
Newsletter

July 2, 2024
Celebrating Freedom!
41st Annual Spirit of Freedom Celebration
Get ready for an exciting Independence Day celebration with food trucks, live music, and FIREWORKS! The 41st Annual Spirit of Freedom Celebration will be on July 4 at McFarland Park. Entry is FREE. Food trucks will open at 11 am. Live music will begin at 3 pm, and fireworks will be over the water that night. Featuring performances by Austin Bohannon, Outlaw Apostles, Local Brand, Oddly Ginger, and Taylor Grace. We can't wait to see you there!
Additional parking is available at the McFarland Park Beach parking lot, and a convenient shuttle service is provided. Join us for this special occasion as we celebrate this beautiful addition to our city!
Singing River Sculpture Unveiling!
Mayor Betterton and the Florence City Council cordially invite you to the unveiling and dedication ceremony for the Singing River Sculpture!
Date: Sunday, July 14
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: S. Court St.
Additional parking is available at the McFarland Park Beach parking lot, with a convenient shuttle service provided. Join us for this special occasion as we celebrate this beautiful addition to our city!
Mostly Blues Invitational Exhibition
When: July 14-August 9, Monday - Friday 9-4 and Sunday 1-4
Where: 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL
The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is pleased to present Mostly Blues, an annual soulful exhibition of paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, and mixed media works by regional artists that visually interpret and pay homage to the power of music. At the same time, invited artists from Colbert, Franklin, and Lauderdale counties have diverse interpretations—whether depicting a scene from the W.C. Handy Music Festival or painting in 'blues'—all works have a common musical theme that celebrates this area's ties to the music world. A reception is planned for Sunday, July 21, 1–4 pm, with an awards presentation at 1:30 pm.
Area Youth Enjoy an Exciting Cops Camp!
Over the past two weeks, the Florence Police Department hosted its annual Cops Camp for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Shoals and for the SPAN Program. All of the participants learned valuable leadership skills and had the opportunity to spend time with several of our specialty units.
Florence PD would like to thank Chick-fil-A Florence and the Long-Lewis Shoals Foundation for their generous donations.
Staggs Groc. Featured in Nashville's Big Backyard
Chocolate gravy, homemade biscuits, big juicy burgers, and local gossip are always on the menu at Staggs Grocery in the Sweetwater District in Florence, Alabama. Established in 1937, it is the quintessential small neighborhood diner where everybody knows each other. People throughout the region travel to Staggs to taste their legendary burgers and fries. Once you order, you'll sit at a long plastic table with folding chairs, so interaction with the locals is guaranteed, and you'll leave feeling like one of the family. Nostalgia, community, and mouth-watering food await you! Have you been to Staggs?
City of Florence Water Department Meets or Surpasses State and Federal Standards
The City of Florence Water/Wastewater Department is pleased to provide our 2024 Water Quality Report. The department is committed to providing the residents of Florence and Lauderdale County with the safest and highest quality drinking water possible. Daily testing is done at our treatment facilities, and the water produced by the City of Florence Water Department meets or surpasses state and federal standards. https://cms7files.revize.com/florenceal/FloAla%20WaterQ_Report2024.pdf
New Florence Business
New Business-Ann’s Timeless Treasures
2701 Mall Rd.
https://www.facebook.com/AnnsTimelessTreasures
Ann’s Timeless Treasures is holding a Grand Opening at their new location on 2701 Mall Road. The celebration will be on July 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th at Parkway Shopping Center.
See you there!
Florence Historian Billy Warren
SPOTLIGHTING CHIEF DONALD WHITE
Mr. Donald White served as the Chief of the City of Florence’s Fire Department for the entire first half of the twentieth century. Near the end of his long tenure, he compiled an interesting list entitled “Some of the Hardest Fires I Ever Fought.” It totaled 25 major fires covering the period, 1902-1955, and it noted the location of each fire, along with the exact date and the time of day that each occurred. Here are eight of the 25 on the list:
1. Rogers Department Store – June 5, 1909, 6:30 p.m.
2. First Baptist Church – July 6, 1909, 4:00 p.m.
3. Normal College [now UNA] Wesleyan Hall – March 26, 1910, 10:30 p.m.
4. First Methodist Church – December 20, 1919, 12:05 a.m.
5. Jefferson Hotel – April 26, 1923, 11:30 a.m.
6. Martin Stove and Range – December 13, 1936 3:00 a.m.
7. Stricklin Lumber Company – April 5, 1943, 6:00 a.m.
8. Sheffield Bakery – November 30, 1952 (no time listed)
Of course, there were many other fires, but Mr. White considered these the top 25 in terms of difficulty. Serving as the Chief for more than a half century, he became a kind of legend in his own time. And his list is an important document in Florence’s archives. With it, a historian can easily take the information and find a newspaper online to learn the details of a specific fire event.
-Billy Warren, City Historian (brwarren@florenceal.org)
Florence Parks & Recreation Survey
Upcoming Events
Sign Unveiling
Block Party
FHS Show Choir Camp
Annual Golf Tournament
West Florence Music Festival
Kids Summer Camps
Gross Out #2 McFarland
Shoals Scholar Dollars
Job Openings
Auto Equipment Maintenance Mechanic
Street Department
Full Time - $35,435.76 Annually
Recycle
Part Time - $13.39 Hourly
Full Time - $35,435.76 Annually
Next Council Meeting
The Mayor and Council members will hold the next council meeting
Tuesday, July 2, 2024
4:00 pm Work Session
5:00 pm Council Meeting
The council meetings are held at 109 South Pine Street, Florence, AL 35630.
A little funny...
Connect with Us!
Email: abetterton@florenceal.org
Website: florenceal.org
Location: 110 West College Street, Florence, AL, USA
Phone: (256)760-6400
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- Send your information to rmansell@florenceal.org or call Rachel Koonce with questions at 256-760-6494.