Newsletter
Mayor Andy Betterton
December 8, 2022
HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES
Florence Christmas Parade: Thursday, December 8 at 7 pm
"A DOWNTOWN FLORENCE CHRISTMAS" - Friday, December 9, 3:00 - 6:30 pm
Join in the Downtown Florence Christmas celebration on Friday, December 9, 2022, from 3:00 - 6:30 pm featuring local stores and restaurants as well as having a meet and greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
3:00 - Kick off with retail - Shopping and Small bites
4:15 - Face painting and hot sips at Cottonwood Grocery
5:00 - 6:30 - Santa & Mrs. Claus at Rollies
6:30 - Drink specials and dinner at your favorite downtown spots
All event patrons will be entered to win a huge giveaway featuring all the participating downtown businesses. You want to take advantage of this! See attached flyers for details and participating businesses.
ShopSmall/ShopLocal for the holidays and always! Special thanks to all of our fantastic downtown businesses. Hope to see you there!
Holiday Fellowship Dinner
Council Member Kaytrina Simmons invites you to join the Holiday Fellowship Dinner Sunday, December 11, from 11:00 - 2:00 at the Handy Recreation Center (1105 Beale Street)
Ringing The Bell Makes A Difference!
Tired Of Waiting On The Leaf Truck?
Remember that bagged leaves on the curb are collected weekly. Leaf collection keeps the leaves out of the storm drains!
Check Out the Holiday Spirit at Florence Fire Station #4!
Thank You To All Of The Volunteers, Staff, & Sponsors That Make Christmas In Florence MAGICAL!
Florence Arts & Museums would like to thank the Florence and the Lakeside Garden Clubs for hosting the annual Every Light of Peace at Pope's Tavern Museum that ushered in the holiday season. The December 2nd event began the City's holiday magic, including the Festival of Lights at Wilson Park in conjunction with December's First Friday event. Saturday evening brought more Christmas joy with the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library's annual bike parade. Check out the video below.
Experience the lights and ambiance of the season by taking a stroll down Court Street and through Wilson Park, thanks to our Florence Urban Forestry and Park & Recreation Employees.
The celebration will continue on Thursday, December 8, with the Downtown Florence Alliance Christmas Parade presented by Bank Independent.
Florence Professional Firefighters Local 270
THREE YEARS WITH NO ACTIVE GOVERNANCE
Though there was no major battle in the City of Florence during the harrowing years of the Civil War, there were skirmishes which were terrifying to all who witnessed or participated in them. For example, there are extant letters written by Olivia O’Neal, wife of Edward O’Neal, describing her fear for herself and her young children in their home on upper North Court Street while her husband was away leading Confederate troops. The upheaval of that terrible four-year period interfered with agricultural production, as well as with business and local government. Not surprisingly, many businesses closed (though both Union and Confederate troops often patronized them) and fields remained uncultivated. In late 1862 when Neander H. Rice was the Mayor (his photograph is attached), the City government ceased to function. It did not resume until, finally, it was reorganized under the leadership of Mayor James B. Irvine, Jr. in late 1865. (See his attached photograph.) Perhaps during that dark three-year period, there might have been quiet meetings of leaders “under the radar.” However, no records were kept, so historians can only assume that City governance simply ceased to function. It was the first – and only – time since 1826 when Alexander Hamilton Wood was elected as the first Mayor of Florence that no one was designated to lead the City.
--Billy Warren, City Historian
La Femme New exhibit by Ann Moeller Steverson at Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts
Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts will be showing an exhibition of works by artist Ann Moeller Steverson from January 6 through February 3, 2023. The artist will present a gallery talk on Sunday, January 15th, from 2 -3 p.m. Ann Moeller Steverson is an oil painter known for her mood-filled figures, portraits, and still-lifes. Her contemporary work bridges classical beauty with modern painting practices of today. Steverson has been awarded the honor of the Bold Brush Award, a distinction an artist may receive only once in their lifetime. Her work has recently been selected as a finalist in the Art Renewal Center and has been featured in several Oil Painters of America exhibits. She has been awarded by the National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society and Portrait Society of America.
The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is free and open to the public Monday - Friday from 9-4 and on Sundays from 1-4. The art center is located at 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL and can be reached at 256-760-6379.
Congratulations to Complete Aesthetics Care
NEW BUSINESS: Companion Coffee Roasters
OPENING: EARLY 2023
ADDRESS: 1210 N. Wood Ave. – 7-Points
Companion Coffee Roasters is officially opening a roastery/café at 1210 North Wood Avenue in 7-Points Florence.
UNA Department of Entertainment Industry John Paul White & Friends Concert
Benefited the Department of Entertainment Industry Endowed Scholarship
Night To Shine - Shoals sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation on Friday, February 10, 2023!
Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience centered on God's love for people with special needs, ages 14 and older. Visit nighttoshineshoals.org to register!
If you have questions, contact the Night To Shine - Shoals Coordinator, Dustin Phillips, at d.phillips0601@gmail.com or email nighttoshineshoals@gmail.com.
Dispatcher Evening, Midnight, Swing Shift Electricity Dept. New
Full Time - $34,403.65 Annually
Horticulture Maintenance Worker New
Urban Forestry 2806 Darby Drive FlorenceFull Time - $28,727.01 Annually
Maintenance Worker Part Time Park and Recreation New
Park and Recreation 2830 Darby Drive FlorencePart Time - $13.00 Hourly
Truck Driver New
Solid Waste 29485 County Road 14 FlorenceFull Time - $34,403.65 Annually
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
The Mayor and Council members will hold the next council meeting on
Tuesday, December 20, 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