Homebuilders Celebrate 30Th Parade of Homes
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Covering all of Baldwin County, AL every Friday. Senior Lifestyle Expo PAGE 13 Bryson takes bench press title The Baldwin Times PAGE 16 OCTOBER 4, 2019 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Homebuilders celebrate Druse retiring after 32 years at BCHBA helm 30th Parade of Homes By GUY BUSBY group with more than 800 [email protected] members, its own custom- By GUY BUSBY built office building and a [email protected] FAIRHOPE — When national reputation. Fran Druse began work- “I feel very blessed to FAIRHOPE — The Bald- ing at the Baldwin County have been here all this win County Homebuilders Home Builders Associa- time. To me it’s an excit- Association continues to tion, the organization’s of- ing career and I wouldn’t celebrate its 30th annual Pa- fice consisted of a rented trade it for any career that rade of Homes this weekend room with a broken chair. I could have had. I’ve met with a display of 43 homes “That’s what the asso- a lot of people,” she said. from Bay Minette to Orange ciation had then and if I “I’ve made a lot of friends Beach. leaned back in my chair I and probably the majority The event includes the fell into the wall,” she said of my friends are members showcase home built by Eric laughing. of the homebuilders asso- Craig Homes in The Veran- Now, after more than ciation. Because that’s who das in Fairhope. 32 years as executive vice I spend my time with.” The parade has grown GUY BUSBY / STAFF PHOTO president, Druse will of- The association has en- from about 15 when the Fran Druse, executive vice president of the Baldwin County Home ficially retire in November dured hard times, when re- Builders Association, center, BCHBA President Chris Farlow and Mar- from an association that SEE PARADE, PAGE 2 sha Jordan discuss the association’s Parade of Homes. she has watched grow to a SEE DRUSE, PAGE 12 Blakeley to Nominations open until offer Fall Oct. 6 for Gulf Lunch Cruise Coast Media’s Oct. 12 Big Beautiful Baldwin’s Best Historic Blakeley State Park invites you to join us for of 2020 contest a special site-seeing cruise through the Delta combined By WHISPER EDWARDS with a seafood lunch at one of [email protected] the Mobile area’s favorite res- taurants! Departing from the There are only three Blakeley dock at 10:30 a.m. days left to nominate on Saturday, Oct. 12, we’ll your favorites before venture through one of the voting begins on Mon- day, Oct. 7 and the SUBMITTED PHOTO SEE CRUISE, PAGE 12 nominees are narrowed down to the top five in each category. Your daily nominations in each of the categories Baldwin Pops perform in October you choose will deter- Herb Malone delivers mine who moves on to The Baldwin Pops Band ies and More!” including the voting round for will present three outdoor Soundtrack Highlights a chance to be named concerts in October. At from “Avengers: End- tourism impact update Big Beautiful Baldwin’s 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. game”, Symphonic Suite Best of 2020. So far over 6, the band will perform from “Band of Broth- By JESSICA VAUGHN 30,000 nominations have at Henry George Park ers”, “Days of Wine and [email protected] been made. Nomina- in Fairhope. This con- Roses”, selections from tions are free and can cert celebrates Fairhope “The Sound of Music”, FOLEY — Herb Malone, Founders Day. The second and Great Movie Marches. President & CEO of Gulf SEE NOMINATIONS, PAGE 12 concert will take place at Two additional marches Shores & Orange Beach Tour- 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13, at are “The Earl of Oxford’s ism, spoke at a recent South the Pavilion in Spanish March” and “Sousa’s The Baldwin Chamber of Com- BALDWIN FAST FACTS Fort (7361 Spanish Fort Quilting Party”. merce’s Leadership Series, Blvd.). The third concert Guests should bring giving the community an will be held at 5 p.m., Sun- chairs or blankets and update on the impact of tour- The average commuting day, Oct. 20 at the Orange are encouraged to bring ism in Baldwin County dur- time for Baldwin County Beach Art Center. a picnic supper. After in- ing 2018, beginning with the residents is 24.4 minutes ac- Conductor Dr. Jason termission, there will be a impressive number of 6.6 mil- cording to the U.S. Census Rinehart will lead the Bureau. Baldwin Pops in “Mov- SEE POPS, PAGE 7 SEE MALONE, PAGE 6 JESSICA VAUGHN / STAFF PHOTO Deaths Page 4 Joy L. Goodwin Gulf Angelia C. Allen Coast Vaughn Joseph Rozanne Ingram Jones Media Bittlebrun Clarence A. Nelson VOLUME 129 • ISSUE 21 Leon Victor Darnell Mark Benjamin