By Jonathan D. Ellis

April 14, 2012 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - There is an enormous shift in education that is happening NOW for our students on the island. This is incredibly exciting as the Learning for Life Program, which combines Career Academies and the Digital Renaissance, is progressing toward implementation this fall. If you have not seen the PowerPoint on our website, please visit www.OrangeBeachElementary.com so that you can gain an understanding.

What has been done?
This past year, funds have been donated or allocated to make needed advances in education for our schools, including wireless internet access in all island schools, teacher Macbooks in grades 4-12, student Macbooks in grades 4-6 at GSES, student Macbooks in part for 7th at GSMS, student Macbooks in grades 8-12, foreign language programs, coordinator positions, and career academy options for our students.

April 11, 2013 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) – Bob Baumhower loves to tell the story of the Compleat Angler, an old Bahamas Hemingway haunt where he spent many happy hours while playing football for the Miami Dolphins.

That’s how he wants people to feel when they visit his restaurants – nearly a dozen and counting. He wants folks to have fun.

Baumhower’s company, Aloha Hospitality, is taking over two spots in The Wharf in Orange Beach and one of those will be called the Compleat Angler. It’ll be located in the old Guy Harvey Grill space overlooking the marina. In the former Live Bait space, the flagship franchise of Aloha, Baumhower’s Restaurant will open with the familiar sports theme he started with and will feature 60 televisions.

“We’re a fun place,” he says. “We’ll have lots of activities going on. We’re going to have some old-school games from back in the day. The same type of atmosphere when you come in off the boat, come in get a bite and go in there and play a game of pool or ring game. That kind of stuff.”

The mainstay for entertainment will be veteran musician John Reno who brings to the stage a selection of songs written about experiences in the area. “The main theme we are going to do here is LA (Lower Alabama) with a little Caribbean accent,” Baumhower said. “That’s very important.”

This is Baumhower’s second Compleat Angler. The first is in Daphne in the old Nautilus location.

First and foremost the former football star says he needs staffing for both enterprises. His company will hold job fairs every Saturday in April to get the employees necessary to run the restaurants.

Fairhope Author Releases “Bushwhacked at the Flora-Bama” Detailing History of Iconic Roadhouse

April 10, 2012 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Author Chris Warner, a resident of Fairhope, Alabama, after following the actions of Joe Gilchrist for two years, is set to release the long-awaited book April 27-29 at the annual Mullet Toss at the Flora-Bama Lounge & Package Store. Warner also wrote the untold story of HealthSouth Corporation, “The Wagon to Disaster,” with Aaron Beam and “A Tailgater’s Guide to SEC Football,” among other titles.

“This book explains the amazing story of how an American dream became an unbelievable reality, birthing a legend in the process. I spent two years closely following the actions of Joe Gilchrist, originator of the legendary Flora-Bama Lounge, Oyster Bar & Package Store. The place, molded in the spirit of its remarkable creator, is a stunning, Southern innovation of good times for great people.

It has been called one of the last great American honky tonk roadhouses, the perfect blend of beer and whiskey, laid back and wild, where you wipe your feet on the way out, an otherwise tattered, white sandy blip on the teeming gulf coast radar that for more than three decades has served as a romantic, raunchy, roadside respite for good music, good times, good views and most importantly—great people.

Gulf Coast Family Chiropractic is hosting educational events on Toxicity throughout the month of April.

April 9, 2012 - Gulf Shores, AL (GSA) – Remove toxic interference from your life by using the 5 essentials of real health from Maximized Living. Join Dr. Alicia Farrell on April 12th for the “Maximized Living Makeover on Toxicity”, located at 3865 Gulf Shores Pkwy Suite 5 in Gulf Shores, AL at 6:15 pm. Toxicity is a major, unseen influence in the widespread pandemic of disease in North America. With Maximized Living’s 5 Essentials, learn how you can take action to build your health and create a safe environment for you and your family.

“Most people have no idea,” said Dr. Alicia Farell. “Things we use every single day have toxic properties, and they are taxing our health. We want to educate the community on easy action steps they can take to reduce toxicity in their lives.”

Gulf Coast Family Chiropractic is offering the Maximized Living healthcare delivery system in order to bring real health to the community. Learn the resources and tools for total wellness. Call Rachel Sawyer at 251-948-2225 to learn more about these events and the Maximized Living healthcare system, and find out if you are in a toxic environment by taking the toxicity test at www.MaximizedLivingMakeOver.com.

