Beachin' (Dec. 2012)

1Beachin’December 2012 GulfVisitorGuide.com GulfVisitorGuide.com

GulfVisitorGuide.com

Volume 15, N

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Gulf Coast Newspapers

Find fun items at Christmas Bazaar 5

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Sip & Savor recipes: Everyday Southern favorites

Calendar of events

Get Hooked with December fishing tips

2 Beachin’ December 2012 GulfVisitorGuide.com


This Holiday Season we’re bringingyou more value than ever!

108 20th Avenue, EastTEL 251.967.4141 • [email protected]

Hop aboard and invest $5,000 –you’ll receive anAmerican Express

Gift Card for $500!Spend $10,000 and receive

a card for $1,000!


Just as Beachin rolls in waves and basks in rays of Alabama’s Gulf Coast, the areas of Gulf

Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan inspire each issue with unique events, mouth-watering seafood and Southern dishes, apparel to suit beach bums and country clubbers.

This guide to the Gulf Coast offers insight into local restaurants, nightlife, attractions and events will ensure time well spent on Pleasure Island.

First and foremost, the humid subtropical cli-mate and white-sand beaches provide an oasis for guests. Don flip-flops and Hawaiian shirts or just a bathing suit. Spend hours of tranquility against a crashing-ocean wave backdrop with a good book, umbrella drink, or a completely blank slate. Dig toes into grains of sand, collect sea mementos or build sandcastles with the kids. Take a refreshing dip or dive into water adventures like parasailing, jet skiing or surfing.

The area also offers family fun outings like the zoo, miniature golf, arcades, go carts, outlet, surf shop and boutique shopping. Whether you’re look-ing for a new cover-up or an evening gown, Plea-sure Island’s got you covered. Souvenirs range from shot glasses to seashells—go ahead, make your friends jealous. Or let your inner child out to play with a day filled of bumper boats, foam machines, Tiki huts and waterfalls.

Or perhaps Pleasure Island provides playtime for you and your sweetheart. Golf the gorgeous shores of the Gulf of Mexico with lush greens, a golf cart and two cold glasses of sweet tea or head for some relaxation built for two with a trip to the spa for couples massages. Maybe a tandem bicycle ride by the beach or late night stroll on the boardwalk is more your style. Perhaps fine dining and dancing...nothing says “I love you” like cracking crab legs and whisking away for a salty-sea waltz.

Or, why not have it all? Rock out to beach-side concerts, get inspires at the Orange Beach Festival of Art, dig in at the Island’s annual Shrimp Festival and jump for moon pies with Mardi Gras goers.

Whatever your taste, leave the itinerary at home and let Beachin’ be your guide to Southern hospi-tality, sandy feet and memories that leave you craving your next opportunity to Beach-it.

A specialty publication of Gulf Coast Newspapers

Interim PublisherSudie Gambrell

EditorJessica Jones

[email protected]

Contributing Writers and Photographers

Mark Robinson and Don HollowayCoastal Photography Club

AdvertisingJoey Johnson

[email protected]

DesignPaige Renka

Beachin’ magazine is published monthly by Gulf Coast Newspapers, LLC, PO Box 509 - Robertsdale, AL 36567 - 251.947.7712.

Distributed free by The Alabama Gulf Coast Convention & Visitor’s Bureau and at other locations throughout Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Fort Morgan. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Gulf Coast

Newspapers accepts no responsibility in the guarantee of goods and services advertised herein.

Jessica Jones

Cover and intro photo courtesy of the City of Orange Beach


Christmas Arts and Crafts Bazaar comes to Foley Indoor Flea MarketLindsay Mott

The Foley Indoor Flea Market is adding a little holiday cheer to its offerings this year by hosting a Christmas Arts and Crafts Ba-zaar to kick off the holiday season.

On Dec. 9, the flea market will extend its offerings to include Christmas arts and crafts from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. These one-time vendors will be open inside at the flea mar-ket and are bringing sculpted metal, orna-ments, handmade wreaths, jewelry, chil-dren’s clothing and more.

“Everybody loves to buy handmade gifts, so it’s a perfect time to have this,” said Tam-my White, manager of the Foley flea market.

The market will also be a drop off site for Toys for Tots and a food pantry for the local ecumenical ministry. Donations for both are accepted.

The flea market staff is using the bazaar to add something extra to its usual offerings

and to give the vendors a chance to see the market itself and decide if it’s something they might want to join permanently.

“We’re always trying to promote small businesses and encourage people to open booths here,” White said.

They’re now getting back into their bus-ier season, according to White. She said the market and the bazaar will have many unique gifts and that homemade items give patrons a chance to find something they’ve never found before.

