COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Ongoing and Upcoming Events, PAGE 3-4, 6 Shed body fat The Islander PAGE 17 INSIDE JANUARY 18, 2017 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ 7th Annual Snowbird Fest Council plans on phase-out of wooden loungers The 7th Annual Snow- bird Fest will be held By CRYSTAL COLE what number of loungers,” said the policy was unfair, as it kept Saturday, Jan. 21 from [email protected] Grant Brown of recreation and companies like his from compet- 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The cultural affairs. ing within the city for contracts. Orange Beach Events Gulf Shores city officials took If current vendors lost a con- “My issue is that if I’m limited Center at The Wharf. comments from residents and wooden loungers currently in use tract, Brown said they could shift to the amount of loungers I have Snowbird Fest is a true business owners on the latest part around the city would be reduced the number of wooden loungers in my inventory right now, then festival event, trade of the Leave Only Footprints pro- by 14 percent every year for the placed within the city to other I can’t compete to get another show, expo and car gram during their last city council next seven years. contract sites, as long as they account because I can’t offer the work session, with several speak- show all packed into “A company would have the stayed within the 14 percent total same equipment,” Booth said. ers asking for more leniency with reduction number each year. “The loungers are the desired one! Snowbirds get free ability to place those loungers regards to wooden lounger chairs. During public comments, Rich- piece of equipment on there, so if entertainment, as well throughout their accounts and, in Under the plan Gulf Shores is essence, tell us at the beginning of ard Booth, president of Albeach- as an opportunity to currently considering, the 981 the year which ones want to have chairs.com, told the council he felt SEE LOUNGERS, PAGE 2 meet local area busi- nesses to find lodging, get samples of their services and often de- lectable samples from Gulf Shores local area restaurants Milling around the market as well. Snowbirds enter raffles to win looks to study giveaways, are often in- volved in the shows put on by our entertainers, impact of Gulf and every year features samples of fabulous State Park local cuisine, as well as other art, retail sales, games, events and fun developments for everyone. Snowbird Fest is free to attend. By CRYSTAL COLE For more informa- [email protected] tion on this and other During last week’s work session, upcoming events, turn Gulf Shores city leaders discussed to the Islander Events a potential $30,000 study to look at Calendar on Page 3. what impact changes coming to Gulf State Park could have on the city. Steve Griffin, city administra- tor, told the council he hoped the city would approve the study being done with Sasaki and Associates. “I’d like to look at how to blend our community with the state park and blend the state park with our community so that we’re not doing this in an isolated way,” Griffin said. Griffin reminded the council of several improvements that would soon be coming online at the park within the next few years. Orange Beach fire “I don’t if you if you realize but chief resigns the sum total of what is happen- Orange Beach Fire ing in the state park, but there are Chief Shan Phillips things like a 350 room lodge facil- has resigned his post. ity and 40,000 square feet of con- For the full story, see ference space scheduled to open in May 2018,” Griffin said. “If you Page 6. pause for a little bit, 40,000 square feet means about 1,500 attendees to any event but only 350 rooms at DEATHS PAGE 23 the lodge facility. So, those meeting attendees and conference people Warren Joseph will need accommodations either Boutreis Jr. in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach. Dr. Helen Duggar There’s that positive impact to our Conwell community.” Inez Davis BY CRYSTAL COLE/GCM STAFF PHOTOS Griffin said there were other fa- Steven Ernest Hodges Hundreds showed up for the Gulf Coast Arts Alliance Art Market Saturday at Gulf Shores Firsy Presbyterian cilities being planned for the state Edith May Schultz Church. Vendors showcased their wares ranging from oil paintings and sketches to seashell curtains and park, including a new interpretive candles. The concession stand was open and provided goodies to patrons with proceeds supporting the church’s Horton scholarship program. SEE IMPACT, PAGE 2 INDEX Gulf BALDWIN LIVING, 7-8 OUT & ABOUT, 16 Coast CLASSIFIED, 25-26 PUZZLES, 12 Media HEALTH, 17-18 SPORTS, 9-11 VOLUME 41 • ISSUE 4 LEGALS, 27-34 TV LISTINGS, 19-22 1 SECTION • 40 PAGES OPINION, 13-14 2 • The Islander • January 18, 2017 • Gulf Coast Media LOUNGERS the exact number that you while we’re asking them to them here,” Craft said. cally convinced them to let currently in use across the have because I can move reduce.” “And we’re not willing to us handle it so they don’t city. CONTINUED FROM 1 it around,’” Booth said. Sinak said even if a site let another vendor come in have to. I think that they’re “She can continue to “I have to say ‘No, I can’t cancelled an existing con- with wooden loungers in satisfied this approach will have chairs there, just I was to try to get another because I don’t have them tract to go with Booth’s our city, period. You may work. Rather than saying not wooden loungers,” account, I would have to in my existing inventory,’ company, they would have have had a business license get rid of all this next year, Craft said. “She can grow say that I cannot give you which is just wrong. It’s flat to use a different style of but you don’t have any which is what we don’t the inventory of chairs - the wooden loungers. Why out wrong. It’s actually il- lounger anyway. wooden loungers on the want to do because we they just can’t be wooden would anybody contract legal to tell somebody they “If they terminate a beach. You didn’t fit in our want to slowly phase out of loungers. There’s no men- with me over the next can’t compete.” contract, they’re going to inventory anywhere.” it for the visiting public.” tion of restriction on the seven years?” Craft said allowing have to go with the new Amber Jemison, owner Craft said the graduated number of chairs you can Mayor Robert Craft Booth to bring new wooden loungers also,” Sinak said. of A Shore Thing, said she phase-out approach over site. It’s just on the wooden questioned whether Booth loungers in would be a “That’s the way it has to felt the new policy felt like several years helps satisfy loungers that stay out over- currently had any of the complete reversal of what go down, and it wouldn’t the city was trying to mi- environmental concerns night. “ loungers on site in Gulf the city was trying to do be right for you to supply cromanage things. while balancing the wants Ike Williams of Ike’s Shores, which Booth said with this gradual phaseout. wooden loungers and allow “My question is why of the visiting public and Beach Service asked the he did not. “If you had wooden you to increase it. Nobody can’t in seven years, we businesses community. city if they would consider “If you had wooden loungers in our city today, can start new with wooden just say we’re going to “We decided the right reducing some of the loungers get on a site in you would be able to move loungers.” reduce and just do it when way to do this was to phase license costs that beach Gulf Shores today, then those around but you do Booth said he felt the pol- we want to do it as busi- them out,” Craft said. rental companies have to you would be able to shift not,” Craft said. “To let icy was written to exclude ness owners and adults,” “Let’s get our public used apply for to contract with those wherever you wanted you come in and try to new vendors. Jemison said. “Why are we to it and let’s work our way new sites. to,” Craft said. “But if start with something new “It’s only written for losing what we’re losing through it over a reason- “We’re wanting Gulf you don’t then you don’t is totally against the spirit brand new businesses that when we can all be happy able time. That’s why we’re Shores to look at Orange have any. It would be like of what we’re trying to ac- never had loungers,” Booth staying where we are?” doing it over seven years. Beach,” Williams said. us adding new wooden complish.” said. “If the accounts Craft said the policy was We’re doing it because it “They charge us one mas- loungers to our inventory Councilman Gary Sinak that had loungers want to being enacted to satisfy needs to be done. We can do ter fee and then $5 per if we allowed you to come said allowing Booth to change up, they can still demands from the U.S.