Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Announces Holiday Weekend Celebration Events

January 16, 2014

BCRI will be open for Tours on Mondays from January 20-February 24, 2014
Free Admission to BCRI on January 20, 2014
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) announces the following events sponsored by the Birmingham Chapter of Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Metro Birmingham Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), BCRI and the City of Birmingham to honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:

Friday, January 17: Financial Empowerment Seminar – 6:30 p.m. Hopewell Baptist Church, 2315 26th Avenue North. Sponsored by SCLC: 205-937-5679.
Saturday, January 18: Annual Gun Buy Back – 9:30 a.m.-12 noon
St. Joseph Baptist Church, 500 9th Avenue North. Sponsored by SCLC: 205-937-5679.
Saturday, January 18: Citywide Youth Program and Activities –
2 p.m.
Shiloh Baptist Church, 1753 34th place North. Sponsored by SCLC: 205-937-5679.
Sunday, January 19: Musical Extravaganza: – 3 p.m.
Hopewell Baptist Church, 2315 26th Avenue North. Sponsored by SCLC and City of Birmingham: 205-937-5679.
Sunday, January 19: Reflect and Rejoice: Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – 3 p.m.
The Alabama Symphony Orchestra will perform “Reflect and Rejoice”, a musical tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at UAB’s Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center. The event will be conducted by Roderick Cox, ASO Assistant Conductor and will feature The Aeolians of Oakwood University.
Tickets at www.alabamasymphony.org. Sponsored by Alabama Symphony Orchestra and BCRI.

Monday, Jan 20: Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast – 7:30 a.m.
Boutwell Auditorium. Speaker will be the Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Houston Brown.
Sponsoring organizations: Metro Birmingham SCLC, Metro Birmingham Branch NAACP, REV Birmingham, Greater Birmingham Ministries, City of Birmingham, Diversity Coalition, National Conference for Community and Justice and Community Affairs Committee of Operation New Birmingham (ONB). Admission charged. For information, call REV at 324-8797.
Monday, January 20: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday – 9a.m.- 5 p.m.
BCRI opens its doors to the public on this holiday. 205.328.9696, ext. 234/www.bcri.org. Free Admission.
Monday January 20: Wreath Laying Ceremony – 10:00 a.m.-11 a.m.
Kelly Ingram Park. Sponsored by Alpha Phi Fraternity.
Monday, January 20: Traditional March from City Hall to Kelly Ingram Park – 12 Noon.
Start line up at 11 a.m. Civil Rights Leaders and Public Officials participating.
Monday, January 20: Civil Rights Rally – 1 p.m.
Kelly Ingram Park/Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Guest Speaker Birmingham City Counselor President Johnathan F. Austin. Sponsored by SCLC, BCRI, City of Birmingham, Sixteenth Street Baptist Church.
Monday, January 20: MLK Love Feast for Homeless and Senior Citizens – 3 p.m.
Boutwell Auditorium. Sponsored by SCLC, churches, local businesses. Contact: Carlene McAphee at 780-3515.

Pimp Beats Man With Jordans, Sues Nike For $100 Million

Birmingham Times

January 16, 2014

By NewsOne Staff

Sirgiorgiro Clardy, 26, was convicted early last year for brutally beating a man with his Nike Jordan sneaker and is now suing the company for failing to label the shoe as a deadly weapon, reports Mediaite.
The Portland, Oregon pimp was found guilty of second-degree assault and sentenced to 100 years in prison after stomping the face of a client who tried to sex and dash without paying his prostitute in June 2012.
Clardy, who was called an “anti-social psychopath who was 100 percent likely to commit violent crimes again” by a psychiatrist, beat the man so badly that he required plastic surgery on his face

