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4-25-16 TWIH City news, features, and updates April 25, 2016 Th i s W e e k i n H u n t s v i l l e EARLY VOTING INFORMATION April 25 through May 3, 2016 - Monday through Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. There will be two twelve - hour days during early voting: Tuesday, April 26th and Tuesday, May 3rd – Early Voting Hours 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. CITY POLLING LOCATION All qualified registered voters of the City of Huntsville will vote at the Walker County Annex 1301 Sam Houston Avenue , Room 101 Huntsville, Texas 77340 The City of Huntsville will hold a special election on May 7 to elect a Councilmember-At-Large Position 1. Please be sure you have received the correct ballot before you vote it. There is information on all May 7, 2016 early voting and election day dates, times, and polling locations on the City website at http://tx-huntsville.civicplus.com/Elections. Information is also on the Walker County website at http://www.co.walker.tx.us/egov/documents/1458325746_05903.pdf 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 voter’s 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. Huntsville Music Festival The City of Huntsville’s Main Street Program is bringing back the annual Huntsville Music Festival this April! Join the community for a FREE concert, April 28, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in Rather Park at the corner of University and 13th. This Thursday will be a full night of acoustic country from Presley Lewis, Andy Terrell Band, and Bubba Westly. This final night has a double headliner and song swap with Adam Hood and Zane Williams. Local food trucks and Shenanigans will be set up at the concerts selling great food and drinks! Mark your calendars, dust off your lawn chairs, bring your appetites, thirst, friends, family and neighbors. Join us for a beautiful evening of music and fun! For more details: facebook.com/ COHmainstreet. 2016-2017 City Calendars Are HERE! They flew out the door last year, so we can’t wait for you to enjoy the new calendars! This time the theme was You and the City. You and your neighbors submitted fun shots of things you do at City events and facilities - thank you! Pick up your calendar at City Hall, Utility Billing, Service Center, Sam Houston Statue & Visitor Center, Huntsville Police Department, Huntsville Public Library, Main Street, and The Wynne Home! Wine Down, Shop Small It’s that time of year again, to stroll around the downtown square sipping, sampling, and shopping in local businesses. On Thursday, May 5th, the Huntsville Downtown Business Alliance will host the 5th annual Wine Down, Shop Small event from 5-9 p.m. Ticketholders will enjoy various types of Texas wines offered by Froggy Wines (Huntsville), Maydelle Country Wines (Rusk), Pleasant Hill (Brenham), Perrine (College Station), Peach Creek Vineyard (College Station), LaVaca Bluffs (Port LaVaca), Granny Muffin (Palestine), Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards (Pittsburg), Messina Hof Winery (Bryan), and South Wind Winery (Refugio) in participating Huntsville Downtown Alliance businesses. Also, featured are food venues in other shops, including Mr. Hamburger, 1836 Steak House, Patio Café on the Square, Eclectic Coffeehouse Studio & Gallery, Pita Pit, Kroger, Dinah’s Delights, The Farmhouse, and Baking Sweet Memories. To purchase tickets and for more information, contact Huntsville Main Street (291- 5920), Nitsch in Time (436-0265), Fabric Carousel (295-8322) and Twelfth Street Antiques (439-5212). Tickets are also available at any of the participating businesses around the Square; just look for the Wine Down, Shop Small poster. It is sure to be a great time, with great wine. Grab your friends & get your tickets early! Huntsville Music Festival National Poetry Month celebrates poems and poets, with annual events taking place nationwide in April. Established by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, the goal is to promote the visibility of the poetic form, as well as to increase access to it, state by the American Library Association and the Huntsville Public Library is celebrating accordingly. Be sure to watch their Facebook page for poetry events all month long! "Poetry is a great way to express your feelings in as many words as you see fit.” Assistant City Librarian Anne Sparks said. “Celebrating poetry keeps the art form alive in our fast-moving world that often doesn't take time to appreciate the time spent forming the words" Sparks said. Below are poems submitted by the Huntsville Public Library staff. Greener Huntsville Every April the Huntsville Solid Waste/Recycling Division hosts E-Recycling Day to allow residents a convenient time to get rid of unwanted electronics and recycle them the correct way. We are always striving to make Huntsville a more green community and with the help of E-Recycling Day we are always one step closer. This year we had 174 customers come through filling up two large trucks of recycled electronics. Before this year’s event we were at a grand total of 137.91 tons of recycled electronics! With almost 2,000 visitors since this event started 2008, those numbers only keep growing every year! Be sure to mark your calendars and hold on to your unwanted electronics until next year’s event! Spend your May at the Huntsville Public Library The Huntsville Public Library