The Wave Rides Programs to National Attention

Thanks to some innovative programs that make riding easier and accessible, The Wave Transit got some well-deserved national publicity recently. The Environmental Defense Fund, a national environmental protection group that tackles the most serious environmental problems.

The Wave was listed on a report titled "Reinventing Transit" for several reasons including neighborhood pickups, electronic fare payment and the moda! downtown trolley service. In addition to this great recognition, the Wave has seen historic rider increases over the past few years. Are you riding? Here's the schedule for all of the Wave's routes.

If you want to read the entire report, Click Here.

MPD Traffic Unit Gets a Great Gift

Vinson Guard Service recently made a generous donation of 35 traffic safety vests to the Mobile Police Department’s Traffic Safety Unit. The vests, which meet the American National Standards Institute’s Class 2 Requirement for high visibility are valued at more than $2,000. Peggy Goram, branch manager, said of the company’s donation, “we knew there was a need for new traffic vests and we wanted to help the police department out if we had the ability to do so.”

In response to the kind donation, Chief Phillip Garrett says, “I am pleasantly surprised by such a generous gift. Words cannot express how much it means to me and the department when the community shows its support in such a fashion. I want to publicly thank Ms. Goram and Vinson Guard Services. Your generosity is very much appreciated.”

Vinson Guard Service, based in New Orleans, La., is located at 2158 Government St., provides investigative services in Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas.

We Run Our Streets 5K Run/Walk (Updated)

The City of Mobile Weed and Seed Office and the Mobile Police Department are proud to present the Crichton and Toulminville We Run Our Streets 5K Run/Walk, to be held Saturday, May 2, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. at Tricentennial Park (2121 Lake Drive).

You can register in person at McCoy Outdoor or online by Clicking Here.

The best way to enjoy the BayBears season is to share the experience with your “Best Friend”! Believe it or not, you can take your dog to the BayBears baseball game on April 25^th when B&B Pet Stop is sponsoring “Hounds at the Hank”!

Bring your well-behaved, leashed dog to Hank Aaron Stadium a few minutes before the game and join the pre-game Pooch Parade across the field. Afterwards, you and your furry friend will find your seats and enjoy the game.

Don’t have a dog yet? No problem! Before the game, from 5-7 pm, join representatives from the City of Mobile Animal Shelter, the new County Animal Shelter, the Guardian pet rescue, the Mobile SPCA, Lost Without You pet rescue, and Greyhound Pets of America under the tents in front of the stadium for a pet adoption event. These animal rescue groups will offer sweet, healthy dogs that are up-to-date on shots, are spayed or neutered, and heartworm tested. Adoption fees range from $60 - 150.

Keep Earth Beautiful

Keep Mobile Beautiful is celebrating Earth Day this Wednesday, April 22, with an open house at the Metro Recycling Center located at 1451 Government Street.

Recyclers and visitors will be greeted by “Sparky”, the Keep Mobile Beautiful mascot and treated to free refreshments, fun gifts, free flower and vegetable seeds, informational displays, games for kids and much more.

Visitors will also receive a free azalea shrub and be able to register for free prizes from local businesses.

Sponsors for the Earth Day celebration include Recycled Fibers, Mobile Gas, MAWSS, Firestone, Walgreen’s, The Home Depot, Van der Giessen Nurseries and Goodwill Easterseals.

WHO - Keep Mobile Beautiful
WHAT - Earth Day Open House and Celebration
WHERE - Metro Recycling Center / 1451 Government Street
WHEN - Wednesday, April 22 / 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Entire Webinar Now Available for Viewing

If you didn’t get a chance to take part or view Mayor Jones’ Webinar on April 3, 2009, you can now watch the entire webcast in its entirety. Mayor Jones spent over an hour answering dozens of questions ranging in topics from public safety to parking and from annexation to MoonPies.

To watch the Webinar, Click Here.

Play Ball!

It’s a sign that summer is just around the corner – Opening Night for the Mobile BayBears at Hank Aaron Stadium. The first pitch will be thrown tonight at 7:05 p.m. The BayBears put on a first-class show, complete with a great ballpark experience.

They’ve also announced a new offer for active-duty and reserve military as well as veterans. From now on, all those who have served in any branch of the military will get into BayBears’ home games free of charge!

For more information, check out http://www.mobilebaybears.com

Looking for Something to do this Easter Weekend?

The 2nd Annual Mobile Easter Extravaganza will affect the lives of 4000 children in Mobile this year.

