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On September 23, 2013 the Mobile County Commission moved one step closer to making the planned residential recycling center in west Mobile a reality. The Commission approved a $2.3 million construction contract with Ben Radcliff Construction. A Notice to Proceed should be issued to the contractor within 3 weeks and construction should be completed in nine months. The facility is expected to be operational by mid-year 2014. Funds for the project are allocated to the county through a federal Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) grant. Once construction is completed, the county will contract with Goodwill Easter Seals of South Alabama to manage and operate the facility which will be located on the southeast corner of the old Brewer Center property off of Hitt Road.

The Mobile County Commission is set to approve a $307,000 appropriation from County Commission District 2 Education Funds for the purchase, design, and site construction of a steel fire training tower which will be located on nine acres owned by the City of Semmes off Illinois Street in Semmes. A fire training tower is designed to prepare firefighters for actual firefighting challenges in protecting lives and property with safe, hands-on live fire training. The Mobile County Commission is collaborating with the City of Semmes to provide the facilities to train volunteers and firefighters in volunteer and municipal departments throughout Mobile County. A primary purpose of the training facilities is to provide certification training for firefighters. The City of Semmes will construct a 2,800 sq. ft. fire training facility and emergency response center adjacent to the tower. The training facility and center will include classrooms, emergency quarters for firefighters and first responders, and an on-site generator.

According to City of Semmes Planning Commission Chair, Tim Hale, "The Insurance Services Office (ISO) performs assessments of every department's capability. Training is a large focal topic in these assessments. This burn building will provide the ability to simulate live fires and build expertise necessary to better protect our citizens and their property. This training can result in a better score during the ISO audit, which also corresponds to lower homeowners insurance. ISO grades on a scale of 1-10 where 1 is the best ISO Classification and 10 indicates minimum standards are not met. Based on a nationwide study performed by ISO, the cost of fire losses for homeowners policies in communities graded Class 9 is 65% higher than communities graded Class 5. Homeowners could expect their premiums for fire insurance to drop substantially."  

 

Also, according to Creola Fire Chief Jeff Reeves, president of the Mobile County Association of Volunteer Fire Chiefs,"Any kind of training facility that volunteer fire departments can utilize will improve operations and give us the ability to improve the quality of our services. Training is currently very hard to come by and travel to Tuscaloosa to the Fire College is really the only other option. This facility will provide an excellent resource to area volunteer fire fighters and concurrently the citizens who receive their assistance."

The Mobile County Fire Training Facility/Emergency Response Center and Fire Training Tower is expected to be completed and operational by May of 2014.

PUMPKIN PATCH AT CHRIST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

   

When: Noon to dusk, Sundays and 9 a.m. to dusk Monday through Saturday, Now through October 31

Where: Grelot and Cottage Hill Roads, Mobile

In October, the lawn at Christ UMC is literally covered with pumpkins of all colors, sizes and shapes! Here, you'll find tons of pumpkins and ornamental gourds
of all sizes for purchase. From the smallest to the largest pumpkin, you're sure to find the best pumpkins for holiday decorating or to use as the perfect backdrop for fall family photos. If you've been before, we look forward to seeing you again. If you haven't been yet, plan on joining us this year!

 

For more information Click Here or contact 342-0462. 

 

 

BROWN BAG IN BIENVILLE

 

When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays, Now through October 30
Where: Bienville Square, Downtown Mobile

 

Fall is back and so is live jazz. Pack and bring a bagged lunch and sit under the oak trees in Bienville Square. Live music provided by the City of Mobile and Radio Avalon's Catt Sirten.

For more information contact the City of Mobile Neighborhood and Community Services at 208-1550 or Click Here.

 

 

THURSDAYS AT THE MUSEUM  

When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. All Thursdays

Where: Mobile Museum of Art, 4850 Museum Drive

 

The Museum of Art is offering free admission and access to all galleries; special programs on Thursdays.

 

For more information contact 208-5200 or Click Here.

 

 

GOVERNMENT STREET FORUM    

 

When: 12:30 p.m. Thursdays, Now through November 14
Where: Government Street Presbyterian Church, 200 Government Street, Downtown Mobile (Parking available in the Jackson Street lot)   

 

The government street forum is a speaker luncheon hosted by Government Street Presbyterian Church.

October 3: Ben Raines, Executive Director, Weeks Bay Foundation
October 10: Julia Starr, Program Director, Woody's Song, a school for children with autism and other intellectual disabilities
October 17: Tom McGehee, Director, Bellingrath Museum and Home
October 24: Bill Sisson, President, Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce

October 31: Judy Adams, Alabama State Port Authority

November 7: Dr. Will Peterson, USA Jaguars Band Director

November 14: Phil Duryea, Volunteer Coordinator, National Museum of Aviation in Pensacola

 

Cost: $7 if you would like to purchase lunch. There is not a cost to attend the forum.

For more information Click Here or contact 432-1749.    

