August 2007 Issue

ON THE
PORCH
FRONT
Neighborly News and Views from Uptown · August 2007
First Annual Uptown 500 Kids’ Bike Race!
The July Uptown bike race event at Greenlaw Apartments was a scream. Thanks to all who
attended including one little girl, Kia, who couldn’t pedal forwards and lost unceremoniously.
But had a great time in the process. She’s a star and the one painted on her face proves it!
The Grizzlies donated some cool prizes…TWO bikes and a skateboard and a scooter and
some in-line skates. Thanks Grizzlies!
Which brings us to the face painting. Now, NORMALLY, adults paint the faces of children
at such events. Not in OUR neighborhood … I was guilty of two purple palm trees painted
on my face and arm. Thanks kids!
And thanks to our fearless leaders Alex and Tanja, it went off without a hitch.
Which brings us to the Balloon release.
All the kids got a balloon …
…RELEASE!
And a smile … Awwwww.
Our winners:
· 1-4 - Josiah Smith
· 5 – 7 Joshua Keith
· 8-10 Matthew Haynes
· 11-12 Louis Haynes
Because my bike would
not go forward prize – Kai Wince 3yrs old
And with a little help from Q107.5 FM and some popsicles. It was TWO much fun!
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THUMBS UPTOWN
Thumbs Up to Becky Gould, Uptown
resident and the Memphis Grizzlies employee
for arranging for the prizes donated for last
month’s Uptown 500 Kids’ Bike Race, and also for
manning the sign-up desk on the day!!
www.grizzlies.com
Thumbs Up to everyone who participated
in the First Annual Uptown 500 Kids’
Bike Race! We had a great turnout and there
was some fierce competition amongst all of the age
categories! Let’s try and make it bigger and better in
2008!
Thumbs Up to Uptown Alliance for generously offering to cover the costs associated
with printing July’s issue of On The Front
Porch! Steve and staff - we couldn’t have done it
without you!
www.uptownalliancememphis.org
Thumbs Down to the children who took the
marking paint from the Greenlaw Place
parking lot on the day of the bike race and
used it to spray paint the buildings and porches!
If you would like to contribute to Thumbs Uptown, please
email your submission to OnTheFrontPorch@gmail.com.
Of course, we reserve the right to edit any submissions
for either content or length.
Luckily they were seen by alert staff and residents,
the police were called and they arrived promptly.
That kind of behavior will not be tolerated in Uptown,
neither on an event day or any other day! Parents,
please teach your children well!
On The Front Porch has a monthly distribution of over 1,200 copies
throughout the Uptown area.
If you are interested in
advertising, please email us at
OnTheFrontPorch@gmail.com.
Advertising Rates and Sizes:
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Please make checks payable to
“On The Front Porch” Uptown newsletter
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UPTOWN COMMUNITY
Community Building Projects and Program in Uptown
In An Ideal World …. A Wish-List for Uptown
Imagine the perfect neighborhood…….
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Trolleys would stop at an intersection near you (Business Development / Planning)
No more abandoned or derelict buildings (Code Enforcement Committee)
No more cars speeding through our neighborhood (Neighborhood & Crime Watch)
No more car or home break-ins (Neighborhood & Crime Watch)
All streets / alleys shining by the MLGW night light (Business Development /Planning Committee)
Children would be supervised and well-behaved (Social Committee)
There would be trees, trees and more trees (Beautification Committee)
All lawns would be well-manicured (Beautification Committee)
All streets would be safe (Neighborhood & Crime Watch)
No more toxic fumes polluting our neighborhood (Code Enforcement Committee)
No more shopping carts on our streets (All of the above committees)
Youth would participate in positive activities (Social Youth Committee)
A quality neighborhood grocery (Business Development Committee)
Sound impossible? Not if you get involved! Together, we can make this wish list a reality. Uptown has many assets
- a strong neighborhood watch - a well-informed and active community association- neighbors looking out for each
other -interactive developers and last, but not least, fun! Sure -we have our share of problems, but overall we have a
great community. It is up to all residents, not just a few, to keep the momentum going. It’s not too late to step up
your level of involvement. As a member of your community, you have more clout than you may realize. It's just a
matter of standing up, making your voice heard and becoming active in your community! Just a few committees to
consider:
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Beautification Committee is essential for preserving the beauty of Uptown; as well as stimulating civic pride
and teamwork in our neighborhood.
