UPDATE — ADDITIONAL EVENTS WEEK OF FEB. 22
Events & updates posted online at http://placeforum.org/blog/.

ADDITIONAL EVENTS
TUESDAY, FEB. 23 — AUBURN-OPELIKA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (AOMPO)
http://www.lrcog.com/mpo.html
Held in the Lee-Russell Council of Governments’ conference room, 2207 Gateway Drive, Opelika. Open to the public.
10:00 am – Citizen Advisory Committee
1:30 pm – Technical Advisory Committee

REMINDER
TUESDAY, FEB. 23, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM – THE DESIGN REVOLUTION ROAD SHOW / EMILY PILLOTON
Held at the south entrance of AU’s  Wallace Center, off Donahue Drive.
Hosted by AU’s Dept of Industrial and Graphic Design, the Design Revolution Road Show is a traveling exhibition and lecture series bringing evidence of and tools for “product design that empowers” to 30+ high schools and university design programs across the nation this Spring. The ultimate goal is to enable and empower the next generation of creative problem-solvers so that they may apply their skills to the world’s most pressing problems and improve life on a global scale. A Project H Design  initiative, the road show features an exhibition of 40 humanitarian design solutions which will be open to students, educators, administrators, and passers-by. Emily Pilloton, Founder and Executive Director of Project H Design (http://projecthdesign.org)  brings to Auburn the Design Revolution Road Show and lecture series (http://designrevolutionroadshow.com/). Pilloton’s experience is in the arena of Industrial Design, however her message is one that speaks directly to the ability we have to positively influence our human condition.
Note: Pilloton recently was interviewed on The Colbert Report – see video clip at http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/262000/january-18-2010/emily-pilloton.

TIME/LOCATION CHANGE
TUESDAY,  FEB. 23 , 6:00 pm – AUBURN BIKE COMMITTEE www.auburnalabama.org/cycle/
Meet at Auburn Jr. High School (Samford Avenue) to attend the CompPlan 2030 meeting; a quick Bike Committee will follow at the same venue. Open to all.
Meeting agendas & minutes online at http://www.auburnalabama.org/cycle/Minutes.aspx. 

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24, 9:00 AM — AUBURN-OPELIKA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION (AOMPO) / Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Board
http://www.lrcog.com/mpo.html
Held in the Lee-Russell Council of Governments’ conference room, 2207 Gateway Drive, Opelika. Open to the public.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24, 5:30 – 7:00 PM — WEEKLY ECO HAPPY HOUR & GREEN DRINKS
Held at the Piccolo Lounge in the Auburn University Hotel. Open to all.
This is a time and location for people to gather and discuss “Green”/”Eco”/sustainability-related issues while socializing.  Everyone from “professionals” to those who are just curious are welcome. Feel free to spread the word to others who might be interested.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24, 5:30 PM — COFFEE CUPPING / MAMA MOCHA’S COFFEE ROASTERY AT THE GNU’S ROOM  www.thegnusroom.com
Space is very limited so be sure to sign up for a slot.
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.
Thanks to everyone who came by on Saturday, February 20th to help celebrate the opening of Mama Mocha’s Coffee Roastery at The Gnu’s Room. The day was a lot of fun and a great start for Sarah Barnett’s brand new business. Mama Mocha’s will be hosting at least one coffee cupping each week. Learn more about where your coffee comes from and develop a more educated palette!

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24, 6:00 – 7:00 PM — ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS ORGANIZATION / EAO  — Green Living Workshop
Held in AU’s Student Center., room 2225  Open to all.
http://www.auburn.edu/student_info/eao/

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24, 6:00 – 8:00 PM — LWVEA TO HOST COMMUNITY FORUM ON MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK
Held at the East Alabama Medical Center Health Resource Center. Free & open to all. Refreshments will be provided.
Why does it seem that citizens have retreated from public life and do little about the issues that concern them?  Is reclaiming the public’s role essential to our community’s prosperity?  What should we do about it?  The questions will be addressed at an Alabama Issues Forum, co-sponsored by the LWVEA.
Alabama Issues Forums is a project of the David Mathews Center for Civic Life, in cooperation with the College of Liberal Arts at Auburn University and a number of partners around the state. The Mathews Center’s purpose is to foster infrastructure, habits, and capacities for more effective civic engagement and innovative public decision making. More info on Alabama Issues Forums: www.mathewscenter.org.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24, 7:00 PM — AUUF ENVIRONMENTAL FILM SERIES / Film: Jungle Nomads of the Himalayas
Held at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) Hall, 450 E. Thach Ave. www.auuf.net
Free & open to all. Organic cookies served.
For all their lives, the Raji nomads have followed the migrating
bees in the Himalayas. They climb into the tall jungle trees with bare feet and almost no protection to harvest the honey which they trade for other goods in the villages. Only a part of the honey combs are gathered, so the bees would not starve. They worship nature and bring sacrifices to some of the sacred trees that house the tiny bees. The Raji only take what they need.This movie is absolutely beautiful and shows how thesenomads manage to live with nature. It runs for 53 minutes.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24, 7:00 – 9:00 PM — ASIAN FILM SERIES / KOREAN FILM: SAD MOVIE
Held in AU’s Haley Center, room 3195. Free & open to all.
This month, the Asian Film Series features four “romantic” Asian films. The last film is a Korean director, Kwon Jong-gwan’s “Sad Movie”(2005). The film will include English subtitles.
For upcoming films, please check “events calendar” of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures: http://media.cla.auburn.edu/forlang/EventCalendar/index.cfm

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24, 7:00 PM February 24 — “MARK TWAIN” PRESENTATION / AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Held at the Auburn Public Library, Thach Ave.  Free & open to the public.
Acclaimed actor Jim Aycock will present “Mark Twain,” an engaging one-man portrayal of American’s greatest author. Using only documented quotes, as well as the writings of Mark Twain, Aycock will entertain his audience. The centerpiece of the program will be passages taken from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Aycock will conclude his program as himself with a short Q & A discussion of his portrayal process as well as his experience working on the Walt Disney production of “Tom and Huck”. The event, is part of the state-wide Big Read initiative.  More info: www.auburnalabama.org/library or contact the Reference Desk at 501-3195.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24, 7:30 PM — AU THEATRE  THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Held in AU’s Telfair Peet Theatre, Main Stage.
Additional performances Feb. 25 – 27.
Ticket purchase & Info: www.auburn.edu/theatre

THURSDAY, FEB. 25, 10:00 AM — ALABAMA HOME BUILDERS LICENSURE BOARD
Held at 445 Herron Street, Montgomery. 334-242-2230 Open to all.
The Board will meet to approve minutes from the previous month’s meeting, to approve applications for licensure, and to conduct the general business of the Board.
Agenda: https://www.openmeetings.alabama.gov/generalpublic/display_notice_details.aspx?agencyname=Alabama+Home+Builders+Licensure+Board&submissiondatetime=11%2f23%2f2009+2%3a48%3a53+PM

THURSDAY, FEB. 25  — AU COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS LUNCHEON FOR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM — LUNCHEON
Held in the Goodwin Room,  AU’s Alumni Center.
Space is limited.  RSVP to Mark Wilson (mwilson@auburn.edu) More info: 334-844-6198.
3:00 PM — PANEL DISCUSSION– Held in AU’s Chapel. (see details below)
The Community and Civic Engagement Initiative in the College of Liberal Arts invites community learning partners to attend an appreciation luncheon.
Community learning partners include organizations that collaborate with faculty and students to provide unique opportunities for service-learning, community-based research, and non-profit organization internships, helping to fulfill the college and university’s land-grant mission of outreach. Potential community learning partners are also encouraged to attend, as well as interested faculty, students, and staff.
The luncheon speaker will be Marie Cirillo, a rural community developer from Clairfield, TN, whose life and work has been featured in numerous articles and scholarly publications, including the book Mountain Sisters: From Convent to Community in Appalachia.   Cirillo will discuss the role of university faculty and students in community development and her vision for reciprocal, lasting relationships between institutions of higher learning and the public.
The luncheon is co-sponsored by Auburn University Outreach, Auburn University Federal Credit Union, and the Special Lectures Committee.

THURSDAY, FEB. 25, NOON – 1:00 PM — LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF EAST ALABAMA / Brown bag lunch & discussion
Held in the Dempsey Community Arts Center, Auburn. Open to all.
Topic: Lisa Brouillette will facilitate discussion of local issues.
Members gather to discuss current local affairs each fourth Thursday of the month. Visitors and prospective members welcome.   http://www.lwval.org/eastalabama/index.html

THURSDAY, FEB. 25, 3:00 PM — AU COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS / COMMUNITY AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE: Panel discussion on university-community partnerships featuring Appalachian Community Developer / Universities and Communities Forging Partnerships for Community Development: Creating a Win-Win Relationship for All
Held in the University Chapel. [previously noted to be held in AU's Broun Hall Auditorium]
Free & open to all.  More info: 344-844-6198.
Panelist Marie Cirillo, a rural community developer from Clairfield, TN, whose life and work has been featured in numerous articles and scholarly publications, including the book Mountain Sisters: From Convent to Community in Appalachia, will discuss partnerships from a community perspective.  Cirillo will be joined by Brigitta Brunner, CLA Engaged Scholar and associate professor of communication and journalism and Paulette Dilworth, assistant vice president for access and community initiatives in the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs at Auburn University.
Following the panelists’ brief presentations, attendees will be invited to discuss the role of community development in the tenure and promotion process at Auburn University and their experiences with university-community collaborations.  The event is made possible, in part, with funding from the Special Lectures Committee.  More info: Community and Civic Engagement Initiative, AU College of Liberal Arts – www.auburn.edu/cce.

THURSDAY, FEB. 25, 4:00 PM — BOOK TALK / SUSAN YOUNGBLOOD ASHMORE: CARRY IT ON: THE WAR ON POVERTY AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN ALABAMA, 1964-1972
Held in the Special Collections and Archives, AU’s RBD Library.
Free & open to the public. Reception to follow talk. Books available for signing.
More info: www.auburn.edu/cah; cah@auburn.edu; 334-844-4946.
Co-sponsored by the AU Libraries, Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities/AU College of Liberal Arts, and the AU Bookstore.

THURSDAY, FEB. 25, 4:00 pm – AUBURN WATER WORKS BOARD  http://www.auburnalabama.org/wrm/
Held in the Water Resource Management Conference Room, 1501 West Samford Avenue (Shug Jordan and West Samford). Info: 501-3060. (Usually the Board meets on the 1st Thursday after the 3rd Tuesday of each month; the meeting date was changed this month.)

THURSDAY, FEB. 25, 7:00 PM — SHORT FILM SCREENING
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.
Kerry Weldon curates the latest installment of the Gnu’s Room’s short film series. A short by local filmmaker Hollie Lavenstein will be the featured work along with several animated shorts. The program will last approximately one hour.

THURSDAY, FEB. 25, 7:30 PM — AU THEATRE  THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Held in AU’s Telfair Peet Theatre, Main Stage.
Additional performances Feb. 25 – 27.
Ticket purchase & Info: www.auburn.edu/theatre

FRIDAY, FEB. 26 – SUNDAY, FEB. 28 — 5TH ANNUAL UNIVERSITY HUNGER SUMMIT 2010 / Mobilizing to Feed a Hungry World
Held at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center.
Cost: $100 which covers all meals from Friday evening through Sunday lunch.
To register: www.universitiesfightingworldhunger.org
The theme of the 2010 conference, “Mobilizing to Feed a Hungry World,” reflects an ongoing and expanding initiative known as the War on Hunger that began more than five years ago at Auburn in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme. Involvement now circles the globe to include more than 130 colleges and universities as part of Universities Fighting World Hunger.
Students, faculty and administrators from across the U.S. and Canada, as well as government, corporate and NGO representatives will be in attendance. Headlining the summit will be renowned Wall Street Journal reporter Roger Thurow, co-author of Enough: Why the World’s Poorest Starve in an Age of Plenty”; Ann Tutwiler, senior advisor for International Programs, USDA; Kishore Mandhyan, deputy director, Executive Office of the Secretary-General, United Nations; Alasstair Summerlee, president and vice chancellor, University of Guelph; and Tony Hall, executive director of the Alliance to End Hunger, former congressman and former ambassador to the UN Missions in Rome.
A series of speakers, panels, graduate student research posters, exhibits and one-on-one interactions will be used to inform and inspire summit participants to join the fight against domestic and world hunger. In addition, the second Annual Clinton Student Hunger Leadership Award will be presented.  For additional information, contact Harriet Giles or Jayne Kucera at 844-3790.
http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/news/1431

FRIDAY, FEB. 26 & SATURDAY, FEB. 27 — 2ND ANNUAL AUBURN PHILOSOPHY CONFERENCE / THE ONTOLOGY OF ORDINARY OBJECTS
Held at the Jule Collins Smith Museum. Open to all.
Registration is complimentary. Attendees only have to register or sign in via e-mail to Guy Rohrbaugh at rohrbgn@auburn.edu.
The conference will divide into 10 plenary sessions. Most of these will run 50 minutes, with 30 to 35 minutes allotted to the speaker and then discussion will follow. This year, all the speakers have been invited and submissions are not being solicited.

FRIDAY, FEB. 26, 10:30 AM — THE WRITE TIME / 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.
If you enjoy writing fiction, non-fiction or poetry and would be
interested in meeting others over coffee or tea to talk about the writing life, to share ideas and tips about getting started, learn how to cope with writers block, how to edit your work or get published, then The Write Time might be just the place for you! All are welcome no matter at what stage of writing they may be, including those who have always wanted to write but don’t know how to begin. Come have some fun with others who share your passion. The Write Time is hosted by Helen Silverstein, editor of The Southern Women’s Review.

FRIDAY, FEB. 26, 6:30 PM — THE SOURCE OF HAPPINESS: THE BUDDHIST WAY OF LOVING KINDNESS by Gen Mondrub / 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.
Gen Kelsang Mondrub is a Buddhist monk and resident teacher at Kadampa Meditation Center in Georgia. His talk will focus on an ancient  Buddhist poem designed for busy, modern lives as found in the book, “Eight Steps to Happiness” by Kadampa Meditation Master and renowned author Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. The poem speaks to learning to become a peaceful person and connecting more deeply with others. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the Gnu’s Room on the day of the talk.

FRIDAY, FEB. 26, 7:30 PM — SUNDILLA CONCERT FEATURING MICHE FAMBRO
Held at the AUUF Hall, 450 E. Thach Ave. www.sundilla.org
Admission: $10, $8 for students, and free for children 12 and under. We’ll have free coffee, tea, water and food, though as always you are welcome to bring whatever food or beverage you prefer. For more information, go to www.sundilla.org, and to hear a wonderful interview with Miche, go to www.offbeatauburn.com.

FRIDAY, FEB. 26, 7:30 PM — AU THEATRE  THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Held in AU’s Telfair Peet Theatre, Main Stage.
Additional performances Feb. 25 – 27.
Ticket purchase & Info: www.auburn.edu/theatre

SATURDAY, FEB. 27 — KEEP OPELIKA BEAUTIFUL (KOB) / ARBOR DAY EVENT
http://www.keepopelikabeautiful.com/

SATURDAY, FEB. 27 through TUESDAY, MARCH 2 — ALABAMA RIVERS ALLIANCE WATERSHED LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE  www.alabamarivers.org/
This exciting four-day event will feature something new: the first ever Alabama Water Rally, which will incorporate visits to our elected officials, field trips, and tours of the offices of three of the state agencies tasked with managing and protecting Alabama’s waters.
This event is for anyone interested in learning about clean water, environmental science, legislative policy, and leadership. Each year the conference brings over 100 individual attendees from a variety of backgrounds and over 25 various grassroots and conservation organizations together to share, network, and learn.  At the Conference, participants receive professional development training from experts as well as their own peers on the newest ideas and innovations in their fields.
Comments or questions? Email info@alabamarivers.org or call 205-322-6395.
Info:  http://www.alabamarivers.org/events/rivers-alliance-events/watershed-leadership-conference

SATURDAY, FEB. 27, 1:00 – 4:00 PM — CHAIR MASSAGE / 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.
Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere at the Gnu’s Room with a cup of your favorite coffee or tea and let Conar Rochford remove any remaining stress with his healing hands. A fifteen-minute session is only $10.00. Gift certificates are available.

SATURDAY, FEB. 27, 3:00 – 7:00 PM — DECADES OF AUBURN ARTISTS / ART SHOW, SALE & RECEPTION
Held at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall (AUUF), 450 E. Thach Ave.  Free & open to all.
Benefit for the Iris Field Fund, which is used to help disadvantaged people in the Auburn community. Twenty percent of proceeds from sale of the artwork will benefit the AUUF Fellowship. Artists include Conrad Ross, Charlene Redick, Terry Rodriguez, Jey Kohler, Michael Acuff, Jeremy Morgan, Nils Larsen, and Maggie Touchton.  BUY LOCAL!

SATURDAY, FEB. 27, 7:30 – 9:00 PM — GUEST ARTIST RECITAL: LIANA GOURDJIA, violin & EFI HACKMEY, piano
Held in AU’s Goodwin Music Building Recital Hall.
Tickets are $10.00, or free for students with valid Auburn ID.
Featuring music of Mozart, Prokofiev, Carter, and Saint-Saens.
Email music@auburn.edu for more information
For up to date information on coming events please visit our Website.  http://www.auburn.edu/music

SATURDAY, FEB. 27, 7:30 PM — AU THEATRE  THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Held in AU’s Telfair Peet Theatre, Main Stage.
Additional performances Feb. 25 – 27.
Ticket purchase & Info: www.auburn.edu/theatre

=========================

COLUMN BY LISA BROUILLETTE — SO MANY TOPICS, SO LITTLE SPACE
http://placeforum.org/blog/2010/02/22/feb-19-2010-columby-by-lisa-brouillette-so-many-topics-so-little-space/ [first published in the Opelika-Auburn News Feb.19, 2010]

CITY OF AUBURN PRESS RELEASE
Auburn Studio Project “Tradition and Innovation” Set for February 22 – 24
Dempsey Center will be closed to the public Feb. 22 – 24, while this program for students is underway.

===============

LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS GIVING LOCALS MORE CONTROL ON QUARRY SITING
From “Green Space” guest columnist Adam Snyder, exec. director of Conservation Alabama

MORE ENVIRONMENTAL BILLS INTRODUCED: Adam Snyder, executive director of Conservation Alabama, is providing Green Space with regular updates regarding the status of key bills related to the environment during the current session of the Alabama legislature.

