Week of Nov. 30, 2009 — Meetings, events & updates
Week of Nov. 30, 2009 — Meetings, events & updates
Meeting details, dates and/or locations are subject to change, especially during the holiday season, sometimes with little notice. When possible, such changes will be sent via PLACE email and/or posted on the PLACE website http://placeforum.org/blog/.
COLUMN BY LISA BROUILLETTE: PROPERTY DE-ANNEXATION IN AUBURN RAISES EYEBROWS
First published Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 in The Opelika-Auburn News.
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ONGOING THROUGH SATURDAY, JAN. 23 — JCSM EXHIBIT: ADVANCING AMERICAN ART
Held at AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Free & open to all. www.jcsm.auburn.edu
Info: http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/news/1219
The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University will exhibit a selection of some of the museum’s most treasured pieces from its “Advancing American Art” collection Oct. 24 through Jan. 23 in JCSM’s Chi Omega-Hargis Gallery.
The 36 paintings and works on paper in this collection constitute one of the most significant components of the museum’s permanent collection. Acquired by Auburn University in 1948, when Auburn was known as Alabama Polytechnic Institute, they were originally part of a group of 117 oil paintings and watercolors assembled by the U.S. State Department in 1946 to demonstrate the ascendancy of American modern art at the mid-century.
ONGOING THROUGH FRIDAY, DEC. 4 — AU’S ONE COAT CAMPAIGN
The AU Medical Clinic and the East Alabama Medical Center
have partnered for “The One Coat Campaign,” which begins today and ends Dec. 4. The goal of the campaign is to collect one coat from everyone who is willing to share and distribute the coats to individuals around the community and beyond. Coats for men, women and children of any age will be accepted. The coats given should be in good condition and clean. The campaign asks that torn, out-of-style or extremely worn coats that are in need of repair not be donated.
Info: East Alabama Medical Center Hospital Chaplain Scott Lee at 528-1415 or at chaplain@eamc.org or Joyce Chocklett at the Auburn University Medical Clinic at 844-6106 or joyce.chocklett@eamc.org.
EXHIBIT ONGOING THROUGH DEC. 8 — ‘UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany: A Photographic Exhibit’
Held in AU’s RBD library. Free & open to all.
A photographic exhibition of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany will be shown on the main floor of the Ralph Brown Draughon Library through Dec. 8. The exhibition is being sponsored by the German Consulate in Atlanta, UNESCO, The German Information Center, Auburn University President’s Office and Auburn University Libraries.
MONDAY, NOV. 30 — LEE COUNTY COMMISSION 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:
3. Public Comment from Citizens: (limit of 3-minutes per speaker)
4. Establish Quorum and Open Regular Meeting:
5. Awards, Presentations, Proclamations or Other Recognitions:
a. Miss Auburn-Opelika Area 2010 Ashley Garcia – Judge English
6. Reports from Commissioners and Staff:
7. Consent Agenda:
a. Minutes of Commission Meeting November 9, 2009
b. Ratify and Approve Claims
8. OLD BUSINESS:
a. Property Issue on Lee Road 726 – Mattie Hinkl
b. Set Joint Work session with Lee County Firefighters Association – Pete Idsall
9. New Business:
a. Public Hearing for LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, Inc.-Judge English
b. Proposed Resolution for LifeSouth Community Blood Centers, Inc.-Scott Pierce
c. Request Traffic Study at the Intersection of Lee Roads 230 and 240-Commissioner Long
d. Proposed Holiday Schedule for 2010 – Judge English
e. Early Debt Retirement Proposal – Roger Rendleman
f. Retail Beer & Table Wine License for The Landing Convenience / D4
10. Adjourn
MONDAY, NOV. 30, 4:00 PM — FRANO VIOLICH / CROSSOVER: Buildings, Lasers and Sewing Machines
Held in the Ray Parker Memorial Auditorium (B6), Dudley Hall, AU School of Architecture. Free & open to all.
Speaker: Frano Violich, FAIA | Principal, Kennedy Violich Architecture | MATx RESEARCH, Boston MA; http://www.kvarch.net/.
