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GRANDPARENT ALERT: Gogue Center announces 2022–23 Family Series Series includes four family-friendly performances with tickets priced at $10 each

The Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University presents its 2022–23 Family Series beginning this October. The series, which features four family-friendly performances, will bring innovative, high-level children’s programming to the East Alabama performing arts venue throughout its current performance season. Arriving just in time for Halloween, the 2022–23 Family Series begins with the bilingual, multicultural musical “Sugar Skull: A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure” on Sunday, October 23. The new year brings a new story from the Hundred Acre Wood in Disney’s “Winnie the Pooh” on Tuesday, January 31. Two of Kwame Alexander beloved children’s books burst to life on stage as “Acoustic Rooster Barnyard Boogie: Starring Indigo Bloom” on Thursday, March 16. The series will conclude next spring as Mexican vocalist and songwriter Sonia De Los Santos joins Grammy-winning Americana folk duo the Okee Dokee Brothers for “Somos Amigos: Songs on Common Ground” on Friday, May 12. Seating for all four performances is general admission. Tickets are priced at $10 each. All performances in the series will be presented indoors at the Woltosz Theatre. Tickets for 2022–23 Family Series performances and all Gogue Center events can be purchased online at goguecentertickets.auburn.edu. For additional information, contact the Gogue Center box office at 334.844.TIXS (8497) or gpactickets@auburn.edu.

Montgomery’s Greek Community is Cooking Again!

For the 74th consecutive year, Montgomery’s Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is sponsoring the Capital City’s largest Labor Day Barbecue featuring pit-smoked Boston butts, long-simmered camp stew, and their signature Greek pastries. Pre-ordering is encouraged but not required and can be done online until 9 p.m. the Sunday before Labor Day. To pre-order, visit the church Facebook page (www.facebook/mgm.goc). There's a link to select the items you want. You can also place orders at Chris’ Hotdogs in downtown Montgomery. Pick-up of all items is on Labor Day, 8 a.m. to noon, at the church on the corner of Mt. Meigs Road and S. Capital Parkway. Drive-thru pick-up is available. Food not sold as pre-orders will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis during pick-up hours. “This event was started by our grandfathers," said Gus Katechis, co-chair of the event, "and has been held each year since 1948." Boston butts will be $40 each, quarts of camp stew $15, a Greek pastry sampler box $30, and a Baklava box for $18. Large and small spanakopitas (spinach pies) will also be sold along with tyropitas (cheese pies) and tsoureki (sweet bread). “Over the decades of this event, response from the River Region has been incredible," said Katechis. "We're very thankful to the community for the support we receive."

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Montgomery Music Jazz Fest, September 16-17

The Montgomery Smooth Jazz Festival celebrates various music genres with an emphasis on Smooth Jazz and R & B. In our inaugural year we will provide a full day of outstanding performances for numerous jazz and R & B artists. Our main stage at the Riverfront Amphitheater will feature live performances accentuated with large video screens including a specially designed interactive screen allowing the artists to stylishly operate harmoniously with the music. We are offering music lovers top notch entertainment with the world’s best artists, in a unique setting along the Alabama River, resulting in the type of musical experience that you can’t find anywhere else. We will provide an enjoyable festival with safe spaces for our artists, attendees, staff and volunteers. For tickets visit www.montgomerysmoothjazzfestival.org

Caregiver of the Month Spotlight: Shirley Grant

Shirley Grant has been with Home Care Assistance of Montgomery since April 2021 and has come with over 40 years of caregiving experience. Shirley has proven to be reliable, caring, compassionate, and has a genuine love for people. Whenever HCA has called upon Mrs. Grant, she was always available to lend a helping hand.

“Too often we underestimate the power of touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” -Leo Buscaglia

We appreciate your hard work and dedication, thank you for a Job Well Done!!For more information visit www.homecareassistancemontgomery.com

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September 2022

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Walk of Life is Back, October 15th, Get Involved!

