"Life is better here"
Welcome to the City of Orange Beach's
community newsletter.
Vol. 6, Issue 6
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'The Little Mermaid' continues tonight through Sunday at Performing Arts Center
Disney's “The Little Mermaid” returns at 7 p.m. tonight and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Orange Beach Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $15 for all ages. For each show, the doors will open one hour prior to the performance time.
Purchase tickets for 'Disney's The Little Mermaid'.
THE LITTLE MERMAID is produced through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. All materials were provided by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Cast
Ariel………………………………………........................Ashlyn Rowley
Prince Eric……………………………………………….......Alex Wright
Grimsby……………………………………………………...Cole Wilson
Pilot……………………………………………….Mark Jason Rainwater
Sailors……………………………………………...................Faith Craig, Brehanna Mcwhinney, Portia Hollis, Ericka "Mimi" Jones, Jake Phillips, Jennifer Robertson, Sam Robertson, Drew Townley
Mersisters………………………………………………......Hannah Britt, Savannah Higginson, Mel Hopper, Madison Lipke, Emryn Rowley
Flotsam……………………………………………………Drew Townley
Jetsam………………………………………………………..Portia Hollis
Flounder……………………………………………….Elizabeth Rayfield
Scuttle………………………………………………………..Kat Vittetoe
Windward………………………………………………………..Edi Gray
Leeward……………………………………………………..Kaden Brane
King Triton…………………………………………………...Mitch King
Sebastian………………………………………………...Michael Seward
Ursula…………………………………………………...Jessica Wendling
Chef Louis………………………………………………….Doug Furrow
Princesses……………………………………………………Mel Hopper, Molly Lipke, Jennifer McBrayer, Brehanna Mcwhinney, Sam Robertson
Ensemble……………………………………………………Hannah Britt, Mel Hopper, Erika “Mimi” Jones, Ariel Kelley, Madison Lipke, Molly Lipke, Brehanna Mcwhinney, Ryanne Perren, Mark Jason Rainwater, Jennifer Robertson, Sam Robertson, Emryn Rowley, Kat Vittetoe
Chorus…………………………………………………..Allison Godfrey, Matt Hurst, Cristina Meyer, Tessa Moody, Jake Phillips, Sherryl Pittman, Shari Woody
Chefs………………………………………………………..Hannah Britt, Faith Craig, Mel Hopper, Ericka "Mimi" Jones, Molly Lipke, Emryn Rowley, Hayes Wheat
Triton's court ensemble……………………………………Maylee Dean, Hayes Wheat, Summer Rainwater
Children’s Ensemble……………Expect Excellence Show Choreography class: Gabi Brane, Coco Butler, Daisy Carroll, Eva Fowler, Aliyah Green, EllaMac Herrington, Kyleigh Hurst, Mattie Kate Hurst, Elizabeth “Gracie” Johnson, Leah Millwood, Georgia Robinson, Cora Slade, Ollie Stanton, Savannah Subert, Kason Todd, Elsie Vittetoe, Leah Webb, Lucy West, Lily Harper Yarborough
Dance Ensemble…...........................................Classical Ballet of Mobile: Maggie Boudreaux, Emie Deas, Jacqueline Stepan, Taylor Villacampa
Orchestra
Conductor…………………………………………………….Greg Engell
Reed 1 (Flute, Clarinet)…………………………………....Christy Engell
Reed 2 (Oboe, English Horn)................................................Madi Adcock
Reed 3 (Clarinet, Saxophone)………………….....................Rod Pittman
Alto Saxophone……………………………..........................Jacob Engell
Trumpet…………………………………………..................Tim Brannon
Horn…………………………………………………............Susan Unger
Baritone………………………………...............................Adrian Barrios
Keyboard 1………………..................................................Stephen Pearce
Keyboard 2………………………………….............................Gay James
Violin 1…………………………….....................................Chelsea Smith
Violin 2………………………………………………………..Pat Furrow
Drums/Percussion…………………………………………..Tyler Vittetoe
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City Council to meet Feb. 7
The Orange Beach City Council is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday, February 7th in the Council Chambers at City Hall, followed by the Committee of the Whole work session. The council meeting will be streamed live on the city's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/orangebeach. The agendas are available at the Agenda Center on the City Website.
