Homewood Life, Fall 2026

Homewood Life’s 2026 community champion Paul Doran has given back to his community for decades.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

COMMUNITY LEADERS

It’s the people who make Homewood the community that it is! Here we recognize some of those making an impact on others around them through their businesses.

HIT THE ROAD

TOUCHDOWN TOWNS

With autumn months comes the South’s Saturday ritual of tuning in to their favorite college team’s football games. This year, hit the road and experience the game day atmosphere live and in person at one of these SEC college towns.

BY KELSEA SCHAFER

contributors

EDITORIAL

Michaela Bankston

Anna Grace Breedlove

Dave Domescik

Daniel Locke

Tyler Raley

Andrew Simonson

Noah Wortham

CONTRIBUTORS

Lisa Cheek

James Culver

Rachel Culver

Rob Harris

Blair Ramsey

Kelsea Schafer

Katelyn Smith

DESIGN

Sydney Allen

Jamie Dawkins

Morgan Lockhart

Lavens Maginnis

Miles Maginnis

MARKETING

Evann Campbell

Octavia Campbell

Rachel Henderson

Rhett McCreight

Lauren Morris

Tori Smith

ADMINISTRATION

Amanda Boothe

Carlee Chappell

Mary Jo Eskridge

Alec Etheredge

Stacey Meadows

Kayla Reeves

Leslie Reeves

Brittany Schofield

Blair Ramsey, Photographer

Blair is a Vestavia Hills-based photographer whose company, Southern Intrigue Photography, specializes in sports action, portrait and commercial images. Blair has two sons, Cooper and Cameron, who have both had the privilege of being Auburn cheerleaders. Blair’s work can be found at southernintriguephotography.com, on Instagram @southernintriguephotography and Facebook @southernintrigue.

Katelyn Smith, Writer

Katelyn Smith is a current student at Auburn University studying journalism. She is now interning for Shelby County Newsmedia and also serves as a lifestyle editor for the Auburn Plainsman. As a lifelong storyteller, she considers it a privilege and loves to share others’ stories through her writing. Katelyn is a Birmingham native and an alumnus of Helena High School. When not writing, she enjoys reading fantasy novels, baking, hanging out with friends and singing in various choirs at Auburn.

Kelsea Schafer, Photographer

Kelsea is a student at the University of Alabama, pursuing a news media degree in the College of Communications and Information Sciences. Her passion lies in capturing moments, telling the story and preserving memories. When not in class, she can be found photographing Alabama athletics, spending time with her family and friends or at the lake with her dog, Riley. Kelsea’s work can be found at kelseaschaferphotos.com and on social media @kelseaschaferphotos.

Lisa Cheek, Photographer

Lisa is a Vestavia Hills-based photographer, who specializes in capturing diverse subjects and moments through her lens. Lisa excels in various genres including performing arts, portraits, headshots and branding. Through a blend of technical expertise and artistic vision, Lisa strives to deliver images that resonate with authenticity and capture the true spirit of her subjects. Her goal is to deliver quality work with exceptional service. To work with Lisa or view her work, visit lisacheekphotography. com or follow her on Instagram @lisa.cheekphotograpy or Facebook @lisacheekphotography.

Homewood Life is published quarterly by Shelby County Newsmedia Inc., P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Homewood Life is a registered trademark. All contents herein are the sole property of Shelby County Newsmedia Inc. [the Publisher]. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Homewood Life, P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051.

Homewood Life is mailed to select households throughout Homewood, and a limited number of free copies are available at local businesses. Please visit HomewoodLife.com for a list of those locations. Subscriptions are available at a rate of $14.95 plus tax for one year by visiting HomewoodLife.com or calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 532.

Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing advertise@homewoodlife.com, or by calling (205) 669-3131, ext. 536.

from the editor

TThis summer I discovered the glorious, blonde, viking striker—Erling Haaland—arguably Norway’s best soccer player on its Fifa World Cup team. As I’m writing to you all, the World Cup has not yet ended. Erling and Norway still have a chance to pull off one of the greatest runs in the sport’s history.

I’ve never quite been a huge sports fan, but after seeing the internet fall in love with this goofy-yet-incredible player, I too, became a fan. At this point, Canada, the United States and Mexico have all been eliminated from the World Cup—and on our own continent, too. Embarrassing.

It has been quite fun, however, witnessing people from all three countries simultaneously become Norway fans.

Seeing three different cultures unite together for one cause has been a beautiful sight, but here in Homewood, that’s not abnormal. In fact, it’s quite common to walk down the street and catch up with business owners or shoppers of different ethnicities.

Driving through town, you might see Homewood High School or John Carroll Catholic High School flags in people’s front yards, but if you’ve ever been to either team’s games, you’ll know the goodsportsmanship-like conduct is almost uncanny.

In this issue, we’re celebrating that communal pride, that love for the place we all call home: Homewood.

On the cover, Donnie and Kate Smith’s Hollywood Tudor was featured on the 2026 Hollywood Tour of Homes, which fundraises for the Hollywood Garden Club. The club itself works toward the preservation and beautification of the 100-year-old neighborhood. See more of the Smiths’ home on page 45.

Homewood Life’s 2026 Community Champion Paul Doran is also featured on page 53. The emeritus trustee of the Homewood Public Library Board has spent decades in community service, working to better Homewood and its surrounding cities. He is even the recipient of the American Library Association’s Trustee Citation Award.

Of course, this issue would not be complete without spotlighting Homewood’s Community Leaders, who’re featured on page 61. These trailblazers are pioneering the future of local businesses, chambers of commerce, nonprofit organizations and more—all for the benefit of local residents.

So readers, as you all catch up on all things Homewood in this issue, I hope you feel that same sense of camaraderie as I do in our community. Homewood is truly the best of the best—a city where every person is welcome, supported and celebrated—and I feel honored to be its magazine’s editor.

Sincerely,

(205) 930-959 5 B E ST DOCTO R D r. Aust i n Adam s B E ST LOCAL PE R SONALI T Y

Double Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeons

Thank you, Mountain Brook

@homewoodlife

Tag us in your Homewood photos on Instagram, and we’ll pick our favorites to regram and publish on this page in each issue.

@birminghamlunches

It’s Back to one of our favorites @johnnyshomewood w/ @ itsdavidbarry for a #bhamlunch. I tried the hamburger steak w/ gravy, he had the catfish and our buddy had the 15hr pot roast! We just love it here. The sides are delicious and massive. I brought some of them home to have with dinner. #homewood @homewoodchamber @homewoodlife

@homewoodtoy_hobby

Meet our new team member, Murf! She wanted to share with y’all that we just received a shipment of Gump Surface by @getspeks. Limit of 2 per customer. First come, first serve.

@ironcitylighting

Adding copper landscape lighting to this nearly 100-year-old home in a historic district was a project I truly enjoyed. The lighting design highlights the home’s beautiful architecture, showcases the surrounding landscape, and provides safe, welcoming illumination for both the walkway and parking area.

@jbradford81

The Susce family representing Homewood and the mighty USA! The road to the World Cup is here, and we’re proud to cheer on Team USA every step of the way. Let’s defend our home turf, leave it all on the grass, and show the world what American soccer is all about.

THE GUIDE

HOMEWOOD FALL FESTIVAL & HOMEWOOD WITCHES RIDE

OCT. 25

2 P.M.

Homewood Central Park

Halloween is not all tricks — get your treats at the annual Homewood Fall Festival, which will feature rides, games, food trucks and a costume contest! Then, stay for the 14th annual Homewood Witches Ride right after the festival at 5:30 p.m. and watch as riders, dressed up in their “witchy” best, “fly” on a 2.5-mile bike ride through town while throwing candy to the children watching. Registration opens on Tuesday, Sept. 1, and registration fees are $60 per rider. To find where to register or how to donate, follow @homewoodwitchesride on Instagram.

Rescue Runs

7:45-9:45 A.M.

