Enjoy the Spirit of Summer in downtown

The Biloxi Main Street monthly series “First Friday” will celebrate summer with a themed event in the downtown arts district on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. near Peresich Park, just south of Merit Health.

The “Spirit of Summer Block Party” will begin with a ribbon cutting for the area’s newest business, Almost Circle Gallery, at 128 Rue Magnolia, and will continue with live entertainment by Kelly Andio, and discounts for shopping and restaurants.  Also, visitors will have a chance to register for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate valid at a downtown business.

For more information about First Friday, contact the Biloxi Main Street office at 228-435-6339.
See more information about Biloxi Main Street

 

Podcast: So long, David Nichols; Fourth of July preview

David Nichols, Biloxi’s departing chief administrative officer, in his final appearance on “City Desk,” discusses his new employer, Biloxi Public Schools, and its importance to the community and he offers a heartfelt farewell and thank you to his City Hall colleagues and elected leaders.

Also in the program, taped this morning, Biloxi Police Chief John Miller discusses the fireworks-free zone that will be making its debut in east Biloxi this Fourth of July.
Listen to the City Desk podcast

 

Jackson, Andersen bringing teammates to Biloxi

Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Rickey Jackson and future NFL Hall of Famer Morten Andersen head a list of former and current New Orleans Saints stars who will be in Biloxi July 8-9 for the inaugural Saints Hall of Fame Weekend.

Jackson and Andersen are two of only four players (Archie Manning and Willie Roaf, the others) honored by the Saints in their Ring of Honor inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Both of them enjoyed sterling 13-year careers with the Saints, each highlighted by numerous first team All-Pro selections and 6-time appearances in the Pro Bowl. They will be joined in Biloxi by an as-yet unannounced foursome of current Saints players and more than 20 former Saints players, including Saints Hall of Famers Bobby Hebert, Deuce McAllister, Dalton Hilliard, Vaughan Johnson, Jim Dombrowski, Tyrone Hughes, Joe Johnson, Michael Lewis, Derland Moore and Jim Wilks.

“These events provide an opportunity for the rabid Saints fans on the Mississippi Coast to get up close and personal with many of their heroes through the years, and also talk with current players about the upcoming season,” said F. Cliff Kirkland of the City of Biloxi, which is producing Saints Weekend.
See details and ticket information

 

City releases latest audit, financial info

The new Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the City of Biloxi, a report that provides detailed financial information about city operations, is now available online at biloxi.ms.us.

“What you will see in this audit is that the city was in good financial shape at the end of FY 2015,” said Gilich, who took office six months before the fiscal year ended. “Our goal is to make it better.”

The 149-page document uses graphics, bar charts and balance sheets to provide an accurate and complete financial position of the city, as of Sept. 30, 2015, the end of the most recent fiscal year.
Read more and see the report

 

News and notes

MML images: Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich joined his colleagues from across the Coast and state this week for the annual Mississippi Municipal League summer conference at the Coast Coliseum and Convention Center. To see photos, click here.

Face it, Biloxi: The city’s Facebook page has been tracking the progress of Patio 44, the new downtown restaurant, and offers a wealth of previews of other interesting events. Facebook and Twitter, by the way, are where you’ll get quick, breaking news, traffic updates and more. Take a minute to follow Biloxi on social media by clicking here.

East Biloxi work:  Have you seen Oscar Renda’s video update on infrastructure progress in east Biloxi? It’s a fast-paced, five-minute video that explains the status of the project at this point and what progress you can expect to see. To see the video, click here.

Irish Hill: Center Point Energy, whose contractors have snarled traffic and interrupted water service with their work on Irish Hill Drive, reports that Irish Hill Drive will be open to traffic Friday and and through the Fourth of July holiday to accommodate expected heavy traffic.  The roadway will be closed to traffic between White Avenue and St. Francis beginning Tuesday through July 15. Motorists should use Father Ryan Avenue or U.S. 90 as a detour.