This is Fondren - Week of July 20

......... July 20, 2020 ................................. Keeping Fondren Fabulous

A message from Dr. Woodward, UMMC

Mississippi,

This is serious!

........ First, on behalf of UMMC, I want to express our sincere appreciation for all the Fondren community has done to support our clinical care teams during the pandemic. In particular, meals that have been provided, underwritten by contributions of Fondren residents, have boosted our staff’s morale significantly. Thank you so much.

..... I wish I had better news to report about our progress against the virus. You don’t have to be a health care professional to know our state is going in the wrong direction on COVID-19. I wish I could say this is a temporary bump in the road and that this virus is going to go away, but for the foreseeable future, it is not. What Mississippians are doing now is not working. The curve of this virus in Mississippi, which initially flattened, is now spiking. We need to quit acting as if things are normal. They are not.

..... We are seeing regular and consistent increases in the numbers of people testing positive. We are recording our highest numbers of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We don’t want to turn patients away from our Medical Center. However, if the current trajectory continues, then people will not be able to get the care they need when they need it.

..... This is where we are. To be able to do our job – to be able to care for all of those who come to us in their most desperate hour – we need help from our fellow Mississippians, who must step up and keep themselves and others safe by diligently wearing masks (and for the record, I firmly believe everyone should be wearing a mask), mindfully social distancing and frequently washing their hands.

..... Help us to be #UMMCStrong for you, for your family, and for whatever the future may hold.

..... Dr. Woodward is Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs

and Dean, School of Medicine at UMMC

Chair Jeff Seabold and Precinct 4 Commander Tyrone Buckley

JPD & FRF partner to address

Public Safety in Fondren

..... During the past month, at least three male juveniles have been spotted in North Jackson neighborhoods during the morning hours breaking into cars. Jackson PD is actively working to apprehend the individuals. Our Precinct Commander Tyrone Buckley notes that a significant amount of evidence has been gathered to establish the identity of the juveniles.

..... FRF ’s response has been to name Jeff Seabold as leader of our Public Safety Working Group to assist in the apprehension of these individuals as well as address longer term public safety for Fondren. Starting in August, Seabold will meet monthly with Precinct 4 officers to share information and work collectively to keep our neighborhoods safe.

..... In the interim, Seabold and Commander Buckley have the following recommendations for Fondren neighbors:

Keep your cars locked at all times
Do not leave valuables in your car
If you see anyone or anything that looks suspicious, call the PD at 601-960-1234
If you are witnessing a crime in progress, call 911 and state that a crime is happening
Check your security videos for unauthorized entry to your property and forward those videos to Seabold and Buckley (see email addresses below)
Be willing to press charges for trespassing or larceny if you are victimized.

..... Commander Buckley stresses that Fondren residents should not hesitate to call JPD if they see something that illegal or suspicious. “All of those calls help us build a file that eventually results in a solution,” he said. “You may not think the information you provide is significant but it could be just the missing link that helps us build a case.” He added that videos from security cameras are very helpful.

Email Public Safety issues & Questions

FRF Executive Committee recently met with Hinds County Supervisor David Archie to address residential streets in need of pot hole repair. Broadway and Galloway Streets are slated for repairs by the county in the next few weeks. Above: FRF President, Roy Campbell; Vice President Mary Linley Sweat; Supervisor Archie; and Secretary Belmont Trapp.

General Manager Ian Folakan; Victoria Hopkins , Director of Sales; and Front Desk Supervisor Quinton Fields . (Masks removed for photo)

Homewood Suites opens July 27

..... Fondren's new 125-room Homewood Suites is slated for opening on July 27. While shorter stays are welcome, the hotel is billed as an "extended stay hotel."

..... Guests will be able to enjoy a complimentary breakfast and an evening reception, according to Director of Operations Christopher Thomas . The facility will include meeting space, a pool, on-site laundry and a fitness center.

..... For every extended stay, the hotel will donate $3 to the Children's Hospital.

..... "Staffing is in place and we’re ready to get this thing going,” said Chico Patel , co-founder of the Wealth Hospitality Group, formerly Heritage Hospitality Group.

Patel reveals 2nd investment

in Fondren Business District

..... Last week, Chico Patel announced plans for a $40 million mixed use project in Fondren across from Homewood Suites.

.....Preliminary plans call for 140-150 loft style apartments or condos, along with approximately 10,000 square feet for bars, restaurants and retail. Underground parking will complete the project. The site includes the Post Office location as well as the Green Ghost and Fondren Guitar locations.

