With a menu that's different AND delicious, can it be healthy too?  You betcha! 
- story and photos by Lisa Monti

The chickens served at Starfish are “free of steroids, antibiotics and cages,” says Di, and the beef is grass fed at a farm up in Collins, Mississippi.

A recent lunch for our trio started with greeting friends we spotted at just about every table in the small dining room. It’s that kind of place: familiar, friendly, and comfortable.

Our timing was off because of a very long freight train so the must-have spring rolls were already gone. Get there early to enjoy the spring mix with tomato, carrot, mango, cukes, mint and sesame ginger dressing inside a tapioca rice wrapper. The accompanying peanut sauce is homemade, as you would expect.

Rebounding from the spring roll miss, we ordered the roasted asparagus “fries,” deliciously crunchy with a parmesan coating, and a delicious, addictive starter.   

One of the daily specials made its way to our table: the blackened Mississippi catfish tacos with mango mint coleslaw were served with organic chips and homemade pico.

The cafe gets extra points for letting customers — well, customize orders. On this day, half a Tur-Ba-Cado sandwich (fresh roasted turkey with bacon, avocado and provolone sauced in cranberry chipotle, pressed on house-made sourdough) came with a Winter Popeye Salad (spinach, goat cheese, pecans, Craisins, apple and pumpkin seeds dressed with pepper jelly vinaigrette).

“We’re so small that we can customize a lot of orders according to taste and dietary needs,” Di said. “If you have dietary restrictions, this is the place for people who find it difficult in other restaurants.”

If you’re the kind of diner who likes to go by the numbers, the cafe’s menu has an Under 500 section just for you. I’m not that kind of person but the Thai steak salad caught my attention. The marinated strips of filet topped a large portion of romaine, garden fresh basil, mint and cilantro and all of it was flavored with a citrusy Thai lime dressing. All that goodness and just 160 calories. I know.

There are a couple of other ingredients the folks at Starfish Cafe like to use in generous amounts. “We put a heavy portion of love and happiness in every dish,” said Di. “Our regulars tell us they can taste it.”

In a 2013 interview with Mother Jones magazine, comedian Tig Notaro talked about growing up in Pass Christian, saying that she had "Nothing but good memories."

"I only lived there until kindergarten and then I used to go back and spend my summers and holidays with my grandmother and cousins and aunts and uncles. It's right there on the Gulf Coast, and we would hang out on the water and go sailing or fishing or crabbing or floundering and build bonfires and there's a harbor there and a yacht club." 

Apparently, those fine memories were enough to bring her home when she recently tied the knot with long-time companion Stephanie Allynne. According tothe Sun Herald, guests included Sarah Silverman and Alicia Silverstone.  During the weekend of October 24th and 25th, celebrity sightings were common in the Pass and Bay St. Louis (see Martha Whitney Butler's account below). 

We'll all be seeing more of Tig since her new Amazon series "One Mississippi" is set in the Pass.  According to an article in IndieWire, Notaro wrote the pilot.  "Dark comedy starring comedian Tig Notaro — in a story loosely based on her life — follows her as she deals with the complex reentry into her childhood hometown of Bay Saint Lucille, Miss., to deal with the unexpected death of her mother.

Cast includes Noah Harpster (“Transparent”), John Rothman (“The Devil Wears Prada”) and Casey Wilson (“Gone Girl”) as Tig’s girlfriend, Brooke. Co-production with FX Prods. is written and executive produced by Notaro and Diablo Cody (“Juno”), executive produced by Louis C.K., Blair Breard (“Louie”) and Dave Becky (“Everybody Hates Chris”), with pilot directed and exec produced by Nicole Holofcener (“Enough Said”)."

From Martha Whitney Butler, owner of the French Potager and Cleaver Columnist

I've seen several celebrities in my shop, but I never imagined that my childhood heroine, Xena the Warrior Princess (Lucy Lawless), would walk through my door and say, 'Are you Martha Whitney? You're quite the celebrity around here.' I almost fainted, but I maintained my cool as she and her friends checked out my store. She was so nice and they seemed to be having a great time.

