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.

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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

Just around the corner lies a special fundraiser! Special because it benefits the renovation and transformation of the Miriam S. Brown School into a Community Cultural and Small Conference Center.

Special because it brings together a host of community arts organizations as sponsors: the Arts Association of East Alabama, the Auburn Chamber Music Society, Auburn University Community Orchestra, the Caroline Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities, Envision Opelika Foundation, the Jule Collins Museum of Fine Arts, and special because the featured guest for the evening will be the well-known syndicated columnist and author Rheta Grimsley Johnson.

You know her. You read her every week in the Opelika-Auburn News. She is a 1977 graduate of Auburn University, winner of the 1974-1975 National Pacemaker Award, while on the Plainsman staff, with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for seven years and other regional newspapers prior to that.

Johnson has garnered numerous awards the National Headliner Award for commentary in 1985, the Scripps Howard’s Ernie Pyle Memorial Award for outstanding human interest reporting in 1984 and was designated the Scripps Howard Writer of the Year from 1983-1985.

In 1996, when she delivered the Neil and Henrietta Davis Distinguished Lecture, Dr. Dale Harrison, AU faculty member and immediate-past chair of the Department of Communication and Journalism said, “(her) insightful columns have warmed hearts and households across the country by raising up the ideals we all hold dear and telling timeless stories with an engaging and irresistible voice that is uniquely her own.”

She has authored several books, including “America’s Faces,” “Good Grief,” the authorized biography of Charles Schulz, and the one featured at this fund-raiser.

This “Book and Buffet” event has two editions. If you purchase the first edition, you will be entitled to a lecture by the famed Johnson, “The South Did This To Me;” a copy of the author’s new book, “Poor Man’s Provence,” from NewSouth Books; a book signing; and a buffet of Southern specialties.

The second edition includes all of the above without the lecture.

Why two editions?

Space is limited to only 150 for the lecture and the sponsors wanted more people to be able to meet the author and have the book signed by her. Plus this is a fundraiser and more people equals more funds.

Each edition is priced differently. First editions are, of course, always more expensive.

Johnson credits her love for Cajun country, particularly Henderson, Louisiana, as the inspiration for her new book, saying “I’m uneasy about pretending to understand a culture that is not my own. I’ll qualify it by saying that I’m not an authority… This is just a love story, my love affair with this place, a work-a-day town where they still make their living in the swamp.”

Other special things about this event: catered by the trio of Ursula Higgins, Martha Hicks, and Billy Lee; the place, the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art; the time, First Edition 6:30, Second Edition 7:00; and the date, Aug. 28. Contact: AAEA at 749-8105.

Barbara Patton is executive director of Envision Opelika.

Barbara OA News Articles

Dr. J. W. Darden’s legacy is living on through the restoration of the home where he and his wife lived and where he practiced medicine. The restoration of this house on Auburn Street in Opelika was relentlessly pursued by Dr. Yvonne Brown-Phillips, as she led the efforts and formed many partnerships to make this house come back to life. It was not an easy task but through her, their legacy was preserved.

Now, the house is being used partly as a Wellness Center for the community and the Darden Wellness Committee sponsors monthly educational programs at the facility. This Committee collaborates with other individuals and organizations to host these monthly events and invites citizens to participate and take advantage of what is offered.

The first program for this year was held in March. Thirteen clients visited and heard a brief educational presentation entitled “Stroke Brain Attack.” They also had their blood pressure checked, received educational literature, enjoyed nutritional snacks donated by Wright’s Market and registered for a door prize (a digital blood pressure cuff) which was donated by Bubba’s Medicine Shop.

In April, Lee Russell Council of Governments’ Daphne Farley was on hand to discuss “Medicare Matters” and Roenia Janigan assisted with “Free Prescription Help.”

Then in May, along with the blood screenings, Ms. Janigan returned to discuss the same topic as above and a power point on “Healthy Choices” was also presented.

June was skin cancer awareness with Dr. John Stewart volunteering his services. Dr. Stewart discovered three skin cancers and sent these three people to be treated. Other future programs will feature ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, dental health, diabetes, and “Maintain Your Brain.” All of these events are collaborative efforts of the Wellness Committee, the AU School of Nursing and the EAMC Parish Nurse Program. Peggy Hanson is the leader of the committee and as you can see, she is doing an outstanding job.

Another activity is an upcoming fund-raiser, the J.W. Darden Heritage Festival, under the direction of Nancy Haynes. The festival will be this Saturday (Aug 2nd) from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will be entertainment, children’s activities, prizes and free ice cream for the children. Sausage, hot dog and fish plates are being sold.

Also, the Life South Blood Mobile will be on site. Part of the proceeds raised from this event will go towards the Wellness Center Programs and part will go towards the upkeep of the J.W. Darden House.

