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The Jefferson County Department of Health invites you to attend its Leadership Breakfast & Tour
Guest Speaker: Mark Fenton, Host of America's Walking on PBS
Join Fenton on a bus tour following breakfast as he discusses how community design and the built environment can improve health, safety, and quality of life.

Tuesday, August 10th
Energen Plaza Conference Center 605 Richard Arrington Jr., Boulevard North

Public parking lot behind Energen Plaza (the rate is $3.00); metered parking on street.
7:30AM Breakfast • 8:30AM Bus Tour
Contact Flo Fleming at 930-1480 or Flo.Fleming@jcdh.org to reserve your spot today!

The Gulf Coast Fund has created a special Emergency Response Fund for the BP Oil Drilling Disaster, and we are distributing grants on a bi-weekly basis. Special priority is given to organizations engaged in community-led responses focused on: building community capacity; independent monitoring and documentation; providing impacted communities with access to key information and decision-makers; and organizing and advocacy for communities most impacted by the disaster.

REQUEST AMOUNTS & RESTRICTIONS: Up to $7,000 per organization. Small
requests also accepted. Recipients must be 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 nonprofit organizations
in good standing. NEXT DEADLINE: June 15, 2010

http://gulfcoastfund.org/apply-for-a-grant/emergency-grants.html

16th Street Corridor Study and Conceptual Streetscape Plan

The RPCGB and the Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association presented the 16th Street Corridor Study and Conceptual Streetscape Plan to the City of Birmingham Planning Commission and City Council. The City of Birmingham Planning Commission adopted the 16th Street Corridor Study and Conceptual Streetscape Plan on May 5th, 2010.  The City of Birmingham City Council adopted the 16th Street Corridor Study and Conceptual Streetscape Plan on May 11th, 2010. The Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association and the City of Birmingham have requested assistance from the Regional Planning Commission through the Building Communities Program to complete this study.  For additional information please contact Richard Amore, Senior Planner with the RPCGB at ramore@rpcgb.org.

City of Leeds Master Plan

The RPCGB continue to move forward on the City of Leeds Master Plan 2010.  The RPCGB met with several stakeholders during the month of May and is moving forward with the stakeholder involvement process during the month of June in guiding the future direction of the Master Plan. The RPCGB is in the process of putting together a stakeholder advisory committee for the City of Leeds Master Plan. The RPCGB looks forward to kicking off the public involvement meetings in the coming months once the existing conditions analysis is completed. The City of Leeds has requested assistance from the RPCGB through the Building Communities Program to complete the master plan for the city.  For additional information please contact Richard Amore, Senior Planner with the RPCGB at ramore@rpcgb.org.

To see a complete list of community planning projects completed over the last year, visit the Community Planning section of the RPCGB website.

Greenway Project Moves Forward

A long anticipated greenway project has taken another step towards completion with help from RPCGB.  In April 2009, a Building Communities Grant was awarded to complete a "Strategic Plan for the Implementation of the Five Mile Creek Trail Location Study."  The implementation study will be modeled after the PATH Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization in Atlanta with a mission of develop a system of interlinking greenway trails from commuting and recreation.
 
Plans for the Five Mile Creek Greenway began with an 8-mile section of greenway on Five Mile Creek funded by Sloss Industries (now Walter Coke) as part of a Supplemental Environmental Plan agreement. Sloss also set aside property on the creek in conservation easements and planted trees.  RPCGB and Cawaco RC&D Council in cooperation with Sloss produced the Five Mile Creek Greenway Master Plan in 2005.  RPCGB took the project another step by securing funding through the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for trail location studies in Brookside, Fultondale, and Center Point.  The Five Mile Creek Trail Location Study was completed in April 2008. 
 
The main feature of the Five Mile Creek Greenway is a 16.5 mile path planned on the CSX Cane Creek Rail Line.  This historic mineral rail line is planned to be developed as a multi-use trail.  Money has been programmed for the acquisition of the Cane Creek Rail Trail through the MPO. Matching funds will be provided through fund raising and local grants.

Local fishermen (and their families) in Dauphin Island are in time of need. As you are probably aware, Federal and State waters in and around Dauphin Island were recently closed due to the ongoing oil spill situation. This prevents local fisherman from being able to work and support their families on a regular basis. While some have been hired through the local "Vessels of Opportunity" program, many have not been able to get another job since the spill.
The Dauphin Island Foundation is the local entity to assist with any contributions and distribution request.
Thank you again for your willingness to help. Please feel free to contact me if you need any additional information regarding this matter.
Best Regards,
Jeff Collier Mayor
Dauphin Island, Alabama Jeffrey Collier [jwcollier4@hotmail.com]

Vulcan's 106th Birthday Bash - Jun 6
During this festive outdoor community event, the park will be filled with balloons, clowns, music, entertainment, food, fun and more in honor of Vulcan's special day.

Stevenson Depot Days - Jun 10-13
An old-fashioned festival that celebrates its railroad heritage with parade, pioneer breakfast, street dance, storytelling, clogging, museum tours, and other period entertainment. The festival also features Pro Lawnmower Racing, Alabama Bug jam, free concerts, and much, much, more.

Alex City Jazz Fest & Historic Marker Dedication - Jun 11-12
Come and help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce on Friday, June 11 and the dedication of an historic marker to commemorate 2010: The Year of Small Towns and Downtowns. Local dignitaries will speak and refreshments will be served (hours TBA). Then on Friday and Saturday evening, join in the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Alex City Jazz Fest hosted by Russell Lands. First held to thank the customers of Frohsin's Department Store and the citizens of Alexander City, this free annual milestone event will feature a music headliner and special activities on Friday in Strand Park downtown. On Saturday night, activities take place on the shores of Lake Martin at the Amphitheater.

