Lagniappe: May 4 - May 10, 2017

2 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

WEEKLY

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

LAGNIAPPE

MAY 4, 2017 - MAY 10, 2017 | www.lagniappemobile.com ASHLEY TRICE Co-publisher/Editor atrice@lagniappemobile.com

ROB HOLBERT Co-publisher/Managing Editor rholbert@lagniappemobile.com GABRIEL TYNES Assistant Managing Editor gabe@lagniappemobile.com DALE LIESCH Reporter dale@lagniappemobile.com JASON JOHNSON Reporter jason@lagniappemobile.com JANE NICHOLES Reporter jane@lagniappemobile.com

5 12 18

BAY BRIEFS

Byrne calls three-day red snapper season “absolutely ridiculous.”

COMMENTARY

Rob founds peace in the furious Sound.

BUSINESS

Scott Tindle has reopened Fort Conde with new attractions.

CUISINE

Wasabi is a great find, worth the trip over Interstate 10.

KEVIN LEE Associate Editor/Arts Editor klee@lagniappemobile.com ANDY MACDONALD Cuisine Editor fatmansqueeze@comcast.net

20

STEPHEN CENTANNI Music Editor scentanni@lagniappemobile.com J. MARK BRYANT Sports Writer sports@lagniappemobile.com STEPHANIE POE Copy Editor copy@lagniappemobile.com DANIEL ANDERSON Chief Photographer dan@danandersonphoto.com LAURA RASMUSSEN Art Director www.laurarasmussen.com

COVER

Baldwin County’s rapid residential growth has public and private sewer utilities jostling for territory.

24

BROOKE O’DONNELL Advertising Sales Executive brooke@lagniappemobile.com BETH WILLIAMS Advertising Sales Executive bwilliams@lagniappemobile.com ALEEN MOMBERGER Advertising Sales Executive aleen@lagniappemobile.com MELISSA EDGE Editorial Assistant events@lagniappemobile.com

34

ARTS

The Mobile Symphony Orchestra hosts guest cellist Inbal Segev for Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B Minor.

MUSIC

Swedish metal band Avatar returns to Soul Kitchen on May 6.

ROSS PRITCHARD Distribution Manager delivery@lagniappemobile.com JACKIE CRUTHIRDS Office Manager jackie@lagniappemobile.com CONTRIBUTORS: Lee Hedgepeth, Ron Sivak, Jeff Poor, Asia Frey, Brian Holbert, Ken Robinson ON THE COVER: BALDWIN COUNTY SEWER SERVICE BY DANIEL ANDERSON POSTMASTER: Send address changes to P.O. Box 3003 Mobile, AL 36652.

Editorial, advertising and production offices are located at 1100B Dauphin St. Mobile, AL 36604. Mailing address is P.O. Box 3003 Mobile, AL 36652. Phone: 251.450.4466 Fax 251.450.4498. Email: ashleytoland@lagniappemobile.com or rholbert@lagniappemobile.com LAGNIAPPE is printed at Walton Press.

All letters sent to Lagniappe are considered to be intended for publication.

Member: Association of Alternative Newsweeklies and Alternative Weeklies Network All rights reserved. Something Extra Publishing, Inc. Nothing may be reprinted, photocopied or in any way reproduced without the expressed permission of the publishers.

Individuals may take one copy of the paper free of charge from area businesses, racks or boxes. After that, papers are $3 per issue. Removal of more than one copy from these points constitutes theft. Violators are subject to prosecution.

For Lagniappe home delivery visit

www.lagniappemobile.com/lagniappehd

36 42 46 48 50 FILM

“The Edge of Seventeen” is realistic enough to make you remember your own teen years and, above all, the film is hilarious.

MEDIA

New Eastern Shore monthly arrives in mailboxes.

SPORTS

NCAA beach volleyball has signed a multi-year agreement to host its annual tournament in Gulf Shores.

STYLE

Boozie has all the scoop from Mullet Toss.

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 3

GOING POSTAL

Local prosecutors need funding Editor: Since our inception, Mothers Against Drunk Driving has had a special bond with law enforcement, and for good reason: We both have as our core mission protecting the public and saving lives.

As our name indicates, MADD’s focus is preventing drunk driving and saving families from the pain, heartache and grief from driving-under-the-influence crashes. We work directly with state troopers, sheriffs and police departments to assist victims and their families, to discourage drinking and driving, and to encourage responsible public policies that reduce the occurrences of DUI crashes.

MADD Alabama also has developed a special bond with the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and its “Under Age, Under Arrest” initiative. For the past four years, MADD mothers and other volunteers who have lost loved ones to drunk driving have traveled the state with the “Under Age, Under Arrest” team to share with students the dangers of underage and binge drinking and the terrible toll they take on families.

There is another partner we count as key in the fight against drunk driving. That is our court system, including the local prosecutors who work hard to bring justice to victims of drunk driving.

As you know, Alabama faces very serious challenges with its general fund. Across the state, district attorneys and their staffs — the people whose job is to prosecute and hold accountable those who drink and drive — are finding it more difficult to do their work because they simply do not have sufficient funding.

That is why I, on behalf of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Alabama, support badly needed additional funding, particularly for our district attorneys and courts, to more adequately protect the public. Currently, the state is considering a modest, 5-cent increase in alcohol revenues, all of which would be earmarked to protect the public.

As victims services coordinator for MADD Alabama, I work regularly with district attorneys and judges. Our involvement in a drunk-driving case begins immediately after a crash. We meet with victims and their families — we call them “victim’s survivors” — to comfort and support them as they go through what often is a difficult, emotionally draining legal process. We are with them at trial, at sentencing and at parole hearings.

4 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

Perhaps one of the lesser-known roles MADD volunteers play is speaking directly to drunk-driving offenders, hopefully before their actions claim lives. Working with judges and prosecutors, MADD victim’s survivors speak at victims’ impact panels, which DUI offenders are required by courts to attend.

They tell their stories: like that of a star college basketball player whose life was cut short by an intoxicated driver traveling on the wrong side of the road; a wife who lost her husband and nearly her life and the life of her son when a speeding drunk driver crashed into their vehicle; and a mother who wakes up every day crying for the son she will never see again.

These “victim’s survivors” live with pain every day. They volunteer to help prevent other parents, spouses, brothers and sisters, grandparents, uncles and aunts from having to experience the same pain.

Their work is difficult. So, too, is the work of our prosecutors. Many struggle to meet payroll. Others don’t have the money needed to pay for experts or for witnesses to travel to ensure justice is served.

Alcohol isn’t just a problem on our roads. It plays a major role in many other crimes.

For example, alcohol is a factor in 40 percent of all violent crimes, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. In fact, 37 percent of the nearly 2 million convicted offenders in prison today report they were drinking at the time of their arrest.

The reality is alcohol is more associated with violent crimes — murder, rape assault, child and spousal abuse, etc. — than any illegal drug.

That’s why the measure to raise additional funds for our district attorneys and the court system through liquor revenue is so critical.

Already, two counties benefit from similar funding measures thanks to local bills passed in recent years. Several other counties are pushing measures to do the same.

It makes sense for this funding to be available for all district attorneys. The best and surest way to make that happen is for the ABC Board to support additional funding that goes to our law enforcement community. All of the funds raised will go to DAs and the courts.

On behalf of MADD Alabama and our supporters, and for the cause of justice, I urge the board to take this small step to ensure our prosecutors have the resources they need.

Pamela Morton Victims Services Coordinator, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Alabama

BAYBRIEF | GOVERNMENT

‘Absolutely ridiculous’ FEDS SET THREE-DAY SNAPPER SEASON

D

BY JASON JOHNSON

espite calls for more state control of Gulf Coast fisheries, federal regulators have set a three-day season for recreational red snapper fishing in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico — marking a six-day reduction from 2016 and the shortest snapper season in history.

In federal waters, which start nine miles from the coastline, the length of red snapper season is set annually by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council based on assessments of the population.

In 2015 and 2016, the federal government initially set nine-day seasons, though last year’s was extended by two days after waters were disrupted by tropical storm Colin. On Tuesday, NOAA announced the 2017 recreational season would run for three days starting June 1 with the charter-for-hire season running 49 days from the same date. Daily limits will remain the same at two fish per person, at a minimum size of 16 inches in total length.

The percentage of each year’s harvest is split, with 57.7 percent allocated to recreational fishermen and 42.3 percent allocated to those operating charter vessels. According to NOAA, 80 percent of the adjustments to the 2017 quotas were to account for overages in 2016.

While efforts in Washington to widen the window for snapper fishing have failed to move forward in recent years, U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Fairhope) said Tuesday’s “ridiculous” announcement would only embolden his efforts to give states more control over the process.

“A three-day red snapper season for recre-

ational fishermen is not only illogical, but it is also dangerous. Reliable state and university data continues to show a plentiful stock of red snapper in the Gulf, but federal bureaucrats and their outdated methods continue to totally miss the mark,” Byrne said. “It has become crystal clear that the federal government has no clue what they are doing while the states have put in place programs that actually work.”

While the snapper season in federal waters has been shortened yet again, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) is extending the harvest of red snapper in state waters (out to nine miles) by one day compared to last year.

In March, ADCNR Commissioner Gunter Guy announced the 2017 season in state waters would run from Friday, May 26, through Monday, July 31. He said the decision to extend the state’s waters and Alabama’s season in 2016 was well received by the fishing public.

“The public felt that having the fishery open for Memorial Day weekend as well as the prime months of June and July allowed them to spread out their effort and have great family fishing days when the weather was most favorable,” Guy said at the time. “We feel that setting a similar season for 2017 will give people ample opportunities to access the red snapper fishery in Alabama waters.”

While Guy said ADCNR would continue to work with the federal government to find the best way to manage the fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico, he was also direct in saying the “incredibly short federal red snapper seasons are uncalled for.”

Preparing to ACCEL

STATE’S FIRST CHARTER HOSTING ENROLLMENT EVENT MAY 6

W

BY JASON JOHNSON

ith an official campus location set, Alabama’s first public charter school will host its first enrollment event for high school students in Mobile, Baldwin and Washington counties May 6.

Approved by the Alabama Public Charter School Commission last year, the ACCEL Day and Evening Academy is scheduled to open its doors Aug. 24 — providing a flexible schedule, a challenging college-preparatory curriculum and individualized attention for at-risk students.

Approved by the state Legislature in 2015, charter schools are publicly funded but operated by an independent organization bound by a contract that sets specific academic goals or places emphasis on a specific student population.

Founded by the Mobile Area Education Foundation (MAEF), ACCEL was inspired by the Evening Education Options Program — a successful partnership between MAEF and the Mobile County Public School System focused on students at risk of dropping out or those who already had.

There are five public school districts in the three counties that ACCEL will serve, and according to statistics cited by MAEF, only 76 percent of the 8,800 students who enrolled in those systems in 2016 are expected to finish high school on time with a diploma.

Carolyn Akers, MAEF’s CEO and cofounder

of ACCEL, has previously said targeting the at-risk population with a charter proposal was a natural fit given the success of the Evening Education Options Program, which has helped of hundreds of MCPSS students graduate since 2009.

“This organization has worked hard for 25 years to promote and improve public education, and I do not feel like this is a different mission for MAEF, it is just another step in the journey,” Akers said. “In the last seven years, we’ve been able to graduate over 600 students that were certainly in danger of not graduating otherwise.”

In April, MAEF announced it would utilize the former ITT Technical Institute campus at 3100 Cottage Hill Road as the school’s location, paving the way for students to begin enrolling before classes start in August. MAEF is also partnering with the Shoppes at Bel Air to host an enrollment event at the mall Saturday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

After Saturday’s event, ACCEL will hold enrollment lotteries for prospective students, currently scheduled for June 1, July 3 and Aug. 14. ACCEL plans to accept students ages 14-21 living in Mobile, Baldwin or Washington counties regardless of whether they’re currently enrolled in school.

More information as well as interest forms for prospective students are available at maef.net.

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 5

BAYBRIEF | COURTS

Due process APPEALS COURT SIDES WITH CITY IN MPD TERMINATION

BY JASON JOHNSON

A

6 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

Photo | Courtesy MPD

fired Mobile police officer is asking the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals to reconsider a ruling it issued earlier this year, and the court’s response could impact how a number of local public entities handle disciplinary proceedings for their employees going forward.

Fred Lawley was terminated by the Mobile Police Department in 2015 after an internal trial board found he’d committed four “major violations” in the line of duty. It was later revealed Lawley had allegedly removed $2,050 in cash from a safe at a convenience store while responding to a burglary and later was deceptive about it during an MPD polygraph exam.

Lawley was later indicted by a Mobile County grand jury and charged with theft of property based on evidence turned over to local prosecutors. However, none of Lawley’s alleged criminal conduct has been a factor in the two-year legal battle that has ensued over his termination. Instead, the city of Mobile has been trying to prove it didn’t violate Lawley’s right to “due process” when the MPD terminated him two years ago.

The Mobile County Personnel Board (MCPB) overturned his termination last year after finding the MPD violated Lawley’s right to due process and MCPB protocols by preventing him from being present when testimony against him was given at a pre-disciplinary hearing.

An appeal to Mobile County Circuit Judge Jay York yielded the same result, and the MPD was ordered to reinstate Lawley to his former position with back pay. However, after an appeal filed by the city of Mobile, the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals overturned York’s decision in March.

At the center of the case has been exactly what “due process” means for a merit system employee in Mobile

Fred Lawley County. A rule passed by the MCPB requires entities to afford employees they wish to terminate or suspend “due process in the form of a pre-disciplinary hearing, at which time the employee must be given the opportunity to respond” to the officials making the decision about their employment.

The city has maintained employees aren’t entitled to anything more than exactly what’s written in the rule — a hear-

ing, 24-hours’ notice of the charges against them and an opportunity to respond to those charges — even if the personnel board disagrees.

However, Lawley’s attorney, Ronnie L. Williams, has argued because the personnel board overturned the termination, and others like it, Lawley should have been permitted to sit in on the entirety of his pre-disciplinary hearing, not just his testimony before the MPD trial board.

“If the trial board or ‘board of inquiry’ is receiving testimony outside the presence of the employee, which means the appointing authority is in investigative mode, then exactly when did the employee receive notice of the final charges and the support for them?” Williams wrote.

Previous cases addressing the same issue have described pre-termination hearings like Lawley’s as an “initial check against mistaken decisions” and post-termination hearings, like he went through before the MCPB, as the time to address all of a public employee’s concerns.

However, MCPB’s 2016 decision to reinstate Lawley to his former job was based on the board’s understanding of its own rules. This meant the appeals court had to decide whether MCPB has the authority to interpret its own rules.

Their answer was … mostly.

Judge William C. Thompson authored the court’s unanimous decision on March 17, and even though it acknowledged MCPB can enact rules that carry “the force and effect of law” and carries “the authority to interpret [them],” he also wrote that their authority has limitations.

“There is no language in Rule 14.3 requiring the [MPD] to allow the employee to be present at a pre-disciplinary hearing while other witnesses are being questioned,” he concluded. “The board goes beyond merely interpreting the rule and, instead, adds a requirement to the rule that is not suggested in the existing language.”

Only a month removed from a unanimous decision, the appeals court isn’t likely to reconsider Lawley’s case — leaving an appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court as the former officer’s only recourse. However, for the city, a victory could settle an issue that’s come up repeatedly.

In the past few years, MCPB has voted to overturn terminations for the same reason in appeals brought by former MPD employees Jeffrey Whitaker in 2015 and Cassandra Matthews in 2013.

While Lawley’s case won’t affect those individuals directly, it could impact appeals brought by merit system employees in Mobile County in the future by setting a precedent for the way pre-disciplinary hearings are required to be conducted.

Members of the city’s legal staff and officials with MPD declined to comment on any of those cases on the record. Lawley has previously declined to be interviewed about his own appeal.

BAYBRIEF | POLITICS

Oaths and elections

CHIEF JUSTICE SWORN IN AS ELECTION SEASON BEGINS

BY LEE HEDGEPETH

A

fter serving as the state’s acting top judge for nearly a year following the suspension of Roy Moore from the bench, Lyn Stuart has officially been sworn in as Alabama’s second female chief justice, just as election season begins.

Moore’s seat was formally vacated when he submitted his resignation and announced his intention to run against Luther Strange for the U.S. Senate seat previously held by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Following Moore’s resignation, Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Stuart to the role.

“Chief Justice Stuart has served with honor and integrity on the high court for more than 16 years,” Gov. Ivey said in a statement. “I look forward to working with her as she now leads the judicial branch of state government.”

Stuart, who administered the oath of office when Ivey assumed the governor’s chair, was sworn in by Associate Justice James Main on April 26. Stuart is an Atmore native who lives in Baldwin County.

Just before Stuart’s swearing in, former Chief Justice Roy Moore announced his intentions to run for the same U.S. Senate seat just outside the Capitol in Montgomery.

“My position has always been God first, family, then country,” Moore said in his campaign kickoff speech. “I share the vision of President Donald Trump to make America great again …

Before we can make America great again, we’ve got to make America good again.”

Asked about Moore, Chief Justice Stuart avoided criticizing her predecessor, who has twice been reprimanded by the state’s judicial inquiry commission for a failure to follow the orders of higher courts — once regarding the

removal of a Ten Commandments statue from a public building and once regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s gay marriage decision, which Moore opposes.

“We’re just very different,” she said. “We have different personalities. I don’t have an agenda at all. I just want to do the best job I possibly can on the Supreme Court.”

Moore won’t face an easy path to the U.S. Senate. Aside from Strange, the GOP incumbent appointed by the former governor, Moore will face Ed Henry, the Alabama House representative who led the impeachment charge against then-Gov. Robert Bentley. Henry, like Moore, expressed his support of Trump when announcing his run.

“Trump’s going to need help draining the swamp,” Henry has said. “One thing I have been able to do here is not necessarily drain the swamp but I’ve definitely dropped enough bombs in it that we’ve found some bottomdwellers and they are floating to the top.”

The U.S. Senate seat isn’t the only electoral prize soon up for grabs. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, a Republican, has announced he will seek the governorship. No other major candidate — including Ivey — has yet announced their intention to seek the office.

“For too long, the people of Alabama have seen our values come under attack,” Battle said in announcing his bid for governor. “We’ve endured corruption instead of opportunity, scandal instead of education and embarrassment instead of pride. We’re not just in a battle for Alabama’s values, we’re in a battle for Alabama’s future.

I’m running for governor because I’m ready to lead that fight.”

Under arrest

FORMER DEPUTY ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH DRUG CRIMES AFTER DELAY

A

BY DALE LIESCH

fter more than a month in limbo, former deputy Chris Parsons turned himself in to police Monday to face multiple drug charges following an indictment last week by a Mobile County grand jury. Parsons, who was formerly employed by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, was terminated last month after he was caught purchasing drugs, and controlled substances and marijuana were found in his patrol car — the result of an undercover investigation conducted by MCSO and the Saraland Police Department (SPD).

However, as Lagniappe reported last week, more than a month had passed since Parsons was terminated and warrants for his arrest for possession of marijuana and illegal possession of prescription drugs were approved by the Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich’s office.

Yet, according to Rich, Sheriff Sam Cochran caused the month-long pause between Parsons’ termination and his arrest this week by instructing two of his employees not to sign the warrants against the former deputy.

Last week, Rich also noted the employee needed to sign Parsons’ arrest warrant on behalf of the SPD had become an MCSO employee.

MCSO spokeswoman Lori Myles later confirmed Greg O’Shea — a previous MCSO employee — had left SPD to rejoin the sheriff’s staff.

While O’Shea assisted with MCSO’s un-

dercover narcotics operations during the time of its investigation into Parsons, Myles said he was employed by the city of Saraland and not MCSO at the time. He was officially sworn in as an MCSO employee April 25.

On the other hand, Cochran has maintained the MCSO handled Parsons’ case as it had similar ones the past — claiming it needed to be presented to a grand jury to accelerate the process and protect the identity of undercover informants.

Parsons’ voluntary entry into an out-of-town treatment program was another reason given for the delay, with Cochran saying “We didn’t feel like rushing out and arresting him while he’s checked himself into a treatment center.”

Parsons’ father, Lonnie Parsons, was also a long-time MCSO employee — though, according to Myles, he retired as MCSO’s chief of support services on Friday, April 27, the same day a local grand jury indicted his son on six separate drug charges.

According to records kept by the Mobile County Metro Jail, Parsons turned himself in to police shortly after 11 a.m. and was released on bond some 17 minutes later.

In all, Parsons faces charges for possession of marijuana, illegal possession of prescription drugs, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and two misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia.

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 7

BAYBRIEF | POLITICS

Money-back guarantee TWO POPULAR TAX INCENTIVE PROGRAMS APPARENTLY OFF CHOPPING BLOCK

BY DALE LIESCH

T

wo tax credit programs proponents claim are beneficial could be sticking around, despite the state Legislature’s previous overtures to cut back on incentive deals.

There is no longer an appetite in the House or Senate to end the state’s Entertainment Industry Incentive Program, which helps entice production companies to film in Alabama, according to the original sponsor of the film credit, Sen. Gerald Dial (R-Lineville).

Dial said the incentives would continue to enjoy support in the Senate as long as he’s a member. He also acknowledged a bill to repeal the “quite successful” program had been introduced by State Rep. Phil Williams (R-Huntsville), but quickly disregarded it.

“I don’t know what he’s been drinking or smoking, but it won’t go anywhere in the House either,” Dial said of Williams’ attempt.

Williams couldn’t be reached for comment for this story.

Advocates have said the credits help both Mobile and Baldwin counties, where a number of films have been produced since the incentives began. Mobile has the only cityrun film office in the state. There is also a state film office.

The incentives in question, enacted in 2009, give production companies a 25 percent rebate on all goods and services above a $500,000 spending threshold. That threshold is the same for television and movies, but decreases for a motion picture soundtrack or a music video. The incentives also allow a 35 percent rebate on Alabama labor. The spending threshold is $500,000 on Alabama resident crew and talent and $50,000 to $300,000 for a soundtrack. The incentives also include no state sales taxes and no state lodging taxes, but local taxes are paid.

8 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

Dial called a report by two University of Tennessee professors giving the program a “D” grade “so biased” and “not worth the paper it’s written on.” Although the report said the incentives are a bad return on investment, Dial disagrees. He said the state is not losing money because the incentives are treated like rebates, meaning a film must spend its money first before getting a percentage of tax back.

“We’re not losing money,” Dial said. “If they don’t come we wouldn’t have the money.”

Other states, including several in proximity to Alabama, have introduced similar programs to attract the production of movies, television shows, commercials and more.

Dial cited Georgia as an example of a state with a successful program. He said films and TV shows such as “The Walking Dead” have helped spur economic development in the neighboring state.

Georgia’s Entertainment Industry Investment Act offers an across-the-board flat, one-time transferrable, tax credit of 20 percent based on a minimum investment of $500,000 on qualified productions in Georgia. There is no cap on spending in Georgia. The state also offers a sales and use tax exemption.

In Georgia, qualified companies can get an immediate point-of-purchase sales tax exemption that will save productions up to 8 percent on most below-the-line materials and service purchases or rentals. There is no per-project or annual program cap for film incentives, according to information obtained from the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Tennessee also has a film incentive program. Alabama’s neighbor to the north offers a 25 percent cash rebate in the form of a grant for qualifying Tennessee labor and vendor

expenditures, which includes music, according to the NCSL. The minimum qualified spend to become eligible for this rebate is $200,000. An audit of all in-state production activities must be performed before tax incentives are awarded. There is no project cap. There is no state income tax on wages. State-owned buildings and land are also available for free use.

In a statement, Tennessee Entertainment Commission Executive Director Bob Raines said the program has been very successful.

“We are proud that Tennessee ranks in the top 10 of all states in the nation for employment in the motion picture industry, and has experienced 12 percent growth over the last five years,” he said. “The state’s production incentives have generated an estimated $228.3 million in new incomes for Tennessee workers, while creating $370.8 million in economic output for goods and services which benefit our local businesses. Tennessee’s ongoing production incentives help our state remain competitive with surrounding states and provide opportunities for our talented workforce and productive services.”

Another popular incentive program appears to be well on its way to being renewed. The state’s Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit is currently in a Senate committee, after the version that passed the House was tweaked.

State Rep. Victor Gaston (R-Mobile) said all indications are that the proposal will pass both chambers during this session.

Gaston said the bill, which would once again allow developers a tax credit to rehabilitate and renovate historic structures, was changed in the Senate. Gaston said the Senate bill would make the credits refundable, meaning developers would have to spend the money upfront. The new bill would limit the sale of credits to one-time only and would provide credits be sold at 85 cents on the dollar, Gaston said.

The bill would also create an oversight committee to review proposed projects before credits are awarded. In the past credits were awarded on a first-come, firstserved basis, Gaston said. The committee members would include the director of the Alabama Historic Commission, the Secretary of Commerce, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs director, the director of Finance and the director of the office of Minority Affairs.

The Senate and House would also get two appointments each to the oversight committee, Gaston said. The appointees would consist of one Republican and one Democrat from each chamber.

