After three months of being closed to water contact due to an algal bloom, Mississippi's beaches are now open again for all activities.  

-story and photos by Ellis Anderson

Water samples collected on October 2 and tested for Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) toxicity, were "all below the EPA guidelines of eight parts per million."

"According to the National Park Service, there has been no observed evidence of the algae bloom impacting the barrier islands of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. All beaches in the park are currently open. In addition, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resource’s sampling indicates that recreational and commercial fishing off-shore in Mississippi waters remains unaffected by the algal bloom and is safe for consumption."

Moon notes that the timing couldn't be better - Cruisin' the Coast - the region's largest event - officially begins this week.  

We couldn’t have received better news to welcome this years cruisers," said Moon.  "Let’s replace those red flags with “welcome to our beaches!"
​
Also the beaches along Mississippi's coast have technically remained open to sun-bathing, walking and other activities, water-contact warnings issued on June 23, have prevented people and pets from wading or swimming in the waters. 

Seasonal HABs have been common in other parts of the country for years, especially the Lake Erie area, but this is the first time they've shut down Mississippi beaches.  

To ease the threat of flooding along the lower Mississippi River earlier in the year, Louisiana's Bonne Carre spillway was opened, allowing that nutrient-rich “fresh” water to pour into Lake Ponchartrain and directly out into the Mississippi Sound.  

​The river water changed the natural salinity of the lake and the Sound, providing a fertile environment for the cyanobacteria to grow.  For more in-depth information read FAQs About Mississippi Sound Algal Bloom, The Shoofly Magazine published on July 12. 

However, some experts are predicting that HABs could become a regular occurrence if massive Mississippi River diversion projects continue in Louisiana.  The projects, pitched to help re-silt the river's eroding delta, divert Mississippi River water directly into the Mississippi Sound - much like the opening of the Bonne Carré spillway did this year.  ​

​Wendy McDonald, candidate for Mississippi House of Representatives, District 122, has been sounding the alarm on the diversion project.  She has built her campaign platform around the issue and says  that when elected, her "number one priority" will be to stop the diversion project.

"We celebrate the reopening of the beaches," said McDonald.  "But we're going to have to work to keep them that way.  It's going to take all of us pulling together. "

Another group that believes the diversion project will be disastrous for the Mississippi Gulf Coast is Gulf Coast Resource Coalition.  The group is making a presentation before the Hancock County Board of Supervisors at their October 7 meeting and again at the Bay St. Louis City Council meeting on October 8, starting at 5:30pm.  

Their home and community in the Bahamas destroyed by Hurricane Dorian, a couple and their newborn find temporary refuge in a place that understands that kind of loss - Bay St. Louis. 

- story by Lisa Monti, photos by Ellis Anderson

​Just before the hurricane devastated the Bahamas, Tacuma and Shamell went to Freeport to be near her doctor and the hospital where Shamell was due to give birth any day. Gretchen said, “They were staying with friends. They didn’t realize the storm was approaching."
 
After the storm made landfall, the couple tried to evacuate on a cruise ship but weren’t able to board because of the overwhelming number of people trying to leave the islands. Roger was able to get them on a private plane for a flight to Florida. 
 
Shamell was already in labor so the Caplingers arranged for friends in Florida to meet the couple when the plane landed, get them through Customs and take Shamell straight to a hospital. 
 
Within hours, their daughter Nyluh was born, tiny but healthy. Baby Nyluh is “doing fine. She’s beautiful,” Gretchen said.
​

​All Shamell had was what she had packed in a small suitcase for the hospital. Tacuma had nothing but the clothes he was wearing. Like thousands of Bahamians, they lost not only their home but their livelihood to Dorian.
 
During their short time in Bay St. Louis, the couple is trying to get accustomed to life here. “It’s their first time ever off the island,” Gretchen said. 
 
The couple expressed their gratitude to the community, although Tacuma says he longs to be helping with recovery efforts back on the island.  Asked if they felt homesick, Shamell looked down at Nyluh and smiled. “Wherever she is, is our home,” she said.
​

Elise Deano, a friend of the Caplingers, has been organizing fundraisers and coordinating donations made to the family. Gretchen expressed thanks to the community for its “outpouring of love and generous support” to their visitors. 
 
There are a couple of ways to help out the family.

• Monetary gifts are welcome and a fund has been set up for the family at The Peoples Bank in the names of Baby Lyluh and Gretchen Caplinger.

​

• On Saturday, Nov. 2, a combination baby shower and open house to meet and greet Nyluh and her family will be held at 2 p.m. at Starfish Cafe.

Tired of spending endless hours of searching for events, artist Kathleen Johnson and volunteer Shay Raphael have compiled a comprehensive list of virtually every market, festival and art show within 250 miles of Biloxi.

- Story by Lisa Monti 

Johnson came up with the idea about five years ago and began collecting information in earnest a year ago. She figures she spent about 800 hours gathering details on some 400 events featuring arts and crafts including farmers’ markets.
 

Shay Raphael signed on to help with the project and has input all the information into a 100-page spreadsheet. The list can be sorted by event name, date, miles from Biloxi, cost to participate, contact information and any deadlines that may apply.
 
Johnson said the smaller Beta version is available for $15 and the final version will be available Oct. 1 at no charge. Updates to the Excel Spreadsheet 2013 version built for Windows 10 will be available for $5.

The beta release is just in time for the holidays, the most lucrative season of all for artists and crafters. “We pulled everything we could together to meet the Christmas rush,” she said. “I don’t care as long as it’s a market serving the creative economy. It goes on the list.”
 
To make the list as accessible as possible, Johnson said she’ll meet with anyone who needs help for a lesson in how to use the spreadsheet. She’ll even print out the list for anyone who needs a paper copy.
 
For more information, go to the Southern Event List Facebook page. 

Thanks to the Alice Moseley Museum, Fun Fest brings back regional favorites - including Amanda Shaw and Monsters at Large. 

- Story by Lisa Monti, photos by Ellis Anderson

“Monsters at Large are the best known local band, and Amanda Shaw and Ryan Foret are top regional bands from Louisiana," said Tim. "We’re very excited to have all of them perform this year."
​

 
Other performers will be local favorites Bay Ratz Marching Battery, the Dave Mayley Band and Coastal Native Delights - plus Faith Becnel, a dynamic young singer from the New Orleans area.
 
The Fun Festival will also showcase loads of local artists. For young fest-goers, there will be a kid’s play zone where they can enjoy bounce houses, slides, a chalk art contest and face painting.
 