With the Alabama State Legislature now a third of the way through its regular session, more environmentally related legislation is being considered.
For years, citizens around the state have sought some sort of local control over the siting and operation of granite and limestone quarries. Currently, a quarry operation needs to get a permit from the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations and air and water permits from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). No local or county input is required, even though local residents are the people most affected by quarry operations.
HB547 would change that. Introduced by Reps. Jeff McLaughlin (D-Guntersville), Butch Taylor (D-New Hope), Elwyn Thomas (R-Oneonta) and Barry Mask (R-Wetumpka), this bill would create a process giving local governments some say in how and where a quarry would operate. HB547 is assigned to the House commerce committee.
HB547 is similar to HB36/SB96, which would give local governments a greater say over landfill siting and operations. Such a bill passed several years ago but included the provision that if the local government didn’t take action on the landfill application within a certain timeframe, it would automatically be approved. HB36/SB96 seeks to reverse that by denying a landfill permit if the local government has not taken action within 180 days.
Another bill introduced last week is HB511, introduced by Rep. Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham). Currently, one member of the Alabama Environmental Management Commission (AEMC), the board that oversees ADEM, must have been certified by the National Water Well Association. The problem is there are only a handful of Alabamians who qualify for this position on the seven-member AEMC board. HB511 expands the qualifications for this position to include professionally certified geologists and hydrologists. This bill has been assigned to the House boards and commissions committee.
To learn more about Snyder’s organization, which is Alabama’s only full-time environmental lobbying group, visit www.conservationalabama.org.

Article printed from Birmingham Weekly: www.bhamweekly.com
www.bhamweekly.com/2010/02/20/legislature-considers-giving-locals-more-control-on-quarry-siting/
=============

Thanks for your interest and support.

PLACEforum
email:  placeforum@gmail.com
web:    http://placeforum.org/blog/
Feb. 23, 2010

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Lisa Brouillette: So many topics, so little space

First Published: February 19, 2010 in the Opelika-Auburn News

Every month I wonder how to choose the topics for the 400-plus words in my column. It’s always a problem of plenty, not scarcity.

This month, for example, I could focus on the City of Auburn’s recent approvals of land uses, development plans and value “assessments” of the West Pace project. Clearly many are interested in the outcome and consequences of that project.

Or I could remind readers of upcoming CompPlan2030 meetings, at which their input is requested for planning Auburn’s growth and development. Meeting details, maps and other documents are online at http://www.auburnalabama.org/CompPlan2030/default.asp.

De-annexation has been a hot topic in Auburn, with one property owner being allowed to remove his property from the city limits, another being denied the same action.

Our state Senate unanimously approved SB61, this year’s version of the ALFA-supported ‘hog farm bill,’ deceptively titled the “Family Farm Preservation Act.” Thankfully, the bill doesn’t have House approval. Yet.

To help everyone track our legislators’ votes on this and other bills, I could suggest useful Web sites such as Conservation Alabama’s http://www.conservationalabama.org and Alabama Arise’s http://www.arisecitizens.org/.

In addition, all facets of state legislation – text and amendments of bills, roll call votes, etc – can be accessed via the state’s ALISON legislative database (http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/ACASLoginFire.asp).

This is a local and statewide election year. As noted recently in this paper, it’s not even clear who will run for election or re-election.

Those are only a few of the current political issues percolating. And I haven’t even begun to comment on local business or the arts & culture scene.

Perhaps I should I direct attention to the numerous outstanding exhibits and programs being offered at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, which rival those of museums in much larger cities. These are offered at no charge, by the way, thanks to the generosity of JCSM’s Business Partners and other sponsoring organizations.

In these tight financial times, an appropriate focus might be the local businesses giving our community a broader selection of products, services and cultural offerings.

Tomorrow [Sat. Feb. 20] there’s an all-day opening celebration of “Mama Mocha’s Coffee Beanery” at The Gnu’s Room. Downtown Auburn and Opelika both have new and expanded restaurants. We have both German and Indian restaurants in our area now.

I’ve not even mentioned Auburn University’s numerous lecture series, the faculty’s discussions of procedural issues such as managing conflicts of interest, or the multiple searches for new deans. Dip into one of these topics. And email me about others in which you’re interested.

Lisa Brouillette is a community activist, editor, and writer. Contact her at placeforum@gmail.com or visit her Web site http://placeforum.org.

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MONDAY, FEB. 22 & TUESDAY, FEB. 23
Meetings, events & updates
[Info for the rest of the week will be posted later today.]

MONDAY, FEB. 22 & TUESDAY, FEB. 23, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM — THE DESIGN REVOLUTION ROAD SHOW
Held at the south entrance of AU’s  Wallace Center, off Donahue Drive.
Hosted by AU’s Dept of Industrial and Graphic Design, the Design Revolution Road Show is a traveling exhibition and lecture series bringing evidence of and tools for “product design that empowers” to 30+ high schools and university design programs across the nation this Spring. The ultimate goal is to enable and empower the next generation of creative problem-solvers so that they may apply their skills to the world’s most pressing problems and improve life on a global scale. A Project H Design  initiative, the road show features an exhibition of 40 humanitarian design solutions which will be open to students, educators, administrators, and passers-by.

MONDAY, FEB. 22, 11:30 AM — AUBURN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL MEETING
Guest speaker: AU President Jay Gogue
Held at the AU Student Center.
Auburn Chamber of Commerce:  http://www.auburnchamber.com/; (334) 887-7011

FRIDAY, FEB. 22, 11:45 AM — THIRD ANNUAL WOMEN’S STUDIES AWARDS LUNCHEON / Featuring Dr. Eileen Boris
Held at the AU Hotel & Conference Center, Ballroom B.
Everyone’s invited to come and hear our dynamic speaker and to congratulate our awards winners.
Ticket: $25.  To reserve your place go to: http://media.cla.auburn.edu/cla/womens_studies/form.cfm
The keynote speaker, Eileen Boris, is Hull Professor and Chair of the Department of Feminist Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she directs the Center for Research on Women and Social Justice. Dr. Boris will give a talk entitled “Caring for Those Who Care: Revaluing Women’s Labors.”  An interdisciplinary scholar, she specializes in women’s labors in the home and other workplaces and on gender, race, work, and the welfare state.  Among her many books are, *Home to Work: Motherhood and the Politics of Industrial Homework* (1994), and *Art and Labor: Ruskin, Morris, and the Craftsman Ideal in America* (1986).  Two books are forthcoming:  *Intimate Labors: Cultures, Technologies, and Politics of Care*, co-edited with Rhacel Parrenas (Stanford University Press, forthcoming 2010), and with Jennifer Klein, *Caring for America: Home Health Workers in the Shadow of the Welfare State* (Oxford, forthcoming).

MONDAY, FEB. 22, 12:30 PM — EMILY PILLOTON / “DESIGN FOR SOCIAL IMPACT” / Design Revolution Road Show
Held in the Parker Auditorium (room B6, basement), Dudley Hall, AU.  Free & open to all.
The Department of Industrial and Graphic Design will
host Miss Emily Pilloton, Founder and Executive Director of Project H Design (http://projecthdesign.org/) as she brings to Auburn the Design Revolution Road Show and lecture series (http://designrevolutionroadshow.com/). Pilloton’s experience is in the arena of Industrial Design, however her message is one that speaks directly to the ability we have to positively influence our human condition.
Note: Pilloton recently was interviewed on The Colbert Report – see video clip at http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/262000/january-18-2010/emily-pilloton.

MONDAY, FEB. 22, 3:00 PM — DR. EILEEN BORIS  “WHEN THE PRESENT DISRUPTS THE PAST: WRITING THE HISTORY OF HOME CARE”
Held in Thach Hall, room 317, AU. Free & open to all.
(see details above re: Dr Boris, 11:45 am luncheon/lecture)

MONDAY, FEB. 22 — 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:
6. Reports from Commissioners and Staff:
7. CONSENT AGENDA:
a. Minutes of Commission Meeting February 11, 2010
b. Ratify and Approve Claims
8.OLD BUSINESS:
a. Set Lee County Master Plan Worksession – Wendy Swann
9. NEW BUSINESS:
a. Rhythm and Blues Sports Bar – Charlie Pruitt
b. Auburn Legends RV Resort – David Slocum
c. Dirt Road Paving Program – Commissioner Holt
d. Move Beat 8 Polling Place – Judge English
e. 1st Reading Beulah Utilities Board Appointment – Judge English
f. Retail Beer License for Country Market 430 – Sheriff Jones D3
g. Agreement with Alabama Dept. of Forensic Sciences-Roger Rendleman
h. Resolution for General Obligation Warrants for Sheriff’s Vehicles-Roger Rendleman
i. ALDOT Agreement for Lee Road 427/Pierce Road – Neal Hall
j. Federal Aid Project Resolutions – Neal Hall
k. Recycling Grant Resolution – Jack Marshall
l. Johnson Galleries Building Use Request – Wendy Swann
10. Adjourn

MONDAY, FEB. 22, 6:00 – 7:00 PM – SOCIAL HOUR – MEET THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS / THE LAYMAN GROUP www.thelaymangroup.org
Held at The Layman Group Main Space, 168 E Magnolia Ave
Top Floor of Behind The Glass.
All invited to attend.
Contact: ph: 206-338-3930; public@thelaymangroup.org
Looking for a way to impact the community? Are you that “people” person who loves to make new connections? How about a place to display your leadership skills? Well if you’re an advocate for the Arts, then perhaps you’d make a great fit for our Board of Directors! Come mingle, have a bite to eat, meet current board members, and let us get to know you! Who knows! Maybe you’re the newest addition to the foundation of our passionate organization!

TUESDAY, FEB. 23, 11:00 AM – NOON — SFWS SEMINAR / STEVE OAK – “THE STATUS OF SUDDEN OAK DEATH IN THE EASTERN U.S.”
Held in AU’s School of Forestry & Wildlife Sciences, Room 1101. Open to all. Light refreshments will be served.
Speaker: Steve Oak, visiting from Forest Health Protection (USFS) in Asheville North Carolina  CFEs are available.

TUESDAY, FEB. 23, NOON — WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY BOARD / FEATURING WOMEN & CO. PRESIDENT & CEO LINDA DESCANO and Panel Discussion
Held at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center.
Cost for WPB members and the public for the luncheon is $35 per person. For those wishing to sponsor students to the luncheon, the fee is $20 per student. Each student must pay a registration fee of $15 in order to be sponsored for the luncheon. Seating is limited and early registration is recommended. To register, contact Sidney James Nakhjavan or Samantha Allbrook at (334) 844-3524 or by e-mail at wpbchs1@auburn.edu.
The Women’s Philanthropy Board, in Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences, will host its annual winter board meeting. This meeting reflects the board’s yearlong focus on “Thriving in the ‘New Normal:’ Maximizing your Philanthropic Footprint.”
The featured speaker will be Linda Descano, president and chief operating officer of Women & Co.  Descano oversees management of Women & Co., a division of Citigroup Inc. that
provides women with educational resources for financial planning and navigating life transitions. Prior to joining Women & Co. in 2003, she served as director and portfolio manager in Citi’s Private Portfolio Group from 1999 through 2002 where she co-managed customized investment portfolios for individuals and institutions and oversaw the firm’s socially responsible investment program. In 1994, she joined Citi predecessor company Saloman Inc. and served as its senior vice president and director of environmental affairs.
There will also be a panel discussion on “Making Successful Transitions in the ‘New Normal’” featuring Henry Saxon, regional service director for Boys and Girls Clubs of America; Karen Hughes, founder of Image Assets; and Carrie Carpenter, director of development in Auburn’s College of Liberal Arts. More info: http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/news/1372

TUESDAY, FEB. 23, 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 preliminary & final) – PUBLIC HEARING
1. Martin S/D, 2 lots, Hwy 29 & Lee Road 266, Joseph Martin, P/F approval
2. Whitlow S/D, 2 lots,  Hwy 169, Lewis & Mary Whitlow, P/F approval
3. Saugahatchee Creek S/D, 2 lots, Saugahatchee Lake Road, Scott Land Co. & Opelika Utilities Board, P/F approval.
B.   CONDITIONAL USE APPROVAL
4.  Smith Properties, LLC, 1812 Airport Road, C-3, Mobile   home office for one year
5.  St Paul A.M.E Church, 713 Powledge Ave., New church
6.  Jose Gorriz, 2509 Lafayette Pkwy, C-3, GC-2, Auto wrecker towing & storage busines
7.  Goodwill Industries, Rocky Brook Road, I-1, Donation center at Miles Thomas Fiel
8.  Goodwill Industries, 2103 Pepperell Pkwy, C-3, GC-2, Donation center at Liberty gas station

TUESDAY, FEB. 23, 4:00 pm — SUSANA MORRIS: ALABAMA AND THE WPA
NEW PERSPECTIVES LECTURE SERIES
Held at the University Chapel, AU. Sponsored by the C.M. Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities. More info: 334-844-4946.

TUESDAY, FEB. 23, 4:00 – 6:00 PM — FREE FILM SCREENING and DISCUSSION WITH ARTIST & DIRECTOR  / TRIMPIN: THE SOUND OF INVENTION
Held in AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art.
Free & open to the public.  www.jcsm.auburn.edu
Trimpin, artist and Peter Esmonde, director of TRIMPIN: the sound of invention
Film screening of TRIMPIN: the sound of invention will be followed by a presentation and discussion by both the film director and the subject of the film, the artist, Trimpin. The film is an amusing 90-minute journey through the sonic world of an eccentric creative genius. Artist/inventor/engineer/composer Trimpin shuns the hype and hyperbole of the commercial art world yet his freewheeling sculptures and musical experiments are lauded by museums all over the world. Trimpin, who since his teen years uses only his last name, has been called one of the awesome musical geniuses of the early 21st century. In 1996, he received both a MacArthur Foundation genius award and a Guggenheim Fellowship for his creative investigations of acoustic music in spatial relationship. A specialist in interfacing computers with traditional acoustic instruments, he has developed a myriad of methods for playing everything from giant marimbas to stacks of electric guitars via computer.

TUESDAY, FEB. 23, 6:00 PM — City of Auburn CompPlan 2030 / Public Input Meeting #2
Held at Auburn Junior High School, 332 East Samford Avenue. All Auburn citizens encouraged  to attend.
http://www.auburnalabama.org/news/2010/pl021610.asp
This meeting is the follow-up to Public Meeting #1, held October 13, 2009, as well as the February 9 meeting in Northwest Auburn. The purpose of this meeting is to share the input provided by citizens in the first public meetings as well as input gathered from stakeholder organizations through an online survey. There will be a presentation and then an open house with input opportunities. Citizens are encouraged to take an active role in the future development of their City by attending these meetings.
CompPlan 2030 will focus on how we use the land, now and in the future; on how land use and the built environment affect the natural world, and vice-versa; on schools, parks, and other facilities that form the civic foundation of the City; and on the many forms of transportation that link everything together. The plan will make recommendations for Auburn’s future growth and development based on a number of factors, including citizen input. Ultimately, the plan will be reviewed by the Planning Commission and considered for approval by the Auburn City Council as a policy document for the City.
A joint meeting between the City Council and the Planning Commission will be held on Tuesday, March 30 at 6 p.m. in the City Meeting Room, 122 Tichenor Avenue. The final public input meeting will be held in late-2010.
More info: www.auburnalabama.org/compplan2030 or contact Justin Steinmann with the City of Auburn Planning Department at 501-3045 or at jsteinmann@auburnalabama.org.

CompPlan 2030 Related Information:
– CompPlan 2030 Webpage
http://www.auburnalabama.org/compplan2030
– CompPlan 2030 Update (PDF)
(Open Line Article – February 2010)
http://www.auburnalabama.org/openline/2010/02-10.pdf
– City of Auburn to Host Public Input Meeting for Future Land Use Plan
(Press Release 09/18/09)
http://www.auburnalabama.org/news/2009/pl091809.asp
– Lending a Voice to Auburn’s Future (PDF)
(Open Line Article – October 2009)
http://www.auburnalabama.org/openline/2009/10-09.pdf

TUESDAY,  FEB. 23 , 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.  Meeting agendas & minutes online at http://www.auburnalabama.org/cycle/Minutes.aspx.

TUESDAY, FEB. 23 through SATURDAY, FEB. 27, 7:30 pm — The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Held at AU’s Telfair Peet Theatre Main Stage.
Ticket purchase & Info: www.auburn.edu/theatre

TUESDAY, FEB. 23, 7:30 PM — ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER
Held at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre, 201 Tallapoosa Street, at the Renaissance Montgomery.
Tickets: MPAC box office – 334-481-5100 or www.ticketmaster.com
More info: alvinailey.org
Sponsored by the Multicultural Center, Access & Community Initiatives, University Outreach, Auburn University at Montgomery and Arts Alliance of East Alabama.

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ONGOING THROUGH SUNDAY, FEB. 28 — EXHIBITION: AGRITECTURE
Held at AU’s Biggin Gallery, 101 Biggin Hall. Free & open to all.
Agritecture: What does the Chia Pet^TM have to do with sustainable living? Can grain crops be an art form? Jeff Schmuki, visiting artist in the Auburn University Department of Art, challenges viewers both to confront and to collaborate on these and other issues in Agritecture.

ONGOING THROUGH MARCH 2 — WINTER INVITATIONAL 2010 EXHIBIT
Held at the Dempsey Community Arts Center.
Exhibitions are free and open to the public Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
This exhibit includes works in a variety of media by regional artists  and craftpersons.  For more information about the Art Gallery or future exhibitions, please contact the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center at 501-2963.

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LEE COUNTY HOUSING STATISTICS – JANUARY 2010
The Lee County Association of Realtors has published Housing Statistics for the month of January 2010. www.LeeCountyHousingStats.info

AU OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY   www.auburn.edu/sustainability/
During a recent TED lecture, Bill Gates made the announcement that his top priority is getting the world to zero climate emissions. He said that because he’s committed to improving life for the world’s most vulnerable people, he now believes that climate change is the most important challenge on the planet. The TED lecture has not been posted yet*(see below), but you can read a good summary and analysis of it at WorldChanging: http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/010976.html.
Keep an eye on the Office of Sustainability home webpage (www.auburn.edu/sustainability/) where we regularly post sustainability news and events related to Auburn and further afield.

*PLACE EDITORIAL NOTE re: TED (www.ted.com/) and Bill Gates’ talk:
Gates’ TED talk is now posted:  http://www.ted.com/talks/bill_gates.html.
TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. The annual conferences in Long Beach and Oxford bring together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes). TED.com makes the best talks and performances from TED and partners available to the world, for free. More than 500 TEDTalks are now available, with more added each week. All of the talks feature closed captions in English, and many feature subtitles in various languages. These videos are released under a Creative Commons license, so they can be freely shared and reposted.

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Thanks for your interest and support.

PLACEforum
email:  placeforum@gmail.com
web:    http://placeforum.org/blog/
Feb. 22, 2010

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UPDATE – date changes, addtl info & events

DATE CHANGE
AU LUNCH & LEARN SERIES / LECTURE & PANEL DISCUSSION: “THE IMPACT OF AIDS ON PEOPLE OF COLOR”
NEW DATE: TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
[formerly scheduled for today, Wednesday, Feb. 17]
Lecture by Dr. Evan Lyons, AIDS Outreach Clinic Staff
Held in room 2222 AU Student Center. Sponsored by the AU Multicultural Center.  More info: Shakeer Abdullah at
saa0005@auburn.edu.