Downtown Homewood

The Jimmie Hale Mission will host its annual 10k and 5k runs, starting and finishing on 29th Avenue South in downtown

Homewood. The mission also offers a one-mile fun run. Each runner will receive a race T-shirt, swag bag and food and water after the race. All proceeds benefit the Jimmie Hale Mission. For more information or to register, visit runsignup.com.

Trunk-or-Treat

3-5 P.M.

Homewood Public Library’s Back Parking Lot

Ghouls, ghosts & goblins! Come one, come all to Trunk-or-Treat hosted by the Homewood Library Foundation! All are

welcome for this free, family-friendly event in the library parking lot! Local businesses and organizations will have their vehicles decked out for the festivities. Interested in having your organization at Trunk-orTreat? Please visit homewoodlibraryfoundation.org or hpl. pub/halloween for more information.

Share your news and events! Email submissions to annagrace@homewoodlife.com to be considered for our next issue.

AROUND TOWN

AUG. 8

Mitchell’s Place Dragon Boat

Race & Festival

East Lake Park

AUG. 8

Bingo Loco

Iron City Bham

AUG. 12

First Day of School for Homewood City Schools

AUG. 12-16

Bill Bugg and Friends - Part 9 Homewood Theatre

AUG. 15

Sierra Ferrell Avondale Brewing Company

AUG. 15

Crestline Tent Sale

Crestline Village

AUG. 21-SEPT. 20

“Come From Away” Red Mountain Theatre

AUG. 28

Benson Boone Legacy Arena

SEPT. 11, 13

Three on a String Homewood Theatre

SEPT. 17

Dinnertainment The Country Club of Birmingham

SEPT. 18

John Carroll Catholic High School Homecoming

SEPT. 18

Zoo Gala Birmingham Zoo

SEPT. 24-26

Vintage Market Days of Birmingham The Finley Center

SEPT. 26

Pancakes and Princesses

Birmingham Zoo

OCT. 5

Red Cross Blood Drive Homewood Public Library

OCT. 10-11, 17-18, 24-25 & 31

Hoots & Howls

Birmingham Zoo

OCT. 13

Journey Legacy Arena

OCT. 21

CeCe Winans Legacy Arena

OCT. 23

Homewood High School Homecoming

OCT. 23

Haunt the Hills Wald Park

OCT. 24

Halloween in the Heights & Cahaba Heights Witches Ride Heights Village

OCT. 30

Boo Halloween Party Benefiting Blood Cancer United B&A Warehouse

OCT. 30

Barkit Market at Ross Bridge 2101 Grand Avenue

OCT. 31

Mystics of Mountain Brook Halloween Parade Crestline Village

NOV. 5

Holiday Open House Downtown Homewood

NOV. 19

Miniature Painting with September Reed Homewood Public Library

Friday Night Lights

Come out to cheer on the Homewood Patriots and the John Carroll Cavaliers this season!

Homewood

AUG. 21 vs. John Carroll at Samford

AUG. 28 at Briarwood

SEPT. 4 vs. Mountain Brook

SEPT. 11 at Pelham

SEPT. 18 at Helena

John Carroll

AUG. 21 vs. Homewood at Samford

AUG. 28 at Talladega

SEPT. 4 vs. American Christian

SEPT. 10 at St. John John Paul II

SEPT. 18 vs. Lee-Scott

OCT. 2 vs. Calera

OCT. 8 vs. Chelsea

OCT. 16 at Chilton County

OCT. 23 vs. Ramsay

OCT. 30 vs. Oak Mountain

OCT. 1 at Westminster Christian

OCT. 9 at Briarwood Christian

OCT. 16 vs. Madison Academy

OCT. 23 at Randolph

OCT. 30 vs. Leeds

Back to School Bash

4:30-8:30 P.M. Patriot Park AUG. 29

Grab your pens and pencils, it’s time to go back to school, but first, start the year off by enjoying a fun day at the annual Back to School Bash at Patriot Park! Featuring bounce houses, rides, food vendors and live entertainment, there is something for the whole family to enjoy! Admission is free, but patrons can buy a wristband for $10 that allows unlimited ride access. Learn more about the event at homewoodparks.com/special-events.

Allison Insurance is honored to have been recognized as the Best Insurance Agency in Mountain Brook-a reflection of the trust our clients place in us every day. Whether you need personal insurance-including home, auto, or umbrella-or business insurance, we’re here to guide you with clarity and care.

We believe strong relationships are built on trust, consistency, and genuine service. Let us show you the difference a dedicated insurance partner can make.

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ARTS CULTURE&

THE FINISHING TOUCH

Artist Shawn Fitzwater decorates cities and businesses with colorful murals and signs.

BY KATELYN SMITH

WWithout artful decorations on the walls, many places would simply feel bland. Shawn Fitzwater is adding the color to the spaces, one mural at a time. If one of his pieces brightens one person’s day, the work was all worth it to him.

Shawn, owner of Fitz Signs & Murals, is a Birmingham-based artist who first started art as a hobby and is now traveling to paint murals across the country. His hand-painted murals and signs can be found around Birmingham, modifying the space into something beautiful.

Shawn grew up in Homewood, from Homewood Middle School to Homewood High School. He had always enjoyed drawing, specializing primarily in sketching his favorite cartoon characters. He only took one technical art class in high school but absolutely hated it. He didn’t want to sketch detailed drawings of nuts and bolts; he would rather sketch out his dream house or his favorite characters.

“I never had dreams of being an artist,” Shawn says. “I never really had much interest in ‘hey, I want to be an artist someday,’ you know? I guess I was told by

several people and I guess I felt like I had a natural talent at it and I did enjoy it.”

After graduating high school, Shawn began land surveying in the Birmingham area. While traveling to different job sites and mapping them out, he would sketch out the job site. His coworkers were often impressed with how good his sketches came out and would tell him that he always had the best ones.

He still couldn’t quite call himself an artist.

After 20 years of working in land surveying, Shawn got burnt out. He decided to quit his full-time job and began to do bicycle advertising around town, meaning he pulled an advertisement behind on his bike. Unfortunately, after a year, it didn’t take off like he had expected, but he knew land surveying was something he didn’t want to return to.

During this time, he was still sketching and drawing here and there, but he had never picked up a paintbrush and painted. One day in 2017, he decided to try painting a mural for the first time on his son’s wall of characters from Steven Universe.

“I really enjoyed it and thought about making it a

side-hustle kind of thing, like just painting children’s bedrooms and stuff,” Shawn says. “I posted that on social media.”

To his surprise, the video he posted of the work-inprogress mural got quite a bit of attention, not from the client base he intended but from business owners who were interested in hand-painted signs for their businesses.

A few weeks after he posted the video, he was in Publix shopping for groceries when he ran into the owner of Ash Neighborhood Bar & Grill in the grocery line. They started talking, and the owner had seen the video on Facebook of Shawn’s mural and wanted him to paint the logo for his restaurant.

“I was a little apprehensive at first because I had never done that,” Shawn recalls. “It was like a business was asking me to kind of put my hand on a local piece of art that would be seen by many people.”

After painting the sign, Shawn ended up painting four or five more signs for him. He began getting more calls from businesses requesting signs, and that’s when he decided that this could be his business. In

August 2018, Fitz Signs & Murals officially opened for commissions.

In the early months, it was hard for Shawn to find work for his new business. He didn’t have a big portfolio at that time, so he started by printing out fliers with pictures of the four projects he had painted and posted them up around town. He would also go door to door with new businesses to ask if they’d be interested in a hand-painted sign.

“It’s the same old story, you know, it’s like 100 no’s to one yes,” Shawn says. “It was a challenge at first, but once I kept building that portfolio up and the name started getting out there more…your name starts getting kind of spread out through the industry and so that’s kind of how it started.”

Now, he’s expanded past painting signs for businesses and began painting more murals. Some of his favorite pieces can be seen in the Birmingham Zoo; they’re his own design, and he feels very proud of them. One features a geometric design of a red panda surrounded by green and yellow, while another is a geometric design of a secretary bird. He’s also began painting murals in people’s homes, just like he had originally planned with posting his son’s bedroom mural.

