Contact Us
We appreciate your comments and questions! Contact us at the addresses below:
Jessica Rupp Bilotta - co-publisher
[email protected]
Wendy McDonald - co-publisher
director of community relations
[email protected]
Kirby Rhodes – managing editor
[email protected]
Henry Winters - business manager
[email protected]
Event and Calendar
[email protected]
Jessica Rupp Bilotta - co-publisher
[email protected]
Wendy McDonald - co-publisher
director of community relations
[email protected]
Kirby Rhodes – managing editor
[email protected]
Henry Winters - business manager
[email protected]
Event and Calendar
[email protected]
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Our Mission As a Hyperlocal* Magazine
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How Is The Shoofly Funded?
We're a free, community-minded publication, supported by our annual partners AND our reader sponsors.
- If you'd like to become a member of our Readers' Circle by donating (it's easy, fast and secure) click here.
- If you'd like to be an Annual Partner (both individuals and businesses are eligible), contact co-publisher Jessica Bilotta.
- 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.
Our History
In 2011, an informal group of Bay St. Louis residents who lived in the 4th Ward headed up by writer Ellis Anderson 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, Ellis 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.
In 2022, Jessica Bilotta and Wendy McDonald acquired the Shoofly Magazine from Ellis, who has stayed on as the publication's editor, until Kirby Rhodes took over as editor in February of 2023. Look for new features and fun in the future. We're hoping you'll meet us often on the Shoofly!
"The Cleaver" quickly garnered hundreds of loyal readers, with more coming aboard each issue. In 2014, Ellis 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.
In 2022, Jessica Bilotta and Wendy McDonald acquired the Shoofly Magazine from Ellis, who has stayed on as the publication's editor, until Kirby Rhodes took over as editor in February of 2023. Look for new features and fun in the future. We're hoping you'll meet us often on the Shoofly!
