Community events and activities for April 6-12, 2015

Below are some of the many events going on in Mobile County this week.

The 22nd Annual Camellia Classic Open Car Show, sponsored by the Mobile Bay Mustang Club, is Saturday, April 11, at Bellingrath Gardens.  Proceeds will benefit Bay Area Food Bank; visitors who bring a canned good will receive $1 off admission.  To register a car or for more information about the Mustang Club, see www.mobilebaymustangclub.com.

Saturday, April 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. is Discovery Day at Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Boulevard on Dauphin Island.  Free Children's admission to the Estuarium, children's games, activities and fun crafts.  DISL is at 101 Bienville Boulevard on the Island.  Call 861-8141 or log onto www.disl.org for details.

On Saturday, April 11, 5-10 p.m., the South Bay Project is sponsoring an evening of music at the Coastal Response Center, 7385 Highway 188, Coden.  For information, call Lori Bosarge, 824-7265 or Pat Creel, 422-7592.

A bowling tournament to benefit the Special Needs Athletics Program (SNAP) will be held at Skyline Lanes, 4120 Government Boulevard in Mobile, on April 11 at 2 p.m.  Organizers are looking for 24 5-man teams; fee is $25 per person.  Awards will be given.  In addition, there will be opportunity prizes and a 50/50 pot.  For information, to register or to donate a prize, contact Ray Demski at 251-379-0950 or rdgracie03@gmail.com or Joe Marshall, 251-366-9978 or  joe@snapofalabama.com.  

At Dauphin Island's Water Tower Park on Saturday, April 11 at 6 p.m. is a Spring Starlight Concert by Mobile Pops Band.  The event, which is free to the public, is made possible through contributions by the Town, Dauphin Island Chamber of Commerce and the Dauphin Island Foundation.  Musical selections will include a Tribute to Judy Garland, the Genius of Ray Charles, Clarinet Candy, Duke Ellington Custer, Circus Days and more.  Don't forget to bring a lawn chair or blanket and a picnic basked full of goodies for an evening of fun.

Baby Day at  St. Elmo Feed & Seed is Saturday, April 11, 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m.  Tracy McCarter said "We will have a cook-out and door prizes. Folks can reserve a 'Spot on the Porch; to sell, give away or swap puppies, kittens, goats, bunnies, poultry or homemade goods."   For more information, call St. Elmo Feed & Seed at 957-2177.

Richards-DAR House Museum's 8th Annual Benefit Garden Party is Sunday, April 12, 2-5 p.m.  Funds from the event will go toward the $75,000 restoration of fence and gallery lace ironwork at the museum, 256 N. Joachim Street in Mobile.  Tickets are $20 each.  Call 251-208-7320 for tickets; see www.richardsdarhouse.com for information.

The general membership meeting of the Watercolor  Graphic Arts Society of Mobile (WGAS) is Sunday, April 12, 2 p.m. at Mobile Museum of Art auditorium.  Officers for the next year will be elected.  In a special  program, Jeff Bass will present a live watercolor portrait demonstration after the meeting.  For more information, visit http://www.wgasmobile.org.

Joe Jefferson Players "Aida" runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through April 12 at the Playhouse, 11 S. Carlen Street in Mobile.  Performances are at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.  Tickets for the play are $20 each; seniors and military personnel admission is $15 and student tickets are $10.  For information, call 471-1534 or see www.joejeffersonplayers.com.

The 17th Annual Weise Distinguished Lecture Series is Monday, April 13, 7-8 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom at the University of South Alabama.  Admission is free to the lecture by Dr. Carlos M. Duarte, world-renowned marine ecologist.  For information, call 251-460-7136 or email nmerrill@southalabama.edu.

The 6th Annual Crawfish in the Courtyard, hosted by the Exploreum Junior Advisory Board, is Tuesday, April 14, 6 p.m. at the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center, 65 Government Street in Mobile.  Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.  For information, call 251-208-6873 or visit www.exploreum.com.

Grand Bay Garden Club is sponsoring a Garden Tour on April 17, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.  Jane Spicciani of the Club said that the one-day-only tour will include "five beautiful gardens, including a Biblical Reproductions Gallery, a local school (Castlen Elementary) and three private gardens in the Grand Bay area."  Advance tickets are $8 each, available at Grand Bay and St. Elmo Feed and Seed Stores or through PayPal at grandbayonline.com. Tickets, at $10 per person, can be purchased on the day of the event.  A special family rate (family of 3) of $20 is available online.  Proceeds from the Garden Tour will benefit the future Grand Bay Library/Media Center and the Grand Bay Garden Club. For more information, contact Jane Spicciani at: 865-2014.

