Guidelines for Submitting your Church/Community Announcements
These are free as long as there are no personal messages and the event is not being charged for (love offerings do not count). Please keep the announcement to one paragraph with who is presenting the event, what the event is, date, time, where it will be held and contact information. Email them to [email protected]. The front office is closed due to COVID-19. We can not take anything over the phone due to company policy.
2024 Upcoming Holiday deadlines: SCRJ will be closed for Memorial Day, Monday, May 27 and has a late deadline for Tues., May 28. SCRJ will be closed for the 4th of July Thursday, July 4 & Friday, July 5th. SCRJ will be closed for Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2 and has a late deadline for Tues., Sept. 3 before noon. SCRJ will be closed for Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11 and has a late deadline for Tues., Nov. 12 before noon. Deadline for Thanksgiving is Friday, Nov. 22. SCRJ will be closed for Thanksgiving week and will reopen Monday, Dec. 2. Santa Letters deadline is Friday, Dec. 6. Deadline for the Christmas ads for the Christmas/Santa Letter Edition 12-18-24 is Friday, Dec. 13. These are special editions that must be sent in early to the printers. New Year’s Edition 12-26-24 & 1-2-25 is Friday, Dec. 19. We have to submit both papers early due to the printing company being closed for the holidays.
West Ala. Pollinators Workshop
Learn how to attract native pollinators, what plants to plant, pollinator-friendly gardening practices, and how to manage honeybees. April 27, 2-6 p.m. At the Tuscaloosa Co. Extension Office, 2513 7th Street, Tuscaloosa. Registration Required: https://www.aces.edu/event/west-alabamapollinator-workshop/
WIC Income Guidelines Increase
Alabama’s income guidelines for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (better known as WIC) have increased and additional people may qualify. If you are a woman who is pregnant, has had a baby within the past six months, or are currently breastfeeding; or if you are the parent or guardian of a child up to age 5, you are encouraged to contact your local county health department or WIC agency to apply. WIC participants may receive food benefits for each qualifying family member. Increased cash value benefits are available to purchase fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, with each child receiving $26 a month, pregnant and postpartum women receiving $47 a month, and breastfeeding women receiving $52 a month. In addition to nutritious food benefits, WIC participants receive free nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and healthcare referrals. Alabama’s WIC Program provides electronic food benefits, making the shopping experience much easier. Under the 2024 federal poverty guidelines, more families may be eligible for the program. WIC is open to participants with incomes up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level. Check the table below to see if your family may qualify: Family Size* Annual Income Weekly Income: 2 $37,814 $728; 3 $47,767 $919; 4 $57,720 $1,110; 5 $67,673 $1,302; 6 $77,626 $1,493. *Each unborn infant counts as one in the family size. *For additional family sizes, please visit www.alabamapublichealth.gov/wic. WIC participants must have both a limited income and a nutritional need. Families who receive Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) already meet the income qualifications for WIC. Even families who do not qualify for these programs may be eligible for WIC because of WIC’s higher income limits. Allison Hatchett, Alabama WIC Director, said, “WIC works with families to meet nutrition goals and provides healthy foods to support optimal growth and development. Nutritious foods help pregnant women have healthy babies and help children grow to become healthy adults. Alabama’s WIC Program understands the struggles many families face to establish healthy eating habits, and WIC is here to help women, infants, and children in Alabama.” For more information, please go tohttp://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/wicor call the statewide toll-free line at 1-888-942-4673 (1-888-WIC-HOPE).
Dog Street Raising Money for BlackBelt Regional Child Advocacy Center It’s Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Dog Street will be showing our support with our Dog Street Trivia night at 7 p.m. on Thurs., April 18. A share of the proceeds will go to support the work of the BlackBelt Regional Child Advocacy Center. You can help out by just being there!
April’s Grow More, Give More Harvest of the Month is Sweet Peas Find growing instructions as well as yummy recipes that use sweet peas at https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/lawn-garden/april-grow-more-give-more-harvest-of-the-month
ADPH Celebrates Peacan Month Happy National Pecan Month! Try out Fruits & Veggies—Have A Plant’s delicious spinach, strawberry, and pecan salad to celebrate: bit.ly/49ks9IF.
Youth Explosion
Join the Soul Awakening Project for Youth Explosion April 20 at 4:30 p.m., doors open at 4 p.m. at UWA Math and Science Auditorium. Admission is a non-perishable food item. Featuring the Ridge Praise Team, Voices of West, F. A.V.O.R, Kayla Finch, God’s Creation, Sacred Dance Ministry, Rosie Tolliver, Pine Grove Missionary Baptist Church Mime Team, and more. Guest speakers Janet Moore Rice Soulee Health and Healing LLC, “Rooted” Cornerstone Full Gospel Baptist Church, Adonis Williams Praise and Worship Leader.