TUESDAY, DEC. 1 — AU COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE / WORLD AIDS DAY SYMPOSIUM
11:00 AM — Speakers: Stephanie Schleis / Mark Freedman
Held in the Goodwin/Overton Auditorium, AU Vet School, Wire Road. Open to all. Lunch provided.
The College of Veterinary Medicine will host its World AIDS Day
Symposium on Dec. 1. Speakers are Stephanie Schleis, a veterinarian with the AU College of Veterinary Medicine, and Mark Freedman, veterinarian and epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Schleis, a diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, will speak on “Pet Ownership and the Immunocompromised Client.” Her lecture will focus on what veterinarians should know and she will offer information to help veterinarians educate their clients. She will also dicuss the veterinarian’s role in working with physicians to facilitate the benefit of having companion animals when owners are immunocompromised. The symposium is sponsored by Auburn Diversifying Veterinary Medicine. For information, e-mail depompa@auburn.edu.
TUESDAY, DEC. 1, noon – 2:00 pm — FREE EPA WATERSHED ACADEMCY WEBCAST
Free. Pre-registration required: www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts.
Also available via streaming audio after the live seminar, and by podcast feed via iTunes or another RSS aggregator.
Nutrients have been identified as one of the top causes of water quality impairment in the United States. This EPA Watershed Academy webcast highlights the new State-EPA Nutrient Innovations Task Group report and related issues.Included are findings from the new report called “An Urgent Call to Action: Report of the State-EPA Nutrient Innovations Task Group” posted at www.epa.gov/waterscience.
Ephraim King, director, Office of Science and Technology, in U.S. EPA’s Office of Water, will discuss the key findings of this report, which characterizes the scope and major sources of nutrients, and includes recommendations to address the issue. Other speakers will include Craig Cox, Midwest vice president, Environmental Working Group, who will discuss effective ways to address nutrient pollution from agriculture. And finally, Walter Baker, director, Utah Division of Water Quality in Utah’s Department of Environmental Quality will share successful approaches Utah is using to reduce nutrient pollution from agricultural livestock and municipal sewage treatment plants.
TUESDAY, DEC. 1, 3:00 – 6:00 PM — H1N1 FLU VACCINE CLINIC / LEE COUNTY HEALTH DEPT
Held at the Lee County Public Health Dept, 1801 Corporate Drive, Opelika. (injectible vaccine only)
NOTE: Clinics also will be held at AU on Dec. 2 & Dec 4.
TUESDAY, DEC. 1, 3:30 – 4:30 pm – FOREST ECOLOGY PRESERVE KIDS’ FALL DISCOVERY HIKE
Held Tuesdays at the Forest Ecology Preserve, on N. College Street, on the right just past the AU fishponds.
Meet at the Pavilion. Cancelled if rain.
Free, no registration required. For children ages 5 to 12.
Parents and kids join us for a hike and some discovery time. Encourage the kids to have some great outdoor time exploring the Preserve and learn more about the natural world. Also try the Preserve’s Fall walks at 8:30 am Thursdays.
More info: Jennifer Lolley at 707-6512 or http://www.auburn.edu/preserve
TUESDAY, DEC. 1, 4:00 – 6:00 pm — OPENING RECEPTION / ART EXHIBITION SENIOR PROJECTS – BFA in FINE ART CANDIDATES
EXHIBIT ONGOING THROUGH FRIDAY, DEC. 11
Held in AU’s Biggin Gallery. Gallery hours: M-F 8 am – 4 pm.
More info: 334.844.4373. All exhibitions are free and open to the public.
Opening reception for the B.F.A. in Fine Art Candidates – Senior Project Exhibition, which runs from Dec. 1 – Dec. 11. Presented by the Department of Art, College of Liberal Arts.
TUESDAY, DEC. 1, 5:15 pm – AUBURN PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
Held at the Dean Road Rec Center. Open to all.
TUESDAY, DEC. 1, 6:30 PM – AUBURN PRESERVATION LEAGUE
Held at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, 714 E. Glenn Ave. Open to the public. www.auburnpreservationleague.org
Agenda: Board meeting — The APL board meets the first Tuesday of each month. All meetings are open to the public and members are encouraged to attend.
