Just wanted to share a neighborhhod that may appeal to those looking for a more mature group of residents.  Whether you are new to the Auburn, Alabama area or just moving within the city you may want to consider what Homewood Subdivision has to offer.  For details on the neighborhood please visit their website below:

http://www.homewoodsubdivison.webs.com/

 

 

 

 

Be a part of the 2009 Arbor Day Tree Giveaway scheduled for March 7, 2009.  During this time the City of Auburn Tree Commission's annual Arbor Day Celebration is scheduled to take place from 9 am. - noon at  Kroger on Dean Road, Wal-Mart on South College Street, and the Corner Market on Martin Luther King Jr Drive/Highway 14.  During this time, members of the Tree Commission will distribute Shumard Oak and Dogwood seedlings to citizens free of charge while supplies last at these locations. Planting instructions will be included with the seedlings.

The Auburn Tree Commission is a citizen group which advises the City on proper tree care and planting, and is committed to the growth and preservation of the urban tree canopy.

For more information, please contact the City of Auburn Parks and Recreation Department at 501-2930.

If you have not owned a home within the last 3 years and purchase a home between January 1, 2009 - November 30, 20009 you may be eligible to receive a credit of up to $8000 towards the purchase of your home.  For more details, please visit the following link:

http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/13/real_estate/homebuyer_tax_credit_finalized/index.htm?postversion=2009021712

Senator Richard Shelby will be visiting Auburn, Alabama on Tuesday, February 17th at 4:30 pm.  The meeting will take place at the Auburn City Council Chambers located at 141 North Ross Street.  The meeting is open to the public.  At this time, residents may ask the Senator any questions they have for him as well as listen to his upcoming agenda.  What a great way to be a part of the community and learn what our Senator is doing for us. 

For more information, contact the Office of the City Manager at 501-7260

Tired of the long lines and lengthly trip to the court house when renewing your vehicle's tag?  Auburn residents may have some relief soon with the new satellite office that is being built in Auburn, Alabama.  Other services to be provided by this office include buying certain licenses, paying property taxes, applying for passports and conducting certain other types of governmental transactions.  The new Satellite office is expected to be completed by Summer 2009.  The new office will be located in Auburn on Mall Blvd. across from the Colonial University Mall and just in front of the Jameson Inn.  The following is an artists rendering of the new building.

 

To see pictures of the current progress please visit the below website:

http://www.leeco.us/index.html

Beginning May 11, 2009 the price of a postage stamp will increase $.02 cents to $.44 cents per stamp.  However, if you purchase the Forever Stamps at the $.42 rate now they will remain valid in the future regardless of the rate hikes.  In spite of the price increase, the post office lost $2.8 billion dollars last year due to the reduced mail volume.  They are considering going to 5 day delivery in an effort to save on costs.  They have already reduced the number of hours many of its employees are working.

Other new rates beginning May 11, 2009 are as follows:

• Postcard stamp increases 1-cent to 28 cents.

• First ounce of a large envelope increases 5 cents to 88 cents.

• First ounce of a parcel increases 5 cents to $1.22.

 

 You could be incurring the cost of flood insurance if your property is located on the new flood maps for Lee County, Alabama.  However, if you obtain insurance now as opposed to waiting until February 2010 when the maps are to become effective your rate will be substantially less.  The new maps will double the number of residents from 800 to 1600 that are considered to be in the flood plains.  For detailed information and to see if your property will be listed on the new flood maps for Lee County please visit the city's website at www.auburnalabama.org.

 

If you feel like you are consistently putting unreasonable demands on yourself and others, or that mistakes are totally unaceptable at work or in your personal life you may be a perfectionist.

Although high standards are important in order to achieve any degree of success, there is a difference between wanting to do your best and feeling like a failure if your efforts fall short of an unrealistic ideal.  Often times our society rewards perfect acievement.  However, perfectionists fail to see their behavior as having a downside.

Perfectionism is a personality trait that is often linked with mental health disorders such as depression, social anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder.  Factors that are linked to this include genetic makeup, family pressures and upbringing.  An example of this would be. children that had parents that stressed perfect manners, appearance and school achievement. 

Many perfectionsists hold the following beliefs:

*I must always be perfect in what I say and do.

* It's unacceptable to make mistakes.

* If I can't do something perfectly, I shouldn't bother trying.

* There's a right way and wrong way to do things.

* It's what I achieve rather than who I am that is important.

However, there are negative consequences to perfectionsism.  These will manifest themselves in varying degrees depending upon the person.  Whenever these traits interfere with your ability to live and enjoy a normal life they need to be addressed.

Some of these traits include:

* Low self-esteem.  Perfectionists never feel good enough and often label themselves as losers.

*Depression. Since perfectionists often fail to live up to self-imposed impossible standards, perfectionists have a tendency to become depressed.

*Rigidity. Perfectionists often need everything to be done a certain way.

*Compulsive behavior. Perfectionists can develop compulsive behaviors in an effort to maintain order in their surroundings.

*Harsh self-criticism. Perfectionists often look for mistakes and imperfections in their and thier coworkers' work and have trouble seeing value in a project that deviates from an established norm.

