National statistics on housing market worry Cooper

Transcription

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V O L U M E x i x , N U M B E R IX
w w w.cooper young.org
C o o p e r -Yo u n g — M a n y Vo i c e s , O n e C o m m u n i t y
FLIP OUT
National statistics
on housing market
worry CooperYoungians
K AT I E B O N D S
Dozens of Cooper-Young residents recently
turned out for a CYCA meeting to discuss
foreclosures in our area. Concerns ranged
from whether www.zillo.com is a legit website
to whether or not it is a good time for home
improvements. I left the meeting feeling like I
had learned a lot. However, as woman in my
mid-twenties trying to sell my own house in
this market, I felt like there was a lot more that
I wanted explained. I’m sure a lot of people
feel exactly like I do, even those who aren’t
even trying to buy or sell a house right now.
The media’s got us spooked once again.
Every time we turn on the television we hear
something different: “Nevada, California,
Florida lead foreclosure rates…”; every time
we open our browsers the headlines pop up:
“Housing Crash Continues,” “The Haunted
Housing Market,” etc. I could go on forever.
But we also hear so much conflicting news
that it’s hard to understand what is really
going on and how it is affecting the CooperYoung area. Is the housing market coming to a
complete halt in Cooper-Young? Are people
shying away from CY due to all the talk of
foreclosures? Not exactly. One person who
disproved these ideas was Amber Kessler, who
recently moved into the Cooper-Young area. A
young woman with a positive outlook on life,
Amber shed some light on what the media
would have us believe is this dark, doomsday
situation.
But before I get to Amber, let’s talk a little
about the current housing market and how it
affects Cooper-Young. First, there were several
factors that led up to this much of a slow
down in the market. Number one being the
amount of people who got loans who should
have never gotten them. As Brenda Harper
from Hope Community Credit Union said at
the CYCA board meeting in April, “I heard this
one guy say he had to apply not to get a
loan.” Secondly, the types of loans that people
received have played a major role.
Continued on page 14
June 2008
LampLighter 1
4
Neighborhood baseball
Spend an evening with your friends,
family and neighbors on June 20 for a
Redbirds game. Tickets are only $10 and $7 of
each ticket sold benefits the Cooper-Young
Development Corporation. Vouchers must be
purchased from the CYDC.
Meetings
inside
CYCA General Meeting
June 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the
community offices at 2298 Young
Ave. This month’s meeting features
guest speaker Joy Williams from
Memphis City Waste Management.
She has been the Recycling Coordinator for the City of Memphis for
eight years. The focus will be on the
appropriate ways to recycle. When
we take the time to recycle, it is
important we know that what we are
Much ado about Warhol
10
This month the prints of Andy
Warhol (from A to B and back again)
will be at the Brooks Museum. The exhibition
provides an overview of the artist’s career from
the 1960s to the 1980s. Sixty-three prints and
doing is having the effect we are
trying to achieve. The doors will open
at 6 p.m. with light refreshments and
the meeting will begin promptly at
6:30 p.m. Be sure to arrive early to
get a ticket for the door prize. Also at
five paintings will be part of the show, including
some of his most famous works.
Find out how the national housing crisis has affected Cooper-Young on pages 14-15
the June meeting, Nancy Clayton will
talk about volunteer opportunities
and upcoming events.
CYCA Board Meeting
Pride on parade
MLGW come to our monthly neighborhood meeting in May and
12
give us hands on demonstrations on how to save energy. We saw
Flag Day. A new 100-foot Rainbow Flag, which
how to caulk our windows, add weather-stripping to our doors, add
will be dedicated to the memory of Gary
insulation in our attics and crawl spaces and just find the places
Wilkerson, will premiere and be dedicated at that
where we lose energy everyday in our homes. Did you know that
parade.
Greetings:
It’s starting to get hot! It was great to have representatives from
four compact fluorescent 70 watts bulbs use less energy than one
40 watt “regular” bulbs? Use a programmable thermostat so that
you can have the temperature adjusted while you are away from
home. Change/Clean your filters regularly. It helps your system last longer plus run more
efficiently. I won’t go into the conversation about hot water tanks here but there is a debate
about tankless hot water, oh my.
Heating and cooling cost are the bulk of our energy expenditures. If you are looking to
upgrade, this is a wise place to start. The MLGW website now offers some great tools to decide
how upgrades or changes can affect your utility bills. All that attended learned something and
walked out with a gift bag with many valuable items to take home and put to immediate use. I
truly thought that this was great information. Just try one of these things this season and then
another next season so we can try to reduce our energy consumption. Let’s all do our part in
Cooper-Young not to be wasteful. take place on June 14, which is also
Extras
CYCA News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Night Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Elementary News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Book Worm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Midtown Mama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Green by Proxy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Safety First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Crime Map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Pilgrim Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Lifelong Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Pet Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Debbie Sowell
Tiffany’s Breakfast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
email@cooperyoung.org
The LampLighter has changed its email contact
Staff and Volunteers
Contributors
Founder
Editor
Layout
Business Manager
Distribution
Photographers
Ad Managers
Janet Stewart
Courtney Miller Santo
Bradley Payne
Chris McHaney
Rich Bullington
Ashle Bailey
Miriam Dolin
Chris McHaney
Debbie Sowell
Kristy Alley, Andy Ashby, Vincent Astor, Katie Bonds,
Katie Bruneau, Elisabeth Callihan, Deborah Camp,
Joel Chapman, Jon Devin, Nikki Douglas, Barbara
Elder, Sutton Mora Hayes, Amy Lueck, Edmund
Mackey, D. Jackson Maxwell, Dennis Nicholson, Sue
Parker, Troyann Poulopoulos, Kimberly Richardson,
J.S. Smith, Debbie Sowell, Melissa Anderson Sweazy,
Tamera Walker
Content
Ad Sales
Distribution
901-827-4797 lamplighter@cooperyoung.org
901-359-1696 ads@cooperyoung.org
901-726-4635 distribution@cooperyoung.org
The LampLighter is published by the CYCA. The opinions and information presented here are
those of the staff and volunteers of the LampLighter and do not necessarily reflect the entire
Cooper-Young community. The LampLighter assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions.
However, we commit ourselves to providing current and accurate information.
June 17 at 7 p.m. at the community
This year’s GLBT Pride Parade will
information. We have adopted new email addresses
at our domain. To contact editorial or content, please
email lamplighter@cooperyoung.org. To contact
billing: billing@cooperyoung.org. To contact advertising: ads@cooperyoung.org and for questions about
distribution contact distribution@cooperyoung.org.
Deadlines for June LampLighter
Articles, submissions: June 15
Advertising copy: June 20
Distribution beginning: June 27
Please send all articles and submissions to:
lamplighter@cooperyoung.org. For advertising rate
sheet, or to submit ads electronically, please email:
ads@cooperyoung.org
offices at 2298 Young Ave.
Cooper Young Organizations
CYCA
Maggie Cardwell
901-927-2922
info@cooperyoung.org
CYBA and CY Festival
Tamera Walker
901-276-7222
cyba@bellsouth.net
CYDC
Sutton Mora Hayes
901-272-1459
sutton_cydc@bellsouth.net
CYCA Board Officers
President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
CYCA Committee Heads
Beautification and
Code Enforcement
Block Club
Communications
Crime Mapping
and Education
Festival 4-Miler
Membership
Monitoring Blight
Volunteer Council
CYCA At-Large
Board Member
LampLighter June 2008
Andy Ashby
Robert Grisham
Emily Bishop
Edmund Mackey
Richard Coletta,
Michael Ham,
Alan Ray
John Kinsey
Open
Nancy Clayton
See’Trail Mackey,
Correction
On page 3 of the May issue of the
LampLighter, we incorrectly identified John
Kinsey as Jim. As the newly-elected vice
president of the CYCA, we figure John has
been doing the work of two people, so we’d
give him two names. Thanks so much for
your hard work, John, and we apologize
for this error.
2
Debbie Sowell
John Kinsey
Andy Ashby
Jason Word
CYCA N E W S
Quarterly clean up
On May 10, several local residents gathered at
the gazebo to take an active hand in making our
CYCA 2008
Members
The Cooper-Young Community Association
neighborhood a better place. As part of the first
will continue to acknowledge those individuals
Cooper-Young Quarterly Clean-Up, volunteers
and households who are supporting the work
performed a variety of tasks. First, Bryant Cummins,
owner of Bryant Landscape and Lawn, led a group
of volunteers in cleaning up the gazebo plant beds
and trimming the shrubbery. Then, volunteers
planted everything from flowers to mint in the
we do. Between April 16 and May 15,
the following individuals and families
became members:
Rik and Jan Anderson
cleared areas, providing extra color and variety to
Bonnie Broom
the gazebo area. The Cooper-Young Community
Kelley Carter
Association purchased all the plants. Then, we
Ashleigh Carter
cleaned up cigarette buts and other trash in this
Eileen Castine
public space. Volunteers also emptied several
Ric and Jo Chetter
public trashcans around the neighborhood. A few
Lissa Chocas
volunteers walked down Cooper and Young,
Mattie Freeman
picking up litter along the way. We also cleared
Nesbitt and Jennifer Hart
some of the sidewalk weeds on these and other
Ed Kelley
side streets.
David Kmet
Volunteers included Charles Lee, Jake Williams, Bryant Cummins, Mark Morrison, Patrick Miller,
Virginia Kyle
Kristan Huntley, Doris Porter, Betty Slack, Myron Lawrence and CYCA volunteer coordinator Nancy
Leah Lloyd
Clayton. Please forgive me if I left anybody’s name off this list. I would like to personally thank all
Bradley and Alexis Payne
of these volunteers for taking time out of their weekend to help make their neighborhood a better
Diane Sable
place. We’re currently planning the next quarterly clean-up and hope to have the same great
Mary Walton
turnout next time. If you want any more information, please contact Andy Ashby, who is the
Teresa Ward
chairman of the CYCA. He can be reached at ashby129@hotmail.com or at 691-2396.
Terry and Shanda Wells
participated in the Do It Yourself Workshop
June CYCA general meeting
Jeremy and Asuka Yow
from Energy Smart Memphis presented by
CY residents do it
themselves
More than twenty Cooper-Young residents
MLG&W at the May general meeting. This 1.5
The June 10 general meeting will feature guest speaker Joy Williams from Memphis City Waste
hour workshop detailed ways to reduce
Management. She has been the Recycling Coordinator for the City of Memphis for eight years.
energy costs. Participants received a free
The focus will be on the appropriate ways to recycle. When we take the time to recycle, it is
weatherization kit.
important we know that what we are doing is having the effect we are trying to achieve. The
doors will open at 6 p.m. with light refreshments and the meeting will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m.
Community Spirit
Be sure to arrive early to get a ticket for the door prize. Also at the June meeting, Nancy Clayton
will talk about volunteer opportunities and upcoming events.
Mission Our purpose is to form an association of residents and interested
CYCA safety forum
parties to work together to make our diverse and historic community a
more desirable and safer place to live, worship, work, and play.
The CYCA held a safety forum on May 22. Residents discussed block clubs, code enforcement,
Help plant the seeds
of community
and join the
CYCA today!
and general safety precautions. The CYCA continues to try to help residents make our community
a safer place.
Hearing on property at Lamar
and McLean
Many Cooper-Young residents have expressed concern about the future of the vacant lot that
currently sits at the corner of Lamar and McLean. On May 28, several residents attended a hearing
about the property in front of the Board of Adjustments. The concerns with the property are:
• The current residence on the site is a detatched trailer
• Current plans ask for an entrance to the property at Lamar just feet before the
McLean red light
Enclosed is a check for my membersip in the Cooper Young Community Association
New
Renewing
Individual – $15
Senior 55 and older – $5
Household – $20
Trestle Tender – $50
Name_ _______________________________________________________________________________
• The property owners have not been good neighbors. The trailer has been empty for the
Address_________________________________________________ Zip___________________________
past year and ther have been no attempts at improvement. The property backs up to
Phone________________________________________________ Email___________________________
CY on Manilla.
• At the hearing, of the eight Board of Adjustments members, four voted against the permit,
two voted yes and two abstained from voting.
Sutton Mora Hayes, CYDC Director, stresses that those who are concerned should continue to
I want to hear about volunteer opportunities
Enclosed is my gift of $_ _________________________________________________________________
in honor or/in memory of_ ______________________________________________________________
watch the process. “Any Board of Adjustments decision can be appealed to City Council, and I
Enclosed is my gift of $___________________ for the General Operating Fund
assume that this will be,” says Sutton. “We’ll just have to keep an eye on the upcoming Council
Mail this form with your payments to:
agendas and rally support once it is appealed.”
CYCA Membership, 2298 Young Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
You can also join online at www.cooperyoung.org. The CYCA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
June 2008
LampLighter 3
OLE TO CYBA
NIGHT OUT
Business members celebrate spring on
the patio
Third Cooper-Young evening event
proves successful
TA M A R A W A L K E R
TA M A R A W A L K E R
The patio at Café Ole was the place to be on April 22, if you had been there, you would have
Visitors to Cooper-Young slicked back their pompadours, got their wingtips on and headed out
run into some of the movers and shakers here in Cooper-Young. Café Ole was the setting for the
the door to kick off the weekend in style at the June 5 Night Out. This monthly “First Thursdays”
Spring General Meeting of the Cooper-Young Business Association. Approximately forty business
event offers area business owners keep their doors open late and offer up discounts in area
and property owners attended this meeting, chatted with our local police and enjoyed refresh-
antique shops, retail stores, restaurants and bars from 5 to 9 p.m. Many parents took advantage
ments provided by Reggie Johnson, manager of Café Ole.
of childcare services offered at the Midtown Marital Arts for a $5 per child for the whole evening.
