Hello April!
Mayor Andy Betterton
April 1 , 2021
Message From Florence Utilities
Our new and improved electronic billing and payment service has more features than before. What does that mean for you? The user-friendly online system is convenient with options to view and pay your bill.
1. Pay Online https://florenceal.org and select Pay My Utility Bill.
2. Pay by Phone: 888-449-0666 or 256-633-4343
3. Pay by Text-Get: Register within your online account or when making a one-time online payment.
4. Sign up for email and text (optional) reminders.
5. View and Pay Online! No registration is required for a one-time payment.
6. E-check is free! Credit/Debit card $4.95 Processing Fee ($1000 limit, unlimited transactions).
7. Never miss a payment with AutoPay with a checking account or credit/debit card.
8. Schedule a payment at your convenience.
9. Save your preferred payment method.
10. Help the environment by going Paperless!
11. Pay online using ApplePay or GooglePay.
Ready to get started? Visit https://ebiz.florenceutilities.com/

ADULTING 101: The Shoals Young Professionals
Buying a home is a process, and can very well be a stressful one if we don't know what we're doing. We're chatting with three Shoals professionals who can help ease the pressure and prepare us for the exciting world of home ownership. Whether real estate, home loans, or insurance, if you've got the questions, they'll have your answers. Grab your lunch, sit back, and join us for Adulting 101 on Thursday, April 8th at 12:00pm by Zoom. After registering for the free event, you will receive a unique Zoom link to join in on April 8th. For more information...

The Ferdinand Jackson Family of the Forks of Cypress
Frederick Murphy and Karen Baynham Curry will present the Jackson Family's history from the Forks of Cypress at the Florence Indian Mound Museum at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 10th. This program is free. Face-coverings are suggested, and seats will be spaced three feet apart.
Frederick Murphy and Karen Baynham Curry are descendants of Ferdinand Jackson, formerly enslaved at the Forks of Cypress. Murphy and Curry will explore the connection between the enslaved Jackson family at the Forks of Cypress and those enslaved at the Cabin Row Plantation located in Montgomery County, Tennessee. Their presentation will focus on discovering their family history.

FIRE & RESCUE RECRUITS
Fire and Rescue recruits from across the shoals are working hard this week at the Muscle Shoals Regional Training Facility and looking forward to graduation on April 30. The recruits include candidates from Florence (7), Sheffield (2), Tuscumbia (1), Moulton (1), and self-sponsored. We wish them all great success in the program and their future careers.

COVID-19 VACCINE
Covid-19 Vaccine Clinics
Thursday, April 8, 2021 from 10 AM - 4 PM
Sherrod Avenue Church of Christ
1201 Sherrod Avenue
No Appointment Needed
Saturday, April 10, 2021 from 10 AM - 4 PM
Handy Recreation Center
1105 Beale Street
No Appointment Needed
SigDAY pharmacies will be offering a COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic in partnership with District 1 Council Member Kaytrina Simmons. They will provide 500 doses of the first Moderna vaccine for the public.
The University of North Alabama Health Services
Residents in the 1c category as outlined by the Alabama Department of Public Health are able to receive their dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. The University of North Alabama is offering this to those in need. Please follow the link https://www.una.edu/healthservices/ and sign up if you have not received your vaccine or are interested in learning more. This group includes people aged 55+; people aged 16-54 with high-risk medical conditions; and additional critical workers. More information can be found at the Alabama Department of Public Health.


New Business – Now Open
Roberts’ Real Estate Institute
254 Seville Street, Ste. #1
256-762-7793
Roberts’ Institute offers real estate education and licensure taught by Michael S. Roberts, a Certified Distance Education Instructor. The first zoom session is Tuesday, March 23 - May 28, from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. For more information...
New Business – Now Open
SNL Auto Repair
1261 Florence Blvd.
256-980-6943
SNL Auto Repair is now open at the former Whitten’s Full-Service shop on Florence Boulevard. The new shop owner, Derek Lambert, has 20 years of auto repair experience. His trained team offers excellent service at reasonable prices. Estimates and diagnostics are provided at no charge. Also, if you need an oil change, a free tire rotation is added at no additional cost for a limited time. SNL Auto Repair is open Monday thru Saturday from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
New Business – Now Open
River Cross Properties
110 E. Tombigbee St.
The professional team at River Cross Properties leases, sells and manages an extensive portfolio of residential and commercial properties in the Shoals Metro Area. Contact River Cross to take advantage of their selection of professionally managed residences and find your place to call home. To view listings, visit River Cross Properties.
New Business – Now Open
Team One LED Signs
3115 Northington Ct. #147 at SBI
256-978-5506
The professionals at Team One LED Signs are dedicated to providing customers with American made outdoor LED displays. Cutting-edge technology is used to offer the highest quality full color LED signs with over 200 trillion colors. Get noticed, stand out, and be seen when you call Team One Led Signs. For more information...


GENE AUTRY COMES TO FLORENCE
Louis Rosenbaum, owner of a chain of movie theaters in what was then known as the Tri-Cities, would periodically bring to Florence a nationally-known figure as a way of promoting his business, while also adding a touch of excitement for the enjoyment of the public. It might be the famous American poet, Carl Sandberg, or a beloved movie star. In the latter category, Mr. Rosenbaum welcomed, in 1939, none other than Gene Autry, the "Singing Cowboy." As expected, this well-known gentlemen was continually surrounded by adoring fans who could hardly believe that the star of the movies they saw in many Saturday matinees was actually in town. While he was here, he did live performances at the Princess Theater on East Tennessee Street (the parking lot of First Presbyterian Church is there today). Among his stops was an in-person visit with local Boy Scouts at Camp Westmoreland. Mr. J.T. Flagg, owner of the huge knitting mill in east Florence at the time, presented all of the boys at the camp (and Gene Autry, too) a long-sleeved knit shirt. Photographs of that joyous occasion, with everyone sporting a brand-new shirt, still exist in local public and private collections.
--Billy Warren, City Historian


A little funny

How to Submit Your Event, News, or Announcement:
- Public and community events or announcements can be submitted by attaching 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 rmansell@florenceal.org or call Rachel Koonce with questions at 256-760-6494.