Chickasaw Garden Club will meet Tuesday, April 7, 2 p.m. at Chickasaw Civic Center, 224 Grant Street.

SENIOR NEWS:  Mobile County senior citizens are busy with activities that expand their minds and enlarge their circle of friends, offer help to their neighbors and beautify their communities, strengthen their bodies and improve their health.

On Wednesday, April 8 at noon, Mobile Master Gardener Alice Marty will make a presentation on "Butterfly Gardens" at Semmes Senior Center, 9635 Moffett Road.  Terry Dixon, Director of Semmes Senior Center, reminds members and prospective members that April is membership month.  Call 649-2010 for information.

At Parkway SAIL Center, 1600 Boykin Boulevard, retired English teacher Judy Gammage continues the Creative Writing Class on Tuesdays.  For more information on activities at Parkway, call Freda Mitchell, 471-2503.

At the Connie Hudson Mobile Regional Senior Community Center, 3201 Hillcrest Road, there is no shortage of events and activities to appeal to seniors. From art to languages, quilting to crochet, yoga classes to a fully equipped gym, almost every hour offers something of interest.  

On Wednesday, April 15, 2-4 p.m., seniors are invited to meet-and-greet Ashley-Nicole Flowers, the new director at the Connie Hudson Senior Center, The event is sponsored by the CHMRSCC Foundation.  There will also be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new pavilion, and guests will enjoy cake and punch and an opportunity to win a Basket of Gift Cards ($2 for one tickets, $5 for 3.)  For information on the center, call 602-4963.

While seniors are at the Center on April 15 is a good time for them to take a look at the "Autumn Splendor" quilt created by the Sassy Stitchers quilting group,.which meets on Thursdays.  Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5.  Proceeds from ticket sales will be used to purchase supplies for a Quilt of Valor, and the drawing will be held at the Quilt of Valor presentation at the Center on May 30.

Chickasaw is one town that really revers its seniors and makes sure that activities are provided for fun and fellowship, health, fitness and nutrition.  On Monday, April 6, 7:30 a.m. is the monthly Seniors Early Bird Breakfast at the Civic Center; cost is $3 per person.  Meals on Wheels are available for those who are homebound; call 452-6466.  

Senior Adult Bingo is every Wednesday at noon at the Chickasaw Civic Center.  Chick-A-Cisers, a fitness class designed for seniors, takes place at Chickasaw Auditorium at 8:15 a.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Senior Game Day with Friends at Chickasaw Civic Center is at 10 a.m. the second Friday of each month (April 10.)  Activities include such "brain games" as Monopoly, Scrabble and dominoes, all of which will enhance concentration, memory and reasoning skills.  To arrange for transportation to these and the other senior activities, call 452-6464.

At the Grand Bay Senior and Community Center, a hot, nourishing meal is served at 11:30 a.m. on weekdays.  TheCenter is open from 9-1, with bingo, line dancing, dominos=, games, conversation and free Wi-Fi provided.  Transportation for the elderly and homebound is available in limited community area.  Call Mary Lee, 865-4010, for information on other activities.

A brief look at what is coming up on Saturday, April 18 is listed below. 

The Azalea City Quilters Guild Festival of Quilts is both Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18 at Mobile Civic Center Expo Hall, 401 Civic Center Drive, downtown Mobile.  Contact Joyce Reed, lsubookwrm@hotmail.com for information.

Semmes Heritage Day at Semmes Heritage Park, 3871 Wulff Road, is Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Call Jeanette Byrd, 649-1647, for more information on this free, fun, informative look at the past.

Fowl River Area Civic Association's SpringFest, featuring a pancake breakfast, a silent auction, a yard sale and a bake sale, is Saturday, April 18, 8-11 a.m. at the historic Community House, 5401 Fowl River Road, Theodore.  Tickets at the door are $5 for adults and $2 for children.  Call 973-9262 for information.

The 13th Annual St. Francis Episcopal Church Arts & Crafts Festival is 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 18.  More than 40 artists will be displaying their jewelry, paintings, furniture and more.  For information, call 318-548-4376.