Newsletter
Mayor Andy Betterton
APRIL 6, 2023
PUBLIC NOTICE: Annual Fire Hydrant Testing
The Florence Fire Department will begin the annual flow testing on fire hydrants on April 3. Testing will be completed by April 30. All hydrants in Florence will be tested. During this time, you may experience discolored water. The water is harmless and will clear after you flush your lines.
However, when the water is discolored, do not wash clothing as the colored water could stain fabric. If your clothes are in a wash cycle, do not dry them. Allow clothes washed in stained water to remain wet until the water is clear. When your water runs clear, rewash your clothes.
We apologize for any inconvenience, and if you experience any problems, please call our Florence Gas & Water 24/7 dispatch number at 256-760-6490 for assistance or concerns. You can also contact Florence Fire & Rescue at 256-760-6475.
Disaster Relief Resources
The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief program will help with tree removal for free; call 256-629-9434.
For additional assistance with food, shelter, showers, or other resources, call #211.
If you have a power outage, DO NOT CALL 911; It is for emergencies only.
To report a Power outage, call 256-764-4456.
Outage viewer: www.florenceelectricityoutage.com
Public Notice: District 1 Community Meeting
WHAT: Council Member Kaytrina P. Simmons Community Meeting
WHEN: Monday, April 10, 5:30-7:00 pm
WHERE: Sherrod Avenue Church of Christ
Florence Park & Recreation Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, Apr 8, 2023, 10:00 AM
Wilson Park, Florence AL
NO FOOL’IN, WALKING TOURS TAKE STRIDE BEGINNING APRIL 1
The Florence-Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) launched their annual Historic Walking Tour program beginning on Saturday, April 1, 2023.
One tour will be led in May, which is the Forks of Cypress Walking Tour.
Tours, on average, are 75 minutes in length and are hosted by two well-known and highly respected historians in The Shoals, Billy Warren and Harry Wallace. They have been leading tours for several years and continue to be local favorites that add both historical context and a bit of humor to each tour. For more details on each tour, please call the Visitor Center at (256) 740-4141
The tour schedule is as follows;
Saturday, April 1 – Walnut Street
Saturday, April 8 – Florence City Cemetery
Saturday, April 15 – UNA Campus
Saturday, April 22 – North Court & Seminary Streets
Saturday, May 6 – Forks of Cypress
Happy 100th Birthday!!
LILLIAN L (BAE) THOMPSON
Lillian Thompson was born on March 31, 1923, the last remaining of ten siblings. Ms. Thompson went to school at Bethel School and married her late husband, Joseph L. Thompson, at the age of nineteen. Together, they had six children, twelve grandchildren, and host of great grandchildren. She became a member of Bethel M.B. Church at an early age and served by singing in the choir, working on the Mother’s Board, and the Missionary Society. Ms. Thompson worked in housekeeping at Mitchell Hollinsworth and Eliza Coffee Memorial for over sixty years before retiring to become a nanny for Dr. John Musgrove the following six years.
Since her retirement, Ms. Thompson has enjoyed quilting, gardening, canning, and cooking – making butter rolls and banana pudding while singing the whole time!
I am proud to recognize Ms. Lillian Thompson for her lifelong commitment
to serving the Lord and her family in our community.
MRS. BERTHA WEBB
Mrs. Bertha Webb was born on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1923. She and her late husband, Henry, have five children (Jerry, Sharon, Linda, Harold, and Wanda), eight grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren. Bertha and Henry purchased a house on Cumberland Street in Florence as the first ever home-purchase loan in the State of Alabama under the G.I. Bill.
Mrs. Webb is a faithful member of Highland Baptist Church. In her free time, she became a master of genealogy, researching the Webb family and Daily family before the age of computers by traveling to courthouses, libraries, and cemeteries.
I am proud to recognize Mrs. Bertha Webb for her lifelong commitment
to serving our community for 100 years!
Annual UNAfied Event: Thursday, April 27, at 5:30pm
UNAfied is a joint event with the University of North Alabama Culinary Department and Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa! This culinary extravaganza is a fundraising event with proceeds going toward the Jeff Eubanks Endowment at UNA Foundation.
Purchase your ticket here: https://givebutter.com/UNAfied2023
UNA Athletics Easter Egg Hunt was an Eggtravagant Event! Thank you to all the volunteers!
The Florence Camerata: It's a Grand Night For Singing
Lifeguarding Certification Classes
YMCA Lifeguard Class
YMCA Indoor Pool
May 10-13
Swim test dates - April 20 at 6:30, April 27 at 4:30
$250 for members, $280 for non-members
Call 256-246-9622 for more information.
Redcross Lifeguard Class
Sheffield Recreation Center Indoor Pool
May 8, 9, 11, 12, & 13
$225 full certification
$125 recertification
Call 256-386-5615 for more information.
Check out the 11 lbs. Fish Caught at the Park & Recreation Fishing Day at Deibert Park
Congratulations to Borland Benefield, PC team, on the Grand Opening!
Their beautiful new facility is located on College Street. Thank you for your investment in our City! If you need help with any services such as audit, assurance, tax, and business advisory, give them a call.
CONSTRUCTING WITH CEMENT BLOCKS
Between the late 1800’s and 1930, more and more construction in downtown Florence – and in other parts of the country, as well – were done with the use of cement blocks (also known as rock-faced bricks). Even a cursory look around the streets in downtown reveals the use of this construction staple in houses’ and buildings’ foundations, in retaining walls and in the ground floor of two-story structures (the second floor was usually made of wood). There are even a few houses and buildings downtown that are constructed entirely of these ubiquitous cement blocks. For the longest time, local historians have been quite intrigued regarding the source of this interesting building material. Recently, the mystery was solved as research efforts (thanks to John VanSandt) revealed that, though the blocks had been available for some years, their production was accelerated almost exponentially at the turn of the twentieth century when one Harmon S. Palmer patented a small, portable machine (named, appropriately, the Palmer Machine) which allowed the manufacture of the blocks to be made on-site where construction was taking place. The machine could even be ordered from a Sears-Roebuck catalogue! In the late 1930’s, the cheaper cinder blocks were patented and relatively inexpensive transportation became available; the combination of these two factors meant the demise of the manufacture of cement blocks/rock-faced bricks. The accompanying pictures are not local but are certainly illustrative of similar structures in downtown Florence.
--Billy Warren, City Historian (brwarren@florenceal.org)
Fire Department Station #1 402 South Wood Ave Florence
Full Time - $43,945.09 Annually
Fire Department Station #1 402 South Wood Ave Florence
Full Time - $42,195.38 Annually
Street Department 201 Railroad Avenue Florence
Part Time - $13.00 Hourly
Park and Recreation 2830 Darby Drive Florence
Part Time - $13.00 Hourly
Maintenance Worker Park and Recreation Part Time New
Park and Recreation 2830 Darby Drive Florence
Part Time - $13.00 Hourly
Passenger Vehicle Driver Part Time New
Park and Recreation 2830 Darby Drive Florence
Part Time - $13.00 Hourly
Recreation Program Assistant Part Time New
Park and Recreation 2830 Darby Drive Florence
Part Time - $13.00 Hourly
Solid Waste 29485 County Road 14 Florence
Full Time - $34,403.65 Annually
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
The Mayor and Council members will hold the next council meeting on
April 18, 2023
4:00 pm Work Session
5:00 pm Council Meeting
A little funny..
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Connect with Us!
Email: abetterton@florenceal.org
Website: florenceal.org
Location: 110 West College Street, Florence, AL, USA
Phone: (256)760-6400