Comments by clambert58
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Posted on October 30 at 7:38 p.m.
There will be a police escort in front of and behind the walking group - for traffic control - but nonetheless the police will be there.
Posted on October 30 at 7:34 p.m.
It's for children grammar school age and younger.
Posted on October 10 at 4:17 p.m.
EnKiKur - thank you very much for further explaining your comments. I love your idea for a kids festival - and instead of belaboring any points I would like to make - I know you have good intentions and are very informed and intelligent - so I will only say that I will look further into some of your suggestions - please keep them coming - and e-mail me at downtown@natchez.org anytime. Thank you for caring.
Posted on October 10 at 8:02 a.m.
Okay - I promise - here's my conclusion. If we all come together - and everyone's suggestions/ideas are rolled up into different things my organization tries to bring about - we all can take ownership into what's happening downtown - and into saving it and preventing it from becoming something it shouldn't be. So call me sometime - I always make time for citizens who may want to pontificate - who many want to complain - who may want to blast me - and that's fine - my only caveate is that along with that you have to tell me something positive you want to see done. I want your ideas - ideas that we can bring to life - that benefit downtown. So - I have many, many ideas in my treasure chest that I've received from many, many caring citizens - and each one takes many, many hours of work to bring about - believe it or not. But - one by one - we'll make it happen - shaping them along the way so they do not detract from our history- our charm - our originality - but using them to enhance what we have - and becoming the fantastical place we were meant to be - and still are in so many ways.
Posted on October 10 at 7:59 a.m.
I know I have a lot to learn - and am not too proud to admit it - but I fight for what's right - and what I'm passionate about. You're also right when you say we need to educate people - that is THE key to so many of the issues you raise. BUT - I know my limitations - and I have to concentrate on that which I can possibly do something about. Bring excitement downtown - address issues such as parking, beautification, city ordinances on signage, etc. downtown - and I must say that I think most people of this town are all on the same page - everyone I've spoken to and asked for help - has come through. There is more good in this city than people realize - and that is our richest commodity - the people - the "living" history. Also, unless we bring our children downtown - take them around to historical sites - they will not have the passion for our city that we do - we MUST make a memory for them so when they are grown they remember something they want to fight for! Captain Natchez is not the glorification of days gone by - or days that some find never were - it was simply a cute name for a children's character - named for our glorious city. Be careful you don't read too much into things - this is a show designed for children to have something to do. I have fond memories of the "Johnny's Follies" show growing up - akin to your Buckskin Bill - and I wanted the children to have something like that here. Captain Natchez is a riverboat pirate - like Captain Jack in Pirates of the Carribean - it is pure fantasy and fun for the children. I do not intend to "indoctrinate" them into anything - except creativity and fun. The ticket prices are only $5 - we are a non-profit organization who does not receive enough money or raise much money - and we need something to survive. $5 is so inexpensive - because I wanted people to be able to afford to come - yet still try to raise a little something form organization. We are also splitting the profit with Natchez Little Theatre as they are partnering up with us to bring the show to the children. So - if we have 100 people show up - paying tickets that is - because I have donated about 100 tickets around town - that means we will walk away with $250. When you add up what I spent in posters, tickets and miscellaneous items - that really doesn't leave anything. So - I am praying that we have more than 100 tickets sold. Please contact me if you wish to talk to me about something or you have reservations about something I'm trying to do before you blast me - I'd really appreciate it. Also, one thing I feel strongly about is talking to people to see what they would like to see done downtown - or undone - because it is YOUR downtown - so YOU should have a voice. Of course, I cannot be everything to everyone - but I actually do try.
Posted on October 10 at 7:32 a.m.
