Auburn Opelika Parents October 2018 by KeepSharing

October2018

Volume 9 Number 8

28 Columns

Publisher’s Note Kendra Sumner

Therapeutic Parenting Sonia Martin, LMSW

Common Sense Media Discover several popular apps that are stirring up trouble in schools.

Halloween for Tweens and Teens Find teen approved games for hosting a fabulous party!

Kids Health Watch

sponsored by Pediatric Associates of Auburn

26 Parenting, Media &

Everything in Between Common Sense Media

Dave Says Dave Ramsey

A Page in a Book Gerry Paige Smith

Fall Festivities and Halloween Fun

Our guide to all things “fall” in and around the community.

10 Skills to Know By Age 10

Important tasks to teach as they move towards independence.

Parenting Today’s Teens Mark Gregston

Get This!

Gerry Paige Smith

On The Cover Elena Dianne is a fun loving and fast growing 2 year old who always keeps her parents on their toes! Her favorite activities are playing outside, visiting with family, watching Sophia the First, playing with Daddy, and trying on Mommy’s necklaces. Her sweet, silly personality and contagious laughter light up the room. Her parents are so proud of her as she is learns new words, tries new things, develops new skills, and does it all with patience and kindness.

Departments 6

Bits and Pieces 10

School Bits 46

Family Calendar 52

Movie Reviews www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents

Publisher’sNote

Auburn Opelika Lee County’s Foremost Parenting Source

With the relentless, Alabama summer heat and humidity, I think the upcoming fall season will be welcomed by all! The hot and sticky summer has been a blast, but as most Alabamians know, the cooler, fall breezes bring with them a sense of relief and excitement for what is to come. Here in the south, fall means exchanging our swimsuits and sun-block for boots and pom-poms! Back-to-school, football fun, farm visits and costume parties are many of the events we look forward to in September and October. This time of year can energizes families to look into their community, where they can find local events that celebrate the upcoming fall season. To help plan, check out our October calendar for some of our readers’ favorite stops. Many Saturdays are spent wearing orange and blue, while Auburn tailgating with family and friends. Be sure to plan a pre-game favorite at the Football, Feathers and Fans or touring the locker rooms on campus. Or, join the best fans in the SEC at the TigerWalk and the game-day pep rally, held each home game, two hours prior to kickoff! Cooler air brings fall color to our scenery too. Immerse your family in the yellow, red and orange foliage, while hiking through Chewacla State Park and Louise Kreher Preserve and Nature Center. New this year, The Halloween Enchanted Forest at the Nature Preserve, will be held October 25-26. Trick-or-Treat through the forest and enjoy some festive fun, like pumpkin bowling and fortune telling. For many kids, the best part of October is looking for the best Halloween costume and the adventure of going door-todoor for treats. Whether you venture out in your own neighborhood, Opelika’s Carnival or at Auburn’s Downtown festivities, your cute clown, sparkly princess and ghoulish zombie will scare up a Halloween to remember. I bet they can’t wait to rush home, dump out their candy buckets and sample their favorite candy bar before bedtime! Looking for something unique for your family’s fall fun? How about checking out Parkway Baptist Church’s Mission Fall Fest, on October 24, where kids can dress up, play games and win prizes. Fall is not complete without hunting for that perfect pumpkin in the patch! Go on a hayride and pick your own pumpkin, just on the outskirts of Lee County at Paradise Pumpkin Patch and Jack-o-Lantern Lane at The Oaks. Both are full of ready to pick pumpkins, and while there you will get to see farm animals, taste some fall treats, and take a fun train or wagon ride. If you have a free fall weekend and plan to host a party for your kids and their friends, then don’t miss this month’s feature article, 10 Halloween Party Games For Teens and Tweens. And for details on the fall events mentioned above, plus many more, see our Fall Festivities and Halloween Fun Guide. Here’s to welcomed fall days spent enjoying all that this time of year brings. Plan ahead and pack in those game days on The Plains, farm visits to the patch and dressing up in Halloween characters!

Auburn Opelika Parents Magazine is founded on the principle that parenting is an exciting, diverse, challenging, and significant role in our community. Auburn Opelika Parents Magazine is a community advocate for families and the parenting process.

Publisher Kendra Sumner Kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com Editor DeAnne Watson Associate Editor Kelly Watson Contributing Writers Mark Gregston Sarah Lyons Sonia Martin, LMSW Pam Molnar Dave Ramsey Gerry Paige Smith Katie Wolter, MD Cover Photography Lauren Beesley Photography www.lbeesleyphoto.com

President Jason Watson Director of Sales Justin Sumner (334) 209-0552 Ad Design Tim Welch

Visit us online at www.auburnopelikaparents.com

Kendra

kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com

Auburn Opelika Parents I October 2018

Auburn-Opelika Parents magazine is published monthly by KeepSharing, LLC. Mailing address: 475 Bennington Ct, Auburn, Alabama, 36830. The phone number is (334) 209-0552 and fax is (334) 826-7303. Auburn-Opelika Parents is copyrighted 2018 by KeepSharing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in Auburn-Opelika Parents magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.

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TherapeuticParenting by Sonia Martin, LMSW

It’s All About Relationship! The internet is full. Do you ever think that? There just simply cannot be one more get your baby to sleep through the night strategy or one more way to cook kale. Do you ever scroll past article after article and get lost in people telling you what easy 3-step dessert will compliment that chicken dinner, what new style of pant will make your legs look ten feet tall, and certainly how best to parent (and how you are currently doing it all wrong)? I do. We can so easily get lost in the idea that if we can just find that one strategy, that one solution, that one approach, we can affect change in every area of our child’s current level of functioning. Though I can’t help you find those pants that will change your life, I can definitively say this when it comes to parenting your kids: It is ALL about relationship. Here’s the thing, if you ask 100 people about the best strategy to deal with whatever behavior you are currently facing with your child, you are going to get about five different answers explained in 100 different ways. Spank your child. Don’t spank your child. Put your child in time-out. Put your child in time-in. Take away privileges. Enforce greater consequences. Leave them at the table until they clear their plate. Never get into a battle over food, they will eat when hungry. And on and on and on.

So, allow me to simplify for you... relationship. Focus on the relationship, because relationship compels obedience. In fact, this concept bleeds over into other areas of our life. Allow me to illustrate. If you make a massive mistake at work one day and your boss calls you into his office and begins to yell, demean, threaten and tell you how incompetent you are, do you at all feel as though you are in relationship with your boss? No. Do you at all feel driven to please him? No. Do you at all feel connected to and respectful of your boss? Definitely no. You stand there until he is done, give a cursory apology and then walk out of the office grumbling under your breath straight to your co-workers, so that you can all discuss the frustration and irritation of working for such an incompetent leader…because somehow your mistake is definitely his fault. Now keep that example in mind. You have made a massive mistake at work and your boss in this scenario calls you into his office and says, “Hey. I heard what happened. It’s going to be okay. How can I help you in this? How can we partner together to make this right?” Now what does that do to your relationship? It breeds a spirit of connection. Do you walk out of that office feeling empowered to correct your mistake? Yes. Do you feel respect for and reverence toward your boss? Yes. In this scenario your boss is addressing the mistake, partnering with you to make it right, and is mindful to not dis-

suade his or her relationship with you, because that relationship – when preserved - is going to compel that obedience within you. Here’s the thing. Your kids are going to screw it up. They are going to fail and falter and not get it right. This is the process of childhood. They are learning and, through that process, we are going to get such a better response if we can fiercely and unapologetically defend and protect our relationship with our child. The entirety of this concept is called Therapeutic Parenting and it is something I want to begin to introduce over the coming months. So join me as we dig deep and begin to understand how incredibly important our foundational relationship with our kids is, and how we can nurture that all important connection.

*Therapeutic parenting is parenting in a highly structured, highly nurturing way. This form of intensive parenting is often a key to progress in dealing with children who have trauma and attachment challenges, but has also proven beneficial with any child.

Sonia is a licensed social worker and holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work. Her clinical focus is on helping parents and professionals understand the role of the brain in behavior, and how to adopt therapeutic parenting techniques to help mitigate negative behaviors. She travels the state speaking at various conferences on behavior and parenting and is a therapist for Kids To Love Foundation. Sonia is a mother to 7 sons, 3 of which were internationally adopted, and is also a foster parent. She spends her free time cooking, drinking coffee, cleaning, cooking, sweeping infield baseball dirt off of the kitchen floor, cooking, and cleaning up after the cooking in an effort to keep all those boys full while avoiding the appearance that she lives in a fraternity house.

Auburn Opelika Parents I October 2018

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Visit ASMS.NET to Apply Now Alabama 9th & 10th Graders are Eligible to Apply

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Come find out if ASMS is right for you by attending a statewide informational meeting and visiting our campus for ASMS Day on Saturday, November 10 or Saturday, December 1. Register for the meeting you plan to attend as well as ASMS Day at www.asms.net.

ASMS Informational Meetings

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ALBERTVILLE Thursday, Oct. 11, 6:00 PM Albertville High School

FLORENCE Wednesday, Oct. 17, 6:00 PM University of North Alabama

MONTEVALLO Monday, Oct. 8, 6:00 PM Montevallo University

ALEXANDER CITY Tuesday, Oct. 23, 6:00 PM Central Alabama Community College

GREENVILLE Thursday, Oct. 4, 6:00 PM Beeland Park Community Center

MONTGOMERY Thursday, Oct. 18, 6:00 PM Alabama Association of School Boards

ANNISTON/OXFORD Wednesday, Oct. 24, 6:00 PM Oxford Civic Center

HAMILTON Thursday, Oct. 18, 6:00 PM Bevill State Community College

ROANOKE Thursday, Oct. 18, 6:00 PM Roanoke Public Library

ATMORE Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018, 6:00 PM Coastal Alabama Community College

HUNTSVILLE Monday, Oct. 22, 6:00 PM University of Alabama in Huntsville

SELMA Tuesday, Oct. 2, 6:00 PM Wallace Community College

AUBURN Thursday, Oct. 11, 5:30 PM (Central) Auburn University

JASPER Thursday, Oct. 25, 6:00 PM Bevill State Community College

THOMASVILLE Thursday, Oct. 11, 6:00 PM Coastal Alabama Community College

BIRMINGHAM Tuesday, Oct. 23, 6:00 PM University of Alabama at Birmingham

LIVINGSTON Tuesday, Oct. 9, 6:00 PM University of West Alabama

TROY Thursday, Oct. 18, 6:00 PM Troy University

BOAZ Wednesday, Oct. 10, 6:00 PM Snead State

MOBILE-OPTION 1 Thursday, Oct. 4, 6:00 PM ASMS Campus

TUSCALOOSA Wednesday, Oct. 24, 6:00 PM University of Alabama

ENTERPRISE Tuesday, Oct. 23, 6:00 PM Dauphin Jr. High School

MOBILE-OPTION 2 Thursday, Oct. 25, 6:00 PM ASMS Campus

Register for an ASMS Informational Meeting at www.asms.net. AL AB AMA S C H OOL OF M ATH AN D S CI EN CE • 1 2 5 5 DAUPHIN STREET • MOBILE , ALABAMA 36604 • 251.441.2100 • WW W.A S M S .NET

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New This Year! Halloween Enchanted Forest

Harry Potter World at the Montgomery Zoo

Calling all witches, wizards, and muggles, on October 5! Your Hogwarts letter has arrived. Grab your wand, robes, and broomsticks as you enter the world Harry Potter at the Montgomery Zoo. Walk through King's Cross Station to Platform 9 3/4 and enjoy a peaceful ride on the Hogwarts Express. Attend Care of Magical Creatures, and learn about all the animals found in the muggle and magical world. Talk a walk down to the Quidditch field and try your hand at being a chaser or keeper. Enjoy a glass of Butter beer or maybe just some ice cold Gilly water. Take pictures using some of your favorite magical props, Wingardium Leviosa your sky lift chair and fly through the sky, and enjoy all the sights and sounds of the magical world. There is even a costume contest. 7:00-10:00 PM. $50 per person. $45 for Montgomery Zoo members. www.montgomeryzoo.com.

Join the Krehler Preserve and Nature Center, October 25-26, for Halloween fun. Enjoy a fun, family-friendly Halloween event hiking the Krehler Preserve trails and visiting some costumed characters who will entertain you on how they “trick or treat” other animals in the forest. Children are invited to wear their costumes and enjoy some early Halloween fun! Pumpkin bowling, campfire, fortunetelling and face painting will be available! S’mores kits and drinks will be available for purchase. Buy tickets and sign up on-line at www.auburn.edu/ preserve for scheduled hike times starting October 1st. Admission is $5, children 2 and under are free. Registration is required. Canceled in the event of rain with 10/27 as the rain date. (334) 844-8091. preserve@auburn.edu

Auburn’s Downtown Trick-or-Treat

Get ready for monsters on parade! Join Auburn Parks and Recreation for the best Halloween party in town on Wednesday, October 31 from 6 – 8 p.m. in downtown Auburn. This is a fantastic alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating, with downtown merchants handing out candy and plenty of treats for everyone! There will be music, provided by our special spooky entertainment for the evening, and the annual Costume Contest. Details for this event will be published at auburnalabama.org/parks and on Facebook by October 10. This event is FREE and open to the public.wmorris@auburnalabama.org.

Pioneer Day at Loachapoka

Pioneer Day (formerly known as the Syrup Sopping & Historical Fair) will be October 20, from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. in Loachapoka (just 5 miles west of Auburn). This event has been in the same location for the past 30+ years! The 9-hour festival features weaving and cloth-making demonstrations, mules grinding cane, syrup being made, musical entertainment with hammered and mountain dulcimers, banjos and guitars, a doctor’s beautiful herb and crops garden, Native American dancing, bread making, soap making, period pottery, fireplace and outdoor cooking, and numerous other old-time crafts and unique vendors. Of course, the famous sweet potato biscuits are made onsite for your enjoyment as well as camp stew, beans, collards, BBQ, and more. There will be plenty of activities for children as well. Tour the two-story 140-year old Trade Center Museum, watch the blacksmiths at work, visit the Log Cabin, and the Taylor Whatley agricultural implement collection. Admission is free. www.facebook.com/pioneerpark.loachapoka. Auburn Opelika Parents I October 2018

East Alabama Walk to End Alzheimer’s

October 28, Campus Green Space by Jordan-Hare, Auburn. Registration begins at 1:00 PM followed by the Walk at 2:15 PM. While there is no fee to register, we encourage participants to fundraise and contribute to the cause to raise awareness. The Alzheimer’s Association provides free, easy-to-use tools and staff support to help participants reach their fundraising goal. Register online: act. alz.org/eastalabama. Join us and be inspired by all the footsteps that fall into place behind yours. Like our Facebook page, “East Alabama Walk to End Alzheimer's”, to stay up to date on information concerning the Walk! 6

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Fall Festival and Children’s Carnival

The fun will kick off on Tuesday, October 30, 5:30-8:30 PM, with the Fall Festival and Children’s Carnival. This event will be held for children 12 and younger at the Opelika SportsPlex. Admission to the Fall Festival is free and will include entertainment, visits with local mascots and fellowship with others in the community. There will be inflatables, games, activities and a hayride that children can participate in with the purchase of tickets or an all-access wristband. Tickets are 25 cents each, and to do every activity one time it would cost around $12. Alternatively, an all-access wristband costs $10, and it allows children to do every activity as many times as they would like to.

Girls in Aviation Day @ Auburn University Regional Airport

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Girls in Aviation Day is a free outdoor event, October 6, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM, hosted by the Women in Aviation, War Eagle Chapter and sponsored in part by Chicken Salad Chick. Come join us at the Auburn University Regional Airport for a day filled with fun activity booths, static display aircraft, and vendors from various aviation companies. We hope to inspire the next generation of aviators and empower young girls to pursue a career in aviation. Girl Scouts will have the opportunity to earn the Aviation Fun Patch! There will be food trucks and restrooms available onsite, and minors must be accompanied by a Chaperone. Please RSVP online at waiwareagle.org under the "Girls in Aviation Day" tab. www.waiwareagle.org

Book It for Books 5K

October 6 at Town Creek Park, Auburn. 8 AM. Registration is now open for the Second Annual Book It for Books 5K and Fun Run, taking place October 6, at Town Creek Park. All proceeds will benefit students at Drake Middle School. This is an AORTA supported race. In an effort to cultivate students' love of reading, Drake Middle School will enhance its book club program. Book clubs provide students the opportunity to explore captivating stories written by critically acclaimed authors. All proceeds from this race will support a range of cross curricular learning materials. Entry Fees: 5K Auburn City Schools employees and students: $15 (you will receive your discount prior to checkout), 5K General public: $25, Fun Run $15, and Race day registration (all groups): $30. Register before Sunday, September 23 to receive a race t-shirt! Packet pickup will be at the Town Creek pavilion beginning at 7:00 AM on race day. The fun run begins at 8:00 AM, followed by the 5K at 8:30 AM.

