For years, Homewood and Mountain Brook have shared more than a border — they’ve shared a shopping mall. Brookwood Village took its name from the two cities flanking it — Homewood to the west and Mountain Brook to the east. Since its completion in 1973, the mall served as a central spot for residents to shop, dine and gather for community events and holidays.
But those scenes now live only in memory. A mix of shifting retail trends and the COVID-19 pandemic ultimately shuttered Brookwood Village. For months, a common question has followed: What will happen to the former shopping center? A partial answer came in early November when the development team of Fairway Investments and Pope & Land Real Estate announced the sale of the former Belk department store at Brookwood Village to Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Center.
Brian and Suzy Collins describe their Mayfair Drive home as an “atomic blast of color and inflatables. Photo courtesy of the Collins family.
THURSDAY; DEC 4th
Trunk Shows & Exclusives
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Editor’s Note By Kyle Parmley
If you’ve read this paper for any length of time, you’ve likely noticed that my work appears primarily in the Sports section. I’ve served as the sports editor here at Starnes Media for 10 years this month. While I will continue in that role, I am excited to step into the managing editor’s seat for The Homewood Star as well.
The hope is that you won’t really notice anything different as our team continues to produce high-quality content each month.
It’s the holiday season, so it’s time to get into the spirit. I hope you will take
the time this month to end the year on the right foot. Spend time with the people who mean the most to you and remember the reason for the season. If you have any story ideas or feedback, I’m all ears. Feel free to email me at kparmley@starnesmedia. com. Thanks for reading!
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November
CITY
Cale Smith steps into city manager role
By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.
A year and two months after residents voted to adopt a city manager form of government, Homewood has its second person serving in that role.
Cale Smith, formerly the city’s engineer, was approved by the Homewood City Council to serve as acting city manager. The Nov. 10 vote was retroactive to Smith’s appointment by Mayor Jennifer Andress on Nov. 3.
Smith succeeds Glen Adams, who was hired after the 2022 referendum to serve as Homewood’s interim city manager. His contract expired as the new council and mayor took office.
“It’s been a whirlwind week,” Smith said following the first council meeting of the new term. “We’ve only been doing it for a week. We’re excited.”
Mayor Andress said Adams helped the city navigate the transition away from a mayor-council form of government.
“That’s right, that’s right. And he was,” the mayor said. “He got us through the budget process. He got regular meetings put in place where the department heads were meeting on a weekly basis. He put some structure in place that we didn’t have before. That was a great addition to the way we do business here.
“Now, Cale is in that role, and Cale knows the city inside and out,” Andress said. “He’s been our city engineer for over four and a half years. It’s a great fit for him moving forward as acting city manager.”
Senior civil engineer Amy Zari is currently serving as acting city engineer.
Andress said there is no set timetable yet for filling either the city manager or city engineer
position permanently.
“TBD,” she said. “We’ll figure out what the process looks like where you open up the city manager position. We haven’t done that yet but Nick Sims (a returning councilman) and I’ve talked in theory about it. We’ll talk with the other councilors about that, opening that up and seeing what interest we get.”
Other changes in city personnel include the arrival of accountants from Carr Riggs and Ingram, a firm that has worked with Homewood in the past.
“Which they have done for us in the past,” the mayor said, “when we went through our unfortunate situation with our last finance director.”
Former finance director Robert Burgett was sentenced on April 30 to 37 months in federal prison for embezzling nearly $1 million from the city. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 23 to three counts of wire fraud.
Carr, Riggs & Ingram will monitor Homewood’s finances until a new finance director is hired.
“That’ll be the next priority,” Andress said. “We’ve got an HR position coming, an HR director. Those interviews are taking place right now. Finance director will be the very next priority. I think it’s already open.”
A new era of Homewood city government officially launched Nov. 10 as Andress chaired her first committee of the whole and
council meetings.
The new mayor admitted to some nerves during her first steps, wondering aloud during the committee meeting if an action should move immediately to the night’s council agenda.
Andress said she found comfort in Smith, the acting city manager, along with her fellow council members and two city attorneys.
“Having this crew, even though it’s new, it’s exciting, and everybody is here for it,” Andress said. “It was different, but it felt great. Having all the department heads here and just being so supportive, as usual, was wonderful.
“The procedure is different, trying to get a handle on that,” she said. “But I think you’ll see in a couple of meetings that that’ll smooth out.”
Above: Cale Smith steps in as acting city manager of Homewood.
Right: New Homewood Mayor Jennifer Andress, right, stands with Jane Reed Ross.
Photos by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.
Mayor’s Minute
By Jennifer Andress
Happy Holidays, Homewood! I am excited to be writing my first-ever Mayor’s Minute for The Homewood Star, as we head into one of the most special times of the year.
I was deeply honored to be sworn in as your new mayor alongside our newly elected City Council. The November swearing-in ceremony also marked Homewood’s official transition to a council-manager form of government, as approved by voters in the 2024 referendum. City Engineer and Director of Engineering and Zoning Cale Smith has been appointed interim city manager. Together with our department heads and dedicated city staff, Cale and I are committed to serving you.
the future of our city.
We’ve partnered with Town Planning & Urban Design Collaborative out of Franklin, Tennessee, to lead this work (fun fact: the founder of the collaborative actually grew up in Vestavia Hills). Their team will visit Homewood later this month, and public meetings will begin in the first quarter of 2026.
We need your ideas, your vision and your participation. Attend the meetings, share your feedback and help shape Homewood’s next two decades.
We have many exciting projects underway and on the horizon. In the coming months, we’ll see progress on several major capital initiatives, including the long-awaited diverging diamond interchange at Lakeshore and Interstate 65, completion of the Green Springs “road diet” and pedestrian improvements, and the U.S. 31 access management and pedestrian improvement project. We’re also looking forward to the Central Avenue trail project and the addition of a new trailhead pavilion and restrooms along Shades Creek Parkway.
Our most important upcoming initiative is the city’s comprehensive plan, which officially kicks off in January. Most cities update their master plan every 10 years, and Homewood’s last update was in 2007. This is a much-needed opportunity to look ahead together and define
The city will share information about meetings and other opportunities to get involved on our website, social media and through The Homewood Star. I’ll also be rolling out my Mayor’s Newsletter citywide this month. In addition, we’ll take steps to reach residents who may not use technology so that every voice in Homewood is heard.
Communication has always been a priority for me, and it remains one of my most valuable tools. My former Ward 5 constituents will tell you I’m highly responsive — and that commitment hasn’t changed. You can always reach me at jennifer.andress@homewoodal.org. City Manager Cale Smith is equally responsive at citymanager@homewoodal.org.
As we enter our centennial year, we have so much to be proud of, so much to be thankful for and so much to look forward to. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the extraordinary honor of serving Homewood.