ADDITIONAL EVENT
TODAY, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17 & THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM — AU SGA HOSTS BLOOD DRIVE
Held in AU’s Student Center Ballroom.
Everyone is encouraged to come out and donate.
Those interested in donating can make an appointment online at http://www.givelife.org. (Use AUSGA as the login code)
The SGA will also be collecting monetary donations with the Lee County Red Cross for Haiti relief.

ADDITIONAL EVENT
THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 9:00 AM — ALABAMA HOME BUILDERS LICENSURE BOARD: INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE / SPECIAL-CALLED MEETING
Held at 445 Herron Street, Montgomery. 334-242-2230 Open to all.
Agenda: Investigative Committee Meeting

ADDITIONAL EVENT
THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 1:15 PM — PUBLIC HEARING ON HB116 / ROAD FUNDS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Held in room 617, Alabama State House, Montgomery.
HB 116, sponsored by Rep. Patricia Todd, would amend the state constitution to allow for road funds be used for public transportation. This bill is on the calendar in the Government Appropriations Committee Wed., Feb. 17. The Road Builders called for a public hearing. [see additional details in Action Alert below]

ADDITIONAL EVENTS
AU COLLEGE OF AG & DEPT OF ART HOST MATT GROSHEK
AU’s College of Agriculture and Dept of Art are hosting Matt Groshek, assistant professor, Herron School of Art and Design from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
Groshek will discuss current community garden programs within the College and opportunities for growth. He’ll suggest how universities can encourage students to become involved in their community and the social network that makes community gardens sustainable.  Groshek will provide insights based on his work with his campus administration to create an on-campus community garden.
The two events listed below (Feb. 18) are part of Art in Agriculture, an annual series through which artists and scientists examine a topic related to agriculture, food, the environment or natural resources. The spring 2010 series is Reclaiming Ground: Ag-Gardens-Art.

ADDITIONAL EVENT
THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 2:30 PM — MATT GROSHEK / COMMUNITY GARDEN PROGRAMS
Held in room 107 Comer Hall, AU. Free & open to all.
[If possible, RSVP by Wednesday, February 17; depending on the level of interest we may move to a larger classroom.]

ADDITIONAL EVENT
THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 5:00 PM — MATT GROSHEK / DESIGNING TO ENABLE: A CASE FOR CIVIC AGRICULTURE AND A CULTURE OF RESISTANCE
Held in room 005 Biggin Hall, AU. Free & open to all.

DATE CHANGE
AUBURN WATER WORKS BOARD
NEW DATE: THURSDAY, FEB. 25, 4:00 PM
[formerly scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 18]
http://www.auburnalabama.org/news/2010/wrm021710.asp

ADDITIONAL EVENT / RESCHEDULED FROM LAST WEEK
FRIDAY, FEB. 19, 5:00 PM — BOOK DISCUSSION: WHITE NOISE BY DON DELILLO /  AT THE GNU’S ROOM
Speaker: Marc Silverstein
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.  www.thegnusroom.com Free & open to all.
Marc Silverstein, Hollifield Professor of English Literature at Auburn University will lead a discussion of the book White Noise by Don DeLillo. Silverstein specializes in modern and contemporary drama, feminist theory, postmodernism and literary theory. White Noise is the eighth novel by Don DeLillo, and is an example of postmodern literature. Widely considered his “breakout” work, the book won the National Book Award in 1985 and brought him to the attention of a much larger audience. Time Magazine included the novel in its TIME 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005. The discussion is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS / SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
SATURDAY, FEB. 20, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM — GRAND OPENING PARTY / MAMA MOCHA’S COFFEE BEANERY – 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.
All invited to attend. No admission fee.
Schedule of Events:
10:00 a.m. – Store opens – Local art on display today will include
works by Saya and Andrew Davis. Register for a free one pound bag of Mama Mocha’s coffee beans. One bag will be given away each hour.
11:00 a.m. – Coffee Cupping #1 – Register for a chance to participate in the first of 3 cuppings today. The maximum number of participants is 10, and you must be present if your name is drawn from the registrations.
12:00 Noon – Performance by Gypsy Blues Bellydance Troupe
1:00 p.m. – Readings by local poets and writers: Ashley Burroughs, Reid Rogers and Charlene Redick.
2:00p.m.- Local Music by Kayla Miller and Tommy Kratzert
3:00p.m. – Coffee Cupping #2 – 10 names will be drawn for
participation in the event.
4:00 p.m. – Reading by local writer Marian Carcache, this month’s Gnu Writers’ Series featured writer.
4:30 p.m. – Music by Seth & Matthew
5:00 p.m. – Music by Dooley’s Blue Revue
6:00 p.m. – Coffee Cupping #3 -10 names will be drawn for
participation in the event.
7:00 p.m. – Fine Wine & Beer by Gus will present a toast to the
opening of Mama Mocha’s.
8:00 p.m. – Store closes

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17 ACTION ALERT
PLEASE TAKE ACTION THIS MORNING / SUPPORT HB116 – AUTHORIZE ROAD FUNDS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Please Call Members of the AL House Government Appropriations Committee this morning in support of HB 116 to authorize use of road funds for public transportation.
HB 116, sponsored by Rep. Patricia Todd, would amend the state constitution to allow for road funds be used for public transportation. This bill is on the calendar in the Government Appropriations Committee today, Wed., Feb. 17. The Road Builders have called for a public hearing.
This is the time for your voice to be heard!
Please call the members of the Committee, and ask them to support HB 116. You can call the main number, fax them, email them and better yet, come to Montgomery for the hearing tomorrow.  It is 1:30 p.m. in Room 617 of the State House.
Members of the Committee are:
John Knight, Chair    Jack Page          Victor Gaston
Gerald Allen              Locy Baker         Billy Beasley
Greg Canfied            Ron Grantland    Charles Newton
Yusuf Salaam           Tommy Sherer     Elwin Thomas
Laura Hall                 Jody Letson        Jay Love
Contact information for each legislator on the committee can be found at:
www.lwval.org/LWVALAction/legcommittees/GovAppropriations_House_Com.html
or simply call the main number of the House at 334-242-7600 where you can leave a message for members.
Thank you for taking immediate action.
Information courtesy of the League of Women Voters of Alabama – www.lwval.org. Details on HB116 and other public transportation issues available at http://www.lwval.org/page26/page46/page69/page69.html.

====================
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE — Information courtesy of Conservation Alabama – www.conservationalabama.org.

ALFA-SPONSORED HOG FARM BILL PASSES AL SENATE
With a 30-0 vote Tuesday afternoon, the AL Senate passed the infamous SB61, the Alfa-sponsored hog farm bill. This is a major setback in our long-standing fight to protect rural Alabamians from the stench, the black flies, and the loss of water quality that corporate hog farms bring. This bill shields existing corporate hog farms from citizen lawsuits – giving these operations a free pass as they destroy rural Alabamian’s quality of life. We’ll need to re-double our efforts this session to make sure this bill does not pass the House.
[PLACE editorial note: Conservation Alabama is the only full-time year-round environmental lobbying organization in Alabama. Please support their efforts with a membership or donation.]

=====================

Thanks for your interest and support.

PLACEforum
email:  placeforum@gmail.com
web:    http://placeforum.org/blog/
Feb. 17, 2010

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Week of Feb. 15, 2010 — Meetings, events & updates

AUBURN UNIVERSITY WEATHER ALERT – Dated 4:00 PM, Sunday, Feb. 14
Winter Weather Advisory issued for Auburn University for Monday, February 15. No changes to class schedules or operations at this time.The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Auburn University effective from 11:00 p.m. tonight (Sunday, February 14) through noon tomorrow (Monday, February 15). AU Emergency Management is monitoring the forecast, which may include up to one inch of snow. At this time, temperatures are not forecast to drop below freezing, so normal operations are planned for Monday. In the event that classes are canceled or an interruption to normal campus operation is announced, information will be distributed through AU ALERT and the Auburn home page at www.auburn.edu.

=============================
NOTE MEETING WITH SENATOR SHELBY EARLY THIS MORNING!
MONDAY, FEB. 15, 7:30 PM — U.S. SENATOR RICHARD SHELBY / PUBLIC MEEETING – Lee County
Held at The Au Hotel and Dixon Conference Center, Ballroom B.  Open to all.
Sen. Shelby will address the legislative agenda for the second session of the 111th Congress, as well as important issues facing the nation and the state of Alabama. Following his remarks, citizens may question and comment.

MONDAY, FEB. 15, 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM — PRESBYTERIAN COMMUNITY MINISTRY (PCM) ANNUAL LUNCHEON & MEETING
Speaker:  Dr. Wayne Flynt, professor emeritus, AU Dept of History
Held in Baird Hall, First Presbyterian Church, 143 E. Thach Ave, Auburn.

MONDAY, FEB. 15, 7:00 PM — LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF EAST ALABAMA (LWVEA) / membership meeting
Program: Health Care in Alabama: Current Status and Needs
Held in the EAMC Health Resources Center on Pepperell Parkway.
Free & open to all.
7:00 pm – “Meet and Greet”
7:30 pm – Health Care in Alabama: Current Status and Needs presented by Marilyn Garrett
Info:  http://www.lwval.org/eastalabama/index.html

MONDAY, FEB. 15 — FINAL DAY / NATIONAL GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
All are invited to participate in this free event.   Info: www.birdcount.org
The Cornell University Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society use bird count information submitted by ‘citizen scientists’ across the county to learn more about bird populations and to interest the general public in birds. See this recent Opelika-Auburn News article for more info on local bird count participants.
http://www2.oanow.com/oan/lifestyles/home_garden/article/birdwatching/6374/

MONDAY, FEB. 15 AND TUESDAY, FEB. 16 — INDUSTRIAL DESIGN EXHIBIT “PROOF” / Interactive models display mathematical theorems
Held in AU’s Dudley Gallery.  Free & open to all.
The College of Architecture, Design and Construction’s “Proof”
mathematical theorems exhibit features industrial design student work which brings mathematics principles to life through interactive models. A collaboration between mathematics professor Andras Bezdek and industrial design professor Bret Smith led to the design, explanation, fabrication and display of the mathematical theorems. For more information, contact Andras Bezdek at 844-6562 or at bezdean@auburn.edu or contact Bret Smith at 844-2372 or at smithbh@auburn.edu.

TUESDAY, FEB. 16, 11:00 AM – NOON — SFWS SEMINAR / DR. NANCY LOEWENSTEIN – “IMPACTS AND CONTROL OF TWO EGREGIOUS INVASIVE PLANTS: COGONGRASS AND PRIVET”
Held in the School of Forestry & Wildlife Sciences, Room 1223. Free & open to all. Light refreshments will be served. (CFEs are available.)

TUESDAY, FEB. 16, 3:00 – 4:30 PM — AU PROVOST MAZEY TO DISCUSS SCHOLARSHIP OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Held in AU’s Student Center Room 2225.  All faculty, students, and staff are invited to attend.
More info: Mark Wilson: 844-6198 or mwilson@auburn.edu.
The Community and Civic Engagement Initiative in the College of Liberal Arts invites faculty to a dialogue on the scholarship of public engagement with Auburn University Provost Mary Ellen Mazey.
Mazey will discuss the scholarship of engagement from experiences as a faculty member and administrator at several universities before coming to Auburn University in 2009. Shortly after earning her Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati in urban geography, Mazey founded the Center for Urban and Public Affairs and led the creation of a Master of Urban Administration Program at Wright State University. She has served as Director of University Partnerships for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and established a collaborative program with the U.S. Department of Education to support university and community partnerships with K-12 education.
Over the last several decades, the landscape of higher education has been transformed by scholarship and teaching resulting from collaborations between faculty and community partners, resulting in a number of new peer-reviewed journals, consortia, supporting organizations and private and federal funding. In 2006, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching created a voluntary Community Engagement Elective Classification to recognize colleges and universities where significant curricular engagement, outreach, and partnerships take place.

TUESDAY, FEB. 16, 4:00 pm –  NEW PERSPECTIVES LECTURE SERIES / ALABAMA AND THE WPA – SPEAKER: BERT HITCHCOCK
Held at the University Chapel, AU. Sponsored by the C.M. Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities. More info: 334-844-4946.

TUESDAY, FEB. 16, 4:00 – 5:00 PM — JCSM “INNOVATIVE SPIRIT” ARTIST LECTURE / CHARLES SMITH: POTTER
Held at AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art.  www.jcsm.auburn.edu
Free admission, courtesy of the museum’s Business Partners.
Mobile potter Charles Smith began his career in the arts in the 1970s following a tour of duty in Vietnam. His clay pieces are identified by a carved, sgraffito technique, with visual images often capturing abstract elements of the gulf and sky near his home. His work was included in the traveling exhibit: Uncommon Beauty in Common Objects: The Legacy of African American Craft Art. He is recipient of the ASCA Individual Artist Fellowship.
Exhibition of works produced in the Southeast now at Jule Collins Smith Museum:  A traveling exhibition of contemporary craft and traditional art produced in the southeastern United States is on display at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University through May 15. This collection, “Tradition/Innovation: American Masterpieces of Southern Craft and Traditional Art,” contains more than 100 objects including works of art in glass, clay, fiber, metal, wood, paper and mixed media. To enrich the viewer’s experience, the museum is offering an array of artist interviews as well as stories and background information on the artists and their processes. Upcoming speakers and dates include: glass artist Cal Breed on March 2 and furniture maker Kimberly Sotelo on March 9.
More info: http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/news/1366 .

TUESDAY, FEB. 16, 6:00 PM –  2010 DAVIS LECTURE SERIES / SPEAKER: RAY JENKINS
Held at AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Free & open to all.
AU’s Department of Communication & Journalism presents Ray Jenkins in the 2010 Davis Lecture Series. http://family.auburn.edu/profiles/blogs/ray-jenkins-2010-davis
“… Ray Jenkins is one of a few journalists with whom the conscience of the world has, finally, so caught up that most don’t comprehend how remarkable they were. It’s not news today that racism and political corruption are wrong. In those days, it sometimes was.” – Judy Sheppard, AU journalism professor
Ray Jenkins began his career in journalism in 1951 as a reporter for The Columbus (Ga.) Ledger. In 1954, he was one of two reporters who covered the Phenix City, Ala., upheaval, coverage which won the 1955 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for The Ledger.
Between 1959 and 1979, he served as city editor, managing editor, executive editor and vice-president of the Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser-Journal. During his tenure, he covered the rise of Martin Luther King, the governorship of George Wallace and the decisions of federal Judge Frank Johnson, which, in time, would become the foundations of expanded civil rights for blacks in the South.
During the 1960s and ’70s, Jenkins continued his civil rights reporting at The Christian Science Monitor and then The New York Times. His articles on Wallace defined the segregationist governor to the nation. His series on Johnson earned him the 1970 Gavel Award of the American Bar Association. From 1979-1981, he was special assistant for press affairs to President Jimmy Carter. After 10 years as the editorial page editor of The Evening Sun in Baltimore, he retired from daily journalism in 1992. A member of the Alabama bar, Jenkins was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard Law School in 1964-65, and graduated from the Jones Law Institute in Montgomery. He is the author of “Blind Vengeance,” a book about the assassination of a federal judge in Alabama in 1989.

TUESDAY, FEB. 16, 6:30 PM — MUSICIANS’ MONTHLY JAM SESSION
Held at the Loachapoka United Methodist Church, Hwy 14 (on the right as you enter Loachapoka from Auburn).
Peck Rowell and a group of musicians hold a monthly jam session on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.

TUESDAY, FEB. 16  — OPELIKA CITY COUNCIL
6:40 pm – work session / 7:00 PM – regular meeting
Held in the council chambers, 204 South 7th Street, Opelika.  Open to all.  www.opelika.org/
Work session agenda: http://www.opelika.org/Default.asp?ID=170
Regular session agenda: http://www.opelika.org/Default.asp?ID=169
6)   UNFINISHED BUSINESS  -
7)   REMARKS BY THE MAYOR -  Gary Fuller
a.  Police officer of the month – Phillip Hancock.
b.  City Financial Summary – January 2010.
c.  Building inspection report – January 2010.
d.  Presentation of an Appreciation Resolution – Kevin Lazenby.
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 by the Opelika Tree Commission to hang banner for “Arbor Day”.
12) AWARDING OF BIDS -  Shirley Washington
1.  2010 Street Resurfacing.
2.  Increase P.O. 037651 for the UPS/Generator System.
3.  2010 Ford F-450 options.
4.  2010 Ford F-150 pickup truck.
5.  2010 Police Package Dodge Charger.
13)  RESOLUTIONS -  Guy Gunter
1.  Request for an occupational fee refund.
2.  Accept ADECA grant for solar photovoltaic system at City Hall.
3.  Apply for ADEM grant for recycling programs.
4.  Annual renewal – levy of tax on property.
5.  Special appropriation to Boys & Girls Clubs.
6.  Designate City personal property as surplus and authorize disposal.
14)  ORDINANCES -   Guy Gunter
1.  Exchange of property with the Opelika Utilities Board —  2nd Reading.
2.  Regulating Sidewalk Cafes —  2nd Reading.
3.  Consumption in Public —  2nd Reading.
4.  Amend City Code, Chapter 25 – Article III, Buyers of Gold, Silver, etc. —  1st Reading.
15)  APPOINTMENTS -
a.  Three re-appointments to the Opelika Economic Development Authority.
16)  ADJOURN

TUESDAY, FEB. 16 — 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
Agenda includes:
7. CITIZENS’ COMMUNICATIONS.
8. CITY MANAGER’S COMMUNICATIONS. City Manager Duggan.
a. $17,261.50. Taxpayer Waiver Request. Kodiak Management Company LLC, Dallas, Texas as manager for University Heights at Auburn.
9. ORDINANCES. None.
10. RESOLUTIONS.
a. SGA Representatives. Anna Twardy and Trevor Ramsey. Commendation.
b. City Depositories. Update List of Financial Institutions.
c. Economic Development Department – Community Development Division. Amend Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) FY08 Action Plan.
d. Environmental Services Department. FY2011 Alabama Recycling Fund Grant Program. East Alabama Recycling Partnership (EARP). Authorize Submission of Application.
e. Outdoor Café Permit. Taylor’s Bakery and Gourmet Coffee. 132 North College Street. Public Hearing Required.
f. Contracts. Authorize Mayor and City Manager to Sign.
(1) $32,291.28. Information Technology Department. McCoy Fire and Safety, Inc. Security Camera System for Municipal Parking Deck.
(2) Not to Exceed $50,000. Water Resource Management Department. CH2M Hill, Inc. Task Order 15: General Professional Engineering Services for 2010.
11. OTHER BUSINESS.
12. ADJOURNMENT.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17, 9:30 am — AUBURN MUSIC CLUB / PROGRAM: AU WOODWIND ENSEMBLE
Held in the Nunn-Winston Annex, Kiesel Park. Refreshments served.
Visitors and new members welcomed.  (Dues = $5/yr)
Objectives of the club are to encourage interest and participation in all areas of music and to promote music in the community, homes, and local schools. More info: 334-821-8209.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17, 11:30 AM — 2010 CHAMPIONS FOR KIDS CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF / FEATURING JACKIE JOYNER-KERSEE
Held in the Family Life Center, Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church, 650 Jeter Ave, Opelika.
Cost: $10/person; limited seating, RSVP by Feb. 12 to clubs@bgcleeco.org or 334-502-1311.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Lee County will be hosting Olympic Gold Medalist and Boys & Girls Club Alumni Hall of Famer Jackie Joyner-Kersee for our 2010 Champions For Kids Campaign Kick-Off Luncheon. This event is sponsored by Marcus Washington of the NFL and Outback Steakhouse.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM  — AUBURN BEAUTIFICATION COUNCIL
Held at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, 714 E. Glenn Ave.  Open to all interested in keeping Auburn beautiful. Lunch is provided.  http://www.auburnbeautification.org/

