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Bay St. Louis has a total of 13 nominations for the 2020 Best of Mississippi contest for favorite places to eat, shop and visit in the state. Online voting begins today and will run through Feb. 15. 
 
Mississippi Magazine, the contest sponsor, collected the nominations from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15, and Bay St. Louis businesses garnered nine nominations in several categories plus four for the city itself: Best Place to Live, Best Place for a Weekend Trip, Best Downtown and Best Overall Shopping Destination.
 
The Bay St. Louis businesses nominated for the best in the state are The French Potager (Best Floral Shop/Designer);  Fields Steak & Oyster Bar (New Restaurant); Sycamore House (Fine Dining); Smith & Lens (Art Gallery); Social Chair (Fashion Accessories); Bay Books (Bookstore); Bay Town Inn (Bed & Breakfast); Starfish Cafe (Healthy Restaurant); and Blind Tiger (Outdoor Dining).

This is the third nomination for The French Potager, which won top honors in 2018. Owner Martha Whitney Butler calls the statewide bragging rights “a big deal” to business owners as well as for customers, who can be assured that “they’re dealing with the best in Mississippi.”
 
She said the floral category is especially competitive since there’s a college program in Mississippi offering professional training. “It’s nice to be able to have this lifetime honor, with all the talent in Mississippi in floral design,” she said.

Nikki Moon, owner of The Bay Town Inn, says of her first nomination, “There are almost 100 bed and breakfasts throughout Mississippi and to be nominated as best in the state is humbling indeed." 

"And to be among these wonderful, creative businesses in the Bay speaks to the quality of the type of merchants and food establishments that we're known for.  This very special city is not a secret any longer.”
 
You can cast your vote in each category once a week through Feb. 15 on the Mississippi Magazine website or here on this Shoofly Magazine page, where we've set up direct links to all BSL contestants.  Bookmark the page and set reminders to vote.

According to Butler, being an enthused and frequent voter shows "how much we love our town.  I wake up every day knowing that I live, work and raise my family in the most wonderful place in the state."

Butler adds that multiple wins in the contest will demonstrate to the people of Mississippi "what we in Bay St. Louis already know - how great we really are!" 
 
Winners will be announced in the May/June issue of the magazine.

Some people recall what they were doing when milestone events took place. This author can recall his surroundings when reading memorable books.

​- Story by Scott Naugle
​

Dr. MacMaster asked me to read aloud the passage including, “The point is, however, that we have been brought up in an illusion. Jacob, no doubt, thought something in this fashion, the Daily Mirror crumpled in his hand; his legs extended; the very picture of boredom…”

Woolf’s prose, the precision, lush with allegories and metaphors, eliminates all barriers between thought and the physical world in a pure flow of words and associations. That semester’s class, Woolf and Morrison, was my introduction to both authors.

 
“’But it is the way we are brought up,’ he went on. And it all seemed to him something very distasteful. Something ought to be done about it…” I continued reading to my fellow students from Jacob’s Room as the automobiles rolled by in the distance on North State Street.
 
I recall thinking at the time that the other students and myself were encased in a small, soft intellectual bubble, the air warm, the breeze as soft as the flutter of wings, passersby in the distance moving with a gentle purpose, smiling, and the sky cloudless, azure and endless. I was happy, comfortable.
 
As I glance now to my bookshelf at the worn paperback copy of Jacob’s Room, my senses, the smells, sounds and how I felt over 20 years ago, flood back to that March afternoon at Millsaps. It all seems like only yesterday.

Turning slightly now, I see Natasha Trethewey’s Native Guard, her 2006 collection of poems. I open it.

We leave Gulfport at noon; gulls overhead
trailing the boat – streamers, noisy fanfare –
all the way to Ship Island. What we see
first is the fort, its roof of grass, a lee –
half reminder of the men who served there –
a weathered monument to some of the dead. 
 

​ 
 I was in Austin, Texas, when I first read Native Guard. The thin, paperback book was convenient to pack in my luggage. I had about two hours between a long, numbing day of board business meetings and then dinner again with several members of the board.
 
My mind was reeling from repetitive attacks on grammar and language throughout the day. I was weary from others wanting to “reach out to me,” or who promised to “circle back to me next week” or professed that they were “super pumped” over several nuances added to the digital onboarding protocol.

​ 
At a Starbucks, directly across from the Ruth’s Chris Restaurant on Congress Avenue and West 6th Avenue in downtown Austin, I read, “Why the rough edge of beauty? Why the tired face of a woman, suffering…” from “Photograph: Ice Storm, 1971 in Trethewey’s collection.
 
