SnowBird News

Hobby & Craft Fair Feb. 24

Hobby and Craft Fair will once again be at the Grand Pointe Condominium Meeting Room (27284 Gulf Road, Orange Beach) The show and sale will take place from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. on Friday, Feb. 24. Items on display and for sale will be Jewelry, greeting cards, knitted purses, cork boards, quilled greeting cards, shell pendants and misc items. Info: Judie McCoy at 765-860-8520. (Gates will be open)

Minnesota

The Minnesota Snowbird Club is hosting a weekly breakfast at GT’s On The Bay located on 26189 Canal Rd, Orange Beach each Tuesday, through March 14 at 8am. Registration is required 1 week prior to the event. Click on the Breakfast Sign-up tab on our homepage at mnal.org. There is a minimum and maximum seating requirement. Best value breakfast in town. $12/person all inclusive. Please bring small bills and correct change if possible. New and returning snowbirds from Minnesota can keep abreast of 2023 activities at mnal.org or the Facebook page: facebook.com search @mnalclub.

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!

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.

Illinois

By Cheryl Hoffman
Welcome to the Illinois SnowBird Club. There are no membership fees. We welcome you to attend any of our activities. The breakfast (buffet) meetings are Jan 27, Feb 9 and 24 at GTs on the Bay at 8 a.m. (doors open at 7:45 a.m.) The cost is $13.00. Call MaryLou Brunner (219-869-1138) to reserve one week (by noon) in advance of each breakfast. Potluck Game Nights are Jan 17 and Feb 13, 5:30-9:00 p.m., at the Orange Beach Senior Activity Center. Bring a potluck dish and a game of your choice, or games will be available. We have an active Facebook site describing activities, schedules, etc. at Illinois Snow Birds Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, Alabama.

Missouri

By Mark Rethemeyer
The Missouri Snowbirds Club of Alabama 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! We encourage you to come and join us. You’ll meet lots of friendly people and make a lot of new friends. Some of our activities have a maximum, so don’t hesitate! Go to our website and sign up to join us. We hope to see you soon. Just go to our website and sign up! MISSOURISNOWBIRDS.ORG. Like us on Facebook: Missouri Club of Gulf Shores

Indiana

By Becky Chatham-Heidenreich
I see many Indiana license plates everywhere I go, but did not see these great people at our first meeting. You are so important to the Indiana Snowbird Club and we would like for you to join our club.
We meet the second and fourth Thursdays of Jan. and Feb. at the Orange Beach Community Center, 27280, Canal Rd. at 8am.(it is on the left hand side of Canal, just before #2 fire station. The next two meetings will be Feb. 9th and Feb. 23rd . Doughnuts, coffee, tea, & juice will be served. We have mandatory annual dues of $2.50 per person. There will also be a charge of $2.50 per person at each meeting for doughnuts. Please bring the correct currency or a check with you. Notice of your attendance is requested 3 days before each meeting, so we can order the doughnuts. Please contact Sharon Kimmel (260)229-4344. Our speakers are: Feb. 9-Nicole Bryant-Sea, Sand, & Sea School at Orange Beach Elementary and Feb. 23-Brad Johnson-Recreation Facility Maintenance Coordinator Coastal Resources. Luncheons are planned for Mon., Feb. 6 at Wolf Bay Restaurant on Beach Rd., Orange Beach and Mon.,Feb. 20 at Original Oyster House just off SR 59. You do not need to be a member to attend, but reservations are requested to be made 3 days before the dinner you would like to attend. Please sign up at meetings or call Becky Heidenreich (260)760-5130. Do come to meetings and join the fun, the renewing of old friendships, and the making of new friends.

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.

Welcome Wednesdays at ‘Bama

Welcome Wednesdays potluck lunches are back at the Flora-Bama thru 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.

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Snowbird Club meets weekly for breakfast on Wednesdays in January, February,
and the first two Wednesdays jn March. Breakfasts are at 9:00am at the Buzzcatz Restaurant on Canal Road in Orange Beach. For information call Rich Smith at 610-217-6674.

Snowbird Play at SBCT

By Robert Gardner
In February, our Snowbirds return and put on their own show at South Baldwin Community Theatre (with the help of a little local talent)! The audience solves this comedy murder mystery and deduces which dummy did it.
All hell breaks loose and the laughs fly when five outrageous contestants show up at Vinnie’s Belly Laugh Club for the final talent competition. A ventriloquist with moving lips, a foul-mouthed stand-up comedian, a baton twirling bimbo, the flamboyant owner of a lip-synching poodle, a chanteuse with a questionable accent and a hypnotist with a twitch all fight to win the grand prize. When Vinnie turns up dead, they’re all suspects and the audience has the time of its life grilling them and fingering the murderer. Shows: February 8th through 12th & 15th through 19th. Tickets: SBCT.biz. South Baldwin Theatre
2022 West Second St. Gulf Shores.