TUESDAY, DEC. 1 — OPELIKA CITY COUNCIL
6:30 pm – work session / 7:00 pm – regular meeting
Held at 204 S. 7th St, Opelika. Open to all.
Agenda: www.opelika.org
Work session agenda includes:
(1) - a. Resolution/supplemental agreement no. 1 with ALDO concerning the Frederick Road project.
- b. Resolution/supplemental agreement no. 3 with ALDOT
concerning the Frederick Road project – Walter Dorsey
(2) - a. Resolution, budget adjustment to provide for upgrading
the OPD communication console – Tommy Mangham
(3) - a. Resolution/agreement for architectural services to renovation the Municipal Courtroom.
- b. Ordinance – to prohibit signs on public ROW and public places.
- c. General updates
(4) - Review/discuss the 12/01/09 CM agenda items – Mayor Fuller
(5) - General Discussion - City Council
Regular meeting agenda includes:
6) UNFINISHED BUSINESS -
7) REMARKS BY THE MAYOR - Gary Fuller
a. City financial summary – October 2009.
b. Presentation of employee performance awards.
8) CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS – (Limit comments to five minutes or less) Bob Shuman
9) REPORT OF DISBURSEMENTS
10) COMMITTEE REPORTS
11) GENERAL BUSINESS - Bob Shuman
a. Request from the Package Store for a lounge retail liquor class 2 license (package store).
b. Public hearing, amend zoning ordinance, 95.96 acres to M-1.
c. Public hearing, amend text of zoning ordinance, sec. 7.4 airport overlay district.
d. Request by Opelika Mainstreet for the annual Christmas in a Railroad Town event.
12) AWARDING OF BIDS - Shirley Washington
a. Recycling trailer for the Solid Waste department.
13) RESOLUTIONS - Guy Gunter
1. Designate city personal property as surplus and authorize disposal.
2. Annual lease agreement with the OHA for a Senior Citizen Center.
3. Request by T-Mobile for a special use permit – telecommunications.
4. Designate for the O/A News and Opelika Observer.
5. Set public hearing date to assess cost of weed abatement, 2112 Crestview Street.
6. Set public hearing date to assess cost of weed abatement, 911 York Avenue.
7. Set public hearing date to assess cost of weed abatement, 605 East Avenue.
8. Authorize demolition at 1726 1st Avenue South.
9. Authorize demolition at 310 3rd Street.
14) ORDINANCES - Guy Gunter (none)
1. Annexation, WP Properties of Opelika, 95.96 acres off of Cunningham Drive and Gateway Drive (US280) — 2nd Reading.
2. Amend zoning ordinance, 95.96 acres to M-1 — 1st Reading.
3. Amend text of zoning ordinance, sec. 7.4 Airport Overlay District — 1st Reading.
15) APPOINTMENTS
16) ADJOURN
TUESDAY, DEC. 1 — AUBURN CITY COUNCIL
6:55 pm-Committee of the Whole / 7:00 pm – Regular meeting
Held in the council chambers, 141 N. Ross St. Open to all.
Agenda & full packet: www.auburnalabama.org/agenda
Regular session agenda includes:
7. Citizens Communications
8. CITY MANAGER’S COMMUNICATIONS. City Manager Duggan.
a. Alcoholic Beverage Licenses. Consideration.
(1) Jackie Lee Heard dba/Jackie Lees Karaoke Pub. 1577 S. College Street. 010 – Lounge Retail Liquor – Class I License. Transfer of License.
(2) DBMC Restaurants of Auburn Alabama LLC dba/Santa Fe Cattle Company. 1660 S. College Street. 020 – Restaurant Retail Liquor License. Change of Ownership.
(3) Whatley Convenience Stores LLC dba/Zelmos In Auburn. 1700 Opelika Road. 050 – Retail Beer (Off Premises Only) and 070 – Retail Table Wine (Off Premises Only) License. Transfer of License.
b. Announcement of Board Vacancies. Appointments at January 5, 2010 Meeting.
