The Observer 12-08-2022

Parades Kick Off Holidays in Lee County

A Letter from Santa to the Citizens of Opelika, Visitors

I’ve recently been making early rounds to see how much Christmas joy is being spread near and far. As I approached Opelika, I knew it was a special place. The lights and all of the beautiful

made my heart fill with excite ment and wonder. When I saw the reindeer all over town, I first thought … have my very own

Whittelsey Named President of CFEA

CONTRIBUTED BY CFEA

OPELIKA —

The Community Foun dation of East Alabama Inc. (CFEA) announced Dec. 4 that Katie Whit telsey has accepted the position of president of the organization.

The new president joins CFEA with an extensive background in entre preneurship, nonprofit development and educa tion. Whittelsey accepted the role with enthusiasm and said she understands that a strong communi ty foundation leads to a stronger community for all residents. She added she is proud to represent Lee, Russell, Chambers, Tallapoosa and Macon counties and is excited to showcase and expand the of ferings of the CFEA.

Whittelsey has a mas ter’s degree in theory and practice in teacher educa tion, as well as a bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of Tennessee. She has served on several boards, includ

ing the Dean’s Board of Advisors for the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Tennessee, the national Board of Directors for the

OPELIKA

decorations

KATIE WHITTELSEY

Photos from Christmas parades in the cities of Opelika and Auburn can be found on page A3 and A6. Photos from Smiths Station's Christmas Tree Annual Christmas Tree Lighting can be found on page B8.

Opelika’s Christie Hill State Farm Insurance Recognized

CONTRIBUTED BY THE BUSI NESS COUNCIL OF ALABAMA

OPELIKA —

The Partnership of the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) and the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama (CCAA) last week un veiled the 2022 Small Business of the Year Award winners.

Award announcements

and presentations were made when finalists as sembled at a ceremony held in conjunction with the partnership’s annual meeting at The Club in Birmingham.

Small business cham pion and Alabama state Rep. Danny Garrett (R –Trussville), served as the master of ceremonies.

The Small Business of the Year Awards

annually recognize Alabama’s outstanding small businesses and the widespread positive im pacts they have on their local communities. The awards ceremony came just a few days after Small Business Saturday was held nationwide.

“Small business is essential to our state’s growth and success,” said BCA President and

CEO Helena Duncan.

“Those recognized today go above and beyond in their local communities, in addition to running exceptional businesses.

BCA is thrilled to part ner with CCAA to honor the finalists and winners for the 2022 Alabama Small Business of the Year.”

This year, 46

See AWARDS, page A4

and Monday, Jan.

CONTRIBUTED BY USPS

ALABAMA —

This year, Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Sunday, when post office locations nation wide are already closed. As a result, all post offices will be closed for the ob servation of both federal holidays on Monday, Dec. 26, 2022, and Monday,

WHITTELSEY

Learning Disabilities Asso ciation of America and the Sierra Leone International Mission School.

Whittelsey received the UT Alumni Promise Award, which recognizes an alumnus under the age of 40 that has made exten sive marks early in their careers, both civically and professionally. In addition, Whittelsey received the

Jan. 2, 2023.

There are no residential or business deliveries on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2 except for Priority Mail Express, which is delivered 365 days a year in select loca tions for an additional fee.

All post office locations will be open for business and regular mail delivery will resume after the holi days on Tuesday, Dec. 27

Outstanding Community Advocate award in 2017 from the University of Tennessee.

Whittelsey prioritizes her family, loves to travel and thrives on opportunities to build programs that help others be more intentional with their time, energy and resources. As a result of her love for helping all children succeed, Whit telsey founded Education Cures, a nonprofit commit ted to ensuring that schools

and Tuesday, Jan. 3.

Some post offices may have extended hours leading up to the holidays, while others may have limited hours on Christ mas Eve, Saturday, Dec. 24. There are currently no plans for limited hours on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, Dec. 31. Customers are advised to always check with their local post office

in developing countries have the tools, support and curriculum they need to provide the best free, quality education. More than 1,200 students are served annually through Whittelsey’s past work with Education Cures.

“It is not often that the perfect fit comes along for a position in an organiza tion,” said Barbara Patton, past president of CFEA. “We are truly blessed to have Katie, as the new

for hours of operation.

Blue collection boxes with final collection times before noon will not be af fected by an early closing Dec. 24. If a box normally has a final collection time after noon, its mail may be picked up earlier that day. For mail pickup on Dec. 24, customers are asked to either put their mail into blue collection boxes by

president, be that person. With all her skills, abilities, enthusiasm and energy, the foundation will grow and flourish under her leader ship. Through her work and work with others, I expect to see an increase in assets, greater visibility and awareness. This will result in an even greater impact in the five counties CFEA serves.”

Whittelsey and her husband, William, said they are excited to be new

noon, regardless of the fi nal collection times posted on the box, or take their items to one of the more than 34,000 post office locations.

Customers who are un able to mail items before the scheduled collection box pickup times on Dec. 24 should visit the online Postal Locator tool at tools.usps.com to find post

Opelika residents; howev er, this is a return home for William, as his family has been a part of the com munity for more than five generations.

“Chairman Fred Kam and the selection commit tee members, Debbie Allen and Tommy Eden, have been commended for the outstanding job they did in securing Katie for this position,” Patton said. “It made the final decision by the board of directors an

office locations that may be open late.

As a reminder, blue collection boxes are not serviced on Sundays or holidays.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

easy choice. All members of the board are excited about the potential that Katie brings for expansion in so many areas of the foundation.”

To learn more about the Community Foundation of East Alabama, visit www. cfeastalabama.org. The or ganization is headquartered at the Southside Center for the Arts, located at 1103 Glenn St. in Opelika, and can be reached by tele phone at 334-705-5138.

Opelika's Christmas Parade Lights Up the Night

Photos from the city of Opelika's annual Christmas parade, held on Friday, Dec. 2.

SEAN DIETRICH

My earliest memory is of a record player. It sat in my mother’s bedroom. Sometimes, she would play records for me.

In one particular memory, she holds me in her arms and we dance to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. The tune is “Girl from Ipanema.”

Then, she turns off Herb. She puts on another record. It is a childhood favorite. The album is “Walt Disney World’s Coun try Bear Jamboree”.

The sound of a fiddle fills the room.

Mother and I have a Disney-style hoedown.

I don’t know how I remember this, but I do. Just like I re member Mary Ann Andrews, who once kidnapped my Teddy bear. The bear she stole was the guitarist for the Country Bears Jamboree band, Big Al.

Mary Ann’s family moved to Texas, and she took Big Al with her. I was heartbroken.

My mother wrote Mary Ann’s family

a letter, threatening legal action if Big Al was not returned unharmed. In a few weeks, Big Al arrived in our mailbox and my mother agreed not to press charges.

I still have that stuffed bear today. In fact, he sits above my desk because I was raised on golden-era Disney classics, and I would not want to live in a world without Big Al.

Anyway, my wife and I went to a con cert a few nights ago. It was supposed to be fun, but it left me feel ing empty. A few guys onstage attempted to see how loud they could crank their am plifiers while having grand mal seizures.

We were with friends who were younger than us. I don’t know how many concerts you’ve seen lately, but

Disney Child

young people don’t ac tually watch live bands anymore. They point cellphone cameras at the stage and look at their phones instead.

Halfway through the concert, I was ready to leave.

I’d rather suffer gout than listen to music that sounds like major road construction.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. I’m only telling you what Big Al would say if he were writing this.

Like I told you, Big Al sits above my desk, and sometimes I can hear him talk. He tells me he doesn’t like what’s happening to today’s music and movies.

The other day, I watched a movie with my cousin’s children. They chose to watch an animated movie about mutant turtles who become merce

nary ninjas and have all kinds of adventures with nuclear weapons.

When I told my cousin’s kids about Walt Disney’s Country Bears, they looked at me like I had primor dial ooze dripping from my eye sockets.

“Country Bears?” said the oldest. “That sounds dumb.”

Lord, give me strength.

Country Bears are not dumb, they are the greatest musical act a kid could ever aspire to see.

As a boy, the only thing I ever wanted was for Mama to buy a first-class bus ticket to Disneyland so we could do two things: 1. ride the teacups, and 2. see the Country Bears Jamboree.

My cousin’s kids laughed when I told them that.

AWARDS

>> FROM A2

businesses were chosen as finalists for these prestigious awards.

Nominations for the 2022 Small Business of the Year Awards were made by local chambers of commerce across the state. Finalists were reviewed by a panel of out-of-state judges in areas including com munity involvement, chamber participation, business success and overall deservedness.

There were four award categories with a re spective gold, silver and bronze winner in each category: Emerging Small Business for those in business for less than five years; 1-10 Employees; 11-50 Employees; and 51-100 Employees.

“CCAA is proud to partner with BCA in recognizing the deserv ing businesses named as finalists for the 2022 Alabama Small Business of the Year,” said CCAA President and CEO Paige Hutto. “Representing the best of the best, each of these small businesses are a part of the back bone of Alabama’s economy and help to keep our state running. They are to be com mended for their ded ication, perseverance, grit and success.”

In the 1-10 Employees category, Christie Hill State Farm Insurance of Opelika was named the Small Business of the Year.

Since 2019, the all-female team at Christie Hill State Farm has tripled in size. They have also doubled the size of the business — growing from pro tecting 610 households in 2019 to just under 1,300 households today. In 2021, they had the largest growth of any State Farm office in their territory and are on track to do the same this year.

“Are you serious?” said one offender.

“That sounds really lame.”

Lame? I dare any crumb-snatching ado lescent shoe-licker to show me something more dazzling than a 600-pound animatron ic grizzly bear playing a gut-string banjo to “Blood on the Saddle.”

Sometimes I wish I could introduce today’s children to the things we once held dear — things that are disappearing along with such classic Dis ney characters.

Things like radios, typewriters, record players, Saturday morning cartoons, rock-skipping and holding hands at church picnics.

I wish kids could ex perience summers like we experienced. Like

In addition to open ing her own State Farm Insurance bureau in 2019, Christie Hill has been active in the local community through various service proj ects. Hill is involved with the Beauregard school systems, Opelika City Schools, Opelika Public Library, Girl Boss Program for Girls’ Steps, Opelika Fire Department, Southern Union State Community College and more. She is also a 2017 graduate of Opelika’s Citizens Police Academy. Hill is passionate about giving back and has donated to many local charitable organizations including Pride on the Plains, Opelika High School Theater Program, Opelika Little League, The Curtis House and the Domestic Violence Intervention Center. Hill invests both time and effort into con sidering the needs of people within the local community and how her company can support them. She offers many pro-bono services, in cluding in-office notary services, Little Free Library of books for adults and children and photos with the Easter Bunny every Easter.

Hill and her team are integral members of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, where she has been a mem ber since 2017. She is a sponsor of the Opelika Chamber’s Educator’s Breakfast and First Responders Breakfast. Hill is also an active participant in the Opelika Chamber’s 20 Under 40 class and the Total Resource Campaign.

Local business es recognized in the 51-100 Employee Small Business of the Year category were bronze award winners Baumhower’s Victory Grille; HL Mando American Corporation and MAX Credit Union.

Session Cocktails Opens Second Location in Downtown Auburn

CONTRIBUTED BY SESSION

AUBURN —

Session Cocktails opened its second loca tion in Auburn, Ala bama, on Dec. 1. It is bringing a funky atmo sphere and stiff drinks only a few blocks away from Toomer’s Corner, located at 157 E. Mag nolia Ave.

Known in Tuscaloosa for its eclectic style, exceptional hospitality and carefully curat ed pre-prohibition and modern classic cocktails, the owner of Session Cocktails is ready to share the Session experience with Auburn.

“I felt like Auburn would be our best chance to replicate the same kind of culture and success we have in downtown Tuscaloosa,”

SANTA>>

FROM A1

flying friends moved to your beautiful city?

I hear there are many activities and events planned over the coming weeks, which means there will be a ton of

said Hunter Wiggins, Session Cocktails owner. “Our focus is making sure we become the best business for Auburn and the city.”

Inside the cocktail lounge, you will find a unique, upscale expe rience with a classic, yet modern style and pops of tropical decor throughout, and it can accommodate about 80 guests at a time. Its menu includes careful ly selected cocktails, along with a few inhouse creations which will rotate every few months. Session will also serve select beers and wine.

For more information about Session, follow on Instagram @session cocktails or @session cocktailsaub, or visit www.sessioncocktails. com.

visitors to the downtown area. I don’t blame them. The place was a holly jolly good time.

As I returned home, Mrs. Claus brought to my attention that some of the Christmas decorations in downtown Opelika had been damaged. My heart was shattered knowing

people were sitting and climbing on the city’s deer and ornaments all over town.

I need for each of you to do me a huge favor. Please don’t allow your sweet children, teens or, heck, maybe even you (the adult), to sit or climb on the decorations. The

city elves work hard year after year to turn Opelika into the best Christmas destination. They put fencing around everything for a reason. They want to keep these items in good condition in order to keep bringing joy and holiday cheer to everyone for years

to come. And, the city doesn’t want you to get hurt. Remember, these items are property of the city of Opelika and will be costly to replace. And you might even get in some trouble if you are caught damaging them.

Well, I better get going. I have a lot of work to

OPELIKA THEATRE COMPANY

is gearing up for our next NEW musical show in 2023

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

do. Mrs. Claus and I hope you have a truly magical Christmas. Take care of my elves in Ope lika and stay off those decorations. I’m watch ing to see who will go on the naughty or nice list.

Lots of Love, Santa Claus

Auditions will be held at the Southside Center for the Arts, which is located at 1103 Glenn St. across from Opelika Library.

Ages 10 and up Dec. 10 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 17 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Call or text 334-559-8597 or 334-400-9660 for more information. Those planning to audition should prepare a 30 to 60 second dialogue and to be considered for a singing role, a 30 to 45 second song in their voice range (no rap or pop please. Wear comfortable clothes

DIETRICH >>

FROM A4

the summer my cousin and I learned to weave pine straw baskets.

Our neighbor, Miss Jean, gave us weaving lessons in exchange for taking care of her peacocks while she left town.

Miss Jean was an eccentric artist who had an obsession with birds. Her peacocks were devilish crea tures without souls, known to attack small children who looked at them wrong.

Mutant turtles can’t compete with devil peacocks.

I wish I could show kids that there is more in this world than ear-splitting music and gross movies. There are beautiful things out there.

Music with melo dy and lyrics. Pine straw baskets. Kitch en phones with long cords. “Gilligan's Island.” Handmade biscuits. The sound of baseball cards against bicycle spokes. Eating fried chicken on quilts outside. Boiled pea nuts. Ernest T. Bass.

And of course, Big Al, leading a band of animatronic Disney bears.

The world is chang

ing on me, and I sup pose I’d better learn to love it or get left behind.

Even so, no matter how bad this place gets, it’s comforting to know that the Country Bears are still playing their show-stopping hillbilly music, and have been since 1972.

Once, I was even fortunate enough to see them. Lame? No sir. The day Mama took me to the Mag ic Kingdom was the greatest day of my childhood. Speaking of which —

I wouldn’t mind dancing with Mama again.

Session Cocktails is located at 157 E. Magnolia Ave. in downtown Auburn.

Auburn Museum Receives Highest National Recognition

CONTRIBUTED BY AUBURN UNIVERSITY

BY CHARLOTTE HENDRIX

AUBURN —

The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University — which will begin its 20th anniversary in fall 2023 — is again among the ranks of national muse ums that have been ac credited by the American Alliance of Museums, or AAM, the advocacy group that acknowledges the highest standards in the museum profession.

Accreditation signifies excellence to the muse um community, govern ments, funders, outside agencies and the muse um-going public. The alliance initially accred ited the Auburn museum in 2003, and the re-ac creditation continues a standard of excellence at the one-of-a-kind campus resource.

Alliance represen tatives noted strong programmatic relevance with university courses, growth and diversity within the university art collection and facility improvements for its ongoing care since the last review. All museums must undergo a reaccred itation review at least every 10 years to main tain accredited status.

“Re-accreditation sets

the stage for celebrating the museum’s 20th anni versary next year,” said the museum’s executive director, Cindi Mali nick. “It is an important national acknowledgment of all the institution has accomplished and of its bright future filled with possibility. Being commended by AAM as an asset to our primary audiences of faculty, students and staff of the university, ‘The Jule’ is honored for this recog nition as a leader in the field, clearly serving as the cultural heart of a public research institu tion through teaching and stewarding the university art collection.”

