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Welcome to Alliance for Downtown Meridian Happy 2010! This year is going
to be a very busy and productive year for the Alliance for Downtown Meridian, Meridian Main Street and the Downtown Association.
We are looking forward to a brand new year and moving things forward downtown! Look for some positive changes
in downtown Meridian and a year full of excitement! Check out our updated website: www.meridiandowntown.com |
Meridian Main Street We are doing a survey for Meridian Main Street.
Please email Amy at alliancemdn@comcast.net with any responses, ideas, etc. What can Meridian Main Street do to help your business? What changes, if any, would you like to see in downtown Meridian? What would you like to see on our upcoming e-newsletters? |
Riley Center's Upcoming Events A Theatrical Workshop with Roger Tompkins.
The Workshop focuses on theatrical movement utilizing masks. Roger Tompkins is Seattle's theatrical artist in residence
at the Good Shepherd Center. His training ranges from a Masters Degree in Speech and Drama to the Circle in the Square
in New York and beyond. He has been doing professional theatre for almost 40 years. Presented by Mississippi State
University Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts and Meridian Community College Theater Department. Open to
the public, the workshop is perfect for teachers, students and actors of any age. The workshop will be held Thursday,
February 4, 2010 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The cost is $10 at the door of the Riley Center for Performing Arts
located at 2200 5th Street. Vienna
Boys Choir. Saturday, February 6, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale for $39 and $33. For more information please call 601.696.2200 |
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Our featured business for this issue is: The MUM (Meridian Underground Music) Wayne and Stacy Williams have owned and operated their local business since 1996.
After first opening it on 22nd Ave., they have moved three times to the current location at 2220 8th St. With every move proved
greater success. They love their new location and plan on staying put. Their new building provides more space,
in return more merchandise to carry for more customers. MUM sells a variety of items. New and used cd's and vinyl
records. They offer cool black lights, specialty lights, fog machines, incense, t-shirts, candles, guitars, drums, skate
boards and much more. They even have for the locals that work downtown a snack shop full of different drinks, candy
bars, tobacco products, etc. You do not have to get in your car and go to a convience store, just walk around the corner.
If they don't have it they will be sure to get it. Meridian Underground Music is located at 2220 8th St. Meridian, MS
39301. You can contact them at 601.485.1363 or go to their website at www.meridianunderground.com . You can also become a friend of MUM on facebook. Their store hours are Monday through Wednesday 10:00
a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Mention that you saw the January e-newsletter
and receive 10% off of your next purchase. |
Loeb's Clothing Store A fine specialty store that has remained in the same family for
generations. Alex Loeb opened the men's and women's clothing store in 1887, and it has been passed down through four
generations with Robert Loeb being the current owner. Since the store first opened its doors, excellence has been
the ultimate goal. Founded on a clear determination to provide the finest-quality merchandise, they continue to offer
exclusive fashion and unmatched customer service to satisfy the distinct tastes of their many exceptional customers.
Loeb's carries superior men's and ladies' lines such as: Tommy Bahama, Teva, Polo Ralph Lauren, Patagonia, Kenneth
Gordon, XMI, Scott Barber, Judson Wade, Jack Victor, Orvis, Vineyard Vines, Kavu, Jims Formal Wear, Costa Del Mar, Clark's,
Karen Kane, Language, JWLA, Kensie, Kensie Girl, Whitley, Joes, Big Star, It Jeans, Toms shoes, Seven Jeans and their latest
fashion added, The North Face. Loeb's is located at 2209 Front Street in downtown Meridian. Their store hours
are Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. They can be reached at 601.482.4004
and their website is: www.loebsclothing.com |
| Working Together Working together to improve the community
By Jennifer Jacob Brown
With
three organizations - the Alliance for Downtown Meridian, Meridian Main Street, and the Meridian Downtown Association - all
working to help downtown Meridian grow, there has been some confusion as to which group does what.
Since all three
of those groups work under the same roof and even share some staff members, it's no surprise that people have trouble differentiating
the groups from one another.
To explain what each group does -
how they are different and how their goals intertwine - representatives from all three spoke recently with The Meridian Star.
Even sorting out their titles was confusing. Larry Jones is the executive director of the Alliance. Kenny Watts is
the president of the board of the Alliance, and the past president of the Association. Michelle Pearson is a member of the
Association, and also serves on the board of the Alliance. Amy Reede is the manager of Meridian Main Street, but is an employee
of the Alliance.
A little hard to follow, right? Part of what
makes it so confusing is this: though each group is a separate entity with separate goals and separate funding, they all fall
under the umbrella organization of the Alliance.
