107 Prisoners Set for Early Release in Alabama, Many in Mobile by JASON JOHNSON/REPORTER | [email protected]

107 Prisoners Set for Early Release in Alabama, Many in Mobile by JASON JOHNSON/REPORTER | Jason@Lagniappemobile.Com

2 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• LAGNIAPPE WEEKLY october 15, 2015 – october 21, 2015 | www.lagniappemobile.com

Ashley Trice BAY BRIEFS Co-publisher/Editor Milk bottle discovery means another [email protected] $55,000 in studies at proposed soccer Rob Holbert complex site. Co-publisher/Managing Editor 6 [email protected] COMMENTARY Steve Hall Having his chief of staff paid by a Marketing/Sales Director [email protected] power company was a sleazy move by Gov. Bentley. Gabriel Tynes 14 Assistant Managing Editor [email protected] BUSINESS Dale Liesch Montlimar Office Tower receives Reporter $750,000 face lift. [email protected] Jason Johnson 18 Reporter [email protected] CUISINE Eric Mann Finding a great place Reporter to get the Mex without [email protected] CONTENTS all the Tex. Kevin Lee Associate Editor/Arts Editor [email protected] Andy MacDonald Cuisine Editor [email protected] Stephen Centanni Music Editor [email protected] 2020 J. Mark Bryant Sports Writer COVER [email protected] Continuing the Stephanie Poe Community Copy Editor [email protected] Conversation on Race Relations organized Daniel Anderson Chief Photographer by Mobile United, [email protected] Lagniappe explores Laura Rasmussen the subject of race in Art Director www.laurarasmussen.com local socioeconomics, criminal justice, Brooke Mathis Advertising Sales Executive education and politics. 2626 [email protected] Beth Williams ARTS Advertising Sales Executive Mobile Opera opens its 2015-2016 [email protected] season with “Pagliacci” Oct. 22 at its Misty Groh new home in The Temple downtown. Advertising Sales Executive 30 [email protected] Melissa Schwarz MUSIC Editorial Assistant [email protected] Colorado-based funk and jam band Mary Burts Distribution Manager The Motet headlines [email protected] the first of two Contributors: Blueberry Jam Sessions Asia Frey • Brian Holbert scheduled at Weeks • Ron Sivak • Jeff Poor Jennifer McDonald Bay Preserve. John Kelsey • Stephanie Poe Brenda Bolton • Thomas Strange On the Cover: “DiverseCity” 34 By Laura Rasmussen 34 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to P.O. FILM Box 3003 Mobile, AL 36652. Editorial, advertising and production offices are “People Places Things” is a poignant located at 1102A Dauphin St. and well-acted story of a divorced Mobile, AL 36604. Mailing address is P.O. Box father trying to find love and set a 3003 Mobile, AL 36652. Phone: 40 251.450.4466 Fax 251.450.4498. Email: ashley- positive example for his daughters. [email protected] or MEDIA [email protected] LAGNIAPPE is printed at Signature Offset, 2610 A national consultant questions Lakeview Road, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. whether the P-R’s circulation decline All letters sent to Lagniappe are considered to is costing advertisers. be intended for publication. 42 Member: Association of Alternative Newsweek- lies and Alternative Weeklies Network SPORTS All rights reserved. Something Extra Publishing, Inc. Nothing may be reprinted, photocopied or The Reese’s Senior Bowl had a local in any way reproduced without the expressed economic impact of $27 million in permission of the publishers. 2015, according to a new report. Individuals may take one copy of the paper free 46 of charge from area businesses, racks or boxes. After that, papers are $3 per issue. Removal of more than one copy STYLE from these points constitutes theft. Violators are Boozie sees some serious mullets at subject to prosecution. the Shrimp Fest. For Lagniappe home delivery visit www.lagniappemobile.com/lagniappehd 50 Or call Mary Burts at 251-450-4466 October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015| LAGNIAPPE | 3 Police D isP atch Daphne man charged with murder in father’s death BY ERIC MANN/REPORTER | [email protected]

Daphne Police arrested Brent L. Bolar, 34, and charged him charged with a single misdemeanor count of prostitution. 251-208-7211, CrimeStoppers at 251-208-7000 or text Mobile with first-degree domestic violence after he allegedly beat his Both possessed Illinois driver’s licenses originally from Ko- Police Intel at CRIMES (274637) and include the keyword father, Andrew Bolar, 68, with a golf club. The charge was rea. Both currently reside in the United States on expired visas. “CRIME411.” later upgraded to murder after the father died during treatment At around 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 9, police executed a search at a Mobile hospital. warrant at the business. Foley Police teamed with the Home- On Oct. 11, officers were called to 7563 Whispering Pines land Security Investigations Border Enforcement Security Suspect arrested after using forged Rx at Road in Daphne for a domestic assault. When they arrived, Task Force to conduct the investigation. Saraland pharmacy officers encountered the younger Bolar in the driveway with According to Capt. David White, no individuals were ar- According to authorities, a Mobile man was arrested after blood on his clothes. He was detained at the scene. rested for seeking prostitution services at this location. attempting to use forged prescriptions to obtain two controlled During an investigation, officers searched the house and substances from a pharmacy in Saraland. found the elder Bolar lying on the floor with several wounds to Joseph Howard, 28, of Mobile was arrested and charged his head and body. He was given medical attention and trans- Duncan Street shooting leaves 1 dead, with possession of a controlled substance after police stopped ported to the University of South Alabama hospital, where he another injured him at the pharmacy as he attempted to pick up narcotic pre- later died. Mobile police are continuing an investigation into an Oct. 9 scription pills and liquid codeine syrup. “It is believed from the evidence gathered at the scene shooting that left one Mobile man dead and another with life- According to Cpl. Gary Cole of the Saraland Police De- that Brent and Andrew got into some kind of argument which threatening injuries. According authorities, at approximately partment, someone purporting to be from a specific doctor’s started outside the residence,” according to a news release 1 a.m. last Friday, officers received a report of a shooting office phoned in the prescriptions last week to an unidentified from Capt. Judson Beedy. “Andrew went into the house. Brent on Duncan Street. Upon their arrival, investigators found a pharmacy in Saraland. Cole did not release the doctor’s name. Once concerns were raised, police waited at the pharmacy for followed Andrew into the house and began to beat Andrew man whom they believe died from a single gunshot wound. A the drugs to be picked up. with a golf club.” second victim, who had been shot several times, was taken to Cole said officers arrested Howard at the scene without incident. According to online jail records, Bolar is held without bond a local hospital. According to police, Howard and possibly others could be at the Baldwin County Corrections Center. On Tuesday, a spokesperson with the Mobile Police Depart- facing similar charges for other instances similar to this one, ment said the victim who survived the shooting is expected to though he would not say where they occurred. recover, but he has limited speech as a result of his injuries. Howard was booked into the Mobile County Metro Jail and Foley police arrest two in prostitution sting Police plan to continue questioning him as he heals, but so far released on bond. Foley Police made two arrests Oct. 9 related to a year- neither his nor the deceased’s names have been released to the According to jail records, Howard has a criminal history long investigation into prostitution at the Rainbow Spa and media or general public. Authorities also have yet to release any that includes failure to obey police officer, resisting arrest and Massage location at 8220 State Alabama 59 in Foley. Hyeon indication of a motive in the deadly shooting. misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Hae Kim, 47, and Okryeon Kim, 47, were arrested and each Anyone with information is asked to call Mobile Police at The investigation is ongoing.

n additional $55,000 cultural resources study will be anywhere.” required in order for Mobile County to move forward with Commissioner Connie Hudson has championed this particular a planned soccer complex at the Interstate 65/Interstate 10 project after she and Commission President Jerry Carl had a very corridor after milk bottles from a 60-year-old dairy farm public disagreement over two possible locations. While Hudson did aprompted further analysis. admit the holdup over an old milk bottle was frustrating, she said the The Phase II study is a now a requirement for the county to get the project is still “full steam ahead.” proper permitting to move forward with construction on the property “It’s par for the course, and sometimes Murphy’s law comes into with approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. play,” Hudson said. “I’m not sure that it makes a lot of sense to have When the permitting process began in February, it was sup- to go out and spend time and money to evaluate the remnants of an posed to take a little more than four months, but additional older dairy farm, but that’s what we’re required to do in order to requirements have attempts at permitting heading into their eighth move forward.” month of back and forth between the Corps and Mobile County’s When asked, Hudson said she was still supportive of the complex Environmental Department. at its planned location near McGowin Park. Once the permitting “No one knew there was a dairy farm,” said Mobile County En- issues are behind them, Hudson said the commission would be ready vironmental Services Director Bill Melton. “You have to go back to to move forward, purchase the property and make plans to begin aerial shots from the 1950s to see the dairy farm. It was cleared, and construction. apparently there were some cattle grazing on the property. The farm “There’s some frustration with that because it seems this particu- was gone by 1960 or so.” lar site is being scrutinized to the max, but that’s OK. We’ll do what- Melton said the new study will dig approximately 450 holes on ever we’re required to do,” Hudson said. “We had hopes initially about every 10 feet of the property to thoroughly vet its “historical that it was going to take four to six months to get this permit, and it significance.” That will determine whether the site qualifies to be seems to be taking twice as long.” put on the National Registry of Historic Places, but Melton said he’s The proposed complex has a roughly estimated cost of $40 mil- fairly confident that won’t be the case. lion that includes 10 soccer fields, an aquatic center, walking trails According to Melton, even if the site is determined to have and a water park feature. However, from the beginning, Hudson has some historical significance, a phase III study could still allow the said private partners would be sought out to help fund the facility’s county to build the soccer complex at the proposed location. construction. In July, Lagniappe reported on a rumored “punch list” that On Monday, Hudson said the holdup on permitting has also de- addressed the possible need for this study among other issues the layed the process of seeking potential investors, but has not swayed Corps had with the information about the project initially provided their interest in the project. by the county. “We have some investors who are interested, but we can’t do Melton described those issues as “normal give and take” at the anything to move forward until we purchase the property,” she said. time, and this week said the issue over the dairy farm has been the “We’re holding that window of opportunity open. As soon as we can only significant hold up on the project. get over this hurdle, we can start building momentum again. I think Photo/Mobile County Commission “We have to go through the due process to make that determina- our investors — who’ve been patient — have indicated they’ll come the possible existence of an old dairy farm tion,” he said. “That’s common if this type of discovery is made see us whenever we get to that point.” means more research for the soccer complex.

6 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 BAYBRIEFS | POLITICS BB baldwin candidates amassing campaign war chests BY ERIC MANN/REPORTER | [email protected]

s statewide qualifying opens for the $6,000 to Catalyst Associates for consultancy March 2016 primary election, only a and polling. The campaign has also made $775 handful of Baldwin County candidates in charitable contributions, including a $500 have actually filed paperwork to run payment to the Jennifer Claire Moore Founda- afor district attorney, circuit and district judge- tion in Foley. ship and board of education races. But the four Taylor’s replacement on the district court, Baldwin candidates who have thrown their hats J. Clark Stankoski, raised $28,200 for his re- in the ring have collectively amassed nearly election campaign between July and September. $140,000 in contributions since June. The campaign spent $2,634.90 for fundrais- As of Oct. 12, just three Baldwin County can- ing activities, including an Aug. 5 payment of didates had qualified, according to the Alabama $2,300 for an event at The Venue in Fairhope Republican Party’s website. Former Judge Robert and a $1,050 expense to Daphne-based Joseph Wilters has qualified to run for district attorney; Brown & Associates. An additional $1,268.61 Judge J. Clark Stankoski is qualified to run for was spent on advertising. The Taylor campaign his current seat in Baldwin County’s District also paid a total of $8,750 for consulting and Court; and Matthew Brown has qualified to run polling from Catalyst Associates. for the state school board’s District 1 position. Alabama State Board of Education District Others, like current District Attorney Hallie 1 representative Matthew Brown collected Dixon and Circuit Court Judge Scott Taylor $2,018.42 from eight contributions in Septem- have not yet qualified, but Phillips said often ber. For reported expenses, Brown spent just candidates wait until later in the process to file $618.42 in September, with $368.42 in printing paperwork. costs and $250 for polling and consultation “Usually the closer it gets to the filing through Birmingham-based Conservative Con- deadline, we get more people trying to get in cepts LLC. to qualify,” Phillips said. “So having just a few Qualifying for interested candidates opened qualified candidates at this point is normal.” Oct. 5 and closes Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. Baldwin Four local candidates have already started County GOP Secretary John Stetzinger said raising funds for the primary election, according candidates seeking school board seats for to paperwork at the Baldwin County probate of- District 4 and 7 need to qualify through the fice and the Alabama Secretary of State’s office. local party. The contested school board seats are According to the filings, the candidates’ con- currently occupied by Norm Moore and Board sulting and polling firm of choice is Fairhope- President Shannon Cauley. based Catalyst Associates LLC, which has re- Baldwin GOP school board candidate paper- ceived $28,750 for services from Wilters, Taylor work must be sent to the party’s Foley office. and Stankoski since June. Catalyst Associates Candidates must also submit financial docu- was formed Aug. 11, 2014, with Michael Scott ments and a filing fee equal to 2 percent of their Boone and Lynn Stacey listed as managers and annual salary to the Baldwin County Probate Coley M. Boone as its registered agent. Office. Among the candidates, Wilters has built the “We have had several inquiries for the school largest war chest so far. Between June 9 and board election, but I can’t give any specifics Sept. 30, the former judge collected $66,600 unless they submit paperwork,” Stetzinger said from 183 total contributors, including a $10,000 of potential school board candidates. loan from himself. During the same period, he A spokesperson from the Baldwin County reported $32,364.54 in expenditures including Democrat Party said the party has not been con- $14,000 for polling and consulting from Cata- tacted by any candidates interested in running lyst Associates, $9,238.62 on advertising and for school board. $3,170 in charitable contributions. District attorney and judgeship candidates Wilters’ charitable contributions included must qualify through the state party of their $630 for the Baldwin County Drug Court Foun- choice. Alabama Republican Party representa- dation, $500 to the Optimist Club of Perdido Bay tive Reed Phillips said candidates must file in Lillian, $500 to the Stockton Heritage Associa- paperwork and submit a filing fee of 2 percent of tion and donations to several area high schools. salary by 5 p.m. Nov. 6 to qualify. Wilters, who retired from the 28th Circuit in June, announced his candidacy this summer. Kant campaign opens with $41,251 haul Dixon has yet to publicly announce a re-election The county’s voters will also head to the campaign and had not filed qualifying paper- polls Aug. 23, 2016, for municipal elections, for work as of Oct. 12. which candidates were allowed to begin fund- Circuit Court Judge Scott Taylor formally raising activities this past August. According to announced his re-election campaign over the state law, there is no limitation on the amount summer as well, but had not filed qualification an individual or corporation may donate to a paperwork through the state GOP at press time. municipal office campaign, but candidates must Between June 25 and Sept. 30 Taylor, who file monthly disclosure reports in accordance replaced Wilters on the circuit court, received with the Fair Campaign Practices Act. $42,527.08 from 111 total contributors. Of that Fairhope Mayor Tim Kant wasted little time total, $39,575 are cash donations, $1,439 are getting started, raising $41,251 total and $4,565 in-kind donations and $1,500 are in the form of of in-kind donations from 87 contributors in a loan. September, with no reported expenditures. Between July and September, Taylor’s In 2016, the last day to qualify to run for campaign spent $1,775.07 on advertising, municipal office is July 19 and the last day $11,417.28 to Robertsdale-based TMS LLC for to register to vote in the municipal election is media management and consulting as well as Aug. 10.

October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 7 BB BAYBRIEFS Pac ramps up fundraising BY DALE LIESCH/REPORTER | [email protected] political action committee (PAC) that May shows the PAC increased its funds from a supported Mayor Sandy Stimpson in balance of $4,551 to $106,801. That same report the last municipal election is fattening shows a single $250 expenditure in the form its wallet. The South Alabamians for of a donation to People United to Advance the aGood Government PAC has raised more than Dream Inc. $200,000 in the last few months, according Sizeable $10,000 donations came in May to disclosures required by the Fair Campaign from a group of individuals and businesses, Practices Act. including Joel B. Bullard, Donald A. Urquhart PAC Chairman Richard Weavill said the Jr., Beard Equipment Company, W. Allen Cox, name of the PAC describes its purpose, adding J. Richard Miller III, B. White-Spunner, John that the group is “simply raising money and White-Spunner, Tal Vickers, Palmer’s Toyota preparing” for upcoming races. Superstore and Fred Stimpson, the mayor’s The PAC has been active since 2001, long brother. before Stimpson decided to run for mayor. The group raised $31,250 in June, receiving Weavill stopped short of saying whether the a $10,000 donation from Harris V. Morrisette. In group would support Stimpson again, or wheth- July, the group received $45,500 in donations, er it had discussed supporting any candidates. including two for $10,000 each from Norvelle “There are a lot of business people in the L. Smith and Rodney A. Pilot. Businesses, community who think he’s doing a fabulous including Dean McCrary Imports, Gulf Coast job,” Weavill said, referring to Stimpson. Truck & Equipment Company and LSB Con- “We’re simply raising money. The races are tracting LLC, donated $5,000 each. kind of coming up.” In August, the group raised $11,000, includ- In addition to Stimpson, Weavill said the ing a $10,000 donation from Thomas B. Ward PAC has previously supported the gubernatorial III. races of Bob Riley and Bradley Byrne. In the September report, filed Friday, Oct. Stimpson spokesman George Talbot wouldn’t 2, the group indicated it raised $9,350 from six confirm whether the mayor will seek a second individual donors. The group also made a $250 term, but said any support is appreciated. donation to the Committee to Re-elect Judge A monthly campaign finance report from Sarah Stewart. Planners hit with ethics complaints

BY DALE LIESCH/REPORTER | [email protected]

group of local residents filed complaints Anderson is similar in nature to the ethics com- last week against Mobile Planning plaint against Watkins. The complaint claims Commission Chairman Jay Watkins and Anderson failed to recuse himself from discus- attorney Doug Anderson over what the sion of the tanker issue despite having had a acomplaints call a “conflict of interest” the two relationship with Gulf Coast Asphalt Company, have concerning aboveground petroleum storage which is now a subsidiary of Arc. tanks along Mobile River. The complaint states that in 2012 Burr For- Thayer Dodd, a local environmental activist, man, the firm of Anderson and Ricardo Woods, claims both failed to recuse themselves from who is now city attorney, defended GCAC in a participating in votes and discussions related to lawsuit filed by Cooper Marine and Timberland. the subject, despite business ties to companies Anderson also represented GCAC at a 2010 operating the tanks. Planning Commission meeting, according to the “I spent all summer researching this,” Dodd complaint. said. “This is not a frivolous action.” In addition, the complaint states that An- The complaint is based on Watkins’ relation- derson was listed as the agent for Arc Termi- ship with a company called Blakely Logistics, nals Mobile Holdings, LLC in Alabama and LLC, Dodd wrote in the complaint. The com- Delaware. Anderson was also listed as the agent plaint contends Watkins was a registered agent during Arc Terminals Mobile Holdings’ Febru- of the company, which was a subsidiary of Arc ary 2013 acquisition of GCAC assets. He was Holdings LLC, the complaint alleges. It states then switched to GCAC’s agent in April 2013 he incorporated the company in Alabama and prepared the certificate of formation, as well as and remains so today, the complaint reads. its articles of organization. In a phone interview, Dodd said being While an agent of the company in October involved in that suit doesn’t absolve him of what 2010, Watkins voted on an Arc application the complaint alleges. for additional storage tanks, according to the In the complaint Dodd also brings up con- complaint. cerns over Watkins’ and Anderson’s involve- “Mr. Watkins was present, asked questions ment in a Planning Commission subcommittee and voted for the project,” the complaint reads. tasked with amending the city’s current zoning In 2012, and while still an agent for Arc ordinance to deal with restrictions on storage Watkins approved a Gulf Coast Asphalt Com- tanks on the west side of Mobile River. pany application, which the complaint states Dodd said it was strange Anderson was was a related part to Arc. The complaint states tasked with putting together the amendment Watkins resigned his position as registered when normally planning staff members would. agent in June 2012. Stimpson spokesman George Talbot wrote in an Watkins declined to comment on the com- email message that it wasn’t out of the ordinary plaint, saying he didn’t wish to try this in the to have the board’s attorney draft an ordinance. media. He said he would argue his case in front For example, he wrote, the City Council’s at- of the commission. torney Jim Rossler regularly writes ordinances The ABA complaint filed by Dodd against for them.

8 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 BAYBRIEFS | GULF COAST BB 107 prisoners set for early release in alabama, many in Mobile BY JASON JOHNSON/REPORTER | [email protected]

n an attempt to reduce overcrowding in process, but neither the U.S. Southern District federal prisons and compensate for recently Court of Alabama nor U.S. Attorney Kenyen reduced sentences for drug offenses, the gov- Brown could comment on the specifics of the ernment is preparing for the largest one-time program or give an exact figure of the number irelease of federal prisoners in history. of prisoners being released in the Mobile area. Stories about the release of nearly 6,000 pris- However, Ross said the majority of those oners began circulating after The Washington released early are likely already out of prison Post published a story ahead of the staggered and into some type of institutionalized transi- release set for Oct. 30 and Nov. 2, but the news tion program. He said halfway houses typically of the early releases is nothing new. are used for these transitions, and the amount In fact, they were approved by both the U.S. of time spent in these facilities can vary from Sentencing Commission and Congress over a prisoner to prisoner. year ago — the result of a two-point reduction “Some need more time because they don’t in federal sentencing guidelines applied to drug have an established family structure, but if they sentences after Nov. 1, 2014. have a job and a stable home and those kinds A retroactive application, also approved last of things, they will probably need less time in a year, meant that two-point reduction in sentence halfway house,” Ross said. would be applied to 46,000 offenders in the pris- According to Ross, a prisoner’s path to on system, an estimated 6,000 of whom are now rehabilitation begins the moment they enter a scheduled to be released over the next month. federal prison. He said the BOP begins prepar- On average, the reduction equates to about ing inmates for release the first day they arrive two years off a prisoner’s original sentence, by working to cultivate job and basic life skills. but according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons “They all are required to work as long as (BOP), it may be more in some cases. they’re medically cleared, because we see work- The 6,000 figure is only an estimate, and a ing a job as a training program, but also as a spokesperson with the BOP said slightly more reentry program,” Ross said. “Many don’t have than 5,700 prisoners had been approved for an established work ethic. So, we require them early release as of press deadline, but they also to get up and go to work everyday. They have to said that number will continue to increase as the be accountable.” Ross said prisoners’ tasks in- release dates get closer. clude a number of things that can be transferred More than 1,000 of those scheduled for to real-world skills including landscaping, food release include non-U.S. citizens who will be re- service training, HVAC repair and maintenance, leased into the custody of U.S. Immigration and electrical wiring and others. He also said the Customs Enforcement (ICE) and most likely labor saved by the prison system is an added deported to their country of citizenship. savings for taxpayers. The U.S citizens, about 4,131 of them so far, “We don’t want to waste resources if they’re will be returned to their home states, including not going to be productive,” Ross said. “We 107 to Alabama. The vast majority of those, want them to develop these skills and be according to the BOP, are from the Southern productive citizens when they are released. District encompassing Mobile and several We don’t want them to come back, because we surrounding counties. Edmond Ross, a spokes- don’t need the business.” person with the BOP, said the process is applied The effort to rehabilitate doesn’t end once on a case-by-case basis and prisoners are a prisoner leaves the confines of a cell, either. only granted early release if they meet certain Many are put on supervised release, also known criteria. Prisoners are also required to petition as parole. Others are also extended the chance their sentencing with the court so their case is to participate in voluntary reentry programs like reviewed by the judge who presided at trial and Project H.O.P.E. (Helping Offenders Pursue imposed their sentence. Excellence) – one that’s been touted by Brown. “The decision to grant this deal of a two- Specifically, Project H.O.P.E. helps ex- point reduction is based on a number of factors, convicts address their housing, educational and including public safety,” Ross told Lagniappe. employment needs immediately after incar- “If the judge determines this individual has met ceration. In a statement to Lagniappe, Brown the criteria, only they can adjust the sentence.” said the programs would be available to the When a prisoner petitions the court for early prisoners currently scheduled for early release release under the new sentencing guidelines, within the next month, as they are to others the judge also reviews an offender’s criminal who served full sentences. history to determine their eligibility. Whether Still, the largest one-time release in history they are a “career offender” is another factor the only results in a 13 percent increase to the court has to weigh. average number of prisoners released in any However, Lagniappe’s attempts to find out given year. exactly which 107 convicted drug offenders “On average we release 45,000 every year will be benefiting from the reduced sentenc- and have [for] many, many years,” Ross said. ing guidelines this year have been unsuccess- “So there’s always large number of inmates, but ful. Ross said the BOP could not release that we have always stressed to [Congress] and to information other than to give a total number of any of our stakeholders, that the vast majority of prisoners broken down by state. individuals in prisons are being released. It may He added that the U.S. attorney’s offices in be tomorrow or next year, but they’re going to each court district are involved in the review be released.”

