Homewood star vol 4 iss 1 april 2014

April 2014TheHomewoodStar.com • 1

By MADOLINE MARKHAM

When the City of Homewood was designing its new Senior Center in 2002, the average age of its residents was 55. A decade later, that number had dropped by 20 years.

So when plans for a new

community center came into motion, the City and Parks and Recreation Board had the com-munity’s families in mind.

“Our seniors have the nicest senior center in the state, and once this is done, I feel like we will have the top community center in the state as well,” said Berkley

Squires, director of parks and rec-reation and public services.

After 13 months of construction, the new center next to Homewood Central Park is scheduled to open in mid-May.

In the planning stages for the center, the Park Board took into consideration the comments of

both members and residents who are not members about what they wanted in a facility. The result is a $16 million, 51,000-square-foot center with two full-court gymna-siums, a cardio room with more than 4,000 square feet, additional

See CENTER | page 28

New community center to open next month

define “reasonable” but estimated it was “within the next seven days.”

For residents of West Home-wood, the council’s decision could change the landscape of the exit. The 160-room hotel might sit dark

and vacant on the side of I-65, but in doing so — as the council hopes — it would reduce the tran-sient population that has shown a propensity for attracting the Home-wood Police Department.

“[Chief of Police Jim Rober-son] pulled statistics from all the hotels on that exit, and this one is the worst. That’s why we started

Sponsors ................. 2City ........................... 4Business .................. 6Community ............. 8Sports ...................... 14 Home & Garden ..... 19School House ......... 24Calendar ................. 30Opinion .................... 31

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The Homewood StarCelebrating four years of neighborly newsVolume 4 | Issue 1 | April 2014

Support PreSchool Partners at its annual Food Truck Round Up at Colonial Brookwood Village. Read more about this and other festivals in April in this issue.

Preparations are underway for We Love Homewood Day to return to Homewood Central Park this year. Find the full schedule inside.

By JEFF THOMPSON

By April 1, America’s Best Value Inn & Suites could be vacant.

During a public hearing in March, the Homewood City Coun-cil decided not to renew the hotel’s business license for 2014, effec-tively making further operations at the hotel, located at 260 Oxmoor Road near the I-65 exit, illegal. However, the details of closing the business, removing its patrons and monitoring the property were not immediately available.

“They’ll have a reasonable time to vacate their tenants, but they’ll have to stop doing business,” Homewood City Attorney Mike Kendrick said.

He added that he could not

Park Board Chair Chris Meeks and Parks and Recreation Director Berkeley Squires take a look at the exterior of the new Homewood Community Center, set to open in May. Photo by Madoline Markham.

Owners of America’s Best Value Inn & Suites present their case for their Oxmoor Road hotel to receive a business license renewal. From left are attorney Josh Watkins, Shawn Patel, Dennis Patel and Mike Patel. Photo by Jeff Thompson.

What now? Oxmoor hotel denied business license, but next moves by both sides unclear

See HOTEL | page 7

Take a peek

See full floor plans and feature details for the new Community Center inside

April 2014 The Homewood Star2 •

About UsPhoto of the Month Please Support

our Community PartnersAlabama Allergy & Asthma Center (8)

Alabama Gaslight & Grill (23)

Alabama Outdoors (24)

Alabama Power (17)

Alabama Symphony Orchestra (29)

ARC Realty (25)

Bedzzz Express (32)

Birmingham Botanical Gardens (14)

Birmingham Speech and Hearing (24)

Briarcliff Shop (18)

Campaign to Elect David Faulkner (1)

Case Remodeling (22)

Christopher Glenn (20)

Classic Gardens (20)

Construx (35)

Dawson Family of Faith (18, 27)

Decorating Dens Interiors (19)

Edgewood Wealth Advisors (14)

Escape (27)

Fi-Plan Partners (9)

Fred Smith Group (30)

Harmony Landing (29)

Homewood Arts Council (13)

Homewood Chamber of Commerce (31)

Homewood Family and Cosmetic Dentistry (4)

Homewood Parks and Rec (26)

Issis & Sons (23)

Johnny Montgomery Realtor (31)

Julie Ivy White (28)

Junior League of Birmingham (10)

Kidz Closet Consignment (14)

LAH Real Estate (11)

Mary House Kessler, Ph.D (16)

Mountain Brook Art Association (30

Olio Oils and Balsamics (11)

Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics (30)

RealtySouth Marketing (5)

Red Mountain Theatre Company (16)

Renaissance Consignment and Marketplace (3)

Salem’s Diner (16)

Savage’s Bakery (24)

Silver Lining Consignment Boutique (25)

Sweet Peas Garden Shop (22)

Tables & Contents Antique Markets (28)

The Maids (8)

The Wade Team (10)

UAB Health System Marketing (15)

Vision Gymnastics (27)

Vitalogy Wellness Center (7)

YMCA Camp Hargis Retreat (12)

YMCA of Greater Birmingham (6)

Editor’s Note By Madoline Markham

The Homewood Star

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

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Ben Ueltzen and John Bell from Homewood-based New Latitude Movers had a little fun with Christopher Walker and Wilkes Keenan while making a delivery on Grove Place. Photo courtesy of Liz Landgren.

The past few years I have thought a lot about waiting for exciting things to come, and working on this issue was no exception.

I don’t know about you, but I was more than ready for this Alabama-pretending-it’s-Michigan winter to thaw. I couldn’t wait for my slow weekends of avoiding the frigid outdoors to get filled up with festivals, fundraisers, runs, park play dates and dinner gatherings on the patio in a way only springtime brings.

As I donned a hard hat to tour the new community center construction site, watching a man paint the gym floor reminded me of all of you who are working out at the temporary fitness facility. Glancing out of the fitness classrooms over the trenches that will soon be a pool, I thought of

all the kids (and parents!) who are eagerly anticipating a brand-new pool

area back in their backyards. Rusty Holley at Parks and Recreation assured me the pool will be on a tight schedule but that it will be open for Memorial Day. Can I get an amen?

Pool opening day is going to be glorious, no doubt. Basking in the early spring sunshine as days grow longer (yay for after-

work runs!) brightens all the parts of me that have grown sluggish and dark over the preceding months. Max Ross will have his party, the Edgewood students will get to play at their festival, We Love Homewood Day will move back to Homewood Central Park, the Arts Council will bring painting classes to our parks.

But as much as I revel in these

anticipations fulfilled, I’m learning that I’ll move on to my next set of can’t-waits and please-get-here-soons. That’s when I go back to something I read a few years ago by Francois Fenelon that talks about our souls being incessantly in suspense about the future, “constantly in the air, without being suffered to touch a foot to solid ground.”

With that in mind, when I start fixating my thoughts on my late summer vacation while I stand in line at the Food Truck Round Up or have a break in activity at Birmingham Celebrates, I plan to slap my ever-running stream of unnecessary thoughts and focus on what else Fenelon taught me — to eat my daily bread, enjoy my gifts day by day and let tomorrow worry about itself.

Happy April!

Send your submissions for Photo of the Month to [email protected]



CityCity’s credit rating raised

Financial services company Standard & Poor’s (S&P) raised the City of Homewood’s credit rating on March 7.

The City’s general obligation (GO) war-ranted an increase one notch to AA+ from AA following a routine surveillance. The company rates borrowers on a scale from AAA, just one grade above AA+, to D.

According to S&P’s credit analyst, Home-wood will “likely maintain its consistent financial performance, supported by what we consider, good financial management practices and its strong economy.”

S&P also said that it does not expect the rating to change in the next two years.

“Homewood’s budgetary flexibility will likely remain very strong, and city residents will likely continue to participate in the broad and diverse Birmingham metropolitan statistical area,” a statement read.

Homewood businesses are organizing a special Easter shopping event for all ages on Saturday, April 12.

Merchants in downtown Homewood and Edgewood will offer customers the opportu-nity to hunt Easter eggs that hold discount coupons, candy and other prizes in their stores.

The Hop and Shop event will also feature the Easter Bunny.

The event is sponsored by the Homewood Chamber of Commerce. For more, visit homewoodchamber.com.

Hop and Shop set for April 12

By JEFF THOMPSON

The scope of the pedestrian bridge project on Hollywood Boulevard could be expanding.

The project is a joint venture to create a walk-ing path connecting Homewood and Mountain Brook. The bridge, as initially planned, would travel along the north side of the Hollywood Boulevard bridge across U.S. 280 and connect a trail system that circles the Birmingham Zoo.

During the Mountain Brook City Council’s regular pre-meeting in March, Council member Jesse Vogtle said some factors uncovered during the project’s development require more consid-eration. Namely, expenses for both communities have increased beyond what was allocated in their 2014 budgets.

In addition, the two communities are con-cerned about congestion on the bridge follow-ing the Alabama Department of Transportation’s (ALDOT’s) U.S. 280 Intersection Improvement Project.

“Changes to Highway 280 have created a real traffic situation on the Hollywood Boulevard overpass,” Vogtle said. “The impacted cities are starting to scratch their heads and consider pur-suing this in a much bigger way.”

Vogtle said the use of Hollywood Boulevard as a “Michigan left” — a U-turn site for drivers chang-ing directions or crossing U.S. 280 — has crowded the intersection and bridge. Both communities also consider the current bridge unsafe for pedestrians, and the cities are now jointly looking into a simul-taneous solution for both issues.

“I want us to discuss not only the pedestrian bridge, but I also think it would be smart for us to be proactive on other issues,” Homewood Mayor Scott McBrayer said.

That could mean a bigger bridge.For the time being, the development of the

project has been put on hold while the cities involved arrange a collaborative discussion.

New options for pedestrian bridge project

A runner crosses the Hollywood Boulevard Bridge over U.S. 280 in early morning traffic.

McBrayer said he plans to reach out to Moun-tain Brook Mayor Terry Oden to assemble a meeting among project stakeholders in the coming weeks.

“So far, this has just been about sidewalks and a pedestrian walkway across the bridge,” McBrayer said. “We have an opportunity to widen the scope and address all these issues at once.”

The current Hollywood Bridge is approxi-mately 50 years old, Vogtle said, and the com-munities investing in the project are concerned that ALDOT could schedule construction on the existing structure in the near future. This could limit the lifespan of the pedestrian bridge project as it’s currently proposed.

