Auburn-Opelika Parents October 2012 by KeepSharing

Contents October 2012 Volume 3 Number 8

Features 24 Beat the Sweets

Discover sensible strategies for breaking the sugar habit in your household.

32 How to Slay Scary Monsters

Find advice for dealing with your childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fears...understanding why they are afraid and how to comfort them.

34 Fall Festivities and Halloween Fun

Columns

Our listing includes autumn excitement throughout Lee County and beyond.

2 From One Parent to Another Kendra Sumner

4 Living With Children John Rosemond, Ph.D.

On The Cover

10 Kids Health

Wes Stubblefield, M.D.

Departments 6 Bits and Pieces

Get This!

12 School Bits

Paige Gardner Smith

28 A Page in a Book

40 Family Calendar

Paige Gardner Smith

30 Crafting & Cooking w/ Kids

48 Parent Previews

Dana Moonan

31 Dave Says Dave Ramsey

41 Parenting on the Plains Polly Dunn, Ph.D.

Visit www.AuburnOpelikaParents.com

Eve Gholston is the two-year-old daughter of Revel and Kate Gholston. She enjoys playing outside, painting, coloring, and bossing the boys around at her daycare. Eve is a happy and healthy child thanks to the care of her pediatrician, Dr. Stubblefield, the ER staff at EAMC, and the Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cardiac Unit at UAB. Her family is so thankful for the care and support she has received. Photos taken at Blooming Colors Market, Auburn.

Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

Auburn-Opelika Parents Lee County’s Foremost Parenting Source

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 deanne@auburnopelikaparents.com

Associate Editor Kelly Watson

Director of Sales Justin Sumner justin@auburnopelikaparents.com or (334) 209-0552

Contributing Writers Polly Dunn, Ph.D. Malia Jacobson Dana Moonan Dave Ramsey John Rosemond Heidi Smith Luedtke, Ph.D. Paige Gardner Smith Dr. Wes Stubblefield

Cover Photography Candy Avera www.pictureperfectbycandy.com

President Jason Watson jason@auburnopelikaparents.com

Visit us online at www.auburnopelikaparents.com Auburn-Opelika Parents magazine is published monthly by KeepSharing, LLC. Mailing address: 1204 Owens Road Auburn, Alabama, 36830. The phone number is (334) 209-0552 and fax is (334) 826-7303. Auburn-Opelika Parents is copyrighted 2012 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.

Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

From One Parent to Another... With another October upon us, our thoughts are of cooler weather, football season, festivals, and Halloween events. It is time again to pull out all the jeans, jackets and pom-poms, plus decide which character to dress up like for trick-or-treating and festival hopping! I enjoy this time of year, especially the spooky Halloween fun. The arts and craft shows, local festivals and carnival games make for a great way to celebrate the season and enjoy safe, family fun. The downside for me is all that candy and the resulting sugar-crazed kids in my house. After making our rounds to local carnivals like Lakeview Baptist Church’s ‘All Saints Fair’, Opelika’s Howl-oween Pet Parade, and Auburn’s Downtown Trick-or Treating, the pumpkin buckets are usually overflowing with lollipops, chocolate, and sticky taffy. Of course, I am happy to allow my cowgirls, Power Ranger, and Dracula a few treats from their stash for a couple of days, but then it becomes a battle to keep the candy indulgence to a minimum. Unfortunately, I have children that inherited their dad’s sweet tooth! They have developed a sugar habit for all things sweet including sodas, desserts and candy. After reading this month’s feature article, Beat the Sweets: Sensible Strategies for Breaking the Sugar Habit, by Malia Jacobson, I have learned a few ‘tricks’ that might help me with all of this year’s ‘treats’! One of my biggest errors was giving the kids whatever they wanted for breakfast. (It was easier to give in to breakfast wishes in the mornings and to save my energy for the drama of what to wear to school.) However, after the donuts and frosted flakes were consumed, I am sure their teachers would have appreciated a less ‘zombie-like’ student, and one that had chosen a healthy option of fruit or eggs. Now, I encourage better choices so they start their day with a higher protein breakfast that has proven to keep them more focused and ready to learn at school. Another ‘trick’ is to reduce the sugary drinks. Sodas and juices have a ton of sugar that not only loads them up on a high, but includes too many calories. I lead by example in this area. I would much rather eat 150 calories than to drink it! Let’s not forget the ‘scary’ effect all this sugar has on their little teeth. I think this year I will put on my cape and be a magician...to make all that Halloween candy disappear! With all the fun that October can bring, let’s not forget that sometimes the things that ‘go bump in the night’ can be frightening to our younger children. Skeletons, witches, and ghosts on the neighbors’ porches may seem all too real and spooky. Another article this month, How to Slay Scary Monsters, gives great advice on dealing with childhood fears. The author suggests we respect our kids’ fears and feelings and help them talk through their thoughts associated with those fears. This advice can benefit all ages and their fears. Whether it is being afraid of what is under the bed or fearful of what their future holds upon graduation, fear is fear. Grab a flashlight and help them check under the bed or walk hand-in-hand past the foggy horizon and into a more clear outlook of their future plans. To help you make the most of this ‘howling’ time of year, included is a full calendar plus the 2012 Autumn Fun Guide. Whether you are looking for a pumpkin patch or a festival under the harvest moon, you are sure to find something to make for a ‘Spooktacular’ outing. Happy Fall, Ya’ll!

Kendra

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Living With Children

By John Rosemond

Clothing Allowance for Teen Daughters Q:

My two teenage daughters, 13 and 15, are constantly begging me to buy them clothes. It’s become highly annoying. To stop the constant whining, I’ve decided to stop buying them any clothing and give them each an $800 annual clothing allowance. Should I give them the whole amount at once or give it to them on a monthly basis?

A: This is a great idea! However, I don’t think an annual clothing allowance of $800 is a realistic amount for (a) girls who (b) are outgrowing their clothes every six months to a year. If their clothing allowance is insufficient, then the whining is only going to worsen, and your plan is likely to blow up in your face. I suggest that you give each of your girls a monthly amount that is sufficient to purchase a certain amount of discretionary clothing. I generally recommend between $50 and $100. You would continue to purchase necessary clothes, but you would spend only a minimum amount in each case. For example, if one of them requires a new winter jacket, that is your responsibility. If she doesn’t like the jacket you’re willing to buy (from a discount store), then you would give her that same amount of money and she would use her allowance to make up the difference in price. If she simply wanted an article of clothing that is nice but unnecessary, that would be her responsibility entirely. The “cleanest” way to do this is to set up a checking account for each child at your bank. As long as you have good credit, the account doesn’t have overdraft protection, and you are willing to back it, most banks are willing to do this. You deposit the child’s monthly allowance in her account at the beginning of the month and she manages the account from there. In the event of a bounced check, the bank and merchant fines as well as what the merchant is owed come off the top of the following month’s allowance. This plan teaches teens how to budget money and manage a checking account, but it also teaches them to curtail their spending impulses, plan ahead, and save for the proAuburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

verbial rainy day. It’s a great way to prepare a youngster for the larger fiscal responsibilities of adulthood. If you divide $800 by 12 months, then each daughter would receive $67 per month. I like that figure, but remember, you would continue to buy necessary clothing items. If you give each of them the full $800 at one time, they’re likely to blow it in less time than you can say “budget.”

Q: Our 13-year-old daughter has been

mature for her age from early on. She takes advanced classes and makes straight A’s. She’s also very talented musically. We think, however, that she has become a media addict. She spends entirely too much time in her room on her computer, mostly using social media. When she’s not on the computer, she’s using her phone to text her friends. We’ve asked her to limit her use, but our words are falling on deaf ears. What approach would you recommend short of cutting off the Internet and taking away her phone? She needs a computer to do her school work.

If she’s addicted to electronic media, which may be the case, then I don’t think there’s any approach that’s going to work short of restricting her use of the Internet and taking away her phone. Move her computer to a family area so you’re able to monitor her use, which you can restrict to school purposes. No child her age should have a private password, by the way. That simply invites trouble, but you can’t do much about that as long as the computer is in her room. At age 13, she doesn’t need her own cell phone, unless one defines need as “needing” to have what her friends have. You can give her a cell phone on select occasions, such as a camping trip where no other type of phone is available. It’s probably the case that she doesn’t go on lots of camping trips, which only goes to prove that she doesn’t need her own cell phone. I suspect that like many of today’s parents, you’re reluctant to do anything about this problem that might cause your daughter any inconvenience, much less distress. In the 12-Step world, that’s known as enabling, and in the real world, that’s how problems go from bad to worse.

Family psychologist John Rosemond answers parents’ questions on his web site at www.rosemond.com.

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Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

bits & pieces Howl-o-ween Dog Costume Contest Bring out your pooch in their best dressed costume this Halloween to downtown Opelika! This year's event will be October 29, 5-7 p.m. Registration 5 p.m. Parade and contest 6 p.m. $10 supporter donation for parade participation or dog food donation in lieu of money. Supports Rescue K911. Preregister at Taylor Made Designs all October. 745-5464 for more info.

Fall Festival and Children’s Carnival

Fall Festival and Children's Carnival will be hosted by the Opelika SportsPlex, October 30, 6-8 p.m. Children wear costumes and bring a treat bag! Enjoy fun activity booths, win prizes, visit local mascots and ride the hay wagon or train. Special musical entertainment will be provided by “ROUTE 66”. www. opelika.org.

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Alabama Cotton Festival to be Held in Eclectic

October 13...Save the Date for the Alabama Cotton Festival in Eclectic, Al. A family-oriented festival featuring the Alabama Cotton Pageant, Cotton Run, rook tournament, antique and classic car show, photo contest, art show, pet parade, sweet treats contest, children's area with ponies, inflatables, and games, cotton exhibit, live musical, entertainment and vendors. verdienummy@live.com.

Learn About Wolves at the Forest Ecology Preserve

Come learn about wolves! Join the Preserve staff as wolves, snakes, spiders, lizards, and other creepy critters will be on display. A children's area with activities will be available. 10:00 a.m. $4, children 3 and under are free. October 13. The Forest Ecology Preserve, 2222 N. College Street (Hwy 147) near Hwy 280 and the AU Fisheries, Auburn. https://fp.auburn.edu/preserve/events.html.

Southern Pirate Festival

Argh Matey! Walk the plank on over to the Southern Pirate Festival at The National Civil War Naval Museum, in Columbus. Ga. Join the crew on October 20, 10 a.m. – 5 .p.m.. An annual all-ages Pirate festival featuring live entertainment, music, kid's activities, cannon firings, weapons demonstrations and much, much more! www. portcolumbus.org. Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

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Junior League Holiday Market Coming to Montgomery

24th Annual Holiday Market presented by The Junior League of Montgomery in the all new Multiplex at Crampton Bowl. Four shopping days, October 17-20, will feature special events, live entertainment and merchants from across the United States. Merchants at the Holiday Market offer unique gift ideas and holiday trends in a fun, family friendly atmosphere. Proceeds from the Holiday Market support the various community projects that the League supports, which helps to strengthen women and families in the tri-county area Holiday Market. www.jlmontgomery.org.

Auburn’s 12th Annual Downtown Trick or Treat

12th Annual Downtown Trick or Treat is scheduled for October 31, 6-8 p.m. Auburn Parks and Recreation and the Auburn Downtown Merchants will partner for this free, community event which features candy and giveaways - courtesy of downtown merchants, live music, and children's activities. Downtown Trick or Treat offers children 12 years and younger an excellent alternative to door-to-door trick or treating. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Downtown streets will be closed during the event.

A change of season calls for a change of cupcakes.

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Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

bits & pieces Neighborhood Trick-or-Treat

Auburn citizens are invited to participate in door-to-door trick or treating on Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 6 - 8 p.m. Opelika citizens are invited on October 31, 5-8 p.m. During this time, the Public Safety Department will provide additional patrols throughout the City for participants. Neighborhood Trick or Treat is for children 12 and under. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

5th Annual Run to Read Benefiting Jean Dean RIF

A flourishing Family Fun event with 10k and 5k Races with prizes, age group medals and crystal awards for overall winners. Door prizes galore including a vacation giveaway. Kids races, inflatables, costume characters. Opelika's Floral Park, October 20, 8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Jean Dean RIF gets over 25000 books annually into the hands of 75000 Alabama at risk preschoolers. Your support is appreciated. www.jeandeanrif.org.

Syrup Sopping Day at Loachapoka

Taste all kinds of syrup, honey and jams made locally; learn about Loachapoka history and how the earliest settlers used sorghum and ribbon cane to make sugar. Kids and adults can watch locals dressed as settlers explain how syrup is made from sugar cane and even demonstrate right before your eyes. Take a pony ride, or grab a Polish sausage with grilled peppers and onions. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost like a country fair, but with just the food; and who wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to come out and try some all of these delicious sweet and savory bites. October 20. www.syrupsopping.org.

Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

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BIRTHDAY PARTY & ANNUAL FAMILY DAY

OCTOBER 13, 10 AM - 1 PM

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Celebrate the Museum’s 9th birthday in 1940s style!

Get keen to the ritzy party as we talk about the works of art that were the cat’s meow in ’48, learn about the bluenoses who canned Advancing American Art (and the Reds that painted the works), all while listening to swinging music of the day, chowing on ice cream and cake, and having a swell time!

Jule Collins smith museum of fine Art Auburn university

JCsm.Auburn.edu Art Interrupted: Advancing American Art and the politics of Cultural diplomacy September 8, 2012 through January 5, 2013 The exhibition, accompanying catalogue, educational programs, and national tour of Art Interrupted: Advancing American Art and the Politics of Cultural Diplomacy are made possible by grants from the Henry Luce Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts as part of American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius.

IMAGE: Arthur Dove, Grey-Greens, 1942, wax emulsion on canvas, Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, Auburn University;Advancing American Art Collection 1948.1.11. Copyright the Estate of Arthur G. Dove, 9 Visit www.AuburnOpelikaParents.com courtesy Terry Dintenfass, Inc.

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Your New Baby and Sleep

Almost every day, a set of dreary-eyed caregivers come into our office and present their newborn for his or her first visit. When asked if they are getting any sleep, they often reply, “A little.” Luckily, most children will eventually sleep the majority of the night. However, it’s usually not easy and it doesn’t come quickly (at least not quickly enough). Children need sleep. Sleep is a time when our bodies and minds rest, but it is also a time of important hormonal regulation. It is a complicated process of fluctuating cycles that must be completed for rest to occur. As parents, we are tasked with ensuring that our children get their needed rest, but making rest happen can be complicated. Whereas the average newborn sleeps anywhere from 18-22 hours per day, the average 5 year old is no longer napping and is sleeping about 11 hours per day. Even more complicated, each transitional period in a child’s life has a corresponding effect on his or her sleep. This can be as simple as another month in age, or as profound as a move. Discussing infancy specifically, it is important to understand that each child, and each family unit, is different. Infants, just like parents, have different temperaments and these can be seen within the first few months of life. So, each experience is different and a “one size fits all” approach is usually not effective. Also, before 6 months of age, it is not considered unusual if an infant is not able to sustain 6-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Finally, remember that infants do not have the ability to selfsoothe, and some experts believe this may not happen until about 3 months of age.

