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WEEKLY
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LAGNIAPPE
NOVEMBER 17, 2016 – NOVEMBER 23, 2016 | www.lagniappemobile.com ASHLEY TRICE Co-publisher/Editor atrice@lagniappemobile.com ROB HOLBERT Co-publisher/Managing Editor rholbert@lagniappemobile.com STEVE HALL Marketing/Sales Director shall@lagniappemobile.com GABRIEL TYNES Assistant Managing Editor gabe@lagniappemobile.com DALE LIESCH Reporter dale@lagniappemobile.com JASON JOHNSON Reporter jason@lagniappemobile.com
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BAY BRIEFS
Baldwin County Commissioner Tucker Dorsey’s RedText Foundation has close ties to engineers.
COMMENTARY
With a rare and coveted open Senate seat, who would a lovesick governor pick?
BUSINESS
Highlights from the Mobile Chamber of Commerce’s State of the Economy luncheon.
JANE NICHOLES Reporter jane@lagniappemobile.com
CUISINE
Zander’z at the Loop serves tasty food amid a bit of earlydays chaos.
KEVIN LEE Associate Editor/Arts Editor klee@lagniappemobile.com ANDY MACDONALD Cuisine Editor fatmansqueeze@comcast.net
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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
COVER
Alabama’s support for Donald Trump could pay dividends during his presidency.
LAURA RASMUSSEN Art Director www.laurarasmussen.com
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BROOKE O’DONNELL Advertising Sales Executive brooke@lagniappemobile.com BETH WILLIAMS Advertising Sales Executive bwilliams@lagniappemobile.com ASHLEY KILLIAN Advertising Sales Executive akillian@lagniappemobile.com MELISSA EDGE Editorial Assistant events@lagniappemobile.com ROSS PRITCHARD Distribution Manager delivery@lagniappemobile.com
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ARTS
The History Museum of Mobile exhibit “Filming the Camps” is replete with warning.
MUSIC
Mobile native Jake Peavy, a pitcher for the MLB’s San Francisco Giants, is giving back to his community.
JACKIE CRUTHIRDS Office Manager jackie@lagniappemobile.com CONTRIBUTORS: Asia Frey • Brian Holbert Ron Sivak • Lee Hedgepeth Ken Robinson • Jeff Poor ON THE COVER: DONALD TRUMP BY DANIEL ANDERSON LAGNIAPPE HD Periodicals Permit #17660 (Volume 2, Issue 8) Copyright 2015 is published weekly, 52 issues a year, by Something Extra Publishing, Inc., 1100B Dauphin St. Mobile, AL 36604 (P.O. Box 3003 Mobile, AL 36652). Business and Editorial Offices: 1100B Dauphin St. Mobile, AL 36604 Accounting and Circulation Offices: 1100B Dauphin St. Mobile, AL 36604. Call 251-450-4466 to subscribe. 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: atrice@lagniappemobile.com LAGNIAPPE HD is printed at Walton Press. All rights reserved. Something Extra Publishing, Inc. Nothing may be reprinted. photocopied or in any way reproduced without the expressed permission of the publishers.
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26 30 34 38 42 FILM
No matter how the election left you feeling, our film critic has cinematic recommendations to fit your mood.
MEDIA
The Mobile City Council is delaying a cell tower decision in spite of a court order.
SPORTS
The South Carolina Gamecocks’ roster is filled with South Alabama talent.
STYLE
Boozie has a post-election hangover.
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GOING POSTAL SMH at GulfQuest
Rob: Your column “GulfQuest failure has many fathers” (Damn the Torpedoes, Nov. 10) understates and diminishes the mission and quality of the museum. The facility was not built as a mere “homage” to the shipping industry, in which many of its benefactors are involved, as you seem to indicate, but to highlight and explain the contributions of Mobile and its role in the maritime world, and then some. Offering far more than the history of the common boxcar to which the column alludes, you fail to recognize that shipyards in Mobile produced the world’s first fully containerized vessels in the late ‘50s, changing maritime history and impacting the global economy forever. By standardizing cargo handling and pairing it with truck and train delivery systems, containerization lowered the cost of loading and unloading cargo from $5.83 per ton to a sheer 15.8 cents per ton! The museum highlights Mobile’s pivotal role in that development, helps visitors understand why our quirky little colony of less than 200,000 is nonetheless the nation’s ninth largest seaport and gives us a dockside view of what transpires up and down our busy and historic waterfront on a daily basis, access which had never been so readily available before. Moreover, your column does not address the broader mission of the museum, which is to educate the visitor on the many ways in which the sea af-
fects the planet and its inhabitants, and how these affect the sea. The exhibits are well-planned assets that explain the maritime industry in general, containerization and maritime history in Mobile specifically, and this broader environmental concept as well, all interactively and engagingly. More than a place in which to merely peruse, the museum is also a classroom, and the Education Department remained constantly busy pairing classroom curriculum with hands-on experiments and experiences for younger visitors to capture their imaginations and enthusiasm for these topics and all things maritime. Your column, however, appears to agree with the mayor and attribute the statement to him that the museum is not fun. As a proud docent at the museum, I witnessed nothing short of fascination and even glee as visitors interacted with exhibits and personnel to learn about the many aspects of maritime culture. If you would take time to read the hundreds of testimonials from visitors posted to TripAdvisor, you would find the overwhelming majority complimentary and enthusiastic about the museum, with the bulk of complaints addressing only two components — cost and accessibility — NOT the content inside the museum or its presentation of it. I hope as the city moves forward with its plans for the facility we find a way to keep the best aspects of the museum without sacrificing its mis-
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sion, its uniqueness, its quality or its fun. Brian Doyle, PhD Mobile
LAST WEEK ONLINE
LOL at GulfQuest
Legendary Chicago announcer Phil Georgeff, who holds the world record for number of horse races called, died last week in Fairhope at the age of 85. By his own count, Georgeff called more than 96,000 races from 1959 until mid-December 1992.
Rob: That was so funny about the consultants talking the Midwesterners into a freight railroad museum (Damn the Torpedoes, Nov. 10)! That was a really, really good one that will be with me for a long time. I laughed out loud very loudly! Keep up the good ones (throw away the bad ones). Charles Cort Mobile
Respectfully disagree
Mr. Fetzer, Your letter to the editor in the Nov. 10 issue of Lagniappe, comparing the Baldwin County Democratic Party to the United States Marine Corps (“We’re here”), is ludicrous at worst, and hilarious at best. The Democratic Party is a respected political organization. The Marine Corps is a valiant and respected military organization that has helped defend our country since the War of 1776. Your comment comparing the two to be alike is an insult to all Marines, living and dead, and particularly painful on not only Veterans Day, but also on the 241st anniversary of our beloved Corps. Glenn M. Isaacs Daphne
Check out lagniappemobile.com for more news daily. Legendary horse race caller passes away in Fairhope
Martin launches campaign for Mobile City Council
Using a recent neighborhood skirmish as a catalyst, Robert Martin recently announced his intention to run for Mobile City Council District 4 against incumbent John Williams. Martin, a resident of the Wildwood subdivision, said he disagreed with Williams’ actions in helping Regency Oaks residents limit access to a public street connecting the two neighborhoods.
Carnival Cruise Line returns to Mobile
The 855-foot Carnival Fantasy began excursions from the Port City Nov. 9. Local officials celebrated before its first voyage with a ribbon cutting, reception and luncheon aboard the ship. Following the festivities, the ship was set to leave the port with 2,468 passengers and 960 crew on its way to Mexico.
Suspect in Creola murder captured
Authorities in Mobile County annouced 30-year-old Joseph Carter, who is connected to the Nov. 10 murder of Joe Nathan Thomas reported near the General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge in Creola, turned himself in.
Machines failed to count ‘no’ votes in local referendum
Following a campaign season plagued by allegations of vote tampering, an error on ballots distributed at Mobile County’s 88 precincts Nov. 8 caused all votes cast against one local referendum to go uncounted. On the night of the election, 165,709 ballots were collected locally. However, a referendum authorizing the county’s Pay As You Go (PAYG) program, which finances local infrastructure improvements, recorded tens of thousands of “yes” votes without a single vote in opposition. By Nov. 11, Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis confirmed that “human error” had caused machines to incorrectly read any votes against the program as blank — an across-the-board problem reported in all 191 of the county’s ballot counters.
BAYBRIEF | BALDWIN COUNTY
Engineering firm hosts commissioner’s ‘networking events’
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BY ROB HOLBERT
hen Baldwin County Commission President Tucker Dorsey’s private foundation hosted its “Fall Men’s Night” fundraiser for the Sheriff’s Boys Camp Oct. 27, it did so with the precertified permission of the Alabama Ethics Commission. It also did so with an engineering company that’s been paid more than $5 million by Baldwin County over the past six years footing the bill to treat local elected officials and public employees with free alcohol and a steak dinner. And looking over the scant records available for Dorsey’s foundation, it appears to spend at least as much money hosting these political “networking opportunities” as it does providing support for charity. Dorsey’s Red Text Foundation — a reference to the King James Bible’s use of red ink to outline words spoken by Jesus — has been hosting such men’s nights for the past few years. According to the Form 990 nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporations are required to file with the IRS, Red Text was formed in February 2013 by Dorsey, with Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack and Dewayne Hayes as officers. So far Red Text has only filed its 2014 Form 990, so it is difficult to know what it has done in the ensuing years. But that 2014 filing shows the foundation began the year with $7,520 in the bank, received another $8,500, took in a $3,825 grant and spent $9,861. Red Text isn’t required to document the origin of its finances and Dorsey has refused to answer Lagniappe’s recent questions about this fundraiser and Red Text’s finances, but the 2014 document does show expenditures, revealing that nearly two-thirds of the money spent that year went to hosting steak dinners. In the same year, the foundation awarded $3,825 in donations to nine area nonprofits — $750 of which went to the boys camp. The document also shows $6,026 went toward “meetings.” “The foundation hosts monthly dinner meetings along the Gulf Coast. These meetings or ‘Men’s Night’ events are area networking events. There is no cost to attend but the contributions received benefit local charities” is how the meetings are described on the Form 990. For this latest iteration of Men’s Night, Volkert Engineering plunked down $6,000 to “host” the networking/ fundraising event, which might raise eyebrows given Dorsey and the County Commission’s direct ability to affect how or if the engineering firm is selected for lucrative contracts. According to a Volkert spokesman, it’s not the first time the company has paid for one of Dorsey’s networking events. “The Volkert people in Baldwin have done it for years,” Volkert spokesman Steven James said. “They pay the caterers. It’s around $6,000 for catering. Sometimes there are joint sponsors.” James said there is “kind of an expectation” for civil engineers to be involved in supporting local charities because the companies do so much work paid for by the public. He pointed out that another local engineering firm, PrebleRish, had also hosted Dorsey’s fundraisers. Lagniappe was unable to verify whether that was the case directly through Preble-Rish vice president John Avent, as he did not respond to questions about the matter, but the Sheriff’s Boys Camp director Jim Harmon also said both engineering firms had paid for events. Since the beginning of 2010 Volkert has been paid more than $5.4 million, according to online county records, making it the highest-paid engineering firm doing business with Baldwin County. During that time PrebleRish has been paid nearly $1.8 million according to those same records, and Thompson Engineering has been paid $1.9 million.
Greenlighted by Ethics Commission
On Sept. 16 of this year, David Conner, a partner in Blackburn & Conner PC, wrote a letter to the Alabama Ethics Commission seeking pre-certification for elected officials and public employees to attend the Men’s Night
event. Blackburn & Conner serve as Baldwin’s county attorneys. While the letter did explain the event would be hosted by Volkert and that the company does work for the county, it pointed out that, “the steak dinner and accompanying hospitality are not intended to influence any elected officials in the performance of their official duties in any manner.” It went on to say that, “based on previous pre-certification approval, it is our understanding that because this event also serves as a fundraising event for the Baldwin County Boys Ranch, the public officials and employees in attendance may accept the meal and hospitality provided at the event.” The Ethics Commission stamped the letter for approval on Sept. 28, with a handwritten note underneath saying 600 people were invited. While the letter from Conner does not mention Red Text, an email provided to Lagniappe appears to be from Dorsey and the Red Text board to invitees telling them the event is a go and encouraging them to “bring a guest that you think will fit in with the group.” The email also mentions Baldwin County Sewer System and Blue Rents as offering their services to support the meeting. Dorsey is employed by BCSS owner Clarence Burke. Lagniappe contacted Ethics Commission General Counsel Hugh Evans to ask if he could share the criteria by which the commission would clear attendance at an event hosted by an elected official’s private foundation and paid for by a company that does business before that elected official. “The event was a widely attended event (only requires 12 people per Section 36-25-1(34)) and over 600 people were invited. As such, public officials are entitled to attend the dinner by virtue of Section 36-25-1(34)(b)(14) without violating the Ethics Act. That’s all our precertification allows. What a sponsor cannot do is use it as an opportunity to corruptly influence official action, and it does not provide protection for facts not disclosed to us. The only thing we precertified was an event benefiting the Boys and Girls Club,” he wrote back. Conner confirmed that his firm was paid to write the letter on behalf of the county to determine the appropriateness of the attendance of elected officials and public employees at the fundraiser. “As part of my duties as County Attorney, I am routinely asked to address questions or issues involving elected officials and public employees and the application of the Alabama Ethics Law, which sometimes includes drafting requests for Ethics Opinions and requests for preclearance certification,” Conner wrote in response to Lagniappe’s questions. “Your requests for information to Baldwin County and your question appears to imply that Baldwin County paid for a letter written on behalf of the Red Text Foundation, which is incorrect. Our firm was paid by Baldwin County to attempt to address questions or issues related to the attendance of Baldwin County elected officials and employees, as well as other state and local officials, at the event on Oct. 27, 2016. According to a review of records by county staff, our firm was paid $78.75 to draft the preclearance request on behalf of Baldwin County to obtain precertification related to the attendance by public officials and employees.” Boys Camp director Harmon said the Oct. 27 Men’s Night brought in $7,000 for the boys camp and he estimated 100-150 people attended. He said Dorsey’s foundation hosts two or three such dinners a year. “It’s a good fundraiser,” Harmon said. “The men have a good time and it’s a night of fellowship among the business and political leaders of Baldwin County.” In an August interview Dorsey said “sponsored events” were the source of direct funding for Red Text, although he did not elaborate as to what those events might be. He said the fundraising dinners predate the formation of Red Text,
which is why donors don’t give directly to the foundation at these dinners. “The way it usually works is people make donations directly to the ranch itself. So the supper is the facilitator for raising the money for the ranch. The reason we did that is because we didn’t have the 501(c)(3) to start with and we started the suppers, I want to say in 2011, and then we didn’t have a mechanism for people to donate except for donating to the Sheriff’s Boys Ranch directly,” he said.
Choosing engineers
As Baldwin has been one of the nation’s fastest growing counties over the past decade, the building and expansion of roads and bridges across the miles of empty farmland has been a boon not only to those who would develop the land, but also to the engineering and construction companies awarded millions in work. And while construction projects to build and improve those thoroughfares are awarded through a strict bid process that rewards those with lower prices, that’s not the case when it comes to selecting engineers and some other professional services. The state of Alabama doesn’t require engineering firms to bid for public jobs in the same way other companies might have to. Engineering companies can apply to be put on a county’s “on-call” list, which means they are selected for work by the county engineer based upon expertise. In 2002 Baldwin County adopted Rule 9.10, which sets up the use of on-call engineers. It was modified in 2008 to require the county to get Request for Qualifications from interested companies when a job is more than $100,000. The rule states that the top three RFQs should be ranked by the county engineer or environmental director and presented to the County Commission, which would then award the most qualified company. However, the commission hasn’t been afraid to waive that rule when it comes to big projects, particularly the Baldwin Beach Express. County records show that since 2011, nearly $10 million in contracts was awarded after the commission waived rule 9.10 and handed work worth more than $100,000 to seven engineering firms without an RFQ being required. Of those firms, Volkert was awarded $2.4 million, Hutchison Moore & Rauch LLC got $1.65 million, Geotechnical Engineering Testing Inc. was awarded $1.5 million, Hatch Mott MacDonald was awarded $1.3 million, Preble-Rish was awarded $1.2 million, Neel-Schaffer got $966,000 and Christian Testing was awarded $755,000. Dorsey, along with Commissioners Frank Burt and Charles Gruber, voted in favor of waiving rule 9.10 for all the Phase I contracts related to the Baldwin Beach Express. Commissioner Bob James abstained from the votes because his son works for Volkert and he had business relationships with some of the other firms, according to county records. On Phase II of the Beach Express contracts, Dorsey voted against all of them in March 2012, saying it would be irresponsible to move forward without knowing the status of the coming RESTORE ACT money. The contracts were still approved by the commission and moved forward upon just the votes of Gruber and Burt. Burt says the waiving of rule 9.10 was done simply to get the process moving faster. “I believe we saved a lot of money by doing it this way,” he said. But by the same token, when asked whether he’d attended any of the Men’s Night meetings paid for by engineering firms, Burt said he has steered clear simply because of the way it could look having engineers who do so much work for the county hosting parties for those who hold the purse strings. “I’ve never been,” Burt said. “I was offered that they’d come pick me up, but I just don’t do it. Even the appearance of impropriety I try to avoid.” In addition to hosting parties, some engineering firms have been big players when it comes to donating to political campaigns. According to Alabama Secretary of State Records, from 2013-2016 Volkert donated $182,934 to various campaigns. That includes $2,000 to former Commissioner James and $1,000 to Dorsey. The David Volkert and Associates Holding Co. PAC also donated $1,000 to Dorsey in 2014. Volkert donated $2,500 to current Commissioner Chris Elliot, who defeated James in 2014. James also received a $1,000 donation from Neel-Schaffer in 2014. While Preble-Rish hasn’t donated anywhere near as much as Volkert on a statewide level over the past few years, election records suggest it, too, has put money into local races. Probate records show the company donated $5,000 to Dorsey in 2013 and its vice president, John Avent, added another $1,000 for Dorsey. Elliott also received $2,500 from Preble-Rish last year. The company also gave $10,000 to the Coastal Alabama Progress PAC in March 2016, according to state records, and Thompson Engineering donated $2,000 as well. A few months later that PAC distributed $5,000 to Daphne Mayor Dane Haygood’s campaign, $2,500 to Baldwin County EMC District 2 Trustee Joseph Coleman’s campaign and $1,500 to Fairhope City Councilman Jay Robinson’s campaign. Coastal Alabama Progress PAC’s chairman is listed as Scott Shamburger, who is also listed in Dorsey’s email as being on the Red Text Foundation’s board of directors. Elliott also received $10,000 in donations from Thompson Engineering’s PAC in 2015, according to records. Another of Elliott’s biggest donors was Coastal PAC, which donated $17,000 to his campaign in 2014. On July 8, 2014, Elliott received a $10,500 donation from Coastal PAC the day after Baldwin County Sewer Service gave the PAC a $7,500 donation. N o v e m b e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 - N o v e m b e r 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 | L AG N I A P P E | 5
BAYBRIEF | FAIRHOPE
Growing pains
FAIRHOPE NOT READY TO DECIDE ON RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT MORATORIUM
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BY JANE NICHOLES
airhope city leaders expressed reservations about a possible moratorium on new subdivisions and multi-family developments Monday, concluding that more discussion is needed. Monday’s wide-ranging discussion during a City Council work session ended only because the group ran out of time before its regular meeting. Council President Jack Burrell said a special meeting on the subject may be needed. A proposed ordinance would place a sixmonth moratorium on all subdivision and multiple-occupancy applications while the council evaluates the availability of public utilities, traffic issues, drainage regulations, environmental issues and existing subdivision and planning regulations. Projects already underway or applied for would not be affected. Building Official Erik Cortinas said the planning and zoning department has been “flooded” with applications for new projects from developers trying to beat a possible moratorium. Managing growth was one of the main issues in the recent municipal elections, as new subdivisions have sprung up around the city’s core and a planned apartment complex generated much controversy. Former Mayor Tim Kant had proposed a moratorium, but newly elected Mayor Karin Wilson instead proposed that the city start by studying whether the utilities system had enough capacity to handle the new residential projects. “I just don’t want to put this six-month thing out there and have everything at a standstill,” Wilson said. A proposed moratorium had been tabled by the previous council. Burrell said he deliberately did not put it on Monday’s meeting agenda be-
cause he didn’t want to trigger a last-minute run on applications without a better sense of what the council wanted. “We’ve really got to determine what it is that we really, really want to stop for now,” Burrell said. Several additional questions were raised by city officials. Wilson said studying the utility system’s ability to take on additional sewer tie-ins and water hook-ups wouldn’t take six months, but the system’s capacity and weaknesses need to be established before other steps are taken to manage growth. Others wondered whether the council would be legally obligated to take care of all the other issues spelled out in the ordinance within the six-month period and whether that could be accomplished. Cortinas said many of the recent applications were incomplete, raising the question of whether an incomplete application would count as exempt if a moratorium were passed. In response to a question during the regular meeting, Burrell said no action would be taken for at least two weeks and possibly not at all. More discussion was needed, leading to the possibility of a special meeting, he said. Also Monday, the council agreed to hire attorney Matthew McDonald to review all litigation in which the city is involved. Wilson said she wanted an attorney not involved with city business or with any of the pending lawsuits to review lawsuits that have lingered without being resolved. Although McDonald’s fees remain to be negotiated, Wilson said she thinks the review will more than pay for itself in reduced litigation costs. “I think we’re going to save an incredible amount of money,” Wilson said.
