Bluff Park Book
Heather J. Skagg’s Bluff Park book ($21.99) is slated to hit bookstore shelves on Monday, February 4th. According to AL.com, the book picks up at the very last of the 1800′s and moves forward. There are hundreds of pics and lots of local history surrounding the neighborhood and the history of some of the Bluff Park churches. The book is part of Arcadia publishing’s Images of America series.
Skaggs has a book signing scheduled at the Alabama Booksmith February 8th at 4 p.m.
Artists on the Bluff
Did you catch the short news bit Fox 6 News did on the Artists on the Bluff? It aired just a couple of days ago and lasts just over three minutes. Here’s a link to the Artists on the Bluff site as well.
Hoover Galleria Carousel Headed West
The news is reporting that the carousel at the Hoover Galleria food court is headed to San Francisco for an update and repairs. They must have some really fine wooden animal vets out that way to make it a worthwhile trip. The mall folks say that they carousel will be open through Chirstmas 2012, but after that they’re tearing it down and shipping it West.
More info over on al.com, if you’d like to read it.
Bluff Park is Getting a Coffee Shop
I was checking out the Artists on the Bluff website this week and noticed this:
“Artists on the Bluff will house twenty-two working studios and offices, four teaching studios, two art galleries, an auditorium with stage and the Park Avenue Coffee Shop.”
Since the building was originally a school, I know there is an old auditorium and an old cafeteria in there. I could see where those could be made into a nice space for a Coffe Shop serving sandwiches and such. Anyone have any more information on this? There is nothing on their blog about it, yet. I know they have a pretty solid “long term” plan, but didn’t know where the coffee shop fits in on the schedule.
Could be a really great spot.
Hoover Sun is Up and Running
We got our first issue of the Hoover Sun this week. Very excited. They even had a few Bluff Park specific stories in there. Not sure how the editorial coverage or story count will go, but just glad to have some print focusing on issues and people closer to home.
The Hoover Sun website is up and running too.
New Hoover Newspaper
They are calling it the Hoover Sun. So far nothing has been put up on their site HooverSun.com, but someone has started a Facebook page. They give October 1, 2012 as the release date for this monthly local newspaper. Word on the street is that it’s being run by the same guy who publishes the Homewood Star. Here is the description from their page:
“The Hoover Sun is Hoover’s community newspaper. Distributed monthly by mail and reaching more than 20,000 homes in Hoover, we provide residents of one of Alabama’s largest cities with news about their community, schools, sports, churches, civic organizations, businesses, people and much, much more.”
Let us know if you hear more or see a Hoover Sun out in the wild. It could be really cool to see more coverage of the Bluff Park area. Let’s hope it takes off!
How to get a bigger recycle can
The city of Hoover is swapping out recycle cans this month. If you’re like us, then your current 30-gallon can fills up in just a couple of days. But now you can call to get on the list for a new larger 95-gallon can. Here’s how:
- 1. Call 205.444.7543 (which is the Hoover Public Works office)
- 2. They’ll ask for your Last Name, Address and Phone Number.
- 3. Then next week, after the Wednesday, May 9th pick-up, just leave your old puny recycle can by the curb, through Friday night.
The city will be driving around on Thursday, May 10th and Friday, May 11th, with the list of folks wanting the bigger cans. When they get to your house they’ll swap it out. At least, that’s all they told me when I just called to get on the list.
Hoover State of the City Address
Earlier this month Hoover mayor Gary Ivey gave his State of the City address at the Hoover Library. I wasn’t able to attend and I have not seen any recaps online or in news outlets (please share if you know of one). But the mayor’s office says that Mayor Ivey is on the calendar to give the Address again two more times. So if you are interested, maybe you can catch one of these:
January 24, 2012 – at the Hoover Senior Centerat 11:00 a.m. This is a luncheon so you need to call ahead to snag a seat.
February 13, 2012 – at the Egg & I at 11:00 a.m. This is a “Friends of Hoover” meeting which is being held at the restaurant.
Hoover Police Ticket Talley
There is an article today talking about the number of tickets Hoover PD wrote back in November. Ready for this? During a nine day period (November 14-22) they wrote 400+ tickets between Alford Avenue and Valleydale exits. Amazing! That’s more than 45 tickets a day. Now that section of I-65 is the part in and around all of the crazy construction. It’s a place where lots of commuters get tired and stressed out and start speeding. I think that’s the cause of the massive increase in accidents. A 45% increase from the year before, according to that article.
One good thing about Bluff Park is that you hardly ever have to get on I-65. You can cut through and get to downtown or the Galleria and never have to deal with interstate traffic. But then that is also the downside. That means everyone who knows this will often see our neighborhood streets as nothing more than a cut-through on their commute, causing the speeding and stop-sign-running that is prevalent at certain intersections.
So maybe they key is get some road construction up here so the Hoover PD will be forced to patrol more? Not sure that’s a good idea either. I know there are parts of Hoover that require more police attention. I’m lucky to have my family up here on the Bluff where things aren’t so unsafe. There just has to be a way to get folks to slow down while passing through our neighborhoods. Speed bumps? Cameras? Crossing guards? Toll booths? I’m open to any idea these days. . . maybe I’m just getting to be an old curmudgeon.
Hoover State of the City Address
It’s a new year and the new Hoover Mayor Gary Ivey is set to give the State of the City address this Monday, January 9th at 10 a.m. The event is at the Hoover Library. Their site says that refreshments will be served at 9:45 a.m. with the meeting kicking off at 10 a.m. Wish I could go. Please let us know if you see any “better than average” coverage.