Auburn - Opelika Parents - December 2023 Issue

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opelika, Alabama

SEASON of Comfort & Joy Christmas Decorations Nov. 26 – Jan. 4.

Tag us with #MyOpelikaChristmas

Brunch with Santa at the Marriott Resort December 9 Reservations required - 334.737.2117

Winter Wonder Workshop December 16 • 10 a.m.

Opelika Public Library

Christmas Movie Series Thursdays in December • 6 p.m.

Opelika Public Library

Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour 3oth Anniversary December 8-12 Bike Tour: December 9 • 10 a.m.

Walking Tour: December 9 • 6 – 8 p.m.

Driving Tour: December 8, 10, 11, 12

Family Movie & Crafternoon December 19 • 2 p.m.

Opelika Public Library

Opelika Holiday Open House November 12 • Noon – 5 p.m.

Opelika Main Street Bring Opie Home for Christmas Month of December City of Opelika Community Relations Office Sno*pelika Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting December 1 • Parade begins at 5:30 p.m.

Rain Date: December 3 Opelika Chamber of Commerce OHS/OMS Holiday Choral Concert December 6 • 6 p.m.

Opelika Center for Performing Arts Christmas in a Railroad Town December 8 • 6 – 9 p.m.

Opelika Main Street

OHS/OMS Christmas Band Concert December 13 • 6 p.m.

Opelika Center for Performing Arts

Christmas Movie Marathon December 22 • Begins at 10 a.m.

Opelika Public Library

Where’s Theodore Elf Hunt December 11-15 Opelika Parks & Recreation Rocky Brook Rocket Reindeer Express December 14-16 • 5 – 8 p.m.

Opelika Parks & Recreation Collinwood Luminaries December 15 • 5 – 9 p.m.

Collinwood Neighborhood OpelikaChristmas.com • #MYOPELIKACHRISTMAS

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: City of Opelika • Opelika Parks & Recreation • Opelika Public Library • Opelika Chamber of Commerce • Opelika Main Street • Victorian Front Porch Tour • Auburn-Opelika Tourism • Opelika City Schools 1

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Volume 14 Number 10

Columns 4

Meeting Kids Where They Are Works of Wonder Therapy, LLC

Teens and Screens

Prepare to begin the New Year informed about your child’s social media.

Gifts Kids Can Give

Inexpensive gifts they can make for friends, grandparents, and teachers.

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Tweens, Teens and Screens Kristi Bush, LSW

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Dinner’s Ready Gabriele Jones

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Mom 2 Mom Holiday Traditions

Ideas to create holiday memories and special bonds between you and yours!

Holiday Happenings Holiday fun abounds and our guide tells you where to go!

Departments 6

On The Cover Graham, 15, and Reid, 11, are the sons of Brad and Emily Matz of Auburn. Graham is an athlete on AHS varsity cross country team and varsity track team. He enjoys com-

Bits and Pieces 8

School Bits 34

Family Calendar

peting in triathlons over the summer.

Reid plays travel lacrosse with Deep South Thrashers, as well as club lacrosse, for Auburn. He also enjoys playing recreational basketball.

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Publisher’sNote

Auburn Opelika Lee County’s Foremost Parenting Source

As I finish the final touches to our Christmas tree, I can’t help but reminisce about all the special moments around our tree throughout the years. Memories of all the first Christmases with all four of my babies, the excitement of watching my toddlers tear through gifts at the speed of light, and teenagers who found joy in giving as much as getting. There are so many years spent celebrating the holidays around this Christmas tree. This year will be a little different, awaiting two of my college kids to come home, making everything right in the world again. As the years have gone by, the gifting has also changed. From tiny, paper-made ornaments sent home by their preschool teachers to the expectant gifts like new and needed clothes and shoes, the gifts under the tree have evolved, just like our family.

Are you still in the stage of tiny handprint ornaments with your children’s names carefully written to their best ability on the back? These small gifts from the heart are my most fond and loved gifts of all time. In the feature article, Gifts Kids Can Give on A Small Budget, I am reminded that all the hustle and bustle on Black Friday isn’t necessary at all to have the perfect Christmas gifts to give. The author provides a few ideas to get us started. Of course, who doesn’t love a handmade gift from the heart?

How about taking those drawings and paintings and turning them into a print to hang on Grandma’s wall? It is a gift that will last forever and that she will cherish each time she walks past it in her home. Or, break out an old family recipe and get messy in the kitchen. My daughter loves to bake and looks forward to cooking up something tasty for family each December. Baking pies, cookies, or cakes for your neighbors might be just the perfect holiday gift to share. Bonus… you’re making lasting memories with your little chef, and that’s a priceless gift. Dads can get in on the gift-giving giving, too. All moms would agree that a day of pampering would hit the spot this year. Create a card that gifts mom a day at the spa, and then have fun setting up a nice bubble bath, along with scented candles, to immerse her in a day of relaxation. Next, she can enjoy the perfect foot massage and painted toes from her children. Add a specially made lunch with a yummy dessert, and she will be overjoyed with her Christmas gift from Dad and her children’s hearts. Personalized gifts that your kids have created can become some of the best memories around the Christmas tree.

After all the gifts have been wrapped and placed under the tree, grab your family and their coats and immerse them into a winter wonderland this December. So many festive events need to be on your “must-not-miss list” this month! Check out the Holiday Happening Guide to explore all the local and regional holiday events. Does your family enjoy driving through the twinkling lights of Callaway Gardens? Or, walking through an old town Christmas village like the Victorian Front Porch Tour? Or, maybe a new tradition is the way to go, like ice skating, watching a Christmas Parade downtown, or seeing The Nutcracker come to life on stage. No matter the event, you will make fond Christmas memories with your family and friends. Don’t forget to slow down, snuggle up by the crackling fire, and watch a favorite Christmas movie, too.

From one parent to another, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Auburn Opelika Parents Magazine is founded on the principle that parenting is an exciting, diverse, challenging, and significant role in our community.

Auburn Opelika Parents Magazine is a community advocate for families and the parenting process.

Publisher Kendra Sumner Kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com Editor DeAnne Watson Contributing Writers Kimberly Blaker Kristi Bush, LSW Dr. Jordan Jensen Gabriele Jones Sarah Lyons Works of Wonder Therapy Cover Photography Abby Lea Abby Lea Photography www.abbyleaphotography.com

President Jason Watson Director of Sales Justin Sumner (334) 209-0552 Ad Design Tim Welch Web Content Manager Scott Davis

Visit us online at www.auburnopelikaparents.com

Kendra kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com

Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2023

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Auburn-Opelika Parents magazine is published monthly by KeepSharing, LLC. Mailing address: 475 Bennington Ct, Auburn, Alabama, 36830. The phone number is (334) 329-8073 and fax is (334) 826-7303.

Auburn-Opelika Parents is copyrighted 2023 by KeepSharing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

Opinions expressed in Auburn-Opelika Parents magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.

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by Works of Wonder Therapy www.worksofwondertherapy.com

The Importance of Risky Play for Children In 2023, Ellen Sandseter, PhD and her team of Norwegian researchers determined the importance of “high risk” play.

They found that children across the globe engage in six types of risky play. The first is climbing (trees, furniture, and walls).

The second is chasing speed (swings, fast slides, and soaring downhill on bicycles).

The third is engaging with dangerous tools.

These tools fluctuate by culture, but children across the world play with items that are potentially dangerous.

The fourth is hazardous elements. If you are a parent, you know how challenging it is to keep your children away from fire and water.

The fifth form of risky play is rough and tumble. This category includes chase, wrestling, and tickle fights. The final type of risky play is getting lost. Young children love to play hide and seek while older children enjoy escaping the watchful eyes of adults. As a parent, it is important to allow

Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2023

your children to engage in risky play for a variety of reasons.

Risky play increases resilience by exposing children to scary situations.

Risky play allows children to experience things that scare them in a gradual and fun manner. Children who overcome fears encountered in play develop a resilience that allows them to successfully handle fear in real life situations.

Risky play helps children develop flexibility.

When children engage in risky play, they are willingly placing themselves in situations they can not control.

Risky play allows children to adapt to unpredictable scenarios and become comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Risky play helps children remain calm during physiological arousal. Our bodies experience the same physiological reactions to excitement and fear. In the face of both emotions, our hearts race, our palms sweat, and our breathing becomes

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shallow. Children who experience these symptoms through play can normalize the ebb and flow of physiological arousal.

Children exposed to risky play know that a rapid heartbeat does not always suggest something to fear.

Risky play develops executive functioning skills. If you stand back and watch children engage in risky play, you will notice their innate ability to assess danger. Observational studies have repeatedly shown that children naturally evaluate situations and progressively transition from lower risks to greater risks. While doing this, children are learning to plan, gaining experience, and completing challenging tasks.

Risky play builds emotional and physical strength. Risky play challenges both the mind and body. When you allow children to push themselves in play, they feel pride in facing what is difficult. Even if they only reach the lowest limb, point out how proud you are that they overcame their fear and started climbing.

Rates of anxiety in children and adults are skyrocketing. Anxiety is contagious, but calm is also contagious. Despite your own fears, the best thing you can for your child’s anxiety is allow them to gradually engage in risky play. Follow your children’s lead and encourage every attempt they make to face what challenges them.

Dr. Beth Long received her education in Counseling Psychology from Chapman University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Beth has worked in six unique clinical environments across the country and currently owns Works of Wonder Therapy in Montgomery. Beth utilizes the knowledge from a variety of different disciplines to give her patients the best care possible. To learn more visit www.worksofwondertherapy.com.

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Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis Big Band Holidays

Santa Claus at Hey Day Market

Join Hey Day Market in their holiday festivities with a visit from Santa Claus! Bring your cameras and Christmas cheer to meet the big man in red, December 9, 16, and 24, from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. For all the Hey Day Holiday fun, www.facebook.com/heydaymarketauburn; 211 South College Street, Auburn.

Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year, December 7, with Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra! With soulful big band arrangements of songs both sacred and secular, Big Band Holidays is an uplifting Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis tradition enjoyed by audiences of all ages and backgrounds. In addition to some swinging JLCO instrumentals, special guest vocalist Ashley Pezzotti joins the band for imaginative new versions of classic holiday tunes.Gogue Center for the Performing Arts, 910 S. College Street. 7pm. Visit goguecenter.auburn.edu.

Collinwood Luminaries

Collinwood Luminaries is a neighborhood event with live characters and animals showing the path to Christ. Drive-thru this lovely neighborhood by candlelight which leads to a live nativity. It is a free family-friendly event on December 15, 5-9pm, off of 10th St, Opelika.

The Collinwood Luminaries began in 1967 when members of the local garden club approached Mrs. Aileen Samford and Mrs. Lucy Salter about their idea. From there, “Miss” Aileen and “Miss” Lucy recruited 15 other East and West Collinwood Circle residents to help, and the tradition of the Collinwood Luminaries was born. The Collinwood Luminaries have become a popular holiday tradition and a symbol of the Christmas season for the residents of Lee County and surrounding communities. Each year, residents of Collinwood have prepared over 1,500 sacks with candles to “light the path” on the “journey to the manger.” Along the path, you will see shepherds, wise men, and angels following the star on their way to see the Christ Child. Luminaries are a festive tradition that originated in Mexico more than 400 years ago. The glowing lights of the candles symbolize the path that Mary and Joseph followed as they made their journey to the manger in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. www.opelika-al.gov/689/ opelikas-very-merry-christmas

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Holiday Wrap Up

Auburn Parks and Recreation will offer its 3rd Annual gift-wrapping service just in time for the 2023 holidays. Join us at the Harris Center in Auburn on December 16-18. Are you hiding holiday gifts just hoping they aren’t discovered? Waiting for extra time in your day to sit down and wrap everything up? Let us help you! Drop off up to 20 pre-boxed gifts and pick them up wrapped and ready to go the same day! You can choose from our selection of paper, or you can supply your own. We have a limited number of gifts we can wrap each day, so the event is first come, first served. FREE for Auburn residents. Call (334) 501-2940 for more information.

East Alabama Arts Presents Brian Stokes Mitchell: December 5

Dubbed “the last leading man” by The New York Times, two-time Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell has enjoyed a career that spans Broadway, television, film, and concert appearances with the country’s finest conductors and orchestras. He received Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle awards for his star turn in Kiss Me, Kate. He also gave Tony-nominated performances in Man of La Mancha, August Wilson’s King Hedley II, and Ragtime. Opelika Center for the Performing Arts, 1700 Lafayette Pkwy, Opelika. 7:30pm. Visit www.eastalabamaarts.org for ticket details.

