DISPATCH #43
Good morning Crew!
Well, Labor Day has come and gone. The last big wave of summer beachgoers have packed up the coolers, emptied out the condos, and headed back home. It’s that time of year when the pace begins to slow down and folks around here get to enjoy a nice little stretch where it still feels like summer — but with a little more room to enjoy it.
TODAY’S CATCH
Looks like the summer crowds weren’t just filling the beaches — they were filling the cash registers, too. Local tourism officials say Alabama’s beaches are headed toward another strong year, with $739 million in lodging revenue through July, already $60 million ahead of the same point last year. And the season isn’t ending when summer does: fall bookings are looking strong, helping support the 57,000 tourism-related jobs across Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan. The beaches may be the draw, but the ripple effect reaches a lot farther inland. busy beaches
Orange Beach is putting a few new rules of the road in place for e-bikes and small electric rides. Starting Sept. 9th, speeds will be capped at 15 mph on sidewalks and multi-use paths and 12 mph on the Backcountry Trail, with riders required to slow down around pedestrians, give a heads-up before passing, and yield to folks on foot. Riders under 16 will also need helmets, while high-powered e-motos are being kept off sidewalks and trails altogether. And with fines reaching $500, this might be a good time to slow down and enjoy the scenery. slow your roll
A quick correction from last week: I managed to take a little trip back in time when linking to the story about Portabella’s reopening and accidentally grabbed an article from its 2023 reopening instead of the latest one. The restaurant is now owned by longtime employee Tatana Peek, who’s been with Portabella’s for 12 years, along with Lenka Smitherman and Jaroslav Marek. Either way, the familiar menu and familiar faces are still there—and I have learned to check my dates a little closer. Portabella’s: take two
LOCAL SNAPSHOT
“Ode to Dolly”
Captured by Money McGee at Gulf Shores
Capture any sunsets, wildlife or cool shots around town?
ON THE MARKET
Presented by REMAX on the Coast
West Lagoon Cottage w/ Deeded Beach Access
Gulf Shores | 3 beds | 4 baths | 1,640 sq ft | look inside
Plenty of Space Ready to Move In
Foley | 4 beds | 2 baths | 2,452 sq ft | take a peek
Fully Furnished Beachfront Resort
Orange Beach | 3 beds | 3 baths | 2,301 sq ft | surf’s up
Enjoy Life on the Fairway in Craft Farms
Gulf Shores | 4 beds | 3 baths | 3,254 sq ft | fore!
THE DUNE DOCTOR
The Tiny Local You’ll Probably Never See
There’s a little Gulf Coast resident living right under our noses — and odds are, most of us will never lay eyes on one.
The Alabama beach mouse is a tiny, pale-colored mouse found only along Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Its sandy coat helps it practically disappear into the dunes, and since it does most of its running around at night, it can live surprisingly close to all the beach traffic without anybody noticing.
And this isn’t some regular old mouse that wandered down here for vacation. The Alabama beach mouse is built for dune life. It makes its home among sea oats, grasses and coastal scrub, where it eats seeds and other plant material.
Here’s the neat part: it actually helps take care of the dunes.
Beach mice gather seeds and bury them for later. Naturally, they don’t always remember where every little stash went. Some of those forgotten seeds sprout, helping spread dune plants whose roots hold the sand together. All that digging and burrowing also helps stir and aerate the sandy soil.
In other words, this little mouse is quietly doing a bit of landscaping while the rest of us are asleep.
And healthy dunes are a big deal around here. They provide habitat for wildlife and help protect the coastline from wind, waves and storm surge.
Image courtesy of Encyclopedia of Alabama
The Alabama beach mouse was listed as endangered in 1985 after development and habitat loss greatly reduced where it could live. Today, important habitat remains protected around places like Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge and Gulf State Park, and there have been encouraging signs of mice populations expanding into Orange Beach.
So next time you’re walking past the sea oats after sunset, remember there may be a tiny little local in there — burying seeds, digging tunnels and doing its part to keep the coast looking like the coast. more mouse musings
SEA & SKY REPORT
CURRENT CONDITIONS |
|---|
SUNRISE 6:31 am |
SUNSET 7:04 pm |
UV INDEX Moderate |
MOON Waning Crescent |
LOW TIDE 5:32 pm |
HIGH TIDE 7:38 am |
GULF TEMP 86ºF |
TROPICAL TRACKER All Clear |
*Tides are at Gulf State Park Pier. Gulf temp at Perdido Pass.
ADOPTABLE FRIENDS
Meet a few amazing pets who are ready to fill your home with love!
Vivi the dog
A beautiful hound mix who’s a little shy at first, but underneath is an affectionate girl who loves to play. She’s house-trained and ready for her forever family.
Caine the dog
A shy, gentle guy who just needs a little time to feel comfortable, but once he does, he blossoms into a devoted cuddle buddy. He’s house-trained and loves to be brushed.
Clyde the rabbit
A gentle little guy who appreciates the simple things—sunny afternoons, fresh grass, and a good cardboard box to call his own, ready for a home where he can feel safe and loved.
HAPPENINGS
Tuesday 8th
F.U.EL- “Out of this World” Black Light Painting | Orange Beach Public Library | 4pm
Tacos, Tequila, & Trivia | OWA Parks & Resort | Foley | 6pm
Brandon Styles Variety Show | Brandon Styles Theater | Foley | 7pm
Wednesday 9th
Seine Net Experience | Lake Shelby Picnic Area | Gulf Shores | 10am
Game Night at Waffles R Wild | OWA Parks & Resort | Foley | 5pm
Craft & Connect: Junk Journaling | Foley Public Library | 5:30pm
Thursday 10th
Bird Chat at South American Adventure | Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo | Gulf Shores | 9:15am
Yappy Hour | Gulf Babe Wine Boutique | Orange Beach | 2pm
3D Print Club: Intro Course | Orange Beach Public Library | 4pm
Groovy Goat Thursday Night Karaoke | OWA Parks & Resort | Foley | 6pm
Friday 11th
Guided Pier Walk | Gulf State Park Saltwater Pier | Gulf Shores | 9am
DAR Patriot Marker Dedication | Blakeley State Park | Spanish Fort | 11am
Public Open House | Swift Coles Historic Home | Bon Secour | 12pm
Bulls On The Beach | Flora-Bama | Perdido Key | 6pm
Highway 59 Sessions | OWA Parks & Resort | Foley | 7:30pm
Saturday 12th
CAFFM Market Day | Coastal AL Farmers and Fishermens Market | Foley | 9am
Game Day on The Green | Portside on Main | Orange Beach | 11am
Walk This Way 80s 5K & Block Party | Heritage Park | Foley | 5pm
Bulls On The Beach | Flora-Bama | Perdido Key | 6pm
Ty Myers in Concert | The Wharf Amphitheater | Orange Beach | 7pm
Sunday 13th
Goat Agility Training | Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo | Gulf Shores | 10am
Pickleball Brunch & Rally | OWA Parks & Resort | Foley | 1pm
Monday 14th
Matinee Art: Beginner Crochet Bookmark | Orange Beach Public Library | 2pm
Kids Board Games | Foley Public Library | 4pm
*Event details are subject to change.
UNTIL NEXT TIME…
That’s a wrap for this week. Hope life treats you kindly until we catch up again. Until then, may God bless you and your crew!
-Shawn Swisher
P.S. If you skimmed… it’s okay. I can't prove it.