I've never met any of the Beatles, but I did talk to Ringo Starr on the phone for a short while, and it was certainly a thrill. I thought I'd tell the story in detail in honor of his 85th birthday, which is coming up Monday, July 7.

Walking into the Fairhope Recreation Center Pool on a Tuesday morning during the Fairhope Area Swim Team, aka FAST practice, I am stimulated by the sights and sounds of approximately 350 kids in matching team swimsuits, swimming laps. There are eight lanes with coaches on each side, loudly giving instructions to swimmers aged 7 to 17 years.

Bamboo Willie’s Beachside Bar has earned its stripes as one of Pensacola Beach’s famous landmarks. It is one of those iconic beach bars that define beach towns. Many such establishments dot the Scenic 98 Coastal landscape, harkening back to the youthful days of basking in the sun, catching a wave, or trying your luck casting from the beach. 

I first heard about Hope Community in 2021 while working on another local publication. The article quoted Shawn Graham, vice president at the time, “It's not about race when we speak of diversity. It's about the contribution of all people to our community.” I was delighted to hear about an organization dedicated to understanding, communication, and a future for all of its citizens, but the skeptic in me couldn’t foresee how this concept could be effectively implemented. Boy, was I wrong! 

For going on three decades, the Baldwin Pops has provided the symphonic soundtrack for Fairhope's big Fourth of July celebration. It seems a shame that these hard-working musicians don't get to see much of the fireworks.

Like a hurricane, pickleball is sweeping across the nation. So much so, supply is trying to catch up with demand. Everybody I talk to is playing, and one group in Pensacola is seizing the opportunity to capitalize on the pickleball craze in impressive style. Get ready for Portside Pickle.

“At Little Roots, Big Adventures, I want to give children what I had as a child,” Maria Hoffman exclaims in a bright, enthusiastic voice. With Native American heritage, Maria grew up in the mountains of North Georgia and attributes her love of nature to her grandfather, who exposed her to the natural world while hiking and camping. She reminisces about walking barefoot in creeks, catching minnows, and chasing frogs and lightning bugs. 

In the interest of full disclosure, I confess to being Sandy Stimpson's childhood neighbor and lifelong friend. Later, I met Jean, Sandy’s wife, in Tuscaloosa as students at the University of Alabama. To say that I’m an admirer of both would be a severe understatement.