Carol Hunter, spokeswoman for the Downtown Mobile Alliance, said the organization already has projects in mind it hopes can be started once the legislation is approved.

“We’re very hopeful Rep. Gaston will be able to get something out of committee and signed into law this session,” she said. “We don’t need to lose anymore time on these buildings.”

BAYBRIEF | MOBILE

Election year

CHALLENGER, INCUMBENT LINE UP AS LOCAL CAMPAIGNS TAKE SHAPE

BY DALE LIESCH

Photos | Submitted

Leola Chaney is running against incumbent C.J. Small for the District 3 City Council seat.

B

oth incumbent C.J. Small and challenger Leola Chaney would like to provide more activities for teenagers in District 3, if elected in August.

Small said he supports Mayor Sandy Stimpson’s Youth Empowered for Success, or YES program, which aims to provide summer jobs to teens in Mobile.

“I am working closely with the administration … ,” Small said. “Anything to keep kids busy.”

The YES initiative encourages local businesses to hire interns for summer employment. The city has been working closely with established internship programs through the Mobile Housing Board and the Mobile County Public School System signature academies to recruit businesses to hire teenagers. The city also plans to hire interns in several departments this summer.

Chaney said as a council member she would do more to impact teen engagement and wants to help New Generation International Church, of which she is a member, build a teen center in the district.

“There’s nothing for [teens] to do,” Chaney said. “They hang out on corners and walk up and down the street. If teens are engaged, crime goes down.”

Small said he would like to expand the Boys and Girls Club at Gilliard Elementary to a yearround program. Right now, it is offered only during the summer.

Small said this and other unfinished business is the reason he’s seeking another term on the council.

“When I took office, the Dauphin Island Parkway had no activities for kids,” Small said. “For the past four years, I’ve helped to sponsor and lead a Boys and Girls Club program at Gilliard Elementary. I want to continue to enhance the area for kids and for seniors as well.”

Small said he would aim to complete the revitalization of the District 3 side of Ann Street, which began during his current term and should be finished soon. Small said he would like to see revitalization work done on Baltimore Street, too.

In addition, Small said he would continue to work to revitalize parks in District 3. Doyle Park, near Brookley Aeroplex, underwent a successful transformation during his tenure.

The Friends of Doyle Park group, Airbus and Small teamed up to breath new life into the park, which sits next to an aeroplex runway.

Small also said he has plans to add a combination football/soccer field at Maitre Park and pump $500,000 of capital money into Trimmier Park.

One of its initial sponsors, Small said he feels great about the city’s capital improvement plan (CIP), which allocated money from a roughly 20 percent sales tax increase for capital projects in each of the seven districts.

He credits CIP with many of the projects happening in District 3.

“If it wasn’t for CIP a lot of things in the district wouldn’t have been completed,” Small said.

Chaney said she would reserve judgment on the capital improvement program until she learned

more about it. The single mom and Air Force veteran said she’s spent a lot of time helping to improve the area as well through her work with New Generation’s Depository Into People’s Purposes, or DIPP. The church-sponsored program allows Chaney to go out into the community and help in a number of ways, including feeding the homeless, as well as providing early parenting skills and job training, among other things, she said.

“We’re in the streets a lot,” Chaney said. “Some of the things I saw, I was like ‘what’s going on?’”

She said she took that concern and decided to run for the district’s City Council seat.

In addition to wanting to provide more activities for teenagers in the district, Chaney wants to improve economic development in the area as well.

“The economic development is horrible, there are no jobs available,” Chaney said. “The city is growing; construction is happening. What about District 3?”

She said she wants to start helping the district with this issue “from the inside out” and figure out why there’s no new construction in the area.

Chaney would like to see new grocery stores and more restaurants as part of the new construction.

Chaney grew up in Orange Grove in Mobile, but left to join the military. She’s been back home for two years and feels she can relate to a large portion of the community.

“There’s not a group of people I can’t talk to,” she said. “It made me want to be an advocate or liaison for the community.”

District 1 candidate

Cory Penn announced he has joined the fray in District 1. With the addition of Penn, the campaign for the District 1 City Council seat now becomes a three-man race.

As a teacher, Penn said he felt compelled to run after a number of kids recently lost their lives to violence.

Penn wants to offer job training at the city’s recreation center as part of a plan to curb youth violence. In addition, he would work with the Mobile County Public School System to allow companies to come in and conduct job training and teach during classroom hours.

In addition to job training, Penn said he would like to start a safer streets initiative through social media sites, such as Facebook, “to know what’s going on down the street.”

Penn said he would create a police advisory council just for District 1 residents to help build relationships with officers who work in the district on a day-to-day basis.

“It would let each other know we are all District 1,” he said. “We are all together.”

The 32-year-old challenger is married to Ivonze, his high school sweetheart. They have a daughter, Kori Bell, and a second child on the way.

Penn will face incumbent Fred Richardson, as well as fellow challenger Timothy Hollis.

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 9

BAYBRIEF | MOBILE

Where there’s smoke ...

COMMITTEE INTERVIEWING FIVE CANDIDATES FOR MFRD CHIEF

BY DALE LIESCH

A

s the city announced five finalists for the position of Mobile Fire-Rescue Department chief, Mayor Sandy Stimpson announced at Tuesday’s City Council meeting it had added the “Nick Saban” of fire chiefs to a team of advisors to interview them.

Montgomery Fire Chief Miford Jordan is to fire departments what the University of Alabama head coach is to football teams, Stimpson joked to councilors. In response to Stimpson, Jordan — an Alabama fan — said “Roll Tide.”

Jordan, who is responsible for improving Montgomery’s insurance services office rating to one of the country’s best, has joined a panel tasked with further evaluating the finalists and making a recommendation to Stimpson.

Jordan joins Public Safety Director James Barber, I-Team Executive Director and former paramedic Jeff Carter and management consultant Dan Lumpkin.

The group is currently in the process of interviewing Deputy Chief Ken Keller, as well as district chiefs Myron

King, Paul Sealy, Doug Cooper and Jeremy Lami. Those five candidates were whittled down from a total of 13 internal candidates based on submissions of strategic plans.

Jordan, who keeps his turnout gear in his vehicle, told councilors he was passionate about fire departments. In speaking with the press afterwards, he added he was personally looking for similar passion and leadership ability in a candidate for fire chief.

“I’m very passionate about how we serve our communities,” Jordan told councilors, of the chief search. “This is an extension of my passion.”

In addition to passion and leadership, Barber said the right candidate will be able to manage the department’s finances, which he admitted hasn’t always been done in the past.

The city has been without a confirmed fire chief since Stimpson took office almost four years ago. In that time, the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department has had two interim

chiefs — Randy Smith and Billy Pappas — but neither has been put up for confirmation.

Administration officials previously confirmed a belief that neither candidate had enough votes from the City Council to win confirmation. Tuesday, Stimpson said the administration and council are past the issues that previously made confirmation impossible and it was only “speculation” that a lack of diversity among previous candidates was the reason for the delays.

Stimpson added he was as confident as he could be councilors would confirm his choice of one of the five remaining candidates.

Despite Stimpson calling it “speculation,” Councilman Levon Manzie has previously said he’d be looking for diversity in a fire chief position. However, he refrained from making any recommendation following a pre-conference meeting Tuesday.

“I’m pleased that those five are highly qualified individuals,” he said. “I’m waiting on a recommendation from Mayor Stimpson in order to dig deeper.”

Manzie said the diversity issue is somewhat tied into recruitment and promotions within the department. He said that would have to improve in the future.

“It’s harder to get someone to reach that level of opportunity if you don’t have a bench of players ready to move up,” Manzie said. “I want us to make sure our recruitment and promotions are as diverse as possible.”

Councilman Fred Richardson said he too was excited to see which of the candidates Stimpson recommends for the job. Councilwoman Bess Rich, chairwoman of the council’s public safety committee, echoed Richardson’s comments on the matter.

The selection committee will interview three candidates this week and two next week. A recommendation could come as early as Thursday, May 11, Stimpson said.

BAYBRIEF | MOBILE

‘Most transparent’ What Rich was doing on a local level “really impressed the board,” she added, given the councilwoman beat out a number of nominees holding state positions.

“She did the kind of things that really impressed us,” Permaloff said.

On a number of occasions while serving on the council Rich has shown an affinity for public input. Some notable examples include the number of hearings held on a proposed ordinance to control the sale of dogs at area flea markets, and a round of meetings held to discuss proposed zoning changes in relation to the permitting of “tank farms,” among others.

In reference to the tank farms, specifically, Rich said the city allowing certain tank farms to be “grandfathered in” around city regulations was an issue that needed to have an

“open dialogue” because it impacted residents’ quality of life.

With both issues, she said there had to be a balance between interests and concerns. “ … You just need to hear from all affected,” she said.

Rich also said she was excited to hear she had won the state award, assuming at first it came from the local chapter. She said it means a lot because the League of Women Voters is “all about good governance.”

Rich said she feels her position on council allows her to be more proactive when it comes to citizens in the district and throughout the city. Transparency is one of the reasons she ran in the first place.

“I do a weekly newsletter, neighborhood meetings in the district and I try to explain why I vote the way I do on issues,” she said. “You can’t make decisions in a vacuum.”

Greater attempts to be transparent have not only had an impact on residents in District 6 but all over the city, Rich said. Elected officials are much more accessible now than when she first took office.

For instance, she said, there is a lot more information online, all councilors have weekly newsletters and the meetings themselves are streamed online. Rich said unlike when the meetings were broadcast over cable, residents can access the online stream live with only a computer and access to the web.

The Transparency in Government Award was established in 2015 to promote greater transparency in Alabama. It is awarded biennially.

According to the music website JamBase, Hampton and his festival cavalcade of musicians were in the midst of performing the show’s finale, “Turn On Your Lovelight,” when Hampton collapsed onstage. A regular in Mobile known for his onstage antics, Hampton lay unconscious onstage for several minutes before it became evident he was not acting.

After news of his passing spread, social media came alive with a number of positive memories from a multitude of people whose lives Hampton touched.

“People thought they were going to Col’s birthday party,” said Soul Kitchen co-owner Brad Young in a Facebook post. “They were going to his funeral and death day.

How poetic is that? I’ve known Col for 17 years. He was THE most interesting man I’ve ever met.”

Young continued with a series of anecdotes, such as his visit to Hampton’s home in Pensacola, where the day concluded with Young taking home “a wonderfully haggard, ripped-up tweed Fender Blues de Ville amp.”

Hampton’s Codetalkers project was the first band to play in the current location of Soul Kitchen. Young also revealed Hampton had no specific financial guarantee when he played, he simply told Young to “just pay me what you can.”

Hampton leaves behind an extensive musical legacy that helped shape the world of jam rock with bands that include Hampton Grease Band, Aquarium Rescue Unit, The Quark Alliance, The Madrid Express many, many others.

Hampton was one of the founders of the H.O.R.D.E. Tour, which set modern standards for mega-festivals years before Bonnaroo, Hangout Fest and Coachella.

Hampton was also known for his memorable appearances in feature films.

His portrayal of Morris in the 1996 film “Sling Blade” made him one of its more memorable characters, even though he was only onscreen for a handful of minutes. His most recent film work was “Here Comes Rusty,” which was filmed here in Mobile.

COUNCILWOMAN BESS RICH HONORED BY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS

BY DALE LIESCH

T

he Alabama chapter of the League of Women Voters honored Mobile City Councilwoman Bess Rich for her accessibility and responsiveness as an elected official.

Rich accepted the league’s Transparency in Government award on Saturday during the group’s biennial conference, held this year in Mobile.

State LWV President Dr. Anne Permaloff said Rich, who was nominated by a District 6 constituent, embodies what transparency in government is all about.

Rich is available to constituents through a web page, an email newsletter and several personal meetings, Permaloff noted.

“She presents a picture of someone trying to communicate,” Permaloff said. “A lot of politicians don’t do that.”

BAYBRIEF | TRANSITIONS

Rest in peace COL. BRUCE HAMPTON, 1947-2017

BY STEPHEN CENTANNI

O

n Monday, May 1, one of jam rock’s founding fathers, Col. Bruce Hampton (born Gustav Valentine Berglund III), released his soul to the cosmos during a birthday celebration in Atlanta. He was 70. Hampton’s passing proved to be just as glorious as his rich musical career.

The legendary musician was in the encore of “Hampton 70: A Celebration of Col. Bruce Hampton” at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta. The concert brought together a plethora of family, friends, fans and fellow musicians, including Warren Haynes, John Bell of Widespread Panic, Derek Trucks, Jeff Mosier and Mobilians Jake Peavy and Ben Jernigan.

10 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 11

COMMENTARY | DAMN THE TORPEDOES

The Sound and the fury ROB HOLBERT/MANAGING EDITOR/RHOLBERT@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM

THEGADFLY

12 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

I told my mother how I wished the eagle would show up, and just as my sentence ended she glided out from over a neighbor’s oak tree and soared up in front of us. My mother has decided this is a momma eagle, so I’ll go with that. She was huge and amazing. I know Ben Franklin thought the turkey should be this country’s official bird, but he was wrong. It’s hard to watch a bald eagle without being impressed.

Later that day Georgia and I went out onto my parents’ pier at the height of the wind’s fury. The pier was built intentionally low and as such it may have been the only one on the Mississippi Gulf Coast to survive Katrina. Our family home still stands too, although it was washed through and many of my parents’ belongings wound up half a mile away.

So on that pier the waves were crashing all around us, shooting water up through the gaps between the boards. Georgia was barking nonstop and running back and forth trying to look over the side and avoid getting drenched. She lost that battle. But it was beautiful and amazing, all dog barking aside. I thought about how many times my brother Matt, my cousins and I took our little aluminum skiff out into the Sound and ended up paddling for our lives hours later when a big storm came out of nowhere.

Once we actually abandoned the boat and waded in while lightning rained all around.

As my parents get older they often talk about selling this magnificent two acres on the muddy, shallow Mississippi Sound, and intellectually I know that day might be coming. But even in a 40-mph wind, Sunday my mother looked at me and said, “It’s awfully hard to think about ever leaving this.”

Amen.

Cartoon/Laura Rasmussen

T

he Mississippi Sound was uncharacteristically angry when I visited my parents last weekend.

The shallow, muddy body of water I grew up on definitely spends more time smooth as a polished diamond than it does imitating its bigger, deeper and more intimidating relatives. But this past weekend it was as worked up as I’ve ever seen it without a named storm pushing the issue.

Honestly, I would rather have had crystal-blue skies and skillet-flat water broken only by redfish tails and shrimp than the 40-mph maelstrom and banging surf, but bad weather is definitely the better show.

My son, dog and I came over Saturday after my parents invited us to accompany them to the Biloxi Elks Lodge for steak night. How could we refuse? Actually, the dog — Georgia — wasn’t invited, to her great dismay.

I’m nearing the half-century mark, but I’m not quite Lodge-age yet, so it was an adventure for us to tag along.

Yeah, there was a bit of a high school cafeteria feel to the place, but the gigantic elk’s head on the wall, dim lighting and a couple of more “mature” musicians knocking out one classic oldie after another created a unique atmosphere. The steaks were great and watching my parents walk in carrying their “dancing shoes” in small backpacks was classic.

The wind had been up Saturday afternoon and by the time we returned from our steak-and-dancing adventure that night it was howling. As I took Georgia outside for her pre-bed activities around midnight, I could have sworn a tropical storm was coming.

My mother was up before dawn after her standard four hours of sleep. Some of my siblings and I inherited the night owl genes from her and seldom sleep before midnight, but now she often gets up around dawn as well, which kind of scares me as I find it harder and harder to sleep late.

Just after 5, my mom started checking email and loudly playing a video of some noisy bird a friend had sent her. This sent Georgia rocketing out of bed next to me and meant I had to get up and take her out to pee. I had planned on a zombie-like walk outside, then quickly stumbling back to bed for a few more hours, but there was too much going on.

The wind was blowing so hard it was actually pushing me around during gusts. My mom came out and started tending to potted plants that had blown over while I picked up blown-over chairs. The sun was just coming up and the eastern sky was bright orange over Ingalls

Shipbuilding. And even though there was a fierce wind, much of the sky above was blue.

A lone frigate bird glided above us and we started talking about how it looks like they’re having so much fun surfing these huge winds. Often the frigate birds portend a hurricane or tropical storm, but sometimes they just show up on a particularly windy day. They’re more welcome in my mind on days like Sunday.

It was a morning for bird watching. The wind was too much for the seagulls, who I surmised had retreated to a Wal-Mart parking lot somewhere, but small flocks of brown pelicans glided by every few minutes, flying in pattern and making slight course corrections in unison as if operating from the same brain. I’ve always marveled at how some birds can move together and change directions so rapidly with not even the dumbest or most distracted among them missing a beat. I tried to make some poetic comment about how a good relationship should move that way, but that’s probably pushing it.

A flock of egrets zipped overhead moving way too fast, everybody flapping out of time, no real formation and looking mostly like they’d made a mistake getting out of the bayou that morning. We started talking about how when we first moved to Gautier in the late ‘70s none of these birds was around. There were no pelicans and even the wading birds were rare. The first pelicans I saw fly past our house came when I was a senior in high school. Now they are everywhere, as are the herons, egrets and osprey.

Lately a bald eagle has even been landing on my parents’ beach. A bald eagle!

Aliens landing on the beach would have seemed more likely 10 or 15 years ago.

ALABAMA’S BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION KICKS OFF MAY 5 AT COOPER RIVERSIDE PARK.

COMMENTARY | THE HIDDEN AGENDA

The rest of Alabama’s story ASHLEY TRICE/EDITOR/ASHLEYTOLAND@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM

I

’m tired of feeling like an alien. Or some exotic creature that needs to be studied in its natural habitat. Yes, I am a proud Alabamian.

And lately, it seems like there is an effort or need by “the elite” (whatever that means) on the East Coast and West Coast to “understand” us.

That “need” is condescending in and of itself.

They seek to “understand” how some could possibly have different viewpoints from their own.

They consider us a monolithic group of people, who don’t wear shoes or have teeth, who all voted for the same person and who scream “Roll Tide” every five seconds.

And we all know that’s just not the case.

Recently, Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” spent a week in our great state in an effort to try and “understand” why the show’s lowest ratings are in Alabama.

After word spread that their correspondents were here doing this, we all knew what was coming. We’re an easy punching bag. But they really went for the low-hanging fruit by bringing in some of Paul Finebaum’s callers (cringe)

trip to observe the crazy natives (maybe even convert a few to their way of thinking) than a vacation.

But even still, I would love for them to come with their notebooks and microscopes (maybe some pamphlets) so they could see with their own eyes that our culture is way more complex than the stereotypes so easily portrayed on television.

Kick us as much you want, nation, but who gave you the CEO of one of the world’s largest companies? That would be Foley, Alabama, hometown of Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Arguably one of the greatest books of all time, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” was penned by a little woman from Monroeville, Alabama.

We have multiple Grammy award-winning and just-all-around amazing musicians (Wilson Pickett, Jimmy Buffett, Lionel Ritchie, Shelby Lynne, Alabama Shakes, among many, many others), Pulitzer Prize winners (Harper Lee, Winston Groom, Rick Bragg, Cynthia Tucker, etc.), brilliant scientists (E.O. Wilson — also a Pulitzer Prize winner), genius inventors (Lonnie AND YES, WE DO INDEED HAVE MORE THAN Johnson) and hysterical comedians, including Mr. OUR FAIR SHARE OF PAUL FINEBAUM’S Bell (he lived here for a FINEST CALLERS AND, I GUESS, A BIGFOOT ENTHUbit so we’ll claim him), as well as the one “The Daily SIAST OR TWO. I’LL GIVE YOU THAT. BUT WE ARE SO Show” sent down here to MUCH MORE. AND THAT SIDE OF THE STORY IS NEVER explore his home state, Roy Wood Jr. TOLD. BECAUSE, WELL, IT’S JUST NOT AS FUNNY OR Don’t even get me INTERESTING. IT’S WAY EASIER TO WRITE US OFF AS started on all the premier athletes (Hank Aaron, Joe A BUNCH OF DIRTY, KNUCKLE-DRAGGING, MOUTHLouis, Joe Namath, Vince BREATHING, INBRED IDIOTS. Dooley, Charles Barkley, Bo Jackson, Julio Jones — and finding a Bigfoot enthusiast (apparently we and those are just the ones who came to mind in have those in Alabama). I am sure they were the first five seconds I thought about it). extremely disappointed they couldn’t find a denAnd by the way, there’s a little place called tally challenged kid playing the “Deliverance” Huntsville, Alabama, that is literally full of theme on a front porch along some back road. rocket scientists. Rocket scientists, people.

I get it. It’s a comedy show. They were lookI’m sorry, but a land that can produce all of ing for laughs, not truly looking to conduct a these great folks has to be a little bit magical. It sociological study of our culture. But it was fish just has to be. in a barrel.

Sure, we still have many problems to adIn Sunday’s New York Times, comedian and dress. Admittedly we’re poorer, fatter, unCNN host W. Kamau Bell — the son of a Mohealthier and less well-educated than just about bilian — wrote a lovely opinion piece inviting any other state in the country (thank you again, the aforementioned elite to vacation in Orange ‘Sippi, for keeping us from being at the very Beach. bottom). Our state government has more often He laments that no one has taken him up on than not been an absolute joke. And there are it yet because no one he knows has “any interest still racial divides we must address. But we in purposefully spending any time in Alabama.” know this, and we’re working on it.

Ouch. I just can’t imagine why they would feel And yes, we do indeed have more than our that way, y’all. When we are constantly painted fair share of Paul Finebaum’s finest callers and, as the most backassward state in the union (exI guess, a Bigfoot enthusiast or two. I’ll give cept for maybe you, Mississippi — thank you). you that. But we are so much more. And that Bell, too, finishes up his column by encourag- side of the story is never told. Because, well, it’s ing his “liberal friends” who were “gobsmacked” just not as funny or interesting. It’s way easier

by Donald Trump’s victory to visit another part of to write us off as a bunch of dirty, knuckle-dragthe country to spend some time with these strange ging, mouth-breathing, inbred idiots. creatures known as Southerners.

But please do, come on down, ye “Elites.”

I feel like Mr. Bell truly gets it and his piece We would love to have you so we can tell you was well intended. But I imagine those casuthe rest of Alabama’s great story. Don’t worry, if ally reading his column in Manhattan or San you behave, we will take you to see one of our Francisco and who might have actually thought dirty, knuckle-draggin’, mouth-breathin’, toothabout booking a trip to Orange Beach, as he less, shoeless cousins. They are slightly easier to suggested, would consider it more of a mission find than Bigfoot. Roll Tide!

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 13

COMMENTARY | THE MONTGOMERY MINUTE

Strange arrangements

BY LEE HEDGEPETH/CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I

n Alabama politics, anything can happen. The state has overpaid sheriffs and underfed prisoners, underemployed youth and overcrowded prisons, twice removed judges, convicted politicians, and scandals both personal and political. Lately, out of that rank political potpourri, a couple of strange senate arrangements have simmered to the surface and may soon make their mark on the capital.

In the Alabama Senate, the body’s president, Del Marsh, has decided the state’s legislative redistricting plan should go through the tourism and marketing committee. You’re probably scratching your head. I am, too.

Then, when it comes to the U.S. Senate, the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee has drawn a red line for GOP workers in the Yellowhammer State: Don’t fight against Luther Strange. That’s a lifesaver for Strange, but it’s a raw deal for average Alabamians. Together, these developments are a set of senate arrangements that could only happen in the free-for-all that has — sadly — become our state’s political standard.

Look away, Dixie Land

Alabama junior U.S. Sen. Luther Strange — the last vestige of the Robert Bentley sex scandal — has received a gift from above: the powerful backing and protection of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which has put out the word Strange is to be an ally, not an electoral opponent, of establishment GOP consultants.

“We have made it very clear from the beginning that Sen. Luther Strange would be treated as an incumbent,” Katie Martin, spokesperson for the NRSC, told Politico. “It has also been a clear policy that we will not use vendors who work against our incumbents.”

That “clear policy” may help shield Strange from

14 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

primary opponents come this summer, of which there are already several, including former Chief Justice Roy Moore and Alabama House Rep. Ed Henry.

Henry, who spearheaded the Bentley impeachment probe, has said the NRSC’s move will hurt competition for the seat.

“I’ve run across a few [consultants] that do work for [the NRSC], and they’re not willing to take on anybody that would get them in trouble with [them],” Henry has said. “If [Sen. Strange is] going to have $10 million worth of TV ads bombarding the state of Alabama, and no one in the state of Alabama has the ability to compete with that type of media presence, [then] Washington, D.C., through Luther Strange, will be dictating what the message is, and it’s just another example of how far our country has fallen,” he continued.

Strange was previously Alabama attorney general, but was appointed to the U.S. Senate by Bentley, whom Strange was charged with investigating in a criminal probe, one he had paused. That eventually led to the governor’s resignation and guilty plea on misdemeanor charges. Because of the shadow this casts over Strange’s incumbency, he shouldn’t be getting the protection NRSC is offering him — but he is.

