With our state and local representative offices overwhelmingly held by men, we thought it was a good time to get to know the women running for office here in Hancock County.

- Story by Lisa Monti
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• Kendra “KK” Necaise is unopposed for the office of Hancock County Circuit Clerk.
• Wendy McDonald and Brent Anderson are vying for State House of Representatives District 122.
• Theresa Ryan is running against Buster Verdin and David Yarborough for Supervisor in District 1.
• Teresa Ehrlich faces Brian Necaise for Justice Court Judge 2.
• Lynn Smith and Eric Moran are running for Justice Court Judge 3. 

 
The Shoofly Magazine asked the local women candidates to answer three questions for the consideration of the voters. Their replies follow. (Since Kendra Necaise is running unopposed, she was not contacted for comment.)

Wendy McDonald
Candidate for House of Representatives, District 122

What are your top three goals if you are elected? 
My top three goals are education and workforce development, affordable health care and environmental action.
 
What unique experience will you bring to your constituents?
My knowledge and leadership skills in the field education and the eight years of experience on the Bay St. Louis city council provide a depth of knowledge that is acquired by doing the jobs. My dedication and commitment to Katrina recovery was extensive in Hancock County. For the last few months I have been studying the Bonnet Carré Spillway issue intensively and I will be announcing several major action items for the state to consider to prevent a repeat of this disaster.
 
Why is it important for women to run for political office?
I know that the conversation changes when women are in the room. Just as I believe in a two-party system and checks and balances, I know from experience that if women are not a part of the conversation then it’s not a balanced discussion or decision. Women do thousands of jobs now that were not available to them 50 years ago but it has taken longer to get women to run and get elected to office than I expected.

Theresa Ryan
​Candidate for Hancock County Supervisor, District 1 

What are your top three goals if you are elected? 
If elected I plan to provide the people of Hancock County and District 1 a fully engaged Supervisor. Hearing what is important to my constituents, and then acting on these priorities in a timely manner is critical. By attending the Supervisor meetings, representing our citizens and their needs, and by actively addressing those issues that come up in every Board meeting is my goal.
 
Next, I have heard on the campaign trail from many voters that transparency is important. So letting the people of Hancock County know what is happening – both good and bad – in our county in a timely manner, is very important.
 
Finally, as your county representative we have an abundance of economic opportunities that can, and should be pursued. This results in more jobs, a growth in economic development, and quality growth for our entire county. Working together with the other 4 Supervisors can result in a better Hancock County for all of our citizens. “A rising tide lifts all boats”!
 

What unique experience will you bring to your constituents?  
As a third generation Hancock County resident, I have lived in what is our greatest area of this state. Growing up here taught me what it is during the good and bad times. My work experience has provided me what a large and a small business can do for our county. As an owner of my own information technology company (Computer Solutions LLC), I know what it takes to run a successful business; just like the business of our county. I have also been fortunate to have lived away from home – first, for four years at the University of Southern Mississippi where I earned my degree in Computer Science. Also, my travels to different locations in this country, as well as internationally, for both business and personal reasons, have opened my eyes to what our community can be. Our county has many great natural resources, key federal, state and local government representation, as well as people resources second to none. Our unique geographical location is another advantage we should utilize in growing our economy for our constituents.

Why is it important for women to run for political office?  
Representation in any industry is maximized by tapping into all resources available. If we only look at 50% of any population a business, industry, government or any other entity will never reach its potential. Therefore, I look at diversity as looking for the best, most qualified; most motivated person to do whatever job is needed to be filled. I am proud to be a woman running for Hancock County Supervisor District 1, just as I am proud to be running as a life-long citizen, someone who cares very deeply for this community, and someone who puts the citizens of our county first at all times. 
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Teresa Ehrlich
Candidate for Justice Court Judge 2

What are your top three goals if you are elected?
 My first goal is to ensure “A People’s Court” – one where everyone in the courtroom is fully aware of what is taking place. I want each person to be advised of their constitutional rights in a clear and comprehensible manner prior to any court proceedings.
 
For two decades I have witnessed little change in the way criminal cases are handled in our Justice Court, therefore my second goal is to streamline this outdated system and introduce changes that will minimize the time spent waiting needlessly in the courtroom. This is a concern I have heard expressed repeatedly by both the citizens and the officers.
 
As your next Justice Court Judge Place 2, my third goal is to prioritize the duties of this position. I will be a “full-time” judge, making myself available 24/7, accessibility that is not currently available.
 
What unique experience will you bring to your constituents?
I have previously worked and served as vice president of American Bail Bond Inc. for a total of 19 years. I bring a unique ability to research current laws and proposed legislation and an understanding of how these affect the citizens of Hancock County. I am also familiar with the operation of our Justice and Municipal Court systems, having attended hundreds of docket calls and trials while logging over 1,000 hours of courtroom experience. My experience with the various elements of the judicial system, from incarceration to disposition, far surpasses that of my opposition. Moreover, by drawing upon my more than 30 years of experience in the government and private sector, I possess the ability to accurately follow rules, regulations and practices outlined under statutory law.
 
Why is it important for women to run for political office?
There are several reasons why I believe women should run for political office. First, there are not enough women currently serving in government. While there has been a recent upward trend in the number of women entering the political arena, the overall number is still extremely disproportionate, not only to the number of registered female voters but also the female population in general. Second, women bring a diversified and dynamic perspective to political office. There is no denying that politics is a male-dominated field, so it’s important that women contribute the much-needed traits of empathy, inclusiveness and an open negotiating style to politics. While I could provide many other reasons why it’s important for women to run for political office, one of the most important reasons is the impact of change women leaders contribute by breaking down the long-standing cultural and structural barriers.
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Lynn Smith 
Candidate for Justice Court Judge 3

What are your top three goals if you are elected? 
If I were to be elected as Justice Court Judge for Place 3 in Hancock County my first goal will be to try to get more fines paid off through community service. My second goal would be to get folks that need drug and alcohol intervention more hope. My last goal will be listen to both sides. If you have to appear before me I will listen as an impartial decision maker.

What unique experience will you bring to your constituents?
I have been working as a volunteer for the Hancock County Amateur Radio Association and the Hancock County EOC for many years because I have a strong sense of service for the citizens in my community. I love my community and want folks to be safe. The laws are the laws; I will bring compassion, honesty, dignity  and fairness. I feel that a lay person makes for a better Justice Court Judge, not someone with a law enforcement background. As a lay person I would fairly judge both sides.

Why is it important for women to run for political office?
Our society has many voices, but for centuries policies and laws have been conceived and written by men. The Suffragette movement secured the right for women to be able to vote. Women should put out their ideas even more by running for office. We owe it to our sisters that made sacrifices for those rights.

Business owners Nikki Moon and Janice Guido were recently appointed to key posts with Coastal Mississippi’s Board of Commissioners and the Hancock County Tourism Development Commission, respectively.

- story by Lisa Monti

 
Nikki said she would like to see more revenue for Coastal Mississippi during her year as president to better promote the 12 communities in the three coastal counties.

“Once visitors experience the coast, you know they will return. They love the people, the hospitality, the food, the art - oh, did I mention the people?

​"Another hope is to make sure our locals believe in our coast as much as those who promote it do. Bring your family here, your high school reunion, your wedding. Let your friends and family experience what we know is the best of the South, maybe the best of America – the Mississippi Coast.”

