Gulfport artist works to repaint a mural he created 20 years ago at the Peninsula Inn

It gladdens the heart to see stories like the one by Lynn Taylor in The Gabber recently about Gulfport artist Keith Stillwagon's project to restore  mural he painted more than two decades ago on the wall at The Historic Peninsula Inn. Back in the 1990s, the then-owner of the establishment wanted to create an art center there and invited local artists to participate. It became quite the thing to do in Gulfport, and musicians came and played and turned it into a happening. You can read all about it in the article. Some 20 years later, Veronica Champion, the current owner of the hotel, has invited Stillwell back to repaint his now-faded work. The subject: the natural beauty of our region and reminders of elegant creatures that once inhabited these shores.

Gulfport is going to be in the movies: Filmmaker shoots at Historic Peninsula Inn

We love the movies so we couldn't help but be intrigued by the recent work on an independent film being done at the Historic Peninsula Inn in Gulfport. It's a story about a ghost and a girl's encounter with her. In the photo, are nine-year-old Abby Biddar, who plays the girl, 11-year-old Jack Champion, who plays her brother, and Chuck Russell, the filmmaker from Georgia who is  directing the project. The Gabber has a delightful story about the whole thing. Mayor Sam Henderson, who tends bar at the inn, says he invited Russell to show the film at the Catherine Hickman Theater next summer when it's finished. We can't wait!

Gulfport Chef's Table dining event is our community at its finest in so many ways

One thing we noticed in the great story by Lynn Taylor in The Gabber: wonderful community involvement. First of all, the happy fellow in the photo is Phil Rivenbark, head chef at Isabelle's, a fine restaurant in The Historic Peninsula Inn in Gulfport. Phil buys locally. He gets fresh veggies from Gulfport Produce and fish from Gulf Coast Seafood. Buying locally is such an important part of a vibrant community.

But there's more: Phil is joining with eight other Gulfport restaurants for a special event on Monday, October 3. Gulfport Chef's Table is a fine dining experience that will be staged along Beach Boulevard. Here's the thing: it's an event to help raise money for Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA), an organization that provides shelter and help for victims of domestic violence, a worthwhile cause indeed.

And then there's this: Veronica Champion became the owner of The Historic Peninsula Inn earlier this year and is settling in as a booster of the Gulfport community, not only in joining the team that put together the first Gulfport Chef's Table but also in noting the truth that Gulfport is a gastronome's paradise. She told The Gabber: "Someone could come to Gulfport seven days a week and not have the same experience because there is such a variety of wonderful restaurants.”

How delightful to be part of such a fine community.