Newsletter

October 25, 2024

📍 Get ready for some spooky fun! The Town and Gown Task Force, representing the City of Florence and the University of North Alabama, invites you to the fifth annual Pawloween trunk-or-treat event this Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon in the Sweetwater District of North Florence.

🐾 "Pawloween has always been about bringing our community together, showcasing the unique areas of Florence, and working closely with local businesses," says Justin McGill, event organizer and Task Force member. "We’re excited to continue this tradition and welcome families from across the region!"

🎃 Pawloween History: Starting in 2020 as a safe and socially distanced way to celebrate Halloween, Pawloween has become a family-favorite event, drawing hundreds for a fun-filled morning with trick-or-treating, City departments, UNA’s campus representatives, and local businesses!

Bring your family, friends, and fur-babies, and join us for a morning of Halloween fun at Sweetwater!

🏰 Join the fun in Wilson Park, Downtown Florence, AL – The 38th Annual Alabama Renaissance Faire is set for October 26 & 27, 2024, and admission is FREE!

🌟 With 110 unique vendors and over 30 entertainers ready to delight, this is a weekend filled with magic, merriment, and medieval fun! Whether you’re a fan of fine crafts, live performances, or simply love the thrill of stepping back in time, there’s something for everyone.

👑 Gather your friends and family, don your finest garb, and immerse yourself in the revelry of Florence’s most beloved tradition. See you there!

At the United Way of Northwest Alabama's annual Donor Appreciation & Awards Dinner, local philanthropists and community partners were recognized for their support throughout the year. The evening's highlight was the presentation of the Clyde W. Anderson Award for Philanthropic Leadership to Council President Kaytrina Simmons, who was honored for her leadership and commitment to the community. Kaytrina also served as the keynote speaker, sharing her passion for service.

The City of Florence received the Top Campaign Award in Public Service for raising $18,211.34 during the 2023 United Way campaign, a reflection of the generosity of city employees.

The United Way of Northwest Alabama, serving Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, and Marion counties, focuses on improving lives by addressing health, education, and financial stability issues. Partnering with local businesses and agencies, it drives initiatives to combat homelessness, hunger, and healthcare access. The organization's mission is to build a stronger community by connecting people in need with vital resources.

For more information, visit https://www.uwnwal.org/

We’re thrilled to announce that our Water Department recently received prestigious awards at the 2024 Annual Surface Water Meeting hosted by ADEM! The Cypress Creek Water Treatment Plant was honored with a 20-year Optimized Plant Award, and the Wilson Lake Water Treatment Plant received an 18-year Optimized Plant Award. These accolades reflect our dedicated employees’ hard work and commitment to providing high-quality water services to our community.

Cypress Creek WTP Team includes Superintendent Ryan Wallace; Operators Jimmy Peters, Cecil Burns, Chad Thompson, and Chris Pitts; Maintenance staff Paul Dickershied, Larry Baugh, and Jeff Gifford; and Operator Trainees Matt Smith and Scott Dorrah.

Wilson Lake WTP Team includes Superintendent Ryan Wallace; Operators Curtis Lovell, Randle Faulkner, Jamie Carter, and Jimmy Dale Vandiver; Maintenance staff Kevin Arnett and Ben Richey; and Custodians Evelyn Lovelace and Ty Scott.

This needs assessment for evaluating nonprofit organizations aims to understand gaps, strengths, opportunities, and challenges for Shoals community organizations. These questions can help guide the evaluation of the Shoals community nonprofits and agencies' current state and future needs, highlighting areas for improvement and growth. Information from this assessment will be compiled into a report that will be shared with stakeholders throughout the community.

Campus and community - your voice matters! Please fill out the survey below by scanning the QR code or click on the following link:

www.takumiramenal.com

2893 Florence Boulevard，Florence, AL 35630

Citizens of a certain age in Florence will remember when there were two dormitories side-by-side on the campus of the University of North Alabama but which, today, no longer exist. One was designated for female students and the other for males. The most unusual feature of these two fine buildings is that both were frame structures, while almost every other structure on the campus is made of either brick or stone – or a combination of the two. (See the vintage photograph below.) Evidently, both dormitories had a warm, home-like feel about them because many extant references written later by college students who had lived in them are filled with descriptions of the good times they had when they lived in one of them. One, Florence Hall, was named for the City, of course; the other, Striplin Hall, was named in honor of M.M. Striplin, the popular Mayor of Florence from 1914 to 1919. (See the accompanying photograph.) Today, the space where these two dormitories were located is a compact parking lot reserved for campus visitors, and is very near the stately home of the University’s President and the lion habitat.

-Billy Warren, City Historian (brwarren@florenceal.org)

Join UNA for a special holiday concert with Grammy Award-winning artist John Paul White! This magical evening will benefit the John Paul White Entertainment Industry Endowed Scholarship.

🎟️ Tickets: $35
🗓️ On Sale: October 25th
🔗 Get your tickets here!

Celebrate the season with an unforgettable night of music and support a great cause!

Equipment Operator

Street Department
Full Time - $32,373.08 Annually

Laborer Street

Street Department
Full Time - $29,588.82 Annually

Passenger Vehicle Driver Part-Time

Park and Recreation

Part Time - $13.39 Hourly

The Mayor and Council members will hold the next council meeting

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

4:00 pm Work Session

5:00 pm Council Meeting

The council meetings are held at 109 South Pine Street, Florence, AL 35630.

Email: abetterton@florenceal.org
Website: florenceal.org
Location: 110 West College Street, Florence, AL, USA
Phone: (256)760-6400

• 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.
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• 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.