We here at Rocket City Local have referenced Huntsville’s growth many times. Much of the movement into Huntsville is related to our growing tech and aerospace industries. However, one thing that families must consider when assessing a move for work is the quality and availability of high quality schools for their children. Considering this, the growth of the city is a testament to the quality of schools in the area, and Madison Academy is one such school.

The School

Madison Academy is a “Christian-based private school” with AdvancEd and National Christian School Association accreditation. The academy combines an academic curriculum with a spiritual foundation to provide a balanced education. Madison Academy is a member of the Student Exchange…

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Matt Curtis from Matt Curtis Real Estate, Inc. has spent the last week in Nicaragua, Central America, working with the country’s capital city of Managua’s local Habitat for Humanity chapter to build a house for a family in a nearby village. Matt Curtis Real Estate builds a home for a family in need for every 100 houses sold, and this is the first of 60 homes planned to be built in Nicaragua this year, with much of the summer slated for construction.

Between the build, meeting the mayor of Managua and the national Habitat for Humanity director, and buying ice cream for the entire village, Matt’s been a busy guy this past week.

Frank, the director of Habitat for Humanity in Nicaragua, joined in a Facebook live session with Matt to thank home…

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Oddly enough, Thai restaurants are few and far between so it Is always nice to find a restaurant that specializes in Thai food and not a “fusion” that incorporates Thai qualities. The cuisine of Thailand is spicy, deceptively simple, and light. Luckily, Decatur has a Thai restaurant that is as close to Thai food as you can get without hopping on an airplane.

Menu Items

Green Leaf has modestly priced meals with a wide variety of flavors and spices from which to choose. Their list of curries are unique and varied from mild for the uninitiated to extremely spicy for the experienced. Green Leaf also has an impressive sushi selection that from Nigri Sushi to Sashimi. If you are a sushi lover Green Leaf is definitely the place for you.

Specials…

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Peggy Ann Bakery is one Huntsville’s best kept confectionery secrets.  Peggy Ann Bakery opened in 1953 and has been using quality ingredients to create all kinds of sweet treats for the last sixty five years!

Peggy Ann Bakery provides Rocket City with one of the largest selections of cookies, cakes, cupcakes, bars, brownies, Danishes, petit fors, and more.  Peggy Ann Bakery is sure to have a bakery item perfect for your special occasion. The bakery offers cakes suited for every occasion. Cakes can be decorated for your holiday, sports team, or children’s birthday theme.  It is recommended to order cakes a week ahead of time to be sure you get on their schedule for your day.   Smaller orders of cookies or Danishes require less advance notice.

One…

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Looking to buy a home in the Rocket City? Matt Curtis is the name to know. Since hiring its first team member and selling 86 homes in 2012, MCRE has steadily grown into a fixture in the Huntsville metro area.

Homes Sold Projection

With a passionate team boasting a more effective organization and division of labor practices, MCRE allows its agents to focus on top shelf customer service and negotiations. Employees who really care, along with a very visible presence around the community, has allowed the company to go from those 86 sales in 2012 to a projected number between 900-1000 in 2018. MCRE had its biggest jump in 2015, nearly doubling its sales from 2014 (245-415). It also showed solid growth in its second year, adding over two-thirds of its sales total from 2012…

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I admit to having grown up in this area and not having heard of Huntsville’s Harmony Safari Park until a few days ago. As the internet says, it is indeed somewhat of a kept secret in town, as I don’t recall ever hearing its name in my social circle. Rocket City is home to a variety of unique experiences, this being one of them.

Folks are split on these sorts of attractions: Harmony Safari Park is home to endangered animals, and regardless of anyone’s take on the matter, it’s undoubtedly a kid magnet and likely an exciting way to .spend a few hours together as a family on the weekend. What kid isn’t fascinated by actual, live baboons and snapping turtles?

HSP’s website doesn’t have a lot of info, but it’s presented interestingly enough, as…

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Insanity Complex is an interactive entertainment center located in Madison. Insanity has all of the usual attractions like laser tag and an arcade. Though, what really makes Insanity stand out is their focus on “extreme sports”. There are not many place you can find rock climbing, skateboarding, and rollerskating all in one location. The facility offers birthday and team parties, and has activities that appeal to virtually all ages.

The Attractions/Activities

The attractions are broken up into two categories: indoor and outdoor so you and your friends, family or colleagues can spend the day at Insanity rain or shine.

Indoor
Roller Skate/Inline Rink
  • Monday-Thursday: $6.00 per person
  • Friday-Sunday: $8.00 per person
  • Skate Rental:…

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The Auburn-Alabama Football fan feud is one of both viciousness and camaraderie. Much, I am led to believe, like the bickering of siblings. It is mostly good clean fun…mostly. Regardless of which of our football teams you cheer for during the season, or lament the dragging days of their off-season their is no denying the importance of sports in regard to southern culture. While those are our two most recognizable teams in the state, we in the Rocket City have another team: The Huntsville Havoc. Hockey is not the most obvious choice in the south. It’s hot pretty much all off the time, and ours is more commonly a warm Christmas than a white Christmas, but that is what makes the Huntsville Havoc such an exciting experience. There are not many place in…

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For every 100 homes sold by Matt Curtis Real Estate, the company donates one home to Habitat for Humanity Nicaragua.  So, if Matt Curtis Real Estate sells at least one home every 14 hours, that’s a lot of families getting a home south of our border!

“Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another.” 

– Erma Bombeck

The History of Habitat for Humanity

Clarence Jordan first developed the idea of “partnership housing” along with Millard and Linda Fuller.  The team sought out families who lacked sufficient housing but who were willing to work with volunteers to build their homes.  The homeowners would acquire no-interest loans and some…

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Plenty of us appreciate a quick day trip to check out neighboring towns. If you’re thinking about it but haven’t been to Athens, I can vouch for my hometown’s charm. Home to almost 22,000 people, there’s more than you might think happening in one of the oldest incorporated cities in Alabama. At one time, Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers might have been the biggest name from Athens. Now, it’s inarguably the blockbuster-crossover-appealing East Limestone band Alabama Shakes. Home to its share of sports, music, and other history, Athens is worth an afternoon trip from the Rocket City for its quaint historic district and walkable downtown. Just a half hour’s drive from downtown Huntsville if traffic isn’t bad, Athens is home to Athens State…

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