Jerry Katz: Where do the (summer) days go?

Gosh, I read a memo the other day talking about how we’re halfway thru the year and it’s time to review sales projections to see where we are. For me, it wasn’t a bad memo since I don’t work for that company, but what a thought, half way thru the year already.

Summer is here, and I’m sure you’ve noticed it won’t be one of the coolest on record. The Downtown Opelika Farmer’s Market is rocking right along with some great offerings and extended hours from 2 p.m. till about 5:30 p.m. It’s every Tuesday, so if it’s not on your calendar, then, well you know. Thanks to the Opelika firefighters who help set this up each week.

Summer Swing continues at Municipal Park. The Band Booster supporters are there cooking those burgers and dogs to add to the evening on the banks of the Rocky Brook on its way to the Tallapoosa River. Muse is playing tonight.

Downtown improvements are always a topic I get questions about. So, what’s with the Irish Bred Pub? Let me tell you, the owners are putting a lot into this project, although it’s not open yet. You’ll notice the balcony around half the building is complete, with fans and fancy ironwork on the railings. And then there’s the neon highlight light around the building. How do you feel about that? Some like it and others don’t.

I saw a beer company installing the new draft beer system, one upstairs and one downstairs. I understand the giant arch on the main bar downtown was from an old bank in Savannah. It’s probably the old Savannah Bank where I use to deposit my smaller radio disk jockey earnings in the early seventies. The latest word is a “soft” opening probably in August. I can’t wait because the Shepherd’s Pie is pretty darn good. Heck, it’s meat and mashed potatoes, a staple as I grew up in Georgia.

As part of a statewide program, Opelika will celebrate “My Opelika” on Saturday, July 17 with Brad Cotter and Adam Hood in concert and the unveiling of an historic marker for the city. The concert is at 7 p.m. at Courthouse Square, with kids’ activities beginning at 10 a.m., and the special kickoff at 10 a.m. with the unveiling of the special marker. This is part of a statewide celebration of Alabama’s Small Towns and Downtowns.

Then, of course, there are some other dates of summer that just seem to be too close. There are less than 30 days for the teachers to report back to work in Opelika City Schools. Teachers return Aug. 2, with the kids to return Aug. 9. Sorry, hope I didn’t mess up the rest of the summer for you, but gosh, how time does fly lately.

I’ll introduce some neighbors next month. I’ve found that with more time to do things, my productivity level has diminished. I’ll work on that.

Jerry Katz lives in Opelika and writes a column for the Opelika-Auburn News.