Hank Williams Festival, 31st Annual - Jun 11-12
Tribute to native son, Hank Williams, with country music, arts, crafts, and food.

6th Annual Gulf Coast Hot-Air Balloon Festival - Jun 18-20
Forty-five hot-air balloons are the stars of this festival. See the colorful balloons fly in competitions in the early mornings and glow in the evenings. During the day, enjoy more than 50 arts and crafts vendors, toe-tapping music, a children's village, entertaining shows and festival food with a Southern, coastal flair. New for 2010, 60-ft. kite show.

Alabama Blueberry Festival - Jun 19
Original arts & crafts, live entertainment, antique car show, motorcycle show & ride, children's section, blueberries, blueberry bushes, cookbooks, and T-shirts. Food court with blueberry ice cream.

Helen Keller Festival - Jun 23-27
More than 100 events including headliner music artists, arts and crafts, parade, athletic events, vintage car and truck show, Keller Kids educational activities, historic tours and trolley rides to Spring Park.

25th Anniversary Liberty Day Celebration - Jun 25-26
"Small Towns and Down Towns" event and historic marker dedication. Events will include arts, crafts, food, children's carnival & activities, Classic Cars Cruise-In, museums, military displays, live music both Friday night and all day Saturday, Hall of Memories (First Baptist Church), Miss Shelby County and Miss Alabama signing autographs, walking tours, patriotic parade, fireworks display, and more.

Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination - Jun 25-6
It's the largest temporary exhibit in the Space Center's history. It will fill the Center's original building with props from all six movies in the Star Wars saga, along with many interactive exhibits, hands-on displays and laboratories - where guests can conduct their own scientific experiments on magnetic levitation and experience augmented virtual reality.

Some 30 towns across Alabama were on display starting this Saturday and during Saturday mornings in June as part of the Alabama Tourism Department's June Walking Tours. A variety of community leaders will lead the free tours through the historic districts or courthouse square areas of their hometowns. The hour-long tours will start at 10 a.m. on June 5, 12, 19, and 26. The June Walking Tours are part of state tourism's "Year of Alabama Small Towns and Downtowns" state-wide promotion.

Towns and starting places for the June Walking Tours are: Ashland, Ashland City Hall; Ashville, St. Clair Tourism Office; Athens, Limestone County Courthouse Annex Parking Lot; Atmore, Heritage Park; Birmingham, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute; Cullman, Cullman County Museum; Courtland, Park on the Square; Decatur, Delano Park Rose Garden; Demopolis, City Hall; Enterprise, Rawls Hotel; Eufaula, Chamber of Commerce Depot; Fairhope, Fairhope Welcome Center; Florence, various starting locations; Gadsden, Pitman Theatre; Gordo, Chamber of Commerce; Guntersville, Chamber of Commerce; Hartselle, Historic Depot; Hayneville, Lowndes County Courthouse; Homewood, City Hall. Huntsville, Constitution Village (June 5 & 12 only); Madison, Madison Roundhouse (June 19 & 26 only); Monroeville, Old Courthouse Museum; Montevallo, Chamber of Commerce; Montgomery; Montgomery Visitor Center; Oak Hill, Bethel ARP Church; Prattville, Autauga County Heritage Center; Selma, Dallas County Public Library; Scottsboro, Jackson County Heritage Center; Sheffield, Sheffield Municipal Building; Silas, Silas Community Center; Sylacauga, B.B. Comer Library; Thomasville, Thomasville Civic Center; Tuscumbia, ColdWater Bookstore; Tuskegee, Tuskegee Human and Civil Rights Multicultural Center; Wetumpka, Chamber of Commerce.

The tours are being coordinated by Brian Jones with the Alabama Tourism Department. "Alabama is the only state in the nation to hold statewide, simultaneous walking tours. The beauty of the June Walking Tours is that any community, whether big or small, can do this. We have done more than 1,000 walking tours since the beginning of the program seven years ago and they keep increasing in popularity every year," Jones said. More information about the June Walking Tours is available by going online at www.alabama.travel or by calling 1-800-ALABAMA.

Some 30 towns across Alabama will be on display during Saturday mornings in June as part of the Alabama Tourism Department's June Walking Tours. A variety of community leaders will lead the free tours through the historic districts or courthouse square areas of their hometowns. The hour-long tours will start at 10 a.m. on June 5, 12, 19, and 26. The June Walking Tours are part of state tourism's "Year of Alabama Small Towns and Downtowns" state-wide promotion.

Towns and starting places for the June Walking Tours are: Ashland, Ashland City Hall; Ashville, St. Clair Tourism Office; Athens, Limestone County Courthouse Annex Parking Lot; Atmore, Heritage Park; Birmingham, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute; Courtland, Park on the Square; Decatur, Delano Park Rose Garden; Demopolis, City Hall; Enterprise, Rawls Hotel; Eufaula, Chamber of Commerce Depot; Fairhope, Fairhope Welcome Center; Florence, various starting locations; Gadsden, City Hall Gazebo; Gordo, Chamber of Commerce; Guntersville, Chamber of Commerce; Hartselle, Historic Depot; Hayneville, Lowndes County Courthouse; Homewood, City Hall. Huntsville, Constitution Village (June 5 & 12 only); Madison, Madison Roundhouse (June 19 & 26 only); Monroeville, Old Courthouse Museum; Montevallo, Chamber of Commerce; Montgomery; Montgomery Visitor Center; Oak Hill, Bethel ARP Church; Prattville, Autauga County Heritage Center; Selma, Dallas County Public Library; Scottsboro, Jackson County Heritage Center; Sheffield,  Sheffield Municipal Building; Silas, Silas Community Center; Sylacauga, B.B. Comer Library; Thomasville, Thomasville Civic Center; Tuscumbia, ColdWater Bookstore; Tuskegee, Tuskegee Human and Civil Rights Multicultural Center; Wetumpka, Chamber of Commerce.

