.m. Library Boardroom.

April 10: West Homewood Read, Watch & Review — “Overcoming the Odds.” 1-2 p.m. Homewood Senior Center.

April 10: Word 2016 — Part 1. 2:30-4 p.m. Computer Training Lab and Zoom.

April 12: Big Ideas Book Club — “Factfulness” by Hans Rosling. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Boardroom.

April 16: The ABCs of Medicare. Noon to 1 p.m. Room 116.

April 16: Seasonal Stories with Sid Burgess. 1-2 p.m. Round Auditorium.

April 16: Forever YA Book Club — “Scythe” by Neal Shusterman. 6-7 p.m. Room 109.

April 17: Word 2016 — Part 2. 2:30-4 p.m. Computer Training Lab and Zoom.

April 18: Painting Large with September Reed. 6:30-8 p.m. Room 109.

April 22: Educator Book Club — “Invisible” by Christina Diaz Gonzalez. 4-5 p.m. Library Boardroom.

April 24: Better Than Therapy Book Club — “The Echo of Old Books” by Barbara Davis. 2-3:30 p.m. Library Boardroom.

April 25: Adult Crafting with September Reed –Quilling. 6:30-8 p.m. Room 109.

April 30: Dixie’s Pet Loss Support Group. 6-7 p.m. Room 106.

Sports

All-South Metro Basketball

Tim Shepler named Coach of the Year

By KYLE PARMLEY

The 2023-24 high school basketball season has been completed, which means it’s time to recognize those with standout seasons on the annual Starnes Media All-South Metro basketball team.

Mountain Brook’s Ty Davis and Hewitt-Trussville’s Jordan Hunter are Players of the Year, as each capped off incredible careers. Both were coached by their parents and led their teams to state runner-up finishes this year.

Homewood’s Tim Shepler is the boys Coach of the Year, after leading Homewood back to the regional final for the first time since 2016. Tonya Hunter and Krystle Johnson met up in the Class 7A girls state championship game and both share Coach of the Year honors due to their stellar leadership.

BOYS AWARDS

► Player of the Year: Ty Davis, Mountain Brook

► Coach of the Year: Tim Shepler, Homewood

GIRLS AWARDS

► Player of the Year: Jordan Hunter, Hewitt-Trussville

► Coaches of the Year: Krystle Johnson, Hoover, and Tonya Hunter, Hewitt-Trussville

BOYS: 1ST TEAM

► Salim London, Hoover: One of the top guards in the state, averaging 17.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4 assists for the state champs.

► DeWayne Brown, Hoover: Nearly averaged a double-double, with 15.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

► Avery Futch, Chelsea: Helped the Hornets to regionals by averaging 12.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.

► Ty Davis, Mountain Brook: Capped off a brilliant career with 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.2 assists per contest for the state runner-up.

► Drew Mears, Briarwood: Led the area in scoring, with 23.6 points per game this season.

BOYS: 2ND TEAM

► Jackson Weaver, Vestavia Hills: Went for 13 points per game for the Rebels.

► Korbin Long, Spain Park: Led the Jags with 14 points and 4 rebounds and assists per game.

► Devon McKinnon, Clay-Chalkville: Surpassed 1,000 career points and drained 75 3-pointers.

► Victor Odiari, Clay-Chalkville: Won area tournament MVP for a strong Cougars squad.

► Reid Stodghill, Hewitt-Trussville: Accepted a preferred walk-on offer to Alabama and eclipsed 1,000 points and 500 rebounds for his career.

BOYS: 3RD TEAM

► Adam Barksdale, Vestavia Hills: One of the Rebels’ top options, scoring 12.3 points per game.

► TJ Lamar, Spain Park: A solid physical presence, averaging 13 points and nearly 7 rebounds a game.

► David Stone, Homewood: The only double-digit scorer for a balanced Patriots team.

► Grey Williams, Oak Mountain: Averaged 12.5 points per game.

HONORABLE MENTION

► Seneca Robinson, Hoover; Gavin Collett, Chelsea; Aiden Owens, Chelsea; Christen Whetstone, Chelsea; Ben Evans, Vestavia Hills; Carson Romero, Mountain Brook; John

► Jarett Fairley, Hoover: Went for 14 points per game for the state champion Bucs.

Carwie, Mountain Brook; Jack Bakken, Mountain Brook; KJ Kirk, Clay-Chalkville; Kaleb Carson, Homewood; Aden Malpass, John Carroll; Braylon Bernard, John Carroll; Kevin Jasinski, Oak Mountain; Emanuel Johnson, Oak Mountain

GIRLS: 1ST TEAM

► Haley Trotter, Chelsea: One of two players in the area to average a double-double, with 18.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

► Jordan Hunter, Hewitt-Trussville: The Auburn signee helped the Lady Huskies to a state runner-up finish, going for 19.9 points per game.

