Boycotters at West End’s  Good Friends  Restaurant protest after owner, Chun Hin Ching,  fired a gun after a customer found a roach in food.

Councilor Marcus Lundy recently met with constituents of District 9 and Mayor William A. Bell, Sr. to discuss Economic Development and Transformation Leadership at Morning Star Christian Center in the Sherman Heights Neighborhood.

Councilor Lundy opened with prayer and briefed constituents on top projects in the district, including the North Birmingham Community Framework plan, Village Creek Greenway, Urban Farm and Produce Market, and District 9 Capital Projects.

“There is power in collaborative ideas and listening to feedback from our constituents, I’m very pleased with our dialogue today,” Lundy said.

Residents explained what their visions were for their community and were excited to see the initiative taken to answer questions and receive updates on ongoing projects.

Representatives from the Alabama Legislature, Birmingham Water Works, Birmingham Board of Education, Freshwater Land Trust, and the Birmingham Park and Recreation Board also gave updates on issues, projects, and current public information.

 The Birmingham Police Department reports that applications are available on the BPD website for persons interested in attending the upcoming Citizen’s Police Academy. The Citizen’s Academy is an 11 week program designed to give the participants a working knowledge of the Birmingham Police Department. The academy consists of a series of classes held once a week at no cost to students.
Individuals applying must be at least 21 years of age and live or work in the Birmingham area. Registration is on a first come first serve basis. To obtain an application or get additional information on the Birmingham Police Department Citizen’s Police Academy, go to http://www.birminghamal.gov/police/CPA.html  or contact Sergeant Charles Singletary at (205) 297-8100 or charles.singletary@birminghamal.gov.

Applications are only accepted by mail or drop off until February 28, 2014.

A Little bit of History about the jazz music in Birmingham…. and then some!
By Gwen DeRu
This is for… ‘all’ the ‘music lovers’ young or ‘young at heart.’  You will learn something even if you know a little (if not a lot) already.  Read about some of Birmingham’s finest musicians and bandleaders in this book by Carol.  See how it took some of the musicians out of the steel mills of Ensley, Pratt City, and Fairfield as well as surrounding areas to become some of the greatest entertainers in the world.
Tuxedo Junction – Right Back Where I Belong
By:  Carol P. Ealons
This book takes one back to the ‘Functions at the Junction’ and the music of those days.
Carol makes everything come to life – the sounds, the outfits, the dances and the good times had at Tuxedo Junction.  You start living in the moments with them.  You feel ‘a part’ of it all…  the history ‘and’ the times as she describes the background and the players that made music in Birmingham then, and throughout the world.
Carol interviewed many of the famous legendary jazz musicians such as Dr. Frank ‘Doc’ Adams author of ‘DOC: The Story of a Birmingham Jazz Man’ and family members of some of the other world famous musicians such as Samuel ‘Sammy’ Lowe nicknamed the Quincy Jones of his day (before there was a Quincy Jones.)  He was a writer, musician, composer, producer, conductor and arranger.
This book takes one back to the “functions” and the music of the Tuxedo Junction.  Almost everyone who loves music…jazz… has heard of the song ‘Function at the Junction.’  It takes you back to what you may have heard about Birmingham Alabama’s historic jazz scene.
Erskine Hawkins wrote the song.  He first began playing at the Tuxedo Park Dance Pavilion when he was 12 years old to entertain the visitors and later in clubs and social events as a member of Fess Whatley’s orchestra and other bands in Birmingham.
As a matter of fact, there is a Function at the Tuxedo Junction at the 
Erskine Hawkins Park held annually (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.) a day-long music festival on the fourth Saturday of July with music, food, entertainment, parades and lots of people.  People from around the world come to attend or to perform.  Even the young children share a day of music, laughter, food, celebration and have fun as they learn about music, participate and hear from world-renowned bands of the past…and present. Vendors of all kinds show up.
‘The Function’ started years ago in Ensley in a ballroom on the second floor of the Nixon Building in the community called Tuxedo Junction during the early 20th century.  People came from near and far.  They dressed up.  They met others and went to the place where they let their hair down and enjoyed themselves at the end of a long hard week and then they planned to go ‘right back’ again, the following weekend.
The song itself helped to put Birmingham on the map of the music world.  The community of’ ‘Tuxedo Junction’ is known for the songs, music, dances, the musicians and vocalists that came to perform or to enjoy the performances.
The book will share the history of those musicians as educators and band directors that made their names, first, during the Big Band/Swing Era when they had their own orchestras or when they played with orchestra leaders such as Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway or Benny Goodman to name a few.  Some of these musicians were Erskine Hawkins, Joe Briton, Leon Scott, Teddy Hill, Ethel Ernestine Harper, Herman Blount, Hooper Abrams, Amos Gordon, J.L. Lowe, Walter Blythe, John S. Springer, Sr., William Johnson, III, Iva B. Williams, E. W. Williams, Frank Green, Calvin Ivory, Rosetta Johnson Scovil and Jothan Callins.  All of these musicians learned from the apprenticeships under John T. “Fess” Whatley.
From the beginning of jazz, Birmingham was home to a very active network of jazz practitioners and its jazz apprentices that were rooted in the city’s segregated schools.  They were indeed a large and colorful group of people taught under Fess who is known as the ‘Maker of Musicians.’  They made very significant marks on the music of jazz and the history of jazz.  They were educators and bandleaders.  The students that are still being taught at the Alabama Jazz of Fame in the famous Carver Theatre in downtown Birmingham are keeping the love of music alive and in our city as others perform all the time around town.  It still goes on, today, with John McAphee, Jr., Foxxy Fatts, Rickey Powell, Bo Berry, Jose’ Carr, Eric Essix, Cleve Eaton and others.  (I even noticed that we have a lot of other musicians that come here to hang out and jam with such as Wynton Marselis.  Without some of it, where would we be?)
It is a compelling read and if you love music, you will be very familiar with a lot of the names and the bands in the book.  You will enjoy reading and learning more about the people, the community and the history of the music that was created from the hard work put in by Fess Whatley as he was determined to make his students the best in the world.  AND…they were!
Birmingham’s history in the music world includes those such as Eddie Kendrick of The Temptations, The Commodores and an American Idol Reuben Studdard… just to name a few.  I say….’Appreciate where you came from or reminisce about the past, as you read the ‘Function in the Junction!’)