Delicious food and refreshments will be available throughout the day.

​Francina’s Foods & More will be preparing “home cooking right there on the spot, including beef brisket and other local favorite dishes,” said Lonnie Falgout, who since 2004 has been executive director of the museum, serving on a volunteer basis. The Daiquiri Shak will be selling beer, wine, soft drinks and water. Snowballs also will be available.

 
“It’s going to be a great time,” said Lilyana Gandour, the museum’s operations director. “The museum will be open and welcoming everyone to come in and look at Alice Moseley’s wonderful art.”

Like the festival, the museum is free. That’s in keeping with Miss Alice’s philosophy that art should never have an admission charge.
 
The museum attracts large numbers from out of town, and organizers hope more locals will drop by to see what’s new at the ever-evolving collection.

​“We get fantastic snowbird visitors, but we want local people to give it a second look,” said Tim.

For two decades this annual event has been working to empower women across the coast in all aspects of their lives. 
​
- story by Lisa Monti

Labat said the celebration’s purpose from the start was to give women time together to talk about things of common interest and allow them to share their thoughts.

​“We are trying to keep this program going and empower women to see that they can do even more than they think they can,” she said. ​
​

The celebration on Saturday at the St. Rose Parish Holy Spirit Center (on Necaise Avenue in Bay St. Louis, across from the church) includes informative forums on health, education and politics led by professionals in each field.
 
Leading the Health Forum discussions will be:

• Luella Williams, a nurse practitioner at Coastal Family Health in Pass Christian
• Marion Brewer, registered nurse – surgery at Ochsner Hancock.

​

The education issues forum participants will include:

• Dr. Carla Evers, superintendent of the Pass Christian School District
• Dr. Cherie Labat, superintendent of the Columbus Municipal School District
• Dr. Toy Watts, superintendent of the Laurel School District.

​Other speakers with connections to Bay St. Louis and St. Rose include:

• Christa Reed, a professional basketball player with the Killester Basketball Club of Dublin, Ireland and ​former Bay High star
  
• Judge Ellen Hazeur-Colbert of Division A for the Civil District Court for Orleans Parish in New Orleans
  
• Wendy McDonald, former Bay Council member and Democratic candidate for Mississippi House of Representatives
  
• Emleigh Mitchell, a Justice of the Peace court liaison in Houston, Texas.  

​

​ Also on Saturday, the Book Review Forum will be led by Dorothy Wilson, Publisher and Editor of Gulf Coast Woman Magazine and co-founder of the Success Women’s Conference.

​She will be joined by locals:

• Angelyn Truetel Zeringue, CPA, independent insurance agent and owner of SouthGroup Insurance Services and AST Solutions.
• Ellis Anderson, publisher of Shoofly Magazine and French Quarter Journal and author of the award-winning Katrina book, Under Surge, Under Siege.
• Holly Lemoine-Raymond, broker and owner of HL Properties and executive producer of the TV Series, “Inside Outside with HL Raymond Properties”
• Brandi Stage, portrait photographer and owner of Brandi Stage Portraiture.

​
The day will conclude with a reception for participants and presenters.
 
On Sunday, participants will be recognized at 9 am Mass at St. Rose Church (301 Necaise), where the Women’s Mass Choir will be directed by Sherry Hill and the Liturgical Dance will be choreographed by Marion Brewer.

We had lots of questions and wanted reliable answers - so we asked the folks who know.  Here's what we found out.

- story by Ellis Anderson 

UPDATE - July 17:  MDEQ conducted water tests after Barry passed through and says the results warrant leaving the water contact warnings in place.  Click here for the full July 17 press release. ​

Below is a compilation of the answers we received - along with some from other reliable scientific sources. ​

The organism that’s causing our problems is actually a bacteria – a cynanobacteria, to be specific. So technically, it’s not an algae bloom.  

​The proper terminology now, according the Liz Sharlot, Director of Communications at the Mississippi Department of Health is “Algal,” pronounced, “All-gul.”   
 
The University of California’s Museum of Paleontology says that:
 
Cyanobacteria are aquatic and photosynthetic, that is, they live in the water, and can manufacture their own food. Because they are bacteria, they are quite small and usually unicellular, though they often grow in colonies large enough to see. They have the distinction of being the oldest known fossils, more than 3.5 billion years old, in fact!

It may surprise you then to know that the cyanobacteria are still around; they are one of the largest and most important groups of bacteria on earth… 

The USGS says that "harmful algal blooms have affected every state in the nation. The timing, occurrence, and severity of blooms depends on a number of environmental factors (including physical, chemical, and biological conditions); some regions of the United States may experience more severe blooms than others at certain times depending on these conditions.”  

For example, Lake Erie, which is bordered by the states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York (and the Canadian province of Ontario), has been battling significant problems for years. ​

Water from the Mississippi River, laden with nitrogen and phosphorus, causes the "Dead Zone" in the Gulf of Mexico each year.  It's one of the largest dead zones in the world, since the Mississippi River drains America's agricultural heartland along the river's vast valley and watershed: Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.  

This article from Montana State University, explains that "nitrogen and phosphorous enter the river through upstream runoff of fertilizers, soil erosion, animal wastes, and sewage. In a natural system, these nutrients aren't significant factors in algae growth because they are depleted in the soil by plants.

"However, with anthropogenically increased nitrogen and phosphorus input, algae growth is no longer limited. Consequently, algal blooms develop, the food chain is altered, and dissolved oxygen in the area is depleted.

The size of the dead zone fluctuates seasonally, as it is exacerbated by farming practices. It is also affected by weather events such as flooding and hurricanes."

To ease the threat of flooding along the lower Mississippi River this year, the Bonne Carre spillway was opened, allowing that nutrient-rich “fresh” water to pour into Lake Ponchartrain and directly out into the Mississippi Sound.  

​The river water changed the natural salinity of the lake and the Sound, providing a fertile environment for the cyanobacteria to grow.  This story by the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (a branch of NOAA), published July 10th gives more info. ​

The short video below contains some excellent - and astonishing - animations. (there's no sound, but it's captioned). 

No one we asked would hazard a guess.  The USGS says “predicting the onset, duration, and decline of harmful algal blooms is currently an active area of research. It is difficult to say how long the bloom will last with any certainty. One of the controlling factors (such as influx of freshwater affecting salinity) likely will need to change before the bloom will dissipate.”  

While tropical surges might push in water with higher saline content, the rainfall from a tropical event could add to the fresh water problem in the Sound.  

