Homewood Star June 2015

By MADOLINE MARKHAM

Marco Garcia Camacho has been focused on one word since first grade: Army.

When Army Lt. Wes Porter first came to visit him in January, he reacted with a different word: Wow.

Marco didn’t know about Porter coming to see him, and when the Army lieutenant walked in wearing fatigues, Marco was awestruck, his eyes lighting up with joy.

“It was as if his superhero had just showed up,” said Alli Phelps, Marco’s ESL teacher at Shades Cahaba Elementary School. “It felt like Christmas morning seeing him look at Wes.”

The Homewood StarVolume 5 | Issue 3 | June 2015

Sponsors ...................A2City .............................A3Business ....................A8Community ...............B2School House ...........B7Sports .......................B10 Calendar ................. B13Opinion .................... B15

INSIDE

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neighborly news & entertainment for Homewood

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Homewood High School graduate Ameer Abdullah has been drafted for next season. Read more in this issue.

See page B10

NFL-bound

See page B3

Celebration time

Find all the details on Vulcan’s Birthday Bash and other events this month inside this issue.

See MARCO | page A19

Team MarcoAn Army lieutenant mentors a future soldier

Shades Cahaba Elementary student Marco Garcia Camacho meets with his mentor, Wes Porter, once a week to talk about their goals and train for a 5K. Photo by John Perry.

Cycle city

Homewood considers bike-share program

Shannon, Noah, Shawn and Gabe Fitzwater regularly ride their bikes around their Hall-Kent neighborhood. The Fitzwaters support a bike-share program in Homewood. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

By SYDNEY CROMWELL

West Homewood resident Shawn Fitzwater bikes around the city every day, and his wife and two sons frequently join him in pedaling to Patriot Park. He’d like to see more residents

using two wheels for transportation instead of four.

“It’s great to get out with the family without jumping in the car,” Fitzwater said. “It’s cheap, it’s something everybody can enjoy.”

The Homewood City Council is moving

toward the same goal. On April 27, council members approved a feasibility study to con-sider a bike-share program like the one recently launched in Birmingham. If implemented, the

See BIKE-SHARE | page A18

Before you get your hands on the paper each month, I get a preview of reader reactions from within our staff.

Our copy editor Louisa Jeffries, a Homewood resident herself, quickly claimed Team Marco on our cover as “such a sweet story,” and said something similar upon seeing the photos that go with it. I had found Wes and Mar-co’s story particularly poignant myself, as did those who spoke to me about it, so hearing Louisa’s comments got me excited to share it with the rest of the community.

Madison Miller, a staff writer, also

noted the particular awe-someness of Marco’s hot dog shirt in one of the photos, and we all gath-ered around my computer to preview the video of the duo we put online (click the QR code on the story or visit thehom-ewoodstar.com/video to see it for yourself).

Before interviewing Steve Colter, I had never heard of American Ninja

Warrior, but our creative director Keith McCoy had. When he heard those three words, Keith unleashed a level of enthu-siasm I’m not sure I have ever seen from him. The obstacles Colter faced on the show sound wildly entertaining to watch,

and wildly terrifying to try. Be sure to watch the show on June 15 to see how he did and read the full story on page B1.

Staff feedback is great, but what we value most is feedback from you. Homewood has convinced me that it’s the people that really make a place what it is, and the more you comment on Face-book, send us emails with story ideas or photo submissions, call and talk to us at events, the better we can make this paper yours. Check out the new game and drink venue news, billboard updates, event previews and more in this issue, and let us know what you think.

Happy pool season to you!

About UsPhoto of the Month Please Support

our Community Partners

Editor’s Note By Madoline Markham

30 A Realty (B9)Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center (B6)Alabama Outdoors (B11)Alabama Power (B10)ALDOT (A12)ARC Realty (A11)Batts’ Chimney Services (A18)Bedzzz Express (A20)Birmingham Speech and Hearing Associates (B13)Bromberg & Company, Inc. (A17)Brookdale Place University Park (A10)California Closets (A10)Classic Gardens (B14)Commute Smart (B4)Construx (B4)Dish’n It Out (B6)Do Di Yo’s (B5)ERA King Real Estate Homewood (B8)Fi-Plan Partners (A7)First Lenders Mortgage Corp. (A4)Gina G Falletta, State Farm (B8)Homewood Arts Council (B5)Homewood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry (A3)Homewood Parks and Rec (B12)Homewood Toy & Hobby (B3)Indian Springs School (A19)InSight Eye Group (B8)Issis & Sons (B1)JJ Eyes (B7)Josten Publishing (A8)Kelli Gunnells Realtor (B3)Kete Cannon, RE MAX Southern Homes (A17)Korduroy Krocodile (A9)L.V. Berry Inc. (A6)Lovell Pediatric Dentistry (A6)Mary House Kessler, Ph.D (A19)Morningside at Riverchase (A13)Ollie’s Bargain Outlet (B16)Over the Mountain Glass (B2)Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics (B15)RealtySouth Marketing (A9)Regency Retirement Village (A5)Road Runner Moving (A14)Salem’s Diner (A19)Sew Sheri Designs (B14)Simply Ponds (A14)Skelton’s Air (A4)Sugar Sands Realty (B13)Sweet Peas Garden Shop (A18)Target Auction Company (B13)The Altamont School (A16)The Maids (A2)The Whole Dog Market (A14)Weigh To Wellness (A1, A15)Wolf Camera (B15)

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The Homewood StarA2 • June 2015

The Wade family was honored as grand marshal of the We Love Homewood Day Parade and presented Homewood’s Quality of Life Award. Pictured are Abbey Wade, Billy Wade, Cindy Wade, Katie Wade Faught, Danielle Wade and Brian Faught. Photo by Dan Starnes.

By SYDNEY CROMWELL

Former Homewood High School and Shades Cahaba Elementary PTO President Judy Truitt was announced as the new Ward 5 school board representative at the May 11 city council meeting. She was chosen from a field of nine applicants.

“I have been extremely active in our school system,” Truitt said. “To me, our schools are one of the prime reasons people move to and stay in Homewood.”

Truitt is a 15-year resident of Homewood and lives near Shades Cahaba Elementary, where her son Jake is a fourth-grade stu-dent. Her daughter Maggie is in 10th grade at Homewood High School. Truitt said her background as a CPA is in compliance mon-itoring and fiscal management.

Truitt said she looks forward to playing a greater role in a “fabulous” school system.

“We’re nationally known. That’s nice,” Truitt said.

She comes into this position expecting to face challenges, including state funding cuts for education and the growing number of students straining the school’s resources. However, Truitt said her goal is to hear from Ward 5 residents and make their concerns

her own.This appointment becomes effective on

June 1.

City

By SYDNEY CROMWELL

The planning and development committee continued discussing what would be included in a new “form-based” zoning code during its April 6 meeting.

The zoning code would create more unity in the regulations for commercial and other prop-erties within the city’s central business district. The question under discussion at the meeting was over the boundaries of this proposed dis-trict. Committee members agreed on a south-ern border of Oxmoor Road, an eastern border defined by Highway 31 and a northern border of Rosedale Drive and 18th Street South.

However, they could not reach a consen-sus over the western border due to the large

number of homes and apartment complexes that could fall within the new district.

This form-based zoning code started out as a proposal for Reese Street but has since expanded to include much of Homewood’s commercial area. Because of this change, the committee decided to drop the original item and introduce a new agenda item for consider-ation of a “central business district revitaliza-tion and zoning study.”

The line item to discuss this issue was car-ried over from the city council’s committee referral agenda during its April 13 meeting. The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCBG) will also create a pro-posal of its own suggested borders for the com-mittee to consider.

New form-based zoning code still under discussion

By SYDNEY CROMWELL

Oak and Raleigh, a planned deli and meat market across from Patriot Park, is hoping to receive $6,000 in tax abatements from the City of Homewood. The public safety committee approved this incentive package during its May 4 meeting.

Morgan Duncan, one of the co-owners of Oak and Raleigh, presented plans for the deli’s interior and his request for incentives. He pointed out that the deli, located at the corner of Oak Grove Road and Raleigh Avenue, will be blocked for several months by the city’s repaving and sidewalk project on Oak Grove.

Ward 2 Place 1 Representative Fred Haw-kins said the city is trying to get the majority of the work done over the summer, but the project

will disrupt traffic for at least six months. This would severely limit Oak and Raleigh’s park-ing spaces and ability to attract customers.

The public safety committee voted to give Duncan and his co-owners, his wife Molly and brother Tyler, $6,000 in sales tax abatements over three years.

The Duncans are planning to open Oak and Raleigh in June. Morgan Duncan presented a proposed layout of the building, which will include an open kitchen, small market and a selection of beer and wine. There will be bar, table and lounge-style seating and an arcade, and Duncan mentioned that a shuffleboard table might be added as well.

This tax abatement went before the city council on May 11, and the council sent the discussion back to the finance committee.

West Homewood deli asks for incentive package

Ward 5 school board member Judy Truitt

Judy Truitt chosen as Ward 5 school board member

TheHomewoodStar.com June 2015 • A3

Plans revived for Patriot Park retail, restaurant construction

By SYDNEY CROMWELL

A business plan for The Grove, a two-story building with restaurant, retail and event space, was brought before the Homewood fi nance committee on May 18 after several months of inactivity.

Sonya DiCarlo and Paula Harris have lived in Homewood for more than 40 collective years. They want to purchase the city-owned vacant lot at the intersection of Oxmoor Road and Oak Grove Road and turn it into a community landmark.

“We wanted to make this such a community feel and we wanted to bring in the history of the city,” DiCarlo said. “I think once we saw the city commitment to improving the sidewalks in the area, that’s when we really got serious about this.”

DiCarlo said they have been planning this project for about a year and a half, but their plans have not been fi nalized because they want to gauge community feelings and interest. Their proposal includes an L-shape building with The Grove, a Cajun-style cafe, anchoring the project. There would be downstairs space for three to four other retailers and the second story would be dedicated to event space. Outside, there would be patio seating and an entrance to the park.

“I see a lot of outdoor seating,” DiCarlo said. “A lot of lighting, a lot of hanging out. Hopefully good access to the park.”

The pair envisions their property being a casual hangout spot all day long and welcoming to children, pets and mothers with strollers. They also want to add a monument either explaining the history of Oak Grove or marking the property as a “gateway” to the area.

DiCarlo and Harris have offered $50,000

for the lot, which the city originally bought for around $135,000. They have been in discussion with city attorney Mike Kendrick for several months. Committee members expressed their support of the project, but said they wanted to continue working to fi nd a deal that gives the city a fair value for the property without delaying construction on The Grove.

Once a contract is signed, DiCarlo and Harris want a three-month due diligence period to study environmental impact and community support. They are not asking for incentives from the city, though both acknowledged the project is a big fi nancial risk.

“We’re ready to go with throwing ourselves out there,” DiCarlo said. “This is a considerable

project and we believe in it.”Kendrick was currently out of the country, so

negotiations were scheduled to be completed when he returned. The committee decided to carry over the issue until a contract can be reached.


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Paula Harris, left, and Sonya DiCarlo present their plans for The Grove to a May 18 fi nance committee meeting. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

Neighbor crowd funding assists West Homewood resident with sewage issue

By MADOLINE MARKHAM

A West Homewood resident’s sewage issues have been cleared thanks to a community effort.

The elderly resident* had had sewage line repairs done on her Oak Grove home several times, but the problems persisted and caused neighbors to com-plain to the Jefferson County Department of Health. As a result, the homeowner received a letter from the health department that asked her to fix the issues or else she would be evicted.

When word got out about the issue, Ward 2 City Council Member Fred Hawkins and Jim Wyatt, head of the city’s Engineering, Planning and Zoning Department, began to help the resident connect with churches and neighbors for assistance with funding to resolve the issue.

On May 3, Hawkins posted on neighbor-hood Facebook pages asking for neighbors to get involved, and West Homewood resident Erik

Henninger offered to set up a GoFundMe page. Within seven hours, the fundraising goal of $600 had been surpassed. Altogether, $1,100 was raised through GoFundMe in less than 24 hours.

“Tonight, I am very proud to be from West Home-wood,” Henninger wrote on the GoFundMe page Sunday night.

Most of the donations came from individuals and ranged from $10 to $100. The West Homewood Lions Club gave $250, and Trinity United Methodist Church gave $500 in addition to the GoFundMe support raised.