AAM brings national recognition to a museum for its commitment to excellence, accountabil ity, high professional standards and continued institutional improve ment. Developed and sustained by museum professionals for 50 years, the alliance’s museum accreditation program is the field’s pri mary vehicle for quality assurance, self-regulation and public accountabil ity. It strengthens the museum profession by promoting practices that enable leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources wisely and remain financially

and ethically accountable in order to provide the best possible service to the public.

Accreditation is a very rigorous but highly rewarding process that examines all aspects of a museum’s operations. To earn accreditation, a museum first must conduct a year of selfstudy and then undergo a site visit by a team of peer reviewers. AAM’s Accreditation Commis sion, an independent and autonomous body of mu seum professionals, con siders the self-study and visiting committee report to determine whether a museum should receive accreditation.

Gathered from inter views with staff, aca demics and alumni, the alliance visiting commit tee commended the mu seum’s exemplary work toward a well-rounded, uniquely Auburn student experience and enhanced teaching and learning opportunities grounded in object-based research. Increased university collaboration is due in part to two museum staff positions dedicated to advancing curatorial and educational practices with students and faculty. The museum also strate gically shifted tactics to evolve with the museum field, which is address

ing major shifts around interpretation and repre sentation, not to mention ways of attracting new and returning visitors post-pandemic.

Additionally, research ers with the Measure ment of Museum Social Impact Study selected Auburn to be a part of a national study to quan tify the ways in which institutions strengthen the social fabric of a commu nity and the well-being of all who live there.

Of the nation’s esti mated 33,000 museums, nearly 1,100 are current ly accredited. The Jule Collins Smith Museum is one of only seven museums accredited in Alabama — and the only accredited university art museum in the state.

“Accredited museums are a community of insti tutions that have cho sen to hold themselves publicly accountable to excellence,” said Laura L. Lott, alliance president and CEO. “Accreditation is clearly a significant achievement, of which both the institutions and the communities they serve can be extremely proud.”

Located on Auburn’s campus, the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art is the cultural heart of an Alabama public re search institution serving students, faculty and the constituents of the South east. The university art collection includes works spanning the 17th to 21st centuries and is com prised of photographs,

OF MUSEUMS

The American Alli ance of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop stan dards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge and provid ing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community.

Representing more than 35,000 individual mu seum professionals and volunteers, institutions and corporate partners serving the museum field, the alliance stands for the broad scope of the museum community. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.

Auburn Christmas Parade Rolls Through the Plains

works on paper depicting the South, ceramics and Southern visionary art. ABOUT THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE

Photos from the city of Auburn's annual Christmas parade, held on Sunday, Dec. 4.

Ann Cipperly

SHouthernospitality

Tall, delicious, homemade cakes are the centerpiece of many Christmas desserts that have become family traditions passed from one generation to an other, with most being handwritten. Whether they are red velvet, co conut or chocolate, they are lovingly handmade every year at Christmas

and the favorite dessert at family gatherings. When entertaining during the Christmas season, a special cake can turn a dinner into a memorable occasion.

When my father was growing up in the coun try outside Opelika, he looked forward to Christmas, as his mother would bake a delicious chocolate cake among

Collinwood

two or three others. Al though his mother was crippled with rheuma toid arthritis, during the Christmas season she would somehow manage to get around the kitchen to bake the cakes. He remembered that she placed them in a pie safe, and he could hardly wait until Christmas to enjoy the cakes.

My mom learned how

to cook from her mother, “Little Granny,” while growing up on a peanut farm in south Alabama. Mom and her sisters helped prepare meals for farm workers, and they all became excellent cooks and bakers.

Little Granny would bake amazing tall, thin

I have dined on superb desserts in Paris, but they did not compare to these cakes.

Unfortunately, my Little Granny cooked without recipes, but Mom and

At Christmas, Mom would bake a variety of cakes. For a coconut cake, she would use

Yule

during the Christmas season.

layered cakes filled with slow-cooked chocolate and sometimes filled with huckleberries or wild blueberries.

her sisters could create the best cakes from other recipes. My Aunt Lorese in Pensacola, Florida, is still baking them.

BY ANN CIPPERLY FOR

Photo from last year's luminaries event.

Making the Grade: Baumhower’s Victory Grille

We thought that was unusual for 5:45 p.m. on a Thursday night. Mike dropped me off at the door, while he continued circling the parking lot.

STACEY PATTON WALLACE

As I’ve men tioned before, I am a two-time Auburn graduate, and I have had Auburn football season tickets since 1993. My sweet husband Mike, also an Auburn fan, has been buying tickets with me since 2005, the year we married.

As Auburn fans, we recently had a very cool day. Trovon Reed, our wonderful neighbor and fourth nephew, in our hearts, took us on a tour of the soon-to-be-open Woltosz Football Perfor mance Center at Auburn University.

Reed was a member of Auburn’s 2010 National Championship team; he was a freshman wide receiver, later moving to the cornerback position. Now he is the director of football and recruiting relations at Auburn.

That place was state-ofthe-art amazing. It has to be the best in the country. Believe me, if I were a young football recruit instead of a 59-year-old “Pooh-sized” woman, I’d be asking our new coach to sign me up now. Thanks again, Trovon! We love you!

Besides our wonder ful tour, we had another surprise, but this one was completely unexpected.

Recently, we planned to meet our good friends Jack and William at Baum hower’s Victory Grille at 2353 Bent Creek Road in Auburn.

When Mike and I arrived, the restaurant’s parking lot was packed.

When I entered Baum hower’s, I found out why there was such a big crowd. Mike and I had for gotten that “Tiger Talk,” the radio show hosted by Andy Burcham, the voice of the Auburn Tigers, was broadcasting live from the restaurant with coach Car nell “Cadillac” Williams, one of the show’s guests that night.

The other surprise that Mike and I received? We later met Williams and had our picture made with him. I apologetically told him, “I’m so sorry that we forgot that you were going

to be here tonight. Other wise, I would have worn makeup.”

Coach Cadillac was so friendly and kind. Mike and I really appreciate all he’s done for our universi ty and team.

When Mike, Jack, William and I were seated, I really enjoyed looking at all the sports pictures on the wall. Every sport imaginable was represent ed: football, basketball, baseball, golf, equestrian, swimming, tennis, track, etc. Mike and I were fac ing a photograph of coach Ralph “Shug” Jordan.

By the way, thank you to all Bama fans who are still reading my column at this point; you are really good sports, and I appreci

ate you. On to my review. Madison, our server, was really sweet, helpful and patient. Mike ordered the pot roast Philly, which was slow-cooked pot roast with sautéed bell peppers and onions, smothered in blanco cheese. It came with curly-Q fries.

I chose the All-Amer ican gourmet burger. This was a fresh one-half pound of 100% USDA Choice custom grind burger, which had lettuce, tomatoes and onions on a brioche bun. All gourmet burgers are served with curly-Q fries.

Jack ordered slaw with dressing as an appetizer. He said it was quite good. Also, it was plentiful because he took half of

it home. Jack chose a hangover burger, which consisted of a half-pound of grind burger, a fried egg, avoca do, American cheese and applewood-smoked bacon on a brioche bun with an order of curly-Q fries.

Lastly, William chose a hamburger steak, green beans and mashed pota toes. Everything tasted really great.

Besides Jack’s tasty slaw with dressing, Baum hower’s offers a great selection of other appetiz ers, or “crowd pleasers,” as they are called on the menu. Some of them

include Spencer’s gooey fries, homemade fried mozzarella, fire-roasted wings, fried pickles and Bam Bam (Alabama Gulf Seafood) shrimp.

Besides our delicious entrees, Baumhower’s Victory Grille also offers diners a great variety of salads, chicken dishes, seafood, hand-helds, wings and bowls.

Baumhower’s Victory Grille is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Baumhower’s Victory

Grille makes the grade with an A+ from this retired English teacher. Remember, “Poohsized” people NEVER lie about food. Enjoy!

Stacey Patton Wal lace, who retired from teaching language arts for 30 years, is a professional diner.

Her column, “Making the Grade,” will ap pear each week in The Observer. Wallace may be reached at retired langartsteacher2020@ gmail.com

Santa Stops By Toomer's Corner

PHOTOS BY MIKE WALLACE / FOR THE OBSERVER

United Way of Lee County and the Auburn Downtown Merchants Association partnered to bring Santa Claus to Toomer's Corner in Auburn on Sunday, Dec. 4. Passersby took complimentary photos with Santa, with donations benefiting United Way of Lee County.

And the Snow Fell in Opelika

guiding of the Holy Fam ily on their journey to the manger where Christ was born.

Pastor Rick Lane, youth minister at First United Methodist Church, has provided live scenes along the pathway for 40 years.

The rain date is Dec. 10 from 5 to 9 p.m.

“The community is invited to drive through the luminaries as many times as they like to enjoy the scenes,” said Ruth Torbert, chair of the event.

Along the candlelit drive, homes are decorat ed for Christmas, signs display Bible verses and

scenes throughout the neighborhood tell the Christmas story.

Living scenes feature shepherds, wise men and angels. At the end of the path, a live nativity scene shares the message of Christmas.

Those driving through the luminaries will re ceive a program at the entrance with a QR code to scan with their phone camera that allows them to listen to the recording of the Bible’s Christmas story from Luke 2:1-20.

“The neighborhood has always seen the lu minaries as its gift to the community,” said Martha Hill, a Collinwood resi dent who has participated from the beginning, when the first candles were lit.

in about 24 hours.

The headshot ses sions will take place Feb. 2, 2023.

“It makes Christmas spe cial for children.”

Hill, who has served as the event chair sever al times over the years, said her children grew up looking forward to the annual family event. The event keeps the neighbor hood close, she said.

The preparation for setting up the candles in volves the entire family. Yards are raked and neat ly groomed. Children in the neighborhood assist older residents.

A few days before the event, sand is delivered to several locations around the neighborhood. Three to four inches of sand is placed into a plastic bag, then into a paper bag, with the top folded down two inches to add

rigidity. On the day of the luminaries, bags are placed 20 inches from the curb and spaced evenly for uniformity.

City sanitation and power employees assist in getting ready for the event by cleaning streets and turning streetlights off.

The Collinwood tour is also supported by the Opelika mayor and city council, Public Works Department of Opelika (ESG), Opelika Power Services, Opelika Police Department and Boy Scout Troop 858. The First United Methodist Church youth group pro vides the characters for the live scenes along the way.

At the first Collinwood

Luminaries, there were only a few houses on East Collinwood. In 1966, Mrs. J.R. Fuller of the Twilight Garden Club suggested the idea to the club after seeing luminar ies in Europe. The holi day tradition of luminar ies originated over 400 years ago in Mexico.

The following year, with 15 families in the neighborhood at the time, the residents undertook the project. The late Ai leen Samford and Lucy Salter were instrumental in organizing the event. Salter received infor mation on the details of luminaries from friends in St. Simons Island, Georgia.

During the first few years, the residents of

“ Headshots That Help” to benefit interested pa trons and those in need locally.

“Just the price and the quality of work is crazy good, but the fact that you now get to do something charitable and get this really good thing, I think that’s kind of cool altogether,” Winston said.

For $107, a patron will get a 15-minute headshot session and provide three more headshots for under privileged job seek ers through the local Goodwill, high school seniors through The D.A.C. Way and pa tients at Arbor Springs Health and Rehab Center.

Winston said he will photograph patrons in front of up to seven dif ferent backgrounds, and they will receive all the headshots — about 10 per session — complete

Winston, who has been a photographer for 21 years, said he believes a good head shot can do more than boost your confidence or make a great gift for your mother; it can also help you get a job or elevate your college application.

“Having a headshot you’re confident in helps you in the inter view process, and it helps you secure the interview,” Winston explained. “I’m 1,000% sure that the better your headshot on LinkedIn, the more contacts you have. … It makes it more personable. It’s easier for people to connect with you when they can see [your face].”

Winston also suggest ed gifting a session to a loved one so they can get their own head shots. If nothing else,

the client will receive a collection of portraits to take pride in.

“Most people in today’s age where you have a cellphone have hundreds … of pictures of yourself, right?” Winston said. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean you have pictures of yourself that you love, or that you have even good pictures of yourself. So this

gives everybody the opportunity … to get a professional headshot from somebody who’s shot movie stars and presidents and heads of corporations. I’m really good at headshots, so they get a really good headshot. But all of these other people who also deserve to be seen and celebrated — they get their opportunity to have a headshot, too.”

This may be Win ston’s first time offer ing Headshots That Help in Alabama, but he has seen success with the service in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland, where he has previously lived.

In fact, Winston said he also has experience doing wedding photog raphy, shooting maga zine covers and taking photos for a wide range of brands and entities, from The Gap to the White House.

Now a resident of Tuskegee, Winston spends much of his time managing the new Opelika Art Factory, a 6,000-square-foot commercial art building with spaces for rent.

“We just want to be a place where artists can work in Opelika,” he said. “… Being able to be a force multiplier for other photographers would be kind of cool. To become an area where there are mod

East Collinwood used an assortment of bags and candles. After West Collinwood Circle and Collinwood Street were added to the subdivision, the event became more organized. Paper bags and candles were ordered in order to be consistent throughout the pathway.

The luminaries will begin at 5 p.m. at the corner of 10th Street and Collinwood. Motorists turn off headlights as they slowly drive one way through the neighborhood and end at McLure.

Collinwood residents invite all Lee County residents to come and enjoy the luminaries as they “light the path” on the “journey to the man ger.”

els and photographers and makeup artists doing and producing high-quality work would be kind of cool.”

At the end of the day, Winston said he’s happy to have a camera in his hand and be able to use his craft to help others. And while he’s already committed to provide free headshots to those in need, each purchase of a headshot session helps him and his team afford to be charitable.

“We’re already signed up and committed to do 40 shoots for each of those organizations,” he said. “So now we’re just asking people to help us be charitable and to get something good for yourself.”

Sessions for Head shots That Help can be booked now at www. opelikaartfactory.com/ headshots-that-help. Scroll down to the bot tom to find the “Book a Session” button.

Opelika's annual Snopelika event and Christmas Tree Lighting took place after the Christmas parade on Friday, Dec. 2.

BRYAN WINSTON

CIPPERLY

FROM A7

fresh coconut. Dad would crack the whole coconut with a hammer, and Mom would remove the moist coconut and grate it. The fresh coconut made fabu lous cakes.

Mom also made the best Red Velvet Cake, which would get better after a day or two if there was any left. Since I am always “playing” and ex perimenting in the kitch en, I adapted the cake one year by putting a crustless

CIPPERLY RECIPES

cheesecake in the center. Another time, I filled the center with white chocolate mousse, put cream cheese frosting on top and garnished it with long-stemmed cherries dipped halfway in melted white chocolate. (Don is always asking why I have to change every recipe. He prefers Mom’s classic version.)

I am including the rec ipe for both. One thing I like about Mom’s cake recipe over others is that she always used half a bottle of red food dye

Cream together cream cheese and butter; add sugar and mix until smooth.

White Chocolate Covered Cherries: 1 jar cherries with stems

White chocolate or almond bark

instead of the entire bot tle. This gives the cake a lovely raspberry color instead of being so dark. While most recipes for cream cheese frosting call for one 8-ounce package of cream cheese and one stick of butter, I have adapted my recipes to use 12 ounces of cream cheese and four table spoons of butter, which gives the frosting a richer flavor. Be sure to have the cream cheese and butter both at room tem perature before making the frosting.

cake; roll up. Instead of Mocha Filling, can use 2 cups sweetened whipped cream.

Another cake experi ment in the kitchen has been with cake rolls, or roulage cakes. One year, I made two and sliced the second one to add “branches” to the first cake. I also make meringue mushrooms to place along the log. I didn’t include a recipe for the meringue mushrooms, so if you want to try those, you can use Goo gle to find a recipe. I wish I could find the photo for the one I made since I don’t think I am going to spend another entire day

making another one.

The Mocha Almond Torte has been another family favorite for many years. This cake is better made a day or two ahead and stored in the refrig erator. Remove from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before serving. I sometimes garnish with buttercream rosettes around the top edge and add a chocolate-covered coffee bean on each one.

To assure the cake lay ers look attractive, line cake pans with parchment paper or foil and coat

with a non-stick spray.

After the layers have baked and cooled, pull the cake out of the pan using the paper or foil.

Turn the layer onto a cake plate and peel off the paper or foil. Most cake layers will freeze well. Just be sure to wrap them tightly.