Basically, the cities involved want to make sure that if they put up the pedestrian bridge, it isn’t torn down anytime soon.

“What a waste of money that would be,”

McBrayer said.Vogtle said he expects the bridge’s replace-

ment or widening to come up in the joint meet-ing, which could lead to a request for increased funding for the project.

Rep. Paul DeMarco, who initially secured federal funding for the pedestrian bridge, said he believes there is a need to move quickly on creating safe paths across U.S. 280 on Hol-lywood. He added that he looked forward to working with both communities and ALDOT to make it happen.

“When we first started, the idea was to create collaboration between these cities and the state,” DeMarco said. “We got that, and we’ll move forward. This project is about the safety of our residents and anybody else who walks across that bridge. It’s not safe, and thank goodness nobody has been hurt. We need to get this done sooner rather than later.”


By GREG HEYMAN

Two new businesses and infrastructure improvements are expected to keep the Green Springs Shopping Center at the corner of Oxmoor Road and Green Springs Highway looking attractive.

The closing of Food World and Blockbuster Video last year threatened to keep the shopping center from full occupancy. Park Grimmer, president of Grimmer Realty, said the situa-tion has been remedied with the addition of Mi Pueblo and Lux Beauty Supply.

Grimmer said the new businesses are only a small part of efforts to assure the shopping center remains nice-looking.

“We’re going to spruce up the whole shop-ping center,” he said.

Lux Beauty Supply opened in March in the old Blockbuster Video building. Grimmer said Mi Pueblo is scheduled to open sometime in May or June, depending on renovations to the space previously occupied by Food World.

Mi Pueblo currently operates a smaller Homewood store at 813 Green Springs High-way. Owner Joel Rivera describes Mi Pueblo as a “multicultural supermarket.”

“It’s not only Mexican products, we also have products from here, the United States, Mexico, Central America, South America, Puerto Rico, Asia, Africa, Jamaica and India,” he said.

Rivera said relocating to a larger space would allow the store to more adequately meet customers’ needs.

“We have been in this area since 2009, and we have grown so much that we feel like moving our store to a bigger location will help us be able to cover the needs that the customers have,” he said.

The store will encompass 38,500 square feet, and another 2,500 square feet will be used for a restaurant serving authentic Mexi-can food to eat there or take out. The restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and will include a buffet as well as a menu.

Grimmer said improvements to the shop-ping center are expected to be completed about the same time Mi Pueblo opens and include repainting facades, upgrading lighting,

resealing and re-striping the parking lot, and landscaping.

“It will defi nitely improve the looks of the shopping center and that area,” he said.

The new businesses will also bring a differ-ent look to the shopping center with the signs advertising each establishment and a distinc-tive appearance for each building.

The Homewood City Council approved sign variances for Mi Pueblo and Lux Beauty Supply at its Feb. 24 meeting. City Engineer Greg Cobb said changes include a larger sign for Mi Pueblo than one used by Food World and the addition of a sign in the rear of the building that can be seen from Interstate 65.

Lux received variances for signs that can be seen from Green Springs Highway, in addition to a sign in the back that faces the shopping center because it is separate from other busi-nesses in the strip mall.

“If it (a sign) doesn’t meet the ordinance, it has to go before the City Council for a vari-ance,” Cobb said.

Grimmer said the building where Lux Beauty Supply is located will also have a dif-ferent look, with the blue canopies used by Blockbuster replaced by metal awnings.

Apart from the look the new businesses will bring, Grimmer anticipates shoppers will enjoy the same experience they’re accustomed to — with a fresher appearance.

“It’s pretty much going to stay the same, it’s just going to be cleaned up and brightened up,” he said.

Other businesses in the shopping center include Kmart, Fred’s, A 1 Nails, Stellar Staff-ing, Compass Bank and offi ces for Grimmer Realty Co. Inc.

Homewood Mayor Scott McBrayer said he’s excited about the addition of Mi Pueblo and Lux Beauty Supply to the shopping center.

“We’ve been blessed in Homewood to be able to bring in good businesses,” he said.

McBrayer said having the shopping center fully occupied again would help all businesses located there.

“The more traffi c you have in the area where there are businesses, the better off you are,” he said. “All the stores will benefi t by them being there. It brings customers into a specifi c area.”

Shopping center poised for new life

Mi Pueblo, a multicultural supermarket currently located on Green Springs Highway, is poised to move down the road to the former Food World location. Its owner said that the interior of the new store would more closely resemble the look and feel of their Pelham market, pictured here. Photo courtesy of Mi Pueblo.

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RealtySouth sells more homes than the

next 5 competitors combined. When you make good

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Source: TRENDGRAPHIX, Inc. This representation is based in whole or in part on data provided by the Birmingham Association of Realtors® or its Multiple Listings Service for the given. Neither the Association nor its MLS is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the Association or its MLS may not reflect all

real estate activity in the market. (*Sales volume figures are rounded in thousands.)

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The Homewood Chamber of Commerce will honor an outstanding student from each Homewood school during its annual Excellence in Education Award lun-cheon on April 15. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tommy Bice will be the guest speaker of the event.

The event, held at The Club from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., will acknowledged the Chamber’s 2013-14 Achievement Award winners, and the high school recipient will be awarded with a scholarship.

To purchase tickets, visit homewoodchamber.com or call 871-5631.

Chamber luncheon to feature state superintendent

Dr. Tommy Bice


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Business news

Email [email protected]

to share?

Coming Soon

Expansion

If you are in a brick and mortar business in Homewood and want to share your

event with the community, let us know.

�e Homewood Star

Business news

Email [email protected]

to share?

Coming Soon

Expansion

If you are in a brick and mortar business in Homewood and want to share your

event with the community, let us know.

�e Homewood Star


Now OpenDSW, Designer Shoe Warehouse, 45 Brookwood Village, is now open

between Fresh Market and Target in Colonial Brookwood Village. This is the retailer’s second location in the Birmingham area.dsw.com.

Tables & Contents, 1712 28th Avenue South, is a new monthly market carrying

both new and vintage home furnishings and accessories. The three-day shopping event is open the second Thursday through Saturday of each month and features everything from pottery, glassware and original artwork to tables, lamps, chairs and chandeliers. 585-7838. tablesandcontents.com.

Next Level Graphics is now open at 2780 BM Montgomery Street. The store

prints large banners, signs, posters, Fathead wall decals, vehicle wraps, stickers and magnetic signs.807-3409. nextlevelgraphicsllc.com.

Relocations and Renovations

Dobbins Group recently purchased a 1,100-square-foot offi ce located at 3006

Cook Street. The offi ce will undergo renovation to offer a new commercial space while preserving its historic charm.503-4000. dobbinsgroup.net.

News and Accomplishments

Urban Cookhouse, 2846 18th Street South, has been honored by the U.S.

Chamber of Commerce as a Blue Ribbon Small Business for 2014. The restaurant was one of about 100 businesses to be selected and will be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., in June.879-0883. urbancookhouse.com.

Jan Marie Jacks of Dreamcakes Bakery, 960 Oxmoor Road, has been

named to the UAB Excellence in Business Top 25 Class for 2014. Organized by the UAB Alumni Association, the class recognizes the top 25 businesses owned or operated by UAB alumni.871-9377. dreamcakes-bakery.com.

James Marbourg, OD, vice president of Eye Health Partners and

VisionAmerica of Alabama, 250 State Farm Parkway, has been named to the UAB Excellence in Business Top 25 Class for 2014.943-4600. eyehealthpartners.com.

Thomas Jackson, wealth management advisor for Merrill Lynch Wealth

Management, 569 Brookwood Village, has been named to Barron’s magazine’s top advisor rankings in the United States for 2014.298-7443. wealthmanagement.ml.com.

Hirings and Promotions

Tim Carlisle, CPA, CFE, CFF, and Meredith Smith, CPA, have joined

Mauldin & Jenkins, 2000 Southbridge Parkway, Suite 501, as partners. Mauldin & Jenkins has provided audit, accounting and tax services since 1918.445-2880. mjcpa.com.

AnniversariesHuffstutler’s Hardware, 2732 Central Avenue, is celebrating 10 years in its

current location.871-2121. facebook.com/huffstutlers.

HomeFit, an in-home fi tness consulting business located at 1919 Oxmoor

Road, Suite 391, recently celebrated its fi rst anniversary. The business holds personal training sessions and fi tness consults in clients’ homes.675-7412. homefi tconsulting.com.

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HOTELfrom page 1

here,” Kendrick said. “That’s just a matter of fact.”

Over the past two and a half years, Homewood Police Department (HPD) has visited America’s Best Value Inn & Suites at least once a month. Sometimes, offi cers are at the site as often as twice a day, Rob-erson said, adding the establishment was a “drain on our resources.”

According to a report compiled by HPD and City Clerk Linda Cook, the hotel has been the location for 148 arrests and 241 reported offenses since June 2011. Among those, the report lists 35 arrests of wanted fugitives, 20 arrests related to prostitution, 33 drug arrest or arrests related to drug use, two suicides and one homicide.

“By my math, that’s 969 days, and you’ve had 148 incidents. That’s one a week,” council member Patrick McClusky said during the hearing.

Hotel owners Dennis, Mike and Shawn Patel said they recognized the high crime rate at their business and appealed to the council for direction on specifi c changes.

“Please don’t think we are OK with this,” Mike Patel said. “We are not — really not. We’re victims of this as much as anyone else in the city.”

But the council didn’t feel the same, nor did residents of the area, including Cobb Street’s Erik Heninger.

“I kind of laughed when I heard that,” Heninger said. “Because it’s hard for me to hear a business owner say they’re a victim of their own business.”

During the hearing, the council members allowed the Patels unlimited responses to their questions. With the majority of their time, members of the family explained recent changes to the business model to note increased security measures at the hotel. They also insisted that none of the proprietors found the situation acceptable.

“We don’t condone, and we don’t tolerate nonsense,” Mike Patel said. “I don’t wake up every day with my father and brother and go to work looking for trouble.”

When the hearing closed approximately three and a half hours after it began, it appeared for a brief moment that a pro-bationary period for America’s Best Value Inn & Suites would be proposed. How-ever, when it came time to make a motion, “deny” was the fi rst and only option on the table.

