Welcome To December!

Friday Night Holiday Lineup: December 3, 2021

11 AM - 5:00 PM Santa Paws Christmas Market

The Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services, located on 3240 Roberson Road, will host a Christmas Market to raise funds. The market will be open Friday, & Saturday, December 3-4

4:30 PM The Christmas Tree Lighting on the Court Street Median

The Florence Beautification Board will light the Christmas Tree displayed in the median of North Court Street while Shoals Chamber Singers perform in the Christmas spirit.

5:00 PM Every Light A Prayer for Peace at Pope’s Tavern Museum

The Florence Garden Council and the Florence Department of Arts and Museums will be hosting the annual “Every Light a Prayer for Peace” program at Pope’s Tavern Museum.

5:30 - 8:00 PM First Fridays on Court Street

Florence celebrates its 15th year as an arts and crafts makers market that occurs on the First Friday in Historic Downtown Florence, Alabama. Vendors are set up on Court Street to sell their handmade merchandise!

6:00 PM Festival of Lights in Wilson Park

Mayor Betterton along with the Forest Hills Show Choir will count down to the lighting of Wilson Park!

Main Street Alabama, Opportunity Alabama, and Place+Main Explore Florence!

Mayor Betterton spent Wednesday morning with representatives from Main Street Alabama, Opportunity Alabama, and Place+Main exploring and studying possible opportunities for redevelopments throughout our City.

We Need Your Input On McFarland Park!

RESIDENTS: We need your input! We are creating a proactive plan for the future of McFarland Park. Please take a moment to fill out this online survey to make sure the future of the park is led by the community.

You Are Invited! Join Council Member Kaytrina Simmons in the College Street Bridge Corridor Meeting!

College Street Bridge Corridor Study Public Involvement Meeting

December 13, 2021 from 5:30-7pm

Burrell Slater School Gym

610 West College Street

North Wood Social: New Business

North Wood Social @ 1121 N. Wood Ave.

https://www.facebook.com/northwoodsocial

North Wood Social is open in the progressive 7 Points, which is home to local shops, restaurants, churches, and residents. Mayor Andy Betterton, Council President Dick Jordan, and Council Member Kaytrina Simmons welcomed the owners, Rob and Lindsy McFarlane, and toured their new trendy restaurant, which includes an outdoor patio. Stop by for delicious food or to enjoy socializing on the new back patio with friends.

PEACE, JOY, LOVE

Holiday Concert with Special Guest Vocalist

DEC 5 at 3 PM – NORTON AUDITORIUM

Underwritten by: CB&S Bank

Embrace the holiday season with Joy, Love, Peace as the Shoals Symphony Orchestra is joined by special guest vocalist CJ Greer. Described as “warm, lovely, powerful, emotional,” her Broadway and National Tour credits include Sister Act, Les Misérables, The Producers, Ragtime, and The Buddy Holly Story. Enjoy bringing your family back together as the Shoals Symphony Orchestra fills Norton Auditorium with the sound of holiday classics to ring in the most wonderful time of the year!

THE USS JOHN HOOD, DD-655

John Murray Hood married Cornelia Heslip and, in 1859, a son, also named John Murray Hood, was born at the family’s beautiful ante-bellum home known as “Woodlawn” – which still exists today in the Three Forks community. As young John grew up, he became very interested in the nautical life, accepting an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1875 and graduating in 1879. He served on ships in many battles in uprisings in the Caribbean, in the Spanish-American War and in the Russo-Japanese War, among others. On August 29, 1916, he was promoted to Rear Admiral, one of the highest ranks in the United States Navy. In 1944, the Destroyer, USS John Hood, DD-655, was commissioned in honor of the illustrious career of this fine young man from Florence, Alabama. Officials in the City of Florence, noting his national achievements, subsequently added Mr. John Murray Hood to the prestigious Walk of Honor located in the River Heritage Park near the Marriott-Shoals Hotel. Descendants of the Hood family still live locally.

--Billy Warren, City Historian

NEXT COUNCIL MEETING

The Mayor and Council members will hold the next council meeting on

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

4:00 p.m. Work Session

5:00 p.m. Council Meeting

City Auditorium

103 South Pine Street

How to Submit Your Event, News, or Announcement:

Public and community events or announcements can be in an email, Word document, PDF, or JPG file suitable for viewing on the web. Include graphics in JPG or PNG if possible.
Along with your information, include your name, phone number, event name, location, date and time, and a brief description.
IMPORTANT: Please submit your information no later than Tuesday of each week (preferably sooner). Submissions after the deadline will be added to the next week's publication. The newsletter is posted on Thursday afternoon.
Send your information to media@florenceal.org or call Rachel Koonce with questions at 256-760-6494.

Welcome To December!

Mayor Andy Betterton

Welcome To December!

Mayor Andy Betterton

Friday Night Holiday Lineup: December 3, 2021

Main Street Alabama, Opportunity Alabama, and Place+Main Explore Florence!

We Need Your Input On McFarland Park!

You Are Invited! Join Council Member Kaytrina Simmons in the College Street Bridge Corridor Meeting!

North Wood Social: New Business

Ringing The Bell Makes A Difference!

Florence-Lauderdale Public Library

PEACE, JOY, LOVE

THE USS JOHN HOOD, DD-655

NEXT COUNCIL MEETING

A little laugh...

How to Submit Your Event, News, or Announcement:

Connect with Us!