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April 2015 City Connection CITY CONNECTION Volume 11, Issue 7 Aril 2015 Calendar April 2015 1 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection 2 - Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 12:00 p.m. 3 - City closed for Good Friday 7 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 8 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste 11 - E-Recycling Day & Household Hazardous Waste Event 15 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection 16 - Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 5:30 p.m. 21 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 22 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste 29 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection May 2015 5 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 6- Yard Waste Trimming Collection 7 - Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 12:00 p.m. 13 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste 19 - City Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. 20 - Yard Waste Trimming Collection 21 - Planning & Zoning Commission - City Hall at 5:30 p.m. 25 - City closed for Memorial Day 27 - Heavy Trash & Large Yard Waste Submit requests for Heavy Trash pick-up before noon on Monday, the week of the pick-up at 294-5796. Learn more at www.huntsvilletx.gov Kristi Glasgow, Children’s Coordinator at the Huntsville Public Library, hopes you will take time to learn about some of the many programs and activities your library has to offer. Check out some of them below, then see their page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HuntsvillePublicLibrary Art Contest Awards - The 2015 Art Contest Awards were held March 7th in the Chil- dren’s Room of the Huntsville Public Library. Winners’ artwork is now on display for all to enjoy. Congratulations to all! Some of this year’s participants are pictured be- low the list of winners. Ages 5-8 - 1st place Marvin Bowden - 2nd place Lilly Looney - 3rd place Mia O’Don- nell - Honorable Mentions Lydia Lee and Lauren Klawinsky Ages 9-12 - 1st place Phoebe Lee - 2nd place Belle Looney - 3rd place Katelyn Klawinsky - Honorable Mentions Lauren Brown and Chelsea Russell Ages 13-17 - 1st place Andrew Lee - 2nd place Allison Johnson - 3rd place Lucy Hen- drickson - Honorable Mentions Christa Caldera and Ann-Jolie Sigmar Library Programming & Events Blooming This Spring! Preschool Story Time - The Huntsville Public Library hosts Story Hour every Wednes- day at 10:45 a.m. at the library. This program promotes emergent reading skills for young children using stories, songs, dance, and finger plays, and concludes with a craft activity. Family Movie Night Series - Huntsville Public Library, in partnership with Texas Chil- dren’s Health Plan, is offering a free monthly family night movie. All movies are rated PG or G. Upcoming nights are Friday, April 10th, and Friday, May 8th, at 5:30 p.m. Complimentary popcorn and drinks will be served. Who Let the Dogs Out?...at the library! - The Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program, sponsored by Huntsville Pets Helping People, will be held on April 20th and May 18th, from 4:00-5:30 p.m. The R.E.A.D program improves children’s reading skills by allowing them to read to a registered therapy dog in a relaxed, safe, non-judgmental environment. This program is held on the 3rd Monday of the month. Registration is recommended, made by calling 936-291-5472. New Programs - The library is happy to announce new programs for children! - Delightful Doodlers, a craft program for preschoolers, will be every Monday at 11:00 a.m. - The Lego Club for ages 5-12 will be the third Tuesday of every month. - Krafty Kids, an art class for elementary-aged students, is held every Friday at 4:00 p.m. Two new weekly elementary story times will begin in June. This program is tentatively set to start June 11th at 2:00 for ages 5-8 and 2:45 for ages 9-12. For more information about any of these programs, please contact Children’s Coordi- nator, Kristi Glasgow at 291-5472. Spring Recreation is Here! The City of Huntsville’s Parks and Leisure Department is excited to share some spring weather and good times with all residen ts, through their upcoming Recreation Services activities. Recreation Assistant Natalie Reid sums it all up, saying, “The Recrea tion Ser- vices Division is really excited and gearing up for all of our fun-filled programs that are rapidly approaching. We hope all mem bers of the community can join us and enjoy our programs as much as we