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Waveland Alderman Jeremy Burke shares details of exciting upcoming events in town, plus big beach news.
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For more information, visit our “Christmas on Coleman” Facebook page, contact Waveland City Hall, or contact Kristen Tusa via email at kristentusa@gmail.com.

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Waveland Food Truck Friday
 
The last Waveland Food Truck Friday for 2019 will take place on Coleman Avenue on Friday, December 13th from 5:00-8:00 pm. The section of Coleman Avenue in front of Studio Waveland will be closed to vehicular traffic to accommodate the food trucks and allow participants to set-up a canopy tent, table and chairs if they choose. 
 
Waveland Food Truck Friday admission is free and open to the public. Food can be purchased through the food trucks. The Waveland Civic Association will have a table set up selling beer, soft drinks and water. Baked goods will also be available for purchase. Studio Waveland will be open late for a little Christmas shopping while on Coleman Avenue, and there will be musical entertainment, thanks to the generous sponsorship from the Silver Slipper Casino.
 
Use the hashtag #downtownwaveland on your social media post so everyone can see all the good food and the great time you are having!
 

 
Handicapped Beach Access
 
Waveland is currently soliciting bids to construct a handicapped water access ramp at the beach.
 
The access ramp would allow wheelchairs to have quick and easier path from the Coleman Avenue beach parking lot to the beach and into the water.
 
This project was conceived from a suggestion submitted by a resident several years ago. It has taken Waveland a few years to hammer out the logistics and receive the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Tideland funding for this project, but it is hopeful that soon it will become a reality.
 
In my opinion, having access to the Waveland beach in this way will be life-changing for disabled people. It is an incredibly worthwhile investment which will generate endless returns for our community.
 
The bids will be opened in January, 2020, and we anticipate that Waveland will be able to award in early spring.
 

The annual juried exhibition and holiday party sponsored by The Arts, Hancock County brings together some of the Gulf Coast's brightest creative talents.

- Story by Steve Barney, President, The Arts, Hancock County; photos by Steve Barney and Ellis Anderson

 This year Paulette Dove, a fiercely competitive annual contender in the exhibition, puts on the juror hat and has the difficult task of selecting entries and awarding prizes.

Paulette Dove, who will serve as juror for this year's exhibition.

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Dove is a native of Biloxi and has been painting and exhibiting on the Gulf Coast for many years. She is a member of the Ocean Springs Art Association, president of the South Mississippi Art League and board member of the Mississippi Art Colony. She received her BFA and MEd. from the Mississippi University for Women and William Carey College.
 
Dove’s education includes workshops at Louisiana Tech University, Savannah School of Art, University of West Virginia, and Marty Todd Bean. She has many years of experience teaching, demonstrating, and exhibiting in Biloxi schools as well as at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, the Ohr-O 'Keefe Museum of Art and the Walter Anderson Museum of Art.
 
In her painting, sculpture, and costuming, Dove lives by the words of artist Mark Rothko: “Art is an adventure into an unknown world, which can be explored only by those willing to take the risk.”
 
“My life as an artist is like being a gambler,” she says, “working with risk— and not always winning the bet of a successful piece.” She concludes, “You must be willing to lose and continue.”
 

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The Arts is honored to have Dove, one of the best-known and most celebrated contemporary artists on the Gulf Coast, as juror this year.
 
In October, she and fellow artist Michelle Allee gave a captivating and insightful presentation to a packed house at the Arts monthly membership meeting. This provided a rare opportunity to learn about the jurying process and get inside the juror’s head to learn about what it takes to be an award-winning artist across all media. Allee also demonstrated a do-it -yourself framing process and tips for finalizing and presenting your work.
 
This year’s show has drawn artists from New Orleans, Slidell and across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, featuring a breathtaking array of diverse works in genres across two and three-dimensional mediums.
 

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When asked about this year’s entries, Dove says, “This year’s show is an interesting collection of art work, from the novice artist to highly acclaimed seasoned veterans.” Dove encourages viewers of the work to “critique, celebrate and find a connection.”
 
Whether one is a lifelong professional artist or a novice, being accepted into this highly competitive exhibition is a major accomplishment. Throughout the jury process, Dove took copious notes on each entry and is eager to share her insights with aspiring artists. This provides a unique chance to get candid feedback and insights for artists to improve their work, with a strong focus on the fundamentals of design.
 

Click on the thumbnails above to view some of the other impressive entries in the
​2-dimensional category.

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The festivities kick off with Christmas on Coleman starting at 4 pm, presented by the City of Waveland. Christmas on Coleman features six giant holiday greeting cards painted by local students who are working as interns for The Arts.
 
The event will include a variety of family-friendly activities, from caroling and face-painting to pictures with Santa and craft-making. A parade takes place at 5 pm, then the juried exhibition and holiday party kick off at 6 pm at the Ground Zero Museum.
 

Click on the thumbnails above to view some of the extraordinary entries in the Photography category.

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On Saturday night, $1,300 in cash prizes will be awarded to artists in the following categories:

• Category 1: Painting / Mixed media. Includes all 2-dimensional original artwork including painting, drawing, mixed media, encaustic, fabric.
• Category 2: Photo/ Digital. Includes photography and digitally manipulated imagery.
• Category 3: 3-dimensional. Vessels, sculpture and assemblages in 3 dimensions.
• The Founders Award:  Awarded for Best in Show across all categories.

 
The exhibition continues at the Ground Zero Museum until December 14. Museum hours are Tuesday thru Saturday, 10 am until 3 pm.
 

Click on the thumbnails above to view some of the entries in the
3-dimensional category.

2019 Exhibiting Artists

 
The juried exhibition, awards and holiday party would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors: Ground Zero Museum, City of Waveland, Rum Kitchen, Compton Engineering, Ann Madden Photography and Design, Bay Town Inn, The Mane Salon, and our media partners: The Shoofly Magazine and The Sea Coast Echo. For more information, visit The Arts, Hancock County website at www.hancockarts.org.

During the Second Saturday Artwalk each month in Old Town Bay St. Louis, you'll find cool deals, fresh meals and lots of art and live music!

Be sure to check out "Hot Spots"  Bay Elements (112 Second Street) and Biz-zee Bee (111-B Main Street). Read more about these featured businesses below! 
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- stories and photos by Anne Pitre

Each month, two businesses are spotlighted and designated "Hot Spots."  Read about the December Hot Spots below! 

Bay Elements
112 Second Street
Bay St. Louis
(504) 8107772
Website

Located inside Century Hall, Bay Elements is a mind-bending boutique specializing in items that are sure to stretch the imagination as well as the boundaries of what is possible when it comes to style. Here, shop owner Susan Peterson brings her patrons an intriguing mix of antiques and new items; repurposed, upcycled and reimagined pieces, art and gifts as well as domestic and imported furniture. 
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It is worth your time just to browse and envision how even a small accent piece from Bay Elements would elevate your home décor style. Or, for the daring, purchase something new and inspired. Each piece – expertly curated by Peterson herself – is bold, and will certainly stimulate conversation and energy.
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Peterson was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, but made her home on the Coast after marrying a local. She has been here for 35 years and hasn’t looked back. “My heart is here,” she said. “There is nothing better than being in Old Town Bay St. Louis.” We couldn’t agree more.
 

 
Be sure and stop at Bay Elements during the Second Saturday Art Walk on December 14. They are located inside the Shops at Century Hall at 112 Second Street. They will be serving refreshments and have live music from 4 – 7 p.m.
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Biz-zee Bee
111-B Main Street
Bay St. Louis
(228) 467-1104
​Website

 
Biz-zee Bee is sure to have something delightful for the kiddos for Christmas! This charming little children’s boutique has built up a loyal clientele over the years who keep returning for children’s clothing that is fashionable, adorable and high quality. 
​

​Owner Janell Graham maintains a high standard for the shop – she only selects items that are stylish and well-made, but maintains multiple price points so that everyone can find something special for the little ones in their lives.

 
Biz-zee Bee carries clothing for boys from newborn to age 7 and girls from newborn to age 12. A festive gift for any tiny dancer, Biz-zee Bee has shoes for ballet, tap and jazz. Other popular items include smocked clothing and toys and the popular Bogg Bag, which promises to be weather proof and tip proof. They have both sizes in stock.

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Biz-zee Bee also offers embroidery services in-store, so items can be customized. They do accept outside items as well. But, you have to plan ahead – the cutoff to have a custom embroidered item in time for Christmas is December 15th.
 
Of course, Biz-zee Bee would never forget about Mom. They also sell Comfort Colors tees and sweatshirts with local designs and expressions that are guaranteed to make anyone on the receiving end smile.

 
Stop by Biz-zee Bee on Second Saturday, December 14, to witness all this cuteness for yourself. They are located at 111-B Main Street and will have refreshments and live music from 4-7 pm.