For the health of all infants, I strongly recommend exclusive breastfeeding until about 6 months of age. Although many parents believe that formula feeding helps infants sleep better, studies have not shown a consistent relationship between the sleep of appropriately formula-fed infants vs. breastfed infants. Studies have also not shown that adding cereal to an infant’s bottle is effective at producing better sleep. Most importantly, as tempting as it might be, all infants should be placed to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). In regards to placement, an ideal situation is to have the young infant placed in a bassinet near the parents’ bedside or in a crib in another room, on their back, in a cool, nonsmoking environment, dressed appropriately for the season, with no obstruction or padding in the infant’s sleeping environment. Pacifiers may be effective in reducing the risk of SIDS, but these should only be introduced after breastfeeding is well established. After 3 months of age, children can be separated from their parents if this hasn’t been done earlier, even if this separation is a temporary wall or partition. That way, a direct visual line isn’t available. Different experts have different recommendations on what to do when putting a child to sleep, but the bedtime routine should be consistent, peaceful, and structured. Children should be put down sleepy, but awake, so that self-soothing can occur. If the child cries out immediately or during the night, there are several different

options. A parent or caregiver can ignore the crying (assuming that the child is safe), use a method of “graduated extinction” (soothing the infant without holding him or her at gradually longer intervals until the child falls asleep), or use the same “graduated extinction” method but stay in the room with the child. There are many other options proposed by many other experts, but these are a few of the more popular ones. Finally, there are quite a few books that deal with this subject specifically. We do not recommend a particular author or solution, but quickly browsing your favorite online or local bookstore should give you an idea of each particular author’s theory. Regardless of the method that you choose, do remember that most children will eventually sleep through the night, although keeping them in the bed as older children is a different article. Dr. Wes Stubblefield graduated from the University of Alabama School of Medicine (UAB) with his medical degree in 2004, and then trained at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in pediatrics, finishing in 2007. He returned to Alabama in 2007 and joined Dr. Ellen Royal and Dr. Richard M. Freeman at their pediatric practice in Auburn. Dr. Stubblefield is board certified in pediatrics, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and currently serves as the local area representative for it’s Alabama Chapter. He is married to Jennifer and they have one daughter, Peyton.

www.AuburnPediatricAssociates.com Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

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Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

Welcome to Opelika High School’s Dog House

Beauregard High School Shows School Spirit

Students and staff cheer on their team with a Friday Night Football pep rally. Building the spirit in the stands, the team felt support for a great season of football!

Opelika High School kicks off the 2012 Football program with exciting games against Russell and Lee High Schools. With one loss and a one win, it is sure to be an exciting season to be proud of. Go Dawgs!

Cary Woods Field Trip to this Year's Adventures in Art "Nature On a String"

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The program involves all fourth and fifth grade students from six different elementary schools in Auburn. The program is hosted by the City of Auburn Parks and Recreation Department and the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center. Funding is made possible, in part, through grants from the Junior League of Lee County and Alabama State Council on the Arts. The program begins with a performance that is intertwined with the chosen educational theme. Students then split into groups and attend four components of the program that focus on a visual arts project, a gallery talk with an emphasis on art criticism and aesthetics, a visual arts project, an art and writing workshop, and they participate in a performance workshop.

LSA Pre-K and Kindergarten Students Surprised on First Day Back

Lee-Scott Academy Pre-K and Kindergarten students were given a very special welcome on their first day of school. The LSA PTO placed large signs in every student's yard to wish them a great first day. Lee-Scott PTO makes every effort to welcome all students and parents into the LSA family. Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

Ready for School!

It is back to school time for all Auburn and Opelika students! Lydia is dressed, back pack on and super excited about her first day at the H.A.P.I.E. program. She can't wait to make new friends, read books, and learn her ABCs and 1,2,3s! Happy Back to School! Advertising: 334-209-0552

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Richland Elementary School welcomed NED the Yo-Yo Show as their first assembly. NED taught the students to Never give up, Encourage others, and Do your best!

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Riverview Reﬁnement, Program, Campﬁres night,Recognized optional trips and more! We’ve put together everythingCIT you’re looking for in a perfect every camp setting! as one of the Southeast’s best all-around summer camps for girls, Riverview is an oasis of fun, friends and happiness. Spring and Fall &available 2 week Sessions ages to 16... Mother-Daughter Weekends1are also! Registeredfor Nurses and6 Physician on Staff. Entire full-summer staff is First Aid andand CPRFall Certified. Camper/Counselor Ratio 5:1 Spring Mother-Daughter Weekends...

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Richland Elementary Students Learn About NED

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Wrights Mill Road 50th Anniversary

Wrights Mill Road Elementary School is Turning 50. We are holding many celebrations throughout the year. You can tour the school halls and see them decorated for each decade that the school has been in existence. See the 1960's, 70's 80's 90's and 2000's. See photos from days gone by. Famous and Accomplished Alumnae, Teachers and students can also be seen in the Cafetorium on our WHO’S WHO wall. Join us on October 19th at 9 a.m. for a 50th Birthday Celebration with our new Pavilion Dedication to follow, and a student celebration at 1 p.m.

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Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

Yarbrough Elementary Students Create Art

This was the best first week of school in art class at Yarbrough Elementary School with authentic learning in action. Each student had a set group of supplies with the directions "See what you can make." Most classes had about 15 minutes to work. Talk about a group of creative, problem solving, engaged learners! The room was absolutely floating from the creative energy. Parents may wonder about the unusual creations coming home this week in backpacks; however, the students and art teacher, Audrey Moeller, were proud of their creations.

Dean Road Student Makes Donation in Lieu of Birthday Gifts

For his 11th birthday on September 11th, Cooper, a 5th grader at Dean Road Elementary, decided that he wanted to do something to help others in our community. He wanted to use his birthday to help support the BigHouse Foundation. Instead of asking for gifts for himself, he asked friends and family help him stock the BigHouse Birthday Closet with new toys. BigHouse is a Christ-centered non-profit organization in Opelika, dedicated to meeting the needs & improving the quality of life of children in foster care. Their Birthday Closet helps ensure that each foster child in Lee County receives a new toy on their birthday. Cooper personally delivered the toys and placed them on the shelves. He was thankful to be given a tour of the facility by a BigHouse staff member, and the opportunity to learn more about the wonderful work that they do.

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Auburn Tailgate Day at Cary Woods

Fridays in Auburn would not be the same without a fun pep rally, rolling of 'Toomer's Corner' and a glass of 'Toomer's Lemonade'! Second graders dressed in their Auburn best, chanted spirited cheers in support for their Auburn Tigers Season kickoff, rolled the playground and sipped on lemonade with friends.

Please send your school news and photos each month to: kendra@ auburnopelikaparents. com to be printed in our next issue!

Auburn High Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wayne Murphy Athletic Scholarships Awarded

The first recipients of the Wayne Murphy Athletic Scholarships are Rebecca Wynne and Tre' Rogers. These scholarships are a result of an endowment established with the Community Foundation of East Alabama in memory of coach Wayne Murphy, Auburn High's first athletic director, who lost his battle to cancer in 2011. Further tax-deductible contributions may be made to CFEA for the Wayne Murphy Scholarship Fund. Shown, from left to right, are AHS Athletic Director Ed Crum, Judy Murphy, Wynne, Rogers, and Ted Wilson and Barbara Patton with CFEA. Visit www.AuburnOpelikaParents.com

Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

Opelika Students Receive PACE Scholarships

Boosterthon Fun Run at Ogletree

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Each year, PACE (People of Action for Community Enrichment) awards two $500 scholarships to two deserving seniors based on high academic achievement, outstanding community service and financial need. The recipients for 2012 were Ivy Verlencia Williams and Shaquitta Rena Dent, both Opelika High School graduates.

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The Boosterthon is a program that wraps Fitness, Leadership, and Character together into a fundraiser for the school. Students spend an afternoon run/walking with their class. Once the run ends, they reach out to the community for sponsorships and pledges.

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Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

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Lee-Scott Academy 6th Graders Present PowerPoint to 3rd Graders

As a review of their first grammar chapter, Lee-Scott Academy sixth grade students teamed up to create PowerPoint and Keynote presentations covering each concept they learned. The sixth graders then shared their slide shows with students in each third grade class. The presentations all included a teach slide, an example slide, and a quiz slide. Both third graders and sixth graders alike agreed that they actually had fun doing grammar!

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Harris Funeral Home Awards 2012 Memorial Scholarships

The Harris Funeral Home Memorial Scholarship winners for 2012 are, from left to right, Jamice Benson of Loachapoka High School, Khadijah Torbert of Opelika High School and Victoria Jackson of Auburn High School.

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Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

Drake Middle School Students Build Teamwork

Drake students enjoy a field trip to Auburn University Ropes Course. The course implements games and initiatives on both low and high elements. The emphasis is on leadership, communication, problem-solving and trust through adventures which focus on collaboration.

Richland Students Study Science of Boiling Eggs

Thank You Charter Bank

Charter Bank makes a generous donation to Beauregard High School Band.

Please send your school news and photos by the 20th of each month to: kendra@ auburnopelikaparents.com.

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Ogletree Students Ready for Pep Rally

5th Grade students at Ogletree Elementary School get ready for the Boosterthon Fun Run at the Pep Rally.

Students in Mrs. Dorman’s Venture class at Richland Elementary tested how long it took to boil an egg. The students were amazed at how much of an impact one minute made!

Auburn’s Corner Kickoff

Auburn Parks and Recreation, the Auburn University Athletics Department, Auburn IMG Sports Network, and AuburnArt hosted the inaugural Corner Kickoff event in downtown Auburn on Saturday, Aug. 25. Auburn citizens and fans enjoyed shopping, dining, and children’s activities in downtown. The highlight of the evening was the preview of the "Auburn Football: Everyday Show" on a 25 foot by 14 foot inflatable screen at Toomer’s Corner. The show, a collaborative effort between Auburn University Athletics and the Auburn IMG Sports Network, offers fans a behind the scenes look at players, coaches, and practices, as well as exclusive Auburn tiger football footage. AuburnArt, a sponsor of the event, provided free popcorn to attendees. Tiger fans of all ages turned out for the Corner Kickoff event in downtown Auburn. Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

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Band-O-Rama 2012

Band-O-Rama is a yearly event that gives each participating band a chance to showcase their football season halftime show in front of family, friends, and several other participating bands! This year, the bands included Auburn High School, Beauregard High School, Central High School, Eufaula High School, Opelika High School, Smiths Station High School, Valley High School, and Auburn University.

Opelika City Schools Kicks Off Reading Program

The Super Bowl-winning former NFL coach’s book, Uncommon, by Tony Dungy, is a key part of the One Book-One City program. Uncommon is a book about building character, with emphasis on traits such as integrity, honesty and trustworthiness. This book will tie into the character education programs within the Opelika City Schools. Opelika City Schools Superintendent Marks Neighbors said the initiative’s two-fold purpose to improve reading skills and emphasize certain character traits supports the school system’s overall mission.

Junior Tennis Players Compete in Auburn

The City of Auburn welcomed over 900 of the Southeast's best and most promising young tennis stars as the City of Auburn/Auburn University Yarbrough Tennis Center (YTC) hosted the 2012 USTA Southern Jr. Team Tennis Sectional Championships Aug. 17 - 19. In July, the YTC hosted over 450 of the state’s best young tennis stars at the Alabama State Jr. Team Tennis Championship. Winners from that tournament returned to compete for the Sectional Championship. Junior players ages 8 - 18 from across the Southeast competed for a chance to qualify for the 2012 USTA Jr. Team Tennis National Championships in South Carolina in October. Players competed in boys and girls singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Players competed on courts at the YTC, Samford Avenue Tennis Center, Auburn University Intramural Courts, and Indian Pines Courts.

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Fire Department Shares Fire Safety and Prevention with Youth Group

Psi Gamma Zeta of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. youth auxiliary began their Zeta auxiliary year off to a great start. During the first official monthly meeting the Opelika Fire Department and OFD personnel, LT. Brian Bradley, Rob Lee and Glen Prickett presented the youth auxiliary with a valuable fire prevention and safety program. The youth were able to get a closer look at the various types of equipment that the Opelika Fire Department uses on the fire truck and learned each piece of equipment’s usage. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and their youth auxiliaries are a nonprofit organization. Visit www.AuburnOpelikaParents.com

Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

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Meet Your Teacher Night at AEEC

Ryley is super excited about starting kindergarten at AEEC! She already loves her teacher, Mrs. Shope in the Orange Pod!

Lee-Scott Student Meets American Idol Finalists

Holli Hendrick is pictured with season 10 American Idol finalists: Haley Reinhart and Stefano Langone. She has attended most American Idol concerts. Holli is a 6th grader at Lee-Scott Academy. She participates in band, basketball, horseback, and is a Rescue K911 volunteer.

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Children are one of God’s Masterpieces!

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Now enrolling for 2012-2013 school year • Ages 1-4 years Letter & Number Recognition • Social Interaction • Music Two, three and four day programs • Bible Stories Christ-centered • Chapel • Scripture Memory

Lakeview Preschool Adventures Lakeview Baptist Church 1600 East Glenn Ave. Auburn, AL • 334.321.4905 www.lakeviewbaptist.org

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2012 Small Fry-Tri

August 25, children and families gathered at Town Creek Park in Auburn for a day of fun for a great cause. Kids ages 2-6 years participated in this triathlon for the American Cancer Society! Running and tricycle riding were among the highlights of the day's events. Of course, there were stops along the way to cool off in the sprinklers and to get a high five and hug from one of the biggest supporters.... Aubie!

Remembering September 11

Emma Kate Roberts remembers September 11 by wearing her red, white, and blue to school. She honors her hero... her own dad who serves in the US Army.

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Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

Travel Games and Gear for Kids

Recommending the Best Toys and Products for Kids

The excitement and high-level anticipation that kids experience before a big trip can take a serious nose-dive when they encounter the realities of being “underway”. The monotony that can set in during long drives, flight layovers and hotel room down time can be a vacation killer for little ones. Planning ahead to bring gear and games that accommodate a child’s travel experience can turn the trials of travel into the trip of a lifetime. Check out the following stuff that keeps kids on the move and in the travel groove en route!

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by Paige Gardner Smith

Travel Buddies Luggage Set

Kids Travel: A Backseat Survival Guide

Packing up is half the fun of getting ready for a trip. Finding fun luggage to transport a child’s worldly goods will amp up the excitement and encourage them to take responsibility for their own stuff while wheeling through airports, parking lots and hotel hallways. Travel Buddies luggage set includes both a roomie hard-shell wheelie suitcase with dual-height retractable handle AND a matching backpack for the things that need to be easily accessible. With bright and enchanting graphics featuring penguins, ladybugs and aliens, this tough little luggage set is a guaranteed attention-getter as kids pull their own travel weight in style.

About thirty minutes into a long trip, kids are quick to ask the question, “Are we there yet?” And so the backseat boredom begins. Keeping young ones entertained during a long drive or flight is easy (and educational) with ‘Kids Travel: A Backseat Survival Guide’ from Klutz. Filled with games and activities (plus everything needed for each activity), kids can take travel-related challenges that use the passing world around them, or enjoy the 100-page game pad that will keep them entertained when the window views are less enchanting. Parents can get in on the games, too – but be warned: Collecting state license plates can be addictive and younger kids play a seriously cut-throat game of Punchbuggie.

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Seat Belt Snoozer Car Pillow

Kids Wired Headphones (Kidz Gear)

For kids who can use a bit of dedicated listening (and sparing parents who really cannot listen to the Kidz Bop CD for the 10,000th time), Kidz Gear headphones are the perfect fit for little heads and delicate ears. Easily plugged into music and video players, MP3 systems, game consoles and more – kids can enjoy music, sound effects, and all kinds of audio independently and safely. Featuring a built-in volume control so parents can set the upper end of decibels delivered, kids can still adjust the sound within the set range. The adjustable head-set accommodates a broad size range of heads from toddler to pre-teen. Light weight and sturdy, the Kidz Gear headphones are a must-have accessory for happy, easy listening.

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(One Step Ahead)

Sometimes the best way for kids to weather travel time is to take a good snooze in the back seat. But for parents who have seen the cramped, crumpled results of a child trying to catch forty winks without proper support, the Seat Belt Snoozer can save kids from the stiff neck and grumpy after-effects of a fitful and failed car nap. Designed for the booster-seat age child, the Snoozer curves gently across the shoulder, anchored by the seatbelt to catch lolling heads and provide a soft cushioned resting spot for tired, traveling noggins. With a removable, machine washable chenille cover, the Snoozer car pillow will support sweeter dreams and gentle tempers on the road to adventure.

Paige Smith is a freelance writer and syndicated columnist living in Alabama. More on GET THIS! at www.PageBookMedia.com.

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Storybook Farms Congratulates One of Their Own

We are so excited our very own Maggie Little and Seymore for winning the Mark Phillips Pony Award at the 2012 US Eventing Association's American Eventing Championships. We are so proud of all their hard work!