do!” Water Aerobics Water Aerobics has returned to the Huntsville Frank D. “Poncho” Roberts Aquatic Center Monday through Wednesday from 8 -9 a.m. and Monday through Thursday from 8-9 p.m. Participants must be 18 years or older and are required to complete a registration form a nd pay a fee of $55.00 for the year, or purchase a day pass for $4. Reid is excited about the classes restarting. “We can’t wait for another great season of Water Aerobics, it is such a fun way to get a great work out and enjoy the warm we ather in the pool at the same time.” Registration is available at the City of Huntsville Service Center and before class at the Huntsville Aquatic Center. Outdoor Explorer The City’s Recreation Services Division will see you at the Huntsville State Park as they partner with the Texas Parks and Wi ldlife Depart- ment on basic safety for biking, hiking, and kayaking. Take the class, then enjoy the rest of the day exploring the State Park with back- packs, bikes, and kayaks provided for use. Class size is limited to twenty participants and pre -registration is required. Classes are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Youth ages twelve and up can register with an attending parent or guardian. Program dates are April 18th , May 30th , June 20th , July 18th , August 15th, and September 19th. There is no charge for the program but there is a $5 admission fee int o the park for each participating adult (no cost for those 12 and under). Said Reid, “This program is a great way to get the whole family out to the Huntsville State Park and enjoy all that it has to offer.” Movie in the Park Join Recreation Services at Kate Barr Ross Park (State Highway 75 North) on Saturday, May 2nd, at 8:00 p.m. (or dark), for an outdoor movie! Invite the whole family to watch a fun-filled family- oriented movie. Bring blankets or chairs for seat- ing; refreshments; snacks will be available on a first-come first-serve basis, prices vary. No alcohol or glass bottles will be allowed on the premises. “There is no better way to welcome the warm weather with a cool night’s breeze than to watch a movie under the stars at Kate Barr Ross Park with your family and friends,” said Reid, of the event. Check out all the programming, then visit the Divi- sion’s Facebook page through the summer season at https://www.facebook.com/COHrecservices or call 936-294-5725 for more information. Farmers Market The Downtown Hunts- ville Farmers Market returns May 9th, from 8 a.m. until noon! It’s just the place for fresh pro- duce, crafts, and more - held on the east side of the Courthouse Square (University Avenue). Watch for updates at facebook.com/ COHmainstreet See you there! See What’s Happening Downtown This May! Wine Down, Shop Small Huntsville's Downtown Business Alliance will host their 4th annual Wine Down, Shop Small on Thursday, May 7th, from 5-9 p.m., show- casing the Downtown Courthouse Square. Come out and enjoy Texas springtime, wine direct from Texas wineries, local food sam- plings, unique shopping, live music, and an awesome atmosphere to spend the evening with your friends, your neighbors, and your fellow Huntsvillians! Tickets are only $20 per person. Get yours now at the Main Street office (936-291-5920) or at various downtown shops. This is an event you don’t want to miss! “Every Hero Has a Story” It’s true, and is the theme of this year’s Summer Reading Program coming up just around the corner at the Huntsville Public Library! Details will be out soon on how to sign up and participate. The kickoff event will be held Saturday, June 13th. (times to be announced) The first entertainment event of the program will be the following Tuesday, June 16th, at 10:30 a.m., with The Texas Mime, Mitch Corley. Kristi Glasgow, the Children’s Librarian, said, “We’re really excited about all of our new programs, especially our annual Summer Reading Program, so come and see us soon and check our web page for more details!” Additional events will be added for the Summer Reading Program through its end on Friday, July 31st, followed by a pool party at the City’s Aquatic Center on Monday, Au- gust 10th. Also returning this year is the adult program, Reading for Chocolate! Adults will receive a piece of chocolate for each book finished, up to eight books, after which their name will be entered in a prize drawing. City Librarian Linda Dodson said, “This is a fun pro- gram and our patrons really seem to enjoy it. Many of us have great memories of par- ticipating in summer reading contests, so we’re pleased to offer this again.” FY15-16 Budget