This week at least three different groups of students are donating their time and energies to do storm cleanup duty in the area. Fifty five college students from the Georgia Institute of Technology arrived this week; and another fifty from Bowling Green, NC.
Dauphin Island 21st Annual Christmas at the Fort
December 5, 2005 — timetrialIf you’re planning to be on Dauphin Island next weekend be sure to take in the 21st installment of Christmas at the Fort, at Fort Gaines, Dauphin Island.
Christmas at the Fort is a traditional celebration patterned after a letter written home by James M. Williams with the 21st Alabama Infantry Volunteers stationed at Fort Gaines in 1861. Event organizers bill it as a non-commercial celebration for the whole family. The kids can make sea shell Christmas ornaments and visit with Papa noel. The whole family will enjoy cooking demonstrations, candle dipping, blacksmithing and much more. Christmas at the Fort runs December 10th and 11th.
Fort Gaines is open daily from 9am to 5pm. Be sure to call for more information (251) 861-6992
Dauphin Island Vacation Photo
December 3, 2005 — timetrial
No ducks anywhere out there!
Click the photo for full-sized image.
Dauphin Island and Gulf Coast Open for Tourism
December 2, 2005 — timetrial
Tourists, vacationers, snowbirds – they’re all returning to the Gulf Coast for their yearly dose of warm sunshine, ocean breezes, and sugary soft white sandy beaches.
We’ve spoken with several vacationing families headed for Dauphin Island, and we’ve spoken with vacation property owners and managers on Dauphin Island. All are ready to move beyond the ‘05 season and get on with enjoying our island paradise.
Tourism officials along the Alabama Gulf Coast say after a pair of busy back to back tropical seasons it’s time to move on and focus on rebuilding and recovery.
The sound of progress can be heard in Gulf Shores, as efforts are made to rebuild.
Bebe Gauntt, Public Relations Manager:”We are looking better and better everyday. We’re open. We’ve been open for months. We’re ready for business. We’re ready for visitors. We’re getting ready for company right now.”
Bebe Gauntt is talking about the influx of snowbirds expected to arrive after the holidays and many rentals along the beach are ready for the business.
Souvenir City was one of the first shops to re-open following Ivan. Cristin Breland says revenue at the shop didn’t suffer much while their building was under repair, thanks to insurance payments, on-line and phone sales.
Breland says people are now coming back into the store.
Breland, Souvenir City:”Thanksgiving was a big bam, a lot of families came down. They were excited. We were slammed here the day after Thanksgiving.”
Work continues on the county’s beach renourishment project as well. A mile of the 16 mile original project still needs to be done. Repairs will then be made on the areas that were damaged by Dennis and Katrina.
Chuck Hamilton, Baldwin County Public Works Director:”We haven’t let any grass grow under our feet. The council has been very aggressive about making sure the business owners as well as homeowners take down unsafe structures, structures that are gonna have to be demolished and move on with it so we can recover our economy for both our city and our tourists.”
As for the message the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau wants tourists to know: Hurricanes are in their past.
Gauntt:”We’re not using that word. The h-word is now history for us as we are, we’re just, we’re blowing and going. We’re doing good and we’re better everyday.”
‘Tis the End of the Season
November 30, 2005 — timetrialHurricane season, that is.
Today, November 30, marks the official last day of the 2005 hurricane season. Believe it or not there have been a record shattering total of 26 named storms to date this year. The latest is Tropical Storm Epsilon, which has recently organized itself rather harmlessly somewhere way out in the Atlantic.
On this the last day of the season we’ll all remember for years to come, let’s all raise a glass in remembrance of events past and in hopes of a better and brighter future for Dauphin Island.
Fort Gaines Phonograph Record Postcard auction
November 29, 2005 — timetrial
Dauphin Island history buffs and memorbilia collectors will want to take a closer look at this item up for auction on ebay.
An ebay seller specializing in postcards is selling a very unusual postcard featuring Fort Gaines. The postcard is also a 78rpm record. If you click on the photo you can just make out the record grooves in the enlarged image.
The seller’s description:
Up for bids is a very unusual postcard of Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island near Mobile AL. It has a phonograph record on the picture. I have not played the record…no 78 rpm player. I think this card would have been published in the 1950’s from its appearance. Please enlarge the photos to examine the details and condition of this card.
