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Wind Creek support adds to Divers’ Playground
Reef & Restoration Foundation expands Poseidon’s Playground

Wind Creek Hospitality is the latest entity to partner with the Alabama Gulf Coast Reef & Restoration Foundation (AGCRRF) to expand recreational diving opportunities off Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Poseidon’s Playground sits three miles offshore, south of Perdido Pass (30° 14.070’N / 87° 31.522’W). The playground, which is now approximately an acre in size, was conceived by the foundation with the intention of creating a dive site that is accessible to a wide variety of divers of all ages and skill levels.
Since the initial structures were deployed in late 2014, the foundation has worked with sponsors to add interesting, diverse structures to the playground. Recently, Wind Creek partnered with them and funded a new structure which was deployed earlier this month.
“The company continues to be an outstanding corporate citizen, supporting important causes in our area,’’ said foundation president Vince Lucido. “Their contribution is making a lasting impact, and I encourage divers young and old to dive the playground, take a look around and enjoy the diversity.”
Since its inception in 2012, the foundation has worked with corporate and public partners and the Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources to deploy whole ships as well as to enhance existing reefs and reef zones. In addition, AGCFF promotes activities and events that support the sustainability of Alabama’s marine resources and the responsible use of those resources.
Combining the interests of divers, fishers and conservationists, the foundation and partners like Wind Creek Hospitality work toward preserving, sustaining and enhancing the habitat and water quality of the Gulf and supporting Alabama’s innovative artificial reef program.
Wind Creek Hospitality is an authority of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and manages the Tribe’s gaming facilities including Wind Creek Atmore.
Pictured: Poarch Creek Indian Tribal Council Member Dewitt Carter and Poarch Creek Indian Tribal Council Treasurer Eddie Tullis with the artificial reef sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality.

Gulf Shores based surgeon, professor pens 16th book
Dr. McCollough’s take on “The Greatest Game of Them All – The Game of Life”

“What does it take to become a champion?”
In his latest publication, Dr. E. Gaylon McCollough answers this question and provides sage advice to competitors from all walks of life.
McCollough is a member of the United States Sport’s Academy’s National Faculty and recipient of its 2015 Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt Meritorious Achievement Award. His wife, Susan McCollough, serves as an Academy trustee.
In 2017 McCollough received his alma mater’s Paul W. Bryant Alumni-Athlete Award. The honor is a function of the University of Alabama (UA) National Alumni Association. Recipients are judged upon several criteria. He or she must be a UA alumnus and have participated in sports while a student. Nominees are judged upon “character, contributions to society, professional achievement and service to fellowman.”
McCollough is the author of 16 books, three of which are textbooks within his profession of facial plastic surgery. In his latest publication the doctor provides a “warts and all” account of his own journey to victory in what he calls “The greatest game of them all — the game of life.”
McCollough’s memoirs chronicle his humble beginnings as the only son of a south Alabama plumber who overcame inherent limitations and setbacks to then proceed to the realization of never-expected accolades as an Academic All-American on Coach “Bear” Bryant’s 1964 National Championship team, draftee of the Dallas Cowboys, world-renowned facial plastic surgeon, mentor to the next generation of appearance and health enhancement physicians and surgeons and inductee of the State of Alabama’s Sports (and Senior Citizens) Halls of Fame.
Readers of McCollough’s latest publication will come away with a broader understanding of the role carefully selected mentors and a supportive life-partner play in the achievement of goals. Moreover, readers will see how six-time National Championship Coach Nick Saban’s “Process” (of precision preparation and execution) is an extension of Coach Bryant’s winning methodology and the criteria associated with The Bryant Legacy.
In referencing “Victory in the Game of Life…” McCollough said, “Prior to submitting the manuscript to the publisher, I reached out to an ‘All-Star Team’ of pre-publication reviewers. Everyone contacted chose to join the team and returned nothing but positive comments. Each one consented to having their names added to the list of accomplished-in-their-own-rights endorsers.”
McCollough’s latest publication not only chronicles his own experiences in overcoming the challenges that life throws in the paths of competitors who choose to embrace excellence and reject mediocrity, it provides the encouragement and time-tested methods that ensure victory, regardless of the arena of competition.
As one reviewer wrote, “You won’t find many books that range from Elvis to Helen Keller to Bear Bryant to Sir Isaac Newton and more. And you won’t find many that can change your life. This one could.” (John Cochran, former White House Correspondent, ABC, and NBC television journalist)
Readers should also know that profits realized from the sales of “Victory in the Game of Life…” are pledged to the UA National Alumni Association and the Paul W. “Bear” Bryant Museum. Proceeds will further honor individual and team achievements memorialized by the Bryant Museum and the United States Sports Academy.
Proceeds from “Victory in the Game of Life…” obtained through the Academy will be shared in kind. The book can be ordered from the Academy bookstore by going to ookstore.ussa.edu/ and clicking on the gifts and accessories tab.
The United States Sports Academy is an independent, non-profit, accredited, special mission sports university created to serve the nation and world with programs in instruction, research and service. The role of the Academy is to prepare men and women for careers in the profession of sports. The Academy is based in Daphne, Ala. More info: (251) 626-3303 or ussa.edu.

Roadside Glorious album party Sept. 14 at Big Beach Brewing Co.
Pleasure Islanders Aydan Closson, Basch Jernigan; Hunter Myers & Austin Thompson will all play
New Orleans southern rock and soul band Roadside Glorious, founded by Gulf Shores natives Basch Jernigan and Aydan Closson, is having a special pre-release party for their soon-to-be-released debut album Brawn and Bone at Big Beach Brewing Company in Gulf Shores on Friday, September 14 from 6-10 p.m. The album was recorded at legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals by 2018 Grammy nominated engineer John Gifford III and mixed/mastered by 2018 Grammy nominated engineer Don Syrgley. Gifford has worked with the likes of Greg Allman, Alicia Keys, Phish, and Royal Southern Brotherhood, among other well-known artists.
The party is the first and only opportunity to purchase the band’s new album before its official release on September 21. The night will include a performance by local band Funky Lampshades (Hunter Myers and Austin Thompson) and a full performance of the album by Roadside Glorious (Basch Jernigan, Aydan Closson, Evan Hall, Tyler Self), along with other original material and surprise covers. The band will have physical copies of the album available, as well as additional new merchandise.
Brawn and Bone is the first full length album released by Roadside Glorious, a band since the summer of 2016.
“We’re really excited about this,” Jernigan said. “This is a really special opportunity for us because, for Aydan and me, this is where we grew up. This is our home. So for us to be able to introduce to our home crowd – the people who have supported us all of our lives – something we have worked so passionately for the last two years and something that means so much to us, is really special. It’s been a long time coming.”
Jernigan moved to New Orleans in 2012 to attend Tulane University after attending Gulf Shores High School 2008-2012. After graduating from Tulane in 2016 he recruited Closson who soon moved over to New Orleans to start their new project.
Jernigan and Closson attended Gulf Shores Elementary, Middle, and High School together during their formative years. The two were both in the local band Katawompus during their years at Gulf Shores High School, so working together was not unfamiliar.
“He was the only drummer I wanted to work with,” Jernigan said. “He had always been the best drummer I had played with and the one I had the best chemistry with. He’s also a great person too, so when you find that combination you don’t let it slip away. I have a lot of respect for him as a musician and as a person.”
Jernigan met lead guitarist Evan Hall (Belle Chasse) during his senior year at Tulane. Hall then recruited bass guitarist Tyler Self (New Orleans). The band now regularly plays shows in New Orleans and all around the southeast. Information on the band’s upcoming shows and all other information can be found at roadsideglorious.com, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Pictured: (top) Basch Jernigan and Aydan Closson of Roadside Glorius, and (below) Hunter Myers and Austin Thompson of Funky Lampsh

