The OBA Community Website

Covering the Alabama/Florida Gulf Coast (AFGC)tm since 2006!

By Michael Badonsky, Badonsky Buccaneers

August 11, 2017 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - We make a trip out during the new extended recreational federal red snapper season, and end up fishing two of the Alabama Dept of Conservation recently deployed "super pyramids". Also in this episode, we talk to David Walter of Water Marine / The ReefMakers about these artificial reefs and the Alabama Public Reef System.

Remember, we also talk about these reef systems on past episodes- if you watch for the pop-up's during this video, you can click on links to these past shows.

By John Mullen
 
August 2, 2017 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA) – City leaders and law enforcement officials are meeting to discuss possibly enacting a new ordinance to better protect the sea grass beds around Walker Island in Orange Beach.
 
“Are y’all trying to have a meeting talking an ordinance about sea grass and motorized vessels in the sea grass and we don’t have one that’s enforceable?” Councilman Jeff Silvers asked. “When we discussed this about a year ago, were we relying on the state to enforce it.”
 
Police Chief Joe Fierro said he was arranging a meeting with an environmental group, Islands of Perdido Foundation, as well as state officials to better define laws and enforcement around the fragile beds. The beds provide protection to hatchling and juveniles of vitals species like redfish, trout, shrimp, crab and a variety of baitfish.

Boating Safety ClassJuly 31, 2017 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - The “About Boating Safely” Class is being presented by Flotilla 3-10 of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary on Saturday, August 5th, 2017 from 7:45 A. M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Orange Beach Community Center.
 
Upon completion of this 8 hour boat safety course you will receive a boating safety education certificate that satisfies the Alabama requirements for a boating license.

Chris Sherrill in Cape VerdeBy Chris Sherrill
 
July 29, 2017 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - I've been thinking lately...I've been thinking about stress, life, the pursuit of happiness...Ive been thinking about all the World's problems. As many of you know I returned from an amazing trip to Africa. I was on a beautiful string of islands called Cape Verde. It was in the Middle Northwest quadrant off the coast of Senegal. I never touched the mainland of Africa.

I grew as a person while I was in Africa. I saw some amazing and rather life changing things. I saw a beautiful group of people that yielded to one another as they drove thru the city. I met people that were truly happy to be who they were. These incredible people made the best with what they had at hand and they enjoyed life. They lived by a rule in what Jim Hagengruber calls "What the spirit moves you"... I was moved....

Whale Shark in the Gulf Captured by Capt. Greg with Last Cast
By R. Ken Cooper - above photo is a whale shark captured by Capt. Greg with Last Cast on August 12, 2009. 
 
July 25, 2017 - Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - We recently shared a video of a whale sighting in the gulf about 80 miles south of Orange Beach. The video attracted a lot of attention and comments. We were a little surprised to learn that so many folks didn't know that there were whales in the gulf. We decided to add a collection of videos showing some of the sightings of whales in the gulf.
 
Below is the video we shared on July 24th. It was taken by Derek Taylor from Atlanta while he and his sons were out fishing on a calm day in the gulf. 

Historic Charter Fishing Boat The Sea DusterBy John Mullen
 
July 24, 2017 – Orange Beach, AL (OBA) – There’s a history behind Earl Callaway’s effort to help Orange Beach retain an important piece of its nautical heritage: the vintage Walker charter fishing boat the Sea Duster.
“I tried to give it to ‘em one time and I had to buy it back to get it to ‘em this time,” Callaway said. “This is the second time I’ve owned it.”
 
Callaway, even though he sold the boat he had owned for 15 or so years, never gave up on his dream of it becoming part of the city’s folklore. On July 10 the city agreed to pay $6,500 for the classic 1935 custom-built boat.

Big Beach BrewingJuly 24, 2017 - Gulf Shores, AL (GSA) - The inaugural National IPA Day celebration will take place at Big Beach Brewing Company on August 3rd.
 
The nine-month old independent craft brewery in Gulf Shores, Ala. plans to release three different versions of the sought-after IPA on August 3rd, 2017.
 
In an effort to put a humorous twist on the release, as many breweries do, Big Beach will be dedicating this release to the mullet hairstyle. Not sure what a mullet is? Just think “Party in the back and business in the front.” And that’s precisely what Big Beach plans to do with this triple threat beer release aimed at hop lovers on National IPA day.

OWA Opens today in Foley
by R. Ken Cooper with photos by Michelle & Dylan Stancil
 
July 21, 2017 - Foley, AL (OBA) - The Park at OWA has officially opened this morning at 10am in Foley Alabama. The 520 acre property features a 14-acre amusement park with 21 rides, 44,000 square feet of restaurants & shops, a 14 acre lake, a 90,000-square-foot indoor events center and much more. (As a comparison, the Orange Beach Event Center is  just over 18,000 square feet.) 
 
After only nine months of hard work, the 14-acre amusement park is ready to welcome the public. Festivities for opening weekend include nightly firework shows, a multitude of entertainers and live music throughout The Park at OWA.

Proposed Dollar General

By John Mullen

 

July 19, 2017 –  Orange Beach, AL (OBA) – A redesigned exterior for a more “coastal” look was not enough to sway a majority of Orange Beach Council members to give the go ahead for a Dollar General on Alabama 161.

“I applaud those changes,” Councilmember Annette Mitchell said. “I think that’s very attractive and I think it would look very, very nice anywhere in Orange Beach. Except there.”

4th annual food & wine festival to feature more than 20 chefs and restaurants, Sept. 14-16
 
The Wharf Uncorked 2017July 18, 2017 –  Orange Beach, AL (OBA) - The Wharf Uncorked Food & Wine Festival presented by Wind Creek Atmore, set for Sept. 14-16, will bring a dynamic roster of culinary talent from the Gulf Coast and beyond serving up samples of their signature dishes, demonstrating their skills and competing for the ultimate prize.
 
Thursday, Sept. 14 - VIP Kickoff + Chef Showdown
The three-day experience will begin at 4720 Main Street from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Reigning showdown champion, Brody Olive (Perdido Beach Resort), will be joined by two mystery chefs for this year’s competition to create the best dish with Alabama Gulf Seafood fueled with culinary challenges and roadblocks. James Briscione and Brooke Parkhurst, authors of The Couples Kitchen, will emcee as they race against the clock.

Fat Albert
by R. Ken Cooper
 
July 13, 2017 - Pensacola Beach, FL (OBA) - We on the coast certainly love our Blue Angels. And here at the Orange Beach Community Website we love to keep you informed of their comings and goings because, well, we’re really big fans of the Blues, too.
 
We’re treated to practices and flybys throughout the year and we like to keep you informed when they are returning from shows around the country. And tell you what time they are likely to Buzz the Beaches her on the Gulf Coast on the way home. Thank you to our Blue’s Prognosticator John Mason-Smith for his calculations on the timing!