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June 2024 | Volume 15 | Issue 1
Serving the Birmingham area since 1958. SERVING HOMEWOOD, HOOVER, MOUNTAIN BROOK, VESTAVIA HILLS, TRUSSVILLE AND THE U.S. 280 CORRIDOR
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‘Starting to take shape’ Econo Lodge development project progressing toward completion By EMILY REED
F
or many years the area near the former Econo Lodge Hotel site along Oxmoor Road was in need of a refresh. After the demolition of the hotel in Oct. 2023, a new project to redevelop the area will hopefully bring a new energy to West Homewood.
Artist Steve Skipper at work on his painting, titled “Majesty,” in his studio. Photo courtesy of Ephraim Skipper?
See ECONO LODGE | page 22
Homewood native tells story behind his painting of Queen Elizabeth II By GRACE THORNTON
Kyle D’Agostino, founder and owner of Poole and Company Architects, at the new site of townhomes and restaurant space on Oxmoor Road in West Homewood. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
INSIDE
Sponsors............................ 4 City...................................... 5
Schoolhouse...................... 6 Business............................. 8
Artist Steve Skipper jokes that his latest painting made history twice. For starters, it was the first time a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was put on hold for Alabama football. “I got started on the portrait of the queen, and then Alabama was playing Auburn in the Iron Bowl,” Skipper said. As everybody knows — and has strong feelings about, one way or the other — Alabama beat Auburn “in dramatic form” in November of last year, after quarterback Jalen Milroe’s game-winning touchdown pass. “People started calling me, wanting a painting of that,” said Skipper, who grew up in Homewood and paints sanctioned and officially licensed artwork for the University of Alabama. But after he finished the painting of Milroe, called “The Resilient Gravedigger,” he started working on the queen again and finished the piece, titled “Majesty,” in March of this year.
Real Estate....................... 10 Events................................ 12
See SKIPPER | page 23 Sports................................ 18 Opinion.............................. 21 facebook.com/thehomewoodstar
Back On Top
Day Tripping
Patriots capture state soccer title
Learn more about attractions in and around the Birmingham area.
See page 18
WE FIX ROOFS 205•900•ROOF | CARDINAL-ROOF.COM
See page 20