The tours are being coordinated by Brian Jones with the Alabama Tourism Department. "Alabama is the only state in the nation to hold statewide, simultaneous walking tours. The beauty of the June Walking Tours is that any community, whether big or small, can do this. We have done more than 1,000 walking tours since the beginning of the program seven years ago and they keep increasing in popularity every year," Jones said. More information about the June Walking Tours is available by going online at www.alabama.travel or by calling 1-800-ALABAMA.

Alabama Tourism's Edith Parten accompanied Dallas Morning News Travel Editor Mary Ellen Botter on a trip to Alabama's Gulf Coast trip in November touring sites along the Alabama Scenic Byway. The Dallas Morning News is the major daily newspaper serving the Dallas area with a circulation of 264,000 daily subscribers.

From the article "Don't forget the beaches: Mobile Bay's true grits are only one of its attractions" by Mary Ellen Botter in the Dallas Morning News:

Weigh two strategies for cruising the rim of Mobile Bay, much of it included in a new scenic byway, Alabama's Coastal Connection. Option One: Leaving Interstate 10 at Mobile, take in the western shore, with its fewer but worthy stops, connecting to the eastern side via a car ferry at the bottom of the bay where it opens to the Gulf of Mexico. Or (Option Two), circle starting with the eastern edge, which has hours and days of enticements. Either direction, it's a drive of about 120 miles, compact enough that you could base yourself in any town and have access to the whole.  End with at least a day at Mobile, because it would be a mistake to miss the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center, where kids can perform virtual heart surgery or design a roller coaster; the splendidly renovated Battle House Hotel; the Mobile Carnival Museum, where robes of Mardi Gras royalty glitter; the rebuilt, 18th-century Fort Condé; the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park; and the good eats on Dauphin Street.

See the full article here: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/travel/unitedstates/stories/DN-mobilebay_0411tra.ART.State.Edition1.1554b9f.html

Birmingham's Vulcan statue is receiving a fresh coat of paint, while the historic 1930s pedestal undergoes routine maintenance and receives a treatment that will improve the pedestal's resilience to weather conditions. During this process, which is expected to last until April 9, Vulcan's Observation Balcony will be closed to the public on weekdays only. The Balcony will reopen each weekend from 5 p.m. Friday through 10 p.m. Sunday.  The surrounding park grounds and Visitor Center Museum will not be affected and will remain open during normal operating hours. Because visitors will not have access to Vulcan's Observation Balcony, general weekday admission to Vulcan Park and Museum will be reduced to $3 and include admission to Vulcan Center Museum. (Normal daytime admission is $6.) Vulcan is the world's largest cast iron statue and weighs over 50 tons. This is the first paint job Vulcan has received since being restored and replaced on his pedestal in 2003. "As far as timing goes, we are right on track with what was anticipated in the long-term maintenance plan for Vulcan," says Audra Bean, Director of Public Relations and Marketing for Vulcan Park and Museum. "Mother Nature will always be a factor with Vulcan's appearance, therefore it is expected that Vulcan will need a fresh coat of paint periodically in order to keep our city symbol looking his absolute best." Once the painting of the statue is complete, Vulcan's 1938 WPA-era sandstone pedestal will be cleaned and a waterproofing sealant will be applied to reduce water infiltration into the inner staircase and preserved marble landing.

For more information on Vulcan Park and Museum please see www.visitvulcan.com 

The University of North Alabama's 2010 George Lindsey Film Festival being held March 4-7 in Florence will host a 25th anniversary "Back to the Future" reunion. Actors Lea Thompson, James Tolkan and Claudia Wells along with screenwriter Bob Gale will be participating in the reunion. The "Back to the Future" celebration will also include public appearances of an exact working replica of the famous DeLorean time machine car, complete with flux capacitor and functional circuit displays. This year the UNA George Lindsey Film Festival is working with several partners to raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival is one of the few film festivals hosted by a university. The event was founded in 1998 in part by UNA alumnus and celebrated actor and entertainer George Lindsey. Lindsey is known internationally for his role as the character Goober Pyle on "The Andy Griffith Show."

For a complete list of film festival events and ticket information please see www.lindseyfilmfest.com   

The Kresge Foundation of Troy, Michigan, is piloting a community arts and civic engagement project in Birmingham, Detroit, Baltimore, St. Louis and Tucson, that encourages residents to use art and culture as a tool to address community issues. Kresge has enlisted the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham to administer the program entitled Kresge Arts in Birmingham.
The project is designed to test Kresge's belief that grassroots arts and cultural projects can be an effective tool to unite communities, address pressing social issues, and nourish our spirits in difficult times. Individuals and groups are encouraged to apply, including all types of arts and cultural professionals, neighborhood associations, service agencies, community development groups, and arts and cultural organizations, among others. Over the next two years, Kresge is funding grants ranging from $2,500- $10,000 for community arts projects that strive to address Birmingham's pressing issues as determined by its citizens.

