2015/10/22
City news,
features,
and
updates
October 22,
2015
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Election information - pages 2-3
Haunted Hayride - page 4
Scare on the Square - page 8
IT’S STATE OF THE CITY TIME
Visit, learn, meet, enjoy!
What a great opportunity to meet your City Councilmembers, plot your favorite local spots with the GIS team,
find out about community outreach through HPD, and, of course, to play a game at the Tourism and Cultural
Services booth! Spend an evening getting to know the City staff better and hear what’s happened and what’s
planned when City Manager Matt Benoit presents the annual address.
The third annual State of the City address will be hosted by the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Com-
merce and held Thursday, October 27, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Walker County Storm Shelter/Veterans
Conference Center at 445 Highway 75 North.
November 3, 2015 General Election
Voting information, key dates
EARLY VOTING INFORMATION/VOTACION TEMPRANA POR ASPECTO PERSONAL
Early voting will be conducted at the following location:
Walker County Annex, 1301 Sam Houston Avenue, Suite 101
October 19th to October 30th, Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
EXCEPTIONS:
There will be two twelve hour days during early voting:
Tuesday, Oct. 20th and Tuesday, Oct. 27th – Early Voting Hours 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Photo ID Required for Texas Voters
Voters are required to present one of the following
forms of photo ID when voting in person:
(1) Texas driver license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
(2) Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
(3) Texas personal identification card issued by DPS
(4) Texas concealed handgun license issued by DPS
(5) United States military identification card containing your photograph
(6) United States citizenship certificate containing your photograph
(7) United States passport
**With the exception of the U.S. citizenship certificate, the identification must be current or have expired no more than 60
days before being presented for voter qualification at the polling place.**
The voters name on the identification presented must match or be “substantially similar” to the name on the official list of
registered voters (poll list).
Additional information, including material on further exemptions, is available through the Texas Secretary of State’s office at
www.votetexas.gov.
CITY POLLING LOCATIONS/SITIOS DE VOTACION
Ward 1/Sala 1 –
Pct. 102 - Walker County Annex, 1301 Sam Houston Avenue Suite 101
Ward 2/Sala 2 –
Pct. 201 - Walker County Storm Shelter, 455 State Highway 75 North
Pct. 401 - University Heights Baptist Church, 2400 Sycamore Avenue
Ward 3/Sala 3 –
Pct. 101 - Walker County Annex, 1301 Sam Houston Avenue Suite 101
Pct. 301 - Huntsville ISD Transportation Building, 95 Martin Luther King Drive
Ward 4/Sala 4 –
Pct. 205 - Elkins Lake Conference Center, 634 Cherry Hills Drive
Pct. 206 - Huntsville Fire Station #1, 1987 Veterans Memorial Parkway
Pct. 401 - University Heights Baptist Church, 2400 Sycamore Avenue
(All Walker County polling locations are available at www.co.walker.tx.us
Map available at http://www.co.walker.tx.us/egov/docs/1377003789_401641.pdf)
Dates to
Remember
for the
November 3, 2015
election
Last day to apply for bal-
lot by mail (application
received, not post-
marked)
October 23 (reg ABBM)
October 27 (FPCA)
Early voting ends
October 30
Election Day
November 3
7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Identificación con Foto se Requiere para Votantes Tejanos
Ahora tiene que proporcionar una de las siguientes formas de identificación
con foto cuando vota en persona:
(1) Licencia de Conducir de Texas expedida por el Departamento de Seguridad Publica (DPS, según sus siglas en inglés)
(2) Cédula de Identificación Electoral de Texas expedida por DPS
(3) Tarjeta de Identificación Personal de Texas expedida por DPS
(4) Licencia de Texas para Portar un Arma de Fuego Oculta expedida por DPS
(5) Cédula de Identidad Militar de los Estados Unidos con fotografía de la persona
(6) Certificado de Ciudadanía Estadounidense con fotografía de la persona o
(7) Pasaporte de los Estados Unidos
**Con la excepción del certificado de ciudadanía estadounidense, la identificación deberá estar vigente; si no la está,
debe haberse vencido hace 60 días o menosen el momento de presentarla para calificar como votante en el sitio elec-
toral.**
El nombre del votante en la identificación presentada debe hacer juego o ser “considerablemente similar” al nombre en
la lista oficial del certificado de votantes (lista de encuesta).
Los votantes son animados a actualizar su registro de votante para reflejar los nombres en sus tarjetas de identidad
antes de la fecha límite del 7 de Octubre.
When is Election Day? (Cuando es el Dia de Eleccion?)
Walker County will hold a Joint Election including the City of Huntsville on Tuesday, November 3, 2015
from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m..
La Ciudad de Huntsville y el districto independiente escolar de Huntsville sostendran una eleccion unida el Martes 3 de Noviembre del
2015 de 7 a.m. to 7 p.m..
Am I registered to vote? (Estoy registrado para votar?)
In order to vote in this election, you must be a registered voter of the particular political subdivision.
The last day to register to vote for the November 3 election is OCTOBER 7, 2013.
If you are not sure if your voter registration is current you may call (936)436-4959 or visit:
https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/voterws/viw/faces/Introduction.jsp.
