LOXLEY, Ala. — A new chairperson of the Loxley Strawberry Festival was introduced at Monday’s meeting of the Loxley Town Council.

Laurie, Gruenloh, the former chairperson of the festival introduced the new chairperson, Jeanine Stewart at the meeting. Gruenloh is leaving the festival after 11 years, the last two as chairman.

“I want to thank you for your generosity,” said Gruenloh to the council. “We couldn’t do it without the great facilities and staff.”

Gruenloh added that this year, Loxley Elementary School and the Association for Retarded Citizens of Baldwin County received $24,000 each, the proceeds from the festival.

“We had 70,000 visitors, and it was the best year ever,” said Gruenloh, adding that people from far away plan vacations around the festival.

She added that the 2009 edition of the festival will be April 11 and 12. That Sunday will be Easter Sunday, and the hours of the festival will be adjusted to run 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 11 and will run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 12.

“This marks my official retirement, and I sincerely thank you,” said Gruenloh.

Stewart had little to say at this outing.

“I am grateful to you all and it’s great to be involved with the festival,” said Stewart.

The Loxley Town Council met Monday in regular session. Councilors Lloyd J. Keuler and Derek G. Middleton were absent from the meeting.

The council also approved unanimously a $750 donation to the Technology Student Association for their trip to the national TSA competition in Orlando, Fla. later this month. Twenty-three students are eligible to participate in the competition, and a letter to the council from CBMS TSA Advisor Tiffaney Plato says the group has to raise $6,500 to cover cost of hotel rooms.

Plato and student Kathryn Bankester, a CBMS student and the Alabama TSA sergeant at arms, pled their case to the council.

The council also voted unanimously to spend $150 to sponsor “Flavors of the South,” a Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce event showcasing Baldwin County restaurants August 21 at the Coliseum in Robertsdale.

Public Works director Thomas Hudson requested council approval for a new Ford F-350 crew cab truck with a utility body to replace a now out-of-service 1994 Chevy truck that Hudson says “has lost a door, and is all worn out.”