Give or take $60K
THE NEW FAIRHOPE MAYOR EARNS A LOT LESS THAN THE OLD ONE BY JANE NICHOLES
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ow much is the mayor of Fairhope worth? Former Mayor Tim Kant was making $90,000 when he was defeated by Karin Wilson in the recent municipal elections. But $60,000 of that was for the position of utilities superintendent and $30,000 was for being mayor. Wilson is getting $32,400, which was set by the previous City Council several months before the elections. Under state law, that salary cannot be changed during her current term. Wilson has said the mayor shouldn’t hold two jobs and she doesn’t want to be utilities superintendent. But the mayor’s salary, she said, should be appropriate for a full-time job overseeing city government. “It’s a little embarrassing,” she told the council during a work session Monday. According to a survey of municipal salaries, the mayor of Fairhope is on the high end or the low end, depending on whether the utilities salary counts. The state’s League of Municipalities and the Center for Governmental Studies at Auburn University conduct surveys of municipal salaries about every four years. The last one was for the 2012 fiscal year. Not every municipality responds. The results are divided into five population groups and Fairhope falls into a group of nine cities with populations between 13,000 and 22,000. The other eight cities are Foley, Fort Payne, Hartselle, Jasper, Muscle Shoals, Ozark, Troy and
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Trussville. Of those nine cities, Fairhope’s mayor is paid both the highest salary and the lowest. Fairhope reported the mayor’s salary at $90,000, by far the highest of the group. The next highest salary was paid to the mayor of Muscle Shoals, at $66,830. But when the utilities superintendent salary is subtracted, Fairhope comes in at $30,000. So did the mayor of Foley. Those two salaries were by far the lowest of the group. The next-lowest salary was paid to the mayor of Troy, at $48,000. The average salary earned by the nine mayors was $53,419, but again that includes the $90,000 salary Kant was making. Wilson’s salary will still be the lowest of the group because Foley raised its mayor’s salary to $35,000 for the next two years and then to $40,000 for the last two years of the term. Foley Mayor John Koniar said that would eventually put his city in line with what the mayors of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores are paid. “It’s officially part-time and some days fulltime,” Koniar said. “Technically, it’s a part-time job, as the mayor does not have any health benefits, any fringe benefits. The mayor’s position in Foley is a part-time position.” Wilson told Lagniappe the salary didn’t factor into her decision to run for mayor, and said Kant’s position as superintendent of utilities was as a “figurehead.” Apprised of the average salary from the survey, she said it sounded like a parttime salary.
BAYBRIEF | MOBILE COUNTY
Constable conundrum WRITE-IN CAMPAIGNS COST COUNTY THOUSANDS BY JASON JOHNSON
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hose who voted in Mobile County’s general election no doubt noticed the vast majority of their ballot consisted of local constable races. There were 88 constable precincts up for grabs this year, and of those, nearly half made it before voters without a single person qualifying to be on the ballot. However, that doesn’t mean people weren’t actively campaigning for those offices. “That’s definitely the common way for it to be done,” Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis said. “A lot of people either aren’t interested in these positions, or they are but don’t want to pay the filing fees with a political party or comply with the Fair Campaign Practices Act. So, they just run a write-in campaign.” There were 36 constable precincts on the ballot with no qualifying names, and although there is always a substantial undervote in local constable races, many of the precincts represented by write-ins alone still recorded hundreds of votes — in some cases recording more votes than precincts with qualifying candidates. Formerly in Alabama, every write-in vote was tallied and counted on election night, whether they were legitimate candidates in smaller races or those sarcastically cast for “Nick Saban” or other celebrities when residents didn’t find a registered candidate to be particularly compelling. However, that changed during this year’s special session via House Bill 19. Now, writein votes are counted after the election along with provisional ballots but only if the sum of those votes is “greater than or equal to” the number cast for the candidate on the printed ballot receiving the most votes. But that isn’t to say write-in votes cast last week were ignored completely. “We know the number of write-in votes. That’s on the tapes and the computer cartridges that we get from each machine at the end of the night,” Davis said. “Now we just have to meet two days after an election to review those and see if they would change the outcome of any election.” Even if there’s no effect on an election, all of that information is recorded in a Write-In Vote Count Report, and while it’s unlikely that a statewide candidate would fall to an opposing write-in campaign, voters sometimes use that approach to send a message to their elected officials. U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne handily defeated challenger Dean Young in the March 1 Republican primary, but lost some of his support after asking president-elect Donald J. Trump to drop out of the race for the White House near the end of his campaign over misogynistic remarks the candidate made about women. Though Byrne managed to secure another term with 105,000 votes Nov. 8, there were 5,384 write-in votes cast against him — more than any other candidate on the ballot in Mobile County. One of the largest write-in campaigns, though, was against Rep. Martha Roby, who also spoke out against Trump. Unlike Byrne, however, Roby never walked back those com-
ments. According to the Alabama Secretary of State’s office, more than 23,000 write-in ballots were cast against the incumbent congresswoman, turning an easy race against Democrat Nathan Mathis into a narrow 53 percent victory for Roby. As was also expected, there was substantial number of local write-in votes cast in the presidential race as well, around 1,336 according to the report. Despite those symbolic votes, Davis said the only local races where write-ins were a determining factor occurred in 37 constable precincts. On Tuesday, Nov. 15, the county paid more than 30 poll workers to count all of the ballots in those races by hand at an estimated cost of more than $5,000. Though Davis’ staff could have performed the task, he said he always prefers to use poll workers when he can. “With all that’s going on in the country with people not trusting government, I just feel like it sends a better message,” Davis said. “It’s going to transpire one way or another, but I think it sits better with some people if it’s done by poll workers instead of government employees.” However, while Davis said his office has no problem complying with the law, some longtime constables in the area say they “are not fans” of the write-in campaigns that have grown more common in recent years. Leo Bullock, a constable since 1984 who manages the Mobile County Constable Office, said his peers that run write-in campaigns are “sidestepping necessary qualifications” at the expense of the county. “It’s a backdoor approach,” Bullock said. “Most, if not all, of the problems we’ve seen in recent years where constables are getting in trouble with law, those have generally been write-in candidates. We’re not happy about it, and it causes a lot of problems for the elections commission to tally all this stuff up.” According to Bullock, even if one of those campaigns ends in a tie, Alabama law requires a county sheriff to decide the race with “a coin toss” or by “drawing a name from a hat” — something Bullock called “ridiculous.” As elected officials, constables are required to file paperwork with the Alabama Ethics Commission, although if they’re elected through a write-in campaign they don’t have to do so prior to their first election. Last week Bullock told Lagniappe the situation sets a bad precedent. “When you start out doing that, it only leads you down the trail to avoiding other things, and because of the authority and power the office of constable carries in Alabama, I personally believe in background checks,” Bullock said. “We’ve had a few across the state that have criminal records, but they run as writein candidates and get overlooked. In the end, that becomes an embarrassment for the entire constable office.” Still, no matter how a local constable is elected, Bullock said the Mobile County Constable Office is ready and willing to provide guidance and connect those new to the position with applicable training for the job.
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BAYBRIEF | MOBILE
Home away from home
BED-AND-BREAKFAST OWNERS LOOK TO CITY TO REMEDY AIRBNB COMPETITION BY DALE LIESCH
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local rise in popularity for the homestay network Airbnb has some of Mobile’s more traditional bed-and-breakfast owners concerned over the fairness of competition. Wendy James, owner of the Kate Shepard House in Midtown, said Airbnb has had a negative impact on her bookings as the site’s popularity continues to grow. She said her B&B has maybe 10 reservations for November. “It’s phenomenal how it has affected our business,” she said. “We’ve never seen anything like it. Bookings are down bigtime.” The site currently has 125 rentals listed in Mobile County. Fifty-six of the listings are for entire homes, with prices ranging from $60 to $125 per night. The number of rentals alone is up from last year, James said. The Kate Shepard House and other B&Bs struggle to compete with Airbnb prices, James said. For instance, at her place one room will cost you $150 per night. “Why would you come here for $125 per night when you can get an entire house for $160 a few streets down?” she asked. James said she loves the website and uses it to draw people to her business. She added, though, that the while Airbnb pays taxes to the state, local lodging taxes are not paid. “We get wonderful guests from Airbnb,” she said. “I’m not against Airbnb. It’s a wonderful platform where we can all get international guests.” The problem, James said, is that Airbnb is not treated like a business locally and is given an unfair advantage. “This issue is not just about an unfair advantage over existing law-abiding small businesses. It is a problem that is coming to a house near you,” James wrote in an email. Mobile’s Executive Director of Finance Paul Wesch
said the city can compel those who offer up their homes on Airbnb to pay taxes, but they’re not always easy to find. Right now, Wesch said, people can pay the tax voluntarily. Mobile County does collect a 2-percent lodging tax on local Airbnb hosts, as well as a state business license fee, Deputy License Commissioner Adam Bourne said. For Airbnb hosts with less than five beds, the license fee is $22.50 per year, he said. A portion of the 2 percent tax is distributed to the city, he said. Bourne said the fees and taxes are hard to enforce right now. He said the office does actively search for Airbnb hosts, but they don’t have many currently participating in the tax and fee collection.
WENDY JAMES, OWNER OF THE KATE SHEPARD HOUSE IN MIDTOWN, SAID AIRBNB HAS HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON HER BOOKINGS AS THE SITE’S POPULARITY CONTINUES TO GROW.” Mobile County Commission President Jerry Carl added that since addresses aren’t accessible until after a room is booked, it is almost impossible to track. Stephen Flasaerud, owner of the Berney/Fly Bed and Breakfast on Government Street, agrees, although he said he doesn’t mind the competition. “I do believe Airbnb hosts should have a business license and the council should put ordinances in place like
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they did for Uber,” he said. The city amended its vehicle-for-hire ordinance July 2015 to allow the ridehailing application Uber to operate on city streets. Much like Airbnb does for private residences, Uber allows drivers to use their personal cars as a taxi service. The vote in favor of the amendment came after weeks of back-and-forth between representatives of Uber and Mobile Bay Transportation. In the end, the ordinance tightened regulations on Uber and loosened some on the taxi service to give both the same level of scrutiny. For instance, instead of regulating the fare cab drivers can charge, the amended ordinance allowed them to change their rates, similar to the way Uber does it, as long as the passenger knows about the pricing change up front. Uber drivers in Mobile also must use decals to differentiate them from shuttle services. The city also streamlined the safety requirements for both types of entities. Kelly Baker, a DeTonti Square resident and former Airbnb host, said she rented out part of her home when she needed extra money, but doesn’t anymore. “It was really good for me while I did it,” she said. “It was extra income when I needed it.” Baker doesn’t believe more regulation would help anyone. “I don’t want the city to get involved in it,” she said. “It would ruin it for everybody.” The site, Baker said, gives visitors a more personal view of the city than staying in a hotel would. It offers something hotels can’t. “I don’t think it’s unfair,” Baker said. “There are still a lot of people who stay in hotels. It doesn’t affect them.” She said the site offered great benefits for visitors staying in her home. For instance, visitors could stay in a historic part of town and still be able to walk to the entertainment district. Kent Blackinton, president of the Mobile Area Lodging Association, admitted Airbnb is not a big concern yet for hoteliers in the area, but it’s an issue that is on their radar. “There have been no meaningful discussions on it,” Blackinton said. “We’ll look at it more closely in 2017.” He said he isn’t sure Airbnb is popular enough in the area yet to negatively impact hotels. Regardless of the site’s impact on hotels, Councilman Levon Manzie has heard enough complaints from B&B owners that he and Mayor Sandy Stimpson’s administration are looking at possibly introducing ordinances on Airbnb in the near future. The ordinances would allow Airbnb to operate but ensure they don’t have an unfair advantage, Manzie said. “I’m sensitive to the concerns because the bulk of the bed-and-breakfast businesses are in District 2,” he said, noting other cities have regulated Airbnb and Mobile would hopefully be able to “replicate their success.”
BAYBRIEF | BALDWIN COUNTY
Fork in the road
ELECTION YIELDS DIFFERING RESULTS ON TOLL AUTHORITIES IN BALDWIN COUNTY
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BY JANE NICHOLES
he proposed extension of the Baldwin County Beach Express received a setback when voters rejected a constitutional amendment Nov. 8 that would have let the Baldwin County Commission create an authority to pay for it through a toll road. But in the same election, a different statewide amendment barely passed that would allow a similar authority to be created for a new bridge on Pleasure Island. Local Amendment 3 suffered from voter misunderstanding, Baldwin County Commissioner Charles “Skip” Gruber said. “A lot of people don’t understand what was to happen with that,” he said. “They didn’t know what it was going to be used for and how it was going to be done and everything else.” The wording of the amendment didn’t say so, but the goal was to create a road and bridge authority that would have financed the extension of the Beach Express from Interstate 10 to Interstate 65, most likely making it a toll road, Gruber said. The project’s estimated cost is $200 million. According to a proposal previously submitted to the Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council, the road would run 24.5 miles from the existing tie-in to I-10 near Rosinton to 1.85 miles northeast of the I-65 interchange with State Road 287. It would complete the Beach Express from Orange Beach to I-65, offering an alternate route for tourists and a new hurricane evacuation route for everyone. Gruber said the project didn’t receive money from the BP oil spill settlement. The county can’t afford to do it alone, but people don’t want to raise taxes, he said. Making it a toll road would mean that only people who use it would be paying for it. “If you don’t want to drive the road and pay the toll, you don’t have to get on it,” he said. Gruber said commissioners wanted more detail put into the wording of the amendment, including how the members of the authority that would finance the project would be selected. The project is “shovel ready,” he said. The plans are drawn
up, the environmental and federal interstate access permits have been obtained and the next step is purchasing rights of way. The amendment did not commit citizens or the county to a toll road, Gruber said. Rather, it gave the commission that option. Gruber said he thinks the commission will have to take the issue back to the legislative delegation to try again. In Baldwin County, both Local Amendment 3 and Statewide Amendment 12 were voted down by the same margin, 52 percent against, 48 percent in favor. But statewide, Amendment 12 squeaked into the Constitution by a margin of 50.64 percent to 49.36 percent in favor, out of about 1.2 million votes cast. Amendment 12 allows municipalities in Baldwin County to create their own authorities. In Orange Beach, that’s one source of possible financing being eyed for a new bridge. “We have no plans to use it right now at this time,” Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon said. “Wolf Bay would be the No. 1 choice, yes. Now if there is a bridge to the west, that would be the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach city limit, that is a possibility as well. That would be much less expensive, but it may not be as efficient. So there are two options there available to us.” A new bridge, like the Beach Express, would reduce the heavy summertime traffic into Orange Beach, Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan as well as provide another evacuation route for the part of Baldwin County that must evacuate first when tropical weather in imminent. Kennon said the amendment gives Orange Beach an option if the state won’t build a bridge and “creates leverage” with the current company that operates the Beach Express toll bridge. As for how two similar amendments ended up before voters in the same election, Kennon said the situation created confusion. “To be quite honest with you, I paid no attention to what the county was doing,” he said.
Tongue in cheek
ORANGE BEACH MAYOR BIDS FAREWELL TO CELEBRITY ACTIVISTS
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BY JANE NICHOLES
lenty of folks on both sides of the presidential election posted vehement comments on social media. Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon went one step further by starting a GoFundMe campaign for bus tickets to send anti-Trump celebrities to Tijuana. Among celebrities who reportedly had threatened to leave the country if Donald Trump won were Miley Cyrus, Whoopi Goldberg, Amy Schumer, Bryan Cranston, Cher and Chelsea Handler. Here’s an excerpt from Kennon’s Facebook post on Nov. 9: “Out of compassion and empathy, I have created a GoFundMe campaign entitled “Don’t Let The Screen Door Hit You” to provide bus tickets to Tijuana, Mexico for all those celebrities, athletes, and other high-minded elitists who are traumatized by the new Trump era. Let us not forget those who promised to leave the country if Trump won.” The mayor set the fundraising goal at $10 million. As of Monday afternoon, 68 donors had pledged $1,145. Kennon promises that any money raised and not used for bus tickets will be donated to charity, and he will account for every dollar. “I am serious in that I used humor to try to make a point,” Kennon said. “Do I believe any celebrity or athlete is going to come to us for bus ticket? No.” His point, he said, is if celebrities are going to make millions of dollars from the American sys-
tem for which members of the military sacrificed their lives, they should show appreciation for that system and those who defend it. Also, like it or not, they are role models setting a bad example for children, he said. “The example they are setting by threatening to take their ball and run home if they don’t get their way, or in this case, take their money and leave, is not what I’m teaching my children and not what I bet most people want their children to learn through a role model.” Reactions have been mixed. Some people loved the idea and said so. Others expressed their displeasure in language unsuitable for a family newspaper. The debate was lively both on Facebook and on the GoFundMe page. As the mayor of a beach town dependent on tourism, Kennon said he isn’t worried about his views turning potential visitors away from Orange Beach. “First off, this is not Republican or Democrat. This is about anybody, I don’t care if they’re Republican or Democrat, denigrating our country and what made it great out of their own selfish wants and needs. That’s what this is about.” Secondly, Kennon said, previous controversial stands that he said many would consider conservative, such as being against an appearance by the band Widespread Panic or the proliferation of vulgarities on T-shirts, have not affected tourism. “Every year our numbers go up.” From a business perspective, Kennon said, he’s building a family values brand in Orange Beach. N o v e m b e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 - N o v e m b e r 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 | L AG N I A P P E | 9
BAYBRIEF | MOBILE
A little something extra
COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATION DEBATE MARDI GRAS PARK CHANGE ORDER BY DALE LIESCH
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he Mobile City Council approved a $386,329 change order on work Mayor Sandy Stimpson’s office said was related to the nearly completed Mardi Gras Park, but not before having a discussion over the move’s legality. Before approving the change order by a 5-2 vote during their regular meeting Tuesday, councilors questioned whether the work — which was the subject of the contract — could be considered a change order to the park project, since it’s across Royal Street from the Mardi Gras Park worksite. Councilwoman Bess Rich and Councilman John Williams voted against the move. If the project is not considered a change order, the city would be required by state law to bid it and open it up to new contractors. City Attorney Ricardo Woods argued there is no legal definition of “change order” in the state code. He added that, in that case, the everyday definition of “change order” could be used for legal purposes. The everyday definition, Woods told councilors, fits the project to repair curb, sidewalks, lights and signage across the street. The work comes months after Stimpson successfully requested 17 mature oak trees be removed from downtown, some of which lined the sidewalk in question. Woods added it’s common practice, not part of the law, for state entities to consider a contract a change order if the scope of work doesn’t increase the total project cost by more than 10 percent. However, Woods told councilors there are exceptions. For instance, he said, given the total price of the contract,
the return of Carnival Cruise Line and the approaching Mardi Gras holiday, the city could argue the project demonstrated an extraordinary circumstance, which a previous attorney general’s opinion approves, as long as it remains less than 30 percent of the total project cost. Given the total bid from Ben M. Radcliff Contractor Inc. came in at $2.1 million, Woods said the change order would be within the 30 percent threshold. In fact, he said the two change orders related to the project combined came in at less than the next-lowest bidder. There were only two bidders for the initial Mardi Gras Park project, Woods said. In voting against the contract, Rich said during the regular meeting she didn’t want to open up the city to lawsuits. “This work is not on the initial site of Mardi Gras Park, or the pavilion,” Rich said. “I’ve seen a lot of contracts come across my desk, but I’ve never seen a contract where the work is done outside of the site and it’s considered a change order.” Rich also argued that the return of Carnival and Mardi Gras should not be considered extraordinary circumstances because they’ve been on the calendar for years and could have been planned for. Woods argued the change order contract is on the same worksite as the park because it’s contiguous to Royal Street, which was disturbed during the process. He said it didn’t make sense to stall the project and keep the downtown street closed while the city goes through another bid process, which could cost more money. Councilman Fred Richardson argued that if proximity
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was related to whether something was considered a change order, than what’s to stop the city from suggesting projects at the cruise terminal being considered change orders on this project. “I think we’re making up definitions as we go,” Richardson said. Woods told Richardson the change order was on the same worksite as the park project and would save the city time and money. “Being able to do this to save money and save time would be a bold move,” Woods told Richardson. “This is a bold council, as you like to say. Can you do it? Sure; the question is: Will you?” Woods compared re-bidding a portion of the project at this point to watching the signal change at a crosswalk and stopping in the middle of the street while cars moved forward. Council Attorney Jim Rossler said he couldn’t determine if the change order requested demonstrated an “extraordinary circumstance.” Rossler added that the park project could have easily been concluded without the additional work to Royal Street. However, Rossler also said a challenge would have to come to Mobile County Circuit Court “quickly” through a temporary restraining order. Even if the TRO is granted and the court were to find in favor of a contractor who challenged the city’s action, it would only result in the city having to bid the project, he said. Also at issue for councilors was that the work on the change order began without their consent. Typically, the council approves all contracts before work begins. Chief of Staff Colby Cooper apologized for the oversight and asked councilors to work with the administration to make sure the project gets finished. Richardson said this project was just one of many examples of Stimpson’s office using too much power to get what it wants. As examples, he mentioned the initial introduction of Uber and Gulf Coast Ducks being able to operate without the appropriate certificates of public convenience. “I’m not voting on another one,” Richardson said. “This is it. Follow the law.” Councilman Levon Manzie said he supported the change order, but hoped this same interpretation of the law could be used on other District 2 projects in the future. As for Mardi Gras Park itself, only a few finishing touches remain before it can be officially opened, city spokesman George Talbot said. Those finishing touches include the installation of statues. The city expects to open the park by the end of the month, he said.
