DECEMBER 2023..............................VOL. 6, NO. 12 | |
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COMMISSIONER
MERCERIA LUDGOOD
MOBILE COUNTY, ALABAMA
DISTRICT ONE
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or to submit announcements,
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BRIGHTEN THE CORNER
with Commissioner Ludgood
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December 2023
(this column draws heavily from one written four years ago in this space)
For many among us, the Friday after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the winter holiday season. Some will celebrate religious observances such as Hanukkah and Christmas. Both commemorate miracles in their respective faith traditions. Hanukkah pays tribute to the Miracle of Oil, the purified oil that was worth lighting a candle for only one day, but miraculously lit the candles on the Menorah for eight days continuously. For me, it is the miracle of Christmas which celebrates the birth of Jesus. To others, it is just a time for sales, gifts, parties and feasts with families and friends. It is arguably the most generous season on the calendar. The usual holiday expressions include references to joy, happiness, and merriment.
Conversely, many will find little to celebrate as the year winds to a close. Mourning the first holiday without a child, parent, spouse, sibling, or other loved one often makes holiday joy elusive. Some parents work hard every day to provide the necessities for their children but now find themselves desperately trying to figure out whether they can afford the gifts their children have been programmed to expect. They are struggling with feelings of failure as they contemplate disappointment on their children’s faces. Other families are facing serious illnesses that are emotionally and financially draining. Then there are seniors watching the days on the calendar tick by with little to look forward to except another lonely year where those they loved and for whom they cared are too busy to spend time with them. Parents in war torn countries are wondering if they and their children will live to see the dawn of a new year.
While these appear to be sad circumstances, they present magnificent opportunities for us to make a positive difference in someone’s life. And it does not always mean spending money; it can be as simple as spending time. So, I challenge you to brighten the corner where you are. While these holidays commemorate miracles of old, I still believe in miracles. Like Willa Cather, I believe that where there is great love, there are always miracles.
Together this season let’s create miracles in the lives of those around us by:
…showing gratitude for all we have, no matter how small and inadequate it may seem;
…remembering always that there are those among us who have so much less and being willing to share with them, without judging their circumstances;
…encouraging others to direct their giving where it achieves the greatest good;
finding someone to bless, with your time, talent, or treasure, not just during the holiday season but all year long, and
…resolving that your every word and deed is uplifting to all you encounter.
...praying for peace on earth and goodwill to all humanity.
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DISTRICT ONE
ROAD PROJECTS IN DESIGN
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Project: MCR-2014-106C
Location: E. Elm Street (GDBP - Paving, Reconstruction & Waterline Improvements)
Status: Construction is underway.
Project: MCR-2016-110
Location: Movico Loop Road W, Small Road and S & R Road (GDBP-Paving)
Status: Construction nearing completion.
Project: MCR-2018-004
Location: Weaver Road E. (GDBP - Paving)
Status: Engineering and design plan is complete. All Right-of-way agreements have been signed. Utility companies relocation of lines that conflict with the project is underway. Relocations expected to begin in the spring.
Project: MCR-2018-106B
Location: City of Prichard Streets: Bridge replacements on West Turner Rd., Warren St and Wasson Ave.
Status: The design plan work is nearing completion. Right-of-way acquisition is progressing. Environmental permitting process, engineering design, and grant funding for utility relocation plans are underway.
Project: MCR-2018-110
Location: Andry Road, Cedar Creek Baptist Church Road, Frank Taylor Road, Henry Andry Road, Rivers Road and Woodrow Hopkins Road. (GDBP - Paving)
Status: Engineering and design work is 90% complete. Right-of-way acquisition is complete on Andry Road, Cedar Creek Baptist Church Road, Frank Taylor Road, and Henry Andry Road. Working on Right of Way Acquisitions on Rivers Road and Woodrow Hopkins Road. Also, working with utility companies on utility relocation.
Project: MCP-006-22 / RA49-01-22
Location: Creola Axis Loop Road E. (Resurfacing)
Status: Construction will begin in December.
Project: CIP-2017-018
Location: Fiber Road (NS Railroad Crossing Improvements)
Status: Engineering and design work is complete. Have met with Federal Railway and presently finalizing grant requirements before receiving construction bids.
