The following articles appeared in the November 2026 print edition of Open Line.

Veterans Day Ceremony: Honoring those who served

Join us to honor those who have served our country at the 2026 Veterans Day Ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial located at the northeast corner of Ross Street and Glenn Avenue.

Attendees are encouraged to park at Felton Little Park, the East Glenn Avenue Municipal Parking Lot and at the Douglas J. Watson Municipal Complex. Accessible parking will be available on Ross Street between Glenn Avenue and Harper Avenue, which will be closed to through traffic during the ceremony.

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the Council Chamber at 141 N. Ross St.

Safe Sidewalks

As more people fill our downtown sidewalks this fall, please keep in mind that scooters, bikes, rollerblades, skateboards and other similar modes of travel are NOT allowed on sidewalks in the Downtown Business District. Help keep our sidewalks and roadways safe for all by following the rules of the road! And remember, violators can be ticketed.

The Downtown Business District’s boundaries are Glenn Avenue on the north, Wright Street (between Glenn and Magnolia Avenue) and College Street (between Magnolia and Thach Avenue) on the west, Thach Avenue on the south and Gay Street on the east.

Auburn Toy Drive continues long-standing tradition

Helping to alleviate some of the burden that can be felt during the holidays, Auburn Public Safety's annual toy drive continues to serve our community by brining dignity and hope to the season. Beginning in the 1970s under the leadership of Lt. John Dunn and his wife, Estelle, the Auburn Toy Drive remains an institution, expanding its reach, number of volunteers, and community involvement. In 2025, the drive served 202 families, spreading holiday joy to 464 children with the help of more than 20 community volunteers.

This December, the event will return, bringing multiple opportunities to get involved.

Donate Drop off newly purchased, unwrapped gifts Nov. 1-Dec.11 at the Auburn Public Safety Building (141 N. Ross St.) or any Auburn Fire Station.

Volunteer Those interested in volunteering can reach out to Rachael Hamilton at rhamilton@auburnal.gov for more information on available opportunities.

Register Registration is open to families with children ages 3-12 from Nov. 1-15 and can be completed online at auburnal.gov/toy-drive.

Toy pick-up will take place on Dec. 12. Additional information can be found at auburnal.gov/toy-drive.

Staying safe after dark

With more of us out after dark as the days end earlier, please help keep yourself and others safe this season by reporting streetlight outages and wearing reflective gear when walking or biking.

Streetlights

Most streetlights in Auburn are owned and maintained by Alabama Power. You can report an outage by contacting them at 1-800-245-2244 or visiting customerservice2.southerncompany.com/Outages/Report.

You can also report outages through the Auburn FixIt app (auburnal. gov/fixit) or by calling our Engineering Services Department at 334-501 7390, and we will pass that information on to Alabama Power.

Reflective gear

Walking or biking on city streets or adjacent rights of way? Auburn City Code requires everyone walking or running after dark to wear reflective material between the waist and shoulders on both front and back. Bicyclists are required to have a headlight on the front of their bicycles and reflectors on the front and rear spokes of the wheels and pedals of their bikes.

Kick-off the holiday season with Auburn Parks and Rec

Auburn Parks and Recreation is helping you gear up for the holiday season with a wide variety of events planned for citizens of all ages!

Tickets go on sale for the Ho Ho Ho Holiday Hike on Monday, Nov. 2. The Kreher Preserve and the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center will turn the Preserve into a Winter Wonderland on Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Children under the age of two are free with the purchase of an adult ticket ($15). More information can be found at aub.ie/hohohohike.

The Letters to Santa program will begin Monday, Nov. 16, inviting children to drop off their letters at special mailboxes, ensuring delivery to Santa before the big day. Mailboxes will be located at the Harris Center (425 Perry St.), Lake Wilmore Park Recreation Center (2000 Grove Hill Rd.), and Boykin Community Center (400 Boykin St.). Santa will respond with a personalized letter sent to your home. Be sure to include the child's name and a return address. All letters must be submitted by Monday, Dec. 14, to allow Santa ample time to reply before Christmas. No postage is required. For more information, visit auburnal.gov/parks or contact (334) 501-2930.

The Auburn Arts Association, Auburn Parks and Recreation and the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center are set to host the annual Holiday Art Sale on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Auburn Parks and Recreation Campus (JDCAC/FBRC). Local artists will be selling paintings, pottery, stained glass, photography, cards, jewelry, hats, scarves, culinary treats and much more! This event is free and open to the public. For more information regarding the Holiday Art Sale, contact Emillie Dombrowski, art education specialist, at (334) 501-2944 or by email at edombrowski@auburnal.gov.

November closures and schedules

Most City facilities will be closed on Wednesday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day and Thursday and Friday, Nov. 26 and 27, in observance of Thanksgiving. Downtown parking will be free on both holidays. Public Safety services, including police, fire and communications will remain on their regular schedules. Garbage, trash and recycling pickup routes will be adjusted as follows:

Veterans Day

Monday, Nov. 9 – Mon route

Tuesday, Nov. 10 – Tue route

Wednesday, Nov. 11 - HOLIDAY

Thursday, Nov. 12 – Wed route

Friday, Nov. 13 – Thu route

Thanksgiving week

Monday, Nov. 23 – Mon route

Tuesday, Nov. 24 – Tue route

Wednesday, Nov. 25 – Wed route

Thursday, Nov. 26 - HOLIDAY

Friday, Nov. 27 – Thu route

The Auburn Public Library will be closed on Nov. 11, 26 and 27. Book drops will remain open, and the online collection of e-books, e-audiobooks and digital magazines are always available at auburnal.gov/ library. Visit auburnal.gov/parks for Parks and Recreation facility closures and holiday hours.