“Times Square Kiss” visits Brookdale Place community

Brookdale Place residents recognize residents Fran and John Carter and the Spirit of ’45. Photo by Katey Courtney.

The Brookdale Place community off Lakeshore Drive recognized residents Fran and John Carter today for being the founding members of the American Rosie the Riveter Association.  The Spirit of ’45 display made an appearance at Brookdale Place on its cross-country tour and honored couple with a medal. Residents were also able to view a statue of the iconic “Times Square Kiss.”

Members of various military honor groups join the Carters at the ceremony. Photo by Katey Courtney.

Summer Fun Photo Contest

Capture the fun of summer with your camera, and send us your favorite shots of the backyard, lake, beach, mountains, neighborhood, and wherever you and your family are. Our staff will choose the images that most colorfully capture a summer experience.

Prizes will be awarded to contest winners.

To enter, email your photos in a jpeg format to photos@thehomewoodstar.com. Please send high quality images and include a caption and photo credit.

Only four entry photos are allowed per person.

Deadline for entries is August 10, 2012.

We will publish the winners in the September issue as well as post them on our Facebook page and our website.

By submitting a photo, you are giving The Homewood Star permission to publish it in print and online.

New councilperson for Ward 1

New City Council representative Marcus Huskey

The Homewood City Council appointed Marcus Huskey to its Ward 1, Place 1 seat at a specially called June 3 meeting. He will be sworn in on June 11.

Huskey replaced Anthony Smith, who resigned from this position after he moved to a different ward earlier this year.

Huskey currently serves as Chief of Staff for Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight and is a student at Birmingham School of Law.

“He has a lot of knowledge of regional issues with his position with Jefferson County and brings his strengths with organizational skills and procedures, federal grants, and how rep governments should be,” said Hunter Payne, Ward 4, Place 1 representative.

A 2006 graduate of Samford University, Huskey worked for members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the White House in Washington, DC before moving back to a house on Dale Avenue in Ward 1 in 2010.

Huskey is the fourth councilperson to be appointed in the 2008 class. Elections for city council will be held August 28.

The pun artist: Don Stewart of DSArt

Homewood artist Don Stewart with his Uncommon Valor print of the history of the Marine Corps. Photo by Rick Watson.

By RICK WATSON

Don Stewart’s mother died unexpectedly when he was five years old, and it was then he knew he would become a doctor. But it wasn’t until the Homewood resident had completed medical school and was training as a surgeon that he realized practicing medicine did not make him happy—drawing did. So he walked out in the middle of his rounds.

That was 25 years ago, and he’s never regretted walking away. He had no idea how he would support himself drawing pictures with a ballpoint pen, but he knew he loved the work and believed he’d find a way. And he did.

Trying to categorize Stewart’s art is difficult. “I draw funny pictures that are made of puns that make people smile,” he said. “My job is to increase the endorphin levels of everyone that sees my pictures.”

An example is a golf bag made up of a set of clubs (playing cards that are all clubs), shooting iron (a pistol), trap (rat trap), driver (a hammer) and it’s all carried by a caddie (a Cadillac). The longer you look at the drawings, the more puns you see.

El Paso Wildflower Preserve now open

Mayor Scott McBrayer during the El Paso ribbon cutting. Photos courtesy of Dr. William Howell.

By CRAIG KLEIMEYER

A new wildflower garden in Forest Brook subdivision is attracting butterflies and hummingbirds.

“I’ve seen several species of butterflies already,” biologist and retired Samford University Professor Dr. William Howell said. “It’s working.”

The preserve, located along Shades Creek, features several species of wildflowers as well as mature oak and pine trees.

“It’s a cool get-away place right in the middle of Homewood,” Land Steward Rebekah Pine Parker said. “It’s not too far away, but you can see a great little ecosystem.”

Speaking to the true measure of a man

Richard E. Simmons III, author of True Measure of a Man. Photo by Madoline Markham.

By RICK WATSON

With the economic tsunami in recent years, men have been looking for answers amidst the loss of jobs and other major life transitions. Where have they found them? One place is The True Measure of a Man, a book written by Richard E. Simmons III of Homewood.

Mike Fox, head baseball coach for the University of North Carolina, said the book is life changing: “It not only changed me and my priorities, but it changed the way I coach.”