“Anyone who runs against Luther is going to have every oppo shop in DC and elsewhere digging up their past and airing their dirty laundry,” said West Honeycutt, a political consultant and Alabamian.

Tour de farce

After multiple courts — including the nation’s highest — rebuked their original plan as racially motivated and unconstitutional, Alabama lawmakers are proposing a new legislative redistricting map, and instead of going through the normal process, Senate President Del Marsh has as-

signed the bill to the tourism and marketing committee.

After each census, states must redraw the districts from which lawmakers are elected to reflect population changes in order to adhere to the principle of one person, one vote. After the 2010 census, Alabama Republicans — who controlled state government for the first time in 136 years — drew up the best plan they could think of, and it turned out to be unconstitutional. The map the GOP majority had drawn up — and which we’ve been using in elections for half a decade — is, according to judge after judge, racially motivated, packing black voters into a small number of districts in order to dilute their political power.

“Had the District Court not taken a contrary view of the law, its … conclusions … might well have been different,” Justice Stephen Breyer wrote for the 5-4 majority of the Supreme Court condemning the drawing of Alabama’s districts. “There is strong, perhaps overwhelming, evidence that race did predominate as a factor when the Legislature drew the boundaries of Senate District 26, the one district that the parties have discussed here in depth.”

The result of that original act of racial malice on the part of state Republicans has been years of legal battles and a harsh reality in the Legislature: If your senator or representative is Republican, he or she is white. If they’re a Democrat, they’re most likely black. That racial division, compounded by the color-by-numbers map the GOP drew up, is still apparent in Alabama’s halls of power.

“Now we’ve got down to a situation where you have blacks in the Democratic Party in the Legislature, at least in the Senate, and you have whites in the Republican Party. What that does it take us one step closer to the past, and that’s not good in my point of view,” Sen. Hank Sanders, a black Democrat, told Salon.

Blackening the ranks of Democratic officials — or at least eliminating white Democrats remaining in the state — has been a successful tact for the GOP thus far, winning them elections on the dog-whistle visuals of yesteryear.

And sadly, Sen. Del Marsh doesn’t want the bill aimed at fixing the map — because of a court order to do so — to go through the regular process. He wants to oversee it himself, in a committee he chairs, outside of regular procedure, and somehow that will help minorities “get a fair shake.”

“I wanted the minority caucus to know they will get a fair shake, especially in committee,” he said.

House Speaker Mac McCutcheon has also said changes “will come through the process.” Not the regular process, apparently.

After Marsh oversees the bill in committee, he says, the process will go back to normal.

“Once it goes through committee, it will have the normal process,” he said.

Let’s hope “normal process” doesn’t mean once the bill passes committee, lawmakers will treat black voters as political pawns and not full citizens — for the second time in a decade. That’s a senate arrangement for which we all should be ashamed.

COMMENTARY | THE BELTWAY BEAT

The ‘Art of the Deal’ presidency

BY JEFF POOR/COLUMNIST/JEFFREYPOOR@GMAIL.COM

F

or many of his supporters, as a candidate Donald Trump’s appeal was his style.

His substance was an afterthought. To be sure, Trump had a platform — a border wall, renegotiate trade deals, a stronger military, repeal Obamacare, lower taxes and so on.

But it was Trump’s style that won over a lot of people. Finally, here was a candidate unafraid of the media. He praised America. And he promised big.

Trump’s “promise big” strategy, however, was not new. He revealed it three decades ago in his best-selling book “The Art of the Deal.”

“The final key to the way I promote is bravado,” Trump wrote in the book. “I play to people’s fantasies. People may not always

people. He made it difficult for Democrats to oppose him, and ultimately they went along with some of his policy efforts.

As it stands right now, Democrats are fundraising on the basis of their opposition to Trump in every possible way — his Cabinet picks, Supreme Court nomination, executive orders and any and every legislative effort.

If he is successful in correcting his approval ratings, it will be more difficult for his opponents to be obstructionists.

One of the problems Trump faces is that he has to prove his campaign promises were not just hollow exaggerations and that he intends on trying to fulfill them. If he promised a border wall, but it turned out to be just a wild claim to get people to vote for him, those opponents will be quick to IT’S NOT CLEAR HOW LONG TRUMP point that out.

“He promised a border CAN GO ON WITHOUT DELIVERING wall. He promised to get AT LEAST SOME OF THE GOODS. HE DOES the economy back on track. He promised to HAVE THE BENEFIT OF A VERY LOYAL CORE make us all safer. But he didn’t. He just wanted GROUP OF SUPPORTERS, AND IF HE HOLDS your votes, so he lied to ONTO THEM IT WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR you. Vote [insert Cory Booker, Elizabeth WarDEMOCRATS TO UNSEAT HIM IN 2020. ren, Joe Biden], Democrat for president.”

It’s not clear how long think big themselves, but they can still get very Trump can go on without delivering at least excited by those who do. That’s why a little some of the goods. He does have the benefit hyperbole never hurts. People want to believe of a very loyal core group of supporters, and if that something is the biggest and the greatest he holds onto them it will be very difficult for and the most spectacular. I call it truthful hyDemocrats to unseat him in 2020. perbole. It’s an innocent form of exaggeration, Trump said in January of last year, “I could and a very effective form of promotion.” stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot We’re just past the 100-day mark of the somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters.”

Trump presidency. Things haven’t gone exactly Yes, that’s an exaggeration, but it illustrates as planned. Trump had to cave on some of his how difficult it will be to erode his support. promises including the repeal of Obamacare With Trump, it is not having the most supportand the beginning of the construction of the ers but about having the most enthusiastic supborder wall. porters. Yes, most Americans don’t like him.

As Trump learned, it turns out you can’t just But the ones that do will wait in line and vote will Congress to do what you want, even if it is for him while many of his detractors might sit Republican controlled. around and complain — but that will be the For now, this hasn’t tarnished Trump in the extent of their political activism. eyes of his supporters. A Washington PostCase in point: There was actual audio of ABC poll conducted last month shows only 3 Donald Trump boasting about grabbing women percent of Trump voters have buyer’s remorse. by their genitals. That would have finished off the In addition, that same poll showed supporters hopes of a lot of candidates. But with his supportof Hillary Clinton, Trump’s opponent in the ers being so personally invested in his success, it 2016 election, regretted voting for her. did not make much of a difference in the end.

Despite a barrage of negative media coverHe ultimately will have to show some progage since Election Day, that particular poll ress. As he also says in “The Art of the Deal,” suggested Trump would have won by a bigger you have to deliver the goods. margin than he did last November, perhaps “You can’t con people, at least not for even winning the popular vote if the election long,” Trump wrote about his “truthful hyperwere held today. bole.” “You can create excitement, you can That doesn’t change the fact that Americans do wonderful promotion and get all kinds of still view Trump unfavorably. He is a presipress, and you can throw in a little hyperbole. dent with the lowest approval numbers at this But if you don’t deliver the goods, people will stage of his term. To deliver on those campaign eventually catch on.” promises, he’s going to have to turn his apIt’s still early. But rest assured if you are proval rating around. one of his supporters, Trump knows he will Ronald Reagan was a successful president have to deliver if he wants voters to view him because he took his message to the American as a good president and politician.

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 15

COMMENTARY | THE GRIOT’S CORNER

Back to the future

BY KEN ROBINSON/CONTRIBUTING WRITER

N

ostalgia is something we all engage in at some point. In fact, reliving the “good ol’ days” is a pastime in itself. Remembering and retelling past accomplishments — often with some embellishment or exaggeration — and recalling days gone by generally leads to a sentimentality that leaves us framing the past in a simplicity that never existed.

There’s nothing wrong with nostalgia and remembering and appreciating the past. However, it can become a problem when we fail to understand things in the past weren’t always perfect. It can become a problem when we fail to see progress and change aren’t bad things.

Nostalgia becomes a problem when we fail to realize “going back to the way things used to be” usually doesn’t equate with going back to a condition or time that was better. Whether it’s an individual, a business, a sports team or a society, you never forget your history, your foundation — but you should always be growing, maturing, innovating and moving forward. It’s the key to success.

Having the correct mindset about the past is definitely important for a political leader. A community or society can be greatly helped by a political leader willing to embrace positive change. Conversely, it can be hurt or hindered by one that refuses to.

Since becoming U.S. Attorney General, Jeff Sessions has passionately spoken about the need to embrace policies from the past to protect us in the present and carry us into the future. Whether it’s been on the subject of marijuana use, criminal justice reform or measures regarding police and community relations, he has indicated

16 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

the way forward is through looking back.

As of this year, 26 states along with the District of Columbia have laws legalizing marijuana use in some fashion. Florida, Arkansas and North Dakota will join that number after recently passing ballot measures permitting the use of medical marijuana. Some states have also decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

As voters went to the polls last November to vote on various marijuana measures up for consideration in different states, national polls recorded the highest support for marijuana legalization in the 47-year history of such polling. Sixty percent of Americans, representing a cross-section of all age groups, now support changes in the laws on this issue.

Sessions, however, has taken a hard stance against this movement. He even declared medical marijuana’s efficacy has been “hyped.” This remark drew the ire of Amy Young, whose young daughter, Leni, was the impetus for an Alabama law passed last year allowing for the use of cannabidiol (a cannabis compound that has significant medical benefits but does not make people feel “stoned”). Regarding Sessions’ statement, Young noted, “Sessions goes on to talk about maybe his view being “unfashionable” … What’s unfashionable is putting ignorance in front of people’s quality of life and their lives itself.”

A desire to return to policies of the past is not present on just this issue. America’s “War on Drugs” and its devastating effects have in recent years brought together some unlikely allies. Many conservative and liberal

groups as well as politicians have come to acknowledge the need for criminal justice reform in light of “get tough” policies practiced for decades that have wreaked havoc on poor communities across the nation and decimated state budgets.

Such things as draconian measures exacting extremely long sentences on nonviolent offenders, sentencing disparities between powdered and crack cocaine, no treatment for those with substance abuse issues and little to no assistance with reintegration into society created a nightmare scenario. Prison populations exploded and many offenders, when released, are doomed to be back in the system.

Reforms spearheaded by bipartisan participation at the state and national levels are being pursued, but unfortunately our new Attorney General hasn’t expressed a high level of enthusiasm for them.

The national crime strategy pursued in the ‘80s and ‘90s when the War on Drugs was at its height, however, is a policy for which Sessions has shown an affinity. Even before taking office as attorney general, while serving in the U.S. Senate he personally led an effort in 2015 and 2016 to block the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act. This bipartisan bill — advanced by leaders such as Sens. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin), along with conservatives such as the Koch brothers and law enforcement organizations such as the Major Cities Chiefs and National District Attorneys Associations — was heralded as a united and needed effort to reduce the penalties for some nonviolent drug crimes while retaining tough penalties for violent ones. In large part, thenSen. Sessions was responsible for the bill being torpedoed.

As an analysis for the Brennan Center for Justice noted, “Sen. Sessions appears to subscribe to outdated ideas about criminal justice policy that conservatives, progressives and law enforcement have come to agree do not help reduce crime and unnecessarily increase the prison population. His views place him at odds with top Republicans and the current cross-partisan movement to reform the justice system.”

Additionally, as police departments around the country have moved toward proactive reforms to improve relationships between law enforcement and the community, understanding law enforcement works best and is most effective when a reciprocal relationship of trust and respect is established, Attorney General Sessions has not communicated a similar view.

There are few endeavors in which doing things as they were done 30, 20 or even 10 years ago is the recipe for success. The realm of public policy is no exception.

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 17

BUSINESS | THE REAL DEAL

New, improved Fort Conde opens for bicentennial

BY RON SIVAK/COLUMNIST/BUSINESS@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM

A

ccording to serial entrepreneur Scott Tindle, cofounder of Mobile-based Gulf Coast Ducks and former contestant on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” the new and improved Fort Conde is about 90 percent complete and is now open for business.

The four-fifths-scale sized replica of the original fort built in 1723 (and first opened in 1976), held a soft opening last Saturday morning. Official attendance numbers weren’t available as this issue went to print, but anecdotal evidence indicated healthy foot traffic, mainly from families, according to Tindle. A grand opening is scheduled for this Saturday, May 6.

Admission will be set at $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 4-12. A combined package deal with the Duck Boat Tour will be $30, offering a $5 discount when purchased together.

“Fort Conde’s original price for admission 41 years ago was $1.50. The cost is about the same today when adjusted for inflation. We wanted to make the experience affordable for everyone who visits,” Tindle said.

A tour of the updated facilities revealed many new features, including an escape room adventure, a dressing room filled with colonial costumes for visitors to wear for photographs, a historical timeline tour of the fort utilizing historic pieces provided by the History Museum of Mobile, colonial guards at the gates and periodic historic re-enactments.

Taking the Disney-coined term “edutainment” to heart, attractions also include bringing in animatronics and holographic displays. In particular, an interactive statue of Jean-Baptiste de Bienville and a bust of Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville will be set up near the end of the 2017 or early 2018.

Historical accuracy was ensured through consultation

18 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

with Stephen McNair, Ph.D., local owner of McNair Historic Preservation. He made certain various eras of attire were historically accurate reflecting the nearly 300-year revolving door of nation-states occupying the original fort.

Plans are also in place to set up an 800-square-foot restaurant slated to open in the next 90 days, serving breakfast and lunch.

Currently in its Spanish-era phase as the former “Fuerte Carlotta,” the opening will follow on the heels of the “Alabama 200” Bicentennial Launch to be held, May 5, featuring an array of festivities downtown.

Fort Conde, Mardi Gras Park and the Mobile Carnival Museum will offer free evening admission from 6-8 p.m. that day. Additionally, the Mardi Gras Park Market will offer face painting, balloons and children’s activities concurrently in the downtown block of South Royal Street.

Finally, a fireworks display and live band will take place 8-10 p.m. at Cooper Riverside Park, officially launching the three-year statewide bicentennial initiative.

Admission is free.

Commercial real estate moves

Southern National Restaurant will be opening in a 3,300-square-foot space at 360 Dauphin St. in downtown Mobile in late June, inside a former piano bar. The eatery will seat about 60 patrons inside with a 500-square-foot patio fronting the property holding another 12, and an attached courtyard capable of hosting 80 guests.

According to co-owner and restaurateur Reggie Washington, 35 employees will be hired locally while five from their executive team will be brought in from out of town.

A Theodore native, Washington is co-creator of the

upscale restaurant One Flew South located inside Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. That eatery has been covered by CNN, The New York Times and GQ magazine as well as earning recognition as a two-time James Beard Award Finalist; “World’s Most Popular Airport Restaurant” by Conde Nast Traveler and Southern Living’s “100 Best Bars in the South.”

“I wanted to come back home and use my resources to help bring more attention to the Mobile restaurant scene,” Washington said. “This region has been under the radar for awhile and could be the next up-and-coming area for world-class dining.”

Memphis-based Centro Inc., a specialty distributor and sales representative company of control product solutions to industry, has purchased a lot on Abigail Drive in Rangeline Business Park for $100,000. Plans are in place for the company to build a 6,000-square-foot office/warehouse space to serve clients along the Gulf Coast. The company will relocate from its current site on Sgt. Boots Thomas Drive in Spanish Fort when the building is completed in January 2018. Pratt Thomas represented Centro Inc. in the transaction.

According to Tim Herrington with Herrington Realty, a six-bay Meineke Car Care Center is under development fronting the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market located at 1300 N. University Blvd. in West Mobile.

Boot Barn will occupy 9,000 square feet of retail space in the pecan building at 5456 U.S. Highway 90 in the Tillman’s Corner area of Mobile, with plans to open in the fall. This will mark the second Alabama location for the Irvine, Californiabased western and workwear chain, which has 210 stores across the country. Nathan Handmacher with Stirling Properties represented the property owner. Bryan Holt with Southpace Properties of Birmingham worked for the tenant.

Marl Cummings with Cummings & Associates Inc. recently leased a 900-square-foot workshop space to Shirt Candy, a sign and printing company, as well as a 1,200-square-foot restaurant space to Java Dave’s Coffee, a coffee and confection shop. Both businesses are located at the 98 Oaks Shopping Center on Moffett Road in Semmes. The center is now fully leased, according to Cummings.

Stanley Steemer has leased 2,500 square feet of warehouse space at 25251 Friendship Road in Daphne. Nathan Handmacher with Stirling Properties represented the property owner. Spence Monroe of Ashurst Niemeyer worked for the tenant.

According to Lewis Golden with Hamilton & Co., some 1,750 square feet of office space has been leased to Glencoe, Alabama-based Five Star Industrial Service Support Center LLC located at 6161 Rangeline Road, Suite C, in Mobile. Jeremy Milling of Milling Commercial Realty represented the landlord and Golden worked for company.

LumaLife Therapy LLC will occupy 1,350 square feet of space in the Plaza de Malaga mixed-use development located at 6157 Airport Blvd. in Mobile, with plans to open in late spring. Nathan Handmacher and Justin Toomey with Stirling Properties handled the transaction.

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 19

CUISINE THE REVIEW

Wasabi serves sushi a restaurateur could love

WASABI SUSHI & NOODLES 3654 AIRPORT BLVD., #C MOBILE 36608 251-725-6078

BY ANDY MACDONALD/CUISINE EDITOR | FATMANSQUEEZE@COMCAST.NET

THE KAMAKAZI ROLL ($14) WAS ANOTHER EXCELLENT CHOICE. THIS WAS OUR ONE STAB AT TRYING SOMETHING TEMPURA, IN THIS CASE SHRIMP, WITH SPICY TUNA WRAPPED INSIDE SOY PAPER.” I ate at Wasabi long ago for lunch and was very satisfied, but dinner is a much more elegant experience. He actually beat me to the restaurant for our meetup, which is rare. The little fellow must have been hungry. Before him, untouched, was a salad of sorts and he patiently stared at it as I walked in.

Now, to know Rasp is to know when he frequents a place he gets to know the staff. I have since been unable to find this salad on the menu and we weren’t charged for it, so I have to wonder if this was something they threw together for him because of his frequent flyer miles. Either way, we dug in four sticks deep, savoring bits of tuna (and salmon, if memory serves) with tobiko and sesame seeds with matchstick veggies over lettuce. A dollop or two of Sriracha had us reaching for the hot sake. I’ll ask for this again.

Of all the sushi joint appetizers out there, the Tuna Tataki ($11) is always worth a shot. This seared tuna dish was better than most examples, rare as can be and with a tasty Ponzu sauce. We acted as if we were not keeping score of how many

20 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

Photos | wasabial.com

I

t isn’t often enough I get the chance to bromance it up with local restaurateur David Rasp, but when I do it’s pretty darn good. As the owner of three restaurants (Royal Scam and two Heroes locations), Rasp has a nose for good food and his finger pretty much on the pulse of our dining scene.

Recent months have seen our friend on a health kick, leaving him fit and trim, but don’t be confused. Even with limitations on carbs, red meat and other wonderful hazards, if a man is closer to 7 feet tall than I am to 6, he can still put away some groceries.

Rasp has been singing the praises of Wasabi, his latest sushi craze located in the same parcel of land as Babies“R”Us and Half Shell. It really is a daunting parking lot to venture in and out of, but for this kind of grub he readily braves the traffic at Interstate 65 and Airport Boulevard.

Wasabi is an authentic Japanese restaurant located on the service road off Interstate 65 and Airport Boulevard, in between West Marine and Babies“R”Us. looked relatively inexpensive. We must give readers a glimpse slices each of us had taken but he knew. I knew, too. Even at what Wasabi offers in their postgame. though dinner was on me, he was offered the last piece.

Basically they have tempura fried banana, ice cream, We weren’t about to get into the hibachi or fried rice. cheesecake or tempura fried ice cream or cheesecake ($4.50 Noodles or steak or dumplings were not on our radar. Not each). For less than five bucks you know what we ordered. He tonight, anyway. We were here for the sushi. Since this is really got the fried ice cream and I had the fried cheesecake. Or was it his find, I bowed out and encouraged him to order the rolls. The the other way around? one he recommended was the Beauty Devil ($14). It lives up to I was expecting maybe cheesecake bites. its name with beautiful yellow color topped What I got was a wedge the size of a smallwith jalapeño rings and dots of Sriracha er piece of pizza but maybe 2 inches thick. suggesting the latter half of its name. It’s This monster was covered in whipped another item not found on the menu, so we cream and chocolate syrup and was bad to have put our heads together to guess that inthe bone. Maybe it could be the dessert of side the golden soy paper we have scallop, WE WEREN’T ABOUT TO GET decadence in these parts. Of course we both crab, tuna and avocado. We could be wrong, but we also don’t care. Once it touched my INTO THE HIBACHI OR FRIED gnawed on this before our attention turned to the ice cream. tongue my eyes glazed over. Rasp eats this I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I one biweekly at least and still doesn’t know, RICE. NOODLES OR STEAK say the scoop of ice cream was nearly the so I believe his reaction is the same.

OR DUMPLINGS WERE NOT size of a softball. I didn’t have one on me The Kamakazi Roll ($14) was another to compare it side by side, but it was big excellent choice. This was our one stab ON OUR RADAR. NOT enough that we left half of each dessert on at trying something tempura, in this case TONIGHT, ANYWAY. WE the table, warning the two girls at the spot shrimp, with spicy tuna wrapped inside next to ours that if they feel like dessert soy paper. It was topped with tuna, salmon WERE HERE FOR THE SUSHI. they should only order one. Amid the gasps and avocado and, I believe, eel sauce. You and giggles we made our exit. wouldn’t say no to this one, I assure you.

I don’t think of Wasabi as a “something For a different take (outside of the fact for everyone” place. The menu is just about everything we’ve eaten so far contained the right size. I am certain there is another area they excel at, tuna), the Suzuki Roll ($14) fit the bill. With tuna, salmon but we just needed the sushi fix. It is a place where one can and yellowtail on the inside, this hearty roll was topped with satisfy those cravings with another in tow who doesn’t touch crunchy crab, avocado and tobiko. I had a hard time not declarthe stuff. It was also nice to see that should I bring my kids they ing it my favorite. do have the option of nuggets, fries or tempura sweet potatoes.

So here we were, a couple of old friends yakking on about The MacDonald boys will be there soon.

Mobile’s restaurant scene, trying to pretend to be on a modA great find, worth the trip over the interstate. Wasabi was just erately strict diet of apparently rice and fish, when it hit us. right. What other gems are you hiding from me, David Rasp?