Big Lagoon Kiwanians sponsor
Wreaths at Barrancas Cemetary

The Kiwanis Club of Big Lagoon is well into the planning for its annual Wreaths Across American program, part of a nationwide charity that delivers wreaths to all 50 states. Big Lagoon Kiwanians solicit memorial wreath sponsorships specifically for Barrancas National Cemetery onboard NAS in Pensacola and will place the wreaths on veterans’ headstones in December on National Remembrance Day. For more info, call (850) 207-1217.
Every year, the club organizes the distribution of over 12,000 wreaths with the help of volunteers, including youth groups.
The goal is to not only to honor the brave men and women who have fought for our country but also to teach young people about the sacrifices veterans have made throughout history. The Barrancas Cemetery is the resting place for a variety of troops, including 251 African-American soldiers who fought for the Union during the Civil War.

Big Lagoon State Park
Concerts continue Oct. 5

The Big Lagoon State Park Fall Concert Series continues on Oct. 5 with a performance from Hiroya Tsukamoto, a highly touted singer and guitarist from Japan and Dennis Hall’a One Man Band Show. The concert starts at 6 p.m. at the park amphitheater. The series, being held in conjunction with Sunshine State Concessions, concludes on Nov. 2 with a line-up that will feature Patchouli & Terra Guitarra. Tickets may be purchased online at squareup. com or at the event. Tickets are $18 for one person, and $30 per couple, plus park entry fees.

Perdido Bay Baptist
Community Fest Oct. 13

Perdido Bay Baptist Church will host a Community Fest & Craft Show on Saturday, Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. ‘til 4 p.m. on the church campus, located at 12600 Sorrento Rd. in Pensacola.
The event will include 40 Vendors with custom crafts, one-of-a-kind items and artwork, a fish fry, a bake sale and live music. The Big Red Bus Bloodmobile will also be on site. Your blood donation helps trauma, surgery, and chemotherapy patients in local hospitals. For more info, call 850-492-2604.

Eden salutes wounded military veterans with free, week-long Perdido Key vacations

Two dozen wounded American military veterans and their families will soon enjoy a one week stay in paradise, thanks to Eden Condominiums. It’s the fifth consecutive year that owners and management of the luxury beachfront property have offered Perdido Key vacations as a way to give back to U.S. military. Veterans and their families will begin arriving on September 15.
Eden’s “Wounded Warriors Week” began in 2014, when one Eden owner offered his unit to a wounded veteran as a gesture of thanks for his service. As word spread, other Eden owners joined in and the effort quickly took off.
In 2019, Operation ReConnect, a nonprofit organization established to link veterans to beachfront properties, will officially take over Eden’s Wounded Warriors Week. By then, Eden will have welcomed some 350 veterans and family members into luxury beachfront accommodations for a week of fun and sun. For some, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“It has been a privilege and an honor to host our warriors and their families at Eden,” said April Adams, rental manager at Eden. She adds that generous support from individuals, organizations and businesses has enabled Eden to expand the program well beyond its original scope. “Because of local donors, our visitors do not have to pay for some of their meals, gas, snacks and activities, which eases their financial burden and helps them truly relax and enjoy themselves.”
Two military veteran organizations, Wounded War Heroes and the Wounded Warrior Project, help to coordinate the week-long event at Eden, and the local USO Northwest Florida has been a generous supporter for several years.
There is a big need for snacks, meals, fruit and kid-friendly treats. (Cash contributions will be used to help cover the costs of these as well). Free beach access and free access to state parks would be very helpful, according to Adams. All contributions to Eden’s Wounded Warriors Week are sincerely appreciated. To contribute, email April Adams at rental@perdido-key.com or call 850-492-3336.

Fairhope based Alabama Coastal BirdFest Oct. 3-6

Birders from across the United States, Canada, and abroad will be flocking to the Gulf Coast for the 14th annual Alabama Coastal BirdFest, October 3-6. This is one of the area’s prime bird- and wildlife-watching opportunities during fall migration.
BirdFest includes boat and walking trips each day to prime spots, including the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and Forever Wild Grand Bay Savanna. There are some new additions this year, including a trip to the Magnolia Branch Wildlife Reserve, which is more than 900 acres of pristine forest, creeks, and beautiful lakes owned and maintained by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Also new is a Sunset Kayak Cookout on Justin’s Bay in the lower Mobile-Tensaw Delta, a walking tour and birdwatching in various habitats on Forever Wild property in Saraland, and a Beach Bird Bonanza Workshop for children.
This year’s BirdFest also includes trips focused on seeing alligators, dolphins, and wildflowers, evening speaker events, a new advanced birding workshop, a hummingbird workshop, and the free, family-friendly Bird and Conservation Expo on the Coastal Alabama Community College campus in Fairhope on Saturday, October 6.
Tickets for trips, evening events, and workshops range from $20 to $100 and require advance registration. For more information or to register, visit AlabamaCoastalBirdFest.com.
Since 2004 Alabama Coastal BirdFest has raised more than $100,000 to help preserve and protect vital coastal wildlife habitat and raise awareness about the great biological diversity of the Alabama Gulf Coast.
“The birding potential on the Alabama Gulf Coast is phenomenal and fall migration is the best time to enjoy it,” John Borom, event founder, said. “More than 370 bird species have been counted at various locations along the Alabama coast.”
Pictured: Clapper Rail.

Romar Beach Baptist steeple topples 5 stories during Gordan

On arrival at Romar Beach Baptist Church in the morning following Tropical Storm Gordon, administrative assistant Reatha Borde saw first debris at the entry to the drive and then the beachfront church and retreat center’s iconic steeple sitting on the sand beside the building. Borde said it was amazing that the steeple ended up under an undamaged palm tree despite getting blown off the roof of the five story church building during the storm.
“There was a multimillion dollar rental property on one side and a multimillion dollar church on the other and there was no damage caused by the steeple on its way down,’’ Borde said. “Not even to the palm tree! Amazing!’’
At this point it does not appear that the steeple can be saved due to damage around its base. “But God knew what was happening and is already there in the timeline to replace it,’’ Borde said. “I can’t wait to see what He has in store.’’
The Romar Beach Baptist Church & Lighthouse Retreat Center is located at 23370 Perdido Beach Blvd., directly on the Gulf of Mexico.
Pictured: (top) The Romar Beach Baptist Church & steeple; (below) Coastal Resources staff remove buoys that washed ashore in Orange Beach during Tropical Storm Gordon. Wind gusts in the city peaked ast 60 MPH during the storm.

Southern Raised Band
plays Sept. 28 at OBUMC

The Southern Raised Bluegrass Band will play a free concert at Orange Beach United Methodist Church on Friday, September 28 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the sanctuary. Childcare for children jup to three years old will be provided during this night of amazing classical, bluegrass, and gospel music from this award winning group. Free Admission. (0-3yr).
Orange Beach United Methodist Church is located at 28751 Canal Rd. For more info, visit orangebeachumc. org or call 251-981-6751.
Pictured: Southern Raised can bring life with florid romping tunes or with all instruments in recess they deliver a layered harmony driven a cappella that is nothing short of breath taking. These string wielding siblings’ composition and delivery of their music has amazed audiences young and old alike with smooth refreshing harmony that reaches right into the soul.

