If you have traveled down Baldwin County Highway 104 between Fairhope and Robertsdale, you have passed by Brodie’s Cream and Bean. It sits prominently on the south side in the heart of Silverhill. Silverhill is one of those quaint, charming, rural communities with enough interesting shops and restaurants that entice people to stop and see what’s going on. So I did!

Julian MacQueen has been wildly successful in the hotel business with Innisfree Hotels. An adventurer of sorts, he decided at an early age that the beach is where he wanted to be. Much has been written about his hotel management and development company, flying exploits, and religious sojourn. He’s quick to point out that the best thing he’s ever done was marry his wife of over four decades, Kim. They are truly a team.

At this time of Thanksgiving, we encourage you to remember the organizations in the Scenic 98 Coastal communities that are making a difference and serve as the glue that holds our towns and neighborhoods together.

You may have read about John Shell, the Junior at St. Paul’s High School in Mobile who came up with a brilliant yet aggressive undertaking to earn his Eagle Scout badge. It’s a story that inspires, especially if you love and cherish the waters surrounding the Scenic 98 Coastal area.

What’s in the water in Pensacola causing a revitalization as I have never seen? I had an inkling of what the catalyst was and set out to find it. I started on Palafox Street where we often go to the Saturday market to eat and shop with all the other happy people and dogs.

Ten years ago, a small group of young, professional, enterprising men and women from both sides of the Bay and all walks of life came together to create an organization. Their goal was to make a difference in the lives of young people, to level the playing field so to speak.

Tom and Carol Patterson are passionate sailors. In fact, Tom, and his son, Peter began a voyage to sail around the world in 2001.

While the Director of the Mobile-area YMCA’s special populations program, Susie Foster wanted to give her participants in the program opportunities and experiences outside of the “white coat” environment.