Monthly Archives: May 2011

Free Basketball Clinic this Saturday

Yep, it’s true. School is out. That means students are cheering and parents are boo(hoo)ing. Keep your kids busy this summer by giving them something fun to do.

If your kids like basketball, then they may be interested in attending the Eric Strothers Basketball Clinic. This clinic will take place this Saturday, June 4, from 11 a.m. — 3 p.m. The clinic is open to students from 1st grade to 12th grade and will give them 4 hours of pointers from Eric Strothers, the associate head coach of JSU’s basketball team.

For more information on this free basketball clinic, contact the following persons:

Coach Wright Busching, (601) 979-2421

Coach Jason Willis, (601) 979-2359

Coach Reginald Johnson, (601) 979-0659

Men’s Basketball Secretary, (601) 979-2314

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Money Management Workshops to be offered for FREE at JSU

Image by Ken Teegardin of Flickr (http://www.SeniorLiving.Org)

Your dollar says it can’t take any more. With energy costs rising on one side and food costs rising on the other side, your poor dollar is on the verge of being stretched to brokenness. Nevertheless, relief is available.

Some money problems are the result of forces that are beyond our circumstances. Others, however, are the result of poor money management. It is within this money management that you can save your overstretched dollar.

That is why the Center for University-Based Development at Jackson State University invites you to participate in a series of free workshops on budgeting, credit repair, payday lending, home ownership, and investments. The first workshop will be held on Tuesday, May 31 at 12 noon in the JSU Student Center (Ballroom A, corner of John R. Lynch and Dalton Streets).

Tuesday’s workshop will feature Amia D. Edwards, financial specialist with CredAbility, and will focus on the keys to financial success.

These workshops are free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided; however, you are strongly encouraged to register by calling (601) 979-2255 by Friday, May 27.

P.S. This blog is one of the efforts of JSU’s Center for University-Based Development.

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Today’s LivingSocial deal is from the original Stamps Super Burger

Photo from LivingSocial

Here’s a deal in West Jackson that’s worth sharing. Get $16 worth of food & drink from Stamps (on Dalton) for only $8. You can feed the whole family with this deal for cheap! But hurry. LivingSocial is offering this special price for today only.

Need a Stamps menu? Take at look at the menu here.

Click the link below to learn more about (or to purchase) the deal:

The Best Daily Deals in Jackson – $16 to Spend on Food and Drink.

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Photos from Tour of Blackburn Middle School

Auditorium

On May 12th, Blackburn Middle School administrators and PTSA hosted a final public tour of the school. Blackburn is slated to be demolished very soon as the new version of the school takes shape right next door.

The event had a great turnout of former Blackburn Middle, Blackburn Jr. High, and Jim Hill School graduates–all of whom uttered memories of their school as they toured the building.

It’s exciting to see that the students of Blackburn will be getting a brand new school for the upcoming school year. However, it’s a little disheartening to see a structure–originally built in 1912–become only a memory. It would have been awesome if the old Blackburn could become West Jackson’s version of Duling School!

Nevertheless, decisions have been made and beyond any sentiment is the fact that hundreds of West Jackson middle school students will be able to learn in a modern facility constructed just for them.

Below are some photos taken during the tour. For more photos, visit our Facebook photo album.

By the way, if you are interested in purchasing a brick from the old school, contact the school’s office at (601) 960-5329. The bricks are $85, and the first 100 bricks purchased by tomorrow (May 20) will be installed into the library of the new school as a memoriam to the original Blackburn. Proceeds will go to benefit the efforts of the Blackburn Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA).

Click here for more photos on our Facebook Page

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Lifelong West Jackson resident turns Sensational 60

Mrs. Blonda Mack (photo by Jackie Davis)

Today, a group of friends gathered for what Blonda Mack calls her “sensational 60″th birthday. Mrs. Mack, a lifelong West Jackson resident and an avid Washington Addition neighborhood advocate, celebrated her birthday at the Country Fisherman.

Now, if you ever want to know some history about Washington Addition, then talk to Mrs. Mack. And if you want to hear the straight honest truth about anything, then ask Mrs. Mack.

We don’t do many birthday postings on here, but we definitely want to be sure to wish Blonda Mack a Happy 60th Birthday.

Happy Birthday Mrs. Mack!

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Say goodbye to the old MESC building

Years ago, my dad worked at the Mississippi Employment Security Commission. While it was called “The Commission” by the employees who worked there, it was often seen as “the unemployment office” by those on the outside.

Anyway, times change. In 2004, “The Commission” became the Mississippi Department of Employment Security and received a new building along with the new name. After being housed at 1520 W. Capitol Street for 45 years, MDES moved into a sparkling new, 112,000 square foot building in the Echelon development off of Interstate 220. What it left behind was lonely brick office building.

In 2006, the Jackson Public School District took ownership of the facility, and today…the building is a goner! JPS plans to build a school in its place that is bound to look much better than the tan box that once stood there. The new school will merge the student populations at Barr Elementary (which is across the street) and Poindexter Elementary (which is around the corner).

There were no start and completion dates for construction available at the time of this post.