Kongsouly Jones, Principal of Peabody School, and Courtney Magee made a presentation to the
CYBA membership of a picture that was designed by the children of Peabody. The CYBA makes
Even Lucy Ricardo would have loved that!!
This month those who stopped by Lou’s Pizza Pie were able to get their singing voice on. Lou
donations to Peabody annually from proceeds gained through the CY Festival. The picture will
broke out the ole Karaoke machine and pulled in a few crooners. Others had a brew and sang a
hang at the office located at 2120 Young that the CYBA and the Memphis Police Co-Act Unit have
song or two. It was open mic night at Java Cabana and a few folks tried their hand at entertaining
together.
the locals at this favorite coffee spot. Vintage is the scene at Hi-Octane just down the way—where
The Memphis Police Department recently promoted Lt. James Kirkwood to a Major and Charlie
visitors signed up to win a Retrolux Moderne table. If you needed to add sparkle to your duds,
Ryan made a presentation of gifts to him on behalf of the CYBA. Major Kirkwood has played a
Night Out was a great time to pick up a Kenny Ma purse straight from San Francisco over at Bella
tremendous role in getting CY extra patrols, undercover work, and surveillance in the alleys. Lt.
Notte. Dancing shoes? Well, very few missed this opportunity to see Cherry and the Subtonixs
Chalmers, our new Lieutenant in Cooper-Young, was introduced at this same time.
live at the gazebo; they offered a heaping portion of the Rock n’ Roll and Rhythm and Blues.
There was a presentation from the Memphis Police, Gang Force member, Robert Skelton, which
At Burke’s, local historian, William Bearden, discussed his Memphis Legacy Project and how he
consisted of a lively conversation about gangs, graffiti, dog bites and security cameras. At the end
is amassing photographs of Memphis to donate to local museums. Visitors also stopped by
of the meeting, Pam Remmers drew names for the winners of door prizes that were donated by
Memphis Waterworks located behind Market Central to listen to a little Blue Grass music. There
Tsunami, Celtic Crossing, Lizi-Beard Ward, and Playhouse on the Square.
they can picked up some Memphis historical heritage for their own backyards. Did I forget to
mention that Amazing Lace offered 10 percent off Leg Avenue Swimwear and Toad Hall has a
whole line of Bubble Gum jewelry from the 50’s?
The next Cooper-Young Night Out will be July 3. The LampLighter had decided to alter its
publication schedule slightly to better cover the Night Out events. Look for earlier publication dates in
July and August.
NINE INNINGS
Join the CYDC for night with the
Redbirds
S U T T O N M O R A H AY E S
Looking for a fun way to spend an evening with your friends, family, and neighbors? Join the
Cooper-Young Development Corporation (CYDC) and the rest of the neighborhood on Friday, June
20 at 7:10 p.m. for a Redbirds game. The Redbirds will be hosting the dreaded Albuquerque
Isotopes, and a good time is sure to be had by all.
Here is how it works. First, call Sutton at the CYDC offices at 272-1459 to arrange to buy a $10
voucher for the game. The Redbirds will donate $7 directly back to the CYDC, and donate the
Principal Kongsouly Jones and Courtney Magee hold up a picture that was
designed by the children of Peabody Elementary.
remaining $3 to the RBI and STRIPES youth baseball programs. Second, come to the game on
June 20 with all your Cooper-Young neighbors and friends, but remember…they do NOT have to
live in Cooper-Young. Friends and family can be from anywhere! Third, have fun! It is one of the
easiest ways you will find to support some of the great work being done in the neighborhood by
the CYDC.
Call 272-1459 today for more information or to get tickets!
Cooper-Young business owners enjoy a meeting on the patio at Cafe Ole.
4
LETTE R TO TH E E DITOR
LETTE R TO TH E E DITOR
Life Choices deserves open-minded
reception in CY
Peabody exceeds parent’s expectations
DENNIS NICHOLSON
My daughter is just about to complete her first year at Peabody Elementary and I am pleased to
BARBARA ELDER
My husband and I have been exploring adoption and adoption agencies for nearly a year. After
much research we have decided that we want to adopt through Life Choices. We arrived at this
conclusion many months ago, before knowing that they would be relocating to our neighborhood.
There are several factors that affected our decision to work with Life Choices. The first was a
personal reference. A respected colleague of Jason’s adopted his son through this organization.
From an adoptive parent’s perspective he has had nothing but positive things to say about the
service and support that he, his wife and his son have received. He recommended Life Choices to
us without hesitation.
Next what impressed me about Life Choices was what struck me as a genuine concern and
compassion toward women faced with an unexpected pregnancy. One way that they demonstrate
this compassion is through open adoptions. In an open adoption birth mothers are very active in
planning the adoption and they receive regular pictures and updates about their child after the
birth. From the research that I have read about the affects of adoption on birth mothers, this is
considered by far the best situation for the birth mother’s emotional health and healing. Also Life
Choices offers a variety of support for women who choose to parent their child. They do not
consider their job finished when the child is born. They continue to walk along side the mother
providing an array of services from support groups to clothing for their baby.
I reject the notion that Life Choices is a deceitful or hateful organization. Their website is clear
about their convictions. They are not hiding anything from the people they serve, baiting and
switching, or forcing anyone to make a decision that goes against their own wishes. The fact that
they offer support to women who experience post-abortion trauma communicates to me that they
are not the kind of organization that pickets abortion clinics and shouts cruel, judgmental things
to the women who enter. We cannot lump all pro-life organizations and people into this category.
I know that all people in our neighborhood do not agree with Life Choices’ stances. However, if
we are to be a truly open-minded community we must allow all voices to be heard, even voices
that differ from our own. Otherwise we become just another close-minded, judgmental, intolerant
say that the school and all those who work there have far exceeded our expectations. As I
promised in a letter I wrote just before the school year started, I would give praise where it is
deserved. Ms Olivia Malland could not have taught our child more if she tried, she is just wonderful! I want to thank everyone at the school for making me a true believer in our neighborhood
school, I would not hesitate to tell anyone to send their child to Peabody. My daughter is truly
excited to begin her first grade year with Ms. Magbee, and my wife and I will be assured knowing
that she is loved by all the teachers and staff.
Editor’s Note: Following a lively debate about public education, Cooper-Young resident Dennis
Nicholson sent us the following letter, which was published in the October 2007 LampLighter. The
above letter is his promised follow up. Thanks for letting us know how things went!
I am a father of a five year old who will be starting at Peabody in the fall. I would be lying if I
said Peabody school was our first choice. The difference between public and private schools in
Memphis is well known. The issue my wife and I ran into was the money required to enroll our
child into one of the private schools. Now that we know our daughter will be entering the school
in the fall, we have decided to work within the system to ensure that our daughter gets the best
education possible. We hope that she has a positive experience.
We have decided to take a wait and see approach to determine what our future choices for our
daughter’s education will be. If it turns out that she is receiving a good education, I will be the
number one cheerleader, otherwise we will get her into a private school by hook or crook.
As for my obligation to the local school ...... It does just not outweigh my obligation to my
daughter, and the need to be educated in the new global economy. I refuse to accept that I need
to handicap my daughter from competing with those in our community who receive a private education, just so that she attends a local public school.
Dennis Nicholson is a Cooper-Young resident.
group of people disguised in “open-minded” liberal clothes.
Statistically our city has one of the highest abortion rates in the nation. There are no shortages
of clinics a woman can go to if she is interested in an abortion in Shelby County. Why should we
fight against one of the handful of organizations that a woman can go to if she wants something
different for her child? If we really want to empower women to make the best choice for themselves and their children they need to have a variety of options and voices to choose from. I think
that Life Choices is one of the few places in Memphis that offer women alternatives to abortion
and the support they need to either parent their child or plan for an adoption. I am glad that Life
Choices is coming to Cooper-Young and I hope that they will be welcomed here with openness
and respect.
Barbara Elder is a Cooper-Young resident.
Clarification
In the May issue of the LampLighter one of
the columnists indicated that Life Choices
received a grant from the federal government
to provide abstinence-only education. Sue
Park, the director of a pregnancy counseling
center with offices in Memphis says, “The large
federal grant was actually awarded to Life
Choices of Dyersburg (no connection to us Life Choices is a popular name used by lots of
pregnancy help centers). We don’t have a
formal abstinence-only education program.
June 2008
LampLighter 5
ALL AB ROAD
Peabody’s annual International Festival rousing success
AMY LU EC K
International Festival was a huge success! Many parents and community members came out to
celebrate the international experience at Peabody.
The morning’s events began with a program by Mr. Sanders’ renowned Choir and Dance
their country’s complex history and culture. Students impressed guests with their use of the
Russian language and display of political and cultural knowledge.
On to Asia, the fifth grade transformed the lower level into Japan itself, with displays
Ensemble groups performing pieces from the featured countries. The program began with an
throughout the fifth grade hallway. The low lights and Japanese fountain in Mr. Butler’s class
American song and dance, then moved across the continents.
added a tranquil oriental ambience to his classroom, whereas Ms. Eoff’s class had the feel of a
At the conclusion of the program, guests moved on to the classrooms to see the heart of
International Festival: student learning. Students at every grade level showcased their learning
Japanese party, featuring information about the holidays of that country.
Finally, Ms. Edwards’ Superstar CDC class presented China. Here, through the hard work of a
with charming performances and displays in their classrooms. The school was utterly transformed,
small class of only six students, Chinese culture was brought to life. The students created beautiful
with floor to ceiling decorations in and outside of classrooms. Inside, classrooms were set up in
brochures and projects to showcase their learning, which were set against colorful displays of the
“station” format, each station being a display of student projects, information, or an interactive
Chinese fortune wheel and the like. Guests couldn’t help but be impressed with this small group’s
activity center. And, of course, there was the food.
big showing.
Guests were given “passports” to be stamped in each country they visited. In Pre-K, tiny
Forget the eighty days—International Festival took family and friends around the world in just
impersonators brought Memphis history and culture to life. Select students dressed up as Elvis, B.B.
two hours! The students worked hard all year to prepare for this day, and it showed. The perfor-
King, and the like, while others played out scenes from the Peabody Hotel, the Memphis Zoo and
mances in and out of the classroom showed off our exceptional student learning—and exceptional
other Memphis sites.
students!
Kindergarteners helped guests see their own country through young eyes with their presentation of America. Barbeque and hotdogs were some of the undeniably American fare served.
First Grade took guests on the long trip to Kenya right in their classrooms through imaginative
Other happenings at Peabody:
• Strings: The Strings program at Peabody is finally under way! Peabody received a grant from
VH1 to fund the program, which provides lessons and string instruments for student use. All
decorations and displays. Mrs. Word prepared deliciously authentic Kenyan dishes to sample,
fourth and fifth grade students were given the opportunity to sign up for the program, which
including irio and coconut rice, along with Starbucks coffee from Africa.
started officially last month. Students in the program are loving the opportunity to learn about
Guests were happy to say “bon jour” to the second grade classrooms, where the interactive
activities and tasty food were taken to a whole new level. One could have spent hours in a
these instruments and look forward to continuing with them next school year.
• Field Day: Students got excited for the renewal of Peabody’s Annual Field Day on May 16. Kids
classroom like Mrs. Moore’s, where students drew guests into fun French crafts while enjoying
and teachers got a chance to enjoy the spring weather, show off their athletic skills, and have
crepes, fruit, and more.
some fun. Tammy Chapman, Peabody’s physical education teacher, organized the event, which
The third grade’s Mexican experience drew guests in with their yummy nachos as well; but no
one would be disappointed with the projects and learning they saw when they got there. Students
impressed guests with their knowledge of all things Mexican.
Guests wanted to rush to Russia next, where the fourth grade tackled the understanding of
Director Jerry Sanders leads Peabody’s Choir in the International Festival program
began with lower elementary in the morning and hosted the upper grades in the afternoon.
The day had it all, from games and relays to food and inflatables. It was quite an event!
• Upcoming Events: Summer Break! We look forward to seeing everyone in the fall!
Russian history comes to life with a living timeline of fourth grade students.
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6
BOOK WORM
The Legacy of New
Orleans
K I M B E R LY R I C H A R D S O N
LOOKING
FOR A LOVING HOME
MALTESE
“REGISTERED”
Last weekend, I had the pleasure to attend
Jazz Fest in New Orleans, Louisiana (my
thirteenth year) and, just like the previous
years, the time spent at the festival lived up to
being a great time. During my one day of
festival happiness, I had the pleasure to meet
local author and attorney Billy Sothern, author
of the book, “Down in New Orleans: Reflections
From a Drowned City.” I recognized his title
from one of my previous book searches
CALL: FRANKIE WILLIAMS
870-439-2568
RAISED IN A LOVING HOME,
NOT IN A KENNEL
regarding hurricane Katrina and the disaster it
left in its trail. When we met, I told him that I
was from Memphis and he replied that he spent
some time in our city after Katrina. Five minutes
later, I had a signed copy of his book and I was
on my merry way to hear more jazz music.
