Our guest columnist this month considers the finer points of playing the most inexpensive instrument of all. 
- by John McKellar

Why air guitar?  Air guitar allows ready access to a musical instrument while shortcutting the troubling learning curve, and the expense is manageable.  You don’t have to buy guitars, amps, cords, microphones, or other accouterments. 
 
Also, storage is easier.  Guitarists tend to collect guitars, thinking each will make them a better player.  With the air guitar, your fourth and fifth guitar won't end up under the bed using space otherwise reserved for dust bunnies and out-of-season clothes. 
 
Finally, not only does one forgo the agony of band break-ups due to artistic differences when one plays air guitar, but also air guitar gives the performer an incredible range of musical styles.
 
When there is an audience of one, it is often a situation in which we attempt to attract a mate by exposing our creative side.  Song selection is very important and if well selected, allows the performer a certain sincerity of expression.  This can backfire.  Don't do this on the first date.  In fact, this is best done when you are sure your audience is predisposed to overtures of affection.  It wouldn't hurt to delay your performance until the viewer is well into the second glass of Merlot.  
 
Pre-song can be important.  You must strike the right posture dependent upon your song selection.  I prefer a slouch and a seeming indifference to the audience. If you turn the imaginary volume and tone knobs of your guitar or maybe install a capo, it displays an attention to detail and dedication to craft.  Take your own sip of Merlot prior to the opening chord.  This is evocative of the rock star lifestyle.  
 
Again, song selection is key to a well-received performance.  As compared to rock, folk and country have a less exuberant presentation.  Technique overshadows expression unless you are singing about mothers or missing dogs.  Punk rock is exceedingly energetic but only uses power chords, which, with little practice, the air guitarist could play on an actual guitar.  It is the most aerobic and recommended by the AMA.
 
With the digital era’s wide availability of music, you don't have to limit yourself to guitar.  Ghandi is said to have been a capable air sitar player until the incident with the unraveling loincloth.  Air tuba would be an unfortunate choice.  Its motion is akin to Donald Trump’s mocking of the handicapped reporter.  Air violin is the absolute most expressive.  Seriously, you never open your eyes. The physical articulation is fluid and wide ranging except for your neck, which is crooked and holding your air violin.  Orthopedic surgeons warn against the constant playing of this instrument due to damage to the upper vertebral segments.  
 
The air piccolo is frequently misinterpreted as an obscene gesture and risks embroilments.  I would not recommend this in southern states with open carry gun laws.  Pan flute: really?  If you are considering this, you need to stop reading now and run to your back yard.  Your unicorn caught his horn in the sasanqua bush.  You need to be there.
 
As for public performances, live concerts, open air, and arena venues promote the camaraderie of multiple guitarists in a somewhat competitive setting.  Turn your ball cap backwards to better showcase the agony on your face as you shred the neck to nail the piercing upper register notes.  Slide over to your buddy on the tambourine and syncopate your motion to his in a spontaneous air pas-de-deux.  After one verse, leave him and prepare to really explore the space.  As you bring the song to its fullest moment, your gyrations are maximized to improve the quality of the musicianship. The song’s end is always followed by an outbreak of high-fives and stimulant refueling.  Here, as in every situation, your mission is to show what a song might be if the actual performer had your chops and depth of feeling.   
 
I admit it.  I play air guitar, a bit of saxophone, drums when I am kidding myself about my rhythm, and stand-up bass in a trio setting.  In my greediest moments, within the same song I have switched to whichever instrument is playing lead.  I do not do this in public.  There’s the rub.  I feel that we need air guitar support groups to help break through the stigma of full-on public performance and to wholly examine the air instrument ethos.  We have only begun to develop the genre.  It is a journey.  Bend to it.
 

Our new column explores fun destinations within a two-hour drive of Bay-Waveland.  This month, Lisa Monti takes us to Madisonville, Louisiana - home of the annual Wooden Boat Festival (October 8 - 9, 2016).  After this preview, you'll be making plans to day-trip on over! 

​Step into the Glamorous World of the Raw Oyster Marching Club!   The Glam Gals have opened a costume shop on the third floor of Bay Emporium.  
​- story and photos by Martha Whitney Butler

 The booth is decked out in their signature colors, green and gold, and of course features a large cutout of their heroine, Kitty West. It's definitely a nod to Mardi Gras and to the group.
 