In a roll-call vote, voting to deny the business license renewal were Fred Hawkins, Vance Moody, Bruce Lim-baugh, Patrick McClusky, Rich Laws and Peter Wright. Voting against were Jenifer Champ Wallis, Heather Reed and Michael Hallman.

After the meeting, Council President Bruce Limbaugh said owners now need to make decisions about the future of their business. However, their options are limited.

Kendrick said with the denial of the license for 2014, the owners could start a new business and apply for a new license, or they could wait until 2015 and re-apply under the same ownership group, ADMA, Inc.

Attorney Josh Watkins represented America’s Best Value Inn & Suites owners Dennis Patel and his sons Mike and Shawn Patel during the hearing. He denied com-ment after the hearing but alluded to a pos-sible appeal of the council’s decision. This could take the form of a lawsuit against the municipality in civil court.

“This is a nuisance to our public,” coun-cil member Peter Wright said. “Regardless of why that is ... the bottom line is you have to operate your business and fi gure it out. It’s your business.”


Community

Edgewood Elementary School will host its Spring Festival, the school’s only fundraiser, on Satur-day, April 26 from 2-6 p.m. on the school grounds.

Festivities include inflatables, car-nival rides for all ages, games and

prizes, and festival food. A silent auction featuring artwork,

trips gift cards and packages from local businesses will be held in the school gym from 2-5 p.m. A live auction will begin at 5 p.m.

Tickets and armbands will be

available for purchase on the day of the festival. All proceeds go directly back into Edgewood’s classrooms to benefit teachers and students. For more information, contact Shannon Taylor at [email protected].

Edgewood Spring Festival returnsBirmingham’s food trucks will converge at Colonial Brookwood Village for a good cause on Satur-day, April 26. From 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the upper Macy’s parking lot, the trucks will feature their local cuisine to benefit PreSchool Part-ners, which prepares at-risk pre-school children and their parents for kindergarten in Birmingham City Schools.

Funds raised will directly help the 140 people and 70 children enrolled in the program and reach those who aren’t enrolled. This year’s goal is to exceed last year’s $76,000.

Food trucks attending will be Cantina, Dreamcakes, Ezell’s Catfish Cabin, Full Moon BBQ,

Goodies Ice Cream, Mellow Mushroom, Melt, Nola Ice, Off the Hook, Repicci’s Italian Ice, Shin-digs, Slice and Spoonfed Grill.

Good People Brewery, Supreme Beverage and Coca-Cola will pro-vide beverages, and Birmingham Mountain Radio will provide live music. There will also be two bounce houses, face painting and balloon art by clowns.

Tickets can be purchased online in advance for $20 or on-site for $25. Each ticket comes with three tokens to redeem at the trucks and beverage stations. Additional tokens can be purchased, and kids 10 and under get in free.

For more, visit preschool-partners.org.

Rounding up the food trucks

Area residents pose for a photo at last year’s Food Truck Round Up benefiting PreSchool Partners. This year the event is sched-uled for April 26.

By MADOLINE MARKHAM

Max Ross can often be found cheer-ing on basketball teams at The Excep-tional Foundation and dancing with the center’s participants during halftime. The eighth grade Homewood Middle School student first got involved with the center’s work with adults with spe-cial needs through Homewood Men Striving for Success under Coach Steve Sills, but now he is planning something of his own for his friends there.

With the help of his mom’s event planning skills, Max is inviting the community to his 14th birthday party at the center, to raise money for its programs. As he announced in a spe-cial YouTube video, Max’s Party for a Purpose 2014 will take place April

4 from 6-8 p.m. All attendees are asked to make a minimum $5 donation to the Excep-tional Foundation for admission.

His weekly videos with updates are a team effort. His mom writes the scripts, his dad films and edits them at his media studio, and Max, who has been acting since age 7 and featured in commer-cials, brings them to life on screen.

Max is hoping friends from his different involvements will join him, as will families from the community and his friends from the center. Coach

Steve Sills will be the DJ for the dance party, and Homewood busi-nesses are donating food and drinks. There will also be a photo booth.

While his mom helps secure sponsor-ships and volunteers, Max is thinking about game ideas and pos-sibly asking everyone who comes to wear pajamas or a weird hat.

“I am looking forward to making people happy,” he said. “I want people to come and have a good time.”

For more, find Max’s Party for a Purpose 2014 on Facebook.

Little Garden Club of Birming-ham is hosting a juried flower show on Tuesday, April 8.

The event will be held at Rose-wood Hall, 2859 19th Street South in Homewood, from 3-5 p.m. as a

part of the club’s regional meet-ing for Garden Club of America. Locally, the Red Mountain Garden Club is also an affiliate.

The show will feature floral arrangements, a horticulture

division, photography division and conservation division. The show is open to the public.

For additional information, con-tact [email protected].

Flower show coming to SoHo

Planning a party with a purpose

Max Ross


By MADOLINE MARKHAM

Dori DeCamillis and her daughter Annabelle share both a love of art and a love of teaching it.

The co-owner of Red Dot Gallery, Dori’s strength lies in getting people started from the beginning and keeping them going at their own pace, while Annabelle, 19, is good at getting students to see things the painter has a hard time seeing.

“The main thing we try to get people to do is let go of perceptions of what things are sup-posed to look like versus what they can bring to the table as an individual,” Dori said. “It takes a lot of trust in your teacher to explore your own voice.”

The mother-daughter duo will be teaching a series of painting classes on Saturday mornings in April. Homewood Arts Council’s “Painting in the Park” series will rotate though different Homewood parks.

Dori and Annabelle will craft their versions of the paintings in advance and then will encourage participants to discover their own voice in their creations.

Participants can sign up for just one class or all four. Each one will feature a different painting, and people of all skill levels are invited to participate.

Phillip Forstall, owner of Forstall Gallery in the Palisades, is donating easels for the classes and is putting together an art kit for people who do not have their own supplies.

Dori teaches oil painting at Red Dot, but because these will be shorter classes, she plans to use acrylics, which dry faster.

This year Dori is celebrating the 10th anni-versary of opening Red Dot Gallery with fellow artist Scott Bennett. The space is a working studio, teaching space and gallery to display the owners’ and students’ work.

A Colorado native, Dori moved to Birming-ham in 1994 after discovering it in her travels

Painting in the Park Homewood Arts Council presents outdoor art classes this month

Mother and daughter Dori, right, and Annabelle, left, DeCamillis will teach an upcoming Painting in the Park series held by the Homewood Arts Council. Photo courtesy of Dori DeCamillis.

Painting in the Park SeriesSaturdays, 10-11:30 a.m.

April 5: Patriot Park Pavilion 1

April 12: Overton Park Pavilion

April 19: Central Park Pavilions 6 & 7

April 26: Patriot Park Pavilion 1

RSVP to [email protected], facebook.com/Home-woodArtsCouncil or 886-5978.

around the country selling art at festivals and living in a motor home for three years. Most recently she has been working on Exhibit A: Paintings of Alabama Places, inspired by the historical and natural wonders in the state, and self-portraits of her own mind-states, which each depict an animal in a private mythology.

Annabelle, an art student at UAB, has art credit in her own right. Her mom said she has become a “local celebrity.”

She was awarded a gold medal at the 2012 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, and her win-ning painting was chosen to be on exhibit at the

U.S. Department of Education. She was also chosen as a YoungArts finalist and scholarship recipient, which sent her to Miami for a week to study with world-renowned artists and exhibit her paintings at the Miami Museum of Art.

Despite what some people think, Dori said it’s easier to teach someone art who has no training than someone with training who has precon-ceived ideas about what they are doing.

“People who come into a class with no expe-rience are fine,” she said. “They just listen and learn. People call and tell me that they are bad and scared, and I tell them they are the perfect

person to have because they have no bad habits to break. If you can write your own name, you can draw or paint. You just need a teacher to train your eye.”

Dori recommends not choosing which class to attend based on the subject matter of a particu-lar week. The joy of art, she said, is not on the subject but in the learning process. With each painting, you will learn different aspects of basic design principals such as colors, shadows, blend-ing and composition.

“Each painting is different, so you will learn something different in each,” she said.


By MADOLINE MARKHAM

Construction on the new Home-wood Community Center will be complete just in time for We Love Homewood Day to return to Home-wood Central Park. Last year the event was plagued by rain at Patriot Park and the Homewood Senior Center in West Homewood.

May 3 will bring the return of everyone’s favorite festivities: rides and infl atables, an arts and crafts and vendor expo, a Rotary bake sale, the Lions Club barbecue sale, a silent auction and live entertainment.

The day kicks off with the Spirit Scamper run, which starts at Home-wood High School at 7:30 a.m.

Back at the park, a $15 wrist-band will provide unlimited access to rides, and individual tickets will also be for sale for 50 cents each.

The climax of the day is the parade of the high school band, cheerleaders and all kinds of vehi-cles and fl oats that proceed from the Homewood Library to Edgewood starting at 6 p.m.

“The parade is the most fun part to me,” said Rusty Holley of Homewood Parks and Recreation.

“I remember riding in the parade one year, and we saw as we topped the hill at Trinity United Methodist the whole area was solid people. It was neat to see.”

For more on We Love Home-wood Day, visit homewoodparks.com/special-events/we-love-homewood-day or contact Rusty Holley at 332-6705 or [email protected]. Updates on the event will be announced on Twitter @homewoodparks, on Facebook and on the website.

For more on Spirit Scamper, visit spiritscamper.com.

We Love Homewood DayAnnual festival and Spirit Scamper set for May 3

The West Homewood Lions Club will smoke 2,500 pounds of Boston butts as well as spare ribs to sell at We Love Homewood Day. All proceeds will go back to the community. Photo by Madoline Markham.

We Love Homewood Day Schedule*All events will take place at Homewood Central Park unless otherwise noted.

8 a.m. - Spirit Scamper 5K/1-Mile Fun Run, Homewood High School

10 a.m.-5 p.m. - Spring in the Park Festival

10 a.m.-1 p.m. - Rotary Club Bake Sale

10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. - West Homewood Lions Club Barbecue Sale

10 a.m.-3 p.m. - Arts and Crafts/Vendor Business Expo

10 a.m. - Silent Auction

6 p.m. - We Love Homewood Day Parade, route from the library to Edgewood

7-9:30 p.m. - We Love Homewood Day Street Dance, Edgewood Business District

Laine Litton waves a banner during last year’s We Love Homewood Day Parade. Photo by Brian Wallace.

