Don’t you love it when a local gal gets recognized at a young age, goes off to find fame and fortune in the Big Apple, but yearns to return to her roots? That’s the story of Judy Culbreth, writer, editor, and online dating expert. Who knew?

It’s oyster season, folks. Thank goodness, and Hallelujah! Linda and I kicked off the Thanksgiving holidays by attending a wonderful oyster roast party. There, I met and enjoyed the hard work and delicious oysters provided by Brandon Smith, owner of Grayson Bay Oyster Company, and his “Crafted Emerald Coast” oyster catering business, ECOyster Mobile Raw Bar.

Connect to Your Coast, is the motto of the Alabama Coastal Foundation, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Mobile. It makes a coastal impact message throughout the state of Alabama and beyond.

The mere mention of the name “Pirates Cove” brings a slew of memories to mind for most people living in LA (Lower Alabama). Like this writer, multiple generations of families have been coming to this oftentimes rowdy eatery and entertainment venue, and they come for not just the food, but the laid-back atmosphere, the pageantry, and the stories they’re sure to hear and share.

Devon Walsh is a local gal if there ever was one. Born at Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, a graduate of McGill-Toolen High School, and the University of Notre Dame, she is the epitome of a Southern woman who has a bright, outgoing spirit and loves everything about the people and the area we call Scenic 98 Coastal.

On a drizzly Monday a few weeks ago, we made our way to the new Jesse’s on the Bay just past the Peninsula Golf Club on Ft. Morgan Road. It was Linda’s birthday, and this is where she wanted to celebrate. Reservations were made a few weeks earlier when we stopped on our way home from a day-long boat trip.

My friend and neighbor, Scott Miller, has the most beautiful golf swing I’ve ever witnessed. Smooth, methodical, and consistent, it’s a rare combination seldom seen in amateur golfers. His is a swing that golf dreams are made of.

The Wharf in Orange Beach has become a central part of the town’s budding community where people come to shop, dine, listen to great music, and participate in all manner of sportfishing tournaments. I sat down recently with Jim Bibby, Owner Representative at The Wharf, and Mary Kate Lantrip, Social Media Manager, to learn more about The Wharf’s impact on tourism and residents in the area.