Hello Downtown Merchants and Friends of Downtown,

If any of you made it down to the Community Market on S. Lafayette St. last summer, I know you enjoyed the fresh locally-grown produce, homemade breads and cakes, art by local artists, and great fellowship! The Market will kick off in May with new hours: 8:00am-Noon.

There is a Market Fundraising Bash at Barrister’s (above Restaurant Tyler) this Friday evening from 6-9pm.

There will be door prizes given away throughout the event, and the Market organizers are in need of door prize donations. If you would like to donate a door prize (or make a donation as a sponsor) and have your business recognized, please contact me or Jeremiah Dumas atjdumas@gri.msstate.edu.

I hope to see you this Friday night!

Melissa Dixon
Blufish Design Studio
112 S. Lafayette St.
Starkville, MS 39759

office 662.324.0290
fax 662.324.0490
blufishdesign.com

And yes, he does say “can-do spirit” in this release….

Matt Cox for Mayor
Starkville, Mississippi
info@mattcoxformayor.com

For immediate release:

Cox to share bold vision for Starkville during Tuesday speech

STARKVILLE – Mayoral candidate Matt Cox will deliver a major speech at noon Tuesday [Feb. 24] at the community’s newest business to explain how Starkville can move closer to becoming the best small town in America.

The Democratic candidate will outline his platform for mayor at the Hilton Garden Inn, 975 Highway 12 East. His pro-business, community-minded approach to responsive government includes creating a better environment for job growth, quality of life and planning for the city’s future.

As a businessman, chairman of the Board of Alderman’s budget committee and community leader, Cox’s experience and knowledge of the community makes him the best leader to guide the city during the next four years.

Cox said business growth in the city such as the opening of the Hilton Garden Inn and the proposed Cotton Mills development point to Starkville’s bright future even during tough national and state economic forecasts.

“Starkville needs a mayor who can work with local, regional and national business and government leaders to keep jobs and a high quality of life in our city,” said Cox, who serves at Ward 5 alderman. “Starkville’s can-do spirit and community assets are key parts of making it a model community.”

Starkville’s Democratic primary will be May 5.

For more information about Cox’s campaign for mayor, visit www.MattCoxforMayor.com.
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Making Our Neighborhood Safer and Better

Our community  continues to develop and grow as we move into the 21st century. What have we gained, and what has been lost? How do we maintain a sense of community and make our neighborhoods safe and livable?

Thursday, February 19 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Bost Extension Building B Auditorium, MSU Campus

The Forum: Oktibbeha County Leadership Development Class of 2008-2009 (http://msucares.com/forum) invites you to participate in a Community Discussion focusing on issues of public safety: what are the problems and how can the community, the schools, families, and individuals work together to solve them.

We will sit at tables of ten. Our emcee will ask a series of questions to the room and the participants at each table discuss the topic amongst themselves. This is your chance to be heard, or raise your own questions and concerns. There will be four rounds of questions, followed by an open discussion. A scribe at each table will take notes of the general discussion, but your anonymity as a participant will be protected. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served throughout the evening.

The data gathered will be summarized in a report and made available to all candidates running for local offices, civic leaders, educational leaders, public safety officials and the general public.

Our Leadership Class of 2008-2009 will use the information gained from this Community Discussion to help us establish projects that will impact our community and make it a better,  safer place for all of its citizens.

This forum is limited to adults over the age of 18. Depending on the interest and results, a separate session may be held for the youth of the community.

If you are planning on attending, please RSVP to the Southern Rural Development Center at 325-3207 or by e-mail to alanb@srdc.msstate.edu. This will enable us to get a count for refreshments and to have name tags made before the event.

Yoknapatawpha Arts Council & Yocona International Folk Festival

Present

The ECHO Performing Arts Festival 2009

The Way to the Heart:
Changing Food, Foodways and Culture

The ECHO Performing Arts Festival 2009
features Native and non-Native artists representing the cultures of Alaska, Hawai`i, Mississippi and Massachusetts.

Under the direction of Tau Dance Theater of Honolulu, Hawai`i, the artists have created a performance piece infused with the oral tradition, dance and music of all of their regions.

The Way to the Heart: Changing Food, Foodways and Culture honors the
traditional and contemporary uses of food as they relate to survival,
community building, culture, and comfort, and the effects that changes have had on people’s lives

2 FREE PERFORMANCES
THURSDAY, FEBRAURY 26, 2009
3:30PM & 6:00 PM

3:30 pm program special student performance

Reserved seats for students & community groups
To reserve seats contact:

Powerhouse Community Arts Center
413 South 14th Street
(University at S.14th behind Newk’s)
Phone 662-236-6429
yacoperations@gmail.com
www.oxfordarts.com
www.echospace.org