News You Can Use: 1-19-23

UPDATED DETAILS: Ramsay Football Champions honored with a parade 

  • Due to the threat of rain on Thursday, Jan. 19, Ramsay High School has moved its football championship parade to Friday, Jan. 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The parade will start and stop in front of Boutwell Auditorium. Please see the parade route below. Also, please take note of the times for certain street closings and access to parking decks near City Hall during the parade.  

    • Parade route  

      • Parade will start in front of Boutwell on Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd.  

      • Parade participants will walk west on Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. and head toward 19th Street North 

      • Turn left on 19th Street North 

      • Turn left on Park Place 

      • Turn left on Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. 

      • Turn left onto Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd.  

      • End in front of Boutwell 

    • Street closings (locations and times) 

      • Short 20th will close on Jan. 19 at 5 p.m. 

      • On Jan. 20, Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. will be closed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from 19th Street North to 21st Street North.  

      • Park Place, from 19th Street North to Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd., will close at 10:30 a.m.  

      • Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. will be closed from Park Place to Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., starting at 10:30 a.m.  

      • 19th Street North from Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. to Park Place will close at 10:30 a.m. 

      • Employees should NOT park on 19th Street North between Park Place and Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd. at any time before the parade on Jan. 20.  

      • Employees will be unable to park on Short 20th Street North at any time before the parade on Jan. 20.  

    • Parking at Boutwell  

      • Those who plan to use the Boutwell deck between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Jan. 20, will need to access the deck via the 19th Street North entrance. The Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd entrance will be closed from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  

      • Access to Parking Deck A next to City Hall via 19th Street North will be closed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 20. The same will be true for those using the City Hall parking deck that lets out onto Short 20th Street. This means that vehicles will NOT be allowed to leave or enter these decks during this time range.  

      • Those driving near the parade route right before the parade starts and during the parade should expect delays in trying to get to some of their downtown destinations. 

 

Calling Spoken Word artists – TIME EXTENDED 

  • The City of Birmingham presents its Servant Leader Spoken Word Contest. Submit your spoken word recording of a previously authored or original piece to employeeRelations@birminghamal.gov. There is a 2-minute limit and city policies apply to all submissions. For additional information, call 581-3082 or email employeerelations@birminghamal.gov. Submission deadline has been extended to Monday, Jan. 23. 

 

Get healthy in the New Year 

  • Birmingham Park and Recreation presents Fitness at the Villa, a free weekly series at Avondale Villa, located at 4220 Woodvale Road. Here is the weekly schedule: 

    • Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Kickbox Sculpt 

    • Wednesdays at 6 p.m. Xtreme Hip-Hop 

    • Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Line Dance 

  • Certified dance instructor LaMesa Brooks offers fitness classes at the city’s North Fitness Center, 421 Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. Offerings include Zumba, Afrobeat Cardio Dance fitness, and  FX'perience Body sculpt and Tone. For more information, call 205-902-9599. 

  • Check out this month’s Behavioral Health Systems Newsletter. It includes helpful tips on keeping a New Year’s resolution, staying engaged at work and exercising regularly. See attached. 

 

UAB’s Alys Stephens offers discounted rates for city employees 

  • Check out the following special offers just for CIty of Birmingham employees: 

    • Buy 1 Ticket, Get 1 Free for Jazz Sensations Fred Hersch and Esperanza Spalding. Wednesday, Jan. 18. Scan for offer and use code ESPCITYBOGO at checkout. Tickets are $35-$55. 

    • Jazz/Low Country Musicians Ranky Tanky. Thursday, Feb. 23. Scan for offer and use code RANKYCITYBOGO at checkout. Tickets are $39. 

    • Meshell Ndegeocello. Thursday, March 9. Scan for offer and use code MESHCITYBOGO at checkout. Tickets $39. 

  • For more information, see the attached flyer and go to AlysStephens.org. 

 

Get your 2023 City of Birmingham wall calendar  

  • If you need a calendar, please see the attached digital version or visit the first floor lobby at City Hall and pick one up from Jacqueline Faulkner at the Customer Service Desk.  

   

Nominate a woman for StrongHer 

  • Do you know a woman who lives, works, volunteers or attends school in Birmingham and is making a big difference in the Magic City? If so, nominate her for StrongHer, an annual campaign that highlights unsung “sheroes.’’  Honorees will be profiled on the city’s social media pages in March for Women’s History Month. The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 20. Send nominations to strongher@birminghamal.gov. Visit www.birminghamal.gov/strongher for more info. 

 

Tax services offered 

  • Titusville Library will host Safe First Tax Services for patrons from January 26 through April 14 (Thursdays and Fridays only). Please call 205-322-1140 to reserve your spot. 

 

The Sloss Story to air on APTV 

  • Learn about the history of Sloss Furnaces, and how it related to the founding of Birmingham in a documentary airing on Alabama Public Television this Thursday, Jan. 19 at 8 p.m. Here is a link for more info: https://aptv.org/series/the-sloss-story/

 

The Big Shred Day 

  • Free electronics drop-off day and paper shredding from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Birmingham Zoo. Please see attached flyer for details. 

 

Submit your news to marie.sutton@birminghamal.gov.