► Sarah Gordon, Vestavia Hills: Led the area in scoring, with 20.3 points per game.

Left: Homewood’s David Stone (20) shoots a jumper in the first half of the boys Class 6A Northeast Regional final between the Spartans and Patriots at Jacksonville State University’s Pete Mathews Coliseum on Feb. 20.

Above: Homewood’s Kayla Warren (3) dribbles the ball downcourt in a game against Parker at Homewood High School on Jan. 13. Photos by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

Homewood head coach Tim Shepler reacts during the first half of the boys Class 6A Northeast Regional final against Mountain Brook at Jacksonville State University’s Pete Mathews Coliseum on Feb. 20.

► Khloe Ford, Hoover: Burst onto the scene as a sophomore, finishing with 12.8 points and 7.8 rebounds for the four-time state champs.

► Kameron Sanders, Clay-Chalkville: Led the Lady Cougars with 12.3 points a game.

GIRLS: 2ND TEAM

► Emma Kerley, Briarwood: Has become one of the most versatile players in the area, going for 11.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.

► Jill Gaylard, Vestavia Hills: All-around solid point guard, posting nearly 10 points per game as well.

► Brooklyn Phillips, Clay-Chalkville: One of the top 3-point shooters in the area, making 72 of them.

► Raegan Whitaker, Oak Mountain: Averaged a double-double in her final season.

► Maddie Walter, Mountain Brook: Went for 10 points and 8 rebounds a game.

GIRLS: 3RD TEAM

► Caroline Brown, Chelsea: The versatile forward averaged nearly 10 points per game.

► Ryleigh Martin, Hewitt-Trussville: Had plenty of flashes in her freshman season, including a 27-point outing late in the season.

► Kayla Warren, Homewood: Led a balanced team, with 9.8 points a game.

► Kaitlyn Gipson, Hoover: Surpassed 1,000 career points for the state champs.

► Ann Tatum Baker, Briarwood: The fourth-leading scorer in the area, with 13.4 points per game.

HONORABLE MENTION

► Emily Williams, John Carroll; Sadie Schwallie, Chelsea; Olivia Pryor, Chelsea; Mallory Ogle, John Carroll; Ashlyn Howard, Hewitt-Trussville; Ellis McCool, Homewood; Ava Robinson, Homewood; Mira McCool, Homewood; Savannah McDonald,

Homewood;

WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR HEALTH At ENT Associates of Alabama, P.C.Experience Matters

If you suffer from allergies or other ear, nose, throat or hearing problems, we don’t want you to treat your healthcare lightly or ignore symptoms that could lead to more serious issues.

For a complete and thorough evaluation make an appointment today to see one of our 15 board certified physicians, 4 highly trained, licensed PA’s, or 16 clinical audiologists – all available to serve your needs at any of our 10 locations.

At our practice, your health comes first; and we strive to treat each patient as a person, not just another case. Our goal is to deliver a positive personal experience along with a positive outcome.

For your convenience, we have same day appointments available, as well as early morning, evening, and Saturday appointments. Please call 1-888-ENT-5020 (1-888-368-5020) for more information, visit us on our website at www.entalabama.com, and scan the QR code below to follow us on social media.

Lane Crowe, Homewood; Laine Litton, Homewood; Grayson Hudgens, Vestavia Hills; Ariana Peagler, Hoover; Aaliyah Blanchard, Hoover; Layla Cannon, Hoover; Kamryn Lee, Hoover; Kamoriah Gaines, Clay-Chalkville; Ava Leonard, Spain Park; Tori Flournoy, Spain Park; Teagan Huey, Spain Park; Caroline Kester, Oak Mountain; Emma Stearns, Mountain Brook; Libby Geisler, Mountain Brook; Sarah Passink, Mountain Brook; Mary Beth Dicen, Briarwood

Above: Homewood’s Kaleb Carson (10) drives the ball to the goal in the second half of the boys Class 6A Northeast Regional semifinal at Jacksonville State University’s Pete Mathews Coliseum on Feb. 16.

Right: Homewood’s Laine Litton (1) shoots a 3-pointer in a game against Parker at Homewood High School on Jan. 13. Photos by Erin Nelson Sweeney.

Burgess comes home to lead Patriots volleyball program

By KYLE PARMLEY

The timing was finally right for Grace Burgess to return home.