You'll find a variety of costumes, jewelry, party supplies, and accessories. They've even stocked their space with children’s costumes AND costumes for pets! The booth represents the life of the party that the Oysters have become. With the upcoming holidays and parade season on the brink, be sure to check out their space for some inspiring finds!
 
Not only are the Oysters selling their items, they're taking donations! If you would like to donate your costumes, shoes, jewelry, and party accessories, please email romcbsl@gmail.com OR message them on Facebook. So before you head off to Party City or zone out for hours poring through Amazon, remember Haute Mess on the third floor of Bay Emporium!
 
Come and visit with the fantastic ladies of #ROMCBSL at the grand opening of Haute Mess: Second Saturday, September 10th from 5-7 p.m. on the third floor of Bay Emporium.
 
Hours:
Friday 11-5
Saturday 11-5
Sunday 11-3:30

An advocate for sustainability, this local architect and leading volunteer has been working for the last two decades to protect and enhance our own little piece of coastal paradise.
- story by Pat Saik

The Pokémon GO craze may have more people walking around outdoors, but they're oblivious to local flora and fauna, in pursuit of tiny cartoons.  
- story by Ellis Anderson 

Over the past few months the Hancock County Tourism Bureau has been highlighting our communities and some of the unique activities for visitors and also locals. This month we feature Hancock County.

Hancock County is approximately 553 square miles (not including Stennis Space Center). The county line runs from Bayou Cadet to the Bay St. Louis Bridge up to Pearl River County line to the Louisiana state line. 

It’s home to the cities of Bay St. Louis (the county seat), Diamondhead and Waveland, as well as the communities of Kiln, Pearlington, Clermont Harbor, Lakeshore and Napoleon.

Stennis Space Center (SSC) facility covers 13,800 acres with an acoustical buffer zone of over 124,000 acres. It’s a unique scientific, governmental and corporate “city,” home to more than 40 organizations relating to the aerospace industry - with NASA being the largest.  The Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) alone employees more than 1,000 civilian, military and contract personnel researching marine geosciences, oceanography and underwater acoustics.

Establishment of SSC began in 1961 when NASA needed a place to test the Apollo rocket engines that were used in the race to the moon.  More than 700 families were relocated in order to give the facility an enormous 125,000 acre acoustical buffer. Fabled rocket scientist Wernher von Braun often quipped "I don't know  yet what method we will use to get to the Moon, but I do know that we have  to go through Mississippi to get there!"

Today, Stennis Space Center is testing the RS-26 rocket engines that will help power manned missions to Mars and beyond.

At the INFINITY Science Center, one can explore earth, space and oceans. This muli-million-dollar science/visitor center thrills visitors with exhibits that range from a surrealistic gigantic Saturn rocket booster outside the building to an Immersion theatre that lets visitors experience that thrill of space travel.

On the grounds of INFINITY the 1,400 feet of Biome Boardwalk; this manmade boardwalk leads through the Stennis acoustic buffer zone.  According to the INFINITY website:

Guests can now meander their way along our 1,400 feet of Biome Boardwalk to explore four diverse habitats found in this region - Bayhead Swamps, Lowland Pines, Pitcher Plant bogs and an Upland Savannah. Interpretive signage educates visitors on the flora and fauna found in and around the boardwalk, including otters, Great Blue Herons, a variety of snakes, carnivorous plants, and even alligators! Two observation decks offer ideal wildlife viewing opportunities, or simply a place to relax and take in nature.

Visitors can also catch the Tram Tours (6-mile) along the Possum Walk Trail. The Possum Walk Trail (part of the 100-mile Heritage Trail) is a trail that marks the history of the predominately African-American Possum Walk community and other towns that existed in the area before the establishment of SSC.

For more information, go to the INFINITY website.

The 2016 Hancock County Fair harkens back to a time when families gathered from across the county once a year for a chance to experience sights, rides, food and games.  While the world has changed, the thrill of the fair has not.

The Hancock County Fair puts a spin on the food offerings by showcasing local restaurants, who serve up favorite dishes.  Traditional fair food – funnel cakes, candy apples, and cotton candy – will be available too. 
 
 Games on the fair midway let folks test their skills and strength, while amusement rides promise to thrill both kids and adults – if they dare. Livestock exhibits give city folk a chance to gander at cows, pigs and exotic chickens, while an authentic rodeo keeps excitement high.  
Live music this year by headliners Joe Diffie and John Anderson, includes a sizzling line-up with Category 6, Trent Ladner and Ross Grisham. 