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Kidney Foundation Birmingham Walk-a-Thon April 5, Samford University Track and Soc-cer Stadium

The Alabama Kidney Foundation’s Birming-ham Walk-a-Thon is taking place on April 5 at the Samford University Track and Soccer Sta-dium. The event will include music, children’s activities, inflatables, food and prizes for best T-shirt and highest fundraiser.

Adults must raise a minimum of $30 to partic-ipate in the event, which will include breakfast, lunch and snacks. Children and kidney disease patients can attend for free. Participants can choose to walk one lap or 5 miles either as an individual or as part of a team.

Participants are encouraged to wear green to support kidney disease awareness or create team T-shirts.

This year’s fundraising goal is $190,000. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on April 5, and the Walk-a-Thon begins at 9:30 a.m. To register online, go to akfbirminghamwalk.kintera.org. For more information, contact Paige Connell at [email protected] or call 996-5777.

Walk MS: BirminghamApril 5, Homewood Central Park

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society hosts the annual Walk MS to raise funds for multiple sclerosis research, advocacy, education and patient support. The funds raised at the Bir-mingham walk will help more than 6,000 people living with MS in Alabama and Mississippi.

There is no registration fee, but everyone who raises more than $100 will receive a Walk MS T-shirt. This year’s fundraising goal is $235,000.

The event will include live entertainment, food and a wellness fair, rain or shine. Par-ticipants will have the option to walk 1-, 2- or 3-mile routes.

Registration and check-in will begin at 7:30 a.m., the opening ceremony will be held at 9:15

a.m. and the walk begins at 9:30 a.m. Funds raised can be turned in the day of the walk or by mail to the chapter office at 801 Shades Creek Parkway, Suite 100B. For more information, contact Andrew Bell at [email protected] or call 879-8546 or 1-800-344-4867.

Iron Warriors Rave Run April 12, Homewood High School

This is the second annual running event ben-efiting the Aerospace Booster Club. This year’s Iron Warrior Run is rave-themed. The entry fee is $25, and each participant will receive glow bracelets, a T-shirt and a gift bag with coupons. Registration begins at 7:30 p.m., and the race starts at 8 p.m.

The event will benefit the Samford Univer-sity Aerospace Booster Club and the Lakeshore Foundation. The obstacles will not be mandatory.

Register at active.com or contact the Samford ROTC Detachment at [email protected].

Relay for Life April 25, Homewood Central Park

The annual Relay for Life fundraiser will be held on April 26 at Homewood Central Park from 4 p.m.-midnight.

Participating teams of 10 to 25 people raise money for cancer research and support pro-grams, and team members take turns running or walking laps during the relay. There will also be activities throughout the night to honor cancer survivors and caregivers and remember those who lost the fight. This includes the Survivors’ Lap and the Luminaria Ceremony, in which candles are lit in memory of past cancer patients and support for those who currently have cancer.

The registration fee is $10, and participants who raise more than $100 will receive a Relay for Life t-shirt. Sign up at relayforlife.org/home-woodal to create or join a team, walk as an indi-vidual or participate in the Survivors’ Lap.

April walk/run roundup


By MADOLINE MARKHAM

Last year Homewood kids helped give more than 30,000 books to other kids.

Through Birmingham Reads, Homewood-based Better Basics collects books for its literacy programs in high-needs schools while creating literacy awareness in communities like Homewood.

“It’s a great way to build diversity in the community,” said Executive Director Karen Kapp. “It pulls folks from all parts of the city together to celebrate reading.”

For the third year in a row, Edgewood, Shades Cahaba and Hall-Kent elementary schools are participating in a competition to collect the most new or gently used books.

“All children need books in their homes to read, and the more books they read, the better readers they become,” Kapp said. “Through Better Basics programs, we try to match interest levels with reading levels and provide books that correlate. We want kids to read for pleasure. The gap is widening between affluent and low-income students, and we are working to provide equitable resources for all kids.”

The books that are collected are then distributed throughout the school year to kids in Better Basics’ eight programs. Because of the Birmingham Reads drive, the organization is able to put tens of thousands of books into homes, Kapp said.

On Friday, April 18, Better Basics will be in front of Books-A-Million at Colonial Brookwood Village starting at 4:30 a.m. to collect books from schools as well as community members.

Celebrating reading, celebrating BirminghamBrookwood Village event features book drive, festivities for kids

“A lot of people hear about it on Alabama’s 13 that morning and come by with a box of books that day,” Kapp said. “It’s a great way for the entire community to celebrate reading and promote literacy. There are 90,000 illiterate adults in central Alabama, and the more we can do to create awareness about it, the better.”

The week culminates in a festival held in partnership with the Junior League of Birmingham at Colonial Brookwood Village on Saturday, April 19. From 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Better Basics invites the community to celebrate

reading with entertainment and activities for kids as well as their favorite book characters. The book drive will continue during the event, and the winning school will be announced.

At the event, there is also an attendance competition between schools, and the school with the highest attendance —which last year was Hall-Kent — wins a Popsicle party.

But before both of those days, Better Basics will coordinate around 615 volunteers to read in every elementary school classroom in Birmingham City Schools, all on April 17 at 1

p.m. Each child in every class will also receive a copy of the book — last year that meant more than 13,000 books.

“It’s a great one-time opportunity for folks to go into the schools just for one hour a year,” Kapp said. “It gives them an opportunity to see if they enjoy it, and if they do, they end up volunteering through our regular programming. It gives people in the community the opportunity to give of themselves, and they love it.”

For more, visit betterbasics.org/birminghamreads.

Kids participate in festivities at Colonial Brookwood Village as a part of Better Basics’ Brookwood Celebrates event last year. Photo courtesy of Better Basics.


In March, friends and families of Nick Anderson, John Bailey, Chase Kelly and Justin Fletcher joined together as Troop 97, sponsored by Trinity United Methodist Church, celebrated and recognized their rank achievement of Eagle Scout.

Together the young men earned 121 merit badges, had at least 321 hours of nights camping, served in various

leadership positions and received vari-ous prestigious scouting awards. Each of their Eagle projects benefited the community.

As it states in the Eagle Scout Chal-lenge, young men who reach the rank of Eagle Scout are expected to exem-plify in their daily life the high princi-ples and values expressed in the Scout Oath and the Scout Law.

For the sixth year, Assistance League of Birmingham is selling freshly steamed Maine lobsters.

Proceeds from the sale will bene-fit the three philanthropic programs

of Assistance League: PrimeTime Treasures, Operation School Bell and Operation Literacy. Lobsters are $25 each.

The deadline for ordering is

May 2. Drive-through pickup will be Friday, May 9 from 3-6 p.m. at Assistance League of Birmingham, 1755 Oxmoor Road.

Call 960-1040 to order.

Birmingham’s largest garage sale is scheduled for April 26 and 27.

The Junior League of Birming-ham’s Bargain Carousel will be held in the former JCPenney loca-tion at Century Plaza Mall, 7580 Crestwood Boulevard.

There will be more than 100,000 items for sale, including adult cloth-ing, appliances, art, books, music, children’s clothing, electronics, furniture, heirloom items, holiday decorations, home décor, infant furniture and accessories, kitchen items, lighting, linens, office equip-ment and furniture, outdoors and

sporting goods, rugs and toys. Proceeds support community

projects with the Junior League’s partner agencies.

“I always come to purchase hol-iday decorations, whether it is for Christmas, Easter or Halloween,” said Erin Hamby of Homewood. “I love having something new to add to my collection every year.”

The weekend kicks off with a Bargain Bash on Thursday, April 24. For $40 a ticket, VIP admis-sion gets you in the door at 6 p.m. for early bird shopping privileges (double the listed prices), and

general admission (7 p.m.-10 p.m.) is $30 a ticket.

This year tickets will be pre-sold on Friday, April 25 from 3-7 p.m., when shoppers may purchase up to four tickets at $10 each to the Sat-urday sale.

Bargain Carousel will run Satur-day from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ($10 tickets for 8-10 a.m. or $5 tickets from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.) and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. with free admission and half-price merchandise.

For more, call 879-9861, visit bargaincarousel.net or like the event on Facebook.

Bargains return at this year’s JLB Carousel

Assistance League members Rochelle Simms, President Jan Service, Beth Clarke and Mary Ann Wade get ready for this year’s Lobster Sale.

Fresh Maine lobsters coming Local scouts achieve Eagle rank

Chase Kelly, Justin Fletcher, Nick Anderson and John Bailey.

Legacy League, an auxiliary of Samford University, will present its Scholarship Gala Celebration on Thursday, May 8.

For the first time ever, the event will be held on Samford’s campus in the Leslie S. Wright Fine Arts Center and will combine a culinary feast with a show by Christian illusionist Curt Anderson. The gala will benefit scholarships for students to attend Samford.

The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited; reservations are required and can be made at samford.edu/legacyleague

through May 2. A $75 per person reservation (of

which $37.50 is tax-deductible) includes a heavy hors d’oeuvres buffet, catered by Executive Chef Chris Vizzina, and the show by Curt Anderson. Guests who wish to add valet parking, reserved table seating, preferred seating for the show and an event photo may opt for a deluxe reservation for $125 per person (of which $72.50 is tax-deductible). Sponsorships at all levels are welcomed.

For more information, call 726-2247 or visit the website.

Samford gala to feature illusionist


The Homewood High School junior varsity basketball team completed its season with a perfect record of 25-0.

The team won the Spain Park Invitational,

the Metro Christmas Tournament and the season-ending tournament at Hewitt-Truss-ville. The team is coached by Rick Baguley.

JV Patriots go undefeated

Will Hunt, Will Mizerany, Ronald Claiborne, Derrick Underwood, Alec Marsch, Lawton Dorough, Jake Burdeshaw, Toby Taylor, Terry James, Austin Patterson, Peyton Brown, Griffi n Gentry and John Yarbrough with head coach Rick Baguley.

Sports

Homewood resident Jakob Icimsoy was recognized on USA Swimming’s Top 10 list for the 2012-13 Short Course Season.According to results in Splash magazine, Jakob ranked eighth in the nation for 12-year-old boys in the 1,000-yard freestyle event.