Laura Hurt, barista at the Mockingbird Café made coffee for both Lawless and comedienne Sarah Silverman. Lauren Lapkus from Orange is the New Black found her 'happy place' at the roulette table in Hollywood Casino where a lot of the invitees were staying. Overall, it looks like all the guests had a wonderful time here on the Coast!

Celebrity guests included Jennifer Williams, Lake Bell, Sarah Silverman, Lucy Lawless, Alicia Silverstone, Lauren Lapkus, and many more.

The Saturn V was a three-stage American rocket used by NASA to support the Apollo program and later Skylab, the first American space station. The first stage, known as the S-IC, is 138 feet long and 33 feet in diameter. The only one known to be in existence has been in storage in New Orleans for the past 45 years.

NASA has agreed to permanently loan the booster to INFINITY Science Center as an exhibit.  Also the Center has some state funds, they need to raise millions more to move it to INFINITY and to restore it.  Watch the video below and get on board with this fascinating project!  The Kickstarter Campaign ends on November 14th, but you can bet that won't be an end to the efforts! 

Take a look at this amazing documentary created by students from Bay-Waveland Middle School, Bay Saint Louis! This documentary was created for the 2015 Literacy Forum held at their school. The focus of this forum was the Civil War.

If you missed last year's production about the War of 1812, here's another chance! 

A retired photography teacher returns to the Mississippi coast and finds another volunteer career:  restoring extraordinary, never-seen-before historical images - and helping start a new photography museum. 
- story by Pat Saik, images by Joe Tomasovsky

​This month’s Second Saturday Art Walk shares the stage in Old Town with the biggest event of the year: Cruisin’ the Coast!  Find out why locals take advantage of both events! 
 - story by Ana Balka, photos by Ellis Anderson

The Harbor wins the annual Boater's Choice Awards, making the list with major players like Key West.  Find out why this small town harbor's getting international recognition.  
- story and photographs by Ellis Anderson

Harbor Commission member Lee Seal agrees.  Seal has been actively involved in the harbor since the conceptual phase, serving as the first chair of the commission.  According to Seal – whose family boat is permanently berthed in the harbor – one of those right things is the harbor master himself.  
 
“We have an outstanding staff,” says Seal.  “Chuck’s doing a tremendous job.  He brings decades of experience to the table and we’re very fortunate to have him.”
 
Seal says he was very excited to hear about the award and sees it as proof that word about the facility has spread.  

“It’s great positive recognition for the city overall too,” says Seal.  “This means that we’ve been recognized as a premier location.” 
 
The harbor is doing other things right as well.  It’s the Mississippi coast’s first and only Clean and Resilient Marina as well. The Gulf of Mexico Alliance’s Clean and Resilient program has stringent guidelines to promote and expand “resilient and environmentally responsible operations and best management practices at marinas.”  
 
Of course, being adjacent to one of the coolest small towns in America helps.  Restaurants, shopping, and art galleries make up part of the Bay’s scenic historic district.  Fortin says that the harbor’s unique location ratchets interest higher as the word in the boating community spreads. 
 
“We’re fielding more inquiries about slip leasing and have experienced a big uptick in transient dockage over last year.  October is generally a slower month on the coast, but we’re going into it with more slips leased that we’ve ever had.”  
 
Fortin points to the 35 transient slips that have been reserved for Cruisin’ the Coast in the second week of October.  
 
“For larger boats, we’re already at capacity, but we still have a few slips available in the under-35-foot range.”
 
The Bay St. Louis Municipal Harbor offers 163 slips, 12 of which are ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible.  Amenities include electrical and water service connections, full service restrooms and showers, fuel dock with diesel and non-ethanol gasoline, sewer pump out stations, 24-hour security and a 155-by-60-foot events deck.   It can also accommodate vessels upwards of 100 feet for long term or transient dockage.  The Jimmy Rutherford Fishing Pier serves as the northern boundary of the harbor basin.  The pier length is approximately 1,100 linear feet which includes four covered platforms and a 30-by-50-foot fishing platform (with a 10-by-20-foot covered portion). 
 