POSTPONED TO MARCH 30 WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17, 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM — AU LUNCH & LEARN SERIES: “THE IMPACT OF AIDS ON PEOPLE OF COLOR”
Lecture by Dr. Evan Lyons AIDS Outreach Clinic Staff
Held in room 2222 AU Student Center. Sponsored by the AU Multicultural Center.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17, NOON — AUBURN HERITAGE ASSOCIATION BOARD
Held at Pebble Hill (Caroline Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities).
All members are encouraged and invited to attend.
Info: www.auburnheritage.org; ph: 826-0390
Note: Held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from Sept to May

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17 , 5:30 – 7:00 PM — WEEKLY ECO HAPPY HOUR & GREEN DRINKS
Held at the Piccolo Lounge in the Auburn University Hotel. Open to all.
This is a time and location for people to gather and discuss “Green”/”Eco”/sustainability-related issues while socializing.  Everyone from “professionals” to those who are just curious are welcome. Feel free to spread the word to others who might be interested.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17,  6:00 PM  — LEE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CLUB
Held at Auburn University Club. 1499 N. Donahue Road.
All welcome to attend. Reservations not necesssary; dinner is optional.
6:00 pm – buffet dinner ($11, tax & tip included)
6:50 pm -Speaker: Greg Varner, Candidate for District 13 State Senate Seat
Info: Ron Estridge 334-821-4970 or ronestridge@charter.net
Greg Varner is currently the only Democrat who has qualified for the District 13 Alabama Senate Seat. This seat is currently held by Kim Benefield, who has announced she will not seek re-election. Greg will speak to our club about his vision for Alabama. Greg earned his undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech, where he studied economics, international policy, and city planning. He received his Law Degree in 1999 from Regent University School of Law in Virginia. After law school, he began his career in Randolph County as an associate attorney with a firm in Roanoke. In 2000, he opened his own law firm in Ashland. Greg has been general counsel to both the Town of Wadley and the Clay County Commission. He also served in the capacity of Assistant Attorney General for eight years while acting as a prosecuting attorney for the Departments of Human Resources for Clay, Randolph, Coosa, Elmore, and Calhoun Counties. Greg and his wife Kelly are both active members of their community in Clay County and have three daughters: Karis, Emma Kate, and Bailey.
DIRECTIONS TO THE UNIVERSITY CLUB – Go around Shug Jordan Parkway to the intersection with N. Donahue and go north on N. Donahue for about 0.4 miles.  Turn left at the entrance to Yarbrough Farms subdivision.  Go down a divided road into the subdivision for about 0.3 miles to the University Club on a hill to your right.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17, 7:00 – 9:00 PM — ASIAN FILM SERIES / JAPANESE FILM: “TRAIN MAN”
Held in AU’s Haley Center, room 3195.  Free & open to all.
This month, the Asian Film Series features four “romantic” Asian films. This third film is a Japanese film based on a best seller mobile phone novel, “Train Man” (Densha Otoko) directed by Murakami Masanori (2006). The film will include English subtitles.
For upcoming films, please check “events calendar” of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures: http://media.cla.auburn.edu/forlang/EventCalendar/index.cfm

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 17, 7:00 – 9:00 PM — AU BLACK STUDENT UNION PRESENTS: JOSEPH ‘REVEREND RUN’ SIMMONS
Held in AU’s Student Center Ballroom.
AU’s Black Student Union will be bringing the inspirational speaker, Joseph “Rev Run” Simmons to Auburn University Campus. Reverend Run is the respected rapper from one of the greatest hip-hop groups Run-D.M.C. and from his family reality show Run’s House, but he is also known for his words of wisdom. Come join BSU for one of our biggest events this spring semester in honor of Black History Month!

THURSDAY, FEB. 18, NOON – 1:00 PM — NATIONAL WEBCAST / WEBINAR: STATE ADVOCACY FOR TREES
Info: http://actrees.org/site/stories/state_advocacy_for_trees.php
The act of telling elected officials how to write and change our laws is at the very heart of our democratic system. While news headlines about “special interests” may depict a negative view of lobbying, organized advocacy by groups of people is the origin for many public policies and shapes the way public resources are directed. Protecting and promoting urban forests is an issue of authentic public concern that deserves to be well represented. As an urban forestry expert, you are naturally positioned to be an effective and persuasive advocate for trees and urban forests.

THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 3:00 – 4:30 PM — LECTURE BY DR. JOSHUA INWOOD / “CONSTRUCTING AUBURN AVENUE AS A HERITAGE TOURIST DESTINATION”
Held in room 2225 AU Student Center.
Sponsored By the Department of History, Multicultural Center and Access & Community Initiatives.

THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 3:00 PM — DISCOVER AUBURN SERIES:  JAMES BROWN – GROWING VEGETABLES ORGANICALLY
Held in the Special Collections and Archives, RBD Library, AU. Free & open to all. Reception will follow program.
Dr. James Brown is a retired AU professor of Horticulture and author of “Organic Gardening: Vegetable Growing in Simple Terms”, a popular manual for students and home gardeners. Discover Auburn is a year-long series that features programs on research, history and other topics of interest by Auburn faculty, staffand graduates.  This lecture is cosponsored by the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities in AU’s College of Liberal Arts, AU Libraries and the Access & Community Initiatives, Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. For more information on the program and the series, contact the Center at 844-4946 or http://www.auburn.edu/cah.

THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 4:00 – 6:00 PM — WATCH & LEARN SERIES / FILM: FOUR LITTLE GIRLS
Held in AU’s Multicultural Center Reading Room.
Sponsored by the Multicultural Center and the College of Liberal Arts.

DATE CHANGED TO THURSDAY, FEB. 25 THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 4:00 pm – AUBURN WATER WORKS BOARD http://www.auburnalabama.org/wrm/
Held in the Water Resource Management Conference Room, 1501 West Samford Avenue (Shug Jordan and West Samford). Info: 501-3060. The Board meets on the 1st Thursday after the 3rd Tuesday of each month, but delayed one week this month.

THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 4:00 pm-OPELIKA PLANNING COMMISSION WORK SESSION
Held at 700 Fox Trail, Opelika Public Works bldg. Open to all.   Agenda to be posted at www.opelika.org.
[Regular meeting to be held Tuesday, Feb. 23, 3:00 pm, same location.)

THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 5:00 - 8:00 PM -- Third Thursday: Late Night / ARTIST'S TALK: CHRIS MOTTALINI
Held at AU's Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. www.jcsm.auburn.edu
Chris Mottalini's photographic series on view at JCSM February 6 - April 17, "After You Left, They Took It Apart: Demolished Paul Rudolph Homes" focuses on three now destroyed homes by modernist architect Paul Rudolph. In 2007, Mottalini gained access to and photographed these homes mere days before the demolitions. The resulting images capture a state of modernism few people have witnessed, and they reveal the grace of these homes as they stood in defiance of severe neglect. Mottalini will speak on his photographs and process.

THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 5:30 PM -- THE WRITE TIME / 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.
If you enjoy writing fiction, non-fiction or poetry and would be
interested in meeting others over coffee or tea to talk about the writing life, to share ideas and tips about getting started, learn how to cope with writers block, how to edit your work or get published, then The Write Time might be just the place for you! All are welcome no matter at what stage of writing they may be, including those who have always wanted to write but don't know how to begin. Come have some fun with others who share your passion. The Write Time is hosted by Helen Silverstein, editor of The Southern Women's Review. The Write Time is being offered again on Friday, February 26th at 10:30 a.m.

THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 6:30 PM -- S.O.S. / SAVE OUR SAUGAHATCHEE
Held in the City of Auburn Meeting Room (off Tichenor Ave, behind Cheeburger, Cheeburger)
Program: Local water issues and legislative update
6:30 PM social / 7:00 PM meeting
Join us to brainstorm about local issues that need our attention as well as important bills in the current legislative session that affect water.

THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 6:30 PM -- FRENCH FILM SERIES: LES CHORISTES
Held in AU's Haley Center room 3203.
Les Choristes (2004); The Chorus (97 min.)
In this gentle French drama from first-time director Christophe Barratier, music teacher Clement Mathieu (Gerard Jugnot) lands a job at a boys' boarding school populated by delinquents and orphans -- and run by a martinet headmaster (Francois Berleand). Sensing potential in the rambunctious ruffians, Mathieu forms a choir to rein in his charges through the transforming power of song, even at the probable cost of his career.
More info: ama0002@auburn.edu
Info: http://media.cla.auburn.edu/forlang/display_event.cfm?Calendar_ID=3467

THURSDAY, FEB. 18, 7:30 PM -- AUBURN CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY CONCERT / PARIS PIANO TRIO
Held in AU's Goodwin Hall. www.auburnchambermusic.org
Parking shuttle from Samford Ave at College Street.
Individual performance tickets $20. Season tickets $50.
Student Rush Tickets - $5 -- Returned or unsold tickets will be offered at performance time with valid student ID.
Purchase tickets: at the door or http://www.auburnchambermusic.org/tickets.html
Info re: Paris Piano Trio -- http://www.melkap.com/view-artist/25/Paris_Piano_Trio
Future Auburn Chamber Music performances: Adaskin Trio, Wednesday March 31 7:30PM; Pacifica String Quartet, April 15, 2010.

FRIDAY, FEB. 19, 8:00 AM - 7:30 PM -- AUBURN SYMPOSIUM: CROSS CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES ON UNIVERSITY TEACHING AND LEARNING
Also Saturday, Feb. 20, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm.
Held in AU's Student Center Ballroom [& other rooms].
Higher Education instructional staff can benefit from increased awareness of cross-cultural differences related to teaching and learning and on more effective teaching techniques that such knowledge suggests.  This two-day event will bring together scholars from around the world, together with faculty members, graduate students, and administrators in an interactive forum to facilitate learning and change in educational practice.The Symposium’s unique forma twill combine didactic plenary sessions with interactive discussion sessions to assist with integrating and applying plenary information.
To Register (Deadline:  Friday, February 12), view the program, and obtain other Symposium information, please go to http://www.auburn.edu/academic/other/biggio/symposium/

FRIDAY, FEB. 19, 11:00 AM — ALABAMA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Held in the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) Building, Alabama Room (Main Hearing Room), 1400 Coliseum Boulevard, Montgomery. ph: 334-271-7706
Amended agenda:  https://www.openmeetings.alabama.gov/generalpublic/display_notice_details.aspx?agencyname=Alabama+Environmental+Management+Commission&submissiondatetime=2%2f11%2f2010+2%3a50%3a29+PM
Agenda includes:
1. Consideration of minutes of meetings held on February 9 and 12, 2010**
2. Report from the Director
3. Report from the Commission Chair
4. Consideration of adoption of proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code Div. 3, Air Pollution Control Program Regulations – The Commission will consider proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code Div. 3, Air Pollution Control Program Regulations, Rules 335-3-1-.02, 355-3-10-.01, 335-3-10-.02, 335-3-10-.03, 335-3-11-.01, 335-3-11-.06, 335-3-11-.07, and Appendix C.  The proposed revisions incorporate by reference changes to the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) promulgated by EPA.  The Department held a public hearing on the proposed amendments on December 9, 2009.
5. Consideration of adoption of proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code Div. 4, Scrap Tire Program Regulations – The Commission will consider proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code Div. 4, Scrap Tire Program Regulations.  The revisions to rules within this Division are proposed pursuant to amendments to the Alabama Scrap Tire Environmental Quality Act enacted in 2009.  The revisions clarify certain provisions of the Scrap Tire Program regulations related to the reporting and recordkeeping requirements of Scrap Tire Receivers, Processors and Transporters.  The Department held a public hearing on the proposed amendments on January 6, 2010.
6. Consideration of adoption of proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code Div. 1, General Administration Regulations and Div. 13, Solid Waste Program Regulations – The Commission will consider proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code Div. 1, General Administration Regulations, Rule 335-1-1-.07, Departmental Forms, Rule 335-1-6, Fee Schedule G, and ADEM Admin. Code Div. 13, Solid Waste Program Regulations, Rule 335-13-7-.01(2), Notification of Medical Waste Generation.  The proposed amendments would establish annual fees and registration requirements for medical waste generators.  The Department held a public hearing on the proposed amendments on December 9, 2009.
7. Consideration of adoption of proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code Div. 14, Hazardous Waste Program Regulations – The Commission will consider proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code Div. 14, Hazardous Waste Program Regulations, Chapters 335-14-1 to 335-14-8, 335-14-11, and 335-14-17.  These revisions would adopt federal hazardous waste regulations additions/modifications that occurred from July 2008 to June 2009 so the Department’s hazardous waste program is equivalent to the federal program.  The Department held a public hearing on the proposed amendments on December 11, 2009.
8. Chicago Deer River Properties, LLC v. ADEM, EMC Docket No. 10-03 – The Commission will acknowledge Petitioner Chicago Deer River Properties, LLC’s withdrawal of the appeal and request for hearing regarding ADEM’s objection to the Petitioner’s certification of coastal consistency for the Theodore Industrial Port Project, COE-09-025-SED/SAM-2008-2038-HEH.
9. Interview candidates for the ADEM Director position
Interview 1 – Candidate: Lance R. LeFleur; Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Interview 2 – Candidate: Louis M. Montgomery, J.D., P.E.; Time: 12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Interview 3 – Candidate: Dean R. Argo; Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
10. Other business
11. Future business session
*The Agenda for this meeting will be available on the ADEM website, www.adem.alabama.gov, under EMC Information and Calendar of Events.
**The Minutes for these meetings will be available on the ADEM website under EMC Information.

FRIDAY, FEB. 19, 7:00 PM — MUSIC BY JASON CONNELLY / 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.  Open to all.  No admission fee, but suggested minimum donation of $5 will be appreciated by the musician. CDs available for purchase.
Originally a native of Fort Myers, Florida, Jason Connelly had his vocal beginnings in a gospel choir. Now living in Georgia, he has honed his skills over a ten year period and his latest recording, “Songs From Inside the Attic,” has exceeded the expectations of industry critics and fans alike. Connelly recorded the cd live at Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was an open mic winner three times in 2009.  “In the beginning the music was all about a melody and the challenge of filling a floor. Now, after two and a half years of open road soul searching, it’s about a life and all of its missed opportunity and misguided emotions. If the floor fills this time, it’s because I said something worth hearing.”

FRIDAY, FEB. 19 (SATURDAY, FEB. 20), 7:30 PM — AU THEATRE / THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Held at AU’s Telfair Peet Theatre, Main Stage.
Additional performances: February 23-27 at 7:30 p.m; February 21 at 2:30 p.m.    http://media.cla.auburn.edu/theatre/

SATURDAY, FEB. 20 , 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM — AUBURN SYMPOSIUM: CROSS CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES ON UNIVERSITY TEACHING AND LEARNING
Also Saturday, Feb. 20, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Held in AU’s Student Center Ballroom [& other rooms]. See details above.
http://www.auburn.edu/academic/other/biggio/symposium/

SATURDAY, FEB. 20, 9:00 AM – NOON — OLLI at AUBURN/ WRITING WORKSHOP WITH RICHARD GOODMAN
Held at the Lexington Hotel , S. College St., Auburn.
To register: call 334-844-5100 or get form here http://www.olliatauburn.org/documents/richard_goodman_writing_flyer.pdf
OLLI at Auburn: OLLI@auburn.edu; www.olliatauburn.org
“Five Useful Things You Can Learn About Writing in 180 Minutes” will be presented by Richard Goodman, author of “The Soul of Creative Writing”.

SATURDAY, FEB. 20, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM — GRAND OPENING PARTY / MAMA MOCHA’S COFFEE BEANERY – AT THE GNU’S ROOM
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. All invited to attend.  www.thegnusroom.com
The anxiously awaited day has arrived!  The Gnu’s Room will host an all day celebration for the new on-site coffee roasting business owned and operated by Sarah Barnett. Barnett managed the former Cambridge Coffee shop and brings a wealth of coffee knowledge and experience to this new enterprise. Mama Mocha’s Coffee Beanery will be operating in space at the back of the Gnu’s Room and will be roasting beans from many countries of origin on a daily basis. The celebration will feature coffee cuppings (tastings), as well as readings by local poets and prose writers, local musicians, an art show and as much other fun stuff as we can squeeze into one day! A schedule of events will be available soon so please check back for more info.

SATURDAY, FEB. 20, 7:00 PM — UNITY BALL
Held in AU’s Student Center.
Tickets: available in 345 Foy Hall and in the AU Student Center from 11 am – 2 pm Monday, Wednesday & Friday.
As part of the celebration of Black History Month, the Auburn
University chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People/NAACP, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council/NHPC, will host the fifth annual Unity Ball. Colleges or departments interested in purchasing a table should call 844-3492, or contact Jocelyn Vickers at wilchjil@auburn.edu. For more information about NAACP and NPHC, contact Katie Reid at reidmak@auburn.edu or Falyn Coleman at colemfd@auburn.edu.

SATURDAY, FEB. 20, 7:30 PM — GUEST ARTIST: POINSETT PIANO TRIO
Held in AU’s Goodwin Music Building Recital Hall.
The Poinsett Piano Trio – featuring Dr. David Gross, Piano; Deirdre Hutton, Violin; Dr. Christopher Gross, Cello – will perform works by Beethoven, Brahms, and Kodaly.
Email music@auburn.edu for more information
Admission Price: $10.00, Free with valid AU student ID
Phone 844-4165 for more information
Contact Music Dept. for more information
http://media.cla.auburn.edu/music/display_event.cfm?Calendar_ID=3360

SATURDAY, FEB. 20, 7:30 PM — AU THEATRE / THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Held at AU’s Telfair Peet Theatre, Main Stage.
Additional performances: February 23-27 at 7:30 p.m; February 21 at 2:30 p.m.    http://media.cla.auburn.edu/theatre/

SUNDAY, FEB. 21, 2:30 PM — AU THEATRE / THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE
Held at AU’s Telfair Peet Theatre, Main Stage. http://media.cla.auburn.edu/theatre/
Additional performances: February 23-27 at 7:30 p.m

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ONGOING THROUGH FEB. 19 — CALL FOR ENTRIES / PRESENTATION LEAGUE JURIED PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION
The Auburn Preservation League (APL), in partnership with the Auburn Arts Association and the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center, will accept entries for its juried photography exhibition February 8 – 19. Artists and photographers from Lee County are encouraged to enter works. The exhibition will be held at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center March 5 – 29. For more information, including entry forms, visit www.auburnalabama.org/arts or contact the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center at 501-2963. The Auburn Preservation League (APL), in partnership with  the Auburn Arts Association and the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center, will accept entries for its juried photography exhibition February 8 – 19. Artists and photographers from Lee County are encouraged to enter works. The exhibition will be held at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center March 5 – 29. For more information, including entry forms, visit www.auburnalabama.org/arts or contact the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center at 501-2963.