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Neighborhood & Crime Watch Committee is necessary for public safety and safer streets thru communication with neighborhood residents and MPD. Meets the 1st Saturday of each month.
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Business Development / Planning Committee participates in planning and is vital to the success of the residential and business community.
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Block Captain / Phone Tree Committee distributes vital information to neighbors pertaining to criminal activity and other concerns that develop.
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Membership Committee promotes membership and encourages residents to join UCA.
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Social / Faith-based Committee by their very nature offers a moral compass for living and reach across the
spectrum of socio-economic boundaries. Helps individuals adjust to a different lifestyle than they have known
in the past. Also provides spiritual mentoring by replacing faith and serenity in troubled individuals.
Article by Tanja Mitchell
In the spirit of community, we are always looking for neighbors to help deliver our newsletters!
If you are interested in lending a hand while getting some exercise and meeting some fellow Uptowners, please contact:
Tanja Mitchell @ tmitchell@henryturley.com
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INSIDE UPTOWN
Join the UCA!
As residents of the Uptown
neighborhood, you may ask
yourselves:
“Why should I join the Uptown Community
Association?”
Uptown Memphis 2nd Annual
National Night Out Celebration
Everyone Welcome
The answers are many and varied, and often
different for different people, but essentially,
the Uptown Community Association exists
for you, to promote the common interest of
the residents located in and around the area
known as the Uptown Community.
We work together to involve neighbors in a
collective effort to enhance and celebrate the
quality of life in Uptown Memphis.
Member benefits include:
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Networking opportunities
Monthly activities
Being in the know
Valued opinions
Making a difference
Monthly newsletter
Membership dues are only
$15 for individuals, or $25 for a family.
Your membership helps to support our many
neighborhood activities - cookouts in the
park, Meet and Greet evenings, etc.
Tuesday, August 7, Starts @ 5pm
Uptown Park
(Corner of Greenlaw Place and Uptown St)
Bring your lawn chair
& favorite beverage)
Live Music – Food – Fun
Sponsored by Uptown Alliance – Uptown Partnership
Uptown Community Association
First Alliance Bank
For more information, and/or to join
electronically, contact Julie Ray at
cafefrancisco@aol.com.
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UPTOWN IMPRESSIONS
Memphis Diggers
August is an Elvis month. And what better place than Uptown during an Elvis month? At Uptown Square, the
Uptown Partnership has preserved Elvis’ old digs in what was formerly Lauderdale Courts. Elvis lived there between late 1949 and January 1953, it was from here that he recorded that demo at Sun Studio that quickly led him
to fame and fortune.
Now, some people love Elvis and some people really dig Elvis. The Memphis Diggers are a group that dig Elvis.
Literally.
The Memphis Diggers consist of Mike Cothern, Tom Dunlap and Darren Paseur. They are a loose-knit group of
friends who live in the Memphis area and share one common passion. Digging. They dig for old Civil War relics,
for Ice Age bones, for fossils, Indian arrowheads and bottles. Probably one of their biggest joys is digging up old
bottles from Memphis; especially in the Uptown area. Recently they dug at the corner of Second and Greenlaw,
the former site of the Malone Park swimming pool, a place Elvis frequented as a teenager. Who knows - maybe
Elvis himself discarded one of those old Coke bottles. They have also found lots of bottles and Whiskey jugs at
the old Hurt Village location where many of us new converts to Uptown live right this very moment, not to
mention on other streets throughout the neighborhood including Mill, Looney, Fifth and Greenlaw.
By invitation, as they won’t dig without the property owners
permission, The Diggers will come out and see if they can find
any cool stuff on YOUR property.