Andress
SCHOOLHOUSE
Alabama’s FOCUS Act in effect
Statewide law aims to curb classroom distractions
By APRIL COFFEY
At Homewood High, something about the rhythm of the day feels different. The hallways are a little quieter, the chatter sounds more focused and teachers say there’s less tug-ofwar for students’ attention.
“It has absolutely made me focus more in the classroom,” said ninth grader Catherine Schoenner, reflecting on the first months of Alabama’s new FOCUS Act, which bans phones, earbuds and smartwatches during the school day.
Signed into law in May, the Freeing Our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Safety Act applies to all Alabama public schools. Effective beginning with the 2025-26 school year, the law is designed to reduce distractions and help students refocus on in-person learning. While some students and parents were unsure how it would play out, many now describe classrooms that are calmer, more interactive and more focused.
WHAT THE ACT REQUIRES
The law prohibits the use, display or operation of wireless communication devices during the school day, except in emergencies, accommodations or teacher-directed instruction. School systems must also teach internet safety and implement technology use policies for school-issued devices.
Homewood City Schools already had a longstanding technology agreement, signed by parents and students during registration. The Homewood Safe and Healthy Schools Association also offers educational tools to help families promote healthy screen habits.
Classroom distraction was a driving concern behind the law. In a 2024 Pew Research survey, 72% of U.S. high school teachers said cellphone use was a major problem in their classrooms. Academic research has echoed those concerns — a Rutgers University study found that students in device-friendly classrooms scored an average of 5% lower on final exams than students in phone-free classes. Supporters believe limiting phone use will improve engagement and outcomes, though some experts caution that device bans alone aren’t a cure-all.
STUDENTS SAY ENGAGEMENT IS UP
Titus Smith, a senior at Homewood High, said the law helps him stay on track. “I think the FOCUS Act is a good thing in terms of taking away distractions and limiting the time that teachers have to spend encouraging students to stay on task,” he said. “As many AP classes as I am taking, I cannot afford the distraction during instructional time.”
Parent Yawanna McDonald agrees. “Teachers no longer have to compete with social apps while trying to teach,” she said. “The potential
benefit of having fewer distractions during school should help every student and educator throughout the state.”
Yawanna McDonald
Educators have noticed more natural conversation and connection. “I love to see my students talking to one another more and having real conversations rather than discussing what is on TikTok,” a Homewood teacher said. “I feel like I am able to have more conversations with students and engage with them more because they are not busy looking at their phones or social media.”
COMMUNICATION GAPS, PARENTAL CONCERNS
For all the benefits, parents say communication can be challenging under the new restrictions.
“Initially I had great concerns about the new law,” McDonald said. “I think most parents fear not being able to get in touch with their children during a crisis. I, too, have that fear — and it’s something we all have to work through.”
She added that routine coordination is also harder. “Not having a direct line of communication with children during school hours is a negative,” she said.
Titus has experienced that challenge firsthand. “The first day of school, I did not know if I had track practice, and if I didn’t, I would take my sister home from school,” he said. “When I learned that I did have practice, I was worried about my parents knowing in time that they needed to pick her up.”
To help, Homewood City Schools encourages families to use ParentSquare and StudentSquare instead of text messaging during school hours.
YOUNGER STUDENTS LESS AFFECTED
Middle schoolers and elementary students say the change hasn’t been dramatic. “It is really no different for me,” said Blakelee Feist, a sixth grader at Homewood Middle School. “Hall-Kent Elementary did not allow us to have cellphones either, so it just seems the same.”
Her sister Brantlee, a 10th grader, agreed:
What to know about the FOCUS Act
► Full name: Freeing Our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Safety Act (FOCUS Act)
► Applies to: All public K-12 schools in Alabama, effective 2025-26 school year
► What’s banned: Use, operation or display of phones, earbuds, smartwatches and other wireless devices during the school day
► Exceptions: Medical needs, emergencies, IEP/504 accommodation and teacher-directed instructional use
► Local responsibility: Every school board must adopt compliant wireless device and internet safety policies
► Required curriculum: Students must complete a state-approved course on social media risks and online safety before eighth grade
► Legislative support: Passed Alabama House 79-15; supported by Alabama Department of Education
SOURCES: ALABAMA LEGISLATURE (HB166), ALABAMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (FOCUS ACT MEMO, JULY 2025), GOVTECH REPORTING
“We could never have our phones at the middle school before, so it does not really affect me now at the high school.”
Their mother, Britneylee Feist, said students have handled the transition well. “Homewood students really seem to obey the rules at school,” she said. “Both of my girls say that students are respecting the guidelines and not using banned devices during the instructional day.”
COPING WITHOUT CONNECTION
Some students say the adjustment to
What research says about phones and learning
► 72% of U.S. high school teachers say phones are a major distraction in class
► A Rutgers University study concluded allowing devices in class led to ~5% lower final exam scores compared to phone-free classrooms
► A meta-analysis of 39 studies found consistent negative links between smartphone use and academic performance
► Over half of school leaders report cellphones negatively impact learning outcomes
► Some research cautions that bans alone may not improve grades or well-being — other supports are often needed
SOURCES: PEW RESEARCH CENTER (2024), RUTGERS UNIVERSITY (2018), EDUCATION SCIENCES META-ANALYSIS (2024), NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS (2025), UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (2025)
being phone-free all day has been challenging. Birmingham-based nonprofit College Admissions Made Possible is working to help.
“Our Brains and Screens curriculum,” Executive Director Michelle Hayes said, “uses social-emotional learning time to retrain the brain for focus, calm and connection in a screen-saturated world.”
CAMP’s Alabama Virtual Institute serves about 3,000 Alabama students daily with academic and wellness programming.
While programs like CAMP support the statewide transition, the change is playing out most clearly inside Homewood classrooms. “I think the FOCUS Act is a good thing in terms of taking away distractions,” Titus said. Under the law, he said, “teachers can teach, and students can learn — and that’s really the goal.”
Cellphones are no longer allowed in K-12 public school classrooms during the school day, per a new Alabama law. Stock photo.
Catherine Schoenner, left, with sister Carlye
Homewood Parks & Recreation
Central Barre
Wednesday 5:15 pm & Saturday 8:15 am
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 9:30 am – 10:30 am
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
Tuesday 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm
Homewood Community Center Fitness Studio 2
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. $5.00 per person per visit. funforalllinedancing@gmail.com
Classes & Activities
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
Cost: Classes are FREE (with donations). For more information, contact Rosa at 205-2539344 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.
YoLimber
Wednesday 12 pm – 1 pm - Warrior Sculpt
Friday 8 am – 9 am - Basics Class
Friday 9:30 am – 10:30 am - Regular Class Friday 4 pm – 5 pm - BroYo (Men’s Yoga) Vinyasa yoga classes in an energetic environment using upbeat music at Homewood Community Center. All levels welcome. Contact Marla: 205-223-8564 • mac@yolimber.com
Tai Chi Classes
All classes are suitable for anyone who is willing to take the time to learn these beautiful, liberating and empowering sets of movements (forms). For additional information about Tai Chi Classes, contact Galina at: galinawaites@gmail.com.