The 2005 graduate of Homewood High School has been named the new volleyball coach of the Patriots, following four years as the head coach at Oak Mountain High School.

“The timing is right. It just feels right,” Burgess said.

Burgess played at Homewood and at LaGrange College before embarking on a coaching career that had assistant stops at Spain Park and Thompson before her first head job at Oak Mountain.

The Homewood and Oak Mountain jobs were each last open in 2020. For obvious reasons, Burgess had interest in the Homewood job at that time, and she was disappointed that it didn't work out.

“Homewood is my dream job, and anybody that asked me probably knew that already, but I wasn’t ready [in 2020],” Burgess said. “I had to learn how to be a head coach before I came to my dream job, and now I’m ready to do all those things.”

But the experiences accumulated and the relationships formed in her time at Oak Mountain made leaving incredibly difficult. She led the Eagles to consecutive super regional appearances and was named the Starnes Media All-South Metro Coach of the Year following the 2022 campaign.

“The hardest part was I fell in love with my kids at Oak Mountain,” she said. “I miss them every day. I made some really good friends at Oak Mountain, and that was hard as well.”

Burgess thanked the parents

involved in her program at Oak Mountain for their unwavering support as she learned to navigate life as a head coach.

“Those parents supported me and were respectful of me even if they disagreed. They allowed me to be successful, and I don’t know if that’s

the case everywhere,” she said.

Along those lines, Burgess is also proud of the community aspect her program was able to forge at Oak

Mountain. High school players attended middle school matches, and vice versa. Burgess was visible to the middle school players. She hopes to create the same type of environment at Homewood.

Burgess takes over a Homewood program far from broken. Previous head coach Andie Freedman, who was recently announced as the new coach at Hewitt-Trussville High, took the Patriots to the super regional tournament all four years of her tenure, including a final four appearance at the 2021 state tournament.

But as with any coaching change, things will change some, and Burgess has been pleased with the flexibility of everyone within the program as she implements her methods. She also expressed how much she has enjoyed working for the Homewood administration so far.

“The kids here have been very open and excited to learn new things and learn the way that I do things,” she said. “That’s been really cool. There’s not much resistance to it, and they’re having a good time and getting to know me.”

Burgess played for Susan Cook and Melonie McBrayer in her days at Homewood, and she hopes her players have similar positive experiences playing for her at the same place. It means a little more to someone like Burgess, who has sweat equity in that same gym.

“I remember the hard days and how hard our practices were, but I also remember how successful we were because of that,” she said.

She added, “I want them earning plaques and to be so proud of the community they’re playing for.”

Oak Mountain head coach Grace Burgess encourages her team during a match between Oak Mountain and Tuscaloosa County in August 2023. Burgess recently accepted the head volleyball coach position at Homewood High. Photo by Kyle Parmley.

Sports Editor’s Note

By Kyle Parmley

2 winners?

We’ve officially put another winter sports season in the books, my ninth at Starnes Media.

I remember being thrown into the fire just a few months after I started, with Homewood High School’s boys basketball team putting together a run to the state championship.

There have been several state championship games and teams in the years since, but this year, I experienced something I had not previously.

Following the Class 7A girls state final, in which Hoover knocked off Hewitt-Trussville 58-56 in a highly entertaining game, both sides expressed jubilation and the satisfaction of a job well done.

Hoover won its fourth straight state title, but this one was different. The star power of alums Reniya Kelly and Aniya Hubbard had come and gone, but the Lady Bucs were on a mission to prove the program had staying power at the top of the heap. They did just that.

The emotion from head coach Krystle Johnson and her players after the game stemmed from the joy of achieving something many thought was not possible.

On the Hewitt-Trussville side, there were no sad or disappointed tears after the Lady Huskies lost in the state championship game for the third time in the last six years. In fact, Hewitt-Trussville’s fourth quarter rally made the game tight at the end and made an impression on everyone in the building.

Head coach Tonya Hunter beamed with pride while recounting the last six years coaching her daughter Jordan and realizing the other young stars ready to bloom in her program.

Johnson and Hunter are two of the best basketball coaches in Alabama, and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to cover their programs in recent years. They are intentional leaders and constantly seek ways to grow and improve in their own craft.

They both had plenty to be proud of following this season, and that showed in their ear-to-ear grins following their teams’ stellar performances in the final.

It was as if they had both won. And in many ways, they had.

Kyle Parmley is the sports editor at Starnes Media.

Varsity Sports Calendar

BASEBALL

April 2: Doubleheader vs. Sardis. 5 p.m.

April 4: Doubleheader @ Sardis. 5 p.m.

April 9: @ Mountain Brook. 6 p.m.

