SnowBird News

Perdido Key Hootenannies

Visiting snowbirds are invited to a series of three Snowbird Hootenanny events to be held at the Flora-Bama. This year’s first event to be held on January 12. Guests are encouraged to dress up in their favorite western wear to enjoy some live pickin’-and-grinnin’ music as well as games and door prizes, followed by a delicious lunch provided by the legendary Flora-Bama chefs.
The second event on February 2 and dedicated to lovebirds of all ages. Attendees will be treated to an afternoon of great food, music, prize giveaways, and games with Valentine’s Day flair.
The final Hootenanny wil be on February 16 and have a Mardi Gras twist. Foot stomping music, plenty of throws, a delicious luncheon, and more giveaways will be offered. Admission for each event is $10. Tickets are limited and can be purchased online at VisitPerdido.com, or in person at the Perdido Key Area Chamber of Commerce; 15500 Perdido Key Dr.

Son Sowers sewing group

The local chapter of Son Sowers, a community of local spirit filled individuals who are also handy with a needle in their hand, will meet on January 17 from 6-7 p.m. at Gulf Shores United Methodist Church classroom A138. Through SewPowerful.org, the local chapter connects with sewers around the world to help combat extreme poverty by making purses that become part of a reusable feminine hygiene kit for girls in Zambia. The non-profit employs women in Zambia to make re-usable feminine pads. That project also provides living-wage employment for women and enables girls to attend school all month long.
In addition to the Jan. 17 meeting, Son Sowers is hosting sew/sows the first and third Thursday of each month from 1- 3 p.m. at GSUMC classroon A138. The meetings consist of card making, cutting, embellishing, ironing and pattern tracing. For more info, contact Jackson at sewsowensuziastic@ gmail. com or 205- 753-0281. Future chapter meetings are: April 18, July 18 and Oct. 17.

Senior softball twice a week

By Mike Dunaway
Come join the Coastal Alabama Senior Softball group this winter by calling Wayne at 225-313-8516 or visiting coastalalabamaseniorsoftball.com for our complete schedule. We play twice a week in the mornings around 10 a.m. at either the Orange Beach or Gulf Shores Sportsplexes. We have local players, but we welcome and encourage snowbirds to join us. Our players are all over 50. We welcome females as well. See you there.

Cribbage

Beginning Friday, January 13, cribbage players will be gathering to play cribbage every Friday. Sign up starts at 12:30 pm and play begins at 1 pm at the Gulf Shores American Legion, Post 44, 6781 AL-59. The cost is $5. For additional information contact Barbara Beamish at 989-464-8605. All Cribbage players are welcome!

New York

By Frank Panczyszyn
The NY Snowbirds will meet for lunch on 2nd and 4th Thursdays of January and February, and 2nd Thursday in March, Jan 12, 26, Feb 9, 23, and Mar 9. We gather at Ginny Lanes at the Wharf in Orange Beach, AL at 11am, order of their special lunch menu, with separate checks, have guest speakers, a meeting, and door prizes. $1.00 per person collected at registration for expenses and year end donations to the community. RSVP by 3 days prior to luncheons at nysnowbird@gmails.com.

Wisconsin Synod Lutherans

Gulf Shores area WELS/ELS members will have local church services with Holy Communion on January 8 & 22 and February 5 & 19 at St Jude by the Sea Lutheran Church, 312 E 16th Ave, Gulf Shores. Services will start at 4 with Bible class to follow. For more info contact: Jim Diehm, jkdiehm@gmail.com or 231-598-0383.

Dulcimer Beginnner Lessons

By Irene Morrison
Mt Dulcimer Players meet Jan 9, until the beginning of March, Mondays 10-noon, St Andrew by the Sea, 17263 Fort Morgan Rd, Gulf Shores. Questions? Michelle 317-446-0500. Want to learn to play mt dulcimer? Free lessons Mondays 9-9:45 a.m. starting Jan 9 until mid-March. St Andrew by the Sea, 17263 Fort Morgan Rd, Gulf Shores. Dulcimers available to rent. Please call Michelle to register 317-446-0500.

