In this issue, we show off our passion for fashion by showcasing some amazing Eastern Shore businesses offering on-trend clothing and accessories and sought after designer brands. Dress to impress... go check them out!
Our events coverage includes great fundraisers for local schools including Bayside Academy’s disco themed Bay Affair. Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival and ESAC’s Outdoor Art Show brought together hundreds of talented artists from all over the country to fill the streets of downtown Fairhope. We are excited to share smiles from these and other local events.
We are honored to highlight how Supporting Educational Excellence in Daphne Schools (SEEDS) is enriching educational opportunities in every Daphne school. Our beautiful bride now lives in Chicago, but her hometown of Fairhope holds such a special place in her heart that she knew she had to get married on Mobile Bay. Enjoy these stories and our other editorial features about your neighbors.
We love sharing the stories of people and organizations making our area shine, and we are excited you picked up this copy of Social Eastern Shore.
Melinda McGhee Managing Editor Alabama
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In 1985, Bayside Academy celebrated its first Bay Affair, and it has remained an annual event ever since. Parents, alumni, sponsors, and friends gathered again to raise funds for the school in an atmosphere of fun and fellowship. This premier fundraising event features live and silent auctions, artwork, great food, and entertainment. This year’s event had a groovy disco theme that kept everyone dancing. The Bay Affair Studio 24 was presented by Yamane and Kilborn and SOHO Events and Rentals was a top supporter.
Candi and Jerry McKean
Cassie and Trey Burns
Brian and Leah Giattina
Paul and Kelsey Whigham
Andrew and Keely Forsdick
Brandon and Brooke Pilot
Mary Dumas, Deborah Newberry and Judy Niemeyer
Amy Kohn, Lisa Trotter and Tracy Bell Morgan and Allison Ashurst, Jena and Ron Yaeger
Amy Kohn, Lisa Trotter and Tracy Bell
Morgan and Allison Ashurst, Jena and Ron Yaeger
With two generations of his family having attended schools in the Fairhope feeder schools, Cecil Christenberry’s concern for who runs things in the Baldwin County Board of Education is a very personal one. First elected to represent District 6 in 2014, he ran again in 2020 and won the election without opposition.
“When I ran the first time, it was after much prayer,” says Christenberry, who grew up in Chickasaw, Alabama. “I was concerned because I’d learned that the board member who had been so strongly representing the Fairhope feeder pattern was not seeking a third term in 2014. Each of our three daughters completed 12 years of school in the Fairhope feeder pattern, and in 2014, we had two grandsons in the very same school that their mother had attended. Also that year, their mom was in her ninth year of teaching at Fairhope Intermediate School. For personal reasons as well as my love and concern for public education, I absolutely felt it was the right decision to run for the school board and represent District 6.”
While Christenberry’s own background lies in Agricultural Sciences, his wife, Linda, holds a degree in Early Childhood Education from Auburn. The couple have owned Old Tyme Feed & Garden Supply since 1987, recently having announced their retirement and the sale of their business. “My background is small retail business and seeking to solve problems, from cash flow issues to upset customers, which has served me well in my position on the school board,” Christenberry notes. “I’ve never professed to have all the answers, but having volunteered in most of our local schools has given me a strong desire to work to continue the legacy of quality education.”
Christenberry served two terms on the Fairhope City Council from 2000 until 2008, which he feels provided him with an understanding of exponential growth issues as well as the financial crises that the city, county, and schools were facing at the time. “I felt that getting actively involved in working on solutions to these issues to provide an outstanding educational opportunity to every child was the job I would love,” he says. “The biggest challenge continues to be the phenomenal growth around the entire county but especially on the Eastern Shore. Still, we remain committed to providing safe and secure facilities and the very best educational experience for every child. I love the way our municipalities work so well with the school system and are so committed to our young people. I’m so honored to represent the five schools of Fairhope on the county board, and I’m incredibly proud of our teachers, administration, and the staff at each school. Fairhope leads the way for our county’s public schools.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDREW CRUMPTON
The Easter Egg Hunt at Fairhope Piggly Wiggly included plenty of prizes, snacks, Mr. Pig and the Easter Bunny. There was also an opportunity to find a golden egg and win a secret Grand Prize.