April 11: Doubleheader vs. Mountain Brook. 5:30 p.m.

April 15: vs. Bob Jones. Toyota Field. 6 p.m.

GOLF

April 1: Boys at Husky Invitational. Grayson Valley CC.

April 1-2: Girls at Vestavia Invitational. Vestavia CC.

April 2: Boys at Chesley Oaks. Cullman.

April 4: Girls vs. Fairview. Chesley Oaks.

April 8: Girls vs. Arab. Cherokee Ridge.

April 15-16: Boys at Tom Bell Memorial. Limestone Springs CC.

April 17: Girls vs. Brooks. RTJ Shoals.

April 22-23: Bert McGriff Invitational. Hanceville.

SOCCER

April 2: Girls vs. Cullman. 7 p.m.

April 5: Boys @ John Carroll. 7 p.m.

April 8: vs. Northridge. Girls at 5:45 p.m., boys at 7:30 p.m.

April 9: Boys vs. Vestavia Hills. 7 p.m.

April 12: @ Briarwood. Girls at 5 p.m., boys at 7 p.m.

April 16: Boys @ Parker. 6:30 p.m.

April 18: Girls vs. Spain Park. 6 p.m.

SOFTBALL

April 2: vs. Mountain Brook. 5 p.m.

April 4: vs. Shades Valley. 6 p.m.

April 8: vs. St. Clair County. 6 p.m.

April 10: @ Shades Valley. 6 p.m.

April 12: Calera Tournament.

April 15: vs. Clay-Chalkville. 6 p.m.

April 18: @ Mountain Brook. 5 p.m.

April 23: vs. Briarwood. 6 p.m.

April 24: @ Pelham. 6 p.m.

TENNIS

April 4: vs. Spain Park. 2:30 p.m.

April 9: @ Vestavia Hills. 2:30 p.m.

Parmley

Ordinary Days By Lauren Denton

Silver lining of rush hour traffic

Having lived in Homewood for most of the last 22 years, I’ve gotten a wee bit spoiled when it comes to dealing with traffic. And by that, I mean I rarely have to deal with it.

Sure, there are times when there’s a stalled car or a wreck that backs up traffic, or I’m trying to get to an appointment early in the morning or late in the afternoon. But in general, it rarely takes more than 15 minutes to get anywhere I need to go, and usually it’s more like 5 or 10.

But every Thursday afternoon, I get to experience the wonder of 280 traffic at its worst: rush hour at the end of the day. The silver lining is that I get to do it with my 11-yearold, Sela. Every Thursday at 5 p.m., she has climbing team at High Point Climbing, which is, as we all say, “way down 280.” It clocks in at only eight miles away, but it can easily take 45 minutes if we don’t leave the house at exactly the right time.

A recent traffic study determined that the number of cars on U.S. 280 doubles to 5,200 during rush hour—and I think we see every single one of them on our weekly trek to High Point.

But, as I said, the silver lining of this weekly trek is that I get to spend the time with Sela. Sometimes she reads or draws, but more often, we play little games we’ve come up with to pass the time.

We ask each other fun questions: If you could live anywhere, where would you

choose? If you could have any job, what would it be? If you could pick any one of these cars to drive, which would you pick? We watch for nature — stark white tree trunks scattered among the brown, hawks flying high overhead and patches of wildflowers peeking between the trees and nosing up on the medians. We look for interesting license plates — we’ve seen GIGIx2, TURTLES and XPENSIV, and we’re always hoping we’ll see the same ones on different days.

And then there’s the conversation that happens around the games. Sometimes we talk about friends, and friendship in general. Sometimes we talk about something hard or funny or sad that happened at school that day. Sometimes she tells me a new word she heard someone say at school and she’ll ask me what it means. Usually, I know what the word means and I tell her the truth — sometimes prompting interesting and hilarious conversations about inappropriate words — but other times I have no idea and I have to ask my 14-year-old when we get home. (It’s so strange when you have to ask your kid to tell you what some new word means.)

People love to tell parents what life will be like with tweens and teens. We’re bombarded with horror stories of hormones and slammed doors, of how they’ll stop talking to us or

never come out of their bedrooms or want nothing to do with us. It’s easy for parents to fear these years like a coming storm. But what I’ve happily discovered with our tween and teen is that as they grow up, our love for and appreciation of them has grown as well. Of course, every age has its own beauty and difficulties, and young kids are amazingly loveable and interesting, with their endless curiosity and adventures and discoveries. But our experience has been that as our girls have gotten older, we’re able to enjoy them in new ways. Their interests get … well, more interesting. Conversations change as maturity grows, subject matters deepen and expand, and we can talk and laugh with them about things that a few years ago, we would have shied away from. They ask bigger and harder questions, and we have to dig deep to come up with answers that satisfy — and sometimes have the courage to admit we don’t have the answer. One thing I’m sure of is that their dad and I are learning about life right alongside them.