Sun Style - Tuesdays 1:30 pm
Arthritis and Fall Prevention - Wednesdays 1:30 pm Yang Style - Thursdays 1:30 pm
Homewood Soccer Club
Homewood Soccer Club is dedicated to creating a balanced youth soccer program. Information about the Spring 2026 season, all levels of play, registration deadlines, fees and Club philosophy is available at www.homewoodsoccer.com or call The Soccer Office at 205-874-9182.
Fast Track Line Dance
Saturday 11 am – 1 pm
Homewood Community Center
Fitness Studio 2
We learn the current and classic intermediate-advanced line dances. This class is not for beginners. 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
Argentine Tango Lab
Sunday 4 pm – 5 pm
Weekly tango laboratory/practice for milongueros seeking to improve their dancing skills and explore interconnection, movement and musicality. Fundamental tango skills expected. Milongueros with all levels of experience are welcome. Non-marking shoes with leather or suede soles required.
Hosted by Chalo at the Homewood Community Center in Fitness Studio 1. $5 per class.
Chair Fitness
Monday/Wednesday/Friday at 10:45 am
Great for individuals with stamina or balance issues. Focuses on joint mobility, stretching, strength and balance.
Senior Lunch Program
Weekdays Noon – 12:30 pm – The lunch program does not require membership but does require enrollment (for ages 60+).
Homewood Patriot Lacrosse
HPL works in collaboration with Homewood Parks & Recreation, Homewood City Schools and Greater Birmingham Youth Lacrosse Association. Registration ends December 31. For more details, please go to: www.gbyla.org.
Homewood Patriots Youth Baseball and Softball League
HPYBSL is a youth recreational baseball and softball league for the citizens of Homewood. Please visit our website for more information about the upcoming Spring 2026 Season: www.playhwd.com.
BUSINESS
Business Buzz
NOW OPEN
Avontuur, a leather goods, gift and lifestyle store, has opened at 2941 18th St. South in the former Homewood Sporting Goods space. Avontuur means “a bold undertaking” in Afrikaans. The shop is a “showroom for purposeful products with compelling stories.” Most products come from small, bespoke brands that produce limited quantities using top-quality materials and are rarely found in traditional retail stores. Featured brands include Kingfisher Leatherworks, W.C. Russell Moccasin Co., Hound & Hare and Roots & Jones. officialavontuur.com, 478-256-1562
Rob’e Mans held a ribbon cutting on Nov. 17 to open its third automotive repair service shop in Homewood. The new location, specializing in domestic cars and trucks,
is at 102 Green Springs Highway. Rob’e Mans also offers Asian auto service at 2600 18th St. South and European service at 2813 Central Ave. The business began more than 40 years ago as a small, Honda-only repair shop. robemans.com, 205-871-4712
Empowered to Conquer, a faith-based nonprofit, recently opened at 210 Wildwood Parkway, Suite 408. The organization has helped young people build confidence and purpose through faith, education, mentoring and community for more than 16 years. empoweredtoconquer.org, 205-660-2009
Hunter Curtis recently opened Mana Grounds Cyber Cafe at 283 West Valley Ave. The gaming lounge is designed to provide a comfortable, modern space
for digital connectivity. It offers high-speed internet, a variety of tech services and a welcoming environment for work, gaming or casual browsing. The space brands itself as a hub where technology meets comfort — “for geeks, by geeks.” managrounds.com
Advance Auto Parts recently opened a location at 372 Palisades Blvd. The national automotive retailer, with nearly 5,000 stores, sells parts, accessories and maintenance products to professionals and DIY customers. The company also offers free in-store services such as battery testing and oil recycling. advanceautoparts.com, 205-573-542
ANNIVERSARIES
Katy Lincoln will celebrate the first anniversary of her boutique commercial real estate firm, Lincoln CRE, on Jan. 1. She opened the first physical office in August, located at 2822 Central Ave., Suite 100. The firm specializes in investment properties and leasing, with expertise in healthcare real estate. Lincoln is a 15-year commercial real estate veteran. lincolncre.com, 205-706-0676
► ADDRESS: 334 Kenilworth Drive
► BED/BATH: 2/2
► ADDRESS: 232 Fairlane Drive
► ADDRESS: 2909 Central Ave. Unit 121
► BED/BATH: 2/1
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 825 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Near Homewood Park
► LIST PRICE: $329,900
► SALE PRICE: $330,000
SOURCE: GREATER ALABAMA MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE
EVENTS
the Date
HOLIDAY MAKE AND MINGLE
► Where: Corbeau Wine Bar – The Edge, 817 Green Springs Highway
► When: Wednesday, Dec. 3, 6:30-9 p.m.
► Details: Enjoy a festive night of sipping, styling and sparkle — make beaded necklaces with Firefly Designs and scarf jewelry with JKT Designs. Craft alongside neighbors and new friends in a casual, social setting.
► Cost: From $65. Includes welcome glass of bubbles, charcuterie and materials for both jewelry activities.
► Where: Trinity United Methodist Church, 914 Oak Grove Road
► When: Dec. 10-11 and Dec. 13, 10 a.m.2 p.m. by appointment
► Details: Trinity United Methodist Church is offering parents in need the chance to shop by appointment for free Christmas toys. Community members can donate new, unwrapped gifts and toys at designated TUMC campuses or purchase items through an online Amazon wishlist by Dec. 3. Volunteers are also needed to organize donations, set up the space and provide hospitality.
► Contact: 205-879-1737 or CarrieRCarter@bellsouth.net
JINGLE ALL THE WAY STORIES AND MUSIC
► Where: Homewood Public Library, Large Auditorium, 1721 Oxmoor Road
► When: Friday, Dec. 5, 6:30-9 p.m.
► Details: Celebrate the season with this beloved holiday tradition featuring storyteller Dolores Hydock and musician Bobby Horton. Enjoy a festive blend of heartwarming tales, classic carols and lively sing-alongs as this acclaimed duo presents a fresh mix of new material and cherished favorites. Their performance is a treasured part of Homewood’s Christmas season.
► Cost: $25 in advance
► Contact: 205-332-6600 or homewoodpubliclibrary.org
KPOP DEMON HUNTERS SINGALONG
► Where: Homewood Public Library, 1721 Oxmoor Road
► When: Tuesday, Dec. 16, 4-4:45 p.m.
► Details: Sing along to your favorite songs from “KPop Demon Hunters,” the 2025 animated musical. Follow Huntrix, a K-pop girl group who secretly battle demons using music and fan power.
► Cost: Free
► Contact: homewoodpubliclibrary.org
► For more events news, connect with the Homewood Star online by scanning the QR code.
