Thursday, May 11, 2023 NOON TUNES May 17 at Courthouse Square - Noon
COVERING LEE COUNTY, ALABAMA
SUMMER SWING May 16 at Municipal Park 7 p.m.
IN THIS ISSUE BUSINESS NEWS A3 | SOCIETY A7 | OBITUARIES A15 | COMICS A16 SPORTS B1 | POLITICS B9 | PUBLIC NOTICES B12 | PUZZLES B15
Vol. 15, No. 31
Your local publication created 'for local people, by local people.'
Opelika, Alabama
Farm at Rocky Top Gearing up for Inaugural ‘Hay Days’ SALEM — Say “hey” to Lee County’s newest arts, crafts, food and fun festival as the Farm at Rocky Top prepares to welcome all to its inaugural Hay Days event, set for May 20 to 21. Hay Days will host close to 100 vendors on the 339-acre farm, as well as food trucks, a Kids Corral, a “bubble barn” and classic games like tetherball and cornhole. “Plan to stay a long time and enjoy the scenery, enjoy the vendors and we’ll have all kinds of foods and activities for the children, and adults as well,” said Jan Lawrence, owner of the Farm at
Rocky Top and co-chair for Hay Days. The rain-or-shine event will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Entry will cost $8 a person for everyone ages 3 and up, while children under 3 years old will be admitted for free. Parking will also be free. Attendees will be able to pay by cash or card at the gate. According to Lawrence, the experience of opening the Farm at Rocky Top has been about bringing ideas to life and spreading joy to those who come to visit — whether it’s for a wedding, the pumpkin patch or a Country Christmas. She and Carol Pridgen, who is also serving as co-chair of the event, said the idea for Hay Days was born a couple
PHOTO BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH / THE OBSERVER
BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH KENDYLH@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
Jan Lawrence, right, and Carol Pridgen, left, are co-chair's of the first annual Hay Days.
years ago and began to come to fruition last fall. The two have worked together for
the pumpkin patch and have prior experience with other vendor festivals.
7 Brew Coffee Drops into Auburn PHOTOS BY HANNAH LESTER-GOLDFINGER / THE OBSERVER
7 Brew drive through coffee is coming to Auburn at 1625 E. University Drive. CONTRIBUTED BY REED PUBLIC RELATIONS
AUBURN —
7 Brew, the drive-thru coffee concept revolutionizing the coffee industry, last week
announced the brand’s expansion to Auburn by dropping the future coffee stand on site at 1625
E. University Drive. “At 7 Brew, we pride ourselves on creating a
The two said they have enjoyed attending other local events and scouring the internet to
find interesting and one-of-a-kind vendors. See HAY, page A3
Circles Opelika Chosen to “Pilot a Program” CONTRIBUTED BY CIRCLES OPELIKA
OPELIKA — Circles Opelika has partnered with Dr. Portia Johnson, assistant professor and extension specialist at Auburn University, to pilot the redesign of the Money Management Calendar that has long been a household staple provided to the Alabama community by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Johnson and staff undertook an overhaul of the calendar under the newly created WISE MONEY initiative. The Weekly Income, Saving & Expenses (WISE) Money Management Calendar is a financial management tool for families. The calendar’s purpose is to help plan and monitor your income, savings and expenses. The redesign includes a 12-month planner with userfriendly worksheets. It is supported by a free,
See COFFEE, page A3
See PROJECT, page A3
O O
Find Us Online:
FRED ERi CK-DEAN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY Compassion • Integrity • Tradition
334-745-4667 On-site Crematory Now Open