Old MESC building before demolition (Photo: Google)

Recent photos of building (or at least, what WAS a building):

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FIGMENT has arrived!

Looking for something different to do? Is FREE the right price for you? Then definitely stop by the FIGMENT Jackson event on Saturday and Sunday. Folks, this thing started in New York City, expanded to Boston, and made it’s third location lil’ ole Jackson, Mississippi. That is definitely something to be proud of.

What is FIGMENT? It’s a free “participatory arts event”. This means that this isn’t your standard art show. The art that will be on display is all about putting you into the art. Need an example? Today, a crew of artists were setting up what promises to be an awesome project. Their project is a huge, metal, circular shape object that spirals like a chromosome (yep, those science classes are coming back to mind!).  The cool part about these artists’ project is that visitors control music with the press of one of the many light pods that line the object.

FIGMENT is definitely a must see, and it’s certainly something that we’re proud to have in West Jackson.

So if your kids and wife/husband are looking for something to do– bring them! And if you don’t have any kids or aren’t married, bring some friends. And if you don’t feel like hanging with your friends (i.e., “me time”), then bring yourself. FIGMENT is all about bringing someone or something. What are you bringing?

FIGMENT will take place on Saturday from 10 a.m. – midnight and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. All activities will take place at the Plant on 80 (the old Coca Cola plant, 1421 Highway 80 w)

P.S. Here’s a video of the prototype of the project we attempted to explain earlier. The final product is WAAAY bigger, but this will give you a gist of how it’s supposed to work. In the video, the ones that Tim chose to light up created the beat for the music.

Related Posts:

The arts scene is coming to West Jackson

Figment…more than imaginary

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Get your car washed for a good cause Saturday

This is a quick reminder: Don’t forget to swing by the Opportunity Center and support their car wash. The cost is $5 to ride in shining style and the event will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The opportunity center is located at 845 Amite Street and is Jackson’s only daytime homeless shelter.

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ZooBrew: Lions and Tigers and Beers, Oh My!

40 specialty beers in one location? Check.

Margaritas from Paco’s Magarita’s Mexican Grill? Check.

Tyson’s Wing Cook Competition, and you get to eat the wings? Double Check.

Music from The Sole Shakers Band? Mic Check (1, 2).

The final check comes with your attendance! The Jackson Zoo, located here in West Jackson, will host its 4th Annual ZooBrew this Friday, May 13, from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. The event offers guests to try various types of beers, lagers, ales, and hops while serving as a fundraiser at the same time.

This year’s event features brews from Abita Brewing, Anchor Brewing, Atlanta Brewing, Boston Beer Company, Flying Dog Brew, Gambrinus Imports, High Falls, H.P. Bulmer, Lazy Magnolia Brewing, Tenth & Blake, Rogue Ales, and Yazoo Brewing Company.

The cost to attend is $20 for members of the Jackson Zoo and $25 for nonmembers.

Oh, and this year the Zoo is offering park and ride service at two different locations. If you park in the coffee bus area of Highland Village or the Barnes & Noble area (probably the side facing the interstate) of Renaissance, then for $10 you can catch a ride to the zoo. The meeting time for shuttle service is 5:30 p.m. at both locations.

Not ready to head home after a few beers? No worries. The official ZooBrew Afterparty will take place at Underground 119. What’s even better is that the after party is free if you show your stub from ZooBrew.

So get ready for some Beer, Beer, and Mo’ Beer! The event will happen rain or shine.

Sponsors

The Jackson Zoo, Tyson, Regions Bank, Raise Your Pints Mississippi, Jackson Free Press, Lazy Magnolia Brewing Co., Miss 103, Z 106.7, Q 105.1, Wyatt Tarrant & Combs LLP

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Last Public Tour of the old Blackburn Middle School

Sorry for the late notice, but I noticed the following announcement on WLBT this morning. The station reported it as a “demolition ceremony”. Although the current Blackburn will soon be demolished to make room for the almost completed new Blackburn, no demolition will take place today.

____________________________

Blackburn Administrators and Parent Teacher Association are inviting community members and former Blackburn, Jim Hill (Jr. and Sr. High), and Sally Reynolds graduates to attend the Last Public Tour of Blackburn Middle School. The tour will take place today from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

During the event, You will also have a chance to purchase a commemorative brick salvaged from the old school. Your purchase will assist with the efforts of Blackburn’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA), and will be installed along a commemorative wall in the library of the new Blackburn Middle School. The first 100 bricks sold by May 20th will be installed along this wall and can be personalized to include an engraved name or special message.

A reception will take place in Blackburn’s gymnasium. This is the same place where the first graduation ceremony of Jim Hill Sr. High School (previously Jim Hill Jr. High) was held in 1953.

This event is a great chance to tour the same building in which Richard Wright and countless others have been educated.

For more information, contact Blackburn Middle School at 601-960-5329. Blackburn is located at 1311 W. Pearl Street and is on the corner of W. Pearl and Dalton Streets.

Related Posts:

The new Blackburn Middle School is coming along (includes recent photos)

Something for the New School (includes rendering and concept)

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