Teachers stepping up when school violence erupts

Birmingham Times

January 16, 2014

Greg Toppo, USATODAY

The Roswell, N.M., teacher who stepped in front of a shotgun-wielding 12-year-old Tuesday and talked him out of shooting any more classmates is the latest in a long line of educators who have intervened in school shootings, often saving countless students’ lives, experts say.
From the Columbine High School shootings in Colorado in 1999 to Newtown, Conn., in 2012, educators, most of them unarmed, have almost always been the first line of defense against school shooters.
For nearly 20 years, teachers and other school staff have been called on to stop the violence. In October 1997, when 16-year-old Luke Woodham walked into Pearl High School in Pearl, Miss., armed with a hunting rifle and fatally shot two students, the school’s assistant principal, Joel Myrick, chased him down and held him until police arrived. In that case, Myrick, an Army reservist, was armed with a .45 caliber pistol from his truck. But in most cases, teachers intervene unarmed.
“As we’ve seen time and again, from the Newtown and Roswell shootings to the Moore, Okla., tornado (last year), teachers’ first instincts are to embrace and protect their students,” says American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten.
Mo Canady, executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers, which represents specially trained school-based police, says educators have stepped in on several occasions.
In addition to this week’s Roswell incident, he noted one last fall in DeKalb County, Ga., in which a school receptionist talked down a gunman. There’s also “every indication” that Dawn Hochsprung, the principal at Sandy Hook Elementary School, tried to confront gunman Adam Lanza before he killed 20 students and six staffers, including Hochsprung, in December 2012.
School safety consultant Ken Trump also notes that a Sparks, Nev., teacher who was a military veteran approached a shooter last October and was killed.
He says that some schools are adopting one-time training sessions that urge educators and children to confront or even attack school shooters with anything available – including, in a few cases, cans of soup stored in desks. “You don’t see a police officer responding to neutralize a school shooter with a can of tomato soup,” he says. “Why would you make a school procedure for teachers and kids to do so?”
Relying on such training “creates a dangerously false sense of security – you don’t take a child to a 45-minute Tae Kwon Do session and then turn him loose to take out an adult with a seventh-degree blackbelt,” he says.
Trump says deciding whether or not to confront a school shooter ultimately is an individual, personal decision. “There is a big difference between an individual teacher making a split-second decision on confronting a shooter versus the schools, as an organization, teaching that tactic and making it school policy.”
Canady says trained and armed officers have stopped shootings, such as the one at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colo., in December. “The key to effectively dealing with the situations is to have a good plan and to practice the plan.”
In fact, officials say, previous “active shooter” drills at Berrendo Middle School in Roswell, N.M., may have helped save lives in the school’s gym Tuesday. A few students said they thought the shooting was a surprise drill at first.
Eighth-grader Odiee Carranza said she was walking to the school gym when the unidentified alleged shooter bumped into her as he rushed past. She told him to be careful, and he apologized and continued on. The boy ran to the gym, where he pulled what state police say was a .22-gauge shotgun from a band instrument case and fired two blasts, wounding two classmates.
He dropped the weapon, police said, after social studies teacher John Masterson stepped in front of him and persuaded him to stop. Carranza said the teacher “grabbed the kid that had the gun.” Classes at Berrendo were expected to resume on Thursday.
“Teachers like John Masterson will do anything — even step in front of a bullet — for their kids,” says Weingarten, who adds that she’s “deeply grateful he was there at that moment.”
Contributing: Associated Press

Last Week to Apply for the 2014 Tom Joyner Foundation “Full Ride” Scholarship”

Birmingham Times

January 16, 2014

Deadline is January 17, 2014

NATIONWIDE (BlackNews.com) – The deadline is very near for students who would like to apply for the Tom Joyner Foundation “Full Ride” Scholarship. The scholarship covers all the expenses of one student planning to attend a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the fall of 2014.
“The cost of a college education isn’t getting any cheaper,” said Tom Joyner, chairman of his Foundation and host of the top-ranked nationally syndicated radio show. “So, I want to help a graduating high school senior with a chance to attend a Black college to pursue their dreams.”
The winning student will receive full tuition and stipends for up to 10 semesters to cover on-campus room and board and books. Students must meet the required academic standards each semester to renew the funds each year. Graduating high school seniors can apply for the scholarship by going to the Tom Joyner Foundation website to download an application.
The applications must be postmarked no later than January 17, 2014. Interviews will occur in April 2014.
For more details, visit: www.scholarshipsonline.org/2013/12/tom-joyner-foundation-full-ride.html
To search hundreds of other 2014 scholarships, visit:  www.ScholarshipsOnline.org

Increasing Minimum Wage is Right for Alabama

Birmingham Times

January 16, 2014

GUEST OPINION FROM REPRESENTATIVE DARRIO MELTON:

