For just a “sawbuck,” local residents can get admission to the “greatest show on earth,” or at least Andalusia’s version of it.
The Andalusia Adult Activity Center’s annual fundraiser will feature Little Egypt’s Vintage Traveling Show, including fire dance, bellydancers, drumming, magic, comical interludes and a hypnotic mentalist, said center Director Dianne Jones.
“Prepare to be mystified, delighted and enchanted by a bevy of bellydancing beauties from faraway exotic lands,” Jones said. “Hypnotic feats and daring sideshow delights await you as you enjoy a turn-of-the-century carnival world.”
The Sweet Magnolia Gypsies Belly Dance Troupe featuring Amy Henderson will be among the entertainment.
Jones said included in the price are carny snacks, including Coke and root beer, moon pies and peanuts.
Tickets are on sale now for a sawbuck, which is carny slang for $10, and are going fast, she said.
“Don’t delay, tickets sold out in advance last year,” she said. “This is one of our main fundraisers, and all proceeds go to the center.”
The event will be held at the AAC on Oct. 1, from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at the Adult Activity Center.
The Andalusia City Council had the first reading of ordinances to rezone three parcels of property last night, including:
• A parcel behind the hospital and adjacent to apartments rezoned from R-3 to MED to allow for medical offices or facilities.
• A parcel on South Three Notch at the bottom of the hill when traveling toward town from the hospital, rezoned to MED. A traffic study will be completed before action is taken on this request.
• A parcel on the bypass across from Brooklyn Road, rezoned from B-3, R-1 to B-3. All of the adjacent property currently is B-3.
Council members will vote on the proposed changes at their Sept. 20th meeting.
The council also:
• Declared property at 101 Doyle St., 204 6th Ave., and 13200 Brooklyn Rd. public nuisances so that abatement proceedings could begin against property owners.
Pay and benefit increases for city employees will cost the City of Andalusia an additional $376,000 in the 2012 fiscal year, despite council action Tuesday to require some employees to begin shouldering more of their insurance costs.
The council agreed to:
• Fund employees’ annual merit raises, which average 3 percent per year for those who have been employed 16 years or less.
• Grant a one-time cost of living (COLA) raise of 3 percent.
• To continue fully funding employee retirement contributions.
• To continue to fully fund health insurance for those employees who have single coverage; to reduce by one-third the amount the city contributes to family coverage; to reward those employees who opt out of the city’s insurance by paying them a cash bonus equal to one-third of what the city would pay for their insurance; and to make it mandatory for those covered by city health insurance to participate in an annual health screening.
Mayor Earl Johnson said that annual step raises and a 2 percent COLA raise last year mean that employees have received 14 percent increases in pay over the last four years.
“Our unemployment insurance rates and workman’s comp insurance have gone up,” he said. “We continue to make retirement and Social Security contributions every year.”
This year’s COLA will cost the city $160,000; step raises will cost $129,000; and one-time longevity pay bonuses will be $21,000. Legislation passed this year would allow the city to require employees to make a portion of their retirement contribution; however, the city agreed to continue to do that, which will cost $110,000. Reducing the amount paid by the city for family health care will reduce those costs by $44,000, for a net increase of $376,000.
There are already 26 events booked at Springdale through May of 2012, Mayor Earl Johnson told the city council Tuesday night.
Of those 26 events, nine are two-day events, and one is a three-day event. Most of the months of January and February are blocked for concentrated work on the grounds, according to a schedule council members received.
The events on the books so far range from luncheons to wedding receptions, and include six public events.
Coterie Club plans movies under the stars fundraisers on Oct. 21 and May 11; the city will hosts its second Christmas Open House there Dec. 2 –4; Easter egg hunts are planned April 3-5; Coterie’s Storybook Festival is April 14; and Andalusia Junior Women’s Club’s Three Notch Market will be May 4-5.
For information about holding an event at Springdale, contact Barbara Tyler.
The Covington County Health Department has scheduled flu vaccination clinics beginning a week from today.
The first clinic is set from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Tues., Sept. 13, at the Covington County Health Department’s Opp Clinic on North Main Street.
Flu shots also will be administered in Opp:
• Tues., Sept. 27, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
• Tues., Oct. 25, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
In Andalusia, the first clinic will be held from 8 a .m. until noon on Fri., Sept. 16, at the Covington County Health Department located on Ala. Hwy. 55.
Other flu shot clinics in Andalusia include:
• Wed., Sept. 28, 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
• Wed., Oct. 12 – 8 a.m. until noon
• Fri., Oct. 28, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
There is a $5 charge per vaccination; however, for those who have Medicaid, Medicare, SEIB or PEEHIP insurance, the fee will be billed if cards are presented.