Masonic Chicken Dinner Jan. 7

By Dean Mott
Sonora Masonic Lodge #635 F&AM will hold its annual fried chicken dinner fundraisers on Saturday, January 7, February 4 and March 4 from 11 am-1 pm or until supplies last. The lodge is located at 202 E. Jackson Street in Summerdale. Adult plates will be $10 and a child’s plate will be $6. Delivery is available on multiple plate orders. The dinners will include chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, cole slaw, green beans and complimentary tea and dessert for dine-in guests. Proceeds generated from the fundraiser will be used towards monthly lodge expenditures including; providing scholarships and supporting local community and school events. For more information contact Dean Mott at edeanmott@gmail. com or visit the lodge’s Facebook page.

G.S. Men’s Snowbird Coffee Club

By Larry ColeBy
The Gulf Shores Men’s Snowbird Coffee Club will hold their first meeting of the season on Monday, January 2 at 8 a.m. All meetings are held at Ginny Lane Bar and Grill at the Wharf, 851 Wharf Pkwy. E., Orange Beach every Monday and Friday mornings from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Membership information is available at these meetings. The oldest continually active snowbird club has more than 200 members from twenty-six states and three Canadian provinces. Besides raising money for local charities, the club holds golf outings, sponsors casino trips and conducts breakfast meetings for members and spouses. The club also throws horseshoes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at noon at Meyer Park in Gulf Shores. Officers are: Mike Culverhouse, president, Michigan; Dale Orchard, vice president, Michigan; Tom Lanan, secretary, Illinois; and Tom Williams, treasurer, Michigan.

Sweet Harmony Chorus

By Pamula Rustan
Woman Singers Come Join Us! Sweet Harmony Chorus is a group of woman snowbirds and local residents who like to sing woman’s acapella music in the barbershop close harmony style. We meet January through mid March, Mondays from 1:30 – 4:30 pm for a limited commitment. All ranges of talent are welcome. We have training tapes for rapid learning. The Sweet Harmony woman have a lot of fun, laughs and musical experiences. We historically performed locally 3-4 times in February and March. The Sweet Harmony ladies invite any woman who would enjoy singing to join us. For more info, call Pamula Rustan, director at 701-260-0670 or email viewpt01@ gmail.com. Or visit sweetharmonychorus.org . We are also in need of a rehearsal pianist. Join us on Monday 2 at 2:00 pm. See the following schedule: Time: 2-4 pm; sectionals 1:30-2 & 4-4:30; Date: Every Monday, Jan. 2- Mar. 13; Place: Choir Room at GSUMC.

Iowa

By Amos Glanz
The Iowa Snowbird Club invites its members and their guests to attend its next breakfast meeting of the season on Wed., Jan. 25 at 8:30am at the Event Center at The Wharf, 4671 Wharf Parkway W., Orange Beach. We will be getting the latest update on gulf coast events, attractions, etc. from the local city administrators. Breakfast is buffet-style at a cost of $17 each. Reservations are mandatory and cannot be cancelled after the deadline (Noon, Jan. 18). For reservations, see our website, Iowa-Alabamagulfcoastsnowbirds.org (preferred) or by texting/calling Chris at 319-430-4597. The Iowa Club is very active but charges no fees to join. We schedule several golf outings at various courses in the area. See our website for tee-times and to register. We also started a public Facebook group for those that like to share information, stories. And pictures.
Link is Iowa-Alabama Gulf Coast Snowbirds Club

Michigan

By Dave Ferguson
Michigan’s Club next meeting will be on January 19 at The Island Church, 25550 Canal Road in Orange Beach, Coffee 9 AM, meeting starts at 10 AM. When turning into the church driveway, turn right to the church’s auditorium. There is apply parking on the west side of the driveway. The club will have Breakfast at GT on January 26, 2023, at 9. The cost is $12.50. Tickets are available at the club meeting or call Walt Salisbury at 231-755-7999. We will be golfing every Monday and Wednesday until March 8. Our golf schedule can be found at michiganclubalabama.com. This year we are again welcoming all snowbirds from all the snowbird clubs to join our golf outings. To sign up, just go to our website, click on the golf icon and our schedule will appear. Pick the course that you want to play and call the coordinator for that course and give them your name and phone number. Our next four golf outings and contacts are as follows: 1-16-23 at Quail Creek Golf course, Dave Eppley, 810-334-5947; 1/18/23 at Gulf Shores Golf course, Mary Rossi, 616-295-4449; 1/23/23 at Craft Farms Cotton Creek course, Bob Imhoff, 616-897-5290; 1-25-23, and Solders Creek Golf course, Dave Ferguson, 989-435-9085. We will also have Ladies golf. It will be every Tuesday, weather permitting, at Gulf Links Golf Center on 59. We will meet at 9:30 AM, with Tee times at 10. If you would like to join or have questions, please contact spbeach260@charter.net or phone 231-429-0952.