► Have an upcoming event to share? Email Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnesmedia.com.
JINGLE BELL RUN
► Where: Patriot Park, 710 Oak Grove Road
► When: Saturday, Dec. 6, 9 a.m.
► Details: The Arthritis Foundation invites the community to join this year’s Jingle Bell Run, the original festive race for charity. Participants in the 5K, 1-mile fun run and wheelchair/frame runner run are encouraged to wear holiday gear and run, walk or stroll with friends, family or coworkers.
► Cost: $45-$50. Price increases after Dec. 5.
► Contact: 205-859-1305 or visit events.arthritis.org/jbrbirmingham
HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY
Dec. 1-31: Ellenburg Art Gallery – Holiday Traditions Around the World. All day. Ellenburg Art Gallery. All ages.
Dec. 1-31: Monthly Spice Club – Nutmeg. All day. Adult Services Desk. Adults.
Dec. 2 and 9: Free Adult English Classes. 6-8 p.m. Room 102. Adults.
Dec. 3 and 17: Live Yoga with Jackie Tally. 3-4 p.m. Large Auditorium. Adults.
Dec. 3, 9, 11 and 16: Story-A-Go-Go! 10-10:30 a.m. Round Auditorium. Ages 5 and younger.
► Details: Join a 2-mile holiday walk hosted by the Homewood Santa Claus Society. Participants gather at Grocery Brewpub before making their way through downtown. Open to men 21 and older, the event requires walkers to wear Santa suits as they spread Christmas cheer along the route. Golf carts, side-by-sides, ATVs and decorated Christmas floats are also permitted.
Dec. 22 and 23: Last-minute Gift Wrapping. 3-5:30 p.m. Large Auditorium. All ages.
* Many of these events require prior registration. Visit homewoodpubliclibrary.org for more information and for the full events calendar.
Homewood prepares for annual Christmas parade, star and tree lighting tradition
By STAFF
Homewood’s annual Lighting of the Star and Christmas parade returns Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 6:30 p.m. — bringing a celebration of lights, music and community spirit to the streets of downtown.
This year’s theme is “A Silver Screen Christmas,” according to the Homewood Parks and Recreation website.
For more than 70 years, the event has blended tradition and spectacle — from candy-filled floats to the glowing star that marks the heart of the holiday season.
The parade begins at the Homewood Public Library and follows a familiar route through the city. From the library, floats will travel east on Oxmoor Road, turn left onto 18th Street South and pass beneath the iconic Christmas star. The route continues with a right onto 29th Avenue, then left onto 19th Street past City Hall, another left on 28th Avenue and ends at the intersection of 18th Street and 28th Avenue.
Dozens of entries are expected this year, featuring businesses, schools, civic groups, churches and neighborhood associations. Both Homewood High School and John Carroll Catholic High School marching bands are set to attend.
Everyone is encouraged to participate in the Silver Screen theme. Parade award categories include Best of the Silver Screen Entry, Best Scout Entry, Best Civic Organization Entry and Best Business Entry. Awards will be presented
at the end of the parade.
Participants will toss candy and trinkets to spectators gathered along the sidewalks — continuing a tradition that drew hundreds of people last year and regularly fills downtown with holiday crowds.
This year marks the 21st appearance of Charlie Thomas as Homewood’s Santa Claus. Thomas, a familiar figure to local children, is expected to ride atop a city bucket truck as he makes his way along the route. The celebration concludes with Santa’s arrival at City Hall, where he’ll help light the city’s Christmas tree.
At the center of the event — both visually and symbolically — is the Homewood star, a 200-pound, 20-foot-wide metal structure suspended over 18th Street. Built in the early 1950s by Douglass McConnell of McConnell Sales and Engineering Corp., the star includes more than 1,200 bulbs and is wrapped in twotone gold garland for daylight shimmer. City crews spend about a week preparing the structure before installation, which involves two bucket trucks and a team of workers.
Planning the parade involves coordination across multiple departments — including fire, traffic and police — with support from community partners. The event typically lasts about 90 minutes.
The parade and tree lighting are free and open to the public. For more information, including participation guidelines and route details, visit homewoodparks. com/special-events.
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Hundreds of Homewood residents lined the streets in downtown in December 2024 for the city's annual Christmas parade. Staff photos.
John Carroll honors Heisman winner Pat Sullivan as part of major campus upgrades
By TIM STEPHENS
John Carroll Catholic High School has completed a transformative year on campus, unveiling sweeping athletic facility upgrades while honoring the legacy of one of its most celebrated alumni: Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan.
During a ribbon-cutting event this fall, school leaders, students and members of the Diocese of Birmingham gathered to dedicate the newly renovated Pat Sullivan Field and tour improvements across campus. The upgrades include the largest high school video display in the state and enhancements to the football, baseball and softball facilities — all made possible through the support of the John Carroll Excellence in Athletics Foundation.
Sullivan, who died in 2019 after a celebrated career as a player, coach and broadcaster, began his athletic journey as a three-sport standout at John Carroll. In 1971, he became the first Auburn University athlete to win the Heisman Trophy. He went on to play in the NFL and later returned to Birmingham where he coached at UAB and Samford University and mentored generations of young athletes.
This year, in a rare distinction, the Heisman Trust granted John Carroll permission to display the official Heisman logo on the field bearing Sullivan’s name. The tribute cements his place not only in Alabama sports history but in the heart of the school that shaped him.
“These enhancements and collaborations represent the renewal of John Carroll’s longstanding commitment to excellence,” said Fr. Jon Chalmers, president of John Carroll Catholic High School. “Our students will benefit from
facilities and programs that shape them into leaders of great faith, intellect and integrity.”
The renovations to campus athletic spaces include programmable LED field lighting, new concrete walkways and fencing, a renovated baseball field house and press box and a new strength and conditioning wing. A major highlight: the installation of a state-of-theart Daktronics video display — 26 feet high and 47 feet wide — and high-fidelity audio system designed to enhance both player and fan experience.
The new Pat Sullivan Field features
eco-conscious synthetic turf made from a blend of walnut shells, coconut husk, cork and sand. The surface provides the feel of natural grass while offering durability for year-round athletic use. The surrounding track was also resurfaced with the same material used in Olympic qualifying meets.
John Carroll athletes took to the field for the 2025 season with the upgrades already in use.
Players and coaches said the changes elevated both performance and school spirit, especially on Friday nights.
Beyond the facilities, the school also
launched a new academic curriculum in partnership with local universities, EWTN and the Franciscan Friars of the Eternal Word. The programs include Catholic ethics in business, entrepreneurship and digital media training rooted in faith-based values.
The efforts are part of a broader mission to unite “heart, mind, body and soul” across the John Carroll experience — a mission Sullivan himself lived out long before his name was etched into the turf.
To learn more about the school’s campaign and programs, visit jcchs.org.
