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. If you completed a prior survey, you are still eligible and will be asked new questions. 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.

‘Bama or Bust!

I am a Department of the Army civilian with 21 years of service. I periodically monitored the civilian personnel website for other jobs, though never seriously considered leaving the Fort Monroe, VA area. Leaving an installation that is right on the Chesapeake Bay, with all the benefits of living by the beach? Well it would take a great job in a great location to motivate me to move.

Browsing through the personnel website, I noticed numerous jobs at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Alabama? Why would I move there? I had never even driven through the state. Why would I leave this great area of Virginia for Alabama?

Well, curiosity got the best of me. I started asking around at work about Huntsville. Military, retired military and other civilians told me great and wonderful things about Huntsville. I “Googled” Huntsville and found the Chamber of Commerce website containing the community information packet for government personnel moving to Huntsville. What a great source of information! Imagine my surprise as I read through the packet: one out of three employed persons residing in Huntsville work in professional, scientific or technical services; 21 percent of the population over the age of 25 has a bachelor’s degree, with impressive statistics on residents possessing masters and doctorate degrees. Reading further on the cost of living and the price of homes made Huntsville even more appealing. I could actually afford to buy a nice home, especially considering the low property tax rate. Even though I do not have school age children, the statistics on the schools were very impressive. The large population of educated residents demands the best of schools for their children.

As I continued to read through the packet, my mind was made up. I applied for and accepted a position with U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command at Redstone Arsenal. After my first house hunting trip in Huntsville, I was even more certain of my decision. What a great city! Everyone I met was very friendly and enthusiastic about living in Huntsville. While eating lunch alone one afternoon, a lady approached me and asked me to join her and her sister, so I wouldn’t have to eat alone. What a fun lunch! I learned even more about the area. I found it easy to find my way around, thinking “YES, no more traffic!” I toured the city and found numerous cultural activities – the symphony, museums, botanical gardens, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, theaters, etc. I knew I had made the right decision. I have made the move to Huntsville, and have convinced several of my friends in Virginia to consider Redstone Arsenal when looking for another position. To them and others in the DC area, I say, ’Bama or Bust!

- Terese Penix
U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command

Festivals and Events within the Valley
Click map for more information about the events, including location.
Shadow Valley Gospel Music Festival Shadow Valley, TN July 5, 2007 www.singingambassadors.com When most people think of genuine Tennessee Valley music, they often envision the CMA Festival or Riverbend in Tennessee or Big Spring Jam in Alabama. However, you really don’t need thousands of people to enjoy true Valley music.
W.C. Handy Music Festival Florence, AL July 22 - 28, 2007 www.wchandymusicfestival.org One of the Southeast’s most popular summer celebrations is Florence’s week-long W.C. Handy Music Festival. This event, usually held in late July or early August, honors William Christopher Handy, the world famous “Father of the Blues.”
Spirit of America Decatur, AL July 4, 2007 www.decaturcvb.org This Independence Day festival has all of the essential patriotic American ingredients, from snow cones and hot dogs to fireworks and rock ‘n’ roll.
Tanner's Tractor Pull Tanner, AL July 27 - 28, 2007 www.tourathens.com Tractor and truck pulls are held periodically throughout the Valley to the enthusiastic cheers of hundreds. A tractor pull is a contest where both tractors and trucks compete to pull the heaviest load the longest distance.
Southern Brewer's Festival Chattanooga, TN August, 2007 www.southernbrewersfest.org Benjamin Franklin once made the statement, “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” If this is the case, then visitors to the Southern Brewer’s Festival must be among the happiest, most well-loved people in the region.
Tennesseee Walking Horse National Celebration Shelbyville, TN August 22 - September 1, 2007 www.twhnc.com As the title indicates, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is just that – a true celebration that features a multitude of activities for the entire family.
The Lincoln County Fair Fayettville, TN September 6 - 9, 2007 www.lincolncountyfairinfo.com For more than 100 years, the Lincoln County Fair has entertained people of the Tennessee Valley in a very special way. Unlike a typical festival where the emphasis is on commercial food and musical entertainment, this event is reminiscent of days gone by.
Sorghum Squeeze Festival Halls Mill, TN Obscure, small, and yet bursting with old-time country culture, the Sorghum Squeeze Festival is one of the region’s more unique and colorful additions to its list of autumn activities.
Riverfest Barbeque Cook-Off Decatur, AL September, 2007 www.decaturcvb.org Alabama barbeque lovers, listen up! For more than a decade, the Decatur Jaycees have hosted this annual weekend-long grilling competition, which has grown to feature more than 50 different teams.
Racking Horse World Celebration Priceville, AL September, 2007 www.rackinghorse.com More than 2,000 horses and owners compete in approximately 150 classes during this eight-day celebration.
Seafood Festival Guntersville, AL September 1, 2007 www.stwilliamchurch.com/festival This annual festival is sponsored by the local St. William Catholic Church and serves up more than its share of fish, shrimp, crab, crawfish, hush puppies, and slaw.
Big Spring Jam Huntsville, AL September 28 - 30, 2007 www.bigspringjam.org Al Green, the Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and even George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic have all played Huntsville’s Big Spring Jam. Since its inception in 1993, more than two million people have attended the Jam, which at present is averaging more than 200,000 music-lovers per year.
Photos and contents courtesy of "52 Weekends in the Valley" www.tennesseevalleybook.com