The next day, May 4, work began to pump sewage out from under the crawl space under the house. Hawkins estimated the project would take a couple of days to complete.

Hawkins said he hopes they have enough money left over to landscape the yard to benefit both the resident and her neighbors.

*Editor’s note: The resident asked that her name not be used in this article.

Sewage work started on May 4 on an Oak Grove home after neighbors came together to help fund the project. Photo by Madoline Markham.

Homewood Toy and Hobby owner Kevin McCain speaks against a proposed rezoning of a Linden Avenue property for Cathedral Church of the Advent to use. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

Church of the Advent rezoning approved for Linden Avenue

By SYDNEY CROMWELL

In a 6-3 vote on May 18, the city council approved a controversial plan to rezone 2814 Linden Avenue to insti-tutional district, allowing Cathedral Church of the Advent to use the spot.

At the May 11 meeting, business owners and residents expressed their opposition to the plan, saying it would be harmful to their business traffic and parking. Church representatives coun-tered that they had made agreements for off-hours parking lot use to reduce the impact.

Ward 5 Place 2 representative Peter Wright, who was not at the May 11 meeting, expressed his confusion over the two very different opinions of the church’s effect on the area. To him, the proposal seemed reasonable and the church had fulfilled its responsibility to find parking.

“And yet on the other end of the discussion we have a vast number of businesses, vast number of long-term business owners, vast number

of residents who are in opposition to this,” Wright said. “Something doesn’t make sense in this equation.”

He suggested that the two sides spend time talking and figuring out how they came to such different con-clusions. Church representative Jim Priester said there was no time to delay the vote because the church plans to have renovations finished to move in by Aug. 15.

“We need to go forward,” Priester said.

City engineer Vanessa McGrath spoke about parking issues and said that in total, the church will have at least partial use of 70 spaces. They are required to have 22 by the institutional zoning law. Ward 1 Place 2 Represen-tative Britt Thames also said the city is working on a broader parking solution.

Wright, along with Ward 1 Place 1 Representative Michael Hallman and chairman Bruce Limbaugh, voted against the measure, but the rezoning passed.


Reid resigns from council, position now openBy SYDNEY CROMWELL

A teary-eyed Heather Reid announced her resignation from her Ward 4 Place 2 council posi-tion at the end of the May 18 meet-ing. A council member since 2012, Reid is moving out of Home-wood to a family farm in Corner, Alabama.

“It was just the right time for our family,” Reid said. She said her family had originally planned to move to the farm when she and her husband retired. There were “a lot of reasons” that made them decide to move sooner. Reid and her husband have an 18-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son.

Reid’s spot is officially vacant and the city will be accepting applications through June 8, with interviews to be set for the follow-ing week.

Council chairman Bruce Lim-baugh presented a resolution recognizing her service, and her fellow council members spoke about her tireless service to her ward citizens.

“I have a lot of respect for someone putting her family in front of her love for our commu-nity,” Limbaugh said. “You’ve had some truly thoughtful advice in the last two and a half years, and for that I’m truly grateful.”

Reid said she has loved debat-ing and finding a solution to prob-lems. Disagreeing, she said, can be a good thing and has not prevented

her respect or friendship for other council members.

“I can’t list all the things [I’m going to miss],” Reid said. “The pro-cess of working to an agreement is the part that I love.”

She added that she had known many council and city officials long before she was elected.

“I’m leaving behind long-time friendships,” Reid said. “I don’t really view it as leaving behind because I’m only about 25 minutes away.”

For more information on the open council position, contact city clerk Linda Cook at 332-6107.

Council updatesBy SYDNEY CROMWELL

City council business at recent meetings included:

} Approving rezoning of the Southern Progress property at 2100 Lakeshore Drive from Planned Office to Institutional District. This allows Samford University to use the buildings for its College of Health Sciences.

} Banning parking within 50 feet of the East Edgewood Drive/Roseland Drive intersection.

} Annexing the property at 1616 Forest Ridge Road into the city limits.

} Approval of the West Homewood Community Development Review Committee’s operating procedures. An amendment to add two at large committee members was also sent to the plan-ning commission. Ward 2 Place 1 Representative Fred Haw-kins said the committee will invite two non-voting residents to join the meetings while the amendment process takes place.

} Approval to request that Jefferson County allow Homewood to annex several “islands” of county property located within city limits.

} Approving Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood to seek a grant from the ALDOT Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) for sidewalk and streetscape improvements on 18th Street South. Seeking this grant does not commit the city to carrying out the project.

} Approving a right-of-way acquisition from ALDOT for a property, located near the Wildwood Sam’s and Walmart, as part of the Shades Creek Greenway project’s second phase.

} Allowing work in the right-of-way near 225 State Farm Parkway to clear out overgrown vegetation.

} Rejection of bids to provide Taser electronic devices to Homewood Police Department, in favor of Police Chief Jim Roberson negotiating a deal.

} Issuing restaurant liquor licenses to Machetes Mexican Restaurant, 406 W. Valley Ave., Suite 104, and Aloft Birming-ham SoHo Square, 1903 29th Ave. S.

} Approving off-premises beer and wine licenses to Oxmoor Texaco, 208 Oxmoor Rd., and Neighborhood Hops and Vine, 1712 18th St. S.

} Approving an off-premises beer license for Alabama Goods, 2933 18th St. S.

} Approving Freedom Probation Services to replace Judicial Correction Services as the provider of probation services for the municipal court.

} Approving amendments to the 2014-2015 budget’s general and special revenue funds.


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Bruce Limbaugh and Heather Reid hug after Limbaugh read a resolution recognizing her service to Homewood. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

By SYDNEY CROMWELL

The city has amended its sign ordinance to ban elec-tronic billboards anywhere within city limits.

Three residents spoke in favor of this, with two men-tioning their concerns about mobile advertisements, both digital and traditional at the May 11 city council meeting. Council President Bruce Limbaugh said the city will look at options about this form of advertising.

The former ordinance only allowed billboards to face I-65 and required they stay at least 600 feet away from any residential property. The new amendment will not affect electronic billboards currently within city limits, only new constructions.

The special issues committee considered banning all types of new billboards in Homewood, as Ward 3 Place 2

Representative Walter Jones expressed concerns of com-panies buying existing billboards and converting them to electronic ones. However, they ultimately decided only to ban electronic billboards and make another amendment in the future if necessary.

The committee cited problems such as driver distrac-tions and aesthetics as the reason for the ban.

“My goal is to take down as many as we can,” Jones said.

A New Point Digital electronic billboard was installed behind Kmart on April 25. The board was moved from its original location

at Green Springs Highway and Lakeshore Drive following resident protests. A group of

West Homewood residents also protested the new location. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.

By SYDNEY CROMWELL

Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, which is under construction in the old Mazer’s building on Green Springs Highway, received approval from the city council on April 27 for a new, smaller sign.

At the April 13 meeting, council members had expressed concerns over the size of the Ollie’s sign and its

“unprofessional” appearance, which included a caricature of the found-er’s head and the slogan “Good Stuff Cheap!”

The Ollie’s representative proposed a new sign design that removed both the face and the slogan. The design totals 199 square feet and will be LED-lit. Ollie’s is expected to open in June.

Council approves electronic billboard ban

Ollie’s receives approval for modified signBy SYDNEY CROMWELL

As renovations continue on the Mazer’s building at 816 Green Springs Highway, Dunn Real Estate has released the name of one of its new ten-ants. Hometown Market, an Alabama-based chain with six locations in the state, will be leasing 20,000 square feet of the building.

Chris Hoyt, the vice president of Dunn Companies, said the new store will be the “largest Asian market in Birmingham” and will offer fresh fruit, vegeta-bles, meat, seafood and interna-tional products. There will also be a 2,000-square-foot in-store dining area, named Mr. Chen’s Authentic Chinese Cooking.

“Tenants like Hometown Market help us revitalize our

site and the market as a whole,” Hoyt said. “Specialty grocery stores are gaining great popu-larity nationwide. It is great to see one in Homewood.”

Hoyt said an opening date for Hometown Market has not yet be set, but it will be sometime before the end of the year. One of its neighbors is Ollie’s Bar-gain Outlet, which is planned to open in June.

Asian market coming to Mazer’s building


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Now OpenStill Serving Veterans, a nonprofi t organization based in Huntsville,

has leased an offi ce in Homewood at 135 Gemini Circle, Suite 204. The nonprofi t helps veterans and their families transition into new careers after they are discharged from the military.1-866-778-4645, stillservingveterans.org

Breakout Birmingham is now open at 2717 19th Place South.

The facility offers groups the challenge of breaking out of a sealed room within one hour by solving puzzles, cracking codes, fi nding hidden items and more.282-4798, breakoutbham.com

TherapySouth has opened a new pelvic rehabilitation clinic

specializing in women’s health at 3401 Independence Drive, Suite 211. The service director at this location is Nikki Woods, PT.968-1283, therapysouth.net

Hickory Tavern is now open at 595 Brookwood Village. This is the fi rst

Alabama location for the restaurant, which is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.968-1311, thehickorytavern.com

Relocations and Renovations

TownePlace Suites Birmingham Homewood, 500 Wildwood Circle,

hosted a grand reopening in April following a renovation and restaffi ng of their hotel.943-0114, marriott.com/bhmth

The Dobbins Group has purchased an offi ce building at 2914 Linden

Ave. and will relocate there from 500 Offi ce Park Circle, Suite 420, in Mountain Brook. The company is a multifamily real estate fi rm.503-4000, dobbinsgroup.net

Alabama Reweaving and Alterations has moved from their

previous location on Linden Avenue to 1722 28th St. S., Suite D. The company specializes in alterations to wedding dresses, formal wear, leather, furs and other garments, and has recently added custom monogramming.870-5961

Hirings and Promotions

Founders Investment Banking, LLC, 2204 Lakeshore Drive, Suite

425, has hired Mike McCraw as managing director of its new Founders Strategic Advisory Practice. The fi rm specializes in transaction management and advisory for a variety of businesses across the Southeast.949-2043, foundersib.com

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Business news

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�e Homewood Star

Jeremy Carter and his business partners have created a casino-like room as a part of their Breakout Games, which opened in April in downtown Homewood. Photo by Madoline Markham.

Crack the codeNew entertainment center challenges teams to break out of themed rooms

By MADOLINE MARKHAM

The trick is not getting into the casino room, museum display and island paradise hidden inside a simple brick building in downtown Homewood. It’s getting out of them.

Breakout Birmingham’s new facility on 19th Place South opened in early April and offers a series of interactive games and puzzles for groups of six to eight. The end goal is to obtain a code to use to “break out” of the locked room in under an hour. Each is designed to be chal-lenging yet doable, requiring groups to work together and think on their feet, co-owner Jeremy Carter said.

“There are a lot of ways to not get it right,” Carter said. “Whether you break out or not, you will have a great time. It’s an emotional roller-coaster with a lot of highs.”

You can play with friends or strangers, but the camaraderie is best with people you know, according to Carter.

Breakout currently has two kidnapping rooms that resemble a TV set, a museum heist room that looks like an old school office, a casino room and an island room. The island room is the most family oriented, and Carter warns participants that the kidnapping game is dark and spooky to some. The rooms will rotate over time, and new games will be added based on customer feedback.

The first Breakout business was started by a friend and partner of Carter’s in Lexington, Kentucky, earlier this year, and locations in Cin-cinnati and Louisville, Kentucky, are set to open soon. The concept, also known as escape rooms or action games, is popular in Asia and Europe and is growing in the U.S.

Each game is monitored by a game master, who introduces each team to the game and then watches the room live on video to monitor its progress. The master also has access to a button that can open the room at any time in case of an emergency.

Breakout Games is open on nights and

weekends and welcomes corporate groups for team building during the day. Game start times typically run from 11 a.m. to 10:40 p.m. Each game costs $22 per person on a weekday and $24 on a weekend. All games are recommended for ages 12 and older. Children under age 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and

children under 18 must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian. Reservations are required in advance to participate.

For more information or to make a reserva-tion, visit breakoutbham.com. Breakout Bir-mingham is located at 2717 19th Place South and can be reached at 282-4798.


Neighborhood Hops & Vine to open Homewood location

By SYDNEY CROMWELL

At Neighborhood Hops & Vine in Crestline Park, owner Chandler Busby is all about taking the “pressure and pretension” out of shopping for spe-cialty beer and wine.

