Clean Up Day volunteers collect a lot of trash
Nearly 50 volunteers from throughout Kinston took no notice of overcast skies Saturday (April 28) and poured into downtown with a single mission in mind: to pick up trash.
Aim was to make downtown look clean and appealing for the thousands of people who will attend the BBQ Festival on the Neuse May 2-5, 2012, centered in Pearson Park and around the Farmers' Market on Herritage Street. The festival has become one of the largest in the State.
Downtown Clean Up has become a staple in Pride of Kinston's arsenal of activities to make the central business district attractive to business, visitors and tourists.
After registering at Clean Up headquarters in Pearson Park, volunteers—equipped with gloves, orange vests and orange trash bags—spread out along the major downtown streets, i.e. King Street, Queen Street, McLewean Street, North and Caswell Streets, Herritage Street, in Pearson Park itself and along the edge of Mitchelltown.
The volunteers were treated to lunch courtesy of John McPhaul and Chick-fil-A, 4499 US Highway 70 West.
Tree planting part of the event
Near the end of the three-hour experience, volunteers gathered to plant a black gum tree along the edge of Pearson Park to commemorate Arbor Day month. The tree, and 6 others since 2006, was donated by the Charles Hughes Construction Company. The tree planting has become an integral part of Clean Up Day activity.
Hughes and associates Philip Southerland, Rafael Garcia and Solomon Rocha, were on hand to assist with the planting ceremony. The construction employees worked with Dr. and Ms. Charles Herring and other volunteers to remove dead shrubs, weeds and unsightly vines along the edge of Pearson Park. A large mound of orange bags, full of debris, was left as a reminder of the clean up day.
Volunteers and leaders came from the Omega Psi Phi and Delta Sigma Theta fraternities, Rochelle Middle School, Sampson School, Kinston High School, North Lenoir High School and Parrott Academy. City volunteers included Mayor pro tem Joe Tyson and City Councilman Sammy Aiken. Former mayor O.A. (Buddy) Ritch and Rose Clark who heads the Mitchelltown Preservation Society also pitched in to help.
Scenes of Kinston's Downtown Clean Up Day
2012 Sand in the Streets lineup announced
Pride has announced the line up for the 2012 Sand in the Streets concert series to be kicked off May 5, 2012 as part of the Chamber of Commerce’s huge BBQ Festival on the Neuse—May 3-5, 2012.
Sand in the Streets fans mob the stage during Pepsi Night as company executives toss T shirts and other souvenirs during the Four Knights Band concert July 14, 2011. Minges Bottling Group/Pepsi has been a season sponsor for the popular outdoor concert series for several years.
The Neuse riverbank festival attracts thousands every year. Pride supports the festival by sponsoring a concert to add to the festivities. The 2012 Pride band will be The Grass Cats.
Chris Hill, operations manager for the City of Kinston, and a fiddle player, is the only local member of the band which is based in the Research Triangle area of the State.
By tradition, the 2012 series will end with Band of Oz in August.
The line up follows:
May 5 The Grass Cats/Festival on the Neuse May 10 The Monitors (with Dick Knight) May 24 Spare Change June 14 The Revelers June 28 Super Grit Cowboy Band July 4 Pizazz July 12 Suicide Blonde July 26 The Four Knights Band Aug. 9 Carolina Beach Band Aug. 23 Band of Oz
Vision
"The vision of Pride of Kinston, Inc. is a downtown on the banks of the Neuse River that serves as the gateway to Eastern North Carolina. Our appreciation of history guides our future and promotes the magic to grow business, recreation, and the arts."
Show your PRIDE!
Order your Kinston license tag to display on the front of your automobiles. Click a plate to download a printable order form for the plate you want...
What Is Pride of Kinston?
The mission of Pride of Kinston, Inc., established in 1984, is to lead downtown revitalization in Kinston using the Main Street approach developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which promotes economic development within the context of historic preservation.
Pride of Kinston is one of 57 Main Street communities in North Carolina in a program coordinated by the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Community Assistance. (www.nccommerce.com). For more information about Pride of Kinston, see About Pride.
.gif)
Click here for 2012 results...
In Your Hometown: A Look at Kinston’s Past and Future
by Amy Kibler
Pride of Kinston • 327 North Queen Street • Kinston, NC 28501• (252)
522-4676
Located in the Kinston Enterprise Center
Artist Bruce D. Ziegler has generously made available to Pride his portrait of
downtown Kinston as signature for Pride's website.