🌱 Drake State Wants Blanket Donations + Bluegrass and BBQ Festival

Morning, everybody! It's Amy, your host of the Huntsville Daily. Keep reading for the most important things happening these days in town. Today you'll learn about these stories and more:

• Drake State is collecting blankets for chemotherapy patients
• Latest on the Limestone County "North Pole" event
• Bluegrass and BBQ Festival

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and pleasant. High: 82 Low: 48.

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Here are the top stories in Huntsville today:

1. Drake State is collecting blankets for patients undergoing chemotherapy! This is the second year for their Wrapped in Love Initiative, with last year bringing in 135 blankets. There are boxes set up at several locations around town for donations, which will be accepted through the end of October. (WHNT News 19)
2. The Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association has announced the theme of this year’s “North Pole” at Big Spring Memorial Park. This year, the theme for the Christmas trees is “Christmas in Candyland.” You can check out all of the trees for the entire month of December. (The Quad-Cities Daily)
3. Two researchers at the University Of Alabama In Huntsville’s Earth System Science Center, Ronan Lucey and Kaylee Sharp, have been helping with the recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. They have been using satellite images to create distinct composites that allow for more directed response efforts. (Patch Press Release Desk)
4. Next Saturday, October 15, the Bluegrass and BBQ Festival will be held in Huntsville for the fourth year. The event at Southside Park will have food trucks and bluegrass musicians from 2 p.m. - 8 p.m. (WZDX)

Patch deal of the day:

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Today in Huntsville:

• Raptor Show - Huntsville Botanical Garden (11:00 AM)
• Friends of the Library 25 cent Pre-sale (12:00 PM)
• Food Truck vs. Trailer Rallies - Downtown Huntsville, Inc. (5:00 PM)
• Scarecrow Trail Night Hikes - Huntsville Botanical Garden (6:30 PM)

Friday Night Football

• Grissom vs. Albertville - Football (7:00 PM)
• Columbia vs Cullman - Football (7:00 PM)
• Jemison Football vs. Gadsden City - Football (7:00 PM)
• Huntsville High vs Florence - Football (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Huntsville Botanical Garden is hosting BOOtanica trick-or-treating on October 28! There will be trick-or-treating, crafts, games, face painting, photo ops, and music to enjoy. (Details)
• Join Independent Musical Productions for a performance of music for everything from “Annie Get Your Gun,” to “Oklahoma” on October 16 at Shenanigans Comedy Theatre starting at 7 p.m. (Details)
• The Huntsville Community Chorus Association presents “Songs from Stage and Screen” at Asbury Church in Madison on Friday, October 21 starting at 7 pm. (Details)

That's it for today. I'll see you soon!

— Amy Young

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Huntsville Daily? Contact me at huntsville@patch.com