For more information about the Bay St. Louis harbor, call 228-467-4226.
Or visit the website

A beloved Bay St. Louis landmark will be undergoing restoration in the next year, thanks to a concerted effort by community leaders and support from the Pati Bannister Foundation
- story by Lisa Monti

​Hancock County Chancery Clerk Tim Kellar is working with the foundation on the project. “Recently, I met with the artist’s representative and the Pati Bannister Foundation and we are moving forward toward renovating this wonderful piece of Bay St. Louis/ Hancock County art,” Kellar said. “This is a private venture. The Pati Bannister Foundation has agreed to pay a national mural restoration group to determine how to restore the mural and provide a cost analysis.

Bannister, a well known artist and Hancock County resident, died in 2013.

The mural was conceived and painted by well-know coast artist John McDonald.  For nearly 16 years, his painters’ studio in the back of Serenity Gallery (now the Shops of Serenity, 126 Main Street), faced a parking lot and a blank brick wall.   The empty space fired the artist’s imagination.

 In the mid-90s, McDonald drew a mock-up of the mural and later a larger scale drawing.  Then he and a group of supporters presented the idea to the Mississippi Arts Commission.  The organization provided a grant to cover the costs of painting it.

According to McDonald, two people were pivotal in facilitating the creation of the public artwork:  Elizabeth Veglia (mosaic artist with dozens of large public projects around the state), and Betsy Pincus (then owner of  Bay Crafts on Beach Blvd.).

The actual painting of the mural took months of work by both McDonald and his assistants.  Much of the work had to be done from a bucket lift.  Bad weather could hold up progress for days.  Worst of all, remembers McDonald, were the gnats.

“Absolutely the most challenging part of the entire process,” says McDonald laughing.  “They can drive you insane.”

Several town residents donated to the project to have impressionistic likenesses of themselves painted into the mural.  Perhaps the easiest to pick out, even today, is folk artist Alice Moseley, shown wearing her distinctive red beret.

Part of the grant funding including the costs for making 1000 prints of the mural.  Unfortunately, those that hadn’t been sold before Hurricane Katrina were destroyed when McDonald’s climate-controlled storage unit in Waveland flooded to the rafters.  Only a handful he happened to have with him in his car survived.

However, the print owned by Gulfport attorney Tom Teel, survived and was a treasured part of his office decor.  Teel was disturbed that the mural itself, which had sustained major damage in Katrina, had been deteriorating further each year.  He eventually contacted Dan Burton, head of the Pati Bannister Foundation to see if they’d be willing to help in the restoration process.  Bannister, a well-known artist and Hancock County resident, died in 2013.  The process was set into motion.

Tim Kellar said that when the report is done, the Pati Bannister Foundation and artist John D. McDonald will then seek partners to fully fund a restoration.

“People like Tom Teel, Dan Burton and Tim Kellar have been indispensible in the process,” says McDonald.  “It takes that kind of interested, enthused support to pull a project like this together.”

Only 80 limited edition prints, signed by the artist, remain.  The prints are  24" x 10.5" S/N, titled, $75 each.  Contact the artist to purchase.

A local club combines love of community with love of cars, creating a perfect fit! 
- story by Christina Richardson

No less important than the cars is the community work the club does. Bobby said that much of what they do raises funds for the community. They love doing mini-car shows at Dunbar Village and senior centers, and you’ll also find the Misfits and their cars at the Rendezvous on Coleman Avenue every Thursday. 

One event hosted by the Misfits is The  Annual Misfits Street Krewzers Gnat Nationals Open Car/Truck and Bike show at Our Lady of the Gulf.  Gnats was added after the first event because the first event was plagued by gnats. For the 17th Annual Gnat Nationals in March, CASA of Hancock County was selected as the charity. A check in the amount of $6,000 was presented to Hancock County CASA CEO Cynthia Chauvin by Misfits Vice President Donna Holland.

Cynthia said that some of the Misfits’ members heard about the work that CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) was doing for children in Hancock County. After meeting with the members and the board, the Misfits chose to be founding supporters of the Candles of Hope Program.

With support of Claiborne Hill Supermarket, the Misfits make birthday cakes for all the children served by CASA. These cakes are personalized for the boys and girls, some of whom have never had a cake of their own. This relationship is working so well that Misfits is going to name CASA as their 2016 Gnats National charity.