The flea market is open year-round Thurs-day through Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It has items like computers, bling jewelry, knives, fishing poles, furniture, antiques, ap-pliances and much more.

“We have everything including your kitch-en sink,” White said.

The Christmas bazaar will not interrupt normal flea market vendors and operations.

The market is pet friendly and admission is free. Vendors prefer cash or checks, but some accept credit and debit cards. There is an ATM on site and layaway is available through most sellers.

Vendors can rent space by the month or the day, and there are hook ups available for RVs.

The flea market hosts a number of events each year, including a car show, an RV show

and a boat show. Adding the holiday ba-zaar is just another way to add to its unique events and offerings.

The flea market is located at 14809 High-way 59 in North Foley. For more informa-tion, call 251-943-6349.


Don’t forget to shop ourALABAMA AUBURN LSUCOLLEGIATE MERCHANDISE

For A Great Gift!

WINN DIXIE SHOPPING CENTER • ORANGE BEACH, AL 3656125405 Perdido Beach Blvd. #20 • 251-981-8444

HOURS: Mon-Sat 9:00am - DarkSun 9:00am Until (Call for Hours)

Christmas at the

JewelryCandles Lotions Flags

& HOME ACCESSORIES

FreeGift Wrap

PersonalService

* Free Admission

Sponsors: Silver Belle -Woerner Landscape,inc., SBRMC, City of Foley, Saltree Shirt LLC and Southern Chevrolet

After School Art for school aged children Every Thurs., 3:15 - 4:30, $5.00

Christmas Card Class with Jane Sellier Dec. 5th, 9am - 12:30p, $35.00

Elizabeth Blaylock, Portraits & Figures, 2 day workshop, Jan. 9th & 10th, $200.00

Watercolors, beginning Jan. 17, Thurs. 10a-12p, andSculpting, beginning Jan. 17, Thurs. 12:30p-2:30p,

(6 wk courses) $80.00/$60.00 Senior rate

Beginning Oils (4 week course), beginning Jan. 15, Tues. 12n - 2pm, $80.00/$60.00 Senior rate

Class with Jane Sellie

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Assembly of GodCHRISTIAN LIFE CHURCH25550 Canal Rd, Orange Beach

967-4840www.christianlifechurch.tv

GULFWAY CHURCH541 Cotton Creek Dr. (Co. Rd. 4), Gulf

Shores968-6858

www.gulfwaychurch.com

BaptistFIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF

GULF SHORES2200 West First St., Gulf Shores

968-7369

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OFORANGE BEACH

4773 Bay Circle, Orange Beach981-4288

www.firstbaptistorangebeach.com

FISHERMEN BAPTIST CHURCH17101 River Rd., Bon Secour

949-6387www.fomm.org

FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH7159 County Rd. 10, Bon Secour

949-6486

ISLAND FELLOWSHIP BAPTISTCHURCH

28290 Canal Rd, Orange Beach980-1005

LAGOON BAPTIST CHURCH17867 State Hwy 180 W., Gulf Shores

968-7057www.lagoonbc.com

OYSTER BAY BAPTIST CHURCH, SBC4280 Plash Rd., Gulf Shores

968-7805www.oysterbaybaptist.org

ROMAR BEACH BAPTIST CHURCH23370 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach

981-8959www.romarbeach.org

SHELL BANKS BAPTIST CHURCH12125 State Hwy 180, Gulf Shores

540-7136

CatholicOUR LADY OF THE GULF

CATHOLIC CHURCH308 East 22nd Ave, Gulf Shores

968-7062www.ourladyofthegulfal.org

ST. THOMAS-BY-THE-SEA26547 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach

981-8132www.stthomasbythesea.org

Church of ChristCHURCH OF CHRIST OF

GULF SHORES2414 W. 1st St, Gulf Shores

968-7769www.gulfshoreschurchofchrist.org

EpiscopalHOLY SPIRIT EPISCOPAL CHURCH

616 Fort Morgan Rd, Gulf Shores968-5988

www.holyspiritepiscopalgulfshores.com

ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH6270 Bon Secour Hwy, Bon Secour

949-6254

Greek OrthodoxST. ATHANASIOS GREEK

ORTHODOX CHAPEL220 E. 20th Ave, Gulf Shores

967-2020stathanasios.al.goarch.org

LutheranGRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH-ELCA

491 West 23rd Ave, Gulf Shores968-5991

PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH8250 Roscoe Rd., Gulf Shores

974-2545

ST. JUDE’S BY THE SEA LUTHERANCHURCH

312 E. 16th Ave, Gulf Shores968-5833

Methodist - UnitedGULF SHORES UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH

1900 Gulf Shores Pkwy, Gulf Shores968-2411

www.gulfshoresumc.org

MORGAN’S CHAPEL UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH

Hwy 10, across from Swift School, Bon Secour949-7400

ORANGE BEACH UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH

28751 Canal Rd., Orange Beach981-6751

www.orangebeachumc.org

Non-DenominationalIGLESIA CASA DE LUZ

Companerismo Cristiano225 E. 24th Ave, Gulf Shores

948-3467

SAFE HARBOR HOUSE OF PRAYERMulti-Culture Full Gospel

7320 Bon Secour Hwy, Bon Secour223-3615

ST. ANDREW BY THE SEA,A COMMUNITY CHURCH

17263 Ft. Morgan Rd, Gulf Shores968-3900

www.standrewbythesea.org

PresbyterianFIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)

OF GULF SHORES309 East 21st Ave., Gulf Shores

968-7720www.gspres.com

GRACE FELLOWSHIP PCA19470 Co. Rd. 6, Gulf Shores

968-5302www.gracefellowship-pca.com

ORANGE BEACHPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH26640 Canal Rd, Orange Beach

981-4220www.orangebeachpresbyterian.org

CHRISTIAN SERVICE CENTERPROGRAMS: Emergency Aid, Food Pantry,

Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy and Meals on Wheels.

317 Dolphin Ave., Gulf Shores968-5256

www.cscgs.com


Sweet Cornbread1 cup yellow cornmeal1 cup all purpose flour4 tablespoon sugar4 tablespoon baking powder½ teaspoon salt1 cup milk1 egg¼ cup bacon grease (or vegetable oil), plus some to grease pan

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Use bacon grease or oil to grease a loaf pan or 8 inch square pan. Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix until mostly smooth. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Serves 8.

Sweet Tea with a Twist4 family-sized tea bags1 ½ cups sugarLemon-flavored vodkaFirefly or other tea-flavored liquor

TO MAke ONe GALLON OF SWeeT TeA:Boil 4 tea bags in a medium pot or place in mi-

crowave for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cover with lid to steep. Add 1 ½ cups sugar to a gallon pitcher, pour tea and press tea bags into pitcher, then throw tea bags away. Stir to dissolve sugar and con-tinue stirring while adding water to fill the pitcher. A slight froth should form at the top. Chill and serve.

TO MAke SWeeT TeA WITH A TWIST:Pour glass 2/3 full with sweet tea and ice. Add 2 oz.

lemon flavored-vodka and 1 oz. tea flavored liquor. Stir and garnish with mint leaves or lemon and lime wedges.

Everyday Southern Favorites


Jeane Carlson

Mark Robinson

Mark Robinson

Jeane Carlson

St. Patricks Day Parade

Photos submitted by the Coastal Photography Club. For more info contact Capt. Mark Robinson at 251-540-7463 or Margret Hildreth at 850-457-8656.

Mullet toss at the Florabama Cancer survivors enjoy a fishing trip.

Thunder on the Gulf boat races


Adventure IslAnd mInI golf & more 974-1500, adventureisland.com

24559 Perdido Blvd., Orange Beach

AlAbAmA gulf CoAst Zoo 968-5732 , alabamagulfcoastzoo.com

Alabama Highway 59 South

bAldwIn County HerItAge museum 25521 US Hwy 98 E. Elberta Ala. 36530

251-986-8375 email: [email protected]

gulf sHores beACHes-lAgoon PAss

(2.9 miles west of Alabama Highway 59)

stAte PArk PAvIlIon (6 miles east of Alabama Highway 59)

Orange Beach (Alabama Highway 182 at Alabama High-way 161)

bIrd of PArAdIse bIPlAne rIdes 866-MUST-FLY, 866mustfly.com

Jack Edwards Airport

bon seCour nAtIonAl wIldlIfe refuge 540-7720, fws.gov/bonsecour

7.5 miles west on Alabama Highway 180 from Alabama Highway 59

ferrIs wHeel224-1000, thewharfal.com

4550 Main St., Orange Beach

gulf sHores museum968-1463, gulfshoresal.gov

244 W. 19th Ave.

foley rAIlroAd museum And model trAIn exHIbIt

943-1818, FoleyRailroadMuseum.com125 East Laurel Ave., Foley

HIstorIC fort morgAn540-7125

22 miles west on Alabama Highway 180 from Alabama Highway 59

orAnge beACH IndIAn & seA museum 981-6039, obparksandrec.com

25805 John Snook Drive

PIrAte IslAnd Adventure golf968-GOLF, piratesislandgolf.com

Alabama Highway 59 just north of Intracoastal Waterway Bridge

soutH bAldwIn CommunIty tHeAtre968-6721, sbct.biz2022 W. Second St.

tHe trACk968-8111, gulfshorestrack.com

Alabama Highway 59 just north of Intracoastal Waterway Bridge

wAtervIlle usA948-2106, watervilleusa.comAlabama Highway 59 South

*See our Web site for ongoing, club and exercise events; church listings; dining guide; marinas; and golf courses--GulfCoastNewsToday.com

**For updated calendar items, also see The Islander newspaper.


ABOVE: D.D. Fields at Live Bait

Karen Waldrup performs at Rafters during the festival.