A spokesman for MDEQ said that "it is too soon for us to speculate given the uncertain characteristics and impacts of the storm at this time; however, our beach program will be monitoring along the coast as soon as possible after the storm passes. 

​"It is our understanding that algae that washes ashore would likely dehydrate and die.  We encourage everyone to be aware of their surroundings, and if they see a Harmful Algal Bloom after the storm passes to contact MDEQ and/or local emergency management officials."

UPDATE - July 17:  MDEQ conducted water tests after Barry passed through and says the results warrant leaving the water contact warnings in place.  Click here for the full July 17 press release.  

The beaches aren't actually closed. MDEQ has issued a "Water Contact Warning" against swimming or wading. "The warnings refer to water contact and do not prohibit use of the sand portion of a beach."

The water contact warning was extended on July 2 to include segment of the Jourdan River in Hancock County from the I-10 bridge to the mouth of the river into St. Louis Bay. MDEQ recommends that people avoid activities such as swimming, wading, and fishing. People should also avoid eating fish or anything else taken from this section of the river until further notice.

The CDC offers this advice:  "People should stay out of waters that have an odd color (brown, red, turquoise, etc.), smell bad, or that have floating algal mats on them. People should also take extra care to keep dogs out of the blooms to prevent them from becoming sick."

The CDC weighed in on this one as well:  

Cyanobacterial toxins can be incorporated into airborne water droplets that people and animals can inhale.

People or animals can be directly exposed to cyanotoxins in freshwater during recreational activities or by breathing in aerosolized toxins (toxins in water turned into tiny airborne droplets or mist). People or animals exposed to cyanotoxins through direct skin contact or inhalation may experience the following symptoms:
 

• Skin irritation
• Eye irritation
• Nose irritation
• Throat irritation
• Respiratory irritation

 
There is still much to learn about the health effects of airborne exposure to chemicals and toxins released by cyanobacterial blooms.

CDC and partners previously conducted studies assessing the health effects from recreational exposure to cyanobacterial toxins in small lakes with ongoing blooms. After one hour of exposure to blooms, we found small amounts of microcystins on nasal swabs from study participants and microcystins in the water and in aerosols generated by the recreational activities. However, study participants did not report any symptoms after one hour of exposure.

The USGS has this to say:  "Understanding the actual harms of algal blooms also is an active area of research. Currently, the acute effects of blooms on water quality, aquatic and terrestrial organisms, and human health are better understood than the chronic effects but there is still a lot of research required to fully understand the effects of blooms."

The CDC points out that: "Cyanobacterial blooms might also be a problem as they die off. The rotting organic matter can give off hydrogen sulfide, which may cause respiratory irritation, especially in people with asthma." 
 

While physicians are not required to report illnesses from algal blooms, Liz Sharlot at the Mississippi Department of Health says, “we’d probably hear about it if there was an outbreak.” 

No. No. And No.*

Liz Sharlot says the two bacteria are “completely unrelated.” ​

However, while we’re on the subject:  Vibrio, sometimes known by the alarmist moniker, “flesh-eating-bacteria,” is present across the Gulf Coast.  Infections are required to be reported to the CDC and the Mississippi Department of Health.  

Mississippi has been keeping track of its own cases since 1998 and Sharlot says that "typically, we expect to see it every year, like the West Nile virus.”

In Mississippi, there's been a low of two reported Vibrio cases in 1999 and a high of 23 cases reported in 2005, (the year of Hurricane Katrina).  Vibrio can come from eating infected raw oysters and from exposure in water.  Statistics on the cause of the Mississippi cases weren’t immediately available, but nationally, the majority of Vibrio infections come from eating seafood, in most cases, raw oysters or clams.  In Mississippi, so far this year, three cases have been reported. 

“[Infection from Vibrio] is preventable," says Sharlot.  “The main idea is to protect yourself.  If your immunity is low or you’re taking some types of medication, you shouldn’t go into warm, brackish water if you have a cut and your skin is exposed.”  

The CDC says the following people have a higher risk: 

Anyone can get sick from vibriosis, but you may be more likely to get an infection or severe complications if you:

• Have liver disease, alcoholism, cancer, diabetes, HIV, or the blood disorder thalassemia.
• Receive immune-suppressing therapy for the treatment of disease, such as cancer.
• Have an iron overload disease, such as hemochromatosis.
• Take medicine to lower stomach acid levels, such as Nexium and Pepcid.
• Have had recent stomach surgery.

​Sharlot advised people who aren’t high-risk to take precautions as well if they have a cut. ​

*Fox News 13 in Memphis actually published a piece pointing to Vibrio as the cause of Mississippi beach closures.  We encourage you to contact them, requesting that they remove the piece.  

From the USGS:  "No. No national agency currently calculates the economic impact of algal blooms, though smaller scale (local/regional) economic studies are being conducted by several agencies."  

A shady new location and a record number of sponsors promises to make this popular benefit the biggest and best yet. 

- story and photos by Ellis Anderson 

​Which is good, because according to Chauvin, the poker-run is shaping up to be the biggest yet. 

“We’ve surpassed our goals in terms of sponsorships,” she said, “and the response on social media has been very enthused.” 
 
The event coincides with Old Town’s popular Second Saturday Artwalk.  Each July, the Artwalk is dubbed “Frida Fest” because it celebrates the birthday of iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.  Frida Fest draws hundreds of visitors from across the region. 
 
“At Dan B.’s, we’ll be more visible to folks who’ve come for Frida Fest,” says Chauvin.  “And we’ll get a cooler breeze.”
 
One doesn’t need to be a gambler to participate in the benefit, or even be present on the day of the event to win one of the three prizes. 

​Poker hands cost $20 each. Hands (and event t-shirts) can be purchased in advance at the following times: 

• 
  
• Friday, July 19, 5pm – 7pm, downstairs at Dan B’s and in Diamondhead at the Lazy Gator (3410 Yacht Club Circle).  

 
Poker hand sales start at 10am the morning of July 20th at Dan B’s. 
 
Hands must be purchased in person.  If a purchaser can’t make the actual event, CASA tucks those hands into an envelope and the cards will be dealt at the culmination of the event.  
 
Poker “hands” are actually event cards that have to be physically punched at four of the twelve participating locations.  Players can use their preferred mode of transportation – boat, car, golf cart, or bicycle.  Since several of the locations are within a block of each other in Old Town, walkers will have it easy as well. 
 
