Category Archives: Vestavia Hills

No texting while driving in Vestavia Hills

Texting while driving. mrJasonWeaver/FlickrWhile you shouldn’t be texting while driving anyway (especially during that commute to and from work), last night Vestavia Hills became the first city in metro Birmingham to pass an ordinance banning texting (and other forms of electronic messaging) while driving. Now, you have up to 100 reasons for not doing it ($100 is the maximum fine allowed by the new law). Those other forms of messaging include typing on laptops and typing information into a global positioning system.

According to The Birmingham News‘ report, it should take approximately one week for the new law to take effect. Vestavia Hills Council President Mary Lee Rice expressed her disappointment in comments to ABC 33/40 and WBRC in state lawmakers not passing a statewide ban during the most recent legislative session.

CBS 42 reminded us in their piece that there are already two other cities in Alabama currently enforcing a texting ban, Jacksonville and Roanoke.

Photo: Texting while driving. mrJasonWeaver/Flickr

Holiday open house, area Starbucks

Here’s an invite to come by and taste the holiday drinks and tastes Starbucks has to offer this season — eggnog latte, gingerbread latte, peppermint mocha and more. Best part, it’s free. We like free and think free Krispy Kreme donut day and free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream day should be national holidays. Don’t worry … we’ll let you know when those events are too.

UPDATED: What are you doing this weekend?

There’s a lot to do this weekend in metro Birmingham. Assistant editor Christina Tutor shares some of her picks on what to do in our weekly rundown over on Timetable.

Let us know if we missed anything…

NOTE: The column that was here originally has been reposted over on Timetable; we were having backend issues… sorry.

Vestavia School Board considers desegregation settlement

Vestavia Hills High SchoolThe Birmingham News is reporting that the Vestavia Hills School Board will discuss a possible settlement during tonight’s regular meeting of a legal battle over the system’s wanting to have voided a 1970 court ruling ordering desegregation in the town’s system. Those that live in the Oxmoor Valley section of Birmingham have been speaking out against plans by the board to stop the practice of busing children to Vestavia Hills schools.

Birmingham Blues has an interesting post up that includes some of the nuances involved in this case. It would be interesting to hear from not only someone who currently lives in the Oxmoor Valley area but also about the affect that the influx of students would have on the city’s school system.

Additional links:
Vestavia Hills Board of Education

UPDATE: The News has posted that the board has approved a settlement deal.