Every woman has her Wardrobe BFFs - clothing items that are supremely stylish, beautiful made and comfortable.  Here's the store that plays matchmaker.  
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson 

Combine an antiques store with the only authentic English Tearoom in South Mississippi and you've got a place where lots of good things happen. 
- story by Ellis Anderson

 
The Tearoom on Ulman Avenue has been open for two years and it’s already acquired a reputation as the go-to place for visitors to the Mississippi Coast who hail from the British Isles – as well as a popular place to host bridal and baby showers, family reunions, wedding anniversaries, birthday and graduation parties and even business meetings and fundraisers. 
 
Proprietor Sylvia Young says it’s the only authentic English Tea Room in South Mississippi.  From Tuesday through Saturday, from 10am – 3pm, anyone can take a shopper’s break in the tearoom and be served a pot of tea, pastry or scone. 
 
While reservations are required (48 hours in advance) for the formal High Tea Windors with all the food and frills – Sylvia welcomes groups as small as three people (She recommends that party planners make reservations now for the holiday season). 
 
There’s a private room that can seat up to twenty people (perfect for meetings), while the entire tearoom opened up can seat 55 people.  There’s no charge for use of the venue when High Tea is served and  made available for up to two hours.

“High Tea” British style is a full meal by American standards.   It includes a bounty of goodies served up on a three-tier stand.  Guests help themselves from the tiers. 
 
The bottom tier is filled with a variety of small sandwiches, including roasted turkey, chicken salad and cucumber with basil pesto.  On the middle tier are side items like potato salad, quiche and artichoke delight.  On the top tier are desserts – everything from chocolate-covered strawberries and cherries to ambrosia, to fruit-filled scones served up with lemon curd and fresh clotted cream. 
 
For children’s parties, there’s a special menu that appeals to younger palettes, including homemade cupcakes and finger sandwiches made with Nutella.
 
“We make everything fresh for all the teas,” says Sylvia.  “Nothing’s packaged or processed, it’s all made from scratch.  For instance, we roast our own turkey for the turkey sandwiches.”  Then she laughs and says, “We do everything but run the turkey down!”

When reservations are made, party planners also have a choice of homemade soups to order.  Sylvia will make up either zucchini, or black bean soup or a chicken and sausage gumbo.
 
She says her guests from Great Britain are usually surprised to be served gumbo with tea, but after trying it are ready to take back the recipe to their own tearooms in England.  But the culture swap goes both ways.  They also give their favorite tearoom recipes to Sylvia and share “the secrets of the Queen’s tearoom” to make the experience in South Mississippi more fun. 
 
Then there’s the tea itself.  Sylvia currently stocks over 15 different types of tea.   It’s all served up in charming antique teapots and cups.  Larger private parties can also order a side cart of extra drinks, soft drinks, lemonade and coffee.
 
Don’t have a costume, but want to post a few photos of your tea event on social media?  Sylvia has that covered too, with an array of both ladies and men’s formal hats. 
 
This spring, Sylvia and her husband Ed are expanding the tearoom by creating a “tea garden”.  They’re landscaping the courtyard area now, which will feature fountains, birdbaths and garden statues.  Beneath the boughs of a large live oak tree, they’re building an arbor where couples can be married, with a seating area for the bridal party.

The tearoom is located inside Antique Maison Ulman, a vast antique and vintage store.  It’s the second Antique Maison location – the first is at 111 North Second Street.  The Youngs rent out booths to experienced dealers selling furniture and home décor in both locations, as well as selling their own vintage, nostalgia and antique items – all in good condition.  Shoppers will also find jewelry, books, arts and crafts. 
 
“We’ve built a great reputation through the years, based on asking reasonable prices for quality merchandise - all attractively displayed, ” says Sylvia.  “In Antique Maison on Second Street, I’ve got forty dealers with a waiting list to get in.  That’s why we opened the Ulman location and tearoom.”
 
Spring and fall, auctions take place at Antique Maison Ulman (to sign up for notification, email them at:  [email protected]  )
 
The Youngs take furniture on consignment as well at Ulman Avenue, as long as it’s solid wood and in good condition.  They research to price fairly and accurately.   Since Ed Young grew up in the family furniture business in New Orleans, he’s been a furniture dealer for 60 years plue.  Sylvia’s been working in the antiques furniture business for a dozen years. 
 
Pre-Katrina, at the N. Second Street location, the Youngs owned and operated one of the most popular bridal rental operations on the coast, Bon Temps Roulé.  After the storm, they were left with a building, but not much else.  They reinvented themselves by reopening as Antique Maison just a year after the storm, to provide spaces for local dealers and help residents have a place to shop to refurnish and redecorate their homes.   
 
“We just don’t give up,” says Sylvia, smiling.  “My secret is endurance, a progressive attitude to keep up with the market, and just plain old dedication and determination.”
 
She smiles.  “I guess some of those overlap.” 

The Bay Life dream becomes a business - and a reality - for shop owner and president of the Old Town Merchants Association, Janice Guido.
- stories and photography by Ellis Anderson

So it’s not surprising that her shop, Bay Life, is filled with a selection of art, décor and tableware that has most shoppers wanting to linger longer.  The overall statement is one of relaxation and restoration.  The soft aqua wall color, the enormous windows and the historic brickwork create a perfect backdrop for the shop offerings. 
 
There’s a special focus on Mississippi made art and products too.  Best sellers include the Oxford line of Soy candles, bath and dish towels by Hanging By A Thread,  a colorful throw pillow line by Little Birdie and A La Luna jewelry, made just up the road in Petal, Mississippi.
 
Local artists are heavily represented too, with oyster shell ornaments, crosses and frames by Michelle Savoy, bold paintings by Tehle McGuffee of Gulfport and Tracy Stieffel’s woodblocks and pewter cutouts. 
 
Since sharing meals is a main component of life in the Bay, Bay Life carries lots of tableware.  Caspari’s line of placemats, napkins and greeting cards are some of Janice’s favorites – and she’s found that customers share her enthusiasm.  Maurice Milleur’s pewter tableware has been a coast mainstay for decades, and now Janice represents him as well.
 
Like any great Southern hostess, Janice works hard make shop visitors relax and feel at home.  She orchestrates the music, the colors, and even the scents that greet shoppers.  And it’s all selected with one thing in mind. 
 
“I’ve lived a very stressful corporate life and a lot of my customers are the same,” she says.  “So I’m trying to create a fun and peaceful place where they can slow down for a minute, and maybe even leave here feeling inspired.”

It’s a strategy that’s worked for Bay Life.  Opening on Second Saturday in March 2015, the store may be young, but it has already established a large and loyal following.   In addition to a large cadre of long-time locals, the shop’s customers include many people who live in New Orleans or other regional cities and have second homes on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  Janice says that a lot of her customers have become friends. 
 
That’s to be expected from someone who has spent most of her career working in the home and hospitality industry.  She was born and raised in Natchez, where her father owned an insurance and home-building business.  She has fond childhood memories of accompanying her father to home construction sites.  “He believed everyone needed a good place to live.”
 
Janice attended St. Mary’s Dominican in New Orleans, graduating with a double major in history and education.  Along the way, she spent a full year with Loyola in Rome, an experience that broadened her perspectives. 
 
After stints teaching and selling real estate, she found her true niche in the hospitality field – mostly in New Orleans.  For nearly thirty years, Janice worked at sales and marketing for some of the most famous hotels in the U.S., including the Windsor Court New Orleans, the Le Meridien New Orleans, the Fairmont/Roosevelt New Orleans and the Willard Intercontinental in Washington, D.C.  She ended her hotel career at the famous Royal Sonesta Hotel in the French Quarter after helping to launch the Irvin Mayfield Jazz Playhouse and Restaurant Revolution.  While her jobs may have been stressful, she found that making people feel at home came naturally.

In 2001, while working at the Windsor Court, she purchased her first house on the coast, in the Garden Isles neighborhood.  

“We had a boat and would go explore all the bayous.  It was only about an hour away, so I could get back quickly if there was a hotel emergency.  But being on the coast made it easy to forget everything. 
 
“I’d traveled all over and realized that the landscapes here were as beautiful as anything the East Coast had to offer.   I fell in love with it and made a plan.”
 
Janice’s plan was to eventually retire, move to the Bay full time and open a gallery/gift shop. 
“I held that dream in my heart as I as finished out my career,” she says.  “I wanted to be my own boss.  And I love it.  I count my blessings every day.”
 
