Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How Melvin Turner helped make Vestavia Hills’ finances AAA-strong
You won't want to miss Waldo's Chicken & Beer – Vestavia Hills on the Vestavia Hills Patch calendar

Greetings Vestavia Hills! We’re your go-to source for what’s happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How Melvin Turner helped make Vestavia Hills’ finances AAA-strong
- How two annexations quietly rewrote Vestavia Hills’ future
- What Vestavia’s new innovation-focused city clerk will change at City Hall
Today's riddle: What did one magnet say to the other magnet? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Vestavia Hillsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny and warmer, with a high of 71 and low of 50 degrees.
- Wednesday: Partly sunny and very warm, temps: high: 72, low: 51.
- Thursday: Partly sunny and very warm, with a high of 73 and low of 53 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Vestavia Hills says goodbye to Finance Director Melvin Turner (vestaviavoice.com) — Vestavia Hills is honoring longtime Finance Director Melvin Turner as he retires after more than 22 years guiding the city’s finances, helping earn a AAA bond rating and steering through the Great Recession and 2011 tornado recovery. City leaders and colleagues praised his steady, people-focused leadership while newly promoted director Zach Clifton steps in to continue that financial stewardship.
![]()
Find out what's happening in Vestavia Hillsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
• Best Stories of 2025: "Road to prosperity: How two boundary-crossing annexations reshaped Vestavia Hills" (vestaviavoice.com) — Vestavia Hills’ 75th year is a chance to look back at the bold Liberty Park and Cahaba Heights annexations that now supply up to a quarter of the city’s budget and a third of its population. City leaders explain how those once-distant neighborhoods became essential to schools, services, and a more unified identity that will shape growth toward 50,000 residents by 2049.
![]()
• Umang Patel to fill Vestavia Hills city clerk role (vestaviavoice.com) — Vestavia Hills has tapped current court director Umang Patel to step into an expanded role that includes city clerk duties and leading innovation across all departments as longtime clerk Rebecca Leavings retires in January. Patel’s background in modernizing municipal court technology will now support broader efforts to improve how the city delivers services to residents.
![]()
📸 Around Vestavia Hills
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 Vestavia Hills
★ Featured events ★
- Waldo’s Chicken & Beer – Vestavia Hills
Waldo's Chicken & Beer, 3009 Pump House Rd ste 110, Vestavia Hills
6:30 pm
Thursday December 25
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Family Movie: Cool Runnings
Hoover Public Library - The Library Theatre
2:00 pm
Friday December 26
📣 Vestavia Hills 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
- Water Painting Class
Pelham, AL Calendar , 50 Racquet Club Parkway , Pelham
10:00 am - American Red Cross blood drive
Levite Jewish Community Center , 3960 Montclair Rd , Birmingham
10:00 am - Public Skate Session
Pelham, AL Calendar
11:45 am - Line Dancing - Beginner
Pelham, AL Calendar , 50 Racquet Club Parkway , Pelham
1:00 pm - HOLIDAY HOURS 5 a.m.-6 p.m.
Levite Jewish Community Center , 3960 Montclair Rd , Birmingham - City Hall Closed - Christmas Eve
City of Irondale , 101 20th St S , Irondale
7:00 am - Zumba Gold
Pelham, AL Calendar , 50 Racquet Club Parkway , Pelham
10:45 am - Yoga
Pelham, AL Calendar , 50 Racquet Club Parkway , Pelham
12:00 pm - On Wednesdays We WINE for half-off!
Hoover Chamber of Commerce , 5426 Hwy 280 Suite 6 , Hoover
3:00 pm - Craft’s on Church Street – Mountain Brook
Craft's on Church Street , 49 Church St , Mountain Brook
5:30 pm
Tuesday December 23
Wednesday December 24
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
🗞 Nearby News
Mountain Brook
- Best Stories of 2025: "Perfect match: Carlee Petro returns to alma mater as tennis coach" (villagelivingonline.com)
- Healthier Skin Starts With Feeling Seen: Inside Gunn Dermatology's People-First Approach (villagelivingonline.com)
- Homewood Best of 2025: 5 storylines to watch in 2026 (thehomewoodstar.com)
Homewood
- Best Stories of 2025: "Librarian celebrates retirement after 25 years with Homewood Public Library" (thehomewoodstar.com)
- Homewood Public Library honors staff for outstanding service and leadership (thehomewoodstar.com)
Ok Vestavia Hills! 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 find you very attractive!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.