October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 9 BB BAYBRIEFS | MOBILE COUNTY applicant withdraws appeal of music venue BY DALE LIESCH/REPORTER | [email protected]

ow artists use it as a place to set up each month before rently allowed. The Planning Commission has twice denied his The venue would benefit the city, Jordan said, bringing in LoDa ArtWalk, but an owner and developer were hopeful request after hearing boisterous opposition based on concerns about $100,000 in tax revenue, for example. With Huka En- the 9,000-square-foot building at 401 Dauphin St. could about noise, traffic and aesthetics. Some of those in opposition tertainment managing it and with an occupancy of 850, Jordan be transformed into the city’s newest music venue. live in the nearby Mattress Factory building and fear the proposal said, the venue would be able to attract music fans from across NThose hopes took a hit Tuesday after owner Buzz Jordan and will turn into a situation similar to the Alabama Music Box. the region. By comparison, Vinyl Music Hall in Pensacola seats developer Tom Townsend withdrew their appeal of previous Plan- Jordan and Townsend said they’ve heard the complaints before 300, Jordan said. ning Commission decisions to not allow an increase in occupancy. and have tried to assure those opposed that they will follow the “They won’t be able to get the same quality acts,” he said. Jordan and Townsend had initially asked for 1,000 before scaling rules. Those in opposition, Townsend suggested, are using an exam- Townsend, who owns a downtown apartment complex, said it back to 850 persons. ple of a “worst-case scenario” and have no facts to back them up. data nationwide shows a venue like the one proposed will actually During a pre-conference meeting, the City Council discussed As for the harmony of the neighborhood, Jordan pointed down increase nearby property value, not decrease it. For example, he the possibility of allowing an occupancy of more than 100 but the block to Buck’s Pizza and across the street to a parking lot. As said the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., increased property value “much less” than 1,000, with Councilman Fred Richardson asking artists were setting up for ArtWalk across the street on the Friday in a 300-foot radius to $500 per square foot. Property around the Jordan if that was possible. Jordan said he’d discussed it with before the meeting, he turned around to show Hoffman Furniture, Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Chicago is $500 per square foot, he said. Huka Entertainment, who would manage the facility and said which closes at 5 p.m. and the residential building catty-corner to “It’s proven,” Townsend said. they’d be willing to do it, a sticking point being a proposed oc- his space. He also pointed to several vacant buildings. Jordan said he could turn the building into a pawn shop now cupancy number. “I guess a dilapidated building fits with the harmony of the without any approval from the Planning Commission. But “it Going by the occupancy number listed in the application, neighborhood,” Jordan said. wouldn’t add to the ambiance of downtown,” he said. Councilman Levon Manzie said he wouldn’t be able to support Per the city’s noise ordinance, Townsend said, the venue can The building at 401 Dauphin Street dates back to the 1850s the appeal. only reach 50 decibels from the sidewalk after 10 p.m., similar to and was initially three separate spaces, Townsend said. In 1938, Jordan said the plan could still come together with an oc- the volume inside an office or classroom. the building was converted into one space. cupancy of 600, but according to council attorney Jim Rossler’s “We are legally required to do that,” he said. interpretation of the law, the Council should defer to the Planning Before 10 p.m. the decibel level can be as high as 80. A jet Tobacco-free facilities Commission regarding conditions on the property. engine, for instance, is 120 decibels, Townsend said. The council voted 6-1 to amend an ordinance to make all Citing the form-based code passed May 2014, Councilwoman To control the noise, Townsend said, the building will be most- city-owned buildings, facilities and parks free from all forms of Bess Rich said it’s too soon to drastically change a recent ordi- ly 16 to 18 inches of brick with a glass facade. The glass will be tobacco. This includes the buildings themselves as well as their nance. double-paned and each panel will be reinforced with rubber seals campuses and public lands where the public congregates, accord- “We have a plan,” she told the council. “Let’s stick to the plan.” to reduce vibration. This, he said, would cut down on the noise. ing to the amendment. After withdrawing the appeal, Jordan told reporters his team The building, which has been vacant for years, would undergo The lone dissenting vote belonged to Councilman John would regroup and try to find a number all parties could agree on. $750,000 to $1 million in renovations to bring it back to its Williams, who said he believes smoking should be banned, but Jordan and Townsend will have to wait six months before they 1940s-era luster, using federal historic tax credits, developer balked at including smokeless tobacco products because they can file another application with the Planning Commission. Townsend said.The building’s two floors would be opened up for don’t harm the health of anyone but the user. In order to make the proposed venue profitable sooner, Jordan a balcony and atrium and there would even be a roof-top patio in The council also passed a resolution asking the Mobile County wants to expand the building’s occupancy beyond the 100 cur- later phases. Commission to make Government Plaza a smoke-free campus.

10 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 Distrust at the heart of Fairhope annexation debate BY ERIC MANN/REPORTER | [email protected]

n a Friday evening in late September, In addition to access to elections, Kant said Pastor Henry A. Crawford and a hand- residents inside the city limit have protections ful of black residents who live just a through the city’s zoning regulations. few miles south of downtown Fairhope “Right now, they have no zoning rights,” omet at Faith Temple Church of God in Christ to he said. “In the city, if someone wants to build talk about race issues and inclusion in the city. a shop or something next door to them, there Crawford named a handful of reasons why would be a public hearing and the residents residents who live near the church — on South would have some say with what goes in there.” Ingleside Street just outside Fairhope’s corpo- The city has three annexation options, rate limits — should seek to be annexed into which include annexation through the request the city. The first and most important reason is of property owners, annexation through voter representation on the Fairhope City Council, referendum or annexation by state legislation. Crawford said. However, the city won’t force annexation on “Right now the people who live outside unwilling property owners, Smith said. Fairhope’s city limits are being taxed without In recent years, the only property the city representation,” Crawford said. “The way the annexed through legislation is the Wal-Mart voting districts are drawn it is nearly impos- property on County Road 48, which was ap- sible for someone from this community to be proved by the Legislature in 2013. The retail elected.” giant’s store was constructed in 2007 across the Only four people heard the message. Craw- street from the city’s corporate limits. The city ford said the low turnout is indicative of the has fought Wal-Mart over annexation since that black community’s apathy toward inclusion in time to bring in additional tax revenue. city politics. Henry L. Crawford, the pastor at Good “Numbers are louder than anything else,” Samaritan Sanctuary on Twin Beech Road, the pastor said. “We can complain all we want said it is more complicated than just burden- but without an advocate, without a voice down- some regulations. Residents don’t trust the city town, nothing will ever get done.” because there isn’t a black person on the City At first glance, Fairhope’s jagged southern Council, and there hasn’t been. But there never city-limit line could be interpreted as so-called will be, he conceded, unless black people are “municipal underbounding,” a practice in brought into the city through annexation. which cities draw boundaries to avoid inclu- “They need to be able to vote in city elec- sion of low-income or minority neighborhoods. tions and elect representatives who can actually However, the city has made an effort to include represent this community on the City Council,” the neighborhood before, but residents don’t he said. seem interested. Johnny Chaney lives on Mershon Street, “Some people don’t want to come into the just inside the city limits. Chaney said distrust city for a variety of reasons,” Planning Director is at the heart of the anti-annexation mood and Jonathan Smith said. “Some think additional part of it stems from a perceived lack of at- city regulations will not allow them to do some tention from the city on drainage and flooding of the things they did before, and I think others problems in black neighborhoods. may be afraid of additional taxes.” “People here are skeptical about being an- Those who live in the city limits pay ad- nexed into the city because they don’t trust the ditional ad valorem taxes and aren’t allowed city,” Chaney said. “Why don’t we don’t have to keep motorhomes or livestock in their front good drainage when everybody else does?” yards, but Smith said what they would lose In June, the city began the process of ap- would pale in comparison to what they would plying for a Community Development Block gain in services and representation. The ad- Grant through the U.S. Department of Housing ditional tax would equal about $150 to $200 and Urban Development (HUD) it hopes will more per year on a typical home, but Smith fund drainage projects in some of the city’s said garbage and water fees would be lower low to moderate income areas. If approved, each month. the grant would provide $64,000 per year for “They would pay that additional tax, but five years, for a total of $320,000, with no city I’ve told property owners before that our city match. services are less expensive if you live in the The city has partnered with the South Ala- city, so they would actually save some money bama Regional Planning Commission to secure by annexing in, and they would be able to vote the funding. Part of the process is a survey in city elections,” Smith said. “We have gone intended to gather information about income around to some of the communities and tried to levels and needs near the edge of the city’s convince them that coming into the city limit is corporate limits. a good thing.” Per HUD regulations, the funding is only Mayor Tim Kant said many of the homes in available for neighborhoods inside the city the area south of the city are inherited property, limits, so, Smith said, the city is trying to land owned by people who are related to a determine how to use the money to benefit common ancestor who died without a will. In low-income residents outside the limit. some cases, land may have been passed down “I know the mayor and I and the city would through generations without records indicating love to be able to clean up our boundary lines to who holds the deed. benefit as many people as we can,” Smith said.

October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 11 Partnership forming to enhance cultural tourism BY JASON JOHNSON/REPORTER | [email protected]

rom the ports that once brought slaves into the country American Heritage Trail, find a way to market Historic Africa- It’s tough to measure what, if any, support the initiative to the streets where civil rights activists protested for town and develop a new civil rights memorial somewhere in might get from local governmental bodies. The MBCVB itself equality, a new initiative is aimed at helping Mobile and the city of Mobile. has limited funding, but at least some city and county officials its citizens highlight, preserve and even benefit from the So far, a committee of stakeholders involved in business, have expressed interest in the idea of a developing a thriving Farea’s rich African American heritage. education and previous local historic preservation has been es- tourism industry. Recently, the Mobile Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau tablished. Joe Womack represents Africatown on the committee. City Councilman Levon Manzie sponsored the agenda item (MBCVB) announced a plan to partner with local communities According to Womack, the current African American Heri- to spark the feasibility study, and recently District 2 County to focus on cultural tourism, mirroring efforts in historic South- tage Trail only “touches” the historically significant parts of Commissioner Merceria Ludgood said the work was needed in ern cities like Savannah, Atlanta and Charleston. Africatown. He said including the community in this and other a community that has had separate initiatives in the same vein, While there is already some organization along the Dora recent restoration efforts is another step forward in a 25-year but never something this comprehensive. Franklin Finley African American Heritage Trail, a new com- effort to properly revitalize and preserve Africatown. “I wouldn’t call it fragmented, but we’ve been working on mittee is in the process of drawing up plans to enhance cultural “This community has had a lot of promises from politicians parallel tracks, and this gives us an opportunity to pull it all tourism by further developing those and other historic areas of over the years, but this time it’s starting from the inside out, together through the MCVB, which I think is the appropri- Mobile, possibly adding more. and we’re trying to get other people to come aboard,” Womack ate home for this effort,” Ludgood said. “This is the first time “We need to make sure we tell the complete story of Mobile. told Lagniappe. “With us being put on the National Register I’ve seen the full presentation and mission statement, but it’s When you look at cultural tourism, that typically focuses on of Historic Places, that sort of verified us and gave us what we certainly something that needs to be expanded.” your African American and multicultural history,” said Al needed to say, ‘what we’re trying to do is for real and not just Even though the MCVB is leading the task, Hutchinson said Hutchinson, MBCVB president. “That’s a story that needs to be some pipe dream.’” the direction will be determined by the people by way of the told and if we’re going to complete the story, we need to focus In March, the Mobile City Council approved $50,000 for committee. Womack said they seem to be on the right, at least on how we can improve that.” a feasibility study to determine the best ways to redesign the as far as Africatown is concerned. Aside from the desire to tell a complete history, Hutchinson neighborhood. The results and suggestions from that study are He said there’s several people in the community that want said cultural tourism stops have become “a business enterprise expected sometime soon, and Hutchinson said those will likely something “they can be proud of.” He also stated there are in a number of communities.” He mentioned cities like Savan- help “lead the charge” of making Africatown a cultural tourism descendants from the original Africatown community members nah, but also ones closer to home like Montgomery, Birming- destination. in Mobile that have artifacts they like to give the public access ham and Selma, which have created a network of stops along a Hutchinson said the preliminary ideas include increased sig- to, if there was a proper and secure place to display them. “Civil Rights Trail” with Alabama’s Tourism Department. nage directing people to the community and a much anticipated Womack said he’s confident in the Hutchinson and MBCVB, The Port City has a large number of historical places but new welcome center. He also said there’s even been talks of a and thinks the local government’s appetite increased hotel with the local initiative still in its early stages, the committee replica of the Clotilde. nights will keep the stakeholders involved in the initiative. has only identified three main focuses, Hutchinson said. Admittedly though, Hutchinson said those ideas were “Our approach is to make sure that whatever we do as a Announcing the long-range plans of the initiative on Oct. “futuristic” and would require funding that has not yet been community, the city gets something out of it,” Womack said. 12, Hutchinson said the Cultural Tourism Enhancement Com- secured. There’s also not yet a price tag attached to anything “That’s the key. If we can fill up some hotels on the weekend, mittee aims to make improvements to the existing African of proposed ideas. the city is going to continue to support it.”

ne thing being a newspaper- working closest to the governor to actually be public has no idea what his compensation was for man in Alabama affords me someone else’s employees. managing two high-powered jobs at the same time. is the routine opportunity to I guess in Mason’s case calling her an employee His predecessor in the governor’s office was mak- reach new levels of incredu- of ACEGOV is really not accurate, so much as ing more than $170,000 a year, though. olity at what is considered “normal” she gets paid by it. And since Bentley ostensibly So this is what we’re supposed to believe: that or “OK” behavior in state and local controls the nonprofit, one could argue it would a big power company wanted to help out Gov. government. be hard for it to use Mason to unduly influence the Bentley so much it sent a guy who is likely a very Consider me on the Pike’s Peak governor. It really just comes off looking like he highly paid employee in charge of business devel- of incredulity concerning Gov. wants to pay her in some way no one else can see. opment over to the governor’s office to help out, Robert Bentley allowing some of But Hammett’s setup is a bird of a bit different even though that employee was ethically bound his top staffers to be paid by outside feather. The company paying Seth’s bills provides never to do or say anything that would help the organizations. For instance, Chief of wholesale power to 16 cooperatives and four company paying his fat salary, AND the Alabama Staff Seth Hammett was being paid municipal systems in Alabama and Florida and his Ethics Commission is sure enough that wouldn’t by the PowerSouth Energy Coopera- title is vice president of business development. So, happen that they sign off on it. Whew! I guess tive in Andalusia instead of receiving at least in theory, Seth had a whole other job work- next they’ll want us to believe Nick Saban collects a check bearing the seal of the great ing for a power company that just thought it would furbies. state of Alabama. be cool to lend him to the governor while they still I can totally understand why a company would It’s sort of mind-boggling to paid his salary. want to donate a highly paid employee to someone consider a governor of a state would A company spokesman was quoted saying, “We else with the understanding it wouldn’t benefit have a chief of staff whose salary is saw it as an opportunity to continue to work hand them in any way. Sure. Happens all the time. paid by a business, but that’s what we in hand with the governor’s staff. He [Hammett] While Bentley has clearly created a lot of en- had until Hammett suddenly resigned continues to take care of his duties here.” In the emies in trying to raise taxes and pass his budget, a couple of weeks ago. Totally bizarre same article, though, Bentley said, “He works for it’s hard to feel too sorry for him when he’s pulling situation. me.” Confusion sets in. bush-league stunts like this. Regardless of whether I’ll admit this wasn’t a huge secret, So how dumb are we all supposed to be? Dumb the Ethics Commission puts a stamp on it, Bentley as it was reported in the media earlier enough to lap up this from the State Ethics Com- has to know having his chief of staff paid by a this year, but it didn’t cross my radar mission in giving the deal a thumbs up? “The main power company looks slimier than a hardhead cat- screen until recently. And Bentley got prohibition, which I know Speaker Hammett, as fish. Bentley can claim Hammett worked for him, an official okey-doke from the Ala- well as the governor understand, is that, he cannot but his paycheck says otherwise. bama Ethics Commission, so I don’t use his influence to benefit PowerSouth.” — Ethics It seems like Dr. Governor is scrambling to try suppose there was anything illegal Commission Chief Counsel Hugh Evans to get his house in order to some extent now, but it about it. People really only started Of course since Hammett, the former Speaker may be too late. With these types of shenanigans, making noise about the situation after of the Alabama House of Representatives, was Bentley’s got many voters counting the days until the governor’s wife decided to divorce having his salary paid by PowerSouth, it means the this lame duck governor waddles back to T-town. him and the subsequent scuttlebutt about him possibly having an affair with chief adviser Rebekah Mason became the talk of the town. T HEG ADFLY While those pushing the Bentley- Mason liaison story were left kind of flat after the divorce documents were unsealed and Mrs. Bentley hadn’t filled them with tales of her derma- tologist hubby performing nighttime “mole checks” on Rebekah, the fact Mason’s salary as an adviser is also not being paid by the governor’s office did bubble up. And Hammett’s arrangement made it back into the news. Who exactly is paying Mason’s salary still doesn’t seem to be clear, although it appears most likely it’s a group named The Alabama Council for Excellent Government, which sounds like Wayne and Garth had a hand in the naming. The group is one of the dreaded 501(c) nonprofits politicians love to use to keep nosy people from looking at how money is being spent. In this case, ACEGOV, as it likes to be called, was the brainchild of Dr. Governor himself. Of course some of this is the usual kind of shadiness we’re used to as Alabama citizens. Mobile, after all, has its fair share of 501(c)s, making it nearly impossible to follow quasi- governmental actions. But the part that still blows me away is that it’s OK for some of the state employees Cartoon/Laura Rasmussen Property owners hire retired librarian to keep downtown quiet.

14 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 COMMENTARYh IDDEN AGENDA C in a bit of a pickle on the soccer field BY ASHLEY TRICE/EDITOR | [email protected]

h, the joys of kindergarten soccer. It’s hold. not a total exercise in futility. No, I The regularly scheduled game was going reserve that description for 3-year-old along just swimmingly when all of a sudden our soccer. While the cuteness factor does “sweet pickle” turned sour. osomewhat make up for the pointlessness of For some reason, he started throwing elbows watching (most) 3-year-olds stare into space and something Frank referred to as “clothes- and kick balls in the wrong direction, I did find lining.” I am not even sure what that is, but I myself wondering more than once why we were am sure it happened. I’ve never seen him act starting this so young. So we skipped a year, but like this, ever. In fact, I would say, if anything, when information was sent home for the kinder- we were worried he wasn’t being aggressive garten team, I thought it was time for the eldest enough on the field. (I mean, as aggressive as to give it another shot. you are in kindergarten soccer.) The coaches are After the first practice, I was encouraged. high school kids so they didn’t really seem to It looked like he was really getting it this time notice, but I did. And so did some of the other and if nothing else, he was having a great time parents, especially the ones of the kid who took running up and down the field with his friends a couple of elbows. with nary an iPad, LeapPad or pad of any other I was mortified. kind in sight. “Frank, do something,” I said, thinking, But then came the first game. Forget the pickle talks, just go kill him. I’ll It started off just fine. While they were just be over here trying to dig a hole to hide in “warming up,” he was laughing and having a and imagining our visits to him in prison. I’ll good time. All of the kindergarten teams wear lovingly put my hands on the glass to meet his the same color shirt, so our coach handed out and tell him how I always thought orange was a red mesh jerseys to our guys and gals to put on, great color on him. so obviously everyone could tell which team Frank told him to knock it off and went over they were on. and apologized to the parents of the other kid. As they started playing, I could tell some- He clearly did not think it was as big a deal as I thing had turned my little Pelé into Pouté, did, but you know dads always like to think of though I could not figure out the source of said their boys as “tough,” so I’m sure while I was pouting. At some point, he told his coach he just envisioning him mopping up the cafeteria at his didn’t want to play anymore and coach told him prison kitchen job, Frank was probably secretly to take a seat on the sideline. envisioning him hoisting up the World Cup. As I am wondering why I left work early to And I don’t mind him being a smidge “tough” come watch him roll around on the grass, my — like take-up-for-yourself tough — but my big- husband walked over to investigate. Anders told gest fear was him getting labeled “rough,” which him he didn’t like soccer anymore and didn’t sounds similar but is really quite different. want to play. Frank told him to suck it up and “Rough” is the code word parents use to get a better attitude. We had committed to this talk about other people’s kids who they think and he was going to at least try. I think he went are horrible. It goes like this: “Have you been back in for a couple of minutes, but let’s just say around Susie’s kids?” You say no. Other parent his effort was minimal at best. says, with eyebrows raised as high as they will On the way home, he rode with me and I go, “Well, they are rough.” Then both parents asked him why he’d acted this way. His re- shake heads from side to side in pity for poor sponse: “I think I’m better suited for individual Susie and her terrible kids. It’s in the same sports.” parental code word language as “Well, that’s Well, OK then. Though I found his response different,” the remark you receive when you are somewhat amusing, I didn’t buy it. He had been pregnant and you make the mistake of telling having so much fun with his friends and went someone your baby name and they hate it. It’s from hot to cold on this faster than he could often followed up with, “Is that a family name?” kick a ball out of bounds. So I kept pestering Anyway, I don’t want anyone saying my him about it. usually sweet boy with a “different” name is Finally, he spilled the beans. “I didn’t like “rough,” even if he is acting like the biggest a- that red jersey and I didn’t want to wear it. “ hole in the pickle jar on this particular day. Because that makes sense. But apparently the On the way home we had another one of our red jersey ruined soccer and made it “stupid.” talks about the day’s events. He very casually They have this program in the library where said, “No, no, it’s OK. That team was call- they use these anthropomorphic pickles to talk ing us names,” as if his reaction was a totally about behavior, so we decided to use the “pickle acceptable and normal response to the alleged approach” to try and readjust his ‘tude before the name-calling. next game. Frank reminded him he needed to be So, of course, we had to go over how that a “sweet pickle.” And I encouraged “team pickle” wasn’t appropriate and have a big talk on sports- behavior. “No one wants to be that last, lonely manship, and on and on and on. And he seemed pickle in the jar. It’s all dried up and nasty.” to get it. I’m not sure if all this talk of fermented But I swear, it’s so hard making good pickles cucumbers got through or he was just in a bet- sometimes. ter mood, but by the next game he was back The next game was fine and we have the to his normal, happy self and even scored a last one this week. I feel confident he learned GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL! his lesson and we will end the season on a high The next couple of practices and games went note. But if the next 12 years of team sports are fine and kindergarten soccer was looking like an going to be this stressful, I think it would suit excellent choice indeed. his neurotic mother better if he was, in fact, bet- But then came Sept. 30, 2015, a day that will ter suited for individual sports. forever live in infamy within the Trice house- (We start tennis next month!)

October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 15 C COMMENTARYTAO OF JEN Prepare to Mobile the sh*t out of Mars BY JENNIFER MCDONALD/COLUMNIST | [email protected]

ell it’s certainly been an excit- Fishing: Now that we’ve confirmed there’s ing few weeks for space nerds! water on Mars, there’s bound to be fish hang- I’ve probably used this column to ing around somewhere, right? Fish love water! ramble about space exploration Now keep in mind at this point all we’ve Wenough that it’s probably no secret I’m a big really found is an ultra-briny sludge seeping NASA fangirl, but these last few weeks have to the surface, which doesn’t exactly sound been pretty interesting for even the most casual like a snapper hot spot, but scientists are fairly space enthusiast. certain there are freshwater aquifers (and god Millions of us waited with baited breath knows what else!) hidden below the surface. for NASA’s historic Sept. 28 announcement You know what that means. Better get both a regarding new evidence of liquid water on saltwater and a freshwater fishing license, just Mars, and I was one of countless locals who to be safe! packed into the Wynnsong Theater earlier this To be fair, I should remind you NASA month, eager to see “The Martian” on its open- scientists have yet to find any solid evidence of ing weekend. the existence of marine life — or any life at all The movie, which closely follows Andy — on Mars, but they haven’t ruled it out either. Weir’s science fiction novel of the same Any Alabama fisherman worth his bait would name, was as awesome as most folks ex- take that as a challenge. Rig up a pole out of a pected. The basic plot involves a fictional broken antenna, twine and a paper clip and get NASA astronaut, botanist Mark Watney, who busy! Bonus points if you can science a sonar is mistakenly left alone on Mars after being fishfinder out of miscellaneous spaceship parts. presumed dead in an emergency evacuation Hunters will face a pretty similar, if per- of the Red Planet during NASA’s third human haps slightly bleaker, situation in that there’s voyage to Mars in the 2030s. absolutely no evidence to suggest the presence Watney is stranded with very little food of living prey. You know they’re out there, and knows he is potentially years away from though, somewhere, hiding in the shadow, rescue, so he is forced to improvise with the and you’re just the (wo)man to find them! Just equipment he has on hand and devise clever think, your record-setting kill will be the big- ways to survive, primarily by vowing to “sci- gest in the history of the planet! ence the sh*t out of [Mars].” A word of caution, however. You might With the (real life) Curiosity rover sending have to deal with PETA and Greenpeace (I back groundbreaking new data almost daily, wonder if they call it Redpeace on Mars?) we have learned more about Mars lately than getting on your back, as you will have es- many thought they’d see in their lifetime. At sentially killed the only animal on the entire this point it’s almost inevitable humans will planet, and the only known specimen of life eventually travel to the Red Planet, and NASA beyond Earth. Oops! is already aiming at the 2030s for the first It’s situations like this that remind me at manned mission. some point — probably sooner rather than later Maybe you or I or some other fellow — we’ll need plenty of space lawyers to help Mobilian will have the opportunity to visit the sort out the various legalities we’ll encounter planet one day, and maybe even find ourselves on Mars. (Note to self: I should definitely stranded there alone. This could be bad, as ev- spend some time contemplating whether I eryone knows Mobilians have “special needs” should drop everything to become a space law- that are imperative to our survival. No worries yer ASAP. That sounds amazing! I’m gonna though, because I’m here to help you “science attorney the sh*t out of that planet!) the sh*t out of this” situation. College football: It was bad enough when Booze: This obviously won’t be an issue, as you realized you’d lost all communication with no self-respecting Gulf Coast hurricane survi- Earth, you were running out of food and timely vor would ever engage in potentially disas- rescue was exceedingly unlikely. But then you trous interplanetary travel without stockpiling remembered college football was in season, enough booze to last until help arrives. Duh. and suddenly you realized the true gravity of Mardi Gras: The upside is that you won’t the situation. Yeah, you’re pretty screwed. have to worry about the crowds, but of course That’s a good thing, though, as necessity the downside is there will be no parades. Or is the mother of invention. It’s time to stop will there? messing around and hurry up and science a You could use the rovers as your floats, functional radio out of spare parts so you can decorating them with colorful accessories and listen to live coverage of the game, albeit with maybe even adding masks attached to stick a slight delay. If you’re really clever you might figures to serve as the merry crew. You’ll pro- even be able to science a working television gram the space vehicles to run a large circular and satellite. Oh, and hey, by the way … if “parade route,” and design a mechanical arm you get a few minutes during halftime, you out of spare parts to repeatedly toss assorted might even be able to use your radio to contact treats while you shout and squeal with glee. NASA and signal for help. Bonus! As for the moonpies, that will require a I have faith in you, fellow Mobilian. You’re tricky spaceflight maneuver involving a brief a little rough around the edges, but when the lunar landing. You’ll have to contact me going gets tough, you do what needs to be directly for the calculations as they are too done. Just don’t forget your fishing license. complex for this short column. Not even I can help you then.

