Birmingham Mayor-elect William Bell asks CEO to review finances

William Bell, who will be sworn in today as Birmingham’s mayor, said Monday he has asked the CEO of Stern Agee & Leach to review city finances and make recommendations on restructuring city debt.

Bell said Jim Holbrook, who also is chairman of the Birmingham investment bank, will help the city find federal stimulus money for city projects.

Bell also tapped former federal judge U.W. Clemon to examine and improve the city’s planning, engineering and permitting system.

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Dreams To Reality Productions LLC. Announces The Second Annual Magic City Black Expo on February 6, 2010

For more information regarding The Second Annual Magic City Black Expo, please visit our website at http://www.magiccityblackexpo.com/ or call us at 205-937-6569.

Smoot Makes History as First Woman to Qualify for the 7th Congressional District

(Birmingham, AL) — Jefferson County Commissioner Shelia Smoot continues to break records in politics, now as the first woman to qualify to run for the U.S. House of Representatives for the 7^th Congressional District.

And she continues to poll ahead of six other contenders who are also vying for the seat of U.S. Rep. Artur Davis (D)-Birmingham. Davis left his seat and is now running to become the first black governor for the State of Alabama.

Smoot was the first woman to officially enter the race for Congress when she filed paperwork with the Alabama Democratic Party at its executive committee meeting on Jan. 19. That means her name will appear on the party’s ballot in its June 1 primaries.

She also filed paperwork Thursday with the Alabama Secretary of State citing her intent to run for the 7th Congressional District. The district extends from Birmingham into western Black Belt counties including Greene, Pickens, Sumter, Dallas and Wilcox.

Smoot is no stranger to making history. She was the first black woman and the youngest person ever elected to the Jefferson County Commission when she won the District 2 seat in Nov. 2002. She won re-election in 2006.

Polls have shown Smoot leading the field of six candidates in the race since she announced her intent to run for Davis’ seat in 2009. A poll released just last month by the Feldman Group — commissioned by State Rep. Earl Hilliard, Jr., one of her opponents — showed Smoot as the front-runner in the race.

Not My Son documentary screening

Screening on Saturday, January 23, 2010 – 5pm at the Woodland Park Church of Christ.

Carolyn Johnson-Turner drives the car in which her son was shot to death. She wears buttons bearing his picture. She visits his grave almost every week. She doesn’t know who killed him, or why.  “I wake up every day in a nightmare, and I fight to go to sleep,” says Johnson-Turner, whose 20-year-old son Rodreckus was killed while parking his car.  She is one of many people who have lost a loved one in Birmingham to gun violence.

Parents Against Violence Foundation (PAV) was founded on March 1, 2004, by Johnson-Turner as a result of the devastation she experienced when her son, Rodreckus, was shot and killed on November 22, 2003 while attending a birthday party.  According to Johnson-Turner, she will never recover from her son’s death. So in order to cope, she is on a personal mission to prevent other deaths.  At the same time, her activities serve as therapy to deal with the overwhelming grief.  Can Johnson-Turner and PAV really make a difference?  The core of Not My Son can be viewed as microcosm of the violent epidemic occurring in the nation’s urban areas.

“There are people behind Birmingham’s murder rates, lives that are changed forever.  Not My Son gives us a view of the lives that are changed forever by the violence that has become an everyday occurrence.   The answers to urban violence are not simple.   This documentary untangles some of the complexities associated with fighting crime through the stories of mothers who have turned their grief into action.” George Daniels, Professor of Journalism, The University of Alabama.

The H Bar – A Cool Place to Be

The “H” Bar located inside of the Hotel Highland at Five Points South is a hot after work destination for Birmingham’s professional community.  The popular martini bar features live music five nights a week and now offers a great dining menu to accompany its great drinks and A plus entertainment.  On Tuesday and Thursday nights catch a small piece band serving up live Jazz provided by some of Birmingham’s most talented musicians.  On Wednesday night you can catch a pretty cool acoustic series which brings out a great crowd of young professionals and Friday and Saturday night a mix of jazz and blues makes a perfect weekend getaway for the 30 and over crowd looking for a great time.