Ashley Thomas performs at Rafters during the festival.

Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival

RIGHT: Pat McCann at Rafters

Down from Wisconsin for the Songwriters Festival are Susie Bubolz, Linda Shaw, Deb Kiel and Julie Endries enjoying the music and food at Live Bait on Nov. 18.

Travis List performs at Rafters during the festival.

RIGHT: Red Lane performs at Rafters during the festival.

by Mark Robinson

The Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival, held Nov. 8 – 18, features Grammy Award winning songwriters and the future stars of tomorrow performing original songs in Perdido key and Pensacola, Fla. and Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. Festival attendees enjoy an up close and personal concert experience and are learn the stories behind the songs as told by the original author. Venues of all kinds welcome the nearly 200 songwriters that come from around the country and around the world.


Welcome ToGolfer’s Paradise! The Alabama Gulf Coast may be famous for it’s white sandy beaches, mouth watering seafood and deep sea fishing, but you’re going to thoroughly enjoy the golfing experience when you tee-off at some of the finest golf courses in the Southeast. Relax and enjoy a round of golf at one of our 9-hole, 18-hole and Par 3 courses.

ALABAMA STATE PARKS20115 State Hwy. 135, Gulf Shores251-948-4653www.alapark.com/gulfstate/golf

COTTON CREEK3840 Cotton Creek Blvd., Gulf Shores251-968-75001-800-327-2657

CYPRESS BEND3840 Cotton Creek Blvd., Gulf Shores251-968-75001-800-327-2657

FOLEY GOLF COURSE3901 S. McKenzie St., Foley251-970-1444

GLENLAKES GOLF CLUB9530 Clubhouse Dr., Foley251-955-1220

GULF SHORES GOLF CLUB520 Clubhouse Dr., Gulf Shores251-968-7366

KIVA DUNES815 Plantation Dr., Gulf Shores251-540-7000 • Toll Free 1-888-833-5482www.kivadunes.com

ORANGE BEACH GOLF CENTER4700 Easy St., Orange Beach251-981-4653

PENINSULA GOLF CLUB20 Peninsula Blvd., Gulf Shores251-968-80091-800-391-8009

SOLDIERS CREEK GOLF CLUB12096 Co. Rd. 95, Elberta251-986-8633

Billy’s SeafoodBilly’s SeafoodIf It Swims, We’ve Got It!

$5.00 OFF5 LBS. OR MORE

HEADLESS SHRIMP(Not Valid with Any Other Coupon or Discount)

$1.00 OFF PER LB.HEADLESS SHRIMP

(Not Valid with Any Other Coupon or Discount)

"Gift Certificates available"

Fresh Seafood DailyFrom Our Boats

251-949-6288Co. Rd. 10 W. Bon Secour, AL

www.billys-seafood.comCOUPON


Golf Shop Phone888-833-5482 • 251-540-7000

Winter 6 Play Card$300 Before Feb. 28, 2013

$399 March 1- March 15, 2013ROUNDS TO BE PLAYED FROM

NOV. 1, 2012 UNTIL FEB. 28, 2013


Coastal Chorale Christmas ShowNov. 30-Dec. 2Foley United Methodist Church, 915 N. Pine St., Foley$15The 50 + group of talented vocalists will present their annual Christmas Extravagan-za, performing many of your favorite Christmas songs.For more information, call 251-948-8955.

St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, 50th Annual Christmas BazaarDec. 1, 8a.m.- 4 p.m. Highway 98 West and Schumacher Street South, Foley. Free AdmissionSpaghetti Dinner 11a.m.-2 p.m. Plates: Adults $7.00 Children $4.00, to-go dinners available. The Bazaar will include Silent Auction, Bake Sale 50/50 Raffle, Bingo, Handcrafted Gifts, Christmas Booths, Vendors, Musical Entertainment, plus lots more. Please come out and join St. Margaret’s for lots of shopping, food, and fun!

Swift-Coles Home on Bon Secour Holiday Open HouseDec. 1, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. $10The 16-room, 10,000 square foot historic tidewater mansion overlooks Bon Secour River and will be decorated for the holidays.For more information call 251-580-1897.

South Baldwin Community Theatre presents “Journeys of the Heart”Dec. 7-16. Friday and Saturday Shows 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.Ticket sales benefit SBCT’s Young Artist Scholarship fund and also accepting dona-tions of toys and money for Toys for Tots.2022 W. Second St., Gulf Shores, across from Bodenhamber Recreation CenterFor more information call 251-968-6721 or visit www.sbct.biz.

