October 2010 Archives

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will take six months to review its options about how to proceed with a proposed expansion of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge's acquisition boundary - a procedural requirement needed to work with willing sellers in the years ahead.

"Our number one priority is to work in tandem with landowners, community and business leaders, the state, our conservation partners, and others, who are interested in the future of Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge and the protection of these extraordinary natural resources for generations to come," said Cindy Dohner, the Service's Southeast Regional Director. "Moving forward, we are committed to doing a better job collaborating with citizens throughout the Cahaba River basin." 

The Service will use the next six months to re-evaluate the proposal and its scope, assess workload and funding requirements, and address staff transitions at the refuge. The decision comes after the Service completed a Draft Environmental Assessment and Land Protection Plan in June 2010 proposing to expand the refuge's acquisition boundary, held two public hearings about the proposal, and extended the comment period through December 6. The agency will consider all comments it receives as future steps are determined to meet conservation goals for the Cahaba River NWR. 

Acquisition boundaries are administrative lines on a map that delineate areas where the Service can negotiate with owners willing to sell their land or otherwise protect it through the establishment of a lease or conservation easement. Land within the acquisition boundary is not part of the refuge until the Service acquires a legal interest in the land through a management agreement, easement, lease, donation, or purchase, working with willing sellers. Private lands and state-owned and managed lands that occur within an acquisition boundary are not subject to any refuge regulations or jurisdictions the Service follows.

Cahaba River NWR, located in Bibb County, shelters globally unique species and habitats and includes 3.5 miles of the Cahaba, Alabama's longest free-flowing river. It is presently one of the nation's smaller national wildlife refuges, but is the fifth largest of Alabama's 11 national wildlife refuges. Since the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge was established in 2002, the approved acquisition boundary, which includes the refuge's current holdings, has been expanded to 7,600 acres.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information about Cahaba NWR, please visithttp://www.fws.gov/cahabariver/

NOTE: You can view our releases or subscribe to receive them -- via e-mail -- at the Service's Southeast Regional home page athttp://www.fws.gov/southeast/news. Atlanta, GA 30345, Phone: 404/679-7289 Fax: 404/679-7286. Our national home page is at: http://www.fws.gov/news/newsreleases/

Conference registration is now open for the 10th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference, which will be held on February 3-5, 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL APPLICATION DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 1!

 Benefits of NRT Designation 

THE NATIONAL RECREATION TRAILS (NRT) program works to preserve and celebrate our nation's pathways. We invite you to explore America's great national system of trails and greenways.

Search over 1,000 National Recreation Trails in the online database

See the 2003 U.S. Department of Agriculture NRT Designations page for additional trails on National Forests and Grasslands

What are the benefits of becoming a National Recreation Trail?  

National Recreation Trails benefit from the prestige and increased visibility of being a part of the National Trail System. New designations are announced annually by the Secretary of Interior as part of the nationwide celebration of National Trails Day the first Saturday in June, and recognized at the National Trails Symposium. ALABAMA RECEIVED 9 NRT DESIGNATIONS IN 2010!

Other national publicity includes such events as the annual NRT Photo Contest, sponsored by American Trails, which has attracted hundreds of entries from across the country.

Successful applicants receive a letter and certificate signed by the Secretary of the Interior, designating their trail as an NRT. Trail managers are entitled to use the NRT logo in appropriate settings and trail publications. New 3.5" x 3.5" and 8"x 8" NRT logo signs are now available at a nominal cost from American Trails. For information contact American Trails at NRT@americantrails.org.

All NRTs will be included in the online searchable database of trails on the website at www.AmericanTrails.org/NationalRecreationTrails which includes descriptive information, maps, and pictures for trail users. Trail managers provide information about their NRTs for the site. Keep it up to date by going to the Trail Update Page, or send corrections and additions by e-mail to NRT@americantrails.org.

A web page for each state highlights Featured Trails with links to more information. For trails without a website, we are providing a page with photos, history, and useful facts about the project.

Other benefits include:

Access to technical assistance from NRT Program partners

An NRT newsletter with program updates, newsworthy activities, technical information, and innovative solutions to trail issues from around the country. Available in PDF format are the Spring 2003, Fall 2002, Spring 2002, Fall 2001, and Summer 2001 issues.

