Week of Oct. 27, 2008 — Meetings, events & Updates
WEEK OF OCT. 27 – MEETINGS, EVENTS & UPDATES:
OCT 30 = DEADLINE TO REQUEST ABSENTEE BALLOT
Application form available from the circuit clerk’s office (334-737-3543/ 334-737-3635 in Lee County). Note: The completed ballot must be mailed in time to reach the circuit clerk by noon, Nov. 4 or hand delivered by the voter by 5 p.m. Nov. 3.
NON-PARTISAN INFO ON THE ALABAMA JUDICIAL RACES: http://www.lwval.org/
POLLING LOCATION INFO: Polling Location Information Available Online
GROUPS TO DETERMINE HOW TO MEASURE WATER FOOTPRINT
Read full story at: http://www.wwn-online.com/
Seven global groups, including the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, joined forces to set up the Water Footprint Network, with the aim of working toward a common approach to water footprint measurement, accounting, and reporting. Globally, per capita availability of freshwater is steadily decreasing. Â Membership of the Water Footprint Network is open to those working on water resources management: academic institutions, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, public utilities, and UN organizations. Partner registration will start in a few weeks’ time and will be announced on the network’s Web site. The public launch of the network will be in December.
FIND INFO ABOUT YOUR WATERSHED
Use the EPA’s “Surf Your Watershed” at http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/
TOOMER’S CORNER OAK SEEDLINGS ON SALE
The School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences will sell Toomer’s Corner oak trees Saturday, Nov. 8, at the school during its homecoming. The seedling trees sell for $60 each and are direct descendents of the two oaks at Toomer’s Corner. The trees come with a certificate of authenticity, which tells the history of the Toomer’s Corner oak trees, planting instructions and a roll of Auburn toilet paper. Proceeds from the trees are divided among the Forestry Club, The Wildlife Society and the Toomer’s Oak Leadership Endowment for scholarships. You may also purchase a Toomer’s Corner Oak online by logging on to www.TigerRags.com or by calling 844-1001.
CITY OF AUBURN / CONSTRUCTION PROJECT STATUS REPORTS (updated weekly)
PUBLIC WORKS: www.auburnalabama.org/pw/
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: www.auburnalabama.org/wrm/
THROUGH NOV. 20  — BEAT BAMA FOOD DRIVE KICK-OFF
The Beat Bama Food Drive will kick off on the Samford Hall lawn and run through Nov. 20. Drop-off locations for canned goods will be set up around campus and there is a Web site (http://www.beatbamafooddrive.
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MONDAY, OCT. 27 — LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONÂ Â www.leeco.us
4:00 pm — work session / 6:00 pm — regular session
Held in the commission chambers, Opelika Courthouse, 215 S. 9th Ave, Opelika. Open to all.
Agenda includes:
6. Reports from Staff:
a. November 4th General Election – Judge English
b. Legislative Meeting Update – Wendy Swann
7. CONSENT AGENDA:
a. Minutes of Commission Meeting October 14, 2008
b. Ratify and Approve Claims
c. First Reading of the EA Mental Health Board & the Lee-Chambers Utilities District
8. OLD BUSINESS:
a. First Reading of the Cemetery Preservation Committee – Commissioner Holt
9. NEW BUSINESS:
a. Proposed 40 Acre Land Purchase for Beulah Recreation – Jerry Southwell
a. Smiths Senior Center Usage Agreement with City of Smiths Station – Judge English
b. Agreement for Records Management System for Sheriff’s Office-Roger Rendleman
c. Procurement Card Proposal – Roger Rendleman
d. Educational Reimbursement – Roger Rendleman
10. Discussion Items. 11. Adjourn
MONDAY, OCT. 27, 7:00 PM — LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF EAST ALABAMA
Topic: Carbon Footprints/Sustainability  Speakers; Matt Williams & Dr Lindy Biggs/ AU Sustainability Initiative
Held at the East Alabama Health Resources Center, Pepperell Parkway, Opelika. Open to all.
Dr. Lindy Biggs and Matt Williams will share with LWV their work at AU’s Sustainability Initiative. The mission of the Initiative is “To educate about sustainability, to promote sustainability practices both on and off campus, and to provide resources and support for people who wish to incorporate sustainability practices into their work and life.” By sustainability is meant meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Dr. Biggs, Director of the center, has a PhD from MIT in History of Technology and Environmental History. Matt Williams, the Project Coordinator, has a BS and MS in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from Univ of FL plus graduate work at Auburn in geotropically ecology and conservation. He joined the center summer, 2006. These speakers provide an opportunity for becoming familiar not only with the work of the Sustainability Initiative but what each of us can do toward that end.