One of those blessings is to be able to compare notes with her sister, Gail, owner of Silver Street Gifts and Gallery in Natchez.  The two go to market together and share sales tips with each other.  Their mother gets in on the act too, as her daughters swap ideas and talk about new products they’ve found. 
 
The last few years have been busy ones and Janice and her partner have renovated and added onto their historic cottage on State Street in Old Town.  In addition, soon after opening her shop, Janice was quickly tapped as president of the Old Town Merchants Association.  So while there hasn’t been much time lately to explore the bayous by boat, Janice is completely contented. 
 
“I thought I would miss New Orleans more than I do,” she says.  “I’m so happy here.  My Bay life in reality is even more wonderful than the dream.” 
 

This chic shop on Main Street has developed a loyal following and a strong personality:  Easy going, spirited and a little bit sassy.  
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson 

Instead, 18 years have passed and she’s firmly ensconced in the community, with no plans to move elsewhere.

She opened the popular bed and breakfast first and then began the boutique a few years later to meet the needs of her guests.
 
“They all wanted something made locally that they could take home,” says Jane. “They also wanted more choices in shopping for fashion, especially beach-wear.  Meanwhile, I was looking something to fulfill my creative side.”
 
Bay-tique is a showcase of that creativity.  The window displays and store décor instantly make the most fatigued shopper feel enlivened.  The mood is spirited, and so is the merchandise.
 
The clothing and accessories are geared for women in the 30 – 50 age group, in regular and plus sizes. 
 
“I think about things I would like,” says the fifty-something entrepreneur.  “A woman in her fifties doesn’t want to dress like a grandmother, but she doesn’t want to dress like a 20-year old either.  I try to keep the merchandise fun and affordable.” 

For fall 2016, expect to find lots of layering pieces in rich colors like plum, burgundy, olive and burnt orange.  Easy-to-wear leggings are still a hot item, as are tunics.  Short boots keep the look contemporary and stylish.   Popular brands include Quay Sunglasses, Blowfish and Sanuk shoes, Jane Marie jewelry, All For Color Clothing and Umgee Apparel. 
 
Accessories include cool suede scarves and vests.  And the perennial favorites of locals and visitors alike are the Bay St. Louis hoodies and sweatshirts designed by Jane and sold by her exclusively.
 
Jane’s proficiency with graphic design programs makes that possible.  She also has the equipment  - and hands-on  know-how – to make many of the shop’s distinctive t-shirts.
 
“I’ll make a stencil and then I paint and bleach to make one-off designs on t-shirts.  That’s a great creative outlet, I really enjoy it.”
 
The merchandising part of the job is satisfying as well.  It’s also challenging.  She discovered early on that ordering her stock online may have been easy, but it’s impossible to identify quality from a computer screen.  Now she researches carefully before she goes to market, steering away from product lines she knows other merchants in town are carrying (“we work together and try hard not to duplicate”).

At market, Jane visits vendors she’s picked out beforehand.  Being able to touch and feel the quality before she orders makes for a loyal clientele.   Bayti-que has a growing local fan base and many “frequent flyers,” regular visitors from out of town who make the boutique their first stop. 
 
“I want our reputation to be one of a high-service, big-fun boutique.”
 
Perks include calling a customer when something they’ve been looking for comes in and offering an online store where they can shop with confidence.  Jane’s already done the quality control.
 
A highly motivated sales staff who are trained not to be “stand-offish or snooty” also helps in building customer loyalty.  Jane says she has excellent employees and constantly gets feedback from regular customers about how helpful they are. 
 
“It makes a big difference having reliable employees who take ownership of their job,” says Jane.  “They’re great at helping put together a whole look that’s flattering to the customer.
 
“I’m really proud of the store.  It’s developed it’s own personality and I like that personality.  Easy going, spirited and a little bit sassy.”    ​

This Old Town anchor is set up as an artists' co-operative - which proves to positively impact attitudes and creativity as well as its business plan.  Find out how.
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson

Owners Jenise McCardell and Mark Currier’s house is directly behind the stand-out art deco building that houses Gallery 220.  Since the studio for their own ceramics business, Clay Creations, is also located on the premises, they have the ultimate in a work/live situation, with a gallery that hums with energy, seven days a week.

The pair were one of the first businesses to open their doors in 2005 after the unprecedented devastation of Hurricane Katrina.  The building sustained less damage than most in the town, so the couple hurriedly mucked it out and threw open the doors for the September Second Saturday – less than three weeks after the monster storm.
 
The spirits of dazed residents, astonished volunteers and shell-shocked artists were revived by the event, so for many months, every Saturday was Second Saturday.  The community had one place to find respite and encouragement.  Any artist who had wares to sell were welcomed.  Gallery 220 was born.

Since each of the member artists works in Gallery 220, shoppers are always assured of having an artist help them make a selection.  This means that each member learns about the other’s techniques and styles.  The painters sometimes bring works-in-progress with them, so often there’s an in-house demonstration.
 
Potter and sculptor Regan Carney is one of the original members of Gallery 220.  She maintains her own working clay studio (Bay Artists Coop) in the Depot District, nd calls the gallery “my showroom.”
 
And quite the showroom it is.  One of the only art deco style buildings in Bay St. Louis, it has high ceilings, lots of natural light and hand-painted floors.  As a co-op, the business philosophy adds another layer of interest.
 
“This place operates differently than a conventional gallery,” says Carney.  “We respect each other’s space and each other’s art work.  We learn to work as a group.  Since we don’t have a central person to handle display, it’s in all our best interests to keep the gallery looking fresh and engaging.”
 
“It’s not a pretentious place at all.  Everybody has the opportunity to arrange their work and present it in a very personable way, rather than deal with something that’s highly structured.”
 
Several artists have been part of the nucleus for years:  Janet Densmore, Spencer Gray, Jr., Michelle Allee, Regan’s husband, Mark Buszkiewicz and jewelers Sid and Pam Yoder.  Some of the established members  also teach, so they share information about workshops. Barbara Brodtmann, Janet Densmore, Jo Slay and Carney all give classes, some at the gallery itself. 

These veteran artists are able to offer counsel to younger artists who are just beginning to market their work.
 
“It provides an opportunity for entry level artists to learn some of the basics of presenting and selling their work,” Carney says.  “They learn the fundamentals of professionalism.” 
 
And the newest member of the Gallery 220 is taking advantage of that fact.  Holly Boynes is a ceramics artist living in Chalmette.  Drawn to art her entire life, she graduated Nichols State University in 2013 with a degree in fine arts. Currently, she’s focusing on hand-built teapots and wall-hangings based on flowers like tiger lilies, cherry blossoms and sunflowers. 
 
While Boyne has a solid education in technique, she’s finding the camaraderie and support from other gallery artists beneficial. 
 
“Although I do crafts shows, I’ve never worked in a gallery before,” says Boyne.  “This is brand new to me.  But everyone’s friendly and they help each other.  I’m getting to know people’s art and their stories, while learning the ins and outs of the business of art. “
 

The support system between the artists moves far beyond the professional sphere.  Carney says that when she suffered a life-threatening and debilitating aneurysm a few years ago, the co-op members came to her aid. 
 
“They were extraordinarily instrumental in helping me out,” Carney says. “They helped me sell my work, take care of business and set up a fund to help cover medical costs.”
 
Carney says the group hosts at least one charity fund-raiser event a year.  Recently, coop members held a benefit to help a fellow artist who’s currently going through chemo-therapy. 
 
“We celebrate each others' successes.  When we hit low spots, we try to pull each other up.  Everyone benefits. 

"Even our customers,” she adds, smiling.  

