About Us

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Some of our Shoofly Magazine writers and photographers: From left - Top row: Pat Murphy, Lisa Monti, Holly Lemoine-Raymond, Scott Naugle, Rheta Grimsley Johnson. Middle row: Denise Jacobs, Jeremy Burke, Grace Wilson, Lionel Haynes, Jr. Bottom row: Steve Barney, Dena Temple, Jame Inabinet, Brenda Comer, Ellis Anderson

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Contact

We appreciate your comments and questions!  Contact us at the addresses below: 

Ellis Anderson, publisher, editor
publisher@bslshoofly.com

Lisa Monti/Dena Temple editors
editor@bslshoofly.com

Sarah Nolan - business manager
​office@bslshoofly.com

Denise Jacobs, calendar manager
events@bslshoofly.com

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Our Mission As a Hyperlocal* Magazine

• To enhance enjoyment of life for residents of Bay St. Louis/Waveland 
• To introduce people from elsewhere to our unique Bay-Waveland community
• To help our “expatriates” remain connected to our community
• To showcase and support local businesses
• To increase community pride and awareness
• While we plan  to remain "Bay-Centric," it's happily impossible to unravel our many ties to our sister cities of Waveland, Pass Christian and Diamondhead  - so we intend to celebrate those connections on a regular basis. 

* Wikipedia defines hyperlocal as: information oriented around a well-defined community with its primary focus directed toward the concerns of the population in that community.

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How Is The Shoofly Funded?

We're a free, community-minded publication, supported by  our annual sponsors AND our reader sponsors.  

• If you'd like to become one of our paid subscribers by donating through Patreon (it's easy, fast and secure) click here.

• If you'd like to be an Annual Sponsor (both individuals and businesses are eligible), contact publisher Ellis Anderson. 

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• Other ways to support this project are to express appreciation to our sponsors (and patronizing them!) and by sharing links of our articles with your family and friends via social networking. 

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Subscribe now.  It's FREE!

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You'll receive weekly emails, alerting you when a new round of stories/photos have been posted. 

We share your address with... no one.  

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Are you a Shoofly Magazine fan?  You can support us by becoming a paid subscriber!  Levels start at only $2 a month. 

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Our History

In 2011, an informal group of Bay St. Louis residents who lived in the 4th Ward started an online newsletter with the goal of  improving the quality of life in our neighborhood.  We came up with the name "4th Ward Cleaver," a pun based on a character from a popular 1950s television show.  It made us laugh very hard.  The name seemed to perfectly convey our lighthearted purpose.

"The Cleaver" quickly garnered hundreds of loyal readers, with more coming aboard each issue.   In 2014, we launched a full-scale magazine based on the original newsletter.  Operating as a small business instead of a volunteer organization allowed us to substantially improve the quantity and the quality of our content.  Readership continued to grow exponentially. 

But the more we expanded our subject matter and readership outside the ward, the less the Ward Cleaver name made sense.  So, in July 2016, on our fifth anniversary, we adopted a new name:  The Shoofly Magazine: Bay St. Louis Living

The name comes from the iconic town landmark by the old City Hall (300 South Second Street).  That raised "shoofly" deck, built around the trunk of a historic oak, is the perfect place for elevated community conversation. 

We're hoping you'll meet us often on the Shoofly!  

  
Ellis Anderson
publisher
publisher@bslshoofly.com