I began reading his book the day before I was to return to Memphis and once I started it, I
found that I literally could not put it down. His telling of what he and his wife Nikki experienced
during Katrina was one of the most powerful stories I had ever read regarding those affected by
the hurricane. He told of how he and his wife drove to Oxford, Mississippi, then later to New York,
partly wondering if they did the right thing in leaving, only to return at a later time to find that
luck was clearly on their side after viewing the damage to their home. He also spoke of the
people who suffered the most during that storm: those who lived in the Lower Ninth Ward, of
which I have visited every year since Katrina during Jazz Fest. To read their words about what
they lost and who they lost made me feel as though I was standing beside him, taking down
notes for my own sake.
He also wrote of the stories that the rest of
the country only saw a fraction of on the
television: the crooked politicians and their
legislations before, during, and after Katrina,
towns and cities that refused to allow anyone
from New Orleans shelter, the discombobulating prison systems, the elusive mixture of
racism and history that surfaced during a time
of great peril, the horror stories of what
occurred inside of the Superdome, and so on.
New Orleans plunged into chaos after Katrina
and Rita and his book left nothing to the
imagination for the reader, giving a bird’s eye
view of what truly happened.
Mr. Sothern, transplanting himself in New
Orleans after being raised in New York City, is
obviously a New Orleanian at heart. One could
not ever doubt where his heart lay during the
storm and still lies now; seeing his beloved city
rise from the grime and be what it once was.
Trouble is, although his words were full of
passion to see such a goal, his words also spoke
of the harsh reality of too much damage done
to an area that should never have been
populated by humans. Add into the mix global
warming and the future becomes less focused.
But, even at the end of his book, Mr. Sothern
gives a sliver of hope for the city simply
because it was and still is one of the most
diverse cities in the United States; one that will,
quite possibly, stand the test of time.
June 2008
LampLighter 7
M I DTOW N MA MA
G R E E N BY PROXY
Learning to live with less means more
for this family
Bats, Brad Pitt and the
Phantom Menace
KRISTY ALLEY
M el i ssa A nderson S weazy As I may have mentioned in previous columns, I live in a 1200-square-foot house with my
husband and four kids. We have three bedrooms, one of which was intended to be a den, and
one bathroom. One. Bathroom. We bought our house when I was pregnant with our first child,
“What do you think about bats?” my husband asks
while paging flips through a catalog.
“Bats. Like a Louisville slugger?” I’m stalling. I know
who is now ten and a half years old. Luckily, the well-thought-out floor plan is flexible and flows
this is not what he means. But I’m already creeped out
well, allowing our family to grow from two and half to six members without too much crowding.
by where this conversation is headed.
So what if we moved our bedroom into the back den when child number three, (girl number one)
“No, I mean bats.”
was born? Or if it never fails that one of the kids has an urgent need to stink up the bathroom
“Like… vampire bats?”
while I’m in the shower? We do all right. We survive.
Actually, we’ve thrived in our little house. My husband and I can be seen smirking over the
weekly story in the Sunday paper’s Real Estate section when the featured family inevitably talks
about outgrowing their three-bedroom, two bath home upon the birth of their first child. Give me
a break! If you need a McMansion in Collierville to house all your baby gear, you have too much
crap. Back in the day, all a baby needed was a dresser drawer and access to some mammary
action. Our house, small as it is, was in fact originally even smaller. The den/bedroom and back
half of the kitchen/laundry area were added sometime in the 1970s. And I’d be willing to bet that
the two-bedroom, small-kitchen incarnation housed a family of at least four, if not more, when it
was new.
Once upon a time, whole families lived together in small spaces, like teepees and igloos and,
oh, I don’t know, yurts or something. In some parts of the world they still do! I’m not saying I
want to live with four kids in a one-room, one hole-in-the-ground tent, but I will say there are
advantages to living in a small house with small children. For example, I can sit on the couch in
the living room and see the bathtub. Bathing a four-year old while watching “How I Met Your
Mother” counts as multi-tasking, right? I’ve never had to chase a toddler up and down stairs or sit
playing Candy Land while dinner burned in my distant kitchen because, hey! The kitchen is right
there! In fact, I can hear and often see my kids no matter what part of the house they or I happen
to be in at the time.
Living in a small house has also broken me of pack-rat-ism and ensured that I never develop
stuff-itis. I don’t have anywhere to put a bunch of stuff. If I don’t regularly purge the house of
moth-eaten sweaters, mismatched socks, broken Happy Meal toys and homeless puzzle pieces,
we will soon be overrun. If I brought home some new trinket or geegaw every time I went out,
where would we keep the twelve-pack of toilet paper and Economy-sized bottle of laundry
detergent? Never mind that, where would we sleep? As it stands, our main weakness for accumulation involves books. There are full-to-overflowing bookshelves lining at least one wall in every
room. That’s a space sacrifice we’re willing to make though, considering that each and every one
of those books contains a world so much bigger than the inches of wall space it occupies.
Alas, I think the bathroom situation may break us. Genevieve, baby number four, is on the
verge of potty training. Thanks a lot, Montessori school! She’s not even two yet. That will bring us
to the point of six people sharing one toilet, not to mention the friends and their kids who
regularly hang around our home eating and drinking and, well, you know, eliminating. And I’ll
admit that as the kids get older, we’d like a little more privacy than our den-cum-bedroom
affords, as well as maybe an actual den where the kids could watch their annoying, badly-written
pre-teen TV shows where I don’t have to see or hear them. I’m sure there will soon come a day
when they start entertaining friends in a way that doesn’t involve the swingset in the back yard,
too, so an additional living area would be nice.
We’ve had a good run with our small house. It has brought us closer together and parted us
from some bad habits and potential over-indulgences. If we’ve felt a bit cramped at times, that’s a
small price to pay for lessons in family bonding. When we move, the kids will still share bedrooms with their same-gender siblings. Sharing a room never hurt anyone. The boys’ method of
dealing with the bathroom problem, however, is killing my azaleas.
“Exactly. Well, not the vampire part.” He’s annoyed
with me. “You grew up in the South. Didn’t you throw
rocks up to the bats and watch them use their sonar to
figure out if they were bugs?” Silence. We clearly had very different experiences
growing up.
“Did you know bats eat, on average, 600 mosquitoes an hour?” Now he has my attention. He shows
me the picture in the catalog. Bat “conservatory” for
sale. What the hell is he reading? “Can store up to 40
bats” he points out. “Rarely bother humans” leaps out
at me.
Now, I dig horror movies. On a dare, I wore live
snakes in my hair to a frat party. I have a wreath made out of doll parts and eraser eyes that I
hang on my front door every Halloween. But bats that are not locked under glass at the zoo*? I
saw Cujo, thankyouverymuch. I sniff and go back to The New Yorker.
“It could make for a great column idea.”
I think about it. Opening a nightclub for bats on the side our great flowering oak may not be
the kind of fun fact I’d want to advertise to my Friday night cocktail hour group, but he has a
point. Technically, bats are a wonderfully natural pest-repellent, and truthfully, I’m kinda digging
the visual images. A conservatory of bespectled bats that stay up late arguing the finer points of
Bram Stoker’s work. Training “Vlad” to nibble mosquitoes off of my bite-free gams before herding
the baby away from the not grill. A guest lifting a bottle of Natty Light to his lips just as a
supersonic bat spirits it away, because, seriously, life is too short to cheapen it with crap beer. And lets not forget those 600 mosquitoes an hour! No more chemically terrifying DEET. No more
Skin So Soft slathered across your chest in vain or those pretty yet pretty ineffective citronella
candles. And, more than likely, no more cocktail hour. Because I like the occasional guest at my
home, no vampire bats for the Sweazys, or catalogs** touting them.
But it turns out vampires are all over our house. Brazen creatures, too–not just content to lurk
in the shadows of the dark of the attic, they are in plain sight. I’m not talking about the sexy, Brad
Pitt-with-contacts kind that wear poet shirts and slink around to Nine Inch Nails when not
chugging blahd from your neck. These are the considerably less cinematic energy suckers–your
laptop charger, your hairdryer, your toaster. Appliances left plugged in when not in use still draw
power, a phenomenon also known by its snazzy green moniker “phantom load.” The U.S.
Department of Energy claims that 75 percent of electricity used in the home is generated by
products not in use! Very basic math reveals that a big chunk of your electric bill could instead be
going toward a new pair of shoes. What does the Department of Energy say to do about this? One
solution is energy-saving power strips like the Smart Strip ($30 www.amazon.com) that senses
when the appliance is in use and fires up the outlet. Or, as Caleb the Vampire Slayer likes to point
out, just unplug the laptop power cord when I’m, I mean, you are done. Don’t have a helpful
vampire slayer to remind you every five minutes to unplug the hair dryer? I say the Energy
Department comes up with an ad campaign, because everything is catchier with a slogan. And
because I’m helpful like that, here’s a freebie: Just unplug…because your shoes are fug, and,
really, who doesn’t want new shoes?
*I don’t mean to disparage bats. One day I found myself alone in the Creatures of the Night exhibit
at the Zoo and was fascinated by the bat exhibit. One bat in particular hung upside down and
quivered, this huge, tumor-like protrusion coming out of its body. The more I watched, the less
tumor-like and more baby-like this bump became. I found a zoo employee and dragged them back
to the exhibit. Is that bat having a baby? No, he chuckled. It’s all boys in there. The next day the
paper ran a story on the baby bat born quite unexpectedly at the zoo, named for the keeper who
discovered it. Not that I’m not bitter or anything.
8
Results of the CYCA Code
Violations Survey
Thanks to everyone who took the time to rank the following violations.
Below are the code violations survey results listed from 1-10 with
1 being the most important to those who completed the survey. The
Code Enforcement committee will focus on the top three violations ﬁrst
and expand to the other violations as our volunteer manpower allows.
Please email info@cooperyoung.org if you would like to volunteer on the
CYCA Code Enforcement committee.
1
Abandoned and Derelict Structures – it is a violation for any
property owner to refuse to properly secure any structure he or she
owns or is liable for, to prevent loitering of vagrants or criminal activity.
2
Accumulation of Junk Trash and Debris – it is a violation to
accumulate junk, trash and other debris on residential property.
3
Excessive Weeds, Grass, Trees and Vegetation – it is a violation
to allow grass or weeds to grow over 12 inches high, or allow plants,
shrubs or trees to grow in a manner that will obstruct pedestrian trafﬁc
or the visibility of motorists.
4
Substandard Structures and Fences – it is a violation to maintain
any accessory structures, including storage sheds, garages and
fences that are considered structurally unsound or in need of repair in
order to serve the intended purpose.
5
Parking and Storing Inoperable (Junk) Motor Vehicles – it is a
violation to park, store or leave any vehicle that is rusted, wrecked,
junked, dismantled, inoperable or abandoned in a residential area,
except in fully enclosed structure or when screened from public view.
6
Off-Street Parking – it is a violation to park or store any non-working
vehicle on the lawn/grass or
sidewalk of any residential property.
7
Open Storage of Furnishings and Materials – it is a violation to
openly store on residential property any equipment, materials or
furnishing that is dangerous to public health, safety of welfare. (i.e.
indoor furniture outdoors / household appliances).
8
Special Use & Recreational Vehicles & Equipment– it is a violation
to park or store a recreational
vehicle or special use vehicle/equipment at any single family dwelling.
9
Commercial Vehicles & Equipment – it is a violation to park or store
any commercial vehicle exceeding 8,000 pounds in weight on any
residential property or residential street.
Service and Repair Shops – it is a violation to own or
10 General
operate a commercial business in a district zoned residential without
proper permits.
June 2008
LampLighter 9
AN DY I N M E M PH I S
SWI NG I NTO SAFETY
Important selection
of Warhol prints
and paintings now
at Brooks
Keeping children safe on playgrounds
EDMUND MACKEY
With the recent renovation and revitalization of Peabody Elementary school playground and
the popularity and geographical closeness of Peabody Park, now is a good time to review park
safety. The following article is courtesy of K. Taylor with www.associatedcontent.com.
With the summer months quickly approaching, parents and their children will be spending
ELISABETH CALLIHAN
more time at the park on those beautiful summer days. While all love being outdoors in the warm
“The idea of waiting for something makes it
more exiting,” Andy Warhol once said. With just
summer breeze, there are some steps that should be taken to ensure the safety of our children
a little over one week until Warhol arrives, the
while playing on the playground.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that annually, there are over 205,000
excitement is building. The Prints of Andy
Warhol (From A to B and Back Again) will open
playground accidents involving preschool and elementary school aged children that require
at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art on June
emergency treatment for injuries received while playing on unsafe playgrounds. More than 75
percent of these accidents occur on public playgrounds.
14. The exhibition provides an overview of the
artist’s career through the prints he created from
Warhol’s Ingrid Bergman
It is the parents’ responsibility to make certain that the playground that their children play on is
safe. Head injuries that are suffered on playgrounds that are not properly cushioned can be the
the 1960s to the 1980s.
The Prints of Andy Warhol is one of a number of worldwide events dedicated to Warhol
throughout 2007-2008 to mark the twentieth anniversary of the artist’s death in New York in 1987.
Organized by Margery King, associate curator at The Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Penn., this
exhibition has continuously opened to rave reviews and has meant record-breaking attendance at
most dangerous to small children. While advances have been made in ground cover, most
playgrounds do not have the right depth or the right kind of ground cover to protect children
properly. The National Safe Kids Coalition (NSKC) reports that up to 70 percent of playground injuries are
the host museums and galleries all over the world. “Warhol’s prints are fantastic,” says King. “They
caused by falls on the playground. By choosing a playground that has appropriate ground cover,
aren’t necessarily seen in the original as often as the paintings and they really need to be seen in
you are greatly reducing the risk of injury to your child.