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The Bayshore Benefit, an evening of fundraising and fellowship, was held at the Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa. Parents, community members, and BCS alumni gather each year to enjoy great food, a silent auction, and more. Together, attendees blessed the school with giving that exceeded $250,000 this year. Bayshore Christian School is a ministry of Eastern Shore Presbyterian Church.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY CINDY M c CRORY
Bayside Academy’s mission is to prepare students to be successful both academically and in life. By generously supporting The Bay Affair, parents, alumni, sponsors, and friends expressed their commitment to allowing the school to carry out its mission, embrace its traditions, and cultivate lifelong learners in a nurturing and safe environment.
BY LIESEL SCHMIDT
Aswith many professionals, life looks a great deal different, career-wise, for Amy Smith in 2024 than it did pre-pandemic. The then high school teacher reevaluated what she wanted from her time and realized that she craved more flexibility and autonomy, shifting gears to get her real estate license and become a Realtor.
Now an advisor with Engel & Völkers Gulf Shores, Smith helps counsel and guide clients through their real estate experience. On the other side of her professional life is her family life— and, as a working mother, she has had to learn how to balance both in a way that works to everyone’s benefit. “Being a working mom has its challenges as well as its rewards,” she says. “Many of the skills I have gained from being a mother translate nicely to the emotional, educational, and communicative challenges that come with serving clients in my current job. As I reevaluated my career during COVID, I got serious about my personal dreams and, with the support of my family, I intentionally chose what my daughters would be a witness to when it came to the work I do outside of our home. Being a working mom means being determined to grow myself in ways I had never dared and remembering to balance the stressors of the day by finding delight in small, everyday joys.”
Smith’s two girls—one in high school and one in college—may no longer be in their formative years, but she takes great joy in seeing them forge their futures. “I love watching my girls do what makes their heart sing,” she says. “When they’re older, I want them to remember that I was vulnerable enough with them to share my shortcomings, quick and sincere to apologize for my wrongdoings, and that my love for them is never conditional. It simply exists, and there is nothing they can do to add to nor subtract from my love for them. I want them to remember that I am thankful and beyond blessed to know them as their mom.”
Having one member of their little tribe missing after the loss of their first baby, Smith and her daughters have a special tradition of sitting together at the bayside bench dedicated to their brother. “When the girls were little, I would drive them down from where we were living in D.C. for the summer, and we would watch 4th of July fireworks from Sawyer's bench. Even during this season of my girls becoming more independent and our nest being a little less noisy, I go back to that perch for a quick FaceTime with them or send them the view from our family's bench. It’s a great way to end a workday for me.”
April 23rd
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Ninety artists from all over the country participated in the 52nd Outdoor Art Show hosted by Eastern Shore Art Center. The show, held concurrently with Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival, is a major fundraiser for ESAC that allows free admission to the public all year round.
Neil, Ariel, and Kathy Robison
Photos by Andrew Crumpton
Amy Cockrell, Anna Cockrell, and Angie Wilson
Olivia Grace and Eloise DeCelle
Kelly and Ida Ross
Kimberly McLaughlin and Tayler Jordan
Michelle and Nathan Jones
Alison Ward and Anne Dorman
John and Crystal Valletta
Shelley Crooms, Melanie Blackerby, and Robyn Villacampa
Jon Carfagno and Stan Hackney, both from the Mobile Museum of Art, served as this year’s prestigious judges for the annual Outdoor Art Show. They selected 16 award winners from the festival who were recognized at the Eastern Shore Art Center on the first evening of the show. Joe Hobbs of Pensacola was awarded best of show.
