About Hinds County, MS

More and more people are looking for free activities to fill their free time, especially in today's economy. And, as real estate professionals, new clients often ask us what's going on in Jackson that's fun and free? Well, this month's free event is Arts Alive. Arts Alive is a free two day festival which will be held on March 27 & 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at Smith Park in downtown Jackson, Mississippi.

Arts Alive originally started as a church fundraiser, but was so popular, it has now turned into a two-day cultural event. The festival is complete with arts, crafts, food, drinks, music and dance.

Since Jackson, Mississippi is such a religious community, many churches thought downtown Jackson would be the perfect place for the event and, it seems, they were right. The festival has been a huge hit each year. There are many cities across the country that just don't have activities like this for their residents to take advantage of and enjoy. The community started volunteering and sending in donations to keep the festival alive for many more years to come.

Not only does the Arts Alive festival make the residents happy, but it also helps the community. It gives visitors to Jackson a great opportunity to see what Jackson really has to offer as a place to live, work and play.

Just from past Arts Alive events, we have seen some true talent right here from Jackson. It shows just how deep into arts our community really is. Metro Jackson area residents that don't come out to enjoy the festivities are surely missing out on a great event and a chance to learn about the culture of Jackson. So, this is the perfect opportunity for them to see what's going on. It's also a great opportunity for everyone to get together and enjoy each other's friendship and company.

Kids will have the best of both worlds at the festival. The Mississippi Art Museum will be hosting a special booth full of activities just for children.

During the lunch hour on Friday, the Fondren Express Trolley will be giving free rides to and from the Arts Alive festival.

For those who would like to volunteer for the Arts Alive festival, you can visit www.artsalivejackson.com for more information.

We hope you will get to get out and enjoy the free festival and all the fun it has to offer. We may even see you there.

Realtors® Mary & Bill Watkins - Jackson, Mississippi Real Estate

Jackson, Mississippi Community Information

Homes for Sale in Jackson, Mississippi

Have you ever wanted to meet Rudy Guiliani? How about Zig Ziglar? Or Dr. Robert Schuller, famed author? Archie (who?) Manning? Each one of these dynamic individuals will be in Jackson, MS live and in person next week for a business seminar entitled GET MOTIVATED!

The day-long seminar, offered on two separate days, March 9 or 10, will be held in the Jackson Convention Complex in downtown Jackson. I'm looking forward to the session. My entire office will be attending, thanks to my broker who purchased a group of tickets.

The price of admission is ridiculously low. Perhaps the seminar is subsidized to showcase the new Jackson convention center, which was completed earlier this year. Whatever they are selling, (you know they will be selling something?!) I DON'T CARE, because the opportunity to see seven (7) motivational speakers all in one day is too tempting to pass up!

The event should inspire all attendees. Tamara Lowe, motivational speaker and author of Get Motivated!, will have a special session on strengthening sales and negotiation skills. Dr. Earl Mindell, author of The Vitamin Bible, will discuss how to improve health and energy. Rick Belluzzo, former President and COO for Microsoft, will speak on maximizing business skills.

Archie Manning, famous college and professional football player, will discuss using competition to the advantage, and Rudy Giuliani, beloved NY mayor, will talk of perseverance, how to overcome unforeseen challenges, and how to lead in times of crisis.

This seminar should prove to be spectacular. I have my ticket and will be taking notes. If you are interested in attending, register immediately because the special pricing ends March 6.

Note: The seminar is open for anyone who wants to attend, regardless of occupation or vocation. Hope to see you there!

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Pat Starnes, a Realtor since 1988, specializes in Mississippi Residential Real Estate and can assist you with buying or selling in the Jackson MS Metro area.

Search homes for sale in Brandon, Pearl, Flowood, Madison, Ridgeland, Florence, Bryam, or Jackson, MS.

Written and Published by Pat Starnes REALTOR

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Self employed people generally work longer hours and weekends, but they are doing what they enjoy doing...and getting paid for it!

In today's economy, people are being laid off or losing their jobs due to downsizing in business or upgrading in technology, making their jobs obsolete. As a result, many people start their own business with the goal of taking control of their lives and improving their financial situation. Many people are aware of the benefits of being self-employed; however, they lack the drive and determination to make the change from working a job to becoming self-employed.

Being self-employed has its challenges, but it also has its rewards. When successful, the self-employed person enjoys better income, better working conditions and the right to work their own schedule. The work can be demanding, but at least they are being paid for doing what they like doing, without making their boss or the corporation rich while they are barely making ends meet.

People go into self-employment with different expectations. Some set goals as to when they can retire; others are just working at it part-time to have additional income. Some people actually start up their business after they retire.