Jakob began swimming at age 9 at a local YMCA, and a year later in 2010, he joined the competitive swim team Hoover Blue Thunder (HBT).

Jakob, an eighth-grade home-schooled student through Everest Academy, was also HBT’s Male Swimmer of the Year for 2012-13. He continues to train under head coach Rick Moulton and intends to swim on a collegiate level.

Berguson named new HHS football coach

Jakob Icimsoy

Homewood City Schools announced in March that Ben Berguson will be the new head football coach for Homewood High School.

Berguson has served as the assistant football coach to the Patriots for the past three years, and he had been serving as the interim head football coach since Feb. 26.

“It is an honor to be a member of the Homewood Patriots,” Berguson said. “The Homewood community is enriched with tradition, and I look forward to continuing that rich history.”

HHS Principal Dr. Zack Barnes said Coach Berguson knows the program inside

and out and has tremendous respect from the players.

Athletic Director Kevin Tubbs agreed that Berguson has a wealth of experience as a football coach.

“Coach Berguson is a leader beyond the football fi eld, and he is dedicated to the students and teaching them the steps to be successful on the fi eld and in the classroom,” Tubbs said.

Berguson will also teach physical education and drivers education at HHS. He said he is looking forward to spring practice with the team and working hard for the upcoming season.

-Submitted by Homewood City Schools

Swimmer ranks top in countryBen Berguson with his family.


Wayne Gibson Publix customer

service associateNo matter where he is or with

whom he is talking, Wayne Gibson always boasts a smile on his face. He remembers not just customers’

names but special things about them. A Homewood High School graduate, Gibson is known and

loved by many in the community — not just because he bags groceries

but because of the relationships he forms.

Photo by Brian Wallace.

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Phone 205-602-8329 • 205-933-9276Email: [email protected]

Stanley VirciglioPiggly Wiggly Homewood president and co-ownerStanley Virciglio doesn’t tell many people no. Whether it’s sponsoring the Spirit Scamper race, a church event, a civic organization fundraiser or feeding a sports team at Home-wood High School, the Piggly Wig-gly man is returning the support he gets from the Homewood community at his U.S. 31 grocery store. “When people come by and they need something, we try to take care of the people in our community,” he said. “The more you give, the more you receive.”

Photo by Alec Dixon.


Most Charitable

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877-8797 Wayne Salem, Owner

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6:30am to 3pmwww.salemsdiner.com


Liz LandgrenArtist, mom of three

Liz Landgren paints in her studio in her Edgewood home, but her artwork

hardly stays within her walls. She has donated artwork to all three

elementary schools and for festivals and fundraisers. Her paintings feature

everything from owls to angels to a recent special commemorative piece she presented to victims of the Sandy

Hook shootings. “She is always finding a way to reach someone in

the community and celebrate them,” Heather Reid said.

Photo by Alec Dixon.


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Neil Patrick Ice cream truck driverNeil Patrick has been Homewood’s “ice cream man” for as long as many people can remember. But he doesn’t just sell ice cream at special events, schools and birthday parties. He shows a genuine interest in the community’s children and keeps up with them as they grow up. People enjoy connecting with Patrick on Facebook, a reminder of how he is always present in the community.

Photo by Jeff Thompson.


Best Local Personality


By SYDNEY CROMWELL

Case Remodeling has been a part of Vestavia Hills for nearly 10 years. Designer Randi Kierce described the firm as a “design and build” company, which means Case handles design, con-tracting and construction.

“We build from start to finish,” Kierce said.

The designers at Case Remodel-ing frequently redesign or construct basements, attics and additions for business and residential clients, but their specialty is in kitchen and bath-room design.

If your kitchen or bathroom could use a facelift, use these tips from Kierce to make sure your project is a success.

1. Make it blend. Your new kitchen or bathroom should match the style of the rest of your house. A modern kitchen in a colonial-style home, for example, will look mismatched and jarring.

2. Mind your budget. Remod-eling costs can add up quickly, so Kierce recommends creating a budget before you begin and sticking to it faithfully. Keep-ing a budget in mind will make it easier to avoid bigger, more ambitious redesign projects that you cannot afford.

3. Lighting is key. Proper light-ing is essential to making your new kitchen or bathroom look good. Make sure to create a balance between overall lighting fixtures and task lighting, such as recessed or track lights.

Recreate your kitchen or bathroom

4. Function before fashion. Make sure your new space is designed to be useful before you buy “all the pretty things” like plumbing fixtures and appliances, Kierce said. If you have a beautiful kitchen but

cannot cook in it, then the redesign was a waste of time and money.

5. Keep it classic. New design trends may look great, but they change rapidly. Kierce

suggests choosing classic kitchen or bath-room looks, which will look good for years.

For more information about Case Remodel-ing, visit casebham.com.

Spring Home Guide


By RACHAEL HEADLEY

Gary Hughes has grown up in the business of furniture.

His family opened Greenbrier Furniture in 1965, and Hughes eventually became the second-generation owner. Last year, Hughes made the decision to team up with local business owner Steve Issis and expand the business to include carpet, hardwood, tile and rugs. Together, Hughes and Issis created the total resource home store for customers interested in updating their flooring, furniture or accessories.

With an observant eye and many years of experience, Hughes has seen trends come, go and even come back again. Taking notice of what customers are currently requesting and buying, Hughes has several guidelines for keeping homes up to date for 2014.

1. Add accent color. There has been a move away from patterns and color in the last five years to a very neutral palate that is very soothing. But now, as things tend to ebb and flow, Hughes is experiencing a demand for more color. Using that neutral palate as a base and choosing colors that pop, add some interest and a reflection of your own personality. Hughes said he is seeing a lot more punches of color, including chartreuse, plum, French blue, pink, orange, lime, teal and aqua.

2. Watch women’s fashion. You’ll see home textiles lag about a year or two behind women’s fashion. They’ll take a nod from women’s apparel and let that flow into home textiles.

3. Refresh classics. Hughes said it is still a

Operation renovation How to bring your home up to date

traditional market. Take a classic European-style piece of furniture that is hundreds of years old but has a fresh finish on it or is painted. This way it is not a trendy style, it is not a trendy silhouette, but the finish is interesting and not too formal.

4. Reflect your lifestyle with floor-ing. Hughes is seeing more relaxed finished looks in the flooring. It appears for right now, people are not wanting to go back to a

formal presentation in their homes.

5. Incorporate classics into an updated setting. Classics are the clas-sics. Customers are seeing a merge of classic furniture with a not-so-formal presentation. People will be drawn to the classic designs just as they have been for centuries.

Hughes said Issis’ attention to customer ser-vice has been a consistent dwar for customers.

“We throw the mold away every day to serve

the customer,” Hughes said. “Steve’s favorite line is, ‘I am not the boss. The customer is the boss.’ He says that at least three times a day.”

Issis at Greenbrier is located at 1493 Mont-gomery Highway in Vestavia Hills. Issis also has another furniture location in Pelham at 250 Cahaba Valley Road, and two flooring galleries, one at 2858 Pelham Parkway and the other at 2815 Greystone Boulevard.

For more, visit issisandsons.com.

Spring Home Guide


Spring Home Guide

280

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Read past Business Spotlight at TheHomewoodStar.com Business Spotlight

By RACHAEL HEADLEY

For Mike and Linda Barnett, outdoor living is more than a hobby — it’s a lifestyle.

The Barnetts have owned Alabama Gas Light and Grill, a specialty outdoor living store, for a decade. Five years ago, they settled into their new storefront along Linden Avenue. The store specializes in grills, smokers, gas logs, gas lan-terns, hearths and even patio furniture to improve the outdoor living experience.

Alabama Gas Light and Grill was established in 1963 but was later purchased by Alagasco. Mike, a former Alagasco employee, found him-self doing the merchandising for the company. When Alagasco was ready to sell the store, Mike bought it. With the expertise of working in the business of natural gas for more than 25 years and the added familiarity with the store, the Bar-netts were ready to take on the business.

Since its opening, Alabama Gas Light and Grill has carried the oldest gas grill line made in America, Modern Home Product or MHP, and the Barnetts still maintain that tradition.

“We pride ourselves on carrying American products,” Linda said. “They will really last 20 to 30 years.”

MHP is still manufactured in Antioch, Ill., by the same family that started the business in 1963. Carrying this product is important to the Barnetts, not only because they share the same founding year but also because Alabama Gas Light and Grill is a family owned and operated business as well.

When looking for their new storefront, the Barnetts chose Homewood because of its

2828 Linden Avenue870-4060

Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.Saturday, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.

alabamagaslightandgrill.com

Alabama Gas Light and Grill

Grilling Tips from Linda Barnett

Grills are not just for meat. You can cook vegetables, sides and even desserts on the grill.

Anything you do on your cooktop or in the oven, you can do on a grill. Barnett bakes cakes, cookies, s’mores and pizzas on her grill with the assistance of the temperature gauge.

Don’t be afraid to try anything. New techniques, new foods and new spices will always lead to new discoveries.

Grill with bacon. Try making bacon on the grill to add to dishes, or wrap it around a veggie such as asparagus.

Cook outdoors to keep your kitchen cool. In warmer months, grilling outside keeps the extra heat out of your house.

central location to all parts of the city and its proximity to families. Through cookouts and events, the Barnetts have been able to connect with the families and people in the community.

“It has been a wonderful move for us to Homewood,” Linda said. “It has been the best thing we have ever done.”

Despite the ideal location of

their store, the Barnetts’ work often takes them out of their building. Whether it is outfi tting residences with their new gas logs or provid-ing new fi xtures for businesses and restaurants, they fi nd them-selves out in the community serv-ing their customers, and for Linda, that is what makes their store really different.

With the small staff of Mike,

Linda, two full-time employees and three part-time employees, the Barnetts value knowledge of their products and the ability to answer the questions that customers may have. In addition to in-person pur-chase counseling, their website features a series of videos to help educate the customer about aspects of grill ownership with themes such as “How to Shop for a Grill” and

“How to Build your Grill.” The store also hosts grilling classes for beginners and classes that teach how to get the most use out of a smoker.

“We are experts in what we do,” Linda said. “We’ve been around it for a long time. We’re going to be here to support it for a long time. We have been in business for 40 years and will continue to stand behind our products.”