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COMMENTARY | DAMN THE TORPEDOES
Who would a lovesick governor pick? ROB HOLBERT/MANAGING EDITOR/RHOLBERT@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM
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’m going to start this column with a quick acknowledgement that I had absolutely no idea that what happened last Tuesday night was going to happen. Like most people in the country, I read the tea leaves — aka reams of polls showing Hillary would win — and figured they couldn’t all be wrong. I lost a load of money betting against Brexit for the same reason. You’d think I would have learned. Frankly I never guessed right about Trump at all since he got into the presidential race, and I’m generally a pretty good political guesser. I figured there was no way he’d win the nomination, but he did. After “Grab Her …. Gate,” I knew it was over, but it wasn’t. So I’ll stop guessing and just hope everyone else can calm down a bit and remember our government is designed to stymie the designs of any president who tries to push things too hard one way or another, so relax. I do know this for a fact: If we all live long enough we’re going to see the presidency switch parties many times, and each time it will be during the “most important election of our lifetimes,” and each time we’ll survive. And really, can anyone actually say they’d feel good about hurting a fellow American, losing friends or having your state leave the union fighting over the likes of Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump? At least wait until
THERE ARE SOME THINGS EVERY POLITICIAN KNOWS: SEN. RICHARD SHELBY WILL HAVE TO BE CARRIED OFF CAPITOL HILL IN A BOX, AND EVEN THEN THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE THAT BEFORE IT HAPPENS HE’LL STAY ON A HEART-LUNG MACHINE LONG ENOUGH TO WIN ANOTHER SIX-YEAR TERM. ”
time job as Alabama’s junior senator. And if you don’t think boots are being licked and butts kissed all over Alabama in hopes of getting the (politically, at least) impotent governor’s blessing, then you just hate disgusting oral imagery. Getting appointed to Sessions’ seat is like having Willy Wonka and the Wizard of Oz both give you a heart, brain and everlasting gobstopper at the same time. There are some things every politician knows: Sen. Richard Shelby will have to be carried off Capitol Hill in a box, and even then there’s a good chance that before it happens he’ll stay on a heart-lung machine long enough to win another sixyear term. He just won another last week and is a spry 82 years old with at least 64 buildings in the state that still don’t bear his name. He’s still got work to do. Sessions is much younger and could stay for years if Trumpy doesn’t snatch him up. At the very minimum it’s likely now would be the only time in the next six years anyone in Bama will have a shot at becoming a U.S. Senator. In political years, six is like 30. It’s a long time to wait and hope Shelby wants to leave office in 2022 to enjoy the few remaining years gumming his oatmeal in peace. So now Bentley holds the prize a lot — I mean A LOT — of Alabama politicos want. Whoever Bentley appoints will likely get to be a member of the world’s most exclusive club for as long as he or she wants. Alabama kind of has a way of re-electing our senators until they turn to dust. The Luv Guv has to be relishing
this moment, but how does he play it? The names of some legitimate contenders are floating around, but there’s not really much in it for Bentley if he simply appoints some Goat Hill buddy or puts in one of the state’s members in the House of Representatives. There needs to be an angle. The clever idea that gives everyone the giggles is Bentley appointing Attorney General Luther Strange, whose office is right in the middle of criminally investigating the Guv regarding potential illegal behavior stemming from his alleged affair with Rebekah Mason. It would certainly be a slick move. Put Big Luther in a place he’s probably dying to go and then get to appoint his successor in the AG’s office. All he has to do then is find a loyalist/puppet who wants the AG’s job badly enough to get in there and squash the investigation. That’s the scenario that’s being tossed around daily. And it’s a good one … but there’s another. What if … WHAT IF the Luv Guv knows he’s in a pickle he can’t get out of even with a crony in the AG’s office? Meanwhile he’s also watching the object of his desires suffer without the $400K or so a year he was paying her. In one final romantic gesture he appoints — Rebekah Mason! That’s Sen. Rebekah Mason to you, Alabama. Like I said at the top of this column, I’m pretty good at political guessing, so don’t laugh it off just yet. I laughed off Trump and see what happened?
THEGADFLY
there are some less-egregious choices. Besides, Kanye West has already announced for 2020! He’s bound to have some good ideas. I’m excited already. Now, on a slightly related tangent ….
No, I’m not talking about the radioactive fallout we’ll have to endure once Trump starts a nuclear war by bombing North Korea after President Kim Jong Un dares to make fun of his “hair.” (That’s just a joke! Everyone put down the pitchforks!) I’m talking about the fallout around these parts if Trump does what most think he will — again, I’m not predicting anything! — and appoints U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions to a Cabinet position. It sets into motion a perfect opportunity for the state’s almost forgotten Luv Guv to further complicate matters in Montgomery. If Sessions leaves his senate seat, it means our dermatologist governor, Robert “Melon Noma” Bentley, will get to squeeze even more fun out of his time in office than he already has. Just as the governor is staring down the barrel of impeachment for allegedly using state resources to allegedly fondle his alleged favorite body parts of his alleged mistress who actually was his top political advisor, an immense power has been placed in his still-quivering hand. That is the power to appoint someone to what probably amounts to a life-
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Cartoon/Laura Rasmussen
The fallout
AT LEAST IT’S OVER FOR FOUR MORE YEARS.
COMMENTARY | THE HIDDEN AGENDA
The Book of Face is not America ASHLEY TRICE/EDITOR/ASHLEYTOLAND@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM
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remember a kinder, simpler time. A time when our Facebook feeds were all full of photos of our friends’ children, dogs and the sandwich they ate for lunch. A glorious age of slow-cooker recipes (did someone say Mississippi pot roast?) and Throwback Thursday pictures. A time when the most egregious sins you could commit on the Book of Face were posting what your CrossFit WOD was (still trying to figure out what a burpee is), how far your run was that day (7 miles, really?) or photos of you sunbathing in the Dominican Republic while the rest of the world labored away under fluorescent lights. Your mom commenting on absolutely every post you make seems almost cute now, precious even. Ohhhh, those were the days. Hell, I even miss being “friended” by old chums just so they could hit me up to purchase some of their Rodan+Fields, Beautycounter, stella & dot and/or Advocare. (I knew I should have gotten that 10 Day Herbal Cleanse! Dang it!) Calgon,
I KNOW MANY SMART AND KIND PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR BOTH CANDIDATES. AND THAT DOES GIVE ME HOPE THAT WE ARE FAR LESS DIVIDED THAN WE THINK. take me back to the Facebook days when I was invited to parties so I could be pumped full of red wine just so I would buy things I truly did not need! Whaaaaa! Leading up to the election, the nastiness and viciousness among “friends” on Facebook had gotten pretty bad. But after Donald Trump’s surprise victory last week it reached a new low. In addition to the name-calling, there was a toxic emotional stew simmering on page after page, chock full of hearty chunks of fear, depression, hysteria, anxiety, gloating, mourning, you name it. I felt like crushing up a Xanax and wiping it on my computer screen, but I don’t think it would have helped. But it was really starting to stress me out. So I just deactivated my account. And it has been a much better week. I will admit I have peeked in a couple of times to see if it was safe to get back in the water, but quickly found it wasn’t. I have friends who really enjoy “debating” issues like this on Facebook and who feel they can effect whatever sort of change they want to see by posting their thoughts, which they know will certainly elicit a negative response from some. Some people find it cathartic and that is their choice. But I just find it depressing. Mainly because while you might be able to sway someone’s opinion about a restaurant you give a crap review to, I have yet to see anyone’s mind changed about politics, EVER. So it just becomes an arena filled with infinite daises of individuals screaming but not really listening to one another — well, except for people they agree with. Some of my friends have told me they have
had productive “conversations” in comment threads that have made them feel better about our divided land and where we are headed. But I have seen less of that and more of people just calling each other names, or people on the “same side” whipping each other into an absolute panic. And it probably just bothers me more than it should. Who cares if two people I haven’t talked to in 20 years (and who probably haven’t talked to each other for that same amount of time) just called each other every name in the book and then just told each other to F off. But I have to admit I watched some of these trainwreck-type exchanges like they were the next episode of “Star Wars” (Where’s my popcorn?). And I felt dirty and sad after it, so I had to step away. Only time will tell how this new administration will govern. And I hope that, for the sake of this great land, half of the country will be pleasantly surprised and the other half can say, “See, I told you so.” Because what’s the alternative? Hoping for nuclear war? Yeah, that has never been particularly high on my wish list either. But in the meantime there are things we can do to bring our country and our communities back together, and if we are more united on that front, we will be more powerful and can absolutely demand the kind of government we want and deserve. Yes, there are horrible people in the world who are going to say and do horrible things. But they were horrible people long before this election. The vast majority of Americans are not like this, no matter who they voted for. And we have to remind those horrible a-holes in the minority that we aren’t going to tolerate their a-holery. And we can’t just write off everyone who voted for the person we didn’t vote for as evil or ignorant or whatever name you want to call them. Try to listen and understand the issues that led them to their decision. I bet in most cases it’s far less nefarious and way more complicated than we think. We often live in our own little bubbles, which makes it hard to understand what other people may be going through, so we unfairly label them as something they are not because it is just easier. I know many smart and kind people who voted for both candidates. And that does give me hope that we are far less divided than we think. There are always going to be fundamental differences between the “left” and the “right.” It has been that way for a very long time and that’s OK — that’s what this country is about. And yes, we all can still fight for the ideals we believe in. We absolutely should! But we can’t forget there is common ground somewhere between those two poles. We just have to be willing to look for it and find it rather than retreating to our own “sides.” And that is what we have been doing for far too long. I am hopeful that as we all sit around our Thanksgiving tables in a couple of weeks (probably across the table from someone we unfollowed on Facebook months ago) we look for the ties that bind us and for goodness in one another, and be more understanding of each other’s perspective. There is still so much to be thankful for.
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COMMENTARY | THE GRIOT’S CORNER
Campaigning versus governing BY KEN ROBINSON/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
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t has been said, “Every great political campaign rewrites the rules.” From the time he descended the gold escalator of Trump Tower on June 16, 2015, formally launching his bid to become president of the United States, Donald Trump threw standard modes and methods of campaigning out the window. With minimal official campaign “infrastructure,” he cashed in on his celebrity and media prowess to dominate the 24-hour news cycle. Frequently calling in to television and radio news shows, garnering what amounted to a large amount of free media time and using social media like Twitter and Facebook to a degree and manner hitherto unseen, Trump rewrote the campaign playbook. His campaign style was brash and crass, his campaign message caustic and, even to many Republicans, divisive. But it was a style and message that prevailed. Actions and words that even early on in the Republican primary would have sunk a traditional candidate seemed to merely raise his profile and status, giving him legitimacy as a candidate who was truly an outsider and not part of the establishment. On the night of Nov. 8, the degree to how effectively he had rewritten the rules and devised a new and effective winning strategy became shockingly clear: he is now President-elect Trump. As protesters have taken to the streets since his election, they’ve done so in response to the campaigning Trump. The campaigning Donald Trump uttered words that castigated a wide array of groups and people in American society. He used rhetoric and tone that compelled overtly racist organizations and groups to come out from the
fringes. Such groups openly endorsed and embraced a nominee they felt understood and sympathized with their narrow-minded worldview. Trump had a resonating economic message to many who felt disaffected and left behind economically. Yet it cannot be disputed that aspects of his campaign message gave legitimacy and motivation to some very dark and destructive strains in our society. It is heartening that President-elect Trump seems much different from the campaign Trump. Since the election, the Trump preparing to assume office has been thoughtful, conciliatory and, dare I say, humble. Throughout his campaign he often lacked restraint in words and deeds, but President-elect Trump appears to be a picture of restraint. The task and responsibility of governing appear to sincerely be weighing upon him in a reassuring way. A couple of columns ago I wrote that the “system works.” I spoke of how our electoral system is not rigged, the outcome is not pre-determined, and voter fraud is not rampant — the results of our elections can be trusted. I noted how we might not like the outcome of a particular election, but it’s our duty to accept it and move on. The results are what they are; such is how a representative democracy functions. After their extended meeting, President Barack Obama, sitting in the Oval Office next to President-elect Trump, stated, “If he succeeds we all succeed.” And as Hillary Clinton stated in her concession speech, “We owe him an open mind …” Their example has been profound. This election was historic in many ways, but it also
COMMENTARY | THE MONTGOMERY MINUTE
D
espite scandal-ensnared Gov. Robert Bentley’s effort to seek the moral high ground by denouncing Trump’s bid for the nation’s highest office, President-elect Donald Trump’s Nov. 8 upset victory may be just the salvation the governor needs, as he faces a criminal investigation and possible impeachment. When Trump visited Mobile over the summer — at a time when his victory was a mere twinkle in the disillusioned voter’s eye — I was there as a reporter, covering what I thought was probably just an inconsequential, not very presidential rally. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Trump’s security detail eventually pushed me farther away from the podium than the five or so feet where I’d begun watching the man I thought would never be president speak. I realize now what I didn’t then: I was in the middle of a movement. Only now does that seem real. And only now am I realizing that another key figure at that rally — U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, white “Make America Great Again” hat and all — will soon become one of that movement’s central leaders in ways that may shake up politics in our state in fundamental ways. Exactly how that Alabama shakeup will go down isn’t transparent quite yet, but it all revolves around one imminent announcement: Sessions’ ascendance to Trump’s cabinet. “Sessions is a guy who is going to be able to have his pick of what he wants to do,” said Joe Kasper, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R-California), who is also a Trump cabinet contender. “Look, it’s a short bench. If you’re looking at early endorsers who also understand the complexities of national defense, there aren’t
SINCE THE ELECTION, THE TRUMP PREPARING TO ASSUME OFFICE HAS BEEN THOUGHTFUL, CONCILIATORY AND, DARE I SAY, HUMBLE. THROUGHOUT HIS CAMPAIGN HE OFTEN LACKED RESTRAINT IN WORDS AND DEEDS, BUT PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP APPEARS TO BE A PICTURE OF RESTRAINT.” victorious if you’re not comfortable with the alternative. The key is understanding the importance of engagement and participation at all levels — local, state and national — in the democratic process. Now, with the results being what they are, it is time for us to hope and advocate for the governing Donald Trump to be a leader who represents and stands for what’s best in America. That policies will be devised based on intellectual depth and reasoned thought, rather than knee-jerk populism. That in recently saying he wants to be an agent of change, he will strive to usher in change that moves the country forward, not the type that takes us back to an intolerant, unequal and restrictive past. Let us hope and advocate that the governing Trump, unlike the campaigning Trump, will be a unifier who understands America is strong because of its diversity, not in spite of it. Because, “if he succeeds, we all succeed …”
he’s already making phone calls to insiders expressing his interest in the seat. Marsh has his hand in everything in Alabama politics, and if he is appointed to federal office, there’s sure to be a huge power vacuum in his wake once he leaves office. If Marsh is appointed to replace Sessions, and I think he’d be the most likely contender, the keys to Montgomery’s halls of power will be up for grabs. Sen. Arthur Orr — Orr is a dynamic, policy-oriented state senator who’s currently in control of the state’s education budget. Orr is a well-polished, wellversed politician, and Bentley wouldn’t be embarrassed by such a pick. Sen. Trip Pittman — Pittman, from Baldwin County, is a sometimes-bommany, and that’s OK.” bastic state senator who controls the state’s general fund budget. He’s caught a So there you have it. Jeff Sessions is all but out as lot of flack in Montgomery for his sometimes rough-and-tumble politics, so his one of Alabama’s U.S. senators, headed for a much more appointment is less likely, but still possible. desirable position, be it secretary of defense, secretary of Secretary of State John Merrill — Merrill has long been a favorite of the homeland security or attorney general. GOP, and many have suggested he would be a good choice to replace Sessions. Then, though, the real questions arise, and Bentley’s Merrill served in the Alabama House before his election as secretary of state. salvation becomes clear: Virtually powerless in the YelIf he’s appointed, it won’t be the first time he’s overcome unlikely odds. As a lowhammer State before Trump’s election, Bentley will candidate for SGA office at the University of Alabama, he was one of the first now likely get to hand pick a replacement to serve the rest to ever beat the so-called “machine.” of Sessions’ term, which lasts until 2020. That power — Steve Flowers — Flowers is a political commentator who served in the Alaand the ultimate bargaining chip it gives the governor — bama House for years, and it’s not impossible that he’d be appointed. Appointcould greatly improve not only Bentley’s ability to govern, ing Flowers would put someone in the office the governor’s known for years, but his ability to hold onto the office itself. and who knows intricately the workings of politics. Alabama’s Republican leaders know the enormous Sen. Cam Ward — Ward currently chairs the Alabama Senate’s judiciary implications, then, that Trump’s cabinet selections have committee, so he may be a good choice to replace Sessions, who has served on for the Heart of Dixie. So far, however, they’re not letting the committee at the national level for years. Ward’s had some personal probtheir cards show. lems, though: he’s known for his temper and admitted to driving while drunk “I know clearly where Jeff Sessions stands on many, after he was arrested in his hometown. many issues, and that’s one of the reasons why he is so reRebekah Mason — God forbid, but we’ve all heard the rumor. Yes, it’d be vered in Alabama,” Terry Lathan, chairman of the Alabama perfectly legal for Gov. Bentley to appoint his former aide and alleged mistress Republican Party, said in a statement about the senator’s to the U.S. Senate … but highly unlikely. potential appointment to a Trump cabinet. “It will be a sad Jo Bonner — Mobile’s most likely chance to get someone homegrown into day for Alabama if he moves on, but if America needs him Sessions’ office is Bonner, the former U.S. congressman from the Port City. and needs his talent and heart and patriotism, we would Appointing Bonner would allow Bentley to put someone in Sessions’ place who very much support that.” knows Congress well. Below is a list of Alabama politicos who would, indeed, Luther Strange — This is by far the most interesting — and possibly career“very much support that” when it comes to Sessions saving — scenario for filling Sessions’ seat. Gov. Bentley, currently under vacating his office early, as they’d love to keep his office criminal investigation by the attorney general of Alabama, could appoint that furniture warm until the next election. very official to the highest federal office representing our state. What a deal that Sen. Del Marsh — Marsh is the top Republican in the could be for Attorney General Luther Strange. And what a plea deal that could Alabama Senate and, according to those in Montgomery, avoid for Gov. Robert Bentley.
Trump win could be Bentley’s salvation BY LEE HEDGEPETH/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
has been instructive. After a bitterly fought democratic primary, many Bernie Sanders supporters couldn’t countenance voting for Clinton or assisting her campaign. Many millennials were unenthused about a potential President Hillary Clinton. Election return data, particularly in the important battleground states, show traditional Democratic voting blocs failed to show up at the voting booth in hoped-for numbers. In a representative democracy, winning an election is all about getting more people to show up and vote than one’s opponent does. In the battleground states, Clinton was unable to do that. The correct and effective response now is not marching in the streets, but committing to engaging in the democratic process. Committing to understanding how the system works and realizing that even if one’s party candidate is not the perfect ideal, it’s still better to work to ensure he or she is
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COMMENTARY | THE BELTWAY BEAT
What was the message of Trump’s election? BY JEFF POOR/COLUMNIST/JEFFREYPOOR@GMAIL.COM
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ow that the shock of President-elect Donald Trump’s victory has worn off and we have heard all the hot takes, it is time to look at things without all of the emotion that comes with winning and losing elections. What does it mean? Over the last eight years, we’d been told that the country was tilting left. Experts argued that with its shifting demographics, the future of America was a European-style socialist democracy fraught with high taxes and government providing womb-to-tomb entitlements for its citizens. Even some Republicans began to believe it. They thought the only way the Republican Party could ever win the Oval Office was to win over Hispanics in order to take votes away from Democrats. Trump’s ascendancy to the GOP nomination all but ensured a victory for Democrats in the minds of experts. Those rabid GOP base voters have done it again — they nominated a candidate who is so easy to portray as antiimmigrant, Islamophobic and an all-around Neanderthal and, therefore, easy to defeat. They were wrong. It’s not to say his opponent, Hillary Clinton, wasn’t a flawed candidate. The Democratic Party probably could have done much better. To just attribute Trump’s victory last week to the shortcomings of Clinton misses the message sent by the voters and, if interpreted that way by Democrats, would set them up for failure in future election cycles. There was never quite the mandate for some of the changes that have happened under President Barack Obama. It could be argued much Obama’s success was due to George W. Bush and his foreign policy in the Middle East. The war in Iraq was used as a wedge issue successfully by the Democratic Party and Obama was able to use it to his advantage in 2008. That alleged mandate through the years, however, was misinterpreted to be a license for government to do a lot of things, both big and small. The biggest, of course, was health care, but there were other, smaller things like transgendered bathrooms in public schools, executive orders changing how immigration laws were enforced, advocacy for same-sex marriage, initiatives to influence how people eat, etc. All of those causes have some merit, but seemed to have been given priority over what the average American was dealing with. When you’ve lost your job because your company has discovered a way to exploit our immigration system by hiring a less-expensive replacement on an H-1B visa, or when your hours have been cut to part-time so that your company won’t have to offer health insurance, the finger gets pointed at the federal government. In the aggregate, that may not seem like a whole lot of people. But consider the margin for error in elections in the Electoral College. A few disenfranchised Rust Belt cities in the Midwest can wind up giving an entire state to one candidate or the other.
And so, here we are with President-elect Donald Trump. It certainly wasn’t a fluke. It wasn’t as if he lost the popular vote by a wide margin and won the Electoral College by a couple of votes. He won convincingly, according to the rules set forth in the Constitution, and both his opponent and the current president have acknowledged that. What message have the voters sent? Is it a repudiation of Obama? Is it pushback against the political correctness in our society? Or perhaps it is a license for Trump to enact everything he laid out in his campaign — a border wall, a temporary halt of Muslims coming into the country, tariffs, rethinking alliances and trade deals like NATO and NAFTA. Many have interpreted this election as a mandate for Trump, given that the Republicans also carried both chambers of Congress in last week’s election. But that remains to be seen. Trump took some bold positions during the campaign and, despite pushback from opponents and the media labeling his proposals as outrageous, the people still elected him. One mandate is pretty clear, and that is there’s at least a perception that the “swamp” needs to be drained in Washington, D.C. Six of the 10 richest counties in the U.S. surround Washington, D.C., a place where little is manufactured but a lot of money is spent. When the most prosperous part of your country is the center of government, where is this wealth being created? The answer is that, for the most part, it isn’t. It’s based on an effort to win power or some sort of favor from the federal government. That’s not to say the system is “rigged,” but it is designed in a way — from the peak of government power all the way down to the nonprofit storefronts on the outskirts of the D.C. metro area — to benefit a select few. At one time, the best and the brightest in our country went into tech, manufacturing, banking — you name it. Now, many simply go to Washington, D.C., because working in or around government offers the best opportunity. Trump likely does not necessarily need to kick down the doors around D.C. to drain the “swamp.” However, if he is able to change this trend and reinvigorate the economy and shift society’s mindset away from being so reliant upon government, then maybe the “swamp” problem could be self-correcting. There are a lot of hurt feelings right now on both sides of the ideological spectrum over last week’s results. Trump has not even been sworn in yet. My suggestion: Wait and see how the first 100 days go. If it is nothing but a combination of Twitter tirades and buckling to Congress, then have at it, Never Trumpers. If it’s the modern-day version of Andrew Jackson’s “Trail of Tears,” with a forced mass exodus to Mexico, then take to the streets, progressives. But for now — before he has done a single thing — he deserves the opportunity the American people have given him through our electoral process.