Family Discovery Hike: December 12

Join our guides for an educational adventure as you and your children take in the many sights and sounds of the Nature Center, while learning about Evergreens! Discovery Hikes offer excellent opportunities to learn about nature and see wildlife up close, while enjoying fresh air and exercise in our beautiful outdoors. For families with children ages 5 to 12. Second Tuesday of each month from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, 2222 North College St. Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2023

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Drop & Pop New Year’s Bash: December 31

Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour 2023

Come join us for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve celebration at Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National! Get ready to ring in the new year with style and excitement. Luck Jones Dinner & Drinks | 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Lucky Jones takes the stage in the lower atrium while guests can enjoy dinner and drinks in Southern Oak and Southern Oak Bar before the festivities begin. This is not a ticketed event but part of the New Year’s Eve celebration at the resort. Drink packages are available but dinner in Southern Oak is not included in ticket price.

OTI - New Year’s Ever Celebration | 9:30 p.m. - 1 a.m. OTI takes the stage in Southern Oak Restaurant and ring in the new year with style. Light snacks will be offered throughout the evening, with full bar service available in the restaurant. Dancing in the atrium with photo booth, games, and bar atmosphere.

Drop and Pop Balloon drop in resort Atrium at 11:00 p.m. with various prizes to include overnight stays at premier hotel locations throughout the state of Alabama. Complimentary Champagne toast at midnight to ring in the new year!

Last call at 12:30 a.m. festivities end at 1:00 a.m. Visit https:// www.aotourism.com/Event/44118/Drop--Pop-New-YearsBash/ for more information.

This Christmas season, December 8-12, Opelika’s Northside Historic District is celebrating like it’s 1899! For five days in early December 60 Victorian and historic homes near downtown Opelika are transformed into colorful, nostalgic reminders of Christmas from a simpler, slower-paced era.

The tour began in 1993 with just a few homes participating but has grown to include 60 homes on North 8th and 9th street. The Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour has been voted one of the southeast’s top-rated tourism events and featured in Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Living. The event is a selfdirected driving tour. However, on Saturday night North 8th and 9th streets will be closed to traffic to encourage visitors, neighbors, and friends to stroll through the neighborhood. This enables everyone to leisurely enjoy the homes up close, listen to the carolers, and talk with residents dressed in Victorian costumes.

This tour begins on North 8th street and 2nd Avenue and includes over ten city blocks. Admission to this spectacular production is free. On the Friday night of the tour, the City of Opelika sponsors Christmas in a Railroad town which includes wagon rides through the Victorian Front Porch Christmas tour which includes tour guides who take you back in time while enjoying the festively decorated homes. www.opelikavictorianfrontporchtour.com

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WPES Teacher of the Year

Woodland Pines Elementary School has named Adriane Smith their Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Smith has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Middle School Language Arts Education from the University of Montevallo.

In addition, she holds master’s degrees in curriculum and instruction from the University of Phoenix and educational leadership from the University of Arkansas. She has been an educator since 2001. Before joining Auburn City Schools, Mrs. Smith spent time as an educator in Forsyth County Schools, Vestavia Hills City Schools, and Lighthouse Academies of Central Arkansas. Mrs. Smith joined Auburn City Schools in 2021 as a secondgrade teacher at Creekside Elementary. She transferred to Woodland Pines Elementary as a second-grade teacher this school year. “Mrs. Smith fosters creativity, imagination, and love within her learning community daily. She is willing to meet the needs of all her students, whether it is in or outside the classroom. Mrs. Smith has a great passion for teaching, evident through her optimistic attitude and love of learning. She is well-organized and a natural leader, and she knows the best way to differentiate instruction for all her students. Mrs. Smith is a leader among her peers and leads with a serving heart. We are thrilled that Adriane Smith is the 2023-2024 Woodland Pines Teacher of the Year.”

-Tonya Nolen, WPES Principal.

LSA 5th Graders Learn Math with Fall Fun On Halloween, 5th graders participated in team work and data collection by exploring and working with “minipumpkin catapults” and jumbo dice roll fraction graphs! Fall fun through math & science is happening all around LeeScott Academy!

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Please send school news to: Kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com by the 10th of each month!

Mrs. Hooks is Pick Elementary’s Teacher of the Year

STEM Focus in LSA 6th Grade

Mrs. Stewart’s STEM classes have been focusing and working hard on their engineering skills. Whether it’s sixth grade students building their own satellites or third graders constructing their own lunar landers out of the materials given to them, the creativity and brain storming has been “out of this world!”

Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2023

Pick Elementary School has named Deana Hooks their Teacher of the Year! With more than 30 years of experience in public education, Mrs. Hooks is in her 33rd year with Auburn City Schools, serving teachers and students as the Librarian and Technology Coordinator at PES. Mrs. Hooks earned her bachelor’s degree in physical education from Jacksonville State University, a master’s degree in Human Exercise Science from Auburn University, and an additional master’s in Library Media Science from the University of South Alabama. She also received National Board Certification in 2018 and is one of the East Alabama Regional Inservice Center NBPT Teacher Academy Cohort Leaders. “Mrs. Hooks creates the most inviting and exciting Media Center and lessons with her extraordinary creativity! She inspires excellence throughout our campus by always supporting each grade level and department with resources and fun ideas for learning. As a true team player who goes above and beyond in every way, she ignites a love of reading and learning for our students. Mrs. Hooks continues to inspire and encourage our teachers in countless ways with support for lesson resources, literature hallway transformations, professional development, and National Board Certification mentoring. Deana Hooks is a leader of leading and learning with excellence!” – Debbie Reetz, PES Principal.

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ACS Celebrate Day 50

It’s the 50th day of school, and students are celebrating the end of the first quarter of the 2023-2024 school year with their 1950s-inspired fashion! Decked out in nifty leather jackets, pink poodle skirts, and cuffed jeans, students are now 50 days smarter, focusing on themed lessons from the era that brought us Rock and Roll and famous children’s books like “The Cat in the Hat.” Auburn City Schools appreciates the time and effort teachers, administrators, and parents put into making this day special for our younger students!

OHS Homecoming Court Announced

Congratulations to the 2023 Opelika High School Homecoming Court! Pictured (l-r): Aayla Billingsley-Freshman, Mackenzie YoungSophomore, Lathan Rogers-Junior, Kennedy Brewer-Senior, Roniyah Lilly-Senior, Aimee Alcantara-Senior, Sara Kate SpeakmanJunior, Kennedi Davis-Sophomore, and Jordan Youngblood-Freshman. The 2023 OHS Homecoming Queen will be announced during halftime of the OHS vs. Dothan football game on Friday, October 27 at Bulldog Stadium.

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Character in Action

Three ACS students were honored by Lee County Family Court Judge Mike Fellows for putting good character into action at school! Lyla Goolsby, a fourth grader at Wrights Mill Road Elementary School, was recognized for displaying leadership qualities.

“Lyla is an exceptional student who goes above and beyond each and every day. She comes in ready to learn and makes excellent use of her time. She always has a positive attitude about learning new things, and her positivity flows over to others. Lyla is very responsible and considerate of her classmates. She is an encourager when she sees a classmate who is down.

Lyla truly has a heart for serving others. In cooperative learning groups, she is so good at helping someone who may not understand. Lyla is a born leader, and she will do amazing things in life.

She is truly a joy to teach, and I am blessed by her actions daily!” – Mrs. Melissa Neighbors, a fourth-grade teacher at WMR. Hamblet Gonzalo Lucas, a third grader at Pick Elementary School, was recognized for his positive attitude. “Hamblet is an extremely hardworking student who never gives up even when things get difficult. He makes sure to always strive to his absolute best on every assignment he is given. On top of his hardworking personality, he is a student who goes above and beyond to help and encourage other students. You never have to ask him to do anything; he sees a need and immediately fills it. It doesn’t matter if it is cleaning the classroom or helping a friend complete a task; he does it with a happy heart. He has a heart of gold and treats all his classmates and teachers with the utmost respect. Whenever there is a student who is upset or seems lonely, he is right there to make them feel better. He is the most amazing child and is a joy to teach!” - Anna Gautney, a third-grade teacher at PES. Tyler Willis, a sixth grader at J.F. Drake Middle School, was recognized for including others.

“Tyler displays an exceptional desire and ability to include students with profound and unique disabilities or needs. He is adept at guiding, motivating, encouraging, and accepting students with special needs. Tyler exemplifies what the world should look like when we see beyond a person’s abilities or disabilities and truly love and value the person for who they are.” Mrs. Carrie Williams and Mrs. Rhonda Mingus, a Lions teacher and Special Education Paraprofessional, respectively.

AHS Teacher of the Year

Auburn High School has named Greg Sanders their Teacher of the Year! Having started his teaching career in 1999 for Russell County Schools, Mr. Sanders began teaching math at Auburn High in 2008. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Auburn University and completed coursework for certification from Troy University and Columbus State University. “Greg Sanders is a master teacher and all that is right in education. He is one of the most passionate, dedicated, and positive faculty members at Auburn High School. He is often the first on campus each morning, tutoring students in math, many of whom are not even in his classes. In the evenings, you can find him at most extracurricular activities, cheering on our students and making connections that last for years. Mr. Sanders is an extremely reflective educator. He is his worst critic and will spend time every year collaborating with others to fine-tune the curriculum in courses he has taught repeatedly. On numerous occasions, I have had former students approach me and recall Mr. Sanders, speaking fondly of his teaching style, guidance, and toughlove approach. He has as much ownership in the success of his students as the students themselves. Mr. Sanders makes our school a better place merely by his presence each day. He is a gift to Auburn High School.” – Dr. Shannon Pignato, AHS Principal.

OMS Congratulates Principal

Congratulations to Mr. Keith York, Principal of Opelika Middle School, on being selected as the Principal of the Year for District 4 by the Alabama Association of Middle School Principals! We are proud of you!

Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2023

Lee-Scott Spelling Bee Winners

Congratulations to the 2023 winner and first alternate of the Lee-Scott Academy Spelling Bee! Among the winners andfirst alternates from each grade level in 4th - 8th grade, 5th grader Keegan Henry and 8th grader Aedan Walker came out on top! Next up will be the AISA District Spelling Bee for all of our grade winners!

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Auburn City Schools Sharpening Skills

Celebrating God’s Creation at St. Michael

A group of Art Teachers from Auburn City Schools attended the 2023 Alabama Art Education Association’s Fall Conference in Dothan. This event marked AAEA’s 100th year of existence as a professional organization, and with the theme “Transform. Reflect. Shine!” four of our teachers were even guest presenters during the conference. This group of art educators networked with fellow teachers and artists while learning about new projects and techniques to bring back to their classrooms. Auburn Early Education Center’s Art Teacher, Anne Marie Kuhlman, also won an award for “Best New Art Teacher” for the state of Alabama!! AAEA is an affiliation of the National Art Education Association with the mission to advocate for the highest quality visual arts education and advance knowledge through service, leadership, and research.

At St. Michael Catholic School, Mrs. Goodman’s PreK-4 class can often be found tending to the school garden as stewards of God’s beautiful creation.

They’ve touched worms, talked about growth cycles, and tasted some of the early fruits of their efforts. Integrating faith into our academics, students connect science and the miracles of God’s goodness in our everyday lives.

Trinity Christian Basketball Team Helping Others

Trinity’s Varsity Basketball team spent some time helping out in the grammar school.

These guys are working hard on the courts & in the classroom!

The entire experience was a slam dunk!

Amazing happens

When people with extraordinary talent and passion are given the technology, the facilities, and the support, they achieve great things. The discoveries taking place today will help shape the future of

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treatments and lead to cures – benefitting not only our patients and families, but people across the country and around the world for years to come.

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Lee-Scott Academy Receives Donation

se b in Un te t sh e

Thank you to Alabama House District 79 Representative Joe Lovvorn for stopping by Lee-Scott Academy this morning!

Representative Lovvorn presented Dr. Cox with a generous gift to Lee-Scott Academy for the focus of enhancing our school security and continuing to make sure our students are as safe as possible on campus. Thank you to Representative Lovvorn for this gift and for serving our local community!

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Congrats to OHS Competition Band

The OHS Competition Band competed at the 39th Annual Pride of Prattville’s competition this past Saturday and scored: Best in class and 1st place overall Percussion Best in class and overall 2nd place Drum Major (Kylan Fanning) 2nd place in their class Band 2nd place in their class Majorette 3rd place in their class Colorguard 3rd place in their class Dance Congratulations, and Go Dawgs!

