About Us

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Some of our Shoofly Magazine writers and photographers: From left - Top row: Ana Balka, Lisa Monti, Scott Naugle, Wendy McDonald, Jessica Bilotta. Middle row: Gregg Martel, Jeremy Burke, Wendy Sullivan, Marian Glaser,. 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: 

Jessica Rupp Bilotta - co-publisher
publisher@shooflymagazine.com

Wendy McDonald - co-publisher
director of community relations
director@shooflymagazine.com

Ellis Anderson – managing editor
editor@shooflymagazine.com

Henry Winters - business manager
office@shooflymagazine.com

Ana Balka, calendar and events manager
events@shooflymagazine.com

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Our Mission As a Hyperlocal* Magazine

• To enhance the quality of life for residents of Bay St. Louis/Waveland, Hancock County and the Mississippi Gulf Coast  
• 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 and non-profits
• To increase community pride and awareness

While we 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 a member of our Readers' Circle by donating  (it's easy, fast and secure) click here.

 

• If you'd like to be an Annual Sponsor (both individuals and businesses are eligible), contact co-publisher Jessica Bilotta. 

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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 member of our Readers' Circle.  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 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.  Look for new features and fun in the future.

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