Newsletter

Mayor Andy Betterton

January 20, 2022

Tree City Status Means Leaves, Leaves, Leaves!

Tree City Status Means Leaves, Leaves, Leaves!

Florence has been a designated Tree City for 34 years and counting! As leaves from our beautiful trees keep falling, the Leaf Collection Crew continues to run routes through the city. Click the link below to gauge when they will be in your neighborhood! Remember the date in RED indicates where crews have been on that day.

Tree City Status Means Leaves, Leaves, Leaves!
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Shoals Nonprofit Center: How To Build A High Performing Board

Shoals Nonprofit Center: How To Build A High Performing Board

Shoals Nonprofit Center hosts a half-day intensive workshop for nonprofit boards on Saturday, February 26, at the Shoals Marriott Hotel. Both nonprofit staff and board members are encouraged to attend. In this half-day intensive, we'll be covering:


  • How boards are doing and the state of boards today
  • How the board can improve
  • Board roles and responsibilities + best practices
  • E.D. vs. CEO board roles
  • General board recruitment strategies


The workshop will include expert Cindy Cheatham, President and Senior Consultant with Good Advisors, LLC. Prior to Good Advisors, Ms. Cheatham served as the V.P. of Consulting for the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, where she led and oversaw work with foundations and hundreds of nonprofits. She also served as Venture Catalyst at Georgia Tech's ATDC, where she advised entrepreneurs and worked to build the entrepreneurial ecosystem.


Early bird ticket sales close on January 31. All ticket sales end on February 20.

Shoals Nonprofit Center: How To Build A High Performing Board
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Now Hiring: Florence Police Department

Now Hiring: Florence Police Department

The Florence Police Department is now hiring for the position of Communications Officer. The application closes on January 23 at 4:59 pm (central time). Check the link below for more information on the position. https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/florenceal

Now Hiring: Florence Police Department
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Let's Play Ball! Spring Registration Is Open!

Let's Play Ball! Spring Registration Is Open!

We are currently having Baseball, Softball, and Soccer registration for the upcoming Spring season at Florence Parks & Recreation. Please go to FPARD.com to register your child today! For more info or questions, call 256-760-6628.

Let's Play Ball! Spring Registration Is Open!
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BLACK HISTORY EVENT: Night “A JAZZ FUSION” Tribute to Jimi Hendrix

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Committee Celebrated Dr. King's 92nd Birthday with a Parade.

Happy Birthday, Dr. King! Mayor Betterton, Council Member Kaytrina Simmons, and Council Member Jimmy Oliver were honored to be a part of the amazing day!

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NWSCC Ready To Work In-person & Hybrid Class Opportunity

NWSCC Ready To Work In-person & Hybrid Class Opportunity

If you know of anyone 16+ who needs some basic workplace skills or up-skills, including currently employed folks who need a little boost, be sure they know about this FREE Ready-to-Work opportunity! https://www.nwscc.edu/workforce-training/ready-to-work.


For more information: 256-331-5441 or 256-331-5248, email: cbroadway@nwscc.edu

NWSCC Ready To Work In-person & Hybrid Class Opportunity
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FLORENCE, THEN AND NOW MARS HILL COLLEGE, 1871-1887

In 1868, Theophilus Brown (“T.B.”) Larimore of Tennessee married Julia Esther Gresham of Florence, Alabama. Just three years later, in 1871, they established Mars Hill College on the 28 acres of land which Esther had inherited from her parents in what is known as the Mars Hill community. (The Larimores would later add 700 adjacent acres to the property.) The college, with its collection of a series of buildings on the campus, accommodated both males and females and both day students and boarding students. It served hundreds of young people before closing its doors in 1887 so Mr. Larimore could devote himself full time as an evangelist throughout the United States. The Larimore home (see attached photograph), which was destroyed by fire a few years ago, was a well-known area landmark and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Both Gresham Road and the Gresham Hills section of Mars Hill still bear the name of Esther (Gresham) Larimore’s family. Locals will remember, also, that the Larimore name was well known for many years because one of the sons established and operated Larimore’s Business College, first in a house on Walnut Street and, later, on East Tennessee Street in downtown Florence.


--Billy Warren, City Historian

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NEXT COUNCIL MEETING

NEXT COUNCIL MEETING

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

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

4:00 p.m. Work Session

5:00 p.m. Council Meeting

City Auditorium

103 South Pine Street

NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
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A little motivation...

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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.
Connect with Us!

Connect with Us!

Connect with Us!

110 West College Street, Florence, AL, USA abetterton@florenceal.org (256)760-6400 florenceal.org
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