Blog Archives

Harbor Highlights - June 2015

6/1/2015

"Beach House" - Joe and Sunny Miceli

This Navigator 56' has room for a family and the oomph to go places. Meet Joe and Sunny Miceli and find out why they're about to have two Beach Houses in the Bay!

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Joe and Sunny Miceli on the aft deck of "Beach House" in the Bay St. Louis Harbor

Joe and Sunny Miceli wanted to consolidate. In 2008, the Gulfport residents owned a beach house on Ono Island in Alabama and a 45’ Sea Ray Sundancer. Three generations of family often used both and many fond memories had been made through the years, but the upkeep was formidable.

The two decided to sell both the Alabama house and the Sea Ray, then find a slightly larger boat that would fill the shoes of both. Once the Ono Island house sold, Joe began seriously shopping The couple agreed that whatever boat they finally settled on, they’d rename it - despite the fact that mariner’s folklore says it’s bad luck to rename any vessel. One name said it all: Beach House.

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Soon, a broker from Fort Myers called, promising that he had the perfect boat for the Micelis. It was a 2001 Navigator. The classic pilothouse boat was 56 feet long. Two Volvo 430hp engines provided the power. With three full cabins and two full baths, it did indeed seem made to order.

Joe happened to be in Tampa on business and drove over to inspect it. The Navigator fit the bill in every way. And the boat's name wouldn't have to be changed after all. “Beach House” was already emblazoned on the fan tail. The coincidence sealed the deal.

Beach House lives up to its name. The salon is spacious and furnished like a comfortable seaside retreat. The main living area is open to a roomy galley that could have been transported from a chic Manhattan apartment.

The pilothouse contains ample room for a captain and a full complement of crew who may want to keep him (or her) company. Down below, the master cabin glows with wood tones and reflected light. While the other two cabins aren’t quite as large, neither feels cramped.

The bathrooms offer full showers and lots of head and shoulder room. One design device is genius: the ceilings are mirrored. The illusion of unlimited height makes it seems as if even Shaquille would have plenty of headroom.

The view from the bridge of Beach House

The top deck, however, is Sunny’s favorite hangout. There’s another captain’s station there and enough wrap-around seating and tables for a goodly sized crowd. The Micelis like the open-air feel and the panoramic views of Bay St. Louis Old Town.

The couple have always been fond of Bay St. Louis, so it was an easy decision to use it as a home base for Beach House. The feature they like most is the fact that there’s no busy four-lane highway separating the harbor from the town. They also enjoy the shops, restaurants and pleasant strolls through the historic neighborhood - all easily accessible.

“They have a little beach right here for our grandkids,” says Joe. “And this location is convenient to gulf. It’s not like you have to go through a lot of canals and no wake zones. Once you’re out of the marina, it’s short distance to islands, and the Louisiana marsh is right there for fishing.”

With the perfect boat in the perfect location, the Gulfport house is now on the market. The Michelis have bought property on Washington Street, near the beach. Joe’s happy that the property is in the Bay St. Louis Historic District because he feels like his investment will be protected over the long haul. The couple is planning to start building in the coming year. And when the house is complete, the Micelis will have two beach houses. But one has a feeling the grandchildren won’t mind.

Good Neighbor - June 2015

6/1/2015

Pete Benvenutti

The patriarch of the Benvenutti clan may be 90 years old, but his memory and community spirit are as strong as his spirit.
- by Pat Saik

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Peter James Benvenutti—everybody calls him “Pete”—was born in Bay St. Louis in 1925 and lives here still. His recollections can take us to a time before our time, and his mind is a treasure chest of stories about life in Hancock County.

“Did you know that people used to call Hancock County ‘The Free State of Hancock?’” Pete said, squinting. In the early 1940s, when Pete was in school at St. Stanislaus, this place was a hub of free-wheeling activity.

“We had gambling, slot machines and plenty of moonshine in this county,” Pete remembers. Not that Pete imbibed. After all, by the age of four, he already was serving as an altar boy.

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“You could get real good white lightning out of DeLisle, during and after prohibition. They were shipping moonshine made here up to Chicago on the railroads. It was shipped on flatbeds, cleverly hidden. People in Chicago didn’t have any complaints. They liked it.”

However you define “local” around here, Pete Benvenutti’s credentials easily meet any criteria. Not only was he was born here, but his roots in the Bay go back to the late 1880s when his grandfather, a native of what is now known as Croatia, settled here.

“My grandfather’s real name was Anthony, but everybody knew him as ‘Happy Tony.’”

Clearly an adventurous guy, Pete’s grandfather Tony, a sailor, jumped ship when his vessel was docked in New Orleans, grabbing a chance to avoid the Austrian/Hungarian conflict going on in the late 1880s and to start a new life.

Attracted by the thriving fishing industry on the Mississippi coast, his grandfather made it to Bay St. Louis and decided to stay. When Pete and his wife Betty visited Croatia as part of their 50th anniversary celebration, Pete was astounded at the similarity of Croatia’s coastal landscape to the Mississippi coast, realizing that his grandfather must have felt a little of his former country recreated in his new one.

Benvenutti family photo: Pete and Betty are newlyweds, standing at far right. 1947 or 1948

Pete’s grandfather Tony sent for Pete’s grandmother Katrina in 1900, who arrived with their two sons, Anthony Dominic Benjamin, Jr. and Joseph Nicholas.

Happy Tony supported his family working as a foreman at the Dunbar Factory seafood plant in Bay St. Louis, which washed away in 1915.

On weekends, the family often visited other Croatian families, growing in number, who had settled at Point Biloxi.

Pete’s own father Anthony had eight children; sixth in line in a family of six girls and two boys, Pete was the second born son, born in Bay St. Louis in 1925.

“I’d never been any place but the coast until I was eighteen and the Marine Corps gave me a train ticket to California.”

That trip started Pete on a thirty year service record with the Marine Corps. He served in the South Pacific during World War II, and overseas in Japan with the Third Marine Division in the mid-1950s. On active duty until 1967, Pete also served as a recruiting officer. He retired from the reserves in 1975.

After retiring from the Marine Corps, Pete worked twenty years for the Coca-Cola operations in Gulfport. During that time, Pete was elected to the Bay St. Louis City Council, serving from 1977 to 1981.

Pete met his wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Beyer, when she was in high school and he had returned to Bay St. Louis after World War II ended. Pete had seen her at the post office one evening and wanted to get to know her. A little detective work led to the discovery that she was a friend and neighbor of one of his classmates.

Wasting no time, Pete called her to make a date. Betty accepted the invitation, promptly got a case of the mumps, and was forced to cancel what would have been their first date.

Undeterred by this temporary setback, Pete dated Betty dated throughout her high school years. On dates, Pete and Betty often walked to the movies—either the Star Movie Theatre at the end of Washington Street or the A&G, on State Street. Sometimes they double dated with friends who had a car.

Pete and Betty married September 16, 1948. They remained married until Betty passed away September 4, 2013.

“I did the right thing before we married,” Pete recalls. “I talked to Betty’s father and asked for her hand. He said ‘No.’ But we got married anyhow at Our Lady of the Gulf.”

Pete and Betty had eight children, six boys and two girls. The family moved several times during Pete’s service with the Marine Corps. By 1964, the family moved back to Bay St. Louis permanently.

Thanks to the professions his children have pursued, Pete has a wealth of legal and accounting talent at his fingertips. His oldest son, Peter, Jr., practices law in California and his third son, Steve, practices in Bay St. Louis. His second son, Charles “Chuck” Benvenutti, chose a career in accounting. He, too, lives in Bay St. Louis.

Pete’s fourth born, Mike, owns an electrical repair service business in Gulfport. Three of his children—Patrick, Mary Kay and Ned—work together in their own business—Bay Motor Winding in Long Beach. Mary Beth, Pete’s younger daughter, is business manager for Alameda Community College in California.

When Pete was growing up in Bay St. Louis in the 1940s, fewer than 5000 people lived here. Ulman Avenue was then Highway 90, ending at a wooden bridge that traversed the Bay. He remembers a lady called Miss Kenny, whom he credits with first selling her homemade pralines to the general public. Miss Kenny hired a man to stand at the head of the wooden bridge across the Bay and sell pralines to the carloads of people going east.

It wasn’t long before the motoring public expected to find the pecan and sugar delicacy on their way through Bay St. Louis. Not to mention the white lightning. It was no secret that Bay St. Louis had a lot more to offer than candy.

At age 90, Pete enjoys watching the world go by from his front porch on Felicity Street. He’s a regular at the Bay St. Louis Yacht Club and probably knows more about what’s happening in town than most.

He recalls that his proudest moment in life “was when I became a father.” Pete continues: “I am proud that I had a wonderful wife and have a great family.” He now counts in his growing family eighteen grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.

Happily for Bay St. Louis, it looks like the Benvenutti family is here to stay.

Arts Alive - June 2015

6/1/2015

4th Sunday at Four

A celebration of the arts in a striking venue - Christ Episcopal Church. Find out how why this free series of concerts and fine art shows is growing in popularity each year.
- photos and story by Ellis Anderson

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One of the most popular music and arts events on the coast actually had its beginnings in Kansas City.

Margene Dawson, long-time coordinator for the 4th Sunday at Four at Christ Episcopal Church in Bay St. Louis explains how the hit series traveled south.

Margene and her husband, Father Ted Dawson, spent several years in Kansas City, helping a small mission church become a full-fledged parish. The city is renowned for its enormous art festivals.

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Yet some of the artists who had helped found the festivals found themselves out in the cold as the competition for booth spaces became fierce. The Dawsons and several church volunteers launched 4th Sundays to give venues to local artists and performers.

Flash forward to 2011. The new Christ Church building, replacing the one destroyed by Katrina, had been sanctified. Yet the church vestry wanted the spacious facility to be used for community events, as well as congregational ones. The Dawsons, who had been attending the church for several years, shared their Kansas City 4th Sunday experience. The concept was met with enthusiasm. The first event took place in January 2011, making 2015 the fifth year of the series.

Ted and Margene Dawson

The concerts and art shows offered at the 4th Sunday at Four series are free and open to the public. Everyone is welcome.

The event begins with a musical performance in the sanctuary starting at 4pm. Favorite past performers include Coast Chorale (a Christmas tradition), Laura Leigh Dobson, J.T. Anglin, Walter Chamberlin’s jazz ensemble, and Father Ron & Friends (who just performed in May). Other much appreciated performers have been the N.O. Quarter Shanty Krewe (who performed Irish Sea Chanties) and Heather and the Monkey King.

The musical programs range from classical to folk to jazz. The performers are paid only what the audience donates as they’re leaving. But Margene says that people are generous, so it works out well for both performers and the audience. She also says performers love the venue – the building is lovely and uplifting, while the audiences are quiet, attentive and appreciative.

After the one-hour performance, the crowds stream across to the community hall next door. The large room is set up like a gallery each month, to showcase everything from photography to paintings to pottery. All the artwork is for sale and since refreshments and hors d’oeuvres are served, the affair takes on the feel of a swank big city gallery opening.

The artists keep all the proceeds from the sales – the church doesn’t collect any commission.
Artists with coast-wide reputations that have shown at the series include Tazewell, Kat Fitzpatrick, Lori Gordon and Neil Untersaher. Watercolorist John McDonald was the featured artist for the May event.