Important Dates for 2010 Funding Round
February 1: Guidelines and Application Materials Released
February-March: Information Sessions about KAIB Program
April 5: Application Deadline at 3 pm
May 24: Grants Announced
June 1 - May 31: Project Period

Potential applicants for 2010 funding are encouraged to take advantage of scheduled information sessions that will provide an overview of the KAIB program, eligibility requirements, project guidelines and evaluation criteria and application procedures. Information sessions are free, but reservations strongly suggested. To register for one of the sessions below, please email or call 458-1394.

Mon., February 22: First Floor Conference Room Center for Regional Planning and Design
1731 First Ave North, 35203, 3:30 - 5:00 pm

Wed., March 10: Five Points West Public Library 4812 Ave W, 35208, 11:30 am-1:00 pm

Tues., March 16: North Birmingham Public Library 2501 31st Ave, 35207,  6:00 - 7:30 pm

Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham 205-458-1394 bwagnon@cultural-alliance.com

FEBRUARY COMMUNITY MEETING PLANNED IN TRUSSVILLE
Our next Friends of Red Mountain Park Community Meeting (Birmingham/Jefferson County area) is scheduled for February 8th at the Trussville Public Library. Please join us at 6 pm to hear about all the plans we've made for 2010. We will be presenting the newest developments with the park and our various volunteer opportunities, and we will be available for any questions you might have. Bring a friend!

The Historic Mobile Preservation Society will be hosting the 2010 Mobile Historic Homes Tour on Friday, March 19, and Saturday, March 20, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.  This year's tour will feature five homes in Ashland Place, one of Mobile's most prestigious historic neighborhoods.

Ashland Place was established in the early 1900s and is Mobile's oldest subdivision.  It was home to Mobile's lumber barons and business leaders.  Many of the homes continue to be occupied by the original owner's families, a unique characteristic of this historic area.  A walkable neighborhood nestled under Mobile's famous live oak canopy, Ashland Place features homes in a variety of architectural styles - from a grand Georgian Revival to charming a Craftsman Bungalow.  This year's tour will showcase how contemporary families have adapted these lovely historic homes for today's use.

Sunday, Feb. 7          Kick-Off for Alabama's Civil Rights Trail, by Frye Gaillard
                                  Discussion, Roundtable and Reception
                                   Sponsored by University of Alabama Press/ hosted by Troy University
Rosa Parks Library Auditorium & Exhibition Hall, 4:00 - 7:00 pm

"No other state has embraced and preserved its civil rights history more thoroughly than Alabama. Nor is there a place where that history is richer. Alabama's Civil Rights Trail tells of Alabama's great civil rights events, as well as its lesser-known moments, in a compact and accessible narrative, paired with a practical guide to Alabama's preserved civil rights sites and monuments.

In his history of Alabama's civil rights movement, Cradle of Freedom (University of Alabama Press, 2004), Frye Gaillard contends that Alabama played the lead role in a historic movement that made all citizens of the nation, black and white, more free. This book, geared toward the casual traveler and the serious student alike, showcases in a vividly illustrated and compelling manner, valuable and rich details. It provides a user-friendly, graphic tool for the growing number of travelers, students, and civil rights pilgrims who visit the state annually.

The story of the civil rights movement in Alabama is told city by city, region by region, and town by town, with entries on Montgomery, Birmingham, Selma, Tuscaloosa, Tuskegee, and Mobile, as well as chapters on the Black Belt and the Alabama hill country. Smaller but important locales such as Greensboro, Monroeville, and Scottsboro are included, as are more obscure sites like Hale County's Safe House Black History Museum and the birthplace of the Black Panther Party in Lowndes County."

The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville will be offering a special 3-day Jedi Experience overnight camp during the Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit from June 25 - Sept. 6. The camps will use both Space Camp and the rocket center's museum facilities for their activities. Programs include overnight lodging with the option of a Parent/Child weekend Jedi Experience or a 3-day/2-night youth Jedi Experience during the week. Both programs are designed for 7-12 year olds. A Jedi Experience day camp is also being considered.
 
Jedi Experience focuses on the principals and moral codes surrounding the training of a Jedi Knight. It is an educational look into the scientific, technological, historical and cultural trappings of the Star Wars universe, with real world parallels. Parent/Child Jedi Experience campers spend Friday afternoon through Sunday morning immersed in the world of Star Wars. Each team (one parent or guardian and one child ages 7-12; two parents and two children, etc.) will be guided through their training by a Jedi instructor. All of the camp's events take place in various Star Wars themed classrooms. All attendees receive log book, pen, T-shirt, graduation certificate and team photo. The 3 day/2 night youth experience is Monday - Wednesday. Cost is $450 per person for either camp. There will be a limited capacity and camps are expected to fill up quickly.

"Between the exhibit itself and now, Jedi Experience, we believe this summer, Huntsville will be the place to be," says Holly Beach, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center's Vice President of Marketing. She adds, "It has the potential to bring millions of dollars into the local economy." "We want the people who will come to Huntsville to see the Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit to stay a little longer and do a little more. It's a great opportunity to show off what we have here in North Alabama and everyone will benefit," Beach says.

For more information on the Jedi Experience please see http://www.spacecamp.com/landing/jedi/ 

Collegeville Neighborhood Plan
In early December, the RPCGB staff, with the Auburn Urban Design Studio and the UAB College of Engineering presented a plan for the Collegeville Neighborhood of Birmingham. The attendance was excellent with over 75 neighborhood members present.
 
Elements of the plan considered by the neighborhood included a pedestrian underpass on Shuttlesworth Drive, a vehicular and pedestrian bridge on 34th Street and a recommended Fire Station on the northeast corner of 34th Street.
 
