Gulf Shores, Ala – January 6, 2012 –When Jim and Mary Lorenz first began collecting Christmas houses over thirteen years ago, they never dreamed of what the collection would eventually become. The collection which started with just three or four houses has grown into an entire village consisting of over 100 houses and buildings that the couple displayed inside of their home each year.

However, It wasn’t until about six or seven years that Jim Lorenz began to realize just how large the village had become.

“It started with the top of the kitchen cabinets and before we knew it I was building archways and bridges to make everything fit,” Jim Lorenz said. “The village really began to outgrow our own house so we began thinking of what we should do with it.”

This past December, Jim and Mary Lorenz made the generous decision to part ways with their thirteen year masterpiece as the couple donated 89 of the village houses to the City of Gulf Shores to display in the David L. Bodenhamer Recreation Center during the holiday season.

The Lorenz masterpiece drew admirers of all ages at the annual City of Gulf Shores Christmas Open House and continued to stop traffic inside the David L. Bodenhamer Recreation Center throughout the month of December.

Even after parting ways with much of their masterpiece, Jim and Mary Lorenz are still putting their finishing touches on the village.

“We’ve got a Chic-Fil-A, Home Depot, Lowes and another moving scene that we plan to add next year,” Lorenz said.

Something tells me this won’t be the last time the Lorenz family adds to their masterpiece.

Gulf Shores, Ala – December 8, 2011 - Over the past week, the City of Gulf Shores hosted two of its annual Christmas events.

Christmas Open House on December 1 and the Christmas Parade and Beach Celebration on December 3 drew large crowds from across the region.  Each event added some exciting new twists while sticking to their traditional, home town feel.

Christmas Open House annually invites families to experience each of the City facilities while enjoying refreshments, crafts, games and live music. However, this year's event featured a new, exciting conclusion.

The Mobile Symphony Holiday Brass performed a variety of holiday tunes before joining the Gulf Shores High School Band for their final two songs.  Not to be out done, Brent Burns performed a few of his holiday favorites before capping the night with children from the City's After School Program.

The 2nd Annual Christmas Parade and Beach Celebration brought over 45 festive floats from around the Gulf Coast, while the lighting ceremony at the public beach made a splash of its own.

After watching the traditional Christmas tree suffer in the salt air last holiday season, this year, the City decided to think a little outside of the box. The lighting ceremony featured one of the iconic Gulf Shores lifeguard stands surrounded by three beautiful palms, each covered in lights, wreaths and bows and was truly a sight to see.

Judging by the families who made their way to Gulf Shores over the past week, these Christmas events won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

For more information about any of the City of Gulf Shores events, contact the Special Events division at 968-1172.

(Baldwin County)

Gulf Shores, Ala – November 10, 2011 - If you are searching for some family fun and excitement this holiday season, the City of Gulf Shores has what you’re looking for.

Thursday, December 1st, at 6:00 PM, the City of Gulf Shores will host their Christmas Open House celebration. This night will offer friends and family a chance to come and experience our wonderful facilities from the Bodenhamer Recreation Center and Thomas B. Norton Public Library to the Gulf Shores Museum and the Erie Meyer Civic Center. Come enjoy music, dancing, crafts, refreshments and much, much more. Have your picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus after strolling through our Holiday Village and don’t miss the performance by the Mobile Symphony Brass Quintet with special guest, Brent Burns. Be sure to join us in bringing joy to a child this holiday season by donating a gift to Toys for Tots.

Saturday, December 3rd, at 4:00 PM, the City of Gulf Shores will hold the 2nd Annual Christmas Parade and Beach Celebration. This year’s event will feature festive floats from around the region, as well as, a stunning lighting ceremony and celebration at the Gulf Shores Public Beach. Bring the whole family and enjoy crafts, games and lots of family fun.

Saturday, December 10th, at 8:00 AM, the City of Gulf Shores will host Breakfast with Santa at the Erie Meyer Civic Center. Don’t miss your chance to have your picture taken and enjoy breakfast with jolly ole’ St. Nic himself. Santa will also be giving away a brand-new bike to one lucky boy and girl.

For more information about these celebrations, or any of our other events, please contact the Special Events Division at 251-968-1172.