Choosing age appropriate playground equipment is important. Younger children should be
person to appreciate their beauty.”
Among the sixty-three prints and five paintings included in this exhibition are some of Warhol’s
limited to a smaller area of the playground so as not to be knocked down or trampled by older
most famous works–Jackie Kennedy, Campbell’s Soup Cans, Mao, and Flowers–as well as some of
more rambunctious children. A well equipped playground will have a designated area for children
his lesser-known works, such as the Hammer and Sickle series, and prints based on Italian
under the age of five that has age appropriate playground equipment.
Renaissance masters. The title for the exhibition is a play on Warhol’s 1975 book, “The Philosophy
before the fun begins. By doing a quick inspection for loose ropes, missing screws or protruding
of Andy Warhol (From A to B and Back Again).”
Andy Warhol (1928 to 1987) is one of the seminal artists of the twentieth century. The recent
sale of his 1963 painting Green Car Crash (Green Burning Car I) from his Death and Disaster series
Warhol’s Cow
set a new record for the artist at auction when it
was sold for $71.7 million at Christies in New York
in May 2007. The Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh is
loaning the print Ambulance Disaster from the
same series for the Brooks exhibition.
This exhibition has been organized by The
Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh, one of the four
Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. The Prints of
Andy Warhol (From A to B and Back Again) is on
view from June 14 to September 7. For more
information on this exhibition, please visit
www.brooksmuseum.org.
10 LampLighter June 2008
When arriving at the playground, take a few minutes to look over the playground equipment
bolts, you can greatly reduce the injury risks for your child. A quick look for glass or other
dangerous objects lying on the ground is always a good idea as well.
For more information on playground safety, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has
several brochures available at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/playpubs.html
The new playground at Peabody Elementary offers CY residents an opportunity
to swing, slide and teeter-totter in the neighborhood.
To Our Readers
The LampLighter is working with the CYCA to bring you meaningful crime information. In
he Square
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features entertaining
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addition to the crime map, which details crimes within a one-mile radius of the Cooper-Young
intersection, we also included a list of crimes that happened within our neighborhood. This list
includes the case number, which you can use to contact the police. These crimes were reported
April 29, 2008
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Crime Map
Do you want to know what crime is taking place in our neighborhood? The Memphis Police
Department offers a tool on its web site (www.memphispolice.org) that allows you to locate crime
information. Crimemapper allows you to input an address and search in quarter-mile increments
for a specific type of crime. It then returns with the results of your search for the previous 30 days.
and
Midtown
Development
Corporation.
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r2007
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0805016185ME
05/28/08
2200
East PARKWAY
0805014402ME
Simple Assault/DV
05/25/2008
2300
East PARKWAY
0805016389ME
05/28/2008
2100
EVELYN
0805010316ME
Theft from Building
05/18/2008
1000
MCLEAN
0805004657ME
Burglary/Residential
05/08/2008
1000
MEDA
0805007677ME
Burglary/Residential
05/14/2008
1000
NEW YORK
0805009674ME
Burglary/Non-residential
05/17/2008
2100
OLIVER
0805017166ME
Aggravated Assault
05/30/2008
1000
PHILADELPHIA
0805000014ME
05/01/2008
1000
PHILADELPHIA
0804016693ME
Theft of Vehicle Parts/Accessories
04/29/2008
900
PHILADEPHIA
0804017307ME
04/30/2008
2600
SOUTHERN
0805014286ME
Robbery/Individual
05/24/2008
900
TANGLEWOOD
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!LAN3CHWARTZ
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June 2008
LampLighter 11
C Y h i story
OUT AND ABOUT
CY tales circa 1920: GLBT Pride Parade set for June 14
family suppers and V I N C E N T A S T O R
homebaked bread
This year’s Pride Parade will take place on June 14, which is celebrated as Flag Day. The new
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It was during the Depression, but as a kid I
wasn’t the least bit depressed. I had not yet been
told that I was underprivileged or deprived,
thought my mother was a widow and money was
scarce.
I found life interesting, even exciting, back
then, especially as I sat at the supper table each
evening and listened to my older brothers and
sisters tell accounts of the day. My sisters
particularly held an interest for me as they would
tell of men (some old, old men) flirting with them.
My sisters ridiculed them, and I thought: Now
listen carefully; you’re getting free lessons in
L’amore 101. Try to remember these lessons when
you approach girls in a few years.
I remember another occurrence that would
sometimes happen at the supper table. My
mother, Etta, had a remarkable sense of humor
(maybe that’s where I get mine). She could so
quickly see the humor in anything and would
start laughing impulsively at some account of us
was relating. We would all look at her in
puzzlement. “What? What?” we would ask. After
she had calmed down enough to tell us the cause
of her laughter, we would all see it then, and the
whole half-dozen of us would break out in loud
guffaws.
Those days were warm with the comradeship
of eating together, though I remember my
mother continuously aggravating me by shoving
the bread dish under my nose. I wouldn’t eat
bread unless it was wrapped around peanut
butter and jelly. I was underweight and she was
constantly trying to “put some meat on my
bones,” as she said it.
There was a family two doors from us that I
will always cherish. They had five girls and one
boy. They used to have toffee-pulls, and of course
I was always invited. The mama of that family
always baked her own bread. It was delicious,
and all the neighbors bragged on it. Their mom
also baked large delicious teacakes that us kids
would fight over. But one day she sent Mary and
James up to Thompson’s Grocery at the corner of
Young and Blythe to pick up a loaf of storebought bread. I don’t think they had ever had any
of that stuff before, for on the way home they
tore open the wrapper and began fighting over
how many slices each one had had.
One night at the Mid-South Fair, my brother-inlaw won a sidewalk bike and of course he gave it
to me. I basked in the proud ownership of such a
magnificent vehicle, being the proprietor of the
only one for miles around in all directions. For
several days I was Lord of the Manor, making
decisions as to who rode it when and for how
long, but soon the weightiness of the situation
got too burdensome for me and I more or less
benevolently bestowed it on the whole neighborhood. In a few weeks that bike had more miles
on it than any other bicycle in Memphis, or even
Shelby County.
Ah! Cooper-Young in the 20s and 30s!
100-foot Rainbow Flag will premiere and be dedicated at that parade. The Nike TN GLBTF
Network is Grand Sponsor; Tennessee Equality Project and Inz and Outz Cards and Gifts are
Major Sponsors.
The flag will be dedicated to the memory of Gary Wilkerson, one of the founders of Mid-South
Pride. This year’s theme for the parade is Many Cultures, One Community so it is appropriate that
the flag of GLBT culture will take center stage. Also in this year’s parade will be the 100 feet of the
Sea-to-Sea flag and mementos of the retired Memphis Pride Flag. Flags representing states,
countries and cultures of all descriptions will be appropriate trimmings for this year’s event and
the Parade will be led off by the five-flag color guard representing our locale.
The Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center on Cooper will hold a cookout Saturday,
June 8 and will be followed in the evening by Mid-South Pride at the Derby, a Roller Derby event.
On Tuesday, June 10, at 7:30 p.m., there will be a free screening and reception at the Media
Co-op at First Congregational Church. “For The Bible Tells Me So” will be presented by QBliss
and Soulforce.
A Night Out At The Movies featuring the Memphis premieres of “Pageant”, “Ciao”, “Hunter4Love”, and “Drip Tease” and appearances by several directors will be presented by QBliss and
benefiting Mid-South Pride , Outflix and QBliss. The premiere event will take place at Studio on
the Square on Thursday, June 12 beginning at 6 p.m.
The Parade will step off on June 14 at 4 p.m. from First Congregational at Cooper and Walker
and end at this year’s Pride Festival at Peabody Park, Cooper at Higbee. Featured entertainers at
the Festival will be Ari Gold and Rachel Panay with family activities, music and vendors from noon
until 8 p.m. The 2008 QBliss GLBTI Creating Change Community Awards will be presented for the
first time in Memphis at the Festival.
CYCA
Membership
Benefits
Buns on the Run: Free dessert
with purchase
Blue Fish: 10 percent off any one entrée
on a weeknight Young Ave Deli: Enjoy one
complimentary lunch or dinner entrée
when a second of equal or greater value
is purchased (up to $7)
Soul Fish Café: Enjoy one complimentary
lunch or dinner entrée when a second of
equal or greater value is purchased
(up to $7) Lou’s Pizza Pie: 10 percent off every time
you show your membership card
Java Cabana: Buy one get one free Coffee
of the day InBalance Fitness: 20 percent discount
on group classes.
Outback Steak House: One free
appetizer with the purchase of an entrée
up to $7.29.
PAT H F I N D E R F O R U M
person, conformity is equated with morality. The
Overcoming fear and the
habit of hatred
good person is one who doesn’t step out of the
JOEL CHAPMAN
the way things are supposed to be. Thus,
lines, who looks just like every one else in the
group. Those who live in fear often assume that
diversity signals the breakdown of moral order or
Each June, the counseling center at First Congregational Church
conformity is highly valued as a way to control
sponsors a free seminar called the Pathfinder Forum. The stated
the threat of change.
mission of these forums is helping remove psychological barriers to
Overcoming the habit of hatred means
spiritual well being, and this year’s topic is the title of this article.
overcoming fear. Of course, there are many real
As a psychologist who sees a number of people with addiction issues, a phrase coined by
threats out there that we rightly should fear:
author Max Lucado grabbed my attention. In his book, “In The Grip of Grace,” he writes about
random acts of violence, corporate greed, crimes
the habit of hatred:
against women and children to name several
“Call it a bad addiction. We start the habit innocently enough, indulging our hurts with doses
obvious ones. Overcoming the type of fear that
of anger. Not much, just a needle or two of rancor. The rush numbs the hurt, so we come back
fuels an addiction to hatred is largely the fear of
for more and up the dosage; we despise not only what he did, but who he is. Insult him. Shame
our own humanity. Living in this kind of fear
him. Ridicule him. The surge energizes. Drugged on malice, the roles are reversed; we aren’t the
means being guilty and ashamed of being
victim, we’re the victor. It feels good. . . . progression is predictable. Hurt becomes hate, and hate
ourselves. This kind of fear stems from a mistaken
becomes rage as we become junkies unable to make it through the day without mainlining on
notion that we must be perfect, that we must
bigotry and bitterness.”
always be in control. This kind of fear can only
No one likes to be the object of hurtful or humiliating acts. These hurts leave us feeling
exist when we are convinced that we are not
helpless. One common way to combat this vulnerability is to strike back, to get even so that we
worthy and lovable unless we are perfect. There is
don’t feel quite as helpless. However, the act of seeking vengeance actually leaves us with a
no compassion in this fear that leads to hatred
hangover, much like over indulging in alcohol. We may get a high from seeking vengeance, but
because there is no compassion for the self.
later we feel curiously empty and even more helpless. Thus, it takes more preoccupation with
The Pathfinder Forum will explore the themes
anger and spite to counteract the growing helplessness. This spiraling process of hate and
outlined in this article from a personal level to a
helplessness has the effect of giving our tormentor even more power over us long after the
global level. Sessions are scheduled for four
tormentor has left the scene. We may proceed to look for groups of people to resent and other
Sundays in June, beginning June 1, 9 to 10 a.m.
cultures to belittle in order to justify our hatefulness.
in First Congregational Church’s new conference
It also is often the case that people we come to hate are usually people we fear. This feardriven hatred is at the heart of prejudice. Whether the prejudice takes the form of racism,
sexism, homophobia or religious intolerance, the underlying fear is a fear of people who are
center. Call 844-4357 for further information if
desired.
Joel Chapman is a clinical psychologist and
different. Diversity in society is seen as dangerous because it threatens conformity, and conformity
director of The Pilgrim Center, the counseling
is assumed to be the higher good. Psychologist Betty Berzon has written that, in the fear-driven
program at First Congregational Church.
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June 2008
LampLighter 13
one guy say he had to apply not to get a
Continued from page 1
loan.” Secondly, the types of loans that people
explained that the average value of homes has dropped 15 percent in Cooper-Young. However,
received have played a major role.
there’s no need to panic. Compared to places like California (see side bar), Cooper-Young really
Many people ended up with subprime
mortgages. Subprime mortgages have higher
isn’t taking that big of a hit.
In fact, Becca Dickerson of Sowell and Company, says she’s “never seen people lose money on
interest rates and are given to those who do
a house in the Cooper-Young area even if they had to sell it six months later.” Debbie Sowell of
not have good credit scores. Many borrowers
Remax also gave me some encouraging statistics. Between January and April of 2002, there were
with this type of mortgage did not know what
twenty-three closings in the Cooper-Young area. Between January and April of 2008, there were
they were getting into and ended up defaulting
twenty-four! Although the houses in 2008 may have been on the market a little longer and may
on payments and having their houses
have sold for a little less than they normally would have, it proves that Cooper-Young’s housing
foreclosed. Adjustable Rate Mortgages or
market has not come to a complete halt as some people may be scared into believing.
ARMS also led to this problem. Robert Grisham
of Midas Mortgage explains that these types of
loans attracted people because of the “initial
teaser rates.”
“People thought they would be able to
re-finance when their interest rates went up,”
Grisham explains, “but then the economy hit a
wall and they weren’t able to.”
Sutton Hayes, Director of the Cooper-Young
Development Corporation agrees, noting,
Secondly, as Harper explained at the meeting, “there has been an over-correction” in lending
practices. “Even the credit worthy,” says Harper “are feeling this over-correction.”
