DISPATCH #52
Good morning Crew!
Today marks a milestone for our little crew here. Gulf Coast Crew is officially a year old! That’s 52 weeks of local happenings, adoptable sidekicks, and a perfectly reasonable amount of carrying on about this little stretch of coast we call home.
But the best part has been the folks on the other side of this email—over 13,000 of you! Every reply, every poll vote, and every “hey, you ought to check this out” makes GCC feel a little more like neighbors pulling up chairs. Thanks for making room for me in your inbox over the past year—and for helping this crew grow.
Now, it’s time to blow out the candle and get back to business. We’ve got a coast to catch up on!
TODAY’S CATCH
After more than a year in Mobile, the legendary SS United States has left port and is on her way to her final resting place. The historic ocean liner, which set a transatlantic speed record in 1952, is scheduled to be sunk Thursday, about 22 nautical miles off Destin. She'll become the world's largest artificial reef, providing a new home for marine life and a destination for divers. It's a bittersweet farewell for a ship that's about to make history one last time. final voyage
Gulf Shores High School is about to make a little history. On Nov. 20, the school's Hyperwave robotics program will host the world's first VEX AIR Drone Competition. Student teams will program and fly drones to pick up objects, score points, and make equipment changes on the fly. It's a pretty big deal for our local students, who'll be showing off their engineering and coding skills on a world-first stage. cleared for takeoff
Orange Beach is getting ready to make a bigger splash. The city is moving forward with plans for a major expansion of its Aquatics Center, including a second, larger leisure pool, new meeting rooms, and expanded pool decks. A second phase would replace the existing pool with a new lap pool and renovate other facilities. The two phases carry a combined estimated construction cost of $11.4 million. making a splash
LOCAL SNAPSHOT
“Sunset over the canal”
Captured by Travis Ferguson at Oyster Bay
Capture any sunsets, wildlife or cool photos around town?
Share your shot
ON THE MARKET
Presented by REMAX on the Coast
Updated Beachfront Condo at Lighthouse
Gulf Shores | 3 beds | 3 baths | 1,477 sqft surf’s up
Light & Bright w/ 4 Beds & Convenient Location
Foley | 4 beds | 3 baths | 2,146 sqft easy access
Barndominium w/ RV Hookup on 6+ Fenced Acres
Silverhill | 1 bed | 1 bath | 3,654 sqft gated hideout
Beachfront House w/ Room for Everyone
Orange Beach | 7 beds | 8 baths | 4,486 sqft the big house
LET’S GET TOGETHER
The votes have been cast and counted, and an overwhelming 93% of y’all said you would like to get the Crew together for some fun and shenanigans. That means we’re going to have to figure out something to do and somewhere to do it!
I’ll be brainstorming some possibilities, but I’d love some help. If you have an idea you think the Crew would enjoy, hit reply and tell me about it. I’m all ears.
SEA & SKY REPORT
CURRENT CONDITIONS |
|---|
SUNRISE 6:11 am |
SUNSET 4:56 pm |
UV INDEX Moderate |
MOON Waxing Crescent |
LOW TIDE 5:48 am |
HIGH TIDE 7:55 pm |
GULF TEMP 70ºF |
TROPICAL TRACKER All Clear |
*Tides are at Gulf State Park Pier. Gulf temp at Perdido Pass.
ADOPTABLE FRIENDS
This week’s reminder that sometimes the best things in life come with paws.
Whitney the dog
A playful, adventurous girl with a curious spirit, always ready for a little excitement before showering her forever family with plenty of kisses and affection.
Buck the dog
A friendly fellow with a loyal heart, happy to follow his own nose for a while before coming back to his favorite peeps for plenty of kisses and affection.
Twinkie the dog
This easygoing girl has a heart full of affection, ready to trade shelter life for cozy afternoons, loving companionship, and a forever family to call her own.
HAPPENINGS
Tuesday 10th
Teen- Spray Paint Planet Art | Orange Beach Public Library | 5pm
Tacos, Tequila, & Trivia | OWA Parks & Resort | Foley | 6pm
Karaoke Night | Dick's Last Resort | Orange Beach | 6pm
Wednesday 11th
Tee Up for the Troops Golf Tournament | Craft Farms Golf Resort | Gulf Shores | All day
Veteran’s Day Parade | Downtown Foley | 11am
Public Open House | Swift Coles Historic Home | Bon Secour | 12pm
Frank Brown Songwriters Festival Veterans Tribute | Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach | 6pm
Thursday 12th
Mah Jongg for Beginners | Foley Public Library | 10am
Eagles and Ecosystems Nature Walk | Lakeview Trailhead at Gulf State Park | Gulf Shores | 1pm
Makerspace Series: 3D-Printed Ornament Workshop- Session 2 | Orange Beach Public Library | 2pm
Tab Benoit with Jesse Dayton | OWA Parks & Resort | Foley | 7pm
Friday 13th
Guided Pier Walk | Gulf State Park Saltwater Pier | Gulf Shores | 9am
Mah Jongg: Intermediate Free Play | Foley Public Library | 10am
Trim-A-Tree | Tanger Outlets | Foley | 10am
Doc Rogers Dance Party | Alabama Gulf Coast Music Hall | Foley | 5pm
The Wind in the Willows | South Baldwin Community Theatre | Gulf Shores | 7:30pm
Saturday 14th
Spirit Saturday | Big Daddy's Grill on Fish River | Fairhope | All day
Tour de Foley | Foley Sports Complex | 8am
CAFFM Market Day | Coastal AL Farmers and Fishermens Market | Foley | 9am
Magic the Gathering | Orange Beach Public Library | 3pm
Brandon Styles Variety Show | Brandon Styles Theater | Foley | 7pm
Sunday 15th
Pickleball Brunch & Rally | OWA Parks & Resort | Foley | 1pm
The Wind in the Willows | South Baldwin Community Theatre | Gulf Shores | 2:30pm
Groovy Goat Music Bingo | OWA Parks & Resort | Foley | 5pm
Monday 16th
Explore the Shore | Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion | Gulf Shores | 9am
Matinee Art: Recycled Book Pumpkin | Orange Beach Public Library | 2pm
*Event details are subject to change.
UNTIL NEXT TIME…
That’s a wrap for this week. Hope the Gulf treats you kindly until we catch up again. See ya out there and may God bless you and your crew!
—Shawn Swisher
P.S. A Gulf breeze can fix more than people give it credit for.