 
Janice Guido, the owner of Bay Life Gifts in Century Hall, has been tapped to replace Nikki as the Hancock Chamber’s representative on the Hancock County Tourism Development Commission. Janice worked for 30 years in the hotel, hospitality and tourism industry in New Orleans. She and Nikki worked together all those years, promoting the city and its attractions.
 
As the Chamber's tourism liaison, Janice works with the other appointed members and Myrna Green, Hancock County Tourism Development Bureau Director. Members work to promote events and attractions and to support new events that will draw more people to visit the county.
 
Janice also was named to fill the newly created ex officio tourism liaison spot on the Hancock Chamber board.

​“I report to the board to keep them aware of what’s going on and update them on tourism in general and about anything relevant they need to know.” She also works with the Chamber relocation committee that focuses on getting new residents to move to the county.
 
“My goal is to try to keep everybody in loop and not miss any opportunities,” Janice said.

​100 Men Hall hosts the inaugural Booker Festival in honor of a New Orleans music icon who spent time growing up in Bay St. Louis.
 
- story by Lisa Monti

​ 
Booker came up in a conversation with Floyd Moseley when he was having his portrait taken for the 100 Men Hall People Project. “He said that Booker used to play at St. Rose and after would come to Floyd's grandma’s house because she was the only one with a piano,” Dangermond said.

Later she was talking with Bay St. Louis resident Lee Seal about his takeaways from putting together Bridge Fest and ideas for the Hall started “popcorning.” Seal said he liked the concept of the King Biscuit Festival because fest goers can camp out at the venue.
 
Seal also suggested Joe Krown for a piano tribute to Booker. Krown suggested Tom McDermott because he has a more extensive Booker repertoire. 
 
Dangermond called her friend McDermott, well known for his playing and compositions, and he agreed to play. McDermott also suggested that Josh Paxton perform as well – the pianist’s unique style brought high praise from Dr. John.
 
With the piano tribute in place -  along with a showing of “Bayou Maharajah,” Lily Keber’s definitive documentary on Booker -  Dangermond added a gospel element to the festival lineup. The celebrated St. Rose Gospel Choir agreed to perform and will bring another local connection to Booker.
 

​ 
“It turns out some of the choir members remember Booker from back in the day when he played with the choir,” Dangermond said.
 
And when Mayor Mike Favre approved of primitive campsites on the Hall grounds, the festival was set for Labor Day weekend.
 
“It was one of those things,” Dangermond said. “When it’s right, it’s right.” Above all, she said,  “I want it to be fun and funky.”
 
The camping option will give first time visitors an introduction to the area and benefit local merchants. “The festival itinerary is very loose and we’re hoping people who come for the weekend will go out to have breakfast and lunch and go shopping while they’re here,” Dangermond said.
 
While the idea behind Booker Fest is to raise funds annually to maintain and preserve 100 Men Hall, the goal also is to attract regional, national and international attention to the African American landmark and its history.

The festival will open at 8 p.m. Aug. 30 with the indoor screening of Bayou Maharajah. Food by Chef Chris Hayes from the Smoking Oyster in New Orleans will be available for purchase on both nights of the festival. Hayes was named the winning contestant on a Food Network show. 
​

• On Aug. 31, the St. Rose Gospel Choir will perform on the Hall’s historic stage at 10 a.m. At 4 pm, there will be readings and talks by locals who knew Booker – including Ellis Anderson of the Shoofly Magazine, who worked with Booker in the French Quarter in the 1970s.  

• The piano tribute with McDermott and Paxton begins at 5 pm. An outdoor screening of Bayou Maharajah will be at 8 pm.

• Closing out the festival will be a dance party headlined by Cuban percussionist Alexey Martí with Jorge Perez, Paolo Castanogli and Oscar Rossignoli.

​

• Admission for all events will be $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Wristbands will be given on arrival. 

It's easy to purchase advance tickets online.
 
Primitive camping that allows (2) entry to all of the events is $75.
Contact Rachel at 100MenHall@gmail.com for details.
 
Purchase the camping ticket here.

Get ready for a weekend of great food, music and a "no-bull" fun run complete with roller derby girls -- all for a very worthy cause.
- Story by Lisa Monti, photos by Lionel Haynes, Jr. 

Prizes will be presented to the winners, and a DJ will play music for dancing throughout the evening. As part of the evening’s tip of the hat to Hemingway, Cigars in the Pass will host an outdoor cigar lounge complete with an air-conditioned cigar store trailer.

 
The Paris café setting also will feature a four-course “Moveable Feast” along with libations paired with each course. The menu is a secret, but everything will be French and expertly prepared by the Rum Kitchen. Chef Chappy and Starr Chapman are original sponsors of the Hemingway Festival, and it was their idea for the museum’s main fundraiser and to draw attention to the Coleman Avenue downtown district. Said Starr, “We invite everyone to ‘Live the full life.’”
 
A special part of Friday evening will be a live auction. “You can’t go to Paris and not have art,” Donna said. New Orleans auctioneer Sam Bell makes his Hemingway Festival debut this year, auctioning off original works of art.
 ​

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One is an original acrylic of a French café scene by local artist Scharonne Herrington, who also is painting the backdrop for the bistro setting. Other pieces of artwork, framed and authenticated, were donated by a benefactor and will be revealed at the auction. Proceeds from the auction will go to the artist and the museum.
 
The festival fun spills over into Saturday, which is designed as a fun family day, with another new feature this year. All of the high school students in the county were invited to participate in a literary contest that required them to research and write a story set in Hemingway's Paris of the 1920s. Winners will read their original pieces starting at 4 pm, and prizes will be awarded.
​

 
On Saturday, July 20, the Before, During and After Party gets started at 6 pm with the DJ, food and beverages, then at 7 pm the festival’s signature parade will take to Coleman Avenue.
 
Look for decorated golf carts and representatives of the Krewe of Nereids, the Mystic Krewe of Seahorse and the ever entertaining Bay Ratz Marching Battery.
 
7:30 pm marks the start time of the 1.1-mile “No Bull Fun Run” featuring the New Orleans Brass Roller Derby Club, who will do their best to “tap out” the runners to eliminate them from the race. “It’s a fun run, Mississippi Gulf Coast style,” Donna said. “It’s so much fun to watch.”
 ​

 
Tickets for the July 19 Patron Party are $70 per person and $120 per couple. Tickets for the July 20 activities are $25 per person.
 
All the money for the Friday and Saturday festival events pays for special projects at the museum, which is dedicated to the resilience of the Coast’s residents and does not charge an admission fee.
 
This year the museum received Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage matching funds to produce a video collection of oral histories by Katrina survivors. The video will be unveiled on the August 29, anniversary of the hurricane, and a permanent exhibit will be added later this year.
 
“We invite everyone to come out and enjoy the festivities, which grow every year,” said Donna. “This is the only Hemingway Festival in this area, and it’s for a good cause.”
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Avast, ye swabbies and scurvy dogs - don your swashbuckling finery and enjoy the parrrr-ty in the Bay St. Louis historic district! 

- story by Lisa Monti, photos by Ellis Anderson and Lionel Haynes, Jr.

 
The event includes fireworks, the Pirate Play Zone kid’s playground and costume contest, a pub crawl and riverboat cruise for adult pirates, belly dancers, live music and craft vendors. The fest has become so popular that it has earned a spot in the Top 20 events in the Southeast. Organizers expect 3,000-plus people over the May 17-18 weekend. “Pirate Central” will be anchored at the corner of Beach Boulevard and Court Street, with vendors set up across Court Street.
 
