Calling artists nationwide: The Arts, Hancock County wants YOU to submit a design for their sculpture garden.

- By Cecelia Hopes

The sculpture garden is a bold celebration of art along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Located in the historic Bay St. Louis Depot District, the Center is located only steps away from the new Amtrak Mardi Gras passenger train line, making it the perfect spot to display work that will be enjoyed by both locals and visitors. 
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The author reflects on how his relationship with Rev. Reed as a young man helped shape the person he is today.

- By Jason M. (“LP”)

​Bishop Reed poured into me at one of the most important moments of my life. After I gave my life to Christ at Miles College, every trip back home to the Gulf Coast led me straight to The Powerhouse [Powerhouse of Deliverance Ministries]. He saw my hunger for God, and instead of just acknowledging it, he invested in it. He handed me tapes from his ministry, taught me, corrected me, and showed me, by example, what a true man of God looks like.
 
I would cut hair in my dorm room, hold Bible studies, and play those tapes over and over. His voice, his teaching, and his consistency helped me build a spiritual foundation strong enough to withstand the pressures of college life. He didn’t just preach to me…. he prepared me.
 
Every time I saw him, he gave me even more than tapes; he gave me his time, his wisdom, and his beliefs. He embraced my gift and welcomed me into the PowerHouse to lead the young people and pour into them as he did for me, long before I fully understood the calling as my life’s calling.
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Bishop Reed blessed me in ways he never fully knew. His impact is woven into my walk, my ministry, and my growth as a man. I honor him, I thank God for him, and I will carry his influence and legacy with me for the rest of my life.
 
Writer's Bio: Jason M. Sr., known as “LP,” is a Gulf Coast-born artist, youth advocate, licensed barber, educator, motivational speaker, life coach, and author. A Miles College alumnus and award‑winning artist, he has led national youth outreach for over 20 years and founded the community organization Our Corner of the Coast.
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The concept behind Souper Mudfest is simple. Guests purchase a handcrafted ceramic bowl created by one of our local artists for $30. That bowl becomes both a keepsake and a ticket to the event, granting participants a wristband that allows them to sample soups prepared by local shops and restaurants. All funds benefit the Old Town Merchants Association and local artists.
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Bowls can be purchased at Main Street United Methodist Church at 162 Main St. The event kicks off at 11 am, but participants usually start lining up well before then; prepare to come early for the best selection. There are over 40 merchants serving soup this year! 

For the first time, the event will kick off with the “Battle in the Bay - The Art of the Cocktail,” a VIP experience. This premiere gala will be held on Friday, March 13, from 6 to 8 pm at 200 North Beach restaurant. Tickets are $45 and include three drinks and heavy hors d’oeuvres. 
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Whether you come for the soup, the art, or the atmosphere, one thing is certain: you’ll leave with a full heart and full tummy. 

For many local families, the weeks leading up to Easter mean gathering with neighbors over plates of fried seafood, homemade sides, and desserts prepared by generations of parish volunteers.

- by Shoofly Staff

Beyond the meals themselves, Lenten dinners reflect a deeper Gulf Coast tradition rooted in hospitality and shared experience. Volunteers begin preparations hours before serving time, and recipes passed down through families often make their way onto each week’s menu. For many residents, attending at least one fish fry each season is simply part of living on the Coast.

All dinners will run each Friday through Lent, March 6, 13, 20, and 27. We encourage attendees to bring cash, but most of the churches will accepts checks or Venmo payment.

And as longtime Coast residents will tell you, Lent may ask for sacrifice — but in Hancock County, no one goes hungry on a Friday night.
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In Bay St. Louis, St. Rose de Lima Catholic Church continues its long-standing tradition of serving lunches on Fridays during Lent. Volunteers prepare classic Gulf Coast fare featuring fried Mississippi catfish or shrimp with sides of potato salad, green beans, bread, and homemade desserts. Service starts at 11am and runs until meals sell out (or 2 pm), so get there early! Plates are $12, with options to dine in, drive thru, pick up, or delivery. Place orders by calling 228-467-9700. 301 S. Necaise Ave., Bay St. Louis. 

