BEST BETS
MOUNDVILLE’S SATURDAY IN THE PARK RETURNS – UA’s Moundville Archaeological Park’s Saturday in the Park will return this summer to provide a series of demonstrations and presentations related to Native American culture, archaeology, natural history, sustainable gardening and more. The June 5 event will feature native pottery firing with Tammy Beane. Saturday in the Park will take place each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit the Moundville Archaeological Park website.
UA SOPHOMORE COMBATS BULLYING WITH CHILDREN’S BOOK – University of Alabama sophomore Noelia Voigt, winner of the 2021 Miss Connecticut Collegiate America pageant, wrote a children’s book to combat bullying and helped create an antibullying app. Published in August, her book, “Maddie the BRAVE,” is written for elementary-school-aged children and features a confident main character, Maddie, who shares positive self-affirmations. The book’s central character is based on Madison “Maddie” Whittsett, a 9-year-old girl from Birmingham who died by suicide in 2018 after being bullied. Voigt heard about Maddie while writing her book in early 2020, was moved by Maddie’s story and sought permission from the family to use her name. For more information, contact Jamon Smith, UA communications, jamon.smith@ua.edu or 205-348-4956.
CURRENT COMMENT
THIS SUMMER, ALABAMIANS CAN HELP SLOW THE SPREAD OF… INVASIVE MUSSELS – An invasive species of freshwater mussel has a beachhead in Alabama, according to a recent announcement by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District. The USACE advises that Zebra Mussels are established in Holt Lake near Tuscaloosa, imperiling Alabama’s freshwater resources. Boaters on all lakes can help slow the spread of this invasive species, said Dr. Jennifer Howeth, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at The University of Alabama who has studied this invasive species and worked with Texas and Florida to predict its spread and impacts. “If you’re interested in an abundance of freshwater fish like bream and bass, then you need to take steps to minimize the spread of Zebra Mussels,” Howeth said. “They can dramatically alter the food web, limiting resource availability for native species.” To schedule an interview, contact Adam Jones, UA communications, adam.jones@ua.edu or 205-348-4328.
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