Mayor cuts ribbon on new town park

Leslie Greene's creation in the new park on the square

Story and Photo By Elizabeth Parker Wilson

Fountains, walk ways, benches and as much flora and fauna as Alabama has to offer is now on display at the town square.  Most of the town celebrated with Major John Greene and his lovely wife, Leslie Ann, for a ribbon cutting that marked the opening of the new park.  The Greenes spent six months turning what was a patch of red Alabama clay into a garden fit for a king.

"We are just so proud to be able to give this to our friends here in Sweet Gypsy," said Leslie Ann, landscaper and owner of Greene Thumb Nursery.

"This project is the culmination of our community coming together to make Sweet Gypsy a better place," said John.  "It perfectly compliments the major overhaul of buildings and businesses here in town."

The mayor's overhaul project is five years in the making and has brought several new businesses to Sweet Gypsy.  The resulting 125% increase in town revenue ensured John a fourth term as mayor. 

"Sweet Gypsy is a completely different place than it was years ago," said Glenda Richardson, owner of Glenda's Glass.  "The economy is booming.  The schools were renovated and upgraded giving our kids a quality education because of the mayor's plan.  And with this renovation, we have a nice place to walk and sit and show off."

"It's such the cherry on top for making our town a wonderful place to live and work," said Leslie Ann.

Red Cover Book Club meets Tuesday at Amy's

By Lilly Richardson

Book clubs tend to be a place where bored housewives get together and gossip.  In Sweet Gypsy, the thirty women of the Red Cover Book Club do anything but gossip.  This summer they donated 3,000 books to underprivileged children and more than $11,000 in school supplies to children in rural Afghanistan.

"Our little group just likes to read and help people and we've found a way to do both," says Lucy Rock, president of the Red Cover Book Club.  "Typically we choose our charity by identifying a need from the book of the month that applies to our community."

The June title, Escape, was a memoir from an Afghan refugee who described the lack of school supplies in her Badakhshan Province school.  Rock contacted the province parliamentarian, who happens to be a woman, and arranged for delivery of the supplies through the US military.

Children in Badakhshan
watch supplies arrive at their school

"Escape is an incredibly moving tale.  It's a universal story," said Rock.  "Once a year the club hosts two fundraiser events and this year,Escape moved us to help Afghan children but it also moved us to help local children.  If we are the greatest nation in the world, then all our children should have every opportunity to succeed.  The books and supplies we donated hopefully offers something better than their circumstances both in Afghanistan and here."

For September, the group is reading Green Willow and will meet at Amy's on the square at 7pm.  Newcomers are always welcome.  Red book covers can be picked up at Sweet Gypsy Books.

Sweet Gypsy Springs Schools Begin New Year

School News:

Sweet Gypsy Springs Schools Begin New Year

We're back in the swing of things at all our district schools!
The Open House and Fall Festival is set for the first of October so yall come on out and bring the dogs.
Last year's winner was a 3-year old black beauty of a poodle.
We're also collecting books for the new children's and Veterans' section at Sweet Gypsy Books.