Civil War Christmas at Fort MorganDec. 8, 4 p.m.–7 p.m.Admission ChargeExperience a Civil War Christmas at Fort Morgan as interpreters portray the lives of the Confederate garrison. For more information call 251-540-7127 or visit preserveala.org/fortmorgan.aspx.

Annual Christmas Lighted Boat Pa-rade, Gulf Shores and Orange BeachDec. 8, 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.Starts at LuLu’s at Homeport Marina and travels east to Zeke’s Landing MarinaFree Gather along the banks of Intracoastal Waterway to watch this nautical light display.For more, call 251-968-6904 or visit alabamacoastalchristmas.com.

Pensacola Civic Band Annual Holiday ConcertDec. 17-18, 7:30 p.m. All admissions $10Pensacola State College Ashmore Fine Arts Auditorium, Building 8, on the campus. Proceeds benefit scholarships for area high school band students and Pensacola State Students. Will not have Free tickets for this fundraising concert. For ticket reservations, call 850-484-1847 or more information contact 850-484-1800 or [email protected].

Midnight Confessions live band and dancing7:30 p.m. Monday-SaturdayFreeNolans Restaurant and Lounge, 1140 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf ShoresFor more, call 948-2111.

Make Your Own SuncatcherEvery Tuesday, 4 p.m.$20-$35Orange Beach Art Center. By arranging colored cut glass pieces on

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE


By John Mullen

It got so chilly in Orange Beach the weekend before Thanksgiving, an ice skating rink popped up at The Wharf.

Well, maybe not that chilly, but as part of the Coastal Christ-mas celebration on Pleasure Is-land, an ice skating rink did pop up in the parking deck behind Ginny Lane at The Wharf.

The Alabama Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce and Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tour-ism, along with local businesses are spearheading the effort to make the area a Christmas desti-nation.

The ice rink was part of the kick-off weekend when it opened Friday, Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. Admis-sion is $8 and includes skates. For $10 you can skate and get a ride on The Wharf ’s Ferris wheel.

A company called Ice Rink events began the work on Thurs-day, continued through Friday and started making ice on Sat-urday. Sunday the ice was four inches thick.

“We do this all over the world from India to Hong kong,” Proj-

ect Manager Dave Pritchard said. “We’re probably 35 rinks into 50 we’ll do this year.”

Warner said the company levels off a spot on the parking lot with wood and sand and rows and rows of piping are laid on top of the sand.

“It’s like a great big coil that you wrap inside the ice,” Gray said. “We’ve got several tractor trailers coming in with piping and they will essentially unwrap the coils up and down the ice skating rink over and over again. We build this great big sandbox and once that’s built they lay in the pipes.”

Prichard said the pipes are fro-zen by a huge compressor before the water is added.

“It’s not like making a swim-ming pool,” he said. “We drop the tubes to zero degrees and we start spraying them with water. The water freezes to the pipe and then we spray more water on that til it freezes. It will take about two days for the ice to build up.

“It builds up over time once we get that chiller cranked up.”

each night more water will be sprayed on to fill in the ruts to get the surface ready for the next

day, Warner said. Hours of operation will be

from 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

There is an entire slate of events including church con-certs, tree lightings, several Santa Claus events, open houses and parades. For a complete listing including times and dates, visit coastalchristmas.com.

For more information about events at The Wharf, visit al-wharf.com.

a clear square of glass your design will be fused overnight and the next day your creation will be ready to pick up. The make your own classes last 10-20 minutes.For more, call 981-2787 or visit www.orangebeachartcenter.com.

Hot Glass MementosEvery Wednesday, 4 p.m. $20-$35Orange Beach Art CenterAfter pressing an object into a box of sand,

the glass artist will pour molten glass into the form. After annealing overnight you will pick up your sand casting. The make your own classes last 10-20 minutes.For more, call 981-2787 or visit www.orangebeachartcenter.com.

Wine TastingsEvery Saturday, 5-7 p.m. FreeGrape Escape Deli and Wine Cellar, Winn Dixie shopping center, Orange BeachFor more, call 980-3354.

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

New ice skating rink at The Wharf in Orange Beach


A couple of weeks ago, I attended a luncheon meeting for the South Baldwin Republican Women. As I listened to the speaker, Hoss Mack, discuss his experiences and observa-tions made during a recent trip to Israel, I overheard a lady at our table mention to another lady that life was difficult for women in the Arab countries. As she verified Hoss’s com-ments, I heard her say she had spent five years living in Libya.

After the speaker had finished, I got her name and contact information, and, after learning that she lived ON THe IS-LAND, decided that we needed to know more about her.