Our Walk of Life for breast cancer is back! Join the fun! No matter if you’re a walker, a runner or just someone who wants to enjoy getting outside and helping others in the process, our Walk of Life has something for you! Plus, it’s exciting to see thousands of people take to the streets of downtown Montgomery to show their support for those dealing with breast cancer! Your participation provides mammograms + breast screening services to women and men in every county of Alabama. EARLY DETECTION IS SAVING LIVES — thanks to you! Registration is open, so head over to www.joytolife. org and sign up as a runner, walker, volunteer or team today! Join us October 15th for family fun for everyone—including a 5K run/walk, Kids Zone, food trucks, games, music and much more! Register online at www.joytolife.org today as an individual, team, volunteer or survivor! Remember—the registration fee gets you to the start line, but your fundraising helps us get to the finish line in the fight against breast cancer! The Walk of Life, October 15th. Register today at www.joytolife.org

Quilt Show & Sale Featuring 50+ Locally Handmade Quilts at the Pike Road Arts Center

On weekends in September, discover over 50 colorful, meaningful quilts created by the Pike Road Quilters! These local masterpieces will be on display and for sale at the Pike Road Arts Center (944 Wallahatchie Rd) from Sept. 3 - 18. Stop by the Arts Center during Open Hours:

• Saturdays: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. • Sundays: 1 - 4 p.m. • The PRAC is also open by appointment - just email patty@pikeroad.us. The Pike Road Quilters meet every Tuesday to share their skills, sew together, and celebrate the ancient art of quilting. The Quilters are always ready to welcome new people of all ages and skill levels to their group. Learn more or join the fun: Email patty@pikeroad.us

SAVE THE DATE: WE ARE BACK! Zoobilation, September 15 @ the Montgomery Zoo

Zoobilation is the signature annual fundraising event for the Montgomery Zoo. This year’s event will be held Thursday night, September 15, 2022. Reserve your spot TODAY for this grand event which supports one of the River Region’s most valued, recognizable, visited educational and cultural icons. SAVE THE DATE, WE ARE BACK! After two years of not being able to host this event due to the COVID pandemic, we are extremely excited for what this year’s event will hold and provide to the community at large. This year’s Zoobilation proceeds will be used to build a brand-new, state-of-the-art Reptile Facility and Exhibit which will be fun, exciting, educational, and appealing to visitors of any age. There will be something for everyone in this newly designed and much-needed enhancement to OUR ZOO. For any additional questions and/or Zoobilation info, please contact Steven Pierce, (334) 306-4253 or scpierce@montgomeryal.gov or visit www.montgomeryzoo.com

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BOOMERS, share your stuff with BOOM! We Love to Bring BOOMERS Together, send info and pics to jim@riverregionboom.comMeet and Greet with Lisa Weldon Author of "Twenty Pieces: A Walk Through Love, Loss and Midlife Reinvention"

Sponsored by Well Red Bookstore in Auburn, is excited to welcome Lisa Weldon to the store to read from her stunning memoir, TWENTY PIECES, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 22! This memoir tells the incredible story of how the author claimed her own happiness at age 58 after a series of hardships altered her life forever. Recently divorced, facing foreclosure on her home, and grappling with a stagnant advertising career, Lisa woke up one day with the realization that her life would never be the same. Then, an impossible idea became a reality: for one month, she would live in New York City on her own, taking a crash course in advertising in the morning and walking a different Manhattan neighborhood after class. Along the way, Lisa opened herself up to the circumstances of her changed life - and slowly began to welcome the newer, stronger person she was becoming. The memoir that was borne from this journey is a testament to readers faced with the incredible task of revising themselves - one determined step at a time. There will be copies of Lisa’s book available in the following weeks for those who’d like to make their purchase before the event. Well Red Bookstore, 223 Opelika Rd, Auburn, AL 36830. For more info call 334.246.3021 or visit www.wellredau.com

A GriefShare Support Group -- Your Journey from Mourning to Joy -- begins Sept. 7, and will meet every Wednesday through Nov. 30 from 10 AM until noon. All meetings will be in the East Sanctuary. This is a free group with discussion concerning stages of grief, the storms that accompany it, and ways of dealing with loss. Sorry, childcare is not available during this time. CONTACT BJ Nave, rnave@frazer.church, 334.495.6343, www.frazer.church

