Could you describe Gulfport in just six words? Over 100 people took the challenge to describe the town they love in the Circle of Friends of the Gulfport Public Library’s Six Word Challenge.
“Dogs, cats, parrots and a goat.” “At first glance, this is home.” “Strange but no one a stranger.”
These were just a few of the entries read during the Six Words Challenge event at the Gulfport Library on December 8. The two-hour celebration included refreshments and live music by Sherry and Mike. Beth Jackson put the winning entries to music which she sang prior to the winners being announced.
“It was really fun to read all the entries,” said organizer Lynne Brown of the Circle of Friends. “We got 143 entries and they’re still coming in.”
Those who entered the contest and were in attendance read their submissions. The six winners were announced by Gulfport Vice Mayor Michael Fridovich and were given a gift certificate to choose a book of their choice from the Circle of Friends bookstore.
The six winning entries are:
Love little city with big heart. — Gail Biron
Sunny, rainy, windy. Lovely. Forever charming. — Tom Cairns
Found our Florida’s heart in Gulfport. — David Cadogan
Openly gay. Openly straight. Openly Gulfport. — Greg Stemm
Bay water overflows. Fish on roads. — Karen Thompson
Came to visit. Never went back. — Anonymous
Read all entries to the 6 Word Challenge:
- Panthers and Moons, Stillwagon ultimate venture. Michael O’Toole
- Festival throngs voices singular culminating crescendo. Michael O’Toole
- Palms murmuring, bays sails quietly whispering. Michael O’Toole
- Moody secrets held close. . . spring . . . sunshine. Michael O’Toole
- We are the village it takes. Lynne Brown
- Love little city with big heart. Gail Biron WINNER
- Gulf water’s edge. Diverse smiles. Community. Chris Stanley
- Sand. Friendly hearts. Charming village. Chris Stanley
- Small town. Big art. Good eats. Chris Stanley
- Icy fingers wrap around your throat. Megan
- Green, friendly birds. Bayou. Open, supportive. Nancy Robinson
- New equipment. Gulfport gets fit. Come. Nancy Robinson
- Snake stares transfixed. Girl stares transfixed. Nancy Robinson
- Birding trail in Gulfport? Indeed. Precious. Nancy Robinson
- Abandoned newborn raccoon rescued. What happened? Nancy Robinson
- Sunny, rainy, windy. Lovely, forever charming. Tom Cairns WINNER
- Everyone celebrates diversity. Come join us. Angie Aponte
- Nostalgic, welcoming, creative, dynamic, diversified, modest. Charles Shafer
- Lost, found paradise, happily ever after. Karen Love
- Casino: cool music sparkling bay dancing. Maggie Gouldin
- Quirky, fresh market, gentle breeze . . . Delicious! Maggie Gouldin
- Town Shores winter heated pools paradise. Maggie Gouldin
- Magnificent views a little good news! Maggie Gouldin
- Wedding at Williams Pier. Love endures. John Avery
- Green Casino. Trolley ghosts. Tongues speak. John Avery
- Childhood memories. Gulfport beach. No Bayway. John Avery
- Friday night. O’Maddy’s. Pete and Dean. John Avery
- Our Sweet Mayberry by the Sea. Geri Eaton
- Found our Florida’s heart in Gulfport. D. Cadogan WINNER
- Gulfport Pier. In Love. 1974. Barbara Daugherty
- Mayberry, Blueberry, beach, birds, serenity, longevity. Dianne Hargitai,
- Colorblind, gender-blending, young, retired, refired. Diversity. Dianne Hargitai
- Young, old, square, round, dogs…welcome. Phil Penrose
- Craft shop…YES, Chain store…NO. Phil Penrose
- Slot machines? Not in this Casino. Phil Penrose
- A welcoming haven for society’s outcasts. Rob McCabe
- Gulfport forever, weird, wonderful and wild. Molly Ellowis
- Destination Gulfport, the best of Old Florida. L. Faunce
- Get to Gulfport and get transported. M.L. Faunce
- Gulfport welcomes you; no parking meters. M.L. Faunce
- The Bay, the Gulf, and Gulfport. M.L. Faunce
- Gulfport Welcomes All, and Your Dog. M.L. Faunce
- Gulfport, Open For Business and You. M.L. Faunce
- Visit. Stay. Sit. Relax. Live. M.L. Faunce
- Florida’s Best Kept Secret. Get Gulfported. M.L. Faunce
- Gulfport, Florida — for the good times. M.L. Faunce
- Gulfport, better than all the rest. M.L. Faunce
- Play, Shop, Dine, Dance – Gulfport, Florida . M.L. Faunce
- Arts Village, Dining Destination, that’s Gulfport. M.L. Faunce
- Destination Gulfport- Where Past Meets Present. M.L. Faunce
- Local, before local was cool. Gulfport. M.L. Faunce
- Gulfport, Florida. Everything local. Everything Real. M.L. Faunce
- Gulfport: real Florida, not an imitation. M.L. Faunce
- Get to Gulfport, Get the Real Thing. M. L. Faunce
- Get Real. Get to Gulfport, Florida. M.L. Faunce
- Rearview window. Bluejay, fighting his reflection. Linda Kavy
- Little red truck. Dream come true. Linda Kavy
- Petrified Florida pine. Bug free living. Linda Kavy
- Tap tap tap. Cardinal at window. Linda Kavy
- Stray kitty. Tuna. Purr purr purr. Linda Kavy
- Longtime Gulfport resident. Luckiest girl alive. Linda Kavy
- Always something interesting to do here. Anonymous child.