As the reputation of the series spreads, attendances have been building. Margene says they're at least double what they were five years ago.

4th Sunday at Four take place nine months a year. April is skipped because of Easter activities, while school openings and the heat in August and September combine to make the events difficult to coordinate.

“The only way I’d do it in August is if we could get Neil Diamond,” Margene says, laughing.

Growing Up Downtown - June 2015

6/1/2015

Up Main and Down Second

Continuing the tour of what is now the Bay St. Louis Historic District, step into the past for a stroll down Main Street.
- by Pat Murphy

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This photo was taken from the top of the Hancock County Court House looking towards the intersection of Main & Second. (Photo Hancock Historical Society)

The first block of Main Street in my youth had almost every type of business, from Hancock Bank to Kern’s Five & Dime Store, Mississippi Power Company, Magnolia State Building Supply, Bobbi Ann Bakery, Bressler’s Café, Dantagnan Realty, Peoples Federal/Treutel Insurance, Jitney Jungle Food Store and of course, the Hancock County Court House - with all of the lawyers' offices that accompanied it. My grandfather’s store stood at 126 Main directly across from the Masonic Temple building.

Main Street was still paved with red bricks. This brick paving extended from Beach Boulevard to at least St. Francis Street and probably further. This beautiful old brick paved street was dug up and destroyed when the city ran sewer lines throughout the city in the mid sixties. Progress, I suppose, but those old brick streets were really something.

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Magnolia State Building Supply which was originally founded by the Gex family and stood right behind Henry Osoinach’s new Bay Mercantile building at the corner of Main and North Beach. Before Mr. Osoinach built the building, there had been a Standard Oil gas station in this location. Originally the Magnolia State building had been the location of the Edwards Ford Agency.

My friend Carey Phillips and I used to hang out and play up in the lumber racks because Carey’s grandfather, Mr. Hippo Phillips, was one of the co-owners. Mr. Hippo had married into the Gex family, but his first wife, Weena Gex Phillips, had died and Mr. Hippo remarried. We could usually get free nails and scrap lumber to build stuff with whenever we needed it from Mr. Hippo.

Behind the Hancock Bank (in the building that is joined to the bank) was the post office, before a newer one was built down the street in the mid-1930s. When I was a child, the next building behind this was Hancock Insurance. At one time, this building was also the location of the W.L. Bourgeois Grocery Store and later Supertane Gas Company, run by several of Mr. Bourgeois’ sons. Mr. Pete Benvenutti told me that there was a big old house located where the bank parking lot is now. That was the home of the W.L. Bourgeois family.

In my early years there was an old two-story wooden house next door to Magnolia State and a small brick building that housed Treutel Insurance. Dr. Ollo Mollere, a dentist had his office in the wooden house. Mr. Pete remembers that in earlier years, a Doctor Ward lived in this house and had his office in the little brick building next door. The house caught fire about 1960 and was torn down. Doctor Mollere built a modern white brick office building with a parking lot in front on Main Street. This building still stands and later housed Carol and Mary’s Old Town Cafe, and more recently, Gabby’s bar. The little brick building between the old house and the Masonic Temple that had been Dr. Ward’s office also once served as an appliance repair shop run by Earl Raymond before he built a new building further down Main Street.

The 126 Main Street location of my grandfather’s building originally had an old shotgun type house. Mr. Buster Heitzmann told me that at one time the grandfather (Papa Joe) of Joe and Rudy Labat ran an alteration, cleaning, and pressing business out of this house. Cornelius Ladner, an attorney acquired this property and my grandfather purchased it from him in about 1952. One of the terms of the sale was that my grandfather allow Mr. Ladner to build his law office onto the side of my grandfather’s building. My grandfather’s building at 126 Main Street still stands today and most recently housed Serenity Gallery and now Maggie May’s.

Across the street from my grandfather’s store, Stevenson Electric, was the Masonic Temple. This was Bay St. Louis’s answer to a skyscraper. At three stories it was about the tallest building in Bay St. Louis (now it seems that every bar being built on Beach Boulevard is three stories high!). When I was a youngster, Mississippi Power Company was located downstairs in one side of this building and Peoples Federal Savings and Loan was on the other side. The Masons had their meetings upstairs on the third floor of the building.

Kern’s Dime Store was like a F.W.Woolworth’s or McCrory’s and sold everything from fabric to toys and household items. I used to love hanging out in there. I bought the first Beatles album there and they had a pretty good stock of model cars and airplanes. This business was acquired in 1942 by the Kern family. Before Kern’s the business was known as B & F 5 &10 Store (Baxter & Fasterling). The (Papa Tony) Benvenutti family ran a plumbing business and supply (Bay Plumbing) before that in this building.

There was an old home that stood between Kern’s Dime Store and the Post Office where the parking lot is now located next to Bay Books and Serious Bread Company. This home belonged to a lady named Ms. Mame Parillo.

One of the really cool things about hanging out at my Grandfather’s store was that most anytime I needed fifty cents or a buck I could generally get it from Grandpa George if I went through the motions of sweeping off the sidewalk at the entrance to the store. After the sidewalk sweeping, I’d take off down the street to Bressler’s Café or The Bobbi Anne Bakery to spend my earnings.

Between my grandfather’s business and the Bobbi Anne Bakery there were three houses. The house next door belonged to Dutch and Vee Manieri who ran Maneiri’s Restaurant. After Hurricane Camille destroyed their building on the beach, the Manieri sisters reopened the restaurant in this house but it was never the same and the restaurant closed within a couple of years. The house next door belonged to the Tudury sisters (more on them in the chapter concerning the picture shows). The next house belonged to Ms. Lizana who was Ms. Totti Jacobi’s mother.

All the kids used to love to hang out at The Bobbi Anne Bakery. The Bobbi Anne was the home of great French bread, donuts, cinnamon rolls, cream pies, chocolate pies, cream puffs and anise cookies as well. Mr. Lawrence and Ms.Totti Jacobi were the proprietors and were always really nice to us kids. It probably had something to do with the fact that they also were raising a house full of kids that ran up and down Main Street. I know of many families that had the tradition of driving to The Bobbi Anne to buy hot French bread right out of the oven on Saturday night around 10:30 PM. What a treat that was!! When the bakery finally closed its doors, there was a joke circulating about “lost souls” wandering up and down Main Street on Saturday night searching for hot French bread."

My other favorite hangout on Main Street was right next door to The Bobbi Anne in a two story building. Bressler’s Café was run by Mr. Tom Bressler. Mr. Tom had great poboys, hamburgers, blue plate specials, pinball machines (that paid off) and a great juke box. I spent a lot of time at Tom Bressler’s also. Mr. Pete Benvenutti told me that at some point before Bressler’s opened, the Quintini family operated a meat market downstairs and lived upstairs in this building. Sometime in the early nineteen sixties, attorney Bill Frisbie bought the property, tore down the old building and built a new modern red brick office in this location. Mr. Tom Bressler relocated the café over on South Beach Boulevard in the duplex next to Mr. Eddie Marquez’s bar. This would have been around 1962.

On the other side of Mr. Frisbie’s office was the E.J. Gex building. This was a beautiful two story turn of the century building. Unfortunately this building was bulldozed by the owners with very little damage after Katrina. The next building had been the office of attorney Robert Genin, Sr. Now it is occupied by architect Ed Wikoff.

On the corner of Main and Gex Street was Jeanette Carmichael’s home and business, Carmichael Real Estate. Ms. Carmichael was an elderly lady and at one time had a pet monkey that escaped and attacked Mr. Pete Benvenutti’s sister, Lucille, as she was walking to school and the animal was shot by the police!! Ms. Carmichael also published a small - and apparently somewhat - controversial newspaper named The Light.

[Editor's Note: If anyone has a copy of "The Light," please contact Ellis Anderson at ellisanderson@bellsouth.net]

Dan and Edith Dantagnan

The Post Office was directly across the street from The Bobbi Anne Bakery. There were always folks coming and going from the post office at all times of the day. The First Baptist Church was next door to the post office on property where the old Tudury family home had stood. The Methodist Church was at the end of the block on the corner of Second Street across from the original Jitney Jungle. The office of Dantagnan Realty stood directly across from the court house in a little house and Dan Russell and Sam Farve’s law firm was right next door.

At the corner of Cue Street and Main in the block with the Methodist church, stood a two story building that I knew as the Methodist Church Sunday school building. This building had been around since the turn of the century and at various times housed The Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Maurigi the shoemaker and the original headquarters for Coast Electric Power Association. At one time one of the Maurigi family also ran a restaurant downstairs next to the shoemaker and the family lived upstairs. This historic old landmark eventually came to be owned by the Methodist church and was demolished to make way for a playground.

The beautiful old building that now houses Sycamore House was the old Mauffray home but it was not occupied when I was a child. The building was beautifully renovated in the late 1970s when The Landmark Restaurant opened in the old home. At the end of the block where the 220 Main Gallery is located, the building originally was reconstructed by Mr. Joe Scharff for his original grocery store. After Mr. Scharff constructed the Jitney Jungle at Main and Second, Mr. Joe Loicano ran a grocery store in this location. There also was a period of time when this building was an upholstery shop.

Across Toulme Street on the opposite corner from this building was Mr. Earl Raymond’s Appliance business. Mr. Earl Raymond and his wife lived just a couple of houses down from my parents’ home in the second block of Felicity Street. This building changed hands after Mr. Earl died and was renovated into what is now apartments.

The old Mauffray Home now serves as the Sycamore House Restaurant - photo by Ellis Anderson

Second Street

The beautiful old Bay Emporium on Second Street was originally The Woodsmen of the World Hall. The second floor of this building was a grand ballroom with the high stamped tin ceiling. The Sea Coast Echo office was once located in this building. (photo by Ellis Anderson)

When I was a child, Jerome’s Department Store occupied both corners on Main and Second across from the Methodist Church. The men’s department was in the old building on the north side of Main and the women’s and children’s department was on the south side of Main. This building previously had been The Boston Shoe Store, run by a man named Schiro.

Second Street had a number of businesses including Mr. Guy Bufkin’s Television and Appliance store. Originally Mr. Bufkin was located on the corner of Second and DeMontluzin. When Mr. Joe Scharff built a newer and larger Jitney Jungle food store, he bought Mr. Bufkin’s property. Bufkin moved his building to a piece of property closer to Main Street on Second right behind the old Jitney Jungle and built a new modern showroom on the front of the old building.

When Mr. Scharff built the new Jitney Jungle he also acquired and tore down The Promote Hall which stood on the corner of State and Second Street. The Promote Hall was a meeting hall for an African-American social aid and pleasure club. This old building was the site of many dances and musical minstrel shows, especially in the Dixieland Jazz era from about 1885 until around 1940. Promote Hall predated Bay St. Louis’ 100 Men Hall by almost 40 years because it was constructed in the eighteen 1880s. By the time Mr. Scharff tore it down; Promote Hall was vacant and had not been used for a number of years. Ames Kergoisen has told me several times that when he was a boy they used to trap pigeons inside of the abandoned old hall.

Mr. Manuel Maurigi ran a cobbler and shoe repair business in the little building in between Jerome’s Ladies and Children’s Department and the old Fayard home which is now The Mockingbird Cafe. Mr. Maurigi’s father started his cobbler’s business originally in the building at the corner of Cue Street and Main Street, that eventually would become the Methodist church Sunday school building.