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Best of Baldwin 2023
Congratulations to Coastal Arts Center Director Desiree Blackwell and her staff for the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach being voted as the "Best Event Venue" in the Gulf Coast Media's Best of Baldwin 2023 awards!
In addition to the Coastal Arts Center recognition, our very own Orange Beach Mardi Gras Parade won best Mardi Gras Parade in Baldwin County! Kudos to Event Operations Director Angela Bateman and all city departments, including Public Works and the Orange Beach Police Department, that make Mardi Gras happen each year. Congratulations... we'll be back at it again on Fat Tuesday, February 21st at 2 p.m. Find more details on the Mardi Gras page on the City Website.
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Spring Sports registration opens this Monday
Registration will open on Monday, Feb. 6 for Spring 2023 Orange Beach Youth Baseball, Softball, T-Ball and Tiny T-Ball as well as Sand Volleyball. Registration will be open to Feb. 24th
Registration details are as follows:
- TINY T-BALL - Age 4 (co-ed) on May 1st, 2023 - $90 Registration Fee.
- T-BALL - Ages 5-6 (co-ed) on May 1st, 2023 - $90 Registration Fee.
- BASEBALL - Ages 7-12 on May 1st, 2023 - $100 Registration Fee.
- SOFTBALL - Ages 7-12 on Dec. 31, 2022 - $100 Registration Fee.
- SAND VOLLYEBALL
- 12U Division - Boys and girls ages 10-12 years old on May 1, 2023 - $75 Registration fee
- 16U Division - Boys and girls ages 13-16 years old on May 1, 2023 - $75 Registration fee
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Library and Senior Center Parking lots temporarily closed, Feb. 6-9
Please be advised that the parking lots at the Orange Beach Public Library and Orange Beach Adult/Senior Activity Center will be closed most of next week - Monday-Thursday, Feb. 6th-9th - for paving. Parking will be available next door on a portion of GT's lot, and on the east side of the library by the Wind and Water Learning Center.
Please see the map for exact parking locations.
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Feb. 5 - Baldwin Pops: The Baldwin Pops Band will present a “Reflections of Jazz” concert with special guests at 3 p.m. this Sunday, February 5th at the Orange Beach Event Center. Doors open at 2 p.m. The concert is free, courtesy of the City of Orange Beach. It will be an afternoon of jazz and swing tunes, with space for dancing, as well. The Event Center is located at 4671 Wharf Pkwy West.
Feb. 5 - Skins Game: The Orange Beach Golf Center’s monthly Skins Game Tournament will be held this Sunday, February 5th with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The public is welcome. There are Skins on 18 holes, a closest-to-the-pin contest, and $250 for a hole-in-one on any of the holes. For more information, call 251-981-GOLF (4653).
Feb. 6 - Community Potluck: The Monthly Orange Beach Community Potluck will be held this Monday, February 6th at the Community Center. Doors open at 6 p.m., and dinner starts at 6:30, with a guest speaker starting at 7. The February guest speakers are Pam Taylor and Bruce White of Miracle League of Coastal Alabama. Everyone is invited; just bring a side dish to share. The February entree will be meatloaf, provided by the Orange Beach Community Association. Anyone who is unable to bring a food item, may pay $5 to join in dinner.
Feb. 11 - Snowbird Trivia Night: 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.
Feb. 15 - Garden Club's Game Day: The Orange Beach Garden Club will hold its 35th Annual Game Day and Salad Luncheon on Wednesday, February 15th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Orange Beach Event Center. Tickets are $35. The theme will be "Wild at Heart" with the club celebrating the Orange Beach Wildlife Center and members will introduce attendees to some of the local wildlife the center has rescued and rehabbed. The guest speaker Melissa Vinson, who manages the Wildlife Center as part of Orange Beach Coastal Resources, will describe daily life at the center and the exciting plans for the future. The public is invited to join club members for this day of food, fun and prizes! The attendee’s $35 donation includes morning coffee and cookies, a day of gaming - participants organize the players and game - the wildlife encounter, the club’s famous member-made unlimited salad luncheon and desserts and door and raffle prizes from area local businesses. Tickets are available at The Emporium Gift Shop in the Orange Beach Rouse's Shopping Center on the Beach Road, and at Wildflowers Boutique in The Commons Shopping Center on Canal Road, next to Another Broken Egg Restaurant.