The Rihner family of Necaise Avenue takes pride in being the biggest – and brightest – Christmas display in the Bay.
 
- Story by Lisa Monti, photos by Ellis Anderson
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Gradually, the neighbors moved away and the kids grew up, but Lance just keep buying lights and accumulating extension cords and finding new pieces to install in the yard.
 
“There’s something new every year,” he said. “This year there’s a new Disney display.”

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Lance uses photos from the year before to see where everything goes and tweaks a few setups. If something major is out of place, he said, he’ll hear about it from regulars who remember it from years past. “Some of the older stuff like Santa on the light pole has been a staple for 25 years,” he said.
 

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He figures he’s got close to 100 pieces of yard decorations, though he’s never actually counted. Ask how much he’s got invested in the display and Lance laughingly says, “Way too much.” He guesses he’s put several thousand dollars into the project over the 28 years. “I always say the more the merrier.”
 

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And it’s not just the decorations themselves. It takes more than 40 extension cords and some 200 smaller ones to power up all that Christmas stuff. After blowing a couple of circuit breakers early on, Lance upgraded all the wiring in the house and put eight receptacles outside to handle all those cords. “It’s like putting a puzzle together,” he said of assembling and unwinding and erecting everything.
 
Depending on the weather, it takes three to four weeks to install everything, starting before Halloween. His goal is to have everything in place to light up on Thanksgiving night, and if he’s running behind, his wife Melinda and grown children help him finish up. Each night the display is turned off at 10 p.m.
 

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The takedown is faster, about three days. “It comes down pretty quick,” he said. “Everything is boxed up and goes back in the shed.”
 
Sometimes, he admits, the setup gets overwhelming. “But it does put me in the holiday mood. I put on CDs to motivate me. This is the best time of the year for me. We love Christmas."
 
The schedule is the same for Melinda, who handles the home decorations. “Inside it looks just like the outside,” he said.
 

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Over the years, advances in technology have brought fancy laser lights and other improvements to Christmas decorations, but Lance stays mostly with the classics. “My lights are old school. They don’t dance to music.” He does have 3-D projectors, which have to be brought in if it rains.
 

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Early on, before the advent of energy-efficient LEDs, the Rihners’ power bill would jump up about $100 during the holidays. “But it’s all worth it when you see the kids,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
 

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“I have been surprised with a load of carolers from churches in town who sang carols to us. That happened twice. It was pretty neat."
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As director of the Hancock County Senior Center, Arlene Johnson has enriched the lives of our seniors for over 35 years.
 
- Story by Lisa Monti, photos by Lisa Monti and Ellis Anderson

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“When they walk in the door, it’s like walking into their second home,” she says.

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One enthusiastic senior, a regular at the center, shared a story about a friend who was trying to get in touch with her but didn’t have an address or phone number. The friend knew that she was a regular at the center and went there to reconnect.
 
“I always say our seniors are Hancock County’s most prized possessions,” says Arlene. “I have learned so much from them over the years, just listening to their stories.”
 
The director has known clients who worked in cotton fields, in politics, as doctors, lawyers and school administrators. “They’re from so many different walks of life but when they’re here, they’re all family,” she says.

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Arlene, a Bay St. Louis native, has two adult children, Amy Johnson and Andrew Johnson, daughter-in-law Sarah Johnson and grandchildren Juvenal, Ava, A.J. and Jace. But her extended family at the center is much larger.
 
More than 200 seniors are registered at the Senior Center, and between 35 and 45 come every weekday. Any resident of Hancock County 60 and older is eligible to take advantage of the center’s services. The Hancock County Human Resource Agency is the senior center’s sponsoring agency.
 
Clients are served breakfast and lunch during the week, and they have time each day to socialize and go to classes to learn quilting, crocheting, ceramics or oil painting. They can choose to make small donations: $2 a month for classes and 50 cents for each meal. But the donations are totally voluntary, says Arlene, who still teaches ceramics on top of her duties as director.

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More than one of the center’s seniors have asked Arlene to never retire, because according to them, she’s known for going above and beyond. They describe her as kind, loving, considerate and highly efficient. Arlene is quick to share praise. She’s aided by staff members Mel Raboteau and site manager Michael Robertson. Jimmy Rouse has been driving the CTA bus for 25 years. David Payne also is a CTA bus driver.
 
“We also have transportation throughout the county Monday through Friday,” she said. “We pick seniors up at their door, bring them to the center, and take them on any errands: to the bank, post office, doctor’s appointments or the pharmacy.
 
Residents who move into the local nursing home are also provided transportation to and from the center so they can continue their activities and socializing with friends.
 
One reason for the loyalty is the comfort older people feel there sharing with friends and staff. “If they have problems, they come to me. They are that comfortable under that roof. I just love them.”
 
Sometimes the love follows them home. The center is next door to the community garden which donates vegetables to the center. “In the fall we make soup every Friday and send it home with the seniors so they have an extra something for the cold weather,” Arlene said.

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While Arlene’s devotion to the seniors is evident every day, the holidays are a special time to be together. On Thanksgiving Day she cooks a big meal for clients who don’t have a place to go. She picks up those who don’t have a way to get to the center and welcomes neighbors of clients who are alone to join in.
 
“I feel like I’m blessed to have Thanksgiving with them,” she says.
 
Another special event started seven years ago is the Hancock County Senior Citizen Prom, which is a “super duper” party with dancing, a special meal and door prizes donated by local businesses. It’s one special way to brighten the lives of seniors who are often alone.
 
“It’s awesome,” said Arlene, who is co-chair of the prom committee.
 
In-house programs that Arlene schedules provide information to clients on health and financial matters, nutrition and other helpful topics. She’s also a member of the Seniors and Law Enforcement Together council which presents programs to the seniors on things such as fraud and gun safety.
 
But it’s not all about seniors receiving information, care and companionship. Under Arlene’s direction, seniors have opportunities to continue giving and serving the community. During the holidays, the seniors hold a toy drive for needy children in Hancock County along with the Misfits Car Cruisers, a local car club.
 
The senior quilters are currently making lap throws for nursing home residents for Christmas. “It’s just a little something seniors can do for others,” she said.

 
Although Arlene and the staff at the senior center help out their clients in many ways, she hopes others would see the benefit of helping, even in small ways. “I wish that people would look at our elderly a little bit differently. Sometimes a smile does wonders for them.”
 

A new family business for the Wylys:   greens from their Kiln farm create decor magic with fresh wreaths and garlands.
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- Story by Lisa Monti, photos by Ellis Anderson and La Terre Farms

Their first order came in late October, and a few others have followed. “Our overarching theme is, we’re selling fresh and local,” Teri said. “We only work when we get an order because it has to be fresh.” The finished product is boxed up and delivered by Connor.

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Teri said their greenery is “free-flowing and natural, not a lot of pretense.” Orders can be customized with additions such as eucalyptus or unique flowers. Customers can also send a photo of what they’re looking for, and the Wylys will duplicate it.
 
“Everything we produce – garland, wreaths or just greenery bundles – will be custom made, again something that makes us a little different,” Connor said. 

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Since Teri and Connor both have day jobs, they work on the greenery mainly on weekends. Their venture has had a modest start with no social media or advertising yet, but they see potential beyond holiday orders. Products like theirs are in high demand among people who enjoy greenery in their homes and businesses. They’ll test the concept out for a few years to see where it leads.
 
This new venture comes at a time when Teri, an attorney, is nearing retirement and is looking forward to a second career, “something that’s exciting and that I am passionate about.”

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The Wylys bought their first 80 acres in the Kiln 30 years ago from Judge Dan Russell. They were headed from a Biloxi conference back home to New Orleans on a Sunday when the car overheated. They found a realtor’s office open and went in to call for a mechanic.
 
Bubba asked about land for sale and learned the Russell property had just been put on the market. “We bought it that afternoon,” Teri said. The couple ultimately moved to Bay St. Louis and joined law firms in Gulfport.
 
The garlands and wreaths may turn out to be the start to expanding use of the farm. Teri said possibilities include you pick ‘em blueberries and sunflowers, harvesting honey from bee hives and eggs from cage-free chickens, and even creating an ecotourism retreat.

​Connor works at INFINITY Science Center but is interested in one day being his own boss. “I always wanted to own my own business. Trying to think of businesses that would be a good fit for the farm, it seemed natural that it would be a family-based business.” Connor says his brother Grady, a born salesman currently working as a commercial insurance producer in New Orleans, will help on the marketing/sales side of the business.
 
Bubba’s family has a farming operation in North Louisiana. Teri says, “Much of the farming advice comes unsolicited from my lawyer husband, but is welcomed nonetheless.” Over the years Bubba has enjoyed his work on the property that Teri jokingly calls the “Bubbarosa.”
 