Retired Law Enforcement Lunch

By Tom Westgate
The annual Snowbird Retired Law Enforcement Luncheon will be held at noon, Feb. 22 at the American Legion Post 44, 6781 Gulf Shores Pkwy (State Hwy 59), Gulf Shores. All retired and former law enforcement officers and their spouses are invited. Active officers are also welcome). We normally have police, corrections, court, and others that were/are involved in law enforcement. Please RSVP to Tom Westgate at (269) 252-7029 for a head count.

Wisconsin

By Nancy Durgin
The WI Sno-birds met on Wednesday, January 4, at the Orange Beach Event Center (OBEC) for the first time in three years. 231 members joined us with 45 more newcomers! About 80% of the Fire fighters are also paramedics, so everyone should feel really well taken care of when we’re visiting. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 17, at OBEC with donuts and coffee at 8:30 am and the meeting starting at 9 am. Ken Grimes, City Administrator of Orange Beach, will be our guest. There will be sign-ups for events as well as a book/puzzle exchange. We also collect pop-tops, motel toiletries, empty printer ink cartridges and box tops from General Mills and Johnson & Johnson products. Any questions or concerns contact Kenn at 251-967-2463 OR Wissnowbirds@yahoo.com. Wednesday, Jan 25 – Orange Beach Community Center (OBCC) – potluck lunch; Monday, Jan 30 – Golf Fun Day – registration required.

Yooper Luncheon Feb. 7

By Dan Ingles
The 40th Annual Michigan Yooper Lunceheon will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 11:30 a.m. ‘til 2 p.m. at Luna’s at Cosmo’s Courtyard in the Magnolia Room in Orange Beach. The buffet lunch starts at noon. Cost is $18 per person including tax and gratuity. There will be drawings and prizes. RSVP by Feb. 1 please. For more info, call 906-440-0866 o0r 906-748-5966.

Gulf Shores Winter Concert Series tickets now on sale

The Gulf Shores Winter Concert Series lineup includes Jim Witter’s tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John Jan. 30-31, legendary cowboy musicians Riders in the Sky on Feb. 5-7, Marc Broussard on Feb. 16 and Paul Thorn on March 2. Concerts will be held at the Erie Meyer Civic Center and tickets are $35 each.
Shows begins at 7 p.m., and doors open at 5:30 p.m. Food trucks and a beverage tent will be onsite before and during the show. For more information, visit gulfshoresal.gov/winterconcertseries. Fans can also purchase tickets at the Gulf Shores City Store, located at 1821 Gulf Shores Pkwy during regular store hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
More info: 251-968-1171.

Volunteers are needed for GSP Give Back Tuesdays

Give Back Tuesday community work days are back at Gulf State Park. Volunteers are needed for projects focusing on wildlife protection, trail maintenance, campground restoration, park beautification, and invasive species removal. Cmmunity work days are every Tuesday from 8 a.m. ‘til noon. More info: cindy.langston@dcnr.alabama.

Welcome Wednesdays at ‘Bama thru March 1

Welcome Wednesdays potluck lunches are back at the Flora-Bama from Jan. 4 1thru March 3. The weekly lunch features live music, followed by drawings for goods, services and merchandise compliments of the Flora-Bama and local businesses. Music begins at 11 a.m. The noon buffet is $6 per person. The Flora-Bama is located directly on the Gulf at the Florida-Alabama state line.

Frank Calma Snowbird Dance Jan. 27 in Foley

By Gail Calma
We are looking forward to having the Frank Calma Memorial Snowbifrds Dance on Friday, Jan. 27 at the Foley Civic Center, 407 E Laurel Avenue (Hwy 98) from 6 – 9 p.m. BYOB, set-ups, chips, soft drinks and water will be furnished. Feel free to bring appetizers for your table. Tickets are $20 per person, casual dress. For additional info call 251-752-7422.
John Brust, Jim Andrews, and Jerry Anderson, core group of the Shirley and Wayne’ Supper Club Band, will be playing and we are all looking forward to enjoying an evening of dancing with them. We have certainly realized Frank’s dream each year!
The dance begin February, 2007 when Frank wanted to raise money for the Knights of Columbus to help local charities. We owe the success of this dance to our Band, the locals, the Snowbirds, Our Lady Of The Gulf Knights And Ladies Auxiliary, Elberta Knights And The Columbiettes, every volunteer, and local businesses who have supported us for the last 15 Years. Thank You To Everyone Who Has Been a Part Of This Event! See You On The Dance Floor!