(1) Water Works Board. One Vacancy. Six Year Term Ends
January 6, 2016.
(2) Board of Zoning Adjustment. Two Vacancies. Three Year Terms End January 20, 2013.
9. ORDINANCES.
a. Traffic Control Signs and Devices. Establish Two (2) Speed Limit Signs on Alabama Highway 14. Unanimous Consent Necessary.
10. RESOLUTIONS.
a. Conditional Use Approvals. Planning Commission Recommendations. Urban Core (UC) Zoning District. Public Hearings Required.
(1) Sprayberry Real Estate Partners, Ltd. Patsy Reno (Authorized Representative). Commercial and Entertainment Use-pawn shop (Gold & Silver Exchange). 219 North Gay Street.
(2) CPSW Investments, LLC. Sean Foote (Authorized Representative). Performance Residential Development Use-multiple family development and office use and Commercial and Entertainment Uses (City Walk Plaza). 230 West Glenn Avenue.
b. National Incident Management System (NIMS) Protocols. Lee CountyEmergency Operations Plan. Adoption.
c. Contracts and Agreements. Authorize Mayor and City Manager to Sign.
(1) Agreements.
(a) Information Technology Department. Software House Int. (SHI). Microsoft Corporation’s Secure Computing Initiative Three Year Installments. Enterprise Agreement. Installment 1-$133,275.10.
(b) Public Works Department.
(1) Traffic Signal System Programming Project. Traffic
Engineering Services Foresite Group. Five Intersections.
$22,000.
(2) Downtown Parking Deck Project. Professional Services. Walker Restoration Consultants. $28,000.
(2) Contracts.
(a) Public Works Department. Wire Road Bridge Replacement Project. Newell & Bush, Inc. $441,041.64.
(b) Public Safety Department – Fire Division. North America Fire Equipment Company. Fifteen (15) sets Lion Apparel Turnout Coats and Pants. $21,705.
d. Drainage and Utility Easements, Rights-of-Way, and Sidewalk Easement. Acceptance.
(1) North Woods, Inc. Property Located west of Keystone Drive and south of Mrs. James Road in Camden Ridge Subdivision, 13th Addition. Drainage and Utility Easements and Rights-of-Way.
(2) Jeffrey and Aubrey Carson. Property Located at 819 Slaughter Avenue. Slaughter Avenue Sidewalk Project. Sidewalk Easement.
11. OTHER BUSINESS.
12. ADJOURNMENT.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 2 — ALABAMA CLEAN WATER PARTERNSHIP (ACWP) – Board of Directors
Held at Alabama Power Water Course, Clanton.
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. & 3:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Contact Person: Allison Jenkin; Phone: (205) 266-6285; Email:
ajenkins@elmore.rr.com
Agenda: Quarterly meeting of the ACWP Board of Directors, to be held in conjunction with the ACWP 5th Annual Watershed Conference.
More info: http://www.cleanwaterpartnership.org/
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 2, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM — ALABAMA CLEAN WATER PARTNERSHIP 5TH ANNUAL WATERSHEDS CONFERENCE / “From the Headwaters to the Gulf – Alabama Watershed Initiatives”
Held at the Alabama Power Water Course Conference Center, Clanton, AL.
Free & open to all. RSVP required by Nov. 30th for lunch.
Register now at www.cleanwaterpartnership.org.
You’re invited to join us for a day of learning and networking as we celebrate all of the good things going on in the watersheds of Alabama.
Questions? Contact Allison Jenkins, Statewide Coordinator,
Alabama Clean Water Partnership at ajenkins@elmore.rr.com or call (205) 266-6285.
AGENDA
9:00 – Registration/Refreshments/Networking
10:00 — Welcome:Micky Smith, Board Chairman; Allison Jenkins, Statewide Coordinator
10:10 — The Alabama Rain Barrel Project: Ashley Henderson, Ala-Tom CWP; Wendy Smith, World Wildlife Fund;Terry Sharp, Coca-Cola Enterprises
10:45 — Warrior-Tombigbee Riverbank Slope Failure: Danny Hensley, Mobile District US Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile Dist.