John Carroll Catholic has completed extensive improvements to its athletic facilities, including Pat Sullivan Field. The upgrades include the largest high school video display in the state and enhancements to the football, baseball and softball facilities — all made possible through the support of the John Carroll Excellence in Athletics Foundation.
Photos courtesy of John Carroll Catholic High School.
SPORTS
Harlow era begins at Homewood
By JOSHUA GLEASON
The Homewood High School girls basketball program enters the new season with a new coach in Jason Harlow.
Harlow brings with him an impressive track record, having taken Chelsea to the state final four twice in the last five years.
The Lady Patriots went 22-11 last year, securing their first area championship since 2020. That momentum led to a 14-game winning streak that was only snapped by Fort Payne in the Northeast Regional tournament.
Harlow steps in to build upon that foundation. He is instantly tasked with capitalizing on Homewood’s history of reaching the pinnacle, having won two state titles in the previous decade.
The challenge for the new coach, however, is significant. Harlow must pivot quickly after losing a superstar for the season. Senior forward Ellis McCool, a 6-foot-2 all-state honoree who is ranked as the 88th recruit in the nation for the 2026 class by 247Sports, is out due to a knee injury suffered over the summer. Her absence means the team must find other players to step up.
“The system we run can be complicated at times, and we have thrown a lot at them as a coaching staff,” Harlow said at the preseason Under the Lights Basketball Media Day.
“The great thing about having Homewood student-athletes is they pick things up very quickly. It’s been a great start and we’re ready to get things amped up.”
The immediate focus shifts to senior guard Lane Crowe, who is now expected to elevate from a key role player to the featured scorer. Harlow believes Crowe is set to have a breakout season as she assumes primary offensive
duties. The leadership load on the court will be carried by Crowe and fellow seniors, guard Vivy Mooney and forward Chloe Warren.
Harlow noted that with 18 freshmen and sophomores in the program, this may be the youngest team he has ever coached, making senior guidance essential.
“The great thing about having the four seniors we have is they help from a coaching capacity as well,” Harlow said. “Their leadership has been really good. We lost 80 percent of
our scoring to graduation or injury at this point, so we’re asking our young kids to step up and play roles they have not played in the past. A lot of opportunities for the entire roster.”
Juniors Hailey Jennings and Ava Warren are the other upperclassmen who will factor heavily into the rotation. Sophomores Imani Elliiot and Reagan Gray, who saw varsity action last season, are expected to take on expanded roles, with Harlow noting Gray’s athletic ability and length as a good fit for their system. Jane
Serotsky, Charlotte Waters, Emma Claire Wells, Kathryn Maple, Embry McGarrah, Caroline Middleton, Willa Sheehan and Devyn Hudson round out the varsity roster.
Despite the hurdles, the top goal remains clear: reaching the state tournament at the BJCC.
“It’s a blessing to step into a situation where there are expectations,” Harlow said. “We’re going to do the best we can collectively to uphold the expectations.”
Patriots bring tempo, experience into new season
By JOSHUA GLEASON
The Homewood High School boys basketball team enters the 2025-26 season looking to build on a promising first year under head coach Elijah Garrison and a late-season surge that earned the Patriots an area championship.
Homewood finished 19-11 overall and 4-2 in area play last season, winning six straight games to capture the area title before falling to Mountain Brook in the sub-regional round.
Now in his second season at the helm, Garrison is continuing the legacy left by longtime head coach Tim Shepler, who retired after nearly 700 wins and a state championship during a 30-year run leading the Patriots.
“The tradition here is important,” Garrison said. “This is a top-10 job across the state. The administration cares a lot about what I want in terms of this program. I am only the fifth coach ever here, which is insane, but because Coach Shepler was here for 30 years. You don’t win that many games and a state championship if you’re a bad coach.”
Homewood returns a senior-laden, guardheavy roster that plans to play fast and capitalize on chemistry built over years of competition together.
“We have nine seniors that have played a lot of basketball together,” Garrison said. “They know each other really well, the good and the bad of each other’s games. They can self-scout and know what each other brings to the game. It’s encouraging to see.”
Among those seniors is Kaleb Carson, who also starred as the Patriots’ quarterback on the football field. With Homewood football in the midst of a deep playoff run, Carson and several others, including Hayes DeCoudres, David Walden, Kam Foster and Quincy McGhee, missed part of November as they finished things on the gridiron.
Carson acknowledged the challenge of transitioning from football to basketball shape.
“Way different,” Carson said with a laugh when asked about the difference between being in game shape for the two sports.
Other key returners include Daniel Vinson, a third-year varsity guard, Drew Vail, who returns healthy after battling injuries the past two seasons, and Drew Susce, a sharpshooter who knocked down more than 70 three-pointers last year.
In the frontcourt, DeCoudres, Jace Harden
and James Kellen are expected to anchor a smaller but versatile rotation.
“We’re going to play a high-possession game to try and combat not getting rebounds,” Garrison said. “Everybody on the court will be able to make a shot. Opposing teams won’t be able to help on somebody else because we can make threes.”
Homewood will hit the most important games of the year in January with area games
against Minor, Parker and Jackson-Olin. The regular season concludes Feb. 2 with a home matchup versus Hoover.
“The way our season ended last year, I thought we needed to be more ready for that type of game,” Garrison said. “I took the approach of, ‘Let’s go play the hardest teams we can.’ We might take some licks across the season, but we’re going to be ready come February.”
Homewood’s Kaleb Carson (3) in a sub-regional playoff game against Mountain Brook on Feb. 7 at Homewood High School. Photo courtesy of Scott Butler.
Left: Homewood’s Lane Crowe is expected to step up as the Lady Patriots’ offensive leader following the injury to Ellis McCool. Right: Chloe Warren is one of four seniors in the program and will be tasked with laying the foundation for Homewood’s program under new coach Jason Harlow. Staff photos.
The 2025 ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’
Joel Barlow, founder of Barlow Wealth Advisory Group, explains what the bill does — and how you can make the most of it.
What is the One Big Beautiful Bill?
Passed in July 2025, it’s the largest tax overhaul in years. It makes permanent the lower tax rates from 2017 and introduces new deductions and clients.
What are the biggest changes for working families?
► Overtime Deduction: You can deduct part of your overtime pay (up to $12,500 for singles, $25,000 for couples, 2025–2028).
► Child Tax Credit: Temporarily raised to $2,500 per child through 2028.
► SALT Deduction Relief: The cap has been increased from $10,000 to $40,000 for certain taxpayers.
What are the biggest changes for small business owners, estates, and high-income taxpayers?
► SALT Deduction Relief cap increased from $10,000 to $40,000 for some taxpayers.
Joel Barlow CPA, CFP®, CPWA® Founder
► Where: 400 Union Hill Drive, Suite 350
► Phone: 205-732-9012
► Email: info@barlow-wag.com
► Web: www.barlow-wag.com
How about seniors?