What kind of review would this be without ordering dessert? It

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 21

FIREHOUSE SUBS ($)

HOT SUBS, COLD SALADS & CATERING 6300 Grelot Rd. • 631-3730

FIVE GUYS BURGERS & FRIES ($) $10/PERSON • $$ 10-25/PERSON • $$$ OVER 25/PERSON

COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE ALL SPORTS BAR & GRILL ($) 3408 Pleasant Valley Rd. • 345-9338

AL’S HOTDOGS ($)

CLASSIC HOTDOGS, GYROS & MILKSHAKES 4701 Airport Blvd. • 342-3243

ATLANTA BREAD COMPANY ($-$$) SANDWICHES, SALADS & MORE. 3680 Dauphin St. • 380-0444

BAKE MY DAY ($)

OLD-FASHIONED SOUTHERN BAKE SHOP 156 N. McGregor Ave. • 219-7261

BOB’S DINER ($)

GOOD OLD AMERICAN COOKING 263 St. Francis St. • 405-1497

BUCK’S DINER ($)

CLASSIC AMERICAN DINER 58 N. Secion St. Fairhope • 928-8521

CAFE 219 ($)

SALADS, SANDWICHES & POTATO SALAD 219 Conti St. • 438-5234

CAMELLIA CAFÉ ($-$$$)

CONTEMPORARY SOUTHERN FARE 61 Section St. • Fairhope • 928-4321

CAMMIE’S OLD DUTCH ($) MOBILE’S CLASSIC ICE CREAM SPOT 2511 Old Shell Rd. • 471-1710

CARPE DIEM ($)

DELI FOODS, PASTRIES & SPECIALTY DRINKS 4072 Old Shell Rd. • 304-0448

CLARK’S KITCHEN ($-$$)

SANDWICHES, SOUTHERN CUISINE & CATERING 5817 Old Shell Rd. • 343-0200

CHAT-A-WAY CAFE ($)

QUICHES & SANDWICHES 4366 Old Shell Rd. • 343-9889

CHICK-FIL-A ($)

BURGERS, MILKSHAKES & FRIES 4401 Old Shell Rd. • 447-2394 4663 Airport Blvd. • 300-8425 5319 Hwy 90 • 661-0071 1225 Satchel Page Dr.• 378-8768

FOOSACKLY’S ($)

FAMOUS CHICKEN FINGERS 29181 US Hwy 98 • Daphne • 375-1104 7843 Moffett Rd. • 607-6196 1109 Shelton Beach Rd. • 287-1423 310 S. University Blvd. • 343-0047 2250 Airport Blvd. • 479-2922 7641 Airport Blvd. • 607-7667 2558 Schillinger Rd. • 219-7761 3249 Dauphin St. • 479-2000

FOY SUPERFOODS ($) 119 Dauphin St.• 307-8997

GULF COAST EXPLOREUM CAFE ($) HOMEMADE SOUPS & SANDWICHES 65 Government St. • 208-6815

1880 Industrial Pkwy. • 675-2999

CREAM AND SUGAR ($)

3869 Airport Blvd. • 345-9544 5470 Inn Rd. • 661-9117 28975 US 98 • Daphne • 625-3910

JAMAICAN VIBE ($)

MIND-BLOWING ISLAND FOOD 3700 Gov’t Blvd. Ste A • 602-1973

JERSEY MIKE’S ($)

AUTHENTIC SUB SANDWICHES 7449 Airport Blvd. • 375-1820

JIMMY JOHN’S ($)

SANDWICHES, CATERING & DELIVERY TOO 6920 Airport Blvd. • 414-5444 9 Du Rhu Dr. • 340-8694 62 B Royal St. • 432-0360

JOE CAIN CAFÉ ($)

PIZZAS, SANDWICHES, COCKTAILS 26 N. Royal St. • 338-2000

JONELLI’S ($)

1252 Govenment St.• 301-7556 HOME COOKING 4054 Government St. • 665-4557

LICKIN’ GOOD DONUTS ($) 3242 Dauphin St. • 471-2590

LODA BIER GARTEN ($) MAMA’S ($)

SLAP YOUR MAMA GOOD HOME COOKING 220 Dauphin St. • 432-6262

MARS HILL CAFE ($)

GREAT SANDWICHES, COFFEE & MORE 1087 Downtowner Blvd. • 643-1611

MARY’S SOUTHERN COOKING ($) 3011 Springhill Ave. • 476-2232

COFFEE, BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DESSERT 351 George St #B • 405-0003

MICHELI’S CAFE ($)

DAUPHIN ST. CAFE ($)

MCSHARRY’S ($-$$)

D’ MICHAEL’S ($)

MIKO’S ITALIAN ICE ($)

D NU SPOT ($)

MOMMA GOLDBERG’S DELI ($)

HOT LUNCH, DAILY MENU (INSIDE VIA) 1717 Dauphin St. • 470-5231 PHILLY CHEESE STEAKS, GYROS & MORE 7101-A Theodore Dawes Rd. • 653-2979 22159 Halls Mill Rd. . • 648-6522

DELISH BAKERY AND EATERY ($) GREAT DESSERTS & HOT LUNCH 23 Upham St. • 473-6115

DEW DROP INN ($)

CLASSIC BURGERS, HOTDOGS & SETTING 1808 Old Shell Rd. • 473-7872

DUNKIN DONUTS ($)

DONUTS, COFFEE & SANDWICHES 1976 Michigan Ave. • 442-4846 3876 Airport Blvd. • 219-7369 505 Schillinger Rd. S. • 442-4845 29160 US Hwy 98 • 621-2228

E WING HOUSE ($)

6358 Cottage Hill Rd. • 725-6917 AUTHENTIC IRISH PUB 101 N. Bancroft St.• 990-5100 HOTDOGS SANDWICHES & COOL TREATS 3371 Dauphin Island Pkwy • 300–4015 SANDWICHES & MOMMA’S LOVE 3696 Airport Blvd. • 344-9500 5602 Old Shell Rd. • 287-6556

MONTEGO’S ($-$$)

FRESH CARIBBEAN-STYLE FOOD & CRAFT BEER 6601 Airport Blvd. • 634-3445 225 Dauphin St. • 375-1576

MOON PIE GENERAL STORE ($)

107 St Francis St #115 • RSA Bank Trust Building

MOSTLY MUFFINS ($) MUFFINS, COFFEE & WRAPS 105 Dauphin St. • 433-9855

NEWK’S EXPRESS CAFE ($)

15 N Conception St. • 433-2299

OVEN-BAKED SANDWICHES & MORE 1335 Satchel Page Dr. Suite C. • 287-7356 7440 Airport Blvd. • 633-0096 30500 State Hwy 181 #132 • 625-6544

FATHOMS LOUNGE

O’DALYS HOLE IN THE WALL ($)

195 S University Blvd. Suite H • 662-1829

EUGENE’S MONKEY BAR ($) SMALL PLATES AND CREATIVE COCKTAILS 64 S. Water St. • 438-4000

FLOUR GIRLS BAKERY ($) 809 Hillcrest Rd. • 634-2285

PDQ ($)

562 Dauphin St.• 725-6429

OLD SHELL GROWLERS ($) GROWLER STATION AND BITES 1801 Old Shell Rd. • 345-4767

22 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

WAREHOUSE BAKERY & DONUTS ($)

ROYAL SCAM ($$)

312 Schillinger Rd. • 633-9077

WEDGIE’S ($)

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE ($$$)

THAI & SUSHI 5369 D Hwy 90 W • 661-5100

WILD WING STATION ($)

SAGE RESTAURANT ($$)

THAI KITCHEN & SUSHI BAR 960 Schillinger Rd. S • 660-4470

COFFEE AND DONUTS 759 Nichols Avenue, Fairhope • 928-7223 GOURMET GRILLED CHEESE 5955 Old Shell Rd. • 287-6134 1500 Gov’t St. • 287-1526

CHICKEN FINGERS, SALAD & SANDWICHES. 1165 University Blvd. • 202-0959

THE WINDMILL MARKET ($)

POLLMAN’S BAKERY ($)

YAK THE KATHMANDU KITCHEN ($-$$)

BAKERY, SANDWICHES & MORE 750 S. Broad St. • 438-1511 4464 Old Shell Rd. • 342-8546 107 St. Francis St. Suite 102 • 438-2261

PUNTA CLARA KITCHEN ($)

FUDGE, PRALINES & MORE 17111 Scenic Hwy 98 • Fairhope • 928-8477

R BISTRO ($-$$)

334 Fairhope Ave • Fairhope • 928-2399

REGINA’S KITCHEN ($-$$)

HOOTERS ($)

PUB FOOD AND DRAFT BEERS 251 Dauphin St. • 287-6871

CONNECTION FROZEN YOGURT ($)

BAR FOOD 271 Dauphin St • 438-9585

WRAPS & SALADS 3220 Dauphin St. • 479-2480

SEAFOOD & SANDWICHES 212 ½ Fairhope Ave •Fairhope • 928-4100

CHICKEN SALAD CHICK ($)

CHICAGO STYLE EATERY 1222 Hillcrest Rd. • 461-6599

PAT’S DOWNTOWN GRILL ($)

SANDWICHES, SUBS & SOUPS 2056 Gov’t St. • 476-2777

JUDY’S PLACE ($-$$)

CHI-TOWN DAWGZ ($)

ORIGINAL SANDWICH AND BAKE SHOP 42 ½ Section St. • Fairhope • 929-0122 102 Dauphin St. • 405-0031

GUMBO SHACK ($-$$)

107 St. Francis St. • 415-1700 3244 Dauphin St. • 476-0320 3215 Bel Air Mall • 476-8361 4707 Airport Blvd. • 461-9933 435 Schillinger Rd. • 639-1163 1682 US HWY 98 • Daphne • 621-3215 30500 AL 181 • Spanish Fort • 621-3020 CHICKEN SALAD, SALAD & SOUP 2370 S. Hillcrest Rd. Unit R • 660-0501 5753 Old Shell Rd. • 408-3236 1802 US Hwy 98 Suite F• 625-1092

PANINI PETE’S ($)

ROLY POLY ($)

ROSHELL’S CAFE ($)

2906 Springhill Ave. • 479-4614

ROSIE’S GRILL ($-$$)

SANDWICHES, SOUTHWEST FARE, 7 DAYS 1203 Hwy 98 Ste. 3D • Daphne • 626-2440

ROYAL KNIGHT ($)

LUNCH & DINNER 3004 Gov’t Blvd. • 287-1220

ROYAL STREET CAFE ($) HOMEMADE LUNCH & BREAKFAST 104 N. Royal St. • 434-0011

SALLY’S PIECE-A-CAKE ($) BAKERY 5638 Three Notch Rd.• 219-6379

85 N. Bancroft St. Fairhope • 990.8883

HOME COOKIN’ LIKE MOMMA MADE. 2804 Springhill Ave. • 473-4739

THE TRELLIS ROOM ($$$)

BAR-B-QUING WITH MY HONEY ($$)

CONTEMPORARY SOUTHERN CUISINE Battle House Hotel, Royal St. • 338-5493

A FAVORITE BARBECUE SPOT 5456 Old Shell Rd. • 343-0001

COTTON STATE BBQ ($)

DOWNTOWN LUNCH 101 N. Conception St. • 545-4682

DICKEY’S BARBECUE PIT ($-$$) BBQ AND MORE Jubilee Sq.Ctr. Hwy 90, Daphne • 210-2151 McGowin Park Ctr. Satchel Paige Dr. • 471-1050 7721 Airport Blvd. • 380-8957

DREAMLAND BBQ ($)

RIBS, SANDWICHES & GREAT SIDES 3314 Old Shell Rd. • 479-9898

MEAT BOSS ($)

5401 Cottage Hill Rd. • 591-4842

MOE’S ORIGINAL BAR B QUE ($)

SIMPLY SWEET ($)

SMOKEY DEMBO SMOKE HOUSE ($)

SANDWICHES, SOUPS, SALADS & MORE 41 West I-65 Service Rd. N Suite 150. • 287-2793

SEAFOOD, ASIAN & AMERICAN CUISINE 69 St. Michael St • 375-1113 CASUAL FINE DINING 104 N. Section St. • Fairhope • 929-2219

SAUCY Q BARBQUE ($)

STEVIE’S KITCHEN ($)

CUISINE OF INDIA ($$)

MODERN GASTROPUB INSPIRED BY JAPANESE KITCHEN 455 Dauphin St • 433-0376

BACKYARD CAFE & BBQ ($)

SERDA’S COFFEEHOUSE ($)

CUPCAKE BOUTIQUE 6207 Cottage Hill Rd. Suite B • 665-3003

SAISHO ($-$$)

TAMARA’S DOWNTOWN ($$)

BRICK PIT ($)

AWARD-WINNING BARBQUE 1111 Gov’t Blvd. • 433-7427

THE WASH HOUSE ($$)

FOOD, WINE & MORE 5150 Old Shell Rd. • 341-1497

POUR BABY

WINE BAR, CRAFT BEERS & BISTRO 6808 Airport Blvd. • 343-3555

FIREHOUSE WINE BAR & SHOP 216 St Francis St. • 421-2022

RED OR WHITE

323A De La Mare Ave, Fairhope • 990-0003 1104 Dauphin St.. • 478-9494

ROYAL STREET TAVERN

LIVE MUSIC, MARTINIS & DINNER MENU. 26 N. Royal St. • 338-2000

SOUTHERN NAPA

BISTRO PLATES, CRAFT BEERS & PANTRY 2304 Main St. • 375-2800

THE VINEYARD

FALAFEL? TRY SOME HUMMUS 7 SPICE ($-$$)

HEALTHY, DELICIOUS MEDITERRANEAN FOOD. 3762 Airport Blvd. • 725-1177

A PREMIER CATERER & COOKING CLASSES 1880-A Airport Blvd. • 450-9051

4861 Bit & Spur Rd. • 340-6464

BRIQUETTES STEAKHOUSE ($-$$)

AUTHENTIC TURKISH & MEDITERRANEAN 3702 Airport Blvd. • 461-6901

DAILY SPECIALS MADE FROM SCRATCH 57 N. Claiborne St. • 694-6853

ABBA’S MEDITERRANEAN CAFE ($-$$) ISTANBUL GRILL ($)

JERUSALEM CAFE ($-$$)

CHUCK’S FISH ($$)

MOBILE’S OLDEST MIDDLE EASTERN CUISINE 5773 Airport Blvd. • 304-1155

THE HARBERDASHER ($)

CORNER 251 ($-$$)

MEDITERRANEAN FOOD AND HOOKAH 326 Azalea Rd • 229-4206

THE PIGEON HOLE ($)

DAUPHIN’S ($$-$$$)

THE GALLEY ($)

OPEN FOR LUNCH, INSIDE GULFQUEST 155 S. Water St • 436-8901 113 Dauphin St.• 436-0989

SOUTHERN COOKING & THEN SOME 1716 Main St. Daphne • 222-4120

THE SUNFLOWER CAFE ($) INSIDE VIRGINIA’S HEALTH FOOD 3055 A Dauphin St • 479-3200

THYME BY THE BAY ($-$$)

33 N Section St. • Fairhope • 990-5635

TIME TO EAT CAFE ($)

DOWN-HOME COUNTRY COOKIN 7351 Theodore Dawes Rd. • 654-0228 13665 N. Wintzell Ave. • 824-1119

TIN ROOF ($-$$)

SOUTHERN CASUAL FAMILY DINING 10800 US HWY 31 • Spanish Fort• 621-4995

TP CROCKMIERS ($)

AMERICAN RESTAURANT & BAR 250 Dauphin St. • 476-1890

THREE GEORGES CANDY SHOP ($) LIGHT LUNCH WITH SOUTHERN FLAIR. 226 Dauphin St. • 433-6725

TROPICAL SMOOTHIE ($)

GREAT SMOOTHIES, WRAPS & SANDWICHES. Du Rhu Dr. • 378-5648 570 Schillinger Road • 634-3454

UNCLE JIMMY’S DELICIOUS HOTDOGS ($)

2550 Dauphin Island Pkwy S. • 307-5328

SEAFOOD AND SUSHI 551 Dauphin St.• 219-7051 HIGH QUALITY FOOD & DRINKS 251 Government St • 460-3157 HIGH QUALITY FOOD WITH A VIEW 107 St. Francis St • 444-0200

DUMBWAITER ($$-$$$) 9 Du Rhu Dr. Suite 201 167 Dauphin St. • 445-3802

FIVE ($$)

GREAT FOOD AND COCKTAILS 609 Dauphin St. • 308-3105

KITCHEN ON GEORGE ($-$$)

CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN FOOD 351A George & Savannah St. • 436-8890

LAUNCH ($-$$)

HIGH QUALITY FOOD & DRINKS 251 Government St. • 432-8000

MAGHEE’S GRILL ON THE HILL ($-$$) GREAT LUNCH & DINNER 3607 Old Shell Rd. • 445-8700

NOBLE SOUTH ($$)

LOCAL INGREDIENTS 203 Dauphin St. • 690-6824

NOJA ($$-$$$)

INVENTIVE & VERY FRESH CUISINE 6 N. Jackson St. • 433-0377

OSMAN’S RESTAURANT ($$) SUPREME EUROPEAN CUISINE 2579 Halls Mill Rd. • 479-0006

HIBACHI GRILL & ASIAN CUISINE 309 Bel Air Blvd • 470-8033

HIBACHI 1 ($-$$)

2370 Hillcrest Rd. Unit B • 380-6062

ICHIBAN SUSHI ($)

LIQUID ($$)

FOOD PAK

TILMO’S BBQ ($)

GRILLED STEAKS, CHICKEN & SEAFOOD 720A Schillinger Rd. S. S2. • 607-7200 901 Montlimar Dr • 408-3133

GOLDEN BOWL ($)

WINE, BEER, GOURMET FOODS, & MORE. 720 Schillinger Rd. S. Unit 8 • 287-1851

DOMKE MARKET

SUNSET POINTE ($-$$) THE BLIND MULE ($)

THAI FARE AND SUSHI 2000 Airport Blvd. • 478-9888

KAI JAPANESE RESTAURANT ($-$$)

SUGAR RUSH DONUT CO. ($) AT FLU CREEK 831 N Section St. • Fairhope • 990-7766

FUJI SAN ($)

A LITTLE VINO

UPSCALE WINE BAR 9 Du Rhu Dr. S 201 • 287-7135

BAY GOURMET ($$)

LUNCH BUFFET 3674 Airport Blvd. • 341-6171

JAPANESE & CHINESE CUISINE 3959 Cottage Hill Rd • 666-6266

DROP DEAD GOURMET

4701 Airport Blvd. • 408-3379

3966 Airport Blvd.• 343-5530

17111 Scenic HWY 98 • Point Clear • 928-4838

3758 Dauphin Island Pkwy. • 473-1401 FAST BBQ W/ DRIVE-THRU 3249 Dauphin St. • 652-3508

CHARM ($-$$)

CHINA DOLL ($)

‘CUE

BBQ, BURGERS, WINGS & SEAFOOD 19170 Hwy 43 Mt. Vernon. • 839-9927

BENJAS ($)

INSIDE THE MOBILE MARRIOTT 3101 Airport Blvd. • 476-6400

VON’S BISTRO ($-$$)

COFFEE, SMOOTHIES, LUNCH & BEERS. 5460 Old Shell Rd. • 344-4575 COFFEE, LUNCHES, LIVE MUSIC & GELATO 3 Royal St. S. • 415-3000

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE & TASTE 271 Glenwood St. • 476-0516

AUTHENTIC FOODS FROM HIMALAYAN REGION 3210 Dauphin St. • 287-0115 400 Eastern Shore Center • 459-2862

BARBEQUE & MUSIC Bayfront Park Dr. • Daphne • 625-RIBS 701 Springhill Ave. • 410-7427 4672 Airport Blvd. • 300-8516

SATORI COFFEEHOUSE ($)

GUMBO, ANGUS BEEF & BAR 72. S. Royal St. • 432-SCAM (7226)

KAN ZAMAN ($-$$)

MEDITERRANEAN SANDWICH COMPANY ($)

GREAT & QUICK. 3702 Airport Blvd. • 308-2131 274 Dauphin St. • 545-3161 2502 Schillinger Rd. Ste. 2 • 725-0126 6890 US-90 • DAPHNE • 621-2271

MINT HOOKAH BISTRO ($) GREAT MEDITERRANEAN FOOD. 5951 Old Shell Rd. • 450-9191

OLLIE’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL ($-$$) MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT & HOOKAH 1248 Hillcrest St • 634-9820

TAZIKI’S ($-$$)

MEDITERRANEAN CAFE 1539 US HWY 98• 273-3337

FAR EASTERN FARE ANG BAHAY KUBO ($$) 4513 Old Shell Rd.• 473-0007

BAMBOO STEAKHOUSE ($$) SUSHI BAR 650 Cody Rd. S • 300-8383

BANGKOK THAI ($-$$)

DELICIOUS, TRADITIONAL THAI CUISINE 28600 US 98 • Daphne • 626-5286 3821 Airport Blvd. • 344-9995

BANZAI JAPANESE RESTAURANT ($$) TRADITIONAL SUSHI & LUNCH.

QUALITY FOOD, EXCELLENT SERVICE 5045 Cottage Hill Rd. • 607-6454

AMAZING SUSHI & ASSORTMENT OF ROLLS. 661 Dauphin St. • 432-0109

RICE ASIAN GRILL & SUSHI BAR ($) 3964 Gov’t Blvd. • 378-8083

ROCK N ROLL SUSHI ($$)

273 S. McGregor Ave • 287-0445 6345 Airport Blvd. • 287-0555 940 Industrial Pkwy • 308-2158 6850 US HWY 98 • Daphne • 753-4367

SAISHO ($$)

6455 Dauphin St. • 433-0376

STIX ($$)

610240 Eastern Shore Blvd. • 621-9088

TASTE OF THAI ($$)

9091 US-90 Irvington • 957-1414

TOKYO JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE ($$) UPSCALE SUSHI & HIBACHI 364 Azalea Rd. • 343-6622

WASABI SUSHI ($$)

JAPANESE CUISINE 3654 Airport Blvd. S. C • 725-6078

FROM THE DEPTHS BAUDEAN’S ($$)

FRIED, GRILLED, STEAMED & ALWAYS FRESH 3300 River Rd. • 973-9070

THE BLUEGILL ($-$$)

A HISTORIC SEAFOOD DIVE W/ LIVE MUSIC 3775 Hwy. 98 • 625-1998

BONEFISH GRILL ($$)

ECLECTIC DINING & SPACE 6955 Airport Blvd. • 633-7196

BOUDREAUX’S CAJUN GRILL ($-$$) QUALITY CAJUN & NEW ORLEANS CUISINE 29249 US Highway 98 Daphne. • 621-1991

CRAVIN CAJUN/DIP SEAFOOD ($) PO-BOYS, SALADS & SEAFOOD 1870 Dauphin Island Pkwy • 287-1168

ED’S SEAFOOD SHED ($$)

FRIED SEAFOOD SERVED IN HEFTY PORTIONS 3382 Hwy. 98 • 625-1947

FELIX’S FISH CAMP ($$) UPSCALE DINING WITH A VIEW 1420 Hwy. 98 • 626-6710

FISHERMAN’S LEGACY ($) DELI, MARKET AND CATERING. 4380 Halls Mill Rd. • 665-2266

HALF SHELL OYSTER HOUSE ($)

30500 AL-181 • Spanish Fort • 206-8768 3654 Airport Blvd. • 338-9350

LUCY B. GOODE ($$)

GULF COAST CUISINE, REINVENTED 200 E. 25th Ave. • Gulf Shores • 967-5858

LULU’S ($$)

LIVE MUSIC & GREAT SEAFOOD 200 E. 25th Ave. • Gulf Shores • 967-5858

MUDBUGS AT THE LOOP ($) CAJUN KITCHEN & SEAFOOD MARKET 2005 Government St. • 478-9897

RALPH & KACOO’S ($-$$) THE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT 1595 Battleship Pkwy. • 626-0045

R&R SEAFOOD ($-$$)

LAID-BACK EATERY & FISH MARKET 1477 Battleship Pkwy. • 621-8366

RIVER SHACK ($-$$)

SEAFOOD, BURGERS & STEAKS 6120 Marina Dr. • Dog River • 443-7318.

THE GRAND MARINER ($-$$) LOCAL SEAFOOD & PRODUCE 6036 Rock Point Rd. • 443-5700

THE HARBOR ROOM ($-$$) UNIQUE SEAFOOD 64 S. Water St. • 438-4000

THE SEAFOOD HOUSE ($-$$)

HEROES SPORTS BAR & GRILLE ($) SANDWICHES & COLD BEER 273 Dauphin St. • 433-4376 Hillcrest & Old Shell Rd. • 341-9464

HURRICANE GRILL & WINGS ($-$$) WINGS, SEAFOOD, BURGERS & BEER 7721 Airport Blvd. Suite E-180 • 639-6832

ISLAND WING CO ($)

EVERYTHING BAKED OR GRILLED 2617 Dauphin St. • 476-9464

751 Azalea Rd. • 301-7964

MANCIS ($)

TIN TOP RESTAURANT & OYSTER BAR ($$)

MCSHARRY’S IRISH PUB ($)

SEAFOOD, STEAKS, & EXTENSIVE WINE LIST 6232 Bon Secour Hwy County Rd. 10. • 949-5086

WINTZELL’S OYSTER HOUSE ($-$$) FRESH SEAFOOD FOR OVER 75 YEARS 605 Dauphin St. • 432-4605 6700 Airport Blvd. • 341-1111 1208 Shelton Beach Rd. • Saraland • 442-3335 805 S. Mobile St. • 929-2322

IS THE GAME ON?

ASHLAND MIDTOWN PUB ($-$$) PIZZAS, PASTAS, & CALZONES 245-A Old Shell Rd. • 479-3278

BAUMHOWER’S ($)

WINGS, BURGERS & PUB GRUB 6880 US-90 #14 • Daphne • 625-4695

BISHOP’S ($)

A SOUTHERN GRILL & BAR 3673 Airport Blvd. • 344-2131

BUFFALO WILD WINGS ($) BEST WINGS & SPORTING EVENTS 6341 Airport Blvd. • 378-5955

BUTCH CASSIDY’S ($)

FAMOUS BURGERS, SANDWICHES & WINGS 60 N. Florida St. • 450-0690

CALLAGHAN’S IRISH SOCIAL CLUB ($) BURGERS & BEER 916 Charleston St. • 433-9374

1715 Main St. • 375-0543 BRILLIANT REUBENS & FISH-N-CHIPS. 101 N. Brancroft St. Fairhope • 990-5100

MUG SHOTS ($$)

BAR & GRILL 29740 Urgent Care Dr. • Daphne • 662-9639 6255 Airport Blvd. • 447-2514

GRIMALDI’S ($)

ROMANO’S MACARONI GRILL ($$)

QUAINT MEXICAN RESTAURANT 5556 Old Shell Rd. • 345-7484

GUIDO’S ($$)

TAMARA’S BAR & GRILL ($)

MARIA BONITA AGAVE BAR & GRILL ($-$$)

Bel Air Mall • 476-2063 FRESH CUISINE NIGHTLY ON MENU 1709 Main St. • Daphne • 626-6082

HOUSE OF PIZZA ($)

3958 Snow Rd C. • Semmes • 645-3400

LA ROSSO ($$)

COMFORT FOOD 1716 Main St. Ste. C • Daphne • 281-2982

MACARONI GRILL ($$)

SMALL PLATES, PIZZAS, PASTAS & WINE 3250 Airport Blvd. • 450-4556

MARCOS ($)

5055 Cottage Hill Rd. • 308-4888 2394 Dawes Rr. • 639-3535 2004 US 98 • Daphne • 265-6550

MELLOW MUSHROOM ($)

BURGERS, DOGS & 27 BEERS & WINES. 19992 Hwy.181 Old County Rd. Fairhope • 281-2663

PIES & AWESOME BEER SELECTION 2032 Airport Blvd. • 471-4700 5660 Old Shell Rd. • 380-1500 29698 Frederick Blvd.• Daphne • 621-3911

LUCKY’S IRISH PUB ($)

MIRKO ($$)

OLD 27 GRILL ($)

IRISH PUB FARE & MORE 3692 Airport Blvd • 414-3000

WEMOS ($)

WINGS, TENDERS, HOTDOGS & SANDWICHES 312 Schillinger Rd. • 633-5877

MAMA MIA!