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Fall Concert Series Held on Thursday Nights in September and October

Local singer-songwriter Destiny Brown performed at Auburn Parks and Recreationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fall Concert Series at Kiesel Park on Thursday, September 6. The series features performances by local musicians every Thursday in September and October at 6 p.m. Citizens of all ages are encouraged to attend and bring a blanket, chairs, and picnic. Dogs are welcome. For more information, visit Auburn Parks and Recreation online at www.auburnalabama.org/parks. Visit www.AuburnOpelikaParents.com

Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

Beat the Sweets

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Sensible Strategies for Breaking a Sugar Habit by Malia Jacobson

Here’s the sugary scoop: American kids consume far too much of the sweet stuff. According to the American Heart Association, toddlers are getting 12 teaspoons instead of the recommended 4 (19 grams), and schoolaged children who should have no more than 3 teaspoons (14.2 grams) are consuming 21. Preteens and teens take the cake; instead of the recommended 5 to 8 teaspoons (23.7 to Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

38 grams), they’re getting up to 34.3. That’s over two-thirds of a cup per day. How does this mountain of sugar affect kids? Besides contributing to childhood obesity, poor cardiovascular health, and juvenile diabetes, sugar can play a major role in mood swings, meltdowns, and tantrums. “Sugary foods cause blood sugar to spike and then plummet, leaving kids feeling cranky, irritable, and tired,” says The 24

Today Show licensed nutritionist Joy Bauer, bestselling author of JOY’S LIFE DIET and Slim and Scrumptious. And when sugary snacks fill plates and stomachs, less room is left over for the nutrient-dense calories that growing children need. It’s clear that kids should eat less sugar. But let’s face it: the thought of a sugar-free world sends chills down parental spines. Sugar can reward, motivate, or pacify a Advertising: 334-209-0552

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child, and a well-timed treat can work wonders. I’ve been known to avert toddler tantrums with a chocolate chip or two, and I keep an emergency lollipop in my purse. Even highly motivated parents who want to cut sugar face an uphill battle. School lunches, misleading food labels, relatives, and even kids themselves can throw a wrench in the most well-intentioned plans. Still, it’s hard to ignore the facts and the potential payoff. “By dealing with a sugar habit early in life, parents are giving children a lifelong gift,” says Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D., bestselling author of Little Sugar Addicts. “Parents whose kids are out of control are absolutely amazed at the bright, loving, incredible child who emerges.” Ditching a sugar habit benefits moms too. “By limiting sugary foods, you maintain a steady blood sugar level and keep yourself feeling energized and alert all day long. Nothing’s more important when you have active young kids running around,” says Bauer. If you’re ready to change your family’s sugary ways, fear not. Drastic measures aren’t required. Instead, slowly shut off the sugar tap with a simple, step-by-step approach.

Drowning in liquid sugar

First, take a look at what your family sips. The AHA reports that Americans drink most of their added sugar in the form of soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages. According to the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages with meals has doubled. One 12-ounce cola has 8.2 teaspoons of sugar that add up to 140 calories. Switching to water or low-fat milk will make a huge dent in kids’ sugar consumption. Even 100% fruit juice contributes sugar and calories that kids may be better off without. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting fruit juice to 6 ounces for children under 7 and 12 ounces for older kids. Stretch the smaller servings by diluting juice with water, or create a healthier alternative to soda by mixing juice with seltzer.

Top of the morning

Next, work on meals. Start at the top— of the day, that is. According to DesMaisons, a healthy breakfast is essential to lowering sugar intake, because eating the right foods in the morning helps to ward off sugar cravings later on. Begin by losing the sugary breakfast cereal. Bauer recommends that parents choose Visit www.AuburnOpelikaParents.com

Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

cereals with no more than eight grams of sugar per serving. Instead of sweet cereals and candy-coated pastries, serve up protein and complex carbohydrates like eggs and whole-grain toast or protein shakes made with fruit. Combining protein with complex carbohydrates provides lasting energy and enables the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin to enter the brain. Kids will feel satisfied, alert, and ready to start their day. After kids have accepted a new breakfast routine, move on to lunch, dinner, and snacks. Gradually replace sugary foods with healthy alternatives and give kids time to adjust to each change. Plan to spend anywhere from two weeks to six months on the whole process, says DesMaisons, depending on their level of sugar consumption, attachment to sweet foods, and temperament.

Plan for success

Kids need to eat on time to avoid the blood sugar crashes that bring on meltdowns (and that emergency lollipop in my purse). Don’t plan outings when they’re running low on fuel. Aim to serve meals at a consistent time and keep fruit, crackers, nuts, and other snacks on hand for hectic days. For those occasions when a sugar splurge is inevitable—birthdays, holidays, and Halloween—serve a high-protein snack before the festivities begin. They’ll eat less of the sweet stuff on a full stomach, and the protein will slow the absorption of sugar to ward off a post-party crash.

Detective mom

Family physician Tony Vento, M.D. tells moms to become label sleuths to cut out sneaky hidden sugars that kids probably won’t miss. “Spend a week reading every label, and you’ll be surprised,” says Vento. Some brands of kids’ favorites like peanut butter, fruit snacks, and dried fruit contain added sugar, while others don’t. Switching brands can add up to big sugar savings. Eliminating hidden sugars gives more dietary leeway for treats that they’ll appreciate. Fortunately, the AHA dietary guidelines allow for some sweets. It makes sense to spend some of that discretionary sugar on nutritious foods like yogurt or chocolate milk (Journal of the American Dietetic Association reports that flavored milks are fine in moderation and don’t cause weight gain in children). When total sugar intake is under control, even cupcakes aren’t off-limits. Now that’s a sweet reward to feel good about. Malia Jacobson is a nationally-published heath writer and mom of two.

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Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

A Page in a Book

by Paige Gardner Smith

Baseball Books Round the Bases The sport that became iconic as ‘America’s pastime’ has provided a host of baseball idioms that permeate our everyday language. You can play in the ‘big league’, ‘batting 1000’ and be a ‘heavy hitter. Or you can be thrown a ‘curveball’, be way ‘off base’ or ‘strike out’. Knowledge and appreciation of baseball develops an understanding of the sport’s definitive effect on American culture and psyche. This season’s bases are loaded with fantastic books for baseball players, fans and newbies to the sport! Check out the following titles that celebrate the game and really knock it out of the park.

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Brothers at Bat

by Audrey Vernick, Illustrated by Steven Salerno (Houghton Mifflin / Clarion) The true story of an amazing all-brother baseball team, ‘Brothers at Bat’ relates the saga of the Acerras family who in the 1930s fielded twelve brothers with a deep-seated love for baseball. As kids they played ball during every free moment (even their four sisters joined in as they could). When they were old enough to play in the local league, they formed their own team with Dad as coach (who never missed a game) and traveled the region playing against other teams. When the war came, the brothers joined the service, yet they all made it back home again to play as a team for many more years! A loving testament to family and a family’s loving testament to the game, this book’s vintage sensibilities feel like ‘Home Sweet Home’ for baseball lovers.

ABCs of Baseball

by Peter Golenbock, Illustrated by Dan Andreasen (Penguin / Dial) In a sport that is rife with so many expressions, terms and idioms, having a kids’ book that explains it all in a simple, easy-to-digest format brings the game home to roost with the ‘ABCs of Baseball’. Each fully illustrated two-page spread features one to two letters of the alphabet with several baseball terms (beginning with that letter) and an explanation of each. For example, the letter ‘C’ includes ‘coaches’ ‘Cracker Jack’, Cartwright’ (as in Alexander C., the inventor of baseball) and ‘can of corn’ (an easy catch by a fielder – who knew?). Grow your child’s baseball knowledge (and your own) and get your game on with this colorful and informative title!

The Boys

by Jeff Newman (Simon & Schuster) Using an informal baseball game in the park as the backdrop for a bigger story about inclusion and helping kids find friendship with others through shared interests, ‘The Boys’ is a charming wordless picture book that knocks it out of the park with its powerful message. When a little boy, all geared up to play baseball, is too shy to approach the baseball-playing regulars in the park, he ends up hanging around with old men on a nearby park bench. As the shy little boy begins to slowly adopt their senior citizen style and habits, the old gentlemen come up with a plan to get this rookie off the bench and into the game.

Find more A Page in a Book recommendations at www.PageBookReviews.com.

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Public Library Activities Auburn Public Library 749 East Thach Avenue, Auburn (334) 501-3190; www.auburnalabama.org/LIBRARY/

Weekly Programs:

Baby Lapsit – Tuesdays @ 9:30 a.m. for ages Birth – 12 months; First Steps Storytime – Tuesdays @ 10:30 a.m. for ages 12–24 months; Toddler Time – Wednesdays @ 10 a.m. for ages 18 months – 3 years; Preschool Story Time – Thursdays @ 10 a.m. for ages 3 – 5 years; Tween Movie Day – Every Tuesday in July at 2 p.m.; Rising 5th-8th grades – Join us for a family-friendly movie each week.; Salmagundi© – Every Wednesday in July at 2 p.m.; Rising K-5th grades – Featuring a variety of entertainers each week. Lego® Day – Every Friday in July – Ages 5-13 years.; Legos® for Young Adults – Every Saturday in July for Rising 9th grade and up

Monthly Programs:

Diary of a Library Kid – Wednesday, October 3rd at 3:30 pm – Grades K-5, Puppet Show – Tuesday, October 9th at 3:30 pm – Ages 3-10, American Girl’s Club – Thursday, October 18th at 3:30 pm – Grades K-5, Legomania – Every Saturday in October from 9:00 am-4:30 pm – Ages 4-12 – Join us every Saturday of the month all day for “free play” with Legos®.

Fall Reading Programs:

• “Clue In To Reading”; Registration: Through September 30 Children will receive one prize from the treasure chest for every hour spent reading. At the end of the program, all children who meet their goals will be awarded a grand prize! Clue In To Reading ends November 30th.

Lewis Cooper Memorial Library 200 South 6th St., Opelika (334) 705-5380; www.opelika.org Story Time With Tim – Mondays, 10-10:20 a.m., for ages 2-4 Story Quest – Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. for ages 4 and up Cooper Fun House – Last Friday of month, 3:30 - 4:45 p.m., for grades 3rd-5th. Join the Crew as we play games, have fun and win prizes! Library Teen Thing – A positive peer group for teens to promote reading and actions to become a citizen with character. Every other Thursday, 6:30-7:45 p.m., for ages 13-17

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Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

Craft ng & Cook ng with Kids

by Dana Moonan

Healthy Halloween Snacks Halloween conjures up different images for every family. My Halloween nightmare is a pumpkin basket filled with chocolates, lollipops, jawbreakers and other candies. (Okay, secretly this is a dream come true for a chocolate addicted mom). However, for my children, I don’t look forward to the battle of the Halloween candy. Now, don’t get me wrong…I think some sweets are just a part of trick or treating. But providing healthy alternatives to Halloween treats is also possible. And just think how much candy you will have left over when the kids go to bed!

Snacks

Spiders - Make delicious spiders by spreading peanut butter on a Ritz cracker. Use three small pretzel sticks for legs. Poke them into the peanut butter to secure. Add two raisins for eyes. Magic Wands – Dip large pretzel rods in melted chocolate. Try the candy melts which can be found in most craft candy sections. They melt easily and quickly in the microwave. Use white or milk chocolate. After you have dipped the pretzel rods into the melted chocolate, roll the “wands” into sugar sprinkles. You can pick between many different colors of sugar sprinkles to make colorful wands or just use pink or red. These snacks come out looking like glittery magic wands. Wrap in clear cellophane and tie with a ribbon to give to friends. Pumpkin Rice Krispie treats– Make Rice Krispie treats following the direcAuburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

tions on the cereal box. Add orange food coloring to the marshmallows when you melt them. As the they cool, roll them into balls. You can also just cut them into squares and they still look like pumpkins. Decorate a face by adding chocolate chips for triangle shaped eyes, nose and mouth. A green gumdrop pushed into the top makes a great stem. Pumpkin cheesy snacksUsing a half of a toasted English muffin spread Kraft spreadable cheese on top. Use raisins or chocolate chips to make a face. These are easy, healthy snacks to bring to school or have after school with friends. Kids can do this themselves, which makes it extra fun, too! Apples with dip- Take advantage of apple picking season by making this easy snack. Slice red, green or yellow apples. Serve with caramel dip or peanut butter. Caramel apples- You will need the following ingredients to make this traditional fall snack: 1½ Tbsp. butter, 1½ cups light brown sugar, 6 Tbsp. of water, popsicle sticks and 8-10 apples (McIntosh work well). Melt the butter in a saucepan, then add the brown sugar and water. Stir until it is smooth. Slowly bring to a boil and then let it simmer for 3 minutes. The sides of the pan should get steamy and the mixture should be sticky, yet thin. Poke a popsicle stick through the center of the apple, then dip and swirl the apple in the sticky mixture. Make sure to coat all sides 30

of the apples. Put the apples on a greased cookie sheet in the refrigerator and keep refrigerated for 1-2 hours. Toasted pumpkin seeds- As you scoop out the pulp of the pumpkin, pull out the seeds and place on a paper towel. This is a great job for kids. They love to stick their hands in the ooey-gooey pumpkin. Then rinse off the seeds and place on a cookie sheet. Use spray butter to coat them and sprinkle with salt. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes and check. You are looking for a slightly darker color, not browning though. They tend to burn fast so keep an eye on them. Before you grab that super size bag of candy, try some of these alternative goodies for trick-or-treaters, class parties or other Halloween events. Most can be found in the Halloween candy section or down the snack aisles at the grocery store. For other items, buy in bulk at the party store or local discount store.

Healthier treats to give out:

• Individual packs of fruit snacks • Individual packs of pretzels • Individual packs of goldfish • Boxes of raisins or yogurt covered raisins • Granola bars

Alternatives to food treats:

• Hair barrettes • Dress up jewelry--bracelets, rings or bead necklaces • Bouncy balls • Play-doh containers (small ones) • Bottles of bubbles • Individual pieces of sidewalk chalk • Stickers • Small packs of crayons • Baseball cards • Mini books (buy in bulk) • Halloween pencils

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Dana Moonan is a former first grade teacher and current stay-at-home mom of three, Emily and Matthew, and Abby.

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Dave Says... Buy It or Turn It In?

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By Dave Ramsey

Q. I made the mistake of leasing a car a

reliability. If this happens, though, you should still pay cash for a better car. Even if you’re not taking a step up in price or fanciness, it’s still better than taking on a car payment. I’d ride a bike everywhere before I did that!

Q. My brother was killed earlier this year, and my mom is finalizing his estate. He had a couple of federally insured student loans through Sallie Mae totaling $8,000 at the time of his death, and the attorney probating the estate says mom now has to pay off those loans. Is that correct?

while back, and the lease is up in about nine months. Should I save up the money between now and then to buy it, or save as much as I can to pay down my student loans? At the end of a lease the price for which you can purchase the car is called the residual value. This amount is preset when you lease the vehicle. So the big question right now is, what’s the car actually worth? If the company thought it would be worth $12,000 and it’s actually worth $14,000, that would be a good deal, and you’d want to buy it instead of turning in the car. Even if you were going to turn around and resell it, you’d still want to go ahead and buy. Another big thing is that I’d never tell you to finance a car after the lease term. There’s no difference between that and walking onto a car lot and financing any other $12,000 car. Look at it this way. You basically have a $12,000 car loan right now, and you’d only be changing the format from leasing to payments if you financed the thing. Should you keep this vehicle? Only if it’s a small percentage of your income. If you make $60,000 or more, I’d probably say save up, pay cash, and keep the car. But if you’re making closer to $30,000 the answer is no.

A. I’m so sorry to hear about your brother. But no, your lawyer is not correct. Payment for federally insured student loans is not due upon the borrower’s death. They are waived. I’m going to give you two pieces of advice. The first is to fire your attorney. We’re talking about basic knowledge when it comes to probating an estate here. Second,

you can take care of this by sending a copy of the death certificate to Sallie Mae. I’ll warn you ahead of time that it may take a while to jump through all their hoops. But once you’re declared permanently disabled or you pass away, federally insured student loans are discharged and not held against the estate. Don’t pay it! Dave is the author of The New York Times bestselling book Financial Peace. He is also the host of the nationally syndicated The Dave Ramsey Show. You can hear Dave online at www.daveramsey. com. Send your questions to askdave@ daveramsey.com. He resides with his wife Sharon and their three children, Denise, Rachel, and Daniel, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Q. My old car has been having lots of problems lately. How do I decide when it’s best to fix an old car or get a newer one instead? A.

