Parkinson’s Group Meets September 12th

Meetings No Comments »

“The Auburn/Opelika Parkinson’s Disease Support Group has an upcoming meeting scheduled for Sunday September 12th from 2 to 4 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Eagle’s Nest Meeting Room in the back side of Monarch Estates located at 1550 East University Drive in Auburn. Those with PD, their family members or friends are invited and urged to attend. The speaker will be George Andrews, a retired attorney from Birmingham. He is an engaging and informative speaker that will discuss his personal experiences with Parkinson’s disease and the importance of support groups. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Alabama Parkinson’s Disease Association. For more information contact Linda Drummond at 334.444.2836 or Tom Bonniol at 334-887-1891

Pilot Combat Training near Las Vegas

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I stumbled across this video of combat air tactics training at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The film also shows the tactical display back at the base, that tracks each of the aircraft on the mission. Toward the end, in the battle, you’ll see fighter firing flare’s to abort the missile attacks of the other planes. Old ground radar guys like me kinda like this stuff. (Source: Military.Com)

DAWGS Loose to Central Friday Night!

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Opelika looses to Central 30-10.  This is the second loss of the DAWGS in the new season.

Charter Bundle – Not So Good For Business (At Least Friday Night)

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broken cable service continues in Opelika, ALI guess it could be called the “Charter Bungle” instead. For the second time in six weeks or so, local business lost their phones Friday Night and the ability to process credit card transactions. When one local restaurant owner called for help, Charter said they could be out in the morning. For the new guys in town, open for night six, on a football weekend, it added some added stress to opening a new place. Word in today’s OA News about the city’s deal with Knology will be good news for many. Local restaurants just need to make the move to AT&T and the service they have. Hey, you get what you pay for. Pay a little for Charter and get a little.

Tips for Facebook Users

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For those new to Facebook, here’s some great tips!

Opelika Had a Busy Saturday Night

Beer, Events 1 Comment »

With the first ever BBQ & Brewfest at the Event Center Downtown, and the Friends and Family opening of the Irish Bred Pub and live music at Eighth and Rail.  Railroad Avenue looked like South College on Game Day.  I know there were some good pictures for all, and when someone post some, I’ll bring them over here too.

From Irish Bred Pub Today on Facebook: Official Opening Tomorrow – Monday August 30th — Come for Lunch, Dinner or Late night (Texas Hold ‘em starts!!) Limited Menu (to get all the chinks out) for two weeks –There will be Specials of Rick’s Delicious Food each day..We welcome ALL — Families, Business people, Young/old — For a True Pub provides something for Everyone– A local gathering place for Good Food, Good Times, Sports, Entertainment…

I would add something about the beer.  Twelve Beers on Tap. There’s a house beer that changes out, and last night it had Natural Light.  Guinness was at the other end of the flavor line.  With the exception of Sid’s 8th Street Cafe, these could also be the best prices in the area.  My Sam Oktoberfest was just $2.78 if I remember it right.

Event Center Downtown Presents BBQ & Brewfest

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Brewfest Banner

Saturday from 4p-1A, the Event Center Downtown will rock with 5 bands on 2 stages, plus 30 beers from around the globe, oh yea, and some BBQ.  The sampling of beer is from 6p-9p.  Bands playing include; The Good Doctor, Cedar Hill, Cheaper Than Theraphy, The Packway Handle Band and Glow.  The beer is from Fine Wine and Beer by Gus.  Tickets are $25 and you can call 334-705-5466 for more information.