11:15 — HEADWATERS: A Journey on Alabama Rivers - Beth Manor Young/John Hall
12:15 — Lunch / Networking
1:15 — 2009 Limited Edition Print Unveiling & Partner Recognition Awards: Allison Jenkins; Keith Smith, Artist
2:00 — Waters to the Sea: Discovering Alabama Dr. Doug Phillips, University of Alabama; John Shepard, Hamline University; Tracy Fredin, Hamline University
3:00 – Forest Owner Education in Alabama Jay Grantland, Tennessee CWP Facilitator; Christian Miller, Coastal CWP Facilitator; Jim Jeter, AL Forestry Commission
3:30 — Jefferson County “Assign a Highway” Litter Reduction Program: Patti Pennington, Cahaba CWP; Barbara Newman, Jefferson Co. Health Dept.
4:00 – Conference Adjourns
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 2, 9:30 AM – ALABAMA ETHICS COMMISSION
Held in the 9th floor PSC Hearing Room, RSA Union Building, 100 N. Union Street, Mont. Ph: 334-242-2997. Open to all.
Agenda: In Open Session, to render Advisory Opinions requested by public officials/public employees. An Executive Session will be held to discuss matters relating to complaints filed with the Ethics Commission and the results of those investigations. These matters are covered by the Grand Jury Secrecy Act. No matters will be discussed which are outside the scope of the State guidelines for the holding of Executive Sessions. Matters discussed in Executive Session will be voted on in public.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 2, 4:00 – 6:30 PM — H1N1 FLU VACCINE CLINIC AT AU
Held in room 103A Dunstan Hall, AU. (injectible & nasal vaccine).
Vaccinations are provided FREE to students, employees and dependents ages 10 and older.
Details & upcoming clinic info: http://www.auburn.edu/administration/public_safety/emergency/flu.html
NOTE: Additional clinics at AU on Friday, Dec. 4.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 2, 4:30 pm – AUBURN BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT / BZA
Held in the city council chambers, 141 N. Ross St. Open to all.
Agenda: www.auburnalabama.org/bza/agenda.asp
Agenda includes:
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
Variance to Section 436.01 of the City of Auburn Zoning Ordinance PL-2009-00750
Applicant: Auburn Housing Authority
General Location: 700 Martin Luther King Drive
Zoning District: Redevelopment District (RDD)
Action Requested: Variance of 65 feet to the required 300 feet between curb cuts along an arterial street in order to allow a curb cut 235 feet from the adjacent curb cut to the west
Variance to Section 436.01 of the City of Auburn Zoning Ordinance PL-2009-00801
Applicant: Parker Lewis for CPSW Investments, LLC
General Location: 230 East Glenn Avenue
Zoning District: Urban Core (UC)
Action Requested: Variance of 194 feet to the required 300 feet between curb cuts along an arterial street of 194 feet in order to allow a curb cut 106 feet from the adjacent curb cut to the west and a variance of 212 feet to allow a curb cut 88 feet from
the adjacent curb cut to the east
Variance to Section 516.02, Table 5-4, of the City of Auburn Zoning Ordinance PL-2009-00808
Applicant: Berney Office Solutions for Clyde Meagher
General Location: 200 North College Street
Zoning District: Urban Core (UC) with an overlay of the College Edge Overlay District (CEOD)
Action Requested: Variance from the Special Use Provisions section of Table 5-4 which states that: “No parking will be allowed to be visible from the street at any level. At grade level adjacent to the right of way, parking must be screened with a building.” The applicant wishes for the existing parking to remain visible.
The applicant is also requesting a variance of 16 feet from the Setback section of Table 5-4 which states that: “All structures shall be set back no further than 10 feet from any designated corridor or primary street frontage.” This will allow the building to remain 26 feet away from the property line.
The applicant is also requesting a variance from the Glazing section of Table 5-4 which states that: “The percentage of openings for glass fenestration at street level (1st Floor) is required to be 30% to 50% of the total façade area measured from finish floor line to finish floor line. The applicant is requesting a variance of 3.5% from the required 30% to 50% to allow the building to have 26.5% glazing.
