2010 Sand in the Streets kicks off on high note

Jeff Minges, President and CEO of Minges Bottling Group, welcomes the audience to the summer's first Sand in the Streets concert June 3, 2010. Standing with Mr. Minges is Tommy Pharo (left), manager of Minges' business development, with Chris Morlock of Jupiter Jones waiting to begin the show. Minges Bottling Group signed on as the Title Sponsor for the 2010 Sand in the Streets concert series which opened with the Jupiter Jones group. A huge crowd jammed into Pearson Park to help kick off the season.

Pride of Kinston's Sand in the Streets 2010 summer concert series got off on schedule Thursday, June 3, 2010 with a large crowd in Pearson Park savoring the tunes of the Jupiter Jones band.

"It was a super beginning for the series," according to Pride director Adrian King. Threatened rain clouds never materialized to dampen the crowd's enthusiasm. Helping to launch the series was Jeff Minges, President and CEO of Minges Bottling Group, along with his business development manager Tommy Pharo. "We are truly grateful for Minges' support this season," commented King.

"We are also thankful for our other supporters," he continued. The June 3, 2010 event sponsor was Perry Management, joining with Realo Discount Drug Stores as perennial contributors to Pride's summer series.

• Season sponsor is Realo Discount Drug Stores.
• Senior sponsor is R.A. Jeffreys Distributing Company.
• Single concert sponsors are Perry Management & Wachovia Bank
• General supporters are First Citizens Bank, Lenoir Memorial Hospital, the little bank, m3 Consulting & Services
• Major in kind supporters: The Free Press, Fairway Outdoor Advertising, Christopher's Restaurant, Curtis Media Group East, King's Restaurant and Select Food Service.
  

The next concert is June 17, 2010 featuring the Four Knights Band. All concerts, free to the public, are held in downtown Pearson Park beginning at 6:00 pm concluding at 8:00 pm.

JAMMIN': The Jupiter Jones band revs up the the crowd Thursday June 3, 2010 as the opening act for the 2010 Sand in the Streets summer concert series. A huge throng crowded into Pearson Park for the first regular show of the six-year-old series sponsored by Pride of Kinston.

A REFRESHING MOMENT: Jeff Minges (left), President and CEO of Minges Bottling Group, and Tommy Pharo (right), business development manager for the Pepsi company, stop for a refreshing moment with Pride director Adrian King at the Pepsi wagon during the June 3, 2010 Sand in the Streets concert featuring Jupiter Jones. Minges is the summer series' Title Sponsor, making a major investment in the outdoor music concerts. The shows take place every other Thursday in Pearson Park through August. The full schedule can be found at www.downtownkinston.com.