He’s also picked up several notable clients in the

past few years. He has had a partnership with Buc-ees for three years, and his murals can be seen in their stores across the country. He’s also painted for the Coca-Cola company.

Recently, Shawn’s been able to paint murals for several theme parks, including Sea World in San Diego, Universal Studios in Texas and Busch Gardens in Tampa, something that’s been a dream come true for him. He’s always loved theme parks and had always admired the hand-painted work in parks like Disney World.

“I want to try and paint at some of these theme parks because its fun, and those places make me happy,” Shawn says. “I want to add to that, you know, like making people happy…I’ve kind of manifested that.”

Shawn’s murals can take anywhere from a week to six weeks depending on the size and detail of the design. First, it starts with him discussing with the client about what they have in mind. Usually, they have a design in mind and will show it to him, so he can start sketching it out on the surface. After the initial sketch, he fixes anything the client wants to change, and then he can start doing the part he loves most: painting. If the client wants Shawn to design something, it usually takes a bit longer. One of his most memorable projects was painting for the new Universal Kids

Resort in Texas. The Universal Creative team decided to give him free reign over one of the walls in the park. With only their design and no other instructions about how to lay it out, they left Shawn to do what he felt looked the best. He sketched out the design in chalk and anxiously waited for their comments.

“I laid it out and the three universal creative people came in and they were just like, ‘We love it! It’s perfect. Do it!’ I was kind of like stunned a little bit, like just, ‘You’re happy? No changes or anything?’ I was on top of the world there,” Shawn says.

Shawn’s been very happy with Birmingham’s progress in adopting more public art. The scene of the city simply elevates with painted signs and colorful murals to admire. His work can be found in many places around Birmingham and Homewood, whether it’s a logo or mural painted in a business or restaurant, or simply a mural for decoration on an outdoor wall.

“It’s what I enjoy and I get to paint every day and add beauty to something,” Shawn says. “Especially with these theme parks and stuff that I’m working in, because there’s all this construction, all this steel and concrete that goes into these things, I’m brought in to make it pretty at the end. That’s kind of a cool feeling, that like, ‘Hey, I’m the final piece that adds the story.’”

While buildings and businesses start a city, the art that decorates it makes the city. Now with artwork like Shawn’s livening up the walls, Birmingham is starting to look like a true masterpiece.

For more information on Shawn’s services and to see his work, visit fitzsigns.com.

INTERNAL MEDICINE & PEDIATRICS

THIS BOOK

The Stormlight Archive

Recommendations from Rob

Harris

Information Services Librarian at the Homewood Public Library

Rob Harris’ love for the genre of high or epic fantasy started when he was 12 years old and his older brother threw his old, worn-out copy of “Lord of the Rings” at him and said, “Read it, it will change your life.” He says it was one of the few times his big brother was right. Reading these books did lead to his lifelong love of this genre, and here, he recommends five of his favorites by author Brandon Sanderson, describing each of the five books in a continuous description of the mythical world Sanderson has created for them.

The Way of Kings: The Stormlight Archive—Brandon Sanderson’s Magnum Opus

By Brandon Sanderson | Fantasy

Brandon Sanderson has built a reputation as one of the most prolific and inventive authors in modern fantasy, but nothing in his catalog approaches the sheer ambition of “The Stormlight Archive,” a projected, 10-book epic set in the world of Roshar. I first discovered Sanderson when reading the “Wheel of Time” by Robert Jordan. He was contracted to finish out the series by the author’s family after his death. I also recommend his “Mistborn” series, if for no other reason than you need to be prepared for the new Apple TV series and movies that have just started development on both anthologies.

Words of Radiance: Way of The World of Roshar and The Stormlight Archive

By Brandon Sanderson | Fantasy

Roshar is a planet ravaged by catastrophic magical storms called “highstorms,” which have shaped every aspect of its ecology, culture and history. Plants retract into shells. Stone is smooth and lifeless on the windward side. Entire civilizations have built their architecture around survival. Every detail of Rosharan life flows logically from a single, brilliant premise: survival.

Oathbringer: The Story So Far

By Brandon Sanderson | Fantasy

The series opens with “The Way of Kings” (2010), introducing readers to a cast of broken, searching characters: Kaladin, a soldier-turned-slave grappling with survivor’s guilt; Shallan, a young scholar concealing a desperate secret; and Dalinar, a high prince haunted by visions of an ancient, vanished order of warriors known as the Knights Radiant. In the subsequent volumes, “Words of Radiance,” “Oathbringer,” “Rhythm of War” and the recently-released “Wind and Truth,” Sanderson has expanded the scope dramatically, weaving together political intrigue, cosmic mythology and deeply personal character arcs into one of the most layered narratives in the genre of epic fantasy.

Rhythm of War: The Magic of Stormlight

By Brandon Sanderson | Fantasy

Sanderson is famous for his structured, logical approach to magic systems, and “stormlight” delivers his most spectacular yet. The “surgebinders” (those who bond with supernatural beings called spren) can manipulate gravity, transform matter or heal grievous wounds. Each of the 10 orders of Knights Radiant operates on different principles, all powered by “stormlight,” the luminescent energy harvested from gemstones after a highstorm passes.

Wind and Truth: Journey before Destination

By Brandon Sanderson | Fantasy

What elevates “The Stormlight Archive” beyond the ordinary is its emotional honesty. Sanderson writes characters who struggle with depression, trauma, addiction and self-worth, and their journeys toward healing are treated with the same care as any battle or revelation. The series’ unofficial motto, “journey before destination,” is not just in-world philosophy; it’s the author’s genuine commitment to the experience of reading.

SCHOOL SPORTS&

BOUND BY RHYTHM

Corky Bell Dance Studio offers an environment for dancing, expression and a family to lean on.

BY KATELYN SMITH

CCorky Bell Dance Studio has been fostering the community’s love of dance for 70 years. From children to adults of all ages, there’s a dance class of any style and skillset for everyone.

The dance studio was originally founded in 1956 by Charles “Corky” Bell, and at just 16 years old, he owned two studios: one in east Birmingham and one in west Birmingham. He was completely supporting his family at the time. He eventually created nine studios, but after being called into ministry, he sold his studios to his teachers. The studio in Homewood, still named Corky Bell, has been passed down since then.

In 1999, it was bought by current owner Marcia Steedman, and she continues to make Corky Bell Dance Studio a positive atmosphere for any child interested in dance.

Growing up, Marcia began dancing when she was 5 years old, starting first at Alabama Ballet Company and then later Glen Studios. In junior high, she dropped dance and became a part of Vestavia’s competitive gymnastics team. Still, she enjoyed

dancing.

“I don’t know how to put it in words,” she says about dance. “It was fun. It was relaxing. It was expressive.”

Marcia attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham and graduated with a degree in early childhood education. She always adored working with children and knew it was what she wanted to do.

Out of college, Marcia and her husband moved to Wilmore, Kentucky, for him to attend Asbury Theological Seminary. While there, one of her first experiences with teaching was at a daycare there. They later moved back to Alabama, and she became a stayat-home mom with her daughter, Ashley Setter, and her son.

Ashley, who is now a teacher at Corky Bell, began taking full-time classes at the studio when she was young. She spent more time in the dance studio than at school. Marcia was then asked by the Corky Bell owner if she would become an assistant teacher and dance at the studio. She agreed and has been teaching for the studio ever since.

“I’m the one that’s super passionate about dance,”

match his found Anders

Anders was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that was affecting his immune health and significantly impacting his overall development. His doctors determined his best treatment option was a bone marrow transplant, and luckily Anders found his match and received his transplant. Now Anders is reaching new developmental milestones and is starting to get back to being a normal kid.

Ashley says. “I live for dance…so that influenced her to decision to buy the studio, I think.”

Because Marcia was constantly at the studio teaching dance and gymnastics and accompanying Ashley to her full-time classes, she decided to buy the studio when the owner put it on the market.

The transition to owning the studio felt pretty much seamless to her as she had already served many jobs in the studio. From secretary to transportation and teaching, her experiences in the studio and with children helped her fit into her new role.