Denise Rollings-Martin, Jenny Bullard, and Cathi Parish
Photos by Andrew Crumpton
Ross De La Garza, Nita Durant, and Paul Nikitchenko
Isabel Jackson Best of Show Winner Joe Hobbs, Pensacola, FL
Lisa and Rusty Mote
Karen and Mike Chatham
Kerry Leasure and Mary-Ellen Kelly
Jim and Kathy Schumacher
Caleb and Crystal Barnaby
John Davis, Judy Davis, and Bill Billingsley
My husband and I were raised in Mobile and now, he and I along with our two children, call the Eastern Shore home. Out of curiosity, I picked up a watercolor palette from a local art store in 2019 and began teaching myself the techniques. What began as a self-taught hobby quickly transformed into a full time job in 2020. Studio Smocks, my uniquely branded children's clothing line, evolved a year after that. I work alongside other artists to create fabrics that capture the vibrant Gulf Coast region we all love. I have been blessed by the support of my family, friends, and valued customers propelling me to grow as an artist. It brings me so much joy to see families enjoying my artwork in their home or dressing their children in one of the designs I've created!
marcimalecart@gmail.com
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The streets of downtown Fairhope were filled with locals and tourists for the 72nd annual Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival. The festival allows Fairhope to show off its creativity, showcasing the best in art, food, and entertainment. The festival and its surrounding events promote community appreciation of the arts and support art education. All proceeds are reinvested into the community through local scholarships, donations, and grants available to students and organizations in Fairhope.
For over 70 years, the flower-lined streets of downtown Fairhope have proudly hosted the Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival. While it has grown and evolved throughout the years, it remains a familiar family tradition for so many. During this three-day event, the population of 22,000 swells to nearly 300,000 as Fairhope’s downtown streets come alive with creativity, showcasing the best in art, food, and entertainment in our blossoming community, full of southern charm.
While most of us never think beyond the function of a home, there are those who make their living from creating art in architecture, in seeing beyond the lifelessness of the blueprint and the stark calculations of measurements and elevations to the possibilities of what could be created. These are their canvases, their mediums and materials.
Working in partnership, Birmingham, Alabama-based architect Jeremy Corkern Designs and Atlanta design firm Suzanne Kasler Interiors conceptualized a home in New Orleans that embodies the vision of how design can move the needle in taking the construction of a home from simple function to one of form and luxury. The Creole-style courtyard house is a reflection of the client’s passion for architecture and design as well as attention to detail that, in concert with Corkern’s own expertise, made the project a harmonious collaboration. A passion for collecting provided an endless supply of unique and beautiful pieces to use throughout the home, which also made the editing process a challenging one.
Additional to the foundational design— the canvas—of white painted brick walls, black trimmed windows and alcoves adding variation to the front elevation, there are a wealth of features on which to focus, to study for their distinctive use. Mantels, architectural fragments and French oak floors whose unusual tone and finish seem almost essential to the overall design of the home. “The high-end finishes and unique elements throughout the house make it very different from most homes, but the finished product remains completely livable and comfortable,” notes the homeowner.
Boasting an interior aesthetic that tends toward modern with a casual feel, the eclecticism is a stark contrast to the vernacular architecture of the exterior.
“The overall design of the house is amazing,” the homeowner says.
“Jeremy Corkern Designs did an amazing job capturing everything that we wanted in the house and making it all work together flawlessly. The decorative items were curated by Suzanne Kasler and Greige Interiors, who were able to source the new and antique items from all over the world.”
“It took a lot of special people working tirelessly together to make this house happen, and it is spectacular.”
Completed in April of 2021, the New Orleans home was originally planned to measure 6500 square feet, but continual changes to the design resulted in a floor plan comprising 9500 square feet. Throughout two levels, four bedrooms and seven bathrooms offer a great deal of space that, according to the homeowner, “doesn’t look or feel nearly as big as it ended up being.”
With large living spaces came the need for design details and elements creating visual interest, comfort and personality. In the living room, two seating groups combine the use of tailored upholstery with table arrangements as well as vintage and antique chairs,
all of which create definition and a line of demarcation in the open plan between the living room and the kitchen into which the space flows.
