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]. We can not take anything over the phone due to company policy.
2025 Holiday Deadlines: Deadline for Dr. Rev. MLK, Jr. Day events is Jan. 13. Deadline for Black History Month stories is Mon., Feb. 13. SCRJ will be closed for Good Friday, April 18. Deadline for Senior photos and biographies for Graduation Edition is the last Friday in April, April 25th. SCRJ will be closed for Memorial Day Mon., May 26 and has a late deadline of Tues., May 27 by noon for the May 29th edition. Deadline for Juneteenth events is Mon., June 16. SCRJ will be closed Fri., July 4th. SCRJ will be closed for Labor Day and there is a late deadline for Tues., Sept. 2 by noon for the Sept. 4th edition. Deadline is Mon., Nov. 3rd for Veterans Day announcements. Deadline is Fri., Nov. 21 for the Thanksgiving edition. We have to submit the paper early due to the printing company being closed for the holidays. SCRJ will be closed Nov. 24-30. Santa Letter deadline is by Fri., Dec. 5th. Deadline for the Christmas/Santa letter special edition for ads is Fri., Dec. 12. Deadline for BOTH the Dec. 25th and Jan. 1st editions is Fri., Dec. 19. We have to submit both papers early due to the printing company being closed for the holidays. SCRJ will be closed Dec. 22-Jan. 1 for the holidays.
Email your Dr. Rev. MLK Day events to [email protected] by Jan. 13!
Best Black Belt Sporting Dog Photo Contest returns for 2025
The Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association (ALBBAA) wants to celebrate the unbreakable bond that exists between a dog and its owner by reviving the Best Black Belt Sporting Dog Photo Contest. The contest is open to any and all dogs out on a sporting adventure in the 23 counties of Alabama’s Black Belt. The contest will feature dogs pictured in the woods or other grounds helping hunters – whether it’s quail, duck, squirrel or other game. Other possible photos include a dog accompanying an angler on a fishing trip or a retriever participating in a dog trial. While ALBBAA acknowledges the greatness of lap dogs, this contest is NOT for them. The contest is for photos of dogs in the woods, on point, in action, or posing with their retrieved bird or game. Photos can include the owner or family members alongside the star of the photo – a furry friend. A general snapshot of a dog in a comfy bed, relaxing on the porch or anything other than showcasing sporting skills will not qualify. The contest runs through 11:59 p.m., on Sat., March 15. The winner of the contest will be selected exclusively through online voting on the ALBBAA website. To enter the Best Black Belt Sporting Dog Photo Contest, hunters must upload, through the ALBBAA website, a photo taken in the 23-county Black Belt region. Each hunter is limited to one photo. Contest entries are submitted and all votes are cast online via the same web page: https://alabamablackbeltadventures.org/news-more/shoot-the-black-belt/best-sporting-dog-photo-contest/
AFC Launches Rural Bridge Grant
Initiative to Strengthen Timber Transportation
The Alabama Forestry Commission is pleased to announce the launch of its Rural Bridge Grant initiative, effective January 10, 2025. This vital program, established through the Alabama Legislature’s Rural Logging Efficiency Act of 2023 and funded in the FY25 General Fund Budget, is dedicated to upgrading infrastructure and easing costly transportation challenges resulting from the need to route loaded trucks around corridors with statutorily limited bridges in rural areas. The Rural Bridge Grant initiative invites county commissions to submit applications for funding to address rural, county-maintained bridges that are weight-restricted or otherwise hinder the efficient transport of timber to sawmills and manufacturing facilities. Eligible projects include the maintenance, repair, replacement, and construction of rural public bridges. Counties are encouraged to apply for grants up to $400,000, complemented by local matching funds, to facilitate projects that ensure safe and unrestricted transportation routes for timber. Applications must be submitted by close of business on March 14, at the State Office of the Alabama Forestry Commission located at 513 Madison Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104. Award announcements are expected in late Spring 2025. For more information about the Rural Bridge Grant initiative, including application forms, the application process, and contact details, please visit www.forestry.alabama.gov.
CCA Presents: Mama, These Look Like Lost Souls
Soynika Edwards-Bush’s solo exhibition, “Mama, These Look Like Lost Souls,” is informed by her lived experience and was cultivated over two years as the 2020-2022 Artist In Residence at Alabama Contemporary Art Center, Mobile. Soynika’s work sources family photographs, drawing from her memories and direct relationships to create paintings that ultimately blunt the identities of her kin, to make way for a broader conversation about Black identity, Black History, and Black love. “Mama, These Look Like Lost Souls” is an exhibition about what is remembered, what is lost, and what is truly knowable within a human life. The Coleman Center for the Arts is pleased to present this outstanding visual art exhibition, in collaboration with the Alabama Contemporary Art Center and made possible by funding from The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. View “Mama These Look Like Lost Souls” at the Altman Riddick Museum Gallery, 630 Ave. A, York, though April 12. The gallery is open Mon. – Thurs., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and by appointment. Soynika Edwards-Bush is a self-taught artist, mother of four, and wife, born and raised in Prichard. Bush is an activist in the most compassionate and complete sense. Her painting work is bolstered by her dogged participation in the community she comes from, ever striving to present new models and find ways to uplift. In addition to outreach with ACAC, Bush worked alongside Legacy 166 and the Boys and Girls Club to bring art into the lives of children during her ACAC residency. Through her work as ACAC’s Artist-In-Residence, Bush furthered her mission of showing color where there is none, helping to cultivate young artists, and “letting art speak what the heart feels”
USDA Now Accepting Applications for the 1890 National Scholars Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program, which aims to encourage students at 1890 land-grant universities to pursue career paths in food, agriculture, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines. The application deadline is March 1. Young people around the country are invited to complete and submit their applications online through an e-application at https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/general-information/staff-offices/office-partnerships-and-public-engagement/usda-1890-national-scholars-program. Administered through USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program is available to eligible high school seniors entering their freshman year of college as well as rising college sophomores and juniors.