“We listened to feedback from last year and reached out to more water stops this year,” said Chauvin. “The Lazy Gator in Diamondhead is one, and so is Hollywood Casino.  The casino will have beer and water right at the dock, along with someone to punch your card.”  
 
At the Bay St. Louis Harbor, players arriving by boat will have several more choices (see the full list of participating businesses below). 

​In mid-afternoon, players bring their punched cards back to Dan B’s.  Players must be in line to get their actual poker cards dealt by 4pm.  Chauvin says there’s no wiggle room on the deadline rule.  
 
Professional dealers from area casinos have volunteered to deal each player five cards.  For an extra $5 donation, players can purchase a sixth card before their hands are dealt.  
 
The three people with the top hands when the cards have all been dealt win an impressive array of prizes. The top prize is a condo stay in Gulf Shores, Alabama. 
 
People who aren’t actually playing will be welcome to support CASA by buying t-shirts and tickets for a 50-50 raffle.  There’ll also be a live and silent auction.  All day, a DJ at Dan B’s will be keeping the energy upbeat.   To cap off the day, beginning at 6pm, “The All-Nighters” band performs.
 
Chauvin says the event’s focus is squarely on community and charity - not on consumption of adult beverages. 

“The poker run is about spending time with friends and family and being out on the water for a great cause,” she said. 

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Several new businesses have opened in Old Town in the first six months of this year, the lion's share of them on the first block of Main.  Meet some of the business people behind this flurry of entrepreneurship.  

story and photos by Ellis Anderson

Closest to the beach is the new Field’s Steak and Oyster Bar (111 Main Street, A).  It’s the newest flagship among the eight Mississippi restaurants owned by the Nicaud family – including Bacchus on the Beach in Pass Christian and Biloxi. 
 
Chef Field Nicaud heads up the new restaurant.  He recently returned from New York after studying at the Institute of Culinary Education and gaining experience in two of Manhattan’s fine dining establishments.  

Nicholas Carter, who has worked for the Nicauds for eight years as their “all around guy” and opening manager, says that the family of restauranteurs has always had its eyes on the Bay.  
 
“It had to be the right space and the right time,” said Carter.  When C&C’s Italian Bistro closed earlier this year, the Nicauds scooped up the location and began redecorating.  Carter said that although it was a beautiful space before, the goal was to lighten and brighten the atmosphere.  

​One C&C’s fixture that stayed behind was the custom brick oven which now turns out flat breads and oysters.  
 
Field’s is open Wednesday for dinner (6pm – 9m, bar opens at 3pm), Thursday through Saturday (11am – 9pm, Friday and Saturday ‘til 10pm) and Sunday, 11am – 2pm for brunch.  
 
According to Carter the food is so special, “some people are coming here twice a day.” 
 
“I might be biased,” he said with a smile, “but I feel guilty calling it just ‘food.’”  

​
​A few doors down, Ocean Springs business Marina Cottage Soap Company, opened its Bay location in March.   Owner Vanessa Mueller was met with a warm welcome and has since become a resident of Bay St. Louis.  
 
Mueller carries natural skin care products, catering to those with sensitive skin.  One best seller is her Gneau Gnaughtly Gnat natural insect repellent, voted as most effective by Outdoor Life in both 2014 and 2015. 
 
In the back of her spacious storefront, she’s been working on “The Warehouse,” a new event space that is slated to open this summer.  The venue will be able to host receptions, parties and weddings.  Special events that are open to the public will be ticketed through online sales, with a limited number available.  

​ 
“It’s basically a community driven space, 1700 square feet of fun,” Mueller says. “We want it to be different from other establishments on the street.”  
 
“The city’s been fantastic to work with” during the build-out process and the entrepreneur says she loves living in the warm-hearted town. 

“It’s nice to have people wave and greet me as ‘the Soap Lady,” as I walk down the street, she said.  “Everybody’s looking out for everybody else.  It’s why I wanted to move here.” 

​​Fashionista and owner Chelsea Cure’s new space may be small, but it’s packed with power.
 
“Our concept is to carry clothes that are trendy, but classic – pieces that become wardrobe staples,” said Cure.  “I want designs to be current and fashion-forward, but still feel great and look good a year from now.” 
 
The lines Sage carries also appeal to a wide range of customers. Their denim line, Liverpool, is especially hot, said Cure.  One day recently she sold pairs of the pull-on pants to a 15-year-old and to a 70-year-old woman. 
 
Accessories like Buddha Girl bangles are a big hit as well, since they’re wearable in the water and at the beach and the soft, flexible material doesn’t make noise when several are worn at once. Cure carries gift items like unique candles as well, with more on the way.  
 
While many of her customers are locals, a good number are out of town visitors and boaters who have docked in the harbor. 
 
“We had people in here last week from Australia,” said Cure, who grew up on the coast.  “They love what Old Town has going on. And so do I.” 

​Also opening doors this spring is Salty Soul, specializing in nautical themed clothing, décor and gifts – but with a masculine slant.  
 
Owner Jane Alford’s first boutique, Bay-tique, has become an Old Town anchor over the past several years. Yet, she noticed men twiddling their thumbs while their wives were shopping and realized there was nothing in Old Town to interest them.  The large space at 126 Main became available in April when fellow boutique owner Melissa Hamilton purchased her own building a few doors up.  Alford jumped. 
 
She’s had the idea for Salty Soul years before and went into the new business with plenty of experience and established relationships with quality vendors.  Alford, who designs many of her own products, is also carrying yoga and sportwear.   

​Locals began celebrating when they saw construction work taking place at the historic Creole cottage at 146 Main Street.  While major structural repairs had been undertaken after Hurricane Katrina, the building had been vacant for 14 years. 

Last fall, real estate developer and Kiln resident Harry Fisher began plans to renovate the cottage as a duplex and build an addition.  His first tenants are Jay and Elise Kobs, a contractor and interior design duo.  
 
Jay Kobs hails from Hattiesburg and his wife grew up in Pittsburg.  The couple moved to the Bay from Colorado to be closer to Jay’s father who recently turned 80. 

The couple leased both sides of the duplex so Steel Magnolia Decorating and High Tide Builders, LLC are side by side. They plan to have a ribbon cutting in the near future. 
 
When pressed for a date, Jay laughed. “She’s an interior designer,” he said.  “Until it’s perfect, nobody’s coming in.” 

​The first block of Main ends where it's intersected by Second Street.  From the corner, historic Century Hall beckons, its vast interior home to more than a dozen different shops.