Teriyaki Chicken Thighs

3 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
3/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 tsp. cornstarch
4 tsp. cold water
Hot cooked rice, (opt.)
Place chicken in a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker. In a small bowl, mix sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger and pepper; pour over chicken. Cook, covered, on low 4-5 hours or until chicken is tender. Remove chicken to a serving platter; keep warm. Transfer cooking juices to a small saucepan; skim fat. Bring cooking juices to a boil; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with chicken and, if desired, rice.
Enjoy!

Catholic Social Services Fills 320 Backpacks: When school began in August, 320 boys and girls arrived with backpacks full of essentials like markers, paper, pencils, pens, crayons and calculators. The items were provided through Catholic Social Services of Baldwin County’s program, Resources for Educational Advancement of Children (REACH). This program serves low-income school-age children throughout Baldwin County by providing school supplies and financial assistance of fees to help children greet the school year with an equal opportunity. Throughout the year these backpacks will be filled with food items on Fridays so the children will have food to get them through the weekend. Now that the school projects are set, CSS personnel will begin on the Christmas Sharing project. They will begin making appointments on Oct. 15 for families to register for gifts for the children. Each child will receive three new gifts donated by members of Catholic parishes as well as other members of the community. Throughout the year families in need are helped by Catholic Social Services with food, clothing, utility bills, rent, counseling, and immigration services. In addition to Catholic Charities, United Way, individual donations, and grants, the Thrift Shop on the premises in Robertsdale provides major funding for the services. Customers from all walks of life enjoy the variety of clothing, collectibles, furniture and other household items for sale. The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. The first Tuesday of the month features a $10 Basket Sale. Recently a woman from mid-Alabama with two children arrived on the Gulf Coast with basically only the clothes on their backs. Everything had been lost in a trailer fire. They were given vouchers to shop in the Thrift Store, were given food and referred to other agencies for help. “Meeting the people in need and being able to help makes it all worthwhile,” says CSS Director Phyllis Beam. Catholic Social Services is located at 23010 Hwy. 59 in Robertsdale. For information if help is needed or to volunteer, call 251-947-2293.
Pictured: Volunteer Director Peggy Peterson is getting ready for the Catholic Social Services Christmas Sharing project; CSS Director Phyllis Beam shows one of the 320 backpacks that were distributed to boys and girls in need to start the school year; The Catholic Social Services Thrift Shop in Robertsdale is a great source for clothing, collectibles and housewares. Pictured are Thrift Shop Manager Gretchen Kosek and Volunteer Gloria Pratt.

Orange Beach facility celebrates one year anniversary
Coastal Art Center: An opportunity to experience art and celebrate life

By Amoreena Brewton
The Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach is celebrating its first year with its new fine arts gallery and full campus, which includes a hot glass shop, clay studio and art education classroom. Adjacent to the Waterfront Park and Kids’ Park, with the goal of offering both a beautiful and useful space for the public to enjoy, this creative campus has much to be proud of as it offers the Orange Beach community and visitors an opportunity to experience art and celebrate life in an extraordinary way.
Since the grand re-opening last August, the site has experienced remarkable creative development. With a Wolf Bay sunset view that photographers love, the gallery and the back lawn have become a premiere wedding venue, with 30 ceremonies being hosted in 2018. In November of last year the Center learned that the acoustics inside the arts center were exceptional when the Frank Brown International Songwriter’s Festival featured several signature performances in the space. After that initial event, the Center created “The Listening Room” series to showcase a variety of performances including quartets, poetry readings, and children’s recitals. Presentations have also included music performed with the gallery’s new grand piano which was made possible by a donation from the Nancy Hilley Foundation and the Friends of the Arts, Inc. The most recent Listening Room event was a huge success featuring award-winning Nashville songwriters Hillary Lindsey, Cary Barlowe, Gordie Sampson and Troy Verges.
The addition of an Art Education Classroom has made it possible to offer a space for creative endeavors at all levels of interest. Classes offered range from an introduction to oil painting to advanced water color, with photography, drawing and acrylics in between. The After School and Home School Art Programs utilize this space meeting weekly to create, inspire and educate local students. In the summer months, the space also allows for kids’ drop-in classes to give families creative options beyond the beach. This classroom was also designed as a multi-use space allowing for business meetings or training classes, again with the aim of having both art and utility combine to meet the needs of the community.
Perhaps the most exciting change of all, though, is the artwork featured within the gallery. From huge paintings to stunning jewelry, waves of glass and coils of clay, wooden whales and surf motifs–the art gallery has something with which everyone can connect and enjoy. Moveable walls in the main gallery present an ever changing array of work from Gulf Coast artists. The executive conference room upstairs showcases the Center’s private art collection along with a custom hand-crafted cypress and glass conference table. The conference room has been used for business meetings and the gallery has hosted several special events and private parties. The facility has the distinction of being both extremely well-designed and amazingly beautiful.
The new facility has also changed the work life of the three full-time artists on staff. Kerry Parks, a glass artist-in-residence, noted, “The new gallery has been by far the most aesthetically spectacular addition inside and out. It has truly become the heart of our campus, allowing for us to show more artwork, host more events, and improve the functionality of our studios.” Along with Parks, clay artist Maya Blume-Cantrell and glass artist Dan Rush are excited by the changes. Both cite the increase in exposure as a benefit to sharing their art and their artistry with the community, as well as affording them the chance to welcome visiting artists into their studios.
One of the most unique elements of the Coastal Arts Center is that it is a city-owned entity. The Orange Beach city council voted unanimously to fund the construction of the new gallery and is supportive of a variety of programs that benefit both children and adults. The arts center also receives support from The Friends of the Arts through funding and volunteer opportunities. The Friends are who first saw a vision years ago to provide a hot glass studio and now The Hot Shop is one of only a few studios in the nation to offer glass-blowing classes to the public year-round. In an effort to make art accessible to as many people as possible, classes are available Monday through Friday in both the Hot Shop and the Clay Studio for hands-on experiences.
The biggest event of the year, by far, is the annual Orange Beach Festival of Art. With more than 100 artists working in an impressive array of fine arts media and gourmet cuisine from local fine-dining restaurants, festival-goers always have plenty to see, hear, touch, taste and experience. The City of Orange Beach departments work tirelessly together to organize and coordinate this exceptional event, which was named as one of eleven “must see” shows in the nation in 2018 by the industry standard “Sunshine Artist Magazine”. Crowds average 15,000 for the two day show on the second weekend of every March.
With a year of new art experiences and tremendous interest in the campus, the Coastal Arts Center will have a busy and bright future. Desiree Blackwell, the art center’s director observed, “This has been a year of learning and creativity as we work to find the best uses of our beautiful new space. We are so thankful to have a city administration that stands behind us, a community that supports our events, and to have our long-time non-profit group The Friends of the Arts play such an integral role in all that we do.” For more information about upcoming events and classes check out the Coastal Arts Center’s website at www.coastalartscenter.com, or call 251-981-ARTS (2787).