 

 

BAYFEST- ALABAMA'S LARGEST MUSIC FESTIVAL

   

When: Friday through Sunday, October 4 through October 6  

Where: Downtown Mobile

 

BayFest will celebrate its 19th anniversary this year with an expected crowd of more than 200,000 guests, who will  see over 125 live musical acts on nine stages during the weekend. BayFest has become known throughout the region for its vast array of renowned musical talent appealing to a wide variety of tastes and suitable for the entire family. The event also includes a family stage and an extensive children's activity area.

 

Cost: Weekend Pass $60, Day Pass $40 (limited availability), Children 12 and under admitted free with ticketed adult. Group discounts available to groups of 20 or more.

 

For more information, to purchase tickets or to view scheduled events Click Here to view the BayFest website.

 

JUBILEE BEST ROBOTICS, INC.  

When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, October 5 

Where: USA Mitchell Center

 

The local Jubilee BEST (Boosting Engineering Science and Technology) Robotics volunteers designed and developed the 2013 National BEST Robotics game, which will make its debut this Saturday for public viewing. "Gatekeeper," a game based on current technology requires robots to build either an 8-bit or 32-bit CPU in a  creative and colorful field. Thirty-two Gulf Coast schools will be the first in the nation to compete in "Gatekeeper," Jubilee BEST (Mobile) is a grass-roots, all-volunteer organization that is driven and supported by industry, ultimately creating the high-skilled workforce that is needed in our community. 

 

For more information contact Hub Director Robin Fenton at 379-1034 or Click Here to email.

 

 

MOBILE POPS CONCERTS

    

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, October 5  

Where: Mobile County Bicentennial Pavilion, Medal of Honor Park, Mobile

 

When: 7 p.m. Monday, October 7

Where: Mary G. Montgomery High School,

4275 Snow Road North, Semmes

 

For more information on these free concert events Click Here to view the Mobile Pops website.  

 

When: 6 p.m. to midnight Thursday, October 10

Where: Alabama Cruise Terminal, 201 South Water Street 

 

Mingle among community leaders at one of Mobile's premier philanthropic events. An evening filled with elegant hors d'oeuvres from Clifton Morrissette, the smooth sounds of Swing Mobile and exciting silent and live auctions! Wine tasting of varieties awaits you provided by Mobile's Red or White. We come together to party for a cause, the American Cancer Society will continue to save lives and create more birthdays by helping people to stay well and get well, find cures, and fight back against a disease that has taken too many lives.

 

Cost: $100 Gala ticket which includes entry into Late Night Party, $30 Late Night Party ticket. Online ticket sales will close at noon on Thursday, October 10. Tickets will be available at the door

For more information or to purchase tickets Click Here or contact 414-1305.


LODA ARTWALK

 

When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, October 11 

Where: Cathedral Square Arts District, Downtown Mobile

 

 

Children ages 4 to 12 can enjoy the best in quality, informal education, entertainment and social development in a secure and structured environment while exploring the Exploreum's hands-on, interactive exhibit galleries, experiencing a kid-friendly feature film, and making new friends. Limited space available.   

 

Cost: $10 to $27 depending on date of purchase, membership status and number of children.

 

For more information or to register Click Here or contact the Exploreum at 208-6873.

   

 

   

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: PLAINS MOBILE PIPELINE, INC.
Application for approval of a certificate of industrial development for a pipeline right-of-way in Mobile County.
 
When: 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 30
Where: Carl L. Evans Chief Administration Law Judge Hearing Complex, RSA Union Building, 100 North Union Street, Room 900, Montgomery

Plains Mobile Pipeline, Inc., will present its petition to the Commission for a Certificate of Industrial Development, pursuant to Alabama code regarding a crude oil pipeline right-of-way in Mobile County generally running west/north-west for approximately 2.2 miles from the Mobile Terminal, owned by Plains Marketing, L.P., and located at the Mobile River front, connecting with an existing pipeline on the west side of Highway 43.

For general inquiries regarding the public hearing, contact Walter L. Thomas, Jr., Commission Secretary for the Alabama Public Service Commission at 334-242-5218.

   

 

For more information on City of Mobile events Click Here.

Through August we have completed 92% of the fiscal year. Our year-to-date revenue through August 2013 was $113,527,467.44. This represents 93.46% of budgeted FY 2013 revenue. Receipt of many of our major revenues lag by one month. Most of the property tax revenue and business license revenue is collected in December and January. The year-to-date expenditures through August are $107,414,613.64. This is 87% of total budgeted expenditures for the fiscal year. We expect expenditures to be below 92% on this report. The health, sanitation and culture and recreation functions are primarily appropriations that are paid quarterly. Through August, both expenditures and revenues are within expected ranges.

Former University of South Alabama president, V. Gordon Moulton, passed away Saturday, September 28 after a battle with brain cancer. Moulton, who led the university since 1998, retired in July of 2013, after serving at the school for nearly 50 years. At his retirement, Moulton was the longest serving employee at USA. He is survived by his wife, Geri.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Mitchell-Moulton Scholarship Initiative at the University of South Alabama, in care of the USA Office of University Development, 300 Alumni Circle, Mobile, AL 36688-0002.