BUCK’S PIZZA ($$)

DELIVERY 350 Dauphin St. • 431-9444

CORTLAND’S PIZZA PUB ($-$$) GREAT PIZZA. LUNCH & DINNER 4356 Old Shell Rd. • 342-0024

GAMBINO BROTHERS ($) HOMEMADE PASTAS & SANDWICHES 873 Hillcrest Ave. • 344-8115

GAMBINO’S ITALIAN GRILL ($) ITALIAN, STEAKS & SEAFOOD 18 Laurel Ave. • Fairhope • 990-0995

PASTA & MORE 9 Du Rhu Dr. • 340-6611

NAVCO PIZZA ($$)

PIZZA, SUBS & PASTA 1368 ½ Navco Rd.• 479-0066

PAPA’S PLACE ($$)

A TASTE OF ITALY. BYOB. 28691 U.S. Highway 98 • 626-1999

PINZONE’S ITALIAN VILLAGE ($$) AUTHENTIC ITALIAN DISHES 312 Fairhope Ave. • Fairhope • 990-5535

RAVENITE ($)

PIZZA, PASTA, SALAD & MORE 102 N. Section St. •Fairhope• 929-2525

PIZZERIA DELFINA ($) PIZZA & PASTA 107 Dauphin St. • 375-1644

ROMA CAFE ($-$$)

PASTA, SALAD AND SANDWICHES 7143 Airport Blvd. • 341-7217

3250 Airport Blvd. Springdale Mall• 450-4556

WINGS, PO-BOYS, BURGERS 210 Eastern Shore Center, Hwy. 98 • 929-0002

TRATTORIA PIZZA & ITALIAN ($$) ITALIAN FOOD & PIZZAS 11311 US HIghway 31 Spanish Fort• 375-0076

VIA EMILIA ($$)

HOMEMADE PASTAS & PIZZAS MADE DAILY 5901 Old Shell Rd. • 342-3677

MEXICAN CUISINE 3977 Gov’t Blvd. • 660-4970

OLÉ MI AMIGO ($-$$)

HEARTY MEXICAN FARE 736 holcombe Ave.• 473-0413

POOR MEXICAN ($)

3050 AL 181 • Spanish Fort • 621-7433

MAGNOLIA HOUSE ($$-$$$) FINE DINING, SEAFOOD AND STEAKS

FLAVORS BUFFET ($-$$) ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET

IP CASINO:

850 Bayview Ave. Bilox • 888-946-2847

THIRTY-TWO ($$$) SEAFOOD, STEAKS, WINE

TIEN ($-$$)

INTERACTIVE ASIAN DINING

HIGH TIDE CAFÉ ($)

CASUAL & RELAXING, EXTENSIVE MENU

OLÉ MI AMIGO!

ROOSTER’S ($)

ISLAND VIEW:

TASTE OF MEXICO 5452 Hwy 90 W • 661-5509

LATIN AMERICAN FOOD 211 Dauphin St. • 375-1076

TAQUERIA MEXICO ($-$$)

BEACH BLVD STEAMER ($)

AZTECAS ($-$$)

CAFÉ DEL RIO ($-$$)

MOUTH WATERING MEXICAN FOOD 1175 Battleship Pkwy • 625-2722

CINCO DE MAYO ($) MEXICAN CUISINE 260 Azalea Rd. • 375-1095

DAUPHIN ST. TAQUERIA ($)

ENCHILADAS, TACOS, & AUTHENTIC FARE Ok Bicycle Shop • 661 Dauphin St. • 432-2453

EL MARIACHI ($)

763 Holcombe Ave • 473-0413

FUEGO ($-$$)

OUTSTANDING MEXICAN CUISINE 2066 Old Shell Rd. • 378-8621

HACIENDA SAN MIGUEL ($-$$) TASTE OF MEXICO 880 Schillinger Rd. S. • 633-6122 5805 US 90 • 653-9163

LA COCINA ($)

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CUISINE 800 N Section St. • Fairhope • 990-0783 830 W I65 Service Rd. S • 378-5837 4663 Airport Blvd. • 342-5553

LOS ARCOS ($)

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FLAVOR 3733 Airport Blvd. • 414-4496

NO GAMBLING CASINO FARE BEAU RIVAGE:

875 Beach Blvd. Biloxi • 888-952-2582

BR PRIME ($$-$$$)

3300 W. Beach Blvd. Biloxi • 877-774-8439 SEAFOOD

CARTER GREEN STEAKHOUSE ($$-$$$) RICH TRADITIONS, STEAK, SEAFOOD

C&G GRILLE ($)

LARGE BREAKFAST, LUNCH OR DINNER MENU

PALACE CASINO:

158 Howard Ave. Biloxi • 800-725-2239

FINE DINING ESTABLISHMENT.

MIGNON’S ($$$)

BURGER, WINGS, PIZZA

PLACE BUFFET ($-$$)

EXOTIC CUISINE AND SUSHI

STACKED GRILL ($-$$)

COAST RESTAURANT ($-$$) JIA ($-$$)

STALLA ($$)

ITALIAN COOKING

STEAKS, SEAFOOD, FINE WINE INTERACTIVE ASIAN DINING

BURGERS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

TERRACE CAFE ($)

TREASURE BAY:

HARD ROCK CASINO:

THE DEN ($-$$)

BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, LATE NIGHT

777 Beach Blvd.Biloxi • 877-877-6256

HALF SHELL OYSTER HOUSE ($-$$) SEAFOOD

HARD ROCK CAFÉ ($)

AMERICAN FARE & ROCKIN’ MEMORABILIA

1980 Beach Blvd. Biloxi • 800-747-2839 INTIMATE & CASUAL WITH DAILY SPECIALS

CQ ($$-$$$)

ELEGANT ATMOSPHERE & TANTALIZING ENTREES

BLU ($)

LOUNGE WITH COCKTAILS & TAPAS MENU

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE ($$$)

WIND CREEK CASINO:

SATISFACTION ($-$$)

FIRE ($$-$$$)

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE & TASTE SOUTHERN FAVORITES BUFFET

HARRAH’S GULF COAST:

280 Beach Blvd. Biloxi • 288-436-2946

303 Poarch Rd. Atmore • 866-946-3360 PRIME STEAKS, SEAFOOD & WINE

GRILL ($)

CONTEMPORARY & OLD-FASHIONED FAVORITES

SEND LISTINGS TO LISTINGS@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 23

CUISINE | WORD OF MOUTH

Local Goodness fundraiser returns

BY ANDY MACDONALD/CUISINE EDITOR | FATMANSQUEEZE@COMCAST.NET

mission of providing the highest quality health care for the children and women of this region.

Tickets are $150 per person and can be purchased by calling 251-415-1636 or contacting Beth Mattei at bmattei@southalabama.edu. Join us for a fun, delicious event that literally changes lives.

Lucy Buffett releasing new book

Not to be outdone by her brother, Lucy Buffett is a celebrity in her own right.

We’ve been enjoying LuLu’s since before it moved to Gulf Shores and Buffett opened a second location in Destin, Florida. Speaking of seconds, her second book, “Gumbo Love … Recipes for Gulf Coast Cooking, Entertaining and Savoring the Good Life,” hits the shelves May 9.

This follow-up to “LuLu’s Kitchen, a Taste of the Gulf Coast Good Life” is described as a love letter to the Gulf Coast’s vibrant food culture with more than 100 new recipes mixed with old classics, covering Cuban, Caribbean, Cajun, Creole, Mexican and Old Florida influences.

Grab your copy soon, but mark your calendars. Miss LuLu herself will be holding a book signing at LuLu’s in Gulf Shores on Saturday, May 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bojangles coming

Photo |www.bojangles.com

Bojangles’ Famous Chicken and Biscuits

E

asily becoming one of the best events Mobile has to offer, USA Children’s and Women’s 2017 Local Goodness will take place Sunday, May 7. This marks the fourth year of the fundraiser, which runs 4-7 p.m. at the new USA Health Strada Patient Care Center overlooking the Geri Moulton Children’s Park on the hospital’s campus.

24 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

The first time I had Bojangles’ Famous Chicken and Biscuits was on tour in Charlotte, North Carolina. That’s where it all began. Spreading throughout the South like wildfire, Bojangles will be making a home in Mobile at 3213 Dauphin St., in good company with Chick-fil-A, Foosackly’s and other purveyors of chicken in the immediate area. We’ll let you know when an opening date is set.

Cinco de Mayo

Listen up, taco soldiers. It’s time to spread the word: Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day. That is actually Sept. 16, and it deals with Spain.

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of a heavily indebted and outgunned Mexican army defeating their French creditors in the Battle of Puebla during the time of the American Civil War. When news of this military miracle reached the pro-Union California Latinos, The farm-to-table dinner has always delivered a remark- it spurred them to form a network of patriotic organizations linking the struggle of Mexico to the struggle of our Civil War. able spread. With amazing food and drink, a silent auction So this weekend, as you reach for your taco, jam the lime down the throat of and live music by Fat Man Squeeze, it’s always a great time.

Expect local seafood, meats and produce prepared by some your Corona or salt your rim for that perfect margarita, take a moment to let your drinking partner in crime know the 5th of May is not Mexico’s 4th of July. talented chefs.

But party like that’s exactly what it is.

Local Goodness is a tribute to local cuisine, art and music while raising awareness and support for the hospital’s Recycle!

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 25

COVER STORY

Baldwin County Sewer Service serves growth markets

BY JANE NICHOLES/REPORTER

26 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

Photos | Daniel Anderson

U

ntil they stink, overflow or back up, sewers are easy to ignore. Let someone see it or smell it, though, and everyone wants their sewers fixed yesterday.

In a fast-growing place like Baldwin County, money, politics and the environment can also influence public interest in sewer service. It may not be the first thing a future homeowner thinks about when looking at a house or talking to a builder, but the price of a tap fee or the pros and cons of sewers versus septic tanks is probably going to come up sooner or later. When a city runs its own sewer system, issues such as Fairhope’s use of utility revenues to pay for parts of city government inevitably grow political.

Nobody wants a wastewater treatment plant located near them. These days most Baldwin County residents are environmentally conscious enough to be leery of a new line running under a scenic river or worried about how many thousands of gallons will overflow with the latest heavy rainstorm.

Given the size of Baldwin County and its lack of a dominant city, it probably shouldn’t be surprising that a privately owned operator like Baldwin County Sewer Service could grow by seeking customers outside traditional city limits. Founded in 1998, BCSS now has 15,500 customers and is permitted for up to 20,000 through its treatment plants in Malbis, Lillian and Gulf Shores, according its website, www.baldwinsewer.com.

BCSS’s principal owner is Clarence E. Burke Jr., a man who wields considerable influence in Baldwin County. County Commissioner Tucker Dorsey is an employee of one of Burke’s myriad businesses and an Alabama Ethics Commission ruling

forbids Dorsey from voting on anything pertaining to BCSS. Dorsey routinely recuses himself from voting on matters directly related to BCSS. But Burke and Dorsey are apparently close enough that Dorsey has actually held power of attorney over his employer since 2005.

BCSS was also one of the biggest donors to Commission President Chris Elliott during his 2014 race, pushing at least $7,500 to Elliott through a political action committee called Coastal PAC. Lagniappe has only been able to verify the $7,500 donation to Elliott through Coastal PAC. Another $6,000 came to him through the PAC, but its records with the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office are incomplete so the initial source of those contributions are not clear.

Most BCSS customers are just to the west of Foley and along Fort Morgan Road. The service also covers part or all of Bay Minette, Daphne, Elberta, Fairhope, Foley, Gulf Shores, Loxley, Magnolia Springs, Magnolia Beach, Orange Beach, Perdido Beach, Point Clear, Robertsdale, Silverhill, Spanish Fort and Summerdale. In many of those places, residential growth in particular has expanded outside of city and planning jurisdiction limits, where BCSS can move into territory not served by a municipal system.

Sometimes, however, BCSS competes directly against municipal systems. For example, Daphne’s land-use regulations state if a particular piece of land can be serviced by Daphne Utilities and is contiguous to Daphne, the developer must apply for annexation, said City Councilman Ron Scott.

The Bellaton, Old Field and Dunmore subdivisions on

Highway 181 are within Daphne city limits but aren’t contiguous and therefore receive sewer service from BCSS, not Daphne Utilities. Scott said that’s because Daphne Utilities’ sewer lines don’t go that far south right now.

Sometimes a little pressure doesn’t hurt either. Scott said a Mobile Infirmary urgent care center now under construction at the intersection of U.S. 90 and Highway 181 got a nudge from Daphne to use Daphne Utilities because the city earlier agreed to a request from Thomas Hospital to pledge a contribution to the new birthing center.

Fighting for service area

In Fairhope, BCSS is tangled up in litigation with the city over a sewer line serving about 96 customers to the west of Fish River. An agreement stemming from a years-old lawsuit allows Fairhope to pump sewage from the Fish River area into its own treatment plant, but that agreement expires as of mid-July. When Fairhope Mayor Karin Wilson sent a letter to BCSS saying the agreement would not be renewed, BCSS responded by getting a right-of-way permit from the Baldwin County Commission to bore a new line under the river connecting 96 customers to its Malbis treatment plant.

And when Fish River residents found out about that, they started working to block a permit BCSS needs from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with the project. The group has picked up considerable help from Cade Kistler, program director for Mobile Baykeeper. Kistler has advised citizens on

COVER STORY how to write their own letters to the ments are applied. It’s also closer to Loxley Corps asking for a separate hearing, and has than Malbis. Some 200 acres sit at the end of weighed in against the project on behalf of a road off Highway 90 marked only with a Baykeeper. mailbox and a number.

“Allowing a sewage line under Fish River Considering what’s going through the would create the potential for a massive sewplant, the smell isn’t overwhelming and the age spill. It is well noted that Fish River is a equipment itself is clean. The plant dates flashy waterway, flooding forcefully during back to 2006; even then, said McManus, it was clear the Highway 181 corridor would large rains. The potential for erosion of the be heavily developed and a targeted market riverbed is enormous and the proposed line’s for BCSS. depth of about [10 feet] below the bottom Dave Flesch, operations manager, is of the river would create a dangerous risk proud of it. Pointing to an area of treated of breaking during floods causing a sewage wastewater, he said, “You can see all the way spill into Fish River,” Baykeeper noted in its to the bottom here, to the stainless steel.” comments to the Corps.

He shows off various monitoring systems, “A large flood event, such as the ones including one that pulls samples each hour that occurred on April 29, 2014, during for the Alabama Department of EnvironHurricane Danny, or during other major rain mental Management. Flesch explains how events has a very serious potential to expose air and “bugs” of and break or damage various types are mixed the sewage line.” together at just the right BCSS and Mayor consistency to allow for Wilson agreed to talk maximum separation about a new agreement, and digestion of the and BCSS is looking WHEN A CITY RUNS ITS untreated sewage. at alternatives to the The Malbis staOWN SEWER SYSTEM, ISunderground line. The tion has the capacCorps has yet to reach SUES SUCH AS FAIRHOPE’S ity to handle the Fish a decision, while BCSS River sewage and more, USE OF UTILITY REVENUES is awaiting a response McManus said. Despite from Fairhope, accordTO PAY FOR PARTS OF CITY hard rain, a sidestream ing Gerry McManus, pond built so nothing controller for BCSS. GOVERNMENT INEVITABLY can overflow currently Also still pending holds a half-million GROW POLITICAL. is litigation involving gallons of sewage waitBCSS, the East Central ing to be treated. It has Baldwin County Water, room for another 1.5 Sewer and Protection million gallons.

Authority, the Baldwin County Commission The company’s overall reputation has and the towns of Summerdale and Robertssometimes been questioned. It is known to dale. Among the issues were whether ECB charge more, particularly on tap fees, than provided inaccurate information to the communicipal utilities companies. In 2007 it was mission in 2002 and again in 2008 before fined $100,000 for contaminating the water the commission issued permits to ECB to in a Fairhope subdivision. A similar case in serve areas already being served by other 2012 saw a worker tie a sewer line into the utilities, including BCSS. Water service, Belforest water system, forcing schools and which BCSS does not provide, made up a restaurants to close and putting residents unlarge part of the litigation. der a boil-water order until the entire system McManus said the case has yet to be could be flushed out. resolved despite an Alabama Supreme Court McManus knows such incidents hurt the ruling on some of the elements in 2016. It is company’s reputation. After the Belforest also worth noting that BCSS purchased Sumincident in 2012, BCSS revamped staff and merdale’s sewer system. procedures to ensure sewer lines could not get tied into water lines again.

As for cost, McManus points out private It doesn’t smell that bad companies don’t benefit from utilities subThe BCSS sewage treatment plant in sidies or grants. Good sewer service is still Malbis is secluded and surrounded by grass better than septic tanks, even if an initial tap fields on which the company’s own homefee is higher, he said. made fertilizer, biosolids and other treat-

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 27

28 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

S A M P L E B A L L O T O N LY. N O PA P E R B A L L O T S A C C E P T E D T H I S Y E A R . P L E A S E V I S I T V O T E N A P P I E S . C O M T O C A S T Y O U R B A L L O T.

NIGHTLIFE

BEST ALL AROUND BAR BEST BARTENDER

BEST SPORTS BAR

BEST BAR TRIVIA

BEST BOOB DOC

BEST COLLEGE BAR

BEST GENTLEMAN’S CLUB

BEST FACELIFT DOC

BEST WATERFRONT BAR

BEST BARTENDERESS

BAR WHERE YOU ARE MOST LIKELY TO GET LUCKY

HOTTEST BARTENDER

BEST FREE CRAWFISH BAR

HOTTEST BARTENDERESS

BEST PLACE TO SHAKE YOUR BOOTY

SHOPPING & SERVICES

BEST DERMATOLOGIST BEST WEIGHT LOSS DOC

BEST SALON

BEST “DOC IN THE BOX” CLINIC

BEST OVERALL HAIRSTYLIST

BEST BACK CRACKER (CHIROPRACTOR)

BEST COLORIST

BEST DENTIST

SCISSOR WIZARD (BEST HAIRCUT-TER)

BEST ORAL SURGEON

BEST BARBER

BEST GYM

BEST NEW BAR

BEST GAY BAR

BEST DIVE BAR

FAVORITE CRAFT BEER

BEST E-SHO BAR

FAVORITE IMPORT BEER

BEST WEMO BAR

FAVORITE DOMESTIC BEER

BEST MIMO BAR

BAR WITH BEST TAP BEER SELECTION

BEST LODA BAR

FAVORITE CASINO

BEST SOMO BAR

BEST BAR BATHROOM

BEST BEACH BAR

BAR BATHROOM FROM HELL

BEST WINE BAR

BEST MARGARITA

BEST MASSAGE THERAPIST

BEST FANCY DRINK BAR

BEST BLOODY MARY

BEST TANNING SALON

BEST AFTER-HOURS BAR

THE PERFECT MARTINI

MOBILE BAY’S BEST DOCTOR

BEST HAPPY HOUR BAR

BEST BUSHWACKER

MOBILE BAY’S BEST SPECIALISTS

BEST E-SHO HAPPY HOUR

BEST SPECIALTY COCKTAIL

BEST HOOHA DOCTOR

BEST MAKEUP ARTIST BEST HOOHA WAXER BEST PLACE TO GET A MANI BEST PLACE TO GET A PEDI BEST ESTHETICIAN BEST DAY SPA

BEST CROSSFIT BOX BEST PERSONAL TRAINER BEST VETERINARIAN BEST PET GROOMER BEST FLORIST BEST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER BEST YOGA STUDIO BEST YOGA INSTRUCTOR BEST MECHANIC/AUTO SHOP BEST CARWASH/DETAIL

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 29

BEST LAWYER IF YOUR SPOUSE IS A HO (DIVORCE) BEST LAWYER TO KEEP YOU OUT OF PRISON (CRIMINAL) BEST LAWYER TO SUE THE PANTS OFF SOMEONE (TRIAL) BEST REAL ESTATE FIRM

BEST MEN’S CLOTHING STORE

BEST THRIFT STORE

BEST ORTHODONTIST

BEST LINGERIE/NAUGHTY SHOP

BEST TATTOO ARTIST/SHOP

BEST PEDIATRICIAN

BEST WOMEN’S BOUTIQUE

BEST BODY PIERCER

BEST KID PHOTOGRAPHER

BEST CLOTHING CONSIGNMENT STORE

BEST HOME SECURITY COMPANY

BEST PUBLIC SCHOOL

BEST DEPARTMENT STORE

KIDS

BEST REALTOR

BEST ACCESSORIES/AFFORDABLE JEWELRY

BEST KIDS’ CLOTHING STORE- NEW

BEST INSURANCE AGENT OR AGENCY

BEST FINE JEWELRY

BEST KIDS’ CONSIGNMENT STORE

BEST MORTGAGE BROKER/FIRM

BEST DRY CLEANERS

BEST KIDS’ ROOM FURNISHINGS

BEST INVESTMENT BANKER /FINANCIAL PLANNER

BEST FORMAL WEAR STORE

BEST SUMMER CAMP

BEST HOME CLEANING SERVICE

BEST DAYCARE

BEST STATIONERY STORE

BEST PRESCHOOL

BEST OUTDOORS STORE

BEST MOTHER’S DAY OUT

BEST LOCAL PHARMACY

MOST KID FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

BEST SHOE STORE

BEST BIRTHDAY PARTY PLACE

BEST GIFT SHOP

BEST PARK/PLAYGROUND

BEST HOME FURNISHINGS STORE

MOST KID FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD

BEST FURNITURE CONSIGNMENT SHOP

BEST KID-FRIENDLY LOCAL ATTRACTION

BEST VAPE SHOP

BEST DANCE STUDIO

BEST BANK OR CREDIT UNION

BEST PEDIATRIC DENTIST

BEST NEW CAR DEALER BEST USED CAR DEALER BEST CPA BEST LANDSCAPER BEST CONTRACTOR/HOMEBUILDER BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER BEST HARDWARE STORE BEST PEST CONTROL BEST PET STORE BEST ANTIQUE STORE

30 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL COOLEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER COOLEST MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER COOLEST HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER

CITY LIFE BEST MOBILIAN EVER BEST MOBILIAN RIGHT NOW QUINTESSENTIAL MOBILIAN MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELOR MOST ELIGIBLE BACHELORETTE COOLEST NEIGHBORHOOD –MOBILE COOLEST NEIGHBORHOOD – ESHO BEST ANNUAL EVENT BEST ANNUAL FUNDRAISING EVENT BEST PLACE TO HOLD A RECEPTION/ SPECIAL EVENT

BEST HOTEL BEST HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND BEST MARDI GRAS PARADING SOCIETY BEST MARDI GRAS MARCHING SOCIETY BEST MARDI GRAS BALL BEST GOLF COURSE MOBILE’S BUMPIEST STREET COOLEST CHURCH OR HOUSE OF WORSHIP BEST CLERGYMAN/PASTOR/ SPIRITUAL LEADER BEST PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWNERS (ATTRACTION) BEST PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWNERS (RESTAURANT) BEST COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY BEST JUNIOR COLLEGE/TRADE/ TECHNICAL SCHOOL COOLEST APARTMENT COMPLEX –MOBILE COOLEST APARTMENT COMPLEX –ESHO BEST MOVIE THEATER BEST LOCAL COMPANY TO WORK FOR BEST BEACH RESORT/CONDO

MUSIC BEST LOCAL BAND BEST NEW LOCAL BAND BEST COUNTRY BAND/PERFORMER BEST METAL/UNDERGROUND BAND BEST BLUES BAND/ARTIST BEST CLUB TO SEE LIVE MUSIC BEST OUTDOOR BAR TO SEE LIVE MUSIC BEST VENUE TO SEE LIVE MUSIC (NON-BAR) BEST SOLO MUSICIAN BEST JAZZ MUSICIAN BEST HIP HOP ARTIST BEST MUSIC/RECORD STORE BEST LOCAL RECORDING STUDIO BEST GUITAR PLAYER BEST AREA SINGER/VOICE BEST AREA DRUMMER BEST AREA BASSIST BEST PIANO PLAYER/KEYBOARDIST