Access to an e-mail news group for NRT managers only to receive updates on funding, resources, and technical assistance opportunities

Access to networking and training opportunities

Assistance with recognition and special events highlighting the trail

Trail markers with the NRT logo for your trail: download the order form (Word 25 kb)

Letters of support for fundraising and trail protection efforts

Access to funding opportunities available from the NRT Program partners; trails with NRT designation are eligible to be considered for support from the National Park Service Challenge Cost Share Program, Bureau of Land Management, and USDA Forest Service Challenge Cost Share Programs.

Some state funding programs also consider NRT designation in allocating Recreational Trails Program, Transportation Enhancements, and other funding administered through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (and the Recreational Trails Program in Alabama awards extra points for NRT designated trails!)

The Artful Ways national survey of art on trails results are in the Art & Trails area and will guide development of a new grants program supporting art on National Recreation Trails.

State Trails funding encouraged for NRTs

The Recreational Trails Program, which provides funding for trails to each state through the Federal Highway Administration, provides this guidance on NRTs: "In consultation with the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture through the Federal Interagency Council on Trails, States are encouraged to give extra project evaluation credit to projects on National Scenic Trails, National Historic Trails (provided the project provides a recreational purpose), and trails designated as National Recreation Trails."

Where do I go for more information on National Recreation Trails?

Current information on the program is available on the NRT website at www.AmericanTrails.org/NationalRecreationTrails.

See the list of Regional Contacts for National Recreation Trails for the appropriate person to contact in your area

 DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE 2010 AMERICAN TRAILS NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM IN CHATTANOOGA! YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT!

The American Trails National Symposium is your best opportunity to network with the nationwide trails community and learn state of the art trail planning, development, and management techniques. The Symposium addresses both non-motorized and motorized issues and our vision for trails and greenways nationwide. Dozens of speakers and keynote presenters will join us from the trails community across America, November 14-17, 2010.

Hosted by our friends at American Trails, the Symposium is the largest gathering of trail enthusiasts and professionals in the country. American Trails champions the development and care of all trails (including rail-trails!) by fostering cooperation and communication among trail builders, planners, advocates and users.

REGISTER TODAY!

The National Trails Symposium is an excellent opportunity for those in the trails community to learn best practices, share experiences and network with others from across the country. There will be educational sessions and workshops on topics including rail-with-trail, trail safety and patrols, trail counts and economic development, and urban trail programming. In addition to these events, the Symposium provides you with the opportunity to:

Learn about federal funding sources and national efforts to expand funding for trails;

Understand the latest information available in trail construction, trail projects, new trail products, and new technologies to incorporate into trail use;

Have an adventure on one of the Mobile Workshops showcasing the Chattanooga area;

Enroll in one of the Featured Workshops to receive training in a variety of issues;

Explore the nationally known Exhibit Hall featuring the Indoor Trails and Greenways System;

Mingle with other trail enthusiasts at the Trails Rock Party at the Hunter Museum of American Art.

Keynote speakers are Dayton Duncan, co-writer and co-producer of the documentary National Parks: America's Best Idea, and Chris Balish, author of How to Live Well Without Owning a Car: Save Money, Breathe Easier, and Get More Out of Life. They will address the Symposium's theme, "Trails: The Green Way for America."

We hope to see you in Chattanooga!

The HUD-DOT-EPA Partnership for Sustainable Communities began in June 2009, when HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood, and EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson came together to announce that they would work together to coordinate federal actions on housing, transportation, and environmental protection.  This new publication looks at the progress the Partnership has made in its first year in targeting resources to help communities strengthen their economies by developing more sustainably, removing regulatory and policy barriers to make it easier for state and local governments to access federal resources, and aligning the agencies' policies and priorities. 

Design Alabama Executive Director Gina Clifford interviews Stacey Bryan, Director of theAlabama Communities of Excellence and Linda Swann from the Alabama development Office and current President of ACE. ACE is an organization which works closely with Design Alabama to create quality communities in Alabama. Founded in 2002, The Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) program is a comprehensive three-phase approach to economic and community development for cities with populations between 2,000 and 18,000. With the mission of helping Alabama's smaller communities to plan, grow and prosper, ACE partners from the private sector, governmental agencies, and universities work with each community to successfully achieve the vision and goals created during the ACE program

This special radio series will air every Sunday at 5:00 P.M. - 5:30 P.M., on the Troy University Public Radio Network at:  

• WTSU 89.9 (Montgomery and Troy)
• WRWA 88.7 (Dothan)
• WTJB 91.7 (Columbus and Phenix City) 

And every Saturday, broadcasting from Spring Hill College in Mobile, at 2:30 P.M. on:

• WHIL 91.3 Public Radio (Mobile-Biloxi-Pensacola)

