This and That

Jenni who owns The Cup and Saucer, an “English Alabama Girl”, told us about the great fun of going to "Car Boot (trunk) Sales." Instead of garage sales, in England they fill their cars or trucks up & gather in a field. One stop yard sale! No need driving all over town looking for a sale, or having folks trample your yard all day. Instead everyone gathers in a local field and sells their products. We're adding a southern twist to this European pastime and making it a field party! We'll have food trucks, picnic tables, local vendors and businesses with art, jewelry, spring fashions, and more! The Local Market and Car Boot Sale happens 8am -2 pm on the Second Saturday of May at Firefly Fields (formerly Good Ol' Boys Restaurant) in Auburn. Details: MAY 14 8:00 - 2:00, 1843 Sandhill Rd, Auburn, AL 36830. FREE parking! www.facebook.com/FireflyFieldsAuburn

Lava Thomas: Homecoming is comprised of large portraits inspired by photographs of remarkable African American people in order to tackle issues of representation and memorialization. Of particular resonance to Montgomerians are thirteen drawings from Thomas’ revelatory series Mugshot Portraits: Women of the Montgomery Bus Boycott (2018–). To pay tribute to the women in Mugshot Portraits and recognize members of the depicted women’s extended families, the exhibition will also include an online component that features the women’s family members speaking about their relatives.Regarding the exhibition, MMFA Director Angie Dodson says, “Lava Thomas: Homecoming is one of a series of exhibitions presented by the Museum to create a place for individual and collective memory and reckoning. We take to heart our responsibility to be a place where art and artists are recognized for their capacity transform the thoughts and actions of people and communities. Our hope is that time spent in the Homecoming galleries will both be a time for honoring the past and sorting out what is each of ours to do as we move together towards a more inclusive and opportunity-filled today and tomorrow.” The exhibit will be at MMFA through July 24, 2022. For more info visit www.mmfa.org

How do you know the person you’re talking to online is real? It’s getting more difficult to tell. When it comes to finding a mate, the FTC says that reports of romance scams have tripled. Identity theft is also a big issue, and hopefully you’ll be proactive. We want to encourage you to be careful, especially since many of these scams involve money. The 5 tell-tale signs of a romance scam: - They say they are far, far away - Their profile seems too good to be true - The relationship moves fast - They break promises to see you - They ask for money. The 7 steps to take if you suspect you’ve been scammed: - Contact your bank right away, if you’ve sent money - Collect any records you have of your online relationship, including conversations and transactions - File a police report - Report the incident to: - the FTC at www.ftc.gov/complaint - the FBI at www.ic3.gov - the dating site, if the scam started there. Romance scams prey on our emotions and take advantage of loneliness. Become much more savvy to be aware of the people in your life that want to take advantage of you.

Do you and your friends like Wordle? Does the thrill of a new daily challenge get your pulse going? If the answer is yes, then fans looking for more brain-teasing challenges will be glad to know exciting daily challenges from award-winning card games are now available online, at www.Setgame.com. With a phone or computer, everyone can try their hand at The Daily SET, Quiddler, or Karma Puzzle! Weekly winners are featured on site and receive prizes, in addition to bragging rights! These brain-quizzes are a perfect way to keep your brain sharp, they’re quick and can even be played between meetings. Together, these three games have earned 100+ best game awards from MENSA, Teachers’ Choice, Parents Magazine, Parents’ Choice and ASTRA -- and now they’re available at your fingertips. These games bring out fun, perception and a challenge for players of all ages and skill levels while offering unlimited replay value.