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KidsHealthWatch

Sponsored by Pediatric Associates of Auburn

Flu Shot Recommendations for 2018-19 The beauty of fall is upon us, which also means, unfortunately, that flu season is here. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children ages 6 months and older receive a flu shot this season with the goal to provide the optimal protection against all strains of influenza. The annual flu vaccine significantly reduces a child’s risk of severe influenza and death, according to the AAP policy statement, “Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Influenza in Children, 2018-2019”. The influenza vaccine is given by injection into the muscle and is inactivated, meaning it does not contain a live flu virus and cannot cause the flu. “The flu virus is common – and unpredictable. It can cause serious complications even in healthy children,” said Flor M. Munoz, MD, FAAP, member of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases. “Being immunized reduces the risk of a child being hospitalized due to flu.” The 2017-2018 flu season became one of the most severe seasons on record, excluding pandemics, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of Aug. 18, 2018, a total of 179 children died of influenza-associated deaths, and thousands more were hospitalized. About

80 percent of the children who died had not received a flu vaccination, according to the CDC. This season, the AAP recommends that pediatricians offer the injectable form of the vaccine to all children 6 months and older as soon as it becomes available, preferably by the end of October. The AAP recommends the injectable flu vaccine as the primary choice for children because it has provided the most consistent protection against all strains of the flu virus in recent years. The AAP and CDC also support the use of the nasal spray vaccine – or live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV4) – for the 2018-2019 season with the aim of adequate vaccination coverage and optimal protection in children of all ages. The effectiveness of the latest nasal spray vaccine for this upcoming season is more of an unknown against the influenza A/H1N1 strain. Therefore, AAP recommends the flu shot as the first choice for children. The nasal spray vaccine may be used this year for children who would not otherwise receive the flu shot, as long as they are 2 years of age or older and healthy without an underlying medical condition. The AAP recommendations also include: • The number of doses of influenza vaccine depends on a child’s age and vaccine

history. Children 6 months through 8 years of age need two doses when it is the first time they are being vaccinated against influenza. Children 9 years of age and older require only one dose, regardless of prior vaccination history. • Children with egg allergy can receive influenza vaccine with no additional precautions than those considered for any vaccine. • Pregnant women may receive injected influenza vaccine at any time during pregnancy. • All health care personnel should receive an annual seasonal influenza vaccine, a crucial step in preventing influenza.

For more information, visit https://www. aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-pressroom/Pages/AAP-Issues-Flu-Vaccine-Recommendations-for-2018-2019.aspx

Dr. Katie Wolter is board certified in Pediatrics and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Lee County Medical Society, Medical Association of the State of Alabama, and the American Medical Association. She is passionate about breastfeeding medicine and is currently working on becoming an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). She is also a member of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. Dr. Wolter is married to her husband, Jeremy, and has four sons.

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310 Samford Village Court | Auburn, AL 36830 thehomelink.com | 334.329.5055

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Autauga County Schools

Yale Educator Award Recipients

Dean Road ES Football

Congratulations to AHS's Mr. James Tindell, College Coordinator/IB Counselor, and Mr. Davis Thompson, English/ Language Arts teacher and IB Coordinator for receiving 2018 Yale Educator Awards! They were nominated by AHS's Yousra Omer (Class of 2018!)! The award, sponsored by the Yale Office of Undergraduate Admissions, recognizes educators from around the world who inspire and support their students to perform at high levels and to achieve excellence.

You can feel the excitement in the air at Dean Road Elementary School. Our favorite season is here... football season. Students and staff are showing their spirit for their favorite teamsAuburn High, Auburn Tigers, and the Crimson Tide.

Yarbrough Students Create Musical Art

Yarbrough fifth graders had a great time at Adventures in Art at the Jan Dempsey Art Center. We experienced art in many ways - visually, through music, and by creating face sculptures. We enjoyed the music of The Steel City Jug Slammers and helped them create music. We also listened to Charlie Lucas and saw his artwork that was made from found materials.

Five Chambers Academy Students Chosen as Chamber of Commerce Jr. Ambassadors

Chambers Academy is pleased to announce that five of its students were chosen to serve as Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Junior Ambassadors for the 2018-19 school year. Pictured from left to right are: Jenna Fuller, Lauren Fuller, Kaylyn Keebler, Brandalon Rombokas, and Kamdyn Oliver. These Junior Ambassadors attended their first organizational meeting on Tuesday, August 21 at the Bradshaw Library in Valley. They will be representing CA over the course of the year working with other students from surrounding schools on service projects for the Chamber as well as serving as event hostesses. Students must apply during the spring semester as part of the screening process for being selected to the GVACC Junior Ambassadors. Auburn Opelika Parents I October 2018

Opelika High Theatre Society presents â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Diary of Anne Frankâ&#x20AC;? November 7, 2018 7:00 PM Opelika Center for Performing Arts, 1700 LaFayette Parkway. For more information 334-745-97165 or email ohts@opelikaschools.org

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Citizen In Action

Congratulations to Ellie Kate Warnock for being chosen as Citizen In Action for Lee County! We are so proud of you!

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Respect Visitors to Trinity Christian School are impressed by the culture of mutual respect that permeates our school both in and out of the classroom.

Trinity Christian School Labor Day Treat It was a great day at Trinity Christian School as students celebrated the upcoming Labor Day holiday!

A Classical and Christian Academy 745-2464

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St. Michael’s Welcomes the New School Year

Everyone at Saint Michael’s Church Pre-School & Kindergarten is excited to kick off the new school year. We welcome new student, Samantha Moye who will start kindergarten at SMCP&K and her mom, Lacey Moye, as the new teacher for our PK 3 class!

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Autauga County Schools

Lee-Scott “Travels” to Brazil

Lee Scott Academy MacBooks

Lee Scott Academy, Mrs. Jackson’s class “traveled” to Brazil to learn all about a different culture! They learned about their traditions - Carnival (which is why they have the masks on), their sports (futbol), and the Christ the Redeemer Statue because most of their country is Catholic. What a fun week of learning!

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Seventh grade students, at Lee Scott Academy, are writing scripts and making screencasts with QuickTime to teach technology skills on the MacBooks.

AHS Nutrition

AHS's Ms. Julie Echols and her Food/Wellness and Nutrition students are so grateful for the new partnership with Auburn University's Nutrition program! We enjoyed having AU's student mentors join us for cooking labs!

Please send school news to: Kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com.

DRAWING, PAINTING, PRINTMAKING, SCULPTURE AND MORE!

ART CLASSES

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Auburn Opelika Parents I October 2018

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Opelika HS Homecoming Court

Congratulations to OHS Senior Lauren White on being named the 2018 OHS Homecoming Queen during halftime of the Selma game on September 7. Members of the homecoming court include: (l-r) Jamiya MeadowsFreshman, La'Dajah Huguley-Sophomore, Hannah Wilson-Junior, Chelsea Carr-Senior, Lauren White-Senior, Casie Baldwin-Senior, Mia Counts-Junior, Benet Harris-Sophomore, and Lauren Landry-Freshman.

Professional Development at Dean Road ES

Professional development into practice: DRES teachers are studying Jan Richardson’s “The Next Step Forward in Guided Reading”. From our study, kindergarten teachers discussed how young learners often begin practicing phonetic writing with the letters from their name. During the first week of school, kindergarten students have been immersed in fun, hands-on activities to learn the letters in their first name.

Can the Dawgs!

As a fun a way to give back to the community and get geared up for the AHS Football game, the ACS Central Office crew competed in a friendly inter-office canned-food drive that collected more than 250 pounds of food!

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Autauga County Schools

Teacher Breakfast at Drake MS Thank you, Drake Middle Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PTO, for the wonderful breakfast for our teachers and staff.

Collaborating at Pick Elementary

PES Leaders were very busy at PES. By using several different types of strategies, manipulatives and by collaborating, we all learn more together!

Please send your school news to: kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com.

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Auburn Opelika Parents I October 2018

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Chambers Academy Government Class Visits Congressman

On Monday, August 13, juniors and seniors from Chambers Academy travelled to see Congressman Mike Rogers deliver a program in LaFayette. Congressman Rogers visited with students and local constituents at the Chambers County Farmers Federation Building. Congressman Rogers is Alabama’s only representative serving on the House Agriculture Committee. He shared his remarks about progress in Washington, D.C. and answered questions for guests. Subjects included the 2018 Farm Bill, tariffs affecting farmers, the Farmers Review Act, and the process of deregulation. Congressman Rogers encouraged the juniors and seniors from Chambers Academy to get involved in the political process sharing the workings of government. Pictured are Coach Tom Garrett’s Senior US Government class and his eleventh grade U.S. History class with Congressman Mike Rogers.

Yarbrough Taco Cookies

Yarbrough Elementary School loved celebrating the math accomplishments of students who completed their summer math log. “Taco” ‘bout a great group of students! The taco cookies were a big hit at the fiesta!

Ogletree Eagle Scout Project

Ogletree class of 2012 and Auburn High class of 2019 student, Donghan Park, stands proudly in front the artwork he created for the OES Allstars as his Eagle Scout Project!

Now Enrolling for the New School Year! Our children enjoy a curriculum focusing on language development that includes the study of math, science, social studies, phonics, sign language, art, music, self-help skills, emotional growth and character. Ages 6 weeks to 12 years. Video Security Healthy Meals Character Education Summer Camp Low Child:Teacher Ratios

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Growing Room Auburn 334-501-2044 644 North Dean Road Auburn, AL 36830 Growing Room Opelika 334-748-9020 1755 Thomason Drive Opelika, AL 36801

Build it! Grow it! Know it! ...The Growing RoomWay! www.growingroomusa.com

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Thank You, Coach!

Thank you to Coach Frank Tolbert for his 49 years of service to Auburn City Schools! He was celebrated recently and the field house at 405 South Dean was named the "Frank Tolbert Arena" in his honor.

Autauga County Schools

Football Friday

Tiger Mocha / Teacher Tailgate

School is in full swing with the Tiger Mocha Crew back at it selling hot and cold brews on Friday mornings at Auburn High School! Teachers at AHS also held a tailgate! So after grabbing their favorite-flavored cup of joe from the Tiger Mocha Coffee Shop they were able to stop by Mr. Black's classroom for some fruit and pastries to get their Friday started right.

OHS football players greeting students at our elementary schools on Friday. Football Fridays are the best!

2320 MOORES MILL ROAD, SUITE. 250 AUBURN, AL 36830 • (334) 887-0099

Congratulations to the Liles Smiles no cavity winners! ALLEN, DESTINEE ROBINSON, GABRIEL SMITH, JAMES KING, ROMEO SMITH, MARTHA LITTLE, ASHTON SON, CHAEMIN LITTLE, LE'MARTY SON, JUHYUN RASHID, RAABA WARD, CARSON SHARPE, ELIZABETH WARD, EMILY HAZE' ERRY, VALENTINO WARD, JAMES TREADWAY, MICHAEL WILSON, MADILYNN C BROOKS, CAMILLE WOODRUFF, KIRBY BROOKS, ELIZABETH BALDWIN, TAYLOR BROOKS, MARGARET A BOWSER, KAMRYN BROOKS, MEREDITH BOWSER, ZY*KERIA L CLEVELAND, CATHERINE YATES “CATE” CARTER, TEHVIA CLEVELAND JR, WILLIAM B DELBOSQUE, AVI DANIELS, ASHTYN EDWARDS, ZY' ION EDGE, BEAU EDWARDS, ZYLA HANSON, TYLER GLIMPS, BROOKLYN HUDSON, LEAH GONZALEZ, ALEXIA KUNZER, EVAN HARRIS, GABRIEL KUNZER, JACKSON HARRIS, MARQUASIA J

RUSHING, BENJAMIN JONES, KADIN J TAIT, ALEXANDER KNIGHT, LILAH WADE, ALIZA MARTIN, HEMERSON ALSOBROOK, LAWRENCE MEREDITH, KYLEE ANKERSON, CAMILLA MITRA, SARA ANKERSON, HENRY PEREZ, CHRISTOPHER P ANKERSON, ISALENA PERRY, SYMERIA BANKS, HUDSON VANN, KENYAN BAUERSCHMIDT, SEBASTIAN ARMSTRONG, MARILYN BRADSHAW, ROBERT COOPER ARMSTRONG, KARTER BRADSHAW, WILLIAM GILMORE, COOPER A CLARK, CHLOE HARRIS, MASON CROWE, WYLLOWE JOHNSON, MACKENZIE E CROY, HANNAH MACKEY, VICTORIA CROY, TAYLOR NICHOLS, EMMA C HILL, CADENCE NORTHCUTT, CAROLINE HUFF, LUCY NORTHCUTT, KATE HUR, MINJUN NORTHCUTT, MOLLY JACKSON, CHASE REGGIO, CHRISTIAN LAWRENCE, ABBY REGGIO, LUKE LAWRENCE, VIRGINIA

REGGIO, PATRICK LEE, JIN RICE, FINLEY MARTIN, HARPER BLAKELY, JOSHUA MARTIN, HENDRIX BRASHER, RHYDER MORRIS, JAMES CRAWFORD, CREW MORRIS, LEAH K CRAWFORD, KIERSTIN RUSSELL, BRIELLE FORD, MC'KENSIYE RUSSELL, LONDYN GAITHER, JAMIE-LEE SPORT, WILLIAM D STEPHENS, BECKWITH HEATH, AMELIA HEATH, ROBERT HICKOX, RAYLYNN HUGHLEY, ASHTON TILT, THATCHER VINCENT, GEORGE WINN, NOLAN BOONE, EVELYN BOONE, TIMOTHY COXWELL, WILLIAM DIXON, LUKE FIELDS, KEYMONIE HALL ILL, CHARLES HAYWOOD, ABIGAIL HIXON, DAVID HUDSON, TATUM JARVIS, MALLIE KICHLER, CASEY KICH'ER, JOHN P KITCHENS, ABE' MCREYNOLDS, AARON OGLE, NATALIE PARKS, HAYDEN PARKS, KINSLEE

Auburn Opelika Parents I October 2018

POWELL, KACE RAY, COLTEN C REAMS, ISAAC RUDD, CONLEE SMITH, JEZANIAH WARE, EMMA K ARNETT, CHLOE ARNOLD, AMY ARNOLD, HANNAH ARNOLD, ROYCE ARNOLD, WILLIAM BECK, NASH BECK, SIPSEY BROOKER, BRINLEY BROOKER, SADIE K BURGAN, BARRETT BURGAN, OLIVIA GUERRERO, JORDY G JEFFERSON, KAMIRA JUNG, JUWON KIRKLAND, HALLE KIRKLAND, PORTER LUNCEFORD, JADON LUNCEFORD, JAXON MAJRASHI, ABDULRAHMAN MAJRASHI, ADDULAZIZ NGUYEN, JOSHUA NGUYEN, MADELINE PATTERSON, LYLA REAVES, WILLIAM JACKSON JR, QUENTIN JOHNSON, SAWYER JONES, JAKIRAH LAZENBY, RHETT LAZENBY, ADALEIGH LAZENBY, BRYSON MIXON, BROOKLYNN MOORE, JAVIOUS STRICKLAND, AUDREY TEEL, BENJAMIN TEEL, JACKSON TEEL, LUCAS TRAMEL, ANNISTEN WILSON, HAYNES ALSTON, FORD ALSTON, PAISLEY ATTEBERRY, MARA ATTEBERRY, MATHAN CAUDLE, CHARLES

CLARK, CASHTON COCHRAN, ANDREW COCHRAN, HENRY COCHRAN, MARGARET COCHRAN, MICHAEL DAVIS, JOHN C DU BOIS, KATHARINE FINKLEA, FOY FINKLEA, RICHARD HAIRSTON, MARY MILLS HALE, MAKENZIE HALE, MASON HARDISON, EMMA HARDISON, MACON GRACE HARRIS, LOXLEY HUGHES, ADALYNN L ISRAEL, ANNA ISRAEL, JOHN JACKSON, EMMA MALOY, JAYCEON MCDANIEL, JOSHUA L MITCHUM, AUBREE M PALMER, EVELYN M PASSMORE, TAYLOR PRATT, COOPER PRATT, WESTON REED, CAROLINE REED, CHARLES REED, HANNAH RITTENBURY, RILEY ROBERTS, EMERI SNEDIGAR, MADYSON WARE, CAMERON WHITENER, ARON WHITENER, STEPHANIE MITCHELL, JOHANNA MICHELLE ANDREWS, CASON ANDREWS, JUDSON ANDREWS, RYDER BELL, OWEN BELL, SYDNEY BURNETTE, CAMILLE BUTLER, JARIYAH CASEY, LILLIE CASEY, MAGGIE A CHERRY, ZOEY HALLMARK, JASE ISABEL, CHARLEIGH JOHNSON, WINSTON