Just down Beach Boulevard, Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church hosts drive-thru evening Lenten dinners. These fried catfish plates will come with hush puppies, fries, coleslaw, and green beans, all for $10. Just pop into the Holy Trinity Catholic School car line to pick up your plate! Service starts at 5 pm and runs until meals sell out. 228 S. Beach Blvd. Bay St. Louis.

In Waveland, St. Clare Catholic Church offers one of the county’s most popular Lenten dinner options with a variety of choices. This drive-thru runs from 5 to 7 pm, and plates are $13 with a choice of entrée, two sides, hushpuppies, and a dessert. Entrée options are fried catfish, fried shrimp, shrimp stew, and seafood gumbo. Pick your choice of sides, from French fries, potato salad, coleslaw, and green bean & artichoke casserole. 236 S. Beach Blvd., Waveland.

Down in Lakeshore, St. Anne’s Catholic Church has fish plates for $15 with three pieces of fish, 2 sides, bread, drink, and a dessert. They also have a kid’s plate for $10, with two pieces of fish and one side. Dine in or take out from 4:30 to 7 pm. 5858 Lower Bay Rd., Bay St. Louis.

​In Pass Christian (or the back of Diamondhead, as the locals say), there is Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church. They are selling fish or shrimp plates with French fries, coleslaw, and hushpuppies for $14. Dinner runs from 5 to 7:30 pm. 9062 Kiln Delisle Rd., Pass Christian.

Although not in Hancock County, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church is just a hop away in Long Beach. Dinner is served from 5 to 7 pm at the community center. Plates are $12 with dine-in or carry-out options. 720 Beach Blvd. E., Long Beach. 

Walking into Rickey’s on Coleman Avenue immediately gives you a sense of something familiar — not just in the décor or the menu, but in the way nostalgia settles into the room like it never left.​

- by Francesca Bianci

 
The familiarity begins at the door. A quick glance around the dining room reveals the iconic photos on the wall of Chef Rickey and Mr. Bill. They anchor the space in memory and remind diners of the restaurant’s history – its flavor, loyal following, and regional affection. Once inside, guests have many options: the bar to the right, a small dining room to the left, a larger dining room straight ahead, or the patio out back. The space isn’t fussy or staged; it’s comfortable. There’s nothing fancy or forced about it, and the classic simplicity is exactly what creates the down-home, casual vibe that pulls you in and invites you to settle.

 
Then comes the menu — arguably the most exciting element of Rickey’s revival. Many of the classics have made their return, some refurbished with a modern touch. The first test for diners searching for authenticity is always whether those old standbys taste the way memory insists they should.
 
We started with the Eggplant Lighthouse, a dish that transported us immediately back in time. Thin, crispy eggplant slices are layered with fresh mozzarella and finished with the bright, red gravy that Rickey’s has long been known for. The tangy acidity of the sauce hits first, followed by the richness of the cheese and the mild sweetness of the eggplant. The combination feels a little old-school Italian-American but filtered through a distinctly coastal lens. It’s the kind of dish people will order “just to see if it’s the same,” and it is.
 

 
The French Dip sandwich proved another surprise — and a standout. Tender roast beef, generously portioned and covered in melty provolone, is tucked into ciabatta that’s sturdy enough to handle a good dunk in the accompanying au jus. It’s rich without being heavy, savory without being overly salty, and packed with umami. The ciabatta in particular deserves praise — so many French Dips fall apart before the second bite, but this one holds with confidence and purpose.
 
Another unlikely hero is the Meatloaf Burger. It is one of the most flavorful sandwiches on the menu and, frankly, one that leaves an imprint. It’s savory, nostalgic, and slightly quirky – the kind of thing you order more than once.
 