During the Birmingham City Council Meeting on Tuesday, February 18, 2014, Council:

Placed on consent a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a contract between the City of Birmingham (Municipal Courts) and Analytical Testing Group (ATG) under which ATG will assist Birmingham Municipal Court with drug and alcohol testing services, medical review of drug and alcohol testing, and laboratory services related to drug and alcohol testing services for a term of one year and the City will pay ATG an amount not to exceed $100,000.00 for such services. For more information, contact the office of Councilor Valerie Abbott at 205.254.2355.

Other items approved by the Council at today’s meeting include the following:

Approved a Resolution approving an agreement with Aletheia House, Inc., Birmingham, in an amount not to exceed $975,000.00, subject to funds availability for a term not to exceed three (3) years, to provide drug abuse treatment and other supportive services, Year 1: not to exceed $325,000.00, Year 2: not to exceed $325,000.00, and Year 3: not to exceed $325,000.00, and authorizing the Mayor to execute the agreement on behalf of the City. For more information, contact the office of Councilor Valerie Abbott at 205.254.2355.

Placed on consent a Resolution determining that various events sponsored by the Metro Birmingham Branch NAACP being held throughout the 2014 calendar year serve a public purpose that promotes goodwill and requesting that City of Birmingham funds be administered to pay for these events in accordance with Section 3-1-7 of the General Code of the City of Birmingham. For more information, contact the office of Councilor William Parker at 205.254.2464.

Referred to the Committee of the Whole a Resolution (1) finding that neighborhood representatives, City Council presenters and board members attendance at the 2014 NUSA Conference is a matter of public purpose and serves the best interest of the citizens of Birmingham; (2) attendance will not exceed ninety-nine (99) neighborhood representative attendees; and (3) funding will not exceed $2,000.00 per neighborhood. For more information, contact the office of Councilor William Parker at 205.254.2464.

Placed on consent a Resolution approving an agreement with Oak Hill Association, Birmingham, in an amount not to exceed $85,000.00, renewable annually subject to funds availability for a term not to exceed five (5) years, to provide grounds maintenance, maintain in reasonably good condition graves, burial places, walks, driveways, roads and boundary fences at Greenwood Cemetery and authorizing the Mayor to execute the agreement on behalf of the City. For more information, contact the office of Councilor Valerie Abbott at 205.254.2355.

Placed on consent a Resolution approving an agreement with Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), in an amount not to exceed $75,000.00 per year, renewable annually subject to the funds availability, to host the SIAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments for a term of three (3) years (2014 through 2016), which serves a public purpose that promotes goodwill and serves a public interest, and authorizing the Mayor to execute the agreement on behalf of the City. For more information, contact the office of Councilor Valerie Abbott at 205.254.2355.

Announcements and Reminders:

1. The Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting on February 19, 2014 is cancelled.
2. A Special Called Administration/Education Committee Meeting is scheduled on Friday, February 21, 2014, 1:00 p.m., Conference Rooms D & E.
3. The Budget and Finance Committee Meeting Conference Rooms D & E is scheduled on February 24th, 2014 at 4:00 p.m.
4. The North Birmingham Framework Plan Meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 24, 2014 at the North Birmingham Library from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
5. The Planning and Zoning Committee Meeting is scheduled on February 25, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. – 5th Floor Engineering Conference Room.
6. Committee of the Whole Meeting is scheduled on February 26, 2014 at 4 p.m. in Conference Rooms D & E.
7. The February 28, 2014 Administration Committee Meeting is cancelled.
8. The Public Improvements and Beautification Committee Meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 at 4 p.m.