The credit restrictions have changed so that people with less than perfect credit are not being
approved for loans right now. “Individuals with credit scores less than 620 need not apply,” says Harper.
Also, there is no such thing as 100 percent financing any more. Grisham notes that most people
need to be able to put down at least three percent of the cost of their home.
“We’ve gone from loosey-goosey to super-strict,” Grisham says. He explains that a correction did
need to happen, and the tight guidelines will probably loosen back up over the course of the
next few months.
For those that must sell their house right now, according to all three real estate agents I talked
“People started out with interest rates as low as
to, their advice was to be realistic and get it priced correctly. Dickerson also adds that sellers need
1.2 percent and then their rates shot up to 6.5
to be willing to make some concessions: “Offer a home warranty for the first year and offer to pay
percent and weren’t able to do anything about
closing costs.” Sowell says, “Clean up and make the repairs that need to be made, and if you make
it.” Again these loans caused defaults and
some improvements, you may not see every dime of it in closing but it will decrease the time it’s
foreclosures to increase, causing the value of
on the market.” Joe Spake of Crye-Leike Realtors, mentioned staging: “Rearrange the furniture, get
houses to decrease.
it uncluttered, and make it look sharp.”
The down side:
The up side:
Since most people like to hear the bad news
Amber Kessler
having on the Cooper-Young area is two-fold. First, the value of houses has decreased. Hayes
I told you I would bring you back up! Not everything about this housing market is negative. As
first, I’ll bring you down a little and then bring
Dickerson says, “Interest rates are historically low.” Everyone agrees that this is a great time to buy
you back up. The effect that the market is
a home for those that are able to get the financing, especially people that don’t have a home to
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sell–like renters or first-time buyers. This gives people an opportunity to buy in Cooper-Young who
better regulation of mortgage servicers; for the short term, they are looking at ways to get
otherwise may not have been able to, like Amber Kessler.
legislation that will allow money to be funneled into the community to keep as many people in
Amber recently moved into the Cooper-Young area after living in Memphis for about ten years.
their houses as possible,” Hayes explained.
She says she’s always felt most comfortable in Midtown and the Cooper-Young area: “I love how
For those of us that just have to wait this thing out, some of the best advice came from Amber
we all love diversity here,” she says, “but we are all united by that fact.” She has wanted to move
Kessler. “We need to invest in this community,” she says, “and just have faith that it will maintain
into the Cooper-Young area for a long time, and when interest rates dropped, she saw an opportu-
its charm and uniqueness and know that, that’s what will last. It’s so different from other neighbor-
nity. “Two to four years ago,” Amber says, “I wouldn’t even have considered buying this house. I
hoods in Memphis, and I think we just have to continue to support the businesses here and the
never thought I would be able to afford a house this spacious and charming.” She explains that if
things that make this Cooper-Young, and if we keep doing that, I think the houses will maintain
the market wasn’t in the shape it’s in, she “would have been forced to look in a different area or
their value and the neighborhoods will get better and better.”
keep renting.”
CRAZY
Spake notes that Cooper-Young is “a viable and steady market.” Sowell agrees and says that
“many buyers just simply want to be in Cooper-Young.” It’s very attractive to people that come from
big cities because it has a city-like feel. Dickerson says it’s also becoming attractive for commuters
who live out East or in Mississippi: “With gas prices going up the way they are, many people want
to move back to the city.” Amber also mentioned gas prices and says that the Cooper-Young area is
conducive to her lifestyle: “I can walk to my favorite bars and restaurants and to dance class at First
Congo.”
For those that are considering buying a home at this time, Sowell says the first thing people
S TA T S
National averages in comparison with
the Memphis market
K AT I E B O N D S
Thankfully, Memphis and especially the Cooper-Young area’s housing markets are not
comparable to those national averages that we often hear about. Just as an example, Cleveland,
Ohio, a city comparable in many ways to Memphis, saw 17,000 foreclosures last year, whereas
need to do is get pre-qualified. Next, Grisham explains that people should have some money in
Memphis only had 3000 in the metro area (thirty-two in Cooper-Young). According to a study
the bank. “People need some extra cash on hand,” he explains, “for a down payment, closing costs,
done by RealtyTrac, Inc. U.S. foreclosures skyrocketed by 75 percent between 2006 and 2007;
and general maintenance. He adds, “in Cooper-Young, there is usually some maintenance needed,
in the Cooper-Young area this number is only around 3 percent. Sutton Mora Hayes of the CYDC
and people don’t want to go under on day one.” Another great piece of advice taken from the
explains that, “the Memphis market never got so over-inflated like the Nevada, California, and
board meeting in April is to go through housing counseling to see if you are really ready to buy a
Florida markets did.” People in these areas ended upside-down on their houses—owing more on
house. The Memphis Housing Counseling Network is free and offers classes and guidance for
their house than it was worth. Brenda Harper of Hope Community Credit Union also notes, “the
future home buyers. Amber also has some good advice for fellow buyers: “No house is perfect, but
Memphis market will turn around before all of the others do,” because the Memphis market
you can find the house that is perfect for you.” “Be patient,” she adds, “in a market like this one,
was never over-inflated like many other parts of the country.
you can hold out for what you want and where you want.”
If you are already a home owner and you plan on being in your house for a few years, it’s also
Many statistics about the market are also gathered from the sale of new homes (which
Cooper-Young, for the most part, does not have). CNN reports, “While existing homes make up a
a great time for renovations. Dickerson explained that home equity rates are extremely low right
majority of sales, the new homes report is closely watched as a better leading indicator of
now, and Grisham adds that you can re-finance your home and cash out to do some remodeling.
market strength, since those sales are recorded when a sales contract is signed. Existing home
However, Hayes mentioned that you should probably talk to a local professional to see what
sales figures are collected at the time the sales close, typically a month or two after the sales
improvements would be best for your home. “Historically, in Cooper-Young a functioning second
contract is signed.” In Midtown and Cooper Young, about 90 percent of houses on the market
bathroom can have a huge return, but others things may not do as well,” she says.
are comprised of existing homes, therefore, the stats that we often read about do not reflect the
What does the future hold?
Cooper-Young market, where the majority of homes are not new.
In such an unpredictable market, it’s hard for people to come to any kind of consensus.
However, most people I talked to did seem optimistic. Hayes thinks in the next six to nine months
we should see some leveling out in the market. Sowell, Dickerson, and Spake all agree that the
market will probably start picking up a little this summer.
Hayes explained that anyone in the slightest danger of foreclosure should call her (272-1459),
and she can get you set up with a housing counselor. The housing counselor can act as a kind of
liaison between that individual and their mortgage company. Also, she explained that the CooperYoung Development Corporation is part of a larger organization known as the Community
Development Council of Greater Memphis. “The CD Council, she explains, “is working on state and
DIG IN
So you want an easy way to increase
the value of your home?
K AT I E B O N D S
Greg Touliatos, of Greg Touliatos & Associates, Inc. says there is no question that landscaping
federal levels to lobby officials for foreclosure relief.” “They are also working toward long-term
attracts buyers to homes. “It is the first thing they see when they drive up, and the last thing
prevention to make sure that we don’t end up in the same situation in the future by fighting for
they see when they leave.” CNN.com notes that high-quality landscaping can add anywhere
from 5 to 11 percent to a home’s value. Touliatos also notes that landscaping creates interest
for the buyer. “If two houses are the same,” he explains, “the landscaping is the difference
between one having pizzazz and the other not.” Touliatos provides the top three tips for
Cooper-Youngians interested in landscaping.
1) Assess what you already have. Since the houses have been there so long and have often
been owned by more than one person, there have probably been various things added
to the yard over the years. Evaluate to see if things need to go rather than stay. Also, trim
trees and bushes that have gotten out of control. Overgrown plants are not desirable.
2) Simplify and organize. A simple yard is much easier to maintain and keep looking good.
3) Get a professional consultation. You can buy an hour of someone’s time and get an invaluable amount of insight.
So how much should we invest in our yard? Touliatos says that although some sources
recommend as much as 10 percent of the value of the home, for Cooper-Young this number
may be a little high—he suggests $6000 to $7000 as the average that homeowners would
need to spend on their yards in the Cooper-Young area.
Greg Touliatos and Associates, Inc. is located at 62 Flicker Street (a hop, skip, and jump down
Central going east from Cooper). He can be reached at 323-0031 or by going to
www.gregtouliatos.com.
June 2008
LampLighter 15
FEAR THIS
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Do in
you remember bedtime when you were a kid and the lights
Why
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Focus
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schools?
keeps cheer in season
sters? Fear is like that. It thrives in the dark. It grows and morphs int
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something real and powerful when allowed to remain in the shadow
AThis
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37
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28
again already, or complained about how the stores seemed to usher in the season earlier each
Worry, anxiety, stress, all basically derive from fear. The worry list is
percent
schools,
18about
percent
home
year. Incharter
my mind,
it hadand
been
ten
years since
last December,
what crime,
could be
bad weather, cars,
endless.
Time,the
money,
children, and
partner,
work,
schools
with
only
15
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public
about spreading the holiday cheer a little early?
house, yard, health, parents, theft, bills, terrorism, global warming,
schools
first choice.
Overwhelmingly,
Now,asastheir
a parent,
it’s sometimes
difficult
to suppress
moan as
I facerelationships,
another round
of holiday
children’s
safety,acancer,
AIDS,
friends,
school, grades
people
have
little
faith
in
public
schools
and
the
job
shopping hell. I loathe shopping in even the best of circumstances, but buying a bunch of toys
careers, college-the cumulative effect can be paralyzing. Some
they
doing
teaching
children.
that are
I don’t
have
room for,
for theHowever,
four kidsmy
I’ve had to escape from in order to buy them, just
people
are
so
paralyzed
with
fear that they literally try to hide from it. They refuse to leave their
question
is
do
the
facts
justify
these
beliefs?
about tops the list of “Things I Never Want to Do Again.” If I had any sense, I’d shop on-line, but
house
or driveMemphis’
or go into public spaces.a Others have fears that are much more subtle but can be
Taking
into planning
account
that
involves
and somedemographics,
idea of what I want to get, neither of which I’m good at. I’m a
the
long
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just
as disabling.
Silverstein described it in this verse:
study
by
the
Center
on
Educational
PolicyShel
(Comlast-minute shopper and I usually decide
what
to buy when I see it. I try to get the kids to tell me
The hens
they all cackle,
thetoroosters
all beg,
mercial
Appeal
seem
disprove
one main
thing10/14/07)
they want,would
but everything
else involves me seeing something and thinking “Oh,
Butwould
I will
not
hatch,
I will not
hatch.
these
negative
feelings.
The study
found
that
Somerset
love that.”
students
in urban
with
socio-economic
I hear
all
the talk
oflow
pollution
andare
war
And For
then,
looksettings
at what
I just
said.
My kids
not even really asking for anything. I have to
status
who
attend
public
schools
perform
as
well
as
in private
schools.
The
typeI’m
of school
As
the
people
all
shout
and
the
airplanes
draw it out of them, and show them “wish books” roar,
tothose
find out
what they
might
want.
the onea
child
had
no significant
impactit’s
on
student
the studymorning
concluded
it isa
So I’m
staying
in
here
where
and performance.
it’s warm,
who attends
thinks
they
need
a lot
of presents.
I safe
still
remember
waking Instead,
up on Christmas
to see
the
of gifts
parental
expectation
positively
student
achievement.
I WILL
NOT
biglevel
pileAnd
of
under
theHATCH!
tree. Itand
wasinvolvement
exciting andthat
surprising
and,impacts
well, like
Christmas.
My
ParentalNot
encouragement
and
support
for
their
ongoing
education
isan
essential.
For
the
memories
of the
and
joy
of the
holidays
are
tied
up with
the ideainof
getting
shiny
all wonder
of life can
be
lived
where
it ischildren’s
safealland
warm,
whether
eggshell
ornew
under the
2005-2006
School
Year,
Memphis
City
Schools
had
a
graduation
rate
of
67
percent
(Commercial
stuff. And even though now, as an adult, I don’t care about receiving gifts at all, and I still really
covers. But just like when we turned on the light in our childhood dark room and discovered the
Appeal
10/30/07).
The national
is 70
percent.
According
to the 2000 U.S.
Census
report,
do enjoy
the togetherness
with average
friends
and
family
thaton
theour
holidays
it’s our
monster
was a shadow,
we must
shine
light
growninevitably
up fears bring,
and face
grown up
by
agefor
twenty-five,
80 percent
of Shelby
County residents
earned
a high
hard
me to balance
my mature
understanding
with myhad
desire
to give
my school
kids thediploma.
monsters in order to live our lives fully.
However,
only 25 percent
a bachelors degree or higher. For Memphis to attract well paying,
kind of Christmas
I had
ashave
ametaphor
child.
I love the
ocean
for life: the waves surge and subside sometimes bringing to shore
high-tech
needs
do better
thatturn
all students
And ofbusinesses
course, theour
diecommunity
is already cast.
Mytooldest
child,ensuring
Calvin, will
ten yearspursue
old college
wonderful living things, sometimes taking away and destroying life on shore. But the waves neve
degrees.
Fordays
this after
to occur,
the value
and
benefit
education
must be
instilledand
in children
just a few
Christmas.