For more information on this event go to the fair website.

For more information on these locations come to the Hancock Visitors Center at 1928 Depot Way, Bay St. Louis or visit the website.

How many of these activities have you experienced in your community?

A bright cottage exterior suggests a traditional interior.  Surprise.  Carroll Rogers' new home in Bay St. Louis combines industrial caché with warm notes for winning style. 
- story and photographs by Ellis Anderson 

This month we're introducing Greg Matusoff, who is almost certainly the only fire-fighter/fashion columnist in the country.  As you might expect, he has a different take on the subject of personal style. 

​Fashion is not unlike that.  If you grew up with it, then it's something you're aware of.  If you weren't exposed to it, then fashion may be an afterthought, with clothes serving a more utilitarian role than that of self-expression.  There is nothing wrong with either scenario; we all have different priorities.
 
We all have our go-to clothes.  Whether it's an old college sweatshirt, a favorite pair of jeans, or a little black dress, our fallbacks are reminiscent of security blankets: we can always count on them.  They represent function over form.
 
And with time and age, it becomes increasingly difficult to branch out from our comfort zones.  Sometimes it may seem that if we haven't learned something by now, then what's the point?  We let our insecurities inhibit our ability to learn.

​Also, we need to remember that less than 1 percent of the population are runway models. The rest of us are made up of all different shapes and sizes!  We must understand that what looks good on one person might not work for someone else. 
 
When I work with clients and friends on their personal fashion expression, the first things we figure out are what they're drawn to, what excites them.  It could be a particular type of art, an era (i.e. the Roaring ’20s), or an event.  Then we explore their favorite colors and styles.  Once this is determined, we have a good sense of direction in creating a personal style.
 
There are many things that have to be considered — body type, skin tone, comfort level, and occasion are a few.  I find it's sometimes easier to look at it like costuming: What stage are you going to be on today, and what statement are you trying to make?

​In my own life, I have tested this theory many times and am always amazed at the outcome.  I find that I can walk into situations dressed one way and get a specific reaction, and the very next week almost the same situation dressed very differently and get almost the opposite reaction. How I dress and present myself directly affects my interactions.
 
I think that one of the most important things to keep in mind is that playing with fashion is fun.  It should certainly not be work.
 
Every month in this column, I will focus on different aspects of fashion, demystifying it and making it more approachable.  The end goal?  To remind you that we should all feel good about our own means of personal expression, and live inspired lives!

Read about Greg and Kristie's inspired lives in the Shoofly's July 2016  "At Home in the Bay" feature. 

Pat Murphy's recollections of old Bay St. Louis take us across Highway 90 and to Dunbar Pier, the old Bay Waveland Yacht Club and down Felicity Street, where his childhood home once stood. 

A trip to the Sunflower River Blues Fest and the new Grammy museum in the Delta, drive home the point that "the heart is where it's at." 
- story by Rheta Grimsley Johnson

​The menu covers all the bases, and as its waterfront location suggests, seafood prevails in salads, pasta, sandwiches, appetizers and the namesake categories on the menu: By Sea and Steamed Goods.
 
By Sea (as opposed to the pork and beef that star in the By Land entrees) showcases whole flounder, Asian ahi tuna, trout almondine and stuffed crab, along with the always-popular shrimp and oyster platters.
 
Steamed Goods include some over-the-top offerings for a crowd. The Admiral’s Steamer generously serves at least 10 diners with five pounds of steamed Alaskan King crab, Royal Red shrimp, snow crab and Dungeness crab with charbroiled oysters along with drawn butter, though it doesn’t say how much butter it takes to go with all that seafood. The price is an eye-popping $499.95 and yes, a couple have been ordered, Marotta said. Couples, rather than crowds, go for the signature steamed seafood.
 
“We have sold quite of bit of steamers for two ($110),” he said. “It’s a good deal. You get a lot of seafood.”
 
Portions are generous across the board at Harbor House. Fourteen large gulf shrimp, lightly dusted and fried, practically filled the large lunch plate that was rounded out by the side of fresh broccoli and carrot.

 “Anything fried is hand breaded, even the kids’ chicken tenders,” he said. For that reason, the restaurant sells loads of seafood poboys and platters.
 
The number one best seller, though, is the Scarlet Red Snapper, deliciously pan fried and topped with sweet crabmeat and hollandaise sauce. It was the “I’m getting that next time” item at our table.
 