National Day of Prayer
The National Day of Prayer for the Sumter County area will take place Thurs., May 2 at noon for one hour at the Bored Well next to the Courthouse Square in Livingston. We are asking all residents, businesses, local leaders, pastors, governmental and city officials to join us as we commemorate 73 years of praying for America and 6 years of prayer going forth here in Livingston. We are asking all to come out and support this event as we pray fervently over these seven mountains of influence.
NAMI Family-to-Family Program
NEW Announcement: NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Alabama is providing a virtual family education program (on zoom) beginning May 9th, 2024, from 6-8:30pm. The NAMI Family- to-Family Program is a free 8-week educational program for families and significant others of people with a mental health condition. The program is peer lead by individuals who have been through similar situations, provides information and strategies for taking care of the person you love. Registration is required. Please email [email protected] or call 205-267-2986 for more information.
St. Peter Catholic Church 190th Anniversary
St. Peter Catholic Church celebrates its 190th Anniversary on Sun., April 28, at a 10:30 a.m. Mass with the Most Rev. Thomas J. Rodi as celebrant, along with the Rev. Father Thomas LaPointe, homilist, begins the anniversary celebration. Following Mass, a Eucharistic Procession with clergy, parishioners, and visitors will travel around the city block beginning and ending at the church’s entrance at Adams Avenue. A reception in Cusack Hall concludes the celebration.
Tombigbee RC&D Council’s 2025 Grant Cycle
Tombigbee RC&D Council’s 2025 grant cycle will being on April 1-June 30! To submit applications, please access the Grant Application and Information tab at www.tombigbeercd.org/grant-guidelines/. This year, we are excited to introduce our new grant funding software, Foundant! Organizations eligible for consideration must be registered as 501C2 not-for-profit entities, units, or sub-units of government. Projects must take place in one or more of the eight counties served by the Tombigbee RC&D Council: Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, Sumter, or Tuscaloosa. Detailed grant guidelines from the Tombigbee RC&D Council can also be found on our website. It is important to note that all grants awarded operate on a reimbursement-only basis; funds are disbursed upon project completion.
Sucarnochee Folklife Festival
Sucarnochee Folklife Festival will be Sat., April 20 in Livingston at the Courthouse Square, 9 a.m. – 3p.m. Step into the art and culture of the Black Belt. 5K run, pottery, live music, food, metal work, woodcarcing, games, quilting, poetry reading, basket weaving, homesteading, homemade soaps, plants and more. For more information call the UWA’s Center for the Studey of the Black belt at 205-652-3828 or email [email protected].
CCA Earth Day Extravaganza
It’s an Earth Day Extravaganza! Hello, my name is Gloria, I go by Trippie G. I’m a textile artist and sustainable designer here in York Alabama. I’d like to invite you to come out and celebrate Earth Day with me. This event will start on Fri., April 19. and we will bring it to a close, with the Main Event on Mon., April 22, which is Earth Day! Each day will be filled with fun and engaging eco friendly and eco conscious activities. Here take a look: April 19 – Community Garden Spotlight. Did you know there’s a community garden in York? Have you been? Come out and get some hands on learning with the Mama Yawah. Located at the Coleman Center for the Arts Headquarters. April 20 – Community Spotlight Tour. Learn a little history as we stroll around our city and get more acquainted with the local businesses downtown. April 21 – Textile Art Workshop. Meet me in the Hightower Library’s Classroom to learn about textile art and how to make your own using recycled materials. All supplies are provided and only $5 to participate. April 22 – The Main Event. A fashion show that will showcase fashion, the arts as well as local and small businesses. Located at Pop Start Community Space. For more information see Coleman Arts Center Facebook page @CcaYork
CCA Community Garden Volunteers Needed
Volunteers take home free garden delights! Contact Yawah at [email protected] to sign up. We welcome school, church, and community groups to volunteer in the garden!
Community Prayer
Community Prayer for the Sumter County area will be held every 1st Thursday of each month at noon for one hour at the Bored Well, the Courthouse Square, Livingston. We’re asking all residents, businesses, local leaders, pastors, governmental and city officials to join us as we come together as a community to pray. Submitted by Min. Leola Washington, Volunteer Coordinator for NDPTF, Sumter County.
School Events
West Alabama Winds Concert
Shelton State Community College’s Concert Band, West Alabama Winds, will perform their spring concert, “Flight,” on Monday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. in the Martin Campus Atrium. The concert will feature music inspired by mankind’s pursuit of flight and its uses. Concert admission is free, and all are invited to attend.
