About Us

The Founders

Scenic 98 Coastal is a labor of love for the iconic US Highway 98 that runs west to east along the Gulf of Mexico’s coastline, and is unique in so many ways. Our purpose in starting a weekly newsletter about the area and all it has to offer is so others, many new to the area, can connect with all the local businesses, people, and community organizations that make the area we call Scenic 98 Coastal so unique. And that’s a lot!

Each week's newsletter highlights select restaurants, events, small businesses, non-profit organizations and we hope to tell a few interesting stories along the way. Ultimately we want our newsletter to enhance our subscribers' time here as well as provide a little insight, appreciation, and a greater understanding into what makes this coast so special.

As we like to say, live the Scenic Lifestyle with Scenic98Coastal.com. We are glad that you are here. Enjoy!

More About Us

Scenic 98 Coastal is an audience participation-driven publication. Your subscription is free, and we will protect your privacy every step of the way. But your input is critical if we are to succeed in providing useful and entertaining content to our readers. We incorporate subject matter from wide ranging sources that will have a positive impact on your experience here. If you are a native, then we hope you will share your local knowledge. If you are new to the area, we hope Scenic 98 Coastal will be a weekly feast of entertainment and knowledge.

A little about Linda and me… we both grew up in Mobile, attended schools together and spent summers “across the bay.” We’ve never taken this area for granted but maybe we didn’t truly appreciate how special the coast of the Gulf of Mexico was until we moved away for college. Over the years, we been to many wonderful places, but this is home. We still enjoy exploring all the areas along the coast from New Orleans to Apalachicola and do so often. We want to share with others what we know and what you know, as well as what you want to know!

Thank you for reading,
Zeb & Linda Hargett

Meet Our Amazing Team

Zeb Hargett

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Zeb Hargett, born and raised in Mobile with his three brothers, spent most of his childhood summers in Point Clear, AL, where his parents bought a summer house in 1960. After graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in business, he lived in New Orleans, and Dallas before settling in Birmingham to raise his three children. Zeb continued the family tradition by spending as much time as possible in Point Clear with his family before moving back permanently in 2011. Zeb now serves as the Founder, Senior Writer, and Publisher of Scenic 98 Coastal. He enjoys intersecting his love for the area, meeting interesting people, and sharing their stories. He particularly likes stories that appear in the Musings of the Cove category, that bring a laugh or fond memory of growing up in the area.

Gina Lanaux

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Gina Lanaux, daughter of a journalist and advertising executive, graduated from Julius T. Wright School for Girls in 1973. There, a rigorous English teacher required her to write essays, book reports, term papers, and creative compositions. While doing this homework, having a father as a teaching editor was beneficial because she learned to craft sentences with proper grammar and syntax and to appreciate the written word. She graduated from the State University of New York with a degree in Dance Education and opened a dance studio in Fairhope in 1978, where besides teaching dance, she wrote newsletters, emails, curriculum, press releases, and social media content to grow and manage her business. Upon retirement in 2020, Gina began a job with Fairhope Living Magazine as a content coordinator, editor, and writer. When Scenic 98 Coastal was created, she was happy to help her friend Zeb Hargett with editing and writing Scenic 98 Coastal. She is grateful for the opportunity to use her mind in her retirement.

Sarah Blizzard Robinson

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Sarah Blizzard Robinson writes nonfiction and poetry, and is the author of AS A RESULT, a coming-of-age memoir about her recovery. She enjoys living in Fairhope with her husband Jim of 45 years. Writing for Scenic 98 Coastal has given the author opportunities to meet people with fascinating stories to tell. Robinson's memoir is available at Amazon.

John A. Nielson

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John Nielsen is writer and small business owner living at Fowl River. A native of Evergreen, he raised a family in Conecuh County with his wife, Kelly. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama’s five-year undergrad program. He spent a career as an import and product development specialist for a botanical products company. His work took him rural and remote locations in 25 different countries on every continent except Antarctica. During his travels, he failed to find any place more desirable than the South. He DID discover that there is a story to be found almost anywhere, but especially in rural places. He only writes short stories that are true, partly true, or made up from whole cloth and prefers to write with humor, unless there none to be found.

T. Jensen Lacey

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Lacey specializes in history and travel writing and is author of a series of "tour-able history" books, including AMAZING ALABAMA: THE BICENTENNIAL EDITION. Lacey is author of 23 published books and 17 anthologies, including New York Times Bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul. Her latest, a cookbook, is one she began writing in 1981. Titled Around Our Southern Table, it contains recipes from four generations of Southern cooks and was completed with encouragement from friend and fellow author Rick Bragg. From 1990 through 2005, Lacey was a military correspondent, covering the activities of the 101st Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles). Lacey is also a freelance journalist and has published nearly 900 articles for newspapers and magazines. Her articles have appeared in publications including Southern Living and Vanderbilt Magazine.

Frances McGowin

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Frances McGowin worked with Ralph Lauren in New York from 1978-1982 before moving to Atlanta to work with Conde Naste fashion publications. In 1994, Frances headed Georgia Equestrian Training Alliance to place international equestrian teams in Georgia farms prior to the 1996 Olympics. After returning to Alabama in 1997, she developed therapeutic and educational programs for at-risk and incarcerated youth, children with special needs, Foster Care children and incarcerated adults. Frances founded the Dogs On Call Therapy Dog program in 2008 and Service Dogs Alabama in 2010. Frances is an avid animal lover and has trained dogs and horses most of her life. Frances is a visionary, public speaker, artist, and writer. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Development and Counseling.

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Writing result-oriented ad copy is difficult, as it must appeal to, entice, and convince consumers to take action. There is no magic formula to write perfect ad copy.

Businesses often become known today through effective marketing. The marketing may be in the form of a regular news item or half column society news in the Sunday newspaper.

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The marketing may be in the form of a heart to heart talk with Mr. Brown on his prominent local television show. These are all advertising. Businesses cannot get away from the force of advertising. If they want to make their products known in the marketplace they have to use some form of advertisement.

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