🌱 Whole Foods Sues Hoover + Berry Middle School Teacher Wins Award

Hello again, everybody! It's Friday in Hoover and I'm back in your inbox with everything that's fit to print about what's happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 54 Low: 39.

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Here are the top three stories today in Hoover:

1. Whole Foods and Hoover continue to square off in the legal arena. The high-end grocery store closed its Hoover location almost two years ago but is still feuding with the owner of Riverchase Village Shopping Center. Riverchase asserts that they are owed $268,905.91 by Whole Foods. However, the grocery chain claimed that flood damage to the location had effectively terminated the lease. The case is ongoing. (ABC3340)
2. Science teacher Kevin Pughsley was surprised with a special visit from the Hoover City Schools Prize Patrol this week. The sixth-grade earth science teacher works at Berry Middle School and was honored as the district's Secondary Teacher of the Year. He was surprised by his award by students, faculty, and district leaders. Pughsley has been an educator for 16 years. Congratulations! (Hoover City Schools)
3. Rickwood Caverns State Park (about 40 miles from Hoover) is once again holding The Wonderland Under Warrior holiday event. The popular annual lights festival offers all sorts of entertainment options to get you in the Christmas spirit. There are self-guided tours, Santa visits, and more. The event will run through Jan. 8. (Alabama State Parks)

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Today in and around Hoover:

• CASC Gun Show at Finley Center (6:00 AM)
• Storytime At The Gardens at Birmingham Botanical Gardens in Birmingham (10:00 AM)
• Happy Hour at Front Porch (3:00 PM)
• College And Career Christmas Party at Oasis of Praise (5:00 PM)

Special notice:

Patch has partnered with T-Mobile for two new series: Local Heroes and Star Student Athletes. The goal is to highlight heroes and star athletes in Hoover!

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From my notebook:

• Hoover school officials have announced the winners of the district's 2022-23 Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year! You can see the whole list of winners at the link. (Hoover Sun via Facebook)
• Residents of the Hoover Senior Center and Hoover New Horizons enjoyed a Christmas luncheon together! It was a fun time with good food and great friends. Click to view photos. (Hoover, Alabama - Parks & Recreation via Facebook)
• The Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce enjoyed a delicious breakfast of coffee and bagels at the Galleria food court for their Membership Appreciation Breakfast! What a great way to start the day. (Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)
• A minor crash on I-65 northbound near exit 247 caused some delays in Hoover on Thursday. (ALGO Birmingham)

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You're all caught up for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with another update.

— 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.