Livingston Mardi Gras Celebration and Parade
Laissez les bons temps rouler! Sat., Feb. 22 at 4 p.m. we will have our Mardi Gras parade downtown. Cash prizes for float winners and the crawfish cookoff! Want to participate let us know! We can’t wait to see you all to celebrate! We questions or want an emailed form? Contact us through email [email protected] or call 205-652-2505! See the City of Livingston’s Facebook page for registration links.
Black Belt Community Foundation 2025 Arts and Community Grants Cycle Kicks Off New Year!
The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) is pleased to announce the launch of its 2025 Arts and Community Grants Cycle, beginning Jan. 7. The foundation will offer arts grants ranging from $500 to $3,500 to support arts organizations across BBCF’s 12-county service area which includes Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter and Wilcox counties in Alabama’s Black Belt region and community grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to support community-based organizations and non-profits in the BBCF service area. Grant applications will be accepted through the foundation’s online portal, accessible via BBCF’s website here: https://www.blackbeltfound.org/2025grants. The application period closes on Jan. 24, at noon. To ensure successful participation, BBCF will host mandatory virtual workshops for organizations new to BBCF arts and community granting (who have not applied before) or those unfamiliar with the online grant system. These Zoom sessions are scheduled for Jan. 14 and 16, with both days offering the convenience of a morning session at 11 a.m. and an evening session at 6 p.m. (central times). Following the application deadline, proposals will undergo a comprehensive review process culminating in the BBCF Board’s approval by mid-March of 2025. All applicants will be notified of results promptly thereafter. The grant cycle will culminate in an Arts Grants and Community Grants Awards Ceremony scheduled for May 3, celebrating the achievements and contributions of grant recipients. Key Dates: Jan. 7: Grant Cycle Opens; Jan. 14 & 16: Virtual Grant Seekers Workshops 11a.m./6 p.m. sessions, each day Meeting Zoom Link: www.blackbeltfound.org/2025grants; Jan. 24: Applications Due 12p.m.; Mid-March grants decisions notifications to applicants; May 3: Arts Grants and Community Grants Awards Ceremony, All questions regarding the 2025 Arts Grants Cycle should be directed to Arts Program Director Aaron Head at [email protected], or call 334.874.1126 (office), or 334.419.0743 (cell). All questions regarding the Community Grants Cycle should be directed to Samantha Ledbetter, Community Engagement Director at: [email protected], 334.874.1126 (office) | 334-419-0984 (cell).
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
If you or someone you know is struggling to cope emotionally this holiday season, reach out. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support via phone or chat for people in distress, resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Visit 988lifeline.org for more.
Your Money Matters Tax Workshop
Join in on Jan. 17 at 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the Rural Training and Research Center, 575 Federation Dr., Gainesville, for a financial workshop to learn valuable tips and strategies to take control of your finances and secure your future. For more information please contact us at 205-652-9676, or visit https://lu.ma/ASAC
Join Us for the At Home
Beekeeping Series! 🐝
Calling all beekeepers! Our online series is back, offering educational information and updates on timely beekeeping topics. Attend meetings from the comfort of your home using your computer or mobile device. Each session includes a Q&A segment for all your beekeeping questions. Our next session is on July 30th! Don’t miss out. For more information, visit: https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/bees-pollinators/at-home-beekeeping-series/ Dates and Topics: 2025 Dates and Topics: Jan. 28 Coming Out of Winter, David Tarpy, North Carolina State University; Feb. 25 Honeybee Nutrition, Priya Chakrabarti Basu, Mississippi State University; March 25 Colony Losses in the United States of America, Geoff Williams, Auburn University; April 29 Honeybee Nest Architecture, Michael Smith, Auburn University. Recordings from this series are available for only two weeks after each session on the Lawrence County Alabama Extension Office Facebook page. For more information on the “At Home Beekeeping Series,” contact Allyson Shabel at [email protected].
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
4-H Foundation Scholarship
Applications for the 2025 4-H Foundation Scholarship Program opened Dec. 6 in 4HOnline v2.4honline.com. Seniors must be enrolled this club year to be eligible. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2025.
| UA Preview: This Week at The University of Alabama Jan. 6, 2025 📰 BEST BETS Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Realizing the Dream Through Struggle and Change” is the theme of the annual Realizing the Dream events taking place Jan. 17-20 to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Why This Matters: The celebration includes the Legacy Awards Banquet, Realizing the Dream Concert, Unity Day and additional events throughout the year. For more information, contact Diane Kennedy-Jackson at [email protected]. Record-Breaking Year for External Funding for Research The University of Alabama research enterprise marked 10 years of continuous growth in fiscal year 2024, with gains in overall funding, new awards and the number of proposals submitted. Why This Matters: New awards classified as research grew by nearly 21% compared to the previous fiscal year. In total, the University received $269.9 million in sponsored awards, marking an all-time high in external funding. For more information, contact Jessica Nelson at [email protected]. Study Finds Many Alabamians with Poor Sleep Health A recent study conducted by UA’s Dr. Adam Knowlden found that many Alabamians are falling short of the recommended amount of sleep, with more than half of study participants meeting the clinical threshold for obstructive sleep apnea. Why This Matters: “Alabama’s high rate of short sleep is consistent with other states in the southeast and Appalachian region, areas that also experience high levels of chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, which are often linked to poor sleep health,” said Knowlden. For more information, contact Knowlden at [email protected]. 📅 EVENTS OLLI Spring Open Houses Jan. 8-9, 13; Tuscaloosa, Gadsden and Birmingham |