BO BIKES BAMA KICKOFF PARTY Bo Bikes Bama will host a kickoff party on Friday, April 26, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Red Clay Brewing Company in Opelika. The event will feature a performance by Gretsch Lyles & The Modern Eldorados, as well as food and drinks. Bo Bikes Bama, an annual charity ride to raise money for disaster recovery and preparedness in Alabama, is set for Saturday, April 27. For more information, visit www.bobikesbama.com. AUBURN CITYFEST The 23rd Auburn CityFest will take place Saturday, April 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kiesel Park, and this year’s theme is “Space Adventures ..read more

BY WALT ALBRITTON OPINION — Submit to God. Humble yourself. Admit you need help. Surrender to Jesus. Ask Jesus to take over management of your life. This is the attitude one must have to become an authentic follower of Jesus. But pride stands in the way. Pride says, “I am capable of managing my own life, thank you.” I like the way James, the brother of Jesus, explains the need to give up being the CEO of your life. In his New Testament Letter, James reminds us of Solomon’s wisdom: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (Proverbs 3:34). James goes on to say, “Submit yourselves, t ..read more

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER BEAUREGARD — A Church Choir Reunion Concert will be held on Sunday, May 5, at 2 p.m. at the West Campus of Providence Baptist Church. The event is free, and everyone is invited. This concert will be a part of the weekend celebration honoring Dr. Thomas R. Smith, who is completing 50 years as music minister at Providence. Including both current members of the current church choir and former members who are returning, there will be over 110 singers participating. The Reunion Choir will present a variety of sacred music from anthems to spirituals. Included in the Reuni ..read more

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER AUBURN — Last week, the AC Hotel by Marriott Auburn had its groundbreaking ceremony at the site of its future home, right off North Gay Street in downtown Auburn. The event marked a significant milestone in the development of this upscale hotel, set to redefine hospitality in the heart of the city. AC Hotel by Marriott Auburn, an upcoming luxury hotel project, is positioned to establish new benchmarks of hospitality excellence in downtown Auburn. With its prime location on North Gay Street, the hotel combines sophisticated amenities with a commitment to exceptional ..read more

CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER OPELIKA — The city of Opelika announced its collaboration with The Transatlantic Business & Investment Council (TBIC) in establishing its European office. Located at Kurfuerstendamm in central Berlin, this office serves as a strategic hub for Opelika to engage with European investors and partners. ” I am thrilled to announce our partnership with TBIC, marking a significant step forward in our city’s global outreach,” said Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller. “Together, we will build bridges across continents, fostering prosperity and progress for Opelika and our European ..read more

Event raises awareness, aims to ‘stomp out child abuse’ In the photos above, Auburn Police Chief Cedric Anderson (left), Capt. Tammy Booth of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (center) and Capt. John Hester of the Opelika Police Department (right) received “LCYDC Partners in Hopeful Futures” awards. CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER LEE COUNTY — Pinwheels swirled in the wind at the Lee County Youth Development Center and Respite House on April 17, as Opelika City Council President Eddie Smith and Auburn Mayor Ron Anders joined LCYDC Executive Director Laura Cooper along with children, staff and commu ..read more

BY ANN CIPPERLY FOR THE OBSERVER OPELIKA — After offering their scrumptious homemade breads at drop off sites and providing breads to upscale restaurants for several years, Anna Claire and Matthew Stinson recently opened Stinson Breads in downtown Opelika. Having their own bakery is a dream come true for the Opelika couple, who will serve authentic European style sourdough breads along with cookies and assorted pastries. The Stinsons will have their grand opening on Saturday, April 27, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone wishing to attend can RSVP on their website at stinsonbreads.com. The aroma of f ..read more

BY JAMES PATTERSON OPINION — Alabama’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Harper Lee, whose birthday is April 26, received many honors during her long life. Lee’s 1960 book “To Kill a Mockingbird,” set in Depression-era South Alabama, became a national bestseller and an Academy Award winning 1962 film. In 2010, President Barack Obama awarded Lee the National Medal of Arts. In 2007, President George W. Bush awarded Lee the Presidential Medal of Freedom. “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a timeless story about racial injustice and a young girl’s loss of innocence. Atticus Finch, a white, smalltown lawyer ..read more

A Cooking with Cheese Curd update: Bryson McGlynn, AKA Cheese Curd, enjoyed a watch party of Episode 6 with his friends and family at O’Town ice cream shop in Opelika. BY ANITA STIEFEL ANITAS@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM LEE COUNTY — In this week’s Episode 6 of MasterChef Junior, entitled “Pancakes & Ice Cream,” the six remaining contestants were faced with two sweet treat challenges. First up was a pancake race. The young cooks were divided into three teams of two. They were challenged to make beautifully plated stacks of three fluffy pancakes with a fresh fruit, drizzled with coulis (pureed frui ..read more

BY SEAN DIETRICH I didn’t believe him. I thought he was pulling my leg or similar appendage. I was at the airport bar. He told me April 18 was National Columnists’ Day. “Surely you’re joking,” I said. “Nope,” he said. “And don’t call me Shirley.” The bartender pulled us a couple to celebrate. Except, of course, the bartender wasn’t an actual person. Artificial intelligence now pours beer in some airport bars. These robotic bartenders are designed to reduce foam, spillage, flavor, and overall class. Like the rest of America, everything in airports is going AI. Last week, I saw a robot cleaning ..read more