Vol. 15, No. 8
Oct. 13, 2022
Thursday, Dec. 01, 2022
Opelika, Alabama
FRED ERi CK-DEAN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY
Covering Lee County, Alabama
Compassion • Integrity • Tradition
An award-winning publication created 'For local people, by local people.'
334-745-4667 On-site Crematory Coming Soon
Opelika Theatre Company to Open Penguin Project Chapter BY HANNAH LESTER HLESTER@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
OPELIKA — Opelika Theatre Company (OTC) has some new and exciting things in store. THE PENGUIN PROJECT The Penguin Project is coming to Opelika. But what is The Penguin Project? “Once a year, a magical and touching celebration of the human spirit unfolds at numerous theaters across the country,” according to The Penguin Project website. “A group of children in a program called The Penguin Project take to the stage to perform a modified version of a well-known Broadway musical. These productions are unique, however, because all the roles are filled by young artists with developmental disabilities including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities,
visual impairment, hearing impairment and other neurological disorders. “They are joined on stage by a dedicated group of 'peer mentors’ — children the same age without disabilities who have volunteered to work sideby-side with them through four months of rehearsals and through the final performance. By providing access to community theater, The Penguin Project demonstrates that the special challenges of a disability should not handicap a child’s ability to participate in life’s experiences.” “I’d been thinking about The Penguin Project for a long time — for over two years, actually more than that,” said the Director of OTC Marty Moore. Moore said she learned about The Penguin Project at an annual Alabama Conference of Theatre. She then reached out to the person in charge of The Penguin Project and re-
ceived permission for OTC to participate. “He said, ‘I think your program will be a great fit,’” Moore recalled. “And I said, ‘I do too.’ … It’s an awesome opportunity.” Opelika will become one
als could begin in June. “I have got to get the word out,” she said. “I’ve got to find people that want to be a part of this, volunteers.” The recommended age group for The Penguin
Project is 10 to 23, but Moore is able to make exceptions as she sees fit. The program is intense — requiring likely four rehearsals a week, at about an hour-and-a-half each. See PROJECTS, page A3
Meet You at the Bus START
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
First UMC of Opelika Finds New Life for Holidays
of 23 projects in the nation and only one of two in Alabama. Now, the project won’t be ready for about six months, Moore said, but she hopes OTC can perform “Annie” and rehears-
The Mobile Wellness Clinic will allow patients the ability to access routine and chronic illness screenings, learn about disease prevention and receive referrals to community resources.
CONTRIBUTED BY THE CITY OF OPELIKA
OPELIKA — The congregation at First United Methodist Church of Opelika had a little extra to be thankful for during this
Thanksgiving season. After about four years of planning, designing, COVID delays and construction work, renovations were completed for the 143-year-old building that stands at the corner of Avenue A and South 7th
Street in downtown Opelika. “It’s finally nice to see the finished product,” said Jon Tate, chair of the church’s Building Committee. “… It was a dramatic improvement. See CHURCH, page A3
CONTRIBUTED BY EAST ALABAMA HEALTH
OPELIKA — Not even a pandemic could stop Opelika's Neighborhood Mobile
Wellness Bus from being built, and now the bus is ready to roll. The public is invited to a kickoff event this Saturday, Dec. 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Coving-
ton Park in Opelika. The bus is a joint effort between the Casey Family Foundation, the city of Opelika and East See BUS, page A2
Dec.2
CONTENTS
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OPINION ................. A4 ENTERTAINMENT ...... A7 RELIGION .............. A13 OBITUARIES ........... A14 COMICS .................. A16
SPORTS ................... B1 POLITICS ................. B9 PUBLIC NOTICES ..... B12 CLASSIFIEDS .......... B14 PUZZLES ................ B15