ST. PETER'S FISH FRY/SANDSPUR CONCERT

WHEN : Tuursday, JUNE 5, 2008 5-7pm

WHERE: St Peter's Episcopal Church
6270 Bon Secour Hwy
Bon Secour, AL

CONTACT: 251-949-6254
www.stpetersofbonsecour.com
email: stpeters@gulftel.com

Come on out to Bon Secour for the St. Peter's of Bon Secour Episcopal Church Fish Fry! Take the night off from cooking and enjoy delicious food as well as some bluegrass gospel music from the Sandspur Band coming to us special from the Gulf Shores United Methodist Church!

These ladies and gentlemen really know how to fry up some great fish and it'll make you want to come back for more. And what's better than not having to cook, eating some great food and some good old bluegrass gospel music? No cleanup!
The St. Peter's Of Bon Secour Episcopal Church's Fish Fry's are held the first Thursday of the month May through September at St. Peters of Bon Secour Episcopal Church starting at 5:00 p.m. and ending at 7:00 p.m.

A donation of $8.00 per plate is requested. Each plate includes fried mullet, baked beans, potato salad, slaw, bread, tea and a delicious homemade dessert. The donations provide for the church's various outreach programs, such as Ecumenical Ministries, Camp Beckwith, Habitat for Humanity and many others. So come on out for a night off from cooking and help us support these worthy causes. For more information please contact:

St Peter's Episcopal Church
6270 Bon Secour Hwy
Bon Secour, AL
251-949-6254
www.StPetersOfBonSecour.com
email: StPeters@gulftel.com

Cities ‘Paint the Town Purple’ to support Relay For Life

by Clayton Wallace


The cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach are turning purple, and that’s just fine with city leaders. Resolutions that passed unanimously in both cities named April as “Cancer Awareness Month”. To highlight the month, and to bring attention to the annual Relay For Life on the Alabama Gulf Coast, the city’s have joined the American Cancer Society to “Paint the Town Purple”.

Purple has long been the signature color of Relay For Life, according to Relay Co-Chair Jeanne Fitzgibbons, and she said the Relay For Life Committee would like to encourage everyone to hang a purple bow, fly a purple flag or otherwise display purple at their homes and businesses.

According to Fitzgibbons, bows are now available at several locations around the island. “For a donation of $3 anyone can pick up a purple bow to put on mailboxes, lampposts, front doors, and anywhere else,” she said. “We encourage people to also make their own bows and even display purple flags.”

Bows are available at Orange Beach City Hall, Gulf Shores City Hall, Whitney Bank – Gulf Shores, Vision Bank – Orange Beach and The Beach Club. “Even if you can’t come out and take part in the Relay event on April 25, anyone can show support for Relay by helping us ‘Paint the Town Purple,’” Fitzgibbons said.

In part, the proclamations from the cities states, “The Relay For Life of The Alabama Gulf Coast is unique in this community in that it blends fundraising, cancer awareness and prevention activities, fellowship and support for cancer survivors, and this April will also host its first “Painting The Town Purple” event in conjunction preceding this year’s Relay For Life.”

The American Cancer Society will hold its annual Relay For Life of The Alabama Gulf Coast on April 25 at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. The national theme of this year’s Relay is “Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.”

This year’s goals, according ot Fitzgibbons are to celebrate more than 200 cancer survivors in our community, to remember those who have lost the battle against cancer, and to fight back by raising money to go towards research to end this horrible disease.

For more information on the Alabama Gulf Coat Relay event, contact Fitzgibbons at 981-1524 or jfitz@cityoforangebeach.com, or Co-Chair Janice Rayborn at 967-1212 or JRayborn@whitneybank.com.

Columbia Southern sponsors Relay for Life for 5th Consecutive year

by Clayton Wallace

ORANGE BEACH – Columbia Southern University is a proud sponsor of the American Cancer Society’s Alabama Gulf Coast Relay for Life for the fifth consecutive year. Last year, roughly 40 faculty and staff put on their best “boxing gear” to be a part of the “Rocky” Relay for Life Team. CSU won Best Overall Team Tailgate for having the best food and presentation thanks to the generosity of Cosmo’s Restaurant and Bar. This was the second time the university has received this award since 2004 when they also won Best Team Karaoke and first place for the Survivor’s Team Challenge.

