Forest Park / South Avondale (November Newsletter)

Forest Park / South Avondale

Tuesday, November 1, 2022, 6:30 p.m.

AVONDALE LIBRARY

November agenda items include:

1. Monthly Report from the South Precinct.

2. Monthly Report from Friends of Avondale Park, (April Merritt).

3. Monthly Report from District 3 Board of Education Representative (Mary Boehm)

4. Monthly Report from District 5 Councilor, (Darrel O'Quinn)

5. Monthly Report from District 3 Councilor, (Valerie Abbott)

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Brush and Trash Pick Up dates.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18

https://www.birminghamal.gov/bulktrash

Missed Pick-up - Dial 311

Report Illegal Dumping - Dial 311

New Miss Fancy statue awaiting final permits for installation in Avondale Park

BYGABBY GERVAIS

After plenty of hard work bringing the bronze, 15-foot Miss Fancy to life, she’s almost ready for her official installation. We caught up with Nelson Grice, the artist behind the new Miss Fancy statue, to find out when we’ll get to see her in all her glory. Keep reading for sneak peek photos and details.
Making Miss Fancy
Bham Now has been keeping up with Miss Fancy’s progress every step of the way and we can’t wait to see the final results. When we last caught up with Nelson, he was in the midst of the final bronze pour for the long-anticipated statue. Since then, he’s been hard at work assembling Miss Fancy’s 146 individual pieces.
“Ted Metz and Hank Simpson were a huge help in assembling the big girl. We completed assembling the pieces at the end of July. Then I welded up all of the seams and by the end of this week, she will be completely finished.”
Nelson Grice, Artist
Based on the real-life Miss Fancy, a beloved elephant who roamed Avondale Park in the early 1900s, this 15-foot statue will be displayed front and center in Avondale Park.
How she came to be
The story of bringing a new Miss Fancy statue to Avondale Park traces back to one of the neighborhood’s most beloved civic leaders, Ron Council. When a smaller Miss Fancy statue in the park was damaged and later disappeared, Ron made it his mission to bring her back to her rightful place.
Tragically, he passed away before he could see Miss Fancy return. So, his wife Martha Council made it her mission to continue his legacy and raise money for a brand new Miss Fancy statue. Grice took on the project and has been bringing the beloved elephant to life ever since.
What are the next steps?
Wondering what exactly needs to happen before we can see Miss Fancy at the entrance of Avondale Park? Nelson filled us in on the next steps.
“Right now we are waiting on permits from the parts board in Birmingham. Once we get our permit, we will begin to excavate the land and pour the footer for the sculpture. Once we pour the footer, we will attach the plates and posts and weld her onto those plates. Then, we will build the pedestal box and pour the final layer of concrete. After that, we will place the stones around the pedestal to match the surrounding columns at the entrance of Avondale Park.”
Nelson Grice, Artist
Keep an eye out for the big reveal
The unveiling of Miss Fancy is scheduled for December 10 at 11:00 a.m

LINK TO BIRMINGHAM NOW STORY With more pics,
https://bhamnow.com/2022/10/24/now-the-news-50m-amphitheater-proposed-for-north-birmingham-avondale-parks-miss-fancy-statue-update-more/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=now-the-news-50m-amphitheater-proposed-for-north-birmingham-avondale-parks-miss-fancy-statue-update-more

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CHRISTMAS VILLAGE 2022
DEADLINE TO DONATE GIFTS: NOVEMBER 28

The Samaritan Place Market: A Christmas Village is a shopping experience for invited guests to shop for the children in their home. Avondale Samaritan Place will be transformed into a Christmas market where local community members will be hired to work the shop and new gifts will be available at greatly reduced prices.

Here’s how you can help: You can make a child’s Christmas possible through whichever of the following is most convenient for you:

• Shop at your favorite local toy store and purchase gifts from the suggested shopping list below. Bring your unwrapped gifts to Canterbury or Avondale United Methodist Church before November 28.
• Purchase gifts from our Amazon wish list. Go to https://a.co/e3PrzLx. You can even change the delivery address to CUMC Village, 350 Overbrook Road, Birmingham, AL 35213, and they will ship directly.
• Financial donations are always welcome. These will allow us to shop and fill in with gifts that are needed. Please mark your donations with “Christmas Village” in the memo line, and mail to: Avondale Samaritan Place, 3829 - 5th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35222.

Second Annual BakesGiving:
ALL ARE WELCOME!

Thanksgiving will soon be here, and Avondale Samaritan Place would love to share the season with our neighbors! This FREE community event will feature delicious samplings of the very best sweets of the holidays – cakes, pies, cookies, and other tasty treats. Face painting, a cake walk, crafting tables, and more. Prepare for outstanding family fun!