In the dining room, the homeowner’s antiques were given pride of place, including a stunning eighteenthcentury French chandelier, seventeenth-century Persian rug and a sixteenth-century French console. The bar area offers seating as well as spaces for casual meals, and the adjacent kitchen was given a more subtle, quieter tone in its Calcutta gold countertops and custom cabinetry, lit by custom handmade glass pendants hung over the island.
The master suite employs an artful contrast of forms, tones, textures and finishes as well as some of the homeowner’s favorite artwork, grounded by refinished antique wood flooring and anchored around an ultramodern bed from Christian Liaigre. A coffee bar with a drink chiller is nearby for morning coffee or bedtime drinks, and a luxurious ensuite bathroom features custom cabinets designed by the architect.
“The house took so long to complete, and so many people put so much into the house to make it what it is,” says the homeowner. “It took a lot of special people working tirelessly together to make this house happen, and it is spectacular.”
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I would definitely recommend Coastal Stone & Cabinetry for all of your needs.
-Michele Norton, Homeowner
The Bayshore Christian School family and the community showed up in big ways for the Bayshore Benefit. The annual Dessert Dash set a new record and raised more than $143,000. A highlight of the evening was the announcement of Phase 3 for the new Upper School campus, which includes more classrooms and a gym. The school’s Chapel Band closed the evening in worship and praise to God for His many blessings to the school.
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Bidding of the Bulls, the annual fundraiser hosted by Spanish Fort Elementary PTA, offered parents a night out that was full of fun. The event included live music, line dancing lessons, a photo booth, an auction packed with great items and experiences, and delicious food provided by Ed’s Seafood Shed. Proceeds from the event are used to support SFES students and programs.
Addie Powell, Allison Guy and Kelly Knapp
Kevin Dixon, Tim Kinsey and Jenni Dixon
Keara Hunter, Wallace Gilberry, Holly Morse and Angela Pinkston
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY STEPHEN SAVAGE
The Pirate Dash is a one-mile fun run and 5K for a great cause, the elementary schools of Fairhope. Over 30 local businesses sponsored the event, including title sponsor, Thompson Animal Hospital. The event is proudly hosted by the Fairhope East K-6 Parent Teacher Corporation, the Fairhope West Parent Teacher Partnership, and the J. Larry Newton Parent Teacher Organization.
Ascities grow and change, its needs also shift—and those needs trickle down past the infrastructure of housing and transportation to reach the members of the community too young to purchase a home or drive a car.
Where there are children, there is a need for the schools to educate them, and providing a quality education is the burden of the communities in which they live. For Daphne, that burden has been taken on by the efforts of an organization called Supporting Educational Excellence in Daphne’s Schools (SEEDS).
Created in early 2004, SEEDS essentially began with a small group of parents concerned with advancing educational opportunities for all Daphne students. Their first meeting was organized and led by Denise D’Oliveira and Ruth Seawell, both of whom had a great deal of experience in education advocacy and community engagement, and the organization took shape over the next year.
“Our stated mission was to promote a lifelong love of learning among the children of Daphne by providing enrichment opportunities at school and within the community and by advocating for educational improvements and innovations,” explains SEEDS Executive Director Beth Dunn. “Our work was focused in the areas of providing enrichment, encouraging improvements, building community, and raising funds.”
Early accomplishments of SEEDS included the successful lobbying to bring the International Baccalaureate Programme to Baldwin County, which was first implemented at Daphne High School. “Funds raised by SEEDS made this major advancement possible, and our foundation continued to provide operating funds for the IB program at Daphne High School over the next ten years,” says Dunn.
The Classroom Enrichment Grants Program was established and funded by a Friend of SEEDS membership drive, corporate donations from local businesses, and two major annual fundraisers—initiatives which brought more than $800,000 into Daphne’s six schools over the last 20 years. Academic grants funded include STEAM initiatives, art programs, leadership training, mentoring programs, and early reading initiatives.
SEEDS was also critical in the founding and advancement of the Baldwin County Education Coalition and has created numerous initiatives to engage parents, businesses, elected officials, and community advocates for pursuing quality education within the community of Daphne.
