December 2023 e-newsletter for Council Member Bill Kling
December 2023 e-newsletter for Council Member Bill Kling
City of Huntsville, Alabama
From the desk of Council Member Bill Kling, District 4
Bill and Tanje Kling pose for a photo next to a statue wearing a Santa suit
Happy Holidays
Another holiday season is upon us, and I am again reminded why this is a wonderful time to be in Huntsville, Alabama. With events happening all over the City, from Tinsel Trail in Big Spring Park to the annual Christmas parade on Dec. 5, it truly is a magical time. 
The holiday season is about making new memories, but it’s also about celebrating and familiar traditions. Here are a few of mine:
  • Favorite holiday food: My mother’s recipe for turkey dressing
  • Favorite holiday song: “Silent Night”
  • Favorite holiday movie: “White Christmas”
  • Favorite holiday tradition: Family, food and football!
  • The best thing about celebrating the holidays in Huntsville: I get to see friends whom I normally don't get to see.
As always, I am truly thankful to represent you on the City Council, and I look forward to seeing what great things are in store for 2024. I am also thankful for the support of my wife, Tanje, who is a constant source of inspiration and encouragement.
From our home to yours, I wish you a safe and healthy holiday season!
Bill Kling and his wife Tanje hold plates at OneTable. There are other people dining at a table behind them.
Community Pride
We enjoyed a delicious lunch at the annual One Table Huntsville, a free citywide Thanksgiving lunch hosted by Village of Promise and presented by Target. It was a wonderful feeling to see people from all walks of life sitting down together for a meal in Big Spring Park. A big thank you to all the hardworking volunteers who served the more than 2,000 people who attended. 
Bill Kling looks at former Mayor Loretta Spencer at a City Council meeting
Thanking Loretta
City Council honored former Mayor Loretta Spencer at the Nov. 16 City Council meeting. Few people know she founded the Huntsville Sports Commission, which brings high-profile sporting events, from cross-country competitions and sand volleyball to collegiate basketball. Council presented her with a resolution recognizing the renaming of the Championship Soccer Complex to the Loretta P. Spencer Soccer Complex. It’s a great facility that now bears the name of a visionary leader.
Council Member Kling and Mayor Battle applaud following the unveilng of a historic marker at McThornmor Acres
More Than a Marker
A historic marker was recently unveiled at the entrance of McThornmor Acres, near the campus of the University of Alabama-Huntsville. This mid-century neighborhood is a great example of Huntsville at the dawn of the Space Race. Thanks to those who worked behind the scenes to have the neighborhood added to the National Register of Historic Places. Also, thanks to the residents for their community involvement and desire to keep the neighborhood looking great.
Learn More
A picture of a historic marker in Glenwood Cemetery. In the background there are gravestones and trees.
Cemetery Appreciation
Kudos to local historian Dr. Caroline Swope, Ollye Conley and our Cemetery Department for their work in securing Glenwood Cemetery’s listing to the National Register of Historic Places. The cemetery on Hall Avenue is the final resting place of many important figures, including Henry Binford, an educator; Burgess Scruggs, a physician; and Charles Hendley Jr., the editor of The Huntsville Gazette. Citizens can learn a lot of history through their local cemeteries, and we’re honored to play a role in recognizing and preserving Glenwood for future generations. 
View Details
Bags of leaves sit curbside waiting to be collected
Lawn and Order
Leaves are still falling in most neighborhoods, which pose hazards for streets and sidewalks. Clogged storm drains also cause flooding, threatening drivers and pedestrians alike. Representatives with Huntsville’s Landscape Management and Public Works departments shared some tips on how to safely dispose of leaves, including mowing, composting and bagging. 
Read Blog
A young girl in a wool hat and pink scarf catches snowflakes on her tongue.
Beat the Winter Blues
The weather’s turning colder, but it’s important to remain active during the holiday season. If you’ve never checked out any of the City's Parks & Recreation facilities, why not start now? The new Winter Program Guide is filled with more than 100 activities, most of which are free to the public. From athletics to arts and crafts, there are activities for residents of all ages.
Check It Out
COMING UP
Dec: 7: City Council Meeting, City Hall, 1st Floor Chambers, 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 8: Big Spring Jingle, Big Spring Park, 5 p.m.

Dec. 18: District 4 Public Office Hours, Downtown Huntsville Public Library, 6 p.m.

Dec. 21: City Council Meeting, City Hall, 1st Floor Chambers, 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 25: Municipal Offices Closed for Christmas

Jan. 1: Municipal Offices Closed for New Year’s Day
Subscribe to this e-newsletter Subscribe to more City e-newsletters
HuntsvilleAL.gov
Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
308 Fountain Circle
Huntsville, AL | 35801 US
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
Subscribe to our email list.