Envision Opelika

unity-run-2010-race-flyer A Unique Run with a Great Mission: To strengthen relationships among citizens of all cultures in our community. Proceeds benefit Character Education and Opelika Reads.

Unique Feature of the 5K and 1-Mile. We encourage pairs of runners of different races or cultures to be linked together at the wrist (Velcro links provided) promoting teamwork and building relationships. Discounts for runners who choose this option.

The race is Saturday, March 27, 2010. The 5K – 8:00am and the 1 Mile – 9:30am. Parking at Opelika Municipal Recreation Center, 1102 Denson Drive. Race starts at Park Road parking lot, across the street from the Recreation Center.

Registration forms will be available on this website, Monday, March 8th, after 5PM. Thanks!

Barbara Race Relations Race Relations, Unity Race

Envision Opelika Foundation, Inc. and The Arts Association of East Alabama present “The Civic Chorale, Short & Sweet”, a concert of Greatest Hits, not too short-just right on Sunday, September 27th at 4PM. Concert will be in The Opelika Cultural Center Auditorium A Community Cultural and Conference Center(formerly Brown School), 1103 Glenn Street in Opelika. Reception following the program Compliments of Jimmy’s.

Barbara Southside Opelika brown school, music

Downtown Opelika has seen many new businesses open their doors over the last few years creating vibrancy in the city’s core. The City and Envision Opelika intend to promote additional growth and economic development downtown, creating a valuable business and leisure resource for the community. The City of Opelika and Envision Opelika have partnered together and hired Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood to develop a Development Plan that will guide the process of bringing businesses and residents back to downtown. They will be meeting with the public, government officials, community organizations, business owners and other groups to develop the draft Development Plan between May 18th and May 21st. There will be 3 opportunities in May for the public to participate in the planning process. Anyone interested in affecting the future of downtown Opelika may attend.

Monday, May 18th - 5:30pm-7pm
- Find out about the planning process in an opening lecture
- Council Chambers, City Hall (204 S. 7th Street)
- Light refreshments will be served

Wednesday, May 20th - 5:30pm-7pm
- Open house where you can see the plan progress to-date
- There is no presentation so please come at a time that is convenient
- Miriam S. Brown School (1103 Glenn St)

Thursday, May 21st - 5:30pm-7pm
- Presentation of the draft recommendations from the Development Plan
- Council Chambers, City Hall (204 S. 7th Street)

Barbara Downtown Opelika

Two by Two Unity Run has been rescheduled to Saturday, May 9, 5 K at 8:00 and 1 Mile Run, Walk, Wheel at 9:30

Barbara Race Relations

The past few weeks we’ve had some problems with the Envision Website.  After working thru issues this past weekend, all the content that was here returns and will be updated with additional catchup material in coming days. However, the old look, or template is gone! This may or may not be the final look, but it’s back and content will again be current. ~ Jerry

Jerry About Our Site

I know that when I supported the establishment of the third Historic District in Opelika, I did find that not everyone agreed with my position.  Now I find myself on the Opelika Historic Commission, which has its fans and foes.  When you discuss history, whether is the preservation of an old house that some may think would be better gone, or parts of our past that you feel the same about, then you’ll draw some additional attention.

Recently, Frank White, the Executive Director of the Alabama Historic Commission spoke to members of the Opelika Historic Preservation Society open meeting.  After the meeting I had some additional thoughts.

I got the impression that while Alabama is rich is history, that history that doesn’t always please the entire population.  One group supports the history of the Civil Rights movement and another, the history of the Civil War. Add to that, the past month celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,  the swearing in of President Barack Obama, the anniversary of events in Selma and Black History Month.  That’s a lot of history and a lot of emotion on both sides of the discussion.   Probably for someone reading this, you have your favorites from this list and your least favorite. And I’m okay with that.

As the Azalea Trail Maids passed the reviewing stand during inauguration day activities, the Obama family waved and smiled, while Alabama’s NAACP President Edward Vaughn, had complained earlier that the costumes worn by the girls reminded him of the days of “Gone with the Wind” and slavery. He later apologized for the comments.  On the other side of the coin, I suspect there are some confederate historians, that find the historic events of Selma and the Edmund Pettus Bridge offensive or at the least, events not on their historic calendar. And while the birthday of General Robert E Lee was celebrated on the King Observance Day, remember that Lee said this after the war, “I am rejoiced that Slavery is abolished. I believe it will be greatly for the interest of the South”. Maybe we can just use one of the words common to both groups and just try and be “Civil”.

So, where am I going with this?  I think we should honor all history.  Remember all of it, whether it was painful or not for your particular group. There are many lessons in those hard fought years. Life is pretty complicated, and we should learn to live in a group that doesn’t have to be Red or Blue or Black or White.  Or is it Red & White and Black & Blue. 