In the season of giv ing, prepare a couple of special southern cakes for gifts and your family, as you create memories around the table, cel ebrating the birth of Christ at Christmas.

For this festive cake, I baked my mother’s classic Red Velvet Cake recipe and added the mousse filling, topped it with cream cheese frosting and then garnished it with long-stemmed red cherries dipped halfway into melted white choc olate. Her classic recipe follows this version

2 eggs 2 cups sugar

1½ cups cooking oil 1 cup buttermilk 1 tsp. white vinegar ½ bottle (1 Tbsp.) red food color

2½ cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. cocoa

1 tsp. baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two cake pans. Beat eggs; add sugar. Combine oil, buttermilk, vinegar and food color. In another bowl combine dry ingredients. Add dry and wet ingredi ents alternately to batter, beginning and ending with flour.

Pour mixture into pans and bake for about 25 min utes or until tests done.

When cool, place one layer on cake plate; top with White Chocolate Mousse and then the sec ond layer. Spread Cream Cheese Frosting on top of cake. Top with dipped cherries. Chill until ready to serve.

White Chocolate Mousse: 1½ tsp. unflavored gelatin

12 oz. white chocolate chips or squares, chopped 3 cups heavy cream, whipped

Line cake pan with foil and plastic wrap; set aside. Soften gelatin in ¼ cup cold water; set aside for 5 minutes.

Place 1/3 cup cream in saucepan. When hot, stir in gelatin to dissolve.

Melt chocolate in microwave. Gently fold in gelatin mixture; stir until smooth. Chill for about 10 minutes until just cool.

Fold in whipped cream. Place in prepared pan; cov er with plastic wrap. Chill until firm. To place on cake layer, pull out of pan with foil and place upside down on cake. Carefully peel away foil and plastic wrap.

Cream Cheese Frosting: 4 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened 2 Tbsp. butter, softened 2 cups powdered sugar

Place cherries on pa per towel to dry. Dip in melted chocolate. Place around edge of frosted cake.

MOM’S CLASSIC RED VELVET CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Bake the red vel vet cake in the above recipe and frost with the following cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frost ing:

1 ½ boxes (12 oz.) cream cheese, room temperature

4 Tbsp. butter, room temperature

1 box confectioner’s sugar

1 tsp. vanilla Cream together cream cheese and butter; add sugar. Then add vanilla.

Note: While many recipes call for one 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese and 1 stick butter, adding more cream cheese and less butter gives the frosting a richer flavor.

YULE LOG CAKE WITH MOCHA FILLING AND CHOCOLATE FROSTING

The whipped cream makes light filling. For a richer filling, use the Mocha Buttercream Frosting recipe on the Mocha Almond Torte.

6 egg whites

1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

Beat egg whites until stiff. Add cream of tartar and sugar.

Beat 6 egg yolks well.

Add:

1/2 cup sugar

4 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

4 Tbsp. cocoa

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla Fold mixture into egg whites. Spread into a jel lyroll pan that has been lined with foil and coat ed with nonstick spray. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes.

Invert cake onto a dish towel sprinkled with powdered sugar. Gently remove foil; trim off edges if dry. Roll up in dishtowel; cool.

When cool, unroll and remove towel. Spread Mocha Filling over

Spread Chocolate Frosting over log. Run a fork over frosting for a “log” effect. Trim ends with a small slice for an even look. Chill until ready to serve.

Mocha Filling: 1 cup whipping cream ¼ cup powdered sugar

¼ cup cocoa

1 Tbsp. instant coffee granules

Dissolve coffee in 1 tsp. hot water; set aside to cool.

In a mixer beat cream and sugar until stiff; slowly beat in cocoa. Fold in cooled coffee un til smooth. Double recipe for a thicker filling.

Chocolate Frosting: 4 Tbsp. butter, softened 3 Tbsp. cocoa 2 cups powdered sugar 3 to 4 tsp. milk

Cream butter; add co coa. Alternate powdered sugar and milk until smooth.

MOCHA ALMOND TORTE

One of my family’s favorites for many years. For an attractive garnish, save some of the but tercream to put rosettes around the top edge, then place a chocolate covered coffee bean on each one.

2 ½ cups sugar, divided 3 Tbsp. water

2 (1-oz. each) squares unsweetened chocolate (half of a 4 oz. box)

¾ cup butter or marga rine, room temperature

1 tsp. vanilla 4 eggs, separated 2 ¼ cups cake flour ½ tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. salt

1 cup milk 1 tsp. cream of tartar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease three or four 9-inch round cake pans. Line with waxed paper or foil, grease and flour.

In a small saucepan, combine ½ cup sugar, water and chocolate. Place over low heat until chocolate melts. Set aside to cool.

Combine remaining 2 cups sugar and butter; beat until fluffy. Add vanilla and egg yolks, beating well after each addition. Stir in chocolate mixture.

Combine flour, soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until frothy; add cream of tartar. Beat until stiff peaks form. Fold into batter.

Pour batter into pans.

Bake for about 23 min utes or until test done. Cool on wire racks. Spread with Mocha Almond Buttercream Frosting. Store in re frigerator. Cake is better made a day ahead. Re move from refrigerator about 30 minutes before serving. Freezes well. Mocha Almond Buttercream Frosting: 1 ½ cups unsalted but ter, room temperature 1 box confectioners’ sugar

5 tsp. instant coffee 2 tsp. cocoa 2 tsp. hot water 2 Tbsp. almond extract

Cream butter and 2 cups sugar until fluffy. Dissolve coffee and cocoa in hot water; add to creamed mixture. Add remaining sugar and al mond extract; beat until smooth. Frost cake.

EIGHT LAYER YELLOW CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE FUDGE FILLING AND CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Cherry Bruce With a love of cook ing, Cherry creates an assortment of desserts at Christmas. This cake is one of her most request ed desserts.

4 (9-inch) round cake pans

Flour cooking spray 4 rounds parchment paper

2 boxes Duncan Hines Classic Butter Golden, plus 1 extra egg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

With electric mixer, follow cake box instruc tions and add 1 extra egg to cake batter. Divide cake batter among four pans.

Bake according to directions on box. Make sure when a toothpick is inserted that it comes out clean. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes or more, until pans are easy to handle.

Remove cake from pans and place on cooling rack until cool enough to cut the layers.

Cut each layer in two. Leave the layers together until you are ready to start assembling the cake. While layers are still cooling, make the fudge filling.

Chocolate Fudge Filling:

1½ sticks butter, melted 2 cups granulated sugar

3-5 Tbsp. cocoa pow der (your preference as to how much cocoa) 2 tsp. vanilla

Mix butter and sugar over medium heat in a double boiler or in a heavy bottom pan. Heat until sugar is dissolved; add cocoa powder and stir. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

Mixture will be like a thick syrup. Spoon onto and spread between cake layers and some on top.

Chocolate Icing: 1 stick butter, softened 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened 3 Tbsp. cocoa powder

1 tsp. vanilla

1 box powdered sugar

1-2 Tbsp. cream or milk

Mix butter and cream cheese well. Add in cocoa, powdered sugar and vanilla. Use cream or milk to make it easier to spread. Spread frosting over cake and refrigerate.

COCONUT CAKE WITH CUSTARD FILLING AND SNOW PEAK FROSTING

Patricia Fox

3/4 cup shortening

1½ cups sugar 3 large eggs 2 1/4 cup sifted cake flour

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 3/4 cup milk 1 tsp. vanilla

Custard Filling Snow Peak Frosting 2 cups freshly grated coconut or use frozen Beat shortening at me dium speed of an electric mixer until creamy; grad ually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to shortening mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Mix after each addition. Stir in vanilla.

Pour batter into two greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; remove from pans. Cool on wire racks.

Split cake layers in half horizontally to make four layers, spread Cus tard Filling between lay ers. Spread Snow Peak Frosting on top and sides of cake. Sprinkle top and sides of cake with fresh or frozen coconut.

Custard Filling: 2 cups milk

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup cornstarch 4 egg yolks, lightly beaten

3 Tbsp. Grand Marnier or 2 to 3 tsp. orange extract (optional)

1 cup grated coconut

Combine milk, sugar, cornstarch and egg yolks in a medium saucepan; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 10 minutes or until thickened. Stir in flavoring.

Transfer to a medium bowl; cover and chill. Stir in coconut. Makes 3 cups.

Snow Peak Frosting: 1 cup sugar

1/3 cup water

2 Tbsp. light corn syrup 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar 3 egg whites

3/4 tsp. vanilla Combine sugar, water, corn syrup and cream of tartar in a medium-size saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring gently, until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook, without stirring, until mixture reaches soft ball stage or candy thermometer registers 240 degrees.

Beat egg whites at high speed of an electric mixer until soft peaks form; con tinue to beat, adding hot syrup mixture in a slow, steady stream.

Add vanilla; beat until stiff peaks form and frost ing is spreading consisten cy. Makes enough for a four-layer cake.

DEVIL'S FOOD CAKE WITH SEVEN MINUTE FROSTING AND CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE

mon’s recipe for a special cake at Christmas

4 squares bittersweet chocolate, divided 1/2 cup butter

1 cup boiling water

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. salt

1 1/4 tsp. baking soda

2 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1 Tbsp. butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut wax paper or parchment paper to fit two 9-inch pans, then grease and flour. Shake out excess flour. Melt 1/2 cup butter and only three squares chocolate in 1 cup boiling water and let cool. Mix or sift dry ingredients together.

Beat eggs with sour cream, sugar, and vanilla. Stir in melted chocolate mixture. Slowly beat half at a time into flour only until smooth. Batter will be thin. Pour into prepared pans and bake until done (about 35 to 40 minutes) and cen ter will spring back. Frost cake with the Seven Minute Frosting, and

RED VELVET CAKE WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE FILLING AND WHITE CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES

Jessica Nicholson’s grandmother Joyce Solo

Wreaths Across America Announces Major Donation, Issues Challenge to the Public

ALABAMA —

On Dec. 1, national nonprofit Wreaths Across America (WAA) announced that Jersey Mike’s Subs, a fast-casual sub sand wich franchise, has made a $300,000 donation and issued a challenge to help raise funds to sponsor veterans’ wreaths for place ment at Arlington National Cemetery.

Through this generous donation, Jersey Mike’s has once again stepped up to help WAA reach its goal of placing a live balsam remembrance wreath at the headstone of every one of the nation's veterans buried at Arlington National Cemetery. From Dec. 1 through 14, every $15 wreath sponsorship made at www.wreathsacrossameri ca.org/JerseyMikes will be matched by the company, up to $300,000.

Since 2010, Jersey Mike’s has supported WAA’s mission with contri

butions totaling more than $3 million. Last year, across the country more than 2.4 million sponsored veterans’ wreaths were placed in honor of veterans, including on all the markers of those buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Jersey Mike’s franchisees across the coun try support the yearlong mission to “Remember, Honor, Teach” through a variety of programs.

“Experiencing the placement of a wreath, and knowing the impact that one simple action has for so many, is truly meaningful,” said Peter Cancro, founder and CEO of Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems Inc.

“The thought of a headstone being left bare is unimag inable, and we want to help make sure that doesn’t happen.”

For more information about participating at Ar lington on National Wreaths Across America Day — this year, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022 — please visit www. wreathsacrossamerica.org/ ARLING. To find a partic

2 Tbsp. water

1/8 tsp. salt 1 tsp. vanilla

ipating location near you to support, or to learn how you can volunteer locally in your community, visit www.wreathsacrossameri ca.org/pages/search?search Type=location.

“The veterans we honor committed themselves unselfishly at the most critical moments in our nation’s history,” said Karen Worcester, WAA’s execu tive director. “The generous support of the wonderful people at Jersey Mike’s ensures that we will be able to fulfill our mission in re

membrance of these brave men and women."

Learn more at www. wreathsacrossameri ca.org/pages/19520/ News/875/?relatedId=0 and hear an audio interview at www.bit.ly/3gUtUqX.

ABOUT WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington Na tional Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill

Worcester in 1992. The organization’s mission — “Remember, Honor, Teach” — is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. For more information, or to sponsor a wreath, please visit www.wreathsacrossa merica.org.

ABOUT JERSEY MIKE’S SUBS

Jersey Mike’s Subs, with more than 2,300 locations

nationwide, serves authen tic fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs on in-store freshly baked bread — the same recipe it started with in 1956. Passion for giving in Jersey Mike’s local com munities is reflected in its mission statement: “Giving … making a difference in someone’s life.” For more information, please visit jer seymikes.com or follow on Facebook (facebook.com/ jerseymikes), Instagram (in stagram.com/jerseymikes) and Twitter (twitter.com/ jerseymikes.com).

then drizzle with Choco late Drizzle.

Seven Minute Frost ing: 2 egg whites

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 tsp. cream of tartar

1/3 cup white Karo syrup

Place egg whites, sugar, cream of tartar, Karo syrup, water and salt in the top of a double boiler and beat well. Place over heat and beat with electric hand mixer for about 7 minutes until it holds in

peaks. Remove boiler from double boiler and add vanilla. Beat icing for several more minutes.

Chocolate Drizzle: Melt together 1 Tbsp. butter and one square of chocolate and drizzle over top. Let it run down the sides.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE

Nancy Smith

8 oz. dark sweet or semisweet chocolate

1 cup butter, room tem perature

1 ½ cups sugar

5 eggs, beaten until foamy Ganache

12 oz. semi-sweet choc olate

1 cup heavy cream

For the truffle cake, melt chocolate and stir until smooth; remove from heat and cool 1 to 2 minutes.

Add butter, bit by bit; beat with wire whisk until smooth. Add sugar, beating 1 minute with whisk. Add eggs and beat until well mixed.

Butter an 8-inch round cake pan and line with parchment. Pour in batter and set pan into a slightly larger pan about 1-inch deep with ½-inch water. Bake at 350 degrees

for 1½ hours. Cool 1 hour. Cake will fall. Refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours. Invert onto cake plate and spread ganache.

To make ganache, boil chocolate and cream together, stir ring to blend. Refrig erate until spreadable. Frost tops and sides of cake. Makes 12 to 16 servings.

SOUTHERN HUMMINGBIRD CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Donna Woodham

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups sugar 1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon 3 eggs, beaten 1½ cups oil 2 tsp. vanilla 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, not drained 1 1/2 cups chopped

pecans

2 chopped bananas

In a large bowl, com bine flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and cinna mon. Stir in eggs and oil, mixing until blended. Add vanilla, pineapple, bananas and pecans, stirring until blended.

Pour batter into three cake pans coated with nonstick spray. Bake at 350 degrees until cake tests done, about 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in pans about 10 minutes, then remove to rack.

Spread frosting be tween layers and on top.

Cream Cheese Frost ing: 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened 1 stick butter, softened 1 box confectioner’s sugar 1 tsp. vanilla

Cream together cream cheese and butter; add sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth.

Located in beautiful downtown Opelika 223 S. 8th St. | 334-749-8003 www.opelikaobserver.com

RELIGION —

(Anxiety is a serious issue in our world today. In this five-part series, we’re exploring this problem, as well as the difference faith in God can make.)

Faith in God will get us through the storms of life.

Stated in its positive form, this is the principle we keep returning to. Here’s what faith in God does: It tells us 1) who we are, 2) why we’re here, 3)

where we came from and 4) where we’re going. If you want to give spiritual anxiety a kick in the seat of the pants, build your life on these things.

Who we are is people made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). It’s no secret the world had all sorts of identity issues. This is why they fight over gender, race, face and so many other things. Faith enables us to understand that our primary identity is none of these. It is the truth that we are made in the image of God. We are all known intimately and loved ultimately by Him. Furthermore, He put us on this planet that we might image Him through our attitudes and actions — that’s why we’re here. We came from Him and one day we will return to Him.

And we have something else. There is a fifth thing faith does for us: It

provides us with an anchor in God. Not only is He bigger than us, He is bigger than anything else because He is the creator and sustainer of the universe. The answer to our vulnerability and mortality is the transcendence of God. None of this means there won’t be storms in our lives — because there will — but what it does mean is that God will lead us through them.

That’s why before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me,” (John 14:1).

It’s also why Peter told a group of disciples facing tough times, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you,” (1 Peter 5:7).