As you might expect from the Seahorse Krewe, this bunch of pirates knows how to throw a party. The celebration starts on Thursday night with a special party for sponsors and members. The $25 ticket price includes drinks and food.
 
The general public festivities kick off at 4 pm on Friday, May 17 with the arrival of the pirates. On Friday evening you can buy a $20 ticket to the Pirate’s Pub Crawl, with a dozen local businesses participating, a scavenger hunt, and the Castaways playing music at 8 pm. This adults-only event requires tickets, which can be purchased in advance or at Pirate Central that day.
 

​ 
On Saturday, the Lil’ Buccaneers’ Parade starts at 11 am. Led by the Bay Ratz Marching Battery, the parade will begin at the corner of Main and Second Streets and end at Pirate Central. The costume contest, complete with prizes, begins at 1 pm. Kids can also enjoy the Pirate Play Zone, open from 11 am until 7 pm (fee required for entrance).
 
Saturday’s Pirate Cruise on the Betsy Ann riverboat is sold out, but you can enjoy the Pirate Invasion Parade when they come ashore around 5 pm.
 
Free non-ticketed activities in and around Pirate Central include performances by two local dance studios: Arabesque and the Studio of Classique Vibe and belly dancing by Amira. Vendors will be selling crafts all day, and Dr. Rock and the Interns will perform from 7 to 11 pm. Pirate Day wraps up at 9 pm with fireworks over the harbor, sponsored by the Silver Slipper Casino.
 
The event sponsors are Silver Slipper Casino, ABC Rental, Bayou Caddy Utility South, Rosetti’s Liquor Barrel, Vintage Lighthouse and Beacon Theater.
 

Rosetti said the Seahorse Krewe stays active all year and continues to grow, signing up locals and residents from Louisiana and north of I-10 as members on a weekly basis. Total membership stands at nearly 300.

Besides Pirate Day there’s the Seahorse Open, held the third weekend in October, the fun-packed Lundi Gras golf cart parade, and the Inspection Ball in June to announce the Krewe’s king and queen. “Then once a month we have a membership social at a business in town that has anywhere from 75 to 125 people,” Rosetti said.
 
Krewe members also take part in the Biloxi Shucker Halfway to Mardi Gras celebration and recently took second place in the Dancing with the Relay Stars in the fundraising division.
 
“Overall we went to continue to grow each year so we can give more and more back to the community,” Rosetti said.
 

 
The Krewe’s debut five years ago was part of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bay St. Louis, which featured a rousing reenactment between two Biloxi schooners. Look for another reenactment Dec. 12-13 for the 205th anniversary of the battle. Details can be found on the Krewe’s website or their Facebookpage.

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The Hancock Chamber finds new ways to improve the business lives of its members through continuing education and networking opportunities.

- story by Lisa Monti

 
The Power Hour Coffee Call, held on the first Friday of every month, gives members a way to hear updates from governmental officials or learn best practices tips to start their day. “We just did one on creating engagement on social media and will be doing another on email marketing basics in April,” said Tish Williams, the Chamber executive director.

​ 
Also new this year is the Power Hour Lunch Break where members meet from noon to 1pm at a different restaurant every month. Held the second Tuesday of each month, “This meeting helps to generate revenue for the hosting restaurant and gives members an opportunity to connect with people to grow their business,” Williams said. April’s Power Hour Lunch Break will be at Cuz’s.

  ​ 
The Chamber also has a major new event in the works that’s being spearheaded by the Relocation Committee chaired by Regan Kane of John McDonald Realty. The Hancock County Parade of Homes will showcase some 26 homes scattered throughout the county.

It’s set for noon to 5pm on April 13 to tie into the Second Saturday Art Walk. Williams said this inaugural home tour will bring potential home buyers to the county and also create more traffic for merchants during Second Saturday.
 
To sweeten the tour, participants will be eligible to enter into a drawing at each house to win a $2,500 new-home-owners package giveaway.

 
The Parade of Homes will be marketed throughout the region, from New Orleans to Hattiesburg.  To find out more go to hancockmsmyhome.com after March 29. 
 

The 17th Annual Arts Alive! Festival celebrates our Gulf Coast creative culture with all of Old Town Bay St. Louis as a venue.  
- story by Dena Temple

Arts Alive! began 17 years ago as a simple tour of artists’ private studios in the area. Today it is a free, multi-day, multi-venue event that draws young and old alike to admire the talent of our local artisans.  The celebration generates a high level of excitement from the community and area merchants alike.

The event, produced by the non-profit organization The Arts, Hancock County, will take place in multiple outdoor locations around Old Town Bay St. Louis. Venues are located on Main Street, Second Street, Court Street – even the lumberyard will host artists exhibiting their work.

​Displays will feature many different mediums, from paintings, wood creations, sculpture and pottery to photography and ceramics, among others.
​

​Bigger, and better

“This is the big show,” exclaims Steve Barney, president of The Arts, Hancock County, “and it gets bigger and better every year. This event really has stood the test of time. We’re putting our best foot forward and showcasing the best of Hancock County.”

Arts Alive! has expanded to two full days for 2019 due to the tremendous interest of the public and the enthusiastic support of area merchants and the artists themselves. Participation by local artists has exploded, with 30% more artists already registered at press time – and more still signing up to display their work.

“For many young artists, this is their big debut,” explains Barney. “It’s their very first experience exhibiting their artwork. They’ll set up their tents, hang their work, and share it with the public for the first time. That can be extremely exhilarating. We’re excited to give them that opportunity.”
​

​Show features

In addition to more than 50 of our best and brightest local artists displaying their work, this year’s show will also feature a Pottery Village, located on Second Street between Century Hall and the Mockingbird Café. Local pottery artists will display their creative, colorful wares, and visitors can have fun with live pottery demonstrations as well.

Acoustic musicians and other live entertainers will perform on the Shoofly Magazine Community Stage, located on the steps of the Courthouse (see schedule at the end of this story!). There will also be live music at the Mockingbird Café (110 S. Second Street).

On Saturday night, visitors are encouraged to stay and enjoy a mini film festival on the courthouse lawn, weather permitting.

Participating local merchants be participating as well. “Our local merchants are supporting the Arts Alive! Festival in every way,” Barney confirmed. “They’re proud of our hometown, our artists, and our community's reputation as a mainstay of the arts in Mississippi.” 
​

The most innovative new feature of the festival, according to Barney and Aryana Ivey, event producer, is the brand-new Makerspace area. Here, many artists and makers will demonstrate their crafts and offer hands-on activities.

In addition, a number of area non-profit organizations are participating to provide art activities for children that incorporate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) as part of the art experience. Read more about the Makerspace area in this month’s Arts Alive column.

“There is a lot of excitement from our local non-profits to engage our youth with art, in a way that will help prepare them for high-paying jobs after graduation,” said Aryana Ivey.

Arts Alive! hours are 10am – 5pm on Saturday, March 23, and 11am – 4pm on Sunday, March 24. Admission is free. For the latest updates on the event, or for sponsorship or exhibitor information, visit the Arts, Hancock County website at www.hancockarts.org.

Folk pianist George Winston brings NOLA inspiration to his concert at Hancock PAC on February 25.
- story by Lisa Monti
Click here to purchase tickets online!