In past weekends, I found myself glued to the History Channel and series on the war in the Pacific.  You could get emotional watching the events as they unfolded. Many died on both sides.  But when it is all said and done, I’ll still go to my neighbor of Japanese descent Hiro Fukai’s house, cook some chili and watch TV on Wednesday Nights. We can just all get along!

Jerry Katz is a supporter of Envision Opelika and writes a monthly column for the OA News as part of Envisions contibution to the newspaper.  

Jerry Race Relations

As I approached this column, I thought about some New Years Resolutions, but since I can’t ever seem to keep them, especially the one about loosing weight I figured I’d go in another direction for the beginning of the New Year.   Some of you probably got a new calendar, either on your wall or part of your planner.  So today I’ll give you some things to post for the coming year.  I guess it’s my “Save the Date” look ahead.

I’ll start with today’s official kickoff of the Lee County Red Cross Heroes campaign at the Hilton Garden Inn. You probably won’t add it to the calendar at this point, but if you have the time and would like to be a part of this annual fund raiser, then join them between 4 and 6 this afternoon. Opelika’s Electronics Recycle Day is the 17th. Then the City of Opelika and the Dream Day Foundation will have a special observance of Martin Luther King Day at the Performing Arts Center on Monday, January 19th.  This event is moving from Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church due to ever growing crowds that attend.   More information can be found on the city’s website.  Of course history will be made on the next day, January 20th with the inauguration of Barack Obama as our 44th President. 

Jumping ahead to March you’ll find several events. On Saturday the 14th  it’s the Lee County Red Cross Heroes Take Flight at the Robert G. Pitts Airport. Its lots of fun for kids of all ages and I certainly enjoyed my flight aboard DC-3 that windy morning last year. Maybe it won’t be so cold for this year’s event.  Spring Break begins Monday, March 16th then Opelika High School Theatre Department opens Les Miserable’s on March 27th and Keep Opelika Beautiful Garden in the Park is the 28th.  I enjoy that event, but will be off for a special event for me, my 40th High School Reunion in Thomson, Georgia.  I wonder if anyone else has gained a few pounds.

April brings Easter on the 12th, Earth Day on the 22nd and Auburn Cityfest on April 25th.  If you’ve been a fan of downtown Opelika’s On the Tracks, the food and wine event each fall, you’ll be pleased to hear that this year it’s on the calendar twice.  The spring event will be May 1st.  Mothers Day is May 10th.  Auburn has an event that I would love to see expanded to Opelika.  I had discussed with some biking friends last year. I could devote more on this and will in coming months.  Auburns Bike to Work & School Competition is May 15th .School is out for the summer on the 21st for Opelika and Lee Scott and the 22nd for Auburn and Lee County.  Gosh, I find myself out of room and only half done with the year, but this should give you a few things to watch for.  I’d like to wish you a happy and safe New Year.  See you next month.

Jerry Uncategorized

The ladies walked into the Tavern.  They were wearing the finest of Victorian wear for the time. They were joined a few moments later by a gentleman friend. They talked, commented on the fashions of others there. I don’t think they were fond of what was worn by some of the ladies present that night. They laughed. After a short time, the gentleman glanced at his watch, as remembering he had another engagement near. Then, in a few minutes, he left saying “He must catch the train.”  Just a minute after he departed, the horn sounded as a train sped thru downtown Opelika on its way north. It was December a few years ago. But not one hundred twenty years ago, it was just two years ago.  You might encounter these Victorian friends again in the next few weeks. Well, maybe, if you see ghost!

Opelika isn’t the only city with stories of ghost in old buildings.  Several owners of shops on Railroad Avenue can tell you of lights cut off at night, only to be found “on” in the morning. I’ve seen the shadow of a shop owners wife pass in the dimly lit store, only to discover she’s not working that day and isn’t in the shop. I would have bet a hundred dollars that she was hiding behind the wall. Then the story of the bartender that hears glasses being pushed off shelves, only to walk to the bar and find no one there to do the deed.  Or me hearing the footsteps from above the ceiling, then learning that the second floor was empty of life.  

So now, how do I explain that someone saw the ghost? There are people that see ghost you know.  I know we normally bring out stories of ghost or spirits each Halloween, but this appearance at the time of the Victorian Front Porch tour, seemed worthy of mention again. And who is the person who saw this Victorian Trio.  Not some crazed lunatic, but a responsible working member of the community.  I was at Eighth and Rail the night that friend Beth Witten and her husband Steve, when she asked the question, “Did you see that?” For it was Beth that saw (and felt) the ladies brush past her. And in just another moment, another figure of the gentleman, who joined the ladies.   

I thought it was interesting that this sighting was during the time of the Victorian Front Porch Tour in Opelika that year. Does this mean that other spirits come out for this holiday celebration? Well, I would offer this up for thought.  If you walk the Victorian Front Porch Tour and see a couple down the street, but as you turn back, they are no longer there, you may have seen a ghost of Christmas Past.  Now if you come upon the gentleman with the British accent and younger Victorian wife, it’s probably just George Purves and wife Debbie. They’re not ghost! Happy Holidays Folks, see you next year!