OTHER BUSINESS
CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATION
ADJOURNMENT
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 2 , 5:30 – 7:00 PM — WEEKLY ECO HAPPY HOUR & GREEN DRINKS
Held in the back room of Zazu’s Eclectic Eatery (formerly Buffalo’s), E. Magnolia, downtown Auburn. Open to all.
This is a time and location for people to gather and discuss “Green”/”Eco”/sustainability-related issues while socializing at a locally-owned venue. Everyone from “professionals” to those who are just curious are welcome. This will be a child-friendly gathering for those with little ones (or even medium-sized ones), with a large space and table/floor space for them to play and still be in direct eyesight/earshot. Feel free to spread the word to others who might be interested.
THURSDAY, DEC. 3 through WEDNESDAY, DEC. 23 — ArTrees EXHIBIT
Held at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center. Free & open to the public.
To pre-register for a tree or for more info: contact the Arts Center at (334)501-2963.
The Auburn Arts Association will be hosting “ArTrees,” an exhibition of small, artistically themed holiday trees. Local artists and groups are invited to decorate a tree for the exhibit. ArTrees are not your traditional holiday trees.
THURSDAY, DEC. 3, 8:30 am – FOREST ECOLOGY PRESERVE FALL WALK
Held Thursdays at the Forest Ecology Preserve, on N. College Street, on the right just past the AU fishponds. Meet at the Pavilion. Cancelled only for rain.
Free, no registration required. Open to all.
Enjoy some exercise and observe the beauty of the Preserve as fall unfolds. Also Discovery Hikes at 3:30 pm Tuesdays, for kids age 5-12 & their parents.
More info: Jennifer Lolley at 707-6512 or go to the Forest Ecology Preserve website - http://www.auburn.edu/preserve.
THURSDAY, DEC. 3, 5:30 PM — AUBURN CHRISTMAS PARADE
Held in Downtown Auburn. Free & open to all.
Join the Auburn Chamber of Commerce and Auburn University for an evening of holiday cheer. The evening kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with the Auburn Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Auburn Chamber of Commerce. Immediately following the parade, join the students, faculty, and staff of Auburn University on Samford Lawn for a Holiday Celebration beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Portions of downtown roads will be blocked for the parade beginning no later than 5 p.m., including College Street from Thach Avenue to Glenn Avenue, Glenn Avenue from College Street to Gay Street, Magnolia Avenue from Gay Street to Wright Street, and Gay Street from Glenn Avenue to Thach Avenue. Cars parked in metered spaces along College Street should be moved by 5 p.m.
THURSDAY, DEC. 3, 6:00 – 10:00 pm — 9TH ANNUAL TASTE OF EAST ALABAMA / Fundraiser for the Domestic Violence Intervention Center
Held at The Marriott at Grand National in Opelika.
Admission is $30.00 for adults and $15.00 for children under 12 years of age.
Purcahse at the door, or in advance via Janice Clifford (email: cliffje@auburn.edu or phone: 844-5080).
Come and join in for the delicious food and fun at the 9th Annual “Taste of East Alabama”. This annual fundraiser for the Domestic Violence Intervention Center offers food to sample from the area’s finest restaurants and live entertainment for your listening pleasure featuring Noisy Deidre and, also for dancing, Summer Breeze. The evening will also include a silent auction. Don’t miss out on this great event!
THURSDAY, DEC 3, 7:00 PM – SAVE OUR SAUGAHATCHEE (SOS)
303 Swingle Hall (Fisheries Bldg). Open to all.
Agenda: Christmas party and elections
FRIDAY, DEC. 4, — H1N1 FLU VACCINE CLINICS AT AU (injectible & nasal vaccine)
8:30 – 10:00 AM — Held at the 3D Arts Building (Facilities Complex).
11:30 am – 1:30 pm — Held at the College of Vet Medicine, 2nd Floor, Overton-Rudd Bldg.
Vaccinations are provided FREE to students, employees and dependents ages 10 and older.
Details & upcoming clinic info: http://www.auburn.edu/administration/public_safety/emergency/flu.html
FRIDAY, DEC. 4 – 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM — ANNUAL HOLIDAY SALE OF POTTERY
Also held Saturday, Dec. 5, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Held at The Armory Arts Center, 600 7th Ave North, Opelika.
