🌱 HCS Facing Bus Driver Shortage + Improvement Funds In Each District

Hi all. It's me, Joyce Nash, your host of the Huntsville Patch newsletter — here to impart all the most important things happening in our community.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 87 Low: 63.

From our partner:

Looking for ways to give back to your community? Here are five amazing volunteer organizations in Huntsville.

Here are the top three stories today in Huntsville:

1. Huntsville City Schools is facing a shortage of school bus drivers that is causing delays for students and concerns for parents. Several parents reached out to WAFF 48 News to share their experiences with bus routes and schedules. One parent expressed frustration about their child's school bus arriving a half hour early without notification, and another parent discussed the overcrowding on their child's bus. Parents recently received a notice from Huntsville City Schools explaining that the district is actively recruiting bus drivers. (WAFF)
2. Last year, the Huntsville City Council adopted a resolution to allow the city to distribute $75,000 in discretionary improvement funds to each city district. As a result, this year, all five of the city's districts received funding to improve the quality of life and address specific community needs. Among the funded projects were a District 1 mural by Arts Huntsville, a project in District 3 to install railroad crossing equipment, and funding for Huntsville Animal Services in District 4 to reduce animal euthanasia and increase adoptions. (HuntsvilleAL.gov)
3. A Huntsville business owner working to support fire victims in Maui by donating a portion of her sales. Yarden Binns, the owner of Pure Joy Plants, was stationed on the island of Oahu for several years and still feels a connection to the area. She is donating 25 percent of all sales to a Maui charity and victims' GoFundMe drives. Binns said she is hopeful that other Huntsville businesses may join her in donating to support the people impacted by the fire. (WAFF)

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Today in Huntsville:

Friday, August 18

• Ambiance's HBCU Fest: College Hill Edition At John Hunt Park (5:00 PM)
• Food Truck & Trailer Rallies At Big Spring Park (5:00 PM)
• Music For Meds At The Electric Belle (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• This Saturday, Aug. 19, the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra will present Summer Night Symphony: The Fourth Wall at Cavalry Hill Community Center at 7:30 p.m. This performance includes musical pieces, lyrical pieces, and spoken word. Tickets are available here. (Arts Huntsville via Facebook)
• Next month, Huntsville will be hosting the National Cyber Summit, and there are state grants available for Alabama public teachers to attend the event for free. Click here to learn more. (City of Huntsville, Alabama - Government via Facebook)
• The Johnson Legacy Center offers team-building workshops for groups looking to grow stronger outside of a conference room. To learn more, call 256-213-4JLC. (Huntsville Parks and Recreation via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Free Stuff And Great Perks Every Week (August 22)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! See you all tomorrow morning for another update.

— Joyce Nash

About me: Joyce is a freelance writer and poet whose work has appeared in the Hello Gloria newsletter and Nine Cloud Journal. Her background ranges from journalism to fitness instruction and spans the east coast to the West. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her husband and two cats.