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BUSINESS | THE REAL DEAL
Mobile Chamber hosts ‘State of the Economy’ luncheon BY RON SIVAK/COLUMNIST/BUSINESS@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM
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ocal businesses have aggressive growth plans moving into 2017 that far exceed national norms, according to results of a member survey released during the Mobile Area Chamber’s recent “State of the Economy” luncheon at The Battle House Renaissance Hotel in downtown Mobile. Among the results of the survey, conducted in September: 24 companies plan to acquire or buy out another company; 35 businesses want to enter or expand into new domestic markets; 13 firms will enter or expand into new international markets; 20 companies will expand their physical plants and/or operations in Mobile; 47 firms expect to buy new equipment and/or software; and 41 businesses will pursue a new consumer/business segment. “That’s a lot to look forward to and the Chamber will be on hand to assist as needed,” Bill Sisson, Mobile Chamber president and CEO, said. “I believe Mobile’s economic future is bright and it appears many business owners and managers feel likewise.” To help the Chamber direct its efforts, members were asked about barriers to growth. Top responses were: attracting and retaining qualified employees; global market conditions; and weak sales. Industry experts from the four relevant local business sectors spoke briefly at the luncheon. Highlights included: Aerospace: Guy Hicks with Airbus Group Inc. said the 20-year demand for aircraft would exceed 33,070, with 5,807 made in Mobile. Real Estate: Daniel Dennis with Roberts Brothers compared the 2016 residential housing market to what he considers the last normal year in Mobile, 2004. To date
2016 has surpassed 2004 in total sales volume. The impact of economic development efforts on real estate shows the largest effect found first in residential rentals, followed by residential sales and industrial, retail and sales occupancy. Shipbuilding: Travis Short with Horizon Shipbuilding said shipbuilders worldwide have cut 20,000 jobs with more downsizing expected. Short’s market advice was adherence to Horizon’s model for survival in a down market: diversification, effective business relationships and innovation. Chemicals: Bonnie Tully with Evonik Industries divulged pent-up demand in the local area for a chemical park. Evonik established one, leading to onsite investments by Bayer and BASF. Currently the facility is only 40 percent developed. Tully credited low natural gas prices for resurgence in manufacturing and credited it for boosting the chemical industry. If prices stay low, she said, it will encourage future onshoring by other manufacturers.
Hand Arendall commemorates 75th anniversary
Mobile-based Hand Arendall, one of the largest law firms in the state, recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. The firm was established in 1941, only a few months prior to the Pearl Harbor attack, which precipitated the United States officially entering World War II. Originally established as Smith, Hand & Arendall, attorneys Massey Bedsole, Tommy Greaves and Vivian Johnston were the first among many local lawyers to join the growing practice. After serving in WW II from 1941 to 1945, members returned to civilian duty and were named partners. The name was officially changed to Hand, Arendall, Bedsole,
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Greaves and Johnston but soon shortened to Hand Arendall, which has remained the firm’s recognized name ever since. Over time Hand Arendall attained recognition on the national stage after successfully arguing two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court: American Radio Association vs. Mobile Steamship Association Inc. on Aug. 22, 1973, resulting in a 5 to 4 vote in the client’s favor; and the Lane vs. Franks decision, which resulted in a unanimous affirmative vote on June 19, 2014. Most recently, two members of the firm have gone on to become a state district court judge and a federal bankruptcy judge. Additionally, through the work of attorneys Johnson and Charlie Arendall, the legal practice has been associated with a number prominent Wall Street firms, working with some of the nation’s leading lawyers and jurists from each of the 50 states and a number of foreign countries. To date Hand Arendall has four offices in Mobile, Birmingham, Athens and Fairhope. It employs about 70 lawyers across all four locations and practices in more than 19 areas of traditional civil law, including admiralty, aerospace, bankruptcy, employment, health care, immigration, international law, real estate, government, tax, technology and intellectual property. Per a news release, it is the largest firm on the central Gulf Coast east of New Orleans. Clients include local, regional and national companies. The firm has received numerous pro bono awards and is involved in Mobile’s Volunteer Lawyer Program, which has been a national model for other bar organizations. More information about the firm and a historical timeline of accomplishments can be found on its website.
Hargrove Foundation raises $30K at second annual fundraiser
Last week The Hargrove Foundation hosted its second annual gala at The Admiral Hotel in downtown Mobile, raising upwards of $30,000 to distribute to a bevy of worthy causes moving into 2017. The keynote speaker for the evening was retired Lt. Gen. L. Honoré, U.S. Army. Honoré is best known for serving as commander of Joint Task ForceKatrina, responsible for coordinating military relief efforts for areas affected by Hurricane Katrina across the Gulf Coast. The Hargrove Foundation is the charitable link of the Hargrove family of companies and is uniquely funded by both internal and external contributions from employees and donors. “Working as one team to support the communities in which we live and work, the foundation is Hargrove’s vehicle for making a true difference in the lives of others,” Vicki Studstill, Hargrove’s vice president of business development, said. The foundation is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization and supports the following four sectors: education, arts and culture, qualified sports activities and health and human services. For more information visit their website.
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323A De La Mare Ave, Fairhope • 990-0003 1104 Dauphin St.. • 478-9494
A PREMIER CATERER & COOKING CLASSES. 1880-A Airport Blvd. • 450-9051
LIVE MUSIC, MARTINIS & DINNER MENU. 26 N. Royal St. • 338-2000
BAY GOURMET ($$)
ROYAL STREET TAVERN
BRIQUETTES STEAKHOUSE ($-$$)
SOUTHERN NAPA
ROYAL STREET CAFE ($)
CORNER 251 ($-$$)
FALAFEL? TRY SOME HUMMUS
JERSEY MIKE’S ($)
SATORI COFFEEHOUSE ($)
DAUPHIN’S ($$-$$$)
JIMMY JOHN’S ($)
SERDA’S COFFEEHOUSE ($)
THE HOUSE ($-$$)
SEAFOOD, SANDWICHES, SALADS & SOUPS. 4513 Old Shell Rd. • 408-9622
JAMAICAN VIBE ($)
MIND-BLOWING ISLAND FOOD. 3700 Gov’t Blvd. Ste A • 602-1973 AUTHENTIC SUB SANDWICHES 7449 Airport Blvd • 375-1820 SANDWICHES, CATERING & DELIVERY TOO. 6920 Airport Blvd. • 414-5444 9 Du Rhu Dr. • 340-8694 62 B Royal Street • 432-0360
ROYAL KNIGHT ($)
LUNCH & DINNER. 3004 Gov’t Blvd • 287-1220
GRILLED STEAKS, CHICKEN & SEAFOOD. 720A Schillinger Rd. S. S2. • 607-7200 901 Montlimar Dr • 408-3133
HOMEMADE LUNCH & BREAKFAST. 104 N. Royal St. • 434-0011
HIGH QUALITY FOOD AND DRINKS 251 Government St • 460-3157
TIN ROOF ($-$$)
LEGACY BAR & GRILL ($$$)
TP CROCKMIERS ($)
MAGHEE’S GRILL ON THE HILL ($-$$)
AMERICAN RESTAURANT & BAR 250 Dauphin St. • 476-1890
THREE GEORGES CANDY SHOP ($)
CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN FOOD. 351A George & Savannah St. • 436-8890 AMERICAN, SEAFOOD,STEKHOUSE. 9 Du Rhu Dr. S. • 341-3370
GREAT LUNCH & DINNER. 3607 Old Shell Rd. • 445-8700
NOJA ($$-$$$)
MICHELI’S CAFE ($)
UNCLE JIMMY’S DELICIOUS HOTDOGS ($)
OSMAN’S RESTAURANT ($$)
MCSHARRY’S ($-$$) AUTHENTIC IRISH PUB 101 N. Bancroft St • 990-5100
MIKO’S ITALIAN ICE ($)
HOTDOGS SANDWICHES & COOL TREATS 3371 Dauphin Island Pkwy • 300–4015
TROPICAL SMOOTHIE ($)
2550 Dauphin Island Pkwy S. • 307-5328
WAREHOUSE BAKERY & DONUTS ($) COFFEE AND DONUTS 759 Nichols Avenue, Fairhope • 928-7223
WILD WING STATION ($) 1500 Gov’t St. • 287-1526
THE KATHMANDU KITCHEN ($-$$) MOMMA GOLDBERG’S DELI ($) YAK AUTHENTIC FOODS FROM HIMALAYAN REGION. SANDWICHES & MOMMA’S LOVE. 3696 Airport Blvd. • 344-9500 5602 Old Shell Rd. • 287-6556
MONTEGO’S ($-$$)
FRESH CARIBBEAN-STYLE FOOD & CRAFT BEER. 6601 Airport Blvd. • 634-3445 225 Dauphin Street • 375-1576
MOSTLY MUFFINS ($)
JAPANESE CUISINE. 3654 Airport Blvd. S. C • 725-6078
KITCHEN ON GEORGE ($-$$)
GREAT SMOOTHIES, WRAPS & SANDWICHES. Du Rhu Dr. • 378-5648 570 Schillinger Road • 634-3454
6358 Cottage Hill Rd. • 725-6917
WASABI SUSHI ($$)
THE SUNFLOWER CAFE ($)
GREAT FOOD AND COCKTAILS 609 Dauphin St. • 308-3105
MARY’S SOUTHERN COOKING ($) 3011 Springhill Ave. • 476-2232
UPSCALE SUSHI & HIBACHI. 364 Azalea Rd. • 343-6622
ISTANBUL GRILL ($)
SERVING LOCAL SEAFOOD & PRODUCE 167 Dauphin St. • 458-9573
NOBLE SOUTH ($$)
GREAT SANDWICHES, COFFEE & MORE. 1087 Downtowner Blvd. • 643-1611
TOKYO JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE ($$)
FIVE ($$)
HIGH QUALITY FOOD WITH A VIEW 107 St. Francis St • 444-0200
LIGHT LUNCH WITH SOUTHERN FLAIR. 226 Dauphin St. • 433-6725
MARS HILL CAFE ($)
9091 US-90 Irvington • 957-1414
STEVIE’S KITCHEN ($)
SOUTHERN CASUAL FAMILY DINING 10800 US hwy 31 • 621-4995
SLAP YOUR MAMA GOOD HOME COOKING. 220 Dauphin St. • 432-6262
TASTE OF THAI ($$)
FROM THE DEPTHS
COFFEE, LUNCHES, LIVE MUSIC & GELATO. 3 Royal St. S. • 415-3000
LODA BIER GARTEN ($) MAMA’S ($)
273 S. McGregor Ave • 287-0555, 6345 Airport Blvd. • 287-0555, 940 Industrial Pkwy • 308-2158
ABBA’S MEDITERRANEAN CAFE ($-$$)
INSIDE VIRGINIA’S HEALTH FOOD 3055 A Dauphin St • 479-3200
PUB FOOD AND DRAFT BEERS 251 Dauphin St • 287-6871
3964 Gov’t Blvd. • 378-8083
DUMBWAITER ($$-$$$)
COFFEE, SMOOTHIES, LUNCH & BEERS. 5460 Old Shell Rd. • 344-4575
JUDY’S PLACE ($-$$)
HOME COOKING. 4054 Government St. • 665-4557
AMAZING SUSHI & ASSORTMENT OF ROLLS. 661 Dauphin St. • 432-0109
PHO YEN ($)
SANDWICHES, SOUPS, SALADS & MORE. 41 West I-65 Service Rd. N Suite 150.
PIZZAS, SANDWICHES, COCKTAILS. 26 N. Royal St. • 338-2000
BISTRO PLATES, CRAFT BEERS AND PANTRY. 2304 Main St. • 375-2800
QUALITY FOOD, EXCELLENT SERVICE 5045 Cottage Hill Rd. • 607-6454
7 SPICE ($-$$)
JOE CAIN CAFÉ ($)
3210 Dauphin St. • 287-0115 400 Eastern Shore Center • 459-2862
‘CUE
BACKYARD CAFE & BBQ ($) HOME COOKIN’ LIKE MOMMA MADE. 2804 Springhill Ave. • 473-4739
MUFFINS, COFFEE & WRAPS. 105 Dauphin St. • 433-9855
BAR-B-QUING WITH MY HONEY ($$)
OVEN-BAKED SANDWICHES & MORE. 252 Azalea Rd. • 341-3533, 1335 Satchel Page Dr. Suite C. • 287-7356 7440 Airport Blvd. • 633-0096 30500 State Hwy 181 #132 • 625-6544
BRICK PIT ($)
LOCAL INGREDIENTS 203 Dauphin St. • 690-6824
INVENTIVE & VERY FRESH CUISINE. 6 N. Jackson St. • 433-0377
HEALTHY, DELICIOUS MEDITERRANEAN FOOD. 3762 Airport Blvd. • 725-1177
BEEF, LAMB & SEAFOOD. 4356 Old Shell Rd. • 340-6464
MOBILE’S OLDEST MIDDLE EASTERN CUISINE. 5773 Airport Blvd. • 304-1155
BONEFISH GRILL ($$)
MEDITERRANEAN FOOD AND HOOKAH 326 Azalea Rd • 229-4206
BOUDREAUX’S CAJUN GRILL ($-$$)
JERUSALEM CAFE ($-$$) KAN ZAMAN ($-$$)
MEDITERRANEAN SANDWICH COMPANY ($) GREAT & QUICK. 274 Dauphin St. • 545-3161 2502 Schillinger Rd. Ste. 2 • 725-0126 6890 US-90 (DAPHNE) • 621-2271
MINT HOOKAH BISTRO ($) GREAT MEDITERRANEAN FOOD. 5951 Old Shell Rd. • 450-9191
OLLIE’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL ($-$$)
GUMBO, ANGUS BEEF & BAR. 72. S. Royal St. • 432-SCAM (7226)
FAR EASTERN FARE
EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE & TASTE. 271 Glenwood St. • 476-0516
FRIED, GRILLED, STEAMED & ALWAYS FRESH. 3300 River Rd. • 973-9070
THE BLUEGILL ($-$$)
MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT AND HOOKAH 1248 Hillcrest St • 634-9820
RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE ($$$)
BAUDEAN’S ($$)
AUTHENTIC TURKISH & MEDITERRANEAN 3702 Airport Blvd. • 461-6901
SUPREME EUROPEAN CUISINE. 2579 Halls Mill Rd. • 479-0006
ROYAL SCAM ($$)
AUTHENTIC VIETNAMESE CUISINE. 763 Holcombe Ave. • 478-5814
BAMBOO BISTRO ($$) 3662 Airport Blvd. • 378-5466
BAMBOO FUSION ($$)
A HISTORIC SEAFOOD DIVE W/ LIVE MUSIC. 3775 Hwy. 98 • 625-1998 ECLECTIC DINING & SPACE. 6955 Airport Blvd. • 633-7196
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 ($) DELI, MARKET AND CATERING. 4380 Halls Mill Rd. • 665-2266
THE GRAND MARINER ($-$$) LOCAL SEAFOOD & PRODUCE. 6036 Rock Point Rd. • 443-5700
THE HARBOR ROOM ($-$$) UNIQUE SEAFOOD. 64 S. Water St. • 438-4000
SAGE RESTAURANT ($$)
2400 Airport Blvd. • 307-5535
SAISHO ($-$$)
Sushi Bar. 650 Cody Rd. S • 300-8383
LUCY B. GOODE ($$)
DELICIOUS, TRADITIONAL THAI CUISINE. 3821 Airport Blvd. • 344-9995
LULU’S ($$)
INSIDE THE MOBILE MARRIOTT. 3101 Airport Blvd. • 476-6400
BAMBOO STEAKHOUSE ($$)
MODERN GASTROPUB INSPIRED BY JAPANESE KITCHEN 455 Dauphin St • 433-0376
BANGKOK THAI ($-$$)
UNION ($$$)
PREMIUM STEAKS & BURGERS. 659 Dauphin St. • 432-0300
BANZAI JAPANESE RESTAURANT ($$)
HALF SHELL OYSTER HOUSE ($) 3654 Airport Blvd. • 338-9350
GULF COAST CUISINE, REINVENTED. 200 E. 25th Ave., Gulf Shores • 967-5858 LIVE MUSIC & GREAT SEAFOOD. 200 E. 25th Ave., Gulf Shores • 967-5858
MUDBUGS AT THE LOOP ($)
BBQ, BURGERS, WINGS & SEAFOOD 19170 Hwy 43 Mt. Vernon. • 839-9927
VON’S BISTRO ($-$$)
A FAVORITE BARBECUE SPOT. 5456 Old Shell Rd. • 343-0001
TAMARA’S DOWNTOWN ($$)
BENJAS ($)
RALPH & KACOO’S ($-$$)
OLD SHELL GROWLERS($)
DOWNTOWN LUNCH 101 N. Conception St. • 545-4682
THE TRELLIS ROOM ($$$)
CHARM ($-$$)
R&R SEAFOOD ($-$$)
ZEA’S ($$)
CUISINE OF INDIA ($$)
RIVER SHACK ($-$$)
PANINI PETE’S ($)
BBQ AND MORE. Jubilee Sq.Ctr. Hwy 90, Daphne • 210-2151 McGowin Park Ctr. Satchel Paige Dr. • 471-1050 7721 Airport Blvd • 380-8957
FUJI SAN ($)
TIN TOP RESTAURANT & OYSTER BAR ($$)
NEWK’S EXPRESS CAFE ($)
GROWLER STATION AND BITES 1801 Old Shell Rd. • 345-4767
ORIGINAL SANDWICH AND BAKE SHOP. 42 ½ Section St., Fairhope • 929-0122 102 Dauphin St. • 405-0031
PAT’S DOWNTOWN GRILL ($)
FIVE GUYS BURGERS & FRIES ($) BAR FOOD BURGERS, MILKSHAKES & FRIES 4401 Old Shell Rd. • 447-2394 4363 Airport Blvd. • 661-0071 5319 Hwy 90 • 660-0071 1225 Satchel Page Dr., E100 • 378-8768
PITA PIT ($)
271 Dauphin St • 438-9585
PDQ ($)
CHICKEN FINGERS, SALAD & SANDWICHES. 1165 University Blvd. • 202-0959
COTTON STATE BBQ ($) DICKEY’S BARBECUE PIT ($-$$)
DREAMLAND BBQ ($)
RIBS, SANDWICHES & GREAT SIDES. 3314 Old Shell Rd. • 479-9898
MOE’S ORIGINAL BAR B QUE ($) BARBEQUE & MUSIC. Bayfront Park Dr., Daphne • 625-RIBS 701 Springhill Ave. • 410-7427 4672 Airport Blvd. • 300-8516
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SEAFOOD, ASIAN AND AMERICAN CUISINE 69 St. Michael St • 375-1113 CASUAL FINE DINING. 104 N. Section St., Fairhope • 929-2219
TRADITIONAL SUSHI & LUNCH. 312 Schillinger Rd. • 633-9077 THAI & SUSHI 5369 D Hwy 90 W • 661-5100
CONTEMPORARY SOUTHERN CUISINE Battle House Hotel, Royal St. • 338-5493
THAI KITCHEN AND SUSHI BAR 960 Schillinger Rd. S • 660-4470
GOURMET ROTISSERIE. PRIME RIB & SEAFOOD. 4671 Airport Blvd. • 344-7414
LUNCH BUFFET 3674 Airport Blvd. • 341-6171
A LITTLE VINO
THAI FARE AND SUSHI 2000 Airport Blvd. • 478-9888
DOMKE MARKET
WINE, BEER, GOURMET FOODS, & MORE. 720 Schillinger Rd. S. Unit 8 • 287-1851
FATHOMS LOUNGE
A TAPAS RESTAURANT & COCKTAILS 64 S. Water St. • 438-4000
GOLDEN BOWL ($)
HIBACHI GRILL & ASIAN CUISINE. 309 Bel Air Blvd • 470-8033
HIBACHI 1 ($-$$)
2370 Hillcrest Rd. Unit B • 380-6062
CAJUN KITCHEN & SEAFOOD MARKET. 2005 Government St. • 478-9897 THE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT! 1595 Battleship Pkwy • 626-0045
LAID-BACK EATERY AND FISH MARKET 1477 Battleship Pkwy. • 621-8366 SEAFOOD, BURGERS & STEAKS. 6120 Marina Dr., Dog River • 443-7318.
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
LUCKY’S IRISH PUB ($) IRISH PUB FARE & MORE. 3692 Airport Blvd • 414-3000
WEMOS ($)
WINGS, TENDERS, HOTDOGS & SANDWICHES. 312 Schillinger Rd. • 633-5877
ZANDER’Z ($-$$)
WINGS, BEERS AND DRINKS 1850 Airport Blvd • 471-5520
MAMA MIA!