For 27 years, Marcia has been making sure the atmosphere of Corky Bell remains a positive space for children to learn and grow.

Childrens AL •org

We are here in your neighborhood at the Mayfair Medical Group and Over the Mountain Pediatrics.

“We tell our parents, you know, dance is an escape,” Marcia says. “You can go wherever you want, and it’s the time to take a break from your life. I’ve told my teachers, you don’t know what these kids have been through at home, and they may just need to escape.”

Corky Bell offers a variety of classes based on age, skill level and type of dance. For young children starting at 2-and-a-half years old, there are beginner classes focusing on tap, ballet and creative movement. As the child gets older, the level of class increases, so level 1 is

for 2-and-a-half years old to 4 years old, while level 2 tap and ballet is offered to 4-5 year olds. For children ages 7 and up, they offer a baton class and a hip hop class.

The studio also has ballet classes by level and age, and advanced Corkette level classes. The junior Corkettes and Corkettes are advanced dance groups that require auditions. They focus on tap, jazz and contemporary dance.

The classes they teach change from year to year, and payments also depend on the class.

One aspect that makes Corky Bell Dance Studio special is that most of its dance teachers also danced at the studio when they were younger.

“You know, there’s always a group of people that stay with it,” Marcia says. “They dance from the time they’re 2, and they teach into adulthood. I think that’s part of what makes us a family.”

Along with dance classes, Corky Bell also offers birthday parties. Each party is catered to the child, depending on what style of dance they’d like, what kind of music they want and if there will be a theme. The parties include 45 minutes of dance instruction with their instructors, and the rest of time is used for cake and presents.

Every year, Corky Bell puts on a recital in May to show off their dancers and the incredible work they put into learning their routines. They also regularly perform in the Alabaster Christmas Parade, one of Marcia’s favorite events. She loves seeing the parents come together and decide how to decorate and make things for their parade float.

For Ashley, seeing her students grow up and go on to do big things is her favorite part of being a dance teacher at the studio.

“I love seeing what our students have gone on to do. I keep up with a lot of my former students,” she says. “I mean, for 20, 30 years, watching them earn their doctorates and go on to dance on Broadway or any number of things…it’s just really rewarding to see them go on and make a life for themselves.”

For years, Marcia has felt like the staff, students and parents of Corky Bell are a team. When something happens to a member of the studio, everybody rallies together to help. One of their families was in need after their house burned down, and everybody offered to help them in any way they could, buying them

whatever they needed to replace.

Before she hires her teachers, Marcia will tell them that it’s more than just dance; it’s like a ministry.

“We’re a family at Corky Bell,” Marcia says. “Everybody just thinks of it, I guess, as a family. If we hear somebody has a need, then we pull together and help them.”

As for the future of Corky Bell, Marcia and Ashley hope to showcase the business more throughout the community. Something they’re looking at is hosting dance days at Patriot Park and participating in community service.

“We see a new generation coming,” Ashley says. “Several of our teachers have expressed interest in, you know, helping to build the business within the community so that we can reach more students.”

Corky Bell Dance Studio is not only a place where dance skills can blossom, but it is also a family that spreads across generations. With instructors now teaching in the same rooms they danced in as a child, the studio has proven it’s one worth returning to.

Corky Bell Dance Studio is located at 159 Oxmoor Road in Homewood. For more information on classes and schedules, visit corkybelldance.com.

FIVE QUESTIONS FOR

Grace Burgess Career Coach for Homewood City Schools

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

A 2005 graduate of Homewood High School, Grace Burgess was a multi-sport athlete in high school and continued on at LaGrange College to play volleyball, later majoring in early childhood education. She went on to earn her master’s degree in collaborative education and spent eight years teaching special education. Afterwards, she earned her second master’s degree—this one in school counseling—and obtained her licensed professional counselor (LPC) certification. Currently, she serves as the career coach for Homewood City Schools and the volleyball coach at Homewood High School. Here, she elaborates on her profession and the importance of shaping future generations.

What led you to become a guidance counselor?

My students and my athletes are what led me to become a counselor. I found joy and purpose in the conversations that were not about math nor reading. I found joy and purpose when students or athletes identified their strengths, found passion for a subject or hobby, developed resiliency and confidence, overcame adversity and proved to themselves that they were capable of doing hard things. I loved watching them discover what they wanted to do next, helping them achieve their goals.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your profession?

The most rewarding aspect of my profession is gaining a teenager’s trust. I will never take that for granted. However,

when kids identify their strengths and see their value, and in return, begin setting goals for themselves and are inspired to become the best versions of themselves, that’s the best reward I can ever have.

Which memory can you pinpoint that really solidified your purpose as a “generation shaper?”

I’m not sure I would call myself a “generation shaper.” Of course, there are specific student success stories that come to mind, but I just contribute where and what I can every day to help our students see their potential.

When and how should students start preparing for life after high school, such as taking the ACT, applying for college? ACT test prep and applying to colleges

are great options, but what I truly feel will help kids prepare for life after high school is identifying their strengths, discovering their interests, learning how to communicate well and developing a strong work ethic. Those things will help build confidence and belief in themselves to be successful, no matter what post-secondary option they choose.

What do you wish more students knew about making the most of their high school experience?

Get involved, and be yourself! I wish students knew that being themselves and putting themselves out there is okay and is what will lead to their high school experience being the most fulfilling, fun and authentic. Being themselves and getting involved will also lead them to the people who will love them for exactly who they are.

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FOOD DRINK&

HEART BEHIND THE BAR

JD and Season Hill offer southern food and a lively atmosphere for the community.

BY KATELYN SMITH

OOak Hill Bar & Grill has been offering comfort food and southern charm to the Homewood area for the past 27 years. Owned by husband-and-wife duo JD and Season Hill, the restaurant continues to bring the community together as a place to enjoy good food and meet new people.

JD didn’t originally plan on working in the restaurant business. His family owns a construction company in his hometown of Gadsden, so he grew up working in construction.

“I liked [construction] fine, but when I walked in a restaurant and started working in a restaurant, I liked the flexible hours, I like working on my feet,” JD says. “I’m happier if I’m moving around on my feet with people and just sort of thrive on the chaos, I guess, in the restaurant business.”

His first restaurant job was working at the cash register for Johnny Ray’s BBQ at the Colonnade. It was a part-time job he had picked up while finishing his degree in psychology at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. After a short period of time, he was made a manager.

JD first met Season when she moved to the area from Chicago and became a waitress for Johnny Ray’s. They grew close as they worked together and eventually fell in love.

“When we left Johnny Ray’s, we went to La Paz in Crestline Village,” JD recalls. “I was trying to figure out what to do and she was the catering director there and I was the bar manager there.”

Although JD had graduated from UAB with a degree in psychology, he was more interested in the hospitality business. His job at Johnny Ray’s may have started as a part-time job during college, but it turned into something he and Season really enjoyed doing.

JD and Season worked at La Paz for seven years, and in 1998, the two of them married.

While managing La Paz, JD received a full-ride scholarship to the University of Alabama School of Law. Still unsure of what he wanted to do, he decided to start law school but soon realized that it wasn’t the right path for him. He deferred his enrollment for one year to make plans, and that’s when the idea for Oak Hill came about.

A man he worked with at La Paz had bought Billy’s Sports Grill. JD observed the work he put into it and admired what his coworker had done with the restaurant.

“I had an idea that I wanted something similar like that—a bar and grill,” JD says. “We had two or three other business plans, and then the spot in Homewood

came available. As soon as I saw it, I’m like, this is the location.”

The building itself is 109 years old and provided a perfect front for JD and Season’s vision. JD partnered with Season’s stepfather, whose last name is Oakes, to create the restaurant name Oak Hill. It took Season and him about five weeks to clean the place and remodel it.

It was quite challenging to get the restaurant opened, as JD was confident about the book work and running a bar, but felt like he knew little about making food. He experimented with the recipes of what he wanted to serve, primarily focusing on southern comfort food. He used skills that he had learned from other restaurants he worked at while also researching on the internet to test and change recipes.