KIRK, SAWYER LOWE, WILSON MADSEN, MARGARET MCDANIEL, CHARLOTTE MCDANIEL, MILO MELTON, LERA MELTON, MCKINNETH MENIFEE, KYLEIGH MESSER, MARY AUSTIN MITCHELL, LY'JOHN PEELER, RUBIE PITTS, LANDEN SIMPSON, LYNDELL SIMPSON, PRESLEY TAYLOR, TYLER WALL, WILLIAM WENDLING, BAILEY WENDING, COLESON AVILA, EFRAIN BLEDSOE, ANAJAN BRADSHAW, AMBTEE COKER, ELI FINLEY, ABIGAIL FOSTER, MAKENZIE GOMEA-LOPEZ, KATY GOMEZ-LOPEZ, MILNER GUNDERSON, KANON HASSANI, RYAN MAYS, CARSON MAYS, LAYLA MUHAMMAD, NA'IM MUHAMMAD, SAFA SANDERS, LUCAS SANDERS, ROSALEY SMALLWOOD, LEVI SMITH, CAYLYN VIDAL, JUSTIN WARE, KALEB BISHOP, MADELYN B COLEMAN, JAXEN CREAMER, GREYSON DUKE, HANNAH DUKE, JEFFERY GIBBS, OLIVER HOLMES, REESE A HORIKAWA, CHIHIRO HORIKAWA, TAKERU LACKEY, NOAH LACKEY, RILEIGH

MALONE, COTTEN MALONE, MILLIE MARSHALL JR, TERENCE B SCHWARTZ, AMY WILLIAMS, BAYLOR BARRINGTON, ANSLEY BARRINGTON, LANDON BLAKELY, NYLA CARTER, MIKAYLA CHAMBLISS, BENJAMIN “KNOX” CHAMBLISS, MARY TRESSLER CHASTAIN, ANN BANKS HEATH, KELLAN K HENRY, ALBERT GALLATIN HENRY, HUGH HENRY, MAGGIE HENRY, RUTH HERRIT, CLAYTON KRAUSS, MACKENZIE LANGLEY, OLIVIA LARGE, TYLER MCELROY, CALEB MUNNERIYN, MAKINLEY NEMAN, ETHAN NEMAN, LUCY OWEN, SARA “SALLY” E OWEN, STEPHEN “NIC” N PARKER, ANNA LOUISE PARKER, JOHN DICKSON PEAVEY, JORDAN PIKE, KAELYN PIKE, KRISLYN RISNER, PARKER RIVERS, EVEY SANDERS, LANDON SANDERS, SILAS SINGLETON, DALTON STEPHENS-SAMPSON, ZION STOREY, OWEN YATES, BEAU YATES, ELIZABETH YATES, MASON BENSON, SHACARRA BLACK, BRENT BURTON, DAKARI CASSIANO, DANIEI CONWAY, AIDEN "BRYCE" HUDGINS, MARK LLERENA, XIMENA

LLERENA, JESUS LLOYD, DOMINICK J MARTIN JR, JEROME MEADOWS, HUNTER S MEADOWS, JILLIAN M ROBINSON, KAHLII SMITH, CHANCE WELCH, RYLEIGH WELCH, SKYLAR WRIGHT, AHMARI J CLEVELAND, LANDON FANNING, KHLOE GRIFFITH, SHELDON IXMAY, FREDY LILLEBO, ANNASTASIA MURILLO, ASHLEY MURILLO, EMILY OSTEEN, WILLOW PADGETT, LEVI REYNOLDS, SAMANTHA G WILEY, NEVAEH BRUCE, ANNA CLAIRE CHAPMAN, LARKIN CHAPMAN, TRISTAN DARDEN, BENTLEY PATTERSON, CHLOE PRYOR, ABBY RUSH, LEIGHTON SLAUGHTER, EASTON SPENCER, AMZIE SPENCER, LYDEN WILGIS, MADISON YOUNG, LILY ALSOBROOK, WILL BENVENUTO, BRAYLEE BENVENUTO, BRIAR BURNETT, LUKE BURNETT, MOLLY BUMETT, MOLLY CAMPBELL, AUBRIANNA CASTILLO-GARCIA, JACOB CAUSIAND, CALEB CAUSLAND, ETHAN DIAZ, ALEXANDER DRYE, GEORGIA FERGUSON, HOLLAND GLOVER, CODY GREER, MADISON L GUNN, SAMUEL B

HAMIFTON, BAILEY HAMRICK, CHARLES "CHARLIE" HAMRICK, WILLIAM HARRIS, JAKYRA HARRIS, JAYLIN JAMES, AARON JAMES, EVAN JERNIGAN, KENTRELL KIMBROW, NATE MCCALL, MALONI MORALES, MARALIN NIX, SCARLET PRESCOTT, ALLIE PRESCOTT, TENLEY PRESCOTT, HOUSTON ROWLAND, BREA STRICKLAND, ANDALEE WATSON, GABRIELLE BAZZELL, JEFFERY BAZZELL JR, CHRISTOPHER M BEARDEN, EMMA KATE BEARDEN, GRAHAM BEASLEY, KENNETH “DANIEL” D FLYNN, AVERY GARNETT, OLIVIA GARNETT, AMELIA HIXON, ROBERT JOHNSON, JACK JOHNSON, MATTIE KEY, CAMERON KNIGHTON, HARPER MITCHELL, ZIQUARIUS RAY, ELIAS RAY, JIREH ROWELL, JAYDEN TAYLOR, JABRIA TRISH, AYEH VELASQUEZ, JAYDEN WIGGINS, AUBREY WIGGINS, NICOLE

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Pick Reveal Day

LSA Band Members Selected for AU Honor Marching Band

Pick Elementary Reveal Day in the books! Our third graders and new students and staff members found out which Leadership Team they will be with this year! What a fun morning at PES!

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Congratulations to the members of the LSA Warrior Band who were selected for the Auburn University Marching Honor Band and performed at a home football game. We are so proud of you!

Auburn High School Spirit Week!

Students and staff dressed up for spirit week, leading up to the Friday night football game against Opelika High School. Some fun days were Twin Day and Dress Like a Teacher Day!

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Autauga County Schools

Trinity Christian School Honor Society

New Honor Society Members at Trinity Trinity Christian School inducted its new Honor Society members based on academic requirements and character and leadership qualifications.

Character Counts at Lee-Scott Academy

So proud of the lower school students, at Lee Scott Academy, who were recognized as the Character Counts Students of the Week for exhibiting the attributes of the word of the week: Respect! Way to go, Warriors!

Please send your school news to: kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com.

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New Year at St. Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

St. Michael Catholic Preschool and Kindergarten are entering their sixth year as they welcome their new students into Mrs. Bader's preschool 4 class. All of the students are excited about starting their new year with good friends and loving teachers.

Learning New Life Skills at AHS

PHYSICIANS TO CHILDREN

welcomes

AHS's Mr. Jeromy Shaw and his students are focusing on a particular life skill each month! A celebration with certificates and s'mores follows! Great job!

DR. MALISSA HOY Now accepting new patients ages newborn to 18 years P H YS ICIA N S TO C H IL D R E N Taylor Medical Complex 470 Taylor Rd, Suite 210 Montgomery, AL 36117 (334) 293-5033 P

P H YS I C I A N S TO C H I L D R E N C h i l d re n s A L . o rg / p hys i c i a n s - t o - c h i l d re n

OHS Homecoming Queen

Congratulations to the 2018 Opelika High School Homecoming Queen, Lauren White!

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Autauga County Schools

OCS New Elementary Teachers

The Opelika City Schools are excited to welcome our new elementary teachers! Pictured first row (l-r): Sara Schiller, Caitlyn Daniel, Alyson Rogers, Nicole Roach, Elizabeth Messina, Cristina Caple, Katherine Jenkins, Lacey Basgier, Ashley Anne Cahalan, Meagan Shelnut, and Susan Kirk. Second row (l-r): Kristina Griffin, Maggie Fox, Stephanie Cervantes, Michelle Hughes, Davis Ann Speigner, Maria Gilleland, Courtney Green, Taylor Foutz, Crystal Agar, Laken Dennis, Nicole Beasley, Zuri Lepper, and Bethany Keel. Third row (l-r): Abby Posey, Lauren Stewart, Haley Thornhill, Bethany Barnes, Lauren Spina, Paige Mitchell, Kathleen Arnold, and Ashlee Newton. Not pictured: Ann Collins, Lorie Evans, and Olivia Rider.

OCS New Secondary Teachers

The Opelika City Schools are excited to welcome our new secondary teachers! Pictured first row (l-r): Shannon Dickey, April Neese, Anna Laura Campbell, Tamekia Torbert, Garvin Edwards, Sierra Stiles, and Samantha Gilson. Second row (l-r): Thomas Traylor, Jeremy Pickens, Hannah Carroll, Kristyn Bush, Maria Ray, Hannah Olson, Heather Barksdale, Kelsie Nabors, and Stephen Nesmith. Third row (l-r): Kelvin Philpot, Brett Hazelrigs, and Corey Harris. Not pictured: Marta Harrison and Hibisca Kimura.

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Pick Elementary Book Tasting

Awesome day for our PES 5th graders! They participated in a Book Tasting Event where they were able to “sample” a variety of genres of books at Cafe 1320!

LSA Volunteers at Storybrook Farm

Lee Scott Academy. Ms. Spillman’s Character Counts students this year each picked a local non-profit organization and planned a service project. The Character Counts class served at Storybook Farm in Opelika. We are so proud of these students!

Send school news to: Kendra@ auburnopelikaparents.com!

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AHS ROTC Visits Air Show

Trinity Christian School Open House

AHS's JROTC at the United States Air Force 187th Fighter Wing's Red Tails Over Montgomery Air Show!

Looking forward to a wonderful year @ Trinity Christian School!

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pediatric dentistry p.c.

Dr. Keri Miller Most major insurance accepted including BCBS and Southland. 742 N. Dean Road, Auburn, AL 36830 (334) 321-0780 www.gatorgrins.com 21

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Autauga County Schools Ready for Football Season at AHS!

The AHS cheerleaders joined some of the AHS football team and coaches to open car doors at Yarbrough, Richland, & Creekside Elementary schools. They are the schools for the first ‘School Nights’ of the season.

Guest from China Visits Students at Chambers Academy

On Thursday, August 16, several of the classes at Chambers Academy hosted a visitor from Shanghai, China. Mr. Yiyun (“Wyn”) You visited the with students from the third grade through the eighth grade discussing life in China. “Wyn” graduated from high school last May and is enrolled to begin classes this fall at Auburn University as a freshman. “Wyn” answered many thoughtful questions from students ranging from Chinese culture and customs. Topics included Chinese currency, the system of government, the education for Chinese students and the practice of speaking and writing in Mandarin. Pictured from left to right are the students from Mrs. Amanda Norris’ third grade class with their guest speaker (directly above them are examples of Chinese writing samples that “Wyn” provided): Front row – Abigail Bonds, Sydney Carter, Karoline Pitchford, Sherry Xiang, and Yiyun You. Back row – Laikan Edmondson, Ryanna Thorn, Trenise Tigner, Haley Hudson, Layken Taylor, William Lashley, Ty Gooden, Eben Sasser, Ty Hendricks, and Trayshun Tigner.

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First Day at Trinity

The Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blessings abound! We had a great first day! @ Trinity Christian School

AHS Biology

AHS's Ms. Cindy Alexander's IB Biology students gather data!

Ogletree Readers!

Ogletree Elementary Schoolâ&#x20AC;ŚWe love spending time in the media center!

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Autauga County Schools First Day at Opelika City Schools

Welcome Back Students! What a fantastic first day of school for Opelika City School students!

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Apps Stirring Up Trouble in Schools

snaps within a 24-hour period. The longest streaks number in the thousands of days -- and some kids maintain streaks with multiple people. Tik Tok - including musical.ly. What started as a lip-synching app is now a hugely popular, full-fledged videosharing service. The ability to “go live” at any time -- meaning to stream yourself live (yes, on the internet) -- has added a whole ‘nother level to the time tweens and teens can spend dancing, singing, pranking, and performing skits to music or other recorded sounds. While much of the content is fine, a lot of it is extremely iffy for kids, and when you watch it, you can see plenty recorded during the school day. Games such as Fortnite and HQ Live Trivia Game Show (HQ for short). Fortnite has all the hallmarks of being a teacher’s worst nightmare: It’s easy to play, highly social, and super compelling. The hugely popular survival game is played in short bursts (until you die -- which is often), so it’s tailor-made for students trying to get a bit of fun in between lunch and algebra class. Some schools are banning the game, leading to knockoff versions that get around the school network’s blacklist. HQ is the smash-hit trivia game that’s played for real prize money. Each 12-minute game is hosted live as hundreds of thousands of players log in to answer 12 multiple-choice questions on a wide variety of trivia topics. Games usually take place twice on weekdays and once on weekends (the company experiments with different airtimes to keep players on their toes). Sponsors including Nike and Warner Bros., and big jackpots timed with massive events such as the NBA finals, show that HQ is actively cultivating a young audience. Homework helpers such as Photomath, Slader, and, of course, Google. What do you do if you’ve been goofing off all day, or just feverishly multitasking, and can’t finish your geometry problems? Look ‘em up. Apps that supply all the answers are only a few taps away. And don’t even get us started on home assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Home, all of which can be programmed to provide tutor-like assistance. People finders such as Find My Friends and Mappen. Kids love being in touch with their friends 24/7/365, and location apps make it easy to arrange get-togethers and make plans with your posse. But these apps have a dark side, too. Kids feel pressured to be “on” all the time, partly because of friends’ expectations that one should always be available. Stalking -either of your kid or by your kid -- can be a major issue. And, riskiest of all, some location-aware apps encourage face-to-face meet-ups with strangers.

Ask any middle or high school teacher about their classroom frustrations, and you’ll probably hear “cellphones.” Makes sense. Today, 95 percent of teens have access to a cellphone, and nearly half say they’re on them “constantly.” Putting aside for a moment the need to find solutions to this problem, inquiring minds want to know: What the heck is on kids’ phones that they can’t go an entire class without them? Two words: killer apps. Specifically, the ones that play into the tween and teen brain’s need for stimulation and peer approval and its weakness for thinking through consequences. To stay a few steps ahead, teachers are doubling down on their efforts to keep kids focused, starting with strategies for managing device distraction and teaching kids selfcontrol and media balance. But you can help your student by discussing this issue at home. In fact, by simply being aware of some of the key apps that tend to stir up trouble in schools, whether due to social drama, distraction, or something worse -- like cheating -- you can start a conversation with your kid that could save them and the teacher a lot of headaches. And while you don’t have to know every single detail of all the popular apps, it helps to have an awareness of when, why, and how they’re being used and to help your kid manage their own use and that of their friends. Most teachers would probably agree that the internet has been a mostly positive aspect of the middle and high school years. But students, with the support of parents, need to use it responsibly. Check out some of the apps that can potentially stir up drama in schools this year:

Snapchat. The original disappearing-message app has metamorphosed into a megaportal for chatting, finding your friends on a map, sharing images, reading the news, watching videos, and much, much more. As one of the most important apps for teens, it takes up a significant portion of their day. One of those time-consuming activities that occupy students during the school day is Snapstreaks, which require users to trade Auburn Opelika Parents I October 2018

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Are We Spoiling Our Teens? Q. My wife and I are not on the same page when it comes to money and our two teenage daughters. I think they should be learning the value of work and money, but she doesn’t want them to work. She regularly hands them spending money and buys them expensive gifts. I want our girls to have some nice things, but this is starting to cause problems in our relationship. Do you have any advice? A. Kids should learn to work and make

money at an early age. We’ve given nice gifts to our kids, but the difference is they also worked and made money for themselves. The gifts we gave them were for special occasions. Showering our kids with money and expensive toys all the time was not our way of life. In this situation, your wife is allowing them to be nothing but consumers. I know she loves them, but they’re not learning how to work, and they’re not learning how to save or give. This is setting them up for a lifetime of unrealistic expectations. If something doesn’t happen to change things, you’re going to end

up with two spoiled little girls, who think they should be given everything their entire lives. Still, I think the biggest problem is you and your wife are experiencing a communication and marital breakdown. If the kids weren’t in the picture, I’ve got a feeling the same problems would exist. The difference is they would manifest themselves in other ways. Obviously, your wife needs to stop being so impulsive where the kids are concerned. Try sitting down with her, and gently explaining your feelings. Let your wife know you love her and how generous she is, but you’re worried this is having a negative impact on your children. Maybe you could try to establish some guidelines as to when really nice gifts are appropriate, too. There’s a middle ground you can reach, but it’s going to take some time and effort. Most of all, it means the two of you are going to have to communicate and work together for the good of your kids.

ID Theft Protection Q. Where in the Baby Steps does identity theft protection fall? Should we cover the kids, too, or only the adults in our household? A. Everyone needs identity theft protection.

Unless you’re one of these folks who have gone completely off the grid, someone out there probably has a few of your numbers. Between sloppiness on the part of consumers, and the massive data breaches that have occurred in the last few years, almost everyone has experienced, or will experience, some sort of identity theft. Unfortunately, this is today’s world. I don’t really consider identity theft protection part of the Baby Steps. It’s like life insurance or car insurance, in that it’s something almost everyone needs. Things like that should just be part of your budget every month.

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Halloween has always been an exciting holiday for kids. They get dressed up, hang out with friends and know that a simple â&#x20AC;&#x153;Trick or Treatâ&#x20AC;? means free candy. As our kids hit middle school, their days of trick or treating reluctantly come to an end. In an effort to keep the holiday fun for teens, why not throw a party?