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Please send school news to: Kendra@auburnopelikaparents.com by the 10th of each month!

Supporting ACS

Attending the Auburn High School faculty meeting, special guest Alabama House District 79 Representative Joe Lovvorn presented three checks to enhance school safety and the learning environment at AHS. A grant for $56,500 was awarded to AHS for the associated costs of providing a K-9 police unit at AHS this year! “Jet,” the new K-9 Unit on campus is a welcome addition to the safety team!

A $5,000 grant was provided to Auburn High School’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) to enrich their program. Representative Lovvorn also presented a $10,000 grant to Principal Shannon Pignato to be invested in the students and services provided at Auburn High School. These financial contributions are a continuation of a series of checks from the State Executive Commission on Community Service. Thank you Rep. Lovvorn for the generosity of your support and this tremendous investment in Auburn City Schools!

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AP History Students Debate at LSA

Students with Mr. Kendrick in AP United States History recently held a debate contrasting Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton’s economic vision for the early republic. Mr. Kendrick provides talking points, but the rest is completely led by students! LSA welcomed back former teacher Mr. Steve Darden to the class to listen to the debates. It was lively and these students definitely understand their points of view!

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AEEC Honors Teacher of the Year

Auburn Early Education Center has named Autmn Young their Teacher of the Year! With 22 years of experience in public education, Mrs. Young is in her 11th year teaching second grade at AEEC. She earned both her bachelor’s degree and her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Auburn University. “Mrs. Autmn Young is a wonderful teacher, coworker, and friend. It is an honor to award her Teacher of the Year because she embodies excellence. Her students are engaged, motivated, and build a true sense of community in her classroom. She is a leader, and her passion for teaching shines through. She is dedicated to her practice and ensures that each student succeeds.

Mrs. Young has a true gift for teaching and leading. We are so fortunate to have her at AEEC!”- Glori Lammons, AEEC Principal.

a positive influence “Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

1 Timothy 4:12

tcsopelika.org

A CLASSICAL AND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

ACS Thanks Parents for Involvement

From hula-hooping to perfecting the spiral on a football, dads, guardians, and grandfathers were the “big kids” on the playground at Dean Road Elementary School! Dubbed “Dad’s Day in PE,” this tradition allows father figures to go back to their younger selves while actively engaging with students. ACS thanks all the men in attendance and the PTO for supporting events like this in our schools!

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AHS Marching Band Brings Home Superior Ratings

The Auburn High School Marching Band wrapped up their 2023 competition season at the Hoover Invitational this past weekend, finishing 4th in Class AAAA! The level of talent at The Met was high, and competition in the class was tough, but our band brought home SUPERIOR ratings for: Drum Major - 1 Majorettes - 1 Color Guard - 1 Percussion - 1 Band - 1, 1, 1 Overall - 1 Auburn City Schools is proud of the fantastic show AHSMB puts on the field in competitions and during halftime of AHSFB games.

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Congrats to Lee-Scott Academy’s Volleyball

Senior volleyball player Kate Dickerson finished her volleyball career at the AISA AllStar Game leading the East to a victory and making the All-Tournament team! It’s a fitting end to Kate’s Warrior career!

Way to go, Kate!

Carver Primary School Receives Donation

Opelika’s Carver Primary School receives $5000 donation. Thank you to our new neighbors at Burlington in TigerTown in Opelika and the national nonprofit AdoptAClassroom for their generous $5,000 donation to help further our students’ education! Our teachers are so excited!

Trinity Christian Students Attend Sea Lab

The 9th and 12th grade students had the opportunity to spend a few days at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Not only was learning taking place, but the fellowship was great, and the beauty of God’s creation was recognized and magnified!

Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2023

OCS Thankful for Alums

We are grateful to a couple of OHS Alums for making our culinary dreams come true! They donated a school bus converted to a food truck to our culinary program at Opelika High School.

We can’t wait to get our “school bus” food truck ready to debut this spring!

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PE at LSA with Halloween Stations

Halloween stations made their way to PE. Hurdling headstones, going “boo-wling” and even making a basket to ring your neighbor’s doorbell were all part of the scary good fun for Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grade students.

DRE’s Teacher of the Year

Dean Road Elementary School named Allison Murfee their Teacher of the Year!

Mrs. Murfee has been a Dean Road Rocket for the past six years. She received her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Auburn University. She has taught Kindergarten, first, second, and third grades over the past 18 years in three different states. “Mrs. Murfee cares deeply for all of her students! She stewards her job with faithfulness and integrity. She works hard to ensure that she is meeting students’ needs and strives to have an inclusive classroom environment. She has a positive, calm, and quiet demeanor and always has a smile on her face. She is firm and compassionate, and her students know she loves them and has their best interests in mind. Her ability to connect is very evident in the relationships she builds not only with her students but with their families as well. Teaching comes naturally to Mrs. Murfee, as she creates engaging lessons that are fun yet challenging, and she constantly works to refine her craft. She is highly regarded among her peers and is a true teacher leader. She constantly asks, “How can I help?” and jumps in whenever needed. She is very selfless and shows so much compassion towards others. She is trustworthy and a great coworker and friend. We are truly blessed that Allison Murfee is the 2023-2024 Dean Road Elementary School Teacher of the Year!”

AHS Volleyball Wins Area

The Auburn High School Volleyball team hosted and swept the Area Tournament! They took down Smiths Station and Central to secure the sweep. The Tigers head to Montgomery next for the Regional Tournament!

Send school news to: Kendra@ auburnopelikaparents.com.

Bye to Mr. B from Lee-Scott Academy Pre-K

Students in Pre-K have finished their lessons with Mr. B and said “bye-bye” to him by releasing blue balloons off into the big blue yonder! After a bodacious banquet of foods that start with “B,” we were bubbly and buzzing to let the biodegradable balloons up into the sky!

Bye-bye, Mr. B! We’re on to the next letter.

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WMR Congratulates Teacher of the Year

Science Comes to Life at OES

Third graders at Ogletree Elementary School partnered with Auburn University’s Department of Poultry Science for a chick-hatching project!

Students witnessed the early life cycle of chickens, starting with embryo development by candling the eggs, which is the process of holding a light or candle near the egg to see the inner contents.

During the 21 days of incubation, students used observational and predictive writing to record and track varying outcomes. The classes started with approximately 60 eggs, but they learned some never developed while others flourished into hatchlings. Additionally, in art class, students are creating Picasso-style chicken paintings, and in Venture, they are learning about the different levels of heat and the functions of an incubator. This project was a great way to incorporate multiple science and writing standards.

Wrights Mill Road Elementary has named Laura Corder their Teacher of the Year! In her seventh year of experience in public education, Mrs. Corder is in her third year teaching third grade after having taught fourth grade for the past two years at WMR. She graduated from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor’s in Communications and an Elementary Ed K-6 teaching certificate.

“Mrs. Corder is Sweet, Understanding, Passionate, Encouraging, and Ready - a [SUPER] Teacher of the Year at Wrights Mill Road! She teaches like a hero every day with her extra creative lessons, constant positive attitude, and eager spirit to always give her best to her students and colleagues. Mrs. Corder goes the extra mile in making learning special and fun for her third graders. We are so blessed to have her in the NEST as our Super Teacher of the Year!’ – Karen Mason, WMR Principal

LSA Pre-K Learning Spanish

Pre-K students have been working hard on learning their colors in Spanish with Señora Drake! After a student has learned all the colors, they create a chain that helps them sing the colors in Spanish! ¡Excelente, Pre-K!

Send school news to: Kendra@ auburnopelikaparents.com.

Pumpkins, Pizza, and Prayer at St. Michael School

OHS Crowns Homecoming Queen

Our favorite little pumpkin came to visit the Early Learning Center students: Aubie! SMCS’s day was filled to the brim with laughter and joy, pizza and pumpkins, and lots of thanksgiving prayers for all the Lord has blessed us with.

Congratulations to the 2023 Opelika High Homecoming Queen-Roniyah Lilly!

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Congrats to the Junior Technician Award at LSA

Each month, Lee-Scott Academy Director of Technology, Mr. Kyle Christian, gives out a Junior Technician Award. The award is bestowed to a faculty member, nominated by their peers, who are actively innovating new technologies in their classroom that assist with classroom engagement and learning, solving difficult technical problems that affect many users or teaching other faculty and students how to better use technology. October’s Junior Technician Award is given to Upper School science teacher, Mrs. Karen Bryant! Mrs. Bryant was nominated because of how she has incorporated technology as a way to enhance her teaching. Her classes are based on academic conversations, analysis of data, creation of lab reports centered around challenging questioning. She guides all students through difficult text and ensures the learning of all. Well done and congratulations, Mrs. Bryant! We appreciate you!

OHS Robotics Engineers Crush It

TCS Students Experience the Symphony

Opelika High School’s robotics students were in Downtown Opelika for Food Truck Friday with their CanBot. They designed and built the robot to crush aluminum cans and aluminum cups. Good job, OGREOpelika’s Greatest Robotics Engineers.

Trinity’s first and second grade enjoyed “Peter & the Wolf”, performed by The Alabama Symphony Orchestra at The Gogue Performing Arts Center.

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Congrats to Creekside Elementary’s Teacher of the Year

Creekside Elementary School has named Lindy Tapley their Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Tapley started her teaching career in Opelika City Schools before joining ACS at Yarbrough Elementary in 2017 and later transferring to Creekside Elementary upon its opening in 2018, where she currently teaches third grade. She has her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Troy University and her master’s degree in Library Media from the University of West Alabama. “Mrs. Lindy Tapley’s dedication to her role as a teacher at Creekside Elementary is exemplified by her recognition as Teacher of the Year. She not only imparts knowledge but goes the extra mile to care for her students. Mrs. Tapley’s ability to cultivate trust and open lines of communication within the classroom creates a safe and productive learning environment. Her genuine concern for her students’ well-being is evident, as she sets and supports high expectations, equipping them with the skills and guidance needed to excel.

Mrs. Tapley’s engaging teaching methods, including room transformations and innovative lessons, elevate the curriculum, making learning an exceptional experience. Additionally, Mrs. Tapley is a collaborative team player, always ready to offer assistance and encouragement to her colleagues, and her organizational skills, friendly demeanor, and tireless work ethic make her a shining example of what Creekside Elementary represents.” – Katie Daniel, CES Principal.

DMS Names Tammy Flanagan as TOTY

Dr. Martin-Smith went into Ms. Sanders’ Kindergarten room to continue their enrichment collaborated lesson about bats! After reading “Stellaluna” by Janell Cannon, Dr. Martin-Smith shared some of the ossified bats she has with students so they could analyze the wings, feet and ears they had been studying about.

LSA Brings Love to Azalea & Magnolia Place

J.F. Drake Middle School has named Tammy Flanagan their Teacher of the Year!

Mrs. Flanagan is currently the Language Arts teacher with the Pumas team at J. F. Drake Middle School and has been a member of the DMS faculty since 2015. Having started her teaching career in 1993 after earning her bachelor’s degree in English/ Language Arts Education, Mrs. Flanagan taught Language Arts in Daphne, Alabama. “Tammy Flanagan is a treasured member of the Drake Middle School family! She works tirelessly to refine her craft, meeting each student’s academic needs. She constantly researches, learns, and mentors colleagues as she pursues excellence in her pedagogical skills. Tammy is a leader among her peers and leads by serving, seeing needs before they are fully known, and asking, “How can I help?” If there is a special event, Tammy is the first to volunteer to help and the last to leave after helping clean up. She is known for her positive, helpful, calm, and generous spirit, and she has a special gift to see the potential in a child and call them into greatness, even before the child realizes their potential. She cares for her students deeply and forms lasting relationships based on trust, accountability, and love. Mrs. Flanagan is an invaluable member of our Drake family, and I am honored for her to represent Drake Middle School as our Teacher of the Year.” – Sarah Armstrong, DMS Principal.

Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2023

LSA Kindergarten Participates in Collaborative Enrichment

Lee-Scott Academy’s neighbors at Azalea Place & Magnolia Place had some Warrior visitors. After the Mother Goose parade, Pre-K students all dressed up in their nursery rhyme costumes brought smiles by serving and being served by the residents! Students gave these elderly neighbors plenty of smiles and they gave students candy in return as they trick-ortreated to their rooms!

TCS Students Participate in Spelling Bee

Congratulations to our TCS School Spelling Bee winner & alternate!