“[Johnny Ray’s is] where I learned how to make the homemade pies that we have with a homemade-whipped cream,” he explains.

The bar and grill first opened on June 6, 1999, a year after JD and Season married.

The first Friday they opened is a memory that the couple will never forget. JD served at the bar while Season was on the floor waiting tables. They had a band playing that night, and they were absolutely thrilled at the crowd their new restaurant attracted. They can still remember how busy it had been the first night.

Today, they still work at the restaurant every day, only taking a

week off every year.

“I think that’s the most important thing to me, that no matter what happened, I was never going to be an absentee owner,” JD says. “I’ve had other restaurants with different partners, but Oak Hill is always my baby and that’s always where my wife and I are sort of focused and I take pride in that.”

Oak Hill Bar & Grill is mostly known for its meat-andthree options at lunchtime. Some of their popular lunch specials are fried pork chops, hamburger steaks and chicken breasts with a choice of two sides. They also offer different salads and sandwiches, such as its fried shrimp sandwich, po-boys and patty melts.

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Along with their southern menu, the restaurant also has live music on Fridays and Tuesday trivia nights. For the past 20 years, customers have loved to play in teams and compete for gift certificates while enjoying the food and atmosphere of Oak Hill.

Over the years, JD and Season have expanded into catering, primarily catering their meat-and-three plates.

“When I first opened it, it was more of a bar, and now I would say it is more of a restaurant catering business that has a good bar business at night,” JD says. “It’s all three things wrapped.”

The catering has taken off since they started it, but JD and Season are also kept very busy with the everyday lunch rushes.

The lunch rushes certainly keep the staff busy, as they work from a very small kitchen and storage room. Some days, Oak Hill will have up to 300 people in catering and then 200 people in the restaurant, making a total of about 500 plates coming out of that tiny kitchen during lunch.

JD and Season have been thrilled with the Homewood community and how they’ve impacted Oak Hill.

“We have a tremendous amount of regulars,” JD says. “We see the same faces everyday at lunch. We see the same faces at happy hour. We see the same faces at late night crowds.”

CHEF’S PICKS

ENTREE

FRIED SHRIMP PO-BOY

BOWL OF CHICKEN AND SAUSAGE GUMBO

HAMBURGER STEAK SIDES

MASHED POTATOES

FRIED GREEN TOMATOES

STRAWBERRY PECAN SALAD

Local collegiate sports have also impacted their crowd. With the hotel near them, Oak Hill will have parties of 12, usually families traveling into town to watch Samford University or UAB sports.

JD has also loved seeing the memories made within the restaurant. One of his favorites is watching his friends meet their significant others during happy hour or lunch.

“We have several couples that come in that met in there socially and ended up getting married,” he says. “We had two or three waitresses that worked for us that met their husbands in there.”

Overall, he mostly loves working at the restaurant with Season and seeing Oak Hill’s effects on its visitors.

“It’s fulfilling when people love the food and they love the service and they’re happy,” JD says.

Although Oak Hill offers a full menu of southern cuisine, it’s also a place for the community to come together and make long-lasting memories.

Oak Hill Bar & Grill is located at 2835 18th Street South in Homewood. It is open Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. For more information, visit oakhillbarandgrill.com.

HOME STYLE&

HOLLYWOOD TUDOR

Donnie and Kate Smith’s 1930s cottage is revitalized with remnants of its original architectural charm.

BY ANNA GRACE BREEDLOVE

DDonnie and Kate Smith’s classic 1930s Tudor meshes age-old character with modern living, elevating historic remnants throughout the home. After two decades of renovating fixer uppers, they settled in the Hollywood neighborhood—drawn to its historic architecture and the community’s top-rated school system—in 2017.

The couple first met and fell in love while studying at nearby Samford University—Kate, an accounting major, and Donnie, a physical therapy student. Homewood is where their love story began, so it felt fitting to return to the community they so loved to raise their three children: Ethan, Emery and Reid.

Now nearly 10 years later, the couple says their renovation process is complete—even though it took them three different phases of design and construction. They first set their sights on renovating the upstairs area, which originally featured two

bedrooms and bathrooms, including the master suite.

The master bathroom was split, so Ethan and Reid can share one bathroom and Emery has the second. They also incorporated built-in bunk beds for the boys’ bedroom, utilizing some of the existing attic space.

The ceilings were vaulted from 7 to 14 feet, and the original ceiling joists were repurposed for a decorative touch. Then during the second phase, the couple opened up the kitchen, adding in a larger island with hand-turned legs and all new La Cornue and Sub-Zero appliances.

One of the main level’s two bedrooms was converted into the wet bar and laundry room, which is right next to the downstairs powder room that also sports an all-new look. From floor to ceiling, its walls are decorated with curated pieces of art, especially a

Dining Room

This gorgeous chandelier is almost a century in age and anchors the dining room; whereas, the Brunschwig & Fils wallpaper adds a bit of whimsical elegance to the space.

beloved painting from Kate’s grandfather.

Finally, the third renovation featured some major additions to the house’s original build, such as the finished basement, scullery and screened porch. While these augments all complement the house’s feng shui, Donnie and Kate both took precaution that nothing new would take away from the house’s historic charm.

Uniquely, the couple opted for leaded windows not only to accentuate the facade’s curb appeal, but also to pay tribute to its era’s architectural style. Other remnants such as the house’s crystal doorknobs and plaster fireplace are original to the house’s build.

Spanning five years, the completed project now sports an all new look, serving as a testament both to the Smiths’ meticulous passion for preservation and their deep love for the Hollywood community.

Living Room

In the corner, Kate’s mah jongg table sits adjacent from Donnie’s vintage, 1970s, Scandinavian-leather chairs—details that give the room its personality. Although the couple converted the fireplace from wood burning to ventless, they made sure to preserve its original plaster detailing.

Kitchen

A harmonious balance of beauty and functionality, the kitchen was reconfigured to include a 10-foot marble island with hand-turned table legs, and its older cabinets were repurposed in the laundry room. The French-made La Cornue range serves as the space’s focal point and inspiration for the scullery’s custom color.

Scullery

This space tucks away smaller appliances and also features a second sink, dishwasher and durable soapstone countertops.

Wet Bar

Tucked away in a corner adjacent to the kitchen is the wet bar, which features the couple’s niche collection of liquors.

Powder Bathroom

Adorning the walls of the powder bath is Kate’s curated collection of photographs and paintings—one even passed down from her grandfather.

Green Room

The family’s den is where they spend most of their time together. The color-drenched room and framed papyrus tapestries add to its more ethereal aesthetic.

Porch

The screened porch off the green room extends the family’s quality time into a cozy space outdoors— one warmed by a wood-burning fireplace, perfect for chilly days.

Master Bedroom

An addition to the original build’s layout, the master bedroom was relocated downstairs during the third phase in renovation and features a blend of textiles for sophistication in everyday life.

Master Bathroom

Limestone floors and countertops, along with the concealed water closet, elevate this space with a refined, custom look.

Leaving itBetter

Homewood Life’s 2026 community champion Paul Doran has given back to his community for decades.

BY KATELYN SMITH

RRecently voted best community champion for Homewood Life, Paul Doran has spent countless hours of his time at the Homewood Public Library and devotes his life to fostering the community around him. He’s also served on several boards, including the Homewood Library Board, the Ascension Health Board at St. Vincent and the Montevallo Foundation Board.

With a lifelong passion for education, reading and service, he hopes to leave the world better than he found it.

Paul was born shortly after his father returned home from his bombardment group in England during World War II. Initially, their family lived in Homewood, but they moved around several times, including to Huntsville, Dothan and Andalusia. Growing up, he always had a passion for learning and education.

“When I was in school, I was fascinated with how much the teachers knew,” Paul says, “and of course, you have some good teachers and some other people just picking up paychecks, but I always thought that

was an honorable profession and something I’d like to do.”