Restored by Vicki and Doug Niolet and Ann Tidwell post-Katrina, the lower two levels have hosted arts, antiques and gift businesses since 2008.  Yet, the building’s third floor remained uninhabitable for years until New Orleans developer/owner Jim McPhaille purchased the building and began work last year.  
​

Artist Tami Curtis Guy first opened Tami Curtis Studio in the lower floors of Century Hall last year. Now the well-known Louisiana artist has expanded and added one of the new spaces upstairs as well, where she’ll be able to offer painting classes and group “paint parties.” 
 
Transforming another one of the third floor spaces into a scene from a French living room is Holly McNaughton, owner of Holly House, which offers "imaginative home décor." 
​

​Century Hall manager, Susan Peterson, said in July, they’ll be joined on the third floor by Jane Evans Designs, an award-winning artist who works on canvas and in ceramics, focusing on religious and cultural iconography,” according to her website. 
 
On the second floor, earlier this year the Century Hall gallery reorganized.  Managed now by Susan Peterson, the sleek space features contemporary art by some of the region's top talent.  

​Across from the gallery, a new home design store has settled in, Sassy Bird Interiors.  Holly Harrison, a residential interior designer for more than 30 years in Baton Rouge, teamed up with Shannon Stage, also originally from Baton Rouge.  

​Stage and her husband owned a house on Sycamore Street pre-Katrina and built back in 2013.  Now she spends as much time in the Bay as she can and likes to call it “home.” 
 
Stage’s experience ranges from 17 years as owner of a wholesale giftware business to being executive director of a green-building non-profit.  Both Stage and Harrison have a special interest in “creating inspiring spaces that are healthy.”  
 

The two carry artwork, lighting and lamps, pieces for home entertaining, home accessories and furniture. The mix is “lots of fun new things with antiques mixed in.” 
 
“We both believe that spaces should be beautiful to look at, but also healthy places for families to be, “ Stage said.  “That means we pay attention to everything from rugs to upholsteries to make sure they’ve been made using environmentally sound practices.” 
 
For instance, the pair sought out washable cotton cocktail napkins that can be reused.  Durability is important too, as they want the things they sell "to be treasured for a long time.” 
 
As for the name?  Stage says she’s been called “Sassy” for years and Holly’s been known as “Birdy,” so Sassy Bird Interiors was born. 

The harbor, currently at nearly 100% capacity, will be expanded to allow more people to visit our town by boat.
​
- Story by Lisa Monti

 
Fortin said the harbor has experienced growth in occupancy and fuel sales since it opened in June 2014. The popularity of the harbor among boaters has brought customers to downtown restaurants, shops and galleries and has spurred new business growth and expansions, city officials said in making the expansion announcement.

According to the city’s economic projections, the harbor generates approximately $30,000 per year in Mississippi sales tax and $9,000 annually in state fuel tax. In the last fiscal year, it also generated $314,000 in slip fees, $75,000 in utilities and $298,000 in fuel sales.  Transient dock age and ice were another $5,000.

The addition of Pier 5 with 80 percent occupancy will generate an estimated annual revenue of $81,192 for the harbor and $5,683 in State sales tax revenue, according to a statement from the city.
 
The last major project was adding a wave screen to reduce the wave action inside the harbor.
 

​​ 
Hancock County committed $1 million to build the new pier, which is expected to cost around $1.5 million. Tideland funds will make up the difference. In announcing the partnership with the city, Board of Supervisors President Blaine LaFontaine said, “The expansion of Bay St. Louis Harbor will continue to invest in our downtown and assets at a time where we are seeing unprecedented growth and tourism in Bay St. Louis.”
 
Fortin said the majority of slip holders are from out of state, with most of those from Louisiana. Others are from Texas, Arkansas, Florida and Tennessee. “It’s their getaway. It’s almost like a second home for a lot of folks. Some people get a cabin in the woods or a house on the beach, and some people get a boat.”
 
Boaters stay overnight or for three to four weeks. Many will boat over to a barrier island or to Biloxi casinos. Recently a few boaters left their Bay St. Louis slips and headed for visits to Florida and the Bahamas.

A new book released this month features inspiring stories from 25 successful women on the Mississippi coast.  Meet the four from Hancock County who wrote chapters in "Unboxed."
- story by Lisa Monti

Writers include Hancock County’s own Holly Hester Lemoine-Raymond, Angelyn Scardino Treutel Zeringue, Brandi Stage, and Ellis Anderson.

Publisher Dorothy Wilson says that although she believed the finished project would be inspirational, even she was surprised by the completed manuscript, once all the stories were assembled.  
 
“I knew this had the potential to be powerful,” says Wilson. “I had no idea how powerful until I read the final version before it was sent to the printer. I was overwhelmed and so, so empowered and encouraged to see what these women had overcome. I thought I knew them all, yet discovered so much more about them.”
 
All four of the Hancock County writers say that the project helped them grow further by pushing them to record their pivotal life experiences.
​

“When Dorothy Wilson asked me to be a part of this project,” says photographer Brandi Stage, “I realized that 25 women sharing how they learned to soar was a great recipe for inspiration to others. It was an honor to be included with such amazing women on our MS Gulf Coast.
 
“I had learned to soar early on.  My mom that taught me I could do anything I set my mind to do.  I believed her, even in the midst of trials and tribulations that are inevitable in life.”

Speaking for all the writers, Zeringue says, "It's our hope that this book might, in some small way, inspire and encourage others to excel.”

​"Each woman's story is deeply personal and compelling,” ​Anderson says. "I feel very fortunate to have been included with this group and the project." 

The paperback is available for $19.95 and half the proceeds from the pre-sale will be donated to the Women’s Resource Center and the Women’s Center for Nonviolence. To pre-order, go to www.unboxedbookproject.com
 
The first coast-wide book signing was held June 13 at 5:30pm at the White House Hotel in Biloxi. Several of the authors spoke, followed by a group book signing. 
​

MS Southern Rail Commissioner Knox Ross on why the funding was needed and how passenger rail service on the coast is critical to future economic development.  

- story and photos by Ellis Anderson

According to a statement issued today by the office of U.S. Senator Roger Wicker – a long-time advocate of passenger rail service on the coast – the Mississippi senator believes that “Reconnecting the Gulf Coast to our nation’s passenger rail network will increase access to jobs, provide an alternative to highway travel, and improve quality of life in the region.”

​Southern Rail commissioner Knox Ross agrees. 