ONGOING THROUGH FEB. 28 — EXHIBITION: AGRITECTURE
Held at AU’s Biggin Gallery, 101 Biggin Hall. Free & open to all.
Agritecture: What does the Chia Pet^TM have to do with sustainable living? Can grain crops be an art form? Jeff Schmuki, visiting artist in the Auburn University Department of Art, challenges viewers both to confront and to collaborate on these and other issues in Agritecture.

ONGOING THROUGH MARCH 2 — WINTER INVITATIONAL 2010 EXHIBIT
Held at the Dempsey Community Arts Center.
Exhibitions are free and open to the public Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
This exhibit includes works in a variety of media by regional artists  and craftpersons.  For more information about the Art Gallery or future exhibitions, please contact the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center at 501-2963.

ONGOING THROUGH APRIL 17 — JCSM: PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE PERMANENT COLLECTION
Held  in the Noel and Kathryn Dickinson Wadsworth Gallery, AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Admission is free thanks to JCSM Business Partners.
A selection of images from JCSM’s growing collection of photographs will be on display, illustrating the medium’s wide range of creative and formal possibilities. Photographs by Diane Arbus, Jerry Siegel, Andy Warhol, and Beth Maynor Young are included in the exhibition.  www.jcsm.auburn.edu

THE GNU’S ROOM / FEBRUARY CUSTOMER APPRECIATION BOOK SALE 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.
We are kicking off our February Customer Appreciation Book Sale. Each of the next three weeks, our customers will be offered special discounts on books in different sections of the store. This week all mass market paperbacks in the categories of mystery/suspense/thriller or sci-fi/fantasy will be on sale. ***Buy 2…Get 1 Free!***

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Advertiser Editorial: Lobbying, Alabama environmental board don’t mix – Montgomery Advertiser
For years, some environmentalists have claimed that Alabama’s environmental regulatory agency is too cozy with businesses and industries. That perception, deserved or not, is only going to be underscored now that the chairwoman of the commission that oversees the Alabama Department of Environmental Management has become the top lobbyist for the Business Council of Alabama. Anita L. Archie, who chairs the Environmental Management Commission, said she does not believe she should resign from the commission now that she is being paid to represent the interests of the 5,000 businesses and industries that are members of the BCA.

Threat of wintry weather delays interviews of candidates for ADEM post – The Birmingham News – al.com (blog) –  The Environmental Management Commission has postponed interviews with candidates for the top post at the Alabama Department of Environmental Management due to the possibility of snow in Montgomery Friday. The EMC hires the director of the ADEM and sets environmental policy for the state. To fill the top post at ADEM, the commission had scheduled interviews for Friday with Lance LeFleur, owner of a plastics recycling business; Louis Montgomery, an environmental engineer for Birmingham-based Bhate Associates; and Dean Argo, the president of the Prattville City Council and the executive director of an association that represents municipally owned electric utilities. Those interviews have been rescheduled for Friday, Feb. 19, according to a notice sent out by the commission.

ANNISTON STAR – Columnist James Evans looks at the reasons why a new constitution is needed in Alabama.

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CITY OF AUBURN BOARD VACANCIES:
*Metropolitan Planning Organization / Citizens Advisory Committee  – one vacancy will be filled at the March 2 City Council meeting.
*Auburn Library Board – one vacancy will be filled at the April 6 City Council meeting.
*Historic Preservation Commission – two vacancies will be filled at the April 6 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.

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CITY OF AUBURN WEBSITE / LINKS TO AVAILABLE PUBLICATIONS http://www.auburnalabama.org/publications.asp

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.

PLACEforum
email:  placeforum@gmail.com
web:    http://placeforum.org/blog/
Feb. 15, 2010

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Update – cancellations,corrections & additions / Feb. 11, 2010

PREDICTED WEATHER LEADS TO CANCELLATIONS
Due to predicted wintry weather conditions some of tomorrow’s events have been cancelled, AU will be closed, and other events/businesses may follow that trend. It won’t be possible to include all of these cancellations in PLACE notifications. So please check directly with sponsoring organizations or locations re: additional cancellations or postponements.

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AU CLASSES AND NORMAL BUSINESS OPERATIONS CANCELLED FOR TOMORROW, FRIDAY, FEB. 12

MORE INFO:  www.auburn.edu; http://ocm.auburn.edu/news/alert/weather/index.html

A winter storm warning has been issued for the Auburn University main campus effective midnight tonight through 6:00 p.m. Friday.  The National Weather Service is currently forecasting a 90% chance of winter weather with an expected three to five inches of snow for the Auburn area tomorrow (Friday).

Due to local school closings and the potential for hazardous road conditions, Auburn University has decided to cancel classes and normal business operations for Friday (the university will be at operations level 2).  Employees should double check with their supervisors regarding the need to report to work.

The following critical operations will continue to operate at minimal staffing levels:

• Housing operations
• Dining (provided it is safe for staff to travel to campus to open facilities)
  • Lupton Hall – 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  • Village View Dining – 10:30 a.m. to midnight
  • Terrell Hall – open from 10:30 a.m. to midnight
• Auburn University Medical Clinic
  • Check phone line at 334-844-4416 for hours of operation
• Security and emergency management
• Facilities emergency work crews

Transit operations will be suspended for the day.  A decision regarding night security shuttle operation will be made Friday afternoon based on road conditions. If the night security shuttle does operate, please be prepared for delays as drivers may have to adjust driving behaviors due to road conditions.

Special events are being addressed on a case-by-case basis. As available, information will be updated on the Auburn University home page at www.auburn.edu.  Please check the Auburn University home page or directly with the event organizer for further information.

This storm system is affecting a large portion of the southeast and may create hazardous driving conditions, so please consider this as you make any travel plans for Thursday or Friday.  Do not travel on the roads if you don’t have to.  If you do have to travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of emergency.

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AUBURN CITY SCHOOLS CLOSED TOMORROW

Auburn City Schools will be closed and all school-related events cancelled on
Friday, February 12, 2010.

School will resume on Tuesday, February 16, 2010.  (Monday, Feb. 15 is President’s Day.)

Pending approval by the Board of Education, the make-up day will be Friday, April 23, 2010.

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ADDITIONAL EVENT THIS EVENING [note: as of 3:50 pm today this event is still scheduled and expected to be held]
THURSDAY, FEB. 11, 5:00 – 7:00 PM — “ARMIGARDDEN” – A LECTURE BY VISITING ARTIST JEFF SCHMUKI
Held in room 005, Biggin Hall, AU.  Free & open to all. Reception will follow lecture.
AU College of Liberal Arts and Dept of Art in collaboration with the College of Agriculture present”Armegardden” a public lecture by Visiting Artist Jeff Schmuki who will discuss ecology, sustainability, and a do-it-yourself philososphy as evidenced in his exhibition in Biggin Gallery, “Agritecture”.
Biggin Hall is located at the intersection of Magnolia and College streets and is wheelchair accessible. All events and lectures are free and open to the public. More info: 334-844-4373 or visit the Reclaiming Ground events web site at http://www.ag.auburn.edu/adm/comm/ArtinAg/ .
About Agritecture
“Agritecture” by Visiting Artist Jeff Schmuki will be presented January 18 through February 26, 2010.
What does the Chia Pet^TM have to do with sustainable living? Can art help create a sustainable future? How can community, empowerment, and environmental education counter environmental decline? Jeff Schmuki invites us to confront and collaborate on these and other issues in his exhibition, “Agritecture.” Please join the College of Agriculture, the College of Liberal Arts, and the Department of Art at Auburn University as we continue to explore the intersections of art, culture, ecology, and sustainability through our 2010 collaborative focus on gardens.
These events are generously supported by The College of Liberal Arts, The Department of Art, The College of Agriculture, The Alabama State Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

CANCELLED / TOMORROW’S EMC MEETING
Cancelled:  FRIDAY, FEB. 12, 11:00 AM — ALABAMA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION / special-called meeting. [Note info below on Feb. 19 EMC meeting.]

POSTPONED / TOMORROW’S SUNDILLA CONCERT
Postponed — FRIDAY, FEB. 12, 7:30 PM — SUNDILLA CONCERT FEATURING JOHN FLYNN

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ADDITIONAL EVENT
ONGOING THROUGH FEB. 16 — INDUSTRIAL DESIGN EXHIBIT “PROOF” / Interactive models display mathematical theorems
Held in AU’s Dudley Gallery.  Free & open to all.
The College of Architecture, Design and Construction’s “Proof”
mathematical theorems exhibit features industrial design student work which brings mathematics principles to life through interactive models. A collaboration between mathematics professor Andras Bezdek and industrial design professor Bret Smith led to the design, explanation, fabrication and display of the mathematical theorems. For more information, contact
Andras Bezdek at 844-6562 or at bezdean@auburn.edu or contact Bret Smith at 844-2372 or at smithbh@auburn.edu.

UPCOMING MEETING / AMENDED AGENDA
FRIDAY, FEB. 19, 11:00 AM — ALABAMA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Held in the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) Building, Alabama Room (Main Hearing Room), 1400 Coliseum Boulevard, Montgomery. ph: 334-271-7706
Amended agenda:  https://www.openmeetings.alabama.gov/generalpublic/display_notice_details.aspx?agencyname=Alabama+Environmental+Management+Commission&submissiondatetime=2%2f11%2f2010+2%3a50%3a29+PM
Agenda includes:
1. Consideration of minutes of meetings held on February 9 and 12, 2010**
2. Report from the Director
3. Report from the Commission Chair
4. Consideration of adoption of proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code Div. 3, Air Pollution Control Program Regulations – The Commission will consider proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code Div. 3, Air Pollution Control Program Regulations, Rules 335-3-1-.02, 355-3-10-.01, 335-3-10-.02, 335-3-10-.03, 335-3-11-.01, 335-3-11-.06, 335-3-11-.07, and Appendix C.  The proposed revisions incorporate by reference changes to the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) promulgated by EPA.  The Department held a public hearing on the proposed amendments on December 9, 2009.
5. Consideration of adoption of proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code Div. 4, Scrap Tire Program Regulations – The Commission will consider proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code Div. 4, Scrap Tire Program Regulations.  The revisions to rules within this Division are proposed pursuant to amendments to the Alabama Scrap Tire Environmental Quality Act enacted in 2009.  The revisions clarify certain provisions of the Scrap Tire Program regulations related to the reporting and recordkeeping requirements of Scrap Tire Receivers, Processors and Transporters.  The Department held a public hearing on the proposed amendments on January 6, 2010.
6. Consideration of adoption of proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code Div. 1, General Administration Regulations and Div. 13, Solid Waste Program Regulations – The Commission will consider proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code Div. 1, General Administration Regulations, Rule 335-1-1-.07, Departmental Forms, Rule 335-1-6, Fee Schedule G, and ADEM Admin. Code Div. 13, Solid Waste Program Regulations, Rule 335-13-7-.01(2), Notification of Medical Waste Generation.  The proposed amendments would establish annual fees and registration requirements for medical waste generators.  The Department held a public hearing on the proposed amendments on December 9, 2009.
7. Consideration of adoption of proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code Div. 14, Hazardous Waste Program Regulations – The Commission will consider proposed amendments to ADEM Admin. Code Div. 14, Hazardous Waste Program Regulations, Chapters 335-14-1 to 335-14-8, 335-14-11, and 335-14-17.  These revisions would adopt federal hazardous waste regulations additions/modifications that occurred from July 2008 to June 2009 so the Department’s hazardous waste program is equivalent to the federal program.  The Department held a public hearing on the proposed amendments on December 11, 2009.
8. Chicago Deer River Properties, LLC v. ADEM, EMC Docket No. 10-03 – The Commission will acknowledge Petitioner Chicago Deer River Properties, LLC’s withdrawal of the appeal and request for hearing regarding ADEM’s objection to the Petitioner’s certification of coastal consistency for the Theodore Industrial Port Project, COE-09-025-SED/SAM-2008-2038-HEH.
9. Interview candidates for the ADEM Director position
Interview 1 – Candidate: Lance R. LeFleur; Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Interview 2 – Candidate: Louis M. Montgomery, J.D., P.E.; Time: 12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Interview 3 – Candidate: Dean R. Argo; Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
10. Other business
11. Future business session
*The Agenda for this meeting will be available on the ADEM website, www.adem.alabama.gov, under EMC Information and Calendar of Events.
**The Minutes for these meetings will be available on the ADEM website under EMC Information.

=========  =========  ==========

Info below courtesy of  BEN – Bama Environmental News, Pat Byington’s e-newsletter. Subscribe to BEN via email to editor@bamanews.com .
Alabama River Alliance’s Watershed Leadership Conference Deadline is TOMORROW February 12th – Don’t miss the February 12th deadline to register for this year’s Watershed Leadership Conference.  Author Janisse Ray will be speaking at the event, along with several numerous events during the week.  Go to http://www.alabamarivers.org for details.

Environmental Groups Ask EPA to Remove State Water Program – Fourteen Alabama environmental groups have called upon the EPA to revoke the Alabama Department of Environmental Management’s water program.  Here is the story from the Mobile Press-Register: http://blog.al.com/live/2010/01/groups_want_epa_to_revoke_adem.html Here is the 77 page petition to EPA: http://www.alabamarivers.org/epa-petition
Southern Environmental Law Center Names Black Warrior River “Endangered Place” in 2010 – The Southern Environmental Center has released their annual report on the South’s “Endangered Places.”  This year Alabama’s Black Warrior River made the group’s 2010 “Endangered” list.  Here is a link to the SELC list:  http://www.southernenvironment.org/about/top_10_2010/
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Thanks for your interest and support.

PLACEforum
email:  placeforum@gmail.com
web:    http://placeforum.org/blog/
Feb. 11, 2010

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Week of Feb. 8, 2010 — Meetings, events & updates

HAM PONDERS REELECTION, ECKMAN MAY OFFER CHALLENGE http://www2.oanow.com/oan/news/local/article/ham_ponders_reelection_eckman_may_offer_challenge/128611/

MONDAY, FEB. 8, 7:30 AM — AU REGIONAL AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD
Held n the Meeting Room located at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, 714 E. Glenn Ave., Auburn. Open to all.
Agenda: to discuss airport related issues.

MONDAY, FEB. 8, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM — SOUTHEASTERN SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS CONFERENCE
Held at the Auburn University Conference Center.
http://www.sesaf.org/
Topics include: Global Warming, Cap and Trade issues, Carbon Credits and Ethics,Climate Model Predictions, Forest Sustainability, Wood Fuel for Automobiles, and Afforestation.

CANCELLED MONDAY, FEB. 8, noon- AUBURN PLANNING COMMISSION PACKET MEETING (AGENDA DISCUSSION)
Held in the conference room, Development Services Bldg, 171 N. Ross St. Open to all.
Agenda & full packet:  www.auburnalabama.org/pc/agenda.asp

MONDAY, FEB. 8  – LEE COUNTY COMMISSION    www.leeco.us
4:00 pm – work session / 6:00 pm – regular session
Held in the commission chambers, historic courthouse building, 215 S. Ninth St, 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. Horseshoe Bend Regional Library “Big Read” Presentation – Suzie Anderson
6. Reports from Commissioners and Staff:
a. 2009 Financial Statements – Roger Rendleman
7. Consent Agenda:
a. Minutes of Commission Meeting January 25, 2010
b. Ratify and Approve Claims and Procurement Card Transactions
c. Bid #3 Virtual Training Equipment – Sheriff Jones
d. Alternative Sentencing Board Appointments Announcement- Judge English
8.  OLD BUSINESS:
a. North Donahue Joint Bridge Project – Judge English
b. Report on Volunteer Fire Departments – Judge English
9.   New Business:
a. Vulcan Quarry Noise Complaint – Wes Cumbie
b. Annual Tax Levy for 2010 – Judge English
c. Annual Levy of Alcoholic Beverage Fees – FY2010-2011 – Judge English
d. Paving of Lee Road 592 – Neal Hall
e. Educational Reimbursement – Roger Rendleman
f. Policy on Employing Minors – Kim Oas
g. Federal Appropriations Requests – Wendy Swann
h. Recovery Zone Bonds Allocation – Wendy Swann
i.  Drug Court Grant Resolution – Wendy Swann
j. Lee County Master Plan Update – Wendy Swann
10. ADJOURN

TUESDAY, FEB. 9, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM — SOUTHEASTERN SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS CONFERENCE
Held at the Auburn University Conference Center.
http://www.sesaf.org/
Topics include: Global Warming, Cap and Trade issues, Carbon Credits and Ethics,Climate Model Predictions, Forest Sustainability, Wood Fuel for Automobiles, and Afforestation.

TUESDAY, FEB. 9, 11:00 AM — ALABAMA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION / special-called meeting
Held in the Alabama Room (Main Hearing Room), ADEM Building, 1400 Coliseum Blvd, Montgomery. PH: 334-271-7706.  Open to all.
Agenda:  https://www.openmeetings.alabama.gov/generalpublic/display_notice_details.aspx?agencyname=Alabama+Environmental+Management+Commission&submissiondatetime=1%2f26%2f2010+4%3a40%3a53+PM
1. Consideration of minutes of meetings held on December 11 and 23, 2009**
2. Discussion and consideration of EPA’s Greenhouse Gases Endangerment Findings
3. Narrow the candidates for the ADEM Director position to those to be interviewed by the Commission at its meeting on February 12, 2010
4. Other business
*The Agenda for this meeting will be available on the ADEM website, www.adem.alabama.gov, under EMC Information and Calendar of Events.
**The Minutes for these meetings will be available on the ADEM website under EMC Information.

TUESDAY, FEB. 9, 11:30 am – AUBURN GREENSPACE ADVISORY BOARD
Held in the City of Auburn meeting room, 122 Tichenor Ave. (entrance off side of building, across from rear entrance to Cheeburger Cheeburger.) Open to all.
http://www.auburnalabama.org/greenspace/

TUESDAY, FEB. 9, 4:00 pm – AUBURN HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Held in the Development Services Bldg, 171 N. Ross St. Open to all.
Agenda:  http://www.auburnalabama.org/hpc/agenda.aspx

TUESDAY, FEB. 9, 4:00 – 5:00 PM — ART LECTURE: METAL ARTIST JOHN PHILLIPS
Held at AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art.
Admission is free thanks to the JCSM Business Partners.
www.jcsm.auburn.edu
Lecture series: The Innovative Spirit
John Phillips uses his skills as artist-blacksmith to create architectural and sculptural forgings. His shop, Phillips Metal Works in Montgomery Alabama, executes commissions from design to installation, builds speculative works and is developing a collection of interior ironwork. He has twice been awarded the Alabama Artist in Crafts Fellowship, and his works have been widely exhibited throughout the Southeast. Phillips was one of four Americans chosen to exhibit his works in the Quershnitt Metal exhibition in Germany.

