City of Huntsville – Page 2 – Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics

Thirty Years Later: Sam Houston Statue Still Standing Tall

by Chrissy Biello

Thirty years ago, David Adickes unveiled “A Tribute to Courage” – an iconic 67-foot statue of Sam Houston that has become a landmark in Huntsville. As a pivotal historical figure, Sam Houston left a legacy of resilience and integrity that has left a great impact on Huntsville. The installation of this statue has significantly boosted Huntsville’s tourism, contributing $8.5 million in local and state revenue this year alone.

Following our recent attendance at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum celebration, the LEAP students were honored to support another special Huntsville event: the 30th anniversary of Adickes’ towering Sam Houston statue, hosted by the Sam Houston Statue and Visitors Center.

Upon arrival, I immediately noticed the beautiful fairy lights that lined the path to the statue. While exploring the illuminated trail would come later, we first needed to attend to our duties. We had the privilege of welcoming many distinguished guests, including Mary Laura Gibbs, Mayor Russell and Tish Humphrey, and the celebrated artist himself, David Adickes, alongside his guest Linda.

Also, it was particularly special to see the two descendants of Sam Houston again, Lindsey Hughes and her mother, Penny.

The reception room, beautifully transformed by Tracy Chappell and her visitor center staff, provided an elegant backdrop for the evening.

They created a perfect atmosphere with carefully curated historical artifacts, mementos, and photographs from the statue’s inception, and an impressive charcuterie spread. A personal favorite of our group had to be the “Big Sam” cookies– they were almost too beautiful to eat!

Just as we had done the previous evening, we seized the opportunity to capture a photo with Mr. Adickes. He warmly agreed to join us in front of the designated “selfie area.”

To our great surprise, Mr. Adickes graciously signed miniature Sam Houston statues for each of us. We were absolutely thrilled by this personal touch, and it truly made the evening even more special.

The evening became even more memorable when Cinthia, Olivia, and I had the chance to take a photo with Miranda Estrada, the Economic Development Specialist for the City of Huntsville. As a former LEAP Ambassador herself and a former intern in the Economic Development Department while at SHSU, Miranda went on to become our supervisor during our own internships in that department. Having all of us together made for a heartwarming reunion and a reminder of how impactful the LEAP experience is.

As the celebration wound down, we finally ventured down the beautifully lit path to view the statue. We stopped for photos at the giant Sam Houston head statue along the way before reaching the main monument. This was only my second time seeing it up close – the first being when I was around one year old, a moment I recently discovered in my older sister’s scrapbook!

The girls could not resist photographing their newly signed miniature statues in front of the large statue (Olivia was especially eager to take photos of them taking photos!).

The night ended with us taking a group selfie with the impressive statue. Overall, the opportunity to meet Sam Houston’s descendants and to speak to David Adickes twice in one week made for two perfect nights in Huntsville!

ROAD-E-O: Public Works has a Parks-and-Rec Worthy Day

Cinthia Villarreal

On the third week of May, cities across the country celebrated National Public Works Week, which seeks to recognize and appreciate local employees for their vital hard work throughout the year.

Naturally, the City of Huntsville joined in the celebration by hosting their annual ROAD-E-O, organized by the Public Works Administrative Assistant, Linda Hicks. Chrissy, Olivia, and I were thrilled to attend and even participate!

Huntsville city employees gathered at the new training room of the recently inaugurated Service Center to enjoy lunch. While they were waiting in line for their food, Mrs. Hicks and I handed each employee a goodie bag, which included a gift card for a free Chick-Fil-A breakfast and a $20 coupon for Color Bar, as well as a ticket to the thrilling raffle.

With full stomachs and a lucky ticket, we headed outside, where the ROAD-E-O games awaited. The employees look forward to this tournament throughout the year, and now that I witnessed it, I understand why.

The ROAD-E-O is composed of several “games,” the Backpack Blower, which tests the participant’s ability to guide a tennis ball between traffic cones with a leaf blower (this was exceedingly fun to watch), and the Mower Madness, which made the participant drive a mowing machine through a predetermined course in the least time possible, are just a couple of examples.