These are words with substance, history, and gravitas. There is a thoughtfulness in this expression of meaning. It is the opposite of glib or commercial. Inside the words and phrases one can peel back the layers to the beginning of modern time.
 
I began to rejuvenate in the spaces between the words, inhaling clean, pure literary oxygen.

 
In the background, the swishing and whooshing sounds of the automated expresso machine enveloped the room. There was friendly chatter across the counter. I heard the repeated banality of “What may I get started for you today?”
 
But it didn’t matter. I was protected within the fortress of Trethewey. My heart began to beat again.
 
Looking at Native Guard on my bookshelf now, I can see beyond it and out through to the floor to ceiling glass windows on Congress Avenue in Austin and recall the moment and how I felt. The immortal literary photograph from my album of books erases the years and miles.
 
Non-fiction also conjures the same qualities of time transport and memory. I recall the time and place where I first read Nicholas Basbane’s A Gentle Madness, May Sarton’s Plant Dreaming Deep, or Pam Houston’s Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country.
 
To date, I don’t have memory or photo storage capacity issues like a digital camera, iPhone or three-ring scrapbook. No monthly backups of my bookish recollections are required.
 
It’s all up in the cloud, my personal cognitive cloud. 

"The Year of the Bay Ratz" is a very fitting theme for this year's Mardi Gras fundraiser dinner/dance and silent auction January 25.

- Story by Lisa Monti, photos by Lionel Haynes, Jr.

​“We’re super excited,” Guess said of the evening, which kicks off with a patron party at 6 pm for “Children's Defender” and “Children's Champion” sponsors.
Patrons can enjoy special Mai Tai Punch, complimentary champagne, wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres while mingling and previewing the silent auction items.

 
Doors open at 7 pm for the Mardi Gras Gala that features a dinner menu of smoked meats, jambalaya and pasta salad prepared by members of the Coastal Conservation Association. The gala is BYOB, but beer will be sold and CASA will provide all the mixers for guests.
 

​ 
Music will be provided again this year by Got Groove, a dynamic New Orleans band that provides nonstop entertainment. Guess said dress for the gala runs the fashion gamut from cocktail attire to casual and she expects some will dress to match the Asian theme.
 
General admission tickets to the gala are $40 each for standing room only. To ensure you have a seat, CASA recommends reserving a table for eight starting at $600. Of the 50 tables in the venue only 15 are still available, so gather up some friends and reserve your table soon.

​ 
You’ll be in good company, said Guess, who’s chaired the gala for five years.
 
Besides locals, she said, “We have people from New Orleans, Slidell and Alabama who come. It’s a great cause, a fun event and the silent auction is amazing.”

 
To purchase tickets for the January 25 event call CASA Hancock County at (228) 344-0419, or go to www.casahancockcounty.org.

A behind-the-scenes look at Hancock County Chamber of Commerce's program to ensure continued business growth in the region.

-- Story and photos by Steve Barney

 LHC is not your off-the-shelf leadership training program. Participants form lifelong friendships, broaden their professional circles and forge interdisciplinary collaborations affecting meaningful change, economic growth, improved services and enhanced quality of life for all of us.

 
The network of 430 graduates of the program represent a who’s who of the movers and shakers in all sectors: business, healthcare, industry, education, government, public service, and art.
 
The challenges facing communities in the South, and Hancock County in particular, are immense, and only a comprehensive approach to economic development can hope to address them. The program introduces related issues that together form interrelated building blocks of economic development:
 ​

• Business development
• Workforce development
• Physical infrastructure
• Social infrastructure
• Culture and environmental stewardship
• Civic infrastructure

 

 
Over the course of ten months, participants experience all things Hancock County. Experts present information that is imperative to our development, growth and sustainability from local, regional, state and national perspectives. Attendees tour health care facilities, schools and training centers, industrial and air parks, and Stennis Space Center to hear from local elected officials and state legislators, entrepreneurs and business leaders, and experts in tourism, economic and business development, history and the arts. They learn about the threats and opportunities in Hancock County and the reciprocal impact we can make in the region. LHC is not just about listening to experts; it’s about active participation, interactive dialogue and real-world problem-solving.
 
