There will be a Latin dance at Kinesthetic Cue Dance Club Saturday, February 23rd, 2008 celebrating two years of monthly Latin dances. Experienced dancers will be on hand to offer informal help if needed.

The fun starts at 8 pm and it's only $5 per person or couple at the door. Open to the public so bring your friends. A map as well as driving directions are at http://www.madisonal.com/kcdc/contact.htm

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Leaders of the Senate Democratic Caucus endorsed legislation Monday that would keep state income taxes from being levied on the federal tax rebates that Alabamians are anticipating in May.

Caucus leaders also announced their support for legislation that would create a tax deduction for families that participate in Alabama's two college savings plans.

Two years after labeling Huntsville a top 50 hot spot for technology, Popular Science is giving the city props for going green.

The respected magazine has ranked Huntsville No. 18 on its list of "America's 50 Greenest Cities," ahead of New York City, Denver and St. Louis, among others. Huntsville had the highest score of any Southern city surveyed, beating Lexington, Ky. (No. 25), Athens, Ga. (No. 33), Newport News, Va. (No. 41), Louisville, Ky. (No. 42), and Greensboro, N.C. (No. 50).

Huntsville's hospitals are working with the Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee to make sure families relocating here from northern Virginia find the medical care they need, a collaboration that should also benefit current residents looking for a doctor.

A telephone hot line at Crestwood Medical Center promises to match people up with available doctors in the region. Huntsville Hospital plans to do the same this spring. Both hospitals are also aggressively recruiting more physicians to serve a growing population.

By the time the relocations set forth during the Base Realignment and Closures (BRAC) of 2005 are complete in the year 2011, approximately 4,700 new people will have moved to Huntsville, Alabama due to job transfers. Many of these people and positions will come from the northern Virginia area. Some of them will come from Georgia.

Alabama will also see its first four-star command thanks to BRAC. As for 2008, the Tennessee Valley BRAC Commission states that the 2nd Recruiting Brigade facility should be completed in time to house the 2nd Recruiting Brigade that will relocate this year. That will put roughly 700 transfers at the U.S. Army Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala. this year.

It didn't take long for Clifton Miller to find a second career after retiring from the Army

He joined Rise Real Estate in Madison in June 1995, a month after his military retirement, and is now a broker with the Rise Real Estate-Century Office Center on South Memorial Parkway.

He has found the profession to be a perfect fit for his personality.

Items in this feature may be faxed to 532-4420 or e-mailed to businessnews@htimes.com. Event information should include date, time, place, cost and contact information. Deadline is Wednesday noon for Sunday publication:

Today

People First-TM will host a free Healthy Home Workshop at the Executive Lodge Apartments leasing office information center, 1535 Sparkman Drive, from 4 to 5 p.m. Space is limited. Make reservations by calling 656-0065 or send e-mail to pftm@knology.net.

The day will highlight this ministry which is dedicated to addressing the spiritual, physical, mental, and social needs of women who desire a respite from the responsibilities of a multitasking lifestyle by focusing on Christian principles of restoration.


Relax Release Renew, Inc. of Riverdale, GA is sponsoring Relax Release Renew Day at Community Family Ministry in Madison on February 9th at 10:00am.

Alabama home sales topped out at 57,083 units sold in 2007, a 5 percent decline from 2006, according to the University of Alabama's Center for Real Estate.

Even so, 2007 was the third best year on record for home sales in the state.

The center reported that consumer confidence was lower toward the end of 2007 because of turbulence in the mortgage and credit markets, along with the increasing national foreclosure rate.

Now is time for sellers to improve home's look

Despite everything you're hearing in the national news, area real estate agents predict a lively spring housing market is coming. Sellers, start preparing now.

"We expect a very healthy spring," says Robert Simons, broker with Keller Williams Realty in Huntsville. "Spring is coming so get ready for a stress-free transaction."