Good morning, Huntsville.

More than 118,000 community votes selected top Home and Garden businesses in Best Of Huntsville 2025.

Winners include IL Design for Best Architect, Greener Southeast Upholstery and Flooring Care for Best Cleaning Service — and Premier Pools for Best Swimming Pool Contractor with other category winners also honored.

A local profile (Women of True Grit) featured Carole Smitherman and detailed her long service to the community, published yesterday.

The piece shows how her work touches daily life in Huntsville.

Local families should monitor flash flood warnings in parts of Alabama through Saturday morning (up to 5 inches of rain is expected) while Rocket City Mom highlights family-friendly fun options to enjoy this weekend.

The Huntsville restaurant West End Grill raised its health inspection score from 69 in October to 93 last week after addressing issues such as flies in the kitchen and improper dishwashing; owner Kevin Brakefield said the team quickly tested food temperatures and installed fixes to meet health standards.

Locals and tourists will gather in Decatur during the second weekend of January for the Festival of the Cranes (a celebration of bird migration) to observe thousands of birds and enjoy local culture.

On Jan. 8, the director of Huntsville Public Works shared tips to reduce flood risk for local residents.

His advice—focusing on water management and home protection during heavy rains—aims to improve community preparedness.

Huntsville city council approved a $12.48 million contract with Fite Construction Company for an expansion of Big Spring Park East at the former City Hall site.

Construction will begin in about two weeks and include a pavilion with a water feature, playground, and improved pedestrian paths (designed for ADA accessibility).

Huntsville City Council approved the $3.2 million sale of over 15 acres for a retail development near the North Village Town Center on Thursday night.

Officials said additional contracts for food and beverage users and public infrastructure improvements will be presented within 30 days.

Sueanne Griffith discussed Huntsville's hockey history in a recent interview — she shared key moments that helped shape the local game and highlighted its cultural legacy.

The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Hall of Fame will induct four honorees including former coaches Nick Saban, Tommy Tuberville, and Ralph Friedgen & President Gary Stokan of Peach Bowl Inc. in a ceremony in Huntsville celebrating 58 years of Bowl history & recognizing key contributions to the sport.

Candlelight Concert Featuring Coldplay & Imagine Dragons

6:45-7:45 p.m. — Stovehouse Event Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience the magical sounds of Coldplay and Imagine Dragons in a captivating candlelit setting.

Huntsville Boat Show

10 a.m.-8 p.m. — Von Braun Center — Single Day Admission: $12 — Explore a variety of boats and enjoy family-friendly boating activities.

Real Interactive Ghost Hunt at The Historic Lowry House

7-10:30 p.m. — The Historic Lowry House — Tickets required — Experience a thrilling paranormal investigation at one of the most haunted places in Alabama.

PMP Exam Preparation Training

9 AM – 5 PM — Alabama A&M University — Contact for pricing — Enhance your project management skills with a comprehensive PMP certification bootcamp.

Twelfth Night Performance

7:30-9:30 p.m. — VBC Playhouse — Ticket prices vary — Experience Shakespeare's classic comedy of mistaken identities and love.

Alabama Regional Future City Competition

7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. — T.M. Elmore Gymnasium — Free entry — Middle school students showcase innovative cities of the future tackling real-world problems.

FREE Latin Dance Night

6:30-10:00 p.m. — The Electric Belle — Free entry — Start with a free dance lesson and keep the rhythm going all night on the dance floor.

Phi Beta Sigma Founders Day Celebration

6-11 PM — Stovehouse — Refund policy available — Celebrate 112 years of Brotherhood, Scholarship, and Service with music and camaraderie.

Los Rugar Concert

8 PM – 12 AM — Ok Corral — Ticket prices vary — Dance the night away to the melodic sounds of Los Rugar featuring their hit Cortinas Guindas.

Loomis Bros. Circus

3-7 p.m. — Alabama A&M Agribition Center — Tickets from $89 — Experience the thrilling performances of Loomis Bros. Circus in Huntsville.