Hood earns specialist designation: Deborah Hood of RE/MAX of Orange Beach in Orange Beach, AL, licensed in AL and FL, has earned the prestigious Certified Investment Agent Specialist (CIAS) Designation, having completed extensive training to serve the five types of Real Estate investors, including First Time Investors, Move-up Investors, Portfolio Investors, Performance Investors and Rehab and Resell Investors. “Real Estate represents a consistent and stable way to build wealth, bring liquidity to our local housing market and stimulate local economy. In the past year, investment and second homeproperties represented approximately 19% of all residential sales,” Hood said. “It’s also worth noting that nationawide, 43% of real estate investors earned less than $75,000 per year. Today, real estate is quite literally on sale.”
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Chamber Appoints New Special Events Director: Ann Motes, Special Events Assistant at the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce, has been named Director of Special Events for the Chamber. Ms. Motes, who has been with the Chamber since 2009, will be responsible for directing the staff activities for the National Shrimp Festival and other Chamber events, and will work with the Shrimp Festival Committee leadership and volunteers in planning and executing this important signature event for the Chamber. She will also be responsible for staffing other Chamber events, including the Annual Christmas Lighted Boat Parade, the Shrimp Festival Restaurant Challenge (formerly known as the Shrimp Festival Chef’s Challenge), and others.
“We are so excited that after an rigorous search that resulted in some extremely highly qualified applicants, Ann emerged as the candidate with the most direct and recent hands-on staffing experience not only with the festival, but with other Chamber events,” said Chamber President Ed Rodriguez in making the announcement. “Ann has developed terrific relationships with our volunteers, vendors, and leadership and she has the technical and people skills we need to help ensure the future of what is one of the world’s greatest festivals.”
An Alabama native, Ms. Motes also has experience in the fields of medicine, early childhood education, and the mortgage industry. She will assume her new position on Monday, January 16.
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Cut-N-UP Aveda Salon: The South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for the open house celebration of Cut-N-Up Aveda Salon. The Linda Abston owned hair salon and spa opened in fall of 2011 in the Magnolia Plaza located at 3947 Gulf Shores Parkway, Ste. 140. Salon services include women’s and men’s cuts, color specialists, airbrush make-up, waxing, facials, and massages. Refresh your Style, Relax your Body, and Renew your Spirit at Cut-N-Up Aveda Salon by appointment on Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Late Tuesday evenings are also available by appointment and wedding packages are available, please call (251) 981-5255. Ribbon cutting participants included Sarah Green, Renea Broussard, Devin Thames, Abston, Pat Collins, Ashley Dunn, Andy Roberson, Sheila Burkhardt, Dale Sommerfeld, Travis Valentine, Cynthia Tunnell, Jerry Miller, Ryan Bell, Ray Belew and Carol McCracken.
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Big dreams start small: The South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting to mark the Grand Opening Celebration of SHMILY Tree Bakery Cafe. Owners and life-long friends, Carly Crim and Diane Kennedy, had always dreamed of starting a business together. After several exploratory trips to the Gulf Coast, they left their careers in education and administration and moved from Nebraska to Foley in April of 2011. Also part of the recipe for the bakery cafe is Chef Cheryl Kirby, who is Diane’s daughter and who also moved from Nebraska with her family to pursue her dream of opening a bakery to honor her grandparents and their love of baking and each other (and, thus, the SHMILY story – “see how much I love you”). They opened their bakery doors on November 8, 2011 in Foley at 2147 S. McKenzie Street, across from Wal-Mart on Highway 59. Putting forth her formal culinary training, Chef Cheryl bakes everything from scratch. The bakery offers fresh breads by order, as well as bagels, muffins, cookies, cakes, and pastries baked daily for their continental breakfast. Their popular sandwiches are made on the bakery’s fresh breads with Boar’s Head meats and cheeses. Homemade soups and side items are featured for lunch along with a kids menu. The same breads and pastries can be purchased separately, along with many desserts, and a dark roast and house blend coffee as a perfect accompaniment. Chef Cheryl specializes in cakes for all occasions, including wedding cakes. Call (251) 943-5450 for daily specials and take-out orders or visit shmilytreebakery.com. SHMILY Tree Bakery Cafe is open Monday from 11:30 a.m. till 4:30 p.m., Tues – Friday 8:30 a.m. till 4:30 p.m., and on Saturdays for catering and private parties.