The beautiful old Bay Emporium on Second Street was originally The Woodsmen of the World Hall. The second floor of this building was a grand ballroom with the high stamped tin ceiling. The Sea Coast Echo office was located in this building during my teenage years. Steve Wyatt’s mother taught ballroom dancing upstairs in the ballroom. My mother, in an effort to give me culture, I suppose, enrolled me with Mrs. Wyatt for ballroom dancing lessons.

Of course, past the cemetery and over the railroad tracks was the beautiful old Bay St. Louis city hall. The shoofly was not in existence at that time. Further down Second Street going the north, Dr. Leroy McFarland’s office was on the corner of DeMontluzin Street. I laugh when I think about Dr. McFarland and Doc Wolfe and the broad scope of their work. In those days, small town doctors like them did everything. There weren’t any specialists (at least in Bay St. Louis) so these doctors did it all - from setting broken bones and delivering babies to minor surgeries. They were it!!

Steve Benvenutti’s law office and Dr. Bert Keel, the dentist’s office, now occupy Dr. McFarland’s old building. On the opposite corner, J.C. Shubert had a barber shop that he opened in the early 1960s. The building that Shubert built for his barber shop still stands and is partly occupied by The Ugly Pirate Bar.

Mertz’s Dry Cleaners was also located further down Second Street, right across from where St. George Street opens onto Second. At one time, the building that was occupied by Mertz Cleaners had been Gulf Coast Oil, a gas station and garage with a drive through awning across the front. This station was run by Louie Taconi who later moved over on Ulman Avenue (Highway 90) next door to Pete Porter’s Gulf Station.

It is my understanding that Mr. Joe Burrows ran this cleaning business before he went to work for Merchant’s Bank and Trust. Mr.Burrows son, Billy, and his wife later opened Burrows Cleaners on Highway 90 around 1964. The other half of the highway 90 cleaners building was the location of Bay St. Louis’ first Pizza Parlor, Missile Pizza.

Some of these businesses that are no longer around are so fresh in my mind that I can still vividly picture them. Some of the others, like Mertz’s Dry Cleaners and Missile Pizza had totally slipped my mind until someone recently mentioned the businesses in conversation. I had not thought about them in many, many years.

photo by Ellis Anderson

Beach to Bayou - June 2015

6/1/2015

A Fisherman's Dream on Washington & Third

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A new tackle shop owned by an experienced fisherman opens just a few blocks from some of the best fishing piers on the Mississippi Coast. Meet Billy Ray Sanders.
- photos and story by Ellis Anderson

Missy and Mindy are serious anglers. On weekend afternoons, the twin sisters often head out to the new Jimmy Ruthorford pier, sometimes staying until midnight. They’re about to purchase some plastic white shrimp lures. The name on the package implies that fish will become zombies at the sight of the ghost-like rubbery baits, snapping them up within seconds of hitting the water.

“Nope,” says Billy Ray Sanders, walking over. “The whites aren’t doing well right now. The fish just aren’t biting them. What’s catching fish right now are the pinks and chartreuse.”

The girls are grateful for the advice and end up choosing some pinks. They pick out several other items, they probably don’t immediately need because they’re thrilled to have a real tackle shop in the neighborhood. Also, it’s the first day of business for the store and they want Billy Ray to know they’ll be loyal customers.

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Mindy Feverston and Missy Moore were some of Billy Ray's first customers on opening day at the tackle shop

The twins are likely the first of many. If the location, location, location mantra proves true, there’s no way this business can fail. It’s situated on the corner of Washington Street and Blaize Ave (Blaize changes names to Third St. on the Waveland side of that intersection), only two blocks from the Washington Street pier and boat launch. The new Bay St. Louis harbor and the adjacent fishing pier are just several blocks beyond. There’s plenty of off-street parking and the building itself looks cheerful and well-kept.

Inside, walls and shelves are lined with lures, nets, hooks and lines. Dozens of rods stand in racks, while reels glint alluringly from glass cases. While Sanders carries some items found in big box stores, he stocks specialty tackle, rods and reels that can’t be found elsewhere locally. Okuma and Shimano and Penn are a few of the brands that he carries. Sanders will also stock someone’s favorite lure. All they have to do is ask.

Flounder lights are made in the store. They’re durable LED lights encased in an aluminum water-safe housing.

“All our lights are repairable,” Sanders says. “If they have a problem, they can come back to me and not have to ship them off.”

Currently, the tackle shop stocks frozen bait and may soon be offering live bait as well. Ice is available in either ten or twenty pound bags, and snacks and soft drinks will keep fishermen happy if the fish aren’t biting.

But probably one of the main draws for local anglers will be Billy Ray’s advice.

He’s been a serious fisherman since he moved over to Hancock County from New Orleans in 1981.

When asked how he became a go-to guy for fishing information, he points to forty years experience.

“I fish, that’s the authority,” he says, smiling. “I fish all week. If I can’t sleep at night, I walk down to the pier and fish. If I wake up too early, I get up and go down to the pier and fish. I’m in my boat too, at least once a week.”

“I tell people, advice is free. Don’t think you need to buy something to come in here to ask me a question. That’s not how it works. You can ask me anything, whether you’re an experienced fisherman and have questions about local fishing or if you’re trying to learn how to fish for the first time. “

And fisherfolk have plenty of opportunities to stop in and ask: the Tackle Shop is open every day but Sunday, from 7am – 6pm. The shop phone is 228.220.7114

The Town Green - June 2015

6/1/2015

A honeybee hive on the rooftop of an Old Town restaurant? Yep! Find out how hive hosting is good for the community, the food chain and makes for good family fun!
- photos and story by Ellis Anderson

Bee Here Now! The New Trend in Hive Hosting

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Josh Reeves holds a tray writhing with hundreds of live bees right up to his face, apparently unconcerned that the whole swarm might fly up and cover his unprotected head with stings.

He’s scanning the moving mass of insects, looking for the queen. She’s amber and larger than the other bees, and thankfully, bred for non-violent behavior – which is good for Josh, since the rest of the hive follow her lead.

Finally, Josh spots the queen, on the fourth “frame” he pulls out. He’s pleased to see her looking healthy and clean. This completes his inspection. This new hive, mounted on the back roof of the Starfish Café in Bay St. Louis, is thriving.

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That’s not the case with many hives across the country today. Josh says that nearly a third of bee hives in the U.S. die off each year. Pesticides, bee predators and fungi are chief among the identified culprits, but the high rate of mortality remains somewhat of a mystery.

The high rate of loss makes beekeeping a risky profession these days, but Josh Reeves is undeterred. He and his father-in-law, Jim Huk, began their company just last year. J&J Bees and Trees focuses on raising citrus trees and honeybees. The two currently own and manage about 25 hives. They’re hoping to double the number of hives each year and eventually provide local honey on a small scale.

One arm of their business is neighborhood hive hosting. Most of the country’s 2.4 million domesticated bee colonies are utilized in agriculture for pollination purposes. Bees pollinate one out of every three bites of food we eat, making a $14.6 billion impact on agricultural harvests. But it’s a growing trend for homeowners in cities or suburbs to host bee hives.

Here’s how it works. For a set annual fee, Josh Reeves will set up and maintain a honeybee hive at someone’s home or business. The property doesn’t even have to be large or rural, it simply has to be bee-friendly. The Starfish Café is a case in point. It’s in the middle of Old Town, and the hive, since it’s mounted on the roof, takes up no yard space.

Josh finds the queen

Find J&J's Bees & Trees on Facebook or call (228) 363-3490

The hive hosters benefit in several ways. They receive a portion of the honey harvested each year (although there’s not much of a harvest the first year while the hive is getting established). Hosters don’t have to care for the hives. Josh checks in periodically to make sure all is well. The host family has the satisfaction that they’re giving pollinators a place to call home – and increasing the production of their neighbors' vegetable gardens. Or their own. Di Fillhart, owner of the Starfish Café, noted a huge uptick in the production of the restaurant’s vegetable garden since the bees moved in.

Josh’s passion for bees began after he retired from the military and he and his wife, Jinny, bought a small farm in Ohio. The couple raised goats, chickens and pigs, in addition to raising much of their own food. In nearby Medina, Ohio, the A.I. Root company offered beekeeping workshops and Josh signed up for a few classes. Root is a candle company now, but used to be one of the country’s foremost suppliers of bee-keeping equipment and is still involved by providing educational resources for beekeepers.

Reeves was smitten with the hard-working insects and kept hives for the next five years. When the family relocated back to the Mississippi coast in 2014, they decided to create a company based on their passions and their values.

Their mission statement (below) expresses the goals of the Reeves’s lives and their company. They want to bring families together. They want to educate the community about bees. They want to introduce others to what Josh calls the Gee Whiz factor, the joy and amazement that comes from living in harmony with nature.

The day the Cleaver photographs Josh checking on the Starfish hive, he begins by lighting some straw in a special smoker device. It looks sort of like a little watering can with bellows. Once the straw is smoking, he directs a few puffs of it into the hive from the bottom, where the bees are coming and going.

It doesn’t take much to calm the bees. He waits a few minutes, then moves calmly to open the hive from the top. He’s dressed only in jeans and a t-shirt, not the bee-keeping space suit that’s usually seen in cartoons and movies. Once he’s opened up the hive, he begins pulling out the vertically stacked trays that the bees build their honeycombs on. He holds them by the wooden edges since both faces of the trays are covered by bees busily stuffing nectar into little cells.

Reeves explains that since the queen dictates the temperament of the hive, “gentle” ones - those who don’t seem to be unduly angered by human interaction - are bred. That’s why most domesticated honey bees are not as aggressive as legend suggests.

After he makes sure the queen is thriving and no pests have crashed the party (mites and fungi are the main threats in this part of the country), he reassembles the hive. A few minutes later, the beekeeper climbs down from the roof without a single sting to mark the experience.

In the future, Reeves is hoping to make the hive openings at the Starfish educational events open to anyone who wants to learn more about honeybees (contact the Starfish to find out Reeve’s next scheduled visit). It’s the perfect family summertime outing, sure to keep kids “buzzing” for days. Since the Starfish hive is on the roof, observers have a great view from below. It’s safely out of angry bee distance in case someone’s afraid the queen might be having a grumpy day.

The Starfish hive is just one of several J&J hives hosted in the area. The word’s getting out and more people are calling Josh daily to inquire about getting into the program. Why the surge in interest?

“I’ve talked to so many older people whose father or grandfather raised bees,” says Josh. “They remember it from their childhood. Of course the younger kids haven’t had that experience, but what kid doesn’t like a bug? When you can take a male bee – the kind without a stinger - and put it in a child’s hands, it’s neat to see what happens. It’s really easy to bridge a generational gap with honey bees.”

J&J Bee’s and Trees is more than just honey. It is impacting the community through education, family and making our environment more vibrant and wholesome. It starts in your backyard and spreads throughout the world.

Find J&J's Bees & Trees on Facebook or call (228) 363-3490

J&J's Mission Statement

Upcoming Events - June 2015

6/1/2015

Full Tilt Boogie Summer

Our community calendar is groaning with events, who says that small towns are sleepy?