Project: MCR-2020-006
Location: Kali-Oka Road (Resurfacing from U.S. 45 to Saraland City Limit) Status: Engineering and design plan work is 90% complete. Drainage easements have been acquired. Construction bids will be taken in early 2024.
Project: MCR-2020-104 / PFP-2023-701
Location: City of Creola Streets - Hurst Drive (GDBP - Paving)
Status: Engineering and design plan work is commencing.
Project: MCP-011-22 / RA49-02-22
Location: Kali-Oka Road (Resurfacing from Saraland City limit to Prichard City limit).
Status: Engineering and design work is 50% complete. Coordinating with Kali Oka project within the City of Prichard.
Project: ARP06-103-22
Location: Kali-Oka Road and College Parkway (Resurfacing and shoulder work from Shelton Beach Road to the north Prichard City limits)
Status: Engineering and design work is 50% complete.
Project: MCP-004-23 / RA49-01-23
Location: Patillo Road Bridge replacement
Status: Engineering and design plan work is approximately 25% complete.
Project: MCR-2020-106B
Location: Prichard Streets - Whistler Street and Patricia Avenue - intersection drainage improvements and resurfacing.
Status: The project design is 90% complete, working through issues with existing and proposed Right-of-Way and with utility companies for relocation plans.
Project: MCR-2020-109
Location: Calvert School Street, Chastang Bluff Road, Frank Henderson Road and Octavia Road
Status: Plan work is 90% complete. The acquisition of needed right-of-way is pending.
Project: MCR-2022-010
Location: City of Prichard Streets (Old Citronelle Highway, South Crystal Springs Road and Sand Hill Drive Pipe Culvert replacements)
Status: Engineering design plan work is 35% complete.
Project: MCR-2022-102
Location: City of Chickasaw Streets (Resurfacing/Paving Court Street, Fox Street and Thompson Boulevard)
Status: Engineering design plan work is approximately 60% complete.
Project: MCR-2022-103
Location: City of Citronelle Streets (Resurfacing North Fourth Street)
Status: Design plan work is complete. Construction bids will be taken in January 2024.
Project: MCR-2022-105
Location: Town of Mt. Vernon Streets (Resurfacing Margaret Street, Old Military Road and Pine Grove Church Road)
Status: Design plan work is complete. Construction bids will be taken in February 2024.
Project: MCR-2022-106
Location: City of Prichard Streets (Resurfacing multiple streets)
Status: The County has opened construction bids. The contracts are being executed, and construction should commence once the contracts are complete.
Project: MCR-2022-108
Location: City of Satsuma Streets (Resurfacing Powers Road and Thomas Road)
Status: Design plan work is complete. Construction bids will be received in early spring.
Project: MCR-2022-109
Location: Bill Neighbors Road and Lambert Cemetery Road (GDBP - Paving)
Status: Design plan work is 40% complete.
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DECEMBER 2023 ACTIVITIES
With Commissioner Merceria Ludgood
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Friday, December 1 - Sunday, December 3, 2023
NACO 2023 Fall Board Meeting
Ramsey County, MN
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 - 8:45am
Council Magnet School's Annual Read-A-Thon
Council Traditional Magnet School
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 - 2:00 p.m.
NACO Membership Committee Meeting
Microsoft Teams Meeting
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 - 1:00 p.m.
UWSWA Community Resource Network
Zoom
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 - 5:00 p.m.
Alabama Kidney Walk and Celebration
Bragg-Mitchell Mansion
Thursday, December 7, 2023 - 10:00 a.m.
Mobile County Commission Conference Meeting
Mobile Government Plaza Assembly Room
Friday, December 8, 2023 - 7:00 a.m.
MBNEP Annual Meeting
Mobile Convention Center
Friday, December 8, 2023 - 11:00 a.m.
Groundbreaking of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine
USA Main Campus
Sunday, December 10, 2023 - 2:00 p.m.
The Nutcracker
Mobile Civic Center Theater
Monday, December 11, 2023 - 10:00 a.m.
Mobile County Commission Meeting
Mobile Government Plaza Assembly Room
Thursday, December 21, 2023 - 10:00 a.m.
