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.  

Gulf State Park Beach Parking Pass Renewals

Eligible residents can stop by City Hall to receive their 2023 Gulf State Park Beach Access no-charge annual passes - two per household with a driver's license showing a physical Orange Beach address within the city limits. Find more details below and at https://www.orangebeachal.gov/State-Beach-Access-Parking.

In April of 2021, Gulf State Park began charging for parking at its four beach access points in Orange Beach - Romar Beach, Cotton Bayou Beach, Alabama Point East and Shell Beach. 

Parking Pay Stations (Kiosks) are located in the parking lots. These Kiosks accept cash and credit cards, however, they do not issue change.

• $3.00 - 2 hours for personal vehicle
• $5.00 - 4 hours for personal vehicle
• $10.00 - All day for personal vehicle
• $100.00 - Annual pass parking decal (Purchase annual pass from Park Headquarters, 20115 State Park Road, Gulf Shores. Valid for one calendar year with expiration on December 31st annually.)
• Veterans - Free parking (Obtain an annual pass parking decal from Park Headquarters. Valid for one calendar year with expiration on December 31st annually.)

Important

Before heading to the beach, put the printed pass or receipt on the dashboard of your vehicle. 
 

**If you have an annual pass, it must be permanently affixed to the lower left side of your windshield or it will not be considered valid.**

Overnight parking is strictly prohibited at all Gulf State Park Beach Access parking lots. 

Annual Pass

An annual pass for parking at Gulf State Park beach access is $100. The pass can only be purchased at the Park Headquarters, 20115 State Park Road, Gulf Shores. The office is open 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can be reached at 251-948-7275.

Resident Pass

Orange Beach residents, as defined by the city, are eligible for no charge year-round passes. A “resident” is an individual with a valid Alabama driver's license with a physical Orange Beach address within the city limits of Orange Beach. Residents can receive two passes per household. A third pass can be purchased for $25 at the Gulf State Park Headquarters. Property owners who do not live in Orange Beach as well as Ono Island residents do not qualify for the no charge pass. 

Resident Passes can be picked up at Orange Beach City Hall, 4099 Orange Beach Boulevard, during normal business hours - Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The phone number is 251-981-6979. 

Residents will need to fill out a form to verify eligibility at City Hall. All residents receiving renewals need to verify their identity and sign a form as well. 

Working in partnership with the new CoastAL restaurant, City of Orange Beach "Resident Passes" for the new City Beach parking located at CoastAL (just west of Cotton Bayou Beach) will be issued at City Hall with a tentative target distribution date of April 2023.        

Residents will need to show a valid Alabama driver’s license with a physical Orange Beach address located within the city limits. Additional information will be announced in the near future as details are being finalized.

Until the passes are issued, it is first-come, first-serve parking for residents at the designated parking lot areas identified on the attached site map. Orange Beach residents will receive one pass per household for the City Beach parking. State park parking passes are issued at City Hall but are only valid for state beach access lots.

Acoustic Arts at the Coastal Arts Center
The Coastal Arts Center’s Acoustic Arts Series returns TONIGHT - January 6th with a performance by Four A Change at 6 p.m. titled “Bayside Serenade.” On January 19th at 6 p.m. David Jones, trumpeter, will perform “Jazz Stories.” On February 16th at 6 p.m. the series will feature the Victory Vertical Project, “Pianos That Helped Win the War.” All tickets are $20. Seating is limited. Call 251-981-2787 (ARTS) for ticket information or stop by the art center at 26389 Canal Road.

Annual Book Sale on Jan. 20-21

Friends of the Orange Beach Public Library will hold its Annual Book Sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, January 20th, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, January 21st at the Orange Beach Community Center. The Members’ Only Preview Sale, with wine and snacks, will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, January 19th, with membership purchase available at the door. 

Snowbird Trivia Night set for Feb. 11

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. 

'Disney's The Little Mermaid' on Feb. 2-5

Garden Club's Game Day on Feb. 15

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.

Questions? Call Cathy Oakes 251-233-0900. 

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.
 

Congratulations to Channa Leighton,
OBMHS Teacher of the Year!

MAKO ATHLETICS

Congratulations to the Mako wrestlers for being the Class 4A Area 1 runners up! 

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Makos Academics, Arts & Athletics Club

Mako Masquerade Ball and Drawdown set for Feb. 4

MAAAC's Mako Masquerade Ball and Drawdown will be held on 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!

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SEAFOOD FEST 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.

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 https://www.obmaaac.org 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. 
 

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Follow all of the latest happenings at Orange Beach City Schools on the Orange Beach City Schools Facebook page. 
 

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Orange Beach City Board of Education 

Upcoming scheduled meetings and/or work sessions:

• Thursday, January 12, 2023, 4:30 P.M. Work Session followed by 5:30 P.M. Regular Meeting in Council Chambers
• Thursday, February 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. 
 

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Find all of the latest school news on Facebook at: 

• Orange Beach City Schools
• Orange Beach High School
• Orange Beach Middle School
• Orange Beach Elementary School
• Orange Beach Mako Athletics
• Makos Academics, Arts & Athletics Club

Start the new year off right by attending the Orange Beach Fire Department’s American Heart Association HeartSaver CPR course at 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 10th. Participants don’t need medical training, just a desire to help others! There is no cost for this course for Orange Beach residents. To register or for more information, visit the City Website at www.orangebeachal.gov/476/cpr-first-aid.