🌱 Historic Motel Opens For Visitors + Campaign To Save Family Pet

Good morning, everybody! It's me, Danielle Fallon-O'Leary, your host of the Birmingham Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

An afternoon t-storm; hot. High: 97 Low: 74.

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Here are the top three stories today in Birmingham:

1. The historic A.G. Gaston Motel in downtown Birmingham is now open to the public for visitation. The city has completed a $10 million dollar renovation to restore the motel to its original condition. A.G. Gaston opened the motel in 1951 and it became a safe spot for black people to stay at while traveling during segregation. The motel includes an exhibit dedicated to A.G. Gaston who was a pioneering African-American businessman, as well as the historic room 30 where civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. would hold meetings. (WVTM13 Birmingham)
2. Birmingham will soon have high-security collection boxes from the United States Postal Service to combat mail theft. The USPS will be installing 12,000 high-security boxes across the country in high-risk areas including Birmingham. The new boxes will also feature electronic locks adding another layer of security. The USPS has not announced a date yet as to when the new boxes will be installed. (WBRC)
3. A family in Ross Bridge is trying to save their beloved tortoise "Fred" from being evicted by a Homeowners Association. The 130-pound tortoise has been the pet of 17-year-old Jayden Cannon for the past eight years. The Homeowners Association recently told Cannon that only dogs and cats are allowed as pets. Many neighbors are supporting the family's efforts to keep Fred with a "Save Fred" campaign and are making "SaveFred" T-shirts and stickers. (WVTM13 Birmingham)

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Today in Birmingham:

Saturday, July 1

• Art By Leon Miller Jr. At Birmingham Central Library (9:00 AM)
• Delrico Gibson: Strings Of Gratitude Exhibit At Abrams-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts (12:00 PM)
• Arts & Cocktails In The City: Showcasing Black Artists From The Southeast At Polaris Birmingham (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Birmingham Corps announces it has launched Talent Navigator, a program that provides career support. The free six-week series provides career guidance, professional development, and employment opportunities. You can register for the program at this link. (City of Birmingham Government via Facebook)
• The Greater Birmingham Humane Society will be participating in the BISSELL Pet Foundation's Empty the Shelters event from Jul. 6-31. There is a reduced pet adoption fee during the event. Visit the adoption center during the event to find a terrific family pet. (Greater Birmingham Humane Society via Facebook)
• The Five Points West Library's Summer Art Series is looking for 10 artists between the ages of 7-10 for the "Art in Nature" series. Retired art teacher Susan Pearson will look at how to find inspiration for your art through nature. The series begins on Jul. 3, and participants will need to register at the Five Points West Regional Library. (Birmingham Public Library via Facebook)

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You're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.