I remember a lady who showed up at church one day many years ago. She had all sorts of anxiety

issues. She told me about many of them and how she slept with a gun underneath her pillow because she was in fear of her life being taken. What made her different than a lot of people was that she had grown up in church. She knew she needed to have a relationship with God, but her anxieties were somehow blocking her from taking that step. She kept coming to church. We grew to love her and she us. Finally, one day she confessed Jesus and was baptized. Her anxieties didn’t magically go away, but what happened was she had a peace in her life that enabled her to deal with them and even laugh at some of them.

That was many years ago. We’ve moved a few times since then, and so has she. It’s been years since we heard from her. The last time we did, she

BIBLE VERSE OF THE WEEK

CHURCH DIRECTORY

ANGLICAN

The Good Shepherd Anglican Church 3015 Opelika Road, Opelika

APOSTOLIC HOLINESS

God’s House of Prayers Holiness Church 301 Highland Ave., Opelika 334-749-9672

BAPTIST Bethesda Baptist Church 201 S. 4th St., Opelika 334-745-7528

Beulah Baptist Church 5500 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-705-0538

AFB - Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 128 East Glenn Ave., Auburn 334-887-8506

Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 3089 Judge Brown Rd., Valley 334-710-2117

Donuts with Deputies

Friday, Dec. 16, 6 to 8 p.m. CST

Join the Lee County deputies for a festive and fun holiday drop-in at the sheriff's office.

Sweet treats, coloring activities and more. And don't forget to brainstorm what you'd like to say to Santa. There will be a special mailbox to send off letters to Santa.

Don't worry parents, coffee will be available. The LCSO can't wait to see everyone there in their festive wear.

Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church 650 Jeter Ave., Opelika 334-749-9487

Green Chapel Missionary Baptist 390 Lee Road 106, Auburn (334) 749-4184

High Hope Baptist Church 227 Lee Road 673 334-524-8750

Pepperell Baptist 2702 2nd Ave., Opelika 334-745-3108

Providence Baptist Church 2807 Lee Road 166, Opelika 334-745-4608

Union Grove Baptist Church 4009 Lee Road 391, Opelika 334-749-0461

CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ at Cunningham 2660 Cunningham Dr., Opelika

10th Street Church Of Christ 500 N. 10th St., Opelika 334-745-5181

Church Of Christ 2215 Marvyn Pkwy., Opelika 334-742-9721

Southside Church Of Christ 405 Carver Ave., Opelika 334-745-6015

EPISCOPAL

Emmanuel Episcopal Church 800 1st Ave., Opelika 334-745-2054

METHODIST

Auburn United Methodist Church 137 South Gay St., Auburn 334-826-8800

Beulah United Methodist Church 5165 Lee Road 270, Valley 334-745-4755

had experienced some storms — she had been through a divorce and had cancer. But her faith was as strong as ever.

It makes me think of a chaplain who was in an oncology unit visiting with the patients there. When he got to one room, the woman in bed was clearly praying, so he waited until she was finished. As he walked into her room, he asked, “Have you been telling God about your cancer?” The woman shook her head and said, “No, I’ve been telling cancer about my God.”

That’s what the presence of God in your life can mean. We don’t have to tell God about the storm, we can tell the storm about our God!

You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: a-taste-of-gracewith-bruce-green.com

NON-DENOMINATIONAL Church At Opelika 1901 Waverly Pkwy., Opelika 334-524-9148

Connect Church 2015 West Point Pkwy., Opelika 334-707-3949

St. Ellis Full Gospel Church 5267 US Hwy 80W, Opelika 334-298-4319

PENEACOSTAL Gateway Pentecostal Sanctuary 1221 Commerce Drive, Auburn 334-745-6926

PRESBYTERIAN Trinity Presbyterian Church 1010 India Road, Opelika 334-745-4889

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST Opelika Outreach S.D.A. Church P.O. Box 386, Opelika 334-749-3151

BRUCE GREEN Teaching Minister at 10th Street Church of Christ in Opelika

Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who be lieves in me will never be thirsty." — John 6:35

WALTER ALBRITTON

RELIGION —

Envy takes over now and then. Usually it’s when I see a man wearing a jacket that would look good on me. But so far, envy has not persuaded me to replace my old blue jacket with a fancy new one. With a label inside that says “Members Only,” Old Blue has served me well in wintertime for 25 years. I have three other old jackets, but Old Blue is my favorite. It’s so

Which Jacket Are You Wearing?

comfortable I guess I’ll wear it to the finish line.

More important than which jacket I’ll wear in cool weather is what clothing I will choose to wear spiritually. Clothes are a significant metaphor in the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. In Genesis it is God who makes garments of skin to “clothe” Adam and Eve after their disobedience in the Garden of Eden.

In Revelation, John says the bride of Christ — the church — will be clothed in fine linen for the wedding supper of the Lamb.

As a sign of mourning and self-humiliation, the Israelites tore their clothes and put on sackcloth. After a season of grief, they would “change their clothes,” as David did after mourning the death of the son he had fathered

with Bathsheba. In one of his Psalms, David praised the Lord for turning “my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.”

David often used the word “clothing” in his Psalms. He saw the hills clothed with gladness, the priests clothed in righteousness, God clothed in “splendor and majesty” and his enemies clothed in shame and disgrace.

In the New Testament, Paul and Peter both urge Christians to “clothe” themselves with humility and other virtues which please God. I try to let my Old Blue jacket remind me to “put on” my humility jacket every day. My worst days are those when I discover I am wearing my arrogance jacket. I know I am wearing it when I insist that my way is the right way, ignore

JOANNE WHITLOW CORK

Joanne Whitlow Cork, 77, of Opelika, Alabama, passed away Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at her home.

A graveside service was held Dec. 7, 2022, at Garden Hills Cemetery in Opelika, with the Rev. Mike Newman officiating. There was no formal visitation.

Cork was born Sept. 16, 1945, in Opelika, daughter of the late Benjamin Whitlow and Jewel Hamby Whitlow. She worked in administration at several churches in the Birmingham area throughout her career, including Eastminster Presbyterian at the Birmingham Baptist Association, South Side Baptist Church, Clayridge Baptist Church and Brewster Road Baptist Church. She enjoyed gardening, taking care of her flowers and traveling, especially to the beach. She was a member of Pepperell Baptist Church in Opelika and a former member of Purpose Baptist Church in Opelika. Cork was also a former member of the Pinson Civitan Club, the Wild Hydrangea Club, the Society to Advance the Resources of Turkey Creek and the Boyle Chapter 104 Eastern Star.

Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William “Bill” Thomas Cork; a daughter, Sharon Cork Black; and a brother, James Whitlow.

She is survived by a daughter, Julie Cork Rollins, and husband Don of Argo, Alabama; a sister, Patricia Vance of Salem, Alabama; two brothers, Carlton Whitlow and wife Mary of Beauregard; and Tony Whitlow and wife Clita of Opelika; grandchildren, Erica Goldy (Mark), Greg Rollins, Lauren Rollins and Chase Rollins; one great-grandchild, Annaleigh Goldy; a son-in-law, Dana Black; several nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

To sign the online guest register visit www. vancebrooksfuneralhome.net.

ARDELL (DELL) ADAMS

BURTON LITTLE

Ardell (Dell) Adams Burton Little was born Nov. 25, 1923, to Willie and Essie Mae Adams in Sylvania, Alabama. The third of 11 children, she became the first of her family to graduate from high school (Geraldine H.S. Class of 1945). She left Sand Mountain

and worked in Anniston. With money she saved from her job, Dell put herself through secretarial school in Nashville. She then returned to Anniston where she met the first love of her life, William S. (Bill) Burton, an optometrist.

They married in 1952, started a family and moved around Alabama a bit before settling in Tallassee, Alabama, in 1958, where Dr. Burton opened his optometry practice. After a few years as a stayat-home mom, Dell began working as her husband’s assistant and made many friends among his patients.

During these years, she managed the office, the home and the busy lives of her family. She cooked, cleaned, sewed and made sure that everyone was at church on Wednesday evenings and twice on Sundays. In 1987, a few years after Bill was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, they closed the optometry practice and retired.

For a brief period of time, Dell worked part-time as a DJ on WTLS in Tallassee (despite knowing nothing about country music).

As her husband’s disease progressed, Dell devoted herself to caring for him until his death in 1995. The following year she found the second love of her life, Bennie G. Little. Dell and Bennie married in 1998 and spent the next decade enjoying life together. When Bennie became ill, Dell nursed him until his death in 2014. In 2016, at the age of 92, she sold the family home of 44 years and moved to Opelika to be near family. There she made many new friends at church, Farmville Baptist, at Silver Sneakers exercise classes at Sportsplex, at Women’s Bible Study at First Baptist Church and in her neighborhood.

She is survived by her daughters, Vannessa Rogers (Mike), Leah Stonum (Mel Drybread), Marilyn Fisher (Sam); stepson, Ben Little (Peggy); grandchildren, John Dunson (Napawan), Rachel Fournier, Roxanne Albers, Ben Fisher, Jacob Fisher, Brooke Little, Wesley Rogers (Janet) and Jessica Stonum, and great-grandchildren, Barrett Purohit and Orgrand Dunson; two sisters, Bobbie Jean Gibson and Lynn Laney (Larry) and a host of nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Dr. William S. Burton and her husband of 16 years,

counsel I should have embraced, brag about something I have done or fail to listen to reasonable criticism. It is the jacket that convinces me that “it’s all about me.”

Satan uses arrogance to ruin some of us, especially pastors. While Jesus makes it clear that his followers are not to “lord it over others,” we pastors sometimes forget that we are sent to serve, not to be served by others. We please God when we live as servants of Jesus, humbly putting the needs of others above our own.

When I was ordained, the bishop laid his hands on my head and said, “Take thou authority to preach the word and administer the sacraments.” He didn’t say, “Make sure your church provides you with a special parking place.” The authority of which the

OBITUARIES

Bennie G. Little Sr. and her parents, Willie and Essie Mae Adams.

The family received friends Dec. 3 at Jeffcoat Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in Rose Hill Cemetery.

DR. ROBERT (BOB) HARVEY WALKUP JR

Dr. Robert (Bob) Harvey Walkup Jr. passed away on Sept. 4, 2022, after an unexpected battle with illness. He was being cared for in Atlanta, Georgia, and was surrounded by his loving family at the end of his life. Bob was born in Montgomery, Alabama, to Alice Lee Thomason Walkup and Robert Harvey Walkup Sr. on June 25, 1944. His father was a Presbyterian minister who served across the Deep South. Thanks to the ministry and community work of both his parents, Bob grew up with a strong sense of the importance of caring for others, a value that shined throughout his life. It was Bob’s own challenging experience with appendicitis as a child that left him passionate about becoming a doctor from an early age.

A pulmonologist, linguist and history aficionado, Bob was always pursuing his passion for learning, even after his retirement from the practice of medicine in 2017. Among his colleagues, he was known as a deep and empathetic listener who was fiercely committed to his patients and their wellbeing.

Bob received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, where he was also an active member of Phi Delta Theta. Following graduation, Bob then attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he received his Doctor of Medicine degree. After medical school, he specialized in internal medicine and pulmonology. Although he chose to study medicine instead of history, Bob’s passion for historical events, figures and his own family history was evident throughout his life.

He married the love of his life, the late Cecilia Fong, in 1981 after the two were set up by friends at a dinner party. Bob’s dream of becoming a medical missionary led them to Taiwan, where he started the Pulmonary Department at Changhua Christian Hospital, and where he and Cecilia

welcomed their first daughter, Alice. They welcomed Emily in 1987, after the couple relocated back to Los Angeles. Following Cecilia’s tragic passing from breast cancer in 1991, Bob moved his daughters and his mother to his home state of Alabama. Settling in Auburn, Bob joined Internal Medicine Associates, where he remained until his retirement in 2017.

As a single father, Bob instilled a sense of intellectual curiosity and self-sufficiency in his daughters, as well as a love for travel and culture. Bob had traveled Europe, Asia and South America extensively as part of his commitment to both medicine and missionary service. Anytime the family traveled together, he put his language skills to good use, always making sure to converse with the locals in their native language, often to their surprise.

In 2017, Bob took his daughters to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan where they visited Alice’s birthplace and many other places where Bob and his late wife had shared their lives together. The family also visited Cecilia’s family and Bob relished the girls’ hearing stories about their mother and reconnecting with their relatives.

Bob leaves behind a loving community at the First Presbyterian Church of Auburn where he was an active member and elder alongside his mother, who sadly passed away just a few months before him. He is predeceased by his father, Robert Harvey Walkup Sr., his beloved wife, Cecilia Fong Walkup, and his mother, Alice Lee Thomason Walkup. In addition to being survived by his two children, Alice and Emily (partner Abe Mohammadione), Bob is also survived by his siblings: brothers John Knox Walkup (wife Betsy) and James Thomason Walkup (wife Meg Wolder); and sister Virginia Walkup Coleman (husband James). He also leaves behind many cousins and adoring nieces and nephews scattered across the country — Alice E. Walkup and Margaret Walkup, Jake Walkup, Jamie Coleman and Meg Coleman Killgore (husband Ryan) — as well as great-nephew Easton Killgore and great-niece Mary Alice Killgore.

The family honored his end-of-life wishes for

bishop spoke was that of shepherding God’s people.

Authority can be twisted into ugly arrogance. That is not the attitude with which a Christian nor a shepherd should be clothed. If I am wise, I will leave my arrogance jacket in the closet, and without any mothballs in the pockets to protect it. When he was young, the Apostle Peter arrogantly boasted about his loyalty to Jesus. His braggadocious spirit melted into shameful cowardice when Jesus was being beaten and crucified, leaving Peter a broken man.

Later, older and wiser, Peter would offer this counsel in his First Letter: “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” He had

learned with Paul not to think of himself “more highly than he ought to think.” It is no accident that when Peter asks us to humble ourselves before God, he reminds us that the devil is prowling around, “like a roaring lion, seeking to devour us.” That’s how the devil works; he consumes us by enticing us to think too highly of ourselves.

To defeat the devil, and resist him successfully, we must constantly refuse to throw the jacket of arrogance around our shoulders while remembering to clothe ourselves with the jacket of humility. It is the attire our Lord provides for us all, including his shepherds, and the only dress code approved for followers of Christ.

Which jacket are you wearing today?

his body to be donated to science, elevating his lifelong commitments to learning and medicine. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for gifts in his memory to be made to First Presbyterian Church of Auburn 149 E. Thach Ave., Auburn, AL, 36830 and Montreat Conference Center P.O. Box 969 Montreat, NC, 28757.

A memorial service will be held on Dec. 21, 2022, at 2 p.m. to honor his life as well as the life of his mother, Alice T. Walkup at First Presbyterian Church of Auburn. There will be a visitation with family after the service.

SARA NAN LEVINS

Sara Nan Levins of Opelika, Alabama, died on Dec. 5, 2022. She was born March 28, 1937, in Lafayette, Alabama, to Olivia and Elmer Yates. She was preceded in death by her parents and her first husband, Robert Holley.

Sara Nan attended Lafayette High School where she was active and accomplished. She was elected Miss Lafayette High School, Miss Home Economics, President of the Beta Club and she served as a cheerleader. She met her first love, Robert, and dated him until they were married in 1956. She attended Auburn University on scholarship and was selected as a member of the first Angel Flight class.

Although recently married, all first-year students were required to live in the dorm. Sara Nan decided living separately from her new husband was not an option, and college would have to wait. She and Robert lived in Opelika happily until his sudden death in 1985. While married to Robert and raising two children, Sara Nan enjoyed working with the Opelika City Schools and was an active member of the Exchangettes.

Following Robert’s death, she met her husband of the past 35 years, Jim Levins. Sara Nan and Jim traveled extensively with friends and travel groups. They were committed to their church, and they relished the activities of Jim’s grandchildren.

During Sara Nan’s lifetime, she devoted her time to activities to touch and help others. She loved sending cards for a special occasion

or illness and continued to do so right up to her final days. She loved being involved in the church prison ministry where she would regularly serve those affected by incarceration.

Sara Nan was a person of deep Christian faith. She was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Opelika. She was a member of the Poe-Cumbie Sunday School, the Joy Fellowship and the United Methodist Women. Sara Nan was honored as the Lay Person of the Year in 2004. Over the decades, she gave generously of her time and talents to the church and was happiest when she was attending church.

In addition to maintaining a strong faith, she worked hard to stay strong physically. You could find her, twice a week, at the Opelika Sportsplex participating in Sliver Sneakers, Tai Chi or lifting weights.