Mathematically, the first thing to look at is the car’s worth if you don’t make repairs. Should you spend $1,000 to increase the value of the vehicle $500? Dumb question, right? At that point, you sell the car as-is and put the $1,000 it would take to fix it toward something newer. On the other hand, let’s say you’ve got a little hooptie worth $1,000 but by putting $500 into it, you can have it up and running again. Suddenly it’s worth $2,500. That’s money well-spent, because what you’ve done has significantly increased the value. The other side is that at some point, the hassle factor of an old car can turn it into a money pit. If you can’t get anywhere because the car’s always busted, then you need to find something else for the sake of safety and Visit www.AuburnOpelikaParents.com

Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

How to Slay Scary Monsters by Heidi Smith Luedtke, Ph.D.

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“Mom. Come here, now,” my three-year old whispers urgently as he pulls me toward the yard. “Red eyes,” he says, shivering with fear. “Red eyes.” My son believes we have a monster downstairs, but only at night when we are upstairs. Other monsters live in bushes at the back of our yard, where they feast on stray baseballs and Frisbees. That is why he is worried now. I am called in to retrieve the ball he has lost. I grab the ball and run back to him as if I’ve narrowly escaped. “Monsters are just pretend,” I say.

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A Big, Scary World

As their understanding of the world increases, so do kids’ fears. Infants may be fearful of separation or loud noises, and those fears stick with kids into the toddler years. But as their experiences and imaginations grow, toddlers may also develop fears of animals and insects (dogs, snakes, spiders), characters in costumes (beware Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny), and things that lurk in the dark (ghosts and monsters, bad guys and robbers). They may also fear they’ll be sucked down the toilet or the bathtub drain, despite your constant reassurance that they won’t.School-aged kids may get over their fear of the boogeyman but grow anxious about social disapproval and failure. Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

Dealing with Childhood Fears “Anxious thinking - for all of us - is notoriously distorted, exaggerated, and unreliable,” notes Dr. Tamar Chansky, psychologist and author of Freeing Your Child from Anxiety: Powerful, Practi32

cal Solutions to Overcome Your Child’s Fears, Worries, and Phobias. But don’t dismiss your child’s fears as childish or irrational. Confronting even the silliest scary scenarios helps kids learn to deal Advertising: 334-209-0552

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with real-life woes and worries. When your daughter shrieks and clings to your leg because the neighbor’s border collie bounces her way, embrace the teachable moment. Parents can help kids confront fears so they don’t grow bigger and scarier.

Fight Fears Together

Respect feelings. Fear feels uncomfortable. Your child’s heart is racing, her palms are sweaty, and she wants to escape to safety. Be her ally and accept her anxiety. If she isn’t ready pet the snake at the zoo or sleep without a night light, don’t push it. Word up. Kids can’t always express what scares them, especially when the body’s fear response is energizing them to fight or flee. Help your child identify specific concerns using age-appropriate words. Ask “what is it about the dog that worries you?” or “what might happen when the lights are off?” You can’t devise monster-slaying strategies if you don’t know the enemy. Do reconnaissance. Fear festers when our imaginations get the best of us. The more your child learns about the

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feared situation, the less powerful his imaginary thoughts will be. Hold hands while you both check the basement for monsters. Go online and read about snakes together. Pretend you are engineers studying how self-flushing toilets work. Knowledge is power. Talk back. Encourage your child to argue against the frightening thoughts or to repeat a calming phrase such as “I am fast and strong. Ghosts can’t catch me!” Talking back shrinks scary thoughts. Dr. Susan Mather recalls that her son was sure there were monsters under the bed and in the closet. “We put a sign on the door that read ‘Monsters KEEP OUT’ and they obeyed!” she says. Baby steps. “The best way to face a fear is a little at a time, from a safe distance,” says marriage, family and child therapist H. Norman Wright, author of Helping Your Kids Deal with Anger, Fear, and Sadness. Face a fear of heights by imagining the scary situation first. Then, move on to climbing a low structure, followed by a taller one, and so on. Give high-fives as kids conquer each challenge. Be there. Kids need to know you’ll stick with them when they face their

fears. Don’t let your own distress or embarrassment cause you to shut down or disappear. “Research indicates it takes about 20 minutes for the anxiety to subside when a fear is confronted,” Wright says. Work toward this goal with your child.

Be Afraid, But Not Too Afraid

Fear is essential for survival - it helps us to escape dangerous situations. But if your child’s fears keep her from engaging in everyday activities, it may be time to seek professional help. Some kids’ fear systems are much more sensitive than others. Anxious kids may be trapped in a whirlwind of fearful thoughts, and paralyzed by nagging “what ifs.” According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, thirteen percent of children are affected by anxiety disorders, which include phobias, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Talk with your pediatrician or school psychologist if your child’s fears are overwhelming you both. Heidi Smith Luedtke is a personality psychologist and mom of two. Get more psychology lessons for life at www.heidiluedtke.com.

Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

the perfect bag for your treats. 6-7pm. Ages: 4-12 yrs. Fee: $10. 705-5560. Creepy Wonderful Critters ‘Wolves’- The Forest Ecology Preserve, Auburn. October 13. 10:00am. Come learn about wolves! Snakes, spiders, lizards, and other creepy critters will be on display. $4 fee. www.auburn. edu/preserve Pumpkin Carve- Auburn University School of Architecture and Design, Dudley Court, Campus. October 26. 9am-9pm. Come out and watch the students carve amazing designs into pumpkins. As night falls, see the pumpkins turn into glowing jack-o-lanerns! Dress the kids up for a costume contest, games, and more!

Fall Farms

Dream Field Farms

The Auburn City Schools Fall Festival Tuesday, September 25 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Duck Samford Sports Complex. Lots of Family Fun! Great Games & Music for all ages! Tickets on sale at Elementary Schools or at the Fall Festival.

Halloween Events

4th Annual Carve a Bite Out of Hunger Food Drive - Help us carve a bite out of hunger by bringing a non-perishable food item with you to Auburn’s Downtown Trick or Treat, Oct 31. Collection bins will be placed throughout downtown to accept your donations. Items collected will benefit the Food Bank of East Alabama. 7th Annual Howl-oween Costume Contest and Dog Parade- October 29. 5:30 pm: Photos and Canine Trick or Treat. 6:00pm: Costume Parade. Downtown Opelika. For your pet to participate, register at Canine American, 108 South 8th Street, Opelika. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Rescue K911. Call 745-0466. 11th Annual Uptown Spooktacular Halloween Festival- October 27th, 5:00- 7:00 pm. Downtown on Broadway, Columbus, Ga. Sign up for the costume contest which will take place at 6:15 pm and 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!!! Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

City of Auburn 12th Annual Downtown Trick or Treat- 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-ortreating. 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! More information, 501-2930. Stand -Up Ghost Halloween DecorationsOct 5. 10-11am. Dean Rd Rec Center. Create a “spook-tacular” tabletop centerpiece by making standing ghosts out of clay. Adults registering for the class may enroll up to two children and will work alongside the children. 821-0916. City of Opelika Parks and Recreation Fall Festival & Children’s Carnival W. James Samford, Jr. Soccer Complex Sportsplex. October 30; 6:00-8:00pm. 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. Tickets: $.25 per ticket. Fall Treats- October 16-Enjoy making and eating your favorite fall treats. 3:30-4:30pm. Ages: 5-9 yrs. Fee: $10. 705-5560. Halloween Treat Bags. October 20. Make 34

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Farmer in the Dell Pumpkin Patch

Lee Country Road 61, Auburn. Located 6 miles west of Toomer’s Corner off of Hwy 14 near Loachapoka School. 334-750-3792. Pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, corn maze, child-sized haybale maze, tractor-pulled hay rides and more. October 4-5,11-12, 15-31. www.farmerinthedellpumpkinpatch.com

School Festivals

6376 Highway 82, Union Springs, Al. 334-534-6976. www.dreamfieldfarms.com. Pumpkin patch-pick in the field, train rides, corn maze, child-sized haybale maze, corn cannon, tractor-pulled hay rides, inflatables, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, farm animals and more. September 29-October 31; MondayWednesday 9:00am- 2:00pm; Thursday- Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm; Sundays 1:00-5:00pm. Hero Appreciation Day- September 29. Free admission to all military and first responders. A free gift from the gift shop will be provided to all those who wear red, white and blue. Fan Day- October 6. Wear your favorite teams colors and receive $1.00 off your general admission. Columbus Day- October 8. In honor of this holiday, the farm is open to the general public all day. State Employees and Teachers receive a 50% discount off general admission. Home School Day- October 9. Home school parents admitted for $5.00 and home school children receive a free small pumpkin. Grandparents Day- October 13. Half off admission for all grands! Farmer Jason Live! October 20-21.

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Jack-O-Lantern Lane at The Oaks L.L.C.

18151 Veterans Memorial Parkway, Lafayette, Al. 334-864-0713. www.jackolanternlane. com; Pumpkins, pumpkin patch-pick in the Advertising: 334-209-0552

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field, tractor-pulled hay rides, wagon rides, petting zoo, inflatable park, train rides, gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, face painting, and more. Open October 1-31. Saturday 9:00am-6:00pm; Sunday 1-6pm. Also available by reservation Monday-Friday for school, church, daycare field trips and more.

Paradise Pumpkin Patch

910 County Road 79 South, Eufaula, Al. Craig Hawkins 334-695-2258. www.paradisepumpkinpatch.com. 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 22-November 4. Saturdays 9:00am-6:00pm and Sundays 12:00-6:00 pm. Special event dates and field trips available Monday-Friday. Teacher Day- Sept 22. All teachers with school ID are free! Free Paradise for Special Children- Oct 1. Free field trip for special needs children. Home School Day- Oct 8.

The Grand Old Pumpkin Patch

1901 Lay Dam Road , Clanton, Al. 205-7554553. www.alabamagrandolepumpkinpatch. com. Acres of fresh-off-the-vine pumpkins, covered wagon rides, pony rides, face painting and hay rides, helicopter rides, twacter train, petting zoo, inflatable park, concessions, and more. October 1-31. Monday-Saturday 8:00am-dark; Sunday 1:00pm-dark.

Backyard Orchards- 6585 Hwy 431 North, Eufaula, AL. (334) 370-6490. U-Pick It Farm with fresh fruits, veggies and pumpkins! Butts Mill Farm- Pine Mountain, Ga. 706957-7601. Pick your own pumpkin, take a hay ride, sip some apple cider, and much more. www.buttsmillfarm.com Corn Dodgers Farm- 1555 Knowles Road, Headland, AL. www.corndodgersfarm. com; September 29-October 31. Friday 5:00-10:00pm, Saturday 12:00-10:00pm, and Sunday 1:00-6:00pm. Corn field maze, pumpkin barn (pick your own), cow train ride, corn cannon, pony rides, corn box, sunflower path, hay rides, pipe maze, farm-sized tic-tac-toe, and more! Cotton Pickin’ Pumpkin Patch- Lazenby Farm, 11546 Lee Rd 54, Auburn. Friday and Saturdays, October 2-31; 10am-6pm. Hayrides, pick a pumpkin/cotton, corn maze, corn crib, country store and more. Call 334-321-7946 to schedule your group. We schedule schools and groups for the Pumpkin Patch Tuesday-Friday. www.lazenbyfarm.com Pumpkin Patch at The Farmhouse- Ellerslie, Georgia. Friday/Saturday in October. 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.

Pope’s Haunted Farm- 450 Lee Rd 724,Salem, Al. (706) 566-7766. October 5-6, 12-13, 19-21, 26-27. 30-31. Friday-Saturday 7:3011:00pm; Sunday 7:30-10:00pm. Pope’s Haunted Farm has three different events to experience and scare you. The Haunted Barn made as a mock of the Saw movies, 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. www.popeshayride.com The Pumpkin Patch at Barber Berry Farm2362 Alabama River Parkway, Millbrook, Al. October 5-31. Hayride, pumpkin patch, pick your own pesticide-free fruit and veggies. www.barberberryfarm.com

Arts & Crafts Festivals

3rd Annual Hot Strings! Birmingham’s Blazin’ Bluegrass Festival- The Preserve, Hoover, Al. Sept 30. Featuring some of the best names in Bluegrass including Sierra Hull, Highway 111, Youth Fiddlers, Three On a String and others. Great food, art, kid’s zone, fiddlin’ contest, jam sessions, farm demonstrations, and more! www.thefoundryonline.org/ hotstrings 5th Oktoberfest Celebration-Historic Stone Mountain Village, Stone Mountain, Ga. Oct 13-14. 12noon-6pm. 10/13 & 10/14/12 at 12noon - 6pm. Authentic German polka

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Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

dancing, music, and food festival, beer, kid’s activities, hayride, arts and crafts, and more. 770-498-7334. 6th Annual Pirates of the Chattahoochee / Southern Pirate Festival- The National Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus. October 20-31; 10:00 am-4:30pm. Family-friendly event for all ages, featuring pirate-themed activities for kids and adults alike, cannon firings, demonstrations, games and lots of Pirates! www.portcolumbus.org or www.southernpiratefestival.com. 17th Annual Arts on the River- 1100 Block of Broadway, Columbus, Ga. October 16. 9:00am5:00pm. The fine art show and sale includes paint, photography, hand-thrown pottery, and sculpture, with some artists performing live demonstrations. Free. 20th Annual Alabama Cotton Festival- October 13. 8:00am-6:00pm. Eclectic and Lake Martin, Al. Arts and crafts, flea market items, concession, etc. Booth spaces are free. 5K Cotton Run, Alabama Rook Tournament, local talent contest, children’s activities, antique cars and tractors, performances by The Keith Moody Band, The Shiloh Spirituals, Laurel Taylor and more. 22nd Annual Christmas Made in the SouthColumbus Convention & Trade Center, Ga. October 26-28. Amazing crafts people, 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, dichroic glass jewelry to close-up photography of nature’s funniest and fiercest creatures all await and more! Adults $6.00, Children 12 & Under-Free; admission good for all 3 days. www.madeinthesouthshows.com 32nd Annual Oktoberfest - Charles E. Bailey, Sr. Sportplex, Alexander City, AL. 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 256-234-3461. www.alexandercityonline.com. 34th Annual Alabama Tale Tellin’ Festival Presented by ArtsRevive- 3 Church Street, Selma, Al. October 12-13. 5:30 p.m. The performers this year are Dolores Hydock, Carmen Deedy and The Dill Pickers. Art show, StreetFest, Ballet, Market Day, Pilgrimage and more! 334-8782787. www.artsrevive.com. 41th Annual Harvest Day Festival- Headland, Al. October 13; 9:00am-4:00pm. Arts and crafts, children’s games and rides, wonderful food and entertainment. www.headlandal.com 41st Annual National Shrimp Festival- Gulf Shores, Al. Oct 11-14. Over 300 vendors that offer fine art, arts and crafts, a retail marketplace and of course, SHRIMP!! 46th Annual Pike Road Arts & Crafts FairHistoric Marks House, Pike Road, Al. November Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