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Brightway Insurance: The South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon – cutting to mark the grand opening of Brightway Insurance/Brazzell Assurance Group located in the Magnolia Plaza at 3947 Gulf Shores Parkway, Ste. 130. Owner James Brazzell opened the new agency in December 2011 as one of the first Brightway Agencies to be established in Alabama. Brightway Insurance specializes in auto, home, commercial and life insurance with the ability to compare many insurance company’s rates and policies at once. For more information on policy coverage or to receive a quote on your insurance needs, call James Brazzell at (251)967- 4968.
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Peace Lutheran Church Receives $5,000 Economic Bridge Grant: Peace Lutheran Church recently received a $5,000 “Lutheran Community Economic Outreach Bridge Grant” from the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation. The funding was awarded to the church based on its mission, financial stability, effectiveness in addressing basic needs such as food, clothing or shelter, use of volunteers and creativity. The award was for the Peace School Uniform and School Supply Program, which provides free school uniforms and school supplies to students in Baldwin County. The program has given uniforms and supplies to more than 5,000 children and youth in the past three years. Uniforms and school supplies are available year round at the church at 8250 Roscoe Road, just off the Foley Beach Express. Peace was one of 81 Lutheran organizations and congregations selected to receive funding as part of the final phase of this pilot program. Organizations receiving the grant are also eligible to participate in an additional $10,000 challenge grant in which funds raised by the organization would be matched by the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation dollar for dollar. To date, the Economic Outreach Bridge Grant pilot has provided support to 217 ministries resulting in approximately 2.9 million dollars in grants and funds raised.
Peace will apply for the challenge grant based on local contributions. Contributions of money, new or used school uniforms and new school supplies are welcome. Anyone wishing to contribute should bring uniforms and supplies to the church Administration Building in back of the church. Checks should be made to Peace Lutheran Church and designated for the School Uniform Program. Checks may be mailed to the church at 8250 Roscoe Road, Gulf Shores, AL 36542.
“Difficult economic conditions and high unemployment rates have caused many Americans to seek support for basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter from local nonprofits,” said Kathy Larson, grants program manager for the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation. “This grant pilot was designed to help effective organizations maintain their financial stability in the face of increased demand on their resources.”
Founded in 1982, the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation is a private foundation that operates exclusively for charitable, educational and religious purposes. It supports the health and vitality of the Lutheran community, the Fox Cities of Wisconsin and the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Grants are provided for projects and missions that reflect Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ charitable interests. The primary charitable interest of the foundation is assisting nonprofit organizations and those they serve in achieving economic security and sustainability. To learn more about the foundation and its programs, visit: www.thrivent.com/foundations. For more information or directions to the church, call 251-974-2545 pr visit the church web site at peacelutheranal.org.
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PILA SPEECH CONTEST HIGHLIGHTS LEADERSHIP-GULF SHORES: The Pleasure Island Leadership Association Chapter of the National Management Association (a leadership development organization) announces the 2nd annual Speech Contest to be held on March 15. Lolly Holk, PILA Speech Contest Committee Chairperson, states “We are honored to sponsor the NMA Speech Contest, which is open to all area high school and home-schooled students in grades 9 through 12.” Holk adds, “The purpose of the NMA Speech Contest is to promote a better understanding of leadership among high school age students. It also provides an incentive for the development of communication and public speaking skills that are vital to those entering the work force.”
Subject for the speech contest will be ‘How I can be a leader in my community?’ And the contest will be held at 5 p.m. on March 15 at the Meyer Corporate Office (1585 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores). For more details contact me at (251) 968-2963 or Shirley McCausland at (251) 968-6679.”
Ms. Holk further states, “This contest is held throughout the United States wherever there is a sponsoring NMA Chapter. The winner of the contest will be judged by volunteers from the local Toastmasters International Chapter and other community organizations.’’
, will receive a $250 cash prize and have the opportunity to compete in the District and Nationals levels of the competition.”