He was no stranger to libraries and good books. When Paul was in sixth grade, he was deemed the library director by his principal. In a small school with only 10 rooms, he was entrusted to take care of the library books. It was his first experience with overseeing a library and a subtle foreshadowing of the future.

After graduating high school, Paul attended the University of Montevallo and graduated with double majors in math and accounting and a minor in economics. He then moved to Selma, Alabama, where he taught math at a high school.

“I enjoyed it,” Paul recalls. “I didn’t have to, after four years of college, I didn’t have to think real hard. It was that kind of just relaxing thing, but I knew I always wanted to teach.”

After one year of teaching, Paul married his wife, Connie Osborne. He then decided to get his master’s in business administration because of an encouraging talk he had with his uncle. He received his MBA from

“To me, it’s always trying to not only give back, but whatever you’re doing, leave it better than where it started.”

-Paul Doran

Proudly serving our intentional neighbors in Homewood!

Samford University, where he graduated at the top of his class.

Although several business executives at Samford tried to recruit Paul with different job offers, he decided that he wanted to try teaching college. One year later, he was teaching at Jefferson State Junior College, now Jefferson State College, and teaching MBA classes at Samford in the evenings in the early 1980s.

“I’m a doctor, and I tell people, ‘What kind of doctor do you think I am?’ They’ll pick, and I’ll say, ‘No, no. I’m the kind of doctor that puts you to sleep,’” he says, chuckling. “Then they come up with something else medical. I’ll say, ‘No, no, I was a college professor.’”

Being a college professor never felt like working for him. It just felt like sharing information that he knew so much about, and it was something he loved to do.

During this time, Paul and Connie lived in the Hoover area for 26 years but became annexed by Hoover in 1986. In 1987, he was one of five people appointed to Hoover’s first school system.

Eventually, he served a few years as vice president and then president of the system for two more years, serving on the school board for five years total. After 31 years teaching, Paul retired in 2001, but his work in the community was far from over.

One day, he was speaking to his neighbor, a city

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council member, about his previous plans for a stateof-the-art library that would be in Hoover High School. Although those plans didn’t work out for the school, the city council member then suggested to Paul that there was an opening on the Homewood Public Library board that he should take. He became appointed to the board in 2010.

“I always enjoyed the library,” Paul says. “I knew that libraries were a source of knowledge outside of anything we’re taught in school and outside of anything you spoke to anyone about. The good news is you can select and choose what you want to learn, and I thoroughly enjoy that concept.”

Paul had always been an avid reader. He mainly enjoys reading nonfiction, particularly about World War II because of his father. He also loves picking up books about statistics and seeing how much he remembers from studying and teaching it.

He even used to review textbooks for different institutions.

While serving on the board, he was the driving force in forming the Homewood Library Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fundraising arm separated from the city that helps raise private funds for the library. With only five people to start, Paul and the board would find out the library’s director’s needs and then

have meetings to come up with fundraising plans. One of these plans became their major fundraiser and a big event for Homewood: the Homewood Library Foundation Block Party.

“I remember we had the first block party, and this lady and I, one of the other board members, we were standing out front,” Paul recalls. “She looks at me and says, ‘Is anybody going to come?’ I said, ‘Yes, it’s called a party, people will show up in Homewood,’ and they did. Boy, that’s been a big deal.”

One thing that evolved over the years when Paul served on the board was the introduction of more technology in the library. He and the staff had to learn how to navigate it and adjust as new pieces of technology were brought in.

He’s always enjoyed the adaptability of the entire library staff. As well as being flexible with technological advancements, they could also find a solution for almost every problem. One of his favorite memories is when a big rainstorm passed through and caused some ceiling pieces to fall in the library.

“How well the employees and people in charge went to work and solved that problem,” Paul says about his admiration for the library staff. “We don’t have problems any more with (the ceilings), and that says a lot. It made an impression upon me that these people

are going to do whatever it takes to make things right.”

After serving the maximum number of terms on the library board in 2024, the board decided to make Paul the first emeritus trustee. He’s still very present at the library today, occasionally attending their meetings still.

Last year, he was also presented with the American Library Association Trustee Citation award after being nominated by Homewood’s library director. The award is given to a public library trustee who has done outstanding work for library development. He was completely shocked by the award.

For Paul, serving on the library board and working for his community was never for recognition. He feels like it’s in his own self-interest and a responsibility to serve in the community he lives in.

“To me, it’s always trying to not only give back, but whatever you’re doing, leave it better than where it started,” Paul says. “So, that’s what I’ve always tried to do, and I don’t have to be the star of the show; I’ve been working behind the scenes.”

Paul is very grateful and humbled to be voted for Homewood Life’s community champion. He hopes to continue doing what he loves most, serving the community in any way he can.

COMMUNITY LEADERS 2026

It’s the people who make the community what it is! Here, we recognize some of those making an impact on others around them through their businesses.

As the 2026 Board President of the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce, Katrina Porter, owner of Katrina Porter Designs, leads with a passion for collaboration and community. She believes the strongest communities are built through meaningful relationships, shared purpose, and businesses investing in one another. Mountain Brook has long been known for its villages, and that spirit inspires the Chamber’s guiding philosophy: It takes a village to build business, create community, welcome visitors and invest in the future. The Chamber brings together businesses, nonprofits, civic leaders and residents to strengthen the connections that make Mountain Brook exceptional. Katrina’s thoughtful leadership reflects that vision. By championing local businesses, fostering partnerships and encouraging community engagement, she is helping create opportunities that benefit the entire Mountain Brook community. Under her leadership, the Chamber continues its commitment to ensuring Mountain Brook remains a vibrant place to live, work, shop and invest for generations to come.

HOMEWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Rosa Hill is a Spanish bilingual Realtor® with 18 years of experience serving the Birmingham area as a member of the Jamie Goff Team at ARC Realty Homewood and a partner of Three P’s In A Pod, LLC, providing real estate consulting and property services. A Homewood resident for the past 14 years, Rosa proudly serves as the 2026 President of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She has also served on the Homewood Public Library Board for the past nine years and the Homewood Chamber Board for eight years. Rosa credits her parents’ unwavering love, support and strong values for shaping her into the ambitious, faith-filled woman she is today. Rosa has volunteered with the American Red Cross, Grace House Ministries and local disaster relief efforts. She is also the proud mother of three remarkable sons—two graduates of Homewood High School and one currently attending. Whether serving clients or leading community initiatives, Rosa is passionate about helping others, building lasting relationships and making a positive impact.

Founded in the heart of Mountain Brook by Stewart H. Welch III, The Welch Group has proudly served the community for more than four decades. As one of the area’s first fee-only financial planning firms, they remain dedicated to the mission that has defined their history: enriching lives by creating personalized, meaningful experiences in wealth management and family office services. The Welch Group understands that every financial journey is unique. Their experienced team works to craft a tailored plan that addresses your current needs while allowing for growth as life evolves. Whether you are at the peak of your career, planning for your family’s future or transitioning into retirement, they are there to guide you every step of the way. Their goal is to simplify complexities, empower you to pursue your goals and help you create a lasting legacy. The Welch Group is grateful to support the Mountain Brook community and honored to be part of your financial story. For a copy of their current written Disclosure Brochure or Form CRS, visit welchgroup.com.

At Gunn Dermatology, board-certified dermatologists Dr. Gunn and Dr. Libecco, along with Dr. Albert, FAAP, and Physician Assistant Ellen, are dedicated to helping you achieve healthy, beautiful skin at every stage of life. From medical dermatology and skin cancer detection to advanced cosmetic treatments and personalized skincare, their team combines expertise, innovation, and a patient-first approach to deliver natural, beautiful results. Whether you’re seeking preventative care, treatment for a skin concern, or aesthetic rejuvenation, you’ll receive customized care designed around your unique goals. With a commitment to education, excellence, and the latest technology, Gunn Dermatology is proud to be a trusted destination for exceptional skin care in the community. The best skin of your life starts here.

