🌱 Patch AM: How 200 Huntsville YMCA families just scored free 2026 memberships

Hi there, Huntsville! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How 200 Huntsville YMCA families just scored free 2026 memberships
• How Huntsville scientists are chasing dark matter with a new telescope
• Which Huntsville shows made Alabama’s best concerts of 2025 list?

Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings and 3 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the balloon say to the doctor? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: Increasing cloudiness, with a high of 62 and low of 38 degrees.
• Monday: Sun and some clouds, temps: high: 58, low: 50.
• Tuesday: Clouds yielding to sun, with a high of 62 and low of 54 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. YMCA gives free 2026 family memberships to more than 200 Tennessee Valley families (waff.com) — Families in Huntsville’s Heart of the Valley YMCA early childhood program are getting free family memberships for all of 2026, thanks to corporate and individual donors. More than 200 Tennessee Valley families will gain access to pools, gyms, and sports, and there are still about 30 openings left in the early childhood education program for those who want to benefit.
   

2. UAH Researchers Use New X-ray Telescope To Probe Dark Matter Decay (huntsvillebusinessjournal.com) — A Huntsville-based research team at UAH is using NASA and JAXA’s new XRISM X-ray telescope to hunt for signs of decaying dark matter in distant galaxy clusters. Led by Dr. Ming Sun, the group is setting some of the strongest limits yet on elusive particles like sterile neutrinos, positioning Huntsville scientists at the forefront of solving one of cosmology’s biggest mysteries.
   

3. Alabama concerts we loved in 2025 (al.com) — Huntsville music fans get several shoutouts in this statewide look back at 2025 concerts, from Phish’s earlier run at the Orion Amphitheater to a packed Zakk Sabbath tribute at Mars Music Hall and the now-canceled South Star Music Festival. The story highlights how Huntsville fits into Alabama’s booming live music scene, alongside big shows in Birmingham, Decatur, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
   

4. New, eco-friendly mural towers over MidCity District (whnt.com) — A massive new mural now overlooks Huntsville’s MidCity District, wrapping the Wellory Living parking garage with imagery of sun, water, wind, and plants. Florida artist Christian Stanley and his wife spent five weeks in tough weather painting the 7,200-square-foot piece, inspired by the building’s net-zero, renewable-energy-focused design. It’s a fresh, eco-themed landmark for anyone visiting MidCity.
   

5. Huntsville group cooked, gave away gift bags for people in need at Downtown Rescue Mission (waff.com) — A Huntsville service group from Al Azhar Temple No. 195 spent Saturday cooking and assembling about 125 gift bags for people staying at the Downtown Rescue Mission. Volunteers packed food, snacks, blankets, gloves, lip balm, and other cold‑weather essentials as part of their year‑round effort to support neighbors in need.
   

📸 Around Huntsville

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Huntsville

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Sunday December 21

• Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
  The Royal at Stovehouse Event Center 3414 Governors Drive Southwest Huntsville, Alabama 35805
  8:45 pm

Monday December 22

• Game Box Unplugged
  Monrovia Public Library , 254 Allen Drake Dr , Huntsville
  1:00 pm

Saturday December 27

• Yappy Hour Infodump Party
  Madison Public Library , 142 Plaza Blvd , Madison
  1:00 pm
• The Zooks @ The Fraternal Order of Eagles - Huntsville
  Fraternal Order of Eagles #3263 , 2500 10th St SW , Huntsville
  7:30 pm

Sunday December 28

• Candlelight: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac
  Stovehouse Event Center , 3414 Governors Dr SW , Huntsville
  6:45 pm

Wednesday December 31

• Noon Year's Eve Party!
  Madison Public Library , 142 Plaza Blvd , Madison
  10:30 am

📣 Huntsville Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Sunday December 21

• Hat Bar Class
  University Pickers , 3405 SW Triana Blvd , Huntsville
  1:00 pm
• Christmas Light Show
  Toyota Field , 500 Trash Panda Wy , Madison
  5:59 pm
• Shadracks Christmas Wonderland - Madison
  Toyota Field , 500 Trash Panda Wy , Madison
  5:59 pm

Monday December 22

• Finance Committee Meeting
  City of Madison Calendar , 100 Hughes Rd , Madison
  4:45 pm
• Madison City Council Meeting
  City of Madison Calendar , 100 Hughes Rd , Madison
  6:00 pm

Thursday December 25

• City of Madison Closed Christmas Day
  City of Madison Calendar Madison, AL 35758

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• The Big Spring Jingle tonight was a fantastic event!
  My family had a lot of fun, and our daughter was really excited to get a photo with Santa. Free events like this are why I love Huntsville. (The… (Nextdoor Westlawn)
• Update: animal services came and got her.
  Really hoping her family finds her. Anyone in Sandhurst missing their pig?!? Found behind our house on Hermosa Drive. Please help find this sweet… (Nextdoor Farley)

• HPD is investigating a late Wednesday (Dec. 17) night shooting that left one person injured & sparked a multi-agency vehicle pursuit. One suspect has... (X: HSVPolice)
• The Housing Services Office, located at One Stop in Building 3494 on Honest John Road, provides relocation support for Soldiers and families through... (X: TeamRedstone)

• International Paper Company posted a job opening for Forklift driver / Material Handler in Huntsville. Apply here.
• Alabama Staffing posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Huntsville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Huntsville here.

Ok Huntsville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I feel lightheaded!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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