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Still firmly rooted in Bay St. Louis, the Wylys’ ultimate goal is to spend more time in the country and expand the greenery business to the nearby New Orleans market.
 
“As we grow into different products like blueberries and flowers, we think our location close to the interstate gives us a solid market with access to the Gulf Coast as well as New Orleans,” said Connor.
 
“From what we can tell, there aren’t a lot of others providing fresh local greenery in the area. We think we have a chance to offer something unique to the public.”
 
Said Teri, “We feel confident there is a demand and not just for the holidays. And we’re well placed to do that.”

To inquire about ordering garlands and wreaths, call Teri at 228.369.4438.
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With a nod to cuisines from the bayou to Asia and beyond, the elegant Sycamore House has become a coast favorite.

– story by Lisa Monti
​– photos by Ellis Anderson
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Today, the Sycamore House is known for its eclectic choices on the hefty menu ranging from New Orleans and Southern classic seafood and steak entrées to pizza and Asian dishes.
 
That variety is what first-time guests in our group noticed quickly after settling in at our table in the Mauffray dining room recently. Across the hall is the larger Provence dining room with French accents and access to the large screened porch.
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The menus haven’t changed much over the years, but there have been tweaks here and there. “We added a new salad, but I can’t tell you when that was,” she said. An aged Black Angus New York strip was added to the dinner menu, and the desserts (all made by hand at the restaurant) change up a bit depending on the season.
 
The menu reflects the two chefs’ backgrounds. “I’m from New Orleans and my husband is from New York. And because we’re in the South it’s hard not to have a lot of Cajun/Creole-type dishes.”
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They also enjoy eating and cooking Asian food, a nice additional layer that fans are happy to find in Sushi-grade local yellowfin tuna with ginger-soy sauce.
 
A quick rundown of the menu shows the range of influences, from barbecue shrimp and turtle soup to Thai scallops and Saigon Chicken Tacos appetizers. The flavorful Cuban style slow-braised beef brisket also shines in a poboy variation. Turtle soup and Thai-Indonesian style curry are two of my favorites for brunch, as well as the Garlic Boursin BLT on sourdough with sweet basil mustard.
 

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Pizza and sushi may be the most surprising finds at The Sycamore House, at least judging from the response of our group. About half ordered pizzas and the others went for sushi (which is available only on Wednesday nights as a special).
 
And one restaurant regular chose a favorite from the menu, the crabmeat and mushroom cheesecake. My Meat Lover's pie topped with pepperoni, andouille, Canadian bacon and grilled chicken made for great leftovers. You can get a cheese pizza with your choice of toppings, or you can go for one of eight specialty pies including BBQ shrimp and Mediterranean.

 
Pizza fans can thank Chef Michael for its addition to the menu, something rarely found in fine dining restaurants.
 
“After Katrina,” recalled Stella, “We were one of the only restaurants around for a while. My husband is from upstate New York and he was dying for New York-style pizza. We converted one of the ovens for pizza and it sort of stayed with us.”
 
Pizzas are popular for carry-out meals as well as dine-in. They’re available Wednesday through Sunday.
 
In the 17 years the couple has operated The Sycamore House, they have earned many a loyal customer among locals and weekenders. “Some come in every night we’re open, some two nights a week and we see some at least once a week,” she said.
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“As with any restaurant, once you get to know a customer, you know what they like, you make their drinks the way they like them. It’s the old New Orleans way, we have that same sort of thing.”
 ​

 
With the holidays coming up, The Sycamore House is preparing for their special Christmas Eve and New Year’s Even four-course dinners. Watch for them on Facebook and Instagram – but be quick.
 
“A lot of times we’re sold out before we get to that point,” Chef Stella said.
 
The Sycamore House
210 Main Street
Bay St. Louis
469-0107

​Hours:
Wed-Thurs 5:00 - 8:30 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
Sunday Brunch 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

​An inaugural event for writers, aspiring writers and illustrators brings together some of the Gulf Coast’s most talented and noteworthy storytellers, including literary superstar, Jesmyn Ward.
 
- by Steve Barney

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The event is not targeted only to seasoned professionals; aspiring writers and artists are especially encouraged to attend. Promoting engagement and participation, the Exchange will provide a friendly environment to ask questions and get advice from experts working in the trenches, get creative and have some fun.
 
Ducomb added, “The goal is to create an open exchange between those with a desire to create and those who can mentor and coach them in the process.”

 
The library reached out to an interdisciplinary team of community stakeholders, including The Arts, Hancock County, the Hancock Performing Arts Center, the Shoofly Magazine and the Hancock County School District to develop and produce the ambitious program. Additional support for marketing the event came from Visit Mississippi and the Hancock Tourism Bureau.
 
Earlier this year, Ocean Springs author Johnnie Bernhard presented in Bay St. Louis as part of the libraries’ ongoing speaker series. Bernhard is a traditionally published author and winner of multiple prestigious awards for her fiction. Bernhard’s work has appeared in newspapers and magazines, both nationally and internationally.
 
Ducomb shared with Bernhard the vision of a unique gathering of writers and artists from across the Mississippi Coast. Bernhard had actually been trying to get a literary event going on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for some time. She enthusiastically joined the planning team, recruiting other well-known authors and adding panel discussions. Publisher pitch sessions were added as well, giving unpublished authors the invaluable opportunity to receive critical feedback from editors and prospective publishers.
 
Bernhard explains, “I always thought when I was an unpublished writer, if the dream came true for me and people actually read my work, that I would find a way to pay it forward by sharing what I learned in my journey to become a traditionally published author.”
 
Going beyond author presentations, the Exchange includes a variety of workshops in a number of disciplines encompassing writing and the visual arts. On Friday afternoon (November 22), Lazy Magnolia Brewery will become an art studio with hands-on workshops focused on book illustration at the intersection of literature and visual art.

 
From 1:00-2:00 pm, Melissa Carrigee will share her experiences and facilitate a workshop on illustrating children’s books. Her first book, “I Dream of Dragons,” was written while attending college during an illustration class. Not being much of an illustrator she decided to trace pictures. The story took on a life of its own, and soon it became apparent that writing for children would become a passion. It was written for her young son, Logan, to show him that he could become anything he wanted to be if he dared to dream.

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The afternoon continues with a workshop from 2:00-5:00 pm featuring self-published author Albert Ghergich, who has written several books under the moniker John Albert. Ghergich’s stories of the Deep South cross genres of science fiction, horror, comedy and non-fiction.

 
Ghergich will team up with noted Bay St. Louis portrait artist and illustrator Michelle Arnold. In the session Arnold will work with participants to create illustrations using a variety of techniques and styles for Ghergich’s Mother’s Eye, which features an ancient, mystical Rougarou creature, the last of its kind, driven by a vengeance-fueled rage, who is unwittingly drawn into a supernatural journey where past and present collide.

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Back at the Hancock Performing Arts Center, from 3:00-5:00 pm, aspiring writers can review their manuscripts in literary pitch sessions with representatives from Texas Review Press and Dogwood Press, offering a unique opportunity to get direct feedback from experts in the publishing industry.

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The first day culminates at 7:00 pm with a free performance featuring an eclectic mix of literature and visual arts. Held at the Hancock Performing Arts Center, this performance is open to the public. In the lobby, well known mural artists from across the coast will be live painting their interpretation of classic scenes from Mississippi literature.
 
The artists include: Michelle Arnold, Scharonne Herrington, Lucinda Perniciario D’Enfant, Greg Noll and Andrew Switzer. Illustrations created earlier in the day will be displayed as Ghergich reads excerpts from his book, “Mother’s Eye.”
 
On stage, the Hancock High School Theatre under the direction of Scott Gladfelter will perform a dramatic interpretation of Eudora Welty’s classic “Where Is The Voice Coming From?”
 
Building on the “homegrown” theme, the evening will also preview videos produced by local school groups comprising a 360-degree videographic “quilt” of the communities in Hancock County. The work is the result of a grant from the Mississippi Museum of Arts’ Center for Art and Public Exchange (CAPE), enabling a residency for Jackson State professor Mark Geil.
 
“The metaphor of a community quilt,” Geil states, “is to explore the varied narratives and histories of Hancock County. The project will explore what is special, vital and challenging about living in Hancock County, while capturing the amazing vibrancy of our communities.”

 
On Saturday, November 23, the program is focused on the nuts and bolts of storytelling, writing and editing from some of the region’s best fiction and non-fiction authors.
 
Johnnie Bernhard will lead an in-depth seminar entitled, “Fiction and the Editing Process.” Margaret McMullen will discuss the process of memoir writing and will read from her new memoir, “Where The Angels Lived: One Family’s Story of Loss, Exile, and Return.”
 

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A recipient of a 2010 NEA Fellowship in literature, a 2010 Fulbright at the University of Pécs in Pécs, Hungary, and the National Author Winner of the 2011 Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award, McMullan is the author of nine award-winning books.
 