“Besides raising private funding to support public school programs, foundations like SEEDS serve as advocates for public education and school improvement, provide positive public relations for our schools, and help build bridges between schools and the public,” says Dunn. “Our schools are growing at a rapid pace, which necessitates more resources than ever before to keep up with student demand. We must continue to support and fund our administrators and teachers so our Daphne students can successfully compete in the job market— whether that means preparing them for a community college or university or providing them with skills training for today’s workforce.”
THURSDAY, MAY 16, 2024
7-10 p.m.
Art Auction | Live Music | Open Bar
Limited tickets available! Visit esartcenter.org for more information.
Guests of St. Michael Catholic High School’s annual Cardinals in the Courtyard enjoyed delicious cuisine from Wolf Bay Restaurant at various tasting stations, while enjoying tunes from The Six Piece Suits. The evening also featured a thrilling live auction and a silent art auction, showcasing works from local artists. The event commenced with a special Mass celebrated by Archbishop Rodi and a champagne toast for the sponsors. In addition to raising funds for the school’s annual Cardinal fund, the event fosters community spirit and acknowledges the excellent educational services provided by the school.
Skipper and Storey Walters
Samantha Yeager and Lindsay Schumacher
Susie and Kent Blackinton
Amelia Bodet and Kevin Smith
Mike Robitaille and Ed Bennett
Ricky and Jami Lightcap
Haley West, Stephanie Barfield and Stephanie Williamson
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Daphne’s 9th annual Night to Shine Prom was held in Trojan Hall at Daphne High School. The event is an unforgettable prom night experience for those with special needs. Events like these are held worldwide with support of The Tim Tebow Foundation. A red-carpet entrance, limousine rides, dancing, karaoke, gifts, a catered dinner, a respite room for parents and caregivers, and a crowning ceremony during which every honored guest received a crown or tiara were all part of the event.
Anastasia Todd and Evan Millis Rachel Walker, Carolyn Selzer and Charlotte Meckel
Alexis Hollingsworth, Alyse Delph, Brandon Bateman and Landon Thomas
Asanyone with a smartphone knows, there’s an app for everything—including meeting your soulmate. And so it was for Fairhope native Maring Eberlein and her husband, Tim Ladd, who matched on an app in January of 2018.
Upon Maring’s suggestion, the couple’s first date was at Chicago arcade bar, Headquarters. Maring explains, “We’d both come from work—I was dressed appropriately for the very casual tech company for which I was working at the time. Tim showed up in a full suit, and he also wasn’t drinking for dry January. I wasn’t sure how the night would go.”
The first date went so well, however, that there were many more dates to follow—four years of them, in fact. Knowing that they wanted to spend forever together, the two decided to take their relationship to the next level. “The proposal was supposed to happen at the Trevi Fountain in Rome.” says Maring, who goes on to recount how her custom engagement ring was delayed— which also meant the actual proposal was put on hold…
…Until, back home in Chicago, Maring and Tim went to their favorite restaurant, Taureaux Tavern. “It was a gorgeous summer night, and we went for a walk after dessert and found a bench in a quiet spot on the Chicago River. Eventually, Tim waited for a perfect moment in the conversation and proposed! I remember he fumbled with the ring box, and then opened it upside down—it was all very sweet.”
On March 4, 2023, Maring met Tim under the chuppah that members of her family have been married under for years. It was originally a lace bed cover that belonged to Maring’s greatgrandmother, and it inspired her to select her beautiful strapless champagne-colored gown with a Swiss dot pattern. Taking in the beautiful view of Mobile Bay with their friends and family gathered around them, the couple were pronounced married—with one unexpected glitch. “In Jewish weddings, you step on the glass, but it’s actually pretty common to step on a light bulb for an easier and louder break,” says Maring. We thought the bulb we planned to use was glass, but it was plastic. Luckily, my dress was big enough to catch it, and no one could see what happened when it shot out from under our feet!”