This month our Top Ten Event picks will take you from McLeod Water Park for an antique care show to the Bay Harbor to carouse with Pirates. In between, chill out with a Midsummer's Night concert on the grounds of the Depot. Finish up with Crab Fest and a USA Today Fireworks Extravaganza in Waveland. Fair winds ahead!

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6/4 - Thursday

There is no cost to participate.
Enjoy your favorite beer after the race.
*Buy your first beer,
enjoy your second one Free!
*One Free beer per participant, please

Fun Run 7pm at Mockingbird
110 S. Second St
Bay Saint Louis
Registration begins at 5:30 PM,
Fun Run starts at 6 PM.
(Times may change seasonally.)

6/12 - 6/13 - Friday & Saturday

McLeod Park BBS Cook-Off & Classic Car Show
McLeod State Park
8100 Texas Flat Rd
Kiln MS
11am - 6pm Saturday

Friday night 6pm - Fish Fry
Friday night 7pm - Cornhole Tournament
Saturday hours 11am - 6pm
Cook-off food served 11am - 3pm Saturday
Live music and car show Saturday
Admission: Adults, $10, Children 6 - 12, $5
6 and under - Free

6/13 - Saturday

Note: this is a stock image and does not reflect items that will actually be for sale at this event

Boys & Girls Club Yard Sale
A benefit for Boys and Girls Club of the Gulf Coast - Hancock County Unit
310 Old Spanish Trail
8am - noon

Fun finds and great collectibles each year. Spend to your heart's content because the money's going to help fund one of the most vital and important children's programs in Hancock county!

6/13 - Saturday

Second Saturday Artwalk
Old Town's lively all day
gallery openings, live music and shop specials from 4pm - 8pm

Hot Spots are Cappy's Point and the Rose Cottage. Live music.

If you're from some place else, you might expect an artwalk that's a hoity-toity affair. That's not us. This is a family-friendly, casual, meet your peeps on the street sort of thing. Even teenagers love it. Honest.

6/13 - Saturday

Bands featured on the LP are: Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Homemade Jamz Blues Band, Bill Howl-n-madd Perry, Marcia Ball, The New Orleans Upstarts, Little Freddie King and Pockit Tyme featuring Cornell Williams and Big D Perkins.

100 Men Hall LP Release Party
100 Men Hall
303 Union Street
Bay Saint Louis
Doors open at 7pm

The LP sells for $45 including out-of-state shipping and is available for preorder on our website www.100menhall.org. The LPs will be shipped after the release party on June 13. Doors open at 7 and tickets are $10.

There will be short presentation featuring speakers from the MS state tourism office and then the LP will be played. The House Katz will provide live music afterward. The Live at 100 Men Hall LP will be available for sale the night of the event.

6/19 - 6/20 - Friday & Saturday

Summer Solstice
Earth in full bloom…faeries…fireflies
SShh…….Wear White

Food and Beverages available
Bring your chairs and blankets and settle under the oaks at the Depot.
Or bring a picnic basket

Midsummer's Night Dream
The Depot DIstrict

Friday - 6/19
“Midsummer Magic” Gallery Opening
Elizabeth Veglia Studios
264 Washington (at Third Street)
6:30pm

Saturday - 6/20
Faerie Princess & Prince Pageant
Ages 1 - 12
$50 prizes, crowns, tiaras in 6 categories
Registration begins at 4:30pm
Pageant starts at 5pm

6pm - Sounds of Harpist Melodies in the Depot
Jessica Meltz – Back by Popular Demand

7pm-9pm - Sounds of Roman Street
Live Performance

6/25 - 6/27 - Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Pirate Day in the Bay
Various locations in Old Town
Costumes Encouraged!

Thursday Evening
6pm - 8pm: Patron's Party
Krewe Central, 111 Main St., Bay St. Louis
“Party with the Pirates” (Advanced Tickets: $20 – members, $25 – non-members) (Day of: $25 – members, $30 – non-members). Purchase advance tickets here.

Friday Evening
5:30: Pirates arrive at the Harbor, capture the mayor and the city and pirate colors are raised over the Bay St. Louis.

5:30 - 6:30: Live Music, 111 Main

6pm - 9pm: Pirate’s Pub Crawl to 10 bars in Old Town – Look for the Pirate Krewe Flags! (Advanced Tickets: $20 – members | $25 – non-members) (Day of: $25 – members | $30 – non-members). Purchase advance tickets here.

9pm: 111 Main Street
Captain Long Beard’s Pirate’s Proclamation: "Destroy the City” (Captain Long Beard continues the “Pirate’s Pub Crawl” after his proclamation.) Event closes at 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, 10am - 10pm
10:30am - 4pm: Off beach rendezvous for boaters
11am - 1pm: DJ at 111 Main Street
4pm: Pirates arrive at harbor
5pm: Captain Long Beard’s meeting with Laffite Brothers and Royalty from the Krewe of Nereids at Bay Town Inn (208 N. Beach, across from Harbor)
5:30pm: Pirates' Parade from DeMontluzin to Buoy's Bar
6pm: “Captain Long Beard is Captured” and jailed by Mayor and townsfolk. Corner of N. Beach and Main St.
6Pm - 9pm: The reenactment continues with live music, culminating with a proclamation from the mayor.
9pm - 10pm: Fireworks show by Mystic Krewe of the Sea Horse and the Silver Slipper Casino

6/26 - Friday

Mr. Atticus's Night Market & Opening Next Door at Smith&Lens

The dynamic duo of Old Town - The Mockingbird Cafe and Smith&Lens Gallery team up the last Friday night of each month to jump start the weekend.

This month, Smith & Lens will be hosting an opening reception for artist David Harrison, while various artists and artisans will show wares at the 'Bird to the sounds of live music. Musicians vary from month to month, but they're always excellent.

6/28 - Sunday

Artist: Joe Scott is a modern-day blacksmith and the owner of Eleven Oakes Forge in Pass Christian, where he makes interior and exterior railings, Charleston-style gates, tables, mailboxes, pot racks and other items. He has been working the forge since 2002.

4th Sunday at Four
Christ Episcopal Church
912 South Beach Blvd
Bay Saint Louis
Starts 4pm

This performing and visual arts double-header is always delightful and always free. The June show features Jessica Nicole Gordon and Joe Scott.

Performance: Jessica Nicole Gordon is a New Orleans native and frequent Bay St. Louis visitor. She is happy to be returning to 4th Sunday at 4 after having the privilege of performing the June concert in 2012. She has performed in various shows in both New Orleans and New York.

7/3 - 7/5 - Friday, Saturday & Sunday

30th Annual OLG Crab Fest
Our Lady of the Gulf
228 South Beach Blvd
Bay Saint Louis
10am - 10pm all three days

One of the most beloved family festivals on the Gulf Coast, this event offers seafood, rides, crafter booths, live music, and raffles.
It's always a joy to go, no matter how hot it is! And you're bound to run into folks you know, even if you're visiting from out of town!

Watch here for more details on the USA Today "Red, White, and You" Celebration in Waveland on July 4th! Read more about it here!

Bay Bride - June 2015

6/1/2015

A romantic B&B in the heart of Old Town provides the perfect setting for a sweet ceremony and memorable reception.

April 11, 2015

Noel Nadine Nami & Charles Edward Lizana

Bay Reads - June 20`15

6/1/2015

Indie Bookstores the Mark of Vibrant Towns

This month, a look at the qualities of independent bookstores - which are making a comeback across the country - and on the coast!
- by Carole McKellar

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Best-Selling author Greg Iles at a book signing event at Pass Books

Books have excited me since childhood, so bookstores and libraries are high on my list of favorite places. I feel the thrill of possibility when I walk into a bookstore. I admit I’m immoderate when buying books, but a house filled with them just feels like home. This month I’d like to discuss bookstores.

Independent bookstores fight for market share. Their total demise was predicted over a decade ago, The big box bookstores and online giants seemed poised to annihilate small, locally owned shops. Do you remember the finale of the movie, ‘You’ve Got Mail’? Meg Ryan lost her lovely little book shop to Tom Hanks’ megastore, but she managed to fall in love with him. Real life has not always offered that consolation to booksellers.

Encouragingly, the American Booksellers Association reports that the number of independent bookstore in the U.S. has grown by 19.3 percent since 2009. However, the current total is slightly less than half the number at its peak in the 1990s. Recent gains are partly due to the ‘shop local’ movement, but the advantages of independent bookshops are real and numerous.

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Local Author Events

Cat in the Stacks author to speak at Library program
The Cat in the Stacks author, Dean James (pen name Miranda James), will be the speaker at the next Authors & Characters @ Your Library program Tuesday, June 2 at 11:45 a.m. at the Bay St. Louis-Hancock County Library. Lunch is available for $10 payable at the door. Reservations required. Call 467-5282 to hold your spot.

Mississippi Moonshine Politics by Janice Branch Tracy
Bay Books
Saturday, June 6th
12-2
131 Main Street
Bay Saint Louis
228-463-2688

Independent bookstores are usually owned and operated by people who are passionate about books. They find book selections to suit every taste and make informed suggestions to customers. They enrich their community by hosting book clubs and author events. Local bookstore owners are actively engaged in our community and support the local economy.

Browsing small, intimate bookshops is satisfying on several levels. They are generally warm and inviting visually. Books are colorful and artistic. Reading the synopsis and reviews on the dust jackets promises riches within. Holding books in your hands invites you to participate in something that has enthralled humans for hundreds of years. It is impossible to have the same experience visually and tactilely surfing the web.

Arts Alive Literary contest in Bay Books

When I travel, I seek out bookstores and tend to judge communities by the quality of their independent bookshops. We on the Mississippi Gulf Coast are fortunate to have Bay Books on Main Street, Bay St. Louis, Pass Books on Scenic Drive in Pass Christian, and Southern Bound Book Shop in Biloxi. All of them help make our communities unique and thereby richer.

Mississippi has two bookstores that regularly gain national attention. Lemuria in Jackson is one of the finest bookstores I’ve ever been in. Square Books in Oxford is a ‘must’ for Oxford visitors. Nearby New Orleans has three independents that are regular stops for me. In addition, the French Quarter has three used book shops that are treasures. To find their names and others in each state, go to www.newpages.com or www.indiebound.org.

Successful small businesses make vibrant towns. Shop our independent bookstores to keep dollars and this valuable service in our community. Our local bookstores deserve our support because they enrich all of our lives.

Jeff Kinney, author of the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series, is opening a bookstore. “If one kid’s life is changed because of this bookstore, then the whole thing was worth it,” he says.

Shared History - June 2015

6/1/2015

The pride and delight of the Bay St. Louis community, the Train Depot continues as a monument to the legacy of daily life and transportation in the 1800s and 1900s, and a gathering place for all.
- by Karen Fineran

The Fabulous Depot District

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To see more video shorts of life along the Hancock County Scenic Byways,click here!

The Sunset Limited line is one of America’s oldest passenger train routes, and was formerly North America’s only transcontinental Coast to Coast train, spanning from Los Angeles to Orlando, Florida. Originally developed by the Southern Pacific Railroad in the nineteenth century, the route spanned the Sun Belt, connecting New Orleans, Louisiana to Los Angeles, California. The name Sunset Limited dates to 1874 (Southern Pacific Lines had published a magazine called Sunset, extolling the virtues of the West, to entice Americans to travel to California by train).