The auction ends this evening so if you’re interested you had better act fast.
Christmas by the Sea
November 28, 2005 — timetrial
Whether your vacation plans take you to Dauphin Island or you live on Dauphin Island plan on taking in the first of Dauphin Island’s Christmas celebrations. This Saturday, December 3rd, Dauphin Island will play host for the third annual Christmas by the Sea.
Christmas by the Sea on Dauphin Island is an event for the entire family. Attractions include a Christmas bazaar and bake sale, a gumbo cook-off, Santa Clause visits and face painting. Local artists will exhibit their works. Mark your calendar for this Saturday, December 3rd. The event is free of charge.
Scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. and last until 5 p.m., “A Christian Celebration of the Season of Giving” will be sponsored by Dauphin Island United Methodist Church and hosted by several other island churches.
Events chair Freda Roberts, who can be reached at 861-7437, said there is no charge to attend the activities, and each church will determine its own price for food and drink.
The affair starts off with a United Methodist Women Christmas bazaar and bake sale at the Methodist church at 302 Key St., where visitors will be entertained by the Dauphin Island Youth Group and Choirs.
A gumbo cook-off, under the watchful eye of coordinator Ann Bridges, will begin at 10 a.m., and, for lunch, Margie Del cambre’s 2004 award-winning gumbo will be served.
Money raised at the Dauphin Island UMC will go to support the church’s building fund, and two talented artists are contributing their works to add coin to the coffer.
Noted Mississippi Coast artist Stig Marcussen has donated three pen-and-ink prints, and Dauphin Islander Lawrence Trot ter has contributed a carved blue heron. Tickets can be had for a small donation.
Other churches hosting the Season of Giving are St. Francis Episcopal at 401 Key St. and St. Edmund by the Sea Catholic Church at 827 Cadillac Ave.
According to Marilyn Sowers , president of the Episcopal Church Women at St. Francis, a highlight of the celebration — at least for the children — will be having their pictures taken with Santa. They can also have their faces painted and try their hands at making bird feeders out of pine cones.
Bellingrath Gardens’ Magic Christmas in Lights
November 26, 2005 — timetrial
Headed for Dauphin Island for a vacation this holiday season? We know of and have spoken to many who have plans to do just that.
TV station WPMI, covering Mobile, Pensacola, and Ft. Walton Beach ran a story just the other day about a family escaping the stresses of their everyday life to a Thanksgiving vacation on the beach.
While you on Dauphin Island this holdiay season be sure to stop by Belllingrath Gardens for their annual light show.
The 10th Anniversary of Magic Christmas in Lights will showcase over 3 million sparkling lights and 550 animated displays. Visit the Bellingrath Home, decorated in its holiday finery while the sounds of choirs and bands echo from the South Terrace of the Home. Enjoy supper and photographs with Santa while finding the perfect present in the Bellingrath Gift Shop. The Lights open the day after Thanksgiving and runs through New Years Eve. Hours during Magic Christmas are 8am until 9pm. Come experience the next holiday tradition for your family!
Happy Thanksgiving
November 24, 2005 — timetrialHappy Thanksgiving from the Dauphin Island Times. We sincerely hope you have a most enjoyable day today with friends and family. Live fully and laugh heartily.
Laughter is an instant vacation. ~Milton Berle
Dauphin Island by Kayak
November 23, 2005 — timetrial
Local resident Rob Nykvist keeps a photo journal of his kayaking excursions in the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, inlcuding Mobile Bay, and the Barrier Islands. Rob recently launched his Kayak from the Southeast end of Dauphin Island near the rock jetties and paddled to Sand Island. All along the way he took a series of terrific photos, many of which he has posted on his site.
I’ve included only a sampling of his photos here. Click each one for a larger view.
These photos were taken from viewpoints most visitors and vacationers to Dauphin Island don’t get to visit. They were both taken from Sand Island and they both feature the Dauphin Island Pier.
In the first shot you can see how Sand Island has become the Dauphin Island Pier’s destination. Rob points out in his journal that the gap that used to be there had been a freeway for boaters. Looks like those days are over for a while. It leaves us wondering whether it might be a good idea to build steps from the end of the Dauphin Island Pier to Sand Island.
The second photo is equally as stunning as the first – just another perfect day in paradise.
Link to Rob Nykvist’s site