Feb. 16 - Acoustic Arts: The Coastal Arts Center's Acoustic Arts Series wraps up on February 16th at 6 p.m. with the Victory Vertical Project, “Pianos That Helped Win the War.” Tickets are $20. Seating is limited. Call 251-981-2787 (ARTS) for ticket information or stop by the art center at 26389 Canal Road.
March 1 - Town Hall Meeting: Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon and the City Council invite the public to a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, March 1st at the Orange Beach Performing Arts Center. The Town Hall will immediately follow the 5 p.m. City Council meeting and work session, which will also be at the Performing Arts Center. The mayor will give a presentation updating everyone on projects in the city, including transportation and capital improvements. As with all city town hall meetings, after presentations are done, the floor is open for anyone to ask questions.
Feb. 18-21 - Mardi Gras parades:
- The Mystics of Pleasure parade and The Marshals are expected to start rolling at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 18th on the normal Perdido Beach Boulevard route.
- The Wharf’s Annual "Moon Pies on Main" parade and outdoor activities will be held on Monday, February 20th on Main Street. A Kid and Pet Parade kicks off the fun at 4 p.m., followed by activities and an evening float parade at 6 p.m. For details, go to go.alwharf.com/MoonPiesOnMain.
- Orange Beach Fat Tuesday parade - 2 p.m., February 21st on Perdido Beach Boulevard. Find more details on the City Website's Mardi Gras page.
Feb. 25 - Seafood Fest: 31st Annual Seafood Festival and Car Show at The Wharf - Saturday, February 25th.
Feb. 25 - Arbor Day tree giveaway: The City of Orange Beach will observe Arbor Day with the annual tree giveaway on Saturday, February 25 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Trees will be given away in front of the Orange Beach Community Development building at 4101 Orange Beach Blvd. There will be a limited quantity per resident, which is defined as those who live within the city limits of Orange Beach.
March 11-12 - Festival of Art: 49th Annual Orange Beach Festival of Art - Saturday-Sunday, March 11th-12th
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SCHOOL NEWS
ORANGE BEACH CITY SCHOOLS NEWSLETTER
THE CURRENT, ISSUE NO. 4 - FEBRUARY 2023
Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing
Plans have begun for the new school year, and many exciting opportunities are on the horizon. Beyond safety, additional educational opportunities that spur student academic success will be our chief priority. In the near future, members of the Orange Beach Board of Education will consider personnel and course offerings that have significant potential to enhance student performance. Below are notions to which consideration will be given.
- Maintenance of current student-teacher ratios at the elementary level
- Reduction of large class sizes at the high school level
- Additional personnel to assist with reading and math intervention
- The employment of a math coach to assist in the implementation of the elementary's math curriculum and to provide math training and modeling to math teachers
- The employment of a school improvement person to assist with ACT preparedness
- Expanding current job responsibilities to develop and maintain effective student guidance, consultation, and mental health services, career and college guidance, four-year plans, community service, apprenticeships, and job shadowing
- Increase arts offerings
- Increase career technical education offerings
- Employ an additional foreign language teacher
- Employ a Chief School Financial Officer to give oversight to all system's funding
- Employ personnel (data analyst) to give oversight to the student tracking system (i.e., Powerschool), system software, and Google Workspace
Between January 1, 2023, and the next school year, our system anticipates hiring an additional 20 part- and full-time personnel. While we continue to build the school system, other needed aspects may be added, though our focus will always be on the classroom first.
Randy Wilkes, Superintendent
MAKO ATHLETICS
Congratulations to Cash Turner for signing to play football at the next level with the South Alabama Jaguars, and also to Ryan Hendren for signing with Spring Hill College soccer. Go Makos!
Congratulations to Orange Beach High School student-athlete Amelia Edgeworth as she was chosen to be on the South All-Star team for this year's North/South All-Star Volleyball Game! This is such a huge honor and accomplishment!
