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The BIG Fairhope City Council Meeting
John Oldshue
September 25, 2024
Good morning, Fairhope! Happy Wednesday! We’re officially halfway to the weekend, so grab that mid-week boost (coffee, tea, or whatever keeps you going) and dive into your Fairhope Now FREE newsletter. We’ve got all the local news and upcoming events you need to power through the rest of the week—plus, we’re still buzzing from that huge city council meeting on Monday night. If you missed it, no worries, we’ve got the scoop for you! Got a friend who’s still clueless about what’s happening? Be a pal—send them to FairhopeNow.com or forward this along and have them click that big blue button below! - John Oldshue, Anne Dorman, & Lynn Oldshue
In Today’s Fairhope Now Newsletter :
The BIG Fairhope City Council Meeting
Hurricane Helene To Come Ashore Thursday
Fairhope Starbucks Finally Opens
Fairhope Trees are Lighting Up
Quick News from around Fairhope
Fairhope Adoptable Pets : Meet Lefty
The BIG Fairhope City Council Meeting
The BIG Fairhope City Council meeting happened Monday night and Fairhope Now Facebook member Leslie Russel was kind enough to summarize some parts with time codes so you can jump around in the video above to find out all about it. The time codes referenced below have been slightly adjusted to sync better with the YouTube recording.
From Leslie Russel….
If you didn't attend, or listen in, to the City Council meeting on 23 Sept 2024, some important information was dispensed. The information is in response to an Alabama-centric media channel's report, based on whistleblower information, that 1,000 Haitian immigrants are going to be resettled into Mobile and/or Baldwin counties. You can listen to the entirety of the council meeting in the attached video clip. I have provided a few time-marks to what I found to be key bits-o'-information.
(0:03:25) There have been no notifications received, nor indications observed, that Fairhope will receive an influx of immigrants being resettled by the Federal government.
(0:04:15) Members of the City Council have no authority to commit the City to any planned action. Committing the City to a course-of-action requires the Council to be called to session and pass an ordinance or resolution.
(0:04:30) The City of Fairhope neither supports, nor has the resources, to support any large-scale resettlement of individuals within its boundaries, and has been in contact with State and Federal officials to this effect.
(0:17:00) There have been no conversations at the Council, or other, official levels about extending an invitation for resettlement of any immigrants in Fairhope.
(0:19:00) While there is no intent on the part of Fairhope to extend an invitation to resettle immigrants in the city, these actions are being taken at the Federal government level, and neither the City of Fairhope, Baldwin County, nor the State of Alabama has the ability to effect actions at the federal level.
(0:21:50) The City of Fairhope has neither intent, nor desire, to become a "sanctuary city".
(1:04:00) At the County level, there is no awareness/visibility into what, exactly, the Federal government is intending to do.
(1:06:10) At the federal level, the program-in-question is used to place immigrants into locales that have some level of employment-appropriate industry (in other areas of Alabama, this appears to be poultry processing).
(1:07:10) Attempts to identify a point-person for the CNHV program have been unsuccessful, although attempts have been made at the state and federal levels.
Hurricane Helene To Come Ashore Thursday
Helene was classified as a Hurricane on Wednesday morning and is still forecast to come ashore near Apilachicola on Thursday as a major Cat 3 or Cat 4 Hurricane with winds of 125 mph or greater. The effect in Fairhope should be minimal with only about a 10% chance of sustained winds of 39 mph or greater and rainfall generally around 1 - 2 inches possible. If winds did pick up from the storm in Fairhope it would probably be late in the afternoon or in the evening Thursday. Follow meteorologist James Spann or Spinks Megginson for frequent updates.
Fairhope Starbucks Finally Opens
The Fairhope Times reports that Fairhope’s brand-new Starbucks finally opened on Tuesday at the Eastern Shore Village Center ( near WingFingers and Big Lots ) and has sparked quite the debate among locals, with opinions brewing as strong as their coffee! In the conversation on Fairhope Now some residents, like Linda, are steering clear, preferring to brew their own at home and skip what they call “overpriced” or “burnt” coffee. Meanwhile, others like Brandy are sticking to their guns, passionately supporting local spots like Jubilee Java. But not everyone is turning up their noses—some are eagerly planning their next visit, excited to grab their favorite drink on the way to work. Others have been raving about the pumpkin latte and the friendly staff. Whether you’re team local or ready to indulge in a grande, one thing’s for sure: Fairhope is buzzing with caffeine and conversation!
Fairhope Trees are Lighting Up
The trees are lighting up. City crews started pulling out the white lights after Labor Day. They say it’s too soon to count how many trees they’ve done, but it will take two months to light them all. Adam Pope (in the blue shirt) has been doing this for eleven years.
