Sand in the Streets Summer Concert Season Expands

Kinston's downtown concert series gains new momentum this summer hosting a lineup of high profile bands who attract enthusiastic audiences wherever they play.

The summer series, known as Sand in the Streets concerts, begins June 28, 2007 with the regional favorite Spare Change, a Kinston area group known for its diverse music style and a devoted following of all ages.

The concluding show, Sept. 20, 2007, will showcase The Embers, a group of musicians known everywhere for high energy showmanship. In all, Sand in the Streets will feature a total of seven groups featuring a diverse cast of musicians to appeal to the widest audience, according to Pride director Adrian King.

"We have worked to expand the concert series this summer," he said, "not just in terms of numbers of concerts, but also in terms of a broader range of musical styles and tastes."

All concerts will be held in Neuseway Park on the banks of the Neuse River at the intersection of Gordon and Mitchell Streets in downtown Kinston. Each show will begin at 6:00 pm for two hours of non-stop music.

The full line up follows:

• June 28: Spare Change
• July 12: Super Grit Cowboy Band
• July 26: Band of Oz
• August 9: Craig Woolard
• August 23: Mustang Sally
• September 6: Dick Knight Express Band
• September 20: The Embers

King explained that Pride sponsors the concert series in part to call attention to the downtown as a center of entertainment, a place to enjoy life, to shop and to dine.

The 2006 Sand in the Streets series featured five bands.

Developers' Ideas for Power Plant
To Be Sought By Riverfront Task Force

Pride of Kinston's Waterfront - Now! Task Force has been given permission by the Kinston City Council to issue Request for Proposals from entrepreneurs and developers throughout the East Coast to get the best ideas possible for future use of Kinston's old power plant, a landmark located on the river at the end of Atlantic Avenue.

The City's favorable action to the plan was given May 21, 2007 following a presentation by Dr. Lyn Turner, co-chair of the task force. Dr. Turner also reported that the owner of the adjacent property, formerly the Glen Raven textile mill, is considering the possibility of developing his property into an upscale residential community.

Both the power plant and the Glen Raven properties are located on the bank of the Neuse River, and were the focus of recommendations developed by the North Carolina State University College of Design team in 2006. A summary of the College of Design plans was presented to the Lenoir County Commission earlier in the day May 21, 2007.

Downtown Mural to Highlight Local History

Artist Ryan Davis explains the 24-foot by 16-foot mural he is painting on the side of Christopher's Restaurant in downtown Kinston to Sheila Smith, Christopher employee. The mural, a part of the Community Council for the Arts' public art program, is being supported with a grant from the Design Committee of Pride of Kinston. Davis, an East Carolina University graduate, says the mural will consist of four panels depicting Kinston's historic Harmony Hall, a tobacco field, Confederate and Union soldiers, and an early 1900's downtown Kinston scene. A constant stream of onlookers quiz Davis about the mural. "This will add an interesting and colorful feature to our downtown," according to Shirley Herring, chair of Pride's Design Committee.

Mar. 29 favored by runners and volunteers
For the 2008 Kinston 8000: Run for the River

A poll of runners and volunteers shortly after the 2007 race seems to favor the Mar. 29, 2008 date over the weekend before, according to Pride Director Adrian King.

"We polled our runners and volunteers and they voted by a substantial margin for the weekend after Easter," he said. Easter 2008 will be Mar. 23. Saturday after Easter will be Mar. 29, he noted, "and although this might conflict with some, the Easter weekend offers even more obstacles. One of our aims is to set in people's minds that Kinston's race is the last Saturday in March. We want to 'own' this time for the Run for the River."

Gardeners Spruce Up Herritage

Members of Kinston's Home Gardeners garden club convened on Herritage Street May 10th to re-plant the pots along the street with spring flowers...adding a touch of color to the busy street. Herritage will soon welcome two new businesses: a gift shop and a kitchen utensils store.

A Future for Herritage Street?

Pride of Kinston and its Design Committee earlier this Spring engaged design company Rivers & Associates of Greenville to develop a concept of what a refurbished Herritage Street could look like. The drawing illustrates underground power lines, bricked sidewalks, colorful facades, attractive landscaping and creative lighting fixtures along the street. The design concept envisions a redesigned Herritage Street from King Street to the intersection with Peyton Avenue.

Merchants along the street will be invited to a workshop in mid-June to consider proposed improvements to this shopping and dining section of downtown Kinston.

The Greenville company is also designing a pedestrian plan for Kinston under the auspices of the city's planning department.