Reed 1 SECTION • 32 PAGES Jeffrey Primm Dean Carolyn Salac Carl Jason Ginder Tammy R. West 2 • The Baldwin Times • October 4, 2019 • Gulf Coast Media PARADE see and talk to people schools,” he said. “We pretty low to live here one-on-one and see the have retirees also. We and retire here. Your The Baldwin Times CONTINUED FROM 1 product and feel the have industry coming cost of living is fairly product,” Druse said. out of Mobile with the low compared to na- 901 N. McKenzie St., Foley, AL 36535-3546 builder’s display The parade shows shipbuilding, airplanes tionally other areas,” began, Marsha Jordan how the housing indus- that sort of stuff with Farlow said. “Our PHONE: (251) 943-2151 | FAX: (251) 943-3441 of the BCHA said. “The try in Baldwin County new jobs, but we’re also affordability is even [email protected] problem now is that has grown, association a secret sort of retire- lower than some of our when builders start members said. The ment community.” neighbors in Pensacola. Allison Marlow Classified Advertising home and it sell before group had 155 members Farlow said many I have builder friends Managing Editor Whisper Edwards the parade gets here,” when the event began. young families are there and they’re get- allisonm@gulfcoast whisper@gulfcoast she said. Today, membership is moving up, selling their ting $10 to $15 more media.com media.com Many people now 811 companies. start-up homes and per square foot in the make the parade an an- Cliff Pitman, board buying larger houses. Pensacola market ver- Tony Whitehead Legal Advertising nual event, Fran Druse, member and incom- One area of growth in sus here and so I’ve Sports Editor April M. Perry BCHBA executive vice ing president, said the addition to the Gulf actually built for quite tony@gulfcoast legals@gulfcoast president, said. county continues to Coast and Eastern a few people who have media.com media.com “It’s amazing to me, outperform neighbor- Shore is in the rural moved here from Pen- on Facebook you have ing communities. areas where young sacola.” all these women tag- “Comparing Bald- families are buying Farlow said efforts to Parks Rogers ging their husbands win County and south property and building improve schools, such Publisher saying ‘I’ve always Alabama to the Pen- homes away from cities as the recent vote to [email protected] wanted to do this or I sacola area, Baldwin and subdivisions. increase property taxes love doing this.’ A lady County had 30 percent “I’m seeing a lot of to fund Fairhope and To subscribe, make an address change or vacation delivery at the vet this morning more permits than rural area builds,” Spanish Fort schools stop, you may call our office at (251) 943-2151, go online at said ‘oh, we go every Pensacola, Destin, Fort Farlow said. “I never will continue to make www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com and click on the “e-edition” link in year to get the ideas,’ Walton, any of those would have thought the area more desirable the black toolbar. Under “don’t have an id’ there is an option for and you do, you see places,” Pitman said. that Elberta would to home buyers. how to become a subscriber, or email amber@gulfcoastmedia. some of the same peo- “Baldwin County’s that be hot. You’ve got “I believe those com- com. ple every year,” Druse hot right now. There’s the new high school, munities realize good ©Gulf Coast Media 2019. No part of this newspaper may be said. “That’s just a big lot going on now. but you’ve got a lot school system builds reproduced without the prior written consent of the group event for them to go out There’s people flocking of people getting out good communities,” he publisher or associate publisher. Opinions of editorial or and go through the pa- in here.” of the city areas, so said. “The community general columnists or those reflected in submitted letters rade homes, especially Good schools and they’re selling out of that lives here believes do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this the showcase home.” low tax rates are some their subdivisions and in the schools even re- newspaper. The parade is also a of the reasons for the they’re buying one to tirees they realize that The Baldwin Times (USPS 040-560) is published weekly, highlight of the year growth, he said. “Part 10-acre tracts so some makes them a better with its office located at 901 N. McKenzie St., in Foley, AL 36535. Periodicals postage paid at Foley, AL 36535. Subscription for many association of it’s quality of life,” of these farmers and community to have bet- rates: In-county annual, $40.00 plus local sales tax; six-month, members, Druse said.