Published: October 04, 2007 10:25 pm            

Small Towns ... Big Hearts

October is upon us, and time for me to begin reviewing the year of 2007, as I note events, and road trips planned for the new year of 2008.

As I blink my eyes to remember the many, many trips in the state of Mississippi during 2007, I most fondly remember the sweet people of Mississippi, and their warm greetings and loving welcomes.

I began my year with an invitation from Eudora Welty Library located in our capital city of Jackson. Perhaps not considered a small town in Mississippi, but definitely I found many big hearts located in this wonderful library as I remember Ruth Davis and her assistant, Judy Antes, and their warm welcomes plus generous spirits.

Next I was fortunate to have my originally written play, “Friday Morning at the First National Bank” produced by the Neshoba County/Philadelphia Arts Council as well as the Roxy Theatre in Newton. Both small towns promoted the play while giving me the most respect an artist could ever expect.

My other invitations and destinations during 2007, so far, Forest, Florence, Union, Oak Grove, Long Creek, Suqualena, Waynesboro, Hattiesburg, the Gulf Coast, Greenwood, Aberdeen, Columbus, Tupelo, Decatur, Dekalb, Clinton, Vicksburg, plus New Albany, and I can personally testify to their true southern manners, and gracious hospitality ... small town Mississippi hospitality – there’s none better.

I especially would like to tell you about New Albany. This was a trip on September 21,22, to their Tallahatchie RiverFest, one of the top twenty festivals in the southeast for the entire USA. The 2005/2006 festivals were attended by an estimated 8-10,000 people, and were featured in the 2005 edition of National Geographic Traveler Magazine. I emphasize the immense largeness of the festival in order to clarify that a small town in Mississippi can, indeed, become successful with big-time events.

New Albany is a small historic town, best know as the birthplace of William Faulkner. It’s a quaint mesmerizing little town soaked with the inspiration of Mississippi’s most famous historic writer. New Albany is the Union County seat with a population, according to the 2003 census, of 7,796. Also worth noting, the number of murders and homicides in 2003 were ZERO ... an eye-opener to say the least.

In advertising The RiverFest the following is posted on their web site:

The Tallahatchie RiverFest, held in historic downtown New Albany, celebrates the creative spirit of the region through which this river flows ... The Tallahatchie RiverFest, sponsored by the City of New Albany, is coordinated by the Union County Development Association. This event, celebrating the visual, literary, and performing arts, features a variety of local, regional and national entertainment.

One would question, how could a town of less than 8000 people sponsor a festival the magnitude of this event? I think I have the answer.

The success of Tallahatchie RiverFest is because the citizens work together ... very simple, but profound, and I can only speak to what I have personally witnessed. Let me explain:

Richelle Putnam and I were invited to participate with the event as a result of our receiving writing awards presented by The Tallahatchie RiverFest Writing Competition. Richelle received a poetry award, and I received a playwriting award. We were honored at the annual literary luncheon held on September 21 at The Magnolia Civic Center, and the next day my play; “Hoo-Ray for the Chittlin’s” was given full production by the RiverFest Players. Ralph Gordon of Newton County was featured in the Faulkner Garden Stories Collection sponsored by the Union County Museum, also at New Albany.

As we arrived to the town, we were walking along the street when a very nice lady stopped us to offer help with directions. She gave her name as “Jane” and then offered her gallery, located on Main Street, as our “home-away-from-home.” She stated for us to feel free to use her bathroom accommodations, plus full kitchen, while we were at the festival. We were still marveling over her friendliness when we walked into the Magnolia Civic Center, and were welcomed with great respect and warm greetings as if we were traveling dignitaries. We were greeted by many of the organizers of the RiverFest, plus, town officials. It quickly became apparent this was a total community effort — that by working together, all facets of the community had made this event known throughout the southeast, and there was not room for competitive spirits in this community ... a great lesson for all communities.

As a dedicated, native Mississippian, I know New Albany is not the only community who can work together, but my hope is that more communities can come together to uplift their hometowns as “traveler friendly” ... as “neighborly with their neighbors”….as “communities concerned for the community-at-large rather than personal agendas.”

We can do it in Mississippi ... we must.

        

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