At other times, the J.W. Darden House is open for tours by appointment and the facility may be rented for functions under the guidelines established by the Board of Directors. If you are interested in having a function, please contact Harrison Dixon, 937-623-4802, email HPDDIX@AOL.COM or write Box 1581, Opelika 36801.

Barbara Patton is executive director of Envision Opelika.

Barbara OA News Articles

Downtown Opelika continues to evolve and change and it is again becoming more and more an attraction for the community. Downtown is becoming an experience – a place to go for music or an event, to enjoy a unique shop and/or an evening out, a place to see and be seen.

A recent poll conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute asked adult residents of the state of New Jersey about downtowns and the results of the poll might mirror what we would find in Alabama and in Opelika but then again it might not. See what you think.

The downtowns were broken down by region and each region’s list included a mix of traditional urban centers, active destinations, and quiet residential communities. The survey found that each successful downtown in the state of New Jersey appealed to a specific segment of the population and a lot of the downtown areas there were not rising to the top of the favorites list because they really didn’t have an identity and they also lacked cohesiveness in terms of a niche market. The poll found that there is a downtown for everybody, but they are not all in the same place.

They also found that downtowns cater to niche markets much more than they did in the past. We knew that, didn’t we? People are not going downtown for their everyday needs but they are looking for an “interesting experience” so the shops should be unique and be appealing to them. It also found that people are not going to go downtown to go to just one shop so there should be a variety of them in that similar marketplace. That’s sounds familiar also.

The question was asked: “What aspects of downtown do people value?” About 71% said good restaurants are a very important factor in getting them to visit a downtown area. 59% named nice landscaping and 54% said that locally owned unique shops were important qualities. Frequent and infrequent visitors both chose the same qualities to make downtowns attractive. These percentages were an average of age groups beginning 18 and above and three blocks of income groups that would include everyone.

The poll also showed that downtowns have their core base of people that love walking and being in the downtowns, the “sometimers” who appreciate what it offers once a week or once a month, and those that will never be attracted to what is offered. Four in 10 said they visit a downtown at least weekly and that included 16% who shop or dine downtown every few days. Another 30% were monthly visitors and 21%, occasional visitors. 8% said they never shop or dine at a downtown area in the state. Which one are you? What would make you change?

The survey said downtowns need to address a lot of different audiences – residents of the town, current business owners and stakeholders in the town, and also the market that you want to appeal to. Envision Opelika’s One Voice did one survey with the downtown merchants. Perhaps it’s time to do another one with a broader scope and to include telephone interviews and street intercepts along with a written survey. Our downtown should be a draw with appeal to those who want to frequent it. After all, it is our heart.

Barbara OA News Articles

Last year, the Envision Opelika Cultural Diversity/Race Relations Task Force began considering the idea of Opelika becoming known as a City of Character. We looked into an organization that promoted the concept and provided assistance in the process. The idea was presented to the Envision Opelika Board of Directors who endorsed the plan as did the Opelika Chamber of Commerce. At the annual Chamber banquet in February, Bob Young, former mayor of Augusta, Ga, now executive director of the Southeastern U. S. Department City of Character, spoke about Augusta becoming a City of Character while he was in office.

In March, a presentation was made by the CD/RR Task Force to citizens from all segments of our community. The response was very favorable and most committed to being involved in the effort to form a character council. Since then, three meetings of the Opelika Character Council have been held. During those meetings, a Resolution was written and has been accepted by the Chamber of Commerce Board, the Board of Education, and the City Council. Here is the Resolution:

Whereas, we as human beings are not to judge each other based on race, color, gender, or national origin, but by the content of our character; and

Whereas, there is a growing need to emphasize the value and worth of each human being in all sectors of our community; and

Whereas, in the American culture and in our community there is a growing diversity of cultures that may lead to pluralism, not integration of cultures, creating a great need for foundational, principled, and common truths to serve as a unifying element in our community; and

Whereas, there is the potential within a culturally diverse community for its citizens to agree upon certain ethics, values, and character traits that would enhance the worth of every person, and improve life in a community; and

Whereas, there are certain character traits such as honesty, integrity, and truthfulness that all would agree as admirable and desirable human qualities, transcending age, position, financial status, culture, education, gender and personality; and

Whereas, there are already efforts in our schools, organizations, and certain businesses within our community that are educating and promoting character development;

Therefore, be it resolved that by this resolution the leaders of family, government, education, business, industry, media, civic and private organizations, and faith-based organizations, are encouraged to educate and promote character development as a vital ingredient to their operation as a successful enterprise, and for the purpose of creating and preserving a community that is known for valuing the worth and contribution of each person to the effective operation of a family, system or organization.

Be it further resolved, that by joint action of the Mayor and Opelika City Council, Opelika City Schools Board of Education, and the Opelika Chamber of Commerce, that each of these entities hereby agree to actively pursue the resources and programs that are available to have the City of Opelika be known as a city that values the dignity and worth of each of its citizens.

