August 2024 Newsletter
Mark your calendars for our next get-together.
The Monte Sano Community
70th Birthday Dinner for the Civic Association
on Thursday, October 10
at Monte Sano State Park Lodge
from 5PM to 8PM
and save the date for the
MSCA Membership’s
Holiday Gathering
Thursday, December 12
at Monte Sano State Park Lodge
from 5PM to 8PM
Hello Mountaineers!
This month’s edition of the Monte Sano Civic Association’s Mountaineer Newsletter is about gathering like-minded individuals for many purposes.
70th Anniversary Celebration of the Monte Sano Community – October 10th
This fall marks the 70th anniversary of the Civic Association. It was the MSCA that transformed a scattering of homes outside the City Limits into the city limits of Huntsville. Within a few years of its founding, the MSCA succeeded in getting mountain residents City Water, Fire and Police protection, and ... Monte Sano Elementary.
The Monte Sano Pool followed shortly and was built entirely by the community. Teenagers learned how to weld and poor cement, even kindergarteners were put to work gathering rocks!
The Pool, the School, and the Park laid the foundation of the community, and continues to build community.
We want to celebrate the last 70 years of community, and keep that community spirit going for generations to come.
Please mark your calendar for October 10th at the Lodge. There will be a Community Potluck Dinner (BYOB), shared memories, door prizes, cake, and much much more – look for more details in the September issue.
And... ALL mountain residents are welcome – this is not limited to MSCA members.
Upcoming Activities
CHILI COOK-OFF
First off, on the heel’s of the fun and successful Ladies Salad Supper, we would like to announce an upcoming Chili Cook-Off. Dust off your favorite chili recipe for a chance to be the champion. Details coming soon.
MSCA DIRECTORY
As we approach the final stages of development for the MSCA’s Directory, we’d like to ask you to pay attention when our volunteers are knocking on your doors and calling your phones. They are trying to make the directory as up-to-date as possible. If you think your information may be stale, please contact Jeff McCracken at directory@montesanocivicassociation.org
COMMUNITY TEXT COMMUNICATIONS
We are working towards a new text messaging service to infrequently text numbers of the MSCA community to allow us to stay informed on timely issues. At this time we are just letting you know that we may soon contact you for text message authorization for announcements and emergencies like traffic issues, tornadoes, snow/ ice, and time-sensitive mountain news.
CLUBS
Anyone that is in charge of a currently active group, or wants to be in charge of a group for the mountain, please email info@montesanocivicassociation.org or talk to a board member so that we can connect interested persons.
Here is what we are working towards so far:
Game Night- first Friday of every month
We are working to get a regular game night on the calendar where we will have a tables set up at the Baptist Church Activity Building with a few different concurrent board games being played. Open to all ages, donations appreciated to pay for the cleaning fee for facility use. Again, more details coming soon.
Other activities/ clubs that we would like some chairpersons for:
Trivia Night
Walking Club
Book Club
Garden Club
Whatever club you’d like to head up, email us at info@montesanocivicassociation.org
so that we can send out that information in future editions of the newsletter.
Pencil It In:
OCTOBER
October 10th Monte Sano Community 70th Birthday Party at the State Park Lodge –details in our next issue.
Monte Sano Civic Association BOARD elections upcoming. If you would like to be on the election committee or to nominate someone for a board position, please contact Camille Scales at 256-783-9485 or camrme@aol.com
DECEMBER
Also, mark your calendars for the upcoming Christmas dinner. This year we will have kids crafts, dancing, potluck and more to ensure a fun time for all.
MSCA Membership’s
Holiday Gathering
Thursday, December 12
at Monte Sano State Park Lodge
from 6PM to 8PM
How to join MSCA
If your membership has lapsed, please contact please contact membership at membership@montesanocivicassociation.org to re-up your dues and information. You’ll need a current membership to get the much-anticipated directory when it comes out.
Monte Sano “Neighborhood Network”
The Monte Sano Civic Association is currently updating its Welcome Booklets to be distributed to new Mountain neighbors.
A new item for the updated Booklets, is a Neighborhood Network sheet to enable new residents to find the goods or services they need. For instance, they may seek a new dentist, doctor, electrician, insurance agent, hairstylist, Mary Kay Consultant, etc. Or, they may need to find neighborhood youngsters who offer babysitting, housesitting, mail collecting, “Mothers’ Helpers”, yard or other services.
These listings will be quite simple: words only (no logos, pictures, or graphics); and, each listing should be a maximum of 2 lines of 12-point type.
A few examples are:
Adults:
“State Farm Insurance agent; 20 years experience specializing in car, home, liability policies; references available. Call Owen at (256)999-9999.”
