"Life is better here"
Welcome to the City of Orange Beach's
community newsletter.
Vol. 6, Issue 1
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Happy New Year!
From all of us at the City of Orange Beach, we wish you a healthy and happy 2023!
Non-essential city offices will be closed Monday, January 2nd in observance of New Year's Day. Residential trash routes will run as normal.
If you’re looking for some fun while ringing in 2023, events are planned all along the coast including Reelin' in the New Year street party and Marlin drop at The Wharf on Saturday with fireworks at midnight, and popular polar bear dips on New Year’s Day at the Flora-Bama and at Gulf Place in Gulf Shores. For kids on Saturday, there is a Kids Confetti Drop at noon at The Wharf with activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and LuLu’s at Homeport Marina is holding its annual Noon Year’s Eve fun from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a beach ball drop at noon.
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City Council to meet Jan. 3
The Orange Beach City Council is scheduled to meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday, January 3rd in the Council Chambers at City Hall, followed by the Committee of the Whole work session. The council meeting will be streamed live on the city's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/orangebeach. The agendas are available at https://orangebeach.novusagenda.com/agendapublic.
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Annual Christmas tree recycling helps dune restoration on Alabama’s beaches
Orange Beach residents can dispose of live Christmas trees for recycling by placing trees, completely stripped of decorations and tinsel, on their curbs for pickup by Public Works on Friday, January 6th.
In order to be recycled, trees must be stripped of all decorations and they cannot be flocked. Flocked trees are not recyclable and will not be picked up for recycling.
The trees will be brought to Gulf State Park to be used in ongoing dune restoration efforts.
Residents can also drop off live, undecorated/unflocked trees at the Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion on the east end of the parking lot, next to the Dumpster area. Please do not place trees in front of the Dumpsters.
For over 30 years, Gulf State Park has placed Christmas trees in front of the dunes to promote further growth and strengthening. This annual practice has helped to restore and improve this vital ecosystem.
Gulf State Park will be accepting donated live trees through the month of January. Please remember, the trees must be free of flocking, tinsel, ornaments, etc., to be recycled.
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Potluck happening this Monday
The Monthly Orange Beach Community Potluck will be held on Monday, January 2nd at the Community Center. Doors open at 6 p.m., and dinner starts at 6:30, with a guest speaker starting at 7.
Everyone is invited; just bring a side dish to share. The entrée is provided by the Orange Beach Community Association.
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Skins Game tees off Jan. 8
The Orange Beach Golf Center’s monthly Skins Game Tournament will be held on Sunday, January 8th with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The public is welcome. There are Skins on 18 holes, a closest-to-the-pin contest, and $250 for a hole-in-one on any of the holes. For more information, call 251-981-GOLF (4653).
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Continuing Excellence free classes
A weekly Creative Writing Workshop joins the Continuing Excellence lineup this winter. The course will be held on Friday, February 10th through March 10th, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Recreation Center. Register online by Feb. 9: Creative Writing Workshop registration.
Other courses include Ballet, Tap & Jazz, Beginner Spanish, Performing Arts Costumes & Prop Arts and Beginner French. Find more information at www.orangebeachal.gov/Continuing-Excellence. These classes are open Jan.-May 2023 and do not require full semester participation.
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UPCOMING HAPPENINGS
Acoustic Arts at the Coastal Arts Center
The Coastal Arts Center’s Acoustic Arts Series returns 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 21-22
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.
'Disney's The Little Mermaid' on Feb. 2-5
Expect Excellence Community Theatre will present "Disney's The Little Mermaid" on Feb. 2-4 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. at the Orange Beach Performing Art Center. Tickets are $15 for all ages. For each show, the doors will open one hour prior to the performance time. Purchase tickets for 'Disney's The Little Mermaid'.
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. 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 $40 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.
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SCHOOL NEWS
School is out for the Christmas holidays. Students return to school on Wednesday, January 4th.
See the full school calendar on the Orange Beach City Schools website.
MAKO ATHLETICS
School may be out but Mako athletes have been keeping busy.
Congratulations to the Mako wrestlers for bringing home some hardware after the Gulf Shores Scuffle.
Congratulations to both Dawson Shows (16) and Will Reddell (17) for their opportunity to represent our Mako Nation in the Gridiron Football All-American Bowl Game held Thursday night in Orange Beach.
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!
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.
Follow all of the latest happenings at Orange Beach City Schools on the Orange Beach City Schools Facebook page.
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.
Find all of the latest school news on Facebook at:
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Happy Retirement, Lt. Simonson
Congratulations to Orange Beach Police Lt. John Simonson on his retirement. A retirement party was held for him at the Community Center on Thursday. His 22 years of dedicated public service to the city is appreciated! See more photos on the city's Facebook page.
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E-Cycling and Shred Day set for Jan. 7
The Coastal Alabama Business Chamber's annual E-Cycling and Shred Day will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, January 7th at the Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion.
There you will be able to securely and safely dispose of your personal documents or electronic items, without even having to exit your vehicle!
Each vehicle is limited to 50 pounds. Small paper clips do NOT need to be removed, please do not tape or tie bags or boxes. No batteries, please.
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AQUATICS CENTER TEMPORARY CLOSURE NOTICE
Due to repairs and maintenance, the Orange Beach Aquatics Center will be CLOSED Saturday, December 31st to Wednesday, January 4th, and tentatively open Thursday, January 5th. During this time, members may use the Gulf Shores Recreation Center pool only at no cost.
Members must present their Orange Beach membership card at the Gulf Shores Rec Center front desk for access. Please contact the Gulf Shores Rec Center for its complete schedule.
Please note that the Gulf Shores Rec Center will be closed Sunday, January 1st and Monday, January 2nd in observance of the New Year holiday.
For more information, call 251-974-7946.
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Library Winter Calendar Available
The Orange Beach Public Library has its winter lineup of activities all set. See the calendars above and visit the library's Facebook page for more information.
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Update on Beach Renourishment Project
The City of Orange Beach, City of Gulf Shores and Gulf State Park's joint beach restoration project has been delayed until Fall 2023 due to unexpected delays in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's environmental review process.
This critical project is designed to rebuild local beaches and the dune protection system, which were significantly damaged in Hurricanes Nate and Sally. Work was originally anticipated to start this winter; however, FEMA authorization required to begin the project has yet to be granted. We are hopeful that we will receive approval to begin procurement of a contractor in the spring, which would allow work to begin after the summer season.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue working with FEMA to obtain all necessary approvals.
For more information about the beach renourishment project please reach out to the following contacts:
City of Orange Beach
Phillip West, City of Orange Beach Coastal Resources Manager
251-981-6788
City of Gulf Shores
Mark Acreman, City Engineer
251-968-6563
Gulf State Park
Billy Pope, Communications & Marketing Section Chief
334-242-3152
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