The planning team is finalizing the plan and the finished product will include all conceptual designs and funding recommendations. These projects combined with the Finley Boulevard Extension will begin to correct decades of isolation for this historic neighborhood.
 
This project is funded through the Metropolitan Planning Organization's Building Communities Program. For additional information please contact Steve Ostaseski at smo@rpcgb.org.

16th Street Corridor Study and Conceptual Streetscape Plan
The RPCGB is evolving the draft of the 16th Street Study and Conceptual Streetscape Plan for Fountain Heights. The RPCGB met with the City of Birmingham in December to discuss the draft and move forward with the study.  The RPCGB looks forward to another public meeting in the coming month to present the draft plan to the residents of Fountain Heights.  The Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association and the City of Birmingham have requested assistance from the Regional Planning Commission through the Building Communities Program to complete this study.  For additional information please contact Richard Amore, Senior Planner with the RPCGB at ramore@rpcgb.org.
 
City of Leeds Master Plan
The Leeds Master Plan is moving forward with the completed first installment of the draft Master Plan. The draft of the first installment of the Master Plan includes a community assessment that shows the existing conditions, which include the environmental analysis, a demographic study and an overview of the City of Leeds services and infrastructure.  The RPCGB met with the Planning Commission and the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce to gather input into the master plan process in December.  The RPCGB looks forward to kicking off the public involvement meetings in the coming months to gather input from the residents of Leeds. The City of Leeds have requested assistance from the Regional Planning Commission through the Building Communities Program to complete the Master Plan for the City.  For additional information please contact Richard Amore, Senior Planner with the RPCGB at ramore@rpcgb.org.

City of Fairfield Master Plan
The RPCGB Community Planning Department is working with the City of Fairfield to develop a new Master Plan.  The RPCGB will be working closely with the Economic Development Department in Fairfield to look at downtown redevelopment, interstate access, greyfield redevelopment and neighborhood improvement initiatives.  For additional information please contact Philip Amthor, Planner with the RPCGB at pamthor@rpcgb.org.
 
City of Bessemer Master Plan
The RPCGB continues to work with Bessemer on a new Master Plan, focusing on neighborhood redevelopment strategies, commercial redevelopment oriented to US 11/Bessemer Superhighway, and transit plans connecting newer development near I-459 and I-20/59.  For additional information please contact Philip Amthor, Planner with the RPCGB at pamthor@rpcgb.org.
 

Montgomery, Ala. -  Alabama's gardens, trails, historic homes and parks light up for the holiday season. Visitors can see historic homes decorated with lights and holiday finery in Eufaula, Decatur, Opelika and Montgomery.  Parks in Arab and Florence offer dazzling light displays and winter wonderlands, while gardens in Huntsville and Mobile showcase more than three million lights and hundreds of displays.

Catch spectacular holiday displays at these 10 Alabama Tourism recommended Holiday Light Festivals:

Arab --  Christmas in the Park

November 27-January 1

For the 14th consecutive year, the City of Arab will offer a dazzling display of nearly two million holiday lights that transform the park into a winter wonderland. Visitors will enjoy holiday music and special decorations in the Historic Complex, which features an old church, a school and an operational gristmill. 256.586.8128, www.arabcity.org.

Mobile -- Bellingrath Gardens -- Magic Christmas in Lights

November 27-December 31

Stroll through a wonderland of more than three million twinkling lights and 600 custom-designed holiday displays during Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath Gardens in Mobile. Tour the historic Bellingrath Home decorated in its holiday finery, enjoy nightly entertainment and visit with Santa. 251.973.2217, www.bellingrath.org.

Birmingham -- Zoolight Safari at the Birmingham Zoo

December 4-30

Ride the Zoolight Express train while enjoying a half-million twinkling lights. The spirit is festive and the tradition comes complete with hot cocoa, a light show synchronized to favorite holiday tunes and appearances by Santa. 205.879.0409, www.birminghamzoo.com.

Decatur -- Christmas Tour of Homes

December 12

Decatur's historic districts are decorated with luminaries, greenery and thousands of lights. Several homes are open for tours. Refreshments are served and carriage rides are available. Tour from 4-8 p.m. 256.350.2028, www.decaturcvb.org.

Eufaula -- Christmas Tour of Homes

December 5

Visitors can stroll through downtown to see the antebellum homes aglow in holiday splendor. 334.687.6664, www.eufaula-barbourchamber.com.

Florence -- Open House & Festival of Lights   

December 4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Florence businesses and Wilson Park will be decorated in lights for Christmas. Visitors can shop while listening to music on the street corners and in the park. The jingle of bells on horses giving carriage rides adds to the festive atmosphere. 256.740.4141, www.flo-tour.org.

Huntsville --  Galaxy of Lights Holiday Light Show

November 20 - January 2

Celebrate the holiday season with a drive or a stroll through the Huntsville Botanical Garden.

The walk-through takes place November 20-24 while the drive-through is November 26-January 2, 2010. This magnificent holiday light extravaganza features thousands of lights and more than 600 lighted displays arranged in 125 varied holiday scenes and themes, including a Patriotic Celebration, Winter Wonderland, Santa's Workshop, Christmas Celebrations, Nursery Rhymes, Birds, Bees and Butterflies. 256.830.4447, www.hsvbg.org.