The Artists of Gallery 220

• Michelle Allee                              Painter   
• Tracy Bennett                               Potter
• Scott Blackwell                             Artist/Screenprinter    
• Holly Boynes                                Ceramics         
• Barbara Brodtmann                    Watercolor
• Mark Buszkiewicz                        Potter  
• Regan Carney                                Potter  
• P. Chris Christofferson               Photographer
  
• Mark Currier                                Photographer
  
• Janet Densmore                           Artist
• Sandra Epton                               Landscape paintings
  
• Spencer Gray, Jr.                         Artist
• Dave Holt                                      NOLA Beauxties
  
• Amy Kramer                                 Painter
  
• Judy Lee                                        Potter  
  
• Nancy Lowentritt                         Painter
  
• Pam Marshall                                Painter
• Jenise McCardell                         Clay Creations 
  
• Julie Nelson                                  Raku Potter
• Vicki Rosendahl                          Animal Sculpture
• Jo Slay                                            Mosaics
  
• Herb Willey                                   Painter
  
• Sid and Pam Yoder                     Jewelers              

The new  Bay Town Inn will be celebrating its third birthday this year.  Owner Nikki Moon reveals why more guests - and more types of guests - are staying and then returning. 
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson 

​Walkability rules here: the Inn is on the route of a popular historic walking and biking tour.  Ten owner-operated eateries are located within three blocks.  Ditto for dozens of antique shops and boutiques.  A fabulous public pier and harbor are directly across the street.  Watching the sunrise over the floating neighborhood of seventy-odd boats — with the graceful Bay Bridge in the background — gets anyone’s day off on the right foot. 
 
In addition to the couples staying for rejuvenation and a weekend of fun in the sun, two new types of guests have discovered the Inn.  Business travelers are flocking there for workweek stays, and wedding parties are booking “takeover” weekends. 
 
Nikki says that her corporate guests in many cases are NASA, NOAA, or Navy personnel, in the area working at Stennis Space Center.  Rather than stay at a chain hotel in Louisiana, they opt for the Bay Town Inn experience — especially since the Inn honors government per diem.
 
“They like the Inn because they have more space than in just a room,” says Nikki, referring to her ten guest suites.  The suites include a separate living/kitchenette area, a large bathroom and a separate bedroom.   “If they want to meet with one of their colleagues, there’s work space in the suite, or they can discuss projects by the pool.

“They also like the fact that after a long day, they can have peace and quiet.  They don’t have to get into their cars again.  They can just walk to dinner.” 

​Wedding parties are attracted for many of the same reasons, especially since two popular reception venues are nearby.  Instead of booking just a smattering of rooms to wedding parties, Nikki’s unique approach is to offer only the entire place.  For instance, for one recent wedding, the groom’s family booked the entire Inn for the weekend.  They set up their own refreshment station in the courtyard and were able to swim until midnight without worry of disturbing other guests.  Currently, the Inn hosts about five weddings a year. 
 
Most of the guests — whether matrimonial, corporate or vacation — have one thing in common:  a friend referred them. 
 
“The majority of our business is word of mouth,” says Nikki.  “That’s great, because that means we’re providing consistent service and meeting their needs. That’s also a tribute to Bay St. Louis. There are more restaurants open now on Monday night and some shops are open seven days a week too.  That’s something they can’t get in other towns.
 
“Bay St. Louis may be known as ‘Mayberry by the Sea,’ but it’s a hip Mayberry.  While it’s calm and low key, it’s also artsy and has lots of live music.”

One reason for Nikki’s lightning fast success is her staff.  Several key people have been with her since the opening and the team works with seamless efficiency.  This allows her more flexibility now than she’s ever had in her entire working life.  A seasoned tourism professional, in 2003 Nikki purchased the original historic Bay Town Inn.  She was just settling in as owner of the bed and breakfast when Hurricane Katrina tore through the coast. 
 
After the storm, she was the owner of a bare lot, feeling fortunate to have escaped with her life.
 
Until the Bay’s infrastructure could be put back together — a process that took several years — Nikki returned to New Orleans and picked up her job as vice president of convention sales for the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.  She also married John Moon, who found the dream of running an inn in Bay St. Louis as alluring as she did. 
 
Construction on the new inn began in October 2012 and it was completed in September 2013.  Unfortunately, the newlyweds never got to celebrate its opening together.  John Moon had passed away from melanoma five months before. 
 
Loss of a home, a business, and a soulmate in a relatively short period might have permanently clouded the lives of most people, but Nikki’s midwestern determination has served her well.  Chin up, keep going, stay positive.  Her bright smile that greets every guest is not one of artifice.  She’s genuinely delighted to see them and they can sense it.  It’s one of the reasons they keep returning. 

​Nikki has found that giving back to her community keeps that spirit bright.  Now that the hotel’s routine has become second nature, she has the flexibility to volunteer for favorite projects.  Currently, she’s serving on the board of the Hancock Chamber, the Old Town Merchants Association, the Hancock Library Foundation, the Mystic Krewe of Seahorse (a Mardi Gras organization with an economic development mission) and the advisory board of the Gulf Coast Visitors Bureau.  One of her favorite charities is Brenda’s House, a safe home for children who are in transition. 

She’s also serving her second term as president of the Hancock County Tourism Development Board, bringing to the table her years of expertise in the industry.
Two recent projects she’s thrown energy behind involve transportation.  A free Old Town trolley service that was being discontinued because of lack of funding has found a new sponsor, the Silver Slipper Casino.  The new service began at the end of May and will run through Old Town and Waveland as it makes a loop back and forth to Bayou Cadet. 
 
Another pet project has been working with the Southern Rail Commission to encourage the return of Amtrak train service, which is hopefully slated to begin within the next two years.  She sees Bay St. Louis as the gateway to Mississippi, poised to welcome visitors.  Nikki also believes the train service will encourage the historic model of full and part-time residents of the Bay being able to commute to New Orleans for work.
 
Her hopes for the community’s future are shared with those of her inn:  moving forward with fresh ideas, based on the time-honored traditions of the past.  She sees a textured weave, where businesses and residents work toward a vital economy and an exceptional quality of life.
 
“I’ve learned a great deal in the past three years,” Nikki says. “I’m more local-centric than ever now.  I buy local art for the rooms, flowers from the local florist, plants from local nurseries.  We want to support local businesses as much as we can.  You know, we’re all in this together.” 

Guest columnist Pat Robinson rhapsodizes about the offerings of summer of the coast - including bonfires on the beach and fireworks for all.

I am originally from Cambridge Massachusetts and people often ask what I
miss from "home". My first answer is always the 4th of July with the Boston Pops
and spectacular fireworks on barges in the middle of the Charles River (Love that
Dirfy Water). But, isn't there always a but?

But regular folks in Massachusetts cannot buy fireworks and set them off. On the gulf coast, we can! And we can have bonfires (with permits) and fireworks and parties on the beach.
Although fireworks are not done on the more solemn Memorial Day celebrations, this week-end is the beginning of summer.

Second Safurday in "the Bay" happens every month. Fishing is always good. Music is always on our minds and we have many talents here. Boating is great, going out to the barrier
islands, or just floating along, or sailing too.

July 4ft brings more fun and great seafood with Our Lady of the Gulf Crab
Fest and Waveland is now carrying on a holiday tradition that began when
Destination America (they produced Buying the Bayou and I was a realtor in
an episode) brought national attention to the small city's big comeback.

The Bay Harbor Fest is July 17-19 and it features local, regional, and
national caliber musicians. There are always a lot of vendors too.
And let's not forget the great art we have here.

The Ohr-O'Keefe Museum, Walter Anderson Museum, and many galleries that feature just about every kind of art you can think of.

The boys of summer are now a part of the coast. The Biloxi Shuckers are
playrng in the new MGM park. So it's not Fenway or the Red Sox, but it is
baseball.

Or maybe you just want to get your fishing rod and go out to one of the
piers and try for that BIG one.

Or maybe it is just the right time for a good book on the beach under an
umbrella.

Be sure and use sunscreen, and get ready for a good time in Bay St. Louis
and the rest of the wonderful Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Find out how this personable Houdini dog has worked her way into the lives and hearts of Old Town residents and shop owners in the past ten years. 
 - story by Ellis Anderson, photos courtesy the Wyly family and Lucy's fan club

But unlike most Serious Bread customers, Lucy’s not allowed inside.  Being a dog — even the beloved “town dog” — sometimes has its disadvantages.

In 2012, this Waveland business nearly gave up the ghost; then new owner Chris Cochran infused it with vision, experience and fresh vitality. 
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson

A historic showstopper of a building is now home to Bay Emporium - 13 different shops under one enormous roof - with plans to grow!
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson

This dynamic father-daughter team moves into a new era guided by a thirty-five year commitment to quality.
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson

Most people who saw it probably chuckled.  After all, Jackye’s father, Jimmy Crane, owned Crane Builders.  Construction isn’t the kind of profession often sought out by women.  Sure, she grew up working in the office, but still.
 
When Jackye entered LSU’s Engineering School and began working toward her degree in Construction Management, even her parents thought it’d be a short-lived course of action.  She was one of only three women in a program with 150 men. 

