NEED SERVICE? |
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SERVICE |
MADISON COUNTY RESIDENTS |
LIMESTONE COUNTY RESIDENTS |
Electric |
Huntsville Utilities: |
Athens Utilities: 256-233-8750 |
Water |
Madison Utilities: |
Limestone Co. Water & Sewer Authority: 256-233-6445 and/or Madison Utilities: 256-772-0253 |
Garbage |
Madison County Sanitation: 256-532-3718 |
CCS Disposal: 256-232-3594 |
Large Debris / Yard Refuse |
City of Madison Public Works: 256-772-8490 |
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Residential Recycling |
Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Huntsville: 256-880-6054 |
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Natural Gas |
North Alabama Gas District: 256-772-0227 |
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Phone / Cable / Internet |
Knology: 256-533-5353 or AT&T: 1-888-757-6500 |
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Driver’s License |
Alabama Dept. of Public Safety in Huntsville: |
Alabama Dept. of Public Safety in Athens: |
Auto Registration |
Madison Co. Licensing: |
Limestone Co. Licensing: |
Voter Registration |
Madison County Board of Registrars: 256-532-3510 |
Limestone County Board of Registrars: 256-233-6405 |
GO SURF |
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WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
U.S. News & World Report ranks Madison as the second best place to grow up while CNN/Money lists Madison as the 96th best place to live. The city’s high school ranks in the top 2% of the nation's schools.
HAVE FUN
Madison’s Recreation Department is your first stop for the city’s many recreational opportunities for adults and kids. http://madisonrecreation.org
Craig & Steven Hogan YMCA: You’ll find new, well-equipped facility at the Y. Featuring a wellness center with exercise equipment, TV and computer screens, come experience an aquatic center, walking track, pingpong and foosball area, multi-purpose rooms for martial arts and dance lessons, and basketball courts and indoor soccer facility. 130 Park Square Ln / 256-428-9622
Dublin Memorial Park: In addition to Kid’s Kingdom, Dublin offers a facility with basketball courts, meeting rooms, walking track, indoor swimming pool, soccer fields, tennis courts, and an outdoor walking trail. 8324 Madison Pike / 256-772-9300
Insanity Skate Park: A 38,000 sq. foot skate park with miniature golf and party facilities. 100 Skate Park Dr / 256-319-0000
Jetport Municipal Golf Course: An 18-hole, par 71 golf course. James Record Rd / 256-772-9872
Madison Aquatic & Recreation Park: A rock quarry filled with an eight-acre lake offers scuba diving. 500 Lime Quarry Rd / 256-464-9445
Palmer Park: Baseball, softball, batting cages, and soccer and football fields mark this sprawling park. 574 Palmer Rd / 256-772-9300
GO OUT ON A DATE
North Alabama Culinary Festival: April
The Festival is the premiere tasting event for our region and focuses on showcasing the many excellent restaurants, master chefs, caterers, and purveyors that make North Alabama a truly desirable dining destination. $20 advanced tickets may be purchased through http://www.madisonALchamber.com
Run Through the Roses: May
This annual 5K and 10K marathon, sanctioned by the USATF, is held the first Saturday in May, starting and ending at Bob Jones High School. An evening celebration features live music and prizes. http://www.runthroughtheroses.com
Stars & Stripes Forever: July 4th
Held on the grounds of Dublin Park, this 4th of July celebration begins at 2pm with local music entertainment, dancers, games, contests, and local food vendors. It culminates in a glorious round of fireworks at 9:30 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.madisonAL.gov
Annual Business Expo & Kids Day: July
The last Saturday of July provides an opportunity for businesses to bring their wares to the community in a fun family friendly atmosphere held at Dublin Park (10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.). Parents are encouraged to visit each booth where children are welcome. Sci-Quest sponsors Kid’s area entertainment. For more information see http://www.madisonALchamber.com
Madison City Farmers Market: Summer
On Hughes Rd, south of Discovery Middle School, the Farmer’s Market is open from 8:00 to Noon, every Saturday from April to October. You’ll find fresh local produce, cheese, herbs, home-baked goods, and the work of local artisans.
Small Business Awards: September
The Madison Chamber of Commerce presents 4 distinctive awards to outstanding businesses deserving of recognition. Learn more at http://www.madisonALchamber.com
Trail of Tears: September
On the third Saturday in September, Madison comes alive with the sound of motorcycles participating in the Trail of Tears ride. The ride commemorates the forced march of the Cherokee from their tribal lands in Tennessee and North Carolina to Oklahoma.
Madison Street Festival: October
Downtown Madison’s Main and Front streets are transformed the first Saturday in October with festival booths, food, live performances, and kids activities. The day begins with a parade at 8:00 AM and ends at 4:00 PM with the Miss Madison Street Festival Pageant. Learn more at http://www.madisonstreetfestival.org
Annual Christmas Parade: December
Held the second Saturday in December, the parade starts at 5:30 PM on Plaza Dr. It proceeds to Hughes Rd, then heads into Historic Downtown Madison.
Mayoral State of the City Address: January
This is the premier event for the city of Madison and is the Mayor’s presentation of the year in review and future of the city. Annually held at the Davidson Center for Exploration, a portion of the proceeds of this event is given to the Mayor’s Scholarship Fund by the event host, the Madison Chamber of Commerce. Go to http://www.madisonALchamber.com for more information.
