Newsletter
May 2, 2024
River Heritage Trail Grand Opening May 5
🗓️ Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024
🕒 Time: 3:00 - 5:00 pm
📍 Location: River Heritage Park Pavilion, 15 Hightower Place, Florence, AL, USA
🌞 Don't forget to bring your lawn chairs or a cozy blanket
We're thrilled to invite you to celebrate the opening of the River Heritage Trail with us! Mayor Andrew Betterton, the Florence City Council, Florence Parks & Recreation, and Florence Planning and Community Development are excited to welcome the community to this momentous occasion.
🎶 Enjoy live music and local food trucks like Off-The-Hook and Flashy Funnel Cakes as you explore the natural beauty of the trail.
🎙️ Hear remarks from community leaders at 4:00 pm, followed by the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Come be a part of this exciting milestone for Florence! See you there! 🌟
Florence-Lauderdale Animal Services
“WE LOVE MOMS!” BAKE SALE
Benefiting Chloe’s Fund
Let’s give Mom a break on Mother’s Day! It’s time to present her with a home-baked confection made from the loving and appreciative hands of our Chloe’s Fund volunteer bakers; take your pick - Cookies, Cakes, Pies, Tarts, Pudding, and Cupcakes. We recently welcomed a new volunteer baker who specializes in fresh-baked bread - yum! 100% of the money raised from the Bake Sale provides emergency medical care funds for animals at Florence Lauderdale Animal Services. The Bake Sale is Saturday, May 11, from 10 am to 1 pm at Florence Lauderdale Animal Services, 3240 Roberson Rd, Florence, AL. They will also have plants and crafts for sale!
The updated pre-order menu is on Chloe’s Fund Facebook page, or you can text Lisa Wilson Rim, Bake Sale Coordinator, at 804-240-6880. The deadline to pre-order the baked goods is Tuesday, May 7 at 5 pm.
Florence Beautification Board Wildflower Project
🌼 Have you seen the breathtaking wildflowers around town? Thanks to Jean McIntyre
and the Florence Beautification Board for bringing the Wildflower Project to life! 🌸 Keep your eyes peeled for these colorful blooms – nature's masterpiece!
We ❤️ FPD! Thank you for your service!
🏀 A huge shoutout to the Florence Alabama Police Foundation for hosting an amazing Basketball and Badges event! 🚔 Everyone had a blast hitting the court with the community, shooting hoops, and sharing fantastic food. 🍔
Special Olympics
The Special Olympics event was a phenomenal celebration! 🌟 Huge shoutout to the Junior League of the Shoals and Florence Parks & Recreation for orchestrating such a memorable day filled with joy, sportsmanship, and inclusivity.
District 1 Community Meeting!
🌟 Big thanks to everyone who joined Councilwoman Kaytrina Simmons at the District 1 community meeting! Over 65 of you came out to make your voices heard. Here's a quick rundown:
- Council Member Kaytrina Simmons shared updates on 7-Points, College Street Bridge, and more.
- Parks and Recreation Updates: Mike Adams brought news about Music In the Park starting May 1, hosting the Little League World Series this summer, and exciting renovations at Handy Recreation Center and the Sportsplex.
- Florence Police Updates: Deputy Chief Mike Holt, Captain Ira Davis, and Sergeant Justin Hill provided insights into addressing ParkMobile, speeding, and speed cushions.
- UNA Les Jackson, UNA Police Chief, stressed the importance of safety and education.
Florence Parks & Recreation
Royal Avenue Pool: May 25
River Heritage Splash Pad: May 25
Community Yard Sale: May 18
Blackberry Juniors Events All Summer
Florence Exchange Club
What: Red Beans & Rice – Annual Florence Exchange Club Event
When: May 20, 2024
Time: 11 am – 1 pm
Where: Cross Point Church of Christ
Tickets: $10
Contact: Melissa Bevis 256-349-7261
Delivery will be available.
Florence Historian Billy Warren
FLORENCE: A CITY OF CHURCHES
Visitors to Florence have often been heard to say, “There seems to be a church on every corner in this City.” There is an intersection in downtown Florence bounded by Tombigbee, Seminary and Tuscaloosa Streets and Wood Avenue where this observation is almost true. Only the intersection of Tombigbee and Seminary Streets lacks a church. On the other three corners are: First Baptist, First Methodist and Wood Avenue Church of Christ. Look carefully at the accompanying image from a vintage postcard aptly titled, “Florence, Alabama: City of Beautiful Churches.” Reading clockwise from the upper left corner are: First Presbyterian (Florence’s oldest church), Poplar Street Church of Christ [today, Calvary Fellowship], Trinity Episcopal, First Baptist, and First Methodist (Florence’s second-oldest church). All were established prior to 1900. There were others of this same vintage; they are just not depicted in the accompanying image. Compare this interesting statistic to St. Stephens, the original – but short-lived – first Capital of Alabama. Interestingly, according to extant records, there was never a church established in that town. So, just as the City of Florence is justly proud of its history as an Education town (there was a school on the John Coffee Plantation as early as 1820), it can rightfully say that its history also reflects its religious roots.
--Billy Warren, City Historian (brwarren@florenceal.org)
Top 8 Most Inviting Towns In Alabama
Walmart Store #4187 held a Shoals Chamber Ribbon Cutting to celebrate its newly remodeled store. Store manager Jason Bell recognized several employees for their hard work and years of service. Stop by and check out the remodeled Walmart on Cloverdale Road.
Upcoming Events
SPAN: May 4
Customer Appreciation Day: May 10
Outdoor Recreation EXPO: May 11
Touch A Truck: May 11
Shoals Storytelling Festival: May 16-18
Inaugural Police Week Tournament: May 13
Deibert Fishing Days: May 18
Senior Appreciation Day: May 17
Show Choir Camp: July 8-12
Job Openings
Firefighter EMT and Certified Firefighter EMT
Fire DepartmentFull Time - $43,461.24 - $57,849.90 Annually
City Clerk
Full Time - $42,510.53 Annually
Carpenter Masonry Concrete Finisher
Street Department
Full Time - $32,373.08 Annually
Park and Recreation
Part Time - $14.19 Hourly
Electricity Department
Part Time - $13.39 Hourly
Gas Department
Part Time - $13.39 Hourly
Water Department
Seasonal - $13.39 Hourly
Park and Recreation
Part Time - $13.39 Hourly
Park and Recreation
Part Time - $13.39 Hourly
Police Department
Full Time - $106,511.88 Annually
Program Manager
Planning Department
Full Time - $51,071.02 Annually
Next Council Meeting
The Mayor and Council members will hold the next council meeting
Tuesday, May 7, 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.