Champions for Children & Women At USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital, we are a unique resource in the region, offering health care exclusively focused on the needs of children and women.
For more information, follow us on Facebook. /usacwhospital/
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Volume 9 Number 7
Columns 6 Publisher’s Note Lynn Knighton
8 Living With Children John Rosemond
Coaching Confidence Tips on how to help your children approach public speaking without fear.
Gift Giving for Kids
Get your children involved in the spirit of giving with these budget-friendly ideas!
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16 Kids Health Watch
sponsored by Magnolia Springs Pediatrics
48 Dave Says Dave Ramsey
50 Get This!
Gerry Paige Smith
52 Growing Up Online Carolyn Jabs
Holiday Happenings
From parades to tree lightings to musicals and more, these events make your season bright!
Bittersweet Bonding
Get your teen ready to launch into adulthood during the high school years.
58 Parenting Today’s Teens Mark Gregston
79 A Page in a Book Gerry Paige Smith
On The Cover
Departments
Vivian Bosarge (age 8) is the
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daughter of Tanya and Mike Bosarge. Proud grandparents are Lee and Punnie Bosarge and Sue Tullos. Vivian enjoys art, ballet, theatre, boating, drums, and cooking with her mom. Photo by Jeff Kennedy Photography.
Bits and Pieces 18
School Bits 76
Family Calendar 80
Movie Reviews
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Publisher’sNote The Eastern Shore’s Foremost Parenting Source
The holidays are here, and what an exciting time of year! I love everything about the holidays...the decorations, the music, shopping for the perfect gifts, and of course, crafting and baking with my girls. The three of them have been searching holiday ideas on Pinterest since November 1. They are great at finding all kinds of goodies and crafts to make. Just the other day they were showing me boards filled with gifts they are going to create for various family members. I love that they enjoy taking time to create meaningful gifts. Those are true gifts from the heart. Are you looking for gift ideas for your kids to create during the holidays? Sarah Lyons’ article, Gifts Kids Can Give on a Small Budget, will get you started in the right direction. Watching the girls collaborate on the Christmas festivities warms my heart. I love to listen to their ideas and watch them plan and really take ownership of their part in the holiday traditions. It is not always easy for this self-admitted control freak to let go of the reigns and let the girls take over certain parts of the holiday, but seeing how much they enjoy the responsibility and trust from us is worth every bit of angst I may feel. I know it is important for me to let go a bit and allow them to grow in their independence, especially now that I have one in high school. Christina Katz’s article, Bittersweet Bonding: Get Your Teen Ready To Launch Into Adulthood really hit home with me. She offers helpful points to consider as you prepare your children to go out on their own. Gaining independence can be very exciting for children. They feel strong, trusted and that their opinions matter. But some children may shy away from certain tasks like ordering in a restaurant, speaking in front of the class or speaking in front of a whole audience. If this sounds familiar, make sure you read Coaching Confidence: How to Help Your Child Approach Public Speaking Without Fear. You will also want to check out the Holiday Happenings Guide on page 64. This guide is filled with holiday activities perfect for creating traditions and memories with your family. Parades, live nativities, light shows, concerts, ice skating, and yes, even snow are just a few of the exciting activities found in this year’s guide. On a final note for 2016, I encourage you to be part of everything that is good in the world. Take a moment to really notice the people around you. Say hello to your neighbor. Look the cashier in the eye. Smile at people passing by. You never know, that may be the one bright spot in their day. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a joy-filled New Year!
Publisher Lynn Knighton lynn@easternshoreparents.com Editor DeAnne Watson deanne@easternshoreparents.com Associate Editor Kelly Watson Research Editor Christa Weinberg Contributing Writers Mark Gregston Christa Melnyk Hines Carolyn Jabs Christina Katz Sarah Lyons Dave Ramsey John Rosemond Robert L. Rux, M.D. Gerry Paige Smith
Cover Photography Jeff Kennedy www.jeffkennedyphotography.com
President Jason Watson jason@easternshoreparents.com Advertising Opportunities Lynn Knighton Leslie Hall Traci Calvert Danielle Nicholas ads@easternshoreparents.com (251) 929-2099 Ad Design Tim Welch
Visit us online at www.easternshoreparents.com
Lynn
Eastern Shore Parents magazine is published monthly by KeepSharing, LLC. Mailing address: P.O. Box 374, Montrose, Alabama, 36559. The phone number for voice and fax is (251) 929-2099. Eastern Shore Parents is copyrighted 2015 by KeepSharing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in Eastern Shore Parents magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.
lynn@easternshoreparents.com
Eastern Shore Parents I December 2016
Eastern Shore Parents Magazine, is founded on the principle that parenting is an exciting, diverse, challenging, and significant, role in our community. Eastern Shore Parents Magazine is a community advocate for families and the parenting process.
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LivingWithChildren by John Rosemond
Weak Consequences Don’t Work Q: Dinner with our three kids always, and I mean ALWAYS, turns into a disaster. Typically, the oldest, 11, begins to needle the youngest, 6, and then, when the middle one, 9, figures out which of them is winning, he jumps in on that side. We’ve yelled, sent the instigator from the table so we can restore a semblance of order, not allowed television in the evening, and so on. Needless to say, nothing has worked. Help us! A: Nothing has worked because you’ve done essentially nothing. As is the case with most of today’s parents, your consequences do nothing but annoy your children. You set off firecrackers when you need a hydrogen bomb. You try to stop charging elephants with flyswatters. And then, when the elephants trample you, you blame the elephants. This problem began because of the children. It continues because of you. What is it with you folks (meaning not just you, but parents of your generation)? Never mind. I know the answer. You (plural) won’t
Eastern Shore Parents I December 2016
use BIG, HUGE, MEMORABLE CONSEQUENCES—as in, consequences that go beyond annoying and truly mean something. Why? Because you want your kids to like you. As a result, a lot of you end up not liking your kids. Furthermore, your kids don’t take you seriously until you begin acting like escapees from the local looney bin. You’ve yelled? It is inevitable—and I mean it is a 100 percent ironclad guarantee—that parents who want their kids to like them end up yelling at them on a regular basis. You’ve sent the instigator of this chaos from the table and/or taken away television for—what?—two hours? Wow! And then you experienced great guilt, right? Right. Because parents who want their kids to like them are wracked by guilt on a regular basis, whereas their children feel guilt rarely if ever. Here’s the paradox: The less a parent wants to be liked by his/her child, the better the parent-child relationship will be. I’m not talking about being hateful toward one’s child; I’m talking simply about not giving the proverbial hoot nor holler whether or not the child likes you or any decision you’ve made
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at any given moment in time. You know you love your child. You know you would make the supreme sacrifice for your child. Right? Right. And that, my friends, is all that matters. Not what a CHILD thinks about you. Only your children can solve this problem, but they will not take any steps in that direction until the problem upsets THEM, and THEM only. Since three children are involved in this mealtime circus, bar all three from the dinner table for a month during which the two of you enjoy civilized evening meals for two. While you dine in the sublime peace of childlessness, confine them to their rooms. When you’ve finished your meals and civil conversation, release them to clean up after you. When they’ve finished and you approve the result, allow them to fix themselves sandwiches or some other cold plates, after which they clean up after themselves and then return to their rooms until bedtime. After a month, give family meals another go. If the circus begins anew, put them on the fix-it-yourself cold sandwich diet for two months. At some point, this is going to get very old—for them, that is. Family psychologist John Rosemond answers parents’ questions at www.johnrosemond.com and parentguru.com.
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A Chocolate Affair to Benefit Homeless Families
Family Promise of Baldwin County announces the 9th annual fundraiser 'A Chocolate Affair". This exciting event hosts an evening of fellowship and fun wrapped in the magic of the Christmas Spirit and features heavy hors d'oeuvres and desserts from local restaurants, silent auction, live music and other activities. Tickets are available now for $25 per person in advance by visiting our website, www.familypromisebc.org or by calling the office at 251-947-5641. Tickets are $30 at the door. ‘A Chocolate Affair’ will be held on Thursday, December 8 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Foley Civic Center. Proceeds from the event benefit Family Promise of Baldwin County, a community response to the issue of homelessness in Baldwin County, specifically homeless families with children.
2016 Angel Tree Program
The Salvation Army believes that every child deserves to know the joy of a new toy or clothing, and get to share those special moments with family at Christmas. To help make the holidays brighter for the less fortunate, The Salvation Army of Coastal Alabama provides Christmas gifts to families in need throughout Mobile & Baldwin Counties. There are several ways the community can help with Angel Tree: – Adopt an individual Angel from our tree at most Wal-Mart Vision Centers (typically begins after Thanksgiving) – Sponsor an Angel Tree (10 or more angels) for your business or organization – Host a toy/gift drive for our “Forgotten Angels” – angels who do not get adopted or whose gifts do not get returned. Additional Angel Tree Volunteer opportunities include Angel Tree Warehouse, December 1 - 15. Shifts are 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. December 16 volunteers are needed at Angel Tree distribution as runners, greeters, check-out, toy shoppers, etc. from 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. For more information on hosting an Angel Tree or Toy Drive, contact: Major Susan Brown, Associate Area Commander at Susan.Brown@USS.SalvationArmy.org or 251.438.1625.
Modern Renaissance Theatre Presents “Into the Woods, Jr.”
Have you ever wondered what happens following “happily ever after” in popular fairytales? Join Modern Renaissance Theatre (MRT) in our inaugural production on the Eastern Shore to find out! Our troupe of talented young performers will bring to life Grimm favorites Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack, Rapunzel and more as they present “Into the Woods, Jr.” Shows will be at 7:00 p.m. on December 9th and 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on December 10th in the Ballroom at Homestead Village of Fairhope. Stay tuned for our exciting announcements on audition dates and Spring productions! Details will be available soon online at www.ModRenTheatre.com. For further ticketing or program information, please contact us at 251.279.0154 or info@modrentheatre.com.
Fairhope Sisters Unite
Fairhope Sisters Unite is a new nonprofit in Fairhope. Five women of Christian faith share a vision of being the catalysts for unity to bring together people of different races, faiths and walks of life. Fairhope Sisters Unite's goal is to provide ways for citizens to fellowship through community gatherings, events and projects. Where people are together side-by-side, conversation flows and friendships form. Through enjoyable relationships, unity is bound to emerge. All are invited to take part in this exciting movement – not just women! Our community building is located at 7022 Twin Beech Road in Fairhope. Like us on Facebook and visit our website, www. fairhopesistersunite. org. Photo by Kim Pearson.
Eastern Shore Parents I December 2016
Children's Miracle Network New Year's Eve Ball
RE/MAX of Orange Beach and USA Children's & Women's Hospital present the 1st Annual Children's Miracle Network New Year's Eve Ball, a spectacular event happening on December 31 at the Orange Beach Event Center from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Emerge will play the night's tunes, and guests will enjoy catering by Naman's. Black tie attire is optional. Tickets are $100 per person and space is limited so register today by visiting bit.ly/REMAX-CMNH-NYE-BALL or contact Vickie Daily, 251-968-2790. 10
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Celebrate Young Authors
Baldwin County and Mobile County students are invited to join in celebrating Young Authors! Metro Mobile Reading Council and the Mobile Public Library are sponsoring two publications for Young Writers, “2017 Young Authors’ Anthology” and the 2017 “Both Sides of the Bay” Teen Literary Magazine. The anthology is for students in grades 2-5 and our Teen Literary Magazine is for students in grades 6-12. Due to the format change, space will be limited and submissions will be accepted based on the order received. All submissions are due by January 6, 2017. All student work must be appropriate for readers of all ages. This year both publications will be in the glossy magazine format. There will be an Early Bird Magazine and T-Shirt Order Special. If ordered by December 16, 2016, students can purchase a Magazine & T-Shirt for $15. These publications will be ready for distribution at our Young Authors’ Conference and Teen Writing Fair on March 11, 2017, at the West Regional Branch Library on Grelot Road. For more information, contact Young Authors Mobile, 251-391-5376 or youngauthorsmobile@yahoo.com or visit www. metromobilereadingcouncil.wikispaces.com.
Ransom Ministries Seeking Volunteers to Serve at Candy Cane Christmas
Looking for a way to give back this holiday season? Bring the whole family to serve at Ransom Ministries’ Candy Cane Christmas, a local event that provides struggling families with Christmas gifts, breakfast and a fun day of Christmas-themed crafts and games for kids. This year's event is on Dec. 10 at the Hangar of West Mobile Baptist Church on Airport Boulevard from 9 a.m. until noon. Matt Armbruster, director of Ransom Ministries says, ”Just like our main ministry, Ransom Cafe, we do ask for some kind of donation from them because everything means more when we invest in it. Most parents are grateful for the opportunity to donate because it gives them dignity. Some stranger isn't providing for their kids — they are. We just ask them to donate whatever they can afford.” Part of the building is set up like a toy store, and parents shop for gifts while their kids take pictures with Santa, play holiday games and make crafts with volunteers. Gifts will be wrapped at no charge, and a continental breakfast will be served. Volunteers, new toys and monetary donations are needed for Candy Cane Christmas. Check RansomMinistries.com for more information about how you can get involved. Ransom ministries is also selling crosses hand-crafted by students in Ransom ReProgram, a job training program that helps participants move out of a life of chronic dependency and into a life of personal responsibility and self-reliance. To purchase a cross visit RansomMinistries.com and click on RePurpose.
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Original Oyster House among first Restaurants to Pilot Alabama’s Oyster Shell Recycling Program
While diners savor fire-grilled oysters at the Original Oyster House, they also will be contributing to the first Alabama Oyster Shell Recycling Program. The program was officially launched on Friday, October 28, 2016 at the Original Oyster House restaurant on the Mobile Causeway. Mayor McMillian of Spanish Fort and Laura Byrne, deputy director of communications for the city of Mobile, joined the Alabama Coastal Foundation, the Oyster Shell Recycling Advisory Committee and the Mobile Chamber of Commerce for short presentation introducing the program and a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Spearheaded by the Alabama Coastal Foundation (ACF), the Oyster Shell Recycling Program is made possible through a two year grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). The program will recycle oyster shells from restaurants and get them back into Alabama waters, enhancing oyster production among other benefits. What makes the program even more powerful is it exemplifies the ACF mission of protecting Alabama’s coast through cooperation, education and participation. The NFWF grant pays for oyster shell recycling bins, the drop off and pick up of the bins, and the cleaning of the bins. This makes it an easy transition which is key for encouraging restaurants to participate. David Dekle, co-owner of the Original Oyster House restaurants and an Oyster Shell Recycling Advisory Committee member, was one of the first to sign up. Chris Blankenship, director of Alabama Marine Resources Division, is charged with managing Alabama’s public oyster reefs. “Over the past 3 years, the state has spent around 6 million dollars to put out over 100,000 cubic yards of oyster shell on more than 1000 acres of water bottoms,” said Blankenship. “This program is vital to our state. Without the shells in the water, it’s hard to have a viable oyster industry here. These shells have multiple uses. They can be used on the public oyster bottoms, or natural reefs, in oyster restoration projects along the coast or shoreline stabilization projects. The oyster shells from restaurants will be stored on our property to season for about 6 months. An advisory council will ensure those shells will be used for the best benefit.” Pictured at the ceremonial ribbon cutting for Alabama’s First Oyster Shell Recycling Program are from left Mark Berte, Ryan Mains, Beth Walton, Mary Kate Brown, Chandra Wright, Mayor McMillan, Justin Clements, David Dekle, Genie Frazer, Chris Blankenship, Joe Roszkowski.
Eastern Shore Parents I December 2016
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Hundreds Participate in Trick or Trot 5K
Nearly 750 people, many of them clad in colorful costumes and some being pushed in specially-designed racers, took part in the fourth annual Trick or Trot 5K and Fun Run held at USA Moulton Tower on Oct. 21 on the campus of the University of South Alabama. Superheroes including Captain America and Spiderman ran alongside video game icons such as PacMan and a swarm of googly-eyed ghosts pounding the pavement behind him. The family friendly event benefits the pediatric evaluation center at USA Children's & Women's Hospital where nearly 40,000 visits were recorded in 2015. The race, which is held near sunset and follows a course across USA's campus in west Mobile, was launched four years ago by Dr. Jason Richerson who has competed in similar races at Walt Disney World. He wanted to offer the same kind of event on the Gulf Coast. Richerson serves as the Medical Director of the hospital's evaluation center. After the races Friday evening, runners took part in trick-or-treating and children’s activities including pumpkin decorating, a photo booth, bounce houses, an outdoor movie, train rides, games and music. The event raises funds for the restoration of the hospital's evaluation center, a 14-bed, Level III emergency department build in the 1950s and staffed 24-hours a day. The only one of its kind in the region, it is equipped and staffed to meet the unique needs of children and women with obstetrical and gynecological emergencies.
Baldwin County Sewer Service Announces Christmas Ornament Decorating Contest
Baldwin County children in grades K-8 are eligible to submit handmade Christmas ornaments for a chance to win prizes for themselves and for their schools. To be eligible for the contest, ornaments must follow all contest rules that are listed on the entry form and on BCSS’ website. The primary requirement is that the ornaments should incorporate the water drop from the BCSS logo or the BCSS mascot, Crystal Clean. Entries can be submitted by simply emailing or mailing a photo of the ornament(s) with the entry form(s)/ contact information to the BCSS office at 14747 Underwood Road Summerdale, AL 36580 or office@baldwincountysewer.com. Ornaments must be submitted for judging by BCSS by December 19, 2016. A winner will be chosen from each age group and awarded $100 each: Grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. Each winner’s school will be awarded $500 to be used as needed. Since ornaments will be chosen anonymously, one school could have more than one winner, so one school can receive up to $1,500. Entry forms can be found on the website, BaldwinCountySewer.com/Ornament-Contest, or include the child’s contact information and school. For more information contact Jenny Williams at (251) 971-1516 or jenny@baldwincountysewer.com.
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Mardi Gras Parade and Dollar General Bowl Tickets
Teams from the Mid-American Conference and Sun Belt Conference will square off on Friday, Dec. 23, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium for the Dollar General Bowl. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. CST and the game will be nationally televised on ESPN. Tickets for the 2016 Dollar General Bowl game are $15 for general admission end zone seats and $45 for reserved seating along the sidelines. Game tickets can be purchased online through the Dollar General Bowl website at www.DollarGeneralBowl.com or by calling the Dollar General Bowl office at 251-635-0011. In addition, the Greer’s/AL.com Mardi Gras Parade will be held Thursday, Dec. 22, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Downtown Mobile. The AL.com Pep Rally and AL.com Street Party will immediately follow the parade in Bienville Square. All parade festivities are free to the public. To see a full list of bowl week events, and for more information visit the Dollar General Bowl website at www.DollarGeneralBowl. com or call 251-635-0011. Connect with us on Facebook at www. Facebook.com/DollarGeneralBowl and Twitter, Instagram and SnapChat @dg_bowl.
Eastern Shore Parents I December 2016
Bay Minette Christmas Fest
Santa will be throwing more than just candy when he arrives in downtown Bay Minette on Friday, December 9. The jolly old elf will be tossing out hundreds of ping pong balls as he makes his grand entrance at the 34th annual Christmas Fest. 100 balls will be numbered and 100 prizes will be given away when patrons return on Saturday. Prizes include a flat screen TV this year! Christmas Fest will be held December 9-10 and vendor booths are open 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. In addition to numerous arts and crafts and food vendors, there will be games and fun activities and plenty of great entertainment to fill the weekend. There will also be a special children's area set up in Blackburn Park. Friday's activities will include the lighting of the Christmas tree in Blackburn Park, Santa's arrival and performances by local talent. Bedtime Stories with Santa will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Bay Minette Public Library. For this free event, children can come dressed in their pajamas to hear a favorite Christmas story and to visit with Santa Claus. The fun continues Saturday with Pancakes with Santa, antique car show, the annual parade and more. For more information about the Christmas Fest, call the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce at 251-937-5665.
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The Alabama School of Mathematics and Science Come find out if ASMS is right for you by visiting our campus Satruday, December 3 for Preview Day. See student-run classroom demonstrations and learn about a school that could change your life forever. Register for Preview Day at www.asms.net.
Start your online application today at www.asms.net. Current Alabama 9th or 10th graders can apply. Many people ask, “Do I have to be a ‘genius’ to be accepted to ASMS?” Answer: Absolutely NOT! ASMS is made up of students who are intelligent and work hard for academic success. In 2016, the 73 ASMS grads earned $12 million in merit-based scholarships with an ACT composite class average of 29.0.
