🌱 Birmingham Teacher Recognized At Oscars + New Meat Depot Location

Good morning, everybody! It's Thursday in Birmingham and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

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But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 69 Low: 58.

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Here are the top three stories in Birmingham today:

1. Kay Dummier, a teacher from Birmingham with almost 30 years of experience, received a heartwarming shout-out during the 95th Academy Awards. When one of her former students, Daniel Scheinert, won an Oscar for his film "Everything Everywhere All at Once", he expressed his gratitude to Dummier and other teachers who had inspired and educated him. Dummier was thrilled and touched by the recognition, though she was surprised. "I don’t remember doing anything special with him that I don’t do for all kids, so I don’t really know the impression I made," Dummier said. "I treated him like all my other neat little kids.” (Yellowhammer News)
2. Meat Depot has announced plans to open its second Birmingham-area location in the Five Points West neighborhood, taking over the former Winn-Dixie grocery store space. The area has been without a major grocery store since 2018, leaving residents with limited access to fresh produce and other essentials. Meat Depot promises to offer "crazy meat deals, flash sales, low prices on name brand items, and $5 steak nights" and is set to open its doors in early April. (Bham Now)
3. A Popeyes franchisee that started in Birmingham has filed for bankruptcy after its owner's death last year. Premier Cajun Kings, which owned stores in Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee and employed almost 500 workers at its peak, reported significant instability due to high inflation, interest rates, and labor difficulties. Although the company has closed ten stores and has $20.1 million in liabilities and $8.2 million in secured debt, it still operates 19 stores and has reached a limited license agreement with Popeyes to begin the sales process. (AL.com)

Today in Birmingham:

• Microsoft Word II, At Five Points West Regional Branch Library (9:30 AM)
• BPL Mobile: Lovejoy Day Care, At Birmingham Public Library (10:00 AM)
• Mah Jong Open Play, At Levite Jewish Community Center (11:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• During the school board meeting on Tuesday night, the chief academic officer of the Hoover school district reported that mid-year benchmark tests administered this winter indicate an improvement in math and English proficiency among students in elementary and middle schools. (Hoover Sun)
• Are you in the market for a new home? Here's a list of five properties that are hosting upcoming open houses in the Birmingham area. (Birmingham Patch)
• As we celebrate Women’s History Month, many local high schools are getting female students interested in construction and spreading the word this month! (WBRC)

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

— 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.