“A lot of people come and they’re embarrassed because they think that they’re going to be tested on their wine knowledge or somebody’s going to blow them off because they mis-pronounced something. We’re not into that,” Busby said. “I’m about as unso-phisticated as they come, and I love kind of deflating some of the mystique that’s in wine.”

Busby has brought that same con-cept to a new location at 1712 28th Ave. S. The new store was schedule to open by the end of May. The Home-wood Neighborhood Hops & Vine stocks locally made beers and wines, as well as a draft wall with 20 beers on tap for packaging.

“We can package a beer that you can’t normally get unless you go to a bar and get a pint,” Busby said.

Busby picks his brands based on personal relationships and getting good quality for the price tag, so he knows he can stand behind the products.

“In 15 years of being in the busi-ness, I met hundreds of people that sell wine or produce wine or import wine,” Busby said. “Even though there’s an ocean of bad wines out there, you

don’t have to buy that. You can buy good wine and even better than that, you can buy good wine made by good people.”

The store has an off-premises liquor license, which means customers cannot have a glass of wine or pint of beer on-site. However, Busby said he plans to eventually get the zoning changes he needs for an on-premises license, which would allow Hops & Vine to host events, tastings and classes.

“Wine classes are highly sought after and I think that could be a large part of what we do,” Busby said.

The 28th Avenue South location is ideal for Busby because it’s close to downtown and evening work traffic. The 2,600-square-foot building is also nearly four times larger than his Cres-tline location, giving him extra space for storing products and an eventual classroom.

Despite having only a handful of parking spots in front of the new Hops & Vine, Busby described it as a “dream” parking situation. The store’s peak hours will be right after work, when many of the surrounding busi-nesses will be emptying out. Without a

restaurant nearby to compete for spots, Busby said he expects customers will easily be able to find parking.

The emphasis of Hops & Vine is on providing fun and education for his customers. Busby said he enjoys help-ing people understand the language of wines and beers and translating what they want from a drink.

“We help interpret that good feel-ing they got from a wine,” Busby said. “Fun is the big word here. We’re just going to enjoy ourselves and not get too uptight or worried about different kinds of wine.”

Busby got started in the wine and beer business because of a single wine that “completely turned [his] head” 15 years ago. He wants to provide that same experience for his customers at the Homewood Neighborhood Hops & Vine.

“I’m looking to find a wine or beer that will over-deliver and bring the customer back because they were sur-prised at how good the wine was for what they paid,” Busby said.

To learn more, visit neighborhood-hopsandvine.com.

Chandler Busby stands outside the new Homewood location of Neighborhood Hops & Vine on 28th Avenue South.

Jason Templin works in the Mountain Brook location of Neighborhood Hops & Vine. The shop’s owner, Chandler Busby, is opening a second, larger location in Homewood. Photos by Sydney Cromwell.


Managing partner Alex Mims, chef Reza Bavali and owner Naseem Ajlouny are bringing menu changes and more to DoDiYo’s, a Mediterranean restaurant in SoHo. Photo by Madoline Markham.

DoDiYo’s expands menu, adds brunch buffet

By MADOLINE MARKHAM

DoDiYo’s menu now looks a little different than before Mother’s Day. The Mediterranean restaurant has added Persian and French dishes to its current selection of Greek and Italian cuisine. A Sunday brunch buffet and a jazz duet also made its debut, and a new lunch buffet, which runs $18 for adults and $9 for kids under 12, has also begun.

In March, Alex Mims joined the restaurant as managing partner, bring-ing his experience at Ali Baba, a Per-sian restaurant on U.S. 31 on Hoover he owned from 1989 to 2005, to the table. Naseem Ajlouny, an original DoDiYo’s owner, bought out his origi-nal partner and brought Mims and chef Reza Bavali, who previously owned Italian and French restaurant Café Rez on U.S. 280, on board in March. DoDiYo’s other original investors included George Sarris, chef-owner of The Fish Market; Connie Kanakis, former owner of Connie Kanakis’ Cafe and Michael’s steakhouse; and Piggly Wiggly’s Andy Virciglio.

Menu mainstays such as Moussaka (a Greek lasagna) and Greek Chicken — along with the signature compli-mentary feta spread starter — will remain, while Persian favorites will be added, including Joo Jeh (Cornish hen) Kebabs, Tilapia Almondine, Abadanian Shrimp, Charbroiled Sca-loppini of Tenderloin and a Glazed Lamb Shank. New starters on the menu will include Avocado Salad and

Shirazi, a Persian salad of tomatoes, cucumbers and parsley. Prices will stay under $40 for entrees.

“We are excited about it,” Mims said. “The menu will have your head swinging.”

Along with the menu changes,

Mims has also been remodeling the restaurant’s interior. New columns, sconces and chandeliers have been added, and the walls have been mudded and glazed to give them what Mims calls a “more authentic” look. Outside, he has added a new enclosure

around the patio, which seats 128 people.

The restaurant continues to operate its meeting rooms. One seats up to 15 people, and the other up to 40.

DoDiYo’s new hours are Tues-day-Saturday lunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m.;

Tuesday-Thursday dinner 5-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday dinner 5-10 p.m.; and Sunday brunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m. For more information, visit dodiyos.com or call 453-9300.


Chamber

By MADOLINE MARKHAM

Hidden between Lakeshore Drive and High-way 31 sits a rehabilitation hospital that has served the community for decades. Health-South’s Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital has 100 acute care beds as well as outpatient services designed for patients to return to active and inde-pendent lifestyles.

Kathy McKerley addressed the Homewood Chamber of Commerce on May 19 to paint a picture of the hospital’s work. Lakeshore CEO Vickie Demers was originally scheduled to speak

but was unable to due to laryngitis. The hospital was founded in 1925, started

rehabilitation services in 1972 and was bought by HealthSouth in 1994. It now offers physi-cal therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy to patients through a multidisciplinary team. Patients must receive a minimum of three hours of therapy a day and also have frequent physician visits.

Seventy-five percent of patients are discharged to go home, and the average length of stay is 12-14 days. Typical patients have had a stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, amputation, hip

fracture, neurological disorder, neuropathy, pul-monary issues, cardiac issues or wound care. In the realm of outpatient services, they also offer a BIG program for patients with Alzheimer’s and lymphedema services.

McKerley also recognized how acute reha-bilitation is particularly technology driven and how the hospital partners with the Lakeshore Foundation next door to transition patients back into the community. They also have a music therapist who works with pulmonary and neu-rological patients.

In 2016, Lakeshore is planning to begin a

renovation project that will add a patient wing, renovate rooms and clinical areas, and enhance the front entrance. McKerley said she is partic-ularly looking forward to this.

The Homewood Chamber of Commerce will hold its June Membership Luncheon June 16 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Club. Samford University Head Football Coach Chris Hatcher will speak. For tickets or more information, visit homewoodchamber.org.

Chamber learns about rehab services


Kathy McKerley discusses HealthSouth Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital at the Homewood Chamber of Commerce Luncheon.

Jeff Underwood, Kristen Evans and Jennifer Chandler of the Lakeshore Foundation. Photos by Madoline Markham.


Summer Summer

FUNPhoto Contest

Winners will be announced in the September issue.Category 1: Any summer fun photoCategory 2: A summer fun photo displaying a copy of The Homewood Star wherever you are

#HWDSummerFun

To enter, email your photos in a jpeg format

to [email protected].

Only four photos are allowed per person.

Deadline is August 9, 2015

Winning photos must be high quality

and include a caption and photo credit

Edgewood botanical garden is a community affair

New Sims Garden caretakers looking for more involvement from neighbors

By MADOLINE MARKHAM

A botanical garden occupies six lots just a few blocks from Edgewood’s shops. It looks like an ordinary house and yard from the street except for a sign that bears its name, but the Sims Garden is a botanical oasis of native grasses, heirloom roses and serene spaces. The garden’s new caretakers want more people in Homewood to come out to 908 Highland Road to discover it.

“It’s intrinsically beautiful and not like other places around here,” said Mike Loop, who lives on the property and cares for the garden along with Celine Currier.

Currier agreed. “Hopefully when people bring kids here, they experience something they won’t in any other areas,” she said.

Loop and Currier originally met at Eckerd College, where they both worked in a commu-nity garden, and moved to the Sims property in January. Loop, a Birmingham native who now works as a scholar-in-residence at The Altamont School, was drawn to the property once he saw it back in 2010, and he and Currier want to con-tinue its legacy and work with the community on developing a vision for its future.

Catherine Sims, the “Plant Lady of Home-wood,” gardened on her home’s property for decades and left it to the city in her will. But there was a catch — the city had to utilize the property as a botanical garden. City leaders weren’t initially excited about the gift because they weren’t sure how to manage and maintain it, so the property fell into disrepair from 2006 when she passed away until 2012, although her fig trees and rose bushes survived.

At that time, the city partnered with Birming-ham-Southern College’s Southern Environmen-tal Center (SEC), and the property became one of several “EcoScapes” the SEC manages in the area. The garden is also distinctly Homewood; limestone salvaged from the old Homewood City Hall lines its paths. The city paid to renovate the house, and now Roald Hazelhoff, SEC director, manages it and oversees caretakers for the prop-erty’s daily operations.

Landscape contractor Arnold Rutkis, owner of Stoneshovel landscaping, lived on the property

for several years before Currier and Loop and added hardscaping and stonework to the garden.

Since moving in, Currier and Loop have been pruning trees and performing other detail work around the garden. Prior to this year, Loop spent two years working with local farmers to improve sustainability in West Africa while serving in the Peace Corps, and Currier has worked on farms and in landscaping throughout New England, including on the moss and vegetable farm in Connecticut where she grew up.

Their primary purpose is not so much to serve

as Sims’ gardeners but to oversee the communi-ty’s work in it and provide overall vision as the community determines its future. Both said they would love to see more kids and adults come to spend time there and take on gardening projects, much like people do in vegetable plots in com-munity gardens such as the one at the former Homewood Middle School site.

“We want the neighborhood to take care of it enough that if the city ever tried to subdivide the property they would stand up for it,” Currier said.

Currently, neighbor George Stegall keeps some of his honeybee colonies that he harvests for Edgewood Bee Company on the property. The garden also bears colorful signs to mark its distinct areas thanks to a Girl Scout Gold project by Maizie Smalley, the daughter of Paula and Craig Smalley. Currier and Loop point to these projects as examples of how area residents can invest their time and skills in the garden.

They also see the garden as a potential com-munity meeting place for book clubs and other groups, as well as a classroom for experiment-ing with different plants and techniques. The garden has vermicomposting bins that can be used to teach neighbors about the composting technique that uses worm castings. A bioswale area of water-loving plants serves as an example of what to do with an area of a yard that has excessive water runoff.

To get involved with the Sims Garden, con-tact Melanie Geer at [email protected]. To learn more, visit facebook.com/SimsEcos-cape. The garden is open to the public Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to dusk.

Mike Loop and Celine Currier stand outside the greenhouse at the Sims Garden on Highland Road. The couple has served as caretakers for the property since January. Photos by Madoline Markham.


Real Estate ListingsMLS # Zip Address Status Price

632195 35209 308 Edgewood Blvd. New $859,900

632470 35209 312 La Playa Place New $899,900

632411 35209 1619 Ashwood Lane, Unit 9 New $139,900

632131 35209 1123 Columbiana Road New $249,900

632032 35216 1840 Lake Ridge Road New $585,000

631894 35209 350 Dixon Ave. New $287,500

631865 35209 120 Gillon Drive New $179,900

631838 35209 703 Belmont Road New $379,000

631764 35209 1408 Overlook Road New $314,900

631580 35209 708 Fairfax Drive New $420,000

632037 35209 840 Forest Drive New $398,000

631494 35209 1111 Oak Grove Road New $314,900

631492 35209 1631 Manhattan Street New $265,000

631473 35209 202 East Linwood Drive New $724,900

631298 35209 1892 Huntington Road #B New $264,900

631212 35209 198 Southpointe Drive New $233,000

631203 35209 2625 Kemp Court New $324,900

631151 35209 128 East Hawthorne Road New $749,900

308 Edgewood Blvd.

Homewood

840 Forest Drive

Real estate listings provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors on May 18. Visit birminghamrealtors.com.


