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Southern California bar honors Gulf Coast icon Flora-Bama

Joe Gilchrist posing at the Flora-Bama wall at Moonshine Beach in San Diego. By John Mullen

March 18, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – When Ty Hauter has bands flown in from Nashville and Texas to his Moonshine Beach music venue in San Diego, the up-and-coming artists flock to the club’s Flora-Bama wall to take pictures.

“So, when bands come into town they always get their picture taken by it just like the owner did,” Hauter said. “It’s become this special wall that everybody gravitates to for selfies and what not before they take off out of town.

Orange Beach City Council meeting set March 19

Orange Beach City Council Meeting By City of Orange Beach

March 16, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Orange Beach City Council will hold its regular meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 19th, followed by the Committee of the Whole meeting.

Following are the agendas for the meetings.

Ride the country road to make music at Admiral Bean Studio

Anthony Crawford at the drum set in Admiral Bean Studio in Loxley. By John Mullen

March 15, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – The country charm is practically dripping from the trees as you find your way to the middle of 2,400 acres in Loxley. Waiting for you there is the cozy but professional Admiral Bean Studio.

Nationally touring singer-songwriter Edward David Anderson gets it.

“Traveled down that red dirt road in Loxley and threw 10 new tunes at the supremely talented Anthony Crawford today at Admiral Bean Studio,” Anderson recently posted on Facebook. “The dude gets me. And my songs. Interested to see what this stuff turns into.”

4th Dollar General for Orange Beach? Not so fast

Lauder Place and Canal Road intersection will likely require a new traffic signal.

By John Mullen

March 14, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – A proposed fourth Dollar General for Orange Beach was denied site plan approval in a unanimous vote by the city’s Planning Commission on March 11. At least four concerns were raised about the project including a change in the required buffer and safety questions.

Also this week, the city council in a regular session and work session on March 12 heard plans for a new subdivision for Lauder Lane that could bring another traffic light on Canal Road at the intersection there.

Spring break Junior Golf Camps, April 16-18

By City of Orange Beach

March 14, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The City of Orange Beach will be offering two sessions of Junior Golf Camps during spring break this year.

10th Annual Bama Coast Cruise returns April 26th & 27th

By Bama Coast Cruisn'

March 13, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - Bama Coast Cruise announces its return to Orange Beach! This car show has proven to be immensely popular with local residents, tourists and serious car enthusiasts. It will showcase the absolute finest in automotive customized, modified and restored vehicles April 26 & 27, 2019. Over 850 vehicles are expected to be at The Wharf in Orange Beach, for the most unique automotive event the Alabama Gulf Coast has ever seen.

Okaloosa to deploy buoys to lure bigger fish closer to shore

FAD fishing buoys will attract larger game fish closer to the Gulf Coast By John Mullen

March 12, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) – A project Okaloosa County Commissioner Kelly Windes has been working on for years is about to bring a new fishing feature to the waters off of the Florida panhandle.

“Wahoo, dolphin, tuna, sailfish, white marlin, blue marlin, swordfish,” Windes said. “All the offshore fish. Blackfin tuna, they ought to just clog up with them. I’m hoping there’ll be some yellow fin’s as well.”

45th Annual Festival of Art kicks off Saturday

Orange Beach Festival of Art this weekend

By City of Orange Beach

March 8, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - While any day is a good day to go to the beach, the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach is offering a great excuse to visit Pleasure Island THIS WEEKEND — the 45th annual Orange Beach Festival of Art is set for March 9-10.

2019 Polar Bear Classic draws 61 tennis players

Polar Bear Tennis Championship Orange Beach

March 8, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The 2019 Polar Bear Classic junior tennis tournament was held on February 22-24 at the Orange Beach Tennis Center and drew 61 players from New Orleans, Birmingham, Meridian (Mississippi), Dothan, Mobile, Destin, and many others cities in Baldwin County and Alabama.