One that left us all in awe was the Mini X Challenge. The operator had to meticulously move the claw to nudge six tennis balls that were placed on top of traffic cones, without touching the cones. As if this wasn’t complicated enough, the participant had to move the claw around a couple of barriers in the least amount of time possible. This particular game left me amazed as it shows not only composure and precision from the player but also their experience with the machine.

Another fan favorite was the Pumper Race which Olivia participated in, along with our city manager, Aron Kulhavy, and the Assistant Police Chief, James Barnes. They had to work together to connect a hose to a firetruck, get water running, and tilt a traffic cone placed a few feet away.

As the games came to a close, we came together for the long-awaited raffle, which included a variety of objects, ranging from gift cards to coolers and from a saber…

…to SHSU football tickets. Most of these prizes were donated by local businesses and community folks, including SHSU, 3 Spoons, Carbonero’s, McKenzie’s, and more!

The trophies for the tournament were also awarded…

…with the Water Department winning the overall best department by earning the most trophies!

As the day came to an end, we reminisced on everything city employees do to keep Huntsville moving forward every day and we grew appreciative of the long hours and late nights they dedicate to this community. Huntsville would not be the city it is today without its most vital workers, and we are grateful that we have the opportunity to know them, and even better, work and learn from them.

Simulating City Operations: A Mock City Council

As the semester draws to an end, the City Fellows–interns placed by the LEAP program–are wrapping up their internships. As part of that process, and following numerous professional development activities this semester, they took on the roles of City Council and City Directors and participated in a Mock City Council at the beautiful Wynne Home.

On hand to guide and observe were supervisors Andrea Howard (Wynne Home), Amanda Schillaci (Huntsville Main Street), Tammy Gann (Economic Development), Aron Kulhavy (City Manager), and Mac Woodward (former Councilmember and Mayor).

The process involved knowing parliamentary procedures, researching topics such as dockless scooters, park acquisitions, and municipal contracts. Participating were Cinthia Villarreal (Mayor)…

…Morgan Robertson (City Manager), Saara Maknojia (City Attorney), Macey Schank (Parks Director), Chrissy Biello (City Secretary), and Yajaira Gutierrez Marin, Emily Eoff, Michelle Cardenas, Olivia Discon, and Camilla Lopez (council).

The “process could be intimidating,” noted “Mayor” Villarreal, “but what we get from it is outweighs in importance any embarrassment or hesitation we might feel at the moment.”

Although the topics were relatively straightforward, they elicited questions such as: (1) who owns that GPS data from scooter usage and what can such data be used for?; (2) on what streets would scooters be legal?; (3) what are the downsides of designating land a “park”?; and (4) who is allowed to speak at council meetings, on what topics are they allowed to speak, and for how long?

It was, noted Biello, “quite the learning experience, offering me valuable insights into the legal nuances and special considerations essential for effective governance.”

With expert guidance from City staff, as well as a comparative perspective from those who have worked at other cities (including Madisonville, TX and Salado, TX), we were able to pass some good things for our Sim-City, learn a whole lot, see some great art, and spend time with some great people!

Visit Huntsville: LEAP Day and Wynne Home Arts & Visitor Center

by Jessica Cuevas

In honor of LEAP year, the LEAP Ambassadors wanted to capture a leap in front of one of their favorite historic homes in the City of Huntsville – The Wynne Home Arts & Visitor Center!

And by bringing us back to this beautiful home, it reminded us of what a great Huntsville destination it is!

The Wynne Home opened to the public in 2006 after it underwent years of renovations to turn it into an arts and visitor center following its donation to the City of Huntsville by Samuella Wynne Palmer in 1998.

This beautiful Queen Anne home is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturdays. It is open to the public to visit and tour. Year-round, the Wynne Home hosts a variety of art and cultural events, workshops, and classes available for the community to attend and participate in.

Recently, for example, the Wynne Home hosted Empty Bowls, which raised more than $6,000 to fight hunger while promoting the arts.

