🌱 New Development Near Joe Davis Stadium + Monte Sano Art Festival

Morning, friends. Joyce Nash here with your Thursday edition of the Huntsville Patch newsletter, filled with all the things you need to know about what's happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 84 Low: 57.

Here are the top three stories in Huntsville today:

1. A new mixed-use development is in the works for the area adjacent to Joe Davis Stadium. The $145 million development proposed by Parkway Vesta LLC is under consideration with the city council, where council members are working to create a development agreement. The proposal plans include office space, apartments, retail, and a parking garage. A hotel is also being considered for the 18-acre site. Construction on the first of three phases is currently slated to begin by Jan. 1, 2025 and be completed by Jul. 1, 2026. (AL.com)
2. The Monte Sano Art Festival is coming up this weekend, featuring an expanded layout with 140 artists. This event will take place at Monte Sano State Park from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sep. 16 and from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sep. 17. Festival attendees will be able to explore a wide variety of art, including paintings, jewelry, sculptures, and more. While the festival is free, the state park charges an entrance fee of $5 per person and a parking fee of $10 per vehicle. Click here to learn more about the festival and see a full list of artists. (WHNT)
3. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey was in Huntsville earlier this week to visit students at one of the city's "turnaround schools." Ivey delivered books to Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School and spoke to third and fourth-grade students about the importance of reading. This visit is part of Ivey's turnaround school initiative, which seeks to boost low-performing schools in Alabama with increased funding and support. (WAFF)

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Today in Huntsville:

Thursday, September 14

• Human Rights Film Festival At University Of Alabama In Huntsville, Morton Hall (All Day)
• Soda Water & Coca-Cola: A History Of Soft Drinks In Huntsville At Huntsville Madison County Public Library (6:00 PM)
• Live Music Thursdays With Mother Mars At Humphrey's Bar & Grill (6:30 PM)

From our partner:

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From my notebook:

• The Huntsville City Council will feature live music performances at the upcoming City Council meeting on Sep. 14. The Huntsville High School band will perform outside City Hall beginning at 5:00 p.m., and local singer Dani Caines will sing the national anthem during the meeting. (Huntsville Music Office via Facebook)
• It's time to pull on your dancing shoes! Huntsville Parks and Recreation offers a weekly adaptive dance class on Wednesdays at the Optimist Recreation Center. This free class runs from 6:00-7:00 p.m. and is open to attendees who are at least 8 years old. (Huntsville Parks and Recreation via Facebook)
• In case you missed it, the Huntsville Housing Authority is hosting an event called "Game Changers Series: Helping Small Businesses Thrive" on Sep. 21. This event will take place at The Atrium at Redstone Federal Credit Union and will cover how to create a business plan. Today, Sep. 14, is the deadline to RSVP, which you can do by calling Tasha Reed at (256) 534-0075, extension 405. (Huntsville Housing Authority via Facebook)

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That's it for today. I'll see you soon!

— 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.