October 2012 News

Hi Cleaver fans! Welcome to the October 2012 issue! The Cleaver is written/photographed/assembled/published by volunteer contributors who live in BSL. We generally publish during first week of any given month, while our nifty new community calendar is always up to date (so you might want to bookmark it!). You can also check out a WHOLE YEAR of archives now from the menu above- July 2012 was the Cleaver's first anniversary! YAY!

Remember - you don't have to live in the Fourth Ward (or even in Bay St. Louis) to be part of our neighborhood! It's easy (and free!) to subscribe - simply send your name, address and e-mail to: mailinglist@bslfourthward.com! We love to hear your comments too! Click here for the form!

In the October Issue

Don't miss the Cedar Rest Cemetery Tour on Halloween night! scroll down for details!

Bookmark our community calendar for a full range of fun events and civic meetings!
Big Easy In the Bay!!! scroll down for info!
Bay BridgeFest Named TOP EVENT in Mississippi, 2012!
NEW - BSL City Budget & Mills for 2012 - 2013
Message from 4th Ward Councilman Bobby Compretta
City Council Actions for September 2012
TWO Good Neighbor Columns this month! - The Labats and Jeannie Deen
Elderberries in the Bay

Depot District Rocking to benefit
Habitat for Humanity!

Another happening event in the Depot District! Click here for full details... Everyone who made it out to the Blues Jam during BridgeFest in June raved about how fantastic the event was. Big Easy in the Bay offers FREE live music by some of your faves!

YOU can make BSL officially the COOLEST town in the U.S.!

Budget Travel Magazine has Bay St. Louis listed in a contest for the Top 10 Coolest US Towns. The winners will be selected by votes (and some other criteria, but to even get to that part, you have to have the votes) for the Top 10. You can vote once a day, through October 15. SPREAD THE WORD!!!!!

The Cleaver Crew believes that the national publicity that would result from BSL being named COOLEST TOWN, is, well... priceless.

We've been in the lead, but another another town (in NEW YORK! ;-) has pulled ahead, so it's going to be neck and neck til the end of the contest! You don't have to register or anything to vote, it's EASY, so do it NOW - and every day until the 15th. Click here now to vote.

WE CAN DO THIS!!!!

Cleaver Status Report

Although we posted no new issues in June, July and August, folks kept stopping by. We averaged over 3,000 unique visitors a month (and that doesn't count folks who stop in often to use our calendar, etc.). It's been thrilling for the contributors to watch it take off, beyond our wildest dreams.

Perhaps of Interest: When the Cleaver crew loosely formed in late spring of 2011 and published the first issue in July 2011, we hoped to be a fun neighborhood service, with all volunteers being 4th Ward residents. Through comments we've gotten over the past year, it seems like we've become the on-line, off-beat, go-to place for what's happening in the Bay-Waveland area.

So while we're not changing our name or original mission, we're going to start profiling Good Neighbors - and accepting contributions from folks - who live elsewhere in the Bay-Waveland area. In fact, in addition to October Fourth Ward Good Neighbors Myron and Rhonda Labat, this issue also features our first Good Neighbor profile of a cool person who lives in (gasp!) the Second Ward, Jeannie Deen. So watch for some fun new Cleaver contributors and columns in the future!

"Like" us and share the fun!

Cruisin' on In! Oct. 7 - 14th

Click here for a full schedule of Cruisin’ events - including the goings-on in Hancock County!

And you’ll be able to close out Cruisin’ with the October Second Saturday Artwalk, October 14th, from 4pm - 8pm.

Recipe for a perfect day? Come down on Saturday afternoon on the 14th, check out the wild array of fun cars, have dinner at one of several Old Town restaurants and a stroll through the shops and galleries afterward during Second Saturday! Hot spots are local favorites Serious Bread (sponsored by Hancock Bank) and The Buttercup (sponsored by People's Bank).

It doesn’t get much better than that...

Annual Halloween Cemetery Tour!

One of the BEST things to do on Halloween here is the annual tour of Cedar Rest Cemetery, held on Halloween Day at sunset. This will be the 19th annual presentation of the tour. Members in period dress portray citizens buried at Cedar Rest and all donations gathered are used to repair tombstones in the cemetery.
Hot dogs, chili dogs, homemade cookies, and punch are some of the refreshments served at Lobrano House during that time, and there's always plenty of candy for the kids.