​“Restored passenger rail service will spark economic development along the coast,” said Ross in a telephone interview this afternoon.  “The Mississippi coast towns are already set up for it.  They have stations downtown, with vital and attractive downtown areas that have been the beneficiaries of substantial investments since Katrina.”  

​Knox said that presently while there is some limited public bus transportation on the coast, there is nothing that runs between all the coast cities or between the coast and New Orleans.  This puts the coast at a distinct disadvantage, because in the field of economic development, “the ability to get around is becoming more important all the time.” 
 
“If someone on the coast needs to go to the New Orleans, they have to get a ride or drive themselves,” Ross said.  “People in the Mobile ship building business are renting vans to transport employees across the coast and the New Orleans.”
 

​
​Ross also noted that the coast is missing out on an important tourism market.  
 
“750,000 people from other countries around the world are visiting New Orleans each year,” he said.  “Many would love to take a day trip out of the city and see more of this country, but they can’t get to the coast unless they rent a car.” 
 
The Southern Rail Commission will help put together operating agreements with Amtrak and between Amtrak and CSX Railroad (which actually owns the tracks).  Amtrak estimates the improvements will be completed within 24 months.  

When it begins service, two passenger trains will run from New Orleans to Mobile each day – one in the morning and one in the evening.  A morning and evening train will also run from Mobile to New Orleans daily.  
 
“We’re grateful to Senator Wicker and his team – and all the other supporters who understand what a difference rail service will make,” Said Ross.
​

Colorful architectural replicas are at the heart of Jenise McCardell and Mark Currier’s business, one that's found a special place in the heart of Bay St. Louis. 
- Story by Lisa Monti

Celebrate with Mark and Jenise this Second Saturday, June 8, from 4pm - 8pm at Clay Creations/Gallery 220, 220 Main Street

​Clay Creations, located in back of the gallery, is where countless pieces of architectural renderings are handmade and painted. The creations capture images of beloved homes, churches, schools, restaurants, bars and businesses in New Orleans and along the Mississippi coast, not to mention special commissions of houses and businesses for special occasions and gift giving. ​

​All of the pieces are sculpted from white clay, hand-painted, and fired in kilns right on the premises. Over the years, thousands of Clay Creations nostalgic pieces have been exchanged as gifts, stuffed into Christmas stockings, decorated gift packages and walls and otherwise made their way to the hands of many a grateful recipient.
 

​Clay Creations and Gallery 220 are longtime favorites for everyone who visits Old Town’s shops and stores and both hold a special place in the open door tradition on the Second Saturday ArtWalk.

​That’s because after Hurricane Katrina roared through in 2005, Jenise and Mark were the first business to revive the Second Saturday tradition just a few weeks after the storm. With all of the destruction and disruption caused by Katrina, residents saw the return of Second Saturday as a welcome relief from the chaos and a chance to reconnect with the community. The couple even turned the monthly Second Saturday into a weekly gathering at their studio for several months.
 

​Not surprisingly, in 35 productive and successful years, Clay Creations and its owners have been featured in news stories, on television and even in a mini-documentary about Bay St. Louis.  Click here to see it on Youtube!
 
Jenise said that after 35 years, she’s seeing a new generation of customers collecting their own memories from among Clay Creations’ colorful inventory. “They’ll say, ‘My mom collected these,’ so they want to have their own memories for their children.”
 

 
Since the storm, the Old Town business district has been steadily revitalized, Jenise said, and there is more traffic in the area, which is good news for the city. “It’s so exciting to see all this vibrancy happen,” she said. “Everybody got on board and did it together.”
 
Jenise said Clay Creations is “going forward” in the future. “It’s been a really great ride, and we have enjoyed it. It’s our passion.”  

A restored PT boat made by Higgins Industries in New Orleans will give history buffs a rare chance to go aboard one of the craft credited with winning World War II. 

- Story by Lisa Monti

Andrew Higgins designed his wartime boats based on boats he built for the oil and gas industry. The most famous of the PT boats was skippered by John F. Kennedy.

​ 
Skip Higgins notes that when President Eisenhower met his biographer, the late historian Stephen Ambrose, his grandfather’s name came up. “Eisenhower told Ambrose, ‘I see you’re from New Orleans. Did you know Andrew Higgins? He’s the man who won the war for us.”
 
Ambrose, who lived in Bay St. Louis for several years, later co-founded the sprawling World War II Museum in New Orleans, which recently opened a permanent exhibit called “Bayou to Battlefield: Higgins Industries during World War II” that highlights the company’s history and accomplishments. It includes videos, artifacts, text panels and oral histories featuring former Higgins Industries employees.

​ 
Skip’s father, Roland, was one of four Higgins sons who worked in Higgins Industries under his grandfather’s leadership.  Skip was just nine when Andrew Higgins died but he has a slight memory of his worldly grandparents entertaining guests from all over the world. Their friends included Argentina’s president Juan Peron and his wife Eva.
 
Andrew Higgins was one of the first equal opportunity employers in the South, according to his grandson. “If someone could do the job well, it didn’t matter if that person was a woman or a person of color or disabled,” said Skip.  “They were hired and paid the same as every other worker.”
 

​The shipyard also offered a nursery and a school for those who needed child care, along with maternity leave, unheard of at the time. At the peak of Higgins Industry’s production, nearly 30,000 people were employed, “around the clock.”
 
Skip said the PT boat coming to Bay St. Louis, USS Sudden Jerk, saw combat and was fully restored by hundreds of volunteers who devoted thousands of hours working on it at the World War II Museum. They searched worldwide to find original parts for the restored craft.
 

Jane Alford’s new store on the 100 block of Main Street fills a gap by offering sportswear and men’s clothing with a nautical flair. 

- story and photos by Ellis Anderson
​

Alford says she actually came up with the Salty Soul concept several years ago and began designing products, like t-shirts and hats, to offer in Bay-Tique. Two factors fueled her decision to open the new retail location.
 
 In December, the only local retailer of sportswear – Green Canyon Outfitter – closed.  A few months later, one of Old Town’s prime locations became available when bijoubel owner Melissa Hamilton purchased a historic building a few doors down from her 126 Main St. location and moved into her new digs. 
​

The 126 Main Street building is owned by chef Nancy Moynan, whose restaurant, Lulu’s on Main, is located in the back.  She’s a long-time neighbor and friend of Alford’s.  The two women began kicking around ideas, asking themselves what was missing in Old Town.   It was obvious to both that since Green Canyon closed there was no place that specialized in men’s apparel.  