ORANGE BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Click on the image below to read the OBES Mako News for February.
Makos Academics, Arts & Athletics Club
Mako Masquerade Ball and Drawdown set for this Saturday
MAAAC's Mako Masquerade Ball and Drawdown will be held this Saturday, February 4th at 6 p.m. at the Orange Beach Event Center. The 2023 Masquerade Ball will have entertainment by Fly By Radio and catering by Wolf Bay. Tickets are available online at https://www.obmaaac.org/events for $75 per person. A single ticket includes one drawing. A table for 10 is $1,500 and includes 12 drawings and a bottle of champagne. It will be a $7,500 drawdown jackpot!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: SEAFOOD FEST AND CAR SHOW RETURNS FEB. 25
The Annual Orange Beach Seafood Festival and Car Show will return to the Wharf on Saturday, February 25, 2023. The 31st annual event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival is the major fundraising event for MAAAC. This year's festival will include a Mako parade at 11 a.m. and a crawfish-eating contest at noon.
Each year, the open car show features antique, classic and hot rod vehicles. For 2023, the registration fee per car is $75 in advance and $100 day of the show. The lineup begins at 8 a.m. on the day of the event. All vehicles must be in place by 9:30 a.m. Awards are presented to Top 10 cars. There will also be goody bags and prize drawings throughout the day.
See a PDF of the Car Show Registration Form.
Register online on the MAAAC website. For more information on the car show, please email Jean Hogue or call 251-200-8037.
The application deadline for Arts & Crafts vendors is closed and we are full for the 2023 event. Find more information and a map of the festival site on the Seafood Festival page on the City Website.
Follow all of the latest happenings at Orange Beach City Schools on the Orange Beach City Schools Facebook page.
Orange Beach City Board of Education
Upcoming scheduled meetings and/or work sessions:
- Thursday, February 9, 2023, 4:30 P.M. Work Session followed by 5:30 P.M. Regular Meeting in Council Chambers
- Thursday, March 9, 2023, 4:30 P.M. Work Session followed by 5:30 P.M. Regular Meeting in Council Chambers
Find more information on the Orange Beach City Schools website at https://www.orangebeachboe.org/.
School Websites
Orange Beach Elementary School: www.obschools.org.
Orange Beach Middle/High School: www.obcityschools.org.
Find all of the latest school news on Facebook at:
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Orange Beach Library February Calendars and Snowbird Trivia Registration
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Christian Service Center Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser set for Feb. 6
The Christian Service Center's Spaghetti Dinner will be held on Monday, February 6th at the Gulf Shores United Methodist Church, Building B - Auditorium, 1720 Gulf Shores Parkway.
Dinner will be served from 4:30-7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for dine in or drive through.
Advance tickets are available at the Christian Service Center from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. The presenting sponsor for the Spaghetti Dinner is Holy Spirit Episcopal Church and Thrift Shop.
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St. Thomas by the Sea, Knights of Columbus holding 'Mega Raffle' for Mary's Shelter Gulf Coast
A mega raffle is scheduled for March 2023 with a drawing for a prize every day of the month. Tickets are $50 each and all proceeds will benefit Mary’s Shelter Gulf Coast in Elberta. Mary’s Shelter is the only charitable organization in the five-county area able to offer shelter and support to homeless, pregnant adult women, before and after the birth of their child.
The KOC aims to raise $50,000 for Mary's Shelter Gulf Coast. Each donation of $50 provides needed services to run the shelter and gives individuals the opportunity to win 1 of 31 prizes worth up to $1,600, given away in the month of March. To learn more about the Shelter, visit https://www.maryssheltergulfcoast.org/. To purchase tickets or for additional information, contact Glenn Rudolph at 972-390-2724.
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Pier & Shore Fishing Outlook
(Courtesy of the Mullet Wrapper)
By David “Pier Pounder” Thornton
The prediction on February 2 by Gulf Shores Gus (our local weather prognosticating beach ghost shrimp) was for an end to winter when he emerged from his luxury sandbar burrow in front of the Hangout at low tide (7:30 am) under a dense layer of low clouds and did not see his shadow. Unfortunately no fish were on hand to eat him. So six more weeks of typical mid-winter doldrums were predicted as fishing prospects for from-shore anglers.