Mobile County Commission Combined Meeting
Mobile Government Plaza Auditorium
Thursday, December 21, 2023 - 7:00 p.m.
Mobile Municipal Association
Monday, December 25 and Tuesday, December 26, 2023
County Holidays
Thursday, December 28, 2023 - 2:00 p.m.
NACo South Region Meeting
Zoom
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CLICK BELOW FOR UPDATES
https://www.mobilecountyal.gov/community_events/
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In March 2020, the History Museum of Mobile announced a partnership with the Alabama Historical Commission, Mobile County Commission, and the City of Mobile to create a landmark exhibition at the under-construction Africatown Heritage House. Located in the heart of historic Africatown, the Heritage House is adjacent to the Mobile County Training School and the Robert L. Hope Community Center. The History Museum of Mobile operates Africatown Heritage House as a fourth museum site, which is located at 2465 Winbush St. Mobile, AL 36610.
Clotilda: The Exhibition covers the story of the Clotilda with a special focus on the people of the story - their individuality, their perseverance, and the extraordinary community they established. The exhibition tells the story of the 110 remarkable men, women and children, from their West African beginnings, to their enslavement, to their settlement of Africatown, and finally the discovery of the sunken schooner, all through a combination of interpretive text panels, documents, and artifacts. The pieces of the Clotilda that have been recovered from the site of the wreck are on display in the exhibition, on loan from the Alabama Historical Commission. The exhibition was curated, developed, and designed in conjunction with the local community and the wider descendent community, and in consultation with experts around the country.
The exhibition itself –about 2,500 square feet – is a rich, multi-sensory space, dense with compelling stories and images. Woven into the larger story, visitors can expect to see and hear lots of primary source reports and stories of individuals: their histories, their families, their resilient spirit. Inside the exhibition, visitors can expect a dramatic space and a step-by-step chronology from the story’s West African origins through the founding and development of Africatown. Towards the end of the exhibition, visitors will emerge into a space that looks towards the future of Africatown and invites visitors to respond to what they have seen.
The Mobile County Commission and the City of Mobile have funded the construction of the Africatown Heritage House building, and the History Museum of Mobile curated, constructed, and funded the exhibition.
For information on prices and tickets, please click here.
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Africatown Heritage House Nominated as Best New Museum in
USA TODAY
10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards
You Can Vote Once a Day Until December 25
A panel of industry experts and editors at USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards has chosen Africatown Heritage House as a nominee for Best New Museum. The awards highlight attractions and businesses and provide readers with trusted recommendations. Africatown Heritage House was nominated by travel journalists who have visited Mobile and followed the site’s progress over the year, but the winning museum will be determined by reader votes.
Voting begins today (Monday, November 27) at 1 p.m. CST and will end on Monday, December 25 at 10:59 a.m. CST. You may vote HERE once a day for the duration of the contest.
The History Museum of Mobile, which operates the exhibit, and both the Mobile County Commission and City of Mobile, which provided funding for the construction of Africatown Heritage House and the exhibition that it houses, encourage everyone to vote and to visit this important historic site located right in our own community. The holidays, when family and friends are visiting from out of town, could be the perfect time to share some local history and also see why this museum is a national standout.
Africatown Heritage House is home to “Clotilda: The Exhibition,” which shares the stories of 110 West Africans who came to the United States – in shackles and against their will – on the last documented slave ship to arrive in this country. The exhibit tells a big story in a small space that’s not so much larger than the ship that transported the 110 back in 1860, 52 years after international slave trade became illegal, then was burned and sunk to cover up the crime that had been committed. The group survived the Middle Passage and five years of enslavement, then created the only community of its kind, one that was entirely run by African-born Americans. There they maintained their African identities; continued to speak their languages; established their own set of governance; and built churches, schools and businesses based on what they knew from their homeland.
It’s the ultimate story of resilience, and it’s one that has long needed to be shared. A tale that was once only whispered among descendants of the 110 is now – finally – being heard by people all around the world.
Some pieces of the sunken ship scientifically verified to be the Clotilda are among the artifacts on display in the exhibition, which puts its emphasis not on the ship, but on the 110 men, women and children it brought to the United States. The exhibit also features a variety of other artifacts, interpretive text panels, and documents. That paperwork includes land deeds and marriage certificates that prove that the shipmates – most of whom didn’t know each other before their capture, many of whom didn’t even speak the same languages or practice the same religions – became a community and, by all reckoning, each other’s family in the absence of true kin.