► Some provisions are temporary and disappear after 2028.
► The law adds new complexities, like a remittance excise tax starting in 2026.
How can a tax professional help?
By planning ahead, you can:
► Try to keep your income at or under significant deduction limits.
► Decide whether to itemize or take the standard deduction.
► Time purchases (like a vehicle) for potential tax savings.
► Potentially avoid costly mistakes that could reduce your refund.
What should I do right now?
► Base capital gains tax rates remain the same.
► Opportunity Zone program becomes permanent with a rolling 10-year basis starting in 2026, which can assist with deferring capital gains in certain circumstances.
► Unified Lifetime exemption increases to $15 million (approximately $30 million for a married couple) with inflation indexing going forward.
► 100% bonus depreciation for qualifying business assets is now permanent with a high phase-out threshold of $4 million indexed for inflation.
► 20% QBI deduction is permanent, with phase-out amounts increased.
There is a new $6,000 deduction per senior taxpayer aged 65 or older ($6,000 per taxpayer >64). It helps retirees on fixed incomes but phases out at higher incomes.
Any new deductions I might not expect?
Yes. If you finance a new, U.S. assembled vehicle, interest on that loan may be deductible (up to a maximum of $10,000 through 2028). That’s in addition to the overtime and senior deductions.
Sounds great — what’s the catch?
► Many deductions phase out once income crosses certain thresholds.
► Review your 2025 income projections.
► Track overtime, childcare, and vehicle expenses carefully.
► Schedule a tax planning consultation before year-end (tax planning must occur before January 1).
What’s the bottom line?
The bill is full of opportunities — but only if you know how to claim them.
Without professional guidance, you could leave thousands on the table.
Contact Barlow Wealth Advisory Group today to learn more about how this “beautiful bill” can work beautifully for you.
An Integrated Approach to Taxcentric Wealth Management
• New rules. New savings. Same expert guidance. From higher child tax credits to new senior deductions, the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill changes the way you file. We’ll help you navigate the complexities and maximize your return. Plan ahead with Barlow Wealth Advisory Group.
• The 2025 Tax Law doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The law brings opportunities — but also complexities. We’ll help you track deductions, time purchases, and avoid costly mistakes, so you can file with confidence. Call today to review your 2025 income projections.
• Families. Seniors. Business Owners. You all benefit. The new law provides something for everyone. Our advisors will help you identify the deductions and credits that fit your situation. Email info@barlow-wag.com to get started.
Patriots volleyball makes return to state tournament
By KYLE PARMLEY
The Homewood High School volleyball team finished as one of the top eight teams in Class 6A this fall, making its appearance at the state volleyball tournament Oct. 28 at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
The Patriots matched up with a stout Saraland team in the opening round of the tournament, falling in three sets to close the season with a 25-20 record.
Homewood was in the state tournament for the first time since 2021. The Patriots won three straight matches in the North Super Regional Tournament last week to advance.
“I’m so grateful for our community, our kids and for this to be the new standard; to expect to be here and want to be here,” Homewood head coach Grace Burgess said. “The kids worked so hard with that in mind the whole season, but without talking too much about it. They believe in themselves and they’re confident kids.
Saraland won the state tournament match in straight sets: 25-20, 25-21, 27-25. The Spartans put forth a tremendous rally to draw even late in the third set and eventually prevailed.
For Homewood, Mary Ellis Jarmon led the offense with 12 kills, adding a pair of aces. Walker Binkley added seven kills and four blocks. Kamryn Coleman directed things with 34 assists, also compiling eight digs and four aces. Sarah Johnson nearly had a double-double, finishing with nine kills and nine digs. Addison Wood had six digs and an ace as well.
The Patriots will conclude their season as
“The season was up and down, but they never stopped working when things weren’t going well. They didn’t listen when people said they couldn’t accomplish anything. The fact it worked out for them makes me really happy for them.
GRACE BURGESS
”the only team from Alabama to knock off 7A favorite McGill-Toolen. They also defeated 6A semifinalist Saraland during the year. They won the area championship, finished runner-up at regionals and advanced to the gold bracket in all but one of their tournaments this year.
“The season was up and down, but they never stopped working when things weren’t going well,” Burgess said. “They didn’t listen when people said they couldn’t accomplish anything. The fact it worked out for them makes me really happy for them.”
Above: Kamryn Coleman (12) passes during the state tournament on Oct. 28 at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
Left: Walker Binkley (8) celebrates. Photos by Kyle Parmley.
On the Mainstage
GET TO KNOW
Author Alison Robinson
By APRIL COFFEY
Author Alison Robinson was the fea -
tured speaker at the Homewood Library’s Mini-Con in October. Robinson spoke about her first novel, “Shadowless.”
Q: Tell our readers a little bit about your debut novel, “Shadowless.”
A: In a kingdom where souls are bound to magical animals called Shadows, Rowena’s Shadow is a ghost — silent, powerless and a death sentence if anyone finds out.
Q: What makes “Shadowless” different?
A: It’s a hope-forward [young adultt] fantasy: cozy at the start, then a sharp turn into mystery and consequence; clean without being simplistic; emotionally big without nihilism. It blends adventure, alchemy and moral stakes with a warm, page-turning voice — more wonder and light than doom and gloom, while still landing a serious punch.
Readers keep using the same words: “special,” “unexpected,” “left me
The
thinking” and, my favorite, “I need Book Two!” If “too wholesome to publish” is the label the industry gave me, I’m wearing it like a badge.
Q: It’s so interesting that you blend fantasy and Christian themes in “Shadowless.” What is the inspiration behind this?
A: I write from the only lens I have, which is certainly my faith, but I never want the novel to read like a sermon in costume. Story comes first. If readers sense an agenda, they’re gone (and teens can smell it a mile away). Inspiration lives where wonder and meaning overlap. Fantasy lets me ask spiritual questions sideways: What is a soul? What if you found the darkness in the world originated in the heart? In “Shadowless,” the magic system — souls bound to animal Shadows — became a way to explore the mind, conscience, guilt and evil without naming them on the nose. My job is to build an honest world, give characters real choices and consequences, and trust truth to
GET TO KNOW
COMMUNITY
Birmingham Girls Choir Director Margaret Heron
By APRIL COFFEY
Since its founding in 2001, the Birmingham Girls Choir has nurtured the voices of young singers across the metro area. Executive Director Margaret Heron has helped guide the nonprofit’s post-pandemic resurgence, leading it from just four returning choristers to more than 130 girls in grades K-12.
Q: Please tell our readers about the Birmingham Girls Choir. When and how was it founded?
A: In its beginning, BGC was started as the “Birmingham Children’s Choir” in 2001 by a professor at the University of Alabama, with funding from a grant. Over a decade later, when Amanda Klimko, long-time Birmingham music educator, became the executive director, the choir was changed to the “Birmingham Girls Choir.” During the pandemic, BGC was forced to shut down. Upon reopening, I took on the role of executive director, and BGC had four remaining girls to start our post-pandemic season. So, the current BGC launched then and now has over 130 girls enrolled, grades K-12.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being the director of the Birmingham Girls Choir?