TUESDAY, FEB. 9  – AUBURN BOARD OF EDUCATION    www.auburnschools.org
5:00 pm – dinner, Board of Education Office, 855 East Samford Ave.
6:00 pm – meeting, Auburn High School multi-media room, 405 S. Dean Rd. Open to all.
Agenda includes:
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ROLL CALL
III. APPROVE AGENDA
IV. RECOGNITIONS
V. HEAR DELEGATIONS
VI. APPROVE MINUTES
January 12, 2010, regular session
February 1, 2010, special session
VII. COMMUNICATIONS
VIII. APPROVE PAYMENT OF BILLS AND SALARIES – JANUARY 2010
IX. UNFINISHED BUSINESS (None)
X. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT AND NEW BUSINESS
1. Accelerated Math Waiver/Alabama Department of Education
2. Auburn City Schools Policy Manual – Revision to Policy BBBB
3. Close Auburn Bank Certificate of Deposit #63188
4. Refunding/Refinancing Series 2002 School Warrants
5. FY 2010 Budget Amendment #1
6. Contract Extension: Lawn Maintenance
7. Change Order #3 for Auburn High School Fine Arts Renovation
XI. PERSONNEL
XII. OTHER
The Board of Education will meet for its next regular session on March 9, 2010, at 6:00 p.m. in the Multi-Media Room at Auburn High School.

TUESDAY, FEB. 9, 6:00 – 8:00 PM — City of Auburn CompPlan 2030 Public Input Meeting / Northwest Auburn
http://www.auburnalabama.org/news/2010/pl012510.asp
Held at the Boykin Community Center Auditorium, 400 Boykin Street.
The purpose of this meeting is to gather input from northwest Auburn residents. A brief presentation will be followed by breakout groups in which citizens will be able to offer their input on the future of Auburn. As this meeting is similar in format to the  public meeting held last October, those who attended that meeting may instead wish to attend Public Meeting #2 on Feb. 23 at AJHS.
CompPlan 2030 will focus on how we use the land, now and in the future; on how land use and the built environment affect the natural world, and vice-versa; on schools, parks, and other facilities that form the civic foundation of the City; and on the many forms of transportation that link everything together. The plan will make recommendations for Auburn’s future growth and development based on a number of factors, including citizen input. A final public input meeting will be held in late-2010. Ultimately, the plan will be reviewed by the Planning Commission and considered for approval by the Auburn City Council as a policy document for the City.
More info: www.auburnalabama.org/compplan2030 or contact Justin Steinmann with the City of Auburn Planning Dept at 334-501-3045 or at jsteinmann@auburnalabama.org.

CompPlan 2030 Related Information:
– CompPlan 2030 Webpage
http://www.auburnalabama.org/compplan2030
– CompPlan 2030 Update (PDF) (Open Line Article – February 2010)
http://www.auburnalabama.org/openline/2010/02-10.pdf
– City of Auburn to Host Public Input Meeting for Future Land Use Plan (Press Release 09/18/09)
http://www.auburnalabama.org/news/2009/pl091809.asp
– Lending a Voice to Auburn’s Future (PDF) (Open Line Article – October 2009)
http://www.auburnalabama.org/openline/2009/10-09.pdf

TUESDAY, FEB. 9, 6:30 – 8:00 PM — FILM: VISUAL ACOUSTICS – THE MODERNISM OF JULIUS SHULMAN
Held at AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art.
For complete details visit www.JCSM.auburn.edu
Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman
Eric Bricker, producer/director
Narrated by Dustin Hoffman, Visual Acoustics explores the monumental career of 97-year-old architectural photographer Julius Shulman. Populating his photos with human models and striking landscapes, Shulman combined the organic with the synthetic, melding nature with revolutionary urban design. The resulting images helped to shape the careers of some of the greatest architects of the 20th Century, with Shulman documenting the work of Richard Neutra, Rudolph Schindler, Pierre Koening, John Lautner, and many others.

TUESDAY, FEB. 9, 7:00 – 9:00 PM —  FREE SPIKE LEE FILM SHOWING / “4 LITTLE GIRLS”
Held in the AU Student Center Ballroom. Free & open to all. Refreshments served.
Come join AU’s Black Student Union and University Program Council showcasing Spike Lee film 4 LITTLE GIRLS which tells the tragic story of the bombing of a basement in a black Baptist church in Birmingham, Alabama, on September 15, 1963, which killed four young girls. Lee uses this personal tragedy to better study the racial attitudes of America during that era and goes on to describe the impact this incident had on the civil rights movement of the 1960s and beyond.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10, 3:00 PM — AU FACULTY OPEN FORUM / Future Academic Facilities
Held in the auditorium, room 1106, RBD Library, AU.
Open to anyone interested in attending.
Provost Mary Ellen Mazey and Assistant Vice President for Facilities Dan King will be giving an update and discussion concerning future academic facilities.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10, 3:30 PM — THE WRITE TIME / 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.
If you enjoy writing fiction, non-fiction or poetry and would be
interested in meeting others over coffee or tea to talk about thE writing life, to share ideas and tips about getting started, learn how to cope with writers block, how to edit your work or get published, then The Write Time might be just the place for you! All are welcome no matter at what stage of writing they may be, including those who have always wanted to write but don’t know how to begin. Come have some fun with others who share your passion. The Write Time is hosted by Helen Silverstein, editor of The Southern Women’s Review. To accommodate various schedules, The Write Time is being offered at several times and dates this month  on Thursday, February 18th at 5:30 p.m. and Friday, February 26th at  10:30 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10 , 5:30 – 7:00 PM — WEEKLY ECO HAPPY HOUR & GREEN DRINKS
Held at the Piccolo Lounge in the Auburn University Hotel. Open to all.
This is a time and location for people to gather and discuss “Green”/”Eco”/sustainability-related issues while socializing.  Everyone from “professionals” to those who are just curious are welcome. Feel free to spread the word to others who might be interested.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 10, 7:00 PM — FREE FILM SCREENING – ASIAN FILM SERIES / CHINESE FILM: PERHAPS LOVE
Held in AU’s Haley Center room 3195. Free & open to the public.
Peter Chan’s Chinese film Perhaps Love (2005) [with English subtitles)
This month, the Asian Film Series features four "romantic" Asian films. The second film is a Hong Kong director, Peter Chan's "Perhaps Love"(2005). The film will include English subtitles. Sponsored by the Chinese Club, Japanese Student Organization, Korean American Student Association, and Indian Student Association.  For upcoming films, please check "events calendar" of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures: http://media.cla.auburn.edu/forlang/EventCalendar/index.cfm

THURSDAY, FEB. 11, 8:00 am  -- AUBURN DOWNTOWN MERCHANT ASSOCIATION (DMA)
Held in the City of Auburn meeting room, 122 Tichenor Ave (entrance is at side of building, across from rear entrance of Cheeburger Cheeburger).
The Auburn DMA meets at 8:00 a.m. on the second Thursday of each month. All those interested in supporting and improving Downtown Auburn are invited to attend. http://www.downtownauburnal.org/

THURSDAY, FEB. 11, NOON - 1:00 PM -- "TOUCHED BY FIRE" AUTHOR FRANK GRIFFIN / Library brown bag lunch
Held at the Cooper Memorial Library, 200 South 6th Street, Opelika. Free & open to all.
Bring your lunch. Lemonade, water & coffee provided.
"Touched by Fire" Author Frank Griffin will speak about his new book which is based on his journey through a decade from Alabama to Dallas. His story is that of an ordinary young man caught up in extraordinary events, including his father being killed after testifying as a witness to the 1954 murder of Alabama Attorney General-elect Albert Patterson.  More info: (334)705-5380

THURSDAY, FEB. 11, 3:00 PM -- ALABAMA BIG READ / ALAN GRIBBEN: TEN GOOD REASONS TO READ TOM SAWYER
Held in AU's RBD Library, Special Collections and Archives.
Info: www.auburn.edu/cah; cah@auburn.edu; 334-844-4946.

THURSDAY, FEB. 11, 4:30 pm - OPELIKA HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Held in the Planning Chambers, Opelika Public Works Bldg, 700 Fox Trail, Opelika. Open to all.

THURSDAY, FEB. 11, 5:00 pm - AUBURN PLANNING COMMISSION
Held in the council chambers, 141 N. Ross St. Open to all.  Agenda & full packet: http://www.auburnalabama.org/pc/agenda.aspx Agenda includes:
OLD BUSINESS
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Water Oak Ridge Annexation PL-2009-00950
Applicant: Rayford and Brenda Keel
General Location: East of Alabama Highway 147 North (Heath Road) and north of U.S. Highway 280 (Lots 1, 2, and 3 of Water Oak Ridge Subdivision)
Zoning District: Outside of the City limits
Action Requested: Recommendation to City Council for annexation of approximately 3.12 acres
2. McLendon Place Annexation PL-2010-00061
Applicant: William C. Starr, Jr.
General Location: Off of Chadwick Lane just north and east of the intersection at Wire Road. (1625 Lee Road 51)
Zoning District: Outside of the City limits
Action Requested: Recommendation to City Council for annexation of approximately 1.35 acres
3. Brookhaven Farms Subdivision, Eighth Revision, Redivision of Lot 3 PL-2009-00913
Applicant: Twelve Stones Holding Co., LLC
General Location: 4283 Wimberly Road
Zoning District: Rural (R)
Action Requested: Final plat approval for a 7 lot conventional residential subdivision
NEW BUSINESS - OTHER BUSINESS - CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATION-  STAFF COMMUNICATION  - ADJOURN

THURSDAY, FEB. 11, 7:00 - 9:00 PM -- MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE AT AU
Held in AU's Student Center Ballroom.
Enjoy a live show and dinner sponsored by UPC. Tickets available in the UPC office located in suite 3130 in the AU Student Center a week prior to event. For more information please call 844-4788.

THURSDAY, FEB. 11, 7:00 - 9:00 PM -- BSU JAZZ AND POETRY NIGHT PART II
Held at the Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center.
Come out and enjoy live music and food with the Black Student Union/BSU as we host our Jazz and Poetry Night Part II.

THURSDAY, FEB. 11, 7:00 PM -- CLASSICAL GUITAR PERFORMANCE / Valerie Hartzell and Chad Ibison www.jscm.auburn.edu
Held at AU's Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art.
Admission: $5 JCSM members, $10 non-members
This performance is sponsored by the Chattahoochee Valley Classical Guitar Society. Details about the performers at http://jcsm.auburn.edu/special_events/2010_02_guitar_concert.php.

THURSDAY, FEB. 11, 7:00 pm --- EAST ALABAMA CYCLING CLUB
Held at the EAMC Health Resource Center, Pepperell Parkway, Opelika.  Open to all.
The East Alabama Cycling Club (EACC) is a bicycle club for riders of all skill levels and riding styles.  The club meets at 7:00 pm, on the second Thursday of each month. More info:  mk1hgn@yahoo.com

FRIDAY, FEB. 12 THROUGH MONDAY, FEB. 15 -- NATIONAL GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT
All are invited to participate in this free event.
Info: www.birdcount.org
The Cornell University Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society use this event's bird count information submitted by 'citizen scientists' across the county to learn more about bird populations and to interest the general public in birds. See this recent Opelika-Auburn News article for more info on local bird count participants.
http://www2.oanow.com/oan/lifestyles/home_garden/article/birdwatching/6374/

FRIDAY, FEB. 12, 11:00 AM -- ALABAMA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION / special-called meeting
Held in the Alabama Room (Main Hearing Room), ADEM Building, 1400 Coliseum Blvd, Montgomery. PH: 334-271-7706.  Open to all.
Agenda:  https://www.openmeetings.alabama.gov/generalpublic/display_notice_details.aspx?agencyname=Alabama+Environmental+Management+Commission&submissiondatetime=2%2f4%2f2010+9%3a19%3a42+AM
1. Interview narrowed list of candidates for the ADEM Director position
2. Other business
*The Agenda for this meeting will be available on the ADEM website, www.adem.alabama.gov, under EMC Information and Calendar of Events.

FRIDAY, FEB. 12, 5:30 PM -- BOOK DISCUSSION: WHITE NOISE BY DON DELILLO /  AT THE GNU'S ROOM
Speaker: Marc Silverstein 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.
Marc Silverstein, Associate Professor in the English Department at Auburn University will lead a discussion of the book White Noise by Don DeLillo. Silverstein specializes in modern and contemporary drama, feminist theory, postmodernism and literary theory. White Noise is the eighth novel by Don DeLillo, and is an example of postmodern literature. Widely considered his "breakout" work, the book won the National Book Award in 1985 and brought him to the attention of a much larger audience. Time Magazine included the novel in its TIME 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005. The discussion is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

FRIDAY, FEB. 12, 7:00 - 8:30 PM --- WINTER CONSTELLATION CLASS
Held at the Mary Olive Thomas Demonstration Forest, Moore's Mill Road (one mile past the new CVS- look for sign on the left).
Admission is $2 for Preserve members, $3 for non-members.
All proceeds will be donated to help Haiti.
Enjoy an evening under the beautiful winter skies of Auburn at the Mary Olive Thomas Demonstration Forest. Explore the winter constellations with Jennifer Lolley of the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve. Learn some of the myths and legends surrounding these constellations including Orion the Hunter, The Pleiades- Seven Sisters, Canis Major- Big Dog and Canis Minor- Little Dog, Taurus the Bull and Perseus and Andromeda and more. Dress warm and bring a flashlight. [Rain date -  Saturday, February 13th at 7 p.m.] More info: www.auburn.edu/preserve or contact Jennifer at 334-707-6512.

FRIDAY, FEB. 12, 7:30 PM — SUNDILLA CONCERT FEATURING JOHN FLYNN
Held at the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (AUUF) Hall, 450 E. Thach Ave. www.sundilla.org
Admission: $10, $8 for students, and free for children 12 and under (and welcomed; play area provided). Light refreshments provided free of charge; you may also bring your own food or beverage (beer/wine allowed).
For more info, and to hear music clips of John Flynn, go to www.sundilla.org.

SATURDAY, FEB. 13, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm — LEE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY / SECOND SATURDAYS – Living History & Whistle Stop Pickers Dulcimer Group (1:00 pm)
Held at the LCHS Museum, 6500 Stage Road (Hwy 14) Loachapoka; the museum and its grounds are located about half way between Auburn and Notasulga.
Free & open to all.     http://leecountyhistoricalsociety.org/
LCHS event calendar: http://leecountyhistoricalsociety.org/calendar.html
On the second Saturday of every month, a group of history re-enactors gather at the LCHS Museum in period attire to demonstrate their arts and crafts.  Blacksmiths are usually working at the forge, spinners and weavers are in the log cabin, and someone is always cooking up a meal in the fireplace or outdoors. The Museum is always open on Second Saturdays.  Also on Secord Saturdays, the Whistle Stop Pickers dulcimer group meets at the Museum at 1:00 pm. Anyone interested in joining the group is welcomed. Bring your dulcimer or other instrument and join in the pickin’.

SATURDAY, FEB. 13, 1:00 – 4:00 PM — CHAIR MASSAGE BY CONAR ROCHFORD /  AT THE GNU’S ROOM
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.  www.thegnusroom.com
Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere at the Gnu’s Room with a cup of your favorite coffee or tea and let Conar Rochford remove any remaining stress with his healing hands. A fifteen-minute session is only $10.00. Gift certificates are available and make wonderful presents for Valentine’s Day!

SUNDAY, FEB. 14, 2:00 PM — PARTY & FILM SCREENING AT THE CAPRI / ONE WOMAN, ONE VOTE
No Admission Fee.
Held at the Capri Theatre, Montgomery. www.capritheatre.org
The film One Woman, One Vote narrated by Susan Sarandon
documents the 75-year battle for woman’s suffrage. Sponsor: Montgomery League of Women Voters Education Fund on the 90th Anniversary of the League of Women Voters. Anniversary Party @ 2 p.m.

====== ========== ==========

THE GNU’S ROOM / FEBRUARY CUSTOMER APPRECIATION BOOK SALE 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.
We are kicking off our February Customer Appreciation Book Sale. Each of the next three weeks, our customers will be offered special discounts on books in different sections of the store. This week all mass market paperbacks in the categories of mystery/suspense/thriller or sci-fi/fantasy will be on sale. ***Buy 2…Get 1 Free!***

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE
SATURDAY, FEB. 20, 7:00 PM — UNITY BALL
Held in AU’s Student Center.
Tickets: available in 345 Foy Hall and in the AU Student Center from 11 am – 2 pm Monday, Wednesday & Friday.
As part of the celebration of Black History Month, the Auburn
University chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People/NAACP, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council/NHPC, will host the fifth annual Unity Ball. Colleges or departments interested in purchasing a table should call 844-3492, or contact Jocelyn Vickers at wilchjil@auburn.edu. For more information about NAACP and NPHC, contact Katie Reid at reidmak@auburn.edu or Falyn Coleman at colemfd@auburn.edu.

ONGOING THROUGH FEB. 13 — SECOND IN AUDUBON SERIES AT JCSM   ww.jcsm.auburn.edu
Held at AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Free & open to all.
The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art is presenting John James Audubon’s Precursors and Contemporaries, the second in a two-part series, through Feb. 13 in the Louise Hauss and David Brent Miller Audubon Gallery. This exhibition explores natural history publications and begins with some of the earliest publications about plants, specifically herbals, which were intended as references for apothecaries. It traces representations of flora and fauna from its earliest utilitarian modes in the 16th century through the development of more artistically conceived representations. The exhibition is made possible by Gilbert Johnston of Antique Nature Prints through his loaning of prints and bound volumes. For more information, see this link. http://jcsm.auburn.edu/exhibitions/current/2009_12_audubon_pre.php

MONDAY, FEB. 8 – 19 — CALL FOR ENTRIES / PRESENTATION LEAGUE JURIED PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION
The Auburn Preservation League (APL), in partnership with
the Auburn Arts Association and the Jan Dempsey Commu-
nity Arts Center, will accept entries for its juried photogra-
phy exhibition February 8 – 19. Artists and photographers
from Lee County are encouraged to enter works. The exhi-
bition will be held at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Cen-
ter March 5 – 29. For more information, including entry
forms, visit www.auburnalabama.org/arts or contact the Jan
Dempsey Community Arts Center at 501-2963.
The Auburn Preservation League (APL), in partnership with
the Auburn Arts Association and the Jan Dempsey Commu-
nity Arts Center, will accept entries for its juried photogra-
phy exhibition February 8 – 19. Artists and photographers
from Lee County are encouraged to enter works. The exhi-
bition will be held at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Cen-
ter March 5 – 29. For more information, including entry
forms, visit www.auburnalabama.org/arts or contact the Jan
Dempsey Community Arts Center at 501-2963.

ONGOING THROUGH FEB. 28 — EXHIBITION: AGRITECTURE
Held at AU’s Biggin Gallery, 101 Biggin Hall. Free & open to all.
Agritecture: What does the Chia Pet^TM have to do with sustainable living? Can grain crops be an art form? Jeff Schmuki, visiting artist in the Auburn University Department of Art, challenges viewers both to confront and to collaborate on these and other issues in Agritecture.

