Professional Body Building Competition come to the Coast with the First Annual Power Shack Classic

By: Nancy Marchbanks

Competitive bodybuilding is not for the faint of heart. This sport takes unwavering dedication, guts and determination in order to even have a prayer of being a contestant. This a world that most people know little about…I certainly knew nothing about when I began working on this assignment. Did I have preconceived notions? Yes. Was I wrong about most of them? Most definitely. I think that when most people have had the occasion to be channel surfing, and come upon a station featuring gleaming, expertly tanned, muscle bound men and women posing and parading around on a stage, it can be a little disconcerting. You can’t help but linger awhile and watch…and you wonder. How could a human being transform him or herself into a living, breathing statue of a Greek or Roman god? What does it take to create a physique of such magnificence and jaw dropping awe? Why do they put themselves into those bizarre configurations that make every single muscle ripple, bulge and pop. Viewing these men and women bring to mind comic book heroes who can (and often do) crush their enemies like a grape! It will be my pleasure to take you inside this much misunderstood sport and I urge you to take the opportunity to see these splendid examples of supreme musculature and strength right here at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum and Convention Center on July 31st, courtesy of POWER SHACK in Biloxi.

O’er the Land of the Free! A Little American History

By: Melody Worsham

As our nation celebrates its 234th anniversary of freedom from British rule, new stories will be told around the picnic table. With the help of some little known historical facts gleaned from the Library of Congress website, perhaps this year’s stories will be recharged with the red, white and blue spirit of our people.

The Great Seal of the United States depicts a bald eagle with a shield of thirteen red and white stripes. At the eagle’s head is a cloud with thirteen stars in the middle. The bald eagle was chosen by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

This Month in History: July

July 1
Rough Riders Capture San Juan Hill
In 1898, during the Spanish-American war, a force of eight thousand American troops successfully captured San Juan Hill, near Santiago, Cuba. One of the regiments was led by Lt. Colonel Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt had personally raised his regiment, and led it despite having little military experience. The bravery of Roosevelt and his men made him a national hero, and played a key role in his being elected U.S. vice-president in 1900.

Keeping Your Home and Neighborhood Safe

By: Melody Worsham

Summertime. The kids are out of school and daylight hours extend well into the night. Your home and your neighborhood is buzzing with outdoor activities. But did you know that summertime has the highest rates of burglaries, and residential neighborhoods are the most often targeted?

There are a few things you can do to keep your home and neighborhood safer this summer. To start, keep your hedges trimmed and the outside of your home well lit. Motion-activated lights are ideal because they can alert you immediately when someone walks on to your property. Put away temptation by keeping valuable lawn and home repair equipment out of sight.

Take a walk and visit your neighbors. People are more likely to help someone they know. Get to know the people who live on your street. Talk to them about your concerns about crime in your neighborhood. If you are new to the area, this would be a good time to find out how your neighbors feel about the safety of their homes. Just moved in? Immediately change all the locks.

Knight Nonprofit Center Taking Care of Those Taking Care of Our Community

By: Melody Worsham

Although hurricane Katrina brought many challenges to the Gulf Coast, it also brought many new resources. Our community’s nonprofits continue to work hard to serve those in need. Our charities sustain us through the toughest times, and the Knight Nonprofit Center is here to make sure these vital organizations have a place to take care of themselves.

The center is owned by four anchor organizations – The Gulf Coast Business Council, United Way of South Mississippi, the Coast Chamber and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. With a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the building previously owned by Harrah’s Entertainment on Seaway Road in Gulfport was purchased and renovated to be administrative office space for hundreds of nonprofits. Other funders of the building include Southern Company Charitable Trust and the MS Governor’s Hurricane relief Fund. The center is governed by a board made up of tenants and the building owners.

Protect Your Pets from Heat

By: Humane The Humane Society of South Mississippi

Humane The Humane Society of South Mississippi (HSSM) wants pet owners to be aware of heat advisories andplan ahead for their pets for hot days.