 
Now, let's talk fries. At Rickey’s, they are not an afterthought. These are the holy grail of fried potatoes: a crunchy exterior with a soft, pillowy interior. They’re seasoned well, fried right, and served hot.
 
For seafood lovers, the Trout Treasures remains a crowd favorite. A perfectly fried trout fillet is topped with shrimp, lump crab meat, and crawfish in a creamy sauce rich with coastal decadence. Served with seasoned vegetables and potatoes, it feels indulgent and distinctly Gulf Coast — a dish that puts the flavors of the ocean center-stage.
 

 
Whether you’re stopping in for a quick lunch or settling in for that throw-back favorite from yesteryear, Rickey’s manages to deliver both comfort and memory. It brings back the best of what the Coast loves: friendly service, a neighborhood feel, and Chef Rickey’s signature eye for flavor. For locals who remember and newcomers who don’t, Rickey’s on Coleman offers a delicious reminder that some places deserve to return — and we’re fortunate when they do.
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The second annual Homegrown: A Storied Exchange was held the last weekend of January across several venues in Hancock and Harrison Counties and racked up another win for the Hancock County Library System.

- Story by Dena Temple, photos by Melanie Cole

A new and very special part of the Friday agenda was a Youth Workshop. Area students learned creative writing skills through hands-on sessions presented by USM’s School of Humanities’ Live Oak Writing Project. The event’s keynote session featured noted authors Jason Reynolds and Jesmyn Ward.

​Jason served as Library of Congress Ambassador for Young People’s Literature from 2020-2022 and has authored almost two dozen books, including Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks, All American Boys (with Brendan Kiely), and Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (with Ibram X. Kendi).

 
Jesmyn Ward is the (first woman and first Black American) winner of two National Book Awards for Fiction for Sing, Unburied, Sing (2017) and Salvage the Bones (2011). She is the recipient of the MacArthur Genius Grant, a Stegner Fellowship, a John and Renee Grisham Writers Residency, the Strauss Living Prize, and the 2022 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction. She is currently a professor of creative writing at Tulane University.

 
Saturday was the main event, held on the campus of The University of Southern Mississippi. The jam-packed schedule included panel discussions on topics from children’s literature to Southern Noir writing. Screenings of two films, En Famille and Chasing Rabbits, were presented in the USM auditorium, and lectures on navigating the publishing industry and the fascinating land acquisition story behind NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center held the attention of all who attended.

Also on Saturday were a panel discussion with the publisher and several authors from Madville Publishing and a creative writing workshop. An author meet-and-greet rounded out the day’s activities.
 
The event wrapped up on Sunday with a story slam at the 100 Men Hall. A story slam is essentially a poetry slam without rhyming. Slammers wove stories that were humorous, revealing, and poignant.
 
In spite of blustery conditions, the event was well attended and by all measures a great success, said John Brdecka, executive director of the Hancock County Library System.
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​Krewe of Little Rascals Parade｜Pascagoula, 10:30 am
Do you have some little rascals of your own that are ready to catch some throws this season? Head over to Pascagoula’s children’s parade on Delmas Avenue in Pascagoula to enjoy free face painting, balloon making, and mask decorating. See parade route here.
 
Long Beach Mardi Gras Parade｜Long Beach, 6:00 pm
The Carnival Association of Long Beach returns for another year of family-friendly fun in downtown Long Beach. This association’s history dates back to 1961, and the organization is an integral part of the Long Beach community. See parade route here.
 
Gautier Night Parade｜Gautier, 7:00 pm
Hosted by the Gautier Men’s Club, Gautier’s annual night parade rolls at 7:00 pm, and stay for the afterparty at the American Legion on Old Spanish Trail! See parade route here.
 