ONGOING THROUGH MARCH 2 — WINTER INVITATIONAL 2010 EXHIBIT
Held at the Dempsey Community Arts Center.
Exhibitions are free and open to the public Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
This exhibit includes works in a variety of media by regional artists  and craftpersons.  For more information about the Art Gallery or future exhibitions, please contact the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center at 501-2963.

ONGOING THROUGH APRIL 17 — JCSM: PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE PERMANENT COLLECTION
Held in AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, Noel and Kathryn Dickinson Wadsworth Gallery.
Admission is free thanks to JCSM Business Partners.  www.jcsm.auburn.edu
A selection of images from JCSM’s growing collection of photographs will be on display in the Wadsworth Gallery, illustrating the medium’s wide range of creative and formal possibilities. Photographs by Diane Arbus, Jerry Siegel, Andy Warhol, and Beth Maynor Young are included in the exhibition.

======= ======== ========

ALABAMA DUMP TAKING TVA’S SPILLED COAL ASH DECLARES BANKRUPTCY: The action by owners of a landfill in an impoverished, majority-black community that’s been chosen to take the toxic waste spilled in the December 2008 Kingston disaster leaves a lawsuit to halt the dumping up in the air. Meanwhile, North Carolina orders utilities to test groundwater near coal ash ponds. (2/2/2010)
========================

CITY OF AUBURN BOARD VACANCIES:
*Metropolitan Planning Organization / Citizens Advisory Committee  – one vacancy will be filled at the March 2 City Council meeting.
*Auburn Library Board – one vacancy will be filled at the April 6 City Council meeting.
*Historic Preservation Commission – two vacancies will be filled at the April 6 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 WEBSITE / LINKS TO AVAILABLE PUBLICATIONS http://www.auburnalabama.org/publications.asp

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

========================

Thanks for your interest and support.

PLACEforum
email:  placeforum@gmail.com
web:    http://placeforum.org/blog/
Feb. 8, 2010

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Feb. 4 – 7, 2010 — meetings, events & updates

Reminder:  PLACE e-newsletters also are posted online at http://placeforum.org/blog.

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 9:30 AM — ALABAMA ARISE 2010 ANNUAL LOBBY DAY
Buy groceries and save the receipt! We’re going to attach grocery receipts to the “untax groceries” stickers we wear.
Meet at 9:30 a.m. in the Capitol Auditorium, Alabama State House, Mont. Open to all Alabama Arise members and friends.
Info (flyer):   http://www.alarise.org/Lobby%20day/Lobby%20Day%20Flyer%202010.pdf
Help us untax groceries!  We need people like you to make the case for helping families make ends meet. Carloads and vanloads of people from across the state will converge at the State House for Alabama Arise Lobby Day.
Schedule:
9:30 am — Registration  in the Capitol Auditorium
10:00 am — Issue briefing – what you need to know to talk to your legislators at 11:00
11:00 am- talk to your legislators (and probably take a few minutes to relax and watch debate on the House or Senate floor)
12:00 noon – lunch
1:00 p.m. – news conference in the Capitol Auditorium

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, NOON – 1:00 PM — ALLIANCE FOR COMMUNITY TREES (ACT) FREE WEBINAR: TREE ORDINANCES & DESIGN STANDARDS
Info & registration for free online seminar: http://actrees.org/site/stories/tree_ordinances_design_standards.php
Free & open to all. www.actrees.org
Trainers:
Craig Richardson, Vice President and principal, Clarion Associates (Chapel Hill, NC)
Chad Meadows, Senior Associate, Clarion Associates (Chapel Hill, NC)
As urban areas expand, communities want to preserve open lands and environmentally sensitive areas and mitigate environmental problems related to development. Often a tree ordinance is a key aspect of the framework for managing community forest and, in general, public resources. It provides legal authority for defining municipal responsibility for public and private trees, conducting forestry programs, passing regulations, and setting minimum standards for management. The intersection of nonprofit community leaders, government agencies, and experienced land-use professionals is where effective tree ordinances, land preservation strategies, and environmental mitigation plans often begin to help ensure that their communities develop sustainably.

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 6:00 – 7:30 PM — SPEAKER: REGGIE BULLOCK
Held in the AU Student Center, room 2222.  Free & open to all.
Location: Auburn University Student Center, Room 2222
Come join Auburn University Black Student Union as we begin BLACK HISTORY MONTH with the presentation of Reginald Bullock’s documentary “A War for Your Soul”.  Bullock will be present for the 15 minute film.  We will have an very interesting discussion afterwards with the creator himself. The Bronx native’s latest release infuses African-American history with today’s current events, and expresses how they relate, inspiring youth to look critically at themselves and, at the very least, facilitating meaningful discussion amongst our at-risk youth. In turn, this film has enabled him to work, at a larger scale, with at-risk youth regarding topics and interests that are relevant to them. More info: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=media#/event.php?eid=256514934289&ref=mf

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 6:30 – 7:30 PM – LIVE MUSIC 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
Open to all. No cover fee, but donations for the musicians are appreciated.  Acoustic band, Cranberry Horses, will be playing some of their original music at the Gnu’s Room.

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 7:00 – 9:00 PM — COMMUNITY ORGANIZING WORKSHOP
Held in AU’s  O. D. Smith Hall room 329, 135 S. College St.
Fee: $20
Register: 334-844-5100  or http://www.auburn.edu/outreach/opo – click on “Community Involvement Workshops.”
Roberta Jackel (former Auburn City Council member) and Sheila Eckman (current Auburn City Council member) will co-teach a two-hour course on community organizing.
This is the last of three Auburn University Outreach Program Office community involvement workshops.

THURSDAY, FEB. 4, 7:00 – 8:00 PM — ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS/ SPECIAL GUEST FROM BOLIVIA
Held in AU’s Shelby Center, room 1103. Free & open to all.
Auburn’s new chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB-AU) is hosting Benjo Paredes, native of Quesimpuco, Bolivia. Mr. Paredes will be accompanied by Tom Corson, director of SIFAT, an international service organization based out of Lineville, AL. Mr. Paredes and Mr. Corson will be speaking to the group about life in the village of Quesimpuco and some of the needs that the people face in their daily lives. EWB-AU is organizing a student team to travel to Quesimpuco in August to begin designing a project to meet some of these village’s needs.

FRIDAY, FEB. 5, 9:00 am — AUBURN UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Held in the Chi Omega Chapter Room, Willow Hall, Village Housing, AU; ph: 334-844-4866. Open to all. http://www.auburn.edu/administration/trustees
http://www.auburn.edu/administration/trustees/agenda100205.pdf
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2010
I.  Committee Meeting (Chi Omega Chapter Room, Willow Hall, Village Housing)
**Committee Meetings will begin at 9:00 a.m.– all other meetings are subject to change in starting time, depending upon the length of individual meetings
A.    Joint Committee/AUM and Property & Facilities/Chairpersons Carlisle and Blackwell/9:00 a.m.
1.    State of Alabama Department of Public Health, Request for Easement for Gas Service (Joint Item) (Mr. King)
2.    Band Rehearsal Hall, Approval of Design Consultant (Mr. King)
3.    Center for Advanced Science, Innovation & Commerce (CASIC), Selection of Design Consultant and Selection of Construction Manager (Mr. King)
4.    Facilities Division Buildings VI and VII, Approval of the Facility Program, Budget, Funding Plan, Site and Schematic Design (Mr. King)
5.    Small Animal Teaching Hospital: Facility Program, Budget, Funding Plan, Site & Schematic Design (Mr. King)
6.    Aquatic Resource Management Center, Budget Increase (Mr. King)
7.    MRI Research Center Project, Approval of MRI Research Center Project Leases (Mr. Armstrong)
8.    Next Generation Biological Engineering Research Laboratory, Approval of Project Initiation; Initiation of the Design Consultant Selection Process; Initiation of the Construction Manager Selection; and Designation as an Expedited Project (Mr. King)
9.    Status Reports (For Information Only) (Mr. King )
A.    Current Status of New Construction/Renovation/Infrastructure, Budgets of $750,000 and Greater
B.    Quarterly Report for Projects Costing More than $500,000 But Less than $750,000, First Quarter FY 2009
C.    Status of Project
D.    Key Projects Memo
B.    Joint Committee/AUM and Finance/Chairpersons Carlisle, and Lowder/9:30 a.m
1.    Proposed Meal Plan, Auburn University Montgomery (Joint Item) – (Dr. Veres)
2.    Proposed Housing Rate Increases, Auburn University at Montgomery (Joint Item) (Dr. Veres)
3.    Proposed Housing Rate Increases, Auburn University Main  Campus  (Dr. Large)
C.    Academic Affairs Committee/Chairperson Thompson/10:00 a.m.
1.    Proposed Graduate Certificate in Extension Education (Dr. Mazey)
2.    Proposed Graduate Certificate in Election Administration (Dr. Mazey)
3.    Proposed Graduate Certificate in Technical Communication (Dr. Mazey)
4.    Update on Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) Longitudinal Study (Dr. Clark)
D.    Institutional Advancement Committee/Chairperson Spina/10:15 a.m.
1.    Request Exception to Naming Guidelines (Mr. McNeill)
E.    Audit Committee/Chairperson McCrary/10:30 a.m.
1.    Review of Audited Financial Statements (Dr. Large)
F.    Executive Committee/Chairperson Lanier/10:45 a.m.
1.    Posthumous Awarding of the Bachelor of Science in Forestry for Walker H. Taylor (Dr. Mazey)
2.    Proposed Awards and Namings
II.  11:00 A.M. -REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES -
A.    Proposed Executive Session (Gamma Phi Beta Chapter Room, Willow Hall, Village Housing)
III. REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES – 11:30 A.M.(Chi Omega Chapter Room, Willow Hall, Village Housing)
(Agenda items are determined primarily based upon committee actions.)
12:00 P.M. – LUNCHEON – TIGER ZONE AT VILLAGE DINING FACILITY

FRIDAY, FEB. 5, 11:30 am – AUBURN TREE COMMISSION
Held at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, 714 E. Glenn Ave. Open to all. http://www.auburnalabama.org/trees/

FRIDAY, FEB. 5, 6:00 – 7:30 PM — ART EXHIBIT RECEPTION: FOUND OBJECTS II EXHIBITION
Held at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center. The gallery is free and open to the public Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Found Objects II exhibition, hosted by the Auburn Arts Association, is currently on display through Feb. 27.  The exhibition features work that utilizes non-traditional art materials by local and regional artists. The public is invited to a reception to view the art works and meet artists Friday, Feb. 5 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. More info: Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center at 501-2963 or visit www.auburnalabama.org/arts.

FRIDAY, FEB. 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, FEB. 5, 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 more info and directions to the Fire Ant Lab, please contact Vince Cammarata, cammavx@bellsouth.net or Julia Bartosh,  bartojl@auburn.edu.

SATURDAY, FEB. 6 – 21ST ANNUAL LOVE YOUR HEART RUN AND CRANK YOUR HEART RIDE / Benefit for the Lee County Special Olympics, Best Buddies of Auburn University, Premier Athletics Shinning Knights Therapeutic Cheerleading Team and Friends for Life
Held at Chewacla State Park.  Participants may run or walk the event!
More info:  www.loveyourheartrun.com or www.active.com.
Contact: Alison Hall, 334-501-2930, ahall@auburnalabama.org
The 21st Annual Love Your Heart Run is sponsored by the Exceptional Outreach Organization and the City of Auburn Parks and Recreation Dept. The Love Your Heart Run is the premier fundraising event benefiting children and adults with special needs that participate in Lee County Special Olympics, Best Buddies of Auburn University, Premier Athletics Shinning Knights Therapeutic Cheerleading Team and Friends for Life. The Crank Your Heart Ride was introduced in 2008 in an effort to broaden the Exceptional Outreach Organizations annual fundraising event and further raise awareness of the many therapeutic programs we support throughout the community. The 1 mile and 6.4 mile routes offer spectacular views of Chewacla State Park. The 6.4 mile route begins and ends inside Chewacla State Park. For local runners, we are reviving an old course that allows runners a challenging return climb to the summit of Chewacla State Park.

SATURDAY, FEB. 6, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM — EAST ALABAMA RECYCLING PARTNERSHIP / ELECTRONICS RECYCLING EVENT
Held at Mid-Way Plaza, 3700 Pepperell Parkway, Opelika. No charge for recycling, except $10 for the disposal of televisions.
Info: http://www.auburnalabama.org/news/2010/es011510.asp
Items accepted for recycling: https://fp.auburn.edu/recycling/e-cycle.aspx
The East Alabama Recycling Partnership (EARP) , composed of Auburn University, City of Auburn, City of Opelika and Lee County, is hosting this electronics recycling event. The partnership was formed in effort to combine expertise and capabilities to make recycling more efficient in our area. In 2009, the Partnership was awarded a grant from Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) totaling $120,139.00.
The Electronics Recycling Event will allow all citizens of Lee County the opportunity to recycle their outdated or unused electronics. Items that will be accepted include televisions, computers, small kitchen appliances, video games, DVDs and telephones. The East Alabama Recycling Partnership is working with Creative Recycling to recycle the collected items. All items will be separated and shredded while properly disposing of stored information. Keep Opelika Beautiful hosted two similar events in 2009.
For more information on the Electronics Recycling Event, please contact Tipi Miller at (334) 749-4970.
SATURDAY, FEB. 6, 9:00 AM — ALABAMA DEPT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES (DCNR)
Held in the State Capitol Auditorium, Montgomery; ph:  334-242-3486. Open to all.
Registration 8:00 AM until 8:30 AM
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. INVOCATION
3. INTRODUCTION OF BOARD MEMBERS
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF LAST MEETING
5. PUBLIC HEARING
6. OLD BUSINESS
7. NEW BUSINESS
8. SELECTION OF DATE and LOCATION OF NEXT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
9. ADJOURN

SATURDAY, FEB. 6 — JCSM EXHIBITION OPENS — “AFTER YOU LEFT, THEY TOOK IT APART: DEMOLISHED PAUL RUDOLPH HOMES  / PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRIS MOTTALINI
Held at AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, Chi Omega Hargis Gallery.
Admission is free thanks to the JCSM Business Partners. www.jcsm.auburn.edu
After You Left, They Took It Apart: Demolished Paul Rudolph Homes and Photographs by Chris Mottalini is on exhibit February 6 through April 17, 2010.
Contemporary photographer Chris Mottalini has produced a series of haunting images that record several abandoned houses designed by architect Paul Rudolph, structures he discovered in various states of neglect. Exploring these former paradigms of modern design, decaying and slated for destruction, Mottalini found poignancy and no small measure of irony in the startling contrast of high modernism laid to ruin. Photographed in some cases immediately prior to the homes’ demolition, these images are the last portraits of Rudolph’s striking creations.
More info about this exhibit: http://jcsm.auburn.edu/exhibitions/upcoming/2010_02_chris_mottalini.php

SATURDAY, FEB. 6, 2:00 – 3:00 PM — BIRD COUNTING AND FEEDING 101
Held  at the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve.
Info & directions: http://www.auburn.edu/preserve
Admission is $2 and all proceeds will go to
the purchase of bird seed for the Preserve feeders.
Have you ever wanted to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, but didn’t feel comfortable with your bird identification? The Auburn Birding Club is hosting “Bird Counting and Feeding 101″. Rita Kemp, of the Auburn Birding Club and the Preserve staff, will present a program the weekend before the national bird count to learn about why we have the bird count, identifying the most common birds found in the area and some feeding tips to attract birds. The program will begin with a quick lesson on using binoculars and scopes before heading to the Preserve trails for some birding. A bird ID sheet will be given to each participant to take home to help them participate in the national bird count. For more information, call Jennifer Lolley at 707-6512 or visit the Preserve Web site http://www.auburn.edu/preserve.

SATURDAY, FEB 6, 6:00 – 9:00 PM — HABITAT AROUND THE HEARTH / Benefit for the Lee County Habitat for Humanity
Held at the Moore’s Mill Club Pavilion. Dress casually and warmly.
Tickets: $40, available at the door or by calling the Habitat for Humanity office 334-745-2133.
Join us around the hearth for an evening of food, music & dancing benefitting the Lee County Habitat for Humanity.
6:00 – 7:00 pm — Wine tasting by Christine’s
6:00 – 8:00 pm — Silent auction
7:00 – 9:00 pm — Hors d’oeuvres & Live Music

SUNDAY, FEB. 7, 4:00 – 7:00 PM — Book Discussion, Roundtable, and Reception / ALABAMA’S CIVIL RIGHTS TRAIL by Frye Gaillard
Held in the Rosa Parks Library Auditorium & Exhibition Hall, Troy University. Sponsored by the University of Alabama Press and hosted by Troy University.
“No other state has embraced and preserved its civil rights history more thoroughly than Alabama. Nor is there a place where that history is richer. Alabama’s Civil Rights Trail tells of Alabama’s great civil rights events, as well as its lesser-known moments, in a compact and accessible narrative, paired with a practical guide to Alabama’s preserved civil rights sites and monuments.
In his history of Alabama’s civil rights movement, Cradle of Freedom (University of Alabama Press, 2004), Frye Gaillard contends that Alabama played the lead role in a historic movement that made all citizens of the nation, black and white, more free. This book, geared toward the casual traveler and the serious student alike, showcases in a vividly illustrated and compelling manner, valuable and rich details. It provides a user-friendly, graphic tool for the growing number of travelers, students, and civil rights pilgrims who visit the state annually.
The story of the civil rights movement in Alabama is told city by city, region by region, and town by town, with entries on Montgomery, Birmingham, Selma, Tuscaloosa, Tuskegee, and Mobile, as well as chapters on the Black Belt and the Alabama hill country. Smaller but important locales such as Greensboro, Monroeville, and Scottsboro are included, as are more obscure sites like Hale County’s Safe House Black History Museum and the birthplace of the Black Panther Party in Lowndes County.” (University of Alabama Press)

========================

Thanks for your interest and support.

PLACEforum
email:  placeforum@gmail.com
web:    http://placeforum.org/blog/
Feb. 4, 2010

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Feb. 2 & 3, 2010 — Meetings, events & updates
note: The list of additional events for this week will be emailed tomorrow.

ONGOING THROUGH FEB. 28 — EXHIBITION: AGRITECTURE
Held at AU’s Biggin Gallery, 101 Biggin Hall. Free & open to all.
Agritecture: What does the Chia Pet^TM have to do with sustainable living? Can grain crops be an art form? Jeff Schmuki, visiting artist in the Auburn University Department of Art, challenges viewers both to confront and to collaborate on these and other issues in Agritecture.

ONGOING THROUGH MARCH 2 — WINTER INVITATIONAL 2010 / ART EXHIBITION
Held at the Dempsey Community Arts Center.
Works in a variety of media by regional artists
and craftpersons.
Exhibitions are free and open to the public Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information about the Art Gallery or future exhibitions, please contact the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center at 501-2963.

