August 2026 | Volume 17 | Issue 3
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Serving the Birmingham area since 1958.
SERVING HOMEWOOD, HOOVER, MOUNTAIN BROOK, VESTAVIA HILLS, TRUSSVILLE AND THE 280 CORRIDOR
HOMEWOOD’S COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE THEHOMEWOODSTAR.COM | STARNESMEDIA.COM
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Joseph Braswell Owner of Guin
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Hooked on tradition Johnny’s Restaurant earns a coveted spot on Alabama’s Catfish Trail By KARIM SHAMSI-BASHA When Alabama Tourism announced the state’s new Catfish Trail, featuring more than 50 destinations connected to one of Alabama’s most iconic foods, one Homewood restaurant made the list. The long-celebrated Johnny’s Restaurant will be a featured stop. For owner Tim Hontzas, the recognition is both an honor and a reflection of something he has believed for years: great Southern food begins with a deep respect for the people who grow, raise and produce it.
See JOHNNY’S | page 22 Chef Tim Hontzas with loyal customer Harold Hunt, who gets the catfish every time. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
Homewood test drives microtransit By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.
Tevarius Foster, senior director of customer experience at BJCTA. Photo by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.
Most test drives begin at a car lot or dealership. A prospective buyer gets the feel of the vehicle, taking it around the block, perhaps on the highway, getting a sense of how ownership might feel. In July, the city of Homewood began its test drive of microtransit, an on-demand option to move around the city. It works just
PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Monroe, GA Permit #15
INSIDE
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like ride sharing, with riders able to request a trip through the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority’s Max Connect app and get picked up nearby, with routes designed in real time to keep trips efficient and wait times low. The service provides point-to-point transportation anywhere within the Homewood city limits for just $1.50 per trip. Someone ordering a ride can be joined by two more
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people, with those riders paying 75 cents apiece. On-demand ride service in Homewood is available Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The trial period runs through September 2027.
See MICROTRANSIT | page 23
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New faces
More than food
Homewood and John Carroll are preparing for the high school football season.
The Rosedale Food Pantry feeds a community: body and soul.
See page 16
See page 20