Mystic Krewe of Pine Island Parade | Vancleave, 1:30 pm
MKOPI invites everyone for an unforgettable day of fun, excitement, and community spirit! This year’s theme is “Boot Scoot Boogie”, and trophies will be awarded based on decoration and liveliness. See parade route here.
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​Krewe of Nereids｜Waveland, 1:00 p.m.
It’s a Highway 90 classic in Bay St. Louis and Waveland. Join the Krewe of Nereids for their 58th annual parade. The route starts at the Hancock County Complex on Highway 90 and heads west to Waveland Avenue. Expect over 100 floats, marching clubs, bands, and more.
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​Ocean Springs Carnival Assn. Night Parade｜Ocean Springs, 6:00 pm
Catch this fabulous night parade in downtown Ocean Springs! Like its day parade counterpart, the night parade begins on Porter Avenue before turning left on Washington Avenue and continuing down Government Street. See parade route here.

Krewe of Diamondhead Parade｜Diamondhead, 12:00 pm
The annual Diamondhead parade is perfect for kids and adults alike. The parade rolls south on Gex Drive from City Hall before cutting across Diamondhead Drive East to Golf Club Drive. It continues along Golf Club Drive before ending at the Country Club. See parade route here.
 
Jackson County Carnival Parade｜Pascagoula, 12:00 pm
On the opposite side of the coast, another parade rolls at noon in Pascagoula. The Jackson County Carnival Parade begins east on Ingalls Avenue before turning left on Market Street, left on Jackson Avenue, and finally left on Pascagoula Street to return to the starting point. See parade route here.
 
Krewe of Gemini Parade｜Gulfport, 2:00 pm
Come to downtown Gulfport to see Queen Leda and King Jupiter LV! This parade travels down Highway 49 before turning right on 14th Street and making the block to 13th Street. The parade then travels to 22nd Avenue before turning onto 15th Street to return to the starting point. See parade route here.
 
Krewe of Neptune Parade | Biloxi, 5:30 pm
Come to the streets of Downtown Biloxi as the Krewe of Neptune rolls through with all the sights, sounds, and spirit of Carnival on the Coast. This parade boasts more marching bands than any other on the Coast, and the line of floats is impressive. See parade route here.
 
Second Liners Parade | Biloxi, 12:00 pm
This parade started in 1995 and now boasts over 70 units, including college and high school marching bands, decorated floats, Mardi Gras Indians, show horses and dancing groups. The parade ends in a block party with food and entertainment free to the public, a real community get-together. See parade route here.
 
Chandy Gras | Gulfport, 11am-2pm
Before the Krewe of Gemini Parade is a block party outside of Chandeleur Island Brewing that includes music, vendors, food, beer, and a dog costume contest. Located outside Chandeleur (2711 14th Street).

St. Paul Carnival Association Parade｜Pass Christian, 12:00 pm
You don’t want to miss the famed “Pass Parade” hosted by St. Paul Carnival Association. The parade will follow its traditional route down East Scenic Drive before traveling down Davis Avenue to West Second Street. See parade route here.
 
Second Street Social Club Parade｜Gulfport, TBA
The 5th Annual Second Street Social Club parade rolls down Gulfport’s Second Street. This year’s theme is “Planes, Trains, Automobiles, Beaches, and Casinos.” Don’t miss the fun! See parade route here.
 
North Bay Mardi Gras Association Parade｜D’Iberville, 1:30 pm
Come to Mississippi’s only bi-county parade, sporting the theme “Enchanted Forest.” The parade starts on LeMoyne Boulevard and travels west before turning left on Central Avenue and then over to Auto Mall Parkway. See parade route here.

Krewe of Real People｜Bay St. Louis, 1:00
Come on out to the annual Krewe of Real People parade that rolls throughout downtown and “backatown” Bay St. Louis! This Krewe has been at it for over forty years and is sure to make this year’s Mardi Gras a day to remember. See parade route here.
 
Gulf Coast Carnival Association Mardi Gras Parade｜Biloxi, 1:00 pm
The GCCA Mardi Gras parade is not only entertaining, but it has a rich history, too! GCCA hosted the Mississippi coast’s very first (official) Mardi Gras parade in 1908 and has been rolling yearly ever since. See parade route here.