Download a flyer here: https://bit.ly/3sGIGnq.

CITY OF BIRMINGHAM CODE ENFOCEMENT RESOURCE GUIDE

https://www.birminghamal.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Code_Enforcement_Resource_Guide_Final.pdf ;

The City of Birmingham strives to maintain quality neighborhoods and a clean environment. In an effort to achieve this goal, we are committed to reducing blight by educating our residents, enforcing laws, targeting violators and encouraging ongoing compliance. In some instances, residents may not be aware of the various code and zoning violations that could be occurring on their property or properties around them; and may also need resources on how to address these violations.

The most common code violations include:

• High weeds, trash, junk and debris in yards
• Illegally parked vehicles in a front yard and inoperable vehicles
• Failure to maintain structures
• Businesses using residential property

Freshwater Land Trust Updates From The Last Month

Monday Night Brewing Giveback Night

Celebrate National Hiking Day and support Freshwater Land Trust by visiting Monday Night Brewing on Thursday, November 17, 2022, between 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. for our last Giveback Night of the year! Mention Freshwater Land Trust when you order, and Monday Night Brewing will donate a portion of the proceeds to help us continue building trails throughout Jefferson County. We hope to see you there!

Join us for an early morning walk

Join the District 8 Walking Group!

We meet at 8:00 a.m. on Thursdays at the Crossplex Starbucks for a 1.5-mile loop, followed by coffee. All paces are welcome. No sign-up needed, just show up. See you there!

Join us for an evening run

Join our Freshwater Land Trust Running Group! We meet at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesdays at Cahaba Brewing Company for a four-mile run on the Hugh Kaul Trail. All paces are welcome. Afterwards, grab a beer with the group at Cahaba Brewing. No sign-up needed, just show up. See you there!

Cahaba River Fry-Down

On October 2nd, Freshwater Land Trust attended the Cahaba River Society's annual Fry-Down at Cahaba Brewing Co. The event was a great success, as Cahaba River Society's largest fundraising event of the year. FLT enjoyed the opportunity to speak with attendees and sample some amazingly tasty food.

Darter Dash

Birmingham Ultra Trail Society (BUTS) and Turkey Creek Nature Preserve (TCNP) hosted their annual Darter Dash 5k and 10k on October 8, 2022, with all proceeds going to TCNP's educational programs. Members of the Freshwater Land Trust staff enjoyed a brisk morning out on TCNP's beautiful trails. Keep up with other BUTS events here, and be sure to visit Turkey Creek to enjoy the fall weather on the trails!  

The Latest Magic City Spotlight

The City of Birmingham invests in early literacy initiatives in partnership with Birmingham Talks

The City of Birmingham has announced plans to invest $1M in early literacy initiatives executed by Birmingham Talks. This is the single largest municipally funded early childhood investment in the history of the City of Birmingham. Birmingham Talks improves kindergarten readiness by increasing interactive conversation between children and their caregivers through the use of a small digital device (a “word pedometer”) that counts the number of words children hear each day.

Funding from the City of Birmingham will help scale Birmingham Talks’ programs over the next three years and ensure that more families and childcare centers have access to award-winning curriculum, innovative technology, and personalized coaching. “Children in Birmingham deserve the very best from the very beginning,” said Ruth Ann Moss, Executive Director of Birmingham Talks. “We’re honored to work with the City to expand access to high-quality early learning services in all ninety-nine neighborhoods—and make Birmingham the best city in the country to raise a child under five.”

Learn ore by clicking the image above or buttons below.

99 Voices: Sam Wiggins, Sand Ridge Farms, Oxmoor

Sam Wiggins believes we have what we need to sustain our communities right in our own backyards.

Click the image above or the button below to hear how he and other experienced farmers are looking to empower their communities to take "living matter" into their own hands.

Revitalization update: How it started vs. how it's going

Crews have been hard at work ensuring the work gets done in our communities.

Take a look at some of the progress we've made on roadwork projects since September 1.

BWW Gives Update on Customer Billing

Birmingham City Council Highlights 10.25.22

Here are a few of the legislative highlights from Tuesday’s Birmingham City Council meeting, in case you missed it.
 

ITEM 5

The Council unanimously passed an agreement between the City and Housing Reinvestment Corporation of America, in which the City will provide funding to help facilitate the construction and mortgage assistance for 16 affordable single-family homes in the Woodlawn neighborhood.