Moreover, the Wynne Home is offering the annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30^th from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and I encourage you all to attend.

Within the home, there is also an art gallery currently featuring the work of Mary Ann Vaca Lambert, an SHSU Alum who was able to study under Charles Pebworth, and whose art was influenced by Georgia O’Keeffe and Frida Kahlo. Her exhibit, Out of the Comaleros: The Art of Mary Ann Vaca Lambert, features several quilts from flowers, animals, and abstracts and will be up for you to see until the end of March!

Note: While Mary Ann Vaca Lambert’s “Out of the Comaleros: The Art of Mary Ann Vaca Lambert” will be coming down soon, Kahne Smith’s artwork will be going up soon after. The opening reception for her work will be on April 5th from 6:00-8:00pm.

Huntsville’s Hiring! Community Hiring Event

Olivia Discon

As the intern for the City of Huntsville’s Economic Development Department, I have had the privilege to learn about what makes Huntsville, Huntsville. From what I’ve come to understand, Huntsville’s unique quality comes from the community’s eagerness to support each other. This was further reinforced by The City of Huntsville’s Community Hiring Event, hosted by the city’s Economic Development Department. This event, which was a first for the department, allowed local businesses to showcase their businesses, and hopefully, fulfill some of their vacant positions!

There was a vast array of businesses that participated in this event. From local businesses such as Advantage Specialties and Carolina Creek, to local manufacturers such as Zenner USA and Rock MFG, there was a broad range of opportunities for people to inquire about.

The most rewarding aspect of the hiring event was being able to experience Huntsville’s diverse economic landscape in real time. Educational opportunities such as Sam Houston State University, Tomorrow’s Promise, Bayes Achievement Center, Windham School District, and Huntsville Independent School District…

Services, such as Metroclean, The Color Bar, and Clearwater Pools…

Employment opportunities in the medical field, such as Huntsville Memorial Hospital…

… and some of our major employers, such as Weatherford and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice!

There were even businesses that focus on workforce and staffing, such as Express Employment Professionals and Workforce Solutions, the latter of which provided resources for participants actively seeking employment.

Throughout the evening, businesses had the opportunity to conduct onsite interviews, and participants had the opportunity to show off their resume. With over 150 people in attendance, this event was a resounding success! Events such as these are incredibly valuable to both businesses and potential employees alike, as it helps to reinforce the community support that makes Huntsville so special.

Huntsville’s Scary Square–2023

LEAP began assisting with the Scare on the Square in 2005, which may have been Main Street’s first such “stab” at the event. Well, for the 19th time, we “suited up” for this Halloween ritual that brings in thousands of people from the community together for a safe day of fun.

This time, though, we worked in a somewhat different capacity and there were a few new twists (of the knife).

A few weeks ago, Jessica Cuevas, LEAP’s co-Vice President of Operations, was brought in by the City of Huntsville to supervise the event as the Interim Main Street Manager. So, LEAP Ambassadors worked as “special assistants”–“Igors,” so to speak–to help the event run smoothly.

And, after years of taking place directly on the square, the event was shifted one block south so as not to interfere with customer parking for downtown businesses.

But as in past years, the event was a huge draw for local residents and a lot of fun for everyone. Vendors offered many options of food and drink, allowing visitors to “pick their poison.” More than 50 local organizations participated, including two of Professor Yawn’s classes. These students, being future attorneys, were the most frightening characters of all.

The Fire Department was again on hand, doing community service.

While many of the selfie stations were similar to past years, a new attraction was the 21st century photo booth, which takes a video from a 360-degree view. It was, in short, a “scream.”

Of course for most of the kids, the real attractions were the games and the candy. There were ring tosses on witches’ hats…

…pumpkin decorating…

…a Jurassic Trunk…

…ghost bowling…

…a cauldron toss, an eyeball toss…

…basketball shooting, face-painting…

…and many others. Thankfully, the costumes were diverse this year, with fewer Barbies than one might have expected.