The sale will include works of more than a dozen potters, all with their own unique style, all with a sense of beauty.
Please come and bring your friends. A great place to do your Holiday Shopping – locally.
FRIDAY, DEC. 4, 6:00 PM — AUBURN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP (AUUF) AUCTION
Held at the AUUF/Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 450 E. Thach Ave. No admittance fee; all are welcome. http://www.auuf.net/
6:00 pm — silent auction begins
7:00 pm — live auction begins
Amazing and unusual auction items, with fabulous food provided. Don’t miss this event!
FRIDAY, DEC. 4, 7:00 PM – EXPRESSIONS CAFÉ / AT THE GNU’S ROOM www.thegnusroom.com
Held at The Gnu’s Room Bookstore & Coffee House, 414 S. Gay Street, Auburn. More info: Tina Tatum, tina@thegnusroom.com or 334-821- 5550. Free & open to all. Held the first Friday of each month.
Poets, authors, musicians, and storytellers are invited to perform their work for an enthusiastic and appreciative audience. The event is open to all and there is no charge for the event.
FRIDAY, DEC. 4, 7:30 PM —- EAST ALABAMA ORCHID SOCIETY
Held at the AU Fire Ant Lab.
The EAOS is the local chapter of the American Orchid Society, open to everyone, beginners and experts alike. We generally meet the first Friday of the month to discuss various orchid related topics. For further information and directions to the Fire Ant Lab, please contact Vince Cammarata, cammavx@bellsouth.net or Julia Bartosh, bartojl@auburn.edu.
SATURDAY, DEC. 5, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm — 14TH ANNUAL COOKIE WALK / Benefit for Habitat for Humanity homes
Held at Grace United Methodist Church, 915 E. Glenn Ave; next to Kroger.
Come and buy a wide assortment of holiday cookies for $5/lb. Money raised is used for Habitat for Humanity homes.
SATURDAY, DEC. 5 — AU WOMEN’S STUDIES PROGRAM – GRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM
Held in Tichenor, room 215, AU.
The symposium will include papers on topics related to women/gender/sexuality. Sponsored in part by the AU College of Liberal Arts. More info: http://www.auburn.edu/academic/other/womens_studies/
SATURDAY, DEC. 5 – 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
ANNUAL HOLIDAY SALE OF POTTERY
Held at The Armory Arts Center, 600 7th Ave North, Opelika.
The sale will include works of more than a dozen potters, all with their own unique style, all with a sense of beauty.
Please come and bring your friends. A great place to do your Holiday Shopping – locally.
SATURDAY, DEC. 5, 7:30 – 9:00 PM — AUBURN UNIVERSITY/COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA CONCERT
Held in AU’s Telfair Peet Theatre. Free & open to all.
Featuring the winners of the 2009 Concerto Competition: Horn Concerto No. 3 (I) – Pedro Paz, Weber: Clarinet Concerto No. 1 (I) – Courtney White, Kabalevsky: Piano Concerto No. 3 (I) – Jordan Hartford, Grieg: Piano Concerto (I) – Wesley Ballew, Mussorgsky-Ravel: Pictures at an Exhibition.
Email music@auburn.edu for more information
More info: http://media.cla.auburn.edu/music/www.auburn.edu/music or phone 844-4165.
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(MOBILE) PRESS-REGISTER – Standard & Poor’s cuts ThyssenKrupp’s bond rating to “junk” status.
BIRMINGHAM NEWS – Alabama’s high illiteracy rate has economic fallout.
BIRMINGHAM NEWS – Alabama’s food stamp rolls swell to over 740,000.
BIRMINGHAM NEWS – Alabama home sales rise 13 percent in October.
Auburn/Opelika housing statistics online -
Sept 2009 – http://www.leecorealtors.org/sei_pdfs/august_housing_stats.pdf.
