🌱 Birmingham Zoo's Glow Wild + Downtown YMCA Closure

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

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 73 Low: 62.

Here are the top three stories today in Birmingham:

1. The Birmingham Zoo will be celebrating Glow Wild on select days through January. This festive event will feature strolls through various lantern creations. Participants will be able to ride on the Red Diamond Express Train and the Protective Life Carousel. Click the link for ticket information. (Bham Now)
2. A Birmingham firefighter suffered minor injuries while responding to a fire on Wednesday morning. The fire was at Washington Street and Commissary Street. The incident occurred around 5:00 a.m. The firefighter was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his leg injury. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. (Alabama's News Leader)
3. The Greater Birmingham YMCA's downtown location has announced it will be permanently closing at the end of this year. The closure is reportedly due to the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and recent inflation. The downtown location has been operating for the last 36 years. Membership at the location has declined in recent years. The official closure date is Dec. 31. (AL.com)

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Today in Birmingham:

• UAB Toy Drive At The University of Alabama At Birmingham (All Day)
• Fall Wreath Craft At Woodlawn Branch Library (All Day)
• Fall Wordsearch Puzzle At Woodlawn Branch Library (All Day)
• Accessible Aqua Aerobics At Levite Jewish Community Center (10:00 AM)
• Time For Tales With Ms. Cas At Avondale Regional Branch Library (10:30 AM)

From my notebook:

• Are you growing increasingly frustrated with online home listings and seeking an alternative? Consider this list of five upcoming in-person open houses occurring in the Birmingham area this weekend. Click for the full list that includes times, dates, property dimensions, prices, and photos. (Birmingham Patch)
• The U.S. National Weather Service reports that Tropical Storm Nicole is reaching Hurricane strength. Click for the full weather report. (US National Weather Service Birmingham Alabama via Facebook)
• The Birmingham Police Department is actively recruiting new officers. Click for recruiting information. (Birmingham Police Department, Alabama via Facebook)

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

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander, now living in New York. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.