16 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 COMMENTARYBELTWAY BEAT C What the house leadership fight means for Alabama BY JEFF POOR/COLUMNIST | [email protected]

ast week, U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy Benghazi Select Committee and Byrne is on the (R-California), the House Majority powerful House Rules Committee. Leader, stunned the political world when When the dust settles from the departure of he withdrew his name from consideration the old regime of Boehner-McCarthy-Scalise, lto fill the spot soon to be vacated by outgoing what happens to Alabama’s priorities going Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio). beyond the ideological components of politics? From the time of the announcement of Byrne has stated on numerous occasions his Boehner’s resignation until McCarthy’s an- priorities include reforming the draconian red nouncement, most political observers antici- snapper fishing regulations, ensuring the littoral pated things would pretty much be the same combat ship (LCS) program remains in Mobile in the House of Representatives, perhaps with and the ultimate building of a new Interstate 10 more conservatives in prominent committee bridge to replace the often-congested Wallace assignments, or even leadership roles. Tunnel at the Mobile River. The idea was that McCarthy would broker a Right now the big question is, which way deal with the so-called House Freedom Caucus, will the House GOP caucus go in establishing a bloc of about 40 House Republicans, to unite new leadership? Should it go in a decidedly the conference heading into House leadership more conservative or even libertarian direction, elections. But somewhere along the way, that could funding for the LCS program be threat- didn’t work out and, at the very last minute, ened, since some view the prototype as con- McCarthy bowed out. troversial? The same goes for the I-10 bridge, As it stands now, the near-term future of which could be delayed if some looking to stem House leadership is in question. Reportedly the tide of federal spending have their way. Boehner will ride out the turmoil as long as Those are just a few of the things to think needed until Republicans can reach a consensus. about with Congress in flux. But what does this mean for the Alabama Other members who have officially an- delegation? nounced their intention to run for the spot in- Earlier this year in his reelection bid, clude Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) and Daniel Boehner won support from all the Republicans Webster (R-Florida), but both are considered in the Alabama House delegation, with the long shots. There also has been speculation exception of newly elected Rep. Gary Palmer, Reps. Darrell Issa (R-California) and Marsha who fulfilled a campaign promise not to vote Blackburn (R-Tennessee) will run. for Boehner by casting his vote for Sen. Jeff For now, however, the favorite seems to be Sessions. a very reluctant Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin), Both Palmer and Rep. Mo Brooks are the 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee. members of the same House Freedom Caucus As of the early part of this week, there is a that played a role in thwarting McCarthy’s bid “Draft Ryan” movement underway. for Speaker. But Ryan comes with some questions. For the most part, Alabama House Re- There is a lot of skepticism about him as a publicans have been loyal to the House GOP viable speaker candidate among conservatives leadership. According to data from OpenCon- because he supported the controversial Trade gress.org, if you compare each member’s voting Promotion Authority, a measure that ceded record to McCarthy’s record in this Congress power from the Congress and gave the execu- (since House Speaker Boehner rarely partici- tive branch more power in negotiating trade pates in votes), you can see the loyalty to party agreements for purposes of fast-tracking those leadership. agreements. A compromise could be in order. Should the Member voting similarity versus Kevin Mc- so-called establishment wing of the Republi- Carthy’s record, 114th Congress: can party get its way and have someone of the Martha Roby, 96 percent Boehner ilk fill the role of Speaker through the Robert Aderholt, 92 percent end of this Congress, conservatives could, as a Gary Palmer, 92 percent concession, have their pick of who would fill Mike Rogers, 91 percent the Majority Leader or Whip slots. Bradley Byrne, 90 percent That, for right now, seems to be the path of Mo Brooks, 87 percent least resistance, as conservatives don’t have the Terry Sewell (Democrat), 27 percent numbers to elect their candidate. But they will need to when the House ultimately votes on Roby’s loyalty to leadership may be the rea- Boehner’s replacement. son she’s facing a challenge on her right flank This situation on Capitol Hill and the crowd- from Wetumpka Tea Party president Becky ed 2016 Republican presidential field does call Gerritson. Gerritson received some national at- into question the future of the GOP and what it tention when she testified before a House Ways stands for. All of these disparate elements vy- and Means Committee hearing on organizations ing to be the face of the party in Congress and potentially targeted by the Internal Revenue in the White House suggest the party is really Service for political beliefs and described her- struggling to define its identity. self as a “born-free American woman.” That trickles down to Alabama, which as a Both Roby and Byrne have earned high-pro- one-party Republican state will take its cues file committee assignments during Boehner’s from what happens nationally and in Washing- tenure. Roby currently sits on the House ton, D.C.

October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 17 BB BUSINESST h E REAL DEAL Montlimar Place office tower receives $750K facelift BY RON SIVAK/COLUMNIST | [email protected]

ontlimar Place, a well-known, Transamerica, Coastal Benefits, Comprehensive Per court records, the North Pointe Apart- 31-year-old, 10-story office tower MedPsych and Southeastern Catastrophe. The ments complex located in Saraland at 205 at 1110 Montlimar Drive in Mobile, property is currently 82 percent occupied, has Shelton Beach Road was recently acquired by recently received a $750,000 facelift received favorable remarks in recent tenant out-of-state investors for $5.7 million. Accord- Mcourtesy of an out-of-town investment firm that surveys and boasts an expanding waiting list of ing to its website, the property has one-, two- acquired the distressed property late last year in potential high-end suitors. and three-bedroom floor plans with a total of an auction. “I cannot tell you how happy we are finding 193 units. According to a news release, the once drab our home at Montlimar Place,” Tony Laurence, The historic Hiram Lodge is set to undergo a and aesthetically outdated high-rise office build- managing director of Transamerica, said. “NAI major renovation which will convert the former ing now showcases a bright, modernized work Mobile values us as tenants, and we appreciate Masonic Lodge into residential units. A local environment for its tenants with NAI Mobile as their dedication.” developer plans to create about 16 apartments the new property manager, effective January of NAI Mobile is currently scheduling tours of in the three-story building. The units will come this year. Montlimar Place. Full-service lease rates run at with parking, soaring ceilings and views of the “It’s all in the details,” Tommy Gleason, busi- $16.50 per square foot, which includes access Mobile skyline on upper floors. ness director and principal with NAI Mobile, to the fitness room and community conference A new clothing retailer called KABL & CO said. “We started with a full analysis of the room and free parking. Contact Tommy Gleason will occupy roughly 1,000 square feet of floor property, speaking one-on-one with current ten- at [email protected] or Josh W. Hall space at 451 Dauphin St. and will be holding its ants along the way to get their opinions on how at [email protected] to learn more about grand opening on Sunday, October 18. The shop to improve the workplace as a whole.” leasing opportunities. will carry clothing lines for both men and women. The local office for NAI Global, which has overseen maintenance of the property, facilitated Commercial real estate moves Kennedy announces promotions at lobby renovations, common area updates, instal- Precision Engineering Inc. recently purchased Providence Health System lation of a fitness room and a community confer- the entire city block of 400 St. Louis St. and Todd S. Kennedy, president of Providence ence room, fresh landscaping, and new interior plans to renovate the historic building into new Health System, recently announced the promo- and exterior signage, including a massive new office space for its firm. tion of three local hospital executives. Provi- pylon sign. Originally built in 1921 for Dodge Brothers dence Health System is part of Ascension Gulf In addition to new flooring and painting, Automobile Co. and Graham Truck, renovations Coast Ministry Market, the largest nonprofit interior designer Margaret Gleason commis- and ensuing occupancy of the 24,000-square- health system in the U.S. and the largest Catho- sioned local artist Amber Ivey Lane for custom- foot structure are planned for the first quarter of lic health system globally. designed paintings on several floors. 2017. Peter J. Lindquist was promoted to chief Management also recently signed a $350,000 “There is a great deal of interest and activity operating officer. He previously served as chief contract for installation of new elevators, and along the St. Louis Street corridor,” Fred Rend- nursing officer. In his new role he will oversee has begun work on an on-site community park frey, director of downtown economic develop- all nursing areas including cardiology and ancil- with picnic benches for tenants to use during ment for the Downtown Mobile Alliance, said. lary services. lunch breaks. “St. Louis Street was Mobile’s original automo- Shannon J. Scaturro was promoted to vice In partnership with new property owners bile alley. Combining Precision Engineering’s president of surgical services and operations. His C-III Asset Management, a wholly owned sub- project with the others on St. Louis Street solidi- new responsibilities include all surgical areas sidiary of C-III Capital Partners based in Irving, fies the activity as a real trend.” and support services. Scaturro formerly served Texas, total related renovation expenditures sunk Employing more than 70 engineers, Precision as executive director of surgical services. into Montlimar Place might reach upwards of $1 Engineering plans to employ well over 100 in Jamey G. Greer was promoted to executive million, possibly as early as spring 2016. the next five years. According to a news release, director of support services. This encompasses According to its website, C-III Asset the new downtown location is well suited for the oversight of all contracted support functions in- Management is a highly rated debt servicer company since there’s currently a balanced mix cluding plant operations and grounds, clinical and of primary and special commercial real estate of its employees living in Mobile and Baldwin biomedical engineering, safety and security and loans across the country. It is a primary servicer counties. the wound care center. Greer previously served as for $20 billion and a special servicer for $152 Jeremy Milling of Milling Commercial Re- director of safety, security and switchboard. billion in commercial real estate loans. The firm alty worked for the sellers and Allan Cameron of “Each of these individuals share our commit- is listed “Above Average” by Standard & Poor’s NAI Mobile represented Precision Engineering. ment to high-quality care with a special focus on rating service as a primary servicer and consid- John Delchamps sold a 9,000-square-foot for- the poor and vulnerable,” Kennedy said. ered one of the highest-rated special servicers in mer paint and body shop at 5129 S. Schillinger Providence Health System comprises Mobile- the industry. Road for $350,000. The structure is situated on based Providence Hospital, a 349-bed facility and To date, NAI Mobile has leased more than 5.5 acres. Delchamps represented the seller and affiliated physician networks with 14 practice lo- 30,000 square feet of vacant space at Montlimar Paula Messer with Cooper Berkshire Hathaway cations. Providence Hospital cares for more than Place. Tenants include American Cancer Society, worked for the buyer. 15,000 inpatients and outpatients annually.

fter a late Wednesday night of picking and knocking back a couple of beers at Callaghan’s, my Thursday needed a bit of a Mexican pick-me-up. I have been crazy for Airport Boulevard’s Taqueria Mexico, having visited amore than a handful of times during its short life. I celebrated my buddy Chandler’s birthday there. I’ve taken my boys a couple of times. Nestled right next to Guitar Center, it has become one of my favorite spots. So for the day after a Deluxe Trio gig, my toe was still tapping to the previous night’s music and I assembled a small group to nurse myself back to health. We met early before the lunch rush came in. It was fellow picker Steve Pato and his lovely wife, Miss Dixie Pato, along with Rob and me. We got right to the point with appetizers as Pato ordered a Mexican Coca-Cola. If you youngsters have never had a Mexican Coke, you must know it is a different experience from what you’re used to. These are still made with real sugar as opposed to high-fructose corn syrup, and though some blind tests suggest you cannot tell the difference, I’d be willing to bet I could. Our first appetizer was the chorizo fundido ($7.99). This is nothing more than grilled sausage out of the casing topped with melted cheese and jalapenos. Chips were strategically placed in this dip, laid out on cast iron, and the whole table was very pleased. Although we were off to a good start, for my money the guacamole fresco ($7.99) was Photo/ Daniel Anderson/Lagniappe an even better choice. It was ba- Rich, authentic flavors and good prices make Taqueria Mexico a can’t-miss when you feel sically the usual guacamole with onions, jalapenos, tomatoes and like eating south of the border. cilantro atop the green good- because that is what you should do. He I could not stay away from the Cocktail de Camerones ness. It was the freshness that knows Barbacoa Tacos ($3 per taco). ($13.99), and will say it’s my favorite shrimp cocktail in the grabbed my attention, and every These shredded beef tacos come on city. They don’t skimp on the shrimp or the onions, which are now and then a little heat would corn tortillas double-bagged and served two things I love. The cocktail has a little bit of sweetness to the grab a little more. This is a great with cilantro, onions and lime wedges. tomato sauce and a generous amount of spice. I caught myself app for four people to share. It’s nothing but plain, simple, authentic reaching for the extinguisher a couple of times. It comes with a It’s ladies first, of course, and Mexican fare. He mentioned they may handful of saltines, but I passed those along to Graham for his Miss Dixie went straight for the have been a little drier than others he’s cheese dip habit. Tamales Deluxe ($9.99). This Two visits in one review and I can say my dining companions pair of tamales was a little heavy had, but still very good tacos. I had a single tamale, like Miss didn’t have many complaints. I had zero. I love this place and am on the masa but what made them happy there’s a more authentic Mexican option just over Interstate Dixie’s but without all the stuff atop. This was one of the biggest deluxe was the topping of sour cream, lettuce, beans and pico de 65. This isn’t a place you’d take someone used to Tex-Mex for tamales I have ever eaten with so much cornmeal it dwarfed the gallo. Who knew two tamales would make such a meal? chicken. It’s more of a south-of-the-border establishment. meat. That didn’t bother me. The flavor was outrageous. I also Rob zeroed in on the Fajita Quesadilla ($8.99). He chose the Of the more authentic Mexican restaurants I have written beef version over the chicken version and said the beef was tender nabbed two tacos, the first of which was Al Pastor. The sautéed about in these pages, I will say this one has the largest menu and and a little spicy. The onions and peppers were cooked perfectly pork was flavorful and not too heavy, but the fried carnitas ver- the friendliest staff. I’ve found the one I would recommend. Try and, in his words, “The cheese held it together like a mother holds sion was even better. for yourself. a newborn.” If he had a complaint it was that the tortilla was A few days later I went back at dinnertime with Lucas and Graham tagging along. Graham jumped right on a kid’s cheese rather crispy on the edges. I don’t see him filling out a comment Taqueria Mexico card, though. He took it down as if he were a much larger man quesadilla ($4.99) and chose rice over french fries while Lucas than he is. felt manlier with an adult shrimp quesadilla ($10.99). Both boys 3337 Airport Blvd. Pato is a taco fan. You can’t get him to hush about tacos. When are quesadilla crazy and cut them up into tiny triangles, really just Mobile 36608 he visits a place for the first time, he goes with what he knows as an excuse to wield a knife for a moment. 251-550-0051

20 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 21 JaMaicaN vibe ($) three georges caNDy shoP ($) royal scaM ($$) golDeN boWl ($) Mind-blowing island food. Light lunch with Southern flair. Gumbo, Angus beef & bar. Hibachi Grill & Asian Cuisine. 3700 Gov’t Blvd. ste A • 602-1973 226 dauphin st. • 433-6725 72. s. Royal st. • 432-sCAM (7226) 309 Bel Air Blv.d • 470-8033 JiMMy JohN’s ($) troPical sMoothie ($) RUTH’s CHRis sTeAK HoUse ($$$) HiBACHi 1 ($-$$) Sandwiches, catering & delivery too. Great smoothies, wraps & sandwiches. Exceptional service & taste. Asian Cuisine. 6920 Airport Blvd. • 414-5444 du Rhu dr. • 378-5648 271 Glenwood st. • 476-0516 2370 Hillcrest Rd. Unit B • 380-6062 Joe CAin CAfé ($) 570 schillinger Road • 634-3454 sage restauraNt ($$) KAi JAPAnese ResTAURAnT ($-$$) Pizzas, sandwiches, cocktails. uNcle JiMMy’s Delicious hot- Inside the Mobile Marriott. Asian Cuisine. $ uNDer 26 n. Royal st. • 338-2000 Dogs ($) 3101 Airport Blvd. • 476-6400 5045 Cottage Hill Rd. • 607-6454 $10/PersoN MaMa’s ($) Hotdogs. uNioN ($$$) liQuiD ($$) $$ 10-25/PeRson Slap your mama good home cooking. 2550 dauphin island Pkwy s. • 307-5328 Premium steaks & burgers. Amazing sushi & assortment of rolls. $$$ over 25/PersoN 220 dauphin st. • 432-6262 WilD WiNg statio N ($) 659 dauphin st. • 432-0300 661 dauphin st. • 432-0109 Mars hill caFe ($) Wings. taMara’s DoWNtoWN ($$) MiKATo JAPAnese sTeAK HoUse ($$) Great sandwiches, coffee & more. 1500 Gov’t st. • 287-1526 Casual fine dining. Upscale sushi & specialties. 1087 downtowner Blvd. • 643-1611 yAK THe KATHMAndU KiTCHen 104 n. section st., fairhope • 929-2219 364 Azalea Rd. • 343-6622 coMPletely MARy’s soUTHeRn CooKinG ($) ($-$$) THe BUll ($-$$) rice asiaN grill & sushi bar ($) Southern Cooking. Authentic foods from Himalayan region. N. Mexico/Santa Fe & Gulf Coast cuisine. Sushi Bar. coMFortable 3011 springhill Ave. • 476-2232 3210 dauphin st. • 287-0115 609 dauphin st. • 378-5091 3964 Gov’t Blvd. • 378-8083 all sPorts bar & grill ($) Micheli’s caFe ($) 400 eastern shore Center • 459-2862 the trellis rooM ($$$) RoCK n Roll sUsHi ($$) Classic hotdogs, gyros & milkshakes. Cafe Contemporary Southern Cuisine Sushi. 3408 Plesant Valley Rd • 345-9338 6358 Cottage Hill Rd. • 725-6917 Battle House Hotel, Royal st. • 338-5493 3299 Bel Air Mall • 287-0445 al’s hotDogs ($) MiKo’s iTAliAn iCe ($) ‘cue Zea’s ($$) taste oF thai ($$) Classic hotdogs, gyros & milkshakes. Hotdogs Sandwiches & Cool Treats BACKyARd CAfe & BBQ ($) Gourmet rotisserie. Prime rib & seafood. Thai Cuisine. 4701 Airport Blvd. • 342-3243 3371 dauphin island Pkwy • 300–4015 Home cookin’ like momma made. 4671 Airport Blvd. • 344-7414 9091 Us-90 irvington • 957-1414 ATlAnTA BReAd CoMPAny ($-$$) MoMMa golDberg’s Deli ($) 2804 springhill Ave. • 473-4739 Wasabi sushi ($$) Sandwiches, salads & more. Sandwiches & Momma’s Love. BAR-B-QUinG wiTH My Honey ($$) Japanese cusine. 3680 dauphin st. • 380-0444 3696 Airport Blvd. • 344-9500 BBQ, burgers, wings & seafood a little viNo 3654 Airport Blvd. s. C • 725-6078 CAfe 219 ($) 5602 old shell Rd. • 287-6556 19170 Hwy 43 Mt. Vernon. • 839-9927 doMKe MARKeT Pho yeN ($) Salads, sandwiches & potato salad. MonTeGo’s ($-$$) BRiCK PiT ($) Wine, Beer, Gourmet foods, & more. Authentic Vietnamese cuisine. 219 Conti st. • 438-5234 Fresh Caribbean-style food & craft beer. A favorite barbecue spot. 720 schillinger Rd. s. Unit 8 • 287-1851 763 Holcombe Ave. • 478-5814 caFe Malbis ($) 6601 Airport Blvd. • 634-3445 5456 old shell Rd. • 343-0001 FathoMs louNge Contemporary fare & spirits. Mostly MuFFiNs ($) DreaMlaND bbQ ($) A tapas reaturant, cocktails & live music. 28396 Hwy. 181, daphne • 661-6620 Muffins, coffee & wraps. Ribs, sandwiches & great sides. 64 s. water st. • 438-4000 FroM the DePths CAMille’s sidewAlK CAfé ($) 105 dauphin st. • 433-9855 3314 old shell Rd. • 479-9898 Pour baby bauDeaN’s ($$) newK’s exPRess CAfe ($) Moe’s origiNal bar b Que ($) Wine bar, craft beers & bistro Fried, grilled, steamed & always fresh. Gourmet wraps, pizzas, & more. 3300 River Rd. • 973-9070 5817 old shell Rd. • 343-0200 Oven-baked sandwiches & more. Bar-b-que & music. 6808 Airport Blvd. • 343-3555 CAMelliA CAfé ($-$$$) 252 Azalea Rd. • 341-3533 Bayfront Park dr., daphne • 625-RiBs Firehouse WiNe bar & shoP boNeFish grill ($$) PaNiNi Pete’s ($) 701 springhill Ave. • 410-7427 Wine Shop. Eclectic dining & space. Contemporary southern fare. 6955 Airport Blvd. • 633-7196 61 section st., fairhope • 928-4321 Original sandwich and bake shop. 4672 Airport Blvd. • 300-8516 216 st francis st. • 421-2022 caMMie’s olD Dutch ($) 42 ½ section st., fairhope • 929-0122 saucy Q barbQue ($) reD or White BoUdReAUx’s CAJUn GRill ($-$$) 102 dauphin st. • 405-0031 Award-winning BarBQue. Wine Shop. Quality Cajun & New Orleans Cuisine. Mobile’s classic ice cream spot. 29249 Us Highway 98 daphne. • 621-1991 2511 old shell Rd. • 471-1710 PDQ ($) 1111 Gov’t Blvd. • 433-7427 323A de la Mare Ave, fairhope • 990-0003 carPe DieM ($) Chicken fingers, salad & sandwiches. sMoKey deMBo sMoKe HoUse ($) 1104 dauphin st.. • 478-9494 caJuN seaFooD ($) 1165 University Blvd. • 202-0959 Smoke House royal street taverN Seafood market & deli fresh seafood. Deli foods, pastries & specialty drinks. 408 dauphin island Pkwy. • 478-9897 4072 old shell Rd. • 304-0448 Pita Pit ($) 3758 dauphin island Pkwy. • 473-1401 Live music,martinis & dinner menu. CHAT-A-wAy CAfe ($) Pitas. 26 n. Royal st. • 338-2000 craviN caJuN ($) 211 dauphin st. • 690-7482 southerN NaPa Po-boys, salads & seafood. Quiches & sandwiches. 1870 dauphin island Pkwy • 287-1168 4366 old shell Rd. • 343-9889 QUeen G’s CAfé ($) DroP DeaD gourMet Bistro plates, craft beers and pantry. CHiCKen sAlAd CHiCK ($) Down home cooking for lunch. alabaMa cruises ($$) 2304 Main st. • 375-2800 eD’s seaFooD sheD ($$) 2518 old shell Rd. • 471-3361 Fine dining & sailing Fried seafood served in hefty portions. Chicken Salad, Salad & Soup. orange Beach • 973-1244 3382 Hwy. 98 • 625-1947 2370 s. Hillcrest Rd. Unit R • 660-0501 ReGinA’s KiTCHen ($-$$) FalaFel? try soMe DauPhiN st. caFe ($) Sandwiches, subs and soups. bay gourMet ($$) felix’s fisH CAMP ($$) 2056 Gov’t st. • 476-2777 A premier caterer & cooking classes. Upscale dining with a view. Hot Lunch, daily menu (Inside Via) 1880-A Airport Blvd. • 450-9051 huMMus 1420 Hwy. 98 • 626-6710 1717 dauphin st. • 470-5231 roly Poly ($) bistro escoFFie ($$) 7 sPiCe ($-$$) FisherMaN’s legacy ($) creaM & sugar ($) Wraps & salads. Healthy, delicious Mediterranean food. 809 Hillcrest Rd. • 607-6378 Fine dining French fare. 3762 Airport Blvd. • 725-1177 Deli, market and catering. Breakfast, lunch & Ice cream too. 1714 dauphin st. • 450-2030 4380 Halls Mill Rd. • 665-2266 351 George st. #B • 405-0003 3220 dauphin st. • 479-2480 BRiQUeTTes sTeAKHoUse ($-$$) ABBA’s MediTeRRAneAn CAfe ($-$$) halF shell oyster house ($) D’ Michael’s ($) Rosie’s GRill ($-$$) Beef, lamb & seafood. Sandwiches, southwest fare, 7 days. Grilled steaks, chicken & seafood. 4356 old shell Rd. • 340-6464 Seafood. Philly cheese steaks, gyros & more. 720A schillinger Rd. s. s2. • 607-7200 3654 Airport Blvd. • 338-9350 7101-A Theodore dawes Rd. • 653-2979 1203 Hwy 98 ste. 3d, daphne • 626-2440 CAfé 615 ($$-$$$) JeRUsAleM CAfe ($-$$) lucy b. gooDe ($$) Delish Desserts ($) RoyAl KniGHT ($) Mobile’s oldest Middle Eastern cuisine. Lunch & dinner. American fare with local ingredients. 5773 Airport Blvd. • 304-1155 Gulf Coast cuisine, reinvented. Great desserts & hot lunch. 615 dauphin st. • 432-8434 200 e. 25th Ave., Gulf shores • 967-5858 23 Upham st. • 473-6115 3004 Gov’t Blvd • 287-1220 MeDiterraNeaN saNDWich DeW DroP iNN ($) royal street caFe ($) CAfé RoyAl ($$-$$$) coMPaNy ($) lulu’s ($$) Homemade lunch & breakfast. Prime steak & seafood in elegant setting. Live music & great seafood. Classic burgers, hotdogs & setting. 101 n. Royal st. • 405-5251 Great & quick. 200 e. 25th Ave., Gulf shores • 967-5858 1808 old shell Rd. • 473-7872. 104 n. Royal st. • 434-0011 274 dauphin st. • 545-3161 2502 schillinger DoWNtoWNers ($) satori coFFeehouse ($) dUMBwAiTeR ($$-$$$) Rd. ste. 2 • 725-0126 MuDbugs at the looP ($) Coffee, smoothies, lunch & beers. Serving local seafood & produce 6890 Us-90 (daphne) • 621-2271 Cajun Kitchen & seafood market. Great sandwiches, soups & salads. 167 dauphin st. • 458-9573 2005 Government st. • 478-9897 107 dauphin st. • 433- 8868 5460 old shell Rd. • 344-4575 isabella’s ($$$) MinT HooKAH BisTRo ($) oRiGinAl oysTeR HoUse ($-$$) e WiNg house ($) serDa’s coFFeehouse ($) Great Mediterranean food. Coffee, lunches, live music & gelato. Steakhouse. 5951 old shell Rd. • 450-9191 A great place for kids & seafood. Wings. 3733 Hwy. 98 • 626-2188 195 s University suite H • 662-1830 3 Royal st. s. • 415-3000 305 delaMare Ave, fairhope • 990-5513 2212 dauphin island Pkwy • 479-2021 sPot oF tea ($) KiTCHen on GeoRGe ($-$$) RiVeR sHACK ($-$$) Firehouse subs ($) Mobile’s favorite spot for breakfast & lunch. Contemporary American food. Far easterN Fare Seafood, burgers & steaks. 306 dauphin st. • 433-9009. 351A George & savannah st. • 436-8890 6120 Marina dr., dog River • 443-7318. Hot subs, cold salads & catering. baMboo bistro ($$) 6300 Grelot Rd. • 631-3730 southerN DecaDeNce Desserts ($) legacy bar & grill ($$$) Asian Cuisine. THe HARBoR RooM ($-$$) Five guys burgers & Fries ($) Soups, Salads, Desserts & Sandwiches. American, Seafood,Stekhouse. 3662 Airport Blvd. • 378-5466 Unique seafood. 1956 B University Blvd. • 300-8304 9 du Rhu dr. s. • 341-3370 64 s. water st. • 438-4000 Burgers & Fries baMboo FusioN ($$) 4401 old shell Rd. • 447-2393 sTeVie’s KiTCHen ($) Maghee’s grill oN the hill Asian Cuisine. THe BlUeGill ($-$$) 4663 Airport Blvd. • 300-8425 Sandwiches, soups, salads & more. ($-$$) 2400 Airport Blvd. • 307-5535 A historic seafood dive w/ live music. foosACKly’s ($) 41 west i-65 service Rd. n suite 150. Great lunch & dinner. BAMBoo sTeAKHoUse ($$) 3775 Hwy. 98 • 625-1998 Famous chicken fingers. TP CRoCKMieRs ($) 3607 old shell Rd. • 445-8700 Sushi Bar. THe GRAnd MARineR ($-$$) 310 s. University Blvd. • 343-0047 American Restaurant & Bar MeltiNg Pot ($$$) 650 Cody Rd. s • 300-8383 Local seafood & produce. 2250 Airport Blvd. • 479-2922 250 dauphin st. • 476-1890 Fondue Restaurant. BAnGKoK THAi ($-$$) 6036 Rock Point Rd. • 443-5700 7641 Airport Blvd. • 607-7667 the bliND Mule ($) 840 Montlimar dr. • 341-7395 Delicious, traditional Thai cuisine. tiN toP restauraNt & oyster 2558 schillinger Rd. • 219-7761 Daily specials made from scratch. Noble south ($$) 3821 Airport Blvd. • 344-9995 bar ($$) 3249 dauphin st. • 479-2000 57 n. Claiborne st. • 694-6853. Local ingredients baNZai JaPaNese restauraNt ($$) Seafood, Steaks, & extensive wine list. gulF coast coNey & ice creaM THe HoUse ($-$$) 203 dauphin st. • 690-6824 Traditional sushi & lunch. 6232 Bon secour Hwy Cnty Rd. 10. • 949-5086 Parlor ($) Seafood, sandwiches, salads & soups. noJA ($$-$$$) 312 schillinger Rd. • 633-9077 winTzell’s oysTeR HoUse ($-$$) Sandwiches, Coneys & Ice cream 4513 old shell Rd. • 408-9622 Inventive & very fresh cuisine. beNJas ($) Seafood. 5395 Battleship Pkwy. • 660-4899 the huNgry oWl ($) 6 n. Jackson st. • 433-0377 Thai & Sushi 605 dauphin st. • 432-4605 istaNbul grill ($) Burgers, flatbread pizza & seafood. osMaN’s restauraNt ($$) 5369 d Hwy 90 w • 661-5100 6700 Airport Blvd. • 341-1111 1208 shelton Beach Rd., saraland • 442-3335 Authentic Turkish Resturant. 7899 Cottage Hill Rd. • 633-4479 Supreme European cuisine. cuisiNe oF iNDia ($$) 3702 Airport Blvd. • 461-6901 the village Deli ($) 2579 Halls Mill Rd. • 479-0006 Lunch Buffet Deli. 3674 Airport Blvd. • 341-6171 312 fairhope Ave, fairhope • 929-3354