 
The afternoon continues with a panel discussion entitled “Writing About What You Know” led by award-winning area author and publisher Ellis Anderson of Ellis Anderson Media (The Shoofly Magazine and French Quarter Journal), Anderson’s book, Under Surge, Under Siege, chronicles life in Bay St. Louis in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

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Anderson will be joined on the panel with Pass Christian author Rheta Grimsley Johnson. A former syndicated columnist for King Features Syndicate of New York, she has won numerous journalism awards. The author of eight books including Poor Man's Provence: Finding Myself in Cajun Louisiana and Hank Hung the Moon and Warmed Our Cold, Cold Hearts, she wrote the only authorized biography of "Peanuts" cartoonist Charles Schulz. Currently she writes for French Quarter Journal and serves as the publication’s editor.

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The panel also includes Louisiana author and Texas Review Press editor Dr. J Bruce Fuller. Fuller is a Louisiana native whose books include “The Dissenter's Ground,” “Lancelot” and Flood, and his poems have appeared at The Southern Review, Crab Orchard Review, McNeese Review, Birmingham Poetry Review and Louisiana Literature, among others.
 
The Homegrown Literary and Arts Exchange builds up to Saturday night’s keynote presentation by Jesmyn Ward, with a lecture, book reading, Q&A and book signing. This lecture is free and open to the public.

 
Ward has been called “the new Toni Morrison.” She is the first woman and first person of color to win the National Book Award twice, joining the ranks of William Faulkner, Saul Bellow, John Cheever, Philip Roth and John Updike. Her writing, which encompasses fiction, nonfiction and memoir, is “raw, beautiful and dangerous.”
 
Ward’s novels, primarily set on Mississippi’s gulf coast, are deeply informed by the trauma of Hurricane Katrina. Ward edited the critically acclaimed anthology The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks About Race, a New York Times bestseller. Her newest novel, the critically acclaimed Sing, Unburied, Sing, won the 2017 National Book Award. Sing has been called “a searing, urgent read for anyone who thinks the shadows of slavery and Jim Crow have passed” (Celeste Ng).
 
Sing was named one of the best books of 2017 by The New York Times, Time, The Washington Post and Publisher's Weekly. Sing was also nominated for the PEN/Faulkner Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Aspen Words Literary Prize.
 
An associate professor of creative writing at Tulane University, Ward received the 2016 Strauss Living Award and a 2017 MacArthur Genius Grant, and was named one of Time’s 100 most influential people of 2018. She is the winner of the 2019 American Voice in Literature Award.
 
For more information and to purchase tickets for the workshops, visit the Homegrown Literary and Arts Exchange website at https://hancocklibraries.info/homegrown.
 
The evening sessions, which are free and open to the public, will take place at the Hancock Performing Arts Center, 7140 Stennis Airport Road, Kiln, Miss. 39556.
 
Fri., November 22, 7pm:   Literary and Visual Arts Performance
Sat., November 23, 7pm:   Jesmyn Ward lecture, book reading, Q&A; book signing
 
The article’s author, Steve Barney, is the president of The Arts, Hancock County.

Successful Pass Christian business owners are starting a new venture here in Bay St. Louis.

- by Lisa Monti

​That’s when they opened Sea Level, a tiny but complete kitchen inside a beach cottage on wheels that operates seasonally in the West Pass Christian Harbor. It’s known for its award winning tacos and burgers, hand-cut fries and homemade spinach and artichoke spring rolls. 

Sea Level closed Oct. 30 for the winter and will reopen in January. Dana, Thomas and their employees are now focused on getting Coffee Culture up and running. “We have such fantastic employees we wanted to keep them year round,” Dana said.
​

​They’re leasing the space for their new coffee shop to test the waters in a new location. “We’ve never done anything over in the Bay and wanted to get a feel for it first,” Dana said.
​
Coffee Culture will offer a variety of hot and cold coffee, Chai tea, breakfast pastries and sandwiches, scones and bagels, most of which will be made from scratch. It will feature Coast Roast coffee, a local favorite based in Long Beach. The coffee will be sold either in whole beans or ground at the coffee shop. 

The Barretts will start out staffing Coffee Culture with their Sea Level employees but would hire locals as the need arises. “Being a part of the community is very important,” Dana said.

Coffee Culture will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. There’s seating inside for 18 customers and a screened-in porch in back that’s dog friendly. There’s also a handy drive-thru window where orders and dog treats will be dispensed.
​
Watch for Coffee Culture on Facebook and Instagram.

Autumn is perhaps the best season to appreciate the beauty and environmental significance of coastal Mississippi, and some of the unique places – and wildlife – that make our area special.
 
- story by Dena Temple
- photos by Dena Temple (unless otherwise attributed) 

East of Gulfport and Biloxi we traverse a 4-mile elevated roadway over the Pascagoula River delta. Below is the largest undammed river in the lower 48 states. In 1974, the Nature Conservancy and other conservationists rallied to bring 35,000 acres of the Pascagoula River watershed under public protection.
 
This led to a river corridor presently buffered by almost 70,000 acres of public and private conservation lands. The Nature Conservancy today continues to monitor and maintain the condition of the Pascagoula River Watershed for wildlife and future generations (read more about their conservation efforts here).
 
Just beyond the elevated roadway is Exit 68 for Moss Point. A brown sign confirms that this is our exit for the Pascagoula River Audubon Center, just a few minutes down the road.

​ 
Their small parking area is bordered by a fence hand-decorated with egrets welcoming visitors to the center. It’s lovely, but more interesting is the unusual pavement in the parking lot. A grid of black plastic circles keeps the pea gravel paving material at bay.
 
An interpretive sign provides fascinating information on the use of this and other “pervious” or permeable paving materials, which help reduce runoff and allow the groundwater to recharge. Our lessons begin here in the parking lot!
​

​ 
The Center is located on Rhodes Bayou, which drains into the Escatawpa and Pascagoula Rivers. Exhibits focus on the ecosystem of the Pascagoula River watershed, and the site extensively uses native plants, removes invasive species, and incorporates structures for wildlife. If you have or want a home wildlife garden, you’ll find plenty of inspiration here.
 

​ 
The leisurely stroll from the parking area to the Center leads us down a former trolley path of the Pascagoula Street Railway & Power Company, which ran from 1900 to 1925. Today, a replica of the trolley line ticket booth contains historic information about the trolley and the area’s lumber history.
 
Further down the path is a “Nature Play” garden, where children ages 8 and under get to explore the natural world through play.
 
Under a large oak, we find Center educator Suzie Trott conducting “Toddler Tuesday.” She is surrounded by about 15 little ones and their grownups. The kids are shy at first but by the end of story time, most are yelling out questions and squealing with delight at every right answer. The weekly program, geared toward children ages 1-4, includes a science lesson, a story, and playtime to connect the youngsters with nature.
 
Atop a flight of stairs is the Center. Just four years old, the striking, elevated wood structure features front and back “porches” with comfy rockers. The porches overlook marshland and meadow, and time spent in a rocker enjoying the sounds of nature must be very pleasant, indeed. The rockers were made possible by donations from local families and businesses.
 

 
Just inside the double doors is a welcome desk and the smiling face of Andrea Belcher, Outreach and Facilities Associate. Her job this morning is answering questions for visitors, but she is also responsible for managing the Center’s art gallery. The gallery, which features exhibits that change every six weeks, currently features “Extreme Elements: Earth, Wind, Fire, Air.” Artists’ receptions are held to allow the public to meet the artists. The gallery (and the entire facility, for that matter) can be rented for weddings or other special events.
 
Center manager Susan Stachowski oversees daily operations at the Center and develops programs and activities for nature lovers of all ages. She is particularly proud of the Center’s programs for children. “In season, our Children’s Garden really connects kids with the outdoors,” she explains. “They plant the seeds and watch the plants grow. A few weeks ago they dug up potatoes. They were amazed that potatoes came from the ground!”
 

​Another of Susan’s programs also is geared toward attracting younger enthusiasts, but in a slightly different way.
 
“Our hummingbird festival was a great success,” she says, “especially Hummingbird Happy Hour. Through social events like this, and our quarterly Birds and Brews meetup, we hope to engage young adults and get them involved in birds and conservation.”
 
Like many birdwatchers, Susan is clearly hummingbird-crazy, as evidenced by the 22 hummingbird feeders behind the Center.
 ​

 
The Center also features a gift shop with the usual assortment of field guides, t-shirts and stuffed animals. Of note are beautiful bird houses made by local artist Pete Floyd, whose work can be seen at the Peter Anderson Arts Festival in Ocean Springs (Nov. 2).
 
Other exhibits inside the Center’s main room include aquariums containing turtles, snakes and other small animals; several taxidermy exhibits, including a bobcat; a children’s play area; and an engaging Pascagoula River Watershed diorama.