Besides lunch and dinner service, Harbor House hosts lots of parties in the open area downstairs that can accommodate up to 300 guests like one party last month. “We get a lot of people celebrating here,” Marotta said.
 
 
Harbor House seats about 185 in the dining room, deck, and bar. They’re warming up the big screen TVs for fans of college and pro football to come enjoy the game with food and drinks. And the restaurant just kicked off a Thursday night special: kids eat free with the purchase of a dinner entree.
 
Whether you come by boat or by car, whatever you do, come with an appetite.

Things are lively all day and start hopping from 4-8pm.  Celebrate Hot Spots Crawford Realty Group (112 Court Street) and Sycamore House (210 Main Street)!  Get the inside scoop on these businesses below. 
- by Grace Birch

For Second Saturday, Crawford Realty will be having live music by the Electric Sheep and refreshments.  Plus, the new Daiquiri Shak just next door will be open.  

A real estate professional for over 15 years, Stephen Crawford helps people realize their dreams. “I love helping people find the home that they are excited about and can't wait to move into,” Crawford said. “It is also wonderful to help sellers sell their home and move on to the next chapter in their life.”

Like many living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast Crawford calls himself a New Orleans transplant. 

“The Gulf Coast is no stranger to my family,” Crawford said. “My grandmother summered at her beachfront home on Scenic Drive in Pass Christian long before I was even alive. When my father had his own family he genetically passed that love on to his children. I have very fond memories of frequenting the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a child.”

Family is paramount to Crawford and his childhood memories are full of fun and adventure. Two cornerstones for the Crawfords are family values and building lifelong memories.

“I come from a loving family that is perhaps the greatest gift in my life,” Crawford said. “My father Bobby, mother Suzie, older brother Jordy, and younger sister Lacey are all my best friends. No matter where we were, as long as we were together everything seemed better.”

The family lived in New Orleans, but were pulled to the coast often. 

“We started out renting a little house on the corner of Rabbit Run and North Beach Boulevard, where we would throw our cast nets in the bay over a can of cat food with holes punched in it to fill our nets with shrimp,” Crawford remembers. 

Another favorite family pastime was crabbing with nets from the pier until all hours of the night and water skiing in the bay. “My Dad saw to it that my brother and I were up on water skis almost before we could walk,” Crawford said.

Crawford remembered one day his dad called the family into the kitchen in New Orleans and he told the kids to load up in the car because they were going on the ride of a lifetime.

“With the Times Picayune in hand he explained to us that he had found an interesting property located on the Wolf River that he wanted to go take a look at,” Crawford said. “So we loaded up in the white and brown family Oldsmobile station wagon. Little did I know that trip would change my life forever!”

The family arrived at an overgrown, magical, three-acre wilderness with a slightly burned and charred house. Crawford remembers a small footbridge crossing an overgrown pond with cattails that reached for the sky. 

From that day on the family spent every spare moment they could at a place they called “Pass a Good Time.” With no TV, the family went on adventures to explore the woods and river systems, and rebuilt the house and pier. 

Crawford went on to graduate from Ole Miss and worked for a yacht brokerage, then at Science and Engineer Associates. Later he helped create and launch Voodoo BBQ in New Orleans for the Doody group, but Mississippi kept calling him back.

“My friends thought I lost my mind,” he said. 

Crawford decided to try his hand at real estate. 

“It’s simple really. I have a passion for it,” he said. “It’s in my blood. My dad and I used to jump in the convertible and just drive the back roads trying to get lost. Always looking at property and learning what made it unique.”

All these years later, Crawford’s dreams are coming true by helping others live their dreams. His sister Laura introduced him to his wife Laura. The couple has two children — a son, Coerte, and a little girl named Lottye. All share a love of Bay St. Louis.

“I get paid for helping families find what my family was so fortunate to have found many years ago,” Crawford said. “This is the best job in the world. I am able to wake up every day of my life and relive the best memories of my life.”

Michael and Stella LeGardeur-Eastham literally invite patrons of The Sycamore House into their own home. 

"When you live upstairs, you can’t play hooky," Michael said. "This is our home, so the decor had to be something we had to live with day in and day out. Between Stella and I, one of us is never not in the building."

The chef-duo lives upstairs with their two children, Alexander, 11 and MiMi, 9. Downstairs is a series of art-filled dining rooms. During Sunday brunches, sunlight drenches the tables and in the evening the ambient lighting makes for a romantic, cozy atmosphere.