The 2nd Annual Mobile Easter Extravaganza is a non-profit event that allows children ages 0-12 whose parents may not have the means to provide an Easter Fun Day to have one rally fun carefree day, all for FREE to the attendees. This Easter Extravaganza will be held on Saturday, April 11th, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Greater Gulf Coast Fair Grounds. It will provide free fun such as face painting, inflatable jump houses and there will be 45,000 eggs in our hunting fields! The local police, fire and ambulance services will be there doing finger printing and pictures with McGruff the Crime Dog. The Easter Bunny will be available for pictures with a photographer on location. A mini concert is scheduled by local bands, and food will be available for a low purchase price.

Same Excitement, New Name: GulfQuest

Were you excited about the opening of the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico, but frustrated with such a long name? Well, fear not! They've got an answer for that dilemma. That answer is GulfQuest!

The good folks over at the museum announced the new name at their ceremonial keel laying event. Learn all about it at gulfquest.org.

The All New cityofmobile.org!

The City of Mobile is proud to unveil a completely reconstructed web site at www.cityofmobile.org. The new site features several great new tools for citizens to stay connected to city government. We’ve also simplified the site, making it easier for citizens to navigate through the comprehensive online resource. Here are a couple of the highlights:

New Design – The Web site’s new layout is more than just a fresh coat of paint. Users can now find information more quickly, with helpful dropdown menus at the top of the page, quicklinks at the bottom and expanded news and announcement sections. Citizens can also now subscribe to RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds, so that they can get up-to-the-minute information about city news and council actions.

Social Networking – the City of Mobile has implemented several social networking tools including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and a blog. This provides citizens with a new way to stay connected and to provide timely feedback on city issues.

The City of Mobile’s Web site was designed by Dogwood Productions. Here are the links to city’s social networking sites:

Twitter
YouTube
Blog
Facebook

The State of the City: Poised for Progress

On April 8, 2009 Mayor Sam Jones gave the State of the City Address to civic leaders, corporate partners, and other interested guests. Now, for the first time, you can watch the address anytime you want. Thanks to the City of Mobile's YouTube channel (see video below), the Mayor's address can be viewed by anyone in the world. That's fitting, because the entire globe has taken notice to what is going on in the Port City.

You can also see a transcript of the address on the city's revamped Web site, www.cityofmobile.org.

Mobile Fire-Rescue Fills the Boot, Gets the Axe

Firefighters with the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department don't just serve by putting out fires. They also take great strides to stamp out disabilities as well. Now, they are getting some great recognition. They will be presented the Golden Axe Award for their participation in the 2008 Fill-the-Boot Campaign. Each year this program benefits the children, adults, and their families, served by the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

Mobile Fire-Rescue raised over $62,000 to help many local families and children with neuromuscular disease in last years’ campaign. And they're at it again this year. Their 2009 goal is $63,000! They'll be out “filling their boots” at various intersections all over Mobile on Saturdays through the month of April.

Please help Mobile Fire-Rescue help Jerry’s Kids by filling the boots of these firefighters with your donations when you see them!

Get Your ArtWalk-ing Shoes On!

Downtown Mobile’s monthly gallery hop, the LoDa ArtWalk welcomes Spring with a bevy of entertainment both inside unique shops and institutions as well as along the streets and in the public squares on Friday, April 10^th from 5 until 9 p.m. From Washington Avenue to Royal Street, there will be live music galore, painting demonstrations, and extended hours at the Museum of Mobile. In between these wonderful exhibits, local galleries, studios and unique shops open their doors and invite the public inside to view and support our local artisans. Fridays @ 5 will fill the streets with beautiful, interesting and unique sounds of local musicians on street corners and in Cathedral and Bienville Square. In addition, there will be a live 12 piece painting demonstration and free beverages courtesy of local artist Aaron Hunt in Bienville Square beginning at noon and showcased under the lights of the Square in the evening. Pirates! will also join in the ArtWalk fun with extended hours at the Museum of Mobile until 9 p.m. Admission to the exhibit is $5 for adults; $4 for seniors; $3 for students and 6 and under are free.

The ArtWalk is a fun, free and family friendly event sponsored by the participating venues and the City of Mobile’s Neighborhood & Community Services Department.

For more information, please visit www.ncsmobile.org or call: 470-7730.

A Different Kind of "Groundbreaking"

Everyone is invited to attend a very special event next week - the "groundbreaking" for the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico. The "quotes" are needed because this won't be your typical groundbreaking event.

The museum will actually look like a ship coming in to port in the Mobile River. So instead of shoveling dirt, the ceremony will be a keel laying, like what would be done for an actual boat.

The public is encouraged to take part in the festivities at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 9 at Mobile Landing, the city’s downtown riverfront development and the museum’s future site (between Cooper-Riverside Park and the cruise terminal).

Scheduled to speak are Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, Mobile City Council President Reggie Copeland and E.B. Peebles III, chairman of the Maritime Museum Board of Trustees. Musical accompaniment will be provided by the United States Navy Band New Orleans.

Learn more here - http://www.nationalmaritime.us/