​The lower level of the Center (outdoors) features a picnic area (which can also be rented), a children’s garden, nature trails through a hummingbird garden and wildflower meadow, a boardwalk through wetlands, and a dock and observation platform on Rhodes Bayou. Water activities include kayak rentals and a two-hour boat tour for $30 (run by a private operator; reservations required).

​ 
After thanking Susan for her wonderful tour of the Pascagoula River Audubon Center, we set out on a peaceful 20-minute bird walk on the property and casually discover 17 species of birds, including Bald Eagle, White Ibis, Anhinga and Summer Tanager. Wow!
 

​ 
Two excellent options exist for lunch after a morning at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center, and the first is just around the corner.
 
Our first “B” is Burnham Drugs, located at 5001 Main Street. This was a recommendation from Susan Stachowski at PRAC. “It’s an old-fashioned soda fountain,” she explained, “and the food is great. They have burger specials on Tuesdays, too!”

​ 
From the outside, one would never know that food was being served inside this drug store, so this is a true “hidden gem.” The windows of Burnham Drugs show a nice assortment of gift items, consistent with what you would expect to find in a large pharmacy.
 
But the front doors might as well be a portal to the past, because inside is a true ‘50s luncheonette / soda fountain. Stools wrap around a curvaceous counter over black-and-white checkerboard floors; here, patrons pass the sugar and the local gossip. If diners are lucky enough to score one of the five booths, they are treated to a tasty breakfast, burgers, hot dogs or milk shakes. The only thing missing is a gum-cracking waitress.

 
But – curses – today the counter and booths are filled to capacity, so it’s on to the other Plan “B.”
 
About ten minutes’ drive from PRAC is Bozo’s Seafood Market, located at 2012 Ingalls Avenue in Pascagoula. Its dreary, grey exterior belies what waits inside; only the endless cars coming and going like worker ants at an anthill give any indication that something great is happening inside.
 
Once through the doors, though, Bozo’s goes from drab to a cheery yellow, and the fun begins. A friendly cashier at the door guides new patrons to the order counter, which is fairly well hidden in the back of the restaurant next to the pickup window.
 
Options include a long list of poboys, sandwiches, dinners, baskets (fried or steamed), homemade gumbo and salads. Shrimp in all its forms is the order of the day – after all, this is shrimpin’ country, and what diners are eating today was swimming yesterday.
 
You really can’t make a mistake here; Bozo’s is recognized as one of the top 15 seafood restaurants in Mississippi, and one of the top 20 seafood dives in the country.
 
Once an order is placed, diners return to the friendly cashier, order drinks and pay the tab. Then it’s time to snag a table and wait for your name to be called.
 
There are a few conventional hi-top tables along the far wall, but most patrons opt to sit at the long tables in the center. These unique tables have saw-cut holes every few feet, so diners can peel-and-eat their luscious shrimp, then toss the shells away down the holes.

​ 
In the back of the restaurant is a clean, well-lit seafood market, where patrons can order shrimp for the next big game either raw or steamed to order. There are lots of fresh fish, whole and fillets, for sale as well. Over the pickup window is a one-of-a-kind, handmade sign advertising their signature poboys. For those who like folk art advertising, this sign is the real deal.
 

​ 
After grabbing the Styrofoam-wrapped goodness at the pickup window, the peeling and feasting begins. Prices are reasonable and portions are huge, and no one leaves Bozo’s hungry. For example, the steamed shrimp basket ($9) includes a mound of (plain, mild or spicy) shrimp, corn on the cob, sausage, potatoes and cole slaw. Fountain drinks can be refilled as needed.
 

 
Once you’re satisfied, a quick trip to the rest room is needed to wash away all evidence of the unbridled gluttony that just took place. Now it’s off for our afternoon adventure.
​

Heading west on I-10 from Bozo’s Seafood Market, it’s just a few miles to the entrance of the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge. The entrance road winds its way through longleaf pine savannah to a modest visitor center.
 
A ranger volunteer is ready at the entrance with a greeting and an introduction to the refuge with a 12-minute movie on the history of the region and the importance of the refuge. After that giant lunch, resting while watching a movie sounds pretty great.
 
There are six subspecies of Sandhill Cranes in the United States; three are migratory, and three are non-migratory. The Mississippi Sandhill Crane is non-migratory and is therefore dependent on finding suitable habitat for food and nesting. It found that habitat, the wet, longleaf pine savannah, along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
 ​

Over time, these prairies of grass and pine have been lost to man-made pine forests for logging, and clearcutting for residential development. So much habitat was lost - in fact, only 3% of the original wet pine savannah remains – that by the early 70s, the Mississippi Sandhill Crane population plummeted to just 30-35 individuals. 
​
In the mid-70s, World War II veteran and National Park Service wildlife biologist for the Gulf Coast Region Jake Valentine, Jr. started a movement to preserve the savannah habitat for the Sandhill Cranes. In fact, the Mississippi Sandhill Crane was one of the first species to be protected under 1973’s Endangered Species Act, and this 20,000-acre Refuge was the first to be created under the Endangered Species Act in 1975. This is the last parcel of wet pine savannah in the region.
 
The protection of this important habitat, along with human help with improving reproductive success, has grown the Sandhill Crane population to around 100 birds. In fact, most of the current population were either hand-raised or descended from hand-raised birds. Still, their low numbers give the Mississippi Sandhill Crane the dubious distinction of being the rarest bird in North America.

​ 
The ranger tells us that, while Sandhill Cranes are usually not seen at the Visitor Center, two birds were spotted in the fields earlier in the day. (If you like to bird-watch, you’re used to the phrase, “You just missed it!”) Park rangers lead guided tours into the Refuge to areas where the cranes can be seen; these tours are held Wednesdays and Saturdays November through February. He also shares that the refuge winters about twenty percent of the world’s population of the secretive Henslow’s Sparrow.
 
There are short nature trails near the refuge headquarters which meander through some of the denser areas of pine, grasses and wildflowers, past a bluff overlooking Bayou Castille. Beautiful vistas reveal themselves around every bend, especially as the sun lowers in the sky and shadows lengthen in the late afternoon.

​ 
The Visitor Center closes at 3 pm but the park is open until dusk, so we continue our walk. Birds and butterflies scoot past, and little by little, attention turns from the wide vistas to the details at hand: beautiful plumes of grass with pink, smoke-like tassels that wave in the wind; wildflowers like asters, blazing star and narrowleaf (or swamp) sunflowers; the carnivorous pitcher plant; and tiny butterflies that flutter by.
 

​ 
It is then, when the silence is only broken by the rattle of the grasses in the wind, that one can imagine hearing the wingbeats of a butterfly, or the shrill trumpeting of a Sandhill Crane in the far distance.

​ 
As the trail ends and the day grows old, birds become more active. Bluebirds cavort and chase insects. Brown-headed Nuthatches pull seeds from the cones on the pines. A lone Palm Warbler bobs its tail and flits about. And a Blue Jay imitates the call of a Red-shouldered Hawk, for no reason other than, it can.
 

Waveland Alderman Jeremy Burke shares details of three exciting upcoming events in town.

The parade coordinator asks that veterans complete a parade entry form or contact her at kristentusa@gmail.com or (228) 209-7399.  Parade entry forms are available at Waveland City Hall and Bay Books (131 Main Street, Bay St. Louis).
​

​Waveland's Ground Zero Museum will hold its Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, November 23. The day begins with a pancake breakfast from 7:00 am until 9:00 am. The cost of the pancake breakfast is $5.00 per person and is sponsored by the Waveland Civic Association. 

The Waveland's Ground Zero Museum Christmas Bazaar will be held from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm. Products offered include candles, jewelry, books, art and ceramics, just to name a few categories. A lunch will be available for purchase with food provided by Chappy's Rum Kitchen. 

Vendor spots are full. For more information about this event, contact the Waveland Ground Zero Museum at (228) 467-9012.
​

I hope to see everyone on Coleman Avenue on Friday, November 8, between 5:00-8:00 pm for Waveland Food Truck Friday. Coleman Avenue in front of Studio Waveland will be closed to accommodate the food trucks and allow you to set-up a canopy tent, table and chairs if you choose.

​Waveland Food Truck Friday admission is free and open to the public. Food and drinks can be purchased through the food trucks. The Waveland Civic Association will have a table set up selling beer, soft drinks and water.
 
Waveland Food Truck Friday will have musical entertainment, thanks to the generous sponsorship from the Silver Slipper Casino.
 
Use the hashtag #downtownwaveland on your social media post so everyone can see all the good food and the great time you are having.

Next Board of Mayor and Alderman meeting
Wednesday, November 20th at 6:30PM

During the Second Saturday Artwalk each month in Old Town Bay St. Louis, you'll find cool deals, fresh meals and lots of art and live music!