​Gulf Coast Carnival Association Mardi Gras Parade｜Biloxi, 1:00 pm
The GCCA Mardi Gras parade is not only entertaining, but it has a rich history, too! GCCA hosted the Mississippi coast’s very first (official) Mardi Gras parade in 1908 and has been rolling yearly ever since. See parade route here.

Intently watching, her head turns to match a scratching and rustling over there.
A dark mass emerges with narrowed nose high in the air, then back to the ground,
a rooting armadillo.

 Singing nightjar, companion bird of the night, flies from left to right.
Owl’s head follows, turning unnaturally far – too far.
A tiny rustle straight ahead, head snapping back; she’s watching!
There beyond a grey orb, in the darker darkness, something moves!
A dark furry blur streaks across, from an oblong grey patch to a darker round one.
 
Owl drops off her perch, wings extended, flapping, gliding slowly, without a sound.
An end of life is required to beget another.
 
Perched again, nothing stirs now, the forest is quiet.
Watching intently, the forest is quiet.
Suddenly a nightjar punctuates the silence: chuck-will’s-widow!
Raccoon is rustling way beyond.
Owl watches in stillness, in the way of owls.
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I’ve wondered what it must be like to “be” owl or, better yet, to see in the “way of owls.” We might explore “being and seeing owlness” by recognizing that owl has large, wide eyes that take in lots of light, enough to see well in the dark. From his perch he is can easily see armadillo, chuck-will’s-widow, a tiny mouse running between bushes (like they are known to do). Owl is quiet too, very quiet. Silently she sits on her perch. When she hears a noise, she silently turns her head all the way around instead of noisily shifting her body (and grip) in the night hush in order to see what’s behind her. Quiet in flight, her soft feathers are uniquely designed to create virtually no sound, at least any sound that a mouse might hear. A mouse may not even be aware that an owl approaches until the talons hit! Owl’s ability to see in the dark, to move about quietly, and to hear the most subtle of sounds, makes her a formidable predator of the night.
 

 
In the dark, owl can see – and so can we! At night, the colors of day are washed out; red turns gray, while yellow turns white. In such conditions, contrast becomes more important than color. Chiaroscuros of white and gray and black shading are enough to make out what’s in front of us as we walk through a forest at night. To make a go at owl-seeing, we might choose a night with at least some moon, preferably a half moon or so. Ideally, the trail on which we plan to perform our “owl walk” should be traversed during the day for safety’s sake, to mark out difficult passages, trail obstructions, and holes.
 

 
When at the trailhead and ready, sit down with your flashlight off (put it in your pocket to have in case you need it). Sit for five to ten minutes to let your eyes adjust while you put on the mind of an owl, listening closely to the night sounds. If possible, take off your shoes to go sock-feet so you can feel the ground beneath your feet. It’s good to know when your foot lands on a stick before you put your weight on it and it cracks so you can avoid the cracking noise. Owls are eerily quiet! Quiet night-walking is a great way to experience the beings of night. If the walk is noisy, the animals of the night will hide and you will have little if any experience of them.
 

 
After sitting for the requisite five to ten minutes, arise and walk slowly down the trail, the slower the better. You will notice contrasts, the way the dark and light mark the outlines of trees and bushes and limbs. If possible, bring a small recording device so you can whisper the details of your observations into its speaker, details that can be re-heard later so you can remember. While walking in the dark, all of the senses become heightened and you will hear, feel, and see in ways that bring a new perspective to the forest–and get some sense of what owlness is.

You weren't seeing things; that really was Santa driving by in the red antique pickup truck!

- Story by Maurice Singleton

​“Santa Claus is coming….” No wait, he’s here! He’s in Bay St. Louis! I saw him! He was at a coffee shop in downtown Bay St. Louis!
 