For our part, we dressed as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It was a bit of a change for us, as we’re not exactly ninja material, but we enjoyed it nonetheless.

The result, according to the City of Huntsville’s Economic Development Coordinator, Tammy Gann, “perhaps the best attended Scare on the Square we’ve had.” It was, at least for us, certainly one of the most satisfying.

Ariza Martinez, the Main Street intern for the fall, had the opportunity to take the lead in organizing a community event of this scale for the very first time.

It was her chance to showcase her creativity and adaptability while making a positive impact on our community.

The City of Huntsville staff–Aron Kulhavy, Tammy Gann, Angela Robinson–were great! Continuing on the superhero theme, which may have been open to interpretation for some, was a “super” sight! Regarded as Huntsville’s unsung heroes, it was a true joy to see them enjoying the day’s festivities.

As for the Ambassadors, we “shelled” out lots of fun and truly enjoyed ourselves in Huntsville’s downtown, well, most of us.

While our ninja skills may have been questionable, our enthusiasm was undeniable.

State of the City: Huntsville, 2023

Morgan Robertson

Every year the City of Huntsville hosts the State of the City, where they update citizens on important business, foster connections with the public, honor staff, and to celebrate the community. This year, LEAP had a strong presence at State of the City, with Olivia Discon, Cinthia Villarreal, and Jessica Cuevas working for the City. In addition, Michelle, Madison, and I attended to learn more about local government, to support our peers, and to be part of the community.

Kristy Doll, the City Secretary and her wonderful team, Sharon Schultz (Deputy City Secretary) and Summer Davis (Records Specialist) did the event planning, and the venue, lighting, and layout looked great.

The event opened with a posting of the colors by Boy Scout Troop 114, who did a great job.

This was followed by remarks from Sam Masiel, the Assistant City Manager, thanking everyone for attending, and introducing Aron Kulhavy.

The bulk of the evening was the update from the City Manager. Aron updated attendees on the City’s finances, infrastructure projects, new buildings, airport, and expanding the City’s tax base and sales tax revenue.

Key takeaways from his discussion the ongoing challenges with meeting the needs of an aging sewage infrastructure;

…the increased revenue from sales taxes and expanding property base; and the impending opening of City Hall in 2024 (the rendering of the building drew an audible “oooh” from the audience). And, of course, everyone was happy about the recent opening of the MLK Community Center in Emancipation Park.

This State of the City was bittersweet for everyone who’s had the honor to have worked with, or met, Mayor Andy Brauninger. The Mayor’s eight-year term is coming to a close, and he delivered his farewell address to a full room of people who’ve been impacted by his leadership in the city.

He began his address by noting that he is often invited to attend community functions, and during one visit to a local church (Lone Star Missionary Baptist), the Mayor was blessed to hear the voice of Katherine Houston, who describes herself as a “child of the Most High God.” He then ushered Ms. Houston to the front to sing “”My Tribute” and “The Lord’s Prayer.”

The singing was beautiful. Several members of the audience recorded the event, the audience was visibly moved, and at least one person we spoke with indicated she was nearly brought to tears.

Mr. Brauninger, too, was almost moved to tears as he began his speech, with his wife, Marlene, on stage with him. He reflected on his time with the City, praised the many non-profit leaders and community leaders that perennially work to improve the community, and gave a shoutout to several City staff–including “Little Jerry” and “Big Josh.”

The entire experience was educational to LEAP Ambassadors, and it was a pleasure to see so many community members in one place. We enjoyed seeing Derrick Birdsall, from the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library…

…Dave Smith of the Good Shepherd Mission…

…members of City Council;

…Jeff Murski from Rep. Pete Session’s Office; Diana McRae, the Tax Assessor; and numerous City staff.

On a more personal level, it was also nice to see fellow LEAP members enjoying the event so much. For Cinthia Villarreal, who is interning for Parks and Recreation, it was the first such event with the City, and her smiling face brightened the room.

And Olivia Discon, a sophomore at SHSU and VP of the LEAP Ambassadors, is also working for the City. Part of her role was to assist in the preparation of the PowerPoint for City Manager Aron Kulhavy’s State of the City address.