Misfits is a very active group. The annual Halloween Cruise-in takes place Saturday, October 24 at the Depot from 6-9 p.m, and Sunday, December 13 is their annual toy drive, with new toys and donations going to the Department of Human Services and the Angel Tree. 

When Cruisin’ the Coast is over and you get the need for an “old car fix,” don’t despair! The Misfits Street Krewzers will be in the area showing great cars and raising money for charity.

As director of one of the most progressive library systems on the coast, Courtney Thomas may call herself a small town girl, but she's got a worldwide vision. 
- story by Pat Saik

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

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

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

In this installment of Pat Murphy's book-in-progress about historic Bay St. Louis, you'll visit them all - even the city jail!

The couple opened West End in the summer of 2008, using the experience they had gained with Daddy-O’s, their popular breakfast and lunch diner well known for its signature doughnuts. West End came about when the Brelands set out to try a new type of restaurant post-Katrina.

Meals at West End start with a small loaf of French bread delivered to the table in a paper bag. It's a nice way to get a meal under way and the bread at West End is warm, light and crispy.

I didn’t do the math but our table seemed split between the menu classics and the daily specials. I had a cup of rich gumbo loaded with seafood along with half a  fried shrimp poboy on Leidenheimer bread. Pardon the crumbs. Enough said.
 
Up and down the table, all the choices appeared appetizing, from the generous and juicy West End burger covered with melted Swiss to the show-stopping avocado crab salad and the fried green tomato poboy. An appetizer of fried green tomatoes topped with crabmeat and accompanied by a small serving of a special sauce stood up well to the full-sized entrees.

West End is partial to seafood but if you lean more toward pasta, steaks, and veal dishes you can find those, too.

West End, located at 635 U.S. Route 90, is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

What you can do to preserve your live oaks (and other trees) from the growing threat of Formosan termites.
- story by Ana Balka

Hancock County Extension agent Christian Stephenson and Mayley both say that the most important defense against infestation of any sort is the maintenance of tree health. Also, damage or dead wood on trees can be an invitation for termites. Removal of dead wood is vital to preventing termite infestations.

Keep areas around trees free of weeds, debris, and large decorative objects, says Mayley. Allow the tree breathing room where its trunk meets the ground.

Stephenson also emphasizes that in terms of general live oak care, the most important thing people can do is take care of the soil around the trees. “The biggest issue I see impacting live oaks and other trees is people putting too much stuff around them,” he says. Not just mulch, but also concrete – driveways, for example. Trees have expansive root systems, so “give them their space,” he says.

Signs of Formosan termites in a tree are similar to the signs you would see in a home: entry holes, possible signs of sawdust, and visible damage. “Often tunneling outside the bark of the tree is the first sign you will see of a tree infestation,” Mayley says. Termites will protect themselves from elements and predators by creating a working highway on the tree (or home) that they are invading.

Mayley says that chemical preventative measures can be taken for trees, while trees that are already infested can be injected with a chemical, the most common being Fipronil – found in Termidor or Taurus brand products.

Stephenson says if you see areas of a tree not leafing, if the tree has stopped growing, or if the tree is behaving differently from how it normally does at a certain time of year or differently from surrounding trees, it is a sign of need for further investigation.

If you live in Hancock County and have a tree that is behaving abnormally, you may contact Stephenson at the Hancock County extension office, cstep@ext.msstate.edu. A home visit by Stephenson – who holds degrees in Entomology and plant pathology as well as being a certified arborist – to inspect a tree or trees on property in Hancock County is free of charge.

On the topic of general tree health and maintenance, Stephenson adds that beyond the removal of dead wood, there is rarely any need to prune live oaks. “They do very well defining their own shape,” he says.

Stephenson adds one more issue he often encounters with people and their live oak trees: “Trees often develop a cavity in their trunk. I have seen people fill this hole with tires, concrete, sand,” He pauses and sighs. “Uh, don’t,” he says. “The tree will compartmentalize the area and it will take care of itself.”

But again, if a hole is collecting water and appears vulnerable or is showing damage or symptoms of infestation, contact Stephenson or a specialist like Mayley. Tree health and maintenance is your best weapon against termites, other insects, and disease in your trees.