So I'm not being so brief - like I said - I am passionate about this. I do NOT propose to bring business or anything downtown that changes the very thing that makes our historic downtown that which it is - its character - its history - its charm. I've been coming here and going downtown since "before I can remember" - as I said - my father grew up in Mississippi - Grenada and Jackson specifically - and a few other cities - so I - through my dad - have Mississippi roots - and I love and cherish them. I do NOT want our downtown to become another French Quarter - but guess what - if we don't go out there to bring in the right kind of business - maybe a grocery store or hardware store or shoe store or ladies clothing store or men clothing store - just like the ones there used to be - something else will come here - something we don't want! It's happening all over the country! We must be proactive in bringing what we want here. Let me make one thing perfectly clear - I do NOT want our Downtown to be exploited - but I DO want it to survive - and that is tough right now. There are many problems here - several of whch you address - and I do not suggest that I have the answers - but I do have some - and I have a great love for this city and for the downtown - and I will fight for it - and I want to help it survive - and thrive - and bring that which fits - that which enhances what we have. Change can be for good - if it means changing the boarded up buildings into a thriving precious grocery/hardware store like Mr. Drucker's in Petticoat Junction - or somethign else along that line - that's what I want. The unique, memoriable and special - that's what Downtown Natchez has been about - and should be about. I appreciate your answering me - and I hope you see by my words that I only want the best for Natchez - ALL of Natchez - and never, ever wish to exploit it or change it from what it historically (when it was thriving) is meant to be. Besides, it won't happen - Natchez has a spirit all her own - and "she" will guide us. In conclusion, I am not quite as eloquent as you are in your command of the English language or many of the issues - but I'm a quick study. I've worked in the legal field for the past 20 years - and in retailing (including my family's art gallery) for 20 years - yes - there's an overlap - many times I worked more than 1 job to make ends meet - or to assist my family. Anyway - I pray we find a way to make recycling work in this town - global warming is a HUGE problem for this country and is still not getting the attention it deserves because those in power don't care about the tomorrow they're leaving to our children - they only care about the almighty dollar they make today. I have a 26 year old daughter and a 7 year old son - so I have the child of today, tomorrow - and years to come!
Posted on October 10 at 7:19 a.m.
EnKiKur, I will be brief and to the point - I think you have ideas with much merit that need to be explored - and some should be moved on - but I don't agree with everything you suggest. For one thing, I don't think downtown should be only for retirees able to afford the 300 to 500 thousand dollar condos. You were right that I didn't mention my home state - and so I will. I was born and raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans. My father, although internationally known now, was a starving artist when I was born. I know first hand what it means to have your downtown exploited - one of my earliest memories is at the age of 6 or 7 holding a picket sign to fight the interstate they wanted to put through one of the oldest neighborhoods in New Orleans - tearing down buildings that were meanningless to the those in power because they were in the "poor" neighborhood. In order for a downtown to remain vital and alive - it should be a myriad of people - and yes - even families. Most of my fondest memories are of growing up in the French Quarter. I love retirees - am related to many - :0) - but one thing I am passionate about is the idea of bringing our children back downtown - letting them make memories downtown - which is also what Captain Natchez is about - by the way.
Posted on October 9 at 2:05 p.m.
Thank many of you for your wonderful comments - however - one I particularly wish to address is one made by EnKiKur - from where I grew up - calling someone a "carpetbagger" is fighting words - and I am highly insulted by your calling me that - which makes it obvious that you do not know me. I may have moved here from Las Vegas - but I only lived out there for 2 years. I am born and bred in the South - my father has Mississippi roots and we visited relatives and friends here my entire life. My entire family - since settling in America - has lived in the South. Has yours? If you look up the word carpetbagger in the dictionary it states this is a "derogatory term for politicians, swindlers, etc. from northern states who migrated south to take advantage of conditions following the Civil War." Since I am not a politician - I guess you consider me a swindler. Also, Nevada is a western state, not a northern one. However, I did not migrate to the south - I came home. While I find many of your comments interesting - this one I clearly did not and had to address it.
Posted on October 6 at 7:24 a.m.
I must point out that this would not be possible without the hard work of so many that were on the Asset Mapping Team - from out of town as well as locals - particularly, David Gardner, Peter Dale, Virginia Salmon, Ron and MiMi Miller, Roy Winkworth, Kevin Miers, Ann Stowers, Darlene Jones, Darrell White, Mayor Jake Middleton, and many, many others. Also, I'd like to specially thank the wonderful people with the Mississippi Development Authority and Mississippi State University, as well as the delightful people that joined us for this project. This was truly a joint effort that was put forth - so thank you all!
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Posted on October 30 at 9:34 p.m.
Yes
On Kids invited to trick-or-treat downtown Friday