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I know what you thinking – “How am I going to come up with entertainment that is not lame and that will keep everyone amused?” Simple! Check out these ten teen approved party games that will challenge, gross out and deliver hours of good times and laughter. But beware, if the kids have too much fun at your party, they will want you to host again next year!

Go Fishing

Fill a small swimming pool with water and live goldfish. On the bottom of the pool, place several marbles. Set as many chairs around the pool as will fit. Ask your guests to sit in the chairs and remove their shoes and socks. That’s right, they are going fishing for marbles with their feet. Add a little fear and anticipation by blindfolding the participants or turning off the lights.

Pumpkin Face

Have the kids put a layer of Vaseline on their faces. Pour several cheeseballs on a long table. On go, each person has to cover their face with cheese balls without using their hands. Set the timer for one minute and the person with the most cheeseballs wins. This is a great photo opportunity!

Plastic Wrap Mummy Race

Break the group into teams. Choose one person from each team to wrap in plastic wrap (from the neck down). As soon as the mummy is wrapped, the team has to gently lower him to the ground and roll him down the race course. When he gets to the finish line, you need to stand him back up and completely unwrap him. For a longer race, rewrap the next person and race back down to the other end.

Coins and Crickets

Fill a large jar (like a sun tea jar) with 20 crickets from the pet store. Place several coins on the bottom of the jar and have each player try to pick up 5 coins. Make it more challenging by having the kids pick up only dimes or choose the winner based on the least amount of money (not coins) collected.

Create a Crime Scene

Create a bag of things found at a mock crime scene but don’t include obvious murder weapons like knives or rope. Instead, find silly things like an apple, wooden spoon, stuffed animal, a children’s book and a magnet. Break every29

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one up into groups of 4 or 5. Each group has to create a crime scene based on the items in the bag and present it to the group. This is a great activity to do while you are serving dinner.

Halloween Egg Hunt

Fill plastic eggs or plastic pumpkins with candy and hide around the room or outdoors. Take advantage of the early setting sun and search for the eggs with flashlights. Try adding a few tricks instead of treats and fill some of the eggs with worms, crickets or cow eyes from the local butcher shop. (Be sure to open the eggs outside!)

Bubble Gum Pie

Fill a pie plate with whipped cream and bury a couple pieces of bubble inside. Using only their face, the first kid to find the bubble gum, chew it and blow a bubble, wins.

Guess the Candy Bar

Melt 5 different candy bars in the microwave. Be sure to crush up any large pieces. Place the melted mess inside a clean disposable diaper and place on the table. Have the kids smell or taste whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the diaper to determine what candy bar it is.

Fear Factor - Egg Roulette Hard boil 12 eggs and let cool in refrigerator. Place eggs on a table in front of your guests. Tell the kids that there is one raw egg among the hardboiled eggs. Challenge them to find it by choosing an egg and smashing it on their forehead. Get your cameras ready. Their expressions will be priceless!

LCR

This is a great way to end the night. LCR is a popular dice game that can be played with any size group. You can either purchase the LCR dice or use regular dice and determine which number is L, C and R. Normally you would play with chips or coins, but since it is Halloween, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s use candy. Every player starts with three candies. As you roll, the candy goes to the left, right or into a bowl in the center. The winner is the person holding the last piece of candy! AOP Pam Molnar is a freelance writer and mom of two teens and a tween. All of their parties include good food, lots of laughter and of course, games!

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Arts & Crafts Festivals Annual Riverwalk Wine Festival

335 Coosa Street Montgomery, AL 36104 October 20. Includes wine tasting from 10 different distributors representing over 100 wineries. Admission is $30 per person and will include: Etched commemorative wine glass, discounted wine purchases from participating local wine shoppes, food vendors, live music, picnic baskets and coolers are welcome! 334-625-2100 www.funinmontgomery.com

21st Annual Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama: Festival and Pow Wow 630 County Road 1281 Falkville, AL 35622 September 29-20. Featuring Native American storytelling, dancing, drum/flute playing, crafts, demonstrations, food and more!

256-734-7337 www.echotacherokeetribe.homestead.com

23rd Annual Arts on the River

1100 Block of Broadway Columbus, GA 31901 October 20. 10:00am-5:00pm. The fine art show and sale includes paint, photography, hand-thrown pottery, and sculpture, with some artists performing live demonstrations. Free. ltryon@infionline.net www.artsontheriver.com

26th Annual Alabama Cotton Festival

145 Main Street Eclectic, AL 36024 October 13. 8:00am-2:00pm. Eclectic, Al. ; Arts and crafts, flea market items, concession- booth spaces are free. 5K Cotton Run, Alabama Rook Tournament, local talent contest, children’s activities, antique cars and tractors, performances and more. 334-541-3581 heather.townofeclectic@gmail.com www.townofeclectic.com

28th Annual Christmas Made in the South

Columbus Convention & Trade Center, 801 Front Avenue Columbus, GA 31901 October 26-28. Amazing craftspeople, outstanding art, unique gourmet food, and diverse entertainment to whet and satisfy every demanding appetite. Handmade, one-of-a-kind designs populate the booths that fill the festival: silk wearables to fabric bags, glass jewelry to close-up photography of nature’s funniest and fiercest creatures all await and more! www.madeinthesouthshows.com

Auburn Opelika Parents I October 2018

30th Annual Alabama Tale Tellin’ Festival

3 Church Street Selma, AL 36701 October 18. The performers this year are Salaam Green, Sean Dietrich and MC Paul Garner, Art show, StreetFest, Ballet, Market Day, Pilgrimage and more! 334-412-8052 info@artsrevive.com www.artsrevive.com

38th Annual Oktoberfest Arts & Craft Show

Charles E. Bailey, Sportsplex, 1685 Arena Road Alexander City, AL 35010 October 13. Day-long celebration features local arts and crafts, great food, entertainment, Kid-Fest children’s activities, sports programs, antique car show and much more. A Native American Artifact show is our newest showcase. 256-329-6736 www.alexandercityonline.com

46th Annual Harvest Day Festival

Downtown Square, Grove St. Headland, AL 36345 October 13. 9am-4pm. Arts and crafts, children’s games and rides, wonderful food and entertainment. 334-693-3303 www.headlandal.com

47th Annual National Shrimp Festival Highway 59 and Beach Blvd Gulf Shores, AL 36542 October 11-14. Over 300 vendors that offer fine art, arts and crafts, a retail marketplace and SHRIMP! 251-968-7200 www.myshrimpfest.com

55th Annual Bluff Park Show

517 Cloudland Drive Hoover, AL 35226 October 6. 9:00am-5:00pm. Sponsored by the Bluff Park Art Association and includes more than 130 local and national artists displaying fine art for sale. Bring the kids to enjoy some hands on art fun. bpaashowchair@gmail.com www.bluffparkartassociation.org

62nd Annual Central Alabama Fair

2401 West Dallas Avenue Selma, AL 36701 October 2-6. Fun-filled event offering a midway with rides, entertainment, beauty pageant, agricultural exhibits, livestock judging and a competition for local arts, crafts, canning, sewing, and more! 334-872-6717 www.centralalabamafair.com

64th Annual Cullman County Fair

1501 Sportsman Lake Rd NW Cullman, AL 35055 October 4-13. Thrilling rides, amazing exhibits, and the best in local and regional entertainment. 256-734-0661 www.cullmanfair.org

71st Annual Lee County Fair

2316-2358 Lafayette Pkwy Opelika, AL 36801 October 2-6. Livestock shows, contests, exhibits, pageants, rides and much more. 334-742-0410 hjsadler@charter.net

75th Annual National Peanut Festival

5622 U.S. Highway 231 South Dothan, AL 36301 November 2-11. Headliner Granger Smith. Livestock exhibits, competitions, demolition derby, crafts, food preservation, recipe contests, entertainment, carnival rides, sea lion show, and much more! 334-793-4323 www.nationalpeanutfestival.com

Alabama Gourd Festival

510 Fifth Street S. W. Cullman, AL 35055 October 19-20. ‘Old MacDonald’s Gourd Farm’. Annual festival features gourd arts and crafts, such as birdhouses, musical instruments and decorated gourds. Dulcimer band performs. gourdzilla@aol.com www.alabamagourdsociety.org

Alabama National Fair

Garret Coliseum, 1555 Federal Drive Montgomery, AL 36107 September 28 to October 8. Midway rides, main stage entertainment, food, information and commercial booths, kids area, livestock and other competition, family faith day, and more! 334- 356-6866 www.alnationalfair.org

Alexander City Fall Festival

Russell Crossroads, 17 Russell Farms Road Alexander City, AL 35010 October 30. Join friends and neighbors for pumpkin painting, a costume contest, wagon rides and more, courtesy of Russell Lands on Lake Martin. www.russelllandsonlakemartin.com

Auburn Opelika Christmas Market

Bottling Plant Event Center 614 N Railroad Ave Opelika, Al 36801 November 29-December 1, in the heart of Down-

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town Opelika at the Bottling Plant Event Center. The Christmas Market will host a series of special events to benefit various causes in East Alabama. Interested in being a sponsor, contributing door prizes/giveaways, or becoming a merchant? Participating sponsors and merchants will be prominently featured in the August-December marketing campaign.

Indian Summer Arts & Crafts Festival

Boll Weevil Festival

220 Hall Street Montgomery, AL 36104 October 10-13. Start the Winter Holiday Season off right with shopping the Jr. League’s Market. Each year, holiday themed booths set up for a great, onestop-shop for all your Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years items.

www.aochristmasmarket.com

Enterprise, AL 36330 October 27. Arts and crafts vendors, variety of music, food, children’s costume contest and activities, farmers market, car show, family entertainment. www.enterprisedowntown.org

Christmas Village Festival

333 East Broad Street Eufaula, AL 36027 October 13. Fine arts and handmade crafts, children’s activities, live entertainment and more. 334-687-6664 www.eufaulachamber.com

Montgomery Jr. League’s Holiday Market

holidaymarketmerchants@gmail.com www.jlmontgomery.com

BJCC, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd North= Birmingham, AL 35203 November 1-4. The largest indoor arts, crafts, and gifts show in the south, this show draws exhibitors from over 30 states with products like clothing, jewelry, food, decorations and much, much more.

Spinners 36th Annual “Pumpkin Patch” Arts & Crafts Show

390 West 6th Street Prattville, AL 36066 October 27-28. Exhibitors of original art and crafts from throughout the southeast will display their wares. Food vendors, live entertainment, games, a coloring contest and many other activities for children and youth. Door prizes will be given at intervals during the show. Other events include The Great Pumpkin Race, a 5K/8K Race and a one mile Run/Walk, a motorcycle show, jack-olantern contest and more. Free admission and free parking. www.spinnersprattville.com

Stone Mountain Park

1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd Stone Mountain, GA 30083 15th Annual Pumpkin Festival- September 22-Oc-

www.christmasvillagefestival.com

Cotton Pickin’ County Fair

18830 Hwy 85 Gay, GA 30218 October 6-7. Return to 1910 where the Farmhouse, the Cotton Gin, and the Cotton Warehouse form a unique backdrop for a great day of 21st century fun. Amidst skilled artisans and antique specialists, the Fair shares remnants of farm life in days gone by. New talent keeps the festival fresh and interesting while returning artists welcome loyal customers seeking to add to individual collections. 706-538-6814 www.cpfair.org

Fall Farm Day & Festival

430 Landmark Drive Dothan, AL 36303 October 19-21. Learn how peanuts were harvested in the Wiregrass a half-century ago. Enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of cane grinding, syrup making, butter churning, basket weaving, soap making and other traditional farm activities. Plus, food, music and antique tractors and farm equipment. 334-794-3452 www.landmarkparkdothan.com

Fall Festival at Wind Creek State Park

4325 Alabama Hwy 128 Alexander City, AL 35010 October 20-21. Part of the 77th Anniversary of the State Park System, celebrates the season with pumpkin carving, a carnival, a projected 5K Halloween Hustle through the park and so much more!

Peanut Butter Festival

475 Dickert Circle Brundidge, AL 36010 October 27. A harvest and heritage celebration honoring the town’s proud heritage in the peanut butter industry. The free for all festival features a 5-K Peanut Butter Run, non-stop entertainment, contests, games, exhibits, recipe contest, Peanut Butter Kids Contest and the Nutter Butter Parade and food galore including everything peanut butter.

www.outdooralabama.com

334-344-9601 www.piddle.org

Greater Columbus Fair

Pioneer Day

Columbus Civic Center, 400 4th Street Columbus, GA 31901 November 8-18. Celebrate the beginning of autumn in the Chattahoochee Valley. Food, rides, games, pageant and more! 706-653-4472 www.columbusciviccenter.org

Harvest Hoe Down

3636 Whitehouse Pkwy Warm Springs, GA 31830 October 13-14. Enjoy this fall celebration with arts, crafts, good food, entertainment and more! www.warmspringsga.us

Hummingbird Festival

400 East Main Street Hogansville, GA 30230 October 20-21. Main Street will be bustling with food, crafts, antiques, music, local artists, open storefronts, rides, and activities for the whole family. 706-333-2520 www.hummingbirdfestival.com

6500 Stage Road Loachapoka, AL 36865 October 20, 7:00am-4:00pm. The same great sausage, biscuits, syrup, music, mules, arts, crafts, etc. that has been offered for the last 40 years will continue to be the same. The Plantation Heirs will sing at noon. Creek Indians demonstrations in heritage crafts and good food. Many vendors are returning along with new vendors. 334-887-3007 www.leecountyhistoricalsociety.org

Pioneer Days at Pioneer Museum of Alabama

248 Highway 231 North Troy, AL 36081 October 12-13, 9:00am-5:00pm. Horse and wagon rides, trips on the Pioneer Express, Native American camps with demonstrations of candle making, spinning, weaving, quilt making, blacksmithing, drum, dance, etc. Friday is School Day. Also, October 31 is Nightmare at the Museum. 334- 566-3597 www.pioneer-museum.org

tober 28. Take in all of the splendor that autumn provides with attractions, fun-filled games, shows and more. Follow the life sized telling of The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin as you wind your way through Spookley’s A-MAZEING Adventure. Join Spookley the Square Pumpkin and lift his friends into the air for a Dance A-Long Party Parade that dances through Crossroads, and then meet him at Spookley’s Pumpkin Patch Meet & Greet. Country Living Fair- October 26-28. A fun, folksy and fabulous show and sale of folk art, antiques, “Made in America” crafts, art, furniture, home decor and more. Meet the editors of Country Living Magazine, attend seminars and how-to’s, artisan demonstrations, Harvest & Gourmet Market, and fall festivities. Highland Games- October 19-21. Come and enjoy the Highland Athletic events, Highland Dancing, Piping and Drumming, Scottish Harping. Participate in the Scottish Country Dancing demonstrations, Kirking of the Tartans, Clan Challenge Athletic events, and the Parade of Tartans. Indian Festival and Pow-Wow- November 1-4. Held at Stone Mountain Park’s historic Antebellum Plantation, the event showcases Native American culture through dance, music, authentic craft demonstrations, cooking traditions, storytelling, wildlife presentations and more. 800-401-2407 www.stonemountainpark.com

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Church Events

Paradise Pumpkin Patch

All Saints Fair

910 County Road 79 Eufaula, AL 36027 September 30-October 31. Corn maze, pumpkin patch, sunflower and cotton fields, giant inflatable park, petting zoo, playground, cow train, hay rides, pony rides, covered wagon rides pulled by a team of mules, giant corn box and hay bale mazes, concessions, and gift shop. September 30-October 31, Saturdays 9:00am6:00pm, Sundays 11:00am-6:00pm. Special event dates and field trips available Monday-Friday. Teacher Day- October 1. All teachers with school ID are free! Free Paradise for Special Children-October 2, 8am-4pm. Free field trip for special needs children. Home School Day- October 9, 8am-3pm.

Lakeview Baptist Church, 1600 East Glenn Avenue Auburn, AL 36830 Safe, family fun alternative to trick-or-treating; everyone welcome. Games include train, gladiator joust, gyro, horse and wagon, go fish, soccer kick, ring toss, bowling, inflatables and more! Lots of games, prizes and candy! Tickets children 0-12 years old- $3.00 fee includes hot dog supper, games and prizes. Or, $10.00 max per family. Individual Teen- Adult-$1.00 hot dog supper fee. Come dressed up, but please avoid ghoulish costumes. www.lakeviewbaptist.org

ad on page 24

Church Events

334-695-2258 www.paradisepumpkinpatch.com

Parkway Baptist Fall Festival

168 Sweetwater Drive Headland, AL 36345 October. Corn field maze, pumpkin barn (pick your own), cow train ride, corn cannon, pony rides, corn box, sunflower path, hay rides, pipe maze, farmsized tic-tac-toe, and more

ad on page 7

766 East University Drive Auburn, AL 36830 October 24. 6:00-8:00pm. Free to the community. Come dressed in costume to play carnival games and win prizes, visit the petting zoo, and much more! 334-887-3782 www.parkwayauburn.org

Cornerstone Church Trunk-or-Treat 2123 Hamilton Road Auburn, AL 36830 334-887-1151 www.cornerstonebuzz.org

Costume Shopping Check-It-Out!