I have made it no secret that one of my main goals for this legislative session is to encourage an increase in Alabama’s minimum wage. In the past few weeks, I’ve received a lot of support for this legislation, but also experienced a lot of pushback. I want to use this time to address those individuals’ concerns and explain why I refuse to back down on this bill.
I have heard several concerns that an increase in the minimum wage will lead to unemployment. When a senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research looked at the data from older and current studies, he found that minimum wage increases had no significant effect on job loss. More than 100 economists agree.
The truth is that when our hourly workers make more money, they put every dime back into the economy. They are able to spend a little more on food, on clothing, on transportation, and that money goes back into the very business that pay minimum wage. This goes back to Henry Ford and the first automobiles. He realized that paying his workers more meant that they were actually able to buy his products, which made his company even more profitable.
Another concern I have heard is that people making minimum wage should work harder to get a raise. One person even said, “If a middle-aged woman is working for minimum wage, something is wrong…People simply do not work a minimum wage job long for no good reason!”
I have to tell you, hearing comments like that is unnerving because they show a complete lack of understanding and empathy. The fact is, people work minimum wage jobs for a variety of reasons and I can assure you that one of those reasons is not because they want to.
Everyone deserves enough pay to provide for the basic necessities at poverty level. When we don’t pay our employees a living wage, they turn to the government to help make ends meet. Some companies even provide instructions for their hourly employees to sign up for food stamps and other benefits. If we want our women to choose life, we must provide her with the resources to confidently bring a baby into this world. We can pay our employees well enough to help them provide for themselves or we can offer them assistance in the form of charity and social programs.
But I will promise the Republicans this: you can’t have it both ways. You cannot wage a war on the social safety net, promising to dismantle Medicaid and drug test for benefits while fighting a minimum wage increase and arguing that any minimum wage is unfair to businesses.
When this bill gets to the Committee, the Republicans will vote it down. It will likely never see the House floor. But we have fought this battle before, and we will continue fighting it.
From the 1968 strikes in Memphis to the Alabama State House, ask the members of the legislature and the supporters of big business: Am I not a human being just like you? Do I not need a roof and three meals and health care and transportation? Do I not have feelings and self-worth and dignity just like you? Am I not more than a bottom line?
I am just one vote in the Alabama Legislature, but if we work together we can make a better life for all Alabamians.

Representative Darrio Melton is a Democrat from Selma. He was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2010.

Biggest Loser Winner to Lead 2014 Scale Back Alabama Contest

Birmingham Times

January 16, 2014

With more than one million pounds lost, Alabamians still have millions more to lose, according to the hosts of Scale Back Alabama, an annual statewide weight-loss competition. This year, the charge will be led by Gina McDonald, esquire, a Birmingham lawyer and a participant in NBC’s 2013 Biggest Loser Contest, who is committed to the task and understands first-hand the tremendous health benefits of losing weight and exercising.
“I’m told that over the past seven years, there have been about 30,000 people a year to participate in this free contest from all parts of the state,” said McDonald. “It’s quite an accomplishment, but it’s not enough. Alabama remains one of the most obese states in the nation, and it’s killing our citizens.”
Scale Back Alabama is a 10-week long, weight-loss and exercise contest hosted by Alabama’s hospitals and the Alabama Department of Public Health with generous underwriting by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. Participants must form teams of four people and register at weigh-in sites (posted at www.scalebackalabama.com) the week of Jan. 18 – 24. Those who complete the contest and weigh out are eligible to be entered in drawings for cash prizes.
“I’m encouraging anyone who wants to lose a few pounds to find some friends and join the contest,” said McDonald. “We also need additional public weigh-in sites, so if your business, gym, church, etc., is interested in hosting weigh-ins, we urge you to go to the website and sign up.”
McDonald won the Biggest Loser at-home prize of $100,000 after losing 113 pounds, 46 percent of her body weight. Through her health journey to eat better and exercise, she was able to reverse her diabetes, sleep apnea and high cholesterol. McDonald was raised in Mississippi, but obtained a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a law degree from Birmingham School of Law. She currently is the owner of Gina H. McDonald & Associates, LLC, with offices in Pelham and Oneonta that focus on consumer and business bankruptcy.

Good looks may not be the only thing that runs in your family

Birmingham Times

January 16, 2014

Glaucoma can too

It may be easy to see that beauty is deeply rooted in your family tree. But some things that are passed down from generation to generation are not as easily seen—like glaucoma, an eye disease that runs in families and often has no warning signs.
Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damages the eye’s optic nerve, which carries visual signals to the brain. It can lead to vision loss or blindness if left untreated. Primary open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of this disease. Quite often, by the time people are diagnosed with glaucoma they have already begun to notice changes in their side, or peripheral, vision. It’s important not to wait until you notice vision problems to see your eye care professional.
“Studies show that at least half of all persons with glaucoma don’t know they have this potentially blinding eye disease,” said National Eye Institute (NEI) director Dr. Paul Sieving. “The good news is that glaucoma can be detected in its early stages through a comprehensive dilated eye exam.”
People with a family history of glaucoma and everybody at higher risk—especially African Americans age 40 and older—should get a comprehensive dilated eye exam every 1 to 2 years.
A comprehensive dilated eye exam is a procedure in which an eye care professional places drops in your eyes to dilate (or widen) the pupil to examine the back of your eyes and your optic nerve for signs of disease. This exam may help save your sight because when glaucoma is detected early, it can be controlled through medications or surgery.
Keep the vision of your beautiful family in your future. To learn more about glaucoma, visit www.nei.nih.gov/glaucoma or call NEI at 301–496–5248. A low-cost exam may be available to you through Medicare. For more information, call 1–800–MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov.