- The hippies were right. Community consciousness. MaryEllen Reichard
- Oasis in middle of St. Pete. MaryEllen Reichard
- Funky eclectic Gulfport. Mayberry on acid. Susan Bullard
- Goofy Gulfport Geckos Go Galloping Gaily. Greg Stemm
- Wacky. Waltzing. Waterfront. Welcoming. Wonderful! Greg Stemm
- Artists. Hippies. Diversity is cool! Greg Stemm
- Pets Are Welcome. People Are Too! Greg Stemm
- This Town’s Character Just Drips Charm. Greg Stemm
- Too Weird for Gulfport? You’re Nuts! Greg Stemm
- Caring People. Marking Art. It’s Home! Greg Stemm
- Openly Gay. Openly Straight. Openly Gulfportian! Greg Stemm WINNER
- Artistically Celebrating Diversity. Festively Creating Community! Greg Stemm
- The Gulfport Family Welcomes All People. Greg Stemm
- Cats. Parrots. And A Goat! Greg Stemm ALTERNATE WINNER FOR #111, Anonymous
- Yummy Food. Eclectic Shops. Quirky People. Greg Stemm
- All are Welcome Here. You Too! Greg Stemm
- Flamingos. Fairies. Gulfport Loves Celebrations! Greg Stemm
- A Rainbow of People and Places! Greg Stemm
- Gulfport, you’re so hot, you’re cool! Jude Bagatti
- Clam Bayou, we stand by you. Jude Bagatti
- Dancing leaf landing on a pedestal. Karen Kommer
- Gulfport, Florida – Artsy, but not Fartsy. Donald Heacox
- Quirky, playful Geckoland. Cozy bayside paradise. Susan Gore
- New friends, good friends, forever friends. Simson Unterberger
- Best kept secret for locals’ enjoyment! Marsha Shulman
- Small Town. Big Heart. Fantastic People. Stacey Purcell for Beverley Ward
- Strange but no one a stranger. Phyllis Plotnick
- Our Town crossed with Peyton Place. Richard Freed
- Lovable, picturesque, homey, seaside community. Mary Jane Hukalowicz
- Technology swallows young minds, no memories. Karen Thompson
- Scent of flowers, sunset, majic winds. Karen Thompson
- God’s great gift. Tinsel, lights instead. Karen Thompson
- Talking boxes, young minds, family disconnect. Karen Thompson
- Bubbling water, not springs, overflow streets. Karen Thompson
- Bay water overflows. Fish on roads. Karen Thompson WINNER
- Buying, supplying, children smiling. Christmas cheer. Karen Thompson
- New haircut! Birds overhead . . . Ahh! Poop! Sandy Yarish
- Caring, charming, classy, community creative. Thomas J. Barker, Jr.
- The same. Together. Everyone welcome. Thomas J. Barker, Jr.
- My Gulfport journey…what a blast! Marion Cheslock
- Nitelife, art, fun. All in one. Marion Cheslock
- Singing, laughing, walking. Passed house! Marion Cheslock
- ..it’s my “go-to” City! Marion Cheslock
- Much a’do about everything in Gulfport! Marion Cheslock
- Colorful, charming, casual characters congregate cordially. Verna McClain,
- Holiday, walk, shop, dine, quaint, artsy. Marianne Keller
- Good Gosh Gigantic Googamooga Gulfport’s Great. Chris Stanley
- Beachy bay, big waves, many people. Betina Hand or Marcia Ferreira
- Came to visit. Never went back. Anonymous WINNER
- Why would I live anywhere else? Anonymous
- Eclectic, Energetic, Excitement, Entertainment, Edifying, Enlightenment. Janis E. Spears
ENTRIES TOO LATE FOR COMPETITIVE CONSIDERATION - Pelicans, Palms, Peace & tranquility. Jill Agnew
- Sea breeze, sea gulls, serenity. Jill Agnew
- Sunshine, pelicans, salty sea air. Jill Agnew
- Bay breeze, salty ease. Jill Agnew
- Salty sea and Serendipity. Jill Agnew
- A little treasure by the bay. Jill Agnew
- A little nook of the Bay. Jill Agnew
- Time colors rainbows across revealing skies. Kjames
- Friendliest little village in Florida. Gulfport. M.L. Faunce
- A Main Street called Beach Boulevard. M.L. Faunce
- Gulfport, where furry friends stop traffic. M.L. Faunce
- Smiles don’t go to waste here. M.L. Faunce
- The place for people, pets, you. M.L. Faunce
- You know you’re welcome here – Gulfport. M.L. Faunce
- Feel the vibe, it’s easy here. M.L. Faunce
- Where no one is a stranger. M.L. Faunce
- Homey slice of living – a gem. Cheryl Mogul
- Treasures abundant, positive aspects galore – Gulfport. Cheryl Mogul
- Community oriented, yet diversified that’s magic. Cheryl Mogul
- Village, green, music, art, dancing, scene. George Zarillo
- First glance… I could live here! Vivi Steinfeld
- It’s a scene, and everybody’s seen. Vivi Steinfeld
- Eyes widen, bright. Heart open, light. Vivi Steinfeld
- Friendly. Diverse. Inspiring. Caring. Sharing. Barry Farber
- Whimsical wonderful wacky weird winning world. Carol Shores
- Unity and diversity, in real life. Ellen Williams
- Welcome to paradise, now start fishing. Ellen Williams
- Everything you want under one rainbow. Ellen Williams
- Embracing Inviting Oasis Diverse Mystical Vibrant. Mariah S. Cardozo Thurston
- Fab Rad Am Refugees Rising Sunward. Griffin