They will be attending the Lee County Spelling Bee in 2024!

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Sword & Shield Soiree Huge Success at SMCS

St. Michael Catholic School’s inaugural fundraising event, the Sword and Shield Soirée, was held on September 28, the day before the feast day of their patron, St. Michael the Archangel. Notre Dame’s Rudy Ruettiger was the guest speaker, and community supporters enjoyed a night to remember!

OHS Wins Best of OA Principals

Kelli Fischer, OHS Principal, named 2023 Best of OA Winner! Congratulations to our very own Kelli Fischer, OHS Principal, for being named Best Principal by the Opelika-Auburn News!

Congratulations also to Chad Cunningham from Opelika Middle School and Julie Kopinski from Morris Avenue Intermediate School for being recognized in the Best Teacher category.

Thank you all for what you do each and every day for our students!

Congrats to AJHS’s Ms. Martin

Auburn Junior High School has named Katharine Martin their Teacher of the Year!

With 14 years of experience in public education, Mrs. Martin has taught English Language Arts at AJHS since 2015. Mrs. Martin graduated from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with a Bachelor’s in English and a Master of Arts in Education.

“Mrs. Martin does an outstanding job! She is always quick to help others and does what is best for students daily. Mrs. Martin cares for faculty and staff by mentoring new teachers through the ACS SWIM program and is our faculty Sunshine Fund leader. Auburn Junior High School is thankful for Mrs. Martin and her leadership on campus.” – Ross Reed, AJHS Principal.

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Unearned vs. Earned Education Preparing to Kick Off the New Year Informed I have been on the road frequently speaking at student and parent conferences. One of my favorite things about what I do, other than getting to meet parents and students, is learning new things. What do I mean by things? It can be anything really. Kids are hysterical and will teach you about most all “things” if you listen. What they like about school, what they don’t like, who their favorite influencers are, what their favorite games are, etc. I learn a lot about communities, a school’s history (I spoke at a school just this week celebrating 100 years!), and teachers are always a wealth of information.

As I was getting ready to speak to a group of middle school students, a principal introduced me and mentioned to the students that they were about to receive an “unearned education.” He then explained the difference between earned versus unearned education. If you see that a stove is hot and touch it, you get burned and learn not to touch it again. This is earned education. When

you are presented with something or learn something without having to earn it...in this case, they were receiving education about social media from me...that is unearned education. I thought this was brilliant, and it got me thinking. As parents, we have the awesome opportunity to take advantage of unearned education about our kids and social media safety.

What does that mean?

How can we do that? What does that even look like?

By nature, humans are reactive. Take social media education for our kids as an example.

We tend only to want to get involved once something happens and we have to get involved. At that point, we have to learn how to navigate what has occurred and prevent anything from happening in the future. This becomes earned education, which is different from the education we want. It tends to come with issues.

Someone may have gotten hurt because of a careless post, may be at risk because of contact with a predator, or may have a personal narrative to navigate

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because of inappropriate pictures or content released online. Once these situations occur, the earned education can be painful, like touching a hot stove.

But what if we become proactive and provide ourselves and our children with unearned education? What if we take action today to attend conferences and learn all we can about protecting our children online? What if we take some time to research and learn how to set restrictions, navigate social media apps, and do random device checks...before something happens?

It seems to me that unearned education is much less painful, and maybe one would argue that it is a bit more beneficial than earned education.

What if we, for the month of December, decide to learn a bit about social media and device safety? Then, when the New Year rolls around, we can kick it off with a healthy digital start without suffering some of the pain of being forced into learning. And the REAL positive of this unearned education...no one has to get hurt to earn it.

Kristi Bush serves as a national education consultant and social media safety advocate.

She is a licensed social worker with greater than 15 years of clinical practice and health care experience.

She attended Troy and Auburn University where she studied social work and counseling. Kristi travels nationally and has spoken with thousands of children, parents, professionals and organizations about the benefits and threats associated with social media. You may reach Kristi through her website at www.knbcommunications.com.

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Nothing is more heartwarming than a gift made by a child. Handmade gifts are affordable, fun to make, and can be given to parents, grandparents, teachers, and siblings.

friend. Putting a homemade cookie mix into a mason jar also makes an easy gift that kids can help with. Finish the jar with a holiday bow and instructions and it’s ready to be delivered.

Here are some gifts that are sure to make someone special smile this holiday.

Frame It

Prints

All you need is a child’s cooperation, some paint, and a little creativity to make a gift that will be cherished for years. Handprints, fingerprints, and even footprints can be used to make a variety of crafts and art.

Websites like Pinterest are full of ideas of how to make a handprint into a picture of Santa, a Christmas tree, reindeer, or snowmen. There are literally hundreds of possibilities. Try putting your child’s prints on an apron, ornament, tea towel, oven mitt, or T-shirt to give to a special someone. Make sure to follow the directions on the paint to ensure that the design lasts for years. As a bonus, your kids will love getting messy during the process.

Tasty Treats

Kids love to help out in the kitchen, so why not put together some tasty treats for some sweet people in your life? Get the kids involved in the holiday baking and put together a plate of cookies the kids can help deliver to a neighbor or

Photos make a favorite gift for any proud aunt, uncle, parent, or grandparent.

Get kids involved in picking out favorite photos from the past year and putting them into a collage with handmade drawings or a poem. Try making a scrapbook page that can be framed for a special gift.

Picture frames can be made with decorated popsicle sticks, clay, or an existing frame can be painted or decorated with mosaic tiles, buttons, or other craft supplies. Affordable frames can be found at local thrift stores or the dollar store.

Personalized Gifts

Nothing is more thoughtful than a gift made to fit the recipient’s personal tastes.

Talk to your child about their favorite hobbies and tailor the gift to their interests.

For example, use permanent markers to decorate golf balls for the golf lover in your life, decorate a plain coffee mug for the coffee lover in the family, have your child create a special bookmark for the bookworm you know, or use fingerprints to decorate wooden utensils for your favorite chef. Kids can also use scrapbook paper, stickers, craft supplies, and cardstock to make custom stationery. Making personalized gifts also helps teach kids to be

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observant of others interests that may be outside their own.

Utilize Beads

Beads are an affordable and versatile craft item that can be used for a variety of gifts. Small children can string beads on a pipe cleaner to make a candy cane or cross ornament. Older children can make personalized jewelry or key chains for loved ones.

Pony beads can be melted to make into a suncatcher, mobile, or even a bowl. With beads, you can give your child some ideas and let their creativity lead them.

Spa at home

Do you know someone who needs some rest and relaxation? Try mixing equal parts white or brown sugar and olive oil for an easy sugar scrub that is a great gift for anyone who deserves a day at the spa.

There are many recipes for homemade soaps, sugar scrubs, and bath salts available online. Many can be mixed together in just minutes and cost very little to make.

This luxurious gift may be quick and affordable, but it is sure to make your recipients feel loved and appreciated.

There is great value in teaching kids to give gifts to others. They learn to be generous, thoughtful, and experience the joy of giving. They also learn the important lesson that gifts do not need to cost a fortune to be cherished. AOP Sarah Lyons is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to numerous parenting publications.

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E Hoomau Maua Kealoha in Hawaii means ‘may our love last forever’ and this old Hawaiian proverb is one Shannon Wiggins is seeking after for her family.

Shannon, a native of Hawaii, is currently a resident of Auburn, along with her husband of 20 years, Jeremy, and their three daughters — Nicole (18), Katelyn (16) and Aubrey (10).

“I married my high school sweetheart after graduating from college. Jeremy commissioned in the active-duty Air Force, and we began our family life moving all over the nation and world,” Shannon said.

“Jeremy is a commercial pilot for Delta Airlines and an F-16 pilot in the Alabama Air National Guard. These two jobs brought us to Auburn in 2016. Having been in active duty Air Force since 2004, we lived wherever the Air Force sent us. The first time we got to choose where to live, we chose Auburn and we love it!”

Sharing her family’s heritage with others means so much to Shannon. Her grandmother is almost 92 years old and recently she has been making it a priority to get her grandmother’s recipes out of memory and onto paper, so her legacy of love can live on.

“Everything I learned about cooking and kitchen operations came from my grandma,” she shared. “She is an amazing cook, and I had the fortune of watching her prepare all her specialty dishes while growing up. She is Filipino, and my grandpa was Hispanic. She uniquely and tastefully blended these flavors in her cooking. Our entire family raves about her meals, and her potluck contribution is usually the first gone at any family event.

Grandma told me that she expresses her Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2023

love through food and that her secret to a delicious meal is a little sprinkle of TLC.” For Shannon, one of the ways she honors her grandmother’s legacy of love is by having family dinners as often as possible, around the kitchen table. It is important for the Wiggins family to share their day together — the highs and lows. It is also a time where phones are put away so that we can truly focus on one another.

We hope you enjoy Shannon’s recipe of Kalua pork, which is the main entree served at a Hawaiian luau. She shared that the pork is traditionally cooked in an underground oven called an “imu,” but since it’s rare to have an imu here in Auburn, this dish is made in a slow cooker!

Anita’s Kalua Pork & Cabbage Ingredients for Kalua Pork: • 5-6 lbs pork butt • 2 tbsp Hawaiian rock salt • 2 tbsp liquid smoke • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

Ingredients for cabbage mixture: • 2 Tbsp olive oil • 1 head of cabbage, sliced • 1 sweet onion, sliced • 2 Tbsp minced garlic 24

• Salt & pepper to taste • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar • 1 tbsp white sugar

Preparation: Pierce all sides of the pork butt. Rub the Hawaiian salt onto all sides of the pork.Rub the liquid smoke onto all sides of the pork.

Place the pork in the slow cooker with fat on the top. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until the pork is easy to shred with a fork.

Once cooked, remove the pork from the slow cooker, shred, and put to the side. Save the broth from the slow cooker to later add back to pork and cabbage.

Slice the cabbage and sweet onion. In a large skillet, add the olive oil and sauté the onions until lightly browned. Add garlic, salt and pepper to taste. Add in half the broth from the slow cooker, apple cider vinegar and sugar. Stir and bring to a simmer.

Add the shredded pork and mix throughly. Add the remainder of the broth from the slow cooker. Add the cabbage and spread evenly on top of the pork. Cover the skillet and allow the cabbage to steam for 5-10 minutes depending on how you prefer the texture of the cabbage.

If desired, mix the cabbage into the pork or remove it from atop the pork and place it in a separate dish. Serve with “sticky” rice and it’s also yummy to add skinned, quartered sweet potatoes to slow cooker.

Gabriele has been married to her husband Daniel for 17 years. Together they have three incredible children – two boys, ages 16 and nine, and a sweet girl who will be two in August.

Gabriele is a full-time Sales Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics. When she isn’t spending time with family or building her business, she supports her husband who is the Lead Pastor and Planter of Forward Church in Gulf Shores.

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Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Eid al-Fitr, Bodhi Day, or the winter solstice, holiday traditions are a fun way for families to bond and create fond memories. The traditions you choose are limited only by your imagination in the way you and your family carry them out.

The following are a few fun traditions to consider!

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Customs for Gatherings Storytelling. Choose a theme such as ‘my most memorable holiday season’ or ‘the best thing that happened this year,’ and ask each person to share a memory.

Record the storytelling on video or audio, then play it in future years as part of your memory-sharing tradition.

Poetry. Hold a holiday poetry reading. Ask each person to bring copies of their favorite seasonal or holiday poems to pass out and read aloud at your gathering.

White elephant. Rather than exchanging gifts or doing a drawing for a gift exchange, hold a ‘white elephant.’ Each guest brings a wrapped gift that anyone can use. Everyone then draws a numbered slip and takes a turn choosing either a wrapped gift or taking an unwrapped gift from another participant.

If a player loses their gift, that person gets to choose another wrapped gift or take a gift from someone else. For complete rules and variations on this fun gift exchange, visit whiteelephantrules.com.

For Twosomes or the Whole Brood Cozy escape. Escape the holiday hustle and bustle, and enjoy a holiday retreat. Try a cozy cabin in the woods or another scenic setting. Then enjoy your togetherness near a roasting fire, flipping through family photo albums, enjoying holiday music, doing crafts, and other relaxing activities.

Holiday countdown. Take a 3” by 3’ strip of ribbon and cut 24-paired slits from top to bottom. Thread each pair with a narrow ribbon and tie a sucker in each. Beginning December 1st, remove a lollipop each day through Christmas Eve, or the eve of the holiday you celebrate.