BUCK’S PIZZA ($$) DELIVERY. 350 Dauphin St. • 431-9444
CORTLAND’S PIZZA PUB ($-$$)
CALLAGHAN’S IRISH SOCIAL CLUB ($)
GREAT PIZZA. LUNCH & DINNER. 4356 Old Shell Road • 342-0024
HEROES SPORTS BAR & GRILLE ($)
HOMEMADE PASTAS & SANDWICHES. 873 Hillcrest Ave. • 344-8115
BURGERS & BEER. 916 Charleston St. • 433-9374
SANDWICHES & COLD BEER. 273 Dauphin St. • 433-4376 Hillcrest & Old Shell Rd. • 341-9464
HURRICAN GRILL & WINGS ($-$$) WINGS, SEAFOOD, BURGERS AND BEER 7721 Airport Blvd. Suite E-180 • 639-6832
MANCIS ($)
1715 Main St. • 375-0543
GAMBINO BROTHERS ($) GAMBINO’S ITALIAN GRILL ($) ITALIAN, STEAKS & SEAFOOD. 18 Laurel Ave. Fairhope • 990-0995
GUIDO’S ($$)
FRESH CUISINE NIGHTLY ON MENU. 1709 Main St., Daphne • 626-6082
LA ROSSO ($$)
MCSHARRY’S IRISH PUB ($)
COMFORT FOOD. 1716 Main St. Ste. C, Daphne • 281-2982
MUG SHOTS ($$)
SMALL PLATES, PIZZAS, PASTAS AND WINE 3250 Airport Blvd. • 450-4556
BRILLIANT REUBENS & FISH-N-CHIPS. 101 N. Brancroft St. Fairhope • 990-5100 BAR & GRILL. 6255 Airport Blvd. • 447-2514
OLD 27 GRILL ($)
BURGERS, DOGS & 27 BEERS & WINES. 19992 Hwy.181 Old County Rd. Fairhope • 281-2663
MACARONI GRILL ($$)
MELLOW MUSHROOM ($)
PIES & AWESOME BEER SELECTION. 2032 Airport Blvd. • 471-4700 5660 Old Shell Rd. • 380-1500 29698 Frederick Blvd, Daphne • 621-3911
NAVCO PIZZA ($$)
PIZZA, SUBS & PASTA. 1368 ½ Navco Rd.• 479-0066
PICKLEFISH ($$)
PIZZA, SANDWICHES & SALADS. 5955 Old Shell Rd.• 344-9899
PAPA’S PLACE ($$)
A TASTE OF ITALY . BYOB. 28691 U.S. Highway 98 • 626-1999
PINZONE’S ITALIAN DOWNTOWN ($$) ITALIAN, CATERING, TO-GO. 312 Fairhope Ave, Fairhope • 990-5535
PINZONE’S ITALIAN VILLAGE ($$) AUTHENTIC ITALIAN DISHES 312 Fairhope Ave, Fairhope • 990-5535
RAVENITE ($)
PIZZA, PASTA, SALAD & MORE 102 N. Section St. • 929-2525
PIZZERIA DELFINA ($) PIZZA & PASTA 107 Dauphin St. • 375-1644
ROMA CAFE ($-$$)
PASTA, SALAD AND SANDWICHES. 7143 Airport Blvd. • 341-7217
ROMANO’S MACARONI GRILL ($$)
Springdale Mall 3250 Airport Blvd. • 450-4556
TAMARA’S BAR & GRILL ($)
WINGS, PO-BOYS, BURGERS. 210 Eastern Shore Center, Hwy. 98 • 929-0002
TRATTORIA PIZZA & ITALIAN ($$) ITALIAN FOOD & PIZZAS. 11311 US HIghway 31 Spanish Fort• 375-0076
UNCLE MADDIO’S PIZZA JOINT ($) HOMEMADE PIZZA & GOURMET SALADS 7765 Airport Blvd. • 639-5010
VIA EMILIA ($$)
HOMEMADE PASTAS & PIZZAS MADE DAILY. 5901 Old Shell Rd. • 342-3677
OLÉ MI AMIGO! CAFÉ DEL RIO ($-$$)
BURGER, WINGS, PIZZA
BEACH BLVD STEAMER ($) CARTER GREEN STEAKHOUSE ($$-$$$)
EXOTIC CUISINE AND SUSHI
STALLA ($$)
CINCO DE MAYO ($)
ITALIAN COOKING
MEXICAN CUISINE 260 Azalea Rd. • 375-1095
TERRACE CAFE ($)
DAUPHIN ST. TAQUERIA ($) ENCHILADAS, TACOS, & AUTHENTIC FARE. 661 Dauphin St. • 432-2453
FUEGO ($-$$)
BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, LATE NIGHT
HARD ROCK CASINO:
777 Beach Blvd.Biloxi • 877-877-6256
3300 W. Beach Blvd. Biloxi • 877-774-8439
RICH TRADITIONS, STEAK, SEAFOOD
C&G GRILLE ($)
LARGE BREAKFAST, LUNCH OR DINNER MENU.
PALACE CASINO:
158 Howard Ave. Biloxi • 800-725-2239
MIGNON’S ($$$)
HALF SHELL OYSTER HOUSE ($-$$) STEAKS, SEAFOOD, FINE WINE
OUTSTANDING MEXICAN CUISINE. 2066 Old Shell Rd. • 378-8621
SEAFOOD
HACIENDA SAN MIGUEL ($-$$) TASTE OF MEXICO 880 Schillinger Rd. S. • 633-6122 5805 US 90 • 653-9163
HARD ROCK CAFÉ ($)
AMERICAN FARE & ROCKIN’ MEMORABILIA.
RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE ($$$) EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE & TASTE.
LOS ARCOS ($)
SATISFACTION ($-$$)
QUAINT MEXICAN RESTAURANT. 5556 Old Shell Rd. • 345-7484
SOUTHERN FAVORITES BUFFET
LA COCINA ($)
HARRAH’S GULF COAST:
AUTHENTIC MEXICAN CUISINE. 4633 Airport Blvd. • 342-5553
280 Beach Blvd. Biloxi • 288-436-2946
MARIA BONITA AGAVE BAR & GRILL ($-$$)
MAGNOLIA HOUSE ($$-$$$) FINE DINING, SEAFOOD AND STEAKS
FLAVORS BUFFET ($-$$) ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET
TAQUERIA MEXICO ($-$$)
BEAU RIVAGE:
ISLAND VIEW:
JIA ($-$$)
MOUTH WATERING MEXICAN FOOD 1175 Battleship Pkwy • 625-2722
NO GAMBLING CASINO FARE
FINE DINING ESTABLISHMENT.
COAST RESTAURANT ($-$$)
TASTE OF MEXICO 5452 Hwy 90 W • 661-5509
AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FLAVOR. 3733 Airport Blvd. • 414-4496
CASUAL & RELAXING, EXTENSIVE MENU.
BR PRIME ($$-$$$)
AZTECAS ($-$$)
MEXICAN CUISINE. 3977 Gov’t Blvd. • 660-4970
875 Beach Blvd. Biloxi • 888-952-2582
PLACE BUFFET ($-$$) INTERACTIVE ASIAN DINING
STACKED GRILL ($-$$)
BURGERS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
TREASURE BAY:
1980 Beach Blvd. Biloxi • 800-747-2839
THE DEN ($-$$)
INTIMATE & CASUAL WITH DAILY SPECIALS.
CQ ($$-$$$)
ELEGANT ATMOSPHERE & TANTALIZING ENTREES.
BLU ($)
LOUNGE WITH COCKTAILS & TAPAS MENU.
IP CASINO:
WIND CREEK CASINO:
THIRTY-TWO ($$$)
FIRE ($$-$$$)
850 BAYVIEW AVE. BILOXI-- • 888-946-2847 SEAFOOD, STEAKS, WINE
TIEN ($-$$)
INTERACTIVE ASIAN DINING
HIGH TIDE CAFÉ ($)
303 Poarch Rd. Atmore • 866-946-3360 PRIME STEAKS, SEAFOOD & WINE.
GRILL ($)
CONTEMPORARY & OLD-FASHIONED FAVORITES.
SEND LISTINGS TO LISTINGS@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM
N o v e m b e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 - N o v e m b e r 2 3 , 2 0 1 6 | L AG N I A P P E | 19
CUISINE THE REVIEW
Zander’z serves tasty food amid some chaos
ZANDER’Z SPORTS BAR & RESTAURANT 1850 AIRPORT BLVD., MOBILE 36606 251-471-5520
BY ANDY MACDONALD/CUISINE EDITOR
I
WORD OF MOUTH
G’s Bakery softly opens its doors BY ANDY MACDONALD We all thought it would be later in the month, but G’s Bakery at the corner of Dauphin and Semmes had its soft opening Monday, Nov. 14. I was among the first in line but was beaten by my friend Emily Calloway who, as a good sport, offered me a slice of her gluten-free bread. Pastries, Danishes and many things sweet accompanied the baguettes and loaves as the friendly staff worked hard to serve the needs of morning commuters. There was dine-in seating as well as sidewalk tables filled with neighborhood folk who, with the occasional dog, hoofed their way to a sweet tooth’s breakfast. There is a kitchen serving up bagels and
sandwiches of thinly sliced pork, grilled chicken breast, pastrami, turkey, ham salad and cheese with caramelized onion as well as chopped salads and soup. I had the upside-down plum tart. I will have it again. The website is still under construction but the Facebook page is fairly active. I expect this business to explode. A neighborhood shop like this has potential. As I was leaving someone asked me how the gluten-free bread fared. “It’s good,” I told them, “but it’s missing tomatoes and mayonnaise.”
Chef Cates nails wine dinner
I’ve been to a lot of wine dinners in my time. I know, poor me. But I must tell you the recent Kitchen on George 5th anniversary wine dinner was one of the best I’ve ever experienced.
20 | L AG N I A P P E | N o v e m b e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 6 - N o v e m b e r 2 3 , 2 0 1 6
Photo | Daniel Anderson / Lagniappe | Zanderz
bites are about the size of a corn nugget, but much better. But t was a post-election evening and everyone was still reeling from the results. Social media was driving me bonkers and I the surprise of the evening was the pile of deep-fried banana knew I needed some football. I had the kids, which is a little pepper rings. These could seriously be the “next big thing” in Mobile’s bar trash scene. It made me not miss the rangoons that unusual for midweek, so Catherine and I invited our friend for some reason didn’t find their way into the box. Priscilla Belle Jenkins over for the Thursday night game to Zander’z is in a constant state of change, with so many speamp up the fun. cials you could have a separate menu. I’ve heard people speak I really didn’t feel like cooking so PB and I met at Zander’z of boneless ribs stuffed with asparagus that are on the radar. Sports Bar and Restaurant to place an order on wheels. Don’t Tonight my first special was called The Causeway ($20.99). know it? Zander’z took the place of the Gulf Coast Wing House This is a bed of risotto with a grilled filet of snapper topped with at the corner of Airport and Old Government. Formerly Ollie’s, a fried softshell crab. Accompanied by a mixed grill of vegI first heard about it from one of the cooks while having a drink etables, including zucchini, yellow squash, onions and carrots, it after a gig. There’s a buzz about the changes that have happened in this is very hard to see how they could keep the price so low. If there is one regret for this dish it’s that I wasn’t dining in. Something neighborhood bar and grill so I figured it was time to chance this good in a Styrofoam box just doesn’t give you the presentait on some game food. Priscilla and I arrived about the same tion it needs. time, though we’d previously perused an The other special was named The Delta online menu. ($15.99). This was the Zander’z take on Everyone was super friendly and eager shrimp and grits with the same mixed grill to help, even asking if we were going mentioned before. I say their “take” behome to watch the game. After a few quescause it wasn’t just shrimp and grits. These tions and no beers, we over-ordered for THERE’S A BUZZ ABOUT were incredibly large stuffed shrimp over three adults and two growing boys. Two creamy grits, and the dish was my favorite specials, a couple pizzas, wings and apps THE CHANGES THAT HAVE of the two. make for a carload of a feast. HAPPENED IN THIS NEIGHFor the most part Zander’z is doing a Ready to settle in and dine with the bang-up job in that familiar building, and NFL blaring on the big screen, I turn on BORHOOD BAR AND GRILL management says there are more changes the television to find none other than the coming. I like the place, but it isn’t all Browns versus the Ravens. Deflated, I SO I FIGURED IT WAS TIME rainbows and unicorns over there. My knew that if I didn’t care one bit about eiTO CHANCE IT ON SOME complaints are small, but significant. ther of these teams or their standings then I First of all, the Gulf Coast Wing sign certainly couldn’t force my guests to watch GAME FOOD. and awning are still up. That is a strike simply because it’s football. With tears in against them for anyone driving by. my eyes I quietly watched Priscilla, Lucas Secondly, their online menu is incomplete and Graham navigate through the On and confusing in many ways. I’m finding out more and more Demand menu until “Kung Fu Panda 3” replaced the game as what I missed by paying attention to the website. Finally, a Catherine and I prepared the plates. major complaint is that a 15 percent gratuity is added to your Let’s start with pizza. The boys had their own cheese pizza check to “ensure quality.” I didn’t even notice it until I read a ($9) and remarked how great it was. For the adults. I was so Yelp review. overjoyed they had green olives that I ordered the green olive I was told by an employee (I can only assume was a manand sausage pizza ($11.49). This was a very good pizza with a ager?) that they are in the process of moving the taps from the medium crust, so off the bat we were impressed. small bar room (the old 1850 Room) to the 40-foot bar in the Priscilla was in the mood for wings, so we tried two flavors. dining room and will outfit the smaller room as a sushi bar. Zanderz’s boneless pineapple teriyaki wings ($4.99) were a four-piece snack that I must say was tasty. Bleu cheese or ranch They already have a fairly expansive menu, so let’s hope that goes well. would ruin the flavor. We also tried the regular lemon garlic I wouldn’t necessarily say I reviewed Zander’z prematurely. wings ($4.99), which were just as impressive. Maybe I just caught them in the middle of a menu change. There Next we found ourselves opening a rather large samwere some minor flaws that could easily be remedied with a pler platter ($11.99), ordered only because Buffalo chicken little TLC and a photocopy of whatever menu they happened to rangoons sounded amazing. Fried dill pickles were as good as be running that day. There was no menu to take home and the you’d expect. Corn nuggets weren’t plentiful but good. Crab
ZANDER’Z OFFERS A VARIED MENU, INCLUDING SEAFOOD SELECTIONS. website, as I said, has some issues. But the boys in the back nailed the food. I’m not complaining about one thing I ate. Let’s hope these guys don’t try to do too much. A friend to all is a friend to none. But if you want good pizza and wings with the option of finer dining and some great bar trash, then look no farther. I think everything would have been even better had I been dining in, even if I would have had to watch the Browns.
This was my first chance to be up close and personal with Chef Bryan Cates, and I am impressed. With a nine-course dinner and two separate seatings, you would think part of the meal would suffer, but I detected no flaws. You would also think the portions would be small. They were not, nor were the pours! I hate to even give you the highlights because everything was so good, but if there is a way for some of this to make it to the regular menu it could serve him well. Just keep it cost effective. The crab salad of apple, preserved peanut and pepper oil was as good as the best West Indies salad I have ever had the pleasure of eating. Tuna Poke and the Pork Griot with samp grits and salsa verde tied for my second favorites. KOG has some talent behind those kitchen doors so I’m sure there are many
more anniversaries to come. Have as many as you like, gang, as long as you keep the ink on my invitations fresh.
Fairhope Brewing readies for Thanksgiving
There’s always something going on at Fairhope Brewing Co.’s taproom, and Thanksgiving is no different. Bookended by two events, the annual Pint Night on Wednesday, Nov. 23, will feature live music from Swing and a free logo glass with every beer you purchase. Black Friday is a celebration of black beers — in fact, close to a dozen black beers including four different variations of Judge Roy Bean and live music by Fat Man Squeeze. Music starts around 7 p.m. No cover. Recycle!
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COVER STORY
Alabama’s support could pay dividends in Trump presidency Trump’s election sparks protests locally, nationally
Green Party. He and other speakers also condemned a rash of reported attacks and harassments directed at minorities BY JASON JOHNSON/REPORTER since Trump’s election. On Sunday, Trump himself addressed those incidents in an interview with Lesley Stahl ith the 2016 presidential election in the aired on the CBS program “60 Minutes,” telling those rearview mirror, it’s safe to say the reaction responsible to “Stop it.” to Donald J. Trump’s unexpected victory In Mobile, Henderson called on Trump’s supporters has been mixed. While many lauded the and his detractors to speak out against that type of “bigNew York mogul’s convincing victory last week, others otry” if it continues. took to the streets in protest of a president-elect they’ve “What we’re seeing now is a rise in very angry, but deemed sexist, racist and xenophobic. also very bigoted, ideology, and whether you like Donald This week, some protests in major cities and on colTrump or not, that’s what’s happening because of his lege campuses stretched into their sixth day, and while presidency,” Henderson said. “We don’t just call on the most have remained peaceful, others have not. allies of minority communities and the allies of LGBT Anti-Trump demonstrations in Portland, Oregon, communities and allies of women — we’re also calling quickly escalated to violence last week with protesters on you that voted for Donald Trump to stand up for destroying property, blocking streets what you claim to believe in and and throwing projectiles at police condemn these people.” officers. Just since last Thursday, Consistent with predictions that riots have caused $1 million worth Trump had a miniscule chance of damage in Portland and led to of taking the White House, those more than 100 arrests. that make a living through market THIS WEEK, SOME Over the weekend, some of that speculation have also been wrong dismay made its way to Mobile, about the immediate effects a PROTESTS IN MAJOR as the Alabama Green Party held Trump presidency would have on CITIES AND ON COLLEGE a “Rally Against Trump(ism)” in U.S. financial markets. Cathedral Square. Contrary to what Before the election, a long-shot CAMPUSES STRETCHED some assumed, the organizers in Trump victory came with a warnMobile weren’t just protesting the ing from Wall Street giants such INTO THEIR SIXTH DAY, election’s outcome. as Citibank, JPMorgan Chase and AND WHILE MOST HAVE “A lot of people think [Donald Morgan Stanley — an unexpected, Trump] came into power because unpredictable candidate seizing the REMAINED PEACEFUL, he gave a racist, misogynistic, presidency would cause a drop in homophobic message, and that stocks in favor of a more-secure OTHERS HAVE NOT. most people that voted for him hold bond market. Yet so far the opposite those same ideas in their heart, and has proven to be true. Bond markets I’ll say, ‘Yes, some of them do,’ in the U.S. and in Europe have seen but most voted for Donald Trump because he brought a wave of sales suggesting investors are betting on an an economic message to the people,” Tyler Henderson, economic policy under Trump that will favor a rise in chair of the Alabama Green Party, said. “This is a mesinterest rates. sage that resonated, and you can tell this because another Still, with campaign rhetoric touting domestic growth economic populist rose up alongside Donald Trump, and and promises to dismantle longstanding international his name was Bernie Sanders.” trade agreements, Dr. Reid Cummings, director of the As many on the political left have done over the past Center for Real Estate and Economic Development at week, Henderson laid some of the blame for Trump’s the University of South Alabama, said last week that victory at the feet of the Democratic Party and its nomiTrump’s effect on the economy would be left to speculanee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. tion until he takes office. Claiming a need for a “political alternative to the However, he also added, “in general, business tends Democratic Party” in Alabama, Henderson pushed for to like smaller government and less regulation.” If that those at the rally — around 30 or so — to consider the holds true, he believes a Trump White House coupled
W
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with GOP gains in Congress could be “good for business” overall. Still, in port cities such as Mobile, Trump’s desire to negotiate “better deals” in existing international trade agreements is something local officials will likely be monitoring closely. To that effect, Jimmy Lyons, president of the Alabama State Port Authority, told Lagniappe some of his initial concerns have eased slightly over the past week, as Trump has moved away from the “talk of protectionism” in trade that came up during his campaign. Lyons says he now wonders how much of that was “just the heat of the campaign” and how much might live on to become executive policy. “Anything that could spark a trade war — where we put a tariff on our stuff, and then another country puts a tariff on their stuff — could have an effect on imports and exports, and that was one of the only things that was a significant concern of mine from the standpoint of operating a port,” Lyons said. “But given some of the softening we’ve seen now that the campaign has ended, I don’t know that those concerns are as valid any longer.” But while Trump’s economic policies might look malleable heading into 2017, his environmental policies don’t appear to be losing any steam from campaign trail. Last week he selected Myron Ebell, a leading contrarian of the scientific consensus on global warming, to head the transition of the Environmental Protection Agency. Trump has also maintained he would rescind the “job-destroying executive actions” President Barack Obama took related to climate change — including the Clean Power Plan aimed at limiting carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange was an early critic of that plan, joining 24 other states’ attorneys general in securing a stay on implementing the plan from the U.S. Supreme Court in February. “[It] would shutter coal-fired power plants around the country, including in Alabama, while killing jobs and raising power bills for hard-working families,” Strange said of the Clean Power Plan at the time. However, while Strange might be happy with the early signals from Trump’s transition team, they’re causing concern for environmental groups along the Gulf Coast — even among those that have historically worked with Democrats and Republicans alike. “During this time of presidential transition, one of the world’s most important environmental restoration efforts will continue in the Gulf region, and we urge the Trump administration to work with Gulf experts on any policies that may impact this region,” Kara Lankford, interim director of Gulf restoration at Ocean Conservancy, told Lagniappe. “At the same time, [we’re] concerned about the signals being sent by the Trump transition team, with a climate change denier currently being considered to lead the EPA transition team. Given the need for strong action on climate change to protect coastal communities, especially in the Gulf, we will be following this appointment closely.” Locally, Mobile Baykeeper executive director Casi Callaway said the environment of the Gulf Coast takes on a different level of importance because of how necessary it is to not only the area’s ecosystem, but also to its “jobs, economy, community, health and recreation.” If environmental support at the federal level is scaled back under Trump — and all signs suggest it will be — Callaway said, there will still be local environmentalists in multiple organizations committed to doing what’s best for Mobile Bay. “If over the next four years environmental protection is no longer a priority, Mobile Baykeeper will just have a bigger job to do,” she said. “As the environmental advocate for our coastal community, [we] will continue to achieve progress toward a healthier, more sustainable environment with the support of our members and volunteers who are committed to clean water, clean air and healthy communities.”
COVER STORY
Congressman: State could benefit from Trump presidency BY DALE LIESCH
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oters in Alabama overwhelmingly chose Republican President-elect Donald Trump over Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton on Election Day, and that loyalty may pay off as his administration begins to take shape. Not only are several Alabamians being considered for positions inside a Trump White House, including Sen. Jeff Sessions, but with the GOP retention of the House and Senate, some of the state’s representatives could see new leadership roles on Capitol Hill. Sessions, who is from Mobile, has been rumored to fill a number of Trump’s cabinet positions in the week since Trump’s Electoral College win: a possible attorney general post, or maybe secretary of defense or secretary of homeland security, according to media reports. Sessions, one of the first senators to throw his support behind Trump, will apparently be rewarded for his early support of the real estate magnate. U.S. Rep Bradley Byrne (R-Montrose) said Sessions would do a wonderful job as a member of Trump’s cabinet. “I’ve known Jeff Sessions for 40 years,” Byrne said. “He has a high level of integrity … he’s well respected. He’ll be a tremendous asset to the Trump administration.” Sessions’ appointment to a cabinet position will undoubtedly help the Mobile area when it comes to decisions of the federal government, Byrne said. Sessions’ possible cabinet appointment would not be the first time he’s been tapped by a president. He was rejected for a federal judgeship in 1986, in part due to his actions as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama and for his views toward the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Sessions successfully ran for Senate in 1996 after a brief stint as Alabama Attorney General. In addition to Sessions possibly leaving the Senate for the White House, Alabama could also benefit from the GOP’s retention of a congressional majority. Byrne said GOP Sen. Richard Shelby will maintain his high position in the senate and other Alabama members of Congress could see their roles expanded. For instance, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (RHaleyville) could see greater responsibility as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Byrne said. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) could see a promotion from sub-chair of the House Armed Services Committee, he added. “For the rest of us, it’s too early to know,” Byrne said. Alabama’s support of Trump could pay dividends when it comes to policy decisions and federal spending as well, Byrne said. Progress on the Interstate 10 bridge over the Mobile River should continue under a Trump administration, he said. The president-elect has championed a $1 trillion infrastructure plan, which Byrne thinks will include money for the federal portion of the project. The state’s portion of the project could come from tolling or Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act money, which is given to Gulf Coast states by oil companies in exchange for drilling rights off the coast. “I expect the design portion to be complete by the end of next year,” Byrne said of the bridge project. “The state should be able to decide on funding by then. Construction could begin as early as 2018.”