This radio series may not be broadcast in your area, but it can be accessed via the Internet at: http://www.arts.state.al.us/actc/1/radioseries.html#ace

Some 215 towns across Alabama welcome you home this year during the Great Alabama Homecoming. It's all part of the Year of Alabama Small Towns & Downtowns- a celebration of everything that is Sweet Home Alabama. There are homecoming events and festivals going on practically every weekend through mid-December. Upcoming events include:

Homecoming Weekend- Montevallo- Oct. 14-16

Home Depot and the National Gardening Association (NGA) are partnering again to offer the Youth Garden Grants, given to schools and community organizations with child-centered garden programs. Priorities will be given to programs that emphasize one or more of these elements: educational focus or curricular/program integration, nutrition or plant-to-food connections, environmental awareness/education, entrepreneurship, social aspects of gardening such as leadership development, team building, community support, or service-learning. Schools, youth groups, community centers, camps, clubs, treatment facilities, and intergenerational groups throughout the United States are eligible. Applicants must plan to garden with at least 15 children between the ages of 3 and 18 years. 

The purpose of planning grants is to support the development of AmeriCorps programs so applicants are better prepared to compete for an AmeriCorps program grant in the following grant cycle.

Planning grants may not be used to support AmeriCorps members.

Applicants must demonstrate capacity through a pre-funding assessment.

The planning year will be to develop a full application for an AmeriCorps State program for the 2011-12 program year (October 1, 2011-September 30, 2012).

Allowable activities will include participation in Commission and CNCS trainings,  development of outreach materials, policy and program forms.

Eligibility: AmeriCorps State and National Planning Grant applicants must not have previously received an AmeriCorps State or National grant.

Funding Amount: Applicants may apply for up to a maximum of $50,000.

Application Deadline: Completed applications are due to the GFBCI no later than 5:00pm CST November 1, 2010.

For more information on how to apply for the Planning Grant, please click the following link and scroll down to "AmeriCorps State 2010-2011 Planning Grant Opportunity": 

http://www.servealabama.gov/AmeriCorps%20August%202008/Funding11.htm

The Alabama Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (GFBCI) is the state office that manages programs and initiatives designed to increase the number of Alabamians engaged in service and volunteering. Each year, as the State Service Commission, GFBCI awards AmeriCorps grants to nonprofit and public agencies that identify an unmet need in their community that will be addressed by AmeriCorps members that the organization recruits, trains, and manages. AmeriCorps grants provide funding for items such as program staff, member living allowances, health insurance for full-time members, equipment, supplies and other associated program expenses. In the FY2011 grant competition, the funding priorities are projects that address compelling, unmet needs in one or a combination of the following five national service priority areas: Education, Healthy Futures, Clean Energy/Environment, Veterans, and Economic Opportunity. The application deadline for the Competitive Grants, are due in e-Grants and hard copy with additional application documents to GFBCI Office by 5:00 p.m. CST on November 15, 2010.   Click the link below for more information regarding this grant: http://www.servealabama.gov/AmeriCorps%20August%202008/Funding11.htm The application deadline for the Formula Grants, are due in e-Grants and hard copy with additional application documents to GFBCI Office by 5:00pm CST on April 1, 2011. Click the link below for more information regarding this grant: http://www.servealabama.gov/AmeriCorps%20August%202008/Funding11.htm

State agencies, museums, historical organizations, and tourism officials announce the launch of Becoming Alabama, a statewide partnership for the commemoration of the Creek War, the Civil War, and the civil rights movement. Speaking last week in the historic House Chamber of the State Capitol, representatives of the collaborative effort invited historical societies, schools, and local governments to promote their communities' roles in the state's distinctive history. Officials also unveiled a logo commissioned for the anniversary period that can be used by organizations throughout the state to promote commemoration activities."We are about to pass through a remarkable constellation of anniversaries that coincide over the next five years," said Ed Bridges, director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History. "This is a unique opportunity to focus on three interconnected struggles that shaped who we are today." 