Stan Mahoney Youth Inshore Fishing Tournament Oct. 20

Wolf Bay Watershed Watch hosts its annual Stan Mahoney Youth Fishing Tournament on October 20 from 6 a.m. ‘til noon at Barber Marina in Elberta. Tourney fishing is allowed on all inshore waterways within Baldwin County .
Divisions include 3- 8 Years; 9-13 Years; and 14-18 Years. There is also a competitive High School Team Division, recognizing 7th thru 12th grades. Youth contestants must be accompanied by an adult (fishing license required for all adults). Of course, sharks and stingrays are not included in the tournament and should not be boated.
Public fishing areas within the tournament boundaries include the Josephine fishing pier at the county park on Roberts Bayou, the fishing pier under Hwy. 59 Bridge an along Canal Rd. in Gulf Shores. Entr fee for both youth and school divisions is $25 per person, including a t-shirt. Entry forms and registration fees accepted at wolfbaywatch.org. Registration forms can also found at rivierautilities.com.

Volunteers needed for Sept. 15 Al. Coastal Clean-up

Show your support and concern for Alabama’s waterways by participating in the 3st Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup scheduled for Saturday, September 15 from 8 a.m. until noon. Make a difference by volunteering to clean up the state’s cherished coastal area.
Since trash totals were collected at the first Alabama Coastal Cleanup in 1987, more than 800 tons of trash have been collected and disposed of properly thank to more than 80,000 volunteers.
Volunteers are needed at 30 different cleanup sites in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Alabama Coastal Cleanup provides a t-shirt and clean up supplies to participants. For more info, go to AlabamaCoastalCleanup.com. com or call (251) 928-9792. or go to Facebook.
The event gives Baldwin residents the opportunity to give back to the environment and their surrounding communities by cleaning up along the coast and waterways within their cities.
Volunteers—involved citizens, community organizations, businesses, individuals, school groups and families—are needed to help with the cleanup. All supplies are provided, and volunteers who come out early will receive a free t-shirt.
The Alabama Coastal Cleanup is part of an international effort led by the Ocean Conservancy to remove debris from coastal waters. This litter is not only an eyesore but can pose a real threat to both marine wildlife and humans.
Participation provides a unique opportunity to be a part of the solution. Items removed from Baldwin beacahes have included ruined furniture, home appliances, computers and laptops.
To volunteer at a specific zone, call or email the captains listed below or just show up before noon at the listed zone.

Baldwin County Clean-up Zones

– Boggy Point Boat Ramp, Orange Beach
– Bon Secour, 7309 River Rd, Bon Secour.
_Daphne, May Day Park.
_ Fairhope, Public Pier.
_ Five Rivers Delta Center, Spanish Fort.
– Flora-Bama, Fla-Al State Line.
– Fort Morgan Peninsula, Mo’s Landing.
– Gulf Shores Public Beach.
– Gulf State Park, 20115 Alabama 135.
– Pirate’s Cove – Josephine.
– Little Lagoon, 18068 Fort Morgan Road.
– Ono Island, 31647 Shoal Water Dr.
– Orange Beach, 25900 Perdido Beach Blvd.
– Perdido Bay, 12408 S 7th St, Lillian.
– Perdido Beach, Yupon St, Elberta.
– Weeks Bay, 11300 US-98, Fairhope.
– Wolf Bay, Old Wolf Bay Lodge.

Coastal Clean-Up also slated Sept. 15 on Perdido Key

“Turn The Tide On Trash’’ is the theme for Perdido Key’s participation in the International Coastal Cleanup Day. Volunteers are asked to assemble at 8 a.m. at the Perdido Key State Park West Usage Area to help keep Perdido’s granite white beaches clean and beautiful. The Perdido Key cleanup is co-sponsored by The Perdido Key Assn., The Friends of Pensacola State Parks, and the staff at Perdido Key State Park.

Fairhope asks citizens to clean city & Coast on Sept. 15

Saturday, September 15, marks the 31st annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup, and for Fairhope residents, it’s a good opportunity to not only clean up along the coast but to clean up city wide. Again, this year the City of Fairhope is encouraging neighborhood groups and others to join together to pick up trash and help make a difference.
Volunteers, community organizations, individuals, school groups and families are needed to help with the Coastal Cleanup. Volunteers who sign up early will receive a free t-shirt. T-shirts and other supplies can be picked up at the Fairhope Public Utilities Warehouse (555 South Section Street) on Friday September 14 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All other volunteers can sign-in at the Fairhope Pier on Saturday, September 15th beginning at 8 a.m. The cleanup takes place ‘til noon.
Fairhope Public Utilities will have a public power display and will cook hotdogs between 10 a.m. and noon at the south end of the Fairhope beach front park. Call 251-929-1466 to register your group or organization or for additional information.

Baldwin County Fair scheduled Sept. 18-22

The 68th Annual Baldwin County Fair will be held Sept. 18-22 at The Fairgrounds in Robertsdale. is officially underway. Fair hours are Tuesday through Thursday are 5pm-11pm, Friday from 5pm-1am and Saturday from 1pm-12am. It’s the longest running county fair in the state.

2nd Annual Massacre Island
Sept. 15-16 on Dauphin Isle

The 3rd Annual Massacre Island on Dauphin Island will be held Sept. 15-16 from 8 a.m. ‘til 5 p.m. at Historic Fort Gaines.
The event will highlight Flintlock pistol duels, pirate tug-O-war, swashbuckling sword play, cannon firing, blacksmithing and a treasure hunt for kids ages 12 and under on both days. Tickets are $8 for adults ages 13 and up, and $4 for children ages 5-12. Children ages 4 and under are admitted free. Info: fortgaines@outlook.com, 251-861-6992 or dauphinisland.org.
Over 300 years ago The French explorer, Pierre Le Moyne de’Iberville named Dauphin Island “Masscre Island” because of the huge pile of human skeletons that he discovered. This turned out to be a Indian burial ground that was unearthed from a storm. There was a small attack later on Isle Dauphine. The Pirates tied everyone up and robbed their warehouses. Come and meet the Pirates that stormed Mobile Bay and watch as they defend the Fort from Spanish British Galleons.

More than 600 cyclists are expected to raise over $235,000 to help people affected by MS at Bike MS: Tour de Beach, a 2 day, up to 155-mile journey along the beautiful Gulf Coast. The Tour de Beach ride takes place on September 15-16 in Orange Beach, with rides starting at 7 a.m. from the host hotel, Spring Hill Suites at The Wharf. The fundraising minimum is $200 and the minimum age to participate is 12.
The event’s bike routes take cyclists along the beautiful Gulf Coast and communities dotting the Mobile Bay. For more info, visit bikeMS.org, call 855-372-1331 or email fundraisingsupport@nmss.org.
Friday night the festivities being with our packet pick up party and expo at our hotel SpringHill Suites at the Wharf . Each day starts with breakfast beach side at sunrise, team photos, and start line excitement. Relax post-ride at our beachfront Bike MS Lounge with music, football games, and massages. Saturday night is for cocktails, live music, and a seafood feast celebrating the accomplishments of the weekend!
Bike MS, hosted by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, attracts nearly 100,000 participants nationwide in more than 80 rides. To date, Bike MS cyclists, volunteers, sponsors and donors have raised more than $1 billion so people affected by MS can live their best lives as we stop MS in its tracks, restore what’s been lost, and end MS forever.
Bike MS includes people living with MS, their friends, families and neighbors, as well as corporate teams and individuals who are driven to support critical MS research and life-changing services for people living with MS. People living with MS can also participate in “I Ride with MS,” a special program supported nationally by Biogen and Primal that recognizes Bike MS cyclists living with the disease.
Bike MS is supported nationally by premier National Sponsors Bicycling Magazine and Primal, the apparel provider of Bike MS.
Bike MS brings people together as individuals and as teams to conquer a challenge and share an unforgettable experience with friends, family and coworkers—while raising money to make a difference in the lives of people affected by MS.
Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are leading to better understanding and moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 2.3 million worldwide. For more information about the National MS Society go to nationalMSsociety.org or call 800-344-4867.