3. 9:00am-4:00pm. Shop the arts and crafts and eat BBQ, sweets, and more! Special activities for the children too – face painting, a tour of the Pike Road Fire Department’s Mobile Fire Safety House and free “make and take” crafts will be provided by Home Depot. 49th Annual Bluff Park Art Show- Bluff Park Community Center, 517 Cloudland Dr. Hoover, Al. October 6. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 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. Free admission, parking and shuttles. www.bluffparkartassociation.org 56th Annual Central Alabama Fair- Lion’s Fair Park, 2401 W. Dallas Ave. Selma, Al. Oct 1-6. 334-875-7241, www.centralalabamafair.com. 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! 58th Annual Cullman County Fair. September 20-29. Thrilling rides, amazing exhibits, and the best in local and regional entertainment. www. cullmancountyfair.org. 65th Annual Lee County Fair- US 431 near Opelika High. October 2-6. Livestock shows, contests, exhibits, pageants, rides and much more. 334-749-3353 2012 National Peanut Festival- Dothan, Al. November 2-11, Friday., 5-11 p.m.; Saturday, 12:00 noon- until; Monday, 5-10 p.m.; Tuesday, 3-10 p.m.; Wednesday, 5-10 p.m.; Thursday, 4-10 p.m. 334-793-4323. www.nationalpeanutfestival.com. 5622 U.S. Hwy. 231 S.--Livestock exhibits, competitions, demolition derby, crafts, food preservation, recipe contests, entertainment, carnival rides, sea lion show, and much more! Live entertainment includes Charlie Daniels Band and Bill Young Band. Alabama Gourd Festival- Cullman Civic Center. Oct 20-21. Saturday 9am-5pm. Sunday 10am4pm. Annual festival features gourd arts and crafts, such as birdhouses, musical instruments and decorated gourds. Dulcimer band performs. (256) 737-5006 Alabama National Fair- Garret Coliseum, Montgomery, Al. October 5-14. Midway rides, main stage entertainment including Thompson Square, Keith Sweat and Lee Greenwood, food, information and commercial booths, kids area, livestock and other competition, family faith day, etc. www.alnationalfair.org. Alexander City Fall Festival- Alexander City, Al. October 27. 256-212-1479. www.russelllandsonlakemartin.com; Free. Russell Crossroads. Join friends and neighbors for pumpkin painting, a costume contest, wagon rides and more, courtesy of Russell Lands on Lake Martin. Boll Weevil Festival- Enterprise, Al. Oct 20. Arts and crafts vendors, variety of music, food, children’s costume contest and activities, farmers market, car show, family entertainment. 36

Carver Sweet Potato Growers Arts and Crafts Association Festival- Town Square , Tuskegee, Al. October 20. Celebrate the nutritional value of the sweet potato and its impact on Alabama’s agriculture industry. Sweet potato competition (all sweet potatoes entered must be grown, not purchased), arts and crafts competition, music, sweet potato pies and sweet potato ice cream. 334-727-8320. Christmas Village Festival- Jefferson Convention Complex, Birmingham. Oct 31-Nov 4. Thursday-Saturday 10:00am- 8:00pm; Sunday 12:00 noon-5:00pm. 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. www.christmasvillagefestival.com Cotton Pickin’ County Fair- Gay, Ga. 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. www.cpfair.org Country Living Fair-Stone Mountain, Ga. October 26-28. Meet the editors of Country Living Magazine, Seminars & How-to’s, Artisan Demonstrations, Harvest & Gourmet Market, Children’s’ Activities & Fall Festivities. 1-866500-FAIR or www.stonemountianpark.com.

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Harvest Moon Festival- Callaway Gardens, Ga. Oct 5-6. World-class contemporary music, locally sourced foods, cooking and gardening demonstrations, eco-centric vendors, fun and educational activities for children and, of course, the wonder and beauty of the Gardens itself. The festival grounds around the beach will include a children’s zone, a 10,000-square-foot festival tent with televised college football games and a second stage with an oversized farmer’s market. www.harvestmoonfest.com Indian Festival & Pow-Wow- Antebellum Plantation & Farmyard inside Stone Mountain Park, Ga. November 1-4; Experience Native American culture through dance & drum competitions, music, authentic craft demonstrations, cooking samples and storytelling activities. Learn about primitive skills such as flint-napping, bow making, fire starting, open fire cooking and pottery. Find that one-of-a-kind holiday gift in our artists’ marketplace, where world-renowned Native artists and crafters demonstrate their skills and offer items for purchase. www.stonemountainpark.com Indian Summer Arts & Crafts Festival- Historic District- Eufaula, Al. October 13-14. Fine arts and handmade crafts, children’s activities, live entertainment and more. Sat., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 1-5 p.m. www.eufaulachamber.com. Ole Chipley Town Fair- Pine Mountian, Ga. September 29. Join the crowd of Pine Mountain and enjoy local crafts, quilting, pottery, metalAdvertising: 334-209-0552

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work, woodwork, food and entertainment. Spend the day strolling down Pine Mountain’s picturesque streets or shopping in downtown Pine Mountain’s and Chipley Village’s shopping centers, each filled with unique shops and boutiques. You’ll find it all—from antiques to fine art to handcrafted birdhouses and other momentos. www.pinemountain.org Ossahatchee Indian Festival Pow Wow- Harris Co Soccer Field, Hamilton, Ga. October 20-21. Primitive skills demonstrations, Hoop Dance, Social & Inter-Tribal dances, American Indian food, and arts & crafts. www.ossahatchee.org Peanut Butter Festival- Brundidge, Al. October 27. 9:00am. 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.piddle.org Storybook Farms- 300 Cusseta Road, Opelika. Fall Festival, November 15. 3:30pm. www.story-book-farm.org Syrup Sopping and Historical Fair- Loachapoka, Al. October 20. 6:00am-4:00pm. Weaving and cloth-making demonstrations, musical entertainment featuring hammered and mountain dulcimers, banjos and guitars, a doctor’s beautiful herb garden and crops garden, bread making, soap making, period pottery, fireplace and outdoor cooking, and other old time crafts. Food

includes famous sweet potato biscuits made on site, camp stew, beans, collards, BBQ, and homemade ice cream 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. www. syrupsopping.org Spinners 31st Annual “Pumpkin Patch” Arts & Crafts Show- Spinners Park - Prattville, Al. October 27-28. Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm, Sunday 11:00am-4:00pm. 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-o-lantern contest and more. Free admission and free parking. www.spinnersprattville.com The Greater Columbus Fair- Columbus Civic Center, Columbus, Ga. Oct 16-21. Celebrate the beginning of autumn in the Chattahoochee Valley. Food, rides, games, pageant and more! www.columbusciviccenter.org Wiregrass Heritage Festival-Landmark Park, Dothan. October 27. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 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. www.landmarkpark.com.

Church Events

All Saints Fair- Lakeview Baptist Church,

Auburn. 1600 East Glenn Avenue. October 30; 5:30 - 7:00 pm. 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 to 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 goulish costumes. www.lakeviewbaptist.org Fall On the Farm- Providence Baptist Church, 2807 Lee Road 166, Opelika. October 13, 10am-12noon. Activities include Games, Face Painting, Fish Pond, Cake Walk and much more. www.providencealive.com Parkway Baptist Church Fall Festival 766 E. University Drive, Auburn. October 24. 6:00pm. Free to the community. Come dressed in costume to play carnival games and win prizes, visit the petting zoo, and much more! 887-3782. Trunk or Treat & Chili Cook-Off- Grace United Methodist Church, Auburn. October 28. 5:00pm. Children and adults are invited to come in costume, and children are invited to visit the decorated car trunks to “trick or trunk.” Adults are invited to prepare and bring your best chili dish to be judged and shared

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Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

with others, with prizes for the best chili recipes and best costumes to be awarded at the conclusion of supper. 884-7003.

tional fee. For more info, call (205) 668-3435. Reservations recommended. www.hodrrm.org.

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Costume Shopping

The City of Montgomery Zoo, Oct 12-14, 19-21 & 25-31. A safe alternative to Halloween, ZooBoo provides a fun-filled evening of games, treats, and costumed characters, Enjoy education presentations, and the traditional haunted ride. 6-9 p.m. 334-240-4930. www.montgomeryzoo.com.

27th Annual Tour of Southern GhostsAntebellum Plantation, Stone Mountain, Ga. October 11-28 (Thurdays-Sundays). Meet professional storytellers spinning their tales of famous (and notso-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. www.stonemountainpark.com

10th Annual Pumpkin Festival- Stone Mountain Park, Ga. September 28-October 28 (FridaysSundays). Throughout weekends in October enjoy attractions, entertainment, activities and fall decorations that are fun for all ages. Event highlights include Kids Trick or Treat Scavenger Hunt, Family Scavenger Hunt, The Great Pumpkin Puppet Parade, Children’s Costume Contest, Storytelling, Pie Eating Contest, Pumpkin Palooza, & Pumpkin Party Patch. Entrance to the Pumpkin Festival is included in the Adventure Pass. www.stonemountainpark.com

Alabama Dance Theatre’s ‘Dracula’- Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Montgomery. November 2-4. www.alabamadancetheatre.com

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Kids Clothes Connection

Located in the old Goody’s Building in Opelika (behind Golden Corral). Gently used children’s costumes available. www.kidsclothesconnection.com Check It Out! 239 North Gay Street, Auburn. 826-0803. www.check-it-outballoons.com Party City- Tiger Town, Opelika. Specializing in all things party! Costumes for all ages, accessories, decorations, and more.

Out of Town/ State Fun The Pumpkin Patch Express

Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, Calera, Al. October1-30; Every Saturday and Sunday. 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 tatoos (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 addi-

21st Annual Halloween Fairyland- Tannehill State Park. October 27. The Tannehill Halloween Festival, a non-scary 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

Annual Halloween Laser Light Show A special showing of The Wizard of Oz movie, synchronized to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon album. Gayle Planetarium, Montgomery, October 27. Admission is $6. For more information, call 334-241-4799. BOO 17 Halloween Party Benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Alabama- B & A Warehouse, Birmingham, Al. October 26. 8:00pm. Live music, ‘Scary’-oke singing, costume contest and more. Open to adults 21 yrs and older. www.boohalloweenparty.com Breakfast with BroomHilda - Stone Mountain, Ga. Oct 20. 8:30-10am.Eat a yummy breakfast and get swept away into BroomHilda’s not too spooky, make believe world. Dress in your favorite Halloween costume and enjoy crafts, games, and storytelling! Adult participation required. Ages 3

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to 6, $8/child, $2/adult. Pre-registration required by October 17. Call 678-277-0179. Fall Family Fun Days- The Rock Ranch, The Rock, Ga. September 22-November 10. Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. each Saturday, 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! www. therockranch.com Lumberjack Day-Sept 29. Featuring collegiate Timbersports competition. Day of the Cowboy- Oct 6. Growing Up Green with Bob and Larry of VeggieTales-Oct 13. Hot Air Balloon Rally- Oct 20. The ‘Not-So-Spooky’ Halloween FestivalOct 27. Pumpkin Destruction Day- Nov 3. Ghosts on the Mountain Spookapalooza DeSoto State Park, October 26-27. Weekend of FREE spooky storytelling & fun events guaranteed to run shivers up and down your spine! Friday & Saturday night both will be spooky nights of storytelling, costumes, treats, & more with storyteller Renee Morrison & her story-tellin’ aunt Jenny Whitman. Oct 26- Storytelling, Spooky Movie Under the Stars. Oct 27- Growing Up Wild for Preschoolers Mask Making, Creepy Critters Show and then Saturday night join us in DeSoto’s Improved Campground before the party for ghoulish games & trick or treating through-out the campground. www.DesotoCarvernsPark.com Great Pumpkin Roll- Alexander City, Al. October 26. 3:00-5:00pm. 256-329-9227. www.mainstreetac.org. Free. Bring your own pumpkin or get one at the Farmer’s Market. Rolling begins at the top of Alabama Street at Strand Park. Harvest Time at Old Alabama Town. Montgomery. October 1-31. Come down to Old Alabama Town as we feature Harvest Time in the 1800’s. Join us for tours of the cotton gin and grist mill, and get a first hand look at farming in the 19th century. Individual self-guided tours offered Monday through Saturday from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Guided tours available by reservation only, for groups of 10 or more. Call 1-888-240-1850 for more information or visit our website at www. oldalabamatown.com. Haunted History Tours- Old Cahawba, Sturdivant Hall, Old Live Oak Cemetery, Selma, Al. October 19-20. 5-10:30 p.m. On Friday night join Central Alabama Paranormal Investigation (a local paranormal team) on an investigation of Old Cahawba. The past will come back to haunt you as we tour magnificent antebellum Sturdivant Hall and some “spirited” characters of Old Live Oak Cemetery. www.selmaalabama.com. Pioneer Days- Troy, Al. October 12-13, 9:00am-5:00pm. 334-566-3597. www.pioneermuseum.org. Pioneer Museum of Alabama— Horse and wagon rides, trips on the Pioneer Express, Native American camps with demonstrations of candlemaking, spinning, weaving, quiltmaking, blacksmithing, drum, dance, etc. Friday is School Day. (334) 566-3597. AOP Visit www.AuburnOpelikaParents.com

Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

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Parenting

on the Plains by Dr. Polly Dunn

Social Skills Tricks for Halloween Not only is Halloween a night full of tricks and treats, but it’s also a great time to encourage social skills development in our kids. Some kids are naturals when it comes to interacting with others, but others need our help and guidance in getting them off to the right start. Preschoolers and kids with Autism, Asperger’s Disorder, and other Developmental Disabilities are especially prone to social skills difficulties. But truthfully, children of all ages can benefit from learning how to make the most out of their interactions with others. Halloween is the perfect time for teaching because unlike any other night, it gives our kids the opportunity to have multiple and repetitive social interactions to practice their skills and an immediate and consistent payoff…candy! One of the best ways to start off a social interaction with another person is to look them in the eye. On Halloween, our kids have the chance to do this again and again, at each house they visit. Encourage your kids to make eye contact with people handing out candy, and friends and neighbors they might see on Halloween night. The earlier our children get the hang of this important social skill, the better. Another critical beginning social skill is learning how to greet others. Of course, we normally encourage our children to say “Hello” or “Nice to meet you,” but on this night a good greeting goes something like, “Trick or Treat!” If your kids are anything like mine, I’m sure they’ll get the hang of this one pretty quickly. After they get their candy, remind your children to say thank you. This is an easy step to forget when there’s more candy waiting at the next house. Make sure they know that they should still say thank you, even if they don’t like what they were given. A favorite saying at my house (second only to “Monkey see, monkey do”) is “You get what you get, and you don’t pitch a fit!” On Halloween Visit www.AuburnOpelikaParents.com

and throughout the year, it’s important to teach our children that they aren’t always going to get what they want. Of course, it doesn’t hurt if you let them know that Mommy and Daddy will be happy to take any of the candy they don’t like off their hands when they get home! One of the hardest parts of Halloween for kids is waiting! First, they have to wait until the last day of the tenth month for Halloween to finally arrive. Then, they have to wait until nighttime for the fun to really begin. Once the trick-or-treating is underway, they have to wait behind other children who might have gotten to their neighbor’s door first. And finally, they have to wait until they get home to really get a good look at their loot (not to mention eating all of those

yummy treats)! Remind your children ahead of time that they will probably have to be patient on Halloween night, and you’ll all be better prepared for a good evening. Don’t miss out on using Halloween as an opportunity to practice social skills with your children. With these tricks, your child’s behavior might be your biggest treat of the night! Dr. Polly Dunn received her Ph.D. from Auburn University in 1999. She is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and currently serves as the Director of the Auburn University Psychological Services Center, a position she has held for over ten years. Dr. Dunn is also the founder of www.ChildPsychMom.com where she blogs about what works and what doesn’t in her hectic life as a child psychologist, wife, and mom of four.