A Trump presidency could also mean continued support for the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program, which would benefit Austal, Byrne said. Trump’s call for an expansion of the U.S. Navy fleet from 276 ships to 350 ships would mean the build-out of the LCS program’s 52 ships would have to continue, Byrne said; 26 of those ships would be built in Mobile. In addition to infrastructure funding and increased military spending, a Trump administration could return the state’s red snapper season to a normal duration, Byrne said. Trump would be able to “reach down” to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Fisheries Services to get them to end the current regulations, he said. In a column released this week, Byrne also said he looked forward to working with Trump on securing the border and repealing the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, “once and for all.”
Baldwin turns out for Trump BY JANE NICHOLES
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aldwin County voters turned out in droves to vote for Donald Trump, achieving record turnout in numbers if not in percentages. Some 95,000 people went to the polls, and they stood in lines that often ran outside, down sidewalks and around buildings. When the votes were counted, 77 percent voted for Trump, 19 percent for Hillary Clinton and the remainder for a smattering of other candidates. Only two small precincts, the Vaughn Community Center near Stockton and the Douglasville Boykin Center in Bay Minette, went for Clinton over Trump. Baldwin County Probate Judge Tim Russell had predicted turnout would be at 80 percent or above and was surprised to find on Wednesday that it was actually 65 percent. He visits the polls on Election Day and makes projections based on the turnout when he arrives at a precinct. “The trend dropped way off later in the day, which told me that the younger voters didn’t come out after work like we thought they would,” Russell said. He said he was surprised, but he also noted that rain lingered late into the day in south Baldwin County. Lines may have discouraged some voters as well. Sheer numbers, though, set the record. “That’s the biggest turnout that we’ve ever had in the history of the county by far,” Russell said. Four years ago there were 69,000 voters for the presidential election. Russell said the population increase over four years plus the turnout show that he will need more money in the future to run high-profile elections. The next such election will be in June 2018, when the governor, Legislature, statewide and county officials will be on the ballot. Baldwin was one of 14 counties to experiment with a new format for checking voter IDs. People in two precincts walked in, had their driver’s licenses scanned and then signed in on a screen, like a credit card transaction. The experiment was confined to the Bay Minette and White House Fork precincts and proved to be faster than manually looking for a voter’s name in a book, Russell said. He said 95 percent of Baldwin County voters have driver’s licenses. While those two precincts were faster, nearly 5,000 absentee ballots took until 1 a.m. to count, Russell said.
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ART ARTIFICE
History Museum exhibit replete with warning
Corpses are shown being dressed before burial “so their exit from this world would have some kind of dignity.” An army chaplain rabbi was brought in for Jewish religious services at Stevens’ insistence. He naturally filmed it. Local German citizens were made to tour the camp and the ovens where stacks of bodies awaited incineration. They disavowed any knowledge but the Americans doubted their claims, as the hellish odor extended miles into the countryside. BY KEVIN LEE/ARTS EDITOR/KLEE@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM How do these things happen? How do humans come to this barbarism? The answer is easy: we feed our worst selves, then don willful ignorance. Uncertainty sparks fear and we fan its flames, with pointed fingers, with scapevercast and cool, the weather suited Veterans and instructions passed on to their corps. A note dated May goats — ethnicities, religions, journalists, intellectuals, professionals — and Day’s somber reflection. What I found inside the 3, 1945, tells of Americans’ refusal to believe the stories fruitless longing for simple answers. When scared and hungry souls belong to History Museum of Mobile was one of our veterunless film existed to convince them. Their work became ans’ most worthy yet horrific chapters. evidence in the Nuremberg war crime trials, their planning On display through Jan. 16, “Filming the Camps” folspelled out in the exhibit. GEORGE STEVENS MADE HIS DIRECTORIAL lows American film directors John Ford, Samuel Fuller and George Stevens made his directorial name with slapGeorge Stevens in their work for the Field Photographic stick comedy and Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers musicals beNAME WITH SLAPSTICK COMEDY AND FRED Branch. Along with 60 technicians, they were instructed fore joining the Army Signal Corps. In late April 1945, his to film war crimes and atrocities as United States forces film crew joined U.S. troops near Munich and the Dachau ASTAIRE/GINGER ROGERS MUSICALS BEFORE JOINING THE crossed Europe following D-Day. Concentration Camp. It forever changed his films. A warning about the graphic nature of the display is on The Nazis scrambled to cover their crimes as the Allies ARMY SIGNAL CORPS. IN LATE APRIL 1945, HIS FILM CREW the entrance for good reason. It is not recommended for neared, burning documents, destroying gas chambers. JOINED U.S. TROOPS NEAR MUNICH AND THE DACHAU CONchildren younger than 11. Stevens’ crew came across 39 railway wagons filled with Stark lighting, charcoal gray walls and dark carpet set 4,800 prisoners abandoned during relocation, packed into CENTRATION CAMP. IT FOREVER CHANGED HIS FILMS.” a fitting tone in the exhibit hall. Display cabinets of bare, open cattle cars and most all dead of exposure in a wintry unpainted wood complete the bleak ambience. cold snap. “I’ve always found that the quiet little man that nobody There are descriptions and images of the men in their pays any attention to usually has more guts and courage “pyjama-like zebra suits … used to rob them of a remainder authoritarian cultures, misdirection is facile. than the big blowhard, the big noisy, you know, the big of their feelings of individual liberty.” One prisoner had a Germany was in dire straits. Its citizens felt impoverished and persecuted, outspoken fellow. It’s the little man that does the courafresh leg amputation, the wound covered with toilet paper. and their alienation demanded victimization of others. geous thing,” famous western director John Ford says in a The Dachau discoveries flicker on screens in the dark“Surely I have the right to remove millions,” Hitler said. 1968 interview on one of many video screens. ened hall. There’s footage of wandering prisoners, walking He built upon a tripod of militant ethnocentrism, mythic social decay and Next to the famous director of Westerns is Samuel skeletons with their “drawn yellow skin” and “pipe-like transcendent visions of national rejuvenation. The clamorous gave him power, Fuller, a Jewish New Yorker who went to work as a crime arms.” Those too weak to walk were carried on sagging and momentum began. reporter at age 17 before joining the war effort. pallets or others’ shoulders. Disease and pestilence were Leaving the exhibit, I again passed a bench from a local Jewish fraternal “I lie with the camera, lie like hell. The people in my rampant. chapter founded by German Jewish immigrants after the Civil War. Three seats war scenes, they don’t fall apart,” Fuller says. He saw Prisoners turned on the guards who tried to escape share arms and worn cushions belie its antiquity. combat and would eventually be present at the liberation detection by donning inmates’ clothes. Battle-hardened On the large headboard behind the bench is carved “benevolence, brotherly of the Falkenau Concentration Camp. American troops overcome by the tragedy joined the aslove, harmony.” What felt a tragic irony on the way in seemed a resilient hope Exhibits show storyboards, scripting, memos, orders sault. SS officers were killed outright. on the way out and a mournful prayer for our future.
O
Beethoven in Blue Jeans changes focus
at 251-432-2010, online at mobilesymphony.org or at the symphony box office (257 Dauphin St.). Reduced-price student tickets are available through the MSO Big Red Ticket program sponsored by Alabama Power; students in grades K-12 can attend the Sunday performance free when accompanied by a paying adult. More details are at mobilesymphony.org. The concert is sponsored by Alabama Power and the Mary Josephine Larkins Foundation.
Shakespeare’s end at MTG
Nov. 18-20 is the final weekend of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Mobile Theatre Guild (14 N. Lafayette St.). The classic Shakespeare comedy that pokes fun at romance, passion and individual identity is subtle and textured and remains one of the playwright’s most popular works. Joanie Stiff directs this latest version starring Angel Ashley, Lisa Burnett, Hillary Nguyen, Ravyn Otis and Susan Vinson. Friday and Saturday curtain is at 8 p.m. Sunday matinee is at 2 p.m.
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Tickets are $20, and $15 for students, military and seniors. For more information call 251-433-7513 or go to mobiletheatreguild.org.
Chorale Christmas on successive Sundays
The Greater Mobile Bay Area Choral Society will perform its annual holiday show, “The Sounds of Christmas,” on both sides of Mobile Bay. The first will be at Government Street Presbyterian Church (300 Government St.) on Sunday, Nov. 20, at 2 p.m. and the next on Sunday, Nov. 27, at 6 p.m. at Spanish Fort Presbyterian Church (6620 Spanish Fort Blvd.). The concerts will feature a variety of sacred, secular, gospel/ spiritual, jazz and pop Christmas fare including Vivaldi’s Magnificat RV #610 as its master work along with choices from Berlin to Hayes. Both shows are free and open to the public. For additional information call 251-434-9325, go the group’s Facebook page or contact Artistic Director Terry D. Maddox at tmaddox@ gspcmobile.org.
ARTSGALLERY
Mobile Symphony Orchestra’s annual Beethoven in Blue Jeans concert has another heavyweight vying for attention when Tchaikovsky’s vigorous “1812 Overture” will battle for attendees’ loyalties. Concert-goers can choose between “Team Tchaikovsky” or “Team Beethoven” stickers to display their allegiance. Two shows will take place at the Saenger Theatre (6 S. Joachim St.) in downtown Mobile. The Saturday, Nov. 19, performance begins at 7:30 p.m., and the Sunday, Nov. 20, matinee is at 2:30 p.m. Beethoven’s “Emperor” Piano Concerto No. 5 features the talents of Italian pianist Alessio Bax. It is joined on the bill with Czech composer Bedrich Smetana’s “The Moldau” from Ma Vlást and Philip Glass’ “Secret Agent: Three Dances.” As per usual, casual dress is encouraged. The orchestra itself will get into the spirit by dispensing with formal attire. Tickets cost $15 to $75 and can be purchased by phone
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MUSIC
FEATURE
Peavy’s triple play of sports, music and philanthropy
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BY STEPHEN CENTANNI/MUSIC EDITOR/SCENTANNI@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM
Photo | The Jake Peavy Foundation
aseball star Jake Peavy considers himself fortunate in many respects. Growing up in Mobile County, he nurtured a love for baseball in parks from Saraland to Semmes. This love for baseball eventually resulted in a successful career in the Major Leagues, which took him away from the Gulf Coast. Baseball forced Peavy to establish himself in other cities, such as Chicago, Boston, San Diego and San Francisco, but his connection with his hometown remained strong. Peavy eventually decided it was time to give back to the community that showed him so much love. After establishing The Jake Peavy Foundation in 2012, the baseball star decided it was time to focus on Mobile. Now in its fifth year, The Jake Peavy Foundation Charity Golf Classic (2016 Nappie Award winner for Best Annual Fundraiser) is just one of many ways Peavy has given back. This year he expanded this event into a three-day affair that began at the Soul Kitchen music venue and ended with a community workday at Eagle’s Landing, a housing community for homeless veterans. “As my [baseball] career comes to a close, I realize that I’ve spent so much time and energy in other communities,” Peavy said. “I’m excited to get back into my hometown and bring our community together. In today’s society, we’ve lost so much as far as being a community and neighbors and helping each other. We’re very selfish in nature. For me, it’s all about using my platform to bring people together.” Peavy also decided to make the weekend personal on a different level. While admitting baseball is his first love, the MLB pitcher also has a passion for music that began when he was a young man sitting in church. He says the pastor’s charismatic message did not sway him much, but he found a “real” connection with the music he heard during each service. This past March, The Jake Peavy Foundation held Hero Jam 2016 with Jake Peavy & Friends headlining and proceeds going to the USO. Last August, Peavy collaborated with the Grateful Dead’s Rex Foundation for the “Can’t Stop This Train: A Tribute to Jerry Garcia” benefit concert, which allowed Peavy to perform in the name of charity alongside such legends as Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead) and Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi All-Stars) at the legendary Fillmore in San Francisco. “Standing on the Fillmore stage with members of the Grateful Dead, playing a tribute to Jerry Garcia and having some of
San Francisco Giants pitcher Jake Peavy — pictured second from left with retired basketball player and fellow Deadhead Bill Walton (left), longtime roadie Steve Parish (second from right) and Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart (far right) — is incorporating his love of music into his community philanthropy.
at Hero Jam and “Can’t Stop This Train: A Tribute to Jerry Garcia.” “It makes for a special night,” Peavy explained. “Music is healing in a lot of ways. It’s a universal language. It touches the youngest and oldest of souls. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old. You can just feel it.” On the night before the golfers hit the green, Peavy welcomed the public to the Soul Kitchen for a local concert that generated funds for In today’s society, we’ve lost so much as far as being Gulf Coast veterans organizations. Spea community and neighbors and helping each other. cifically, these groups specialize in offering We’re very selfish in nature. For me, it’s all about ussupport to individuals making the transition ing my platform to bring people together. from military to civilian life. For this endeavor, Peavy chose Louisiana swamp jam the homeless youth that we were raising money for, made for a masters Honey Island Swamp Band to provide the evening’s special night,” Peavy said. “I’m looking over and Phil Lesh is on sonic foundation. bass with Jackie Greene and Luther Dickinson playing ‘ShakePeavy first experienced the group at last year’s “Mobile’s down Street’ and other timeless hits.” Last Waltz,” which celebrated the music of the Grateful Dead These two positive experiences made Peavy realize it was and The Band, held at The Brickyard. Peavy quickly fell in time to mix charity and music in his hometown with this year’s love with Honey Island’s Gulf Coast-inspired “swampy, SouthJake Peavy Foundation Charity Golf Classic. Peavy decided it ern rock.” was time to incorporate music into a Gulf Coast philanthropic “We certainly could’ve brought in a bigger act or stuff event. Peavy says adding a musical element to this event creates like that,” Peavy said. “I want to promote the scene and give “a different kind of freedom and fun-loving attitude” that he felt people who I know are doing it the right way, and appreciate
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the music, a chance for exposure. I couldn’t be more excited to be friends with these guys and partner with them on nights like this.” The partnership extended from the back of the house to the stage. Armed with his guitar, Peavy took the stage to jam alongside Honey Island. He also brought some of his “friends” from Jake Peavy & Friends. Guitarist Ben Jernigan and keyboardist Chris Spies lent their talents to this live experience. After charming the crowd at the recent Revivalists show at Soul Kitchen, Nashville vocalist Jennifer Hartswick returned to give the crowd a taste of her soulful pipes. Hartswick was not alone: Wet Willie’s Donna Hall added her vocals to the mix. Ultimately the event was one in which the audience, the musicians and the community all were winners. “Everybody here has a sense of purpose or have helped in some way to make their money pour right back into this community,” Peavy said. “Every dime of this money that’s raised this weekend is going back into this community.” With his first local concert benefit behind him, Peavy will be splitting his attention between baseball and another musical endeavor that he hopes will nurture his hometown. Since last February, Peavy’s Dauphin Street Sound has been working hard to attract local and regional bands into its impressive studio. Peavy hopes Dauphin Street Sound will give the bands a quality room in which to record, as well as bring more national attention to Mobile’s local music scene. “We’ve made it with the gear and people and production that they need,” Peavy said. “What’s next is finding artists who are from this area and want to grow in their craft, and not leave here and be proud to be from here. We’re going to support the local artists.”
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Brand-new Bunch
BY STEPHEN CENTANNI/MUSIC EDITOR/SCENTANNI@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM
A
lthough beloved local band El Cantador played its last show two years ago, the bond between guitarist/ vocalist Heath Underwood, bassist Alex Scharr and drummer Sean Murphy must have been strong, leading them to reunite as Bunch, a new project with Alan Anderson on keyboards. Bunch
Photo | facebook.com/bunchtheband | Bunch
BUNCH ALBUM RELEASE PARTY SATURDAY, NOV. 19, AT 7 P.M. CALLAGHAN’S IRISH SOCIAL CLUB, 916 CHARLESTON ST., WWW.CALLAGHANS IRISHSOCIALCLUB.COM TICKETS: $8 AT THE DOOR
performed at SouthSounds 2016 and returns to the Azalea City in support of its debut album, “Forever My Sparring Partner.” Each song on this album is beautifully arranged, with multiple levels of instrumentation and lyrical wordplay. The high level of production is also an appealing facet of Bunch’s debut. “Forever My Sparring Partner” quickly establishes a warm embrace of low ends that mingle
Koppy that
BY STEPHEN CENTANNI/MUSIC EDITOR/SCENTANNI@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM
nicely with the reverberated tinge in Underwood’s vocals. Overall, “Forever My Sparring Partner” is modern country rock done right. Greater Pyrenees will open the show. Bunch will have copies of “Forever My Sparring Partner” for purchase in both CD and cassette tape formats. For those wanting a preview, Bunch’s debut will be released through a variety of online distributors Nov. 19.
‘Tis the season
R
BY STEPHEN CENTANNI/MUSIC EDITOR/SCENTANNI@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM ight after Halloween, many across the Gulf Coast begin planning for Christmas, decorating trees and stringing outdoor lights even before the Thanksgiving turkey hits the table. The Golden Nugget in Biloxi is following suit with a seasonal performance by The Oak Ridge Boys. The group’s breakout hit “Elvira” helped propel their beautiful four-part harmony into the national spotlight. Almost three decades later, The Oak Ridge Boys are still recording and performing for their
Photo | youtube.com | Michael Koppy
devoted audience. The group will perform tracks from their new holiday album, “Christmas Time’s AComin,’” to get the Golden Nugget crowd into the spirit of the season. Even though this is a holiday album, The Oak Ridge Boys are using its release to bring their country legacy into today’s world. The album is filled with classic country harmonies mixed with modern production and arrangements. This combination of old and new truly creates a timeless experience for Oak Ridge Boys fans across generations.
BAND: MICHAEL KOPPY • DATE: MONDAY, NOV. 21, WITH DOORS AT 6 P.M. • VENUE: THE LISTENING ROOM, 78 ST. FRANCIS ST., WWW.THELISTENINGROOMMOBILE.COM TICKETS: ARTIST DONATION AT THE DOOR.
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Photo | Jarrett Gaza | The Oak Ridge Boys
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ypically, The Listening Room is closed on Mondays. However, this intimate downtown venue is making an exception for the Azalea City debut of singer-songwriter Michael Koppy, who has fashioned a varied life as “a carpenter, carnival roustabout, elevator operator, union organizer, Broadway stagehand, bike messenger, strip-show spotlight operator, newspaper editor, producer and director” into a collection of memorable songs. Koppy will be stopping in Mobile on his “One Great Mornin’ Tour of Dixie” in support of the re-release of his album “Ashmore’s Store.” “Ashmore’s Store” is a testament to Koppy’s talent for songwriting as well as storytelling. Heartfelt tales are transformed into equally emotional ballads. The light side of his snapshots of life are experienced through raucous numbers that travel through the worlds of honky-tonk and folk. Koppy is also unafraid to push the limits with a track called “All in the Timing: A Hollywood Romance in Seven Chapters,” which clocks in at nearly 30 minutes.
