Hey y’all! I’ve been looking into whether Downtown Hattiesburg could use a grocery store with affordable everyday groceries, and I’m trying to get a better idea of what people around here actually need.

I made a short survey asking where people usually buy groceries, what the current options are like for them, and whether having a grocery store closer to downtown would be useful.

It takes about 3 minutes, and I’d really appreciate the input! Even if you don’t think a downtown grocery store would be useful, I’d still like to hear your thoughts.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScm4qTAQsBnOHooE8FrjXLlzzdFl6y1Zqbhv-CIYFVC70NWtQ/viewform?usp=header

Just to clarify, this is an idea I’m researching, not a store that’s already planned or opening soon. Thanks to anybody who takes the time to fill it out!

Hello, I want to get anyone’s opinion on something. I have lived in a duplex neighborhood for a few years now and part of the charm has always been its community aspect. Neighborhood events, porch decorating competitions, trick-or-treating for kids, etc.

Well one random Tuesday recently, we were sent a message saying we needed to remove the decorations out front shrub maintenance purposes. The crosses that were outside for the last 3 years had never been in the way, so I did not move them thinking it wouldn’t be a problem. I got a personal message to remove it or they’d do it themselves.

So I rush home, remove it and the same day we get another message saying NO decorations were allowed henceforth. No porch decor, no decorations seen from your windows, only 2 plants allowed on the back patio within a certain size range, and all in the name of “approving curb appeal.”

I’m just at a loss. I’ve lived here for a long time now and have so many good memories of the holidays and right before people start putting up Christmas decorations seems intentional, especially because it’s never ever been this way.

I don’t know… I feel terrible about the whole thing because it seems like we’ve had our sense of community taken away in an instant and I’m not sure that it will get better. I think they’re planning on cutting down all of the trees as well. They’ve already started burning bushes.

I guess I just wanted to know if there’s anything to be done or if we have no choice but to grieve what we’ve lost. What would you do in this instance?

Title.

A few of my friends who take this monthly class found me through Reddit and, since we have officially moved locations from Parks and Recreation, I wanted to let them know where to find us. And I wanted to invite anyone else on this sub who are interested.

We have moved our classes from the RJS Arts Community Center to Court Street in the Grove United Methodist Church.

If you long for something positive to look forward to and like the idea of making some friends, or want to feed your creative spirit, you might just LOVE this. All ages, all skill levels, all abilities, all genders welcome. The only requirement is kindness.

Join us every 3rd Sunday from 3-5pm for a super fun quilt block of the month class! Each month, I will guide you through constructing a unique quilt block that we will eventually make into a quilt! All skill levels welcome! We have avid quilters and brand new to sewing folks who are learning in real time with the support of their new stitchin’ friends.

Can’t make every class? That’s fine! We will make more than enough blocks for you to create something beautiful!

Sign up at https://booking.setmore.com/scheduleappointment/5741fa0e-fbd1-446d-9989-29ac70979fc1/session/a4fce3a9-913b-48c5-9fe7-1ac374216b6a

BYO sewing machines. We have a limited number of machines to borrow for a $5 fee.

Classes are $25 and come with your fabric kit, instructions, and expert guidance.

Join us! I love all of my sewing and quilting students, but I must admit, this group of awesome folks are some of the Pine Belt’s best. I really dig them.

Please if you see him reach out to me anytime.

I am frantic that he got loose and left our home area. He's an inside dog, not accustomed to being on his own and we are right off Highway 49. He's still just a puppy (9 months) and I am worried sick.

He's microchipped. Weighs about 65lbs but is short and stocky. He has white around his muzzle and on his chest, and darker areas on either side of his neck, as shown (almost like he's wearing a pair of headphones around his neck).

Like what church are they affiliated with

Hey! Have you used the Bottling Company Venue for events? How was your experience? Would you recommend? Would you do it again?

I know this is random:
I am trying to make a recipe that I need beef short ribs for. I for the life of me cannot find them in Hattiesburg. I don’t need Sam’s Club portions lol. Does anyone happen to know where I could try?

What’s going on tonight that might be enjoyable.

I’ve been in Hattiesburg for a little while now, and I’m interested in building something locally around AI and business automation.

But something I’ve noticed surprised me.

I’ve talked to quite a few people and business owners around here, and the moment I mention AI, the reaction is often something like:

“AI is overrated.”

“I don’t want anything to do with it.”

“It’s not useful for my business.”

Sometimes you can almost see the person lose interest as soon as the word “AI” comes up.

And I’m genuinely curious about why.

I come from a tech background, and before moving here from New York, the attitude I saw was a little different. People weren’t necessarily excited about AI or blindly accepting it, but they were at least curious. They wanted to know what it could do, what the risks were, whether it could actually save them time, and whether it made sense for their business.

I actually agree that AI is massively overhyped in some areas.

There are people online acting like AI is going to replace every employee, run entire companies by itself, and completely change everything overnight. I don’t believe that either.

But I also think going to the opposite extreme and saying AI is completely useless is missing something.