ASMS is our state’s only fully public, residential high school for sophomores, juniors, and seniors seeking advanced studies in math, science, and the humanities. Applying to ASMS is FREE – Email admissions@asms.net or call 251.441.3250. and so are tuition, room, and board if you ASMS are admitted! Class of 2016 Questions? ACT Comparison
2016 ACT COMPARISON 31.5 30.7
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Alabama School of Mathematics and Science 1255 Dauphin St., Mobile, AL 36604 15 - www.asms.net www.facebook.com/easternshoreparentsmagazine 251.441.2100 admissions@asms.net
KidsHealthWatch
Sponsored by Magnolia Springs Pediatrics
I Think I Have a Spider Bite Hey guys! School is in full swing and there are lots of illnesses going around. Today I want to talk about a common misconception about your child’s health. Almost every day, I see a patient who claims they have a spider bite. Luckily, spider bites are exceedingly rare. The most common explanation of a swollen, red area that’s tender on the skin is a skin infection. One of the more frequent culprits is a bacteria named Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as “staph,” that is carried on the skin and in the nose of healthy people. It’s estimated that between 30-60% of all people have “staph” on their skin. But the real problem is the emergence of a “staph” bacteria that is resistant to penicillinbased antibiotics, called MRSA. Current studies show that somewhere between 10-50% of all people have this MRSA on their skin and in their nose and this is scary business. It’s important to differentiate between hospital acquired MRSA and community acquired MRSA (or CA-MRSA). The hospital acquired type is very aggressive and occurs in people recently hospitalized, in nursing homes, and/or healthcare workers. The CAMRSA can occur in anyone! The CA-MRSA can be very aggressive as well, but mainly causes skin infections that may look like a pimple or
Eastern Shore Parents I December 2016
boil and can be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage. The most common ways of spreading CA-MRSA occurs in people that have a close contact with someone who has a history of boils or abscesses and amongst athletes who share equipment. Those with a weakened immune system are at a greater risk of having invasive disease as well. I have only seen one actual spider bite in my pediatric career; however, I have seen thousands of MRSA infections! We now routinely see 5-10 cases per week and sometimes 4-6 cases per day during the spring and summer! Let’s talk about some ways to protect your child and family. You can protect yourself from infections by practicing good hygiene (i.e., keeping your hands clean by washing with soap and water and showering after working out); covering any open skin area such as abrasions or cuts with a clean dry bandage; avoiding sharing personal items such as towels or razors; using a barrier (e.g., clothing or a towel) between your skin and shared workout equipment; and wiping surfaces of equipment before and after use (example: in the locker room and weight room at school). While lots of schools and businesses have closed to “clean them up“, as soon as the kids come back with the
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bacteria on their skin or in their nose, the risk of spread returns. So what can you do? Definitely see your healthcare provider for any red, swollen bug bites or scratches to be evaluated for infection. While rare, MRSA has been known to cause very serious infections in otherwise healthy kids, including blood infections and pneumonia. And yes, they can be treated with non-penicillin based antibiotics and creams, although most need to be drained and cultured to see what antibiotics will work best for your child. And yes, it can re-occur. There is no way to eradicate the MRSA bacteria once you have it, but common sense and good hygiene can go a long way. MRSA is here to stay in our area! So be very vigilant with your child in terms of bug bites and scratches and seek medical care if worried. Is it a spider bite? Most likely not, but your doctor can help you decide! Until next time, be good. Robert L. Rux, M.D. is a Board Certified Pediatrician at Magnolia Springs Pediatrics. Originally from Mobile, he attended medical school at The University of Alabama School of Medicine (UAB) and completed residency at The Children’s Hospital of Alabama (UAB). He is married to Jaime and has three children, Adler, Walker and Mary McAtee.
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Autauga County Schools
Fairhope High School Artists Commissioned to Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month
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Mr. Lawrence Delahunt, Postmaster at Fairhope Post Office, requested the post office windows to be painted in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October. Members of the Art Club and National Art Honor Society at Fairhope High School spent multiple afternoons and some weekends painting a total of 24 windows with a variety of symbols and designs representing breast cancer awareness. Pictured, Rusty Salter of the Post Office, Lynda Williams (FHS art teacher/Art Club sponsor), Weslee Pintarelli, Lexie Williams, Audrey Clark, Laura Cohen, Amy Plunkett (FHS art teacher/Art Club sponsor), and William Doo.
Veterans Day Assembly at Bay Minette MS
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Bay Minette Middle School recently concluded a week-long "Dollars for Defenders" drive to benefit the William F. Green State Veterans Home. The student body collected $745 for the local veterans’ home. The fund-raiser culminated with a Veterans Day Assembly to honor the many men and women who have served in the Armed Forces. Organizers said the beautiful assembly served as just a small and humble token of appreciation for those who faithfully served our country.
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Robertsdale ES Students Visit Corn Maze Second grade students from Robertsdale Elementary recently enjoyed their field trip to the Magnolia Corn Maze. These students are in Mrs. Sarah Bodle's class
Fairhope First Graders Visit Naval Air Station
All of the first grade classes from Fairhope Elementary School spent the day at NAS Pensacola visiting two F5 naval jets. Miss K. Norris’ brother, LT. Tim Norris, and LT. Nate Jump flew the planes up for the students and are members of the Sundowners adversary squadron stationed in Key West, Florida. They also visited the base ops fire station and watched trainer jets and osprey take off and land.
Senator Tripp Speaks with Teenage Republicans
Teenage Republicans, Matthew Wood and, President of TAR’s, Brady Keesee stand with Senator Tripp Pittman who was one of the guest speakers on election day. The TAR’s and the Young Democrats also held a very successful debate the week prior. Seth Broussard and Sam Knight were representatives of the Libertarian party. Eastern Shore Parents I December 2016
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Bay Minette I.S. Teacher of the Year
Edith Horace Atkinson has been selected by her peers at Bay Minette Intermediate School to serve as 2016 Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Atkinson, a local native and US Army veteran, earned a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Mobile. She has three children; Deidra, Devin, and DeAndre. Mrs. Atkinson’s favorite past times include reading and writing. She also enjoys spending time outdoors and engages in quality time with her friends and family. Her professional career began in 2005, and since that time she has served on many committees in addition to serving in diverse leadership roles: Founder and co-chair of Chapter 171 National Elementary Honor Society (Baldwin County’s 1st chapter); Co-chair of Student Council; Member of 2nd Graduating Class of eMINTS Teachers; Member of Superintendent’s Advisory Committee; Member of Aspiring Instructional Leadership Team; Grade chair; Cooperating Teacher for education majors; Lead Teacher. In addition to a firm belief in the importance of obtaining educational success, Mrs. Atkinson’s family history of educators impacted her own desire to become an educator. With a smile, Mrs. Atkinson states, “Setting up bulletin boards, spending extra hours to arrive at “a stopping point” and interacting with the students to make the lessons interesting and relevant, is not “work” to me. I grew up watching my mother, aunts, and cousin meeting the challenges of teaching. I believe teaching is one of my niches in life and I must admit that I truly enjoy my job.” Mrs. Atkinson added, “I wish to impact society in a positive manner while inspiring others to work towards their greatness.” Mrs. Atkinson is looking forward to witnessing students grow as she also continues to grow professionally.
Silverhill ES Peer Helpers Attend Conference
Silverhill Elementary school Peer Helpers recently attended the 3rd Annual Peer Helper Jubilee. Peer Helpers were able to listen to several speakers share their personal stories along with teaching them about substance abuse prevention, overcoming stereotyping, and much more! Pictured in no particular order are: Kayla Ile, Wyatt Morton, Isabel McAuley, Keagan Kucera, Cassandra Burns, Cayden Cheney, Mason Henslee, Brooke Paschal, Aiden Ballard, Memphis Burroughs, Delana Jeffers, River Foley, and Shamika Bramble school counselor.
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Autauga County Schools
Two Bayside Seniors Named School Winners in Wendy’s High School Heisman Program Two Bayside seniors were recently named School Winners in Wendy’s High School Heisman program: Ariel Dulaney and Trent Kannegieter. Wendy’s High School Heisman recognizes students who lead by example and share Wendy's values of giving back to their communities, treating people with respect, continuing education and excelling on the athletic field. “These students are known by their teachers and friends for their commitment to excellence,” said Bayside Academy Head of School Michael Papa. “We are excited and honored that a program like Wendy’s High School Heisman is also recognizing their hard work.” Since 1994, Wendy’s and the Heisman Trophy Trust have honored more than 600,000 of the nation’s most esteemed students. This year, Wendy’s will celebrate the accomplishments of thousands of the best high school seniors, awarding winners in five phases. School Winners will receive a School Winner certificate and a Wendy’s High School Heisman Patch. State Finalists will receive a bronze medal, a Wendy’s High School Heisman State Finalist patch and a $25 gift card. From the group of State Finalists, one senior male and female will be selected from each state and announced as State Winners. For more information or to track a student’s progress through the competition, please visit www.WendysHeisman.com.
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From pregnancy to birth and beyond. Nicole Arthur, M.D.
Specializing in Family Practice and Obstetrics Nicole Arthur, M.D., is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and received her medical degree from the Medical University of Lublin in Lublin, Poland. She completed her fellowship training in family practice and obstetrics at the University of Alabama. • Board certified in family medicine • Board eligible in obstetrics • Member of the American Academy of Family Physicians
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Bayshore Christian School Drama Club Competes at Trumbauer
The Drama Club at Bayshore Christian School recently competed in the Alabama State Conference of Theater's Trumbauer Theater Festival. This is a theater competition for high schools all over the state in their respective districts, with winners at each district advancing to state level. BCS students competed against all 6A schools and still won a number of amazing awards! Their One Act production of Shakespeare's “Much Ado About Nothing” won Superior advancing to state, our lead actors Liam Searcy and Elizabeth Darrough received Best Actor and Actress Awards, Eliza Colbert received the All Star Cast Award for Supporting Lead, and that's just for the one act! Several of our students also competed in individual events: Ethan Colbert competed in Classical Comedic Acting and received Superior advancing to state, Payton Robinson and Liam Searcy competed in Musical Theater Duet and received Superior also advancing to state. Liam also competed in Male Musical solo and received Superior advancing to state, and Brooke Bradley and Joshua Haynes competed in Duet Classical Comedic Acting and received Excellent. In fact, every single Bayshore Student who participated in the theater festival received an award! The club is advancing to the state level competition in Florence, AL!
Christ the King Peer Helpers Attend Peer Helper Jubilee
Christ the King Catholic School Peer Helpers attended the Peer Helper Jubilee with 1200 Baldwin County students to participate in training for this program sponsored by The Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation. Our Peer Helpers have already begun helping with activities around our campus such as hosting a welcome lunch for our new students, leading a lesson to our K-4 students about respect and kindness, and helping with our After School Homework Help on Mondays and Thursdays.
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Autauga County Schools
Fairhope MS Honors Those Who Served
Fairhope Middle School hosted a Veterans Day assembly recognizing local veterans. The assembly, sponsored by the FMS Kiwanis Builders Club and Mrs. Cooper’s social studies classes, was student led with the choir, band, and guitar classes performing patriotic music. A video about Veterans Day, produced by students in Mrs. Cooper’s classes, played as guests entered the gym. Mr. Anthony Pollard, BCBE transportation supervisor and veteran, was the keynote speaker emphasizing the importance of courage, resiliency, and discipline. A check in the amount of $680 from student donations was presented to a representative from the William F. Green State Veterans Home. Immediately following the
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Daphne East Students Receive Chromebook Cover Donations
Fifth graders at Daphne East with Chromebook cases provided by Strickland Orthodontics. Thank you Strickland Orthodontics for protecting Baldwin County’s investment! We appreciate you!
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Gulf Shores High School Celebrates National Teen Driver Safety Week
The winners of the “Safe Driving” public service announcement (PSA) contest jointly sponsored by local radio station, Sunny 105.7, Little Bitty’s Towing, Woodson’s Barge-In, Zaxby’s of Gulf Shores, and local State Farm agent, Frances Holk-Jones were recently announced. The campaign was held to promote National Teen Driver Safety Week at Gulf Shores High School. Students were asked to produce thirty second scripts that focus on teen driver safety. Kevin Keith, Program Director for Sunny 105.7 and Media Chairman for the competition along with State Farm agent, Frances Holk-Jones, announced Alexis Massengale and Haley Daugherty as the Gulf Shores High School “Safe Driving Campaign’s” PSA first place winners. Their entry aired during National Teen Driver Safety Week, October 16th through 22nd, on Sunny 105.7 FM. Dalton Spohn and Gracie Rice were awarded second place while Eddie Rodriguez, Dominick Monteleone, and Harrison Moore won the position for third place in the PSA competition. Conrad Reetz and Marlo Daniels were recognized for Honorable Mention. National Teen Driver Safety Week was established to focus attention on the epidemic of car crashes being the leading cause of death among teens and to help find solutions to lower this statistic. Locally, the Gulf Shores High School Driver Education classes, led by Marcus Early, conducted various campus awareness activities to promote teen driver safety including the public service announcement contest, a safe driving assembly featuring Johnny Harris – the father of former GSHS student, Nate Harris, who passed away in a motor vehicle accident - the Cities of Gulf Shores & Orange Beach proclamations, and a crashed car displayed on campus. The winning public service announcement may be heard at www.sunny105.7.com.
Amputee Speaks to Gulf Shores MS Students
Daniel Davison, quad amputee and inspirational speaker, visited GSMS in October to speak to students during Red Ribbon Week. He gave his presentation "You are your decisions" to encourage students to make good choices and lead healthy lives.
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Autauga County Schools
St. Michael Catholic HS Helps Raise Money for Radio Station
St. Michael Catholic HS students (Front to back) Maddie Parke, Luke Farrell and David Stroud helped raise money for Archangel Radio AM 1410 during their recent live hour pledge drive. SMCHS ended up raising over $8000 during their hour and because of having the highest raised, we received back $4800. The money will be shared among St. Michael and our 3 Catholic partner elementary schools: Christ the King, St. Patrick and St. Benedict.
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Rockwell ES Red Ribbon Leader
Caleb Crum, a student at Rockwell Elementary, was chosen as the Red Ribbon Leadership Award Winner. Caleb is the son of Beau and Stephanie Crum of Daphne. During red ribbon week students celebrated each day with different fun activities to promote drug awareness. All students received bracelets donated by the Chevron Refinery along with stickers and pencils from Baldwin County Community Alliance. Caleb’s project was securing the Department of Homeland Security, specifically Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection, for a presentation with our students. The special agents landed their A-Star Helicopter on Rockwell’s back lawn. The agents also brought in a 37 foot customs boat and were on hand to answer questions concerning the equipment and their positions with the agencies.
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Swift Consolidated & Foley Elementary 2nd Graders Welcome Libby Liberty™ More than 350 second graders from Swift Consolidated & Foley Elementary cheered and counted down to the grand entrance of Libby Liberty™. Wearing green paper crowns and waving tiny American flags, they showed their enthusiasm for the Super Citizen Program they’ll begin after the theatrical performance. Liberty Learning Foundation (with generous sponsorship by Baldwin County Community Alliance ) is kicking off the program in a big way. Not only are students watching as the vivacious Statue of Liberty character brings history to life, they are also being introduced to the man who will give them a “hand” with lessons back in their classrooms. As Libby winds down, she hands the screen over to Mr. Palmer, a brash and brilliant handcharacter who leads students in DVD-based lessons in civics, character, financial literacy and our Great American Story. After class photos with Libby, students and teachers return to classrooms energized to learn crucial, all-American lessons. They’ll also begin the process of nominating and honoring “Helping Hands Heroes” who they will honor at their graduation celebration when the program is complete for this year.
Junior Ambassadors Tour Airbus Assembly Line
The Junior Ambassadors for the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce recently took a field trip to tour the Airbus Final Assembly Line in Mobile,. They were able to ask questions and get a full picture from parts arriving to first flight. Later that day group participated in some team building activities which included a session at Breakout Mobile. The 9 Junior Ambassadors were locked in the "Island Escape" room and had one hour to work together, follow clues, solve puzzles and break out! The Junior Ambassadors escaped with seconds to spare. Serving as Junior Ambassadors includes Maggie Diehl, Cortney Presley, Bethany Hadley, Kelli Haskell, Morgan Bryars, Tiffany Johnson, Emily Stewart, Leanne Phillips and Matthew Covington.
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Autauga County Schools
Spanish Fort HS Welcomes New Members in Spanish Honor Society
National Spanish Exam every year said the Society Sponsor and Advisor Mr. Sebastiani, Spanish teacher at Spanish Fort High School.
Congratulations to the new members of the 2016-2017 Sociedad Honoraria Hispรกnica of Spanish Fort High School Chapter: "Unidad en Diversidad". The Sociedad Honoraria Hispรกnica is the National Spanish Honor Society, sponsored by The American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, and was founded over half a century ago and its principal mission is to recognize students whom excel in these subjects and encourage the study of these world languages and their culture. Membership in the SHH require students to have an A/B in Spanish I and II and be currently enrolled in Spanish III or be enrolled the following year; they also participate in the
Orange Beach Elementary Gets New PE Teacher Orange Beach Elementary School is excited to have coach and teacher Chris Jacks join our OBES Physical Education department. Coach Jacks is shown here introducing a lesson to the 2nd grade students to set up the proper way to perform movements and implement the concept of personal space using Wii Dance. The OBES department is implementing technology in the classroom in combination with physical education for a win-win for students!
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Baldwin Co. Marching Band Receives Superior Ratings at Competition
The Pride of Baldwin County Marching Band has wrapped up a very successful competition season. The Baldwin County High School Tiger Band, as well as the Tigerettes and Tiger Guard, all received superior ratings at the Little Big Horn Marching Competition in Opp. Director Jeff Lepa said the scores of 94, 94, and 95 are “the highest we've received in at least the past 12 years.� The Tigerettes also brought home the Best in Class Danceline Award with an overall score of 96 out of 100. The band followed up that with another outstanding performance at the Dixieland Band Competition in Brewton. The full band received an overall superior rating and the Tigerettes again won Best In Class Danceline. In addition to Jeff Lepa, the band is under the direction of Josh Williams and the Auxiliary sponsors are Elizabeth Byrd and Jenny Bailey.
ASMS Outreach Team Visits Fifth Graders at Council Elementary
St. Benedict Red Ribbon Winner
The Alabama School of Math and Science (ASMS) Outreach Team recently visited Council Traditional School to launch rockets. The team worked with all fifth graders in the school to encourage students to further explore their interest in STEM and show them how hands-on learning can be fun.
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Byron Guthrie is the Red Ribbon Winner for Saint Benedict Catholic School. He is an eighth grader and Peer Helper who shows many qualities of positive leadership. His plans are to do fund-drives each month throughout school year. So far, October's drive benefitted Mary's Shelter, and November's will be helping with the canned food drive for Catholic Social Services. We are anticipating all the great things he will do!
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Autauga County Schools
Gulf Shores 4th Graders Visit Fort Morgan
Daphne East Elementary T-Shirt Design Contest Winner
Daphne East Elementary’s PTO sponsored a design contest for the Accelerated Reader t-shirt for the 2016-2017 school year. Tony Arkulin, 6th grader in Ms. Saadia Hunter’s class, was the winner. Pictured are Mrs. Arkulin, Tony, Daphne Mayor Dane Haygood and Principal Mark Doherty. There were over 100 entries and the contest was open to all students of Daphne East. Mayor Haygood chose from the top 5 the winning designs. The top 5 finalists are framed and displayed in the library.
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Mrs. Cassandra Bowman’s 4th grade class at Gulf Shores Elementary had a blast exploring Fort Morgan and learning about its history. In photo left to right: Sabastion Kunstmann, Stephany Rodriguez, Emma Steffek, Taylor Thorne, Sarah Heyer, Vonia Reckley, Ryleigh Stroup, Ben Hall.
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Bay Minette Intermediate School Book Fair
Fall means books fair time at Bay Minette Intermediate School. Students and parents enjoyed a week of shopping the book fair for some great books. Zack Cooper won the week long raffle prize.