​Old Town merchants and Mayor Les Fillingame turn out in full force to tape a spot for WGNO (New Orleans) "News With A Twist." The show will be featuring the Bay as a fun place to visit and aired the week of October 7th.  Watch one of the short video spots below!

On Saturday, September 12, 2015 Chris Cochran of S&L Office Supplies in Waveland presented a check to CASA of Hancock County’s Executive Director, Cynthia Chauvin. This check was made possible through a recycling project that Cochran started in early 2015 entitled Carts4kids.

S&L Office Supplies collects used toner cartridges from businesses and individuals in the community. If a business agrees to donate used cartridges he will have one of his employees pick up the materials. Cochran also uses his business as a drop off location for individuals and smaller businesses. Once bundled, these used products are shipped off and either refilled and/or repurposed back into the community. 

Cochran created Carts4kids as a way to encourage recycling within his business and to give back to community organizations who do amazing work. “CASA volunteers advocate for abused and neglected children," CASA’s ED Cynthia Chauvin said.  "As a local nonprofit, we are always looking for ways to get the community involved in our cause. Carts4kids allows people to learn more about CASA and to help raise funds by recycling." In addition to the $1032 check that was presented to CASA, S&L Office Supplies also donated a black and white copier/scanner to the organization.
                 
If you are interested donating used toner cartridges please visit the carts4kids.com website or contact S&L Office Supplies at 228.467.0002.  If you would like to know more about CASA please call 228.344.0419.  

George's Girls, 108 S. Beach, in the French Settlement Building, have nearly doubled the size of their store this month.  In addition to their luxury bedding and sleepwear, they're also carrying fashion, loungewear and accessories.  

​“Purveyors of Fine Linens” is the shop’s tag-line, yet co-owner Laura Lucore points out that they carry all types of products to “make your home luxurious and to pamper yourself.” 

October is American Archives month! To celebrate, the Hancock County Library in Bay St. Louis, in cooperation with the Hancock County Historical Society, is hosting Back in Time, a day of archival discovery and participation on October 10 at the library in Bay St. Louis. Help us make history more accessible to everyone, and learn more about the importance of preserving, cataloging, and caring for the things that are important to you.
 

• Anthony J. Scafidi Photography Exhibit: Identify people, places, and events in historical photos from the Hancock County Historical Society’s Anthony J. Scafidi collection. Dozens of mid-century portrait, group, home and business photos from the Bay St. Louis photographer on display in the library and on Facebook online. Tag anyone you recognize!
• Transcribe vintage postcards: Get to know pen pals of the 1940s, 50s and 60s by transcribing the messages on historic postcards. We’re digitizing these postcards and posting them in the Mississippi Digital Library so everyone can enjoy.
• Scanner demos: Bring a family photo or document and see a demo of our fast new scanner. Maybe it’s time to preserve your past, safe from storms and other hazards.
• Be a citizen scientist or archivist: Make amazing discoveries with these online projects.  You can do a lot of things computers can’t!
  • Zooniverse: Contribute to real research by studying images, historical records, or diaries.
  • Old Weather: Help develop climate projections by transcribing weather observations from ships’ logs.
  • National Archives:  Tag, transcribe, add subtitles to videos, or upload your own
  • Smithsonian Transcription Center: Unlock the past by transcribing historical letters and documents.
  • Distributed Proofreaders: Ease the conversion of Public Domain books into eBooks by proofreading scanned texts.

If Smith & Lens Gallery owners/artists Ann Madden and Sandy Maggio have anything to do with it, Dolly Parton will be celebrating her next birthday in Old Town Bay St. Louis.  The country-western icon was born in January, so Madden, Maggio and other Old Town merchants are planning a themed Second Saturday on January 9th. 

The event will feature a Dolly Parton look-alike contest and organizers hope to have a host of other happenings like hay rides, clogging and square dancing, country food, live music and a Dolly-themed art show.  The theory is that Dolly will hear about it and want to come check out the Bay in person!  

Stay tuned for more details by checking out the Old Town Merchants website or checking out the Dolly Should page on Facebook!  