Classifieds

Birmingham Times

January 16, 2014

Employment

Project Engineer

BJCC is seeking an experienced engineer to manage maintenance and construction projects of structures and facilities. This is advanced engineering work, and candidates must be able to assist with preparation of plans, specifications, and provide project oversight. Must have 5 yrs supervisory and project mgmt exp., with demonstrated managerial and technical competencies. BS in Engineering required.
Apply online at bjcc.org.
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Machine Operator

Royal Cup Coffee, the leading coffee roaster and nationwide provider of gourmet coffees, teas and allied products offers an excellent opportunity for highly motivated and skilled individuals. We are currently accepting applications for full time 1st Shift OP1/OP2 Packaging Machine Operator. The Machine Operator must be willing to learn how to operate all packaging equipment in the plant.

Royal Cup offers competitive wages and an opportunity to grow your career. Royal Cup Coffee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To apply please visit online at www.royalcupcoffee.com/.
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DRIVERS

Drivers: $ign-on Bonus- Trainees & OTR Drivers!
Paid Orientation. Wiley Sanders Truck Lines, INC.
Recruiting: 855-777-9785
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BEDDING

Brand New Queen Pillow Top Mattress and Box,
still in bags, never used will SACRIFICE for $195
call 205-200-4523
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AUTOMOBILE

2007 Saturn Ion
Economical low payments
Use your W-2 and drive today
Call Floyd Morris at
205-587-4313

2009 Nissan Altima
Navigation, sun roof
W-2 gets you riding
Loaded Call Ivory
205-821-0491

2005 Chevy Aveo
Low payments
Bring your W-2
Drive today
Call Sammy 205-814-8454

2005 Chrysler 300
Hard to find
Call Ivory 205-821-0491

2004 Hyundai Elantra
Automatic Drive today
Last pay stub of the year or
W-2 lets you drive must sell
Call Sammy 205-814-8454
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REAL ESTATE

Calling all singles ….

I have the best 2 BR with DEN home in Ensley Highlands for you. Beautiful yard, separate garage, C/A, porch and patio. Call me to take a look see; Cynthia Marzette (205) 910-7149 or Barnes and Associates (205)328-3330

Veterans looking for a home? I will work with you in any area of town to find you the best on the market. Call Cynthia Marzette (205) 910-7149 or ask for me at Barnes and Associates, (205) 328-3330.
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OFFICE BUILDING FOR SALE

Ideal for medical office or hospital equipment sales directly across from Baptist Princeton Hospital. Off street parking, private shower, beautiful reception room. & Cynthia Marzette (205) 910-7149 or ask for me at Barnes and Associates, (205) 328-3330.
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PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

Jefferson County Office of Community & Economic Development will accept applications for the PY 2014 CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Program beginning January 17, 2014. The program is available to homeowners residing within Jefferson County except for the City of Birmingham, Bessemer, Helena, Hoover, Argo, Sumiton, and County Line. There are income eligibility requirements as well. Completed applications must be postmarked or received by 5:00 p.m. on February 14, 2014. Persons interested in minor repairs to their home may obtain an application and more information by visiting the Community & Economic Development Department at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Birmingham, 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N, Suite A-420 or call Cynthia Daniels or Cheryl Collier at 325-5761.
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LEGALS

NOTICE OF COMPLETION

In accordance with Chapter 1 Title 39, Code of Alabama, 1975, notice is herby given that Bennett Building, Inc., Contractor, has completed the contract for the Modifications to Eden Career Technical Center at 45 County Road 33 Ashville, AL 35983 for St. Clair County Board of Education at 410 Roy Drive Ashville, AL 35953, owners, and have made request for final settlement of said contract. All persons having any claim for labor, materials, or otherwise in connection with this project Should immediately notify Lathan Associates Architects, PC located at 1550 Woods of Riverchase Dr #200 Hoover, AL 35244.
Bennett Building, Inc.
120 Shady Acres Road
Alabaster, AL 35007
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Jefferson County Center for Workforce Development

Request for Proposals (RFP)

Out-of School Youth Program for GED or Occupational Skills Training

DEADLINE February 21, 2014; 4 p.m.

The Jefferson County Center for Workforce Development is seeking proposals from qualified organizations to provide GED or Occupational Skills Training with job placement opportunities to eligible Workforce Investment Act youth participants ages 17-21. The youth training program is scheduled to begin July 1, 2014 and end June 30, 2015.

The RFP information packet will be available January 27, 2014 at the JCWIA office at 3420 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35222 or it may be downloaded from our website at http://jeffconline.jccal.org/comdev/.

Proposals must be returned and logged in by 4 p.m., February 21, 2014. No proposals will be accepted after the time listed above.

A Bidder’s Conference will be held February 10, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at the Jefferson County Workforce Investment Area Office on the second floor at 3420 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35222.