Driving home from High Point two and a half hours later, everything’s different. Depending on the time of year, the sky is either darkened with stars, slashed with the pink and orange of sunset or coated in the purple hues of twilight. We’re both quieter

on the drive home — Sela because she’s just spent two hours laughing and running and lifting herself up and down walls, and me because I’m winding down, thinking of a shower and pajamas and a good book. Our conversation is usually slower and more scattered — a funny thing someone said in climbing class, anticipation for the coming weekend or a random story from earlier in the week we forgot to talk about.

All things considered, the tween and teen years have been solidly good for us. All of them have been good, really, from newborn right up until this moment, and I pray the future will bring us much more — everything wonderful and confusing and hard and hilarious. But for now, I remind myself to cherish these days and these moments, even if some of them are spent in bumper-to-bumper traffic behind a jacked-up truck with XPENSIV on the license plate. I have time with my girl, time away from chores and homework and dinner prep, time to watch and listen and breathe.

When I’m not writing about my family and our ordinary life, I write novels, go to the grocery store, and vacuum dog hair. You can find my books in stores, online, and locally at Little Professor Bookshop. You can reach me by email at Lauren@LaurenKDenton.com, visit my website LaurenKDenton.com, or find me on Instagram @LaurenKDentonBooks or Facebook ~LaurenKDentonAuthor.

Denton

Sean of the South By Sean Dietrich Make Mama proud

I’d like to make my mama proud. That’s one of my main goals in this world. If I’ve made her proud, well, then I’ve really done something.

My mother, you see, is the kind of woman who taught me how to be nice, and how to have manners.

Long ago, she would make me sit with my cousin, Myrtle, at covered dish socials, so Myrtle wouldn’t be sitting alone. Mama would say things like: “Be polite, and make sure you ask your cousin how her baton twirling is coming along.”

Admittedly, Myrtle was about as interesting as watching ditchwater evaporate. But, like I said, I want my mama to be proud.

Maybe I should back up and tell you where all this is coming from.

Earlier this week, I spent some time with people who were — how do I put this — not very nice. Now, they weren’t “mean” people, per se, but you don’t have to be “mean” to be un-nice.

I hope I am never an un-nice person. What would Mama think?

Mama is a woman who says things like: “Don’t talk about yourself too much. It’s like passing gas in an elevator; people will smile, but they don’t mean it.”

And: “Be a good listener, your ears will never get you in trouble.”

I don’t aspire to much in this life, but I know that I want to be the kind of man who listens.

Also, I want to be the kind of man who dogs follow for no reason. I want to be the guy who does magic tricks for toddlers.

I want to go around reminding teenagers how important they are. I want to listen to the jokes old men tell when their wives aren’t around.

I want to hear long stories on porches, and I want to be the first to respond: “Well, I Suwannee.”

A good Suwannee is hard to find.

I want the “little guys” to be famous. I want the overlooked to be looked at. I want to clap for the kid who dreams of singing on the Opry stage one day — like Mama clapped for me. I’ve never been on the Opry stage and never will, either. But Mama really believed I could have been.

I want to believe in people like she does. I want to watch sunsets with friends and convince them that they are the most “specialist” people in the world. And I want to use words like “specialest,” even though that word is English blasphemy.

I want cheap beer in the bottle. I don’t need a New York strip, just give me a hamburger and onion rings as big as hula hoops. Then, I want you to know that you can hug me whenever you want and get a hug in return. A good hug is harder to find than a good Suwannee.

And if I live long enough to see my own white hair, I want to be a man who is proud of people who don’t have someone to be proud of them. I want my friends to succeed and surpass me. I want to be the one cheering for them in the bleachers. I want my funeral to be filled with people who say things like, “Sean Dietrich, wasn’t he a mess?”

And I want you to know you are magnificent. Everyone and anyone. Landscapers, meter-readers, garbage men, abused spouses, ex-convicts, divorcees, jewelry artists, single mothers, lonely fathers, Mexican immigrants, nurses, attorneys, Waffle House waitresses, concrete layers, Baptists, insurance salesmen.

I hope I am the sort of guy who is kind.

But most of all, I hope to make my mother proud.

Sean Dietrich is a columnist and novelist known for his commentary on life in the American South. He has authored nine books and is the creator of the “Sean of the South” blog and podcast.

Dietrich