Yet, she thrived in the program, eagerly learning new skill sets like commercial and industrial construction management.  In 2010, she graduated with honors and went to work for her dad in earnest, earning the company’s vice-presidency.  King cake wish fulfilled. 
 
As of January 2016, Jackye had one-upped the king cake dream.  Her father had new business cards made for a surprise.  On the new versions, beneath her name is the word “president.”
 
The dynamic father-daughter team will continue working together, with Jackye now at the helm.  While she’s keeping on top on new construction techniques and materials, the company’s core values will remain at the heart of the business:  Customer service and quality. 
 
“We built our reputation and our business by always going the extra mile,” says Jimmy.  “We get attached to families when we’re building [their houses] for them, we all feel part of the process.  Jackye and I will even be there on moving day, helping them get into their new home.”
 
Jackye points out that in 2015, 78% of the Crane’s business came from returning clients working on new projects. 
 
“The people we’ve worked with before and the houses that we’ve built are our best advertisements,” says Jackye. 
 
Their client list reads like a Gulf Coast Who’s-Who of people known for their discriminating taste.  Currently, several Crane Builder signs can be spotted on lots while driving down Beach Boulevard. The company’s website includes powerful testimonials from clients as well as a sample gallery of projects.  Also prominently displayed on the website is the company’s motto:  “If you think hiring an expert is expensive, just wait ‘til you hire an amateur.”

“It’s all about value,” says Jimmy.  “You don’t need to pay a premium, but you never want to cut corners.  That approach will always come back to haunt you in the future.”
 
The Cranes get competitive bids from sub-contractors and pre-qualify them to make sure they’ll get top quality work.  But the final decision is based on finding “the right fit.”
 
Jackye gives an example.  “Sometimes we need just a basic electrician, and sometimes the better fit is one who is also skilled at installing audio and security systems.  That way the job isn’t piecemealed and our client gets the best craftsmanship for their money.”
 
Jimmy Crane adopted that philosophy early on.  A New Orleans native, he graduated in the first class of LSU’s new Construction Technology program (the same one Jackye graduated from 38 years later, although the name of the program has changed).  He then worked in New Orleans for a small upscale residential renovation company for eight years before hanging up his own shingle in 1980.  In the past 35 years, he’s specialized in renovations and new residential construction. Jackye, born in 1987, literally grew up in the business.
 
In 1986 Jimmy and his wife Sharon purchased one of the most architecturally significant homes on the coast.  The historic gem facing the beach in Waveland became an ongoing restoration project — a labor of love that increased the amount of time they spent out of the city.  
 
Jimmy began working on the coast in the mid-’90s, mostly at the behest of friends.  The business on the coast mushroomed, as did their love for the area. By 2008, the family moved their household and their business to Waveland full time.  
 
When their home fell victim to Katrina, Jimmy rebuilt higher and with new fortified techniques.  Now a cottage in the back of the lot that was constructed as temporary living quarters after Katrina serves as the company office, nesting under the canopy of an ancient live oak tree. 
 
Like her father, Jackye enjoys the fact that the construction business doesn’t entail spending all day in an office.  Another aspect both enjoy is that it’s a people-oriented business. 
 
“I love doing residential work, whether it’s renovation or new construction,” says Jackye.  “I’m not working with boxes, I’m working with people.  There’s a personal side.  For instance, during a major renovation, when you start tearing a house up and making a mess, it’s not easy on the family.  But we all work through that together and the end result is always positive.”

 Since the Cranes are equally proficient in building using modular and conventional methods, they offer clients estimates for each method, as well as explaining the advantages of each.  Again, it’s all about a good fit.
 
“The more bells and whistles a house has, the less cost-effective modular is,” says Jackye.  “But it can cut construction time in half.” 

The Cranes work with two different companies to construct modular homes; in fact, Jackye’s own house is modular.  She’ll often invite clients over for a tour so they can “kick the tires.”   She points out that modular doesn’t have to be small.  A recent “hybrid” home (combining modular and conventional techniques) they constructed in Pass Christian is 8500 square feet.
 
Fortified building is also a Crane specialty.  Not only is the building stronger, some homeowners owners will be able eventually lower insurance rates substantially.  Being well versed in the building codes and the requirements of local building officials in Waveland, Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian also saves clients anxiety and time.  While the Cranes offer some design services, they often work with architects as well. 
 
Between the options the company offers and the reputation for quality they’ve built, it’s small wonder the Cranes keep a full roster of projects. 
 
“But Jackye’s running the show now,” Jimmy says.  It’s hard to tell which shines brighter: his pride in his daughter, or his smile.

This noted coast attorney charts his way through life with a compass of good will and a desire to effect positive change in the community.
 - story by Ellis Anderson

The young boy even embellished on the dream as the years went by.  For a time, Brehm’s mother worked for noted architect Fred Wagner, whose office was on Main Street.  The boy liked the feel of the place so much, he decided he eventually wanted an office on Main Street too. 

Brehm Bell’s current office address is 544 Main Street, Bay St. Louis.  And last year, his family moved into a historic house a few blocks away — also on Main Street. 

Setting a course and staying true to it may be an inherited trait:  four generations of Bells have captained or served as engineers of tugboats.  Brehm’s great-grandfather was also a Pearlington bridge-tender and donated land for a park to Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long (the park is still there, on Hwy. 90, at the turn-off to Fremeaux in Slidell).  Brehm carried on the tugboat tradition by working as a deckhand during summers and holidays while he was in high school and college. 

He attended his sophomore through his senior year of high school at Bay High, graduated in 1980, then went on to attend the University of Southern Mississippi.  After graduating with a double major in English and Political Science, he was accepted to law school at Ole Miss.

By then, he’d already set his cap for Jenny Lindsay, an upbeat designer from Slidell whom he’d met at Southern.  The couple’s first date convinced them they’d be a disastrous match and would be better off as friends.  Yet, the friendship eventually blossomed into romance — a lasting one.  They married 28 years ago, just a year before Brehm graduated law school.  He says that marrying Jenny was the best move he ever made in life, and that anyone who knows Jenny would agree with him.  

Brehm’s first job as a lawyer took the newlyweds to Meridian, where they lived for four years, starting their family.  But the bay kept calling, so in 1994 the Bells moved back to the coast and Brehm opened his own practice.

While he’s worked in family law and served as a local youth court judge, Brehm’s primary focus has always been personal injury law — in fact, it’s been his sole practice for the past decade. 

“When someone’s been in an accident, the system is incredibly frustrating and unduly complicated,” says Brehm, “and a lot of people are treated like they don’t have any common sense.  Our job is to clarify, and then handle the immense amount of paperwork, while keeping our clients updated. 
​
“I get paid for helping people, and we only get paid if we help them recover anything.  It feels good to be following the ethics of my parents, who were well known in the community for helping others.”

Although 90% of Brehm’s clients are residents of Hancock County, he prefers to keep a low profile when it comes to advertising as a personal injury attorney.  His wife Jenny heads up a highly respected ad agency on the coast, but don’t expect to see Brehm’s face on a billboard.  He personally prefers a more old-fashioned approach to advertising his legal business: word of mouth. 

“I just keep striving to do what’s right, and clients continue to come my way.  We treat people with respect, return phone calls and give a lot of personal service.  The way we conduct business has been the most valuable advertising of all.”

Yet his legal practice is only one of Brehm’s jobs.  As a volunteer, he’s worked for years through various community channels to better public education.  The investment in time is motivated by both civic and personal reasons:  All four of the Bells children attend local public schools.  

Brehm’s worn many hats through the years in his quest for bettering the area’s educational opportunities.  He worked with the local chapter of the Kiwanis for more than a dozen years focusing on education.  Serving as chair of the Hancock Chamber’s Education Committee, he helped found the annual Teachers’ Appreciation Dinner, an event where local educators are honored and even gifted with various types of community support. 

He served on the board of the Bay Tigers Athletic Foundation, which works to support athletics, dance team and band activities for his alma mater.  Brehm and Sherry Ponder campaigned tirelessly to persuade Pearl River Community College to open a branch in Hancock County – an effort that was happily successful.  But the Bookworms program, which enlists adults to read for classrooms on occasion, remains one of his favorites. 

“As a Mormon, I don’t even drink tea,” says Brehm.  “But I feel an enormous natural high after I go to the elementary school and read for those classes.”  