Mike Barnett, owner of Alabama Gas Light and Grill, is featured in the grill education videos on their website alabamagaslightandgrill.com. Mike and his wife, Linda, are active in their store and meeting with customers. Photo by Rachael Headley.


By MADOLINE MARKHAM

Classic Gardens has established itself as a destination for not only the supplies but also the know-how to create a picture-perfect yard.

Mike and Ann Pender started the business 24 years ago when their four children were ages 6 and younger. Today, three of the four children work for the family business, which offers retail, landscaping, irrigation, night lighting and lawn care services.

Classic Gardens attracts gardeners to its Center Point greenhouses for its wide variety of plants, including 20 kinds of hydrangeas, 60 azaleas and multiple varieties of maples and dogwoods.

“People will pass three to four places on way to Classic Gardens,” Mike Pender said.

The garden business is also a destination for its expertise in everything from azaleas to zin-nias, and they provide many at-home services

in the Over the Mountain area. One key to their advice is recommending a mix of good potting soil and fertilizers for plants — but only the least amount possible, and used properly. With that planting prescription, for the past 20 years, the business has been the No. 1 Fertilome dealer in the nation.

The Penders hold a tomato seminar that teaches people to grow 12-foot-tall plants in a container, and they’ve got testimonials to prove their method works. The next two seminars will be held April 12 and 26 at 11 a.m.

Still, the biggest segment of their array of services is lawn care. Pender emphasizes that they prioritize providing the best quality of ser-vices with environmentally friendly practices. For instance, they can help customers determine that a bug problem that looks like scorpions is actually small ladybugs, and that the most effi-cient way to treat certain types of bugs requires waiting for warmer weather.

When it comes to lawn maintenance, Pender recommends the following tips:

1. Use a pre-emergent herbicide. This treatment kills weeds before they germinate. Pender recommends treatment six times a year, a service that Classic Gardens offers by delivery.

2. Change your mowing patterns. If you mow in the same direction every week, you will create a “nap” in the grass that causes it to lay over. To avoid this, mow east to west one week, north to south the next and diagonal the third.

3. Mow low, slow and frequently. Mowing too fast causes grass to be torn instead of cut evenly, which can cause the grass to turn brown. Cutting grass low discourages most weeds and enables the

grass to stay as healthy as possible. Pender recommends mowing every week and said that every five days is best, depending on the weather.

4. Water infrequently. Pender recommends watering two to three times a week in the summer and less frequently when temperatures are lower. Watering less frequently encourages roots to grow deeper and hence be more drought-resistant.

5. Get your kids involved. Plant things like blackberries or blueberries, and generally encourage the next generation to enjoy working in the lawn.

Classic Gardens is located at 1855 Carson Road, 35215. For more, call 854-4005 or visit classicgardens.com.

Make your yard a standout this seasonThe experts at Classic Gardens share their tips

Classic Gardens provides treatment to a front lawn. Photo courtesy of Classic Gardens.Classic Gardens teaches customers how to use the right combination of potting soil and fertilizer to grow plants like these that bear tomatoes. Photo courtesy of Classic Gardens.

Spring Home Guide

April 2014TheHomewoodStar.com • 23Spring Home Guide

Four ways to bring spring into your home

By RACHAEL HEADLEY

Keeping a home in harmony with the seasons can be tough, but Laura Purvis of Decorating Den Interiors knows how to utilize even the smallest accent to do just that.

The former owner of a custom window treatment business, Purvis has experience in many areas of home improvement but discovered that her true passion was for interior decorating and design. Pursuing this led her to open her own franchise of Decorating Den Interiors in October 2013 as owner and decorator. This new endeavor allowed her to continue providing quality, custom window treatments to her customers while expanding her business into decorating.

In order to brighten your home for spring, Purvis recommends updating or adding to several areas of the home.

1. Window treatments: If your drapes are heavy and dark for the winter season, change them out for a lighter fabric. This will really open up the room. If you are looking for pattern, florals can be perfect for this season, as well.

2. Colors: If you are not looking to change out larger pieces like your sofa, add some lighter-colored pillows to them. Accenting existing pieces with season-appropriate color is a small change that can totally transform the look of a room.

3. Accent pieces: Even small pieces can add a darker, heavier look to a room. Switch out

those heavy, wooden candlesticks for glass table accents.

4. Floors: Heavy plush rugs may need to sit this season out. Try a lighter color in a sisal or flat-weave rug to make the floors reflect this season.

The Decorating Den Interiors franchise has been in business since 1969 and provides interior decorating services internationally in the United States and Canada.

With access to more than 100 vendors and a free first consultation, Purvis is dedicated to making each home decorating experience easy and stress-free. By bringing all home décor necessities directly to the customer’s home, Purvis allows her customers to see every pending change in their own environment: everything from the lighting to the structure of the room can change the look of a piece or a fabric. Above all else, Purvis values the time and the vision of the customer. The personalized customer service that Decorating Den Interiors provides is what Purvis says sets her and her business apart from other interior decorating companies.

Through doing business in the greater Birmingham area communities, Purvis has enjoyed getting to know a variety of people who have become more than customers, but also friends. The diversity in style she works with provides her with new challenges and fresh perspectives every day.

For more information about Decorating Den Interiors, visit decoratingden.com or contact Purvis at 447-4589.

Laura Purvis purchased a Decorating Den Interiors franchise in October 2013 after years of owning her own custom window treatment business. Photo by Rachael Headley.


Homewood High School student Emily Harri-son has been named a United States Presidential Scholar candidate. The program was established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President to recognize and honor some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors.

Each year, up to 141 students are named as U.S. Presidential Scholars, and they represent excellence in education and the promise of great-ness in young people. Around 3,000 candidates are identified for the academic component of the program, based on having scored exceptionally well on the SAT or ACT.

All scholars are honored for their accomplish-ments during the National Recognition Program held in June in Washington, D.C.

Harrison currently has over a 4.0 GPA and is a member of the Homewood Patriots volley-ball team, Beta Club, French Club, Mu Alpha Theta, Physics Team, Key Club and Birmingham Belles.

She has been honored with French National

Harrison named Presidential Scholar

Emily Harrison

Honor Society, National Honor Society, National French Exam Grand Concour Cer-tificat d’honneur, AP Scholar with Honor Award, Homewood High School Distin-guished Usher and Wofford Scholar.

National Merit Finalists awarded

Homewood High School students Sarah Grace McDuff, Josh Gardner and Roman Paoletti, pictured, were named National Merit Finalists, and David Selden was named a National Merit Semifinalist.

School House


Hall-Kent second-graders in Jerome Isley’s class recently learned about famous African-Americans, ending the study with a learning activity Isley hopes will last a lifetime.

He gave each student a tiny piece of paper with a few marks and designs on it. The stu-dents only knew that it would be a puzzle when everyone completely replicated their tiny puzzle piece to a much larger size puzzle piece.

The end product was a secret until he put the puzzle up outside their classroom.

Later, the class read Martin’s Big Words and talked about how Martin Luther King Jr. used big words rather than his fists to achieve his goal. The students learned to work together to take their small pieces and turn them into something grand.

Homewood High School junior Jordan McCoy has re-ceived the Presidential Volun-teer Service Award from The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation and President Barack Obama.

The award was given in rec-ognition of his 1,000 volunteer service hours in the community over the past 12 months.

Jordan McCoy with Home-wood High School Principal

Dr. Zack Barnes and Assistant Principal Matt Kiser.

Making something grand

Harper King, Ian Maxwell, Alex Barron and Manolo Fernandel.

McCoy receives service award


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@homewoodparks www.Homewoodparks.com

Temporary Fitness & Programs Facility

ZumbaZUMBA is Lati n inspired aerobic dance and every class feels like a party. ZUMBA is for all ages, and both sexes! You can burn 500 to 1000 calories in one fun hour!Instructor: Camille Scruggs Contact Info: 256-452-2500 or [email protected] on: Temporary Fitness and Programs FacilityDays & Times: Tuesday & Thursday: 5:30-6:30pm • Saturday: 9:00-10:00am

KarateClasses are held at the Temporary Fitness and Programs Facility at various ti mes based on age and level of experience. Monthly tuiti on is $55 - $65. Classes are for children and teenagers ages 4 and up. For more informati on please contact Master Joe at 966-4244

Young RembrandtsDraw amazing things with Young Rembrandts!Young Rembrandts classes are both fun and educati onal, and our step-by-step curriculum is developed to teach fundamental art skills in a nurturing environment that gives children an academic advantage. Our classes are for boys and girls 5 to 12 years of age.Please contact Chris Roberson at (205) 943-1923 for more informati on and to register or visit www.youngrembrandts.com to enroll anyti me.

Royce Head - Personal Training

Royce Head, former owner of Homewood Personal Fitness, off ering personal training sessions at the Temporary Fitness and Programs Facility.$15 Per Session (or) $125 Per Month for Unlimited SessionsCall Royce for an appointment or more informati on (205) 945-1665

Homewood Chess TeamHomewood Chess Team wants you! Beginners are welcome and the fi rst two weeks are always free promo weeks so come check us out! This year take the plunge and join Dr. Brooks and your current Alabama State Chess Champion Chess Team as we laugh and train in daily mardi-gras bead chess tourneys and compete for prizes in our daily music-driven chess puzzlers and watch zany chess movies and inter-face and inter-train with 20 sister chess teams including every Vestavia and Mountain Brook elementary school, The Randolph School, The Altamont School, Tuscaloosa Academy, The Highlands School, fi ve Catholic schools, and many others. There has never been a party-based approach to chess like this, and Dr. Brooks’ unique, kid-oriented philosophy has made us 50-0 in our history, and counti ng! Our high-energy chess classes are developmentally and cleverly targeted directly at the kindergarten through 7th-grade set! Learn more and sign up for our school chess team at www.theknightschool.com or call and chat with Dr. Brooks at (205) 746-4952.

