City of Starkville ready to 'get swept up'

Micah Green

August 28, 2012 10:04:08 AM

The population in Starkville could easily double this weekend with the influx of Mississippi State University and Jackson State University football fans as they converge for Saturday's season-opening football game. 

The Greater Starkville Development Partnership wants to make sure the city looks fresh for the occasion. 

Wednesday, in conjunction with several sponsors, the GSDP will hold its ninth annual "Get Swept Up," a volunteer cleaning project to get Starkville ready for the thousands of game-day visitors. 

Anyone wanting to participate must sign up by 7 a.m. Wednesday, and volunteer forms are available at starkville.org. 

Austin Shaffer, vice president of membership for the Chamber of Commerce division of the GSDP, said more than 500 volunteers have signed up so far, breaking last year's total by more than 100. 

"We have had a tremendous response from citizens, businesses and Mississippi State," he said. "From small businesses, to large businesses, to individual members of the community, they are all coming out to help with this. It's just awesome." 

Volunteers will be separated into teams, and each team will be designated to a route the GSDP has laid out. 

Verizon Wireless is again one of several main sponsors and Eli Kennemur, retail sales manager for Starkville, said he thinks it's a great way to kick off football season. 

"It gets people really excited and ready to go for the season," Kennemur said. "But it's not just about that. It's about taking care of the city and doing it together. Anything we can do to help the environment and clean up waste and garbage is a good thing." 

Thanks to the generosity of Piggly Wiggly, Wal-Mart and Kroger, more than 700 bottles of water will be provided for volunteer workers.  

Volunteers will also receive a free T-shirt, along with bags, gloves and cleaning equipment. For more information contact the GSDP at 662-323-3322.

Read more: http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=18552#ixzz24r06nNay

Starkville Community Market to open Saturday, May 5

Find the Market on Facebook here!

The Starkville Community Market will open the season this Saturday, May 5 on the corner of Jackson and Lampkin Streets in Downtown Starkville. Vendors from around the region will set-up to sell the first of their Spring produce. We hope to see you there!

Starkville named 'Playful City' for second straight year

By NATHAN GREGORY
sdnreporter@yahoo.com 

See full article here

For the second straight year, Starkville was named a Playful City USA community today for its efforts to provide more recreational avenues for local children.

Approximately 213 communities were recognized by KaBOOM! this year with the distinction. KaBOOM! is a national non-profit organization devoted to saving play for children.

Starkville is one of only five communities recognized as a Playful City USA in Mississippi, with the other four being Amory, Hernando, Horn Lake and Senatobia. Starkville joins the latter three towns as repeat winners of the award.

Playful City USA is a national recognition program established in 2007 by KaBOOM! honoring cities and towns that make play a priority and develop unique programs for getting children active and healthy.

The benefits of being named a Playful City USA community include earning eligibility for grants via Let’s Play, a community partnership led by the Dr. Pepper -Snapple Group to get kids and families nationwide more active and healthy. Recipients will be announced next month.

In addition to its designation, Starkville was one of five communities highlighted by KaBOOM! for its innovative efforts to get local children and families more involved in recreational activity. The Starkville Parks Commission, Starkville School District, civic groups and businesses collaborated to invest in play by creating a joint-use agreement allowing for school play spaces to be open for public use during non-school hours.

Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman said he was pleased to see Starkville receive the distinction for the second year in a row.

“Creating more and better play spaces is something that is very important to us. Research shows that recreation improves a person’s physical and emotional well-being. Quality play spaces make recreation more fun. The more fun recreation is, the more likely it is that our citizens will engage it, leading up to a healthier, happier community,” Wiseman said. “The Playful City USA program is the most distinguished program recognizing quality environments for recreation in the country. We feel validated in our efforts that they continue to recognize this community.”

Starkville Parks Director Matthew Rye shared Wiseman’s enthusiasm in being recognized.

“We’re really excited about it. We have to continue to improve on what we have, and it shows we’re committed to play in general. Our belief is play is very important to the lifestyle of everybody, especially kids,” Rye said. “The projects we have going on confirms we are committed to that. It allows the school district and city to have some access or opportunity for grant money. Due to our joint-use agreement, whoever receives it benefits because they’re open public spaces.”

Heather Carson, who co-chairs a Play Task Force with Rye, said the collaborative efforts of the city, school district, and parent-teacher associations are why more avenues for play have been made available.

“Why we’re recognized is because we’re able to use the resources in our town to improve what families can get to. We built a great playground across from Grumpy’s and now that whole community will be able to walk to a new playground they didn’t have before,” Carson said. “What’s great about our city is that we’re not just talking about things; we’re actually doing them. There are some really cool projects that are actually breaking ground or have broken ground that it would be great for the citizens to be aware of.”