DOORS WILL BE CLOSED AT 10:00 a.m. AND NO OTHERS WILL BE ADMITTED

For more information, please contact Pamela Mapp at (205 )307-6701
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Jefferson County through its Office of Community & Economic Development is seeking proposals from qualified firms to provide architectural services associated with the FEMA Oak Grove Storm Shelter Project. Proposals must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m., on February 4, 2014.

RFQ packets can be obtained at the address below:
Jefferson County Office of Community & Economic Development
716 Richard Arrington JR BLVD, N.
Room A-430
Birmingham, AL 35203
For more information call Yolanda Caver or Alfonso Holt at (205) 325-5761.
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Birmingham City School System is soliciting sealed proposals for its 2014 E-Rate application from qualified service providers for Network Maintenance and Website Hosting. Sealed proposals shall be received by Birmingham City Schools at the office of Edward McMullen, Purchasing Department, 2015 Park Place, North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203 on or before 12:00 P.M. Central Standard Time, January 21, 2014. The services associated with this proposal is a critical component in the E-Rate application process and therefore will require all responding providers to comply with Birmingham City School System’s timeline for these projects.

Firms desiring consideration may obtain a copy of the proposals by visiting http://www.bhamcityschools.org/Page/332 or by contacting:

Edward McMullen
Director of Purchasing
Birmingham City Schools
Room 202
2015 Park Place North
Birmingham, Alabama 35203
Telephone (205) 231-4885
emcmullen@bhm.k12.al.us

Pre-proposal conferences will be held Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at the address indicated above for the following:
Website Hosting – 10:30 A.M. CST
Network Maintenance – 12:30 P.M. CST.
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ADVERTISEMENT for BIDDER PRE-QUALIFICATION
And NOTICE of INTENT to RECEIVE BIDS
from PREQUALIFIED BIDDERS

Pre-qualification submittals will be received by Owner’s Representative/Project Manager, Michael Burgess, on behalf of Office of the Associate Vice President, Facilities & Capital Projects, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Alabama Board of Trustees at UAB Hospital Planning, 2020 University Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35294 until Wednesday, February 05, 2014 at 4:00 PM CST. The original and two (2) duplicates of submittals are required for pre-qualification approval; however, facsimile transmission copies may be transmitted to the Project Manager at (205) 975-7000 to expedite the review process with hard-copies of the submittals to be delivered within 24 hours.

UAB NORTH PAVILION
FOOD COURT RENOVATION
UAB JOB # H135030A

A. SCOPE OF WORK:

The scope of work includes the selective demolition of +/- 4,000 SF of the existing kitchen and dining area on the 2nd floor of the UAB North Pavilion and the construction of various new food service related spaces, including but not limited to food prep and dry storage areas. The project also includes the replacement of various pieces of kitchen equipment. The scope of work includes architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection work.

The work will be performed within an operating kitchen environment and care will be taken to limit disruptions to the operations. Work will be performed under strict infection control guidelines to ensure the safety of patients, the public, and staff. The contractor will be responsible for and should be experienced in implementation of the infection control requirements, interim life safety measures, constructing and maintaining required barriers, coordinating shutdowns with the Project Manager, and maintaining a clean and organized job site.

B. PRIME CONTRACTOR BIDDER PRE-QUALIFICATIONS:

Prime contractor bidders interested in submitting a proposal must apply for pre-qualification and must be licensed under the Provision of Title 34, Chapter 8, and Code of Alabama, 1975. A copy of current Alabama Contractors license is to be included in pre-qualification submittal.

Only prime contractor bidders who have completed the pre-qualification process and have been approved will be eligible to submit a bid for the Project. Prospective Bidder’s Pre-qualification Package must be received by the Owner’s Project Manager no later than 4:00 PM CST on February 05, 2014 after which no further requests will be considered.

Pre-qualification Requirements Information Package may be obtained from the Architect upon letterhead request.

The pre-qualification procedure is intended to identify responsible and competent prime contractor bidders relative to the requirements of the Project. Each prospective prime contractor bidder will be notified of the results of the pre-qualification, no later than 5:00 PM CST on February 13, 2014.

The Owner reserves the right to waive technical errors in applications, or abandon the pre-qualification process, should the interests of the Owner appear to be promoted thereby.

Progress Design and Construction Documents:
Prior to the pre-qualification deadline, project progress plans and specifications may be examined at the following location:

Architect:
Kahn South, Inc.
2821 Second Ave S. Suite G
Birmingham, AL 35233
Phone: 205-328-2827
Fax: 313-202-7153
scott.heywood@akahn.com

C. BIDS BY PRE-QUALIFIED PRIME GENERAL CONTRACTOR BIDDERS

Documents:
After notice to pre-qualified bidders is given, the pre-qualified prime contractor bidders may obtain bid documents from the Architect (see address above) upon deposit of $200.00 per set. The deposit is refundable in full on the first two (2) sets issued to each prime general contractor bidder upon return of documents in reusable condition within ten (10) days after bid opening. Additional sets for pre-qualified prime contractor bidders, subcontractors, vendors, or dealers may be obtained upon payment of the same deposit. The deposit for additional sets shall be refunded less the cost of printing, reproduction, handling and distribution, upon return of the documents in reusable condition within ten (10) days after bid opening.

