The Homewood Star | April 2012 |
www.TheHomewoodStar.com
neighborly news & entertainment for Homewood
Volume 2 | Issue 1 | April 2012
Shining Starpg 12
Siblings golf- pg 18
Spring fashion- pg 13
Team Bottchen walks for MS By RICK WATSON Meridith Bottchen was 28 years old when she began to feel an odd tingling in her left arm and leg. It would have been easy to dismiss, but she realized her grandfather with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) had similar symptoms. Even though she knew the disease would change her life, she decided she wasn’t going to take it sitting down. Meridith got treatment right away to address her own health, but she also became a fundraising machine to help raise money for research for the disease. Her efforts with the Alabama-Mississippi Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society have also helped raise awareness about MS. “I told her she missed her calling,” said Meridith’s father, Steve Bottchen, who works for the City of Homewood. “She should have been a professional fundraiser.” “Team Bottchen” participates in Birmingham Walk MS each year and has raised thousands for the MS Society. This year Steve wanted a little more of a challenge, so they signed up to walk 50
April Features Mayor’s Minute
5
Upcoming events
6
Making Homewood Home Again 8 10 Easter events Tammy Connor
11
Fashion Spotlight
13
Lauren Denton
15
Restaurant Showcase
16
Business Spotlight
17
Sports
18
School House
20
Calendar of Events
22
Homewood Happenings
23
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Steve and Meridith Bottchen will be a part of the Walk MS at Homewood Central Park on April 14. Photo by Madoline Markham.
miles in three days for the Challenge Walk in Charleston in March. Now that they have completed that
challenge, the duo are preparing for the local Walk MS scheduled for Saturday, April 14 at Homewood Park.
Multiple Sclerosis is an unpredictable,
See WALK MS | page 18
Bi-level Target to open by 2013 By ALLIE KLAUBERT Construction has begun on the new Target in Colonial Brookwood Village. The store is scheduled to open in March 2013. “We are excited,” said Mayor Scott McBrayer. “I believe that Homewood will be an excellent fit for Target.” The new store, located in the southwestern end of the development, will be two levels and 135,000 square feet. It will carry brands and essentials that customers expect from Target, but it will also feature an expanded fresh food section. “The nice thing about the expanded fresh food layout is that guests can find an extended selection of fresh fruit, meat and perishables in addition to the typical offerings,” said Meghan Mike, associate specialist for Target. Homewood mother, Sarah Paulk, is excited to have Target closer to home. “I love the quality and variety of items that Target carries, in addition to the clean and comfortable atmosphere,” she said. “It will be a convenience for the residents of Homewood,” said City Councilman Hunter Payne. “Instead of leaving Homewood to shop in another city, they can now stay here.” Target is known for its involvement in its stores’ communities. The Homewood location will start a local grant program,
A two-story Target is under construction on Lakeshore Drive. Photo by Madoline Markham.
contribute to the United Way and donate food regularly. “Target works closely with local officials and guests to create stores that complement and support a community’s needs,” said Mike. The Homewood location will also support local schools through the Take Charge of Education Program. Through
the program, Target donates 1 percent of purchases made with a Target REDcard to a local school of the customer’s choice. “We are committed to being a good neighbor and developing longlasting relationships with guests and the Homewood community,” said Sid Keswani, Target’s senior vice president of stores in the South region.
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