The Big Buzz - December 2015 - The Shoofly Magazine

The Big Buzz - December 2015

12/3/2015

This month: Leaders unite to save trolley, a distillery in the Kiln, Bay Beautification in the news, Bay businesswoman competes for Mrs. MS crown, Alice Moseley's Pavilion and Edwards takes new post.

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Bay Residents, Merchants and Tourism Leaders Seeking Creative Way to Continue Funding for Trolley

The Bay St. Louis City Council listened to tourism, business and community leaders last month, who asked for a special workshop to find ways to continue funding the city's only public transportation. Dozens of senior residents also presented a petition at the same meeting. The trolley currently has stops in four different city wards, and services locals as well as visitors.

The majority of trolley funding comes from the federal government (50%) and Hollywood Casino (25%). The city is responsible for only one quarter of the cost of operation, which amounts to about $2500 a month. The workshop will take a look at various ways - including local sponsorships - that will keep the trolley running.

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WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

Distillery in the Kiln (Legal!)
by Lisa Monti for Mississippi Business Journal

December 3, 2015 - Excerpted from the Mississippi Business Journal:

Matt Crittenden’s goal is to start making craft whiskey next year on the family farm in the Kiln community. When the liquor starts to flow, it will be the first legal whiskey produced in an area once known as a moonshine capital.

Crittenden, who has a law degree, has had a lifelong fascination with local bootlegging and the lore that still surrounds it. He was about 8 years old when he and his physician father, Dr. James Crittenden, came across the remnants of a still in the piney woods.

“Growing up in Bay St. Louis and the Kiln, you always heard these romantic stories about moonshine whiskey,” he said. “Whiskey is such a part of the history of Hancock County.”

Click here to read the entire article!

Bay's Beautification Efforts Highlighted in Louisiana Magazine

Katharine Truett Ohman and the Bay St. Louis beautification efforts caught the eye of the Journal of the Society for Louisiana Irises. Click on the picture below to open and a digital copy of the article. Great work, BSL Public Works Department and Katharine!

Local Entrepreneur and Video Producer Enters Mrs. Mississippi Contest

She's a popular blogger, a savvy businesswoman, and a video producer. Now the Bay's own Jaimee Dorris in the running to be the next Mrs. Mississippi. Of course she'll be vlogging her way through the process, so we'll all be able to follow along on her adventure, which promises to be a fun ride!

Below is one of Dorris's "Hump Day Jams" taped during Cruisin' the Coast, featuring her mom and sister.

Alice Moseley Pavilion

The new Pavillion

The dedication, October 22nd, 2015

If you've driven by the historic Depot lately, you may have wondered about the white Victorian style pavilion that's been built slightly toward the duck pond side of the park. The new Alice Moseley Pavilion was officially dedicated last month and will soon be playing a role in the outdoor entertainment life of the city.

The Pavilion is named after one of the most beloved folk artists in the state, who lived and worked in a blue cottage nearby. The structure was donated by The Friends of Alice Moseley Foundation, which also supports the popular Alice Moseley Museum on the upper floor of the historic depot. Hancock Tourism leaders are working with the city and the foundation to establish a new Folk Art festival in the future. Also under consideration are live outdoor performances sponsored by the Depot District Association.

The pavilion will host it's premier live performance during the 4th annual Snowflakes and Sugarplums festival that will be held on the depot grounds on December 5th. The festival is open to the public and takes place from noon til 5pm. The event's finale will feature the popular performers Roman Street, who will be putting the pavilion to good use from 3:30 - 5pm. People are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets for the park's concert.

Roman Street performing on the Depot Grounds during the Mid-Summer's Night festival in June. During the Snowflakes and Sugarplums festival on December 5th, they'll be using the new pavilion.

Hancock Port & Harbor Director Moves to Gulf Coast Business Council

Ashley Edwards

Ashley Edwards, who has headed up Hancock Port and Harbor for two years is making a move to the influential Gulf Coast Business Council.

According to this Sun Herald story by Mary Perez, "Edwards will become the third director of the organization that gave Coast businesses a unified voice following Hurricane Katrina. Among the accomplishments of the group are working to control insurance rates following the storm and helping create Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast to promote tourism across the three counties."

Read the entire story here.