239 North Gay Street Auburn, AL 36830

334-826-0803 www.check-it-outballoons.com

Kids Clothes Connection

804 Columbus Parkway Opelika, AL 36801 Gently used children’s costumes available. www.kidsclothesconnection.com

Party City

2534 Enterprise Drive Opelika, AL 36801 Specializing in all things party! Costumes for all ages, accessories, decorations, and more. 334-745-1568 www.partycity.com

Corn Dodgers Farm

334-726-1485 www.corndodgersfarm.com

Cotton Pickin’ Pumpkin Patch

11546 Lee Road 54 Auburn, AL 36830 Saturdays in October; 10:00am-6:00pm. Open during the week for field trips. Hayrides, pick a pumpkin/cotton, corn maze, corn crib, pony rides, country store and more. Call to schedule your group, schools, daycare, or parties. 334-321-7946 www.lazenbyfarm.com

Dream Field Farms

6376 Highway 82 Fitzpatrick, AL 36029 October. Pumpkin patch-pick in the field, train rides, corn maze, child-sized hay bale maze, corn cannon, tractor pulled hay rides, inflatables, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, farm animals and more. Pumpkin patch-pick in the field, train rides, corn maze, child-sized hay bale maze, corn cannon, tractor pulled hay rides, inflatables, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, farm animals and more. 334-534-6976 www.dreamfieldfarms.com

Farmer in the Dell Pumpkin Patch

ad on page 29

Lee County Road 61 Auburn, AL 36830 October. Located 6 miles west of Toomer’s Corner off of Hwy 14 near Loachapoka School. Pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patchalready gathered from the field, corn maze, childsized hay bale maze, tractor-pulled hay rides and more.

334-370-6490 www.backyardorchards.com

Pumpkin Patch at The Farmhouse

Fall Farms Backyard Orchards 6585 Hwy 431 North Eufaula, AL 36027 U-Pick It Farm with fresh fruits, veggies and pumpkins!

Jack-O-Lantern Lane at The Oaks ad on Back Cover

18151 Veterans’ Memorial Pkwy LaFayette, AL 36862 Pumpkins, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, tractorpulled hay rides, wagon rides, petting zoo, pony rides, inflatable park, train rides, gem mining, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, face painting, and more. Open September 30- October 31. Friday 12:00-3:00pm; Saturday 9:00am-6:00pm; Sunday 12:00-6:00pm. Also available by reservation Monday-Friday for school, church, daycare field trips and more. 334-864-0713 www.jackolanternlane.com

Auburn Opelika Parents I October 2018

334-750-3792 info@auburnpumpkinpatch.com www.auburnpumpkinpatch.com

469 Farmhouse Road Ellerslie, GA 31807 October. Hayrides, bonfires, s’mores, crafts, scarecrow contests, music, and more. Jump on the tractor and take a ride to pick out the perfect pumpkin for your family to carve. 706-561-3435 thefarmhouseellerslie@hotmail.com www.thefarmhousega.com

Sleepy Hollow Haunted Farm

929 Lee County Road 14 Auburn, AL 36830 Friday and Saturdays in October. The farm features a haunted house, haunted hayride and haunted maze. A free petting zoo is available nightly for family enjoyment. Tickets and additional information are available online. 334-750-2591 www.sleepyhollowauburn.com

The Pumpkin Patch at Barber Berry Farm

2362 Alabama River Parkway Millbrook, AL 36054 Weekends in October. Hayride, pumpkin patch, pick your own pesticide-free fruit and veggies. 334-332-4306 BBFpumpkinpatch@yahoo.com www.barberberryfarm.com

The Pumpkin Patch Express at Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum

1919 9th Street Calera, AL 35040 October Saturdays and Sundays. Train boards and departs Saturdays 10:00am, 1:00pm, and 3:00pm; and Sundays 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Enjoy an autumn train ride aboard the Pumpkin Patch Express that lasts approximately 1 1/2 hours, including our time at the Pumpkin Patch. At the Pumpkin Patch, riders will deboard to enjoy a hayride, jumpstation, coloring, and temporary tattoos (all activities are included in the price of your ticket). Snacks and soft drinks are available for purchase. Pick the perfect pumpkin from the patch for an additional fee. Reservations recommended. 205-757-8383 info@hodrrm.org www.hodrrm.org

Local Events City of Auburn 18th Annual Downtown Trick-or-Treat ad on page 30

425 Perry Street Auburn, AL 36830 October 31, 6:00-8:00pm. Free to the public. Ages 12 years and younger (Parents must accompany children at this event.) Bring your monsters, rock stars, princesses, and clowns to the best party in town. Join us in this excellent alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating. Downtown “Monster Merchants” will provide treats for the children and delightful sounds from our “special” entertainment will fill the night air. Also, don’t miss out on your chance to win the “Best Costume” contest and bring your favorite four-legged friends and enter them for a chance to win the Best Pet Costume Contest! 334-501-2930 www.auburnalabama.org

City of Opelika Parks and Recreation ad on page 25

1001 Andrews Road Opelika, AL 36801 Fall Festival & Children’s Carnival- W. James Samford, Jr. Soccer Complex Sportsplex. October 30, 5:30-8:30pm. Children 12 and under invited. Safe alternative to Trick or Treating. Children wear costumes and bring your treat bags. Come for hayrides, prizes, games, rides and entertainment, inflatable slides, mascots, special booths and exciting events. Fall Treats- October 11. Enjoy making and eating your favorite fall treats. 3:30-4:40pm. Fee: $15. Halloween Treat Bags- October 23 Make the perfect bag for your treats. 3:30-4:30pm. Ages: 4-12 yrs. $15. Spooky Drop-In- October 26. Special occasion for drop-in members! 6:00-8:00pm. Ages 3rd-5th grades. Fee: $5. The Great Pumpkin Splash- October 26. 6:008:00pm. $4. Ages 6-12yrs. Pick your pumpkin from the pool! Kids enjoy harvest relay races, pumpkin roll, prizes and more! Tour De Fright- October 23, 6:00-8:00pm. Bicyclers beware! Children 12 and under and their parents are invited to take a ride on the haunted walking trail. Movie at the Plex: Halloween Town- October 27th, 6:00-8:00pm. Join us for a spooky family friendly night at the SportsPlex Amphitheater. This is a free event. Beware! The Sanderson Sisters could make an appearance.

334-705-5560 www.opelikasportsplex.com

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Fright Nights at The Arboretum ad on page 13

Donald E. Davis Arboretum, 181 Garden Drive Auburn, AL 36830 October 5, 12, 19, and 26. Join the Donald E. Davis Arboretum and Auburn Parks and Recreation for Fright Nights at the Arboretum on Fridays in October at 6 p.m. On select Fridays in October, enjoy special screenings of your favorite monster movies! From Toy Story of Terror to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, it’s time for the Monster Mash at the Arboretum! Patrons are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs and picnic dinners to enjoy movies. Parking is available near the entrances on three sides: along Lem Morrison and the Poultry Science parking lot, along Garden Drive and in the Arboretum parking lot off Garden Drive. Patrons are encouraged to carpool or walk. The event is FREE and open to the public. 334-501-2948 wmorris@auburnalabama.org

Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve & Nature Center ad on page 11

2222 North College Street Auburn, AL 36830 Fall Family Fun Day- October 6, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Enjoy this fun event for the whole family at the preserve celebrating fall with some music, nature hikes, animal encounters, face painting, and craft with the art museum. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Halloween Enchanted Forest- October 25-26, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm; Enjoy a fun family-friendly Halloween event hiking the Kreher Preserve trails and visiting some costumed characters who will entertain you on how they “trick or treat” other animals in the forest. Children are invited to wear their costumes and enjoy some early Halloween fun! Pumpkin bowling, campfire, fortune telling and face painting will be available! S’mores kits and drinks will be available for purchase. Buy tickets and sign up on-line at www.auburn.edu/preserve for scheduled hike times starting October 1st. Admission is $5, children 2 and under are free. Registration is required. Canceled in the event of rain with 10/27 as the rain date. 334-844-8091 www.auburn.edu/preserve

Haunted Auburn Walking Tour

102 South College Street Auburn, AL 36830 Every Friday and Saturday in October. Join your hosts Stoker and Poe as they lead you around to Auburns most haunted locations. Hear the tales, urban ledgens, first hand accounts and true life facts about these locations. Two tours each night first at 6pm the other at 8pm weather permitting. Dress accordingly. Fun for all (may not be suitable for children under 12). Meet at the 2 Eagles by the Toomer Oaks. Admission is FREE!! 334-444-1422

17th Annual Uptown Spooktacular Halloween Festival

1000 Bay Avenue Columbus, GA 31901 October 28, 2:00-4:00 pm. Woodruff Park, Uptown, Columbus, Ga. Sign up for the costume contest; First and Second place winners will be awarded in each category. Spooktacular provides a safe environment for the children of Columbus to enjoy the holiday. So wear your best costume and come to Spooktacular for a haunting night of ghosts and goblins, spooky activities, candy and lots of fun!!! 706-598-0111 www.UptownColumbusGA.com

Annual Great Pumpkin Carve

Graves Drive Auburn University, AL 36849 Auburn University School of Architecture and Design, Dudley Court, Campus. October TBA, 9:00am-9:00pm. Come out and watch the students carve amazing designs into pumpkins. As night falls, see the pumpkins turn into glowing jack-olanterns! Dress the kids up for a costume contest, games, and more! 334-844-4524 cadc.communications@auburn.edu cadc.auburn.edu/explore-cadc/events/view/110

Auburn Public Library

749 East Thatch Ave Auburn, AL 36830 Ghoulish Gala- October 25, 5:30-7:00pm. Dress up in your Halloween costumes and bring the whole family to the Auburn Public Library to enjoy a variety of fun Halloween activities! The terrifying, spine-tingling, shriek-inducing, haunted wing of the library will be open to willing adventurers, and we’ll also have carnival games, candy, music, and a spooky photo booth! Posh Pumpkins-Bring your friends and family to the library on Wednesday, October 17 to decorate a pumpkin of your choosing! An array of arts and crafts supplies will be available to spark your imagination and creativity! Whatever your style, the possibilities are endless, all without using a carving knife, and you’ll have the coolest pumpkin on the block! www.auburnalabama.org/library ajbrown@auburnalabama org

Bones and Boos

Donald E. Davis Arboretum, 181 Garden Drive Auburn, AL 36830 October 27. A one-day outdoor exhibit of animal skeletons throughout the Arboretum. Guests can come enjoy an up close and personal look at some of their favorite animals in a whole new way! Rhino legs, whale ribs, tigers, bears and more! Oh my! There will be a silent auction with items both big and small, live music, food trucks and more! This event is for visitors of all ages! Tickets ae $5/ person, children 12 and under get in free. Come explore the natural world with us during this oneof-a-kind experience taking place for the first time ever in Auburn, AL! Proceeds from the silent auction benefits the Davis Arboretum, AU Museum of Natural History and the Vet School’s Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology. 334-844-5770 www.auburn.edu/cosam/arboretum

Oktoberfest

Ag Heritage Park, 620 South Donahue Drive Auburn, AL 36830 Alabama’s largest Oktoberfest returns to the Plains for it’s 9th year! Join us Saturday, October 6th, at the Ag Heritage Park, on the Auburn University campus for Auburn’s annual craft beer festival. Attendees will choose from more than 150 beers from local craft breweries and national brand favorites. If beer isn’t your drink of choice, selection German wines will be up for sampling as well. Food trucks will be set up offering a variety of festival fare. The popular Homebrew Alley competition will also be returning with the chance for the winning brewer to have their homemade creation served on tap throughout the fall at A·T and Piccolo 334-321-3165 www.auburnoktoberfest.com

Opeilka Public Library

200 South 6th Street Opelika, AL 36801 The Hallows- October 27. 10am-12pm. This fun and not-too-spooky event is open to all ages. Attendees will rotate through age-appropriate stations for tricks and treats. Our event will end with a spooky story time. 334-705-5380 library@opelika-al.gov www.opelika-al.gov

Out of Town Events Zoo Boo at Montgomery Zoo ad on page 20

2301 Coliseum Parkway Montgomery, AL 36110 Harry Potter Night at the Zoo- Oct 5. Montgomery Zoo. Calling all witches, wizards, and muggles. Your Hogwarts letter has arrived. Grab your wand, robes, and broomsticks as you enter the world Harry Potter at the Montgomery Zoo. Walk through King’s Cross Station to Platform 9 3/4 and enjoy a peaceful ride on the Hogwarts Express. Attend Care of Magical Creatures, and learn about all the animals found in the muggle and magical world. Talk a walk down to the Quidditch field and try your hand at being a chaser or keeper. Enjoy a glass of Butter beer or maybe just some ice cold Gilly water. Take pictures using some of your favorite magical props, Wingardium Leviosa your sky lift chair and fly through the sky, and enjoy all the sights and sounds of the magical world. There is even a costume contest. 7:00-10:00pm. Zoo Boo- Oct 12-14, 19-21, 26-31. Montgomery Zoo. Join us for 11 nights of horror and fun at Zoo Boo. Climb aboard the thrill ride of a life time Haunted Hay Ride or mosey on over to the Pumpkin Pull for a good, ole fashioned, non-scary, traditional hay ride. Enjoy games, bouncy castles, concessions and much more at Zoo Boo. Gates open nightly at 6pm, and the first Haunted Hay Ride will pull out at dusk. Enjoy a vast variety of Halloween-themed games and attractions. Win prizes, candy and have a lot of fun. Great for all ages, boys and girls. Moonwalk (two moonwalks, one for the small kids and one for the older kids). Creatures of the Night Education Animal presentation (3 presentations per night). 334-240-4900 www.montgomeryzoo.com

27th Annual Halloween Fairyland

Tannehill State Park, 12632 Confederate Parkway McCalla, AL 35111 October 27. The Tannehill Halloween Festival, a nonscary fun-filled holiday event focused on the campgrounds, annually attracts over 6,000 visitors, most of them children. Begun in 1992, the event features park-sponsored programs during the afternoon and traditional Halloween candy “trick or treat” stops at more than 200 campsites during the evening. Park events include a moon walk, clowns, face painting, pony rides and sand art. A special tradition is the festival’s annual Halloween Festival tee shirt. Campground site decorations and lights are extensive, creative and surreal. 205-477-5711 www.tannehill.org/events

33rd Annual Tour of Southern Ghosts Antebellum Plantation, Stone Mountain Park, 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd Stone Mountain, GA 30083 October 11-27 (Thursday-Sunday). Meet professional storytellers spinning their tales of famous (and not-so famous) Southern Ghosts along the lantern-lit paths of the Antebellum Plantation grounds- never too frightening and always appropriate for young children. Each night offers a different cast of six storytellers. 800-401-2407 www.stonemountainpark.com

Boo at the Zoo

Atlanta Zoo, 800 Cherokee Avenue SE Atlanta, GA 30315 October 20-21, 27-28. 9:30am-3:00pm. Sample treats throughout the Zoo, and enjoy the sights, characters and adventures of the whimsical Zoo Boo Town on four magical days with more than 1,500 animals from around the world. Guests can enjoy spooktacular activities: Enter costume contests, inflatable Corn Maze, Halloween games and crafts, Boogie down to Little Beat, and more. 404-624-9453 www.zooatlanta.org

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Judgement Journey

Fall Family Fun Days: The Rock Ranch

5020 Barnesville Highway The Rock, GA 30285 Open 10:00am-8:00pm weekends. guests will enjoy themed entertainment plus Train Rides, Hay Rides, a Petting Zoo, Zip Lines, Pony Rides, the Pumpkin Cannon, Tiny Town and much more! Cowboy DayOctober 7. Hot Air Balloon Rally- October 21. The ‘Not-So-Spooky’ Halloween Festival- October 28. Pumpkin Destruction Day- November 4. The Great Outdoor Adventure- October 14. 706-647-6374 www.therockranch.com

Haunting on the Harriott II

Riverwalk, 200 Coosa St Montgomery, AL 36104 October 27. Boarding at 8:00pm, Cruises time 8:3010:30pm. Tickets $30/Adult, Ages 21 and over only. Live entertainment, Cash Bar, Costume Contest with prizes and more! 334-625-2100 www.funinmontgomery.com

Faith Baptist Church, 552 Hammett Road LaGrange, GA 30241 October 6, 12-13, 19-20, 26-27 and November 2-3-. A ministry of Faith Baptist Church, Judgement Journey was started in 1997 as a method of presenting the events of the end of the world, as the Bible describes them. The vision was to present various ‘scenes’ where each person could experience a multi-sensory presentation of how the Bible describes what is yet to come. The event is held each year on the church campus on a ‘trail’ that meanders around the property.