Brehm is a bedrock member of his church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Since Jenny’s a Methodist, the practical-minded pair agreed before marriage that they’d attend each other’s church once a month.  Brehm says that the family focuses on the similar beliefs they share, rather than the differences. The system has worked well for the Bells, whose social circles overlap, as well as their beliefs.

His faith in the city of Bay St. Louis hasn’t wavered either since his childhood.  It’s only grown stronger as he’s watched the city recover from one of the worst natural disasters in the country’s history.  He sees the tolerance of the community as one of its greatest assets. 

“In other places, your status or class can mean a lot,” he says.  “In Bay St. Louis, not so much.  People here don’t care if you’re the mayor or a ditch-digger, they’ll enjoy your company fishing or sharing a burger with you.”

“I love the vibe downtown right now —  the art, the music and the food.  We invite our friends here from around the country to see what a great little city we are.”

Brehm believes that the city’s strong historical and cultural ties to New Orleans lend Bay St. Louis a special ambiance.  Since New Orleans is consistently listed as a top city destination worldwide, the Bay basks in the edge of that spotlight, but makes the most of the low-stress, family-oriented lifestyle.  

According to Brehm, another advantage to small town life is the ability of a single individual to bring about positive change.  One can work behind the scenes without holding office or being in a position of power and still make good things happen.  It’s a principle he apparently applies on a daily basis. 

Brehm shared one idea he’s been quietly working toward for over a decade:  the eventual creation of a foundation for the Bay-Waveland School District.  One of its missions would be to fund stipends to help recruit and reward top-quality teachers.

Brehm’s enthusiasm fires up as he discusses the concept at length. This is one more dream that will eventually be manifested.  One can almost see his tugboat ancestry at the wheel of this particular ship, plotting the course and slowly, but steadily, making way.    

A world-class medical partner, a vital community foundation, a state-of-the-art facility and hometown heart make this hospital a vital resource. 

In 1987, the current Drinkwater Boulevard acute care facility opened and the hospital became fully accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Although the hospital suffered $26 million in damages during Hurricane Katrina, a heroic group of employees and physicians remained and helped put lives, homes, and the hospital back together. Like any fine hospital, expansion and programs to update procedures and equipment are ongoing, with each technological advance in health care.
 
For instance, consider the new Telestroke System.  When a patient arrives at the emergency department at Hancock Medical with the symptoms of a stroke, a computer with an advanced webcam will be brought to the bedside where the clinical team will connect with a vascular neurologist on call at Ochsner’s mother-ship hospital in New Orleans.  The neurologist, patient and clinical team at Hancock Medical can see and speak to each other throughout the consult.  The physician examines the patient and reviews the CT scan of the patient’s head, providing guidance on advanced treatments within minutes.
 
Bay St. Louis resident Roy Herron was the beneficiary of the new system. One morning Mr. Herron could not hold a cup of coffee in his right hand and started feeling a numbness on his right side. Concerned, he drove himself to the hospital.

After quickly being assessed on screen by the neurologist back at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans through the Telestroke system at Hancock Medical, Mr. Herron was assessed as having a stroke. ER Physician Dr. Laurie Patterson was instructed to administer Activase, the clot-busting drug used to treat a stroke in its early stages. Activase is used for improving neurological recovery and reducing the incidence of disability. It needs to be administered with three hours after the onset of stroke symptoms.  
 
In many cases, Telestroke consultation will allow patients to stay at Hancock Medical. In more complicated cases, like this one involving Mr. Herron, the patient is transferred to Ochsner in New Orleans for more specialized treatment. Telestroke helps save more lives even with advanced cases because the neurologist will have already met and started treating the patient. 
 
Herron believes that the new system – and the staff – saved his life.  “I wouldn’t be here today if not for the efficiency of Hancock Medical and the coordination with Ochsner,” he said.
 
His emergency room physician at Hancock Medical that day, Dr. Laurie Patterson, believes that this case is one of many each week that prove how local hospitals help save lives.  “In the case of Mr. Herron,” she said, “he got here quickly, got the meds he needed here in our Emergency Department and then was transferred to Ochsner in a timely manner.” 

The Foundation

The Telestroke Program is made possible by a grant obtained by Ochsner and operating expenses paid by the Hancock Medical Foundation. The Hancock Medical Foundation, a 501(c)3, raises money to help purchase needed medical equipment for the hospital. Foundation funds also can help with services like Telestroke or mammography assistance.
 
The very active foundation makes many things like these possible for Hancock Medical:

• Telestroke Program in the Emergency Department 
• Fetal Monitoring System for health of mom and baby
• Mobile Ultrasound in ER
• Mammography Assistance for uninsured in Hancock County 
• Endoscope Reprocessor for the Surgery Department
• Baby Isolette for OB Department
• Healthstream Employee Education
• Patient Room Televisions
• Joseph R. Lee, M.D. Operating Room Suite

 
The Hancock Medical Foundation Board includes Myron Labat (President), Ellis Cuevas, Theresa Bourgeois, Herb Dubuisson Sr., Suzi Lee, Bob McBee, Hank Wheeler, Jeanie Moran, Marilyn Sefton and Ron Hyman.

They work closely with the Board of Trustees and hospital administration members – like Virginia Kenny.  Currently Chief Nursing Officer, she’s served in many nursing roles in the hospital since 1982.

The CEO

The foundation also works closely with Hancock Medical CEO Alan Hodges.  Hodges brings more than 28 years of healthcare experience to the table, most recently serving as the Chief Operating Officer for Ochsner Health System’s North Shore Region.
 
Hodges says that he’s excited to help lead Hancock Medical into the future as it delivers quality health care to the residents of Hancock County.
 
 “Our core mission is to be the health resource for Hancock County and it speaks well of our facility that 80 percent of all of our inpatients and outpatients live right here in Hancock County,” Hodges says. 
 
“I’m proud of how friendly and dedicated our staff is to our patients and our community, and I’m proud of the quality health care that we’re providing.” 
 
That quality has been most recently recognized with Hancock Medical named one of eight hospitals in the state to be rewarded with an increase in Medicare reimbursement, a direct correlation to the quality of health care services it is providing patients.  
 
And in 2015, County Health Rankings by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Program rank Hancock County 7th for health outcomes among the 82 counties in the state. This study reflects the success of Hancock Medical and Hancock County in providing resources toward the overall health of its citizens. 

According to Hodges, the Hancock Medical and Oschner team add up to two things:  Hometown heart and world-class care.

Plucky Alice Moseley, a retired teacher, began her painting career at 65 and moved to Bay St. Louis when she was 80.  For nearly fifteen years after, the red-bereted folk artist charmed and inspired people with her paintings - and her stories.  In the Alice Moseley Museum, she's still doing just that.
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson

When she passed, just before her 95th birthday, the entire town mourned.  Yet Alice Moseley continues to enrich Bay St. Louis through the legacy of a museum named in her honor.  Located on the top floor of the town’s historic depot, it contains forty-seven of her original paintings and an astonishing collection of antique books, toys, glass, pottery.  

The museum is so popular, Myrna Green, director of Hancock Tourism says that over half of the 20,000 people who stopped into the Visitors’ Center last year also visited the museum.  That means over 10,000 people from around the world have enjoyed Alice’s art in the past year alone.  One weekday in late October, this writer found six visitors in the museum.  Two of them were from South Carolina, two were new residents of Biloxi – by way of Australia – and a third couple hailed from England.  It was their third time to visit the museum.  

Last year, the board of Hancock Tourism signed a five-year management agreement with Tim Moseley, museum founder and Alice’s son. They then hired Audre Brook to oversee the day-to-day operations and spread the word about Alice.

Brook is passionate about her work.  She believes that the Moseley Museum is the “best-kept secret in Mississippi.”

“Her zest for life was matchless,” says Brook.  “She painted up until right before her passing.  And she continues inspiring us now.  You can walk through the museum and look at all the portraits and paintings and appreciate how far we’ve come.  Remembering the past makes us better each day, remembering where we’ve come from and what we’ve gone through.”

Tim Moseley said his mother’s values often showed up in her work.  “She had very progressive ideas about civil rights.  My mom wanted to make clear that her paintings were a tribute to the people who survived those times and those injustices…  My mom considered herself one of those people… If you were in Mississippi and you were a sharecropper, it didn’t matter if you were black or white, there wasn’t going to be any cash money come your way.”