Construction of the Mobile to New Orleans railroad line began in 1867 and was completed in 1870, and L&N opened the original Bay St. Louis train depot for business in 1876. Bay St. Louis functioned as a major transportation hub along the Sunset Limited; other popular stops included Waveland, Gulfport, Biloxi, Ocean Springs and Pascagoula.

The BSL Train Depot was the stopping or starting point for many commuters, day workers, freight transport, and New Orleans families enjoying weekend or day outings in tranquil Bay St. Louis. The fare for a round trip in 1871 between Bay St. Louis and New Orleans was just $2.25.

In the early twentieth century, the BSL Train Depot was the center of activity for the town of Bay St. Louis. Goods that were shuttled between New Orleans and Bay St. Louis included racing pigeons, eggs and produce. Vendors at the BSL Depot hawked fried oysters, pralines and sandwiches to weary and sometimes overheated passengers (there were no fans or air conditioning on the trains).

At that time, as in the rest of society, segregation on the railroads was a fact of life. Railroads operating in Mississippi were required to have at least two passenger cars per train to separate black and white passengers, or divide the passenger cars by a partition to separate black from white passengers. The train passengers were not permitted to unnecessarily pass through the cars or compartments provided for the other race, or use the toilets or closets provided for the other race. The Train Depot was separated at that time into two sides, so that black and white passengers could buy their tickets and wait for the train in separate areas.

By 1926, the Chamber of Commerce and the L&N Railroad were in negotiations to replace the original aging Train Depot. Before action could be taken, the older wooden structure was destroyed by fire in 1928. Its replacement, an 8,000 square foot two-story Spanish colonial revival building, with its recessed and decorated entry portals and arched windows, was completed and dedicated in 1929.

The BSL Train Depot has been the site of some famous visits and events. According to the Hancock County Historical Society, actress Sarah Bernhardt in 1888 or 1889 got stranded in Bay St. Louis after the mail train she was on to New Orleans lost a section of wheel into the Bay while crossing the Bay Bridge.

Apparently, this was not the first time that Sarah Bernhardt was reported to have had a misadventure in Bay St. Louis. According to Patricia Marks’ 2003 book Sarah Bernhardt’s First American Theatrical Tour 1880-1881, Bernhardt’s journey to New Orleans for her first American tour was marked by a harrowing experience on the train crossing the Bay Bridge. The train that she was on approached a decrepit and crumbling railroad bridge crossing the Bay of St. Louis. When the engineer refused to move the train over the railroad bridge, Bernhardt bribed him with $2,500 to press forward. “As the engineer hurtled across the bridge, Bernhardt watched it crash to pieces behind them. From then on, she confessed, she was troubled by nightmares at her temerity at risking the lives of so many people.”

In 1965, the movie “This Property Is Condemned” was filmed using the Depot and surrounding areas, including the Bay St. Louis Little Theater across the street, as the backdrop for the movie. That film was directed by Sydney Pollack and starred Robert Redford, Natalie Wood, and Charles Bronson.

Shortly after the movie was filmed, the daily commuter service was discontinued, as the automobile by then had become the primary mode of transportation. While freight service continued, regular passenger service did not begin again until the 1990s. Amtrak began regular stops again in 1993. Also, in 1993, Amtrak extended the Sunset Limited to the east, through Mississippi and Alabama to Jacksonville and Orlando, Florida.

In 1991, Bay St. Louis purchased the building and surrounding property from CSX and began the redevelopment of the Depot District The restoration of the Train Depot and grounds were completed in 1996.

However, Amtrak service on the Sunset Limited was ground to a halt for a time by the devastation of the rail lines by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Though the BSL Train Depot underwent a complete exterior and interior renovation after its severe damage by Hurricane Katrina, sadly, the L&N Depot is no longer in use. Following Katrina, the portion of the Sunset Limited route between Florida and New Orleans was “suspended” and has not been restarted. Effectively, the route has been severed.

Half of the line still operates several days a week west of New Orleans, and the eastern half does not operate at all. Although Amtrak apparently completed its track and signal work in the first couple of years after Katrina, it is unknown whether Amtrak will ever find it profitable enough to resume operations between Florida and New Orleans. (In 2012, representatives from municipalities across the Gulf Coast attended a passenger rail summit with Amtrak to examine how rail service might be restarted). Perhaps, one day, at least the original route between Mobile and New Orleans could be resumed, and the Bay St. Louis Train Depot and its historic coastal companions could be open for business again.

Loved by locals, admired by visitors, the Mission-style building at 1928 Depot Way in Bay St. Louis is one of the town’s greatest treasures. With its beautifully landscaped park setting with live oak trees, picnic tables, benches, a walking path, and a nearby duck pond, and the assortment of interesting museums and exhibits inside, the Train Depot provides a tranquil place to contemplate the history of Bay St. Louis. It is also a popular setting for local festivals, and frequent public and private events.

The history of the L&N Historic Train Depot is the history of the L&N (Louisville & Nashville) Railroad Line’s former Sunset Limited railroad line, and in particular the 140-mile section running between Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana (known as “the Railroad that Walks on Water”).

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After its total refurbishment after Hurricane Katrina, the Train Depot was reopened in 2011. The building and its grounds are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition, the building was also listed in 1995 by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History as a Mississippi Landmark Property. Walking inside today is like getting a glimpse of the history of our fascinating community.

Now, the Depot has once again become a focal point for the town’s community gatherings, activities, meetings and festivals. The Depot is the home of the Hancock County Tourism Development Bureau, and is the official Visitor Center for Hancock County. The lower floor is home to the Mardi Gras Museum, displaying elaborate and colorful Mardi Gras costumes.

On the second floor, the Alice Moseley Museum provides a home for the works and life story of the nationally-acclaimed folk artist. The surrounding Depot District is alive and well too, with a number of outstanding restaurants and atmospheric bars within just a few minutes walk of the Train Depot.

This month, on June 20, the BSL Train Depot hosts the 4th Annual Midsummer Night’s Dream Festival, a special children’s event with a Renaissance theme. The Faerie Princess Pageant is open to boys and girls twelve years old and under, with a registration fee of $10 and awards and crowns in each age category. From 5 pm to 9 pm, a live harpist will play under the oak trees and an instrumental band also will take the stage. The public is invited to bring picnic baskets and blankets to spend an enjoyable evening outdoors. For more information, contact Event Coordinator Elizabeth Veglia at (228) 304-1333 or (228) 463-9222.

The pride and delight of the Bay St. Louis community, the Train Depot continues as a monument to the legacy of daily life and transportation in the 1800s and 1900s, and a gathering place for all.

Station House BSL - June 2015

6/1/2015

This month, Chief Pam San Fillippo gives us a rundown of essential fire-fighting training and equipment that our Bay Fire Department needs to save both lives and property.

What It Takes To Do the Job

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“What does it take to be a firefighter?” is a question we are asked quite often. Most people have no idea what is involved in becoming a firefighter or what it takes to provide everything needed to do the job. Consider that firefighters (and all of their gear, equipment and trucks) must be ready to go at a moment’s notice - “24/7/365” - and it actually takes quite a lot to make that happen. Mostly, it takes a lot of training, equipment, time... and a lot of money. Here are some typical costs involved in getting a firefighter ready for a day on the job:

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Training: New recruits must complete a seven-week basic training course at the state fire academy within one year of hire. Tuition and related expenses will cost at least $2,000.00. After this training (since firefighters are called to almost every emergency you can imagine) they spend their careers in continuing training for emergencies that are too numerous to list. Chemical leaks or fires, medical and trauma emergencies, vehicle extrication, high-angle rescue, fire investigations, fire prevention, and of course structural and vehicle firefighting are a few examples.

Fire departments must continue learning new techniques and purchasing different equipment to manage emergencies in a world that changes almost daily, Everything from hybrid vehicles to deadly street drugs to acts of terrorism are the new dangers of modern firefighting that were unheard of not so long ago.

Protective Gear: Firefighters can’t go into burning buildings or work around torn metal at vehicle accidents without very specialized clothing. Outfitting a firefighter with a few uniforms and a set of custom-fit firefighting gear (helmet, coat, pants, boots, hood and gloves) carries a price tag of about $3,000.00. As the clothing ages and loses the ability to protect the firefighter it must be replaced, usually every 5 to 10 years - or immediately if it becomes damaged.

Breathing Protection: In order to work in superheated air and toxic gasses, special clothing isn’t enough. Without respiratory protection the firefighter will not survive. The air tank and mask that firefighters wear is a “Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus” or “SCBA” (not to be confused with SCUBA tanks!) that allows them to breathe in otherwise deadly environments. It is the single most important piece of equipment a firefighter uses, and each unit carries a price tag of about $5,000.00. These are also replaced about every 10 years.

Equipment: Trained and protected in the right gear, our firefighter is ready to work. Now we have to get the firefighter to the emergency with the tools needed to handle... well, anything! Of course we need a vehicle - a fire truck. Average price tag: $400,000. Add another $50,000 for fire hose and nozzles, saws, axes, pry bars, flashlights, bolt cutters, various adapters, extrication tools, medical equipment, radios and communication equipment - and all of that is carried on each fire truck the department has in service.

Every emergency we respond to is different from the last, and the next. There is no such thing as a “routine” emergency. Our equipment sees a lot of rough use, and repairs and maintenance are expensive and seemingly never ending. Firefighters do what they can in-house, but most equipment repairs require specialized knowledge and tools, which of course, equals a hefty repair bill.

With five fire trucks and hundreds of thousands of dollars in tools and equipment, the costs involved in operating our fire department add up quickly. Yet, the finest fire truck and the best equipment money can buy is worth nothing without someone willing and able to use it anytime, anywhere, under any conditions, for anyone. For that task we need a firefighter, the one asset I hope you will agree is “priceless."

Just For Fun... Fire Equipment From Bygone Years

What's Up, Waveland? - June 2015

6/1/2015

This month: Waveland Wins! Also, growth continues, road construction updates, police department changes, June meeting dates.
- by Waveland Alderman Jeremy Burke

The Big Buzz - June 2015

6/1/2015

This Month:

Waveland takes Grand Prize in National USA Today Contest
Bay St. Louis the fastest growing city in MS for 2nd year in row
Dynamic Leadership program opens for registration
100 Men Hall spotlighted in national story
Stennis now testing rocket engines for deep space
New Swank Vacation complex opens in Old Town
Katrina 1oth Anniversary Happenings

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Waveland Wins USA Today July 4th Celebration!

USA Today announced on May 29th that Waveland is one of two winners in their Red, White and You contest. The Grand Prize is a Fourth of July celebration (including a fireworks display) valued at approximately $50,000, including food and entertainment.

Earlier in the year, entrants sent in 150 word essays explaining why their city was deserving of the grand prize. More than 2,600 entries were received.

The winning entry for Waveland was written by Donna Estopinal.

"Many people were forced to move away leaving their dreams behind to start over somewhere else," she wrote. "Those who stayed were determined to rebuild not just their homes but our beautiful city as well. Waveland is coming back stronger and better than before."

Oroville, California was awarded the other grand prize. The other finalists were Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, Midland, Pennsylvania, and Platteville, Wisconsin.

Read the complete article here.

Bay St. Louis Fastest Growing City in the State

For two years in a row, Bay St. Louis has landed the title of Fastest Growing City in the State of Mississippi, at least those with a population over 1,000.