Romantic evening. Couples often forget to take time out for each other during the busy holiday season. Plan an evening for two and reserve a table near a fireplace or a different romantic setting. When you return home, light some candles and your tree, listen to holiday or soft music, and exchange a special gift with each other. Then spend the evening reminiscing and sharing your dreams for the future.

Cut your own tree. Take the whole family to a tree farm and make a day of it. Look for the perfect tree to compliment your home, or that fits your family’s taste.

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International customs. Pick up a book on holiday customs around the world. Each year, choose a different culture or nationality for your theme. Then decorate and try new traditions accordingly.

Shopping date. Make a date with your partner, and assist each other in selecting your holiday attire. Decide in advance on the formality so you choose complementary outfits and your shopping trip together remains agreeable.

Just for You Pamper yourself. Decorate the bathroom in holiday candles, fragrance, and holly.

Throw on some holiday or other relaxing music. Then enjoy a long bubble bath and give yourself a full salon treatment. Include a manicure, pedicure, deep hair conditioning, facial mask, and body buff.

Traditions for All Stockings for adults. Fill stockings for your partner, parents, or grandparents to discover. Stuff them with treats, beauty products, postage stamps, lottery tickets, and other inexpensive or usable items.

Help a needy family. Deliver a box of groceries, or supply a family with gloves and hats. Ask your children to make room for their own new gifts by donating good, unwanted toys. Offer the toys to the needy family to leave from Santa, or wrap them yourself and leave them on the doorstep.

Bake holiday treats. Nothing gets you in the spirit like baking Christmas cookies or making peppermint bark. Turn on some holiday tunes and get in the kitchen together.

A special ornament. Buy a new tree ornament each year that signifies something important such as your baby’s first Christmas or solstice. If it’s your first season in a new home, find an ornament that represents it.

Homemade wrapping paper. Get a roll of brown Kraft paper. Then cut holiday shapes out of sponges, dip them in holiday-colored paint, and stamp the shapes onto the paper. Use glitter and glue to add to the festive look.

Tradition Tips 1) Discontinue holiday traditions that have lost their appeal and usefulness or

that create too much stress. Talk to your family members or friends who share in the tradition, explain your feelings, and ask for input. They may feel the same. Even if they don’t, you can try to reach a compromise that satisfies everyone.

2) Don’t overdo it. It’s easy to get carried away with customs. Be selective and choose those that mean the most to you and your family. Most traditions require some investment of time, energy, or money. Taking on too many can cause stress and lead traditions to lose their appeal.

3) When you choose traditions, divide the responsibilities. Women often take sole responsibility for holiday activities, which can be overwhelming and interfere with their ability to really enjoy the season. So try not to strive for perfection, and allow men and children to help in the preparation.

By keeping these tips in mind and being flexible, you and your family can enjoy holiday traditions for years to come. AOP

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance writer. She also owns an online bookshop, Sage Rare & Collectible Books, specializing in out-of-print, scarce, signed, and first editions; fine bindings; ephemera and more at sagerarebooks.com.

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Auburn/Opelika AO Discover: ‘Tis the Season to Discover!

ad on page 17

December 12 and 18 Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National, 3000 Robert Trent Jones Trail and Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center, 241 South College Street Discover events feature hands-on STEM holiday fun for the whole family! Help Santa’s sleigh fly faster, make an ice necklace, design a gingerbread house, code a path to sneak to the presents and more! Plus visit with Santa Claus! Sunday, December 12 (12:00-5:00 p.m.) and Saturday, December 18 (9:00-11:30 a.m.) and (1:30-4:00 p.m.)

(334) 209-0460 www.aodiscover.org

Annual Christmas in a Railroad Town ad on page Inside Front Cover

December 8 Historic Downtown Opelika, 1032 South Railroad Avenue Opelika, Al 36801 Whether you’re a young child or simply a child at heart – there will be activities for everyone at this great night out in historic downtown Opelika. Join us for Christmas in a Railroad Town, 6:00-9:00pm.

Visit with friends and enjoy a variety of food vendors and restaurants. Bring the kids to write letters to Santa, enjoy pony rides, caroling, entertainment and other new activities! Guaranteed fun for adults includes Loft Tours, personalized gifts made on site and bundles of sweet treats for sale. Local retail shops will be open late for all your Christmas needs. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be available for family photos! Be transported back in time and take a wagon ride through the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour. Leave straight from Christmas in a Railroad Town and be delivered back once you’re done. Enclosed trolley rides also available at the Museum of East Alabama.

334-745-0466

www.opelikamainstreet.org

Auburn Day School ad on page 17

1199 South Donahue Dr., Auburn, AL 36832 STEM Workshop: December 2. Visit website for more information. Holiday Break Camps: Magical Movement- December 18-22 and Asha’s

Adventure- January 2-4. Dance, arts ans crafts, cookie decorating, STEM content, and more. Ages 3-6, 8:30-11:30am. www.auburndayschool.com

Auburn Parks and Recreation

December 2, December 9, December 15-16, December 16-22 425 Perry Street Auburn , Al 36830 Annual Holiday Art Sale: The Auburn Arts Association, Auburn Parks & Recreation and Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center will host the 17th annual Holiday Art Sale on Saturday, November 18 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Frank Brown Rec Center and Harris Center. Local artists will be selling paintings, pottery, stained glass, photography, cards, jewelry, hats, scarves and much more!

Jingle Jog 5K/Santa Stroll: The Jingle Jog 5k and Santa Stroll Fun Run are here again – so pull out those Santa hats and ugly sweaters! Join Active Auburn on Saturday, December 2nd at 6:30 a.m. as we ring in the holiday season in style! The Santa Stroll Fun Run (1 mile) will begin at 6:30 a.m. at Toomer’s Corner and the Jingle Jog 5k will begin at 7:00 a.m. at Toomer’s Corner.

Holly Jolly Drop & Shop: Join us for our first ever Holly Jolly Drop & Shop at Frank Brown Recreation Center on Saturday, December 9th. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to make holiday crafts, write letters to Santa, enjoy snacks and watch Jingle All the Way (Rated PG) giving parents an opportunity to do some kid-free holiday shopping! This event is free, but participants must register in advance at auburnalabama.org/parks/register. Space is limited so register early! FREE to the public.

Holiday Walk in the Woods: In the spirit of unity and peace, Auburn Area Community Theatre and the Kreher Preserve are bringing back their special December 15-16 event for our broader Auburn community to celebrate together. At three different performance events, there will be a series of staggered and timed walks, small-group tours with a guide on a well-lit and easy trail through the piney woods at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center.

At 6 – 8 stations along the hour-long trail, performers representing different organizations, traditions, and cultures in the community will share a song, spoken word, or other performance with the tour group. Enchanting decorations, sweet treats, and nature art projects round out the experience.

Holiday Wrap-Up: Auburn Parks and Recreation will offer its 3rd Annual gift-wrapping service, December 16-22, just in time for the 2023 holidays.

Are you hiding holiday gifts just hoping they aren’t

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discovered? Waiting for extra time in your day to sit down and wrap everything up? Let us help you!

Drop off up to 20 pre-boxed gifts and pick them up wrapped and ready to go the same day! You can choose from our selection of paper, or you can supply your own.

334-501-2930 www.auburnalabama.org

Brunch with Santa

ad on page Inside Front Cover

December 9 Grand National Marriott , 3000 Robert Trent Jones Trail Opelika, Al 36801 Be a special guest for the annual brunch with Santa event at The Marriott Resort & Spa! There will be a delicious brunch, children’s activities, train rides through the resort, pictures with Santa, and a holiday-themed movie. Reservations required - 334.737.2117.

334-737-2117 https://www.opelika-al.gov/689/ Opelikas-Very-Merry-Christmas

Downtown Auburn Events ad on page 7

December 4, 2:00pm 122 West Magnolia Avenue Auburn , Al 36830 Blue Friday: November 24. It’s back and it is not Black! In downtown Auburn, the best shopping day of the year is BLUE FRIDAY! Merchants will open as early as 8 am for door-busters, deals and specials. The party will continue throughout the day with live music from 12-3 pm and also from 6-9 pm. Entertainment district begins at 5 pm.

Holiday Fair & Open House: December 1, 5-8pm. Enjoy holiday activities, photos with Santa, live music, extended shopping hours, specials, and more.

Holiday Market: December 2, 9am-3pm. Curated market featuring local artists, homemade gifts, baked goods and more in Gay Street parking lot.

Auburn Christmas Parade: December 3, 2:00pm. The entire community is invited to celebrate the season with the Auburn Chamber Christmas Parade in downtown Auburn. The parade will include Aubie, Santa, Christmas characters, live music and lots of other favorites! www.downtownauburnonline.com/events

Hey Day Holiday ad on page 33

Through January 13 211 South College Street Auburn, Al 36830 Join on the Greenspace outside of Hey Day Market for a fun and festive winter season everyday

www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents

from 12:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. from November 17th to January 13th. The most wonderful time of the year is upon us, and HEY DAY MARKET is excited to host a new family tradition: HEY DAY HOLIDAY! They are bringing the most magical of holiday festivities to Auburn with a 24 ft Christmas Tree and an ice skating rink on our expansive Greenspace. This event will be fun and festive and open for all to enjoy during the winter season! Grand Opening of Ice Skating Rink - November 17th, Pricing: Kids $8, Adults $15, Skate Rental $5 for 1 hour of skating.

Snow Fall: Everyday at 5:00pm.

Gingerbread Village - December 2nd, 3:00pm, Christmas Caroling - December 3rd, Santa Visits December 9, 16, 23, 5:30-6:30pm. https://heydaymarketauburn.com/hey-day-holiday/

Ho, Ho, Ho Hike & Holiday Celebration ad on page 28

December 2nd Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, 2222 North College Street Auburn, Al 36082 Ho Ho Ho Hike and Holiday Celebration: The JDCAC and the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center will be joining forces again this year to present this festive event. This event will take the place of the Polar Express. Children of all ages are invited to this Holiday Celebration on December 2nd from 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center. The Preserve will be turned into a Winter Wonderland, full of nature-themed crafts, performances, cookies, hot chocolate and a visit from Mrs. Claus. This event will also include the traditional Ho Ho Ho Hike, a unique and fun “Santa-hunt” where you will hike the Preserve looking for the elusive visitor in red, meeting many of nature’s creatures along the way. Wear your comfortable walking shoes and come celebrate the holiday season with the Clauses!

334-844-8091 https://wp.auburn.edu/preserve/ hohoho-hike/

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis:

Big Band Holidays ad on page 25

December 7, 7:00pm Gogue Center for the Performing Arts, 910 South College Street Auburn, Al 36849 With soulful big band arrangements of songs both sacred and secular, Big Band Holidays is an uplifting Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis tradition enjoyed by audiences of all ages and backgrounds. In addition to some swinging JCLO instrumentals, special guest vocalist Ashley Pezzotti joins the band for imaginative new versions of classic holiday tunes.

334-844-4722 https://goguecenter.auburn.edu/scottbradlees-postmodern-jukebox/

KidStrong Winter/ Holiday Camps ad on page 9

1530 East Glenn Avenue, Auburn, Al 36830 December 18-22, December 27-29. At KidStong Winter/Holiday Camps, kids will gain lifelong friendships, learn new skills, build confidence, and create unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime! Sign up for festive holiday fun!

334-780-1118

www.kidstrong.com/locations/auburn

Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2023

Opelika Parks and Recreation

ad on page Inside Front Cover

December 14-16 1001 Andrews Road Opelika, Al 36801 Rocky Brook Rocket Reindeer Express: 5:00-8:00pm. Come take a train ride through the lights at Municipal Park! Enjoy food, hot chocolate, face painting, entertainment, pictures with Santa and more! Ages 2nd grade and younger.

Where’s Theodore? Help Parks and Recreation find their Elf on the Shelf! How to Help: During the week of Dec. 11-15, watch our social media pages for clues to help us find our elf!

Bring the Christmas ornament he has left behind to the SportsPlex to claim your prize!

334-705-5560 www.opelika.org

Opelika Public Library Holiday

ad on page Inside Front Cover

December 1100 Glenn Street Opelika, Al 36801 Winter Wonder Workshop- December 16, 10am.

Discover the wonder of the holidays with activities and crafts for all ages! All crafts available while supplies last. Family Movie & Crafternoon- December 19, 2pm. An afternoon of fun holiday crafts and a movie! Christmas Movie MarathonDecember 22, 10am. Grab your friends, family, cozy blankets, and bean bags, and settle in for a movie...or 6. The first movie will begin at 10 a.m. and a new movie will begin every 2 hours.

