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'People would kill ... to have what you have in Vicksburg'
[01/29/08]
By Lauchlin Fields
Vicksburg's downtown is the envy of all other Mississippi communities, said Mississippi Main Street Association central district director Jan Miller.
"People would kill in other towns to have what you have in Vicksburg," she told a group of downtown business owners and community members Monday evening at the Vicksburg Main Street Annual Meeting at The Ware House Sports Grill.
Miller, who lives in Columbus and arrived in Vicksburg Sunday night to look around the downtown area, said people who live here should be proud of what they have.
"Y'all -- oh my goodness. You should be walking around like peacocks," she said. "Be thankful for what you have. Tout it -- to your locals."
Vicksburg Main Street director Rosalie Theobald said the past year has been one of ups and downs, but assured the group that the downtown business development program made it through it all.
"It was the best of times. It was the worst of times," she said, quoting Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" and referring to changes felt throughout 2007. Those included changes in location and personnel and work to change zoning of downtown to disallow nightclubs, an effort spawned by continued reports of rowdiness outside a downtown club that led to a patrons death.
"In spite of it all, Main Street came through 2007 with flying colors," she said. "Our bills were paid on time. Our ads got out on time. The parades went down on time."
Harry Sharp, chairman of the board for the past 11 years, seconded Theobald.
"Every year has its challenges, and, boy, we've had some doozies," he said.
Main Street, which collects fees from its members to serve the special tax district that makes up much of downtown, collected more than $5,000 in dues throughout the year from 150 members, Sharp said.
"We are growing and very excited about it," he said.
Main Street also held 10 promotional events, which included the Mardi Gras Parade, Riverfest, the Christmas Open House and the Miss Mississippi Parade. The organization also awarded a facade grant to Wells & LaHatte, a downtown appliance store. Other downtown improvements with which Main Street was involved included additional waterfront murals, landscaping along Washington Street and the sale and cleanup of the former Carr School building on Cherry Street.
Sharp said, although nine businesses left throughout the year, downtown became home to 17 new businesses. Washington Street also has 25 upper-level apartments, nearly a 100 percent increase over 11 years ago, Sharp added.
Miller challenged the downtown business owners to talk positively about Vicksburg and to find out "who you are."
"I think you have some challenges. I don't think you know who you are or what you have. What do we want to be when we grow up?" she said. "When you talk about Vicksburg, talk about downtown -- every time you open your mouth -- as long as it's positive and it's about downtown."
Miller, who praised the local Main Street for being "the best city Main Street" in the state, said she will return later in the year to propose an advertising campaign that focuses on merchants and appeals to locals more.
"People would kill in other towns to have what you have in Vicksburg," she told a group of downtown business owners and community members Monday evening at the Vicksburg Main Street Annual Meeting at The Ware House Sports Grill.
Miller, who lives in Columbus and arrived in Vicksburg Sunday night to look around the downtown area, said people who live here should be proud of what they have.
"Y'all -- oh my goodness. You should be walking around like peacocks," she said. "Be thankful for what you have. Tout it -- to your locals."
Vicksburg Main Street director Rosalie Theobald said the past year has been one of ups and downs, but assured the group that the downtown business development program made it through it all.
"It was the best of times. It was the worst of times," she said, quoting Charles Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" and referring to changes felt throughout 2007. Those included changes in location and personnel and work to change zoning of downtown to disallow nightclubs, an effort spawned by continued reports of rowdiness outside a downtown club that led to a patrons death.
"In spite of it all, Main Street came through 2007 with flying colors," she said. "Our bills were paid on time. Our ads got out on time. The parades went down on time."
Harry Sharp, chairman of the board for the past 11 years, seconded Theobald.
"Every year has its challenges, and, boy, we've had some doozies," he said.
Main Street, which collects fees from its members to serve the special tax district that makes up much of downtown, collected more than $5,000 in dues throughout the year from 150 members, Sharp said.
"We are growing and very excited about it," he said.
Main Street also held 10 promotional events, which included the Mardi Gras Parade, Riverfest, the Christmas Open House and the Miss Mississippi Parade. The organization also awarded a facade grant to Wells & LaHatte, a downtown appliance store. Other downtown improvements with which Main Street was involved included additional waterfront murals, landscaping along Washington Street and the sale and cleanup of the former Carr School building on Cherry Street.
Sharp said, although nine businesses left throughout the year, downtown became home to 17 new businesses. Washington Street also has 25 upper-level apartments, nearly a 100 percent increase over 11 years ago, Sharp added.
Miller challenged the downtown business owners to talk positively about Vicksburg and to find out "who you are."
"I think you have some challenges. I don't think you know who you are or what you have. What do we want to be when we grow up?" she said. "When you talk about Vicksburg, talk about downtown -- every time you open your mouth -- as long as it's positive and it's about downtown."
Miller, who praised the local Main Street for being "the best city Main Street" in the state, said she will return later in the year to propose an advertising campaign that focuses on merchants and appeals to locals more.
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nitsnitz wrote on May 25, 2009 1:41 AM:
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http://www.restoreteens.com/0/Teenage-Problems "
http://www.restoreteens.com/0/Teenage-Problems "
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mabdulbaaqee wrote on Feb 16, 2009 9:27 PM:
These pictures are of family members and I would a copy of them. If possible, please email them to my email address. If not, please advise.
Thanks. "