Oct. 2009 - http://www.christinasoler.remax-alabama.com/remaxal/modules/agent/agent.asp?p=text&id=4095
(MOBILE) PRESS-REGISTER – Alabama Power’s West Jefferson plant nation’s second-highest carbon emitter among coal-fired plants. The report says the 31-year-old plant emitted 23.7 million tons of carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global warming, in 2007. Environment America says that was equivalent to the carbon dioxide emitted by 4.1 million cars.
ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION – Diverse group from Alabama, Florida and Georgia come together in hopes of helping end water war.
ANNISTON STAR – Michael Mullen of the Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper responds to The Star’s recent call for environmentalists and ADEM to get along.
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The two items below are courtesy of Conservation Alabama Foundation’s newsletter — www.conservationalabama.org . See current environmental stories on their website’s front page under the News Center section. Or subscribe to the Conservation Alabama News Feed through Google.
LUDDER ASKS FOR COAL ASH TO STOP
Environmental attorney David Ludder has petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to stop the Arrowhead Landfill in Perry County from receiving coal ash.
The issue stems from operations at the landfill, where the owners do not have a permit to send certain pollutants to a wastewater plant in Marion, which discharges into a stream that flows into the Cahaba River.
Millions of tons of coal ash are arriving daily in Perry County in a controversial plan to clean up a major Tennessee Valley Authority spill near Kingston, Tenn. in December 2008. The Arrowhead Landfill had minimal amounts of garbage coming in prior to EPA determining it to be a suitable site to send the toxic waste.
$710 MILLION FOR ROADS IN THE SKY / U.S.280 – B’HAM
The debate around what to do about U.S. 280 near Birmingham began again this month when Governor Bob Riley proposed a $710 million for the snarled suburban road.
Riley proposed at the Birmingham Business Alliance luncheon that U.S. 280 could have 10 lanes – six “free” and four toll lanes – from the Red Mountain Expressway all the way to Double Oak Mountain. The portion west of I-459 would have at grade and below grade lanes, while the eastern portion would have an elevated four lanes.
Nowhere did Riley include a mass transit option through this route. $710 million could provide a tremendous start to building a world-class transit system in Alabama’s largest metropolitan area.
Mass transit creates jobs – not only in the construction of the system but more so in the investments in the property around transit nodes. Unfortunately, Riley’s “fix” to U.S. 280 is one dimensional and misses a great opportunity for new private investment that would be more environmentally friendly.
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STATES PLAN FOR WARMING BUT ALABAMA NOT IN GROUP FORMING STRATEGY FOR RISING SEAS. Press-Register – al.com Over the next century, most of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts are likely to see close to a 2-foot rise in sea level, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency.
TOXIC PLAYGROUNDS
No kid should ever play in arsenic. Especially at school. Yet many probably do, according to findings of a study presented [Nov. 23].
THE ECONOMICS OF ECOSYSTEMS. Christian Science Monitor. Opinion, 17 November 2009. The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity report for Policymakers , released by the United Nations Environment Program, belongs to a broader, ongoing effort to correct what ecological economists say is a failure in most cost-benefit analyses to adequately account for the very real value of living systems.
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CITY OF AUBURN WEBSITE / LINKS TO AVAILABLE PUBLICATIONS http://www.auburnalabama.org/publications.asp
CITY OF AUBURN BOARD VACANCIES:
*Water Works Board – one vacancy will be filled at the Dec. 15 City Council meeting.
*Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) – two vacancies will be filled at the Jan. 5, 2010 City Council meeting.
Citizens interested in serving are encouraged to contact their City Council member, the entire City Council (coagbemail@auburnalabama.org) or notify the City Manager’s Office at webocm@auburnalabama.org or 501-7260. Information on the city’s boards and commissions, including current members and their terms, available online: http://www.auburnalabama.org/BoardsandCommissions/Boards.aspx.
CITY OF AUBURN / CONSTRUCTION PROJECT STATUS REPORTS (updated weekly)
PUBLIC WORKS: www.auburnalabama.org/pw/status.asp
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: www.auburnalabama.org/wrm/status.asp
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Thanks for your interest and support.
PLACE Forum
Email: placeforum@gmail.com
Web: http://placeforum.org/blog/
Nov. 30, 2009
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