​Winston’s rural folk style is unique, but those who attend his Kiln concert will recognize the musical inspiration he draws from New Orleans R&B pianists Henry Butler, James Booker, Professor Longhair, Dr. John, Jon Cleary and his good friend, Allen Toussaint.
​

Winston has recorded 14 piano solo albums and has three awaiting release. His resume includes the solo piano soundtrack for “The Velveteen Rabbit” and the soundtrack for a Peanuts episode. The Kiln also audience can expect to hear some Vince Guaraldi-inspired Charlie Brown and gang pieces as well as Winston’s solo guitar and harmonica talents. He plays exclusively on Steinway pianos, and one is being brought in for the Kiln show.

​Winston, a Montana native, has a Mississippi connection: he attended junior high in Jackson, and he has played at venues in Ocean Springs. “It’s great to get back there to Mississippi,” he said, calling the state “an island all its own. It’s definitely not Tennessee, Louisiana or Alabama.”
 
His upcoming local performance came about as “a happy accident,” according to Catherine Tibbs, HPAC coordinator. When Winston couldn’t get an Ocean Springs venue booked, his agent found the HPAC’s website and got in touch. Winston, Tibbs said, “likes going to new places because he’s played so many different venues.”

​Winston said he’s “heard very good things” about the Hancock County facility which has 842 seats, state of the art equipment and brag-worthy acoustics and lighting. Proceeds from this concert will benefit the Hancock High  School Education Foundation. Guests are encouraged to bring a donation of canned food to the concert to benefit the Hancock County Food Pantry.
 
Tibbs said the foundation supports Hancock High’s arts programs. “We have so many talented students in the district and the building was created for those underserved students. The proceeds will provide funding to purchase instruments, fund theatrical master classes to prepare the performers and to get the choir started up again.”
​

​Tibbs is hoping for a good turnout for Winston’s performance  “to show we have and appreciation for his music and we want him to return.”
 
Winston’s Hancock High performance will consist of two one-hour sets though he doesn’t yet have a set list. “I won’t know the song titles until that day or until I do it,” he said of his concert sets. “I have to really want to play the song. Otherwise, “I can’t do it.”

An evening with celebrated solo pianist 
George Winston 
Monday, February 25        7-9 p.m.
Hancock Performing Arts Center
7140 Stennis Airport Drive, Kiln
General admission seating: $25
Tickets available through Eventbrite or the Hancock PAC Facebook Page
For more info, or help buying tickets, call (228) 255 6247

The annual Relay for Life raises money for the American Cancer Society has hundreds of participants walking each year.  During this new event, they'll be dancing as well!
- story by Lisa Monti 

She has been busy recruiting amateur dancers to perform in Hancock County’s version of the hugely popular television dancing competition. As of this writing, Bernie has recruited 10 acts who will compete solo acts, dancing couples or groups. (Their identities are a closely held secret but Bernie promises “very eclectic” acts.)

Local judges will critique and score the acts and then award first, second and third place trophies.

“We’ll also have a People’s Choice Award for the crowd favorites,” Bernie said. An award also will be presented to the dancers who sell the most tickets to the event.
 
Bernie said the Dancing with the Relay Stars show is a perfect fit for fun-loving Hancock Countians at the perfect time of year, between the holidays and Mardi Gras.

​“Other Relays around the country have done this and it’s been really successful and a lot of fun. It’s a nice way for people to support Relay, enjoy a nice meal and silent auction. It’s going to be a fun night.”

And it’s a great way to kickoff the new year for the Relay for Life campaign to raise funds for the American Cancer Society.  “The money raised stays in Hancock County and goes for rides to medical appointments  and other resources that people need,” Bernie said.

​The 2019 Relay for Life will be May 4 at Hollywood Casino’s walking path. In case of inclement weather, the walk will move indoors at the casino.  
 
“Hollywood has been really good partner and so delightful to work with,” Bernie said. As part of its support for Relay for Life, the casino is offering a special $89 hotel room rate for the night of Dancing with the Relay Stars.
Reservations must be made by Jan. 17 using group code ACS0126.

Dancing with the Relay Stars tickets are $75 each or $700 for a table for 10. There is no entry fee for dancers but they are asked to bring a silent auction item and help sell tickets to their friends.
 
Tickets are available at paypal.me/berniecullenor via Venmo @Bernadette-Cullen-1. If you wish to buy tickets to support a dancer, send Bernie the information on PayPal or Venmo or email her at Tcbbcullen@yahoo.com.
To pay with cash or a check, contact Bernie by email.

Fiercely competitive and always fun, this annual drive to restock the Hancock County Food Pantry grows each year. 
- story by Lisa Monti, photos courtesy Sound Insurance.

The couple shares an active interest in helping to provide for children, and they made their family-owned business the driving force behind the Food Fight. The drive extends to D’Iberville, Columbia, Hattiesburg and Laurel, where Sound Insurance has offices.
 
The Food Fight runs from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15. During that time, teams from local businesses, plus schools and youth organizations, collect canned food and food products, cooking oil, dry goods such as flour, pasta and grits, as well as dish and laundry soaps and personal hygiene products for the needy.

The Bay St. Louis drive benefits the Hancock County Food Pantry. Other Sound Insurance offices choose which nonprofit in their community will receive their donations.
 
Christy Bond of Sound Insurance in Bay St. Louis, who leads the annual event, says they’ve turned the fight against hunger into a friendly but fierce competition. The team that collects the most items receives the coveted but quirky Food Fight trophy adorned with canned goods.

​Christy said Advantage Title of Bay St. Louis has captured the trophy the last two years, followed closely last year by Starfish Cafe. “They were in a very close race and Starfish almost had them,” she says.

To keep a competitive edge and pump up their collections, teams can track the competition online as the drive nears completion. “It’s always fun,” Christy says of the push by teams to take first place.
 
This year, 48 teams are participating, and it’s not too late to join in the drive. Teams can register online at Sound Insurance Solutions website, which has all the information needed to get started.  You can also keep up to date with the Food Fight Event on Facebook.

In 1958, Bay St. Louis celebrated its 100th birthday, but a recent discovery revealed that party was thrown forty years late. 

​It turns out the city was actually founded in 1818 - making 2018 the 200th year since its  establishment.  Find out what's in store! 
- story by Lisa Monti

Bay St. Louis is hosting a community celebration for its 200th birthday on December 8 to coincide with the holiday version of the Second Saturday Art Walk. 

Due to weather concerns, the bicentennial celebration will take place at 3pm at the Hancock County Historical Society on Cue Street (next to the Courthouse), to celebrate past and present community leaders who have made Bay Saint Louis one of the best small towns in America.

​Roth started doing a little research and when he found out nothing was planned for the 200th observance, he started getting individuals and organizations together to mark the event.

​Roth said the bicentennial's plans are being finalized with input from local elected officials, tourism groups and the business community. There will be a parade with a performance by the Bay Ratz Marching Battery and period costumed characters, a time capsule burial, and the unveiling of a plaque at the old City Hall near the Shoofly to replace the one Katrina destroyed. 

“The Hancock County Historical Society and the state Archives and History officials have worked together to make sure the sign we’re dedicating is historically correct,” Roth said.

​The four living mayors and their families will be special guests at the ceremony. Other invited guests include the governor and lieutenant governor.

​The Bay’s origins date back to 1699 when it was a French settlement. Spain laid claim to the area in 1763, followed by the British in 1780. In 1818, the settlement was incorporated by the first Mississippi Legislature as Shieldsborough, named in honor of Thomas Shields, an early settler.
 
