Bernard Bridges, Market President for Hinds County, Trustmark

Arbor Day - April 28

The Legacy of the Fondren Tree

.....The beloved tree that stood tall on the corner of Duling Street and Old Canton Road is memorialized in the lobby of Trustmark Fondren with a sculpture commissioned by Trustmark and delivered by wood craftsman Fletcher Cox.

.....The tree, a hybrid Leyland cypress, had been part of the Fondren's Christmas traditions for years and was a gathering spot for the Fondren community before it lost viability.

.....The sculpture, "Reborn, Gathering," now hangs in the lobby of the Trustmark building in the same location it once grew.

.....Cox noted that the sculpture represents the coexistence of humans and nature, symbolic of the tree's importance to the people of Fondren.

Amerigo is newest addition to Fondren

.....Amerigo Italian Restaurant will be opening its seventh location in the Duling School space previously occupied by Babalu.

.....A September opening is expected.

.....With the news of Amerigo, along with the anticipated opening of Little Tokyo and the recent opening of Zundo Ramen Bar, the Fondren business district has rebounded to pre-pandemic and pre-water crisis status. By Fall, there will be16 dine-in restaurants and 28 spots to eat and drink in Fondren Business District.

The Bean hosts Bluegrass Brunch

.....The Bean will hosts its first Bluegrass Brunch, Saturday, 10 a.m. in their Backyard, featuring Eric Stracener, Matthew Jay Magee and Jamie Weems, along with their special brunch menu.

More parking spaces on the way

.....As soon as the city issues a permit, construction will start on a permanent parking garage behind The Capri.

.....Plans call for a professional management company to lease and operate the garage. Drivers will pay a fee to park.

....."We think people will like the predictability and security of a parking garage," said David Pharr, one of the developers of The Strip and the garage. He notes that the garage will offer an alternative to circliing the block to look for an open parking space.

Happy Landing at Duling Hall on Friday

.....Happy Landing, indie folk band with Mississippi roots, will perform at Duling Hall on Friday 8 p.m. (They call themselves America’s first skate folk band.) 

.....Maggie Rose, American soul and country music singer, will also perform.

.....Tickets are $15. Door opens at 7 p.m.

Volunteers Needed: USA IBC

.....Volunteers are the lifeblood of the USA International Ballet Competition. The competition is scheduled for June 10 - 24.

....."We invite and value the support of friends and neighbors far and wide who want the USA IBC to succeed," said Fondren resident and Volunteer Coordinator Debbie Good.

Virtual Neighborhood Watch

.....When your home security cameras catch something suspicious, upload the video to our Virtual Neighborhood Watch data base.