Newsletter
Mayor Betterton's Weekly Update
July 15, 2021
Alabama Street is Now Open!
The original storm sewer failed on Alabama Street, creating a 20-foot sinkhole in the late spring. The system has been replaced and rebuilt. Alabama street is open. Thank you to all involved in making this project expedient and successful. We appreciate all of the kind words and patience during this project.
The SHOALS Metropolitan Statistical Area status will be recognized for the next decade!
Thank you to all of our city, state, and federal leaders, Shoals Chamber of Commerce, Shoals Economic Development Authority, and others for your hard work to ensure the well-being and growth of the Shoals!
SALES TAX HOLIDAY: JULY 16-18, 2021
The City of Florence participates in the annual Alabama Sales Tax Holiday. On July 16-18, state and local taxes will be waived for school-related items valued at less than $50 each and clothing costing less than $100 per item. Books less than $30 and computers and other equipment less than $750 are also eligible. The holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. July 16 and ends at midnight on July 18.
Click on the link below to see all eligible items.
"The Club" Florence Senior Center 💕
After exactly 16 months of being closed for the pandemic, the Florence Senior Center is now open! Join the flock.
Daily Schedule Include:
Activities 9 am-4 pm
Games 9-11 am
Curbside Lunch pickup 11-11:15 am I Inside Lunch 11:30 am
Games after lunch
BINGO 10:30 am Tuesday
Joints In Motion Exercise Class Wed & Friday at 9:30 am
Social Dance Tuesdays 6:30-8:45 pm $5 per person
In honor of Park & Recreation month, The Club will host a LUAU Saturday, July 17, from 5-7 pm.
Rotary STAR Play Project Kick-Off
Sunday afternoon, the Florence Children's Museum hosted the Rotary STAR Play Kick-off. There are many opportunities to be a part of building this fully inclusive play area in McFarland Park. If you would like to purchase a brick to contribute to the project visit...
THANK YOU, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Volunteers!
On Thursday, Lauderdale County and City of Florence officials had the opportunity to help serve lunch and say THANK YOU to all of our Lauderdale County RSVP volunteers.
The RSVP Mission Statement strives to engage seniors in volunteer service, giving back and helping to better our community. Volunteers who wish to share their time, talent, and experience with others to make our great community even better can contact at (256) 760-5888 to join.
A FASCINATING NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
In the May 17, 1929, issue of the Florence Herald, this headline appears: "Normal Museum Gets Ford's Gift." The article goes on to say, "The Florence Normal Museum received two unique and interesting gifts, it was learned Thursday from Prof. J.P. Dyer, museum director." [Note: For years there was a museum in a large space inside Bibb Graves Hall on the campus of Florence Normal School (now UNA).] "One of the gifts is a complete set of McGuffey's Readers donated by Henry Ford, the automobile magnate, at the request of Carl Sandburg who recently lectured here. These six Readers constitute the complete set as copyrighted by McGuffey in 1857 and reprinted under the direction of Mr. Ford in 1928." Think of it: Henry Ford had come to Florence in the early 1920's to pursue his (failed) bid to create a 75-mile-long metropolis from Florence to Huntsville. The great American poet, Carl Sandburg, had made a recent public presentation in town and afterward gave a set of Readers to the local museum which he had requested from Henry Ford specifically for that purpose. All of this took place in what was, in 1929, a small town in Northwest Alabama!
--Billy Warren, City Historian
New Business – Opening Soon
Kodee Lissa Boutique
112 N. Court Street
256-712-5868
https://www.facebook.com/KodeeLissaBoutique
Kodee Lissa Boutique will be opening soon in downtown Florence offering all of the newest brands, trends, and top exclusive deals. Brand names include POL, KanCan, Smart Mouth, Cello, BucketList, Louis Vuitton, She & Sky, Matisse, Umgee and so many more! Stayed tuned for more details.
Talking Tourism with Florence-Lauderdale Tourism
FANTASTIC BUBBLE PARTY
Tuesday, July 20, 2021
2 - 3 PM
Lewis Field, Pruitt StreetFREE ICE POPS
FREE PIZZA
THE CLUB LUAU
5-7 PM
450 Country Club Dr. Florence
LIVE MUSIC
FAMILY EVENT
SOUTHWIRE SCHOOL SUPPLY GIVE AWAY
10 AM - Noon
4251 Helton Drive, Florence
Drive-thru School Supply Give away
Happening at the Florence-Lauderdale Library
On Thursday (today), the book club for adults will discuss "The Bear" by Andrew Krivak and have an Adoption Day event with the Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services facility. The fun starts at 5:30 p.m. at the library.
The Alabama Army National Guard will lead the Teens in Action event in the library's parking lot beginning at 4 p.m. They will provide challenges such as rock wall climbing, a big punch machine, football toss, and a gladiator pit!
Next Thursday, July 22, the library is working with the Coalition of Alzheimer's and Related Disorders (CARD) to present the second in a series of symposiums on Alzheimer's disease. The symposium is from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and is free.
Check out the list of upcoming events...
A little laugh...
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
The Mayor and Council members will hold the next council meeting on
Tuesday, July 20, 2021
4:00 p.m. Work Session
5:00 p.m. Council Meeting
City Auditorium
103 South Pine Street
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.
Connect with Us!
Email: abetterton@florenceal.org
Website: florenceal.org
Location: 110 West College Street, Florence, AL, USA
Phone: (256)760-6400