So how does the program stay fresh and impactful? Behind the scenes there is a triangular machine, and it’s well oiled. The base of the triangle is Sally Isaacs, business manager for the Hancock Chamber. Among juggling her other responsibilities, Sally oversees the LHC’s massive planning and logistics effort. To design, produce and execute the program, Sally works closely with the second side of the triangle, a dedicated group of interdisciplinary volunteers comprising the LHC Steering Committee.

 
The Steering Committee is chaired by Janell Nolan, director of community development at Coast Electric Power Association (CEPA), where she has worked for 30 years. In this time the cooperative culture has deeply impacted her life not only professionally, but also personally. Nolan, an avid tennis player, states, “I am grateful to work for a company focused on improving the quality of life in the communities we serve.” Nolan, a 2006 LHC graduate, was part of the Katrina class; not surprisingly, that year the focus was on infrastructure and social services as our community was beginning the monumental rebuilding process. LHC had a profound impact on Nolan and she was completely hooked, joining the Steering Committee and assisting with the Economic Development curriculum. She adds, “The program showed me where I could get involved, make a difference, and be an informed agent of change.” Since that time, Nolan has served as president of the Diamondhead Business and Professionals Association, president of the Rotary Club of Central Hancock, and she serves on numerous non-profit boards. The recipient of many community service awards, Nolan was recognized in 2009 as one of Hancock County’s Top Ten Citizens, the youngest-ever recipient of that award. In 2011, Nolan succeeded Susie Veglia as chair of the Steering Committee and has overseen 8 leadership classes.

Other members of the LHC Steering Committee include:

• Susie Veglia, Treehouse Yoga
• Rhonda Rhodes, Hancock Resource Center
• Jerry Dubuisson, Diamondhead Fire (retired)
• Raymunda Barnes, Pearl River Community College
• Erin Garcia Lee, Hancock Whitney Bank
• Kevin Estrade, Keesler Federal Credit Union
• Maria Salter, HL Raymond Properties
• Meghan Martinez, NASA
• Rich Chase, Silver Slipper Casino and Hotel
• Vicki Ladner, Pilger Title Co.
• James Buras, Compton Engineering
• Heather Ladner Smith, Butler Snow, LLP
• Akemi Gillam, The First, National Bank
• Cathy Pitalo, Hancock Resource Center
• Maureen Anderson

 

​ 
The first task of the Steering Committee is to identify, recruit and vet the annual cohort of participants, ensuring a rich diversity of gender, race, orientation, age, upbringing, industries served, education, and interests. The committee is dedicated to not only educating and guiding participants through an unforgettable and impactful journey, but also facilitating conversations and exchanges with participants to better learn the needs and concerns of our communities to best tailor the program and to work with our community leaders so the best possible experience and opportunities is offered to graduates.
 
Members of the committee are engaged, usually 3 or 4 at each session, reading the energy in the room, soliciting feedback, sensing what’s going on and making changes on the fly to ensure the optimal learning experience for the participants. The feedback received after each session is used to tweak the content and delivery to ensure it’s relevant and impactful. The Steering Committee members friends who share a love for Hancock County, and they are deeply impassioned with and dedicated to the continuous improvement and legacy of LHC.
 
The third leg of the LHC triangle is training and facilitation powerhouse Joy Saucier. Saucier has worked at Mississippi Power since 1993. In her Community Development role, she is responsible for community leadership development, board development and strategic planning facilitation for local non-profit and government groups. Saucier is passionate about leadership development at the local level. She states, “Getting people better educated about where they live, ways they can make it better, develop skills and connections; is how to create agents of change.”

​ 
Joy is the lead architect of the curriculum based on the six building blocks of economic development. She also facilitates the leadership skill sessions that tie in with current events across the coast. Saucier says that the engagement, trust and passion of the LHC Steering Committee is a tremendous asset. She adds, “Continuous improvement in the committee is based on a lot of trust, so people are open and comfortable giving each other feedback.”
 

​Saucier is a master at teambuilding through strong relationships. She explains, “Networking is one of the things everyone wants. It builds social capacity, and the beginning of any good relationship is trust.” In a two-day intensive retreat at Camp Beckwith in Fairhope, AL, and throughout the rest of the program, Saucier utilizes ice breakers and activities to get people comfortable talking about themselves and each other. The activities are designed to get you out of your comfort zone, energized and building ties with classmates. Mississippi Power and Saucier believe strongly in the leadership principles and methodology espoused by Stephen Covey, author of the best seller “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” Saucier is a master at utilizing Covey’s principles on an ad hoc basis where it’s appropriate to the situation. Saucier also uses DISC assessment to help participants understand their behaviors and how they are perceived by others. These tools help participants learn to adapt their behaviors to more effectively work with others and build bonds.
 