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Hood earns specialist designation: Deborah Hood of RE/MAX of Orange Beach in Orange Beach, AL, licensed in AL and FL, has earned the prestigious Certified Investment Agent Specialist (CIAS) Designation, having completed extensive training to serve the five types of Real Estate investors, including First Time Investors, Move-up Investors, Portfolio Investors, Performance Investors and Rehab and Resell Investors. “Real Estate represents a consistent and stable way to build wealth, bring liquidity to our local housing market and stimulate local economy. In the past year, investment and second homeproperties represented approximately 19% of all residential sales,” Hood said. “It’s also worth noting that nationawide, 43% of real estate investors earned less than $75,000 per year. Today, real estate is quite literally on sale.”
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Chamber Appoints New Special Events Director: Ann Motes, Special Events Assistant at the Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce, has been named Director of Special Events for the Chamber. Ms. Motes, who has been with the Chamber since 2009, will be responsible for directing the staff activities for the National Shrimp Festival and other Chamber events, and will work with the Shrimp Festival Committee leadership and volunteers in planning and executing this important signature event for the Chamber. She will also be responsible for staffing other Chamber events, including the Annual Christmas Lighted Boat Parade, the Shrimp Festival Restaurant Challenge (formerly known as the Shrimp Festival Chef’s Challenge), and others.
“We are so excited that after an rigorous search that resulted in some extremely highly qualified applicants, Ann emerged as the candidate with the most direct and recent hands-on staffing experience not only with the festival, but with other Chamber events,” said Chamber President Ed Rodriguez in making the announcement. “Ann has developed terrific relationships with our volunteers, vendors, and leadership and she has the technical and people skills we need to help ensure the future of what is one of the world’s greatest festivals.”
An Alabama native, Ms. Motes also has experience in the fields of medicine, early childhood education, and the mortgage industry. She will assume her new position on Monday, January 16.
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Cut-N-UP Aveda Salon: The South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for the open house celebration of Cut-N-Up Aveda Salon. The Linda Abston owned hair salon and spa opened in fall of 2011 in the Magnolia Plaza located at 3947 Gulf Shores Parkway, Ste. 140. Salon services include women’s and men’s cuts, color specialists, airbrush make-up, waxing, facials, and massages. Refresh your Style, Relax your Body, and Renew your Spirit at Cut-N-Up Aveda Salon by appointment on Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Late Tuesday evenings are also available by appointment and wedding packages are available, please call (251) 981-5255. Ribbon cutting participants included Sarah Green, Renea Broussard, Devin Thames, Abston, Pat Collins, Ashley Dunn, Andy Roberson, Sheila Burkhardt, Dale Sommerfeld, Travis Valentine, Cynthia Tunnell, Jerry Miller, Ryan Bell, Ray Belew and Carol McCracken.
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big dreams start small: The South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting to mark the Grand Opening Celebration of SHMILY Tree Bakery Cafe. Owners and life-long friends, Carly Crim and Diane Kennedy, had always dreamed of starting a business together. After several exploratory trips to the Gulf Coast, they left their careers in education and administration and moved from Nebraska to Foley in April of 2011. Also part of the recipe for the bakery cafe is Chef Cheryl Kirby, who is Diane’s daughter and who also moved from Nebraska with her family to pursue her dream of opening a bakery to honor her grandparents and their love of baking and each other (and, thus, the SHMILY story – “see how much I love you”). They opened their bakery doors on November 8, 2011 in Foley at 2147 S. McKenzie Street, across from Wal-Mart on Highway 59. Putting forth her formal culinary training, Chef Cheryl bakes everything from scratch. The bakery offers fresh breads by order, as well as bagels, muffins, cookies, cakes, and pastries baked daily for their continental breakfast. Their popular sandwiches are made on the bakery’s fresh breads with Boar’s Head meats and cheeses. Homemade soups and side items are featured for lunch along with a kids menu. The same breads and pastries can be purchased separately, along with many desserts, and a dark roast and house blend coffee as a perfect accompaniment. Chef Cheryl specializes in cakes for all occasions, including wedding cakes. Call (251) 943-5450 for daily specials and take-out orders or visit shmilytreebakery.com. SHMILY Tree Bakery Cafe is open Monday from 11:30 a.m. till 4:30 p.m., Tues – Friday 8:30 a.m. till 4:30 p.m., and on Saturdays for catering and private parties.
