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2015/11/6 City news, features, and updates November 6, 2015 Th i s W e e k i n H u n t s v i l l e In this issu e . . . State of the City recap - page 2 Events news - page 5 H2O concert Saturday! - page 7 Election Results Many thanks to all who voted in the November 3 General Election! Ward Coun- cilmembers Joe Emmett (Ward 1), Tish Humphrey (Ward 2), Ronald Allen (Ward 3), and Joe Rodriquez (Ward 4) were re-elected to terms running through the No- vember 2017 general election. The 4B Economic Development Corporation Sales and Use Tax was not adopted by the voters, so no change in the allocation of sales tax will occur. (Neither the adoption or failure of the measure would have affected the amount of sales tax collected, so there is no change there, either.) The mayoral race resulted in no single candidate receiving a majority of all votes cast for the office, so a runoff will be held between Councilmembers Andy Braun- inger and Keith Olson. The City Council will meet in a special session on Tuesday, November 10, at 6 p.m., to discuss the scheduling details and consider an Elec- tion Services Contract with Walker County. To meet all the requirements of the Texas Election Code and the City Charter, the runoff election will be held on either Saturday, December 5 or Saturday, Decem- ber 12, 2015. Early voting will begin seventeen calendar days prior to the select- ed date, and run through the fourth calendar day before the election. Two 12 - hour days of early voting will be designated during that period. On Monday, November 16, at 6 p.m., an additional special session is scheduled to canvass the other November 3 results. Walker County Judge Danny Pierce will then swear in the Ward Councilmembers. The City Council’s regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 17, at 6 p.m., at which the City Council is expected to formally call the runoff election by ordinance. Full runoff election information will be available in future issues of This Week in Huntsville, on the City’s website, via social media, and announced at City Council meetings. To subscribe to the City’s press releases, visit the home page at www.huntsvilletx.gov and click on the blue Stay Notified button. Select General City News under the News Flash heading. For any questions, please contact the City Secretary’s office at 936-291-5403 or citysecretary@huntsvilletx.gov. State of the City was great - were you there? The City’s third annual State of the City address was held on October 27 at the Walker County Storm Shelter, hosted by the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce. Attendees en- joyed a delicious buffet by caterers from Huntsville Memorial Hospital and were able to chat with any of the nine Councilmembers. Each City department had displays on their work and services, and staff was available for questions and conversations. City Manager Matt Benoit gave a presentation on the City’s projects from the last year, and pro- vided background and resources for voters to use in educating themselves on the 4B ballot pro- posal. Everyone appeared to have a great time, so we hope you will look for State of the City to add to your calendar next fall! Authors Night at HPL Be at the Huntsville Public Library November 12 from 5:00 -6:30 p.m. to meet eight local authors. Just in time for holiday shopping, the highlighted books will be available for purchase and signing. This second annual Authors Night is spon- sored by the Friends of the Library and will feature a variety of subject matter and styles so you can find something for the children, young people, and adults in your life! Refreshments will be available and purchases will be by check or cash only. 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 opportunity 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 starting any new exercise program. Sign up at the library, online at www.mylibrary.com, or call Mary Kokot at 936-291-5471. HPL Regular Activities & More! Holiday Closures - Closing Nov. 13 from 2:00-5: for the Annual Staff Charity Bowling Tournament - Closed Thursday, Nov. 26-29 for the Thanksgiving holidays. - Closed Dec. 24-27 for Christmas, will reopen at 10:00 a.m. on Dec. 28 - Closed New Year’s Day, January 1, 2016 Holidays Around the World - The second annual event teaches visitors about how various countries and cultures celebrate holidays in December, and will feature country booths sharing traditions, various cuisines, and take home crafts. Dec. 5 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Christmas Music - Jan Cole will be playing Christmas music at the library on Dec. 21 from 10:30 a.m. -noon. Refreshments will be served. Whether you prefer to sing along or just sit back and listen, come prepared to enjoy yourself. Requests of holiday favorites are welcome! Mother Goose Lapsit - This new program is designed for parents and infants aged birth to 24 months, and features songs, toys, and sto- ries on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. – Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30; Dec. 7, 14, 21, & 28; Jan. 4, 11, 18, & 25 Story Time - Every Wednesday and Friday at 10:45 a.m. Parents and their children are invited to enjoy songs, stories, and crafts with a new theme each session. Nov. 