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition has pledged to build 200 affordable housing units across the city; this project is another step toward reaching that goal. The 16 homes in Woodlawn will be constructed on previously vacant lots.

In January, the Birmingham City Council approved an item for the pilot program that transferred 27 lots in Belview Heights to Housing Redevelopment Corporation of America to develop affordable single-family homes. The funding is being used to help subsidize the cost of the homes and is part of the federal American Rescue Plan funding that the City received last year.

“This is going to be a real game-changer for this area,” Councilor JT Moore said. “This project offers high-quality homeownership opportunities to a well-deserving community that has weathered economic challenges. Woodlawn is ripe for this kind of project. The addition of new, affordable houses will allow this community to know the joys of homeownership, as well as stimulate much-needed growth and pride in the area.”

Here is the item as it appeared on Tuesday’s Agenda:

ITEM 5. A Resolution approving and authorizing the Mayor to execute for and as the act of said City, a Housing Investment Partnerships Program and Development Agreement between the City of Birmingham and Housing Reinvestment Corporation of America, under which Housing Reinvestment Corporation of America will be awarded funds under the ”HOME Investment Partnerships Program” and the “American Rescue Plan Act,” for the purpose of (i) constructing sixteen (16) affordable single-family new construction units in the Woodlawn Community; (ii) on-site infrastructure improvements; and (iii) mortgage assistance, for the development of the project, for an amount not to exceed $892,182.00

Board Appointments:

The Council appointed Jeffrey Havercroft to the Birmingham Parking Authority, replacing Dora Sims. That appointment will expire on October 31, 2026.

This board is charged with regulating city parking spaces, decks and lots.

The Council also made two appointments to the Birmingham Parks and Recreation Board. Walter Body will be replacing Montal Morton with a term expiring October 8, 2023. Meghan Ann Hellenga will be replacing Carly Miller with a term expiring October 8, 2026.

The Parks and Recreation board is tasked with operating and maintaining all City of Birmingham parks.

Upcoming Legislation

On Monday, the Council’s Transportation Committee considered and recommended an item to the full Council dealing with the expansion on Birmingham On Demand, a rideshare service that has operated in Birmingham since 2019.

According to the proposal, the service will be expanding to 19 neighborhoods to the East, a move that members on the Council have been advocating for since the service began.

“It’s logical to look into tying that service into the Birmingham Express Routes that run East to West, especially to the East Transit Center in Woodlawn” Councilor Darrell O’Quinn said. “If you call for a ride within the expanded coverage zone, people can be dropped off at the transit center and be downtown in very short amount of time.”

When considering where to expand the services, City officials looked at indicating factors such as car ownership numbers and poverty rates which often dictate where transportation services are needed the most.

The BJCTA will begin their nighttime Birmingham On Demand service starting at 7 p.m. within the next month, a move that is sure to help bolster ridership across the city. The item must still come before the Council for approval. More information on this will be released when it becomes available.

BEST Halloween Story - Lily's Accessible Pumpkin Patch - Lakeshore Foundation

What:  The Rolling Pumpkin Patch 

Where:  2900 Tera Lane, Bessemer, 35203

When:  Saturday, October 22, 2022, from 10am-4pm

Info:  Lakeshore youth member Lily Dobson and her family have big plans for Halloween season. Ten year old Lilly, with the help of her parents, and staff from Lakeshore Foundation are creating an accessible pumpkin patch for a Halloween party. It’s called The Rolling Pumpkin Patch and Lily has invited more than 200 of her friends, especially her friends who use walkers or wheelchairs. There will be accessible pumpkin hunting, petting zoo, hayrides, face painting treats and fun picture opportunities.

Background Story on Lily:

If you are looking for Lakeshore youth member Lily Dobson, she might be swimming at the pool, her second favorite activity next to wheelchair basketball. Dobson plays basketball and is on the swim team at Lakeshore. Getting to this point has been a long journey for the whole family.

In 2012, two years after the earthquake in Haiti, Lily was born with arthrogryposis, a congenital condition affecting joint movement. Little did anyone know that wheels were already in motion to bring Lily to a new home in Birmingham, Alabama.  “We wanted to grow our family and we prayed about it,” said Jennifer Dobson, Lily’s mother. “It was a 7-year adoption process, we took 6 trips to Haiti and on our 7th, we brought Lily home when she was 3 ½. “

As Lily settled into her new home, she also visited Lakeshore Foundation. “Lily fell in love as soon as she walked in the door,” Jennifer said.  “Swimming and exercise classes were Lily’s first activities before being invited to play basketball. Her first year was a learning experience, but in season two she scored her first points and showed her competitiveness. While basketball is great, it’s also helped in other ways. One day she was struggling with schoolwork and her coach, Lauren Perry, had her do homework during practice. I will ever be thankful to coach Lauren for that,” Jennifer added.

