Protective Stadium Opening + Mental Health In Birmingham Schools

Hey, Birmingham! It's Friday and I'm here with everything you need to know to get the day started off right.

First, can you believe that we are just a day away from the official opening of Protective Stadium downtown? If you've lived in the 'Ham as long as I have, you know that efforts and talk surrounding a new stadium have been kicked around for decades now, with no results. But UAB will kick off against Liberty tomorrow night at this brand-spanking-new stadium. This is truly a historic moment for Birmingham. Read more about the game, and what city leaders and UAB folks have to say about it. And as always, enjoy your day!

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and warm. High: 87 Low: 69.

Here are the top stories today in Birmingham:

1. As I was saying above, the much-awaited opening of Protective Stadium is just a day away, as UAB plays Liberty Saturday night. Check out what city leaders and coach Bill Clark have to say about the event. (Birmingham Patch)
2. Meet Charlotte Shaw, the incoming executive director and CEO for the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority in this Birmingham Times profile. (Birmingham Times)
3. The Birmingham City Council voted on and approved $1 million in aid to Birmingham City Schools, which means you’ll see more mental health services for students. (Bham Now)
4. When you go to an event at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, the soft drink you will buy is going to be a Coca-Cola product, as the BJCC awarded 10-year pouring and vending rights contract to Coca-Cola Bottling Company United. (Yellowhammer News)
5. The 74th National Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham — the longest-running Veterans Day parade in the country — will be in person this year, after being held virtually last year. (WBRC)

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Today in Birmingham:

• Wacoal Fit for the Cure at Riverchase Galleria. (9 a.m.)
• The Alabama Butterbean Festival kicks off in downtown Pinson tonight. (6 p.m.)
• Check out the off-Broadway comedy "Men Are From Mars Women Are From Venus," at the Lyric Theatre. (7:30 p.m.)
• Songs of the South: A Tribute to Alabama is live at the Alabama Theatre tonight. (8 p.m.)
• See Deer Tick live at Saturn tonight. These guys put on a great show! (9 p.m.)

Birmingham Patch Notebook

• Why you need to check out Magic City Mural Fest + Woodlawn Family Dinner Oct. 2-10. (Bham Now)
• Learn more about the Junior League of Birmingham's Shop Save & Share 2021! (thehomewoodstar.com)
• The 2021 Holiday Film Series at the Alabama Theatre begins Friday, Dec. 3. Tickets are on sale now. (Facebook)
• Get ready for another amazing Birmingham Greek Festival, Oct. 14-16. (Bham Now)
• Birmingham City Schools is proud to announce Avondale Elementary School's newly installed swing set that students can now enjoy thanks to the Avondale PTA. (Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! See you tomorrow for another update. If you're liking these newsletters, consider bringing some of your friends and neighbors into the fold. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Michael Seale

About me: I am a lifelong Alabama resident with more than two decades of media under my belt. I have worked for a daily newspaper, a weekly newspaper, a monthly magazine, a television station and a couple of radio stations. I also tried my hand at marketing for a little while. But I love writing news. This opportunity to bring Patch to Birmingham is a chance for my hometown to benefit from a new - and better - way to read and receive news.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Birmingham Daily? Contact me at michael.seale@patch.com.