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, & 25; Dec. 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, & 30; Jan. 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, & 2 9 Drama Story Time - Presented by the SHSU Dept. of Theater and Musical Theater. The program uses pantomime, rhythm, tableaux, and movement to present stories to elementary-aged students. Tuesdays from 4:00-5:00 p.m. Nov. 3, 10, & 17 Lego Club - An elementary-aged building program on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from 5:00-6:00 p.m. Legos are supplied and participants are encouraged to build themed creations each session. Nov. 5 & 19; Dec. 3 & 15; Jan. 7 & 21 Family Movie Night - Doors to the Community Room open at 5:00 p.m. with the movie beginning promptly at 5:20 p.m. (5:30 in Dec. & Jan.) Family Movie Night is sponsored by the Texas Children’s Health Plan Program. Complimentary drinks and popcorn are served and all viewers are encouraged to bring a pillow or blanket. Nov. 6; Dec. 11; Jan. 8 Wii Friday - An exciting new program for elementary through high school-age students to enjoy the library’s Wii system. From 4:00-6:00 p.m. Nov. 20; Dec. 4; Jan. 22 & 29 Read with the Dogs - The monthly Read with the Dogs program is held with help from Huntsville Pets Helping People. Children are invit- ed to read to trained therapy dogs in 15 -minute segments. Participants also receive a sticker with a picture of the dog they read to. Sign up for a session is available beforehand, but not required. 4:00-5:30 p.m. Nov. 16; Dec. 21; Jan. 18 Healthy, Happy Holidays with Essential Oils - Special event on Monday, Nov. 30 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Community Room. Melissa Gonzalez, EOS instructor, will demonstrate several “recipes” for attendees who will then be able to create their individual e ssential 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. Registration is required, so be sure to reserve your spot soon. Muralist Artist Richard Haas is coming to Huntsville - HPL and the Huntsville Arts Commission invite you Thursday, Nov. 19 from 4:30- 6:30 p.m. to meet muralist artist Richard Haas and view his works in the Community Room. Haas, known for his architectural murals, as well as his use of the trompe l’oeil style, will make remarks at 5:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Teen Seminar – “Getting the Job!” - This teen seminar teaches teenagers the ins and outs of hiring and is presented with help from Workforce Solutions Huntsville. Sign-up is required. Nov. 18 at 4:30 p.m. For more information about any Children’s programs at the Huntsville Public Library, please contact Children’s Coordinator Ra chel McPhail at 936-291-5910; for adult programs, contact Adult Services Coordinator Mary Kokot at 936-291-5471; for teen programs, contact Teen Services Coordinator Ashley Newsome at 936-291-5912. Are you connecting with the City Connection? So you have subscribed to This Week in Huntsville and read every issue in its entirety (yea, we’re proud of you!), but, could you still be missing something? Well, maybe… Each month, the City includes the City Connection newsletter in each utility bill, dis- tributes 500 copies around town in public places, and loads it to the City website at www.huntsvilletx.gov. If you do not receive a City utility bill (you live outside the city limits, your water is included in your rent, or your spouse handles all the bills and in- serts, etc.), you probably want to see what you’re missing in the City Connection. Some information is also included in the This Week in Huntsville e-newsletter, but not all of it. Most months the City Connection contains expanded information on Solid Waste/Recycling guidelines and programs that you may want to clip and save to post on the refrigerator. If you aren’t seeing the City Connection, look for it monthly on the home page of the City website (www.huntsvilletx.gov) under the Publications tab mid -page, or, better yet, subscribe to it like you have for this publication (from the www.huntsvilletx.gov home page, click on the blue Stay Notified button). It’s important to stay Connected with your city! Downtown Save the Dates 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. Downtown Christmas Fair and Winter in the Park - Saturday, De- cember 5, from noon-5 p.m. Booth applications are now availa- ble through the Main Street office at 936-291-5920. Wynne Home Fall Classes continuing - don’t miss them!