MESSAGE FROM COMMISSIONER CONNIE HUDSON      

COUNTYWIDE BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION TAKING SHAPE 

The Mobile County Bicentennial Committee has lots of plans on the table and a fresh, new look. Take a peek at the logo above; you'll be seeing it a lot by the end of this year and into the new year.  

Lots of creative events are being developed for the year-long celebration by a very dedicated Bicentennial Committee. While the details can't be released until they are firmed up, we can tell you it will be a county-wide celebration of our history and culture.  Lots of heart and soul are going into the planning. There will be something for everyone during this celebration and all the events will be great entertainment.  At the same time, there will be educational elements that will make it easy and compelling to learn more about our combined history.  The Bicentennial Motto captures the message: Many Histories, One Future.

If you would like to be a part of the Bicentennial Committee, please contact Nancy Johnson, Public Affairs Director at 574-5088.  There are four working sub-committees: Fundraising and Sponsorships, Outreach and Volunteers, Public Relations and Marketing, and Education and History. Stay tuned for more details!  

DON'T FORGET TO BARK FOR YOUR PARK: LAST DAY TO VOTE, TOMORROW WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3.

Tomorrow is the last day to vote for Mobile as the winner of a $100,000 grant for the construction of a community dog park in Medal of Honor Park off Hillcrest Road. 

The finalist community with the most votes will receive $100,000 towards building a PetSafe dog park. PetSafe will announce the winner in August. For more information about the PetSafe "Bark For Your Park" contest, Click Here to visit the contest site and to vote and Click Here to check out the PetSafe Facebook page where you can vote again!

• Clothing under $100
• School supplies under $50
• Books under $30
• Computers/computer equipment under $750

This is the last year of the Maddie's Spay/Neuter Project and the Mobile SPCA has printed yard signs to help get the word out. Do you have a spot in front of your home, business or other safe, busy location that you can put up a yard sign? If so, please help them educate the community.

The Mobile SPCA, lead agency for the Maddie's Pet Rescue Project in Mobile, reminds everyone that this is the final year to take advantage of Maddie's Spay/Neuter Project's cheap surgery prices - $10 for cats and $20 for dogs.

To be eligible for the Maddie's Spay/Neuter Project's pricing you must have a current Medicaid card according to Janine Woods, Mobile SPCA's executive director. However, if you do not have a Medicaid card the Mobile SPCA has programs available to get you and your pet at reduced prices on the surgery. "We want to alter as many pets in 2011 as possible, not just those that belong to Medicaid recipients." Woods said, adding, "We ask everyone with an unaltered pet to call our office; we will help you get your pet fixed!"

Sterilization of a dog will increase its lifespan an average of 1 to 3 years; cats, 3 to 5 years. Altered animals have a very low to no risk of mammary gland tumors and cancer, prostate cancer, perianal tumors, pyometria, and uterine, ovarian and testicular cancers. Sterilizing makes for a better pet, reducing the pet's urge to roam and thereby decreases the risk of contracting diseases or getting hurt or killed.  

The Mobile SPCA in conjunction with Dr. Quentin Meadows and Eight Mile Animal Hospital are holding low cost spay/neuter clinics at the Mobile SPCA office every Wednesday. For information on the benefits or costs of spay/neuter programs, financial assistance or to make an appointment, please call the Mobile SPCA at 633-3531.

COUNTY FINANCES AT A GLANCE

The June 2011 Budget Report reflects expenditures through 75% of fiscal 2011. Through June we collected 73.18% of budgeted revenues. The Miscellaneous category includes the sales of assets that we expect to close prior to the end of the fiscal year. The budget report shows budgeted and actual expenditures by function. Through the end of June, 67.61% of the budget was expended. Other uses and transfers stand at 48.44%.

  Financial Update as of June 2011   

DISTRICT 2 ROAD  

DISTRICT TWO

SUMMER CALENDAR

WILMER COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP MEETING

When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 2 

Where: Wilmer First Baptist Church, 13371 Moffett Road, Wilmer

MARC-ART SILENT AUCTION 

When: 6 p.m. Thursday, August 4  

Where: Mobile Museum of Art, 4850 Museum Drive, Mobile 

 
A silent auction of art work by MARC (Mobile Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc.) and community artists. The event benefits the Mobile ARC, a non-profit agency that provides Mobile County citizens suffering from disabilities with services to enhance their quality of life. Music and refreshments will be provided.

Cost: $25 per ticket. 

To purchase tickets please call 479-7409 or Click Here to contact Lindsey Hutchinson.

For more information on MARC, ways to give or a listing of their services Click Here to view their website. 

WALTER BELLINGRATH BIRTHDAY EVENT 

MOBILE SPCA ADOPTION EVENT 

When: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, August 6    

Where: PetSmart, 3980J Airport Blvd., Mobile 

The event will include dogs, cats, puppies and kittens that are available for adoption. All pets have been fixed, micro-chipped and are up to date on shots. Adoption application and adoption fees apply.   