After the ceremony, the couple joined their guests for a reception at the Eastern Shore Art Center where celebrating commenced with eating, dancing, drinking, and the cutting of the cake, a three-tiered confection with different tiers of classic almond wedding cake, chocolate on chocolate for Tim, and lemon and blueberry for the bride. Everyone enjoyed a buffet-style selection of Southern coastal fare. According to Maring, “People still tell me it was the best food they’ve ever had at a wedding. We had Rousso’s famous shrimp and grits bar, gumbo, bacon-wrapped Conecuh sausage, fresh truffle fries, and fried shrimp - so many good things! We wanted to make sure our friends and family from out of town got a proper taste of the Gulf Coast. Our reception was a blast!
Maring shares, “The community in which I grew up means so much to me, and that played a huge part in the decision to get married in Fairhope. Everything came together with the help of local family and friends.” Before returning home to Chicago, Maring and Tim spent a mini-moon at her family’s condo in Perdido Key, working with a view during the days and walking down the beach to the Flora-Bama at night.
FLORAL DESIGN: Southern Veranda | CATERING: Georgia Roussos Catering | CAKE: Sugar House Custom Cakes
INVITATIONS: Duplicators Printing | HAIR & MAKEUP: Jillian Holt MUAH | WEDDING BANDS: Stowe’s Jewelers
PHOTOGRAPHY: Cindy McCrory, Blue Room Photography & Stephen Savage | PHOTO BOOTH: Magic Memories Photo Booth
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Proceeds from the event will support the 2024 SEEDS Classroom Grant Program for Daphne schools.
Photos by Andrew Crumpton
Crawfish for the Classroom included live music, childrens’ activities, local brews from Fairhope Brewing Company, and crawfish prepared by Mudbug Mafia!
Joshua and Lauren Brown, Stephen and Beth McClantoc
Dan and Sarah Sadllis
Major Walton, Dallas Walton, Meagan Walton, Ken Peterson, Tre Peterson, Alexis Peterson and Antonia Peterson
Rosemary Greene, Tori Zahn and Hannah Greene
Fairytale Tea Party sunday, march 10
• 2 - 4 pm
Photos by Andrew Crumpton
MOBILE BALLET
Fairytale Tea Party
EASTERN SHORE STUDIO
new location!
sunday, march 10
Mobile Ballet welcomed children of our community for a fun Sunday afternoon at their Eastern Shore studio. Activities included interaction with Mobile Ballet Company members who will be dancing in the upcoming Sleeping Beauty ballet production, a short performance from the show, themed snacks, and dress up with costume props for photo ops. Parents had the opportunity to participate along with their little ones, as well as enter drawing for great items donated by local businesses. The event was a fundraiser for the Relevé Project tuition assistance program.
• 2 - 4 pm
Tea, treats, performance, storytime, photo ops, and more!
MOBILE BALLET
www mobileballet org
EASTERN SHORE STUDIO
new location!
Tea, treats, performance, storytime, photo ops, and more!
www . mobileballet . org
Kyle, Lennon and Wendy Walding
Emily and Ashleigh Strickland
Lee Walters and Mike Bosarge
Fairhope’s Oak Hollow Farm served as the setting for An Evening of Education Champions. The event, hosted by Baldwin County Education Coalition, supported the Baldwin Bred Future Teacher Program and Baldwin Proud Future Teacher Scholarships. The evening included a silent auction, live music, food, and refreshments.
Autumn Zellner, Ashley Hall, and Tiffany Rizzuto
Photos by Ruili Cai
Lia Harbin, Cain Harbin, and Melissa Cross Jennifer Connelly, Russell Connelly, and Alison Tyler
Dr. Abby Hamilton and Tiffeny Howard
Joe Davis and Cecil Christenberry
Dr. Tiffany Wilson and Chasity Riddick
Benita and Allen Battle
Danielle Ludlow and Phillippi Pyles
Kristin Hellmich, Donnie Long, and Gia Long
Serving Baldwin County’s neighbors, family & friends for more than 60 years.