Jerry Downtown Opelika, OA News Articles

Although I didn’t grow up in Opelika, I did seem to find myself near the railroad and that whistle of the train throughout my early life. Just two blocks off the main drag in Madison, Ga, the train would cross a tressel just beyond the Ice House during my elementary school days. It was about that time, our class rode the famed Nancy Hanks all the way from Atlanta to Hapeville (well at that age it seemed a pretty long trip).   In Thomson, Georgia when I was in Junior High, we’d get a cherry Coke at the Rexell Drug Store (made from scratch those days) and sit by the REA Express Office and watch the freight trains pass thru town and count the cars in the mid 1960’s. In the 70’s, Savannah painted a special engine to shuffle freight loads up and down River Street just feet from the door of The Exchange, a favorite watering hole. And now in Opelika I hear the night call of the trains heading all directions from my south side home.

Some nights, the whistle, which is really a horn, sounds like a song as it nearly, wakes me from deep sleep. After a few years living downtown, I can generally tell where the train is in relation to the horn blow.  It approaches Pepperell with the first warning, then at Thomason by the self storage place, on to west of the old Opelika Mill, then the clatter as it crosses the frog (officially called an interlock) before it’s assault on downtowns 9t, 8th & 7th Street. 

In cities, large and small, since 1990’s, residents have been working to silence the train horn in residential and business areas.  As Opelika’s downtown continues to add second floor condos, city leaders might consider actions to silence the horn and eliminate some of the noise pollution. It’s an easy, if not costly project to create Qafuiet Zones. By definition, a quiet zone is a railroad grade crossing at which trains are prohibited from sounding their horns in order to decrease the noise level for nearby residential communities. The train horns can be silenced only when other safety measures compensate for the absence of the horns. By adding crossing gates that block all lanes on both sides of the track, you make it impossible for a car to drive around and find it on the tracks. With these economic times, this project probably isn’t going to get much traction right now, but it should be considered in plans for the next five to eight years. 

Some train horn facts: A blast from a 110-decibel train horn is similar to the roar of a jet flyover at 1,000 feet or the amplified music of a rock band.

Currently trains are required to sound the horn for 15 second before a crossing with two long, one short and one long blast.  As anyone downtown can probably confirm, each conductor has his own way of sounding that horn.

Jerry Downtown Opelika, OA News Articles

Look who’s in the paper today. When Envision Opelika’s Barbara Patton asked if I’d be interested in writing a column each month for the paper as part of that groups contribution to the community I said I’d gladly do it.  I hope to use the five hundred words carefully each month to highlight some good ideas.  Not so much my ideas, but thoughts of friends, ideas that work their way into conversation from time to time while leaning on the bed of a red pickup, standing on Railroad Avenue watching trains pass or sitting in an old wooden rocker on neighbor’s porch.  Friend, and Arlo & Janis creator Jimmy Johnson, would probably say this is a great opportunity for me to share my great spelling skills with the world. As you’ve probably already guessed, I’m a horrible speller. Co-worker Scott will now have another public voice to help spread the word of local biking and projects to make it better, like more bike trails in Opelika.  Barista friend Dennis would hope I would share the glory of the freshly roasted bean. Average Joe, who I’ve know my nearly 13 years in Opelika, might wish I don’t do anything to get him trouble with the publisher of this fine local paper. Redman might hope to finally learn something about football because we know my knowledge base in sports is far superior to his. Jeff who daily manages vegetation would probably like to share the story of big business that most folks don’t even know exist in Opelika and it’s not in the industrial park New friend Jacquetta will have one more voice to help put the “work” in NeighborWorks. Shirley Flora would hope I use these printed words to Keep Opelika Beautiful. Richard would want me to tell the story of the train horns, wine trails and the perfect lemon drop. Bill at work would want to share his latest technology find, the fax machine. Velinda might expect more kind words about downtown business. My neighbors might like to hear their story, a story of a flight attendant, a hair dresser, a rock & roller, an adventure racer, a graphic artist, a crazy (in a good way) British doctor and his young beautiful wife, a dog that understand commands in Japanese, an educator or the story of a painted man on a Tiger. And I would ask you read carefully, as I’ll try and place extra thoughts that won’t fit in the five hundred words somewhere in between the lines.

So with tongue in cheek, some broken potato chips on the keyboard and occasional assistance from a friend named Sam, I’ll embark on this new adventure. And maybe one day Paul Davis, who I consider to be a master of the written word, will give me a “thumbs up” and I will have formally arrived in world of print. Thanks for the opportunity of service in this way. PS - Buck’s Pocket is very nice this time of year.

Jerry Uncategorized