The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce announces that Heiko Einfeld has resigned from his post as executive director, effective May 24, 2016.

Einfeld has served as the executive director for the last two years with a passion for promoting business and connecting communities. During his time at the Chamber, Einfeld played an integral role in developing the Chamber's new core values and rebranding. 

The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is currently interviewing candidates to fill Einfeld's position. In the interim period, Christina Hellmich has stepped in to serve as the interim executive director until a suitable replacement can be found. Christina has worked as the director of workforce development for the Chamber over the past 5 ½ years.  Prior to coming to the Eastern Shore Chamber, Christina worked in banking, healthcare and nonprofit industries as a marketing and public relations professional. 

The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce will continue to make the Eastern Shore the best place to live, work and cultivate business.

The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce is teaming up with the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce for a Regional Business After Hours on June 23 at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park.  Don't miss this great opportunity to network with Chamber Members from both sides of Mobile Bay.  Chamber members from all Chambers in Mobile and Baldwin Counties are invited.

There will be delicious food from  Half Shell Oyster House, Spanish Fort ,  Stewart Lodges at Steelwood , Chris and Carla's Catering and  Zea Rotisserie & Grill .  Buffalo Rock Company ,  Domke Market  and  Fairhope Brewing Company  will be providing drinks. 

Make sure you get your photo taken at the photo booth provided by  L.A. Fotographee  &  Gallery 450.

We also want to thank our sponsors Thomas Memorial Hospital, Infirmary Health, Alliance Publishing, Metal Roofing Center & Supply, LLC, Mobile Gas A Sempra Company and New Horizons Credit Union

by D. Fran Morley

Believe it or not, the first organized farmers market-with producers of vegetables, meat and baked goods selling direct to the consumers-opened more than 280 years ago in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. That market is still going strong, and according to the US Department of Agriculture there are nearly 10,000 similar markets across the country. Three are right here on the Eastern Shore.

Fairhope's Farmers Market is the granddaddy of the Eastern Shore markets, opening as a summer market in 2003 on Church Street downtown, with a fall market added a couple of years later. Early markets had around a dozen vendors. After the new Fairhope Public Library opened in 2007, the market moved to the lawn behind the library on Bancroft Street, which allows for more vendors (around 30-35 on a weekly basis) and other activities. There are adoptable pets from The Haven and the library sponsors story time and activities for children, said Paige Crawford, event coordinator for the City of Fairhope. "It's all about the atmosphere! Visitors can enjoy live music, a variety of vegetables and produce, and leave with a fresh bouquet of flowers. Alabama has such a vibrant farming community and the farmers market is the easiest way to support local farmers and learn about the benefits of eating what's in season."  Fairhope's Summer Farmer's Market is open through July 7  on Thursdays, from 3 to 6 p.m.  The fall market is Sept. 22 through November 10 .

The City of Spanish Fort and the Eastern Shore Chamber have teamed up to host our area's newest Farmers Market, and according to Mayor Mike McMilllian, it's off to an outstanding start. "We've just started and we've got room to grow, but so far, everyone is happy. We've had a good selection of local produce, fresh Alabama seafood, eggs, blueberries, strawberries. There's nothing better than fresh produce, and I'm very happy that our city can help provide this." Spanish Fort's market takes place on Saturday mornings through July 30 from 8 a.m. to noon at the new Community Center at 7361 Spanish Fort Blvd. "And if all goes well, and our residents would like for us to continue, we'll probably hold it again in the fall," the mayor said.  

Daphne's Farmers Market is a production of volunteers at the Daphne Art Center. Andy Root (yes, that's really his last name) says he helped with the market that first started last year and then offered to run it this year. (His wife, Annie, is president of the Daphne Art Center.) "It's been a lot of fun, and the market has grown quite a lot this year. I'm always looking for new vendors. When we started, we were in the parking lot of the United Methodist Church, then we moved to near Southern Napa, and now, I think we've found our permanent location, at the corner of Main Street and Santa Rosa, by Fast Times gas station. Daphne's market, a fund-raising activity for the Art Center, is planned to run straight through the fall, open on Fridays from 2 to 6 pm through November 4.