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! This is accomplished through our extraordinary classroom experience and unsurpassed At Home materials. 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.For more informati on call or email Kelly at:205-552-6129 (or) [email protected]

Belly Dancing with AzizaClass Locati on: Temporary Fitness and Programs Facility Class Fee: $60 cash onlyFor more informati on contact Aziza at 879-0701 or azizaofb irmingham@att .netLearn the ancient art of Middle Eastern belly dance (classic Egypti an style) with Aziza, award winning dancer, with 36 years of experience in performance and instructi on. Women only, ages 13 and up are welcome; with no dance experience necessary to enroll. Each session is 5-weeks long on: Tuesday night for beginners, Wednesday night for intermediates and Thursday night for advanced. Times ti mes are 7:00-8:30pm.www.azizaofb irmingham.com

809 Greensprings Highway, Homewood, AL 35209(Former Jeff erson County Satellite Courthouse)

News & UpdatesNew HWCC

Constructi on Updates

Visit www.homewoodparks.com/pardon-our-progress for updates on the constructi on project including monthly narrati ve and new images updated multi ple ti mes per month.

We Love Homewood Day

2014Saturday, May 3, 2014Save the date & come celebrate Homewood!For additi onal informati on please visit: www.homewoodparks.com

Community CPR Classes

Tuesday, April 22nd – Temporary Fitness & Programs FacilityClass Fee: $25.00For more informati on contact Alissa Thurmond @ 332-6715

Athleti csHomewood Youth Cheerleading

HYC are a dynamic group of girls who are excited to cheer for the Homewood Youth Football League. HYC is a community cheerleading program for girls in grades 1st through 6th who live in Homewood and/or att end Homewood Schools. The girls are organized into 5 squads by grade level – 1st & 2nd grades cheer together, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grades have individual squads. Please visit our website for more informati on: www.homewoodyouthcheer.com

Adult Soft ball – Coed and Men’s LeaguesRegistrati on begins April 1st – registrati on will close May 1st or as night’s reach

there max number of teams. Games begin week of June 9th.

League Days & Types ~ West Homewood Field #2MONDAY Co-Ed Recreati on – 6 Team Max

TUESDAY Men’s League – 6 Team MaxWEDNESDAY Men’s League – 6 Team Max

THURSDAY Co-Ed Recreati on – 6 Team MaxFor additi onal informati on about the league please visit:

www.homewoodparks.com

Senior Soft ball LeagueA senior soft ball league is played at West Homewood Park. The games are on

Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 9:00am and 10:30am. The age limit is 55 and over.

If interested in playing, please contact Ed Girard at 205-253-9562.

Homewood Swim TeamHomewood Swim Team is not a learn to swim program but no experience is necessary. Swimmers compete against other swimmers with the same age and ti mes during the meets. Children who are ready to compete, ages 5 – 18, will be divided into groups- older (more experienced) and younger (less experienced). We compete through the Jeff erson County Swim League (JCSC) against other teams from our area. Unfortunately at submission deadline for April Homewood Star; some informati on and registrati on procedure has not been fi nalized. Please check www.homewoodparks.com for the most up to date informati on.

Upcoming Educati on SessionsTuesday, April 8th at 12:20pm - Credit & Credit Repair presented by Dr. Stephanie Yates Associate Professor of Finance at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. #3 in a 5-part series sponsored by Homewood Public Library. Tuesday, April 22nd at 12:20pm - Ocular Health presented by Dr. Sara Mullins from UABThursday, April 24th at 12:20pm - Combati ng Allergies during Spring presented by Jinnie Lacey, RN, Lakeshore Rehab

Fitness ClassesTai Chi – Taught by Galina Waites. Chairs and adapted movements are provided for parti cipants with balance/stamina challenges. Thursdays, 2:00pm. Free to members.Gentle Adult Yoga with Jean Campbell – Exercises, guided breathing practi ces and maintaining a positi ve perspecti ve are tools that can help us keep calm and even when life gives us a lot to deal with. Yoga can help develop those tools. Wednesday’s 6pm-7pm at Homewood Senior Center; A block of 6 classes can be purchased for $60. Drop-in fee is $13 per class.Zumba Gold (designed for seniors) w/Tai Chi ‘cool down’ – Tuesdays, 2:15. 45 minutes of Zumba followed by 15 minutes of Tai Chi to ‘cool down’. The last 15 minutes can also serve as an introducti on/review for those interested in the Thursday full-hour Tai Chi class. Free to Senior Center Members. $5 for non-members.

Homewood Senior CenterGames at

Homewood Senior Center

Mondays8:00am – Noon: Dominoes (players are willing to teach newcomers)10:00am – 2:30pm: **BridgeAft er Lunch: Joker aft er lunch (games using cards & gameboard/marbles…players are willing to teach newcomers)Aft er Lunch: Poker Wednesdays10:00am – Noon: **Bridge Thursdays8:45am – 11:00am: Bingo Aft er Lunch unti l 5:00pm: RummyKub (players are willing to teach newcomers)Aft er Lunch unti l 5:00pm: Ponytail Canasta (players are willing to teach newcomers)Fridays9:00am – 11:00am: Bingo1:00pm – 5:00pm: PokerAft er Lunch: Wii Bowling (players are willing to teach newcomers)**Regarding Bridge, there are established groups, but there’s room for more! We can start a new table and, occasionally, subs are needed to fi ll-in. Contact Center Director Aimee Thornton for an introducti on to the groups.



Kids Pool AreaA zero-depth entrance ramp area at both ends will lead to less than 2 feet deep at all points. A splash park area in its center will feature wet playground equipment like a dump bucket and spraying mushroom.

Intermediate Pool AreaAt the side closest to the park, which will be no more than 4 1/2 feet deep, is a “vortex” that pushes water in a circular motion similar to the “current” in a lazy river. Swim lessons can take place in this area simultaneous to other activities in the other two pool areas.

Competitive PoolThe pool features eight 25-yard lanes with starting blocks on either end for swim team practice and meets. Two 1-meter springboards are on the right end. Two nearly 25-yard lanes that run in the space between the boards and regular lanes will be available for lap swimming during daily operating hours.

Seating AreaAround 110 lounge chairs, beach chairs and upright chairs will be placed throughout the area surrounding the pool, along with four 20-foot-wide Funbrellas.

Concession StandThis full-service eatery will feature foods like burgers, chicken fingers and French fries.

PatioThis shaded space will seat around 70. All concessions must be consumed in this area, according to health department regulations.

Locker RoomsA family changing room was added to this area per the request of community members in planning meetings for the center.

Birthday Party RoomThis room can be rented for an hour and a half at a time for birthday parties. For a fee of $200, members get use of the space along with 15 wristbands for nonmembers to attend a party and use the pool. Additional wristbands can also be purchased for guests. The pool will still offer after-hours parties in a two-hour block starting after normal hours for a fee of $400 for members or $800 for nonresidents.

parking, free Wi-Fi, a multipur-pose room, a 25-yard competition pool and a recreational pool.

The building is also more energy efficient with a climate control system. B.L. Harbert International oversaw the construction of plans by Davis Architects.

Membership is projected to increase by about 33 percent to around 5,800 members as a result of the new facility.

Squires emphasized that the center does not strive to compete with commercial gyms but rather will be a family setting where Mom and Dad work out while their kids play basketball in the gym or watch TV in the new lounge area. The desire of its leadership is to provide fitness and recreation opportunities at reasonable prices.

After months of anticipation, Squires said there is a lot of buzz in the community about the facility and that he is excited to get in it and get it open.

“As a council or park board member said, it’s kind of like our country club, especially in the summer,” Squires said.

“We think it’s going to be a great thing for the community for years to come.”

For updates on the center’s opening, visit thehomewoodstar.com and watch our May issue.

Level 0CENTERfrom page 1


New Membership FeesTotal Access Paid Annually $175 for first household member, $25 per additional member

Senior (55+) Total Access Paid Annually $70 for first household member, $10 per additional member 55+, $25 per additional member under 55

Total Access Charged/Debited Monthly $17.50 for first household member, $2.50 per additional member*12-month contract required, available starting May 1

Pool Only Homewood Resident Membership$150 for first household member, $25 per additional member

Community Center HoursMonday-Friday, 5:30 a.m.- 9 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, 1-6 p.m.

All memberships are available to Homewood residents only, unless grandfathered in as a current non-resident All-Purpose Membership holder or non-resident Se-nior All-Purpose Membership holder. A household is defined as two adults age 23 and older with dependent children age 22 and younger residing in the same household. Children 3 years and younger are free but must be listed on membership.

East and West GymsTwo identical gyms can be divided with a curtain for up to four teams to practice at a time, which will help accommodate the nearly 400 children who played in the winter rec league. The adult basketball league, day camps and other programs will also use the courts.

Cardio/Weights RoomThe windows in this room will look out over the pool and park outside. Each Life Fitness treadmill, elliptical machine, bike and Summit Trainer (stair climber) will feature individual LCD screens with cable, interactive on-screen workouts and iPod hookups. Unlike the former center, the weight room is contiguous with the cardio room. Larger TVs will be hung in this space around weight equipment.

Fitness StudiosThe two studio areas will host a variety of fitness classes such as aerobics and Zumba, as well as community classes such as chess, Kindermusik and Young Rembrandts art club. The center also hopes to offer yoga, boot camps and other classes in the future.

Event RoomOn the west end of the building, the room holds 75 people comfortably and can be rented for special events. A pantry/prep area features a sink and ice machine. Because the area has its own bathrooms and entrances, it can remain open for events even when the rest of the center is closed.

LoungeThis space will feature vending machines, tables and chairs and TVs, making it ideal for an older child hanging out while a parent works out.

Level 1Track (Level 2)A two-lane track will wrap around the circumference of the combined gyms. Twelve laps around the inside lane total a mile in distance. An elevator will make the track accessible for seniors who might have trouble on stairs.

2925 18th Street South, Homewood 205-871-0585

www.harmonylanding.comMonday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.


CalendarHomewood Events

April 1-May 2: Assistance League Lobster Sale Ordering Period. Assistance League of Birmingham is selling freshly steamed Maine lobsters to benefi t its philanthropic progr1ams. Drive-through pickup will be Friday, May 9 from 3-6 p.m. at Assistance League of Birmingham, 1755 Oxmoor Road. Call 960-1040 to place your order.

April 1: An Evening With C.S Lewis. 7:30 p.m. Wright Center, Samford University. $20-30. Visit samford.edu/wrightcenter.