Simmons, who is the director of the Center for Executive Leadership (CFEL) in Homewood, explained that men today get their sense of self worth from how well they perform in the workplace. When they lose their jobs, their sense of self worth is battered, and their sense of identity becomes threatened.

City’s plan for sidewalks in motion

By CRAIG KLEIMEYER

New city council measures will help maintain Homewood as Alabama’s most walkable city, as it was ranked according to Walk Score in 2011.

The Homewood City Council approved a list of nine areas for sidewalk building and repairs on April 23. The city has allocated $900,000 for new sidewalks and $100,000 for sidewalk repairs in its 2011-2012 capital improvements budget.

“There is money, and we want to move quickly on the sidewalk projects,” Ward 5 Representative Peter Wright said. “It’s what the residents specifically asked for.”
Four city wards will have two new sidewalk projects each. Ward 5 will receive about $100,000 to improve three existing sidewalks.

Stay-at-home dads of Homewood

Richard and Bette Bradley with their sons Eli and Sam. Photo courtesy of the Bradley family.

By ANNA CATE LITTLE

As we salute all the hard working dads out there this Father’s Day, we especially remember those that forgo the paycheck and stay at home with the kids. It takes a special kind of man to handle laundry, meals and carpool, not to mention the mental and emotional demands that all children create. While at-home parenting may be tough, at least the dress code is casual and the bosses are much cuter. Here are three Homewood stay-at-home dads who honestly and candidly give us a taste of their daily daddy duties.

Jeremy and Julia Bernstein with their sons Nate and Charlie. Photo by Anna Cate Little.

Meet the dads
Richard Bradley is married to Bette and the dad of Sam (2.5) and Eli (8 weeks).
Randall Griggs is married to Alison and the dad of Jackson (12), Samuel (10) and Peter (8).
Jeremy Bernstein is married to Julia and the dad of Nate (6) and Charlie (3).

Alison and Randall Griggs with their three sons, Jackson, Samuel and Peter. Photo by Anna Cate Little.

What is the best part and the hardest part of being a stay-at-home dad?
Richard: Of course, getting to watch your children grow and being a big part of that process is the best part. Two years ago, when my wife and I decided on this arrangement, I was worried I wouldn’t find being a stay-at-home dad as fulfilling as having a successful career. After getting into a routine, I can’t really imagine doing anything else that would be as fulfilling as supporting my family in this role. But, being a stay-at-home parent can be extremely isolating. Luckily, within a year I found a great group of moms that have welcomed me with overwhelming acceptance.  We have regular playgroups at each other’s houses, go to McWane and the Zoo together, hit up Chick-fil-a, etc.

Michael’s Restaurant: Restaurant Showcase

Beef tips with your choice of sides are on the new lunch menu at Michael’s in SOHO. Photo by Madoline Markham.

By BETH EDDINGS

A vibrantly backlit Birmingham skyline at dusk lines a wall at Michael’s Restaurant. The image reveals the heart of the steakhouse and bar: it’s a local, family-owned business full of history.

Michael Matsos opened Michael’s Sirloin Room in 1958. Its Southside location quickly became a hot spot for both quality food and the famous sports figures and Hollywood entertainers it served.

“Outside of Birmingham, you’re not going to know the name Michael’s,” said General Manager Eric Murphy.  “It’s affiliated with Birmingham. It’s affiliated with Alabama football. Bear Bryant hung out at the original Michael’s, and Bob Hope hung out there with him. It was not uncommon to see a big name person when you came into Michael’s.”

Brandino Brass: Business Spotlight

Eric Brandino and his dad, Buster, re-established their family business, Brandino Brass, in Homewood in 2009. Photo by Craig Kleimeyer.

By CRAIG KLEIMEYER

Brandino Brass doesn’t have their own brand, but the 63-year-old business has become so synonymous with hardware in Birmingham that people come into the store requesting it.

Tony Brandino, who passed away in May at age 96, started the business in 1948.
“He loved to sell and take care of people, and he treated all of his employees and customers like family,” said Tony’s grandson, Eric.

Tony, an avid University of Alabama fan who attended 500 consecutive football games, worked closely with Birmingham’s architects and designers as well as generations of homeowners. The store still sees customers come in whose parents and grandparents worked with Tony over the years.