When: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 from 5:30 - 8:00 pm.

Where: Cedar Rest Cemetery, 200 S. Second Street, Bay Saint Louis, MS.

Also: Trick or Treat on DeMontluzin!

What Bay St. Louis childhood is complete without it? On the 31st, from around 5 - 8pm!

Good Neighbor - Jeannie Deen

Anybody who knows Jeannie Deen (and that’s a considerable number) knows her as an asset to the Hancock County community—a committed and caring individual who enjoys watching people in the community grow and thrive. No two ways about it. Jeannie Deen just plain loves it here.

Just to keep the record straight, Jeannie Deen does not have a middle name. Her last name is Deen. But growing up in Corinth MS, everybody had two names like Jane Ellen. Joe Willie or Irma Rose. So people took to calling her Jeannie Deen. It’s stuck to this day. It can get comical when people ask Jeannie her last name and she says Deen. “So your name is Jeannie Deen Deen?” Well. No.

Though she grew up in northeast Mississippi, and lived and studied and worked in Hattiesburg at the University of Southern Mississippi... click here for full article!

Contributed by Pat Saik

October 20th - Big Day in the Bay!

Wicked good fun for Fido and spectators on the grounds of the Depot from 11am to 3pm. That morning, is also the 24th annual Coastal Cleanup! So you can clean up early, then go to the dogs!
This benefit for local furry folks is always a hoot, or as the poster says, "A Tail Waggin' Good Time. Click here for full details!

4th Sunday at 4 in the 4th Ward

"Fourth Sunday at Four" is a visual and performing art series held nine months of the year, deleting April, August and December. This series is sponsored by, and held at, Christ Episcopal Church, 912 S. Beach Blvd. Bay St. Louis, MS, in order to showcase the tremendous talent that is in our area and to share it with the community. The performance begins in the church at 4pm, followed by a reception that features the exhibiting artist. The event is free and open to the public. This month, October 28th, Laura Dobson and Plain Dirt Fashion and Lori Gordon, visual artist and writer on the arts. Click here for full details!

Elderberry, a plant for all seasons!

It’s hard to drive anywhere around the Bay in early summer and not notice the large lacy cream-colored blossoms of our native Elderberry (Sambucus Candenisis) peeking out along woodland edges all over town. The elderberry is a woody shrub or small tree reaching a height of 10 to 15 feet. Its form is upright with a broad spreading canopy, and its leaves are compound with usually seven leaflets. Many will remain mostly evergreen along the coast and provide an exceptional haven for migratory birds.

Here in South Mississippi, the Elderberry have filled many vacancies left by Katrina. As Elder flower the entire month of May and into June, followed by blackish purple berries, this is the best time to admire their place among the landscape.

Parts of the tree are edible and have many culinary uses! The entire flower cluster can be dipped in sweet batter and fried or used to make a fragrant tea. The berries are gathered to make elderberry wine, jam and medicinal syrup, and are also a favorite of the wildlife. And, the Elder’s twigs can be soaked in the stems from the berries to make colorful baskets, and are also highly prized in flute and whistle making.

Scott Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs lists dozens of mystical powers of the Elderberry tree. It is sacred to many Mother Goddess figures, due to its white flowers. Grown near the home, Elder gives prosperity to the household. It is commonly found at weddings to bring good luck to the couple, and pregnant women kiss the tree for good fortune for the expected child. Most notable is the use of Elder for magic wands (this was the most potent of all wands referred to in the Harry Potter series).

There is much to be said for the roadside Elder. It is a plant worthy of notice and appreciation, and is an easy addition to (or perhaps as an existing soldier in) your garden.
contributed by Mary Willliams

We love your feedback!

Click here for our contact page, where we have a nifty comment box set up! We're now using names when we post comments unless you otherwise specify when you write. Hey, and you Faithful Cleaver Readers, send story ideas too!

WAIT!!! You're not done yet!

Have you checked out the incredible Cleaver Events Calendar? If not, you'll be missing lots of cool stuff!

contributors to this issue...

Bobby Compretta, Will Deal, Karen Fineran, Larry and Ellis Anderson Jaubert, Pat Saik and Mary Williams.