706-845-0000 www.judgementjourney.com

Pope’s Haunted Farm

450 Lee Road 424 Salem, AL 36874 October weekends. Zombie Paintball Safari. Pope’s Haunted Farm has three different events to experience and scare you. The Haunted Barn: Taken, the Haunted Hayride that many have claimed to see the infamous evil specter Jasper, and lastly you can experience the Haunted Forest that’s an unguided tour that includes a graveyard deep in the woods. 706-566-7766 www.popeshayride.com

Tavern Fest

Old Cahawba, Old Live Oak Cemetery, 110 W Dallas Ave Selma, AL 36701 October 20. Landmarks Foundation’s annual Fall fundraiser, Tavern Fest has become a popular downtown event that many look forward to each

year. Featuring craft beer, live music, food, a silent auction, and more. 334-872-8058 www.selmaalabama.com

Tomb of the Risen Dead & Destiny Express

DeSoto Caverns Park, 5181 DeSoto Caverns Parkway Childersburg, AL 35044 October 5-27 (Friday and Saturday). Enjoy our festival area which features new live entertainment each weekend ranging from fire dancing to acrobatics to comedic juggling and more! Experience our three thrilling attractions, fun for all ages, including our newest attraction, the Destiny Express as it’s given a spooktacular twist. We also are introducing our Park Fun Attractions this fall for an evening experience with a choice of 6 park attractions specially open for this event. Fall into fun with our family-friendly movies showing under the stars, s’mores for roasting, pumpkin decorating, village entertainment, & more! 256-378-7252 www.DesotoCarvernsPark.com

Young Frankenstein

Newnan Theatre Company, 24 First Avenue Newnan, GA 30263 Young Frankenstein- October 18-21, 25-28. Grandson of the infamous Victor Frankenstein, Frederick Frankenstein (pronounced “Frank-en-steen”) inherits his family’s estate in Transylvania. With the help of a hunchbacked sidekick, Igor (pronounced “Eye-gore”), and a leggy lab assistant, Inga (pronounced normally), Frederick finds himself in the mad scientist shoes of his ancestors. “It’s alive!” he exclaims as he brings to life a creature to rival his grandfather’s. Eventually, of course, the monster escapes and hilarity abounds. 770-683-6282 www.newnantheatre.org

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Auburn Opelika Parents I October 2018

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A Page in a Book

It’s Just Your Imagination

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The marvel of the human mind is its ability to fill in blank or boring spaces with imagination. Seeing a parade of animals in the shifting of clouds overhead, making up a backstory for the stranger sitting on the park bench, or crafting alternate exploits that take beloved toys

on all new adventures, these are some of the ways our mind moves beyond what is and

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into the realm of what could be. Imagination is the foundation of invention and creativity, as well as a healthy retreat from the everyday. The following titles celebrate the limitless vistas the mind can explore and the little things that can launch that journey!

Idea Jar

by Adam Lehrhaupt, Illustrated by Deb Pilutti (Simon & Schuster) The jar on the teacher’s desk is filled with ideas that are perfect for sparking young imaginations. Colorful characters and bold adjectives are written on scraps of paper just waiting to inspire an all new story. Armed with just a couple of words, students begin to craft the adventures of a space-faring Viking, a horseless cowgirl and more. The kids imagine new stories in written form, spoken word and art. But when the jar tips over, its ideas spilling out, the imagination overflow threatens to overwhelm the class. Advocating the value of imaginative focus, the Idea Jar offers ideal guidance for jump-starting imaginative journeys.

Use Your Imagination

by Nicola O’Byrne (Nosy Crow / Candlewick) Lamenting his boredom, a young rabbit is approached by a wolf with a solution. Claiming to be a librarian, Wolf suggests they write a story together. Observing what big ears Wolf has (better for listening to stories) and what big eyes he has (better for reading stories), Rabbit is reminded of another well-known tale. So as Wolf guides Rabbit through his imaginings, the evolving story’s setting (a forest), costuming (a red cape) and a villain (a wolf) all begin to point to a bad ending. With his own sly vision, Rabbit harnesses his powers of imagination and engages them to craft a new tale that flips the script on an old story that’s not boring at all.

Red Again

by Barbara Lehman (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) Biking beside a wintery canal, a young boy discovers a red book on the ground. Scooping it up, he retreats to his ocean view reading spot to explore the found book. His first page view reveals a child in a boat...with a red book floating in the water nearby. Retrieving it from the water, the second child opens the book revealing a window back into the first boy’s canal side world. As the children marvel at their magical connection, the book watches their worlds draw closer. Author of the wordless Caldecott Honor title, The Red Book, Lehman returns with a brilliant follow-up that captures the power of imagination, as a simple action leads characters (and readers) on wonderful journeys that transcend reality.

Find more reading recommendations at www.PageBookMedia.com.

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By the time your child turns ten, you may have started teaching them responsibilities, assigned weekly chores, and started discussing whether they are old enough to stay home alone for a few minutes at a time. In the middle of their tween years, ten year olds are ready to begin taking on more responsibilities. Krystal Laws, Olathe mother of seven, says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Parents can think about where they would like their kids to be at age 18 then go back every few years making goals to work up to independence as an adult. Having a vision for where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re headed really helps in knowing what to work on at various ages.â&#x20AC;?

What are some basic skills kids can learn before ten? Here are some ideas: Auburn Opelika Parents I October 2018

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Basic household tasks

Teach your child some basic household tasks. If you are busy, out of the house, or under the weather your child should be able to make himself a sandwich, pack a sack lunch for school, and be able prepare a small meal in the microwave. It is also good to teach your kids how to do laundry, run the dishwasher, and how to clean up a spill.

Safety

Keeping our kids safe is a huge priority for parents. At a young age, we begin to teach them how to safely cross the street, bike and road safety, and to be aware of strangers. By ten, parents should take it one step further by teaching kids about internet safety and what to do in case of an emergency. “I want them to be safe mentally and physically.” says Lisa Parrish, mother of three. “They should know how to use the phone, procedures for being home alone or in emergencies, safe touch, and that no means no.” Kids approaching ten should also know basic first aid and when to call 911.

Budgeting and saving

Ten years old is a great time to intro-

duce basic budgeting skills. Kids can learn to pick something out that they would like to purchase, research the cost, and begin saving for it. This helps teach them delayed gratification, the value of the dollar, the reward for hard work, and also how to budget and save for things that they want. This skill will be necessary as they plan for larger purchases in adulthood.

Problem solving skills

When presented with a problem, children often look to the adults in their lives to solve the problem. Rather than giving your child the answer to the problem, why not let them try to work it out themselves? The problem solving skills learned early will benefit them as they grow older. You can also present your child with different scenarios and ask them what they would do. Ask your child - If you get lost, what should you do? What if you forget your lunch at home? What if you see another child getting teased? If there is a fire in the house, what should you do? Working through different scenarios and practicing problem solving skills will help your child build confidence for when they are faced with a problem.

Value of hard work

Kids need to know the value of hard work, especially as they head off to college or into the workplace. Even middle and high school require a higher level of study habits. Developing good study habits also helps kids learn that their dedication pays off when they receive good grades because of it. To prepare your child for the workforce, assign chores that work towards a family goal, like putting in a garden for everyone to enjoy, or saving up allowance to work towards something they would like to purchase will show them the long-term payoff of hard work.

Proper etiquette and speaking skills

Ten year olds should know how to treat other people respectfully, approach adults in public, have proper phone etiquette, know how to shake hands, and express gratitude when someone gives them a gift or does something for them. With so much electronic communication, we must teach our children that when having face to face conversations, it is polite to use proper language rather than text speak. “Kids this age should know the

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Golden Rule and treat others the way they’d like to be treated,” says Laura Fenner, Olathe mother of four. Ten year olds can build confidence in this area by practicing public speaking and participating in sports or recitals.

Healthy habits

Proper hygiene and self grooming

Ten year olds should understand the importance of good hygiene and how to care for their own body and hair. Frequent showers, proper face and hand washing, and wearing deodorant are good habits to get into as the changing hormones of the teen years approach.

Caring for others

Kids learn a lot when given the responsibility of taking care of something or someone else. Examples could be a pet, garden or plants, or helping with younger children. This helps teach them responsibility and selflessness.

Outdoor skills

Kids this age can be taught outdoor safety. Fire safety, how to use a map and compass, what poison ivy looks like, and water safety are all good examples. Teaching them these skills encourages them to find outdoor activities that they enjoy. Again, as we face competition with the screen, teaching kids how to be safe when pursuing outdoor activities may open a love of the outdoors they have not yet experienced.

The importance of a healthy diet and routine exercise is never too early to learn. While they may not be preparing entire meals at age ten, they do need to know that potato chips are not a well balanced lunch. Kids should also be able to listen to their bodies so they can tell you if they are unwell and what is wrong. Healthy sleep habits and a good diet can help them perform better in school and improve their moods. Kids should also be able to manage their emotions and calm themselves when needed. These skills are a guideline as every child and every family is unique. You may find that in your family you value certain skills over others or that some of these were learned some time ago. “Be flexible with your plan to teach life skills,” says Laws, “Everyone learns at a different pace.” AOP Sarah Lyons is a freelance writer and stay at home mom to six kids, including three-year-old triplets.

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ParentingToday’sTeens by Mark Gregston

Communicating with Teens Every parent of a teenager wants to build a strong line of communication with their teen. But sadly, the opposite is most often true. I’d like to share with you some simple tips to improve your communications with your teen. You may wonder what the best timing is for building good lines of communication with your teen or pre-teen. That’s simple. Do it NOW, before problems, struggles and difficulties begin. And never stop working at it, even when there is conflict. As your children move from the elementary years into early adolescence, it’s essential that you adapt your style of communication to the changes taking place with your child. What was non-hormonal, now becomes laced with hormones. Total dependence moves closer to independence, and that affects how your teen interacts with you. Unless you change with them, there will be conflict and broken communications. The hope is that we, as parents, become that place of rest for our kids, a place where they might be restored. Too many times parents become a place of added burden or hardship, or an extra “measure” of correction, when correcting, and a life of training, has already been done. Moms have the tendency to do the “Energizer bunny” communication that just keeps on going. And dads have that tendency to tune out when communication is most needed. Moms, your over-correcting does not provide the rest your child needs. And dad, your refusal to speak up does not restore. What is crucial for your child is the

balance of the mom and dad mix, which will result in that place of rest. But to achieve this balance, it is important for us as parents to transition with our children, to change our style of communication. If we can successfully make this transition, then the day when our children begin to struggle or have difficulties, and desperately need someone to talk to, we are the ones they will turn to. Now, let me give you some advice on how to build that bridge– how to make that transition… Start by laying down some new rules, not ones that dictate, but those that invite. In fact, these are rules for yourself, not as much for your child, including making it a priority to have one-on-one time with your child. For example, you might state that a new rule for your house is to go on a motherdaughter, or father-son special vacation each year. Another might be a Joke Night that gets everyone laughing, just laughing, no spiritual lesson attached, just pure fun time together. Ask thoughtful questions… create a sense of wonder. Instead of always telling your child the answers, offer them thoughtful questions. And remember, not every question has to be answered immediately, or at all. They will learn to think on their own, and begin to ask you questions as you model one who asks questions. The questions themselves can lead to the right answers, without preaching. …and wait to be invited. Hold off on the tendency to always drive the conver41

sation and share your own opinions Don’t break genuine interest, but poignant moments of silence (especially when they are not accustomed to silence from you) will move a child to ask, “What do you think?” Try not to force your opinion unless it is invited. “I Was Wrong” diffuses difficult discussions. If you handled a situation poorly, admit where you were wrong. You will take the fuse out of the firecracker when you do that. Once you admit you blew it, the issue can no longer be held against you. Anger puts up barriers and must always be diffused before communications will open up. Give them respect… consider others to be more important. Easy to say, and sometimes tough to do. It’s basically putting your child first and showing them respect, even as you demand that of them. This should affect the way you speak to them (you wouldn’t yell at, belittle, or talk down to someone you respect), the way you discipline, the way you show grace and the way you respond when you are disappointed and upset. I want to challenge you today to commit to building a relationship with your child, and that starts with good communications. Make time to communicate and really get to know your teen. And no matter how strained or difficult your relationship might be, there is always HOPE. It may take time and persistence, but keep at it in a loving and natural way and they will eventually open up.

Mark Gregston is an author, speaker, radio host, and the founder of a residential counseling center for struggling teens located in Longview, Texas. Mark’s passion for helping teens can be seen in his 40 years of involvement with families as a youth pastor, Young Life area director, and now, as the Executive Director of Heartlight, where he has lived with and helped over 2,700 teens. To find out more about Mark and his ministry to parents and teens, you can visit www.HeartlightMinistries.org or www.ParentingTodaysTeens.org.

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FamilyCalendar Wednesday, September 26

Friday, September 28

Toddler Time Auburn Public Library. Toddlers and their favorite adults enjoy 30 minutes of interactive stories, songs, movement rhymes, and a fun craft during Toddler Time. Stay afterwards to socialize and play! Ages 18 months-3 years. 9:30-10:00 a.m. or 10:30-11:00 a.m. or 1:00-1:30 p.m. www.auburnalabama.org/ library.

Brätoberfest Birmingham. A Two-Day General admission ticket to Brätoberfest is only $20 and includes two-days of entertainment, contests, and fun for the entire family! Two-Day VIP (must be 21 or older to purchase) tickets are $50. Children 12 and under enter FREE when accompanied by an adult and have access to the General Admission area. Pets are allowed in the General Admission area but must be on a leash. www.bratoberfest.instagift.com.

Code Club Jr. Opelika Public Library Code Club at the Lewis Cooper Jr Memorial Library is going to teach your kids how to make website, apps, and games in a fun environment. Give them much needed exposure to STEM education and let them get ahead of the crowd. Bring your own laptop if you have one, but it is not required. 3:30 p.m. library@opelika-al.gov.

Thursday, September 27 Gamers Society Auburn Public Library. The Programming Room will be open every Thursday, 4:00-5:00 p.m. for Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokemon, and video games. Gamers must bring their own materials. The Auburn Public Library will provide materials for video game play. Games must be rated E, E10, or T; no rated M games. Ages 1018 years. www.auburnalabama.org/library. Preschool Time Preschoolers and their favorite adults enjoy 30 minutes of interactive stories, songs, movement rhymes, and a fun craft during Preschool Time. Stay afterwards to socialize and play! 3 – 5 years. 9:3010:00 a.m., 10:30-11:00 a.m. or 1:00-1:30 p.m. www.auburnalabama.org/library. Imagination Lab Opelika Public Library. The Imagination Lab is for young minds to explore and create. From magnetic circuits making sound to programming a small robot, the lab is waiting for BRAIN power to create a spark! 3:00-4:00 p.m. library@opelika-al.gov. Fall Sundown Concert Series Join us for an evening of music and fun at beautiful Kiesel Park. Bring your lawn chair, blanket, kick back and enjoy the music. Inflatables will be available for children and food vendors will be on site. Pets (on leashes) are welcome, as well. FREE to the Public. 6 - 7:30 PM. Pianist David Bottoms: A Little Lunch Music Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 12 noon. Free and open to the public. Guests are invited to enjoy lunch in the Museum Café before or after the performance. David Bottoms, a pianist, composer, and investment manager, will perform a tribute to the victims of 9/11. He performs the memorial program annually on September 11 for Bargemusic, a concert series in a renovated 1899 coffee barge just under the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. www. jcsm.auburn.edu. “Transnational Frontiers: The American West in France” Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 6:00 PM. In her new book, Transitional Frontiers: The American West in France, Emily Burns, assistant professor of art and art history, explores the interconnections between American western art and Franco-American artistic exchange in the late 19th and 20th century. www.jcsm.auburn.edu.

Auburn Opelika Parents I October 2018

Football, Fans and Feathers Southeastern Raptor Center, Auburn. www. vetmed.auburn. edu. $5 per person (ages 4+) and purchased upon entry or in advance online. The hour-long program begins at 4 p.m. at the center’s amphitheater, located at 1350 Pratt-Carden Drive off Shug Jordan Parkway. Hawks, falcons, eagles and other birds of prey are free-flown from towers and around the amphitheater, enabling visitors to see these raptors flying close. Story Time Opelika Public Library. Join us for an interactive and engaging preschool program that is sure to delight and entertain. They won’t even know they are learning! Meets weekly.library@opelika-al.gov

Saturday, September 29

Eye Spy Camera Scavenger Hunt at FDR State Park Team up for our on-site scavenger hunt with your camera or phone. Pick up checklist/rules at the park office any time. Pictures must be brought to park office with checklist by 4 PM Sat. Winners notified by phone to pick up prize. 706-663-4858.

Crimson Tailgate Opelika Parks and Rec. Come watch the game and cheer on the Tide as they take on Arkansas State. Resident Fee: $10, Non-Resident Fee: $11. PLipscomb@opelika-al.gov. Tiger Tailgate Opelika Parks and Rec. Come watch the game and cheer on the Tigers v. Southern Mississippi! Resident Fee: $10, Non- Resident Fee: $11. PLipscomb@ opelika-al.gov. Young Eagles Day Kids ages 8-17 are invited to take a Free airplane ride over Columbus! Most flights last 20 minutes. The goal is to provide a fun and educational aviation experience. Columbus Airport, 3250 W. Britt David Road, Columbus, Ga. 8:30-11:30 AM (weather permitting). 706-324-2453. Saturday STEM Storytime Auburn Public Library. Preschoolers–2nd grade children and their caregivers are invited to join us for a storytime on Saturday mornings that is all about STEM. 10:00-11:00 a.m. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math This storytime will focus on these concepts in a fun, interactive, story-driven format Please note: Some activities may involve messy fun! (334) 501-3296. Brick Builders Club See Sept. 1 for details. Market Days on Broadway Columbus. The Market features over 200 local vendors selling homemade and homegrown products, including local and organic produce, home goods, jewelry, crafts and yummy baked goods.