Christmas Movie Series- Thursdays in December, 6pm. Join us for a holiday movie series for adults!

Families welcomed at their own discretion. 12/7 It’s a Wonderful Life, 12/14 - Christmas Vacation, 12/21 - Love Actually, 12/28 - Die Hard.

334-705-5380 https://www.opelika-al.gov/917/ Opelika-Public-Library

Sno*pelika Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting ad on page Inside Front Cover

December 1, 5:00pm Downtown Opelika Opelika, Al 36801 All in one evening, Opelika’s Annual Sno*pelika Christmas Parade transforms into a NIGHT of fun as participants roll along the lit up downtown streets, featuring high school bands, dance troops, floats and other surprises, along with a finale that brings in dear ol’ St. Nick himself. The parade then leads the crowds straight to Courthouse Square as snow begins to fall for all to enjoy a snowy winter wonderland, Christmas music playing throughout the square, snowball fights with our amazing police department, food trucks, picture opportunities with special characters, and of course a chance to visit Santa Claus on the Courthouse steps! The magic continues as the Opelika High School band begins to play and everyone scurries together towards the big, beautiful Christmas Tree near the railroad tracks. The crowd listens as the Mayor and City Council give an Opelika rendition of “The Night Before Christmas” and at the countdown of 3, Mayor Fuller flips the switch!

334-745-4681

Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour

ad on page Inside Front Cover

December 8-12 Opelika Historic District, 8th & 9th Streets The homes are decorated with life size Santa’s, angels, toys, carousel horses and Christmas

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themed figures. The Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour has been voted one of the southeast’s top rated tourism events and featured in Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Living. The event is a self directed driving tour. However, on Saturday night North 8th and 9th streets will be closed to traffic to encourage visitors, neighbors and friends to stroll through the neighborhood. This enables everyone to leisurely enjoy the homes up close, listen to the carolers, and talk with residents dressed in Victorian costumes. This tour begins on North 8th street and 2nd Avenue and includes over ten city blocks. Admission to this spectacular production is free. On the Friday night of the tour the City of Opelika sponsors Christmas in a Railroad town which includes wagon rides through the Victorian Front Porch Christmas tour which includes tour guides who take you back in time while enjoying the festively decorated homes.

Bike Tour: December 9, 10am, Walking Tour: Saturday December 9, 6-8pm. www.opelikavictorianfrontporchtour.com

Variations Dance Studio presents

The Nutcracker ad on page 21

December 9, 2pm, 7pm and December 10, 2pm Gogue Center for the Performing Arts, 910 South College Street Auburn, Al 36849 Celebrate the joy and wonder of the holidays with Variation’s Dance Studio’s performance of The Nutcracker. Follow Clara’s wintry adventures as she battles mischievous mice and charms the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Land of Sweets! Start your Holiday Season off with this classic holiday ballet! A stunning addition to your holiday happenings, live at the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University!

334-844-4722 https://goguecentertickets.auburn. edu/Online/default.asp

Christmas at Choctafaula

December 10 929 County Road 14 Auburn, Al 36830 Featuring hayrides to see exotic and domestic animals, horse-drawn carriage rides, hand-led pony rides, meet & greet with Santa Claus, face painting, Christmas crafts and more!

Christmas at Choctafaula has a selection of Fraser fir trees available for purchase. Our goal is to provide an experience that the whole family will enjoy.

334-750-2521 https://visitchoctafaula.com/christmas/

Christmas In Camelot Lighted Tour

December Camelot Way Opelika, Al 36801 The magic of Christmas comes alive throughout Camelot with the many large Christmas Cards, painted under art teacher, Roslyn Stern, by Opelika High art students. The neighborhood lights are adorned with lighted wreaths and all the houses are decorated with the wonders of Christmas. This drive-through event begins at sundown.

Collingwood Christmas Luminaries

December 15 Collinwood Street Opelika, Al 36801 Take a drive through the Collinwood neighborhood to experience the pathway to Bethlehem.

Featuring live actors and live animals, this tradition is fun for the whole family. With over 1,500 sacks with candles prepared by the Collinwood neighborhood residents, the candles are set out along the roadway through the neighborhood to “light the path” on the “journey to the manger.” Along the luminary path you will

www.auburnopelikaparents.com

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East Alabama Community Ballet presents The Nutcracker

Through December 23 Explorations in Antiquity Center, 130 Gordon Commercial Drive LaGrange, Al 30240 Follow the journey of Joseph and Mary as they travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem and learn new insights into the Christmas story. These walks can be done in conjunction with the Christmas multi-media presentation in the evening. Reservations required.

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December 8-10 Telfair Peet Theater, 350 West Samford Avenue Auburn University, Al 36849 Join Clara and the Nutcracker as they battle the evil Mouse Queen and travel to the Land of Sweets! Journey with them as they meet various treats from different countries including the beautiful Sugar Plum Fairy! Clara’s Tea Party: December 9. For younger audiences, Clara’s Tea Party is a shorter performance of The Nutcracker. Experience all the magic of Act II, The Land of Sweets!

Meet the dancers while enjoying treats and crafts!

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334-844-4748 www.eacballet.com

Auburn, Al 36830 Poinsettias are available in two sizes and three colors (red, white, and marble.) Orders may be placed with any JLLC member or online at juniorleagueofleecounty.org. juniorleagueofleecounty@gmail.com

Santa On the Corner

December 2, 10am-2pm Toomer’s Corner, Auburn, Al 36830 Santa Claus will be in downtown on Toomer’s Corner in Auburn . Bring your family and pets! No actual photographer on site...bring your cameras.

Donations will be accepted to The United Way. www.downtownauburnonline.com

Birth of Hope Tours

706-885-0363 www.biblicalhistorycenter.com

Children’s Christmas Celebration and Holidays at Hills & Dales Estate

December 1916 Hills and Dales Drive LaGrange, Ga 30240 Experience our circa 1940’s, tinsel-laden Christmas tree, brilliant Poinsettias and other seasonal decorations during the holiday season. The Fuller E. Callaway family home and the visitor center will be decorated for the holidays this December, Tuesdays to Saturdays. Regular tour prices apply.

Also offering wreath workshops, family tabletop luminaries workshop, mixed green Christmas wreath workshops and Children’s Christmas Celebration.

Children’s Christmas Celebration- December 9: Children will delight in creatively icing Christmas cookies, crafting ornaments, and visiting with Santa 706-882-3242 www.hillsanddales.org

Christmas Village at the Historic Langdale Mill

Weekends in December US Hwy 29 at Fob James Road Valley, Al Beginning the first weekend in December, experi-

ence the spirit of the season in Historic Valley.

There is a life-size nativity scene in the meadow, the Madonna light-sculpture, and the Christmas Merry-go-Round that has given over 1,000,000 FREE rides to families. As you take a walk through history, you will be greeted with caroling and much more festive fun. Also, don’t miss the “A Cotton Mill Christmas” production at Langdale Theatre, as the local actors tell the history and stories of Valley, Al. 334-756-5290 www.facebook.com/City-of-ValleyChristmas-Merry-Go-Round

LaGrange Christmas Parade

Through December 23 111 Bull Street LaGrange, Al 30241 Start the holiday season off right with this spirited Troup County tradition. Each year hundreds of businesses, community groups, schools and churches create floats for the annual parade that makes its way through downtown city streets.

Marching bands, live animals, clowns and a variety of novelty entries complete the festive environment. And, much to the delight of both the young and young at heart, Santa always manages to make a special guest appearance on the top of a fire truck.

706-844-8671 www.lagrangechamber.com

Phenix City/Columbus Callaway Gardens Annual Fantasy in Lights

Through January 1 17800 Us Highway 27 Pine Mountain, Ga 31822 Callaway Gardens’ Fantasy In Lights, in Pine Mountain, Georgia, is not only the South’s most

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www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents

spectacular holiday light and sound show, it is one of the world’s “Top 10 Places to See Holiday Lights,” as named by National Geographic Traveler. Celebrate 30 years of family tradition with a new spectacular scene on the lake, 10 million twinkling lights and 2,500 acres of Christmas cheer! A beloved Christmas tradition shines even brighter! This season, experience the NEW Celebration Lake, a floating spectacular featuring 30 dancing trees honoring 30 years of Fantasy In Lights! Sunday, Nov. 12- Bicycle Night 800-898-4868 www.callawaygardens.com

RiverCenter for the Performing Arts

December 19, 7:00pm 900 Broadway Columbus, Ga 31901 “Mannheim Steamroller Christmas”- November 25.

Grammy Award winner Chip Davis has created a show that features Mannheim Steamroller Christmas classics in the distinctive Mannheim sound.

The program celebrates the group’s recent anniversary of 35 years since the first Christmas album and includes dazzling multimedia effects performed in an intimate setting. Experience the magic as the spirit of the season comes alive with the signature sound of Mannheim Steamroller. Celtic Angels Christmas- December 19. Celtic Angels Christmas is a joyous celebration from start to finish, encompassing vocal and instrumental Holiday and Irish favorites. Paired with show-stopping world class champion Irish dancing and a fully live band. www.rivercenter.org

Santa Claus 10K at Callaway Gardens

December 3 Callaway Gardens, 17800 US Hwy 27 Pine Mountain, Ga 31822 This run course travels through the Callaway Gardens lit “FANTASY IN LIGHTS” and includes marshmallow, chocolate, and candy cane miles. Stick around after the race for your picture with Santa! tricolumbusga@gmail.com www.tricolumbusga.com

Springer Opera House

December 1-23 Springer Opera House, 103 10th Street Columbus, Ga 31901 “A Tuna Christmas”-December 14-23. Since 2001, over 50,000 otherwise normal people have spent perfectly good money to celebrate their holidays by watching two amazing actors portray 21 inhabitants of Tuna, Texas in a hilarious quickchange comedy sensation that has become a true cult favorite for Columbus audiences. The annual yard display contest has been plagued by a bandit known only as the Christmas Phantom.

Socialite Vera Carp hopes to win for the fifteenth year in a row, but she has stiff competition from Didi Snavely, the owner of Didi’s Used Weapons and the sassy Tastee Kreme waitresses Inita Goodwin and Helen Bedd. “Elf the Musical”- December 1-23. The best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear! Based on the cherished 2003 Hollywood hit, Elf the Musical is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities eventually forces him to face the truth.

706-327-3688 www.springeroperahouse.org

The Columbus Ballet presents The Nutcracker

December 16-17, 7:30pm and 2:30pm 900 Broadway Columbus, Ga 31901 Join us as the magic returns to the RiverCenter Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2023

stage for our 26th anniversary production of The Nutcracker. This annual Christmas classic celebrates the joy and spirit of dance and is a perfect way for families to enjoy the holiday season. www.rivercenter.org

The Lundy’s Christmas Light Spectacular

Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve 5784 Ironstone Drive Columbus, Ga 31907 Drive into a light display set to music like none other...over 155,000 lights! Featured on ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight”.

706-443-6975 www.facebook.com/ludychristmas/

Montgomery Alabama Shakespeare Festival presents “A Christmas Carol”

December 16-24 1 Festival Drive Montgomery, Al 36117 When miserly Ebenezer Scrooge receives an unwanted visit from the ghost of his former business partner on Christmas Eve, an overnight voyage of epic proportions begins. Journey with Scrooge as he learns from his ghosts (and Bob, Tiny Tim, and the Cratchits) a heartwarming lesson in forgiveness and the change we can make around us. This play is a joyful Christmas tradition for the entire family!

334-271-5353 www.asf.net

Annual Christmas Light Festival at the Montgomery Zoo

December 1-25 The Montgomery Zoo, 2301 Coliseum Parkway Montgomery, Al 36110 See the Montgomery Zoo transformed into a Winter Wonderland sparkling with thousands of lights and festive decorations. Take a leisurely stroll, a brisk train ride or see the lights from atop the Zoofari Skylift Ride. Visit Santa, enjoy the live nightly entertainment and no winter’s night would be complete without some warming hot chocolate and fresh baked cookies.