Touchdown Towns

Where will your weekends take you this fall? With autumn months comes the South’s Saturday ritual of tuning in to their favorite college team’s football games. This year, hit the road and experience the game day atmosphere live and in person. Let this guide help you plan your trip to a nearby college town and read on for details and traditions of several Southeastern Conference (SEC) teams.

HIT THE ROAD

TUSCALOOSA

Closest to the greater Birmingham area is the University of Alabama, located in Tuscaloosa. Although their mascot Big Al is an elephant, they’re more commonly known as the Crimson Tide.

The Tide play at Bryant-Denny Stadium, with over 100,000 seats that fans regularly fill up. Dress to represent the team with the classic crimson and white school colors or houndstooth print, popularized by former coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, and learn the song “Dixieland Delight” to feel right at home.

For a convenient accommodation close to the action, stay at the Hotel Capstone, which is currently rebranding to Graduate by Hilton. The hotel is located on campus and within walking distance of the stadium. Dine at Avenue Pub for traditional American fare, or try the Thai nachos or pepper jelly chicken sandwich. Need a break from the action? Walk along The Riverwalk, the paved trail along the Black Warrior River near downtown.

AUBURN

The next closest SEC destination is the Loveliest Village on the Plains, Auburn University. Just about two hours away from the Birmingham area, the Auburn Tigers play in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Their loud chants of War Eagle originated with an eagle of a Civil War veteran that became their symbol of good luck. Official school colors are orange and navy blue.

Stay a short walk away from the stadium at The Collegiate Hotel, a former Auburn dorm renovated by alumni. For a good meal to fuel up before the game, visit the classic Toomer’s Drugs on the corner between campus and downtown. Founded as a drug store in 1896, the establishment

now serves fresh lemonade, food, ice cream and Auburn memorabilia.

If the Tigers win, be prepared for the classic tradition of rolling Toomer’s Corner with toilet paper hanging from the tree branches.

HIT THE ROAD

STARKVILLE

Less than two and half hours from Birmingham are the Mississippi State Bulldogs in Starkville, Mississippi, occasionally referred to by the nickname, StarkVegas.

The Bulldogs play at Davis Wade Stadium in their classic school colors of maroon and white. Mississippi State’s most iconic traditions include the cowbells ringing in victory and the chant of their fight song and slogan, “Hail State.”

For a quaint hotel in walking distance from everything on campus and in town, stay at the restored Hotel Chester. Eat some fabulous barbecue at Two Brothers Smoked Meats, where every meal is a hit, especially the pulled pork sandwich.

OXFORD

Just under three hours from Birmingham is the town of Oxford, Mississippi, home of the University of Mississippi “Ole Miss” Rebels. The Rebels play at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Before donning cardinal red and navy blue, learn the words to the “Hotty Toddy” chant. Before kickoff, the entire stadium will lock arms and sway as they sing “Come With Me.”

Have a Creole-inspired dinner at Bouré, and eat shrimp and grits and jambalaya on the large balcony overlooking the historic Square. Also located in the Square, The Oliver Hotel is the perfect place to stay on your Oxford visit.

ATHENS

Only three and a half hours from Birmingham is Athens, Georgia, home of the University of Georgia Bulldogs. The Dawgs play at Sanford Stadium among a large sea of fans clothed in the school colors of red and black.

Right before kickoff, point to the trumpeter from the band playing “Battle Hymn of the Bulldog Nation.” After a major win, head to the Chapel Bell as the fans continue an old tradition of ringing the bell throughout the night.

For a unique stay close to campus, try The Bell hotel, originally a phone and telegraph building from 1916. While in Athens, make sure to try Taqueria Del Sol and taste the enchiladas and house margarita. Another fun dinner option is Paloma Park for Tex-Mex and live music.

knoxville

Farthest from Birmingham on this roundup, but close to many hearts, is the University of Tennessee Volunteers, in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Vols are around four hours away, but the drive is worth seeing the iconic checkered end zones at Neyland Stadium.

The Volunteers’ live mascot is Smokey the bluetick coonhound. Make sure to learn the words to “Rocky Top,” as it will play after each touchdown every game.

For the ultimate Tennessee experience, stay at the Graduate Knoxville to fully

get in the mood for your game day. Try eating at Sunspot on the edge of campus for a Southwestern, Caribbean and Latin American meal and daily drink specials. While you’re in town, hit up Knoxville’s Market Square for shops and other restaurants.

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September Membership Breakfast

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October Membership Luncheon and Annual Legislative Update

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Holiday Open House

Nov. 17

November Membership Breakfast

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Ribbon Cuttings

WE LOVE HOMEWOOD DAY

On Saturday, May 2 at Homewood Central Park, the city of Homewood held its annual community festival, featuring food vendors, inflatables, music, chalk art, a parade and more.

1. The Bollard family

2. The Brudi family

3. Harrison and Dave McKinney

4. Ann Blevins Grissom, Anna Rickard, Kate Snell, Mary Ryan Snell, Wyatt Jane Sullivan and Rosie Hill

5. Inga and Clara

6. Jett and Ireasha Bandic

7. Joseph, Jack, Everett and JJ

8. Katelyn and Dahlia Colvert

9. Megan Poston, Becca Brown and Jennifer Crowson

10. Raelynn, Jackson and Mackenzie

11. Stefanie and Grady Starnes

WE LOVE HOMEWOOD DAY PARADE

On Saturday, May 2 at Homewood Central Park, local citizens gathered together to celebrate the community with a grand parade, including members of the Homewood Patriot Marching Band, Miss Alabama Emma Terry and more.

1. Ashlynn and Jiyah

2. Barrett and Pearce

3. Ella, Mollie Tate, Rayleigh Tate, Lucy and Anna Lilly

4. Avadian Team

5. Emma McKenzie, Emma Eason and Ruby Wolverton

6. Emma Terry

7. Teddy Yates, Carson Schoenherr, Durham Daniel, Worth Daniel, Charlie Daniel, Sarah Helen Martina, Bennett Martina, James Kappel, Beau Kappel and Ramsey Wright

8. Katelyn Herring, Palmer Moran, Perry Curtis and Reese Elliot

9. Homewood Public Library Team

10. Piper, Sarah Collins, Sage, Sophia, Lively and Tori

11. Olivia Kappel and Chloe Washmuth

JOHN CARROLL’S 2026 GRADUATION

On Friday, May 15, John Carroll Catholic High School held its commencement ceremony for its 2026 graduates.

1. Jean Paul Plaisance, Michael Plaia, Dana Pittman and Quan Pham

2. Sophia Osbun and Andrew Hamilton

3. Lacy Jackson, Katherine Moore, Kate Nguyen, Evelyn Topazi and Sara Naylor

4. Dr. Korliss Datcher, Camila Rebolledo, Kadija Sagno and Carlina Sazera

5. Lindsey Truong and Charles Courtney

6. Madelyn Kirkpatrick, Isabella Marino, Lyla Douglas and Marion Haskell

7. Michael Shafer and Emily Williams

8. Gabriel Mitchell, Niajel Morgan and Owen Muro

9. Kate Nguyen, Jack Turkiewicz, Kate Moore, Campbell Hendrick, Evelyn Topazi, Walter Hungerpiller, Ayden Wyatt, Lucy Wagner, Furyk Whistle and Sara Naylor

10. Madelyn Kirkpatrick, Avery Kononchek and Lacy Jackson

11. Joshua Chandler and Madel Chandler

HOMEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL’S GRADUATION

On Saturday, May 16, Homewood High School held its commencement ceremony for the class of 2026 at the Pete Hanna Center at Samford University.

