Conservation Alabama, a full-time environmental lobbying organization has been praising Alabama Power for a program that generates 500 megawatts of energy from renewable sources, including solar. Photo by Brian Kusler/Flickr Commons.
Daniel Foundation awards grant to Magic City Smooth Jazz
Magic City Smooth Jazz was awarded a three-year grant from the Daniel Foundation of Alabama to support Jazz in the Park, a free summer concert series that showcases new and established jazz artists. The program travels to 10 different Birmingham-area parks to bring together communities, spread the love for cultural arts and introduce young people to jazz.
With the $5,000 grant, “we have an opportunity to continue with expanding the series to more culturally underserved communities in the state of Alabama while supporting Alabama jazz artists,” said Bernard Lockhart, executive director of Magic City Smooth Jazz. For more information on the Daniel Foundation of Alabama, visit: danielfoundationofalabama.org. To learn more about Jazz in the Park, go to: magiccitysmoothjazz.com.
Upcoming Jazz in the Park concerts:
July 26 Jazz in the Park Birmingham – Wiggins Park
August 2 Jazz in the Park Birmingham – Dolomite Park
August 9 Jazz in the Park Bessemer – DeBardeleben Park
August 30 Jazz in the Park Huntsville – Big Spring Park
October 25 District Five Fall Fun Day – Birmingham Railroad Park
December 31 Magic City Smooth Jazz New Year’s Eve Celebration – Red Mountain Theater
No more waiting for Aletheia House Women’s Hope Program
Aletheia House will no longer have waiting lists for its Women’s Hope Program. Instead of housing women in Birmingham apartments, Aletheia House will start its clients in the program’s supportive housing units and transition into shared housing.
The change will allow more women into the program. Women’s Hope is a specialized free substance abuse treatment program for pregnant and Medicaid-eligible women. The service accepts referrals from across the state, and participants can have up to one child (6 years old or younger) with them during treatment.
The outpatient program includes childcare, transportation as needed, employment assistance, counseling and rehabilitation opportunities. For more information, call: (205) 965-2940 or visit: specialkindofcaring.org.
Secret Stages Hosts Instrument Drive for Scrollworks Youth Music School
The Scrollworks Youth Music School is a nonprofit organization preparing students to play in an ensemble, and Secret Stages wants to help. Scrollworks teaches orchestral instruments and piano, and officials at Secret Stages are asking people to donate unused or unwanted instruments (brass, woodwinds, guitars, pianos, drums, strings, percussion instruments) to the school.
Instruments can be dropped off at Vulcan Vape (2780 B M Montgomery St. Suite #100, Homewood, AL 35209) or at Secret Stages’ music discovery festival on July 31 and August 1. Other needed items that can be donated are computers, music related software, music literature, instructional books and cash.
In addition to the instrument drive, Secret Stages will donate 20 percent of festival profits to Scrollworks. For more information, festival tickets or the Secret Stages 2015 lineup, visit: secretstages.net.
More Renewable Energy from Alabama Power
Conservation Alabama, a full-time environmental lobbying organization has been praising Alabama Power for a program that generates 500 megawatts of energy from renewable sources, including solar. The utility has applied for approval from the Public Service Commission to supply options for customers wanting renewable energy.
“This is the beginning of what we would like to see as a long-term change in how Alabama produces and uses energy,” said Tammy Herrington, executive director of Conservation Alabama. “Alabama Power is signaling their commitment to renewable energy, and we look forward to working with them to expand this program to make our state a leader in solar energy.
If the application is approved as much as 15 percent of Alabama Power’s energy could be from renewable sources, such as wind, solar and hydroelectric power. Alabama Power also offers homeowners the option to generate their own solar power through rooftop panels, and customers can purchase Energy Certificates in support of renewable energy development.
Girls Inc. Hosts annual Uniform Drive
Schoolgirls in the area are often seen wearing uniforms that are too small or tattered, according to Girls Inc. of Central Alabama. That’s why they’re hosting the organization’s annual back-to-school uniform drive.
To participate in the drive, donors can deliver new navy pants and white collared shirts of any size to Girls Inc. or they can provide donations of $25 to cover the cost of a uniform. Girls Inc. will distribute the clothes to guidance counselors across central Alabama where its programs are set up for girls with financial needs.
Uniforms will be accepted through Aug. 14. For more information, contact Stephanie Guckenberger at sguckenberger@girlsinccentral-al.org or 595-4475 ext. 319. To donate online, visit girlsinccentral-al.org.
REV Birmingham’s ZYP BikeShare will roll out this fall
Zyp is the official brand for REV Birmingham’s public bike sharing program, scheduled to arrive in mid-September. Zyp BikeShare will distribute 400 bikes and 40 docking racks throughout the city of Birmingham.
“Picturing these new bikes as they ‘zyp’ around town, we wanted to establish a brand that embodied not only the bicycle, but the full bikesharing experience,” said Lindsey G. West, REV’s director of Zyp BikeShare. “The Zyp design is fun, modern, simple, action-oriented and unique. It really breaks the mold and captures the spirit of Birmingham at the same time.”
Through an annual membership or by paying at the rack, riders will be able to use bikes for short trips. One hundred of the bikes will have electric pedal assistance, providing riders extra help along Birmingham’s dips and slopes.
Decals along Birmingham’s sidewalks mark potential bike rack locations and REV encourages users to give feedback about the possible locations. The launch for Zyp will display the bicycle design, social media pages and website (zypbikeshare.com).
Potential riders can register on the website to receive e-newsletters with the latest news, offers and instructions on how to become a Zyp member in the fall. The community can also stay up-to-date via Zyp BikeShare’s Facebook page and Twitter (@ZYP_BHM). For more information, visit: revbirmingham.org.