The English name didn’t sit well with the town residents of French descent, who preferred calling it Bay St. Louis, after the body of water named by Bienville for French King Louis IX. Local officials took the emphatic step in 1858 to reincorporate the town once again as Shieldsborough, hoping the name would stick. But in 1875, city officials reincorporated yet again with the name Bay St. Louis.
 
The convoluted succession of maneuvers might have been why Bay residents chose 1958 to celebrate the city’s centennial, even though the city was actually 140 years old. Nonetheless, it was a huge community celebration when men grew beards, people wore period costumes and wooden nickels were prized currency.
 
This year’s celebrants will find the city enjoying its well earned reputation as a welcoming community filled with diversity and creativity that people want to visit and be part of as part-time or full-time residents. 

Organizers say the main thing about the bicentennial is to remind residents of the city’s long, illustrious and resilient history. And the event will be a special one for the residents who remember the 1958 centennial.

​“We want the public to know this is happening,” Roth said. “This is an historical event for our city and we want to make sure that our citizens are made aware of this milestone and hope those who can, will join us in the celebration.”

The historic charms of Bay St. Louis provide the perfect backdrop for Halloween events, like the annual Cedar Rest Cemetery Tour.  This year, a growing coven of colorful costumers takes to the streets of Old Town in a Witches Walk for charity. 
- story by Lisa Monti, photos by Ellis Anderson 

Editor's note:  As of October 20, 170 "witches" have registered for the 4th annual Witches Walk through Old Town on Saturday, Oct. 27th!

Registration is closed, but wanna-be witches who didn't register in time can still costume and come down to Old Town independently to be part of the fun - they simply can't take part in the official contests. 

And of course, donations to make this benefit event even more successful are welcome too (look for the green pumpkin at the Mockingbird Café).  

See the full Witches Walk schedule at the bottom of this page!  

On Saturday, Oct. 27, the Fourth Annual Witches Walk will cast a fun spell over Old Town as dazzling witches explore the shops, restaurants and galleries from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 
 
The gathering kicks off at the Mockingbird Café (110 S. Second Street) and meanders in downtown for shopping, eating and socializing. 27 merchants will be participating with specials and refreshments, including Lulu's on Main (126 Main Street) and Bodega/Parrot Head Bar & Grill (111 Court Street).  Registered costumers will get numbers from participating businesses to play Witches Wingo – a holiday themed Bingo game.

 
After lunch, at around 1:30 p.m., the registered witches will meet outside of Lulu’s on Main (126 Main Street) to start their parade to Cuz’s restaurant (108 S. Beach Blvd.), led by the Bay Ratz Marching Battery (see the full expanded schedule at the bottom of this page!) 
 
To cap off the day, there will be a dance around the cauldron at Cuz’s restaurant, where prizes donated by Old Town Merchants will be awarded for best hat, shoes and brooms and the winning Wingo card. 
 
Bay St. Louis resident and costumer extraordinaire, Karen West, is one of the event organizers.  West says it all started when she and a few friends dressed up for a Halloween birthday luncheon in 2012.  Last year, 36 women participated.  

This year, organizers originally hoped to double that number.  But after 75 tickets sold out immediately and people clamored for more, the event was expanded to encompass more Old Town venues.  When registration closed for a second time this year, 170 witches had registered - and organizers had to turn away dozens more.   The $10 registration fee will benefit the Hancock County Food Pantry and the Bay Ratz Marching Battery. Witches will pay for their own libations and food along the way. ​

But wanna-be witches who didn't register in time can still costume and come down to Old Town independently to be part of the fun - they simply can't take part in the official contests. 

And of course, donations to make this benefit event even more successful are welcome too (look for the green pumpkin at the Mockingbird Café).  
​
“It’ll be a day of fun and frivolity, for sure!” West declared.

The 24th annual Cedar Rest Cemetery Tour, which traditionally was held on Halloween evening, will take place on Friday, Oct. 26. The 45-minute tours will begin every 10 minutes, starting at 5 p.m. 
 
The historic cemetery is the resting place of many interesting residents, and each year the Hancock County Historical Society members and volunteers portray some of the more notable ones. 

This year, in honor of the 100th anniversary of World War I’s end, eight “ethereal residents” will represent Doughboys and sailors, Buffalo Soldiers, nurses and others who will share their wartime experiences and contributions. Admission is free but donations to the Historical Society are encouraged. 
 
Cedar Rest is located at 200 South Second Street. For more information call 228-467-4090.

Also on Saturday, Oct. 27, McLeod Park Campground will host its annual Halloween event from 5 to 10 p.m. Kids can enjoy a costume contest, various games and trick or treating.
 
McLeod Park Campground is located at 8100 Texas Flat Road in Kiln. for more info, call  228-467-1894 or visit the Facebook page.  

Waveland is hosting its annual Halloween Bash on Coleman Avenue this year on Halloween night, Wednesday, October 31st.  From 5:30 - 7:30, there'll be tricks, treats, face-painting and a haunted house.  Residents and businesses are invited to set up for the evening on Coleman Avenue to pass out candy.   For more information, call the Waveland City Hall at 228-467-4134. 

For eight decades the Bay-Waveland Garden Club organization has rolled up their sleeves and worked to help educate and beautify their communities. 
- story by Denise Jacobs

“A lot of people have a misconception about garden clubs, but we really are an educational organization,” says Lana Noonan, secretary and publicity chair. “We have speakers once a month on an educational topic, from one end of the spectrum to another. 

“We also roll up our sleeves up and work.”

If it blossoms, buzzes, or breathes, it likely falls under the floral parasol of the Garden Club’s mission, which is to advance gardening of all sorts, including backyard and youth gardens, to further city beautification and the conservation of air, water, and soil quality, and the protection of native trees, shrubs, pollinators, and birds. 

Under this broad mission statement, being a member can be as simple as putting something in your backyard that provides shelter—a tree, a bird house, bird bath, or bird seed. “Our members do just that,” says Noonan. “We roll up our sleeves and work.” 

While Garden Club members can and do happily work alone, they also play well with others. The club has partnered with a bevy of organizations, from the Bay St. Louis Rotary Club to the Hancock County Historical Society (in collaborative efforts to save, document, and register aged oak trees).

The members of the Bay/Waveland Garden Club take their efforts beyond the borders of the traditional flower or vegetable plot. Historically, the club’s projects have included home and garden tours; the annual Gulf Coast Spring Pilgrimage; anti-litter campaigns; a Christmas lighting decoration contest; an annual Spring Flower Show; and Arbor Day with the planting of trees at local schools, libraries, hospitals, Stennis Airport, and the Bay/Waveland Yacht Club, among others.  

The club’s work to encourage the gardeners of tomorrow has included presentations and projects at local schools—public and private—the Boys and Girls Club, and a clean-up collaboration with local Boy Scouts.

In the 70s and 80s, Mrs. John Holmes led Girl Scout Troop #27 to win the Gulf Pines Council Certificate - twice.  In 1972, the Bay/Waveland Garden Club won the National Helen Hussey Champlin Award for outstanding service in promotion of gardening among youth.

A document commemorating the first 50 years of the Bay/Waveland Garden Club on the website of the Hancock County Historical Society identifies the organization of the Garden Club Youth Group in 1964 as “the project with the most heart.”

Mrs. Rene deMontluzin organized the first youth group with 31 girls.  It was followed by the OLG Busy Bees and Lazy Daisies, the Sunshine Gardeners, and the St. Joseph’s Academy Red Birds.