A: I absolutely love growing girls in musical excellence and witnessing each of our choristers build confidence, poise and independence as they learn accountability in the community that choir provides.
Q: What is the mission of Birmingham
A: BGC is a nonprofit organization that instills excellence in young girls through the study and performance of choral music. Our motto is the “3Cs” — committed to excellence, considerate of others, composed in behavior and learning.
Q: Do you have any special events or concerts coming up?
A: BGC is growing so quickly, our performance calendar continues to expand. Here are some of our upcoming events: Nov. 20 – Fall concert, Vestavia Methodist Church, 6:30 p.m.; Dec. 5 – Carols at the Birmingham Zoo, 6 p.m.; Dec. 14 – Collaboration with Opera Birmingham, Holiday Concert, 2:30
Homewood
Chamber of Commerce invites you to celebrate
Lighting of the Star & Christmas Parade
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9TH
Celebrate the season as we light the Historic Homewood Star at the top of 18th Street. The parade and lighting of the Christmas tree will follow immediately after.
Alison Robinson
Birmingham Girls Choir Director Margaret Heron leads a rehearsal with choristers. The nonprofit serves more than 130 girls across the metro area through performance and music education. Photo courtesy of Birmingham Girls Choir.
COMMUNITY
The doctor will thrill you now
By APRIL COFFEY
When Dr. Anand Bosmia reminisces about growing up in Homewood, he remembers the laughter of his father, the quiet aisles of the Homewood Public Library and the hum of a neighborhood that shaped both his heart and his imagination.
Those memories now echo through his debut novel, “The God at Dusk” — a crime thriller and psychological study that blends Southern Gothic atmosphere with questions of faith, grief and evil.
Set largely in Birmingham’s over-themountain communities, the book opens with the body of a televangelist’s daughter found dead in an affluent suburb. Soon after, a smalltime drug dealer is discovered murdered on the outskirts of Jefferson County, occult symbols carved into his skin. The case draws in forensic psychiatrist Mayank “Full Moon” Seth, who had previous plans to treat the drug dealer.
As Seth teams up with two detectives, Curtis Chess and Roger Barbeau, to investigate the killings, he finds himself caught between faith and madness — between the demons within and those lurking in the world around him.
Bosmia’s connection to the Birmingham area runs deep. Born in the city and raised
in Homewood, he is the first American-born member of his family. His parents, Natwarlal and Beena Bosmia, came to the United States from India by way of Kenya in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His father taught mathematics and statistics at Birmingham-Southern College for two decades. His mother, once a physician in India, chose to raise their three sons full time.
Their dedication and their later passing — his father from a heart attack in 2003 and his mother from brain cancer in 2023 — form the emotional core of his writing.
“Writing the scenes where Seth remembers
his father was both painful and cathartic,” Bosmia said. “My grief was a driving force for this book.”
He graduated from Homewood High School in 2005 and from medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham before completing his psychiatry residency and a forensic fellowship at LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport. Today he practices general adult and forensic psychiatry in Louisiana.
Bosmia says he began drafting “The God at Dusk” during his psychiatry training, jotting down notes between night shifts at the hospital. His professional life — studying criminal
behavior and mental illness — gave the book its clinical precision, while his personal search for faith gave it its soul.
“Writing about evil and analyzing evil clinically are two sides of the same coin,” he said. “As a psychiatrist, I see the ways pain and brokenness can twist people. But as a believer, I also see the chance for redemption.”
The novel’s realism comes from his work in forensic psychiatry, where he evaluates defendants’ mental states for court.
“The story begins with a psychological autopsy,” he said, referring to a real investigative tool used when the cause of death is uncertain. “I wanted readers to feel that these events could actually happen.”
At the same time, he admits, the book’s darker turns reflect the kinds of questions he has wrestled with since his father’s death.
“My father used to hear about acts of violence and say, ‘What human beings do to each other!’ That question stayed with me.”
For local readers, one of the most striking elements of “The God at Dusk” is its setting. Bosmia filled the novel with familiar landmarks: the Storyteller fountain at Five Points South, Gilchrist in Mountain Brook Village, the old J. Clyde pub and Davenport’s Pizza Palace.
“I have to write what I know,” he said. “Maybe that’s a limitation, but I can’t imagine setting a story somewhere that doesn’t have personal meaning. Having it take place in Birmingham helped me breathe life into the characters.”
The book’s imagery gives the over-themountain communities an unexpected noir quality — streetlights cutting through humid summer nights and faith-tinged dialogue echoing from pulpits and diners alike.
Dr. Anand Bosmia’s debut novel, “The God at Dusk,” is a crime thriller that blends Southern Gothic atmosphere with questions about faith, grief and evil. Photos courtesy of Dr. Anand Bosmia.
COMMUNITY
“I have to write what I know. Maybe that’s a limitation, but I can’t imagine setting a story somewhere that doesn’t have personal meaning. Having it take place in Birmingham helped me breathe life into the characters.
DR. ANAND BOSMIA
”music collection.
“Instead of a detective in Los Angeles, I wanted a jaded psychiatrist in Mountain Brook,” Bosmia said with a laugh. “He’s trying to make sense of his faith while eating pizza and driving past the Vulcan statue. That’s the Birmingham I know — full of contradictions but also full of grace.”
Growing up Hindu in a mostly Christian region also shaped his perspective.
“There was never persecution,” he said. “There was just a cultural tension — the kind that happens when first-generation immigrants raise kids in a different world.”
After years of questioning and reflection, Bosmia is now preparing to join the Roman Catholic Church in 2026.
“That journey of faith is something I share with my characters,” he said. “They’re all looking for truth in a fallen world.”
Although the book moves between modern-day Birmingham and flashbacks to the 1980s, the decade plays a crucial role. Bosmia, born in 1987, has long been fascinated by the era’s music and by the “Satanic Panic” that gripped parts of the country.
“The 1980s represent both innocence and hysteria,” he said. “They’re the perfect backdrop for exploring religion and madness.”
That fascination is personal, too. After his father’s death, Bosmia remembers staying up late and seeing a TV commercial for an ’80s
“Hearing songs like ‘I Ran’ by A Flock of Seagulls made me miss him so much,” Bosmia said. “Ever since, ’80s music has been tied to both grief and comfort for me.”
In the novel, those sounds — along with small nods to Birmingham radio and culture — help connect the characters’ internal struggles with the city’s broader moral landscape.
Now in his third year of private practice, Bosmia still returns to Birmingham when he can. During a 2025 visit, he donated a signed copy of “The God at Dusk” to Dreamland BarB-Que, one of his favorite local spots.