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Family Calendar Ongoing:

A2Z Local Homeschooler’s Association For homeschooling families in the Auburn/Opelika Lee County area of Alabama. A2Z Loop is an all-inclusive 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. Alabama Shakespeare Festival • Tom Sawyer. Oct. 6-20. • Guarding Gold Street. Oct. 16-21. • Phantom of the Opera presented by Montgomery Ballet. Oct. 26-28. Montgomery. www.asf.net. Ballet on the Green Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery. Sept. 25 - Oct. 13. Ballet performance for active and deployed military and their families. Free. www.montgomeryballet.org. Birmingham Children’s Theatre • The Trumpet of the Swam. Oct. 10-13, 17-20. • The Gingerbread Boy. Oct. 18-27. www.bct123.org. 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. Central Alabama Fair Oct. 1-6. Lions Fair Park, Selma. Fun-filled event offering a midway with rides, entertainment, beauty pageant, agricultural exhibits, livestock judging and a competition for local arts, crafts, canning, sewing, etc. www.SelmaAlabama.com. Cullman County Fair 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. Family Theatre • Charlotte’s Web. Sept. 28 - Oct. 13. Family Theatre, Columbus, Ga. www.familytheatre.org. 59th Annual Fall Flower Show Oct. 5-14. Montgomery Federation of Garden Clubs 59th Annual Fall Flower Show. Alabama National Fairgrounds. 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 information. 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. Old Alabama Town Oct. 1-31. Harvest Time at Old Alabama Town. Montgomery. Come celebrate harvest time in the 1800s. Enjoy tours of the cotton gin and grist mill, and get a firsthand look at farming in the 19th century. www. oldalabamatown.com. Opelika-Auburn Newcomers Club A club for new women in town which offers fun social

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activities, meets for lunch on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Call Joan at 501-4974. Popes Haunted Farm Lee Rd. 724. Salem, Al. 7:30-11:30 p.m. Oct. 5-6, 12-13, 19-21, 26-27, 30-31. www.popeshayride.com. Red Mountain Theatre Company • The Color Purple. Sept. 27 - Oct. 14. Red Mountain Theatre Company, Birmingham. www.redmountaintheatre.org. The Rock Ranch Fall Family Fun Days. Sept. 22 - Nov. 10. The Rock Ranch, Ga. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Features more than 30 fun attractions, great food and live music. www.therockranch.com. Springer Opera House • Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. Sept. 26 - Oct. 6. • Little Shop Of Horrors. Oct. 18 - 27. www.springeroperahouse.org.

Parents Support & Moms Groups

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/. 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. La Leche League, a support group for nursing moms, meets the first Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. @ Holy Trinity Episcopal in Auburn. For more information call Josie at 257-3950. Lee County Autism Support Group meets every other month. Call Julie Brown 887-3903 or Florence Evermom 887-5005. Covenant Presbyterian Church on Shelton Mill Road in Auburn. 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. Moms In Touch. Do you worry about your children? Come experience how you can replace your anxiety and fear with peace and hope by praying with other moms. Moms In Touch International gathers moms together for one hour, once a week, to pray specifically and scripturally for our children and school. Won’t you join with us in prayer for this next generation? Please contact Julia Farrow at julia@cornerstonebuzz.org for information about our local groups. For more information about Moms In Touch International, visit www. MomsInTouch.org. 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 334-501-5637. www.insideyfc.com.

Mom’s Morning Out

Auburn United Methodist Church, 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. Trinity United Methodist Church (Opelika) Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:45-12. $15 per child.

Support Groups

Care N’ Share Group Caring for a family member or friend can be rewarding, but it is not easy. Whether you are the caregiver for your grandchildren, provide care to your parents or spouse or

a dependent child, this group is for you! Learn from each other, ways to cope with the everyday stresses of caring for someone you love. We will also give you tools and resources to help you on your journey. Last Monday of each month through November. 7 a.m., or Noon CST (choose the one that works best for you). Registration preferred but not required. This program is supported by the Opelika SportsPlex, Lee-Russell Area Agency on Aging, and Hospice Advantage EAMC. 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 334-826-3082; bkg2007@bellsouth.net. 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 let the regret of the past rob you of the joy in the future. Call us today. We are here to help.

Sports

Auburn High School Football Home games: Sept. 21, Oct. 5, 26. Opelika High School Football Home games: Sept. 28. Oct. 19. Auburn University Equestrian Sept. 28, Oct. 13. Horse Center. Auburn University Football Home games: Sept. 22, Oct 6, 27. www.autigers.com. Auburn University Hockey Oct. 5-6. Columbus Ga. Civic Center. Auburn University Men’s Basketball Oct. 30. Auburn University Soccer Sept. 28, 30, Oct. 5, 7, 26. Auburn Soccer Complex. www.autigers.com. Auburn University Volleyball Sept. 21, 23, Oct. 5, 19, 21. www.autigers.com.

Thursday, September 20 Menopause: The Musical Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. 8 p.m. www.bjcc.com. 9 to 5: The Musical Springer Opera House, Columbus. www.springeroperahouse.org. PNC Grow Up Great Mobile Learning Adventure McWane Science Museum. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. www.mcwane.org. Cullman County Fair Cullman County Fairgrounds. 256-734-0454. 63rd Annual Shelby County Alabama Fair Shelby County Exhibition Center, Columbiana. www.alshelbycountyfair.com. Tyler Perry’s Madea Gets a Job Columbus Civic Center. 7:30 p.m. www.columbusciviccenter.org.

Friday, September 21

Football, Fans & Feathers Southeastern Raptor Center Amphitheater. 4 p.m. Annual birds-in-flight raptor programs on Fridays before Auburn University home football games. Admission $5, children under 3 years free. www.vetmed.auburn.edu/raptor.

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AUsome Amphibians & Reptiles The Forest Ecology Preserve, Auburn. 4:30-5:30 p.m. $3. Join us Friday’s before the LSU game for a AUsome program on frogs, snakes, lizards and alligators. www.fp.auburn.edu/preserve. AU vs. LSU Tailgate Event Center Downtown, Opelika. 7 p.m. Featuring American Idol Taylor Hicks, Opening performance by Spoonful James. $20 advance tickets. www.eventcenterdowntown.net. Farmers Market @ Callaway Gardens Robin Lake Beach Dome, Callaway Gardens. 4-7 p.m. $5 admission. A variety of local and regional vendors selling fruits and vegetables, including those grown right here in Callaway Gardens’ own Mr. Cason’s Vegetable Garden; meats and dairy products; baked goods; soaps, sauces and other specialty items; and flowers and plants. Additionally, demonstrations and children’s activities ensure a fun and interactive learning environment for all ages.www.callawaygardens.com. Movies Under the Stars Ft. Benning, Ga. Staples Safari Zoo from 5-8 p.m. then The Lorax at 8:30 p.m. Free movie and popcorn. www. benningmwr.com. Uptown Concert Series Departure: The Journey Tribute Band. Columbus. 7 p.m. Free concert! Bring the family and a blanket! www. uptowncolumbusga.com. 9 to 5: The Musical See Sept. 20 for details. Brian Regan Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. 8 p.m. www.bjcc.com. PNC Grow Up Great Mobile Learning Adventure See Sept. 20 for details. 63rd Annual Shelby County Alabama Fair Shelby County Exhibition Center, Columbiana. www.alshelbycountyfair.com. Kidz Klozet Sale Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Columbus. Consignment sale with childrens’ clothing, shoes, toys, baby gear, and more! Doors open at 8 a.m. Cullman County Fair See Sept. 20 for details.

Saturday, September 22

Corn Maze Kick-Off The Rock Ranch, Ga. www.therockranch.com. Market Days on Broadway Columbus, Ga. 9 a.m. - 12 noon. 706-596-0111. Grab your recyclable grocery bag and head down to Broadway to pick up locally grown produce, homemade baked goods, artwork, flowers, plants and handcrafted items! Eric Lee Concert to Benefit the Autism Hope Center Moon Lake, Phenix City, Al. 4 p.m. Aviation Expo Enterprise, Al. Aerial acrobatic shows, static displays, arts and craft vendors, food vendors, live entertainment, and more. www.cityofenterprise.net. 9 to 5: The Musical See Sept. 20 for details. PNC Grow Up Great Mobile Learning Adventure See Sept. 20 for details. 63rd Annual Shelby County Alabama Fair Shelby County Exhibition Center, Columbiana. www.alshelbycountyfair.com. Cullman County Fair See Sept. 20 for details. Kidz Klozet Sale See Sept. 21 for details.

Sunday, September 23

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Bark in the Park Fort Toulouse, Wetumpka. 1-5 p.m. Bring your dog for a fun afternoon of pet games and contests, food, vendors of all kinds, live music, children’s games, demonstrations and so much more. www.elmorehumane.com.

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Cullman County Fair See Sept. 20 for details.

Monday, September 24 Cullman County Fair See Sept. 20 for details.

Tuesday, September 25 Cullman County Fair See Sept. 20 for details.

Wednesday, September 26 Cullman County Fair See Sept. 20 for details.

Thursday, September 27

Sundown Concert Series John and the Connors, sponsored by Auburn Parks and Rec. Kiesel Park, Auburn. 6 - 7:30 p.m. Free. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. 501-2939. Cameron Carpenter Opelika Performing Arts Center. the most sought-after concert organist in the world, Cameron Carpenter’s staggering virtuosity, electric showmanship, and profound musicality leave audiences begging for more and more, encore after encore. www.eastalabamaarts.org. 9 to 5: The Musical See Sept. 20 for details. Rascal Flatts Columbus Civic Center. 7 p.m. www.columbusciviccenter.org. Cullman County Fair See Sept. 20 for details.

Friday, September 28

Home School Day @ Stone Mountain Park Georgia. 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Home school students are invited for a full day of education and adventure. For pass rate, groups@stonemountainpark.com. Farmers Market @ Callaway Gardens Robin Lake Beach Dome, Callaway Gardens. 4-7 p.m. $5 admission. A variety of local and regional vendors selling fruits and vegetables, including those grown right here in Callaway Gardens’ own Mr. Cason’s Vegetable Garden; meats and dairy products; baked goods; soaps, sauces and other specialty items; and flowers and plants. Additionally, demonstrations and children’s activities ensure a fun and interactive learning environment for all ages.www.callawaygardens.com. Home School Day @ Stone Mountain Park 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. www.stonemountainpark.com. Uptown Concert Series Big Woody and the Splinters. Columbus. 7 p.m. Free concert! Bring the family and a blanket! www. uptowncolumbusga.com. 2nd Annual Zombie Walk & Prom Court Square to The Alley, Downtown Montgomery. All “zombies” bring non perishable food items for donation (Benefits the Montgomery Area Food Bank). Movies Under the Stars Ft. Benning, Ga. The Hunger Games. 8:30 p.m. Try out your archery skills before the show (5:30 p.m.) with the Uchee Creek Archery Range staff. www.benningmrw.com. Sundilla Acoustic Concert Series ‘Harpeth Rising’ Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. 7:30 p.m. $12 admission, $10 in advance at Gnu’s Room. www.sundilla.org. 9 to 5: The Musical See Sept. 20 for details. Cullman County Fair See Sept. 20 for details.

Saturday, September 29

Woofstock Kiesel Park, Auburn. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Woofstock is Lee

County Humane Society’s annual fund-raising event to celebrate people and their dogs. Each year dog lover’s and their four-legged friends gather at Kiesel Park for a fun-filled day with live entertainment, dog activities and demos, local pet merchandise vendors, children’s activities and more! www.leecountyhumane.org. Happy Hummers The Forest Ecology Preserve is located at 2222 N. College Street (Hwy 147), Auburn. 10 a.m. Join us to learn about all about Hummingbirds in an entertaining program presented by the “Hummingbird Man” Fred Bassett. $3 for non-members, $2 for members. 502.4553. Ag Discovery Adventure Co-sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station and Auburn University’s College of Agriculture. E.V. Smith Research Center, Shorter. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. The day offers a host of entertaining and enlightening hands-on activities and presentations; from hay rides to high-tech treasure hunts, from a corn maze to demonstrations of modern farming equipment, and from worm beds to milking demonstrations designed to introduce folks of all ages and walks of life to the wide world of agriculture. www.agdiscoveryadventure.com. Kids Clothes Connection Sale Old Goody’s building, behind Golden Corral, Opelika. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. www.kidsclothesconnection.com. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Birthday Party The F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum, Montgomery. 6-10 p.m. www.fitzgeraldmuseum.net. National Public Lands Day Tuskegee National Forest. 7:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Volunteers, businesses, school groups and organizations are invited to team up with Forest Service employees in a one-day effort to keep Alabama’s national forests clean and beautiful. 334-727-2652. Day of the Lumberjack The Rock Ranch, Ga. Enjoy chainsaw carvers in competition plus a timbersports exhibition led by UGA and featuring other NCAA schools with premier timbersports teams. Guests will enjoy pole climbing, power saws, axe chopping, 2-man team saw and log rolling in the pond. www.therockranch.com. Taste of the Bayou Bayou La Batre Community Center. 5-8 p.m. A seafood tasting event, featuring thirty-plus booths with succulent dishes prepared by local and professional chefs. www. bayoulabatrechamber.com. 33rd Annual Chili Cook-Off Expected to draw over 300 teams from across the United States.The cook-off has something for all ages, from great music to great food and games for the whole family.100% of all proceeds go to support Camp Twin Lakes, a non-profit that offers year-round recreational, therapeutic and educational programs.www. stonemountainpark.com. Auburn ‘Real Food’ Fest Auburn University Club. 5-9 p.m. The event will serve as the official launch and fundraiser for the campus “Slow Food” chapter established by AU student organization “Auburn Real Food Challenge”. Tickets $40. Art Club ‘Curatorial Choices’ Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 10-11 a.m. Art Club sessions are free, but require preregistration. Please call 334.844.3486 to preregister. Sessions are open studio so parents are asked to stay at the museum. www.jcsm. auburn.edu. Young Eagles Day at Columbus Airport 8:30-11:30 a.m. Free airplane rides for kids ages 8-17 years. 706-324-2453. 2012 Astronomy Nights FDR Park, Ga. 9 p.m. Free! The astronomers from Columbus State University’s Coca-Cola Space Science Center will help you navigate the summer sky. The array of telescopes is fascinating, and you’ll be able to rub

Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

Family Calendar shoulders with true space enthusiasts. Bring a blanket or lawn chair! dutch@ccssc.org. Ole Chipley Town Fair Pine Mountain, Ga. Crafts, quilting, pottery, metalwork, woodwork, food & entertainment. 706-801-0062. Bernadette Peters RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. Columbus, Ga. 7:30 p.m. www.rivercenter.org. Market Days on Broadway Columbus, Ga. 9 a.m. - 12 noon. 706-596-0111. Grab your recyclable grocery bag and head down to Broadway to pick up locally grown produce, homemade baked goods, artwork, flowers, plants and handcrafted items! Auburn Beautification Council Plant Sale Dean Road Rec Center. 8 a.m. - 12 noon. Prices range from $6 - 15. All proceeds from the sale go to support Auburn Beautification Council projects, including the downtown hanging baskets and plantings, Spring Azalea Trail, gardens at Kiesel Park, and beautification awards presented to Auburn homes and businesses. Individuals and businesses are encouraged to pre-order plants by Sept. 19. Pre-orders receive a 10% discount. 501-2936. Lake Wilmore Trail Run Ogletree Elementary School. 8 a.m. Celebrate Family Health and Fitness Day USA. $15-$20 fee. All proceeds benefit trail maintenance and improvements. 501-2936. 9th Annual Johnny Ray Century Trinity United Methodist Church, Opelika. Benefiting Davis Phinney foundation for Parkinson’s www.eastalabamacyclingclub.com. 35th Annual Preservation Run Downtown Columbus. 7 a.m. - noon. www.columbusgahdps.org. Arboretum Days Donald E. Davis Arboretum, Auburn. 9 - 10:30 a.m. Educational program designed for children ages 6-12 years that features a nature-themed learning activity. Participants will look at the clay beneath their feet and how it is turned into beautiful art and functional pieces. Students will then paint their pieces to go on the urn. Preregistration is required and space is limited. The fee is $2 per child, per program. 334.844.5770. 9 to 5: The Musical See Sept. 20 for details.

Sunday, September 30 9 to 5: The Musical See Sept. 20 for details.

Monday, October 1

Kids Clothes Connection Sale Old Goody’s building, behind Golden Corral, Opelika. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. www.kidsclothesconnection.com.

Tuesday, October 2

Kids in the Kitchen Covington Rec Center. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Ages 4-7. Fee $15. Hands on fun making delicious child-proof foods. AU Chamber Choir Concert Telfair Peet Theatre, AU Campus. 7:30 - 9 p.m. Kids Clothes Connection Sale See Oct. 1 for details.

Wednesday, October 3 Kids Clothes Connection Sale See Oct. 1 for details.