Some people are driven by their own personal need to provide for themselves; they need the freedom to make their own decisions and they don't care to be watched over by supervisors. For this reason, many successful entrepreneurs make very poor employees. Maybe they feel that their employers do not value their ideas, so they go into business for themselves and do things their own way.

Some people start their own business so they can be paid for doing what they like to do. For example, some people like cooking or baking, so they start a catering business. Some may have a great imagination for story writing, so they write novels. Whatever you are good at and like doing can be applied to your business.

There are many advantages as well as challenges in being self-employed. A home business can be very convenient for a single mother or married, stay-at-home mom. When you work at home, you don't have the expense of driving to and from work and you don't have the obligation of being on the job for 8 hours or more. You have the flexibility to work your own hours while maintaining your household, taking care of kids, grocery shopping, etc...

Self-employment is not right for everyone, but for many, it is the only way. Bill Bartmann has owned several businesses; he understands the rewards of entrepreneurship and the pitfalls. Bill Bartmann offers online business courses so people can develop the necessary basic business management skills to be successful. Bill Bartmann's Billionaire Business Systems has helped thousands of entrepreneurs reach their goals by showing them how to strengthen their business even during times of economic uncertainty. Bring out the Billionaire in you; visit http://www.billionaireu.com/

We love what Jackson State University is doing for the environment and want to share it with you in our blog. When you see the new addition to Jackson State University, you will see sleek, silver accents, large glass windows and modern furniture. It looks like something more fitting for an upscale office park, rather than a public college.

The new $21 million addition was actually built with the environment in mind. It is Mississippi's first State-funded LEED certified project. The new addition of the 90,000-square foot building is just one of many examples of the state university's ways of "going green."

The building did cost more than the average building. However, that was a one-time cost and was meant to save in the long run. The building was built using recycled building materials and environmentally-friendly paint. The building also features a sloping roof that collects rainwater for irrigation.

Universities across the state are starting campus bike fleets to help focus on being more environmentally friendly with conservation programs like these. Green initiatives will not only help schools, but students, too. Campuses are also beginning to set up long-range recycling programs. Many have signed up for a national program called "Recyclemania." This new program encourages universities to compete at having the best possible recycling program. Mississippi State University and the University of Southern Mississippi have both signed up for the "Recyclemania."

Since the addition of the new building, the university has already seen some savings and the savings are expected to be more over time. Energy usage is expected to be cut by 10% or more, also.

We think anything that's going to help Jackson, Mississippi be a better place is worth putting to the test. And, Jackson's universities "going green" is helping our community take a step in the right direction for our future.

Jackson, Mississippi Community Information

Jackson, Mississippi Real Estate

Homes for Sale in Jackson, Mississippi

Jackson, Mississippi® Mary & Bill Watkins

It seems like there is always something going on in Jackson, Mississippi. And February is no exception. There will be several events for the whole family to take advantage of. Therefore, we have compiled this list of what's going on in Jackson this month.

· Dixie National Rodeo & Live Stock Show - February 5^th - 11^th at the Mississippi State Fairground (1207 Mississippi Street). Come see world champion cowboys ride the best rodeo stock in the largest livestock show east of the Mississippi River. For more information, call (601) 355-5252.

· Grandma's Hands: Celebrating the Underground Railroad Quilt Codes - Now through February 28^th at the Smith Robertson Museum & Cultural Center (528 Bloom Street). The exhibit celebrates the underground railroad quilt codes.

· Pulse: A STOMP Odyssey - Now through April 6^th at the Russell C. Davis Planetarium (201 East Pascagoula Street). Step it up with a show that celebrates the global beat and explores the sights and sounds of continents and cultures guided by the Broadway stage show STOMP. Tickets are $6.50 for Adults, $4 for Kids and $5.50 for Seniors. For more information, call (601) 960-1552.

· Sustainable Choices: Today, Tomorrow, Together - Now through May 10^th at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science (2148 Riverside Drive). Sustainable Choices is a new interactive exhibit that explores the concept of sustainability and the choices that each of us makes every day. Sustainability, or meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, is an increasingly important topic as the world's population and consumption expands. Sustainable Choices will engage visitors with thought-provoking content, interactive exhibits and live animals.

· Story Time Tuesday - Now through December 7^th at the Jackson Zoo (2918 West Capitol Street). On the first Tuesday of each month, Story Time will showcase Mississippi children's authors at 9am.

We believe Jackson, Mississippi is a great community to be a part of and these events are just some of the great ways to get out and interact with your fellow Jacksonians and be a part of the Jackson community.

Jackson, Mississippi Community Information

Jackson, Mississippi Real Estate

Homes for Sale in Jackson, Mississippi

Tips and Advice for Homeowners

Jackson, Mississippi Realtors® Bill & Mary Watkins