“We batted it around and said, ‘Let’s do it!’” Alford says.  

Alford is going into the new venture with the experience, the network and the know-how of a seasoned retailer.
​ 
“Bay-Tique has been very successful,” she says.  “For each of the seven years we’ve been in business, we’ve met or exceeded our goals.” 
​

​Alford attributes the success of Bay-Tique to several factors.  

“Hard work, great employees – like my manager, Karen Grumbine – and the growth of Bay St. Louis in general. I’m a big believer in the Bay.” 

The guests in Alford’s Carroll House Bed & Breakfast, a few blocks away, also help by giving her feedback on what they like about Bay St. Louis and what they’d like to see in the future. 

The entrepreneur laughs when asked to name her favorite thing about the new shop. 
​
“When the ladies come to shop at Bay-Tique, we can send their husbands across the street,” she says with a smile.  
​

Nate and Mandy Smith reclaimed a Depot District commercial space and made it their family's homey new headquarters.

- story by Lisa Monti, photos by Ellis Anderson

The Smiths have been fans of Bay St. Louis for a long time and visited the city often, making friends and enjoying their favorite spots on weekends. They decided to just make the move permanently, first renting a home on Court Street before finding their place across from the Depot.
 
Friends Mark and Mignon Kellar of Carriere along with their daughter Ashley and son in law Brent Shuck bought the bottom floor as a rental that Ashley will manage.
 
The two-story unit was never occupied, so the owners were starting from scratch. “There was no electrical or plumbing, just the shell,” Nate said. “Nothing was in place.”
 
The Smiths enlisted unabridged Architecture to create their new home.
 
“It's always inspiring for us to work with clients who have a different way of seeing the world,” architect John Anderson said. “They came to us with a vision of turning an unused commercial building in a shuttered historic district into a pair of residences for a tight knit group of friends and family.

"Of course that sort of commitment also brought with it technical challenges in the adaptation of the existing commercial structure, but those challenges are what we used to give the design its unique character.”
 
Nate is the outpatient pharmacy supervisor for the VA’s Gulf Coast district and Mandy is a physical therapist for the USM Children’s Center. They have two children. Nate calls their new location “a pretty unique area,” close enough to walk to Old Town but on the quiet side with less traffic.

“We walk everywhere and we’ve got a giant park I call our yard. You couldn’t ask for anything better.”
 
A high priority for everyone was improving the Blaize Avenue facade, Anderson said. “The existing balcony was set into the building and poorly constructed, so we removed it and designed a projecting balcony with a generous canopy over the sidewalk similar in character to the neighboring buildings."

"A fresh coat of paint, a simple, crisp color scheme and carefully composed new windows combine for a new façade that reflects the owners’ progressive thinking and fits into the historic district.”
 
He added, “The existing building was on the small side given the needs for two families, their growing children, and friends from all over the state clamoring for weekend visits, so our priority was to capture every cubic foot of volume and put it to use.”
 
For the Smiths, the architects designed a sleeping loft for the kids over the master bedroom. A glass and steel garage door opens the master suite to the living area and gives access from the living areas to the front balcony during non-sleeping hours.
 
Said Anderson, “Downstairs we created a ship-like arrangement of sleeping quarters with a private master bedroom and an adjacent bunk room for kids and adventurous visitors."

"We squeezed in storage, showers and laundry into odd spaces under the stair, and there was even room for the owners to create a signature bar element (keeping with the theme of the neighborhood), dubbed “The Low Commotion.”
 
Not to be outdone in the humor department, the Smiths have dubbed their new home at 138 Blaize Avenue “A Blaze of Glory.”
 
The Sunday soiree open house will be May 19 from noon to 2:30 pm. 

Hattiesburg residents with a connection to Bay St. Louis join forces for a unique tailgate party.
​
- Story and photo by Lisa Monti
​

​The three friends decided to create an event to celebrate the Hattiesburg-Bay connection and started planning last fall in an Old town restaurant. They based their idea on the Mississippi Picnic in Central Park, which was held for years as a Big Apple celebration of all things Mississippi.

​​They put together a plan and on the afternoon of April 27, the grounds of the historic depot will be the setting for “The Burg in da Bay.”

​It will be an informal party for “people who appreciate the Bay and its atmosphere and personality and peacefulness,” says Carroll, who owns real estate offices in Hattiesburg and Petal. She says she finds a sense of peacefulness “when my car heads south. It’s like an entirely different world.”
​

​Carroll is an unabashed fan of the city which she first visited on a date with her future husband, Ricky, a builder. “My heart is in Bay St. Louis,” she says. “It’s just so laid back, for one. And it’s got the beach, Old Town, the character. It’s got a special air to it and there’s no place like it on the Coast.”
 
Ka, a retired nurse, and husband Larry, a hospital administrator, started visiting the Bay together with some close friends who had a camp before Hurricane Camille. They bought their own camp in 2004 and now come down every weekend and love making new memories with their grown sons, their families and friends.

​“We just love the proximity to New Orleans and the town itself and the friendly people,” Ka says.
 

The organizers are keeping this first event simple, like tailgating - but without the game. People are encouraged to bring their own food, drinks, tables and chairs and spend a few hours enjoying each other’s company. Kids can enjoy playing lawn games on the depots grounds.
 
They are getting the word out about “The Burg in da Bay” through emails, social media and word of mouth. They’ve made contact with about 100 people and are hoping for a good turnout plus good weather. If the interest is strong enough, the event will grow accordingly.
 
For more information, go toThe Burg in da Bay Facebook page.
 
The Burg in Da Bay
April 27, 2019  
2-6pm
Historic Depot grounds
Bay St. Louis

You know it’s beach season when The Pineapple sets up shop at the Washington Street Pier in Bay St. Louis.  
- story and photos by Lisa Monti

Sean saw an opportunity to spend time in the Bay by applying to become the county’s beach vendor. He started out three years ago with kayak, paddle board and chair rentals and last season he added the food truck.
 
“Last season we really started to get some momentum, with people looking forward to us being out there,” he said. The crowds swell as the weather warms up and schools let out. “It’s pretty packed down there. I’m impressed with the amount of people on the beach.”
 