Anyone wishing to contact them can email at
thememphisdiggers@yahoo.com
or just check out the website at www.thememphisdiggers.com.
Mike says, “We would love to get more permission to dig
some bottles in this area. Just give me a call at 901-487-9491.”
I think they’d really dig it!
Article by Julie Ray
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UPTOWN TOP TEN
Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Participate in National Night Out
1.
Send a message to the criminals!
2.
You have to eat dinner somewhere!
3.
Enjoy some music with our great DJ! So you think you can dance?
4.
All your other neighbors will be there …. (peer pressure)
5.
Good food - even better if you contribute and bring something of your own to share!
6.
Get some community and neighborhood watch information.
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Come out and meet the new neighbors that you missed at the bike race or pet parade!
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An excuse to dress up (or down) … don’t worry none of the officers present will be Fashion Police!
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Get to know your South Precinct MPD Officers - what better way than to help out with you neighborhood?
10.
What else do you have to do on a Tuesday night???
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UPTOWN PROFILES
Uptown Residents - In Their Own Words
New Humes Principal
Most everyone knows that Elvis went to Humes Middle
School.
Actually, he went to Humes High School, as it was then,
but now it is a middle school serving grades six through
eight.
But guess who is going to be at Humes THIS year? Mr.
Deartis Barber, III. If he doesn’t sound familiar, he will
soon. As both students and teachers at Humes Middle are
gearing up for another great school year the welcome mat
is out for the new principal, Mr. Barber.
The first full day of classes is Tuesday, August 14th. Though Mr. Barber will be a new face at Humes, the returning students are sure to recognize the Assistant Principal, Ms. Pamela Yancy-Taylor.
Both Mr. Barber and Ms. Yancy-Taylor are committed to the mission of Humes Middle, which is to educate all
students to communicate effectively and use information to solve problems and make responsible choices. As well,
the vision of Humes Middle School is for all parents, teachers and community members to be committed to
continuous school improvement.
Located at 659 North Manassas St., the students are surely lucky to attend such a high profile school. The kids
may or may not be fully aware that nearly every day visitors from around the world come to see where Elvis
learned his three R’s. Maybe we should make that four: reading, (w)riting, (a)rithmetic and Rock -n-Roll.
Welcome Mr. Barber, and all returning as well as new staff and students.
Deartis Barber III, Uptown since 2007
Article by Julie Ray
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UPTOWN CONNECTIONS
What’s On and What’s Up in Uptown
Saturday, August 4
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Uptown Neighborhood Watch Meeting
10:00 a.m. Uptown Square leasing office. 252 North Lauderdale.
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Monthly crime stats (July 2007)
Update on neighborhood Hot Spots
Sunday, August 5
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Backyard Bible Study
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. in Uptown Park
Tuesday, August 7
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Press Conference and National Night Out Kick Off
2:30 p.m. start in Uptown Park near the Metropolitan Apartments
Tuesday, August 7
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2nd Annual National Night Out Celebration
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Uptown Park near the Metropolitan Apartments
Wednesday, August 8 -
Uptown Nights - Resident Appreciation Evening
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Uptown Homes Sales Office - 534 North Second
Thursday, August 9
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Uptown Nights - Realtor Evening
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Uptown Homes Sales Office - 534 North Second
Friday, August 10
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Uptown Nights - Preferred Customers Evening
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Uptown Homes Sales Office - 534 North Second
August 10th - 17th
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Elvis Week at Uptown Square: 30th Anniversary 1977-2007
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Public Tours of the Elvis Apartment
$10 per person at 252 North Lauderdale
Monday, August 13
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First Day Back To School!
Saturday, August 25
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Memphis Knights
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Café Francisco - 400 North Main
Saturday, September 8-
Uptown Neighborhood Watch Meeting
10:00 a.m. Uptown Square leasing office. 252 North Lauderdale.
Thursday, September 13-
Uptown Community Association Meeting
6:00 p.m. at Café Francisco - 400 North Main
GO AHEAD …. YAK IT UP!
UPTOWNYAK.COM
YOUR COMMUNITY WEBSITE
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