He is
a last
holdout
in believing
in Santa,
I know at an early
stop. They will continue to
age.
to be atyear.
school
everyday,
on time,
learn,
completed
that Students
can’t lastneed
for another
I get
all teary-eyed
justprepared
realizingto
that
my homework
baby will soon
bring pain,
suffering,
sadness,
with
positive
attitude,
ready
to face
the day’s
challenges. This
theSanta
job for
passathat
milestone
on and
the way
from
innocence
to experience.
Howiscan
letparents.
him
and
catastrophe
along
with
so
Conversely,
teachers,
school
administrators
and
community
leaders
have
to
work
down on his last Christmas of belief? But then I think, how can I make sure that the cooperatively
much uniform
that is beautiful
and Providing teachers the freedom to advance academic
toholidays
encourage
student
success.
continue to be
special
for him even after the illusion has been realized? I
magnificent
and joyful. accountability develops “stakeholdership.” The No Child Left
achievement
while
incorporating
know that Calvin already enjoys all the extra time to be with each other and see
If wefamily
try toduring
stay
safe
inaccountability
our He loves
Behind
(NCLB)
legislation
has
putholidays.
in the
forefront.
The cookies
intent of NCLB is to hold
our extended
the
to help
me bake
teachers,
administrators
andare
school
boards
more
responsible
academic attainment.
shell,
(Pretend
you
aelse.
sea
and wrap
presents
for everyone
And of
course,
he’ll stillfor
getstudent
presents
Unfortunately,
isthey
being
undermined
byhis
states
diluting proficiency tests, easing standards,
turtle
you don’t
like
my
even once
heifNCLB
knows
really
came from
parents.
manipulating
results,
other
means
to example.
artificiallyInstead
boost students
scores to “meet”
mixed
metaphor.)
wevarious
miss
I guess
thetest
best
thing Iand
can
do is try
to set
a good
of
national
performance
quotas.
to the Commercial
Appeal
what
comes
shore.According
So,
wehassle
grumbling
about
theto
shopping
andifthe
and the mess,
I need(3/5/06),
to let over forty states are
currently
engaged
this
practice.
falsification
learning
results
him seeaccept
me
doing
parts
that
enjoy.
I really dooflove
putting
up must be stopped.
thatinthe
the
wave
is I This
Finally,
while
good luck and
and making
hard work
are important, statistics prove it takes more than these
the
treecoming
and
decorations,
why not learn
to surf?special foods, and wrapping
topresents
succeed.
beingthe
born
into
wealth,
education
the prime
toBesides
stack under
tree.
I love
the days
spent iscozied
up factor that can be used to
We will probably swallow a lot of sea water, maybe get a sun burn, but have a great ride.
consistently
predict
a our
person’s
income
level.break
Education
is the most
powerful determinant in
with the kids
during
shared
from school.
This
Sandy
Furrh,
LCSW,
isChristmas
a therapist
affiliated
with The
Pilgrim Counseling Center at First Congregafactoring
family’s
financial
welfare.
example,inthe
2000with
U.S. Census reports that those
year we’lla be
spending
the week
afterFor
Christmas
Florida
tional Church. If you have any questions for Sandy, you may contact her at 844-4357, Option 4.
without
a high school
have an
average
annual
salary
of about $19,000; those with high
my husband’s
parentsdegree
and siblings,
and
we’re all
excited
about
school
degrees
approximately
$26,000;
$45,000
Bachelor degrees; $62,000 for Master’s
the prospect
ofearn
seeing
Aunt Katherine’s
new baby
andfor
catching
degrees;
and over
$80,000
for Doctoral
degrees.
Further,
over
up with loved
ones
we haven’t
seen all year.
It’s so
nice just
to75 percent of people in prisons do
not
GEDs.and
Based
onatheses
is clear that education is of immense
gethave
awayhigh
fromdiplomas
the dailyorroutine
take
breath,facts,
all ofitus,
importance
together. in determining one’s economic position in life.
All
of us that
havethe
preconceived
of for
which
schools or educational methods are best. We all
I know
holidays arenotions
different
everyone,
have
ideaswe
oneach
whathave
it takes
achieve and
obtain
and that
our to
challenges
to face
andsuccess
small in life. However, it is my hope that this
article
will help
us allWhatever
focus onholidays
the true you
facts.celebrate,
It is my contention that the facts presented here
pleasures
to savor.
show
that all things
considered,
andspend
private
schools are equal. What makes the real
and however
you and
the ones public
you love
your
difference
is parental
involvement
advocacy
of education. From there, competent teachers
days as the
year comes
to a close,and
I hope
that you’ll
can
thefocus
toolson
students
willparts
needastoI go
findprovide
a way to
the good
willon
beto college, earn advanced degrees, and attain
their
dreams.
trying
to do. Sure, the holidays will be around again in
Dr.blink
D. Jackson
Maxwell
is a National
Board
Certified
Teacher with 20 years of educational
the
of an eye,
and sure,
they seem
to start
a little
experience.
you have
any year,
questions
comments,
earlier eachIf year.
But this
theseorholidays,
willplease feel free to contact Dr. Maxwell at:
maxwellj01@k12tn.net
never come again. Next year we’ll all be a little older,
the babies less babyish, the children less child-like.
Don’t be bullied or harassed into wishing away this
time. It goes so fast. Happy holidays to you and yours!
16
June 2008
4 LampLighter
LampLighter
December 2007
22 LampLighter
December 2007
N EW BODY
Second gym comes to Cooper-Young
K AT I E B R U N E A U
With summer at our doorsteps and bathing suits coming soon, it is the perfect time to get in
shape. Roland Genesy, owner and trainer at Transforming Bodies, can help you reach your fitness
goals.
Transforming Bodies is a full-service gym located at 937 South Cooper Street, and it opened its
doors in Cooper-Young on April 21. Transforming Bodies offers private personal training and will
also offer regular membership to Cooper-Young business owners, employees, and Midtown
residents. Other amenities include a smoothie bar and massage.
Open since 2004, Transforming Bodies was located at Union and Watkins next to the Cupboard
before moving to Cooper-Young. When Roland’s lease was up at his former location, he began
looking for a new space. “I was blown away by the amount of traffic that comes through CooperYoung,” says Roland. “Having the windows out front at our new location helps. My growth and
potential is greater here because I have greater visibility.”
A body-builder himself, Roland custom designs each program for his clients. When a new client
comes into Transforming Bodies, Roland or one of two part-time trainers conducts a fitness
assessment. This assessment gives him an idea of the client’s physical condition and the beginning level of the client’s exercise program.
Roland says, “The quality of service sets us apart from other trainers and gyms. I write up a
prescription like a doctor would with a patient. I design and cater the workout to each individual
client because everyone comes in with a different reason for personal training.”
Roland has been interested in fitness his entire life, and he entered his first body-building
competition at the age of sixteen. Since that time, he has won numerous body-building titles and
continues to train himself. He is currently training two women for a fitness competition.
Roland’s love for body-building translates to his training. He says, “I have a passion for my
clients. My reward is their success in reaching their goals and knowing that I made a positive
change in someone’s life. If I can help and change lives, then that makes me feel good.”
For more information about Transforming Bodies, please call 276-1773 or visit
www.transformingbodiesfit.com.
Roland Gensey, owner and trainer of the newly-opened Transforming Bodies.
June 2008
LampLighter 17
FRONT AND CENTER
IN WITH THE OLD
June chock-full of animal celebrations
Vintage clothing and accessories store
doubles as guitar shop in CY
DEBORAH CAMP
June is a month that celebrates animals. From to World Pet Memorial Day to Animal Rights
Awareness Week, various organizations want to put animals front and center all month long. It
kicks off with Pet Appreciation Week, June 1-7. Humane societies, shelters, schools, and other
organizations traditionally organize events that focus on the benefits of pet guardianship. In some
communities Pet Appreciation Week culminates with neighborhood pet parades and “pennies for
pets” fundraisers.
World Pet Memorial Day is June 8, a day commemorating pets that have been previously part
of our lives. The holiday originated with the Pet Loss Research Center.
“Through the establishment of World Pet Memorial Day, it is our vision that pet lovers around
the world will have the opportunity to acknowledge their losses in a caring and dignified atmosphere,” says Susan Duncan, Center Director. “For one day, pet lovers worldwide can set aside
differences to unite and observe a day devoted to the memory of beloved pets.”
The St. Louis based Pet Loss Center conducts research on the topic of pet loss and its effects on
individuals, relationships, and the workplace. Some of their ongoing projects include the World
Pet Memorial Quilt, the Christmas Pet Angel Tree and The Pet Memorial Wall.
Pet Sitters International is the organization that created in 1999 the increasingly popular Take
Your Dog to Work Day, which is observed June 20. This fun event has been featured on such
media as The David Letterman Show and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, as well as CNN
Headline News. Each year a poster dog is chosen to promote the day. Locally, several businesses
have embraced Take Your Dog to Work Day, including the advertising agency ArcherMalmo.
The idea of setting aside a day to take one’s dog to work was to encourage employers to
recognize the value of pets in their workplace from their employees’ perspective. It was also
believed that the day could create additional awareness about the importance of pet adoption
from humane societies, animal shelters and breed rescue clubs. The organization expects that
many thousands of businesses will welcome dogs—big and small—into break rooms, boardrooms,
and cubicles this month. Check out www.takeyourdog.com for more information and some really
cute critters.
June 22 kicks off Animal Rights Awareness Week. The British organization, In Defense of
Animals, first organized the weeklong celebration
in 1997. According to its website the intention
was to “urge activists to educate the public about
the way in which businesses that sell animals,
particularly pet stores, perpetuate a vicious cycle
of cruelty, suffering and death.” Many animal
rights activists also pause to reflect that it was in
June of 1987 that Avon became the first
company to stop using animal testing for their
products.
This is also National Adopt a Shelter Cat
Month, which puts the spotlight on the fact that
spring and summer produce an overflow of cats
and kittens in shelters and humane societies
across the country. Edwin Sayres, president and
CEO of the ASPCA. “We want to help raise
awareness of this month in a fun way in order to
bring home the reality that these cats need safe
and loving homes. By adopting a feline friend,
not only are you giving a shelter cat a second
chance, but you will also have a lifelong companion who will bring many years of love and
devotion to your family.”
There are no excuses not to join in the
celebrations this month. Get your business on
board with Take Your Dog to Work Day; pause to
remember your deceased furry friends on World
Pet Memorial Day; sharpen your knowledge
about animal rights; and for goodness sakes, if
NIKKI DOUGLAS
The passion of two collectors comes together in
their new shop in Cooper-Young. Hi-Octane Vintage
opened for business on April 16 in the space
formerly occupied by the Monty Shane Gallery at
2160 Young Avenue. Nikki Douglas is a vintage
collector of “really cool junk.” David Barnette is a
musician who likes to buy and work on guitars.
Hi-Octane Vintage celebrated its grand opening
on Saturday, May 31 from 12 to 7 p.m. at 2160
Young Avenue. Music was provided by The Dusters
and Jeff Evans. Regular store hours are Wednesday
through Saturday, 12 to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 1
to 5 p.m.
Nikki moved to Memphis from Portland, Oregon
in 2003, and became a manager at Sun Studio.
After five years at Sun, she met David and they became engaged.
“David asked me if I had a dream, and I told him it was to open a vintage store and guitar
shop.” After scouting for a location, they nearly gave up until 2160 Young Ave. became available.
David said, “We spotted the “For Rent” sign and two months later we opened for business. This is
the perfect spot for us”
David Barnette is the bass player in the blues rock band, The Dusters, based out of Nashville.
He has worked on guitars for twenty-five years and will repair and set up new instruments. He
also manufactures retro-designed coffee tables under the moniker “Retrolux-Moderne” and will
feature them in the shop.
Hi-Octane Vintage features clothing, home furnishings, hot rod manuals, rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia, and “kitsch” from the 1940s through the 80’s. Guitars and amplifiers are also for sale. “It’s a
way to satiate our sickness,” says Nikki. “We can buy this fun stuff and share it with others.”
you are thinking of adopting a cat, head down to
Mewtopia, the House of Mews, the Memphis
Humane Society, or Memphis Animal Services.
Contact Deborah Camp at 525-0552, or
dcamp@memphisbusiness.com for comments
or suggestions.
Christian Brother High School Band, under the direction of Patrick Bolton, takes
a break at Young Avenue Deli. After playing at the Cathedral on Monday, May
12, the twenty-five band group enjoys some downtime munching on French fries
and such at Young Avenue. Pictured:Stephen Bogodkin, Meelad Heydari, Patrick
Bolton, Drew Swistak, Daniel Logan. From front to back: David Vanelli, Daniel
Baucke, Andrew Clark, Buddy Langley, Connor Joyner, Patrick Croce, David
Sater, Sid Kraker, Andrew Fleming
June 2008
LampLighter 19
e live
short
n
erest.
r,”
d to
must
Dark
in-
hat
o
is
sa
wis
et
ence”
C H AT T E R B OX
The people, places
Campbell once again graces our
and businesses of ties. Kate
stage in a special Sunday evening concert
Librarians
and bookstore
employees
can provide more
extensive
lists of
award
winning
CY
that
make
the
on June
22 at 7:30
p.m.
in the
Centerand
for
recommended books that will prove to be holiday gifts
that keep
on giving.