1. Addison DeCoudres, Bruce Eich, Carly Delk and Luke Eldridge

2. Isabella Burczyk and Reid Stephenson

3. Alex Mooresmith, Adeline Moore, Thomas Moore, Ivan Martinez and Michael Rivas

4. Caroline Maner and Adelaide Matthews

5. Austin Nix, Khang Nguyen and William Owens

6. Ellis McCool, Sydney Morgan, Meagan Tucker and Lily Trinh

7. Jefferson Giffin, Lucas Garrett and Giselle Garcia

8. Kimberly Martinez-Quijada, Josselyn Miranda-Ruiz and Laila Mohamed

9. Macie Dwyer, Katherine Edgerton and Judson Eanesjpg

10. Sydney Morgan, Tayhlar Dudley and Asia Woods

11. Molly Bickell, Charlotte Brown and Keely Chadha

HOMEWOOD FOURTH OF JULY FESTIVAL

PHOTOS BY JAMES AND RACHEL CULVER

On Saturday, July 4, the city of Homewood held its annual Independence Day celebration, featuring rides and attractions, family-friendly games and views of Vulcan Park & Museum’s “Thunder on the Mountain” fireworks show.

1. Anna Kate and Spencer Kemble with Scot and Treva Nelson

2. Barton and Keira Dixon

3. Ashley Davidson, Andrea Phillips and Amber hill

4. Celeste, John and Graham Bayles

5. Karissa White and Tenzi Chacha

6. The Boswell and Brown families with George Washington

7. Jason and Mary Clark

8. Fanny Espinoza, Tricia Holley and Anna Reynolds

9. Charlie, Emily and Ella Wellen

10. Annais, Ivana and Nana Jimenez

11. Ann Lee with Meredith, Lucas, Worth and Charlie Plains

TRASH ‘N TREASURE SALE

PHOTOS

BY

JAMES AND RACHEL CULVER

On Saturday, July 4, Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church held its annual Trash ‘N Treasure sale and Independence Day celebration.

1. The Bauman family

2. The Connor family

3. Megan Watson, Maggie Manly, Faith Carson, Taylor Hill and Dina Manly

4. Suzy Ripp and the McInerney family

5. Walker Buckley, Clara Crawford and Kenison Heard

6. Michael Busbin and Brian Kendrick

7. Betty and Kim Covington with Patricia Wormly

Best Real Estate Team

THE FRED SMITH GROUP THE FRED SMITH GROUP

We are excited to share that we have been chosen as the area ’ s Best Real Estate Team AGAIN ! We are truly grateful to our clients who continue t o support us and to refer us to colleagues , friends and family .

Since 1995 , our team has proudly represented buyers and seller s across the area , closing on well over 5 properties What sets us apart is simple : Teamwork Experienced agents , marketing experts , and dedicated listing and closing coordinators uni quely position The Fred Smith Group to deliver the highest quality service in the Birmingh am area Our team has the agic ity covered !

From pricing and marketing , to negotiations , we ’ ve got you covered and with RealtySouth ’ s trusted brand backing us , we serve you throughout your buying or selling ou rney . Our clients know they can rely on us for expert adv ice , quick results , and a seamless experience Our reputation is built on results , trust , and a commitment to excellence .

You can count on The Fred Smith Group – for every move you make !

Marketplace

Automation

Personnel Services Hiring IMMEDIATELY

For: Automotive Assembly, General Labor, Production, Clerical, Machine Operator, Quality, Carpentry, Welder, Foundry. Positions In: Calera, Clanton, Pelham, Bessemer, McCalla. Walkin applications accepted. Clanton (205)280-0002. Pelham (205)4449774.

Bama Concrete Now Hiring:

Diesel Mechanic 4 Years Minimum Experience. CDL Preferred. Competitive Pay. Great Benefits. Apply in person: 2180 Hwy 87 Alabaster, 35007

Now Hiring For Utility Positions

Starting pay

$15.14/hour Must be able to pass background screen. Please apply at: www.bc.com

Central Alabma Wellness Mental Health Services

Office locations in Calera, Clanton, Pelham, and 280! 205-651-0077

Visit our website to learn more centralalbama wellness.org

Marble Valley Manor. Affordable 1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments for Elderly & Disabled. Many on-site services! 2115 Motes Rd, Sylacauga. 256245-6500 •TDD#s: 800-548-2547(V) •800-548-2546(T/ A). Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm. Equal Opportunity Provider/Employer

Security Guard for Gated Community in North Shelby County Full-time or Part-time. Must have pistol permit. Call Brittany 205991-4653

Become a Dental Assistant in ONLY 8 WEEKS! Please visit our website capstonedental assisting.com or call (205)561-8118 and get your career started!

ETS Restorations & Tree Service

“From street to walls, we do it all” •Retaining Walls •Concrete Work •Demolition •Landscaping •Tree Removal •Tree Trimming •Bobcat Work •Hardscapes •Hauling FREE ESTIMATES!!! CALL NOW (205)2097787 (205)6833257

Hill Brook Manor Apartments 300 Sumner Dr. Calera, AL 35040 205-6682020 Affordable Living Apartments Available 1 BR for $665/month 2BR for $705/month

Software Engineers III - eBusiness in Birmingham, AL: Email resume to Motion Industries, Inc. at: mottalentacquisition@ motion.com (Must REF: Job Title in subject line).”

Production Engineering Technician –Positions offered by HL Mando America Corporation (Hogansville, GA). Increase first pass yield by improving measurement systems & optimize machining processes.Submit resume to cindy. smith@hlcompany. com. Reference Job ID: 8445038.

Current Products

Lead Engineer, ACX – positions offered by Autocar, LLC (Center Point, AL). Dev, mnge & mentor current prods engins to root-cause & solve des issues & supp all ACX Refuse

engin’g needs on produc line. Must be willing to travel domestically 5%. Please submit resume to legalcompliance@ gvwgroup.com. Reference job id: 9326335.

Manufacturing Engineer –positions offered by Autocar, LLC (Center Point, AL). Responsible for manufacturing eng’ing, industrial & process eng’ing related functions w/in scope of responsibility at Autocar. Please submit resume to LegalCompliance@ gvwgroup.com. Reference Job ID: 9737474.

P&F COIN

COMPANT: We

Pay The Highest Prices In Town! 561 First St. N, Alabster, AL 35007 “WE BUY & SELL GOLD & SILVER” *Scrap/Broken Jewelry *Gold & Silver Bullion * Sterling Silverware Sets * Vintage Watches *And More! Find Us On Facebook! 205624-3033 admin@ pfcoincompany. com

For All Your Masonry Needs

• Block •Brick •Concrete Repair •Brick Cleaning •Painting Call 205643-0729 or email srichardson642@ gmail.com to get your FREE ESTIMATES!

Pelham’s Newest Community! Tower Homes Community, Huntley Ridge, is nestled conveniently near I-65, I-459 and Highway 31 and is now selling 3BR/2BA homes starting in the $320s. Call today to schedule a showing!

Now Hiring! Termite Treaters and Inspectors

Work with a great local company, in business for over 50 years. BC/BS insurance, 401k, opportunities available. No experience required Must have a good driving record and be able to pass drug screen. Email to facsmith@charter. net or call 205369-6250 Vulcan Termite and Pest Control

MY HOMEWOOD

JUDITH WRIGHT

Homewood Public Library Executive Director

Get Outdoors

Free Little Libraries

Homewood has so many Little Free Libraries! You would think that I have enough books in my life, but I love seeing what others want to share. I also love stocking LFLs around Homewood, especially the library’s one on Ridge Road.

Fellowship in Community Trunk-or-Treat

I love the Library Foundation’s annual Trunk-or-Treat event, which has quickly become one of my favorites! I’m a sucker for kids in adorable Halloween costumes. The next one is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 18!

Sentimental Spots

Friends Bookstore

I think the best kept secret in Homewood is the Friends Bookstore at the library. It is completely run by the Friends of the Homewood Library volunteers, who are the kindest souls. You can get books and movies in pristine condition for less than $2. From that, the Friends Bookstore donates over $50,000 annually in grants to the library!

Serving Local Patrons

Homewood Public Library

When you work alongside a team as talented as ours, every day is going to be a day filled with enthusiasm, new ideas and a love of community. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and for being embraced by a community that so genuinely loves and supports its public library.

Eat Local Ono Poke

Some might say I’m addicted to the salmon crunch bowl at Ono Poke in Edgewood, and they would be right! It is refreshing, filling and absolutely delicious.