5 Things to Know Today: Monday, Dec. 5

Running for Council?: The Gulfport City Council qualifying dates for the March, 13, 2012 elections begins today at 8:30 a.m. Candidate filing ends at noon on Monday, Dec. 12. To learn more about election information contact the City Clerk's Office at 893-1012. We've also attached the Candidate Information PDF to this post. Three people have already declared their candidacies, including Ward one and Ward two's incumbants. All three plan on turning in the remaining qualifying paperwork this week.

Agenda Is Up: The Regular Gulfport City Council Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at Gulfport City Hall. The agenda for that meeting is online for you to view and print. Check it out on the city's website.

Gulfport's Tree Lighting Ceremony & Santa Visit: Santa Clause is coming to Gulfport! Come out tonight at 7 p.m. at Clymer Park for holiday music, refreshments, and the lighting of the city's real Christmas tree. Oh yeah, Santa will be there too.

Holiday Show: Get your tickets asap for the Debby Bacon Show: "A Holiday Dream" on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 1 and 7 p.m. at the Catherine Hickman Theater. Tickets vary between $10 and $14. Buy tickets online on the Gulfport Senior Center's website.

Monday Forecast: It'll be mostly sunny with a high neaar 78. Expect an east wind between 6 and 11 mph. Tonight, it'll be partly cloudy with a low around 64 and an east wind around 9 mph.