Sean says he enjoys talking with his customers at the window of the food truck while taking their order for a cold treat or a snack. “The majority are from New Orleans but I’m surprised at how many international visitors are coming through for the weekend. There’s an amazing number of foreigners,” he said.
​

​The food truck, 18 feet long and 8 feet wide, is fully equipped with a sink, cooking equipment, an ice shaver, coolers and freezers. Sean says the morning set up is “pretty intense” and takes a good hour to unlock the beach chairs, set up the umbrellas, get the rental equipment ready and start prepping the food. But the crowds are worth it, he says, and every month there’s a holiday weekend to bolster the crowds on Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day. As the summer winds down, The Pineapple goes on a Friday to Sunday schedule through September.
 
The Pineapple
Washington Street Pier, Bay St. Louis
601-941-2182
thepineapplebsl@gmail.com

Offering a menu that changes daily, eat-in dining, and take-home meals, local caterer Tara Davis is sizzling with fresh ideas at the new Savage Skillet restaurant.
​
-story by Lisa Monti, photos by Ellis Anderson  

​A week’s worth of Savage Skillet breakfast and lunch menus are posted on social media at the beginning of each week. There are also Grab & Go items to eat in or take out and retail food items from Mississippi and Louisiana. 
 
Another new twist is the pricing: the breakfast and lunch menus have two daily options, one under $10 and the other around $10.
 
At last Sunday’s friends and family feeding, the food coming out of the kitchen practically shimmered with freshness: Spring mix salad with citrus dressing, perfectly cooked flank steak with homemade sauce, wraps packed with pork loin and veggies, tangy-sweet tomato and bacon jam bruschetta and pulled pork topped with house-made pineapple salsa. ​

Everything we sampled - including the roasted fruit, amazing hummus and creamy pimento cheese - showed that Chef Tara and Savage Skillet are raising the bar locally on fresh menu offerings.
 
Chef Tara is from Hattiesburg and first visited the Bay area with her family. “I always loved it and intended to come back to the area when the time was right.” She went to culinary school in Texas where she cooked professionally and earned a sommelier certification. She’s also worked on farms, in vineyards and breweries, food trucks and high-end restaurants.
 
She eventually moved to Bay St. Louis in October 2016 and for the last two years has been in the catering business under the Savage Skillet brand. She intended all along to open a restaurant, she said, “and here we are.” The catering business operates alongside the restaurant at the corner of Highway 90 and Bouslog across from the Post Office. She has four full time and one part time employees helping her.

 
Breakfast at Savage Skillet consists of various tacos (a tortilla filled with breakfast ingredients ) and house-made salsas - plus some weekly specials. Prices start at $3 and go to $5.95. The lunch menu has two items, from $5.95 to $11.95. Recent selections were flank steak with a caprese salad and tomato-bacon jam bruschetta or Quinoa-shitake soup and plum-ricotta or buttermilk chicken bruschetta. 
 
Savage Skillet stocks a cooler and freezer with prepared foods from $3 to $11. Items change weekly, but some are always available including soups, fruit salads, green salads, veggies, wraps and lasagna. The tasty variations of chicken salads also are always on hand.

The Savage Skillet name comes from Chef Tara’s philosophy that no kitchen functions properly without a big skillet. It also reflects a combination of her classical training and extensive experience with a love of off-the-cuff cooking. 
 
But don’t look for anything deep-fried. “Everything you can do to food, we do it, we just don’t fry. It’s not my cooking style and also there are lots of places to get good fried food.”

Savage Skillet 
1248 C Highway 90
Bay St Louis
228.344.3017
https://www.savageskillet.com
 
Storefront Hours:
Wednesday - Saturday
6:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
 Breakfast 6:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.
 Lunch 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

This popular Ocean Springs-based business will open a new location in Old Town Bay St. Louis later this month. 
- story by Lisa Monti, Lisa Monti's Notebook 

Mueller said she’s toyed with the idea of expanding for about a year and thought Bay St. Louis would be “a perfect spot.” Now, she says, the two Marina Cottage Soap stores will be like bookends on the Coast.

The Bay St. Louis location will have a full retail store in front plus a large space in back to host events where you can learn how to make lotions and other bath products while enjoying live music. Think date night, birthdays or girls night out. “We can’t do that in Ocean Springs because of limited space,” she said.

Mueller has chosen two local nonprofits - Ruth’s Roots and Starfish Cafe - as beneficiaries as a way of paying back for Marina Cottage's good fortune. “They are two very special places and we want to do fundraising for them,” she said. 

Marina Cottage Soap on Main Street will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

Follow the new Bay St. Louis location progress on Facebook and Instagram.

Lisa Monti is a veteran journalist who writes and edits for the Shoofly Magazine.  She also publishes her own blog, Lisa Monti's Notebook, with Bay St. Louis building reports, agendas and more.  You can subscribe for free. 

Seven years ago, entrepreneur Melissa Hamilton opened her first small shop.  That business has grown exponentially and is now moving into a permanent home of its own.  
- story and photos by Ellis Anderson

​In its most recent renovation, the building was set up as a duplex.  For more than a decade, one side has served as a gift shop and gallery specializing in garden art, Twin Light Creations.  Twin Light owners Pam Collins and Joy Panks have lived in the stylish one bedroom apartment on the other side of the building. 
 
Hamilton is moving bijoubel into the shop side of 136 Main and will use the apartment side as a vacation rental.  Off the large covered porch in back, a studio space will become the new home for the Joan Vass shop.
 
Hamilton says she’s been shopping for a permanent shop location to purchase since she began her business seven years ago. 
 
“I knew if I was going to stay in business, buying would be an investment for my future,” she says.  

​Hamilton had looked at 136 Main when Collins and Panks had put the building on the market several years ago.  However, she didn’t make an offer and “put it out of my head.”
 
Over the Christmas holidays, Hamilton needed a ladder to hang Christmas decorations and went next door to 136 Main to borrow from her neighbors.  The casual conversation turned serious when she discovered the building was still for sale.  Hamilton and her husband made an offer and closed the sale in the end of February. 
 
The shop area at 136 Main is 1100 square feet – the same amount bijoubel currently occupies.  The move will begin right after the March 9th Second Saturday Artwalk and be complete by the end of March.  Hamilton doesn’t plan on any down time whatsoever. 
 
Hamilton expects the central Old Town location of the building and its history to keep the vacation rental filled.  Listed as the Angelone House on VRBO, reservations can be made starting in the middle of May.

​“The first time I walked in the building, it felt right,” Hamilton says.  “It’s got a historic great vibe and we’re definitely planning to add to it.
 
“Buying the cottage is the right move for me and my husband,” says Hamilton. “With the growth the town is having, it’s a prime time to have a business here.  We’re very excited about the Bay’s future.  I’m just grateful to be a part of it.”