Africatown Heritage House is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In January, the museum will begin welcoming groups.
Tickets, which can be purchased up to 60 days in advance, are $15 for adults; $9 for guests ages 65 or more, students age 18 or more with a valid school ID, and active or retired military with ID; $8 for children ages 6 to 18; free for children 5 and under; and free for Mobile County residents with proof of residency (though donations are encouraged).
HISTORY MUSEUM OF MOBILE: The History Museum of Mobile is where Mobile’s story begins. Over 118,000 objects weave together the rich, diverse, and often turbulent histories of Mobile and the surrounding area, from the prehistoric past to the present. Located in the heart of downtown, the History Museum is in the Old City Hall - Southern Market building at 111 South Royal Street. For more information, please visit: www.historymuseumofmobile.com
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MOBILE, Ala. – On Saturday, December 9, 2023, from 2 to 5 p.m., Mobile Museum of Art will host their annual Holiday Market & Open House featuring live music, food trucks, art activities, and free admission to the Museum.
“Just in time for the holidays, this fun and popular event will showcase the creativity of local entrepreneurs, while giving shoppers an opportunity to find unique gifts for the people on their list,” said Executive Director Jon Carfagno. “From art-making activities to experiencing the galleries, this family friendly event brings something for everyone.”
Vendors will be offering a variety of handmade items, such as jewelry, pottery, self-care products, and more. Denver Hawsey will provide live music, and tasty treats will be available from Flying Pig, frios, Lil Donut Factory, Los Rollin’ Bros, and Neon Grill.
During the Open House, explore MMofA’s popular children’s exhibition, FOR CHILDREN: The Elements of Art and Design. Muffinjaw Designs will be on-site for visitors to watch live glassblowing.
Visitors can also check out MMofA’s special exhibitions including: A Nest of One’s Own by Alabama-native Dixon Stetler; SPOTLIGHT: Yvonne Wells; Contemporary Alabama; and E.O. WILSON: A Photographic Tribute by Alex Harris.
Admission to the Museum will be free all day in addition to the afternoon activities.
The Museum's exhibitions and programs are supported by The Alabama State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the City of Mobile.
For more details, visit www.MobileMuseumofArt.com/Makers-Market.
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MMofA Opening Next Installation in a Series
of Innovative Exhibitions Exploring Early 1900s
MOBILE, Ala. – On December 15, 2023, Mobile Museum of Art will open DECADES: Looking
Back/Moving Forward (1920-1939), the second in a series of exhibitions that immerse visitors in the art, history, and innovations of the decades leading up to the sixties when MMofA first opened.
“The goal for the upcoming installations is to share works from our Collections in a manner that allows visitors to view the art from the perspective of people who were alive during the different time periods,”
MMofA Executive Director Jon Carfagno says. “We have also invited our community to participate in creating the experience by sharing their collections of items that were made in these earlier times.”
MMofA will celebrate their sixtieth anniversary in October 2024. The DECADES installations recreate what it was like to be alive then, not only experiencing political and historical events, but navigating the personal lives of work, home, family, and leisure.
The 1920s and 30s were a time of explosive change. The population of the United States increased significantly, and urban cities grew. The methods and means of transportation changed, and cars zoomed along the streets. Manufacturing helped make everyday items — like washing machines, vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, and cars — affordable for households. Women’s role in society, as well as fashion, changed dramatically, and cultural and artistic movements flourished.
The exhibition features artists such as Lamar Baker, Saul Berman, Fred Emanuel Shane, and Grant Wood along with historic dresses and accessories from the History Museum of Mobile’s collection.
Historic photographs throughout the gallery have been provided by the Historic Mobile Preservation Society (HMPS) and the Doy Leale McCall Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of South Alabama.
The DECADES exhibitions are generously funded by The J.L. Bedsole Foundation. Support for all Museum exhibitions and programs, is provided by the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the City of Mobile. DECADES: Looking Back/Moving Forward (1920-1939) will be on view at Mobile Museum of Art from December 15, 2023 through April 27, 2024.