In addition to the dining rooms, a screened-in porch and a long, welcoming bar near the back patio offer more seating options. There's also a large back patio for al fresco dining in the more temperate months. 

Michael, a New York native, met his New Orleans girl, Stella, while they were both working at New World Home Cooking near Woodstock. 

"We decided that we wanted to have our own place," Michael said. "One of my in-laws’ neighbors had a house in Pass Christian and were telling us that the area could use another fine dining restaurant." 

The couple was staying in a bed & breakfast in Bay St. Louis when the heard the Landmark on Main Street was for sale and in November 2002, it was theirs. 

From the moment the Sycamore House opened its doors, the menu represented the couple's love of travel, French cooking and Southern classics. 

"Our menu started out in our French-based training," Michael said. "There's still no fryer. We want to keep things clean, simple and fresh."

The vast menu certainly has something for every palette. The Southern classics like barbeque shrimp and fish amandine are on the menu along side Asian-style dishes like Indonesian and Thai curries to South American and Spanish staples. Diners are treated to food that they can't find in other Bay St. Louis eateries. ​

"I've always been a fan of Ropa Vieja," Michael said. "It’s a Spanish peasant food that people have learned to make it phenomenal." 

The menu has evolved over the years to reflect visitors’ tastes, but also the chefs' favorites.

"Pizza is a new addition from the original menu," Michal said. "I love pizza because I’m from New York. We got some pizza stones for the oven and here we are." 

Sycamore House is also well known for their Wednesday sushi nights. 

"We both like sushi," Michael said. "Bay City Grill Restaurant used to do a sushi night and years later someone was talking about it. Stella and I said 'we could do something like that.'"

Like so many along the Gulf Coast, 11 years ago the couple spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and as many hours of sweat equity bringing back the Sycamore House from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. 

"It was weird, after the storm we had electricity and cable before we had gas, so we couldn’t come back fully until we could cook," Michael said. "But we had a Coleman grill and served hot plates to those who were back in town right afterwards. It’s so fulfilling to come back after something like that, but it’s hard to think about going through it again."

Especially in the past two or three years, the chefs note that Bay St. Louis has really grown. It's wise to call ahead for reservations to the Sycamore House these days, especially on a certain Saturday night.

"We are sold out most months for Second Saturday," Michael said. "It's a shame when we have to turn people away, but I'd rather do that and make sure that the people sitting have a good service rather than trying to stretch ourselves too thin."

Between their family and the restaurant, everything Mike and Stella could ask for is under one beautiful roof on Main Street in Bay St. Louis. 

"Our kids have a good palette," said Michael. "When we used to do duck confit, that was their favorite. Alexander loves the turtle soup and Mimi's favorite is the sunchoke soup. As a family we make homemade pasta once a week and we hardly ever eat out."

Honestly, why would you eat out when you have one of the best restaurants in Bay St. Louis right downstairs?
​

March 19, 2016

photography by Kati Mallory

After a twenty-year hiatus, Bay St. Louis will once again by hosting a dedicated arts and crafts show.  This first-time fundraiser for the Nereids Mardi Gras Krewe is expected to attract dozens of artists and thousands of shoppers on Sept. 17 - 18.
- story by Ellis Anderson 

The show will take place on September 17th and 18th on the grounds of the Bay St. Louis Depot.  Saturday hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday, the show will be open from 11a.m.–4 p.m.  Organizers have mapped out space for 100 vendors and at press time, more than half have been spoken for. ​

Beth Gruzinskas, a longtime Nereids member and in charge of publicity for the arts and crafts show, says that the depot grounds location is perfect in more ways than one. 
 
It offers paths and shade that vendors and patrons both love and lots of parking nearby (St. Stanislaus is offering their field across the street for the event).  The historic depot is also just a few blocks from the retail action and restaurants in Old Town’s commercial district. 
 
“We’re calling it a destination weekend,” says Beth.  “While people are at the show, they can shop around the rest of Old Town, restaurants and all the businesses.  The hotels, the bed and breakfasts and the vacation rentals will also benefit.  We’re working to promote the whole area, not just our show.”
 
The depot location also gives plenty of room for potential expansion in the future. And there’s good reason to think that they’d need it.  Bay St. Louis already has a regional reputation as an artists’ colony.  While it hosts the popular Arts Alive event each spring, with demonstrating artists and art competitions set up throughout the commercial district, there hasn’t been a dedicated art show in the Bay for at least twenty years. 