has a wide range of events to suit needs from tiny readers to experienced listeners. Whether you are looking for an adventurous read or time away from the house, you can find it at HPL. Lapsit for Babies Mother Goose Lapsit is designed for parents and infants ages birth to 24 months. The program features songs, toys, and stories at 10:30 a.m. on Mondays. Signup is not required. May 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. Traditional Story Time Story Time is held at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays at the Huntsville Public Library. Parents and their children are invited to enjoy songs, stories, and crafts with a new theme each session. Story Time is sponsored by Amerigroup and signup is not required. The dates for Story Time include: May 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25 and 27. Duplo Party Stick around after Story Time at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesdays in May for a Duplo Party! Enjoy building with large Duplo Blocks. Signup is not required. Family Fun at the Movies Family Movie Night will be held on Friday, May 13. The doors to the Community Room will open at 5 p.m. with the movie beginning promptly at 5:30 p.m. 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. Signup is not required. STEAM into Fun The Huntsville Public Library is starting a new program for elementary-aged students, which focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM). STEAM Fridays will continue through May in the Community Room Signup is not required. May 13, 20. Therapy Reading Come Read with the Dogs from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 16 at the Huntsville Public Library! Sponsored by Huntsville Pets Helping People, children are invited to read to trained therapy dogs in 15-minute segments. Participants also receive a sticker with a picture of the dog with whom they read. Participants may sign up for a session beforehand but signup is not required. Tai Chi class The Huntsville Public Library will host a new six-week series of classes taught by Tai Chi Instructor Gary Readore. The classes will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays through May 18, in the Community Room. Readore, a Tai Chi instructor for 25 years, teaches the Yang Style Long Form consisting of 108 movements. Tai Chi has evolved over several thousand years in China and is now growing in popularity worldwide. Tai Chi has been shown in research to reduce anxiety, depression, and chronic pain conditions. It boosts the immune system, improves respiratory function, burns calories, dramatically improves balance, provides cardiovascular benefits, provides powerful stress management tools, and slows aspects of the aging process. Class size is limited so please sign up early. For more information, contact Mary Kokot, Adult Services Coordinator, at 936-291-5471. Every City at its Heart should have a Great Park April’s Park Spotlight is the largest park in Huntsville, Eastham-Thomason Park! Location: 1500 7th Street and N Avenue Park Size: 150 acres History: The park was donated by the Estate of Marguerite Eastham Thomason in November 1990. Amenities: Basketball court, hiking trails, dog park, Frank D. Poncho Aquatic Center, splash pad at the Aquatic Center, disc golf course, sand volleyball courts, play modules, playing fields, drinking fountains for pets & their owners, walking sidewalks, & picnic areas. Extras: It is within walking distance to historic downtown Huntsville; citizens can rent out park facilities for their own special events by contacting the Parks & Leisure Department at 936-294-5721. Now on Instagram: CityofHuntsville http://twitter.com/HuntsvilleTexas www.facebook.com/HuntsvilleTX https://www.youtube.com/huntsvilletxGOV When is Election Day? (Cuando es el Dia de Eleccion?) Saturday, May 7, 2016 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sabado 7 de Mayo del 2016 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 City of Huntsville. The last day to register to vote for the May 7 election is April 7, 2016. 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 Ciudad de Huntsville. Si no esta seguro si su registracion 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.) The SHSU Global Center for Journalism & Democracy (GCJD) partnered with the Global Press Institute (GPI) to train female journalists from the Pine Ridge Native American Reservation. They participated in a week of intensive training at SHSU. The journalists in training for GPI’s Tribal Nations news desk had the opportunity to perform field exercises and interview leaders in the Huntsville community. Mayor Brauninger had the opportunity to meet with the group who came well prepared and ready for a thorough interview with him. GCJD trains journalists around the globe. The group also attended a reception at the Sam Houston Visitor Center, accompanied by City of Huntsville Councilmembers, Joe Emmett and Joe Rodriguez who had the pleasure of mingling with the journalist. “This was definitely a good fit for us” said GCJD Executive Director Kelli Arena. “We are dedicated to getting credible, relevant information to the public, and educating journalists is one sure way to do that” noted Arena. This is the first time GPI has worked with journalists in the United States, and the first time it has partnered with GCJD on a project of this magnitude. The City enjoyed participating with the group and happy they got