🌱 Patch AM: Which Mountain Brook stories made Village Living’s “Best of 2025” list?

Hi Mountain Brook! We have the latest buzz right here. Let's keep you in the loop and get this morning started right! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Which Mountain Brook stories made Village Living’s “Best of 2025” list?
• How Mountain Brook’s online sales tax lawsuit could shake Alabama budgets
• Mountain Brook resident killed in CSX derailment south of Birmingham

Also on today's calendar: Camp Half-Blood at O'Neal Library and 4 more events.

Today's riddle: Jimmy, did you crash on your bike again? You’ve lost a tooth! 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: Brisk and much colder, with a high of 38 and low of 19 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Monday: Sunny and not as cold, temps: high: 46, low: 25.
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 54 and low of 34 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Village Living Best of 2025: 5 stories we loved (villagelivingonline.com) — Mountain Brook residents are spotlighted in five standout Village Living stories, from MBHS students creating a civics podcast interviewing Mountain Brook council hopefuls to local teens running a community-minded food truck. The collection also highlights a Holocaust survivor in Birmingham, a homegrown fan app from an MBHS alum, and the Class of 2025 navigating an AI-shaped future.
   

• Alabama's online shopping tax erupts into bitter court battle: $851 million at stake, and growing (al.com) — Mountain Brook is one of three plaintiffs suing Alabama’s Department of Revenue over how the state taxes online sales, a case that could reshape how much money cities and schools receive. More than 100 other cities and all 67 counties are lining up to defend the current flat online tax, arguing that changing it could disrupt basic services statewide. The outcome could significantly affect Mountain Brook’s future revenue from online shopping.
   

• NTSB investigating after CSX employee is killed in Alabama (trains.com) — A CSX railroad employee from Mountain Brook, identified as 52-year-old Charles Harrison, was killed early Saturday in a train derailment near Calera, about 30 miles south of Birmingham. Federal investigators from the NTSB are now leading the probe, while CSX and local officials say they are focusing on supporting his family and coworkers during the investigation.
   

📸 Around Mountain Brook

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Mountain Brook

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Tuesday December 16

• Gentle Yoga
  O'Neal Public Library, 50 Oak St, Mountain Brook
  10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Tuesday December 16

• Basketball open play
  Levite Jewish Community Center , 3960 Montclair Rd , Birmingham
  6:00 am

Wednesday December 17

• Tai chi for arthritis and fall prevention
  Levite Jewish Community Center , 3960 Montclair Rd , Birmingham
  11:30 am
• Southern Jewish Voices
  Levite Jewish Community Center , 3960 Montclair Rd , Birmingham
  12:00 pm
• Basketball open play
  Levite Jewish Community Center , 3960 Montclair Rd , Birmingham
  6:00 pm

Friday December 19

• Camp Half-Blood at O'Neal Library
  O'Neal Public Library , 50 Oak St , Mountain Brook
  6:00 pm

Tuesday December 23

• American Red Cross blood drive
  Levite Jewish Community Center , 3960 Montclair Rd , Birmingham
  10:00 am

📣 Mountain Brook Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Sunday December 14

• Intro To On- Camera Camp (AGES 7-12)
  Acting Out Academy! , 3325 Rocky Ridge Plz Suite 221 , Vestavia Hills
  10:00 am
• Lillie's Cup Holiday Tea
  Arlington Antebellum Home & Gardens , 331 Cotton Ave SW , Birmingham
  2:00 pm
• A Christmas Story
  Alabama Theatre , 1817 3rd Ave N , Birmingham
  2:00 pm
• Sounds of the Season
  Samford University , 800 Lakeshore Dr , Homewood
  2:30 pm
• Adult Class ONE
  Acting Out Academy! , 3325 Rocky Ridge Plz Suite 221 , Vestavia Hills
  4:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

🗞 Nearby News

Vestavia Hills

• Movers ferry delicate gingerbread houses to Vestavia Hills, keep Megan Montgomery's memory alive (wvtm13.com)
• Rebels basketball teams in others nominated category of ASWA poll (vestaviavoice.com)

Homewood

• Homewood Best of 2025: 5 stories we loved (thehomewoodstar.com)
• Three Birmingham students treated to shopping spree by Squadron, UAB Callahan Eye (wbrc.com)
• WBRC goes inside Islamic Academy of Alabama to learn about school's teachings (wbrc.com)

Ok Mountain Brook! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I didn’t lose a tooth, Mom. It’s right here in my pocket.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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