Be sure to check out "Hot Spots"  Bodega (111 Court Street) and Social Chair (201 Main Street). Read more about these featured businesses below! 
​
- stories and photos by Anne Pitre

Each month, two businesses are spotlighted and designated "Hot Spots."  Read about the November Hot Spots below! 

​Bodega
111 Court Street
Bay St. Louis
(228) 363-1290
Website
​

Bodega in Old Town Bay St. Louis is a dream come true for residents and visitors alike. Conveniently located only a stone’s throw from the Beach on Main and Court Streets, you’ll find everything you need under one roof.
 
A November Hot Spot on Second Saturday, Bodega is a unique and inviting oasis to start your Old Town adventure. “When I first bought the building, I honestly had no idea how the many facets of the business would grow and unfold,” said owner and developer, Kevin Jordan. “The one thing I did know is I wanted to create a place that would be like no other on the Coast.”
 
And, his customers agree, he did just that.
 
“It’s the perfect place to relax and unwind,” said a Bodega regular, Gloria Bernard of Coldwell Banker Alfonso Realty.
​

 Today, Bodega is home to Bodega Adventures, Bodega Spirits and Liquor, Parrot Head Bar and Grill and Loft Yoga. First a bank, then offices to the City and the Hancock Chamber, the stately, historic building at 111 Court Street is conveniently located across from the City’s Public Garage offering free parking.
 
As you enter Bodega, you almost expect to see Jimmy Buffet himself sitting at the bar as the sounds of bohemian music draws you in. Once inside, you’ll feel right at home as you’re greeted by a friendly staff who step up to serve you a cool beverage of your choice at the Parrot Head Bar and Restaurant.

Chef Rickey Peters, a veteran restaurateur, is a star attraction at Bodega with tantalizing daily specials and specialty sandwiches, tapas offerings, sliders and a few sweet thangs.

Locals have their favorites like the French dip, or homemade shrimp remoulade and chicken salad. But, no matter what you fancy, you’ll find authentic New Orleans style cuisine for lunch and dinner right here at Bodega.

 
A new addition to Bodega is Bodega Spirits and Liquor. Tucked away under the palm trees on Court Street, it is a welcomed surprise, giving restaurants, visitors and locals a quick way to grab their favorite wine and spirits. And if they don’t have what you want, just ask the manager Larry Main and he’ll gladly make a special order just for you.
 
The Loft on the second floor at Bodega is a welcomed retreat for yoga classes and private meetings and parties. The balcony overlooks Main Street with views of the Bay, offering guests a private setting in the heart of Old Town.

Whether you are an experienced yogi or attending your first class, the inclusive Loft community offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere with some of the top licensed instructors on the Coast providing guidance on strength, stamina, flexibility, balance, breathing, and awareness throughout your yoga journey for all levels. Single drop in classes start at $15 with advance reservations.

 When planning your vacation to the area, look no further than the staff at Bodega. They can direct you to a sister business: GulfView Properties. Owned and managed by Jordan, they offer 11 premier vacation rentals in three locations: Bay Saint Louis, New Orleans and Covington, Louisiana.

And, once you’ve made it to the Bay, the staff will give you local tips on where to go and help you get there by renting you whatever you need to cruise in style from golf carts and bicycles to kayaks or paddle boards.

“Simply put, Bodega has one goal in mind: to relax your mind, body, and spirit,” said Jordan. “We would be honored if you stayed with us.” 
​

Just call (228) 363-1290 to get your adventure started. For more information go to www.bodegabsl.com for email us at hello@bodegabsl.com. For vacation rentals go to www.gulfviewproperties.net or call (228) 344-3004.

Social Chair
201 Main Street
Bay St. Louis
(228) 466-5853
​Website

If you’re looking to make a splash and find the ultimate conversation item for your home or your wardrobe, Social Chair is the perfect place to find it. From the festive and sparkly to the ultimate in Southern elegance, their inventory runs the gamut of all that is fabulous.
​

To a first-time shopper, the energy is tangible. You will walk into this store and gasp, laugh, covet, and be in awe of its creativity and inspiration. Each piece in the store is expertly curated by owner, Yuki Northington.

Founded in 2006, Northington aimed for Social Chair to fill the need for people to find unique and elevated decor as they rebuilt or restored their homes. The store mostly carried home furnishings and antiques in its early days. Some furnishings can still be found there, but the focus of the store is now mostly on accents and accessories – both for the home and for the wardrobe.

“With Amazon on the rise, we set ourselves apart by offering real customer service,” said Northington. “We know our customers and can offer recommendations. We always offer complimentary gift wrap and exclusive items that they just can’t buy anywhere else!”
​

One thing is for sure – Social Chair is the headquarters for women with exceptional style who love a little pop of sparkle... or a BIG pop of sparkle. Their jewelry lines have something for everyone at all price points and include the ever-popular and locally made Helen Marie line for important gift giving. For those who may be prepping now for Mardi Gras, they also carry gorgeous tiaras and crowns.

Social Chair is also a must-see for Christmas and holiday decor! They pride themselves on their holiday style and have earned a reputation for being the place to go if you’re looking for something with that wow factor. They have had their trees up since Cruisin’ the Coast – so they are ready for you to come find something special for yours.

Perhaps the best part of shopping at Social Chair are the original items created by Yuki herself. She creates beautiful gifts and souvenirs featuring her original artwork depicting Bay St. Louis and its landmarks, among other items.

Yuki is indeed a woman of many talents and leadership. Her hard work and steadfast dedication to the community have earned her the title of Mississippi Magazine’s favorite shop twice over, multiple mentions in Southern Living Magazine and appearances on HGTV’s Design Star series.

​She has also been recognized as an Outstanding Citizen by the Hancock Chamber of Commerce, and is the current president of the Bay St. Louis Rotary Club. It’s clear that her creativity, energy and passion for what she undertakes is embodied in her business and is what makes Social Chair an experience as well as a place to shop.

“I love Bay St. Louis and try to help make this a place that others want to visit and return to again and again,” she said. “I am blessed with the best employees in town, and our customers are extremely loyal to our local shops.”

Come experience it for yourself on Second Saturday, Nov. 9. They will be serving refreshments, giving away door prizes and offering Hot Spot discounts on select lines.

​As if these weren’t enough reasons to stop by, the St. Stanislaus Marching Regiment will be playing from 4-6 pm. You can also shop there any day of the week! Their hours are 10 am-5 pm Monday–Saturday, and 11 am-4 pm on Sunday. 
​​

From planning to cleanup, The Wedding Collection has everything needed for that perfect special day.

- story by Lisa Monti
photos by Ellis Anderson and The Wedding Collection

“We have about 30 gowns from four designers and will offering dresses by two more designers by the end of the year,” she said. 

“The bride can come in and try on as many as she wants. We take one bride at a time to make sure the consultation feels super special.”
​

 
Plans are to expand into bridal veils, jewelry and mother of the bride and bridesmaid gowns.
 
The new bridal shop is Kerri's second local venture with husband Kevin Pellegrin and business partner, Daniel Clark, whom she makes very clear she couldn't do this without them by her side.
 
She also manages the day-to-day operation the Harbor House and Suites at 222 South Beach Boulevard which offers vacation rentals in a restored 1840s beachfront home.
 
Keeping with the local theme, Kerri says she makes every effort to work with local vendors for each wedding she’s involved in. “I couldn’t do my job without really great vendor partners, and we try to keep everything local.”
 

​ 
She remains mindful of the couple’s budget, keeping an eye on their bottom line. Catering is outsourced to local partners including Claiborne Hill and 200 North Beach.
 
“We look at the menu the bride and groom want and suggest the best vendor suited for them,” she says. “We’re very selective who we work with.” Also outsourced are flowers, the cake, the bar, music and photography, she says.
 
“We’re very hands-on and use a customized checklist,” she said.
 
That includes finding and securing the venue and designing the space. Kerri uses the city-owned indoor and outdoor venues including the Bay St. Louis Community Center, the park and duck pond at the depot, the Longfellow Community Center and the Harbor Event Deck plus the Balcony on South Beach Boulevard and a property in Biloxi.
 
No matter where the wedding is celebrated, she says, “We take a lot of pride in making sure the space looks and feels different for every bride.”
 

 
So far, she’s done nine weddings and four more are coming up. “We have one every weekend in November.” Locally, an average wedding has 150 invited guests, but Kerri is prepared to handle up to 600 people.
 
In keeping with her Louisiana family’s traditions, the couple have the option of having a formal receiving line at the reception and a second-line dance so the guests can join in.
 
Kerri said about half of the brides she’s worked with have been locals and others live in Jackson, Baton Rouge, Hattiesburg and New Mexico, among other locations. She expects word will spread far and wide that the Bay is a growing wedding destination.
 