“Cancer has touched this online university in many ways,” said Robert Mayes, CSU President. “Our involvement in this event will help CSU be a part of the solution.”

This year’s Alabama Gulf Coast Relay for Life will be held April 25 at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. CSU is just one of at least 12 teams who have committed to walk throughout the night until 6 a.m. April 26. “It is important to have dedicated teams like CSU take their part in Relay seriously. Team members give up much of their free time in the weeks leading up to Relay,” ACS Community Representative Kim Bertagnolli said. “Many of the events team members participate in are fun, but it’s also a lot of hard work. It will all be worth it when we find a cure for cancer.”

CSU has held, and will continue to hold, several internal events to raise resources for the American Cancer Society. Fight Back with Blue Jeans, Dunking for Donations, Bake for a Cure, and Load a Plate to Save a Life are all aimed at engaging employees in one of the university’s most important values – supporting organizations that improve the quality of life.

“I can’t tell you how pleased we are to have Columbia Southern as out Platinum Sponsor again this year,” local Relay Co-Chair Jeanne Fitzgibbons said. “They have played an important role in the success of our local Relay in past years, and I look forward to working with them again this year in our quest to help find a cure for cancer.”

In addition to their role as Platinum Sponsor, CSU is also the luminaria sponsor for this year’s Relay. Luminarias are bags with candles inside and names of cancer victims and survivors printed outside. The bags will be placed around the Relay track and the candles will be lit as all lights in the park go dim. Relay participants will then walk several laps in silence to remember loved ones affected by cancer. Suggested donations for placing a luminaria are $5. To find out more information on the luminarias, contact CSU’s Katie Coale at 800-977-8449 ext. 216 or Katie.Coale@columbiasouthern.edu.

One of the nation’s first completely online universities, CSU offers completely online accredited degree programs with open enrollment, maximum transfer credit, and a flexible learning style. Associate, bachelor, graduate and postgraduate programs are available in a variety of fields including fire science, criminal justice, business administration, information technology, human resource management, occupational safety and health, and more. Undergraduate and graduate certificate programs are also available to provide focused training in specialized areas.

For more information, please visit www.columbiasouthern.edu or call 981-3771.

Relay For Life to host Dessert Extravaganza for cancer survivors

by Clayton Wallace

The Relay for Life Alabama Gulf Coast Committee would like to invite all area cancer survivors and caregivers to a “Dessert Extravaganza” reception April 10 at the Gulf Coast Culinary Institute on the Gulf Shores campus of Faulkner State Community College.

Sponsored by Gulf Coast Cancer Centers, the reception will feature the best desserts student pastry chefs at FSCC have to offer. The purpose of the reception is to honor area residents who have fought back against cancer and bear the moniker of “Survivor.” According to Relay Co-Chair Jeanne Fitzgibbons, the event is open to the caregivers of cancer survivors as well. “We know the person who has battled through cancer did not fight their battles alone. We want to honor those who helped their loved ones survive this terrible disease,” she said.

“The Dessert Extravaganza is a departure from the survivor’s breakfasts we have had in the past,” said Survivor Chairman Margaret Bemis, a 13-year cancer survivor. “This event wil be held after business hours so survivors who work can attend without missing work. In years past, many survivors could not attend the breakfast because of work. We wanted to change that this year.”

The Alabama Gulf Coast Relay will take place April 25 at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. The national theme of this year’s Relay is “Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back.”
Reservations must be made by April 8 for the “Dessert Extravaganza.” They may be made by calling Bemis at 504-1135 or Fitzgibbons at 981-1524. “We want to see every cancer survivor on Pleasure Island there,” Bemis said. “Survivors can go out to dinner before the event, and finish the evening eating their just desserts.”

Cancer patient fundraiser Saturday at Alligator Alley

by Carol Powers

A fundraiser will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Alligator Alley to benefit Karla Powers.

Powers, 36, is a cancer patient with three children and is the daughter of Francis and Debbie Powers.

Tickets are $10 and include pulled-pork plates with all the trimmings, live entertainment throughout the day, multiple drawings for door prizes and a viewing of Alligator Alley's own "Captain Crunch."