Orange Beach Planning Commission meets March 11th

March 8, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Orange Beach Planning Commission is scheduled to meet at 3 p.m. Monday, March 11th for a work session followed by the 4 p.m. regular meeting in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Red Snapper Recreational For-Hire Season announced today

Red Snapper For Hire Season Charter Boats

By NOAA

March 7, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The 2019 red snapper fishing season for federally permitted for-hire vessels is 62 days in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Links: Charter Fishing Boats ~ Booking Services ~ Bait & Tackle Shops ~ Marinas

Baldwin County Businesses Participate in the Youth Apprenticeship Program

March 7, 2019 - Foley, AL - (OBA^®) - With a historically low unemployment rate local Baldwin County businesses are quickly signing up to participate in the Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program that is set to launch April of 2019. The South Baldwin Chamber Gateway Initiative began this program with the hope to establish local talent and a desirable workforce while enabling and helping the youth in the community.

Marine Resources to Hold Public Meetings on Potential Regulation Changes

By Outdoor Alabama

March 5, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Alabama Marine Resources Division (MRD) will host three public meetings to provide information about potential upcoming regulation changes. To provide the information in a timely manner, the meetings are designed to address the priorities and issues of specific user groups. However, each meeting is open to the public.

Students Encouraged to Enter State-Fish Art Contest

By Outdoor Alabama

Deadline for entries is March 31

March 4, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - Each year, K-12 students from across the country can enter their artwork in the Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest. The contest requires student artists to depict a state fish. Prizes are awarded at the state and national levels in four categories: K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12, with students in grades 4-12 writing a one-page essay about the fish, its natural habitat and the importance of that habitat in addition to the artwork. Complete contest rules and the entry form can be found on the Wildlife Forever website, www.wildlifeforever.org.

Makos Academics, Arts and Athletics Club (MAAAC) forms

By MAAAC

March 2, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - We are pleased to announce the formation of the Makos Academics, Arts and Athletics Club (MAAAC). MAAAC is a non-profit organization that represents and funds the interests of our children at the Orange Beach Middle School and High School. MAAAC’s core mission is to raise funds that directly support and enhance our children’s experiences in academics, arts, and athletics.

Orange Beach & Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Schedules

March 1, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - By City of Orange Beach: On Fat Tuesday, March 5, 2019, all non-essential City of Orange Beach offices will be closed. Garbage routes will not be affected and will run as usual.

City offices will reopen for normal business hours on Wednesday, March 6.

Additional Information on the Boggy Point Boat Launch Renovations

By Alabama Marine Resources

February 28, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Marine Resources Division (MRD) maintains a number of public boat ramps in coastal Alabama including the Boggy Point Boat Ramp.

In May 2018, MRD staff inspected the piers at the Boggy Point Boat Ramp which were installed in 2006 and discovered that the pilings and the support bracing for the decking were nearing the end of their usable life.

Dollar General coming to East Orange Beach?

A new Dollar General store is likely coming to Canal Road in Orange Beach across the street from The Keg. By John Mullen

February 28, 2019 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA^®) – If history is much of a teacher – and very recent history – then Orange Beach is about to get its fourth Dollar General store and the second on Canal Road.

“Race to the Top of the Tower” Set for May 4

By Spectrum Resorts

A race to benefit the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics

February 28, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - Spectrum Resorts and the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics are pleased to announce the 8^th Annual “Race to the Top of the Tower at Turquoise Place” on Saturday, May 4, 2019, at 9 a.m. Come out and test your fitness level with our local heroes and compete for a three-night stay at Turquoise Place and for the bragging rights to the “Top of the Tower Champion” title.

Wolf Bay Bridge Construction Update

By the City of Orange Beach

February 28, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - Barge-mounted drill rigs are scheduled to be deployed from Barber Marina during the week of Feb. 25, 2019 in order to begin drilling for geotechnical assessment in the locations of the proposed Wolf Bay Bridge support piles.

Gray Triggerfish Season Opens March 1

By Outdoor Alabama

February 27, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - Alabama state waters will open to the harvest of gray triggerfish at 12:01 a.m., March 1, 2019, to coincide with the opening of federal waters. Anglers are reminded the bag limit is one per person with a minimum size of 15 inches fork length.