BEST DRAG QUEEN PERFORMER

BEST CHAIN RESTAURANT

BEST DJ (MIXIN’, MASHIN’UP KIND)

BEST EASTERN SHORE RESTAURANT

BEST AREA MUSIC FESTIVAL

BEST BEACH RESTAURANT

ARTS

BEST CHEF

BEST LOCAL PAINTER

BEST ATMOSPHERE

BEST LOCAL SCULPTOR

MOST INNOVATIVE MENU

BEST LOCAL GRAPHIC DESIGN ARTIST

BEST OUTDOOR DINING

BEST MIXED MEDIA ARTIST

BEST SWEET TEA

BEST ART GALLERY

BEST BISCUITS

BEST MUSEUM

BEST APPETIZER

BEST THEATRE GROUP

BEST ENTRÉE IN MOBILE

BEST PLAY OR PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

BEST HOME COOKIN’/SOUL FOOD BEST FARM TO TABLE RESTAURANT

BEST LOCAL ACTOR

BEST SERVER (SERVER NAME AND RESTAURANT)

BEST ARTS EVENT

EATS & DRINKS BEST OVERALL RESTAURANT BEST LOCALLY OWNED RESTAURANT BEST NEW RESTAURANT - FINE DINING

BEST SERVICE OVERALL (RESTAURANT) BEST DESSERT BEST RESTAURANT WINE LIST BEST WINGS BEST CHICKEN FINGERS

BEST NEW RESTAURANT - CASUAL

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 31

BEST ICE CREAM/YOGURT/GELATO

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT

BEST LUNCH SPOT

BEST PIZZA

BEST EASTERN SHORE LUNCH SPOT

BEST COFFEEHOUSE

BEST WINE/GOURMET SHOP

BEST EASTERN SHORE COFFEEHOUSE

BEST BEER SELECTION – RETAIL

BEST LOCAL GROCERY STORE

BEST ANNUAL FOOD EVENT OR COOK-OFF

BEST GROCERY CHAIN

BEST FOOD TRUCK

BEST GOURMET GROCERY

BEST GUMBO

BEST PLACE TO GET LOCAL PRODUCE/ FOODS- MOBILE

BEST PO BOY BEST SUSHI

BEST PLACE TO GET LOCAL PRODUCE/ FOODS – BALDWIN

BEST BAKERY

BEST BARBECUE RESTAURANT

BEST WEDDING CAKES

BEST BARBECUE SAUCE

BEST CATERER

BEST RIBS

BEST BURGER

BEST RAW OYSTERS

BEST STEAK

BEST TAKE AND BAKE

BEST SEAFOOD

BEST CUPCAKE

BEST BRUNCH

BEST SEAFOOD MARKET

BEST ETHNIC RESTAURANT

BEST DRUNK FOOD

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT

BEST HANGOVER FOOD

32 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

MEDIA FAVORITE RADIO STATION FM FAVORITE RADIO STATION AM BEST LOCAL DJ BEST DJ TEAM BEST MORNING SHOW/DJ DJ WHOSE VOICE LEADS YOU TO BELIEVE YOU MAY WANT TO SEE HIM NAKED DJ WHOSE VOICE LEADS YOU TO BELIEVE YOU MAY WANT TO SEE HER NAKED BEST TALK RADIO HOST/SHOW BEST SPORTS RADIO HOST/SHOW BEST LOCAL EVENING TV NEWSCAST BEST LOCAL MORNING TV NEWSCAST BEST ANCHOR BEST METEOROLOGIST BEST TV INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER BEST SPORTS COVERAGE BEST WEEKEND TV NEWS TEAM HOTTEST LOCAL TV NEWSMAN

HOTTEST LOCAL TV NEWSWOMAN FAVORITE LAGNIAPPE WRITER FAVORITE LAGNIAPPE COVER STORY FAVORITE LAGNIAPPE COVER IMAGE FAVORITE AL.COM CONTENT CREATOR FAVORITE GLOSSY MAGAZINE FAVORITE LOCAL WEBSITE OR BLOG BEST LOCAL TV AD

POLITICOS HARDEST WORKING OFFICIAL - CITY OF MOBILE (ELECTED OR APPOINTED) HARDEST WORKING ELECTED OFFICIAL - MOBILE COUNTY HARDEST WORKING ELECTED OFFICIALEASTERN SHORE HARDEST WORKING ELECTED OFFICIAL - BALDWIN COUNTY HARDEST WORKING LOCAL STATE LEGISLATOR WHO WILL BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA?

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 33

ART ARTIFICE

Million-dollar sound takes MSO spotlight

BY KEVIN LEE/ARTS EDITOR/KLEE@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM

W

ant to hear what a million dollars sounds like? Make sure you’re at the Saenger Theatre (6 S. Joachim St.) on May 13 and 14.

That’s when guest cellist Inbal Segev interprets Antonin Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in B Minor on an instrument with a seven-figure price tag. Built in 1673 by Stradivarius contemporary Francesco Ruggieri, the cello was a fortunate and remarkable find.

“When the United States was born, it was already 100 years old. Those instruments are priceless. It’s like asking how much the Mona Lisa costs,” Segev said.

Eight years ago, the New York-based musician prowled international markets for a new cello. She heard about this museum-quality piece in Chicago.

“It was way out of our price range. It turns out the person who was selling it happened to be at the shop then and

Fairhope playhouse forges new territory

Photo/Dario Acosta

so we made a special deal with him directly. It was very lucky the timing worked out that way,” Segev said.

Segev is worthy of it. She brings a lauded background to her initial Mobile appearance.

The Israeli native took to the cello at age 5. Two years later her extraordinary talent earned her a scholarship to Jerusalem’s Rubin Academy. At 16, Isaac Stern secured her placement in New York City to accelerate her education.

A year later Segev made her orchestral debut with the Israel Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic directed

by Zubin Mehta. The ensuing time was a whirlwind of study and performance: a Carnegie Hall debut, a bachelor’s from Juilliard, a master’s from Yale and independent study under Beaux Arts Trio-founder Bernard Greenhouse.

She won top prizes at the Pablo Casals, Paulo and Washington international competitions.

34 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

p.m., Sunday matinee is 2:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $18, $12 for students. Call 251-928-4366 for reservations. For more information, go to theatre98.org.

Family-friendly classic onstage in Chickasaw

When Professor Henry Hill, a con man posing as a music teacher — hits sleepy River City, Iowa, he sees the hamlet as a wooly flock awaiting his shears. Right on cue, romance and decency arise to crimp his plans.

When “The Music Man” playwright Meredith Wilson premiered his 1957 musical paean to small-town values, it became a Broadway smash before hopping “the pond” in 1961 to do the same in London’s West End. A 1962 big-screen version earned accolades for Robert Preston and Shirley Jones as its central couple.

Chickasaw Civic Theatre (801 Iroquois St.) closes its 53rd season when this classic runs May 5-21.

Friday and Saturday curtain is 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees are 2 p.m.

Tickets cost $15.75, $12.45 for students/military/seniors. For more information, call 251-458-8887, email theatre@cctshows. com or go to cctshows.com.

Troupe takes it off in nod to Fisher

Camellia Bay Burlesque continues their series of homages to departed celebrities when they stage their first-ever “nerd-lesque” nod to Carrie Fisher with “Star Wars: The Tease Awakens.”

The review is backed by local comic con MobiCon (which gets underway on Memorial Day weekend) and the Gift Spot.

The show at The Merry Widow (51 S. Conception St.) gets underway May 12 at 10 p.m. Special guests are New Orleans’ Xena Zeit-Geist and Tampa’s Vita Devoid.

Tickets cost $12 in advance, $15 at the door. There will be a costume contest and prize raffle.

ARTSGALLERY

Alex, Fanny and Mary are as well traveled and accomplished as Victorian England allows. When they wield parasols and machetes to hack their way through a mysterious mid-Pacific land, it’s not just square miles they uncover.

Various artifacts — egg beaters, campaign buttons, newspaper clippings — make apparent they are “dancing through the wilderness of time.” A series of encounters with odd characters and their running dialogue reveal an inner journey underway to boot.

The comedic “On the Verge; or, The Geography of Yearning” by heralded screenwriter Eric Overmyer is rife with agile wordplay. It’s also a surrealistic tromp across human expectation.

Cozy Theatre 98 (350 Morphy Ave., Fairhope) makes the most of a small room and cast. Heather Delker is Mary, Ashley Campbell plays Fanny, Meghan Morris is Alexandra and Michael Lee fills the eight remaining roles.

The play runs May 5-21. Friday and Saturday curtain is 8

In the two decades since, Segev has been a soloist with orchestras in Pittsburgh, Boulder, Bogota, Helsinki, Dortmund, Poland, Bangkok and other cities around the globe. She founded the Amerigo Trio with former New York Philharmonic concertmaster Glenn Dicterow and his wife.

Praise has poured forth in periodicals from New York, Washington, Helsinki, Arkansas, Jerusalem, New England and so on. The same goes for her 2016 album of Bach Cello Suites, a recording she called the “Mount Everest for cellists.”

“There’s certain things [on the album] I would redo,” Segev laughed.

“Maybe in a few years but not right now. Overall, it was an incredible experience and I’m happy with the product.”

A YouTube documentary of the album’s process reveals the anxiety, tears and exhaustion involved. It’s also evidence of her gifts.

Digital media has become Segev’s forte. Her masterclass video series on the popular channel bursts with performance and also her insights on technique and helpful tips on things like musical metaphor and yoga.

“It was my idea. I’ve received so much and been so lucky in my career and received so many great teachers and encouragement and support from so many people — friends, family, teachers — so I thought it would be nice to give something back,” Segev said.

Segev is providing her three children the same. Her 10-year-old fraternal twins practice with her, especially her son, who she said finishes his homework quickly to pick up the violin.

“We started my older daughter on violin when she was 3-and-a-half but I think it was too young for her. She doesn’t play anymore. But it’s OK, she sings and has many other talents. She’s strong in science,” Segev explained.

The upcoming Mobile Symphony Orchestra show also features Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” and Mason Bates’ “Mothership,” but the Dvorak has occupied Segev’s thoughts. She journeyed to Prague to visit the composer’s haunts and find the right frame of mind.

“I recorded my old lessons with [Greenhouse] and I studied this piece. I listened to the tape yesterday and he talks about how a certain passage sounds very Czech. Then, it didn’t make a lot of sense to me but it does now,” Segev said.

She pointed to a melody and harmony past 150 measures as evidence. The cellist sang a line of 16th notes and triplets.

“I think the harmony, there’s something Eastern there. It’s not rigid, very fluid. There’s something very ‘folk’ about it, that je ne sais quoi,” Segev said.

She’s excited about the Azalea City trip. The closest she’s been is a long-ago trip to New Orleans that left her with memories of fried frog legs, Jell-O shots and stiff hurricanes.

“I am looking forward to working with Scott [Speck] and the orchestra. My manager knows him personally and she says he’s a great guy,” Segev said.

Her priceless cello will enjoy the visit to the early summer Gulf Coast as well.

“The instrument seems to like the humidity,” Segev said.

In that case, the Rugierri should sing like it never has before.

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 35

MUSIC

FEATURE

Photo | avatarmetal.com

AVATAR SATURDAY, MAY 6, WITH DOORS AT 7 P.M. SOUL KITCHEN, 219 DAUPHIN ST., WWW.SOULKITCHENMOBILE.COM TICKETS: $15 ADVANCE/$18 DAY OF SHOW, AVAILABLE AT VENUE, ITS WEBSITE OR BY CALLING 1-866-777-8932

‘Feathers & Flesh’

from Land of the Midnight Sun

M

Sweden’s Avatar returns to Soul Kitchen Saturday, May 6.

BY STEPHEN CENTANNI/MUSIC EDITOR/SCENTANNI@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM

any heavy metal connoisseurs credit Scandinavia — the Land of the Midnight Sun — with having some of the world’s most interesting metal bands.

Sweden’s Avatar has gathered a worldwide following with a melodic metal style marked by its infectious rhythmic groove.

Avatar will be returning to the Azalea City in support of its latest effort, “Feathers & Flesh,” a concept album focusing on a dying owl as it reflects upon its past as a nocturnal predator. As the band prepared to take the stage in Atlanta last week, frontman Johannes Eckerström took a few minutes to give Lagniappe readers an inside look into Scandinavian metal and the fable that is “Feathers & Flesh.”

Stephen Centanni: When people think of metal from Scandinavia, many instantly think of black metal bands. But several bands, such as Avatar, are proving the metal scene in that part of the world is more elaborate than it seems. How would you describe it?

Johannes Eckerström: Well, I guess first and foremost, I would talk more about the Nordic phenomenon or Scandinavian, because I want to count Finland into that. Finland is not in Scandinavia, and I think that Denmark is not as proficient as Norway or Sweden. I don’t know how much of a scene it is.

You’ve got the Stockholm death metal scene and melodic death metal in Goteborg and how Norwegian farm boys moved to Oslo and all that.

Aside from that, the funny thing is that bands like Meshuggah come from a place that’s pretty much as far from Goteborg as Northern Italy. It’s kind of scattered like that. It’s a culture that encompasses whole countries. I don’t know if it would be right to describe it as a scene.

I think … [the first thing that comes to mind] is definitely the history of Norwegian black metal.

It’s one of those things that ends up on book covers, when people think of Scandinavian metal. It’s scattered all over the countries and spread all over the genres.

So many metal bands with multiple styles are Nordic, from stuff like H.I.M. to stuff like Sabaton. Then, you’ve got your Opeths and your Meshuggahs and your Entombs and In Flames and At the Gates and Dimmu Borgir. It just goes on and on.

But there’s so much diversity there. That’s one of the things that I think we do good. Most successful bands are ones that have worked really, really hard to figure out what they are about themselves and not just wanting to be like, “Well, we like Judas Priest. So, let’s call this song “Screaming for Schmengeance.”

Centanni: Speaking of work ethic, Sylvia Massy, who produced your new albums, describes you as “relentless.” I can’t argue with her, because it seems the band’s determination has allowed you guys to get bigger and bigger with each release.

What keeps Avatar motivated?

Eckerström: It’s a combination of things, but I think, first and foremost, is our passion for what we’re doing and not stopping before we have a

36 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

result that we like. That goes into everything. We have a photo shoot and throw away every single picture, because we realize that we didn’t get what we’re looking for. It goes into the music.

When you’re driven so strongly by specific goals, you just end up sucking at taking a break here and there. We’re starting to learn that it might be beneficial for the end result.

Recording with Sylvia, every evening at some point, she would say, “Now, I’m going home.

There will be no more recording.” We’re, “Come on! We’re so close.” She would say, “No, there’s a day tomorrow.” We would say, “How do you know that?”

It’s sometimes on that level. It’s just the way we are. It’s driven by passion and some strange, unhealthy anxiety. Just as much as you want to get things right, you’re terrified of getting things wrong. I think it comes natural when you’re pursuing a profession that came from when you were quite young. You already have this dedication for it, and as a teenager, it shaped your identity. You got to keep building something from that phase.

It carries over into adulthood and into good, ol’ workaholism.

Centanni: What made you want to dedicate the concept of this album to an owl?

Eckerström: Well, one of the first ideas that came with dedicating to write a fable is to twist and turn the perspectives and play around with archetypes of what a creature gets to represent in any given fable. Because they hunt at night and are a predator, either they’re a very bad omen connected to the devil, or she’s very wise like what they make fun of in “Winnie the Pooh.”

I wanted to twist and turn this idea that the owl could be a delusional and lost soul. Because of the fact that she is this nocturnal huntress and creature of the night, the creatures of the dark are the protagonists of the story, without putting extra value on the basic “Star Wars” formula of light being good and dark being bad. It’s just that we put a protagonist on the side of darkness.

Then, it’s unraveling during the course of the

story that it’s not that simple. It made more sense with the music and the framing of it to start on the dark side.

Centanni: Listening to the songs and reading your commentary on the songs, I get the impression there is a lot of symbolism going on. If you had to pin a moral of the story to this album, what would it be?

Eckerström: One main theme, in terms of a moral of the story as every fable should have, is the observation that with all the accumulated knowledge and experience we gather as individuals and species, we are still very much unwise.

We learn, but we don’t learn. That’s what happens to the owl. She faces different ideas and perspectives. She’s challenged. She seems to grow a bit, but by the end of the story, she hasn’t grown at all.

I feel like every time we talk about how history repeats itself in the worst possible ways, and the atrocities that happen, and how we treat each other tells me that we’re making slower progress than we could or should. That’s the central theme in terms of moral.

Centanni: Avatar is also a very visual band.

With this concept driving this tour and album, what is the stage show like on this tour? Does the concept bleed out on stage while you’re playing?

Eckerström: Actually, it has shaped the visuals, but our live performance, as it is now, encompasses everything Avatar. We play songs from the past three albums on this tour. The songs from “Feathers & Flesh” are integrated into the concept of Avatar as a band.

We knew it was going to be a concept album and something made to be listened to from start to finish, but still, it doesn’t stop the fact that we want to make kick-ass, headbanging, fist-in-the air, “isn’t this a sweet riff, man” heavy metal.

Therefore, we wrote strong standalone songs. For example, to describe this ambition, one of the greatest concert albums of all time is “The Wall” [Pink Floyd]. You don’t have to understand anything to enjoy “Comfortably Numb” as a song.

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 37

MUSIC BRIEFS

Clear waters

BY STEPHEN CENTANNI/MUSIC EDITOR/SCENTANNI@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM

Band: Dog River Mud Bottom Revival Date: Sunday, May 7, 3 p.m.

Venue: The Dog Pond, 2415 Venetia Road, www.dogriver.org Tickets: $25, available through Eventbrite Photo | Facebook | The Dog River Mud Bottom Festival

T

he Mobile Bay Area in the springtime is a glorious sight to behold. The good people at the nonprofit Dog River Clearwater Revival have a deep appreciation for this regional aspect, dedicating their efforts to “improving the water quality of the Dog River Watershed.”

Each year, the group holds the Dog River Mud Bottom Revival to both regenerate funds and raise awareness of the organization’s mission. With its locals-only lineup, this annual music fest has become a favorite with bands, music lovers and environmental enthusiasts alike.

This year’s festival will feature three local favorites. The Crowned Jewelz will bring their upbeat funk and soul to the mix. Slide Bayou is also scheduled to perform, a local supergroup featuring Harrison McInnis, Lee Yankie and Ryan Balthrop. Another conglomerate of local talent, Willie Sugarcapps, will headline the event, filling The Dog Pond with a musical recipe mixing beautiful harmonies with modern Americana.

Stapp stripped down

Scott Stapp: Live & Unplugged Thursday, May 11, at 6:30 p.m.

Midnight Rodeo, 7790 Tanner Williams Road, 251-639-2222 Tickets: $35 (VIP options available), available through Ticketfly

In 1997, Creed dominated mainstream rock with its debut album, “My Own Prison.” With hit singles including “What’s This Life For” and “One,” this Florida-based group gathered a legion of dedicated fans.

Creed vocalist Scott Stapp is now on his solo “Live & Unplugged Tour,” which includes a selection of raw acoustic versions of the album’s tracks along with the stories behind the songs.

“It’s exciting to think about it,” Stapp said. “It’s been 20 years since Creed’s debut album ‘My Own Prison.’ I’m just excited to celebrate that and dive into the memories of how some of the songs on that album were created and taking the fans on a journey with me.”

In addition to Creed’s material, Stapp will entertain the crowd with solo originals as well as songs from Art of Anarchy, a collaborative project with a lineup including Stapp, bassist John Moyer (Disturbed) and guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Lita Ford, Guns N’ Roses). The tour also features an intimate, tiered VIP experience that is a must for Creed fans.

For Stapp, these VIP experience are a special part of each show. “To hear the fans share their stories with me and my stories with them, it brings us that much closer together through the music,” he said. “It’s definitely one of the highlights of my day on my tour.”

18 years of the blues

Band: Blues Tavern’s 18th anniversary blowout Date: Saturday, May 6, noon Venue: Blues Tavern, 2818 Government Blvd., www.bluestavern.com Tickets: Free

For 18 years, Blues Tavern has stood as the Azalea City’s bastion of the blues. Whether touring bands or locals, this venue has brought a number of great blues acts to its stage. This anniversary celebration will epitomize the venue’s musical philosophy.

The day’s lineup will include sets from locals such as John Hall Trio, Mudbucket, The Halfway Show Band and Little Delta.

Birmingham’s Alabama Rose will be one of two visiting bands, adding a healthy dose of garage rock, blues and soul to the mix. Its live show promises to represent the raw, electrifying rock ‘n’ roll they’ve become known for. Ultimately, Alabama Rose is a worthy reaction to the industry-standard rock sounds plaguing the airwaves.

Royal & Toulouse will also be traveling from Birmingham to contribute to the soundtrack of this epic party. This group specializes in Southern fried blues with a dash of soul. Milyn Satterfield’s vocal work flows smoothly through the band’s arrangements. Royal & Toulouse should definitely keep the blues alive and relevant for new-schoolers.

38 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 39

AREAMUSIC LISTINGS | May 4 - May 10

THUR. MAY 4

Bluegill— Al & Cathy Blues Tavern— John Fleming Trio Callaghan’s— Phil Proctor Cockeyed Charlie’s— JJ Felix’s— Grits N Pieces Flora Bama— Kyle Wilson, 2p// Davis Nix, 5p/// Dueling Pianos, 5:30p//// Mark Sherrill, James Daniel, Chris Newbury, 6p//// Brian Hill Band, 10p//// Mario Mena Band, 10:15p Lulu’s— Lefty Collins, 5p Manci’s— Stephen Sylvester McSharry’s— The Jimmy Lumpkin Duo, 7:30p The Merry Widow— Twin Peaks, Chrome Pony, Post Animal, 9p Old 27 Grill— Songwriter’s Night, 6:30p Wind Creek Casino— Platinum Café, 8p

FRI. MAY 5

All Sports Bar & Billiards— DJ Markie Mark, 10p Beau Rivage— Kool and the Gang, 8p Big Beach Brewing— This Side of 49, 6:30p Bluegill— Les Hall, 12p// Soulshine Duo, 6p Blues Tavern— Soul River Levve Callaghan’s— The Artisanals Cockeyed Charlie’s— Shifting Tracks, 10p Felix’s— Rebecca Berry Duo Flora Bama— Logan Spicer, 1p// Jay Hawkins Dup, 2p/// David Dunn, 4p//// Big Muddy, 5:30p//// Alabama Lighting, 6p//// Ja’Rhythm, 6p//// Mel Knapp, 6p//// Dave McCormick, 9p//// Foxy Iguanas, 10p//// Davis Nix Duo, 10:15p//// Mario Mena Band, 10:30p Hard Rock (Center Bar) — Three 37 Band, 9:30p IP Casino— The Temptations and the Four Tops, 8p Listening Room— Griffin House, 8p Lulu’s— Grits-N-Pieces, 5p Main Street Cigar Lounge— Jamie Adamson, 8p Manci’s— Ross Newell McSharry’s— DJ Chi, 10p Moe’s BBQ (Daphne) — Yeah Probably, 8p Moe’s BBQ (Foley) — Hannah Wallace, 6p Moe’s BBQ (Mobile) — Glass Joe

40 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

Old 27 Grill— Jimmy Lee Hannaford, 6:30p Pirates Cove— Kelly Poole and the Swingsets, 7p Saenger— The Black Jacket Symphony: Fleetwood Mac Soul Kitchen— The Shannon Pierce Band, Sunny Vaiden, Nanafalia, 8:30p Traders— The Lucky Doggs Wind Creek Casino— Platinum Café, 9p

SAT. MAY 6

Big Beach Brewing— Pale Moon Rising, 6:30p// The Defrosters, 6:30p Bluegill— Jamie Anderson, 12p// Fat Lincoln Duo, 6p Blues Tavern— Royal and Toulouse, 9p Callaghan’s— The Kernel Cockeyed Charlie’s— DJ Chill, 10p Felix’s— Delta Reign Flora Bama— Jay Hawkins Trio, 1p// Logan Spicer and Tony Ray Thompson, 1p/// JoJo Pres, 2p//// Lea Anne Creswell Duo, 2p//// Tim Kinsey, 4p//// Al and Keith, 5p//// The Harrison McInnis Trio, 5:30p//// Jezebel’s Chilln’, 6p//// Palmetto Drive, 6p//// Yeah Probably, 10p//// Brian Hill Trio, 10:15p//// Lee Yankie and the Hellz Yeah, 10:130p Hard Rock (Center Bar) — Three 37 Band, 9:30p Listening Room— Four Satin Dogs w/Laurie Anne Armour Lulu’s— Lee Yankie, 5p Manci’s— Lauren Murphy and John Keuler McSharry’s— DJ Carter, 10p Moe’s BBQ (Daphne) — Adam Holt Duo, 5p Moe’s BBQ (Foley) — The Poarch Ninjas, 6p Moe’s BBQ (Mobile) — Left Collins Old 27 Grill— Chad Austin Parker, 6p Pirates Cove— Moonshine Babies, 11a// Johnny Barbato, 3:30p/// Big Muddy, 7p Saenger— Black Violin Soul Kitchen— Avatar, 8p Top of the Bay— Concave Traders— Al and Cathy The Wharf— Sturgill Simpson Wind Creek Casino— Platinum Café, 9p

SUN. MAY 7

Alchemy— Last Call Rodeo, 3p

Bluegill— Les Hall, 12p// The Springs, 6p Blues Tavern— John Hill Trio Callaghan’s— Bunch Felix’s— Bobby Butchka Flora Bama— Smoky Otis Trio, 12p// Songs of Rusty, 1:30p/// Al and Cathy, 2p//// Brandon White, 2p//// Dallas Moore, 5p//// Lucky Doggs, 5p//// Perdido Brothers, 6p//// Whyte Capps, 10p//// Logan Spicer and Tony Ray Thompson, 10:15p Live Bait— Cadillac Attack, 5p McSharry’s— Trad Irish Music Session, 6:30p Old 27 Grill— Barry Gibson, 11:30a Pirates Cove— Adam Holt, 11a

MON. MAY 8

Felix’s— Bryant Gilley Flora Bama— Founders and Friends, 2p// Cathy Pace, 6p/// Al and Cathy, 8p//// Petty and Pace, 10:15p Lulu’s— Brent Burns, 5p Old 27 Grill— Marty McIntosh, 6p

TUE. MAY 9

Bluegill— Dale Drinkard Butch Cassidy’s— Chris Powell Callaghan’s— Jack Pearson Cockeyed Charlie’s— Jordan Bramblett Fairhope Brewing— Green Drinks Felix’s— Lefty Collins Flora Bama— T. Bone Montgomery, 2p// Perdido Brothers, 6p/// Zachery Diedrich Duo, 8p//// Alabama Lighting, 10:15p Listening Room— Monica Rizzio w/ Stephen Sylvester Lulu’s— Jimmy Lumpkin, 5p Moe’s BBQ (Mobile) — Ryan Balthrop, 6p

WED. MAY 10

Bluegill— Brandon White Callaghan’s— Phil and Foster Felix’s— Bust Duo Flora Bama— Neil Dover, 2p// Logan Spicer, 5:30p/// Rhonda Hart and Johnathan Newton, 6p//// Mario Mena Band, 10p//// 100 Dollar Car, 10:15p Listening Room— JW Teller w/Peyton Rodeffer Lulu’s— Webb Dalton, 5p

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 41

‘The Edge of Seventeen’ FILMTHE REEL WORLD transcends demographics

T

BY ASIA FREY/FILM CRITIC/AFREY@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM

“

AREA THEATERS AMC MOBILE 16 785 Schillinger Rd. S. (251) 639-7373 CRESCENT THEATER 208 Dauphin Street (251) 438-2005 HOLLYWOOD STADIUM 18 1250 Satchel Paige Dr. (251) 473-9655

he Edge of Seventeen” is a teenage movie in the same way “Juno” was a teenage movie: Its stars may be under 20, but its story is for anyone, and there are solid adult characters as well.