Tour de (Orange) Beach Sept. 15-16
600 cyclists will ride toward a world free of MS
More than 600 cyclists are expected to raise over $235,000 to help people affected by MS at Bike MS: Tour de Beach, a 2 day, up to 155-mile journey along the beautiful Gulf Coast. The Tour de Beach ride takes place on September 15-16 in Orange Beach, with rides starting at 7 a.m. from the host hotel, Spring Hill Suites at The Wharf. The fundraising minimum is $200 and the minimum age to participate is 12.
The event’s bike routes take cyclists along the beautiful Gulf Coast and communities dotting the Mobile Bay. For more info, visit bikeMS.org, call 855-372-1331 or email fundraisingsupport@nmss.org.
Friday night the festivities being with our packet pick up party and expo at our hotel SpringHill Suites at the Wharf . Each day starts with breakfast beach side at sunrise, team photos, and start line excitement. Relax post-ride at our beachfront Bike MS Lounge with music, football games, and massages. Saturday night is for cocktails, live music, and a seafood feast celebrating the accomplishments of the weekend!
Bike MS, hosted by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, attracts nearly 100,000 participants nationwide in more than 80 rides. To date, Bike MS cyclists, volunteers, sponsors and donors have raised more than $1 billion so people affected by MS can live their best lives as we stop MS in its tracks, restore what’s been lost, and end MS forever.
Bike MS includes people living with MS, their friends, families and neighbors, as well as corporate teams and individuals who are driven to support critical MS research and life-changing services for people living with MS. People living with MS can also participate in “I Ride with MS,” a special program supported nationally by Biogen and Primal that recognizes Bike MS cyclists living with the disease.
Bike MS is supported nationally by premier National Sponsors Bicycling Magazine and Primal, the apparel provider of Bike MS.
Bike MS brings people together as individuals and as teams to conquer a challenge and share an unforgettable experience with friends, family and coworkers—while raising money to make a difference in the lives of people affected by MS.
Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are leading to better understanding and moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 2.3 million worldwide. For more information about the National MS Society go to nationalMSsociety.org or call 800-344-4867.

Three LuLu’s. One Day. Could It Be Done?
Lynda Sims & Susan & Rich Owen enjoy meals at all three LuLu’s

Talk about spreading the Gumbo Love! Susan and Rich Owen and Susan’s crazy sista, Lynda Sims, recently attempted the ultimate LuLu’s Grand Tour…In one day!
Longtime LuLu’s patrons and lifetime Parrotheads Susan and Rich were sitting around the bar at LuLu’s in Gulf Shores, chatting with bartender Jilly when Rich got to thinking. “Has anyone ever done all three LuLu’s in one day? Because I think it could be done.” And a challenge was born. North Myrtle Beach to Destin to Gulf Shores? Even for Rich, a glider pilot and former Navy fighter jet pilot no stranger to flirting with the edge of what’s possible, this would be a doozie! Could they pull it off?
Needing a little more encouragement to see if the idea was viable, they did their due diligence by hitting LuLu’s Destin a few days later, consulting with bartender Chase. Manager Chas also gave his expert opinion: “Good idea!”
There was only one way to find out if it really could be done. “How about Tuesday?” Rich suggested.
A few nights after their barstool brainstorm, the adventurous trio were on a Delta Airlines flight to North Myrtle Beach. They’d need to get a good night’s sleep. It would be a big day ahead. The entire crew at LuLu’s North Myrtle Beach was waiting on them when they pulled into the parking lot at precisely 11:00 a.m. the next morning. It was go time.
They set an alarm for one hour, just enough time for a cocktail, a salad, gumbo, and a cup of she-crab soup, a LuLu’s North Myrtle Beach specialty. Before they left, they each got their LuLu’s t-shirt signed by the manager Lauren with the time they’d arrived. Then they were off to the airport for a flight to Ft. Walton Beach where they’d left a car.
They drove to Destin to spend a pleasant hour with their buddy Chas, who was waiting to sign their shirts and mark the time: 6:07 p.m. Would they be able to eat and still make it to Gulf Shores before closing? Following a meal of delicious crab claws, they had a long drive ahead of them to ponder the possibility.
After two hours and fifteen minutes, they arrived at their ultimate destination, LuLu’s Gulf Shores. The time was 8:53 pm. Mission accomplished, it was time to celebrate. They closed the place down.
Yes, the ultimate LuLu’s One-Day Tour is possible, but it may not be for the casual enthusiast. This adventure might be best saved for those with the wings of a seasoned Parrothead, the appetite and thirst of a LuLu’s regular, and the powerful presence of a crazy sista. Sound like anyone you know?

Gulf Shores to hire consultant to develop ecotourism center
State-of-the art facility to be constructed on City property, using $9.7M in RESTORE funding
By John Mullen
Gulf Shores will hire a consultant to develop and design the city’s new Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism and Sustainability and promote ecotourism at a cost of $25,000.
The council accepted a proposal from Travis Langen to conduct work related to the establishment of the center including a multi-year plan and establish a 501(c)(3) to manage and operate the facility.
“This program will be housed in a state-of-the art facility to be constructed on City property, using $9.7M in RESTORE funding, adjacent to the State Park,” city documents state.
The work is not slated to begin until 2020, Environmental/ Grants Coordinator Dan Bond said and plans are to have it completed by 2021. Gulf Shores is still waiting on final approval on the awarding of the money for the project.
“The project has been approved by the Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council and the final plan should be approved later this year,” Bond said. We anticipate a grant agreement with Treasury sometime in Spring 2019 and then the formal design process will begin.
“This is going to be an exciting project.”
Part of Langen’s job will be to establish relationships with Gulf State Park staff and Valor Hospitality, operators of the new Gulf State Park Lodge.center hopes to utilize facilities in the park as part of its education programs.
“The City is committed to work with Gulf State Park to establish a world class environmental education and ecotourism program in partnership with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society,” city documents state.
The program will utilize access the State Park Learning Campus facility located adjacent to Gulf Shores Middle School, as well as sites throughout the state park, including the pier, the Interpretive Center, the Nature Center, Lake Shelby, the beach and the Hugh Branyon Back Country trail system.”
Mayor Robert Craft has described the center as being similar to the highly successful NASA Space Camp located in Huntsville with a focus on learning about the environment and how to take better care of it.
“The program will bring students, teachers, tourists, business groups, and academic groups from around the country to participate in activities that support ecotourism and sustainability, and promote the stewardship of our natural resources,” city documents state.
Langen has several tasks in front of him to complete before the end of the year. First off he will work with the city and a board of directors to establish budgets for 2019-21 and work with the council to secure funding.
He’ll have to work hand-in-hand with the Ocean Future Society to develop ecotourism programing in coordination with the state park and the lodge to “maximize potential programming opportunities.”
Langen will also be tasked with working with the board of directors to hire a staff, set up accounting, marketing, human resources purchasing and scheduling the programs.
u5jThat will include marketing the program to schools and schools systems.
Plans are to develop a “robust program schedule” by the fall of 2019.
“Travis Langen has 18 years of experience directing the Ambassadors of the Environment program on Catalina Island, and brings a wealth of knowledge and skill that will ensure the success of the Gulf Shores program,” city documents state.
Also during the work session:
• Paying Olsen Associates $51,900 for environmental permitting for Hurricane Nate engineered beach losses. The city estimates about 460,000 cubic yards of engineered beach was lost in the storm surge. This task order would authorize Olsen to perform the necessary environmental permitting to get approvals from Fish and Wildlife, ADEM, USACOE, DCNR and SHPO that are required by FEMA before restoration work can begin.
• Authorizing Mayor Craft to execute a professional services agreement with Red Square Agency to develop the brand identity for Gulf Shores City Schools for $25,000. This would include graphic Identity – system-wide, individual schools and athletics, a color palette, typography, graphic standards manual and business paper design – letterhead, business cards, envelopes and notecards.
• Approving spending $110,000 to find artists, produce marketing materials and start ticket sales for the yearly winter entertainment series. Also included in the price will be securing artists for the Music at Meyer Park in the spring.
• Issuing assembly permits for the Police Department and the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber. The police will host its annual National Night Out celebration at Pelican Place on Oct 9 and the chamber will have the 47th National Shrimp Festival on Oct. 11-14.
• Issuing assembly permits for Gulf Coast Region of USA Volleyball events at West Place on Oct. 6 and Oct. 27 and to Springhill College for a college beach volleyball tournament on Oct. 27.
• Issuing an assembly permit for the Gulf Shores High School Homecoming Parade on Sept. 13.
• Approving liquor licenses for the Surf Style store at 101 W. Beach Blvd. and for Bywater Beachside located on the Gulf State Park Pier.