The Wedding Collection will have a ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration Nov. 22. You’ll find details on our Shoofly Community Calendar.

The Wedding Collection
104 U.S. 90 W
Bay St. Louis
228-344-3212 (Shoppe) 228-365-3115 (cell)
Info@theweddingcollection.com

A visit to the Maine home of E.B. White, author of "Charlotte's Web" and "The Elements of Style," two of the most beloved books in the English language. 

- Story and photos by Rheta Grimsley Johnson
​

​He wrote in his boat house, hauling a typewriter in a wheelbarrow at day’s beginning and end. A commute, if you will.
​

If you are not sure where to begin a search, go to the library. As is the case in most of Maine’s tailored towns, Friend Memorial Public Library was the loveliest building in the burg of Brooklin. You have to trust a region that values its libraries enough to make them shine.
​

E.B. White is one of my literary heroes. He wrote thousands of well-chosen words for the New Yorker Magazine over five decades. He wrote books for children, including the classic Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little. There are thick collections of his memorable letters.

But the book I hold dearest is The Elements of Style, which White co-authored with his former Cornell University professor William Strunk Jr. “No book in shorter space, with fewer words, will help any writer more than this persistent little volume,” The Boston Globe raved upon the publication of the third edition of the perennial bestseller.

It is true. Better than grammatical rules reviewed is the “style approach” White made simple. Write with nouns and verbs. Do not overwrite. Avoid fancy words. And so on.

It is the bible of spare, understandable writing. If you’ve ever written so much as a letter, you need this book. Beware, however, it will make you a vicious critic of some of the over-wrought writing in vogue these days. Pat Conroy, for instance, would have struggled in Strunk’s class or under a White edit; Donna Tartt would have flunked and fled.

I found White’s grave at the back of the big city cemetery simply by figuring he’d take the same approach to death as he had to writing. Keep it simple.
​

​There he was – Elwyn Brooks White – beneath a plain Jane marker next to his wife, Katharine Angell, also of New Yorker fame. Name, date of birth, date of death. That’s it. I half expected to see someone’s worn copy of “Elements” on top of the grave, but White’s devotees would never part with their copies. I have the one I bought at Auburn in 1971 and my late husband’s dog-eared copy.

The librarian was helpful and pointed out gifts from the Whites. There were two original Garth Williams drawings from the Stuart Little manuscript. The library has a small garden outside named for Katharine and E.B. White, who supported it with both money and hard work. Katharine helped with the garden design.

I went to the general store across the street and bought a scone and a t-shirt. I doubt if White hung out there much as he avoided strangers who felt like they knew him.

James Thurber wrote White would use the fire escape to get away from The New Yorker office whenever visitors he did not know arrived.

“He has avoided the Man in the Reception Room as he has avoided the interviewer, the photographer, the microphone, the rostrum, the literary tea and the Stork Club. His life is his own….”

He’s been dead since 1985, but it still felt awkward hunting E.B. White. But I wanted to pay respects, that’s all. So many times he’s saved me from myself.
Rather, very, little, pretty – these are the leeches that infest the pond of prose, sucking the blood of words….
​
That’s the kind of advice that helps a writer, day after day, word after word.

Every community is the sum of its residents, past and present. But we'll bet that none of these gentlemen had an inkling that we would be talking about them more than a century after they left us.

- Story by ​Jerry Beaugez 

​
No man was more accommodating or had more friends than he. If anyone met him and said they were hungry, Polite would say, “Well, you can’t eat your hat. Here, try this,” and he would leave them with something to eat. The mailman, messenger, general delivery man and baker all in one great character continued to helping others for nearly half a century. Mr. Polite passed away in 1930.

​R.R. Perkins was known as a “big operator” in Bay St. Louis. Born in Bernice, South Carolina, in 1869, he and his family moved to Broxton, Georgia, where he met and married Tempie Lott. Perkins moved to Bay St. Louis in 1903 where he and his wife raised six children.
​

Mr. Perkins was the president of the Imperial Naval Stores Company and the Hancock Naval Stores Company, one of the largest companies of its type in Mississippi at the time, which produced such items as resin, tar, and timber used for sailing ships. The company also produced pine oil, pitch, and turpentine which were shipped through New Orleans, Mobile, and Gulfport. Under Perkins’s supervision from its Bay St. Louis headquarters, the Hancock Naval Stores Company was capitalized at half a million dollars. Today that would earn him $12,500,000.00. Perkins was also the president of the Merchant’s Bank, which was originally housed on Beach Boulevard just south of the tracks. The building remained standing until 2005 when Hurricane Katrina heavily damaged the structure, and it was eventually torn down.
​

Perkins was a kind and giving man who quietly dispensed with an open heart to many charities as well as family and friends alike. When he passed away on December 10, 1915, his obituary stated, “He had the biggest trust in mankind; ever hopeful, his life was indeed an inspiration to those who knew him.” His tombstone is as large as his presence in the history of Bay St. Louis and is the largest single stone in the Cedar Rest Cemetery, weighing 1,700 pounds. The stone was brought from New Orleans by train, which stopped at Second Street; there it was loaded onto a skid and was pulled by eight mules to mark his final resting place.
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​For nearly 100 years the de Montluzin name was known in Bay St. Louis as a distinguished family and the proprietors of the city’s oldest and most reputable pharmacy. Ludovic A. de Montluzin, otherwise known as “L.A.” was born in December of 1827 in the town of Luneville in the province of Lorraine, France. An idealistic young journalist with political opposition to the French Emperor Napoleon III, de Montluzin felt despair for the future of France and emigrated to the United States with his wife, Reine Helluy de Montluzin, and their three small children. Settling in Louisiana, the couple had three more children. In 1878, L.A. suffered a heart attack and, at the urging of his doctors, he retired to Bay St. Louis to “give up some of his activities.”
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​L.A., Reine and their six children began their new lives in Bay St. Louis. Their family home was located at 208 North Beach Boulevard, at the foot of what is now de Montluzin Avenue. The de Montluzin home would later become the original Bay Town Inn, which was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. While looking for a hobby to pass his time, L.A. decided to open a pharmacy. The de Montluzin Drug Store was opened on Beach Boulevard in 1878 and soon became a trusted establishment for stocking pure, fresh drugs, sundries, toiletries and other quality goods. L.A. and Reine’s son, Rene, received his pharmacist license in 1893 and worked alongside his father.
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The devotion to his wife and family was very strong. During a deadly yellow fever epidemic along the Gulf Coast, Mrs. de Montluzin took her two youngest children to visit her family in Paris. Her husband missed her greatly, and letters to her during this time “overflowed with his tenderness and love.” That love of the two remained constant for 62 years until the death of L.A. on December 26, 1909. Heartbroken and not desiring to live, Reine took to her bed, and on January 19, 1910, she passed away, simply by willing it so. A love like that can only be described by the Latin inscription engraved inside her husband’s wedding ring, Virtus iunxit; mors non separabit – “Virtue united us; death will not separate us.”

Their son, Rene, continued to operate the de Montluzin and Sons Drug Store for years. Rene passed away on February 18, 1959, at the age of 93. His son, Rene Jr., would become the third generation to carry on the family business, doing so until his death in 1977. The pharmacy was then closed, and patient records were transferred to another pharmacy in town. 
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​The oldest and most trusted name in pharmacies in Bay St. Louis was in continuous operation just short of 100 years. Many older residents of Bay St. Louis still speak of the de Montluzin family and the de Montluzin & Sons Drug Store.

If you're already enrolled in Medicare, a window for making changes in your plan opens from October 15 - December 7.  Find out your options and also: What you need to know if you're approaching age 65 and aren't enrolled yet. 

- by Kristine Gurley, Gurley & Associates

Everyone over age 65 is eligible for Medicare. This includes all U.S. citizens and legal residents who have lived in the U.S. continuously for at least five years. Some people under 65 can get Medicare if they receive Social Security disability benefits.
Medicare is divided into four parts:

• Part A covers part of the costs of hospitalizations.
• Part B covers part of the costs of medical services, such as doctor visits, procedures and diagnostic tests.

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​Parts C and D are where the private insurance comes in:

• Part C is an alternative way to get Medicare. You can sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan offered by a private insurer and get all your services under Parts A and B through the plan. They have a lower premium, but have co-pays. Some offer benefits like free health club memberships, dental, vision, etc. A Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage is called a MAPD and without the prescription coverage is called a MA.
• Part D is prescription drug coverage. It is offered by private insurers who contract with Medicare. Even if you don't take any prescription drugs when you first go onto Medicare, if you’re not signed up for a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage (MAPD), you'll want to sign up for a Part D drug plan. If you go without any drug coverage after your initial election period you'll face a penalty when you finally do enroll. Note: The penalty does not go away and will be attached to your plan premium.