Samford planetarium expands programsBy MARIENNE THOMAS OGLE

If you like a little space — or a lot — Samford University’s Christen-berry Planetarium might be the place for you.

The facility is in the midst of an ongoing expansion of programming, technical upgrades and community engagement. This includes free shows that give the public an up-close and personal view of the universe, said planetarium director David Weigel.

“Our shows are particularly excit-ing because, unlike the majority of planetaria, all of them are live and interactive,” Weigel said. “So instead of watching a movie that has been pre-made, I lead you on a guided tour of the universe with every opportunity to ask questions and steer the focus of the show to the center of your interests.”

Built in 2001, the planetarium fea-tures a 40-foot dome over a 94-seat viewing area. Upgrades from 2014 provide a dramatic improvement in image quality over the previous system, he said.

“We look at the stars in the night sky as well as tour through our solar system to the sun, various planets, moons and smaller bodies, and even satellites,” Weigel said. “We also have an observatory located across the street on the roof of Brooks Hall, which allows us to locate objects we’ve discussed in the planetarium and locate them ourselves in the night sky.”

The visualizations are actual data sets taken from real scientists around the world, mainly NASA affiliates.

Upcoming presentations include:

} Alabama Summer Skies (night sky shows discussing stars, planets, constellations and the related Greek mythology) at 8 p.m. on June 16, July 16, July 30 and August 4.

} Alabama Summer Skies: Astron-omy 101 (complete with a solar system exploration of all planets) at 10 a.m. on June 23, July 9, July 23 and August 6.

} Special fall presentations on on the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Dawn mis-sion to Ceres to be announced.

In addition, the planetarium will host repeat presentations of some shows from earlier this year, including:

} Alabama Summer Skies: A discus-sion on the Rosetta mission, which orbited a comet and dropped a lander onto its surface in Novem-ber, a first in space exploration.

} Alabama Summer Skies: Astron-omy 101 — a solar system fly-through detailing the basics of space that everyone should know for daily life.

} Alabama Summer Skies: Mars — a discussion on NASA’s Curios-ity and Opportunity rovers, other active Mars missions, and a look at prominent geological features on Mars. Weigel said he hopes people of all

ages will take part in the upcoming planetarium presentations.

“We want to educate the Samford community but also the Birmingham community in all things science, though primarily space related,” he said. “And when people are curious

about something in space, we want them to look to Samford and the Christenberry Planetarium first for an easy-to-understand, yet thorough, explanation.”

To check show dates and times, visit Christenberry Planetarium at Samford University on Facebook, email [email protected] or call 726-4139.

Shows are free and on a first come, first served basis. Field trips are also available.

This image from a planetarium show was captured by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, launched in 2009. WISE has scanned the entire sky in infrared light, picking up the glow of hundreds of millions of objects. Photo courtesy of Christenberry Planetarium.


program would place a series of sta-tions with custom-made bikes around the city. Riders could pay to rent bikes and return them at any of the other stations.

Ward 1 Place 2 Representative Britt Thames helped bring the bike-share discussion before the council and worked with the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB), which is providing the study at no cost. Thames said he is excited about the possibilities of this program and believes it will fit well with growing resident interest in walk-ing and other outdoor activities.

“I think it would build on what Homewood is already known for and what people come to Homewood for,” Thames said. “If there were bikes available, I would easily see myself biking downtown and to Central Avenue.”

He also believes it could help traf-fic and parking problems in SoHo and other popular shopping and rec-reational areas.

As of this issue’s print date, the feasibility study has not yet started, but it will cover financial, operational, safety and accessibility issues related to creating a bike-share program. Scott Tillman of the RPCGB said the study will reveal the pros and cons of the project, but he noted that walkable cities like Homewood are often good candidates for more bicycle use.

Fitzwater supports a bike-share pro-gram for its impact on traffic, riders’ health and the environment. He said Homewood’s area of about 8.5 square miles also makes it easy to travel without an engine. The success of a bike-share, though, depends in part on whether the city is cycling friendly.

BIKE-SHARE CONTINUED from page A1

Bike lanes are scarce in Home-wood, and many streets are narrow or heavily traveled by cars. Jim Wyatt, the head of Homewood’s engineering, planning and zoning department, said the Valley Avenue paving project has an alternate design that might include bike lanes, but he’s not aware of any other bike lane projects in the works. He believes it’s going to become a frequent topic on future road projects.

Fitzwater said that projects such as the Shades Creek Greenway are making the city better for bikes, but he is always aware of the danger when biking in areas like Edgewood or Green Springs Highway.

“I don’t feel quite as safe carrying my whole family over there,” Fitzwa-ter said about Edgewood. “I’m always aware that somebody could be behind

me and not see me.”Danny Nicholas lives near Samford

and said the neighborhoods in his area, roughly between Oxmoor Road and Saulter Road, are bike friendly but many of the main roads are not. Edgewood resident Michelle Jeffcoat agreed that Green Springs and other parts of Homewood, such as Lake-shore Drive and Valley Avenue, are not good for cyclists. She cited prob-lems such as hills, narrow sidewalks and streets too small to create new bike lanes.

“I am skeptical of a bike-share pro-gram here,” Jeffcoat said. “Not that it’s not a great idea in theory. I’d love to be wrong, but I just don’t see it taking off in Homewood.”

Others are more optimistic about a bike-share’s success. West Homewood

resident Ginny Powell said she sup-ports the idea and thinks the city should focus on making a few specific routes bike-friendly at first. If the pro-gram catches on, she thinks resident demand will encourage more road improvements.

“Homewood has so many great neighborhood centers, destination shops and restaurants, and we’ve made great strides in encouraging green space. A bike share definitely fits with current trends toward a more conscious way of living,” Powell said. “I would love to feel safe biking to the market or other shops close to my house.”

Fellow West Homewood resident Will Womack agreed that an empha-sis on connecting the city would be more productive than simply creating

more bike lanes. As a former bicycle commuter, he said changing the way people think about cycling is essential to making it safe in Homewood.

“Dedicated bike lanes don’t neces-sarily make cycling safer. Research shows that they can make merging with traffic more dangerous. Having said that, joining up the greenways with bike paths to schools, offices and shopping areas would be fan-tastic,” Womack said. “Striping bike lanes is okay as long as there is some joined-up thinking behind it.”

Womack and Fitzwater both felt that Homewood residents need more awareness of cycling safety whether they’re in cars or on bikes. Fitzwa-ter hopes the city will put up signs to remind drivers and cyclists of the road rules.

“There is a sense that those main roads are only for cars and bikes should stay off,” Womack said. “The realtor who sold us our house in West Homewood — not a Homewood res-ident — actually said that bikes on Green Springs made her nervous and she wished they would stick to the sidewalks.”

In addition to safety signs, Fitzwa-ter thinks Homewood should install signs to encourage more cycling. He noted that when he rides through Bir-mingham, there are signs noting the distance and time it takes to bike to major locations.

“That kind of motivates people,” Fitzwater said.

All of these concerns will be con-sidered in the feasibility study, which will include online surveys and a public input meeting for residents. Tillman estimated that the study will take multiple months to complete, but he said it will be finished by the end of the year.

Visit thehomewoodstar.com for updates about the bike-share program.

The Fitzwaters bike to Patriot Park together. They support cycling as a fun and environmentally friendly family activity. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.


MARCO CONTINUED from page A1

Their relationship began two years ago. Marco, then a fi rst-grader, had been struggling in school, and his mom had told Phelps he wasn’t help-ing out at home.

“He is very bright and has a won-derful, loving family, but he’s strug-gled in making the right choices,” Phelps said.

Sue Grogan, who was the principal at Shades Cahaba at the time, sat down with Marco one day to talk about his behavior, knowing that he had told his teacher he wanted to be a soldier.

In order to get there one day, she told him, he would have to work hard in school and learn to read and write and do math, and the reason she knew that was because her own son was in the Army.

Porter was stationed in Afghanistan at the time, but when he was on leave a few months later, he sent Marco an Army PT (physical training) shirt with a letter about being responsible and respecting his parents. The shirt became an instant staple in Marco’s wardrobe.

Fast-forward to this January. Porter, who had moved back to Birming-ham, and Grogan were eating lunch at Jason’s Deli and talking about how they could make a difference in someone else’s life. Grogan is now retired, and Porter works with the Vestavia Hills Fire Department and Army National Guard. Both wanted to be intentional about how to use newfound fl exibility in their time. During lunch Grogan heard her phone buzz with a text. Something told her to check it. Grogan hadn’t heard from Phelps in several months, but the text was from her — a photo of Marco.

In it Marco stood in front of the dry

erase board where he and his class-mates were writing one word to sym-bolize their New Year’s resolutions. Phelps told the students they could take a while to think about their word, but Marco knew his right away: Army.

Grogan immediately showed the text to Porter.

“Maybe that’s a good thing to think about,” she told Porter, who was impressed by Marco’s determination.

Within a few hours, Porter had worked out a plan with Marco’s teach-ers to spend time mentoring him.

“I think these things don’t just happen out of coincidence,” Grogan said. “I felt that was a God-given

answer that day.”During their 45-minute weekly

meetings, Porter and Marco talk about their goals and hold each other accountable to them. Porter gives Marco a note card for each Army value, and then Marco is charged with sharing them with his classmates and family.

“Honor, loyalty, selfl ess service…” Marco recites.

“It’s sweet to see how they are holding each other accountable,” said Emily Colon, Marco’s third-grade teacher. “[Marco] wants to show off good test scores to Porter. It’s a great thing for him.”

But Marco and Porter also “get hot and sweaty and do guy stuff,” Porter said.

Being in the Army requires being physically fi t, Porter tells him, and that’s not accomplished overnight, just like the other goals they are set-ting. Their goal for the 5K was not to run but for Team Marco, which also included some of Porter’s friends and Phelps’ family, to fi nish it.

“He’s getting it, but he’s being a normal third-grader too,” Porter said. “It’s a blast.”

Phelps said she has seen a differ-ence in Marco since he started meet-ing with Porter. In the spring he was

scoring higher on reading tests. “I know it’s because he is reading

more and thinking more,” she said. “Now I see him being very respect-ful toward the girls [in his reading group].”

For Marco, it’s still all about the Army.

“I want to help my country,” Marco said. “I am a big Army fan, and I want to help my family, too.”

But ultimately, Team Marco is bigger than just Marco and Porter.

“It’s not about the two of us,” Porter said. “It’s about being leaders in our community.”

Marco chose the word “Army” as his New Year’s resolution goal for 2015. The photo his ESL teacher, Alli Phelps, took of him on that day prompted Wes Porter to begin their mentoring relationship. Photos courtesy of Alli Phelps.

The fi rst time Marco and Porter met in person earlier this year Porter wore his Army fatigues.


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Steve Colter trains to compete on American Ninja Warrior at the Homewood Community Center. The episode featuring his competition will air June 15. Photo by Madoline Markham.

Homewood’s American Ninja WarriorBy MADOLINE MARKHAM

Steve Colter can count on one hand the number of days in the past two years he has skipped workouts. He knew that come May, he would face a bridge collapsing under him, find himself climbing in between two walls to move forward about 7 feet and up another 5, and get a running start to climb a 15-foot warped wall.

Colter put his training to the test as a contestant on American Ninja War-rior in May. The show, which origi-nated in Japan, sends contestants on an extreme obstacle course that requires extreme upper body strength like that used for rock climbing and parkour.

“What’s neat about it is that it’s fun to do,” he said. “Every day you have a challenge. No one has ever beat the course, so there’s always a challenge.”

Compared to CrossFit, Colter said Ninja Warrior obstacles require less endurance, more balance and more grip strength. In fact, this year his primary training focus — besides avoiding injury — was improving his grip, working to develop strength in his fingertips like climbers do.

Colter has always been active and played soccer until he was 42, but when he started training for Ameri-can Ninja Warrior, he started training differently, working to get his body as slim as possible. At 6-foot-1, he’s taller than the average contestant’s

5-foot-10-inch height, adding an extra element of challenge for him on some obstacles. At 51, he is also older than most contestants. Since he started training, his waist has dropped 3 inches to the size he was his senior year of high school.

Usually Colter does full-body workouts on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at Homewood Central Park, the Homewood Community Center, his house near the Homewood Public

Library or a special training gym in Atlanta owned by a three-year contes-tant on the show. He mountain bikes at Red Mountain Park or does another form of cardio on the other days.