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Bayside Academy Senior Selected to Receive Christ the King Medal
Bayside Academy senior Meagan Daves was recently selected to receive the Christ the King Medal, which is the most prestigious recognition granted by the Archdiocese of Mobile. Meagan was selected from her local parish, St. Lawrence Catholic Parish in Fairhope, upon the recommendation of her pastor in appreciation for her dedication and service to the parish and community. Meagan received her medal during the annual archdiocesan celebration of the Feast of Christ the King, in Mobile. The Feast of Christ the King marks the end of the liturgical year on the Roman Catholic calendar. Meagan is one of approximately 75 medal recipients from 86 parishes located in the lower 28 counties of Alabama. 29
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Autauga County Schools
Fairhope Elementary Receives New Tables for Science Lab
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Thank you to FEEF for helping purchase new tables for the Pelican's Nest Science Lab! These beautiful, sturdy and water resistant tables were built by local craftsman Greg McNally. Students in grades Kindergarten-Sixth Grade will now be able to investigate bay organisms and complete STEAM labs successfully for years to come!
Bayshore Christian School to Hold Christmas Concert Open to Public
You are invited to Bayshore Christian School’s Christmas Concert. All of our students, grades K4-12, have been working hard to prepare for the concert which will be held on December 9th at Fairhope First Baptist Church at 6 p.m. This year’s theme will be “Jesus is Born, Sing and Rejoice!”. Our choral and instrumental ensembles will be performing, along with our student-led ensemble. Join us for a night of praising Jesus as we enter the Christmas season. The event is free and open to the public!
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ASMS Junior Receives Prestigious Korean American Scholarship
Alabama School of Math and Science junior Leanne Jeong recently received the Korean Scholarship Foundation Southern Regional Chapter high school scholarship. This scholarship was given to six Korean American, high school students in the southern region, which includes Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and South Carolina. The award was given to students based on their academic and personal achievements. For the essay portion of the scholarship application, Jeong talked about her leadership experiences during her time at ASMS and other leadership roles that she’s had in the community. “I have worked with Leanne as a student and student leader, and I am very impressed with her academic ability, leadership, and commitment to Key Club and community service,” says Derek Barry, who serves a history instructor, SGA sponsor, and Key Club sponsor at ASMS. “She is one of the most impressive students that I have ever worked with inside and outside of the classroom. It is amazing how dedicated Leanne is to service for others despite her advanced and challenging academic schedule, and other extra-curricular activities.” Jeong gives credit to ASMS for giving her the opportunity to become a leader. “Being an Asian American was rough at my school before I came to ASMS, because of the racist comments and jokes,” Jeong says. “I was too afraid to voice my opinions or become a leader. During my sophomore year at ASMS, I was able to show kids that I wanted to stand up for them, stand by them, and lead them.” Jeong recently worked with the Mobile Area Sports Authority and Port City Pacers to organize a 5K and fun run for a club she created called Heroes of Health. The fundraising club helps those in third world countries to get better access to health care. “I believe that health care is a human right, no matter the race, gender, class, etc.,” Jeong says. “In the future, I plan to start this club in other high schools in Alabama and start a bigger movement and create a bigger voice.” Nearly 200 community members participated in the 5K and fun run. “While playing kickball as a little girl, our teacher would always say, ‘There are too many chiefs, and not enough Indians,’ when everyone was arguing on who would kick first,” Jeong says. “Taking on leadership roles in high school and in the community has made me realize that being a leader is not telling your followers what to do, but it is to be the strong voice and representative for your people.” 31
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Autauga County Schools Christ the King Students Salute our Veterans
Christ the King Catholic School second grade students had the opportunity to applaud our local veterans at the Veteran's Day parade in Mobile on Veteran's Day. We thank all of our military men and women for their service to our country.
Silverhill Red Ribbon Project Provides Donations for Louisiana
Silverhill Elementary School’s Red Ribbon Leader, Keagan Kucera, had an extremely successful community service project! Thanks to generous donations from the community, Keagan was able to collect enough personal care items to fill 50 bags plus additional boxes to send to flood victims in Louisiana! Keagan and his fellow Peer Helpers worked very hard to organize and bag up toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, and much more. A group from the First Baptist church of Robertsdale took the supplies to Louisiana on Wednesday, November 2nd. Pictured in no particular order are: Keagan Kucera, Cassandra Burns, Cayden Cheney, Mason Henslee, Brooke Paschal, Aiden Ballard, Memphis Burroughs, River Foley, and Shamika Bramble school counselor.
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Orange Beach Elementary Terrific Kids
PreK – 2nd Grade Front Row (left – right): Owen Cotter, Hutch Semiklose, Tinsley Vail, Virginia Law, Blakely Hicks. Back Row (left – right): Mr. Moss (Principal), Hayes Moss, Jenna Shaver, Temple PressNavarro, Colton Boyd, Bryant Cranford, Jason Jackson (Kiwanis Representative). 3rd – 6th Grade Front Row (left – right): Murphy Rose Cunningham, Madilynn Gandy, Ella Bilbo, Vail Tew, Hallie Rodgers. Back Row (left – right): Case Cochran, Aidan Smith, Myles Payne, Isaac Cardwell, Caden McGatha, Morgan Crawford. Not Pictured: James Key.
Spanish Fort HS Student Earns Golf Scholarship
Spanish Fort High School Senior, Amelia Bjuro, has become Spanish Fort High Schools first Division 1 golfer! Amelia signed a scholarship to Wagner College in Stanton Island, NY. Here she is shown with SF Coach Stephenson.
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Autauga County Schools
Gulf Shores Middle School Poster Winners
Robertsdale Teacher Receives EMC Grant
Congratulations to the Lions Club Peace Poster 2016 Winners for Gulf Shores Middle School: 1st Place - Olivia Edmonds; 2nd Place Mackenzie Morrison; Honorable Mention - Elle Chappell; Art Teacher Megan Michaelson.
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Rhonda Mosley, sixth grade teacher at Robertsdale Elementary, was one of five Starlight grant recipients at our school. Thank you EMC!
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Stapleton Elementary School Accelerated Readers
Congratulations to the 154 students at Stapleton Elementary School who have earned their Accelerated Reader shirts. To date, the students have read 1,976 AR Books! #ReadersAreLeaders
Send School News and Photos to: lynn@ easternshoreparents. com for FREE publication in our next issue! Elsanor’s Leaders of the Month
Elsanor School students not only celebrated Red Ribbon Week by wearing mixed up clothes, but these students were also selected as October’s Leaders of the Month. Congratulations to Decklin, Randall, Cody Batterson, Kaimana Schimmelfennig, Charlie Barfield, Abbigail Dahl, Scott Mitchell, Cheyenne Jones, Parker Stokley, Abby Riggan, Jasiel Herrera-Guillen, Cameron Cain, Alissia LaCoste, Leia Nicely, Olette Taylor, Haleigh Glass, Sara Middleton, Meisa Melendez, and Ryley Harrison.
November 25 – December 31 • 5-9 PM Closed Christmas and New Year’s Days
VOTED ‘TOP 10 PUBLIC LIGHT DISPLAYS IN AMERICA’ Advance tickets available online and at the Gardens. bellingrath.org • 251.973.2217
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Pep Rally at St. Michael Catholic HS
SMCHS Students show spirit! (L to R): Chloe Walker, Marideth Hayes, Maggie Lollis and Ryan Russo dress in green for their House of O'Sullivan colors, during a recent, spirited pep rally!
Send your School News to: lynn@easternshoreparents.com.
Autauga County Schools
Bayside Academy Earns Volleyball Scholarship
Bayside Academy senior and student athlete Lauren Chastang signed a letter of intent on Wednesday, November 9, to play volleyball for Kennesaw State University. “Lauren personifies hard work and is a model player,” said Bayside Volleyball Coach Ann Schilling. “I wish I could clone her. The team and I will miss her tremendously next year.” For the past six seasons, Lauren has served as an accomplished outside hitter on Bayside’s Lady Admirals volleyball team. In October, she was instrumental in helping spirit the Lady Admirals to their 15th consecutive victory as Class 3A Alabama High School Athletic Association state champions. Kennesaw State University is a public, coeducational research university located in Kennesaw, Georgia, approximately 20 miles northwest of Atlanta. Bayside Academy student athlete and senior Lauren Chastang (seated, center), celebrated at her signing ceremony. Joining Lauren were her sister, Bayside 7th grader Caroline Chastang (standing), her parents, Kristye and Pelham Chastang, and Bayside Volleyball Coach Ann Schilling (right).
TITIVE JV & varsity athletics ENRICHING preK–12 academic curriculum COMPE y of friendship & faith DEDICATED faculty and staff THRIVING communit
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c A CLASSICAL & CHRIST-CENTERED Education VISIT US TODAY | 251-929-0011 | BayshoreChristian.org Eastern Shore Parents I December 2016
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St. Michael Sailing Team Participates in Regatta
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SMCHS sailing team with Mary Ellis Ollinger, Robert Montgomery, Connor Cobb and Marideth Hayes prepare for a day on the water for a regatta last month.
Fairhope ES Top Fundraiser in Alabama for Jump Rope for Heart
Thanks to the generosity of Fairhope parents and community members, the energetic PE teachers, and the continued devotion of the classroom teachers, Fairhope Elementary School was awarded the Jump Rope for Heart #1 School in Alabama raising $26,139.09 for the 20152016 school year! Left to right: Kelly Trull, Cammie Adams, Wanda Logan, Cathy Hudson.
Gulf Shores HS Distinguished Dolphins for November
Gulf Shores High School announces the November Distinguished Dolphins. 9th – Thor Tobiasson & Reagan Kostelecky; 10th – Christopher House & Savannah Higginson; 11th – Luke Ball & Hannah Giannini; 12th – Bryce Fuhrmann & Carah Lake.
tmas s i r h C s i May th veal e r n o s a e S much Joy e! ris and Surp
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Autauga County Schools
Bayshore Christian School Sets Cake Walk World Record
Bayshore Christian School is officially a record-holder in the Guinness Book of World Records! At their recent fall festival, known as Eagle Fest, BCS held the world’s largest cake walk! Shattering the record by over 30 participants, they had 288 participants in the cake walk. Bayshore families and supporters participated in the cake walk as a fundraiser for the 6th grade’s upcoming trip to Washington, DC. The school would like to thank everyone who participated in the walk for their support!
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Christ the King Teachers Awarded Starlight Grant
Christ the King Catholic School faculty members, Mrs. Rose Mary Mitchell, Mrs. Barbara Hutson, Mrs. Karen Wilson, Mrs. Sarah Marzella, and Mrs. Silvia Stroud, were each a recipient for a grant award from the Baldwin EMC through their Operation Round Up Star Light Award Program. This is an educational grant program designed to provide support to teachers for the direct purpose of improving learning through a specific lesson and/or project in the classroom using innovative or creative techniques.
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Orange Beach Students Enjoy Art Lesson with Blind Artist
The 2nd grade students at Orange Beach Elementary enjoyed an inspirational Leader in Me art lesson with renowned blind artist, Ricky Trione in October. Thank you so very much Mr. Ricky for your inspiration to us all! Pictured - Front Row: Ms. Walker’s 2nd grade class; Second Row: Ms. Baggett’s 2nd grade class; Third Row: Mrs. Gehr’s 2nd grade class; Back row left to right: Ms. Baggett, Mrs. Gehr, Ricky Trione, and Ms. Walker.
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Live Broadcast Daily at Robertsdale ES Robertsdale Elementary's live broadcast room reports school news live each morning at 8:00 a.m. Shown in the picture are two of our news anchors.
Best Buy Supports ASMS Robotics Team
The Best Buy Foundation recently provided a Community Grant for $7,040 to the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science (ASMS) in support of the ASMS Robotics Team. The team will compete in January at the First Tech Challenge (FTC) in Huntsville, Ala.
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Autauga County Schools
Hope for Haiti at Fairhope Middle School
Race to Read at Foley Elementary School
The Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America and the Future Business Leaders of America at Fairhope Middle School sponsored a fundraiser entitled “Hope for Haiti.� The clubs, under the sponsorship of Mrs. Amy Smith and Mr. Mykel Williams, collected gallon size Ziploc bags, antibacterial soap, and nail brushes. They also raised over $190 to purchase water purification tablets and rehydration salts to be used in the prevention of cholera in Haiti.
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Congratulations to Mrs. Glaser's class at Foley Elementary School for reading the most books in Second Grade during the Race to Read!
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Silverhill ES Leaders of the Month
Silverhill Elementary school’s Leaders of the Month are being recognized for practicing Habit 2 – Begin With the End in Mind. Pictured in no particular order are: Lucas Grijalva, Leland Littrell, David Marie, Carter Townley, Josselin Forsman, Rileigh Ikner, Kerrigan Chandler, Colton Giles, Keegan Garrett, Guadalupe Cortes, Jackson Burroughs, Ava Henderson, Eddin Cabrera, Marley Clark, Cadence Peturis, Nalia DeWalt, Kayla Ile, Bryce Carver, Keagan Kucera, Kyler DeWalt, and Delana Jeffers. Not pictured; Julianna Stricklin.
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Elsanor Readers of the Month Not only did Elsanor students participate in Red Ribbon Week by wearing mixed up clothes, but these students were also selected as Readers of the Month for October. Congratulations to Laurana Brown, Lilly Amos, Seth Baker, Cooper McHenry, Leighton Cieloha, Blakelynn Dunlavy, Hayden Hernandez, Noah King, Rileigh Poole, Stacy Lima, Ein Cox, Bryant Brown, Matthew LaFrenier, SaraBeth Brewer, Makiyah LaCoste, Dayton Boyington, Brandon Kroeger, and Hannah Daizell.
Merry Christmas from CTKCS 2017-2018 Open Registration Kindergarten - February 14 Grades 1- 8 - February 15 PreK 3 & 4 - February 21
Fire Science in Gulf Shores Gulf Shores High School Fire Science class assisted Gulf Shores Fire Rescue teaching the Gulf Shores Elementary School students fire prevention.
Call 251.626.1692 or visit ctkcsdaphne.org for more information. 41
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Autauga County Schools
Daphne East Students Receive Crown of Character Award
Bayshore Latin Team Wins First Place at Regional Competition
The Junior Auxiliary of the Eastern Shore presented the Crown of Character award to fifth graders at Daphne East Elementary in October. Each grading quarter each teacher chooses one 5th grade boy/girl from each class that shows the 5 points of character. (Back left) Riley Mellett, Owen Carney, Benjamin Tapley, Caygen Jennings, Emma Lopez, and Meghan Alvaro. (Bottom left) Tyler Tate, Henry George, Jeremiah Cochran, Camiel Mathews, Ginny Holbrook, and Jayli Stagner. The honors assembly also happened to fall on pajama day so it was an extra exciting day!
Congratulations to Bayshore Christian School’s Latin Team for their first place win at American Junior Classical League’s Maritime Regional Competition. Pictured from left to right, the team members are Junior Abigail Macaro, 8th grader Meghan Jones, 6th grader Landon Miller, and Junior Will Northcutt. They beat out McGill-Toolen in the finals of the Certamen Latin Quiz Bowl to win the championship!
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Fairhope High School Buccaneer Band takes 2nd Grand Championship
For the second week in a row, the Fairhope High School Buccaneer Band was named Grand Champion in AAAA competition. The Buccaneers, under the direction of Wayne Fillingim and Chad Faison, won top honors at the Dixieland Band Competition at T. R. Miller High School. In addition, the band won Best in Class AAAA for Drum Majors (Mikey Saraceno and Lindsay Keating), Best in Class Percussion (Donald White, instructor of percussion), and Best in Class Band. The band also received straight superior ratings for their marching performance “Techno-Sonic”. Pictured are Fairhope High School Buccaneer Drum Majors Mikey Saraceno and Lindsay Keating.
Please send your School News and Photos to: lynn@easternshoreparents.com.
WOW Winners at Pine Grove Elementary
Pine Grove Elementary, we chose our WOW winners as part of a weekly incentive program. Students exhibiting the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, as part of The Leader in Me, were given golden “WOW” tickets throughout the day by faculty and staff for exceptional behavior and acts of kindness. Eight students were randomly selected to be awarded with an out-of-uniform pass. Congratulations to our WOW winners! Tiaquetin Mims, Amber Paul, Madison Andrews, Brooke Jackson, Gage White, Victoria Ferguson, Jaden Johnson, Brianna Lollar. 43
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Autauga County Schools
Fairhope HS Girls Cross Country Wins Sectional Championship
Congratulations to the Fairhope High School Girls Cross Country team for winning the sectional championship and moving on to the state level. Lexie Williams, Audrey Clark, Laura Cohen, and Ella Haffner earned All Section honors. Pictures here are the team members who competed in state - (FRONT ROW: Ellie Brown, Annie Lineberger, Erin Casolaro, Ella Haffner, Emily Lineberger, Shelby Noble / BACK ROW: Lexie Williams, Savannah Ryan, Audrey Clark, Laura Cohen).
Fairhope HS Boys Cross Country Qualifies for State Congratulations to the Fairhope High School Boys Cross Country team for placing 2nd at sectionals and qualifying for state. Saxon Kilpatrick and Cody Mooney finished top 10 at sections and earned All Section honors. Pictures here are team members (FRONT ROW: John Pyle, Dawson Koehler, Saxon Kilpatrick, Cody Mooney, Hudson DeFee / BACK ROW: Zack Hatfield, Blayze Hale, Riley Banser, Matthew Kangsumrith).
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Christ the King Students Visit Seminary in Louisiana
Gulf Shores MS Robotics Team Competes in B.E.S.T. Robotics Competition
Christ the King Catholic School eighth grade students visited St. Joseph's Seminary College in Covington, LA recently, where we have some of our own alum. The eighth graders enjoyed a tour of the college, mass and lunch with some of the seminarians. This annual visit for our students is a wonderful experience to see how our seminarians are answering God's call to discern the priesthood.
The Gulf Shores Middle School Island Robotics team fought hard in the B.E.S.T. Robotics Competition October 27-28 at the USA Mitchell Center. Competing against middle and high schools in the area, GSMS made it through seeding and advanced to the semifinals with a score of 340 points. Island Robotics scored 200+ points per round in the semifinals, but in the end, they fell short. They did win first place in the t-shirt competition and had an overall amazing performance!
Please Send School News and Photos to: lynn@easternshoreparents.com.
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Autauga County Schools
Sea Cadets Attend Commissioning
Recently the commanding officer Daniel Straub invited the Dunlap Division and Wiregrass Division to the commissioning of the LCS Montgomery. The ship is 420 feet long, 104 feet wide and weighs nearly 3,000 tons. This ship is the second to be named for the City of Montgomery and during the ceremony the original bell from the former USS Montgomery C-9 was used. The cadets participated by handing out water and programs. They were also the receiving line for dignitaries such as, Congressman Bradley Burns. Last month we also had our second annual Military Ball on the USS Alabama. Our guest speaker was Captain Joe Snowden, Commander of Sector Mobile. He spoke to us about military values and the importance of learning about our military. Naval Sea Cadets is designed for young men and women ages ten to high school graduation who are interested in expanding their knowledge on our military. The sea cadets instill patriotism and leadership skills. Dunlap division meets one weekend a month at the U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Center in Mobile, the cadets are under no obligation to join the military; however, if they do decide to enlist the are usually eligible to enlist at a higher paygrade. The program does offer ROTC scholarships. If you or someone you know may be interested in joining our local unit as a cadet or adult leader, visit our national website at www.seacadets.org or contact our administrative officer ENS Angela Graham at angela.graham@hotmail.com. You may also follow our local unit Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DunlapDivision.
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Riverview Refinement, Program, Campfires night,Recognized optional trips and more! We’ve put together everythingCIT you’re looking for in a perfect every camp setting! as one of the Southeast’s best all-around summer camps for girls, Riverview is an oasis of fun, friends and happiness. Spring and Fall &available 2 week Sessions ages to 16... Mother-Daughter Weekends1are also! Registeredfor Nurses and6 Physician on Staff. Entire full-summer staff is First Aid andand CPRFall Certified. Camper/Counselor Ratio 5:1 Spring Mother-Daughter Weekends...