The white dog named after a general didn't meet many of the criteria that would make up the idea of a perfect dog.  It turns out heart trumps lists in the story of foster failure. 
​- story and photos by Ellis Anderson 

New full-time Bay St. Louis residents take a 45-day, 500-mile detour - walking the entire way -  to get back to Hancock Street.
- by John and Ning Wiebmer

The route we chose, called the Camino Frances (French Way), would take us one million steps over 45 days to our destination of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

We set out each morning in faith – no maps – no plan more complex than following yellow arrows marking the 500-mile path. We averaged 13 miles a day over mountains, through deep woods, and across river valleys and high plains, stopping in tiny villages for simple meals and a bed.   

It was powerful to walk the same ancient paths as pilgrims a thousand years before us. The same route. The same churches.  And often, the same hardships and joys.  We shared warm fellowship and collected new friendships all along the way.

Some fellow pilgrims who inspired us:

• William, a rancher from South Africa who is restoring indigenous breeds of cattle in partnership with tribal villages. 
• Chet, recalibrating his life after serving four U.S. military tours in the Mideast.
• Frank, a blue collar retiree who, on his first trip to Europe, walked the entire 500 miles of the Camino and then tacked on another 150-mile trek because he didn’t want to end his feeling of freedom.
• Hugo, a devout Catholic from South Korea who stayed in monasteries along the way. 
• Linda and Sheila, childhood friends who used the Camino to celebrate 50th birthdays and consider their paths ahead.
• Joel, former CFO of Bank of America who, on his knees, tended the blisters of many fellow pilgrims.

What the Camino taught us: 

• Celebrate the moment. We found ourselves walking in quiet meditation, filled with gratitude for the blessings in our lives. 
• We’re tougher than we thought. The Camino is a grueling physical challenge. We walked 45 days straight without a blister or strain.
• We need less than we ever thought.  Simple meals, spartan sleeping rooms, a few clothes that we washed every few days, a pair of walking shoes – and we were as content as when we had a house bulging with material possessions.

We invite you to look through our blog, “Dancing Down the Camino,” where we maintained our journal of the 500-mile pilgrimage (wiebmer.blogspot.com). If local groups or organizations would be interested in learning more about how this adventure enhanced our lives we’d be happy to share some photos and stories through a presentation.

Our pilgrimage started in Bay St. Louis. Now we’re completing it with the renovation of our house on Hancock Street, which will soon be complete. We’re excited to set down roots and begin weaving ourselves into the fabric of this wonderful community.

From industrial salvage to pin-up pics, find out what revs his engine!
- story and photos by Martha Whitney Butler

We don't get rid of the feminine aspects of our selection, we just level the playing field a bit. So what do men want? I'm still trying to find that answer in regards to everything but antiques.

The most common item that men purchase in my shop has to be old license plates. I could sell them all day. Whether they're putting them on hot rods or hanging them in man caves, I know they're a guaranteed sale. Architectural salvage such as door knobs, handles, and faucets are another hot item. With all the restoration going on in this area, the prevalent DIYer finds himself in my shop buying parts to restore or repair household items – the ultimate man boost. Nautical items such as paddles, portholes, and buoys make excellent man cave decor. One of my male customers buys broken paddles because his grandfather had a collection of them. Every time I get one in, I set it aside for him. I love his enthusiasm for collecting so much that I even let go a special pair of my own wooden paddles so he could add them to the rest.

Now of course we sell a LOT of pin-up related items. I have two customers that I call immediately when I get a Vargas girl print. I sell several books about pin-ups and I sell most of them to women who are buying them as gifts for their men. Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a vintage Vargas!

Magnolia Antiques has a pin-up poster of famous burlesque queen “Cat Girl” Lilly Christine for sale. Lilly performed her trademark voodoo love-potion dance at Prima’s 500 Club and other clubs on Bourbon Street in New Orleans from the late ‘40s until her death in 1965 at age 41. She posed as a pin-up, had minor parts in Hollywood films and even did her act on Broadway. Burlesque aficionados aren’t alone in finding fascination with these historic beauties!

Your man needs something to read while you're trying on clothes. The key to a man's heart may be through his stomach, but the key to his mind is an interesting book. Audubon books top the list of my best-sellers, sailing books are a close second, and Hemingway's novels have to be third. They're fascinating and they don't look bad on a coffee table either.