"We're completely separate organizations, but we all work
together for the enhancement of downtown Meridian," Pearson said. "Our job is to make downtown a better place to
live and work. We all have different ways of trying to achieve that, but we work together."
Each group has
its own specific goals and duties for downtown and its own source of funding:
Alliance
for Downtown Meridian
The Alliance promotes downtown
development and historic building restoration. It has been designated as the city's downtown economic development program,
and is funded partially by the city. But its primary source of funding, Jones said, comes through donations from major downtown
businesses.
Part of the way the Alliance promotes development
is by keeping a list of commercial space available for lease or sale downtown. The list includes pertinent information like
location, approximate rent, and contact information, and is made available to people who might want to open a business downtown.
Along with helping potential downtown business-people select a location, the Alliance helps with other aspects of
starting a new business, such as obtaining permits.
The Alliance also
helps coordinate the many different plans that a number of people and organizations have for downtown. They make a list of
priorities for big projects, coordinate different downtown "master plans", and try to find a way to execute plans
for downtown.
The Alliance works especially hard to assist in the development of specialty shops, restaurants,
and bars and grilles, because, Jones said, these types of businesses will help downtown become active both during the day
and at night.
Another thing the Alliance is working on is a proposal they plan to bring to the city council to
designate parts of downtown as an entertainment district. That designation will provide tax incentives to property owners
who make certain kinds of improvements to entertainment-related businesses within the district.
Meridian Downtown Association
The downtown association
raises all of its funds through membership dues and donations from business owners in downtown Meridian. It's primary purpose
is to encourage foot traffic downtown.
Pearson said the Association has existed in different configurations and
levels of activity since the 1940's, and currently has a large volunteer pool.
The primary way that the Association
works to meet its goal of increasing foot traffic downtown is by organizing special events.
The two main events
that the Association coordinates are the annual Merry Meridian celebration - which includes the Christmas Parade and the Merry
Meridian Market - and the State Games block party.
The Association used to coordinate the Meridian Mardi Gras event,
but that event was scrapped due to consistent bad weather. They decided to do away with the event rather than attempt to salvage
it, Pearson said, because "we're trying to put our effort behind things that work."
They are also available
to help with any other downtown event, such as Juneteenth or the Soule Live Steam Festival that might come up. Pearson said
the Association can provide downtown events with volunteers to do things like selling drinks, directing traffic, and welcoming
people.
The Association is also involved in clean-up - they recently picked up trash from Front Street to 14th
Street - and beautification. They help with seasonal displays and encourage downtown property owners to keep their store fronts
looking nice.
Basically, anything the Association can do to get people walking around downtown, they want to do
it.
Future plans of the association include a possible "Holiday Spectacular" in front of the renovated
City Hall in 2010.
Meridian
Main Street
The Meridian Main Street Association is where the confusion in differentiating the three organizations
really lies because it is tightly woven into the fabric of the Alliance.
Like the Alliance, Main Street is funded
both by the city and by donations from major downtown businesses. It receives its city funding through the Alliance which,
by contract with the city, operates and administrates Meridian Main Street.
However, Meridian Main Street is a
separate organization that is part of the Mississippi Main Street Association. It is managed by Reede, who is technically
an employee of the Alliance but has completed extensive training from the Main Street organization.
Reede described
Meridian Main Street as "almost like a mini-chamber for downtown." Its primary purpose is to support existing businesses
downtown.
MMS puts out an e-newsletter, promotes retailers and other
businesses downtown, keeps a list of businesses that come and go downtown, and Reede keeps up with the Alliance's property
list.
MMS will hold retail and restaurant focus groups for downtown, help out with Merry Meridian by organizing
the Merry Sale and Window Decorating Contest for retailers, and are working to organize a more consistent look for downtown
by encouraging the use of similar park benches, trash receptacles, and banners.
Like
other Main Street programs, MMS works to coordinate the visions of the city government, downtown business owners, and downtown
residents on what downtown should look like.
Working Together
The Meridian Downtown Association and Meridian Main Street both
fall under the umbrella organization of the Alliance for Downtown Meridian. This means that they use the Alliance's support
staff and housing, and that the Alliance serves as a liaison between the organizations.
It is the Alliance that
pulls the three groups together to work for downtown, coordinating their efforts and making sure they communicate effectively
with one another.
Though each group has different immediate goals for downtown, they all aspire to the same ultimate
purpose - helping downtown grow.