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Sunday, September 30 Jamey Johnson’s 7th Annual Homecoming Benefit Concert Outdoor concert open to the public, led by Johnson and friends. Surprise guest performances by country music stars have included Lee Ann Womack, Alison Krauss and Randy Travis. Tickets are $20 at the door or $10 with a new, unused toy of at least a $10 value for the Toys for Tots Foundation. Tickets available online. Show starts at 5 PM. https://www. facebook.com/JameyJohnsonGolf/ Brunch and Browse Downtown Auburn. 9:30 AM - 5 PM. Brunch at some of your local favs and then go browse the streets of Magnolia and College at a variety of boutiques and gift shops. Extended hours and merchant specials.

Monday, October 1 Alabama Tale Tellin’ Festival Selma. Visit website for exact event date. Food can be purchased on site and we will have Swappin’ Ground (where the audience can come up on stage and share their stories.). Swapping Ground will begin at 6 p.m. and Tale Tellin’ at 7:00 each night. www. artsrevive.com.

Tuesday, October 2

Brätoberfest See Sept. 28 for details.

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Lee County Fair Oct. 2 - 6. Lee County Fair Grounds, LaFayette Pkwy, Opelika. For more information, contact Jim Sadler at hjsadler@charter.net. AU High School Honor Choir Festival Goodwin Hall and Telfair Peet, AU Campus. 10 AM - 3 PM. This is a one-day festival to provide an opportunity for high school choirs to visit Auburn University, and to receive instruction from a university choral professional. www.auburn.edu. Baby Time Auburn Public Library. Babies and their favorite adults enjoy 20 minutes of stories, songs, bounces, and tickles during Baby Time. Stay afterwards to socialize and play! Ages birth - 24 months. 9:30-10:00 AM, 10:00-10:30 AM or 1:00-1:30 PM. www.auburnalabama.org/library. Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30.

Wednesday, October 3 Toddler Time Auburn Public Library. Toddlers and their favorite adults enjoy 30 minutes of interactive stories, songs, movement rhymes, and a fun craft during Toddler Time. Stay afterwards to socialize and play! Ages 18 months - 3 years. 9:30-10:00 AM or 10:30-11:00 AM or 1:00-1:30 PM. www.auburnalabama.org/library. Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31.

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Thursday, October 4 Fall Sundown Concert Series

Kiesel Park, Auburn. Bring your lawn chair, blanket, kick back and enjoy the music. Inflatables will be available for children and food vendors will be on site. Pets (on leashes) are welcome, as well. FREE to the Public. 6:00-7:30 PM. www.auburnalabama. org/parks. Showcase: A Little Lunch Music Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 12 noon. Elizabeth Benson is on the school’s Department of Theatre faculty, and will present a lecture-recital of songs by Tom Cipullo. Benson will share the program with Alyssa Ross, who is faculty in the Department of English. Ross will do a poetry reading, “Women of The Harvard Observatory.” www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Auburn Indian Music Ensemble: Showcase Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 7:00 PM. Showcase: The Work of Creative Scholarship celebrates the very best creative work of Auburn University faculty and students in the fields of fine art, applied art and design, performing arts, creative writing and other related disciplines. As a part of the exhibition-related programming, Auburn Indian Music Ensemble will perform on the Terrace and in the Grand Gallery www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Gamers Society See Sept. 27 for details. Preschool Time See Sept. 27 for details. Lee County Fair See Oct. 2 for details.

Friday, October 5 Fright Nights at the Arboretum Donald E. Davis Arboretum. Fright Nights movie series, with headlining films by Alfred Hitchcock! From music, kid’s activities and an evening of spooky movies to get you in the mood for Halloween, there’s plenty for everyone! 5:30 p.m. – Music and activities at the Pavilion, 6:30 p.m. – Kid-friendly film: “Tom and Jerry Halloween Night”, 7 p.m. – Feature Hitchcock film: “Vertigo”. www.auburnalabama.org/ parks. Free event. Harry Potter Night at the Zoo Montgomery Zoo. Calling all witches, wizards, and muggles. Grab your wand, robes, and broomsticks as you enter the world Harry Potter at the Montgomery Zoo. 7:00-10:00 PM. www. montgomeryzoo.com. Lee County Fair See Oct. 2 for details.

Saturday, October 6 Oktoberfest Ag Heritage Park, Auburn. www.auburnoktoberfest. com. 3:00-7:00 PM. Attendees will choose from more than 150 beers from local craft breweries and

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national brand favorites. If beer isn’t your drink of choice, selection German wines will be up for sampling as well. Food trucks will be set up, too. Girls in Aviation Day Auburn University Regional Airport. 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Free outdoor event, hosted by the Women in Aviation, War Eagle Chapter and sponsored in part by Chicken Salad Chick. Fun activity booths, static display aircraft, and vendors from various aviation companies. There will be food trucks and restrooms available onsite. Please RSVP online at waiwareagle.org under the “Girls in Aviation Day” tab. www.waiwareagle.com.

Fall Family Fun Day Krehler Preserve and Nature Center. 10 AM - 2 PM. Enjoy this fun event for the whole family at the preserve celebrating fall with some music, nature hikes, animal encounters, face painting, and craft with the art museum. Pre-registration is required. Entry is a $1 donation to the Preserve for Adults and Youth, Children 3 and under are free. • preserve@auburn.edu. Book It for Books 5K and Fun Run Town Creek Park, Auburn. 8 AM. All proceeds will benefit students at Drake Middle School’s book club program. Entry Fees: 5K Auburn City Schools employees and students: $15 (you will receive your discount prior to checkout), 5K General public: $25, Fun Run $15, and Race day registration (all groups): $30. Register before Sunday, September 23 to receive a race t-shirt! Sensory Friendly Saturday The Children’s Museum of Atlanta. 9:00 AM. The

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FamilyCalendar first Saturday of every month, the Museum will open at 9 AM for families with children on the autism spectrum or children with sensory processing disorders. Sensory Friendly Saturdays include a sensory modified setting, limited admission and sound and lighting adjustments. Admission will be $6 per person for non-members and free for members. www.childrensmuseumatlanta.org. Lee County Fair See Oct. 2 for details.

Sunday, October 7 2018 Georgia Built Golf Invitational Fundraiser RTJ Grand National, Opelika.

Monday, October 8 2018 Georgia Built Golf Invitational Fundraiser RTJ Grand National, Opelika.

Tuesday, October 9 Discovery Hikes & Nature Walks: Hummingbirds Krehler Preserve and Nature Center. 3:30 PM. FREE to the public. www. auburn.edu/preserve. 2018 Georgia Built Golf Invitational Fundraiser RTJ Grand National, Opelika. Baby Time See Oct. 2 for details.

Wednesday, October 10 Toddler Time See Oct. 3 for details.

Thursday, October 11 Saxophonist Michael Pendowski: A Little Lunch Music Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 12 noon. Auburn saxophone professor Michael Pendowski will lead a chamber music performance titled, “Jazz Influences in Classical Saxophone Music,” and will involve guest artist J. P. Pendowski on piano and Auburn faculty violinist Guy Harrison. Free and open to the public. Guests are invited to enjoy lunch in the Museum Café before or after the performance. www. jcsm.auburn.edu

Football, Fans and Feathers See Sept. 28 for details.

Saturday, October 13 Second Saturday at Pioneer Park Loachapoka. On the second Saturday of every month, a group of history re-enactors gather at the LCHS Museum in period attire to demonstrate their arts and crafts. The Whistle Stop Pickers dulcimer group meets at the Museum at 1 PM. www. leecountyhistoricalsociety.org. Second Saturday at Columbus Museum 1251 Wynnton Road, Columbus. 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Free Admission. Drop by the art cart with your children and grandchildren each month to explore various mediums of art, enjoy art related stories, and participate in gallery hunts at the Museum. Children of all ages are welcome and encouraged to participate. www.columbusmuseum.com.

Monday, October 15 Faculty Recital Goodwin Hall, AU Campus. 7:30 PM. Dr. Michael Pendowski will be performing. www.auburn.edu.

Tuesday, October 16 Baby Time See Oct. 2 for details.

Wednesday, October 17 Toddler Time See Oct. 3 for details.

Thursday, October 18 Auburn Indian Music Ensemble: A Little Lunch Music Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 12 noon. The Auburn Indian Music Ensemble will return on October 18. The group is led by Chaitra Gururaj and combines community and student musicians as well as non-musicians, learning traditional music of India and performing on authentic Indian instruments. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Camille T. Dungy: Third Thursday Poetry Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 6:00 PM. The ongoing series provides the unique opportunity for museum guests to meet and mingle with visiting poets, enjoy divergent styles of writing, and participate in open mic readings. Featuring poet and author Camille T. Dungy, who is also a professor at Colorado State University. www.jcsm.auburn.edu.

2nd Annual Auburn-Opelika Wine Trail Lee County Fairgrounds. Don’t miss this chance to experience three wineries in East Alabama with a special farm-to-table lunch provided by Acre. Guests will meet at the Lee County Fairgrounds at 8 a.m. where buses will be waiting to transport our wine enthusiasts for the entire day. Tickets are $40 each and include transportation and lunch. Guests will arrive back to the Fairgrounds at approximately 4 p.m. You can purchase by cash or check from two locations: Auburn-Opelika Tourism Bureau and Lee County Extension Office.

Gamers Society See Sept. 27 for details.

Preschool Time See Sept. 27 for details.

Friday, October 12

Friday, October 19

Fright Nights at the Arboretum Donald E. Davis Arboretum. Join us on Fridays in October for the Fright Nights movie series, with headlining films by Alfred Hitchcock! From music, kid’s activities and an evening of spooky movies to get you in the mood for Halloween, there’s plenty for everyone! www.auburnalabama.org/parks. Free event.

25th Biannual On the Tracks Food and Wine Event Downtown Opelika. 6:00 11:00 PM. Come join us in downtown Opelika for great food, live music, and fun. www.facebook.com/onthetracks.

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Saturday, October 20 Pioneer Day at Loachapoka www.facebook.com/ pioneerpark.loachapoka. Pioneer Day (formerly known as the Syrup Sopping & Historical Fair) will be from 7 AM - 4 PM in Loachapoka (just 5 miles west of Auburn). Weaving and cloth-making demonstrations, mules grinding cane, syrup being made, musical entertainment with hammered and mountain dulcimers, banjos and guitars, Native American dancing, bread making, soap making, fireplace and outdoor cooking, vendors and much more! Admission is free. Sensory-Friendly Story Time Opelika Public Library. Sensory-Friendly Storytime engages participants using story, music and movement. Programs offer educational, literacy and social opportunities for children of all ages with differing abilities, their siblings, parents/caregivers and their typically developing peers. FREE. 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM. library@opelika-al.gov. 2018 Standard Deluxe Dirt Road Century Waverly. This year features a 30, 60, and 100 mile route options, beer, music, and more. Registration is capped at 200 riders. www.aotourism.com. Super Saturdays at LaGrange Art Museum 112 Lafayette Pkwy, LaGrange, Ga. 1:00-4:00 PM. Free family art day! Spend the afternoon at the Museum. Families, neighbors, and friends can tour the current exhibit and explore an art activity. www.lagrangeartmuseum.org.

Tuesday, October 23

Gamers Society See Sept. 27 for details.

Auburn Opelika Parents I October 2018

All In-All Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness Event 11:45 AM - 1 PM. Campus Green Space. AU Gospel Choir sings on the Campus Green Space, which includes speakers who draw attention to breast cancer detection, survival, and treatment. www. auburn.edu.

Tour de Fright Haunted Bike Ride Opelika SportsPlex. 6 - 8 PM. Bicyclers beware! Parents and children 12 and younger are invited to take a ride on the haunted walking trail behind the Opelika SportsPlex! FREE and open to the public! Bikes, trikes and scooters are welcome. 334-7055560. Auburn Parks and Recreation Monthly Market Harris Center, Auburn. Held the fourth Tuesday of each month beginning in September, from 4:30 – 6:30 PM. Produce, jams, jellies and bounty of Lee County! This event is FREE and open to the public. www.auburnalabama.org.

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Baby Time See Oct. 2 for details.

music festival, part yard-party, music runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with as many as six bands. BYOB.

Toddler Time See Oct. 3 for details.

Wednesday, October 24

Fall Movie at the Plex: “Halloweentown” Opelika SportsPlex. Free event. 334-705-5560.

Ongoing/Multiple Dates

Toddler Time See Oct. 3 for details.

Haunted Zumba It’s time for the Monster Mash! 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. at Frank Brown Recreation Center. We will host a costume contest from 8:30 – 9 a.m. and Zumba will take place from 9 – 10:30 a.m. Instructors from around the Auburn-Opelika area will lead you through some spooky, kooky and creepy dance moves to get your body moving! Children ages 8 and older are welcome with parent participation. This event is FREE and open to the public.

Expressions of a BraveHeart Program A fine arts program for teens and young adults with special needs (ages 11–21), sponsored by Opelika Parks and Recreation, utilizing Auburn University faculty and students, as well as community volunteers. Two 30-minute sessions of art, dance/ creative movement and music will be offered and participants will select 2 of the 3 classes. Expressions meets every 2nd and 4th Monday twice a month for 1.5 hours. Opelika Sportsplex, 334.705.5560. www.opelikasportsplex.com.

Thursday, October 25 Halloween Enchanted Forest Krehler Preserve and Nature Center. Hike the Kreher Preserve trails and visit some costumed characters on the path. Pumpkin bowling, campfire, fortune telling and face painting! Buy tickets and sign up on-line at www.auburn.edu/ preserve for scheduled hike times. Admission is $5, children 2 and under are free. Registration is required. (334) 844-8091 • preserve@auburn.edu. Oct. 25 & 26. KKR Trio: A Little Lunch Music Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 12 noon. William Ransom directs the piano program at Emory University and will appear with the KKR Trio to perform Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 97, or “Archduke Trio.” He will be joined by violinist Helen Kim and cellist Charae Krueger. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Gamers Society See Sept. 27 for details. Preschool Time See Sept. 27 for details.

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Friday, October 26 Halloween Enchanted Forest See Oct. 25 for details. Opening Reception and Curator Talk: Walter Anderson Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 6 PM. Join JCSM for an opening reception and curator talk: “Mississippi Mystic: The Life and Work of Walter Anderson” with Mattie Codling at 6 PM. Mattie Codling is the director of collections and exhibitions at the Walter Anderson Museum of Art in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where she curates inhouse and traveling exhibitions featuring works by Anderson and other contemporary artists who share a kindred spirit. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. 2nd Annual Colonel Jenrette Memorial Golf Tournament Fundraiser RTJ Opelika. 11:00 AM. Fundraiser for scholarship money to support the cadets attending Lyman Ward Military Academy. Robert Trent Jones Grand National in Opelika, Alabama. $125 per player or $400 for a team of four players. The registration cost includes lunch, green fees, cart rental, and a tax-deductible donation to the Kevin M. Jenrette Memorial Fund for Lyman Ward Military Academy. www.app.etapestry. com/onlineforms/LymanWardMilitaryAcademy.

Saturday, October 27 Fall Boogie Standard Deluxe, Waverly. www.standarddeluxe. com. Multi-Cultural Music & Arts Festival on the grounds of Standard Deluxe Inc. in Waverly. Part

Bones and Boos Arboretum, Auburn. www.auburn.edu/cosam/ arboretum. AORTA Tough Ten & Tough Two Ogletree Village, Auburn. The Annual Race benefiting the EAMC Foundation for Breast Cancer Early Detection. Young Eagles Day Columbus Airport, 3250 W. Britt David Road, Columbus, Ga. 8:30-11:30 AM (weather permitting). All kids ages 8-17 are invited to take a Free airplane ride over Columbus! Most flights last 20 minutes. The goal is to provide a fun and educational aviation experience. 706-324-2453.

XXth Annual Juried Art Exhibition Oct. 15 - Nov. 16. Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center. A competitive exhibition open to regional artists and craftspersons. Entries due Oct. 10. Art Gallery Fall 2018 Exhibition Sept. 20 - Oct. 7. Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center. Works by selected Alabama artists and craftspersons as part of the annual Adventures in Art Program. www.auburnalabama.or/parks. The Fall Invitational Sept. 12 - Oct. 10. Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center. New works and special projects by invited Alabama artists. www.auburnalabama.org/parks.

Sunday, October 28

Chick-fil-A Family Night at Tigertown Every Thursday night.

AU Choir Concert Auburn United Methodist Church. 3:00 PM. This choral concert features performances by AU Chamber Choir, Women’s Chorus, Men’s Chorus, and a guest high school choir. www.cla.auburn.edu/ music/concerts-events/ticketing-policies/

Meditation Garden and Labyrinth Come and Find the Quiet Center... in the Meditation Garden and Labyrinth, provided as a community service by Village Christian Church, 700 East University Drive, (across from Auburn Early Ed.). 334-887-5111. Try the practice of walking meditation or simply sit and enjoy the sights and sounds. The garden and labyrinth are always open and guests are always welcome.