Center for Ecotourism and Sustainability Mission Statement

The mission of the Center for Ecotourism and Sustainability is to promote sustainable tourism, raise environmental awareness, and encourage the stewardship of natural resources in order to increase community resilience, strengthen the regional economy, and enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors in the Gulf Coast Region.

The 26th Annual Weeks Bay Native Plant Sale will be held on Thursday, October 11 through Sunday, October 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The plant sale will again be located at Safe Harbor at Weeks Bay, across U.S. Highway 98 from the Reserve Interpretive Center.
The plant sale, which benefits projects at Weeks Bay Reserve, is a great opportunity to purchase beautiful native plants, and to learn the benefits of using natives in their landscapes.
Experts, including the Baldwin County Master Gardeners, will be on-hand to answer questions and to suggest the best selections for various growing conditions. Plants will be available for all landscaping needs, including hummingbird and butterfly attractors, species for shade or sun, salt tolerance, dunes, and various wet areas.
“Native plants are easy to maintain, with fewer pesticides, they are adapted to our soils and to our summer heat, and natives are beautiful,” said Maureen Nation, Coordinator of Volunteers at Weeks Bay Reserve. “We are anxious to show-off the wonderful diversity of our native trees, shrubs, and perennials in the landscape. Since natives are at home in our natural habitats, they also provide food and shelter for birds, butterflies and other creatures we love to see in our yards. ”
For additional information about the plant sale, call Weeks Bay Reserve at 928-9792.
Pictured: Master Gardeners Carma Gronback and Jimmy Van Valkanburg, representing Gulf Shores Garden Club are ready to assist shoppers at the 2017 plant sale.

26th Annual Weeks Bay Native Plant Sale Oct. 11-14

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Rotary Volksmarch The Line
For Vets Sept. 22 at ‘Bama

The 5, 8, or 10K Walks (Volksmarch) For Veterans will be held Sept. 22 from noon til 2 p.m. on the AVA marked walking trails between Alabama Pass and the Flora-Bama. Water will be provided. A special Rotary prize drawing for great prizes will be available at approx 2 p.m. Proceeds will go to veteran groups and Rotary charities.
Also, the PK Rotary Club will be selling raffle tickets for a beautiful ocean fishing pedal kayak during the post walk party. Drawing for this grand prize will be in December 2018. Park near Flora-Bama and follow signs to the start of the walk. Commemorative pins will be provided at the completion of the walk for paid ($5.00 walk fee and pin) participants. Walk in the Park T-shirts will also be available for $5 each. For information, call Rod Powell at 850-637-1876 or facebook Walk The Line – Perdido Key Volksmarch Club & Perdido Key Rotary.

Businesses & charities invited to
be part of LuLu’s Trunk or Treat

LuLu’s is seeking area non-profits, charities, and local businesses who would like to participate in Trunk or Treat at LuLu’s Annual BooLu’s Halloween festivities on October 27. As a part of the kids’ trick-or-treating activities, participants can set up a display in the trunk of their car to spread the word about their organization and hand out candy to the trunk or treating kids on the grounds of the restaurant from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Participants provide their own candy and all Trunk or Treat participants will receive a $25 LuLu’s gift card per trunk, with the winner of the best decorated trunk receiving a $150 LuLu’s gift card.
Inside LuLu’s, the spooky fun will have free pumpkin decorating, inflatables, kid’s crafts, kid’s costume contest, and more. Kids can partake in a Spooktacular costume contest in age categories for boys and ghouls with prizes for the winners to register to be a Trunk or Treat participating organization, contact Lydia mee at 251-967-5858 or Lydia@lulubuffett.com.

Artists invited to submit work
for Hot Air Balloon Fest poster

The 15th Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival committee is seeking an artist to produce the t-shirt and poster artwork for the 2019 Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival. Artwork must be original and artists submitting work must be 18 years $500. Artists are asked to submit proposed sketches/drafts by Friday, November 2. Submissions should be delivered to the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce at 112 West Laurel Ave, Foley, AL 36536 or mailed to PO Box 1117, Foley, AL. Contact Rachel Spear at (251) 943-3291 for more details.