For a small business owner who is answering calls, replying to customers, following up with leads, doing scheduling, handling paperwork, marketing, invoicing, and 20 other things every day, even automating one or two repetitive tasks can be valuable.

To me, AI isn’t some magical replacement for people.

It’s just another form of leverage.

The same way businesses eventually adopted websites, online booking, email marketing, CRMs, social media, accounting software, etc.

And I sometimes wonder whether part of the resistance comes from how much negative information about AI gets circulated. Bad stories travel incredibly fast, while “a local business saved five hours a week doing boring administrative work” isn’t exactly headline material.

So I wanted to ask Hattiesburg directly:

If you own a business here, what is your actual opinion of AI?

Have you tried using it and found it useless?

Are you worried about cost, privacy, losing the human touch, employees, reliability, or something else?

Or are you interested in it but just haven’t found a practical reason to use it yet?

I’m not looking to argue with anyone or disrespect anyone’s opinion. I’d genuinely like to understand how local business owners think about this.

And if you’re a business owner who is curious about AI but doesn’t really know what it could realistically do for your business, I’d be happy to talk. No “AI will change your life” pitch, I’d actually rather hear about how your business works and see whether there’s anything worth automating in the first place.

Maybe there isn’t.

But I think that conversation is a lot more interesting than simply saying “AI good” or “AI bad.”

Curious what Hattiesburg thinks.

Hello, Hattiesburg! Your local humanists here. We've got lots of secular events on the calendar over the next couple of weeks, and we hope you'll join us! Whether you're in the mood for good conversation, a good book, a chance to give back, or just spending time with fellow Humanists, we've got something for you. Check out what's coming up below, and feel free to join us for one event or all of them!

Join us at Pride in the Park

Saturday, October 10th from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Stop by as we host our first Pine Belt Humanist information booth at this all-day event. Say hey, grab a water, and take home some stickers and merch from the American Humanist Association, plus participate in our raffle for a basket full of goodies. Raffle proceeds go towards our next service projects! 

RSVP here 

Deconstruction Discussion

Wednesday, October 14th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm

For many people, questioning, changing, or leaving behind religious beliefs can be a complicated and deeply personal experience. This gathering is an opportunity to connect with others who understand, share experiences if you feel comfortable, and have thoughtful conversations in a welcoming environment.

RSVP here

Pine Belt Humanists Book Club

Sunday, October 18th from 1:00 - 2:00 pm

Love books? Join us for our Pine Belt Humanists Book Club!

Rather than choosing one book for everyone to read, the group chooses a genre, and everyone can read any book they'd like within that genre. Our genre this month is Horror!

If you have books you’d like to donate to our upcoming Little Free Library rejuvenation project, you can bring them to the meeting, and Mandy will collect them from you. 

RSVP here

Join us for Terror on the Coast

Thursday, October 22nd at 7:00 pm

Join us for a haunted house and a spooky good time in Gulfport, MS. We will be meeting up with members of Gulf Coast Humanists for a group social event. This year’s haunted house theme is Nightmare on 34th and is not recommended for anyone under the age of 12. Tickets are $28.96 per person and can be purchased online at https://terroronthecoast.com/ 

RSVP here

Rocky Horror Picture Show Group Viewing @ the Saenger

Friday, October 23rd at 7:00 pm

Get ready to do the Time Warp with your fellow Pine Belt Humanists! We’re heading to the Historic Hattiesburg Saenger Theater for a special, interactive screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show featuring Hattiesburlesque.

Buy your Saenger tickets here. 

Once you have your tickets, you can RSVP here so that our group knows you’re coming. 

Humanist Community Swap / Free Market Meetup

Saturday, October 24th from 11:00 - 2:00 pm

Have stuff you don't need anymore? Looking for something new-to-you? Come join us for a Pine Belt Humanists Community Swap Meetup!

Bring along new or gently used items that you no longer need and would like to pass along to someone else. Clothing, books, household items, artwork, games, decor, unopened and unexpired food, and all sorts of other treasures are welcome!

This isn't a one-for-one swap. Bring as much or as little as you'd like, and take as much or as little as you'd like. There's no need to find someone who wants exactly what you brought, and there's no expectation that you have to take something in return. The goal is simply to keep useful things circulating within our community and out of the landfill.

RSVP here

OR 

RSVP here to volunteer to help work the swap

Crafternoon

Wednesday, October 28th from 6:00 - 7:45 pm

This is a casual opportunity to work on the things you enjoy while spending time with fellow Pine Belt Humanists. Whether you're knitting, crocheting, painting, drawing, sewing, scrapbooking, building miniatures, doing puzzles, or working on something entirely your own, bring it along!

No particular skill level or project is required-- just bring whatever you're currently working on (or start something new) and enjoy a relaxed afternoon of creativity, conversation, and community.

RSVP here

Volunteer at Barktoberfest to Help Pine Belt Pets

Saturday, October 31st from noon - 2:00 pm

Join Pine Belt Humanists as we volunteer at Southern Pines Animal Shelter's annual Barktoberfest! 