Hailee Steinfeld shines as Nadine, a teenager unhappy for all the usual reasons, as well as some genuine problems. Woody Harrelson is her grumpy but kind teacher.

Both are genuinely unlikable at times, and that’s what makes the film work.

As it opens, we learn Nadine has always resented her older brother, Darian, for his good looks and general likability.

While Darian is their mother’s favorite, Nadine often needs their father to smooth things over for her. Since childhood Nadine and her mother (Kyra Sedgwick) have butted heads, and her big-hearted father has to intervene.

When Nadine’s biggest champion dies suddenly, it’s a catastrophe for the entire family but hits Nadine the hardest — at least that’s how her father’s death feels to her. Scenes throughout the film when this event is discussed are well-written and skillfully show the difference in perception within the family.

Mom and Darian lean on each other, while Nadine is further alienated. She feels

the only person who loves and understands her is her lifelong best friend, Krista.

When Krista and Darian start dating, Nadine does not take it well, to say the least.

Steinfeld makes Nadine just frustrating enough, and while she does not reach the quirky intellectual level of the aforementioned “Juno,” she is a delightfully smart kid who is fun to watch. The dialogue is natural and real. In particular, the tentative romance between Nadine and classmate Erwin Kim, a nice-looking nerd with more going for him than meets the eye, is nuanced and realistically paced. As Erwin, Chinese-Canadian actor Hayden Szeto is a wonderfully unusual heartthrob, a multifaceted “nerd” who completely sold his performance and steals the show. It’s a breakout role.

The depiction of Nadine’s approach to sex is also nicely handled. She talks about it and even offers it, but she is not prepared to engage in it. She nervously, desperately offers sex, then quickly retracts what she claims was a joke.

Again, perspective is key; the two boys she’s involved with handle her propositions very differently because one actually likes her and one does not. Admittedly they were simply taking her at her word, however poorly planned her offer might

have been. There are no black and white villains, although our sympathy, or at least mine, rests firmly with Nadine.

This film feels real, but not to such a horrifying degree that it deserves the term “gritty,” like “Thirteen” or even the recent phenomenon “13 Reasons Why.” (I just realized how many teen-themed entertainments have numbers in the title. Try harder, namers of young adult films.) It is realistic enough to make you remember your own teen years, no matter how near or far away they may be, and above all the film is hilarious.

The balance between teen problems and adult problems is perfect, and keeps the film appealing for humans of all ages.

There are “clean your room” type issues, but also genuine heartache over the death of the father. Writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig gives her actors room to show their side of the story. Her writing, and the performances delivered, are spot-on.

“The Edge of Seventeen” is a truly memorable entry into a very full genre. It rings true while avoiding the many clichés of the after-school special, the teen comedy gross-out or any other unappealing cookiecutter depiction of a complex time of life.

“The Edge of Seventeen” is currently available to rent.

AMC JUBILEE SQUARE 12 6898 U.S. 90 Daphne, (251) 626- 6266 CARMIKE CINEMAS 23151 Wharf Ln. Orange Beach (251) 981-4444 COBB THEATRES PINNACLE 14 3780 Gulf Shores Pkwy Gulf Shores (251) 968-7444 EASTERN SHORE PREMIERE CINEMA 14 30500 Alabama 181 #500 Spanish Fort, Al (251) 626-0352 Information accurate at press time; please call theaters for showtimes.

42 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

Photos | Murray Close / Marvel

FROM LEFT: High school life gets even more unbearable for Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld) when her best friend, Krista, starts dating her older brother. She seeks advice from her teacher, Mr. Bruner (Woody Harrelson).

Chris Pratt returns as Peter Quill in “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.”

NEW IN THEATERS GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, VOL. 2

The lovable space misfits and their crowd-pleasing soundtrack return, to most likely beat us over the head with the elements that worked in the first film. All listed multiplex theaters.

FREE FIRE

Justine brokers a meeting in a deserted warehouse between two Irish-

men and a gang. But when shots are fired during the handover, pandemonium ensues, with everyone at the scene suddenly thrust into a heart-stopping game of survival. AMC Mobile 16

BAAHUBALI 2: THE CONCLUSION

The second part and conclusion of the most expensive Indian motion picture made to date. AMC Mobile 16, Regal Mobile Stadium 18

NOW PLAYING THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE AMC Mobile 16, AMC Jubilee Square 12, AMC Classic Wharf THE LOST CITY OF Z AMC Jubilee Square 12, AMC Classic Wharf COLOSSAL Crescent Theater THE CIRCLE All listed multiplex theaters.

THE GHOST IN THE SHELL AMC Classic Wharf PHOENIX FORGOTTEN Regal Mobile Stadium 18., AMC Mobile 16, AMC Jubilee Square 12 GIFTED AMC Jubilee Square 12, AMC Mobile 16, Regal Mobile Stadium 18 UNFORGETTABLE All listed multiplex theaters.

BORN IN CHINA All listed multiplex theaters.

THE PROMISE AMC Jubilee Square 12, AMC Mobile 16 LOGAN AMC Classic Wharf FATE OF THE FURIOUS All listed multiplex theaters.

THE CASE FOR CHRIST AMC Classic Wharf SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE All listed multiplex theaters.

GOING IN STYLE All listed multiplex theaters.

THE BOSS BABY All listed multiplex theaters.

POWER RANGERS All listed multiplex theaters.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST All listed multiplex theaters.

KONG: SKULL ISLAND All listed multiplex theaters.

GET OUT Regal Mobile Stadium 18, AMC Mobile 16, AMC Classic Wharf

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 43

CALENDAR OF EVENTS MAY 4, 2017 - MAY 10, 2017

“BYE BYE BIRDIE” THE TONY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL “BYE BYE BIRDIE” WILL BE PRESENTED AT MOBILE’S PLAYHOUSE-IN-THE-PARK THROUGH MAY 14. VISIT PLAYHOUSEINTHEPARK. ORG OR CALL 251-602-0630.

Photo | Courtesy of Shane Rice Photography

GENERAL INTEREST Alabama Bicentennial Launch The official launch of the state’s Bicentennial Celebration includes a free concert and fireworks, admission to some of the city’s historic attractions and children’s activities on Friday, May 5, 6-10 p.m. at Cooper Riverside Park.

Pride Week In conjunction with Mobile Alabama’s Pride Fest on Saturday, May 6, Pride Week runs May 1-6. For a full list of Pride Week festivities, visit mobilealabamapride.com.

Coffee with a Cop Meet with the officers of the Downtown Precinct at Chick-fil-A in the RSA Trustmark Building from 8-9 a.m. on Thursday, May 4. Get updates and ask questions about policing issues and concerns in downtown.

Skin cancer screening Thursday, May 4, 4-6 p.m., Haley Dermatology (202 Rock Creek Parkway in Fairhope) is offering free skin cancer screenings. No appointment is needed.

Call 251-928-3844.

Hot Air Balloon Festival The Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival is Friday and Saturday, May 5-6, in Foley.

For a full schedule and tickets, visit gulfcoastballoonfestival.com.

Festival of Quilts Azalea City Quilt Guild presents a Quilt Show Friday and Saturday, May 5-6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Abba Shrine Center, 7701 Hitt Road. Visit azaleacityquiltersguild.com.

Family Picnic Day Join Swift-Coles Historic Home on Saturday, May 6, for Family Picnic Day. The fun begins at 10 a.m. with games, music and exhibits. Visit SwiftColesHistoricHome.com.

May Day Celebration There will be vendors, a petting zoo, historical displays, pageant, sweet shop, food, entertainment and much more at

Tanner Williams Park on Saturday, May 6, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 13001 Old Tanner Williams Road West in Wilmer.

Car and Motorcycle Show Our Savior Lutheran Church, 5101 Government Blvd., will hold its first annual Reformation Car & Motorcycle Show and Swap Meet on Saturday, May 6, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit oursavior-mobile.org.

Obscura Day Join Executive Director Daryn Glassbrook for a special Obscura Day Mobile Museum tour on Saturday, May 6. Advance tickets are required and available at atlasobscura.com/events/mobile-medicalmuseum-2017.

Rio Carnivale!

St. Mary Catholic School’s casino night starts at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 6. Tickets $25 for seniors, $30 for others, in advance; $35 at the door. Special dinner tickets ($100) admit two adults and include entry to win door prizes.

99 Bottles of Beer on the Lawn Hosted by Southern Napa, it’s the Eastern Shore’s only craft beer festival.

Saturday, May 6, 1-4 p.m., 2304 Main St., Daphne. Call 251-375-2800.

MCMA Reunion Mobile Country Music Association 31st annual reunion is Saturday, May 6, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. MCMA Concert Hall, 310 S. Craft Highway in Chickasaw. Call 251457-0762.

Providence Farmers Market Shop the Farmers Market every Wednesday now through July 12, 2-5 p.m., in Lot F at Providence Hospital. Call 251-631-3501.

Fairhope Farmers Market The city of Fairhope will host an outdoor farmer’s market Thursdays 3-6 p.m., through Nov. 2. The market will be behind the Fairhope Public Library, downtown on Bancroft Street. Call 251-929-1466.

NDE Meeting International Association of Near Death Studies (IANDS) meets second Wednesday of every month at the West Regional Branch of the Mobile Public Library on Grelot Road at 6 p.m.

Dauphin Island Boardwalk Talks Boardwalk Talks are held the first and third Wednesday of each month at 11:15 a.m. at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd. Call 251-861-2141.

Midtown Optimist Club Join Midtown Optimist Club every Wednesday at noon for lunch at Azalea City Golf Course. Call 251-348-3542.

Hooked Up to Help United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile’s 10th annual inshore fishing tournament is Saturday, May 6. Weigh-in will be at Ralph and Kacoo’s from 1-4 p.m. Visit ucpmobile.org.

Wiggle Waggle Rescue Run Wiggle Waggle Rescue Run to benefit Animal Rescue Foundation at Bellingrath Gardens and Home, 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 6. Visit bellingrath.com.

Local Goodness USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital invites you to Local Goodness, a farm-totable event and silent auction, on Sunday, May 7. The event is 4-7 p.m. at the USA Health Strada Patient Care Center, 1601 Center St. Visit usahealthsystem.com.

ARTS

Toastmasters Do you want to deliver a speech like a pro or gain leadership skills to advance your career? Toastmasters International meets regularly at six locations in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Visit www.toastmasters. org for more information.

A Tribute to Albert Murray Paul Devlin will discuss the life and writing of the Mobile native and 2015 inaugural Alabama Writers Hall of Fame inductee, Albert Murray. Thursday, May 4, 6:30 p.m. at Bernheim Hall at the Ben May Main Library, 701 Government St.

FUNDRAISERS

Night Market Mobile Museum of Art hosts Night Market on Thursday, May 4, 5-9 p.m. featuring wares by artists and artisans. Support your local artists and join the party and shopping fun with great food, drink and live music. MMoA is at 4850 Museum Drive.

Market on the Park Formerly Market on the Square, this weekly farmers market is held Saturdays through July 29, at Mardi Gras Park. 7:30 a.m. until noon. Sponsored by city of Mobile Special Events.

Cocktails with the Critters Join Dauphin Island Sea Lab for its 12th annual Cocktails with the Critters on Thursday, May 4, at 6 p.m. at The Bluegill, on the Causeway. Visit sealabfoundation. org.

West Mobile Farmer’s Market West Mobile Farmer’s Market, sponsored

by Christ United Methodist Church, is every Tuesday 3-6 p.m., on the west side of church property, 6101 Grelot Road, Mobile. Call 251-342-0462.

Ozanam’s Lucky Ducky The 6th annual Lucky Ducky fundraiser benefits Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy, which provides prescription assistance to those in need. Saturday, May 6, at 6 p.m. at Infiniti of Mobile, 1147 E. I-65 Service Road S. Call 251-432-4111, ext. 109.

44 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

Little Black Dress Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mobile will host its 8th annual premier fundraising event, Little Black Dress, on Thursday, May 4, at Fort Whiting Armory in Mobile. Visit www.rmhcmobile.org or call 251-694-6873.

“On the Verge …”

Theatre 98 in Fairhope presents “On the Verge; or, The Geography of Yearning” by Eric Overmyer, May 5-7, 12-14, 19-21; Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Visit theatre98.org.

“The Music Man” Chickasaw Civic Theatre presents “The Music Man.” The show opens May 5 and runs weekends through May 21.

Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Visit cctshows.com or call 251-457-8887.

“Bye Bye Birdie” The Tony award-winning musical “Bye Bye Birdie” will be presented at Mobile’s Playhouse-in-the-Park through May 14.

Visit playhouseinthepark.org or call 251602-0630.

Mobile Mystery Dinners A performance of “The Case of the Maple Tree Murder” will take place Friday, May 5, at 7 p.m. at Renaissance Riverview Plaza.

Tickets include dinner and unlimited wine.

Advance reservations are required; call 251-415-3092.

First Friday Art Walk The Eastern Shore Art Center returns with new art and music the first Friday of every month. Friday, May 5, at 6 p.m. at the Eastern Shore Art Center, 401 Oak St., Fairhope. For more information, contact Adrienne at 251-928-2228, ext. 103.

MUSEUMS Tea for Two Tuesday afternoons at 2 p.m. the Fairhope Museum of History hosts a tea with a lecture on Fairhope history. The May 9 speaker will be from the Eastern Shore Ukulele Club. Call 251-929-1471.

“Windows to the Sea” “Windows to the Sea” is a new permanent exhibit at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Estuarium. Visit disl.org.

“Shipwreck! Pirates and Treasure” A new, highly interactive exhibit at GulfQuest features more than 500 authentic artifacts recovered from deepocean shipwrecks. Visit www.gulfquest. org.

“Christenberry: In Alabama” On the occasion of Alabama’s Bicentennial Celebration, this exhibit honors artist William Christenberry’s exploration of themes related to his native state. Mobile Museum of Art, 4850 Museum Drive. Through June 4. Call 251208-5200.

“Faces of Africa” The History Museum of Mobile exhibit “Faces of Africa: A Mystical View of Tribal Heritage” runs through Monday, July 31.

Call 251-208-7420.

“Drugs: Costs and Consequences” The Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration team up to present a powerful interactive exhibit of the effects of drugs on individuals and society.

Through August. Visit exploreum.com.

Fairhope’s founding There is quite a story behind Fairhope’s founding in 1894. Learn more at the Fairhope Museum of History, 24 N. Section St. The museum is open daily (except Sunday and Monday) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 251-929-1471.

Little Discoveries “Outside the Box,” aimed at children

age 6 and under, explores how innovation and creativity can lead to a world of possibilities, starting with a simple cardboard box. Wednesdays at 10 a.m.

Call 251-208-6893 or email jholland@ exploreum.com.

Thursdays at MMoA Every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., the Mobile Museum of Art offers free admission to all visitors. No reservations are necessary. MMoA is at 4850 Museum Drive. Call 251-208-5200.

SPORTING EVENTS/ACTIVITIES Tunnel Vision 5K The Lions Club Tunnel Vision 5K is Saturday, May 6, at 8 a.m. Search eventbrite.com for race details and registration.

Color Dash 5K Benefitting the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce. Saturday, May 6 at 7 a.m., 112 W. Laurel Ave. in Foley. For more information and registration visit www. cd5k.com.

Barre3 in the Park Join Barre3 for a free 60-minute class in Mardi Gras Park on Saturday, May 6, at 10 a.m. Contact mobile@barre3.com.

Weekly 1K/5K Every Thursday evening at 6 p.m., join Red Bread Outfitters and Cortlandt’s Pub in the Spring Hill Village Shopping Center for a 1K or 5K run and walk. No cost to participate.

Bridge lessons The Mobile Bridge Center offers free bridge lessons each Tuesday at 6 p.m. at 1510 University Blvd. Arrive a few minutes early to register. Call the Bridge Center at 251-666-2147, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Fitness and athletics classes New fitness classes are in progress at Palmer Pillans Middle School. To register or for more information on classes offered, call 251-463-7980 or go to communityactivitiesprogram.com.

Dance and art classes New dance and art classes are in progress at Palmer Pillans Middle School.

To register or for more information on classes offered, Call 251-463-7980 or go to communityactivitiesprogram.com.

Ballroom dance Azalea Ballroom Dance Club hosts dances the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, 7-9:30 p.m. at Via Health, Fitness & Enrichment Center, 1717 Dauphin St. Call 251-623-9183 or visit azaleaballroomdanceclub.com.

Ballroom dance The Moonlight Chasse Ballroom Dance Society hosts dances the first and third Monday of every month, 7-9:30 p.m. at Hot Wheels Skating Rink in Daphne. Email cassief13@aol.com.

WORKSHOPS ACT tutoring Get to really know the ACT and learn tips, tricks and valuable test-taking skills.

Classes meet the four Saturdays leading up to the June 10 ACT test. Classes are held at Palmer Pillans Middle School. Visit communityactivitiesprogram.com M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 45

MEDIA MEDIA FRENZY

Stations swap frequencies

BY ROB HOLBERT/MANAGING EDITOR/RHOLBERT@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM

F

ans of WERM-AM and WABF-AM may have done a little head-scratching recently when the two Eternity Mediaowned stations swapped spots on the radio dial.

Gospel station WERM has held 1480 on the dial for years, while WABF was at 1220.

Station ownership decided recently to swap the stations’ places on the dial, giving a big boost in reach to one and scaling the other back.

WABF is now broadcast on a 5,000-watt frequency, while WERM moves to the 1,000watt position at 1220. The result obviously means more coverage for one station and less for the other.

“To better serve our listeners and faithful advertisers, we have moved to 1480 AM on the radio dial! This is expected to solve our reception issue in the problem spots and expand our coverage area to thousands more people!” the WABF website reads.

Vinny Duncan, an employee with Eternity Media Group, said the stations’ formats are not expected to change.

While WERM has served as a gospel station for decades, WABF features “Gulf Coast Swap Shop” as well as music and community news specific to Fairhope with Lori Dubose’s

morning show “Community Contact.”

WERM is expected to continue broadcasting religious programming and gospel music, according to Duncan.

GCN offers monthly summary

Residents along the Eastern Shore began receiving a new offering from the Gulf Coast Newspapers group last week.

The first issue of Eastern Shore Monthly arrived in local mailboxes late last week, a 12-page collection of news stories, with some from GCN’s other newspapers. The paper listed a publication date of April 26 and under the masthead bears the phrase “Every Home, Every Month.”

GCN publisher Parks Rogers says Eastern Shore Monthly is designed to introduce the company’s news product to new readers.

“It is a free in the mail monthly publication that carries some previously published news and some original news. It combines with our other publications to offer near blanket coverage of Spanish Fort and Daphne for advertisers. It also is designed as a sampler to encourage subscriptions to our bi-weekly newspapers. The May issue is the first issue,” Rogers said.

46 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLE A CENTURY OF SONG

BY OLIVIA MITRA FRAMKE / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ ACROSS 1 Italian relatives 7 Part of the earth 12 ____ Coast, scenic area near Capri 18 Brutish sort 19 “Dallas” actress ____ J. Wilson 20 Mermaids’ home in Neverland 21 1938 No. 1 hit for 68-/70-Across, which was inspired by a nursery rhyme 23 Listless feelings 24 Many August births 25 Popular pairing with steak au poivre 26 Charm 27 And the following: Abbr.

29 Longbow wood 30 Detached 32 One for the plus column 33 Congestion site 35 Wyatt of the Old West 37 Extremely loud, in music 39 Soft-drink brand 40 Love interest for Anastasia in “Anastasia” 42 ____ Reports 45 Suffix with sheep or hawk 48 Vintner’s cask 49 Old car named for an explorer 51 Elder Lannister son on “Game of Thrones” 53 Stone Age relics 56 Piñata smasher, maybe 57 “____ parvis magna” (“Greatness from small beginnings”: Lat.) 58 H.S. big shots 60 Talk endlessly to 61 Act like 63 Illustrator software maker 65 Kama ____ 67 For grades 1-12, briefly 68 & 70 Nickname for a celebrated performer born on April 25, 1917 71 Dreary 72 Dog whose tail curls over the back 74 Great Lakes natives 76 Sister of Helios and Selene 77 Polish coin 78 Promising action on a fishing line 79 Picks out of a lineup, informally 81 Letter-shaped fastener 83 Button on the bottom of a multipage form 85 Ring 87 Frank 89 Rapa ____ (locale of many monoliths) 90 Sports team V.I.P.s 91 Set piece?

93 Natural-history-museum sights

96 Turkish title 98 Road offense, for short 99 The hots 100 Bluish shades 103 Green who was a fourtime vocal coach on “The Voice” 105 Question asked while extending the hand, maybe 108 Reassuring touch 110 Fixture on a fishing dock 112 One state symbol of Massachusetts 114 Introduces slowly 117 Record label that looks like the name of a radio station 118 Lao-tzu follower 119 Notable quote by 68-/70-Across 121 Set oneself right, in a way 122 Five Pillars of Islam, e.g.

123 “Bonehead” and “numbskull,” e.g.

124 Solitudinarians 125 State representatives?

126 Ride and Field DOWN 1 Sacred choral works 2 Melodic passages 3 Accidentally hit “reply all” on, say 4 Jan. inits.

5 “Smart” one 6 Skewered Asian dish 7 Arctic food fish 8 Close again, as a purse 9 “Family Matters” ubernerd

10 Manage 11 Winter celebration abroad 12 Sheltered at sea 13 Japanese comic style 14 Mass recitation 15 Repeated collaborator with 68-/70-Across 16 Thwarted 17 Maps of Alaska and Hawaii, often 18 Big blow 19 Flight attendant 22 Red as ____ 26 Close buds 28 “Enough already!”

31 Be ____ use 34 Unlikely book-club recommendation 36 Edith Piaf’s “Non, Je Ne Regrette ____” 38 Name on a blimp 41 Gets some air 42 ____ Nast (magazine publisher) 43 Good name for an Irish carpenter?

