Jackson Free Press

My new laptop's got a sweet wireless Internet connection? Where can I surf the net for free?

Jackson boasts several places with free wireless: AmSouth Center (210 E. Capitol St.), Broad Street Baking Co., (Banner Hall, 4465 I-55 North,) Cups Coffee House (1855 Lakeland Drive and 2757 Old Canton Road), McAllister's Deli (1065 River Oaks Dr., 601-939-6810) Mellow Mushroom (275 Dogwood Blvd., 601-992-7499) Que Sera Sera (2801 N. State St.), Rooster's (2906 N. State St.) and Video Café (1804 N. State St.). Madison students can visit Cups Coffee House (971 Madison Ave.) Ridgeland students can go to Fusion Coffeehouse (1111-A Highland Colony Parkway; 601-856-6001)

How can I make a difference in my community?

Jackson offers a variety of non-profit opportunities. Operation Shoe String (1711 Bailey Ave., 601-353-6336) works with children. Stewpot Community Service (1008 W. Capitol St., 601-948-2941) provides food, clothing, shelter and nurturing care to people in need. Grace House (236 Millsaps Ave., 601-353-1038) provides care to persons living with HIV/AIDS. Gateway Rescue Mission (410 S. Gallatin St., 601-944-0409) offers volunteer opportunities through serving meals, family assistance food pantry, cleaning and painting projects, sorting donations, food and clothing drives.

Gleaners (359 North Mart Plaza; 601-981-4240) recycles unused food through cleaning and repacking. Or, on a smaller scale, you can help out by simply recycling all of those cans you'll be drinking out of in college. Rainbow Co-op (2807 Old Canton Road; 601-366-1602) recycles everything except glass.

New clothes are totally boring. Where can I get some cheap thrift store duds?

The Good Samaritan Center, or "NUTS" for short (114 Millsaps Ave., 601-355-6276) and Salvation Army (1450 Riverside Dr., 601-969-7560) both have their fair share of cheap finds.

My CD collection is looking kind of thin. Where can I get the new Franz Ferdinand record?

When it comes out the first week of October, your best bet is to get to the locally owned BeBop Records (two locations: Maywood Mart Shopping Center, 601-981-5000 and 3887 Metro Drive, 601-969-3181). Bonus: Because BeBop caters to local music, Your friends in bands can sell their albums there, too. If they don't have what you need, try Best Buy (6374 Ridgewood Court Drive, 601-977-9115) or Circuit City (1055 E. County Line Road, 601-956-4457).

How come I have to dial "601" every time I make a phone call?

Earlier this year, the city implemented the 601 overlay. As Jackson grows as a city, more people want phone numbers. Since March 2005, 769 has also been used. It's confusing at first, but you'll get used to it.

College is harder than high school, and I need help writing my 12-page paper. What can I do?

Some schools in town have writing centers that help students with papers. Belhaven College students can go to The Writing Lab (601-968-5999). At Millsaps College, students take papers to The Writing Center (601-974-1308). Jackson State University students can visit The Richard Wright Center for the Written Word in the library (601-979-1470). Mississippi College hosts The Writing Lab (601-925-7289). The Hinds Community College Raymond campus services all Hinds students through its Writing Center (601-857-3356).