Whether you prefer indoor office work or outdoor physical activity, we have something for everyone! Check out the suggested opportunities listed below or the DOZENS of additional projects and events included on our volunteer site at www. volunteer.handsonriverregion.org. Examples include: Make a Mat for the Homeless (Participants must be 30+ years old), Kidney Walk and Celebration, Monthly Neighborhood Cleanup, Food Distribution in Millbrook, Museum Store Attendant, Receptionist Volunteer and more. Your desire to serve is the most important thing. We can help you find a way to give back to your community. For more info visit

Hundreds gathered at Montgomery's Riverwalk Stadium Thursday for the 2022 Volunteer of the Year Awards to honor volunteers for their incredible gifts of service and ongoing efforts to improve the lives of others. Co-sponsored by the Junior League of Montgomery, HandsOn River Region initiated the ceremony 48 years ago after its first year in operation as a way to publicly recognize the outstanding service provided by community volunteers. The following were honored at the ceremony: • Adult – Chuck Ruffin who aids in veteran suicide prevention and awareness and treatment programs for military veterans and their families. • Adult Group – Lanier Poet Supergrands who greet and encourage students, pitch in at all events and fundraisers and operate the Lanier Food Pantry which provides boxes of food for 50 families each week. • Senior – Karla Groves who leads twice weekly sessions where participants crochet sleeping mats using ordinary plastic bags for area homeless. • Youth – Hutchinson Missionary Baptist Church Youth Ministry who collect coats and blankets for the homeless, help with Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving dinner and donate holiday gift baskets for the church’s disabled, sick and elderly members. HandsOn River Region mobilizes volunteers and connects people, information and services to meet local needs and build a strong, caring community. To learn more, visit www.handsonriverregion.org or call 334-264-3335.

The Landmarks Foundation is offering a new opportunity to experience Montgomery's history thru walking tours. Offered every Thursday at 10:00am, join a seasoned Landmarks guide on a tour of Montgomery's historic sites. Tours will rotate between sites each Thursday, with a different tour each week. Beginning with Dexter Avenue, continuing with Commerce Street, Perry Street, and Oakwood Cemetery. DEXTER AVENUE: Meets at the Visitor Center at 1 Court Square. Meet at the fountain for a walk up Montgomery’s historic Market Street, now Dexter Avenue. Both the Civil War and Civil Rights began in Montgomery; see the places these events made famous and other architectural treasures from our past. COMMERCE STREET: Meets at the Hank Williams Statue at the Commerce Street Tunnel. Boats, trains, and trolleys! Take a walk up from the Riverfront along Commerce Street and experience 170 years of history beneath your feet. Learn about Montgomery’s trade, transportation, and architectural history and why this area became central Alabama’s premier distributer of wholesale goods. PERRY STREET: Meets at St. John's Episcopal Church on Madison and Perry. Enjoy a walk up “The Fifth Avenue of Montgomery” and see the architectural styles of the homes of some of Montgomery’s wealthiest 19th century families. This collage of architectural trends and fashion reflects owners and builders concern for a stylish representation of their businesses and residences in the 19th century. OAKWOOD CEMETARY: Meets just inside the Columbus St. gate.Meet just inside front gate of Oakwood for a visit to our outdoor art, history, and landscape museum. See the “watery grave”, the resting place of a Napoleonic soldier, the unmarked spot of a likable rogue, graves of Confederate and Union warriors, governors, and just plain folks. Learn about the diversity of Montgomery from the final resting places of the significant and the unheard-of citizens of Alabama’s capital city. www.landmarksfoundation.com

Great Strides provides a fantastic opportunity for family, friends, students, and colleagues to come together and make a difference. The event harnesses the power of people with a shared vision and encourages collaboration, team building, and leadership, as we take steps to find a cure for cystic fibrosis. Your participation in Great Strides matters a lot! We don’t just want to treat CF, we want to end CF. The time is now. Together, we can cross the finish line. MONTGOMERY GREAT STRIDES, May 21, 2022 | Location: The Tipping Point at Hampstead, 5015 Hampstead High Street. Check-in: 9:30 AM | Walk: 10:00 AM | Distance: 1 mile. www.fightcf.cff.org