East Alabama Walk to End Alzheimer’s Campus Green Space by JordanHare. Auburn. Registration begins at 1:00 PM followed by the Walk at 2:15 PM. While there is no fee to register, we encourage participants to fundraise and contribute to the cause to raise awareness. Register online: act.alz.org/eastalabama. Once you register, you will have access to a wide range of tools and support through your customized Participant Center. Like our Facebook page, “East Alabama Walk to End Alzheimer’s”, to stay up to date on information concerning the Walk!

Tuesday, October 30 Baby Time See Oct. 2 for details.

Wednesday, October 31 2018 Downtown Trick-or-Treat 6 – 8 p.m. in downtown Auburn. This is a fantastic alternative to door-to-door trick-or-treating, with downtown merchants handing out candy and plenty of treats for everyone! There will be music, provided by our special spooky entertainment for the evening, and the annual Costume Contest. auburnalabama. org/parks. This event is FREE and open to the public.

Plays “Mamma Mia! Sept. 21 - Oct. 7. Springer Opera House, Columbus. Must-see theatre with all of your favorite ABBA songs, non-stop laughs, and explosive dance numbers. www.springeroperahouse.org. “The Wizard of Oz” Oct. 16 - 17. RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, Columbus. 7:30 PM. www.rivercenter.org

Support & Parenting Groups A2Z Local Homeschooler’s Association For homeschooling families in the Auburn/Opelika Lee County area of Alabama. A2Z Loop is an allinclusive support group open to all homeschool families in the Auburn/Opelika area regardless of differences in beliefs, cultures, nationality, race, religion, or method of home schooling. For more information call 334-728-1162 or email: momofpnk@ gmail.com. Alabama Mentor’s Foster Parent Training Classes Offered in the Opelika Auburn area. Call 334-7058877 x 18 to register or email: Deanna.Hand@thementornetwork.com.

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FamilyCalendar Auburn UMC Children’s Day Out Program Every Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.–12 noon. $10 per child for the entire morning, $2 each additional child. Attendance will be on a first come-first served basis. Contact Barbara Dawsey at 826-8800 for more information. Auburn United Methodist Church. Auburn Mommies, a fun group of moms in the Auburn/Opelika area that meet weekly for playgroups and Mommy and Me walking twice a week. We also have a Mommies Night Out once a month. Http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ auburnmommiesinalabama/. Auburn Mommy and Me Big Dog Running Co, Auburn. 10–11 a.m. Social time, story time, music/movement, arts & crafts. Ages 9 months–3 years. Free! 334-209-2580.

let the regret of the past rob you of the joy in the future. Call us today. We are here to help. Grandparents and Non-Parent Relatives or Friends Raising Children Support Group For grandparents or any non-parent involved in raising younger children. Meetings first Monday of every month @ Auburn United Methodist Church Annex, Room D134, 6 - 7 p.m. Various speakers and lots of support from others in your same situation. Childcare is provided. Phone Lisa @ 334-421-7163 or Debra @ 334-332-9703. La Leche League, a support group for nursing moms, meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. @ Cornerstone Family Chiropractic, Airport

Auburn/Opelika MOPS & MOMSnext We meet the first and third Thursdays of the month at Trinity United Methodist Church in Opelika. We offer fellowship and fun for moms of kiddos from infancy through age 15. We offer play dates, moms nights out, and special events! For more information check us out on Facebook at Facebook.com/AuburnOpelikaMOPS or email us at auburnopelikamops@gmail.com.

Bosom Buddies (a breast cancer support group) Meets at The Health Resource Center the first Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. (334) 528-1260. www.eamc.org. Breast Feeding class meets the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon on EAMC’s third floor. Call 528-1260 to register.

Plaza, 323 Airport Road Suite E, Auburn. For more information call LLL of Auburn/Opelika, Leader, Josie Ettinger (h)334-257-3950 or (c)334-740-8780.

Caregiver Support Group Caring for a family member or friends can be rewarding, but it’s not easy. Whether you are the caregiver for your parents, spouse or a dependent child, this group is for you! Learn ways to cope with every day stresses of caring for someone you love. Gain tools and resources to help you on your journey. This program is supported by the Opelika Sportsplex, Lee-Russell Agency on Aging and HomeInstead Senior Care. This group is open to the public. Meets the last Monday of each month at 12:30 p.m. at Opelika Sportsplex AAC. Instructors are: Valeri White (Sportsplex), Bridgette Sager (Home Instead Senior Care), Lisa Askew (Lee-Russell Council of Gov).

Lee County Department of Human Resources Now recruiting foster/adoptive families. To learn more about fostering and adoption please call our office at 334-737-1100. Please join us in this endeavor to help our foster children.

GRACE - Post-Abortive Support Group Are you struggling with feelings of regret or sadness from having a pregnancy termination in your past? Do you feel like you can’t share these struggles with anyone? Would you like to find healing and forgiveness? You are not alone. Women’s Hope Medical Clinic wants to help you! You are invited to take part in our GRACE abortion recovery group. This confidential group gives you the opportunity to process the grief of your termination in a safe and non-judgmental setting. If you would like more information about the times, dates and location for this group, call or e-mail Sherry at Women’s Hope: 334.502.7000 or sherry@womenshope.org Don’t

Auburn Opelika Parents I October 2018

Parent Support Group - Autism Lee County Autism Resource and Advocacy meets the 1st Monday (unless national holiday), 9:00-11:00 a.m. and the next evening (Tuesday) from 6-7:30 p.m. Visit www.leecountyautism.com for complete information. Email info@leecountyautism.com or call 334-740-0716. Single Moms Outreach of East Alabama Single Moms Outreach of East Alabama offers 2nd Saturdays, group classes, and more. Contact Penny Messer at 334-444-6827. Email smoea@bellsouth.net. Website www.smoea.vpweb.com or find us on facebook. Teen Moms (for moms under 20) is a ministry that connects trained adults with pregnant girls and teenage moms. Support meetings, classes, job preparation, devotions and games. Call Laura Fuller at laura@insideyfc.com or 334501-5637. www.insideyfc.com.

Bible Study Fellowship Held at Parkway Baptist Church, Thursdays at 10 a.m., (334) 546-1386.

Food Allergy Support of East Alabama The Food Allergy Support of East Alabama group offers support through the sharing of information and resources. We are also working to increase awareness of food allergies in the state of Alabama. For more information, visit our website at www. foodallergysupporteastal.org or call Barbara at 334826-3082; bkg2007@bellsouth.net.

Parent Educational Workshop - Autism Lee County Autism Resource and Advocacy. 2nd Tuesday of each month, 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 800 2nd Avenue, Opelika.

Lee County Parents of Chinese Children helps children understand, see and grow up with other families that look like their family (white parents/ Asian child). The group is 100% free! We try to eat out at Asian establishments monthly and have playdates. Families that are waiting to adopt are welcome! We accept any families with adopted children from all Asian countries. Contact Melody at mmhilyer@bellsouth.net for more information. Miracle League To volunteer or for more information, www. miraclefield.org or eamiracleleague@gmail.com. MOMS Club of Auburn, a group of stay-at-home moms that meets about twice a week to provide support for each other and fun interaction for kids. New website is www.auburnmoms.com. MOPS of Auburn We meet the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month at Auburn United Methodist Church from 9:30 - 11:30. Childcare is provided, although we ask that you make reservations if possible. Meetings are open to mothers with children ages 5 and under. www. facebook.com/mopsofauburn mopsofauburn@gmail. com. Opelika-Auburn Newcomers Club A club for new women in town which offers fun social activities, meets for lunch on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Call Joan at 501-4974.

Therapeutic Foster Care Program Foster a Child’s Future Today Become a Therapeutic Foster Parent! Certification classes are free. Please call Joanna Fisher Champagne at Lee County Youth Development Center’s Therapeutic Foster Care Program. (334) 749-2996, Ext. 311 - You can make an eternal difference in a child’s life! Trinity UMC (Opelika) Mom’s Morning Out Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:45–12. $15 per child, $5 each additional. Trinity United Methodist Church.

Sports Auburn University Football Home Games, Sept. 29, Oct. 13, Nov. 3. Auburn University Equestrian Sept. 28, Oct. 12, 19, Nov. 2. Auburn University Soccer Oct. 7, 18, 25. Auburn University Volleyball Oct. 3, 7, 26, 28, 31, Nov. 7, 11, 21. Auburn University Swim & Dive Sept. 28, Oct. 20.

Please send your calendar events to Kendra@ auburnopelikaparents.com! We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information. However, you should always call ahead to confirm dates, times, location, and other information.

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Recommending the Best Toys and Products for Kids

Every child on earth lives under the same sun. It illuminates their days, and even the moon reflects the sun’s glow at night. But beyond the light we see and the warmth we feel from the sun, the light from Earth’s star also provides boundless energy. Our kids are the generation that will see the broadest expansion of solar energy utilized in their living landscape. Introducing sunlight’s power and potential to kids offers an early understanding of their energy future. From solar panels to solar printing, the following items foster a brilliant exploration of the sun at its best.

by Gerry Paige Smith

Solar Power

SunPrint Kit

Harnessing a clean and abundant source of power, solar panels are a key component for using the sun’s energy. The Solar Power kit from Thames & Kosmos offers materials to assemble six solar models including a locomotive, single prop plane, bulldozer, helicopter, backhoe, and twin rotor helicopter. Each vehicle is powered by a solar panel with three solar cells that generate 1.5 volts of electricity in bright sunlight, like a AA battery. The panel is adjustable so it can be positioned to collect maximum light for maximum movement. Beyond the included models, the panel can also be used to power unique creations and even charge AA batteries. Combining solar science with innovative modeling, this kit shines a light on the sun’s energy and how it can run the world.

Every image, every photograph we see results from the composition and capture of light. The earliest photography essentially recorded an image on light sensitive paper. SunPrint revisits this process in its most basic form. Using the kit’s light sensitive paper, creative minds (young and old) can experiment with directing sunlight to expose a brilliant variety of images. From fern fronds and favorite toys to scissored shapes and stencils, objects laid on the photosensitive paper and exposed to sunlight for a few minutes leave their shape imprinted on the paper. Whisked into a saltwater bath to ‘fix’ the solar-generated image, the result is part art, part science and all kinds of amazing. Teaching the first fundamentals of photography, creating unique art and sparking scientific inquiry, The SunPrint Kit offers a captivating exploration of light and shadow.

(Thames & Kosmos)

(SunPrint)

T4 Transforming Solar Robot

Solar-Powered Rainbow Maker

Animated by solar power, the T4 Transforming Solar Robot is next level modelling for mechanically-minded youth. With just a few tools and a bit of patience, older kids can craft a variety of mobile robots that are powered by sunlight. Featuring cool components that can add moving jaws, walking legs, and rolling wheels to the robot, builders can choose operational modes for their model that include T-rex, insect, robot and driller. Assembling different forms requires a steady hand, so this kit is best appreciated by kid ten and up. Transforming young engineers’ understanding of solar power, the T4 Robot combines fun and sun in this learning adventure.

Bringing the science of sunlight right into the room, the Kikkerland Rainbow Maker uses swarovski crystals to translate natural light into the varied palette of colors that compose it. Attached to a sunny window the Rainbow Maker uses solar energy to propel gears that move the prism in the sunlight. The shape of a prism effectively bends sunlight and splits it into its component colors as light passes through it. In full sun, the twisting prism projects a colorful rainbow of light into the room. Much like the sunlight filtered through the clear remnants of rain to naturally create the massive rainbows in the sky, the Kikkerland Rainbow Maker simply draws down the process to a smaller scale, illuminating the room through solar science.

(Kikkerland

(OWI)

Gerry Paige Smith is a syndicated columnist recommending the best products for kids and their families. Discover more at www.PageBookMedia.com

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God Bless the Broken Road

Searching MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: AViolence: B+ Sexual Content: B+ Profanity: C+ Alcohol / Drug Use: D This film, which is about a missing teenage girl, introduces us to her high school slogan: “Home of the Catfish”. For those of us who are not up to date on current word usage, a “catfish” is someone who creates a fake online persona. The plot focuses on the Kim family in San Jose, CA: David (John Cho), mourning his wife, Pamela (Sarah Sohn), who died of cancer, and their daughter, Margot (Michelle La). David misses a call from his daughter one night, and over the course of the next day frantically and unsuccessfully tries to reach her. He files a missing persons report with the local police. The case is picked up by Detective Rosemary Vick (Debra Messing), who enlists David’s help in sorting through his daughter’s friends and schoolmates. In doing so, David learns he has been unaware of significant aspects of Margot’s life. This film breaks new ground in moviemaking as the entire story is literally told on screens: laptops, TV’s, cell phones, and security cameras. It’s a startlingly realistic portrayal of modern computer use (despite the fact that David seems to keep his webcam window open on his computer far more than most people would), and it manages to add a lot of detail to his character. Searching is a powerful film that almost brought me – usually impervious to drama-induced emotion – to tears. It is not suitable for children or most teens and is a very difficult story for parents (especially anxious ones). Parents or teens who watch this well written and thought-provoking movie will find much to discuss. This movie also lends itself to a conversation that is even more important than “teach your daughter to be careful”: the discussion around “teach your son not to be a predator”.

MPAA Rating: PG Overall: B+ Violence: BSexual Content: A Profanity: A Alcohol / Drug Use: A Amber Hill (Lindsay Pulsipher) is barely treading water. The death of her husband (Darren Hill) in Afghanistan has left her with a daughter, Bree (Makenzie Moss), a house she can no longer afford, mother-in-law problems, crushing grief, and shattered faith in God. Cody Jackson (Andrew W. Walker) is a slow learner. The stock car driver keeps on crashing cars. Cody is so obsessed with speed that he refuses to listen to cooler heads telling him to decelerate in the turns so he can accelerate in the straightway. His exasperated manager sends him to Amber’s small Kentucky town to train with local garage owner and racing expert, Joe Carter (Gary Grubbs). Will Amber heal from her husband’s death? Will she recover her faith in a loving God? Will Cody finally listen to good advice and stop wrecking cars? And will Amber and Cody be able to help each other? God Bless the Broken Road would be a better movie if the answer to any of these questions were in doubt. The movie’s biggest weakness is its predictability: there is very little uncertainty about how the story is going to turn out. That being said, viewers looking for a family-friendly movie that extols the virtues of Christianity and American patriotism will find little to complain about here. Positive messages about community, compassion and forgiveness are the highlights of this picture. The only potential content issues center around the ambush in which Darren Hill is killed. The violence is highly sanitized, though, and no blood or graphic injuries are visible.

Kin

Unbroken: Path to Redemption

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: D Violence: D Sexual Content: C Profanity: CAlcohol / Drug Use: C It can be inexpressibly painful to watch the innocent suffer for someone else’s bad choices. The innocent characters in Kin are Eli Solinski (Myles Truitt), a 14-year-old African-American and his adoptive white father, Hal (Dennis Quaid). The pair live in an unnamed Rust Belt city where Hal works in construction and tries to instill his personal ethic of hard work and honesty in his son. Meanwhile, Eli searches dilapidated buildings looking for copper wire to strip and sell. To increase the trouble quotient, Eli’s older brother, Jimmy (Jack Reynor), returns home after six years in prison. Jimmy has some significant baggage: in return for protection in prison, he accrued a $60,000 debt. And the criminals who provided the protection now want payment in full or they will kill both Hal and Eli. With his back against the wall, Jimmy agrees to help Taylor (James Franco) and his thugs rob the safe in Hal’s office. Tragically, Hal walks in at the wrong moment. In the shootout, Hal winds up dead, Taylor’s brother is dead, and Jimmy is on the run. Not surprisingly, Jimmy is a terrible substitute parent. One of the most upsetting parts of this film is when Eli grabs his weapon and kills men who are trying to shoot his brother. Any movie that turns a 14-year-old into a killer, for any reason, raises red flags for parents. Sexual issues are also problematic. Don’t let Kin rob you of 102 minutes of your life. Auburn Opelika Parents I October 2018

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: B Violence: B+ Sexual Content: A Profanity: A Alcohol / Drug Use: B As Unbroken: Path to Redemption rolls across the screen, you might find yourself asking, “Wait a minute, haven’t I seen this before?” The answer is, yes, you have. A sequel to Unbroken, the 2014 film directed by Angelina Jolie, this new film takes upon itself the task of showing us what happens to Louis Zamperini (Samuel Hunt) after he returns home as a POW from Japan. The opening credits quickly review the events of the previous film, and then dive into Zamperini’s PTSD, alcoholism, marriage, and family life - ultimately leading us to his conversion at a Billy Graham revival. The film works hard to bring us along on an emotional journey toward a conversion to Christianity, though it ultimately falls short of its goal. Zamperini’s conversion is so over the top, so filled with blaring, dramatic music, that it feels more like a commercial for religious revivals than the denouement for a movie about a serious spiritual journey. The good news about this movie is that does not require you to have seen the 2014 prequel, and it is more appropriate for a PG-13 audience than the original. What it does have going for it are uplifting themes of forgiveness, repentance, faith, and family. It does, however, feel as though Universal sold their rights to the Louis Zamperini story to the Hallmark Channel. 48

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