Gulfport in Six Words

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:

1. Panthers and Moons, Stillwagon ultimate venture.    Michael O’Toole
2. Festival throngs voices singular culminating crescendo.   Michael O’Toole
3. Palms murmuring, bays sails quietly whispering.   Michael O’Toole
4. Moody secrets held close. . . spring . . . sunshine.   Michael O’Toole
5. We are the village it takes.   Lynne Brown
6. Love little city with big heart.   Gail Biron WINNER
7. Gulf water’s edge. Diverse smiles. Community.    Chris Stanley
8. Sand. Friendly hearts. Charming village.    Chris Stanley
9. Small town. Big art. Good eats.    Chris Stanley
10. Icy fingers wrap around your throat.    Megan
11. Green, friendly birds. Bayou. Open, supportive.    Nancy Robinson
12. New equipment.  Gulfport gets fit.  Come.    Nancy Robinson
13. Snake stares transfixed.  Girl stares transfixed.    Nancy Robinson
14. Birding trail in Gulfport?  Indeed.  Precious.    Nancy Robinson
15. Abandoned newborn raccoon rescued.  What happened?    Nancy Robinson
16. Sunny, rainy, windy. Lovely, forever charming.    Tom Cairns WINNER
17. Everyone celebrates diversity. Come join us.    Angie Aponte
18. Nostalgic, welcoming, creative, dynamic, diversified, modest.    Charles Shafer
19. Lost, found paradise, happily ever after.    Karen Love
20. Casino: cool music sparkling bay dancing.    Maggie Gouldin
21. Quirky, fresh market, gentle breeze . . . Delicious!    Maggie Gouldin
22. Town Shores winter heated pools paradise.    Maggie Gouldin
23. Magnificent views a little good news!    Maggie Gouldin
24. Wedding at Williams Pier. Love endures.    John Avery
25. Green Casino. Trolley ghosts. Tongues speak.    John Avery
26. Childhood memories. Gulfport beach. No Bayway.    John Avery
27. Friday night. O’Maddy’s. Pete and Dean.    John Avery
28. Our Sweet Mayberry by the Sea.    Geri Eaton
29. Found our Florida’s heart in Gulfport. D.    Cadogan WINNER
30. Gulfport Pier. In Love. 1974.    Barbara Daugherty
31. Mayberry, Blueberry, beach, birds, serenity, longevity.    Dianne Hargitai,
32. Colorblind, gender-blending, young, retired, refired. Diversity.    Dianne Hargitai
33. Young, old, square, round, dogs…welcome.    Phil Penrose
34. Craft shop…YES, Chain store…NO.    Phil Penrose
35. Slot machines?  Not in this Casino.    Phil Penrose
36. A welcoming haven for society’s outcasts.    Rob McCabe
37. Gulfport forever, weird, wonderful and wild.    Molly Ellowis
38. Destination Gulfport, the best of Old Florida.    L. Faunce
39. Get to Gulfport and get transported.    M.L. Faunce
40. Gulfport welcomes you; no parking meters.    M.L. Faunce
41. The Bay, the Gulf, and Gulfport.     M.L. Faunce
42. Gulfport Welcomes All, and Your Dog.     M.L. Faunce
43. Gulfport, Open For Business and You.     M.L. Faunce
44. Visit.  Stay.  Sit.  Relax.  Live.     M.L. Faunce
45. Florida’s Best Kept Secret.  Get Gulfported.     M.L. Faunce
46. Gulfport, Florida — for the good times.     M.L. Faunce
47. Gulfport, better than all the rest.     M.L. Faunce
48. Play, Shop, Dine, Dance – Gulfport, Florida .     M.L. Faunce
49. Arts Village, Dining Destination, that’s Gulfport.     M.L. Faunce
50. Destination Gulfport- Where Past Meets Present.     M.L. Faunce
51. Local, before local was cool.  Gulfport.      M.L. Faunce
52. Gulfport, Florida.  Everything local.  Everything  Real.     M.L. Faunce
53. Gulfport:  real Florida, not an imitation.     M.L. Faunce
54. Get to Gulfport, Get the Real Thing.     M. L. Faunce
55. Get Real.  Get to Gulfport, Florida.     M.L. Faunce
56. Rearview window. Bluejay, fighting his reflection.     Linda Kavy
57. Little red truck. Dream come true.     Linda Kavy
58. Petrified Florida pine. Bug free living.     Linda Kavy
59. Tap tap tap. Cardinal at window.     Linda Kavy
60. Stray kitty. Tuna. Purr purr purr.     Linda Kavy
61. Longtime Gulfport resident. Luckiest girl alive.     Linda Kavy
62. Always something interesting to do here.     Anonymous child.
63. The hippies were right. Community consciousness.     MaryEllen Reichard
64. Oasis in middle of St. Pete.     MaryEllen Reichard
65. Funky eclectic Gulfport.  Mayberry on acid.     Susan Bullard
66. Goofy Gulfport Geckos Go Galloping Gaily.     Greg Stemm
67. Wacky.  Waltzing.  Waterfront. Welcoming. Wonderful!     Greg Stemm
68.  Artists.  Hippies.  Diversity is cool!     Greg Stemm
69. Pets Are Welcome.  People Are Too!     Greg Stemm
70. This Town’s Character Just Drips Charm.     Greg Stemm
71. Too Weird for Gulfport?  You’re Nuts!     Greg Stemm
72. Caring People.  Marking Art.  It’s Home!     Greg Stemm