According to an article in the Sun Herald, the city has grown by 23% since 2010, adding 2,128 residents for a total of 11.388 in 2014.

Mayor Les Fillingame attributes the rapid growth to the real estate market and the rebuilding of the city's historic district.

"The build-out of Old Town Bay St. Louis is the hottest part of real estate in the region," he said. "By and large, we have rebuilt the city to produce the results that we're seeing. Hats off to everyone involved in the recovery."

Read the entire article here.

Registration for Leadership Hancock County Begins

Leadership Hancock County will be accepting applications between June 1st and July 31st of this year. The Hancock Chamber began the leadership program in 1996 to “identify and prepare the community’s existing and future leadership resources.”

The group meets for an entire day each month for field trips and classes that develop an awareness of the community, develop networking skills and teach participants to make the most of their leadership abilities.

Since the program was introduced nearly two decades ago, thirteen classes have produced 320 graduates, many of whom have gone on to become “change agents for the good of Hancock County.”

LHC participants receive a certificate of graduation and celebrate their dedication and hard work in June, with a graduation ceremony and dinner.

Please click here to access the digital application, directly, then fill it out, sign the bottom and fax to 228-467-6033 or emailing to sally@hancockchamber.org by the July 31st deadline.

100 Men Hall Spotlighted

100 Men Hall - photo Ellis Anderson

Bill Cleven travels all across the country seeking people and places making America great, then shares them with readers of his website "Bill On The Road" and fans of his St. Louis radio show. So of course, he spent time in Bay St Louis recently! Here's his take on 100 Men Hall:

The 100 Men DBA Hall in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi once hosted many of the biggest names in music. Fast forward to 2005 when the same building sat in disrepair and largely unused. Add in the destructive forces of hurricane Katrina and the hall was on the brink of destruction and for lack of a better word – history.

Now imagine being from out of state, zero knowledge of the building’s great history (that includes way more than just music) and buying it hours before it was set to be demolished.

That’s pretty much the story of Jesse & Kerrie Loya.

Read the rest of the article here.

Stennis Testing Deep Space Rocket Engines

A billowing plume of steam signals a successful 450-second test of the RS-25 rocket engine May 28

Engines being tested now at Stennis Space Center will power the core stage of NASA’s new rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), which is being developed to carry humans deeper into space than ever before. The heavy-lift SLS will be more powerful than any current rocket and will be the centerpiece of the nation’s next era of space exploration, carrying humans to an asteroid and eventually to Mars.

The successful 450-second test of the RS-25 rocket engine occured May 28 at NASA's Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The hotfire test was conducted on the historic A-1 Test Stand where Apollo Program rocket stages and Space Shuttle Program main engines also were tested. RS-25 testing now is set to continue through the summer.

New Old Town Historic Complex Open For Guests
From Lisa Monti's Notebook

The Bay St. Louis building at 134 Sycamore St., previously known as the Globe Laundry, has been transformed into a tropical-themed bed and breakfast that’s now open for guests.
Owner Kevin Jordan bought the disheveled cinderblock building which was more recently a junk/antique store and spent the next seven years renovating it with thoughts of recreating a Mexican resort vibe a block from the Bay beach.

“When I walked in the front doors with my agent, I thought of residences of friends in central Mexico,” Kevin said. “Hurricane Katrina had blown off the raised roof in the main room of the building which is about 3,500 square feet. I thought it would make a perfect courtyard and be perfect for a swimming pool. I thought it would be a great B&B.”

Renovations commenced on the aptly named “Abode” and included a new roof and windows, plastering exterior walls, carving out rooms and making the kitchen cabinets and bar from lumber reclaimed from his house on Washington Street that was destroyed by Katrina.

Read the rest of the story on Lisa Monti's Notebook!

New Day in the Bay!
Events currently scheduled for 10th Katrina Anniversary

Thursday, August 20, 2015
Hancock Chamber Business After Hours
5-7pm
Ground Zero – Waveland Library, Coleman Avenue, Waveland, MS
Sponsored by the Library Foundation of Hancock County
This will kick off the week of Katrina Plus 10 Anniversary Events

Thursday, August 27, 2015
2015 Annual Awards Gala
5pm Reception
6pm Dinner & Program
presented by the Hancock Chamber &
The Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission
Hollywood Casino, Bay St. Louis, MS
Business Attire

Friday, August 28, 2015
New Day in the Bay - Celebrating Our Can-Do City
11:30am – 1pm
Luncheon for Visiting Media, Elected Officials and Business Leaders
Longfellow Civic Center, Court Street, Bay St. Louis, MS
Media Tours (optional) prior to and following the luncheon
Public is invited to tour, dine and shop all day
Stores will stay open late with music in the streets

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Ringing of the Church Bells Across the Coast
9:30am
All churches will be invited to participate to commemorate when Hurricane Katrina made landfall

Waveland’s Ground Zero Hurricane Homecoming
Waveland Ground Zero Hurricane Museum
5pm Ceremony to remember the lives lost to Katrina in Hancock County
5:30pm Grand Re-Opening of the Ground Zero Hurricane Museum
Music, food & beverages until 8pm
Tours of the Museum featuring the new H. C. Porter Exhibits
Backyards and Beyond: Mississippians and Their Stories
Sponsored by Mississippi Power Company, the City of Waveland and the Hancock Community Development Foundation
Katrina Authors will be on hand to sell and autograph books through Bay Books
Bring your lawn chairs, Katrina memorabilia, picnic baskets and more for an evening of tail-gating

Sunday, August 30, 2015
Faith-based events
Various churches throughout the county will hold events and special services.
St. Rose De Lima Church in Bay St. Louis has an event in formation and details are not yet available.

Coast Cuisine - June 2015

6/1/2015

To the delight of Lulu's legion of fans, one of Old Town's favorite restaurants expands their menu, their dining area, and their hours.

Lulu's on Main
126 Main Street
Bay St. Louis
228.463.1670

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It’s a Lulu’s thing: people drive from Mobile for one of the “debris” roast beef po-boys. They invite their friends for dinner on the delightful screened porch that catches the gulf breezes. During Sunday brunch, families gather to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries - and just the fact that it’s Sunday again in the Bay. During the week, shopping BBFs give their feet a break while enjoying a refreshingly fresh homemade lunch.

Welcome to the new Lulu’s on Main. The things that made this lunchtime restaurant a coast favorite for eight years remain unchanged - which will be a big comfort to die-hard fans. There’s just more of everything now: more space, more art, extended hours and new creative dishes.

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Fish Tacos at Lulu's on Main

The dining area, once intertwined through the rambling Maggie May’s art gallery (126 Main Street), now gives diners a choice between high-ceiling rooms lined with original paintings, or a roomy (and bug free) screened-in porch. No one’s going to be bumping elbows in either area.

Even the kitchen has grown, from a cramped room to a spacious state-of-the-art chef’s dream.

In fact, this all is a dream, one that owner/chef Nancy Moynan has been nurturing for decades.

“It’s been my dream and my passion and finally I’m living it,” she says. “All I’ve ever wanted is a place where the food, the service and the ambiance combine to give diners an outstanding experience.”

Moynan brings a lot of outstanding experience of her own to the table. She grew up learning the nuances of flavor by watching her grandmother and mom. She cooked for three years in the legendary Commander’s Palace restaurant in New Orleans. She also worked for five years as private chef for a Lebanese family, adding expertise in Mediterranean cooking to her Creole and Italian mix.

The Sunday brunch menu features items diners won't find elsewhere, like the Sausage Souffle.

Nancy Moynan

The new menu reflects all those influences, with Creole, Italian and Mediterranean choices. Even vegetarians will find delightful options. Loyal fans of Lulu’s lunch will still find the Chicken Salad, Eggplant Panini and the Roast Beef Po’ Boy - that many believe is the best on the coast.

The Sunday Brunch menu tempts diners with traditional favorites and scrumptious flights of fancy. Authentic Grillades and Grits (a dish very difficult to find on menus now - even in New Orleans eateries), Crabby Lulu (a scrumptious crab cake and egg creation) and a Sausage soufflé.

There’s also the tantalizing Redfish Florentine. It features fresh gulf redfish, seared and served with a creamy spinach Madeleine, sautéed mushrooms and artichoke hearts and two poached eggs. The whole seductive dish is covered in a homemade hollandaise sauce. Bringing friends who will share tastes of their own plates is highly recommended.

Desserts served at all meals include homemade ice creams and sorbets, Lulu’s Chocolate Mud, and Betty’s Bread Pudding, named after the chef’s mom.

Even little things like the saltine crackers that come with the chicken salad showcase Nancy’s distinctive flair. What magic does she work to make them so savory, and downright addictive? She holds her cards close to her vest, but encourages diners to experiment in their own kitchens at home.

“That’s the best compliment someone can pay,” Moynan says. “ I want them to leave looking forward to their next meal here.”

At Home In the Bay - June 2015

6/1/2015

This month's home is located in the middle of Old Town's Historic District and owner Martha Wilson is beginning to wonder if there's not something a little angelic about her new neighbors.
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson

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Maybe Miss Moseley Was Right

In the bedroom of Martha Wilson’s house on Carroll Avenue, an Alice Moseley print hangs on the wall. Like many of the folk artist’s paintings of Bay St. Louis, this one includes angels overseeing matters down below. Martha Wilson thinks the artist was on to something.

“I’ve met those angels and they’re here,” she says.

And according to Martha, many of them actually reside in her neighborhood, disguised as regular folks living undercover as contractors, designers, photographers, shop owners.

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“People just go the extra mile here,” Martha says.  “I’ve been in some lovely places, but this one just takes the cake.  Whenever you have any kind of problem, they do what they can to help.”

Martha names a veritable choir of them.  An angel named Jeanne Baxter helped her find the cottage at 314 Carroll Avenue.   An artist she met at Gallery 220, Jo Slay, bolstered Martha’s hopes of finding a home in the Bay.  Interior designers Al and Cathy Lawson offered fresh ideas to make the house live up to its potential as her dream home.

Liz Seal, who had originally designed the striking patio landscaping, offered her new neighbor advice for making the most of the maturing plantings and adding new beds. Contractor Kenny Monti has competently solved Martha’s small construction dilemmas.  There are lots of gardeners and shop owners and painters she names.  As well as the neighborhood children who take a break from play to rest on her front porch.

It’s clear that Martha has found her own slice of heaven on Carroll Avenue.

Martha’s lush southern accent is punctuated with genuine smiles that light up her eyes.  She grew up in Greenville, Mississippi and has lived most of her life in Memphis.  Yet one can guess at the steel that runs beneath the magnolia: this genteel woman spent most of her career as an owner of a container shipping business, dealing with cargo arriving from the world over.

After retiring, she devoted her energies to full-time care of her aging mother, who recently passed.   Soon after, she began to feel tugs toward the coast.  Martha had spent time there as a child, but when she, her mother, and her sister returned on a road trip in 2007, she was heartbroken to see that the damage from Katrina was much worse than they’d imagined.  The haunting images remained with her, but so did a love of the landscape and the people she'd met.  Finally, in 2014, she found the opportunity to return - this time with the resolve to buy a house.