Another benefit for LHC participants is the opportunity to serve as Ex-officio board members for nonprofits across Hancock County. This is the first board experience for many, who later find a niche and take leadership roles in these organizations.
​

​ 
Each year, the LHC class designs and executes a class project. Previous projects have included the creation of the Hancock Youth Leadership Program (HYLA); seed funding for the Sports Complex and Hancock Resource Center; and many others. The result is well over $75K in local contributions to nonprofits and huge in-kind contributions of time and services. This year’s class project leverages the champion barbeque skills of classmate Noel Grafe to raise money for scholarships. Held in December, the first meat sale raised over $2,500. Look for another big BBQ event in March. It’s another step toward the legacy of making Hancock County a better place to live, as the program continuously adapts to changing times.
 
For more information about Leadership Hancock County visit: http://www.hancockchamber.org/programs/leadership-hancock-county/

Bay-Tique
125 Main St
(228) 344-3043
www.bay-tique.com
 
Inspired by the words of guests at Carroll House Bed & Breakfast, Jane Alford established Bay-Tique as a beach shop that was a cut above what you would typically find on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She has succeeded admirably, as the store is warm, funky, fun and original – all qualities that also represent Bay St. Louis as a community and destination.
​

​ 
Bay-Tique’s motto is “slightly edgy, always fun,” and they live up to those words. They carry a mix of clothing and gifts by local artists and designers, as well as national brands such as Sanuk and Quay sunglasses. They are size inclusive, with a respectable selection of plus-size items and have everything needed to complete a look – handbags, jewelry, hats – you name it.

​ 
It’s never too early to start prepping for Valentine’s Day, and Bay-Tique has some great gifts. It will be here before we know it, and Bay-Tique has some beachy-sweet items guaranteed to please the ladies. If you are looking for some brownie points, pick up one of the items from the Sweet Grace fragrance line. They have candles, soaps, lotions, diffusers, car clips – everything she could imagine, and they all smell delicious.

 
Don’t forget about your best friend, either. That’s right – we ARE talking about the furry one with four legs. Bay-Tique has an adorable pet boutique with toys, shampoos and outfits.
 

 
Bay-Tique is open 10 am – 5 pm Monday through Saturday and 11 am – 4 pm on Sunday. Be sure to stop by on Second Saturday, Jan. 11, between 4 and 7 pm for live music and refreshments!

Gallery 220
220 Main Street
(228) 466-6347
https://www.facebook.com/gallery220/
 
One of the Old Town Merchants Association’s January hot spots is one of the downtown mainstays – Gallery 220. This artists’ cooperative is located in one of the most recognizable buildings in Bay St. Louis, with its colorful vintage Coca-Cola mural facing north and its beautiful red tree mural facing south.
 

 
Gallery 220 currently features 28 artists, all of whom bring their own unique vibe and energy to the space. They have a little bit of everything, from $5-$10 jewelry pieces to priceless original masterpieces. 
​

​Visitors will find pieces from up-and-coming artists as well as local and regional favorites like Michelle Allee, Spencer Gray and Herb Willey.
 

​ 
Building owners Jenise McCardell and Mark Currier started the art co-op just 5 weeks after Hurricane Katrina to support displaced artists. 15 years later, the camaraderie and creative energy they cultivated continues to thrive. The couple owns Clay Creations in the space behind the gallery. 
​

One can often find artists at work in the studio portion, making the one-of-a-kind pieces that feature the treasured places from around the area, from New Orleans and across the Mississippi Gulf Coast. 
​

McCardell and Currier offer the artists in the gallery professional guidance, support and encouragement and have led Gallery 220 to become one of the most popular stops on Main Street. 
​

​Come find out why on Second Saturday, Jan. 11 between 4 and 7 pm to take in the art and enjoy live music and refreshments. They are also open 11 am – 5 pm Monday through Saturday and noon – 5 pm on Sunday.

Waveland Alderman Jeremy Burke reviews the city's accomplishments in 2019 and reveals the board's direction for 2020.

​ 
If you have driven on Waveland Avenue lately you have seen the much-anticipated sidewalks being constructed. Once the project is completed, it will add nearly 2.5 miles to the city’s sidewalk infrastructure. The project is funded with 80% Mississippi Department of Transportation funds and just 20% direct local funds. The project should be completed in early summer 2019.

