The march to Christmas is underway, with the Nutcracker dancing across the stage this weekend at the Saenger, and a host of other holiday events dotting the calendar between now and Dec. 25.
In Biloxi, of course, Christmas means Christmas on the Water, the children’s Christmas parade, the Christmas in the City arts and crafts show, and a whole bunch more.
See your preview of the Christmas lineup
Nutcracker leads the weekend lineup of entertainment
The Gulf Coast Ballet Theatre will present its sixth annual production of The Nutcracker, with professional dancers, Russian ballerinas and a cast of 50 young dancers, Saturday night at the Saenger Theater in downtown Biloxi.
Also on tap this weekend: The Oak Ridge Boys and cage fighting at the Golden Nugget, and public ice skating at the Coast Coliseum.
See your entire weekend lineup
A.J. Holloway: A bearded one, he is
Mayor A.J. Holloway told the Breakfast with the Mayor audience this week something that mayoral watchers have seen for some weeks now: The mayor is growing a beard.
“I’ve always wanted a beer, er, beard,” Holloway told the audience with a smile. “My wife, Macklyn, doesn’t like it, but I’m still growing it. We’ll see how it goes.”
Holloway came clean with a reporter after the morning gathering: He’s accepted a request to take part in No-Shave November, and says he is hoping to raise awareness of cancer and children with epilepsy.
See pictures from Breakfast with the Mayor
Five short-term rentals seek approval
By Jerry Creel, Community Development Director
This week in economic development, the Biloxi Planning Commission conducted public hearings to hear five applications for “Short-Term Rental”. These particular cases involved five single family houses where the owners were requesting approval to rent or lease the properties for periods of less than 30 days. Under the Land Development Ordinance, Short-Term Rental is allowed in areas zoned RM, “Residential Multi-Family” as a conditional use. However, Short-Term Rental is not permitted in areas zoned RS “Residential Single-Family”. After hearing comments from the applicants and adjacent property owners, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval for the one application at 2461 Deming Place, that is currently zoned RM-30. The remaining 4 applications that were all zoned RS were denied. All five applications will now go before the City Council for final consideration.
Also this week came the announcement that the final appeals have been exhausted for the application to build a new hospital on Tommy Munro Drive. This decision means that the hospital can move forward with the proposed $133 million dollar project which will include 144 beds. The new hospital is expected to be a catalyst for other medical and professional development at Cedar Lake.
Here’s your chance to win a part of history
Loaves and Fishes, the Biloxi soup kitchen that serves 6,000 meals a month on a shoestring budget, has come up with a super way to raise money to feed the hungry as its most challenging time of the year approaches, the holiday season. The non-profit is raffling a valuable piece of Saints football: a commemorative New Orleans Saints football signed by the entire 2009 Super Bowl Championship Team. Chances to win the football, valued at $2,000, are $25 each, and only 1,500 chances will be sold.
Learn more and see the football
News and notes
Webcasting: David Nichols, the city’s chief administrative officer, answers questions about MGM Park, the downtown baseball stadium and entertainment venue; the possible rezoning of land along the beachfront; the ongoing discussion of the city’s tree-protection ordinance and its enforcement; and a host of other issues in this week’s City Desk webcast. To listen to the program, click here.
No agendas: The agendas for next week’s City Council and Development Review Committee meetings were unavailable this afternoon. To see the lineup of municipal public meetings in Biloxi, click here.
Atkinson Road meeting: Residents along Atkinson Road can find out details about a new sidewalk that is being planned between Popp’s Ferry Road and Hiller Park in a meeting scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. at the Snyder Center. To learn more, click here.
Balmoral meeting: Residents on and near Balmoral Avenue in west Biloxi can learn about a huge infrastructure project coming to their neighborhood during a meeting scheduled for Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Snyder Center. To learn more, click here.