Tim attributes a big part of Moseley’s appeal to her storytelling talents, both verbally and in her paintings.

“It’s not just how good an artist is, it’s the stories they tell and how well they connect with people.”

A good example is a one of the museum’s most popular paintings,  called “Labor Vs. Management.”  Alice has painted a farmer trying to plow, but his mule is sitting down.  The farmer in raging at the mule, but it’s clear the creature has no intention of budging.  

Tim Moseley explains the thought behind the painting:  “Either you’re labor and think that your boss asks more than anyone has a right to expect or you’re the boss and you think that your labor’s just sitting down on you while you’re paying good money."

 One of the museum's latest acquisitions is an original painting of Alice’s called “What’s so new about Women’s Lib?” It shows a woman with a child and a small toddler hanging onto her skirts while she’s guiding a plow through a muddy field.  The two mules pulling it look surprised.  On the other side of the painting, there’s a wagon under a tree.  On it sleeps a man and a boy child on a blanket.  He looks supremely relaxed.   A wood cabin in the background of the painting obviously needs a lot of work.

Brook says that “Miss Alice’s” exceptional constitution and ability to take risks comes through in her work.  She’d lived through the suicide of her father when she was still a teenager, the Depression and two world wars.  She survived the loss of her husband and made a major move when she was eighty.

“Miss Alice is our Shero,” Brook says, smiling.  "She was a woman of true courage, someone we all need to emulate in one way or another."  

Alice Moseley’s nephew, Birmingham businessman and frequent Bay St. Louis visitor Mike Krawcheck agrees.  He says that Alice Moseley and the town of Bay St. Louis share the same plucky DNA.  He points to the way the town’s residents showed courage and determination after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 as proof of their similarity to his aunt.

“They’re the kind of people who confront adversity and challenge turn it around to everyone’s advantage,” he says.

“My aunt was flat out indefatigable.  She described the time she spent in BSL as the best time of her life.  She flourished there.”

Alice’s son Tim agrees.  “She really did think that the pot of gold was at the end of the rainbow in Bay St. Louis.”

Having deep roots in both New Orleans and the coast turns into a passion for one local entrepreneur and real estate professional.
​ - story by Ellis Anderson 

“In the real estate business, I have a unique opportunity to do something I have a passion for and love to do,” says Crawford. 
 
Holding real estate licenses from both Louisiana and Mississippi gives Crawford lots of options when assisting clients who are shopping for commercial, investment, or residential property.  And since Crawford came to real estate with a degree and years of experience in both management and marketing, he’s got the knowledge to get maximum exposure for properties he lists for sale.  Crawford even holds the trademark to advertise as a “waterfront specialist.”  In fact, he will sometimes take prospective clients on his boat so they can look at properties from the water. 
 
“There’s not a tributary or waterway in this entire area that I haven’t been on,” says Crawford.  “Here on the coast, we all have salt in our veins.”
 
Much of the realtor’s knowledge of local waterways he learned as a boy.  While Crawford went to school in New Orleans, his grandmother had a house in Pass Christian, so he spent every holiday boating, crabbing or fishing.  His father also rented a cottage every summer in the Bay and an uncle built a home just past Cowand Point near the Dunbar Avenue Pier.
 
After graduating from Ole Miss with degrees in marketing and management, Crawford moved to the coast full time and began investing in the area.  Eventually, he started studying real estate to better understand “what agents were doing on my behalf.”
 
When he obtained his license, he immersed himself in the business.  “I knew if I wanted to be successful, I’d have to give it 110 percent, so I ate, slept and breathed real estate for years.” 
 
While he believes that all real estate agents care about their clients, he says that his job is just beginning at the closing table. 
 
“The reality is that my clients are coming to me to establish a relationship, so I can offer guidance throughout the time they own their investment.  It’s a way to set myself apart.”
 
Crawford also believes in continuing education: “No one knows everything.”  He’s currently signed up for a program at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and is part of an advance management development program in real estate.  “I love learning,” he says. “I can’t help my clients unless I’m constantly trying to be better and that’s what I strive to do.”
 
Crawford has been married to Laura Gleason Crawford for eleven years, and the couple has two children they’re raising in the Bay.  They’re both active in the community, with Stephen serving as one of the co-organizers of “Pirate Day in the Bay.”  The event, produced by The Mystic Krewe of Seahorse earlier in 2015, engaged locals and attracted thousands of visitors.  He’s vice president of the Seahorse Krewe, which was formed specifically to help promote economic development in the downtown Bay St. Louis area.
 
“Being involved with things like the Krewe of Seahorse is a fun way to build relationships and let everyone know they’re included,” he says. “It’s not an exclusive club.  It’s just a wonderful vehicle for families to take part in unique events.”
 
With an eye to the future, Crawford sees the recent growth coming from a new source:  young families wanting to live in the area full time.  Crawford calls that new uptick “incredibly encouraging.”  The time-tested historic model of families living between the city and the coast is also back in full swing.

​“When someone comes to me and says ‘I just want a place for my kids,’ I know what they’re thinking.  They want to share and create memories in a wholesome environment. I excel at finding just the right place for them to be able to do that.”
 
While the realtor says that a community always wants positive economic development, he understands that the unique culture of Bay St. Louis, Waveland and the rest of the coast is what has “people pouring in.”
 
“In a time when everything is so vanilla, it’s not about getting a Starbucks on every corner, or a strip mall that looks like every other one in the country.  The answer is in embracing what we have so that it keeps its charm and its culture.”
 
Calling Bay St. Louis “one of the most unique small towns in the country,” Crawford thinks that while change is inevitable, it can be “smart growth.”
 
“It’s like watching a young person growing up and entering adolescence. You hope that moral fiber has already been instilled.  In the rejuvenation of Bay St. Louis, we hope we’ve done a good enough job and have given the community enough guidance to protect its core values.  I believe we have done that here.”
 
Crawford says that while people are attracted to the Bay because of the water, the art and the small town charm and the easy-going, family-friendly social scene, he believes one asset rises above the rest.
 
“It’s the undercurrent of the goodness of the people in this community that makes this place wonderful.  That is our biggest asset.”

How irrepressible optimism and leadership values have helped build the largest Independent Insurance company in the state.
- story by Ellis Anderson

A wall filled with awards testifies to her effectiveness as a leader and as a business owner.  Since 1998, her insurance firm has been recognized as a Best Practices agency and is among the top 100 privately held Independent Insurance Agencies in the nation.

She’s been tapped as one of the Ten Leading Business Women in the state, and is nationally recognized as one of the “Elite Women of Insurance.”  Rotary International named her a Paul Harris Fellow and Hancock County has honored her as Citizen of the Year.

While Angelyn holds ten different licenses, ranging from insurance to CPA to real estate, she credits more than her education for her success.

“At one point, my family had a farm,” she says.  “As a girl, I was driving tractors and hauling feed sacks and riding horses.  Even now, I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty.  I won’t ask anybody to do something I’m not willing to do.”

Born in New Orleans, the entrepreneur grew up in several places across the South due to her father’s business concerns.  Angelyn made the most of each home, building lifelong friendships along the way.  After living in Covington and Nashville, the family moved full time to the Mississippi Coast, where the young woman shone as valedictorian of Our Lady Academy.  At University of Mississippi, she majored in accounting, also graduating with honors.   Then for the next sixteen years, she served as Senior Financial Supervisor and CPA for ExxonMobil Corporation in New Orleans.

While her home and family remained on the coast, Angelyn commuted daily to the city.  When an opening came up in the family’s insurance office, she grabbed the opportunity to make a change for the better.  Weary of corporate life and commuting, she opted to work in a local environment where she'd be closer to her two sons.

Once she was based in the Bay, Angelyn began to work with the local schools and help with educational fund-raising efforts.  She remains an active volunteer and frequently spearheads community projects.  For instance, this past spring, SouthGroup Insurance Services, which sponsors and hosts an annual Make-A-Difference 5K Race in Ridgeland, presented a check to Friends of Children’s Hospital in Jackson for $35,000 from the proceeds of the 2015 race.  In the past five years, they’ve donated more than $100,000.

She sees insurance as yet another way to serve her community.

"It’s a really rewarding career,” she says.  "You can help people get the right coverage, save money and if there's a major catastrophe, help them rebuild their lives."

Angelyn has now been working in the insurance industry for nearly two decades.  In 2011,  she helped start SouthGroup, a locally owned and operated insurance franchise.  SouthGroup has 24 offices throughout the state.  As part of a franchise, offices benefit from a centralized payroll and technology sharing. 