Caring for her family was a top priority in her life. She was proud to be the mother of two loving children: Craig Holley (Terri) of Chattanooga, and Julie Andrews (Mike) of Birmingham; she had a special relationship with her brother Elmer “Bubba” Yates (Jennie) of Opelika; and she cherished her grandchildren Holley Chesser (Chad) of Springville, Alabama, Ann Elizabeth Holley of New York, New York, and Sara Holley of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Sara Nan is survived by her devoted and loyal husband, Jim Levins, and his children Donna Mowery of Opelika, Pam Holmes (Ray) of Sylacauga, Alabama, Bill Levins (Mandy) of Opelika and grandchildren Beth Mowery of Mobile, Mitchell Mowery (Jordana) of Briarcliff Manor, New York, Meagan Mowery of Opelika, Kaycee Holmes, Chloe Holmes, Tate Holmes all of Sylacauga, Emme Cason (Jonathan) of Lufkin, Texas and Will Levins of Opelika.

Sara Nan was also blessed with many special great grandchildren, cousins, nieces and nephews.

There will be a Celebration of Life on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the First United Methodist Church in Opelika beginning at 1 p.m.. A visitation with family will follow in the church fellowship hall.

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church in Opelika.

What's Happening in Lee County

2023 CITY MARKET VENDOR APPLICATIONS OPEN

Are you a local grower or artisan wanting to share your products with those in the community? Apply to be a vendor at Auburn Parks and Recreation's 2023 City Market. City Market vendor applications opened Nov. 14. City Market will be held Saturdays from May 20 through Aug. 26 at Town Creek Park from 8 to 11 a.m., with vendor setup beginning at 7 a.m.

Farmers, growers and artists who are interested in participating in the City Market must fill out an online application or apply in person at the Harris Center (425 Perry St.).

For more information, including a link to vendor applications and the City Market handbook, please visit www.auburnalabama.org/city market or contact Sarah Cook, market coordinator, at scook@aubur nalabama.org.

NAMI MEETING

NAMI East Alabama, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), will not meet in December. The next meeting will be in January 2023.

NAMI supports families dealing with mental illness through mutual support, education and advocacy. There will be a time for sharing. The public is invited. Meetings are held at 714 E. Glenn Ave. in Auburn.

O GROWS — SATURDAYS AT THE GARDEN

Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon outside the Southside Center for the Arts, located at 1103 Glenn St. in Opelika. Activities will include planting, storytime, crafts or art projects for children and hanging out with the goats.

AUBURN/OPELIKA MOTHERS OF PRESCHOOLERS (MOPS) UNITE

MOPS International encourages and equips moms of young children to realize their potential as mothers, women and leaders in relationship with Jesus, and in partnership with the local church. Preschool mothers learn to take time out for motherhood during MOPS meetings around a theme and discussion. MOPS helps moms share their experiences and learn more about children’s unique needs from infants to kindergarten.

During MOPS’ meetings, a Moppets program is available for children. This program is taught and facilitated by volunteer childcare teach ers. This program allows little ones to work on lessons, activities, arts, crafts, and play. While the mothers are making friends, their children are too.

Auburn/Opelika MOPS meets twice a month on the first and third Thursday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. at Pepperell Baptist Church at 2702 2nd Ave. in Opelika. MOPS’ autumn schedule is Sept. 15; Oct. 6, 20; Nov. 3, 17 and Dec. 1 and 15.

The MOPS theme this year is "coming together as friends." You can contact Coordinators Rachel Elrod at 706-244-5620 and Kaela Sexton at 719-351-8093, or you can email auburnopelikamops@gmail.com.

LEE/RUSSELL COUNTY LOW VISION SUPPORT GROUP

The group will meet every month on the third Wednesday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The meeting will be held at the AIDB-Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind Opelika Regional center on 355 Dunlop Drive in Opelika. Every month there will be different topics discussed to make life more manageable living with low vision. Contact Shiquita Fulton, M. ED/Vision Rehab Therapist for additional details at 334-705-2024, or Melody Wilson, case manager for the blind, at 256-368-3258.

COFFEE & CONVERSATION WITH VFW

POST 5404

VFW Post 5404, 131 E. Veterans Blvd., Auburn, next to Ray's Collision off of South College Street, will be open on Wednesdays 8 to 11 a.m. with coffee, donuts, cake and conversation about service and benefits for all veterans and spouses to stop by.

CAMP HILL MARKETPLACE

NOV. 19 THROUGH DEC. 10

We’ve moved to Saturdays!

Come out and buy your fresh produce, honey, jams and hand-crafted items at the Camp Hill Marketplace, a state certified Farmers Market.

Every Saturday 8 to 11 a.m. Nov. 19 through Dec. 10, rain or shine, at Mount Lovely Baptist Church located at 21900 Senator Claude Pepper Drive in Camp Hill (AL Hwy 50).

Potential vendors contact Sharon at 256-749-5100 to apply to join.

We plan for the Dec. 17 market to be another downtown Harvest event.

Memory Cafe

LEE COUNTY —

LRCOG, Alabama Cares and REACH Community Respite recently announced a new adventure for care partners and those living with cognitive decline or other forms of dementia. The vision is to provide a safe environment to socialize, inter act and have a fun experience with no judgement or social bias.

A Memory Café event will be held in Opelika on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. Participants will take a bus ride through the Opelika Victorian Front Porch Tour, then return to the LRCOG office for carols, cocoa and Christmas cheer! The office is located at 2207 Gateway Drive in Opelika. Contact Leisa Askew for more information or to reserve your spot: 334-528-9215 or LASKEW@LRCOG.COM

Opelika, Alabama 36801 334 745 5706

FOR

BY D. MARK MITCHELL

OHS Competes in AHSAA State Swim Meet

OPELIKA —

The AHSAA Swimmimg and Diving State Championship meet was held at Martin Aquatics Center on the Auburn University campus last Friday and Saturday.

The following are the OHS swimmers who participated and their results.

OHS GIRLS

Opelika’s 200-yard Medley Relay team fin ished No. 6 with a final time of 1:52.31. The team was composed of Presley Mullins, Sarah Bush, Nelson Grace and Mylee Bordeaux.

Opelika’s 50-yard freestyle first-place fin ish: Sarah Bush, with a time of 23.55. Bush finished No. 2 in the 100-yard freestyle, with a time 52.38.

OHS BOYS

Opelika’s Bryan McEntire finished No. 6 in the 100-yard free style with a time of 48.73.

OHS BASKETBALL

The OHS girls' basketball team won three games in a row last week against Chilton County, Benjamin Russell and Loachapoka.

OHS beat Chilton County 56-33 on the road. Cheridi Daniels

led the girls with 17 points, and Naomi Whack added 12 points.

OHS defeated Benjamin Russell 3532 behind 10 points from Daniels and sev en points apiece from Whack and Tyra Pitts.

Opelika ended the week with a 40-35 win over Loachapoka. Whack scored a gamehigh 14 points, while Jasmyn Thomas fol lowed with 11 points.

AHSAA SUPER 7

The Alabama High School Athletic Department Super 7 football championship ended last Friday night after the flag football championship and sev en football games. The Super 7 championship drew 61,000 people over the three-day event. The attendance break down is as followed: 23,464 Wednesday night 7A attendance; the 1A, 3A and 5A games saw 14,218 attendance; and on Friday the 2A, 4A and 6A games drew 23,848.

This is not count ing over 500 volun teers, first responders, AHSAA officials and Auburn University employees.

AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs

LEE COUNTY: DEC. 13 AT 6 P.M.

AUBURN: DEC. 13 AT 6 P.M.

OPELIKA: JAN. 24 AT 4:30 P.M.

Freeze Filling Out Auburn Staff

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

AUBURN —

Newly appointed Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has much to do in little time.

With the transfer portal now officially open, and with just over two weeks remaining before the na tional early signing day on Dec. 21, Freeze must act quickly to build his staff in order to strongly position the Tigers as they enter 2023.

Freeze’s first step in

achieving this was a good one. On his first day,

Doing Things The ‘D.A.C. Way’

BY WIL CREWS SPORTSCREWS@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

AUBURN — The D.A.C. Way is a local nonprofit organization on a mission to enhance the positive development of all youth.

Aubrey Reese, founder and CEO of The D.A.C. Way, is a former Auburn High School, Murray State

University and professional basketball player.

Reese remembers grow ing up in Auburn, living in a low-income household with his mother, who worked multiple jobs to support him and his two brothers. Reese said he con siders himself fortunate to have come from such hum ble beginnings to enjoy a life path — through basket ball — that has taken him

all over the world and led to what he considers success.

But not all children from situations similar to Reese’s are as fortunate. And Reese said he recalls longing for mentorship and guidance through his adolescence.

“A lot of these kids are in situations where it’s not that they don’t want help, it’s that they don’t have it,” he said. “If we can alleviate some of the pressure off

those types of parents, I think that will really benefit the kids.”

It’s for that reason that, after moving back to the Auburn area following his retirement from basketball, Reese started the local youth basketball group AR Elite.

“My goal is to go back and help those kids and let

Aubrey Reese (pictured far right), the founder and CEO of the local nonprofit The D.A.C. Way, with local youth.

Freeze retained Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, who

FREEZE,

PHOTO BY TODD VAN EMST AU ATHLETICS

Auburn University's 28th head football coach, Hugh Freeze, at his introductory press conference on Nov. 29.

April Brock Named Principal of New Fox Run School in Opelika

CONTRIBUTED BY OCS

OPELIKA —

April Brock has been named principal of the new Fox Run School in Opelika. Brock currently serves as an assistant principal at Opelika Middle School and has worked there since 2003. She began as a seveth grade histo ry teacher and moved into the role of assistant principal in 2015.

“We welcome April Brock as the new principal of Fox Run

School,” said Dr. Farrell Seymore, su perintendent. “As a veteran teacher and in structional leader in the Opelika City Schools over the past 19 years, Mrs. Brock brings a wealth of experience with a focus on student relationships, a strong grasp of learning and a vision to move our students forward in a positive way.”

Brock earned her Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education from Auburn

University in 2003 and her Master of Education in second ary education (social studies) in 2008. She earned her Master of Education in admin istration from Auburn University in 2014.

“I am very excited for the opportunity to serve as principal of the new sixth grade school,” Brock said.

“I look forward to working with our sixth grade teachers and staff to make a positive impact on our students

and prepare them for a successful future.”

Brock and her hus band Anthony are the parents of Caitlyn (14) and Dallas (7). Brock will continue to serve in her current role as assistant principal at OMS until the end of the school year and assume the duties of principal at Fox Run in June 2023. Fox Run School is currently under construction and will be completed by July 2023.

OHS Boys Win Home Opener

said he was thrilled with this year's Super 7 Championship.

"We (AHSAA) can't thank the cities of Auburn and Opelika and Auburn University enough,” he said. “The Super 7 has become an important event in the lives of our student-ath letes thanks to our opportunity to play in such special venues like Auburn, Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. This year provided very special and lifetime memories for our student-athletics, coaches, schools and communities.”

As co-chairman of the Auburn-Opelika Super 7 committee, I want to say thank you to all of our volunteers that make this event possible. This

is a huge undertaking that requires tons of volunteers, including the Auburn police and fire departments and the Opelika Police Department.

A special thanks to Auburn University Athletics and President Jeremy Roberts for working to make this Super 7 the best possible.

Thank you to Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and Auburn Mayor Ron Anders for supporting the event since day one.

The Super 7 will re turn to our area in 2026.

D. Mark Mitchell is the sports director at iHeartMedia, host of “On the Mark” Fox Sports the Game 9101310, co-chair of the Auburn-Opelika Sports Council, chairman of the Super 7 and Dixie Boys Baseball state director.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY OPELIKA CITY SCHOOLS

APRIL BROCK

PHOTOS BY JERRY BALLAS FOR THE OBSERVER

The Opelika High School varsity boys' basketball team won its home opener 78-39 over Loachapoka on Friday, Dec. 2. The Bulldogs moved to 2-2 on the early season with the win in head coach Wesley Button's second season.

PHOTOS BY JERRY BALLAS / FOR THE OBSERVER

The varsity Opelika High School girls' basketball team defeated Loachapoka 40-35 in its home opener on Friday, Dec. 2. The win moved the Lady Bulldogs to

on the season in head coach Blake Smalley's second season.

Super 7 Sadness: AHS Falls in Championship Game

led Auburn as interim coach for the final four games of the 2022 season, as associate head coach and running backs coach.

Freeze then ridded the program of the majority of previous coach Bryan Harsin’s staff in the ensu ing days; receiver coach Ike Hilliard, offensive line coach Will Friend and defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding, among others, have already gotten out of Dodge.

Among the survivors of the previous regime are cornerbacks coach Zac Etheredge and line backers coach Christian Robinson, although their roles on Freeze’s staff remain unconfirmed.

As for the incomers, Freeze has already settled on some familiar names. Two of his previous staff members at Liberty have been con firmed as followers of Freeze to The Plains.

Most notably, Freeze has hired Jeremy Garrett as de fensive line coach. Garrettt spent 2022 in the same role with Freeze at Liberty.

Under Garrett, Liberty ranked No. 4 nationally in team sacks, averaging 3.42 per game. Prior to Liberty, Garrettt spent two seasons in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns as an assistant de fensive line coach.

Additionally, Ben Aigamaua, another coach following Freeze from Liberty, has been announced as Auburn’s new tight ends coach. Aigamaua was the tight ends coach with Freeze for all four of his seasons with Liberty. Over the past two seasons, Liberty’s tight end room accounted for 50 receptions and five

touchdowns.

This past weekend, more movement among Freeze’s staff was made aware to the public. According to multiple outlets, Ole Miss offensive line coach Jake Thornton will be Auburn’s next offensive line coach. The Rebels averaged 491 yards per game in 2022, good enough for third best in the SEC. Offensive line is one of, if not the most pressing issue that Freeze (and Thornton) will need to address at Auburn. With an offensive line group com posed exclusively of upper classmen, Auburn averaged

478.50 yards per game in 2022, which ranked No. 10 in the conference. It has also been reported that Louisville co-defensive coordina tor and secondary coach Wesley McGriff is being hired as a defensive assistant for his third stint with the Tigers.

In addition to the onfield staffers confirmed to be joining Freeze’s staff at Auburn, On3 reported last week that Associate Athletic Director for football oper ations/Chief of Staff Matt Bevins, General Manager A.K. Mogulla and Director Of Recruiting Analytics

And Operations Kennedy Harvey are following Freeze to Auburn.

Freeze will likely aim to make decisions regarding significant assistant coaching positions in the coming days and weeks. Some names to keep an eye on include Phil Longo (offensive coordina tor at North Carolina) and Travis Williams (defensive coordinator at UCF). In the meantime, Freeze and the already-named staff are busy on the recruiting trail as the new head coach looks to return Auburn to the high standards it has held in years past.

PHOTOS BY ROBERT NOLES THE OBSERVER

Pictures from the AHSAA Class 7A State Championship on Wednesday, Nov. 30, between the Auburn High School Tigers and the Thompson High School Warriors. The Tigers were appearing in their second state championship game in three years; the Warriors were defending back-to-back-to-back state championship wins. Thompson emerged with the win, defeating Auburn 49-24. Thomp son's eighth grade quarterback Trent Seaborn was named the MVP, going 12-for-14 passing with 207 yards and five touchdowns.

A Triumph of Togetherness: Lady Tigers Win State

Derick Hall Wins Solomon Community Spirit Award

CONTRIBUTED BY AU ATHLETICS

AUBURN —

Auburn football cap tain Derick Hall is the 2022 winner of the na tional Freddie Solomon Community Spirit Award, the Premier Players Foundation of Tampa announced last Thursday.

A three-year starter along the Auburn defen sive line, Hall has 147 career tackles, 18.5 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss. He has made a definite impact on the field, earn ing preseason all-SEC recognition and SEC defensive lineman of the week four times during his career, but his work off the field is even more lasting.

Active in campus ser vice efforts, he jumps in wherever he can use his influence to help — whether it’s enlist ing students to attend basketball games, pro viding water to those in need in his home state of Mississippi or donating turkey, toys and Halloween candy to the families in his hometown of Gulfport, Mississippi.

"I want to give back to my community any way I can because I've been blessed,” Hall said. “People have supported me throughout my life, so why not support them and give back when I have the ability to

do so?”

Freddie Solomon played college foot ball at the University of Tampa and went on to play for the Miami Dolphins for three sea sons before joining the San Francisco 49ers, where he helped win two Super Bowl cham pionships. His career in the National Football League as a wide re ceiver came to a close after 11 years. Then, the Sumter, South Carolina, native known as “Fabulous Freddie” came back to Hillsborough County to make a more lasting impact.