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brightway insurance: The South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon – cutting to mark the grand opening of Brightway Insurance/Brazzell Assurance Group located in the Magnolia Plaza at 3947 Gulf Shores Parkway, Ste. 130. Owner James Brazzell opened the new agency in December 2011 as one of the first Brightway Agencies to be established in Alabama. Brightway Insurance specializes in auto, home, commercial and life insurance with the ability to compare many insurance company’s rates and policies at once. For more information on policy coverage or to receive a quote on your insurance needs, call James Brazzell at (251)967- 4968.
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Peace Lutheran Church Receives $5,000 Economic Bridge Grant: Peace Lutheran Church recently received a $5,000 “Lutheran Community Economic Outreach Bridge Grant” from the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation. The funding was awarded to the church based on its mission, financial stability, effectiveness in addressing basic needs such as food, clothing or shelter, use of volunteers and creativity. The award was for the Peace School Uniform and School Supply Program, which provides free school uniforms and school supplies to students in Baldwin County. The program has given uniforms and supplies to more than 5,000 children and youth in the past three years. Uniforms and school supplies are available year round at the church at 8250 Roscoe Road, just off the Foley Beach Express. Peace was one of 81 Lutheran organizations and congregations selected to receive funding as part of the final phase of this pilot program. Organizations receiving the grant are also eligible to participate in an additional $10,000 challenge grant in which funds raised by the organization would be matched by the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation dollar for dollar. To date, the Economic Outreach Bridge Grant pilot has provided support to 217 ministries resulting in approximately 2.9 million dollars in grants and funds raised.
Peace will apply for the challenge grant based on local contributions. Contributions of money, new or used school uniforms and new school supplies are welcome. Anyone wishing to contribute should bring uniforms and supplies to the church Administration Building in back of the church. Checks should be made to Peace Lutheran Church and designated for the School Uniform Program. Checks may be mailed to the church at 8250 Roscoe Road, Gulf Shores, AL 36542.
“Difficult economic conditions and high unemployment rates have caused many Americans to seek support for basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter from local nonprofits,” said Kathy Larson, grants program manager for the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation. “This grant pilot was designed to help effective organizations maintain their financial stability in the face of increased demand on their resources.”
Founded in 1982, the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation is a private foundation that operates exclusively for charitable, educational and religious purposes. It supports the health and vitality of the Lutheran community, the Fox Cities of Wisconsin and the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Grants are provided for projects and missions that reflect Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ charitable interests. The primary charitable interest of the foundation is assisting nonprofit organizations and those they serve in achieving economic security and sustainability. To learn more about the foundation and its programs, visit: www.thrivent.com/foundations. For more information or directions to the church, call 251-974-2545 pr visit the church web site at peacelutheranal.org.
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PILA SPEECH CONTEST HIGHLIGHTS LEADERSHIP-GULF SHORES: The Pleasure Island Leadership Association Chapter of the National Management Association (a leadership development organization) announces the 2nd annual Speech Contest to be held on March 15. Lolly Holk, PILA Speech Contest Committee Chairperson, states “We are honored to sponsor the NMA Speech Contest, which is open to all area high school and home-schooled students in grades 9 through 12.” Holk adds, “The purpose of the NMA Speech Contest is to promote a better understanding of leadership among high school age students. It also provides an incentive for the development of communication and public speaking skills that are vital to those entering the work force.”
Subject for the speech contest will be ‘How I can be a leader in my community?’ And the contest will be held at 5 p.m. on March 15 at the Meyer Corporate Office (1585 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores). For more details contact me at (251) 968-2963 or Shirley McCausland at (251) 968-6679.”
Ms. Holk further states, “This contest is held throughout the United States wherever there is a sponsoring NMA Chapter. The winner of the contest will be judged by volunteers from the local Toastmasters International Chapter and other community organizations.’’
, will receive a $250 cash prize and have the opportunity to compete in the District and Nationals levels of the competition.”
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