ONGOING THROUGH MAY 15 AT JCSM / Exhibition of works produced in the Southeast
A traveling exhibition of contemporary craft and traditional art produced in the southeastern United States is on display at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University through May 15. This collection, “Tradition/Innovation: American Masterpieces of Southern Craft and Traditional Art,” contains more than 100 objects including works of art in glass, clay, fiber, metal, wood, paper and mixed media. To enrich the viewer’s experience, the museum is offering an array of artist interviews as well as stories and background information on the artists and their processes. Upcoming speakers and dates include: quilters Mozell Benson and Sylvia Stephens on Feb. 2; metal artist John Phillips on Feb. 9; potter Charles Smith on Feb. 16; glass artist Cal Breed on March 2; and furniture maker Kimberly Sotelo on March 9. All talks are scheduled for 4 p.m. Admission to the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art is free in 2010 courtesy of the museum’s Business Partners. For more information, see the news release ( http://wireeagle.auburn.edu/news/1366 ).

TUESDAY, FEB. 2, 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM — OLLI BROWN BAG LUNCH WITH SID JAMES NAKHJAVAN, DIRECTOR OF AU’S WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY BOARD
Held at the Lexington Hotel, 1577 South College Street. Free & open to all. Bring a lunch and attend the talk.
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Auburn University (OLLI at Auburn) will host this Brown Bag Lunch meeting featuring Sidney James Nakhjavan, director of the Women’s Philanthropy Board at Auburn University.  More info: Linda Shook, OLLI at Auburn coordinator, at 334-844-5100 or olli@auburn.edu, or www.olliatauburn.org.

TUESDAY, FEB. 2, 1:30 PM — THE WRITE TIME / 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.
If you enjoy writing fiction, non-fiction or poetry and would be
interested in meeting others over coffee or tea to talk about thE writing life, to share ideas and tips about getting started, learn how to cope with writers block, how to edit your work or get published, then The Write Time might be just the place for you! All are welcome no matter at what stage of writing they may be, including those who have always wanted to write but don’t know how to begin. Come have some fun with others who share your passion. The Write Time is hosted by Helen Silverstein, editor of The Southern Women’s Review. To accommodate various schedules, The Write Time is being offered at several times and dates this month in addition to February 2nd. There will also be meetings on: Wednesday, February 10th at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, February 18th at 5:30 p.m. and Friday, February 26th at 10:30 a.m.

TUESDAY, FEB. 2, 3:00 PM — MICHIGAN STATE PROFESSOR WILLIAM ATCHISON WILL SPEAK ON NEUROTOXICITY
Held in AU’s Harrison School of Pharmacy Building, room 1109. Free & open to all.
William Atchison, a professor at Michigan State University and a leading figure in neurotoxicology, will speak at a Dept of Pharmacal Sciences seminar series. He has a long-standing interest in the role that calcium-dependent processes play in the neurotoxicity of metals. His visit is sponsored by the Department of Psychology and the Department of Pharmacal Sciences. More info: Chris Newland at newlamc@auburn.edu or 844-6479 or Charlene McQueen at cam007@auburn.edu.

TUESDAY, FEB. 2, 4:00 – 5:00 PM — LECTURE BY QUILTERS MOZELL BENSON AND SYLVIA STEPHENS
Held at AU’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. www.jcsm.auburn.edu
Admission is free thanks to the JCSM Business Partners.
Lecture series: The Innovative Spirit
A National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship recipient in 2001, Mozelle Benson’s work is celebrated for its improvisational style and bold colors, and has been featured in several exhibitions throughout the United States. One of Benson’s quilts is in the permanent collection of the American Folk Art Museum in New York City. Benson will be joined by her daughter, Sylvia G. Stephens, who lives in Opelika, Alabama, and is currently in training as an apprentice quilter under the Alabama State Council on the Arts (ASCA) Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program.

TUESDAY, FEB. 2, 4:00 PM — FRANKLIN LECTURE: SECURITY GURU BRUCE SCHNEIER / The Science of Secret Codes
Held in the auditorium, Science Center Complex on Roosevelt Drive, AU.  Free & open to all.
http://www.auburn.edu/littleton-franklin/
Described by The Economist as a “security guru,” Bruce Schneier is an internationally renowned security technologist and author. His first bestseller, Applied Cryptography, explains how the science of secret codes works and was described by Wired magazine as “the book the National Security Agency wanted never to be published.”
PARKING: Parking areas nearest the auditorium are the lot in front of Comer Hall on the corner of Roosevelt and College Streets, and the Library parking deck off Roosevelt. Tiger Transit buses (Charcoal Line) run between the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts and campus regularly until 6:00 pm weekdays. Persons parking in the Museum lot should be at a campus bus stop by about 5:30 in order to be sure to catch the last bus back to the museum. The nearest bus stop to the Science Center Auditorium is on Mell Street at Roosevelt.

TUESDAY, FEB. 2, 5:00 PM — ART LECTURE:  LINDA WEINTRAUB / Artistic Imagination + Habitat Devastation = Environmental Restoration
Held in room 005 Biggin Hall, AU. Free & open to all. Reception follows lecture.
How would you portray Mother Nature? Is she fertile, nurturing, and healthy? Or is she frail and tarnished, in need of restoration? Writer, curator, educator, and artist Linda Weintraub looks at pioneering efforts of artists who are redefining art for an age characterized by widespread environmental concerns.  Here is a link to the schedule: www.ag.auburn.edu/ArtinAg/

TUESDAY, FEB. 2, 5:15 pm – AUBURN PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
Held at the Dean Road Rec Center. Open to all.

TUESDAY, FEB. 2 — AUBURN CITY COUNCIL
6:00 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
Committee of the Whole agenda includes:
6:00 PM  TOUR OF FRANK BROWN RECREATION CENTER, 235 Opelika Road (Meet at Recreation Center)
6:45 PM – council chambers
MOTON HOUSING PROJECT. Discussion. Robert Smith, Auburn Housing Authority.
Regular meeting agenda includes:
7. CITIZENS’ COMMUNICATIONS.
8. CITY MANAGER’S COMMUNICATIONS. City Manager Duggan.
a. Alcoholic Beverage Licenses. Consideration.
(1) Lake Martin, LLC dba/Store 17 Package. 1955B South College Street. 011 – Lounge Retail Liquor – Class II – (Package) License.
(2) Archie’s Oyster Inc. dba/Archie’s Oysters. 830 Opelika Road. 020 – Restaurant Retail Liquor License. Change in Application Type.
(3) Samnani Corp dba/Tiger Food Mart. 341 North College Street. 050 – Retail Beer (Off Premises Only) and 070 – Retail Table Wine (Off Premises Only) License. Change in Ownership.
b. Taxpayer Waiver. EDR Auburn LLC. 530 Oak Court Drive, Suite 300. Memphis, TN. $1,313.76
c. Announcement of Board Vacancy. Metropolitan Planning Organization – Citizens Advisory Committee. One Vacancy. Unexpired term ends March 8, 2013. Appointment at March 2, 2010 Meeting.
9. ORDINANCES.
a. Annexation. Robert and Regina Battle. Property located on the north side of Lee Road 084 (Pear Tree Road). 5.55 Acres. Planning Commission Recommendation. Unanimous Consent Necessary.
10. RESOLUTIONS.
a. Auburn City Schools. 2010 Teacher of the Year Honorees. Recognition.
b. Auburn City Schools and Auburn Chamber of Commerce. Read Across Auburn Campaign. February 15 – March 12, 2010. Support of Initiative.
c. West Pace, LLC and Lynch Properties, Inc. West Pace Village Improvement District. Final Assessment Petition. Public Hearing Required.
d. Conditional Use Approvals. Planning Commission Recommendations. Public Hearings Required.
(1) City of Auburn – Parks & Recreation Department. Brett Basquin (Authorized Representative). Indoor Recreation Use – (Frank Brown Community Center and addition of Senior Center Building) in the Redevelopment District (RDD) zoning district. 235 Opelika Road.
(2) Jay Jennings dba/Jennings Construction Company, Inc. Institutional Use (classrooms for a preschool) in the Redevelopment District (RDD) zoning district. 421-B Opelika Road.
e. Contracts. Authorize Mayor and City Manager to Sign.
(1) Public Works Department. D & J Enterprises, Inc. North Donahue Drive Bridge Replacement and Roadway Widening Project. $3,790,112.04.
(2) Environmental Services Department. Sand Hill Recycling, Inc. Inert Construction and Demolition Waste Disposal Service. $23.50/ton. Three-year contract. Public Hearing Required.
f. Donahue Land LLC. Parcel “A” Donahue Ridge Subdivision. Drainage and Utility Easement. North Donahue Drive Bridge Replacement and Roadway Widening
Project. Acceptance.
11. OTHER BUSINESS.
12. ADJOURNMENT.

TUESDAY, FEB. 2 — OPELIKA CITY COUNCIL
6:25 pm – work session  / 7:00 pm – regular meeting
Held at 204 S. 7th St, Opelika. Open to all.  www.opelika.org
Work session agenda: http://www.opelika.org/Default.asp?ID=170
Regular session agenda:  http://www.opelika.org/Default.asp?ID=169

TUESDAY, FEB. 2,  6:30 PM – AUBURN PRESERVATION LEAGUE / Board Meeting
Held at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, 714 E. Glenn Ave.  Open to the public. www.auburnpreservationleague.org
The APL board meets the first Tuesday of each month. All meetings are open to the public and members are encouraged to attend.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3, 9:30 AM — ALABAMA ETHICS COMMISSION
Held in the 9th Floor Hearing Room, RSA Union Building, 100 North Union Street,
Montgomery. Ph:334-242-2997. Open to all.
Agenda includes: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, FEB. 3, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM — JOINT STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING /
TALLAPOOSA RIVER BASIN CLEAN WATER PARTNERSHIP & ALABAMA-TOMBIGBEE CLEAN WATER PARTNERSHIP
Held at the Alabama Pulp and Paper Council’s new home / Manufacture Alabama, 401 Adams Avenue, Suite 710, Mont. Free & open to all. Please RSVP by 5:00 PM FEB. 1 for lunch.
Parking: park across the street at the parking deck located on the corner of Adams and Decatur. Parking code available from Dawn H. Stephens, Tallapoosa River Basin Clean Water Partnership, 1831 Hillwood Drive, Mont. ph: 334-850-4429
Directions via Google maps
AGENDA:
10:00 am – Introduction & Welcome: Buddy Morgan and Roy McAuley
10:15 am – Statewide CWP Update: Allison Jenkins
10:35 am – Aquatic Bioassessments in the Tallapoosa, Alabama and Tombigbee Basins: Lisa Huff/ADEM
10:55am – Autauga Creek Bioassessment: Will Mooty/USGS
11: 15 am – Regulatory Update: Brian Haigler/Jason Wilkins
11:30 am – Lunch /    Provided by Manufacture Alabama.
12:00 Noon – Alabama-Tombigbee CWP Update:     Ashley Henderson
12:45 pm – Tallapoosa CWP Update: Dawn Stephens
1:30 – Individual Reports     – All
2:00 Adjourn

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3, 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
Annual Meeting of the Board to Elect New Officers
Variance to Section 436.01 of the City of Auburn Zoning Ordinance  PL-2010-00023
Applicant: Roy McLure for David Luck
General Location:  653 South College Street
Zoning District:  Neighborhood Conservation (NC-20)
Action Requested: Variance of 241.31 feet to the required spacing of 300 feet between curb cuts along an arterial street in order to allow a curb cut 58.69 feet from the adjacent curb cut to the south and a variance of 195.17 feet to allow a curb cut 104.83 feet from the adjacent curb cut to the north 
Variance to Section 502.02A, Section 707A, and Figure 7-1 of the City of Auburn Zoning Ordinance  PL-2010-00030
Applicant: David Hill for Kenneth Kirchler
General Location:  274 Bragg Avenue
Zoning District:  Redevelopment District (RDD)
Actions Requested:
– To Section 502.02A requiring front and rear setbacks of 20′, a side setback of 15′, and a maximum impervious surface ratio (ISR) of 50% for a performance single-family residence.  The request is for a variance of 20′ from the required 20′ front setback to allow a zero front setback, 19.5′ from the required 20′ rear setback to allow a rear setback of 0.5′, and 12′ from the required 15′ side yard on a street setback to allow a side setback of 3′. Additionally, the applicant is requesting a variance of 13% from the maximum allowable ISR to allow an ISR of 63%, exceeding the allowed 50%.
– To Section 707A and Figure 7-1 (Minimum Acceptable Bufferyards For Nonconforming Uses) of a minimum planter-width bufferyard and 2 tree inches (2 understory trees) and 6 shrubs in the bufferyard along the western property line; and a minimum 6′ bufferyard and 6 tree inches (1 canopy, 4 understory trees) and 10 shrubs in the bufferyard along the
southern property line in order to have no buffer along these two property lines.
Variance to Section 605.01A, General Business Signs, of the City of Auburn Zoning Ordinance  PL-2010-00031
Applicant: Richard Galavitz, Total Imaging Sign, Inc., for Whatley Oil and Auto Parts Company
General Location:  1700 Opelika Road
Zoning District: Commercial Conservation (CC)
Action Requested: Variance of 10 feet to the required minimum setback of ten feet from any side lot line and ten feet from the front or street property line in order to allow a sign to be placed on the front property line
Variance to Section 605.01A, General Business Signs, of the City of Auburn Zoning Ordinance  PL-2010-00033
Applicant: Margaret Gethers, The Infinity Group, LLC, for Glen D. King
General Location:  709 East Glenn Avenue
Zoning District: Commercial Conservation (CC)
Action Requested: Variance of 10 feet to the required minimum setback of ten feet from any side lot line and ten feet from the front or street property line in order to allow a sign to be placed on the front property line
Variance to Table 5-2: Lot Area, Setback, Bulk Regulations and Parking Requirements: Neighborhood Conservation District of the City of Auburn Zoning Ordinance  PL-2010-00034
Applicant: Michael Hollingsworth
General Location:  621 North College Street
Zoning District: Neighborhood Conservation (NC-15)
Action Requested: Variance of 9.4 feet to the required 14 foot side setback on one side with total side setbacks of 30 feet to allow a side setback of 4.6 feet
OTHER BUSINESS
CHAIRMAN’S COMMUNICATION
ADJOURNMENT

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3, 5:30 – 7:00 PM — WEEKLY ECO HAPPY HOUR & GREEN DRINKS
Held at the Piccolo Lounge in the Auburn University Hotel. Open to all.
This is a time and location for people to gather and discuss “Green”/”Eco”/sustainability-related issues while socializing.  Everyone from “professionals” to those who are just curious are welcome. Feel free to spread the word to others who might be interested.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3, 7:00 PM — ASIAN FILM SERIES: DOR
Held in AU’s Haley Center, room 3195. Free & open to the public.
Nagesh Kukunoor’s Indian film Dor (2006)
Language: Hindi with English subtitles
The Chinese Club, Japanese Student Organization, Korean American Student Association and Indian Student Association are cosponsoring a film screening of Nagesh Kukunoor’s “Dor”. The screening is part of the spring 2010 Asian film series, and is free and open to the public.

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Information re: ADEM director position courtesy of  Alabama Conservation’s e-newsletter.  www.conservationalabama.org

Sixteen apply for ADEM director job

If you didn’t get your application in to be director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, you are too late as Friday was the deadline. Sixteen people applied, including three environmental leaders: Dr. Doug Phillips of Discovering Alabama, Michael Mullen of the Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper, and Bethany Carl Kraft of the Alabama Coastal Foundation.

The Alabama Environmental Management Commission will meet Feb. 9 to narrow down the field for finalist interviews; those interviews will take place on Feb. 12; and a new director will be selected Feb. 19. You can see the agendas for these meetings by visiting the calendar on our website.

Five years ago, when the position was last available, more than 50 people applied.

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CONFERENCE REGISTRATION REMINDER
12th annual Watershed Leadership Conference / Feb. 27- Mar 2
Have you registered for the 12th annual Watershed Leadership Conference in Montgomery on February 27-March 2? Only three weeks left before registration closes!
Conference info / Registration form.
Comments or questions? Email info@alabamarivers.org or call 205-322-6395.
Don’t miss your chance to meet Janisse Ray, award winning author, naturalist, and environmental activist, who will deliver the keynote address at the local foods dinner on Sunday, February 28!
Janisse Ray is the author of three books of literary nonfiction. Her first book, Ecology of a Cracker Childhood, is a memoir about growing up on a junkyard in the ruined longleaf pine ecosystem of the Southeast. Besides being a plea to protect and restore the glorious pine flatwoods of the South, the book looks hard at family, mental illness, poverty, and fundamentalist religion. Thinker Wendell Berry called the book “well done and deeply moving.” Anne Raver of The New York Times said of Janisse Ray, “The forests of the South find their Rachel Carson.”
As an organizer and activist, Janisse Ray works to create sustainable communities, local food systems, a stable global climate, intact ecosystems, clean rivers, life-enhancing economies, and participatory democracy. Ray attempts to live a simple, sustainable life on a farm in southern Georgia with her husband, Raven Waters. She has a college-age son, Silas. She is an organic gardener, tender of farm animals, slow-food cook,  seed-saver and lectures widely.

AUBURN PROFESSOR’S FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF HAITI AVAILABLE ON iTUNES
AU professor Dennis Shannon (College of Agriculture) who was on the ground when a massive earthquake devastated Haiti last week and who provided medical care to many of the victims presented a seminar about his experience on Friday, Jan. 22.  His seminar featured details on his experience, as well as his thoughts on what should be done in the immediate and long-term future to help the Haitian people recover. The seminar is now available for viewing at Auburn University iTunes. If you have any questions,  contact Leslie Keeler in Distance Learning at lak0007@auburn.edu.
To find the presentation, follow these instructions: go to the iTunes Store and click on iTunesU; in the upper right hand corner, click on Universities and Colleges; select Auburn University; Under AU-iTunes-Campus Resources, click on Distance Learning and Outreach Technology; select Presentations; select Faculty Presentations and click on Shannon’s seminar.
Editorial note from PLACE:
Here are two quicker, more direct links to the presentation:
Via AU’s coursecast (requires your browser have free Microsoft Silverlight plug-in) – http://coursecast.acesag.auburn.edu/CourseCast/Viewer/Default.aspx?id=0d33d0b1-f596-4567-a40b-2bb0c6c09fb9
Will open in iTunes – http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/auburn.edu.3222657744?i=1687531608

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USDA weighs plan to bring GM eucalyptus to Southeast pinelands. While the practice of splicing foreign DNA into food crops has become common in corn and soy, few companies or researchers have dared to apply genetic engineering to plants that provide an essential strut of the U.S. economy, trees. Greenwire

New Florida landscaping law supersedes homeowner association rules. A state law passed last summer supports homeowners who want to convert thirsty lawn grass to plants that are friendlier to the environment – even in communities with covenants and restrictions. Jacksonville Times-Union, Florida.

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Thanks for your interest and support.

PLACEforum
email:  placeforum@gmail.com
web:    http://placeforum.org/blog/
Feb. 2, 2010

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