On Tuesday, July 18, a big announcement was made at a press conference held at Julep Point at the Grand Hotel, regarding The Eagle Reef Project. You may recall the story of John Shell, who took on the task of placing manufactured mini-reefs under wharves and piers around the Scenic 98 Coastal area, to help facilitate the growth of oysters and barnacles that, in turn, would filter water and attract fish and crabs.

“If you don’t believe you can do it, you’re right, If you do think you can do it, you’re right!” What a special place Sophiella Gallery on Dauphin Street in Downtown Mobile is. I had a wonderful time visiting with Kim Kelly, learning about her and her family and how the gallery came into being. When you walk in the door, you are immediately transported. The art and the space create an air of sophistication and the creative energy is palpable.

On the first Friday of every month, the downtown businesses in Fairhope host First Friday Art Walk, when stores, galleries, and restaurants offer special refreshments, music, and other entertainment.

No, Jack West did not build my house at 901 Captain O’Neal Drive in Daphne which I recently purchased, but his influence and guidance, and what I learned from the late owner of the infamous Judge Roy Bean (1977-2005) is immeasurable. The house at 901 was built 35 years ago by Dick and Beverly Swanson and I was their neighbor at the time… living at 801 Captain O’Neal.

Oyster farming has always fascinated me. I remember as a boy going fishing out of Dauphin Island and seeing small skiffs with men with long tongs pulling up wild-grown oysters from the oyster beds and piling them up on the decks of their boats. It looked like hard work, which it was. They would take their harvest to Coden or Bayou La Batre for processing, whether sold by the bag or shucked in pints, quarts, or gallon containers.

Al Graham owns 5-Star Event Photography in Pensacola and is an electronics wiz. He spent his 12-year active Navy career in Aviation Avionics, graduating top in his class. He was teaching micro-miniature repair under a microscope, which is an unbelievable task. It’s safe to say he knows electronics and has an array of photography equipment and a professional set stage to highlight any event.

With our four-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter, Penny, Linda and I ventured to Coden, Alabama, to visit an oyster farm operation. It was fascinating, to say the least! Penny was visiting for a few days from Athens, Georgia, and we were taking her to stay with her other set of grandparents after spending five days in Fairhope with us.

As a lifelong resident of Mobile who spent my summers, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, in Point Clear, Alabama, I’ve seen much change in my lifetime in the waters surrounding the Scenic 98 Coastal area. These changes are a cause for concern, and I’ve tried to gain a better understanding of what has happened and what can be done to preserve and protect these waters that we all enjoy.