Capital City Master Gardener Association presents Lunch & Learn, the 1st Wednesday of Every Month from 12-1 pm. They will meet at Armory Learning Arts Building, 1018 Madison Ave., Montgomery 36104. Mark your calendars, May 4, “Backyard Fruits”, Mallory Kelley, ACES, Regional Extension Agent, will present a program on “Backyard Fruits”. If you have always wanted to grow fruit in your own yard, join us for ideas about planting different fruit varieties that are perfect for this area. Learn about best practices for harvesting a fruit crop at home. June 1, “Growing in a 5-Gallon Bucket”, Roosevelt Robinson, ACES, Urban Regional Extension Agent, will present a program on “Growing in a 5-Gallon Bucket”. Grab some buckets and try your luck with this small space gardening technique. What fun! Use this with children. July 6, “Growing Turmeric & Drying Garden Herbs”, Mary McCroan, Advanced Master Gardener, will present a program on “Growing Turmeric & Drying Garden Herbs”. She will cover what is turmeric, how is it grown, and how is it used. She’ll also give suggestions for drying your own garden herbs. BRING A SACK LUNCH, FREE PROGRAM, WATER PROVIDED, For information, please contact the Montgomery County Extension Office 334.270.4133. Also visit

The Downtown Merchants Association is pleased to announce the Third Annual Downtown Family Supper on the evening of Thursday, May 19th on Tichenor Ave at 6:00 pm. This dinner is a collaboration between downtown's finest chefs bringing you exquisite cuisine in an unbeatable setting. Proceeds from the supper will benefit the Auburn Downtown Merchants Association and Nourish Alabama. Each attendee will enjoy a multi-course meal and two glasses of wine. This is a ticketed event. Must present ticket and ID to enter. for more info visit www.downtownauburnonline.com

On Saturdays, you can enjoy any of our special programs as well as hiking five miles of scenic ANC trails while learning about the fascinating natural history of central Alabama. From distinguishing between a white oak and a red oak to observing the natural processes of a seasonal pond, you get more than just a walk in the woods when you pause to study the interpretive signs along the trails. From ponds and creeks to forests and fields, you can always find some kind of new life waiting around the next trail bend. You can even add to the outdoor experience with a tasty picnic under or around the ANC pavilion. In addition to the self-guided trail system, you can also enjoy entertaining and informative conservation education programming during designated weekends. These weekends feature themes that highlight snakes, salamanders, frogs, turtles, birds, hydrangeas and even fishing, just to name a few. During these weekends, you can also enjoy a guided hike by one of ANC’s world class biologists. The ANC staff invites you to step outside, take a breath of fresh air and discover what happy trails await you at the Alabama Nature Center. Open to the Public: Mon-Sat from 9am-5pm. Admission- $5 per person/day; children 3 and under free; $20 max per family. Includes access to Trails and all NaturePlex amenities including the Discovery Hall, Theater, Gift Shop, & Public Programs. Address: 3050 Lanark Road, Millbrook, AL 36054. Contact 334.285.4550 or awf@alabamawildlife.org or visit www.alabamawildlife.org

The Central Alabama Master Gardeners ‘ Annual Plant Sale will be held on Saturday, May 7, from 8:00 am to Noon, rain or shine. the location is Elmore County Extension, 340 Queen Ann Road, Wetumpka, AL 36092. There will be a variety of plant selections with great prices-Annuals, Shrubs, Perennials, Vegetables, House Plants, Herbs, Indoor Plants, Trees, Butterfly Garden Plants, Fruit, Succulents, also Yard Art and local vendors. There will be on site master gardeners to answer questions. Call a friend and plan to shop our plants!

Dewanda has been at Home Care Assistance of Montgomery since August 2019. “Mrs. Dee” is loved by all client’s and family members alike. She has a personality that is sure to please with a great sense of humor to match. Although we all experience life’s ups and downs, she has never allowed that to be a deterrence for the care that she provides. When you look for someone who is dedicated to the job, reliable, and compassionate, you can always call on “Mrs. Dee”.

For more information visit www.homecareassistancemontgomery.com

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