Co-PTA President for Sudduth Elementary Jennifer Davis said the process of raising funds for additions to the school’s playground to be geared toward children with disabilities is an example of how Starkville’s status as a haven for recreation for children is continuing to grow.
“It’s important that all youth in our city are able to have parks where they are comfortable to go play, get fresh air and have learning as they exercise. We’ve had some amazing city leaders to make this possible and put us on the map,” Davis said. “The recognition helps the momentum in making Starkville’s outdoor spaces more inviting for families and having it opens up more grant possibilities to further improve our city playgrounds.”

Copyright 2012 Starkville Daily News

Starkville, MS

Staff Writer

Starkville Daily News

unWINE POSTPONED to Friday, March 23!

unWINE Downtown Spring Tasting Notes — for FRIDAY!

By Mississippi's College Town

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

unWINE Downtown has been POSTPONED one day due to the chance of rainy weather. Join us onFRIDAY, March 23 from 5:30 to 9:30 Downtown for exclusive shopping at 20 shops offering 25% off and some deliciously fresh wines for Spring. Tickets are $30 each and may be purchased at the GSDP office during business hours or at check-in from 5:30 – 6:30 on Friday.

A special thank you goes to Main Street member Oak & Steel Wine & Spirits for choosing some outstanding wine selections that are both delicious and affordable. Here is a preview of the tasting notes. You’ll want to mark your favorites on your wine list on Friday evening! Also, Oak and Steel is offering10% off one wine selection through April 30 to all unWINE ticket holders. Just bring your official wine menu to receive your discount.

Let’s get ready to unWINE!

Featured at BOOK MART & CAFE
Louis Bernard 2009
Cotes Du Rhone (red), France
$11.51

Wine Spectator: 85
Soft and open with plum and black cherry fruit kissed with a hint of toasty vanilla.
boissetfamilyestates.com 

Featured at ASPEN BAY
La Vielle Ferme 2010
Blended White, France
$9.15

Wine Spectator: 86
Bright and crunchy, with tasty lime and kiwi fruit notes, followed by a tangy green fig edge on the finish. Shows good regional typicity. Always an excellent value.
lavieilleferme.com

Featured at FROCK FASHION
Cono Sur Vision 2011
Sauvignon Blanc, Argentina
$13.04

Wine Spectator: 87
Wine Enthusiast: 87
Bright straw. Green apple, lime and lemongrass on the nose, plus a light quinine nuance. Tangy and precise if not particularly complex, featuring good firm acidity providing definition and shape to the brisk citrus flavors. Closes on a brisk, dry note, with good clarity.
Conosur.com

Featured at  THE SUNDIAL
Quinta Do Crasto 2009
Couro Blended Red, Portugal
$16.72

Wine Spectator: 90
Rich and ripe, with dark plum and dried raspberry flavors that feature some smoky notes. The tannins are quite silky, lingering on the well-spiced finish with hints of black olive and leafy herbs.
quintadocrasto.pt

Featured at MARY VIRGINIA’S
Broadbent NV
Vinho Verde (white), Portugal
$8.81

Wine Spectator: 86
Wine Enthusiast: 85
This zesty white shows blood orange and fresh peach flavors. Light and spicy on the finish.
broadbent.com

Featured at CHRISTINE’S COUTURE
Crios De Susana De Balbo 2010
Malbec (red), Argentina
$ 14.93

Wine Spectator: 88
Wine Enthusiast: 87
The wine has a beautiful reddish/purple color as most good Malbecs do. The aromas are a mix of freshly crushed black cherries and toasty/smoky oak—just enough to frame the exuberant fruit. On the palate, the flavors of cherries and spice are obvious, and the jammy fruit quality just keeps coming on strong, with hints of spice and sandalwood lurking in the background.
dominiodelplata.com.ar

Featured at LIBBY STORY
Chateau Saint Michelle 2009
Pinot Gris (white), Columbia Valley, WA
$13.61

Wine Enthusiast: 88
Falls between the lighter Italian Pinot Grigio and the richer, rounder Pinot Gris from Alsace. The Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris offers fresh aromas and flavors of pear, fig and a hint of spice. A touch of Viognier contributes texture and adds attractive floral character.
ste-michelle.com

Featured at R. TABB & CO.
Dr. Loosen 2010
Riesling (white), Germany
$13.19

Wine Spectator: 87
Wine Enthusiast: 90
Luscious pear, peach and apple aromas retain the crisp sweet tart quality of ripening fruit just before harvest. On the palate, the medium-bodied wine is refreshing and juicy, with zippy acidity balancing bright flavors of pear, apricot, mango and lime. The lush attack is followed by a long finish that is simultaneously sweet and tart, dry and mouth-watering.
Drloosen.com

