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."
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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. ​
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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.

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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.  

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​ 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.

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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. ​

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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