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!

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.

New York

By Frank Panczyszyn
At the first meeting, over 50 members and friends were present, including 8 people who were attending a NY snowbird function for the first time. As usual, another great meal was had by all. Linda Spangrud, The Turtle Lady, and local author was their guest speaker.
The second luncheon will be on Thursday, January 26th, at Ginny Lanes at the Wharf in Orange Beach, AL at 11am. The NYers will order off their special lunch menu, with separate checks, hopefully with a guest speaker from the Zoo. That will be followed by a meeting, their 50-50 drawing, and door prizes. $1.00 per person is collected at registration for expenses and year end donations to the community. RSVP by January 24th at nysnowbirds@gmail.com. They will also be meeting on February 9th and 23, and March 9th.
The annual Brat Fest to raise money for the local fire departments has been cancelled, but replaced with a February Snowbird Calendar Raffle. There will be 29 drawings in February with prizes of $50, $100, $200, $400, and $500. Cost of ticket $10. Many of New York’s tickets have been sold, with the remainder to be sold during their second luncheon on January 26th.
The annual Low Country Boil, a fundraiser for the Zoo, will be conducted on Friday, February 10th, at the Zoo. There will only be 3 seatings rather than the usual 4 seatings, 11, 1230, and 2, due to the fear of an inadequate number of volunteers and initial impression that the number of snowbirds here this year will be lower. Tickets are $16 and they are encouraging more New Yorkers to volunteer for a few hours. They are taking orders for each sitting, and will finalize ticket sales after their 2nd luncheon.
The 11th Annual All-States Snowbird Charity Bowling Tournament, a fundraiser for the Christian Service Center, will be Tuesday, February 14th at the Foley Gulf Bowl. It is organized by state in 4 person teams, at a cost of $15 per person.

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 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.

Iowa

By Amos Glanz
The Iowa Snowbird Club invites its members and their guests to attend its next breakfast meeting on Wed., Feb. 8 at 8:30am at the Event Center at The Wharf, 4671 Wharf Parkway W., Orange Beach. Our guest speaker is from the Poarch Band of the Creek Indian Nation and will give us a brief history of their tribe. Breakfast is buffet-style at a cost of $17 each. Reservations are mandatory and cannot be cancelled after the deadline (Noon, Feb. 1). For reservations, see our website, Iowa-Alabamagulfcoastsnowbirds.org (preferred) or by texting/calling Chris at 319-430-4597. The Iowa Club charges no fees to join. We schedule several golf outings at various courses in the area. Visit our website for tee-times and to register.

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-bird Club will meet on Thursdays, February 2 and 16, at the Orange Beach Event Center near the Wharf. Everyone from WI is invited to attend. We meet at 8:30 am for coffee and donuts with the meeting starting at 9 am. There will be books and puzzles for exchange and always door prizes! You can sign up for a Golf Fun Day, Picnic, 8-Pin No Tap bowling, Trivia Night and a Zoo Fun Day. Sheepshead cards are played every Friday from 9 am to noon at the Gulf Shores American Legion on AL-59. We also collect box tops from General Mills and Johnson & Johnson products, motel toiletries, empty printer ink cartridges and pop top rings. If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please contact Kenn at 251-967-2463 OR wissnobirds@yahoo.com.

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.

Michigan

By Dave Ferguson
Michigan’s Club next meeting will be on February 2 at The Island Church, 25550 Canal Road in Orange Beach, Coffee 9 AM, meeting at 10 AM. The second Membership and golf signup will be on 2/5/23, at the Live Bait Restaurant from 1 to 2:30. The club will have Breakfast at GT on January 26 at 9. The cost is $12.50. Tickets are available at the club meeting or call Walt Salisbury at 231-755-7999. The Club has planned a trip with The Fun Boats Dolphin Cruise & Sea Life Experience for February 3. Call Pat Eppley at 810-334-3508. The cost is $25 per person. 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 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: 1-30-23 at Kiva Dunes Golf course, Dave Ferguson, 989-435-9085; 2/1/23 at Gulf Shores Golf course, Mary Rossi, 586-295-4449; 2/6/23 at Peninsula Golf course, Nancy Grebe, 586-295-4345; 2/8/23 at Kiva Dunes Golf course, Dave Holzworht, 231-463-7181. 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 Sue Beach at spbeach260@charter.net or phone number 231-429-0952.

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.