🌱 Touchdown Alabama Baseball Tournament + Student Testing Improves

Hey, everybody. It's Thursday in Hoover and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening locally.

Also, FYI: I wanted to let you know that Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Hoover Patch newsletter and make it their own. We want to pass the torch to someone truly local and in-the-know to write about Hoover long term. So if you’re interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Warmer with partial sunshine. High: 70 Low: 58.
• Friday: Showers and a heavier t-storm. High: 62 Low: 36.

📢 I'm looking for business owners and marketers in Hoover who want to build awareness, connect with customers and increase sales.

I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top three stories today in Hoover:

1. On Saturday, Apr. 8, Touchdown Alabama and Southern Xpress will be partnering for the first-ever TDA Elite 7-on-7 Tournament at Hoover High School. The event is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. and will feature the top seven organizations from Alabama and surrounding states to play. The tournament will be played as single eliminations. (Touchdown Alabama Magazine)
2. Elementary and middle school students in the Hoover school system continue to show progress in English and Math, according to the mid-year benchmark tests given each winter. The percentage of K-8 students on grade level has increased by 3 percentage points in math and 2 percentage points in English since the beginning of the year, according to Chief Academic Officer Chris Robbins. (Hoover Sun)
3. Next door in Birmingham, Saw's BBQ was recently named as being the best barbecue restaurant in Alabama by Southern Living. The restaurant was founded by the late chef Mike Wilson in Homewood's Edgewood community in 2009. Saw's also received national attention through a rave review in Men's Journal, and its success hasn't cooled down since. (CBS 42)

Today and tomorrow in Hoover:

Thursday, March 16

• Chamber Of Commerce Membership Luncheon At Finley Center (11:15 AM)

Friday, March 17

• St. Patrick's Day Celebration At Hoover Public Library (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Hoover City Council is officially accepting applications for an open spot on the Hoover Board of Education. Applications must be emailed or hand delivered to the Hoover City Clerk's office by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Mar. 27. For more information, check out additional details here. (City of Hoover)
• Reggie Torbor, a former Auburn and NFL football standout who recently became president of a new construction company, is set to speak at the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday, Mar. 16. This month's chamber luncheon is being held at the Finley Center with networking beginning at 11:15 a.m. (Hoover Sun)
• The Hoover Police Department's School Resource Officer Stan Porter recently partnered with first grader Anna at Prince Peace Catholic School as she was named the "POP COP" for the day. The pair patrolled the school's grounds to make sure everything was safe and secure for Anna's classmates. Her favorite moment of the shift was working in the video surveillance system. (Hoover (AL) Police Department via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• Homebuyer Blueprint Live Webinar (March 16)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday. I'll catch up with you soon with your next update!

— 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.