Neighborhood Gallery

SEND US YOUR PICS of happenings around Bay St. Louis - and Waveland too!!! We wanna post them here! Send with captions to: info@bslfourthward.com. all photos by Cleaver contributor Ellis Anderson unless otherwise noted.

The Cleaver Calendar!

click here for the new Cleaver Calendar!

Special thanks to Will Deal for keeping the calendar updated all summer, despite our publishing hiatus. It's a grand community service, so next time you see him around town, pat him on the back and buy him a beer!

BridgeFest Named Top Event!

In September, the Mississippi Tourism Association named Bay BridgeFest the winner of Large Event of the Year Award at the 2012 Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Tunica.

Mississippi Tourism Association (MTA) awards this annual honor to a unique festival or event that is well attended, attracts a large variety of visitors, and is well publicized. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) nominated Bay BridgeFest for the award which “highlights local businesses, talents, and artists celebrating their unique culture…”

The Bay St. Louis festival began with a heart-warming celebration in 2007 when the new Bay Bridge opened, reconnecting the coast for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. It has grown annually, featuring top regional music, food and art. In 2012, a study showed that over 27,000 people attended Bay BridgeFest, creating an economic impact of over $2 million dollars. The event was also named a AAA Southern Travel Treasure in 2012. Bay BridgeFest is produced by the Hancock Chamber of Commerce with the help of hundreds of volunteers.

Bay St. Louis Mayor Les Fillingame said, “The 2012 BridgeFest presented the exact image of Bay St. Louis that we would want to broadcast to the world – who we are, how we live, and what we have to offer as a community. It’s probably the most successful ‘Open House’ in Bay St. Louis history."

Councilman Update - Bobby Compretta

To all my Ward 4 Constituents

October 1st begins our new fiscal year for our city. The City Council adopted a very lean but workable budget for 2012 and 2013 (webmaster's note, click here to view it). There will be several projects that will begin or be finished during the year. The largest project will be the Marina. Construction should begin sometime during late November or early December. It will take approximately 18 months to complete. The Main Street project, lights from Beach Blvd to Hwy 90, will begin in November. The Old Spanish Trail project should begin after the first of the year. When completed we will have a sidewalk and new street lights from Main St. to the Waveland city limits.

Bay St. Louis was nominated for “ COOLEST SMALL TOWN IN AMERICA” by Budget Travel Magazine. You can vote once a day through October 15th. Click on this link http://www.budgettravel.com/contest/coolest-small-towns-2013-nominations,13/ and VOTE for America’s Coolest City.

We have a lot going on in October, starting with Cruising the Coast and ending with Halloween. Have a great time, be safe and enjoy this beautiful fall weather. Click here for the Council Actions for our September meetings. If anyone has any questions or suggestions, please email me or call 216-7197. I’ll be there for YOU.
Thanks,

Bobby

Ground-breaking for new
Bay Town Inn!

Friday, October 19th
Beach Blvd. and DeMontluzin in Bay St. Louis
Old Town
Bay St. Louis welcomes back an iconic Bed and Breakfast! Join Nikki Moon and a host of others in celebrating the new Bay Town Inn. Check back here soon for more details as they become available.

100 Men Hall - a coast treasure, (and so is Pat Murphy!)

Click here for full details of show!

“I’m just overwhelmed with joy – and this joy comes from seeing the 100 Men Hall rise like the Phoenix from the years of neglect, and the ravages of hurricanes and storms, to become the shining star of the Gulf Coast . . .”
Deacon John, June 17, 2011 Dedication Ceremony for 100 Men Hall historic marker.

On June 16, Bay St. Louis own’s 100 Men Hall celebrated its First Anniversary of the unveiling of its Mississippi Blues Trail marker. It was one year ago, on June 17, 2011, that the informative marker was placed in front of the 100 Men Hall at 303 Union Street. (The Mississippi Blues Trail consists of a series of historical markers throughout the state that tell the stories of bluesmen and women, and how the places where they lived influenced their music.)

As you can learn from the marker itself, the One Hundred Members D.B.A. (Debating Benevolent Association) was formed in 1894...
click here for full article.
contributed by Karen Fineran

INFINITY, our window to the universe!