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Bayside Alumnus & Retired Lt. Col. Robert M. Howard III, Speaks at Veterans Day Assembly
Retired Lt. Col. Robert M. Howard III, United States Air Force, spoke at Bayside Academy’s Veterans Day assembly on Friday, November 11. A 1982 alumnus of Bayside Academy, Lt. Col. Howard earned a bachelor’s degree from the United States Air Force Academy and a master’s degree in aeronautical science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. During Air Force jet pilot training he learned to fly the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a heavy-duty, four-engine aircraft designed for delivery and extraction of paratrooopers and equipment into and out of combat areas. He gained combat experience, became an instructor pilot and was selected for Special Operations. He has flown combat missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Panama, Bosnia, North Africa, Central and South America, Korea, Columbia, Eastern Europe, Turkey and Haiti. He flew clandestine missions into combat areas, inserting Navy Seals, Army Rangers and Green Beret Special Forces behind enemy lines, often while receiving enemy fire. When each mission was done, he and his crew extracted troops and brought them home. Lt. Col. Howard has logged more than 8,000 military flight hours and piloted more than 20 types of aircraft. He has been assigned to eight Special Operations Squadrons. Retired from the Air Force in 2007, he continues to fly advisory missions and provide military flight instruction to U.S. and foreign military crews. During the assembly, Lt. Col. Howard shared some of his military experiences and encouraged students never to take for granted the freedoms they enjoy as American citizens. Following Lt. Col. Howard’s remarks, Director of Alumni Affairs Mary Dumas thanked by name the 19 Bayside alumni, faculty-staff and faculty-staff spouses who are veterans, including Bayside Head of School Michael Papa, retired Capt., U.S. Navy. Dumas also thanked the 11 Bayside alumni who are still actively serving in the military. The assembly ended with a Missing Man Table and Honors Ceremony in memory of captured veterans who have never returned home. Pictured l-r: 1982 Bayside Alumnus & retired Lt. Col. Robert M. Howard III, United States Air Force; Bayside Senior Jacob Hartley; Staff Sgt. Stacey Kulp, U.S. Army, 1st Vice Commander of the American Legion Post 199 in Fairhope.
HE ONCE BEAT HIS DAD FOUR STRAIGHT GAMES IN CHESS. AFTERWARD, HE CELEBRATED WITH SOME ORANGE SLICES AND A BOOK ABOUT WIZARDS. and at Children’s of Alabama we want to see every child grow up and live to their fullest potential. That’s why we recruit, train and retain the most inquiring minds, the most skilled hands and the most compassionate hearts in pediatric medicine.
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Q. My husband owns a small landscaping and masonry company. His profits over the last couple of years have been about $80,000 annually. We were wondering if we should be setting aside some retained earnings.
A. Yes, all businesses should have retained earnings. In the personal finance world, we would call that an emergency fund. It can be difficult in the business world sometimes though. You’re talking about running a business, making a profit, feeding your family, and saving money in the business. This isn’t an easy process no matter how long you’ve been in business. One way to solve the problem, though, is to take a percentage of your profits at the end of the month and set it aside for retained earnings first. Do this before you take any profits home or distribute them under a profit sharing plan. It doesn’t have to be a big percentage, but you should be setting money aside every month for the company.
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The beauty of doing this is you’ll have money sitting there to replace equipment and other expenditures down the road. Just remember that it’s all taxable. Whether you’re in an LLC, Sub S Corp or sole proprietorship, any money you make as profit — whether you take it home or not — is taxable. So your retained earnings may be saved, but they will be reduced by the taxes on it each year. Anything you do in business requires money, and to avoid going into debt you’re going to need retained earnings.
Q. I’m about to turn in my two-week notice after 17 years with my company. It’s a small business, and everyone is like family, but the last raise I received was 50 cents and that was 10 years ago. I’ve always worked hard and done my job well, but I need to move on to a better-paying position I’ve found. Do you have any advice on how to handle this situation?
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A. Leaving people you care about is always hard. It sounds like they could have treated you better in terms of financial compensation, but things might have been just too tight. Regardless, this is a situation where you have to put yourself and your family first. First, accentuate the positive. Let them know that your time there has been like working with family and you appreciate everything they’ve done for you. If they ask you why you’re leaving, be honest but kind. Let them know that your income wasn’t changing for the better, and you have to take another position with better pay. Let them know, too, that you fully intend to honor your two-week notice unless they would rather you didn’t. It does no good to throw stones over your shoulder as you leave. That kind of thing says more about you than it does about them. So just show a lot of gratitude and kindness. It’s going to be a tough situation emotionally for all concerned, so do your best to make it professional, honest and friendly.
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Double Down on Two-Player Fun
Recommending the Best Toys and Products for Kids
There’s a moment in childhood when toddlers, accustomed to solitary exploration and solo play, finally take notice of their peers and begin to initiate play for two. Sometimes as partners, sometimes as opponents, a child’s direct engagement with another player sparks new thought processes that help young minds evolve and grow. Games that require two players nurture strategic thinking, social exploration and good sportsmanship. The following recommendations double the fun for kids who are ready to meet their match in game play.
by Gerry Paige Smith
Star Wars Battleship
Electronic Talking 8-in-1 Talking Chess
(Hasbro)
(Croove)
Taking inspiration from the popular Star Wars: The Force Awakens universe, the classic game of Battleship raises the galactic stakes as two players pit the strength of the rebels against the power of the dark side. Signature ships from both sides of the conflict are represented among the crisply detailed game pieces. After players get their hidden fleet in place, they take turns calling out target positions to their opponent in hopes of getting a strike on an enemy ship. Transforming guess work into deductive reasoning Star Wars Battleship lets kid develop their own strategy as they play the ultimate game of hide-and-seek (and destroy) to determine the future of the galaxy.
BLINK Card Game
Magnetic Wooden Fishing Game
Moving beyond a gaming landscape populated with spinners, dice, and colored candy paths, learning how to play chess is a rite of passage for many kids. Mastering this ancient game of strategy is made easy with the very modern help of the Electronic Talking Chess Game from Croove. Beginning with a tutor mode that teaches the elements of the games and basic piece movement, kids are quickly empowered with the elements of chess and ready to take new challenges. Novice and experienced players will find additional modes, 30 chess levels and 5 playing styles to explore. Whether your opponent is a friend or the computer itself, chess gets a high-tech boost with the Electronic Talking 8-in-1 Chess Game.
(Mattel)
The simple concept of BLINK creates invigorating challenges as players’ perceptions have to shift between colors, numbers and shapes to find correct matches faster than their opponent. Featuring cards that show a shape (star, moon, triangles etc.) in a variety of colors and quantities, players create two draw piles and prepare to match and discard the cards in their hand as the two top cards are turned over. With a goal of playing out all of the cards in your own draw pile first, it’s the luck of the draw and the quickest response to the card images that win the game. BLINK is a fast-paced race to the finish as speed matching cultivates hand-eye coordination, breathless game play and endless laughter in the blink of an eye.
(Melissa & Doug)
Supporting the notion that fishing is better with a buddy, the Magnetic Wooden Fishing Game provides young anglers with everything they need to reel in a winning catch. Taking direction from the ‘worm’ spinner, players use two wooden fishing poles with working reels to catch one of ten numbered and colored fish. Magnetic ‘lures’ and metal tabs on each fish make game play easy for young players while fostering hand-eye coordination and fine motor development. Designed for two players (but also fun for the solo angler), this active catchand-count game will have the littlest fishermen reeling in the good times.
Gerry Paige Smith is a syndicated columnist recommending the best products for kids and their families. Discover more at www.PageBookMedia.com
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Training Wheels for New Cellphone Users If your child is one of the lucky kids getting a new cellphone during the holidays, now is the time to think about the rules that should go along with it. Kids need to understand from the get go that having a phone is a privilege and, like all privileges, comes with responsibilities. Being clear about expectations is step one, but many children also benefit from a little extra structure. Fortunately, parents have access to a wide range of technical tools that will help children remember and respect their rules. The checklist that follows provides an overview of protections that are available for cellphones. It’s unlikely that most parents will want or need all of these tools. The features that make sense for your family depend partly on your parenting style and partly on your child’s temperament. In addition to age and maturity, you’ll want to think about the following questions: Is your child able to keep track of belongings? Does he or she generally follow household rules? How easily is your child distracted? How susceptible is she to pressure from peers or strangers? Most important, how will this tool help you reach your ultimate goal--having a child who makes good, independent decisions about how and when to use a cellphone. Once you’ve decided which protections you want, find out whether they are available from your phone carrier. All major companies offer some of these services free and others for a monthly fee. To figure out what’s available on your plan, search for parental controls on their website. Better yet, visit one of their outlets and have someone describe and demonstrate the relevant features so you’ll actually be able to use them. Eastern Shore Parents I December 2016
Curb Phone Calls. For very young children, it’s often a good idea to establish an approved list of phone numbers so your child can make and receive calls only from those people. For older kids, you may still want software that shows traffic on the phone. Remember that specific numbers can always be blocked if your child is being harassed or unduly influenced by peers or strangers. Control texts. Depending on your family’s plan and your child’s self control, you may want controls that limit the number of texts your child can send and/or receive. Some controls also allow parents to monitor texts for content that seems risky. Monitor web sites. A smart phone allows a child unrestricted access to the Internet, so you may want filters that block access to pornography, gambling, hate speech and other content. Supervise social media. A cellphone makes it all too easy to share impulsive messages, photos and videos. Parents can arrange to be notified whenever a child posts or is tagged on social media. Or you can set up controls that alert you only if your child uses unacceptable language, is involved in bullying or exchanges inappropriate photos. Manage time. If the phone seems to be taking over a child’s life, most carriers offer a timer that will allow you to establish intervals when the phone simply doesn’t work because your child should be sleeping or paying attention in class. Track location. If your child struggles to keep track of personal items, you may 52
want an app that will locate the phone if its lost. Some parents also use GPS to confirm that kids are where they are supposed to be—home after school, on the soccer field, at a sleepover. Limit downloads. Kids with smartphones will want to explore the wonderful world of apps. Some apps simply aren’t suitable for children. Some cost money that will show up on your phone bill. Some introduce malware onto the phone. If you have any doubts about your child’s judgment, look for software that will alert you when your child tries to download a ringtone, game or social media app. Disable while driving. If your child is old enough to drive, consider using a feature that disables the phone whenever it’s moving at the speed of a car. Most families find they can protect their children adequately with services provided by cellphone companies, supplemented perhaps by free apps like MamaBear. If you decide to invest in more comprehensive software, detailed reviews of ten options are available at cell-phone-parental-controlsoftware-review.toptenreviews.com. Some of these programs brag about how they can be used in “stealth” mode so kids will never even know their parents are watching them. In many ways, that kind of spyware subverts the goals of good parenting. If you do find something worrisome, you won’t be able to discuss it without admitting that you’ve had your child’s phone under surveillance. Better to talk openly about what cellphone safeguards you plan to use and why you think they are important. Being upfront about your concerns actually makes it more likely that your kids will become so savvy, skilled and responsible that they won’t need training wheels anymore. Carolyn Jabs, M.A., has been writing the Growing Up Online column for ten year. She is also the author of Cooperative Wisdom: Bringing People Together When Things Fall Apart. Available at Amazon and Cooperative Wisdom.org. @ Copyright, 2016, Carolyn Jabs. All rights reserved.
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Speaking in front of an audience can be just as nerve-racking for a self-conscious kiddo as it is for an adult. Just as you do with every other activity your child tries, from an early age coach, encourage and support your youngster’s efforts to express herself confidently in front of an audience.
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“Public speaking is a skill that is rarely taught, but is so valuable in the adult world,” says Katherine Pebley O’Neal, a 5th grade teacher and author of the children’s book Public Speaking: 7 Steps to Writing and Delivering a Great Speech. “If we teach our young students how to engage an audience with confidence, they can use the skills to enhance and benefit any profession they choose.” In today’s high-tech environment, kids will need to gain communication skills across mediums more than ever. More employers now conduct video interviews or ask job candidates to turn in video introductions. Despite our society’s growing reliance on text-talk, our kids must still learn how to speak on the phone effectively, present in front of a group, video conference and communicate professionally to audiences across social media. And kids who have learned to express themselves well will stand out in a competitive job market. “Things are changing in our educational paradigm where it’s not just go to school and get a job,” says Sarah L. Cook, co-author of The Parents’ Guide to Raising CEO Kids. “Kids need to have some entrepreneurial skills to even land a job. They need to be able to engage with people confidently. Public speaking allows them to show that confidence.”
Flutters of fear Physical signs of limelight-related stress include uncontrollable shaking, hyperventilating, sweating, flushed face, and even short-term memory loss. Why is public speaking scary? “It’s a fear of failure,” Cook says. “It’s a fear of public rejection. Are people going to laugh at me? Are they going to boo me? Are they going to ignore me?” Here’s how to help your child grow more confident presenting in front of an audience:
Use technology. A child’s first and friendliest audiences include her family and friends. Frequent invitations for her to talk on the phone or the webcam to relatives can ease even a shy child’s initial communication inhibitions. Also, use your video camera and ask your kids questions. This strategy helps kids get comfortable in front of a camera. Open the floor at mealtime. Suggest each member of your family take turns re55
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citing a joke, story, prayer or poem during dinner. Listen carefully to your kids and acknowledge their efforts. When a young child feels listened to, his confidence in expressing himself blossoms.
Encourage show-and-tell. Showand-tell is an excellent introduction to public speaking in a friendly group setting. Most kids love to take something meaningful to them and share it with their friends.
Seek out organized opportunities. Depending on his interests, enroll your child in activities like drama, scouting, science fairs or 4-H. These activities offer leadership roles in a supportive environment that require participants to get in front of an audience.
Practice, practice, practice. Preparation and practice is necessary to succeed. By writing out what they’d like to say ahead of time and creating visual aids, kids can learn to organize their thoughts. “And if they can present their information with pizzazz, the entire class will actually learn something from their efforts,” O’Neal says. Your child will have more fun presenting if her audience is engaged, too. Encourage your kids to practice their presentations ahead of time, whether in front of a mirror, the family or a video camera. “Parents can boost confidence by listening to their child practice his or her speech many times. They can remind their child to make eye contact and to smile,” O’Neal says. “The final two or three run-throughs before the performance should be met with only praise.”
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Nervousness before a presentation is normal, but if your child is paralyzed with fear, skipping classes and avoiding extracurricular activities that require public speaking, consult with a child psychologist. Cognitive behavioral techniques like challenging negative thinking, breathing and relaxation exercises, and supportive coaching can help. ESP
Freelance journalist Christa Melnyk Hines and her husband are the parents of two school-age boys. Her latest book is Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World.
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THANKFUL Bayside students are encouraged to grow in mind, body and spirit. You will find our students and teachers exploring the world around them in an environment that challenges and inspires. To learn more about becoming a part of our Bayside Family, please contact Admissions at 251-338-6446 or visit www.baysideacademy.org/admissions.
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57offering a superior educational www.facebook.com/easternshoreparentsmagazine Bayside Academy is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school opportunity to qualified students in grades PK-12.
ParentingToday’sTeens by Mark Gregston
Being the Parent Your Teen Needs As parents, we put a lot of expectations on ourselves. Before kids, we might have been content to be average Joes and Janes. But the moment that little bundle of joy was first placed in our arms, we felt the need to put on a cape and transform into “Super Parent”! And that’s a hard role to play. But good news mom and dad—your teen doesn’t need you to be a superhero. In my 40 years of working with teens, I’ve discovered that our kids don’t need parents who are perfect saints or super human. Teens simply need parents who are willing to make some necessary changes.
Parents Who Are Willing To Be Imperfect
First, let’s debunk the fairytale that families can attain perfection. Where exactly did that myth come from? No family is perfect. So quit trying. It flies in the face of reality, and yet I find so many families working overtime to look, act, and be the perfect family. Relax. Deal with failures as opportunities to learn. If you have never shared your personal flaws with your kids, they haven’t had an opportunity to see what it’s like to live with imperfection. Instead, they think that faultlessness is normal. The first time they sprout a pimple they’re ready to freak out! Let me offer you this challenge—tonight around the dinner table, share one thing about you that isn’t as perfect as you’d like it to be. By sharing your inadequacies, you allow your teen to connect with you in a different way. It will reaffirm your teen’s understanding and acceptance of himself, while drawing him into relationship with you as well. Teens need parents who are willing to be imperfect.
Parents Willing to Be Disliked
Parents who want to “rescue” their children from pain or suffering are actually hurting their kids more then they know. It usually happens for three reasons: • Parents want to be friends with their kids. • Parents can’t handle the constant nagging of their teen during punishment. • Parents are afraid that if they punish their child, he or she will rebel. Eastern Shore Parents I December 2016
Mom and Dad, your child doesn’t need another friend. During these tough adolescent years they need you to be a parent—to correct them when they make a mistake and love them regardless of their behavior. Teens need parents who are willing to love their kids, even if it means their kids dislike them. So if your daughter gets a speeding ticket, don’t pay for it yourself. If your son is failing a class, don’t do his homework for him. Yes, we should extend grace to our teens. But showing grace doesn’t mean swooping in and saving the day when your kid messes up. That’s caving in. Setting aside time to help with homework is loving. Writing their book report–because you read it and they didn’t–is rescuing. Teens learn independence and maturity when they face hard times more than when everything is going smooth. Handing out discipline isn’t for the faint of heart. I know it can be hard, draining, and exhausting. No matter what your kids might think in the moment, punishment isn’t a cruel action. When done in the right way, it can be an expression of love. And it’s what your kids need from you.
Parents Who Are Willing to Say “No”
Some parents relish being needed by their teenager. They dote on them and take care of their every need. They ask “How high?” when their teens says, “Jump!” They may even take abuse and disrespect from their teen when it is directed their way, thinking, “Oh, they’re just having a bad day.” These parents need to step back and understand that teens need to hear “no” sometimes. If not, it will lead to selfish, bossy, and entitled adolescents who don’t understand when life doesn’t go their way. It’s okay to say “no” as long as you provide a good reason. When your son demands the latest iPhone, you are allowed to say “no” and explain why. When your daughter asks to go to a certain party, you have the freedom to say “no” and provide your reasons. Life doesn’t always say “yes” to our requests. And parents shouldn’t either. 58
Parents Who Are Willing to Let Go
Very few comments made by high school seniors and college students can scare parents more than when young people announce their desire to “fly the coop” and become independent. Those words are tough to hear because in the minds of most parents there is a voice shouting, “We can’t let this happen!” Some parents might think, “What will they do without me?” Other parents wonder, “What will I do without them?” Change is hard, but the desire for independence is actually a very normal and healthy desire in teens. So when your child comes to you with plans to launch out and go to college, move out, or make smaller steps towards independence, I encourage you to consider what your child is actually asking. This may be the opportunity to affirm those character traits and values that you have spent years building into the moral fabric of your son or daughter. Instead of thinking about all the reasons your teen shouldn’t go, think of all that might be accomplished by giving your stamp of approval on an ultimately very necessary transition. Realize that this may be a wonderful opportunity. Teens need parents who are willing to let go. They need parents who believe in them and can even encourage them to become increasingly independent. Isn’t that the goal of raising kids to become adults? Now, I’m not saying that as parents you should throw caution to the wind and go with anything your kid suggests. But I am saying that because your 12 year old will one day become that 18 or 19-year-old young adult, you need to train to let go, and foster independence more and more each year. Trust what you have taught, and are teaching. And even enjoy watching them launch into the adulthood. Mark Gregston is an author, speaker, radio host, and the founder of a residential counseling center for struggling teens located in Longview, Texas. Mark’s passion for helping teens can be seen in his 40 years of involvement with families as a youth pastor, Young Life area director, and now, as the Executive Director of Heartlight, where he has lived with and helped over 2,700 teens. To find out more about Mark and his ministry to parents and teens, you can visit www.HeartlightMinistries.org or www.ParentingTodaysTeens.org.
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There is nothing more heartwarming than a gift made by a child. Handmade gifts are affordable, fun to make, and can be given to parents, grandparents, teachers, and siblings. Here are some gifts that are sure to make someone special smile this holiday season. Eastern Shore Parents I December 2016
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Prints
All you need is a child’s cooperation, some paint, and a little creativity to make a gift that will be cherished for years. Handprints, fingerprints, and even footprints can be used to make a variety of crafts and art. Websites like Pinterest are full of ideas of how to make a handprint into a picture of Santa, a Christmas tree, reindeer, or snowmen. There are literally hundreds of possibilities. Try putting your child’s prints on an apron, ornament, tea towel, oven mitt, or T-shirt to give to a special someone. Make sure to follow the directions on the paint to ensure that the design lasts for years. As a bonus, your kids will love getting messy during the process.
Tasty Treats
Kids love to help out in the kitchen, so why not put together some tasty treats for some sweet people in your life? Get the kids involved in the holiday baking and put together a plate of cookies the kids can help deliver to a neighbor or friend. Putting a homemade cookie mix into a mason jar also makes an easy gift that kids can help with. Finish the jar with a holiday bow and instructions and it’s ready to be delivered.
