Hello, 2022!
Mayor Andy Betterton
January 6, 2022
Message From The Alabama Emergency Management Agency
Weather Advisory: January 6, 2022
Freezing rain is the predominant precipitation expected across winter weather advisory areas. Stay informed...
YOUNG LEARNER’S SERIES: Houses
The Florence Indian Mound Museum is hosting a series of children’s programs where students can explore the early history of the Shoals through hands-on learning exercises. The programs will cover a wide range of topics within Native American history and culture and are aimed at an elementary-level age group. Each program will have a creative component with hands-on learning, and all events are free.
Our program on Houses will take place Saturday, January 15 at 10 am. Students will explore different types of shelters and houses used by the southeastern peoples prior to Removal. Students will work to create a model of a house for a museum exhibit. Visit https://www.florencealmuseums.com/young-learners to sign up.
This program is sponsored by the City of Florence Department of Arts and Museums and the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area. The Florence Indian Mound Museum is located at 1028 S. Court St. Florence, AL and is open, Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sundays from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Call 256-760-6427 for more information.
Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts welcomes Author-Illustrator Lori Nichols for "Illustration is Storytelling".
This Saturday, January 8, at 11 am—Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts welcomes Author-Illustrator Lori Nichols for "Illustration is Storytelling." Lori will discuss how she creates picture books with illustrations and stories and goes behind the scenes of her process to show how imagination and play help direct the art to tell a story. Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts has partnered with the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library to host speaker series, lectures, and art workshops to accompany the current exhibit on display, "Childhood Classics: 100 Years of Original Illustration"
Lori is the author and illustrator of the award-winning picture book, Maple, under Penguin's Nancy Paulsen Books imprint. Its companion books include Maple & Willow Together, Maple & Willow Apart, and Maple and Willow's Christmas Tree.
Lori's accolades include winning the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators New York Winter conference portfolio award in 2014, the Alabama Library Association's 2015 "Alabama Author" award, and the Michigan Library Association Mitton Award in 2016. Her debut book, Maple, has been recognized as a "Best Children's Books of 2014" by Amazon, was given a 2014 Giverny Award for "Best Children's Science Picture Book," and it was selected to represent the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Both Maple and Maple and Willow Together were named "2015 Best Children's Books of the Year" by the Children's Book Committee as well.
This program is made possible with grant funds from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and additional funding from the Florence-Lauderdale Library Foundation and the Kennedy-Douglass Trust.
To view all upcoming programs, visit the Childhood Classics page on our website :
2022 Shoals Mountain Bike Team Interest Meeting
The Northwest Alabama Youth Mountain Bike Team is entering its 5th season with the Alabama Interscholastic Cycling Association to get more kids on bikes and develop strong minds, bodies, and characters. They are recruiting 6th-12th grade athletes for this upcoming season, and the next interest meeting will be at the Spinning Spoke Cycle Hub (221 N Seminary Street in downtown Florence) on Thursday, January 13, at 6:00 pm. Their first practice will be at 2:00 pm at the Joe Wheeler State Park boat ramp parking lot. Bikes and helmets are available for those who don't have one, thanks to the ShoalsMTB-MSNHA Bike Fleet. Check out www.alabamamtb.org and www.shoalsmtb.org for more info.
For questions or volunteer, email nwalabamanicateam@Gmail.com.
Sweetwater Bakery
New Business - Grand Opening: January 11, 2022
1410 Huntsville Road
256-712-2300
https://www.facebook.com/Sweetwater-Bakery-104635954342186
Sweetwater Bakery will hold a Grand Opening on January 11, 2022. Cinnamon rolls, eclairs, cream puffs, quiche, pastries, breads, salads, cakes, tarts, pies, and coffee are just a few items on the menu. Please check out https://sweetwaterbakeryflorence.com/ for the full menu and more details.
Kings Nutrition
New Business – Now Open
206 Cox Creek Pkwy., Ste. C
https://www.facebook.com/KingsNutrition
Kings Nutrition, smoothie and juice bar is now open. A variety of healthy tea bombs, shakes, and products are offered that support your immune system, boost your metabolism and provide nutrition. Stop by today for the boost of your life at Kings Nutrition.
Yoga House
New Business – Now Open
1213 E. Chisholm Rd.
https://www.facebook.com/yogahouseflorence
Yoga House is now open in historic 7 Points. The new studio offers yoga classes by two very talented instructors, Ashley and Mika. Check out their Facebook page to schedule your next class.
A TRIBUTE TO MR. JOSEPH MILNER
Mr. Joseph Milner was not a photographer. In fact, he was a pharmacist who owned the long-standing Milner’s Drug Store at 104 North Court Street. (Rollie’s Ice Cream is there today.) But Mr. Milner has left a trail of wonderful photographs via postcards which he commissioned and offered for sale in his drug store. These photographs – now considered historical treasures – reflect many years of Florence’s commercial and residential structures and neighborhoods. They are a historian’s dream! Take, for example, the postcard image accompanying this week’s column – one of many which Milner commissioned. It captures the south side of the 100 block of East Tennessee Street in 1912. Clearly visible are the facades of commercial buildings that exist today. In the distance is the Jefferson Hotel with its interesting tower; it burned in 1925 and was replaced by the Negley Hotel. In that space today is a City-owned parking lot, which is the designated location for the new City Hall building. Yes, Joseph Milner cast a long shadow; besides his invaluable postcards, his name continues through the local Milner-Rushing chain of pharmacies.
--Billy Warren, City Historian
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
The Mayor and Council members will hold the next council meeting on
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
4:00 p.m. Work Session
5:00 p.m. Council Meeting
City Auditorium
103 South Pine Street
A little laugh...
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!
Email: abetterton@florenceal.org
Website: florenceal.org
Location: 110 West College Street, Florence, AL, USA
Phone: (256)760-6400