It all began four years ago when Colter’s wife, Robin, and daughter, Camille, started watching American Ninja Warrior on TV. He eventually started joining them for every episode.

“You can do that,” his family encouraged. And soon he found he

could. Last year he traveled to Dallas and walked onto the show.

“It was one of the most grueling things I have ever done,” he said. “I was running at 2 a.m. after I had gotten up at 5 a.m. the previous morning.”

But still, he said he remained calm the whole time. He said he was so focused that he didn’t even hear people cheering in the grandstands nearby.

This year he submitted a three-min-ute video showing his workouts and

made the cut to compete in Orlando. More than 50,000 applicants submit-ted videos to compete for this season, and 100-130 were selected for each of five regions.

Colter competed on May 10, but he can’t say how he did until the episode airs June 15.

“It’s like Fight Club,” Colter said. “You can’t say what happened until the season airs.”

If he finished in the top 30, he also competed May 11. The top 15 from the area will go to Las Vegas for the next round with a more strenuous course. Colter can’t say whether he will make the TV footage.

“You have to do extremely well or extremely bad to make it on TV,” he said. “If you land on your face, they are going to show that.”

Colter is the only contestant from Alabama this year as far as he knows, but he said the community of contes-tants is strong, both through a Face-book page and in person.

“If you are involved and are trying, they adopt you with open arms,” he said. “You are not competing against them, you are competing against the clock.”

Colter and the other Orlando area contestants are scheduled to air Monday, June 15. You can watch the show Mondays at 7 p.m. on NBC. This season began May 25.

SECTION BSchool House B7Sports B10Calendar B13Opinion B15

The Homewood

Star

CommunityAssistance League holds Sunset and Song

Assistance League of Birmingham presented Sunset and Song on April 23. This fundraising event supported Alabama seniors and the youth of our community through the philanthropic programs of Assistance League of Birmingham: PrimeTime Treasures, Operation School Bell and Operation Literacy

Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were served on the rooftop garden and lounge in the historic Kress Building provided by Bob Childs of the law firm of Wiggins, Childs, Pantazis, Fisher and Goldfarb. Guests then moved downstairs to the Red Mountain Cabaret. Rochelle Simms, president of Assistance League of Birmingham, and event co-chairs, Cathy Lynch and Gwen Belle-Isle, welcomed guests to the event and thanked everyone for supporting Assistance League.

Alli Phelps, a teacher at Shades Cahaba

Elementary School in Homewood, spoke pas-sionately about what the new clothes provided by Operation School Bell mean for her students and their families.

The final event of the evening was a fast-paced musical performance, The Music of Our Lives, by Lonnie Parsons as well as Kristi Tingle Higginbothom, Jan Hunter and Anthony Hardin, accompanied by five musicians.

Homewood High School students who vol-unteered at the event were Star Spangled Girls Olivia Harmon, Laine Smith, Lee Ann Huynh, Hannah Beckering, Lauren Simmons; and drum-mers Kameron Mitchell, Ethan Standard, Hogan Bexley, Marquis Hollingsworth, Tate Atha, and Scott Williams.

For more information on Assistance League of Birmingham, visit assistanceleaguebhm.org or find them on Facebook.Linda Cahill and Peter and Alli Phelps, who teaches at Shades Cahaba Elementary School.

The Homewood StarB2 • June 2015

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Homewood’s new art gallery debuts this month.

“The idea of community gallery is to have one central location in Homewood to highlight and showcase Homewood’s artists, whether it’s an individual art or an organization or within a school system,” Homewood Arts Council member Caroline Hubbard said. “It also

gives us an opportunity to bring in other artists and talent in the surrounding areas into Homewood.”

The gallery will hold its grand opening June 18 from 6-8 p.m. at Rosewood Hall and will feature hors d’oeuvres and live music.

Exhibits will rotate in and out of the space regularly, and the first will

winners of the council’s Faces, Places and Traces of Homewood photo contest.

The gallery will span along the back wall of the first floor of City Hall and will have 18 spaces for artwork.

For more information on the gallery, email [email protected].

The Homewood Police Department is hosting the Annual Metro Area 5K Pig Run on June 13. The race begins at 8 a.m. at the Trak Shak in downtown Homewood.

All proceeds from the event benefit Special Olympics Alabama.

Registration is $25 in advance or $30 on race day and includes post-race food. Visit runsignup.com or the Trak Shak to register.

New Community Art Gallery to display photo contest winners

Homewood Police host Pig Run 5K this month

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Charles Wannem-uehler of Homewood announce the engage-ment of their daughter, Lauren Elizabeth, to Mr. John Crewe Trippe, son of Mr. and Mrs. Allan Mark Trippe Sr. of Homewood.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Paul Thompson of Albert-ville, Alabama, and Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Charles Wannemuehler of Evansville, Indi-ana. Miss Wannemuehler is a 2010 graduate of Homewood High School.

She is a 2014 summa cum laude graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor’s in accounting, and she received a master’s in accounting from Auburn in 2015. While at Auburn, she served as vice president of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. She is now employed at McGladrey in Birmingham.

The prospective groom is grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Erskine Bishop of Tupelo, Mississippi, and Mrs. Albert Roy Trippe Jr. and the late Mr. Albert Roy Trippe Jr. of Birmingham.

He is also a 2010 graduate of Homewood High School as well as a 2014 summa cum

laude graduate of the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in finance and eco-nomics and a master’s in economics. He currently is employed at Regions Financial Corporation in Birmingham.

The wedding is planned for July 25 at Cov-enant Presbyterian Church.

Celebrations

Have an engagement, wedding or anniversary announcement? Email [email protected] to have it included in an

upcoming issue!

Wannemuehler-Trippe

Celebrate Vulcan’s birthday

The world’s largest cast iron statue needs help blowing out his birthday candles. Vulcan Park and Museum will host a festive outdoor community celebration for Vulcan’s 111th Birthday on Sunday, June 7 from noon-4 p.m.

The event will include music, games and birthday refreshments. Other activities include next generation games provided by GameStop, a Home Depot kids’ workshop, a performance by the Birmingham Children’s Theatre, an archaeology dig and prize wheel from Red Mountain Park, a rock climbing wall, soccer activities by the Latin Amer-ican Soccer League, a City of Birmingham fire truck, a kite activity from Railroad Park, native Alabama animals from the Birmingham

Zoo, a plane from the Southern Museum of Flight, face painting from the Magic Town Clowns and community drum jams by GetRhythm!.

Also at the event, Birmingham Mayor William Bell will lead the party in singing “Happy Birthday” to Vulcan.

Admission is $5 for all ages and includes all activities as well as entrance into Vulcan Center, the observation tower and the La Storia: Birmingham’s Italian Commu-nity exhibition in the Linn-Henley Gallery. Admission is free for children under age 4.

For more information or to purchase tick-ets, see visitvulcan.com.

Vulcan celebrates his birthday every June. Photo courtesy of Vulcan Park & Museum.

TheHomewoodStar.com June 2015 • B3

In 2015, more than 2,000 grieving people will receive help in their struggle with loss through Com-munity Grief Support Service. The organization is holding a Memory Lights Walk fundraiser on June 6 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Homewood Central Park.

The walk is not timed or measured. It is simply a meditative walk providing time to remember a loved one — a spouse, child, sibling, parent, friend or even a pet — who has passed away. Dogs are welcome to join the walk as well. At the end of the evening, hundreds of extra-large, white, LED-lit balloons with specially pre-pared prayers or sentiments attached will be released.

The event will also feature food trucks, inflatables and live music. CGSS aims to raise $20,000 through

registration fees and the purchase of the Memory Lights balloons over the course of the night.

From the organization’s offices on Oxmoor Road across from Dawson Family of Faith, CGSS provides free individual, couples and family grief counseling as well as community education programs. While the organization is not faith-based, many Birmingham churches of all denominations support its services to all bereaved adults. It also facilitates 30 free support groups across the greater Birmingham area.

Walk fees are $25 per person, and each Memory Light costs $20. For more information or to register, visit communitygriefsupport.org/events.php.

Memory Lights Walk to support grief services

Rigdon Hendrix places second in fashion competitionBy MADOLINE MARKHAM

LED lights lit up the runway during Birmingham Fash-ion Week thanks to Rigdon Hendrix’s design.

The 14-year-old Homewood resident was awarded second place in the Rising Design Star competition on May 9. He took home a $300 prize from Buffalo Rock, which sponsored part of the competition that required the designers to make a design out of their soda cans.

For the first part of the competition, each contestant crafted a garment representing one of Alabama’s major industries (agriculture, livestock, transportation, technol-ogy, fishing, forestry and mining) with recycled or alter-native materials such as glue, staples, tape, safety pins and paper clips. These garments were on display at the Birmingham Museum of Art through April 26.

Rigdon went searching in car junkyards and body shops for materials for his transportation-themed design. He cut a car tire for straps and used car shades, chicken wire, duct tape, rubber and staples to create the look. When the dress hit the runway, it featured white and red LED lights on the wings and the chest.

Rigdon was one of the semifinalists selected to show his designs on May 9. That night the first, second and third place winners were named. Rigdon was also named a semifinalist in last year’s Rising Design Star competition.

Rigdon Hendrix’s Birmingham Fashion Week design was made from car

junkyard and body shop parts. Photo courtesy of JC Bravo Photography.

The seventh annual SPREE, or “Shop. Praise. Relax. Eat. Enjoy,” will be held in Oakmont United Methodist on Saturday, June 13.

The event will be held in conjunction with the Oakmont United Methodist Men’s Club BBQ from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Meal tickets are $7.

A variety of vendors will set up with yard sale items, arts and crafts, collectibles and more. There will also be a bake sale and plant sale.. The proceeds from this fundraiser will go to benefit the United Meth-odist Women’s Organization, which contributes to the Alabama Child Caring Foundation, The McCoy Adult Day Care Center and supplies for other local missions.

The event will take place in the church gym at 914 Oak Grove Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information on the event or becoming a vendor, email [email protected] or call 942-4622.

Oakmont UMC to host festival and barbecue


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The West Homewood Farmer’s Market is staring back up this month on a new day and time.

The market will be open every Tuesday from 5-8 p.m. throughout June and July and. During August, September and October, it will be open only the third Tuesday of the month.

Previously the market ran on Saturday mornings in the summer and on Thursday evenings in the fall.

Each week the event features live entertainment, fresh produce, activities for kids, arts and crafts, specialty foods

and food trucks. This season market organizers also plan to expand the number of booths to widen its selection.

The West Homewood Farmer’s Market is located in the parking lot of Shades Valley Community Church at 160 Oxmoor Road. For more information, visit westh-omewood.com.

In addition to the West Homewood Market, a Farmers Market in SoHo operates on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon. For more information on it, visit urbancook-house.com.

Scouts receive Arrow of Light

Members of All Saints’ Cub Scouts Pack 279 were recognized for earning their Arrow of Light award at the Blue & Gold banquet on May 3. Arrow of Light is the highest award achieve-ment in Cub Scouting. Most of these boys recently joined All Saints’ Boy Scout Troop 79.

Den Leader Trevor Matchett, Tuck Thornsberry, Aidan Matchett, Jack Freeman, J.D. Garza, Noah Garner, Jeffrey Youngson, Hunter Morales and Assistant Den Leader Dave Garza. Grayson Parris (not pictured) also earned the Arrow of Light award. Photo courtesy of David Armistead.

The Miss Alabama Pageant 2015 will return to the Samford University Wright Center June 3-6.

The pageant will feature Miss Alabama 2014 Caitlin Brunell and the 50 contes-tants. The preliminary competitions will

be held Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., and the final competition will be Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets range from $25-43. For ticket information, visit missalabama.com or call 871-6276.

The West Homewood Market features local produce vendors and other festivities.

West Homewood market begins on Tuesday evenings

Shades Valley Lutheran to hold garage sale

Shades Valley Lutheran Church will hold its Youth Garage Sale Friday and Saturday, June 5-6.

The annual event funds the church’s youth mission trip and trip to a national gathering and runs 8 a.m.-2 p.m. daily.

Also, Shades Valley Lutheran is

holding one Sunday service instead of two for the summer; the 9:30 a.m.-only service runs from June through Aug. 16.