Book haveisaonly
long life
Southern
Folklore
Hall
Admission
news
with the most beloved stories being read over and over, eventually passing on to siblings and
past with a sharp eye towards its possibili-
FEAR THIS
Trends, While I Breathe I
Learning to surf versus
drowning
Hope, Dragoon
and
SAN DY FU R R H
more. Its all happening
outside at Galloway
Do you remember bedtime
were a kid and the lights
Church, when
1015 you
S. Cooper.
$25 for Gold Circle seats (best available);
K A T I ERemember,
B O N D S a book a day helps keep illiteracy
friends.
at bay!admission is $15 in advance and
general
would get turned out and
all the shadows
turned
Admission
is only $10
for into scary mon-
Dr. D. Jackson Maxwell is a National Board Certified
Teacher
$18
on theand
dayan
of Educational
the show. ForConsultant.
those of If
We’re not the only ones who think there are
you have any questions or comments, please contactyou
Dr. looking
Maxwellfor
viamore
emailmusic
at: maxwellj01@
at the Center,
people and places in Cooper-Young worth
k12tn.net
we offer a taste of this region’s best
talking about. This is our monthly round-up of
authentic blues bands every Saturday night
CY neighbors, businesses and community folk
in June starting at 9 p.m. The Center for
that have others talking. If you’ve got
Southern Folklore is located at 123 S. Main
Msomething
A R K E T Ryou
E A think
P I N Gwe should know about,
(near the Peabody Place trolley stop in
go ahead and email us at lamplighter@
Downtown). Admission is only $5
something real and powerful
when allowed
and participants
can to remain in the shadows
Harvest adds advertising flair to CY
Cool tunes
If you’ve driven around Cooper-Young lately, you’ve probably
the yard
with
Stay coolnoticed
this summer
withsigns
Music
forthe
Living
Cooper-Young
slogan
“Don’t
be a Dick.” Under the slogan is a picture of Dick, and, unfortunately, Dick is always
Aardvarks’s five week summer semester.
the victim
of aLiving
crime.
At the bottom
of the
Southern
magazine
featured
a sign, there are tips on safety awareness for CooperThe semester begins the week of July 6
Young
or howthe
notvarious
to be like
Dick.
terrificresidents,
write-up about
shops
and tuition is $95 for one child, plus $45
Thisrestaurants
eye-catching
campaign is aincollaboration
between the CYCA and the marketing firm
and
in Cooper-Young
the
for each additional sibling. Siblings under
Harvest,
Cooper-Young.
Edmund
“Travel: located
Around in
Your
Region” section
of theMackey, Safety Chair of the CYCA, approached Harvest
eightHarvest
monthsagreed,
may attend
freenew
of charge.
with
the ideaeditions
of launching
a safety
awareness campaign.
and the
campaign
Tennessee
of Southern
Living.
Aardvarks
offers
classes
at
First
Congo,
East
is the result. In addition to yard signs and posters, the campaign also includes a website, www.
Reporter Valerie Luesse calls CY, “One Cool
Memphis,
Collierville
and
Cordova.
If
you
safedick.com, and Dick also has a myspace page at www.myspace.com/safedick.
Crossroads” and says, “If you’ve skipped
are interested,was
download
the
After looking around Memphis and deciding that Cooper-Young
the best
fitregistration
for them,
Midtown’s Cooper-Young District, where
Harvest moved to the neighborhood in 2006. Opening
its at
doors
in 2003, Harvest is the brainchild
form
www.memphisaardvarks.com
and
South Cooper Street crosses Young Avenue,
of Daniel Brown and Andrew Holliday. Harvest is a full-service
advertising
and design
agency
mail it in with
your payment
or contact
you’ve design,
missed aadvertising,
whole different
side ofrelations
the
offering
and public
for aAardvarks
complete at
creative
marketing
solution.
871-0227.
Also check
out the
city.” Thanks
to range
Burke’s
for one-man
the tip. You
can to very large companies, and their client list
Harvest’s
clients
from
start-ups
feature on Joe and Virginia Murphy in the
find theNCDS
article(aatsubsidiary
www.southernliving.com
includes
of SunTrust Banks Inc.), Downtown
Condo
Connection,
DAC,
Make-AJune issue of
Memphis
Magazine.
The
pair
and
then
search
for
“Cooper
Young.”
Wish, the University of Tennessee, among others.
have started a version of Playback Theatre
Daniel and Andrew met while they were both working for other companies and decided that
in Memphis, which helps real people tell
Kate
Campbell
and June
blues
they
worked
well together.
Andrew
says, “We saw a space that we could fill in the market and
their stories by sharing their tales and
For more
than
a decade,
Kate Campbell’s
thought
that we
had
complimentary
talents.” The idea behind Harvest is harvesting for the clients
having a troupe of improv theatre people
concerts
have embodied
what the Center
and
also providing
fresh ideas.
out the
stories..
ForSouthern
their firstFolklore
year ofisbusiness,
Daniel and Andrewact
worked
long
hours to build Harvest’s
for
all about—prebusiness.
Their
primary
focus
is quality,
serving the
rich
heritage
of our
region’sbut they also recognize the importance of quick turnPeaceful crowd
around for clients. “We not only produce quality products, but we also produce them quickly,”
Richard Bausch read from his latest novel
comments Daniel.
at Burke’s
Book to
Store
May
15. The
In the past year, Harvest has grown from two full-time
employees
five.onThis
growth
has
author,
who teaches
at theasUniversity
of or
allowed them to have more employees who specialize
in a specific
area, such
web design
Memphis,
drew a large crowd. He read the
public relations. For more information on Harvest, please
visit www.harvestmemphis.com.
first chapter from “Peace” as well as a later
on”
section. “Peace” has been called, “taut and
propulsive—with its spare language, its
punishing landscape, and the keenly drawn
22 LampLighter
December 2007
but when you turn on the
light,
come
andthe
gomonsters
as they disappear and fear
loses its power.
please. It will be a kid
Everyone lives with some
fear.
Some haveand
more
than
friendly
environment
feel
freeothers.
to bring
Worry, anxiety, stress, all
basically
derivechair.
fromFor
fear.
The info
worry
a blanket
and/or
more
calllist is
portraits of the three young soldiers
its money, 725-4990
endless.at
Time,
children, partner,
crime,
work,
weather,
cars,
or visit www.midsouthpeace.org.
center—“Peace” is a feat of economy,
house, yard, health, parents, theft, bills, terrorism, global warming,
compression, and imagination,
a brutalsafety,
and cancer, AIDS, relationships, friends, school, grades,
children’s
unmistakably contemporary careers,
meditation
on
college-the
cumulative effect can be paralyzing. Some
cooperyoung.org, or call us at 827-4797.
K AT I E B R U N E A U
sters? Fear is like that. Itthe
thrives
the dark.
entireindays
eventsIt grows and morphs into
the corrosiveness
of violence,
thethat
human
people
are so paralyzed
with fear
they literally try to hide from it. They refuse to leave their
cost oforwar,
and
redemptive
power of
house
drive
or the
go into
public spaces.
Others have fears that are much more subtle but can be in
mercy.”
the
long run just as disabling. Shel Silverstein described it in this verse:
The hens they all cackle, the roosters all beg,
See independence
But I will not hatch, I will not hatch.
An original copy of the Declaration of
For I hear all the talk of pollution and war
Independence will be on display at Central
As the people all shout and the airplanes roar,
Library in the Gallery at Central on June 11
So I’m staying in here where it’s safe and it’s warm,
from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
And I WILL NOT HATCH!
Not all of life can be lived where it is safe and warm, whether in an eggshell or under the
Yummy eats
covers. But just like when we turned on the light in our childhood dark room and discovered the
Stephen Hassinger of Hunt Phelan, Ken
monster was a shadow, we must shine light on our grown up fears and face our grown up
Lumpkin of Umai, and Ben Smith of
monsters in order to live our lives fully.
Tsunami are joining forces to raise money
I love the ocean metaphor for life: the waves surge and subside sometimes bringing to shore
for Evergreen Montessori where their
wonderful living things, sometimes taking away and destroying life on shore. But the waves never
children attend school. They will be hosting
stop. They will continue to
a three-course meal on June 23 at 6:30
bring pain, suffering, sadness,
p.m. at Hunt Phelan. Champagne and
and catastrophe along with so
h’orderves at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m.
much that is beautiful and
$55 all inclusive, $70 with wine. This event
magnificent and joyful.
is open to the public. RSVP 525-8225.
If we try to stay safe in our
shell,
(Pretend
you are a sea
Bands
not bombs
turtle
you don’tJune
like 7,
myfrom 2 p.m. to
OnifSaturday
mixed
metaphor.)
we missPeace and Justice
midnight,
the Mid-South
what
comes
to shore.
So, if we
Center
will hold
an outdoor
benefit concert
accept
that
the wave
is
entitled
Bands
not Bombs.
Featuring almost
coming
not
learn including to surf? Snowglobe,
a dozenwhy
local
bands,
We
probably
a lotThe
of sea
water, maybe get a sun burn, but have a great ride.
thewill
Warble,
Pezz,swallow
Holly Cole,
Yazoo
Sandy Jeffrey
Furrh, LCSW,
a therapist
Shakes,
James isand
the Haul,affiliated with The Pilgrim Counseling Center at First Congregational
Church.
If youNehl
haveCloete,
any questions
Harmony
Brothers,
Dead for Sandy, you may contact her at 844-4357, Option 4.
LAE U
T TC ET R
I O TNO AECDT II T
OO
NR
Peabody
a school
Bevy of rental
properties to be sold
in
good standing
December
4
C
r
o
c
s
i
s
t
ing
l
e
C
KCOONUGRSTON UE Y
LY MJ IOL N
L EERS S A N T O
As
you know,
Peabody
Elementary
School
Change
is coming
for the
residents of
the 1000 block of Bruce Street in Cooper-Young. On
December
4 nearly
one-third
the properties
and
Memphis
City Schools
areofdedicated
to on the street will change owners. The properties
will be sold
Roebuck
Auctions,
Memphis
ensuring
thatby
our
students
succeed.a While
we based real estate company.
six properties
Bruce are owned
by Bret James, who is selling his entire inventory of
haveThe
always
held highonexpectations
for our
forty-one
Midtown
properties
through
the
Auction. More than one-third of the properties
students, the federal No Child Left Behind Roebuck
Act
be sold
as “absolute,”
which
meansfor
there is no reserve price. Theoretically a buyer could
ofwill
2001
(NCLB)
has set new
standards
purchase
one
of
the
fi
fteen
absolute
properties
for as little as $1.
students to meet.
The summer,
only CY property
auctioned
without
This
our statebeing
released
a report
on reserve is 1052 Bruce, which James purchased
in
2006
for
$30,000,
according
to
the
Shelby
the progress Memphis City Schools is making County Assessor. In October 2007, he advertised
the property
for rent
as a twofor
bedroom
duplex—renovated inside and out—for $650 a month.
toward
achieving
proficiency
100 percent
I R I S H P U B & R E S TA U R A N T
In total,
nineteen
properties
will be sold. The commercial properties include a former gas
of our
students
underCY
NCLB.
The report
station that
now houses
daycare,
a commercial building on Cooper that is currently home to
identifies
whether
schoolsa have
made
W E LCOM E S PR I N G TI M E
WITH TH E B E S T PAT I O
I N M I DTOW N
Lux, and an apartment complex on the edge of the neighborhood.
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)–a simple yes
This is the largest single sell-off of Cooper-Young properties. In February 2006, Roebuck
or no grade based on a complex set of
auctioned thirteen CY properties as part of a larger Midtown auction. As in this auction, many of
measurements. To make AYP, each district
those properties were unimproved rentals. Steve Lockwood attended the auction and reported on
school must achieve targets: areas of test
it for the LampLighter:
participation and performance measured
!
Sold
$349,900
$309,900
$237,500
across subgroups of students (grouped by such
categories as race, language proficiency, and
disability). In addition, schools must meet
graduation rates and attendance targets. If just
one subgroup misses just one target, an entire
school does not make AYP. We are pleased to
inform you that Peabody Elementary School
met the target in Spring, 2007, and is listed as
S U N DAY C E LT I C I R ISH BRUN CH
“IN GOOD STANDING.”
Please know that many good schools have
FEATURING MOY BENEDICT
not made AYP. That doesn’t mean they’re not
successful. AYP is an all-or-nothing proposition,
N I G HT LY E N T E RTAIN MEN T
but student achievement is not. Academic
L ATEin NIGHT
MENU
success is measured
many ways, including
UNTIL 2 A.M. DAILY
classroom tests, teacher observations, report
P ROU D F I R ST T HU R S DAY PARTN ER
cards, homework, and standardized tests. But
Nearly one-third of the properties being sold at auction on December 4 are
AYP
focuses
on state
tests.The
Entire
schools &
located
inonly
Cooper-Young.
southeast
corner
of the PROMOS
neighborhood will be most
WITH
FOOD
BEER
can
miss theby
target
too many
affected
the ifsale,
beingstudents
held bywere
Roebuck Auctions.
absent on a test day or if students who aren’t
C E LT I C C RO SSI N G PIN T GL ASSES
yet fluent
in English
missoffthe
reading
andproperties on Cooper—811/813—first. It took me about
“The bidding
started
with
the three
COLLECTIBLE GL ASSES AVAIL ABLE FOR $10
SUNDAY
7 TO
CLOSE
FREE
GLpolice
ASSsubstation
WITH
might
paid.
Within atominute
the old
building
that was
the reserve
had gone
I am have
firmly
committed
achieving
our
goal
PURCHASE
OF
3
DRAFTS
for
$112,200
(including
the
10
percent
tip
tacked
on
for
Roebuck).