Solomon devoted the next 12 years of his life to the youth of Tampa Bay, working with the sheriff’s department to teach children life les sons through football. His efforts impacted more than two decades of youths, and his

lessons are still carried on in the community.

The Freddie Solomon Community Spirit Award, selected by his family and the Premier Players Foundation, con tinues Solomon’s efforts to help make the world a better place by annually honoring a collegiate football player who has impacted the lives of others through giving and community service.

Past winners of the Solomon Award include Nick Ford, Utah (2021); Daelin Hayes, Notre Dame (2020); Tre Tipton, Pitt (2019); Jonathan Lloyd, Duke (2018); Greg Joseph, Florida Atlantic (2017); Travis Rudolph, Florida State (2016); Matt Dobson, Georgia Southern (2015); Dylan Thompson, South Carolina (2014); Matt Floyd, USF (2013); and Asa Watson, North Carolina State (2012).

Our New Home Is Built on a Solid Foundation... Just Like Our Bank.

115 years ago AuburnBank was founded on the principles of sound money management and putting the customer first. As we’ve opened our new home in downtown Auburn, those principles still drive everything we do. Come by and help us celebrate our most recent success, and let’s talk about helping you achieve yours.

PHOTO BY ROBERT NOLES / THE OBSERVER

PHOTOS BY ROBERT NOLES / THE OBSERVER

The Auburn High School girls' flag football team defeated Oxford High School 26-6 to win the AHSAA's second ever flag football state championship on Wednesday, Nov. 30.

DERICK HALL

This past week as I walked through down town Opelika with the lights, Christmas dec orations and Christmas music playing through the speakers, my mood changed to “Hey, it is Christmas in Railroad Town!”

A big old smile came across my face and into my heart as I went to enjoy Christmas prepa rations with my pre school class. In teach ing young children, we teachers witness a twinkle in our young students’ eyes, as well as joy, as they antici pate the hope, giving, warmth, excitement and love at Christmas.

Even as “grown-ups,” our hearts become like children’s as we squint and look at Christmas lights; secretly make, buy and wrap up gifts for our friends and fam ilies; and wisp up the

smells of Christmas ce dar, pine and cinnamon. A big part of Christmas joys are the preparations in our hearts to focus on love and giving to others.

With children, the greatest gifts we can give them are hugs, love, time and encour agement — reminding them how special they are to God, family and friends. In asking and gleaning from other families in our com munity, the response is always to speak bless ings and prayers over our children for them to hear, no matter how young they are. The blessing is not based on performance, but on how very special and unique they are in the way God made them. Young children soak up words of encouragement in their hearts.

Young children also find inner happiness,

Blessings Gift Our Children

confidence and pleasure in making and creat ing their own gifts to share. Their creative minds enjoy making Christmas decorations to display throughout the home. This builds cherished memories for your child.

Children can give gifts from the heart, like helping out with younger siblings or doing simple chores like sweeping, wiping tables, cleaning up their rooms, etc. In the early childhood classroom, making and giving Christmas coupons of tasks or chores to be done is a gift of love action. A parent tears off a chore that needs to be done each day around the home or for neighbors.

Right here before Christmas, invite your children to help you make Christmas cards that can be sent to fam ily and friends. I love to decorate my little home with the Christmas cards I receive from my students, families and friends. The cards remind me to pray for these people during the holiday season. The friendliness of our com munity’s post offices makes it a joyful field trip. With your children, mailing packages and letters focuses on giving love to others.

I have heard that ma ny families do a “make or bake” cookie swap to

exchange with siblings, family members or neighbors.

A true favorite of young children is to make their own Christmas wrapping pa per from white butcher paper, or even brown paper bags. They can draw their own pictures on the paper and then wrap up their purchased or homemade items to give to family or friends.

Another yearlong gift that can be created over the holidays is to make a calendar for the fami ly with everyone’s pho tos and birthdays.

Parents, a very special memory-maker for your children is recording them singing their fa vorite Christmas carols, which you can keep and play for your families year after year as your children grow up.

Readers, I know I gently remind us each year to teach our young children what some of our Christmas symbols mean when they ask. I would like to briefly re view what some of our symbols traditionally mean. This will make some good conversa tions with your young children.

We are surrounded by lights everywhere during this beautiful Christmas season. From candles to lights on the Christmas tree, we squint as we view the beautiful

lights of Christmas.

Lighted stars reflect the Bethlehem star where Jesus lay in a manger. The Bible records in Psalms 76:4: “You are radiant with light more majestic than mountains rich with game. God is resplendent with light.”

I can remember as a young child my parents driving us around town and in the county to see beautiful town lights, as well home lights. Even now, I absolutely love to go walk and view the Christmas lights along the railroad tracks in Opelika. This is a great time for you and your family to go Christmas light sightseeing.

Already in the ear ly childhood class rooms, we are singing Christmas songs. One of this teacher’s favor ites is to go buy very inexpensive Christmas bells for the children to ring and sing during the Christmas season. Young children abso lutely love to sing and hum tunes of happiness and joy. Music brings joy even into the hearts of infants as they clap and smilingly sing along.

When young children make simple paper plate wreaths, or when they see wreaths every where, share with them that this represents the never-ending symbol of eternal love that God provides.

As I close this

column, I must men tion that as a young child growing up, I had trouble falling asleep at night. As my family very well remembers to this day, I was just scared of the night.

I’m not sure why, but I know many parents have identified that with their young children.

Being a child from “Railroad Town,” I used to love to listen from my home for the whistle and horn of the trains making their nightly runs. I can clearly re member my mother reminding me not to be scared because the train workers were awake as they ran through our town. I can clearly re member that as a young child, after hearing the horn of the train com ing through my town, I would drift off to sleep in peace.

I have just skimmed the surface of what this season offers in love and memories for children and families to cling to and have hope. But as I turn older, to hear the sound of the railroad whistle each night still gives me peace for our future. These weeks preceding Christmas, peace and hope are meeting the needs of our children as they see our community come together as we love and care for each other.

Observer Beth Pinyerd

Classroom

BETH PINYERD

Meet Me (for Christmas) at The Station

them know there is people out there like you — that come from here and are suc cessful or can be success ful,” Reese said. “But just looking at the landscape that I come from, there are not a lot of positive, male, Black figures who can relate to the kids on a different type of level. I think it’s important for those kids to see some people like that.”

Finding success with AR Elite, Reese began to think about ways to reach more children outside of basketball.

“Just doing that, and thinking how can I help

more kids outside of the game of basketball … that’s why I talked to people about starting a nonprofit,” Reese said.

Eventually, Reese started The D.A.C. Way. While the nonprofit’s focus is improv ing the overall life skills of the youth of Lee and Macon County, Reese still claims his time as a ball player inspired the organization’s mission.

“Everything I learned through my basketball ca reer is pretty much the foun dation of The D.A.C. Way,” Reese said.

The organization is focused on creating op portunities for change and mentorship anchored in its core values represented

by the acronym — D.A.C. — in the name: disci pline, accountability and commitment.

“When you look at your everyday life, that is what it is all about,” Reese said.

The D.A.C. Way’s princi pal goals are: keeping local children safe, helping them develop confidence, respon sible decision-making and critical life skills, as well as making them feel supported.

The organization plans to achieve these goals through after-school programs, pro moting good nutritional hab its and physical activity, as well as providing job skills and readiness training for those in the juvenile system.

The nonprofit recently launched its afters-chool

program — The D.A.C. Way 101— and a Youth Incarceration Preventative Program (YIPP) to further its attempts at helping local youth.

“Both programs are need ed,” Reese said. “We want to curb some of the violence. We are trying to enhance and empower kids through mentorship, leadership, ed ucation and through life and social skills … just so they can have a better chance of being successful.”

Reese said that The D.A.C. Way also works with the local nonprofit Our House, which is run by Renee Waldrop and has similar goals to Reese’s nonprofit.

“Shout out to Renee,”

Reese said. “They have taken us under their wing as a new nonprofit and kind of showed us the way. We kind of partner with them.”

Through his partnership with Our House, Reese meets with a group of chil dren every Wednesday night at a nearby church basketball gym to play ball, but also to fellowship with and provide a positive outlet for the at tending youth.

“Each time the kids come over they are more talk ative,” Reese said. “They just like coming there to have a place to go … and at the end of the night, I give them pizza. Those days, I see myself in some of those kids. And I didn’t have noth ing like that.”

Reese acknowledges that there are many area nonrofits working toward similar goals as The D.A.C. Way. But he said he’s excited about the two new programs which he hopes will help The D.A.C. Way continue its mission to enhance the positive development of all youth.

“We are not trying to reinvent the wheel,” he said. “I just want to fill in the gaps where the help is most needed. So many kids need help. Of course, we just want to just get out and make a difference.”

To get involved or to learn more about The D.A.C. Way, visit its website www.the dacway.org/.

PHOTOS BY THE CITY OF SMITHS STATION / USED WITH PERMISSION

The city of Smiths Station held its annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Friday, Dec. 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Smiths Station Government Center. Fake snow, fireworks and Christmas cheer was enjoyed by all those in attendance.

L

labama Politics ee County & A

Thursday, Dec. 08, 2022

Inside the Statehouse

Some Legislative Leaders Retire, Pass Away

in that era.

Food Truck Fridays to Continue Through 2023

STEVE FLOWERS

OPINION —

Allow me to share the sto ries of three of my favorite legislative colleagues. Two of these gentlemen are retiring from the Alabama House of Representatives this year, and one passed away in April.

Rep. Victor Gaston of Mobile and Rep. Howard Sanderford of Huntsville are going home. A third legend and true gentle man, Steve McMillan of Baldwin County, passed away during the last ses sion in April.

Gaston is speaker pro tempore of the House. He is retiring after 40 years in the legislature. He decided that, at age 79 and having spent half of his entire life in the legislature, the timing was right to end his career and not run for re election. Gaston, who was an educator by profession and also has family timber interests, lost the love of his life, Jean, only two years ago. They were mar ried for 46 years and were very close. You can tell he misses her immensely. His two sons, Hank and George, have been helpful to him.

Gaston was first elected to the House in 1982. In that year, he was only one of eight Republicans in the 105-member House. His district is an afflu ent silk-stocking area of Mobile, and one of the few areas that voted Republican in local races

He serves as a deacon of the Springhill Baptist Church. Additionally, he is active in Mobile with the Penelope House, Home of Grace for Women and the Mobile Mental Health Center. Besides serving as pro tem in the legislature, he has been active with the American Legislative Exchange Council and is on the State Building Commission.

Gaston and I came to the House as freshmen togeth er in 1982, and we became and remain good friends. I like to give my friends nicknames; I dubbed him, “To the Victor goes the spoils.” He is a formal per son and seemed to enjoy the frivolity of the term. Also in our class were Spencer Bachus, Beth Marietta Lyons and Mo Brooks, to name a few.

My friend, Sanderford, came to the Alabama House of Representatives in January 1989. We became fast friends. He succeeded my friend, Steve Hettinger, who be came mayor of Huntsville. Sanderford has represented the 20th District, which is comprised of southeast Huntsville. He was elected to this very Republican district seven times and has served a total of 33 years. He was a true-blue business Republican who was perfect for that district. He represented his people well with class and distinc tion. Sanderford was an accountant by profession and had a successful career with IBM, retired early and was able to serve in the legislature with ample time and without the need for remuneration.

He is a devoted family man. Sanderford and his wife Dot are very close. She accompanied him to Montgomery most of the time during his 33 years in the legislature. They are active members of

the First Baptist Church of Huntsville. At 87, Sanderford said he felt like it was time to retire from his second career.

Our friend, McMillan of Baldwin County, passed away at age 80 in April after a tough bout with cancer. McMillan was a great man and great legislator. He was a quiet, yet very friendly gentleman. McMillan served with distinction for 43 years in the House of Representatives. He was a very diligent and well-prepared legisla tor. He was extremely conservative in a dig nified way. He was not flamboyant and would seldom go to the well and speak. Yet, when he did, people listened. He was well respected and knew what he was talking about. He exuded class and epitomized the term “gentleman.” McMillan is survived by his wife Gayle, two sons and six grandchildren.

The House is losing a lot of experience and leadership with the loss of McMillan, Gaston and Sanderford.

Coupled with the de cision by Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon to not seek reelection, this will leave a void in the speaker and pro tem posts in the House. In addition, the House is losing veterans Mike Ball (R-Huntsville), Allen Farley (R-Jefferson), L.L. Brown (R-Jacksonville) and Harry Shiver (R-Baldwin).

The state and many of us will miss these folks.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading politi cal columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Flowers may be reached at www. steveflowers.us

BY MICHELLE KEY AND HANNAH LESTER EDITOR@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

OPELIKA —

If you’re a fan of Food Truck Fridays (FTF), then you’re in luck.

The Opelika City Council approved a request from the President and CEO of the Opelika

Chamber of Commerce Ali Rauch to continue Food Truck Fridays through 2023.

Food Truck Fridays is held normally twice a month, on the first and third Fridays of the month along North Railroad Avenue and 1st Avenue, however, for some months of 2023, Food Truck Fridays will only be held

once a month.

FTF is scheduled for the following dates:

- Jan. 20, 2023

- Feb. 3 and 17, 2023

- March 3 and 17, 2023

- April 21, 2023

- May 5 and 19, 2023 - June 16, 2023

- July 21, 2023

- Aug. 4 and 18, 2023

Hot Dogs and Coffee Coming to Auburn

BY HANNAH LESTER HLESTER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

AUBURN—

Want a hot dog in Auburn? A mobile food stand is coming to down town Auburn.

Doggy Dawg Bay re quested a permit from the Auburn City Council to operate a mobile pushcart on North Gay Street.

“I’d just like to say thanks for the opportu nity to be downtown to sell hot dogs and sausages and anything, like cold drinks,” the owner said during Tuesday night's city council meeting.

The owner said that she hopes to be a safe loca tion for college students in the evenings.

“I just want to have a space for [them] to be safe,” she said.

The property is owned by the city, and is located adjacent to the Municipal Parking Deck and Lot at 125 N. Gay St.

The applicant request ed use Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

So if the lines get a bit long at other local restau rants, consider Doggy Dawg Bay, which will be serving hot dogs in the evenings during the week.

Visit the business on Facebook at www. facebook.com/profile. php?id=100086134876948

7 BREW COFFEE: Want local coffee but only have time for a

drive-thru?

The Auburn City Council approved a con ditional use request for a drive-thru-only coffee shop in Auburn — 7 Brew Coffee.

The shop would be located at 1625 E. University Drive.

OTHER BUSINESS:

- The council approved a retail beer and retail table wine license for Da Foodies LLC doing business as Foodies at 1212 Gatewood Drive, Suite B1.

- The council waived residential trash collec tion fees for the 2023 trash amnesty March 13 through April 7, 2023.

- The council approved

PHOTO BY ED SIKORA / FOR THE OBSERVER

Customers line up to enjoy a meal from Butcher Paper BBQ's food truck during a FTF event.

Smiths Station Council Adds Memorial Sidewalk Placards

BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH KENDYLH@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

SMITHS STATION —

At its Nov. 22 meeting, the Smiths Station City Council approved two new placards to be added to the Historic Jones Store Museum Memorial Sidewalk.

The names of the late Bob and Bettie Jackson and Robert “Bob” Sawyer will grace the placards on the sidewalk for years to come.

“In front of The Jones Store, we have 12-inch-by12-inch placards that we [use to] immortalize people that have created and made Smiths Station what it is,” said Mayor F. L. “Bubba” Copeland.

As they have in previous years, the council voted on the latest honorees out of four submissions from the city of Smiths Station’s Historical Commission.

At the same meeting, City Clerk Morgan Bryce read the monthly financial report for the October 2022 General Fund Budget and the quarterly financial report for the Environmental Fund Budget from July through September.

The total net income for the October General Fund Budget was a little over $73,400. The total income, the largest portion of which came from sales and use taxes (almost $66,700), was about $174,700. The expenses totaled almost $105,400.

The total net income for the Environmental Fund Budget was about $8,375. Total income came out to nearly $136,000, while expenses were almost $127,500.

Later in the meeting, the council held an executive session to discuss pending litigation. Following the session, Copeland said the city had received a

BY SEN. TOMMY TUBERVILLE

OPINION —

In 1902, an Alabama woman’s experience on a snowy day produced one of the most commonly used inventions of the modern era. While riding a streetcar in New York City, Mary Anderson noticed that her driver had to frequently get out of the vehicle and wipe snow off the windshield. This sparked an idea that led her to design the first operational windshield wip ers, improving driving con ditions for all drivers who would come after her.

