Keep Opelika Beautiful

Now available on line is the quarterly KOB Newsletter.  Catch up on past and future events and look at upcoming events on our calendar. There’s a link on the right side of the page to the “KOB Newsletter” page, go there and download the latest issue. 

With days like today (last Friday), one knows that Spring cannot be too far away.  Of course, it also lulls me into thinking there will be no more cold weather.  I know better.  However, this writer has to admit that when speaking at the Garden Lovers Garden Club’s meeting in Beauregard today, I got excited seeing Emily Whatley’s jonquils already blooming amidst the beautiful pansies. To this day, years after leaving Virginia, I’m still amazed that pansies bloom all winter here, and last year, they were at their most beautiful when I was ready to plant summer flowers. Alas, this writer has contracted Spring fever six weeks before Spring is due to “officially begin,” but what better way to prepare for the beauty of Spring than to have a citywide cleanup.  Dr. Bob Patton will be chairing a planning meeting for the March 8th cleanup this afternoon at 4:00 p. m. in the Opelika Chamber’s board room.  Even after ten years of doing this, he will admit it could not be done without all the wonderful volunteers, known and unknown.  We say “unknown” because there are many who plan to do their own personal cleanup in yards, garage, etc. without being involved in our formal cleanup - - all power to them.  You might wonder, dear reader, how we know this happens.  We see them in the grocery store or the restaurant, and they tell us.  I don’t know how many women have thanked me because they use KOB’s cleanup to motivate hubby into their own cleanup.  As good as that is, we have to have the organized effort to clean those streets and thoroughfares that people frequent within the city . . . and there are many.   We are excited that we have a new Adopt-A-Mile sponsor to participate this year.  The Opelika Lions Club, following in the footsteps of the Wal-Mart DC who took on their end of Andrews Road two years ago, will be in charge of cleaning Frederick Road from the Auburn City Limits to the Bed & Buggy convenience store.  And yes, the Lions Club knows that they have committed to cleaning more than a mile with this route, but that doesn’t bother them.  They are as excited about doing this, as this writer is about the anticipation of Spring.   Thanks Lions Club.
An Adopt-A-Mile sponsor commits to cleaning their area at least four times a year with one of the times being the Citywide Cleanup.  We are particularly indebted to the Lions Club, because we all know their task will be daunting for two reasons - - the traffic has almost quadrupled on that stretch of road, and the projected start of the widening of Frederick Road is in the near future, which will be altogether a different challenge.  I ask you, dear reader, to be ever mindful of their safety when you are driving and see them in their vests working to keep our city and environment clean.
 
Until the next time . . . Keep Opelika Beautiful.

Does your brain ever feel like it is in “overload”, dear reader?  The time has come that this writer needs to reshuffle the ideas, wonderings, to-do lists for KOB’s Citywide Cleanup on March 8 and its Garden in the Park Festival on March 29 and, and get them at least sorted or “out there” for someone else to think about.  For instance, is this writer the only one who has notice the tremendous difference in the front page of this newspaper? It is great!  But does anyone ever call and say thank you?  It seems to me we are so quick to call complain, but do we ever say “good job?”  For you to just affirm that “hey, I like what you’re doing” to the editor, layout person, advertising, etc. speaks as loudly as the words you read in this newspaper.  As mentioned some columns ago, one of the joys of growing older is that you have lived long enough to know that just a smile can brighten up someone’s day . . . can you imagine what a kind word or a thank you does?  Also, when we are in a draught, why does one call the snow, ice or deluge of rain, “nasty weather?”  Challenging, yes.  But it is water - - in any form - - and no way, when in drought conditions, should it be called “nasty.” Plus, you know Keep Opelika Beautiful’s feelings about water.   See, I told you my mind is in overload with real and abstract things. Another joy is to be able to write this, whether you agree with me or not is of no consequences, it is out of my mind and on to someone else’s.  How about “have a good day?”  It really is implying when one says it that they hope everything that happens to you that day is good.  What a kind expression.  A friend of this writer years ago gave me a different slant on this complimentary closing of a dialogue when he said, “make it a good day.”  He maintained that no one can have a “good day” unless he or she awakens each morning, and says, “Thank you, Lord for another day” and then proceeds to “make” any adverse encounters of the day good.  It is sort of like “if the world throws you a lemon, ‘make’ lemonade.”  The expression came home recently when after making a sales transaction in a local store, I used it.  The sales person looked as if she had been struck in the face, and began to cry.  Just for a moment I was lost for words, and after taking a tissue from me, she apologized and said she had just learned she had breast cancer before coming to work, and that she needed that “make.”  Less my pastor begins to think I’m after his job, this writer will cease with these musings.  But, as you finish reading this column, dear reader, “make it a great day.”

Until the next time . . . Keep Opelika Beautiful.

Sam’s Club #4989 Associates “Plant, Paint and Polish Shady Park in Historic Pepperell Village”

Christmas Tree Recycling Group (L to R) Bill Adcock of Lake Martin’s Home Owners and Boat Owners Association, Helen Levette, Mayor Gary Fuller, Shirley Flora - Executive Director of KOB and Leh Bass Chairman of the Opelika Tree Commission.

Dear readers, you did it!  The businesses, industries, professional groups, cities, universities, retirees, individuals - - all - - made it happen!  Again!  The United Way of Lee County made its goal of one million dollars! Please don’t be blasé about this announcement.  A million dollars is beyond this writer’s comprehension, and for the workers in the plants, hospital, cities, universities etc. to see beyond their needs and give when they have needs themselves, well, it just underlines what every one who works with United Way knows . . . Lee County has the most generous and caring people anywhere.  Enough praise cannot be given to this year’s fundraising campaign leader, Kate Larkin. She went into the job with eyes wide-open knowing we had lost some companies which had been very supportive in the past. Most thought the challenge of one million dollars was to be a “hoped for” goal - - not Kate.  If it had been done before, it could be done again.  However, the allocations committee, who reviews and scrutinizes each agency’s request, went into its meetings last week knowing that the goal had not been made and there was Kate hammering “we just need $6,000 more to meet our goal.” You can imagine the jubilation at the committee’s meeting on Thursday when Kate announced that the campaign goal had been met to the tune of $1,000,041.00!  Good job Kate and all the campaign volunteers, and to our fellow Lee Countians who have once again come through.

It is going to take this writer a while to program the acronym “OLLI” into my brain because I have always thought of Lifelong Learners as an outreach of Auburn University. They are . . .  but because of the generosity of the Osher family the name of the Lifelong Learning Institute has been changed to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and, in today’s society, an acronym of OLLIE was bound to appear.  For the people living in Opelika, we can be indebted to the Osher family because their contributions to the Institute have allowed the University’s Outreach Program Office to expand their program to a visit to our fair city.  Tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. don’t miss the presentations by John Tidwell and Dr. Charlotte Ward at EAMC’s Health Resource Center. You can sample Lifelong Learner’s classes free in casual dress, and learn while visiting with one another.  Charlotte will be talking about “Science and Religion: Who has to give a little?” and John, “Rousseau’s Raid on Lee County.”   Both topics have great local appeal.  Through the perseverance of Dr. Bob Patton, there is a historic marker in Downtown Historic Opelika on Railroad Avenue about Rousseau’s Raid.   The presentations will last until 3:00 p. m. What a wonderful way to spend two hours with people of similar interests and have your brain energized at the same time!  Thanks OLLI for coming to town!  For more information call the Auburn University Outreach Program Office at 844-5100.

Until the next time . . . Keep Opelika Beautiful.