Frame It
Photos make a favorite gift for any proud aunt, uncle, parent, or grandparent. Get kids involved in picking out favorite photos from the past year and putting them into a collage with handmade drawings or a poem. Try making a scrapbook page that can be framed for a special gift. Picture frames can be made with decorated 61
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popsicle sticks, clay, or an existing frame can be painted or decorated with mosaic tiles, buttons, or other craft supplies. Affordable frames can be found at local thrift stores or the dollar store.
Personalized Gifts
Nothing is more thoughtful than a gift made to fit the recipient’s personal tastes. Talk to your child about the their favorite hobbies and tailor the gift to their interests. For example, use permanent markers to decorate golf balls for the golf lover in your life, decorate a plain coffee mug for the coffee lover in the family, have your child create a special bookmark for the bookworm you know, or use fingerprints to decorate wooden utensils for your favorite chef. Kids can also use scrapbook paper, stickers, craft supplies, and cardstock to make custom stationery. Making personalized gifts also helps teach kids to be observant of other’s interests that may be outside their own.
Utilize Beads
Beads are an affordable and versatile craft item that can be used for a variety of gifts. Small children can string beads on a pipe cleaner to make a candy cane or cross ornament. Older children can make personalized jewelry or key chains for loved ones. Pony beads can be melted to make into a suncatcher, mobile, or even a bowl. With beads, you can give your child some ideas and let their creativity lead them.
Spa at Home
Do you know someone who needs some rest and relaxation? Try mixing equal parts white or brown sugar and olive oil for an easy sugar scrub that is a great gift for anyone who deserves a day at the spa. There are many recipes for homemade soaps, sugar scrubs, and bath salts available online. Many can be mixed together in just minutes and cost very little to make. This luxurious gift may be quick and affordable, but it is sure to make your recipients feel loved and appreciated. There is great value in teaching kids to give gifts to others. They learn to be generous, thoughtful, and experience the joy of giving. They also learn the important lesson that gifts do not need to cost a fortune to be cherished. ESP Sarah Lyons is a freelance writer and stay at home mom to six children. Her kids enjoy creating special gifts for loved ones.
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Trim-A-Tree Christmas Event Foley
Through December 21
More than 200 fine artists and craftsmen from throughout the area have created quality, unique one-of-a-kind ornaments, decorations, pottery, jewelry, and fine artwork to be sold on consignment. This event is hosted by the Foley Art Center. Free and open to public. (251) 943-4381 www.foleyartcenter.com
SPECTRA Sound & Light Spectacular at the Wharf Orange Beach
Through January 14
Every night at 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm. (251) 224-1000 www.alwharf.com
The Wharf Ice Rink Orange Beach
Through January 14
Lace ‘em up and come skate through a winter wonderland. Weekdays: 4:00pm - 10:00pm, Weekends & Christmas Break (Dec. 17 - Jan 3): 10:00am 10:00pm. Some dates subject to change, please check website calendar for full schedule. $10 to skate, $13 combo to skate & ride the Ferris Wheel. (251) 224-1000 www.alwharf.com
Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath Gardens and Home ad on page 35
12401 Bellingrath Gardens Road, Theodore November 25 - December 31
Bellingrath Gardens and Home is celebrating the 21st edition of Magic Christmas in Lights in 2016! The holiday tradition lets guests stroll through a dazzling display, which features more than 1,000 set pieces, 3 million lights and 15 scenes throughout the 65-acre Garden estate. In addition, the Bellingrath Home is decorated in its holiday finery and enhanced with beautiful poinsettias. The holiday event includes nightly choral performances on the South Terrace of the Home Sundays through Thursdays. In addition, guests may purchase hot chocolate on Live Oak Plaza to warm the heart and soul. Magic Christmas in Lights is open daily from 5:00pm – 9:00pm with tours of the Bellingrath Home every hour and half hour until 8:30pm. (251) 973-2217
www.bellingrath.org
Wales West Arctic Express ad on page 21
13670 Smiley Street, Silverhill November 25 – December 24
Fish River Christmas Tree Farm
13982 Woodhaven Dairy Road East,, Summerdale Through - December 23
There has always been something magical and heartwarming about a family trip to the country to search for that perfect Christmas tree. Enjoy strolling our beautiful 40-acre Christmas Tree Farm and evergreen nursery. Take a free ride on The Tannebaum Express “tree train” for a fun filled farm tour (weekends only). View our manger scene with live animals! Camel Rides, Pony Rides and Christmas Bounce House. Santa will arrive for visits on the first three weekends beginning on Friday November 25th to November 27th, December 3rd - 4th, and December 10th-11th. Take a tour of the farm and view the wide selection of trees including our choose and cut trees, our special container-grown Living Christmas Trees that can be decorated then planted after the holidays. We have fabulous shipped in Fraser Firs, flocked and snow-tipped trees. Also available are fresh wreaths, centerpieces, and garlands. For more details and directions please visit our website. (251) 988-8114
www.fishrivertrees.com
Eastern Shore Parents I December 2016
All aboard the Arctic Express at Wales West RV Resort and Light Railway. Great holiday fun for the whole family! Ride an authentic Steam Train through a wonderland of lights, snow, and decorations to the North Pole. Children visit with Santa in the Winter-wonderland barn and receive a free wooden toy. Our staff can take your family photo with Santa. Free Refreshments, Mini-Train Ride, Hay Ride, Playground, and Bounce House. In addition, Petting Zoo, Pony Ride, and Snowball Cannon are available for a slight fee. Try our Cafe’s new menu options, and a Gift Shop full of train items ideal for Christmas presents! Open November 25 through December 24. Hours: WEEKENDS: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 4 to 9 pm; Beginning December 12, open NIGHTLY, 4 - 9 pm. Admission is $15/person, plus tax. 2 and under are free. Group rates, field trips, and parties can be booked in advance. Located on Co. Rd. 9 between Fairhope and Silverhill. For information call 888569-5337 or go to www.waleswest.com. Experience the wonder! Register on our website for coupons early in the season. (888) 569-5337
www.waleswest.com
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Live Animals in Santa’s Village Orange Beach
November 25 - December 31
Thursday & Friday 4:00pm - 10:00pm; Saturday & Sunday 12pm - 10:00pm. Entry fee is $5 (Includes Petting Zoo, bouncy house, and more!), Pony Rides are $5 and Camel Rides are $5. (251) 224-1000 www.alwharf.com
Santa Visits the Eastern Shore Centre
30500 Highway 181, Spanish Fort November 25 - December 24
Come have your picture taken with Santa! Please call the Eastern Shore Centre office or visit our website to confirm times and location. Mondays-Saturdays: 10am -8pm. Sundays: 12 pm - 5:30 pm. (251) 625-0060 www.easternshorecentre.com
Winterfest Reindeer Games Pensacola
November 25, 26 and December 2, 3, 9, 16, 17, 18
When the trolleys arrive from the Performance Tour, the fun in Plaza Wonderland begins! See a show on our brand new stage, then follow the dancing reindeer to visit Santa Claus and play reindeer games! Turn into a snowman with our amazing snow machine and throw snowballs at the Grinch! Freeze dance with Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Blitzen, and enjoy a cup of gourmet cocoa, scrumptious snack, or visit our hot dog stand. www.pensacolawinterfest.org
Polar Express Pajama Party
1750 Radford Boulevard (Suite C), Pensacola November 26 - December 18, 23
Enjoy a 3:00pm showing of the Christmas classic, The Polar Express on the giant screen! Tickets are available in person at the museum ticket counter for $6 per person. (850) 452-3604
www.navalaviationmuseum.org
Photos with Santa at The Wharf Orange Beach
November 28 – December 23
Fridays: 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm; Saturdays: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm; Sundays: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm. (251) 224-1000 www.alwharf.com
City of Foley Tree Decorating Contest 125 East Laurel Avenue, Foley November 28
The first ten applications will receive a free tree to decorate! Decorating may start on Monday, November 28th and finished by Wednesday, November 30th. Judging
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will take place on Thursday, December 1, 2016. Winners will be announced on Friday, December 1st at Christmas in the Park and plaques will be awarded. The trees may be undecorated and removed beginning Monday, December 26th, but no later than Monday, January 2nd, 2017. Call for information on applications. (251) 943-1300 www.cityoffoley.org or www.visityfoley.org
Eastern Shore Choral Society Christmas Concerts
November 29, December 1, and December 4
There will be two evening Christmas concerts. The first will be on Tuesday, November 29th, at the Spanish Fort United Methodist Church and the other on Thursday, December 1st, at Fairhope UMC. Both will begin at 7:30 pm A third concert will be presented at 3:00 pm on Sunday, December 4th, at Fairhope United Methodist Church. Tickets for the concerts are $15 and may be purchased online atwww.escs. org or from any ESCS member. November 29, 2016 7:30pm at the Spanish Fort UMC; December 1, 2016 7:30pm at Fairhope UMC (155 South Section Street, Fairhope) December 4th – 3pm Concert at FUMC (155 South Section Street, Fairhope). www.escs.org
21st Annual Christmas by the BayBaldwin Cty Humane Society (BARC) 161 North Section Street, Fairhope December 1
Join us from 6pm - 9pm. A great way to start off the holiday season and benefit a very worthy cause in Baldwin County! Roman Street will be live on stage. Tickets are $50 per person which includes gourmet hors d’oeuvres from some of Baldwin County’s finest restaurants, a silent auction, and a Ruff Ruff Raffle. “Rescues on the Runway has become the highlight of the evening. Last year, when the dogs paraded on the runway, it was magical.” said Executive Director, Stephen Savage. For more information, purchase tickets or make a donation, please call, stop by the office (22886C Hwy 98 in Fairhope), visit our event website or check out the Facebook event page. Your help is the rescue for many dogs and cats that need assistance. The Baldwin County Humane Society (BARC) is a no-kill adoption agency. We are a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization. (251) 928-4585 www.baldwinhumane.brownpapertickets.com
North Baldwin Infirmary Christmas Tree Lighting
Open House begins at 6:00 pm and the Tree Lighting will be at 7:00 pm (251) 621-9000 www.daphneal.com
1815 Hand Avenue, Bay Minette December 1
Festivities are from 5pm – 7pm and include fun games for children, Christmas carols sung by local choirs and a visit with Santa. The evening of fun and holiday cheer will culminate with the lighting of the tree and door prizes. For infor, contact North Baldwin Fitness Center.
Daphne Library Kids Ornament Make & Take
USA Annual President’s Holiday Concert
(251) 621-2818 www.daphnelibrary.org
(251) 937-9099
2607 Highway 98, Daphne December 2
Make the Christmas tree at home a little brighter! Bring your child to the community room to make an ornament with us from 1:30pm – 5pm
Fairhope’s Magical Christmas Parade
ad on Inside Front Cover
December 2
5751 USA Drive South, Mobile December 1
The USA Annual President’s Holiday Concert will take place Thursday, December 1 at 6:30pm in the USA Mitchell Center. Admission is free and open to the general public. USA’s Department of Music students and faculty will be the featured in this concert highlighted by classical and popular holiday pieces. (251) 460-6136 www.southalabama.edu/music
The Fairhope Magical Christmas Parade begins at 7pm at the intersection of Morphy Avenue and Section Street, and continues down Section and Oak Street. The excitement will build as more than 50 parade units dazzle the crowd in anticipation of Santa Claus’ arrival into Fairhope! WABF will be broadcasting the parade live. Come join us for plenty of lights, beautiful floats, and Santa Claus! (251) 929 -1466 www.cofairhope.com
Eastern Shore Choral Society Christmas Concerts
Gulf Shores Lighted Christmas Parade, Beach Celebration & Snowball Drop
155 South Section Street, Fairhope
100 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores
December 1, 4
Thursday, December 1st, at Fairhope United Methodist Church at 7:30pm. Also, 3:00pm on Sunday, December 4th. Tickets for the concerts are $15 and may be purchased online at our website or from any ESCS member. www.escs.org
Christmas in the Park
125 East Laurel Avenue, Foley December 2
Come out to Heritage Park from 6pm - 8pm to sing carols, sip cocoa, light the Christmas tree and enjoy the beautiful Christmas displays in Heritage Park. Don’t forget to visit with Santa. Free cocoa and snacks for all!
December 2
The evening parade will begin at 6:30 pm and will feature festive lighted floats, guest judges, as well as appearances from holiday characters and marching bands. Large crowds of spectators looking to bask in the holiday spirit are anticipated along Highway 59 as parade entries make their way from Clubhouse Drive to the Gulf Shores Public Beach. The magical atmosphere from the parade will roll continuously into the night, as a celebration at the Gulf Shores Public Beach will kick off following the parade. Families can enjoy pictures with Santa, holiday treats, crafts and a snowball drop. It will be a man-made blizzard as 4,000 ping-pong balls will be dropped from above by Santa!
(251) 943-1300 www.cityoffoley.org
(251) 968-1434 www.gulfshoresal.gov
City of Daphne Open House and Tree Lighting
Mobile Symphony Youth Orchestra “Holiday Concert”
Everyone is invited to kick off the holiday season with music, activities, crafts for kids and much more! The
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sounds of the Christmas season. $5.00 suggested donation. Time: 7:30pm. (251) 943-1545 www.mobilesymphony.org
ESAC Holiday Art Mart 401 Oak Street, Fairhope December 2-3
Find the perfect gift for friends and family! Art Mart will be set up inside our upstairs galleries and it’s FREE to the public! Hours are 10am - 4pm on Friday and 10am - 2pm on Saturday. (251) 928-2228
www.esartcenter.org
South Baldwin Community Theater “Elf”
2022 West 2nd Street, Gulf Shores December 2, 3, 4*, 9, 10, 11*
*December 2, 3, 9, and 10 dates are at 7:30pm. *December 4th & 11th are Sunday Matinées at 2pm. Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Annual “Christmas through the Ages” at Fort Gaines
FEEF Cookies with Santa at Oak Hollow Farm
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December 3
December 3
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51 Bienville Boulevard, Dauphin Island
Experience a Christmas of “Days Gone By!” This event is a living history Day for the whole family. Come and join the soldiers from the 1700’s through the 1900’s and their Families as they celebrate a non-commercial Christmas. Our visiting children will have the chance to make a seashells ornament and other decorations. Times: 9:00am5:00pm. (251) 861-6992 www.dauphinisland.org
Bragg Mitchell Christmas Event 1906 Springhill Avenue, Mobile December 3
Come celebrate the Season at the Bragg-Mitchell Mansion. We will have a beautiful candlelight Christmas tour of the Mansion on Saturday, December 3, from 4:30pm to 7:00pm. Docents will be on hand to show the Mansion in all its traditional holiday splendor. Tickets may be purchased through Brown Paper Tickets or at the door. Cost - Adults $10, Children 12 and under $8. Proceeds from this fundraiser will be used for the continued operation and restoration of this iconic Mobile landmark.
(251) 968-6721 www.sbct.biz
(251) 471-6364
Breakfast at the Manger
City of Fairhope Santa Saturdays
ad on page 48
155 South Section Street , Fairhope December 3
Pancake breakfast hosted by FM3 Men’s Minstry ($5/per person). Storytime Santa reads about a very special night long ago in Bethlehem. Gifts for every child. Pictures with Santa, family craft station and more! 8:30am - 10:30pm. (251) 928-1148
www.fairhopeumc.org
www.braggmitchellmansion.com
Fairhope
As a way of saying “Happy Holidays” to the community, Fairhope Educational Enrichment Foundation (FEEF) will host its annual Cookies with Santa at Oak Hollow Farm in Fairhope from 9am – 10:30am. Enjoy a variety of musical entertainment by Fairhope school students and have your photo taken with Santa and his elves. Freshly baked cookies and hot cocoa round out this fun event. Cookies with Santa is always a wonderful way to thank our supporters and bring Fairhope families together for some old-fashioned holiday cheer. The event is free and open to the public. Participants are encouraged to bring canned goods to support Ecumenical Ministries’ food pantry. Santa Claus will arrive shortly after 9:00 am to begin taking pictures with children. For more information call or visit www. feefonline.org. (251) 990-3333 www.feefonline.org
Foley Kiwanis Club Christmas Parade Foley
December 3
The annual Foley Kiwanis Club Christmas Parade begins at 10am and winds its way through downtown Foley with festive floats, treats and throws, and of course, Santa waves a Merry Christmas to all. For information visit the Foley Kiwanis Club website. www.foleykiwanisclub.com
December 3
Santa will be visiting Fairhope on December the 3rd and 10th for “Fairhope’s Santa Saturdays.” Santa will be in front of the Fairhope Museum of History in downtown Fairhope from 10 am - 12 pm for children to visit. Parents may bring their cameras to take pictures. For additional information, call Paige Crawford.
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www.cofairhope.com
Foley’s Annual “Let It Snow!” 125 East Laurel Avenue, Foley December 3
Bring your mittens and play in the snow! Located in Heritage Park beginning at 11:00 am directly following the Christmas Parade. Come out and hear live musical performances, listen to Mrs. Claus tell stories, make
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arts and crafts in the Children’s Art Village, and of course play in the SNOW! Concessions are sold on site. Please call Linda Hula for more information. (251) 943-1300 www.cityoffoley.org
Mobile’s Singing Children 40th Annual Christmas Concert 2 South Claiborne Street, Mobile December 3
Come join us on Saturday, December 3 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception for our Annual Christmas Concert starting at 7:00pm. (251) 285-2285 www.mobilesingingchildren.org
Spanish Fort Spirit of Christmas Parade Spanish Fort December 3
Spanish Fort’s 10th Annual “Spirit of Christmas” Parade will roll through the beautiful Eastern Shore Centre at 9am! If you are interested in participating, a Parade Application may be downloaded from the City’s website. (251) 626-4884 www.cityofspanishfort.com
The Robertsdale Christmas Parade & Christmas in the Park Robertsdale December 3
Parade will start at 6:30 pm at the Robertsdale High School and end at Wisconsin Street at Honeybee Park. For more information contact the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce. Applications for Parade Float are available on our website. Stay after the parade and enjoy family fun at Honeybee Park until 9pm. (251) 947-2626 www.centralbaldwin.com
St. Lawrence Christmas Bazaar 370 South Section Street, Fairhope December 3-4
A variety of Unique Vendor Booths, Silent Auction, Arts, Crafts, Antiques, Food and Door Prizes will be offered from 9am – 3pm on Saturday and 9:30am – 2:30pm on Sunday. Pictures with Santa and much more! Free Admission and child care for children 7 and under (as space allows). Visit our website and on Facebook. For more information call or email Afton Sylvester. (251) 928-5931 www.stlawrencechristmasbazaar.com
A Little Time with Santa
Civic Center 7:00pm. Please bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. We are committed to enhancing the cultural environment of the area by providing free concerts to the public. Members come from all walks of life.
ad on page 44 Point Clear
December 4, 11, 18
Santa and Renaissance Portrait Studio will be available for a special private session with your little one! To schedule an extra special Santa Experience, please contact the Elf Hotline at (251) 928-5944. By Appointment Only. Appointments available between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. (251) 928-5944 www.renaissanceportraits.com
Gingerbread Jamboree Bellingrath Gardens and Home
(251) 232-1013 www.baldwinpopsband.com
5 Rivers Story Time “Dinosaur’s Night Before Christmas” by Jim Harris 30945 5 Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort December 6
The 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month from 10am - 11am is Storytime at 5 Rivers. Children under the age of 6 are welcome to stop by for a free reading of a nature-based story followed by arts and crafts. A festively fun and traditional story with a reptilian twist!
ad on page 35
(251) 625-0814 www.alabama5rivers.com
December 4
Playhouse in the Park presents “Babes in Toyland”
12401 Bellingrath Gardens Road, Theodore Create a new tradition for your family this Christmas at our first-ever Gingerbread Jamboree on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 3:00pm to 5:00pm.Bring the kids to decorate cookies and enjoy holiday crafts before touring Magic Christmas in Lights! A reception with Christmas goodies and hot chocolate is part of the fun. (251) 973-2217
bellingrath.org
Holiday Open House at The Wharf Orange Beach
6 South Joachim Street, Mobile December 6 - 7
Follow Mary Contrary, Tom-Tom and many Mother Goose characters through amazing adventures as they help save Christmas! Recommended for ALL AGES! SchoolFest Performances: December 6 & 7 at 9:00 am and 11:15 am. For Reservations call (251) 422-0079 Public Performance is December 7 at 7:30 pm. Reservations: (251) 602-0630 (251) 602-0630 playhouseinthepark.org
December 4
Enjoy the small town holiday shopping experiences at The Wharf. Shop local! Enjoy kids activities, discounts, and more from 11am -6pm. (251) 224-1000 www.alwharf.com
3Circle Church Creative Christmas ad on page 59
10274 State Highway 104, Fairhope
The Market at the Pillars
December 7
1757 Government Street, Mobile December 4
The Market at The Pillars is a fun afternoon of shopping with local artisans, vendors and food trucks! Come get your Christmas shopping done! Sunday Funday from 12:00pm-4:00pm in Midtown Mobile! (251) 307-5382
This special event will feature RamCorps from the University of Mobile, and our 3Circle Children’s Choir. The evening will include a variety of art forms, all retelling and celebrating the truth of the Christmas story in compelling fashion. All attending will be invited to not only observe, but also to respond in worship in a variety of ways. There will be 2 evening services at 5:00pm and at 6:30pm. (251) 990-3112
Baldwin Pops Christmas Concert December 5, 6, 14
This years concert dates and venues are December 5th at Foley Civic Center 7:00pm; December 6th Gulf Shores Civic Center 7:00pm; December 14th Daphne
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Thomas Hospital Christmas and Carols 750 Morphy Avenue, Fairhope December 7
The holiday fun is from 6 pm – 7:30 pm and in-
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cludes crafts for children, Christmas carols sung by local choirs and refreshments. Visit with Santa and have a photo taken by a professional photographer. Free Santa photos will be available for download. For more information, contact Thomas Hospital Marketing.