​ 
When the Waveland sidewalk project is wrapping up, the MDOT Nicholson Avenue overlay and pedestrian pathway project should be getting started. Nicholson Avenue will overlay from the railroad track to HWY 90, and a five-foot-wide bike/pedestrian pathway will be installed on both sides of Nicholson. The project accomplishes two objectives: First, it will smooth the deteriorating and well-driven Nicholson Avenue; and second, it will provide a safeway for pedestrians to bike and walk safely along Nicholson Avenue. The total construction cost for the project is projected to be just over $1 million, but Waveland is going to be reimbursed for a majority of the cost of the project.
 
This past year has seen a continued building boom. Forty-nine homes have been constructed in Waveland, up from 33 in 2018. Over $15 million of new construction has been added to Waveland this past year alone.

​ 
My main objective in 2020 is to aggressively address blight and improve the appearance of the Highway 90 corridor. A number of buildings and signs need to be removed. Waveland must show more pride and needs to be a more attractive “welcome mat” for the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The abandoned buildings, illegally placed signs and rough-looking median cannot be ignored any longer.

Brenda Comer, photographer:

The Mississippi gulf coast is a beautiful, magical and sometimes complex southern community. We are 77 miles of coastline and beach, home to active marine harbors, amazing historical artist with celebrated museums - as well as thriving art galleries and vibrant local artists coast-wide.

​We are sometimes known for our eccentricities, but in the best possible ways. The storms have certainly taken their toll over the years... but resilience may just be our defining quality.

Pelican Party, Pass Christian. The coast offers a wild assortment of shore birds, but the brown pelicans are mesmerizing to watch as they soar inches from the water fishing for their supper.

Herons on the coast are particularly fond of flights at dusk, over our beaches and harbors. Their wing span (up to six feet) and spindly legs are quite striking to see as they fly. This guy, characteristically standing on one leg, only posed for a moment before noisily taking flight - and in no uncertain terms, expressing his lack of desire to be photographed.

Shrimp Season, Pass Christian Harbor. The Mississippi coast offers four distinct seasons unigue to our area: Shrimp season, Oyster season, Crab season and Crawfish season. During this time of year, one local shrimper is known to call out as you approach to purchase shrimp, from the harbor dock, right off the shrimp boats, "You want them shrimp dead or alive?"  AKA: just caught or frozen?

Pass Christian Harbor reflections.

More harbor reflections. 

Benignos, Bay St. Louis. A longtime favorite BSL cafe and bar, now closed, but not forgotten.

Ruth's Roots community garden, Bay St. Louis. Conceived and developed by Elise Deano in spring of 2016, is now fully embraced and maintained by our community. The garden offers raised bed vegetables, bunnies, hens, fish, honey bees, art, whimsical sculptures and several shady spots to relax and take it all in. This unexpected, peaceful sanctuary is funded by private donors/grants and awaits you in Old Town Bay St. Louis. ​

Coca-Cola 5 cents, Old Town Bay St. Louis. One of many art galleries in BSL, Gallery 220 offers works of multiple artists in this amazing building that stays true to its vintage vibe.

Antique shopping, Old Town Bay St. Louis.

The Historic 100 Men Hall, Bay St. Louis. Founded in 1894 by 12 civic-minded African American residents of the Bay has evolved over the years offering a gathering place for local African American families and a music venue for many legendary musicians traveling on what was known as the "Chitlin Circuit."

​ The Hall attracted the likes of Ray Charles, James Brown, Etta James, Sam Cooke, BB King, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and many more music legends. Under new ownership in 2018, the Hall is once again re-energized and welcomes community and private events.

All Are Welcome! Old Town Bay St. Louis.

...because one pink flamingo is never enough!

Sunset at the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art, Biloxi. The Ohr-OKeefe Museum is a stunning tribute to George Ohr, self-proclaimed as the "Mad Potter of Biloxi," who created an amazing body of ceramic work highly unique to 19th century America. Artist and architect Frank Gehry designed the intriguing pavillion pods that grace the museum campus. Sunlight reflecting on the structures will take your breath away!

Pass Christian:  miles of beach and majestic oaks.

Once a lovely Bay front home, now only crumbling stairs remain. Stairs to nowhere are seen all along the coast, and, for me, are visible reminders of community loss, most notably from Hurricane Katrina 2005 or Hurricane Camile 1969. ​

Beach Please! Gulfport. This colorful vehicle is on semi-permanent display at a gulfport retail establishment that promotes its "Unique Stuff." I smile everytime I see the car, frequently adorned with cactus, bonsai trees or other plants displayed on its hood!