“Mary Kay Consultant for 10 years; top seller for last 3 years. In-home consultations; 10% off first order; many Mtn customers. Cyn (256)888-8888.”
“I love to bake cakes - people say I’m good at it! Cakes for special events or “just because”. 19 years on Monte Sano. Jill Jones. 256-444-4444.”
Youngsters:
“I mow lawns; 11 yrs. old, responsible, good grades; many happy Mountain yards; lots of references. Call Ace: 256-777-7777.
“Pet walking by Wendy; 8 yrs old; mature; dogs under 35 lbs; reasonable rates; references. I love dogs and they love me, too. 256-222-2222.
“I am Will. I am 6 years old. I am a Mother’s Helper. I will come to your house & play with your 3-5 year old while you dust. Call my Mom Ann at 256-333-3333.
The cost of each ad is $10.00. We hope the Neighborhood Network sheet will be useful for both new folks moving to Monte Sano as well as for the advertisers offering goods and/or services.
To submit an ad, please send the text you’d like published and a check for $10 payable to:
Monte Sano Civic Association
P. O. Box 10077
Huntsville, AL 35801
In order to be included in the new edition of the Welcome Booklets, we must receive your submission by Monday, September 2, 2024.
For questions or further information, contact Cam Scales (256)783-9485/ camrme@aol.com.
Upcoming Voter Information
THE BELOW TEXT IS FROM ONE OF OUR MOUNTAIN VOTER ADVOCATES, DARLENE EHINGER
I’ve gathered some contact information to help you register to vote, check registration, and mark your calendars about important election dates. For those of you new to the mountain , we are Precinct 10 and vote at Monte Sano Methodist Church. Polls are open from 7 am to 7 pm. Photo IDs are required.
Some Contact Info:
Website: Https://www.madisoncountyvotes.com
Text: “Hi”. 256-289-7171
Call: Probate judge, Frank Barger, 256-532-3330
Debra Kizer, Circuit Clerk. 256-532-3380
Board of Registrars : 256- 532-3510
To check voter registration status: https://myinfo.alabama.votes
Please feel free to contact me as well. M. Darlene Ehinger, Precinct 10 Inspector. Check Monte Sano Directory for more contact information.
Municipal elections:huntsvilleal.gov
The next city election is August 27. As far as I know at this time, we do not have any candidates from our district in this election. Mayor Battle had no opposition.City Council declared him the winner. If I learn anything different, I will let you know asap. In the meantime, here is the city’s absentee voting info. City of Huntsville, Alabama - Government & Absentee voting for the Aug. 27 municipal election in the City of Huntsville is now open.
The City Clerk's Office will accept absentee applications by mail through 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug.
20. The last day for a voter to apply for an absentee ballot in person is Aug. 22, while Aug. 26 is the last day to apply for an emergency absentee ballot.
Learn more E https://bit.ly/46xecrc
IMPORTANT DATES:
October 21, 2024 - Voter registration deadline
October 29, 2024 - Last day to apply for an absentee ballot by mail
October 31, 2024 - Last day to apply for an absentee ballot in person
November 4, 2024 - last day to hand-deliver an absentee ballot
November 5, 2024 - General Election
Absentee ballots returned by mail must be received by noon, except for persons casting absentee ballots pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA voters)
Foggy Days and Fog-Colored Cars
As our foggy and rainy season approaches, the MSCA Board would like to remind you that turning on your headlights in inclement weather not only allows you to see better, it also allows others to see you better. Please have a conversation with all the drivers in your household about the safety of driving with lights on.
Also of note, the new lines painted on the road are a result of having community safety conversations with our mountain advocate and City Councilman David Little. Thank him and your Board next time you see them.
Aluminum Cans recycled for MADD
Newcomers (and people who have lived on Monte Sano a long time) may not know there is a bin in the back parking lot of Monte Sano United Methodist Church to collect aluminum cans for recycling with proceeds from the sell of the cans going to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). 100% of the proceeds are used in Alabama to increase awareness of the problem of drunk driving and to further the mission of MADD which is to “end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking.” According to U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics, 2 out of 3 people will be impacted by drunk driving in their lifetime. Thank you for recycling your aluminum cans for MADD.
We’ll be back again soon with further details on all of these works in progress.
We all love how special our mountain community is.
Please know the MSCA is working to keep it that way.
Consider getting involved with us.
Sincerely,
Your neighbors on the Civic Association Board
Anna Gail Joyce - Communications
Don Masterson – City Liaison
Sandy McAnally - Secretary
Jeff McCracken - Directory
Stephen Norris - Treasurer
Ralph Petroff - President
Joe Pinnix – Vice President
Rebekah Sanders - Membership
Camille Scales – Special Projects
Mary Tally Watson – Social