(251) 968-7215 www.alabamacoastalchristmas.com
(251) 510-1054
Daphne Library Kids Movie Night 2607 Highway 98, Daphne December 8
Bring the whole family from 4:30pm – 6:30pm to watch Elf in the Community Room! Snacks will be provided! Don’t forget to wear your PJ’s! (251) 621-2818 www.daphnelibrary.org
Nix Center Annual Holiday Concert 1 Bayou Drive, Fairhope December 8
Jammin’ Folks will provide holiday music. Refreshment will be served following concert. (251) 928-2835 www.cityoffairhope.org
Derailed Diner Polar Express
27801 County Road 64 Ext , Robertsdale December 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17
The 2016 FREE Polar Express Event for Children is just around the corner! So make your reservations on Black Friday for a great Christmas memory for your children! One can good for each child’s admission. The event is for kids ages 4 through 12 years. Call 251-960-1150 to make your reservations. The Polar Express leaves the station for our first night December 8th. All Aboard!! (251) 960-1150
Beach Event Center December 9th and 10th. Admission is free and it is open to the public. Over 75 vendors with unique gifts, home baked goods, spices, dipping sauces, toys, apparel, jewelry, and arts & crafts. Hours on Friday are 9 am until 6 pm and Saturday is 9 am until 5 pm.
www.deraileddiner.com
5th Annual Merry Market Crafts Expo 4671 Wharf Parkway Drive, Orange Beach December 9 – 10
The 5th Annual Merry Market will be held at the Orange
Baldwin County Youth Orchestra – Waltzing Through Christmas 6847 Park Drive, Daphne December 9
The Baldwin County Youth Orchestra will present their annual Christmas Concert: Waltzing Through Christmas on December 9th at 7 pm. The concert at Eastern Shore Baptist in Daphne will feature dancers from the Eastern Shore Dance Academy, dancing to Trepak for Nutcracker and Dance of the Tumblers from Snow Maiden. A special Sing A Long selection will allow all to participate. The Concert is free but a toy for the WKRG TOY DRIVE would be appreciated. (251) 979-6834 www.bcyorchestra.com
Bayshore Christian School’s Christmas Concert ad on page 36
300 South Section Street, Fairhope December 9
All of our students, grades K4-12, have been working hard to prepare for the concert which will be held on December 9th at Fairhope First Baptist Church at 6 p.m. This year’s theme will be “Jesus is Born, Sing and Rejoice!”. Our choral and instrumental ensembles will be performing, along with our student-led ensemble. Join us for a night of praising Jesus as we enter the Christmas season. The event is free and open to the public! (251) 929-0011
Christmas Festival in Bay Minette December 9 - 10
The Annual Christmas Fest is a longstanding tradition complete with Christmas Tree Lighting, Live Entertainment, Arts & Crafts, Good Food, an Art Contest, Ping Pong Ball Drop and the Annual Christmas Parade! Please visit our website for more information. (251) 937-5665 www.northbaldwinchamber.com
City of Daphne Christmas Parade Daphne
December 9
The Night Parade Returns! Parade will begin at 6:30pm and follow the Main Street Route. (251) 621-9000 www.daphneal.com
Daphne Library Kids Gift Make & Take 2607 Highway 98, Daphne December 9
Parents need Christmas presents too! Bring your child to the community room from 1:30 – 5pm to make you a special gift this year! (251) 621-2818 www.daphnelibrary.org
Yule Ball Masquerade at Hogwarts
30500 State Hwy 181 Suite 414, Spanish Fort December 9
Join us as we celebrate our first Yule Ball - Harry Potter Masquerade style! Prepare for magical activities, enchanting events, more Harry Potter themed fun for all ages! It’s sure to be the most magical event of the holiday season! At Barnes & Noble stores nationwide! (251) 621-3545 www.barnesandnoble.com
Annual Christmas Lighted Boat Parade December 10
The Annual Lighted Boat Parade will take place Saturday, December 10th starting at 5:30 pm from LuLu’s in Gulf Shores and finishing at Cobalt in Orange Beach.
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To enter your boat in the parade or for more information contact the Chamber at (251) 968-7200. There will be a mandatory captain’s meeting at 5:30 pm on Friday, December 9th at Lulu’s. (251) 968-7200 www.alabamacoastalchristmas.com
Billy Claus visits Lulu’s! ad on page 53
200 East 25th Avenue, Gulf Shores December 10
Billy Claus Oh Billy Claus how we love you... Poor Billy is allergic to snow so what better place for him to come and celebrate the holidays but LuLu’s. Come enjoy as this delightful children’s book, written by none other than the talented Lucy Buffett. Enjoy a full day of arts & crafts, live music and get your picture taken with Billy Claus and his LuLubelle’s. Make sure to leave Billy your Christmas list so that he can personally deliver it to his brother (you may have heard of him) Santa Claus. What a better way to kick off the holiday season than a day here with all of your friends and family at LuLu’s. (251) 967-LULU (5858); www.LuluBuffett.com
Candy Cane Christmas
7485 Airport Boulevard, Mobile December 10
Ransom Ministries Inc. would like to invite you to partner with us in reaching out to our community during the upcoming holiday season. We will be hosting our annual Candy Cane Christmas on December 10 from 9:00am - 12pm. You can participate in this community outreach by donating new unwrapped toys or gifts for children of all ages, volunteering, or financially sponsoring this event. This donation only shopping experience will be fun for the whole family! Activities include: gift wrapping station, continental breakfast, crafts and games for kids, pictures with Santa Claus, story time and more! www.ransomcafe.com
Holiday Half Marathon & 8K Run Fairhope
December 10
The Holiday Half Marathon & 8K Run will start at 8:30am at Mullet Point Park (Take Scenic 98 south of the Grand Hotel to the intersection with County Road 1; Mullet Point Park is on the right). This race will benefit USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital Pediatrics Department — everyone is encouraged to bring a new toy in its original wrapping to the race. Toys are needed to distract the children while they are in the hospital. Pre-register by mail (entries should be postmarked by December 5), in person at McCoy Outdoor or RunN-Tri in Mobile or Running Wild in Fairhope until noon on December 10, or online (https://go.events.com/#/event/1901) until 4:00am December 11. Race day registration from 7:00am-8:15am at Mullet Point Park. (251) 473-7223
www.pcpacers.org
can still sit on Santa’s lap and ask for whatever you want! Activities, free sweets, hot chocolate, & juice will be available for the kids! This special day is fun for everyone, especially Santa’s helpers who sing Christmas carols with the children. (850) 492-0611 www.florabama.com/events/florabama-santa-drop
Mobile Ballet presents “The Nutcracker” ad on page 4
401 Civic Center Drive, Mobile December 10 - 11
Mobile Ballet will take you on a magical journey of brilliant dancing, sumptuous sets, and gorgeous costumes. This is a favorite for all ages. Saturday, December 10 at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday, December 11 at 2:30pm. (251) 342-2241 www.mobileballet.org
Bay Shore Ballet Academy “The Nutcracker”
161 North Section Street, Fairhope December 10 - 11
Dancers of the Bay Shore Ballet Theater, along with students of the Academy will be featured in the much anticipated holiday classic, “The Nutcracker”. A special, full-length preview performance will be Saturday, December 10th at 2:00 pm with general admission ticket prices for all seats at $5.00. Performances on Saturday, December 10th at 7:30 pm and Sunday, December 11th at 3:00 pm, tickets will be priced at $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and children 12 and under. Janet Carole, former principal ballerina with leading U.S. and Canadian ballet companies will direct the whimsical classic, which will delight audiences of all ages. Annie Laurie O’Neill, Abigail Kiernan and Mary Ellis Ollinger will be the Principal Dancers, in the roless of the Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen and Rose Queen. Professional stage production will be by Scenic Design. Tickets are available on our website or in advance at The Coffee Loft, Page and Palette, and at the door prior to performances. For reserved seating, call Trin Ollinger at (251) 583-3875. Teachers interested in bringing school classes to a condensed version of the ballet on Friday, December 9th, or to have a dancer visit their class contact Allison Hunter at allisonhunter@live.com. (251) 990-9744 www.bayshoreballet.com
Boat Parade Activities at The Wharf Orange Beach December 10
Come to The Wharf for kids best viewing spot of the Lighted Boat Parade. Come early for kids activities and shopping specials from 4pm – 8pm. (251) 224-1000 www.alwharf.com
Holiday Extravaganza History Museum of Mobile
Mobile Symphony presents “Swinging Christmas”
December 10
December 10 - 11
111 South Royal Street, Mobile
6 Joachim Street, Mobile
It’s super! It’s special! It’s our HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA from 1:00pm-4:00pm! For the price of regular admission, join the entire Museum gang for: A Gingerbread House Decorating Contest, Holiday Storytelling, Choir Performances by local school choirs, Dreidel Game Playing, Selfies with Santa Claus and Cookies & Cider. Plus, wander through the Museum and see a Menorah Display.
The popular Boston Brass joins the MSO with their own big and fiery arrangements of holiday classics to fill your Christmas with energy and excitement. December 10 at 7:30pm and December 11 at 2:30pm.
(251) 208-7569
www.museumofmobile.com
Santa Drop at Flora Bama
17401 Perdido Key Drive, Pensacola December 10
See Santa skydive onto our white sandy beaches! Seriously, Santa Claus parachutes down to the Flora-Bama. It doesn’t matter how old you are, you
(251) 432-2010 www.mobilesymphony.org
5 Rivers “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” 30945 5 Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort December 11
The films play throughout the day. Not one but TWO animated classics rotating throughout the day. See them on the big screen! Please call for specific show times. (251) 625-0814 www.alabama5rivers.com
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GSUMC Children’s Christmas Celebration Services
1900 Gulf Shores Parkway (Highway 59), Gulf Shores December 11
GSUMC worship arts ministries presents 2 Christmas celebrations on Dec. 11th. The first is a children’s worship service at 11:00 am in the main sanctuary featuring the GSUMC Children’s Choirs. The second is a Christmas choral music celebration featuring the GSUMC chancel choir, instrumentalists and soloists, and special guest, Dr. Michael Brown on the trumpet. For more info, please contact the church office, see the GSUMC Facebook page, or go to www. gulfshoresumc.org.
You Want, Who’s Behind The Door, and Take Your Fingers From My Hair. You are sure to escape back to the 70s and 80s when it all began and rock and roll was all about the music. Added to the night, you will enjoy the electrifying sounds of the Atomic Punks, The Tribute to Early Van Halen, with all the songs you grew up with!! Dorsett Productions Unlimited LLC will be producing a live video with a high tech light show and bigger than life LED screens!! (251) 208-5601
www.mobilesaenger.com
30945 5 Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort
The Mobile Pops Christmas Concert
Children are encouraged to wear their warmest pajamas and to bring along their favorite blanket to sit on while they gather around the fireplace in the Longleaf Room of Delta Hall. The evening begins at 7pm with the joyous singing of Christmas carols, putting everyone in the Christmas spirit! Following our story time, cookies and warm cocoa are served to all. For more information and confirmation of the Book Reading date, please call Spanish Fort City Hall.
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7:00pm. The concert will be at Davidson High School Auditorium. All concerts are FREE and open to the public. (251) 679-6036 www.themobilepops.com
The Sweetest Christmas Eve Storytime ad on page 32
32 South Section Street, Fairhope December 12
“The Sweetest Christmas Eve” is read-along picture book by Scottish-American author Annie Hallinan that relates the gentle tale of the Mouse family and their lovely new home, Mouse Manor. Mama and Papa Mouse are getting their home ready for their first Christmas Eve whilst the kids, Willie and Baby Zoie, race through the house hugely excited about the upcoming holiday. None of the wee mice could predict the adventure that will unfold when humans discover where they are living. (251) 928-5295
www.pageandpalette.com
Rock the Holidays at the Mobile Saenger Theatre 6 South Joachim Street, Mobile December 14
“Rock The Holidays” with one of the best classic rock bands of all time, the legendary Zebra straight out of New Orleans, Louisiana. Original members, Randy Jackson, Felix Hanemann, and Guy Gelso, will wow you with their hits such as Tell Me What
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Join us for kids’ activities, hot dogs, popcorn, hot chocolate and “SNOW”. Come join the family fun! Snow begins falling at 4pm and movie starts at 6pm.
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(251) 621-9000 www.daphneal.com
Summerdale Library Christmas Concert
19600 State Highway 59, Summerdale December 16
City of Spanish Fort Reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas
(251) 968-2411 www.gulfshoresumc.org
3900 Pleasant Valley Road, Mobile
City of Daphne Snow & Movie Night
December 15
Enjoy the classic holiday sounds from featured musicians Victor and Megan Andzulis, Cory McKern, Sewell Griffith, and Welsh Revival. Doors open at 6:30 pm, concert begins at 7 pm. Proceeds support the Marjorie Younce Snook Public Library in Summerdale. (251) 989-2011 www.summerdalelibrary.com
Tea With Santa ad on page 33
The Wharf, 4790 Main Street, Orange Beach December 17
Enjoy a lovely tea with Santa! The tea will begin at 10:30am and will feature 3 courses. Event tickets are $20. Reservations are required.
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(251) 626-4884
(251) 224-6510 www.villagiogrille.com
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Children will have one last minute chance to visit with Santa on Saturday, December 17 as Gulf Shores hosts Breakfast with Santa at the Erie H. Meyer Civic Center. Beginning at 8 am, families can dive into a wholesome breakfast complete with sausage, bacon, eggs and pancakes before having pictures taken with Santa. Admission is $5.00. Children 3 and under are free.
Arts per Squ
26389 Canal Road, Orange Beach December 15
The Hot Shop Blowout will feature resident artist Kerry Parks manipulating molten glass in a free hot glass demonstration. We will serve hot chocolate, candy canes and other Holiday treats from 5:30pm - 7pm. For more information, call the Arts Center at or visit the Website. (251) 981-ARTS (2787) www.CoastalArtsCenter.com
Daphne Library Kids Santa Stories 2607 Highway 98, Daphne December 15
Guess who is coming to town? Santa, that’s who! Join us in the Library Community Room at 4pm and 5pm as Santa shares his favorite stories with his Eastern Shore friends! There will be cookies and warm cocoa. (251) 621-2818 www.daphnelibrary.org
(251) 968-1434 www.gulfshoresal.gov
Sanctuary Choir Christmas Music ad on page 51
300 South Section Street, Fairhope December 17
Enjoy beautiful Christmas music performed by the Sactuary Choir. 7pm - 8pm. (251) 928-8685
www.fbcfairhope.org
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Providence Office 610 Providence Park Dr. E., Suite 201 Mobile, Alabama, 36695 (251) 639-1300 Karen I. Calametti, M.D. Jonathan Holmes, M.D. Catherine W. Huettemann, M.D. Richard E. Huettemann, M.D. Deborah A. Kassner, M.D. Elizabeth S. Weinacker, M.D. Airport Office 3920 Airport Boulevard Mobile, Alabama, 36608 (251) 342-3810 Jennifer G. Adair, M.D. Savannah I. Browning, M.D. Matthew Cepeda, M.D. Michael Little, D.O. Lisa McDonough, M.D. Faye Roberts, M.D. Eastern Shore Parents I December 2016
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A Charlie Brown Christmas 6 Joachim Street, Mobile December 17
The 8th annual show will feature the Joe Cool Trio with John Milham (drums), Chris Spies (piano) and Chris Severin (bass), followed by sets including New Orleans’s own Leon “Kid Chocolate” Brown on Trumpet and Clarence Johnson on Sax who both played with Preservation Hall Jazz Band performing their favorite Christmas tunes. A portion of ticket sales will be donated to the Jake Peavy Foundation. Doors open at 6pm. Event begins at 7pm. Ticket prices (plus additional fees): $50.00 VIP (limited), $20.00 Adult, $10 Children Ages 10 and under. (251) 208-5601
www.mobilesaenger.com
Star Party
6005 Bayou Heron Road, Moss Point December 17
We will have a hay ride to the boat launch where we have telescopes set up to view the Meteor shower. At the building we’ll have crafts for kids of all ages, an owl walk to call up screech owls on the boardwalk, a cookie decorating station and lots of hot chocolate and soup. We will also have Santa Claus there too! (228) 475-7047
Holiday Market & Christmas Kids Day Cathedral Square, Mobile December 17
Arts & crafts...fun activities...music...pictures...dance performances...and much more! Join us at Cathedral Square from 10:00am-2:00pm. (251) 208-1550 www.ncsmobile.org
Breakfast in Bethlehem ad on page 51
300 South Section Street, Fairhope December 18
8:30am join us for breakfast and worship. Attendees will enjoy a live nativity, children’s performance and dismiss to “Bethlehem”. (251) 928-8685
www.fbcfairhope.org
Christmas Tennis Camp ad on page 31
17107 Tennis Club Drive, Point Clear December 19, 20, 21
Point Clear Tennis Club is hosting a Tennis Camp for children ages 5-16. Hours are 9am - 12pm. Fee is $30/child per day. (251) 928-7715
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical 118 South Palafox Place, Pensacola December 19
The beloved TV classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, soars off the screen and onto the stage this holiday season. See all of your favorite characters as they come to life in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. It’s an adventure that teaches us that what makes you different can be what makes you special. Please visit our website for Ticket information. (850) 595-3880
www.pensacolasaenger.com
Holiday Art Camp at Celebration Church ad on page 23
8180 Dyer Road, Fairhope December 19 – 23 or December 26 – 30
Offering Full or half day options. Camp will be from 8am – 5pm for ages 12 months – 12 years. Each day will include arts & crafts, music, games and tons of Fun!
(251) 928-0343 or (251) 406-2240 www.facebook.com/celebratechurch
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Christmas Wonderland at Beau Rivage 875 Beach Boulevard, Biloxi December 21 - 29
Christmas Wonderland is one of the most delightful and enchanting Christmas shows ever. This most loved holiday show features glittering costumes, a dazzling cast and the highest kicking chorus girls this side of the North Pole. This sparkling holiday show is ideal for the whole family! (888) 750-7111
www.beaurivage.com
3Circle Church Christmas Eve ad on page 59
10274 State Highway 104, Fairhope December 22
Our special Christmas Eve gatherings will take place at our Eastern Shore - South campus in Fairhope on December 22 at 6:30pm and December 24 at 3:30 and 5:00pm. (251) 990-3112
www.3circlechurch.com
Noon Year’s Eve Celebration! ad on page 53
200 East 25th Avenue, Gulf Shores December 31
The Family friendly NOON Year’s Eve Celebration at LuLu’s starts at 10am! Think your year couldn’t possibly get any better, just wait and see what LuLu’s has in store to help you end the year with a bang. LuLu’s Annual Noon Year’s Eve party is pure excitement around every corner. From delicious food, a sandcastle building contest, arts & crafts, live music, zoo animals, face painting, wow I could just go on and on, but wait there is one thing I forgot to mention... To count it down to noon we celebrate with kid friendly fireworks and a huge beach ball drop. See you there! (251) 967-LULU (5858) www.LuluBuffett.com
1st Annual Children’s Miracle Network New Year’s Eve Ball ad on Inside Front Cover Orange Beach December 31
Don’t miss the biggest New Year’s Eve Party in Orange Beach and help raise money for Children’s Miracle Network/ USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital. (251) 981-2400
Fairhope’s New Year’s Eve Family Celebration Fairhope
December 31
Bring your family and ring in the New Year in downtown Fairhope with fireworks dancing in the streets, a DJ and a ball drop at midnight! The band begins playing at 8:30 pm at the corner of Fairhope Ave and Section. (251) 929-1466 www.cofairhope.com
Bay Camp Christmas Camp ad on page 8
Celebration Church, 8180 Dyer Road, Fairhope December 19 – 23
Join Bay Camp for a fun filled Christmas Break Camp! Camp runs Monday through Friday, December 19 - 23 from 7:30am - 6:00pm. Very limited space is available. Call Today to register.