This family-friendly event combines pet adoptions, a fall festival, and Trunk or Treat, and we'll be helping with activities like hosting Trunk or Treat vehicles, face painting, and more. 

RSVP here

Eats & Drinks Social

Sunday, November 1st from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Join us for our good food, drinks, and even better company on the first Sunday of each month! 

RSVP here

Pine Belt Humanists Yard Sale

Saturday, November 7th from 8:00 - noon

Pine Belt Humanists is hosting our first-ever community yard sale, and we've got a little bit of everything! Browse a variety of gently used items, discover some hidden treasures, and help support our community projects and service initiatives.

RSVP here 

OR 

RSVP here to volunteer to help work the yard sale

Whether you've been a humanist for years or you're simply looking for a welcoming secular community, we hope you'll join us for any or all of these upcoming events. We'd love to get to know you! 

We’re adding new stuff all the time, so feel free to join our mailing list to get info about Pine Belt Humanist updates, events, initiatives, actions, etc. straight to your inbox! 

--

Humanism is a way of thinking that values reason and compassion. It encourages us to seek truth through science and experience, live ethically, and make life better for everyone—without needing religious beliefs. We invite you to join us as we strive to build a more compassionate, inclusive, and thoughtful community here in South Mississippi. For more info about our group, visit https://www.pinebelthumanists.org/ 

Pine Belt Humanists is a group affiliated with the American Humanist Association, a nonprofit group advocating progressive values and equality for humanists, atheists, and freethinkers. Pine Belt Humanists is also an affiliate of American Atheists, a group working to build a better America– where nonreligious people can participate fully, without discrimination or stigma, and where all people are guaranteed equality.

Shooting my shot on Reddit.

I’m looking for some hiking trails within 40 minutes of Hattiesburg that I can go on with my dog. I’m specifically looking for something that has a small pond or creek running through it. We’ve already been on the longleaf trace trails and chain park.

Looking for any tournaments or groups? Play with some friends in town but looking for more people to play with

Please vote in the upcoming election. Make your voice heard. If you have moved or are unsure if your registration is still active, please confirm your registration is active and accurate.

It would be safest and easiest to register in person, but if you can make copies of necessary documents, your application can be postmarked by today and still be accepted.

There’s a great band from Denver at the Switchyard tonight. Float Like a Buffalo.

I think they start at 7, and there is a suggested donation of $10. These guys need gasoline!

Do you have a watch you’d like to sell? New watches, old watches, doesn’t matter. Any brand, any condition, I’ll make you an offer. Let me buy what’s taking up space in your sock drawer. Send me a message or leave a comment

It’s an Ibanez Talman bass with a set neck and active pick ups. It’s a five string. 350$

For more info on these events, visit the Southern Pines Animal Shelter Facebook page!

• October 2nd-4th: Adoption fees for all cats and kittens are 50% off at Southern Pines and at PetSmart in Hattiesburg. The adoption fee includes the animal's spay/neuter, age appropriate vaccines, dewormer, flea prevention, microchip, and a free check up with our Healthy Pet Clinic.
• October 3rd,10 AM: Southern Pines is partnering with Heart Stone Wellness and Movement for 60 minutes of beginner-friendly yoga, adorable kittens, and plenty of moments to make you smile. Tickets are $25, so reserve your spot now!
• October 8th, 11am: The new Petal location of the Second Chance Thrift Shop will be holding their grand opening and celebrating with 20% off your total.
• October 10th, 2-8pm: Hub City Beers' is holding their annual Octoberfest event! There’ll be live music, good food, drinks, AND adoptable puppies and dogs from 3p-7p!
• October 19th-25th: PetSmart's National Adoption Week! Southern Pines will have adoption specials at the store all week long!
• October 31st, 12-2pm: Barktoberfest, a free, family-friendly fall festival, will be held at the shelter! There will be adoptable pets, trunk-or-treating, costume contests, candy, fall-themed photography, and the HAND+made Lemonade truck!

I’ve been trying to find more yard sales, garage sales and neighborhood sales around Hattiesburg, but I feel like I’m missing wherever people actually post them.
I check Facebook and Marketplace pretty regularly, and I’ll see one here and there, but nowhere near as many as I’d expect for the area.

Where do y’all usually find them? Are there specific Facebook groups, websites, apps, neighborhoods or even local papers/pages I should be checking? I’m especially interested in the bigger neighborhood/community sales, but I’ll take any tips!

Would love to know where the Hattiesburg yard sale people are hiding 😂

I ordered two different things on two different days over a week ago and they've both been delayed with no ETA. One of the orders was same day delivery from the local distro and never shipped. The other shipped from somewhere else and got delayed once it reached the local distro. Tried to cancel one of the orders and got told "no."

Hi all,

My younger brother was laid off from contract work at Stennis and is looking for work in IT. I was wondering if anyone had any leads, he is actively applying to things on Indeed.