Historic Walter Inglis Anderson cottage, Ocean Springs. Artist, Walter Anderson, his brother, Peter Anderson and their families are simply art royalty on the coast. Walter Anderson was a prolific artist, book illustrator and author. The Walter Anderson Museum of Art is full of his magic. The Shearwater Pottery Showroom was founded in 1928 by Peter Anderson and today, descendants of the Anderson families continue to produce distinctive decorative, collectible and functional pottery pieces. ​

Fishbone Alley, downtown Gulfport. Food, music and art stretched along the alley which is adorned with colorful graffiti, murals and more.

Portrait artist, Marian Glaser, Bay St. Louis Depot. Marian is a joyful presence in the Bay, frequently in a vintage costume and always wearing killer shoes!

The Raw Oyster Marching Club, Bay St. Louis glamor, glitz and good will since 2014. The ladies of the ROMC are well known for parading in the Bay and love to costume.  The club name and green hair were inspired by legendary New Orleans burlesque artist, Kitty West/Evangeline the Oyster Girl. The Life magazine in this shoot is a tribute to Ms. West who was featured in this 1949 issue and sadly passed away this year.

​Although ROMC membership exceeds 50 fabulous women, the ladies in this photo appeared in the photo shoot as a favor to me... not to mention a chance to costume and enjoy a nice proseco by the Bay.

Artist Michelle Allee, channeling her inner Frida Kahlo in Pass Christian. Michelle is a Frida Look-Alike award winner at the annual Frida Fest celebrating the artist's birthday each July.

When I asked to photograph her in her art studio, we decided her Frida persona would make it all the more special. I added the first annual Frida Fest poster on her studio table as a hat tip to the festival which will celebrate its sixth year in 2020.

In the 70s, DJ and Disco culture danced its way across the country and into Bay St. Louis.  Meet some of the local players who kept the good times rolling and the dance floors crowded. 

​-  by Rachel Dangermond

Here in Bay Saint Louis, Scott Nichols (aka Rockmaster Scott) was shuffling between New York and the Bay, bringing back with him the current albums of the day. Nichols along with DJs AB (Alton Benoit) and Chill Will (William Washington) would spin records in a pop-up lounge off Washington’s grandmother’s house on Sycamore and St. Francis. The three DJs went by the name Military Funk.

​ 
Their dance parties became so popular, Military Funk branched out to play CYOs at St. Rose along with juke joints such as Big 5, Bobby’s Lounge, Willy C’s Connection, The Onion, Nick’s Cozy Lounge, and the Krack – seven clubs that were near Washington’s grandmother’s house.
 
Nichols said, ‘The clubs were so close together and we didn’t have but one copy of each record, so we would have Slick Rick, a roadie from Waveland, run the records back and forth for us.”

​ 
Rap wasn’t big in Mississippi at that time, so here is a sampling of the records they played:

• Dazz Band’s Let It Whip
• Gap Band’s Yearning for Your Love & Seasons No Reason to Change
• The Isley Brothers’ Voyage to Atlantis
• Zapp and Roger’s More Bounce to the Ounce
• Franky Beverly & Maze’s Joy & Pain
• Con Fun Shun’s Let Me Put Love on Your Mind
• Prince’s Do Me Baby.

 

​ 
At the 100 Men Hall, Nichols would come on after the popular live band Bo & Dee. “We played the Hall all the time. We were the only DJs. Mr. Farve might have been DJing weddings, fashion shows and events, but we were doing the clubs,” Nichols said.

 
Dennis Favre, a Bay musician and DJ, said he began DJing in fifth grade at St. Rose and currently DJs at Hollywood Casino. Favre said he can tell when bands are going to be called back to perform because when a band plays for the crowd, people dance all night long, but when they play for themselves, it’s not the same.
 
“Back in the day, there were certain places that had a band, but the bands phased out because it was cheaper and easier to hire a DJ. It was happening all over, but mostly in black clubs.”

Melva Fisher, who co-owned and operated Dock of the Bay in Bay St. Louis, confirmed that they did not have DJs at the Dock.
 
DJ Greg B (Greg Barabino) said DJs at dance parties were normal when he was growing up. “Because I grew up with the birth of hip hop and disco, electronics had taken over. In Mississippi, you couldn’t find a youthful band playing to young folks, that craft was gone. The DJ became an art form, manipulating and creating a different experience than live music.”