Are you unable to attend the Birmingham City Council meetings? Watch Council Meetings on demand. From anywhere in the world you can log on to www.birminghamalcitycouncil.org and click on the tab Watch Council Meetings; or from the comfort of your home, tune to Bright House Cable Channel 340. The Birmingham City Council meetings are free and on demand.
The City of Birmingham will make reasonable accommodations to ensure that people with disabilities have equal opportunity to enjoy all city services, programs and activities. If accommodations are required for public meetings, please contact John Long, Senior Public Information Officer, with reasonable advance notice by emailing John.Long@birminghamal.gov, or by calling 205-254-2036.

During the Bessemer City Council Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014, the Council:
•    Approved the minutes of the Jan. 21, 2014 and Feb. 4, 2014 City Council meetings.
●     Heard and approved the cost report for weed abatements at 2820 Fifth Court North, 2710 Sixth Avenue North and at 127 Houston Drive.
•    Approved the abatement of weeds at 2130 Exeter Avenue, 2117 Exeter Avenue, 909 Exeter Avenue, 1509 10th Avenue North, 1899 Fourth Avenue Southwest, 1835 13th Street North and at 1924 13th Street North.
•     Approved the condemnation and demolition of properties at 255 Black Avenue, 257 Black Avenue, 1517 14th Avenue North, 1630 17th Street North, 2111 15th Street North, 2317 10th Avenue North, 2914 Berkley Avenue North and 3207 7th Avenue North.
•    Approved the rezoning of property at 1409/1415 Seventh Avenue North from R-3, Single Family Residential to C-3, Community Business District.
•    Approved a 25 percent discount for the Greater Alabama Council Boy Scouts of America to use the Bessemer Civic Center for its annual Cherokee District Mayor’s Breakfast on March 5, 2014. The organization serves over 950 youth in West Jefferson County.
•    Authorized the Mayor to enter into an agreement between the City of Bessemer and the State of Alabama, acting through the Alabama Department of Transportation, for traffic signalization upgrades on 18th and 19th Streets North.
•    Authorized the Mayor to enter into an agreement between the City of Bessemer and Digital Assurance Certification, LLC (DAC) for SEC post-issuance compliance services.
•    Authorized the purchase of eligible investments of monies in the Series 2013-A Warrant Construction Fund Balance.
•    Voted to amend and restate Warrant Ordinance No. 3505 authorizing issuance of General Obligation Warrants Series 2014-D.
•    Authorized the Mayor to enter into an agreement between the City of Bessemer and A.G. Gaston Construction Co., Inc. for construction management services on the new city hall building and the new recreation center.
•     Authorized payment to Revenue Discovery System (RDS) for administration of taxes received directly from the One Spot System.
•    Passed a resolution authorizing the expenditure of funds from the Council District 1 Capital Improvements Line Item in the General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2013-14 for Unity Day in the City of Bessemer.
•    Approved a Civic Center refund in the amount of $200 for cancellation of an event by Millicent Lindsay.
•    Approved payment of invoice to Kellum, Wilson and Associates, PC in the amount of $1,725.
•    Approved payment of Invoices #1 and 2 for December and January ATRIPS Round III for Fourth Avenue Southwest, Dartmouth Avenue and McAshan Drive in the amount of $7,113.61 to Volkert, Inc.

Cash For Crooks Div. of Refuge In Trouble Times (RITT) Community Development, Inc., PO Box 28083, Birmingham, Al.  34228 spotlights Timothy Steward, age 32.  On December 7, 2012, Mr. Steward was fatally shot to death when he had words with some men at Hoods’ Qwik Mart on Dugan Avenue, in Birmingham.  Mr. Stewart got back into the car to leave, when one of the men stepped in front of the car and shot into the car.
If you know any info concerning this case or any of Cash For Crooks files call Crimesstopers at 205-254-7777 or go online using the SUBMIT A TIP tab at the top of the page to submit a tip (NO NICK NAMES).  If your tip(s) leads to an arrest/conviction of the person responsible for the death of any of our cases found here, you will be eligible for a CASH REWARD.   You will remain strictly ANONYMOUS. RITT works locally and  worldwide to help solve Homicides listed here, won’t you?  If there is a case that has disappeared from the public’s eyes, we would love to shed more light on it by you e-mailing us @odussasplace@yahoo.com or calling Minister Ward at 205-240-9910.
Always remember:  Don’t wait until something happens to you before you become involved. Thanks for your continue support.