Hospitality and Tourism Businesses to Host Youth Apprenticeship Program in Baldwin County

By Global Marketing Solutions

February 27, 2019 - Foley, AL - (OBA^®) - The South Baldwin Chamber Gateway Initiative is excited to announce the launch of a new Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program set for April 2019. The program will be offered to high school students ages 15 to 18 and will allow them to partner with local businesses in the tourism and hospitality industries here in Baldwin County. Twenty- four businesses have already signed up to participate in the program and will offer students who qualify a paid apprenticeship.

Temporary Closure of Boggy Point Boat Ramp for Renovations

Boggy Point Boat Launch Orange Beach Alabama

By Alabama Marine Resources

February 26, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Alabama Department of Conservation & Natural Resources / Marine Resources Division will be closing the Boggy Point Boat Ramp located at the end of Marina Road in Orange Beach at 7:00AM Monday, March 18, 2019 for renovations.

Orange Beach Sand Volleyball league registration open until March 13

By City of Orange Beach

February 26, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - Following the success of last year’s launch of a sand volleyball league, the City of Orange Beach is now registering for the 2019 Doubles Sand Volleyball season.

‘Uncompromising in compromising’: Orange Beach will remain family friendly

By Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon

February 26, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - With eight miles of beachfront on the Alabama Gulf Coast and 46 miles of total shoreline, including the back bays, the City of Orange Beach is a year-round recreational paradise.

Our winter visitors to the beach, called snowbirds, arrive in earnest after the holidays and generally stay between January 1st and mid-March. It is during this time when 60% of Orange Beach’s 9,900 accommodation units are occupied, ballooning our 6,000 population to upwards of 30,000. In short, we become a much larger city than most people realize even during the “off” season. During peak season, occupancy hovers around 90% with our numbers topping 100,000. On paper, the City of Orange Beach ranks 101st in population in Alabama, but is far from that at any point during the year. At the height of the summer season in July, Orange Beach becomes the state’s 5th largest city, and even during the winter months we’re in the top 20.

Oyster Beds closed in Mobile Bay

By the Alabama Dept. of Public Health

February 25, 2019 - Mobile Bay Area - (OBA^®) - The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has closed shellfish growing waters in Baldwin and Mobile counties. Areas I, II, III, IV, V and VI are closed. This includes Cedar Point, Portersville Bay, Heron Bay, Navy Cove and Dauphin Island Bay.

OBPD K9 unit adds two new members

By Orange Beach Police Dept.

February 25, 2019 - (OBA^®) - Thanks to the support of the City of Orange Beach and the Orange Beach Police Benevolent Fund and the kind generosity of our citizens who supported their efforts with the Paw Ball Fundraiser, we were able to purchase two new canines for the canine program.

After 10 Weeks of training with their handlers, Canine Officers Bane and Magnum have joined the force.

Orange Beach Festival of Art returns March 9-10

February 24, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - While any day is a good day to go to the beach, the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach is offering a great excuse to visit Pleasure Island in March — the 45th annual Orange Beach Festival of Art is set for March 9-10.

The festival will feature 100 booths of local and regional fine art, plus exciting acts on the performing arts and music stages. Festival goers may also enjoy live visual arts demonstrations including hot glass and clay. Savory gourmet offerings will be presented in the Culinary Arts area and children can dive into fun hands-on experiences in the Kids Art Alley.

Senior Activity Center March 2019 Excursions and Events

Orange Beach Senior Center March Calendar

February 23, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Orange Beach Adult/Senior Activity Center has announced its March 2019 Excursions and Events. Call 251-981-3440 to sign up for any of the events listed below.

Debbie Williams from WKRG to speak at March Potluck

February 23, 2019 - Orange Beach, AL - (OBA^®) - The Monthly Community Potluck will be held Monday, March 4th at the Orange Beach Community Center, featuring Debbie Williams, WKRG Channel 5 Baldwin County reporter. Debbie will be discussing her work in the area.