Greetings
This is the official newsletter for families and individuals considering relocation to the Tennessee Valley as part of BRAC 2005. Whether you are new to the area or are considering a move, we are glad to welcome you and help introduce you to the region. We invite you to take a closer look at the Tennessee Valley and the diverse communities that make it a great place to live. The Tennessee Valley offers a wide variety of recreational and cultural opportunities with something for everyone. From mountain biking and symphony performances to barbecue festivals and Broadway shows, this quarterly newsletter offers a glimpse into the seasonal events and attractions throughout our region.
As an added incentive, we are offering a chance to win a “Weekend in the Valley” with up to $750 to apply toward a visit to any of our communities when you complete our brief survey. There will be one winner per quarter. We also provide a direct link to personal assistance with any of your relocation questions or concerns through our Just Ask! feature – no question is too simple or too complex. We want you to know that the communities of the Tennessee Valley welcome you!
Making a move can be difficult when faced with the unknown. We hope this newsletter will help you get to know us and will provide a way for you to find the answers you need.
Expectation versus Reality
When I decided to relocate with my position from Virginia to Alabama, I got a lot of reactions: “You’re going where?” “Can they make you do that?” The reality is a vibrant, urban city with quality of life to spare. In Virginia, I faced declining home value, increasing commute headaches, and shrinking time with my family. In Huntsville, I have a commute time of 20 minutes (25 in rush hour), lower taxes (and no tax on military retirement), and more accessible activities than in the NCR. I also spend more time with my family than I do in my carpool, and I have twice the house for less than what I sold my home in Virginia.
Sure, there were some glitches with the move and some hiccups at work, but MDA-South is working very hard to correct problems, and the people in Huntsville are very friendly. Huntsville is preparing now with road improvements and other infrastructure upgrades, not waiting until the BRAC folks arrive.
Would I do it again, knowing what I know now? Yes, indeed.
- Rick Schwarz, MDA/DV
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Festivals and Events within the Valley
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Click map for more information about the events, including location.
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 Great Moonbuggy Race
Huntsville, AL
April 13-14, 2007
moonbuggy.msfc.nasa.gov
Each year at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, approximately 75 colleges and high schools compete in one of the most unusual races on the planet. The Great Moonbuggy Race is a competition that challenges students to design and build a human-powered, lightweight aluminum vehicle.
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 Tim's Cajun Kitchen Crawfish Festival
Huntsville, AL
April 14, 2007
www.timscajunkitchen.com
Would you believe that there’s a place where folks devour more than 7,000 pounds of crawfish in just seven hours?
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 Art on the Lake
Guntresville, AL
April 14 - 15
www.lakeguntersville.org
For almost half a century, this arts and crafts fair has given Guntersville residents and visitors an opportunity to add a little pizazz to their home decor.
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 Bloomin' Festival
Cullman, AL
April 21 - 22
www.bloominfestival.com
This event, held for over two decades, welcomes up to 25,000 visitors during the festival weekend. It showcases the community of Cullman and raises money for the local Saint Bernard Preparatory School.
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 Panoply
Huntsville, AL
April 27 - 29, 2007
www.panoply.org
Panoply, Huntsville’s annual arts festival, is held downtown in scenic Big Spring Park at the end of April. This festival caters to the young at heart, and to all those who have an appreciation for aesthetics.
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 Moontown Air Show
Moontown, AL
www.moontownairport.com
Airplane lovers, helicopter fans, and ultralight hobbyists stroll the grassy Moontown airfield (northeast of Huntsville) for one weekend every April to check out what their fellow aviators are flying.
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 Poke Salat Festival
Arab, AL
May 4 - 5, 2007
www.marshallcountycvb.com
Arab, Alabama, located approximately 18 miles south of Huntsville, is the home of the one and only annual Poke Salat Festival. Poke salat is made from pokeweed and is commonly known as “the poor man’s greens.”
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 Hot Air Balloon Classic
Decatur, AL
May 26 - 27, 2007
www.decaturcvb.org
This huge gathering is not only one of Alabama’s most popular events but arguably one of the most beautiful spectator sports in the Tennessee Valley.
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 Space Camp 20th Anniversary
Huntsville, AL
June 13 - 18, 2007
www.spacecamp.com
Space Camp has announced that actor William Shatner, famous for his role as Captain Kirk in the Star Trek series, will emcee the first ever Space Camp Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Awards Ceremony at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville June 13. The event is one of many planned for the summertime celebration.
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 Bonnaroo
Manchester, TN
June 14 - 17, 2007
www.bonnaroo.com
Although this festival is a relative newcomer to the Tennessee Valley, Bonnaroo certainly has a huge following of fans. It is Tennessee’s version of Woodstock, with all of the highs and lows therein.
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 North Alabama Scottish Festival and Highland Games
Madison, AL
June 16 - 18
www.tvss.org
If you’re eager to swap barbeque and fiddles for haggis and bagpipes, every year the city of Madison throws its annual North Alabama Scottish Festival and Highland Games.
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