Lily’s teammates and coaches have meant the world while playing her dream sport. Look for #10 at a gym near you. Lily will be wearing bright pink socks. “I like to stand out,” Lily says.

Interviews are available both before the event as setup work gets underway, and during the event.

For More Information, Contact:

Damian M. Veazey

Associate Director of Communications

Lakeshore Foundation

205-332-4438

Follow Us

AIDS Alabama October 2022 Newsletter

National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day

October 15 is National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day, a day to help stop HIV stigma and address the disproportionate impact of HIV on Hispanic/Latino communities.https://bit.ly/3CvPXNb

El 15 de Octubre: Día Nacional Latinx Para la Concientización del SIDA, un día para detener el estigma del VIH y abordar el impacto desproporcionado del VIH en comunidades latinas.

Bedding Donations Needed

We are getting ready to open The Way Stationand are asking for donations of Twin XL bed linens. A "bed-in-a-bag" would be awesome! Blankets and towels would be great, too. We are asking for only new items, please. Drop-offs can be brought to AIDS Alabama, 3529 7th Avenue So 35222. Thank you so much!

The Way Station
Donate today
Contact Caroline Bundy atcaroline.bundy@aidsalabama.org

Help Make the Holidays Bright for Children In Our Housing Programs

Make a child’s holiday wish come true this year by donating to the 2022 Holiday Wish Program! AIDS Alabama’s Holiday Wish program provides gifts to the children in our housing programs – gifts they would not typically receive due to household income levels. Most children’s wish list total between $150-$200, and donations can be combined to purchase items from the child’s wish list. Spread the word to friends, family, coworkers, Sunday School classes, Church groups, or social groups! All donations are due by Thursday, December 1st.

2022 Holiday Wish Program
Donate today
Phone: 205-780-6058
Contact Heather Rauckman atheather.rauckman@aidsalabama.org
Donate online athttps://www.aidsalabama.org/holidaywish

Daughters of Athena Scholarship Fundraiser

Daughters of Athena was created to present opportunities for women of trans experience! Whether it’s beginning and/or completing higher education or taking on the brave world of entrepreneurship, our aim is to offer a combination of: financial assistance, personal enrichment, professional development and networking opportunities which will change lives! In addition, it is always our focus to bring awareness to the harmfulness of hate, transphobia and stereotypes and to work tirelessly to destroy its damaging effects.

Through wisdom and warfare, Daughters of Athena are committed to impacting the lives of our Sisters, one step at a time!

Updates on the Biden-Harris Administration's Student Debt Relief Plan

The Biden-Harris Administration’s student debt relief portal has officially launched!

President Biden announced this afternoon that millions of working and middle class borrowers can apply for student debt relief right NOW at studentaid.gov/debtrelief/apply.

The application takes less than 5 minutes. It’s available in English and Spanish on desktop and mobile devices. And you don’t need to log in with an FSA ID or to upload any documents to apply.

The Administration’s plan will provide up to $10,000 in relief to borrowers with federal student loans and up to $20,000 in relief to borrowers who were Pell Grant recipients. Borrowers who earned less than $125,000 as an individual or $250,000 as a household in 2020 or 2021 are eligible for relief.

The Administration’s plan will help borrowers who need relief the most as they recover from the pandemic and prepare to resume loan payments this January. Already, more than 8 million people have applied for relief – that’s 8 million people on their way to getting a little more breathing room.

Learn more and apply now at studentaid.gov/debtrelief/apply.

Click here to access the Application in English
Click here to access the Application in Spanish

News You Can Use - Upcoming Community Events

Tuesday, October 25

• Homeownership program

  • No-cost virtual homeownership workshop. This session also continues our Holiday Savings Challenge and will provide quality resources to help you accomplish your goals of savings and homeownership. 11:30 a.m. via ZOOM. See attached.

Saturday, October 29

• Trunk-a-Treat and Alpha Charlie Car Show

  • The Southern Museum of Flight has partnered with Alpha Charlie Grill to bring you our Trunk-a-Treat and Alpha Charlie Car Show!! Bring the kiddos and your ride if you would like to enter the contest! Festivities start at 10 am at the Southern Museum of Flight! We hope to see you there!!

  • The event is free. It is $10 to enter the car show.

  • Scan the QR code on the attached flyer for car show registration

Tuesday, November 1

• Community Garden Expo

  • Featuring activities and exhibitors and more. Birmingham Botanical Gardens Lecture Hall. $10. Lunch provided. 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. See attached for details.