Bobbie Rooker is a truly amazing lady who is full of adventurous stories of non-stop exciting challenges that the average person has only read, or dreamed, about. Her life began in Danielsville, Ga., close to Athens. She grew up on a working farm with four brothers and two sisters. They grew or raised everything they ate.

As a child, she took her assignments home to keep up with the other children because they couldn’t attend school during picking season for cotton. It was normal for children to be excused from classes in farm com-munities to help out as needed on the farm.

After graduating from high school, Bobbie attended and graduated from Beussee Business College. Right out of school, she got a job as a legal secretary in a law firm in Athens.

She made friends easily, and one of them set her up on a blind date with a gentleman who, at the time, was working for Lockheed. They dated for a year and when she turned 21, she married him. He delighted in saying, “I put shoes on her, and we traveled the world with Lockheed.” I asked her how she felt about leaving home, and she said she “never looked back.” After they married, Cliff was sent to West Palm Beach, Fla., then to Albany, Ga. on assignments.

Bobbie was always ready for a new challenge and didn’t mind the moves. After a stint in Georgia where their son Mark was born, they were sent to Hawaii, and were living there when Hawaii attained statehood. She still remembers the celebrations, the cruise ships that came to take part in the event, and Dean Martin taking time to say hello.

After Hawaii, they went on assignment to Morocco, then back to Lancaster, Calif., then Vacaville. In Vacaville, she began volunteering with the American Red Cross, and later served as Vice-Chair for the european American Red Cross. even today, Bobbie continues volunteering.

eventually, Cliff ’s expertise was required elsewhere, and they were sent to Weisbaden, Germany where Cliff took over the Regional Office of Lockheed, dealing with issues arising in the Middle east and europe. They lived there for two years in a beautiful home rented by Lockheed on the famous Johan Sebastin Bach Strauss.

After two years, a need came about for establishing a Regional office in Tokyo, Japan. Cliff was flown out ahead, and told to find a house, check on a school for their son and purchase whatever they needed to live there comfortably.

Soon, Bobbie and Mark joined him and they started a new adventure with a totally different cultural experience.

Just about the time they had settled in, Lockheed had a crisis in Libya. Lockheed had been dealing with the Monarchy of Libya, but there was a take-over and kaddafi now ruled. He was deter-mined to rid his country of everything and everyone that had anything to do with the Monarch.

Fearing for the life of the current Lockheed Program Man-ager in Libya, the company pulled him out, and asked Cliff if he would go in. Among his responsibilities, was his job to reestablish their position with kaddafi that they had previ-ously had with the Monarchy.

Bobbie stayed in Tokyo long enough to liquidate all they had bought to live in Japan; Cliff returned to Japan to finish closing the office, then he returned to Libya.

Bobbie and Mark returned to Georgia so Mark could finish the seventh grade, then they joined Cliff in Libya. After ninth grade, he went to the American school in Switzerland. Cliff had rented an apart-ment near the embassy, and lived on the top floor of the building.

They found living within this new economy to be quite a challenge. Whatever they bought, they got the wrong change. When they asked about it, they were told, “We wanted to see if Allah sent us a fool.”

Bobbie wore western clothes and traveled freely, but was warned that Arab men considered West-ern women to be promiscuous. Their phones were tapped, and they were often followed. When it

came time to leave the country, they actually were asked by acquaintances in high government positions if they wanted some of the surveillance photos.

Bobbie even asked some Libyan visitors if they were happy people. The answer was, “We will not be happy till every Jew is driven into the sea.” When kaddafi purchased planes from Lockheed, the company had to guarantee that the banks used to transfer money had “no Jews on their board of directors.” Needless to say, the stay in Libya was stressful, difficult and occasionally frightening.

While in Libya, Bobbie flew to Beirut for medical issues, and while there the Six Day War broke out. After several nights in a hotel, she was rushed to the airport and flown to Rome for safety. It was at the airport VIP waiting area that she ran into and spent time visiting with Richard Burton and elizabeth Taylor.

After five years in Libya, they had done what was expected of them, and they asked to be transferred.

They were sent to Istanbul, Turkey as an interim stop. At this point, they were told they could choose to be assigned to Iran, or to become head of the office of the Se Regional Mar-keting Office back in Georgia. They called their son who was in school in Switzerland, and asked him how he felt about the

Capt. Mark asks, ‘Who’s on the Island?’

MARK ROBINSON

Bobbie Rooker

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28


options. He said, “For my senior year in high school, I really want

us to be a family.” Decision made: next move would be to Georgia. Lockheed sent them to Tripoli to await Cliff ’s re-placement, and then they headed for Georgia.