22 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 RoMA CAfe ($-$$) Memphis-style Q. is the gaMe oN? MaMa Mia! No gaMbliNg Coast Restaurant at Beau Rivage ($) AsHlAnd MidTown PUB ($-$$) beNtZ’s PiZZa Pub ($) Pasta, salad and sandwiches. 7143 Airport Blvd. • 341-7217 casiNo Fare Sports bar-style joint. Pizzas, pastas, & calzones. Homemade pizza and Italian dishes. roMaNo’s MacaroNi grill ($$) 245-A old shell Rd. • 479-3278 28567 County Rd. 13 • 625-6992 wind CReeK CAsino: buFFalo WilD WiNgs ($) BUCK’s PizzA ($$) Italian. 303 Poarch Rd. Atmore • 866-946-3360 GRAnd CAsino: springdale Mall 3250 Airport Blvd. • 450-4556 Fire at Wind Creek Casino & Hotel ($$- 280 Beach Blvd. Biloxi • 800-946-2946 Best wings & sporting events. Delivery. taMara’s bar & grill ($) 6341 Airport Blvd. • 378-5955 350 dauphin st. • 431-9444 $$$) LB’s Steakhouse at Grand Casino ($$- butch cassiDy’s ($) gaMbiNo brothers ($) Wings, po-boys, burgers. Prime steaks, seafood & wine. $$$) 210 eastern shore Center, Hwy. 98 • 929-0002 Grill at Wind Creek Casino & Hotel ($) Famous burgers, sandwiches & wings. Homemade pastas & sandwiches. via eMilia ($$) Fine dining with steak & fine wine. 60 n. florida st. • 450-0690 873 Hillcrest Ave. • 344-8115 Contemporary & old-fashioned favorites. Cuu Long Super Pho at Grand Casino Homemade pastas & pizzas made daily. callaghaN’s irish social club ($) gaMbiNo’s italiaN grill ($) 5901 old shell Rd. • 342-3677 HARd RoCK CAsino: ($$) Burgers & beer. Italian, Steaks & Seafood. 777 Beach Blvd.Biloxi • 877-877-6256 Asian noodle soups, bubble teas & more. 916 Charleston st. • 433-9374 18 laurel Ave. fairhope • 990-0995 guiDo’s ($$) Vibe at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino heroes sPorts bar & grille ($) olé Mi AMiGo! ($-$$) islAnd View: Sandwiches & cold beer. Fresh cuisine nightly on menu. DauPhiN st. taQueria ($) Fine surf, turf, atmosphere & cigars. 3300 w. Beach Blvd. Biloxi • 877-774-8439 273 dauphin st. • 433-4376 1709 Main st., daphne • 626-6082 Enchiladas, tacos, & authentic fare. Ruth’s Chris Steak House at Hard Rock Emeril’s Gulf Coast Fish House at Hillcrest & old shell Rd. • 341-9464 la rosso ($$) 661 dauphin st. • 432-2453 Hotel & Casino ($$$) Island View Casino ($$-$$$) MaNcis ($) Comfort food. Exceptional servie & taste. 1716 Main st. ste. C, daphne • 281-2982 el charro ($) Kick it up a notch. Burgers. Hard Rock Café at Hard Rock Hotel and 1715 Main st. • 375-0543 MelloW MushrooM ($) Finest Mexican in WeMo. C&G Grille at Island View Casino ($) Casino ($) Large breakfast, lunch or dinner menu. Mcsharry’s irish Pub ($) Pies & awesome beer selection. 7751 Airport Blvd. • 607-0882 American fare & rockin’ memorabilia. 2032 Airport Blvd. • 471-4700 Brillant Reubens & Fish-N-Chips. fUeGo ($-$$) Satisfaction at Hard Rock Hotel and PAlACe CAsino: 101 n. Brancroft st. fairhope • 990-5100 5660 old shell Rd. • 380-1500 Casino ($) Outstanding Mexican cuisine. 158 Howard Ave. Biloxi • 800-725-2239 Mug shots ($$) Navco PiZZa ($$) 2066 o ld shell Rd. • 378-8621 Southern favorites & fresh-smoked meats. Wahoo’s Poolside Bar & Grill at Palace Bar & Grill. Pizza,subs & pasta. los arcos ($) 6255 Airport Blvd. • 447-2514 1368 ½ navco Rd.• 479-0066 iP CAsino: Casino Resort ($-$$) olD 27 grill ($) PiCKlefisH ($$) Quaint Mexican restaurant. 850 Bayview Ave. Biloxi • 888-946-2847 Fresh seafood & more. 5556 old shell Rd. • 345-7484 Burgers, dogs & 27 beers & wines. Pizza, sandwiches & salads. Tien at IP Casino Resort Spa ($-$$) Mignon’s at Palace Casino Resort 19992 Hwy.181 old County Rd. 5955 old shell Rd.• 344-9899 la cociNa ($) Pan-Asian cuisine made in front of you. ($$-$$$) fairhope • 281-2663 PaPa’s Place ($$) Authentic Mexican cuisine. Highlights Sports Lounge at IP Casino Extraordinary wine, steaks & seafood. the laNDiNg ($) A Taste of Italy . BYOB. 4633 Airport Blvd. • 342-5553 Resort Spa ($) From seafood to steaks. 28691 U.s. Highway 98 • 626-1999 MARiA BoniTA AGAVe BAR & GRill ($-$$) Brews & game on 65 screens. TReAsURe BAy: 11799 dauphin island Pkwy. • 973-2696 High Tide Café at IP Casino Resort Spa ($) PiNZoNe’s italiaN DoWNtoWN ($$) Mexican cuisine. 1980 Beach Blvd. Biloxi • 800-747-2839 lUCKy’s iRisH PUB ($) Italian, catering, to-go. Casual & relaxing, extensive menu. 3977 Gov’t Blvd. • 342-5553 The Den at Treasure Bay Irish pub fare & more. 312 fairhope Ave, fairhope • 990-5535 3692 Airport Blvd • 414-3000 PiNZoNe’s italiaN village ($$) saNta Fe grill ($) BeAU RiVAGe: Casino ($-$$) the staDiuM ($) Italian. Locally-owned, fresh cuisine. 875 Beach Blvd. Biloxi • 888-952-2582 Intimate & casual with daily specials. 3160 Bel Air Mall • 450-2440 Catch the games with great food. 312 fairhope Ave, fairhope • 990-5535 BR Prime at Beau Rivage ($$-$$$) CQ at Treasure Bay Casino ($$-$$$) 19270 Hwy. 98 fairhope • 990-0408 raveNite ($) TAQUeRiA MexiCo ($-$$) Fine dining establishment. Elegant atmosphere & tantalizing entrees. WeMos ($) Pizza, Pasta, Salad & more Authentic Mexican flavor. Jia at Beau Rivage ($-$$) Blu at Treasure Bay Casino ($) Wings, tenders, hotdogs & sandwiches. 102 n. section st. • 929-2525 3733 Airport Blvd. • 414-4496 Exotic cuisine. Lounge with cocktails & tapas menu. 312 schillinger Rd. • 633-5877 Memphis Q at Beau Rivage ($)

seND listiNgs to [email protected]

October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 23 CUISINEWORD OF MOUTh C culinary world mourns passing of Paul Prudhomme BY ANDY MACDONALD/CUISINE EDITOR | [email protected]

oday there are so many “celebrity chefs” around you to-head oyster eating contest at all Wintzell’s locations Nov. 1, He took first place in the Shrimp Festival’s Chef Challenge. can hardly consider them celebrities. In the 1980s the but in the meantime the Gulf’s place for bivalves is focusing on Make us proud, Chris. word “celebrity” was rarely, if ever, attached to the word the kids. “chef.” We knew of Julia Child. Most of us knew Justin Oct. 16-18, all locations are encouraging our youngsters to Yeah, but can I get a Quarter Pounder at 6 a.m.? tWilson. But when Paul Prudhomme came on the scene with the step up and try their first-ever raw oyster on the house. You This week, McDonald’s lifted its ban on breakfast after 1984 release of his cookbook “Paul Prudhomme’s Louisiana never forget your first. I personally cannot wait to see the looks 10:30 a.m. The fast food giant has heavily promoted the “break- Kitchen,” the world of food changed immediately. on the faces of Lucas and Graham and have begun the “pep fast anytime” campaign with ads everywhere you turn. This, of The chef made his way up the ranks of Louisiana restau- talk” for this weekend. course, does not come without a slight hitch. rants before becoming the first American-born executive chef Kids’ meals will be free and the promotion is open to those The menu is limited, and there are two different versions at Commander’s Palace in 1975. He’s credited with putting ages 4-12 with proper ID. Get your cameras ready and let’s of that menu. One is centered on McMuffins and the other on it on the path it continues today. While working there, he and hope this becomes an annual event. McBiscuits, but you won’t find a location serving both in the his wife, Kay, opened K-Paul’s in 1979 and eventually made non-traditional breakfast hours. Both versions of the menu have the move to meet with demand. He even hired budding chef Shrimp Fest demos make a splash hot cakes, saints be praised. Hash browns will not be served at Emeril Lagasse. Shrimp Fest has been going on for 44 years, but this year’s all locations but most places will have them. Without Prudhomme we would have missed out on several event included several demonstrations that brought an educa- The question is whether the full menu will be available all things. He introduced turducken to the United States. I have his tional element to the food, music and frivolity. day in the near future. Sometimes a man needs a breakfast blackening seasoning in my spice cabinet right now; it was so Latrigue’s Seafood and Fishing Time TV’s Crab Claw and McNugget. popular with his redfish recipe that commercial fishing of the Buzz Bait gave a demonstration on how to pick crabs and shuck species had to be restricted. He is responsible for the popularity oysters, and fed the crowd with grilled alligator sausage and Oyster Fest offers VIP treatment of Creole and Cajun cuisine in the rest of America because of scallop shish kebabs, grilled oysters and West Indies salad. The closer we get to Nov. 6 and 7 the more excited I be- his success. Captain Randy Boggs of Reel Surprise Charters spoke about come. The Hangout Oyster Cook-Off and Craft Beer Festival is In the 1980s there was no chef bigger, in many ways, than deer processing and storing meats, and gave out samples of becoming one of the largest and most celebrated festivals in our Prudhomme. I remember early on having a fascination with him summer sausage sticks, fried deer steak and grilled wild boar. area. For those of you looking make the weekend a grand affair, as a heavy fellow who cooks on TV and people treat him like Chef Chris Sherrill of the Flora-Bama Yacht Club and the you may be interested in the VIP tickets. a rock star. After nine cookbooks, a network of fans, students NUISANCE group spoke about the preparation of bycatch or The $150 pass gets you into the Friday night craft beer festi- who are now celebs in their own right and a famous restaurant “trash fish” that his group deals with as well as invasive species. val and the Saturday cook-off. You’ll also receive chef tastings, that still bears his name, he’s as much of a rock star as we’ve “Nuisance, Underutilized and/or Invasive, that are Sustainable admission to chef meet-and-greets, two complimentary booklets ever had. He will be missed. and Available, through Noble Culinary Endeavors” is what the of tasting tickets for a total of 30 (this is how you purchase beer acronym represents. Visit the group’s Facebook page for more and food in the festival) and, most importantly, admission to a Wintzell’s Shellebration continues with some- information. He then wowed the crowd with blackened duck “Chefs Only” private after-party Saturday night. thing for the kids with sweet chili-braised pork belly. These tickets are limited, so get yours now by visiting www. The three months of “shellebrating” at Wintzell’s Oyster In the meantime, Sherrill is preparing to compete in the hangoutcookoff.com House is still going strong. The event will culminate in a head- World Food Championships Nov. 3-10 in Kissimmee, Florida. Recycle!

t’s been a year since Mobile United sponsored its latest round Notable is the fact that the Mobile City Council, in its current system functions, our behavior and how our citizens interact,” of “Community Conversations on Race Relations” in Mobile form, was created amid allegations of racism. In a city that periodi- Lewis said. “But it’s all about proximity. However close we are to and Baldwin counties. Originally part of an initiative dat- cally promotes its exclusion from the violence that plagued many whatever issues we have determines our perspective. If we don’t ing back to the 1990s, the more recent conversations were U.S. cities during the Civil Rights era, it was a lawsuit brought on see it, if it’s not in our face, it doesn’t exist. Even if in reality it’s iencouraged by Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, a wealthy white behalf of its black residents — only settled by a consent decree in been there all along.” businessman, after he intervened to end an apparent racial divide 1983 and a special election in 1985 — that resulted in the mayor- Lewis, along with Dr. Robert Gray, filmed dozens of interviews on the Mobile City Council regarding the nomination of his prede- council form of government and the first representation of minori- with local, state and national policymakers to help structure Mobile cessor, Sam Jones, to the board of commissioners at the Mobile ties in municipal affairs. United’s conversations, later amassing the body of work into a proj- Area Water and Sewer Service. Despite a historical absence of rioting, racially motivated church ect called “Mobile in Black and White, Race in the 21st Century.” Roughly nine months earlier, Jones, a black man with a long bombings, lynchings of voter registration activists, or beatings and “The opportunity came for the segments to be used as tools for but comparatively unprofitable career in the public sector, had lost the conversation and we were excited to provide people with a start- a similarly divisive mayoral election to Stimpson after a campaign ing point,” Lewis said. “There is a need for creating safe environ- frequently stained by casual allusions to racism. Jones’ subsequent ments for sensitive dialogue that in some cases can be emotional. nomination to the MAWSS board was endorsed by the council’s What often happens when talking about race, there is a lot of fear three black members, while its four white representatives, citing in some cases, a lack of understanding or even an unwillingness to concerns about Jones’ competency for financial management and listen to someone else’s perspective.” respect for public transparency, stonewalled the appointment. But while hundreds turned out for the initial community con- At a time when Stimpson’s administration was still crafting an versation at the Alabama School of Math and Science in August agenda and working behind the scenes to attract new industrial de- 2014, with 80 percent of survey respondents indicating race velopment and business investment while site work at Airbus’ first relations in the city needed to improve, attendance at subsequent U.S. assembly line was ongoing at Brookley Aeroplex, the council’s events dramatically tapered. A conversation at a historically black segregation over Jones’ nomination reached a climax on May 13, church in Fairhope last April drew only two black attendees of 18 2014, when Stimpson walked out of a council meeting after the total participants. One was a facilitator for the conversations while black delegation retaliated by abstaining from a vote to approve a the other arrived just to unlock the facility, but ended up staying common neighborhood expenditure. to participate. By the end of the month, Stimpson announced he was supporting Katherine Pitman, executive director of Mobile United, said the Jones’ appointment, warning “the rift in our City Council, if not cor- initiative is admirable, even if the participation is not. rected, could spread and begin to undermine all of our efforts to build “We need to increase the conversations, but I think people are a better Mobile.” In the same announcement, he called for “a forum looking for safe places to talk,” she said. “Attendance hasn’t been to address the issue of race relations in Mobile ... I want it to be an huge and I guess I’m not surprised. But it’s a huge issue — very honest conversation about how we can move forward together.” systemic — where a lot of people are unaware or blind to it, or But the rhetoric didn’t end there, and couldn’t solely be attributed don’t understand it at all.” to known sources. The day before two white councilors eventually Lewis said the lack of participation is indicative of a broader pat- reversed course and approved Jones’ appointment, many Mobile tern of people of all races being generally reactive, rather than pro- County voters received a robocall from an unidentifiable organization active about racial dialogue. Undeniably, the topic of race continues calling itself “Citizens of Greater Mobile,” warning of a Jones-led to be omnipresent in the national conversation, from the election of conspiracy to annex the city of Prichard and change the demographic the first black president, to increasing exposure of law enforcement to “ensure Sam Jones’ victory in the next mayoral election.” practices in black communities, to the debate over the legacy of the According to 2010 census data, more than 85 percent of Prich- Confederate flag or the modern merits of the Voting Rights Act. ard’s 22,000 residents are black, compared to just over 50 percent In March, President Barack Obama stood on the Edmund Pettus of Mobile’s residents. Stimpson defeated Jones by just six percent- Illustration/Laura Rasmussen Bridge in Selma to commemorate the 50th anniversary of “Bloody age points in the election. At best, the robocall was racial fearmon- Sunday,” noting that while many things have changed, “we just gering. mass arrests of nonviolent protesters, Mobile, like much of the need to open our eyes, and our ears, and our hearts to know that It was Council President Gina Gregory and District 5 Council- country, can’t ascribe it to racial unity. On the contrary, according to this nation’s racial history still casts its long shadow upon us.” Less man Joel Daves who eventually cast the deciding votes, joining data gathered by Lagniappe to be incrementally published in print than four months later, he was leading mourners in a rendition of Fred Richardson, Levon Manzie and C.J. Small in approving the and compiled completely online in the coming weeks, the city is “Amazing Grace” at a memorial service for nine black victims of Jones appointment and putting the division to bed. still largely segregated — with black and white residents gener- a racially motivated shooting by a white supremacist at a church in “Over the last couple of days it has become increasingly clear ally living in separate neighborhoods, with glaring disparities in Charleston, South Carolina. that this debate was spinning out of control and posed the possibil- household incomes, family structure, home ownership, educational Absent the violence, it’s still hard to imagine the same senti- ity of damaging our prospects of attracting jobs to the city,” Daves achievements and, in some cases, political representation. ments and perceptions don’t exist in Mobile and surrounding explained afterward. “We must be a city that is prepared to recruit Dr. Joe’l Lewis, a member of Mobile United’s race relations areas. According to data provided by the city, in the 2013 mayoral and accept those jobs. I was afraid that with the ongoing discussion committee who organizes Community Conversations, isn’t sur- election, the 18 precincts won by Sam Jones were in neighbor- we were having, that would impact our ability to attract jobs just prised by the statistics. Earlier this week he suggested data often hoods averaging 71.3 percent black, while Stimpson’s victory in the as we are on the cusp of one of the greatest opportunities for job states the obvious, yet doesn’t necessarily lead to action. other 20 precincts came courtesy of a population with 63.1 percent growth in the last 70 years.” “Data can be a key indicator of our quality of life, how our identifying as white.

26 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 Stimpson’s supporters enjoyed an average household CRIME AND JUSTICE income of $48,981, which is 17.3 percent more than the state Among other disparities, black males tend to become average. Jones’ precincts on the other hand, earned an average ensnared in the criminal justice system at a higher rate and a of $31,096, or 25.3 percent lower than the state average. younger age than white males. Mobile United’s community The poorest precinct in the city — a triangle bounded by survey on race relations reported that from a group of more Michigan Avenue, Virginia Street and Interstate 10 — earned than 800 respondents, 45.6 percent believed defendants were just $17,556 per household, according to the U.S. Census treated differently by local law enforcement officers and courts Bureau’s American Community Survey. It’s 84 percent black. based on their race or ethnic backgrounds. Asked whether the Only 32 of 1,243 voters in the precinct supported Stimpson for Mobile Police Department treated people fairly in all areas of mayor in 2013. Councilman C.J. Small’s mortuary is there. Across town, the richest precinct in the city reported an the city, 39.3 percent of respondents disagreed. average household income of $108,868. Restricted to the The MPD regularly arrests more individuals than any other neighborhood surrounding the Country Club of Mobile, it’s law enforcement agency in the county, but since Chief James 95 percent white. There, only 101 of 1,275 voters supported Barber was appointed by Stimpson in 2013, crime fighting Jones. Councilman Joel Daves’ house is there. tactics — particularly in minority neighborhoods — have In the Mobile-Daphne-Fairhope statistical area, census markedly changed. information indicates African Americans have a median age In contrast to his predecessor Michael T. Williams, a black 9.7 years younger than whites, meaning they don’t live as long. man, Barber, who is white, has emphasized “community Where 54.8 percent of white family households are anchored oriented” policing. Essentially, it’s a practice of sharing intel- by a married couple, the same is true for only 27.3 percent of ligence with citizens interested in eliminating systemic, feloni- black family households. Black females are three times more ous crime in their neighborhoods, while officers take a more likely to raise a family alone than are white females. tolerant approach to the enforcement of misdemeanors where Among all adults over 25 years of age, 18.2 percent of no person or property was harmed. African Americans have less than a high school education, Barber once referred to Williams’ department as an “oc- compared to 11.6 percent of white adults. Reported unem- cupying force,” and often says his new approach favors ployment for 2011-2013 was 4.9 percent for white workers “outcome over output.” Indeed, comparing the first six months in the local labor force, but 10.2 percent for black workers. of 2013 and 2015 finds the total number of bookings at the White households earn almost twice as much as black house- Mobile County Metro Jail fell 23 percent. A random sample of holds, while African Americans are more than three times bookings from that same period found the percentage of Afri- as likely to rely upon the federal Supplemental Nutrition can Americans booked into the jail fell as well, from 58.65 per- Assistance Program. cent during Williams’ tenure to 55.05 percent during Barber’s. Black people in Mobile and Baldwin counties are less likely Greater Mobile County is 34.6 percent black, according to have private health insurance, more likely to have public to the 2010 census, while African Americans make up 50.6 health insurance and more likely to have no insurance at all. percent of the population within the city limits of Mobile. Home ownership is a coin toss in the black community com- Meanwhile, according to the city’s 2014 Comprehensive pared to 73.6 percent of white families, and black-owned homes Annual Financial Report, the number of cases processed tend to be older, less efficient and in located in neighborhoods by the city’s municipal court soared during the first year with higher crime rates and lower performing schools. of Stimpson’s administration. In the last term of the Jones Asked if it was possible to empathize with such dispar- administration, the court handled an average of 70,072 cases ity, Stimpson affirmed. But he suggested the more any group per year. But in 2014, the court processed at least 86,606 cases, spends time assigning blame, the less time can be spent work- representing an increase of more than 23.59 percent. ing on possible solutions. At the time, the city had yet to finalize changes to the litter “If you think back on the campaign and some of things ordinance, so environmental cases stayed at levels compa- my opponent said, you would have to think it was meant to rable to previous years, but significant increases were seen in create controversy,” Stimpson said last summer. “And so we domestic violence, traffic and criminal cases. took the position that if it was to just provoke conversation to create division, we would take the high road and not fall Last June, city attorney Ricardo Woods cited the Depart- into that trap. There were a lot of accusations made that were ment of Justice report on the police department and court racially charged.” system in Ferguson, Missouri, a city embroiled in civil unrest Initiatives Stimpson’s administration has endorsed to help after a white police officer shot and killed an unarmed black even the playing field include hiring a consulting firm to teenager during a confrontation in August 2014. Woods said diversify hiring and promotions in public safety departments, in Mobile, the administration was working to prevent similar combating blight and seeking creative funding for redevelop- complaints from low-income residents about the threat of jail ment in low-income communities, taking a softer approach time for the inability to pay fines. to prosecuting misdemeanor offenses in favor of a targeted “We have two mechanisms to try to stop that,” he said. assault on pervasive and violent crime, and introducing “One is the time-to-pay docket which was created by the judg- changes to municipal court to give judges more flexibility with es. If you can’t pay, you show up and say ‘I have reason’ and adjudication. the fine can be remediated. The other is the expedited docket, The Mobile City Council also unanimously lobbied the what we call the ‘rocket docket,’ on Fridays. If a person can’t Mobile County Personnel Board to remove a question from job afford bond, then we look at the people with nonviolent of- applications asking candidates if they have ever been arrested. fenses, who are not a threat to society and may have just com- Lewis said an honest answer admitting a previous arrest often mitted a misdemeanor or municipal offense. Every Friday they Cartography/Thomas Strange disqualifies capable minority candidates, whether or not they are in front of judge to make sure they are not just sitting in jail Data courtesy city of Mobile, U.S. Census Bureau were convicted of a crime and regardless of its severity. Continued on Page 28