Featured at THYME
Muga 2010
Rose’ (sparkling), Spain
$14.84

Wine Spectator: 87
Wine Enthusiast: 86
A lively dry rosé, bright and snappy, this offers crisp berry and watermelon flavors, joined by citrus acidity and hints of herb. This is tart, but still has fresh fruit.
bodegasmuga.com

Featured at POLKA TOTS
A to Z 2009
Chardonnay (white), Washington
$14.49

Wine Spectator: 88
Opens with opulent aromas of citrus blossoms, white peach and pear, developing complexity with secondary notes of honey, lemon verbena and quince. The palate is poised with beautiful balance and structure and a concentrated attack emphasizing ripe citrus notes, mango and wet stone. The finish is focused with a steely sense clearly evident in the lingering flavors of minerals and white peaches.     
atozwineworks.com 

Featured at OOOH LA LA
Angove’s Nine Vines 2009
Shiraz/Viognier (red), Australia
$12.71

Wine Spectator: 89
Bright and refreshing, offering a lively style, with floral and pebble aromatics over a lean core of blackberry fruit that lingers nicely.
angoves.com

Featured at Occasions
Monte Vicor NV
Cava Brut (sparkling white), Spain
$14.38 

Wine Advocate: 86
This wine is pale yellow colour, crystalline with bright hues. Its froth is elegant and permanent. In the nose beautiful fruit aromas with leesy characters. In the palate the carbonic from the second fermentation is perfectly integrated into the mouth, being soft and well balanced.
worldwinehq.com

Featured at SPROUT
Montgras Reserve 2010Carmenere (red), Chile$12.05

Wine Spectator: 86
Wine Enthusiast: 88
Shines with a nice purple lustre then opens with big blackberry and spiced plum flavors that are earthy and wild. The palate is round, ripe and feels good, and the flavors are centered on herbal blackberry and toast.
montgras.cl

Featured at SOMETHING SOUTHERN
J Pedroncelli 3 Vineyard 2009
Cabernet Sauvignon (red), California
$16.49

Wine Enthusiast: 91
Rich aromas of ripe raspberry and cherry highlight this full flavored Cabernet Sauvignon. Highlighted by bright acidity, just the right amount to showcase the fruit. Plum, toasted oak notes and warm clove spice combine to round out the flavors
pedroncelli.com

Featured at BATH BAYOU
Jacob’s Creek 2010
Moscato (white), Australia
$7.07

Wine Spectator: 85
Lightly sweet, perfumed and delicately effervescent, this offers simple pear and spice flavors that don’t fade easily.
jacobscreek.com

Featured at VITALITY SKIN & SPA
Charles Smith Velvet Devil 2010
Merlot (red), Washington
$12.40

Wine Spectator: 87
PURE VELVET! Milk chocolate, wild blackberry, baking spice, rose oil…beautifully perfumed Washington in a glass….Velvet Devil? HELL YEAH!
charlessmithwines.com

Featured at L.A. GREEN BOUTIQUE
Pennywise 2010
Pinot Noir (red), Californa
$11.56

Wine Enthusiast: 90
#18 Top 100 Best Buys
Surprisingly sophisticated for a Pinot Noir at this price. It’s dry, light in the mouth and elegantly structured, with a nice bite of acids and tannins. The flavors are delicate in sour cherries, sweet tomato jam and dusty spices.
togwines.com

Featured at REED’S
Monte Vicor 2008
Garnacha (red), Spain
$10.71

Wine Advocate: 87
Of intense cherry red colour with ruby hues, very clean and bright. Intense aromas of ripe red fruits.
On the palate it is generous, harmonious and sumptuous, filled with red fruits and soft tannins. Beautifully long finish.
worldwinehq.com

Featured at HARMONIE BOUTIQUE
Angove’s Nine Vines 2008
Viognier (white), Australia
$12.71

Wine Spectator: 85
Wine Enthusiast: 86
Bright light straw in colour with some green hues, this wine has a lush ripe tropical fruit aroma. This is a fuller bodied white which fills the mouth with heady flavours of apricot, peach and citrus.
Angoves.com

B. Davis Shoes will be serving punch.

Featured at Greater Starkville Development Partnership during Check-In
Old South Miss Scarlet NV
Muscadine/Sweet Rose’, Natchez, MS
$7.73

Our #1 seller; like White Zinfandel; great for party foods, desserts and fruit, an excellent wine for everything or just for enjoyment. We suspect most Southerners drink for fun!
Oldsouthwinery.com