Fairhope Adoptable Pets : Meet Linus
Linus is a distinguished male puppy with a striking white coat accented by brindle patches, giving him a unique and charming look. Known as the “voice of reason” among his litter, Linus brings a calming presence to the playful chaos of his siblings, earning him the nickname “security blanket” for his dependable and comforting nature. His serene and gentle demeanor makes him the perfect companion, whether for playtime or quiet moments of affection. With his thoughtful personality and warm heart, Linus is sure to become a cherished and steady member of any family lucky enough to welcome him home. Find more information on Linus and other adoptable pets from the Haven here.
Quick News from Around Fairhope
Let’s Go Fairhope sifts through endless posts, websites and insider-scoop information to bring you the skinny on events locally. It’s a simple list, presented in a friendly format, reminding us at-a-glance of what’s happening each week. Let’s Go! fans say they like it because it’s basic, easily accessible, can be printed and posted on the fridge, and found on social media. Click here to visit website and subscribe to the newsletter.
Wednesday, September 25
Sign up for Let’s Go! Fairhope here
8 am, 9:05 - 10 am: Local News / Gulf Coast Swap Shop @ WABF 1480 AM Radio
10 am - 5 pm: Wellness Wednesday Free Consultations @ Peak Alkalinity
12 pm: 10+ Meetup - Secular Teen drop off event @ Unity on the Eastern Shore
12:30 pm: FH Rotary Meeting w/ Speaker @ FH UMC - Christian Life Center
1:30 pm: Weekly Bible Study @ Fairhope United Methodist Church
3 pm: Back Porch Folk Singers @ Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship
4 pm: Barr Group Mortgage 25th Anniversary Party @ 18 S Section St.
6- 7 pm: Guided Meditation & Sound Bath @ Lotus Bluum
6:30 pm: Wise Guys Jazz Band @ Gambino’s Italian Grill
6:30 pm: Trivia @ District Hall
6:30 - 9 pm: Live Music @ Rotolo’s
6:30 - 9 pm: DJ Music Bingo @ Section Street Pizza
6:45 - 7:07 pm: Sunset @ Fairhope Pier
Thursday, September 26
Sign up for Let’s Go! Fairhope here
8 am, 9:05 - 10 am: Local News / Gulf Coast Swap Shop @ WABF 1480 AM Radio
8 - 10 am: Pickleball @ Fairhope United Methodist
9 am - 3 pm: Walk-in Healthcare Interviews @ Infirmary Health 300 S. Greeno R
9 am - 3 pm: Friends of the Library Book Sale @ Fairhope Public Library
9:30 am: STEAMCamp for Kids Homeschool Art class @ FH United Methodist Church
10 am: Weekly Grief Support Group @ First Fairhope
2 pm: Weekly Thursday Bible Study - Community Welcome @ FH Christian Church
3 - 6 pm: City of Fairhope Outdoor Farmers Market @ Fairhope Public Library
4 - 6 pm: Vintage market discounts & parking lot karaoke @ Dragonfly Emporium
4 - 7 pm: Fairhope West Parent Teacher Partnership Spirit Night @ Subway
5 pm: These streets closed to traffic in prep for Homecoming Parade: Section
Street from Oak Ave. to Fairhope Ave / Fairhope Ave from Section St. to the Pier
5 pm: Spark Golf 9-Hole Social League @ Rock Creek
5:30 pm: Sunset Rotary Meeting w/ Guest Speaker @ (Sunset Rotary Location)
5:30 - 7 pm: Plant & Pour: Plant Crafts and sips @ Corner Copia Gardens
5:30 - 7:30 pm: Stitch 'n Sip After Hours @ Southern Twist Yarns
5:45 pm: Blissful Wellness Yoga on the Bluff @ Contact Blissful Wellness Yoga
6 pm: FHS Homecoming Parade @ Downtown Fairhope: Section Street from Oak
Ave. to Fairhope Ave / Fairhope Ave from Section St. to the Pier
6 pm: Carmel Apple Class $35 per person (Limit 10 ppl) @ Fairhope Chocolate
6 pm: Running Wild Group Run w/ @ Meet at McSharry’s
6 - 8 pm: Rebecca/Gerry Duo @ Gambino's Italian Grill
6 - 8:30 pm: Trivia @ Rotolo’s Pizzeria
6:43 - 7:06 pm: Sunset @ Fairhope Pier
6:45 pm: Live Trivia in the Taproom @ Fairhope Brewing Company
7 - 10 pm: Live Music @ Bone & Barrel
8 pm: Rock & Roll Bingo @ The Ravenite Pizzeria
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