Applications Due May 1 Hurricane Season begins June 1 - Prepare NOW! Heavy Trash Fee/Yard Waste Changes - In Effect April 3, 2015 On February 3, the City Council conducted a second reading and adopted the City’s updated guidelines for heavy trash pick up charges and yard waste bagging requirements (fee schedule changes for Solid Waste were approved on January 20). Heavy Trash Pick Up Effective April 3, 2015, customers who call in for Heavy Trash Pick Up Service will have a $25.00 charge added to their City of Huntsville utility account bill each time the service is used. This service is for residential customers only with an active utility account and a call-in is required. Requestors call 936-294-5796 to leave information on the voice mail in order to be added to the pick up list. They must leave a name, ser- vice address, account number, contact number, and a description of the item or items to be picked up. Heavy Trash Pick Up Service is for furniture, appliances, piles of brush not to ex- ceed 4 feet high, 10 feet in length, and 5 feet in depth, or limbs no larger than 12 inches in diameter and cut to 5 feet in length. Yard Waste Beginning April 3, plastic yard waste bags at the street’s edge will no longer be collected. Yard waste must be placed at the street’s edge for pick up in one of the following acceptable manners: - In paper compostable yard bags which can be purchased from local retailers - In personal trash cans not to exceed 30 gallons - Limbs no larger than 4 inches in diameter, cut to four feet in length, must be tied securely in bundles no larger than 2 feet in diameter, and not weigh more than 50 pounds For more information and specifics, please go to the City of Huntsville web page under Departments/Public Works/Solid Waste/Recycling. Citizens are also wel- come to contact the office at (936) 294 -5724 or eherklotz@huntsvilletx.gov. The Atlantic hurricane season is just around the cor- ner, and the City of Huntsville is working to make sure residents have all the information they need to prepare their families, homes and pets for the poten- tial severe weather ahead. According to John Waldo, Emergency Management Coordinator, a critical source for weather prepared- ness is the Texas Division of Emergency Manage- ment (TDEM) page, part of the Texas Department of Public Safety Web site. “The Texas Division of Emergency Management pro- vides extremely valuable information for families who are in the process of preparing for severe weather,” Waldo said. “From their web page, http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/, all visitors have to do is click on the ‘Public Information & Education’ link, and they’ll be taken to all the preparedness tips, supply kit checklists and safety information they’ll need to get through Hurricane Season.” The TDEM Web site includes awareness information on wildfires, severe weather, flood safety, hurricane and post-storm preparedness, lighting safety and more. On the Hurricane Preparedness page, readers will find information for evacuation planning, storm watch and warning articles, and post-storm infor- mation concerning power outages, debris removal and applications for financial assistance. “Since Hurricane Season officially begins on June 1st, I would recommend starting to read through the preparedness documents and gather the supplies you need in advance,” said Waldo. “Many of the items which are recommended for an emergency supply kit are either already in your home or can be purchased inexpensively.” John Waldo can be reached at 936-291-5945. The City of Huntsville is beginning work on the budget for fiscal year 2015-2016, and local appli- cations are being accepted. Each year, the City Council reviews requests from non-profit organiza- tions, and the Arts Commission and Hotel Occu- pancy Tax Board make decisions and recommen- dations based on their areas. Contact infor- mation is below, and all applications are due May 1 by 5:00 p.m. Non-profit funding - lwoodward@huntsvilletx.gov or 936-291-5403 Arts Commission proposals - lpease@huntsvilletx.gov or 936-291-5422 Hotel Occupancy Tax funding - kthomas@huntsvilletx.gov or 936-291-5932 All are invited to attend the opening reception for the new exhibit Dance Photography by Lynn Lane at The Wynne Home Arts & Visitor Center, May 9, 4-7 p.m. (exhibit will be on display through September). City of Huntsville Recycling Guidelines Direct questions to (936) 294-5743 Curbside recycling guidelines: 1. Rinse all plastics and cans to remove residue 2. Plastics 1-7 stamped with number and symbol accepted 3. Flatten