334-625-4900 www.montgomeryzoo.com

Annual Interfaith Christmas Nativity Exhibit

November 29-December 3 3460 Carter Hill Road Montgomery, Al 36111 Since 2006, this beloved tradition has shared the Christmas Spirit in the River Region with nativities from cultures around the world and concerts by local musicians. Start your holidays right by attending this peaceful celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ! FREE for the whole community. Open daily from 1:00-8:00 pm. http://montgomerynativity.com/

Civil War Christmas

December 7-17 Cloverdale Playhouse, 960 Cloverdale Road Montgomery, Al 36101 It’s 1864, and Washington, D.C. is settling down to the coldest Christmas Eve in years. In the White House, President and Mrs. Lincoln plot their gift-giving. On the banks of the Potomac, a young rebel challenges a Union blacksmith’s mercy. In the alleys downtown, an escaped slave loses her daughter just before finding freedom. cloverdaleplayhouse.org/2022-mainstage-season

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Montgomery Ballet presents The Nutcracker

December 10, 2:30pm Montgomery Performing Art Center, 201 Tallapoosa Street Montgomery, Al 36104 Experience the holiday magic with the Montgomery Ballet’s spectacular performance of The Nutcracker!

334-481-5100 montgomeryballet.org/ballet-shows/ nutcracker-at-montgomery-performing-art-center/

Montgomery Performing Art Center

November 21, 7pm 201 Tallapoosa Street Montgomery, Al 36104 Cirque Dreams Holidaze- November 21, 7pm.

Cirque dazzles with a brilliant and whimsical family holiday spectacular. This annual tradition wraps a Broadway-style production around an infusion of contemporary circus arts. As lights dim and the music swells, audiences will have visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads as a fantastical cast of holiday storybook characters come to life. IL Divo: A New Day Holiday Tour-December 13, 7pm. Il Divo has ascended to unprecedented and unparalleled heights as multiplatinum classical crossover progenitors whose influence resounds in every corner of the globe.

334-481-5100 www.mpaconline.org/events/

Safari of Lights

December 15-December 31 Animal Safari Park, 1664 Venable Road Hope Hull, Al 36043 Join us for Safari Of Lights beginning December 15th thru New Years’ Eve. Enjoy the beauty of the Safari Park at night as you drive through thousands of sparkling lights!

334-288-2105 www.alabamasafaripark.com/event/ safari-of-lights

Millbrook/Wetumpka Christmas on the Coosa ad on page 31

December 9 Gold Star Park, Ready St Wetumpka, Al 36092 Wetumpka’s Christmas on the Coosa continues to bring people from all over the state to enjoy Wetumpka’s family atmosphere and unique heritage. Called the “City of Natural Beauty” Wetumpka is a quaint, historic town nestled along the banks of the Coosa River and is home to the annual Christmas on the Coosa celebration.

This year’s theme is “Have a Dino-Mite Christmas in the Crater”. The event features activities and events for the whole family. The day-long Christmas on the Coosa celebration features a car show, children’s character breakfast, entertainment for children and a show case for local talent. The annual street parade features over 100 entries and passes along the area for arts & crafts vendors. The evening continues with a ski-in by Santa and the ends with a grand fireworks finale.

334-567-5147 www.cityofwetumpka.com

Downtown Dickens Christmas

December 1-2 Wetumpka, Al 36092 A Downtown Dickens Christmas will be held from 5:00 pm-8:00 pm, where you’ll be transported back to scenes from “A Christmas Carol” with period costumes, photos with Father Christmas, authentic vendors, and decorated downtown businesses. This is the perfect time

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Eufaula Annual Eufaula’s Christmas Tour of Homes

December 2, 9:00am-5:00pm Historic Downtown Eufaula, Al 36027 Stroll through history and witness the magnificence of Eufaula’s finest homes aglow in holiday splendor. This delightful tour boasts lovely, unique homes decorated for Christmas as only Eufaulians can do. Experience Christmas as never before in some of the South’s finest homes!

888-383-2852 www.eufaulapilgrimage.com

Birmingham Area Alabama Ballet presents George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker”

December 20-23 2726 1st Avenue South Birmingham, Al 35233 Tchaikovsky’s beloved melodies transport the young and young at heart to a magical world where mischievous mice besiege a battalion of toy soldiers, and an onstage blizzard leads to an enchanted Land of Sweets.

205-322-4300 www.alabamaballet.org

The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum’s Christmas at the Museum

Through December 17 1919 9th Street Calera, Al 35040 North Pole Express: A Magical Christmastime Tradition: Through the dark night, the North Pole Express makes its way by starlight to the top of the world. On the way, you’ll listen to a whimsical Christmas story, sing your favorite holiday carols, and watch out the windows for the bright lights of the North Pole to appear.

Christmas at the Station: A newly reimagined daytime holiday event at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum each Saturday before Christmas in December. Bring the family for a fun-filled Christmas experience riding trains, seeing Santa, exploring a festive maze, and more on the Museum grounds!

205-668-3435

www.hodrrm.org

Atlanta Area License to Chill Islands & Magical Night of Lights

Through January Lake Lanier Islands, 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway Buford, Ga 30518 Lakeside Lights Spectacular: Kick start your holidays with a visit to Margaritaville’s all-new Lakeside Lights Spectacular for a night of nostalgic wintry fun. The Lakeside Lights Spectacular will take you on a magical walk through an amazing lighting extravaganza with festive seasonal music. Great for the whole family! License to Chill Snow Island: Take the crew snow tubing, get your skates on and practice your figure eights at the ice rink, hop on the carnival rides, make snow angels, warm up with s’ mores and hot cocoa, and shop in Santa’s Workshop.

Magical Nights of Lights: As you drive through our holiday inspired front gate, you crossover the magnificent snowflake bridge, through the 12 Days of Christmas, pass the illuminated diamond wonder light, under the blanket-lit bridge, all through the

dancing Holiday House, Santa’s Workshop, Winter Carnival and more!

770-945-8787

www.lanierislands.com

Stone Mountain Christmas

Through January 2 Stone Mountain, Ga 30083 Enjoy the glow of more than two million lights, festive music and visits from some your favorite holiday characters. Then, immerse yourself in holiday magic with evenings full of festive music, millions of dazzling lights, spectacular shows and visits from some of your favorite holiday characters! Events include Angelina the Snow Angel, Visit Santa, Journey through the Musical Frosted Forest, Jurassic Christmas, Polar Express 4D, and more!

800-401-2407 www.stonemountainpark.com

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Gulf Coast Magic Christmas in Lights

Through January 3 Bellingrath Gardens, 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Road Theodore, Al 36582 Bellingrath Gardens and Home is celebrating the 26th year of Magic Christmas in Lights in 2021! In this Gulf Coast holiday tradition, guests stroll through a dazzling light display that features more than 1,100 set pieces, 3 million lights and 16 scenes throughout the 65-acre Garden estate. In addition, the Bellingrath Home is decorated in its holiday finery and enhanced with beautiful poinsettias.

251-973-2217 | www.bellingrath.org AOP

Merry Christmas! www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents

FamilyCalendar Friday, December 1

Food Truck Friday 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM, Downtown Opelika Spend your first and third Friday of every month, where you can enjoy dinner and drinks from downtown restaurants, bars & breweries, and up to five different food truck partners each week. Enjoy your brews, bites, and beautiful downtown Opelika.

Saturday, December 2

Auburn “Drive-Thur” Toy Drive 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Dean Road Rec Center, 307 South Dean Road, Auburn Sponsored by City of Auburn Public Safety. Every year, Auburn Public Safety hosts a toy drive campaign benefiting disadvantaged families who need a “hand up” in the Auburn area over the holiday season. To meet the needs of our growing community, Auburn Public Safety is trying something new this year.

334-501-3113 Self-Care Saturday: Sound Bath 10:30 AM Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, 901 South College Street, Auburn Explore the mind-body connection with a focus on art and wellness. Danielle Hall is a leading sound bath practitioner in Alabama and is founder of SoundEmbrace. Sound baths are immersive experiences designed to relieve stressors on the mental, physical, and emotional body. Come to the museum for a morning refresh! Please bring a mat and/or blanket for comfort. www.jcsm.auburn.edu

Monday, December 4

Auburn Parks and Rec Daddy Daughter Date Night Ticket Sales 8:00 AM Join us for our 34th Annual Daddy Daughter Date Night on Friday, February 2nd and Saturday, February 3rd, 2024, from 6:30-9pm each night. The dance will be held at the new indoor facility at the Wire Road Soccer Complex (2340 Wire Rd.). Tickets will go on sale at 8 a.m. on Monday, December 4th, 2023.

This year’s theme is “Stay Wild” (Jungle)! Daughters, dads, granddads, and uncles are invited to dance the night away and enjoy food, games, activities, and a DJ. Not to mention an evening of memories! https://auburnal.myrec.com AACT Auditions: Miss Nelson is Missing (Traveling AACTors) 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM, Auburn Parks and Recreation This season, AACT is creating an opportunity to take a show on the road, reaching young audiences in surrounding areas that don’t usually have access to live theatre. A teen cast will perform one weekend in Auburn and one weekend at a variety of locations. The Traveling AACTors will bring a favorite story to life: “Miss Nelson is Missing!” (written by Henry Allard and adapted by Jeff Hatcher) tells the story of a teacher that can’t control her crazy classroom because she’s just too nice. Actors must go to auburnact.org to signup for a time slot on Dec 4 or 5 between 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. and complete audition forms.

Tuesday, December 5

AACT Auditions: Miss Nelson is Missing (Traveling AACTors) 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM, Auburn Parks and Recreation This season, AACT is creating an opportunity to take a show on the road, reaching young audiences in sur-

Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2023

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rounding areas that don’t usually have access to live theatre. A teen cast will perform one weekend in Auburn and one weekend at a variety of locations. The Traveling AACTors will bring a favorite story to life: “Miss Nelson is Missing!” (written by Henry Allard and adapted by Jeff Hatcher) tells the story of a teacher that can’t control her crazy classroom because she’s just too nice. Actors must go to auburnact.org to signup for a time slot on Dec 4 or 5 between 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. and complete audition forms.

East Alabama Arts: Brian Stokes Mitchell 7:30 PM Opelika Center for the Performing Arts, 1700 Lafayette Pkwy, Opelika Dubbed “the last leading man”

by The New York Times, two-time Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell has enjoyed a career that spans Broadway, television, film, and concert appearances with the country’s finest conductors and orchestras. www.eastalabamaarts.org

Wednesday, December 6

Creative Cubs 9:30 AM Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts, 901 South College Street, Auburn Creative Cubs is a series for children ages 3-5 and their parents/guardians.

Each session includes a guided tour of the museum’s exhibitions, a related story time, and a hands-on art activity. Free and open to the public, but spaces are limited, and pre-registration is required. www.jcsm.auburn.edu

Thursday, December 7

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis Big Band Holidays 7:00 PM Gogue Center for the Performing Arts, 910 S. College Street, Auburn Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra! With soulful big band arrangements of songs both sacred and secular, Big Band Holidays is an uplifting Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, tradition enjoyed by audiences of all ages and backgrounds. gogue.auburn.edu/jazz-at-lincoln-center-orchestra

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Second Saturday at Pioneer Park 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM,, 6500 Stage Road, Loachapoka, Al 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 working at the forge, spinners and weavers are in the textile room, the gardeners are in the gardens, crafts and seasonal activities are scheduled, and someone is always cooking up a meal in the fireplace or outdoors. Come join the fun, eat lunch, learn a new craft, pick a song, listen to the music. www.leecountyhistoricalsociety.org/second-saturday

Sunday, December 10

6th Annual Sound Wall Christmas Supper Club The Sound Wall, 605 Ave B, Opelika The Sound Wall Christmas Supper Club is a reservation-only Supper Club featuring Chef Chris Wilton’s fan favorite Beef Wellington with an exquisite 4-course chef’s menu. Fourteen Guests at our Chef’s Table are seated around a large table in the open kitchen, where they can watch and interact with the Chef as dishes are being created—an ideal spot for epicures!

This is a bring-your-own beverage event.

334-575-3477

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Monday, December 11

6th Annual Sound Wall Christmas Supper Club The Sound Wall, 605 Ave B, Opelika The Sound Wall Christmas Supper Club is a reservation-only Supper Club featuring Chef Chris Wilton’s fan favorite Beef Wellington with an exquisite 4-course chef’s menu.

Fourteen Guests at our Chef’s Table are seated around a large table in the open kitchen, where they can watch and interact with the Chef as dishes are being created—an ideal spot for epicures! The everchanging menu is crafted to highlight seasonality and the chefs’ culinary creativity. Expect next-level, delicious food. This is a bring-your-own beverage event.