Randall Bramblett Friday Night at Sundilla

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Ever since the day I walked– OK, was dragged– into Mrs. Rangely’s four-year-old kindergarten class, I have struggled to find reasons to be happy that summer has ended. I’m still never happy that summer is ending, but for the past several years I can at least be glad that Sundilla is getting re-started after a summer hiatus. This year is no exception, and we are getting re-started with a bang: Randall Bramblett will be performing this Friday, August 27. Showtime is 7:30 (but you’ll want to be there early; more on that in a minute) and admission is still just $10, $8 for students, and free for children 12 and under. We’ll have free coffee, tea, water and food, and as always you are welcome to bring whatever food or beverage you prefer.
While Randall Bramblett might not be a household name, he is legendary within music circles for his songwriting and musicianship. He released a pair of acclaimed solo albums in the mid-’70s, then joined the jazz-rock outfit Sea Level, becoming their principal songwriter and vocalist. From there, Bramblett embarked on a path as a big-league, musical utility man (primarily sax and keys) and landed on the speed dial of some of the greatest names in rock history, including Traffic, Steve Winwood, Levon Helm and Bonnie Raitt.
Bramblett “grew up playing soul music” in Jesup, Georgia. His hero was James Brown, but he also had a lot of Ray Charles and some jazz influences. Growing up in Southeast Georgia, nature loomed large in his life, particularly the swamps around the Altamaha River. To Bramblett, the swamps represented something mystical, filling him with wonder and awe, while fueling his interest in his own spirituality.
After high school, Bramblett studied religion and psychology at the University of North Carolina, and for most of his time there, he planned to attend a seminary upon graduation. But by his senior year, inspired by the likes of James Taylor and Carole King, he began to try his hand at songwriting. The results were good enough for him to abandon his seminary plans after graduation and move to Athens to further pursue music.
Another major influence on Bramblett’s songwriting was Bob Dylan and he attributes rock’s poet laureate with opening a new lyrical path for him. “I think he freed songwriters from feeling obliged to make strict literal sense. He expanded the boundaries of popular songs and that probably gave me permission to explore that, too.”
Two of the songs on Randall’s latest CD, “Some Mean God” and “Where A Life Goes,” deal with absences and losses, while some of Bramblett’s compositions are peopled by characters who would seem right at home in a Southern gothic novel. The best example of this is “Mess About It,” in which “People down in Mobile / Live in a silver box / They make trouble everywhere they go / They got history you don’t want to know.” But the past-their-prime people in “Used To Rule The World,” like “Miss South Carolina 1975 / Somebody stole your crown),” possess similar tragicomic qualities. And when he sings about these various people in his soulful, raspy voice, the listener is transported to another time and place, much as a reader is transported while reading a Faulkner novel.
“The songs on this record come out of a very rich time in my life,” Bramblett says. “We’ve had losses, we’ve had births. My home is in a beautiful place in nature. I look out and I feel grateful and amazed and inspired and sad and joyful all at the same time.”
Chuck Leavell, who has played with The Rolling Stones and The Allman Brothers, says “Randall is in my opinion the most gifted & talented southern singer-songwriter musicians of the past several decades.” When you think of some of the southern singer-songwriters who have found fame in that time period– some of whom have found their way to Sundilla– you realize that this is high praise indeed.
To get a preview of the concert, go to www.offbeatauburn.com and listen to Kelly Walker’s interview with Randall. Then on Friday, head over to www.wildmansteve.com and listen to Randall play a song or four in the Wildman Steve studio. And the head over to the AUUF that evening, and get ready for what promises to be a concert to remember. Showtime is 7:30, BUT… you’re going to want to get there early. Not only are we expecting a great crowd, we are also having an opening act! Bree Windham will take the stage around 7:15, and while you’ll still be able to mill about, sample the food and meet and greet, you’ll want to give Bree a listen. She has played around town a few times, and the reception has always been fantastic; this time should be no exception.
So… we’ve got Randall Bramblett on Friday, August 27; Bree Windham will be opening and taking the stage around 7:15. Admission is just $10, $8 for students, and free for children 12 and under. We’ll have free coffee, tea, water and food, though as always you are welcome to bring whatever food or beverage you prefer. Go to www.OffBeatAuburn.com to hear an interview with Randall, go to www.WildmanSteve.com on Friday to hear Randall LIVE in the studio, and go to www.sundilla.org for any additional information.
SundillaFrom our friend Bailey Jones in Auburn…  Ever since the day I walked– OK, was dragged– into Mrs. Rangely’s four-year-old kindergarten class, I have struggled to find reasons to be happy that summer has ended. I’m still never happy that summer is ending, but for the past several years I can at least be glad that Sundilla is getting re-started after a summer hiatus. This year is no exception, and we are getting re-started with a bang: Randall Bramblett will be performing this Friday, August 27. Showtime is 7:30 (but you’ll want to be there early; more on that in a minute) and admission is still just $10, $8 for students, and free for children 12 and under. We’ll have free coffee, tea, water and food, and as always you are welcome to bring whatever food or beverage you prefer.
While Randall Bramblett might not be a household name, he is legendary within music circles for his songwriting and musicianship. He released a pair of acclaimed solo albums in the mid-’70s, then joined the jazz-rock outfit Sea Level, becoming their principal songwriter and vocalist. From there, Bramblett embarked on a path as a big-league, musical utility man (primarily sax and keys) and landed on the speed dial of some of the greatest names in rock history, including Traffic, Steve Winwood, Levon Helm and Bonnie Raitt. Continue reading…

Easy Win for David Canon

Politics No Comments »

Opelika’s election to replace Dr. William Lazenby, who died in a recent accident at his home, was an easy win for longtime Oplelika businessman David Canon.  Canon’s 439 votes was enough to carry 65.3% of the voters that turned out for the city election.  Tank McCollum grabbed 2nd place with 193 votes (28.9%) and also-ran grabbed 40 votes (6%). The election was for the Ward Five position.(Source: City of Opelika Website)

Sunday Night Thoughts…

Katz Stuff No Comments »

Canada_Toronto_StreetcarsIt’s a bit cooler this evening. Out sitting on the tailgate of the Sierra listening to lots of trains running thru the city.  It’s a Big Train Night for sure.  Good sign for the economy.  Of course, the traffic isn’t like sitting at Casey’s on Dundee in Toronto.  Not a lot of cars on South 8th. It did remind me, that I did ride the Rocket last Monday Night. No, not the RockyBrook Rocket, but the street cars in Toronto.  Yep, they are know as the Red Rocket.  I also learned some of the shortcomings of street cars.  On the way to dinner, and the car stopped and we were told the car was doing a “Short Turn”, so it’s off the 504 and to another one just ahead.  I’ve not mastered the streetcars yet, but will.

Lot’s going on this week, and just two weeks to Labor Day Weekend. Is summer really over? Dang it!

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