Newsletter
Mayor Andy Betterton
October 27, 2022
Florence Director of Planning and Community Development, Melissa Bailey, has been named the Alabama PLANNER OF THE YEAR!
The Kenneth J. Groves Jr Distinguished Leadership Award for a Professional Planner is the highest honor bestowed upon a practicing professional planner in public, private, or educational practice in Alabama.
The award was presented to Melissa by Mac Martin, President, Alabama Chapter of the American Planning Association (Planning Director for the City of Hoover) and Todd McDonald, Awards Committee Chair (Director of Planning and Community Development for the City of Dothan)
The award is named in memory of Kenneth J. Groves, Jr., former Director of Planning and Development of the City of Montgomery. It honors an individual for their significant and sustained contributions to the planning profession through distinguished practice, teaching, and writing. This is the highest honor bestowed upon a practicing professional planner in public, private, or educational practice in Alabama.
Congratulations & Thank you, Melissa Bailey, for all of your hard work and dedication to the City of Florence Community!
The Florence Solid Waste, Street, & Recycle Department celebrated Keith Allison on his well-deserved retirement!
Thank you, Keith Allison, for your dedication and service over the last 28 years. You will be truly missed! We wish you a happy retirement!
Florence-Lauderdale Public Library Update
THE CLUB ON CYPRESS DISC GOLF COURSE IS OPEN!
Friday afternoon, Mayor Betterton, Florence Council Members, Singing River Disc Golf, InZone Disc Golf, and the City of Florence, AL- Parks & Recreation Department had the pleasure of opening The Club On Cypress Disc Golf Course!! Thank you to ALL that made this day possible!
450 Country Club Drive
7 Days A Week/Dawn to Dusk
The Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area and Common Ground Shoals launched their innovative Kids in Kayaks program this week!
Kids in Kayaks is a three-part series that takes place this week at McFarland Park in Florence and Colbert County Alloys Parks. The program serves youth ages 11-13 from MSNHA program partner, Common Ground Shoals, introducing the river and kayaking to participants, with an emphasis on safety and skill development in a low pressure environment. Youth participants build upon their skills each day, through different water activities, culminating with a one-mile scenic paddle out of Alloys Park this afternoon.
The Tennessee RiverLine is #poweredbypartnerships with organizations such as these, who share in a mission to instill an appreciation for paddling culture and the Tennessee River!
Image: Paddle experience with youth from Common Ground Shoals facilitated by MSNHA in 202. Image Credit: Steve Lovell
Full Day Of Activities On Saturday, October 29, 2022
"Autumn in the Park" will have something for everybody, such as Arts & Craft Vendors, a Classic Car and Truck Cruise In, Pet Fashion Show, Live Music, Games, Food Vendors, Football Tent with Football Games on TV throughout the Day, and the much anticipated Magic Show with Steve Trash. Following the Magic Show, we will show Disney's The Haunted Mansion for the Movie in the Park.
Save the date/time (October 29, 9 am-9 pm) and plan a fun day in Wilson Park!
9 am-3 pm Classic Car and Truck Cruise In
11 am-4 pm Vendor Market
3 pm - Pet Fashion Show Contest
4 pm - Live Music featuring IRON HORSE
6 pm - Magic Show with Steve Trash
7 pm - Movie - Disney's The Haunted Mansion starring Eddie Murphy
Florence Police Department Had The Honor OF Visiting Forest Hills Elementary School's 4th Grade!
Grandparents’ Holiday Art Camp
Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is offering two "Grandparents' Holiday Art Camp" workshops before the holidays (and visiting relatives!) are upon us. Join us and learn a creative activity or two that you can take home and enjoy teaching to your grandchildren during their next visit. Include these easy-to-learn projects in your upcoming holiday plans and strengthen family bonds while making fun memories!
Workshop 1: Thursday, November 10, 3:00–4:30 pm—Holiday Card activity
Learn to make your own holiday cards using simple printmaking practices and easy-to-find everyday household supplies.
Workshop 2: Thursday, November 17, 3:00–4:30 pm—DIY Wrapping Paper Activity
Enjoy putting your personal touch to gift wrapping this year by making your own wrapping paper with easy printmaking methods and common supplies.
Each workshop will be limited to 20 participants, so sign up for one or both today! Participation is $15 per person/per class. (Separate sign-up is required for each workshop.) All supplies will be provided. Just dress for mess! And remember: This is an adult-only Art Camp, so leave the kids at home and have some fun of your own! The deadline for registration is November 7, 2022.
To register, visit Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 E. Tuscaloosa St, Florence, AL. 35630.
Congratulations, FALCONS! Mark Your Calendar For November 4th!
TVA – MORE THAN HYDROELECTRIC POWER
When the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) came to Florence and the entire Tennessee Valley in 1933, it was also awarded control of the masterful Wilson Dam, which had officially opened eight years earlier, in 1925. So, a major mission of the TVA became the goal of lighting the Valley – and it proceeded to fulfill that mission. But the TVA was so much more than hydroelectric power. Officials gladly began the necessary research to develop fertilizers that were, before long, helping farmers around the globe, especially in third-world countries, to experience more productive farming techniques. Additionally, the expanding work of the multi-faceted entity known as the TVA began to address illiteracy within the areas in which the organization was chartered by the Federal Government to operate. Locally, a school serving students in kindergarten through grade eight was established on TVA-owned property, along with related amenities such as a library for people of all ages. There was even a bookmobile service operated by that library that visited TVA work sites, as illustrated in the photograph accompanying this week's article. Of course, the photograph was staged, but it illustrates the efforts of the TVA to raise literacy rates in the Valley. Grouped together, the works of the grand experiment known as the Tennessee Valley Authority made huge impacts toward the betterment of life in Florence and beyond.
--Billy Warren, City Historian
Laborer Recycling Part Time New
- Recycle 1200 Terrace Street Florence
- Part Time - $13.00 Hourly
- Information Systems Ste 302 Municipal Building Florence
- Full Time - $54,372.35 Annually
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
The Mayor and Council members will hold the next council meeting on
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
4:00 p.m. Work Session
5:00 p.m. Council Meeting
City Auditorium
103 South Pine Street
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