A glance at the headings of Sea Coast Echo coverage of the Bay/Waveland Garden Club tells the larger story: 

• Organization of Bay-Waveland Garden Club of Civic Interest
• Nearly 500 Visitors Tour City’s Homes and Gardens in Annual Gulf Coast Spring Pilgrimage
• National Convention Hostesses
• Bay-Waveland Garden Club Teams with Hancock Libraries
• Bay-Waveland Garden Club Donates to Community Garden
• Ready for Pilgrimage: Scouts Lead in Clean-up
• Bay-Waveland Garden Club Meets to Discuss Pageant Week Plans
• Bay-Waveland Club Wins National Award
• Bay-Rotary Club Announces 3 New Working Committees

As is apparent, even as the Bay/Waveland Garden Club turns 80, it wears work gloves as easily as white gloves.

Might you like to join?  The club welcomes seasoned gardeners and novices alike.  The meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month from September through May at the Old Town Presbyterian Church in Bay St. Louis.  A "Coffee Social" begins at 9:30 a.m., and the meeting is at 10:00 a.m.  Meetings are open to the public, and guests are always welcome.  You just have to be willing to roll up your sleeves and work!

For nearly a century, Gulf Coast yacht clubs have competed in a series of Labor Day sailboat races, with the previous year's winner hosting the event.  Find out why so many of the Lipton Races have taken place in Bay St. Louis.
- story by Lisa Monti

Schmitt said the change to the faster and lighter Viper 640 class opens a new era for the association and the Liptons. “The debut of the sportier and faster Viper 640 in this year’s challenge will generate a lot of interest.. Everyone is coming out to see the new boats in action.”
 ​

The BWYC was reorganized in 1921 as the Bay-Waveland Yacht and Athletic Club. The club was admitted to the Gulf Yachting Association in 1922, according to the club’s website. 

​Schmitt said eight Bay-Waveland members have served as commodore of the Gulf Yachting Association: John Rawlings (1904), Eaton Bowers (1909), J. Alvin Weinfurter (1957), Henry Chapman (1967), Harry Chapman (1982), Basil Kennedy (1992), Walter Chamberlain (2002) and Judy Reeves (2009).

Sir Thomas Lipton, considered a benefactor to the sport of yachting, created the challenge that bears his famous name and it is considered is one of the oldest and most prestigious champion series around. The Pensacola Yacht Club won the inaugural race in 1920. 
 
“The Bay-Waveland Yacht Club is steeped in history with the Lipton Cup,” Schmitt said. “We’ve won it 24 times in its 98-year history.”
 
The previous year’s winner generally hosts the regatta on their home waters every year.  Last year’s host Pass Christian Yacht Club tied with Bay-Waveland in total points at the end of the regatta, but Bay-Waveland lost the tie-breaker.  The Lipton rules prevent a club from hosting in consecutive years. “So we’re hosting it as runner-up,” Schmitt said.

 About 20 yacht clubs will compete for the 2018 Lipton trophy in four races. The event gets under way with a flag raising ceremony at noon on Saturday. The first of two back to back races is set to begin at 2 p.m. The first of two races on Sunday will begin at 10:30 a.m. The club will host a party on Saturday night. Spectators can watch the action from the front deck of the Yacht Club, Schmitt said. 
 
The winner gets the perpetual trophy to display in the club for a year. “Our hope is we will bring it over from the Pass to the Bay and place it right at the top of the stairs for the next year,” Schmitt said.

Bay St. Louis is the hub of a five-state Gulf Coast plastic use reduction campaign.  Find out who started the movement, who pioneered plastic-free in BSL and what local café is part of a pilot program.
​- story by Ellis Anderson 

Other Bay eateries will be joining  PFGC as well, in a campaign offering drinking straws only-by-request.  PFGC organizer Elizabeth Englebretson with the Gulf Coast Design Studio says that several have already agreed to participate in the effort to become more sustainable.  Restaurants also benefit from building customer good-will and getting positive press exposure.  

Englebretson says the effort stems from the fact that plastic pollution is continuing to increase, despite efforts to curb it.  Calling it “a pandemic,” she believes the only way to stop the pollution is to cut back use of it to begin with, by using biodegradable options like paper and sugarcane-based “plastic.” 

The Mockingbird Café pilot program is being funded by a small grant through the Gulf of Mexico Alliance.  Some of the grant money is being used to help pay for biodegradable non-plastics during the weaning away period.  Customers are also being asked to pay a quarter extra.  

The pilot program grew out of inspiration from the Starfish Café’s successful effort to go plastic-free.  The Starfish (211 Main Street) is a project of the non-profit, Pneuma Winds of Hope.  Di Fillhart is the organization’s executive director and manager of the Starfish Café.  Fillhart says the café started going plastics-free four years ago.  

“We polled our customers and asked if they’d mind paying extra for biodegradable to-go containers,” says Fillhart.  “Unanimously, they said, ‘no problem.’ 

Fillhart believes that the straws by request only is a good way for a business to get its feet wet in the burgeoning new green-market economy.  “Our first step was to start with paper straws.  Now we’re using a plant-based plastic straw.”  

Cutting back usage of the seemingly insignificant drinking straw might seem like a wasted effort.  How could that alone make a dent in the enormous amount of waste produced in this country?  But Englebretson says that US citizens alone use 500 million plastic straws each day.  To put it in perspective, in a single year those straws could fill Yankee Stadium.  

Not once, but nine times over. 

By tackling the drinking straw problem, the group hopes to raise awareness to let people know that they can add a fourth “R” to the saying “Reuse, Reduce, Recycle.”  That would be “Refuse.”  

Bay St. Louis is the hub of the pilot program that is slated to spread across the five Gulf Coast states, and the city is also the birthplace of PFGC itself.  The organization began in 2016 as a project called Plastic-Free April.  Three local women concerned about plastic pollution - Kerr Grabowski, Carole McKellar and Ann Weaver - led a public challenge asking people to go without using plastic for one month.  ​

Last year, the group began working with the Gulf Coast Design Studio and Englebretson .  The name of the group changed from “April-free” to “Gulf Coast” as the ideas blossomed.  The movement now has partners in each of the five Gulf Coast states with ambitious plans for projects in them all.  

“In the Gulf states, we don’t have a green economy where people have access to plastic alternatives,” Englebretson says.  “We’d like to create one.  And we’re even finding that some of the alternatives to plastic are now less expensive.” 

“It’s not about going completely plastic-free right now.  There are times you can’t avoid using it,” Englebretson says.  “But it’s about making changes that eventually become part of your life.” 

The Mockingbird has already explored sustainable-practice options through the years.  The newly launched program, overseen by manager Whitney LaFrance, has is pushing the sustainability-business model envelope.  Owner Alicein Schwabacher found herself asking, “Do we even need some of these products?  And if if we do, can we replace the plastic with something less harmful to our ecology and customers?”

“All of us at the Mockingbird want to be part of the solution,” said Schwabacher.  

Englebretson believes that sort of attitude can lead to big changes.  

“We just all need to work together and support each other,” she says.  “We can make this happen.” 

Each year, a colorful crew of scalawags takes over the town, during Pirate Day in the Bay, May 18 & 19th.  But forget the pillaging - the party boosts the local economy and raises money for charity.  
- story by Lisa Monti, photos by Ellis Anderson

The Seahorse Krewe was organized in 2014 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of St. Louis Bay, which helped the U.S. defeat the British in the War of 1812. During the battle in the bay the USS Seahorse and other wooden schooners delayed the British fleet that was headed to New Orleans.
 
