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USM Steel Pan Orchestra to Celebrate 30th Anniversary

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ourmshome.com – University of Southern Mississippi – 2024-05-28 16:30:24

SUMMARY: For 30 years, the University of Southern Mississippi’s Steel Pan Orchestra (SoMiSPO), led by Dr. John Wooton, has showcased the vibrant culture of steel pan music from Trinidad and Tobago. Founded in 1994 with six members, it now features 40, including various percussion instruments. Celebrated by its director Dr. Colin McKenzie, SoMiSPO has collaborated with renowned artists like Andy Narell and Robert Greenidge. Alumni like Josanne Francis highlight its impact on their careers. As part of its 30th anniversary, SoMiSPO will host a festival in April 2025, inviting alumni and guest artists. Dr. Wooton credits its sustained success to community support and rich cultural heritage.

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Our Mississippi Home

Po-Boys & Paper Towels: A Love Letter to the Gulf Coast Classic

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ourmshome.com – Julian Brunt – 2025-06-16 16:30:00

SUMMARY: A fully dressed, pressed po-boy is a Gulf Coast classic, distinct from subs or hoagies found elsewhere. The fried shrimp po-boy is iconic, especially on the Mississippi Coast, where pressing the sandwich likely began at Biloxi’s famed Rosetti’s. There, the “Vancleave special” was born—crab cake with cheese—named for a hurried customer. Po-boy variations abound, with personal preferences sparking lively debates, especially over the best bread. Favorites include fried oyster, pot roast beef (stewed, not sliced), and the Italian, packed with meats, cheese, and zesty dressing. Ideal sides include potato salad or coleslaw. Above all, a true po-boy must be pressed and dressed.

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Our Mississippi Home

Permanent Skateparks? Coast Skaters Say It’s Time

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ourmshome.com – USM Roy Howard Community Journalism Center – 2025-06-16 12:26:00

SUMMARY: Pete Taggard revitalized his health and lost over 100 pounds by returning to skateboarding after a Type 2 Diabetes warning. Inspired, he co-founded the Picayune Skatepark Project to build Mississippi’s Gulf Coast’s first permanent public skatepark, approved recently in Picayune. Alongside him, the Gulf Coast Skatepark Association is transforming community spaces in Biloxi and beyond through DIY skateparks and events promoting safe, inclusive areas for youth. Skateparks serve as vital “third places” offering exercise, belonging, and emotional support, especially to underserved kids. Their efforts aim to build more facilities, acknowledging skateboarding’s physical and mental health benefits and fostering vibrant local communities.

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Our Mississippi Home

Prescribed Fires Save Forests | Our Mississippi Home

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ourmshome.com – Mark W. LaSalle, Ph.D. – 2025-06-14 09:05:00

SUMMARY: Smoky the Bear’s message “only you can prevent forest fires” evolved as we learned that in the southeastern U.S., fire-adapted pine forests rely on frequent, low-intensity fires to stay healthy. These fires occur naturally every 3-5 years, burning dead grass and pine needles without harming roots or mature trees. Fires release nutrients into nutrient-poor soils, help pine seeds germinate, and control hardwood growth that would reduce plant diversity. Longleaf Pines uniquely survive fires with fire-resistant needles and thick bark. Human interference disrupted this cycle, causing catastrophic wildfires, so forest managers now use controlled prescribed burns to mimic natural fires safely.

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