Looking for a way to incorporate a unique touch to your holidayvillage this Christmas? Add a piece of home with a LamptonAuditorium replica.

Started as a fund raiser for the Mississippi School of the Artsby local sponsors, the “Ole Brook Village” will be a limitededition series of lighted ceramic miniatures featuring historicbuildings in Brookhaven. Each miniature will be hand painted andcreated from one-of-a-kind molds. The first ceramic representationis of Lampton Auditorium, and will be available for purchase andpickup on Dec. 1.

Sponsors are Preferred Promotions and Engravables, TrustmarkBank, Bank of Brookhaven, Quality Home Oxygen, the MississippiSchool of the Arts Foundation and The DAILY LEADER.

Organizers are hoping the fund raiser will net $25,000 profitfor the school’s foundation. Connie Hooper, who got the idea forthe replicas while attending a trade show in another city, said 500miniatures have been ordered, and will be available at all of thesponsor location and at Millane’s. Those interested can also callany of the sponsor locations and reserve their figurines ahead oftime, Hooper said.

When choosing which city landmark to display first, sponsorsselected Lampton Auditorium as the ideal location.

“Because it was the first building to be restored on the oldWhitworth campus, we thought it would be good to sell it first,”Hooper said, “and everybody knows Lampton Auditorium.”

MSA Director of Development and Public Relations JenniferJackson agrees that Lampton was the best choice to kick off thesales.

“The entire community has a soft spot in their hearts forLampton Auditorium. It’s one of our most notable landmarks inBrookhaven. Through the years, it’s been a meeting place for theentire community,” Jackson said. “This should appeal to Whitworthalumni, students or anyone who has a connection to Whitworth orBrookhaven.”

Jackson said she is impressed with how much the replicasresemble the auditorium.

“I’m amazed at how accurate the replicas are . . . even down tothe bricks and the roof. They did an excellent job of recreatingLampton,” she said.

This time of the year is perfect timing for the miniatures to bepresented, Jackson said, explaining that the miniatures are theideal gift to give loved ones, especially those who no longer livein Brookhaven.

“It’s a wonderful keepsake,” she said.

Sponsors envision the “Ole Brook Village” growing every year,with at least one new building being added yearly.

“I see in years to come that we’ll have a whole village ofBrookhaven,” Jackson said.

What is even better than having a keepsake, according toJackson, is that the students at the art school will benefit fromthe project. Because of the generosity of the sponsors, all theproceeds of the sales will go to the MSA Foundation, she added.

“If it wasn’t for the sponsors, we wouldn’t be able to do this,”Hooper said.

For more information about the buildings, call Hooper at823-9454.