March 2, 2012 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Mandeville’s Tanya Dischler will display her work in an exhibit entitled “Beyond the Bayou” at the Coastal Arts Center at Orange Beach (formerly Orange Beach Arts Center) March 21-April 28 with an opening reception Thursday March 22 5-7 p.m.

Dischler, an established artist from the Bayou Sale area of South Louisiana, studied at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, Louisiana Tech University and various artist workshops throughout the United States, Mexico, France and Indonesia.

Her subject matter is predominately the wildlife of South Louisiana, which she combines with interesting background shapes and patterns, giving the work a complexity beyond typical representational paintings.

These compositions appear to ‘come to life’ through her considerable facility for technique, imagery, and color application. Dischler’s mysterious and intensely bright acrylics possess the visual and visceral impact of abstraction, while the main subject matter of each painting remains easily recognizable. After Hurricane Katrina, her Mandeville studio flooded and she faced the possible loss of her watercolors. While experimenting with different ways to save these works, Dischler discovered a process where ‘once-ruined paintings took on a new life.’

March 1, 2012 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - In fall 2011 The Hangout, in association with the Coastal Arts Center at Orange Beach (formerly Orange Beach Arts Center), sponsored a public art competition for visual arts students throughout the Southeast.

College and university students were encouraged to focus on overall artistic quality, conceptualization and innovative use of materials to create weather-friendly large scale public art. In February, the $3,000 stipend was awarded to Agnes Scott studio arts major, Belinda Hart, for her proposal entitled “When I Visit your Home” which uses upcycled milk jugs, soda cans, and other discarded materials to create three dimensional images of marine life.

Hart is passionate about raising awareness of "the threat to ocean life and creating a lasting connection for the viewer between common items of plastic and refuse and the need to dispose of them responsibly." Her approach is one of subtle aesthetics rather than "in your face activism" and she has learned to allow "the material to teach her about itself, what it can and cannot do, and the scope of its possibilit" rather than trying "to force the materials to become completely unrecognizable as trash."

This sculpture will be her largest to date and has become the focus of one of her senior classes. Her past work explored these materials on a smaller scale and the beauty she evokes from a simple plastic water bottle is striking. She states, “My goal is to draw the viewer in before they realize they are seeing trash and allow them to have their own personal interaction with each piece by suggesting possibilities they might relate to from their own experience.”

March 1, 2012 -- Gulf Shores, AL (GSA)-- Gulf Coast Family Chiropractic is hosting educational events on Nutrition and Smart Shopping throughout the month of March.

Learn what foods to avoid, ensuring healthy purchases for your family. Join Dr. Alicia on March 15 for the “Nutrition: Shopping Smart” workshop, located at 3865 Gulf Shores Pkwy Suite 5 in Gulf Shores across from Target on the west side of 59 at 6:30 p.m. Simple tips can go a long way when it comes to nutrition and health.

February 13, 2012 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - Spring Break is almost here! I cannot think of a better place to enjoy spring break than Gulf Shores & Orange Beach, Alabama. Sunny days, white sandy beaches and some great fishing. Take some time to relax on the beautiful white beaches along the Alabama Gulf Coast. After a day or so on the beach, you may want to jump on board a nice comfortable boat and enjoy a few hours on the water. Three, four and six hour Orange Beach fishing charters are the most popular during spring break. Take your family fishing and treat your children to this awesome adventure. Mom and Dad will enjoy the fishing and will certainly love the thrill from watching the kids reel in fish from the beautiful Florida-Alabama Gulf waters. You will most likely see some dolphins swim around the boat. Watch seagulls dive into the water in search of their dinner. Also keep an eye open for sea turtles sunning on the surface. Enjoy the quiet peaceful time together on the water. If you are not the quiet type, then you may enjoy some fun music on the back deck of your boat while you cruise and fish along the Alabama Gulf waters. If you prefer music, then check with your captain before booking your charter and make sure there is music available on the boat.

February 8, 2012, Orange Beach, Ala. (OBA) -- Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m., the Orange Beach Library and Orange Beach Senior Activity Center will welcome Harry White, Public Affairs Officer for Naval Air Station Pensacola.

