Sand in the Streets bands attract large crowds
Neuseway Park becomes major downtown destination
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One of the main goals of Pride of Kinston's Sand in the Streets concert series is to bring people to downtown. The 2008 concert series has done just that... highlighting Neuseway Park on the bank of the Neuse River as a place to be on a summer Thursday night.
By all accounts, the largest crowd to attend a Sand in the Streets concert in its five-year history came in droves June 12, 2008 to hear Chairman of the Board. Well over a thousand concert goers, according to some estimates, crammed into Neuseway Park to revel in the band's special brand of beach music.
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They came back June 26, 2008 to hear Jackie Gore & the Legends of Beach; and again July 10, 2008 to dance and sing with Liquid Pleasure, marking the half-way point in the 2008 series of six concerts. Bryan Hanks, content editor of the Free Press was celebrity emcee for the Liquid Pleasure concert. Beach music takes a break July 24, 2008 when a popular blue grass group, The Grass Cats, takes the stage. WITN-TV's Heather King is the star emcee for The Grass Cats performance.
A week later, July 31, 2008, beach music returns when The Embers perform for their second Streets' engagement in two years; and the concerts end August 14, 2008 with Band of Oz.
"We are gratified that the community have embraced our concerts with great enthusiasm," according to Pride director Adrian King. "This year we've enjoyed more sponsors than ever before, larger and loyal audiences, not to mention some great music. It's wonderful to see whole families come out to enjoy the music and the atmosphere," he said.
King noted that Sand in the Streets is attracting a regional audience, fans from Goldsboro, New Bern, Bridgeton, Greenville, La Grange and from throughout Lenoir County. He noted that Pride is already working to line up the 2009 series.
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He praised the commitment of Streets' sponsors: the Kinston-Lenoir County Tourism Development Authority, Realo Discount Drugs, The Free Press, TACC 9 television, Minges Bottling Group/Pepsi Cola; Bojangles, First Citizens Bank, Perry Management, R.A. Jeffreys Distributing, First South Bank, Chick-fil-A, Lenoir Memorial Hospital, King's Restaurant, Corporate Resources, Woodmen of the World, m3 Consulting and Services, the little bank, Gold's Gym, Coastal Connections, American Tool Rental and Christopher's Restaurant.
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Officers selected for Pride’s 2008-2009 Year
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Alision Merritt Board Chairman |
Alison Merritt of Alison & Company Salon and Spa was re-elected chairman of the Pride board of directors at the organization’s annual meeting June 26, 2008, and attorney Mark Herring of the White & Allen law firm was re-elected vice chairman.
In addition, a new board member and treasurer Kevin Zoltek was named to Pride’s leadership team at the annual meeting, and Isaac Hines was re-elected secretary of the board.
Neuse Regional Librarian Agnes Ho, and downtown businessman John Marston were selected to continue as at-large members of the board’s executive committee during 2008-2009.
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In addition, two new board members were elected to three-year terms: architect Jeffrey Brooks of the Dunn & Dalton firm; and William Jarman of the Jarman Construction Company, was elected to return to the board of directors where he has served previously.
Sand in the Streets Schedule
Pride is working to make this summer’s series the best yet. The lineup, and dates are:
- July 24: The Grass Cats
- July 31: Pending
- Aug. 14: Band of Oz
Voluntary "Round Up" Program launched
Kinston residents being asked to help Pride in downtown revitalization
Pride of Kinston is reaching out to the community to ask for help in its efforts to restore downtown as a vital economic center of the region.
Approximately 13,300 customers of Kinston utilities, beginning in February, will be given the opportunity to "round up" their payments to the nearest whole dollar when paying their bills. The difference between what is owed, and the next dollar will be contributed to Pride to help the revitalization agency expand its current Facade Grant program.
"Our community's downtown is like the root system of a tree," said Adrian King, Pride director. "If the roots get diseased and dies, the whole tree will perish." He emphasized that the "Round Up" program will be strictly voluntary. "A household or business can sign up for the program, and then drop it whenever they want to," he said. More...
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Pride of Kinston • 327 North Queen Street • Kinston, NC 28501• (252)
522-4676
Located in the Kinston Enterprise Center