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November 2024 | Volume 15 | Issue 6
Serving the Birmingham area since 1958. SERVING HOMEWOOD, HOOVER, MOUNTAIN BROOK, VESTAVIA HILLS, TRUSSVILLE AND THE U.S. 280 CORRIDOR
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There’s a new mayor in town Alex Wyatt aims for cohesive systems in his year as mayor By SARAH OWENS lex Wyatt never went looking to become mayor of Homewood, but nearly a decade of public service in the city’s government has landed him in the role. Wyatt became mayor on Nov. 1 as Patrick McClusky retired from the position to spend more time with his family and pursue other opportunities. Wyatt told The Homewood Star he does not plan to run for the office in 2025, meaning this is a one-year-and-done term. Entering the position amid a period of divisiveness over a vote to change the city government structure, a scandal involving stolen city funds and an unexpected change in public officials, Wyatt has his work cut out for him if he wishes to make progress in the next year.
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See MAYOR | page 28
Alex Wyatt speaks with Daniel Chaplin at a September City Council meeting where the council presented a proclamation recognizing October as Down Syndrome Acceptance Month. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
Edgewood Elementary celebrates a century of education
Lene Brown’s 1962-63 first graders pose for their class portrait. Photo courtesy of Homewood City Schools.
By SARAH OWENS It’s not every day that you get to attend a 100th birthday party, but if you happen to drop by Edgewood Elementary on the afternoon of Nov. 17, you’ll find yourself doing just that. The school turned 100 this year, and the administration and parent-teacher organization have partnered together to celebrate the century of education that Edgewood has offered. While they broke ground on the school in 1924, Catie Seale, a member of Edgewood’s PTO and
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chair of the centennial committee created to organize the celebration, said she thinks the school actually opened in 1926 with 12 first graders. “There was a huge fire at Edgewood in the ’50s,” Seale said. “So a lot of our history and newspaper articles, things like that, have been lost because of the fire.” The fire began on the night of Nov. 13, 1953, in the cafeteria, which used to be in the basement.
Real Estate........................ 14 Events................................. 16
See EDGEWOOD | page 30 Sports................................ 20 Community....................... 22 facebook.com/thehomewoodstar
Holiday Open House
Lakeshore Owl
The annual shopping event kicks off Christmas season with local charm, festive fun.
Winged hat thief targets runners on Lakeshore Trail.
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