44 Bubs 45 For laughs 46 Arctic young ’un 47 Signature tune of 68-/70-Across 50 One-named singer with the 2016 No. 1 hit “Cheap Thrills” 52 Slip in a book 54 Café additive 55 Trade jabs (with) 57 Flavors 59 Approve

62 Hollywood job title 64 Freedom Caucus, e.g.

66 Wrinkly fruit 69 Gossipmonger 73 Portion of a penny 75 Where Nice is en France 77 Tough draws in the game Bananagrams 80 No fun, as a party 82 Vegan staple 84 Van Gogh’s “Le Café de ____” 86 Beverage sponsor of the old “Little Orphan Annie” radio show 87 One in line?

88 Biblical quartet 92 Silence 94 East German secret police 95 Quantity of toys on Santa’s sleigh 96 Perfumer’s liquid 97 Summer piazza treat 99 Near ringer 101 Nowadays 102 Occurrences in the 30s, say 104 Skating champ Brian 106 Sore 107 Setting for a fine meal 109 Polynesian carvings 111 Bracket shapes 113 Takeoff figs.

115 Three-stripers: Abbr.

116 Singer with the 1984 hit “99 Luftballons” 119 Part of T.G.I.F.

ANSWERS ON PAGE 49

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 47

SPORTS UPON FURTHER REVIEW

NCAA volleyball finds sandy home at Gulf Shores

BY J. MARK BRYANT/SPORTS WRITER/SPORTS@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM/TWITTER @GOULAGUY

these eight teams for the championship weekend.

Five collegiate courts and five practice courts will be set up behind The Hangout on East Beach Boulevard for the double-elimination tournament. For the fans, there will be bleachers and courtside seating.

The games will air on truTV the initial two days 2-5 p.m. The championship round will be shown Sunday at 1 p.m. on TBS.

Tour de Bay returns

The third annual Tour de Bay bicycle event is also set for this weekend. The competition is hosted by Team Share the Road and the Mobile Sports Authority, is sponsored by Hargrove Engineering and is sanctioned by USA Cycling.

The Alabama State Criterium on Saturday will feature a course running through part of the entertainment district on Dauphin Street in downtown Mobile. A criterium — commonly known as “crits” — challenges riders to make as many laps of a course as they can manage in a period of time. A series of races, lasting between 25 and 55 minutes each and divided into various skill categories for men and women, will run between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. This will serve as the 2017 Alabama State Criterium Championship.

Sunday’s ride, which starts at 8 a.m., will begin and end in Bienville Square.

Riders have the choice of two distances: a 60-kilometer Fondo (37.28 miles) or a 22-mile Fun Ride. The after-party starts at 11 a.m. at The Back Lot food truck park behind Hilton Garden Inn. Online registration is open at www.usacycling.org/register/2017-44 for the Criterium and www.usacycling.org/register/2017-45 for the Tour de Bay. Entry fees are $30 for the Criterium, $30 for Sunday’s ride or $50 for both days. For more information, visit tourdebaymobile.com.

Sports briefs

• Gerald Everett has become the first University of South Alabama football player ever to be selected in the National Football League Draft. The Los Angeles Rams chose the native of Lithonia, Georgia, with the 12th pick of the second round — the 44th selection overall. He is among the top five in six different statistical categories in the program’s career record book.

Photo/NCAA “We are very excited about Gerald having the opportunity to play in the NFL. I know it is a dream come true for him,” USA head coach Joey Jones said.

The NCAA announced Gulf Shores will be the home of its beach volleyball tournament through 2022.

• Brenau defeated the University of Mobile 2-1 in a nine-inning thriller to win the Southern States Athletic Conference softball title. Both Brenau and Mobile receive automatic bids to the NAIA Softball National Championships.

Pitcher Sydney O’Connor and outfielder Emily Fleetwood made the all-tournahe collegiate beach volleyball community has Although Spring Hill College has a beach volleyball ment team for the Lady Rams, who are 38-17. found a home in Gulf Shores. team, the Sandy Badgers are in their final year of transition • The 10th annual Hooked Up To Help United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile’s InAfter hosting the “unofficial” college playoffs into the NCAA. This is the reason UAB is serving as host. shore Fishing Tournament is Saturday. The weigh-in event will be at Ralph and for several years, the inaugural National Collegiate The tentative dates for the upcoming tournaments are Kacoo’s restaurant 1-4 p.m. The entry fee is $30 for adults and $10 for anglers Athletic Association championships took place on the May 4-6, 2018; May 3-5, 2019; May 1-3, 2020; May 7-9, 12 and under. The categories include flounder, speckled trout, white trout and pristine Baldwin County sand in 2016.

2021; and May 6-8, 2022, at Gulf Shores Public Beach. redfish. There are powerboat and kayak divisions. Visit ucpmobile.org for more The top eight teams in the country will return to the “With a successful inaugural championship, we are information.

Gulf Shores Public Beach this weekend for the latest extremely excited to continue the championship in Gulf • The Board of Trustees of the Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust will conplayoffs. This will be a familiar scene in the future, as the Shores through 2022,” said Kristin Fasbender, director duct its quarterly meeting May 11 at the Spanish Fort Community Center, 7361 NCAA has announced it will continue to host the event in of championships and alliances for NCAA. “Gulf Sports Spanish Fort Blvd., at 10 a.m. Updates on Forever Wild program activities and Gulf Shores through 2022.

Travel magazine named the inaugural NCAA Beach Voltract assessments will be presented. Nominations of tracts of land for possible “The Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission leyball National Championship its ‘Best New Event’ for purchase may be made at alabamaforeverwild.com. and Tourism offices are thrilled to host the National Collethe 2016 Sports Travel Awards.”

• David Kirkman of Spring Hill College was recently named the Southern giate Beach Volleyball Championships alongside the city of Defending national champion Southern California has Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s golf player of the week. The senior Gulf Shores and the University of Alabama at Birmingham earned the top seed, followed by No. 2 UCLA and No. 3 ended his college career with a 1-under par 143 to finish tied for ninth at the for the next five years,” said Beth Gendler, vice president of Pepperdine. Florida State secured the fourth seed. At-large Argonaut Cup in Pensacola. He averaged 74 strokes per round and had two Top sales for Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism. selections Hawaii and Long Beach State earned the No. 5 5 and five Top 10 finishes.

“Last year when we hosted the inaugural tournament, and No. 6 spots, respectively, followed by No. 7 LSU and • University of South Alabama’s Devin Brown has been named Community our cities, visitors and local community truly rallied No. 8 South Carolina.

Coffee Pitcher of the Week. The honor is the third of the season for the Theoaround it. We look forward to continuing this relationship Totaling 55 NCAA sponsoring schools, beach volleydore native and 10th of her career. In her two outings against Louisiana-Monand helping to forge the path for beach volleyball across ball is the NCAA’s fastest-growing sport. With more than roe, Brown went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA. Brown leads USA with a 14-6 record, the nation.”

1,000 student athletes participating, the field is reduced to 160 strikeouts and nine shutouts in 137.1 innings of work.

T

48 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

STYLE HOROSCOPES SAGITTARIUS COMES OUT OF THE SANDWICH CLOSET TAURUS (4/20-5/20) — While leaving on a much-needed vacation, you’ll accidentally leave your oven set to “broil.” Fortunately, with a longstanding leadership gap filled, the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department will quickly contain the inevitable blaze.

GEMINI (5/21-6/21) — An extraordinarily avoidable catastrophe will strike as you attempt to rewire a lamp armed with only a YouTube tutorial. Though you’ll survive a fairly significant electrical shock, you’ll be unable to enter a swimming pool through 2018.

CANCER (6/22-7/22) — Hungover from an unusually eventful National Day of Prayer, you’ll settle in for a Friday afternoon nap. Forgetting it’s Cinco de Mayo, you’ll sleep through all the drink specials — free extra shots in your Starbucks iced coffee.

LEO (7/23-8/23) — Defending the honor of your Yorkie will get you in a dustup at the dog park. While running away from your adversary, you’ll twist your ankle and land face first on concrete.

VIRGO (8/24-9/22) — After gaining too much weight eating at fried fish dinners every Friday during Lent, you’ll decide to continue your sugar fast until the middle of June. Temptation is a feisty mistress, though.

LIBRA (9/23-10/22) — You’ll go across state lines to try the lottery. You’ll use a complex system that assigns numbers to the color of ties worn during presidential debates. Surprisingly, the strategy doesn’t pan out.

SCORPIO (10/23-11/21) — Recently bonded out of jail for your May Day riot, you get right back to protesting The Man. The Man in this case is Richard Simmons, who is obviously responsible for all the ills in the world following his public disappearance.

SAGITTARIUS (11/22-12/22) — You’ll celebrate diversity during Pride Week by experimenting with “the other side.”

Instead of eating lunch at Jimmy John’s, you’ll try Firehouse Subs instead.

CAPRICORN (12/23-1/19) — Eager to relive your glory days, you’ll attempt to enroll in the state’s first public charter school. You’ll be rejected, not for your age but because your transcripts from Lucky’s Online College of Maths & Stuff were unaccredited.

AQUARIUS (1/20-2/18) — You’ll be involuntarily committed to a mental health care facility after mistaking the Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival for the inevitable alien invasion. You’ll be released after a few days of monitoring, but still have the nagging feeling you were unconsciously probed.

PISCES (2/19-3/20) — You’ll be detained by security at Alabama’s Bicentennial celebration for repeatedly yelling “they’re taking our jobs” at Gov. Kay Ivey while wearing a mask depicting former Gov. Robert Bentley. The “Wanda’s Desk 2018” sign probably won’t help.

ARIES (3/21-4/19) — When your incredibly specific business is excluded from the categories of a local reader’s choice awards, you’ll boycott the event along with Mobile’s potential nominees for “best lefthanded delicatessen owner,” “most agile podiatrist” and “hottest go-kart salesman named Randy.”

ANSWERS FROM PAGE 46 M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 49

STYLE BOOZIE

The many rites of spring

BY BOOZIE BEER NUES/SOCIAL BUTTERFLY

Y

ou know you’re getting old when your weekends consist of baby showers and birthday parties.

Luckily the parents and parents-to-be realize they need to provide alcohol, and a lot of it, for their guests. I’ve gotta say, if these things didn’t have alcohol I probably wouldn’t go.

While I was out celebrating babies, the spies were busy gathering gossip to shower you in! You’re welcome, I know it’s the gift you really wanted.

F U T U R E S H O C K 50 | L AG N I A P P E | M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7

Flora-Bama 2017 Mullet Toss.

Photo | Facebook

weenie bikinis she stopped counting!

One she couldn’t get over, and says will be in her nightmares, was an old man wearing a G-string. She said it was so low in the front that his saggy package was barely covered. The back was equally saggy, but hey, at least he had a good tan, right?

The other guy she couldn’t get over was wearing a little bit, but not much, more. He rocked an American flag weenie bikini with a major shorts tan but complemented the flag bikini by shaving away his chest hair and leaving just “USA” and a flag.

More than mullets tossed Speaking of tan lines, I’ve gotta ask: What are some of The last full weekend in April has come and gone these girls thinking when they wear high-waisted swimagain. If you’re a seasoned Flora-Bama goer, you know suit bottoms with these crazy tops with a million straps? that means it was Mullet Toss this past weekend! ThirtyDo they not get crazy tan lines? Another question is, what three years later and mullets are still being tossed. If you is up with wearing jean shorts but leaving them unbutreally think about it, Mullet Toss has been around longer toned and unzipped? Maybe I’m behind on the fashion than a large majority of its tossers. How’s that for making trends or maybe some of those girls were wishing they you feel old? were at a music festival, like Fyre Fest? Who knows, and Anyways, we will dive right in. The weather wasn’t who really cares? exactly beautiful but you can still get toasted without the Enough about what people were and weren’t wearing sun at the Flora-Bama — and people did just that. The and more about what was going on. Yeah sure, mullets crowds started arriving Thursday, but that might have been were tossed, and I hear the winner tossed his mullet 154 because it was the first night and year for the Mr. Mullet feet! But I know y’all want to hear about the good, the bad Toss Hot Body Contest. The contest is exactly what you’re and the ugly. thinking: guys with abs. I guess the “dad bod” is out, My spy said it was hard to say whether there were more because the picture I received showed only six-packs. But or fewer people there this year; she said some in her group hey, no complaints here … except that Flora-Bama needs thought more, some thought less. She did say she felt there absentee ballots! were more tents, and people got creative with them. One The Mr. Mullet Toss might be new but once again they tent had a baby pool so they wouldn’t have to get in the had Miss Mullet Toss and I am not going to lie, it can get cra- Gulf to cool off! zy. Some girls really pull out all the stops to try to win; some She also mentioned the dance floor was hopping, some of those stops make you wonder what their day job is … people were just dancing while others grinded. Boozie’s While there are the people who enter Mr. and Miss spy knows how to pick them, she said her favorite was a Mullet Toss, there are also people that make you wonder guy dancing on his own with a handle of Malibu! what the heck they were thinking. My spy spotted so many It’s all fun and games until some guy throws up in the

sand. But no worries then either, as his friends just kick sand over it to cover it up. Umm, gross ... but party on!

Steal my kisses

This past Saturday night Ben Harper played at Soul Kitchen and my spy says the show was phenomenal, and he and his band brought down the house. She said her favorite song was “With My Own Two Hands.” Boozie’s favorite would have been “Steal my Kisses,” in case you were wondering.

Well, kids, that’s all I’ve got this week. Just remember, whether rain or shine, dramatic or scandalous or just some plain ol’ G-string lovin’, I will be there.

Ciao!

LAGNIAPPE LEGALS | 251.450-4466 | legals@lagniappemobile.com PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that the Mobile City Planning Commission proposes to consider adoption of the Future Land Use Plan, Future Land Use Map, Major Street Plan and Major Street Plan Map components of the Comprehensive Plan, Map for Mobile, Framework for Growth. The documents are available for viewing and comment on the Map for Mobile website, www. mapformobile.org. The documents may also be viewed at any of the following locations: All Mobile Public Library branches, All City recreation centers, Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, Mobile Minority Business Development Agency Business Center, Connie Hudson Mobile Regional Senior Community Center, Via Health, Fitness & Enrichment Center, South Alabama Regional Planning Commission, Clinton L. Johnson Economic Development Center, University of South Alabama Student Center, The Bishop State Community College’s Main Campus, Carver Campus, and Central Campus.

The adoption of the components of the Map for Mobile, Framework for Growth will be considered by the Mobile City Planning Commission at a Public Hearing on the 18th day of May, 2017. The Public Hearing will be held in the Auditorium of Government Plaza, located at 205 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.

Lagniappe HD May 4, 2017

STATE OF ALABAMA COUNTY OF MOBILE NOTICE OF COMPLETION In accordance with Chapter 1, Title 39, Code of Alabama, 1975, notice is hereby given that H&H Electric Co., Inc. has completed the contract for the City of Mobile pole replacement and installation at Westside Park PR-171-17 in Mobile, Alabama. All persons having any claim of labor, material, or otherwise in connection with this project should immediately notify the Architectural Engineering department, City of Mobile, P.O. Box 1827 Mobile, AL 36633.

Lagniappe HD May 4, 2017

FORECLOSURES FORECLOSURE NOTICE Default having been made by the herein referenced Grantees in the terms of that certain Vendor’s Lien Deed executed on April 3, 2015, by Chad O. Bahm and Tracy D. Harper, as Grantees to Iras Development Company, Inc., a Alabama corporation, as Grantor which said Vendor’s Lien Deed was recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate, Mobile County, Alabama, in Real Property Book LR7249, Page 1019, and said vendor’s lien having been last assigned to W. Austin Mulherin, which assignment was recorded in the office of the Judge of Probate Mobile County Alabama in Real Property Book LR7258, Page 734, and default continuing under said Vendor’s Lien Deed, by virtue of and pursuant to the power of sale contained in said Vendor’s Lien, the following described real property will be sold at public outcry, for cash, to the highest bidder, in front of the North entrance of the Courthouse of said County, located at 205 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama 36644, during the legal hours of sale, on June 8, 2017. Lot 59, as per plat of TIMBERLAND, Unit III as recorded in Map Book 92, Page 16, Probate Court of Mobile County, Alabama, including a 1994 (14x70) Redmon Mobile Home Serial No. 14714577 Said sale is made for the purpose of paying said Vendor’s Lien debt and costs of foreclosure. W. Austin Mulherin Holder of said Vendor’s Lien WILLIAM B. JACKSON, II STOKES & CLINTON, P.C. Attorneys for Lienholder Post Office Box 991801 Mobile, Alabama 36691 (251)460-2500 Lagniappe HD April 4, May 11, 18, 2017

FORECLOSURE NOTICE Default having been made by the herein referenced Grantee in the terms of that certain Corrected Vendor’s Lien Deed executed on March 29, 2004, by Robert N. Chambliss and Katherine A. Chambliss, as Grantees to Iras Development Company, Inc., a Alabama corporation, as Grantor which said Vendor’s Lien Deed was recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate, Mobile County, Alabama, in Real Property Book 5547, Page 1839 and as corrected in Real Property Book 5570, Page 0732, and said vendor’s lien having been last assigned to McAleer Properties II, L.P., which assignment was recorded in the office of the Judge of Probate Mobile County Alabama in Real Property Book LR7062, Page 267, and default continuing under said Vendor’s Lien Deed, by virtue of and pursuant to the power of sale contained in said Vendor’s Lien, the following described real property will be sold at public outcry,

for cash, to the highest bidder, in front of the North entrance of the Courthouse of said County, located at 205 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama 36644, during the legal hours of sale, on June 1, 2017. Lot 27, as per plat of TIMBERLAND, Unit II as recorded in Map Book 89, Page 60, Probate Court of Mobile County, Alabama; Said sale is made for the purpose of paying said Vendor’s Lien debt and costs of foreclosure. McAleer Properties II, L.P. Holder of said Vendor’s Lien WILLIAM B. JACKSON, II STOKES & CLINTON, P.C. Attorneys for Lienholder Post Office Box 991801 Mobile, Alabama 36691 251-460-2400 Lagniappe HD April 27, May 4, 11, 2017

FORECLOSURE NOTICE Default having been made by the herein referenced Grantee in the terms of that certain Vendor’s Lien Deed executed on July 2, 2012, by Aric L. Vertrees as Grantee to Iras Development Company, Inc. , as Grantor which said Vendor’s Lien Deed was recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate, Mobile County, Alabama, in Real Property Book 6911, Page 708; and last assigned to McAleer Properties II, L.P. in Real Property Book 7290, Page 130; and default continuing under said Vendor’s Lien Deed, by virtue of and pursuant to the power of sale contained in said Vendor’s Lien, the following described real property will be sold at public outcry, for cash, to the highest bidder, in front of the North entrance of the Courthouse of said County, located at 205 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama 36644, during the legal hours of sale, on June 1, 2017. Lot 100, as per plat of TIMBERLAND, UNIT IV as recorded in Map Book 98, Page 41, Probate Court of Mobile County, Alabama Said sale is made for the purpose of paying said Vendor’s Lien debt and costs of foreclosure. McAleer Properties II, L.P. Holder of said Vendor’s Lien WILLIAM B. JACKSON, II STOKES & CLINTON, P.C. Attorneys for Lienholder Post Office Box 991801 Mobile, Alabama 36691 (251) 460-2400 Lagniappe HD April 27, May 4, 11, 2017

PROBATE NOTICE OF ESTATE ADMINISTRATION PROBATE COURT OF MOBILE COUNTY, ALABAMA Estate of: THERESA WILLIAMS HARRISON, Deceased Case No. 2017-0241 Take notice that Letters Testamentary have been granted to the below named party on the 12th day of April, 2017 by the Honorable Don Davis, Judge of Probate of Mobile County Probate Court, Alabama and that all parties having claims against said estate should file the same with the Probate Court of said county within the time allowed by law, or they will be barred. PETER G. HARRISON JR as Executor under the last will and testament of THERESA WILLIAMS HARRISON, Deceased. Attorney of Record: PRO SE Lagniappe HD April 20, 27, May 4, 2017.

HELP WANTED LANDSCAPE & FOREMAN WORKERS NEEDED FOR FULL TIME POSITIONS IN MOBILE COUNTY. EXPERIENCE PREFERRED. PAY WILL DEPEND ON EXPERIENCE. CONTACT TURFMASTER LANDSCAPE 251-645-5811.

Lagniappe HD April 13, 20, 27, May 4, 2017

NOTICE OF SALE The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 02, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed - at 4763 Lott Rd., Eight Mile, AL 36613.

2001 Ford Taurus 1FAFP53U21G124092 2007 Pontiac G6 1G2ZH58NX74230634 1999 Dodge Dakota 1B7FL26X5XS252312 2009 Carolina Skiff EKHG52891809 Lagniappe HD April 27, May 4, 2017

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 02, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed at 608 Houston St., Mobile, AL 36605.

2003 Honda Accord 1HGCM72203A035338 Lagniappe HD April 27, May 4, 2017

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 02, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed - at 5713 Three Notch Rd., Mobile, AL 36619.

2007 Chevrolet Tahoe 1GNFC13J67R394158 Lagniappe HD April 27, May 4, 2017

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 02, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed at 1015 E I-65 Service Rd.S., Mobile, AL 36606.

2004 Nissan Maxima 1N4BA41E04C815767 Lagniappe HD April 27, May 4, 2017

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 02, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed - at 15591 Juniper Lane, Summerdale, AL 36580.

1997 BMW 528I WBADD632XVBW19963 Lagniappe HD April 27, May 4, 2017

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 02, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed - at 5471 A Hwy. 43, Satsuma, AL 36572.

2008 GMC Sierra 1GTEK19J18Z109916

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 09, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed - at 31 Timothy Ave., Prichard, AL 36610.

2010 Chevrolet Aveo KL1TG5DE1AB050754 2007 Mazda CX-7 JM3ER293670111982 2013 Hyundai Elantra 5NPDH4AE2DH307108 Lagniappe HD May 4, 11, 2017

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 09, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed at 1512 Garwood Ave., Mobile, AL 36618.

1989 Ford Bronco II 1FMCU12T7KUB77473 Lagniappe HD May 4, 11, 2017

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 09, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed at 2636 Mt. Brook Dr., Mobile, AL 36693.

2006 Dodge Charger 2B3KA43G66H255117 Lagniappe HD May 4, 11, 2017

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 09, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed - at 4763 Lott Rd., Eight Mile, AL 36613.

2011Dodge Charger 2B3CL3CG3BH543325 2012 Nissan Titan 1N6BA0EK9CN322334 1999 Pontiac Bonneville 1G2HX52K1XH209743 Lagniappe HD May 4, 11, 2017

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 09, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed at 478 Scott Dr., Saraland, AL 36571.

2004 Honda Accord 1HGCM56304A105588 Lagniappe HD May 4, 11, 2017

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 09, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed - at 121 Schillinger Rd. N., Mobile, AL 36608.

2008 Chevrolet Avalanche 3GNEC12078G217334 Lagniappe HD May 4, 11, 2017

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 09, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed at 7960 Two Mile Rd., Irvington, AL 36544.

1998 Chevrolet ‘S’Truck 1GCCS19XXW8249929 Lagniappe HD May 4, 11, 2017

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 09, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed at 18342 Couch Plant Rd., Summerdale, AL 36580.

2005 Dodge Magnum 2D4GZ48V95H537645 Lagniappe HD May 4, 11, 2017

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 09, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed at 567 Leamore Ct., Mobile, AL 36617.

1989 Chevrolet Caprice 1G1BN51E7KR148977 Lagniappe HD May 4, 11, 2017

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 09, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed at 6481 Moffett Rd., Mobile, AL 36618.

2002 Jaguar X-Type SAJEA51D82XC44771

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 02, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed - at 3916 St. Stephens Rd., Eight Mile, AL 36613.

2000 Dodge Intrepid 2B3HD46R7YH219194

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 09, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed at 25874 County Rd. 54 W., Daphne, AL 36526.

1995 Lincoln Town Car 1LNLM82W5SY761415

Lagniappe HD April 27, May 4, 2017

Lagniappe HD May 4, 11, 2017

Lagniappe HD April 27, May 4, 2017

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 02, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed - at 11820 Celeste Highland Dr. W., Saraland, AL 36571.

2002 Chevrolet Tahoe 1GNEK13Z42R247432 Lagniappe HD April 27, May 4, 2017

The following unclaimed vehicle(s) will be sold on June 09, 2017 - Time - 12pm, if not claimed at 353 Apt. A W Highland Ave., Mobile, AL 36610.

1998 GMC Sierra 1GTEC19W1WE558784

Deadline for legal advertising in Lagniappe HD is every Monday at 3 p.m.

Lagniappe HD is distributed each Thursday.

Lagniappe HD offices are located at 1100B Dauphin St. Mobile, AL 36604.

For more information or to place your ad call Jackie at 251-450-4466. Or email at legals@lagniappemobile.com

Lagniappe HD May 4, 11, 2017

Lagniappe HD May 4, 11, 2017

M a y 4 , 2 0 1 7 - M a y 1 0 , 2 0 1 7 | L AG N I A P P E | 51