October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 27 with a cost affixed. We didn’t have that before. criminal conduct, continue to be denied employ- unemployment and poverty among citizens can you actually have about one-third of complaints That’s a creation by the new administration and ment and services which really, for their rest of be powder keg, particularly if incidents like on black officers, and the other two-thirds is the new court administrator and our office. We their lives, can encumber them from becoming officer-involved shootings are mishandled by an the white officers. The demographics of the don’t put people in jail for traffic citations.” full citizens,” he said. indifferent and insensitive police department. department is about one-third black. But when Earlier this week, Chief Municipal Court Locally, Brown sponsors Project H.O.P.E. “Ferguson didn’t happen over one issue,” you drill down even further and look at the Administrator Nathan Emmorey agreed, adding (Helping Offenders Pursue Excellence), a Barber said. “What you had was a developing citizens’ race, as compared to the officer’s race, police officers have the ability to issue “Uniform nationwide effort to find gainful employment for issue that went unaddressed. So all you had was a little more than half of the minority citizens Non-Traffic Citations and Complaints” for mi- ex-offenders. In the Mobile area, manufactur- a spark — the fuel was there and all it needed or African American complaints are on white nor offenses and magistrates have the discretion ers, industry and some trade businesses have was ignition. And so the shooting was the igni- officers, which is actually the demographics of to issue warrants or court summons. partnered with the program. A related event is tion and because of the lack of trust with the the city of Mobile. Now when you look at black “Typically, we’ve issued warrants, but are scheduled Oct. 15 at the Mobile Marriott. community, it didn’t matter what the facts were. officers, about 75 percent of the complaints on making a move to issue more summons as we One ex-offender interested in attending is You don’t deal with a Ferguson after a Ferguson them were from African Americans. So what it work toward getting defendants through court,” Chris “Champ” Napier, who spent 14 years happens, you have to deal with a Ferguson long tells me is the race of the officer doesn’t matter, Emmorey said, noting that new software imple- and eight months in state prison for a murder before it ever happens. There are going to be it’s more the police tactics and the policies of mented just last week should make the process he committed as a teenager. Describing it as a controversial issues, there is going to be mis- the department and training — the interrelation- even more efficient. “drug deal gone bad,” when he was a misguided conduct within the department. We have almost ship skills the officers are taught. So traditional The Department of Justice was also critical black kid in Prichard, Napier explained how he 800 employees so at times, you’re going to get police methods can be somewhat adversarial in of Ferguson’s reliance upon criminal fines and became a model prisoner and served his time rotten apples within the organization. It happens the minority community.” court fees to prop up its municipal budget. In without incident. On July 14, he was granted a everywhere. How well you deal with the rotten Meanwhile, Lewis has traveled the coun- 2014, Mobile collected more than $3.1 mil- full pardon from the state “with restoration of apples is very important but you don’t throw the try, sharing ideas and practices with a goal of lion in fines and forfeitures for the benefit of civil and political rights.” entire barrel out.” keeping the conversation going. She singled its general fund, including $1.17 million in But weeks later, he found himself wearing The MPD’s 2014 annual report noted 60 out Seattle, Washington as one example where fines, $405,243 in driver’s education fees and a Tyvek suit and a respirator, power washing complaints filed by citizens regarding officer substantial progress has been made with race $350,461 in court costs. But the number rep- chicken houses in Iowa in the middle of the conduct, involving 86 employees and 140 areas relations — the city even has its own Office of resents a decline of more than $1 million com- summer after the USDA ordered millions of of concern. Nineteen employees were cited for Civil Rights. pared to each of the previous three years, and birds exterminated to prevent an outbreak of improper conduct, primarily for procedures or “There is segment of our community who is only accounts for about 1.3 percent of revenues bird flu from spreading. demeanor. Three incidents of improper use of willing to start talking and for those, we owe av- in the city’s $230 million annual budget. “It’s the worst work, but it’s what I could force were identified by internal affairs, but the enues and safe spaces to allow that happen,” she Last year the city established its first Munici- find,” Napier said upon his return. “I told people two reports of racial bias were determined to be said. “If you look at the history of any change, it pal Court Judicial Administration Fund, which is how much I [earned] and they said I was crazy, unfounded. starts with dialogue, with identification of what “used to account for activities funded by dedicat- but I’d rather be poor and working than be In last three years of Chief Williams’ admin- the problem is. If we create those safe spaces, ed revenues established by State statute which are homeless or go back to prison.” istration, internal affairs investigated a total of where people don’t have negative consequences required to be used for the judicial administration Napier said he’s submitted dozens of applica- 95 citizen complaints, citing a total of 24 MPD for speaking their opinion and sharing ideas, of the Municipal Court.” In the prior fiscal year, tions to employers, but can’t get them to return employees for improper conduct. Again, it was the risk is never greater than the benefit of me the Stimpson administration noted, these activi- follow-up calls. primarily rooted in procedures or demeanor saying something. Safe spaces aren’t physical ties were reported as a component of the General “On the interview, they may be impressed and again, no incidences of racial bias were places, it is mutual respect, appreciation of each Fund. Five percent of certain municipal court with your skills or motivation, but they’ll never substantiated. other’s perspective, it’s me putting myself in fines also contribute to the Police and Firefighters be able to hire you because of your convictions. Elaborating on citizen complaints and inter- other people’s shoes. Whatever circles we are Retirement Plan, but only amounted to around I think if a person has done their time, the past nal affairs investigations, Barber said institu- in, participating in positive communication pro- $90,000 in fiscal year 2014. should be sealed and closed. It shouldn’t be a tional racism isn’t evident within the MPD. motes the inclusion of everyone, of people who In a separate concern, U.S. Attorney Kenyen factor in their ability to have future.” “A wealthy community has different needs may not be like us. And we need to embrace it.” Brown also noted “substantial” barriers to reen- For his part, Chief Barber said the riots in than a poor community does, but as far as race try to the workforce for convicted offenders. Ferguson were the result of a shared mistrust … the number of complaints from citizens on This is part of a series of stories examining race “It’s very disheartening for me to see people between citizens and the city’s administration, black and white officers is proportionate to the data in Mobile and Baldwin counties, for more, who have served their time for engaging in and he suggested problems like widespread demographics of the department,” he said. “So visit lagniappemobile.com/series/DiverseCity.

28 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 Diverse student body not mirrored in USA’s faculty demographics BY JOHN KELSEY/CONTRIBUTING WRITER

labama’s higher education system has had a storied past thing from advertising faculty job openings in places where more faculty, staff and administration to determine how to improve the when it comes to welcoming diversity. Gov. George Wal- diverse applicants may be looking to utilizing a search firm. campus as a whole. Coleman said she hopes to address the out- lace’s 1963 “Stand in the Schoolhouse Door,” where he “They can do some mining for folks that have the skills, abili- reach issue by encouraging existing staff to purposefully expand attempted to prevent the racial integration of the Uni- ties and knowledge,” Henderson said. “And they know in the their networks. Aversity of Alabama, wasn’t the end of the state’s scrutiny by the search firm that diversity would be a plus.” “If you’re relying on a network strategy, you’re only going federal government. Several Alabama colleges and universities in But search firms are typically reserved for administrative posi- to be able to contact people who people in your network know,” 1983 were again on the cusp of being forced to reevaluate their tions, which still leaves a large gap to fill. And while USA and Johnson elaborated. “And there are a lot of people out there who desegregation efforts. other educational institutions have developed competitive incen- we don’t know about and we can’t reach them.” Then, predominately white institutions (PWIs), as they are still tives to recruit qualified minority candidates, there is also the fact Although it can limit the number of applicants, Johnson ex- known today, were implicated in a lawsuit brought by Historically that many of these candidates will choose to enter industry rather plained that network recruitment can produce better results than Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), arguing they were still than academia. typical efforts. operating a “dual education” system that continued to promote To compound the situation, economics can play a large role in Even though diversity seems to be the proverbial uphill segregation 20 years after Wallace’s stand. which institutions are able to successfully recruit those interested battle, some things proposed recently may assist in socialization, The federal case the lawsuit spawned — Knight et al. v. United in faculty and administrative positions, regardless of race. both before and after a minority candidate is hired. As Coleman States — spent two years in litigation before the parties agreed to “[Other institutions] have the resources to say, ‘well, we’ll just explained, “opening the doors is one thing, welcoming people an initial settlement, part of which directed the defendant schools outbid the University of South Alabama,’” Henderson noted. through them is another.” to enter into a consent decree. The decree allowed the federal And the incentive of increasing someone’s pay based on their Being one of the more recent African American hires at USA, courts to monitor diversity recruitment at PWIs in hopes it would Coleman expressed how warmly she was welcomed, but suggest- “eliminate the vestiges of racism which still exist in Alabama’s ed something like a “black staff association” may have the ability college and university system.” to provide a more comprehensive approach in the hiring process. Dr. Hattie Myles, a 25-year employee of the University of She further explained that being able to connect with people who South Alabama (USA), was the first African American recruiter at have shared experiences — such as ethnicity — can make a big Louisiana State University, where there had been a similar lawsuit impact in getting people to a university and keeping them there. during the same time. Johnson agreed. “We had to attend this meeting and a guy from D.C. came As far as recruiting more minority students and non-faculty down,” Myles recalled. “His message was, ‘you either desegre- employees, USA has experienced better results. From 1991 to gate or you shut down.’” 2005, USA managed to improve its student body diversity from Myles, now assistant dean of student affairs and educational 10.5 percent African American to 17.7 percent. In the spring se- enrichment, joined USA not long after the decree was put in place mester of 2015, the student body was 20.8 percent African Ameri- and has been involved with recruitment and development efforts can, or about 3,285 of 15,805 total students. This percentage more ever since. She is primarily involved with the Diversity Recruit- closely mirrors the overall representation of African American ment and Enrichment for Admission into Medicine (DREAM) employees at the university, 26.2 percent of 5,505 employees. program, a newer version of a similar program initially developed Although USA is still a PWI at the academic level, with 64 during the decree. percent of students identifying as white, minority enrollment is Advancements in minority enrollment plus greater diversified higher than what is seen at some of its benchmark schools and scholarship and grant opportunities eventually led to the case’s other state universities. Auburn University, for example, reports closure in 2006, but the final settlement further required the defen- having just 1,886 African American students, less than 10 percent dants to create and implement “strategic diversity plans,” which of its total student body of 25,912. The University of Alabama is a USA completed in 2007. little better, enrolling 4,435 African Americans, or 12.3 percent of Employing more than 5,000 staff members and educating its total student body of 36,155. more than 15,000 students each year, USA is not only economi- USA’s student diversity has a lot to do with the level of acces- cally viable to Mobile, it’s considered a beacon of opportunity Photo/ Wikimedia.org sibility into the school, but it’s not just race that comes into play. and an institution expected to practice social, political and Alabama’s higher education system continues to “We’re much more diverse by class,” Johnson suggested. educational equality. But in spite of its diversity plan, one of the Much of USA’s larger representation of different socioeconom- central racial disparities still seen in most all higher education is struggle with diversity decades after Gov. Wallace’s ic backgrounds is can be attributed to its cost of tuition and admis- within the faculty. protest. sion requirements differing from that of other state schools. The During the 20 years spanning the decree, the number of average cost of tuition at USA is about $1,000 less per semester full-time African American faculty at USA actually declined, ethnicity isn’t something state institutions can do because they than at schools like Auburn and Alabama. USA also accepts lower from 3.5 percent in 1993 to 3.3 percent in 2005. Currently — 10 have obligations involving everyone who works for the university, scores on admission tests like the ACT, which can help students years later — African Americans represent just 4.5 percent (35 as well as how state or federal money can be spent. who might not have had the financial advantage of being tutored individuals) of full-time faculty at USA, while white faculty “If it takes a substantial financial premium to hire and bring for entrance exams. represent 83.5 percent, or 648 individuals. Such a large dispar- that person in, and they’re making much more than many others A broader socioeconomic representation is further evidenced ity may look bad on the surface, but there are many things that in the institution, then that creates issues as well,” USA Provost by the number of USA students receiving aid through federal Pell account for such numbers. and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. David Johnson Grants. Recent government data shows 4,616 USA students, or One of the most apparent causes is what is referred to as a said. “To be fair you’d have to increase everyone’s salary.” around 30 percent, received some form of federal aid. Auburn, “pipeline” problem. This basically means that minorities, par- According to Johnson, lifting the consent decree may have meanwhile, had 3,573 aid recipients, or about 14 percent of its ticularly African Americans, aren’t making their way to the upper actually slowed some progress in minority recruitment. This is total student body. echelons of higher education to be eligible for faculty positions in mainly because, in addition to more funds being available, the de- Johnson said an important part of USA’s mission is encourag- the first place. cree offered a certain level of legal protection. He explained that ing potential students to seek federal aid if they don’t qualify for “All institutions in some form or fashion have and should have during the decree, schools had the ability to target, for example, scholarships or can’t afford to pay tuition outright. The university the concept of diversity as a part of their central focus and central an African American for a position without necessarily consider- wants “to provide that foot up to individuals in our society who mission,” USA Dean of Students and Vice President of Student ing candidates of other races. have been disadvantaged,” he said, “providing access to students Affairs Dr. Michael A. Mitchell said. “In order to do that you’re “That’s illegal now because we no longer have the protection of color, to students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, to competing for what is sometimes, depending on field, a limited of the court,” Johnson said. “We can go out and contact [minori- students whose parents did not go to college.” pool of applicants who have had access to the education and at- ties] and ask them to apply, but they still have to compete and go Most everyone interviewed agreed there are still many steps to tained the criteria and degree.” through a process.” take in order to have a higher education system that is equitable Instances of such low faculty diversity aren’t limited to USA, Although some may consider it reverse discrimination, the for both students and employees, and it often involves more than however. Auburn University, for example, has 49 full-time practice did aid in increasing diversity. Another approach many just diversity. African American faculty members compared with 968 who are universities take in hiring is to rely on networks of familiar people “The truth of the matter is that there are a lot of competing white. The University of Massachusetts-Boston, one of USA’s and places. This can come with mixed results, too, depending on priorities,” Coleman explained. “But I think there will be more benchmark schools of similar size, has just 30 full-time African the network. diversity simply because demographics will demand it.” American faculty members, according to recent data. “What I see happening often is that structures tend to perpetu- “It’s not just the South,” Myles said. “I go to these conferences ate themselves,” said Associate Vice President for the Office of John Kelsey contributed this article as a candidate for the and the people at institutions in New York and California, they Institutional Effectiveness Angela Coleman. “A lot of that hap- Master of Arts in Communication program at the University of have the very same issues.” pens because recruitment happens in networks and networks are, South Alabama in spring 2015. All interviews were conducted As one means to correct this problem, USA’s diversity plan relatively, homogenous.” earlier this year. called for more of what USA Vice President of Human Resources Coleman herself and the office she works for are both new Pamela Henderson calls “aggressive and assertive outreach,” any- to USA, being introduced in fall 2013. She works closely with October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 29 ARTARTIFICE Mobile Opera makes it real at new Temple digs BY KEVIN LEE/ARTS EDITOR | [email protected] n just days, Mobile Opera premieres its presentation of “Pa- stage to give them something that’s a little in addition,” Wright gliacci” in a new setting. Has it cultivated General Director said. “We’ve got cocktail tables like the Boston Pops does for Scott Wright’s appreciation for facilities management? their series with four chairs around them and regular seating “It has. A few grey hairs, too,” Wright quipped. behind those.” IRugerro Leoncavallo’s tale of a tragic clown is the company’s The Temple floor plan is wide open. That means the audience first offering in the confines of the old Scottish Rite Temple at seating will be brought in as well. N. Claiborne and St. Francis streets. The move from its longtime “The thought of even an hour and a half opera sitting on a home in the Mobile Civic Center theater was announced this past rented wedding chair made me shudder, so I knew people didn’t summer when the former venue grew too costly. want to do that. So we bought theater chairs that have five-inch The company has undertaken significant redesign of both its padding and about a 17-and-a-half-degree decline so that they’re past setup and the current setting to ready for the late October run. very comfortable [for] watching the show,” Wright said. The result is something less than a glance into a story and more Each performance — a Thursday, Oct. 22, 10:30 a.m. perfor- like immersion within it. mance for students, Friday evening, Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, “The proscenium that’s in there we’re only using for the es- Oct. 25 at 2:30 p.m. — will play to roughly 400 attendees. Wright cape, so we have a thrust stage that comes out, putting the actors said sales are brisk. in the same room as the audience,” Wright said. “We’re putting The stars of the show are a mix of the familiar and the new. the orchestra on stage right so that they’re not between the actors Dr. Thomas Rowell is area coordinator for vocal studies and the and the patrons.” director of opera theatre at the University of South Alabama. Maestro Curtis Tucker is conductor, operating in cooperation Dr. Patrick Jacobs plays Silvio and is director of vocal studies with Mobile Symphony Orchestra. Wright will serve as stage and opera for the University of Mobile. He is also a two-time director. Metropolitan Opera regional finalist and winner of the Orpheus Photo/ facebook.com The new construction is courtesy of Showbiz Lighting. They’ll National Voice Competition. also hang lighting from existing ceiling rigging points and imple- New York’s Ron Lloyd plays Tonio, a role he performed with Mobile Opera’s production of “Pagliacci” begins Oct. ment the company’s steel towers to the sides. New Jersey Verismo. He was also in Mobile Opera’s 2011 pro- 22 at The Temple downtown. “It’s always been amazing how many details there are in production of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Sunset Boulevard.” ducing a show but it is particularly amazing how many there are “Ron is a spectacular not only singer, but actor, and he’s been ate of the New England Conservatory of Music. Her resume is when you’re doing theater in a non-theater space, because there’s to Mobile before so I met him through previous associations here impressive, having performed with Opera Brittenica, Tanglewood so many things you don’t consider,” Wright said. in Mobile,” Wright said. Festival Chorus, Boston Opera Collective, Longwood Opera and They will need to create dressing rooms, move a make-up The character Canio will also be brought to life by Tyler Opera on Tap. table and bring in lighted mirrors. Then there are perks afforded Smith. He’s a veteran of both the Mobile stage and the role. “I met her three years ago when she was the guest artist at the certain supporters. “He is in the voice department at Loyola and he’s done two of International Performing Arts Institute in Germany,” Wright said. “Our donating patrons are used to certain amenities but we these before. His first Canio was for New Orleans Opera when he “I really liked what I heard so that came back to me and I thought don’t have a room separate for their VIP lounge like over at the had to step in at the last minute for an ailing tenor and got boffo of her as Nedda. This will be her first time in that role.” Civic Center. So we’ve kind of made this into what we’re calling reviews,” Wright said. For more info about tickets, call 251-432-6772 or go to mob- the Jackson Room experience to put those people close to the Nedda will be played by Boston’s Amal El-Shrafi, a gradu- ileopera.org.

30 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 31 ARTART GALLERY

Science Café goes green on Oct. 20 BY KEVIN LEE/ARTS EDITOR | [email protected]

“Plants fuel life on Earth by tapping the sun’s energy. But if plants are the main mediators between the physical and biological worlds, why do most people tend to appreciate animals so much more than plants?” That question from science writer William Al- len opened an article in the esteemed Oxford Jour- nal. It’s at the heart of a new movement aimed at curing what’s deemed “plant blindness.” It’s also the subject of the next Science Café from the University of South Alabama (USA) Archaeology Museum, a series aimed at elevat- ing the awareness of science among Mobile’s general population. The events are described as “engaging conversations with a scientist or social scientist about timely topics.” September’s Science Café filled the courtyard of the OK Bicycle Shop (661 Dauphin St.) with attendees eager to get an earful about the origins and fallacies of the anti-vaccination movement. Photo/facebook.com/SaraBowenPottery Organizers are hoping for a similar turnout on Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. when USA Assistant Profes- Detail of pottery by Sara Bowen, now sor of Biology Dr. Brian Axsmith will open the showing at the Alabama School of Math crowd’s eyes to flora. and Science along with paintings by The event is free. fellow alum Logan Tanner.

Vampire lectures in late October awarded to Julie Salvetti, Chris Redlich, Bill We all have our favorite terrifying characters Billingsley and Al Eastridge. that arise every Halloween. Some are cobbled Next was word ESAC has chosen Hannah together in a laboratory or come to life when the Lyle as its new academy director. A 2010 Bayside full moon ascends. But for others, the allure of Academy graduate, Lyle earned her bachelor’s de- the undead is too hypnotic to resist. gree in history with a double minor in theater and This October, a pair of institutions will feed music from Auburn University. She went on to your lust for blood suckers with a pair of lectures graduate from the Masters of the Arts in Humani- on the subject of vampires. No matter which side ties program at the University of Chicago. of Interstate 65 you’re on, there’s an event near Congrats to all! you. On Oct. 22 at 6 p.m., the Gulf Coast Explo- reum (65 Government St.) will have the first of ASMS alums return for joint show A pair of Huntsville natives, both Alabama its Spark Talks when USA Assistant Professor School of Math and Sciences alumni, will have of Anthropology Dr. Lesley Gregoricka brings their work on display at the school’s art gallery vampires into the light. She will cover the role from now through Jan. 8. The joint show featur- of vampires in popular culture, the origins and ing painter Logan Tanner and potter Sara Bowen biological basis of the vampire myth and her is entitled “Double-Walled Vases and Imaginary own bioarchaeological work with the skeletons Vases.” of individuals buried as vampires in 17th cen- Tanner continued his post-ASMS education at tury Poland. the University of Montevallo where he graduated Dr. Gregoricka holds a bachelor’s in anthro- with a bachelor’s of fine art in 2012. His subject pology from the University of Notre Dame and matter is rooted in reality but fully blooms in master’s and doctorate degrees in anthropology the gardens of imagination before making it to from The Ohio State University. She has written canvas. and lectured extensively on related topics and “The landscapes include representation of serves as a forensic anthropology consultant with the rural South, imaginings of exotic lands and the Mobile Police Department Identification Unit. abstract planes of pure imagination. Many of the Tickets cost $6 per person. Light refresh- monsters inhabiting the canvases are inspired by ments are included. carnivorous plants native to the Southeast mutat- For more info, call 251-208-6893 or visit ed into vaguely human forms. They are attended exploreum.com. by their pollinators, and the two in combination If you miss that opportunity, Dr. Gregoricka create a narrative of desire and deception,” Tan- will cover the same material on Oct. 29, 6 p.m., ner said of his work. at the USA Archaeology Museum (6052 USA Bowen opted to attend Birmingham-Southern Drive S.). That event is co-sponsored by the College after ASMS and earned a bachelor’s in Mobile Medical Museum. art history. Her technique involves patterned holes For more info about the second event, call and cutouts, and adds hand-spun yarn to affect 251-460-6106. how much light gets through the outer wall. She even illuminates one vase from the inside. Good news from over the Bay “The vases range from smoothly curved Eastern Shore Art Center (ESAC) sends good traditional shapes, heavily controlled by the word about honorees from a big event and new potter’s hand, to more organic, flowing shapes appointments at its Fairhope facility. affected more by the motion of the potter’s First was news of the winners of the Grand wheel,” Bowen said. “The decoration includes Festival of Art that just took place. The fol- meticulously planned lacy patterns and more lowing artists took home well-deserved notice: flowing carved cutouts and even gouged holes in best of show, Jinsheng Song; first place, Tonya the shape of the potter’s fingers.” Dischler; second place, Jason Wilson; award of The gallery is open Monday through Friday, merit, Joel Lockridge. Honorable mentions were 10 a.m to 4 p.m. It is closed on weekends.