(251) 752-4897
www.easternshorebaycamp.com
5 Rivers Story Time: “The Littlest Elf” by Brandi Dougherty 30945 5 Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort December 20
The 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month from 10am - 11am is Storytime at 5 Rivers. Children under the age of 6 are welcome to stop by for a free reading of a nature-based story followed by arts and crafts. In this week’s story, Oliver may be the littlest elf in the North Eastern Shore Parents I December 2016
Pole, but he has a big desire to discover his very special job in Santa’s workshop! But after getting lost in the toy shop, making a mess at the book shop, and falling in the mixing machine at the bakery, is the littlest elf just too little? Perhaps he just needs the littlest reindeer to remind him what Christmas is all about! (251) 625-0814 www.alabama5rivers.com
Plush Craft Christmas Ornament Craft ad on page 38
335 Fairhope Avenue, Fairhope
MoonPie Over Mobile - New Year’s Eve Downtown Mobile, Mobile December 31
Moonpie over Mobile is back. With over 60,000 people in attendance last year, this year’s New Year’s event will usher in the New Year in grand style. Get a larger glimpse at the moon pie as it rises over the city in downtown Mobile. There will be live entertainment, activities for kids and a countdown to 2017 like no other. (251) 208-1550 www.ncsmobile.org
Reel in the New Year at The Wharf
December 20
Orange Beach
(251) 928-1720
Ring in the New Year with all of your friends at the party of all parties! Enjoy live entertainment, kid’s activities, fireworks and our famous Marlin drop! Visit our Website for Evening festivity times. (251) 224-1000 www.alwharf.com ESP
Children ages 4 and up are invited to make an adorable Christmas tree plush ornament. Two sessions are available, 2pm and at 4pm. Class fee is $5 per child. The class is approximately 30 minutes. www.fantasyislandtoys.com
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DON’T hold onto your teens too tightly, parents. The high school years are meant to be a preparation to launch them from home out into the world. Bear in mind that entire books have been written to help adults recover from the behavior of their misguided parents, who unconsciously clipped their wings because they couldn’t cope with the uncomfortable feelings that come with letting go. Your goal is to stay alert as you bravely prepare for a separation that is inevitable.
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IF you feel weepy and clingy about the physical distance that will arise between you and your future young adult, you will set her up for feelings of guilt and obligation that won’t serve her as she forges her own path in the world. Teens need incremental independence and appreciate your assistance getting used to the consequences of their choices. If you coddle your teen, do all her thinking for her, intercede in the face of every life challenge, swiftly grant every whim, and then abruptly withdraw your assistance after college, your child is bound to struggle.
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DON’T set your child up for a big fall, especially if you
“the one” or being part of the popular crowd. Your acceptance of the needs and wants of your teen will go a long way towards her future happiness.
have well-behaved or reticent teen, skilled at avoiding parent upset and disappointment. A rebellious or strong-minded teen will be less concerned about hurting parent feelings and can make choices that please him more easily. But teens of any disposition need support and encouragement to make a smooth transition from the safe haven of home into self-reliance. Besides, there are ways to keep teens close to your heart while gently encouraging the independence that will help them grow the wings they will need to soar out into a world full of happy life choices.
Interrupt Anxiety With Spontaneity Making the leap from home into the big wide world is a major life transition that can trigger worry. A helpful technique for any parent to learn to help break the cycle of negative thinking is anxiety interruption. When you notice the tight shoulders or the snappy disposition, why not suggest a little walk or drive or maybe even a spontaneous shopping trip. This may seem like a strange parenting habit but what you are helping your teen do is break the cycle of stress before it starts affecting the decisionmaking process. Focusing constantly on the problems at hand blocks spontaneous solutions from bubbling up. So when your teen is struggling with what feels like a big decision, teach him how to move away from stress, let go of anxious thinking, and shift focus until clear thinking returns. Sometimes the easiest way to have a breakthrough is by getting into a calmer, more receptive state of mind.
Illuminate Paths To Earning Most teens like money. Money means, among other things, freedom to a teenager. Modern money skills include exploring the possible ways to earn as well as the savvy ways to save, spend, and invest. If you find you spend a lot of time discussing managing money, maybe it’s time to educate yourself on current paths to earning. Try to keep your fearful assumptions about possible career paths in check. If your teen is an artist, explore the plethora of online earning opportunities that exist today. If your teen enjoys physical movement, research the jobs that allow her to be on her feet rather than sitting behind a desk. And try not to obsess about future job security. Get a career counselor involved to help your teen explore jobs that maximize her natural talents and curiosities.
Reconsider Ultimatums Let your teen decide where he stands on family traditions and rituals. “As long as you are living in this house, you will go to church every Sunday along with the entire family,” is one possible approach. But another way is to establish a cut-off date for family obligations. Perhaps after the age of 16 your children could decide whether or not they will attend a family commitment like religious services or not. If your teen does not wish to join in, let her experience what it’s like to abstain. Then, if she decides to come back around you will know it’s because she wants to rather than because she must. And if she does not wish to participate right now, it’s your job to get used to the idea. Your teen will grow up and make her own choices in the future, anyway. If this is a hard truth for you to swallow, perhaps you need to start practicing relinquishing pressure now.
Create A Say Anything Space Don’t shy away from serious topics with your teen. Drugs, alcohol, date rape, sexual assault, gender identity, sexual preference, and birth control are just a few topics that need to be faced squarely and discussed openly with your teen before he leaves home. One way to broach these topics might be to watch and discuss topical films together that you wouldn’t necessarily share with younger children. The key here is to establish an open door of communication through which no topics are off-limits. If this makes you squeamish, it’s time to deal with uncomfortable topics whether you like them or not. Enlist your spouse’s ear to get your concerns off your chest first and share the responsibility of holding challenging discussions. Everyone in the family will likely become more accepting, mature, and open-minded thanks to your willingness to open up.
Emphasize Ways To Decompress Anticipate alone-time shortages, especially during the emotionally intense graduation year. Then strive to instill self-reflection, self-care, and self-expression, so these habits will be there to comfort your teen in the future. Writing, drawing, biking, and knitting all induce a state of creative flow. As the departure date to leave home approaches, you may notice teens are more absorbed with friends and social activities than interested in spending time alone. But moments of quality down time are when people connect with inner guidance and are crucial to leading a healthy, well-rounded life. And remember, if you want your teen to discover and follow his bliss, you are going to have to set a good example. Your hobbies will come in handy, as you both cope with the natural feelings of grief that are sure to arise as you and your teen prepare to part on happy terms. ESP
Discuss Relationship Wisdom Intimacy with another person requires a strong sense of individuality. Encourage your teen to see all relationships as learning opportunities. Use high school social situations as opportunities to discuss what she needs and wants in various types of relationships, to consider what attracts and repels her, and to explore which groups feel the most comfortable. Peer pressure is strong in high school, so if you don’t ask these questions, your teen’s self-awareness may not increase. Conversations about the role of relationships encourage self-knowledge, which can lead to happier connections in the long run. When it comes to creating lasting relationships with others, self-awareness is paramount. Therefore don’t place too much emphasis on finding
Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina Katz is readying herself for the inevitable day she has to say goodbye to her teen. But, like many parents, she can’t say she’s looking forward to it.
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Family Calendar For many more events, please check out our Holiday Happenings Guide! Thursday December 1
Frye Gaillard and Kathryn Scheldt 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM, Page and Palette, 32 South Section St, Fairhope Frye Gaillard and Kathryn Scheldt - “The Quilt” (251) 928-5295 www.pageandpalette.com Dauphin Island Heritage and Arts Council presents Taste of Dauphin Island 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM, The Estuarium - Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 102 Bienville Blvd, Dauphin Island Join us for an evening of art, live music, and delightful foods, wine, and beer. (251) 861-3300 www.dauphinislandtourism.com
Friday December 2
Fairhope First Friday Art Walk (Free) 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Downtown Fairhope, Fairhope Visit our local merchants in Downtown Fairhope as they open late and highlight the art community. Art Walk happens every first Friday of each month. www.esartcenter.com Center Stage Performance presents “The Knight at Dawn Kids” 6:30 PM Fairhope Elementary School Auditorium, 408 North Section St, Fairhope Center Stage Performance invites the public to see: The Knight at Dawn, Kids (K-4 thru 3rd graders) on December 2 and 3 at 6:30pm. (251) 928-1707 www.centerstageperformance.com Taste of the Islands ($60 per person or $600 for a reserved
table of 10)
6:30 PM Orange Beach Event Center at the Wharf, 4671 Wharf Parkway West, Orange Beach The 10th Annual Taste of the Islands, sponsored by the Mystical Order of Mirams is set to take place on December 2, 2016 at the Orange Beach Event Center at The Wharf. Doors open at 6:30 pm for an all inclusive evening of food samplings from over 30 local restaurants, cocktails, musical entertainment by The Remedies from Nashville, TN, and a Silent Auction. The Taste will benefit Toys for Tots. Please bring an unwrapped toy. Tickets are available from any Miram member or at the website, www.mirams.info www.mirams.info South Baldwin Community Theatre presents “Elf The Musical Jr.” 7:30 PM South Baldwin Community Theatre, 2022 West 2nd Street, Gulf Shores “Elf The Musical Jr.” will be playing at the South Baldwin Community Theatre December 2-4 and 9-11. (251) 968-6721 sbct.biz
Saturday December 3
Girls on the Run 5K 9:00 AM Langan Park, Mobile Girls on the Run 5K race will be held on December 3. Our mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experiencebased curriculum which creatively integrates running. (251) 421-9369 www.girlsontherunsouthal.org Center Stage Performance presents “The Knight at Dawn Kids” 6:30 PM Fairhope Elementary School Auditorium, 408 North Section St, Fairhope Center Stage Performance invites the public to see: The Knight at Dawn, Kids (K-4 thru 3rd graders) on December 2 and 3 at 6:30pm. (251) 928-1707 www.centerstageperformance.com
Eastern Shore Parents I December 2016
John Prine 7:30 PM Mobile Saenger Theatre, 6 South Joachim Street, Mobile NS2 & Huka Entertainment presents John Prine plus special guests Shovels & Rope. www.mobilesaenger.com South Baldwin Community Theatre presents “Elf The Musical Jr.” 7:30 PM South Baldwin Community Theatre, 2022 West 2nd Street, Gulf Shores “Elf The Musical Jr.” will be playing at the South Baldwin Community Theatre December 2-4 and 9-11. (251) 968-6721 sbct.biz
Sunday December 4
South Baldwin Community Theatre presents “Elf The Musical Jr.” 2:00 PM South Baldwin Community Theatre, 2022 West 2nd Street, Gulf Shores “Elf The Musical Jr.” will be playing at the South Baldwin Community Theatre December 2-4 and 9-11. (251) 968-6721 sbct.biz
Tuesday December 6
Fanny Flag presents “The Whole Town’s Talking” Book 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Fairhope Civic Center, 161 North Section Street, Fairhope The bestselling author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe is at her superb best in this fun-loving, moving novel about what it means to be truly alive. With her wild imagination, great storytelling, and deep understanding of folly and the human heart, the beloved Fannie Flagg tells an unforgettable story of life, afterlife, and the remarkable goings-on of ordinary people. In The Whole Town’s Talking, she reminds us that community is vital, life is a gift, and love never dies. (251) 928-5295 www.pageandpalette.com
Thursday December 8
9th Annual Chocolate Affair 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Foley Civic Center, 407 East Laurel Ave, Foley An evening of live entertainment, silent and live auctions, scrumptious, heavy hors d’oeuvres, wine bar and…A CHOCOLATE LOVER’S DREAM COME TRUE! www.familypromisebc.org/fundraisers Fairhope Writer’s Group presents The Fairhope Guidebook - A Walking Tour 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM, Page and Palette, 32 South Section Street, Fairhope Fairhope Writer’s Group presents The Fairhope Guidebook - A Walking Tour. (251) 928-5295 www.pageandpalette.com Center Stage Performance presents “The Little Mermaid Jr.” 6:30 PM Daphne Civic Center, 2603 US-98, Daphne Center Stage Performance invites the public to see: The Little Mermaid, Jr. (4th-12th graders) on December 8 -9 at 6:30pm and December 10-11 at 1:00pm and 6:30pm. School field trips are scheduled for December 8 and 9 at 9:00am and 1:00pm. (251) 928-1707 www.centerstageperformance.com Ten Stars: The African American Journey of Gary Cooper (Free) 6:30 PM Ben May Main Library, 701 Government Street, Mobile Kendal Weaver, a former correspondent and editor with The Associated Press in Alabama, will talk about his new biography, Ten Stars: The African American Journey of Gary Cooper -- Marine General, Diplomat, Businessman, and Politician. (251) 208-7097 www.mobilepubliclibrary.org
Friday December 9
Center Stage Performance presents “The Little Mermaid Jr.” 6:30 PM Daphne Civic Center, 2603 US-98 Center Stage Performance invites the public to see: The Little Mermaid, Jr. (4th-12th graders) on December 8 -9 at 6:30pm and December 10-11 at 1:00pm and 6:30pm. School field trips are scheduled for December 8 and 9 at 9am and 1pm. (251) 928-1707 www.centerstageperformance.com
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December2016
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Modern Renaissance Theatre presents “Into the Woods, Jr” 7:00 PM Homestead Village of Fairhope, 924 Plantation Boulevard, Fairhope Have you ever wondered what happens following “happily ever after” in popular fairytales? Join Modern Renaissance Theatre (MRT) in our inaugural production on the Eastern Shore to find out! Our troupe of talented young performers will bring to life Grimm favorites Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack, Rapunzel and more as they present Into the Woods, JR. (251) 279-0154 www.modrentheatre.com
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South Baldwin Community Theatre presents “Elf The Musical Jr.” 7:30 PM South Baldwin Community Theatre, 2022 West 2nd Street, Gulf Shores “Elf The Musical Jr.” will be playing at the South Baldwin Community Theatre December 2-4 and 9-11. (251) 968-6721 sbct.biz
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Mobile Theatre Guild presents “The Adventures of Archy and Mehitabel” 8:00 PM Mobile Theatre Guild, 14 N. Lafayette St, Mobile Mobile Theatre Guild presents “The Adventures of Archy and Mehitabel”. Show dates are December 9-11 and 16-18. (251) 433-7513 www.mobiletheatreguild.org
Saturday December 10
Jurassic Quest - Out of Extinction 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM, The Grounds, 1035 Cody Road North, Mobile Jurassic Quest brings you a Dinosaur Adventure for the whole family. The main dinosaur exhibit features ultrarealistic, life-size animatronic dinosaurs; Over 80 life-size dinosaurs in all. Visitors can interact with these huge creatures, learn about them and even ride a few. It features realistic scenes, enormous dinosaurs, cute baby dinosaurs and lots of fun activities for kids of all ages. There are huge T-Rex and Triceratops fossil digs where young paleontologists can uncover long hidden dinosaurs bones, the “Dino Bounce” area with several, towering, dinosaur theme inflatable mazes, face painting, Dino crafts and much more! www.jurassicquest.com Modern Renaissance Theatre presents “Into the Woods, Jr” 1:00 PM & 7 PM Homestead Village of Fairhope, 924 Plantation Boulevard, Fairhope Have you ever wondered what happens following “happily ever after” in popular fairytales? Join Modern Renaissance Theatre (MRT) in our inaugural production on the Eastern Shore to find out! Our troupe of talented young performers will bring to life Grimm favorites Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack, Rapunzel and more as they present Into the Woods, JR. (251) 279-0154 www.modrentheatre.com Center Stage Performance presents “The Little Mermaid Jr.” 6:30 PM Daphne Civic Center, 2603 US-98, Daphne Center Stage Performance invites the public to see: The Little Mermaid, Jr. (4th-12th graders) on December 8 -9 at 6:30pm and December 10-11 at 1:00pm and 6:30pm. School field trips are scheduled for December 8 and 9 at 9am and 1pm. (251) 928-1707 www.centerstageperformance.com South Baldwin Community Theatre presents “Elf The Musical Jr.” 7:30 PM South Baldwin Community Theatre, 2022 West 2nd Street, Gulf Shores “Elf The Musical Jr.” will be playing at the South Baldwin Community Theatre December 2-4 and 9-11. (251) 968-6721 sbct.biz Mobile Theatre Guild presents “The Adventures of Archy and Mehitabel” 8:00 PM Mobile Theatre Guild, 14 North Lafayette Street, Mobile Mobile Theatre Guild presents “The Adventures of Archy and Mehitabel”. Shows December 9-11 and 16-18. (251) 433-7513 www.mobiletheatreguild.org
Sunday December 11
Jurassic Quest - Out of Extinction 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM, The Grounds, 1035 Cody Road North, Mobile Jurassic Quest brings you a Dinosaur Adventure for
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Family Calendar the whole family. The main dinosaur exhibit features ultrarealistic, life-size animatronic dinosaurs; Over 80 life-size dinosaurs in all. Visitors can interact with these huge creatures, learn about them and even ride a few. It features realistic scenes, enormous dinosaurs, cute baby dinosaurs and lots of fun activities for kids of all ages. There are huge T-Rex and Triceratops fossil digs where young paleontologists can uncover long hidden dinosaurs bones, the “Dino Bounce” area with several, towering, dinosaur theme inflatable mazes, face painting, Dino crafts and much more! www.jurassicquest.com Mobile Theatre Guild presents “The Adventures of Archy and Mehitabel” 2:00 PM Mobile Theatre Guild, 14 North Lafayette Street, Mobile Mobile Theatre Guild presents “The Adventures of Archy and Mehitabel”. (251) 433-7513 www.mobiletheatreguild.org
December2016
Friday December 23
Dollar General Bowl 7:00 PM Ladd-Peebles Stadium, 1621 Virginia Street, Mobile Dollar General Bowl will be held at Ladd-Peebles Stadium at 7:00pm. dollargeneralbowl.com
Saturday December 31
1st Annual Children’s Miracle Network New Year’s Eve Ball ($100 per person) 8:00 PM Orange Beach Event Center at the Wharf, Orange Beach Don’t miss the biggest New Year’s Eve Party in Orange Beach and help raise money for Children’s Miracle Network/ USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital. (251) 981-2400 www.facebook.com/ChildrensMiracleNetworkNewYearsEveBall
South Baldwin Community Theatre presents “Elf The Musical Jr.” 2:00 PM South Baldwin Community Theatre, 2022 West 2nd Street, Gulf Shores “Elf The Musical Jr.” will be playing at the South Baldwin Community Theatre December 2-4 and 9-11. (251) 968-6721 sbct.biz
Tuesday January 3
Center Stage Performance presents “The Little Mermaid Jr.” 6:30 PM Daphne Civic Center, 2603 US-98, Daphne Center Stage Performance invites the public to see: The Little Mermaid, Jr. (4th-12th graders) on December 8 -9 at 6:30pm and December 10-11 at 1:00pm and 6:30pm. School field trips are scheduled for December 8 and 9 at 9am and 1pm. (251) 928-1707 www.centerstageperformance.com
Friday January 6
Friday December 16
Mobile Theatre Guild presents “The Adventures of Archy and Mehitabel” 8:00 PM Mobile Theatre Guild, 14 N Lafayette St, Mobile (251) 433-7513 www.mobiletheatreguild.org The Black Jacket Symphony: Prince “Purple Rain” 8:00 PM Mobile Saenger Theatre, 6 South Joachim Street, Mobile The Black Jacket Symphony offers a unique concert experience through recreating classic albums in a live performance setting. Prince’s “Purple Rain” album is performed in its entirety by a group of handpicked musicians specifically selected for each album, with no sonic detail being overlooked–the musicians do whatever it takes to musically reproduce the album. (251) 208-5601 www.mobilesaenger.com
Saturday December 17
Mobile Theatre Guild presents “The Adventures of Archy and Mehitabel” 8:00 PM Mobile Theatre Guild, 14 North Lafayette Street, Mobile Mobile Theatre Guild presents “The Adventures of Archy and Mehitabel”. (251) 433-7513 www.mobiletheatreguild.org
Fort Morgan Civil War Tours 2:00 PM Fort Morgan, 110 State Highway 180, Gulf Shores Tuesday Civil War Tours will be held in January and February at Fort Morgan at 2:00pm. (251) 540-7127 fort-morgan.org
Fairhope First Friday Art Walk (Free) 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Downtown Fairhope, Fairhope Visit our local merchants in Downtown Fairhope as they open late and highlight the art community. Art Walk happens every first Friday of each month. www.esartcenter.com
Sunday January 8
First Light Marathon, 1/2 marathon and Fun Run 7:30 AM Downtown Mobile, Mobile Join us for the First Light Marathon, 1/2 Marathon and Fun Run to benefit the L`Arche Mobile community. (251) 438-2094 www.firstlightmarathon.com
Tuesday January 10
Fort Morgan Civil War Tours 2:00 PM Fort Morgan, 110 State Highway 180, Gulf Shores Tuesday Civil War Tours will be held in January and February at Fort Morgan at 2:00pm. (251) 540-7127 fort-morgan.org Watt Key - Book Signing Hideout 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM, Page and Palette, 32 South Section Street, Fairhope Watt Key event at Page and Palette. (251) 928-5295 www.pageandpalette.com
Classes/Meetings Alabama Pre/Post Adoption Connections (APAC)
Sunday December 18
Offering Adoptive Family Support Group Meetings in Baldwin County the 3rd Monday of each month. The meeting is held at Eastern Shore Church of Christ, 1209 Daphne Ave, in Daphne from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Parent, Youth/Teen group and childcare is available. Topic discussions by adoption professionals and ceu’s for foster families are offered. For more information call 251-4602727 or 1-800-489-1886 or www.childrensaid.org. APAC also offers free counseling services to adoptive families.