The historic observance of the little known battle launched the krewe’s Lundi Gras golf cart parade as well as Pirate Day. Both have grown each year and now both are much anticipated events enjoyed by visitors and local celebrants. Pirate Central, at the corner of Main Street and Beach Boulevard, is headquarters for all things Pirate Day.​

Pirate Central is "party central" when Krewe members and sponsors gather Thursday evening for the King and Queen pirate party from 6 to 9 p.m.  Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in advance online. 

On Friday, loads of pirates will land at the municipal harbor and then parade up to Pirate Central at 5 p.m. for the traditional capturing of the mayor.

The Pirate Pub Crawl and Scavenger Hunt from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday will feature music at Pirate Central and the search for a hidden treasure chest in Old Town.

“We have about 10 bars and restaurants you can go to and get a drink and a clue. From those clues you can go find the treasure chest,” Rosetti said.

The finder of the chest will receive about $500 worth of goods, including liquor and gift certificates from downtown merchants and others.  Tickets for the event are $20 and can also be purchased online.

Pirate Day festivities kick off Saturday with the family-friendly Lil’ Buccaneers Parade, the first of two for the day. Walkers are welcome, as are wagons and strollers. Line up begins at 10:30 a.m. in the green space at the corner of Main and Second streets. The parade starts at 11 a.m. and ends at Pirate Central. 

​The costume contest follows the parade, also at Pirate Central.  Registration begins at 11 a.m. and the contest gets underway at noon. Prizes will be awarded in three categories: age 9 and under; age 10 to 16 and adults.
 
Lil’ Buccaneers can enjoy all sorts of fun and games in the Kids Zone at the foot of Main Street. There will be a waterslide, inflatables and games for kids.
 
From 3pm - 5pm, pirates and other celebrants can take a two-hour cruise on the paddlewheel Betsy Ann.  

“We’re really excited about the Betsy Ann coming over from Biloxi for this cruise around the beautiful bay,” Rosetti said. The $50 cruise ticket gets you drinks, music and snacks.
 
“Once the Pirates land at the Municipal Harbor, the Pirate Golf Cart Parade will roll through Old Town,” Rosetti said. “No need to register, just bring your golf cart to the harbor (dress as Pirates) and enjoy the parade. 
 
Pirates must be 21 years old to take part in the Pub Crawl and the Pirate Cruise. 

The pirates will be going out with a bang.  The festivities conclude with music and a fireworks show (thanks to sponsor Silver Slipper) by the Bay St. Louis harbor at 9pm.  

Meet Art Clementin, Honorary Survivor for the 2018 Relay for Life event in Hancock County.  He's rolling up his sleeves to help out with the event, which raises money that will help others with cancer.  Find out how you can join Art on April 21st.
​  
- story by LB Kovac, photos by Ana Balka, Lionel Haynes, Jr. and courtesy Relay for Life

This year, Relay For Life has a new location in Hancock County - the Crab Fest grounds behind the Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church, 228 S. Beach Boulevard, Bay St. Louis. On Saturday, April 21st, action gears up at 11am and goes until 9pm.  

Members of participating community teams will take shifts walking or jogging in this fun "marathon" event that raises money for the American Cancer Society. Teams will also sell snacks, drinks and register folks for prizes.  

Click here to register for the event! Don't have a team?  Join one, they'll be delighted to have you! 

 Clementin underwent a new surgery and successfully eradicate his cancer. A year later, Clementin was declared cancer free.
 
According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, an average of 14,000 people in our state are newly diagnosed with cancer each year. Colorectal and breast cancers are the most common diagnoses, but prostate and mouth cancer diagnoses are on the rise.
 
The costs of cancer treatment, coupled with the increasing number of diagnoses, mean that cancer is also close to eclipsing heart disease as the number one killer in Mississippi. In 2016, 20% of deaths in the state were caused by cancer, according to the Health Department. 

But there is hope.

Clementin puts his faith in the research that is carried on by organizations such as the American Cancer Society. "I was assisted [in my own recovery] because of research done years ago," he says. "I'm a recipient of lots of people's research and hard work in the medical field."
 
Clementin's role as Honorary Survivor comes with quite a bit of responsibility. It's not wearing a sash and waving at crowds - Clementin must help bridge the gap between cancer survivors and the public, whose donations can greatly affect the outcomes of their diagnoses. 

Relay for Life is an annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Communities put on their own celebrations - relays, yes, but also games, dinners, and survivor celebrations. Money raised during the event, from sales and donations, funds cancer research and treatment. 
 
"That's why I want to encourage as many people as possible to attend," says Clementin. "We need to get the public involved and fight this horrible disease." With more donations, the research necessary to fight the spread of cancer can proceed.
 
Bernadette Cullen, along with her co-chair Nonnie Richardson, are the organizers of this year's Harrison and Hancock Counties Relay for Life. The event is slated to take place April 21 at the Our Lady of the Gulf Crabfest grounds.
​
story continued below

​Cullen, herself involved with the local Relay for Life event for more than a decade, promises fun at this year's event: games, kids’ craft, popular bands, and good food. "It's a party with a purpose," she says.
 
Cullen points out that Relay for Life is different from other cancer fundraisers because it doesn't just support one type of cancer. "All types - breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukemia - you name it, we support it. The money goes to help research for all types." 
 
She adds, "Most of the money stays locally. It goes to all kinds of things that your neighbors need, like medicine, doctor visits, rides, etc."
 
Without the focus on a particular cancer, Relay for Life attendees and organizers are free to focus on the survivors themselves. People like Clementin, who have successfully treated their cancer, as well as people who are still actively battling their cancers. 

​And Clementin, in turn, can support one of the organizations that made his own battle that much more speedy. He says, "Doctors are able to do a lot of things they weren't able to do even ten years ago. Whether it's a dollar or a hundred thousand dollars, donations are important to research and saving lives."

The Bay St. Louis Little Theatre celebrates Tennessee Williams March birthday with a hilarious Stella Yelling contest and a series of original one-act plays for budding playwrights.  Stanley and Blanche would love it. And so will you.
- story by Lisa Monti, photos by Ellis Anderson 

“We decided that first year we owned the building that we would start the tradition. Now it’s in its 10th year, all because of the community’s support,” said Cheryl Grace, the theater’s director. “They just support us in everything.”

​ 
The signature “Stella” yelling from Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire” is the basis for the contest that attracts Stanley Kowalskis of all ages. The audience, many seated in lawn chairs outside the theater, chant to bring namesake character out onto the theater’s actual balcony. Amy Coston, the original and only Bay St. Louis Stella, will reprise her role for the 10th time. “It’s her only acting gig of the year,” Grace said.
 
In previous years, anyone who wanted to compete just stepped up and paid the $10 entry fee. This year, the contest will be split into two categories: one for adults and a another for kids 12 and under.
 
The deadline to sign up is 30 minutes before the 4 p.m. contest, to allow for spectators who inevitably get caught up in the moment. “Some people come in costumes and others sign up at the last minute because it looks like so much fun,” Grace said.
 
Grace expects 25 or 30 contestants again this year. Winners have come from Oklahoma, Texas and Meridian, Miss. “We’ve had tons of contestants come from New Orleans, which has its own contest. Last year we had a gentlemen from Japan compete. It’s amazing,” Grace said.

​A panel of judges from the community rate the yellers on their believability, originality, enthusiasm and appearance. First place winners in both categories will receive a large trophy along with bragging rights and cash. The adult winner gets $150 and the young winner will receive $50. Second and third place winners also will be rewarded with cash prizes. Silver Slipper Casino sponsors the contest every year.
 
