Community Easter Sunrise Service
Historic Fort Gaines will once again host the annual Community Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday, April 12, at 630am. Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets for seating. The popular event will be held on the Great Lawn, and admission is free between 6–7 am.
News From Dauphin Island Heritage and Arts Council
The Second Annual DI Native American Festival will take place Saturday, March 21st, 9 am-5 pm, at historic Fort Gaines. See Native American historians demonstrating pottery, weaving, foodways, wood carving and more; 18th century Creek hunting camps; live storytelling. There will be food vendors on the grounds outside the Fort. Ages 13+: $12. Ages 5-12: $6. Ages 4 and under are free. Tickets are available now! For information and tickets, visit DIHAC’s website at dauphinislandarts.org. Tickets are also available through DIHAC’s Facebook Events page and at the Dauphin Island Gallery. For more information, send an email to info@dauphinislandarts.org. Introduction to Knife Painting Workshop with artist/educator Michele Traum is scheduled for Saturday, April 18th, 10 am-5 pm, at the Dauphin Island Gallery. Learn to create paintings solely with a knife! Materials are included, and you choose acrylic or oil. Space is limited. A few spaces in the workshop are still available. For tickets, visit DIHAC’s website at dauphinislandarts.org, and click on “Events/Classes.” Tickets are also available through DIHAC’s Facebook Events page. For more information, send an email to info@dauphinislandarts.org. Dauphin Island Heritage and Arts Council is a charitable, non-profit organization, providing educational opportunities in the arts for the young and young-at-heart, and working to preserve our coastal heritage. Memberships, donations, and purchases at our Gallery help support our programs.
Arts of Dauphin Island News & Info
YOU ARE INVITED!! Please join us on Sunday, March 8, from 3:00–5:00 pm for our “2nd Sunday Open House”. Our featured artist of the month will be Russ Voisin. Russ’s art encompasses many famous Dauphin Island landmarks, Dauphin Island’s wonderful sunsets and his beautifully illustrated Marine Vessels. One of the missions at Arts of Dauphin Island is to offer art classes to our community. St. Patrick’s Day Hand-Building Pottery Session with Jenn DeBose. Come and build a fairy house (AKA tea light/incense house) on Tuesday, March 17, from 6–9 pm at the Arts of Dauphin Island Gallery. Cost: $30.00 including all supplies and firing fees as well as a second session (date TBD) for glazing the bisque-fired houses. Children’s art classes/activities held on the 2nd Monday of each month from 3:30–5:30 pm. We encourage homeschooled students as well as the children who attend the Little Red School House to come out and have a FUN FUN time!! Please contact Margie Delcambre @251-402-0266 to pre-register. All supplies are provided for the students at no charge. We also offer adult painting classes every Monday, starting at 10:00 am and ending at 1:00 pm. The classes cost $10.00 per session. Arts of Dauphin Island gallery is located at 1101 Bienville Boulevard next to Town Hall. The hours of operation are Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Need additional information or are interested in joining our Gallery? Please call Marsha Barnett at 251-401-0230 or by emailing us at artsofdauphinisland@gmail.com.
BINGO!
Returns to St. Edmunds Dust off those daubers and get ready to win at the St. Edmund Center BINGO every Wednesday evening. Doors open at 5:30 pm, and games start at 6 pm. A variety of snacks and drinks are available. All proceeds support St. Edmund Church. Bring your friends, enjoy a fun and exciting night and take home some cash!
DIVA Sets Annual Chili Cook-Off
The annual DIVA Chili Cook-off will be held on Saturday, March 21 (Rain Date: March 28), and you are invited to sample the wares while supporting our local veteran’s group! The event will be held in the west parking lot at Pelican Pub and tasting starts promptly at noon with a $5 donation per person. Want to show off your chili cooking skills? Teams can obtain a registration form at the Pub, which should consist of no more than three members, and the chili needs to be cooked on-site; while the various ingredients (diced onions, etc.) may be prepared off-site. Each team should prepare at least three gallons of chili. Registration fee is $20 per team; $15 if paid by March 10. Trophies will be presented to first, second, and third-place teams. Please come and enjoy this annual Dauphin Island Veterans Association benefit event! For more info, call (251)861-7180.
Improved Placement of Dredged Sand?
Routine maintenance of the Mobile Ship Channel outer bar region is expected by May of this year, and Corps officials anticipate up to 1 million cubic yards of sand is likely to be deposited in the recently expanded Sand Island Beneficial Use Area (SIBUA). Although weather and other factors could alter current project plans, placement of sand in shallower waters and areas closer in proximity to Dauphin Island is something the town has requested for years. We are hopeful this change in disposal practice provides much-needed nourishment and enhanced protection of Gulf-fronting shorelines. However, time will tell.
Boating Safety Classes Announced
As temps begin to rise and spring approaches, folks from all over south Alabama will be readying boats of all shapes and sizes for an enjoyable day on area waters. To help keep everyone safe, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is offering a series of Boating Safety Classes that earns you a certificate qualifying for Alabama boaters license. The dates are as follows; March 14, April 4, May 9, June 13, July 11, and August 15. All classes will be held at Homestead Village (924 Plantation Blvd., Fairhope, AL) except the May 9 class that will be held at USCG Station Dauphin Island. Registration is $35 ($25 for 2nd & 3rd family members) and includes textbook and lunch. Classes run from 8 am-4 pm and seating is limited. Registration deadline is on the Thursday before each class. To register or obtain additional information, please contact Ron Murphy at (251)443-1188, (251)214-4848 or email rmurphy3151@bellsouth.net. Happy Boating!