The church is located at 720 Shades Creek Parkway. For more call 871-3512 or visit shadesvalleylutheran.org.

Miss Alabama Pageant returns to Samford


Join us for the openingof the new

HomewoodCommunity Art Gallery

Presenting an exhibit of our Faces, Places and Traces of

Homewood photography contest

Opening reception — Community welcome!Live music and hors’ d’oeuvres

Thursday, June 18th, 2015, 6-8pm

Rosewood Hall

2850 19th Street South, Homewood

Emily Evans - Jennifer Holcomb - Caroline HubbardJeremie Kirkwood - Diane Litsey - Robert Tedrow


Father’s Day Gift Guide

Deakin and Francis Cuffl inks From $200 These silver and enamel cuffl inks are a available in numerous styles, fi tting any dad’s interests.

Bromberg’s 2800 Cahaba Road871-3276

Yeti Colster$29.99

Dad will never deal with a lukewarm beverage again thanks to 18/8 kitchen-grade stainless steel, double-wall vacuum insulation and sleek sweat-free design.

Alabama Outdoors 3054 Independence Drive

870-1919

Hand-Made Bird House $59 These unique themed bird houses are perfect for the man who has everything.

Homewood Antiques & Marketplace 930 Oxmoor Road 414-9945

MPH Gas Grills Starting at $649America’s fi rst gas grill has been American made since 1960.

Alabama Gaslight & Grill 2828 Linden Ave. 870-4060

Free-Standing Light StationFrom $399 This fabulous light station is just right for Dad’s creative space. It comes in lengths from 5 to 12 feet.

Sewing Machine Mart 1722-C 28th Avenue South 870-1931

Ray Ban Aviators

Starting at $170These glasses, also available in

a prescription, come in a variety of colors of mirror coating.

JJ Eyes2814 18th St. S.

703-8596

Ray Ban Aviators

These glasses, also available in

Father’s Day Gift GuideFather’s Day Gift GuideFather’s Day Gift Guide

MPH Gas Grills Starting at $649America’s fi rst gas grill has been American made since 1960.

Alabama Gaslight & Grill 2828 Linden Ave. 870-4060

These unique themed bird houses are perfect for the man who has

Yeti Colster$29.99

Dad will never deal with a lukewarm beverage again thanks to 18/8 kitchen-grade stainless steel, double-wall vacuum insulation and sleek sweat-free design.

Alabama Outdoors 3054 Independence Drive

870-1919

Free-Standing Light

everything.

Homewood Antiques & Marketplace 930 Oxmoor Road 414-9945

School House

Homewood Middle School Principal Jimmie Pearson, left, and teacher Andrea Nicholson, center, present a check to a representative from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at the April 21 Board of Education meeting.

HMS raises funds for blood cancer research

By MADOLINE MARKHAM

Representatives from the Leukemia & Lym-phoma Society recognized Homewood Middle School for its fundraising efforts at the April 21 Board of Education meeting.

Under the leadership of teacher Andrea Nicholas, HMS students raised more than $3,000 for the society. These funds will help

the organization give $671,000 annually in co-pay assistance, among other projects.

The organization supports blood cancer patients and research for a cure for the dis-eases, which together make up the third most fatal form of cancer.

“Unfortunately, this has touched us in our schools’ community, so we appreciate your efforts,” Superintendent Bill Cleveland said.

Brianna Morton and Molly Knudsen

HMS teachers to study science and farming food supply

Homewood Middle School teachers Molly Knudsen and Bri-anna Morton have been selected as 2015 Fund For Teachers Fellows.

They received an all-expense paid trip to California to explore the relationship between science and the food supply through farm-ing in both urban and rural farms throughout California to establish a STEM–based gardening curric-ulum promoting healthy eating and living. They were the only secondary educators from Ala-bama selected for the honor. To learn more about Fund For Teach-ers, visit fundforteachers.org.


Homewood Middle School’s Career and Technical Education Program was selected as a 2015 Program Excellence Award school by the International Technology and Engi-neering Educators Association (ITEEA) and Paxton-Patterson.

“Homewood Middle School’s Technology Education program is truly exemplary among all of the other programs in your state at your school’s level,” an ITEEA statement said. “Not many endeavors are more important than help-ing students become technologically literate and learn more about the world around them. Thank you for investing in your students!”

HMS career tech teacher Lovie Crawford was recognized at the Program Excellence Gen-eral Session of the 2015 ITEEA Annual Con-ference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in March.

HMS career tech program receives award

Lovie Crawford

Shades Cahaba art teacher Lisa Mooresmith with student winners Evie Harrison, Everett Dominick, Patrick Doyal, Andrik Reyes,

Carley Vardaman and Sam Graphos.

Sweet potato art at Shades Cahaba

Shades Cahaba Elementary School students celebrated Youth Art Month (YAM) with many activities in March. The students were able to show their creative talents by entering the YAM Costume Contest. The students brought sweet potatoes dressed in costumes that were judged by professional artists. A winner was named from each grade level:

} Kindergarten: Evie Harrison- “Miss Yamerica” } First grade: Everett Dominick- “Yamboto” } Second grade: Patrick Doyal- “Batyam” } Third grade: Andrik Reyes- “Yam Minions” } Fourth grade: Carley Vardaman-“Scarlet O’Yama } Fifth grade: Sam Graphos- “Sesame Street”

FACS students Jeylyn Hunter, Cierra Redin, Paige Wildt and Kate Watters placed in a recent competition.

FACS students receive awards for business plan, website ideas

Four Homewood Middle School Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) students competed in the FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) STAR leadership competi-tion. Both teams placed in their event, with one of the groups receiving an invitation to compete at the national level.

Eighth-graders Jeylyn Hunter and Cierra Redin placed silver in the Entrepreneurship event. The team created a business plan to open a dance studio in an impoverished area of Ala-bama to help renew the economy and bring char-acter education and health and wellness to the

community. Seventh-graders Paige Wildt and Kate Watters placed Gold in thee Environmental Ambassadors event and were extended an invita-tion to the national competition in Washington, D.C. for their innovative approach to improv-ing their community through environmental awareness. The team created a website, Well-ness Folks, that provides recipes for all-natural cleaning and beauty products to reduce waste and to prevent dangerous chemicals from enter-ing our homes.

The FCCLA sponsor is Briana Morton, the FACS teacher at Homewood Middle School.


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Cindy Hutchinson and Dr. Bill Cleveland with Katie Wallace’s class.

Hall-Kent students create art for Board of Education building

Hall-Kent Elementary students in Katie Wallace’s class made the first piece of student artwork to hang in the new Homewood Board of Education building. The students made the painting using Cs for Dr. Bill Cleveland and his secretary, Cindy Hutchinson.

First graders share books with community members

Homewood community members shared their love of reading with Shades Cahaba Ele-mentary School first graders during the grade’s writing celebration.

The students wrote book reviews on their favorite books and invited different community

members to their library to present their reviews and talk about why they love reading certain books in their library. This allowed the students to work on their presentation, writing and com-munication skills.

HCS Superintendent Dr. Bill Cleveland talks with Shades Cahaba students about their book reviews.

Scott Thorne, center, received a national show choir director award recently in Nashville.

Thorne receives show choir director award

Scott Thorne was named The Allen and Sarah Chapman National Most Outstanding Show Choir Director at Nationals in Nashville.

This award is given to a director who is com-mitted to excellence not only in the classroom

but outside of it as well. The awardee is selected based on from letters written by students from each school represented. The winning letter came from Senior Gretchen Steele.


Sports

Ameer Abdullah drafted in

second round by Detroit Lions

By DAVID KNOX

Former Homewood High School star running back Ameer Abdullah has taken his exploits from Waldrop Sta-dium to the University of Nebraska. Next step: the NFL.

Or, in his own words on Twitter: “Next stop ‘Motor City.’”

The explosive former Patriot was selected May 1 in the second round of the National Football League draft by the Detroit Lions. He was the 54th pick overall and the fourth running back taken.

Abdullah has signed a contract worth a little more than $4 million over four years, with a 2015 cap hit of $755,000. His brother, Mohammed, served as his agent in the negotiations and was present for the signing.

He is seen as a replacement in

Detroit for the role former Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush played.

“Honestly, I think there’s only one Reggie Bush, and hopefully I’m out to prove that there’s only one Ameer Abdullah,” Abdullah said in a confer-ence call with Detroit reporters. “Hon-estly, in my years of living, watching college football and watching Reggie throughout his career, he’s one of the most electrifying guys I’ve ever seen. I’m ready to prove myself that I’m unique in my own way.”

The Nebraska running back fin-ished with 1,611 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns last year, and the Lions expect him to contribute both in the backfield and the return game as a rookie.

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew recognized “his versatility, his ability to help on special teams,

his ability in space.” Bush, who missed five games with

ankle injuries last year, was cut in February.

“We’ll see [how much these moves help our running game],” Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. “You can talk about it all you want; the proof is in the pudding. Will we be working towards that? Absolutely. It’s a focal point for us — one of them, which there are many. But we do think, obviously, this strengthens our team.”

Abdullah racked up more than 7,000 all-purpose yards as a Corn-husker, returning kickoffs over his four seasons and handling punt-return duties as a freshman and sophomore.

At Homewood, Abdullah rolled up 1,800 yards rushing, 515 yards receiv-ing, and ran back four punts for touch-downs in his senior year. Ameer Abdullah will be playing for the Detroit Lions.


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Patriots girls win second straight state outdoor track title

By DAVID KNOX

Homewood’s girls made it two in a row while the boys finished second in Gulf Shores.

Homewood’s girls track and field team won the Class 6A State Cham-pionship, the seventh state champion-ship for the track and field program and the 10th for the track and field/cross-country program.

Kiara Williams, an Alabama signee, led the team by winning all four of her events (triple jump, long jump, 100m hurdles and 300m hurdles). Williams broke the state record in long jump by jumping 20 feet, 5 inches, and she is currently ranked No. 2 in the U.S.

Sarah Blake, a Kentucky signee, won the javelin and was only 4 feet away from breaking the state record. The girls 4x400m relay team of Elysa Griffin, Ann Mosely Whitsett, Joy Korley and Hunter Midgett got a win to close out the meet. Ann Mosely Whitsett placed second in the 800m and third in the 400m. Elysa Griffin placed third in the 200m and placed in both the long jump and the 100m. Car-oline Lawrence had her best meet of the year and earned All-State honors by clearing 5-2 and placing third in high jump. Many athletes contributed to the win by placing in the top eight and scoring valuable points. Those who placed are listed below.

The boys team lost to an excellent and well-rounded Opelika team. Alazae Hester-Taylor led Homewood by win-ning the 300m hurdles and placing

third in both the triple jump and 110m hurdles. Andy Smith won a tremen-dous 1600m and ran a 4:17. Smith also placed third in the 3200m and fourth in the 800m. The boys 4x800m relay team of Logan Sadler, Sean Conboy, Pierce Jackson and Hunter Poole won with an impressive performance. Logan Sadler earned All-State honors in both the 800m and 1600m by placing in the top three. Dominique Linson got second in the high jump by clearing 6 feet, 4 inches. The boys 4x100m team of

Tommy Donaldson, Lawton Dorough, Dominique Linson and Teverius Lind-sey earned All-State honors by placing second.

Homewood is coached by Tom Esslinger, Lars Porter, Josh Donald-son, Deanna Swope, Brittany Steele, Thomas Fowlkes and Kenneth Hollis.

Individual State Champions } Sarah Blake – Javelin } Alazae Hester-Taylor – 300m Hurdles

} Andy Smith – 1600m } Kiara Williams – Long Jump, Triple Jump, 100m Hurdles, 300m Hurdles

} State Champion Relay Teams } Boys 4x800m – Logan Sadler, Sean Conboy, Pierce Jackson and Hunter Poole

} Girls 4x400m – Elysa Griffin, Ann Mosely Whitsett, Joy Korley and Hunter Midgett

The Patriot girls took first in the state track and field championships for the second straight year, while the boys finished second. Photo courtesy of Tom Esslinger.