​ 
DJ Carlos Estrella, who DJs at Roger’s Sports Bar in Waveland every Friday and Saturday night, said that as a musician it was hard to keep up with a band. “Band members wouldn’t show up on time, or looking good, or having practiced. The record player was more reliable.”
 
Estrella said he, like any other musician, enjoys hearing a live band but when he really wants to go out and dance, he wants to find a good DJ. “A DJ offers way less interruptions, has a good mix, and caters to a younger crowd.”
 
Disco, with dance songs that featured mostly female singers along with the DJs who played them, changed the culture of dancing. At the New York discotheques with a DJ, people were no longer obligated to find a person of the opposite sex to dance. Anyone could dance solo or with any partner of their choosing. This had a wide appeal beyond the gay community and across the country, at the 100 Men Hall, around the Bay and beyond.
 
However, just as meteoric as its rise was Disco’s fall. On July 12, 1979, the Chicago White Sox hosted Disco Demolition Night. Some call it the night disco died. However, musicologists believe disco had already begun the metamorphosis that gave rise to hip-hop, Latin freestyle, techno and electronica, and now EDM (electronic dance music popular in clubs today).

DJ Soul Sister Melissa Weber, who is also the curator of the Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University, says the death of disco was a smear campaign. The Civil Rights Act had been signed only a decade before, and in the early 70s marginalized communities were being seen and heard for the first time.
 
“There are tons of articles, academic and otherwise, that show… the 1979 death of disco was a result of sexism, racism and homophobia. The music played at the discotheque had people all of a sudden dancing together to black and brown music, and this was a thing that had to be stopped.”
 
Yet Disco’s influence on the national music scene and on small communities like Bay Saint Louis cannot be underestimated. Disco was a game-changer. Its pulsating sound morphed into new genres. And DJs became the power players, the ones who could get people out of their chairs and on to the floor to dance. 

Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count paints a one-day portrait of bird populations – and you can help!
 
- Story by Dena Temple, photos by Dena and John Temple
​ 

​As gruesome as this sounds to today’s conservationists, this was the standard for the hobby at the turn of the 20th Century.

 
In 1900 Frank M. Chapman, an officer of the fledgling National Audubon Society, organized a new event to counter the sport-killing tradition, calling it the “Holiday Census.” The first census involved 27 counters and 25 count circles, and a total of 90 species of birds were counted. In the winter of 2017-18 a record-breaking 77,000 people participated in the annual Christmas Bird Count, tallying birds in 2,585 count circles, also a record. And roughly one-quarter of all species of birds in the world were tallied, yet another amazing feat!
 
Celebrating its 120th year, the event is still sponsored today by the National Audubon Society. “The Christmas Bird Count is a great tradition and an opportunity to be a part of 120 years of ongoing community science,” said Geoff LeBaron, Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count director, who started leading the community science effort in 1987. “Adding your observations to twelve decades of data helps scientists and conservationists discover trends that make our work more impactful.”

​ 
Here’s how it works: A circular area 15 miles in diameter is defined. This “count circle” is divided into territories, and teams of volunteers scour those territories and count every bird they see or hear. Common or rare, every single bird is important on the Christmas Bird Count!
 
After spending an invigorating day scanning fields, ponds and beaches, the teams get together for a “roundup” to compare notes, brag about interesting finds and commiserate about “the ones that got away.” It’s a great way to meet people who share your interest in the outdoors, and maybe learn a little something in the process.

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There are 20 count circles in the state of Mississippi, including one in our immediate area, the Southern Hancock County circle. Counters have been tallying birds in this territory since 1976. In 2018, the 32 counters in the Southern Hancock count circle tallied 142 species of birds over the course of the count day – very impressive!
 
Participation is fun, and free. Birders with intermediate or better identification skills are particularly welcome. Beginners are usually paired with a more experienced participant, so you don’t need to be intimately familiar with your territory in order to enjoy the event.
 

 
This year, the Southern Hancock County CBC will be held on Tuesday, December 17. If you would like more information, contact the compiler, Ned Boyajian, at nedrbo@gmail.com.

Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory possesses the power to make even contemporary readers summon up their own most-cherished holiday recollections. 

