/ By Thomas Howard / Newsroom • Ribbon Cuttings/ 0 Comments

Artis Antique & Vintage opens with ribbon cutting

Lauderdale County residents have a new place to shop for antiques and collectibles after Artis Antique & Vintage cut the ribbon Friday on its new location.

 

The new storefront, located at 2217 Highway 45 N, features an array of dishware, clothing, collectibles, antiques, knick-knacks, artwork and more.

 

Owner Otis Artis said the business had outgrown its previous location, and moving to a larger space was exactly what was needed. The move let him clear out his garage and other areas where antiques and vintage items had collected.

 

“Thank you all for coming out. It means a lot to us, and we’re so grateful God blessed us with a bigger space,” he said.

 

Artis said he also wants to thank his family for their support in opening the new location as well. The change would not have been possible without them, he said.

 

Helen Sims, membership director for the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, which organized Friday’s ribbon cutting, said Artis is the one who reached out to the chamber looking to get involved. Taking the initiative shows how committed the new business is to being a part of the community, she said.

 

“When I have entrepreneurs that decide they want to invest in our city and then they want to invest in their community by joining the EMBDC, I think that is definitely something to celebrate,” she said.

 

 

 

/ By Thomas Howard / Community • Newsroom • Ribbon Cuttings/ 0 Comments

Lauderdale County leaders cut ribbon on Hope Village recreation center

Business owners and elected officials from Lauderdale County celebrated new opportunities for abused and neglected youth by cutting the ribbon Wednesday on the new ABC Recreation Center at Hope Village for Children.

Founded in 2000 by actress and Meridian native Sela Ward, Hope Village takes in abandoned and abused children from all 82 Mississippi counties. It offers a variety of services including residential and transitional living, as well as proper medical, mental and dental healthcare and education.

The new ABC Recreation Center, named in recognition of the Mississippi Associated Builders and Contractors, involved a completely new roof, renovating the building from top to bottom, new electrical and more. Robert Smith, who served as president of the Mississippi chapter in 2023 and spearheaded the project, said numerous member contractors donated time, labor and materials to make the recreation center become reality.

“It’s been an honor to be involved in this project and see it turn out like it did,” he said.

Helen Sims, membership director for the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, which organized Wednesday’s ribbon cutting, said ABC set an example for others to follow. The organization saw a need in the community and got to work meeting it.

“That’s what the EMBDC wants to be. We want to bring people together, make the right connections and make improvements to our community, and so we just really appreciate you setting such a great example for all of us today,” she said.

Terri Province, executive director of Hope Village, said children in custody of Child Protective Services aren’t able to take part in some activities their peers enjoy. Hope Village, for example, cannot drop a child off at the movie theater or allow them to participate in a sleepover.

“Those are the things that teenagers need to develop their social skills,” she said. “And since we couldn’t’ do that, we had to provide a place for them to do that.”

The ABC Recreation Center offers an exercise room, art studio, space to watch television or movies, play games and more. Province said it allows teens at Hope Village to build those crucial social bonds while also complying with CPS regulations.

“Thank you so much. I know that our kids are going to love this forever, and it’s just really exciting because they’re great kids, and this allows them to explore some talents that they might not ever have known they had,” she said.