Things usually kick off around 5:30 pm with the live music starting at 6:30pm.   The night usually wraps up around 10:30 pm on weeknights making this a great after work spot for professionals that need enough fun to prepare them for the next day at work.

LoveSoulMusic.com presents Jaafar @ B.O.S.S

Birmingham celebrates love February 14, 2010.

LoveSoulMusic.com presents Valentime’s Day B.O.S.S Lounge 312 20th Street Downtown, Birmingham.

Sexy.Sensual.Seductive.  An Intimate Evening w/ Jaafar featuring Soulful Live Acoustic Performance

Doors open at 7:00 pm with the show starting at 8pm.  No athletic wear.  Tickets on sale for $15.00 in advance $ 25.00 for couples.  Visit www.lovesoulmusic.com or call (205) 821-9978.  $20.00 at the door.

Young Professionals Unite for Haiti

Young Professionals Unite for Haiti. Join us on Monday, January 18, 2010 with live entertainment at the Rouge Tavern as we seek to raise $5,000 with the City of Birmingham and a group of young professionals and community partners.

Community Partners Include: City of Birmingham, Birmingham Roundtable, Birmingham Urban League, Code RED, First Friday…s Birmingham, Red Cross of Greater Alabama, Rotaract, School of Hip Hop,Upgrade Magazine, 98.7 KISS FM, Urbanham.com and many more.

FOUR CHURCHES TO HOST PRAYER VIGIL THIS SUNDAY AT 6 P.M. IN D’TOWN BHAM FOR HAITI

Quit blaming your kids for your weight problems

Your figure was nearly perfect in high-school and college. After having two kids, your flat stomach has turned into a fat stomach. Since your body was great before you had kids, it must be your child’s fault your coke-bottle shape has turned into a 3-liter.

The reason you gained weight is as close as your nearest mirror. Avoid accusing baby Johnny or Sue for your jelly-rolls. Lack of exercise and unhealthy eating habits are the reasons you can’t lose your “baby fat”. Having kid(s) is just a convenient excuse for your lack of discipline.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, you can resume or start an exercise program after postpartum. Listen to your body and speak with your doctor before starting your program. Generally, it is recommended that you wait about six weeks to start exercising after giving birth. There is no excuse for not taking care of your body after giving birth.

The problem with “baby fat” is not the birth of a child. Your difficulty losing weight is a result of lack of activity. Taking your child to school and working is not considered an exercise program. To safely lose weight, you must complete exercise routines by setting aside four to five hours a week. Although your child consumes most of your time, there’s no excuse to avoid exercising. Many gyms offer child care and convenient locations. If you can’t join a gym, you should workout at home. You can design a routine that fits into your busy schedule.

Unless your kid is strong enough to force food down your throat, eating healthy is your choice. Every time you pull up to a drive-thru window or destroy a cream-filled donut, your child can only watch. In most cases, your offspring will eventually mimic your behavior.

Most individuals consume excessive fat calories or under eat. These unhealthy habits can cause and keep you from achieving your fitness goals. Remember, there is nothing stopping you from making healthy eating choices.

It’s understandable that pregnancy causes weight gain, but blaming your 7-year-old for your bad habits is unacceptable. There are many examples of women with multiple kids and great bodies. The difference between you and them is effort. If you contact your doctor, exercise, and eat healthy, you can earn a body your kids will be proud of.

Let’s Do Our Part to Help our brothers and sisters in HAITI

Birmingham Family let’s help our brothers and sisters by donating to the Wyclef John Haitian Relief Fund.

You can do this by:

Texting “YELE” to 501501 (with your cell phone)  OR,

by donating via Wyclef’s Website www.yele.org.

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