I’m not a serious coffee drinker, but when I saw Santa drive up to a local coffee shop in his “Santa mobile,” I got a little thrill. I pulled into the parking lot, following him from a safe distance to avoid stalking claims, and waited until he climbed out of his classic, red Chevrolet.
 

 
He wasn’t wearing his official Santa Christmas getup; he was dressed like Santa on a workday before Christmas, wearing khaki cargo pants, a burgundy shirt with a green sweater vest, and of course, a long, red stocking cap over his flowing grey locks.
 
I heard him order his coffee, which made me wonder, “Why does everybody say feed him milk and cookies?”
 
I ordered a hot chocolate and then subtly, or so I thought, followed Santa to the seating area in the front of the coffee shop. Still pretending that I was minding my own business, I hid behind my hot chocolate before he looked me dead in the eyes. Busted! I nearly choked on my hot cocoa as he offered a robust “Good morning!”
 

 
“Morning,” I mumbled, trying to pretend I wasn’t excited at sitting so close to Santa. I finally worked up the nerve to ask if he was visiting the Bay.
 
Santa shocked me when he said he moved here in the spring of 2016. He wanted to be closer to his family, he said, especially after learning he was going to be a grandfather. His sister already lived in Bay St. Louis, and his mom made the move just before he did.
 

 
In 2016, Bob McGraw (Santa) decided to answer the call to be Santa. “I have always been fascinated by the character,” said Bob. “It’s something that gets people to smile. It’s a net positive. People seem to respond to it in a good way.”
 
Santa Bob is in his tenth season as Santa in the Bay. “If you’re going to be a big guy and sport a white beard, kids want to ask you for toys anyway,” Santa Bob explained. “You might as well enjoy it.”
 

 
He attended Santa School in Midland, Michigan-- the CWH Santa Claus School named for and started by Charles W. Howard. Howard is most known for his role at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Santa from 1937 until his death in 1966.
 
“It’s considered the Harvard of Santa Schools,” said Santa Bob. “It was pretty amazing. We had 300 students, mostly Santas, and forty or fifty Mrs. Clauses. They were from all over the world,” Santa Bob recalled. “The official Santa from Norway was there. He was amazing. They looked like gnomes with these little red hats.

“The school teaches all kinds of things,” said Santa Bob. “How to Ho Ho Ho, obviously, how to dress, costuming, and they even teach makeup, which I don’t really need because I have the natural appearance.”

 
The lessons also included hair care, beard care, doing interviews, legal matters, and practical things such as interacting with children.
 
“It’s a great fellowship of guys who are all have similar goals,” said Santa Bob. “It’s like a convention and reunion. We got to ride the train that was the inspiration for Polar Express. That was an amazing experience. It’s one of the largest locomotives ever built.”

Santa Bob gives the reindeer a break during the off season and instead rides around in a red and black 1949 Chevrolet pickup truck. He pays tribute to the hard work of the reindeer with a reindeer hood ornament. Santa Bob had the truck restored in 2019. The red and black paint scheme is not authentic to the original two toned classic, but he doesn’t mind.
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“It’s not quite authentic, but that doesn’t matter,” said Santa Bob. “I use it, part of it is a smile ministry. I ride around town, people see it, and they smile.”
 
Before taking on the role as Santa, Bob was a mathematics teacher for nearly 30 years in Rome, Georgia, midway between Atlanta and Chattanooga. He retired and moved to Bay St. Louis to be closer to his family.
 
Of course, December is a busy time for Santa, especially around Bay St. Louis, where Santa Bob has scheduled stops almost everywhere. Santa can be found at the Hancock County libraries and the Boys and Girls Club, as well as various Christmas events. He and his truck often park and pose for photos around town. Soon, Santa Bob will be re-checking his list and making final preparations for his Christmas deliveries.
 
For more information about Santa Bob in the Bay, visit his website: https://www.santonthebay.com.