 “We make our computer systems work for us.  The automation gives us time to do the things we’re supposed to do, like service and take care of our clients.”

With more than 170 employees now, SouthGroup has become the largest independent insurance agency in the state.  That's gives the company a big edge when it comes to negotiating in insurance markets.

“Because of our size, we’re able to access the best markets and the best rates,” Angelyn says. “That’s why business is booming.”

But she cites her employees as the key to SouthGroup’s success.  Optimism is one of five core values that is a common focus.  The others are integrity, excellence,  innovation, and trusted partnerships.  Angelyn leads by example with her own irrepressible smile, believing that optimism is contagious.

Each employee is held to a high standard, but once they're working with the company, “you’re family.”  Indeed, two of Angelyn's staff actually are family.  Her mother, Loislyn Scardino, works with Angelyn in the Bay St. Louis office, while her youngest son, Alex, works out of the Biloxi office.

Meanwhile, life — as well as business — on the coast is good.

“We work really hard on a regional and national basis to get the message out how great things are in Mississippi.  We have such a hidden treasure here.  And people are finding out about it."

Alicein, who grew up in Bay St. Louis, has traveled “far and wide,” and believes this has impacted her worldview.  And along the way, her family is gathering ideas to improve the Mockingbird. 

“We try to promote wellness on all fronts,” she says.  “That includes serving fresh foods, hosting revolving art shows, providing a home for Tree House Yoga Studio, and staging live family-friendly music events.  We have a free lending library and we’re home base for a weekly Fun Run.  It’s all about interacting with your community on a lot of different levels.”

The Mockingbird first opened in 2006, when Bay St. Louis was still digging out from the debris fields left by Hurricane Katrina.  To outsiders, it seemed an odd time to open a coffeehouse, but according to Alicein, "we saw a need for a communal gathering place that would offer love, hope, and a place for healing to begin."   The historic building quickly became known as the town’s “living room,” where volunteers and survivors shared stories, laughter and tears.

Over the past nine years, the Mockingbird has been featured in national magazines like Southern Living (repeatedly), Coastal Living and Cottage Living magazines and on NPR's Weekend Edition.  They’re known throughout the state in artistic and musical circles.  Their food is of special note too.  Recently, their burgers were named among the top ten in Mississippi.  So if visitors to Bay St. Louis were given a “Must Do” list, “hangin’” at the Mockingbird would be near the top.

Visitors can always find interesting locals willing to converse in the lively café.  On any given day, you’re likely to find college students who have stumbled on the Bay during their travels, scientists who work at Stennis Space Center, day-trippers from New Orleans and beyond, kids from the nearby schools and lots of artists and writers.  The mix of people is as irresistible as the food and beverages served up by welcoming baristas. 

The regular café menu is offered Monday through Saturday from 11- 2pm and from 5 – 9pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. In addition to the “world-famous Mockingburger,” fresh sandwiches, and flavorful salads offered on the menu, gourmet baker Hannah Roberts is whipping up signature muffins, cookies and specialty desserts (all available for cater-out).  Lemon/Feta cookies and the Aloha cookie (white chocolate, pecan and coconut) are the new local favorites.  Beverage-wise, patrons can order up anything from cappuccinos to locally brewed craft beers to fresh-squeezed Beatnik lemonade.  

About a year ago, the Mockingbird began offering breakfast on a daily basis (7am – 11am M – Sat., 8am – 1pm on Sunday) to resounding community applause.  Their made-from-scratch biscuits have been called the best on the coast by more than one Southern food lover (this writer among them).  Divine jams made in-house can be slathered on for the full flavor bomb effect (just DO IT!). 

Other favorites include frittatas, apple-smoked bacon, and the ever-popular José Loves Me omelet (with black beans, cheddar, avocado and made-in-house pico de gallo).  Fresh fruits, robust full-grain grits (not the anemic instant kind) and curry-seasoned home-fries round out a menu that will delight adventurous diners as well as traditional egg-and-bacon folks.

Also new in the past year is the Mr. Atticus Night Market, held on the last Friday of each month.  Offering live music, art vendors and a special tapas menu, the event has begun to establish itself as a coast favorite.   Alicein points out that the special menu gives the kitchen team a chance to stretch and try new things, while using seasonal, locally grown ingredients. 

Smith & Lens Gallery, located right next door, schedules their monthly art opening during the same time frame, so that night, Second Street takes on a festival atmosphere.  The Night Market concerts are similar to the other evening performances held throughout the month.  Adults take chairs and listen or chat with friends, while dozens of children are hula hooping and scooting and dancing their way through the crowd. That’s exactly the energy the Mockingbird crew has been cultivating.

“When you have children, you don’t stop wanting to go have a burger and a beer and watch a band,” Alicein says.  “We wanted to provide a place where that could happen.  All our events are children-friendly.  We have blocks and markers and hula-hoops and black boards to help keep kids entertained while the parents are enjoying conversation and music.” 

“Besides, you want outings like that to be a family experience and to cultivate a love of art and music in your children.  Then they’re going to grow up and want more of the same.”

“We’re all pieces of the big puzzle, working to make our town loved and successful,” says Alicein.  “Our philosophy at the Mockingbird is that kindness is the most important thing.”

A boutique named after California becomes an iconic Louisiana business and then branches out to Mississippi?  It's a trifecta of success, boasting three decades of comfort, style, and quality at California Drawstrings.
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson

And she’s branded California Drawstrings as a name synonymous with apparel that magically combines two traits:  comfort and standout design.

As the store’s buyer, Keenan seeks out only comfortable, well-made clothing, with styles that can’t be found elsewhere.  She carries lines that can fit all sizes, from extra-small to plus.  She prefers clothing that is made in the U.S and leans always toward natural fibers, like those made by Flax and Matchpoint.

The shop’s a mix of artsy designs balanced with clothing that’s more classically styled, created with deft touches that set them apart.  Keenan believes accessories like jewelry and scarves can “jazz up” an outfit easily to “look like a million dollars.”  The staff are trained to help put statement-making ensembles together.  Customers frequently report back with success stories about the many compliments they receive at social events.

Although styles have changed dramatically since Keenan began her business, she’s remained true to her central criteria over the past thirty years.

“If you want to blend into the woodwork, you can shop in the local department stores,” she says.  “But if you want to feel comfortable and look a little different – yet be confident you still look fantastic – we have it.”

Keenan currently manages and buys for three locations – with a fourth opening soon.  In addition to the Old Town Bay St. Louis shop, the Chicago native oversees the mother-ship location in the New Orleans French Quarter (812 Royal Street) and a third store on Magazine Street (3650 Magazine Street).  And in mid-July, an outlet store, California Drawstrings Last Call, will be opening in the heart of Covington, Louisiana (827 Walker Alley, right off Lee Lane).

Each location is staffed with salespeople who are extremely knowledgeable about the clothing they sell.  They know which lines run large or small and which designs best complement different shapes. Most of them have been to market with Keenan and are genuinely enthused about the clothing lines they represent.

Keenan believes her sales staff is one of the main keys to her success.  She’s been in sales herself most of her career, beginning as a broker in the real estate market, working in both Illinois and North Carolina.

But while visiting New Orleans one fall thirty-odd years ago, she decided to try a southern winter instead of heading north toward snow.  To obtain her Louisiana broker’s license, she signed up for school.  To support herself in the meantime, she began selling clothing in the French Market.

She quickly discovered that the fashion world appealed to her more than real estate and switched gears. Keenan began to rent a series of storefronts, soon winding up with the prestigious Royal Street location -  where she’s been a mainstay for than thirty years.

The first clothing she sold was a line of comfortable cottons for both men and women with legions of diehard fans - California Drawstrings.  Made in the U.S. out of domestic fibers, the brand was the only one Keenan carried for years and then became a shop staple as she grew.

“It made sense for the shop to also have the name of the clothing line,” says Keenan. “Now we have regular customers from all over the country who know our name, so, of course, we’d never think of changing it.”

The Bay St. Louis shop opened in 2011 when Maggie May’s owner, Nancy Moynan - who knew Keenan from New Orleans - had a space available.  Moynan believed California Drawstrings would be a great fit for the Bay.  Bay St. Louis mayor Les Fillingame agreed.  For years, he and his wife had been regular customers of the Royal Street location.  While Keenan had been coming to the Bay for years, the invitations coincided with a suddenly stronger longing to spend more time on the coast.