WGU Offers Scholarships in Alabama in Recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Week
Online nonprofit Western Governors University (WGU) will celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week May 6-10 by offering three scholarship programs for current and future education professionals in Alabama who wish to pursue bachelor’s or master’s degrees in the Teachers College at WGU’s School of Education, the largest nonprofit, accredited school of education in the country. Each WGU Loves Teachers Scholarship and WGU Become a Teacher Scholarship is valued at up to $4,000. The WGU Loves Teachers Scholarship is designed to help current teachers improve their skill set in the classroom, move into administration, or to assist aspiring teachers in obtaining the required credentials for a rewarding future career as an educator. The WGU Become a Teacher Scholarship is geared toward those interested in becoming a paraprofessional or classroom aide, or in starting the journey to become a licensed K–12 educator. Each of these two scholarships will be credited to the student’s account at the rate of $1,000 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms. Scholarships will be awarded based on a candidate’s academic record, financial need, readiness for online study at WGU, current competency, and other considerations. In addition, from now through June 30, 2024, WGU is offering an Education Support Professionals Scholarship that may be applied toward any Teachers College degree programs leading to teacher licensure. This scholarship, worth up to $5,000, is a unique opportunity for paraprofessionals currently working in K-12 schools to receive funds toward tuition, plus a stipend for student teaching. This scholarship will be credited to the student’s account at the rate of $625 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms, with an additional $2,500 stipend for the student teaching term. New and enrolling WGU students may apply for the WGU Loves Teachers Scholarship at wgu.edu/teacherappreciation, WGU Become a Teacher Scholarship at wgu.edu/becomeateacher, and the Education Support Professionals Scholarship at wgu.edu/parascholarship, by June 30. To learn more about WGU’s Teachers College and its academic programs, visit wgu.edu/online-teaching-degrees.
$50K in Scholarships Up for Grabs History will be made in June as the Alabama State Games awards a combined $50,000 in scholarships as part of the Opening Ceremony on June 7. The $50,000 scholarship announcement is another piece added to the puzzle of what is shaping up to be the largest event since the Alabama State Games’ inception in 1982. The 41st Alabama State Games are once again being hosted by the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County June 7-9 and have 23 sports on offer hosted by venues in Birmingham, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Gardendale, Homewood, and Pelham. Hotel, event and registration information can be found at ALAGAMES.com. Two of the $5,000 scholarships will be given in memory of Fred and Rheta Skelton. Two more $5,000 scholarships have been added to the academic offering and will be awarded as well as several $1,000 academic awards. An added benefit to the scholarship initiative for the 41st Alabama State Games is a first-time partnership with Jacksonville State University. Jax State has generously agreed to match the scholarship award given to any current, soon-to-be or future member of Gamecock Nation. From there it’s the luck of the draw. The Alabama State Games was founded in 1982 at the request of the United States Olympic Committee. Since 1982 the Games have grown into the state’s largest annual multi-sport competition with nearly 5,000 athletes competing in 20+ sports for gold, silver, and bronze medals and opportunities to be awarded academic scholarships. Fostering a culture of academic success, a scholarship initiative was created and has to date awarded $363,000 in academic scholarships to any 2-year, 4-year college, university or trade school. In 2024, $50,000 will be awarded. The Alabama State Games’ core beliefs are academic excellence, healthy lifestyles, and good citizenship.
Perkins Scholarship Shelton State Community College has reopened a scholarship for students pursuing careers in gender nontraditional fields. Applications for the Perkins Scholarship will be accepted through April 19. Applicants must complete the Perkins Scholarship and the College’s admission applications (if not already admitted or enrolled) and plan to enroll in a gender-nontraditional program of study. The term “gender nontraditional” refers to occupations or work areas, including careers in computer science, technology, and other emerging high-skill occupations in which individuals from one gender comprise less than 25 percent of the individuals employed in that occupation or field. Female nontraditional careers are occupations in which less than 25 percent of individuals employed are female. Male nontraditional careers are occupations where less than 25 percent of employed individuals are male. Many current and former Shelton State Community College students have found enrolling in a nontraditional gender program to be a rewarding and life-changing experience. You can view the success stories of some of these nontraditional students on the Shelton State Scholarships page under Perkins Scholarship. The scholarship-eligible programs of study are viewable by gender on the Shelton State Perkins Scholarship application. To view the gender nontraditional scholarship eligible programs and to apply for the scholarship, please visit Shelton State Perkins Scholarship or sheltonstate.edu.
