The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts – David (Volosin) Katz, founder and chief judge – has announced that The Hub City Players production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” has been named a finalist for the American Prize in Musical Theatre.

Maybe it’s because we celebrated Memorial Day just a few weeks ago.

Maybe it’s because we recently observed the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

Maybe it’s because I just completed the striking novel, The Women, by Kristen Hannah. (More on that later.)

Maybe it’s because the Fourth of July is upon us.

Building on the previous two years of success, Mississippi State again is offering a highly interactive summer experience for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder—possibly the only camp of its kind in the U.S.—which now has proven a successful camp-to-college path for participants.

You can summer in Europe or you can summer, right here, in Mississippi. With work and family obligations, it can be challenging to get out of the state and country for the summer. Thankfully, Mississippi has plenty of options for you to spend some time this summer. 

I am fond of telling people to cook and eat where you are. Do you know what I mean? If you want really good sushi, go to Japan, want a great hoagie, better head to Jersey or NYC. Want goulash? Your best bet is going to be Hungary.

Potato salad is an essential side dish of summertime meals. I am unsure whether it was her special homemade pickles or her special knack, but my mother-in-law’s potato salad was my favorite.

What do you think about when you envision Vicksburg? Vicksburg is located in West Mississippi. Full of rich history and places to visit, Vicksburg is definitely a great city to visit. This special city embodies both freedom and bravery.

Crawfish, Mudbugs, or Crawdads? No matter what you call these divine little crustaceans, they’re more than just a Mississippi delicacy; they are a summertime food group!

A Mississippi State University astrophysicist is going lightyears beyond star-gazing as she helps lead the science portion of a recently approved collaborative $19.5 million Landolt NASA Space Mission that will put an artificial star in orbit around the Earth. 

June 14 is Flag Day. It’s an annual observance of the Second Continental Congress’ official adoption of the American Flag in 1777, which at that time had only 13 stars. The holiday was officially established in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson and in 1949 Congress declared June 14 a national holiday.

“How many new ways to make a basketball can you come up with?”

In 2018, Dr. Nadine Lippa was tasked with this challenge on her first day as principal materials engineer for Wilson Sporting Goods. The concept instantly set her thoughts in motion as she imagined all the possibilities.

It is one thing to talk about trash. It is another to try and make a point about why it matters. That was and continues to be the goal of my good friend Dr. Judy Dalgo, an avid outdoor enthusiast who decided to do something about it. Judy has been a trash collector for 20 years – picking up trash washed up on the Ocean Springs beach where she strolls to enjoy the view. And that is her point about trash – it destroys the view.

D.Kosmo of Lyon, Mississippi was born in Seabrook, Texas in 1971. He spent his early years making art, hunting for Indian artifacts, and creating music. He graduated in 1991, with a Graphic Design degree and then moved to Mexico, painting murals for nightclubs.

Father’s Day is this Sunday, June 16, and to be honest, it kind of slipped up on me.

If you are like me, you are probably scrambling for a great gift idea. So let me share my list of Five Favorite Mississippi-centric gifts to give the fathers in your life. (You can thank me later!)

Singing River Hospice of Light (HOL) will host a ribbon-cutting celebration honoring 30 years of service on Thursday, June 20, at 11:30 a.m. The event will be held at the Singing River Hospice of Light office, located at 1121 Ocean Springs Rd., Ocean Springs, MS. Lunch will be provided by DME Express and Your Choice Senior Care.

June is blueberry season. Memorial Day signals the start of the harvest time. In some years, the berries ripen sooner. However, you can bet they won’t last longer than a month.