​The idea for a show in Bay St. Louis came about last fall, when members heard that the long-standing Diamondhead Arts and Crafts show was being disbanded.  They decided to fill the vacuum by hosting the Mermaids show in Bay St. Louis on the same weekend.  While the Diamondhead show was later revived by another group and will also take place that weekend, organizers believe that the two can complement each other, instead of competing. 
 
Mary Ann Pucheu, who’s in charge of the vendors, says the goal is quality.  Participating artists must make at least 50 percent of the product they’ll be selling.  For instance, a vendor would be able to sell a picture frame, but only if they’ve decorated it themselves. 
 
She says that the applications are coming in daily and will be considered until the show has filled all the available slots.  So far, the show has accepted artists who’ll be showing handmade jewelry, pottery, glass and fine art.  Vendors can get an application HERE.  
  
Photos of vendors’ work are being posted almost daily on the Mermaid Arts and Crafts Facebook page.

 Over the weekend, Nereids will have a booth selling hot dogs and hamburgers, while Phil Williams, the Bay St. Louis bbq legend, will also be offering his smoked specialties.  But the focus will be on art.  Shoppers will be encouraged to check out local restaurants in the Depot District and in the Old Town commercial district a few blocks away.  Don’t feel like walking far?  The Bay St. Louis trolley will be running throughout the weekend, stopping at the depot grounds each hour. 
 
Although the Visitors’ Center, the Alice Moseley Museum and the Mardi Gras Museum in the historic depot will be closed during the event, shoppers will hopefully want to return later.  Those who do will find that the Mardi Gras Museum stars a collection of retired Nereids’ costumes. 
 
“All the fantastic costumes on display were designed and made for Nereids,” says Beth.  “They’re all amazing — each one is a work of art.”

This month, the Bay St. Louis Rotary announces its 2016/2017  teacher recognition schedule, 94 OLA Students Make Top Scores and Bay High Makes an "A." 

During the meeting the principal is asked give a brief overview of the nominated teacher and why they were chosen. If the teacher desires to, they may share any additional information with the club. Each teacher is given a certificate and a gift card to one of the local restaurants as a small token of appreciation. Rotary’s motto is “Service above self” and the teachers of the community uphold that motto.

Bay St. Louis, MS, August 22, 2016– Our Lady Academy proudly recognized 94 outstanding students who scored greater than the 90th percentile on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS).  Also recognized were students whose IOWA Standard Test scores showed improvement over last year's results.  

Principal Darnell Cuevas commented, “We are so proud to have so many of our girls achieve these remarkable test scores.  These students exemplify a strong commitment to academic excellence.”   
​
These students will be rewarded to a fun-filled school day, cruising down the Mississippi River on the Steamboat Natchez in September.

Bay High School, in case you missed the good news released over the summer, received an "A" rating from the Mississippi Department of Education, the top rating a school can receive.  The district as a whole was rated High Performing or a "B" on the same scale, based on statewide testing. 

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

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

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

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

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

This second annual literary festival in Jackson featured several prominent coast writers and drew thousands of readers from across the region.  
- story by Carole McKellar, photography by Ellis Anderson 

 The inaugural event in 2015 had an estimated economic impact of $325,000, thanks to approximately 3,700 attendees — and event organizers had been expecting only about a thousand visitors. When I went last year, I couldn’t get into several events due to overcrowding. This year was even bigger and better, but thanks to expanded venues and strategic planning, I found seats for the panels and interviews that most interested me.
 
This year’s festival featured more than 200 authors, several of them from the coast. Jesmyn Ward and Margaret McMullan, both Pass Christian residents, moderated panels featuring well-known writers. Author, playwright, and Shoofly contributor Rheta Grimsley Johnson participated in two events, one of which was the closing feature, the Mississippi Experience. That panel’s moderator was Festival board member Scott Naugle, owner of Pass Books and a Shoofly sponsor. 

​All authors attending the festival signed their books in a special tent on the lawn of the capitol. Lemuria Books, one of the state’s premier bookstores, set up a large tent nearby to sell featured works.

Curious George attended to celebrate his 75th birthday and entertain young book lovers. The kickoff event of the festival, held in the sanctuary of Galloway Methodist Church, was an interview with Kate DiCamillo, noted author of young adult fiction. The auditorium was filled with Jackson public school children, each of whom received a copy of Ms. DiCamillo’s book, “Because of Winn-Dixie.”
 