 
Medicare Enrollment
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• Unless you are covered by an employer group plan that covers 20 or more employees, you must enroll in Medicare when you turn 65.

• If you are receiving Social Security when you turn 65, you will automatically be enrolled in Parts A and B.
• If you're working and covered by an employer group plan you may not want Part B. In that case you can decline it. Otherwise, you'll go ahead and accept Medicare Parts A and B, and your coverage will start on the first day of the month you turn 65.
• For people who aren't covered by a group plan at 65, the initial Medicare enrollment period starts three months before you turn 65 and lasts until three months after you turn 65. But although it lasts a total of seven months, you really should plan to enroll in Medicare during that three-month period before you turn 65. Then your Medicare coverage will start on the first day of the month you turn 65.

 

 
How to Sign up for A & B

• Go to www.ssa.gov.
• Call Social Security at 800-772-1213.
• For general information about eligibility, go to http://www.medicare.gov/MedicareEligibility

 
Parts C and D are not automatic.
 
If you want Part C (a Medicare Advantage plan that takes care of both A & B through a private insurer), you'll have to contact an insurance company offering it and sign up for Part C through them. Remember, you can get a Medicare Advantage plan that covers prescription drugs (MAPD) or one without (MA).
 
Or, if you want to stay with Original Medicare and have a standalone Part D (prescription drug plan), you'll need to decide which insurance company's plan you want to go with, and you'll have to proactively enroll.

 
If you signed up for Parts A and B during your initial enrollment period, and if you think at some point in your life you’ll need prescription drug coverage, you should enroll in Part D at the same time. If you go more than 63 days without "creditable" prescription drug coverage, you will pay a late enrollment penalty when you finally do sign up for Part D.
 
So, it's better to just go ahead and get your drug coverage from the outset, even if you aren't currently taking any prescription drugs. As mentioned before, you have two options: you can enroll in a standalone prescription drug plan if you have Original Medicare, or you can get your drug coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan.
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I hope this helps clarify some common misconceptions. Please feel free to contact our office with any questions. 

​Kristine Gurley

Is time linear, the way most of us in the modern world experience it, or is it cyclical, the way our ancestors existed in it? 

- Story by James Inabinet, Ph.D.
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Before linear time, for nearly the entire expanse of human experience, there was cyclical time too, rhythmic time. Cyclical time was the lived experience of the masses even up to now. For the all-too-many living on the margins of poverty, no clock rules their existence. They are the “shiftless.” There are no shifts to work, no shifts that follow the hands of a clock.
 
Outside of the world of money and work and clocks, the natural sense of time on Earth as directly experienced right now is less linear and more cyclical – the seasons, the daily cycle, the phases of the moon.
 
Rhythmic time speaks of an eternal order, the light and dark of the seasons, the growth and decay of all things coming into being, to do and go, only to come again. Watching a river flow, unchanging through its continued change, enables an idea of timelessness, of an eternal time that can be experienced by simply being outside, a part of the changing reality and eternity of a single day.
 
Linear time is connected to the past, to memory; we experience it by looking back. By contrast, rhythmic time is the eternal now, always in front of us, right now. It speaks of what was, but in its recurrent reality, now, a story told by the rising sun each dawn.

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A day begins in the dead of night from which daylight inexorably bursts forth as Apollo’s chariot completes its round. At night, stillness reigns. Little moves. What does move can only be heard – now.
 
Sight is useless in the dim moonlight of a crescent moon. With straining ears, the night sojourner faintly hears the far off frogs in the pond and the leaf-rustling of an armadillo across the way digging up a worm or grub, rooting more like a pig than a pig itself. There he leaves a cone-shaped, ankle-breaking hole.
 
Unmoving stillness is what midnight looks like; silence is its roar in a sleeping world. Yet one never fully feels alone in the night forest, and to be sure, not all of the forest is sleeping. The night sojourner ever feels like she’s being stared at: the watchful owl on the limb, the fearful golden mouse on the trail edge, the thousands of wolf spiders scurrying along the ground against the lumbering giant’s footfall.
 
One is never alone in a forest.
 
Finally a faint eastern glow begins to push back the shadows. The world is coming to life.
 
Morning looks like the morning glory, blooming to meet the sunlight of day. Morning sounds like the cardinals in the fetterbush thicket–tick-tick-tick-tick-tick–picking off the leaf-eating caterpillars. Morning sounds like the buzzing solitary bee that visits the meadowbeauty at the forest edge.
 
The sunlight traces paths a hundred-fold through the morning mist, seeking, it seems, any path to bring light to the forest floor. As the day progresses, the flurry of activity slowly ceases until only the occasional bird or the occasional bee remains. The sun finds a more direct route to the ground now. There is less forest to obstruct its path from overhead.

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As the day wanes, the pace quickens again as the animals almost frantically search for their supper. The morning glories are now long closed up in preparation for the sleep of night. As night falls, the stillness that reigned the night before resumes.
 
The regnant shadows cloak what in the light of day was a mere pine stump. Now in the shadows it is a hunched over, wooly monster, created in the mind’s eye of fantasy and memory. A day is felt more than seen, and in that feeling one becomes a participant, a co-creator, in the wonders of place, space, and time.

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Australian Aborigines are co-creators in this way. In his daily experience, Big Bill Neidjiee sings his world into being in the dreaming (as recorded by T. C. McCluhan).

I feel it with my body, with my blood.
Feeling all these trees, all this country ...
When this wind blows you can feel it.
Same for country ... you feel it.
You can look, but feeling ...
 That make you.

After the Bonne Carré Spillway opening closed Mississippi beaches for three months this year, statewide opposition grows against a plan to make diversions permanent. 

- by Lisa Monti

 George Cavignac, executive director of nonprofit Gulf Coast Resource Coalition, told the Bay city council the plan is currently in the Corps of Engineers permitting process and is being fast-tracked. He called it an impending crisis.

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“The time to act is now,” he said. “This is something that literally will wipe out the culture that is Southeast Louisiana and South Mississippi and our recreational and commercial fishing industries and tourism. It’s definitely worth fighting for."
 
The push in Hancock County to oppose the river diversion effort comes just days after Mississippi’s beaches were cleared for swimming. They were closed by the state Department of Environmental Quality because of toxic algal resulting from the opening of the Bonne Carre spillway for 123 days this year.
 
The spillway released 10 trillion gallons of Mississippi River water which GCRC says inundated Mississippi’s coastal waters, causing massive harm to the economy, fisheries and marine mammal population.
 
The proposed Mid-Breton Project is designed to release 33 million gallons of Mississippi River water per minute, though the amount can vary. The minimum flow would be 5,000 CFS (cubic feet per second) - which is 2,250,000 gallons per minute.

 
Mid-Breton backers have taken a couple of legislative moves to give the project a better chance of getting approval, but that would negatively impact marine life. Cavignac said the Louisiana group got a waiver to the Marine Mammal Protection Act passed and is now trying to amend a bill to remove the essential fish habitat environmental review that is part of the required environmental review.
 
“The project can’t sustain an environmental review. If it can’t pass the environmental impact study process, they need to either not do it or mitigate for the fisheries and tourism dollars. That would drive project out of its price range,” he said.
 
One councilman called Cavignac’s presentation “very informative and alarming.” The council voted unanimously to ask the state Congressional delegation to oppose the project and to ask the governor to oppose the issuance of a federal permit to construct the project. The Hancock supervisors took similar steps at their meeting.
 
Wendy McDonald, a candidate for Mississippi House District 122, lists opposition to the diversion plans as her number one priority in Jackson. She told the Shoofly Magazine, “We celebrate the reopening of the beaches but we’re going to have to work to keep them that way. It’s going to take all of us pulling together.”
 
For more information, go to https://gulfcoastresource.org.

This month, Waveland Mayor Mike Smith picks up a pen to bring us up to date on events and important projects in our seaside town.
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​I am also very proud that we recently opened up the first dog park in Hancock County, with a section for both small and larger furry friends. On that same day we officially opened the City of Waveland town green between the Ground Zero Museum and the Library. This will be an area that everyone can enjoy and will be the home of our Festival of Lights this year. We will do our official tree lighting and Christmas parade with Santa Claus all in this location on December 7 starting at 5:00.
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​We also are about 80% finished with our new community center at the Martin Luther King Jr. Park, which is slated to open in November. The community center will include a new playground, a resurfaced basketball court and a new and improved stage for our community to enjoy. We are in the final stages of the city-wide sewer program, which was a $5.5 million infrastructure project, intended to reduce infiltration and save thousands in treatment costs. 
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Last but not least, we have about 30% of the Waveland Avenue sidewalk project complete, which adds sidewalks on both sides of Waveland Ave. This project has been the works for over four years; it is a much needed safety project for pedestrians along one of the busiest streets in Waveland.