(Gulf Shores)

(Baldwin County)

BALDWIN COUNTY SOLID WASTE 10th ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING PROGRAM
December 27, 2010 - January 9, 2011
All Christmas trees donated for recycling should have all decorations completely removed
Please no Flocked or Artificial Trees
Baldwin County residents are urged not to discard Christmas trees along roadsides, but to recycle trees for FREE by bringing them to the following locations:
Magnolia Landfill 15140 County Road 49 Summerdale, AL 36580	MacBride Landfill 14200 County Road 64 Loxley, AL 36551
Closed - Eastfork Landfill (The Eastfork Landfill is not in operation at this time and will NOT be accepting Christmas Trees or any other activity.)	Bay Minette Transfer Station 291 Nicholsville Road Bay Minette, AL 36507
Residents may also place their Christmas trees in the designated roll-off containers located at the following facilities:
Fairhope Satellite Courthouse 1100 Fairhope Ave. Fairhope, AL 36532	Foley Satellite Courthouse 201 E. Section Street Foley, AL 36525
Central Annex Robertsdale 22251 Palmer Street Robertsdale, AL 36567	Spanish Fort Volunteer Fire Department 7580 Spanish Fort Blvd. Spanish Fort, AL 36527
Christmas trees will be accepted after January 9, 2011, only at the Magnolia Landfill.
The recycled Christmas trees that are collected will not only conserve valuable landfill space but will also contribute material to the Baldwin County compost program. Baldwin County compost is available for sale at the Magnolia Landfill for $25 per ton.
For more information on the 10th Annual Baldwin County Christmas Tree Recycling Program call (251) 972-6878 or visit www.baldwincountyal.gov.
Click map for publication and larger map!

(Gulf Shores)

(Mobile)

(Foley)

Gather the gang and come on down to Christmas in the Park.

(ARA) - For many of us, the holidays are a mixture of fun and frantic shopping, joyful times and a hectic pace. Criminals, however, see the holiday season as full of opportunities - the perfect time to take advantage of seasonal chaos.

"With everything going on, the holiday season is no time to let your guard down when it comes to home security," says Jim Boots of Protection 1 (www.protection1.com), the largest privately owned security company in the U.S. "Criminals know that our holiday habits can leave our homes, belongings and personal information vulnerable. It's important to be vigilant throughout the year, and especially during the holidays. According to the FBI, there's a burglary every 14 seconds in the U.S. And, with homes and cars filled with new gifts and gadgets, the holidays are an especially lucrative time for thieves."

Fortunately, by taking some simple precautions, you protect your home, purchases and identity from predators this holiday season.

Secure your home

"Burglars know many people travel during the holidays, and many more will leave brand-new, valuable merchandise in their homes when they're out," Boots says. "A criminal is more likely to target a home that looks vulnerable. The best thing homeowners can do to protect their homes is to make it clear to burglars that their house won't be an easy mark."

Reduce the risk of burglary by:

* Putting inside and outside lights on a timer to make your home look occupied while you're away.

* Keeping bushes, trees and decorations from obscuring the view of your front door from the road.

* Suspending newspaper and mail delivery if you'll be away for several days.

* Arranging for snow removal in case of a fresh snowfall while you're away.

Consider installing a cost-effective home security system, provided by a trusted company such as Protection 1, that allows you to control everything remotely from a mobile or Web-based system such as a smart phone or laptop. A home without a security system is two to three times more likely to be burglarized, according to a study by Temple University. With Protection 1's eSecure service you can check on, arm or disarm your home security system remotely, communicate with the system via text message, and even place sensors on specific areas inside your home that you want to protect such as jewelry boxes, TVs or even the gifts under the Christmas tree. The service also provides portable surveillance cameras that you can place in your home, or take with you to monitor the inside of your hotel room while you're out.

While you're keeping bad guys out, don't overlook fire safety as well. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are the top days for home candle fires, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Christmas trees account for 200 fires annually, resulting in six deaths, 25 injuries and more than $6 million in property damage, the administration's statistics show. Remember, never leave candles burning and don't overload electrical sockets with decorative lights. However, should there be an accident a monitored system from Protection 1 automatically dispatches the fire department just in case you're away from the house, asleep or unable to respond.

Stay safe when you're out

Thieves know our holiday shopping habits and can make us vulnerable to theft while we're out and about. From breaking into cars to "shoulder surfing" for credit card information and PIN numbers, criminals take every opportunity to brighten the holidays for themselves. When holiday shopping, keep these safety tips in mind:

* Never leave shopping bags, wrapped gifts or other valuables visible inside the car. Always place them in the trunk. Thieves are more likely to break into a vehicle if they can see the loot in it.

* Carry only the credit card you need and one piece of ID when shopping. Leave your Social Security card at home or in a secure place.

* Be aware of who might be looking over your shoulder as you type a PIN number.

* Never allow a store clerk to take your credit card out of your sight.

* Enroll in an identity theft protection service like LifeLock, which monitors your credit and can alert you if a piece of your personal information is used incorrectly in an application for credit or services.

"By taking some precautions, homeowners and shoppers can ensure the holidays stay bright for themselves and their families - and not for criminals," Boots says.