It's News to Mobile

 

 

 By Preston Brady III

December 13, 2023

Giving a shout out to LaDarrel Bell of the Parks and recreation department for being December's Employee of the month - way to go....and speaking of the City of Mobile Parks & Recreation Department, they are having a Secret Santa event at the Mobile Convention Center, 3rd Floor Exhibit Hall South on December 19th from 5-9 PM. There will be a toy give away for the kids and free food and drinks....

Speaking of congrats, one goes out to the newest class of firefighters who just completed a scaling of the RSA Battle House Tower in downtown. They will graduate on Monday, December 18, 2023 at the Cottage Hill Baptist Church....

In international news with a city of Mobile focus, Mayor Sandy Stimpson recently returned from a trip to Germany, attending the 13th Aviation Forum hosted by the German Aerospace Industries Association, with Boeing and one of Mobile's premier employers Airbus also hosting. We won't discuss the rivalry between these two behemoths, only to say they are battling it out again over a major federal government contract and of course we want Airbus to win....but we will discuss why I was not allowed to be packed into checked luggage on this trip...

We live in a city that has an annual Mardi Gras Tree - yes, you heard me right, a Mardi Gras tree, and you are invited to attend the lighting of this tree in downtown's Mardi Gras Park on January 6, 2024 from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. I will be there throwing moon pies to anyone hollering "Hey mister, throw me a moon pie"....

You may have heard it here first, or maybe not but my feelings are not hurt - the immensely popular Counting Crows will give a free concert in downtown Mobile at the Mardi Gras Park after the 75th annual Senior Bowl and of course after the parades. Not trying to be a spoilsport but I am wondering how everyone who will definitely crowd down there to see the Counting Crows for free, will be able to get anywhere near the small although nice park on Government and Water Streets. We've performed miracles before in Mobile so hopefully this one will not be an exception...

Hey, this is the time of year the kiddies want dogs and cats for Christmas, and unlike other times of the year you parents will find it hard to say no. Check out The City of Mobile Animal Services for adoption opportunities and their web site is www.animalservicesmobile.com.

Sports aficionados will be pleased to learn the Hero's Plaza broke ground last month, and will be part of the riverfront scene between the Mobile Convention Center and Cooper Riverside Park. The Plaza will be a homage to well-known sports figures from Mobile and of course will include statues of Hall of Famer Robert Brazile, Hank Aaron, Ozzie Smith, Willie Lee McCovey, Satchel Paige and Billie Williams...

In closing this, my first 3 dot journalism column under this title It's News to Mobile, pays honor to the man who started it all, Herb Caen, who wrote a daily column for the San Francisco Chronicle for many years, in a city I called home for about 14 years...there's lots more news bytes to come, and hoping you and yours have a great holiday season....