| Thursday, November 27, 2008 | Opelika, Alabama |
Vol. 1, No. 5 |
 |
Photo by Ann Cipperly |
Opelika residents prepare for Victorian Porch Tour
By
Ann Cipperly
Christmas past melts into present at Opelika's Victorian Front Porch Tour Dec. 10 through the 14 as scenes from another time are captured with fashionable mannequins throughout the neighborhood. Residents dressed in Victorian attire strolling North Eighth and Ninth Streets, porches lit with old-fashioned Christmas finery and the twinkle of tree lights sparkling through windows create a storybook fantasy of the Victorian era.
The driving tour for the 15th annual Victorian Front Porch Tour will be held Dec. 10 through the 12, and Sunday the 14, with the main event, the walking tour, scheduled Saturday night, Dec. 13 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Entertainment will be featured throughout the neighborhood. Some popular musical groups return each year, such as the Civil Chorale. Rose Ann Denson and Jane Suhling are in charge of entertainment.
Refreshments will be offered at the Brownfield house, Trinity United Methodist Church and the First Presbyterian Church.
While the community looks forward to the event, the neighborhood begins working months ahead. Jill Bonnbau has served as chairman for the past three years. Neighborhood residents organized the tour entirely on their own for 13 years with the help of Jan Jones, who created the life-sized paper mache mannequins.
When Jones retired three years ago, the city and community stepped in to assist the neighborhood to assure the continuity of one of the southeast's most popular events.
Between 60 and 70 houses or scenic areas are arranged with Victorian displays. The city has provided warehouse space to store the mannequins and accessories. One section of the warehouse is set aside for repairs.
In early spring, the artistic committee headed by DiAnn Cullinan checks the mannequins and accessories to see which ones need repair or sprucing up. Sometimes they repaint or create new ones.
Along with Cullinan, the artistic committee includes Lynn Carter, Roger Bell and Jean Stephens. They stop work during summer months because of the heat and start again in October. The committee wraps the figures to protect faces and gowns for the move as they are being carried to the porches.
"The families on the tour are generous with time and talent," says Cullinan. "Well before the tour begins they are working in their yard putting up spotlights. Some even have their porches painted making their homes picture perfect for the tour. This is a big production put on by many hands."
"The residents are proud of their homes and have their yards cleaned up and ready before the set up day," adds Bonnbau. "City services come through to pick up leaves to have the streets clean for visitors. The neighborhood takes pride to be sure decorations are up and trees twinkle in the windows."
The Monday before the event, the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs move the mannequins from storage and deliver them to the porches.
The artistic committee along with other ladies in the neighborhood and community meet at Jean Stephens' home on Tuesday. This group goes through the neighborhood to set up the figures, arrange details right and make sure the lighting is set up correctly.
Since the event is popular and attracts crowds, the neighborhood depends on the city's support. "The city of Opelika and Mayor Gary Fuller are supportive and help fund the event," says Bonnbau. "The police department loans officers to help people cross the street, and all of the city services participate to make this event happen. Without them," she adds, "I don't know if this event could continue."
While it is work throughout the year for the neighborhood, residents look forward to presenting the tour to the community and out of town visitors. "The sense that Christmas is almost here just falls over you," says Bonnbau. "For me, it is the day of the year that makes me say 'Christmas is here.'"
Woman's journey leads her to Literacy Coalition
By Elizabeth Roberts
Opelika Observer
Mary Millman was 52 when she got her final degree, a doctorate in French, from the University of Georgia. In her academic career she also earned two masters, one in French and one in education. Her studies took her from Turkey to New York University.
“I studied French intensively for three hours a day, five days a week at the French Institute in Turkey,” Millman said. “I really enjoyed it and it made me proficient linguistically.”
Instead of teaching French at Auburn University, she is now volunteering at the Lee County Literacy Coalition. Millman is teaching Estella Perryman, her current learner of two and a half years, how to read. She meets Perryman at the Auburn Public Library where she helps her with reading exercises out of the “Laubach Way to Reading” workbook as well as some Bible reading to start each lesson.
There is no grading of compositions or passing and failing, Millman measures Perryman's achievements verse by verse.
“Here there is only the sense of accomplishment,” Millman said. “The fact Estella can read longer passages and participate in Bible reading at her church are the ways to measure success.”
Millman began her own educational journey by getting her first degree in education from the University of Eastern Michigan with a minor in French.
When her husband started working at Auburn University in the Architecture department she inquired about taking more French classes because she enjoyed it from her days of studying in Turkey.
“I had to find something to do besides be a faculty wife,” Millman said. “I had already taken everything Auburn had to offer, but one day out of the blue the University called wanting me to teach.”
Other than raising her two children, Millman had taught kindergarten and third grade. She had to fake enthusiasm everyday with the small children, which was not what she wanted to do, Millman said.
Because she wasn't on the tenure faculty, she was re-hired every year. She didn't get to participate in tenure decisions. Millman decided to get her master's degrees in education and French at New York University. From there, she went to the University of Georgia to get her doctorate degree in French. This enabled her to teach full time at Auburn University.
In 1994, Millman retired from the French department.
“When you retire you have to do something other than keep house and cook,” Millman said. “Although, I think I spent one year cleaning the house.”
She worked in the mediation program in the court system for a while. The small claims work got to be too tedious for Millman, so she began looking for something that was a better fit. This led her to the Coalition, where she has been for the last three years.
Working with the Coalition fit Millman's background as an educator. It was perfect for her interests. She knows how to teach and motivate people if they come with a motivation of their own. Yet the Coalition is a different experience for Millman in there is no graded work.
Millman does know how to motivate and help. Each lesson starts with something simple to build Perryman's self esteem. To maintain her interest, Millman works with her in reading the Bible.
“I always want her to leave feeling she has accomplished something,” Millman said. “This is for her self-worth, not a job. It helps her feel she is as good as the next person.”
In a way, Millman and Perryman are the poster children for the Coalition. They are dedicated to teaching and learning. Millman is interested in progress and developing relationships, said Debby Jahera, director of the Coalition.
“I look forward to every Thursday,” Millman said. “I am the luckiest tutor in the world because I have a student who is simply a delight.”
Millman said she gets as much out of this experience as Perryman. She's not going to do something to kill time. Working at the Coalition gives her an opportunity to give back to the community while getting a rewarding sense of doing something good, Millman said.
“The Coalition is a valuable tool,” Millman said. “Not only do I help Estella, but I go home thinking I have done something good for somebody and am helping their life.”
Opelika gears up for annual downtown Christmas parade
Contributed by the Opelika Chamber of Commerce
More than 70 area groups and organizations are preparing to usher in the Christmas season as the community gathers for the annual Opelika Christmas Parade on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 4 p.m.
This year the parade committee has chosen to honor Coach Spence McCracken for his work with the Opelika High School Bulldogs Football Team. Coach McCracken has led the Bulldogs for 14 seasons. While at OHS, he assisted in the creation of a character education program for his athletes that has been extended to all students at the high school.
The theme for the parade is “Christmas Around the World.” Identical to years past, prizes will be given to organizations whose float best adheres to the theme. Entries will also be judged on creativity and overall appearance. The first place winner receives $500, second place $250 and third place $150.
The parade will weave through downtown, ending at the corner of 7 th Street and South Railroad Avenue. The Grand Marshall will be leading the parade with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus pulling up the rear. The disbanding area for floats and walkers will be the RBC Bank parking lot.
There will be special parking for disabled persons available on South Railroad Avenue. Special permits will be issued by the Opelika Chamber of Commerce for those needing special parking. For more information, please call the Chamber at 334-745-4861.