Band: The Blueberry Jam Sessions Date: Sunday, Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. (oyster roast at noon) Venue: Weeks Bay Plantation, 12562 Mary Ann Beach Road (Fairhope), www.weeksbayplantation.com Tickets: $50 general admission/$100 VIP, available at the Weeks Bay Plantation website and www.liveandlisten.com

eeks Bay Plantation lies on 88 acres of beautiful land in Baldwin County. This locale is home to the L.A. Berry Farm, which has established a reputation for providing fresh, organically grown blueberries.W Now, Weeks Bay Plantation is looking to expand its reputation with the Blueberry Jam Sessions. This new concert series is the project of Montgomery-based production and apparel company Live & Listen, which over the past year has been busy revitalizing the Montgomery music scene. Since meeting an unidentified investor with connections to Photo/ themotet.net Weeks Bay Plantation, founder Jordan Kirkland and his crew are Colorado-based funk and jam band The Motet headlines the first of two Blueberry Jam Sessions at Weeks Bay Preserve. now turning their attention to the Alabama Gulf Coast. Kirkland’s vision of the Blueberry Jam Sessions is to “start a new tradition also be a family friendly event with face-painting and bounce tion and arrangement. Watts will be the first to admit that this was of bringing live music to Weeks Bay Plantation in a celebration houses. Ultimately, Kirkland’s list of necessities for concert-goers not an easy task, but the end result appears to be one of his most of Baldwin County and Baldwin County bounty,” and to raise is quite simple. satisfying musical experiences. Watts admits this process added money for the Weeks Bay Institute of Sustainable Organic Preser- “Bring your kids, your family and your friends,” Kirkland depth to the album and made it “interesting.” vation (WISP). So far, Live & Listen has had a positive experi- said. “Bring a positive attitude and be ready to meet new people One of the things that makes the creation of this album inter- ence organizing its first concert in the Mobile Bay area. and try out some new things and hear some new music and cel- esting is the development of a collective subconscious among the “[Weeks Bay Plantation management] thought, with our back- ebrate a beautiful day in Fairhope.” band members. With past albums reflecting such carefree sonic ground and experience in just a year, that it would be a great idea Alabama staples The Gate Band and The Locust Fork Band diversity, The Motet built this album on a foundation of funk, a to combine and join forces,” Kirkland said. “They already had are scheduled to perform as well as Atlanta band New Madrid. genre loved by the band. In fact, the band loves funk so much a beautiful venue that we could create into an amphitheater and This event will reach a climax with its headliner, The Motet. that its Halloween shows focus solely on the funk of the ‘70s and use our relationship with booking agents and artists around the Blueberry Jam Sessions will mark The Motet’s debut in the early ‘80s. Southeast and the rest of the country to bring something new and Mobile Bay area, but many local festival enthusiasts have caught “[Funk] really feeds into our souls and really gives us the sound exciting and beneficial to the people in Fairhope.” their sets at Bonnaroo, Wakarusa and Bear Creek. and the thing that we have in common, as far as what we like to The fun will begin with a pre-party oyster roast for an ad- The Motet is one interesting band with an interesting name, play and the style of music,” Watts said. “That seemed natural for ditional fee, also offered as an option with a VIP ticket. Chef which evolved from a band created by drummer/founding mem- us to go toward the sound of that last record we made.” Randall Baldwin (Dyron’s Lowcountry restaurant) will be firing ber Dave Watts 17 years ago, the Dave Watts Motet. He arrived Watts says this will be the last outdoor show for The Motet, up 300 dozen oysters. While the crowd slurps these succulent at this name after presenting a variety of line-ups ranging from and they plan to bring an epic dance party to Weeks Bay Planta- bivalves, singer-songwriter Gove Scrivenor will provide the trios to quintets. Every time a line-up would part ways, the name tion. Meanwhile, Kirkland and the folks at Live & Listen are soundtrack. Scrivenor is truly the epitome of a Nashville artist. would have to change. Watts came up with a universal name that hoping for a successful turnout and a smooth show. Ultimately, His lyrical and instrumental work has caught the ears of people would be just as versatile as the band’s eclectic improvisational Kirkland sees this first of two Blueberry Jam Sessions to be a test ranging from John Prine to Emmylou Harris, who have both ap- style, which reflects everything from funk to Afrobeat to samba. run, not only to see if this musical event is right for Weeks Bay peared on his recordings. “The name is a little bit nebulous, as far as what it means,” Plantation but also to see if the Alabama Gulf Coast responds Judging from Kirkland’s description, the natural surroundings Watts explained. “I figured the band’s vibe and sound will change well to the event. If the environment is right, Live & Listen has of Weeks Bay Plantation should provide an optimal environment over time, and our vibe is going to change. So, I picked a name dreams of building the Blueberry Jam Sessions into a two-day for concert goers. Bands will perform on a 25-to-30-foot stage that didn’t represent anything, really.” weekend festival. Until then, it can’t wait until the public experi- with “full-blown sound and lighting.” A lake will flank the stage Over the past few years, the chaotic line-up of The Motet ences live music on the beautiful lands of Weeks Bay Plantation. and what Kirkland calls “a natural, grass amphitheater” will lie has settled into what Watts calls “a solid entity.” The Motet’s For those who can’t make this installment of the Blueberry in the front. Outside food and/or drink will not be allowed, but a latest self-titled release is a tribute to the band’s solidity. For this Jam Sessions, the next one will be held Sunday, Nov. 22, and will plethora of food and beverage vendors will be on hand. This will album, each member of The Motet contributed to song composi- feature The Revivalists, Earphunk, McLovins and Maradeen.

34 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 Sweet retreat BY STEPHEN CENTANNI/MUSIC EDITOR | [email protected]

Band: Honey Island Swamp Band Date: Sunday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. Venue: Legacy Bar & Grill, 9 Du Rhu Drive, Suite 201, www.legacybargrill.co Tickets: $10 at the door hile Hurricane Katrina is known for its destructive forces, its impact had some creative aspects, like assisting in the birth of the Honey Island Swamp Band. After the levee broke, NoLa natives Aaron Wilkinson (acoustic guitar, mandolin, vocals) and Chris Mulé (electric guitar, vocals) retreated to San Francisco, where destinyW joined them with fellow evacuees Sam Price (bass, vocals) and Garland Paul (drums, vocals). In a city hungry for South Louisiana sounds, the four came together as the Honey Island Swamp Band and began performing weekly gigs at John Lee Hooker’s Boom Boom Room. When Honey Island Swamp Band returned to the Gulf Coast, Mobile quickly became one of its regular stops, and in 2010 the band grew into a five-piece with the addition of keyboardist Trevor Brooks. Critics have described the band’s sound as “Bayou Americana.” Its latest addition to this trademark sound is 2013’s “Cane Sugar,” which was financed by crowd funding. Each song resonates Honey Island Swamp Band’s perfect mix of blues, roots rock and swamp pop. “Cast the First Stone” is an excellent reference for the band’s sound: a swampy piano mixed with bluesy slide guitar and Mardi Gras brass. Honey Island Swamp Band has taken some of the best genres of Southern music and combined them into one big sound. Photo/ (facebook.com/honeyislandswampband) Honey Island Swamp Band The softer side Freeform and funk

Band: Amy McCarley Band: Papadosio, Higher Learning, Downright Date: Friday, Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. Date: Wednesday, Oct. 21 with doors at 7 p.m. Venue: The Listening Room, 78 St. Francis St., www.thelistening- Venue: Soul Kitchen, 219 Dauphin St., roommobile.com www.soulkitchenmobile.com Tickets: $10 artist donation at the door Tickets: $17 in advance/$20 day of show; available at Soul Kitchen, its website, Mellow Mushroom (both locations) ver the past decade, North Alabama’s indie rock scene has been getting a lot of attention. or by calling 1-866-468-7630 Amy McCarley is proof there’s more to it. This Huntsville native’s brand of Americana has earned great notoriety at the national level. McCarley attracted attention with her 2011 self- oDa will receive a triple shot of modern jam courtesy of Soul Kitchen. Birming- titled debut. Eventually, this album made its way to Europe and brought McCarley interna- ham’s Downright will introduce the crowd to the evening’s lineup. This group of Otional acclaim. young funk-monsters is taking the genre into another dimension. Downright has In 2014, McCarley released her debut’s follow-up, “Jet Engines,” which she recorded in Nashville at crafted its funk with eclectic aspects of electronica and synth added to keep things Tone Chaparral Studios with Grammy-winning guitarist Kenny Vaughan (Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Lfresh. Superlatives) acting as co-producer. With vocals that reflect folk and country influences, McCarley is Higher Learning will follow and set the tone for the show’s headliner. This group is backed equally talented as a singer, songwriter and guitarist. The sounds and stories on this album make her one by Sound Tribe Sector 9’s 1320 Records, which released its latest single, “Lok.” This trio of the music scene’s most prolific balladeers. The Listening Room’s quiet, intimate environment should bases its sound on live instruments and electronic elements that go heavy on the synth and light on the dub. Papadosio is returning to the Azalea City with its new album, “Extras in a Movie,” which was self-produced by the Asheville group. This group has mastered the live instrument/electronic sound. Each track on this album takes the listener on a sonic journey through a vast range of emotions.

Photo/ (facebook.com/amymccarleymusic) Amy McCarley Photo/ (Phierce Photo) Papadosio

October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 35 AREA CLUB LISTINGS

Soul Kitchen Bottoms Up [DOWNTOWN] 219 Dauphin St. |433-5958 [WEST MOBILE] 2605 Halls Mill Rd. | 287-7781 Alchemy Tavern Spot of Tea’s Jaggers All Sports Bar & Grill Briar Patch 7 S. Joachin St. | 441-7741 310 Dauphin St. | 375-6772 3408 Pleasant Valley Rd. | 345-9338 9371 Dauphin Island Pkwy. | 973-1120 The Blind Mule Studio 5’4 Billiards Club Celtic Irish Pub [Pascagoula] 57 N. Claiborne St. | 694-6853 216 Dauphin St. | 725-0406 4130 Gov’t Blvd.|447-2132 4901 Chicot St. | 228-938-6800 Boo Radley’s T.P. Crockmiers Cockeyed Charlies Ed’s Seafood Shed 276 Dauphin St. | 432-1996 250 Dauphin St. | 476-1890 6920 Airport Blvd.|725-1112 3382 Battleship Pkwy. | 625-1947 The Bar The Listening Room Crooked Martini Felix’s Fish Camp 352 St. Francis St. | 648-1596 78 St. Francis St.| 367-4599 7639 Cottage Hill Rd. #C |633-5555 1530 Battleship Pkwy. |626-6710 The Brickyard Veet’s Flashback Club Midnight Rodeo 266 Dauphin St. | 473-4739 66 S. Royal St.| 694-3090 10071 Airport Blvd.| 634-2239 7790 Tanner Rd. |639-2222 Buck’s Pizza Jag’s Sports Bar & Grill Mississippi Coast Coliseum 350 Dauphin St. | 5602 Old Shell Rd.| 431-9444 [MIDTOWN] 725-1102 [Biloxi] Callaghan’s Irish Social Club Ashland Midtown Pub Lucky Irish Pub & Grill 2350 Beach Blvd. |228-594-3700 916 Charleston St. | 3692 Airport Blvd.| 433-9374 2453 Old Shell Rd.| 479-3278 414-3000 The End Zone Sports Bar Dauphin St. Blues Company & Blues Tavern Mellow Mushroom [Mt. Vernon] 19170 Hwy 43. 829-9227 5660 Old Shell Rd. | Draft Picks 2818 Gov’t Blvd. | 479-7621 380-1500 The Oar Hous e [Dauphin Island] 564 Dauphin St. | 725-6429 Butch Cassidy’s Cafe Patches 1504 Bienville Blvd.| 861-4800 5100 Girby Rd.| Firehouse Wine Bar Shop 60 N. Florida St. | 450-0690 661-8028 Original Oyster House 216 St. Francis St. | 421-2022 Kimberly’s Midtown Bar Satori Coffee House 3733 Battleship Pkwy. |626-2188 5460 Old Shell Rd. | Gabriel’s Downtown 2660 Old Shell Rd. |478-1477 344-4575 Pelican Pub & Restaurant 55 S. Joachim St. | 432-4900 Mellow Mushroom Runway Billards 8000 Airport Blvd. | [Dauphin Island] The Garage 2032 Airport Blvd. |471-4700 634-8006 1102 DeSoto Ave.| 861-7180 9 S. Washington Ave. | 433-2223 Rear Pocket The Hungry Owl 7899 Cottage Hill | Pelican Reef Restaurant Hayley’s Downtown 2525 Emogene St. |476-0053 633-4479 11799 Dauphin Island Pkwy. | 973-2670 278 Dauphin St. | 433-4970 Royal Knight Restaurant Stir Mobile 5821 Old Shell Rd., Ste. D | Trader’s Joe Cain Café 3004 Gov’t Blvd. |287-1220 342-9995 4015 Battleship Pkwy | 626-5630 26 N. Royal St. | 338-2000 Silver Horse Pub VFW Post 49 The Grand Mariner 2528 Govt Blvd. | Liquid 151 S. Florida St. |478-7030 471-9438 6036 Rock Point Rd. | 443-5700 661 Dauphin St. | 432-0109 The River Shack Loda Bier Garten [EASTERN SHORE] [THE BEACH] 6120 Marina Dr. S. | 443-7318 251 Dauphin St. | 287-6871 Bay House Pub [Daphne] Flora-Bama Tin Top Mobile Civic Center 28850 Bayline Dr. | 626-0158 17401 Perdido Key Dr., | 850-492-0611 6232 Bon Secour Hwy. County Rd. 10 | 401 Civic Center Dr. | 208-7261 Club 44 [Daphne] The Hangout 251-949-5086 Moe’s Original BBQ 28850 US 98, #100 | 445-8069 101 Gulf Ct. | 948-3030 Touch Down Tavern 701 Spring Hill Ave| 5460 Inn Rd | 410-7427 Gumbo Shack Live Bait 662-7543 O’Daly’s Irish Pub 212 Fairhope Ave. | 928-4100 24281 Perdido Beach Blvd. | 974-1612 VFW Post 7320 [Saraland] 564 Dauphin St.| 244 Old Telegraph Rd. | 725-6429 Manci’s Antique Club [Daphne] Lulu’s at Homeport Marina 679-1188 OK Bicycle Shop 1715 Main St. | 375-0543 200 E. 25th Ave. 251-967-LULU Whiskey Blues [Theodore] 661 Dauphin St. | 5791 Swedetown Rd.| 432-2453 McSharry’s [Fairhope] Pink Pony Pub [Gulf Shores] 633-1769 Pat’s Downtown Grill 101N Brancroft St. |990-5100 137 East Gulf Pl. | 978-6371 Zebra Lounge 271 Dauphin St. | 2343 Dauphin Island Pkwy. | 438-9585 Moe’s Original BBQ [Daphne] Pirate’s Cove [Elberta] 473-2997 Riverview Plaza (Fathoms 6423 Bayfront Pk Dr.|625-7427 Old 27 Grill 6600 County Rd. 95| 987-1224 [Fairhope] 19992 Hwy 181 | 281-2663 Lounge) Tacky Jacks [CASINOS] 64 S. Water St.| 438-4000 Papa’s Pizza [Daphne] [Orange Beach] 27206 Safe Harbor Dr, |981-4144 249 E. 24th Ave.| Beau Rivage [Biloxi] 28850 US Hwy 98| 626-7662 [Gulf Shores] 948-8881 878 Beach Blvd.| 228-386-7111 or 888-595- Royal Scam 1577 Alabama 180|968-8341 72 S. Royal St.|432-SCAM (7226) Plow [Fairhope] 2534 96 Plantation Pointe| 410-7569 The Handlebar [Pensacola] Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Royal Street Tavern 319 N. Tarragona St.| 434-9060 26 N. Royal St. | 338-2000 Courtyard 311 [Biloxi] 311 Fairhope Ave. | 928-2032 The Wharf [Orange Beach] 4985 777 Beach Blvd. | 228-374-ROCK (7625) Saenger Theatre 6 S. Joachim St. | 208-5600 Ravenite Pizzeria [Fairhope] Wharf Pkwy.| 224-1000 Harrah’s Hotel & Casino 102 N. Section St. | 929-2525 [New Orleans] Saddle Up Saloon 228 Poydras St.| 9 N Jackson St. 285-4596 Rosie’s Grill and Record Bar [AROUND AND ABOUT] 504-533-6000 Serda’s Coffee Company [Daphne] The Old Bama Barn [Theodore] Grand Casino [Biloxi] 280 Beach Blvd. | 228-436-2946 3 S. Royal St. | 415-3000 1203 U.S. 98|626-2440 11470-B Bellingrath Rd.|973-0388 Skyview Lounge Windmill Market [Fairhope] Blue Gill Restaurant IP Casino Resort & Spa [Biloxi] 850 Bayview Ave. | 800-436-3000 301 Gov’t St.| 694-0100 85 N. Bancroft St. | 517-5444 3775 Battleship Pkwy. |625-1998 Wind Creek Casino 303 Poarch Rd., Atmore | 866-946-3360

SEND yOUR CLUB LISTINGS TO [email protected]

36 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 AREA MUSIC LISTINGS OCTOBER 15 - OCTOBER 21

Hangout— Oliver’s Twist, 7p 10:15p Flora Bama— Johnny Barbato, 2p// THUR. OCT 15 Hard Rock (Center Bar)— Hard Rock (Center Bar)— Cathy Pace, 6p/// Smokin’ Elvis’, 10:15p Alchemy— Those Maniac Seas// Contraflow Contraflow Lucky’s Irish Pub— Marcus, 8p Amazing Energy IP Casino— Montgomery Gentry, 8p Listening Room— Harrison Lulu’s— Brent Burns, 5p BLUEGILL— Soul Food Junkies Isla Mirada Fish Company— McInnis, 8p Blues Tavern— 61/49, 8:30p Jimmy Lumpkin Lulu’s— Lefty Collins, 5p Felix’s— Grits N Pieces TUE. OCT 20 Legacy— Matt Neese Duo McSharry’s— DJ Jordan, 10p BLUEGILL— Mobile Big Band Flora Bama— Gove Scrivenor, 2p// Listening Room— Amy McCarley, Tropics— Tomlynn Trio Society Destiny Brown, 5p/// Dueling Pianos, 8p Veets— Sucker Punch, 9p Butch Cassidy’s— Mack Waters 5:30p//// Mark Sherrill, Chris Newbury, Lulu’s— JERI, 5p Windmill Market— Honey Boy & Felix’s— Bobby Butchka John Joiner, Mel Knapp, 6p//// Big Main Street Cigar Lounge— Boots, 11a Flora Bama— T. Bone Montgomery, Muddy, 9:30p//// Al & Cathy, 10:15p Rock Bottom, 8p 2p// Perdido Brothers, 6p/// Justin The House— Ross Newell Manci’s— Traveling Light Jeansonne & Tony Ray Thompson, Legacy— Ryan Balthrop SUN. OCT 18 McSharry’s— DJ Carter, 10p BLUEGILL— K-Mack 10:15p Lulu’s— Adam Holt Duo, 5p Moe’s BBQ (Mobile)— Brittany Blues Tavern— Dillon Brown, 5p Lulu’s— Ronnie Presley, 5p McSharry’s— Karl and Keuller, 7:30p Grimes, 6:30p Callaghan’s— King James and the Moe’s BBQ (Mobile)— Robbie Melting Pot— Cary Laine Moe’s BBQ (Daphne)— Mango Special Men Sellers, 6p Soul Kitchen— Meghan Linsey, Fish Band, 8p Felix’s— Jimmy Lumpkin Veets— Josh Ewing and Matt Neese, 8p 7:30p O’Daly’s— Gene Murrell, Tony Flora Bama— Beachbillys, 12p// Edwards and David White, 10p Dave & Joe Show, 12p/// Johnny WED. OCT 21 FRI. OCT 16 Old 27 Grill— Whiskey Ridge Barbato, 2p//// Jezebel’s Chill’n, 12p//// Blind Mule— Comedy Open Mic, Alchemy— Meddler with SANK and Tropics— Halfway Show Band Sand Ol Opry w/ Neil Dover, 6p//// 9:30p a Sunday Fire, 9p Veets— The Family Jewels, 9p Delta Coast, 10:15p//// Justin Headley BLUEGILL— Ross Newell All Sports Bar & Billards— DJ Windmill Market— Tropic Flyer, Experience, 8:30p Blues Tavern— Art & Friends, 8p Markie Mark, 10p 11:30a// Jordy Searcy, 6p The Grand Mariner— Brett Bucky’s Birdcage (Grand Beau Rivage— STYX, 8p LaGrave, 2p Hotel)— Adam Holt Piano Show, 8p BLUEGILL— Dale Drinkard, 11a// Legacy— Rebecca Barry Duo// Callaghan’s— Deluxe Trio Holli Mosley and Tim Kinsey SAT. OCT 17 Blind Mule— Comedy Whatever Honey Island Swamp Band, 7p Cockeyed Charlie’s— Multi N Blues Tavern— Johnny Barbato & Night, 10p Lulu’s— Cadillac Attack, 5p Funk, 10p the Lucky Dogs, 9p BLUEGILL— Blind Dog Mike Manci’s— Lee Yankie Felix’s— Chris Powell Cockeyed Charlie’s— Ben Lininger Blues Tavern— Smokin’ Toasters, McSharry’s— Trad Irish Session, Flora Bama— Neil Dover, 2p// & Friends, 10p 9p 6:30p Smokin’ Elvis’, 6p/// Nick Peraino & Felix’s— Soulshine Trio Cockeyed Charlie’s— DJ Chill, 10p Old 27 Grill— Acoustic Punch Shawna P., 10:15p Fins— Mudbucket Felix’s— David Chastang Duo Pinzones— Ross Newell, 5p Legacy— Lee Yankie Flora Bama— J. Hawkins & James Flora Bama— LeaAnne Creswell, Lulu’s— Lefty Collins, 5p Daniel, 2p// Brian Hill, 5p/// Jack John Joiner, Darrel Roberts, 1p// Jack McSharry’s— Songwriters in the Robertson Show, 5:30p//// LeaAnne MON. OCT 19 Robertson Show, 5:30p/// Billy Joe Alchemy— Solice w/ City of the Round, 7p Creswell, John Joiner, Darrel Roberts, Shaver, 8p//// Davis Nix Band, 10p//// J. Weak, 9p Saenger— Rob Thomas 6p//// Billy Joe Shaver, 8p//// Cort Hawkins, James Daniel, Frankie Golden, Felix’s— Jon Miller Veets— Open Mic, 8p Caroenter, 10p//// Davis Nix, 10:15p

SEND yOUR MUSIC LISTINGS TO [email protected]

October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 37 MUSICRUNDOWN Happiness is a warm blanket BY STEPHEN CENTANNI/MUSIC EDITOR | [email protected]

arlier this year, the University of South Alabama’s Marx Library presented “Charlie Brown Jazz Christ- photographer Vincent Lawson’s “Our mas” seeks sponsors Neighbors” collection. These poignant The “Charlie Brown Jazz Christmas” has Eblack-and-white photos gave viewers an emo- become one of Mobile’s most beloved yuletide tional look at Mobile’s local homeless popula- traditions. Each year, a cavalcade of local tion and currently are on display at the History musicians and a group of special guests help Museum of Mobile. Laawson’s exhibit also brighten the holiday season with this Christ- inspired the minds behind the online magazine mas spectacular. This year’s “Charlie Brown The Southern Rambler to organize “A Ramblin’ Jazz Christmas” will take place at the Saenger Night at Callaghan’s.” Theatre Saturday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. On Tuesday, Nov. 10, music lovers will have The evening’s focus is the John Milham a chance to help the homeless in a local show- Trio’s interpretation of Vince Guaraldi’s case. Ryan Balthrop and Friends will be opening soundtrack for the classic television special “A the evening. Balthrop has been recording with Charlie Brown Christmas.” Milham, keyboard- Wet Willie’s Rick Hirsch at his Studio H2O. If ist Chris Spies and bassist Chris Severin have the crowd is lucky, Balthrop might perform some built a following for this show through their new tracks from his upcoming release. excellent take on Guaraldi’s soundtrack. As Deluxe Trio, comprising Steve “Duck” of now, the show will also include renditions Varnes, Phil Proctor and Stan Foster, could be of Christmas favorites by Jennifer Hardwick considered a local super group and the Azalea City’s masters of Americana. In addition to their (Trey Anastasio Band) and local saxophonist modern take on old-timey favorites, Deluxe Chris Spies Jr. Trio will perform cuts from their debut album The public also has the chance to support “Nobody Don’t Know.” this year’s show through five levels of spon- Admission for this event is $10. For those sorship. Besides helping to bring Christmas who bring a blanket or coat, admission will only cheer to Mobile, sponsors will receive numer- be $5. All monies, blankets and coats will go ous perks, including autographed posters, the 15 Place homeless shelter. Those who want admission to meet-and-greets, tickets and ad to donate but are unable to make the show may space in a variety of capacities, depending on Photo/ MCE Photography leave coats and blankets at the Ashland Gallery sponsorship level. For more information, visit (2321 Old Shell Road) or 15 Place (279-B N. the “Charlie Brown Jazz Christmas” website, The “Charlie Brown Jazz Christmas” featuring Chris Spies, John Milham and Chris Washington Ave.). www.cbjazzchristmas.com. Severin is seeking sponsors to help continue a delightful annual tradition.

38 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 THE LOADED QUESTION WHAT IS THe LAST THInG yOu SeARCHeD FOR On yOuR PHOne? ASKeD @ O’DALy’S

“Moe Pitney”

-Cullen

“Dwight has a wig for everyone in the office.”