BAND: THE OAK RIDGE BOYS CHRISTMAS SHOW • DATE: FRIDAY, NOV. 18, AT 8 P.M. • VENUE: GOLDEN NUGGET HOTEL & CASINO, 151 BEACH BLVD. (BILOXI), WWW.GOLDENNUGGET.COM TICKETS: $20-$40, AVAILABLE THROUGH TICKETMASTER
AREAMUSIC LISTINGS | November 17 - November 23
THUR. NOV 17
Bluegill— Matt Neese Duo Brickyard— Ben Jernigan & Friends Callaghan’s— Bobby Butchka Cockeyed Charlie’s— JJ Cowboys & Angels— Center Stage Entertainment Fairhope Brewing— Bluegrass Jam Felix’s— Grits N Pieces Flora Bama— Tim Kinsey, 2p// Mark Sherrill, John Joiner, Chris Newbury, 6p/// Zachery Diedrich, 8p//// Davis Nix, 10:15p Listening Room— Warren Wolf Lulu’s— Adam Holt, 5p Manci’s— Ross Newell, 7p McSharry’s— The Light Traveler’s, 7:30p Saenger— James Gregory Veets— Elaine Petty, 8p Wind Creek Casino— Michael Stacey Band
FRI. NOV 18
All Sports Bar & Billiards— DJ Markie Mark, 10p Beau Rivage— Carrot Top, 8p Bluegill— David Chastang, 12p// Harrison McInnis Trio, 6p Brickyard— Permagroove Callaghan’s— Future Elevators Cockeyed Charlie’s— Journey 2 Mars, 10p Cowboys & Angels— DJ Slang, 9p Felix’s— Blind Dog Mike Flora Bama— Jack Robertson Show, 5:30p// Foxy Iguanas Trio, 6p/// Hung Jury, 10p//// Logan Spicer and Tony Ray Thompson, 10:15p Golden Nugget— The Oak Hard Rock (Center Bar) — Chris Leblanc, 9p IP Casino— Travis Tritt, 8p Listening Room— Anne Dechant Lulu’s— Grits-N-Pieces, 5p Main Street Cigar Lounge— Ryan Balthrop, 8p Manci’s— Julie Anne Sellers, 7p McSharry’s— DJ Chi, 10p Moe’s BBQ (Daphne) — 5:50 Express, 8p Moe’s BBQ (Foley) — Ed Adams
Moe’s BBQ (Mobile) — Nikki Talley, 6:30p O’Daly’s— Gene Murrell,Tony Edwards and David White, 10p Soul Kitchen— A$AP Ferg, Playboi Carti, Rob $tone, 9:30p Veets— The Family Jewels, 9p Wind Creek Casino— Smoke N’ Guns
SAT. NOV 19
Bluegill— Christina Christian, 12p// Cary Laine Duo, 6p Brickyard— Highly Kind Cockeyed Charlie’s— Jordan Bramblett Cowboys & Angels— DJ Slang, 9p Felix’s— Tim Kinsey Duo Fin’s— LeaAnne Creswell, John Joiner, Darrel Roberts, 2p// Jack Robertson Show, 5:30p/// Jezebel’s Chill’n, 6p//// Mario Mena, 10p Hard Rock (Center Bar) — Chris Leblanc, 9p Hard Rock (Live) — Rodney Atkins, 8p IP Casino— The Doobie Brothers, 8p Listening Room— Lisa Mills w/ Chip Herrington Lulu’s— Light Travelers, 5p Manci’s— Modern Eldorados, 7:30p McSharry’s— DJ Carter, 10p Saenger— 1812 Overture Tacky Jacks (Orange Beach) — Moonrunners// Shane Smith & The Saints Top of the Bay— Rhythm Intervention Veets— The Family Jewels, 9p Wind Creek Casino— Smoke N’ Guns
SUN. NOV 20
Alchemy— LoDa Friendsgiving, 3p Bluegill— Matt Bush, 12p// Ryan Balthrop and Friends, 6p Callaghan’s— Andrew Duhon Cowboys & Angels— Jim Wainwright, 10a Felix’s— Brandon Bailey Flora Bama— Johnny Barbato, 2p// Perdido Brothers, 6p/// Mel Knapp, 8p//// LeeYankie Duo, 10:15p Frog Pond— Grayson Capps,
Will Kimbrough, Bridgette DeMeyer, Phil Madeira, Bill Kirchen, Corky Hughes, 3p Listening Room— ColemanMason Band Lulu’s— Greg Brown, 5p Manci’s— LeeYankie, 11a McSharry’s— TRad. Irish Music, 6:30p The Merry Widow— Benjamin Francis Leftwich, 8p Saenger— 1812 Overture Wind Creek Casino— Smoke N’ Guns
MON. NOV 21
Felix’s— Chris Hogenroder Flora Bama— Dave McCormick, 2p// Cathy Pace, 6p/// Login Spicer, 8p Listening Room— Nori Hendrix, Brent Loper and Michael Koppy Lulu’s— Brent Burns, 5p
TUE. NOV 22
Bluegill— Roger Fleshamn Butch Cassidy’s— Camm Lewis Cockeyed Charlie’s— Jordan Bramblett Felix’s— Bryant Gilley Flora Bama— T. Bone Montgomery, 2p// Perdido Brothers, 6p/// Elaine Petty, 8p//// Logan Spicer, 10:15p Lulu’s— CoConut Radio, 5p Moe’s BBQ (Mobile) — Adam Holt, 6p
WED. NOV 23
Bluegill— Ross Newell Brickyard— Nick and the Overalls Callaghan’s— Phil and Foster Cockeyed Charlie’s— Center Stage Entertainment, 9p Felix’s— Matt Bush Duo Flora Bama— T. Bone Montgomery, 2p// Perdido Brothers, 6p/// Elaine Petty, 8p//// Logan Spicer, 10:15p IP Casino— Asain Show, 9:30p Lulu’s— JustinYawn, 5p Manci’s— Paw Paw’s Medicine Cabinet, 7:30p McSharry’s— Rock Bottom, 7:30p
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A little post-election escapism
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FILMTHE REEL WORLD
BY ASIA FREY/FILM CRITIC/AFREY@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM
AREA THEATERS CARMIKE CINEMA’S Wynnsong 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
f you haven’t thrown your television out of your window recently, you might be ready to zone out to a relaxing film for a few hours. Or maybe you’re fired up and want a boost. We all deal differently, and here’s my list for various situations ... If you need help remembering why life is worth living: “Amelie” (2001) — Impish, lovely Audrey Tautou plays the title character, a lonely but resourceful French mademoiselle who finds beauty in the everyday. She also dispenses justice and improves her world on the microscale, one life at a time. It might just inspire you to help a neighbor, savor your own blessings and cut some bangs. If you’re feeling indignant: “Idiocracy” (2005) — I’m not the first one to point out the prescience of this Mike Judge comedy. Articles have been making the rounds all year about this cult classic in which a librarian (Luke Wilson) awakes from a 500-year sleep to a foul, trashy, grim future ruled by a celebrity president. The influence of an unrepentantly crass entertainment industry on an illiterate society allows a crude and violent ignoramus to rise to power. It used to be a pretty funny movie.
Watch with your kids while crying quietly into their hair as they sit on your lap (wow, I got pretty specific there; this may have happened): “Inside Out” (2015) — Pixar’s instant classic might be animated and ostensibly for kids, but the journey of the personified emotions through the mind of an 11-year-old girl is surprisingly profound, true, gut wrenching and uplifting. The powerful, even necessary role of sadness in everyone’s life is unforgettably expressed. If you want to experience pure beauty: Akira Kurosawa’s “Dreams” (1990) — This series of vignettes explores paintings and culture in a visually stunning experience you can simply absorb to feel yourself enriched, soothed and transported. Speaking of transported, if you’re ready to move to Canada: I was going to say “Canadian Bacon” (1995), but the idea of starting a fake war with Canada might catch on. Maybe the 2010 flick “Scott Pilgrim vs. The World,” in which Michael Cera does comic book battle for his girlfriend, is a safer bet. Ideally, Canadian national treasure “Anne of Green Gables,” a beloved 1985 miniseries from an even more beloved book set on Prince Edward
Island, will get you through a weekend. Fun fact: The Polish resistance handed out copies of this book to its troops during World War II because they felt Anne Shirley personified the values of individualism and hope. If Canada isn’t far enough: “The Martian” (2015) — The power of intelligence and resilience prevails as a lone man survives a harsh climate by “sciencing the $%^# out of” his situation, which is always a good idea. If you want to stick it to the man: “9 to 5”(1980) — A trio of very different but formidable women — Lily Tomlin as a tough, working single mom, Jane Fonda as a meek divorcee who finds her power and Dolly Parton as a sexy secretary tired of harassment — join forces to take down their horrible boss (Dabney Coleman). In his absence they transform his office for the better and their hard work is actually rewarded in a gloriously satisfying ending that includes on-site child care. It’s pretty fun to see them own their femininity and demonstrate that when they win, the whole company wins, plus there is a weed-induced dream sequence that can’t be beat. The title track is a Dolly Parton anthem for the ages.
RAVE MOTION PICTURE JUBILEE SQUARE 12 6898 U.S. 90 Daphne, (251) 626- 6266 CARMIKE CINEMAS 23151 Wharf Ln. Orange Beach (251) 981-4444 Photos | Twentieth Century Fox / Warner Bros.
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.
From left: If you need an infusion of female empowerment, “9 to 5” portrays three female employees of a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot who find a way to turn the tables on him. J.K. Rowling’s “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” tells the adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York’s secret community of witches and wizards.
NEW IN THEATERS FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM
The year is 1926, and Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident, were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a
misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds. All listed multiplex theaters.
EDGE OF SEVENTEEN
Growing up is tough for high school junior Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld), who is already at peak awkwardness when her all-star older brother Darian (Blake Jenner) starts dating her best friend, Krista
TROLLS NOW PLAYING All listed multiplex theaters. ARRIVAL Crescent Theater and all listed HACKSAW RIDGE All listed multiplex theaters. multiplex theaters. INFERNO ALMOST CHRISTMAS All listed multiplex theaters. All listed multiplex theaters. JACK REACHER DR. STRANGE All listed multiplex theaters. All listed multiplex theaters.
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(Haley Lu Richardson). All at once, Nadine feels more alone than ever, until an unexpected friendship with a thoughtful teen (Hayden Szeto) gives her a glimmer of hope that things just might not be so terrible after all. Regal Mobile Stadium 18
SHUT IN
Mary (Naomi Watts) is a child psychologist who lives in isolation in rural New England after her
BOO: A MEDEA HALLOWEEN All listed multiplex theaters. KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES All listed multiplex theaters. OUIJA: THE ORIGIN OF EVIL
husband dies in a horrific car accident. The tragedy also leaves her 18-yearold stepson, Stephen (Charlie Heaton), in a bedridden, catatonic state. When one of Mary’s young patients (Jacob Tremblay) goes missing and is presumed dead, she becomes convinced the boy’s ghost is now haunting both her and Stephen. Why do child ghosts hate Watts so much? All listed multiplex theaters.
All listed multiplex theaters. THE ACCOUNTANT All listed multiplex theaters. KEVIN HART: WHAT NOW? All listed multiplex theaters. THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN All listed multiplex theaters. THE BIRTH OF A NATION
Regal Mobile Stadium 18 MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN Carmike Wynnsong 16 DEEPWATER HORIZON All listed multiplex theaters. THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN Regal Mobile Stadium 18
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS NOVEMBER 17, 2016 - NOVEMBER 23, 2016
GENERAL INTEREST Start Talking Alabama The Alabama Department of Public Health’s “Start Talking Alabama” initiative expands HIV awareness and decreases its stigma in the community. The event is set for Wednesday, Nov. 16, at B-Bob’s Downtown nightclub, 213 Conti St., 4:307:30 p.m. Map for Mobile Come to Shiloh Baptist Church, 2756 Old Shell Road, for an open house Thursday, Nov. 17, 3-8 p.m. This open house serves as a continuation of Map for Mobile, the city’s comprehensive plan. Fairhope Lighting of the Trees The city of Fairhope will kick off the holiday season with their annual Fairhope Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 17. Festivities begin at 5:30 and the lights come on at 6 p.m. sharp! Downtown Fairhope Holiday Stroll Friday, Nov. 18, 5-8 p.m., downtown businesses will keep their doors open late for shopping and hot chocolate. The first 500 to check in at the Fairhope Welcome Center will receive a free re-useable shopping tote courtesy of the Downtown Fairhope Business
Association. For additional information, call 251-929-1466.
Robertsdale. Admission and food is free.
spectrumresorts.com or call 888974-0169.
Riverside Ice Riverside Ice will be open at Cooper Riverside Park in Mobile from Nov. 19 until Jan. 14. Admission for skating will be $10 for adults and $8 for children 12 and under. For more information, visit www.RiversideIce.com.
Rabies clinic The Mobile County Health Department provides low-cost rabies shots for cats, dogs and ferrets during a weekend clinic. This Saturday’s rabies clinic is at B&B Pet Stop, 5035 Cottage Hill Road, 1:30-3:30 p.m. The cost of the rabies vaccine is $10. For more information call 251-6908823.
Farmer’s market West Mobile Farmer’s Market features locally grown produce every Tuesday, from 2-5 p.m. through Nov. 24, at 6101 Grelot Road. For information call 251342-0462 or 251-767-7526.
Magnolia Cemetery tours Magnolia Cemetery is hosting free tours this month, with each tour focusing on a different theme. The Nov. 19 tour, “Victorian Funerary Art & Symbolism,” will begin at 10 a.m. Reservations are recommended. Call 251-208-7307 or 251-4328672. Shredfest In honor of America Recycle Day, Keep Mobile Beautiful and City of Mobile will host a Shredfest this Saturday, Nov. 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with Felder Shredding doing the honors. For more information call 251-2086029. Day of Thanks Breakfast Baldwin County United and the Baldwin County Commission will host the 12th annual Day of Thanks Breakfast on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 8:30 a.m. at the Baldwin County Central Annex in
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Cascading Chrysanthemums Bellingrath Gardens and Home features the 53rd annual Fall Outdoor Cascading Chrysanthemums, now through Nov. 19. For details visit www. bellingrath.org. Job fair TruBridge, a wholly owned subsidiary of CPSI, will hold a job fair on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Evident, 100 Ecor Rouge Drive in Fairhope. For more information please visit www.trubridge.com.careers. Sun, Sand and Songwriters Turquoise Place and Spectrum Resorts has invited songwriters from Nashville to enjoy the Coastal Country Weekend, Friday, Nov. 18, from 7-9 p.m. and continue from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. For more visit
Volunteer opportunity United Way of Southwest Alabama’s 2-1-1 needs volunteers in the call center. Shifts are available weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you are interested please call Chalisse at 251-431-5100 or email cpeltier@ lifelinesmobile.org to schedule an interview. 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. For more information call 251-861-2141. Midtown Optimist Club Join Midtown Optimist Club every Wednesday at noon for lunch at Azalea City Golf Course. For reservations and more information, please call 251-348-3542.
Toastmasters Do you want to learn how 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.
FUNDRAISERS Celebrate Hope The Mitchell Cancer Institute’s Celebrate Hope, Thursday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m., supports local research in the fight against cancer. Tickets cost $175 per person and may be purchased at www.usahealthsystem.com/ celebratehope or by calling 251460-6209. Mustang Stampede and Fall Festival Join St. Mary Catholic School Friday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. for a family glow race and Saturday, Nov. 19, for the fall festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring games, great food and fun. Admission is free; costs for game tickets, food and beverage vary. 107 N. Lafayette St. Call 251-433-9904 or visit www. stmarymobile.org. Christ the King Life Teen Chili Cook-Off
Christ the King Life Teen will be holding its inaugural Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All proceeds from the event will benefit the youth group for upcoming trips and activities. For information on purchasing a ticket or registering a team, visit www.ctkdaphneyouth.org. Barks, Brews & BBQ Live music, a silent auction and raffle tickets benefitting The Mylo Foundation and Baldwin County Animal Control Center. Saturday Nov. 19 6-10 p.m. at Moe’s Original Bar-B-Que, 25603 Perdido Beach Blvd. in Orange Beach. For more info call 251-981-7427.
ARTS Arts and Crafts Show 44th annual Arts and Crafts Show at the Abba Shrine Auditorium will be held Nov. 18-20. Admission is $2, or $1 plus 1 canned good, which will be donated to Feeding theGulf Coast. Contact portcitycrafsmen@yahoo.com for more information. “Mobile Under Siege” book launch Ever wonder what it was like for the ordinary citizen when Mobile was on the verge of occupation by Union soldiers? Author and librarian Paula Webb offers a glimpse in her new book, “Mobile Under Siege.” Meet her at the Oakleigh House,
Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m. Sounds of Christmas The Greater Mobile Bay Area Choral Society presents its annual holiday concert, “The Sounds of Christmas,” Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. at Government Street Presbyterian Church, 300 Government St. The program will feature Vivaldi’s Magnificat RV 610 as its master work. Free and open to the public.
MUSEUMS Live at the Museum Nikki Talley will perform original music Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. at Mobile Museum of Art, 4850 Museum Drive. $10 admission, wine and beer by donation. For more information call 251-2085200. “Filming the Camps” The History Museum of Mobile will offer the exhibit “Filming the Camps: From Hollywood to Nuremberg” through Jan. 16. The exhibit features the stories of three film directors as they documented Nazi atrocities during World War II. For more information visit museumofmobile.com. Tea for Two Tuesday afternoons at 2 p.m. the Fairhope Museum of History hosts a tea with a lecture on Fairhope history. The Nov. 22 speaker will be Chief Joseph H. Petties. For more information call 251-929-1471.
“Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked the World” Through Jan. 1, the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center features a guitar exhibit with a hands-on gallery and more than 60 guitars on display. There is also a rock photography exhibit by Janet Macoska. For information, call 251-208-6893 or visit 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. For more information, call 251208-5200.
SPORTING EVENTS/ ACTIVITIES Light the Night Walk Join the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Light the Night Walk on Thursday, Nov. 17, 5:307:30 p.m. in Bienville Square to bring help and hope to people battling blood cancers. For more information and to register visit lightthenight.org/al. Alabama Spartan Race Super An ultimate obstacle course race on a 90-acre property in Saraland. Saturday, Nov. 19, 7:30 a.m. For more information visit sprtn.im/ Alabama-Super2016.
Exercise classes Palmer Pillans Middle School hosts a wide variety of exercise classes, including ballroom dance, boxing and more. For more information call 251-463-7980 or visit communityactivates.com. Beginner belly dancing for women Every Tuesday through Dec. 13, come learn to belly dance at Palmer Pillans Middle School. For more information call 251-2081662. Bridge lessons The Mobile Bridge Center offers free bridge lessons each Tuesday beginning at 6 p.m. at the Mobile Bridge Center, 1510 University Blvd. Arrive a few minutes early to register. If you have questions call the Bridge Center at 251-6662147, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Holy yoga Tamara William leads a lunchtime holy yoga at the Steeple on St. Francis every Wednesday. The cost is $15. Participants will be invigorated as they connect with Christ in mind, body and spirit. For more information, call 251-6563269. Ballroom dance Azalea Ballroom Dance Club hosts dances with live music the second and fourth Tuesday of every month from 7-9:30
p.m., at Via! Health, Fitness & Enrichment Center, 1717 Dauphin St. For more information email cyoungblood9278@gmail.com, call 251-623-9183 or visit www. 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 Fitzpen Place, 11247 State Highway 31 in Spanish Fort. For more information email cassief13@aol.com.
WORKSHOPS Couples and money Learn about the savings programs, different kinds of investments and risks, and common strategies. Saturday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m. at Lifelines/ Consumer Credit Counseling, 705 Oak Circle Drive E. (Mobile). Space is limited; please call 251-6020011 to register. Homebuyers seminar This seminar offering tips and information for those wanting to become a homeowner starts at 8:45 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. Register at Lifelines/Consumer Credit Counseling, 705 Oak Circle Drive E. (Mobile). Space is limited; please call 251-602-0011 to register.
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MEDIA MEDIA FRENZY
Council delaying C Spire’s tower lease despite court order BY DALE LIESCH/REPORTER/DALE@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM
T
he Mobile City Council has delayed a vote on a lease agreement with C Spire, despite a court order over the summer clearing the way for a cell tower at LaddPeebles Stadium. Almost a year to the day that the Board of Zoning Adjustment denied variance requests related to C Spire’s application to place a cell tower in the parking lot of Ladd-Peebles Stadium, U.S. District Court Judge Callie Granade ordered the city to grant them. In accordance with the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Granade found there wasn’t sufficient evidence in the board’s denial, board attorney Doug Anderson said. The ruling means the City Council must approve the lease, despite concerns from residents over the tower’s proximity to their homes and area schools. At a 2014 public hearing held by the Planning Commission, resident Jerryln Rushing London said she was concerned about the number of towers already near Williamson High School and asked commissioners to consider the health of children there before approving the application. After a number of delays and an initial denial from the Planning Commission, C Spire moved the proposed tower farther away from residents and gained commission approval. The issue reached 2015 and ultimately resulted in the Board of Zoning Adjustment denying a height variance for the 125-foot tower and others.
At the time of the denial, Brooks Milling, an attorney for C Spire, said the company was seeking the tower to close a gap in coverage and could only locate it within a quarter-mile of its currently proposed location. Board members at the time had discussed possibly changing the design of the tower, but Milling said Verizon and AT&T had already agreed to co-locate on the tower and a change to a more aesthetic design would prevent that. Despite the order, the council has delayed a vote on the amended ordinance for three weeks. Councilman Levon Manzie said the delay will give him time to discuss it with residents in the area. “I think it’s important to have an opportunity to meet with citizens of District 2 about this decision,” he said. “As far as citizens in the Ladd/ Leinkauf area, this is a fatal issue.” While Milling did not return a call for comment this week, Manzie said he’d spoken with the attorney on the issue and been assured C Spire would talk to residents in an attempt to alleviate all of their concerns. “The company has said they would try to mitigate concerns,” he said. In addition to health concerns for students, Manzie said residents also fear a large cell tower would hurt property values. “I was surprised by the court ruling,” Manzie said. “I’ve been advised that attempting to deny amending the lease would result in a legal battle.”
