If you live in the Scenic 98 Coastal area, you are probably familiar with Rose Ann Haven, who anchors the WKRG Channel 5 News in the evenings. I recently sat down with Rose Ann at Provision in Fairhope to learn more about her “Off Air” personality. I found her delightful and very down-to-earth. She’d be a fun person to hang around with.

I first met Rich Sullivan when he was a student at the University of Alabama. Rich is one of the brightest people I’ve ever known, and we seem to hit it off. A native Mobilian, Rich entered his senior year of college with the intention of attending medical school after graduation. 

Five years ago, Jack and Bevelyn Wallace teamed up with Frank Trainor to create Frank & Company Jewelers in Orange Beach. They recently opened a second store at The Wharf. Their story is one of hard work, customer service, and a loyal following of clients from all over the Southeast.

I love farmer's markets. They read like a seasonal calendar, which they are in a fresh food kind of way. A good farmer’s market begins to burst with color this time of year. I caught up with Darrell Lundy, who with his wife, Sandra, and his 24-year-old twin boys, Ethan and Isaac, and their two sisters, Emma, 20, and Clair, 18 own and operate the family business, Hazel’s Market in Daphne.

Gabriel Hargett is a native Mobilian but spent most of his growing-up days on Mobile Bay at Point Clear. An avid mountain biker, fisherman, and all-around good guy, Gabriel’s tale has lots of twists and turns but is always forward. It’s an impressive story that just gets better and better every day.

‍On rare occasions, neighbors peer into shallow waters along our Bayfront with shouts of “Jubilee!” Like an Eastern Shore alarm, the excitement from the sight of fresh fish coming ashore spreads word of mouth, prompting Baldwin Countians to “Come, now!” and gather as much wiggly shrimp, fresh crabs or flounder as their coolers can hold. The phenomenon of a free, bountiful catch is one of legend. When I raise the subject with artist Katherine Taylor of Jubilee Flowers, Jubilee Flowers Fairhope – Wedding & Events Florist in Fairhope Alabama Eastern Shore, she laughs.

I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Rebecca Dunn Bryant and her architectural firm, WATERSHED. The more we visit, the more I learn how we can better plan ways to tie the Scenic 98 Coastal community together. It turns out that WATERSHED is involved in many wonderful projects from Bayou La Batre and Mobile, to the Eastern Shore and Gulf Shores. It’s just remarkable.‍

“Drink with the Goat” is a term you will certainly be familiar with if you grew up around the Scenic 98 Coastal area and ever frequented the iconic saloon that Jack West built on the outskirts of Daphne called Judge Roy Bean Saloon.