Capital City Master Gardeners Association Lunch & Learn @ The Armory

Capital City Master Gardener Association presents Lunch & Learn, the 1st Wednesday of Every Month from 12-1 pm. They will meet at Armory Learning Arts Building, 1018 Madison Ave., Montgomery 36104. Mark your calendars, September 7, “Landscaping with Japanese Maples” David Doggett, Advanced Master Gardener, will present a program on “Landscaping with Japanese Maples”. Join us to find out about Japanese maples, which varieties are suitable for your yard, where to plant them, how to care for them, and lots of other tips. October 5, “Planting Bulbs & Tubers for Next Year’s Bloomers” Karen Weber, Horticulturist and Master Gardener, will present a program on “Planting Bulbs & Tubers for Next Year’s Bloomers”. Come join us to learn about bulbs to plant for brilliant color next year. Discover the best varieties and how to care for each. Should you plant tulips and irises in this area? Do these plants return each year? Let’s find out! BRING A SACK LUNCH, FREE PROGRAM, WATER PROVIDED, For information, please contact the Montgomery County Extension Office 334.270.4133. Also visit www.capcitymga.org.

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CAVA Mediterranean and Crumbl Cookies Make their Montgomery Debuts at Zelda Place

CAVA Mediterranean will replace Zoe’s Kitchen at Zelda Place. The build-your-own Mediterranean bowl concept will open with a completely redesigned interior to reflect the vibe of the fast-casual chain, which acquired Zoe’s Kitchen in 2018. Meals start with a choice of greens or grains (or both), including options like RightRice, which is made from chickpeas and lentils, and Supergreens – raw shaved brussels sprouts, broccoli, chicory, and cabbage. Diners then select up to three dips, like hummus, tzatziki, and jalapeno-feta mousse dubbed “Crazy Feta.” Proteins range from spicy lamb meatballs and harissa honey chicken to lightly packed falafel. Top it off with cabbage slaw, pickled onions, Fresno peppers, and dressing like lemon herb tahini. For more information about CAVA visit www.cava.com. Crumbl Cookies, the nation’s fastest growing gourmet cookie company, is known for its weekly rotating menu, famous pink box, and passionate social media following. Inside the Zelda Place Crumbl Cookies store, staff members will mix, bake, and prepare the cookies fresh in an open kitchen for all to see. Some of the Crumbl specialty cookies include Milk Chocolate Chip, Muddy Buddy, Biscoff Lava, Funfetti, Snickerdoodle, Coconut Lime, Chocolate Caramel, Hazelnut Sea Salt, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, Rocky Road, S’Mores, and Pumpkin Pie. In addition, Crumbl Cream – Crumbl’s housemade gourmet ice cream – is available along with cold milk to pair with the cookies. For more information about Crumbl visit www.crumblcookies.com. “We are thrilled to partner with CAVA and Crumbl on their openings in the Montgomery market,” stated Gary Jones, senior leasing representative with Aronov. “These are truly two of the country’s premier concepts and we are delighted they have chosen Montgomery and Zelda Place as their newest locations.”

Lions Live at Montgomery Botanical Gardens in Oak Park

A piece of history was installed at the Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park. We are pleased to announce the installation of two lions at the entrance of the terrace. These lions have travelled though Montgomery over the past fifty years. A historical marker will be installed that reads” In Memory of John Hall Haardt (1901- 1971) This gift of this majestic pair of life size iron lions by Anton Haardt and Haardt Moses to The Montgomery Botanical Gardens. The Lions were cast by the Robert Wood Foundry circa 1860 and guarded the Haardt home at 44 S Haardt Drive for more than 50 years. The Lions previously stood at Morning View, the estate of General Mitchell B. Houghton in Capitol Heights. John Haardt was well known for his real estate entrepreneurial endeavors, antique collecting, and his great love of Montgomery. He was active in civic organizations and served as President of the Montgomery Rotary Club.” We would like to thank the Haardt Family for this generous donation and the many people that helped with the restoration and installation of these beautiful additions. Board members Ethel Dozier Boykin and Fairlie Rinehart spearheaded this project. A special thank you to Robinson Iron Works for repairing and securing the lions in the garden. Pictured with Lions, Ethel Dozier Boykin, Mary Helen and Ken Mahan, Fairlie Rinehart and Dr. Tyna Davis, their leadership at the Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park is much appreciated. If you would like to see the Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park continue to grow, please consider a membership or a donation, www.montgomerybotanicalgardens.com

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