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City promotion in plan for Miss. Picnic in NYC
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| By: ADAM NORTHAM, DAILY LEADER Staff Writer |
June 10, 2009 |
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A pair of Brookhavenites will make the approximately 1,100-mile journey to New York City this weekend to push the Homeseekers Paradise in an annual celebration of Mississippi culture.
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Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Program Director Kay Burton and Bank of Brookhaven President Bill Sones plan to promote the hometown and network with Big Apple businessmen at this weekend's 30th annual Mississippi Picnic, a daylong showcase of Mississippi arts, crafts, music, food and culture held in Central Park.
"We're doing it for Brookhaven to have a presence there," Burton said. "As a place for people to come back to."
The Mississippi Picnic was first organized in 1979 as a way for New York-based Mississippians to fellowship and relive the Southern goodness of their home state. This year, Brookhaven is being afforded its own booth at the festival, thanks to a helping hand from the Mississippi Development Authority.
Burton plans to use her time at the booth during the six-hour festival to promote Brookhaven to all those with Mississippi ties.
Her presence at the event - a qualified trade show - will also count toward a quote the chamber meets each year to maintain Brookhaven's certification as a retirement community. That certification will be the subject of some of the information Burton distributes.
While Burton is busy promoting Brookhaven, Sones - who had already planned to attend the downtown party privately - will be seeking out Mississippians with connections.
"I'm going to see if we can make contacts with influential people with Mississippi connections ... who might be able to help sway some businesses toward Mississippi, particularly Brookhaven," he said. "I'm looking forward to seeing who has Brookhaven/Lincoln County connections up there."
Sones said he did not have a particular list of hands to shake in New York City, but he estimated there will be "several hundred" influential Mississippians with which he can discuss Southwest Mississippi.
Sones, the chairman of the Mississippi School of the Arts Foundation, is also making the trip to support MSA student and recent "American Idol" finalist Jasmine Murray, who will perform at the event. The foundation is sponsoring her performance, he said.
"We hope to get attention drawn to MSA," Sones said. "We keep looking for sponsors and participants in the arts industry, and certainly there are a lot of those in New York. Hopefully, some have Mississippi connections."
Other than working to promote Brookhaven and Lincoln County, Burton and Sones will also get to experience home 1,100 away from home.
Joining Murray as entertainment for the Mississippi Picnic will be blues performers Super Chikan, the Delta Mountain Boys and Jon Paris. The festival air will also be saturated by the smell of catfish, hushpuppies and other Southern favorite foods, with cooking provided by Simmons Farm Raised Catfish of Yazoo City, McAlister's Deli and several Mississippi chefs.
The event will also feature many Mississippi artists and their work.
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©The Daily Leader 2009
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