The Opelika Character Council is very encouraged by the response we have received. If you are interested in being involved, you are invited to attend the next meeting of the Council which will be this Thursday, May 10, 5:30 p.m., at the Opelika Depot.

Article from Tom Tippet, Chairman of the Race Relations Cultural Diversity Task Force of Envision Opelika & the Character Council.

Barbara OA News Articles, Race Relations

You may recall an article in this column written about Envision Opelika’s Kick-Off Event in October, 2005 for the Redevelopment of the Miriam S. Brown School into a Cultural Center. Barbara Keel, the artist, was one of the speakers that day and after the event she whispered to me that she was writing a book about growing up in Opelika.  I said “how wonderful” but thought it would be a long time coming.  But it’s here or soon to be!

Barbara brought her draft book to me to read last week and it is truly fun and wonderful.  Because of her memories of her days at the Brown School, she has offered to give a portion of the proceeds from the sale of her book to go towards its redevelopment.  That, too, is exciting!

Barbara has a web site and there you can find one of the chapters from her book, My Back Yard, there. You will also find introductory information on the site that will entice you to want to read it.  It says, “This book is for the child in all of us, the part of us that longs to go back to the days of endless play and stretching our hours to last all summer.” It also says it is, (and it is) “Southern History at its best, from a very imaginative child’s point of view. This book will allow you to “Travel through time, back to 1950’s Opelika, Alabama” and see how “one little girl tries to get every inch out of life in the streets of her own backyard.” Barbara’s backyard had everything a child could have asked for – “playmates, other worlds, adventure, and excitement.  The only thing she would have wished to have done without was the dadblasted switch bush.”  I remember one of those too. Do you?

Let me give you one paragraph that might bring back a remembrance of Opelika or a remembrance of a town that you grew up in: 

Our house was downtown Opelika, Alabama and there were no other houses with kids anywhere near us.  The bus station was to the right, a big white building with one central room filled with uncomfortable chairs and a juke box that churned out every Elvis song on record. There was an office to the rear and a small café to the left of the big plate glass windows flanking the front door.  The comic book stand was there, next to the café, along with candy, gum and newspapers.

The whiskey store and a furniture store were across the street from our house and a little grocery store sat on the corner one block past it, next to the courthouse.  The little grocery had wooden floors, sprinkled with sawdust – fun to mark trails with my shoes as I entered and looked at all the candies and treats.  The drink machine was just a long, low chest that blew out cold air that was visible and held row after row of icy bottled drinks for hot summer quenching.

Look for an announcement soon of a book signing, you don’t want to miss it.

Barbara Downtown Opelika

So many definitions - two very popular ones - Character is who you are when nobody else is watching and Character is the qualities one possesses that determine his/her response regardless of the circumstances.  Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “The ultimate test of a man is not where he stands in the moment of comfort and moments of convenience, but where he stands in moments of challenge and moments of controversy” and the all familiar quote of his dream that people are judged,” not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

Envision Opelika’s Race Relations/Cultural Diversity Task Force thinks it’s time.  It’s time to look forward, it’s time to overcome, it’s time to learn, it’s time to unite, it’s time to be involved, it’s time to care, it’s time to understand, it’s time to make a difference.

Encouraged by those who have already been successful in providing character education and character initiatives in this community, Envision Opelika would like for the City of Opelika to become a City of Character and embrace character education in all facets and aspects of the community.  Coach Spence McCracken and his coaching staff initiated a pilot program with the football team and now the program is being implemented in all of Opelika High School.  The Boys and Girls Club observes Character Counts Week in October using the Six Pillars of Character of the Character Counts! Coalition Program.  Judge Richard Lane recognizes individual students of character.  Just recently when mourning the loss of Ralph Crocker, Coach Marsh said, “ He cared about character development way before athletic development….He instilled what it meant to be a great person ….He will continue to live in the many people that he has touched….” President George W. Bush has publicly stated his desire to build “communities of service and a nation of character.”  Leaders throughout the world are seeing that the challenges they address on a daily basis are essentially character issues.

The Opelika Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Envision Opelika’s vision and invited the former mayor of Augusta to be the featured speaker at the annual Chamber of Commerce dinner last week.  He related how Augusta became a City of Character, the steps that were taken, and said that, “the character of a nation can only be strengthened one person at a time, one community at a time.” 

Many individuals have already expressed an interest in being involved in this effort and a Character Council is in the process of being formed.  Several meetings have been held and follow-up meetings are on the docket.  If this is something that you, your business, church, or organization would like to know more about or be involved, please contact the Envision Opelika office at 705-5138.

Also, you are invited to attend a program entitled “Simply Character” this Thursday, February 8 at Greater Peace Baptist Church featuring skits by the Black Heritage Association at 6:30 that the Race Relations/Cultural Diversity Task Force is sponsoring.

Promoting a character emphasis in Opelika will make a lasting investment in our community.  It’s time!

Barbara OA News Articles, Race Relations