Montgomery -- Governor's Mansion Candlelight Open House

December 7, 14, 21

Governor and Mrs. Bob Riley will open the Governor's Mansion for candlelight tours from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on each Monday night in December leading up to Christmas.  The 1907 Colonial Revival mansion located at 1142 South Perry Street in Montgomery will be aglow with lights and filled with the spirit of the season. 1.800.ALABAMA, www.alabama.travel.

Montgomery Zoo -- Christmas Light Festival

November 25 and November 27-December 31

Thousands of lights illuminate the pathways on a leisurely stroll through the Montgomery Zoo during the city's Holiday Lights Festival. Visitors can ride the train through the forested wonderland and see animals come alive in lighted displays. 334.240.4900, www.montgomeryzoo.com.

Opelika --Victorian Christmas

December 9-13

Step back in time with a visit to an Ole World Christmas wonderland in Opelika. On the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour, visitors will see more than 60 turn-of-the-century homes in all their lighted glory featuring life-sized Santa's, angels, toy displays and carousel horses. Also enjoy live holiday entertainment. 334.887.8747, www.aotourism.com. 

Budget Travel magazine is currently accepting nominations for its 2010 America's Coolest Small Towns Readers' Choice Poll. From now until Nov. 22, 2009, go to www.budgettravel.com/coolestsmalltowns to nominate your picks for the coolest small town in America. As part of the nomination process, you can also upload your own photos and videos of unique town features. Then return to the website on January 12, 2010 to vote. Budget Travel is looking for a town that has a population of fewer than 10,000 people- small towns, not big cities. The town has also got to be on the upswing, a place that's beginning to draw attention - and new residents - because of the quality of life, the arts and restaurant scene, or the proximity to nature. Towns with an edge, so think avant-garde galleries not quaint country stores. Budget Travel's Readers' Choice Poll debuted in 2009. "We knew from past experience that readers loved the Coolest Small Towns concept, but we built the poll tool for fun-- and we were a little surprised to see such a huge response," said Steve Merrill, the GM of BudgetTravel.com. "We received more than 100,000 votes, published almost 1,500 thoughtful reader comments, and then heard from the governor of Maine, who issued an official proclamation calling on Maine residents to vote for Rockland, Maine. It was wild."  The 2009 winners were featured at BudgetTravel.com, in an exclusive segment of The Early Show on CBS, and in the October 2009 issue of the print magazine.
 
For more information please see www.budgettravel.com/coolestsmalltowns
 

The December issue of Southern Living magazine has a special 8-page feature article on the historic town of Mooresville located in North Alabama. Mooresville is located between Huntsville and Decatur and has retained the look of a 19th century village complete with historic homes and buildings, white picket fences and tree lined streets. The Mooresville Post Office (1840) is the oldest continually operating post office in the state of Alabama and one of the oldest in the country. The entire town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was chosen by Walt Disney Pictures as the primary filming location for the movie Tom and Huck (1995) based on the classic novel by Mark Twain.
 
From the article "A Small Town's Christmas in the South" by Tanner C. Latham in Southern Living magazine:
 
The tiny town of Mooresville, Alabama, knows how to celebrate the season: Get everyone involved, serve great food, and keep it fun. The town's annual Progressive Dinner does all three- and shows why this community captures the holiday spirit like nowhere else. You really begin to grasp the smallness of Mooresville, Alabama, when the whole town is stuffed into the foyer of Margaret-Anne and Kevin Crumlish's house on High Street. The entire population, 53, is here: The Prices, the McCrarys, the honorable Mayor Susan Golby, the Peebles, and on and on. Everyone here played a role in putting on this small-town holiday event, and it shows. On this night, at Mooresville's Christmas Progressive Dinner, the allure of small-town culture in the South is on display. Each of the stops shows off a different side of this place. Spend the night chatting and eating with the proud locals, and you get a glimpse of the community spirit that makes us glad we call the South home.
 
Why We Love Mooresville:
 
Because it will always be a small town: Mooresville is and always will be confined to three square blocks because it is hemmed in by Limestone Creek and Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge to the south and west, I-565 to the north and east, and self-imposed building codes.
 
Because it's full of beautiful historic homes: Visitors from all over frequent Mooresville to view the historic homes and buildings in this town, incorporated in 1818, one year and one month before Alabama's statehood. That interest creates some unusual moments, such as the time when Kathryn Price heard a commotion outside her home one Sunday morning. She cinched her bathrobe, opened her front door, and surprised a group of tourist posing for pictures on her front porch. "I think they thought our house was some kind of civic building," she says.
 
Because it's not stuck in time: "Mooresville holds on to the things that were great about its past, but it continues to grow and thrive," says local restaurateur Dee Green. "It's not a place captured in time." The mayor and five council members help manage the town's historic treasures, meeting at the pre-1825 original Stagecoach Inn and Tavern each month. Usually the main business is the preservation of Mooresville's three historic public buildings: the Tavern, the 1839 old Brick Church, and the 1840 Post Office. But they also handle more modern problems such as providing recycling services and addressing utilities issues.
 
Celebrate the season in Mooresville- join the Mooresville Yuletide Walking Tour, Dec. 6, 1-4 p.m.; www.mooresvillealabama.com, 256-355-2683, or 256-353-3628.
 
For the complete article please see the December issue of Southern Living magazine on newsstands now.

16th Street Corridor Study and Conceptual Streetscape Plan

The RPCGB and the City of Birmingham conducted a successful public meeting on the 16th Street Corridor Study for the Fountain Heights Neighborhood on Tuesday, November 3rd.  The RPCGB presented a overview of the project, the results from the Visual Preference Survey, and displayed conceptual alternatives based on the comments from the September 12th  Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association Meeting. The residents of Fountain Heights comments and public input were insightful for guiding the future development of the 16th Street Corridor Plan. The Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association and the City of Birmingham have requested assistance from the Regional Planning Commission through the Building Communities Program to complete this study.  For additional information please contact Richard Amore, Senior Planner with the RPCGB at ramore@rpcgb.org.
 