VOLUNTEER
Angel Food Ministries: Help provide food boxes to the poor from a church distributor. Each box feeds a family of four for a week. Find churches distributing food at http://www.angelfoodministries.com
Asbury Community Thrift Store: Sort clothes and help with other store activities. Portal Ln and Hughes Rd / 256-464-0460 / http://www.asburythriftstore.com
CASA of Madison County: Assist seniors and shut-ins by building wheelchair ramps, driving to appointments, working the community garden, doing yardwork, and performing handy-man tasks. 256-533-7775 / http://www.casamadisoncounty.com
Habitat for Humanity of Madison County: Volunteers with all skill levels are welcome to help build houses for those who otherwise cannot afford a home. 256-533-2282 / http://www.hfhmc.org
Inside-Out Ministries: Partnering with local churches, Inside-Out welcomes volunteers to help with handling phone contacts, greeting guests, conducting interviews, among other opportunities. 256-325-5193 / http://inside-outministries.org
Meals on Wheels: Deliver hot meals to the homebound. Madison Senior Center at 1282 Hughes Rd / 256-837-8750
St. Vincent de Paul: Visit people who need food or assistance with their rent, utility, or other bill. St. John the Baptist Church at 1055 Hughes Rd / 256-726-0100
TO-DO LIST
Madison Senior Center: Located on the south side of Discovery Middle School, the Madison Senior Center presents activities and friendship for seniors over age 60. Activities include card games, art, dancing, computer and language instruction, and field trips.
1282 Hughes Rd / 256-772-6242
Kid’s Kingdom: Appealing to parents and kids, this oak-shaded playground at Dublin Park has slides, swings, outdoor toys as well as benches and picnic tables.
16 Main Gallery: This historic house in downtown Madison serves a community of artists whose workshops fill the rooms. You can visit the artists as they work or shop the gallery where you’ll find original paintings, sculptures, and other fine gifts.
THE LIVING LIBRARY
The Madison branch of the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library is the only known Living Library in Alabama. It's green space comprises a life-sized scrabble board, reading nooks, children’s amphitheater, vegetable garden, and butterfly habitat.
At the library you’ll find an expanding catalog of resources, including books, magazine and newspaper subscriptions, DVDs, audiobooks on CD, and music CDs. You can download audio books and ebooks at home using the Digital Media Zone.
Nineteen public and four catalog computers are available as well as library-wide WIFI service. A meeting room that seats 70 may be reserved. The room also serves as a movie theater. 130 Plaza Blvd / 256-461-0046 / http://hmcpl.org
GO SCOUTING
Cub Scouts / Boy Scouts: Madison’s Scout troops are hosted by several Madison churches. For contact information, call 256-883-7071, or visit http://1bsa.org or http://www.talakto.org (Talakto District).
Girl Scouts: Madison hosts many Girl Scouts troops, including a special-needs troop. Troops meet in churches, neighborhood clubhouses, and private homes. Visit the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama at http://girlscoutsnca.org
STAY HEALTHY
Madison Hospital: Opening in early 2012, the Madison Hospital, an affiliate of Huntsville Hospital, will begin service with 60 beds. Plans are to expand the hospital to accommodate 200 beds. Surrounding the hospital are doctor offices and a physical fitness facility with an outdoor walking track. http://www.madisonalhospital.org
Huntsville Hospital: Located in the Hospital District in Huntsville, about 20 minutes from Madison, the Huntsville Hospital and the Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children are locally-owned, not-for-profit hospitals that offer first-class medical services. 101 Sivley Road in Huntsville, AL / 256-265-1000 / http://www.huntsvillehospital.org
Crestwood Medical Center: Serving the greater Huntsville and Madison area, this acute care hospital has over 400 physicians on staff representing 40 different specialties. 1 Hospital Drive Southwest, Huntsville, AL / 256-883-7140 / http://www.crestwoodmedcenter.com
HIT THE TRAILS
Bradford Creek Greenway: Opening in 2012, this trail will start at Palmer Park and run northward, parallel to County Line Rd, with connectors to several local neighborhoods.
Dublin Memorial Park: The 1.2-mile path at Dublin is a walkway that circles around ponds and soccer fields, climbs a low hill, then follows the road and parking lots back to Old Madison Pike’s sidewalk.
Hughes Rd Sidewalk: Follow Hughes Road and enjoy walking, jogging, or biking 4.5 miles from the post office to Hwy 72.
Indian Creek Greenway: Enjoy three miles of walking, jogging, biking, and roller skating through woods along Indian Creek on a wide, paved trail. A disc golf course and dog walk are located at the north lot in the Creekwood subdivision (follow the brown signs to parking).
Mill Creek Greenway: Follow a quiet brook along a half-mile paved path. A dog walk with separate spaces for small and large dogs is near the north end of the trail.
Rainbow Mtn. Preserve: With 130 acres of rock ledges, indigenous wildflowers, native wildlife, fossils, caves, a waterfall, and panoramic views, experience this island of nature from its 1.5-mile long loop trail accessed from the parking lot at the base of the water tower on Rainbow Mountain.