B.O.E. Expo
B.O.E. Expo is an awesome event showcasing local businesses, entrepreneurs, kid and teen entrepreneurs, artists, designers, and all other business minded individuals. Join us April 27, 1-5 p.m. West Alabama Coalition for Community Development SCHS gymnasium, 902 4th Ave., York! Free to public. For more information text BOE to 205-377-2498.
2024 Congressional Art Competition for Alabama’s 7th Congressional District
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) announced that her office is now accepting submissions for the 2024 Congressional Art Competition. The competition is open to high school students from both public and private schools throughout Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, as well as home-schooled high school students. The winner will receive free round-trip airfare for two to Washington D.C. to attend an official reception honoring the winners from congressional districts across the nation. The winner’s artwork will be showcased in the U.S. Capitol for one year. This year’s theme is “Alabama Story Makers: The Historic People and Places of the Cotton State.” To enter the contest, students must fill out and submit a Student Information and Release Form with their artwork by Fri., April 26. Students should deliver their submission to one of Rep. Sewell’s district offices located in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa. Students can also bring their submissions to school and call (334) 262-1919 for pick up. Artwork may be up to 26” high X 26” wide X 4” deep. For more information, contact Rep. Sewell’s Montgomery Office at (334) 262-1919 or visit her official website at sewell.house.gov/art-competition.
King-Ferris Athletic Fund Golf Tournament
The King-Ferris Athletic Fund Golf Tournament will be April 27 at 1 p.m. at the Livingston Country Club. Continuing to honor the legacy and impact of Coach Jim King. Mr. Sandy King, and Patric Ferris. Proceeds from this year’s tournament will go towards naming the updated UWA Football team room in their honor as part of the UWA Football Locker room expansion. Ways to support: donate to the event/athletic fund, be a hole sponsor and have your name or organization poster at the event, or play as a three man golf team in the tournament. For more information contact Dee Outlaw at [email protected] for golf, Sam McCorcle for sponsorship at 205-657-3788, and Brett Gilliland at [email protected] to fund the project. Register, sponsor or donate online at uwa.ejoinme.org/kingferrisfund.
| UA Preview: This Week at The University of Alabama Alabama Cyber Institute Leadership The Alabama Cyber Institute at The University of Alabama has reemerged under new leadership and strategic vision and is positioned to be a leader in computationally focused research. Why This Matters: ACI aims to advance computational research and empower UA faculty-led research that supports the University’s key research institutes in water, transportation, life research and materials, with plans to expand into new focus areas in the future. Youth Summer Camps UA will offer a variety of youth summer camps for children and teenagers from around the state and nation that provide engaging learning opportunities. Why This Matters: With options featuring a wide range of subject matter and activities, UA Youth Programs’ summer camps offer something for all children and teenagers. Around 20,000 youth participated in UA summer camps last year. Rural Health Conference The UA College of Community Health Sciences will host the 23rd annual Rural Health Conference April 17-18 at the Bryant Conference Center. This year’s event is titled, “Turning the Tide… On Individual, Domestic, and Community Violence.” Why This Matters: The Rural Health Conference focuses on health care issues relevant to rural communities. Each year, the conference provides a platform for health care professionals, community leaders, researchers, government officials and representatives of faith-based organizations who come together to hear from prominent speakers and share critical information and knowledge about the health disparities that impact rural Alabama. RISE Center Fundraiser The UA RISE Center will host the RISE Tournament of Champions April 18-19 to support fundraising efforts to help provide transformational opportunities to its students. Why This Matters: There are six RISE programs across the country and RISE Tuscaloosa is the only program that does not charge tuition to families with children who have special needs. Fundraisers like the golf and tennis tournaments are crucial to the school’s success. Goldwater Scholars The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program selected University of Alabama students Jackson Maxwell, Lena Seyfarth and Michael Zengel as Goldwater Scholars for 2024-2025. Why This Matters: By providing scholarships to college students who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering, the Goldwater Foundation is helping ensure that the U.S. is producing the number of highly qualified professionals the nation needs in these critical fields. Graduate School Centennial The UA Graduate School and Graduate Council are celebrating 100 years at the Capstone. Why This Matters: The UA Graduate School provides transformational advanced education opportunities with enrollments continuing to grow in recent years, alongside the growth in research and UA’s relatively new Research-1 status. 📅 EVENTS Yunte Huang Lecture, Book Signing and Discussion April 15-16; Gorgas Library Yellowhammer Room She Loves Me April 18-21; Marian Gallaway Theatre Huxford Symphony Orchestra and University Choirs April 18; Moody Music Building Concert Hall |