She has a great eye for detail and is conscientious, and these qualities were reflected in the PowerPoint. All LEAP members have known Olivia for at least a year now, and this was the happiest we’ve seen her. She was truly in her element.

On behalf of the LEAP Ambassadors, it was great to be part of the evening, thanks to the City staff for including us, and thanks to the community members who participated and, of course, the City staff.

On behalf of the Veteran LEAP Ambassadors, we would like to thank Olivia for her great work, and we are very proud to have you on our team.

Opening Doors: The MLK Community Center

The City of Huntsville has 26 parks covering more than 2,000 acres, but none is as important to the community as Emancipation Park on MLK Boulevard. Long a cornerstone of the Black community in Huntsville, it is used by all residents and, as Mayor Andy Brauninger noted, the park contains “the most utilized public building in Huntsville.”

After years of planning, resource acquisition, and construction, Emancipation Park added a new jewel in its crown, “The MLK Community Center”. Groundbreaking on this Community Center began in September 2022, and a year later, the doors opened for a celebration of a (mostly) completed Center that is, as many of the speakers noted, “for everybody.”

Background

Before it was a park, the land that is now Emancipation Park was used for hosting Juneteenth Celebrations and other community gatherings.

In 1933, R.A. Josey purchased land to be used by the community for recreation. In 1963, the land became an official city park. Over time, this became not just a neighborhood park, but also what the National Recreation and Parks Association describes as a “Community Park” which functions “on a large scale, serving the parks and recreation needs of an entire community.” Emancipation Park, at 10 acres, is the fourth-largest park in the City, and it is also one of the most developed, with amenities including basketball courts, picnic tables, playground area, horseshoe pits, and off-street parking for more than 100 vehicles.

But it was also showing its age and as the City was preparing its 2016….

MLK “Rec Center,” Pre-Renovation and Expansion

…Parks Master Plan, expansion and additional development at Emancipation Park was one of the six top priorities. With the acquisition of additional land, implementation of those goals began.

COVID interrupted that implementation, and it also drove up prices. But, as Parks employee George Perry observed, a “plan delayed is not a plan denied.”

Breaking Ground and Opening Doors

The Center’s opening reflects the work of many people and organizations. Multiple Councils approved parts of the funding and development of the Center; the Powell Foundation provided a grant; KABOOM provided support; the Parks Advisory Board offered key support; a Steering Committee guided efforts; and City staff worked for years on this program.

Many of those people were there for the October 9 ribbon cutting…

…with City Manager Aron Kulhavy; Steering Committee Chair Chris Tyson; Parks Advisory Board Chair Nate Grigsby; Community Praise Ministry Founder Vanetta Mills; Parks and Leisure Director Penny Joiner; former Parks Director Joseph Wiggs; long-time Parks employee George Perry; Mayor Andy Brauninger; Council Member Deloris Massey; and architect Charles Burditt speaking at the event.

The City and community members envisioned a Center that was, according to the Huntsville Item, “modern, functional, and aesthetically fitting for the purpose it will serve.”

So there were high hopes among the approximately 100 attendees as they walked through the doors to see the new building. What they saw did, in fact, reflect the aspirations of the planning committee, with a new stage, complete remodeling, and a building approximately twice the size of the original.

Although the building will not be open for reservations until November 1, this initial gathering for the ribbon cutting suggests that the building will live up to its potential. Not only was the crowd large, it was also diverse, with people from all walks of life on hand, suggesting that the entire community has a stake in the success of what has been aptly named a “Community Center.”

Coda

The ribbon cutting for the MLK Community Center comes days before Mayor Andy Brauninger will give his farewell address to the City, as his fourth term as Mayor draws to a close. But his comments at the groundbreaking a year ago are also fitting for the facility’s opening, appropriate to the spirit of the a Community Center, and a good reminder to public servants everywhere: “This is more than just a building. It’s a good day today. My heart feels good. I love this community, and when I am gone, I hope people remember that we built this together.”

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