🌱 Mental Health Scavenger Hunt Next Week + Topping Out At City Hall

Hello, friends! It's me, Sean Peek, your host of the Huntsville Patch newsletter. Here's all the community news you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

Cloudy with a thunderstorm. High: 74 Low: 57.

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Here are the top three stories in Huntsville today:

1. A week-long scavenger hunt designed to showcase Huntsville's mental health resources kicks off this Sunday, May 21. Little Orange Fish and 57 North Hampton have partnered to create The Love Hunt. Participants will visit various local destinations and try different techniques for mental well-being, such as connecting with others or spending time outdoors while earning points towards the grand prize. Activities throughout the week include a nature walk at the Huntsville Botanical Garden and free yoga with Light on Yoga Fitness. To learn more, click here. (Rocket City Now)
2. In case you missed it, a topping-out ceremony occurred on Wednesday downtown to celebrate the final beam being placed on Huntsville's new city hall building. Construction is expected to conclude next year, and Mayor Tommy Battle said that he expects the building to stand for the next 100 years. City employees signed the final beam before it was placed, and a crowd cheered as the beam was put into position. To illustrate the need for the new $90 million city hall, Battle held up a bucket used to catch rainwater that leaks into the current city hall. He joked that there may be a "giant crushing celebration" for the buckets that will become obsolete when the new city hall opens. (AL.com)
3. Huntsville is the largest city in Alabama, and according to U.S. Census estimates, it experienced rapid growth from July 2021 to July 2022. Huntsville reportedly added 3,300 people during that time, which is about nine people per day. At 222,000 residents, Huntsville is the only Alabama city with over 200,000 people. Montgomery and Birmingham each lost about 900 people from 2021 to 2022, leaving them tied for the second-largest city in the state. (AL.com)

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Today in Huntsville:

• Yoga By The River At Hays Nature Preserve (8:00 AM)
• Rocket City BBQ And Soul Fest At NSS Conference Center (10:00 AM)
• Water Lantern Festival At Big Spring Park West (5:30 PM)
• Huntsville Classic Featuring Martina McBride At The Orion Amphitheater (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Jeff Ross will be coming to Stand Up Live on Jun. 2-3! He has appeared on Netflix's popular show "Bumping Mics" and is also known for his hilarious roasts on Comedy Central. Click here to learn more. (Stand Up Live Huntsville via Facebook)
• The Huntsville Planning Commission recently voted to rename a section of Meridian Street to Lewters Way to honor the 94-year-old Lewter Hardware store that closed last year. Huntsville City Council will vote on the change at their meeting on May 25. (City of Huntsville, Alabama - Government via Facebook)
• The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber is set to host the nation's first-ever UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup next week in Cummings Research Park! From May 26-29, come out to the park to see some exciting races with international flair. (Huntsville/Madison County Chamber via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Free Stuff And Great Perks Every Week (May 23)
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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you soon.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.