“I was raised vegetarian,” he joked, “but Dreamland changed that. I love the place so much I put it in the book.”
Asked if revisiting Homewood through fiction changed how he sees it, Bosmia said it gave him a more cinematic view.
“When you grow up somewhere, you take it for granted,” he said. “Writing about Homewood made me realize how beautiful it really is — and how much it shaped who I am.”
If “The God at Dusk” ever makes it to television, Bosmia already knows where he’d want it filmed.
“The Magic City would be perfect,” he said. “But for now, I’m just grateful that the stories I carried with me all these years finally have a life of their own.”
Peace on Earth
CONTINUED from page 1
“The lights hanging over the streets and the buzzing sound from the neon would just create a variety of senses. I would go home and lie under the Christmas tree and just stare up at the branches and it was like looking at the night sky. I think for me, I am always interested in recreating those memories of my childhood.”
Now, Collins and his wife Suzy fill the yard of their Mayfair Drive home with what he describes as “an atomic blast of colors and inflatables.”
“When we put up our decorations and we have kids stop by and say they love looking at our display, it’s just this incredible endorphin rush that keeps us going,” he said. “We just absolutely love it.”
The home has been in Suzy’s family since the 1950s, though the couple has lived there for 18 years.
“When we first moved here, many of the homes in Homewood were decorated with very tasteful white lights,” Collins said. “We were like, ‘To heck with that.’ Since then, we’ve just embraced the whimsy and the explosion of color.”
He started with just two or three inflatables that first year. A neighbor jokingly said she couldn’t imagine him ever going further.
“I immediately walked inside and told Suzy, ‘Get your coat,’” Collins said. “We went and bought more that day.”
There’s no theme to the decorations — just one rule.
“If it’s bright and flashy, it stays,” he said. “We plug things in until we trip a breaker. We don’t have as many as some houses do, but it’s enough to have fun. When you abandon taste and reason and social norms, you can really get away with just about anything.”
Their children are grown now, the youngest being 27, but that hasn’t dimmed the couple’s enthusiasm.
“My daughter told me one day that she had finally figured me out — that I never grew up,” Collins said. “I told her, where’s the fun in growing up?”
Suzy teaches second grade in the Hoover School System, and many of her students stop by with their families. Collins said the sense of community that comes from decorating has become one of the most rewarding parts.
“We have kids from the neighborhood, students from the school, even nursing home residents drive by,” he said. “It really becomes this great sense of community.”
Collins buys most of his decorations on sale, often ending up with misfits and castoffs — which suits him just fine.
“I have my Christmas snail, for example,” he said. “He was left behind by others, but I just absolutely love him. He suffered a lot of damage in a windstorm last year, so I spent a few hours sewing him back together.”
He also has a blue monster inflatable — not exactly traditional.
“I have no idea what that has to do with Christmas, because it’s slightly horrifying,” Collins said. “But that’s also what makes it fun. We want to bring a smile to people with a little bit of humor.”
If someone shows up expecting symmetry and subtlety, Collins said, they’ve got the wrong house.
“This is the exact opposite of highly curated,” he said. “This is just plugging things in until I make myself happy with the results.”
Several years ago, Collins grew frustrated that the inflatables weren’t bright enough, especially at night. So he started rewiring them.
“I began using commercial-grade LED lights — the kind you’d find inside convenience store signs,” he said. “Everything in the yard is probably four times brighter than what you’d buy off the shelf,” he said.
Over the years, the lights have sparked
new connections.
“One night we were sitting here, and this person called me on my phone,” Collins said. “They told me they were outside, and it was actually someone I had gone to high school with that I hadn’t seen in years. Through this crazy Christmas light display, we now have a group from my high school that gets together every year.”
By day, the yard looks a little less magical.
“If you drive by during the daytime, it’s kind of like, ‘What happened there last night?’” he said. “But we really come alive at night.”
What keeps him going is simple: the kids.
“If it takes me getting out a few more extension cords each year and stringing up more lights, then it’s well worth it,” Collins said. “Kids need a little magic at Christmas time. I love being able to provide them with a special memory.”
The Collins home, located at 1909 Mayfair Drive, will be lit up starting Thanksgiving Day and remain on display through around New Year’s Day.
Brian and Suzy Collins describe their Mayfair Drive home as an “atomic blast of color and inflatables. Photo courtesy of the Collins family.
CONTINUED from page 1
The 135,000-square-foot building will be transformed into a state-of-the-art medical office on the 57-acre Brookwood Village property. Homewood Mayor Jennifer Andress said the facility, which will include about 18 operating rooms, should give residents confidence that the larger redevelopment could also come together.
“I think it’s exciting,” the new Homewood mayor said. “Anytime we can see some action happening, I think those of us who live over in this area especially are really looking forward to it. I was with my friend this afternoon, Graham Smith, who is the mayor in Mountain Brook. We were both really excited to hear about this.”
Mountain Brook Mayor Smith said she had not received an update from developers prior to the Andrews Sports Medicine announcement.
“I wish I could tell you more definitively,” she said. “I have not heard anything formal from the developers. I wish I had good information to give you, but I haven’t heard anything.”
Smith said Brookwood Village has not been a frequent topic of concern among Mountain Brook residents.
“I think that the majority of our residents don’t really see that as affecting their dayto-day life,” Smith said. “I’m sure they want it developed and want it to be a successful property and a successful development and bring tax revenue.”
“But we don’t get as many questions as you would think,” she continued. “I get more trash questions and more just individual residential concerns than I do about Brookwood.”
While Homewood and Mountain Brook are the primary stakeholders in the redevelopment, a portion of the site lies in unincorporated Jefferson County.
“It’s fascinating,” Smith said. “I’m ready to dig in and start working on it. To be honest,
I’m ready for this to come to the table and get moving and start talking about it and meeting with the other [entities] and hashing it out and hearing about what the proposed plans are and
anything.”
making modifications. I just haven’t heard
Brookwood Village sits on 57 acres between Shades Mountain and Shades Creek. The
Reflections on Happiness in a broken and chaotic world
Reflections on Happiness in a Broken and Chaotic World, a new book by Richard E. Simmons III, explores the true meaning of happiness and why so many people today struggle to find it. We live in such prosperity, in a country where we are free to pursue our dreams. Yet, disappointment and despair surround us as we continue down the wrong path. It is a great paradox. Richard E. Simmons reveals how our culture’s pursuit of happiness often misses the mark.
Through thoughtful reflection and practical insight, Reflections on Happiness, introduces seven foundational areas—relationships, character, work and identity, purpose, health, depression, and mortality—that shape our sense of joy and fulfillment. Rooted in timeless principles, this book invites readers to discover how living in harmony with God’s design leads not only to happiness, but to true inner peace.
Available December 5, 2025 at Amazon and richardesimmons3.com, and locally at Seibels, Little Professor and Church Street Coffee & Books.