334-575-3477

Tuesday, December 12

Family Discovery Hike: Evergreens 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM, Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, 2222 North College Street, Auburn Join our guides for an educational adventure as you and your children take in the many sights and sounds of the Nature Center. Discovery Hikes offer excellent opportunities to learn about nature and see wildlife up close, while enjoying fresh air and exercise in our beautiful outdoors. Discovery Hikes are for families with children ages 5 to 12. and are offered the second Tuesday of each month from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, December 13

6th Annual Fest of the Seven Fishes 6:00 PM The Depot, 124 Mitchem Ave, Auburn Join The Hound and The Depot for their Sixth Annual Feast of the Seven Fishes. The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a traditional Italian celebration of Christmas Eve with fish and other seafood as the center of the feast. Christmas Eve is a vigil, or fasting day, and the abundance of seafood reflects the observance of abstinence from meat until the feast of Christmas Day itself. www.allaboardauburn.com

Friday, December 15

Holiday Walk in the Woods Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, 2222 N College St, Auburn In the spirit of unity and peace, Auburn Area Community Theatre and the Kreher Preserve are bringing back their special December event for our broader Auburn community to celebrate together. At three different performance events, there will be a series of staggered and timed walks, smallgroup tours with a guide on a well-lit and easy trail through the piney woods at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center. At 6 – 8 stations along the hour-long trail, performers representing different organizations, traditions, and cultures in the community will share a song, spoken word, or other performance with the tour group. Enchanting decorations, sweet treats, and nature art projects round out the experience. www.auburnact.org Harlem Globestrotters Columbus Civic Center, 400 4th Street, Columbus, Ga. HarlemGlobetrotters.com Food Truck Friday 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM,, Downtown Opelika Spend your first and third Friday of every month, where you can enjoy dinner and drinks from downtown restaurants, bars & breweries, and up to five different food truck partners each week. Enjoy your brews, bites, and beautiful downtown Opelika.

www.auburnopelikaparents.com

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FamilyCalendar Buffalo Nichols 5:00 PM Standard Deluxe, 1015 Mayberry Ave, Waverly, Al Please Welcome to the Little House at Standard Deluxe: Buffalo Nichols. Gates and Bar Open at 5:00 p.m. Showtime starts at 7:30 p.m. Supper with the Waverly Chicken Man will be avaliable. Tickets are $20. All tickets are general admission. www.standarddeluxe.com

Saturday, December 16 Holiday Walk in the Woods Details on December 15.

Sunday, December 17 Holiday Walk in the Woods Details on December 15.

Sunday, December 31

Drop & Pop New Year’s Bash!

6:00 PM - 1:00 AM, Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa, 3700 Robert Trent Jones Trail.

Opelika Come join us for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve celebration at Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National! Get ready to ring in the new year with style and excitement.

Saturday, January 6

Leanne Morgan 7:00 PM Montgomery Performing Arts Centre, 201 Tallapoosa Street, Montgomery 4 pm and 7 pm. For tour information, visit https://www.leannemorgan.com. https://www.leannemorgan.com.

Tuesday, January 9

Family Discovery Hike: Life Cycles 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM, Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, 2222 North College Street, Auburn Join our guides for an educational adventure as you and your children take in the many sights and sounds of the Nature Center. Discovery Hikes offer excellent opportunities to learn about nature and see wildlife up close, while enjoying fresh air and exercise in our beautiful outdoors. Discovery Hikes are for families with children ages 5 to 12. and are offered the second Tuesday of each month from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

January 12-February 23

23rd Annual Juried Art Exhibition Jan Dempsey Art Center, Auburn A competitive exhibition open to area artists. All art mediums except photography are eligible for submission. Professional, student and amateur artists 18 years of age and over are eligible to enter this competitive show. Works in any art medium except photography are due at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center by Jan. 2 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Jan. 3 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The entry fee for this show is $35. For more info. and to register, visit at auburnalabama. org/arts. The exhibition will be on view in the Art Gallery at the Arts Center from Jan. 12 – Feb. 23, 2024. For further information, auburnarts@bellsouth.net. Auburn Arts Association • (334) 501-2963 • auburnarts@bellsouth.net.

Saturday, January 13

Shen Yun 7:30 PM RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway, Columbus, Ga The culture of ancient China was divinely inspired.

Shen Yun’s works reflect this rich spiritual heritage...

Shen Yun invites you to travel back to the magical

world of ancient China. Experience a lost culture through the incredible art of classical Chinese dance, and see legends come to life. Shen Yun makes this possible by pushing the boundaries of the performing arts, with a unique blend of stunning costuming, high-tech backdrops, and an orchestra like no other.

Be prepared for a theatrical experience that will take your breath away! www.rivercenter.showare.com

Thursday, January 18

Third Thursday Poetry Series 6:00 PM, 101 S. Debardeleben Street, Auburn The readings will be by Jim Peterson. https://cla.auburn.edu/cah/pebble-hill

January 18-23

Murder On the Orient Express Springer Opera House, 103 10th Street, Columbus, Ga All aboard for a tale of romance, revenge and, yes, primal murder. Whodunit? World-famous detective Hercule Poirot is determined to find out.

Ten passengers are on board the luxurious Orient Express that’s traveling from Istanbul to Paris. After an avalanche blocks the tracks on an isolated, snowswept mountain pass, only nine of them are still alive.

Every passenger becomes a suspect and tensions rise as Poirot searches for a killer in their midst who just may strike again. The mystery is an enigma. Be there when Poirot unravels the astounding secret of Murder on the Orient Express. www.springeroperahouse.org/springerproductions/ murder-on-the-orient-express

Friday, January 19

The Black Jacket Symphony Presents Escape 8:00 PM Montgomery Performing Arts Center, 201 Tallapoosa Street, Montgomery www.mpaconline.org/events

Saturday, January 20

12th Annual Polar Plunge 9:00 AM Samford Pool, 328 E. Samford Avenue, Auburn Recruit sponsors to support you as you take the plunge in support of Lee County Special Olympics. Individual and group costumes are encouraged! This event is presented by Auburn Parks and Recreation and Lee County Special Olympics. Proceeds benefit Lee County Special Olympics. Elizabeth Kaufman (334) 501-2939 ekaufman@auburnalabama.org Taylor Hicks Live 7:00 PM Montgomery Performing Arts Center, Centre, 201 Tallapoosa Street, Montgomery Taylor Hicks is an American soul singer who achieved fame in 2006 as the winner of the fifth season of American Idol. www.mpaconline.org/events/ CSO: Shostakovich & Brahms 7:30 PM RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, 900 Broadway, Columbus, Ga The mysticism of Hovhaness, and the witty satire of Shostakovich are delightfully set against the pastoral beauty of Brahms’ D Major symphony. Dominic Cheli returns to perform Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2. His playing has been described by Symphony Magazine as “spontaneous yet perfect, the best of how a young person can play.” www.rivercenter.org

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Thursday, January 25

Canadian Brass 7:30 PM Opelika Center for the Performing Arts, 1700 Lafayette Pkwy, Opelika With an international reputation as one of the most popular brass ensembles today, Canadian Brass has truly earned the distinction of “the world’s most famous brass group”. Friends Chuck Daellenbach and Gene Watts first came together in 1970 to form a brass quintet — a chamber music setting not entirely new, but never before having garnered the success and storied career Canadian Brass would achieve over the next 40 years. Masters of concert presentations, Canadian Brass has developed a uniquely engaging stage presence and rapport with audiences.

The hallmark of any Canadian Brass performance is entertainment, spontaneity, virtuosity and, most of all, fun – but never at the expense of the music! www.eastalabamaarts.org

Friday, January 26

Simone Dinnerstein: The Eye is the First Circle 7:00 PM Gogue Performing Arts Center, 910 South College Street, Auburn Simone Dinnerstein performs The Eye Is the First Circle, a project conceived and directed by Simone Dinnerstein, in collaboration with projection designer Laurie Olinder and lighting designer Davison Scandrett. This performance is the second of three scheduled appearances by the world-renowned pianist as part of the Gogue Center’s 2023–24 Orchestra & Chamber Music Series. www.goguecenter.auburn.edu/simone-dinnersteinthe-eye-is-the-first-circle/

Saturday, January 27

Campfire Cooking Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, 2222 North College Street, Auburn Join this fun, casual cooking class that explores tips, tricks, and recipes for cooking over an open fire. Cyndi Czerkawski (In The Garden instructor) takes a farm-to-table approach to campfire cooking using fresh, local ingredients. Whether you are experienced or you are new to open fire techniques, you are bound to get something new out of this class, not to mention the great food! https://aub.ie/campfirecooking

Every Sunday

Super Saturday Rides 2:00 PM, Chewacla State Park, 124 Shell Toomer Pkwy, Auburn Join CAMP on Sunday at 2 p.m. These are casual rides that are organized on the spot based on what rider levels show up. Rides generally split between faster, more skilled riders and beginner, intermediate riders. Let them know where your comfortable riding and they’ll get you with the right group! Kids of all ages are welcome at Super Sunday rides. HELMETS ARE REQUIRED. www.camp-sorba.org

Please send your calendar events to Kendra@ auburnopelikaparents.com!

Please check with each venue prior to attending the event to verify the information provided is still accurate and up to date.

www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents

AOP: How do you deal with the transition of your children growing up?

EM: Dealing with the transition of your children growing up can be emotionally challenging, but it’s a natural part of parenthood.

Recognize that as your children grow, their needs, interests, and independence will change. I think it’s important to stay connected with open communication. We want our children to make their own decisions and it’s also helps them build confidence.

AOP: How do you handle difficult or unexpected situations with your children?

Emily Matz

EM: It’s important to stay calm and model the behavior you want your children to observe. I would encourage parents to listen to their teenagers. Sometimes they just want you to listen and then offer problem solving skills together. Learn and grow together, isn’t that what we are doing anyway?

AOP: December is filled with holiday festivities. Do you have any special traditions that you and your family are looking forward to?

AOP: What has been the most rewarding experience you have had as a mother?

EM: The most rewarding experience I have had as a mother is watching my children grow into young men who are responsible, caring, independent and kind.

EM: One of the most important traditions we have is just spending time together over the holiday break.

As the boys get older they are involved in many more activities which is wonderful, but keeps us busy.

Our family has enjoyed many holiday traditions throughout the years. One of our most favorite traditions is making homemade sugar cookies and decorating them. We also enjoy listening to Christmas music while we decorate our Christmas tree.

AOP: How do you encourage your children to pursue their passions and interests?

EM: I think it’s very important to create a positive environment and that starts in the home. I also like to offer support and encouragement even if their interests change over time. It’s also essential to be a good listener and provide feedback when needed. Patience is also key in this area, as they grow so will their interests.

AOP: How do you help your children navigate social relationships and peer pressure?

EM: Teach them critical thinking and to consider the consequences of their actions, especially when influenced by a peer. Stay informed about their social circle and the challenges they may face. Teenagers are seeking their independence, so we have to be a safe place for them.

AOP: How do you navigate having two boys in the pre-teen/teen stages of life?

AOP: What advice would you give to mothers who may be struggling with their parenting journey?

EM: Navigating through the teenage years is not always easy, but my husband and I try to keep communication open and honest. We encourage them to talk about any concerns they have. We have appropriate expectations and boundaries. We feel that trust is crucial, but at the same time, we respect their privacy. We do have to revisit behavioral expectations as they mature, and you have to be open to having reasonable discussions about this. We also encourage them to take on responsibilities and make decisions within reason. We show interest in their hobbies and passions and encourage them to try new things. We offer guidance, not judgment. Be patient with them; adolescents can be a roller coaster of emotions. Remember that every child is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Our two boys have very different personalities.

We encourage them to talk about their feelings, concerns, and experiences.

Auburn Opelika Parents I December 2023

EM: I would encourage all mothers to enjoy the journey. Our children grow up so fast. That’s easier to say when you are not changing diapers and wiping up sticky messes many times a day. However, when they are teenagers they will need you just as much, if not more. Take in the moment and don’t take everything so seriously. Have fun! You and your children are only this age for so long.

Emily Matz and her husband, Brad, are high school sweethearts. They have been married for 17 years and together for 25. Their sons, Graham (15) and Reid (11), are active in extra curricular activities like cross country and lacrosse. Emily has a degree in special education and is currently in her sixth year of teaching Little Explorers at Auburn Preschool. She truly loves teaching three years olds because of their ability to absorb everything like sponges.

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h C r i y s r t m r e a s M From Our Home to Yours

334.329.5055 | THEHOMELINK.COM 1

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