One of my dealers (people who sell things out of my shop) is known as "Mantique Dan." You'll probably recognize his name because he's in several shops around town. Dan has a cult following of men (and women) who make a beeline to his booths to search for tools, primitives, and industrial salvage. He's got a little bit of everything and if you catch him at a shop, he'll deal with you all day long. He's been an antique dealer on the coast for several years and has built quite a reputation for being a purveyor of mantiques. If you're looking for tools, salvage, railroad items, brass findings, or really anything – Dan's got it, and he's everywhere.

Whether you're shopping during Cruisin' or getting a head start on Christmas shopping, hit up the local antique shops to find things that make them swoon.

Find out how to volunteer for this annual event that keeps our coasts and waterways safe and beautiful!  You'll also learn what you can do year-round to make a difference
- story by Karen Fineran

The Mississippi Coastal Cleanup is this state’s coast-wide volunteer effort to help keep our waterways free from trash, and safe for people and animals.  The annual cleanup — sponsored and organized by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) and the Mississippi Marine Debris Task Force — takes place at more than 70 sites in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties.  

In Mississippi last year, more than 3,000 volunteers collected more than 60 tons of trash during the annual cleanup.  Any land that borders the water — the Mississippi Sound, the bay, bayous, or canals — will be included in the cleanup.  Boaters are encouraged to get out to the barrier islands (Cat Island, East Ship Island, Horn Island, Petit Bois Island and Sand Island) and comb those beaches as well.

Marine debris includes cigarette butts, toys, single-use cups and bottles, fishing line, and lots of other types of garbage.  Anything man-made, including litter and fishing gear, can become marine debris once lost or thrown into the marine environment.  The most common materials that make up marine debris are plastics, glass, metal, paper, cloth, rubber, and wood.  If they are on the beaches and coastlines, then they very likely will end up in our oceans.

Hancock County has participated in the global event for the last 26 years.  Eighteen of the Mississippi cleanup sites are located in Hancock County, including McLeod State Park, Jourdan River Shores, Garden Isles, Diamondhead Yacht Club, Buccaneer State Park, Bayou LaCroix, Bayou Cadet, Lakeshore and Clermont harbors, the Depot District, and seven different sites along Beach Boulevard in Waveland and Bay St. Louis.

Last year, more than 300 Hancock County volunteers took part in the local cleanup effort, organized by the Hancock Chamber of Commerce.  Nearly two tons of debris were pulled from county shores and waters, and 187 bags of garbage were collected.  This year, Hancock County’s Coastal Cleanup is being coordinated by the Mississippi State University (MSU) Hancock County Extension Office.

Our coastal and marine resources matter, especially in Hancock County.  While this county represents only a small geographic area of the state of Mississippi, we have a big front yard.  What happens in the Gulf of Mexico has a significant impact on Mississippi and the entire Gulf region.  Our annual coastal cleanup is a reminder that we can make a difference in keeping our shorelines clean and litter-free — one cigarette butt, scrap of fishing line or discarded plastic bag at a time.

Are you ready to take action? Join us on October 17th for the 27th annual Mississippi Coastal Cleanup (and be part of the 30th anniversary of the International Coastal Cleanup)!  The event in Mississippi will be held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and there will be a cookout lunch provided for Hancock County volunteers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., sponsored by the office of Congressman Steven Palazzo and the Bay St. Louis Rotary Club. 

Please visit www.mscoastalcleanup.org for a complete list of cleanup sites and to register online or print a registration form, which you can bring with you on cleanup day and turn in at your selected site.  Children are welcome and encouraged to participate in the cleanup but must be accompanied by a responsible adult.  Bring work gloves, drinking water, sunscreen and a hat, closed toe shoes, and a bucket or bag to collect debris. See you there!

Each year the Hancock Medical Foundation holds its annual Moonlight in the Bay gala to raise funds for hospital equipment. This year’s gala honored president of the Hancock Medical Board of Trustees, retired Hall of Fame basketball coach and award-winning educator J. Larry Ladner.

Benefit for the Boys and Girls Club:  Guests enjoyed beer tasting, light appetizers and music. There were also be door prizes and an assorted raffle.