All-State (Top three) } Elysa Griffin – 200m } Ann Mosely Whitsett – 400m, 800m

} Caroline Lawrence – High Jump } Logan Sadler – 800m, 1600m } Andy Smith – 3200m } Alazae Hester-Taylor – 110m Hur-dles, Triple Jump

} Dominique Linson – High Jump } 4x100m – Tommy Donaldson, Lawton Dorough, Dominique Linson and Teverius Lindsey

Athletes who scored points (Top 8) } Elysa Griffin – 6th, 100m; 6th, Long Jump

} Hunter Midgett – 4th, 400m } Lainey Phelps – 5th, 3200m; 5th, Pole Vault; 6th, 1600m

} Madison Kirkwood – 8th, 100m Hurdles

} Christian Hill – 7th, Jump; 8th, High Jump

} Sarah Blake – 7th, Discus } Sarah Crocker – 5th, Javelin } Edie Smith, Ann Mosely Whitsett, Virginia Givhan and Mary V. Spen-cer – 5th, 4x800m

} Andy Smith – 4th, 800m } Hunter Poole – 6th, 1600m } Alex Ngei – 6th, 3200m } Alazae Hester-Taylor – 7th, High Jump

} Jackson White – 5th, Pole Vault } Jake Vella – 6th, Pole Vault } Lawton Dorough – 8th, Long Jump } Patrick Domingo – 6th, Javelin

Tom Esslinger contributed informa-tion in this report.


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@homewoodparks www.Homewoodparks.com

Homewood Community Center Belly Dancing with Aziza

Class Fee: $60 cash onlyContact Aziza: 205-879-0701azizaofb irmingham@att .net

www.azizaofb irmingham.comLearn the ancient art of Middle Eastern belly dance with Aziza, over 40 years of

experience in performance and instructi on. Each session is 5-weeks long on:

Monday night for beginners, Tuesday night for intermediates and Thursday

night for advanced.

Young RembrandtsYoung Rembrandts drawing classes,

uses step-by-step curriculum to teach fundamental art skills in a nurturing environment that gives children an

academic advantage. Classes for boys and girls 5 to 12 years of age. Summer Camps available in June & July. Contact

Chris Roberson at (205) 943-1923 for more informati on and to register

or visit www.youngrembrandts.com to enroll anyti me.

KindermusikAs the world’s recognized leader in

early childhood music and movement, Kindermusik off ers a musical learning

adventure that will impact your child now and for years to come! There’s simply no bett er way to foster your child’s love of music and love of learning. Classes are

available for ages 0 to 5 years. Contact Kelly Alligood: 205-552-6129

[email protected] www.kellyalligood.com

North Star Marti al ArtsNorth Star Marti al Arts primary focus is to make a life lasti ng impact on our students,

and their families. Classes range from beginners to adults. For detailed class

listi ngs and ti mes please visit the park’s website or www.northstarkarate.com.

205-966-4244 [email protected]

Zumba with CamilleZUMBA is Lati n inspired aerobic dance

and every class feels like a party. ZUMBA is for all ages, and both sexes!

Tuesday & Thursday: 5:30pm-6:30pm Saturday: 9:00am-10:00am

Camille 256-452-2500 [email protected]

Acti ng Out AcademyActi ng Out Academy is a kid’s performing arts classes at the Homewood Community Center

Thursday 3:30pm-4:30pm (Encore: Aft er School Program)

Thursday 4:30pm-5:30pm (Advanced on-camera).

www.acti ngoutacademy.com • 205-440-2699 meg@acti ngoutacademy.com

35209 DanceLine dance for a healthier you!

Tuesday 7:00pm-9:00pm Sunday 3:00pm-5:00pm

$7/Drop-in - $5/Seniors 65+ First class is free

Rosa Fisher 205-910-8896 rosafi [email protected]

Summer Ballet CampBeginning ballet moves taught as a

foundati on for many types of dance. Students will work on coordinati on, balance,

rhythm and fl exibility while developing listening skills and strengthening muscles.For more Informati on call Claire Goodhew:

(205) 879-8780

Tango Argenti no Fundamentals and Practi ce

Introductory lessons and guided practi ce. New students are taught basic Tango

technique and experienced “milongueros” are encouraged to practi ce and

exchange ti ps to improve their dancing. Couples and individuals of all ages are

welcome. HWCC Fitness Studio 2.1st & 3rd Wednesday each Month – 7:00pm-8:30pm

Homewood Senior CenterFitness & Exercise Opportuniti es

Seated Exercise Class – Mon (11:15am) / Wed & Fri (10:30am) 45-60 min. Gentle joint movement as warm-up; stretching

& strength porti ons are led with an emphasis on proper breathing; includes 10 min of standing exercises designed to

practi ce balance/weight shift ing.

Line Dancing “Smart Moves” – Tue & Fri (9:30am) Beginner to Intermediate

movement sequences are taught for each song, a sequence is repeated multi ple ti mes but facing a diff erent

directi on with each repeti ti on. Styles of music vary. Not only exercises the body

but also the mind, as parti cipants must recall the sequence and repeat it.

Zumba Gold & Tai Chi Review – Tue (2:15 & 3:00pm) Zumba Gold is designed at a

slightly slower pace with easier directi onal transiti ons. Fun, lively music is used and

several movements are repeated throughout a song to allow parti cipants ample practi ce of each move. Review and

practi ce of the Thursday Tai Chi class is completed the last 15 mins of class.

Adapti ve Yoga & Gentle Yoga – Wed (1:15 - Adapti ve & 1:45pm - Gentle) Half hour

of gentle guided stretching and breathing, using a chair. Appropriate for persons

who wish to avoid exercise on the fl oor. Parti cipants have the opti on to conti nue for the 2nd half hour with gentle guided stretching and breathing on fl oor mats.

Tai Chi – Thur (2:00pm) Very slow movement sequences repeated multi ple ti mes. Weight shift ing and directi onal changes are executed

through slow transiti on. Gentle on the joints and safer than dance for persons with equilibrium challenges. Not only exercises the body but also the mind, as parti cipants

must recall the sequence and repeat it.

Personal Training at HWD Sr. Center – For

Senior Center members only. Certi fi ed by the ACE, Kathy focuses on orthopedic issues and restorati ve training to improve fi tness

for mature adults, including those with equilibrium, fl exibility, strength or other

chronic health challenges. Sessions are $35/hour, paid directly to Kathy. Contact Kathy at

422-4025 (or) [email protected]

Senior Center June Acti viti esAARP Safe Driving Course: Friday, June 5,

9:00am-4:00pm, $20, ($5 discount for AARP members). To register, call instructor Joe Ross

at 823-7067. Limited space available.

Ballroom Dance Reunion: Saturday, June 6, 7:00-9:30pm, Live music by Tradewinds Duo

and delicious refreshments. $5 members; $10 non-members. Come join hosts Liz

Fowler and Niki Sepsas, & your other dance friends. R.S.V.P. to Liz at 877-3077.

Potluck Luncheon w/music by Dixieland Band: Friday, June 12, Noon. Free to

members; must bring dish to parti cipate, for more informati on and to reserve a seat

contact the Senior Center 332-6500.

“Recover from Chronic Pain/Depression/Addicti on”: Tuesday, June 16, 12:30pm. Dr.

Sumter Carmichael, a psychiatrist and author, will speak from the topics within her book,

HEAL, regarding what it takes to recover and what stands in the way.

BOOK CLUB! Wednesday, June 17, 2:00pm (3rd Wednesday each month). Librarian Leslie West will introduce the

fi rst book, The Aviator’s Wife.

Osher Lifelong Learning Insti tute (OLLI): Topics may relate to history, science, wellness,

the arts, or other more obscure and interesti ng subjects. For a more

thorough explanati on of the OLLI programs, contact Diane at [email protected] or Nancy Ekberg at [email protected],

call the OLLI offi ce at 348-6482, or visit the website at www.olli.ua.edu.

Athleti csHomewood Patriot Youth

Football LeagueHPYFL is responsible for organizing youth football in Homewood and oversees its operati on. Please visit

their website for more informati on.www.homewoodyouthfootball.org

Homewood Soccer ClubFall 2015 registrati on coming soon

Homewood Soccer Club is dedicated to creati ng a balanced youth soccer program.Levels of Play: Patriot for ages U-4 through

U-8; Red Teams for recreati onal players U-9 and up; White Teams for recreati on plus ages U-9 thru U-11; and Blue Team competi ti ve teams for ages U-11 thru U-18. Additi onal informati on about all

levels of play, including deadlines, fees and Club philosophy is available at

www.HomewoodSoccer.com , or call The Soccer Offi ce at 205-874-9182.

YoLIMBERVinyasa yoga classes in an energeti c

environment using upbeat music. All levels welcome.

Friday 9:30am-10:30amSaturday 9:00am-10:00am

Contact Marla: 205-223-8564 [email protected]

Royce Head Personal TrainingAff ordable small group training sessions

are available to members in the community center weight room. Each 30 min workout is fast, fun, safe, and

eff ecti ve and each person is started with a program to fi t their fi tness level.

$25 Per Session (or) 12 Sessions for $250Call Royce for more informati on:

(205) 945-1665

Tabata Bootcamp with Tamika Harris

Tabata Bootcamp is a group training program based on High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

Saturday 8:00am-9:00am Sunday 4:00pm-5:00pmClass fee: $85 (4 weeks)

205-249-7982 getf [email protected]

360 Personal Trainer Fitness Bootcamp

Bootcamp style fi tness classes at Homewood Community Center.

Classes Meet: Mon/Wed/ Fri 5:30am-6:30am

Michael Brooks – [email protected]

Homewood FIT – Women’s Bootcamp

Join this all women’s bootcamp happening right here in Homewood.

Monday & Wednesday – 5:45am-6:45amwww.homewoodfi t.com

Blue Line Combati vesWednesdays 7:00pm – 8:30pm

Blue Line Combati ves teaches self-defense and urban survival instructi on. Classes and private training are available for all ages.Call or email for additi onal informati on:

Instructor Jon P. [email protected]

205-296-1250

Cheerleading & Tumbling ClassesSteel City Chher classes cover all

cheerleading & tumbling necessiti es: moti ons, jumps, cheers, stretching,

conditi oning, and tumbling. All ages & skill levels welcome.

Tuesday 5:30pm-6:30pm Thursday 6:00pm-7:00pm

Contact DeeDee: PDEveritt @gmail.com 901-734-0277


Calendar

Homewood EventsSaturdays: Urban Cookhouse Home-wood Farmer’s Market. 8 a.m.–noon. 2850 19th Street South. Visit urbancookhouse.com/farm-ers-markets/.

Tuesdays: Tuesday Night Trails. 5:30 p.m. Red Mountain Park. Trail run sponsored by Alabama Outdoors. Visit alabamaoutdoors.com/category/trail-running/.

Tuesdays: West Homewood Farmers Market. 5-8 p.m. 160 Oxmoor Road. Visit westhomewood.com.

June 1-5: Vacation Bible School. 5:30-8 p.m. Raleigh Avenue Baptist Church. Children aged 3 to sixth-grade. Each night will feature Bible study, music, crafts, recreation and a snack supper. Call 942-8060 or visit rabc.org/vbs-2015.

June 3-6: Miss Alabama Pageant. Preliminary competitions Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., and final competition Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Samford University Wright Center. $25-49. Visit missalabama.com or call 871-6276.

June 5-6: Shades Valley Lutheran Church Youth Garage Sale. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. 720 Shades Creek Parkway. Call 871-3512 or visit shadesvalleylu-theran.org.

June 6: Memory Lights Walk. , 6:30-8:30 p.m. Homewood Central Park. Benefiting Community Grief Support Service. LED-lit balloons with specially prepared prayers or sentiments attached will be released at the end of the evening. Visit communitygriefsupport.org.

June 6: National Trails Day. 9-11 a.m. Red Mountain Park. Guided hike along one of Red Mountain’s trails. Visit nationaltrailsday.org.

June 7: Vulcan’s 111th Birthday. Noon-4 p.m. Vulcan Park & Museum. Music, games and refreshments. $5, free for kids under age 4. Visit visitvulcan.com.

June 9: Homewood Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Meeting. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Homewood Chamber of Commerce. Contact Sarah Anne Elliott at [email protected] or 871-5631 for more information and to RSVP.

June 13: SPREE Festival and Barbecue. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oakmont United Methodist Church, 914 Oak Grove Road. A variety of businesses will set up with yard sale items, arts and crafts, collectibles and more. Meal tickets $7. Visit oakmontmethodist.org/687565 or call 942-4622.