(Para poder votar en esta eleccion tiene que ser un votante registrado de la division politica particular. Si no esta seguro si su regis-
tracion para votar esta vigente puede llamar (936)436-4959 o visite nuestra pagina de web arriba.)
Where do I go for early voting? (A donde voy para votar temprano?)
There will be one Early Voting Polling Place for all entities:
Walker County Annex, 1301 Sam Houston Avenue, Suite 101, Huntsville, Texas.
(Habra solamente un lugar para votacion temprana para todas entetidades que sera localizada en el Walker County Annex.)
PLEASE CHECK YOUR BALLOT!
There are five entities holding elections on November 3, 2015, including Walker County (State Constitutional Amend-
ments), Walker County Hospital District, City of Huntsville, New Waverly ISD, and City of New Waverly (City of Riverside and
Huntsville ISD were able to cancel their elections; political party primaries are in the spring of 2016). There are sixteen
local voting precincts voting at thirteen local polling locations (on Election Day - all early voting is at the Walker County An-
nex) resulting in a total of 24 different ballot styles for this election.
Please be sure you are in the right location and be sure you have received the correct ballot before you vote it. There is
information on all November 3, 2015 early voting and election day dates, times, and polling locations on the City website at
http://tx-huntsville.civicplus.com/395/ElectionsElecciones and also on the Walker County website at
http://www.co.walker.tx.us/egov/docs/1377003789_401641.pdf
The ballots have two sides, please read and vote both sides!
The City of Huntsville's Third Annual
Haunted Hayride will take place at
Kate Barr Ross Park on Saturday, Oc-
tober 24, at 6:30 P.M. Tickets will be
$5 per hayride and $3 per fire truck
ride. Concession prices will vary.
Contact Penny Joiner in the City of
Huntsville Parks and Leisure Depart-
ment at (936) 294-5708 for more in-
formation, or to volunteer as an actor
or assistant for the events.
Story Drama Program with SHSU Department of Theatre
The Huntsville Public Library will be holding a Story Drama Program in the Children’s Library, courtesy of the Sam
Houston State University Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre and the Center for Community Engagement,
led by Dr. Victoria Lantz and her students.
The program will be held weekly on Tuesdays from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The program is designed for elementary
students and will feature pantomime, tableaux, rhythms, songs, gestures, movement, and acting out of story char-
acters. “The goal of the program is for kids to become vested in the characters, language, plot, and lessons of the
story,” says Children’s Coordinator Rachel McPhail. Each session will last 50 to 60 minutes and will run from Octo-
ber 20th through November 17th, featuring a new program each week. Sign-up is not required.
For more information, please contact Children’s Coordinator Rachel McPhail at 936-291-5910.
Author Angela Williams to appear at HPL
Southern writer tells family story
With her memoir, Hush Now, Baby (Texas Review Press, May 2015), Angela Williams honors Eva, a cen-
tral and vital figure in her life from birth...until Eva stepped out of the shadows with a move that sent
shock and awe into the heart of the author’s world. Williams will be recounting her transformative child-
hood experiences and autographing copies of her book on Wednesday, October 28th at the Huntsville
Public Library from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
As classically Southern as a glass of sweet tea, Angela Williams grew up in a family with deep roots in the
Lowcountry of South Carolina. Like others, Williams’ family employed African American domestics to keep
house and raise children. But unlike most families, the deep affection between Williams and caretaker
Eva Aiken bonded them for life, even as the
Civil Rights movement shook their worlds,
propelling them – and the country – down a
rocky path that changed history.
“My Eva and I shared a love that knew no
color, knew no bounds, and for that, I’m
very grateful. Hush now, Baby emanates
from personal reflections of Eva’s influence
on my life, an exploration of Civil Rights is-
sues, and the subsequent embarrassment
that I knew so little, did so little,” says Wil-
liams, a former Citadel professor and pub-
lished academic and communications
coach. She continues, “The urge to do
something, if nothing more than to reach
back and touch the “Eva wisdom,” plagued
me for years. This re-seeing, this re-
weaving, gives tribute to the Evas of our
country—the long-delayed mourning and
glorying of the host of African-American
women whose physical strength and cour-
age permeated the lives of Southern fami-
lies.
This is, as they say, ‘the rest of the story.’
And I’ve waited 50 years to tell it!” Natural-
ly, Williams acknowledges the seemingly
obvious but in reality, only topical compari-
sons between Hush Now, Baby and The
Help. “That simply wasn’t my experience.
Eva is a major character in my coming-of-
age story of how a little white girl climbed
out of an uneasy childhood in the segregat-
ed South…on the backbone of a black wom-
an who loved me unabashedly.”
Yoga Class at the Library
Are you looking for a convenient way to try yoga for the first time? Try attending our free Adult Yoga Program
for Beginners at the Huntsville Public Library each Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. It’s the perfect op-
portunity to learn and practice yoga techniques with other enthusiasts. All we ask is for you to bring your own
mat or towel. The program will take place in the Library’s Community Room on Thursday, December 3, 10,
and 17 and will continue after the holidays on January 7, 14, and 21. Please consult your doctor before start-
ing any new exercise program. Sign up at the library, online at www.mylibrary.com, or call Mary Kokot at 936-
291-5471.
HUNTSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY SCHEDULE FOR RECURRING EVENTS
October Events
Story Time - Every Wednesday at 10:45 a.m. at the library. This complimentary program promotes emergent reading skills for young
children. Story Hour includes stories, songs, dance and finger plays and concludes with a craft activity. October 7, 14, 21, and 28.
Read With the Dogs - This is an excellent program that helps children who experience anxiety when reading out loud or in a group set-
ting. The dogs are trained and friendly, and make excellent reading companions. Read With the Dogs takes place on the 3rd M onday
of every month. October’s READ is Monday the 19th from 4:00 -5:00 p.m.
Family Movie Night Series - Huntsville Public Library, in partnership with Texas Children’s Health Plan, is offering a free monthly family
night movie. All movies are rated PG or G. October’s Family Movie night will be Friday, October 9, at 5:30 p.m. Complimenta ry popcorn
and drinks will be served.
Lego Club - The Lego Club for ages 5-12 will be the 1st Thursday and 3rd Thursday of every month. They will meet on Thursday October
1st at 5:00 and Thursday October 15th in the Children’s Room at the Huntsville Public Li-
brary.
Special Events - Scare on the Square, Saturday, October 31, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Stop by
our booth for special prizes!
For more information on all events, call the Library at (936) 291-5472 or visit at
1219 13th Street.
Whether you have been attending the Essential Oils (EOS) classes
these past few weeks, or have just heard about them, then you’ll be ex-
cited to learn about the special holiday event being held on Monday, No-
vember 30th from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Library’s Community Room. Melissa
Gonzalez, EOS instructor, will demonstrate several “recipes” for at-
tendees who will then be able to create their individual essential oil
beauty product, natural health remedy, or cleaning product. Essential
Oils have long been used for food preparation, beauty treatment, and
health-care practices. Refreshments will be served and everyone who
attends will have an opportunity to win a grand door prize. Please regis-
ter for this event online at www.myhuntsvillelibrary.com or call Mary Ko-
kot at (936)291-5471.
Tour Oakwood Cemetery
Have you visited Huntsville’s historic cemetery lately? You can take a great walking
tour and step through time. Visit Sam Houston’s gravesite, learn of the yellow fever
epidemic, and more. The Oakwood Walking Tour brochure is available in the kiosk
brochure rack located behind the Sam Houston Monument at the entrance of the
cemetery (corner of 9th Street and Avenue I/Huntsville, Texas) or visit https://
www.facebook.com/Oakwood.Huntsville.TX. Special thanks to the Huntsville Ceme-
tery Advisory Board, Scotty Cherryholmes, and the City of Huntsville Parks and Lei-
sure Department.
Go, U.S.A.!
Mayor Mac Woodward knows leading the City is really like taking on another job in addition to the career you al-
ready have, overloading the calendar and being available to one and all day and night. However, there are lots of
great opportunities to meet members of the public, support community events, and share special occasions with
all kinds of groups. Recently, Mayor Woodward had such a special afternoon, visiting the local Karolyi Ranch to
applaud the wonderful athletes of the USA Women’s Artistic Team, including gold medalist Gaby Douglas. The team
is training in preparation for the World competition and then the upcoming summer Olympics.
November 3, 2015 General Election -
Dates to Remember
Friday, October 23, 2015 (regular ABBM
(Application for Ballot by Mail))
or
Tuesday, October 27, 2015 (FPCA)
Last Day of Early Voting - Friday, October 30, 2015
Last Day to Receive Ballot by Mail - Tuesday, November 3,
2015 at 7:00 P.M.
(unless overseas deadline applies)
Downtown Save the Dates for Fall!
Downtown Farmers Market - Fall Edition - Saturdays from 8 a.m.-
noon until Thanksgiving (University Avenue between 11th and
12th Streets). Call the Main Street office at 936-291-5920 for
more information.
Scare on the Square - Saturday, October 31, from 3-5 p.m. down-
town. Booth applications are now available through the Main
Street office at 936-291-5920.
Downtown Christmas Fair and Winter in the Park - Saturday, De-
cember 5, from noon-5 p.m. Booth applications are now available
through the Main Street office at 936-291-5920.
Wynne Home
Day of the Dead Events
The Wynne Home’s Day of the Dead events
will be held on Friday, October 23, including a
showing of the animated children's movie
The Book of Life (still from the film below),
and a craft/art project involving sugar skulls.
Vote for the Visitor Center!
The Sam Houston Statue Visitor Center has been nomi-
nated for the 2015 ConventionSouth Readers’ Choice
Award.
Nominations are grouped by state on the ballot, for the
most creative and professional convention and visitor
bureaus, convention centers, hotels, and other meet-
ing sites across the southern United States.
Voting will end Sunday, October 25th at midnight. Win-
ning destinations and venues will be featured in the
ConventionSouth December 2015 issue, one of the
most highly valued issues to meeting planners.
To support the Statue and vote, go to
http://www.conventionsouth.com and click on the Cast
Your Vote Here badge.