Though just as any day the sea fog clears away, we have seen some bright patches of fishing success recently. Freezing temperatures are behind us now, and through the foreseeable future. Plus water temperatures have risen a few degrees into the low 60s along the beaches and middle 60s out in the Gulf. This trend is expected to continue through this fortnight as temperature fluctuations occur around periodic Pacific fronts. These push in cool oceanic air to displace warmer/moister air off the Gulf of Mexico. That keep the coldest (arctic) air well north of the region, at least through mid February. So-called sea fog (advection fog) periodically forms any time the air temperature is warmer than the chilly coastal waters, especially around the shallow surf zone and bays. The air is cooled by the water it touches, and clouds form just above the surface.
One of the usual suspects of winter fishing are sheepshead which have been quite active inshore this winter. They are often referred to as “convict fish” due to their vivid color pattern of vertical black and white stripes. Also for their penchant of stealing bait off angler's hooks with barely a nibble detected.
These piscatorial pickpockets are wary adversaries for anglers, often adept at biting a live shrimp off right behind the hook. But they are readily available, scrappy fighters and fine table fare which makes them a favorite target species for winter coastal anglers. Because sheepshead have a relatively small mouth, two to three inch long live shrimp or fiddler crabs are the preferred baits which are fished on medium to light classed terminal tackle. They have excellent eyesight too, and may be notoriously finicky about eating what anglers offer at times. This necessitates going to smaller hook sizes with lighter lines and more sensitive rod tips, just to get them to bite. Sheepshead fishing in Perdido Pass may be easier for anglers around the NEAP tide period February 9-10 than during the following week when the daily tidal variation will be at a maximum (nearly 2 ½ feet).
More bull redfish and large black drum are becoming available for fishermen along the beaches and Intercoastal Waterway Canal in this milder water and longer (slightly) length of daylight hours. Their big mouths can handle larger baits fished on the bottom, especially a fresh crab half or quarter. Generally a two to three foot long leader is used with enough weight (two to six ounces) for keeping the bait in place. Medium heavy spinning tackle (15 to 25 pound class) is ideally suited for these brutes which often weigh 15 to 30 pounds. They are breeding stock fish, and most are released for that reason alone. Plus larger specimens generally have coarser flesh, and large drum have a particularly bad reputation of being infested with a parasite called spaghetti worms. This kind of fishing is more about quality over quantity, and the wait between bites may be long. But anglers intent on trophy fishing instead of meat fishing are probably going to be pleased with the sport of it depending on how much time they put into it.
Along with sheepshead; pompano, whiting (Gulf kingfish), white trout, croaker, flounder and speckled trout numbers have been increasing across the area too. They have been more active in the surf as this mild early spring weather pattern continues. The usual spots like Perdido Pass seawall and jetty have been productive, along with Little Lagoon Pass, and even at the Gulf State Park Pier at times.
Fish are often hard to come by at the pier this time of year, especially in the morning hours. But a few good days are enough to keep anglers coming back to share good companionship, which may include coffee and doughnuts.
In January, DCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship mentioned that NOAA had provided their biological assessment to the US Army Corps of Engineers. This brings us one step closer in the arduous process of getting the pier repaired. That looks like it could start sometime after turtle nesting season ends November 30. Their plan is to order a lot of the materials beforehand and pre build pilings and spans on land to expedite the repair process next fall/winter. Meanwhile anglers on the pier will need to remain patient and content with the occasional good days Mother Nature provides them. Those are some the bright spot days mentioned earlier when more than a handful of keeper-sized whiting are caught, or a few pompano and flounder are landed.
While water temperatures remain consistently mild through the next few weeks, we can expect to see more sheepshead appear around hard structures in the Gulf, along with more pompano and whiting active in the surf. More flounder, bluefish, and speckled trout may be available around the passes and even in the surf as well, if winter is truly over.
GhostShrimp Gus the unofficial Gulf Shores weather prognosticating beach ghost shrimp predicted that winter is over on February 2.
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