.....Work won't actually start until around 2022.

FRF Economic Development Committee begins work

..... FRF's Economic Development Committee, under the leadership of Chair Roy Decker, is ready to envision the future of Fondren and lay the foundation for making the vision reality.

.....Early efforts focused on discussing Fondren's strengths and weaknesses, and identifying opportunities.

.....The committee's next step is to reach out to the community for expertise and passion, and a commitment to serve on one of the Committee's five Working Groups:

North Fondren Business District Redevelopment
Public Safety
Planning
Brand/Identity & Marketing Development
Housing

.....If you have expertise or a particular interest in one of the Working Group topics, please use the button below to let us know.

I would like to participate in a Working Group

'Adopt A Spot' Work Day - Aug 1

..... Our next Fondren "beautification day" will be Saturday, August 1. Join your neighbors in keeping Fondren beautiful by "adopting a spot" and maintaining it for the month of August.

..... Sign up by July 29 to receive your "Adopt A Spot" sign, gardening gloves and trash bags.

.....Suggested work time on August 1 is 9 a.m. but work can be accomplished any time on that Saturday and during the month.

I want to "Adopt A Spot"

Time and ideas needed: Invest in students & Invest in Fondren

..... FRF has entered a partnership with St. Andrews School to provide enriching opportunities of community service for high school students in Fondren.

.....Possible areas of interest include art, history, urban planning and beautification.

..... The partnership is currently recruiting members of the Fondren community to vision and guide this effort as a Steering Committee. A time commitment of approximately 2 hours a month will be expected of Steering Committee Members.

I'm interested in helping!

Archived Newsletter Updates

2020

Renaissance Society

Renaissance Society Members

are the

"foundation of the foundation"

and receive special benefits and programs during the year

Members

Brandi & Kalil Abide

Harmony Dental Care

Chuck Addington

Gary Lambert

Meredith & Ben Aldridge

Katherine & Michael

Boerner

Helen Boone

Ashley & Michael Borne

Liz & Bill Brister

Nancy & Roy Campbell

Ann & Sandy Carter

Janie & Stuart

Clarke

Dave & Deanna

Coleman

Ann Marie & Roy Decker

Susan & Frank Duke

Mary & Tom Dunbar

Carol & Ronnie Edmonds

Linda & Tony Edwards

Jennifer & Derek

Emerson

Kelley Walton Fenelon

Mary Sanders Ferris

Allison & Haley

Fisackerly

Laurilyn & Tom Fortner

Danelle & Kendall

Garraway

Jan Garrick

Gay Jones & Kuhn

Wendy & Alex George

Debbie & Jeff Good

Leigh & Andrew Grady

Frenchie & Buddy

Graham

Marilyn & Glen Graves

Betsy & Jason Greener

Peggy & David Hampton

Claudia & Robert

Hauberg

Roxanne & Gray

Hilsman

Sarah & Randy Hines

Jen & Eric Hospodor

Melissa & Robert

Hutchison

Nelma Ivy

Nicole & Jason Jenkins

Winston & Avery Jenkins

Elta & Jim Johnston

Holly & Alan Lange

Melanie & John

Lauderdale

Kenneth Leggett

& Jody Donald

Caroline & Albert Lin

Allison & Louis Lyell

Mattiace Properties

Natalie Maynor

Mary Eliza & Howard McMillan

Dick Molpus

Foundation

Hollidae Morrison

Britney & James

Moss

Jan & Billy

Mounger

Sally Nash

Betsy & Bill Nation

Teri & Martin

Newcomb

Kathleen & Ryan

O'Beirne

Coleen O'Brien

Wally Powell

Amanda & Scott

Overby

Janet & Luther Ott

Pam Garman

Roger Parkes

Michelle & David

Pharr

Ardarian & David

Pierre

Barbara & Barry Plunkett

Becky & Don Potts

Vicki & Eddie

Prosser

Corner Market

Pat & Joe Ross

Greg & Jennifer

Schulmeier

Frances Richter Shields

Carol & Bill Sneed

Erica Speed

Sperri & Nick

Strickland

Andrew Neely

Stracener & Neely

Law Firm

Trace Swartzfager

St. Dominic's

Mary Linley & Andrew Sweat

Judy Terry

Belmont & Frank

Trapp

Molly & Robert

Walker

Emily & Stuart

Whitaker

Mary Alice & Donald White

Lisa Wigington &

Erin Dehon