Jacqueline Woodson, recently named the Young People’s Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation, was interviewed in an afternoon session by poet Honoree Jeffers. Listening to them talk felt like eavesdropping on a conversation between two friends. Even Ms. Woodson’s conversation is poetic. I loved “Brown Girl Dreaming,” and just finished reading “Another Brooklyn.”
 
Afterward, I overcame my natural reluctance and introduced myself to Ms. Woodson as a fan. Thankfully, she was warm and friendly. In addition to being poet laureate, Ms. Woodson won the National Book Award in 2014 for “Brown Girl Dreaming,” a memoir in verse. That book contains some of the most beautiful poems I’ve ever read, and their aggregate as an autobiography is an astounding work.

​Jesmyn Ward, winner of the 2011 National Book Award for “Salvage the Bones,” moderated a panel discussion with four contributors to “The Fire This Time,” a collection of essays that Ward edited and which pays tribute to James Baldwin’s 1963 book of the same name. The newer volume focuses on issues of race in present day America as realized by some important young voices.
 
A panel that included Rheta Grimsley Johnson gathered to discuss memoir writing. Rheta read one of my favorite anecdotes from her latest book about her down-the-road neighbor in Iuka, Mississippi. Her fellow panelists were as amusing, and the room was filled with laughter the entire session. For a review of Rheta’s latest book, “The Dogs Buried Over the Bridge: A Memoir in Dog Years,” check the Bay Reads archives for March, 2016.
 
C-Span 2 aired most sessions live on Book TV, and I’m told the sessions will be available for viewing in October on the Festival website, www.msbookfestival.com.
 
I urge you to join me next year for Mississippi’s “Literary Lawn Party”!

Cellulose in our cheese?  Yep.  And sometimes lots of it.  There are more hidden additives in our foods than you might imagine.  Find out what's REALLY what.  
- story by Christina Richardson 

A new multi-million dollar project funded with BP restoration funds will provide new habitat for marine life and a boon to local fishermen. 
- story by Lisa Monti 

Among the wetlands are critical freshwater, estuarine, marine and submerged habitats. The preserve is part of the Mississippi Coastal Preserves Program managed by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.

Waveland Alderman Jeremy Burke keeps us up to date on online tax sale auctions, the 2017 Waveland city budget and a grant application for beachfront restroom facilities. 

Users will be able to view property details such as parcel location and pictures of the property.  Successful bidders will be notified by email and payment of the bid amount must be paid within fifteen (15) days of notification.

Currently, the Secretary of State’s Office holds over $71 Million worth of property forfeited to the State for non-payment of ad valorem taxes.  Since 2012, the Secretary of State’s Office has made efforts to alleviate the tax forfeited epidemic in Mississippi.  The Secretary of State's Office has successful been able to put a number of property back on tax rolls throughout the Mississippi using the online auction method.
Bid early and bid often.

During July and August, Waveland has been compiling figures and fielding department requests in order to put together the upcoming fiscal year's budget. The Mayor, aldermen, and department heads have been reflecting upon funding needs and unmet goals from the past year and are setting priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.  Everyone involved has been considering how the expected revenue for the 2017 fiscal year should be spent.

Waveland has crunched the numbers and is on track to fund several capital project during the upcoming year without increasing the tax burden on our citizens.

On Thursday, September 1 at 6:30 p.m., Waveland will host a 2017 budget public hearing.  I invite all citizens of Waveland to attend this meeting to give the Waveland Board of Mayor and Alderman constructive input. The board will meet on Thursday, September 8 at 6:30 p.m. to address the adoption of the 2017 budget.

If you cannot attend the meeting, I encourage you to contact Mayor Mike Smith and your alderman at 228.467.4134 as soon as possible to discuss how you believe YOUR TAX DOLLARS should be spent.

Last month Waveland applied for funding for a portable restroom through the MDA Small Municipalities and Limited Population Counties Grant Program.

Everyone realizes the need for public restroom facilities on our beaches, so Waveland decided to run a grant application up the flagpole. The grant that we are pursuing is highly competitive so it may be a long-shot that we receive the funding, but since we applied we at least have a shot.  Waveland will receive a "yea" or "nay" for our grant request from the State within a few months.
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Even if Waveland does not receive the grant, I will continue to push for Waveland to rent a portable bathroom trailer during the peak summer months.