At the suggestion of her sister, she began searching in Ocean Springs, but found it didn’t “feel quite like home.”  She traveled to Bay St. Louis, where she met Jeanne Baxter (John McDonald Realty), “whose love for the place came out."  Then a stay at the Bay Town Inn and a visit with owner Nikki Moon, left her certain that she’d found her true coast home.

She made the offer on the Carroll house cottage before she left town.

“What a wonderful place for family and friends," says Martha.  “I looked at other homes with great charm and character, but this one really spoke to me.”

The house is a Biloxi cottage, a rare design in Bay St. Louis. Economy was important in the early 1900s, so four adjacent rooms had corner fireplaces - all served by the same chimney. In the past century, all the fireplaces in the Carroll cottage have been removed.  However, the previous owners, Benjamin Golding and Elizabeth Bartasius, exposed the remaining brick chimneys when they renovated post-Katrina – one of the many small touches that make the house anything but ordinary.

Architecturally, the floor plan of the house flows like a lazy river.  The front door opens onto a large living room area on the left with the dining room straight ahead.  The compact – but exquisitely functional kitchen – merges with the left side of the dining room.

French doors at the end of the dining table tempt one to step out into an astonishing Asian/Southern deck area. Liz Seal’s vision as a landscape designer comes to the fore in this serene place.  Stalks of rust-colored bamboo provide privacy and a fantastic visual backdrop for the clumps of river birch trees growing up through the deck.  The textural bark of the lithe trees sings against the bamboo backdrop.  Comfortable and durable furnishings complete this retreat.  Any activity would feel perfect here – meditating, reading or grilling out with family and friends.

The house originally contained two bedrooms and a small office.  Martha’s master bedroom opens into the second bath and and a private door leads directly to the patio.  Since her children and grandchildren are frequent guests, she needed “as many beds as I could fit.” The former office now contains two twin beds.  Four full-sized bunk beds fill the guest room, but they were designed with the comfort of adults in mind.

Family portraits by Ann Madden

Even when the grandchildren aren’t visiting, their presence is strong.  Glowing portraits by Ann Madden (another one of those neighbors who might be hiding wings) have captured the bright energy of these children and various pieces of their artwork are prominently displayed.

Work by other local artists can be found almost everywhere the eye lands.  The furnishings range from beach casual to antique, but with the help of designer Al Lawson’s genius with juxtaposition, everything works beautifully.

The main conversation piece in the house came about because Al mentioned that the living area lacked a real focal point.  He brought in a mass of huge paper lanterns and hung them over the dining room table.  Their light - and light-hearted - impact woke up the entire living area and set the tone for the house.

Martha believes Al understood exactly what she was going for.  “I didn’t want it to be stuffy. I didn’t necessarily want it to be beachy though - just a fun place for the family and friends to come."

“More people have already have stayed in it than I would have imagined in my lifetime… my friends, my children, my grandchildren.   It’s a happy magnet.”

And one guesses that the house at 321 Carroll is attracting a few angelic visitors as well.

Al Lawson - On Design

The eyes have it! Absolutely! There is a need for one “bright spot” in a room where your eyes can focus… and find a place to be engaged. The bright spot can be achieved through several different design methods. One approach can be to use an architectural element that you would visually organize the room around. That architectural element can be a something as simple as a window or fireplace. Just remember – a television is not an architectural element. Another focus idea is to use a monochromatic color scheme and then introduce a small amount of its complementary color... for example, a green appointed room with a small amount of red will invite the eye to focus in that direction. And one more recommendation would be to exaggerate the scale of pieces. Pianos are often used in large spaces to give a room scale. I particularly turn to large sculptures or paintings to add drama and draw attention to an area. The eye is fascinating to direct and influence! Enjoy playing with this design idea!

Coast Lines - June 2015

6/1/2015

The Mother Lode of Moxie

A palm reading gone wrong imparts a lifelong appreciation of aging and kicks off a hunt for feisty role models. Bay St. Louis turns out to have more than its fair share.
- by Ellis Anderson

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Celestine Labat, after her 100th birthday. Photo by Sarah Foster

Vintage Vignette - June 2015

6/1/2015

Child's Play

This month - a look at how to incorporate vintage games into your decor for pivotal punch!
- by Martha Whitney Butler

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Are you looking for a colorful collectible that won't just sit around collecting dust? Well you might just want to consider some of those rainy day board games you played with as a child. Their bright colors and whimsical images not only open the flood gates of family fun memories, but they also lend themselves to a great starting point when decorating a room or collector's vignette.

Some of the old games and toys are so reminiscent of an actual color wheel that you can apply them to any color scheme. Take the vintage Chinese checkerboards for example. Even just one of these can serve as a pivotal decor point for a room. Give me a blank, white wall and a vintage Chinese checkerboard and we can go from there!

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A stack of colorful board games can serve the same purpose of a stack of books in regards to display. Use a small stack of travel-sized games to define height when displaying items in your home. A bookshelf arranged by colors can easily be balanced by a small collection of colorful litho-tin canisters.

Black and white wooden dominos make for interesting fillers in bowls and vases as do colorful marbles. The ONE thing I allow myself to collect is vintage marbles. Not only do they not take up a lot of space, I can use them to fill bottles, vases, and even pull the Chinese checker board off of the wall and play.

Give some thought into displaying your collection in a vignette. Like items arranged together in a variety of positions and heights can really show of your collection. Don't stuff it all into a China cabinet and call it a day. Get creative!

So before you pack those board games away for a rainy day, reevaluate their potential and see if they can be incorporated into your home's décor!

The Shoofly - June 2015

6/1/2015

The Hancock County Senior Center

Offering meals, transportation, conversation, and a place to pursue artistic endeavors, this Center for Seniors is filled with surprises - and smiles.
- by Gus Duda

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If you are 60 years of age or have someone in your family who is, and you are a resident of Hancock County you need to know about the Hancock County Senior Center.

My name is Gus Duda and I am most assuredly a senior citizen, 95 years young to be exact. We moved to Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi from Alexandria, Virginia and I have loved almost everything about the Bay.

I was not happy to find that public transportation is not what I was used to. In Alexandria I could hop on a bus and go to the store or pharmacy or library. In Bay Saint Louis I am dependent on others for transportation.

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Shoofly Guest Columnist Gus Duda

I heard about the Senior Center from a family member and was immediately interested because they said a bus would pick me up in the morning, could take me on errands and then bring me home again. I decided to check it out. I went over to the Center, met Arlene Johnson, the Center Director and signed up. Arlene told me that if I needed transportation just to let them know the day before and I would be picked up. I usually go in Mondays through Thursdays so I have a standing order unless I call and let them know I do not need a ride or if someone else is bringing me in. According to the Center the bus serves Bay Saint Louis, Waveland, Pearlington and some locations north of I-10.

Oreader Richardson is not coy about revealing her age. She's 102 years old.

A patchwork quilt Oreader is working on in the Center's crafts room.

Once we get to the center, our usual driver, Jimmy Rouse, gets us all safely offloaded and inside. Often the staff will have cereal and or other light breakfast items. The coffee pot is always on. The room you first walk into has a television and comfy chairs and sofas. Down the hall are workrooms for all the programs that are offered, art and ceramics, quilting, crafts, painting etc. Special events are announced as they come up such as sponsored off-site lunches, field trips, the annual blueberry picking excursion. The staff is equipped to help with tax returns and helping us with questions we might have.

Those who have errands to do or appointments to keep get a ride on the bus. Jimmy my usual driver is an employee of Coastal Transportation Service and a tremendous asset to the center. Always patient, caring and fun to be around Jimmy knows how to make everyone feel welcome. After we have lunch we get a ride home on the bus.

I did some research on the center because I was not here from the beginning and I like knowing the history of things. The Center is located at the corner of Old Spanish Trail and Bookter Street in Bay Saint Louis. It was established in 1972 by May Beyer, grandmother of Chuck Benvenutti. Eve McDonald served as the Center’s director from 1972 to 1992. The Center was located in a small classroom in the Valencia C. Jones School. I heard that she had to beg around for tables and chairs and later as the Center grew they were given more space.

Staff members Arlene Johnson and Trish "Princess" Walker in the formal dining room at the Center

When Eve retired Rosine Jushaway was asked to serve as director. Programs continued to be added and to grow. In the late 1990’s the City of Bay Saint Louis and the Hancock County Board of Supervisors worked together to develop the new Center as it appears today. The City built the structure and the County, through the Hancock County Human Resources Agency provides the programming.

Arlene was hired in 1985 to do arts and crafts and did such a fantastic job and was so loved by the seniors that she was given the director’s job in 2001 after Rosine died. After Hurricane Katrina I heard, the Center served as an emergency shelter in Bay Saint Louis. For about three months they provided food, clothes and shelter for more than 175 people. The building did get damaged during the storm. Repairs were made thanks to insurance proceeds and FEMA. Through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, the Center was able to expand, adding a dining area, an indoor walking track, and additional storage.

Today, the Center provides nutritious hot food for lunches, a place for the expression of art and companionship. We are about 40 people of various backgrounds sharing a meal, laughter and stories. We are taken good care of by Arlene, Trish, Jimmy and Michael, our chef and all the volunteers. It is nice to be out during the day and to have something to talk about when I get home.

If you are 60+ and would like to join us, we would love to have you. Just call the Center at 228.467.9292 or pop in at 601 Bookter to sign up. I’ll see you there.

Lorraine Keyser discovered her artistic genius at the Senior Cneter

Gus and Arlene

Second Saturday - June 2015

6/1/2015

Summer is heating up on the coast and so is the Second Saturday Artwalk in Old Town Bay St. Louis. On Saturday, June 13 from 4pm – 8pm, this historic seaside town will sizzle with excitement!
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson

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Cappy's Point
108 South Beach Blvd

On Saturday, June 13 from 4pm – 8pm, this historic seaside town will sizzle with excitement with music on the streets, gallery art openings, special merchant offerings and restaurant specials.

Things are lively in Old Town all day however, so savvy shoppers often come early to scout out the best deals. And night-owls will want to stick around for an LP release party afterward at 100 Men Hall, one of the highlights on the Mississippi Blues Trail.

Each Second Saturday, the spotlight falls on two local businesses. The “Hot Spots” for June are Cappy’s Point (108 S. Beach Blvd in the French Settlement Building) and The Rose Cottage (a vacation rental located at 135 DeMontluzin St.).

Cappy’s Point opened last summer in the eye-catching French Settlement building facing the new Bay St. Louis harbor. It’s located upstairs, but awaiting shoppers at the top of the steps is a unique store that combines home décor, artwork, and a selection of very special children’s toys.

That’s because Cappy’s Point represents exactly the sort of home that owner Jeanne Pertuit thinks is the perfect one. Full of art, fine touches and quality toys to entertain the children who are certain to be either living there or visiting.

The types of toys found at Cappy’s Point can’t be found in big box stores. In fact, Jeanne goes out of her way to make sure of that. Her shop is filling a niche for more traditional toys, the ones that spur imagination. These are the sorts of treasures a child’s grandchildren will be jockeying for three generations up the road.

There are Brio wooden trains (with a track set up in the lobby right outside the shop proper, so young engineers can test drive the system). Hand puppets, stuffed animals with real character – the ones you know you tell you the most delicious secrets - and tutus make this the enchanted land for little ones.