Back in Georgia, Bobbie taught bridge at the YMCA where one of her students persuaded her to join his finan-cial planning company. She did, and began studying for the CLU designation, which was conferred in 1981. In 1982 she opened the fifth Regional Office in Atlanta for New england Life; in 1987 she helped form Peachtree Planning Corpora-tion, which grew to 68 associates with 12 offices.

The family bought a 26-foot Macgregor sailboat that they sailed on Lake Lanier. During one of their afternoon sailings, they met the developer of Sailboat Bay in Bon Secour who invited them to come see the condos, and check out the area. They bought one of the condos.

In 1990, they both retired and came to live in Alabama and bought a home ON THe ISLAND. They both spent time golfing, and Bobbie became involved in Friends of the Li-brary and in the Ambassadors Club. She served on the board of directors for the Chamber of Commerce, the Literacy Council in Foley and the Republican Baldwin County execu-tive Committee.

Bobbie formed a Council for Investment Clubs and as-sisted in setting up numerous clubs around the area. In addi-

tion, she volunteered for the Red Cross and is presently chair of the Library Advisory Board in Gulf Shores. She also chairs the Annual Friends of the Library Bake Sale.

Bobbie still marks off items from her bucket list. How-ever, she has completed more than most could ever hope for, such as traveling around Mexico to compare the pyramids in Mexico to those in egypt, spending an October in New england to experience the fall season of colors and even took her granddaughter on a trip out west.

She toured Nova Scotia and Canada, she learned to play the piano, loves to sew and is a gourmet cook. On one of her adventures, she met up with her family in Vail to ski, then down to Las Vegas, to southern California and an Amtrak ride back to New Orleans.

Before Cliff died of cancer, they celebrated their 50th wed-ding anniversary by spending a month in Vail, Colo. skiing, and a month “Down Under” sailing to New Zealand, then back to Australia to snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef.

Bobbie writes: “I have had a wonderful life and all the achievements aside, the most rewarding and meaningful were being a supportive partner/wife for Cliff and a devoted mother to our son. I have two granddaughters, one grandson and two great-grandchildren. I am truly blessed.” To that, I would say that those of us who are ON THe ISLAND are truly blessed to have Bobbie Rooker as one of us.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 ‘WHO’S ON THE ISLAND’


December has arrived again. This month will be a little hard to fish. Not because of the fish, but be-cause of the wind and cold. Plus the water will be really low at low tide because of the wind. When the water is low there are more things to hit with the boat and prop. Still, the fish are here as always so slow down, dress warmly, stay dry and hit the rivers along Mobile Bay.

My favorite river is Bon Secour (safe harbor). Specks should be in almost all of the deeper holes and ditches. Fish live shrimp or plastics really slow and deep. The Specks will be a little sluggish so take your time and pay attention to that light, easy bite.

Fish River as well as Magnolia River will hold Trout as well and will require the same slow ap-proach. Red fish will also be on the rivers. This is a good month to hunt the Slot Reds. And the same as Trout, use live shrimp and plastics. I use gulp baits and hook the baits in the eye on a khale hook just like it was a live shrimp. Use under a slip cork or free lines with a tight line. Just so it’s slow and easy.

If you can find a light wind day, hit the Dixie Bar with some fresh Mullet cut in a fillet off the back bone and then cut with an angled cut to form a triangle piece of bait. Hook the bait at the narrow end using a Carolina rig and fish the bottom. Bull Red fish do feed by smell some times and Mullet will leave that scent line.

You may also be able to get to the close in rigs on windless days. If so, take some salted shrimp with you and fish on bottom around the legs of the rigs for Sheepshead. They, too, may be a little slow, but they will bite. Sheepshead will fry up really nice on these cold December days.

If you have time, head north to the Causeway and look for birds diving for bait on the surface. If the bait is on top. it’s because the Specks are under them and feeding. The fish will spook and move but if you stay quiet the birds will follow and keep your school of Trout in sight.

keep in mind that deer season is in so there will be hunters all over the Delta. Don’t be afraid to

wear orange hats while fishing. Better safe, some-times. keep your boat in good shape and pay really close attention to the water depth. No one needs to spend a night up the Delta in December on a small boat. It gets really cold at night. Hope you have a great month. know the laws and rules of the road. Stay safe. Contact me at backbayfishingwithdon.com or 251-550-5418.


A girl scout decorates a tree in the museum.

Girl Scouts decorate Elberta museumBy Tammy KinneyCommunity Correspondent

Members of a local Girl Scout Troop and volunteers of the Baldwin County Heritage Museum have begun setting the Christmas Tree exhibit to prepare for the Museum’s 2012 Christmas Celebration. The event will take place on Sunday, Dec. 9, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Dur-ing the Celebration BCHM will host the Angel Memory Tree lighting with entertainment from the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Hand Bell Choir. This tree is filled with tributes in memory or in honor of friends, family and loved ones. For a donation of $10 each and Angel will be name and place on the tree for the one you want to remember or honor.

