![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/u/backgrounds/custom_bg-62a0ff31a7876bffc740c42c-736a5b776729.jpg)
Newsletter
Mayor Andy Betterton
June 9, 2022
Shoals Music Makers
The Week of June 12, 2022 Has Been Proclaimed RACE AMITY DAY!
The Great Seal of the United States of America bears the inscription E Pluribus Unum, which translates from Latin as “Out of many, one.” The greatest asset of Florence, Alabama, is its people. The City of Florence is comprised of multicultural, multiethnic, and multiracial citizens. Friendship, collegiality, civility, respect, and kindness are commonly shared ideals of the collective citizenry of the State of Alabama. The Towards E Pluribus Unum Initiative has invited communities across the United States of America to join introspection and reflection on the beauty and richness of the diverse peoples of this great nation while reaching out with a spirit of amity toward one another on the second Sunday in June.
Andrew Betterton, Mayor of the City of Florence, Alabama, proclaimed the week of June 12, 2022, as RACE AMITY DAY.
Florence Swim Team Had A Successful Opening Meet!
On Saturday, The McFarland Open Had Over 115 Participants From All Over The State!
Walnut Street Architecture Tour
Florence Highlighted in Southern Living!
We always love it when we show up in Southern Living, and they're showcasing the beautiful City of Florence. #10 on the 15 Most Affordable Small Towns We Love!
Thank You, Publix Charities, For Supporting the Shoals Dream Center With A $23,000 Grant!
Singing River Media Youth Fishing Rodeo
Benefit for Big Brothers/Big Sisters
June 11, 2022, from 8 am until 12:00
$5 Entry Fee
Bring your own chairs, fishing gear, rods, poles, and bait.
All youth 14 and under can bring an adult and gather at the ponds at McFarland Park for a morning of food, fishing, fun, and prizes! Along with fishing, the Rodeo will include games and refreshments. Prizes will be given for the top three longest fish, but all fish must be released. The first 100 kids will receive a free snack from Slim Chickens.
Great Big 652 Adventure
Terrence ‘TJ’ Johnson completed his Great Big 652 Adventure on Monday! Before embarking, he stated “As a proponent of the Tennessee RiverLine, I’m excited to start this 37-day journey, during which I will be privileged to experience the riverscape’s natural beauty. And, perhaps even more importantly, I’m excited to meet people of Tennessee River communities who share the same passion for the river as me and interact with other Tennessee RiverTowns and paddlers along the way.”
You can get the play by play of his entire trip by reading his travel journal on Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area website below.
FLORENCE’S LITTLE RED BRICK SCHOOLHOUSE
As early as 1820, just two years after the founding of the City of Florence, there was a school on the John Coffee family’s plantation. Other children were also invited to enroll. Then small, tuition-based schools began to appear in private homes and public buildings throughout the town. In 1852, the State Legislature passed enabling legislation entitled “An Act to Provide Public Schools for Children of the State.” Sometime after this event, the citizens of Florence erected a red brick schoolhouse (see the accompanying sketch) on East College Street – the site where Patton Elementary School would be built with public tax dollars in 1891. One of the notable teachers in the little schoolhouse was William I. Price who, later, became Dr. William I. Price. It was he who, in 1889, built the first house on Walnut Street; it’s there today at 520 North Walnut. By 1878, the little building was no longer used as a schoolhouse, so City officials leased it to Rev. Fr. Menges, OSB, and it became the first home of St. Joseph Catholic Church. To make it look more like a church, the parishioners replaced the roof and added a steeple.
--Billy Warren, City Historian
Florence Fire Department Autism Awareness Event
June 26, 2022
12-3:00 PM
Join the fun at McFarland Park and raise money for Autism Awareness! Food trucks will be available. Attendees can purchase a tshirt to raise money and awareness. We look forward to seeing you there!
SAVE THE DATE: Autism Awareness Event, June 26, 12 pm - 3 pm (McFarland Park)
Bookin' It 5K Fun Run
Enjoy the beauty of downtown and get a bit of exercise (runners and walkers) as you help to raise funds for your public library! The Friends of the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, along with Solid Rock Running Company and library staff are sponsoring the inaugural "Bookin' It 5k Fun Run." Proceeds from the run will be used to provide free programming to the public during the library's Summer Reading Program.
Shoals Economic Development Authority Celebrates the 3rd Anniversary of Remote Shoals!
SEDA is celebrating 3 YEARS since the launch of the Remote Shoals program. There has been tremendous support for this effort and welcoming participants with open arms. To the Remote Shoals family who took a chance on a community in North West Alabama- thank you, thank you, THANK YOU. This program wouldn’t be successful without each and every one of you. If you’re afraid you missed your chance to be a part of everything, you haven’t! Applications are always open at remoteshoals.com.
UPCOMING EVENTS (click images for more information)
Information Technology Manager
$87,103.77 Annually
$29,651.11 Annually
Full Time - $42,669.87 Annually
Seasonal Maintenance Worker Urban Forestry Part-Time
Part-Time- $11.08 Hourly
$11.08 Hourly
$11.08 Hourly
$11.08 Hourly
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
The Mayor and Council members will hold the next council meeting on
Tuesday, June 21, 2022
4:00 p.m. Work Session
5:00 p.m. Council Meeting
City Auditorium
103 South Pine Street
A little funny...
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