April 1: Homewood Police Department Citizen Police Academy First Session. Meets for seven consecutive Tuesday nights. Call Sergeant Eric Hampton at 332-6864.

April 3: Homewood Grown. 6-9 p.m. The Terrace at SoHo Square. Benefi ts the Homewood City Schools Foundation. $100. Visit homewoodcityschools-foundation.com.

April 5: Walk MS. 1, 2 or 3-mile walk; entertain-ment; wellness fair. Homewood Central Park. 7:30 am. registration, 9:30 a.m walk. Visit nationalmssoci-ety.org or active.com.

April 5: Kidney Foundation Birmingham Walk-a-Thon. 8:30 a.m. registration, 9:30 a.m walk. Homewood High School’s Waldrop Stadium. Visit alkidney.org.

April 5: Stephen Ministry Workshop. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Dawson Family of Faith. The half-day workshop is designed to enhance participants’ care giving skills and to help other Christian churches begin a care giving ministry. $15. Contact Mary Pitner at 871-7324 or [email protected] to pre-register.

April 5: Fun in the Sun with Project Homewood. 2-5 p.m. Patriot Park. Infl atables, carnival games, dunk take and more to help raise funds for scholarships for the Extended Day Program. $10 wristbands. Visit facebook.com/ProjectHomewood.

1

April 5: Painting in the Park Series. 10-11:30 a.m. Patriot Park Pavilion 1. Art class taught by Dori and Annabelle DeCamillis. RSVP to [email protected] or 886-5978.

April 5: Homewood High School Prom. 7 p.m. SoHo.

April 6: Coffee with a Cop. 7-9 a.m. Star-bucks Coffee, 231 State Farm Parkway. Join your neighbors and Homewood Police Department offers for coffee and conversation. Call 332-6204.

April 8: Flower Show. 3-5 p.m. Rosewood Hall, SoHo. Held by the Little Garden Club of Birmingham. Email [email protected].

April 12: Painting in the Park Series. 10-11:30 a.m. Overton Park Pavilion. Art class taught by Dori and Annabelle DeCamillis. RSVP to [email protected] or 886-5978.

April 12: Iron Warriors Rave Run. 7:30 p.m. registration, 8 p.m. run. Homewood High School. The rave-themed run offeres optional obstacles. $25. Visit active.com.

April 12: Easter Egg Hunt. 11 a.m. Home-wood Patriot Park. Toddlers-age 10. Visit homewood-parks.com.

April 12: Community Garden Work Day. 9 a.m. Homewood Community Garden, Old Homewood Middle School Site. Visit homewoodcom-munitygarden.blogspot.com.

April 12: Hop and Shop. 10 a.m.-noon. Downtown Homewood and Edgewood. Merchants will hide Easter eggs fi lled with candy, coupons or gift certifi cates in stores.

April 15: Homewood Chamber of Com-merce Excellence in Education Lun-cheon. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The Club. An outstand-ing student from each Homewood school will be honored. Visit homewoodchamber.com.

April 17: David Dorfman Dance. 8 p.m.

Wright Center, Samford University. The New York dance company will perform Prophets of Funk. $15-25. Visit samford.edu/wrightcenter.

April 19: Painting in the Park Series. 10-11:30 a.m. Central Park Pavilions 6 & 7. Art class taught by Dori and Annabelle DeCamillis. RSVP to [email protected] or 886-5978.

April 19: Brookwood Celebrates. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Colonial Brookwood Village. Part of Birmingham Reads. Bring a new or gently used book to donate. There will be music and entertainment. Visit birminghamreads.com.

April 23: Hip Swayers. 6-9 p.m. Hart & Soul Café. The duo from Worcester, Mass., will play original, upbeat, country-fl avored Americana. Visit reverbnation.com/hipswayers.

April 25: Relay for Life. 4 p.m.-12 a.m. Homewood Central Park. Visit relayforlife.org/home-woodal.

April 26: Food Truck Round Up. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Macy’s Parking Lot, Colonial Brookwood Village. Food trucks and kids’ activities. Benefi ts Pre-school Partners. $20 in advance, $25 on-site. Visit preschool-partners.org or email Allene Neighbors at [email protected].

April 26: Edgewood Spring Festival. Infl atables, carnival rides, games, silent auction. 2-6 p.m. Edgewood Elementary School. Contact Shannon Taylor at [email protected].

April 26: Painting in the Park Series. 10-11:30 a.m. Patriot Park Pavilion 1. Art class taught by Dori and Annabelle DeCamillis. RSVP to [email protected] or 886-5978.

May 3: We Love Homewood Day. Home-wood Central Park. Visit homewoodparks.com.

May 3: Spirit Scamper 5K and Fun Run. Homewood High School. 7:30 a.m. Visit spiritscam-per.com

FOR ALL AGES


I once heard about something called breath prayers, the idea being that you pray continually as you move throughout your day. It’s a way to remember that we’re con-stantly in God’s presence and that our prayers should never cease, as Paul says in the New Testament. I don’t do it as it was intended (pray-ing a short phrase to the rhythm of your breaths), but when I think of it, it’s a good way to make prayer as natural as breathing.

I think more about these breath prayers now that I have children. It seems I’m in constant need of mercy, grace and forgiveness as I shep-herd these little ones through their day. I don’t always notice the times I’m talking to God, but my daughter Kate does. She often comes in the room and asks, “Mama, why are you talking in such a low voice?” Apparently, I talk to myself, but I know at least some of those times I’m praying.

One good thing about these frequent prayers is that they’re rubbing off on Kate, and hope-fully her sister Sela is picking up on them as well. It’s getting to where Kate’s first reaction is often to pray. In her uncomplicated world, these prayers are simple and often hilarious. Just the other day, she found a little toy flash-light she’d been looking for. My husband Matt found her shining it into the dark fireplace saying, “Thank you God for helping me find this. I appreciate it.”

Earlier that same day, we went to the drug-store, and it was about to rain. I told her we needed to hurry so we wouldn’t get caught in the rain. She said, “Well, I’ll just pray that God will keep the rain away from us.” As we

walked in, I looked down and saw her little hands folded together in prayer. I love that she’s turning to God in her “need” and seeing Him as the one who can help her the best.

As I get older, I find it’s easier for me to go to God with big issues — I have enough perspective to understand that He really does take care of me and that He can take care of whatever problems

arise, however big they are. But it’s often the small things that trip me up — the things I think I can handle on my own, that are too trivial to take to God. Maybe I talk to Matt or my mom or a friend about them. Maybe I just sit and stew about them, or better yet, worry about them. Instead, I should take a cue from my daughter and pray. God tells us to not be anxious about anything, but to pray about everything.

Easier said than done, right? It usually is, but the peace that comes from not only going to God but also leaving the problem there at His feet is priceless. Sometimes, if I’m feeling extra anxious about a particular issue, I’ll get a piece of paper and write down everything that’s bothering me. Often, I’ll cover the whole piece of paper with words and phrases, everything that comes to mind that is making me worry. Then I rip up the paper. I tear it into the small-est pieces I can and drop them in the garbage. Sure, maybe it’s a little symbolic, but it’s my way of saying, “God, take this and do whatever you want with it. Just give me peace.”

Lauren can be reached at [email protected]. You can also find her tweeting writ-erly things on Twitter @LaurenKDenton.

Calendar OpinionOrdinary Days By Lauren Denton

Breath prayers

Denton

Homewood High School Athletics

AdultsApril 1 & 8: Pet Loss Support Group. 5:30 p.m. Room 108. Contact [email protected] or 942-1211.

April 3-30: April in Paris Photo Ex-hibit. Regular library hours. Photos by Virginia Jones. Call 332-5519 for more information.

April 3: Couponing Strategies with Heather Lebischak. 6:30 p.m. Large Auditorium.

April 6: Book Club Movie Matinee. 3 p.m. Large Auditorium.

April 8: Oxmoor Page Turner’s Book Club. 6:30 p.m. Lucretia M. Somers Boardroom.

April 10: Feng Shui for Life Improve-ment with Katie Rogers: Outdoor Spaces. 6:30 p.m. Large Auditorium.

April 12: Greater Birmingham Hu-mane Society Adoption Day. 10 a.m.- 2p.m. Back parking lot.

April 15 The A, B, C’s of Medicare. Noon & 6 p.m. Room 116, Lower Level.

April 22: Celebrate Earth Day!: The Proper Care of Trees with Stan Pella. 6:30 p.m. Large Auditorium.

April 29: Socialize!: Unlocking the Potential of Social Media for Your Business. 6:30 p.m. Large Auditorium.

April 30: The Better Than Therapy Book Club. 2 p.m. Lucretia M. Somers Boardroom.

ChildrenTuesdays: Story Time. 10:30 a.m. All ages are welcome.

Wednesdays: Story Time. 10:30 a.m. All ages are welcome.

Thursdays: Mommy & Me. 10:30 a.m. For younger patrons and their guest.

April 12: Say Hola to Spanish. 10:30 a.m. A special language learning story time.

April 24: Say Hola to Spanish. 4 p.m.

April 27: Special Family Evening with Children’s Author Michelle Nelson-Schmidt. 6:15 p.m.

April 3: Boys Tennis vs. Jemison. 3:30 p.m.April 3: Softball vs. John Carroll. 5 p.m.April 3: Baseball vs. Briarwood. 6:30 p.m.April 8: Boys Tennis vs. Oxford. 3:30 p.m.April 8: Baseball vs. Ramsay. 4:30 p.m.April 8: Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Sylacauga. 7 p.m.April 10: Girls and Boys Tennis vs. Moody. 3:30 p.m.April 10: Softball vs. Ramsay. 5 p.m.April 14: Girls and Boys Tennis vs. Sumiton Christian. 3:30 p.m.April 14: Baseball vs. Vestavia. 6 p.m.

April 15: Girls Varsity Soccer vs. John Carroll. 4:30 p.m.April 15: Boys JV & Varsity Soccer vs. John Carroll. 6 p.m.April 15: Boys Freshman, JV & Varsity Soccer vs. Vestavia. 4:30 p.m.April 17: Softball vs. Fairfield. 5 p.m.April 19: Boys JV & Varsity Soccer vs. Briarwood. 1 p.m.April 21: Softball vs. Calera. 5 p.m.

Homewood Public Library


Documents

Homewood star vol 4 iss 1 april 2014