BCHM is located at 25521 Hwy 98 e, elberta. Hours of operation are 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Wednesday-Saturday. Admission is Free. For information about making a donation or becoming a member or volunteer stop by, call 251-986-8375, email [email protected] or visit baldwincountyheritagemuseum.com. You can also find

the museum on facebook. All tax free donations should be mailed to P.O. 356, elberta, AL 36530 and will be acknowledged with our gratitude.

Gulf Shores invites residents, visitors to enjoy Christmas on the coastSubmitted by the City of Gulf Shores

The City of Gulf Shores has announced plans for its an-

nual holiday celebration and invites residents and visitors to enjoy their Christmas on the Alabama Gulf Coast.

“The City of Gulf Shores is proud to be partnering with the Alabama Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce and local businesses in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach to promote the Coastal Christmas campaign,” said Grant Brown, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Director. “We encourage all businesses to participate by decorating for the season and helping to make our community a magical destination for our residents and visitors.”

The holiday activities include Gulf Shores’ 3rd Annual Christmas Parade and Beach Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 1. The parade will begin at 4 p.m. and will feature festive floats from around the region. Large crowds of spectators looking to soak up the holiday spirit are anticipated along Highway 59 as parade entries make their way from Clubhouse Drive to the Gulf Shores Public Beach.

“We couldn’t be more excited about this year’s parade,” said Programs and events Manager, Brigette Reynolds. “Our parade doubled in size last year and we are looking forward to welcoming even more participants this year.”

The excitement from the parade will roll continuously

into the night as the Beach Celebration will kick off at the Gulf Shores Public Beach, immediately following the parade. Families can enjoy a stunning lighting ceremony followed by pictures with Santa, a live nativity, live entertainment, holiday treats, crafts and much more.

This year’s event will also feature a special treat for those families looking for a compromise on this big day.

“We know many families want to pack as much fun into their holidays as possible and also understand how important football is in this part of the country,” said Reynolds. “This year fans can enjoy the best of both worlds as we will be showing the SeC Championship Game live at the event.”

Gulf Shores will close out its holiday celebration with Breakfast with Santa at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15 at the erie Meyer Civic Center. Dive into a wholesome breakfast com-plete with sausage, bacon, eggs and pancakes and take ad-vantage of one last chance to have pictures taken with Santa. Admission for Breakfast with Santa is $4, while children 3 and younger are free.

As a special gift, the first 50 children to have their picture taken with Santa during the Beach Celebration and Breakfast with Santa will receive their photo complimentary.

For more information about any of the City of Gulf Shores holiday events, contact the Special events Division at 251-968-1172 or visit gulfshoresal.gov.


Mark Robinson

Mark Robinson

Jeane Carlson

Jeane Carlson

Mullet toss at Florabama.

St Patricks Day at Papa Rocco’s.

Chili cookoff at Florabama.Miranda Lambert in concert at The Wharf.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 PHOTO CLUB


Seafood Kitchen138 West 1st Ave • Gulf Shores, AL • 251-948-7294

•Best Lunch• Best Dinner• Best Seafood

also been voted• Friendliest Staff

A

“must-visit”

while in Gulf Shores

Voted “People’s Choice”Since 2004

Award-winning Fish and Shimp Specialties

Casual Family Atmosphere

Reasonable Prices

Senior Menu Available

Daily Lunch SpecialsFresh Steamed, Grilled,Blackened, Fried, Baked

and SautéedSeafood

www.Desotosseafoodkitchen.com


Seafood Kitchen

138 West 1st AveGulf Shores, AL

251-948-7294www.Desotosseafoodkitchen.com


Orders To Go: CALL 251-948-7262 or 251-948-6529Highway 59, Gulf Shores 1/2 Mi. North of the Beach

www.paparocco.comVisit our website for our current

nightly music line up!

• Live Entertainment 7 nights a week and never a cover charge• Full Menu until Midnight • Free Wireless Internet • Lunch Specials Daily

• Happy Hour 11-7 Mon.-Fri.

Papa’s Winter SpecialsMONDAY: Oyster Stew..................................................................$5.95TUESDAY: Salmon Patties, White Sauce, Potatoes & Beans...$6.95WEDNESDAY & SUNDAY: All You Can Eat Spaghetti................$5.75THURSDAY: Prime Rib (5pm ‘til)...............................................$11.25

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We Have Relocated To The Wharf4830 Wharf Parkway, Suite G106 in Orange Beach!

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Beachin' (Dec. 2012)

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