FREE 

Wednesday October 20, 2010  

Time: 10:00am -- 4:00pm 

Alabama Power Company Water Course Conference Center 

2030 Street South Clanton, Alabama 

RSVP BY: October 18, 2010 Carolyn Bern, Outreach Coordinator  The Alabama Office of Primary Care and Rural Health  Carolyn.Bern@adph.state.al.us or call: 334-206-5436  Topics included: What's in an Request for Proposal (RFP) 

Tips on Submitting Grants 

Some 215 towns across Alabama welcome you home this year during the Great Alabama Homecoming. It's all part of the Year of Alabama Small Towns & Downtowns- a celebration of everything that is Sweet Home Alabama. There are homecoming events and festivals going on practically every weekend through mid-December. Upcoming events include:

Homecoming Weekend- Ashland- Oct. 8-10
Dedication Day, DAR School- Grant- Oct. 8
New Hope Founder's Day- New Hope- Oct. 8-9
Harvest Festival- Blountsville- Oct. 9
Discover Cordova Day- Cordova- Oct. 9
Eufaula Homecoming- Eufaula- Oct. 9
Evergreen Sausage Festival- Evergreen- Oct. 9
Harvest Festival- Headland- Oct. 9
Spirit of Hodges- Hodges- Oct. 9
Foot of the Mountain Festival- Piedmont- Oct. 9
Riverfront Market Day- Selma- Oct. 9
Homecoming Weekend- Garden City- Oct. 9-10
Homecoming Weekend- Montevallo- Oct. 14-16
Mud Creek Marching Band Festival- Hanceville- Oct. 16
Friendship Festival- Margaret- Oct. 16
Jonesville Community Day- Mathews- Oct. 16
Homecoming Day- Sipsey- Oct. 16
Thorsby Swedish Fest- Thorsby- Oct. 16
Covered Bridge Festival- Oneonta- Oct. 22-24
Homecoming Weekend- Flomaton- Oct. 22-24
Williams Station Day- Atmore- Oct. 23
Pine Hill Depot Day- Pine Hill- Oct. 23
Ghost Walk and Fall Festival- Thomasville- Oct. 23
Greenville Reunion- Greenville- Oct. 28-30
Peanut Butter Festival- Brundidge- Oct. 30
Founder's Day- Chickasaw- Oct. 30
Falkville Fall Festival- Falkville- Oct. 30
Hamilton Fall Fest- Hamilton- Oct. 30
Opp Fest- Opp- Oct. 30
Heritage Harbor Days- Foley- Nov. 5-7
A.U. Homecoming- Auburn- Nov. 6
Jackson- Fall Festival- Nov. 6
Lineville- Heritage Day- Nov. 6
Brookside- St. Nicholas Food Festival- Nov. 6-7
Andalusia- Absolutely Andalusia- Nov. 11-14
Elba- Foggy Bottom BBQ Bash- Nov. 12-13
Collinsville- Turkey Trot- Nov. 13
Daleville- National Heritage Week- Nov. 13
Daviston- Daviston School Reunion- Nov. 13
Fairhope- Tree Lighting Ceremony- Nov. 18
Peterman- Arts & Crafts Festival- Nov. 20
Pine Apple- Hunter Appreciation Festival- Nov. 27
Demopolis- Christmas on the River- Nov.28- Dec. 4
Vincent- Small Town Celebration- Nov. 29
Gulf Shores- No Place Like Home for the Holidays- Dec. 2
Coffeeville- Coffeeville Christmas Parade- Dec. 4
Millbrook- Spirit of Christmas Parade- Dec. 4 
Mooresville- Homecoming Celebration- Dec. 4
Wilton- Christmas Parade- Dec. 7
Linden- ChiLLy Fest- Dec. 10-11
Dutton- Dutton Christmas Parade-  Dec. 11
Westover- Westover Christmas Parade- Dec. 11

For a complete list of Great Alabama Homecoming Events please see www.alabama.travel/homecoming/

In celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the publication of "To Kill A Mockingbird" the Monroeville/Monroe County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring "The Birdhouse Project", symbolizing the theme "Come Home To Monroeville/Monroe County in 2010".  The goal of the project is to create a "birdhouse trail" of places to visit, and to showcase the talent of residents of Monroe County who have designed, constructed and hand-painted the birdhouses which are placed throughout the county. The birdhouses are constructed of wood using materials purchased in Monroe County.  All birdhouses have been hand painted by various artists, and are sponsored by businesses, schools and civic organizations.  The project is ongoing.  The Chamber of Commerce met its initial goal to place twenty-five birdhouses throughout the community in time for the 50^th Anniversary Celebration of the publication of "To Kill A Mockingbird" that was July 8-11.  The Birdhouses have been photographed by many news organizations, and were featured prominently in articles in The Birmingham News, The Toronto Star, Business Alabama, Southern Living, and in national newscasts on CBS, ABC, and the BBC.  They have also been photographed by Carol M. Highsmith for her George F. Landegger 21^st Century Alabama Collection for The Library of Congress.