Free quilt classes

Free quilt classes will start on Wednesday, JKan. 18 from 9 – 11 a.m. ‘for five weeks at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at 400 N. Alston St. in Foley. The classses are Learning Basic 4 & 9 Patch Blocks. For more info, call 573-760-5119 or email BAMalugen@msn.com.

Missouri

By Mark Rethemeyer
You’ don’t have to be from Missouri and you don’t have to be a member to join us for our activities. If you are looking to get involved and make some new friends while you are snowbirding at the Gulf, then take this as your personal invitation, and we hope to see you soon!
It is just this easy – go to our website and sign-up for our activities – and then just show up. missourisnowbirds.org Like us on Facebook: Missouri Club of Gulf Shores
The Missouri Snowbirds Club meets weekly for Breakfast at Tacky Jacks on Wednesdays, Golf Scramble at Gulf Shores Country Club on Wednesdays, and Happy Hour at Cobalt’s on Mondays. We have other parties and activities planned as well, but you’ll have to go to our Website to sign up. If you are from Missouri and looking to meet some other Missouri Snowbirds this is your personal invitation to join us! Just go to our website and sign up!

Indiana

By Becky Chatham-Heidenreich
Welcome to all IN Snowbirds in AL. So glad you have decided to join us this year.You are cordially invited to the IN Snowbird Club meetings this year on Jan. 26th and Feb. 9th & 23rd. The meetings will be held at the Orange Beach Community Center, 27280 Canal Road. Doughnuts, coffee and tea, and orange juice will be served. Reservations are requested, but not required as we need to know how many doughnuts to order. Please call Sharon Kimmel (260)229-4344 at least 4 days before the meeting that you are attending. The doors will open at 8 am.
Mandatory club dues are only $2.50 per person. There will be a charge of $2.50 per person at each meeting for doughnuts. Please bring the correct currency or a check. We have a 50/50 raffle and door prizes (thanks to the generosity of many businesses in the area.) During Jan. meetings we will be participating in a fundraiser for the fire departments. It’s called a Calendar Drawing. Tickets will be $10 and can be purchased during the Jan. meetings. Drawings will be made everyday in February for no less than $50. Winning tickets will be placed back in bin for remaining drawings. We ask for members to sign up to help with the Low Country Boil on Feb. 10. A luncheon is planned for Feb. 6th at Wolf Bay on Pedido Beach Blvd. Anyone can attend.. Reservations are to be made 3 days before the luncheon to Becky Heidenreich (260-760-5130). The speaker for Jan. 26th is is Jason Neel, OB Reference Librarian. Come join in the fun, the renewing of old friendships, and making new friends.Z

PEO Game Day/Lunch Feb.7

PEO Game Day & Lunch Fundraiser, Tuesday, 2/7, 11a to 3p, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 506 N. Pine St., Foley, rear entrance & parking, $20 per person, includes lunch. Bring your games & friends. Reservations are required as space is limited. Contact Betty at 251-233-3606.

Snowbird Trivia Feb. 11

The Friends of the Orange Beach Public Library are also hosting Snowbird Trivia Night on Saturday, February 11th at the Orange Beach Event Center. Locals are welcome. Doors open at 5 p.m. and play begins at 6 p.m. There are eight players per table, $160 per table. For more information, contact Sharon or Larry at 405-630-8731 and leave a message. Registration forms are available at the public libraries in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.

Woman & men come sing with the Sweet Harmony Chorus

Woman and men singers come join us! Sweet Harmony Chorus is a group of men and women snowbirds and local residents who like to sing acapella music in the barbershop close harmony style. We meet January through mid March , one day a week {Mondays 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm} for a limited commitment. All ranges of talent are welcome. We have training tapes for rapid learning. The chorusers have a lot of fun, laughs and musical experiences. We perform locally 3-4 times in February and March. And men who enjoy singing are welcome to join us. More info: Pamula Rustan, 701-260-0670 or email director at viewpt01@gmail.com oe sweetharmonychorus.org. Gulf Shores United Methodist Church is located at 1900 Gulf Shores Parkway–