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| Board Members Tim Allred Billy Beal Johnny Brewer Scott Carmichael Gaines Crawford Barbaree Heaster Minnie Hunter Jim McGinnis Michele
Pearson Guy Purvis James Rowcliff Dennis Sankovich Esperanza Sullins Kenny
Watts Executive Director Main Street Manager Amy Reede |
MLK Celebration
and Parade About 350 people gathered in Dumont Plaza for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.
This was the 11th annual celebration that is put on by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and Celebration Committee each
year. After the parade, Constance Iona Slaughter-Harvey was the keynote speaker. She was the first black women
to receive a law degree from the University of Mississippi. At the conclusion of Slaughter-Harvey's speech, the winners
of the parade and the Grand Marshall Mayor Cheri Barry were announced. Third place was Antioch Missionary Baptist
Church, second place was Bartholomew Missionary Baptist Church and taking home first place was Agape Storehouse Apostolic
Church. |
Upcoming Events The Temple Theater: Do you want to watch the Super Bowl on the biggest
screen in Meridian? Come to the Temple. They will be serving hamburgers, hot dogs, nacho pies, hot wings, pizza,
popcorn, beer and wine coolers! They have installed a new sound system if you have not already been. You will also
have a chance to win door prizes. Oh, and by the way, admission is FREE. For more information call 601.693.5353 |
Meridian Mardi Gras The Meridian Downtown Association's Meridian Mardi Gras featuring the 1st Annual Queen City Jam Session
and Gumbo Cook Off. February 6, 2010 will be held in Dumont Plaza from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Gates open at 12:00
p.m. Gumbo will be judged at 3:00 p.m. and served to the public afterwards. Please come and join us for food,
music, and a great time! We'll have multiple bands playing all day long throughout Dumont Plaza. We will have
food vendors, Paul's Pastries King Cakes, Gumbo, Beer and much more! Admission is free! If you are interested
in participating in the Gumbo Contest, being a volunteer and you are a local food vendor, please call Meredith
Rea at 601.693.3007. Also, you can find them on face book for more information and discussion. The Meridian
Downtown Association would like to thank Benefits Management Group for helping to sponsor this event! |
Meridian's 150th Birthday Happy
Birthday Meridian! There will be a celebration in Dumont Plaza on February 10, 2010. The birthday cake will
be cut at 10:00 a.m. This will be the kick-off of the sesquicentennial with many more events to follow throughout the year.
Please come and join us for this special event! |
Love Out Loud! 5K Saturday, February
20, 2010 in Downtown Meridian, Dumont Plaza at 8:00 a.m. 5K Run/Walk 1 Mile Fun Run and Tot Trot. * Featuring
Professional Chip Timing * Dri-Fit T-Shirts for first 200 pre-registered runners. Race Day (Rain
or Shine) 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. packet pick-up and late registration 7:55
a.m. Pre-Race Ceremony 8:00 a.m. 5K Run and Walk 8:45 a.m. 1 Mile Fun Run 9:00 a.m. Tot Trot 10:00
a.m. Awards or as soon as available For more information, please call David Hopkins at 601.616.5051 or email: info@lovenow.org |
Elegance Ballroom Dance & Fitness Studio Offers:
Pilates, Yoga, Belly Dancing, Body Boot Camp, Latin Dance Aerobics, Sassy Sweet Aerobics, Bollywood Ballet, Booty Ballet,
Piloxing, Tai Chi, Yogilates and of course the famous Ballroom Dancing! Call for the "Unlimited" special!
No Memberships, No Contracts. Class space is limited. They are located at 2208 Front St. Meridian, MS 39301. Leslie
Marshall can be reached at 601.934.1414. |
Weidmann's Restaurant and Monkey Bar: Tonight's special, February 1, 2010, is
Destin Black Grouper with Perlan (a low country rice stew) Wednesday night's special, February 3, 2010, at the Monkey Bar includes: Barbecue
Ribs with baked beans, potato salad, cole slaw $12.00 Saturday
night's special, February 6, 2010, at the Monkey Bar includes: Spaghetti and
Meatball, plate $10.00 There is live entertainment at the Monkey Bar, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. For more
information, call 601.581.5770 |
Rush Hospital Rush Hospital announces Heart Smart Health Fair & Seminar. Tuesday, February 2, 2010
from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the MSU-Riley Center. You'll learn heart healthy tips from their professional team
of cardiologists, receive free blood pressure, bone density, blood sugar screenings, and learn healthy cooking tips.
Lap-band surgery information, heart healthy giveaways and door prizes will be provided. For more information please
call Laura Davis, Director of Marketing, Rush Health Systems at 601.703.3220 |
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Alliance for Downtown Meridian Address/2120-A 5th Street; Meridian,
MS 39301 |
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