The Andalusia City Council took no action on a proposed ordinance that would have designated the Court Square a city park.
The council had the first reading of the proposal in December, and could have adopted it at Tuesday night’s meeting. However, Mayor Earl Johnson said the city will consider other alternatives for addressing litter issues that arise from people parking and congregating there.
“We are proud of our city square, and the downtown area has been upgraded significantly in the past 20 years.
“We have had a problem with people coming, and quite frankly, misusing that area,” he said. “The vast majority of people who use our square area conduct themselves properly. They don’t litter. They take care to not make a mess there. That’s fine. It’s what we want our folks to do.”
However, he said, that.. Read more of this article at AndalusiaStarNews.com
Andalusia Star News
The Andalusia City Council took no action on a proposed ordinance that would have designated the Court Square a city park.
The council had the first reading of the proposal in December, and could have adopted it at Tuesday night’s meeting. However, Mayor Earl Johnson said the city will consider other alternatives for addressing litter issues that arise from people parking and congregating there.
“We are proud of our city square, and the downtown area has been upgraded significantly in the past 20 years.
“We have had a problem with people coming, and quite frankly, misusing that area,” he said. “The vast majority of people who use our square area conduct themselves properly. They don’t litter. They take care to not make a mess there. That’s fine. It’s what we want our folks to do.”
However, he said, that
Andalusians are in for an exciting year, Mayor Earl Johnson said.
“You are going to see significant redevelopment in the downtown area, and it will come early in the year,” he said.
“We are going to continue to work to increase the economic base and financial circumstances of the community,” Johnson said. “It is stronger than it has ever been in past, and we are certainly working to improve that.”
Two new businesses opened in the industrial park at the end of 2015, and the mayor said the city looks forward to working with them to grow.
The Andalusia Industrial Board in December sold a building in the industrial park to Jimmy Pate of Covington Heavy Duty Equipment. Pate has expanded his business to include cleaning supplies and equipment, and needed additional space.
The board also leased a building to GreenSteel.
“We are gong to continue to recruit new businesses – industrial, retail and service to the community,” Johnson said.
The city’s recreation program, including the APPLE after-school program will expand this year, he said....
Read more of the article at AndalusiaStarNews.com
Andalusians are in for an exciting year, Mayor Earl Johnson said.
“You are going to see significant redevelopment in the downtown area, and it will come early in the year,” he said.
“We are going to continue to work to increase the economic base and financial circumstances of the community,” Johnson said. “It is stronger than it has ever been in past, and we are certainly working to improve that.”
Two new businesses opened in the industrial park at the end of 2015, and the mayor said the city looks forward to working with them to grow.
The Andalusia Industrial Board in December sold a building in the industrial park to Jimmy Pate of Covington Heavy Duty Equipment. Pate has expanded his business to include cleaning supplies and equipment, and needed additional space.
The board also leased a building to GreenSteel.
“We are gong to continue to recruit new businesses – industrial, retail and service to the community,” Johnson said.
The city’s recreation program, including the APPLE after-school program will expand this year, he said.
Today is the last day to skate at Springdale on Ice!
The rink is open from 1:00pm to 5:00pm today, Sunday, December 20th.
Train rides are free!
The rink is open from 1:00pm to 5:00pm today, Sunday, December 20th.
Train rides are free!
Candyland could be just what community has searched for
“Dear City of Andalusia,
“Thank you for the field trip.
“My favorite part was the ice skating rink. I liked it because it was funny when me and my friends fell down …”
Whether it was the for the fun of falling down, seeing favorite characters on the Square, or taking a train ride, Candyland 2015 received rave reviews.
In just the second year that the City of Andalusia and Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce has staged Candyland in the month of December, more than 1,000 children ice skated at Springdale in the first two weekends alone.
The tags in the downtown parking completed the stories that the smiles on participants’ faces started. People drove from Montgomery, Dothan, Enterprise, Crestview and many other places in December to enjoy Christmas in Candyland.
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chrissie Duffy dreamed up the event in 2014, when she suggested having snow machines and cottages for children’s play on the Court Square. The project met with such enthusiasm that it was expanded in 2015 to include train rides on the Springdale Express and a simulated ice skating rink.
“This thing has turned into something really special,” Mayor Earl Johnson said. “For years and years, we have been searching for an event that could be our signature event. Opp has the Rattlesnake Rodeo; Brewton has the Blueberry Festival.
“Towns all over the country have something they’re known for,” he said. “The great thing about this is it’s not just one event on one day. Generally speaking, it occurs when the weather is better. And the events can be staged at different areas, with different groups of people involved.
“Our celebration started off with the parade, and the city’s first-ever half marathon,” he said. “I think we have stumbled upon our event for Andalusia, and what better one could it be than Christmas?”
Local businesses and individuals donated the funds to purchase the train, which made its debut in the Christmas parade, and will be used throughout the year. Similarly, local businesses and a church funded the playhouses children found so entertaining.
The City of Andalusia opened the event with a field trip for kindergarten students to the Square for Candyland play and a snow show. The same day, local fourth graders took a field trip to Springdale to try out the ice skating rink.
Later in the season, a special daytime event was held for the county’s special needs students.
While there was a fee to rent skates, all other activities were free.
The venue also drew a group of students from Crestview, who paid to have an extra snow show for their field trip.
Based on the 2014 success, Andalusia landed on the Top 10 list of Christmas cities in Alabama. And that was before the 2015 additions.
Duffy told city council members in December that out-of-town visitors – specifically two who help Santa and Mrs. Claus out with seasonal visits – had commented Andalusia is their favorite place to travel for work.
“They said they enjoy coming here more than anywhere else because it’s about Christmas, not about the financial part,” she said. “Children aren’t having to pay to come in to the snow. It’s the true spirit of Christmas.”
City employees worked many extra hours to ensure that the venues were open and safe for participants. Johnson said at times, it seemed they got more from the event than the children who visited.
“One man told me, ‘Mayor, I’d do this if I didn’t get paid for it,’ ” Johnson said.
Andalusia Star News
By: Michele Gerlach
Courtesy Photo By: Gerry Richards - City of Andalusia
Andalusia Star News
After the first weekend of Candyland 2015, it appears the event is doing exactly what it is designed to do.
“We had 600 partakers in the ice skating rink,” said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chrissie Duffy. “We talked to people from Pace, Fla., from Pensacola, from Spanish Fort, Monroeville, Greenville, Camden, Montgomery and Crestview. All of them came specifically for the event, she said.
“We are constantly getting social media messages from people planning to come some time during the season,” she said. “We are pleased that we really are accomplishing what we wanted to do, which is showcase our town.
“We had a great turnout, and I think this coming weekend, we’ll have even more people. We encourage people to invite their friends and family members to come and visit.”
Candyland resumes on Thursday, when the ice skating rink and holiday train will be open from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Springdale.
Friday’s schedule includes ice skating and train rides from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.; a movie on the lawn of Springdale at 7; the Candyland play village on the Square open from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. and a snow show spectacular at 6 p.m.
Duffy said the reaction to events has been fun.
“People come up to me all the time and tell me it is great, and thank me for this,” she said. “All I did was have a crazy idea. It is other people who made it actually happen.”
Christmas events kicked off the with parade this past Thursday.
“The parade when really well,” she said. “It think it is the best I’ve ever seen. I’d like to thank the businesses and organizations who put time and effort into making the beautiful floats for all to enjoy.
“I’d also like to thank the board members who helped line up our 118 parade entries, which is a lot harder than it sounds,” she said.
By: Michele Gerlach
Andalusia Star News