*Procrastination. Perfectionists who fear failure can become immobilized.

So you are a perfectionist.  What can you do about it?

Perfectionism may be treated with cognitive strategies that help the person challenge and change his or her beliefs regarding the importance of perfect behavior and results.

If you want to overcome having the need to be perfect all them time than begin to accept yourself and others as fallible people who are not lesser beings because they make mistakes or fail to achieve greatness in everything they do.  This can take time and effort to be turned around, but once it is done you will be able to live a fuller, less judgemental and less tourturous life.

Hope this helps some perfectionist realize they are human and enable them to enjoy their lives more.

Many of the ideas in this post came from the book "When Perfect Isn't Good Enough," by the author Martin Antony should you want to read more on the subject.

Remember, you are good enough just the way you are.  Your worth is not based on what you achieve.  I often think of a child that is free to just be themselves and enjoy the moment.

I am posting the following information about residential occupancy in Auburn, Alabama because I feel as though it is very important to know.  The information was obtained from the City of Auburn's brochure addressing this issue.  Having the knowledge of this information before purchasing property is very important as it could affect the decision of which property to purchase. 

What is Unrelated Occupancy?

Section 203. Family:  Two (2) or more persons residing in a single dwelling unit where all members are related by blood, marriage, adoption or guardianship up to the second degree of consanguinity, plus one unrelated person in the Limited Development District, Neighborhood Conservation District, or the Development District housing. For the purpose of this definition "consanguinity" means husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, uncles and aunts, nephews andnieces, and first cousins. In all other zoning districts where residential units are permitted the term "family" may include up to five (5) unrelated persons occupying a single dwelling unit. Therefore, occupancy in the development District Housing, Neighborhood Conservation and Limited Development Districts is limited to to more than two unrelated individuals. Dwellings in the Comprehensive Development, Redevelopment, Urban Core and University Service Districts are limited to no more than five unrelated individuals. Occupancy beyond these limits in these areas constitutes illegal occupancy.Anyone who does not know in what zone he or she resides may call the Planning Department at 501-3040 to obtain that information or click the following link to view the map of occupancy limitations.

 The Auburn City Zoning Ordinance defines the term family in the following manner:

Why are there occupancy limitations? 

Occupancy limitations are not unique to Auburn. In fact, most city zoning ordinances around the country contain similar language. The reasons for such limitations are reallytwofold. The first is a concern for potential overcrowding of particular areas. Excessive occupation can lead to problemsincluding health and public safety concerns. There are also potential nuisances associated with overcrowding

Secondly, as Auburn continues to grow and develop, there is concern for the preservation of existing neighborhoods. Occupancy limitations help to preserve neighborhood character and quality of life for Auburn citizens.

How are suspected unrelated occupancies dealt with?Unrelated Occupancy has been an issue in Auburn for some time and City staff is charged with taking action for those properties that are in violation of this Ordinance. Residential occupancy had been challenging to enforce in the past, but now the City of Auburn has formal proceduresin place, which has resulted in appropriate enforcement of these regulations. The City of Auburn has always pursued occupancy complaints. The current enforcement procedures entail investigationand observation of alleged violators. Information gathered includes, but is not limited to: vehicle tag identification along with the make and model, number of vehicles on site on each day during the weeks of investigation, and any other violations that will help reinforce the case. If after 10 days of investigation and observation, City staff feels comfortable with the probable cause evidence available, an affidavit will be submitted to the Municipal Court in support of a search warrant for the property in question.

 

If I suspect an occupancy violation in my neighborhood, what can I do?

 

Citizens may present occupancy complaints directly to the Planning Department. A complaint form is also available on the City's website, www.auburnalabama.org. The form can be downloaded, completed, and faxed to the Planning staff, who will then begin the enforcement procedures.

Still have Questions?

Please call

Auburn Planning Department at (334) 501-3040.

 

For all the parents looking for fun and educational activities their children can participate in please consider the following activities at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts.  My daughter and I attend as many of these sessions as we can and we have never been disappointed.  It is so much doing activities like this with your children and seeing them enjoy and learn while they are there.   Don't miss out on these wonderful programs.

"Saturday Art Club and Stories in Art are exciting programs that educate students through art. The hands-on approach to learning in the programs serves to foster students' imagination while studying literature and art. Parents are encouraged to join their children for the programs, which are free and open to the public.

For more information call 334.844.3486 or email jcsmtours@auburn.edu

Saturday Art Club

These hands on projects are designed for elementary school children. In January, students will check out the work of Rafal Olbinski and combine ingredients to make their own poster.
February brings the collection of William Wiese, where students will learn more about how clothing and portraits make for interesting images.

January 10, 10-11 am
February 14, 10-11 am, also available in Spanish

Stories in Art

New books are explored by young readers. Some of the stories include I'm the Best Artist in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry, and Trail by David Pelham.
Activities are planned to help relate the words with art, with personal attention to your students' developmental level.

January 17, 10-11 am
February 21, 10-11 am, also available in Spanish
April 18, 10-11 am