For more
information about this exhibition and other Museum programs, visit www.MobileMuseumofArt.com.
About the Mobile Museum of Art
Open: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed: Monday, Sunday & all City Holidays
Langan Municipal Park | 4850 Museum Drive | Mobile, AL 36608 | 251.208.5200
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Check out these 5 eco-friendly tips for the holiday season! 1. Reuse or upcycle decorations from previous years to save money and materials. 2. Choose LED lights over traditional incandescent ones to save energy. 3. Use natural and recycled materials for gift wrapping instead of single-use wrapping paper. 4. Use e-cards to reduce paper waste. 5. Shop from local businesses or farmer's markets to reduce your carbon footprint from transportation. | |
What do homeless pets really want for Christmas? A loving and forever home like yours! Our staff and volunteers are dedicated to the care and welfare of our dogs and cats waiting for their forever homes. While waiting to be adopted, they receive regular check-ups and care with our veterinarians, rabies and other needed vaccines, flea treatment, heartworm treatment (sponsored by Walks and Wags), regular baths, good food, and lots of hugs and compassion. Consider adopting or fostering this season! Visit https://bit.ly/3sV4dfQ for a list of adoptable pets. #RescuesAreMyFavoriteBreed #FosterLove #GiveHope #adoptdontshop |  | Have you considered adopting a senior dog? Here are some great reasons to provide a loving home to an older dog: 1. Senior dogs, often passed over for puppies, need homes, too. Many senior dogs at one time had a home but may have been brought to a shelter through no fault of their own. 2. Even old dogs can learn new tricks and are trainable. In fact, their calmer disposition and longer attention span can make them more easily trained than a puppy. 3. Older dogs are more likely to be housebroken. If their training is still a bit lacking, they have the physical and mental abilities to pick up skills fast, unlike puppies. Senior dogs also are much less likely to be destructive chewers. 4. There's still tons of fun ahead with a senior dog! Dogs live 10-15 years, and many can live even longer. Talk to your veterinarian about ways to help keep an adopted senior dog happy and healthy. 5. Senior dogs, even though they still require some exercise, are often very chill and laid back. 6. With an older dog, you have the advantage of knowing instantly how big they will be when they are fully grown, their personality, and grooming requirements. This can make it easier to pick the right dog. No surprises here! 7. Everyone loves a puppy but older dogs require less time and supervision. Not everyone is equipped to handle and raise a puppy full of energy with the teething phase and other needed care. 8. Senior dogs are instant companions, ready to go on a long walk, to be the snuggle buddy, or workout partner you need. 9. Senior dogs are appreciative and many of their owners express how fortunate the senior dogs are and that they seem to greatly appreciate the second chance at happiness. 10. Older or senior dogs seem eager to bond and settle into a new, loving home. 11. Senior dogs' adoption fees are often discounted. Some have been in the shelter a lengthy time and need a loving home. Visit https://bit.ly/3sV4dfQ to find adoptable pets. #OptToAdopt #GetYourNewFurryFriend #MCAS #MobileCountyAL #adoptdontshop #shelterpet #animalshelter | |
Interested in a job that helps serve the residents of Mobile County? Take a look and apply today for available positions on our website at https://www.mobilecountyal.gov/jobs/. We'd love to have you join us as together we serve our neighbors with excellence and integrity. | |
Mobile County Facilities and Maintenance Department provides a clean, safe, healthy environment for visitors and staff, plus support for Mobile County's first responders. They support the Mobile County Sheriff's Office, License Commissioner, Revenue Commissioner, Communication District, Court System, EMA, and other entities as directed by the County Commission. They offer Facilities Design and Construction, Building Maintenance, Custodial Services, and Electronics. | |
We hope you have a joyful Christmas! Our offices will be closed on Monday, December 25, and Tuesday, December 26 to celebrate the holiday. | If your Alabama Driver License is up for renewal soon, note that a STAR ID (or multiple forms of ID) will be required for domestic air travel or to enter military bases and regulated federal buildings after 5/7/2025. Read more at https://lnkd.in/erCh5n-y. | |
Mobile County Commission District One News
Phone: (251) 574-1000
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