Your pet always needs fresh cool water, but during hot months the water should be changed out several times a day to ensure coolness. If you are unable to change the water several times a day there are alternative methods of providing fresh water such as hooking a special water bowl to a constant water supply so each time your pet drinks – fresh, cool water refills the bowl. Plastic bowls stay cooler much longer than aluminum bowls.

Shade is another necessity during hot months too. If there is not one location in your yard that provides shade throughout the day then make sure there are shaded areas available as the sun moves so your pet is able to find a shaded location regardless of time of day.

Flare Bar & Grill

By: NANCY BAKER FAUL

Armed with knowledge gained from working with world renowned Chefs such as Emeril Lagasse and Thomas Boggs, Chef Calvin prepares the most tantalizing dishes.. You may know Chef Lipe’s reputation for excellence from his catering business known as Chef4Hire Catering. In addition to his very successful catering business, Chef Lipe opened Flare in late May of this year which was once the old Lookout 49 location. Angel Lipe, Calvin’s wife, handles the business end of both ventures and loves every minute of it. “It is hard sometimes but this is what Calvin and I have always wanted. This restaurant is a dream come true and we want each guest to feel special when they walk in our doors” said Angel. Being the Executive Manager is what Angel does best which is clearly evident in Flares orderly and prompt service.

TJ FAESER

By: NANCY BAKER FAUL

Dedication, diligence, willpower and a drive to succeed; this is how local bodybuilding champion TJ Faeser exemplifies the sport of bodybuilding. A young man loaded with determination and gumption, who intends to make his mark in this highly competitive world. His next competition will be right here at home, at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. He will compete at the 1st Power Shack Classic on Saturday July 31, against some of the best body builders in the country. His ultimate goal is to own the title of Mr. Olympia someday. TJ is well aware of the challenges and the very long road before him. “I have a close network of family and friends that support me and my goals,” he said. His biggest fan is his 4 year old son, Asher.

Mattina Insurance Agency, Inc. & the New Coastal American Insurance Company

Mattina Insurance Agency, Inc. was established in 1983 in Biloxi by Roy N. Mattina, Jr, after 12 years as a sales representative for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. The agency has developed into a full service “trusted choice” independent insurance agency specializing in auto-home-life-health-group-commercial insurance and representing over 40 insurance companies . MIA, Inc. is a member of the Independent Insurance Agents of America, the Biloxi Chamber, Biloxi Bay Chamber, Orange Grove/Lyman Chamber, Gulfport Chamber (affiliates of the Ms. Gulfcoast Chamber of Commerce) and received the honor of Business of the Month from the Gulfport Chamber in October 2009 for their new Gulfport office located in Community Plaza on Highway 49. The agency’s staff makes it a point to be very involved in the on-going changes and challenges in the insurance industry throughout the Mississippi Gulf Coast and strives to offer the most coverage at the least possible cost for their policyholders. MIA, Inc. was recently named a member of the H.K. Dent Society, named for Hawthorne K. Dent, founder of Safeco Insurance Company. This recognition is for agents who meet qualifications based on written insurance premiums, growth, loss ratio, and tenure of policyholders. Roy also recently attended the 2009 Safeco/Liberty Mutual Presidents Conference at the Grand Hyatt Resort & Spa in Kauai, Hawaii.

Nancy’s Celebrity Chat with the Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent

On the night of Friday, July 16th, The Hard Rock Live will bust wide open when Ted Nugent and his band take the stage for a concert that will undoubtedly blow the roof off. With over 6,000 performances to his credit, Ted Nugent is the undisputed master of the Gibson Byrdland guitar. He is also a fascinating individual who never shys away from controversy, and always stands up for what he believes in.

GTP: When did you discover you had this mammoth talent with the guitar?

TN: “I was born just a few years after Les Paul had just invented the damn thing, but it was Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry who really utilized the instrument, and I was really paying attention. I learned really young and it was raw and pure. I wanted to replicate the emotion and the outrage that I heard. I was so hooked into that whole Motown vibe, and loved the primal scream of the guitar. Even today, I am constantly discovering new sounds, new grinds and patterns…I play every day, 15 minutes here – 15 minutes there, all day long.”