Newsletter
Mayor Betterton's Weekly Update
February 17, 2022
Florence Electricity Department Offers Online Tool For Reporting
The Florence Electricity Department's GIS team has created a new location-based web application that will allow you to report an issue with a streetlight, security light, or traffic light more efficiently than calling our office. This web application will be available on our social media feeds and our website. Check it out at the link below!
Mayor & Council Recognize Alan Flowers for Outstanding Community Service in Theatre
Happening At "The Club" Florence Senior Center!
Everyone had a blast at the Valentine's Day Social on Monday, February 14th. Don't miss all of the great activities available to all ages. Our Volunteers are the backbone of our success. Please join us for some community fun.
Curbside Lunch: Monday - Friday ($1 Donation) begins at 11:00-11:15 am. For curbside pickup, please call 256-760-6420 by 9:30 am and leave a message to reserve a meal.
Joints In Motion Exercise Class: Exercising in a chair and doing activities of daily living, known fondly as Joints In Motion. Class meets two days a week. T/T 9:30 am.
Afternoon Games: Club members gather for jigsaw puzzles, rummy cubes, chicken foot dominoes, Mexican Train, Rook, and other activities after class. BINGO on Wednesday mornings from 10:15-11:00.
Social Dance: Each Tuesday night, 6:30-8:45 pm. $5 per person. Doors open at 6:00 pm. The Club is an alcohol, drug, tobacco, weapon-free facility.
Singing River Squares Dance: Mondays at 6:00 pm. $21 a month payable on the first Monday night.
Group travel: DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH. 2022 schedule will bring San Antonio, Niagara Falls, Alaska, and Pigeon Forge. These trips are open to the public.
Black History Vibes
“A JAZZ FUSION” Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
Presented by UNA & Entertainment Department
FREE Event
Thursday, February 24th
7 pm
Mane Room
Registration is Open For The 26th Annual Urban Forestry & Horticulture Conference
Thursday, March 17, 2022
Friday, March 18, 2022
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Cross Point Church of Christ
1350 Cox Creek Parkway, Florence, AL
See the brochure and registration below for the speaker schedule and more information.
Donate to The UNA Pantry
The mission of The Pantry is to support the basic needs of the UNA community and raise awareness about the growing issue of food insecurity across campus. The University of North Alabama pantry is supported through the kindness of community and campus donations. To provide support for the Pantry, please see options to donate here.
Pantry Primary Contact: Bethany Green, bloliver@una.edu
Office of Student Engagement in GUC 163
256-765-4248
Coming Soon: Red Cow Coffee LLC
The premium coffee house will be located next to Sweetwater Bakery on Huntsville Road.
THE MANY ITERATIONS OF WILSON PARK
As might be expected, Wilson Park has gone through many iterations since its designation as a “public walk” by the City’s planners in 1818. It was a kind of front yard for Signor Ferdinand Sannoner whose home was directly across the street from it on the Market Street side (now Wood Avenue), and farmers would offer their produce for sale there – an early version of today’s open-air farmers’ market. Later, it served as a place of relaxation in the afternoons for the young ladies enrolled in the Florence Female University (later called the Florence Female Synodical College) which was located where the Post Office stands today. The park was fenced at that time to keep the cows away from it, and the young ladies were provided a stile to get into the park gracefully. At one point, there was even a small schoolhouse in one corner of the park. In the 1940’s and 1950’s, it was a favorite spot for an impromptu Easter parade to take place at that once-a-year event. The accompanying photograph, published in postcard form by Anderson News Company, is from that era. The park remains today as the centerpiece of downtown Florence, with Arts Alive in May, musical events in the summer sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department, the Renaissance Faire in October, the tree lighting at Christmas… the list is almost endless. What a wonderful gift to the citizens of Florence by the forward-thinking owners of the Cypress Land Company!
--Billy Warren, City Historian
PROJECT HELP
Project Help is a utility assistance program through the Help Center located at 621 S Court Street, Florence. The partnership provides an easy way for concerned citizens to help provide warmth and light to those in need. Many people of Lauderdale County will face dark days this year without help. Small donations paired with community support could greatly improve their situation. Florence Mayor Betterton emphasized, “I am proud of our partnership with the Help Center and for their dedication to helping our community.”
Citizens can help provide utility assistance for the elderly, disabled, and those who have a fixed income or no income at all, by adding a small donation to their monthly utility bill. Florence Utilities serves only as the collection service for this fund. Every dollar given to Project Help will go through The Help Center to those in need. No contributions collected will be used to pay workers or subsidize any other expenses.
How can I help?
Customers can automatically draft monthly donations by signing the authorization card that will be in their next utility bill or online. The amount designated to Project Help as indicated on the card will be added to the resident's utility bill until it is removed at the request of the account holder. Donations can be made directly to the Help Center at P.O Box 1713, Florence, AL 35630.
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
The Mayor and Council members will hold the next council meeting on
Tuesday, March 1, 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 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