items to save room inside of cart 4. Keep cart five (5) feet from all other objects including vehi- cles 5. Carts must be placed at the curb or street’s edge no later than 6:00 a.m. on the day of collection. Carts must be re- moved from the street’s edge by the end of the collection day (carts cannot be stored at the street’s edge) Items that cannot be placed in the City cart: Garbage, food waste, yard waste, loose shredded paper, glass/oil/filters, batteries, cell phones, electronics, Styrofoam, aluminum foil, or plastic bags of any kind. No plastic wrap, shrink wrap, or bubble wrap. No Styrofoam, even if it has a recycling number and symbol on item. Recycling Drop-Off Center Information: The Recycling Center accepts self-hauled recyclable items and is located at 590 I-45 North. The Recycling Center Attendant will be onsite to assist cus- tomers from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. Drop-offs can still be made Monday - Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and holiday closings are posted. Recycling Drop-off Center Guidelines: Aluminum - Soda cans, beer cans: Flattened/unflattened. Keep aluminum cans separate from steel cans. NO FOIL, BAKING PANS OR FOOD TRAYS. Steel Cans - Food cans, pet food cans, aerosol cans: Rinse out the can, you can leave the label on. Aerosol cans must be empty. Newspaper - Whatever comes inside the newspaper can be recycled. Stack and put in paper bags or cardboard boxes. Throw away plastic rain sleeves and rubber bands. Magazines - catalogs, phone books: Keep separate from newspaper. Place in brown bags or small cardboard boxes. DO NOT place in plastic bags. Paper - White or colored paper, remove paper clips, rubber bands and sta- ples if possible. Put in small boxes or paper stacks. Glass - Clear, green or brown only: Throw away lids, rinse out. You can leave the label on. Place glass in separate containers. NO window panes, light bulbs or dishware. Cardboard - Toilet/paper towel cores, food boxes, medicine boxes, shoe boxes, shipping/moving boxes, sugar bags, dog/cat food bags which in- clude a recycling logo, paper bags. NO packing materials, plastic liners or foam. Plastics - Numbered 1-7: Recycling symbol and number are required. Milk Jugs and Water Jugs - Throw away cap/lid. Rinse with warm water and try to flatten. Keep these jugs separate from soda bottles or colored plas- tic. Other #1 and #2 Plastic Containers - Examples of other recyclable contain- ers: syrup bottles #3, snap-on coffee lids #4, cottage cheese containers #5, yogurt containers #6, and ketchup bottles #7 Drop-off Center Also Accepts: Used motor oil, oil filters, cooking oil and anti- freeze. Visit www.huntsvilletx.gov for Area curbside recycling schedules, full list of acceptable curbside items and more recycling information. Yard Waste Specifics Collection Service: 1st, 3rd, and 5th Wednes- day of each month - No call-in required! Yard waste is classified as leaves, grass, pine needles, yard clippings and small brush, items referred to as “green waste.” The total number of compostable-bagged, canned, or bundled yard waste items is limited to twelve (12) per household per collection day. All yard waste materials must be placed within two (2) feet of street’s edge no later than 6:00 a.m. on the morning of the scheduled pick-up. Yard waste such as leaves, grass, pine needles or small clippings must be: (1) Bagged in compostable bags (not to exceed 30 gal- lons) or placed in personal garbage can; (2) Cannot exceed 50 pounds each; (3) City-issued garbage and recycling carts cannot be filled with yard waste. Tree limbs and brush must be: (1) No longer than four (4) feet in length; (2) Limbs no larger than four (4) inches in diameter; (3) Must be tied securely in bundles which cannot ex- ceed two (2) feet in diameter and can’t exceed 50 pounds each. The following items and locations DO NOT qualify for Yard Waste pick-up: (1) Household garbage of any kind; (2) Anything other than green waste: NO flower pots, fertilizer, mulch, bags, dirt, potting soil, sand, rock, gravel, etc. (3) Commercial businesses or commercially generated yard waste. Bring your City utility bill showing that you pay for gar- bage service and dispose of your yard waste at the City Transfer Station free of charge. This excludes commer- cial customers, yard waste contractors, and any lawn service providers. The customer must be present with their current City garbage bill at the time of disposal. For more information on yard waste trimming collection services, contact the Solid Waste Services Division at (936) 294-5743.