The décor part of the store shows that fine things and children’s toys really do mix, just like they do in real life. Cat Island Cookies (a rich flavored locally made new brand) and tea blends and pots by the fabulous Tea Forte make for memorable gifts, or special treats to have on hand for guests.

Functional and sculptural pottery by popular coast artist Regan Carney are sure to become room making accents.   A fabulous line of durable light-weight French dinnerware called La Cadeaux, brings the feel of Provence to any gathering.

Jeanne’s own hand-built clay fish are available too, swordfish and flounders painted in bright colors, some mounted on driftwood. They’re the perfect local coastal gift for visitors to take back home.

“Home, art, and family life – that’s me right there,” says Jeanne.   And Cappy’s Point is a perfect reflection of those loves.

To celebrate their Hot Spot status, Cappy’s Point will be focusing on fathers, with fish items, lures and other fun items for Dad.

The Rose Cottage
135 DeMontluzin

A few blocks away at the Rose Cottage(135 DeMontluzin), owner Ann Hager, is following a multi-generational family tradition. She’s welcoming visitors and new residents to Bay St. Louis.

Renting the comfortably furnished Rose Cottage to weekend guests and snowbirds in the winter allows Ann to familiarize visitors with the simple pleasures of life in Old Town. Since it’s less than a block from the beach and harbor, and close to restaurants and shops, most people can leave the car in the driveway and enjoy strolling through the historic neighborhood.

Inside the cottage, the open living area includes a full-sized kitchen, a sit-down dining room and a living room. Two comfortable bedrooms are served by two full baths. The front porch is furnished for outdoor Southern living. It’s the perfect place to enjoy this lived in, loveable seaside neighborhood.

Ann Hager says that her grandfather, August Rauxet used to rent houses in the Bay for the summer months, then moved his family over full-time from New Orleans in the 1930s.

Her uncle, August Rauxet, Jr. built homes for newcomers to the Bay, using the old Scafide building on Blaize as his workshop. The landmark building now serves as home to the Bay St. Louis Little Theatre. In fact, Ann’s uncle rented the building to the crew that used it as the primary set for the movie “This Property is Condemned” in the 1960s.

Rose and her husband have enjoyed remodeling homes in the past, so in 2012, they took on what later became the Rose Cottage. The house had been badly damaged in Hurricane Katrina and was in a sad state.

The couple updated the interior and modernized the floor plan while they repaired the house.

Since their own home is located directly across the street, the cottage serves as a guest house for children and family who want to visit. In between it serves as welcoming nest for newcomers or visitors.

Ann chose the rose color for the cottage because no other house they could find in Bay St. Louis was painted a similar color. The landscaping includes knockout roses of the same color, so the house exudes a sense of serenity and joy. According to the reviews on Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO), that’s exactly what the guests staying at the Rose Cottage have found.

During Second Saturday, the Rose Cottage will be open for tours and refreshments will be served. During the evening, coupons for 20% off the regular room rate will also be available.

Live Music At the Bird!

Thomas Jackson is performing at the Mockingbird during the evening of Second Saturday! Check him out below during a performance at Hal & Mal's in Jackson:

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Other Second Saturday Happenings!

Antique Maison Ulman Tearoom - 317 Ulman Ave. Open 4pm - 8pm on Second Saturdays, serving complementary samples of lunch room menu, deck dining now open. Come shop and experience the best of Bay St. Louis.

Bay Emporium - 112 S. Second Street - "The Endless Summer!" New rooms full of antiques, gifts, art, clothes, and home decor. Dr von Walrod of "Steampunk Curiosities" continues to amaze and astound with his unique creations, "In 2 Details" has expanded its awesome attention to the coastal lifestyle, "Boesch and Co." always brings style to salvage, "Voila!" also expands the line of French inspired goods, furniture and accessories, "Charbonnet and Charbonnet" offers reclaimed architectural doors, windows, and other components, "Paper Moon" features mixed media art and jewelry, and "Armoire Noir" puts on its summer wardrobe adding a selection of men's attire in a second room. All this and more awaits you at Bay Emporium in thirteen shops full of summer surprises in the heart of Old Town.

California Drawstrings - 216 Main Street - New spring Flax and linens have arrived!

Gallery 220 - 220 Main Street - Always one of the liveliest places during the Artwalk, this co-op features work by more than 20 artists (who are usually there, which accounts for the liveliness!), live music, and an appetizer buffet. This month, the featured artists are Judy Lee and Julie Nelson.

The Mockingbird Cafe - 110 S. Second Street - you will find new works by artists Kat Fitzpatrick, Thomas Jackson, Marsha Prejean, Tim Waldrop, Barbara Speer and J.J. Foley. Delicious beers are on tap to pair with the ever popular Mockingburger(veggie or meat lover's). Artist Thomas Jackson will also be performing on stage under the stars.

The Bonner Collection - 108 S. Beach Blvd. Suite D.  Visit the Bonner Collection to see our new Spring home decor, gifts, jewelry, art arriving almost daily. Would love to see you and enjoy some refreshments. Cheers!

Flair - Inside Bay Emporium -
112 South Second St.
Huge shipments of the wildly popular Mad Mats indoor/outdoor rugs continue to arrive at Flair, where you'll find dozens of these no-fade, no-stain rugs in a wide assortment of sizes, colors and patterns. As durable as they are stylish, Mad Mats are pet, child, dirt and sun-friendly and virtually maintenance free--just rinse them with a garden hose!

George’s Girls - 108 S. Beach Blvd. Ste B, (inside the French Settlement building). Purveyors of Fine Linens. George's Girls is a great place for beautifully scented candles and soaps.

Magnolia Antiques, 200 Main Street. If you haven't seen the totally rearranged shop, it's definitely worth a stop! We have completely turned it around. And of course, we'll offer snacks and bargains!!

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.

Something Special - 207 Main Street - houses 1,200 sq feet of antique, vintage and repurposed items while representing the work of 22 local artisans. Stop by to find "your" something special!

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 has almost completely changed for this month. Business has been great and we have added many items for you inspection. New shipments of Pottery Candles, Melts and Wax Melters have arrived with more on the way with new fragrance offerings! Hope to see you soon.

The Ugly Pirate - 144 DeMontluzin St.
Come to a family and pet friendly place to enjoy great Pizza, Gyros and more. We have 16 Craft Beers, as well as various bottled beer. Friday is Family night so children 12 and under get a free small cheese or pepperoni pizza when the adults eat in as well. Live music every Saturday night beginning at 6 PM. We are family and pet friendly, so bring the dogs, and kids to have a fun time together at the Pirate. Follow us on Facebook to see what our specials an entertainment will be each week.

Continue the fun at the LP Release party at 100 Men Hall

303 Union Street
Bay Saint Louis
Doors open at 7pm
The LP sells for $45 including out-of-state shipping and is available for preorder on our website www.100menhall.org. The LPs will be shipped after the release party on June 13. Doors open at 7 and tickets are $10.

There will be short presentation featuring speakers from the MS state tourism office and then the LP will be played. The House Katz will provide live music afterward. The Live at 100 Men Hall LP will be available for sale the night of the event.

Puppy Dog Tales - June 2015

6/1/2015

The Dogs of Cat Island

by Seizure-alert dog Daisy Mae Delray
This month - Daisy Mae looks at a bizarre failed WWII experiment that took place on Cat Island: a top-secret attempt to train dogs to sniff out Japanese soldiers.

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Dear gentle readers,

I am working on my campaign materials and will have more to share with you for the July Puppy Dog Tales. One of my major concerns and a core item on my platform is in the humane treatment of all animals. The Humane Society of the United States ranks all the states plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Mississippi ranks 50th in that listing in the protections offered to animals.

With that in mind, Friends of the Animal Shelter is participating in the Humane Society of the United States Humane Lobby Day. The date for Mississippi is the 18th of June. Friends is hosting meeting on the 18th at the Hancock County government offices from 8:30am until 10:00am. Advocates will be meeting with decision makers to urge them to support bills that protect animals.

Lawmakers see a tremendous number of bills and they may be silent on animal issues not because they don’t care about animals, but because they haven’t heard from constituents. Information on the meeting will soon be available on the Friends of the Animal Shelter website and Facebook page. For more information on the HSUS visit their website at www.humanesociety.org.

The Dogs of Cat Island

Humans and animals have long had a working relationship that for the most part has been of mutual benefit. Sometimes that work involves warfare. History.com has an article entitled War Animals From Horses to Glowworms. It appears that elephants, horses, dolphins, camels, pigeons, mules, bats and pigs have all played a role. Cats never quite worked out – they are kinda hard to train. The best they could do was rodent control and serve as stress reducers. Not a bad role actually. About the glow worms: they were used as a light source in the trenches in World War I. They were caught and placed in jars and handed out to the soldiers.

While doing some local research on dogs in Mississippi, I came across a reference to Cat Island. Do you know about the war dogs on Cat Island? A little aside: there were no cats on Cat Island when the French arrived about 1699. They mistook the large brownish raccoons for oyster eating cats because there are no raccoons in France.

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Happy belated Memorial day to our retired military service dogs. The 2016 fiscal year military appropriations bill was recently passed the House of Representatives and included a provision that all suitable military animals be made available for adoption (instead of being destroyed). The bill is on the way to the Senate so let your lawmakers know that this special provision should stay in the final version.
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Anyway, During World War II Cat Island was selected as one of the training facilities for the Dogs for Defense program. This program started in 1942 with the first reception and training facility located in Front Royal, Virginia. The new K-9 division was primarily made up of dogs donated by civilians.

Those that passed all the tests went through a basic training of about to eight to twelve weeks. The dogs were trained to wear muzzles and gas masks and conditioned to riding in vehicles and desensitized to loud noises. After the basics the dogs went on to specialized work training in scouting, sentry duty, messengers and to locate missing troops. This was a noble and a good partnering for dog and soldier.

In late 1942 Cat Island was chosen as a training location. It was about nine miles from the mainland and had a semi-tropical climate with dense vegetation like jungle islands in the Pacific. The mission on Cat Island was a little different from other training programs. Four official programs were administered by the Quartermaster Corps, but this one was off the radar as a top-secret mission headed by Lieutenant Colonel A. R. Nichols.

A civilian dog trainer, William A. Prestre, had pushed for the mission. His theory was that ethnic groups smelled different. Dogs could be trained to sniff out and attack the Japanese. Upwards of 30 thousand dogs were to be made ready and then would be dropped in as a first wave of assault on Pacific Islands and would seek out and kill Japanese soldiers. History Detectives has a chilling report on the goings on and an investigation into the training.

In a nutshell, twenty five Japanese-American soldiers were recruited, brought to Cat Island and used, not as trainers, but as bait. As all us dogs know, the premise was incorrect, the Japanese-American soldiers could not be identified by smell, as the soldiers all had the same diet. Two YouTube videos below show the training on Cat Island. One is an unedited WWII US Signal Corp film, K9 Training at Cat Island and the other is The Secret Dog Training Mission on Cat Island.

The experiment failed after about 90 days and the loyal Japanese-American troops were reassigned. Men from the Signal Corps used the facilities to train messenger dogs with carrier pigeons, as shown in the YouTube video. You can see the special carrying cases the dogs wore to transport the pigeons. This proved very effective and a valuable means of communicating on the battlefield.

Cat Island did not really have the facilities for soldiers and the dogs so it was not practical to keep it open. The training facility closed down in July, 1944.

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