One of the coolest things to come down the pike for the Mississippi Gulf Coast is the INFINITY Science Center - and it's right in our own backyard!
Space week runs through October 10th, offering lots of special programs, but you'll always have a grand time when you visit - no matter your age!

Good Neighbors - The Labats

Rhonda and Myron Labat

In a cozy, welcoming home on Third Street, live members of one of the oldest families in Bay St. Louis – and one of the oldest Creole families on the Coast. Myron Labat, Sr. and his wife Rhonda Labat greeted me warmly and told me a little bit about their family. Myron, the Principal at North Bay Elementary School, has lived in Bay St. Louis his entire life. He attended St. Rose Elementary, St. Rose High until it closed in 1968, and then Bay High. Rhonda is from Meridian, Mississippi, and met Myron while they were in school at USM Hattiesburg. Rhonda has worked at DuPont for 37 years as an Administrative Assistant in the medical department.

Myron and Rhonda love their peaceful community of Bay St. Louis, because “it’s a small town where everyone knows everyone.”
Click here to read full article!
contributed by Karen Fineran

Rescheduled for November 3rd

The rescheduled St. Rose de Lima Heritage Festival will take place November 3, 2012, at 301 S. Necaise Ave, BSL. The grounds open at 11am. Free admission to fantastic music by Rockin' Dopsie and the Zydeco Twisters, bluesman Lil' Ray Neal and his Band, a Gospel Throwdown with top Gulf Coast choirs and the St. Rose Men's Gospel Ensemble! PLUS, a petting zoo, games, arts and crafts, bingo, silent auction, raffle, FABULOUS food and more!

Also: October 14, 2012, First Annual St. Rose de Lima Live Auction! Preview starts at 11am and auction at 2 p.m., 301 S. Necaise Avenue!

Cleaning House!

Click on the image above to go to their website and register! This is always a fun event - you can volunteer here in the morning and have lunch at Barktoberfest!

A few comments from readers

from Dick Finegan - Thank You! The 4th Ward Cleaver is just as cool as a moose. I appreciate all of the time and effort that all of you put into this, 'YTB' (You're The Best). And thankfully you've kept the subscription rate within my budget, as the commercial asks " who doesn't like free?" See Ya.
From Marcie Baria - Well, you have done it again. What a great issue. I especially loved the pieces about Jeannie Deen and the Labats. They are all three such assets to our community and they, and the others like them-are the real secret to why BSL IS the coolest small town in America! (I am just sad that Jeannie isn't in the bank anymore and that Myron is no longer the principal for my girls. And I think that says it all. I love my former banker and children's principal!)

from Melinda Ward - I am so glad I found The Fourth Ward Cleaver. I moved from the Bay in 1983. I miss being there so much. Thank you for keeping us old "Bay rats" informed when we can't be there.
from Rachel O'Keefe - Dear people in BSL, we love you and miss you and will be there soon. We are bringing our three children to the house we renovated on Washington Street for spring break and we are desperately hoping/convinced that they will like it and see what we see in this town.
from Rosella Spoon: I just saw your page online and fell in love with it. It is so nice to be in a community that keeps residents up to date on everything. Thank you.
from Cindy Tyler: I love your newsletter. My heart aches to be with you in BSL and your newsletter reminds me of what I'm missing. Thanks for keeping us informed.
from Sherry Schwabacher: So glad to read the story about Larry Lewis and the Moss Men. I remember our first Mardi Gras in 1974. Alicein and Bahiyyih both rode in the Real People Parade on the HeadStart float. The Moss Men were a very popular feature with their colorful costumes and slightly scary masks! Thanks for bringing me home every month.
from Jinx Vidrine - WOW! i applaud ya'll. This so so beyond what i expected. Makes me want to rebuild...Please add me to your mailing list. This newsletter is not only outstanding ; it also makes me a good,warm kind of homesick and happy. Thank each of you for great work!
from John Bezou Jr. - I think this website is great. Living overseas makes it really hard to keep up on things happening in my neighborhood. Keep up the good work. PS: I love the name - very clever.

Adieu -

Until next time! Thanks for joining us! And hey - send us YOUR news items and pictures - it takes a village to raise a good newsletter.

Please notify us of any errors or clear omissions so that we can make the correction. Send the information to news@bslfourthward.com