Second Thursdays in October

• PNC presents Financial Forums on the Railroad

  • Second Thursday of October from 12-1 p.m. at Railroad Park

  • Nov. 10 – Understanding Mortgages

  • Dec. 8 – How to Obtain Credit

Birmingham Museum of Art - Upcoming Fall Programs and Exhibitions

Art After 5: Star Wars

Friday, October 28 // 5 - 9PM

Free Admission

Launch into hyperspace in this Star Wars themed Art After 5! Visit the cantina on Tatooine for a night of music, beverages, and art-making to begin your intergalactic journey.

Enjoy a stellar view from your X-Wing fighter with the exclusive, big screen release of the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope — the most powerful telescope ever launched into space. We’re partnering with the Civil Rights National Monument in Birmingham to feature the phenomenal images that study every phase of the history of our universe. Gather this important intelligence for the rebels in the interstellar fight with the Galactic Empire! Register now!

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Chenoweth Lecture // Frank Stitt + Bryant Terry

Thursday, November 3 // 6 - 7:15PM

Free Admission

Join us for the 2022 Chenoweth Lecture featuring a discussion with James Beard award-winning chefs Frank Stitt and Bryant Terry. The subject of the evening will be "Food and Community in the South, led by moderator Amanda Storey of Jones Valley Teaching Farm and Chef Ama 'Ifágbàmílà' Shambulia of A Beautiful Life Enterprises LLC.

The Chenoweth Lectures were established in 1985 by Dr. Arthur I. Chenoweth as a memorial to his brother and parents.The purpose of these lectures is to encourage international understanding through the presentation of a variety of subjects by specialists in their fields. Space is limited. Register now!

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EXHIBITIONS ON VIEW

Hand-Held: The Four Seasons in Chinese Painting

Through the lens of the four seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—this exhibition explores the intimate visual storytelling experience found within small-scale Chinese landscape paintings. Journey through the seasons, from the blossoming peach trees and greening mountains of spring to the pillowy surfaces of newly fallen snow in a winter landscape, in this charming exhibition of Chinese painting.

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Wall to Wall: Rico Gatson Presented by PNC

The second iteration of Wall to Wall presented by PNC features Brooklyn-based contemporary artist Rico Gatson, who transformed the walls of the Museum lobby with a colorful, life-size image of iconic Birmingham figure, Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, and an abstract composition on an adjacent lobby wall inspired by Sun Ra.

On Friday, August 5, guests attending Museum’s signature event, Art on the Rocks, were invited to paint alongside Rico in the lobby to help complete the installation. Through community engagement, Gatson hopes to bring the energy from the Civil Rights movement into the present.

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Light Play

Light Play is an exhibition drawn from the Museum’s permanent collection that shows the influence and use of light in art.

In this exhibition, artists examine the many meanings of ‘light’ and ‘play’ through medium, expression, meaning, and form. Light Play brings together contemporary artists and works exploring the manipulation, effects, and emotions of light, including the double meaning of the word ‘light,’ by featuring works that are lively or humorous in subject matter.

Together, these works reflect the expanse of contemporary artworks incorporating light. Whether using it literally, metaphorically, or conceptually, each artist radiates the profound influence of the power of light.

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Ways of Seeing: Sports and Games

Ways of Seeing: Sports and Games is an exhibition drawn from across the Museum’s permanent collection that shows the influence of sports and games on art. From ancient to contemporary, art has emphasized the importance of sports to societies globally. While images of athletes and games have had major impacts on artistic practices worldwide, art has also shaped the image of the athlete in popular consciousness. Drawing a parallel between the artists and athletes, this exhibition reveals the longstanding relationship between art and sports and games.

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Expanding Darshan: Manjari Sharma, To See and Be Seen

Bringing together the striking work of rising star—global contemporary artist Manjari Sharma—with the diverse historic collections of the Birmingham Museum of Art, this exhibition introduces nine of the most significant deities of the Hindu pantheon and their contemporary relevance in art and faith, serving as a gateway to the concept of darshan—seeing and being seen by the divine. The vibrant, varied, and sometimes contradictory stories of these gods—as well as their familial relationships with each other—are shared through the works in this exhibition.

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SAVE THE DATE

Ring in 2023 surrounded by art with the BMA's inaugural New Year's Eve Party! Beginning with flutes of champagne and a festive DJ set, the evening will include fine food, special performances, a stellar ball drop, and will conclude with dancing to live music into the early morning hours of the new year. Stay tuned for ticketing info!