In the early days of the Williams tribute, the Little Theatre presented one of his plays but organizers recently decided instead to try to discover the next Tennessee Williams in the state through its Mississippi Writes Original competition.
 
“Last year for the first time we asked for submissions of one-act plays by only Mississippi writers,” Grace said. The Mississippi-centric works are chosen for production based on their insight, creativity, craft and engagement. Each play runs approximately 20 minutes and has minimal production requirements.

​ 
This year four winning playwrights will sit in the front row of the theater and see their plays come to life on stage. “At the end of every show, we do a ‘Chat with the Cast’ and allow audience members to enjoy wine and cheese while asking the writers and actors questions about the show. It’s an amazing evening,” Grace said.
 
All five plays will be performed March 23, 24, 25, 30 and 31.

Stella Yelling contest
Saturday, March 31
4 p.m.
In front of Bay St. Louis Little Theatre
398 Blaize Avenue
Free to the community
$10 contestant fee
 
 
Mississippi Writes Original
One-act plays and Chat with the Cast
March 23, 24, 30 and 31, 8 p.m.
March 25 2 p.m. matinee
Regular ticket fees
Bay St. Louis Little Theatre
(228) 467-9024
info@bsllt.org

The origins of the enormously popular and oddly-named celebration of mud, local potters, good food and community spirit, in Old Town Bay St. Louis. 
- story by LB Kovac, photos by Ellis Anderson 

This SOUPer Mudfest kicks off Saturday, March 10, at 4 p.m., near the corner of Main and Second streets. Early bird sales of bowls begin at 3:30 p.m. 

Specially themed Second Saturdays, like "Dolly Should" in January and "Frida Fest" in July have become beloved highlights of the year.  

And there's SOUPer Mudfest each March, now in its ninth year.  It's expected to attract more than one thousand people to the Old Town district during its one-night-only stint. 

​And, with just $20, you can be a part. 

Despite Moynan’s positive attitude, she and the rest of the Bay St. Louis community had a steep hill to climb in the wake of one of our country’s worst natural disasters. Before SOUPer Mudfest, there was just a “mudfest.” Moynan said, “It was disgusting downtown” in the days after Katrina.

​The streets downtown, where Moynan and other community members had their businesses, were practically rubble, and “everyone was wearing shrimp boots to get around,” she said. 

With conditions so bad, it was difficult to attract shoppers. 

But business owners embraced the dirtiness and grittiness, turning it into a chance to celebrate the spirit of living and survival.  People decorate their shrimp boots and come out for Second Saturday.  The soiree went on.  

Eventually, though, the streets were repaired, and downtown Bay St. Louis returned to something that seemed more or less normal. There was no more mud, no more shrimp boots.

​Moynan saw the void left by the old mudfest. “I owned a gallery at the time, and I represented a lot of potters,” she said.  Potters, being “mudslingers,” could provide the “mud” part of a new mudfest. “I got with the potters and said, ‘Let’s make bowls and sell soup with the bowls,” Moynan said. 

It was a chance for the Bay’s restaurant and business owners, herself included, to show off some of their best recipes, and the town to show that, despite the destruction of the last few years, it was still alive and kicking. Mudfest, like Bay St. Louis, experienced a rebirth. 

That first year, Moynan’s gathered a team of six potters to make 280 bowls, as well as a host of local businesses to serve soup. They set up shop under a tent at the corner of Main and 2nd streets. With a price tag of $20 per bowl, the Mudfest’s entire stock sold out in the first hour of the event. It seems that Bay St. Louis residents were hungry for such an event.

0Every year since, SOUPer Mudfest has grown. This year, Moynan says that 8 to 10 potters will create more than 800 bowls and attendees will be treated to soups from 30 local businesses. In the past, tomato basil, white bean osso buco, corn and crab bisque, and the Southern staple gumbo have all been on the menu, but Moynan said, “You have no idea what you’re in for this year. It’s always something cool and interesting.”  

SOUPer Mudfest continues to be a chance for visitors and community members to “see how fantastic our town is,” Moynan said. The $20 fee doesn’t just buy a bowl or free soup. The money, split among the potters, Old Town Merchants’ Association, Hancock County Food Pantry, and the Hancock County Tourism board, goes to maintaining the indomitable, Bohemian spirit that makes Bay St. Louis great. 

This SOUPer Mudfest kicks off Saturday, March 10, at 4 p.m., near the corner of Main and Second streets. Early bird sales of bowls begin at 3:30 p.m. If you join in, Moynan said, “You might find a new artist you fall in love with.” Or a business. Or a whole town. 

A light-hearted birthday tribute to one of America's most beloved musical artists has turned into a fun mid-winter tradition in Old Town Bay St. Louis.
- story by Ellis Anderson, photos by Ellis Anderson and Brenda Comer

But the main attraction of the evening  (one that’s pulling people from as far away as Austin, according to organizers), is the Dolly Look-alike contest.  Last year, more than fifty contestants – young and old, male and female - costumed as Dolly, then sang and sashayed before an enthusiastic crowd in an attempt to take the top prize.

Organizers are expecting even more contestants this year.  Photographer Ann Madden and silversmith Sandy Maggio own Smith & Lens Gallery and are the creators of the annual birthday bash. 

“Getting people who attend to commit to even a little bit of country costume makes it a big party,” says Madden.  “And folks who go all out just seem to come alive under that big hair. So it’s a fantastic, feel-good, family event.” 

Madden and Maggio came up with the idea of artist-themed birthday parties to spice up the Second Saturday Artwalks. They began with a “Frida Fest” in July 2014, to celebrate the birth of legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.  The premier fest surprised everyone with its instant popularity.  

​A few months later, the duo proposed a Dolly event in January, “the post-holiday, pre-Mardi Gras slump month” for local businesses.  Other Old Town merchants and restaurateurs jumped aboard.  The first Dolly Should was held in January 2015 to the delight of spectators, participants and local businesspeople. 

The event is self-generated by the Old Town Merchants Association, without any assist from the city.  Madden and Maggio say that it only works because most downtown businesses volunteer to participate.  A restaurant might offer a country-themed special, while a shop might host a pie contest or hayride.  Event publicity takes place mostly  through social media.  

“This town is just incredible,” says Maggio.  “Everybody pitches in.”

Which is made easier since the event is wrapped around such an iconic musical artist.  Both women point to Parton as an inspirational figure, beloved for her philanthropy, as well as her music.  The star’s down-home simplicity is another reason for her appeal. 

“Who doesn’t love Dolly?” says Madden.  “For nearly sixty years, she’s been making music without compromise.  She’s unapologetically herself.”  

As the word of Dolly Should has spread, visitors from out of town are booking trips to the Bay specifically to “stay for a few days, dress up like Dolly and have fun.”  Maggio also says she knows several contestants who have been working on their costumes since last year’s event. 

“I’ll bet the wigs are already sold out on the coast,” says Maggio.   

Maggio’s big dream for this year’s celebration?  

“My number one wish is that Dolly would just show up with her entourage,” Maggio says.  “I would just die.” 

“And of course, I want everyone to think of Bay St. Louis as a fun, happening little place,” she continues.  “Because we are.”

​Participants in the Dolly Look-alike contest should register between 5 pm and 7 pm at Smith & Lens Gallery, 106 South Second St. The entry fee is $10, with prizes being original “works of art.” 

Check back here soon for a full roster of Dolly Should events/times/places.