Mr. White will present a lecture and photos tracing early Spanish exploration of the area, the building of the Pensacola Navy Yard and subsequent history of NAS Pensacola. This lecture will focus on early aviation through World War II growth to its status as one of the largest training operations in the U.S. Navy.

Harry White was born in Robertsdale, Alabama and graduated from Robertsdale High School. After attending Livingston State College, he joined the U.S. Air Force in 1963 and served in numerous assignments worldwide before retiring in 1984.

Since then, he has worked with both the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Navy. In 1995, he began his current position as Public Affairs Officer for Naval Air Station Pensacola.

For more information about this program or other library events, visit www.orangebeachlibrary.org or call 981-2923. This event is free and open to the public.

February 7, 2012, Gulf Shores, AL (GSA)– The Hangout Music Fest, which was recently awarded “Best Festival of the Year” honors by leading concert industry outlet Pollstar, is proud to announce its highly anticipated 2012 lineup. Scheduled for May 18-20 on the beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama, the Fest will feature main stage headliners Dave Matthews Band, Jack White, and a soon-to-be-announced third act, along with dance tent headliner Skrillex.

General Admission, VIP, Super VIP and Big Kahuna festival tickets are on sale beginning at 12 noon EST/11 am CST/10 am MST/9 am PST on Fri., Feb. 10 at www.hangoutmusicfest.com/tickets. Fans should act quickly, as demand is high for the event -- the limited number of “Early Bird” passes sold out within three hours of going on sale in November, and 2011’s festival sold out well in advance.

February 6, 2012 NEW YORK (OBA)-- A group of Gulf Coast musicians and Flora-Bama owner Joe Gilchrist are taking New York City by storm, or perhaps more accurately, by song.

Leslie Wyche, from New York City District 9 Council Member Inez Dickens office, read a proclamation naming “Joe Gilchrist Day” in Harlem. Gilchrist was also presented with a Congressional Declaration by U.S. Representative Charles Rangel’s Chief of Staff, Geoffrey Eaton.

Letters of appreciation and support from Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon were presented to the New York officials, echoing Gilchrist’s sentiments that the citizens of the Gulf Coast have not forgotten the sacrifices made on 9/11.

February 1, 2012 Gulf Shores, AL (GSA) – Feb. 13, 2011 Gulf Coast Family Chiropractic is hosting educational events on Heart Health throughout the month of February.

Through our revolutionary advanced talk, Maximized Living will teach you about how everyday decisions affect your body, and give you seven steps to prevent heart disease altogether. Join Dr. Alicia Farrell on Feb. 13 for the “Heart Health” workshop, located at 3865 Gulf Shores Pkwy Suite 5, Gulf Shores at 6:15 PM. The evident cause of heart disease is inflammation triggered by sugar, acidity, free radicals and an improper ratio of omega fatty acids.

“Heart disease may be common, but it is absolutely not normal,” said Dr. Alicia. “At Maximized Living, we always search for the true cause of disease in order to find the solution."

February 1, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) -The Library is pleased to host author Bob Buckley on Wednesday, Feb. 8th at 3 p.m. in the meeting room.

Many of you know Bob from his previous library programs featuring Geocaching, but this event will introduce you to his skills as an author.

January 21, 2010 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - The 19th Annual AL Lifestyles EXPO, a free public event, will be held at Caribe Resort in Orange Beach on Thursday, Feb. 9, from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The exhibitors represent companies that provide products and services that will improve your quality of life and make your trip to the Gulf Coast more enjoyable.

The Caribe Resort, overlooking Perdido Pass in Orange Beach, has covered parking with easy access to the exhibits. Attendees can also drop passengers off at any one of the three exhibit hall entrances. In addition to door prizes and numerous giveaways, $100 will be awarded at 2 p.m., and you do not have to be present to win. The EXPO is popular with seniors, but it offers something of interest for all ages. Exhibitors provide upbeat information and promote healthy living and quality of life programs for people over 50.

The extensive range of services and information offered, includes free health screenings, sampling from restaurants and hands-on exhibits of all kinds. Food and drink are available at the Cobalt Restaurant, located next to Caribe Resort. The Alabama Lifestyles Retirement EXPO is sponsored by the Alabama Advantage for Relocation, Caribe The Resort, the City of Orange Beach and the Alabama Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce.