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Puppy Dog Tales - March 2015

2/24/2015

Gaits to Success

by seizure alert dog Daisy Mae Delray
This month - Daisy Mae visits a confidence-building program in Kiln that benefits both humans and horses.

I have been trying to meet with Carolyn Rhodes, Director of Gaits to Success for a couple of months. It has been too cold and rainy to have classes but the rain gods gave us a break on Saturday morning and I was able to see some students in action.

Before I get into my morning at Gaits to Success I want to mention that we are involved with Friends of the Animal Shelter in Hancock County. My "person," Christina Richardson, is the current president. We are coming up on kitten and puppy season and as always many of them will wind up as discards.

Puppy Dog Tales
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To keep those numbers down Friends takes cats and dogs to the PetSmarts in Slidell and Gulfport for adoptions. Every week Georgia Goodell, Penne Rappold and Bev Rice pick up ready-to-go cats and dogs from the shelter to get them before the public in the hopes of a good placement. We need more helpers with the PetSmart program.

Another way we keep the numbers down is the feral cat program where we trap, sterilize and then release cats back to their neighborhood. We need more trappers as Jen has been doing almost every one. For information on how to volunteer for these and other programs contact my person, Christina at 228.222.7018 or send an email to christina@figaroconsulting.com.

Flea season is year-round in south Mississippi and keeping them under control is a challenge and a pain. We have been using food-grade diatomaceous earth in the yard. It is safe and dries up their little bodies. I have friends who have dusted it on their pets and bedding as well. Read more about it here and as always, follow the instructions for usage.

Now on to Gaits to Success. I am dedicating this column to the memory of Peppermint Patty, a Percheron/Tennessee Walking Horse mix who worked at Gaits to Success for many years and was loved by everyone.

Drive up 603 and turn left at Dolly’s in the Kiln. Go a few miles and on the right is the sign for Gaits to Success. It sits on 10 acres and has pasturage, a barn, equestrian ring, classroom, horses, cats, and Carolyn Rhodes. This is no ordinary training facility. This is a PATH Center.

PATH stands for the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, which is an organization that serves as resource and advocate for equine-assisted activities and therapies, and the equines in this work that inspire and enrich the human spirit. According to PATH, there are more than 850 member centers worldwide, divided into regions with Gaits being in region 5, which includes Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, Africa, and the Caribbean Islands.

I checked with PATH to see how many centers there are in Mississippi. There are only seven listed: Mississippi State, Nesbit, Columbus, Burnsville, Brandon, Caledonia and Gaits in Kiln. This is a big deal and a very special gift for the Mississippi Gulf Coast to have a PATH center right here.

story continued below

The bond between horses and people is a very special one in working relationship and inspiration. Our two miniature Appaloosas are more than yard art to us. They are in training to visit hospital patients and love being around people. We have a senior citizen in our household with balance issues, and Teo and Cheyenne are very gentle with Gus.

Horses have been used for therapy for hundreds of years. In 1946, after cases of polio crippled children, riding therapy was introduced in Denmark by Liz Hartnel, an accomplished horsewoman who contracted polio. She was determined to ride again and her daily sessions brought back muscle strength and coordination. She went on to win the silver medal for dressage in the 1952 Olympics.

On Saturday it was breezy and cool as we drove up and parked. Three horses were saddled and ready to go. On staff this morning were Carolyn Rhodes, Director of the program, Lisa Munson, Debi Dowell-Ferris and Dimond Banks. Lisa is a physical therapist who works with children. She loves horses and is impressed by the synergy between the horses and the riders. “The way the children respond - some are over stimulated and then, once on the horse, just calm down.”

Debi was telling me that she loves being around horses and that “I have seen what happens when the rider gets that sense of trust and confidence. Once I saw Carolyn take her hand and put it over the hand of a girl who was wary of the horse, and then put both hands on the horse. I watched the child relax.”

Two parents arrived with their children. Nikki Palermo-Denoux’s son Christian, in the blue striped shirt has been coming since he was four. He is eight now. Today he was riding Levi, a sixteen-year-old horse who had been “thrown away.” He has been working with clients for five years now and is a favorite. Nikki is a veterinarian in Gulfport and she is very happy with Christian’s progress. She is also impressed with the care given to the horses and has a great deal of confidence in Carolyn.

Jeff Mays of Gulfport has been bringing Madie, in pink, for a few months now. It has been very good for her. She is riding Honey and is already using the reins. Honey is a show horse on loan from a local doctor who is very busy with her medical practice.

Watching the riders with their spotters was amazing. They started out a little tentative and then you could see them relax. Riding works on the core muscles and focuses the riders. During the hour-long session riders walked over pipes, around barrels, did cognitive exercises and interacted with their horses.

Gaits to Success was started in 1991. It offers a unique approach to assist clients with mental, physical and emotional disabilities. Volunteers undergo rigorous training as instructors and assistants. I have heard from so many people who have been involved with Gaits, and who see this facility as a real treasure to support and promote. Over the years Gaits has worked with college students, 4-H and Key Club members as volunteers, and has been a location for Special Olympics and Paralympics.

I especially enjoyed watching the parents watch their children grow in confidence while riding. The benefits of riding, along with the cognitive activities, increase self-esteem, self-confidence, attention span, concentration, dexterity, auditory and visual learning, and memory. Most important to me was the happiness I saw in all the faces. At the end of the session it was time to go home. My person has become a volunteer and will start her training next week. We will keep you updated.

For more information on Gaits to Success call 228.255-5368, or email gaits@gaitstosuccess.org.

Well gentle readers, keep your tail high and your feet dry! Daisy Mae

Puppy Dog Tales - February 2015

2/1/2015

by Daisy Mae Delray
This month - Ten ways to help keep our animal companions healthier and happier.

Keeping Us Healthy and Happy

I have been plagued by hot spots for the past few years. I am allergic to something in the grass that makes me itch and get little red blisters on my stomach. This year I got treated with a homeopathic remedy and I am so much better. My success gave me the idea to ponder on and share with you some ideas on how you can look after our physical, mental and emotional health. Keeping us happy and young at heart takes effort. Here are 10 tips that will help you do that.

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1. Feed us a wholesome diet. It must be hard for you to know what is good for us. Read and understand the ingredients in what you buy and look for products where the meat has a name like, beef, and chicken and lamb. We need vegetables and whole grains n our diet. Please talk to your pet food provider and your vet to find out what is the best diet for each animal family member. We need plenty of fresh water too. Not too many treats (read those ingredient labels too). Pizza is not a preferred food for cats or dogs. I’ll bet you didn’t know that dry cat food is not as good for your cat as wet food. Forget that crunchie treats clean their teeth, they don’t. You humans don’t eat crackers to clean your teeth. What else don’t you know about nutrition???

2. Vitamins can play an important role in your pet’s health. Check the labels or provide supplements to make sure we get plenty of anti-oxidants and all the other breed and species requirements. Check with a holistic vet or your pet food provider for specifics. Age and condition will be influencing factors. My person pays attention to my coat, my hair, my eyes, and my skin condition.

3. Exercise – Keep us moving. We need plenty of exercise to prevent obesity and to keep our
joints, heart and lungs in good working order. Be cautious when it is hot and the pollution levels are high. If it is too hot and dangerous for you or the pavement is too hot for you to run on bare feet, it is bad for us too. One caution, don’t overdue it when your pet is just starting an exercise program. Keep ages, condition and breed recommend levels of exercise in mind.

4. Vaccine caution. There are risks associated with over-vaccination. Some are required by law and the rest depend on the condition of the animal. Discuss vaccinations with your vet. I have a titer test every year. This is a simple blood antibody test that will tell you if your pet is still protected by the last series of vaccines.

5. Veterinarian check-ups are really important. Develop a good relationship with your vet and decide together on when check-ups should be. Between visits pay close attention to changes n behavior and do a body check at least weekly for bumps and sores and cuts, etc. Be a partner with your pet’s health provider. Look into health insurance to help with major expenses and the unexpected.

6. Teeth care – Periodontal disease is a real problem if not dealt with early. It can cause pain, gingivitis, tooth loss and infections that can spread to the kidney’s heart or other organs. I have a tooth brush and my teeth are brushed daily. My favorite toothpaste is chicken flavored. I also get organic carrots and apples to crunch on and the occasional raw knuckle bone. These help clean my teeth and give my jaw a good work out. There are some products you can use as an anti-bacterial spray if you laughed when I said use a toothbrush.

7. Take caution when using chemical pest controls. If you can, use natural products for prevention of fleas and mosquito repellant. What is recommended for dogs may not be safe for cats. Read the labels. Talk to your vet about your specific pet. Use flea combs, frequent brushing and do not use any product counter to the very specific recommendations for that product. Older, very young and sick animals may not be good candidates for some of these medications.

8. Good hygiene, especially in humid climates area is critical. Many of my friends have allergy problems. Daily grooming, bathing when needed ( not too often as you can strip the oils for our skin and we get dry and flaky), and a healthy diet will all help keep your pet’s coat and skin healthy. I like an oatmeal and aloe shampoo because I have that allergy to something in the grass. Because I am a service dog I need a bath every month to stay sweet smelling and shiny.

9. Keep our minds sharp. We need to be around others. People and other animals and new places and situations keep us sharp and interested. I do some agility training and most of my dog friends have been to obedience school. Dablonde, one of our cats, can do some amazing tricks and she has a video on birds that she just loves to watch. Just like most people, we get bored easily and if you don’t provide some appropriate toys we will find out own, like your best shoes or new chair.

10. Lavish us with love and attention. Two of my favorite things are massage and Reiki. Just think how much you love a massage, especially after exercising. Massage soothes stiff joints and improves circulation and it feels so good. Reiki I love because of my aging bones and the allergy I have. Let me tell you a little about Reiki. I know about Reiki because my human is a Reiki practitioner and she has a number of animal clients. Reiki is the practice of using energy to facilitate healing. A Reiki practitioner is attuned to this energy on a level that enables them to channel it through their hands and facilitate healing. Reiki is very soothing and it calms me down and I love the warm touch of hands on the places where I feel sore. One of my neighbors, a greyhound has a seizure disorder that, in spite of medication, was manifesting in at least a seizure a day. Regular Reiki treatments have reduced the number of seizures and Avery is feeling much better. Massage and Reiki are only two of the many alternative, holistic health treatment that are being used to improve the lives of pets and humans. Read more about them.

Keep your tail high and your feet dry, Love Daisy Mae

Across the Bridge - February 2015

2/1/2015

Rheta Grimsley Johnson is a 40-year veteran of southern journalism and author of several books (see below). She has worked as a columnist for newspapers in Memphis and Atlanta and today is syndicated by King Features of New York.

She will be writing original monthly essays for The Cleaver from her home across the bridge in Pass Christian where she spends roughly half of each year. The rest of the time she lives in Iuka, Miss., in an old farmhouse in a cold, dark hollow.

No Bottles, No Livestock, No Hank or Boo

The sign says “No Dogs Allowed” in red letters, like Jesus’ words in the Bible. So whenever I cross the bridge from the Bay side and see that unequivocal sign, I always tell Hank to keep his fuzzy gray head down.

Hank -- the found hound who wandered into my life at the folks’ house near Montgomery, so naturally he had to be named “Hank” – often rides in the passenger seat of my red Mini. Hank knows I’m being too literal about that sign, that it must mean no dogs allowed in the pedestrian lane. But he hunkers down anyhow. Can’t be too careful.

Truth is, you do have to watch where you take a dog on this coast. In Harrison County, the law is no dogs on the beach. Here our dogs fall into the same category as wine bottles and motorized vehicles. Dangerous, destructive blights.

East or West of us, in Jackson and Hancock counties, dogs on the beach on a leash are all right. Same dogs, just different counties.

And yet rare is the day I don’t see dogs with their owners on the Pass Christian and Long Beach beaches. Are local Labradors and Yorkshire terriers mocking the law? Are some pet owners privileged, others not so much?

I phoned Pass Christian City Hall. Not our purview, they said. The sheriff’s department is in charge of keeping marauding canines off the beach. Call them. So I did. And again, the buck was passed. Call the Sand Beach Authority, a dispatcher suggested.

I phoned the Sand Beach Authority. Yes, Virginia, there is such a thing. The genial man I talked to at the SBA said the county sometimes gives warnings to dog owners, but in the 26 years he’s been with the authority he’s never heard of anyone actually paying a fine.

So my heart gladdened, and I briefly believed the dog prohibition might be like one of those archaic laws against spitting on the sidewalk. I decided I might take Hank and his brother Boozoo for a beach walk. On a leash, of course. With a bag for clean-up, of course.

The very next day a friend told me an acquaintance had been ticketed and must pay $85 for walking his dog on our beach. I guess that pooch really rubbed the law the wrong way. And, once the subject was broached, yet another story was told about a woman who had a policeman yell at her from his car when she was spotted with her puppy at the wave lap line.

So I called the Harrison County Justice Court ticket office where a helpful woman had to look up the ordinance and get back to me. If caught and ticketed, you’ll pay no less than $25, no more than $500, depending on the judge’s mood. And you could do jail time, though no more than 30 days. Or at least that’s the letter of the law and enough for me to keep Hank and Boozoo off the sand.

There’s no sight more joyous than a dog on the beach, legal or otherwise. Not all dog-owners are responsible and clean up after Rover makes a deposit, but I’d be willing to wager 99.99 percent do. At a swell North Carolina beach I visited last Labor Day, Ocean Isle Beach, there were more dogs than people. I never once saw untidy evidence. And on Hancock and Jackson counties, it appears humans are the ones who more often leave a mess.

There’s a real demand for beaches where Fido can frolic with the rest of the family. When you check out Travelocity and other internet travel sites, would-be tourists often ask: “Are dogs allowed on the beach?”

“We’ll stay in Texas,” one tourist responded when told of the Biloxi ban. “Let ‘em keep their empty beaches.”

And though I feel badly for the stymied travelers, it’s a much worse situation for permanent residents who must figure out exactly where to walk their dogs.

There are no sidewalks on my end of Second Street, so I try to keep my two dogs on the edge of neighbors’ yards to avoid the traffic. But many of the lawns are full of sand spurs. I swear dogs can smell them. My two had rather take their chances with a Hummer than a sand spur. Even using their leashes, it’s hard to keep them out of the road.

Whenever a car is coming, I pull Hank and Boozoo, against their will, into the loaded grass. We struggle against one another to get to the deserted side streets where a dog can’t do much to hurt the vacant lots and forsaken foundations.

Last summer when Hancock County Board of Supervisors accidentally – or so they said – banned animals on the beach, a great and righteous cry of indignation rose up from residents who enjoy walking their dogs near the ocean. I suspect some of them moved to Hancock County for that reason. That portion of the ordinance that prohibited leashed dogs and fireworks soon was retracted. Squeaky, dog-owning wheels got greased.

Now I drive 8 or 10 miles to the Wolf River Nature Preserve to walk Boo and Hank who will follow me anywhere. I’ve always hated the idea of getting into a car to walk. But it beats sand spurs on their pads or 30 days in the joint.

Dogs in jail, but NOT in solitary confinement: (l-r) Jimmy Ralph, Hank and Boozoo

Books by Rheta Grimsley Johnson

You can find Rheta Grimsley Johnson's books in bookstores nationwide and also at Bay Books (131 Main Street, BSL).

The Town Green - February 2015

2/1/2015

by Regan Carney
This month - To grow food, the world needs bees. But the bees are in trouble - why and how can we help?
photographs by Ellis Anderson

To Bee or Not to Be

I planted a Japanese plum, or loquat, in my yard about eight years ago. I was most interested in the shape of the tree, not the fruit. Once the tree was large enough, I began to realize that the tree was flowering in the winter. And I noticed that I was getting bees when I thought bees were hibernating. Funny thing about bugs, they are doing all kinds of things that we don’t expect.

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Bay Life opens on the 100 block of Main Street on March 2nd!

Learn more!

Jeffrey W. Harris, PhD Ext. Research Apiculturist Jharris@entomology.msstate.edu

The Honeybee Health Coalition: https://keystone.org/bee-health, or contact Julie Shapiro at jshapiro@keystone.org

Jon Entine, Science Collapse Disorder--The Real Story Behind Neonics and Mass Bee Deaths. Forbes, 4/11/2013

Lisa Granshaw, 5 Fun Facts About Bees — and How You Can Help These Disappearing Insects, vetSTREET.com, July 10, 2013

Encaustic art by local artist Kat Fitzpatrick

The word encaustic is taken from the Greek and means “to burn in.” In the encaustic process, pigmented beeswax is applied and then fused to a surface with heat. The result is a broad range of surface effects and a luminous translucency that is unique to the encaustic medium. Check out Kat's website for more images of her work or to sign up for a class.

You can also find her work at the Mockingbird Cafe, a Prime Sponsor of the Cleaver!

Fanciful bee "houses" - not functional but awesome pieces of art by Kat Fitzpatrick

Local Focal - February 2015

2/1/2015

photograph by Melinda Boudreaux

by Ellis Anderson

This month - Between the "Surrender" art show opening at Smith & Lens Gallery and Mr. Atticus's Night Market at the Mockingbird Cafe next door, Old Town Bay St. Louis was sizzling on this chilly January night.

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Sponsor Spotlight - February 2015

2/1/2015

A Passion for the Bay

This month - a visit with one of the most dynamic entrepreneurs in the Bay: Jane Alford - owner of Bay-tique Boutique and Carroll House Bed & Breakfast.
story and photos by Ellis Anderson

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When Bay-tique’s owner Jane Alford first moved from Maryland to the Gulf Coast, she didn’t plan to stay. She’d found an excellent job in Mississippi that would further her career as an occupational therapist, but her real home was outside of the cosmopolitan city of Washington, DC.

While she arrived on the coast with a great attitude - positive she’d enjoy her short stay - “short” was the operative word. Alford committed to five years, then planned to head north again.

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Seventeen years later, she has no plans to go anywhere. She owns two thriving businesses in Old Town and is serving her second term as president of the Old Town Merchant’s Association.

“I absolutely fell in love with the area,” she says. “I have a real passion for Bay St. Louis.”

That passion shows in the two lovely historic houses she’s renovated in Old Town Bay St. Louis. One serves as home for Alford and her fiancé/business partner Kevin Kulpeksa. Next door, at the elegant Carroll House Bed & Breakfast, the couple play host to visitors from across the country, many of whom who are discovering the area’s mystique for the first time.

Wearing her chef's hat at the Carroll House B&B

A few blocks away, the fun and funky Bay-tique Boutique offers “Bay-ware” for all seasons. The shop is located in a bright corner of the historic Masonic Temple building. While the building itself presents a staid, solid presence on the first block of Main, Bay-tique literally blossoms out of the shop’s doors with color and a bright energy, making it hard to pass up.

Inside, coastal-style clothing and beachwear mix it up with locally crafted jewelry and souvenirs. Shoppers will notice that the merchandise is heavily weighted to items made locally or in the state of Mississippi. “Local pride” gift items like hats, mugs and t-shirts are a mainstay, as are the popular brands of casual clothing she carries.

Shoppers can feel confident that they’re likely to be choosing items that are made locally. Alford explains that she has a three-tiered system when it comes to choosing what makes up the boutique’s inventory.

“When I’m purchasing for the shop, I look for work by local artists first,” she says. “The next tier is to stock apparel and goods made in Mississippi. My third tier is made in the U.S. My goal is to have 75% of my merchandise within that system. It’s harder than you’d think , but I’m committed.”

Alford could go into that “local artist” category herself. Her distinctive sense of style hits the mark every time when she’s producing “Bay-Centric” designs. She designs several lines of apparel in the store, including a show-stopping Bay St. Louis t-shirt made to look like a vintage baseball team uniform.

Bay-tique actually began two years ago as an outgrowth of Alford’s B&B, the Carroll House. It opened its doors to guests first in 2011 and has since built a regular and loyal clientele thanks to the couple’s creativity and personal attention.

Kulpeksa (who also owns a landscaping business) keeps the gardens lush and well maintained. Some of the food that Alford prepares for her guests is even grown on-site. Another popular feature includes being able to visit with Alford in the enormous open kitchen while she’s cooking breakfast. The screened back porch is a favorite as well – most guests can be found sipping wine and conversing with fellow lodgers each evening.

The B&B’s high number of top ratings on Trip Advisor is something any business would envy. For the second year in a row, Carroll House has received a coveted Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor, based on the number of four and five star reviews from guests.

However, many guests at the B&B asked where they could purchase locally made gifts and souvenirs to take home. Alford and Kulpeksa realized there was a need for an Old Town shop that specialized in Bay-wares. They rented a shop front last year on Second Street, and Bay-tique was born.

The store quickly gained a local following and visitors from out of town were delighted to have a wide range of locally made offerings in one place. Yet, when a space became available in the first block of Main, it proved irresistible to Alford and Kulpeksa. Although it was a much smaller space, the location and charm couldn’t be beat.

As if two businesses didn’t fill enough hours, Alford was recently re-elected to her second term as president of the Old Town Merchant’s Association.

“We have a passionate and diverse group of business owners,” says Alford. “This year we have a new budget and we’re going to work on marketing. We also want to form working alliances with other local organizations to help promote our area. For instance, we’ll work hand-in-hand with The Arts, Hancock County, to make this year’s Arts Alive! celebration in Old Town a success for everyone involved.”

Alford’s happy the word’s getting out nationally about what “a cool place the Bay is.”

“At the Carroll House, nearly everyone who comes to Bay St. Louis falls in love with it. The authentic character is so rare elsewhere and hard to find. Within the last year, I’d say 50% of our customers are wanting to move here and be part of the community. They’re either shopping for property or buying property.

“Bay St. Louis has a great vibe and a great spirit. I’m so happy to be a part of it and am looking forward to seeing it grow and thrive.”

What's Up, Waveland? February 2015

2/1/2015

by LiLi Stahler Murphy
This Month - Updates on construction, art exhibit at City Hall, Nereids rides, Garden Club, St. Pat's and Opening at the Ground Zero Museum

Light at End of Tunnel!

The St. Joseph/Jeff Davis/Nicholson area is still a big mess. Our cars and fence are covered with that orange mud that is on the road. However, I do see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have been tied into the new sewer system and I expect to see paving soon.

I have seen workmen at the movie theater and at the pier – at least that’s progress. Hope to have some completion dates by next month. Won’t it be great to have our theater and pier back!

Upcoming Events in Waveland

Stop by Waveland City Hall (weekdays, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm) and see the latest art exhibit presented by the Arts of Hancock County. The subject of this exhibit is “New Beginnings - Art About Children.” We are so grateful to the Arts for brightening the lobby halls with lovely local art. The exhibits change quarterly.

February 8th at 1:00 PM the Annual Nereids Parade – on Highway 90, starting in Bay St. Louis and ending in Waveland.

February 12th, Bay Waveland Garden Club meeting 10:00 AM – Program is “Caring for Camellias and Late Winter Bloomers” presented by Polly Cuevas of Pine Hills Nursery and Garden Center. This will be the first Garden Club meeting in their new home – Waveland’s Ground Zero Museum at 335 Coleman Avenue. Guests and prospective members are welcome.

St. Patrick's Day Parade

What's Up Waveland
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Treasures of the Bay

LiLi Stahler Murphy
Waveland Correspondent

For those who don’t know me, I completed my second term on Waveland’s Board as Alderman of Ward 1 in December, 2014. Since I was elected in 2006, I have been writing a monthly newsletter for my constituents and other interested residents, trying to keep them up to date on Waveland “happenings." With this column - even though I chose not to seek re-election - I can continue letting people know – “What’s Up in Waveland”

March 14th will be Waveland Civic Association’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade rolling down Coleman Avenue. We pray that we have the incredible weather that we have had for this parade since it has returned to Coleman. – If you walk by City Hall, you will see our new mosaic created by Elizabeth Veglia and our community, including Waveland Elementary First Grade and Holy Trinity Second and Sixth Grades. The mosaic depicts the St. Patrick’s Day Parade rolling down Coleman Avenue.

March 21st will be the opening of the Mississippi Power-sponsored exhibit “Backyards and Beyond,” an exhibit of paintings and audio interviews by Vicksburg artist, H.C. Porter. More details to come!

Donald and I are spending a lot of time at the Waveland Ground Zero Museum. We are truly enjoying meeting and chatting with the visitors. We had two buses of Hancock High special education students. We also had a group of volunteers from Maine. I never realized how many visitors we get from Buccaneer State Park. Would you believe that Minnesota tops the list? Although we have had some days that I would not regard as pretty, our snowbirds think it’s a lot better than their winters.

Here are some of the things that our visitors have told us: They love the beach. They love to walk on the beach and many of them bring their dogs and are so happy that their dogs are welcome on the beach. They love the food, our relaxed way of living and they think the people are delightful. Hats off to all of us. We really are delightful!

Coast Lines - February 2015

2/1/2015

by Ellis Anderson
This month, a look at romance later in life, when it comes from "Out of the Blue."

Out of the Blue

The subject line of the email is “Out of the Blue.” Even with hundreds of junk mails heaped above and below it, the title stands out like it’s blinking in neon.

I’d changed email addresses months before, so rarely checked the old in-box. This particular letter is the only potentially legitimate one in the lot.

Coast Lines
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Amy Wood Properties

15 MInutes - February 2015

2/1/2015

Out and About in the Bay!

This month - 15 minutes of fame at the CASA Mardi Gras Gala, the Martin Luther King Bike Ride, the Rotary Chili Cook-Off and the "Surrender" show opening at Smith & Lens.

All photos by Cleaver editor/photographer Ellis Anderson and Melinda Boudreaux unless otherwise attributed. If you're featured in one of the pictures below, feel free to copy it onto your desktop and share. If you're posting it somewhere like Facebook, photo credit is appreciated. High resolution files and prints are available for purchase here.

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The Martin Luther King Fun Run/Bike/Walk - January 17th, 2015

photos by Ellis Anderson

The CASA Mardi Gras Gala - January 17th, 2015

photos by Ellis Anderson

Rotary Chili Cook-Off - January 29th, 2015

photos by Melinda Boudreaux

A special Friday night in Old Town - Friday, January 30th, 2015
Mr. Atticus's Night Market and "Surrender" Art Show Opening at Smith and Lens Gallery

photos by Melinda Boudreaux

Vintage Vignette - February 2015

2/1/2015

by Martha Whitney Butler
This month - Sailor's Valentines: These sentimental souvenirs made from shells were a hot commodity at Caribbean ports of call in the 1800s - now they're hot collectibles.

We found a few of the rare Sailor's Valentines for sale online. The asking price for this one is $4,800. Click on the picture for more information.

Seduced by the Sea:
Sailor's Valentines

It's the thought that counts, isn't it? That's the attitude that we tend to take (or at least outwardly portray) when it comes to receiving a sub-par gift. Like a box of four synthetic chocolates with Tweety Bird and the phrase "Be Mine" on the lid.

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contemporary piece by artist Bill Jordan

I like to think about the antique anticipations and expressiveness of women before me. Were the women of the mid-1800s as demure as I picture them to be? I can only imagine the perfectly poised expressions emitted by ladies upon receiving a primitive seashell handicraft from a maritime suitor.

He'd been out on the open sea chasing Moby Dick around for two years and I'm sure he smelled delightful. The conversation probably went something like this: "How are... things? Oh, by the way, I brought you back this nifty decorative seashell thing.”

The "Valentines" were comprised of tiny indigenous shells assembled in intricate patterns — including hearts, flowers, and nautical themes — and then set into octagonal boxes. Some designs even left room for a photo. The shell mosaic was encased in glass and the box then folded and clasped (most commonly with a heart) to allow for safe traveling.

These manifestations of true love are referred to as Sailor's Valentines. Sounds pretty romantic, huh? These seashell trinkets were supposed to help make up for all the years of missed holidays, pivotal moments, and emotional solitude — in addition to unbridled longing and frustration.

Of course, could you ever imagine a sailor on the madly heaving seas steadily crafting a perfectly symmetrical, color coordinated, shell creation that had "Thinking of You" spelled out in tiny seashells? Not saying it couldn't happen... but no, it didn’t. This rumor was developed in the 1930s by antique dealers who made a very optimistic assumption based on the nomenclature of this item. Face it, “LOVE” sells.

Now, thanks to decades of false advertising, it's a common misconception that sailors actually put effort into creating these shell-encrusted crafts. No. They were too busy flirting with the super-hot chicks from Barbados who actually did craft them.

contemporary piece by artist BIll Jordan

Two English brothers who set up The New Curiosity Shop in Bridgeport, Barbados are credited with the proliferation of these Valentines and crafting a cottage industry in the island. Keep in mind that Barbados was the last port of call before setting sail for home. It was like the impulse aisle of the whole journey and these babies were going like hotcakes. Custom patterns and sayings could even be worked into the shell Valentines — for a price. As a result, women (and children) in Barbados found themselves in the workplace, tediously producing these souvenirs.

As the whaling industry began to decline, so did the sales of these creations. However, the art form remained popular and became a fun hobby for 19th century housewives everywhere. Although the true Valentines remain those of the octagonal diptych variety, the cover-everything-in-seashells movement has extended throughout time, producing many items now deemed Sailor's Valentines. Despite what this extremely biased and bitter article says about these beautiful creations, the originals are actually worth quite a bit of money these days. Some fetch thousands of dollars.

Basically, these things were the gas-station-rose-in-a-glass-tube of their day. But let's face it, women haven't changed through the centuries. We're still generally thrilled to get any gift from a man. Most of us are happy if we even get a box of four paraffin sugar bombs brandishing a washed-up Looney Tune and we'll devour those chocolates before the box is open all the way.

To read more about Sailor's Valentines, click here for Bill Jordan's blog.

contemporary piece by artist Bill Jordan

detail from piece by contemporary artist Bill Jordan

Bay Bride - February 2015

2/1/2015

This month - A traditional wedding ceremony in December lights up Our Lady of the Gulf and the Longfellow Center atop the town!

William Douglas Meadows & Alma Yolanda Islas Urbina

December 20th, 2014

Wedding theme: Traditional Catholic Wedding

Ceremony Took Place: Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church

Reception: Longfellow Civic Center

Photographer: PHOTO225

Places Couple Registered: Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Target, Dillard’s

Invitations: Handmade in Mexico

Bay Bride
is sponsored by

Ginger Cook Event and Floral Design

Scroll over slide show to see controls. You can advance manually or hit "play." Scroll down for more details about the wedding!

Wedding Details

Bay-Waveland accommodations for wedding party: Hollywood Casino & Bay Town Inn

Hair and Makeup: Make-up by: Lauren Kelley, Hair by: Christine Ladner

Florals by: Bouquets by Martha Whitney Butler

Wedding Officiated by: Monsignor James McGough and Father Michael O’Connor

Matron of Honor: Jennifer Acosta

Best Man: Daniel Murphy

Groomsmen: Tank Williams, Jonathan Butsch, Ben Taylor

Bridesmaids: April Layton, Elizabeth Freeman, Ginger Felder Cook

Bride wore: Allure Romance purchased at Pearl’s Place in Metairie, LA

Groom wore: Vera Wang

Time of day: 1:00 p.m.

Weather: Mean temperature 50 F

Most Romantic Moment: The moment the groom saw his bride for the first time at the altar.

Ginger's Tips For a Standout Wedding

Colors!!! Such an important topic when it comes to weddings. I can't tell you how many brides I meet that come to me with a vision of colors that don't really scream wedding. Sometimes they scream high school prom! So what's a event designer to do? My job is to take your vision and enhance it a bit. Sometimes it showing you how the slightest tweak in your color palette can create the stylish event you're envisioning. Another big tip is don't always think about what is trendy right now. Trends come and go quick in the wedding world. Timeless and classic will never go out of style. Much love!
XoXo Ginger

The Reception

Wedding reception music: Dr. Rock

Catering: Southern Delights

The Reception Menu: BRIEF description with main items: Smoked Brisket smothered in a savory BarBQue sauce, Three Cheese Pasta, and Zucchini Casserole

The Most Talked About Food Item: Smoked Brisket and Zucchini Casserole

Signature Cocktail: Pink Moscato

Cakes by: Loranger Cakes, Hollywood Casino

Favorite toast: Mr. Gary Yarborough

Best Dancer at the Reception: The Kids!!

The "wow factor" of your wedding/reception that everyone talked about: The wedding patrons were impressed on the bride’s entrance with her parents without organ music as she walked down the aisle.

The most unique detail of your wedding/reception: The introduction of Mexican traditions that included sterling silver coins (as a symbol of prosperity and promises), a crystal lasso (as a symbol of the holy union), and the most talked about, hand-maid veil. All items were brought from Mexico.

Honeymoon location: The Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Point Clear, AL

Bride's favorite part of the entire event: Dancing with my two sons, father, and husband….for they are 4 of the most important men in my life.

Groom's favorite part of the entire event: Being surrounded by so many loved ones.

Guest Favors: Personalized Koozies

Would you like to be a Bay Bride and have your wedding featured here? Contact us here!

Talk of the Town - February 2015

2/1/2015

by Karen Fineran

This month - we ride along with the two Krewes that call Bay St. Louis home!

the Seahorse Parade in 2014 - photography by Ann Madden

Mystic Krewe of Seahorse Set to Ride For Second Year
photographs courtesy Ann Madden

In case you haven’t heard, or witnessed strolling gaggles of pirates saunter down Main Street this past year, there’s a new Krewe in town.

The Second Annual Lundi Gras Parade of the Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse will be held on Monday, February 16 from 6-8 p.m. in downtown Bay Saint Louis. The theme for this year’s parade is “Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay,” a celebration of the culture and music of the 1960s. The parade will feature bands, antique cars, decorated golf carts, and costumed walking krewes!

Talk of the Town
is sponsored by

King Oceanus for 2015 has been named as Doug Niolet, owner of Bay Emporium, and Queen Tethyus has been named as Nikki Moon, owner of the Bay Town Inn. Myrt Haas will be the Krewe’s Grand Marshall this year. The Krewe's royalty represent the "Masters of the Seas and Protectors of the Mexican Gulf."

The Krewe held its first annual parade last year on Lundi Gras evening – the first Lundi Gras parade on the Mississippi Gulf Coast! Since that March 2014 debut, the Seahorse Krewe had tons of fun with its year-round celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bay St. Louis during the War of 1812.

The Krewe of Seahorse was founded by brothers and history buffs Donald and Rory Rafferty and some of their friends and family. Last year, Mr. Carter Church and Bay Councilwoman Wendy McDonald reigned as the Krewe of Seahorse’s first ever King and Queen.

Marketing Director Maggie Rafferty Cantrell said that the Krewe has been wildly popular since its inception, drawing nearly 600 members in its first year. Thousands turned out to see the golf cart and antique car parade last year, and she is hoping for an even greater turnout this year.

Queen Nikki Moon said that she was thrilled when she was asked to reign over Seahorse this year. “What a huge honor!” she exclaimed. She explained that the Mystick Krewe of the Seahorse was conceived as a way to commemorate the history of Bay St. Louis, while at the same time creating fun events that would keep Bay residents more involved in their beautiful town, all of which is expected to bolster the economic health of this community and make it an even better place to live and visit.

The Krewe is named after the U.S.S. Seahorse, a War of 1812 schooner, which fought a British fleet on December 14, 1814 during the Battle of Bay St. Louis. That battle was an important action in the War of 1812, and was the last naval battle against a foreign power in American waters. While the Americans ultimately were defeated in Bay St. Louis by the stronger British ships, the engagements helped delay the British arrival in New Orleans, bought Andrew Jackson valuable time, and contributed to the American victory at the famous Battle of New Orleans a few days later.

During the battle of Bay St. Louis, the Seahorse was dispatched into the Bay of St. Louis to harass a fleet of British ships, and to secure munitions in case they fell to the British, while another ship, Alligator, was sent to Chalmette to warn General Jackson of the British approach. In Bay St. Louis, a crowd of townspeople gathered on the bluff at Ulman Avenue to watch the approaching British fleet, and there the first cannon shot was fired from the shore toward the Brits (by an elderly bystander, according to legend). Under the assumption that he had cover fire from shore, the captain of Seahorse attacked the British fleet, they countered in kind, and history was made.

In addition to the Lundi Gras parade last Mardi Gras, in which more than 90 vehicles participated, the Krewe of Seahorse also hosted a whimsical putt-putt golf tournament and a town-wide “Pirate Day In The Bay” with a poker run for the members. The year-long celebration culminated in a grand reenactment of the Battle of Bay St. Louis on December 13, 2014, complete with cannon fire, a professional fireworks display, and plenty of excitement on the Harbor.

The reenactment was conducted by two Biloxi schooners from the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, each with about 40 passengers in period dress to act out the drama. On land, 200 North Beach Restaurant owner Ann Tidwell reenacted the role of "Miss Claiborne," whom, according to legend, used Mayor Toulme's cigar to ignite the first land-based cannon shot. Other bicentennial festivities that weekend included a costumed Inspection Ball, schooner tours, sailing excursions, Bay Bridge 7K and 1K Runs, a veterans’ motorcycle ride, and a naval oceanography watercraft exhibit.

This year’s golf-cart and vehicle night parade is scheduled to start rolling through downtown Bay St. Louis at 6 p.m. on February 16, 2015. It will assemble at the Historic Train Depot at Blaize and Bookter Avenues, head west on Bookter, turn right on Necaise Avenue, right on Main Street, left on 2nd, right on Demontluzin, right on Beach Boulevard, right on Main, and end at Cue Street near the parking garage. This is THE ONLY parade on the Mississippi Gulf Coast on Lundi Gras, and is the happening place to be on Monday night.

For more information about the Krewe, the parade, and information about joining, please call Marketing Director Maggie Rafferty at (662) 617-9422.

Krewe of Diamonds Set To Sparkle in Downtown Bay St. Louis on Fat Tuesday

This Fat Tuesday, on February 17th, look no further than home for your Mardi Gras festivities. The Eighth Annual Krewe of Diamonds Mardi Gras Parade will roll on Fat Tuesday, February 17, at 1 p.m. in downtown Bay Saint Louis. For 8 years, the Krewe of Diamonds has capped off the Carnival celebration by parading through downtown Bay St. Louis on Fat Tuesday. The Krewe brings Mardi Gras entertainment to the locals of Bay St. Louis, and to those lucky visitors who travel here from other towns near and far to experience our unique Gulf Coast Carnival traditions. It has always been a great way for locals and visitors to enjoy Mardi Gras Day in quaint downtown and Depot District of Bay St. Louis from the comfort of their front porches and truck tailgate parties!

The Krewe of Diamonds remains the only predominately African-American Krewe to parade on Mardi Gras Day on the Mississippi Coast. Each year, our townspeople look forward to enjoying the premier event of Mardi Gras Day in the Bay-Waveland area.

The Krewe of Diamonds usually announce their King and Queen at their ball, which will be held on Saturday, February 7th at 8 p.m. at the Bay St. Louis Community Center. Tickets can be purchased by calling a Krewe of Diamonds member.

The parade is set to begin at 1:00 P.M, first lining up at Commagere Park on Bookter Street at St. Francis St., then down Booker to a left onto Necaise Avenue, on to a right on Main Street, a right onto Beach Blvd., then right on Union Street and continuing to Blaize Ave. (Third Street). From Blaize Ave., the parade will turn right on Sycamore Street and roll to Old Spanish Trail, ending on Bookter Street.

So, on Mardi Gras Day, pack up your King Cakes, sandwiches, fried chicken, barbecue, and ice chests of beverages, and head downtown or to the Depot District to enjoy a truly enjoyable local tradition.

Those interested in participating in the parade, or for more information about the Krewe of Diamonds, should call Corinn Burton at (228) 671-1471, or Sharon Alexander at (228) 493-2092.

Back row (fourth from left) One of the Krewe of Diamonds Founding Members, Corinn Burton, enjoying after parade fun with family and friends

Growing Up Downtown - February 2015

2/1/2015

by Pat Murphy - historian and well-known coast musician - has been working on his memoir, "Growing Up Downtown," for several years. During 2015, the Cleaver will feature one of his essays each month - along with historical photographs from his archives.

St. Stanislaus in the 1960's, courtesy St. Stanislaus archives

Introduction To My Early Years

My fascination with downtown Bay St. Louis, or Old Town as it is fashionably known today, really began in the 1970’s. By this time, I found myself running a business founded by my elderly grandfather in a downtown area that was dying a slow death like so many other downtowns in small cities across the United States.

Growing Up Downtown
is sponsored by

in the historic City Hall

Captain Bill Stevenson

This was in a time before Main Street Programs and Downtown Development Districts became fashionable in small town America. Downtown Bay St. Louis had just been taken for granted by all who lived here including myself before 1970. It was a thriving business area that had always been there and always would be.

A devastating hurricane named Camille changed it all on the night of Sunday August 17, 1969. From that point in time forward and especially since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the masses of people that moved in to this area would never know what downtown Bay St. Louis had really been all about because the beachfront along Beach Boulevard was completely wiped out. It was at this time that I decided that I wanted to try to chronicle the area of downtown through whatever photographs and history that I could assemble.

I am getting ahead of myself though. I really want to go back and start at the beginning of my association with downtown Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

I was born downtown in Bay St. Louis on February 16, 1949. The Bay St. Louis area hospital was The King’s Daughters Hospital and it was located in an old house on the first block of Carroll Avenue. Dr. Marion J. Wolfe ( who happened to be the younger brother of my grandfather’s former business partner ) brought me into this world sometime around nine or ten that morning. Doc Wolfe probably delivered almost every baby born in Bay St. Louis from around the mid 1940s until the late 1950s. The birth announcement ran in The Hancock County Eagle and The Sea Coast Echo proclaiming that “mother and son are both doing just fine and so is Grandpa George”. My mother was Carol, businessman George Stevenson’s only child. I, Samuel Patrick Murphy, Jr. was his first grandchild.

My mother’s family, the Stevensons, was from New Orleans and moved to the Bay in the mid 1920s. My great grandfather, Bill Stevenson, was a steamship captain for United Fruit Company and transported bananas from Central America to New Orleans. My grandfather George bore a striking resemblance to his father, Bill, and hated bananas until the day he died due to having eaten so many as a child . My grandmother, Odile Stevenson, was orphaned early in life and raised by an aunt. My mother, Carol, was the only child of the Stevensons and was born in 1927.

My Dad’s family, the Murphy’s, was from the Gainesville/Napoleon area of western Hancock County along the Pearl River. We came to know it as Logtown. This whole area is now part of the vast uninhabited Stennis Space Center buffer zone. My grandfather Murphy’s family goes back five generations in Hancock County beginning with James Murphy marrying one of Simon Farve’s daughters. My grandfather, Charles B. Murphy, owned and operated a large farm on the Pearl River. Two of his brothers, Jhue and Rayford lived and farmed adjoining land.

My father, Samuel Patrick Murphy, Sr., was one of the nine children born to Charles Boyet and Mary Starks Murphy. My grandfather Murphy served on the Hancock County Board of Supervisors for many years and also the Hancock County School Board in addition to farming. The former Charles B. Murphy Elementary School in Pearlington was named after my grandfather Murphy. My father’s last living sibling, Rod Murphy, just recently told me that he was attending St. Stanislaus when I was born. His teacher, Ms. Vaughn, was apparently friends with my mother because, he remembered that she was the first person to ever call him Uncle Rod on the day that I was born. As a child, I spent many, many happy times at the Murphy farm in Napoleon with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Josie Welch's building

As I mentioned earlier, my Mom’s father, George Stevenson, was a well known Bay St. Louis businessman and an integral part of Bay St. Louis’s downtown area. He had been in business there since the early 1930s Men like Joe Scharff, Doc Ramsey, Oc Delph, Ed Arceneaux, Laurent Kergoisen, Dan Dantagnan, Rene Demontluzin, Pete Porter, Joe Treutel and Alden Mauffray were my grandfather’s buddies and he was one of the in crowd in downtown Bay St. Louis. His business, Stevenson Radio & Electric had started in a building at 211 South Beach Boulevard. This building was located on the water side of South Beach Boulevard diagonally across the street from Merchant’s Bank but further down towards Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church.

The building that housed his new business was owned by an elderly woman named Ms. Josie Welch. Mr. Buster Heitzmann tells me that this original building was demolished around 1940 by Alfred Robiteau and the material was salvaged to construct a home in Bay St. Louis. By the early 1940s my grandfather’s business had relocated to a rental space formerly occupied by Ashton’s Grocery Store downstairs in the Sea Coast Echo Building. This building still stands at the northern corner of North Beach Boulevard and State Street. This rental space would later house a Western Auto store and a bar along with several restaurants through the years. This whole building is now occupied by the 200 North Beach Restaurant.

I have some vague memories of my grandpa’s old store on North Beach with all of the refrigerators, washing machines and other appliances, large and small, lining the aisles. I remember that the store had rough wooden floors. My grandfather, along with being the town’s largest electrical contractor, was also Bay St. Louis’s Frigidaire appliance dealer, so there were aisles and aisles of refrigerators, stoves, washing machines and various home appliances.

In 1953 my grandfather purchased a piece of property from a young attorney, Cornelius Ladner, located on Main Street across from the Masonic Temple Building. At that time the ground floor of the Masonic Temple building housed the local offices of MississIppi Power Company as well as People’s Federal Savings and Loan Association. Gramps built a new larger concrete block building on this property for his business. The building still stands at 126 Main and now houses Maggie May’s Gallery.

This building featured rental space and also housed the offices of Bell Telephone and the local Selective Service Board (the draft board) as well as my grandfather’s electrical contracting and appliance business. By the late 1950's, Grandpa George would double the size of this building when he built a warehouse in the rear for his growing appliance business. I can remember as a child trucking between the railroad depot and the store on Main Street with truck after truck of crated appliances. The store would receive appliances by rail sometimes two and three rail cars at a time.

Can you imagine being a little boy of seven or eight and having this big warehouse world stacked to the ceiling with hundreds of crated refrigerators, washing machines, dryers and air conditioning units? There were so many nooks and crannies for us to play and hide in! I was accountable for my behavior (as most of us were in those days) but lovingly spoiled rotten at the same time!

Being George Stevenson’s only grandson, I had the run of his store and downtown Bay St. Louis. Everyone in town knew me and I knew all of them. Back in those days, the whole downtown area was my turf and everybody looked out for me and all of the children. Back then people just naturally watched out for everyone else’s kids. That was just the way things used to be. If I got caught doing something that I wasn’t supposed to be doing, in most cases my parents or grandparents knew about it before I ever saw them.

St. Stanilaus Band 1962

After moving into the new building at 126 Main, my grandfather expanded his business into every child’s fantasy. Gramps went into the toy business in a BIG way! Around Halloween every year the showroom was emptied of all of the appliances and filled with shelves and displays of all of the latest kid’s toys. About twice during each summer he would go to toy shows at the wholesalers in New Orleans. If I played my cards right, I usually got to go along with them and check out all of the new and latest toys. My sisters and I were Gramps’ toy barometer of what was going to be cool and what wasn’t. He did a BIG business in toys and wisely included lay- a- ways for toy purchases.

One year Gramps sprung to have a 16mm commercial filmed for his toy business featuring my two sisters and me as the stars of the commercial. How special do you think that was to be sitting in a movie at The A&G or Star Theatre with all your friends and have this commercial featuring you come up on the screen? Every year Ms. Vera Carver would come in and work helping out with the toy business and the lay-a-ways. Many, many local people bring up childhood memories of coming into my Grandfather Stevenson’s toy showroom back then.

My childhood schooling began with nursery school and kindergarten at Coast Episcopal, then on to St Joseph’s Academy, which was coed through third grade, and finally St Stanislaus from fourth grade through senior high with a six year run in the mighty SSC Rock-A-Chaw band. Both of these schools were only a short walk to my grandfather’s store so on most days I walked from school down to “the shop” and rode home with my dad after work. Weekends and holidays were spent hanging out downtown more than I did around my family home out on Felicity Street. There were soda fountains, five and dime stores, barber shops, cafes, bakeries and picture shows all within a two block area. What more could a kid want or need?

All of the buildings on the water side along North and South Beach Boulevard were built on the hill that ran from the street down to the seawall. The entrance to each store was on the sidewalk but the building was built out on creosote pilings. The only building that I remember having a basement below on the hill was DiBenedetto’s. Underneath the other businesses was a vast, overgrown, mysterious no man’s land. Sometimes this space under these buildings was used as a place for the building’s owner to store junk or lumber. It was dark and dangerous. This was the kind of dark, dangerous place that little boys loved.

There was very little beach below the seawall and what beach that was there was overgrown with vegetation. This was another secret play area that provided a cornucopia of sensual delights for a young boy’s imagination. There were thousands of pigeons that roosted under these buildings and an abundance of hiding places to retreat to when it was playtime. I spent many hours with my cronies chasing rats, catching snakes, terrorizing pigeons and, most importantly, hoping that we wouldn’t get caught or seen down there. As kids, we’d all been threatened with death if we got caught down there! Every one of us would have been “half killed” or “beaten within an inch of our lives” if our mothers had known we were down there hanging out.

I consider myself very, very blessed to have been able to grow up in this small town environment in the 1950s and 60s. It was just such a wonderful experience with soooo many great things for a kid to do. There were two or three different Boy Scout troops, little league baseball, kid’s fishing rodeos, and a municipal pier with free Red Cross swimming lessons during the summer (thank you Ms. June Porter). The different businesses in town sponsored little league baseball teams. There was Coast Electric’s “Coast Electri-kids,” the funeral home’s “Ken’s Little Diggers." Boating - including sailing, water skiing and trips up the Jordan River - beaches, skim boarding, bonfires and picnics were all activities that were commonplace in my youth. Snowballs at Ms.Toulme’s on Main Street just past Necaise Avenue were a regular treat as were night time excursions for ice cream from Inn By the Sea or the Frostop. I don’t ever remember being bored because there seemed to always be something fun happening. A couple of kids on the seawall with six or eight crab nets and some fish heads could spend the whole day with sandwiches, chips and soft drinks and come home with a wooden hamper filled with big fat blue crabs!

Times have to change and nothing stays the same. It is a perfectly natural thing for all of us to fondly remember the days of our youth. I had my mother’s relatives and cousins in New Orleans. I would spend weeks over in the city during holidays and vacation. My memories of growing up and doing kid’s things over there are also precious. Mid City Bowling Alley, Pontchartrain Beach, the dime stores, movie theatres and Christmas with Mr. Bingle on Canal Street were all very special. But I would not trade anything for my experience of growing up downtown in Bay St. Louis!!

South Beach at Court Street

About the photographs

From the very beginning of my photo collecting, I have always been blessed by kindness from others. Ms. Mary Winnard and Ms. Emily DeMontluzin gave me my first old photos of Bay St. Louis. Through the years I have always tried to share what I had with the Historical Society and they have shared with me. My longtime friend, Georgie Necaise Morton has taken the photo collection to another level with her Facebook group “You Know You’re From The Bay If”. I have always shared with her and she continues to share with me. I would also like to thank my friend Charles Gray and the Hancock County Historical Society.

There are photos that I have no idea of where they came from or who the photographer was. If you see a photo that is uncredited or wrongly credited, I would welcome information on where the photo originated and who the photographer was. If you have old photos of the area, I encourage you to share them.

Good Neighbor - Shannel Smith

2/1/2015

by Pat Saik
This month, the Cleaver Good Neighbor is Shannel Smith, who is opening doors - and minds - for children in the community!

"A Calling, Not Just a Job"

Shannel Smith has the daunting task of providing a safe place and an educational space for some 150 children, ranging in age from five to eighteen, that come to the Boys & Girls Club after school every day.

But Shannel Smith remains undaunted. “This is a calling, not just a job.” Her tone of voice grows soft. “I love what I do.”

Looking out her office window, deep in thought, Shannel sighs. “It is a blessing to be a part of a child’s life, to help mold and shape them through their crucial years.”

The Boys & Girls Club offers quality programs on a daily basis. Not only a safe place for kids to go after school, certified teachers on staff help the children with their homework.

Shannel, who wears different hats every day, from administrator to teacher, knows the importance of developing open lines of communication and nurturing on-going relationships with the kids.

Shannel and her staff work closely with parents, too. “We can’t do it on our own,” she says. “Our job is more effective because we have parents who are active, aware, and committed.”

Good Neighbor
is sponsored by

Gulf Coast Woman Magazine

Good Neighbor Columnist
Pat Saik

Good Neighbor Columnist Pat Saik has been writing for the Cleaver since 2011. Read the complete Good Neighbor series in the Cleaver archives (three articles to a page, at the bottom of page, hit "previous" to see more!)

The Boys and Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast
Hancock County Unit
310 Old Spanish Trail
Bay St. Louis, MS
Phone: 228.467.9515
Website: www.bgcgulfcoast.org

"We work with others in the community to help make our programs both educational and fun.” One partnership, with Friends of the Animal Shelter in Hancock County, and the Bay St. Louis Library, gives children the chance to read a story to a dog who comes along with the Friends’ volunteer.

“A child who may be shy about reading to an adult usually can’t wait to read to a furry, four-legged visitor to the Club,” Shannel explains. “Encouraged to read aloud in this way, kids build self-confidence.”

Shannel grew up in Los Angeles, California; her parents, Polynesian and South Pacific Islanders, instilled in their children—six boys and one girl—the importance of showing respect to all people.

“I had a great childhood,” she says with a smile. “It was all about aiga—that is the Samoan word for family.”

Shannel admits to experiencing “culture shock” when she moved from southern California to south Alabama to attend college. It was on the Gulf Coast that she met her future husband, Galen Smith, Sr., a lifetime and well-known resident of Bay St. Louis.

Their elder son, Galen Smith, Jr., is called “Little G;” their younger son, Galen Smith III, is called “Tolu,” which means "three" in Samoan.

Not surprisingly, Shannel and Galen, as parents, stress academics and push their sons to excel.

“An education is so important,” Shannel says with passion. “No one can take that away.”

Shannel practices what she preaches. “It’s never too late to get an education. Right now, I am working on completing my college degree.”

Shannel has worked with many Hancock County kids since 2004, when she began with the Club as a part-time instructor; now, ten years later, she is the unit manager of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast, Hancock County Unit.

Although Shannel has been recognized many times for her work, her office walls are devoid of plaques and commendations.

Instead, her desk, her filing cabinets, and her walls are filled with pictures of children and their artwork.

With one exception—a basketball trophy.

“I am so proud of that trophy,” she grins. I played basketball in a community league in Gulfport, and in 2011 we placed runner-up.”

Shannel is both a basketball fan and a formidable basketball player. Over six feet tall, she played power forward and center in collegiate basketball at the University of South Alabama in Mobile in the mid-1990s.

Both Shannel and husband Galen play basketball with their sons. Shannel jokes that Galen “is the Bobby Knight for the boys.” Knight, of course, is the collegiate basketball coach who has logged the most victories in NCAA men's basketball history. Shannel, on the other hand, plays Phil Jackson, the winning coach of the Chicago Bulls.

Not surprisingly, both sons play basketball for Bay High. And as one would expect, both sons also have excelled academically.

“Bay St. Louis is one of the best places to raise a family. I love the small community, the hospitality and I love the laid-back Southern feel." In contrast to her childhood home in Los Angeles, Shannel says “it is here in Bay St. Louis where I feel a sense of belonging.”

Spreading awareness of the Club’s mission in a community she loves is one part of Shannel’s many job responsibilities.

“While many in the community have heard of The Boys & Girls Club, a national nonprofit organization, we want people here to know more about us and what we strive for.”

“Our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.”

Shannel speaks softly. “The kids are my reward. I get to see small miracles happen every day.”

Shannel invites anyone interested to just call or drop in.

“This place is a second home for so many kids.”

Boys & Girls Club at Big Easy in the Bay 2014 - (LtoR) Joel Wallace, Sr. , Will Fears, Carloa Barbetta, Joel Wallace, Jr., Shannel Smith, Sharon Alexander, Adrienne Davis

The Big Buzz - February 2015

2/1/2015

This month - New engine tested at Stennis, Mockingbird Cafe in running for Best Burger in State, Hancock Chamber Annual Meeting and Trapani's adds brunch menu!

New Engine Type Tested at Stennis on January 9th

From Universe Today:

NASA’s goal of sending astronauts to deep space took a major step forward when the first engine of the type destined to power the mighty Space Launch System (SLS) exploration rocket blazed to life during a successful test firing at the agency’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

The Big Buzz
is sponsored by

The milestone hot fire test conducted on Jan. 9, involved igniting a shuttle-era RS-25 space shuttle main engine for 500 seconds on the A-1 test stand at Stennis.

A quartet of RS-25s, formerly used to power the space shuttle orbiters, will now power the core stage of the SLS which will be the most powerful rocket the world has ever seen.

Read the full article here.

The Best Burger in State? The Mockingburger's in the TOP TEN!

Our own Mockingbird Cafe's famous Mockingburger has just become famous across the state! The Mississippi Beef Council recently announced the top 10 finishers in their Mississippi's Best Burger Contest.

The Mockingbird Cafe is the only restaurant on the coast that made the finals.

The council will now send "expert" judges to visit the restaurants anonymously to determine the winner.

Each of the Top 10 will receive a recognition plaque and the winning restaurant will receive a $1,000 local advertising package, complements of Mississippi’s 17, 000 cattle producers through their beef checkoff program.

In addition to the advertising package, the winner will be honored during the Beef Night performance of the Dixie National Rodeo on February 17 - which is Mardi Gras Day in our neck of the woods. So Bay St. Louis might have another reason to celebrate!

Hancock Chamber Elects Mark Henderson 2015 President
Clay Wagner receives Jody Compretta Person of Passion Award

Clay Wagner of Hancock Bank passed the presidential gavel to Mark Henderson of Lazy Magnolia during a standing room only meeting of 300 members of the Hancock Chamber of Commerce on Friday, (January 30) at the Diamondhead Country Club for the 90th Annual Meeting.

During the meeting, the Chamber announced that Clay Wagner was selected as the 2015 Jody Compretta Person of Passion for his leadership in coast-wide initiatives and for his service on numerous boards and commissions throughout the region. “I have been blessed to have great mentors like my parents, Virginia and Fred Wagner. I know my mother is looking down on me today and saying, you work is not yet done. I still have more for you to do.” he said.

Wagner also expressed appreciation to his father, retired architect Fred Wagner. “I was taught that if a community gives you a great place to work, a great place to raise kids, a great place to educate these kids as well as a great place to play…you have a moral obligation to give back to that community. “

Trapani's Adds a Brunch

Fried Green Tomatoes and Eggs Benedict. Heaven.

From Lisa Monti's Notebook:

Trapani’s Eatery rolled out its Sunday Brunch menu in January - it's available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. upstairs in the Blue Marlin Bar.

Choose from three fabulous Eggs Benedict dishes with your choice of crawfish, fried green tomatoes or oysters. Also on the brunch menu are Tony’s famous Grillades & Grits plus Grits Cakes topped with Shrimp or Soft Shell Crab. Mercy.

Did I mention the Bloody Marys and Mimosas? Yes. Those, too.

Bay Reads - February 2015

2/1/2015

by Carole McKellar
This month - a review of one of the most talked-about books in the country by first-time novelist M.O. Walsh

"My Sunshine Away" - a novel by M.O. Walsh

M.O. Walsh took the title of his book from the lyrics of the song, “You Are My Sunshine,” written by the former governor of Louisiana, Jimmie Davis.

This atmospheric Louisiana novel is set in Baton Rouge, the state capital. The story begins in 1989 with a crime, the rape of a fifteen year old girl. Central to the story is a 14-year-old boy who fantasized about the girl, Lindy Simpson, and watched her movements through their neighborhood. He admits early in the telling that he was a suspect in the crime. The rape took place in the dark, and Lindy could not identify her assailant, leaving the neighborhood with its speculations. This book is more than merely a crime drama, however. It is a story of memory and the narrative we create of our childhood.

The narrator of this story is unnamed, but he is the grown man recalling this life-defining event. The style is informal and conversational. His description of the life of a privileged boy growing up in the south feels authentic. One pivotal event in the story centered around the explosion of the Challenger space shuttle. The reactions of the students and teachers watching television in class brought back vivid memories of that tragedy. Neighborhood street games, mosquito control trucks, and backyard barbecues evoke the sound and smell of a Southern childhood.

Our storyteller’s youth included trauma not centered on the rape, since his family life is far from perfect. The upscale neighborhood of his youth was not as idyllic as it seemed on the surface either. At times the guilt expressed by the narrator seemed puzzling. He described himself as a suspect, his infatuation with Lindy caused him to do some suspicious things, but he never seemed capable of committing the crime. While he became something of a peeping Tom, this appeared to be the indiscretions of a foolish teenage boy.

The novel is suspenseful and maintained my interest from the beginning. One chapter diverged into an explanation of the differences between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. That chapter seemed ancillary to the story, but highly entertaining as an essay. The conclusion demonstrated that a fulfilling life is possible in spite of traumatic experiences.

I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of this novel, which won’t be published until some time in mid-February. The author, M.O. Walsh, is a graduate of the MFA program at the University of Mississippi and is currently the director of the Creative Writing Workshop at The University of New Orleans. He grew up in Baton Rouge, but currently lives in New Orleans with his family. His stories and essays have appeared in several periodicals, but this is his first novel.

About M.O. Walsh

M.O. Walsh was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His stories and essays have appeared in publications such as The New York Times, The Southern Review, American Short Fiction, Epoch, and Greensboro Review. His short stories have also been anthologized in Best New American Voices, Bar Stories, Best of the Net and Louisiana in Words.

Second Saturday - February 2015

2/1/2015

by Lisa Monti

This month - Second Saturday and Valentine's Day coincide! What could be more fun - or a more apropos?
photos by Ellis Anderson

Second Saturday Artwalk in Old Town - February 14th

You'll find love all over Old Town this month - this is work by artist Spencer Gray at Gallery 220

By a happy coincidence of the calendar, February’s Second Saturday Artwalk falls on February 14, Valentine’s Day, making the monthly artwork and open house celebration in Old Town a bit sweeter.

The combination of Second Saturday and Valentine’s Day actually is a perfect pairing, considering shoppers will look for jewelry, flowers, artworks and other special gifts in shops and galleries around Old Town and then enjoy dinner for two (or more) at the nearby restaurants.

Second Saturday’s two hotspots — Cypress Cafe (300 S. Second Street) and The Palm House Cottage — have plans to enhance the Valentine’s Day celebration.

Cypress Cafe

300 S. Second Street
Bay St. Louis, MS 39520
228. 466. 4877

Cypress Cafe, usually open for lunch only, will welcome guests on Second Saturday with special dinner service in its famous casual style in honor of Valentine’s Day. Dinner specials feature soup or salad, entrée of your choice and a special dessert. But you can always order from Cypress Cafe’s delicious menu. A Chocolate Truffle Treat with be included with all food orders on Valentine's night.

Since opening in 2010, Cypress Cafe has earned loyal fans who come back regularly to enjoy the soups, salads, specialty sandwiches, burgers, “chicks,” and wraps, which are all made to order. And yes, the desserts in the glass display case are as delicious as they look.

Besides the fantastic food, the Cypress Cafe is known for its roomy dining room’s brick walls with large windows. Guests can enjoy views of the huge oak tree and historic gazebo on the grounds of the historic 1905 City Hall.

Owner Holly Lemoine-Raymond has crafted the room’s furnishings and accent pieces, including the namesake cypress tables. The boutique cafe is steeped in local history and boosts one truly unusual feature: a trio of small jail cells near the bustling kitchen.

Shopping blends right in with a visit to Cypress Cafe and on Second Saturday all retail will be on sale. Look for specialty soaps, gourmet items and other one-of-a-kind gifts during your visit. And you might want to keep an eye out for possible paranormal activity in the cafe. The building has been under investigation by TAPS and Ghost Chasers of Mississippi.

The Palm House Cottage

217 Union St.
Bay St. Louis, MS 39520
504-729-0887

At Union and Hancock stands the historic Palm House, a 19th Century private residence and its Palm House Cottage, which is available for rent. Owners Grace and Christian Birch of New Orleans bought the property a year ago, and Grace has been discovering family connections on every weekend visit to their new community.

“We bought it in January and on Valentine’s weekend we were moving in and falling in love with the place,” Grace said. The location is within easy walking distance to shops, restaurants, festivals and the beach, but the Palm House has a special atmosphere. “It feels like a retreat,” she said.

The main house is perfect for their multi-generational family members, while the charming guest cottage is ideal for visitors looking for a romantic getaway. “The cottage has hosted people on their honeymoon and a couple celebrating their 20th anniversary,” Grace said.

The cottage sleeps up to four and features a private patio, kitchenette, washer/dryer, jacuzzi tub and private parking.

“The cottage is fully outfitted for a really nice romantic stay,” Grace said. “And it’s just steps from where Second Saturday happens and the park next door has the duck pond and farmer’s market. We’re so excited about every new thing we find in town and getting to share it with our guests.”

For Second Saturday, Ann Wilson, Grace’s mother, and Anna Birch, Christian’s mother, will welcome guests to the Palm House with handmade Valentine’s cookies and hot apple cider. The family also plans to offer treats prepared by Rickey’s Off the Tracks, located a few steps from the Palm House.

Click here for more information and to make reservations.

On Stage at the Mockingbird Cafe
110 South Second Street

Heart Throbs - Stoop Kids take Mockingbird Stage for Valentine's 2nd Sat.
Started by Griffin Dean in 2012, Stoop Kids’ music jumps between genres like hip-hop, doo-wop, jazz, psychedelic rock, funk, and everything in between. Their sound has been called a blend of “Beach Boys meets the Beastie Boys”. After the release of their debut album “What a World” Stoop Kids transformed into a live band with the addition of Thomas (baritone sax), David (keys/guitar), Patrick (bass), and Joe (percussion). In contrast to the relaxed sound of their recorded music, the live band is known for their upbeat and engaging performances. Over the course of 2015, Stoop Kids will be releasing a wide variety of content: new website, music video, live performance videos, and a new album.

End the Evening at 100 Men Hall!

Click here to buy tickets on-line!

New Gallery opening on 200 block of Main!

The Gulf Coast Art Cooperative LLC at 209 Main Street in Old Town will be opening Saturday, February 14th, 10am.

From the gallery: You are invited to come and join us to celebrate the opening, the brand new art show in the building, and join us for Second Saturday "outside." Refreshments will be served.

The Second Saturday Column
is sponsored by

Alternate Reality Artist Gallery

100 Men Hall - 303 Union Street - Special Valentine's Day Concert - Zena Moses and her band Rue Fiya. Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm. Tickets $18 in advance, $29 at door, cash bar. Order tickets online here.

Antique Maison Ulman Tearoom - 317 Ulman Ave. Booths for rent, good food, sales on merchandise and beautiful ambiance

Bay Emporium - 112 S. Second Street - Thirteen shops under one historic roof. features many options for your Valentine! Beachy fashions by "Ship Oar Shore", Swan Creek Candles from Scents on Second Street", art and constructions in "Steampunk Curiosities", handcrafted furniture by "Boesch and Co.", architectural salvage from "Charbonnet and Charbonnet", coordinating fashion and decor by "In 2 Details", fun and funky gifts by "Flair", jewelry and accessories by "bijoubel", vintage and retro in "Paper Moon", and our newest addition-"Voila!", French inspired goods! Also find 30% off decor and gifts in "Family Traditions". All this and more under one historic roof!

Bay-Tique - 125 D Main St. 125 D Main St. - Bay-Tique is having a HUGE sidewalk sale in Feb on 2nd sat! A tent will be set up outside with tons of merchandise, all 50% off! Jeans, shoes, apparel, gifts, jewelry….making room for spring merchandise!

bijoubel- 126 Main St. ( inside Maggie May's) it's not late for that last minute Valentine's Gift. All Mariana and Renaldo jewelry will be 20% off this Second Saturday.

The Bonner Collection - 108 S. Beach Blvd. Suite D. Come by the Bonner Collection and enjoy some refreshments and choose that "special something" for the loves of your life. 10% of all Mardi Gras..Cheers!

California Drawstrings - 216 Main Street -

George’s Girls - 108 S. Beach Blvd. Ste B, (inside the French Settlement building). Purveyors of Fine Linens. Georeg's Girls is a great place to spot in for beautifully scented candles and soaps, some of our newest our from Lafco and Mer:Sea, also it will be the first chance to view some Spring Yala clothing and beautiful night wear.

Gallery 220 - 220 Main Street - All day long, you and your sweetheart will find specials on artwork throughout the gallery. There will be fun "Valentines" for sale too. Then from 5pm - 8pm, enjoy finger foods and a cream-filled heart-shaped king cake! At 7:30pm, two whimsical centerpieces by artist Nancy Lowentritt will be raffled off. Raffle tickets are only fifty cents and will be sold at the gallery from Sunday, February 8th til the raffle on Valentine's evening (winner doesn't have to be present).

Green Canyon Outfitters -108 S. Beach Blvd.- Come visit us upstairs at the French Settlement. You will find all of the latest activewear, ranging from Sunglasses, boots, yoga, fishing, hunting, and much more!

Fashion Express - Down the long hall at Maggie May’s Art Gallery (126 Main Street), Swarovski crystal collections by Victoria Lynn and Victoria Cross in an array of stunning colors, great for Valentine's Day, complimentary gift wrap!

The French Potager - 213 Main Street - Stop by The French Potager and swoon your Valentine with flowers and a fabulous shopping experience. Order your Valentine's Day flower arrangements today! Mention this ad and receive 10% off your flower order. Green Mountain Pies will be in the front yard with homemade king cakes for sale. Treat your loved one to a special evening!

ALSO, The Arts, Hancock County presents Imagination Station in front of The French Potager. Pastry chef, Hannah Roberts of Green Mountain Pies will help kids decorate Valentine's Day cookies. Stop by for this FREE kids' art activity!

Magnolia Antiques - 200 Main Street - You must come see the totally rearranged shop! We have completely turned it around. All the same great stuff plus more! Annie, the Doll Doctor, has moved her hospital to our location and her best collectibles! And if you're looking for Dan's MANtinques, you'll find him in Magnolia Antiques too! PLUS we're happy to welcome Our special entertainment for the evening, Ms Cynthia Chen, well known New Orleans Jazz Pianist! And of course, we'll offer snacks, wine, and a special dessert treat! PLUS, mention you read this press and get 20% off all JAX items.

The Mockingbird Cafe - 110 South Second St. Live Music by Heart Throbs - Stoop Kids take Mockingbird Stage for Valentine's 2nd Sat. from 6 - 9pm, Artist Laura Kidd Hurt will be showing her Mardi Gras headdresses, joining regulars Marsha Prejean, Kat Fitzpatrick, Diane Chunn, Sue Louvier and J.J. Foley. Local brews and dinner menu with famous Mockingburgers.

Serious Bread Bakery - 131 Main Street, Suite D - Along with signature artisan breads, flatbreads and sweet things, you can also try pesto, hummus and our special tomato sandwiches. As always, we offer samples of our baked goods.

Social Chair - 201 Main St. - Love is in the air at Social Chair with the debut of the new styles for Spring of Helen Marie Swarovski crystal jewelry. The popular leather and pearl styles are now available. We are getting ready for Spring with new garden items arriving weekly.

Time After Time Antiques (Inside Bay Emporium), 112 S. Second St. Offering a unique array of antiques, furniture from different eras, collectibles, and home decor. Between the hours of 4PM and 8PM we offer 20% off furniture. Our selection changes monthly, so come see us. We also carry the pottery line of Swan Creek Candles.

Twin Lights Creations - 136 Main Street - Eclectic garden & home décor. It’s Mardi Gras and what better gift is there than a hand made glass Mardi Gras Fish wind chime? All new, made in the USA, the selections of these true art pieces are something to see. Wide range of sizes and prices! Come enjoy the elements of nature and take a little of the “Light” with you!

Upcoming Events - February 2015

2/1/2015

This month - From Mardi Gras parades to concerts to awesome art events - we have it covered at the Cleaver!

for a full list of monthly happenings, go to our Community Calendar page!

Upcoming Events
is sponsored by

Carroll House B&B

2/6 - Friday

Smith & Lens Gallery
106 South 2nd St
Bay Saint Louis
1pm - 7pm

Amos Kennedy, king of letterpress, will be in Bay St. Louis selling his art and visiting with the masses on Friday, February 6th 1:00-7:00pm!

2/8 - Sunday

Nereids Parade
Waveland
Hwy 90
Starts at 1pm

Waveland hosts one of the oldest and largest carnival parades on the Mississippi Coast. The all female Krewe of Nereids is the largest cultural event that takes place in Hancock County and you're invited to participate in the fun!

2/10 - Tuesday

2/14 - Saturday

Valentine's Second Saturday Artwalk
Main Street
Old Town Bay St. Louis
Shops are lively all day, but energy really revs up from 4pm - 5pm

It's one of those magical years when the Second Saturday Artwalk occurs on February 14th. So look at it as if the whole town is throwing a party for your sweetheart! Dinner, dancing in the streets and a chance to buy something they admire in one of the shops or gallerys - the gift that can't go wrong! For more details, see our Second Saturday page!

2/14 - Saturday

Tickets are $18 in advance/$29 at the door. Advance ticket purchasers will receive a grab-bag of discounts and promotional offers from area boutiques and restaurants upon check in at The Hall. Doors at 7pm; show starts at 8pm. Cash bar. Tickets can be purchased on their website.

Zena Moses and her band
Rue Fiya
100 Men Hall
303 Union Street
Bay Saint Louis MS
Doors open at 7pm
Show starts at 8pm

Zena and her band captured the real, raw sound of New Orleans with music that moves from Funk to Soul to Jazz to Hip-Hop and beyond.

For those lucky enough to have seen Zena when she sat in with Pockit Tyme at The Hall in 2013, her star quality and amazing vocals were a huge surprise. Now performing with her own band, she will bring her soulful ballads, funky dance music and huge personality to our stage.

2/16 - Monday, Lundi Gras

photo courtesy Ann Madden

Want to decorate a golf cart or form a marching group and join in? Parade Entry-$30 per unit UNTIL January 1, 2015; $50 AFTER January 1, 2015

Mystic Krewe of Seahorse Parade
Old Town Bay St. Louis
6pm

Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse is the only parade on the Mississippi Gulf Coast on Lundi Gras. Read our complete story in this month's Talk of the Town.

2/17 - Tuesday, Mardi Gras

Krewe of Diamonds Parade
Old Town Bay St. Louis
1pm - 5pm

Join us for a fun parade through downtown Bay St. Louis. Lots of throws and plenty of fun. It is the only predominately African-American Krewe to parade on Mardi Gras Day on the Mississippi Coast.

2/21 - Saturday

Students will:
+ Develop personal creativity through Narrative Pantomimes,Group Tableaus, and Theatre Games

+ Develop interpersonal skills and awareness through Improvisational Acting and Interactive Group Dramatizations

+ Develop aesthetic sensitivity and theatre skills through integration of scenery, costumes, art, music, and dance

Bay Children’s Theatre Academy Winter Workshops
Bay Saint Louis Little Theatre
398 Blaize Avenue
Bay Saint Louis MS
9:00am to 11:30am

$13 per class

For children up to 13 years of age.

Children must be able to read from a script to participate.

Call 404-587-1700 to register your child!

Beach to Bayou - February 2015

2/1/2015

by Willard Deal
This month - Bicycling is booming in the Bay - find out what you can do as a driver and a cyclist to keep it safe!

Local cyclist Myron Labat leading the Bay Rollers

Sharing the Road

We have all seen this sign, and while its message is obvious, it takes extra effort and cautions from both motor vehicle drivers and bike riders to make this sharing work. Now that spring is almost upon us, The Cleaver would like to remind all of us what it means to bicycle in and around Bay/Waveland, and to drive on roads with bikes.

Beach to Bayou
is sponsored by

A check with officials in Hancock County, Bay Saint Louis and Waveland revealed no local ordinances governing bicycle riding. That leaves Mississippi state law to govern bike riding. In 2010, the legislature passed The John Paul Frerer Bicycle Safety Act. Named for a young Tupelo man killed by a car while biking, this law draws together, and adds to, previous laws concerning bikes, making these ordinance easy to understand.

Basically, bicycle riders have all the rights and obligations of a motor vehicle on the roadways of Mississippi. This included traveling with traffic (bike with traffic, run/walk against it!!), using hand signals to indicate turns and stopping at traffic lights and stop signs. A few special requirements for bicyclists include riding near the right side of the roadway except when passing a slower vehicle or preparing to turn left, and riding no more than two abreast. A headlight and red tail reflector are required for night riding.

Motor vehicle operators have their own obligations when driving on roadways with cyclists. Mainly, vehicles must leave no less than 3 feet of clearance when passing a bike and must not make a turn immediately in front of a passed bike unless that can be done safely. It is allowable for a motor vehicle to pass a bicycle in a “no passing zone” as long on-coming traffic is not a problem and the 3 foot rule is maintained.

Bike Helmets. There is no State law requiring riders to wear bike helmets. Starkville, Ridgeland and Hernando do have local ordinances with Starkville being the only town requiring helmets for all riders, not just those under the age of 17. However, sometimes things that are lawful aren’t always good for us.

Myron Labat tells a tale of helmet use convincingly enough to ensure that bicyclists with the Bay Rollers always wear helmets. Myron, President of the 12 member Bay Roller Bicycle Club (and Cleaver October 2012 Good Neighbor), had one of those oops moments with which we are all familiar. One slight misjudgment resulted in a two bike crash sending him to the pavement with his head striking hard. Without his helmet, … Well, let’s just say that the helmet saved more than the day.

Bike Lanes. Again, there are no local ordinances regarding bicycles, therefore no requirements that bicyclists use the bike lanes provided on Dunbar Avenue, or the bike path on Beach Blvd. Interestingly enough, MS State law on Bike Lanes only deals with motor vehicle obligations when bike lanes are present, mainly in that the “operator of a motor vehicle may not block the bicycle lane to oncoming bicycle traffic and shall yield to a bicyclist in the bicycle lane before entering or crossing the lane.”

Bay Roller President Labat and I share concern with foreign objects in our few bike lanes, such as gravel in the Dunbar Avenue lanes. It’s almost too dangerous to use those lanes and perfectly legal to ride in the road. To be fair, one shouldn’t expect BSL to constantly sweep those lanes.

Sidewalks are not bike lanes and bicycles are not allowed on sidewalks unless a bike lane is designated on that walk as it is in places on Beach Blvd. This is a far too common area of contention between cyclists and motor vehicle operators, and will become even more so contentious when sidewalks are added to Old Spanish Trail this spring and summer.

This leads me to one last issue. According to the Frerer Bicycle Safety Act, it is unlawful harass, taunt or maliciously throw an object at or in the direction of any person riding a bicycle. The law goes on to outline fines and jail time for doing so. There are not many drivers that know of this provision of law, or for that matter the share the road provisions. To be fair, not many cyclists know their responsibility either.

So for now, and until we can engage in some serious sign posting and education, y’all set good examples, be sensible and safe out there, pass along good biking habits, and we’ll see you on the road!

Well, Well, Well - February 2015

2/1/2015

by Kerrie Loya
This month - 28 ways to open your heart - one for each day of February!

Put a Little Love in Your Heart!

Have you ever watched “Scrooged” with Bill Murray? At the end of the movie, Scrooge has found his heart, the little boy who couldn’t talk finds his voice, and the entire cast sings “Put a Little Love in Your Heart.” I cry every time. That song just tugs at my …...heart.

What is it about heart? Athletes are told “you have heart”. At weddings, “our hearts are full of joy”. To lovers we say “I love you with all my heart.” With Valentine’s Day this month, why not take it to another level by celebrating a month of love, a month of opening up our hearts? Following are my suggestions for 28 days of love.

1. Since 1943, 127 songs with “love” in the title ended the year at the top of the Billboard music charts. From Benny Goodman’s “Taking a Chance on Love” (1943) to the Beatles’ “Can’t Buy Me Love” (1962), we have loved these songs all the way to the top. Pick out your favorites and make a playlist or CD for someone you love.

2. Add the top 15 heart healthy foods into your diet. At Eating Well, you can also learn the reason why these foods are so good for your heart: yogurt, raisins, whole grains, beans, salmon, nuts, chocolate, tomatoes, apples, berries, pomegranates, bananas, popcorn, green tea, and wine.

3. Breakfast for your heart. Make a parfait of plain yogurt, berries, bananas and chopped green apple. You’ve just added four of the top 15!

4. Lunch for your heart. Make a salad of arugula with tomatoes and sundried tomatoes topped with grilled salmon. Hmm, three more!!

5. Dinner for your heart. Well, I am totally happy with dark chocolate and wine, but some may want something more substantial. Try beans and rice in a whole grain tortilla with some homemade salsa. Another four!

6. Pick a loving affirmation. What is an affirmation? It is a simple, declarative sentence voicing a deep wish. You pick a quiet time, preferably in the morning, sit calmly and say the affirmation a few times. Here are some of my favorites:

7. I live a life full of love for myself and others.

8. I make my decisions based on love.

9. I forgive those who need forgiving for not being what I want them to be.

10. My heart is full of joy and thankfulness.

11. Open your heart chakra, one of your body’s centers of energy, by surrounding yourself with nature. Hmm, this is easy here on the Gulf Coast with our amazing trees, waterways and sky.

Well, Well, Well
is sponsored by

Heart Opening Yoga Poses
(Day 25)

Half Moon - Stand feet together, arms up like a steeple with forearms against ears. Push right hip as far as you can to the right while stretching torso and arms to the left. Breathe. Slowly come up to standing and repeat on the other side.

Easy Camel - Place hands on hips and drop the head back while arching the spine. Relax and breathe. Slowly come back up.

Advanced - Start in Easy Camel, then take one hand all the way down grabbing the heel. Repeat with other hand. Push hips forward while arching back. Come up slowly in reverse order.

12. Use rose oil spray on your sheets before sleeping or spray it anytime you feel negativity coming on. The scent of roses just seems to bring on a loving feeling.

13. Wear rose quartz, renowned for its heart opening power.

14. Hug often and long. Check out “Hugs Have Healing Power.” That loving feeling you get from a hug can have reparative antiaging benefits because oxytocin, the “love hormone” is released. Hug until you feel that release, that “ahhhhh”.

15. Create a fairy garden. Why?? Because it will enchant everyone who sees it, bring smiles, laughs and happiness.

16. Give a gift to someone who always gives so much. You know at least one of these people, those amazing men and women that give so much of themselves! So give something back, something small, handmade, a flower from your garden, just a token of thanks for their generosity.

17. Give a random compliment to a stranger. I love to do this!! Sometimes I see someone who I think is so beautiful, or so sweet, or so polite, I have to tell them! The look on their faces is priceless.

18. The following three loving ideas were inspired by an article in Elephant Journal. Be open to receiving all the gifts the universe offers. What does this mean? To me, I work to keep my heart open to nature, to new people in my life, to new opportunities that are presented to me. I am thankful for all the lovely things and people in my life.

19. Live the life you dream of having. If you don’t love your life, make changes now that move you closer to that life. It’s amazing when things fall into place as soon as you begin to live your dream life.

20. Enjoy a massage. The power of a healing touch is worth every penny.

21. Instead of giving the traditional rose bouquet, give a rose bush! I love this idea from Nature Moms.

22. Start a love journal. Write about what you love about your daily life, what made you smile, who you hugged. Record only positive and loving thoughts, please.

23. Wear pink. The color pink represents compassion, nurturing and love. Pink combines red, representing the need for action, with white, the color that helps achieve success and insight. The deeper the pink, the more passion and energy exhibited.

24.     Drink more champagne. No other drink symbolizes love more than the beautiful bubbly! Try a rose champagne which has about 15% red wine added to it. Rose champagne has a fuller flavor which allows for better food pairings. All the big-name brands make a rose champagne including Moet & Chandon and Piper-Heidsieck. For the budget-minded, even Barefoot makes a pink bubbly.

25.     Try a heart opening yoga pose such as Camel or Side Bending Mountain. These would be great to do after you say an affirmation! See our sidebar for photos and instructions!

26.     Try a yoga pose to get you in the mood. If your partner is game, do this one together.

27.     Say I love you! Receiving a text of “I love you” is just not the same as telling someone how much they mean to you. While phone calls might not be the norm these days, take a tip from Stevie Wonder and call “to say I love you”.

28.     Kiss often and passionately! We all know kissing feels good, but there are actually health benefits to a nice, long kiss. Kissing might help you lose weight because a really passionate kiss burns two calories a minute -- twice your normal metabolic rate.

I lift my glass of rose champagne and toast all of you, dear readers. I love you!

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The Martin Luther King Fun Run/Bike/Walk - January 17th, 2015

The CASA Mardi Gras Gala - January 17th, 2015

Rotary Chili Cook-Off - January 29th, 2015

A special Friday night in Old Town - Friday, January 30th, 2015 Mr. Atticus's Night Market and "Surrender" Art Show Opening at Smith and Lens Gallery

Seduced by the Sea: Sailor's Valentines

William Douglas Meadows & Alma Yolanda Islas Urbina

December 20th, 2014

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Ginger's Tips For a Standout Wedding

The Reception

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by Karen Fineran

Mystic Krewe of Seahorse Set to Ride For Second Yearphotographs courtesy Ann Madden

Talk of the Townis sponsored by

Krewe of Diamonds Set To Sparkle in Downtown Bay St. Louis on Fat Tuesday

Introduction To My Early Years

Growing Up Downtown is sponsored by

About the photographs

"A Calling, Not Just a Job"

Good Neighbor is sponsored by

Good Neighbor ColumnistPat Saik

New Engine Type Tested at Stennis on January 9th

The Big Buzz is sponsored by

The Best Burger in State? The Mockingburger's in the TOP TEN!

Hancock Chamber Elects Mark Henderson 2015 President Clay Wagner receives Jody Compretta Person of Passion Award

Trapani's Adds a Brunch

"My Sunshine Away" - a novel by M.O. Walsh

M.O. Walsh took the title of his book from the lyrics of the song, “You Are My Sunshine,” written by the former governor of Louisiana, Jimmie Davis.

About M.O. Walsh

Second Saturday Artwalk in Old Town - February 14th

Cypress Cafe

300 S. Second Street Bay St. Louis, MS 39520228. 466. 4877

The Palm House Cottage

217 Union St. Bay St. Louis, MS 39520504-729-0887

On Stage at the Mockingbird Cafe110 South Second Street

End the Evening at 100 Men Hall!

New Gallery opening on 200 block of Main!

The Second Saturday Column is sponsored by

This month - From Mardi Gras parades to concerts to awesome art events - we have it covered at the Cleaver! for a full list of monthly happenings, go to our Community Calendar page!

Upcoming Events is sponsored by

2/6 - Friday

Smith & Lens Gallery106 South 2nd StBay Saint Louis 1pm - 7pm

2/8 - Sunday

Nereids ParadeWaveland Hwy 90 Starts at 1pm

2/10 - Tuesday

2/14 - Saturday

Valentine's Second Saturday ArtwalkMain StreetOld Town Bay St. LouisShops are lively all day, but energy really revs up from 4pm - 5pm

2/14 - Saturday

Zena Moses and her band Rue Fiya100 Men Hall303 Union StreetBay Saint Louis MSDoors open at 7pmShow starts at 8pm

2/16 - Monday, Lundi Gras

Mystic Krewe of Seahorse ParadeOld Town Bay St. Louis6pm

2/17 - Tuesday, Mardi Gras

Krewe of Diamonds ParadeOld Town Bay St. Louis1pm - 5pm

2/21 - Saturday

Bay Children’s Theatre Academy Winter WorkshopsBay Saint Louis Little Theatre398 Blaize AvenueBay Saint Louis MS9:00am to 11:30am

Sharing the Road

Beach to Bayou is sponsored by

Puppy Dog Tales
is sponsored by the blog of the same name

Puppy Dog Tales Column
is sponsored by

The Town Green
is sponsored by

Local Focal
is sponsored by

Sponsor Spotlight
is sponsored by

What's Up Waveland
is sponsored by

LiLi Stahler Murphy
Waveland Correspondent

Coast Lines
is sponsored by

15 Minutes
is sponsored by

A special Friday night in Old Town - Friday, January 30th, 2015
Mr. Atticus's Night Market and "Surrender" Art Show Opening at Smith and Lens Gallery

Seduced by the Sea:
Sailor's Valentines

Bay Bride
is sponsored by

Mystic Krewe of Seahorse Set to Ride For Second Year
photographs courtesy Ann Madden

Talk of the Town
is sponsored by

Growing Up Downtown
is sponsored by

Good Neighbor
is sponsored by

Good Neighbor Columnist
Pat Saik

The Big Buzz
is sponsored by

Hancock Chamber Elects Mark Henderson 2015 President
Clay Wagner receives Jody Compretta Person of Passion Award

300 S. Second Street
Bay St. Louis, MS 39520
228. 466. 4877

217 Union St.
Bay St. Louis, MS 39520
504-729-0887

On Stage at the Mockingbird Cafe
110 South Second Street

The Second Saturday Column
is sponsored by

This month - From Mardi Gras parades to concerts to awesome art events - we have it covered at the Cleaver!

for a full list of monthly happenings, go to our Community Calendar page!

Upcoming Events
is sponsored by

Smith & Lens Gallery
106 South 2nd St
Bay Saint Louis
1pm - 7pm

Nereids Parade
Waveland
Hwy 90
Starts at 1pm

Valentine's Second Saturday Artwalk
Main Street
Old Town Bay St. Louis
Shops are lively all day, but energy really revs up from 4pm - 5pm

Zena Moses and her band
Rue Fiya
100 Men Hall
303 Union Street
Bay Saint Louis MS
Doors open at 7pm
Show starts at 8pm

Mystic Krewe of Seahorse Parade
Old Town Bay St. Louis
6pm

Krewe of Diamonds Parade
Old Town Bay St. Louis
1pm - 5pm

Bay Children’s Theatre Academy Winter Workshops
Bay Saint Louis Little Theatre
398 Blaize Avenue
Bay Saint Louis MS
9:00am to 11:30am

Beach to Bayou
is sponsored by

Well, Well, Well
is sponsored by

Heart Opening Yoga Poses
(Day 25)

Prime Sponsors
of the Shoofly

The French Potager

Buck Ramond
Heat & Air