LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL! Mardi Gras 2019 is here, and once again Dauphin Island will kick off the carnival season along the Gulf Coast. As always, Dauphin Island’s own Krewe de la Dauphine (KDLD) will get the party started on Saturday, February 2 followed by the wildly popular town-sponsored People’s Parade slated to roll on Saturday, February 9! Both parades will begin at 1 pm and travel east to west along Bienville Boulevard from the DI Sea Lab to Penicault Street (near Holiday Isle Condos). “KDLD says …It’s Five O’clock Somewhere” is the theme for this year’s parade and you can expect colorful and festive floats depicting a variety of songs made famous by that “Son of a Son of a Sailor” himself, Jimmy Buffett. King Cookie Dickinson & Queen Jane Harmon will reign over the festivities that are sure to delight.
The following weekend, YOU’LL have a chance to be IN the parade as the town of Dauphin Island sponsors it’s 3rd Annual People’s Parade! Parade applications are available on the town’s website, or you can stop by town hall and pick up a copy in person. Applications MUST be returned with payment NO LATER than January 31. Space is limited, and the Parade Committee reserves the right to reject any applications. This family-friendly event is open to everyone including foot marchers, dance troupes, truck bands & performance groups, recognized equestrian groups and more. Registration is $25 for all floats/trailers, boats on trailers and classic cars/car clubs/motorcycle groups ($25 fee includes up to 4 such vehicles). Drivers of all vehicles MUST be appropriately licensed and show proof of insurance. New this year, People’s Parade Theme Cups will be available by the sleeve for parade participants to throw. Details at the town hall. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
DIVA Chili Cook-Off The Dauphin Island Veterans Association
(DIVA) will hold its Annual DIVA Benefit Chili Cook-off on Saturday, March 23 (Rain Date: March 30) at noon at the Pelican Pub west parking area, 1102 DeSoto Avenue. Team members who would like to participate may obtain entry forms at the Pelican Pub. The teams should consist of no more than three members, have an appropriate name and must prepare their chili on-site (participants may prep ingredients off-site). Teams should prepare at least three gallons of chili to distribute to “tasters” attending the event. The registration fee of $20.00 per team ($15.00 if paid by March 10). Mail check/money order to DIVA, P.O. Box 1058, Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528 or give the completed registration form and payment to the on-duty Pelican Pub bartender. Call 861-7180 (Pub) or Dave Connolly (861-3054) for additional information/questions. Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place teams. DIVA respectfully requests a donation of $5 per taster. Note: The next DIVA Memorial Wall ceremony is scheduled for Monday, May 27 at 11 AM at Water Tower Plaza. At that time, the name of US Army veteran Claude (John) Gaspard, Sr. will be added to the Memorial Wall. Mr. Gaspard was born on May 29, 1931, passed on March 16, 2018, and served active duty during the Korean War.
Krewe of Mardi Paws Inaugural Parade Sponsored by the DI Chamber of Commerce
The Krewe of Mardi Paws will take to area streets on February 16 at 10 am to raise funds for the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), and you (and of course, your pets) are invited to participate in this inaugural event! Registration is available on Eventbrite and race day registration will be offered at Water Tower Plaza starting at 9:30 am. This will be an adoption day for ARF so if you don’t have a pet to walk in the parade you can borrow one on site and even take home a new “fur-ever “ friend! The parade theme is “Fairy Tails” and prizes will be offered in the following categories: Most Creative, Best Group Theme and Best Theme Representation. Entry fee is $10 and includes one person and one pet—-additional people and/or pets are $5 each. Strollers and wagons are allowed, but bicycles are not permitted in the parade. Golf carts will be positioned in the front and the rear of the parade by organizers. Participants will be allowed to throw beads, pet toys and pet treats but NO candy. A pet release and waiver will be posted, and anyone registered for the event must agree to all terms. NO aggressive pets allowed and pets must be up to date on all shots. The parade route will begin at the water tower, travel east on the bike trail, turn left on Key Street, left on Chaumont and left on Lemoyne before returning to the water tower. So get creative, dress up yourself, pets and “vehicles” and help us support this worthwhile cause. Should be a fun and festive time for all!
ART DOES IT News & Info
Please join us in celebrating our artist-run gallery on “Second Sundays with the Arts” featuring February’s Snowbird artists and their group show “Birds of a Feather… Flock Together” on Sunday, Feb. 10, 3-5 pm. Then come and create your own glass mosaic panel ( Wed, Feb 13 10am-5pm) and your own Ocean Drum instrument (Wed, Feb 27 10am-5pm) with artist Madhurii Ma. Class fee is $65/session and all materials included. Interested in “brushing-up” your skills in painting? Join DI painter Margie Delcambre for weekly Monday painting classes 10am-1pm. Please bring your own supplies. $10.00/session. Calling all young artists–join us for our monthly Youth Arts Club led by ADI artists. Next meet is Monday, Feb. 11, 4-5:30 pm. Free to all youths. Art supplies provided through the generosity of the St. Edmund Men’s Club. The ADI gallery, located at 1101 Bienville Blvd. next to the DI Town Hall, is open Thursday and Friday 12-6pm, Saturday, 10am-4pm and is home to many local and seasonal artists. For more information regarding exhibition opportunities and arts instruction, please contact Regina Kollegger 251-214-6485,regina@artdoesit.com or visit our ArtDoesIt Facebook page.