Anderson is just one of many Alabamians whose experiences and ingenuity continue to benefit people across the world. Since our state’s admission into the Union on Dec. 14, 1819, the

letter from a law firm on behalf of a citizen who was seeking “conjunctive relief and other damages” because of “continuous

flooding” allegedly caused by a pipe that was being poorly maintained by the city.

“I personally want to

make the motion that the city of Smiths Station denies this claim, refuses this claim,” Copeland said. The council voiced unanimous support.

In other business, the council took the following actions in November: • amended the master services agreement with ESG Operations Inc. for on-call public works ground maintenance and related services, • amended the solid waste ordinance, Section XII, concerning rates, charges, billing and collection agent for solid waste services and • enumerated the holidays for the city’s 2023 holiday calendar.

Concerning the agreement with ESG Operations, Copeland said the city’s small budget means having an on-call engineering firm — as opposed to a full-time one — is more suitable for Smiths Station.

Celebrating Alabama’s 203rd Birthday

people of Alabama have forged their way into histo ry by overcoming, adapting and pushing onward as leaders. This is evidenced through our rich culture and many contributions to our national security, agri culture industry and inno vative workforce solutions. Whether you are searching for award-winning musical artists, rockets, beaches, football, the peanut capital of the world or sweet tea, the Yellowhammer State continually adds value il luminating Alabama’s past while paving the way for the future.

From the Javelin an ti-tank missiles manufac tured in Troy, to the one-ofa-kind National Computer Forensics Institute in Hoover, Alabamians’ contributions are making

our nation — and world — a safer place to live. The state of Alabama en sures America remains a global leader in space, as Huntsville is home to thou sands of Alabamians work ing at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, one of the largest NASA centers in the United States. Their work was recently broad cast to the world as millions watched the successful launch of Artemis I, mark ing a huge step forward in our mission to return to the moon.

In recent years, Alabama’s automotive manufacturing industry has rapidly expanded, providing our nation with the most up-to-date auto technology. Mobile Bay, an important historical port, is now a leading site

for the production of new steel ships that will bolster America’s military strength around the globe.

Not only is our state on the frontlines of our national defense and cyber security, but food security as well. Alabama’s farmers and agricultural workers, who make up the heart of our local communities, feed, fuel and clothe mil lions of Americans. We lead the nation in several key agriculture production areas, including peanuts, catfish and broiler chicken production.

Alabama is also leading the way with solutions to address high-demand in dustry shortages, such as the Alabama Community College System’s (ACCS) Skills for Success rapid training program. Thanks

to the work of ACCS, students can train for good-paying jobs in in dustries like construction, nursing, trucking, butch ery and avionics. All of Alabama’s community colleges now offer at least one paid, state-registered apprenticeship so that stu dents don’t have to choose between earning a pay check or advanced training. The ACCS is a model for how to solve workforce problems while meeting students where they are.

This month marks our state’s 203rd birthday — a time to recognize our his tory, celebrate our achieve ments, and the Alabamians who daily contribute to Alabama’s overall success. Our state is blessed with many hardworking, talent ed, people whose efforts

“A city budget this small can’t handle some of the operations that we have to call on ESG to help us with, so they do this for us,” he explained. “… They also do several other cities in Alabama, one of them being Opelika, so they do all of Opelika’s operations and part of our operations.”

Copeland also called for the city’s annual audit, which the council supported.

“I believe every dime should be looked at, and everything should be looked over,” he said.

Robinson, Grimes & Company will handle the audit. The report will be given at a meeting in January.

The next council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. Eastern time. Meetings are held at the Smiths Station Government Center, located at 2336 Panther Parkway (Lee Road 430) in Smiths Station.

may often go unrecog nized, but are definitely not unnoticed.

It is an honor to represent the Yellowhammer State in the United States Senate. I will continue to work every day to provide the resources our state needs to continue reaching its full poten tial while defending the Alabama way of life char acterized by conviction, perseverance and pride.

I hope you’ll join me in celebrating our state’s histo ry and how far we’ve come as we look ahead to where we’ll go next.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs and HELP Committees.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CITY OF SMITHS STATION

Photo of pavers on the Historic Jones Store Museum Memorial Sidewalk.

Opelika Kiwanis Learns Importance of Serving

FROM

a contract with Barge Design Solutions to au thorize Amendment 1 to Task Order 31: Auburn University Sub-Basin FY22 SSES Project for $21,000.

- The council approved a contract renewal with cSpire Business for hardware and software technical support for over $71,350.

- The council approved an agreement with Greystar Development and Construction, L.P. for use of a Tower crane for the Heart of Auburn Project at 345 S. College St.

- The council ap proved a contract with McMillan, Pazdan, Smith, LLC for de sign services for the Auburn Public Library Public Restroom ADA Improvements project for $15,750.

- The council ap proved the purchase of a 2023 Ford Explorer from Stivers Ford Lincoln for over $33,400 for the Public Safety Administration.

- The council ap proved the purchase of two 2023 Ford F250 4WD Super Crew pick up trucks from Stivers Ford Lincoln for over

$113,500 for the Water Resource Management Department.

- The council approved the purchase of fencing from the Turner Fence Company for the Margie Piper Bailey Renovation Project for just over $43,000.

- The council approved a contract with Walker Consultants for the Gay Street Municipal Parking Deck Maintenance and Repairs for $39,500.

- The council approved a contract with WOW! for three years of 200 mb fiber ethernet service for the Public Safety Training Center for $25,200.

- The council accept ed drainage and utility easements for Dilworth Development Inc. for property at the terminus of Farmville Lakes Drive for the Revised Farmville Lakes, Phase 7.

- The council accepted public right-of-way and public greenway ease ments for McWhorter Properties-Society Hill Estates LLC for property near the intersection of Society Hill Road and Moores Mill Road for the Glenwood Farm, Phase 1.

- The council accept ed sidewalk, lighting, utility and temporary construction easements, along with approving compensation of over $3,600 for The Villas at

Midtowne Homeowners Association Inc. for property at 1637 Annalue Drive for the Annalue Drive and East University Drive Intersection Improvements Project.

- The council ap proved an appointment to the Public Park and Recreation Board.

- The council ap proved the Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday to ex empt certain items from sales tax from Feb. 24 through Feb. 26.

- The council amended City Code for the 2020 National Electrical Code and 2021 International Residential Code.

- The council ap proved a tax abate ment extension for GE Aviation Auburn at 2400 Innovation Drive.

- The council ap proved a weed abate ment for 923 Holmes Ave.

- The council ap proved a conditional use approval for a per formance residential development for 762 North Donahue MUD at 762 N. Donahue Drive for Matt Cobb, Cobb Engineering.

- The council ap proved a conditional use approval - road service use for a Taco Bell at 1521 E. Glenn Ave. for Tim Manor, Tacala.

OPELIKA COUNCIL >>

- Sept. 15, 2023

- Oct. 20, 2023

- Nov. 17, 2023

- Dec. 15, 2023

“Food Truck Fridays have become wildly popular among area residents and surrounding communities, bringing a diverse crowd, along with diverse food options to drive additional food traffic to our downtown merchants, restaurants and bars & breweries,” Rauch said in her request to the council. “Over the past 10 months, we’ve tested and adjusted our Food Truck Friday plans, and continue to work with our downtown partners to ensure this event is successful to all.”

Another change, in addition to fewer dates, is fewer food truck participants.

OTHER BUSINESS:

- The council held public hearings and approved weed abatement assessments for 414 Ave. A and 308 Brannon Ave.

- The council held a public hearing and approved an amendment to the zoning ordinance: Section 2.2, 7.3C, 7.8. and Section 8.28.3 Medical Cannabis Dispensaries.

- The council held a public hearing and approved an amendment to the zoning ordinance and map for the 3200 block of Columbus Parkway, 209.71 acres from an annexation to a planned unit development.

- The council approved a request for a Christmas golf cart parade from Stoneybrook Subdivision for Dec. 18.

- The council awarded a bid for transformer repair for the Opelika Power Services to Sunbelt Solomon Solutions.

- The council awarded a bid for repair voltage regulators for the Opelika Power Services to Sunbelt Solomon Solutions.

- The council approved expense reports from various departments.

- The council approved the purchase of two 2023 Pitts TA12 TAG Trailers from Thompson Tractor Co. for the Omni contract No. 161534 for the Public Works Department.

- The council approved the purchase of two

Charepoint 250 Charing Stations Fresco Utility Supply, Inc. for the Sourcwell contract No. 051017-CPI for Opelika Power Services.

- The council amended the CDBG PY2020 and PY 2021 Action Plans and Reprogramming of Unused CDBG Funds.

- The council approved an agreement with Seay, Seay & Litchfield, P.C. for the Floral Park renovations and miscellaneous park upgrades.

- The council approved the amended schedule of charges with Active Network, LLC for the Parks and Recreation Department.

- The council approved Amendment No. 1 to I-85 Exit 62 ramp intersections, the U.S. Highway 431/ Fox Run Parkway and U.S. Highway 280 and Columbus Parkway intersections.

- The council approved an application of Certified Local Government Grant for $19,650 with the Alabama Historical Commission.

- The council approved an application for an emergency watershed protection program grant in the amount of $61, 800 and a project agreement for the creek bank restoration at 516 Camelot Way for $82,400.

- The council approved a contract with Hudson Construction Company, Inc for emergency steam repair at 516 Camelot Way for over $79,900.

- The council approved a non-disclosure agreement with Heptagon Information Technology, LLC.

- The council approved a right-of-way encroachment license agreement with Fox Opelika, LLC for The Woods Subdivision entrance sign.

- The council approved a supplemental lease agreement with CSX Transportation for existing parking spaces on North Railroad Avenue between 9th Street and 10th Street.

- The council authorized a sale/ leaseback transaction with Auburn University for property related to the Auburn University Regional Airport and authorized the conveyance of real property to

Auburn University and also suspended the rules and voted to approved an ordinance to authorize the conveyance of the property to Auburn University.

- The council agreed to reappoint John Wesley McCollum Jr. as municipal court judge.

- The council approved The Annual Appropriation Contract for FY2023 with the Arts Association of East Alabama for the amount of $25,000.

- The council approved The Annual Appropriation Contract for FY2023 with the Alabama Council on Human Relations for the amount of $22,500.

- The council approved The Annual Appropriation Contract FY2023 with Employers Child Care Alliance for the amount of $6,000.

- The council approved The Annual Appropriation Contract FY2023 with the Lee County Literacy Coalition for the amount of $3,000.

- The council approved a special appropriation to the Dream Day Foundation for the amount of $2,500.

- The council introduced an amendment for first reading to the City Code of Ordinances for a speed limit change on Waverly Parkway and Hamilton Road from 45 mph to 35 mph.

- The council suspended the rules and voted to approve an ordinance to amend Section 2.2, 7.3C, 7.8 and to add Section 8.28.3 - Medical Cannabis Dispensaries after its first reading.

- The council introduced an ordinance for its first reading to amend the zoning ordinance and map to rezone 209.71 acres of property located at 3200 Columbus Parkway from annexation to a planned unit development.

- The council introduced an ordinance for its first reading to approve the annexation of 209.71 acres located at 3200 Columbus Parkway.

- Per request from the developer, an ordinance to amend the zoning ordinances and map to rezone 8.928 acres located at 1531 and 1617 1st Ave., remained on the table until a later date.

The Opelika Kiwanis Club last week hosted Suzette Bogan with The Salvation Army of Lee County. Bogan spoke about the importance of volunteers with the Salvation Army's bellringing fundraising campaign and the organization's impact. To learn more or to get involved with volunteering, visit The Salvation Army Auburn Alabama on Facebook.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER

Why Do Two Smart Alabama Politicians Disagree About George Soros?

claimed that the Electronic Registration Information Center is a ‘Soros-funded, leftist group.’”

Merrill added: “ERIC was founded by the origi nal seven-member states: Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, Utah, Virginia and Washington with the assistance of Pew Charitable Trusts. Also, ERIC’s operating costs are funded completely by annual dues paid by mem ber states, not by George Soros.”

OPINION —

In the 1972 movie

“The Candidate,” Robert Redford plays an idealistic first-time can didate for the U.S. Senate. He ran a long-shot cam paign and defeated a threeterm Republican. After his win, the Redford character grabbed his campaign man ager for a private talk. As journalists clamor outside the door, the candidate asks his strategist: “What do we do now?” He never gets an answer.

Wes Allen, incoming Alabama secretary of state, is a veteran politician, un like the Redford character.

Allen has been a state rep resentative for four years and the probate judge in Pike County for a decade. He has directed many elec tions. Unlike the new sena tor in the movie, he knows what to do and wants to fulfill his promises to his constituents.

“First and foremost, ERIC was not founded nor funded by George Soros, and to claim oth erwise is either dishonest or misinformed,” wrote John Merrill, current secretary of state, in a February 2022 public let ter. “Representative Wes Allen (R-Troy) falsely

For context, let’s look briefly at HungarianAmerican businessman Soros. Now aged 92, he has donated 64% of his original fortune, which was $8.6 billion. Forbes magazine called him “the most gen erous giver” based on his net worth and the share of it that he has provided to charities and foundations.

He survived the Nazis in Budapest, Hungary, and later studied at the London School of Economics, re ceiving a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in philosophy. By 1954, he was on his way to great wealth. Most of his dona tions have been to the Open Society Foundations, which he founded in 1993.

But Soros became a sub ject of multiple conspiracy

theories — everything from antisemitic (he is Jewish), to having ERIC corrupt ing elections, the latter an idea that Allen believes. Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly gave a nearly 10-minute monologue on Soros’ supposed sins in 2007.

Breitbart News regularly publishes articles blam ing Soros for anything they think might stick. In October 2018, a story in the magazine Fast Company was headlined, “Buckle up! Here’s a timeline of George Soros conspiracy theories.”

The focus is on Soros as a global figure with a strong impact in the world econ omy, as a “puppet master” for various plots.

But as Merrill explained last February, ERIC shows no evidence of fraud. Indeed, this system has op erated in Alabama as a bul wark in election integrity.

“It identified more than 24,000 voter records of po tential duplicate registered voters in which an Alabama voter had duplicate records with potential inaccurate data. Eric helped us match these voter records, and 95% of those duplicate re cords are no longer on the Alabama voter rolls.”

Merrill is concerned that the progress made

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE Patrick Morlan, whose whereabouts are unknown, must answer Roselaure Moran's Complaint and Summons. Said Answer must be filed on or before 01/09/2023 or thereafter a judgment of default may be entered against him in Case No: DR 2022-000048.00 in the Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama. Done this 20th day of October, 2022

Mary Robertson Clerk of Circuit Court Lee County, Alabama

OF COUNSEL: Ben C. Hand 114 North 8th Street Opelika, AL 36801 334-741-4077

Legal Run 11/17/2022, 11/23/2022, 12/1/2022 & 12/08/2022 ---------------

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: SANDRA CLAIRE OLIVER, deceased CASE NO.2022-641

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT TO BE PUBLISHED BY EXECUTRIX

Letters Testamentary under the Last Will and Testament of said deceased having been granted to Jan Harden on the 14th day of November 2022, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Jan Harden, Petitioner Joel Lee W1liiams Attorney At Law 75 North Court Square P.O. Box 446 Troy, Alabama 36081-0446 (334) 566-8484

Legal Run 11/23/2022, 12/01/2022 & 12/08/2022 ---------------

IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: THOMAS E. HANNA DECEASED

Case No.: 2022-602

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to Rodney Hanna, Personal Representative on the 16th day of November 2022, by Honorable Bill English, Judge of Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Rodney Hanna Legal Run 11/23/22, 12/01/2022 & 12/08/2022

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JOAN C. DILWORTH, DECEASED. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA

CASE NO: Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the under signed on the 10th day of November, 2022, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

SUZANNE KING HARRIS and STEPHANIE KING HUGHES

Co-Personal Representatives Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 Legal Run 11/23/2022, 12/01/22 & 12/08/22 ---------------

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF RAYNA L. LOVETT, DECEASED.