After opening in Maggie May’s, Keenan rented a townhouse on deMontluzin and began spending more time in Bay St. Louis.  Then, last year, she purchased a historic building on the second block of Main Street.  After renovating, California Drawstrings moved into their expanded – and permanent Old Town quarters.   And although she still officially resides in Mandeville, Keenan spends as much time as possible in the Bay.

“It’s not like I’m a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city,” she says.  “I can be in either Mandeville or New Orleans in an hour.  But here, I can wake up and have my coffee listening to the sea gulls.”

The laid-back lifestyle in the Bay hasn’t shifted the entrepreneur’s business philosophy though.

“I want people to say ‘wow’ when they walk in the store.  And I want them to feel great when they leave.”

“For me, that’s great fun.”

Ed and Sylvia Young own two of the best-known antique malls on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but they're not resting on their laurels.  Last year at the Ulman Street location, they opened the first Tea Room in Hancock County.  And starting in June, they'll host monthly Saturday night auctions. 
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson

In 2014, the Youngs opened a second location a few blocks away on Ulman Avenue (317 Ulman Ave).  Not to be outdone, the new space is nearly as large as the first.  The Ulman store focuses on home, garden and patio décor, and “shabby chic” furnishings.

Antique Maison Ulman is also home to  Bay St. Louis’s first Tea Room. Its vintage china and floral tablecloths set the scene for lunch and tea Wednesday through Saturday, 11am-2pm.   The menu includes homemade sandwiches, soups and sweets  - and of course, freshly brewed tea.  Sip and reminisce about Sunday afternoons at Grandma's house or enjoy a cup of coffee on the beautiful back patio.  The tearoom is also available for private parties, bridal showers and other special occasions.

The Ulman avenue location will soon be the home to another Bay St. Louis “first.”  Beginning June 6th, auctions will be held in the Quanset hut attached to the main building.  This vast protected, yet open-air venue has plenty of room for both merchandise and folks who are looking to purchase or some fun family excitement.

The auctions are being managed by TNT Auctions of Long Beach and the auctioneer is Tammy Brady (license #1435).   Tiffany Seager is part owner of TNT and is excited about the new venture. 

Seager says the auctions will begin at 6pm the first Saturday of every month (the exception is July, because of the holiday.  It'll be held on Second Saturday for July only).  The Quanset hut will open at 4pm for preview.  Although the Tea Room won’t be open, the Youngs will be offering a limited menu with snacks, sandwiches and beverages.  Attendance is free, as is getting a number that will allow you to bid.  All ages are welcome, although bidders must be 18 or older.  Throughout the evening, drawings will be held for raffle prizes. 

Seager says that everything from fine antiques to fun knick-knacks will be offered up during the auction, so the event should appeal to a wide variety of people.  Dealers are welcome to consign merchandise to auction off, but must make arrangements to drop off their items at Antique Maison Ulman a week before the auction.  After the auction, buyers will have two days to pick up their merchandise. 

“Auctions are a wonderful way to meet new people and an opportunity for savvy collectors to pick up great bargains,” Seager says.  “It’s also a fun spectator sport for the whole family.” 

A dynamic local organization proves that people really can better the lives of Hancock County's animals.
- by Ellis Anderson
photos courtesy Friends of the Animal Shelter

While the organization’s name is Friends of the Animal Shelter, it could also be Friends to Animals, Friends to Pet-Lovers and Friends to the Community.  Perhaps that’s why in conversation, the group is usually referred to simply as “Friends.”

Founded in 2001,  Friends, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, has thousands of supporters and 200+ members.  Dr. Christina Richardson has served as Friends president for the past two years and one of her goals in office is to create more public awareness about the group and exactly what it does.

Richardson says that Friends was started in 2001 by Mickey Hemsley and Paula Leone, animal lovers who were concerned about the soaring rate of euthensia of unwanted pets at the Waveland animal shelter – which at the time, served as the only animal shelter for the entire county with it’s human population of 40,000 people. 

One of the group’s early goals remains in place: To end euthanasia as a viable means of control for the pet overpopulation problem in Hancock County.   To achieve that goal, Friends works as a support group for the County Animal Shelter.

Richardson says there’s a lot of confusion about animal welfare and rescue groups and explains the difference. 

There are several national groups like that work animal issues, rescue and educate people, like the Humane Society of the U.S., and the ASPCA.

There are also many humane societies and rescue organizations that work locally.  The Humane Society of South Mississippi runs the Gulfport Shelter is a good example – most people on the coast are familiar with that group and their work.

The Hancock County Animal Shelter is run by the county, using county employees and funds.  The cities of Bay St. Louis, Diamondhead and Waveland also provide some financial support.  In many places, communities have their own shelters.  Here, there is one shelter and it’s supported by the communities served.

The problem is the county’s annual budget sets aside a finite amount of funds each year to run the shelter.  Meanwhile, there is no limit to the number of strays or surrenders (dogs/cats that are dropped off at the shelter by people) that come into the shelter each month.  No one can predict how many injured animals will be brought in each week.  And even a psychic couldn’t foretell how many animals might be adopted in a given year. 

So frequently, the shelter runs into shortfalls.  And in the sad world of logistics versus life, dogs and cats are put down. 

Friends of the Animal Shelter works to fill that gap and save animal lives.  The organization does that through a number of programs.

SNAP – The Spay/Neuter Assistance Program is set up to primarily help people in the community who already have animals.  In 2014, Friends gave out over 1000 vouchers for low-cost or free spaying or neutering of pets.  Several area vets work with Friends and accept these vouchers. 

Trap/Neuter and Release Program – Since feral cats are a big problem in Hancock County, Friends volunteers trap the cats and after they are neutered or spayed, the cats are returned to their colony (if there’s someone willing to feed them).  Non-breeding cats in a colony actually keep out new ones, eventually ending the cycle.

Richardson says that the spay/neuter programs help the problem of pet overpopulation more than most people realize.   Statistics make her point.  In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats.  One female dog and her offspring can produce 99,000 dogs. 

Shelter Support – Friends help out by purchasing medical supplies and equipment that the shelter can’t obtain on its own.   Friends also collects supplies and food for the shelter and provides transport and volunteers to take adoptable dogs and cats to area Pet-Smarts each Saturday, where many find their “forever homes.”

The GUMBO fund – Donations to Friends can be designated to help injured or sick animals brought into the shelter.

Community Outreach – Events like Barksgiving, Tea With Friends, the Holiday Tour of Homes and the Second Saturday baked goods table help bring awareness to the public, as well as raising funds that will be funneled into local animal welfare.

Currently, Friends has a grant that allows them to purchase pet food that is then donated to the Food Pantry, so people struggling with budgets aren’t forced to surreneder their pets to the shelter.   Owners and pets stay together and pressure is taken off the shelter.

The old Waveland Shelter was badly damaged in Hurricane Katrina and has been replaced with a new facility built in the county with help from the Bucksmont foundation.  Yet, with room for only twenty dogs, it was already too small by the time it opened. 

However soon, the Animal Rescue Site will be offering funds and volunteers that will work with Friends.  They’ll actually triple the current capacity of the shelter by building addition (see details and donate here!).

According to Richardson, one reason Friends has been so successful is that they provide a way for people to make a difference.

“Friends tries to present a positive approach,” says Richardson. “We don’t play on emotions.  Our calls to action give people a way to change things for the better.”

Richardson has several animal companions of her own, including miniature horses.  Her seizure-alert dog, Daisy Mae Delray has written and published articles about animal awareness for years – and is a regular correspondent for the Cleaver with her “Puppy Dog Tales” column. 

Although, of course, Richardson writes the columns herself from Daisy’s perspective, she jokes that when Daisy Mae is not feeling well, the writing just doesn’t flow. 

“There’s nothing wrong with treating animals with the same depth of empathy that you treat a human,” says Richardson.  “Studies show that there’s a strong tie between the way we treat our animals and the way we treat our children.”

“Everything is interrelated.  It’s respect for life, period.”

Friends is currently looking for volunteers, especially to help with the feral cat trap catching program, but all the programs  need helping hands. 

“We want people who really love and care for their animals and want to help improve the lives of other animals in Hancock County.   And have a great time working with Friends.” 

Check for the Cleaver's monthly updates from the Hancock County Animal Shelter!