821
Cooper
went
next
for
of success for every child, and I recognize that
writing
goals.to realize I was only going to be an observer. They started out bidding at about what I
20 seconds
$93,500;
817 went for
$81,400.”
we
must continually
improve.
We have several
Today,
the
Assessor
lists
Bernard
Cowles as owner of these properties. Cowles, who owns the
programs in place which will help students
Cowles at
Company
and built
Cooper-Young
achieve
higher levels.
I am
proud of ourPlace, lists the properties as rentals on his website.
Currently,
821
Cooper
is
described
as a 1600 square foot, three bedroom, two bathroom unit with
outstanding staff; they continually update
newskills
appliances.
It rents forin$1395
a month.
their
and participate
training
to help
If
this
auction
follows
the
others,
them meet the needs of all students.then many of these properties will remain rentals. New owners
will
have a choice—within
zoning
guidelines—of what to do with their properties. As Steve
I encourage
you to join me
in addressing
Lockwood
laments
in
his
earlier
the auction process does not easily accommodate
our challenges and applauding thearticle,
great work
first-time
buyers
whoare
aredoing
looking
for a home and not a rental investment. What this means
our
students
and staff
at Peabody
for current residents of the 1000 block of Bruce is that although ownership will change,
Elementary School. As always, I welcome your
nothing else will.
comments, suggestions, and involvement in
According to Roebuck, the total value of the real estate is estimated at more than $5 million
our schools and in the challenges our students
with a total income potential of $600,000 annually. Interested bidders should check the
face.
Roebuck Auctions website at www.roebuckauctions.com or call 901-ROEBUCK to learn more
Kongsouly Jones is the Principal at Peabody
903is required
SOUT H C O O PER S T R E E T | 9 0 1 . 2 7 4 . 5 1 5 1
about what
Elementary.
w w w.c e l t i c c rossi n g m em phis . c o m
www.midtownmortgage.com
June2007
2008LampLighter
LampLighter 21
December
5
December 2007 LampLighter
9
MAKE BELIEVE
Long-time columnist explores new medium
JON DEVIN
After more than six years of writing an opinion/editorial column for the LampLighter I have to admit I’m running low on unused anecdotes. That being the case, Courtney Santo has graciously agreed
to let me try something new, something I’ve always wanted to try: serial fiction. In the nineteenth century, many authors of now classic works wrote their novels in the form of short episodes, which
were first published in newspapers. Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, and even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle made their living in this way. More recently, Stephen King wrote “The Green Mile” as a serial piece.
To celebrate this under-used form of literature, and to keep my participation in the LampLighter fresh and relevant, I’ve begun writing a serial set in Cooper-Young titled Tiffany’s Breakfast about the
eclectic lives of a group of CYers. Cooper-Young has been so inspiring to visual artists—it’s about time that we had some literature devoted to this neighborhood as well. I’ve received a number of
compliments on my Lamplighter writings and rantings over the years for which I am truly grateful. Hopefully this will entertain you as well.
FICTION
Tiffany’s Breakfast 3: How Long before Dinner?
By JON DEVIN
Robin Cooke, Alex’s roommate of the past three or so years, was
not accustomed to silence at home. Alex had originally found
her through an ad in the LampLighter seeking a roommate for her
humble, two bedroom, wood-framed cottage on Felix, in which
she raised her son in the absence of his deadbeat father. Robin
had wanted some company too, and with Alex she got plenty of
nightly jabberings about Alex’s artwork, friends, lack of regular
employment, and the continually precarious state of her love life.
She didn’t always get Alex’s rent on time, in fact more often than
not it would come in at least two payments throughout the month,
never on the same days.
Alex’s unpredictability played nicely though with the dry certainty
of single motherhood, and Robin found herself absorbing the sordid
details of Alex’s existence with relish. It was like being mother to a
twenty-something in addition to a precocious nine-year-old, and that
worked for Robin.
But weeks had gone by since someone smashed the front window
of Fred Jensen’s Young Avenue gallery and staked one of Alex’s
canvases (Urbanity) to a worn, rugged cross and Alex was still
largely silent. For once.
The following issue of the LampLighter devoted a two-page
spread to photos by Hugh Pendleton, the editor, in which shocked
and horrified onlookers reacted to the crucifixion of artwork in this
of all neighborhoods where art is plaintively revered. Pendleton, a
thin guy in his thirties with a pencil mustache and a shaved scalp,
had made it to the scene almost as fast as the bike patrol, and
recorded Alex’s semi-hysterical post-crucifixion rantings.
Coffee shop crowds debated various theories of motive, although
the cops had no strong leads. Some thought that right-wing
conservatives had staged the vandalism as an attack on free speech.
Others thought that Alex might have done it herself as a publicity
stunt. One man suggested that other Cooper-Young artists had
probably banded together to commit the act because Alex’s work
was just that bad.
A few facts were known. Though the front window had been
broken with a brick, the police believed that the vandal had actually
entered through the backdoor off the alley because the shattering
glass had attracted plenty of attention quickly. No one could have
entered the gallery through the broken window, constructed the
cross, nailed the canvas to it, and then disappeared before the crowd
from Java Cabana next door came by to investigate. The backdoor
however, showed no sign of being forced.
Also the wood for the cross and the railroad stakes came from
Jensen’s personal studio in the back of the gallery. Someone had
known that the materials were already there before the attack.
Jensen was enjoying tapas and martinis with five other men at Dish
the entire time, and was now facing financial losses for the ruined
show.
The final clue was a high-heeled footprint, a large one—perhaps
three sizes too big for Alex—in a pile of saw dust in Jensen’s studio.
No one could envision a vandal in pumps, but Fred said that it was
definitely not there the morning before the attack.
Robin wrapped a bandana around the mass of her braids of started
clearing counter space in the kitchen to make Alex’s favorite dinner:
diced eggplant and tofu, lemon grass, shredded veggies and mussels.
Alex sat slumped and numb on the threadbare settee a few feet away
listening to her collection of vinyl albuma of 80’s hits. She played
“Manic Monday” three times in succession.
“John’s coming over for dinner,” Robin called, hoping to
cheer her.
“Cool.”
The Bangles babbled on.
“Got a bottle of pinot grigio in the fridge. You wanna open it
early?”
“I had a glass an hour ago. Didn’t care for it. Thanks though.”
“You did what?” Robin opened the refrigerator and saw the open
bottle leaning against the egg shelf, a third empty and barely corked.
She threw Alex a frustrated look but kept silent. Since when had
individually-purchased wine become common territory?
“Hey, Robin?”
“Yeah?”
“How long before dinner?”
“About an hour.”
“Okay, I’m gonna go for a walk.”
“You do that, girl. Get outta my hair for while til I find out what
else of mine you’ve been eating without asking.”
Alex smiled. She tripped over Robin’s Amazonian black patent
leather stilettos, a staple of the living room floor along with various
other shoes and sandals, and headed out into the chilly afternoon.
At first the budding of the dogwoods, redbuds and maples along
Felix made her smile as she watched the vein-like shadows of
branches collide peacefully on the sidewalk with her own. Then
a cold breeze jarred her thoughts and she remembered the chill
in the air before her ill-fated opening at Fred’s. She’d shown her
work in coffee shops, a barbershop, and even once at small family
bookstore, but Fred’s was her first gallery show. Even so it was
a far cry from the status of wealthier East Memphis galleries, but
the sense of arrival, of achievement, of success after all in spite of
her mother’s uproar when she left her dreaded secretarial job and
devoted herself fulltime to painting. She would have gotten some
nice money from that show probably. She had actually seen herself
of the verge of financial responsibility.
She turned north at Tanglewood and studied the badly broken
sidewalk as she walked to Young Ave. It was funny and amazing at
the same time, she thought, how thick slabs of cement cracked and
shattered through the persistence of a few blades of grass.
She found herself gazing into the windows of Tiffany’s Breakfast.
A middle-aged couple examined a mahogany sideboard inside and
Vincent brought them coffee in rainbow-striped mugs. Without
looking away from them, he beckoned to Alex through the window
to come in and she obeyed.
She chose a chrome stool and waited at the counter while they
couple debated, decided, then debated again, choosing to think
about it in the end. After they left, Vincent lighted on the stool
beside her.
“Perhaps some biscotti so it won’t ruin your dinner,” he said with
a warm smile.
Alex glanced at him questioningly so he added, “John says Robin
ART C U R E S
makes
a beautiful
eggplant.”
Find
balance
at Artists on Central
“She does,” replied Alex.
a dish of crusty biscotti and a mug of coffee
JVincent
. S . S M I Tlaid
H
before her and watched as Alex nibbled quietly. He moved to the
Many artists create out of a need to express themselves and often to make a statement through
Christmas
tree, still alight, and removed an ornament, holding it out
artwork. Artist, Kathy Abernathy takes it one step further and creates art as an actual cure for
fortheir
her
to see.
a physical ailment.
It was crystal harp.
Plagued for years with near-constant migraine headache pain and after multiple medications
“My
mother played the harp for years and this was given to her
and neurological appointments, Kathy began to find that the more she worked at her abstract
by her father for a recital. She always hoped I’d take the harp too,
paintings, the less migraine pain she suffered.
but
I never showed much promise.”
the change from full-time work in computer programming to becoming a full-time artist
HeMaking
dropped
the tiny instrument into her hand.
was never something she would have considered doing before this discovery. Her degree in
“She had a falling out with my grandfather as a teenager and he
mathematics and computer science never prepared her for the experimentation and wonderment
stopped
coming to hear her play. It hurt her feelings, but of course
created through her paintings. But as she felt the positive changes that art was having on her life
you
know that you don’t lose your talent just because one person
coupled with the personal fulfillment that it brought things began to fall in place almost out of
refuses
to hear you play.”
nowhere. As she worked full time on her paintings, doors began to open that led to honors and
The tears she’d been holding back for weeks finally came. Half
Memphis Germantown Art League shows, opportunities came to be juried into
anawards
hourthrough
later the
when
she left feeling quiet inside, Vincent replaced
and sales were being made through galleries in Nashville, Memphis, and Palm
thenational
harpshows,
on the
tree, closed early and began the short walk home
Springs, Florida.
thinking
how much he too enjoyed a
Kathy began to, as she says, “follow her bliss” into the art world. “It’s the hardest, most
good egg plant.
M I DT
Fo
ke
KRIS
Thi
seem
child.
again
year.
about
No
shopp
that I
about
that in
last-m
one m
demanding,
and most amazing career I know of,” continues Kathy. Today, she is thankful for all
Look
for Chapter Four: Like Everything in the July issue of the LampLighter
those years of pain and disability for without them she says she would not have found the
Some
An
overwhelming affinity for living a creative life.
draw
who t
big pi
memo
stuff.
do en
hard f
kind o
An
just a
that c
pass t
down
holida
know
our ex
Meredith and Scott Cooper hosted the 1900 block of Evelyn’s sidewalk social on
May 31 under the shade of their magnificent Oak trees. Approximately twentyfour neighbors enjoyed lemonade, popsicles, and conversations. The block
club contact list was updated and safety and code enforcement handouts were
available. Officer Robert Chalmers from the Union precinct provided an engraver
for residents to use to put their drivers license numbers on their lawn equipment
and bicycles. The engraved license numbers will help police, in the event the item
is stolen, return it to the the owners.
and w
even
I gu
grum
him s
the tre
Spring Showers by Kathy Abernathy
prese
with t
Kathy will have a show during the month of December at Artists on Central Art Gallery and she
hopes those who see her work will enjoy the same sense of wonderment and bliss that she felt as
year w
she created each piece. “Perhaps you would even feel a release from the pains of everyday life,”
my hu
says Kathy. “Art can truly steal your heart . . . and renew your soul”
the pr
Kathy’s show, Finding Balance, will be at the Artists on Central Gallery 2256 Central Avenue
up wi
from December 7 through December 31. There will be an opening reception for the artist on the
get aw
evening of December 7 from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. The show will continue throughout the month of
togeth
December during regular gallery hours of 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
I kn
In January, Kathy and each artist who has been selected for a one man show at Artists on
and th
Central during 2007 will be together, as a group show, each artist displaying some of their newest
pleasu
pieces with statements as to the direction his or her art will be taking in the future. It’s a sneak
and h
preview of the styles, talents, and directions that each artist will be taking for 2008 and beyond.
days
Featured artists in this show will be M. J. Reeves, Mary Winger-Bowman, G. Allen B., Nigel Merrick,
find a
John Sosh, Kenny Hayes, John Sadowski, Jane Croy, Jeff Corbett, and Kathy Abernathy.
trying
For more information about the gallery and the shows or if you are an artist who would like to
display your work at Artists on Central come by the gallery at 2256 Central Avenue to pick up a
the bl
show application or call 276-1251. You can also visit the gallery online at www.thepalladiogroup.
earlie
com. Just scroll down to Artists on Central as one of the shops of The Palladio Group, which also
never
includes Market Central, Palladio, Waterworks and a new area of artist’s studios all located in the
the ba
2200Robinson
block of Central
Avenue
Carol
uses the
engraver on her bicycle while Steve Bishop watches
Don’t
over the lawn equipment lined up to be engraved with the owners drivers license
number at the 1900 block of Evelyn’s sidewalk social on May 31.
December 2007 LampLighter 21
4
LampLighter
December 2007
June 2008
LampLighter 23
time.

National statistics on housing market worry Cooper

Transcription

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