First Ridgeland Baptist Church volunteers spend spring break in Ridgeland community garden

Youth leaders and members of First Ridgeland Baptist Church worked in the Ridgeland Community Garden during spring break. Wes Tankersley, student minister, is a member of Ridgeland’s Healthy Hometown Committee. Jerry Williams, also a member of Ridgeland’s Healthy Hometown Committee, is the project director of the Ridgeland Community Garden. Williams secured a donation of $500 for the garden from Lowe’s Ridgeland. Produce from the garden is distributed to the needy through First Ridgeland Baptist Church. Pictured are volunteers from left (back) Justin Medders, Wes Tankersley, Camille Kelly, Bailey McClellan, Hope Ellison and AnnaKris Byrd. From left (front) Gabby Vinson, Carly Chennault, Robert McClellan, Bailey Williamson and Jerry Williams.

Second day service photo!

Submitted by the city of Ridgeland

Ridgeland offering amnesty program through March 7

The city of Ridgeland on Monday started its Amnesty Program that lasts through March 7. Contempt of court fees for traffic violations, misdemeanors or criminal offenses and administrative fees for traffic tickets may be waived during the program. To participate, come to the Municipal Court Service Building at 115 West School Street between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call municipal court at (601) 853-2001.

Ridgeland High to host blood drive

Ridgeland High School Ambassadors are working with Mississippi Blood Services to host a blood drive at Ridgeland High this Friday. The blood drive is not only for students, teachers and faculty to sign up for, it’s also open to the community. The blood drive takes place 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the school gym. To sign up, contact Ambassadors sponsor Erica McGee at (601) 898-5023.

Retirement community in Ridgeland to host fundraiser for CARA

Chateau Ridgeland, an independent retirement community, will host a Santa Pets & Pictures event to benefit Community Animal Rescue and Adoption (CARA). From 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Santa will be available to take pictures with pets for a $5 donation. Chateau Ridgeland will also be accepting pet toy and treat donations and homemade doggie treats will be available for sale. All donated items and proceeds go to CARA.

It’s free to attend, and holiday cookies and hot cocoa will be provided. Contact Chateau Ridgeland (located at 745 S. Pear Orchard Rd.) for more information at (601) 956-1331 or visit http://www.chateauridgeland.com.

The former Pan Asia is a new events center in Ridgeland

I was surprised to find out that Pan Asia (located off Old Canton Road) had closed over the summer. If you’re in Ridgeland and looking for a nice space, I recommend this one. It’s huge!

Veterans, military personnel have free entry to Ridgeland High football game

 

 

Tomorrow, Ridgeland High School has a Military Appreciation Night at the football game against Neshoba Central. The game starts at 7 p.m. and veterans will be recognized on the field during the playing of the National Anthem. For families, there will be inflatable jumps for children and the Mississippi National Guard will have giveaways. To guarantee free entry, veterans need to bring proof of service and stop by the National Guard tent located outside the gate and pick up their pass. Also, military vehicles will be on site at Ridgeland High and the football team will wear special uniforms.

5K to benefit Habitat for Humanity MS

The 2013 Sun King 5K Memorial Run and Walk will continue its tradition of celebrating and honoring lost loved ones in a 5K race that will benefit Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area (HFHMCA).

The 13^th annual Sun King run will be held at 8 a.m. Oct. 19 at St. James Episcopal Church, 3921 Oakridge Dr. in Jackson. The annual run through the Fondren neighborhood streets will feature a 5K run and walk and a 1-mile fun run for children.

Originally organized in 1999 in memory of tri-athlete Earnest Davidson, the annual Sun King is a unique way to remember, honor and celebrate the lives of lost loved ones. “It is our hope that families will participate and/or sponsor the Sun King 5K in memory of someone they wish to remember and honor in this way,” said Amy Davidson, event founder. “As in the past several years, funds raised from the 2013 Sun King Memorial 5K will benefit Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area.”

HFHMCA works with area churches, businesses, civic clubs, groups and individuals to build decent, affordable housing for families in need. Since it was founded in 1986, more than 580 homes have been built, empowering families through home ownership while stabilizing neighborhoods and contributing to the tax base and local economy.

The race awards are glass “sun dancers” made by Davidson family friend and artist B. J. Hatten of Enterprise, Miss.  The “sun dancers” will be awarded to the first-, second- and third-place finishers in each race division. This year there also will be a cash prize for the overall male and female winners in the run and walk events.

Registration is available online at www.sunking5k.com or www.mstrackclub.com. Registration forms also may be picked up at St. James Episcopal Church on Oakridge Drive in Jackson and at Fleet Feet Sports in Ridgeland.  The pre-registration deadline has passed and on-site registration the day of the race begins at 6:30 a.m. For more information, contact Thad Hopper at (601) 954-2038 or Larry Allen at (601) 260-7648.

Support Trace Ridge Baptist Church mission projects

By attending an upcoming garage sale this week. Since I can’t fit this on the Suburban Digest page, it’s going here. 🙂

Spread the word!

Dear @ShoemakerHomes, can I have one please?

Last Thursday I attended a ribbon cutting by Shoemaker Homes at The Enclave at Towne Center, one of the newest subdivisions in the city of Ridgeland. It’s down the street from where I live (of course I’m not disclosing my address, lol) so I had to check out some of the new homes. I covered the ground breaking over a year ago and I always looked at the building progress whenever I drove by.

Honey, these homes are FABULOUS! High-end, unique floor plans and the materials are top notch. You know how some builders install those super cheap appliances and closet rods and such? Shoemaker Homes wasn’t lying when they said “an affordable convenient community with efficient upscale living.” Here’s a photo gallery of a few of the lots currently on sale. Maybe in four or five years me and hubby could have one of these homes. To learn more and see better photos, check out the Facebook page.

Here’s another wide-open living room and kitchen area.

A bathtub/shower combo.

This one master bedroom…you can see outside in the courtyard.

The showers have two shower heads.

Another bathtub/shower combo.

I love the natural light in this floor plan.

Mayor Gene McGee

Builder Scott Shoemaker

Lovely courtyard.

The living room and kitchen areas are open!

The bedrooms are split by a shared bathroom.

Killer closet space!

I WANT.

Nice tub.

Recycling in Ridgeland goes to the next level

 

To enhance recycling efforts, the city of Ridgeland purchased five solar-powered recycling compactors. You can find them at the concession stands at Freedom Ridge Park and at the trailhead pavilion of the multiuse trail (off Rice Road). You may recycle cans, plastic and paper. If the light is green, the compactor has room for recyclables. If it’s yellow, the compactor is full and red means it’s overflowing.

Each compactor can hold up to five times more than regular garbage cans. Since the compactors do not have open tops, the recyclables will stay inside and not blow out. The compactors come with a solar grid in the top, providing the energy source for compacting and the alert system. An interior wireless chip and antenna sends a signal to a main server, providing data that can then be accessed from a web app. The app allows designated city employees to see a map of which of the compactors are full and which are empty.

The city is committed to staying clean in an energy efficient way, proving a model for other Mississippi cities to follow. The city has earned awards for efforts in recycling and green living, such as – 2013 First Place Local Government Award from Keep Mississippi Beautiful, Steward in the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s enHance Program since 2011, 2011 Local Government Recycler of the Year from the Mississippi Recycling Coalition, Tree City USA certification since 2009, Merit Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects for the Ridgeland Area Master Plan and the Mississippi Municipal League’s Planning and Development Award for the Ridgeland Area Master Plan.

Submitted by the city of Ridgeland