June 13: Annual Metro Area 5K Pig Run. 8 a.m. Trak Shak. Homewood Police Department is hosting the event, which benefits Special Olympics Alabama. $25 in advance, $30 race day. Visit runsignup.com or the Trak Shak for registration.

June 16: Homewood Chamber of Commerce Membership Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The Club. Featuring Samford University Head football coach Chris Hatcher speaking. Email Meredith Drennan at [email protected] for more information.

June 18: Homewood Community Art Gallery Opening. 6-8 p.m. Rosewood Hall, 2850 19th Street South. View winners of the Homewood Arts Council’s photo contest and partake of hors d’oeuvres and live music.

Homewood Library Events1721 Oxmoor Road

homewoodpubliclibrary.org, 332-660

Teens

June 2: Post-It Note Party. 3:30 p.m. Large Auditorium. Kick off the summer with a party centered around all games and creations that can be made from post-its.

June 3: Game On. 3 p.m. Large Auditorium. Take a break from the heat to enjoy modern and classic video games.

June 9, 23: Coding for Girls. 4-6 p.m. Lucretia M. Somers Boardroom. This club is geared toward empowering girls who are interested in the computer science field.

June 9: Hunger Games: The Hero of the Arena. 6 p.m. Large Auditorium. Explore the science of survival through the eyes of Katniss Everdeen.

June 10: Summer Movie: Jurassic Park. 3 p.m. Large Auditorium.

June 12: Superhero Science. 3:30 p.m. Large Auditorium. This science show will immerse you in the world of superheroes and villains that

plague them.

June 16: Summer Movie: Mockingjay Part 1. 6 p.m. Large Auditorium.

June 17: Yarn Addicts. 3:30 p.m. Round Auditorium. Bring your hooks, needles, yarn and WIPs to join us to work on your knitting or crochet projects.

June 20: Teen CPR and First Aid Training. 1 p.m. Round Auditorium. $5. Registration must be completed at the Adult Services Desk.

June 23: The Villains: Enemies of the Superheroes. 6 p.m. Large Auditorium. Learn about the rogues who plagued Spider-man.

June 30: Really Retro Movie. 3:30 p.m. Large Auditorium. See the original 1989 movie featuring the caped crusader and his laughing foe.

Kids

Mondays: Super Duper Playtime. 10 a.m.

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Round Auditorium. Play with your child. Ages 3 and under.

Wednesdays: Super Storytime. 10:30 a.m.

June 3: Train: Picasso at the Wheel Summer Tour. 7 p.m. Oak Mountain Amphitheatre. Train is an American pop rock band from San Francisco, formed in 1993. $38.50-$95.40. Call 985-0703.

June 4-5: Steel City Jazz Festival. 11 a.m. Linn Park. Hear different jazz artists play your favorite jazz tunes. Visit steelcityjazzfestbham.com.

June 5-6: Magic City Brewfest. June 5, 7-11 p.m., and June 6, 4-8 p.m. Sloss Furnaces. Weekend dedicated to learning about craft beer and sampling the best that Alabama has to offer. Visit magiccitybrewfest.com.

June 5-7: Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Symphony in the Summer. June 5-6, 8 p.m., and June 7, 6 p.m. Railroad Park. Bring out your lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the free concerts by the ASO. Call 975-2787.

June 6: SliceFest 2015. 9 a.m. Slice Pizza and Brew. One-day event to celebrate local fare, brew, music and entertainment. $25 advance or $30 at the gate, children 12 and under admitted for free. Call 715-9300.

June 6: Know More Orphans 5K. 8 a.m. Veterans Park. Benefi ts Altar84, an organization committed to serving orphans and vulnerable children both locally and globally. $25. Visit active.com/hoover-al/running/distance-running-races/know-more-orphans-5k-2015.

June 7: Viva Health Starlight Gala Featuring Jay Leno with Street Corner Symphony. 8 p.m. Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. $125. Visit alysstephens.org/gala-2015.

June 11: Chefs for the Cure. 5:30-8:30 p.m. The Club of Birmingham, 1 Robert S. Smith Dr. Taste gourmet cuisine and bid on silent auction items to raise funds for breast cancer research. $100 per person, $175 for two people. Visit komenncalabama.org/get-involved/chefs-for-the-cure/.

June 12: Monty Python and the Holy Grail. 2 p.m. The Alabama Theatre. King Arthur and his knights embark on a low-budget search for the Grail, encountering many very silly obstacles. $8. Visit alabamatheatre.com.

June 12: Black Out Cancer. 8 p.m.-Midnight. Iron City Bham. The black-tie optional event is hosted by the Junior Executive Board of Birmingham. $45 single, $80 couple. Call 918-3220.

June 13: Caribbean Day in Linn Park. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Linn Park. Enjoy music, food, vendors and dancing in the street. Call 383-1726.

June 12-13: Garth Brooks with Trisha Yearwood. 7 p.m. BJCC Arena. Visit bjcc.org.

June 12-14: Moto America. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Barber Motorsports Park. $10-$55. Visit barbermotorsports.com.

June 12-14: 2015 Alabama State Games. 7 p.m. National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds. Free for spectators. Visit alagames.net.

June 14: Roman Holiday. 2-4:30 p.m. The Alabama Theatre. Tickets $8. Visit alabamatheatre.com.

June 18-20: National Sacred Harp

Calendar

Homewood Library Events(Continued)

Round Auditorium. All ages welcome.

June 8, 22: Mega Monday Movies. 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Large Auditorium. Popcorn, drinks and a blockbuster family movie.

June 2: Animal Superheros. 10:30 a.m. 4H is brings animals to teach about their superhero qualities.

June 4: Super Spy Night. 6-7 p.m. Learn super-secret spy skills at this night of spy training fun.

June 5: Fitness Friday: Alabama Ballet. 10:30 a.m. Learn about the Alabama Ballet and test your ballet skills with one of the ballet’s premiere dancers.

June 9: Dr. Magical Balloons. 10:30 a.m. Large Auditorium. You will be amazed at the balloon creations and storytelling of Dr. Magical Balloons.

June 11: Tom Foolery. 6 p.m. Large Auditorium. Unicycling, juggling and comedy; guaranteed fun for the whole family.

June 12, 26: Leaps and Bounds. 10:30-11 a.m. Round Auditorium. Movement activities for 30 to 48 months, with adult partner. Registration is required, and begins online Monday at 10 a.m. the week of the event. No unregistered siblings, please.

June 12: Superhero Science. 3:30-

4:30 p.m. Large Auditorium. This engaging science show is fi lled with experiments that will immerse you in the world of superheroes and the villains that plague them. Families welcome.

June 15, 29: Monday Makerspace: Superhero Edition. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Round Auditorium. Crafting various superhero items.

June 16: Ms. Renee’s Super Summer Storytime. 10:30 a.m. Large Auditorium.

June 18: Birmingham zoo: Nature’s Heroes. 6 p.m. If you love animals, you will be delighted to learn about their superhero qualities.

June 19: Fitness Friday: Zumbatomic. 10:30 a.m. Large Auditorium. It’s time to get moving with a special Zumba class designed for 4-12 year olds.

June 23: Ronald McDonald. 10:30 a.m. Large Auditorium. Ronald is back with some of his most popular magic tricks.

June 25: Skin & Bones Circus. 6 p.m. Large Auditorium. Clowns are bringing their pig and dog back to the library for more circus shenanigans.

June 30: Water Play Day. 10:30 a.m. Round Auditorium. Wear your swimsuit for this fun morning and enjoy water slides, ice cream and more.

Area Events


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Matt and I always knew no child of ours would have straight hair. We both have curly hair, and most folks in our families have curly or wavy hair. As predicted, both Kate and Sela have beautiful curls. Recently, 5-year-old Kate has decided that straight hair is prettier than curly hair. “Your curly hair is beautiful,” I tell her. “Why do you want it to look dif-ferent?” She’ll shrug her shoulders, and then look longingly at a picture in a book of a girl with straight hair.

Some days it’s not straight hair, it’s someone else’s backpack. “I wish I had a backpack like that.” Or an arti-cle of clothing, or a trip to Disney World, or a Frozen Lego set like the girl on TV. Sure, some of it is plain old envy, but I think at the heart of it, she’s seeing what others have or are and thinking they’re better than her because of it.

Many times I don’t feel up to the challenge of raising two girls who will be bombarded by Instagram, TV, movies and an overall culture that tries to teach kids — and even adults — what they should look like, how they should dress, what they should think, who they should hang out with, what’s cool and what’s not.

Feeling the urge to com-pare yourself to those around you is inevitable in a situation like this. It was the same for me when I was growing up (minus the social media, thank the Lord), but as we all know, it’s ramped up a million percent for kids now. For these and many other reasons, I often

fi nd myself praying, “Lord Jesus, come quickly, and preferably before middle school.”

But what I’m starting to see is that maybe God has plans for me through my teaching Kate (and eventually Sela) about not comparing herself to others. Because the thing is, I do it too. You’d think a 36-year-old adult would know better than to compare herself to other women, to wish she had what someone else has or that she could do what someone else can do. But I could use a few more lessons. We probably all could.

Social media has a lot to do with it. Never before has it been so easy to peek into our friends’ lives. We see what activities their kids are partici-pating in (“I should probably sign my kids up for that too”), what charities they volunteer for (“I wish I had the time/inclination to do service work like that too”), what their spotless

houses look like (“Why does mine never look like that?”), where they go on vacation (“Makes our vacation look pretty boring”), what they look like in a bathing suit (“And after how many kids!?”). Any of these feelings sound familiar?

For men, it’s probably more along the lines of jobs, vacation days, cars, maybe even the prowess of their chil-dren on the T-ball or football fi elds. It’s always a challenge to not com-pare ourselves to other people, but all the more so when everyone’s lives (at least the spiffed-up versions) are laid out on the internet all the time.

As I think through all this and try to put my fi nger on the perfect solution that will shield Kate and Sela from the comparison trap, part of me says it’s futile — social media, mean kids and thoughtless comments will always be a part of life. But another part says we can and should fi ght back against this by teaching our kids, and ourselves, that we have worth beyond what we see in the world around us. None of us is worthy because of our hair type, body shape, athletic abilities, math skills or the coolness of our back-packs. What makes us worthy and unchangeably beautiful is what’s in our hearts. Everything else is fl eeting.

Lauren can be reached at [email protected]. You can also fi nd her on Twitter @LaurenKDenton.

Calendar OpinionOrdinary Days By Lauren Denton

The comparison trap

Denton

Area Events(Continued)

Singing Convention. June 18-19, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.; June 20, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. First Christian Church, 4954 Valleydale Road. A potluck lunch will be served each day at this event for people enjoy singing hymns, odes and anthems from the Sacred Harp Hymnal in four parts, a cappella. Visit home.olemiss.edu/~mudws/national.html.

June 19: Ghostbusters. 7-9:30 p.m. The Alabama Theatre. Three unemployed parapsychology professors set up shop as a unique ghost removal service. $8. Visit alabamatheatre.com.

June 20: YMCA Race to the Courthouse. 8 a.m. YMCA of Birmingham, 2400 7th Ave. N. Take a scenic downtown run and enjoy a health fair, music and food. Proceeds benefi t the YMCA fi nancial aid program. $30 beginning June 1, $35 race day and $75 community team. Visit ymcabham.org/race.

June 20: Happenin Fest 2015. 2-11 p.m. Good People Brewery. The festival includes a long line-up of performing artists, on-site vendors and food trucks all day. Pre-sale tickets $17, $20 day of the show. Visit happeninrecords.com.

June 21: To Kill A Mockingbird. 2-4:30 p.m. $8. Visit alabamatheatre.com.

June 24: Flicks Among the Flowers: Ghostbusters. 8-10 p.m. Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Watch this classic movie surrounded by the fl owers of the Botanical Gardens. Free. Call 414-3950.

June 26: The Big Lebowski. 7-9:30 p.m. The Alabama Theatre. “The Dude” Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire Lebowski, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it. $8. Visit alabamatheatre.com.

June 27: Birmingham Heart Walk. 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Uptown Entertainment District, 2221 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. Learn how to improve your heart health and prevent cardiovascular disease and stroke. Free, but donations encouraged. Call 510-1515.

June 28: South Pacifi c. 2-5 p.m. The Alabama Theatre. $8. Visit alabamatheatre.com.


FOR ALL AGES

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Homewood Star June 2015