City of Calera adopted Subdivision Regulations

The City of Calera and the KPS Group conducted a successful public hearing on the City of Calera's subdivision regulations on Tuesday, November 3rd.  The City of Calera's Planning Commission adopted the subdivision regulations on November 3rd and recommended the regulations to the City Council. The update to the city's zoning and subdivision regulations are funded by the RPCGB through the Building Communities Program.  For additional information please contact Richard Amore, RPCGB Senior Planner, ramore@rpcgb.org or Jason Fondren with the KPS Group, jfondren@kpsgroup.
 
City of Leeds Master Plan

The RPCGB met with the City of Leeds Planning Commission of October 8th to go over the first installment of the draft Master Plan.  The draft of the first installment of the Master Plan includes a community assessment that shows the existing conditions, which include the environmental analysis, a demographic study and an overview of the City of Leeds services and infrastructure. 

The RPCGB will meet with the City of Leeds Planning Commission on Thursday, November 12th to collect any comments from the Commissioners, Councilors and City Staff.  The RPCGB and the City of Leeds are seeking a date in  December for a public meeting on the Master Plan.  The public meeting date will be confirmed in the next few weeks. The City of Leeds have requested assistance from the RPCGB through the Building Communities Program to complete the Master Plan for the City.  For additional information please contact Richard Amore, Senior Planner with the RPCGB at ramore@rpcgb.org.

City of Irondale to Examine Commercial Corridor Areas

The City of Irondale has contracted with the RPCGB and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to examine the land use and transportation issues along three important commerce corridor areas within the City of Irondale. The project will examine and report findings within concentric drive time areas for the three geographic targets defined by the City. Through a comprehensive analysis of the community's economy and demography, RPCGB will compile an inventory of existing retail businesses and identify the most promising types of retail prospects for economic development for the market. In addition to a market assessment, RPCGB will also develop a transportation plan for the City of Irondale which will include a circulation review, roadway assessments, and improvement recommendations. 

City of Jemison Master Plan Completed

The City of Jemison's Master Plan was completed and adopted in recent months.  The plan addresses growth and future development within the next twenty years and examines the city's current policies that relate to the changing conditions in the area and region. To look at the City of Jemison's Master Plan please visit the RPCGB website.

To see a complete list of community planning projects completed in 2009, visit the Community Planning section of the RPCGB website.

The Wiregrass Museum of Art was one of 167 museums to receive federal funding in the amount of $62,080 from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences as part of a Museums for America (MFA) grant. The MFA grant will allow the Wiregrass Museum of Art to create ART24, an interactive series of six visual arts experiences targeting a wide range of audiences. Each experience will feature a different artist, medium, subject matter, and collection of participant activities, which will take place both inside and outside the museum.  ART 24 will also result in a community gallery and a community advisory team that will continue to connect with and guide the museum regarding future collections, programs, and exhibits. "This award will direct a year-long, major program of service to our community and strengthen all areas of museums operations," said Wiregrass Museum of Art Executive Director Susan Robertson. "We are honored that our peers in the industry support and believe in our ability to inspire our audiences." The first ART24 experience will bring multi-media artist Randy Gachet to Dothan on Dec. 3. Visit www.wiregrassmuseum.org for an up-to-date schedule of events and future ART24 experiences.

2nd Annual Fruitcake Festival
Friday, November 13, 2009
Monroeville, Alabama, Old Courthouse Museum
Truman Capote's holiday classic "A Christmas Memory" is set just blocks from our Courthouse Square. But since those gentle days of Buddy and Sook, our once grand fruitcake has become the butt of holiday jokes. Please join the noble citizens of Monroeville as we return the fruitcake to its rightful place as Queen of the Christmas Dessert Table. "It's fruitcake weather!" is our battle cry!

 Monroeville, Ala., will hold its second annual Fruitcake Festival, Friday, Nov. 13, at the Old Courthouse Museum on the town square. The all­day event is a celebration of Truman Capote and the holiday dessert immortalized in his enduring holiday classic, "A Christmas Memory." The festival includes fruitcake sales and auctions, recipe exchanges, Capote­-related Christmas gifts and homemade kites similar to the ones Sook and Truman make in the story. The event is sponsored by the Monroe County Heritage Museum's Endowment Fund.

Master storyteller Dolores Hydock ends the festive day by bringing Capote's nostalgic Christmas classic to  life in the courtroom at 7 p.m. Tickets for the reading are $25 and include a holiday reception with fruitcake, of  course!

Capote's tender tale of family, friendship and fruitcakes is set  in Monroeville -- just a few blocks from the Courthouse  where Capote spent his childhood with his eldery cousins, the Faulks. The short story is one of Capote's most popular works and is built around an annual ritual he shared with Sook Faulk of gathering ingredients and making 30 fruitcakes as Christmas presents for people who struck their fancy ranging from the bus driver who waved on his way to Mobile each day to President Franklin Roosevelt. 

The story begins on a chilly autumn morning with Sook standing at the window to utter the famous line, "It's fruitcake weather!"   In the 1930s, when "A Christmas Memory" is set, fruitcakes  were a cherished holiday tradition. Today, however, the often­ maligned fruitcake is more likely the punch line of holiday jokes.

