You still have a chance to purchase tickets for “Corks and Forks”, benefit featuring good food and paired wine for Mary’s Shelter Gulf Coast. The event will be held Thursday, May 17 at Zen Restaurant, Orange Beach. Zen owner Ginny Gilbert will provide a four-course gourmet dinner featuring salads, chicken, beef, dessert and wine to please the most discriminating taste.

Tickets are $65 per person and seating is limited to 130, so make your plans now. Call (251) 981-2988 to put your name on the list. The event will begin with cocktails at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:30.

The first course includes Grilled Scallop Salad, Baby Greens, Orange Supremes, Spice Pecans, Parmesan Cheese, Roasted Shallot Vinaigrette and Tizano, Veneto, Italy, 2010. The second course features Roasted Chicken Roulade, Spinach, Feta Cheese, Roasted Peppers, Butter Baby Potatoes, Roseblum Zinfandel, Sonoma County, 2008. Blackened N.Y. Strip heads the thirds course, with Shiitake Risotto, Pomegranate Demi Glaze and Daniel Gerhs Syrah, Paso Robles, 2009. The dinner concludes with Apple Pear Crisp, Caramel, Crème Chantilly and Dr. L Loosen Riesling, Germany, 2010.

Mary’s Shelter Gulf Coast is a home for adult homeless pregnant women. It provides a safe, loving place to help women make important decisions for themselves and their babies. While at the shelter, the women can earn a GED and/or begin classes to further their education and work toward a career. After the baby is born and the mother has found work, she may enter the Transitional Housing program that subsidizes expenses for six months while she gets established in her new life. Adoption counseling is also available.

For information about Mary’s Shelter Gulf Coast, call (251) 986-6200 or toll-free (866) 823-4674. Email maryssheltergulfcoast@gulftel.com or visit the website, marysshletergulfcoast.org.

It’s been almost nine years since the City of Orange Beach Parks and Recreation Department took over Sail Camp from the Point Yacht Club. During that time the summer program has introduced the sport of sailing to hundreds of area youth and visitors to Orange Beach. Registration is now underway for summer 2012 Sail Camp. Children who participated last year will be sailing on the same body of water, Wolf Bay, but will start from a new and unique location.

For the past eight years the program has been conducted from the shores of Waterfront Park on Canal Road.

This year, however, a new permanent site is being prepared as the summer Sail Camp relocates to an official home just west of the former location. “After our 2011 program ended, we approached the City Council during the budget process and asked that waterfront property behind the Orange Beach Library be designated as a permanent site for Sail Camp,’’ said Parks & Recreation Office Manager and Sail Camp Coordinator Jeanne Fitzgibbons. “The Council approved the site and funding request and work is underway to have the area ready for camp this summer.”

Due to the popularity of the program and with the intent of building toward more water related sports activities, the new building is being referred to as the Wind & Water Learning Center and will become a unique educational center for the City of Orange Beach. In recent years, the weekly camps fill up quickly so be sure to reserve your child or grandchild’s spot immediately and watch the progress on the construction.

“The grounds will be ready for use this summer as counselors and staff work from a temporary trailer and plan to begin construction on a permanent building to house the program after camp ends,’’ Fitzgibbons added. “We’re seeking supporters to help with the construction costs and donations to the city for this effort are tax deductible.”

The work on the site is being conducted by the City’s Public Works Department, which is helping to keep the costs as low as possible. The parking lot has been improved with a new entrance at the Orange Beach Public Library and walkway to the site on Wolf Bay. “It’s a gorgeous piece of property and perfectly suited for our needs with a small beach and big oaks for shade,’’ Fitzgibbons said. “When the building is complete, it will house equipment for Sail Camp and allow us to begin to expand our course offerings beyond the summer season and also look at other water programs that we can offer the community such as kayaking.”

If you would like to be a part of making the Wind & Water Learning Center a reality, the Parks & Recreation Department would like to talk to you. Contact Jeanne Fitzgibbons at 251-981-1524 or jfitz@cityoforangebeach.com

The Orange Beach Public Library will be offering two sessions of iPad Basics during May. The sessions will be held on May 17 and May 31 at 3 p.m. and are repeating classes. The lessons in iPad Basics are targeted at the new iPad user who needs help learning the basics of using the iPad. Some of the topics covered in the class include basic navigation, all about apps and basic troubleshooting. Registration is required as seating is limited. Attendees must bring their own iPad. To register please visit orangebeachlibrary.org and click on Events or call 251-981-2923.

By Robbie Kepic

The Christian Service Center is teaming with the Sacred Heart Mission in Motion bus to offer free oral health exams on May 29. The bus will be in the Gulf Shores Presbyterian Church parking lot, 309 East 21st Ave., Gulf Shores, from 9 – 11:30 a.m. The Christian Service Center teams with Sacred Heart Mission in Motion regularly to offer free medical care to the community. The Christian Service Center is a “Hand Up” rather than a “Hand Out” agency. Clients are given immediate emergency aid as well as guidance on finding solutions to problems. The CSC is a 100% volunteer agency funded by the churches of Pleasure Island, various community organizations, including the United Way of Baldwin County, and interested individuals. For more information please call the

Heritage Park in downtown Foley soon will be bustling with local and regional farmers and vendors selling fresh, mouth-watering seasonal produce and prepared food items. Every Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., beginning May 18, everything from fruits and vegetables to honey and low-sugar jams and jellies, wine, seafood, farm-fresh eggs, baked goods, homemade ice cream and plants will be sold at the Foley Farmers Market.

Launched in 2009, the Foley Farmers Market has grown each year with new vendors joining vendors who have been with the market since its inception. The market provides fresh, healthy and affordable locally grown produce and freshly prepared food products, including many organically grown products, according to Linda Hula, market manager.

Music and a Movie also returns on Friday nights from May 18 through June 29. This free event begins with live entertainment at 6 p.m., followed at dusk with a movie in Heritage Park. This family-oriented event is presented by the City of Foley and generously supported by season sponsors. Patrons are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and a picnic. Some concessions will be available for purchase on site.

For a complete movie and entertainment schedule, more information or to become a vendor, please contact Linda Hula at 251-943-1300, lhula@cityoffoley.org or visit visitfoley.or