Bid documents will be available at the following locations after notice to pre-qualified bidders is given. Drawings and specifications may be examined at the Office of the Architect; McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge, 3000 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233; at the AGC Internet Plan Room, 5000 Grantswood Road, Irondale, AL 35210; at the Birmingham Construction Industry Authority, 3600 Fourth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35222; and at the Reed Construction Data Office, 30 Technology Pkwy, South, Suite 500, Norcross, GA 30092-2912.

Bonds:
A certified check or bid bond payable to the University of Alabama at Birmingham in an amount not less than five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid, but in no event more than $10,000 must accompany the bidder’s proposal. Performance and Statutory Labor and Material Payment Bonds will be required at the signing of the Contract.

Bids:
Bids must be submitted on proposal forms or copies thereof furnished by the Architect. No bid may be withdrawn after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids for a period of ninety (90) days. The Owner reserves the right to reject bids if such action is determined to be in the best interest of the Owner. The Owner reserves the right to revoke pre-qualification of any bidder in accordance with Section 39-2-12, Code of Alabama, 1975, as amended in 1997 (by Act 97-225). The Bid Date is March 11, 2014 at 2:00 PM CST at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB Hospital Planning, 2020 University Blvd., Birmingham, Alabama 35294, in the Large Conference Room.

Proposals may be hand delivered or received by mail on the date of the bid opening at the Office of Mike Burgess, Project Manager – Facilities and Capital Projects, 2020 Building, 2020 8th Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, until 12:00 noon. After 12:00 noon of the date of the bid opening, proposals must be hand delivered and presented at the bid opening. Sealed proposals shall be submitted in triplicate and shall be properly identified. All proposals received after 2:00 p.m. on March 11, 2014 will be returned unopened.

Nonresident Prime Contractor Bidders:
Under Section 39-3-5, Code of Alabama, 1975, nonresident prime contractor bidders must accompany any written bid documents with a written opinion of an attorney licensed to practice law in such nonresident prime contractor bidder’s state of domicile as to the preferences, if any or none, granted by the law of the state to its own business entities whose principal place of business are in that state in the letting of any or all public contracts. Resident prime contractors in Alabama, as defined in Section 39-2-12, are granted preference over nonresident prime contractors in awarding of contracts in the same manner and to the same extent as provided by the laws of the state of domicile of the nonresident.

D. PRE-BID CONFERENCE
A mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held on February 17, 2014 at 10:00 AM CST at the UAB 2020 Building Large Conference Room. It is mandatory that all pre-qualified prime contractor bidders attend the Pre-Bid Conference.
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ADVERTISEMENT for BIDDER PRE-QUALIFICATION
And NOTICE of INTENT to RECEIVE BIDS
from PREQUALIFIED BIDDERS

Pre-qualification submittals will be received by the Owner’s Representative/Project Manager, Stan Cordrey on behalf of Office of the Associate Vice President, Facilities & Capital Projects, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of Alabama Board of Trustees at UAB Hospital Planning, 2020 University Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35294 until 4:00 PM Central Time, January 28, 2014. The original and two (2) duplicates of submittals are required for pre-qualification approval; however, facsimile transmission copies may be transmitted to the Project Manager at (205) 975-7000 to expedite the review process with hard-copies of the submittals to be delivered within 24 hours.

UAB HIGHLANDS HOSPITAL RENOVATION
FOR INPATIENT PHYSICAL THERAPY
For The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Project No.: H135039A

A. SCOPE OF WORK:

Work consists of the renovation of two existing patient rooms into an inpatient Physical Therapy area and an adjacent area into equipment storage at UAB Highlands including demolition, metal studs and drywall, hardware, architectural finishes, fire protection, plumbing, and electrical work. Work will be performed within the operating hospital facility using high levels of infection control measures and the contractor should have experience with the implementation and maintenance of infection control measures and interim life safety measures in a hospital environment as well as experience in performing construction in an operating hospital.

B. PRIME CONTRACTOR BIDDER PRE-QUALIFICATIONS:

Only prime contractor bidders who have completed the pre-qualification process and that have been approved will be eligible to submit a bid for the Project. Prospective Bidder’s Pre-qualification Package must be received by the Owner’s Project Manager no later than 4:00 PM Central Time, January 28, 2014 after which no further requests will be considered.

Pre-qualification Requirements Information Package may be obtained from the Architect upon letterhead request.