Coastal Art Center of Orange Beach
will host inagural Arts Afire Oct. 18

The Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach (26389 Canal Rd.) will host its inaugural Arts Afire Fall Festival on Oct. 18 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Festivities include hot piano music in the gallery by Steve Wilkerson, fiery hot glass demos in The Hot Shop, Clay Studio pottery raku firings and lots of kids fall games and crafts in the courtyard. For more info, call 251-981-ARTS (2787) or visit CoastalArtsCenter.com.
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Adult Mentored Hunt Program prepares Mobile woman for a successful gator hunt
By David Rainer
AL Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources
As far as Leslie Welch is concerned, she was hooked at “Boom.” That report from the deer rifle happened a couple of years ago when she was among the lucky people who were selected to go on an Adult Mentored Hunt in Mobile County.
That experience set in motion Welch’s latest episode in her outdoors journey – alligator hunting. On her third try, Welch was drawn for one of the 150 tags in the Southwest Alabama Zone that includes private and public waters in Baldwin and Mobile counties and private and public waters in Washington, Clarke and Monroe counties that lie east of U.S. Highway 43 and south of U.S. Highway 84.
Welch, who grew up in a household that seldom ventured outdoors, had never even fired a gun before the mentored hunt, which made it even more interesting that she would pursue an alligator tag. However, Welch said that first outdoors experience opened a whole new world of adventure. Duck hunting is next on her to-do list.
“I grew up with a daddy who was a professor of religious studies at Alabama and a mom who did IT (Information Technology) before she became an industrial engineer in computer science,” Welch said. “We didn’t have these opportunities because my parents never presented it. I dated a boy in high school who hunted. He asked me to go hunting, but I never went.”
Welch, a former teacher, once worked with Amy Doss, wife of Jeremy Doss, a State Lands Division Enforcement Officer with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
“Amy would always have good stories for me about the outdoors,” Welch said. “And Amy was telling me about this hunt for first-timers.”
Jeremy Doss and Daniel Musselwhite, the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ South Regional Hunter Education Coordinator, were involved in starting the Adult Mentored Hunt (AMH) program in Mobile County. Welch fit the AMH target profile of a non-hunter and was chosen to go on her first deer hunt. She didn’t even see a deer, but several of the other hunters bagged their first deer that day.
“It was fun to watch and fun to be a part of,” Welch said. “Everybody was so welcoming, and nobody made you feel like an idiot for not knowing things, which is important, especially to a first-time person. Everything was explained to me.
“When I got to shoot the gun, oooh, I loved it. It scared the bejesus out of me, but I was really good at it. Then I bought a gun after that.”
She still hasn’t been able to squeeze the trigger on a deer, but that hasn’t quelled her enthusiasm.
Then Amy shared another outdoors story about gator hunting after a friend of the Dosses got a tag. Welch started applying for alligator tags until she was finally drawn this year.
“I was shocked I got a tag,” Welch said. “I texted Jeremy and Amy that they had to take me.”
The Dosses agreed, and Welch entered an environment she had never imagined in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.
“I had never been on a boat at night except for a cruise ship,” Welch said. “It was fabulous. It was gorgeous. It was peaceful. It’s a totally different world at night. I got to go under the bridge on the Causeway. There were all kinds of things I got to experience that I’d never done before. And we saw lots and lots of gators, but they were spooked that first night.
“We didn’t get a gator, but I was ready to go again.”
With the Causeway gators somewhat leery because of all the boat traffic, Welch and the Dosses moved to the upper Delta for the second round. With a little help from Matt Horton of the Upper Delta Gobblers NWTF chapter, their luck changed quickly after launching the boat near Stockton.
“This gator popped up right after we launched the boat,” Welch said. “I named him ‘George’ by the way.”
Welch quickly hooked the gator, but she didn’t realize it at the time.
“I thought I was hooked on the bottom,” she said. “Then I told Jeremy the line was moving. He said, ‘The gator is walking on the bottom.’ I said, ‘What?’ I didn’t know they walked on the bottom.”
Doss said, “He was pulling the boat. It’s dark, so you don’t realize he’s pulling the boat because you have no frame of reference. He was just easing us down the river.”
Welch was soon up for another surprise when the alligator finally decided to come to the surface.
“When everybody put their spotlights on him, I literally backed up behind Jeremy,” she said. “I said, ‘Oh, heck, that thing is real.’”
Doss said the fifth time Welch was able to reel the animal to the surface they were able to get a harpoon in the gator.
“He was in 36 feet of water,” Doss said. “The problem was when he came up, he wouldn’t come straight up, he came up away from the boat. We finally got him up close enough to get a harpoon in him.”
Minutes later, the 10½-foot gator was dispatched and the celebration began.
“I’m sure there was a lot of squealing going on,” Welch said. “I tried not to because I was with a bunch of guys, but I’m afraid to say there was some squealing.
“Then I was just staring at the gator. I was thinking, ‘Wow, this is real.’ Then I got to touch the gator. I had never touched an alligator before. I had never even been to Alligator Alley and touched one of the baby alligators.”
Doss added, “I don’t believe we would have gotten the gator so quickly without Matt’s help. Matt also helps with the mentored hunts, and he helped put us on the gator.”
In this world of social media, it’s no surprise that Welch shared her gator hunt on Facebook.
“I did brag,” she said. “Since then, I’ve had people asking me when I’m going again. I told them it doesn’t work that way, but let me tell you how to apply for a tag. So, there are at least seven people more who are going to put in for tags next year.”
Musselwhite said Welch’s story and her outreach to friends about her outdoors experiences are exactly what the AMH program is designed to do.
“It’s important that we did make her a hunter, but she has that ripple effect to go out and recruit new hunters,” Musselwhite said. “By creating one hunter, we may be able to recruit several more hunters.”
Last year, Brian Nettles was highlighted as a newly recruited hunter through the AMH program, and Musselwhite has followed Nettles’ outdoors journey.
“Since last year, Brian has killed his first buck,” Musselwhite said. “Two of his kids have killed bucks. He came to me pretty raw and had no idea what to do. Now, he’s got two kids that maybe wouldn’t be hunters if not for the program.
“And Leslie shows that it’s not about killing a deer. There’s so much more to hunting than killing deer. It’s enjoying the little things you see in the woods. That’s the demographic we’re going after.”
Welch said it’s hard to describe the sensory input she has experienced during her outdoors adventures.
“How do you explain to someone the sound of the wind coming through the trees while you’re sitting out there in the blind?” Welch said. “I didn’t know what that sound was. I’d never been still in nature long enough to know what it was. It’s the prettiest sound I’ve ever heard. It was so calming.
“It’s one of the reasons I want to experience more of the outdoors. I want to try these things I was not offered as a teenager growing up in Tuscaloosa. I want to go duck hunting, and I’m going deer hunting again.”
And, rest assured, her name will also be on an application for an alligator tag again next year.
The gator application process will come next year. However, applications are being accepted now for AMH events throughout the state. You must be at least 19 years old, have a valid driver’s license and be new to hunting (or have limited hunting experience) to apply for an AMH hunt. You can apply for up to three AMH events with a single application. Depending on the number of applicants, you may be limited to a single event. The AMH application must be completed online at www.outdooralabama.com/mentored-application. Email Justin.Grider@dcnr.alabama.gov with questions about the application or selection process.
Pictured: Leslie Welch managed to tag this 10½-foot alligator on the second weekend of the Southwest Zone season.

Sept. 20 lecture will address History of Blue Angels
Free lecture slated at South Alabama Gulf Coast Campus

The University of South Alabama Gulf Coast Campus has announced the first lecture of the 2018 Distinguished Lecture Series: The Mission and the 65 Year History of the Blue Angels. The free lecture is scheduled on Thursday, Sept. 20 from 7- 8 p.m. at the Gulf Shores Cultural Center, located at 19470 Oak Road West (County Rd. 6) in Gulf Shores. There is no cost, but attendees are asked to register by calling 251-460-7200.
Pictured: The Blue Angels practicing at Sherman Field onboard NAS Pensacola. (photos by Cathy Deal

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Firemen will grill at Oct. 1
Go Pink event in Gulf Shores

Gulf Shores will “Go Pink’’ on Oct. 1 from from 5-7 p.m. at the Gulf Shores Fire Station at 1921 West First St., as Gulf Shores Fire & Rescue will turn on the grills for a free community gathering to kick off Gulf Shores Goes Pink. The event is free and donations will be accepted for the Guardians of the Ribbon Pink Heals of Lower Alabama. GFWC South Baldwin Woman’s Club is the co-sponsor. For more info, call 251-597-9120 or 985-290-1111.
The Pink Heals started in 2007 to help people battling cancer with a focus on women and what they mean to us in our daily lives. Since that time the program has evolved to be the driving force of change in the way this country is raising funds by taking the theme of Pink Fire Trucks and Pink Police Cars to serve the community by putting people first instead of causes.
The Lower Alabama Chapter makes surprise visits when requested by a family. The local fire department will put on the pink fire fighting gear and with flashing lights visit the home of the patient. While there, they will present something money cannot buy, a Pinky the Bear in pink fire fighter gear. Pinky is for the honored cancer patient or the caregiver as a symbol of strength and hope. It is something to “hold on to” in tough times.