An additional raffle for a brand new golf cart will also take place; tickets are $20 each.

Family members said donations can be made in Powers' name at any United Bank branch.

Click here to visit Alligator Alley's website.

Chili cook-off Saturday in Foley's Heritage Park

by Colette Boehm

As chili teams vie for top honors, entertainers from a variety of musical genres will perform for the crowds at the Habitat for Humanity Chili Cook-Off, set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Heritage Park in Foley. Tickets are $5 and proceeds will go to Habitat's Women Build project.

"We're thrilled about this year's entertainment lineup," said event organizer Rosemary Harris. "This is a fun chili competition and a great time for the whole family."

In addition to the entertainment, there will be a bake sale and silent auction. "This year," Harris said, "we've added a book sale, too. We have hundreds of books that are real bargains for book lovers. There really is something for everyone."

The entertainment schedule includes: Atir Arts Belly Dancers, 9:30 a.m.; The Aldridge Family, 10 a.m.; Four Winds Barber Shop Chorus, 11 a.m.; Elaine Petty, noon; and Ken Mathews, 1 p.m.

Gold sponsors are Bay Community Church, Riviera Utilities and Thomas Hospital. Silver sponsors are Bancorp South, Bryant Bank, Century Tel, Hartmann, Blackmon & Kilgore, Hellmich Electric, Island Orthodontics, Longcrier Builders, Ramona Hill, Reynolds Ready Mix, Safe Harbor Financial Services, Verizon Wireless and Vision Bank in Gulf Shores.

About 20 chili teams are expected to compete for first, second and third places, people's choice and for showmanship awards. Judging will take place at noon. For more information on the cook-off or other ways to support or volunteer for Women Build, call Harris at 943-7268.

Habitat for Humanity provides housing to qualifying families through sweat equity partnerships and no interest loans. The 2008 project will be the ninth annual Women Build in Baldwin County. Since the affiliate was organized in 1990, 65 homes have been built.

Fundraiser Run to benefit the Hugh S. Branyon Backcoutry Trail

Tuesday, October 2, 2007
by Alton Wallace

The 1st Annual Running Scared 5k race, a fundraiser to benefit the Hugh S. Branyon Backcoutry Trail, will be held Oct. 27 at 5:00 p.m. All proceeds will go to trail improvements, which will be implemented by the City of Orange Beach.

Participants can register for $20 and will receive a t-shirt, says Susan Shallow, one of the event’s organizers. “We are trying to raise awareness of the trail, and raise money for it,” Shallow said. “So far, the expenses have been covered by donations, but we can certainly use more help putting on this event. Every penny we raise will go for trail improvements.” Running Scared will be held on the trail, and will begin and end at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.

The first male and female to cross the finish line will win an awards package that includes a stay at a gulf-front luxury condominium. Runners finishing first in other categories will also receive prizes. Wheel chair racers may also participate. A post race party beginning at 6:30 will feature the music of Bluz Brothers II, food and refreshments.

Costumes are encouraged, and prizes will be awarded for creativity. For more information or to register for the race on-line, go to www.RunningScared5k.com. Those wishing to donate supplies for the post race party should call Susan Shallow at (251)979-0501.

A two-mile portion of the Trail, known when it opened in 2002 as the Catman Trail, has already become a refuge for walkers and bikers. In 2004, the city of Orange Beach partnered with Gulf State Park in a plan to add about 7.5 miles to the trail, a picnic pavilion and restrooms, an additional trailhead on State Park Rd. 2, and expanded parking on Alabama Hwy. 161. A trail segment of about three miles opened along with the picnic pavilion and restrooms last March, and what will ultimately become a 9.5-mile-long trail was officially named the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail. Orange Beach city officials expect that the final trail segments will be paved by early 2008.

Orange Beach Coastal Resources Manager Phillip West, who is overseeing development of the trail, said funds raised from Running Scared will probably be used for water fountains placed near the Sportsplex and/or Alabama 161 trailhead, exercise stations or possibly additional asphalt paving on a spur near Perdido Beach Boulevard.

Click here to register for this event on the Running Scared Website.

Click here for more information about this event.

Click here for a Birdseye-view of the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trailhead at Orange Beach Blvd.