Travel and hotel review metasearch site UpTake ranked Oak Mountain State Park near Birmingham second on a list of the "11 Best Places To See Fall Leaves" in the United States. From the UpTake listing: "Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama's largest state park. This nearly 10,000 acre forest is featured on several sightseeing lists.  Admission is only $3 for adults on weekends and holidays.  You can visit the park for fall foliage viewing from 7am to sundown." UpTake collects travel information from 5,000 sources including TravelPost, Expedia, Orbitz, Fodors, Travelocity, Hotels.com, TripAdvisor and Yahoo! Travel. UpTake analyzes and organizes the opinions of more than 20 million U.S. travelers for its website. The UpTake website has more than one million visitors a month.  http://www.uptake.com/blog/family_vacations/best-fall-foliage-scenic-drives_5763.html
 
Oak Mountain State Park is the first site listed on the Alabama Tourism Department's Fall Color Trail. The Fall Color Trail promotion is being coordinated by tourism department staff member Brian Jones. An interactive map on the Alabama Tourism Department's website allows visitors to see the predicted fall color change for each weekend this fall. The map, list of recommended viewing sites and a Circle of Color driving route are all available on the state tourism website. http://www.alabama.travel/activities/tours-and-trails/fall-color-trail/.  

An interactive map on the Alabama Tourism Department's website allows visitors to see the predicted fall color change for each weekend this fall. The map, a list of recommended viewing sites and a Circle of Color driving route are all available on the state tourism website at www.alabama.travel. Alabama State Parks are some of the best places to enjoy the fall color change. Joe Wheeler has an excellent viewing spot next to the dam and near the cabin area on the Lawrence County side. Autumn scenery can be found at DeSoto State Park at Little River Canyon and DeSoto Falls. Monte Sano has views of the Tennessee Valley along the Warpath Ridge Trail and its overlook. Cheaha's Bald Rock and Pulpit Rock trails both have excellent views. Cheaha is the highest point in the state at 2,407 feet above sea level.
With cooler days and lower humidity, autumn is a wonderful time to enjoy Alabama's many fall festivals and events. Lee Sentell, director of the Alabama Tourism Department, recommends several events designed around being outdoors and enjoying the beautiful fall weather.
 
Outdoor events scheduled for this fall include:
·         Alabama Renaissance Faire in Florence on Oct. 24-25
·         National Peanut Festival in Dothan on Oct. 30-Nov. 7
·         Original German Sausage Festival in Elberta on Oct. 31
·         Harvest Celebration in Hoover on Oct. 31
·         Alabama Frontier Days in Wetumpka on Nov. 4-8
·         Pike Road Arts and Crafts Festival in Pike Road on Nov.7
·         Cayne Syrup Makin' Day in Beatirce on Nov. 7
·         National Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham on Nov. 11

For a complete list of fall events see the Calendar of Events at www.alabama.travel. For more information on Fall Colors in Alabama and to see the interactive map go to http://www.alabama.travel/activities/tours-and-trails/fall-color-trail/. 
 

Community Planning for Collegeville

The RPCGB is working with Auburn University's Center for Architecture and Urban Studies, UAB's Civil Engineering Department and the Collegeville community on several initiatives to improve transportation, housing capacity, community open spaces and urban design.  
 
Among the opportunities for planning and design is the location of Collegeville's Bethel Baptist Church on the City of Birmingham's Civil Rights Trail.  The team will design and plan for increased tourism and event opportunities in and around Bethel.  The team will also work to add vehicle and pedestrian bridges needed for transportation over the various railroads tracks the surround and run through the community.  Plans are also in the works for the extension of Finley Boulevard through the southern part of the community that will include bridges over several railroad tracks increasing vehicle traffic in the neighborhood.  The RPCGB will collaborate on all initiatives and will focus on the implementation strategies for the various plans and projects.  For additional information please contact Philip Amthor with the RPCGB at pamthor@rpcgb.org

16th Street Corridor Study and Conceptual Streetscape Plan

The RPCGB and the City of Birmingham conducted a successful meeting with the Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association on Saturday September 12th   2009.  The residents of Fountain Heights completed a Visual Preference Survey for the 16th Street Corridor Study.  The results of the Visual Preference Survey will be presented at the next Neighborhood Association Meeting on Saturday October 3rd at 10am at the Chapel in the Oak Hill Cemetery. The Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association and the City of Birmingham have requested assistance from the Regional Planning Commission through the Building Communities Program to complete this study.  For additional information please contact Richard Amore, Senior Planner with the RPCGB at ramore@rpcgb.org.

City of Calera Public Meeting

The City of Calera will conduct a public meeting on the City of Calera's Zoning and Sign Ordinance on October 19th at 6pm at City Hall. The update to the city's comprehensive plan and development regulations are funded by the RPCGB through the Building Communities Program.  For additional information please contact Richard Amore, RPCGB Senior Planner at ramore@rpcgb.org or Jason Fondren with the KPS Group at jfondren@kpsgroup.

Jemison Adopts New Zoning Code

The Jemison City council recently adopted their new Zoning Code. In a meeting on Monday September 21st the City Council adopted the new code prepared by RPCGB. This concludes months of work on the part of the City of Jemison Planning Commission.

International Walk to School Day
 
On October 7, 2009 the RPCGB will co-sponsor the International Walk to School Day at Leeds Elementary.  The event is held once a year and is used to help promote physical activity, pedestrian safety and concern for the environment.  They will hold a coloring contest, puppet shows that will emphasize walking, biking, school buses and parent-drop off at school.  The walk with start at 8:30 a.m. with the activities following the walk.