73. Openly Gay.  Openly Straight.  Openly Gulfportian!     Greg Stemm WINNER
74. Artistically Celebrating Diversity.  Festively Creating Community!     Greg Stemm
75. The Gulfport Family Welcomes All People.     Greg Stemm
76. Cats. Parrots.  And A Goat!       Greg Stemm ALTERNATE WINNER FOR #111, Anonymous
77. Yummy Food.  Eclectic Shops.  Quirky People.     Greg Stemm
78. All are Welcome Here.  You Too!     Greg Stemm
79.  Flamingos.  Fairies.  Gulfport Loves Celebrations!     Greg Stemm
80. A Rainbow of People and Places!     Greg Stemm
81. Gulfport, you’re so hot, you’re cool!      Jude Bagatti
82. Clam Bayou, we stand by you.      Jude Bagatti
83. Dancing leaf landing on a pedestal.     Karen Kommer
84. Gulfport, Florida – Artsy, but not Fartsy.     Donald Heacox
85. Quirky, playful Geckoland. Cozy bayside paradise.     Susan Gore
86. New friends, good friends, forever friends.      Simson Unterberger
87. Best kept secret for locals’ enjoyment!     Marsha Shulman
88. Small Town. Big Heart. Fantastic People.     Stacey Purcell for Beverley Ward
89. Strange but no one a stranger.     Phyllis Plotnick
90. Our Town crossed with Peyton Place.     Richard Freed
91. Lovable, picturesque, homey, seaside community.     Mary Jane Hukalowicz
92. Technology swallows young minds, no memories.     Karen Thompson
93. Scent of flowers, sunset, majic winds.     Karen Thompson
94. God’s great gift. Tinsel, lights instead.      Karen Thompson
95. Talking boxes, young minds, family disconnect.      Karen Thompson
96. Bubbling water, not springs, overflow streets.      Karen Thompson
97. Bay water overflows. Fish on roads.      Karen Thompson WINNER
98. Buying, supplying, children smiling. Christmas cheer.      Karen Thompson
99. New haircut! Birds overhead . . . Ahh! Poop!      Sandy Yarish
100. Caring, charming, classy, community creative.      Thomas J. Barker, Jr.
101. The same. Together. Everyone welcome.      Thomas J. Barker, Jr.
102. My Gulfport journey…what a blast!      Marion Cheslock
103. Nitelife, art, fun.   All in one.      Marion Cheslock
104. Singing, laughing, walking.  Passed house!      Marion Cheslock
105. ..it’s my “go-to” City!      Marion Cheslock
106. Much a’do about everything in Gulfport!      Marion Cheslock
107. Colorful, charming, casual characters congregate cordially.      Verna McClain,
108. Holiday, walk, shop, dine, quaint, artsy.      Marianne Keller
109. Good Gosh Gigantic Googamooga Gulfport’s Great.      Chris Stanley
110. Beachy bay, big waves, many people.      Betina Hand or Marcia Ferreira
111. Came to visit. Never went back.       Anonymous WINNER
112. Why would I live anywhere else?      Anonymous
113. Eclectic, Energetic, Excitement, Entertainment, Edifying, Enlightenment.      Janis E. Spears
     ENTRIES TOO LATE FOR COMPETITIVE CONSIDERATION
114. Pelicans, Palms, Peace & tranquility.     Jill Agnew
115. Sea breeze, sea gulls, serenity.     Jill Agnew
116. Sunshine, pelicans, salty sea air.     Jill Agnew
117. Bay breeze, salty ease.      Jill Agnew
118. Salty sea and Serendipity.      Jill Agnew
119. A little treasure by the bay.      Jill Agnew
120. A little nook of the Bay.      Jill Agnew
121. Time colors rainbows across revealing skies.     Kjames
122. Friendliest little village in Florida.  Gulfport.      M.L. Faunce
123. A Main Street called Beach Boulevard.     M.L. Faunce
124. Gulfport, where furry friends stop traffic.     M.L. Faunce
125. Smiles don’t go to waste here.     M.L. Faunce
126. The place for people, pets, you.     M.L. Faunce
127. You know you’re welcome here – Gulfport.      M.L. Faunce
128. Feel the vibe, it’s easy here.       M.L. Faunce
129. Where no one is a stranger.      M.L. Faunce
130. Homey slice of living – a gem.      Cheryl Mogul
131. Treasures abundant, positive aspects galore – Gulfport.      Cheryl Mogul
132. Community oriented, yet diversified that’s magic.      Cheryl Mogul
133. Village, green, music, art, dancing, scene.      George Zarillo
134. First glance…  I could live here!      Vivi Steinfeld
135. It’s a scene, and everybody’s seen.      Vivi Steinfeld
136. Eyes widen, bright. Heart open, light.      Vivi Steinfeld
137. Friendly. Diverse. Inspiring. Caring. Sharing.      Barry Farber
138. Whimsical wonderful wacky weird winning world.      Carol Shores
139. Unity and diversity, in real life.      Ellen Williams
140. Welcome to paradise, now start fishing.      Ellen Williams
141. Everything you want under one rainbow.      Ellen Williams
142. Embracing Inviting Oasis Diverse Mystical Vibrant.      Mariah S. Cardozo Thurston
143. Fab Rad Am Refugees Rising Sunward.      Griffin