Thursday, October 4

Sundown Concert Series Crossroads, sponsored by Auburn Parks and Rec. Kiesel Park, Auburn. 6 - 7:30 p.m. Free. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets. 501-2939. Cradle Will Rock Screening and Discussion Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 5:30-8:30 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Turning Points featuring Former First Lady, Laura Bush Montgomery Convention Center. 5:30 p.m. A dinner

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event to benefit Faulkner University student scholarships. For more event information or to purchase tickets, call the Office of University Advancement at 334-386-7257 or visit www.faulkner.edu. Southern Women’s Show Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. www.southernshows.com. AU Symphonic Winds Concert Telfair Peet Theatre, AU Campus. 7:30 - 9 p.m. Kids Clothes Connection Sale See Oct. 1 for details.

Friday, October 5

Football, Fans & Feathers The Southeastern Raptor Center, Auburn. 4 p.m. The annual birds-in-flight raptor programs on Fridays before Auburn University home football games. Learn about the residents of the Southeastern Raptor Center. Hawks, falcons and eagles will be free-flown from flight towers allowing guests to see these raptors flying close. Admission is $5 each; children 3yrs and under are free. For school groups of 25 of more, admission is $3 a person. For information about school groups, call (334) 844-6943. AUsome Amphibians & Reptiles The Forest Ecology Preserve, Auburn. 4:30-5:30 p.m. $3. Join us Friday’s before the LSU game for a AUsome program on frogs, snakes, lizards and alligators. www. fp.auburn.edu/preserve. Stand Up Ghost Halloween Decorations Dean Road Rec Center. 10-11 a.m. Big and little hands together create a ‘spook-tacular’ tabletop centerpiece by making standing ghosts out of clay. Adults registering for the class may enroll up to 2 children and will work alongside them to make a set of 3 ghosts. Pre-registration required. $15/adult-child pair; $20/adult-child trio. 821-0916. Uptown Concert Series Rachel Timberlake. Columbus. 7 p.m. Free concert! Bring the family and a blanket! www. uptowncolumbusga.com. Opelika Unplugged Event Center Downtown, Opelika. Door open at 4 p.m. Music at 7 p.m. Free. A Night Out with Tracy Lawrence Phenix City Amp. Doors open 6 p.m. www.anightofcountry.com. 3rd Annual Hogs n Hens Cookoff Union Station Train Shed, Montgomery. 334.262.0013. Tecumseh at Tuckabatchee Tallassee. Dramatic Presentation of Shawnee Chief Tecumseh’s impassioned speech to rally the Creek Indians against the encroachment of the Federal Road. Full scale outdoor drama featuring Native Americans from Oklahoma and locals. Education Day with living villages, demonstrations and hands on experiences. Dancing, wooden flutes, authentic costumes, horses. www.tallasseechamber.com. Talladega 500 Weekend Talladega Raceway. Southern Women’s Show See Oct. 4 for details. Kids Clothes Connection Sale See Oct. 1 for details.

Saturday, October 6

The Market’s 3rd Annual Seafood Festival Uptown Columbus at the Backyard. 12-10 p.m. $5-10. www.uptownseafoodfestival.com. Falling Into Seasons Family Day The Columbus Museum. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. During this fun-filled day, you will discover how artists depict changes in the natural world through our “Seeking out the Seasons” scavenger hunt, and create five drop-in season related crafts to take home! www.columbusmeseum.com.

Junior League Attic Sale Columbus Trade Center. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Join us for Columbus’s Largest Garage Sale! The Attic Sale features gently used items at bargain prices. Profits from the event support Junior League sponsored projects in the community and operations of the Junior League. Admission $2/ $1 military ID. 3rd Annual Seafood Festival Celebration Uptown Columbus. 12 noon - 10 p.m. With a bucket of low country boil and cold draft beer in hand, enjoy festivities such as a kids’ zone, live music, and SEC football. $5-10 cost. www.thefishmarket.com. 3rd Annual ALS 5K Run/Walk For Jeremy Williams Harris County High School, Hamilton, Ga. www.runforjeremy.com. The Official Georgia Day Of The Cowboy The Rock Ranch, Ga. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. See gun fighting cowboys, a real wild west show, fast draw demonstrations, a large model train display, and western wear exhibit. Enter the chuck wagon chili cook-off and meet James Drury. Dress the part and be in our Cowboy/ Cowgirl costume contest. Tickets $15/person; 3 years and under free. (706) 647-6374. Pumpkin Patch Express Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, Calera. Take an autumn ride on the Pumpkin Patch Express. Enjoy the jumpstation, coloring, tattoos and boiled peanuts. Pick a pumpkin from the patch for an additional charge. Rides 10 a.m., 1 p.m., & 3 p.m. www.hodrrm.org. Book Signing by author and Ghost Hunter Faith Serafin F.D. R. State Park, Pine Mountain, Ga. 1-2 p.m. 706-663-4858. Montgomery Half Marathon www.montgomerymarathon.com. Block Party Downtown Talladega. Featuring several stages with live music, a kids zone, induction into the Walk of Fame ceremony, fireworks, food and more. 5 p.m.-until. www. talladegachamber.com. 48th Annual Bluff Park Art Show Hoover, Al. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. www.bluffparkartassociation.org. Tecumseh at Tuckabatchee See Oct. 5 for details. Talladega 500 Weekend See Oct. 5 for details. The Cotton Pickin’ Fair Gay, Ga. www.cpfair.org. Shady Days in Gay Gay, Ga. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Food, crafts, exhibits, country cooking and more! shadydaysingray.com. Southern Women’s Show See Oct. 4 for details. Kids Clothes Connection Sale Old Goody’s building, behind Golden Corral, Opelika. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. www.kidsclothesconnection.com. Miranda Lambert Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, Birmingham. www.ticketmaster.com.

Sunday, October 7

Pumpkin Patch Express See Oct. 6 for details. Talladega 500 Weekend See Oct. 5 for details. The Cotton Pickin’ Fair See Oct. 6 for details. Southern Women’s Show See Oct. 4 for details. Taste of the River Region Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center. 6-8 p.m. www.jlmontgomery.org.

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Beads, Beads, Beads Covington Rec Center. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Ages 6-12. Fee $15. Make fun items with beads, beads, and more beads! 2012 Garden Gala Hosted By The Columbus Botanical Garden www.columbusbotanicalgarden.com. Air Supply in Concert Davis Theatre for the Performing Arts, Montgomery. www.airsupplymusic.com. Kids Clothes Connection Sale See Oct. 1 for details.

Wednesday, October 10 Kids Clothes Connection Sale See Oct. 1 for details. Faculty Piano Recital Goodwin Recital Hall, AU Campus. 7:30 - 9 p.m. Disney On Ice Presents ‘Rockin Ever After’ Philips Arena, Atlanta. www.ticketmaster.com.

Thursday, October 11

Intruder in the Dust Screening and Discussion Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 5:30-8:30 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Fall Concert Series Dave Potts. Kiesel Park, Auburn. 6 p.m. Free community event with family fun for all. Bring blankets, dinner and enjoy an evening under the stars. 501-2930. In Love with Tyrone Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. www.mpaconline.org. Alabama National Fair Garrett Coliseum and Fairgrounds, Montgomery. Midway rides, main stage entertainment, food, information and commercial booths, kids area, livestock and other competition, family and faith day.www.alnationalfair.org. Fall Harvest Days Historic Westville, Lumpkin, Ga. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Help with harvest chores, play games and enjoy good old fashioned country cooking while we gin cotton, cook sugar cane syrup and make candles and soap! www. westville.org. 41st Annual National Shrimp Festival Gulf Shores. 25% Off Day at Kids Clothes Connection Sale See Oct. 1 for details. Disney On Ice Presents ‘Rockin Ever After’ Philips Arena, Atlanta. www.ticketmaster.com.

Friday, October 12

Uptown Concert Series River City Horns. Columbus. 7 p.m. Free concert! Bring the family and a blanket! www.uptowncolumbusga.com. Zoo Boo The Montgomery Zoo. Enjoy the horror-filled Haunted Hay Ride thrill ride (scary ride) or for the kiddies or weak at heart, enjoy the Pumpkin Pull, a fall festival-like wagon hay ride (non-scary ride). The Zoo is filled with assorted Halloween-themed games and rides; including bouncy houses, slides and horse trail rides. The Creatures of the Night nightly live animal presentations are held at the Overlook Cafe. www.montgomeryzoo.com. Ballet on the Green Performed by the Montgomery Ballet. Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery. www.montgomeryballet.org. Tavern Fest Old Alabama Town, Montgomery. Landmarks Foundation’s annual fall fundraiser brings nothing less than great food, music and a dancing-good-time to Montgomery’s historic streets. www.oldalabamatown.com.

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Alabama Tale Tellin’ Festival Carneal Arts Revive, Selma. 7 p.m. www.artsrevive.com. Pioneer Days Pioneer Museum of Alabama, Troy, Al. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Horse and wagon rides, trips on the Pioneer Express, Native American camps with demonstrations of candlemaking, spinning, weaving, quiltmaking, blacksmithing, drum, dance and more. www.pioneer-museum.org. Fall Harvest Days See Oct. 11 for details. 41st Annual National Shrimp Festival See Oct. 11 for details. 50% Off Day at Kids Clothes Connection Sale See Oct. 1 for details. Disney On Ice Presents ‘Rockin Ever After’ Philips Arena, Atlanta. www.ticketmaster.com.

Saturday, October 13

Jule Collins Smith Museum 9th Birthday Party 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Celebrate the Museum’s 9th birthday in 1940s style! Get keen to the ritzy party as we talk about the works of art that were the cat’s meow in ’48, learn about the bluenoses who canned Advancing American Art (and the Reds that painted the works), all while listening to swinging music of the day, chowing on ice cream and cake, and having a swell time! www.jcsm.auburn.edu. 2012 Miss Autism Speaks Pageant Winder, Ga. Natural pageant for a great cause. (706) 255-9081. 2012 Buddy Walk The Montgomery Zoo. 9 a.m. The Buddy Walk celebrates National Down Syndrome Awareness Month. The National Down Syndrome Society established the Buddy Walk in 1995 to promote awareness and inclusion for people with Down Syndrome. It is a fun, wonderful, heart-warming event in which thousands of people from coast to coast and around the world participate each year. www.montgomeryareadownsyndrome.com. Creepy Wonderful Critters-Wolves The Forest Ecology Preserve, Auburn. 10 a.m. $4, children 3 and under are free. Wolves, snakes, spiders, lizards, and other creepy critters will be on display. A children’s area with activities will be available. www. fp.auburn.edu/preserve. Arboretum Days Donald E. Davis Arboretum, Auburn. 9 - 10:30 a.m. Educational program designed for children ages 6-12 years that features a nature-themed learning activity. Participants will put the ceramic pieces they created at the entrance of the Arboretum. Pre-registration is required and space is limited. The fee is $2 per child, per program. 334.844.5770. Museum’s 9th Birthday Party! Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. 1 - 4 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. Uptown Beer & Wine Festival Rankin Courtyard, Columbus. 1-5 p.m. Featuring Georgia-grown wines and Southeast breweries. $30 advance/$35 door. facebook.com/uptowncolumbusbid. The Columbus Symphony Orchestra presents Those Romantic Russians RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. 7:30-9:30 p.m. www.rivercenter.org. Growing Up Green with Bob and Larry of Veggie Tales The Rock Ranch, Ga. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. www.therockranch.com. Annual Fall Harvest Hoe Down Festival Warm Springs, Ga. Arts and crafts exhibitors, antique dealers, children’s area, delicious foods and snacks combined with some good ol’ fashion entertainment, dance groups and more. 1-800-FDR-1927. 2nd Annual Fall Festival Oak Mountain State Park. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Dunking

booth, face painting, cake walk, hayrides, and more. Park admission is $3 adults, $1 children (6 to 11), 5 & under free, $1 seniors (62+). www.birmingham365.org. 2012 Riverwalk Wine Festival Riverfront Park, Montgomery. $25 per person. www.etix.com or 334-625-2100. Wine Festival Cruise Harriott II Riverboat, Montgomery. 4:30 p.m. Adults $10 with Wine Festival Ticket; $20 without. All cruises include live entertainment. www.funontheriver.net. 10th Annual Fiesta 2012 A Hispanic Culture Festival. Linn Park, Birmingham. www.birmingham365.org. Alabama Cotton Festival Eclectic, Al. A family-oriented festival featuring the Alabama Cotton Pageant, Cotton Run, rook tournament, antique and classic car show, photo contest, art show, pet parade, sweet treats contest, children’s area with ponies, inflatables, and games, cotton exhibit, live musical, entertainment and vendors. verdienummy@live.com. 32nd Annual Oktoberfest Sportsplex, Alexander City. 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Fun for the whole family with music, dance, arts, crafts, fabulous foods and the last antique car show of the season. Kids Fest activities in addition to all the rest.www. alexandercityonline.com. Riverfront Market Day Selma. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. www.riverfrontmarketday.com. Alabama Tale Tellin’ Festival See Oct. 12 for details. Pumpkin Patch Express See Oct. 6 for details. Zoo Boo See Oct. 12 for details. Pioneer Days See Oct. 12 for details. Indian Summer Arts and Craft Show Downtown Eufaula. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Original, creative, hand-made, quality arts and craft festival for two days located in the heart of downtown Eufaula. A midway of food, entertainment, pet parade, antique car show and much more. www.eufaulachamber.com. Fall Harvest Days See Oct. 11 for details. 41st Annual National Shrimp Festival See Oct. 11 for details. 50% Off Day @ Kids Clothes Connection Sale See Oct. 6 for details. Disney On Ice Presents ‘Rockin Ever After’ Philips Arena, Atlanta. www.ticketmaster.com.

Sunday, October 14

Annual Fall Harvest Hoe Down Festival See Oct. 13 for details. Second Sunday: Rock Stars. Oxbow Meadows 2 p.m. Come learn from Columbus State University’s Dr. Clint Barineau, about the exciting geology of Mars as understood from telescopes, satellites, and robotic missions to the planet’s surface. $3 fee. www.columbusstate.edu. Pumpkin Patch Express See Oct. 6 for details. Zoo Boo See Oct. 12 for details. Indian Summer Arts and Craft Show See Oct. 13 for details. 41st Annual National Shrimp Festival See Oct. 11 for details. Disney On Ice Presents ‘Rockin Ever After’ Philips Arena, Atlanta. www.ticketmaster.com.

Monday, October 15

The National Circus of the People’s Republic of China: Cirque Chinois

Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

Family Calendar RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. 7:30-9:30 p.m. www.rivercenter.org. Faculty Recital Goodwin Recital Hall, AU Campus. 7:30-9 p.m.

Tuesday, October 16

Fall Treats Covington Rec Center, Opelika. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Make fun treats with a Fall theme. Ages 5-9 years. $10 fee. 705-5560. Greater Columbus Fair Columbus Civic Center. Food, rides, games and more! Entertainment on the main stage and exhibitions in the Exhibit Hall. www.columbusciviccenter.org. Guest Artist Piano Recital Goodwin Recital Hall, AU Campus. 7:30-9 p.m.

Wednesday, October 17

24th Annual Holiday Market presented by The Junior League of Montgomery Multiplex at Crampton Bowl. Four shopping days, special events, live entertainment and merchants from across the United States. Merchants at the Holiday Market offer unique gift ideas and holiday trends in a fun, family friendly atmosphere. Proceeds from the Holiday Market support the various community projects that the League supports, which helps to strengthen women and families in the tri-county area Holiday Market. www.jlmontgomery.org. Greater Columbus Fair See Oct. 16 for details.

Thursday, October 18

Sundilla Acoustic Concert Series ‘Susan Gibson’ Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 405 East Thatch, Auburn. 7:30 p.m. www.sundilla.org. 16th Annual Fall Ramble Historic Linwood Cemetery, Columbus. 5:30-9:30 p.m. A sunset tour through the cemetery with presenters speaking about various people buried in Linwood Cemetery. www.linwoodcemetery.org. Fall Concert Series Summer Breeze. Kiesel Park, Auburn. 6 p.m. Free community event with family fun for all. Bring blankets, dinner and enjoy an evening under the stars. 501-2930. Sounds of Auburn Concert Auburn Arena. 7:30-9 p.m. Greater Columbus Fair See Oct. 16 for details. Fall Harvest Days See Oct. 11 for details. 24th Annual Holiday Market presented by The Junior League of Montgomery See Oct. 17 for details.