-Matthew

“Apricot Lane Boutique”

-emily

October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 39 FILMTHE REEL WORLD Clement charms as leading man in ‘People Places Things’ BY ASIA FREY/FILM CRITIC | [email protected] hile Jemaine Clement has always been funny (he was half of the duo Flight of the Conchords), his film “People Places Things” makes the Wunexpected case for him as a charming leading man. True, he is a hero of the shambling indie variety, but to see him as Will Henry, a single father trying to do the best by his adorable twin daughters, is affecting. That is basically the sum total of the film, but it’s sweet and funny. The film starts when Will walks in on his girlfriend, Charlie, in bed with another man at their twins’ birthday party. This is unforgiv- Photo/ Beachside Films able, not just in a mother and partner, but as a birthday party hostess. One year later, they are Jemaine Clement plays a passive but dedicated divorced father trying to inspire still co-parenting their daughters and she has his daughters in “People Places Things.” moved on, but Will has not. His ex has the most amazing ability to be in the wrong yet on a high guy, Will says he wants to spend more time with unclear whether Will is pining for his ex, or just horse the entire time. It is a well-written contrast his daughters. He notices, quite correctly, how for a life in which he lived with his daughters. to Will, who is all slumped-over apologies and unsettled they are by their mom’s life changes What is somewhat generic in the subject silently suffering. It was his passivity that drove and wants to give them stability, even though matter is made very real and watchable by the her away in the first place, and it continues to actually doing this eludes him. He is, most of charming and idiosyncratic performances in derail his life. all, terribly lonely. “People Places Things.” Suspense is not a strong We do get insight into his character through One of his brightest students invites him to element, perhaps, but affection is, and the world his drawings. Will is a graphic novelist and col- dinner because she sees him as a potential date of little girls practicing huge cellos, and people lege teacher, and working on a project depicting for her mom, a lovely but distant woman played who are passionate about pen and ink drawings, his family. He faces a gigantic brick wall, with by Regina Hall. The presence of her daugh- is certainly a nice world to inhabit for a while. Charlie on the other side in bed with the other ter, and later of Will’s daughters, was a very Currently available to rent on Hoopla, the man, and their twins precipitously on top. compelling part of the story for me. It felt very free digital checkout service from the Mobile As Charlie plans her wedding to her new true that these people were at the forefront of Public Library and elsewhere. Register at www. how their parents maneuvered through life. It is mplonline.org. NEW IN THEATERS NOW PLAyING HE NAMED ME MALALA STEVE JOBS 99 HOMES All Listed multiplex An intimate portrait of Malala yousafzai, Aaron Sorkin wrote it and Michael Fass- Regal Mobile Stadium 18, theaters. who was wounded when Taliban gun- bender stars in it — that’s potential. Carmike Wharf 15 THE MAZE RUNNER: men opened fire on her and her friends’ Carmike Wynnsong 16, eastern Shore BIG STONE GAP THE SCORCH TRIALS school bus in Pakistan’s Swat Valley. Premier Cinema Regal Mobile Stadium 18 All listed multiplex An educational activist in Pakistan, GOOSEBUMPS THE WALK theaters. yousafzai has since emerged as a lead- A teen teams up with horror writer R.L. All listed multiplex CAPTIVE ing campaigner for the rights of chil- Stine (Jack Black) and his niece to battle theaters. Eastern Shore Premiere dren worldwide, and in December 2014 the writer’s terrifying creations when PAN Cinema, Carmike Wharf 15 became the youngest-ever nobel Peace they come to life. All listed multiplex All listed multiplex A WALK IN THE WOODS Prize Laureate. (Teachers, field trip times theaters. theaters. Carmike Wharf 15 are available for this movie info@cres- THE MARTIAN 90 MINUTES IN centtheater.com.) Crescent Theater NOSFERATU All listed multiplex HEAVEN The silent classic with a live score by theaters. BRIDGE OF SPIES Austin band The Invincible Czars, a band Cobb Pinnacle 14 Steven Spielberg directs Tom Hanks as a increasingly becoming known for its SICARIO THE VISIT lawyer trying to negotiate the release of All listed multiplex All listed multiplex well-crafted original silent film scores. theaters. a pilot shot down over the Soviet union This score incorporates Bela Bartok’s theaters. at the height of the Cold War. All listed Romanian Folk Dances in a nod to the THE GREEN INFERNO WAR ROOM multiplex theaters. All listed multiplex Carmike Wynnsong fictional Count Orlock’s home turf. Mon- theaters. CRIMSON PEAK day, Oct. 19 at 8:30, Crescent Theater HITMAN: AGENT 47 After marrying the charming and seduc- EVEREST Regal Mobile Stadium 18 WOODLAWN All listed multiplex tive Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hid- Sean Astin stars in another heartwarm- theaters. SINISTER 2 dleston), young edith (Mia Wasikowska) Regal Mobile Stadium 18 ing football movie. Carmike Jubilee HOTEL TRANSyLVA- finds herself swept away to his remote Square 12, Regal Mobile Stadium 18, STRAIGHT OUTTA Gothic mansion in the english hills. Able NIA 2 eastern Shore Premiere Cinema 12 All listed multiplex COMPTON to communicate with the dead, edith Regal Mobile Stadium 18 tries to decipher the mystery behind HAMLET theaters. you can actually see Benedict Cumber- THE INTERN PIXELS the ghostly visions that haunt her new Regal Mobile Stadium 18 home. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, batch in the stage production of “Ham- All listed multiplex just in time for Halloween. All listed mul- let” broadcast live at the Carmike Jubi- theaters. MINIONS Regal Mobile Stadium 18 tiplex theaters. lee Square 12 on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.! BLACK MASS

CARMIKE CINEMA’S HOLLyWOOD STADIUM 18 CARMIKE CINEMAS EASTERN SHORE PREMIERE Wynnsong 16 1250 Satchel Paige Dr. 23151 Wharf Ln. CINEMA 14 785 Schillinger Rd. S. (251) 473-9655 Orange Beach (251) 981-4444 30500 Alabama 181 #500 (251) 639-7373 Spanish Fort, Al RAVE MOTION PICTURE COBB THEATRES PINNACLE 14 (251) 626-0352 CRESCENT THEATER JUBILEE SqUARE 12 3780 Gulf Shores Pkwy Gulf 208 Dauphin Street 6898 U.S. 90 Daphne, Shores Information accurate at press time; please

AREA THEATERS (251) 438-2005 (251) 626- 6266 (251) 968-7444 call theaters for showtimes.

40 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 FILMEXTRA Fighting Owl Films’ mystery and monsters haunt Mobile BY STEPHANIE POE/COPY EDITOR | [email protected]

here must be something about Mobile that invites writers and film producers to choose it as the setting for supernatural tales, for scary stories told around campfires and for haunted legends. Maybe it’s the distant echoes of the city’s Tsomewhat mysterious past, its ancient cemeteries and spooky, moss-draped oaks creating ominous shapes in the moonlight. Mobile has ghost tours, after all, and its share of unsolved crimes, unexplained disappearances and legends of “monster” sightings. Perhaps that’s what influenced Mobile natives Thomas Smith and Erin Lilley to focus their company, Fighting Owl Films, on creating worlds of fantasy that are moored here in their hometown. “With supernatural and fantasy themes, your imagination is allowed to run wild. You’re able to tell whatever story you want, and you can explore some interesting concepts. I enjoy telling very human stories set against these unusual backdrops,” explained Smith, the founder and director of Fighting Owl Films. “I’ve loved movies since I was a kid and spent a lot of time watching them and any behind-the-scenes or making-of shows I could find. I was always drawn to the more fantastical movies — stories of adventure or fantasy and stories that would put an unusual twist on the mundane. I was a very creative child and did a lot of drawing. From there, I branched out into writing and eventually film as a way to express ideas,” Smith said. Fighting Owl’s latest film, “Full Moon, Inc.,” is a good example. “The framework of the story is a basic detective tale that just happens to occur within a world of heightened reality and characters,” Smith said. “Films in the supernatural or fantasy genre let people take a break from real life — news headlines, whatever issues they may have in their daily lives, etc. — and lets them have a bit of fun. Plus, it’s always fun having a monster wandering around the set!” No doubt it’s also fun seeing movie monsters wandering Photo/ Fighting Owl Films through your hometown’s familiar locales. “Full Moon, Inc.” Director Thomas Smith working with cast and crew on scene in downtown Mobile. features paranormal investigator Nick Moon — played by actor Khristian Fulmer — who is “searching for a mystical artifact in “All of our cast and crew are 100 percent Gulf Coast, which is “Night of the Krampus,” have won awards: “The Night Shift” a city with a hidden population of creatures and monsters who something we’ve always prided ourselves on,” Smith said. “The was named Best Fantasy Feature at the Shockerfest International live on the fringes of society,” producer/writer Lilley said. Many bulk of our cast [for “Full Moon, Inc.”] was from Mobile and Film Festival, and “Night of the Krampus” won First Runner-Up Mobilians will recognize the setting for The Mash monster bar in the Eastern Shore, with a handful of actors coming from New for Best Short Film at the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards. the film as The Industry Bar on Government Boulevard. Orleans and Pensacola. The Gulf Coast has a large pool of incred- Smith’s favorite film is “Jaws.” “It’s a great story about regular “The city has a lot of great locations that look fantastic on ible talent that’s eager to gain experience and be involved, and people put through extraordinary circumstances that’s full of film, from historic architecture to beautiful parks and beaches,” we’re lucky to have them on this movie.” adventure, humor and scares. I love the way it’s shot and edited, Lilley said. “The Mobile Film Office has really helped us pin- “Full Moon, Inc.” is currently in post production. “We have but my favorite aspect of the film are the performances — they’re point some of these amazing locations. They’re great to work a rough edit and are now working on completing visual effects, very natural and honest,” Smith said. with and have helped us quite a bit over the years!” then music/audio and color grading,” Lilley said. “We hope to “What differentiates ‘Jaws’ from its sequels and the cheap Smith is the writer/director/producer for “Full Moon, Inc.” and have the film finished by spring 2016. Once it’s complete, we’ll schlock knock-offs is that if you replace the shark with some- Lilley portrays Daisy O’Reilly, Nick Moon’s assistant. The film have a local screening. In the coming months, we’ll begin reach- thing more mundane … it’s still a great drama. Clearly, I was also features Leah Christine Johnson as Lilah Fontaine, Moon’s ing out to distributors to try to secure a wider release.” influenced greatly by early Spielberg, but I also find a great deal mysterious new client, along with dozens of local extras. Kris Established in 2007, Fighting Owl Films concentrates on of inspiration from old ‘50s and ‘60s B monster movies, and the Skoda is the film’s director of photography and Soren Odom is producing narrative short and feature films. Its short comedies style and playful tone of Sam Raimi’s work.” the composer. “Not-So Super Friends,” “C.U.P.I.D.” and “The Perfect Couple” More information can be found at www.fightingowlfilms.com Fighting Owl doesn’t need to look far from home for talent. have attracted extensive festival attention. The company’s first .and www.fullmoonincmovie.com. feature film, “The Night Shift,” and the follow-up short film,

October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 41 MEDIAMEDIA FRENZY Consultant says advertisers need to watch circulation declines BY ROB HOLBERT/MANAGING EDITOR | [email protected]

national advertising consultant says he is concerned adver- few years, he said. claims were unsuccessful. Mathews was also previously the Press- tisers may not be getting the whole story when it comes “I believe the intent is to spin-doctor and confuse,” Schiller Register’s publisher. to the plummeting circulation figures at the Press-Register said. Schiller says with some of these newspapers losing circulation and other Newhouse-owned newspapers, particularly Where this is particularly problematic is in the area of pre- so quickly, it is up to advertisers to stay on their toes and ask ques- whereA preprinted advertisements are concerned. printed or inserted advertising — those loose advertisements that tions in order to keep from being overcharged. Jay Schiller, who has decades of experience in the newspaper cir- come inside or alongside the paper. Preprinted advertising has by “If a newspaper is getting extra preprints, it’s getting extra culation business, wrote a column on the subject for Editor & Pub- all accounts become the major source of advertising income left at money. Is it the responsibility of the paper to tell advertisers? Is it lisher magazine and now consults for advertisers, says his research the Press-Register and its sister papers in the state. As many of the the responsibility of the agencies buying them?” Schiller said. shows the P-R’s circulation for home delivery and single-copy sales advertisers or agencies buying such ads for their clients exist out has fallen 40 percent in the past two years. It’s a plunge he says is of town, they may not be fully aware of just how much circulation A tightening horse race? also being experienced by other Newhouse-owned newspapers cut has plunged, Schiller says. Lagniappe received an early peek at some of the ratings num- from daily publishing to three times a week. In such cases, advertisers could very likely be sending far more bers coming from the new Code Readers being used in this market Circulation figures at the Birmingham News and Huntsville preprints than necessary, which would mean the paper is over- to determine how many boob tubes are tuned into local channels, Times have plummeted 39 and 32 percent, respectively, over the charging and the customer is being gouged. Schiller says when he and the early results at least are pretty tight. past two years. Looking at another market outside the region, called the Press-Register last week and asked for a quote on how The numbers are far from complete, and only offer ratings and Schiller said the Newhouse-owned Cleveland Plain Dealer is many preprints would be needed for a full run, he was told 73,000 not shares, and are also not broken down into specific time slots, down about 30 percent as well over that time. Across the country, for Sundays and 55,000 Wednesdays and Fridays, numbers 19,000 but still offer a view of what it might look like when all numbers Schiller said such declines are well out of line even in an industry and 18,000 higher than current home delivery and rack sales. are released later this year. that’s seen very hard times lately. Schiller said even if the preprints were included in “quali- For instance, in July, Monday-Friday prime-time for the “I haven’t seen 40 percent for two years,” he said. “I’ve seen 8 fied home and delivery targeted” copies — free papers that go to 25-54-year-old demographic shows WPMI with a 3 rating, WALA percent. Forty percent is a lot to lose in two years.” non-subscribers — Sunday would only be 61,000 and weekdays and WKRG each with a 2.6 and WEAR with a 2. For May that He said new circulation figures are expected to come out soon 39,000. same demographic has WKRG at 4, WEAR at 3.8, WALA at 3.3 and the decline is expected to continue, especially after the three “Still appreciably less than what I was quoted,” he said. and WPMI at 3.2. Alabama papers raised the single-copy costs a few months ago. A study Schiller did in 2009 found dailies across the country For May’s prime-time ratings for Monday-Friday in the 18-49 Right now, Schiller says, the Press-Register’s circulation, based routinely overcharging preprint advertisers by 10 to 20 percent. demographic, WKRG had 3.3, WEAR 3.2, WALA 2.9 and WPMI upon an examination of documents provided through the Asso- Recently, he says, he represented a client that took on the New 2.5. That same demo for July had WPMI with 2.4, WKRG with ciation of Audited Media and their own publisher statements, is Orleans Times-Picayune — another Newhouse paper — concern- 2.1, WALA 2 and WEAR 1.6. roughly 37,000 on weekdays and about 54,000 on Sundays. At its ing such overruns and the T-P refunded that advertiser $150,000. If anything, the early trend seems to be a big tightening apex, the paper boasted a circulation of 120,000-plus on Sundays. Schiller said he could not divulge the advertiser’s name. He said between the stations, but again, the numbers are early and not What is more troubling to Schiller than just the loss of circula- he’s also done work for advertisers in another newspaper who complete. tion is how the Newhouse newspapers are responding to the were being overcharged $15 million a year. The Code Readers electronically keep track of what those tak- situation by starting to provide numbers that are less about how Efforts to ask Ricky Mathews, who has overseen the T-P and ing part in the survey are watching versus the old method of using many newspapers are distributed and more about giving advertis- NOLA.com, and recently was placed in charge of the Southeast a diary to manually write down what they watched. So far, across ers an idea that readership remains very strong. Trying to read the Regional Media Group that will control the T-P, NOLA.com, the country, many markets have seen the disparity between first circulation numbers has become much more difficult in the past al.com and Newhouse’s Alabama Newspapers, about Schiller’s and last tighten considerably.

42 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 CROSSWORD PUZZLE ACROSS

1. Class that makes sweaters? 4. Paul Bunyan’s ox 8. Be an angel? 12. Archaic refusal 13. Cartouche’s shape 14. Israeli seaport 15. High times 16. Winter Olympics venue 17. Air blight 18. Small change? 20. Filters slowly 21. Get moving 23. Head stands? 25. More congenial 27. Invoice word 28. Liquid fuel 31. Personification of heaven 33. Copenhagen’s ___ Gardens DOWN 35. Cowlick tamer 24. Action stopper 36. Babysitter’s break 26. Not set 1. Bearded antelope 38. Like some ships at sea 28. Smitten 2. Speak Pekingese? 39. Terminator 29. Make an itinerary 3. Spiritually symbolic 41. Monthly check 30. Expensively finished 4. Crashing type? 42. Concierge’s domain 32. On the down side? 5. Of feathery fauna 45. Diarist Samuel 34. Results may do this 6. Angled a plane 47. Allies’ adversary 37. Waiter’s offering 7. Big game? 48. Fencer’s tool 39. “Barnaby Jones” star 8. First and second 49. “___ true!” 40. Candy counter name 9. Topmost point 52. Kind of technicality? 42. Prayer wheel user 10. Corn or cotton 53. In proverbs it’s more 43. Strong team 11. They’re tapped 54. Chinese brew 44. Ballpoint pen inventor 19. Architect and bird 55. Ever partner 46. Fly, e.g. 20. Coil of yarn 56. Part of a fingerboard 48. Polar helper 21. Well-wrapped 57. Critical 50. It’s definite 22. Fade in the stretch 51. “Come to think of it Answers on PAge 43 ...”

October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 43 C O STREETS ALIVE E WHEN: OCT. 18, 2-6 p.m. WHERE: Lower Dauphin Street, Mobile Downtown Mobile will be filled with all kinds of activities such as biking, dancing, shopping and more as the second annual Streets Alive will take over Dauphin Street from 2-6 p.m. Invite your friends, your neighbors and your colleagues. This is going to be loads of fun for the whole family! Mobile Streets Alive is a FREE community event. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ MobileStreetsAlive. Photo/City of Mobile

OCTObER 15 life, his work and his “slippery slope” of Shore Art Center (401 Oak St.) Art a registration form at McCoy Outdoor, Greek Fest 2015 participation in corporate fraud, for teachers, professionals and artists Run-N-Tri or Fleet Feet Sports. Race day Enjoy authentic Greek food and which he pleaded guilty and spent from across the state are welcome to registration is also available. For more pastries, live Greek music and dancing time in prison. His remarkable story and participate in this exciting “Jubilee” info, contact [email protected]. as well as church tours, gift shops journey helped motivate him to author themed event through numerous and children’s activities. Greek Fest “Ethics Playbook.” The lecture series workshops, offsite tours, performances Homebuyers seminar runs Thursday through Saturday, 11 begins at 7 p.m. in Spring Hill College’s and even a parade! For the full This seminar is full of tips and a.m. to 10 p.m., at the Annunciation Gautrelet Room. For more information, schedule and to register visit www. information for those wanting to Greek Orthodox Church, 50 S. call 251-380-4660. aaeaonline.org or call 251-928-2228 become a homeowner. Learn what Ann St. Admission is $2 per person. ext 103. you need to know about the home Visit greekfestmobile.org for more Outdoor farmer’s market buying process to avoid making costly information. Fairhope’s market features local Parade of Homes mistakes. This seminar starts at 8:45 farmers, bakers, fresh produce, fresh- The Home Builders Association of a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. Register at Scotch whisky tasting cut flowers, plants, baked goods and Metropolitan Mobile is proud to Lifelines/Consumer Credit Counseling The Scottish Society of Mobile invites more. Fairhope Public Library will have create the 2015 Parade of Homes. office, 705 Oak Circle Drive E., Mobile. you to attend its Scotch whisky tasting, storytime and activities at 4 p.m. For The Showcase Home is being built by Due to limited space, please call 251- 6:30 p.m. at T.P. Crockmiers, 250 more information, call 251-929-1466. Cullen Jacobs of RCJ Construction 602-0011 to register in advance. Dauphin St. Temporary memberships Fairhope Public Library is located at in Riverwood Estates. The address is can be purchased for $10 and include 501 Fairhope Ave. 3774 Riverwood Circle S., in Theodore. buddy Walk

EVENTS | O CTOBER 15, 2015 - 21, a sampling of various single malt A donation will admit you into the The Down Syndrome Society of whiskies. Scottish attire is encouraged. Thursdays at MMoA home. Just as in the past, all proceeds Mobile County will host its annual For more information, contact Kenneth Every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., from these donations will be given to Buddy Walk in Bienville Square. OF at 251-473-6990. the Mobile Museum of Art offers free the Child Advocacy Center. Please Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the admission to all visitors. Join MMoA contact the HBA at 251-661-6523 for walk begins at 10 a.m. There will be Reverse Trade Show each week to experience the museum more information. live music, vendors, games for kids of Partners for Environmental Progress’ in new and exciting ways throughout all skills and ages, face painting, food 15th annual Industrial Reverse Trade the year. No reservations are The Collingsworth Family and much more! The Buddy Walk is a Show brings decision-makers from all necessary. MMoA is at 4850 Museum The Collingsworth Family, gospel 1-mile walk to help promote awareness aspects of industry together at Fort Drive. music’s Mixed Group of the Year, and inclusion of people with Down Whiting Armory. Traditional trade brings constant, persistent attention syndrome in our community. You ALENDAR show roles are “reversed.” Exhibitor to cutting-edge arranging. Musical can register to walk, join one of the

C OCTObER 16 booths are set up by manufacturers, Trick or Trot 5K and Scary Scurry Fun excellence and a proper balance of teams or create your own team at shipbuilders, multidiscipline Run spiritual emphasis are the keys to the http://www.ezeventsolutions.com/fr/ engineering and construction firms, Raise money for USA Children’s success God has helped them tap. DSSMC/2015BuddyWalk. Registration major medical centers, city entities & Women’s Hospital Evaluation Their entire family sings together in includes a T-shirt and entrance to and more. Companies that provide Center and have fun while doing an ensemble. The concert will be at all activities. For more information, supplies, consulting, legal, testing, so. Along with the 5K and Fun Run Gracepointe Church (6819 Old Shell contact Dora Harding at 251-442-1128 maintenance, financial, staffing, will be costume contests, trick or Road) at 7 p.m. For more information, or email downsyndromesociety@ technical services and all other treating, kids’ activities, food and go to www.globalpromo.org or phone gmail.com. manufacturing support services are drinks and family friendly music and 1-800-965-9324. the attendees. The show starts at 1 entertainment. The fun begins at 6 North Mobile County Food Park and p.m. For tickets and more information, p.m. at the Moulton Tower on the USA Chocolate! The Exhibition Farmer’s Market visit www.pepmobile.org or call 251- Campus. For more information, call The Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Join us in downtown Prichard for 345-7269. Nancy at 251-415-1636. Center brings Mobile and the Gulf a market full of food trucks, local Coast a unique and educational produce, meats, artists, crafts and Reentry seminar Wine Festival at 5 Rivers exhibition that’s sure to be a “sweet music. The market takes place the first Mobile Area Interfaith Conference Wine Festival at 5 Rivers will take treat” for young and old alike. and third Saturdays of every month (MAIC) presents a reentry seminar, place from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at 5 Rivers “Chocolate! The Exhibition” explores from 9 a.m. until noon at 204 S. Wilson Avenues of Hope, to be held at the Delta Resource Center in Spanish the rich natural and cultural history Ave., in the old Sawyer Furniture Mobile Marriott, 3103 Airport Blvd., from Fort. There will be delicious food and of one of the world’s favorite treats, parking lot. For more information, visit 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration will wine throughout the evening, all tracing chocolate from its origin in www.nomocofoodie.org. For help start at 7:30 a.m. The seminar will focus donated by area restaurants, caterers the rainforest to its status as a global with additional questions, contact on better understanding the issues and wine distributors. For this year’s economic commodity. Visit www. Jonathan Adams at 352-217-780 or and challenges inmates face as they musical entertainment we’ll have the exploreum.com for more information. [email protected]. prepare to leave prison and return Jim Roebuck Jazz Trio. All proceeds to the city of Mobile and surrounding from this evening of fine wines and OCTObER 17 Market on the Square areas. It will also focus on avenues of wonderful food will benefit the work St. Ignatius Impala Gallop Shopping for the freshest crops every assistances and support they need of Catholic Social Services. For tickets St. Ignatius Impala Gallop is a 2-mile Saturday through Nov. 21 at Cathedral that will help prevent this population and more information, visit www. certified run/walk to benefit St. Square in downtown Mobile. This time from further incarceration. For more winefestivalat5rivers.com. Ignatius’ only fundraiser, the Impala of year is our favorite because you information or to register, visit 251- Gala. The race starts at 5:45 p.m. at can buy locally grown fresh greens, 660-4433 or on the website, www. Art Education Conference St. Ignatius Catholic Church, 3704 fall corn, squash, peppers, sweet mobileinterfaith.org. Months of planning will come to Springhill Ave. Registration includes potatoes, pastas, seafood, sausages, fruition next weekend (October 16- post-race dinner and entertainment eggs, goat milk cheese, breads and Fraud, lies and Hermes ties 17) at the Alabama Art Education including a photo booth! Register baked goods and much more. Stay Ethics in the corporate world. Speaker Association Conference in historic online at www.eventbrite.com, in for live music on the green. For more Aaron Beam will give insight into his downtown Fairhope at the Eastern person at St. Ignatius school or pick up information, call 251-208-1550.

