🌱 Firefighters To Escort Santa + Ukrainian Refugees Welcome Baby

Good morning, Birmingham! Like many of you, the Patch staff will be taking some time off for the holiday season, so you may not see as many newsletters in your inbox between now and the New Year. We will resume our normal schedule during the first week of January. For now, here's what you need to know about what's happening around town.

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But first, today's weather:

Breezy in the morning. High: 29 Low: 16.

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Here are the top three stories today in and around Birmingham:

1. The Hoover Fire Department will be escorting Santa Claus around town on Christmas Eve. Firefighters will be driving Santa around in fire engines between 3:00 p.m. and 9:30 pm. to help him scout neighborhoods. (Hoover Sun)
2. A refugee family from Ukraine welcomed a new baby in Birmingham recently. The father said he is thankful the mother was able to give birth in an Alabama hospital as many hospitals in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed due to the ongoing war. (WBRC)
3. A 10-week-old puppy is on the mend after being rescued from its owner who abused it outside a McDonald's in Birmingham. Jefferson County Sheriff's Office deputies received a tip that a man was abusing the puppy and arrived on the scene to find the abandoned and injured puppy. The owner has since been identified and arrested. (WIAT - CBS42.com)

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From our sponsor:

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Today in Birmingham:

Saturday, December 24

• Pepper Place Saturday Market At 2nd Avenue South (7:00 AM)
• Christmas Eve Bash At Cahaba Brewing Company (11:00 AM)

Sunday, December 25

• Christmas Chili Lunch At Magic City Acceptance Center (12:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• This weekend is expected to see record-low temperatures. To help keep residents out of the cold, the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex will be opening its doors 24/7 as a warming center until Sunday. The shelter is expecting to see more than 200 people. (Alabama's News Leader)
• A sixth-grade Hoover girl was crowned as Miss Yellowhammer for the second year in a row. With her win, she gets to advance to the USA National Preteen pageant in Hollywood, Florida in July 2023. Congratulations, Lucy! (Hoover Sun)
• The frigid winter temperatures can easily wreak havoc on your skin if you have no choice but to brave the outdoors. Listen to Birmingham dermatologist Dr. Stacy Haynes on how best to protect your skin from the cold. (WBRC)

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you soon, and happy holidays!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.