St. Peter’s in Bon Secour
monthly fish-fry is Oct. 4

The final St. Peter’s Episcopal Church old fashioned fish-fry of the season will be held on Oct. 4 at the comunity hall at the church’s beautiful and historic campus in Bon Secour from 5-7 p.m. Fried fish plates include sides of hushpuppies, baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad and dessert – all for $10. Eat in or take out. St. Peter’s is located on the corner of County roads 10 and 49 at 6270 County Road 10 in Bon Secour. For more info, call 251-949-6254 or visit stpetersbonsecour. diocgc. com.

Free bird & butterfly walks
at Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge

Grab some binoculars and join the staff at Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge in Gulf Shores for some bird watching! No experience is necessary and all skill levels are welcome. With migration upon us, the refuge is filling up with a rainbow of feathers.
This is a perfect time to add some birds to your list! These walks are free to the public and start at 8 a.m. on the scheduled days. Each walk is limited to 15 people. Reservations are required.
• Bird Walk schedule: Monday, September 17; Saturday, September 22; Tuesday, October 9.
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge will also be conducting guided Butterfly tours. The tours start at 9:30 a.m. on the designated days and are free to the public and reservations are required. Beginner and experienced lepidopterists, young and old, are welcome to come out and enjoy the beauty of butterflies. The tours are limited to 12 people per tour and each tour will consist of a 2 hour round trip walk down one of the refuge trails. At least 24 hours notice for cancellations. binoculars are helpful but not required to enjoy the tours. Restroom facilities are available at the refuge office and Pine Beach Trail.
• Monarch Butterfly Walk Schedule: Thursday, September 20; Thursday, September 27; Thursday, October 4; Thursday, October 11; Thursday, October 18; Thursday, October 25; Thursday, November 1.
For more info about the bird or butterfly watching tours or to sign-up for a tour, contact the Refuge Office, Monday – Friday, 9: a.m. – 2 p.m. at (251) 540-7720.

LA Beach Writers
meet September 24

By Kim Shackelford
The LA Beach Writers will be gathering at the Thomas B. Norton Library in Gulf Shores on Monday September 24 at 5:30 p.m. All writers and those with dreams of becoming a writer are welcome and encouraged to attend.
We will be getting re-acquainted with each other after our summer break, as well as discussing our plans for the upcoming months. One of our most exciting projects will be compiling an anthology of essays, short stories, poetry and one-act plays written by our members for publication in the future. Our plans involve exciting speakers and workshop leaders who will inspire and teach us better writing skills as well as sharing our own written work with each other.
Everyone has a story (or several) to tell. The LA Beach Writers Association exists to support dedicated writers with tolerance and respect in all genres through review, critique and discussion of their written works, and to improve writing skills through education, mentoring and encouragement of members and visitors. We want to hear your stories.
Even if you have not ever tried to write, but you have the desire to write join us on the 24th! Check out our website at labeachwriters.com or email our co-chairs – Nancy Dickhute (NancyDickhute@creighton.edu) or Kim Shackelford (kshackel12@gmail.com) for more information.

Fraternal Eagles host Sept. 29 shrimp boil to fight Alzheimer’s

The Coastal Alabama Fraternal Order of Eagles, located at 3849 Hwy. 59, Suite 6, in Gulf Shores will hots its annual shrimp boil to raise funds in the fight against Alzheimer’s Disease on Saturday, September 29 from 2-6 p.m. The Eagles are offering all-you-can-eat shrimp and sides for $20 at the door or $18 in advance tickets, which are available at the club. Beverages will be available. All proceeds will benefit the FOE Alzheimer’s & Neurological Fund. Shrimp generously provided by Billy’s Seafood. Join your friends and eat shrimp to help end Alzheimer’s. For more info call 251-971-4549 from noon to 6 p.m. daily.
Pictured: Wiley Latner on left, chairman of the boil with Billy of Billy’s Seafood.

Student Sailing program & Sailing Club: The Orange Beach Wind and Water Learning Center is starting up its after-school sailing program again. Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Students will need to bring a water bottle, life jacket and water shoes. Classes will be held until Oct. 30, weather permitting. There is a 48-hour notice required for any cancellations. The cost is $20 per session and students must have completed a week of Sail Camp. The Center will also be offering a Sailing Club. The WWLC Sailing Club is only available to students who have already taken a week of Sail Camp with the center. Members also must be a middle school or high school student at Orange Beach or Gulf Shores. The group will meet once a week after school. The Sailing Club will be free and will transition into the Orange Beach High School Sailing Team. For more information, call 251-424-5909 or email mevans@orangebeachal.gov. The Wind and Water Learning Center is at 26267 Canal Rd., behind the library.

Sirens of the Sea Fall Ball Football Tailgating Party Sept. 21

Countdown To Drawdown. Football Fever is Upon Us and The Sirens of the Sea are making it happen again this year with the 2nd Annual Football Tailgating Drawdown. Back by popular demand, it is going to be held at the Orange Beach Event Center at The Wharf on Friday, September 21. Doors open at 6 p.m. Everyone is invited to come out and join the party. Wear your favorite NCAA College or NFL Pro Football team fanfare. The Grand Prize of the night is a hefty $5000.
The band Stormy from Louisiana will light up the night with horns, keyboard and vocals. Food will be catered by Down South BBQ. The Silent Auction is always over the top with a great selection of items to bid on. The Raffle Items this year are a Hotel and Dining Package at Perdido Beach Resort, Gulf Shores Country Club Golf Package and our Famous Local Restaurant Dining Out Package. Raffle tickets are only $2. Sirens of the Sea support our local communities throughout the year. A portion of the proceeds support several selected local charities, previously including Baldwin County Child Advocacy Center (CARE HOUSE). Their Annual Sirens Scholarship Fund is awarded to a local high school senior for college tuition. Tickets are $50 and are on sale now. For more information or tickets, contact Linda Pacatte at 251-402-2218 or Judy Hamby 270-887-9691 or go to Eventbrite.com. (By Angela Martin)

South Baldwin Theatre presents “The Miracle Worker” Sept. 14-23

South Baldwin Community Theatre will present The Miracle Worker Sept. 8-17, with performances at 7:30 p.m. on September 14, 15, 21 & 22, and at 2 p.m. on September 16 & 23. Tickets are available at sbct.biz.
Directed by Cynthia Mayo, with a talented local cast, The Miracle Worker tells the story of (pictured) Helen Keller, a bright, strong, energetic child, but left both blind and deaf in the wake of an illness as a baby. Her heartbroken mother Kate is Helen’s best protector, while her half-brother James wants to send Helen to an institution, and her father, Arthur Keller, a former Captain in the Confederate Army, is worried for the safety of their new baby. Enter Annie Sullivan, a lively and stubborn Yankee girl, barely out of school herself, with the experience of childhood blindness — now cured, after numerous operations. Driven by the demons of her traumatic past, Annie, the unlikely Miracle Worker, fights to reach Helen and bring light to the darkness of her mind.
Admission is $18 for adults and $15 for children. South Baldwin Community Theater is located at 2022 West 2nd St. in Gulf Shores. For more info or to buy tickets, visit sbct.biz or call 251-968-6721.