The Owner reserves the right to waive technical errors in applications, or abandon the pre-qualification process, should the interests of the Owner appear to be promoted thereby.

Progress Design and Construction Documents:
Prior to the pre-qualification deadline, project progress plans and specifications may be examined at the following location:

Architect:
Birchfield Penuel & Associates
2805 Crescent Avenue, Suite 200
Birmingham, Alabama 35209
Mrs. Alicia Pughsley
205-870-1876
205-870-3058
aliciap@bpa.net

C. BIDS BY PRE-QUALIFIED PRIME GENERAL CONTRACTOR BIDDERS

Documents:
After notice to pre-qualified bidders is given, the pre-qualified prime contractor bidders may obtain bid documents from the Architect (see address above) upon deposit of $100.00 per set. The deposit is refundable in full on the first two (2) sets issued to each prime general contractor bidder upon return of documents in reusable condition within ten (10) days after bid opening. Additional sets for pre-qualified prime contractor bidders, subcontractors, vendors, or dealers may be obtained upon payment of the same deposit. The deposit for additional sets shall be refunded less the cost of printing, reproduction, handling and distribution, upon return of the documents in reusable condition within ten (10) days after bid opening.

Bid documents will be available at the following locations after notice to pre-qualified bidders is given. Drawings and specifications may be examined at the Office of the Architect; at the AGC Internet Plan Room, 5000 Grantswood Road, Irondale, AL 35210; at the Birmingham Construction Industry Authority, 601 37th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35222; and at the Reed Construction Data Office, 30 Technology Pkwy, South, Suite 500, Norcross, GA 30092-2912; and electronically through McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge.

Bids:
Bids must be submitted on proposal forms or copies thereof furnished by the Architect. No bid may be withdrawn after the scheduled closing time for receipt of bids for a period of ninety (90) days. The Owner reserves the right to reject bids if such action is determined to be in the best interest of the Owner. The Owner reserves the right to revoke pre-qualification of any bidder ]n accordance with Section 39-2-12, Code of Alabama, 1975, as amended in 1997 (by Act 97-225). The Bid Date is February 18, 2014 at 2:00 PM Central Time at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB Hospital Planning, 2020 University Blvd., Birmingham, Alabama 35294.

Proposals may be hand delivered or received by mail on the date of the bid opening at the Office of Stan Cordrey, Project Manager – Facilities and Capital Projects, 2020 Building, 2020 8th Avenue south, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, until 12:00 noon. After 12:00 noon of the date of the bid opening, proposals must be hand delivered and presented at the bid opening. Sealed proposals shall be submitted in triplicate and shall be properly identified. All proposals received after 2:00 p.m. on February 18, 2014 will be returned unopened.

Fire Alarm Work
In accordance with Title 34, Chapter 33A, of the Code of Alabama 1975, bidders for fire alarm work of this project, if any, must include with their bid, evidence of licensure as required by the act, by including with the bid submittal, a valid State Fire Marshal’s permit.

D. PRE-BID CONFERENCE
A mandatory Pre-Bid Conference will be held on February 3, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the site of the work. Meet at the UAB Highlands Hospital first floor main lobby. It is mandatory that all pre-qualified prime contractor bidders attend the Pre-Bid Conference.
BT01/16/14
_______________________________

The People Factor

Birmingham Times

January 16, 2014

How Building Great Relationships and Ending Bad Ones Unlocks Your God-Given Purpose
Pastor Van Moody provides a concise, practical resource for those seeking to become more relationally savvy.
Let’s face it, relationships can be tough. They are a fundamental aspect of the human experience, but our relationships with friends, family, significant others, and co-workers can either make us or break us.

The relationships in our lives can make the difference between happiness and misery.
To address this enduring challenge, relationship authority Van Moody has crafted The People Factor, a first-of-its kind guide to building and maintaining genuinely authentic relationships. In a flowing and engaging style, Pastor Van also provides a beyond-the-basics instruction manual for developing your Relational IQ. “While most people know the fundamentals… they still need advice and instruction on how to become more relationally strategic,” he writes. “We simply must know what makes a relationship healthy and what makes it toxic.”

God works in our lives through our relationships. That’s why Pastor Van has based The People Factor on the most effective, trustworthy relationship book of all time: the Bible.
“Relationships are the most important area of a person’s life. The most important relationship, of course, is a relationship with God,” he writes. “God uses relationships to lead us to the places and opportunities He has set aside for us… You are where you are in life today because of your relationships.” But The People Factor isn’t just about building new, better relationships. Pastor Van also tackles the tougher issues:
•   Knowing how and when to end unhealthy relationships
•   Recognizing who is really in your life for the long term
•   How to successfully let go of your past relationships and embrace the ones in your future
“I have written the book I always wanted to read,” he writes. “I have put into print the lessons I wish someone had taught me years ago about relationships. I think it is valuable, even life changing, and I pray you will too.”
Prepare to be challenged, confronted and changed.

