By Theadoris Morris | Staff Writer

Thorsby’s Movies in the Park series has been extended to Friday, Aug 5, instead of ending Friday, July 29 because of rainy weather.

Last Friday, July 15, evening showers canceled the showing of ‘Despicable Me’ in Richard Wood Park. Instead of showing the next movie on the list, the Thorsby Fire Department decided to extend the event and show the movie this week, Friday, July 22.

“We can’t control the weather,” said Thorsby Fire Chief Lee Gunn. “The crowds are getting better so I think it’s getting better.”

The last three movies in Thorsby’s Movies in the Park series are ‘Despicable Me’ showing Friday, July 22; ‘The Wizard of Oz’ showing Friday, July 29 and ‘Open Season 3’ showing Friday, Aug. 5.

“I think it [Movies in the Park] is much better than last year,” said Gunn. “The screen is a lot bigger, the setup is a lot better and the word is getting out real well.”

By Scott Mims

Thorsby’s Movies in the Park originally scheduled for Friday night has been postponed due to a time conflict with the Peach Jam Jubilee.

The event will resume Friday night, July 9 in Richard Wood Park with the showing of “Planet 51.” The movie will begin about 8 p.m.

Thorsby Fire Chief Lee Gunn said the weekend of July 4 will be skipped due to the town’s Independence Day celebration on Saturday night, July 3.

“When you get too much going on, people are stretched a little thin,” Gunn said.

Attendance for Movies in the Park has averaged between 250 and 300 people per week, Gunn estimated. This is the second year the town has hosted the event. It is coordinated by volunteers from the fire department.

“The fire department has done a good job,” Mayor Dearl Hilyer said. “They’re keeping it cost-effective and yet make it something of value to the citizens.”

The only problem this year is that a couple of the movies have skipped during playback. The town has notified the company that provides the DVDs and hopes to have another movie night, but this has not been confirmed.

Those who attend on July 9 will be able to purchase concessions and apply for a free smoke detector for their home. Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged.

For more information, call the Thorsby Fire Department at 646-3725.

By Scott Mims

The threat of inclement weather kept crowds at bay for the first week of Thorsby’s Movies in the Park last Friday. This weekend, the weather continues to be a concern with the otherwise well-attended event.

“People really turn out for this,” said Lt. Phillip Porter of the Thorsby Fire Department.

Last year, crowds of up to 350 people filled Richard Wood Park to watch family-friendly movies on an outdoor screen. This year, approximately 150 people attended the first showing.

Porter said the movies are geared toward a broader audience this year. Tonight’s showing will be “The Blind Side,” and next week will be “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” followed by “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” on June 18 and finally “Planet 51″ on June 25.

The event begins at 6 p.m. each Friday, and each movie begins at 8 p.m.

“We want to make it a very family oriented type event,” Porter said.

Movies in the Park has been expanded to include an adopt-a-thon by the Chilton County Humane Society and a booth where people can sign up to have free smoke detectors installed in their home.

Humane society Director Joe Murphy said one animal was adopted last week, which made the effort worthwhile for him. Murphy also gives talks about responsible pet ownership.

“It’s a nice little close-knit community event,” Murphy said. “I just enjoy being a part of it. If the weather would just clear up, I think a lot more people would attend.”

Nearly 20 people have signed up for the free smoke detectors, which are available to all Chilton County residents through a state grant. Members of the Thorsby Fire Department are required to install the detectors.

Those interested may call 646-3725 or e-mail a request to thorsbyfire@centurytel.net.

“We really want to stress that anybody who needs one to call us and sign up,” Porter said.

By Scott Mims

Thorsby’s Movies in the Park will make a return Friday night, May 28, and this year it will be bigger and better.

The event offers a free night out for the entire family, including a movie at Richard Wood Park, a chance to adopt a pet from the Chilton County Humane Society, and free smoke detectors.

The town has purchased a new LCD projector and screen, and volunteers have spent more than a month preparing for the first movie night.

Movies in the Park will run for at least five weeks every Friday night with activities beginning at 6 p.m. followed by a movie at 8 p.m.

“I think it’s one of the best things we’ve ever done,” said Thorsby Fire Chief Lee Gunn. “People had been asking throughout the winter if we were going to be able to do it again.”

The idea came from a similar event held in Homewood. Last year, between 150 and 200 people attended each week. Gunn said the town hopes to see those numbers grow.

“We always wanted to do something like this,” he said.

A different movie will be shown each week. All will be movies that the entire family will enjoy, like “The Blind Side” starring Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw. “The Blind Side” tells the story of Michael Oher, a homeless boy who grows up to become a first-round NFL draft pick.

Movie titles and show times are as follows:

May 28: “Monsters vs. Aliens”

June 4: “The Blind Side”

June 11: “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”

June 18: “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen”

June 25: “Planet 51”

Attendees will also have an opportunity to help a furry friend in need, either by donating to the Chilton County Humane Society or adopting an animal. Volunteers from the shelter will be on hand with animals to show.

Vendors from local businesses will have concessions available for purchase, and anyone in attendance may sign up to have a free smoke detector installed in their home.

The smoke detectors are available to all Chilton County residents through a state grant. Residents may obtain up to one smoke detector for every bedroom, as well as one for each floor of their home.

A member of the Thorsby Fire Department is required to install the detectors. Installation is performed free of charge. The department will also provide follow-up inspections, Gunn said.

“We’re going to do it for anybody in the county,” he said. “I think it’s a worthwhile campaign.”

People should plan to bring a lawn chair or blanket. Parking is available at the park and in nearby areas.

Families looking for some Friday night fun this summer in Thorsby were in luck.

The town’s “Movies in the Park” series provided clean, inexpensive, family fun and proved to be a big hit.

For several weeks this summer, films like “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” and “Race to Witch Mountain” were shown at Richard Wood Park.

Hilyer estimated more than 200 people showed up for each of the first two movies in the park and that more than 150 people were present for the third one.

Mayor Dearl Hilyer said the program’s goal “was to try to offer something for citizens, mainly the kids in the area, that wouldn’t cost them anything.”

“Movies in the Park” did just that and was such a rousing success that the town council is already thinking about including some money for the program in next year’s budget.

Currently, the town borrows audio equipment for the events, and a screen that sits higher off the ground would be preferred. Hilyer said such a screen could be purchased for about $1,000.

We hope the town will be able to do that, especially since everyone had only good things to say about the program.