What's Up, Waveland? July, 2019

Waveland Alderman Jeremy Burke reports on Waveland Taco Fest 2019; HemFest in Paris; and the recent MML Conference in Biloxi.
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- Photos by Lionel Haynes, Jr

Photo from the 2018 HemFest Fun Run by Lionel Haynes, Jr.

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HemFest in Paris

Do you like a fun birthday party? Well, I have a birthday party for you.
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On Friday, July 19 starting at 7:00 pm, Waveland will celebrate Ernest Hemingway’s 120th birthday with a patron party at the Ground Zero Museum. The “HemFest in Paris” patron party is hosted by the Hancock Chamber and the Rum Kitchen. The patron party will feature French-inspired food and specialty cocktails made by the Rum Kitchen, a cigar bar, and music with a lot of fun.

And, ATTENTION! HemFest is looking for a few stocky, bearded men to participate in the Hemingway look-a-like contest.

This patron party event is limited to 250 guests. Advance tickets for HemFest are $70 per person, or $120 for two. Ticket sales will benefit the Ground Zero Hurricane Museum Fund of the Hancock Community Development Foundation.

What's Up, Waveland?
is sponsored by

Chiniche Engineering

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Participants in the HemFest Fun Run wear white with a red sash to enhance the "running with the (no) bulls" experience. Photo by Lionel Haynes, Jr.

​Ernest Hemingway's 120th birthday celebration will continue on Saturday, July 20 with the 1K "No Bull Fun Run."  The Fun Run begins at the intersection of Central Avenue and Coleman, and registration opens at 5:00. The "bulls" will be roller derby ladies on skates, and runners are encouraged to wear your best whites and a red scarf!  The race entry is $25 per person in advance.

To purchase your tickets for either event, contact Joanne Boyd at (985) 249-1103, or reserve your tickets at wavelandgroundzero.com.

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Waveland Taco Fest 2019

Waveland Taco Fest 2019 will take place on Saturday, July 27 from 3:00-8:00 pm on Coleman Avenue.

This is an event to help support Madison Dobson. Madison, the 8-year-old  daughter of Joe and Mindy Dobson of Waveland, was recently diagnosed with CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome). CRPS /RSD is a disease of the central and autonomic nervous systems. It is the most painful medical condition known to man at 45/50 on the McGill Pain scale. Since January, Madison has battled pain, numbness and loss of mobility in both legs and feet. She also struggles with nerve pain internally in her stomach, esophagus, spleen and liver. 
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This disease progresses rapidly, and there is no cure. We have sought treatment over the last few months through many of the south’s best doctors and pediatric specialists with no luck. She is in Stage 1 of full body CRPS, and we are hoping to seek treatment before the disease progresses any further.

Before this illness, Madison loved gymnastics and lived for competitions and watching Olympians on YouTube. She is a very self-motivated and determined little girl, always excelling in everything she tries, best described by her parents and siblings as the overachiever of her family of nine.

Waveland Taco Fest will feature a taco cookoff competition, unlimited taco tasting, live music, craft vendors, limbo competition and much more. Taco Fest will be a fun event for a worthy cause. If you think you have the best tacos in South Mississippi, prove it and enter a team.

Please visit Taco Fest’s website for additional information and to purchase advance tickets for the event.

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MML Conference 2019

Local officials attended the Mississippi Municipal League Conference last month in Biloxi. (L-R): Waveland Mayor Mike Smith, Bay St. Louis Councilman Gene Hoffman, Waveland Alderman Jeremy Burke, Bay St. Louis Councilman Doug Seal, Waveland City Clerk Mickey Lagasse, Bay St. Louis Mayor Mike Favre, Bay St. Louis Councilman Jeffrey Reed, and Bay St. Louis City Attorney Heather Smith.

During the week of June 24-26, Mayor Mike Smith, Alderman Charlie Piazza and I attended the 88th Annual Mississippi Municipal League Conference in Biloxi. The MML Conference has over 2,500 attendees and is a great opportunity for public officials to get professional training and to network with other public officials from all over Mississippi.

Mayor Mike Smith was recognized at the conference for completing his Advanced Level Certified Municipal Official of the Certified Municipal Official (CMO) program. Mayor Smith is currently working on fulfilling the requirement for the final level of the CMO program, the Professional Development level. 

​I completed the final level of the Certified Municipal Official program, the Professional Development level in 2018 and was recognized at this conference for my accomplishment. Although I have no more levels to complete, I will continue to attend classes because I never want to stop learning.

Waveland mayor Mike Smith was recognized for completing his Advanced Level Certified Municipal Official of the Certified Municipal Official (CMO) program.

Although the certification course is voluntary, receipt of the designation of Certified Municipal Official requires completion of core courses: Municipal Organization, Municipal Law, Municipal Finance, Municipal Land Use and Community Development. The CMO program provides the participants training to become more effective leaders for Waveland.

Established in 1931, MML represents 295 city, town and village governments in Mississippi. The mission of the MML is helping cities and towns excel through training, lobbying at the state and federal level, and providing resources and networking opportunities with state, federal and private entities. For more information about the Mississippi Municipal League, visit www.mmlonline.com.
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