44 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 OCTObER 18 Alabama and the Women’s Business Beginners are welcome. Fitzpen Place, technological skills with adults and Streets Alive Center of Rural Alabama are excited 11247 State Highway 31, Spanish Fort. seniors who are unfamiliar with basic Downtown Mobile will be filled with to announce their upcoming women’s For more information, email Cassie laptop computer technology. The all kinds of activities such as biking, forum Oct. 18-19. Hosted by Wind Fishbein at [email protected]. free program is available Monday dancing, shopping and more. The Creek Hospitality in Atmore, we’ll have through Friday 3:30-4:30 p.m. at 18301 second annual Streets Alive will take a great day and a half of inspiring Money Management Pennsylvania St., Robertsdale. An over Dauphin Street from 2-6 p.m. For speakers and topics, reveal our Woman This seminar is full of information appointment is required; call the library more information, visit www.facebook. Entrepreneur of the Year and also on how to develop spending plans, at 251-970-4010. com/MobileStreetsAlive. provide many opportunities to network money management skills and other with a private reception on Sunday goal-setting techniques. This seminar OCTObER 21 Little Sisters of the Poor Lawn Party and vendor exhibitions on both days. is from 6-7 p.m. Register at Lifelines/ Mobile ballet Decorator Showhouse Come experience an “Irish October” For more information and to register, Consumer Credit Counseling office, An enchanting midtown Mobile at the Little Sisters of the Poor in visit www.womensbusinessalliance.org/ 705 Oak Circle Drive E., Mobile. Due to estate home will be transformed by Midtown at 1655 McGill Ave. The Little conference. limited space, please call 251-602-0011 16 decorators and design firms for the Sisters of the Poor Annual Lawn Party to register in advance. Mobile Ballet Decorator Showhouse, is a day of family fun with games and Weddings to brag About an exciting new fundraising project prizes for the kids, great food, raffles, a Come to Azalea Manor (751 Dauphin Top Cats Toastmasters for Mobile Ballet. Meet the decorators White Elephant booth and much more. St.) for a bridal show featuring food, Are you terrified at the idea of public at the preview party. Tickets are $75 This year’s featured entertainment is music and entertainment. Vendors speaking? We were. We got over it. Top per person and include wine, beer, the local Celtic band Mithril and Irish and event planners will be on hand Cats Toastmasters invites you to join appetizers and desserts. Advance dancers from the Maccrossan School along with the area’s best bridal and us. We meet every Monday from noon purchase required. Preview Party of Irish Dance. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 formal shops. There will be thousands to 1 p.m. at the Red Lobster near the tickets are also valid for admission p.m. and admission is free. All proceeds of dollars worth of door prizes, two southeast corner of Airport Boulevard during the entire Showhouse week. benefit the care of the elderly residents grand prizes and one grand prize and Azalea Road in Mobile. You can All event tickets are available through of Sacred Heart. For more information, of a free wedding, reception and practice your speaking and listening www.brownpapertickets.com and the call 251-476-6335, ext. 102, or look honeymoon. The event starts at 11:30 skills and learn to think on your feet in a Mobile Ballet office, 4351 Downtowner for “The Little Sisters of the Poor Lawn a.m. and goes until 5 p.m. For more relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Dues are Loop N., Mobile, 251-342-2241. Party” on Facebook. information and to register, visit www. $43 twice a year, and lunch must be weddingstobragabout.com. purchased. Toastmasters International brown bag in bienville Square Out of the Darkness Walk is a worldwide organization. For further Fall is back and so is live jazz! Brown Join with thousands of people Sunday matinee at 5 Rivers information, call 251-344-2938. Bag your lunch and sit under the nationwide to participate in the Every Sunday throughout the day, swirl of oak trees in Mobile’s Bienville American Foundation for Suicide take a step inside 5 Rivers Tensaw OCTObER 20 Square, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Live Prevention’s South Alabama Out of the Theater and catch a free film. breast cancer screening music will be provided by the city of Darkness Community Walk. The AFSP is This week’s movie is “Penguins of The American Cancer Society and Mobile Special Events Department, at the forefront of research, education, Madagascar.” For more information, Wal-Mart have joined together to host this week featuring Nu Image. Artists and prevention initiatives designed call 251-625-0814. breast cancer screenings in Mobile and perform Wednesday in Bienville Square, to reduce loss of life from suicide. Baldwin counties to promote breast Thursday in Daphne’s Mayday Park With more than 39,000 lives lost each Open studio cancer awareness and education and Friday at Fairhope’s Windmill year in the U.S. and over one million Come enjoy complimentary mimosas in the communities. Mobile County’s Market. worldwide, the importance of AFSP’s as artists work at the Cathedral Square screenings will be at Wal-Mart, East mission has never been greater, nor Gallery, 612 Dauphin St. in downtown Interstate 65 Service Road, from 10 Ladies’ Wine and Drive Golf Clinic their work more urgent. Check-in is at 1 Mobile. Works by more than 60 area a.m. until 3 p.m. Learn to golf, improve your game p.m. and the walk is 2:45 until 4 p.m. at artists also will be on display. For more or just have fun with your girlfriends! Daphne City Hall. information, call 251-694-0278. We-Mo Farmer’s Market Come to Foley for a golf lesson, glass Farmer’s market is sponsored by of wine and friendship. If you’ve NICU Reunion OCTObER 19 Christ United Methodist church every always wanted to learn, this is a great The Hollis J. Wiseman Neonatal breast cancer screening Tuesday through Nov. 24 from 2:30 to 5 opportunity in a fun, low-pressure Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the The American Cancer Society and p.m. It features locally grown produce, atmosphere. One-hour golf lesson with University of South Alabama Children’s Wal-Mart have joined together to host honey, seafood, baked goods and glass of wine (before and after lesson) & Women’s Hospital will host its 26th breast cancer screenings in Mobile and other homemade items. Located at costs $20 per lesson. All lessons taught NICU Reunion in the hospital courtyard Baldwin counties to promote breast 6101 Grelot Road (corner of Grelot and by a PGA pro every Wednesday at from 1-3 p.m. All NICU graduates and cancer awareness and education. Hillcrest). 5:30 p.m. at Glenlakes Golf Club, 9530 their families are invited. Costumes are Mobile County’s screenings will be at Clubhouse Drive, Foley. Contact David encouraged at this fall festival-themed Wal-Mart, 1300 N. University Blvd., from bridge lessons for more information, 251-955-1220 event. Refreshments, children’s games, 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The Mobile Bridge Center is offering a photo booth and face painting free bridge lessons each Tuesday Downtown Toastmasters will be featured. Free parking at USA Virginia College V’s Student beginning at 6 p.m. at the Mobile Are you interested in gaining more Mitchell Cancer Institute; admission is Cosmetology Services grand opening Bridge Center, 1510 University Blvd. confidence in your public speaking free. For more info, call 251-415-1000. Virginia College in Pensacola is Arrive a few minutes early to register. ability? The Downtown Mobile pleased to announce the grand If you have questions, call the Bridge Toastmasters Club 2815 invites you bird Watching 101 opening of V’s Student Cosmetology Center at 251-666-2147 between 10 to join us for our weekly educational Dauphin Island is within one of the Services from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 312 a.m. and 2 p.m. lunch meeting at T.P. Crockmiers, most significant bird migratory flyways E. Nine Mile Road, Suite 34. V’s is a full- 261 Dauphin St., from noon until 1 in the world, making birds part of the service, student-run retail operation Tea for Two p.m. Practice your speaking, listening Island’s rich heritage. In recognition of that offers a wide variety of services The Fairhope Museum of History will and leadership skills in a relaxed, this, Dauphin Island Heritage and Arts at affordable prices. Guests will be host “Tea for Two” each Tuesday friendly environment. Lunch must be Council is sponsoring “Bird Watching entertained with a student fashion afternoon at 2 p.m. Guests will enjoy purchased. Our dues are $42 twice 101,” 2-5 p.m. Join bird expert Andrew show featuring models wearing student a cup of delicious Baldwin County yearly. Toastmasters International is Haffenden and other experienced hair designs. Each guest will receive tea, cookies and a lecture on an a worldwide organization. For more birders to learn more about birds and a free gift bag, hors d’oeuvres and interesting aspect of Fairhope history. information, call 251-404-3924. how to identify them. The event will libations while entering to win door These very popular afternoon events include birding tours in the Audubon prizes and touring the facility. Salon are sponsored by the Friends of the boardwalk Talks Bird Sanctuary and on Dauphin Island professionals are welcome at the event Museum. For more information on Boardwalk Talks are on the first and Beaches. Tickets cost $10 each, for as well as potential students and their upcoming programs, call the Fairhope third Wednesdays at 11:15 a.m. Come ages 13 and older. Birding tours are families. Museum of History at 251-929-1471. to the Estuarium to participate in a limited to the first 30 to register at the dialog with the experts at the Dauphin Gallery. For more information, call 251- ballroom Dance Teen Tech Tutor program Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd. 490-0294 or email dauphinislandarts@ The Moonlight Chasse Ballroom The Baldwin County Library The Northern Gulf Institute presents gmail.com. Dance Society hosts dance classes Cooperative recently implemented a series of informal conversations with professional instructors at 7 p.m., a Teen Tech Tutor program at the about all things scientific in the Gulf of WbA Inaugural Conference followed by dancing from 7:30 to 10 Robertsdale Library. This program Mexico region. For more information or The Women’s Business Alliance (WBA), p.m. Admission is $10. This event is is designed to match high school questions call 251-861-2141. the Women’s Business Center of South BYOB and no need to bring a partner. age students who have strong

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October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 45 SPORTSUPON FURTHER REVIEW Research suggests Senior Bowl scores touchdown for local economy BY J, MARK BRYANT/SPORTS WRITER | [email protected] | Twitter @goulaguy

Photos/ Daniel Anderson/Lagniappe The Reese’s Senior Bowl, under the direction of Phil Savage (left) had an economic impact of $27 million in 2015, according to a new report.

he Senior Bowl has always made an impression on local school football camp, runs an NFL Flag Football League, hosts The Lady Badgers will return home to Library Field to play football fans. A new study also suggests it has a major the Girls of Fall football clinic and this November will host the Mississippi College (Oct. 23 at 1 p.m.), Delta State (Oct. 25 at impact on the area’s economy. Wells Fargo Charity Run. The 2016 game will be played Jan. 30 1 p.m.) and Tampa (Oct. 29 at 3 p.m.). The Classic on the Hill A 135-page report concludes the total monetary at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. wraps up the season with games against Southern Wesleyan (Nov. Teconomic impact from hosting the college all-star game was ap- “Of course, this study is narrowly focused on the economics of 6 at 1 p.m.) and Palm Beach Atlantic (Nov. 8 at 1 p.m.). proximately $27 million in 2015. “This is a conservative number,” the Reese’s Senior Bowl,” Savage said, “but we are very pleased according to Christopher M. Keshock, Ph.D., the primary re- with our year-long calendar and the football oriented events that upcoming events searcher and a University of South Alabama USA professor in the connect us in a positive way to the local community.” ● The fifth annual Dog River Fishing Tournament is set Department of Health, Physical Education and Leisure Studies. for Saturday, Oct. 24, beginning at 6 a.m. Fish can come from His research team collected data during game week in January. eyes on the prize anywhere inshore in Mobile and Baldwin counties. The weigh-in Only information from out-of-town visitors was used in the final Grant Enfinger of Fairhope finished in fifth place at the most station will be 2-3:30 p.m. at the River Shack. Entry fees are $35 figures, along with jobs and sponsorships created by the contest. recent ARCA Racing Series event in Kentucky. He may not have for adults, $20 for youth ages 6 to 15 and free for anglers age 5 The report said sales tax from the guests was between taken the checkered flag, but it did set him up for a bigger reward. and under. $637,665 and $722,194 in Mobile. When combined with city, With a lead of 320 points, Enfinger can secure his first driving Registration can be completed online at www.DogRiver.org or county and state tax, the numbers climb to between $1,735,304 championship by entering and competing in the Kansas 98.9 sea- in person at the Grand Mariner Marina or Southern Bama Bait & and $1,866,583. son finale on Oct. 16 regardless of where he may finish. Enfinger Tackle. A captain’s meeting is set for Friday, Oct. 23, 6-9 p.m. at Approximately 35,500 visitors specifically traveled to Mobile currently has 4,620 points thanks to his six wins, 11 Top 5 finishes the Grand Mariner Restaurant. Dog River Clearwater Revival is for the game, and stayed an average of two or more days. This and 15 Top 10 results. resulted in more than 20,000 hotel room bookings for the week. hosting the tourney. Proceeds will go toward the group’s efforts to “We came to Kentucky for a strong finish and as a team we improve the Dog River’s water quality. The game, practices and fan events also created opportunities accomplished that,” Enfinger said. “A top-five is exactly what ● The second annual Run Forrest Run 5-kilometer race and for work. In addition to the 130 jobs generated from Senior Bowl we needed to head into Kansas with. We just need to keep this 1-mile fun run is set for Saturday, Oct. 24. The starting line direct spending, the game paid more than $560,000 to full-time, momentum going.” for the 5k will be at the Fairhope Pier, with the course running part-time and city employees. The closest driver to Enfinger is John Williams with 4,300 through downtown before a downhill finish to the pier. The fun “We are very proud as an organization to release these findings points. Also having an outstanding season is Thomas Praytor of run will take place around the historic “duck pond” on Mobile about the Reese’s Senior Bowl and its economic impact on the Mobile, who has two Top 10 finishes while compiling 3,520 points. Bay. An after-race party is set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The races Mobile area,” Phil Savage, the executive director of the game, The Kansas ARCA 98.9 is set to start at 7:30, with live cover- will be in conjunction with the fifth annual Best of the Bay said. “To validate the importance of this event to our city, county age on Fox Sports 1. and state officials through the hard numbers of this academic- Gumbo Championship. related study should only strengthen the financial position of the Among the celebrity judges is Jimbo Meador, the inspiration game in the future.” SHC looking for new coach for Winston Groom’s beloved character Forrest Gump. Fairhope Lisa Mann has resigned her position as the women’s soccer Local, a group that promotes the city’s unique character, joins the The study also mentions the national attention the area received coach at Spring Hill College. Jim Hall, the college’s athletic direc- Eastern Shore Kiwanis Clubs in sponsoring the events. Proceeds from publicity, media coverage and the game being broadcast on tor, said she left for personal reasons. will go toward supporting local schools and youth organizations. the NFL Network. The group said this amounted to $6,260,120 in Michael Patrick, the assistant athletic director, will serve as Registration and entry fees through Oct. 21 are $25 for the run anticipated future travel revenue to Mobile each year. head coach on an interim basis. His experience includes serving and cook-off, $20 for either the 5k or 1-mile races, or $10 for the While the game itself draws the most attention, it is only one as director of men’s soccer operations for Oglethorpe University cook-off. To register for the run or to enter the gumbo cook-off, event overseen by the Senior Bowl staff. During the year, the and as a national team scout for the U.S. Soccer Federation. group hosts Family Fun days, youth football clinics and a middle visit www.SignMeUp.com.

46 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 Fall is for planting (or transplanting) SAVE THE DATE! THE GREENERy SALE IS COMING! BY BRENDA BOLTON/MOBILE COUNTY MASTER GARDENER | CoastalAlabamaGardening@gmail. PRE-ORDER By NOV 14! Q: I want to move my Elaeagnus from We just planted seven trees, each about 7 feet tall. Can you ad- Q: WHAT: The Greenery Sale sponsored by one place in my yard to another. When is vise me about a watering regimen? the best time to do this? Mobile Master Gardeners Fresh and beautiful Fraser fir wreaths, mailbox saddle ar- A: First, congratulations for planting your trees in fall and for ask- rangements (improved, larger designs!), table and mantel A: Elaeagnus … rolls off the tongue, ing one of the key questions about their success: watering. Effective arrangements and holiday botanicals! doesn’t it? EE-lee-AG-nus. Could be a watering depends on knowing how well your soil retains moisture, character from “Game of Thrones,” but watching the weather each week and gauging the condition and needs WHen: Friday, Dec. 4, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; in this question, it’s a landscape shrub of your new plants. Saturday, Dec. 5, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. imported from Asia and now common in Water the trees thoroughly and let them drain before removing the southeast. them from the pot or root ball wrap, and water them well after back- WHeRe: Mobile Botanical Gardens, 5151 Museum Drive (in My good friend once complained, “Why filling the planting hole to settle the soil. Beyond that initial care the conjunction with the Gardens’ Holiday Poinsettia Sale) does gardening happen at spring cleaning advice is, not too little, not too much, but ju-u-ust right. Under most Deadline to pre-order: nov. 14 (wreaths require pre-order). time?!” Good news: It does not! Spring weather conditions, ju-u-ust right is one good watering, saturating the fever is responsible for most plantings in soil to a depth of 8 to 10 inches, every five to seven days. A 50-foot To request order forms and information, email us at our home landscape, but on the Gulf Coast, hose and sprinkler will generally take about 2-1⁄2 hours to water a [email protected]. fall is the best time for planting, and that 1,000-square-foot area to an 8-to-10-inch depth. Too little watering email us your questions at CoastalAlabamaGardening@ includes transplanting your Elaeagnus. encourages shallow root development. Then, if the shallow watering gmail.com or call (toll free) 1-877-252-4769, the Master Gar- Think of fall as the season to reorganize is neglected a day or so in sudden hot weather, plants struggle. Too dener Helpline answered by Mobile and your landscape. Leave spring for rearrang- much of a good thing is equally bad. Too much water leaches plant Baldwin County Master Gardener Volunteers. ing your living room. Transplanting in fall nutrients from the soil and may actually drown the plant’s immature allows plants to take advantage of their root system. natural growth cycle, giving them time to Mulching around landscape plants and trees protects soil from UPCOMING MASTER GARDENER EVENTS acclimate to their new home and develop direct sunlight and moving air, slowing evaporation of water from the healthy root systems before our stress- soil. Also, rain falling on the mulch does not pack the soil surface. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ful Gulf Coast summer. Trees and shrubs With less crusty soil, water penetrates to roots more easily and planted in the fall will have a faster growth erosion is eliminated. When you mulch trees, remember to pull the WHen: Oct. 19, noon to 1 p.m. rate than their spring-planted counterparts. mulch well away from the tree trunk so it does not cause insects and Fall can be dry here, so careful watering is diseases to invade the trunk. WHeRe: Jon Archer Center, 1070 Schillinger Road n. important. The day before you dig them, After that first year, your trees and shrubs are just like college hydrate your Elaeagnus well with a soft, kids. They get what they need without you, except in a crisis. Or in WHAT: Lunch & Learn, Japanese Garden of Mobile slow watering. Then maintain a watering this case, more mature trees will get enough water naturally from the presented by Charles Wood. regimen the first year. And that takes us to soil except in a drought, when you’ll need to go back to the weekly the next question. watering regimen.

October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 47 STYLEPORT CITY PREMONITIONS Capricorn comes clean about Christmas calamity BY DR. ZODIAC/ASTROLOGY GUY

Libra (9/23-10/22) — In honor of the annual Manta Jet. from your parents, you’ll set aside a few hours That means you’ll steer clear of Terry in ship- return of Greek Fest, you’ll forgo contemporary Capricorn (12/23-1/19) — With the news to give the place a thorough cleaning. In the ping, who always smells a little too much like work attire in favor of a traditional fustanella. that your wife’s grandmother is moving to a process you’ll find a few items once lost. Things pumpkin spice. You’ll avoid Nancy in legal, who You’ll be the laughing stock of men at the of- nursing home, you’ll feel free to finally admit like your backup keys, that other beige dress ends every sentence with an upward inflection. fice, but will regain confidence after the women you broke the heirloom ceramic Santa Claus sock, the missing da Vinci manuscripts and sev- You’ll run away from mailroom Greg, who has start treating you like “just one of the girls.” cookie jar at Christmas 2006. The guilt has eral loose pens. On the bright side, you’ll auction an affinity for “NFL congratulations” and you’ll With the light, knee-length skirt adding pep to haunted you ever since, but you’ll feel better off the manuscripts and buy an $8 million home. stay alert around Clara from human resources, your step, you’re more often compelled to spin telling the truth. However, Granny will write It will take almost a full year for your new abode who flirts constantly even though she should around dramatically, skip through a meadow you out of the will and the chubby cousin you to collect enough filth to elicit your mother’s know better. Get away before it’s too late. of blooming wildflowers or pause seductively originally blamed it on — now an accomplished complaining. Leo (7/23-8/23) — Your parenting skills will over a subway grate as air rushes upward from MMA fighter — will give you an atomic wedgie. Taurus (4/20-5/20) — You’ll get into some be called into question after your kids discover a passing train below. Aquarius (1/20-2/18) — After seeing former hot water at the office when you bring leftover Luke’s 1992 hit “Doo Doo Brown” on your MP3 Scorpio (10/23-11/21) — When a friend “Roseanne” star John Goodman show off his lobster for lunch, much to the chagrin of your player. Suddenly, every child in preschool will tags you in a Facebook post which outs you as recent weight loss, you’ll be motivated to make a coworkers. In the words of one Donald Trump, be screaming “Uh, uh, get it, get it!” on the play- a performance enhancing drug user, you’ll im- few healthier choices as well. Unlike the cast of everyone knows leftover lobster is tough and ground. Luckily, the youngsters find the chorus mediately be suspended from your men’s softball “Roseanne,” however, the role you play in your its smell is somewhere between hot, wet baby of shouting men on the track more difficult to team for a “violation of team rules.” You’ll claim family’s life can’t be replaced with a lookalike diaper and a gasoline fart. That’s why you should decipher, but not before Sister Katherine dresses ignorance, saying you had no idea the league without a valid expectation. You’ll also take to finish it the night you have it. Anyway, the smell you down for raising a 5-year-old who inquires had any rules at all, much less rules regulating the outdoors to enjoy the wonderful fall weather, will permeate the cubicles and the stench will about what a “cootchie” is during Sunday the use of over-the-counter testosterone boosters. but beware of borrowing your neighbor’s lawn have you on your coworkers’ bad sides all day. School. You’ll hire a lawyer to sue for defamation, but chairs. Despite her quaint appearance, it turns Gemini (5/21-6/21) — Inspired by Face- Virgo (8/24-9/22) — As a mad scientist, you the suit will fail when security footage leaks out Gladdis keeps a blade in her diabetic shoe. book’s new “Reactions” button, you’ll try to decide Arts Alive this weekend is the perfect showing you purchasing bulk vitamins at GNC. Pisces (2/19-3/20) — You’ll take passive-ag- incorporate more expressions in your everyday venue at which to unveil your latest experiment Sagittarius (11/22-12/22) — Following a gressive to the next level after a skirmish with a life. You made quite a few friends previously, — half-assed human clones of Pablo Picasso, chance encounter with a friend from college, friend leads you to revenge in a diabolic yet un- being meek and non-controversial, but you’ll Claude Monet and Edvard Munch. But rather you’ll receive an invitation to a Halloween party traceable way. When they leave the room, you’ll lose them all with your new attitude. You’ll than produce priceless works of art you can in a Silverhill cornfield. You’ll buy a family reach into a family-size assortment of chips and constantly brag about your cheap haircut and sell on the global market to fund your ultimate “Incredibles” costume set for the party. Arriving sadistically crush a significant but believable pick on everyone in your life. Your new sarcastic scheme of world domination, the absence of a at the party in your Dodge Caravan — decorated number of the Funyuns inside one of the bags. A nature will rub everyone the wrong way. In addi- few key chromosomes leaves Picasso with the like the Manta Jet — you’ll be disappointed it few days later your “friend” will take out the bag tion, you’ll love to hear and come up with puns. singular ability to stack Lego bricks, Monet only isn’t a family party, but an adults-only recreation for a snack at work only to find delicious, oniony You’ll basically be the worst. able to mix all watercolors into one dull shade of of a scene from “Eyes Wide Shut.” Your apolo- dust. There won’t be any “fun’ in the ‘yuns” on Cancer (6/22-7/22) — As one of your brown and Munch just running around holding gies to your wife, Elastigirl, will be fruitless and that day. #squadgoals this year, you’ll attempt to make his face, screaming at everybody. You’ll all be you will spend the next month sleeping in the Aries (3/21-4/19) — With an impending visit friends with anyone who doesn’t work with you. involuntarily committed to AltaPointe.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS F U T U R E S H O C K FROM PAGE 47

48 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 49 STYLEMOb ILE MAGNIFIED The taste of success is pretty sweet in MiMo BY BOOZIE BEER NUES/SOCIAL BUTTERFLY

nother weekend for the books. Mobile has so much States and everything is pumpkin spiced, it doesn’t mean it’s wheel side to side, trying to shake the guy off. going on it’s hard to reserve any down time to let the cold outside. Boozie saw a girl sporting jeans, a long-sleeve The car finally stopped around Washington Avenue and the hangover go away before it is on to the next thing. shirt, a puff vest and a wool scarf on Friday during the day. man got off the hood. This is when Boozie’s spy said things First Ten Sixty Five, then Shrimp Fest and now Can’t remember the weather? Well it was a nice day, sun got weird. Instead of calling the cops because you were just GreekA Fest and a wine festival. Boozie needs a break! shining and a high of 89 degrees. Yes, almost 90! Then later hit by a car, the guy asked everyone not to call the police. Boozie spotted another girl wearing jeans, boots, long-sleeve I guess the guy knew people were wondering why, so he Sweet Success shirt and, you guessed it, a big chunky wool scarf. This is not admitted there was a warrant out for his arrest and took off. This past Thursday ellenJay celebrated their one year anni- sweater weather so stop trying to make it. Only in Mobile. versary along with Soiree Signatures’ grand opening. Boozie Another thing to stop is creeping out waitresses. Boozie hears the event was pretty sweet, so to speak. heard one guy was sitting at a bar downtown and any time a Shrimp and mullets After Boozie’s spy came out of her sugar coma, she was certain waitress was at the register he would touch her. May- The 44th annual Shrimp Festival was this past weekend in able to tell us more about it. It was held at ellenJay’s location be he was her boyfriend and he was waiting for her to finish Gulf Shores. As always it drew a big crowd, and big crowds on Airport Boulevard. They had one thing that makes a party her shift, who knows, but what we do know is he could not bring interesting people from all over. One of Boozie’s spies a success — for Boozie, at least — a bartender pouring up keep his hands off her. Boozie’s spy said it was super creepy. was there and said she saw something she can never un- beer and wine. We were also told they had a photo booth and Every single time she was near him he would either rub her see. First, she said, there were a lot of mullets, and then she that the parking lot was transformed into a beautiful setting. elbow or back or put a hand on her butt. And strangely, the watched a lady wearing shorts two sizes too small try to pick The food was done by Bay Gourmet and of course ellenJay pair never really said anything to each other. at her camel toe. Appetite gone! did the sweets, and boy did they have sweets galore. My spy Now on to food. Fried shrimp, boiled shrimp, you name said she might have gone a little crazy but I can’t blame Shake it off! it, it was there. Boozie’s spy did say she was a little surprised her. They had cake, iced cookies, truffles, caramel popcorn, Boozie was told of an interesting, umm, accident that how much carnival food there was, but she ended up getting a cake pops and cookie sandwiches, and it was all so delicious! happened Friday night. A man had just gotten his food from famous Cajun Pistol and was not disappointed. Boozie is pretty upset with herself that she missed such a Checkers and was crossing the street at Broad and Dauphin Overall, Boozie heard positive reviews about Shrimp Fest. delectable event. when a car hit him. Boozie’s spy said the guy’s food went I heard the bands were great, there was beautiful artwork If you didn’t get your sweet tooth fix at the party, that flying everywhere. Yikes! and it was a lot of fun. Oh, and let’s not forget how nice the wasn’t a problem because ellenJay sent you home with a cup- Usually a car stops when they hit someone but not this weather was! Let’s just pick at the camel toe before you come cake and Soiree Signatures sent you with thank you cards and one. Boozie’s spy said they saw it happen so they followed to the fest next year! a notebook. What a fun way to celebrate the two businesses! the car because it wasn’t stopping. That’s when they realized the guy that was hit was on the hood of the car holding on. Well, kids, that’s all I’ve got this week. Just remember, Just stop Boozie is taking a guess on this one, but the driver had to whether rain or shine, dramatic or scandalous or just some Y’all, just because it is fall in other parts of the United have been crazy and/or drunk because they were jerking the plain ol’ shrimp lovin’, I will be there. Ciao!

50 | LAGNIAPPE | October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 October 15, 2015 - October 21, 2015 | LAGNIAPPE | 51