- Story by Rheta Grimsley Johnson

​A couple of decades later the building would be ignited by a careless tailgater’s grill during a football game and burn to the ground. People made jokes about the Student Act being put out of its misery, but I was sad. All I could think about was the fact Truman Capote had read aloud there.
​

​But like a singer singing his own song, pretty soon it became clear that, of course, it was exactly how the words were supposed to sound. And Capote’s almost shocking, lispy soprano was perfect to be the voice of Sook saying, “I made you another kite.”
​

My love for this Christmas story grows as I get older. It has everything, including a dog that dies; the dog always dies in the end. Now I am more than aware of how hard it is to write in such true rhythm with economy of narrative.

I suppose it doesn’t hurt that I spent a year in Monroe County, in the same rural setting Capote described. I cut a Christmas tree in the same native woods, getting lost in the process.

“Always, the path unwinds through lemony sun pools and pitch vine tunnels….”
​

Perhaps the best Christmas of my life, or one of the best, was spent in a big house in a bosky oasis inside the Monroeville city limits but as secluded as Mongolia. My first husband and I decorated with fresh greenery and real candles and invited everyone we knew in town to come sing carols. It’s a wonder we didn’t burn down the landmark house, built by a local lawyer and, after his death, inherited by his daughter who had no apparent desire to stay in Monroeville.

We didn’t have a cent but were caretakers for the hacienda-style mansion with its fabulous but dry-rotting furnishings. At the old upright piano we sang in our best carol voices, fueled by love and youth and beer and enthusiasm for life. As Bob Seger sang, “wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then.”

In truth, the house made me a tad miserable because I knew I’d never own it; even my romantic nature had to come to grips with that. For one thing, the daughter didn’t want to sell it, and, if she had, the asking price for the tile-roofed mansion would have been more than a couple of reporters for a weekly newspaper would see in their lifetimes.
​

But for a short, magical, miserable while we were actors in a play with a grand set, seeing our reflections in borrowed mirrors and hearing the clock strike vanishing hours. That Christmas gathering was one of our best ever, both because of the house and despite it. I’ve never lived anywhere as grand since.

It was a cold Alabama winter that followed the giddy December, and the house was too much to heat with its high ceilings and endless rooms. We kept the kitchen and one bedroom warm. 

One week the water in the toilet bowls froze, and we decided perhaps some practicalities were more important than sun porches, gilded mirrors large as pool tables and 10-foor-tall mahogany secretaries.

We moved back to Auburn.
​
What Capote tapped into, of course, is that all of us have a Christmas memory, though few of us can spin them into gold for others. Life has been so good to me, and I am surrounded by friends and enough family and dogs that forgive and forget. I think to have seen the woods that Truman Capote describes and to have smelled and touched its bounty is as close as you can get to writer’s heaven.

Holly Lemoine-Raymond shows us how to repurpose unused items around the house into useful decorative items we're proud to show off!

- Story and photos by Holly Lemoine-Raymond
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Step 1

Using the tin snips or wire cutter, cut a hole in the bottom of the utensil holder. It doesn’t have to be perfect. The hole just needs to be big enough to fit the socket. 
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Step 2

Put the socket end of the lamp kit into the hole you cut in the utensil holder. Now you know why the hole doesn’t need to be perfect! The flaws will be covered by the socket cover of the lamp kit.
​

 
Step 3
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Thread the shade ring on to the socket from inside the utensil holder. This piece looks like a “washer” and will hold the socket and the “lamp shade” together.

 
Step 4

Screw in the bulb of your choice. I love the light quality of the Edison Bulbs. There’s something magical in the power of the warm glow the emanates from an Edison Bulb.
 

 
Steps 5 & 6

Prepare your ceiling for your new pendant lamp by placing the swag hook to hold the cord in place. (I already had a hook from a previous hanging light.)
 
Hang your new pendant light and bask in its glow!
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With a lamp kit, making your own pendant light really is super easy! And you can turn almost anything you have laying around into a lamp shade. Doesn’t this look cool?
 
Thanks for reading. After you make your own pendant light, post a picture on my Facebook page and let me see your creative piece of work!

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.

​ 
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. 
​

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.
​

 
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.
​ 

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.
 

​ 
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.”
 

​ 
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.
 

​ 
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.
 

​ 
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.
 

​ 
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.”
 

​ 
“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."
​

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

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

​ 
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.

​ 
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.

​ 
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.
​
- 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.

​ 
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. 

​ 
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.”

​ 
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
​

 
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.
 ​

 
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.”
 ​

​ 
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.
 

​ 
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.
 ​

 
“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

​ 
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.