Thursday December 22
Celebration MOPS Fairhope Celebration MOPS meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at Celebration Church, 8180 Dyer Road, Fairhope. Childcare is provided and is included in the fees. There is an annual $23.95 MOPS International membership fee and $30 per semester. Call the church office for info at 251-928-0343 or like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/celebrationmopsfairhopeal.
Mobile Theatre Guild presents “The Adventures of Archy and Mehitabel” 2:00 PM Mobile Theatre Guild, 14 North Lafayette Street, Mobile Mobile Theatre Guild presents “The Adventures of Archy and Mehitabel”. (251) 433-7513 www.mobiletheatreguild.org
Greer’s Markets and Cash Savers/Al.com Mardi Gras parade 6:30 PM Downtown Mobile, Spanish Plaza, Mobile Doubloons, moon pies and beads will fill the air as the Greer’s Markets and Cash Savers/Al.com Mardi Gras parade marches through the streets of Downtown mobile. Don’t miss Mobiles largest Mardi Gras themed parade with over 24 mardi gras floats, marching bands from both teams participating in the Dollar General Bowl as well as high school squads from across the country. dollargeneralbowl.com
Daily Living Skills Group for parents with children on the Spectrum Held the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at The Family Center, 27365 Pollard Road, Daphne. Focus is on daily living needs of families and their children, such as: Safety issues; How to have a family dinner out;
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Ways to assist with transition; How to talk with people who stare; Your questions, comments and suggestions. Limited childcare slots are available. For more information, please contact Judy Bradshaw: (251) 990-7781. Daphne Neurological Disease Support Group (Includes Parkinson’s Disease, epilepsy). Meets second Monday of each month at Daphne United Methodist Church, 2401 Main Street, Daphne, in the Community Life Center-Gathering Room. 11:00 a.m. until noon. Noon light lunch for $3 from 12:15 - 1:00 p.m. 12:15 - 1:00 p.m. Speaker or joint group session. Contact person: Alice Hallford - 251-626-8228. Fairhope MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) We meet 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. every 2nd & 4th Monday (during the school year) at Fairhope United Methodist Church. All mothers of young children are welcome. Email fairhopemops@yahoo.com for how to register. Father Central of Daphne *Positive Fathering, A New & Improved Parenting Class Just For Men, $75 giftcard upon completion. Mondays, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Call 251-626-1610 to register, held at The Exchange Club Family Center of Baldwin County, 27365 Pollard Rd., Daphne, near the YMCA. *Chill Skills” - Anger Management by appointment. $25 giftcard upon completion. Call 251-626-1610 schedule, The Exchange Club Family Center of Baldwin County, 27365 Pollard Rd., Daphne, near the YMCA. *Nurturing Parenting, everything you need to know but were afraid to ask. Thursdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., 12-week rotating series. Jump in on any Thursday! Call 251-6261610 to register, 27365 Pollard Rd, Daphne. MOPS on the Eastern Shore MOPS stands for “Mothers of Preschoolers” - but don’t let that confuse you. MOPS is about meeting the needs of every mom of a child from conception through kindergarten with local groups of moms just like you. 7100 Spanish Fort Blvd., Spanish Fort. 1st Thursday of the Month (September through May). Dinner & Child Care are provided. 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. http://www.mopsontheeasternshore.shutterfly.com/ Facebook.com/MopsOnTheEasternShore. Shepherd’s Place (Christian Life Center) Ministry for memory & physically challenged. Mondays & Wednesdays 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Tuesdays & Thursdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Fairhope United Methodist Church, 155 South Section Street, Fairhope. 928-1148. Single Mom Ministry Sponsored by Fairhope Avenue Baptist Church, this prayer and support group for single moms is designed to provide a safe and prayerful environment where group members are able to express themselves among others who will listen, care, and lift each other up. Each participant will receive one bag of non-perishable food items each week. Child care will be provided. Light snacks and soft drinks will be served. Meetings are held every Tuesday from 6-7 PM at Fairhope Avenue Baptist Family Life Center, 8717 Fairhope Ave. 251-928-0890. SOS (Survivors of Suicide) This group is for adults who has ever lost a loved one to suicide. If it has been 5 days or 50 years since the loss, this group is here for you. SOS meets the 2nd and 4th Monday of EVERY month from 6:30 to approximately 8:00 p.m. at the Fairhope United Methodist Church, 155 S. Section Street, Fairhope. The support group, which has been around since November, 2012, is facilitated by a professional and co-facilitated by two survivors. There are no dues. For more information, please email jlbarber5@ bellsouth.net or call 251-455-6453. Tango by the Bay ~ Argentine Basic classes are held every Tuesday from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. in Fairhope at Southern Edge Dance Studio, located behind Pizza Hut across from Thomas Hospital. 251 South Greeno, Fairhope. $5 per class (fee may be higher with special guest instructors). For more information Contact Ben Samel at 605-2657 or Cassie Fishbein 377-4069, cassief13@aol.com.
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Our practice can provide primary care for all ages, from newborns through adults. We offer well and sick visits, sports physicals, immunizations, routine preventive care, and treatment for minor emergencies. Dr. David Johnson and Dr. Amy Kayl have recently joined Eastern Shore Family Practice.
Andrew Smith, MD, Amy Kayl, DO, David Johnson, MD, Ross Bishop, MD We provide timely, efficient, quality medical care to help patients of all ages achieve and preserve a healthy and happy lifestyle. We work to build a lasting personal relationship based on mutual respect, honesty, effective communication, and compassion.
27961 Highway 98 - Suite 14, Daphne, Alabama 36526
251.626.1175
www.EasternShoreFamilyPractice.com
Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. / 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
South Baldwin Regional Medical Center offers the following classes: Your entire family can take part in several informative classes designed to help moms and dads welcome their special new addition to the family with more confidence. Classes cover topics including: Having A Healthy Pregnancy Nutrition, discomforts of pregnancy, warning signs of complications, and relaxation exercises. One session. $10. Prepared Childbirth Classes (Once a week for four weeks). Cost: $30 Week 1: Begin the Stages of Labor: The labor and delivery process, signs and stages of labor, options for coping, pain management, vaginal delivery, and relaxation exercises. Week 2: Delivery and Cesarean Birth: A review of complications that may arise, use of special equipment, complete the stages of labor, cesarean delivery, and relaxation exercises. Week 3: New Born and Postpartum Care: Newborn appearance, caring for the newborn, infant safety, recognizing complications, relaxation exercises, and choosing a pediatrician. What to expect after delivery,
Eastern Shore Parents I December 2016
understanding the physical and emotional changes to your body, and relaxation exercises. Week 4: The Art of Breast Feeding: The benefits of breast feeding for mother and baby, anatomy and physiology of the breast, how to breastfeed, and common difficulties. One session. • Tiny Toes members may enroll in Yoga, Water Aerobics and Expectant Mother Exercise classes through the Snook Family YMCA. The fee is $5 a class. There is a $3 fee for child care. There is no fee if you are already a member of the YMCA. All classes are located at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center–1613 North McKenzie Street Foley. Tuesday evenings 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Classroom A. Located just off of the main lobby. • Please plan to attend the Healthy Pregnancy Class during your first trimester and the Prepared Childbirth Classes anytime after your 24th week of pregnancy. For more information or to enroll please call the OB Educator at 9493676 to schedule. We look forward to sharing this special time with you! Method of payment accepted: Visa, Master Card, Discover, AmEx, Debit Card. Gift of Life The Gift of Life is a required maternity care program for
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Medicaid patients or Medicaid-eligible patients. The Gift of Life Program provides a caring system of prenatal services; education and care coordination for expectant moms and their babies. For information please contact 949-3781. Thomas Hospital offers the following classes: Breastfeeding Class Thomas Fitness Center (Fairhope). Monthly, first Tuesday, 6 - 8 p.m. Free. Infant CPR and Safety Class Thomas Fitness Center (Fairhope). Pre-registration required. To register call 279-1373. Saturdays, 4 - 6 p.m. Moving Through Labor Childbirth Classes Three or four-week prepared childbirth class series which prepares the mother-to-be and her support partner for the labor and delivery experience. $30 fee for the class series. Thomas Fitness Center, (Fairhope) Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thomas Fitness Center (Fairhope) Saturdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thomas Medical Center (Daphne) Tuesdays, 6-8:30 p.m. Thomas Medical Center (Daphne) Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. Pre-registration required. Call 251- 279-1373 or visit www. thomashospital.com for upcoming classes and registration. Natural Childbirth Classes, Fertility Awareness, Mother’s Comfort, Exercise and Nutrition For class schedule or more information call Geralyn Piizzotti, 251- 928-9396. Yourbodyyourbirth@bellsouth.net. Newborn Basics Class Held on the second Monday of every month from 6 – 8 p.m. at Thomas Medical Center in Daphne. Free. No Preregistration required. Pre-admission Sessions 6 p.m. at Thomas Medical Center in Daphne. Pre-registration required. Sibling Class Thomas Hospital Fitness Center (Fairhope). Pre-registration required. To register call 279-1373. 10 - 11 a.m. Thomas Hospital offers the following support groups for the community: Alanon (Alcoholics Anonymous) Meetings are held every Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m. at The Harbor at Thomas Hospital. Call 800-477-1104 for more information. Alateen Meetings are held every Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Morphy Conference Room East Tower meeting room at Thomas Hospital. Call 391-1152 for more information. Alzheimer’s Support Group Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Thomas Medical Center. Call 345-7645 or 438-9590 for more information. ALS Support Group Meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month from 11 a.m. to noon at Thomas Medical Center. Call 205937-4415 for more information. Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer Support Group Meetings are held on the second Monday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. at the Thomas Hospital Health Resource Center located at: 308 S. Greeno Road, Fairhope. Call 928-8650 for more information. Cancer Support Group for Women Meetings are held the first Thursday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Morphy Conference Room. For more information, call Patti Huval at 209-1229. Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Group Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month from 10 to 11 a.m. at Thomas Medical Center. Call 251626-6337 for more information.
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We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of these calendar events. However, you should call ahead to confirm dates, times, location, and other information.
Please send your calendar events to lynn@ easternshoreparents.com! www.easternshoreparents.com
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While most of our children are no strangers to traveling in cars, they often find fascination with the more unusual vehicles that they share the road with. Some kids are the type to rise early and watch for the garbage truck to roll up and perform its duty with the containers on the street. Other children make a game of counting tractor-trailers on the road. And everyone is excited when an ice cream truck makes an appearance. The following titles celebrate some of the more esoteric vehicles that capture a child’s attention.
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Duck on a Tractor
by David Shannon (Scholastic / Blue Sky Press) When Duck finds the tractor unattended on the farm, it’s just one turn of the key and the whole barnyard is climbing on board for a big adventure. As each animal scrambles for purchase on the rolling vehicle, their signature sounds comes with translations of their real thoughts about joining the pile of farmyard friends on the move. And when the animal-laden tractor makes its way down main street, the townsfolk’s audible exclamations also come with their own hilarious subtext. David Shannon’s remarkably expressive comic illustration is the perfect conveyance for this moving misadventure on the farm!
The Little Snowplow
by Lora Koehler, Illustrated by Jake Parker (Candlewick Press) Alongside the Mighty Mountain road crew of big trucks, the snowplow is the newest...and smallest member of the team. But the much larger and more powerful trucks are quick to point out that the little snowplow is unlikely to be strong enough to do any real work in the town. The little snowplow is soon relegated to plowing streams, cleaning up after parades, and scooping up piles of leaves. With cold weather on the way, the snowplow begins lifting and practicing in preparation for winter even as the big trucks mock him. But when the snow finally comes, the little snowplow may be the road crew’s strongest asset!
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Food Trucks!
by Mark Todd (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) With growing fleets of food trucks peppering the landscape all across the country, kids have become captivated by the magic of these rolling kitchens. Food Trucks! is a delightful exploration of all the different kinds of cuisine and themes that these vehicles bring to the street. Each two-page spread features a colorful food truck that’s festively outfitted to announce its unique culinary theme. The accompanying text celebrates the distinct food style of each truck (with additional notes about regional ingredients and recipes!) Keeping this title on the reading menu is guaranteed to satisfy kids’ appetites for these restaurants on wheels.
Find more reading recommendations at www.PageBookMedia.com.
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Almost Christmas
Fantastic Beasts
MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: BViolence: C+ Sexual Content: C Profanity: CAlcohol / Drug Use: CThe MPAA has rated Almost Christmas PG-13 for suggestive material, drug content and language. Almost Christmas opens with a montage portraying the forty-five-year marriage of Grace (A. Sabrena Farmer) and Walter (Danny Glover). Starting as newlyweds, it moves through time showing the births of their four children, the couple buying their first house, and them welcoming in-laws and grandchildren. All along the way there are family occasions, great food and homemade sweet potato pie. The sequence ends with Walter alone, holding the program from Grace’s funeral. From that heartwarming beginning we arrive at today – ten months after Grace’s passing and five days before Christmas. Sensitive to this great loss, the whole clan is gathering to celebrate the first holiday season without their wife/ mother/grandmother/sister. And that is the moment the rose colored glasses come off as well. It quickly becomes apparent that Grace’s love was the clothesline that strung the family together. In her absence the reunion disintegrates into just an opportunity to air their dirty laundry. Oldest daughter Cheryl (Kimberly Elise) is a successful dentist, and even though her husband Lonnie (J.B. Smoove) is embarrassingly stuck in his former glory days as a basketball star, she still taunts her financial and marital status over her sister Rachel. Divorced and a single mom, Rachel (Gabrielle Union) is trying to scrape enough funds together to finish law school. She compensates for her precarious state by being overly independent. That means she also pushes away every offer of assistance, including those proffered by her old flame Malachi (Omar Epps), literally the boy next door. Meanwhile Christian (Romany Malco), the eldest boy, is pursuing a political career. He is too busy with his candidacy to care much about the swirl of rivalry surrounding his siblings. He is so preoccupied that he’s even having trouble staying connected to his wife Sonya (Nicole Ari Parker), his children and the principles that inspired him to run for office in the first place. The caboose of the family is Evan (Jessie T. Usher). A football hopeful, he’s trying to hide the fact that he’s picked up an addiction to prescription drugs. The script is dotted with foul language, frequent innuendo, and the depiction of an angry shot being fired at an unfaithful spouse. While it is all played for humor, this may or may not be the sort of “ho ho ho” you want to share with your older children.
MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: B Violence: C Sexual Content: B Profanity: B+ Alcohol / Drug Use: BThe MPAA has rated Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them PG-13 for some fantasy action violence. Seventy years before Harry Potter attended Hogwarts School and read the textbook Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the manual’s author Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) was busy collecting data and specimens from around the globe. One of his stops was New York City. And that is where this spin-off tale from JK Rowling’s universe of wizards and witches begins. It turns out that the new world has different laws about the use of magic than Brittan does. Here the Magical Congress of the United States of America is disappointed by the UK’s Ministry of Magic and their failure to capture a dark wizard named Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp). Such sloppy security threatens to reveal the existence of wizards and witches to the No-mags (the American name for Muggles). The governing body is also experiencing problems on their home turf where a dark and uncontrollable force is wreaking havoc on the city and innocent bystanders. In an effort to contain the damage, they have cracked down on their members. One of the new rules prohibits the ownership of fantastic beasts because, if one escaped, their secret society could be exposed. Either ignoring or ignorant of the ban, Newt Scamander arrives in the Big Apple with a suitcase full of these creatures. A cross between Doctor Dolittle and Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon, the quirky and not very careful animal lover soon loses a kleptomaniac platypus in the banking district. In a vain effort to retrieve the critter he accidentally switches brown cases with a No-mag named Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) and gets spotted by Porpentina “Tina” Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) an agent of the Magical Congress. What ensues is the American Wizard and Witches worst nightmare. Kowalski accidentally lets other magical creatures out of the bag. Scamander causes more problems than he solves while trying to round them up. Tina’s attempt to inform Madame President (Carmen Ejogo) of the crisis is thwarted. A radical religious order lead by Mary Lou Barebone (Samantha Morton) begins calling for a witch hunt. And the whole affair is further complicated by Percival Graves (Colin Farrell), a powerful wizard who is involved in a mysterious, private investigation. Fans of the Harry Potter franchise are sure to be enchanted by this opportunity to re-enter his magical world. However, the ever-present depictions of detailed danger, deaths and destruction will likely be too much for younger viewers.
What Parents need to know about Fantastic Beasts...
What Parents need to know about Almost Christmas...
Violence: Frequent depictions of non-graphic violence include explosions, extensive property damage, destructive magical forces, dangerous beasts with fantastic powers, as well as duels with magical wands and spells. Deaths of innocent bystanders are implied and shown. Characters are sentenced to death, injured and killed. Some disfigured corpses are seen. Frightening creatures and strange transformations are portrayed. Characters (animal and human) are implicated in robberies. A mother uses a belt to strap her son: lash marks on his hands are seen. Sexual Content: A woman is seen in her underwear before she seductively puts on a dress. Other women’s underwear is seen hanging to dry. Female characters wear scanty dresses at a nightclub. A pamphlet displays a drawing of some naked women. Same-gender attraction is subtly implied. Some mild sexual innuendo is heard. A couple kisses. Profanity: Mild profanity is infrequently used, along with cruel name-calling. Alcohol / Drug Use: Drinks are served at a night club. Some characters’ behavior is effected by the alcohol. Eastern Shore Parents I December 2016
Violence: A woman pulls a gun on her cheating husband and fires a near miss shot. Family members engage in petty arguments and verbal abuse that occasionally break into physical fights. A man receives several electrical shocks and falls from a roof. Reckless driving leads to a car accident and injury to the driver. Sexual Content: A couple embrace and kiss in bed. Other embracing and kissing is shown. A woman seductively pulls up the strap of her thong underwear and invites a man into a private place. An unplanned pregnancy is mentioned and joked about. An offer to help a woman who got stuck trying to crawl through a window looks like a sexual encounter. Profanity: A litany of mild and moderate profanities, scatological slang and terms of deity are used. Crude sexual slang and anatomical terms are heard. Name-calling and slurs are exchanged. The bloopers shown during the credits feature even more profane language and sexual banter. Alcohol / Drug Use: A character abuses prescription medication. Drugs are bought illegally. A woman drinks alcohol frequently. 80
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