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THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD PUZZLE IT’S ALL AN ELISION BY JOE DIPIETRO / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ ACROSS 1 Point of greatest despair 6 Terms of service 13 Laid out for printing 20 Unchallenged 21 Lift 22 Sure things 23 “Do your taxidermy on the patio instead!”? 25 “You can’t make me” 26 Of the highest quality 27 Republican, on an election map 28 “Da Coach” 30 Place to get stuck 31 “Double” or “triple” feat 32 Discipline for paper tigers? 34 Newcastle Brown and others 35 Thrown 38 Harley, in slang 40 A foot on the ground in Phoenix? 43 It’s just for openers 44 “Venus in Fur” playwright David 46 “Today” rival, for short 47 Get on one’s high horse? 48 Kind of replication 49 Miasma 51 “____, captain!” 53 Some Campbell’s offerings 56 Skinflints 58 It makes tracks 60 See 41-Down 62 “____ it go” 63 Ones who have it coming to them? 64 “Silence is the ____ that nourishes wisdom”: Bacon 65 Classical pianist Levit 66 Composer Bartók 67 Reaction of dismay 68 Comfort food causing oral discomfort? 70 Selfish sort 71 Harpies 72 Where many connections are made 73 Huge quantities 74 Surgical tube 75 Common New England street name 76 Lyft offering 77 Groove-making needles 78 With 96-Across, bit of Chinese cuisine 79 Many, after “a” 81 “Not interested” 83 Like some tales or details 85 Broadcast 86 Hall of Fame quarterback Dan 88 Trendy jeans feature 90 Extract used in brewing 91 Foreign: Prefix 92 Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull
13 Radioactive form of hydrogen 14 Pennsylvania city 15 “SOS,” e.g. 16 Middle-earth inhabitant 17 Mystery ingredient in SweeTarts? 18 Comes later 19 Insect that folds its wings 24 Nearly throws a perfect game against, maybe 29 Uses WhatsApp, say 33 Snap 34 River to the Ligurian Sea 35 Communication devices for commuters, once 36 Best Picture between “Rocky” and “The Deer Hunter” 37 Always putting up my entry fees? 39 1960s TV show whose star DOWN weighed 650 pounds 1 Harper’s Weekly cartoonist 41 With 60-Across, player of Thomas Tony Soprano’s son 2 Kind of clef 42 Engine sound 3 Prettify 45 Pressure, so to speak 4 Blow up 49 Fraternity and sorority 5 Do more repairs on leaders, usually: Abbr. 6 “The Princess Bride” theme 50 Follow closely 7 Put groceries away 52 Rough choice? 8 It blows things up, in brief 54 “Mad About You” co-star 9 Some wedding figures 55 Begin to 10 Small semicircular grooves tongue-lash on a column 57 February 14th figure 11 Port. is part of it 59 Divorced 12 Left in a hurry 61 London lavs and that’s probably it? 96 See 78-Across 97 Memo abbr. 98 Cab stopper? 99 Up against it 101 Genesis of an idea 103 Amaze 104 Deadly nerve gas 106 Artist who awards a biennial Grant for Peace 107 Real sport 111 Adjust, as a currency 113 Slogan for wine geeks? 116 Field of vision 117 Nipple rings 118 Set free 119 “Noble” thing 120 Mack of early slapstick 121 ____ Muggs, girl in “Archie”
64 Bit of jewelry 65 Opposite of outflux 66 Ram 68 Hard to pin down 69 Giant among Giants 74 Punk rocker Vicious 76 Gravy thickener 77 They might need guards 78 Drops to the ground? 80 Herman who wrote “This Is My God” 82 Home of Walmart 84 New-employee requirement, maybe 87 Formal wingdings 89 What an overstuffed suitcase might do 91 Unknown quantity 92 Bogeyman 93 Informal words of thanks 94 Athlete’s wear, informally 95 Soup dumpling 100 John Kennedy ____, author of “A Confederacy of Dunces” 102 Game with mallets played on a hard-surfaced court 104 Criticize, in British slang 105 Vibe 108 Maze solution 109 Pennsylvania city 110 Walk while dizzy 112 War hero 114 High dudgeon 115 Giant image over Gotham
ANSWERS ON PAGE 36
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STYLE HOROSCOPES DON’T TREAD ON ARIES SCORPIO (10/23-11/21) — A new bakery in your neighborhood threatens to reverse all your progress on weight loss goals. In an effort to enjoy both daily eclairs and those smaller-sized pants you just bought, you’ll simply sacrifice fourthmeal. SAGITTARIUS (11/22-12/22) — In honor of Bob Dylan’s performance at the Saenger Theatre, you’ll start singing wildly out of key and playing far less enjoyable live versions of your favorite studio recordings. For your innovative canned tomato and legume recipe, you’ll win the Rotel Peas Prize. CAPRICORN (12/23-1/19) — With the reopening of Riverside Ice, you’ll finally have an opportunity to demonstrate the pirouette you’ve been privately perfecting in a more practical setting. Last week, your co-workers were unanimous: the office is no place for layback spins and butterfly jumps. AQUARIUS (1/20-2/18) — You’ll encourage Fairhopians to compost their own manure in an effort to ease the development strain on the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The flowers downtown will be more vibrant than ever, but their fragrance will be overpowered. PISCES (2/19-3/20) — You’ll finally learn the downside of late-night brownies after getting “sick af” from a homemade batch. While the first two delectable chocolate squares satisfy your sweet tooth, the next five only serve to push you over the edge … of the toilet. ARIES (3/21-4/19) — In response to problems with local voting machines, you’ll start a Three-Percent style militia of individuals who despise infrastructure improvements. Your group proves steadfast in its resolve, “Thine tires of yon cars in Mobilth County shall remain undue aligned henceforth.” TAURUS (4/20-5/20) — After taking in a disappointing football game, your emotional outburst will draw the attention of a cop. Believing you to be a threat, the officer will use a Taser on you almost immediately, though ironically he’ll be on edge because of the same gridiron tragedy.
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GEMINI (5/21-6/21) — Mistaken for an anti-Trump protester after walking too close to a group of youth in Cathedral Square next week, your grandfather will refuse to speak to you. While many cherished moments will be missed, $10 birthday cards and soft peppermints will not. CANCER (6/22-7/22) — Your job as a musician on the Carnival Fantasy will go swimmingly next week, literally. While tuning your saxophone on the lido deck, you’ll slip and slide off the boat and into the water. You’ll be rescued but your instrument will be beyond repair. LEO (7/23-8/23) — To avoid the political discussions, you’ll decide to have Thanksgiving dinner at the Salvation Army. It will be a great meal until you mention you voted for Gary Johnson. You won’t be able to finish your cornbread before being forced to leave. VIRGO (8/24-9/22) — You’ll witness a rare post-season matchup when the undefeated Alabama Crimson Tide takes on the winless Cleveland Browns in Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Although the Tide will be 30-point underdogs in the matchup, they’ll pull off a victory. LIBRA (9/23-10/22) — While helping to film a scene for a big Hollywood blockbuster, you will accidentally blow up GulfQuest. No one will be hurt and the studio’s insurance covers the entire $60 million investment. Mayor Sandy Stimpson will call the incident a “win-win.”
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SPORTS UPON FURTHER REVIEW
Local players impact Gamecocks football BY J, MARK BRYANT/SPORTS WRITER/SPORTS@LAGNIAPPEMOBILE.COM/TWITTER @GOULAGUY
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t has been quite a season for first-year head coach Will Muschamp and his University of South Carolina football team. Predicted by many to finish dead last in the Southeastern Conference’s East Division, the Gamecocks are 5-5 on the season following last Saturday’s loss to the Florida Gators. USC won three straight prior to the setback, including a dramatic victory over preseason darling Tennessee. Helping to fuel this resurgence has been a large cast hailing from Mobile and Baldwin counties, including five players, an assistant coach and an analyst. Jamarcus King — After playing wide receiver at Mattie T. Blount High School, King found success as an AllAmerican cornerback at Coffeyville Community College. He quickly become a fan favorite in Columbia after earning SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors in USC’s 24-21 upset of the Volunteers. King intercepted two passes, the first setting up a touchdown and the second sealing the win. For the year, King has three picks, recovered a fumble and recorded 42 total tackles. Jonathan Walton — A longtime feature at linebacker for the Gamecocks, Walton entered his senior year with more than 100 tackles while missing just one game in his career. He has not slowed down this season, as he is fourth on the team with 48 total tackles. Walton, who played at Bayside Academy, also has 4.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Taylor Stallworth — The junior who graduated from Murphy High has started every game this year on the defensive line. He has lettered every season for the Gamecocks. He has recorded 32 total tackles, one sack, three pass breakups and two quarterback hurries. Jalen Dread — The sophomore linebacker from Foley High was named the Most Improved Freshman on defense in 2015. He also earned a berth on the 2015 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll. He officially changed his name in
the offseason from Jalen Henry. Darius Whitfield — The youngest member of the group is a freshman on the offensive line. A graduate of St. Paul’s Episcopal, Whitfield helped the Saints win two state titles on the way to earning all-star honors. Pat Washington — The 28-year coaching veteran was hired to direct the Gamecocks’ tight ends in December. He has worked in the SEC for 18 years, including at Tennessee when the Volunteers won the national title by beating Florida State in the 1999 Fiesta Bowl. After graduating from Murphy High, Washington went on to start at quarterback for Auburn University. Demarco McNeil — Another new member of the Gamecocks’ staff, McNeil serves as an analyst for the football program. He spent the previous three seasons as a coach at Alabama State. After being named Alabama’s Mr. Football coming out of Mattie T. Blount High, McNeil was an all-conference defensive tackle at Auburn. A four-year starter for the Tigers, he was named to Auburn’s AllDecade team.
Season ends for USA soccer
The tremendous run by the University of South Alabama women’s soccer team came to a halt Saturday as the Jaguars fell to Auburn 4-0 in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. USA concludes with a 15-6-1 record. “I want to praise the character of my players and the way that we managed to fight back during the season and postseason to get ourselves here today,” said head coach Graham Winkworth. “Unfortunately, I was not able to prepare the girls well enough and create the right mindset coming in here to Auburn.” USA advanced after winning its fourth consecutive Sun Belt Conference tournament title. Jemma Purfield scored both goals in the 2-0 title match with Coastal Carolina, and was named the Most Outstanding Player. Joining her on the all-tourney team were Chardé Hannah, Ashlynn Jones,
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Jana Loeber and Justice Stanford. Purfield, a sophomore from England, was previously named the SBC Women’s Soccer Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Alexis Jordan was picked as Freshman of the Year. On the first-team unit were Purfield, Jordan and Rio Hardy. Monique Autmon, Hannah Godfrey and Danielle Henley were on the second-team unit.
Rams still in the hunt
The women’s soccer team at the University of Mobile lost in the Southern States Athletic Conference championship game 2-1 to William Carey University. Named to the all-tourney roster for the 15-3-2 Lady Rams were Cayla Hebert, Leah Corse, Noemi Mallet and Tyler-Rae Molloy. For the regular season, Molloy was named the SSAC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year. On the first team with her were Hebert and Corse. Making the second team were Colleen Kennedy, Nikole Cruz, Mallet, Melissa Beaulieu and Anna Carolina Scales. Cheyne Bush was on the all-freshman squad. UM will next compete in the NAIA playoffs (lineups were not set by press time). After an opening round at campus sites, the final 16 teams will return to the Orange Beach Sportsplex Nov. 28 through Dec. 3 to decide the national champion.
Burn off some turkey
A new Thanksgiving tradition is taking place Nov. 26 in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. That Saturday will feature the ninth annual Kaiser Realty by Wyndham Vacation Rentals Coastal Half-Marathon, 5K race and one-mile Fun Run. Online registration ($80 for the half-marathon, $35 for the 5K and $20 for the Fun Run) is available at gsob.com/2eZfTFX. Late registration ($90, $45, $30, respectively) will take place Nov. 25 at the Orange Beach event center at The Wharf and the day of the race at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. For more information call 251-968-9327. This event helps to introduce the new Run the Beach series starting in 2017. Those events include the Big Beach Half-Marathon (Jan. 29), the Sea Turtle Half-Marathon (Feb. 18) and the second Coastal Half-Marathon (Nov. 25).
USA men to host basketball tourney
The Red Diamond Roundball Classic is set for this weekend at the Mitchell Center on the USA campus. Action starts Friday, with Youngstown State and Jacksonville taking the court at 4:30 p.m. while the Jaguars host Florida International at 7:05 p.m. On Saturday, FIU and Jacksonville clash at 11:30 a.m. while USA faces Youngstown State at 2:05 p.m. Action wraps up Sunday, with FIU and Youngstown State playing at 12:30 p.m. while USA faces Jacksonville at 3:05 p.m. For ticket information call 251-461-1USA (1872).
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STYLE FEATURE
The Martian
Researcher, test subject and presidential candidate highlights weekend conference BY GABRIEL TYNES
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hey say hindsight is 20/20, but for future presidential candidates, that’s also the year they will have another shot at the White House. In a letter to CNN published Oct. 11, President Barack Obama outlined his ambition to send humans on a trip to Mars and back by 2030. In an address to the 67th annual International Astronautical Congress in Mexico last month, billionaire entrepreneur and SpaceX founder Elon Musk suggested he could send the first pioneers there eight years sooner, by 2022. But to hear Andrew Basiago tell it, he’s already been there. Americans, in fact, have been traveling to Mars since at least 1968, when he was recruited to participate in a topsecret program of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) named Project Pegasus, one that teleported Americans through time domestically, internationally and interplanetarily. Basiago (pronounced Buh-shah-go) will also return to Mobile Nov. 18-20 as the keynote speaker at the fifth annual conference of the Mars Anomaly Research Society (MARS), an organization founded after he published a 41-page research paper in 2009 entitled “The Discovery of Life on Mars.” In it, he explains how analysis of photographs taken by NASA’s Spirit rover on the Martian surface in 2007 conclude that “life on Mars consists of intelligent, bipedal hominids capable of carving statues and building structures and a variety of animal species that exist, that once existed or that have never existed on Earth.” Where a casual review of NASA’s photographs may reveal little more than red-tinted dirt and rock formations, Basiago and other MARS researchers zoom in, finding human forms, structures, carved statues and bas reliefs in
what otherwise appear as pixelated smudges. Within the thousands of photos taken by Spirit on the Martian surface, Basiago discovered centipede-like humanoids, scorpion-like humanoids and mantis-like humanoids. In the past decade, Basiago, a 55-year-old Washington state attorney, began to make public appearances and publish works on his involvement with Project Pegasus, in which he claims to have been recruited as a child to travel through time and space via teleportation. From the comfort of “jump rooms” in New Jersey and, later, New York and California, Basiago took part in eight different forms of time travel, including holograms, “Montauk chairs” (similar to those portrayed in “The Matrix” film franchise), “chronovisors” and stargates. From 1969 to 1972, he reports, he was the first child to be teleported, in split-second travels between a military contractor’s base in New Jersey to various military and civilian sites in New Mexico. He once “worm-holed” to the Gettysburg Address using a contraption called a “plasma confinement chamber.” In 2012, Basiago filed an affidavit claiming then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld knew of the 9/11 attacks as many as 30 years before they occurred. How, one may ask? Project Pegasus participants heard of the attacks during their travels, and even obtained video of a jet plane crashing into the World Trade Center which was shown to Rumsfeld and others in 1971. Basiago is also running for president in 2020. He does not identify as a Republican or Democrat, nor does he align with the Green or Libertarian parties. He describes himself as a “democratic capitalist” beholden only to the truth, and the truth is this:
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“For 70 years, the U.S. government has been concealing advanced technologies because they might be socially, economically or technically disruptive in nature,” a statement on his campaign website reads (andy2020.net). “These technologies include the teleportation technology developed by DARPA’s Project Pegasus. They may also include cancer cures. The government should begin a program to declassify and deploy this knowledge. The standard of technical disclosure should be what provides the people the ‘best available technology.’ This will enable the United States to reclaim its mantle as the world’s catalyst of applied science.” Eventually, as a 19-year-old undergraduate, Basiago says he was recruited by the CIA for teleportation to Mars. Among the other participants was another student he knew as Barry Soetoro, who everyone knows today as Barack Obama. Their goals were rather simple: establish an extraterrestrial defense regime protecting Earth; create a basis for claiming U.S. territorial sovereignty over Mars; and Acclimate Martian humanoids and animals to our presence. As a presidential candidate, among Basiago’s “100 proposals” are banning fluoride in the U.S. water supply and the artificial sweetener aspartame (they are toxins), banning chemtrails (which cause respiratory distress) and listing the Sasquatch under the provisions of the Endangered Species Act (they exist). But he also has plans to eliminate homelessness, alleviate economic disparity and defend from terrorism and state-sponsored aggression. But at the MARS conference, Basiago wants to talk about Mars. During an interview last month, he said he would be focusing on “three major disinformation statements” made by Obama about the reality of human life on the red planet. “His three denials … don’t allow one to extrapolate that there has been a major human buildup on Mars and establish that we have a defense presence there now,” he said. “Not only has the human population on Mars extended to antiquity, the U.S. presence on Mars now exceeds 50 years.” Tickets for the conference, available via marsmoonspace.com, are $125 for the weekend and include lunches and a reception. “The only reason the kind of information shared at this conference sounds far out, is the information was never shared with the people by the government, so they can’t put it into context,” Basiago said. “Seventy-two years after the advent of atomic weapons, it’s not that far out to talk about travel to another planet … Secrecy prevented people from gradually acquiring this knowledge. Consider the time that has passed, the trillions of dollars that have been spent, and the people who were involved. “I would encourage all space enthusiasts, all people interested in learning the truth about the active deployment of persons in space, those curious about Mars as our neighboring planet, anyone who cares about future, the transparency, wondering about the Mars, to attend.”
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STYLE BOOZIE
Boozie’s election hangover BY BOOZIE BEER NUES/SOCIAL BUTTERFLY
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ell, well, well, we hired a new President. There are a lot of things Boozie dabbles in, but politics isn’t one of them, so don’t stop reading now. This past week or so has been rough, not because of who was elected but because of all the crazies out there. I love Facebook but had to stay away from all the post about this year’s election. It was so bad it drove me to drinking ... well, drinking more than usual (during the week) … If it continues I’m going to have to make a game out of it, take a shot for every post that has anything to do with the 2016 election. Maybe half a shot, because if I take full ones I might wind up dead, or worse, in the comment section of some post. Take it from Boozie, Facebook and alcohol don’t mix well. Next thing you know you have commented on a picture of some girl you went to high school with that her baby isn’t even that cute. Moving on now to the reason you’re here, the gossip ...
Peanuts, get your peanuts
As if Mobile didn’t have enough nuts already, Mr. Peanut himself came to town. The big “nutmobile” was spotted all over town. From the Pecan Festival (duh, he was at a nut festival) to LoDA ArtWalk to Wal-Mart, he was seen around town. The Nutmobile even made an unscheduled stop at Cream and Sugar. If Boozie had to guess it was to try out a cake ball, but Cream and Sugar had some fun with the Nutmobile being parked outside, saying, “You never know what kind of nut you will bump into at Cream and Sugar …” Unfortunately, there is no word whether Mr. Peanut was
a-salted by A&M Peanuts shop during LoDa ArtWalk. Just a joke, butter nut spread any rumors ...
Lights, camera, action
“USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage” was released, very fittingly, on Veterans Day. Wondering what I’m talking about? Remember awhile back when Nicolas Cage was in town shooting a movie? Well, it’s finally out! This past Saturday night the Saenger Theatre had a special showing of the movie for families of the crew of the USS Indianapolis, and it was also open to the public. And boy, did people show up to catch the movie that was filmed almost completely in Alabama! I just hope the shark attack scenes were shot elsewhere. If you missed the showing, you can catch it on Amazon and iTunes.
Bad a** drawings
I know I said I wasn’t going to talk about politics, but I’ve gotta tell y’all about this. Sometime last week someone took their art skills, if you will, to the street. There were at least two images spray-painted around town that Boozie heard about. The first one was on the Blue Bird Hardware store location; that sad little kid next to the rainbow was joined by an image of Donald Trump pooping out swastikas. Ouch. The other image was on the underpass at Springhill Avenue and Interstate 65. We will just leave it at that, Trump’s pants were down again … But anyway, whoever was the mastermind of these images must have never seen a butt before because in both images Donald has a big ole
F U T U R E S H O C K
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THE PLANTERS’ NUTMOBILE RAISED SHELL ALL OVER MOBILE LAST WEEK, WHILE THE LOCALLY-FILMED “USS INDIANAPOLIS: MEN OF COURAGE” WAS RELEASED. bubble butt. His butt is like a semicircle off the pre-existing butt. We will just leave at, the artist is bad at a** drawings. Well, kids, that’s all I’ve got this week. Just remember, whether rain or shine, dramatic or scandalous, or just some plain ol’ peanuts lovin’, I will be there. Ciao!
LAGNIAPPE LEGALS | 251.450-4466 | legals@lagniappemobile.com
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Notice is hereby given that the University of South Alabama (Owner) will accept sealed Bids for the following work: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA MOBILE, ALABAMA ROOF MAINTENANCE LABOR USA JOB 16-82 BID NO. 6101701 Bids will be received from pre-qualified contractors only and clocked in at 2:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, December 1, 2016, in Room AD245 of the USA Administration Building, on the Main Campus of the University of South Alabama. Bids will not be accepted after the time indicated herein and will be returned unopened. A cashier’s check or bid bond payable to the University of South Alabama in an amount not less than five (5) percent of the amount of the bid, but in no event more than $10,000 must accompany the bidder’s proposal. Bid Documents shall be available only through the USA Purchasing Office. Contact as follows: University of South Alabama Purchasing Department 307 N. University Blvd. AD 245 (Administration Building) Mobile, AL 36688 PH# (251) 460-6151 FX# (251) 414-8291 (rbrown@southalabama.edu) Bids must be submitted on Proposal Forms furnished in the Bid Documents or copies thereof. The preceding is an abbreviated advertisement. The complete advertisement may be obtained from the location listed above. A Pre-Bid Conference will be held on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. local time, in Room AD 023 of the Administration Building. Those in attendance will include the Owner, Engineer, and Consultants. Contract bidders, subcontractors and suppliers are encouraged to attend. A tour of the Project site is scheduled immediately after the conference. All questions concerning the Project should be submitted in writing to the Project Manager at the address listed below. 307 University Blvd. N. AD001 (Administration Building) Mobile, AL 36688 PH# (251) 460-7127 FX# (251) 461-1370 (mmayberry@southalabama.edu) LAGNIAPPE HD November 10, 17, 24, 2016.
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Notice is hereby given that the University of South Alabama (Owner) will accept sealed Bids for the following work: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA MOBILE, ALABAMA JAGUAR TRACK REPAIRS BID NO. 6102701 Bids will be received and clocked in at 2:00 p.m. local time on Monday, November 21, 2016, in Room AD245 of the USA Administration Building, on the Main Campus of the University of South Alabama. Bids will not be accepted after the time indicated herein and will be returned unopened. A cashier’s check or bid bond payable to the University of South Alabama in an amount not less than five (5) percent of the amount of the bid, but in no event more than $10,000 must accompany the bidder’s proposal. Bid Documents shall be available only through the USA Purchasing Office. Contact as follows: University of South Alabama Purchasing Department 307 N. University Blvd. AD 245 (Administration Building) Mobile, AL 36688 PH# (251) 460-6151 FX# (251) 414-8291 (rbrown@southalabama.edu) Bids must be submitted on Proposal Forms furnished in the Bid Documents or copies thereof. The preceding is an abbreviated advertisement. The complete advertisement may be obtained from the location listed above. A Pre-Bid Conference will be held at Tuesday, November 8, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. local time, in Room AD 023 of the Administration Building. Those in attendance will include the Owner, Engineer, and Consultants. Contract bidders, subcontractors and suppliers are encouraged to attend. A tour of the Project site is scheduled immediately after the conference. All questions concerning the Project should be submitted in writing to the Project Manager at the address listed below. 307 University Blvd. N. AD001 (Administration Building) Mobile, AL 36688 PH# (251) 460-7127 FX# (251) 461-1370 (mmayberry@southalabama.edu) LAGNIAPPE HD November 3, 10, 17, 2016.
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
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