TUESDAY, OCT. 28 , 8:30 am — FOREST ECOLOGY PRESERVE AUTUMN WALKS
Held at the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve (North College Street just past the Auburn fish ponds on the right). Meet at the Pavilion. Free & open to all; no reservations required. Cancelled if rain. https://fp.auburn.edu/
Autumn walks will be held every Tuesday and Thursday at the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve at 8:30 a.m. Walks are geared toward exercise and enjoying the preserve’s fall beauty. Walks will last approximately one hour. Info:Â Jennifer Lolley at 707-6512. The preserve is open seven days a week from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
TUESDAY, OCT. 28, 10:00 AM — PERMANENT JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY / RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE
Held in room 123, House Judiciary Committee Room, Alabama State House, Mont. Open to all. Ph: 334-242-7600
TUESDAY, OCT 28, 3:00 pm — OPELIKA PLANNING COMMISSION
Held at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika Public Works bldg. Open to all. www.opelika.org
Agenda includes:
A. PLATS (preliminary and prel & final) – Public Hearing
1. The Willows S/D, 4 lots, Lee Road 730, Kevin J Sexton, P/F approval.
2. John W. Harris S/D, 4 lots, Lee Road 146, Â John W. Harris, P/F approval.
3. Gateway Park S/D, 2 lots, Columbus Parkway, J Newell Floyd et al, P/F approval.
4. Capps-Palmer S/D, 1st Addition, 7th revision, 2 lots, Gateway Drive, Stephen Benson, P/F approval.
5. The Cottages at Fieldstone S/D, Phase III, 60 lots, Cobblestone Drive, DRI Fieldstone LLC, P/F approval.
B. ADMINISTRATIVE PLATS (RATIFY)
6. Tiger Town S/D, 2 lots, Interstate Drive, Tiger Town LTD, Ratify.
C. CONDITIONAL USE
7. J Newell Floyd, 1700 block Columbus Parkway, C-3, GC-2, Construction Equipment Rental (Tabled at Sept 23rd PC meeting)
D.  REZONING-PUBLIC HEARING
8. Margaret Thomas, 716 Powledge Avenue,from R-3 to R-4M
9.  Dudley Holdings & Investments LLC, 214 North 10th Street, from R-2 to C-2
10. Pine Lake Property LLC, Anderson Road, from PUD to R-1
11. Amend Opelika Zoning map adding GC-2 (Gateway Corridor Overlay – 2) zoning district on Society Hill Road from the Interstate 85 bridge to Gateway Drive and adding GC-2 on Gateway Drive from Society Hill Road to Highway 51 E.  ZONING ORDINACE TEXT AMENDMENTS (Public Hearing)
12. (a) Amend Zoning Ordinance Section 6.4 Purpose and Intent of Zoning Districts – add new district: Office Limited (O-L) zoning district.
(b)Â Â Amend Zoning Ordinance Section 6.1 Districts – add Office Limited (O-L) district.
(c)Â Â Amend Zoning Ordinance Section 7.3 Specific District Regulations, Paragraph A District Regulation add yard and area requirements for Office Limited District and Paragraph C Use categories- add allowed/conditional/prohibited land uses in the Office Limited District
(d)Â Â Amend Zoning Ordinance Section 9.7 General Business Signs- add sign regulations for the Office-Limited District
13.  Amend Public Works Manual-Section 4.5.3. Street Name Signs.
14.  Amend Subdivision Ordinance-Section 4.4 Final Plat Approval, Subsection B. Improvements and Subsection D. Final Plat Requirements to include language on street name signs and time extension on infrastructure improvements
TUESDAY, OCT. 28, 7:00 PM — ENVIRONMENTAL MOVIE: KING CORN
Held at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) Hall,450 E. Thach Ave. Free & open to all.
In King Corn (88 min.), two college students go on a quest to find out where America’s food comes from. By planting an acre of corn they follow its fate from seed to harvest and beyond. They learn how genetically modified seeds perfectly match up with specific herbicides. Biting into a corn ear, fresh from their field, they are surprised that it does not taste very good. Eventually they discover that it is not meant to be for human consumption, and the term “corn-fed beef” gets a whole new meaning. Then they turn their kitchen into a chemistry lab and produce high-fructose corn syrup. Are you reading the label of ingredients on the food you serve for dinner? Did you notice how limited your choices are in the grocery store if you try to stay away from corn syrup? Don’t miss the movie. It is excellent! You can read more and watch a segment on: http://www.pbs.org/
TUESDAY, OCT. 28 , 7:00 pm – AUBURN BIKE COMMITTEE www.auburnalabama.org/cycle/
Held in the conference room, Development Services Bldg, 171 N. Ross St. Open to all.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29, 8:00 – 10:00 am — AUBURN-OPELIKA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION BOARD MEETING
Held in the LRCOG Conference Room, 2207 Gateway Drive, Opelika. Ph: 334-749-5264. Â Open to all. More info: Suzanne.Burnette@adss.alabama.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29, 2:00 – 5:00 pm – JCSM FILM SERIES: FORTY YEARS LATER: 1968 / Film: Under the Pavement Lies the Strand
Held at AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, auditorium. Free & open to everyone.