Pastor Van Moody is launching The People Factor Book Tour in January 2014 through June 2014.
To invite Van Moody to speak at your event or to request the tour to come to your city, contact us at vanmoody@ascendantgroupbranding.com.
Pastor Vanable H. Moody II, affectionately known as “Pastor Van,” is an author, motivational speaker, and media expert who advises on relationships in all areas of life. Pastor Van has been heard on secular and Christian radio stations, at the Vatican, Harvard and Oxford, at the World Council of Churches, the 30th anniversary of the March on Washington, and most frequently, in the pulpit of his dynamic, fast-growing church, the Worship Center in Birmingham, Alabama. In addition, he serves on the board of Joel Osteen’s Champions Network and is an associate trainer in Japan for Dr. John Maxwell’s EQUIP leadership organization. Pastor Van, his wife, Ty, and their children, Eden Sydney and Ethan Isaiah, live in Birmingham.

Gospel Artists Raise Voices, Stroke Awareness in National Singing Competition

Birmingham Times

January 16, 2014

DALLAS (BLACK PR WIRE) – The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Most Powerful Voices gospel singing competition returns in search of dynamic gospel performers who will raise stroke awareness — particularly in the African-American community — through the power of music.   The online competition is open to independent artists, groups and choirs who sing gospel, praise, worship and holy hip-hop. This is the fifth year of Most Powerful Voices and the fifth year the contest has been presented by UP.   Participants can visit mostpowerfulvoices.org and upload a video or MP3 file of their performance between now and March 2. Voting is already underway so artists are encouraged to enter as soon as possible. Fans have until April 28 to vote for their favorite artist.   Public votes will determine the top 10 artists. Industry experts such as RCA Inspiration Artist Latice Crawford, A&R executives and a Roland Corporation musicality expert will review the top 10 and select the winner.   More than 100,000 African-Americans will suffer a new or reoccurring stroke this year, which is why those who register to compete or vote will receive potentially lifesaving stroke information.   “Stroke is a leading cause of severe, long-term disability and death for all Americans, and African-Americans are at increased risk due to higher prevalence of risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and previous heart attack and/or stroke,” said Dr. Rani Whitfield, a family practitioner in Baton Rouge, La., and an American Stroke Association spokesperson. “We need to reach as many people as possible to help them to reduce their risk and to know what to do in a stroke emergency to help improve stroke outcomes.”   The winner will be announced May 23 and will receive:   • A performance opportunity at a 2015 Stellar Awards Weekend Showcase (travel and hotel provided by
RCA Inspiration)  • $1,500 cash prize  • $3,500 of vocal performance equipment from Roland Corporation  • Personal coaching session with renowned RCA Inspiration Artist Deon Kipping  • A Digital Download of the Week from UP  • National recognition on UPtv.com    Most Powerful Voices is an initiative of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Power To End Stroke cause campaign aimed at African-Americans, who are disproportionately affected by stroke. Power To End Stroke strives to close the stroke gap through culturally relevant events, tools and educational resources.   Contest participants must be 18 or older. For more information and to register, visit mostpowerfulvoices.org.

PARLIN, N.J./Christian Newswire/ – The SistaFriends™ Stellar Women of Gospel™ Awards returns to Nashville on Saturday, January 18, to honor five outstanding female professionals in the Gospel Music Industry. Hosted by Toya Beasley, media personality, industry consultant and CEO of SistaFriendz, this unique event celebrates the contributions of female professionals who work “behind-the-scenes” to help bring Gospel Music to the world.
This year’s Honorees are: Monica Bacon, Founder and President of Sovereign Agency; Dr. Teresa Hairston, Founder and Chair of the Gospel Heritage Foundation; Tomeka B. Holyfield, President and CEO of RCM Media Productions and The HELPPPP Agency; Karen Jackson, Director of Marketing and Artist Development for Motown Gospel; and Gwendolyn Quinn, Founder and President of Gwendolyn Quinn.
The SistaFriendz Stellar Women of Gospel Awards will take place at 9 a.m. at the new Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Now in its second year, the SistaFriendz Stellar Women of Gospel Awards has become one of the most anticipated events of The Stellar Awards Weekend.
“We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support for this event from Gospel artists, record labels, industry professionals and media personalities,” said Toya Beasley, Founder & CEO of SistaFriendz and Executive Producer of the Stellar Women of Gospel Awards. “There are an incredible number of exceptional women who are un-sung heroes in the Gospel Music industry, and we produce the only event of its kind where they are honored and celebrated.”
Attendance at the SistaFriendz Stellar Women of Gospel Awards is by invitation only.
To learn more about the SistaFriendz organization and its programs, please visit www.sistafriendz.com.

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