to have wonderful training in our city! Journalist in Training Get Social with your City When you VOTE, remember to #showusyoursticker on social media! Attorney General Paxton Warns of Disaster Scams Following Texas Floods Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has reminded Texans to protect themselves against scams and be ready to report possible price gouging in the aftermath of recent flooding across the state, and particularly in Southeast Texas. “Throughout the storms and floods, we’ve witnessed the courage of our first responders and the generosity of neighbors coming together to help their fellow Texans, and our prayers remain with those whose lives have been altered or lost in severe storms,” Attorney General Paxton said. “Unfortunately, people who have already been through so much also need to be wary of bad actors taking advantage of their circumstances. To that end, I’d like to caution everyone in any area affected by storms and flood to be extremely careful with people offering to help you rebuild or reconstruct.” Scams involving contractors failing to perform work they were paid to do are not uncommon following such disasters. Flood victims are reminded to be wary of contractors from out of the area, not to rush into signing a contract, ask for references and check with the Better Business Bureau to ensure they’re working with a trustworthy business. In addition, under state law, once the governor issues a disaster declaration, vendors are prohibited from charging exorbitant prices for necessities during and after the crisis. Texans in affected counties who believe they have been scammed or encountered price gouging should call the Office of the Attorney General’s toll-free complaint line at (800) 621-0508 or file a complaint online at www.texasattorneygeneral.gov. Safe Exchange Zone Established at HPD To further serve the citizens of Huntsville, The Huntsville Police Department is offering a Safe Exchange Zone. Persons who are selling or buying items through the internet, classified ads, or other media are invited to meet in the parking lot of the Huntsville Police Department to make their exchange safely. The Safe Exchange Zone may also be utilized for child custody exchanges. There is a designated location near the entrance to the Police Department that is marked by both sign and markings on the pavement. The location is under video surveillance at all times. If available, officers may stand by with the persons making the exchange to further ensure the safety of the participants as well as to determine if items being sold have been listed as stolen. “This is another way the Huntsville Police Department can provide for the safety of those in our community,” said Chief Kevin Lunsford. “We hope this offers those involved peace of mind when making exchanges with persons they don’t know.” HPD further advised that officers are not able to facilitate any transaction, nor will they interfere or advise on the validity of any purchase or sale of any items. The presence of Huntsville Police Department personnel is solely intended for the physical safety of the involved parties. For more information, contact HPD at (936) 291 -5480. CodeRED The City of Huntsville and Walker County utilize an emergency notification system called CodeRED, an ultra high-speed telephone communication service. This system allows us to telephone all or targeted areas of the City and Walker County in case of an emergency situation that requires immediate action (such as a missing child or evacuation notice). The system is capable of dialing 60,000 phone numbers per hour delivering emergency notifications to any number you have registered in the system. Be sure you register with CodeRED and share with friends and family to get them registered so we can keep all our citizens safe. Below are instructions on how to register. 1) Go to huntsvilletx.gov & slide over the Services tab & click Emergency Notifications. 2) Click Register to be taken to the CodeRED registration page. 3) Enter in your contact info, address & preferences. 4) At the bottom of the page, click Verify Information to have your account confirmed. Then you will begin receiving emergency notifications! Citizens Police Academy The 2016 class of the Citzens Police Academy (CPA) finished their 13-week training Monday, April 18. The group had the opportunity to engage in real training with the Huntsville Police Department they toured the County Jail and the Communications Center, rode with an on-duty police officer and explored the Firing Range. The HPD strives to make this class hands-on and enjoyable while educating the participants about the police department and the local criminal justice system. Officer Ryann Kaaa led this year’s CPA class. The participant’s all had wonderful comments about the program and encouraged all Huntsville residents to apply to take part in the course. “It was great to learn more about the police department and to see how much they get done with a small staff. Michael & Andrea Johnson commented about their time in the 2016 CPA class. “It was a wonderful way to learn about the City. We saw inside and different places normal residents wouldn't always see. It was overall a great course,” stated the Johnsons. If you are interested in the next CPA class call: 936-291-5480 for more information and check http://huntsvilletx.gov/197/Citizens-Police-Academy for updates and application dates.