This fall, faculty at Auburn University will present a fall film series, “Forty Years Later: 1968,” with three films that explore key political, scientific and artistic innovations of the year 1968. Sponsored by AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, College of Liberal Arts, College of Sciences and Mathematics and the Departments of English, Foreign Languages, History and Political Science. (Note: Nov. 19 film showing — 2001: A Space Odyssey)
THURSDAY, OCT. 30 — LAST DAY TO OBTAIN AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
THURSDAY, OCT. 30 , 8:30 am — FOREST ECOLOGY PRESERVE AUTUMN WALKS
Held at the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve (North College Street just past the Auburn fish ponds on the right). Meet at the Pavilion. Free & open to all; no reservations required. Cancelled if rain. https://fp.auburn.edu/
Autumn walks will be held every Tuesday and Thursday at the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve at 8:30 a.m. Walks are geared toward exercise and enjoying the preserve’s fall beauty. Walks will last approximately one hour. Info:Â Jennifer Lolley at 707-6512. The preserve is open seven days a week from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
THURSDAY, OCT. 30, noon – ART MUSEUM / A LITTLE LIGHT MUSIC
Held at AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts. Free & open to all.
Enjoy lunch in the museum café on Thursdays while the lovely sounds of local musicians echo through the museum. Sponsored by the Auburn Chamber Museum Society.
THURSDAY, OCT. 30, 6:00 – 8:00 PM – CITY OF AUBURN DOWNTOWN TRICK-OR-TREAT
City of Auburn’s Downtown Trick-or-Treat to be held Oct. 30
FRIDAY, OCT. 31,  9:00 – 4:00 —- WAR EAGLE NATIVE AMERICAN FESTIVAL
Held at AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts. Free & open to all.
 Celebrates the history and culture of Southeastern indigenous peoples with traditional singers, musicians, dancers, artisans, food, and living campsites. The festival is a great educational opportunity for children. More info: Amanda Carr
Phone: 334-844-2976; E-mail: carrama@auburn.edu.
FRIDAY, OCT. 31, 10:00 AM — PERMANENT JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY / BIOFUELS AND ALTERNATIVE ENGERGY SUBCOMMITTEE
Held in the Alabama State House, Mont. Open to all. Ph: 334-242-7600
FRIDAY, OCT. 31, 7:30 pm — GNU’S BREW
Held at the Gnu’s Room, 414 S. Gay Street, Auburn. Free & open to all. www.thegnusroom.com
The Gnu Brew for October is actually a GNU BOO! since it falls on Halloween this year. In honor of this, we welcome actor/director/storyteller Belinda Clayton. Belinda is a cum laude graduate of Auburn University with a major in Business Ed and a minor in theatre. As a student she worked extensively with the Forensics team competing in events such as Poetry and Prose Interpretation, and Reader’s Theatre. She has traveled from New Hampshire to California working with local community theaters, and she presently takes part in acting and directing with the Auburn Area Community Theatre. She will be presenting some spooky stories from Alabama and beyond, all performed by candlelight. Please feel free to come wearing a costume and get in the “spirit” of the evening!
SATURDAY, NOV. 1, 8:30 – 3:00 PM —- ALABAMA WATER WATCH / WATER CHEMISTRYÂ MONITORING WORKSHOP
Held at AU’s Upchurch Hall, room 246. Workshop Contact Phone: 888-844-4785. https://aww.auburn.edu/
Trainer(s) Sergio S. Ruiz-Córdova & Jayme Oates.
SATURDAY, NOV. 1, 9:00 – 4:00 —- WAR EAGLE NATIVE AMERICAN FESTIVAL
Held at AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts. Free & open to all.
 Celebrates the history and culture of Southeastern indigenous peoples with traditional singers, musicians, dancers, artisans, food, and living campsites. The festival is a great educational opportunity for children. More info: Amanda Carr
Phone: 334-844-2976; E-mail: carrama@auburn.edu
SATURDAY, NOV. 1, 3:00 – 5:30 PM —- ALABAMA WATER WATCH / BACTERIA MONITORING WORKSHOP
Held at Upchurch Hall, AU. Workshop Contact Phone: 888-844-4785. https://aww.auburn.edu/
Trainer(s) Sergio S. Ruiz-Córdova & Jayme Oates.
SATURDAY, NOV. 1, 6:30 – 9:30 PM — AUBURN ARTS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP “PICASSO” PARTY
Held at Greystone Mansion, 434 E. Magnolia Ave. Public is invited  to renew membership or join.
Picasso-style attire encouraged. Event includes wine-tasting with wines from Fine Wines and Beer by Gus. http://www.auburnarts.org/
SATURDAY, NOV. 1, 7:00 pm – THE GNU’S ROOM / WORDS CAFÉ LIVE
Held at the Gnu’s Room, 414 S. Gay Street. Ph: 334-821-5550. Free & open to all.
Words Café Live offers an open-mic opportunity for anyone who would like to participate. You do not have to be published to share your thoughts and words with those in attendance. Or simply be surrounded by words as you absorb what is shared by poets, literary artists, spoken word artists and storytellers from Auburn and beyond.
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Thanks for your interest and support.
Email: placeforum@gmail.com
Web: http://placeforum.org/blog/
Oct. 27, 2008
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