Garage & Craft Sale
New items, crafts and a whole lot more can be found at the Fort Gaines Campground Recreation Room on Saturday, February 16 from 9am-noon and you’re invited to stop in and check it out. For more information, please contact Jane LaFond at (815)383-3237 or mjlafond43@gmail.com
Battle of Mobile Bay 5k Run
Lace up those running shoes and get ready to participate in the annual Battle of Mobile Bay 5k Run here on Dauphin Island on Saturday, February 16. Headquartered at historic Fort Gaines, this popular 5k run course winds its way through neighborhoods on the island’s east end offering scenic views along the way. More than 500 runners took part in the race last year, and proceeds go to support the fort. Participants can pre-register by mail (entries must be postmarked by February 9), in person at McCoy Outdoor, Run-N-Tri or Fleet Feet in Mobile or Running Wild in Fairhope until noon on February 14 or online at Events.com until 4 am on February 15. Registration is available on race day at Fort Gaines from 7am-8am. For more info check out www.pcpacers.org or call 473-7223.
BINGO Returns to St. Edmund Church
Dust off those daubers and get ready to holler “BINGO!” every Wednesday night at St. Edmund Parish Hall starting at 6 pm. Win cash prizes including a $500 progressive jackpot. Always a fun time with friends and family. Refreshments are available including hot dogs, snacks and beverages. For more information or to volunteer, please contact John & Connie Roan at 861-861-8088. All proceeds support various Dauphin Island causes. See you there!
DI Museum To Host History Talk
The ‘Battle of Mobile Bay’ and the Union Naval Commander Admiral David G. Farragut will be the subject of a talk in the Dauphin Island Museum room of the Little Red School House on Tuesday, February 12 at 6 pm. Mr. Paul DeHaan is visiting the island for a couple of months and will present an enlightening program consisting of photos, pictures, and artifacts. He also owns an extensive collection of paintings and artifacts from that famous Naval battle during the Civil War, and his collection has been on display in museums such as the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Connecticut, and other museums throughout the United States. Those particular items will be on display that evening as well. Also, he has donated several items now on display in our museum, and we much appreciate his generosity! DeHaan is a resident of Kalamazoo, MI, a graduate of Western Michigan University and is now retired from a career in manufacturing. The history program is FREE and open to the public!
Camellia Grafting Seminar Offered On February 23
The Volunteer Gardeners will be holding a Camellia Grafting Seminar on Dauphin Island. The program is open to the public, and there is no cost to attend. The seminar will take place from 9am-11am at the DI Sea Lab Administration Building, and there will be ample parking and signage directing attendees to the proper location. The President of the Camellia Society will be on hand and serve as Guest Speaker. The event promises to be a rewarding learning experience for those interested in the care and grafting of camellias…the native, beautiful blooms of Alabama!
U.S. Census Bureau Now Hiring Looking for a temporary, part-time job with flexible work hours? Well, look no further. The U.S. Census Bureau is now hiring individuals (estimated hourly rate of pay $17/paid weekly) to assist with the 2020 census. Find out more information by visiting the website at www.2020census.gov/jobs or calling 1-855-JOB-2020.
Town To Receive Beach Mat A representative with the newly-formed Krewe of Kindness recently notified town officials that it will be contributing a Beach Mat to our island community! The group held a juvenile Mardi Gras-style ball entitled “Have Courage and Be Kind” to raise money that would provide much-needed support and assistance to families with special, non-medical needs to help them lead healthy and active lifestyles while emphasizing the importance of inclusion and acceptance within the community. The approximately 6’ X 100’ handicap accessible beach mat will make “going to the beach” both more accessible and more enjoyable for individuals with special needs. Thank You, Krewe of Kindness for helping bring a beach mat to our barrier island community and for bringing smiles to those who use it!
News from Dauphin Island Heritage and Arts Council (DIHAC) Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 30, for DIHAC’s inaugural Dauphin Island Native American Festival! The event will feature living historians, storytellers, hands-on demonstrations of Native American arts and crafts such as pottery, finger weaving and basket weaving, and much more. Further details will be announced soon. DIHAC’s Art Program at Dauphin Island School resumed in January with fourth-graders studying the life and art of Claude Monet. As part of the artist study, the students created a tribute work in the Impressionist style. Due to an overwhelming response, the second session of Cocktails & Canvases featuring “Laverne” is scheduled for Thursday, February 7 at 6:30 pm at the Dauphin Island Gallery (the Lighthouse Building). Come paint with instructor Barbara Teare and friends. For reservations, send an email to info@dauphinislandarts.org or call The Gallery at 251/861-3300. If you would like to be added to our email list to receive event notices, please let us know by sending an email to dauphinislandarts@artsgmail.com.
