Weekend entertainment: Ohr hosts ‘Adopt a Bowl’ Saturday

The Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art is teaming with the Humane Society on Saturday for a program that involves local cuisine, music, children’s activities, and adoptable pets.

It’s “Adopt a Bowl,” a program where local artists have created unique ceramic bowls that will be filled with food from a participating local restaurant. There’s no admission fee for the 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. event, but bowls are $25, with $5 for refills.

Proceeds benefit the Humane Society of South Mississippi and the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art.

Elsewhere this weekend: The city-sponsored Father-Daughter Sweetheart Dance takes place this evening at the Snyder Center, there’s the 26th annual Arbor Day Run and Roll for Disability Awareness Saturday in downtown Biloxi, “Fences” wraps up its run at Center Stage, and the casino headliners include Gavin DeGraw, Tracy Lawrence, Mark Chesnutt, and two Bee Gees tributes: “Stayin’ Alive: a Tribute to the Bee Gees” and The Australian Bee Gees at Hard Rock.

For details on these events and others, courtesy of listings from the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau, click here.

State of the City luncheon passes halfway point

More than half of the 700 seats have been sold for the annual State of the City luncheon, which takes place March 10 at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino.

Typically, a capacity audience is onhand for Mayor A.J. Holloway’s multi-media progress report on the myriad projects and initiatives underway in the city.

Said Biloxi Bay Chamber director Tina Ross Seamans: “We’re expecting a full house again this year because people are always interested to hear about what’s going on in Biloxi, and the multi-media report lets them see and hear it.”

Those interested in seats — $35 per person or $350 for a table of 10 – should email the Biloxi Bay Chamber at info@biloxibaychamber.org

Feb. 14: Economic development update

By Jerry Creel, Community Development Director

This week the Community Development Department issued a Certificate of Occupancy for the 24-Hour Animal Hospital,
a $2.3 million dollar construction project located at 8144 East Oaklawn, just south of I-10.

The New Blue Crab Restaurant and The New Firehouse Subs Restaurants are now open for business. $1.6 million dollars in renovations began this week on the
Grand Casino Biloxi for improvements to the gaming, buffet, restaurant, and swimming areas. The building plans
review has been completed for the new Walmart Neighborhood Market to be located on Pass Road. The project is scheduled to begin in March.

Site work has begun on the new Handy Lock Storage facility at Popp’s Ferry and Iron Horse. Architectural
specifications have been written for the interior demolition of the old Santa Maria Del Mar building and a contract should be
awarded shortly.

The department also received plans this week for 5 new single family houses.

News and notes

Batter up: Registration for the city’s baseball and softball leagues wraps up Saturday fr5om 9 a.m. to noon at the Snyder center. Registration for baseball is for ages 4-16 and softball is for ages 5 to 16.
Fee is $30 a child, with discounts for more children. Details: sports@biloxi.ms.us

Webcasting: Chief Administrative Officer David Nichols discusses Mardi Gras plans, baseball and other city issues in this week’s City Desk webcast. To listen to the 13-minute program, click here.

Council agenda: The Biloxi City Council plans to increase funding for public transit by $65,000 when its meets Tuesday. To see the council’s agenda – two dozen measures in all — click here.

DRC agenda: To see the Development Review Committee agenda for next week,
click here.

Parade entries: The Children’s Mardi Gras Walking Parade is open to all children 12 and under. To see how you can be part of the fun, click here.