DI Campground Art Exhibit Announced
The artistic talents of visiting “Snowbirds” from all over the country will be on display at the DI Campground pavilion on Saturday, March 14, from 1–3 pm, and you are invited to stop in. There will be live entertainment, refreshments and you can visit with the talented artists while viewing their creations. For additional information, please contact Erna Berger at (231) 883-5161.
Upcoming Events at Fort Gaines
Visit historic Fort Gaines on Saturday, March 7, for the annual WWII Living History day. You can experience a day in the life of a WWII soldier complete with authentic camping and blacksmithing demonstrations throughout the day. Grab a front-row seat and watch as soldiers perform drills. An enjoyable and educational event! On April 4, in recognition of the American Battlefield Trust–Park Day, volunteers are needed to help preserve this important monument that honors the brave soldiers that fought and sacrificed in the American Civil War. You’re encouraged to pre-register at the Fort, via Facebook (fb.com/Fort Gaines) or call 861-6992. On April 25-26, “Thunder on the Bay” returns to the east end in recognition of the 156th anniversary of the Battle of Mobile Bay, and you’re invited to be there for all the action. Sponsored by the 6th Alabama Cavalry and the Alabama Division of Reenactors, the popular event will include a battle reenactment on Saturday at 2 pm with a “surrender ceremony” to follow at 330pm. On Sunday, a Tactical is set for 1 pm. Don’t miss it! Note: Times of events are subject to change.
Council Taps New Municipal Judge
More than a dozen local attorneys applied for the vacant Municipal Judge seat formerly held by Jay Ross, and the town council selected David Zimmerman to fill the position. Mr. Zimmerman has served our Municipal Court for nearly ten years as Defense Attorney and substitutes Judge and Defense Attorney for the City of Creola for more than five years. He has a law practice in Mobile and is married with two children. We want to thank each applicant for their interest in serving the Dauphin Island community and wish David all the best as our new Municipal Judge!
Rabies Clinic Set It’s once again time to have your pets (dogs & cats) vaccinated for rabies, and the town has arranged a convenient opportunity to do just that. Dr. Ann Branch will be at the town hall on Saturday, February 29, from 130-330pm, and one-year shots are $10 each. Make sure your pets are protected from this life-threatening disease.
Bluegrass/Country Jams Are Back!
Grab your favorite musical instrument and head on over to the Little Red School House on Saturdays at 1:30 pm for our popular Bluegrass/Country Jams. Admission is free. Always an enjoyable afternoon. See you there!
Winners of People’s Parade
The 4th Annual People’s Parade is in the books, and this year’s event was bigger and better than ever! Thanks to all who helped organize the parade and a special thanks to all the participants. You made the island proud! Here are the parade entry winners and other recognitions; Best Float & 2021 Grand Marshal – Gilligan’s Island, Best Trailer Band – John Golson with 21 Crashes, Best Car – The Mask, Best in Show – Mobile Appliance, Honorable Mentions – Shirley Hardy, The Snow Birds, Elvis, Bi-Plane Flyover, and Alba Class Reunion Hippies. Congratulations to all the winners! We’ll see you again next year.
Town Suspends Mowing…
It’s For the Birds! Spring is in the air, and so will flocks of migratory birds in the comings weeks. It’s time once again for the annual spring migration, and scores of our colorful feathered friends and bird lovers alike will be visiting Dauphin Island. Our barrier island community serves as an oasis for these long-distance travelers (we’re talking birds here) as both a rest stop and place to fuel up with tasty treats. A favorite food source for some is the Lyreleaf Sage, and it grows wild throughout the island. Growing to no more than 1-2 feet, it boasts pale-blue to violet tubular flowers, and the birds (and the bees) just love it! In partnership with the DI Bird Sanctuaries, Inc., the town has again agreed to delay mowing of designated rights-of-way (signs will be placed to identify areas) to allow the flowers to flourish during the migration. The group also encourages homeowners to do the same in their yards. Although the town will cease mowing until early May, abutting property owners are allowed to mow in front of their property if they choose to do so. Otherwise, this gives all of us the perfect excuse to leave our mowers in storage just a little bit longer!
What’s Happening at the Sea Lab?
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab is getting ready for Discovery Day 2020! The annual open house will be held on Saturday, April 4, from 10 am-2 pm. This free family-friendly event includes a look inside the lab, a chance to chat with researchers and discover Alabama’s marine habitats inside the Estuarium. It’s also time to sign up for summer camps, courses, and workshops. Visit DISL.edu to choose your summer experience. Are you interested in volunteering? On March 7, docent/volunteer training will be held at the Estuarium. Also, mark your calendar for March’s Boardwalk Talks. Dr. John Dindo discusses pelicans on March 4 and, on March 18 learn about acoustic tracking with Sara Ramsden.