For more information call 251-633-3531 or Click Here to visit MobileSPCA.org.  

MOBILE COUNTY TO HOST U.S. OLYMPIC BOXING TEAM TRIALS 

DOWNTOWN ARTWALK 

PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK PRESENTS "THE SOUND OF MUSIC"

Based on the award-winning stage and film musical by Rodg­ers and Hammerstein and book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, "The Sound of Music" is an adaptation of the memoir of Maria von Trapp, "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers."

Cost: Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and senior citizens. 

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY HOSTS VINTAGE AFFAIR AND LATE NIGHT PARTY   

When: 6 p.m. to midnight Thursday, August 18  

Where: Fort Whiting Auditorium, 1620 Broad Street, Mobile 

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE TO HOST "GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN" EVENT

When: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, August 25 

Where: The Temple Downtown, 351 St. Francis Street, Mobile 

This event will feature "Purse-Onality" an opportunity for you to purchase a purse for $25 or $50 with a surprise in each one such as  dinners, spa treatments, jewelry, perfume and art.  To complete the evening, the ladies can enjoy indulgences such as mini-manicures & pedicures, makeovers, relaxing chair massages, reflexology, boutique shopping, and much, much more! Refreshments and entertainment will be provided.

Cost: Advance tickets - $60; Day of Event tickets - $75

For tickets or more information Click Here or call 694-6873.     

MOBILE BOTANICAL GARDENS  

Mobile Botanical Gardens is pleased to announce a schedule of new classes and programs for Fall. A variety of opportunities for horticultural fun and education will be offered. Brief descriptions of the one day class series follows, and more information is available at www.mobilebotanicalgardens.org. To register for any of these programs, call 342-0555 or Click Here to visit the MBG website. All classes will be held at Mobile Botanical Gardens unless otherwise stated.

One Day Classes

Cost: $25 MBG members; $35 non-members (unless noted).

Make your own Bog Garden

9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 20

Learn about carnivorous plants and create your own miniature bog garden to take home! This workshop is fun for the whole family. No cost for accompanied children 12 and under.

Fall Vegetable Gardening

9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 10  

A Fall garden provides many delicious winter vegetables, plus a head start on Spring planting. Get yours off to a good start with Bill Finch's low maintenance veggie garden strategies.

Shade Gardening

6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 
Tuesday, September 13 

No sunlight in your yard? No problem! Create a beautiful landscape with shade loving plants.

Herb Day 2011

9:00 a.m. to noon Saturday, September 24    

Sponsored by MBG and the Gulf Coast Herb Society. Includes seminar, cooking demonstration with Bill and Vikki Finch, light lunch and door prizes. Hard to find herbs and gifts will be for sale. Cost: $25 Advance registration required. Click Here to register.  

For additional information on City of Mobile calendar events, please Click Here.   

SPOTLIGHT ON COUNTY SERVICES

Each edition of the District 2 E-Newsletter will highlight an area of service, service agency, or a county service that is funded by the Mobile County Commission.

MCKEMIE PLACE   

McKemie Place, a shelter operated by the United Methodist Inner City Mission is the only overnight shelter for single homeless women in all of Mobile, Washington and Baldwin Counties. Since opening, more than 700 women have sought refuge there, away from the threat of violence. Their beds have been filled more than 25,800 times since the very first night.  An average of 50 women look to the Shelter nightly for safe shelter.

McKemie Place relies heavily upon community support to operate. Just as the women they serve rely on them for help and support, McKemie Place depends upon volunteers, private contributions and grants in order to stay open. Continuing financial support is being sought from the City of Mobile, Mobile County, the State of Alabama and charitable foundations, as well as through annual fund-raising activities, including the Eggstravaganza Breakfast and a special Mother's Day solicitation.

Donation Items Needed:

Comet, dish detergent, bleach, 13- and 55- gallon trash bags, quart and gallon size Zip-lock bags, salt, pepper, hot sauce, ketchup, sugar, coffee, creamer, dinner napkins, paper towels, 12 oz. drinking cups, plastic spoons, aluminum foil, serving tongs, toilet tissue, sanitary napkins.

For more information on volunteering, making a tax-deductible contribution, or donating items please call Christine Greene at 251-432-1122 or Click Here to visit the McKemie Place website.

KUDOS AND CONGRATULATIONS!  

Prospective Eagle Scouts from Troop 227, Luke Kiszla, Harrison Sawyer, and Tyler Peterson recently completed over 1,200 combined hours of community service. Luke Kiszla renovated a computer lab at McKemie Place, an overnight shelter for homeless women. Harrison Sawyer built a boathouse for a sailing program at the Girl Scout Camp Sid Edmonds. Tyler Peterson designed and constructed an outdoor classroom on the University of South Alabama campus. They will receive their Eagle Scout awards on Sunday, August 7. 

Mr. Joe Ruffer, County Engineer, was recently appointed by Governor Robert Bentley to serve as a representative on the Affordable Homeowners' Insurance Commission.