city whys

Jazz Festivals and Boat Races

Question: Can you tell me if the jazz festival or the boat races at the beach will ever resume?

–Thomas Hetherington

Answer: We asked the City of Gulfport’s Cultural Facilities Events Supervisor, Justin Shea.

“The city has not been approached by any promoters or citybased organizations to conduct a jazz festival or boat race,” Shea said. “The most recent blues music festival was the SO49 Tangerine Bluesfest in Fiscal Year 2020 prior to the COVID-19 shutdown. This annual event took place at Trolley Market Square and was organized by the 49th Street South Business Association, a city-based non-profit organization. In addition, the ProSisters Radio, Inc. Gulfport Pride, Peace, & Love Festival Festival just took place at the Historic Gulfport Casino Ball- room on Mar. 12. This event featured nine of Gulfport’s own home-grown bands on a temporary stage on the Casino Pad. Both of these events were free to attend, family friendly, and open to everyone. There are no plans for the Grand Prix Boat Race to return to the Municipal Beach in Downtown Gulfport.”

Your City Questions, Answered

Do you have a question about something in your community? Send it to The Gabber Newspaper, and we’ll do our best to get you the answer. Email your questions to news@thegabber.com or drop them off at our office (2908-B Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport – right across from Stella’s). If you don’t want us to use your name in the newspaper, let us know when you submit your question. We edit the questions for clarity, syntax, and grammar, so the question you read may differ slightly from what someone submitted. The Gabber Newspaper will not alter the intent of the question.

ProjectFree is celebrating its 10th anniversary and unveiling opportunities for our adults to find gainful ,meaningful employment.

Gulfport nonprofit ProjectFree is fundraising to open a first adult training restaurant and providing hands-on training in restaurant careers, including a management training program.

Please Support this endeavor. It creates numerous jobs in both the community and for adults with diverse abilities.

ProjectFree is growing. Many Thanks to the support from the community over the last 10 years.

For all details on ProjectFREE Programs and Gulfport Pasta visit myprojectfree.org or email projectfree@gmail.com. If

Bands, Birds, and Singers What’s on Gulfport Minds

By Chris Shablak

“We will be releasing 66 cormorants alone today, most of which had red tide issues. Apparently, they didn’t get the memo like the pelicans.” –Dave Boulay, a Seaside Seabird Sanctuary volunteer, talking about the birds they rescued

“We all pitched in to take every bird out of here before hurricane Ian blew through.” –Mikey Bevacqua, a three-year volunteer at the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, talking about the work and passion

“We are banding these pelicans to track them and learn.” –Jeff Liechty, with Audubon Florida, as he measures, records, and bands the legs of the rescued pelicans

“It’s Spring Equinox and the Pink Moon is out.” –Leah MacIsaac, watching from the pier, as the giant pink ball slowly creeps up over the horizon

“The new Thursday night showcases local performers’ original music and is a really special calm night.” –Singer/songwriter Ben Rodgers seconds before he walked onto the Taphouse stage