Friday, October 19

On the Tracks Food & Wine Festival Downtown Opelika. 6 p.m. Local food and wine vendors line the streets to the backdrop of music, fun and fellowship. For tickets, www.onthetracks.org. Uptown Concert Series Satin Finish and Girls Night Out - A 5K fundraiser for Breast Cancer Research. Columbus. 7 p.m. Free concert! Bring the family and a blanket! www.uptowncolumbusga.com. Zoo Boo See Oct. 12 for details. Greater Columbus Fair See Oct. 16 for details. Oktoberfest Uchee Creek Campground, Ft. Benning, Ga. Fall Harvest Days See Oct. 11 for details. Haunted History Tours Old Cahawba, Sturdivant Hall and Old Live Oak Cemetery, Selma, Al. 5-10:30 p.m. www.selmaalabama.com. 24th Annual Holiday Market presented by The Junior League of Montgomery See Oct. 17 for details.

Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

September/October2012

Saturday, October 20

Preserve 5K Trail Run, Fun Run & Tot Trot The Forest Ecology Preserve, Auburn. Trail Run 8 a.m., Fun Run 10 a.m., Tot Trot 11 a.m. Trail run $18 before race, $20 on day. www.fp.auburn.edu/preserve. Syrup Sopping Day at Loachapoka Taste all kinds of syrup, honey and jams made locally; learn about Loachapoka history and how the earliest settlers used sorghum and ribbon cane to make sugar. Kids and adults can watch locals dressed as settlers explain how syrup is made from sugar cane and even demonstrate right before your eyes. Take a pony ride, or grab a Polish sausage with grilled peppers and onions. It’s almost like a country fair, but with just the food; and who wouldn’t want to come out and try some all of these delicious sweet and savory bites. www.syrupsopping.org. 5th Annual Run to Read Benefiting Jean Dean RIF Opelika’s Floral Park. 8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. A flourishing Family Fun event with 10k and 5k Races with prizes, age group medals and crystal awards for overall winners. Door prizes galore including a vacation giveaway. Kids races, inflatables, costume characters. Jean Dean RIF gets over 25000 books annually into the hands of 75000 Alabama at risk preschoolers. www.jeandeanrif.org. Southern Pirate Festival The National Civil War Naval Museum, Columbus. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. An annual all-ages Pirate festival featuring live entertainment, music, kid’s activities, cannon firings, weapons demonstrations and much, much more! www. portcolumbus.org. Paint the Town Pink Flat Rock Park, Ga. 7 a.m. - noon. The 3rd Annual West Central Georgia Cancer Coalition Breast Cancer Awareness 5k Walk/Run, 1 Mile Walk/Run, Pink Pooch Contest, Motorcycle ride. www.bigdogrunning.com. Arts on the River Riverfront Columbus. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Arts, music and more! Free. Teen Scene- Alabama Nature Center Trip 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Join us on a trip to the Alabama Nature Center in Millbrook, AL during their 2012 Good ‘Ole Days Festival. Activities will include music, dancers, historic tours, hayrides, herding dog demonstrations, wood carving, goat cheesemaking, bee keeping, corn meal grinding, flint knapping, and period arts and crafts—just to name a few. $5 fee. Pre-registration by Oct 11. Ages 12-15. 501-2946. Halloween Treat Bags Covington Rec Center, Opelika. 6-7 p.m. Make treat bags for all your Halloween trick or treating. Ages 4-12 years. $10 fee. 705-5560. Greater Columbus Heart Walk 2012 Woodruff Park on Riverwalk, Columbus State University. GSAGreaterColumbus@heart.org. The Rock Ranch Hot Air Balloon Rally The Rock Ranch, Ga. www.therockranch.com. Farmer Jason Concert at Dream Field Farms Fun kiddie themed farm songs. www.dreamfieldfarms.com. Pumpkin Patch Express See Oct. 6 for details. Thomas the Tank Engine Georgia Veterans State Park, Cordele, Ga. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Little tykes can ride a real train pulled by beloved storybook character Thomas the Tank Engine. After the 25-minute train ride, meet Sir Topham Hatt, enjoy storytelling, listen to music and build with Mega Bloks. www.samshortline.com. Zoo Boo See Oct. 12 for details. Carver Sweet Potato Festival Town Square, Tuskegee. Good ‘Ole Days Alabama Nature Center, Millbrook, Al. 8 a.m. Join staff and local artisans for a fun-filled day of ‘ole timey traditions and trades. Don’t miss your chance to step back to a time when things were a lot simpler.www.alabama. wildlife.org. Greater Columbus Fair See Oct. 16 for details.

Oktoberfest See Oct. 19 for details. Fall Harvest Days See Oct. 11 for details. Haunted History Tours See Oct. 19 for details. 24th Annual Holiday Market presented by The Junior League of Montgomery See Oct. 17 for details.

Sunday, October 21

Stories in the Garden at Hills & Dales Estate 1916 Hills & Dales Drive, LaGrange, Ga. 2-3:30 p.m. Storytelling by the Azalea Storytelling Festival. www. hillsanddales.org. Zoo Boo See Oct. 12 for details. Thomas the Tank Engine See Oct. 20 for details. Farmer Jason Concert at Dream Field Farms See Oct. 20 for details. Pumpkin Patch Express See Oct. 6 for details. Greater Columbus Fair See Oct. 16 for details. Oktoberfest See Oct. 19 for details.

Monday, October 22

Fall Gardening School Callaway Gardens. 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Come learn from the experts what, how and when to plant to ensure success with your landscape endeavors. $55 (includes lunch). To register, please contact the Education Department at 706-663-5153.

Thursday, October 25

30th Annual Women’s Hope Medical Clinic’s Fundraising Banquet Featuring Dr. Tony Evans. We’re Here for Life! Auburn University Arena. 6-8:30 p.m. Reservations required. 821-2112. www.tonyevans.org or www.womenshope.org. Red Tails Screening and Discussion Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Auburn. 5:308:30 p.m. www.jcsm.auburn.edu. 2012 Arthritis Foundation Bone Bash The RiverMill Event Centre, Columbus. 7-11 p.m. Join us for a night of thrills and chills with costumes, dancing, and games! Enjoy hors d’oeuvres by Chef Jamie Keating, a signature Bone Bash drink, and items from our live auction throughout this frightfully fun night. Costumes welcome, or cocktail attire for the squeamish! www. arthritis.org/georgia/bone. Fall Concert Series Uncle Roy. Kiesel Park, Auburn. 6 p.m. Free community event with family fun for all. Bring blankets, dinner and enjoy an evening under the stars. 501-2930. 2012 Midtown Mingle St. Elmo Shopping Center at the Top of Lakebottom Park, Columbus. 6-10:30 p.m. Mingle with community, dine, drinks and dance in the street to Big Woody and the Splinters. 706.494.1663. Zoo Boo See Oct. 12 for details.

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Friday, October 26

AUsome Amphibians & Reptiles The Forest Ecology Preserve, Auburn. 4:30-5:30 p.m. $3. Join us Friday’s before the LSU game for a AUsome program on frogs, snakes, lizards and alligators. www. fp.auburn.edu/preserve. The Columbus Symphony Orchestra presents Treats and Trebles RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. 7:30 p.m. Fun and games and plenty of candy for all ages, including a costume contest with a sweet prize for the winner. Meet the members of the orchestra up close and learn about

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their instruments. There will be plenty of scary music, too. Fee $5-10. www.rivercenter.org. 22nd Annual Christmas Made in the South Columbus Convention & Trade Center. Come and see hand-thrown pottery, exquisite jewelry, art of all kinds, basket weaving, colorful purses and totes, metal working, blown glass, photography, stained glass, floral arrangements, delicious gourmet treats, and more! $6 adults / Free for children under 12. One admission good for all three days with hand stamp. www.MadeInTheSouthShows.com. Zoo Boo See Oct. 12 for details. Football, Fans & Feathers See Oct. 5 for details.

Saturday, October 27

Uptown’s Spooktacular Columbus. 5-7 p.m. Trick-or-treating with games, music, contests and more. Free event. uptowncolumbusga.com. Bonnie Raitt RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, Columbus. 7:30 p.m. www.rivercenter.org. Not-So-Spooky Halloween Fest The Rock Ranch, Ga. Kids will enjoy our “Weird Science” lab with cool Halloween experiments, pumpkin carving and painting, a costume parade and a costume contest, trick-or-treating and more! www.therockranch.com. 2012 Astronomy Nights See Sept. 29 for details. Thomas the Tank Engine See Oct. 20 for details. 22nd Annual Christmas Made in the South See Oct. 26 for details. Parafied! Special Halloween Public Paranormal Investigation. National Civil War Naval Museum, Port Columbus. www.alabamaghosthunters.com.

Haunting on the Harriott II Riverboat Riverfront, Montgomery. 8 p.m. $20. www.funontheriver.net. Pumpkin Patch Express See Oct. 6 for details. Zoo Boo See Oct. 12 for details. Fall Family Festival Russell Crossroads, Alexander City. Pumpkin painting, costume contests, wagon rides and more. www. russelllandsonlakemartin.com. Main Street’s Great Pumpkin Roll Strand Park, Alexander City. 6-10 p.m. www.mainstreetac.org.

Made Designs all October. 745-5464 for more info. Zoo Boo See Oct. 12 for details.

Tuesday, October 30

Fall Festival and Children’s Carnival Opelika SportPlex. 6-8 p.m. Children wear costumes and bring a treat bag! Enjoy fun activity booths, win prizes, visit local mascots and ride the hay wagon or train. Special musical entertainment will be provided by “ROUTE 66”. www.opelika.org. Zoo Boo See Oct. 12 for details.

Sunday, October 28

Wednesday, October 31

Monday, October 29

Looking Ahead...

Thomas the Tank Engine See Oct. 20 for details. 22nd Annual Christmas Made in the South See Oct. 26 for details. Pumpkin Patch Express See Oct. 6 for details. Zoo Boo See Oct. 12 for details. Harvest Market Eufaula. 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Market featuring anything handmade, homemade or homegrown. www.eufaulachamber.com. 6th Annual Howl-o-ween Dog Costume Contest Downtown Opelika. 5-7 p.m. Bring out your pooch in their best dressed costume this Halloween! Registration 5pm; Parade and contest 6 p.m. $10 supporter donation for parade participation or dog food donation in lieu of money. Supports Rescue K911. Preregister at Taylor

12th Annual Downtown Trick or Treat Auburn. 6-8 p.m. Kids 12 years and under can enjoy an alternative to the door-to-door night with downtown merchants providing treats to all the monsters, rock stars, and clowns. Contests too! Parents must accompany children to this free event. 501-2939. Zoo Boo See Oct. 12 for details. Christmas Village Arts, Crafts, and Gifts Festival Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. www. christmasvillagefestival.org. Disney on Ice: Treasure Trove Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. www.bjcc.org. Festival Nov. 5. Coping With the Holidays After a Loss Opelika SportsPlex. 11:30 a.m. The holidays can be a challenge for anyone, but after the death of someone close to you it can be especially tough. Come join together to learn tips for this holiday season. Call Valeri White at 705-2492 for more information 705-5560.

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Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

House at the End of the Street

Finding Nemo 3D MPAA. Rating: G Overall: B+ Violence: B Sexual Content: A Language: A Alcohol / Drug Use: A The MPAA has rated Finding Nemo G. On September 14, 2012, Finding Nemo is re-releasing to theaters in 3D. It originally debuted on May 29, 2003. It’s never easy being a small fish in a big sea. Just when Marlin (voice of Albert Brooks), a beautiful orange and white clown fish feels he’s found a comfortable home where his wife can await the birth of a few hundred children, along comes a neighborhood predator. His little body being no match for the huge shark, Marlin is left unconscious. Upon awakening, he discovers the terrible truth. His entire family is wiped out – save for one little fish egg from which will hatch his son Nemo (voice of Alexander Gould). If he was previously over protective, the father’s attitude now borders on paranoia. But his habitual nagging leaves Nemo feeling he doesn’t need Dad telling him what to do. On his first day of school, the headstrong child swims off from the crowd to demonstrate his independence, completely neglecting to look for danger. In short order, he’s captured in the net of an eager scuba diving dentist, and placed within a dental office aquarium in Sydney Australia. Back in the ocean, Marlin’s fear turns into desperation. The only answer to his pleas for help is a sincere but memory-challenged blue tang fish named Dory (voice of Ellen DeGeneres). While at first unimpressed with Dory’s non-stop nattering, Marlin changes his opinion after she demonstrates her exceptional talent: When the diver’s lost goggles are discovered, Dory can read the dentist’s name and address. With this information, the pair determines first to find Sydney, and then look for Nemo. Of course the long trip is anything but smooth sailing, and chance meetings with sharks, jellyfish, and hungry birds often leaves the duo swimming for their lives. Nemo should have no trouble finding success as it rides the wave of Pixar’s solid reputation for family movies. Yet the studio that created the Toy Story films has not crafted the comedy in this movie with its usual panache. Adults may be disappointed at the lack of “dual layered” jokes – those laughs which work on different levels for both young and old. However, the same children this script is aimed at may be alarmed by the constant peril the characters find themselves in. What parents will appreciate most about Finding Nemo is a storyline where kids don’t always know best. Both junior and senior fish come to realize that their attitudes were contributing factors in creating a much bigger problem. Now in a 3D version, audiences of all ages will feel compelled to say again, “You’ve never seen computer animation like this.” At times nearly photographic, every detail down to the buffeting of the waves and movement of the fishes’ anatomy is included in stunning detail, making this a movie that’s certainly worth going to sea. Auburn-Opelika Parents I October 2012

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: CViolence: CSexual Content: BLanguage: C+ Alcohol / Drug Use: D+ The MPAA has rated House at the End of the Street PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and terror, thematic elements, language, some teen partying and brief drug material. After she became a household name in The Hunger Games, Jennifer Lawrence is a hot property for teen targeted titles, and this one fits that bill perfectly. Having just moved from the big city to a house in a wooded, small town neighborhood, Lawrence’s character Elissa and her mom Sarah (Elisabeth Shue) realize they were only able to rent their upscale, sprawling home due to an incident that happened next door. Four years prior to their arrival we see the gruesome event of young Carrie Anne murdering her parents, leaving only her brother to survive the tragedy. There is also the rumor that Carrie Anne’s body was never found and that she’s still roaming the forest. Now Ryan (Max Thieriot) lives in the home by himself and the neighbors are anything but compassionate. They feel the house has eroded property prices and want it destroyed. Elissa however, is developing feelings for the estranged orphan occupant, especially when he offers the only hope for a safe ride home after she’s been hit on by a sexually aggressive senior boy from her school. With her protective mother worried about her daughter’s rescue project, Elissa begins covering her tracks with lies about where she is going and call forwarding the home phone to her cell when her mom checks in on her from work. Of course this, and a myriad of other stupid decisions, will cause problems once the terror begins. Targeting adolescent audiences with its relatively young cast, HATES (the acronym given to this movie’s lengthy title) offers overly dramatic dialogue. Light on gore but heavy on jump scenes, the movie will be effective at convincing youth that the strange person on their street is a deranged killer. Between the all-too-typical script and content issues, there are few reasons to put your money down on this film. From an artistic point of view the plot includes a couple of good twists and there are some capable actors on the screen -- Lawrence being one of them. It’s just unfortunate the performers don’t have any substance to work with, and there is no sense of subtlety to build convincing horror. Good chance you can pass by this house and not miss much.

What Parents Need To Know About House at the End of the Street...

Violence: A child with a knife is shown struggling with a mother and father, eventually murdering both of them. A struggling girl is physically held captive and her neck is broken. A character is stabbed. A girl deliberately burns her arm as part of an escape attempt. Sexual Content: In two different scenes young, unmarried couples are seen kissing passionately. During an argument a teen girl implies that her mother thinks she’s having “unprotected sex.” Language: Infrequent use of mild and moderate profanities, as well as scatological terms. Drugs/Alcohol: Teen drinking and drunkenness is depicted. Adults are shown using recreational drugs. Other: Teen gambling is portrayed. Teens lie to parents about extracurricular activities and their whereabouts. 48

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