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No: 2022-631 Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 7th day of November, 2022, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby

given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

JASON LINING LOVETT and JOHN BARTEE LOVETT, JR. Co-Personal Representatives Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 Legal Run 11/23/2022, 12/01/2022 & 12/08/2022 ---------------

Notice of Action by Publication; Winston A. Felton v. Lisa Hammond et al, Case No.: 43-CV-2022900117.00, was filed in the Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama on to-wit: April 1, 2022 and an amendment to complaint filed on May 20, 2022 seeking by Declaratory Judgment to Quiet Title in rem and for a Sale for Division to the property located in Lee County, Alabama and de scribed as follows:

(Parcel I) Commence at a found iron pin at the Northwest corner of the Southeast Quarter of Section 21, Township 18 North, Range 25 East, Lee County, Alabama, said pin also being the Point of Beginning of the following described property.

From said Point of Beginning, thence North 87 deg. 24’ 02”

East a distance of 1930.14 feet to a found iron pin on the West Right-of-Way line of County Road 191 (80’ ROW); thence, along said West Right of Way, South 06 deg. 43’ 49” West a distance of 250.70 feet to a found concrete monument; thence along said West Right of Way, along a curve to the left with a radius of 1949.93 feet, a chord bearing of South 05 deg. 15’ 06” West a chord distance of 92.88 feet to a point at the intersection of said West Right of Way of County Road 191 and the North maintenance line of County Road 14; thence, along said North Maintenance line, South 88 deg. 09’ 04” West a distance of 178.38 feet to a found iron pin; thence, leaving said North mainte nance line, North 01 degrees 58’ 32” West a distance of

302.56 feet to a found iron pin; thence, South 87 degrees 39’ 42” West a distance of 300.00 feet to a set iron pin; thence, South 02 degrees 00’ 13” East a distance of 300.00 feet to a found iron pin on the said North maintenance line of County Road 14; thence, along said North Maintenance line, South 88 degrees, 09’ 04” West a distance of 125.81 feet to a point; thence along said North maintenance line, along a curve to the left having a radius of 1230.00 feet, a chord bearing of South 78 degrees 19’ 32” West a chord distance of 419.80 feet to a point; thence along said North maintenance line, North 68 degrees 30’ 00” East a distance of 871.93 feet to a point; thence leaving said North maintenance line, North 05 degrees 24’ 30” West a distance of 680,94 feet to the Point of Beginning; all lying in and being a part of the Southeast ¼ of Section 21, Township 18 North, Range 25 East, Lee County, Alabama and containing 16.60 acres, more or less. (Parcel II) Commence at a found iron pin at the Northwest corner of the Southeast Quarter of Section 21, Township 18 North, Range 25 East, Lee County, Alabama; thence South 05 degrees 24’ 30” East a distance of 743.39 feet to a found iron pin on the South maintenance line of County Road 14, said pin being the Point of Beginning of the following described property. From said Point of Beginning, along said South maintenance line, thence North 68 degrees 30’ 00” East a distance of 889.24 feet to a point; thence along said South maintenance line, along a curve to the right with a radius of 1170.00 feet, a chord bearing of North 78 degrees 19’ 32” East a chord distance of 399.32 feet to a point; thence along said South maintenance line, North 88 degrees 09’ 04” East a distance of 124.67 feet to a set iron pin; thence leaving said South maintenance line, South 01 degrees 50’ 56” East a distance of 300.00 feet to a set iron pin; thence North 88 degrees 09’ 04” East a dis tance of 300.00 feet to a set iron pin; thence North 01 de grees 50’ 56” West a distance

with ERIC’s help would be discarded for political expediency, not because of anything Soros did.

“By leaving ERIC for cheap political points, Representative Allen (as secretary of state) could undermine the election security measures that have made Alabama the gold standard for election integ rity throughout the nation,” Merrill said.

Allen will be sworn into office on Jan. 16 and plans to set up a different system. He will use the postal ser vice’s Change of Address program to identify po tential out-of-state voters. He expects to work closely with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency driver license offices and the state Department of Health’s Office of Vital Statistics to maintain voter rolls.

“I have heard repeatedly as I traveled through the state for the last year and a half that people want us out of ERIC,” Allen noted in a press release. “They don’t want their personal information or the personal information of their chil dren to be sent to this outof-state group. I promised I would end our participation and that is what I am taking these steps to do.”

In a profile in the

Alabama Daily News in 2019, Allen explained the two most important things his father points out are needed in a leader. His dad is state Sen. Gerald Allen (R – Tuscaloosa).

“Just seeing his work eth ic and seeing how hard he works has been something that has been passed on to me,” the younger Allen said. “There is no one who outworks him. He has also passed on to me that if you want to do this job and do it well, you have to be a good listener.”

Judging by the quick moves to drop ERIC as soon as he is sworn in in January, and to do so after listening to voters concerned that Soros may have a grip in Alabama’s elections system, Allen will likely be a hands-on secre tary of state.

Greg Markley moved to Lee County in 1996. He has a master’s in education from AUM and a master’s in history from Auburn University. He taught politics as an adjunct in Georgia and Alabama. An award-winning writer in the Army and civilian life, he has contributed to The Observer since 2011. He writes on politics, education and books. gm.markley@ charter.net.

of 300.00 feet to a set iron pin on the South maintenance line of said County Road 14; thence along said South maintenance line, North 88 degrees 09’ 04” East a dis tance of 174.27 feet to a point at the intersection of said South maintenance line and the West Right of Way line of County Road 191 (80’ ROW); thence along said West Right of Way along a curve to the left with a radius of 1949.93 feet, a chord bearing of South 09 degrees 12’ 19” East a chord distance of 765.70 feet to a point; thence along said West Right of Way, South 20 degrees 31’ 00” East a dis tance of 697.28 feet to a point; thence along said West Right of Way along a curve to the left with a radius of 1472.41 feet, a chord bearing of South 36 degrees 40’ 29” East a distance of 817.86 feet to a found concrete monument; thence along said West Right of Way, South 52 degrees 44’ 18” East a distance of 154.57 feet to a point; thence leaving said West Right of Way, South 04 degrees 47’ 28” East a distance of 38.27 feet to a found iron pin; thence South 87 degrees 24’ 21” West a distance of 2641.50 feet to a set iron pin; thence North 04 degrees 52’ 03” West a dis tance of 669.06 feet to a found iron pin; thence North 04 de grees 52’ 03” West a distance of 397.73 feet to a found iron pin; thence North 04 de grees 47’ 25” West a distance of 830.06 feet to the Point of Beginning, all lying and being a part of the Southeast ¼ of Section 21, Township 18 North, Range 25 East, Lee County, Alabama, and containing 100.19 acres, more or less. (Parcel III) Commence at a found iron pin at the Northwest corner of the Southeast Quarter of Section 21, Township 18 North, Range 25 East, Lee County, Alabama; thence North 87 de grees 24’ 02” East a distance of 1930.14 feet to a found pin on the West Right of Way of County Road 191 (80’ ROW); thence North 87 degrees 26’ 22” East a distance of 80.56 feet to a found iron pin on the East Right of Way of said County Road 191; said pin being the Point of Beginning of the following

described property. From said Point of Beginning, leaving said Eight Right of Way, North 87 degrees 25’ 00” East a distance of 496.63 feet to a found iron pin; thence North 87 degrees 25’ 16” East a distance of 143.59 feet to a found iron pin; thence South 04 degrees 47’ 28” East a distance of 2494.36 feet to a point on the East Right of Way of said County Road 191; thence along said East Right of Way, North 52 de grees 44’ 40” West a distance of 83.32 feet to a found con crete monument; thence along said East Right of Way along a curve to the right with a radius of 1397.72 feet a chord bearing of North 36 degrees 38’ 11” West a chord distance of 773.05 feet to a found con crete monument; thence along said East Right of Way, North 20 degrees 31’ 00” West a distance of 697.28 feet to a found concrete monu ment; thence along said East Right of Way, along a curve to the right with a radius of 1880.88 feet a chord bearing of North 06 degrees 59’ 05” West a chord a distance of 878.44 feet to a found concrete monu ment; thence along said East Right of Way, North 06 de grees 45’ 14” East a distance of 262.89 feet to the Point of Beginning; all lying in and being a part of the Southeast ¼ of Section 21, Township 18 North, Range 25 East, Lee County, Alabama, and containing 31.46 acres, more or less.

TO: ALL PERSONS claiming present, future, contingent, remainder, reversion or other interest in said lands or any portion thereof, claiming any title thereto or the lien there on: You are hereby notified that the above-styled action was filed against you on April 1, 2022, and an amendment to complaint on May 20, 2022 and that by Order entered by the Court, you are hereby commanded to plead, answer or otherwise respond to the complaint within 30 days from last publication, the 15 day of DECEMBER , 2022, or thereafter suffer judg ment in rem to be rendered against you because this notice shall

GREG MARKLEY

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PUBLIC NOTICES

be used to perfect service against all parties who cannot be personally served with a copy of the complaint. Your response must be filed with Mary B. Roberson, Clerk, Circuit Court of Lee County, Alabama, Lee County Justice Center, 2311 Gateway Drive, Suite 104, Opelika, Alabama 36801, and served upon attor neys for the Plaintiff, Wilson & Jackson, LLC, 1785 Taliaferro Trail, Montgomery, Alabama 36117. Plaintiff’s Attorney’s phone number is (334) 260-9998. Done this the 14th day of November, 2022. /s/ Mary B. Roberson, Clerk of the Lee County, Alabama, Circuit Court Legal Run 11/23,2022, 12/01/2022, 12/08/2022 & 12/15/2022

---------------

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

ESTATE OF IRENE PHILLIPS EDWARDS, DECEASED PROBATE COURT, LEE COUNTY CASE NO. 2022-639

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Take Notice that LETTERS TESTAMENTARY of the Estate of IRENE PHILLIPS EDWARDS are hereby grant ed to Joe Edwards on the 14th day of November, 2022, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama. Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Joe Edwards

Legal Run 12/1/2022, 12/8/2022 & 12/15/2022 ---------------

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

ESTATE OF WILMA DEAN SPANN, DECEASED COURT OF PROBATE, LEE COUNTY

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

LETTERS TESTAMENTARY of said deceased are hereby granted

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PUBLIC NOTICES

same will be barred.

to the undersigned on the 18th day of November, 2022, by the Honorable Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

JOHN LOUIS SPANN BOBBY SPANN

Legal Run 12/1/2022, 12/8/2022 & 12/15/2022 ---------------

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: THE MATTER OF B.L.F., A MINOR NOTICE OF HEARING

Notice is hereby given that a Petition for Partial Settlement of Conservatorship of B.L.F., a minor, was filed by Conservator, Kenneth R. Ferguson requesting approval of a partial accounting for the period 10/2018 through 12/31/2021. A hearing has been set for the 18th day of January 2023 at 1:00 p.m. central time, electronically via “ZOOM”. Please contact the Lee County Probate Court at 334-737-3670 for access to the electronic hearing should you intend to take part in the hearing of the Petition for Partial Settlement of the Conservatorship of B.L.F. Judge of Probate, Lee County, Alabama

LEGAL RUN 12/01/2022, 12/08/2022 & 12/15/2022

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: The Estate of TIMOTHY PAUL MCCOY. Deceased Case No. 2022-467

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

TAKE NOTICE that Letters of Administration having been granted to AMBER MCCOY, as Administrator of the Estate of TIMOTHY PAUL MCCOY, deceased, on the 28TH day of September 2022, by the Honorable BILL ENGLISH, Judge of Probate.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that all persons hav ing claims against the said Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the

HON. BILL ENGLISH JUDGE OF PROBATE LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA /S/ AMBER MCCOY AMBER MCCOY

Administrator of the Estate of TIMOTHY PAUL MCCOY. Deceased Legal Notice 12/01/2022, 12/08/2022 & 12/15/2022

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF C. NEAL POPE, DECEASED.

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No: 2022-599

Letters Testamentary on the estate of said decedent having been granted to the under signed on the 18th day of November, 2022, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all personshaving claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

VIRGINIA PITTS POPE

Personal Representative Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 12/01/2022, 12/08/2022 & 12/15/2022

STORAGE TREASURES AUCTION

Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below Belonging to those individu als listed below at the location indicated: 1412 Opelika Rd. Auburn, AL 36830 Thursday, December 15 at 10:00 am Unit B27 Unit L145 Unit O178 Unit S340

The auction will be listed and advertised on www.storag etreasures.com. Purchases must be Made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the Transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid

and may rescind any purchase up until the Winning bidder takes posses sion of the personal property. Legal Run 12/08/2022

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MINNIE WILDER, DECEASED. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA CASE NO.: 2022-589 TO: LATOYA CANTRELL MICHAEL WILDER NIALAH PORTER CHERISH WILDER SHANNA WILDER MARILYN CLAYTON DRED WILDER, JR. BRIDGETTE WILDER BEASLEY

NOTICE: On the 11th day of October, 2022, a certain writ ing, purporting to be the Will of MINNIE WILDER was filed in my office for probate by FRED WESTERN and EDDIE MILLER and the 9th day of January, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. was appointed a day for hearing thereof at which time you can appear and contest the same, if you see proper. Given under my hand, the 1st day of December, 2022.

BILL ENGLISH, JUDGE OF PROBATE

Robert H. Pettey Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 3683-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 12/8/22, 12/15/22 & 12/22/22

CITY OF OPELIKA ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT REGULAR MEETING AGENDA

300 Martin Luther King Blvd. December 13, 2022 TIME: 9:00 AM A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

B. VARIANCE

1.Thomas Gamble, 1001 Oak Bowery Road, R-2 zoning district, Requesting a 1.5 foot front yard setback variance from the 35 foot front yard setback requirement to con struct a 30x40 detached ga rage (accessory structure) in the front yard and requesting the garage be located in the front yard.

2.McOne Development, LLC, 2456 Frederick Road, C-2, GC-P zoning district

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a.Requesting permission to install a wall sign on an exterior wall that does not face a street, parking lot, or driveway (primary facades).

b.Requesting a variance from installing the street frontage landscape buffer due to the property's vertical elevation “In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Opelika will make reasonable arrange ments to ensure accessibility to this meeting. If you need special assistance to partic ipate in this meeting, please contact the ADA Coordinator 72 hours prior to the meeting at (334)705-5130.”

Legal Run 12/08/2022

---------------

NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE UTILITIES BOARD OF THE CITY OF OPELIKA, ALABAMA

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the regular December 2022 meeting of the board of directors of The Utilities Board of the City of Opelika will be held on December 19, 2022 begin ning at 3:00 PM, in the board room of the Administrative Building located in the W. Warner Williams Water Resource Park, 4055 Water Street, Opelika, Alabama. The meeting agenda will be posted as specified in State law. This is further to advise that the regular scheduled meeting of the Board for December 26, 2022 has been cancelled.

DATED this the 26th day of September, 2022.

HERBERT SLAUGHTER SECRETARY OF THE UTILITIES BOARD OF THE CLTY OF OPEUK.A, ALABAMA LEGAL RUN 12/08/2022

NOTICE

OF APPOINTMENT ESTATE OF JUANITA J. WILLIAMS, DECEASED COURT OF PROBATE LEE COUNTY

Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 2nd day of December, 2022, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby

given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Witness our hands, and dated this the 2nd day of December, 2022.

ROBERT WILLIAMS Legal Run 12/08/22, 12/15/22 & 12/22/22 ---------------

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT

ESTATE OF MARTHA R. BEASLEY, DECEASED COURT OF PROBATE LEE COUNTY

Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 2nd day of December, 2022, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

Witness our hands, and dated this the 2nd day of December, 2022.

FRANK M. BEASLEY Legal Run 12/08/22, 12/15/22 & 12/22/22 ---------------

IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF EULA MAE PETERS, DECEASED. IN THE PROBATE COURT OF LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA Case No: 2021-671

Letters of Administration of said deceased having been granted to the under signed on the 2nd day of December, 2022, by the Hon. Bill English, Judge of the Probate Court of Lee County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within time allowed by law or the same will be barred.

DEMETRA A. JACKSON Administrator

Robert H. Pettey

Samford & Denson, LLP P.O. Box 2345 Opelika, AL 36803-2345 (334) 745-3504 Legal Run 12/8/22, 12/15/22 & 12/22/22

The He'ART' of Christmas

PHOTOS BY ED SIKORA FOR THE OBSERVER PHOTOS BY ROBERT NOLES / THE OBSERVER

The Auburn Downtown Merchants Association welcomed citizens to the Gay Street parking lot in Auburn on Saturday, Dec. 3 for the annual Holiday Market. Also referred to as the Loveliest Village Holiday Fair, the event was a celebration of past and new holiday traditions, with over 40 local artisans, gifts, food trucks and more present. NOTICE